Nigerian observer 15 11 2014 by Nigerian Observer

THE NIGERIAN

Weekend

-SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 10 2014

PUBLISHED SINCE OCTOBER 6, 1990 • Vol. XI NO. 3,262 • SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 20 14

• N 100.00

CMYK

Oshiomhole’s 6th Anniversary Celebration

Attractions That Added Colour By GEDU LONGLIFE/RICHARD IMHOAGENE/ UFUOMA AGARREY

S Edo people gradually recover from the ecstatic celebrations that characterized the event marking the sixth year anniversary of Adams Oshiomhole as Governor of Edo State, and relish the captivating and thought-provoking speech of the Comrade Governor that serenaded the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium,

it is right to highlight some of the happenings that surrounded the main event. It is difficult to lose sight of the excitement, behindthe-scenes and resplendence that enveloped the arena

when the Samuel Ogbemudia turf played host to Who’s Who in the All Progressives Congress (APC) party loyalists, concerned members of the public and admirers of the Comrade Governor. Continues on pgs. 4&5

Government Special Announcement CONTINUOUS VOTER’S DISTRIBUTION The Continuous Voterís Registration in Edo State commenced from Wednesday, November 12 and will last till Monday, November 17, 2014. This exercise is for those who had not previously registered or who just attained the age of 18. However, it has come to the notice of the Edo State Government that INEC deployed only one Direct Data Capture Machine per Ward across the State. We are aware that one Direct Data Capture Machine is grossly inadequate to cater for the needs of people who wish to register across the State, a situation which has led to needless tensions and in some cases the chasing away of INEC officials in some Units. The Government wishes to appeal to the people to remain calm in the face of this unwarranted provocation and take full advantage of this registration exercise which will lapse on Monday November 17, 2014. We appeal to the people to be, calm queue up, remain orderly and register. Chasing away the INEC officials from conducting the exercise will only lead to the loss of right of many people to vote in the forthcoming elections. Signed: PETER OKHIRIA Chief Press Secretary

NETANYAHU:

Pg. 18

Real Danger To Israel Security • Harvest of campaign posters at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, venue of the celebration of Governor Adams Osiomhole’s 6th year anniversary.

LITERATURE Pg. 12 How Achebe Saved Me From James Hardley Chase

NEWS

Pg. 2

Incest: Legal Representation Stalls Trial Of Farmer

THE NIGERIAN

e Undergraduate Jailed For Fraud

N ws 2

AN Ikeja High Court has sentenced to 30 months imprisonment an undergraduate, Rilwan Adedigba, for defrauding an American woman, Zen Cariboso, of 1,100 (N17600) dollars through an internet love scam. Justice Kudirat Jose sentenced 26-year-old Adedigba to 30 months imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to the offences during his rearraignment. The judge convicted Adedigba, who claimed to be a student of University of Cairo, Egypt, of five counts of stealing and possession of fraudulent documents preferred against him. She consequently sentenced him to six months imprisonment on each of the counts.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15 2014

According to her, the sentence is to run concurrently beginning from June 8, when he was arrested for the offence. Jose also ordered the convict to refund the 1,100 dollars to the victim as restitution. She also ordered him to forfeit the car he had bought from the proceeds of his crime to the Federal Government of Nigeria. The judge asked Adedigba to write an undertaking to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to be of good behaviour after his release from prison. The convict had entered a plea bargain agreement with the EFCC. Narrating the facts of the case, the counsel to

EFCC, Mrs. Olubunmi Bosede, told the court that Adedigba committed the offences on January 30 in Lagos.

Bosede said the convict falsely represented to Cariboso that he was Murphy Paul, a white American living in Nigeria,

who was in love with her. She said Adedigba used the scam to obtain the money from the woman. The prosecutor said that

By KINGSLEY MBADUGHA/ RICHARD IMHOAGENE/ KINGSLEY AGESE

chapter, Hon. Ifidon Franklin, said “today being a memorable day in the life of Dr. Ugbodaga, we, the University of Benin Chapter of Dental Students Association have decided to give him this award. “As a matter of fact, the award ought to have been given to him but due to his tight schedule, he was not available. We have therefore seized this opportunity at his endorsement for Akoko-Edo Constituency II House of Assembly, an endorsement we believe he truly deserves”. Hon. Ifidon also stated that Comrade (Dr.) Philip Ugbodaga received the award not because the association decided to give it

to him, but because of his immense contributions to Oral Health advancement in Nigeria through his free medical care services to Nigerians. He also noted that Comrade Ugbodaga has identified with the association as a one time president of the association and has also served as the General

Dental Association Honours Ugbodaga THE Dental Students Association of University of Benin has on Thursday presented the Award of Oral Health Ambassador to Comrade (Dr.) Philip Ugbodaga. This presentation took place at the endorsement of Comrade (Dr.) Philip Ugbodaga for Akoko-Edo constituency II House of Assembly ticket by Edo State Civil Society Groups. Speaking with The Weekend Observer, the President of Dental Students Association, UNIBEN

Alimikhena Scores Oshiomhole High LAMAI CASSIUS/ GEDU LONGLIFE

EDO North senatorial aspirant under the platform of All Progressive Congress (APC), Chief Major Barr. Francis Alimikhena (rtf) has described the six years administration led by the comrade governor, Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole in the state as eventful and purposeful compared to the wasteful ten years of the opposition in the state where there was nothing to show for it. Major Alimikhena (rtd) made this assertion at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, the venue of the 6 years anniversary celebration of comrade Oshiomhole on Wednesday 12, 2014 He said Edo state was in a state of total decay for almost 10 years depicting no remedy before the coming of comrade Oshiomhole in November 12th, 2008 with the intention of changing the entire city from ancient city to modern one. He stated further that Edo state as a whole has witnessed unprecedented achievements within the 6 years of the present administration ranging from infrastructural development such as roads construction, human empowerment good health care delivery, electricity to communities

and portable water among others. The senatorial hopeful said the governor has been able to bridge the gap that had existed between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat in the state especially in the area of god fatherism. He noted that the comrade governor deserves all the honour which was witnessed by the caliber of people that graced the event.

He further described the governor as a dogged fighter who does not tolerate any act of indiscipline but shuns fraudulent act displayed in other political parties in the country. He said Oshiomhole is a man who has been fighting for humanity even when he was the NLC president and that was the only time the Nigerian workers knew

By OMEIZA ROBINSON/ OMORODION LAWRENCE

Etsako East local government but the entire Edo north in particular and the state in general. He said late Hon. Peter Aliu was a gentle man of good character and with a sense of purpose. He said late Hon. Aliu was one of the leading voices in the House of Assembly as he displayed his wealth of experience throughout the plenary. He added that the late lawmaker will be highly missed especially at a time like this when he will be needed most. In the same vein, Hon. (Barr.) Hassan Kadiri has also sent a condolence message to the family of Alhaji Shehu Mohammed, the leader of All Progressive Congress (APC) in Etsako West and the executive Director on protection of Government

they had a leader that care for their welfare. Chief Major Alimikhena (rtd) however called on the people to give more support to the comrade governor and the All Progressive Congress in the state most especially as we are approaching another round of electioneering campaign towards the 2015 general elections in the country.

LG Boss Consoles Hon Aliu And Alhaji Shehu Families

THE Executive Chairman of Etsako West Local Government, Hon. (Barr.) Hassan Kadiri has sent a condolence message to the widow and family of late Hon. Peter Aliu, Member representing Etsako East Local government constituency in the state House of Assembly who passed on recently. Hon Kadiri who also condoled his friend and colleague, the Executive Chairman of Etsako East Local Government, Hon. Suleiman Afegua and the entire people of the local government over the death of their illustrious son, Hon. Peter Aliu, described the death as a great loss not only to the people of

the offences committed contravened Sections 390 and 318 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011.

property over the death of his wife who just passed on. Hon. Hassan Kadiri who is also the Dania of Auchi Kingdom described the late Mrs. Mohammed as woman of virtue and a pillar to the husband in both home and political cycle that will be greatly missed. The council boss however prayed Almighty Allah to grant the family and the people of the local government the fortitude to bear the irreplaceable loss. In his prayers, the chairman noted that “it is only Almighty Allah that can comfort you in times like this, as words are not enough to console a man or children who lost a wife or mother; He added that the good people of Etsako West share in their grief and pain.

Secretary of the Nigerian Medical Association, Benin Chapter. Meanwhile, a unanimous vote of confidence and endorsement has now been passed on comrade Philip Ugbodaga by members of the State Civil Society Groups to represent Akoko-Edo Constituency II in the Edo State House of Assembly.

Incest: Legal Representation Stalls Trial Of Farmer A FEDERAL High Court in Lagos has adjourned to November 18, the trial of a 50-year-old farmer, Yesiru Onajobi, charged with incest. The accused, a resident of Bogije St., Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, is standing trial on a two-count charge of unlawfully having carnal knowledge of his 14-year-old daughter He is being prosecuted by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP). The trial of the accused could not go on as earlier scheduled due to lack of a legal representation for him. At the last adjourned date, the Prosecutor, Mr Kehinde Falade, had informed the court that the accused counsel, Mr Austin Akpomretha, had withdrawn his representation for the accused. The trial judge, Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke, had then ordered the accused to secure another counsel to

represent him in the suit. When the case was again mentioned, there was still no counsel to stand in for the accused. Aneke therefore, further adjourned the suit to enable the accused brief a new counsel. Reports states that the accused was re-arraigned on July 8, 2013, before Justice Aneke, following the transfer of the case from the initial trial judge, Justice Barbara Molokwu. He had pleaded not guilty to the charge, but Aneke had ordered his remand at the Ikoyi Prisons, Lagos pending his bail application. In the charge, the accused was alleged to have committed the offence in 2010. The prosecutor had told the court that after the death of his wife, the accused had engaged in habitual sexual assault on his only daughter left in his custody.

