THE WEEKEND
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Weekend
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2014
PUBLISHED SINCE OCTOBER 6, 1990 • Vol. XI NO. 3,253• SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 20 14
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Why APC Will Win Forthcoming Elections In Edo - Prince Alao, SUBEB Boss
A Chieftain of APC in Etsako West Local Government and Executive Chairman of SUBEB, Prince Steve Alao has described the defection of some members of APC to the opposition party as a delusional victory that exists only in the minds of PDP members, saying that the outcome of the fothcoming elections in Edo State will not be determined by the actions of men who are driven by stomach politics but rather by the unprecedented achievements of Comrade See details Oshiomhole and the attraction of his progressive policies. By OSAZUA IVBAZE on pg.3.
Day Abies Said: ‘Yes I Do’
Pg. 10
• Prince Steve Alao, SUBEB Chairman
NEWS
Pg. 2
Woman Arrested For Faking Pregnancy
GRASSROOTS MONITOR
Etsako West LG Boss Speaks Pgs. 4/5
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Ne ws Nigerians Need To Return To God By INNOCENT OMOAKA THE executive Governor of Edo state, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has charged the Muslim faithful in Edo state on pilgrimage to the holy land to pray for peace upon the world. The Governor gave the charge recently at the State Government House in Benin City, when the 2014 intended pilgrims from the state led by the Chairman of the State Pilgrims Welfare Board, HRH Dekha Kanoba, the Eghiegbai of Ekperi kingdom, the Otaru of Auchi, Ikelebi III, HRH Alhaji Aliru Momoh and the Chief Imam of the Benin Central Mosque, Alhaji Fatai
Enabulele paid him a courtesy visit. Oshiomhole who stressed the need for the pilgrims to pray for the country while on pilgrimage said, “at this point, Nigerians need prayers, prayers for the government and the state, Nigerians need to return to God.” He added, “those in politics know that unless God governed, politicians cannot govern. May Allah govern Nigeria for us.” Similarly, the Governor who stressed the need for prayers for peace expressed his hope that “the Almighty Allah would decree peace upon the earth so that the love that is lacking and has led to war, avoidable war between nations, leading
to terrorism and people taking the lives of one another would be replaced with peace.” In addition, the Governor said that “prayers are needed so that the Almighty Allah can touch the heart of man so that the spirit of Islam which is love and peace would reflect in the actions and attitudes of all Nigerians.” Oshiomhole however charged the 274 Muslim pilgrims from the state on pilgrimage to the holy land “maintain the standard pilgrims from the state have built over the years.” Also, the Governor praised the Otaru of Auchi, HRH Alhaji Aliru Momoh, “for accepting to lead the state
projects cited in each ward adding that some of the wards have more than 3 projects each and they are all people-oriented which if translated are more than 20 projects. According to him, “some of these projects range from building and completion of primary schools, provision of transformers to boost electricity, sinking of bore holes to provide portable water for the people, empowering the youths and ensuring there is total peace among the people etc. Hon. Oghuma said plans are on the way to sink additional bore holes in Fugar by the garage to add to the ones he has already sunk before in Fugar and across the local government while more than 1,000 desks are ready for distribution to all the government primary schools within the local government area. He said the state governor, comrade Adams Oshiomhole
has really showed that there is reward in developing the people through his developmental strides in the state as the people have seen and appreciated through their massive support for his administration and the APC party in the state. The House of Reps. hopeful thanked the people of his constituency for their support and cooperation so far and however solicited for
- Oshiomhole
pilgrims to the holy land in the capacity as the 2014 Amir Hajj, placing the Otaru in the leadership position to guide the state pilgrims to pilgrimage in the holy land.” He assured the state pilgrims board, “the state government is ready to continue to co-operate with the pilgrims’ welfare board in ensuring that Muslims on pilgrimage from the state have the comfort they require while on pilgrimage.” Earlier, the 2014 Amir Hajj and Otaru of Auchi, HRH Alhaji Aliru Momoh lauded the governor for his support
Hon Oghuma Assures On Better Representation At The House Of Reps By LAMAI CASSIUS THE Honourable Member representing Etsako Central Local Government Area at the Edo State House of Assembly, Hon. Johnson Oghuma has reiterated his commitment, determination and readiness to serve and give the people better representation more than ever before if given the opportunity to represent them at the House of Representatives. Hon. Oghuma stated this at his residence while speaking with Weekend OBSERVER on his four years as member of the state House of Assembly He said “serving the people is born out of my conviction that my people must live a good and better life” hence I chose to offer myself as servant of the people. Hon. Oghuma said his local government area has 10 wards which he has been able to make his impact felt in all the wards with different
more support especially now the election period is fast approaching. He promised to serve them in higher capacity if nominated and voted for in the forthcoming general election in 2015. Hon. Oghuma however appreciated the level of support by the people across the three local governments most especially the traditional rulers and the APC party faithful promising that he will not disappoint them.
he however stated that it has commenced investigation aimed at ensuring peaceful resolution of the crisis. Chief Ekhator advised those responsible for the attack to surrender themselves to the police instead of being evasive as they should not expect to escape justice after committing such atrocious crime. He called on the police and other security agencies in the state to fish out the perpetrators and bring them to book to serve as deterrent to others. He however lauded the Edo Police Command for its
Lagos Task Force Arrests Woman For Faking Pregnancy THE Lagos State Task Force on Environmental and Special Offences in Ikeja paraded a 29-year-old woman it arrested for faking pregnancy. The woman was arrested under the Ikeja Bridge where she had been using her“ heavy pregnancy “to deceive and solicit alms from residents. She was paraded with a pillow, which she hid under her dress to fake a protruded belly, to defraud unsuspecting members of the public. Speaking on her arrest, Mr Bayo Sulaiman, Chairman of the Task Force, said the woman was arrested following a tip-off from members of the public about her suspicious activities. Sulaiman explained that the suspect confessed to the dishonest business after
arrest and even displayed to officials how she faked the pregnancy to appeal to people‘s sympathy and defraud them. “The case of this woman is one of the many cases of many dishonest people across the metropolis that operate under different guises to solicit alms and defraud members of the public,” he said. The task force chairman said the suspect would be arraigned in court to face the consequence of her fraudulent way of life. He advised members of the public to be wary of people who approached them for assistance, saying that some of them might be fraudsters. Sulaiman said street begging has serious security and environmental consequences and the state government would not in any way condone the practice.
NUC Blames Low Rating Of Nigerian Varsities On Dearth Of Research Publications
• Hon. Johnson Oghuma
PROF. Julius Okogie, the Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), has said Nigerian universities were not ranked high because their research findings were not published on the Internet. Okogie made the disclosure when a team from the National Space
Eduwu Ekhator Condemns Oka-bere Shootings By MIKE OSAROGIAGBON/ OSAGIE GRACE THE Edo State Peace and Conflict Resolution Committee has condemned the shooting of two youths in Oka-bere Community in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo State, recently. The Chairman of the Committee, Chief Eduwu Ekhator Obaseki gave the condemnation while speaking with journalists in his office in Benin City, during the week. He stated that though his Committee has not been formally briefed of what transpired in the community,
and efforts in assisting the pilgrims from the state on pilgrimage to the holy land. The Otaru prayed for wisdom and strength for the governor in transforming the state to enviable heights
among the states in Nigeria. Similarly, the Chairman of the State Pilgrims Welfare Board assured the governor that the 274 pilgrims of the state have been properly screened and sensitized on the Ebola virus, promising that the pilgrims would represent the state while on pilgrimage.
cooperation with the Committee in the discharge of its duties since it was constituted by Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, last year. The Chairman of the Edo State Peace and Conflict Resolution Committee Chief Eduwu Ekhator Obaseki however warned those formeting troubles in communities across the 18 local government areas of Edo State to refrain forthwith as his committee has come up with measures to check their excesses. He also thanked lawabiding Community Development Association
(CDA) Chairmen in the state for their peaceful conduct which he noted is the bedrock of peaceful coexistence and community development. It will be recalled that two persons Efosa Uwadia, 35 and Ehigiator were reportedly shot in the legs in Oka-bere Community by the youth Chairman and his aide during elders meeting in the town hall, a forthnight ago. It was reliably scooped that the two suspects are yet to be arrested, but one of the guns used for the dastardly act was allegedly recovered by some gallant youths present at the crime scene.
Research and Development Agency (NASDRA) paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja. According to him, Nigerian universities are at par with universities around the world in terms of academics and research but their findings are not made available online. He said “the people that do these rankings do not visit university campuses; they get their data on the Internet; but most of our research findings are not there. “What makes you a professor is that people have read your work somewhere else. “We have to use I n f o r m a t i o n Communication Technology (ICT) to enhance our learning; our children have all the ICT they need, but they are not using it to enhance themselves.” The NUC boss said that for Nigeria to achieve vision 20:20:20, there
must be advancement in ICT. Earlier, the leader of the team and Director-General of NASDRA, Prof. Seidu Mohammed, said the team was at NUC to seek collaboration in areas of research. He said that the agency had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with some universities but came to formalize it with NUC as the regulatory body. According to him, the agency has the mandate to design and build satellite using indigenous scientists as the first space agency in Sub-Saharan Africa. Seidu urged universities to tap into the data from the launched satellites (NigeriaSat1, NigeriaSat2 and NigeriaSatX) for research and development. The report said that no Nigerian university appeared in the recent global top universities ranking.
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IN a chat with the Weekend OBSERVER in his office recently, the SUBEB boss Prince Stephen Alao said the emergence of Oshiomhole as governor of Edo State marked a fresh era of progressive politics in the annals of hearthbeat state. Prince Alao, who is endowed with sharp reflexes and highly penetrating mind, asserted that Oshiomhole’s foot prints in the areas of infrastructural and manpower development can never be erased from the sand of Edo and the pages of her history however hard revisionists might try. “Oshiomhole is a brand. He is a phenomenon His good works have placed him on the credit side of history and he will continue to remain a reference point when the subject of discourse is good governance.” For sometime now, there have been some defections from APC to PDP. Is Prince Alao worried. Will this trend affect the electoral fortunes of APC in 2015 and 2016? Responding to these questions, Prince Alao smiled, gritted his teeth, and releasing a punch into the air as a gesture of confidence
and optimism, he declared “PDP has no foothold in Edo State. The defections are a mere storm in a teacup. APC is still intact, unshaken and unshakeable. The party will win future elections because Oshiomhole has done much for the state and he is widely appreciated and acknowledged by the electorate – they are those that matter in electoral contest not politicians who are driven by obvious instincts of self-interest and self-gratification. Those that have defected to the PDP ought to know that good governance is defined by dividends of democracy which Oshiomhole has given the people bountifully.” What are these dividends of democracy? “Edo State under Oshiomhole has been turned around. From unprecedented massive road reconstruction
Why APC Will Win Forthcoming Elections In Edo - Prince Alao to rehabilitation and rebuilding of decayed infrastructures in public schools the Comrade Governor has redefined development and politics as instrument of service to the people.” In politics and social engineering what is important to the people is performance. To what extent are government policies impacting positively on the people. These are important questions. Oshiomhole’s performance is so far reaching that the people have come to accept him as the dependable hub around which their expectations revolve. Those of us who are in APC today are the authentic members of the
party. Those decampees have no ideological convictions and do not have the sincerity to key into the progressive ethos of the Oshiomhole phenomenon. That is what has happened. Generally speaking, carpet – crossing cannot be described as morally uplifting and it cuts across political parties in Nigeria. How do we stop this trend of politicians moving back and forth in pursuit of selfinterest? Well, it is true carpetcrossing cannot be described as an ennobling act but those of us that moved to Oshiomhole were attracted to his progressive tendencies nurtured over his many years
in labour activism and prodemocracy struggles. And he has not disappointed us neither has his performance fallen short of popular expectations. So, we have decided to remain with him because of what he represents in the present struggle for a better and brighter future for Edo State and its people. Whereas we were ideologically driven in our desire to work with the Comrade Governor, what we are witnessing today is that anytime stomach politics is threatened, some politicians chicken out. There are politicians who are driven by a passion for stomach politics and self-interest and when political permutations seem to whittle their desire, they come up with all manner of excuses to defect. Since Oshiomhole’s 2nd term will terminate in 2016, do you think there can be another highly marketable politician like him for APC to field in the guber race? The truth is that the Oshiomhole is one in a million. Such people come once in a while. But he has trained some people. There are disciples who have learnt from him. It is true that Oshiomhole has the capacity to do what others cannot do. And there is no doubt that there are credible people in APC whose immersion in the Comrade Governor ’s progressive politics have prepared them to continue from where he would stop. And I can assure you that whoever he supports and backs in the 2016 polls will emerge victorious, Edo is endowed with credible people.
• Prince Steve Alao
What is your advise to Edo people? They should ‘shine their eyes” they must think and remember where they were before the comrade governor came in. They should continue to support the comrade governor and ensure that APC clears all the seats in Edo House of Assembly in 2015 elections’. Has work slowed down on the rehabilitation of schools? Work is ongoing. There are one hundred and twenty six (126) projects and they comprise construction, reconstruction and procurement of furniture for primary schools in the three senatorial districts. We are poised to actualize the social economic agenda initiated by the present administration to tackle the infrastructural decay in the education sector. We will not compromise standard in the execution of projects and contractors who fail to execute jobs to specification will be blacklisted. Let’s come back to 2015 and 2016 polls in Edo State what is your assessment of APC’s chances? I had told you earlier that Oshiomhole’s name, the good work he has done which is highly appreciated by the people will give victory to the APC. The opposition propaganda against the governor and his government is hollow and cannot in anyway affect our performance at the polls. APC will win because the Comrade Governor has recorded groundbreaking achievements that will sell the party. APC is peopledriven. Victory at the polls is a forgone conclusion.
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GRASSROOTS “I call on other chairmen who are in the habit of travelling to Benin to stop and reside with their people to enable them rule and lead them right.”
MONITOR
ETSAKO WEST LG BOSS SPEAKS:
I Am ServiceDriven - Kadiri
THE Executive Chairman of Estako West Local Government Area Hon. (Barr.) Prince Hassan Kadiri spoke with WEEKEND OBSERVER on the challenges, successes, and infrastructural and human capital development of the present administration. It was anchored by Lamai Cassius and Richard Eweka for your reading delight. Excerpts:Administratively, how is the local government? Estako West is the second largest Local government council in Edo state second to Oredo Local government; administratively you know certainly it would be a great task to ensure everybody is carried along. We thank God that we are doing our best to ensure that all the people of the local government feel the dividend of democracy by replicating the successes of the Comrade governor in the local government. We have six Clans in the local government which include Auchi, Uzaiure, South Ibie, Aviele, Jagbe and Awen. Notwithstanding the size of the council area, we are here on ground with the people to ensure we feel their pulse, and get first
hand information of the problems on ground and doing all our best to ensure all are carried along. What are the challenges faced by your administration? With the size of the local government we have social, economic and cultural challenges. We are familiar with some of the challenges faced by different Clans and we are doing our best to handle them. But aside the challenges on ground, the greatest of them all is the challenge of finance. The allocation coming to the local government is grossly too small relating it to the needs on ground. The greatest chunk of the allocation is used to pay teachers salaries which amount to within N73 to N76 million monthly. We equally have over 1,000
workers to also pay most of who are health workers and they earn almost double salaries of other workers because the health hazard. When this is removed from the allocation coming in to the council, the rest is barely enough to address other issues and challenges in the council area. But despite this, we have no excuse not to deliver the dividends to the people, we are doing our best. Teachers posted to the council far more outnumber the schools and the pupils but we are making effort to see that appropriate measures are taken to address this challenge in respect of the standard of 1 to 40. We are also battling with erosion problems in the twelve wards and we are doing our best to arrest it by embarking on palliative measures to control the damage to lives and properties. Since finance is a major problem how then will the people feel the impact of your administration? The issue of finance cannot stop us from
• Hon. (Barr.) Prince Hassan Kadiri working and ensuring that the people enjoy the dividends of democracy. If the Comrade Governor can do it in the state we can also do it in our local government councils. Despite the finance issue, we have projects on ground in various wards in the council areas and in awarding these contracts we have made sure that we are guided by justice and fairness. In the distribution of contracts we ensure that each ward has nothing less than two projects and some of these projects are completed while some are ongoing. We however have some wards having more than two projects due to their peculiar social economic importance. What are some of these projects and the benefits to the people? We have built and renovated schools, health centres, boreholes, roads etc. We had situations
where our pupils sat on the floor to receive classes. We have arrested problem by the supplying desks and benches to all the primary schools within the local government. These buildings and renovation of classrooms are in line with the Comrade Governor’s standard of red roofs, tiles, PVC etc. We have also built and completed health centres and also given our people boreholes to enable them have portable drinking water. Ugbeno, Ayogweri, Apana, Jettu, Auchi and other areas are already benefiting from our borehole projects. We are also constructing and rehabilitating roads in the council area, Momoh Street and ICE road are some of the roads we are presently working on. What is the administration doing in terms of human capital development? The administration under my leadership has
empowered over 300 youths and women in line with my electioneering promises. This empowerment cuts across soap making, computer training and repairs and even leadership training and seminar within the country. Some of these youths upon their completion of training are now useful to themselves and the society as they are gainfully self employed. In fact, this administration has succeeded in taking some of them (youths) away from the street which at times leads to drugs abuse in the society. Are you in partnership or the Council funds these programmes alone? We make the connection both at home here and outside the Country. But in terms of financing, the Local government carries the burden alone. We have Continued on page 5
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r
G assroots Monitor “I want my people to be patient, steadfast and tolerant. In politics it cannot be 100% all through. We call on our people to rally round the Comrade Governor to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people of the state and the local government council. They should ignore all politicians who try to influence them with material things but stand and support the APC to continue to deliver good governance to the people.”
Finance No Excuse For Non-Performance Continued from page 4
made up our mind as an administration to ensure we empower our people against all odds. We are happy that our people who gave us the mandate are benefiting from our leadership and have vowed to continue to do more for them and the council area. Do you believe in Local government Autonomy? Yes of course, we believe in it because it will further enhance the efficiency of Local government councils across the state. In Edo state today, we have appreciable level of autonomy. The governor has given us a level playing ground to initiate and embark on projects within the limit of council financial strength and ensure that the projects touch the lives of the people. The governor gave us the free hands to operate without interfering in councils’ issues. He does not interfer with our allocation as it comes directly to the local government joint account and we get it without stress and use it for our people. We thank the governor for this; it was not like this before the coming on board of the Comrade Governor. The state government does not temper with our funds. What is accruing to us is given to us. This is good for
the system. Do you subscribe to the call to audit local government account? There is nothing wrong with that. We run a very transparent system and we are accountable to the people. We have nothing to hide as far as our administration is concerned. We are open to auditing. When they come and do not find anything they will leave us and we will move on. It is only in the PDP era that you hear of zero allocation, but as at today, there is no zero allocation anywhere in the state. We have continued to let our people know what comes into the council area monthly. There is nothing to hide. Do you live with your people or come from Benin? I love my people and will always remain with them to feel their problems and that is why I’m always on ground to solve for them. Staying with them will help me feel their pulse and formulate policies that will help resolve any problem they may be facing. My people are my family and since I have decided to lead them, I must not lead them from a distance but live with them to lead them right. I am 100 % local chairman. I call on other chairmen who are in the habit of travelling to Benin
to stop and reside with their people to enable them rule and lead them right. You were turbaned recently by the Otaru of Auchi, what does it mean to you? The honour “Dania of Auchi Kingdom” is the highest in the land and only given to prince from the royal family. The title means so much to me and it is a call to duty to do more for my people to justify the title. It is a call to duty and we will do our best not to disappoint the people who have put their trust in us. There is allegation that you have moved the council administrative office to your personal office. What is your reaction to this? That is not true, whoever is saying that don’t love hard work. The secretariat still remains the secretariat; I work there from morning till closing hours where I attend to lots of people. After the close of work, those I could not attend to at council come to my office to see me where i will attend to everybody irrespective of tribe, religion or otherwise. For me, it is work, work, and more work and don’t forget I said I’m 100% local chairman and I enjoy it, I’m not those who run away from their people because of problems, even when you travel that problem is
“The governor has given us a level playing ground to initiate and embark on projects within the limit of council financial strength and ensure that the projects touch the lives of the people.”
waiting for you, so why should run. What is your relationship between the executive and the legislators? Very cordial, in fact my local government has best working relationship with the legislators. You know in any democratic setting there is separation of power. I have never and will never interfere with their legislative business so long we are all working towards one goal which is
the upliftment of the general wellbeing of our people at the grassroots. What do you want to be remembered for? I want to be remembered as a man that was able to put smiles on the faces of the people. A man who has been fair to all, that is why our appointments spread across all the Clans and wards, at the end you will be proud you have made your impact. Your advice to your people? I want my people to be
• Hon. (Barr.) Prince Hassan Kadiri
patient, steadfast and tolerant. In politics it cannot be 100% all through. We call on our people to rally round the Comrade Governor to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people of the state and the local government council. They should ignore all politicians who try to influence them with material things but stand and support the APC to continue to deliver good governance to the people.
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a
S turday Topic
• Pastor Oluwatosin
• Pastor Adeboye
“If there must be a change, it is required that the next generation of leaders are those who are godly and rooted in Christ who will drive the nation in a truthful and godly way and ensure that the people enjoy the dividends of governance.”
Youths In Christ
Pathway To Building A Righteous Nation “WHEN the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.” Proverbs 29:2. The above scripture gives us an emphasis on God’s original plan for his people… “Fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth. “Gen 1:28). Although the loss of such dominion to the devil in chapter 3 explains why the devil became the Prince of the world, Christ’s birth, death and resurrection brought back the dominion to anyone who believes. It, therefore, means that the one who has become the son of
God by believing is entitled to rule the earth. The question, therefore, is why are the righteous not ruling? The notion that politics is a sinful undertaking has wrongly crept into Christendom that no true believer wants to engage in it, and those who try to do so are not given a chance because fellow righteous men either refuse to vote at all or do not vote for the righteous man because they feel he has become sinful. This situation is one of the reasons why Nigeria is where it is today; a country where corruption thrives, where theft of public funds, political murders and conspiracies are the order of the day, and where hunger, starvation
By LONLIFE GEDU/RICHARD IMHOAGENE
and poverty have ravaged innocent homes because leaders lack the love needed to make the people’s needs available and accessible. If there must be a change, it is required that the next generation of leaders are those who are godly and rooted in Christ who will drive the nation in a truthful and godly way and ensure that the people enjoy the dividends of governance. In a world ravaged by corruption, immorality and wickedness, a light of hope beams only where the youths embrace godliness and live righteously. Scripture says “remember now thy
creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them.” – Ecclesiasts 12:1. Judging by the writer of the book of Ecclesiastes, King Solomon, we can estimate that this scripture was written more than 2,500 years ago, and perhaps the evil days had not come. Present-day Christians have a different story to tell. In fact, some conclude that the antichrist is already here. At a time when Christians are persecuted and murdered brutally, sometimes their heads
chopped off, and when Islamic extremists are setting up caliphates even here in Nigeria, forbidding all “infidels” from the captured areas. They are spreading faster by the day bringing death on anything and anyone on their way. Away from Nigeria, global violence against Christians is also at its peak. In recent weeks, individuals have been slaughtered by certain groups of extremists who have devoted their lives to exterminating Christians from the surface of the earth. Steven Sotlof and James Wright Foley, two American journalists who were recently beheaded is a pointer to this, not considering the many more that have faced a
similar fate over the years. Despite all these challenges, coupled with the current spate of youthful exuberance, several youths, especially those in tertiary institutions are still burning for God. The many Christian fellowships on our campuses are ensuring that Nigeria is left with future leaders who possess the fear of God. It is against this backdrop that the Redeemed Christian Fellowship (RCF) in the University of Benin, Ekehuan Campus recently organized a retreat for workers. The event, which took place from 8 th to 10 th of September, was a threeday affair tagged “A
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a Pathway To Building A Righteous Nation
S turday Topic Continued from pg. 6
Fresh Anointing”. The students left their academics, school work, assignments, and every other school activity, giving three days to prayer, exhortation and impartation. These young individuals left the pleasures of the world to seek refuge in the Lord Jesus Christ at the Scripture Union (SU) camp of Hope, an isolated environment
Like RCF, other campus Christian fellowships engage in this special type of revival for its members are. The Christian Union Nigerian Fellowship of Evangelical Students (Cu-Nifes) is a major partaker of this necessity. Some months ago, CuNifes went on a 2-day retreat at God Head Camp, run by Spirit and Life Bible Church. Christ Ambassadors
understand that politics is not bad or evil. It is the misuse of it, and the wrong way it is practiced that is bad. One thing that should be known is that, because the righteous has failed to rule, the evil have continued to abuse government. Christian youths should be encouraged to embrace politics and rescue Nigeria’s future from this precipice it is dancing on.
“The importance of having a godly youthful generation should not be downplayed. It is not just enough to ensure that the future of Nigeria is groomed righteously, we must also ensure that they are sensitized to understand that politics is not bad or evil. It is the misuse of it, and the wrong way it is practiced that is bad.” good and healing all that were oppressed of the devil, for God was with Him”. Analyzing the passage, He said, the anointing when gotten is not to
Cross section of worshippers at Scripture Union Camp during a retreat
reserved for such proposes. The President of the fellowship, Akinosho Oluwafemi while speaking at a session, assured the people that if they are sincerely expectant, that God promised that the 9th Day of the 9th month will mark a turn-around in their lives. He also stated that the purpose of the retreat was to obtain a fresh anointing from the lord to overcome fresh challenges. The Redeemed Christian Fellowship (RCF) is an arm of Christ the Redeemer’s Ministry (CRM), a global evangelical body founded by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).
Students Outreach (CASOR), Deeper Life Christian Fellowship (DLCF), Winners Campus Fellowship (WCF), Gospel Students Fellowship (GSF), and so on, are some of the many campus fellowships representing many churches and ministries across the nation. At one point or the other, these fellowships engage in such revival/ restoration kind of events, aimed at purging out the sinful life and imbibing the life of Christ in youth. The importance of having a godly youthful generation should not be downplayed. It is not just enough to ensure that the future of Nigeria is groomed righteously, we must also ensure that they are sensitized to
Pastor Oluwatosin of Christ the Redeemer’s Ministry (CRM) has admonished believers to always crave for the fresh Anointing of God.. saying, that the anointing is meant for man and not for angels. Pastor Tosin gave this admonition during a 3 days Retreat organised by the Redeemed Christian Fellowship (RCF) UNIBEN Ekehuan Chapter held at the scripture Union camp ground off Oluku/Isior Road Benin City. Speaking on the theme: “A Fresh Anointing”, the preacher took his Bible text from Acts chapter 10 vs 38, saying “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power, who went about doing
display charisma but for the purpose of doing good. According to Him, God specialises in giving genuine anointing to whosoever that desires it. Saying that’ God does not give anointing to Angels but to men, women and even
children. Also, he added that the Anointing is not limited to a certain group of people such as pastors, Evangelists, or Teachers alone but as long as one is a resident of a place in planet earth and he/she is born again, such person is qualified for the fresh anointing. He said the anointing does not come on its own, but it comes along with the Holy Ghost. Pin pointing, that ones a person get the baptism of the Holy Ghost, he automatically is a carrier of the anointing. The CRM representative further remarked, that getting the anointing is not the problem but the ability to using it, Saying, that the authority and power has been given to believers already by God but they are failing to exercise it. Describing the reasons why believers do not use this power is due to lack of faith and fear of the unknown. Shunning the attitudes of believers towards the anointing, he said, that the only way believer can know that he or has the anointing is manifested when it is put into practice or used.
According to Pastor Tosin, anointing is not when you wave your hand and people start falling but the good result one can get from it. Citing Acts 10:38, the case of Jesus Christ, he said after Jesus got the anointing by the help of the Holy Ghost he went about doing good. And so believers are expected to use the anointing in them to correcting the wrongs in our society, because anything that is good is God, while anything that is evil or bad is the work of the devil. Concluding his sermon, he told the youths to always service the anointing after they have gotten it through prayers, stressing that prayer is the surest way of making the anointing fresh. Because as one is coming out each day, he/ she is coming out to meet fresh cases of problems that needs the anointing to tackle them. He however urged the youths to constantly ask God for the sustaining grace and also to engage themselves in prayers in order to make the anointing fresh and also to be able to over come the challenges of life.
Cross section of worshippers at Scripture Union Camp during a retreat
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G obal Terrorism
James Foley Murder, The British And Biafran Story By OSITA EBIEM THE recent inhuman murder of the American journalist James Foley by the Islamic terrorists in the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, ISIL (they are also called ISIS, Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) is just too revulsive to all human sensibilities. It is altogether bestial and condemnable. Such acts should never have been contemplated by real human beings anywhere in the world in the name of whatever religion or other convictions. Foley’s murder reaches a frightening height in this mounting wave of horrific acts of unbelievable violence by the Islamic fundamentalists. Of course that is the original intention
• James Foley
of those engaged in these beastly acts – to terrify, terrorize and frighten other people into doing their bidding and abiding by the dictates of their delusions. But the world community must not be cowed. In this 21st century world the people must find a way to balance faith and reason. This single murder meets all the accepted definition of the odious and internationally prohibited crime of genocide and crime against humanity. It is one murder that is too many and should not be allowed to go unpunished. All decent human beings everywhere should see Foley as their collective responsibility and make sure that all those involved
in the murder are punished to the fullest extent of the law. One reason why the world community should collectively seek to get justice in Foley’s death is for the sake of restoring faith in our common humanity, in the universal moral standards and our belief in the sanctity of human life, no matter whose ox is gored. This world belongs to all things in it equally and we should for good reasons accept to accommodate each other’s unique differences, opinions and mental/ spiritual inclinations. No one has the right to force on others, against the others’ will, the purported will and mandates of their concept of the divine. From the speech accent of Foley’s killer in the gory
• US James Foley, about to be beheaded by a terrorist
“One reason why the world community should collectively seek to get justice in Foley’s death is for the sake of restoring faith in our common humanity, in the universal moral standards and our belief in the sanctity of human life, no matter whose ox is gored.” video it was clear that he is British which makes it particularly more painful and embarrassing for the British people and their government. It is for this reason that the British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond called this brutal murder; “an utter betrayal of our country, our values and everything the British people stand for.” Hammond goes further to write that “It is horrifying to think that the perpetrator of this heinous act could have been brought up in Britain.” Hammond’s statement captures the general mood and feelings of most people around the world about this act of wickedness. It does not just betray and embarrass the country of Britain; it betrays and embarrasses our common humanity. It is this betrayal that should compel all people everywhere to work hard in concert with others to stop this Islamic madness. And as the world struggles to
deal with this murder it should not be treated in isolation. The same embarrassing Islamic jihadist murders taking place in the Middle East are also going on in many other places around the world; on British soil and in Nigeria. Increasingly the world is witnessing an uncomfortable surge in the involvement of some British and American citizens in this monstrous global scourge of Islamic terror around the world. The jihadists are on a deluded quest to establish a global Islamic caliphate and believe they can achieve this by beheading the innocent, including children and women, and terrorizing and frightening everyone into submission. The world cannot afford to be too quick to forget the fact that the two Nigerian men who are also British citizens; Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale only recently in May, 2013 killed a serving British soldier Lee Rigby
on a street of London in the broad daylight. Adebolajo and Adebowale the Nigerian Islamic terrorists also killed Rigby in a similar gory manner with meat cleaver and knife as Foley’s killer, but this time the heinous crime took place on British soil. And also as Foley’s killer claimed, in the name of the Islamic jihad. Though the incidents happened in different places and at different times, yet they are fundamentally linked with each other. And for this reason it may be wise to look at them in a sort of holistic light with the view of devising comprehensive solutions that are radically different from what are obtainable right now. Currently, it seems that the two solutions-that-fixall for most of the policy makers in countries like Britain and the United States are going for regime change and stubbornly fighting to preserve the old unworkable social and Continued on page 9
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G obal Terrorism “In Nigeria particularly, to defeat the Boko Haram jihadists the permanent solution is to divide the country along the existing ethnic/ religious lines and this will weaken the Islamists there and initiate the process of establishing a lasting peace, social security and eliminating the seemingly endemic political corruption, instability and poverty.”
James Foley Murder
US President Barack Obama Continued from page 8
national boundary maps in these troubled spots like in the Biafra and Boko Haram of Nigeria and the ISIL, Kurds and Yazidis of Iraq. For several decades now these two “solutions” seem to be the aces or trump cards being tossed around by the political gladiators in these powerful countries but they seem to have stopped being effective in solving the crises in these hot spots around the world. And it is this seemingly insensitivity on the side of the decision makers in these countries that probably worry and embarrass more some of the close watchers of these outdated political maneuverings. It is this worry that is convincing the observers the more in their opinion that there is now need for some radically different approach to this problem. This radically different approach as recommended by the close analysts of the events is the
redrawing of the maps of these troubled places. If we are seeking for real solution to this problem then we must be willing to try different approaches. Redrawing of the map of Nigeria along the old Biafran lines and more, and the Kurdish and Yazidish lines in Iraq will be the real and lasting solution to the jihadist scourge of Boko Haram and ISIL. Boko Haram and all its attendant problems of today would have been avoided if Britain of Harold Wilson had been forward looking in its policies and allowed Biafra to separate from Nigeria when it was forced out by the same Islamic jihad in the nineteen sixties. The same argument can be used about the Kurds, the Yazidis and ISIL in Iraq. Biafra of 1967 to 1970 stood for Self Determination, Independence and Multistate Solution. Biafra offered the solution that
• Al qaeda terrorists
can still be applied to solve Boko Haram of Nigeria, to the Kurds and Yazidis in Iraq, Ivory Coast crisis, and South of Cameroun agitation and in a few other places. The remapping of these places will reduce the unnecessary social, cultural, religious and political frictions in these insensitive-border-induced conflict flashpoints. The nineteen sixties Biafran solution of selfd e t e r m i n a t i o n , independence and multistate solution for peoples with similarities of aspirations and world views to stay separate from those who are radically opposed to their views and values continues to echo down the years and generations. And we can only continue to ignore it to our collective human pain such as witnessed in Foley and Rigby.
Biafrans were murdered in the same sordid way that James Foley and Lee Rigby were murdered and for the same reason. Only that in the case of Biafrans they were killed in multiple thousands and later in millions by the same Islamic fundamentalists. The other major difference in the Biafran case is that some British politicians and the British government of Prime Minister Harold Wilson supported and fought alongside the Islamic terrorists of the Nigerian state to further humiliate and completely destroy the already traumatized and victimized Biafrans. But this time Britain must not repeat the same mistake of Biafra. Biafrans fought a war of Self Determination and independence; to free themselves and land once and for all from the oppressive Islamic state of
a united Nigeria. But the Britain of Harold Wilson would rather side with the Islamic state of Nigeria to defeat the democratic state of Biafra. Today, after nearly fifty years, that British decision of the sixties is directly responsible in birthing the deadly and monstrous Islamic group, Boko Haram of Nigeria and contributed substantially in sowing the seed that caused the murders of Foley and Rigby. The genocide in Biafra would not have happened if Britain had decided differently in Biafra and in the same vein the world must be spared anymore horrors of Foley and Rigby. Let the British and the US governments consciously choose to recognize the dangers of Islamic extremism and decide to take actions that are radically different from the
current ones being applied. What it all comes down to is that to defeat this scourge the collective will of the world community must be strengthened through the avoidance of doublespeak and political correctness. The leaders in the world community must choose to tackle these troubled spots one at a time and with the resolve to applying real and lasting solutions to each and every one of them. In Nigeria particularly, to defeat the Boko Haram jihadists the permanent solution is to divide the country along the existing ethnic/religious lines and this will weaken the Islamists there and initiate the process of establishing a lasting peace, social security and eliminating the seemingly endemic political corruption, instability and poverty.
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EVENT: DAY ABIES SAID
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2014
“YES I DO” By RICHARD OKORO EWEKA IT was la dream come true for beautiful Abieyuwa Imade of the Accounts Department of Bendel Newspapers Company Limited (BNCL), publishers of the Observer titles as she said “YES I DO” to the love of her life handsome Yakubu Isreal Okoh in a colourful, wonderful and well attended ceremony held at Church of God Mission (Efomo Provincial Headquarters) in Benin City the Edo State Capital. As early as 8am, friends, colleagues, loved ones, family members and well wishers trooped into the church venue in their large numbers to honour Abieyuwa and Yakubu who have decided to cement the love relationship between them and make all their dealings legitimate and legal before men and God Almighty. As the beautiful bride arrived the venue, it became electrified as she majestically walked hand in hand with representative of her father of blessed memory and was assisted by her bridal trains as the ANGELIC voices of the choir sang the processional hymn “ANCIENT WORDS”. Abieyuwa looked magnificently beautiful; beaming with smiles of accomplishment, and walked gorgeously like an angel that is just returning from a victorious outing and all eyes were on her
as the rave and star of the moment. SHE LOOKED TRULY BEAUTIFUL. The Observer team was well represented at the occasion as the General Manager (GM) Rev. Moday Aigbe who chaired the occasion at the reception led other colleagues of Abieyuwa to witness the all important ceremony. The reception venue was well decorated with white and purple colours adoring the beautiful hall which was parked full with friends, loved ones, colleagues and well wishers. Aside the colours on the hall, the beautiful lightens also complement the beauty in the hall and a replica setting of ROYALTY that befits Abieyuwa who is loved by all. The Manager Finance of Observer Mrs. Rhoda Akhanolu under whose department Abieyuwa works was dressed gorgeously and full of smiles throughout the ceremony appreciating God in the life of her staff. The ceremony was spiced up with the scintillating dance steps of the beautiful bride Abieyuwa assisted by her maid of honours. The ceremony was well attended and would remain fresh in the minds of those that where present.