A NON-Governmental Organisation (NGO), the Hallmark Advocacy, distributed food items and other materials to orphans and widows in Jattu-Uzairue in the Etsako-West Local Government Area of Edo. The items distributed included bags of rice and beans, mattresses, stationeries, clothing, shoes, toiletries and provisions. Speaking during the donation, the founder of the NGO, Mr Mike Aliu, urged well-meaning Nigerians to assist in catering for the lessprivileged in the society. “Nigeria gives little attention to the less privileged and this set of people require much attention. “As a philanthropist, I deem it fit to help the orphans and the widows by helping to

meet their needs,’’ Aliu said. He said that he was passionate about making a positive impact on people and the society as a whole, adding that this gesture originated from his concern for the less-privileged in the society. The Ogieneni of Uzairue, Chief Kadiri Imonikhe, responded by thanking the charitable organization, for coming to the aid of the orphans and widows in the area. Imonikhe urged other eminent sons and daughters of the community to emulate Mr Aliu. Some of the beneficiaries also thanked the Hallmark Advocacy founder and wished him well in his endeavours.

NGO Distributes Items To Orphans, Widows In Auchi

THE NIGERIAN

r Why I Killed My Teacher 3

-SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 10 2014

C ime

Says A Teenager Who Executed His Evil Act After 3 Years Plan THE schoolboy who killed his teacher had planned the murder for as long as three years. Senior school staff, parents and pupils were all aware of the irrational hatred’ William Cornick harboured for Ann Maguire, but did not believe he would carry out his deadly threats. Last night, police, prosecutors and the council all insisted no one could have foreseen the events in April that became the first murder of a teacher in a British classroom. But, as Mrs. Maguire’s devastated husband Don eloquently

Ann Maguire

spoke of the void left by her fatal stabbing, it was revealed that: • Cornick, who admitted murder, had repeatedly told classmates about his desire to kill the 61- yearold; •In one Facebook message he told a friend the teacher ‘deserved more than death, more than pain’; •Just two months before the killing he said Mrs Maguire must die because she had banned him from a bowling trip; • One parent claimed Cornick had a list of

teachers and pupils and other people he wanted ‘payback’ on; •Even when he showed off his knife in class on the morning of the killing, saying what he planned to do, nobody acted; • He planned to murder two other teachers —one of whom was pregnant; • The paramedic who treated Mrs Maguire said her stab wounds were the worst he had seen. Cornick stabbed the teacher to death in front of horrified classmates in April this year — winking at one before he struck. With chilling caimness, he then strolled back to his desk, saying to shocked pupils: ‘Good times’. His rampage was stopped only by the heroic actions of a female teacher, who dragged Mrs Maguire away from him as pupils fled screaming. Since the murder, Cornick, now 16, has shown a terrifying lack of remorse — even boasting that he is ‘proud’ of the murder and didn’t ‘give a s’”’ about Mrs Maguire’s family. After the murder he told a psychiatrist: ‘I wasn’t in shock, I was happy I had a sense of pride. I still do. ‘I know it’s uncivilised but I know it’s incredibly instinctual and human. Past generations of life, killing is a route of survival. It’s kill or be killed. I did not have a choice. It was kill her or suicide.’ Police and prosecutors said there was nothing they could have done to stop the ‘inexplicable’

William Cornick attack- saying there had been nothing to suggest the intelligent, middle class pupil who came from a ‘decent’ and loving family had been capable of ‘homicidal violence.’ But the court was told of a string of warnings that Cornick’s hatred was spiralling out of control months leading up to the murder. Leeds City Council refused to answer any detailed questions about the case. Paul Greaney, prosecuting, told Leeds Crown Cowl the calculating teenager was setting up a psychiatric defence to the crime he already intended to commit. Then, in February, Mrs Maguire banned Cornick from a school bowling trip because he had not done his Spanish homework. He defied the order not to go and his parents were called in for a meeting at which the teenager made plain that he hated Mrs Maguire’. Cornick was then made to work on his own in school for the day as punishment. After this, he posted another message on Facebook describing the teacher as a bitch that deserves more than death,

more than pain, torture and more than anything that we can understand’. The weekend before the murder Cornick behaved as if all was well at his father’s house. He later told psychiatrists he had already decided he would commit homicide rather than suicide’. ‘I just knew I was going to kill her,’ he said. ‘I decided on the Sunday it was going to be a knife. ‘I thought I was just going to go to school and wait for her lesson and do it. I wanted to get caught, that’s why I did it in school. I wanted to be in jail.’ On the morning of the murder he showed his knives to some pupils in school. Many didn’t take him seriously, but those who did were threatened. Cornick said he would kill them if they revealed his plan. So brazen was the teenager that he brought a bottle of Jack Daniels to school to celebrate’ afterwards. Even when Cornick said he would kill head of year, Andrew Kellett and stab pregnant Languages teacher, Sinead Miley, nothing was done. In police interviews with teenage classmates played in court, they told how they had noticed

disturbing aspects to his personality. Julie Langton, whose two daughters attend the school, said people were aware of Cornick’s grudges against Mrs Maguire. ‘It was known he had some sort of issue with Mrs Maguire, about how she was being with him,’ she said. ‘He didn’t like that she was pushing him. to concentrate harder and to do his studies a bit more than he was. She knew he was capable and it triggered a lot of what he felt. ‘There were all sorts of things going around school about what he was planning and the things he wanted to do in connection with that day; that he had a list and had people he wanted payback on.’ Passing a minimum 20year sentence, Mr Justice Coulson said Cornick had carried out a relentless, brutal and cowardly’ attack. Chief Superintendent Paul Money, of West Yorkshire police, said in his view ‘no person acting in authority could have reasonably foreseen the events’ of that day Nigel Richardson, Leeds City Council director of children’s services, said: ‘This was an isolated and unprecedented incident.’ Culled from Vanguard

THE NIGERIAN

W ekend Cover 4

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15 2014

“Apart from moving about in his sweaty khaki apparel, controlling the crowd and ensuring that order was maintained, the Deputy Governor was scarcely guarded, moving about with just about three policemen, who merely aided him in controlling the crowd.”

Oshiomhole’s 6th Anniversary Celebration

Attractions That Added Colour By RICHARD IMHOAGENE/ GEDU LONGLIFE/ UFUOMA AGARREY

AS expected, the stadium was packed full with supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who came to show their respect to Comrade Governor Adams Oshiomhole, leaders of the party, party chieftains, past and serving Governors, legislators, and aspirants to various political offices. One could not help but notice the sincerity in the laughter and pleasantries shared by dignitaries who graced the occasion, some of whom included the National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC),

Chief John Oyegun, Presidential aspirant and former Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), presidential aspirant and former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, and so on. Also present were APC leader and former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, APC National Treasurer, Alhaji Bala Mohammed, and a host of other party leaders and loyalists. One other observable sight was

the humility and diligent service of the Deputy Governor of the State, Dr. Pius Odubu Egberamwen, who stooped to ensure everything, was in order. Clad in his khaki, trademark clothing for Comrades, Dr. Odubu displayed a high level of workmanship and loyalty to the Governor and people of the state. Apart from moving about in his sweaty khaki apparel, controlling the crowd and ensuring that order was maintained, the Deputy Governor was scarcely guarded, moving about with just about three policemen, who merely aided him in

controlling the crowd. Another high point of the event that could not go unnoticed was the shocking cordial relationship between General Muhammadu Buhari and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, two contesting aspirants for the presidential ticket of the All P r o g r e s s i v e Congress. It showed the unparalleled unity that exists within the leadership of the party. These two political stalwarts were not only filled with smiles, whisperings, chittychats, and hugs for each other, it got to a climax when Buhari stepped on the podium, observed necessary protocol

and pleaded Atiku Abubakar to speak on their behalf as is the tradition between both of them for one to speak on their collective behalf. In a country like Nigeria where politics has almost become a Do-or-Die affair, where our democracy is still being nursed by inexperienced custodians, it was a rare sight to see such opponents display such level of friendship and co-operation, regardless of individual political interests. In an overwhelming twist of events, aspirants to different political offices seized the occasion to

reemphasize their intentions to run in the 2015 general elections. Their supporters were heavily mobilized and armed with campaign posters and banners of different forms and sizes, carrying different names, faces, and messages. These cardcarrying party supporters paraded the entire arena chanting songs of support for their candidates. It was amazing to see how efficiently these politicians used the event to their advantage to test each other’s popularity and garner support among Continued on page 5

THE NIGERIAN

W ekend Cover

-SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 10 2014

“These two political stalwarts were not only filled with smiles, whisperings, chitty-chats, and hugs for each other, it got to a climax when Buhari stepped on the podium, observed necessary protocol and pleaded Atiku Abubakar to speak on their behalf...”

Oshiomhole’s 6th Anniversary Celebration

Continued from page 4

the teeming spectators at the venue. As is the custom in this part of the world, where events serve as avenues for traders to sell their wares, this particular occasion meant to congratulate the State Governor on his successful six years in office, became a choice location for traders and hawkers to display and sell their goods. All manners of wares ranging from snacks, bottled and sachet water and soft • Harvest of posters drinks, ice-cream, to handkerchief, APC surrounding areas of Samuel promotional symbols the Ogbemudia Stadium. and items like branded Undoubtedly, these hats, T-shirts, mufflers, and so on, filled the side attractions added open field and colour to the event,

taking one’s mind away from the serious political statement of the day, to reflect on the pot-pourri of social, socio-political

and socio-economic activities that can emanate from a single political gathering. The Comrade Governor, Adams Eric

Oshiomhole thrilled the crowd to a retrospective and challenging speech, reemphasizing the confidence of the All Progressive Congress to defeat the main opposition party in the federal, state, local and legislative levels, and stating that Edo State will not “fall” to the PDP as claimed by President Goodluck Jonathan. The Senior Special Adviser to the Governor on protection of G o v e r n m e n t Properties, Hon. Ayuba Sedenu, who was on ground to facilitate with the Governor, was filled with praises and admiration for the man who he said has taken Edo State to a new level. According to him,

Oshiomhole is the best thing that has happened to Edo State in the last six years. He said, “the six years that Oshiomhole has spent in office reveals to us clearly how much time and resources we lost in the eight years that PDP ruled the state”. Continuing, he said, “with the way the 2015 budget was passed, you will agree with me that it is a progressive budget. We wish that his momentum will be supported by those around him because I am confident that he has more plans for 2015 that will further bring the dividends of democracy to the people of Edo State”. Like many others, Hon. Sedenu was also on ground to reiterate his political intentions as he was accompanied by supporters who sang and danced around with his banner in hand to seek the people’s support in the forthcoming elections in the state. Perhaps, as we savour the moments leading to the 2015 General elections and 2016 Governorship election in Edo State, it is important to pay attention to the razzmattas and side attractions that build up the main event, because these issues tell more than they appear to reveal.

THE NIGERIAN

A piration EDHA 2015: My Mission Is To Serve The People 6

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15 2014

- Abdulrama A. Momoh IN this chat with WEEKEND OBSERVER through UCHE OKONYE, Hon. Momoh explains why he wants to go to Edo House of Assembly May we know your names? My names are Akhamie Momoh Abdulrama You are aspiring to be elected into the Edo State House of Assembly, what is your mission? My mission is to serve the people of Owan East local government and I believe that my past records as a local government chairman speak for me. When God gives you power to be in any position, you should use it for the benefit of the people in the areas of human capital infrastructural and social developments. You must relate to your people to know what they want so you can work along with them to ensure their happiness. As a representative of the people, you must be accessible so that the people can get to know you and you can get to know them. You once served as chairman of a local government and you had the opportunity of presiding over a government that has power to generate funds. Now you are aspiring to the House of Assembly that is just essentially charged with law making. How do you intend to use the instrumentality of law making to do what you could not do in the past

or do better than what you did when you were chairman of the local government. Law making is for the betterment of the people and you have to take into measure what are these laws that will do good for them. The executive aspect is to execute these laws to make sure that these things are done and executed so that the people can benefit from them. So the two arms must work together to effectively make sure that the people benefit. If you make a law and there is no body to execute it, will it work? So if you are making a law or people are executing your law, you yourself must follow to make sure that the law is executed to the letter, so that the benefit can be felt by the people. How do you intend as a member of the house of Assembly if you are elected to attract development to your constituency? You see, government is a two way process. You

need to convince the people you are working with to help with what you want. They need you too to help them with what they want. So you must be able to interact and liaise with your people, your comembers and with the executive because the thing is not left in one man’s hand. You must be able to interact, you must be able to let them know what your people want, you must be able to let them know what your feelings are and that of your people. When you are relaying your ideas to your people, they will then realize that you are really working for their benefit. So you must co-operate with everybody in order to achieve all these things. Let us look at the Oshiomhole government celebrating six years of being in office What is your general assessment? Oh! Wonderful, you know I had the opportunity of being a local government chairman and by the Grace of God, the foundation I laid for my local government, Owan East local government, successive local government chairmen have been building on it. And today, I think the local government is one of the

best in the state. Today, in Edo State, any government that is going to come after Oshiomhole is going to have a mountain that he is going to climb on and the sky is going to be

My message to my constituents is that they should look at who they are voting for. It is not a matter of tribe or whatever, it is a matter of who can deliver.

the limit for the state. So Oshiomhole’s government has done wonderfully well considering the indices on ground. You know what Edo State is and what the man has done. You see, one thing I want to tell people is that when a man is doing something good, you shouldn’t say because you didn’t get your personal effect from it then he is not doing well. This is because the road you are talking about today, without it can you move? Without water can you do anything? So let us give it to Oshiomhole because he has done wonderfully well

for these past six years. With our co-operation and prayers, he can do more for the state. As you go in for the election, what is your message to your constituents? My message to my constituents is that they should look at who they are voting for. It is not a matter of tribe or whatever, it is a matter of who can deliver. You have tested this man, you know who he is, his capability and virtually everything about him. That is my message to them that they should look at who they are voting for.

THE NIGERIAN

-SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 10 2014

V ewpoint

Obasanjo

Obasanjo And His Funny Messiah Complex By FRANCIS EHIGIATOR

FORMER President Olusegun Obasanjo has a knack for speaking up once in a while, as if he’s afraid that by maintaining the quiet dignity expected of an elder statesman he will be forgotten. His latest foray into the public domain comes by way of a charge that his successors in office, namely the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and President Goodluck Jonathan, are to blame for Nigeria’s continuing challenges with electricity. What must be understood from the former president’s comments is this: not only did Yar ’Adua and Jonathan, in Obasanjo’s opinion, “fail” to provide Nigerians with electricity, if he had remained president beyond the constitutionally-limited two terms, he would have turned Nigeria to an Eldorado where electricity is concerned. It is this predilection to see himself as the only one who can solve Nigeria’s problem that has led some commentators to conclude that Obasanjo has a Messiah Complex. As far back as April 2000, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Reuben Abati, who was then a columnist with The Guardian, tried to deconstruct Obasanjo’s

Messiah Complex. In an article simply titled ‘Obasanjo’s Problems’, Abati wrote: “The first plank of the Obasanjo philosophy of governance is to introduce a new way of doing government business: to re-orientate government, and recondition the Nigerian psyche for performance and competition in a democratic and global context. It is this rescuementality that many Obasanjo critics have dismissed as the messianic complex. Messianism is in itself desirable in a society such as ours at this time but that phrase cannot fly because the government’s strategy attacks the very fundaments of the Nigerian society.” It is not the point here whether Abati succeeded in deconstructing Obasanjo’s Messiah Complex. What is of the essence is to note how long Nigerians have

been grappling with the idea of an Obasanjo who believes he is the only one who can save the country. In October of the same year that Abati wrote his treatise, another public commentator, Wale Adebanwi, wrote: “In many ways, Obasanjo is the Lugardian incarnate. He is re-living the temperament and personal aggrandizement of Lord Lugard, not to talk of his (Lugard’s) messiahcomplex… But, if Obasanjo is messianic and Hossanah-prone in his conduct in power, is he to blame?” Adebanwi’s conclusions about Obasanjo’s Messiah Complex would surely resonate with many Nigerians, for the complexities of this country is such that many years are wasted in creating problems, and yet as soon as someone like Jonathan becomes President, there is the unrealistic expectation

that he must solve all the problems overnight. As regards the charge on electricity made by Obasanjo, it is best to examine the matter by referencing the historical basis of the former president’s criticisms. Obasanjo said: “When I was military head of state, I developed the Jebba Dam. I also developed the Shiroro Dam. I started Egbin. Shagari came and completed Egbin and commissioned Jebba and Shiroro. Between Shagari in 1983, until I came back in 1999, there was no single dime invested in power generation. If anything, the ones that were there were allowed to go down.” The contest of Obasanjo’s charges are therefore that, other than himself, no other Nigerian leader, for the better part of two decades, did a single thing to improve the country’s power situation. This may be true, but that

Obasanjo himself is once again bringing this to the fore is indicative of something that is beyond the scope of a newspaper article to deconstruct. Nonetheless, Max Amuchie, another public commentator, tried in March of 2011 to interpret what some have now termed Obasanjo’s hubris. Amuchie wrote: “As civilian president from 1999 to 2007, Obasanjo developed a messiah complex… As part of that complex, he encouraged praise singers and cheer leaders in his government to proclaim him ‘Father of modern Nigeria’, an honour that arguably belongs to Nnamdi Azikiwe, first president of Nigeria. It was also this messiah complex that led him to the ill-advised attempt to amend the constitution to make it possible for him to have a third term in office.” There we have it! Having been denied a third term in office seven years ago, Obasanjo, in 2014, is still smarting

from that rejection. That is why, the simple fact that under President Jonathan Nigeria is generating more electricity than it has ever generated in her history cannot encourage Obasanjo to indulge in a little humility and give even the slightest credit to someone else. Meanwhile, the Minister of Power, Professor Chinedu Nebo, responded to Obasanjo’s charge by saying: “This administration has been working hard to make sure these issues are resolved. By the grace of God, they are getting resolved. For instance, we are generating more power now than Nigeria had ever generated in the past and it is part of the policies of this administration that is making that possible.” Would this be enough for Obasanjo to assume the composure expected of an elder statesman? It is highly doubtful. But then again, if it is not Obasanjo that is doing it, then it means nothing is getting done.

“The contest of Obasanjo’s charges are therefore that, other than himself, no other Nigerian leader, for the better part of two decades, did a single thing to improve the country’s power situation. This may be true, but that Obasanjo himself is once again bringing this to the fore is indicative of something that is beyond the scope of a newspaper article to deconstruct.”