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T rrorism
Boko Haram And General Ihejirika
THE Federal Government of Nigeria has not come out to reject the incriminating statements made by its employed Chief Boko Haram negotiator, Dr. Stephen Davis, from Australia, who few days ago named former Chief of army staff, General Azubuike Ihejirika and a former governor of Borno state, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, both ruling party members, as the top sponsors of the Boko Haram deadly sect that has killed more than a hundred thousand Nigerians and displaced over four million, mostly farmers in the nation’s north. For some reasons, I bet the Jonathan government will never discredit him because they know he knows much more he is not yet saying and they will not want to risk him getting bitter and telling Nigerians much more of the truth they are dying, literally dying to know. It can be concluded that the ex-military chief is a top sponsor of Boko Haram. The inefficiency and gross sabotage of the military and military operations over the past four years of his reign are living and dead testimony of his membership role in the organization. Well noted military abandonments of post prior to Boko Haram attacks, the facilitated transfer of
• Terrorists
By PEREGRINO BRIMAH
Nigeria’s best weapons, armored tanks and APC’s (taken up north to “combat the terrorists) by the military to Boko Haram throughout his tenure and continuing today are further evidence of his support of the group. The question Nigerians now ask is, why? Why will a Christian army general from the southeast sponsor a group that is promoted as being radical “islamist?” The answer must lie between or be a combination of the following: Retired general Azubuike Ihejirika is likely a loony Biafra Zionist fanatic. His interests lie in the destruction of the north of the nation which he blames for the defeat of Ojukwu’s Biafra secessionist attempt. This will explain why the Nigerian military men drafted to protect a well respected former general, who fought valiantly on the Nigerian side against Biafra, late General Muhammed Shuwa, were described to have withdrawn and looked on as the general was assassinated at his home. Of course General Ihejirika not court-martialing these men proves his involvement. General Azubuike Ihejirika would have been enjoying the havoc caused by Boko Haram on the north along
with the handful of fellow loony fanatics like himself that always celebrate the deaths and destruction to the north and call it “pay-back,” not mindful of the fact that hundreds of thousands of innocent people who were not even born during the civil war; and millions who did not participate in any way are the majority of victims. There are hundreds of cases worldwide where people and States act in like fashion with conspiracies to undermine others they hate. In many of these events, these mischief makers even sacrifice their own in falseflags to achieve their ulterior goal. It is evident that General Ihejirika did not mind as Boko Haram continued to murder Nigerians in the north. He vehemently opposed the request for additional troops made by the then Chief of defense, Ola Sa’ad Ibrahim to curb Boko Haram’s onslaught. It can be recollected that by May last year, Boko Haram had taken over 2/3rds of Borno and the General still rejected the demands for the needed troops and was seen driving in convoy’s in Abuja building his multi-billion hotel. It was later that May, after we released a high level intelligence report, alerting the world about the permitted occupation of the north by ragtag terrorists, that Nigeria’s President and the General were finally forced, reluctantly, to declare a State of emergency and finally draft the needed troops. It can also be recollected that as soon as victory was in sight and the first “Shekau” was killed by the then Joint Task Force – in August of 2013 – that the Nigerian president and General Ihejirika stopped the successful coordinated JTFCivilianJTF assault on Boko Haram and re-deployed all troops with knowhow of the war; and created a docile 7 division army that was now “banned” from cooperating
• Gen. Ihejirika (rtd)
with the CivilianJTF and would leave Boko Haram to recover and re-establish their assault on the farmers of the north. The ex-general was fulfilling the dream of the handful of fanatics who believe self-determination can only be gotten through murder. Many of us will fight for the liberation of not only the Igbo States if the people so desire, but also every Nigerian zone that wants sovereignty and selfdetermination; but one must not and need not shed a drop of innocent blood to achieve this and any other goals. Corruption is also a motive for his actions sponsoring Boko Haram. The alleged war against terror is a great source of wealth for the army chiefs. A quarter of Nigeria’s budget goes to financing this war and yet several reports, some by ENDS and others by SaharaReporters have exposed how the Nigerian army has been severely underfunded. Soldiers sleep and eat in shameful condition. They wear substandard gear and sometimes two army divisions are combined to one unit to half the cost of operations. The billions allocated to the war on terror have been swallowed by
Nigeria’s executive government and the top army chiefs. Soldiers complained to us that they are given only two rounds of ammunition to defend barracks’ with instead of 10 times that, the minimum required allocation. Soldiers complained that they had to beg the armory for rounds. The former General was stuffing his mouth with money for the army beyond belief. He has been reportedly constructing mansions and ultra-modern hotels on the money for Nigeria’s defense. Clearly the preservation and continuation of the war was in his interest and is still in the interest of Nigeria’s army chiefs as it gives them stupendous wealth under in the “democratic” era where they are out of government. The ex-General made an inadvertent confession of the sabotaging of the needed development of the Nigerian army in his rascally diversionary attack on the person of El-Rufai when these accusations were first published. He admitted and alleged in that statement published in the Vanguard that “it was because money was not spent on the army that Boko Haram was successful.” So #WhereIsOurMoney? Is it money for the Nigerian army
that he spends on Boko Haram? What wicked treachery! If I may add a third reasonthe former army Chief is known as PDP ruling party potential gubernatorial candidate for Abia State. The ruling PDP party has always utilized Boko Haram as a means of tarnishing the image of their opposition. It can be recollected that the former Party chairman and a best friend of the President, Bamanga Tukur, still on public salary, said, “Boko Haram is fighting for justice, Boko Haram is another name for justice.” General Ihejrika on this basis would have been doing the party’s bidding by destroying the north, most especially opposition States. We must thank the Chibok girls for their prayers which the Lord is answering by revealing the identities of those doing this to them and their people. Nigerians can bet on more revelations in the coming days and months. Meanwhile the nation waits as it expects these sponsors to be arrested in the coming days; else the Jonathan government will be again more seriously implicated in Boko Haram sponsorship.‘
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B eakthroughs
PSYCHOMETRIC PILOTS T
HE on-going scientific research to enable pilots fly with the content of their brain impulses will no doubt institute relief among practicing pilots. This contemporary dispensation which may also be referred to as the “Y” generation or ‘jet age’, has been filled with innovations that can make people see their fellow men as gods. Knowledge has increased. People want their names written in the Guinness Book of Record. Others want their names to span through all ages by their discoveries. William Shakespeare, Aristotle, and a host of others affected the world in their time in such that even the children yet unborn will eventually encounter the works of
By OMEIZA ROBINSON
these great men by the time they are born either impliedly or expressly. These were men whose contributions to change, in their time, as it affects the globe, can never be suppressed no matter how technical the situation may appear whether in Arts or in Sciences. The people who live in this present world are also of such passionate view that in their time, they should be able to bring about institutions that will not just change things around the globe, but things that will stand the test of time and also become a historic event credited to their record for posterity. It is under this arrangement that another improved
scientific discovery is about to hit the world on a positive note. This, obviously, is a calculated attempt to make life much easier for day-to-day regulation of air travel by pilots across the globe. It is on this position that these contemporary scientist have been able to study to discover how powerful the mind of a man can truly be, with the view of bringing about thought controlled flight which would arrive soon, according to the European Union funded “Brain Flight” project. A team of scientists the institute for Flight System Dynamic and the Berlin Institute of Technology says it has translated brain impulses into control
commands, enabling pilots in a plane simulator to achieve a range of remarkably precise maneuvers without touching the controls or pedals. The institution of an improved technological cap with lots of cables attached, pilots in the simulator were able to land a plane simply by looking at the screen and moving the control stick with their thoughts, correcting the plane’s position repeatedly until it landed. A man on a mission, with a vision, can never end in division, if he incorporates the element of determination to succeed! It is within this context that researchers seek to achieve breakthrough by way of c o n n e c t i n g electroencephalography
(EEG) electrodes to a cap to measure the pilot’s brain waves. An algorithm created by Berlin Institute of Technology scientist enable a programme to decipher the brain waves and convert them into commands fed into the plane’s control system. Once it is perfected, brain controlled flight could reduce pilots work load and increase safety. Freeing up pilots hands would give them freedom of movement to manage other manual tasks in the cockpit. The German team conducted its experiment using seven test subjects with a range of flight experience, including one who had no experience whatsoever. The team reported that all seven, flying the plane only with their thoughts
manage to achieve accuracy that would meet some flying licences requirements. Astonishingly, even the participants with little or no prior training succeeded in landing the planes. One participant was able to follow eight out of ten target headings with only an incredibly small 10 degree deviation. Another was able to land within only a few meters of the run ways centre line. Some even managed their approach in poor visibility conditions. The very moment this process is wholly perfected, pilots will no longer have need to manually manipulate buttons on the cockpit to safely land planes, rather, it is going to be a function of their mental analysis. Imagine what trained military pilots might be able to do with this improved technology.
“The very moment this process is wholly perfected, pilots will no longer have need to manually manipulate buttons on the cockpit to safely land planes, rather, it is going to be a function of their mental analysis.”
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d
E ucation
Students Vs Lecturers:
Who Is Victimising Who? CASES of victimization in Nigerian universities have obviously been caught in a web of misinterpretation. Although lecturers enjoy some degree of authority and ‘power’ over students, they have always been seen as those who are guilty of this criminal act. Under this arrangement, the position of the lecturers within the context of victimization of students, should not be considered only from the conventional myopic sense, but should be given a reversed evaluation in order to unravel verifiable facts. The position of victimization of who by whom, is not unconnected to the principle of nature which has it that humans constantly seek supremacy over another, with the intention of enjoying a pride of place as postulated by Abraham
Maslow in his h i e r a r c h i c a l organization of needs; to the end that the human intent should be gratified. The experience in Nigerian University system is not different from what is obtained in our contemporary society and even other institutions higher learning around the globe, whether impliedly or expressly. In the university system, the senior officers who occupy positions of repute obviously would have junior officers at their “beck and call” in discharging their contractual obligation in relation with binding regulation and laws which they must strictly adhere to. Even within a faculty or department, superior officers enjoy ‘supreme’ authority over inferior officers who are yet to get to such position of authority. The case however, is not different between
By OMEIZA ROBINSON lecturers and students. The lecturer enjoy a great degree of authority and some element of power over students who in a manner of speaking are embryo and will do almost ‘anything’ to ensure that they graduate with good grade from the institute so that they can enclose better positioning in labour market. With this notion, the student could easily be lured into becoming victim of circumstance because the lecturers apparently possess what they earnestly seek, which will constitute an integral part of their apogee upon graduation. As a result, the lecturers could easily swing their mood and make their students subject of control which could be interpreted in a different statement to mean ‘mental slavery’, with the installation of the fear that any counter
reaction by such student on legal grounds would subject such student to implied victimization. However, there is the case of one P.O. Otubu, a lecturer in the electrical/electronic department of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, who was alleged to have sexually harassed one Judith Okosun, a 400 level student of mechanical engineering in July 2010, SAHARA reporters, an online news medium and other news outlets presented various angles or sides to that very story to the general public. The video/transcript of that story, as reported by Sahara reporters, and posted on July 22, 2010, is a reflection of tentative terms that it may have been that the case was the other way round. The content analysis of that case reveals
that the student who claim to have been sexually harassed, may have been the one who actually victimized the lecturer. The content of that transcript shows that the lecturer was obviously subjected to physical and mental torture with the supervision of supposedly ‘gang’ members who assisted Judith to achieve her target. As a matter of fact, it should be reasonable to conduct and conclude investigation properly, on any of such related matter with empirical evidence before disseminating such information to the general public who basically will respond or react to such news story in different ways according to their level of exposure, intelligence and experience. The issue of victimization of who by whom in the university system has always been to the
favour of students and to the detriment of lecturers even when the lecturers are guiltless. This position has to be properly investigated because some students are capable of making a lecturer who refuses to compromise academic standards an object of experiment based on their strong affiliations to certain institutions which would strengthen their boldness to engage in institutions in order to drag the lecturer ’s reputation to the mud. If this is achieved by the student, the general public would have been made to hold the belief under false pretence that the lecturers within this context, are the ‘black sheep’. With detailed and verifiable investigation in relation with empirical and methodological evidence without bias, victimization in the university system could either be this or that way!
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B lief System
ABOUT a fortnight ago, a thought-stultifying myth created mass hysteria in Nigeria. Many Nigerians based on hearsay eagerly embraced the salt-water bath as otherworldly vaccine against Ebola. Seemingly, its efficacy was not questioned by the general public. Rather it was a moment of eureka. Our cultural pride ballooned, herbalists were elevated to Olympian Heights, although fleetingly. Many kept vigil, joyfully calling and sending messages to loved ones to inoculate themselves against the dreaded virus. This presents a poser. Why did many of our compatriots treat this “untested hypothesis” as proven medical fact? There are many possible answers to this question. Let’s consider some. First, many Nigerians are lovers of myths. Given the fact that the vestiges of oral culture abound in our collective consciousness, our sense of what real is somewhat myth-based. Stereotypes are ingrained in the shared frameworks of ideas that shape our
Triumph Of Myth
understanding of reality. How we derive meaning from lived experiences is susceptible to the influence of age-long assumptions. Second, we deeply hanker for quick fixes. Short-termism seems to run in our cultural DNA. Third, mythmaking fuels religious revival in Nigeria, particularly, the infusion of native esotericism and theosophy into monotheistic religions. Fourth, myths are the motif of Nollywood. Inadvertently, Nollywood has triggered a renewal of public interest in myths about black magic. Fifth, myths are part of urban reality, not peculiar to the uneducated, rural poor. They influence modern social practices even in echelons of power and prestige. Recently, one of the leading national newspapers reported the plight of a homeless nonagenarian woman in Lagos. According to the newspaper report, the 90-
By OMOZUWA G. OSAMWONYI something-year-old woman was sent out of her son’s house following the death of one of his tenant’s children. She was accused of killing the child with her “unusual supernatural power.” After the tenants gave her the beating of her life, her son sent her out of his house. Without honourable and viable options for survival she resorted to street begging. In myth-oriented cultures, like ours, people are credulous. Healthy scepticism is not one of our intrinsic merits. Hence, the old woman was implicated in the death of a child that allegedly was a sufferer of sickle cell anaemia. This demonstrates one lesson: The rules of rational decision making are in abeyance wherever myths are more or less governing principles of life. Myths have far-reaching effects on us. They fairly
influence the way we harness natural resources for human well being. For example, it is said that the Inachalo River in Kogi State is cursed, and so, fish from the river do not get cooked. Consequently, the huge economic value of its seafood is untapped by locals. Similarly, certain forests in Igbo land are designated evil, unfit for agrarian and economic uses. Nollywood and demonobsessed deliverance centres have accidentally become key reinforcing agents of myths that debar the spirit of equality. Their subliminal influences entrench a culture of social ostracism. A good example is the portrayal of “Osu women” as harbingers of evil. By rehashing myths like, if a man sleeps with an Osu lady, it will cause lumps to appear in his private parts, social
“Due to our love for myths, we mystify success. Some religious profiteers parading as God’s spokespersons trade on this illusion. As a result, we hardly see success as by-products of internalised values, but of talisman.”
harmony is deterred. Governments’ spirited efforts to fight certain crimes in our society will not yield the desired results, if the root causes of such crimes are not addressed, particularly those induced by superstitions and cultic practices. A good example is ritual killing of albinos, which is on the increase, because it is alleged that they posses magical powers for prosperity and political stardom. They are often dismembered. Even their graves are dug up with ignominy by spiritualists and powerbesotted necrophilia. For these debased acts to stop, agents and institutions of cultural enlightenment must stop glorifying myths and superstitions. Due to our love for myths, we mystify success. Some religious profiteers parading as God’s spokespersons trade on this illusion. As a result, we hardly see success as by-products of internalised values, but of talisman. Evidently, our popular pastime of demonising the youngrich-and-handsome guy springs from this mistaken notion of success. For this reason, we fail to teach our children that hard work is
a recipe of success. There is a tendency to dismiss this skewed notion of success and power as peculiar to the underclass. But the sad encounter of Ambassador Sam Edem, former chairman of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), with a sorcerer indicates that this thinking is widespread. It is reported that he spent approximately N800 million for a dubious sorcerer to help him woo fortune, ward off evil and consolidate him in power. We cannot make giant leaps in our collective quest for an egalitarian society, if we keep considering questioning myths and challenging status quos as taboos. Great nations are not built on retrograde systems of thoughts, stereotypes, and hate myths. To build a society where the elderly are treated with love, human dignity and care demands that the portrayal of the aged as half demon and half angel should stop. Aspiring architects of national transformation must muster the courage to question accepted assumptions. We need to rethink assumptions about who we are in relation to others, and pull down every oppressive structure built on myths. Very likely, a new day of glory will not dawn in Nigeria until our national psyche is liberated from the tyranny of myths.
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Weekend
WITH less than six months to the 2015 general elections, it has become a fashionable, if somewhat laughable, daily occurrence for various groups — some of them obviously put together in a hurry — to endorse President Goodluck Jonathan to run for a second term of four years in office.
DISCOURSE 2015: MUCH ADO ABOUT ENDORSEMENT OF JONATHAN By CHIKA ONUORA WITH less than six months to the 2015 general elections, it has become a fashionable, if somewhat laughable, daily occurrence for various groups — some of them obviously put together in a hurry — to endorse President Goodluck Jonathan to run for a second term of four years in office. A good number of these groups have no pedigree to speak of and nobody, quite rightly, bothers with their endorsements. However, when the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) recently endorsed Jonathan, quite a number of people paid attention. As reported by the media, the President of NANS, Yinka Gbadebo, led the association’s National Executive Committee members on a
courtesy visit to the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. During the visit, Gbadebo and his team reportedly passed a vote of confidence in Jonathan. According to Gbadebo, Jonathan earned the association’s support because: “As pragmatic and visionary Nigerians, we can see through the veil of distraction and boldly applaud the Goodluck administration for infrastructure and social transformation.” If Gbadebo had stopped there, perhaps the debate that later arose on social media platforms over the NANS visit may not have occurred. But Gbadebo went on to add: “We have unflinchingly determined to put all political detractors and evil geniuses to shame in 2015 by giving Mr
President the singular and total support of all Nigerian students. As a united association, all students have been mandated to cast their votes for President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to emerge victorious and continue the good works of transformation.” It this marching order that Gbadebo and his executive team have given to all Nigerian students that have got some people rising up in textual protest on social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook. As social media activism goes, Gbadebo’s traducers are not without their own detractors. In others words, just as there are those who are opposed to Gbadebo’s NANS mandate to all Nigerian students, there are also those who are in support of the NANS directive, and therefore opposed to those who disagree with
• President Goodluck Jonathan Gbadebo and his executive team. Considering that many other associations have endorsed Jonathan without anyone raising an objection, why has the NANS endorsement ruffled some people’s feathers? One likely reason may be that NANS, unlike some of those groups that were clearly put together for fleeting reasons, has a history that is deeply entwined with the Nigerian democratic struggle and was one of the foremost groups that
opposed military rule. It follows therefore that there are many who have emotionally invested in the idea of NANS as not just a pro-student movement, but also a group representing a pro-people tendency. Consequently, the possibilities of a difference of opinion, especially among those who consider themselves guardians of the historic pro-democracy activism that has shaped the NANS narrative, cannot be ruled out. Be that as it may,
Gbadebo and his executive team have been very clear in their reasons for pitching the tent of all Nigerian students with President Jonathan. For instance, they commended Jonathan’s support to Nigerian students and youths which he demonstrated through appointing six past NANS leaders to serve in various capacities in his administration. Gbadebo said these past leaders include the Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, Minister of
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“The price we pay, of course, is that we disdain vision and forget the arduous art of real governance. Vision and governance? Those are for wimps who are weak at playing politics. Yet, the cultivation of vision and painstaking application of governance skills were used by the broad elite who built—and continue to build—the countries where Nigeria’s ruling elite love to take vacations, to seek medical care, to send their progeny to school.”
Much Ado About Endorsement... Education, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, Kingsley Kuku, and the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Students and Youth matters, Jude Imagwe. Moreover, for those who may feel NANS should have chosen to float or sink with the opposition All Progressives Congress, the experience of students of the Lagos State University (LASU) is still too fresh to ignore. Lest Nigerians forget, LASU students were at loggerheads with the government of the APC frontline leader, Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, for many months. The issue at stake was the increment of the tuition fee of LASU, a school owned by the APCcontrolled Lagos State Government, from N25,000 to between N193,750 and N326,250. Meanwhile, within the same Lagos State, the tuition fee at the University of Lagos, a university owned by the Jonathanled Federal Government, has remained at an affordable N15,500 for several years now. Even though Fashola has now backed down and returned to the status quo ante, NANS obviously could not ally itself with the APC considering the implications of the party’s anti-people education
policies. Without belabouring the point, it is worth recalling that in January 1, 2014 when President Jonathan addressed the nation, he said, “We have diligently carried forward the
purposeful and focused implementation of our agenda for national transformation in priority areas such as power, the rehabilitation and expansion of national infrastructure, agricultural
development, education and employment generation.” If Nigerian students, as represented by NANS, are satisfied that Jonathan is keeping faith with them through appropriate investments in the education sector and youth empowerment programmes, it is not rocket science why they have decided that they will support him come 2015. And no one should begrudge them for their decision.
• Adamu Mu’azu, PDP National Chairman
The Business Of Drafting Jonathan By OKEY NDIBE
THERE’S a new business in Nigeria. It’s the business of drafting President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to present himself for reelection. A group called Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN) has emerged as the biggest, most enterprising player. Every few days, some busybodies under the aegis of TAN descend on some city in Nigeria to advance the ostensible business of drafting the president into a race all but the inhabitants of outer space know he’d been ready to run from the early days of his Presidency. The latest political craze in town is to draft a man who, long ago, already drafted himself. These decoy “drafters” stage spectacles called political rallies. At each location, they announce their collection of millions of signatories demanding one thing and one thing
only: that Jonathan should succeed Jonathan. In fact, the signature record appears to fall with each new outing. Last weekend, the bandwagon arrived in Port Harcourt, the biggest city in the president’s own geopolitical region, which goes by the intriguing and perplexing name of South-South. There, the orchestrators of the draft even saw fit to warn Mr. Jonathan to forget about ever coming home if he failed to run again. Talk about pressure from these wooers of the president! The Port Harcourt jamboree stood out for another reason. According to a report in the Tribune, Nigeria’s Minister of Finance (aka Coordinating Minister of the Economy), Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, used the occasion to remind the president’s heady supporters that Mr. Jonathan “has led Nigeria
to become the largest economy in Africa.” She added, the paper reported, that “Mr. Jonathan had created three million jobs” and “managed the country to become the fastest growing economy in Africa.” For a second, I expected that the honorable minister would remind the president that he was the one who made it possible for every single Nigerian to own a private jet, every single Nigerian to make the Forbes list of global billionaires, every single Nigerian to have access to the extraordinary Nigerian specialist hospitals located in Germany, France, Saudi Arabia, India, the US, and the UK, every single Nigerian to own a mansion in the swanky precincts of Dubai. But seriously, what does all this theater mean? It means, I suggest, that we’re faring well in our usual business— sycophancy masked as
adulation, self-interest dressed up as altruism and high-mindedness. It’s in the best interests of some, especially the small circle of profiteers, that Nigeria’s main business must remain the unceasing, perennial preoccupation with politics. My hunch is that this business of entreating the president to re-seek the job he already holds is lucrative for those engaged in it. If they don’t have returns on their “investment” now, they labor in expectation of getting some rich reward in the near future. The price we pay, of course, is that we disdain vision and forget the arduous art of real governance. Vision and governance? Those are for wimps who are weak at playing politics. Yet, the cultivation of vision and painstaking application of governance skills were used by the broad elite who built—and continue to build—the countries where Nigeria’s ruling
elite love to take vacations, to seek medical care, to send their progeny to school. For many Nigerian public officials, governance is about selfinflation. It’s about being called His Excellency, the Executive Governor of So-and-So State. It’s about being addressed as Distinguished Senator, even when the person so flattered has never blown air into a microphone at the Senate. But how about a concern with policies, especially those that are the product of deep thinking, capable of truly transforming the wretched condition of the vast majority of Nigerians? No, such policies must be discountenanced, for there is the pressing game of politics begging to be played. Don’t count on any letup in this theater of the absurd. We’ve fully entered the rainy season in Nigeria’s tremendously profitable business of
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politics. It’s a season when self-appointed apostles make it their business to remind the man at the top about his dazzling, transformational touch. As if their idol’s memory is impaired, they itemize for him all the u n p a r a l l e l e d achievements of his first term. They assure him that all citizens are 110 percent loyal. As for the few, negligible number of naysayers, why, they are congenitally disgruntled elements. Let’s be clear: I don’t mind Mr. Jonathan running for reelection. But it behooves him to come out and use his mouth to tell Nigerians what they have already intuited: that he’s running. Let him use his mouth to tell Nigerians the number of jobs he created, and how. For that matter, let’s hear directly from him how he’s fared in meeting the promises he made when he ran for his current term. Where he’s failed, let him look Nigerians in the face and explain why he failed. And let him, in his own voice, define a roadmap for where he wishes to take Nigeria should he win a second term. This whole orchestration by TAN is tiresome, and should be shelved. It’s redolent of the awful political practices of the past, from the shadowy group that threatened to sue Ibrahim Babangida if he ever stepped down to the posse that urged Sani
Abacha to transform from a uniformed dictator to an agbada-adorning ruler. There was the crowd that told Nigerians that their constitution must be changed to accommodate a third term for Olusegun Obasanjo. And, even as Mr. Jonathan’s predecessor, Umaru Yar’Adua, lay sick in a Saudi hospital, his courtiers were telling us to brace for a second term of the man! Mr. Jonathan should recall his Finance Minister to Abuja, and ask her to get cracking with the business of seeing that Nigeria’s much-vaunted economic growth lifts up more Nigerians from poverty and translates into employment opportunities for the milling unemployed youngsters. He should ask Anyim Pius Anyim to leave the business of chasing down fairytale signatures to those who have nothing better to do. Mr. Anyim should be by the president’s side helping him grapple with the many crises besetting N i g e r i a — i n s e c u r i t y, electric power woes, a debilitated educational sector and a dismal healthcare system that is being further strained by the unpredictable, dreadful Ebola virus. In the end, I doubt that anybody believes that Mr. Jonathan is reluctant to run for reelection, and needs to be coerced. The attempt to leave the impression of a reluctant
candidate insults the intelligence of Nigerians. Worse, at a time when the Nigerian army needs to be better equipped to take on Boko Haram, when Nigerian infrastructure demands urgent attention, the so-called campaign to draft Mr. Jonathan constitutes an unconscionable, deplorable investment of public resources on a political farce.