THE NIGERIAN

I sues Why Jonathan Cannot Continue In 2015 8

ALL the history books I have read tell me that when a Nation is in crisis a great leader must emerge to reposition and restructure the system for the better. I recall the great depression in the 1930s in the United States and how Mr. Franklin D. Roosevelt had a turning point in his political career when he was elected the President of the United States in 1932. The 1929/30 great depression provided an opportunity for him to emerge. America was in deep economic crisis. Millions lost their jobs as factories closed down. The banking system collapsed. There was total loss of faith in America. They needed a great and strong President. They voted in Roosevelt. He gave Americans the NEW DEAL. All things considered, Nigeria is today at cross roads and something needs to give way. From all indications, from all angles and from all calculations it is obvious now that if we continue with PDP and President Jonathan, the Titanic called Nigeria may hit an iceberg. President Jonathan’s ambition to continue to seek reelection after completing the late President Yar ’Adua 8years portends grave danger for Nigeria. That ambition if it becomes a reality means that Southern Nigeria would have ruled Nigeria for 18years by 2019. This is not what we struggled for from 1984 to 1999.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15 2014

By JOE IGBOKWE This is threat to national stability and national cohesion, and a distortion of Nigeria’s political equation and equilibrium. It will at once bring to the fore the North and South divide and political dichotomy. The explosive North/South religious tensions will rise. Consequently, this inordinate ambition will put a knife on things that have held us together as one political entity. Nigerians who are worried by the level of corruption and open stealing in Nigeria may not want President Jonathan to continue for another four years. Corruption is threatening our political, economic and social life. Investment funds are in private pockets, the system is not working and people who deserve nothing are pocketing billions and are asking us to go to hell. They abuse us on a daily basis, threatening our lives and dare us to challenge them. Great countries all over the world have been built through discipline and hard work but corruption has torn great nations down. Another great reason why President GEJ cannot continue in 2015 is the inability of his government to stop impunity, and political brigandage. Public Servants and ordinary citizens have caused colossal damage to project Nigeria and asked us to do our

worst. Wanted criminals and Drug Barons use our law enforcement agents to oppress, repress and suppress the poor and steal our votes, and challenges to

highly rated standing Army to look like a rag tagged Army. Our soldiers now run away from these insurgents. Today we hear of mutinies, we hear of our soldiers being captured and disarmed and we

President Goodluck Jonathan

dire them. As I write this, insecurity has become the greatest problem facing Nigeria. Boko Haram has killed nearly 12,000 Nigerians, young and old in the past six years, and yet the end is not in sight. The insurgents have made our security Agencies including our once

hear of recruits disobeying Generals in the Army. This nonsense must stop. This national drift must stop now or Nigeria goes under. In 1999, PDP led Federal Government met more than Three Thousand Megawatts of electricity and after almost sixteen years

“I suggest that elder statesman, Council of States and stakeholders must look for a strong President in 2015 if they still believe in the project Nigeria. President Jonathan cannot just continue. We want a strong, disciplined and committed leadership in 2015.”

Nigeria has gone under three thousand Mega Watts despite the obvious and painful truth that we have invested billions of dollars in the power sector. Compare this with Governor Fashola’s Lagos which has built its five Power Stations; Akute IPP, Alausa IPP, Mainland IPP, Island IPP, and Lekki IPP in a very short time, with a minimum amount of money to power critical sectors like Courts, Hospitals, Schools, Government offices etc. we need new competent and strong hands to run Nigeria now before it is too late. Again, never in the history of this country has a sitting Head of State played up ethnic and religious politics the way President Jonathan has done. He has completely divided Nigeria along religious and ethnic lines, pitching Christianity against Islam, leaders against leaders, youths against youths, fathers against fathers and mothers against mothers. He hardly visits the Northern part of Nigeria as Commander-InChief. He goes about with corrupt Bishops and ethnic chauvinists and display hate to other religions. His body language suggests that he is telling the world that Nigeria is no longer a secular State. This dangerous drift must stop. Crude oil theft under President Jonathan has assumed a frightening dimension. Reports have it that never in the history of this country have we had it so bad. This year alone this country lost huge crude oil to oil thieves, more than what we have lost in the five-years. We heard it from reliable sources that the President seems to pretend to be looking the other way while people mainly from his ethnic stock steal the country

dry with reckless abandon. He seems to be telling them that “this is your time, go and take as much as you can before I go. If I go you may not have this opportunity again in your lifetime” Abuse of power and privileges is another tangible reason why Nigerians must reject Jonathan as President beyond 2015. We saw this in Ekiti State, we saw it in Ondo State. We saw it in Anambra State, Adamawa, Osun, Nasarawa, Niger States etc. These are States where PDP has interest and they are ready to sink the boat to get what they want. The Speaker House of Reps just moved from PDP to APC and IGP has ordered the withdrawal of his Security details. Now, did IGP withdraw Security details from Mimiko, Peter Obi and the National Legislators from Anambra State who moved to PDP? This is double standards! This is executive lawlessness and at best, executive desperation. We have seen Asari Dokubo and Chief Edwin Clark abusing and threatening and cursing other Nigerians because they criticized their President, and yet President Jonathan looks the other way. Now the President must know that he is the President of 160million Nigerians and not President of Ijaw people alone. I can just continue but time and space will not permit me. I suggest that elder statesman, Council of States and stakeholders must look for a strong President in 2015 if they still believe in the project Nigeria. President Jonathan cannot just continue. We want a strong, disciplined and committed leadership in 2015.-

THE NIGERIAN

B auty & Health

-SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 10 2014

Tattooing And Medical Tattooing (3) By OMEIZA ROBINSON IT was in Tahiti abroad the endeavour, in July 1769, that Cook first noted his observations about the indigenous body modification and is the first recorded use of the word tattoo. In the ship’s log book recorded this entry; “both sexes paint their bodies, tattoo, as it is called in their language. This is done by inlaying the colour of black under their skins, in such a manner as to be indelible.” Cook went on to write, “this method of tattooing I shall now describe…… as this is a painful operation, especially the tattooing of their buttocks, it is performed but once in their life times.” Cook’s science officer and expedition botanist, Sir Joseph Banks, returned to England with a tattoo. Banks was a highly regarded member of the English aristocracy and had acquired his position with Cook by putting up what was at the time the princely sum of some ten thousand pounds in the expedition. In turn, Cook brought back with him a tattooed Raiatean man, Omai, whom he presented to King George and the English court. Many of Cook’s men, ordinary seamen and sailors, came back with tattoos, a tradition that would soon become associated with men of the sea in the publics mind and the press of the day. In the process, sailors and seamen reintroduced the practice of tattooing in Europe and it spread rapidly to seaports around the globe. By the 19 th century, tattooing had spread to British society but was still largely associated with sailors and the lower or even criminal class.

Tattooing had however been practiced in an amateur way by public school boys from at least the 1840s and by the 1870s, had become fashionable among some members of upper classes, including royalty. In its up market form, it could be a lengthy, expensive and sometimes painful process. Tattooing spread among the upper classes all over Europe in the 19th century, but particularly in Britain where it was estimated in Harmsworth magazine in 1898 that as many as one in five members of the gentry were tattooed. Taking their lead from the British court, where Edward VII followed George V’s lead in getting tattooed; king Frederick IX of Denmark, the king of Romania, Kaiser Wilhelm II, king Alexander of Yugoslavia and even Tsar Nicholas II of Russia, all sported tattoos, many of them elaborate and ornate renditions of the royal coat of arms or the royal family crest. King Alfonso XIII of modern Spain also had a tattoo. A marked class division on the acceptability of the practice continued for some time in Britain, with the upper and lower classes finding it attractive and the broader middle classes rejecting it. Since 1970s, tattoos have become more socially acceptable, and fashionable among celebrities. Tattoos are less prominent on figures of authority, and the practice of tattooing by the elderly is still considered remarkable. In the period shortly after the American Revolution, to avoid impressments by British navy ships, sailors used government issued protection papers to establish their American

citizenship. However, many of the descriptions of the individual described in the seamen’s protection certificates were so general, and it was so easy to abuse the system, that many impressments’ officers of the Royal Navy simply paid no attention to them. In applying for a duplicate seaman’s protection certificate in 1817, James Francis stated that he had a protection granted him by the collector of this port on or about 12 March 1806 which was torn up and destroyed by a British captain when at sea. On way of making them more specific and more effective was to describe a tattoo, which is highly personal as to subject and location, and thus use that description to precisely identify the seaman. As a result, many of the official certificates also carried information about tattoos and scars, as well as any other specific identifying information. This also perhaps led to an increase and proliferation of tattoos among American seamen who wanted to avoid impressments. During this period, tattoos were not popular with the rest of the country. Frequently the “protection papers” made reference to tattoos, clear evidence that individual was a seafaring man; rarely did members of the general public adorn themselves with tattoos. In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, tattoos were as much about self expression as they were about having a unique way to identify a sailor’s body, should he be lost at sea or impressed by the British navy. The best source for early American tattoos is the protection papers issued following a 1796 congressional act to safeguard American

seamen from impressments. These Prato passports catalogued tattoos alongside birthmarks, scars, race, and height, using simple techniques and tools, tattoo artists in the early republic typically worked on board ships using anything available as pigments, even gunpowder and urine. Men marked their arms and hands with initials of themselves and loved ones, significant dates, symbols of the seafaring life, liberty poles, crucifixes, and other symbols. Sometimes, to protect themselves, the sailors requested not only that the tattoos be described, but that they would also be sketched out on the protection certificate as well. As one researched said, “clerks writing the documents often sketched the tattoos as well as describing them.” The position that holds it that tattooing was somehow “reintroduced” to the “western world” is a myth. Tattooing has been present in Western society consistently from the beginning of Western society in Ancient Greece. Although captain James Cook’s voyages to the south pacific imported the Polynesian word “tatau” (as

“tattow,” later changed to “tattoo”), tattooing was not novel at the time. A long history of European tattoo predated these voyages including pilgrimage tattooing in the Holy land and at site in Europe and tattoos on traveling explorers among Native Americans. The first documented professional tattoo artist in the USA was Martin Hildebrandt, a German immigrant who arrived in Boston, Massachusetts in 1846.Between 1861 and 1865, he tattooed soldiers on both sides in the American civil war. The first documented professional tattooist in Britain was established in Liverpool in the 1870s. Tattooing was an expensive and painful process, and by the 1870s had become a mark of wealth for the crowned heads of Europe. Since the 1970s, tattoos have become a mainstream part of global and western fashion, common among both sexes, to all economic classes, and to age groups from the later teen years to middle age. For many young Americans, the tattoo has taken on a decidedly different meaning than for previous generations. The tattoo has