“This is not about stomach infrastructure, amala politics or social rehabilitation. The man I am talking about is you and I. We need to come out of our holed disguise, become men and women of character at home, at work, in school, in our worship places, we need to learn the new trick of being true to ourselves else we cannot be true to others—Do we want to change Nigeria–Only time will tell.”
Nigerians Holed Up In Their Disguise “YOU can’t teach an old dog new tricks…” Old axiom As 2015 approaches, the permutations are building, baring a miracle, the man with good luck from Otueke will have the day, all the APC noise may remain what it is, wishful noise…and the question will remain what is wrong with us as a people and what do we really want. I have come to the conclusion that the problem of Nigeria is the lack of political leaders with the will too pursue the right path to success, some schools of though think otherwise…they say we have the men that can do it, the only problem is that these men do not have the money or the fraudulent political machinery to get to the top, in a phrase “they are clean”, way too clean. Others think that we deserve what we get, some feel we are confused and others see hope. Various arguments have their own merit, but in the next couple of lines I beg
By PRINCE CHARLES DICKSON
to introduce us to a man called Character, he is not a member of PDP, neither does he belong to APC, he does not fraternize with the clowns of APGA, or in a Labour ward. He is not that “ beautiful” man among the present set of people harloting around with the “God sent me”, “I know I can solve the nation’s problem”, “I will continue with the reforms” and similar lines, that is different. The dude is not any exGovernor, looking for Senatorial immunity when he over the years could not pay teachers. He is not ex-General or ex- PDP, AC, DPP, PPP or P candidate. He is not the man who is aging and promised that he won’t contest again but will still contest. This man that we need is a chap called Character, of the present lot masquerading how many of them have the name Character? The man called Character is my, and should be our, not just by 2015 but today, that man/ woman has broad ethnic affiliation, yet no regional bias. He is first a man of himself, no godfather, nor mother. He is the right man, think right, act right, be right man. We need leadership that has character of purpose and that we need a change in the present Characters parading themselves as leaders. We need a leadership with the right perception of what we want, where we are going. For now, we can all see that in leadership right from Aso Rock to a tiny
ward in far away Birnin Kebbi, Characters with essential tendency of corruption in the way they lead, act, treat citizenry is the norm, the blood that runs through the veins of those that are (s)elected to lead the affairs of this nation have become engine oil black from the treachery against the masses. Character is easily kept than recovered. The unarguable truth is that try hard as the current elite feel that they can and want to lead us; it should be on our own terms not their own terms. Sadly we have no terms for engagement, as our characters too are flawed. Our current system is one of parties with 1, 2, 3, 4 factions, because of a bankrupt character, a man selected on a political platform, on the excuse of how Kolanut was shared without him, moves to the next party. We are saddled with the been there, done nothing crew, after rating their past performance it is obvious that they have failed before but knowing the nation for what we are, they will boldly want to take us for another jumbo ride of trial and error. Which is why sadly in many elective platforms what we have is a case of having to choose the lesser of two evils, forgetting that the two are still evil. We need a leader that is like an angel with one wing and knows that the masses are the other wing and together we can fly embracing each other. We need that man called
Character, a man above mediocrity, a man who like the present bunch is not part of the problem because we can never solve a problem on the level, which it was created. I end by saying that, he that is cheated twice by the same man is an accomplice with the cheater…Where do we stand as part of this enterprise of Nigeria, is it ours, or theirs or for all of us and them. What we are afraid of doing is a clear indicator of what we need to do, our worries in the lack of leadership gradually is becoming a master to us. Painfully you don’t teach an old dog new tricks, but you can try…. in the last few lines, I have not be talking about Ribadu, former presidential candidate now guber hopeful, I am not talking of Buhari or the man with many shoes at the Villa. This is not about Rufai who tweets all day, or the PDP dudes that dance even while the nation is on fire, neither is it about the goons in APC that make it a habit of increasing school tuition and decreasing same. This is not about stomach infrastructure, amala politics or social rehabilitation. The man I am talking about is you and I. We need to come out of our holed disguise, become men and women of character at home, at work, in school, in our worship places, we need to learn the new trick of being true to ourselves else we cannot be true to others—Do we want to change Nigeria–Only time will tell. Yours In High Regards
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DIASPORA VERDICT Reality Of Grassroots Development By Andrew Igene, former Chairman, Edo NUJ 1988-1992, lives in Dallas Tx USA SINCE I left homeland, some years ago, to explore the puzzle across the Atlantic, my routine visits back home afforded me opportunities to savour emerging realities of our common heritage. Time was, when government efforts at development were defined and assessed by how much billions of naira was “earmarked” for particulars sectors. Equally depressing, then, was the irony that whereas “billions” would have been “earmarked”, virtually nothing was seen on the ground to justify the self- adulating hoopla of officialdom. Not anymore. Comrade Adams Oshiomole has demonstrated that practical, evident, farreaching development projects are realizable, measured and appreciated by local communities. Edo State, for long, was reclined to the poverty mentality; that since it was not endowed with intimidating Oil and Gas; there were, therefore, no funds for crucial development. But what you see, now, in all parts of Edo State, attest to the dictum that where there is a will, there is a way. Comrade Oshiomole’s courage and audacity have re-defined development as visible, positive change that we can see and feel and not merely by the “bureaucratic” billions of naira” earmarked”. That explains why the Oshiomole phenomenon reverberates beyond Edo State. It puts the state on the spotlight as a shin
light on the hill. The news in the diaspora is no longer about Governor Fashola and Lagos State. Comrade Oshiomole and Edo State have taken over the headlines. Many Edo indigenes abroad are eager to come home at the next opportunities to see the positive transformation for themselves. In Benin City, modernity displays itself on the major streets and roads like Akpakpava, Mission, and Ring Road (now) Oba Ovonramwen Square, Airport Road, TV Road and 5-Junction among others. What you see are beautified pavements, modern streetlights, walkways, flowers and ornamental plants. Coupled with these, are dual carriage ways, traffic control lights and traffic control officers in uniform. Again, the menace, once
posed by okada riders, is now a thing of the past. To alleviate the hardship of motorists, Comrade Oshiomo commissioned 300 new cars, purchased by the State Government for use by former okada riders. At the time, Governor Oshiomole maintained that 15% subsidy on the price of each vehicle was granted to each beneficiary which the government was not expecting them to pay back. This gesture is further evidence of Comrade Oshiomole’s sense of community service delivery to the people. Indeed, the next step would be to ensure that these taxi cabs do not engage in arbitrary price charges. Another grassroot milestone is the provision of free bus rides for students in uniform in both public and private
• Comrade Adams Oshiomhole
schools, to and from schools, across the State. Comrade Oshiomole stressed that “this is something we are doing just to show that we care. This is one way we can deliver more subsidy in a way that cannot be a any middle man.” Certainly, the 42-seater air conditioned buses have also substantially eased mobility of passengers and goods. Students, market women and others have found Comrade buses convenient alternative to “tuke-tuke” commercial operators. These buses provide safety, comfort and low-pricing for the masses.
There are also inter-city routes covering BeninEkpoma, Benin- AuchiOkpella, Benin-UromiUbiaja, Benin-IguebenBenin-Ewohimi-Ewatto, Benin-Igarra-Ibillo, BeninUrhonigbe and BeninSabo-Afuze-Otuo. Outside Edo State, Comrade buses have served as intervention vehicles in emergency evacuations of Edo people from Bauchi and University of Maiduguri, Borno State. Commendably, the Comrade Bus project is the first to use the Epayment system in its operations and also the first to employ female 42seater bus drivers. This exemplifies Oshiomole’s
“Comrade Oshiomole and Edo State have taken over the headlines. Many Edo indigenes abroad are eager to come home at the next opportunities to see the positive transformation for themselves. In Benin City, modernity displays itself on the major streets and roads like Akpakpava, Mission, and Ring Road (now) Oba Ovonramwen Square, Airport Road, TV Road and 5-Junction among others.”
commitment to women empowerment. Not the least, is the massive renovation of dilapidated schools across the State. Some of them, I have visited and seen for myself. Hundreds of secondary and primary schools, abandoned by previous administrations have been rebuilt, renovated and provided with new furniture and other modern facilities to promote conducive learning. Red roofs and perimeter fences are the signature marks of Comrade Oshiomole’s new transformation agenda for primary schools. By whatever political barometer, his tenure is scrutinized and measured; Comrade Oshiomole has set a clear example of grassroots development. Also impressive is the fact that Comrade Oshiomole has not been distracted by other ambitions. He has not ventured into the murky permutations of Presidential politics. His service to Edo State deserves commendation.
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EMBER Months And Its Scare!
THREE hundred and sixty five days makes up a year while three hundred and sixty-six days make a leap year which occurs invariably once every four years. Every month remains as it were as there is no change in the number of days except for the month of February which turns twenty-nine (29) in a leap year instead of the usual twenty-eighty (28) days that exist in the month. There are usually 3 quarters in a year and each quarter ha it months embedded in it. First consisting of January, February, March and April which is also celebrated all over the world as “April fool day”. The second quarter consists of May, June July and August is the month of a new beginning because July the 7 th month is the month of perfection. The last quarter of the year which is the 3 rd consists of September, October, November and December. These last 4 months means different thing to different people. People often refer to these months as the special month which they called the “Ember Months”. The Yorubas would refer to them as “Osu ber-ber” that is, the months of berber because they all end with the three letters B-ER. October however does not carry the EM aspect
of it while the September, November, and December are the carriers of the EM which is why people refer to them as the “ember” months. Some call these months, ‘evil’ months because, they believe it is during this era that multiple accidents and uncountable number of lives are lost especially on our highways. It is also believed that this era is the period when evil spirits or blood sucking demon go around to cause accidents to travelers in order to get enough blood for their demonic activities. However, some others believe that there is no significant difference between the first two quarters and the last quarter saying that it is due to negligence and impatience on the sides of commuters and distant travelers that leads to loss of lives of people during this era. But according to the liturgical calendar of the Western Christian Churches, Ember days are four separate sets of three days within the same week – especially, the Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday-roughly equidistant in the circuit of the year, that were formerly set aside for fasting and prayer. These days set apart for special prayer and fasting were considered especially suitable for the ordination
By GEDU LONGLIFE of clergy. The ember days are known in Latin as the “quattuor anni tempora” (the “four seasons of the year”) or formerly as the “Jejunia” quarter or temporum (“fasts of the four seasons”). The four quarterly periods during which the meber days fall are called the embertides. Also, there was the ember week. It is the week which the ember days occur which are usually between the third and fourth Sunday of Advent (although the common worship lectionary of the church of England places them in the week following the second Sunday in Advent), between the first and second Sundays of lent, between Pentecost and trinity Sunday and the week beginning on the Sunday after Holy Cross Day (September 14th), the liturgical third week of September. So obviously the ember period is expected to be a season of fasting and prayers where men are supposed to seek the face of the Lord but unfortunately today in the calendar of the 21 st century, it is a period of fear for a particular set of people due to the attachment of evil to the months. While others see this period as an
opportunity to gather resources such as materials and finances in preparation for the festive period that is fast approaching others never get so conscious to save for the festive period until they are in the last quarter of the year which falls between the ember months of September, October, November and December. This period is what I usually call the “rush hour” because this is usually the hour when everyone tries to make gains that he/she had never made before and also to have enough savings to take care of inevitable needs that would arise during the festive period of December. Tensions are usually high; people want to work really hard in order to be able to cater for their families. For instance, a married man, with wife and children would want to do all he could to save himself to his embarrassment that might come either form the wife or from the children. It is high time people came to the realization that there is no month that is evil attached to it. God after he created everything in the beginning took a very good look at what he had created and lo and
behold. He said “everything was very good” Gen 1:31. If there was something wrong left he had done, he would have also stated it because he is a God of his words and not a man that he should lie or repent of his deeds Numbers 23:19. Drivers who ordinarily were living a riotous lives and squandering every little money that enters their pockets on drinks and women would now want to regain their lost virtues and income at a late hour due to this effect, they want to recover their losses thereby driving recklessly overtaking unnecessarily which is a resultant effects of the multiple accidents on our highways. There are warning signals everywhere for drivers from Federal Road Safety Corps advising drivers not to drive when they drink or drive but don’t drink but this warning is often neglected by our commercial drivers as they continue in this lackadaisical act that is highly detrimental to the lives of passengers. The statement is usually said “Drive but don’t drink or drink but don’t drive”. The drivers also have their saying to back up their foolish actions that it is the drink that helps to change their bodies and prevent it from cold. People always say that time is money but the General Overseer of the
Redeemed Christian church of God, Pastor E.A Adeboye once said that time is not just money but “ Time is life” and people should be mindful of the way they use it because a time lost can never be regained. What I am trying to establish in essence is that, there is no need for humans to rush themselves into death all in the name of trying to meet up with the expenses that come with the festive period because it will definitely come and go and it would not last more than a day or at most three and life continues. Remember the festive period of December 25th and January 31 st would last just for a night and they are more or less like the other days you have lived before now. Regrettably, the reasons for our celebration on the 25th of December is also unknown to a millions of persons because they believe, it is a period to eat unnecessarily or be drunk with excess wine and gulling to immorality. Not knowing the importance of the birth of the saviour who later gave his life for all flesh in order to reconcile mankind back to the creator. Finally, the ember months are just like every other month and they are not evil unless you make them by engaging in evil act.
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BRAIN DRAIN Stealing The Great Minds Of Africa Giant
IN the midst of political instability, economic repression, poverty, strive, and abuse, coupled with insecurity championed by the ravaging Boko Haram sect and the ebola epidemic, Nigeria is yet shackled by a civilized form of imperialism, or if you like, neocolonialism. A situation where Nigeria’s finest brains are developing other hands at a very costly expense on our own growth. Adewale Akinuoye Agbaje, keenly soughtafter Hollywood Actor known for his terrific roles in Oz, Lost, Borne Identity and a host of other blockbusters; Prof. Samuel Adeloju, Multi-
award winning scientists, Professor of chemistry and Nanotechnologist at Monash University, Australia, Dr. Joseph Igietseme, Us-based scientist and winner of the Shepard Science Awards of the United States Centre for Disease Control (CDC), Philip Emegweali whose works speak for themselves, and millions of other Nigerians are scattered across the globe doing exploits for their host countries. The list is endless and their achievements are even more insurmountable. Brain drain has been defined as the large-
By RICHARD IMHOAGENE
scale emigration of intellectuals, technical experts, and academia to the west; North America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Third World nations, especially in Africa suffer more from this global epidemic that has eaten deep into the socioeconomic system of nations, brain drain may mean different things to different people. To some, it may refer to mental breakdown in an individual, but it should be seen from a larger perspective. Brain drain is also referred to as “human
capital flight”. Nigerians with scientific skills and expertise; resourceful and purposeful are shipped out of their shores daily on a quest to develop other lands. Blessed with the best and richest natural and mineral resources you can think of, Nigeria is only a shadow of the colossus it ought to be. How then can we blame these emigrants who seek more conducive political atmosphere, progressive economies and better opportunities? According to Adetusika, in his 2010
“Brain drain has been defined as the large-scale emigration of intellectuals, technical experts, and academia to the west; North America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Third World nations, especially in Africa suffer more from this global epidemic that has eaten deep into the socio-economic system of nations, brain drain may mean different things to different people. To some, it may refer to mental breakdown in an individual, but it should be seen from a larger perspective.”
online article, there are about 21,000 Nigerian medical doctors in the United States alone in the 21 st century. Yet, Nigeria fails to meet the minimum World Health Organization (WHO) standard of 20 physicians per 100,000 people. This shows how threatening brain drain can be to the very existence of a nation. These professionals are lured by Western nations who can provide better opportunities and attractive working conditions. The causes of brain drain vary from political instability, economic repression, social disorder, insecurity, and personal gratification, to educational tours and career pursuit. The consequences are even more numerous, the worst of which are impoverishment and under development. Thabo Mbeki, former South African President, in his renaissance speech of 1998, was forced to ask! “In our world in which
the generation of new technology and its application to change the human condition is the engine which moves human society further away from barbarism, do we not have need to recall Africa’s hundreds of thousands of intellectuals back from their places of emigration in Western Europe and North America to rejoin those who remain still within our shores?” This question almost entirely answers the question about the need to bring back our great minds that can propel our developmental engine. Like Mbeki, I dream of the day when our mathematicians and scientists in the US and Western Europe, our engineers, physicists and economists in the UK and Australia, and our industrialists in Dubai and Malaysia can come back home and join forces with fellow compatriots. Perhaps, together we can free this nation from its shackles and move her forward.
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Economic Prospects Of The US-Africa Summit THE just concluded USAfrica Submit which President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan attended comes handy with greater economic prospects for Africa; especially Nigeria, the largest economy in the continent. According to reports, Nigeria and the United States have commenced moves aimed at leveraging on the $14 billion investment pledge made to Africa by President Barrack Obama to the country’s advantage as it will oversee effective financing of infrastructure in Nigeria. For example, the US Commerce Secretary, Penny Pritzker said “US Companies were eager to do business in Nigeria due to the on-going reforms in critical sectors, adding that, they could also leverage on the US export assistance facilities scattered around the country.” While speaking, the Nigerian Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Olusengun Aganga noted
By EDWIN EKENE UHARA that, apart from investment commitments and MoUs that were signed during the summit, most investors agreed that Nigeria had the most robust, clear and friendly policies on power which other African nations should try to emulate. He added that “This means we already have an enabling environment that will encourage more investors to come and invest in the sector.” “In fact, what these investors are saying is that most of our sectoral policies which we have put in place have already encouraged them to come to Nigeria. That was why when we met with the American automotive manufacturing giant, Ford during the summit, they said they wanted to come to Nigeria as quickly as possible because of our new automotive policy.”
If the automotive policy was not in place, Ford would not be talking about coming to invest in Nigeria! He also noted that, the World Bank had made a pledge of $5 billion for risk capital preparation of projects and to invest in Nigeria. He also disclosed that, most of the investments will be going to the power sector. All these are happening because the current administration in the country formulated and is implementing the right economic policies like the National Industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP) etc. Aganga also said that “That is the value you get as a country when you have a proper industrial plan and a well-articulated sectoral policy.” Like I have asked earlier this year about the future of Africa in an article entitled “Is Africa’s Future in Trade or Aid” and what becomes of
• President Goodluck Jonathan
US President Barack Obama the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) after 2015? But Mr. Aganga said “… We are looking forward to the reformation and modernisation of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). We are working on National AGOA strategy in addition to raising the awareness of Nigerians to fully understand the benefits and opportunities that exist there in for them. We will continue to engage with the United States under the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) in order to build and sustain the momentum.” In the same article, I also hinted of how some African countries as well as some United States analysts and commentator s had been kicking against the notion of Africa entering in to any Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with Europe as a replacement to
the Preferential Trade Agreement and how it will turn the continent in to a dumping ground for European made goods, the Minister cleared the position of Nigeria saying “Nigeria had not shifted its position, EPA must meet the country’s expectations and must be in our overall best economic interest. Nigeria will not and cannot sign any agreement that will lead to loss of jobs, income and investments. These are our major priorities and concerns as a country and until EPA addresses these priorities and concerns, we will not sign any agreement with the European Union.” The question now is, if Africa should enter in to negotiation with America for the extension of AGOA, is it still going to be anchored on the same raw material products? How has Africans themselves benefited from
the current terms of AGOA? And what will the extension mean to Africans in general? It has been observed that one of the reasons Africa’s contribution to global trade is still very insignificant is because we export our natural resources without adding values to them. This is one of the reasons our high Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is still not reflecting in job creation in the continent! It is also part of the reasons there is still conflicts in some parts of the continent. Nonetheless, why is it that most countries with rich mineral resources are the ones usually bogged down by crisis and conflicts in the continent? Therefore, just like the position of my country Nigeria is known, other countries in the continent should also make their position known so that it will help in coordinating the views of the continent on EPA and help in the reformation and modernisation of AGOA to incorporate the needed aspect for our growth as well as translate our high GDP to better living standards. Hence, the economic prospects of the just concluded US-Africa Summit should be maximised to our own advantage. Various countries in the region should therefore internalise as well as rectify and domesticate the outcome of the summit in their countries. The days when summit resolutions end on the dusty shelves of policy makers are over! The time to act is now. What the future of Africa becomes tomorrow will depend on the actions or inactions of the present day leaders of the continent.
Politics: Men Aregbesola Must Avoid
AS the flamed embers of the recent Osun gubernatorial polls begin to cool off and things return to normal, some senior members of the victorious All Progressives Congress (APC) have begun to take stock and question the activities of certain political actors. According to sources close to leadership of the party in the state, certain individuals may have to answer for some of their dubious actions on the days leading to the election and their whereabouts on the day of the polls. The elections were held under the watch of heavy security as over 70,000
officers from the military, police, State Security Service and the Civil Defense were deployed to the state. Arrests of leading members of the APC began days before the polls and continued until election morning. After the polls, the APC in a press statement alleged that over 150 member of the party, aides of the governor and his deputy and some commissioners were detained in order to give the Peoples Democratic Party undue advantage. However, it has been revealed that some of the members claiming to have been detained only
By KOLAWOLE OJUDU
pretended to be. There are others too who colluded with some members of the PDP to sabotage the undeniable victory of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola. One of such is the brother of the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Titiloye Laoye Tomori, Mr. Sunday Laoye, popularly known as “T Mack”. He defected to the PDP a few weeks to the election and it is alleged that some APC stalwarts worked with him against Ogbeni Aregbesola in Osogbo. Another is Segun Adebiyi,
(Segun Abija). Even though he benefited from the APC government – being awarded four major contracts – he decamped to the PDP. His claim of marginalization has never been proven. Honourable Rotimi Makinde is a federal lawmaker representing Ife Federal Constituency, and claimed to have been arrested on the morning of the election. However, his story has been found to be inconsistent because no resident of his environs saw him either the day before or of the election. Friends and
associates have different versions of the story of his ‘arrest’ as told by him. A theory is that he struck a deal with the PDP candidate and went underground on the day of the polls. There are also unfounded reports of three Osun lawmakers, meeting and sealing deals with Omisore in the days leading to the election. These politicians are those who know they have not done enough to get an extended stay in office and want to return at all cost, so the PDP found it easy to entice them. Desperate people like these must be removed from the
system and replaced with committed democrats. These are just a few of the ‘frenemies’ Ogbeni Aregbesola will have to keep an eye on and stay away from in his second term at the helm. The business of governance is too important to have obvious antagonists roaming the corridors of power. It was the revered and often quoted Chinese military strategist, Sun-Tzu, who said, “Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer.” He said nothing about ‘frenemies.’ Ogbeni Aregbesola should do away with them now!
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C unselling
With
The Key To Persuasion THE key to persuasion is softening people up and breaking them down, gently. Seduce them with a two-pronged approach. Work on their emotions and play on their intellectual weaknesses. Be alert to both what separates them from everyone else (their individual psychology) and what they share with everyone else (their basic emotional responses). Aim at the primary emotions love, hate, jealousy. Once you move their emotions, you have reduced their control, making them more vulnerable to persuasion. In the game of power, research shows that you are surrounded by people who have absolutely no reason to help you, unless, it is in their interest to do so. And if you have nothing to offer their self-interest, you are likely to make them hostile, for they will see in you just one more competitor, one more waster of their time. Those that overcome this prevailing coldness are the ones who find the key that unlocks the stranger ’s heart and mind, seducing him into their corner, if necessary softening him up for a punch. But most people never learn this side of the game. When they meet someone new, rather than stepping back and probing to see what makes this person unique, they talk about themselves, eager to impose their own will power and prejudices. They argue a boast and make a show of their power. They may not know it but, they are secretly creating an enemy, a resister, because, there is no more infuriating feeling than having individuality ignored, your own p s y c h o l o g y unacknowledged. It makes you feel lifeless and resentful. Research also shows that when T.E Lawrence
was fighting the Turks in the deserts of the Middle East during World War 1, he had an epiphany. It seemed to him that conventional warfare had lost its value. The old fashioned soldier was lost in the enormous armies of the time, in which he was ordered about like a lifeless pawn. Lawrence wanted to turn this around. For him, every soldier ’s mind was a kingdom he had to conquer. A committed, psychologically motivated soldier would fight harder and more creatively than a puppet. Lawrence’s perception is still more true in the world today, where so many of us feel alienated, anonymous and suspicious of authority all of which makes over power plays and force even more counter productive and dangerous. Instead of manipulating lifeless pawns, make those on your side convinced and excited by the cause you have enlisted them in, this will not only make yours easier but it will also, give you more leeway to deceive them later on. And to accomplish this you need to deal with their individual psychologies. Never clumsily assume that the tactic that worked on one person will necessarily work on another. To find the key that will motivate them, first get them to open up. The more they talk, the more they reveal about their likes and dislikes, the handles and levers to move them with. The quickest way to secure people’s minds is by demonstrating, as simply as possible, how an action will be benefit them. Self interest is the strongest motive of all. A great cause may capture minds, but once the first flush of excitement is over, interest will flag, unless there is something to be gained. Self-interest is the solider foundation. The causes that work best use
a noble veneer to cover a blatted appeal to selfinterest, the cause seduces but the selfinterest secures the deal. The people who are best at appealing to people’s mind are often artists, intellectuals and those of a more poetic nature. This is because ideas are most exactly communicated through metaphors and
alienated, disaffected soul can spark a blaze of discontent, Louis XIV made sure to endear himself to the lowest numbers of his staff. You too must constantly win over more allies on all levels; a time will inevitably come when you will need them. Symbolic gestures are often enough to win
imagery. It is always good policy, then, to have in your pocket at least one artist or intellectual who can appeal concretely to people’s mind. Kinds have always kept a stable of writers in their barn. Frederick the Great had his Voltaire until, they quarreled and separated). Napoleon won over Goethe. Conversely, Napoleon III’s alienation of writers such as Victor Hugo, whom he exiled from France, contributed to his growing unpopularity, and eventual down fall. It is dangerous, then, to alienate those who have powers of expression and useful to pacify and exploit them. Learn to play the numbers game. The wider your support base, the stronger your power. Understanding that one
sympathy and goodwill. A gesture of self sacrifice, for example, a show that you suffer as those around you do, will make people identify with you, even if your suffering, is symbolic or minor and theirs is real. When you enter a group, make a gesture of goodwill, soften the group up the harsher actions that will follow later. The best way to do this is with a dramatic jolt, of the kind that Chuko Hang created when he fed and released prisoners who expected only the worst from him. Shaking them to the core, he softened their hearts. Play on contrasts like this: Push people to despair, then give them relief. If they expect pain and you give them pleasure you win their hearts. Creating pleasure of any kind, in fact, will
O.C. Madu GSM: 08056379608 usually bring you success, as will allaying fears and providing or promoting security. In all your encounters, take a step back, take the time to calculate and attune yourself to your
weaknesses. Soften up the resistant by working on their emotion. Playing on what they hold dear and what they fear. Ignore the hearts and minds of others and they
targets’ emotional makeup and p s y c h o l o g i c a l weaknesses. Force will only strengthen their resistance. With most people the heart is the key. They are like children, ruled by their emotions. To soften, them up, alternate harshness with mercy. Play on their basic fears and also, their loves, freedom, family etc. once you break them down, you will have a life long friend and fiercely loyal ally. According to Lawrence, governments saw men only in mass, but our men, being irregulars, were not formations, but individuals… our kingdoms lay in each man’s mind. The way to seduce others is to operate on their individual psychologies and
will grow to hate you. The greatest way to win a way is by the art of persuasion and seduction. People are willing to work harder for a cause they believe in. Winning hearts and minds prevail not by the use of superior force, but by making emotional or intellectual appeals to sway supporters of the other side. You must seduce others into wanting to move in your direction. A person you have seduced becomes your loyal pawn. And the way to seduce others is to operate on their individual psychologies and weaknesses, soften up the resistant by working on their emotions playing on what they hold dear and what they fear. Ignore the heart and minds of others and they will grow to hate you. Peace and love.
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P rspective
Prof. Chinedu Nebo, Minister of Power
Who Exorcises NEPA’s Ghosts? REVEREND father Raymond Arazu, the Anambra state born Catholic Priest is a well known and respected professor of theology who has very deep intellectual views on the scholarly understanding of the concept of exorcism which is regarded widely as one of the most exalted spiritual exercises’ of all times. It was from the voluminous scholarly works of reverend Professor Raymond Arazu that yours truly came face to face with the theological concept of exorcism even as a philosophy student back then in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s. Like Father Arazu who became a very influential theologian in the Congregation of the Holy Ghost Fathers also known as the Spiritans, I was enrolled in a Religious Catholic Senior Seminary whereby for four years I had very close intellectual encounter with scholarly writings of theologians in the specific area of exorcism which to all intents and purposes are usually very debatable and indeed controversial lines of thoughts. Before offering reasons for introducing theology in a discussion on the political intrigues tearing down the effective supply of electricity power to Nigerian houses, I will first and foremost explain the etymology of the word exorcism so my readers can understand and fully appreciate the fact that behind this classical systemic ineptitude and crass inefficiency and corruption in the nation’s electricity power sector are some demons embedded in the system. These forces of retrogression and corruption
are behind the prolonged inability of the nation’s electricity power sector to rise to the occasion and meet with global best practices in the supply of electricity power to millions of Nigerian homes. It is precisely because of corruption and the various demons in the system that over 80 million Nigerian homes are officially rated as not enjoying the services of the epileptic electricity power sector in contemporary Nigeria and this lack of electricity supply is the most notorious harbinger of mass poverty and the declining performance of the real economic and productive sector of the nation’s economy. The Federal House of Representatives, one arm of the National Assembly has once commissioned a probe by its Power electricity committee in which a very damaging conclusion was reached that over $16 Billion USD was committed into the Electricity Power sector to revamp the near moribund power plants by the then Chief Olusegun Obasanjo-led civilian administration from 1999 to 2007 but to the disgust of most Nigerians these humongous public fund were simply stolen by top government officials and the electricity power sector was still left in shambles. Incidentally the demon in the system also consumed the Chairman of the Federal House of Representatives Mr. Ndudi Elumelu who was accused of bribery and this sensational allegation marred the investigative works of this probe panel. There is indeed no doubt that there are several layers of demons in the electricity power sector in this nation
By EMMANUEL ONWUBIKO
and until these demons are exorcise through legal means and the forces of corruption identified, named, shamed, prosecuted and sanctioned in the competent courts of law, the electricity power sector may not know stability. The current Minister of Power in Nigeria Professor Chinedu Nebo, an erstwhile university administrator was after all on his assumption of office blamed some demons for the epileptic electricity power supply in the country even with massive injection of multi -Billion United States Dollars of tax payers’ fund into several effort to revive the near moribund and corruption-ridden electricity power sector by succeeding administrations since 1999. These demons must then be exorcised. What then is exorcism? A quick research of the website of www.newadvent.org revealed that the word Exorcism is the act of driving out, or warding off, demons, or evil spirits from persons, places, or things, which are believed to be possessed or infested by them, or are liable to become victims or instruments of their malice”. Secondly, exorcism is understood to imply the means employed for this purpose, especially the solemn and authoritative adjuration of the demons, in the name of God, or any of the higher power in which he is subject. The word, which is not itself biblical, is derived from exorkizo, which is used in the Septuagint (Genesis 24:3 = cause to swear; III(I) Kings 22:16 = adjure), and in Mathew 26:63, by the high
priest to Christ, “I adjure thee by the living God…”The nonintensive horkizo and the noun exorkistes (exorcist) occur in Acts 19:13, where the latter (in the plural) is applied to certain strolling Jews who professed to be able to cast out demons. These same scholars also stated that expulsion by adjuration is, therefore, the primary meaning of exorcism, and when, as in Christian usage, this adjuration is in the name of God or of Christ, exorcism is a strictly religious act or rite. Going further, these theologians averred that in ethnic religions, and even among the Jews from the time when there is evidence of its being vogue, exorcism as an act of religion is largely replaced by the use of mere magical and superstitious means, to which non-Catholic writers at the present day sometimes quite unfairly assimilate Christian exorcism. Superstition, they argued, ought not to be confounded with religion, however much their history may be interwoven, nor magic, however white it may be, with a legitimate religious rite. After fully exploring the theological dimension of exorcism, it is now time to assert without any fear of contradiction that the Nigerian electricity power sector is besieged by demons of corruption, inefficiency and political intrigues and these evils were in high circulation at a recent parley organized by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) when some remnants of the ghosts of the defunct Nigerian Electricity
Power Authority now domiciled in the federal ministry of power as officials kicked furiously at the attempt by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to make regulation on electricity supply and installation standard for the Nigeria Electricity Supply Industry (NESI). This show of shame by these power ministry officials is the second in the series of sinister plots to undermine the authority of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) said to be headed by a man drawn from the civil society background with chain of Harvard University degrees who is not willing to play ‘game’. The first attempt in the well coordinated war of attrition against NERC was the decision of some officials of the Ministry of Power to sponsor a bill before the National Assembly to create a parallel body to NERC with the underlying objectives of perpetually allowing Nigerians not to enjoy unimpeded access to electricity power and to enable them line their pockets with filthy lucre. That bill which has some influential members of the Federal House of Representatives as interested parties is called National Electricity Management Authority (NEMSA). Most observers say the proposed bill in the federal House of Representatives is meant to weaken NERC since most of the proposed functions and mandate of the new institution conflict and overlap with the functions
and roles of Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission. Specifically, Electricity Management Services limited is one of the offshoots (successor companies) of the erstwhile dysfunctional NEPA which was unbundled into six generating companies, one transmission company and eleven distribution companies under the Nigerian Electricity power Sector Reform policy (NEPSRP) in 2001 and the Electricity power sector Reform Act of 2005. In the light of the above factual reality, it is safe to conclude that the Electricity management services is one of the ghosts of NEPA that must be exorcised and the open confrontation it waged against NERC only few days back shows how imperative it is for President Goodluck Jonathan to quickly put measures in place to ensure that greedy power ministry bureaucrats do not undermine the expected gains of an efficiently regulated electricity power sector in Nigeria, the type envisaged in the setting up of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission. There is a groundswell of opinion that political forces bent on scuttling the chances of the current President to run for second term are at works with the sponsorship of the Bill to create a parallel body to NERC and by so doing infuse confusion in the regulatory environment and thereby denying the current Federal administration any benefit of advertising the success of electricity power sector deregulation as part of the achievements of this government at the center.
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I sues Behold The Wind Chaser called Aribisala “WHEN a representative of the oppressed absorbs the ideology of the oppressor he becomes more ferocious and dangerous than the oppressor in defending that ideology” – Dr Edwin Madunagu I remember I used this quotation from Dr Edwin Madunagu when a certain leader from the South East Nigeria decided to abandoned all the things he stood for in his prime to embrace the ideology of his oppressors because of hate and politics of the stomach. I took time to remind the leader in Igboland all the things he spent his life fighting for and only to dump them for selfish reasons when it mattered most. I cannot disclose who that leader was because he is no longer alive to defend himself. Before settling down to put these words on paper, I tried to dig into the background of this character and Political bigot called Mr Femi Aribisala. I wanted to find out if his name is attached to a single achievement in advancing the cause of this country for the better. I wanted to find out if he has taken any risk at all in his life to achieve a cause. I wanted to find out if Femi Aribisala has given leadership to his family, community and Nigeria. I wanted to find out
if he has any pedigree at all. My aim of doing this is this: If Femi Aribisala had been a great man or an achiever he would have no need to try to pull down a great man. This is because nobody who aspires to be a great man will seek to bring down another great man. In fact, the only way you can become a great man is to admire great men. I could only find little achievements to ascribe to Femi Aribisala’s name in my search. Femi Aribisala has been trying without success to pull our leaders and our great party down with his scurrilous drivels every Tuesday in his column in one of Nigeria’s leading Newspapers thinking that he will succeed probably by chance. But this wind chaser of our time has always failed in this ugly mission. Femi Aribisala must have read the book: 48 Laws of Power. One of the laws in that book says the only way to destroy a great followership is to bring down the leader. This ugly man with his ugly project has been trying to tarnish the reputation of our great leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. This wind chaser thinks he can sway the tide of public opinion against our leader with his useless postulations and renditions. This man who lives in the past has been applying a
By JOE IGBOKWE
10th century solution to a 21st century problem. Femi Aribisala has failed and failed woefully. The problem with Femi Aribisala is that he wasted his youth without achieving anything. What he did not achieve in his youth is what he is trying to achieve at more than 70. No, you cannot reverse the hands of the Clock. Time lost can never be recovered. Sycophancy is not a trade. Nobody goes to the university to learn sycophancy and praise singing as a course. If you cannot make it in your 40s and 50s forget it. The truth is that Femi Aribisala works for PDP just to make up the lost glories and opportunities of the past. But must you earn a living by shooting others down? Must you ride on the back of great men? No, success is not an event. It is a result of years of hard work and commitment to the welfare of the common people. Femi Aribisala may not know this man called Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and why he is what he is today. When the likes of Femi Aribisala are sleeping, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is working. This man is trying to cut an Iroko tree with a kitchen
knife. Femi is trying to dig 20 meters well with bare hands. I want to throw these questions to Femi Aribisala: Do you know the man you want to bring down? Do you know his level? Do you know his followers, his friends and associates around the world? Do you know his capacity? Do you know his network and contacts? Do you know what he controls? Do you know the thousands he has groomed and established? Do you know how many leaders he has brought up? When will you ever know the capacity and the strength of the man you are fighting? Eniti o mo Oba lo nfi Oba sere (Is he who does not know the real king that toys with him). I advise this noise maker to stop the noise and go back to do the real work that will make him get to the level of Asiwaju BAT. This man who invests in the wind has been talking about the outcome of Ekiti and Osun elections. He and his gang in PDP stole Ekiti while we slept. When thieves at our gates got to Osun they met us awake even at 3am in the morning of August 10, 2014. In Osun Femi and his robbery gang came with helicopters, guns, bombs, jackbooths, tanks, etc but
• Chief Bola Ahmed Tinubu
ordinary people with bare hands stopped their open robbery. Iyiola Omisore, a fake and bad product could not have gotten 50,000 votes if not because of Femi Aribisala’s gangsters and vote robbers. In the State of Osun Femi Aribisala and his forty thieves came to steal and to destroy but were stopped by the rugged will of a determined people. They shot in the air, marched on the streets, bought votes in thousands, scared APC supporters to their homes and oppressed the poor but they were not enough to stop the courage of the people of the state of Osun. Femi Aribisala has turned a blind eye on the excesses of PDP in the past 15 years
in Nigeria, he cannot see the rot in Nigeria, he cannot see that PDP wants to turn Nigeria into a one party state; he does not see the changes everybody sees in his South West and beyond where APC is holding forte. Aribisala, choked in his petty jealousy, hate and greed cannot see that he has a long way to go to join the class of Asiwaju BAT. The articulation of the breath and depth of his petty politics, and mediocrity tells us at once that Femi has no respect for successful people. Your intelligent and duplicitous lies lacked elementary norms of decency in every aspect of life. I am at a loss why you are fighting and judging our great leader and APC.