‘undergone dramatic redefinition’ and has shifted from a form of deviance to an acceptable form of expression. In 2010, 25 percent of Australians under age 30 had tattoos. Mattel released a tattooed Barbie doll in 2011, which was widely accepted, although it did attract some controversy. Tattoos have experienced resurgence in popularity in many parts of the world, particularly in Europe, Japan, and north and South America. The growth in tattoo culture has seen an influx of new artists into the industry, many of whom have technical and fine arts training. Coupled with advancements in tattoo pigments and the ongoing refinement of the equipment used for tattooing, this has led to an improvement in the quality of tattoos being produced. During the 2000, the presence of tattoos became evident within pop culture, inspiring television shows such A and E’s inked and TLC’s Miami ink. The decoration of blues singer Janis Joplin with a wrist let and a small heart on her left breast, by the San Francisco tattoo artist Lyle Tuttle, has been called a seminal moment in the popular acceptance of tattoos as art. Formal interest in the art of the tattoo became prominent in the 1970s through the beginning of the 21 st century. In addition, many celebrities have made tattoos more acceptable in recent years. Over the past three decades, western tattooing has become a practice that has crossed social boundaries from ‘low’ to ‘high’ class along with reshaping the power dynamics regarding gender. It has its roots in ‘exotic’ tribal practices of the native Americans and Japanese, which are still seen in present times. Although tattooing has steadily increased in popularity since the invention of the election tattoo machine in the 1890s, it was not until the 1960s that the place of tattooing in popular culture radically shifted. The tattoo renaissance began in the late 1950s, and was greatly influenced by several artists in particular Lyle Tuttle, Cliff Raven, Don Nolan, Zeke

THE NIGERIAN

I sues 10

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15 2014

Addressing Disunity In Nigeria

Nigeria is 54 years plus as a nation yet nothing much to show for many decades of self-government. Many years ago, Chinua Achebe, one of the Nigerian literary giants, got disturbed with the situation in the country and came up with a book titled “The Trouble with Nigeria.” Before and after he wrote the book, many people have equally written on the situation in Nigeria. Unfortunately, the situation has not improved except for the enthronement of democracy and civil rule in recent years. So the question remains, what is wrong with Nigeria? Is it structural balance, corruption, bad leadership, bad followership, lack of patriotism, nepotism and favouritim, northern hegemony? Marginalization, disunity, religious and ethnic differences, recourses control, rotational presidency? Or what is that thing that has hindered Nigeria from developing in

By KINGSLEY AGESE/PIUS ABAH

terms of infrastructure development and integration of her people as citizens of one united country? To my mind, the problem with Nigeria is squarely disunity. Nigeria is not the only country that is populated with people of diverse cultures, languages and religions. Some countries with similar composition like Nigeria have been able to surmount evils of ethnic chauvinism, religious bigotry and such other divisive tendencies to grow into a cohesive entity. But why is the Nigerian fate different? Nigerians are yet to see themselves as one people. As far back as 1947, the late Yoruba leader, Chief Obafemi Awolowo made the following statement in his book, Path to Nigerian freedom, “ Nigeria is not a nation. It is a mere geographical expression. There are no Nigerians in the

same sense as there are “English, Welsh or French. The word Nigeria is merely a distinctive appellation to distinguish those who live within the boundaries of Nigeria from those who do not.” Chief Obafemi Awolowo was not the only Nigerian to see things this way. The late Sir Abubaka Tafawa Balewa, the first and the only Prime Minister Nigeria ever had, said this in 1948. “since 1914, the British government has been trying to make Nigeria into one country, but the Nigerian people themselves are historically different in their backgrounds, in their religious beliefs and do not show themselves any sign of willingness to unite. Nigerian unity is only a British creation for the country.” These two great Nigerians have longed passed away, one can just imagine what

they would have said in the light of how things have gone worse. Crisis everywhere, while some are motivated by religious bigotry, others are political or ethnic killings. Presently, mindless genocide is taking place in Nigeria with the menace of Boko Haram’s attack especially in the northern part of the country, as a result of disunity which manifest in different areas of our national life. In proffering solutions to Nigeria problems, people have made multifarious suggestions. Some have called for the convocation of sovereign national conference; some call for return to parliamentary system; some others demand a devolution of powers among the tiers of government; some have also called for state autonomy, while some others demand for the break up of the country. According to J. Isawa

Elaigwu, and eminent professor of political science in his paper titled “the Nigerian federation its foundation and future prospects” stated that “the colonial state was heterogeneous. But the British were creating a union and not unity among Nigerians. So the problem with Nigeria is foundational. As the holy book says, “if the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” The foundations of Nigeria is faulty and this explains why all programmes and jingles fashioned to promote national integration, which we need to work towards a common purpose as a people, have not yielded commensurate results. Unity was not in the mind of the colonial master that created Nigeria. Unless Nigerians are united, this country cannot move forward. Though the unity of a country size like Nigeria cannot be attained overnight;

When I Become President OFTEN in moments of complete solitude, my reminiscent mind takes me to an incident in my primary school days. My teacher had asked; “who would like to be the President of Nigeria?” Instinctively, with little or no knowledge of what the presidency or governance entails, almost every pupil in that class raised an arm, little as we were between ages seven and nine. I remember it vividly because a similar event occurred in the university, when a lecturer asked the same question rather jokingly. Only two hands were up, mine and that of a student who is usually categorized in the NFA (No Future Ambition) section of the class, as it is known in the “Akada parlance”. As I continued to reflect on the cause of that attitudinal change in my little consumed mind, it struck me that a lot had actually changed inbetween both periods. The kind of knowledge and predisposition that we gained overtime had caused a change in the different ways we perceived our politics and government. It completely dawned on me when my fellow President-Wannabe was asked why he would want to rule Nigeria. He simply replied, “to take my

own share of the national cake”. Growing up as a child (and I believe a lot of persons my age shared this vision), the office of the Presidency was the most revered. I dreamt and wished it daily, especially as the cliché’ “leaders of tomorrow” continued to ring in my head. I have only come to realize that perhaps our tomorrow is not yet come. Those young enthusiastic and patriotic minds like me that once burned with passion have been suppressed over time, trampled underfoot by successive failed regimes, anchored by the same deceitful smiles who assured us since the 1960s that we are the leaders of tomorrow. 54 years after, that cliché has now been directed to our children, and for some of us, grandchildren. The harsh realities of our time where political offices have become the exclusive preserve and right of a “ruling class” – a group of persons who now see Nigeria as a patriarchal inheritance, have greatly discouraged the zeal which once burnt inside of them. The office of the presidency is now seen as a height way beyond their reach. Having seen how a

By RICHARD IMHOAGENE

Military Head of State came back 22 years later to rule Nigeria for eight years, a onetime Military Governor now sits as the head of the National Assembly, Past Governors now reign as President and Vice President, while others flood the National Assembly, the Executive Cabinet, and serve as heads of Government Corporations, we are left to wonder when our tomorrow will come. The same set of persons continue to revolve around the corridors of power. Frustration has now set in that young people no longer consider governance a plausible career. Those who still do, are on a mission to enrich themselves, their families and “committee of friends”. They have learnt the rope of corruption from the masters, men and women who have held the people ransom, converted the national treasury to personal purses, and shut our mouths with the same laws of immunity they created. But I refuse to despair. When that lecture ‘asked why I would want to be president’ I simply said. “I believe in Nigeria, and I want to make a difference”. The entire class jeered on, as some

whispered “story, for Naija?” “That is what they all say”. It made me realize the damage that the current spate of leadership has done to our image, dreams, and mentality. That response was expected. Even though I knew a large number of the class would react that way, I refused to be cowed into a state of cowardice where my mentality and philosophy would be affected and conformed to fit into the general psyche. Unlike many others, I believe Nigeria can only get better when the general psyche is affected positively, and when the mindset of the people is totally reoriented to refit into the vision of our founding fathers so that the Nigerian dream can be pursued to its actualization. So yes, I want to be president. I want to lead a nation where the common man would not have to go to bed hungry, where the average child does not have to hawk pure water because the parents cannot afford basic education, even when it is free. I see a Nigeria filled with joy and laughter where peace and unity abound. I see a nation where the people can

lay hold of their dividends, because greed, aggrandizement and corruption will be flushed out of the very marrow of every Nigeria. The Nigeria I see is violent-free, a people of mutual understanding without recourse to tribal or ethnic bigotry, where love and peace reign, and where there is no divide between partisan, religious, ethnic, social or financial affinity. This is a country free from blood hounds, the bloodsucking beasts who have held the nation spell bound by perpetrating the highest forms of violence and evil, killing thousands of peaceful ordinary Nigerians, destroying our property and looting our military arsenal and weapons. This is the Nigeria of my dreams-the Nigeria I conceptualize in my mind’s eye. A nation with a booming Agricultural sector with plenty to eat and export, a healthy health sector where there is accessible health services with global-standard equipment. A truly self reliant nation with only necessary interdependence with other parts of the world. I see a Nigeria that has broken free from the chains of a monoproducts economy, but has

An average Nigerian puts the interest of his ethnic or religious group before the national interest. Nigerians are too factionalized to form and developed political entity. Lack of unity has cost Nigeria progress, economic growth and development, political stability, national integration and credible international image. The question now is what is the way forward for Nigeria? Nigeria cannot afford to remain on a sport, forward she must move and to attain this the people of Nigeria must be united and ready to take unpopular decision that envices some hope and antidote to our longstanding challenges as a people. The issue of Boko Haram insurgence should be tackled, problems of ethnic and inter-tribal war should be addressed and lastly the problem of bribery, bureaucracy, favoritism and nepotism in public services should be discouraged.

diversified, exploring the huge potentials of other sectors of the economy. I want to build a nation that has a decent, passionate, and patriotic police force that is truly the friend of the common man, a nation whose justice system is not leaning on the whims and caprices of the highest bidder, but which solidly upholds the principles of fairness, equality and equity. I want to see a Nigeria that boasts of quantitative and qualitative education with available basic infrastructure, and equipped with modern educational, laboratory and library facilities. A place where the Nigerian child can learn to read and write under a roof that protects him from the harsh elements of rainfall and excessive sunlight. Nigeria can be great. I believe it. She can truly be the giant of Africa, not just by virtue of numerical strength, but politically, economically, socially, and diplomatically. We can purge our land of its present dirty state and renew our image in the eyes of the global community. Until that is done, until a leader emerges that can achieve sanity in our polity, redress the situation and transform the fortunes of the nation, my passion to become president will burn more intensely because perhaps, it may suggest that my vision for Nigeria should be run and accomplished by me.