NEF On Jonathan, Chibok Girls And 2015 By PEREGRINO BRIMAH
Chibok girls
ACCORDING to an article in the Punch of August 11th, the Alhaji Sule Maitama-led Northern Elders Forum, NEF has “given the president of Nigeria till October to recover the abducted 234 Chibok girls or forget his 2015 reelection bid.” The position of the NEF is worrying to say the least. It is reasonable to say that if this was any other nation, the only call will be for the president’s unreserved urgent
resignation. Many more potent leaders have resigned for 100-fold more trivial crimes in nations across the world. Its therefore seriously distressing that after five years of unabated terror; after five years through which not a single sponsor of terror was arrested by the Jonathan administration; after five years through which up to 100,000 northern based Nigerians have been killed in violence and over four
million mostly northern farmers have been displaced; after five years in which Benue farmers have been massacred with ease; after five years during which billions in property, livestock and businesses have freely been destroyed in unchecked terror; after five years during which the economy of Nigeria and the north in particular has been irreversibly destroyed along with hope for the youth; after five years during which corruption has been the order of the day in Nigeria to tunes of billions of dollars looted by the administration; after five years during which Bayelsa state has secured its spot as the most polluted land on the entire planet; after five years in which Nigeria has become the worst nation for dangerous high sea piracy in the world…. this list can go on indefinitely: the NEF
figures that the rescuing of what is left of the eternally cheated, deprived and abandoned girls is an important criteria and condition for determining not only Jonathan staying in power another day, but his re-electability. Contrast this to the position of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, the minute in August of 2012 they simply heard the president of Nigeria state that “Boko Haram were like his siblings and this is why he deals with them with a soft approach, “kid gloves.” CAN immediately voted noconfidence and called for his resignation. By the above statement, the NEF has proven disconnect with the sufferings of Nigerian people. The NEF has proven lack of sensitivity to the plight of the Chibok familes and the abducted girls. The NEF has proven that it does not understand
or relate to the true degree and extent of irrecoverable damage from the permitted Boko Haram terror to Nigeria and the north in particular for centuries to come. The NEF has turned a blind eye to the prevailing feature of Boko Haram terror, the group being constantly armed and equipped with weapons and military tanks and APC’s directly from the nation’s army, under Jonathan and his service chiefs. The NEF is proving by such approval of the state of affairs in Nigeria thus–far, that the hundreds who die every day in the northeast, killed with bullets from Nigeria’s official military cache, procured with the nation’s oil money which are now in the hands of Boko Haram; killed with military tanks bought with Nigeria’s wealth, which have been transferred to Boko Haram by the corrupt, insensitive and clueless actions of the current administration, are of no concern to them. The
NEF does not believe in accountability and justice for past crimes, by making such a submission. The NEF does not hold the president to account for eating with and protecting the sponsors of terror, while hundreds of thousands of Nigerian poor masses are killed every day. We believe that the only call from any responsible Nigerian and foreign organization at this time that Nigeria has become one of the most terrorized and robbed nations on the planet, now exporting terror to its neighbors, is the call for the immediate resignation and/or impeachment of the leadership of Nigeria. Anything short of this is tantamount to a betrayal of the people served and represented. Nigeria is not catching up as it faces more unpredictable challenges like Ebola. We need a leadership that connects with the precarious, desperate plight of the ordinary, ‘mere’ masses.
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RUMINATION
Obedience: The Antidote To Regret
“AND it shall come to pass, if thou shall hearken diligently unto the voice of the lord, thy God to observe and do all his commandment, which I command thee this day; that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth”. Deut 28:1. There are so many simple but rewarding instructions that the LORD admonishes us to observe in the course of our lives.
In these he inherent blessings that would showcase his glory in our lives. Obedience is merely adhering to laid-down rules and instruction. No one is above the law but anyone who obeys the laws cannot be convicted by the law he obeys rather he/she remains innocent
“Rehoboam had wanted to war against the ‘rebel’ but God forbade him. “: Ye shall not go up; nor fight against your brethren, the children of Israel… they hearken therefore to the word of the Lord and reformed” 1 Kings 12:24 beloved, obedience is the only known antidote to regrets and loss in life.”
before the law as he/she allows himself/herself to be conscious of the consequence of it. There are glaring and inherent rewards for willingness and obedience in Godly instructions, be it from man or God, our creator as stated in the bible. Isaiah 1:19. It states “If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall cat the good of the land”. Deut 28: 2-14 states the good of the land that should not elude anyone who desires relevance in the scheme of life. Adam and Eve flagrantly disobeyed the instruction of the Lord when they allowed themselves to be carried away by the
deception of the devil in the garden of Eden. From that day on ward, they were denied the cordial relationship, they once had with God. Gen 3:1-6, 23-24. King Solomon, King by human conception and assessment who did not deserve to be king by virtue of his background but was crowned king by God, who cannot be faulted; yet he failed to obey God as instructed. He took to what he was advised against and ended up not fulfilling God’s designed purpose for his life. 1 Kings 3:1314. 1 Kings 11:1-4. Beloved, Solomon’ son, Rehoboam could not ascend to the throne of Israel as king but for the love God has for David, he was allowed to rule over two tribes of Israel! 1 Kings 12:16-19.
With
Ernest Ikhureigbe Rehoboam lost all sense of judgement for God’s designed punishment to be upon him 1 king 12:117. Rehoboam had wanted to war against the ‘rebel’ but God forbade him. “: Ye shall not go up; nor fight against your brethren, the children of Israel… they hearken therefore to the word of the Lord and reformed” 1 Kings 12:24 beloved, obedience is the only known antidote to regrets and loss in life. If Rehobaoam had attempted to go into battle, he would probably have lost all. He had no option than to obey the one who stirred up adversary against him to fulfill his will for disobedience. Jesus wants and deserves his instructions to be obeyed no matter
how foolish we consider them. No wonder in John 2:5 Jesus mother admonished his disciples, never disregards whether he tells you, but” whosoever he said unto you do it.’ As disciples of God, do his bidding. John 8:31-36. The disciples lived and abided by it, otherwise they would have remained irrelevant in the choice ministry that God bequeath to them. In Luke 24:49, they were wait to went in Jerusalem “until ye be endued with power from up high” they did wait and power as promised came and they exhibited and God was glorified. Act 1:8. There is no other vehicle than that of obedience that can take us to our place of destiny. Strive to be obedience.
Pastor, Sex And Scandal
GRACE and peace be multiplied unto you. I am optimistic that you are doing well. I have decided to write to you through this medium, not necessarily because I want to follow the evolving trend in our nation, but because ecclesiastical protocols often debar effective lay-clergy communications, particularly, pew initiated engagements that urge pastors to uphold the norms of account-giving behaviour. Again, in faceto-face context, it is not commonly seen as a mark of spiritual heroism for a pastor to share experiences or solicit help on overcoming secret vices till they become public knowledge. In fact, sexual issues are commonly seen as off-limits to explore conversationally. Pastor, as you can see, moral decadence is a marked feature of our time. Its ubiquity conveys the notion that we are on the eve of the collapse of our civilisation. As it was, when Roman civilisation was on the cusp of decline, so it is today. Humanity is now intellectually poised to embrace a new civilisation without shared morality, freedom without
responsibility, spirituality without grace, theology without Theo, Christianity without Christ, and church without bible. The emerging climate of thought is profoundly marked by ethical haziness. I guess that the nascent Queen James Version of the bible may become as popular as the authorised King James Version, because of the incessant moral failures of church leaders. Their failures nudge and urge influential leaders of thought to drag humanity along thorny paths of moral ambivalence. It is common today, to find the kind of Christian C. S Lewis spoke about in his best selling book, Mere Christianity: “A famous Christian long ago told us that when he was a young man he prayed constantly for chastity; but years later he realised that while his lips had been saying, “Oh Lord, make me chaste,” his heart had been secretly adding, “But please don’t do it just yet.” Folks with this kind of attitude set off an epidemic of drifting away from God. They would neither zip up nor shut up. They have all the
By OMOZUWA GABRIEL OSAMWONYI.
trappings of God’s spokesman, but their beliefbehaviour dissonance make people to drift from truth, compromise standards, and get by with sloppy living. Pastor, it is evident that sexually broken pastors cannot pilot churches to ever-increasing sphere of significance, fix societal ills, and guide humanity along the path of moral probity. Sexual blunders significantly impair ministerial effectiveness. A church leader that misuses his reputational capital cannot make maximum impact. I wonder if there is anything that saps the spiritual vitality of church leaders, and muffle their voices like inappropriate sexual behaviour. Hence, some can’t decry corruption any longer. Rather, they keep company with political malfeasants. C o n s e q u e n t l y, experimenting with new evil has become a popular hobby. Just like the days before Martin Luther led reformation, some now openly flout ecclesiastical niceties, flaunt depravities, priest and prostitute now tango. Living like pigs, yet,
they create Saint Augustine-like aura around themselves, and seek veneration as supposed apostolic authors of Acts 29. Unfortunately, the dynamites of truth hardly blast to shreds a sinhardened conscience of a regenerated man. I imagine that if this trend does not abate, very soon, Christians may become flip with God to the point that pastors will exultantly speak about their illicit sexual escapades. It will be punctuated by thunderous shouts of Hallelujah. If they say something like “I am dealing with it. You see, I used to rape minors, but now I sleep only with consenting adults” people will give thanksgiving offerings for the tone down, or supposed lifestyle modification. There are many illusions that trigger pastor-related sexual misconducts. For example, there are churchgoing ladies who think they become anointed by sleeping with anointed men, like you. There are young ladies who mistakenly think it is okay for them to render sexual services to a pastor
for ministering deliverance from the spirit of poverty to them. Again, there are those who at the drop of a hat will sleep with a pastor just to be projected as core in his support network. There are also those who feel their bodies are meant to tantalise men to church. In fact, I heard the latest church growth expert in town is fond of saying; to grow a mega church, grow young women leaders. Pastor, there is an ageold illusion that you can sleep with as export on the same bed through the night, and you will be still as stone and know that God is God. Please, don’t experiment. Otherwise, you may become a guinea pig in Satan’s lab. It is conceit to acquiesce with those who peddle the illusion that you live beyond the sphere of sin. Don’t indulge your ego and forfeit your soul. Those that say when you were anointed and appointed, your body became dead, irresponsive to visual and tactile sexual stimulants like an icecapped man at the North Pole, seek to dig your vocational grave. Don’t allow them to take liberties with you. Build safety barriers against their
influences. Cherish your well-honed character, and hard-earned reputation for integrity. If not, you may create life-long debilitating credibility gap. Credibility, which is fuelled by purity, is the bedrock of pastoral influence. Without it, your belief and behaviour are not worthy of emulation. In other words, credibility deficit will make your influence marginal. Every pastor is bound to fight the battle of credibility. Of course, one critical arena where credibility is tested is in your relationship with the opposite sex. It is ministerial suicide to live like a pig and stream pulpit platitude like an angel. Take some lessons in sexual purity. Live a life of blazing holiness that will refute the prejudices of mean-spirited faultfinders. A pastor is a time bomb going somewhere to explode if discretion and purity are missing in his interactions with the opposite sex. If your bedroom becomes a prayer ground, you are a step away from sleeping with ladies on the altar. Destruction is afoot whenever discretion is trivialised.
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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2014
HAVE you heard the scream? It must have got to you since the yell which emanates from the southeast reverberates even in the remotest part of Kano State. By the scream, I’m referring to manner in which parts of the country gained and were cheated in the distribution of additional 29,129 polling units carried out by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. Of a truth, the inequality is one that is screaming for attention. Had it been that it called for attention, this column wouldn’t have been distracted from focussing on other troubles our nation is inundated with. But then, it elected to scream for attention. Hence, you cannot deny to have heard it even if you are located around Nigeria’s border with Niger
• Prof. Jega, INEC Chairman
A Look At INEC Polling Units Distribution
Republic. Though understandably prominent in the south-east, this shout is further re-echoed from other flanks of southern Nigeria as well as those patches of the north inhabited by northerners whose sense of objectivity is still very much alive. From my perspective, INEC’s creation of the additional polling units is an ambush. It is akin to what Steve Nwosu of The Sun Newspapers would have included in his list of acts that amounts to ‘tactical manoeuvring.’ It is rightly so because a good number of us by virtue of the commission’s earlier cleanup of the voter register had passed a vote of confidence on Jega’s INEC to the extent that we all went to bed. Unfortunately, that was when the commission chose to take us unawares; coming like a thief in the night! Whether this was an orchestrated act or another instance of our public servants advancing out the vague public interest, we shall get to find out as we progress. Let’s begin with a backgrounder: The electoral body, as earlier pointed out, went about vetting the nation’s voter register- a procedure which helped it detect millions of ghostvoters. The endeavour yielded so much success such that our voter register which in 2011 had some 70 million names as registered voters in Nigeria depreciated to a figure below 60 million. This was all that was needed by most Nigerians to surrender all to INEC and go to sleep. By the time they woke, they were greeted with the new reality that the number of polling booths in the country, which they knew
By UGOCHUKWU UGWUANYI
to be 119,973, has now climbed to 150,000. The furore and disquiet that ensued had nothing to do with INEC spiking the number of polling units. Rather, it had everything to do with the manner in which the booths were distributed among the major divides of the country. It also had a lot to do with the fact that the number of polling units handed the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, surpassed the number of polling booths that the entire south-east got! Note that I’m not referring to Enugu State alone, but the five states of the south-east put together! Pray, what justification can be given for this, even if the rest of us were fools? I bet you can now remember hearing the yell for attention. How I hate to discuss any issue that would warrant me pitching one division of the country against the other. But, INEC left people like me with no choice. Perhaps, I should just call up the data showing how many of the new polling units were ‘zoned’ to each geopolitical zone in the country lest I be accused of being mischievous. You want facts? Here you have it: Out of the additional 29,129 Polling Units, PUs, created by INEC, the north (including the Federal Capital Territory) got 20,715; while a meagre 8,414 of the sum went to the south. And this is how it was shared among the geopolitical zones: The northwest cornered 7, 906 of the new PUs; north-east 5, 291 and north-central 6, 318, conversely south-west 4, 160, south-south 3, 087 and south-east 1, 167 while the Federal Capital Territory
(which is still a part of the north) getting 1, 200. Little wonder the delineation is screaming for attention. The perceived regional bias inherent in it is accentuated by the following home truths: the allocation of 7,906 PUs to the north-west approximates to the 8,412 which the whole of southern Nigeria got. Similarly, each of the north-east and north-west zones got more polling units than the whole of south-west inclusive of Lagos, which is considered the state with the highest number of eligible voters nationwide. And then the most inciting of the short-change is that the allocations of the new PUs that accrued to the FCT exceeded what went to the entire south-east! The apparent advantage the most recent creation of PUs gave the northern part of the country is without respect to the fact that an earlier cleanup of voter register led INEC into discovering more fictitious voters in the north than it did in the south. Zamfara State used to have 2,045,131 registered voters. The clean-up exercise revealed that 1,130,245 of these were ghost-voters, meaning that as much as 44% of the names in the Zamfara voters register were bogus. With this as the case, why would INEC then go ahead to award more PUs to states like this in a fashion that amounts to taking one step forward and two backward? Let’s try to check out the explanations INEC has given for this awkward arrangement. According to Kayode Idowu, who is the chief press secretary to INEC chairman
Prof. Attahiru Jega, “The whole purpose of the exercise is to enhance the access of voters to PUs and align the Nigerian system with global best practices. It is also intended to minimise the cost of elections.” I hear! Let’s try to remember that while announcing the creation of the additional polling units, the INEC director in charge of the commission’s secretariat, Ishiaku A. Gali, informed that the creation of the additional PUs was in fulfilment of the electoral umpire’s pledge to decongest polling units across the country in order to make it easier for voters to cast their votes. And then I asked, is it that people of the north love casting their ballot so much that their PUs are always congested as against those in the south? It is probable that people of the south are so passionate about voting that even if there is just one PU per local government area, they will still persevere through the jam till they have voted for their preferred candidate, hence INEC saw no need in wasting logistics. Then again, it may be that the people of the north are not wont to coming out to vote on election days, therefore as an incentive, INEC is merely trying to lure them out by bringing the booths closer to them. All these supposition would be incomplete without this last one. It is already said in some quarters that INEC is merely playing out a script from what the controversial Femi Aribasala termed #Bring Back Our Northern Domination. Hear the columnist, “what the North lost by the removal of the fictitious ghost-voters
was then re-awarded by the allocation of additional polling-units. For example, Zamfara that was discovered to be the guiltiest state in the inflation of its register with over one million ghost-voters was then awarded 1,000 more polling-units. Given the fact that each polling-unit has a maximum of 500 voters, this means Zamfara was awarded additional 500,000 potential voters as compensation for its loss of ghost-voters. “It also means INEC compensated the North with 10, 807,500 potentially new voters; as opposed to 4,206,000 in the South. This is more than enough to swing any election to the Northern advantage,” he posited. Meanwhile, INEC is not yet done in the defence of its contentious award of polling units. According to the electoral body, “the defunct National Electoral Commission of Nigeria (NECON) created the present structure of PUs in 1996. The present commission undertook a verification of the PUs nationwide and their location in 2010 and ascertained 119, 973 units. “A substantial number of these PUs are located in public buildings. But there are some PUs located in public open spaces; and yet some others in the premises of traditional rulers, places of worship, frontage of private houses and, indeed, inside private compounds, “International best practice is that classrooms or halls of public schools/institutions should be used as polling units. This makes access control and crowd management at the PUs much easier,” INEC explained.
I took my time to present you this explanation from INEC so you can help me decide if it adequately justifies the favouring of one part of the country to the detriment of another in the distribution of polling units. This is because from where I stand, their postulations are sheer balderdash. It is so because I expected them to rather throw more light on that scientific means they used which supported the award of more polling units to parts of the north where insecurity has decimated the population there as against the relatively safer south. They should have also told us how on earth an FCT came to be in a position to get more PUs than the whole of south-east. Basically, the commission should have been more interested in straightening out all the obvious odds surrounding the PUs instead of the lame justification it is putting out. Not until they give us a better explanation or correct this screaming anomaly, I would want to believe that INEC is merely trying to tilt the scale in favour of the north ahead of the 2015 election. President Jonathan had better intervened by working for a more equitable and balanced redistribution of the PUs for his own sake. In a manner of speaking, Ndigbo are to be held responsible for this cavalier treatment their zone got from INEC. This is because their actions and inactions violated the native wisdom which suggests that the more likely your zone is to deliver close to 100 per cent votes for Jonathan in 2015, the less number of polling booths you will get. Ultimately, this remains their Ebele Azikiwe’s battle to fight. I’m just saying!
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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2014
Today’s Diet
News
With Pastor E. A. Adeboye
53 Percent Of Abuja Rail Project THE Minister of Federal Executed - Minister Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Bala Mohammed, has said
Wind Of Change Memorise: And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. Acts 4:33 much power that their Read: 2 Kings 2:11-14 exploits for God are
WHEN the wind blows, you get new power and there is a symbolic change of garment, as it happened in the life of Elisha. After experiencing the wind of change, Elisha took off his old garments and tore them to pieces. It was only after he tore off the old that he put on the mantle that Elijah had dropped off for him. To experience the new power that the wind of change brings, you must be ready to tear off your old garments and get into new garments. At the time Jesus was crucified, Peter was a terrified weakling who went into hiding. After the wind blew on the day of Pentecost, this same Peter became the first empowered, bold preacher of the gospel of Jesus. In addition to his powerpacked preaching, Peter also spoke boldly the words that brought about the first recorded miracle among the early Christians. This is precisely what all Christians of today desperately need: power and grace. The apostles of the early church had so
still inspiring us today. Besides, there was so much grace upon their lives and ministry that even the authority of the established rulers of their day paled into insignificance. Nicodemus came to Jesus and testified to the greatness of His power in John 3:2: same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from Cod: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except Cod be with him?’ This is the time for the wind of change to blow in your life. The Lord Almighty wants to fill your mouth with testimonies. An end
has come to all the curses that have been working against you. The anointing of the Lord can break all the curses in your life. This power knows no limitations. The impossibilities on your way have to be removed because God is poised to do wonders in your life. He wants to put a new song in your mouth that will make your feet break forth into dancing and rejoicing. Get ready for a divine intervention that will divinely position you for uncommon breakthrough. You must however settle your account with the Lord and get rid of sin because it can stand in your way to blessing. God wants you to prosper and be in good health, and so shall it be in Jesus’ Name.
ACTION POINT
Pray that the anointing will destroy every yoke in your life and family.