THE NIGERIAN

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-SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 10 2014

P litics & Security 2015

Now That Jonathan Has Decided To Run AT a meeting with the leadership of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, President Goodluck Jonathan officially informed them of his intention to seek reelection next year. He made good his promise by picking the party’s Nomination Form as well as the Expression of Interest Form at the party’s National Secretariat in Abuja on the 30th of October this year. Earlier, the President had set up a committee that would work out the modalities for his declaration. The Committee is headed by the former Minister of Defense, Dr. Haliru Bellow as Chairman and former Senate President, Senator Ken Nnamani as Deputy Chairman, while the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim is to serve as the Secretary to the Committee. While throwing more lights on what prompted the meeting of the party leaders with Mr. President, a national daily quoted a source as saying: “We met with the

President at the State House and explained to him the need for the party to strictly adhere to the Electoral Act and the guidelines issued by the party at the last National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting… At the meeting with him, the President’s attention was drawn to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) report on the 2012 National Convention of the party which was nullified because it did not follow due process. So, our meeting with the President underscored the need to ensure that due process is followed.” It was therefore agreed that the Electoral Act and the guidelines for the PDP Presidential Primary should be followed. And in following the guidelines, the President will buy the Presidential nomination form as well as the expression of interest form and pay all the necessary fees which about 44 groups made donations to the President for him to purchase the form. It will however be recalled that a group had sought to purchase

By COMRADE EDWIN UHARA

both the Nomination and the Expression of Interest Forms for the President. However, before different donations to the President was made public by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, a Presidential Fund Raising Committee had already been set up by the President. The Committee headed by the former Minister of Information and National Orientation, Professor Jerry Gana as the Chairman, Senate Committee on Aviation, Senator Hope Uzodinma, BUA Group of Companies Chairman, Ishaku Rabiu, Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka among others as members. It will be recalled that over 8, 000 different socio-political groups had gathered at the Eagle Square Abuja in the month of September, calling on the President to seek reelection next year with an assurance that, they would all vote for him.

Nonetheless, now that the President has agreed to run and has added flesh to his bone promise by picking the party’s Nomination and Expression of Interest Forms, what is going to be the next face of the campaign? In my view, the next battleground should be on grassroots mobilization, sensitization and voters education. We have about 8,812 electoral wards in the country, so if the more than 8,000 groups that called on the President to seek reelection should establish the kind of presence they have in Abuja in these wards, there is no way the President and the party cannot win in more than 30 states out of the current 36 states in the country. Why I say so is because, most times, some voters don’t know Presidential Candidates by their names. Instead, they only vote for the candidates through their parties and logos. In fact, at this stage that the opposition All

Progressives Congress (APC) is fuming at the ruling party, the real challenge that should face any of the 8,000 groups that are truly working for President Jonathan’s reelection is to start printing the prototypes of the ballot papers and start teaching and showing the electorates how to cast their votes on election day. In similar vein, since the PDP has adopted the President as its sole Presidential candidate, the real thing expected from these groups is to start carrying both the President’s message and the party’s logos cum manifestoes to the electorates. It is not enough urging the President to run when we are going to leave him and the party at the mercy of the opposition. Hence, we should take the support of the President as well as the party to the 8,812 electoral wards, 774 Local Government Areas, 360 Federal Constituencies, 109 Senatorial Districts and the 36 States of the Federation.

For those NGOs who don’t have the capacity to do so, there should merge or go into alliance with stronger ones. They should build formidable structures in key states like Kano, Lagos and Rivers States. This is one of the secrets PDP Project Reloaded used in returning Ekiti State back to the PDP in the June 21 Governorship election held in the state. And with our formidable structures in these key states which is complementing the existing structures of the PDP in those states, President Jonathan would be returned unopposed come February 14, 2015. But then, experience has also shown that some of the electorates who pledged their votes for the President did not even come out to vote in the 2011 Presidential Election, let alone voting for the candidates of their choice. So, another major challenge is how to inspire or motivate these voters to come out and exercise their franchise on Election Day. I leave this part for now until we get in to election mood proper.

Bring Back Our War Against Boko Haram IT is now two weeks since the meaningless ceasefire with, or better put, cessation of fire against Boko Haram was announced by the Jonathan-led government of Nigeria. Since then hundreds more have been killed, dozens of youth

Boko Haram Fighters

have been abducted for rape and forceful conscription and several more towns have fallen to the terrorists. Latest to fall was Mubi in Adamawa state where Boko Haram have hoisted their flags and begun open preaching. The sight of Nigerians

By DR. PEREGRINO BRIMAH fleeing the Boko Haram onslaught against Mubi was tearful. The image courtesy of a good fellow, shows cars piled up struggling to drive away to a safe place. This has been the predicament in the

north. Over a dozen towns are Boko Haram territory; the citizens have either been forced to live and die under a slave mentality barbaric government; or have fled and left behind their livelihood, some family and their property. Why has the Jonathan government stopped our #VictoryForNigeria? Why are our Presidency and military Chiefs now desperately and openly p r o m o t i n g #VictoryForShekau? This is the second time in the last two years that just when Nigeria had victory against these terrorists at hand; the government suddenly stopped its attack on terror and reversed the trend. In both cases it was just when the army announced the killing of the “Shekau,” leader figure, that the government suddenly stopped the military onslaught and allowed Boko Haram regroup. Is this not a government of terror?

We the people of Nigeria want our war back. Jonathan has received approval for a loan of $1 billion to fight this war. The army recently decided to “turn the Civilian-JTF into an armed professional fighting force” to help eradicate Boko Haram totally and completely; what is happening to that? We never had faith in the so-called ceasefire. When two evil people negotiate, it will be suicidal to anticipate good out of it. And why are the negotiations between Nigeria and Boko Haram in private? Is it not our lives they kill? Is it not our sons and daughters they abduct? Will we not be informed of/if any of their members will be released? If by some wickedness, some money is to be given to them, and some ammunition as Cameroon did, will it not be our money and our arms and ammunition? Nigerians demand that for any negotiations with Boko Haram, let them all come and do it in the open. We

deserve absolute control of our destiny. What part of terror negotiations is a secret? We demand transparent open negotiations if any, now! You are either with us or with the terrorists. We ask Jonathan now to decide: is he going to spend his last couple of months as a stubborn sponsor and supporter of terror and these terrorists who in 2012 defended as his “siblings,” or is he going to join the will and collective desire and determination of the people of Nigeria to combat Boko Haram fire for fire and show them the superior power of the Nigerian military known for its success across Africa? Jonathan should please allow good a chance and stop being an agent of evil and obstruction in the wheel of peace and positive change. Stop begging and bribing Boko Haram. Stop lying to the world. #BringBackOurWar! Bring back #VictoryForNigeria

THE NIGERIAN

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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15 2014

How Achebe Saved Me From James Hardley Chase By OKEY NDIBE TWO Saturdays ago, I had the privilege of giving a keynote at an international conference organized at the Senate House of the University of London to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Chinua Achebe’s Arrow of God. The two-day celebration was an impressive gathering of scholars who have devoted time to the study and explication of Achebe’s work as a novelist, cultural activist and intellectual. Among the luminaries who offered stimulating papers were John Gikandi of Princeton University, Harry Garuba (who travelled from his South African location), and T. Vijay Kumar. The first day of the conference, Femi Osofisan, a polyglot who is at once an incisive scholar, extraordinary dramatist, and novelist directed a dramatization of Arrow that brought home in a powerful way the millenarian tension in Achebe’s most important— even if not most well known—fictive work. Akachi Ezeigbo, a novelist and professor at the University of Lagos, capped off the second and final day of the event by performing an Igbo dirge for Achebe. The two-day conference was altogether moving. The brilliance of many of the presentations was matched by the conference’s festive air. It all showed the potential power of rich, deep cultural production. In their wideranging, multidisciplinary engagement with Achebe’s grandest novel, several presenters sought to underscore how literary creativity can illuminate a people’s social experience and embody a broad range of their dreams.

To pay attention to the presentations was to come away with a deep conviction that the best artists and writers possess the power to offer timeless insights, contained in works that are of their time without being contained by it. Numerous speakers, including Garuba and the passionate Obi Nwakanma, illustrated the ways in which Achebe’s third novel, though set in a past in which the outlines and effects of colonial subjugation were undeniable, nevertheless anticipates Africa’s c o n t e m p o r a r y predicament. Ezeulu, the protagonist in Arrow of God, in his fascination with the exercise of power and his refusal to “eat death” that his people may be spared from collective demise, buttresses the behavior of many African “leaders.” These leaders, a bunch Fanon would categorize as contemptible, are often unwilling to rein in their appetite for selfaggrandizement in order to serve more humanistic or visionary goals. Years ago, a Nigerian publisher friend of mine was fond of describing culture as an index of power. At the time, I did not fully grasp the power of his assertion. Its full implications began to dawn on me only after I moved to the United States. I came to a growing awareness that—Nigeria’s oil wealth notwithstanding—the country’s true and abiding assets (her image, identity and cultural currency) depended on the enterprise of her most gifted artists. Wherever one goes in the world, one is apt to

encounter a somewhat understandable but reductive image of Nigeria. That image is of a land teeming with 419 scam entrepreneurs. But a narrative of the extraordinary creativity of her writers, musicians, fine artists, and moviemakers serves to counter the unflattering face of Nigeria. Let me cite an example or two. Some years ago, I was speaking with Claire Gaudiani, who was then the president of Connecticut College in New London, when she asked about my country of origin. When I answered, she exulted, “Oh, I just met and heard a fascinating Nigerian writer in London, Wole Soyinka.” Our conversation took an enthusiastic turn. When a writer-in-residence at her college took a sabbatical, Ms. Gaudiani persuaded the English Department to invite me as a stand-in teacher. I can’t count the number of times I have met people in the US who—on learning I’m from Nigeria— would affectionately say they had read Achebe’s Things Fall Apart. On finding out that I knew Achebe personally, they would be transfixed with awe. Despite its enduring technical challenges, N o l l y w o o d — N i g e r i a ’s effervescent answer to Bollywood—has captured the curiosity of people around the world. Four years ago, I made my first visit to Kenya. Many Kenyans, from cab drivers to academics, talked excitedly about a weeklong visit to Nairobi of a Nollywood actress. Incidentally, I had never heard about the woman! But that gap in my knowledge merely demonstrated an important fact of cultural production.

Chinua Achebe

“I never read even a single book by Chase. The reason: I was fortunate to read Achebe’s Things Fall Apart quite early. The book left me entranced, seduced me, filled me with an insatiable appetite for other writers who articulated the African experience. Once Achebe had set the hunger, I went searching for other African writers.” Whether I knew her or not, that actress embodied and represented me as far as the Kenyans were concerned. If she acted disagreeably in Kenya, she risked tainting all Nigerians with the broad brush of her character. In the same way, her positive carriage rubbed off on all Nigerians, even on those of us who didn’t know who she was. A year ago, I was in Austin, Texas to attend a book festival. One night, I was walking the streets of the city with a few of my US publisher’s staff, looking for a joint that offered beer and books. As we turned a corner I heard Fela’s music blaring from a backyard. A few people stood around, swaying. I immediately went in, introduced myself, and told them I was not only a Nigerian I also knew Fela. They gave me a gushing welcome, apologized that their party was winding down, but invited me to show up the next night at a club they said played marvelous African music. When my turn came to speak at the Achebe conference in London, I knew what I didn’t want to do. I wasn’t going to read a

conventional scholarly paper that teased out some arcane aspect of the text. Numerous other speakers had done a terrific job in that respect. I chose, instead, to tell stories of the ways in which Achebe’s work had enchanted me from the first moment I had read it. In my secondary school days, I told the audience, many of my schoolmates took to reading books by James Hadley Chase and Barbara Cartland. Chase’s books, I recall, carried such titillating titles as Do Me A Favor: Drop Dead and The Way The Cookie Crumbles. I remembered a particular classmate, a fanatical aficionado, who had “consumed” more than 50 titles by Chase. One day, he asked me why I was content to read “bush” novels, a reference to the fact that some of the fiction I relished reading were set, in part at least, in Africa’s pre-colonial rural communities. He fancied himself a scion of Enlightenment, engaged not with machetes but guns, not with elders with their proverb-rich speech but with jacket wearing,

gun-wielding mobsters dripping with “gonna” and “wanna”. I never read even a single book by Chase. The reason: I was fortunate to read Achebe’s Things Fall Apart quite early. The book left me entranced, seduced me, filled me with an insatiable appetite for other writers who articulated the African experience. Once Achebe had set the hunger, I went searching for other African writers. What a treasure I found. For, while many other students fattened themselves on Chase’s pabulum, I was discovering Ngugi, Beti, Soyinka, Awoonor, Nwapa, Armah, Nagenda, Ousmane, Ouologuem, Emecheta. I credit Achebe with saving me from Chase. And I believe that he and our other great writers can help save Nigeria if only we would pause in our frenetic hankering after material ephemera—to read and ponder their words. Let’s find the time to reflect deeply on the import of Achebe’s imperishable art and that of his fellow laborers in the vineyard of African letters.

Roadmap

THE NIGERIAN

-SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 10 2014

Don’t Kill The Soldiers ON 16th September 2014 the news broke to the world that 12 soldiers who reportedly mutinied in the Army in Borno state have been sentenced to death by the military tribunal. The way of the Military is strange and different from civilian understanding . A soldier is expected to obey the last order –no more ,no less without debate or question. So when a group of soldiers decided to point and fire their guns at their own Commander rather than the ungodly members of Boko haram they Knew they were violating a cherished professional norm with weighty consequences. This piece is not about the legality or soundness of the military’ judgment but outright appeal on moral and humanitarian grounds that the affected soldiers should not be executed. Too much blood already has been spilled.It was good that the ‘unruly’ soldiers have been investigated and tried according to military rules to remind all rules of engagement and reign of extant laws but the official killing of any soldier will not serve any useful purpose. It will not only be swelling the number of unwarranted death but also unwittingly advancing the sadistic and unholy intention and agenda of the ungodly and blood- thirsty members of the BokoHaram sect. The sect

does not deserve such honour. The soldiers are to me victims of unusual complex situation. The Boko –Haram phenomenon is unusual in many respects and it conjures ugly and frightening images and ill-feeling. Though there has been a general belief that the current security challenge has been poorly handled, the sect’s guerilla tactics appeared to overwhelm the security agencies. In fact it requires more intelligence than brawl to win the day. In a way, the alleged mutiny can be seen as an attempt to express the frustration of the men in the battle field. According to newspaper reports the Boko haram were better armed than our soldiers and some people were responsible for the dereliction of responsibility. We thank God that their commander was not hit and alive to tell the story, be immediately changed and retired their killing them shall add no ounce of value to nation building. Truly to make scapegoat out of them for what is generally a collective failure and great embarrassment of the nation will be counter-productive. This is because the soldiers did not say no to fighting but to be better armed and motivated to get cracking on the insurgentsthough expressed in the extreme unconventional

way. Certainly the sect’s guerilla tactics made it more difficult for the military to strike effectively thereby endangering everyone

to the unlawful action of the soldier could be helpful here. It was a tale of blood, deaths and frustration. The day of their offending act, some of their colleagues

With

Dr. JOHN ABHUERE threatening to disallow their husbands from going to war if there were no adequate preparation. It may look queer but it sends message to the authority

• Gen. Kenneth Minimah, Chief of Army Staff

including soldiers who foremost are human – beings with love of love and instinct for selfpreservation. But now that it has made the tactical mistake of declaring some area its caliphate within the Nigerian space then things should be easier to handle. Rather than killing some of their own in the name of discipline, the military should be united in dealing with the tremor on our body. Recollection of the circumstances leading

had been brought from the field dead as a result of some ambush. Could their action be an involuntary response to shocking event, an expression of sympathy and a statement of concern and-a wake-up call the appropriate authority that time was running out and the sooner more arms were provided the safer for the soldiers and better for the country?. Recall too that the wives of soldiers later stage a public protest

The soldiers are to me victims of unusual complex situation. The Boko –Haram phenomenon is unusual in many respects and it conjures ugly and frightening images and ill-feeling. Though there has been a general belief that the current security challenge has been poorly handled, the sect’s guerilla tactics appeared to overwhelm the security agencies.

of the urgent need for positive action. The actions were patriotic and they subsequently jogged some action. Too much blood had already been sucked by the vipers. The summation is mind boggling. According to Femi Fani-Kayode about 8000 lives had been lost within the last 3years.while 130 churches burnt. NEMA reports that 1000 people died within the last three months and 250,000 citizens displaced by insurgents (The Guardian 26/3/2014).To the federal government 13000 Nigerians had been lost to the Boko Haram crisis within the last five years(Leadership25-92014). These could appall and cause a even lion heart to recoil. It was not military might or discipline or courage that was on trial, but the

collective will of the people to stand up to evil and chase it out of our shores. It will be wrong therefore to sacrifice these soldier for a fault not entirely theirs. What we have at hand is unreason against reason, misguided people with misinformed faith and belief against the tenets of the holy book, darkness versus light, intelligence versus physical, a sectarian group’s view against majority view of a particular faith- In short a minority group against majority citizens. Before the alleged mutiny what was more required to arrest the situation was popular participation of the citizens, superior technology in intelligence gathering to help identify and isolate the insurgents and nip their plan early in the bud and adequate weapons to combat the enemies. The age of innocence appears to have gone. Decency and respect for human life have given place to one of b a r b a r i s m , shamelessness and darkness-uncivilized acts. Our collective sense of humanity had taken flight. Vipers, cannibals, sadists etc are on stage spilling blood indiscriminately and creating caliphates at will on a determined program of extermination of the human race in Nigeria. This was the back ground to the soldiers action-insecurity everywhere including the barracks. The little mustard seed of yesterday has grown big and almost beyond control. Understandably there is a sense of desperation and even frustration in the land. The blaming games continues but the errant soldiers should not be killed. Killing add sorrow to our already depressed condition-nothing more.