“This is the time for the wind of change to blow in your life. The Lord Almighty wants to fill your mouth with testimonies. An end has come to all the curses that have been working against you.”
that 53 per cent of work on Lot 1 and Lot 2 of the Abuja Light Rail project has been executed. Mohammed, who was represented by Mr. Obinna Chukwu, the Permanent Secretary in the FCT, made the fact known when he hosted participants of the National Defence College Course 23. The minister spoke on the topic, “ Investing in building a capital city’’. He said the integrated rail system was targeted at bringing thousands of commuters from the satellite towns into the city centre. He said although contract for the project was awarded in 2007, the actual work began on the site with the procurement of the Chinese loan in 2012. “The rail network when fully operational will provide full time employment for 20,000 people as the administration
RECONCILIATION OF NAME I, Inu Musa Amike wish to bring for the information of the general public that Inu Musa Amike and Inu Musa is one and the same person. Henceforth, I am now properly known and addressed as Inu Musa Amike. All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc and the general public should please take note.
has set a benchmark of opening up, at least, 10 new districts by 2015,’’ Mohammed said. While highlighting the infrastructure deficit challenge in the territory, the minister said the aggregate infrastructural development in the FCT, which had been funded mostly by government, was about 30 per cent. He said that the infrastructure and services were overstretched; adding the FCT was planned with only one million people in mind but its current population had exploded to five million. “There is an increasing cost on resettlement and compensation which is becoming unwieldy. FCT requires N200 billion to resettle and compensate those living in the Federal Capital City. “The demographics have shown the need for Abuja as emerging city to address the infrastructural deficit,’’
CHANGE OF NAME
OGIEMUDIA-I formerly Miss Rita Ehiosu Ogiemudia, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Rita Ehiosu Okao. All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities and general public should please take note
PUBLIC NO TICE NOTICE CA VEA T EMPT OR CAVEA VEAT EMPTOR
Re: Prince Magnus. A. Eweka’s Land This is to bring to the general public that the family of Late Prince Magnus Aigbovo Eweka’s land is the one lying and situated at Igo Village, along Ekenwan Road, close to the Army barracks at Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State registered at the Land Registry, registration No ML 35867 covering and measuring 6.868 Acres of Land is NOT FOR SALE. Trespassers will be prosecuted. Signed: PRINCE KENNETH OSAHON EWEKA For the family.
AUCTION SALES There will be a public auction sales of abandoned, unclaimed and accidented vehicles and motorcycles at Ogida Division of the Nigeria Police Force, Edo State Command. Date of sales is two weeks from this publication. Items Are. Toyota Carina Reg. No BP808 LSD, Nissan Primera Saloon Reg No AG 877LSD, Ducato Bus Reg No. XT 304 ENU,6 Daylong Motorcycles Reg Nos. QF 781DGE, QC574 EHR, QG 801 KPE, QQ 193 AGU, UA 920 BEN and other motorcycles For further information, contact: BENJAMIN ENOBAKHARE Police Auctioneer 08039422549
Mohammed said. He listed some of the ongoing projects as the rehabilitation and expansion of Airport Expressway Lot 1 and Lot 2 which had reached 90 per cent and 98 per cent completion respectively. Others are reconstruction of Lower Usuma Dam-Gurara Dam-Jere Road project was now 93 per cent completed. He said with some efforts being made by the administration, the housing deficit would be reduced by 20 per cent and cost of leasing by 15 per cent.
CHANGE OF NAME AJILA - I formerly Mrs Ajila Abike Helen, now wish to be known, called and addressed as Daramola Abike Sandra. All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities and general public should please take note. CHANGE OF NAME ALAO - I formerly known and addressed as Miss Alao Rufiatu Omokhele now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Abu Hassan Rufiatu Omokhele. All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities and the general public should please take note. CHANGE OF NAME
FAKPODA - I formerly known and addressed as Mrs. Vero Fakpoda now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Vero Adjobome. All former documents remain valid. All concerned authorities and general public should please take note. CHANGE OF NAME NWABAH - I formerly Miss Gloria Onyeje Nwabah, now wish to be known, called and addressed as Mrs Gloria Onyeje Umukoro. All former documents remain valid. University of Benin and the general public should please take note.
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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2014
Temkira Pharmaceuticals Canada: Approval To Produce Cure For Ebola THE perception and understanding of the deadly Ebola virus became more apparent in Nigeria with the arrival and demise of Mr. Patrick Sawyer, the Liberian – American Ebola patient who flew in to Lagos, Nigeria and subsequently died on the 25th of July 2014. The Medical Health authorities immediately sprung into action to try their best to stem the spread and quarantine those known to have had direct contact with the late Liberian-American who was said to have attended the funeral ceremony of his late sister in Liberia a few days before. It is important, to note that as of today, there is NO Ebola virus epidemic in Lagos. The President of Nigeria, President Goodluck Johnathan has however announced a National State of Emergency with the aim of raising the general levels of awareness on the risks of the virus and the necessary precautions needed to prevent the spread in urban and rural communities. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is coordinating closely with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) with respect to potential implications for air connectivity. WHO’s current risk assessment for travel and transport is NOT recommending any travel restrictions or the closure of borders at points of entry. Furthermore, the WHO states that “the risk of a tourist or businessman/ women becoming infected with Ebola virus during a visit to the affected areas is highly unlikely as transmission requires direct contact with blood, secretions, organs or other body fluids of an infected person” (IATA Press statement, July 31st, 2014). Similarly, WHO advises that transmission of the virus can only occur when patients are displaying severe symptoms of this disease which takes about 2-21days to manifest. In a bid to fast track the possible cure of the drug, Tekmira Pharmaceuticals Corp. saw its stock jump more than 22 per cent Friday morning after announcing it has verbal approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that would fast track its new drug to treat the Ebola virus. Today the World Health Organization declared the Ebola outbreak in West Africa to be an international public health emergency and called for extraordinary
measures to combat it. B.C. Ebola remedy developer Tekmira’s share value spikes Ebola outbreak: Experimental treatment sparks who-you-know debate News that the FDA has applied a “partial clinical hold” on Tekmira’s treatment could clear the way for use of the drugs on infected individuals, the company said in a statement. It’s stock was up $3.61 at $19.08 on the TSX this morning. The company started an early stage human clinical trial for the treatment in January and was granted fast-track status from the U.S. FDA on March 5, pushing shares to their highest level, above $33. The trial was put on hold July 3, when some of the patients in the trial experienced problematic immune responses. The company still is on clinical hold for the multiascending dose portion of the study on healthy patients. But the FDA approval will make it possible for single ascending doses to be given to infected patients. “We are pleased that the FDA has considered the risk reward of TKM-Ebola for infected patients,” Dr. Mark Murray, CEO of the B.C.based company said in a statement Friday. “We have been closely watching the Ebola virus outbreak and its consequences and we are willing to assist with any responsible use of TKMEbola.” TKM-Ebola is being developed by Tekmira and the U.S. Department of Defence medical team. Another Ebola treatment, Z-Mapp was used to treat two American aid workers affected with the virus. It was developed by Mapp Biopharmaceutical, Inc. and LeafBio of San Diego, Calif, and Defyrus Inc. of Toronto. Ebola belongs to a family of viruses that can cause serious hemorrhagic fevers. The recent outbreak, which has killed more than 1,000 people since February, is the worst since the disease was discovered in the mid-1970s. At Toucan Aviation well continue to monitor the situation and has also taken time to educate our team about the virus and the need to maintain the highest hygiene levels at this time*. We have placed posters all around the EAN Hangar facility which is our operational base as a reminder to the team and also to visitors. We would
By ACHUZIE EZENAGU. also like to inform all clients that our operational base at the EAN Hangar is outside of the International and Local Airport environment which further isolates and reduces interaction with the general public. EAN themselves have released a series of effective communications to help educate the general public and its clients. Toucan Aviation’s crew are housed at a private crew house in the Government Reserved Area of Ikeja which is 5 minutes from the airport. We are fully equipped with an international grade chef from Johannesburg. We maintain the highest levels of hygiene at all times and have imported all the necessary protective gear required in the event of any reported emergency. We are also very pleased that the United States Federal Drug Agency (FDA) has given a verbal approval to change the status on the drug, known as TKM-Ebola Investigational New Drug Application, from a full clinical hold to a partial clinical hold. This action may allow the medicine to be used to treat the growing tally of those stricken by the Ebola virus. We implore the Federal Ministry of Health to lead the way in reaching out to Tekmira Pharmaceuticals Corp to pioneer the administration of this new drug on the few but sadly affected Nigerians currently suffering in isolation centers. This clearly may be a more effective route than seeking out the Z-Mapp Drug that is still awaiting clearance from the United States Government. On our part, we are confident that the spread of this virus will be curbed. We expect that it will escalate slightly before the new drugs are produced in distributable quantities. With this in mind we will be watching the progress closely. In all we do, we must remain calm and remember that this virus is communicable by way of direct contact thereby making it less dangerous than the H1 N1 flu virus that broke out in South East Asia. In the case of the H1 N1 flu virus the CDC Influenza Division, used an improved modeling approach which resulted in an estimated range of deaths of approximately 575,400 people who perished worldwide from 2009 H1N1 virus infection during the first
year the virus circulated. Clearly we can see that a disproportionate number of deaths occurred in Southeast Asia and Africa, where access to prevention and treatment resources are more likely to be limited. James Ball of The Guardian Newspaper put the issue in clear context in the article he wrote on June the 5th 2014 by saying “Ebola has become the stuff of hypochondriacs’ nightmares across the world. In the UK, the Daily Mirror had “Ebola terror as passenger dies at Gatwick” (the patient didn’t even have Ebola), while New York’s news outlets (and prominent tweeters) experienced their own Ebola scare. Even intellectual powerhouses such as Donald Trump have fallen into panic, with the mogul calling for the US to shut off all travel to West Africa and revoke citizens’ right to return to the country – who cares about fundamental rights during an outbreak? Not to be outdone, the endlessly asinine “explanatory journalism” site Vox informed us that “If the supercontinent Pangaea spontaneously reunited, the US would border the Ebola epidemic”. Ebola is a horrific disease that kills more than half of people infected by it, though with specialist western treatment that death rate would likely fall a little. It’s unsurprising that the prospect of catching it is a scary one. The relief is that it’s not all that infectious: direct contact with bodily fluids of a visibly infected person is required, meaning that, compared with many illnesses, it’s easily contained. Even in the midst of the current outbreak – the worst ever – the spread of the disease has not been rapid in west Africa: around 400 new cases were reported in June, and a further 500 or so in July. This is a linear spread, meaning each person at present is infecting on average around (actually just over) one additional person. Far more worrying are diseases that spread exponentially: if one infected person spreads the disease to two or more on average, the illness spreads far quicker and is a much more worrying prospect, even if mortality is considerably lower. The 900-plus deaths from
• Prof. Onyebuchu Chukwu, Health Minister Ebola in Africa so far this year are indisputably tragic, but it is important to keep a sense of proportion – other infectious diseases are far, far deadlier. Since the Ebola outbreak began in February, around 300,000 people have died from malaria, while tuberculosis has likely claimed over 600,000 lives. Ebola might have our attention, but it’s not even close to being the biggest problem in Africa right now. Even Lassa fever, which shares many of the terrifying symptoms of Ebola (including bleeding from the eyelids), kills many more than Ebola – and frequently finds its way to the US. The most real effect for millions of people reading about Ebola will be fear and stigma. During the Sars outbreak of 2003, AsianAmericans became the targets of just that, with public health hotlines inundated with calls from Americans worried about “buying Asian merchandise”, “living near
Asians”, “going to school with Asians”, and more. Similarly, during the H1N1 “swine flu” outbreak, which had almost identical spread and mortality to seasonal flu, patients reported extreme fear, prompted largely by the hysterical media coverage. In the coming months, almost none of us will catch the Ebola virus. Many of us, though, will get fevers, headaches, shivers and more”. James Ball in his article boldly left the trail of sensationalist journalism to tell the Ebola story as it is. This is one time that we all need to face reality and get behind the Federal Government of Nigeria as it steps up all efforts to combat the new virus. We look forward to an announcement from the Federal Ministry of Health stating that it has made contact with the Canadian Company Tekmira. The sooner the drug makes its way to our isolation centers, the better for the Nigeria, West Africa and the global community.
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WITHOUT mincing of words , if there was any footballer who will never be forgotten in the world of football, that will be Lionel Andris Messi Cuss. Commonly rated as the greatest player of of all time by many sports lovers. Messi was born on 24 June 1987 in Rosario, Santa FC Province, to parents Jorge Haracio Messi, a factory steel worker and Cela Maria Cuccittini, a part time cleaner. At the age of five, Messi started playing football for Grandali, a local club coaches by his father Jorge. In 1995, Messi switched to Newelli Old Boys who were based in his home city Rosario. He became part of a local youth power house that lost only one match in the next four years and became locally known as “The Machine of 87”, from the years of their birth. At the age of 11, Messi was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency . Local team Rier plate showed interest in Messi progress, but were not willing to pay for treatment for his condition which cost $9000 a month. Carlos Rexach, the sporting director of FC Barcelona was made aware of his talent as Messi had relatives in Lleida in western Catalonia, and Messi and his father were able to arrange a trial with the team. Rexach with no other paper at hand, offered the football “god” a contract written on a paper napkin. Barcelona offered to pay Mess medical bills on the condition that he moved to Spain. Messi and his father duly moved to Barcelona where he enrolled in the clubs youths academy. Messi made his official debute for the Barcelona first-team on 16 Nivember 2003, in a friendly match against Porto. At 17 years, Messi became the third youngest player ever to play for Barcelona and youngest club player to play in La liga. He was the first youngest player to score for Barcelona in La liga at the age of 17 years, 4 months. Notably, the Argentine and Barcelona forward is the
M - e - s - s - i: The Prince Of Football By STANLEY UGAGBE/EDET ELIJAH
With Barcelona, the prince of football has won six La liga two copas dey Rey, six Super copas de Espina, three UEFA champions leagues, two UEFA Super Cups and two club world cups. What an incredibly player! The Argentina talisman is the first and only player to top-score in four consecutive champions league campaigns, and also holds the record for the most hottricks scored(4) in the competition. Interestingly, in March 2012, he made champions league history by becoming the first player to score five goals in one match. Messi set European record for merit goals scored in a season during the 2011-2012 season with 73 goals. In the same season, he set the current goal scoring record in a single Laliga season, scoring 50 goals. Also in that season, Messi became the first player ever to score and assist in six different competition in one season. Currently in the history of El Classico, He is the player most goals and ,most hat-trick. Pelucidly, Messi football skills is inmate. His playing style and stature have drawn comparisons to compatriot Diego Maradona who himself declared Messi his “successor”. Indeed, Messi is the prince of football. The world of football will remember him till eternity . When Messi is the ball on the pitch, the entire stadium trmble!
Player Profile
• Kelechi Iheanacho
first footballer in history to win four FIFA Ballons d’Or, all of which he won consecutively and the first to win three European Golden Shoe awards.
Will Munir El Haddadi Emerge As Barcelona’s Next Great Find? A seasonal bible of Spanish football, the 418 page Marca guide to the 2014-15 season went on sale on 15th August on the colourful outdoor newsstands which enliven every Spanish town and city. The guide gives accurate information on players and includes ones to watch for this season. The section for Barcelona’s first team has space for 24 players - with one omission. The section on Barça’s B team, the only reserve team to play in Spain’s second division since a Real Madrid Castilla side (now managed by Zinedine Zidane) were relegated last season, features a further 28 players. Each has their own box of information. Adama, Alen Haliovic, Eusebio Sacristan, Sergi Samper and Jean Marie Dongou are ones to watch for the future. At the very bottom of the page, with a little half box, is Munir El Haddadi - a late addition. Born near Madrid, the striker with Moroccan parents who turned 19 on September 1st spent most of last season playing for Barça’s Juvenil A under 18 team. Much has happened in the month since the guide went on sale. On August 24th, he started not for Barça’s B team, but
their first team in their opening game of the season against Elche. Some players freeze on their debut, Munir hit the crossbar, scored and received a standing ovation as he left the pitch. He was selected on the strength of a hugely promising pre-season when he was the club’s top scorer. The absence of Neymar and Luis Suarez helped create a space and, despite admitting to having a sleepless night before the match, he performed well. Munir was then called up to play for Spain’s under 21 team against Hungary. On Monday, just four days later, he made his debut for the full Spain team in their 5-1 European championship qualifier against Macedonia in Valencia, replacing Koke for the last 15 minutes. He became the third youngest Barça player to player to play for Spain after Bojan and Samitier. It was Munir’s debut for a fourth different team in 2014 Barça B, Barça, Spain U21 and Spain. Again, he performed well, though cynics are suggesting that Spain carpetbagged the player so that he can’t play for Morocco. Spain gave Bojan, who could have played for three countries, ten minutes in 2008 and he
hasn’t played since. He’s changed his tune now, but Munir previously said that he’d prefer to play for the country of his parents, though his father Mohammed El Haddadi said: “If Morocco had called, my son would have accepted. I always told him, ‘Go with whoever opens the door first.” Morocco boss Ezaki Badou saw it differently. “Patriotism cannot be purchased or rented,” he said. “We never rejected his citizenship. Some time ago, the Moroccan federation contacted Munir and his family to talk to him about it, just to give him some time to
• Munir El Haddadi
think it over. Once he’s played for Spain, there is no going back. We have to respect his decision ultimately.” “To play for Spain was my own decision,” admits Munir himself. “I knew what it meant to do so. This is a childhood dream come true. I never doubted about playing for Spain. I was born here and am very happy to have done it.” The last six months have been incredible for the forward who joined Barça’s youth academy at 15 after Atletico Madrid had rejected him. He was about to sign for Osasuna and tweeted as much. A Barça scout in
Madrid saw the tweet, called his agent and asked him to hold off signing. He called Barça, who quickly sent scouts to watch him. Munir signed for Barça. Munir performed well for Barça’s junior sides. He was strong, quick and a fine finisher for his age. Images of spectacular youth goals went viral and talk was of the brightest of futures, but fans of every big club have heard this before. Giovanni do Santos and Bojan were both tipped to emulate Lionel Messi’s progress at Barça. Munir saw his contract improved in January this year. In March he made his debut for the B team, performing in the last 18 minutes of a second division game v Mallorca. His contract was improved again and a buy-out clause of +12 million added. That would increase to +35 million in the improbable event of him joining the first team. By April, he was starting B team matches and scored his first goal v Girona in April. He was also playing in the U19 UEFA League. He would go on to become the top scorer in the UEFA Under-19 League, with 11 in 10 matches including two in the final against Benfica. The second of those goals, an effort from three metres
inside his own half again chipping the goalkeeper, also went viral. Such form saw him called up for first team training under Luis Enrique in July. That wasn’t highly unusual, for promising youngsters are often rewarded with that opportunity to mix with the first team. It achieves two things provides opposition for the first team and shows the youngsters how much quicker they need to be in their speed of thought and action if they’re going to make the step up. Munir impressed the coaches from the first day and Enrique, who’d previously gone on the record about young players needing to be patient, began playing him pre-season, pushing him ahead of striker Gerard Deulofeu, who has since gone on loan to Sevilla. Getting in the side ahead of Messi, Neymar, Suarez or Pedro will be difficult and, strictly speaking he’s still a Barça B player. Despite all that, he’s expected to feature in Barça’s home game against Athletic Bilbao on Saturday rather than the B team match against another Basque club, Alaves. And his agent is expected to negotiate him a far more lucrative contract before the month is out.
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Welbeck Our Reward For Man Utd Taking Van Persie - Wenger
ARSENAL manager Arsene Wenger says Danny Welbeck was like a reward for Manchester United stealing away with Robin van Persie two years ago. The Gunners completed would have signed a +20 million deal for the Welbeck had Giroud not England forward late on suffered a long-term injury, deadline day after the Frenchman replied: “It Radamel Falcao joined the is possible, yes.” Red Devils on a seasonWenger hit back at those long loan. questioning his decision to Welbeck’s sale has been travel to Rome to take part criticised by the likes of in the first Interreligious former United captain Match for Peace at the Gary Neville but Wenger says he jumped at the opportunity to bring the 23year-old to north London. He told reporters: “We lost an important striker in Olivier Giroud and we’re short in numbers up front. Danny Welbeck is an ideal signing for us because he can play through the middle, which I think is his best position, and also on the flanks. “He brings a team attitude, which is very important to us, pace as well and as you can see with England, goalscoring. “We sold Robin van Persie to Manchester United so that was reciprocity. I thought when they bought Falcao that they had to let somebody go but I was not aware at the start, when I heard that, that [Welbeck] could be available. “It was quick, because it was on the last day of the transfer window. I had no hesitation to do it.” Danny Welbeck When asked whether he
Stadio Olimpico on deadline day. “If I stayed at my home, Welbeck would not be here,” he insisted. “That is the truth.” The 64-year-old believes midfielder Aaron Ramsey could play against Manchester City on Saturday despite turning his ankle during Wales’
Shinji Kagawa
expected to face Freiburg despite leaving training early on Thursday, according to the club’s sporting director Michael Zorc. The 25-year-old returned to Dortmund late in the transfer window after two years of struggling to shine at
Balotelli Sold £50k Of Liverpool Shirts In One Day The transfer cost £16m and on the very first day the club sold £50,000 worth of shirts. That is calculated at around 770 adult jerseys costing £65 each. One of the biggest problems in Italian football is a lack of revenue because of counterfeit shirts, which are openly sold outside the stadium. As clubs rent the stadiums from the local council rather than own the venues, there are also rarely official club shops inside the arena on match day.
Crespo Says Mario Can’t Score As Many Goals As Suarez
Kagawa Fit To Face Freiburg THE Japan international did not complete training on Thursday, sparking suggestions he would be absent this weekend, but Michael Zorc has hinted otherwise Borussia Dortmund midfielder Shinji Kagawa is
victory over Andorra on Tuesday. “I’m relieved that Ramsey’s injury is not serious because we had a nightmare with him last year,” Wenger added. “We assess Ramsey today - he has a little chance to be available for Saturday. He has a minor ankle problem.” Wenger also confirmed that Mikel Arteta, Kieran Gibbs and Mesut Ozil had all been passed fit to feature against the defending champions.
MARIO Balotelli helped Liverpool sell £50,000 worth of shirts on the day he moved from Milan. The striker was dropped from the Italy squad by new Coach Antonio Conte for the friendly against the Netherlands, but he continues to make a big splash in the Premier League. “You have to be ready for these opportunities. In the past we didn’t capitalise on opportunities but those days are long gone,” explained Liverpool chief executive Ian Ayre at the Soccerex Global Convention.
Manchester United but was forced out of training with a limp, fuelling rumours in German media that his bow would have to wait beyond this weekend. However, Zorc said it was precautionary for the former Manchester United man to finish up early as coach Jurgen Klopp looks to deal with the absence of the injured Marco Reus. “It was a precautionary measure. We assume that he can play Saturday,” Zorc told Bild. Klopp - whose side have a win and a loss early in the season – welcomed back the Japan international and believes Kagawa still has plenty of the attributes which made him catch the eye of Manchester United two years ago. “We’ve just trained together for four or five days but we have to perform against Freiburg,” the BVB coach said prior to Thursday’s training. “I saw most of the things that were there when Kagawa left us, but not everything. “But of course he’s now two years older and more experienced. He speaks English now and still a bit German which will improve in the coming months. “It’s very enjoyable to have him back around and in our dressing room.”
HERNAN Crespo believes Mario Balotelli is not the type of player to replace Luis Suarez’s goal output for Liverpool, but it does not mean he is not a top striker. Balotelli scored 14, 12 and 13 goals in his past three seasons, and former Chelsea forward Crespo says those who see the Italy international as a like-for-like replacement for Suarez — who hit 31 Premier League goals last season — have got the 23-year-old all wrong. “People’s judgments about [Balotelli] really come down to what expectations you have,” Crespo told La Gazzetta dello Sport. “If you think he’s going to score 25 goals a season, then you’ve got it all wrong. He’s never had that consistency. He can decide a game with one amazing moment, but you can’t ask him to do it all the time.” Mario Balotelli joins Liverpool FC For that reason, Crespo believes his former club AC Milan did well to sell the
Azzurri striker to Liverpool for 16 million pounds and bring in Fernando Torres as a replacement, even if the Spain forward’s figures in recent seasons pale in comparison to Balotelli’s.
The 30-year-old has found the back of the net only five, eight and six times in the past three seasons, but Crespo believes he can get closer to the 24 he scored for Liverpool in 2007-08 with the Rossoneri this year.
Mario Balotelli
Sporting Attack ‘Monster’ Behind Rojo’s Man United Move SPORTING Lisbon have called for the “monster” of third-party ownership to be eliminated from football in the wake of Marcos Rojo’s move to Manchester United. United signed Rojo from Sporting for a reported fee of £16m on August 19 - but the Portuguese club only owned 25 per cent of his economic rights with the other 75 per cent being owned by the Doyen Investment Group. Sporting said they did not want to sell Rojo but the Doyen group forced them into a sale. Sporting Lisbon president Bruno de Carvalho said he has already repaid Doyen the £3.2m they put into Rojo and is now looking to
ensure that his club, and not the investment group, get their hands on the transfer fee. Third-party ownership is banned in the Premier League but common in Portugal and also in many South American countries. “Now it is a monster – a monster that is living in almost all the clubs, so now I cannot see how if only regulating it is the solution,” de Carvalho told the Soccerex Global Exchange in Manchester. “We need to have a discussion very seriously with everybody very quickly because we cannot discuss for years whether it is to end (third-party ownership) or whether it is to regulate.” A spokesperson for Doyen responded to the
criticism by saying: “We operate in an open and transparent way and we welcome regulation in this sector. We categorically do not manage or influence the player and we ensure that is written into every contract we have with the club. “In the case of Sporting Lisbon, that is now a matter for our lawyers who are taking action. This is the first ever issue we have had and it’s with a specific president who now wants to renege on a bona fide contract that his club have signed. We welcome taking the matter to court.” Argentine defender Rojo is in line to make his debut against QPR on Sunday after finally being granted a work permit.
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Stephen Keshi Uncertain Over Cup in Brazil and THE Super Eagles Eagles Job World has not been renewed coach has hinted that he is unsure if he would continue as gaffer of the Nigeria national team following his side’s draw against South Africa on Wednesday Coach Stephen Keshihas said he is not certain if he will remain in charge of the Nigeria national team following his side’s unimpressive performance in the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. The African champions lost 3-2 at home to Congo before managing a 0-0 draw in Cape Town against Bafana-Bafana. According to the ‘big boss’, the decision on whether he remains as the Super Eagles coach or not lies within the reach of the Nigeria Football Federation. “I’m not sure yet. I was just brought in to help manage these two games,” Keshi told Reuters. “We have finished
them now, so we’ll see what happens. If we (he and the Nigerian federation) come to an agreement, yes I’ll stay. If no, I’ll depart. Let’s see how it turns out when I get home,” he concluded. The former Mali and Togo gaffer’s contract came to an end after the
by NFF no thanks to the in-house crises that has engulfed the football house. Nigeria are placed third in Group A’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifying log behind Congo (6 points) and South Africa (4 points) and will face Sudan in their next round of qualifier in October.
Stephen Keshi
NASO Honours Ogbemudia With Soccer Tourney By EDET ELIJAH
A former Commissioner for Sport and one time Chairman Ordedo Local Government Council, Hon. Victor Edos Ebomoyi has paid glowing tribute to the two-time Governor of the defunct Bendel State, Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia for his vision in youths sports development. th Hon. Ebomoyi made 7 edition of Dr. Samuel the remarks at the official Ogbemudia Birthday Unopening ceremony of the der-18 boys and girls
Nigeria League Resumes Wednesday THE Nigeria Premier League will now resume on Wednesday and no longer this weekend as earlier announced. The country’s other leagues namely the Nigeria National League (NNL), Nationwide League and the Women’s League will also resume on Wednesday. The Club Owners secretary Alloy Chukwuemeka said: “The Nigeria league will resume next week Wednesday, September 17, and not on Sunday.” Kano Pillars spokesman Idris Malikawa further collaborated, “We are still waiting for a formal notice to the league resumption, but an official of the LMC told me it will now resume on Wednesday.” The league was suspended a fortnight ago following the withdrawal of referees from the championship due to a leadership crisis that rocked Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) recently. On Wednesday, Nigeria Referees Association (NRA) informed the NFF and the League Management Company (LMC) of their readiness to officiate matches starting from this weekend.
Eagles Depart For Euro Bases
Dr. S. O. Ogbemudia
youth soccer tournament organised by the National Association of Soccer Organisers (NASO) which took place at Emotan College ground Benin City last Wednesday. Hon. Ebomoyi who chaired the event, emphasized the qualities and virtues of Dr, Orgbemudia and described him as “a living legend and the great achiever of our time. He also said that history will forever remembers Dr. Ogbemudia whenever sports is mentioned in Nigeria He further commended the wisdom of the sporting youths of Edo State and the organisers of the championship for coming out annually for the past seven years to honour the living legend. Bocas United youths F.C defeated freedom
FIFA Encourages Youth Footballers In Lagos
By SURAJU RAJI TALENTED Youth Footballers in disadvantaged communities have been recommended by Sony and Federation of International Football Association (FIFA), to acquire instructions and guidance in media productions skills. The youth are as well to learn how these skills can be utilized to spur social change in their respective communities. OBSERVERSport gathered during a press conference in the Assembly conference centre that Football for Hope Siyakhuna Media Skills Program was first launched as a social program ahead of the 2010 FIFA World cup South Africa and was supported by Sony and FIFA. Briefing the press on the program, the chairman house committee on infor-
mation, Hon Segun Olulade said “Search and Groom Development Centre are implementing partners of the 2014 Siyakhona Media skill training program in Nigeria. He explained that Siyakhona means ‘we can do it” in Zulu and Xhosa, two of South Africa’s official languages, allows talented youths in disadvantaged communities to acquire instruction and guidance in media production skill. Recently, in cooperation with Hon. Olumuyiwa Jimoh and Hon Segun Olulade, the SIYAKHONA media skills programme was hosted in Ijora/ Badia and Ikosi Ejinrin to reach young people in both constituencies for the celebration of the FIFA World Cup in Epe, Brazil 2014 with select creative pictures
from the program. Olulade said “the duration of the project was from 7th to 10th of April, 2014 with students of Government Junior College Ketu and Okemagba Junior High School. Students were given Photography equipment to take creative pictures, telling stories of their environment. The two pictures of students from both schools were submitted for the 2014 Siyakhona photo contest. Marvelous Chukwu and Adebanjo Hassan emerged first and second place winners respectively out of 28 pictures from 14 countries across the world. Nevertheless, the two youths were given cameras donated by Sony and were recommended by FIFA to take part in the coming world youths football competition.
F.C two goals to nothing to declare the championship open as the grand final of this year’s edition is expected to come up on September 16, 2014 by 3:30pm at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium. Dr. Ogbemudia will be 82 years old on September 17, 2014.
MOST Super Eagles stars departed Cape Town, South Africa, where they played out a goalless draw with their hosts, for their respective bases in Europe. Cross section of the players informed MTNFootball.com they jetted back to Europe directly to their clubs. CSKA Moscow forward Ahmed Musa left Cape Town for Russia Thursday night so as to catch up on his club’s league fixture this weekend. “The league is on so most of us left straight for our teams.” Ahmed Musa said. Officials and the players who feature in the domestic league returned to Lagos Thursday night from South Africa.
Ex-Rangers International Announces Death Of Ernest Ufele EX-Rangers International on Friday announced the death of Ernest Ufele, one of the founding players of Rangers International FC of Enugu in the early 1970s. Luke Okpala, the Chairman of Ex-Rangers International, a body of retired players who had played for Rangers, made the disclosure to newsmen in Onitsha, Anambra. Okpala said that Ufele died on Sept. 4, in an undisclosed hospital in India where he had been receiving treatment. “Its rather unfortunate to us in Ex-Rangers that Ernest is dead. There is nothing again we can do for now to resuscitate him,” he said. Reacting, Emmanuel Okala, an ex-Green Eagles and Rangers International goalkeeper, said that the news of Ufele’s death came to him as a “very great shock’’. Okala said he used to be Ufele’s roommate while they were in Rangers. He said that Ufele was a man he knew too well in the Rangers team of their days, adding that his death was “very painful to me’’. “We are not expecting or
envisaging this development,’’ he said. The ex-Green Eagles goalkeeper described him “ as a very outspoken and wise person who took after his father’s great wisdom’’. Okala said that he was rest assured that the Anambra government in its character of taking care of ex-Rangers players would do something to immortalise the late football icon who hailed from the state. A sports writer, Ikem Asika, said: “The demise of Ufele is a big loss to the Rangers family’’. Asika said that Ufele was a one-time special adviser to Anambra Government on sports during the administration of Gov. Chris Ngige but noted, however, that the appointment was short-lived. “Anambra people will miss a great football personality that had the passion to motivate young players. “This is because the late footballer always featured prominently in grassroots football competitions within and outside the state during his life time,’’ he said.
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Blues Look To Clip High-Flying Swansea
Fernando Torres
Torres Set To Make Milan Bow On Sunday FERNANDO Torres could get his Milan debut on Sunday against Parma, as Pippo Inzaghi experimented with a new formation in training. The ex-Chelsea striker was in the stands for the opening game of the season, a 3-1 victory over Lazio, as his two-year loan had not yet been completed. In today’s training session coach Inzaghi experimented with a 4-3-3 formation in which Torres was flanked by Menez on the left and Honda taking the right flank. Stephan El Shaarawy suffered an ankle problem on international duty with
Italy and has still not fully recovered.
CHELSEA manager Jose Mourinho says he is not surprised by the way Cesc Fabregas has adapted in his return to the EPL. Table-topping Chelsea return to Premier League action at Stamford Bridge this weekend with an enticing match against second-place Swansea City. Both sides boast 100 percent records after three games. While high-flying Swans manager Garry Monk masterminded an impressive opening day victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford, he will be under no illusion about Jose Mourinho’s Blues, who represent an altogether different proposition.
Having cruised to victory against newly promoted sides Burnley and Leicester City, Chelsea were expected to find Everton somewhat more steadfast. In a game that left both Mourinho and Toffees manager Roberto Martinez lamenting defensive errors, the Blues raced to a 2-0 lead inside three minutes and went on to win 6-3. The scoreline was as remarkable as the recuperative powers of new striker Diego Costa, who scored twice in a man-of-thematch performance. The buildup to the game was all about the hamstring injury Costa sustained in training, which was likely to keep
him on the sideline for up to six weeks, and the fact that Mourinho’s options to lead the line, with Romelu Lukaku sold to Everton and Fernando Torres loaned to AC Milan, were limited to resigned (and 36-year-old) Blues legend Didier Drogba. Costa lasted the whole game, but Mourinho was swift to make one last acquisition before the transfer window slammed shut, signing France international Loic Remy from QPR for 10.5 million pounds. Loic Remy’s goal for France showed that Chelsea have options if Diego Costa is indeed in-
Jose Mourinho
Arsenal And Man City Hoping To Jump-Start Campaigns
ARSENAL and Manchester City meet at The Emirates today when both teams will seek to roar into life after making spluttering starts to their Premier League campaigns. A month after demolishing City 3-0 in the Community Shield at Wembley, seventh-placed Arsenal have failed to reach the same high notes, drawing their last two league matches and losing French striker Olivier Giroud to injury. While a shortage of strikers cannot be blamed for City’s inconsistent start, manager Manuel Pellegrini said they lacked a creative spark when they slipped to a surprise 1-0 home defeat by Stoke City last time out. In a bid to ease their attacking woes, Arsenal snapped up Danny Welbeck on the final day of the transfer window and the former Manchester United striker is confident his style of play will fit in perfectly at The Emirates.
“I’ve envisaged myself playing in this team before. For it to finally happen is very exciting,” said Welbeck, who scored both goals in England’s opening Euro 2016 qualifying campaign victory over Switzerland on Monday. “At Arsenal, we’re not short of combination football and I like to join in on that and get in behind defenders and try to get shots off at goal. I want to score some goals and help the team to achieve the right results.” Along with Giroud, midfielder Aaron Ramsey, who has scored in two of Arsenal’s three Premier League games this season, could miss Saturday’s clash after twisting his ankle in Wales’ 2-1 win over Andorra on Tuesday.
Champions City, so potent in front of goal last season, head to north London having let Spanish striker Alvaro Negredo join Valencia, while in-form forward Stevan Jovetic, who scored two goals against Liverpool, is struggling with a hamstring injury. “It will be difficult, but I’m an optimist,” said Bosnia striker Edin Dzeko, who could lead City’s attack against Arsenal. Table-toppers Chelsea have suffered no problems in front of goal this season thanks largely to the efforts of Diego Costa but the Spaniard could miss the encounter with secondplaced Swansea City at Stamford Bridge because of a leg injury. Costa, who has scored four goals in three appearances for Chelsea this season, pulled out of Spain’s Euro 2016 qualifier against Macedonia on Monday
with a hamstring injury and his absence would come as a blow to manager Jose Mourinho. “He produced a fantastic performance in every aspect,” Mourinho said after Costa netted twice against Everton in Chelsea’s 6-3 victory at Goodison Park. “Diego is maybe the best player in the league in these first three matches.” If Costa fails to recover in time then French striker Loic Remy, who joined from local rivals Queens Park Rangers, could make his Chelsea debut against a Swansea side that have looked well organised under inexperienced manager Garry Monk. West Bromwich Albion manager Alan Irvine faces Everton, the club where he spent time as assistant manager to David Moyes and more recently as academy manager, but Roberto Martinez says there will be
no room for sentiment on Saturday. “He (Irvine) did a terrific job at our club in different roles and we wish him the very best of luck in his new project but just not for this weekend,” said the Everton boss. Tottenham Hotspur will be hoping to get back on track against Sunderland after their steady start came crashing down with a 3-0 home defeat by Liverpool. Elsewhere on Saturday, Liverpool host Aston Villa, Southampton entertain Newcastle United, Stoke City face Leicester City and Burnley travel to Crystal Palace hoping to build on their draw against Manchester United.
jured. By strange coincidence, the two strikers were on opposing sides less than a week later when France faced Spain in a friendly. Remy entered the fray as a 59thminute substitute while Costa, who started the game, was withdrawn in the 67th minute with a tight hamstring. Five minutes later, Remy volleyed home what turned out to be the winner. It was a fantastic goal that had Blues supporters purring about his ability to find the net and, most probably, Mourinho sighing with relief given the concern over Costa’s fitness. Elsewhere, with the exception of Eden Hazard — who is a slight doubt with an Achilles problem that saw him miss Belgium’s match with Australia — Mourinho has a fully fit squad to choose from. Notwithstanding his comments about defensive fragility, and with one eye on Wednesday’s Champions League game with Schalke 04, the Chelsea manager is unlikely to tinker too much with the lineup that plundered six goals at Goodison Park. Filipe Luis has yet to make his full Chelsea debut, and it’s unlikely Jose Mourinho will gamble vs. Swansea. Oscar could earn a recall at the expense of Ramires, meaning Cesc Fabregas would drop back into the double-pivot partnering Nemanja Matic. However, Fabregas has excelled in a
more attacking role, and Mourinho may wait for the Schalke game to make this change. Similarly, Andre Schurrle might be given the nod ahead of Willian on the right flank, but he may also find himself among the substitutes as Mourinho plans ahead. One expensive summer signing still awaiting his full Chelsea debut is 15.8 million pound left-back Filipe Luis. His inclusion in the side would create a unnecessary selection headache for Mourinho, which the Blues boss could do without, so the former Atletico Madrid player can expect to find himself warming the bench a while longer. Chelsea will start the match as the odds-on favourite, and the defensive errors at Everton may work in their favour as Mourinho tightens up his back four. Swansea will come into the game having nothing to fear, but this could be their undoing as throwing caution to the wind at Stamford Bridge is ill-advised at the best of times. Expect the Swans to give another good account of themselves, but it will be the Blues whose 100 percent record is still intact when referee Kevin Friend blows the final whistle. Mattia De Sciglio was suspended for the opening game and returns at leftback.
Injury Woes For Liverpool ALREADY missing Daniel Sturridge for two to three weeks, Brendan Rodgers today revealed that Joe Allen and Emre Can are also out with fresh injuries, with Can’s especially serious. It’s only a month into the new season and already Liverpool’s improved depth looks set to be severely tested. Daniel Sturridge’s injury, his likely two to three week layoff, and the role the England national team’s training methods played in it were already known. What wasn’t known was that the club would be getting back into the action down two midfielders. Speaking at his pre-Aston Villa press conference, Brendan Rodgers revealed that after rolling his ankle late on in the German U21 side’s hammering of Romania, Emre Can could miss up to six weeks. Joe Allen, the man he’s likely competing with for minutes this season, is also likely to miss the weekend at least with a knee injury suffered while on Wales duty. It leaves Liverpool’s midfield—or at least the club’s stock of central midfielders—suddenly look-
ing very thin right when the games are about to ramp up to twice weekly as the club prepare to make their Champions League return. Depth and options do remain, but most would have bet on at least one of Can or Allen starting today against Aston Villa. Now, the spot in midfield alongside Steven Gerrard and Jordan Henderson is up for grabs. It could mean a return to the starting eleven for Philippe Coutinho, who has impressed before in a deeper role. It could also mean Lucas Leiva makes his way back into the squad, though many remain nervous of the prospect of a Lucas-Gerrard double pivot. Another option could be Adam Lallana, who is likely to be involved from the start on Saturday, with the only question whether he plays as a proper midfielder or more advanced and on the wing. Lallana’s imminent return, though, is about the only good news on the injury front, as Jon Flanagan, Glen Johnson, and Martin Skrtel all remain out of commission.