THE NIGERIAN

DELTA WATCH With JOEL CHUKWAGHONIM

Market Women Leader Charges Women To Participate In Election THE Market Women Leader in Igbanke West, Orhionmwon Local Government Area of Edo State, Mrs. Theresa Oligie, has called on all market women in the area to ensure they register to vote in the forthcoming, elections, so as to exercise their right of franchise. Speaking with newsmen in her country home, Mrs. Oligie charged all political aspirants and the entire political class to adhere to the dictates of the constitution in the forthcoming elections, stressing that politics is not a do or die affairs but a game like football. She added that politicians should desist from using Nigerian youths as thugs to manipulate electoral processes, while she urged all youths in the area and the entire nation not to be lured into thuggery and violence. Speaking further, Mrs. Oligie pointed out that Edo State needs candidates that can sustain the momentum by picking up the legacy of the Comrade

Governor which he will lay down for the next Governor of the state. She thanked the Edo State Market Women Leader, Mrs. Josephine Omoregie (JP) aka Blacky, for her good leadership in carrying all market women in the state along. She prayed for God’s wisdom, strength, and resources to pilot the affairs of the market women in the state to greater heights.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15 2014

Politician Charges Electorate To Exercise Franchise

CHIEF (Dr.) Vincent Ebohon Oloton of Okalo, in Igueben L.G.A in Edo State: A political stalwart of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Okalo has stated that it is time for the electorates to come together to duly exercise their franchise. Speaking with newsmen in an interview in his country home in Igueben, he noted that it was time for the people to get tangible development in the place of gift items, stressing that what the people in the community need is infrastructural development. He further assured the people that his party, the APC will provide a level-playing ground for all candidates, while he thanked them for registering during the voters registration exercise,

empowering them to ensure that they will come out to vote for the right candidate that will work with the legacy of the current Governor Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole. Chief Oloton urged the youths of the community to be tolerant, and enjoined

THE Rev. Father of Saint Dominic Parish Otolokpo in Ika North East Local Government Area of Delta State, Dr. Steven Ayogbe has urged Nigerians to love and show kindness to one another irrespective of religious beliefs to move the country forward. In a chat with newsmen in his office at Saint Dominic Parish Otolokpo, Rev.

Father Ayogbe made the appeal by urging the people to exhibit what is called goodness which should be expressed naturally irrespective of the religion practice or belief of the people. He said there is one natural attribute that God

Ejeme Aniogbor Holds 2014 New Yam Festival

THE Ejeme Aniogbor Palace in Aniocha South Local Government Area of Delta State recently hosted the people of the area in this year ’s celebration of its annual new yam festival. The traditional ruler who was the Chief Celebrant, HRM Obi Anthony Ogboi Onwelikwu, and the Obi of Ejeme Aniogbor in Aniocha South L.G.A of Delta State appreciated the presence of family members, friends and well wishers who came from all parts of the country to felicitate with him on the auspicious occasion. In a speech, HRM Obi Onwelikwu remarked that the new yam festival offers

bountiful opportunity for the people to give thanks to God for all he has done right from the planting season to the harvest time. HRM, Obi Onwelikwu, also noted that the event

the political class to influence them with material things to enable them exercise their franchise during the elections. In additions, he charged the candidates not to use the youths as thugs during the forthcoming elections to enable the electorates vote for the candidates of their choice. Chief Aniemeke thanked the former council chairman of Ika South Local Government Area, Hon. Festus Emuebie, the PDP leader in ward five (5) for his openness towards his followers and his charitable gesture to the less-privileged who come close to him and prayed to God for wisdom, strength and resources, to pilot the affairs of Ekuku Agbor Community to a greater level.

his commitment to the party adding that as party faithfuls, they will ensure responsible representation in the constituency, Edo State in general, and in the three tiers of government.

Cleric Advocates Love Among Nigerians

provide the rare opportunity for families to unit and fraternize an atmosphere of joy, celebration and merriment. The Obi stated that the new yam festival is not

Remember Your Constituents, Aniemeke Charges Newly Elected Leaders THE Onyedozihen of Ekuku-Agbor in Ika South Local Government Area of Delta State, Chief Philip Chukwunweiken Aniemeke, has appreciated the successful local government election in the area. Speaking with newsmen in his country home EkukuAgbor, Chief Aniemeke charged the successful candidates to always remember their bearings and they should always visit their constituencies, know the problems in the areas and find ways to address them because one good turns deserves another. Chief Aniemeke, who is also the Akurunor of Ejemeaniogor in Aniocha south local government area of the state further advised the electorate not to allow any member of

them to shun violence, stressing that whatever they do might make or mar the area. He added that all what the people want is peace in the area and someone credible to represent them in the forthcoming election. The Oloton assured all of

• HRM Obi Anthony Ogboi Onwelikwu, Obi of Ejeme Aniogbor

associated with fetish practices or idol worship. He said the new yam festival is one of those cultures of the people that is not devilish but celebrated as a common traditional features of the people. HRM stressed the importance of mother tongue, the need to reinvigorate traditional folk tales both at home and in the diasporal; He said the creation of job opportunity for the youth in the community is a step towards eradicating social illness in the society. Dignitaries who graced the occasion are; Chief (Dr) Raphel Okwuokegen, the Ugbala of Mbiri Kingdom in Ika North East Local Government Area of Delta State, Dr. Engr. Austine Iyamah, HRM (Dr) Valentine Akpatin, the Oselukwu of Ogume, the Obi-bu-Agu the Ambassador of United Nation, Chief Nkwor Igwebueze-the Prime Minister (Iyase) of Ejeme in Aniogbor Kingdom, and a host of others.

has deposited in each one of us to enable man relate and fit well into the society, making the society good and liveable for all. He further stated, if all Nigerian Christians and Muslims will exhibit and demonstrate the goodness that God has planted in us, our moving forward will take us to the promised land. The Rev father said that in spite of the current security situation and other challenges facing the nation, Nigeria is moving forward, adding that God in heaven controlling the affairs of men will not allow us remain stagnant as man is always on motion, the world is on motion and Nigeria is moving forward. “Moving forward is always constant, it is always perpetual but our direction in moving forward always “matter”, he said. The clergyman further stated that other factors that determine the positive movement of man or society are the belief of the people and respect for a nation’s constitution. He called on the political leaders at the various levels to govern according to the rule of law and respect the peoples’ fundamental rights for the well being of the society. He went further to say that corruption, hatred, assassination and unemployment are ravaging the country but the leaders should think of what the constitution says concerning humanity and the right of human beings.

Vigilante Boss Calls For Support THE chairman, vigilant group of Nigeria in Aniocha South Local Government Area of Delta State, Mr. Alex Okpala has appealed to Government, philanthropists, Non-Governmental Organisations and well meaning citizens of Ejeme, Aniogor Community to come to the aid of the vigilante group in the area. According to Mr. Okpala, the vigilante group is a voluntary organisation that is endeared towards combating crime and other crime related

issues in order to forstall peace in any community and as a result, should not be allowed to face danger. He added, that these are people who have volunteered their lives to do the job but have no money to finance themselves. Mr. Okpala while soliciting for support pleaded with philanthropists who are security conscious to donate generously to help the group purchase security equipments such as patrol van, uniforms, rain boots, and monthly stipends to

enable them cater for themselves and also to communicate effectively in times of emergency in order to combat crimes in the areas. He therefore enjoined the traditional rulers in the area to encourage the group by contributing their quota to assist them, adding that since the inception of the vigilante group, people could now walk freely without any molestation by criminals as crime rate has been reduced drastically to its bearest

minimum. In another development, a member of the vigilante group, Mr. Robinson Onwumah in his speech, charged all okada riders to stop operation any moment from 9:00pm unless on emergency to avoid being embarrassed by police officers or vigilante men. He also advised the group not to use the vigilante influence to intimidate the people stressing that anyone caught would be seriously dealt with.

THE NIGERIAN

-SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 10 2014

Weekend

“Apart from complaints of rigging, there have been violence, many voided ballots as a result of wrong marking, apathy, sales and buying of votes, etc. These and others threaten the integrity of election...”

DISCOURSE • Sulaiman Abba, IG-P

• Prof. Attahiru Jega, INEC Chairman

• Gen. Kenneth Minimah, Chief of Army Staff

2015 ELECTION

Strategies And Methods Towards Improving Voter’s Education

THE year 2015 is a general election year in Nigeria. Elections in the country are often very tense and characterized by some unholy and irresponsible behavior betraying poverty of knowledge on the part of the electorate. Apart from complaints of rigging, there have been violence, many voided ballots as a result of wrong marking, apathy, sales and buying of votes, etc. These and others threaten the integrity of election, cast doubt on the outcome, make voters apathetic and hopeless in the belief that their votes do

not and will not count. It took much efforts to check the spate of riots that broke following the announcement of the last presidential election results. Many went to court to seek redress. There is no doubt that a well- articulated and effectively delivered Voters’ education could make a positive difference. Man is a learning animal and can be taught to do election better by voting well. This is the

By JOHN ABHUERE Ph.D, FNIM

purpose of voters education. In this discussion, some of the strategies for improving voters’ education will be explored for relevance. Understood as plan of action for achieving a given task, the strategies shall take two steps: namely direct interaction with voters or prospective voters or indirect contact using the

Mass Media to deliver well articulated messages to target audiences. The situation say in terms of level of literacy, geographical locations, etc, shall help in making a choice. However, given the tendency for violence, high level of illiteracy and peculiar problems of minority groups such as the elderly, women, disabled,

youths, rural dwellers, it is suggested that as much as possible direct interaction approach be explored more than the use of the media to reach audience. This has implication for cost and logistics- raising men to transverse the breadth and length of the country for voters’ education and funds to support the cause. We strongly believe that the problem of the country is not with lack of knowledge of what is to be

done, but elite’s lack of due value premium on voters education, resources, capacity and will. But let me confess: This is not a discussion of the lead paper which I could not get before now but a reasoned response to the topic which I found to be very relevant to our journey to the 2015 General Elections. WHAT IS VOTERS EDUCATION ALL ABOUT? Broadly speaking voters Continues on pg. 16

THE NIGERIAN

D scourse Strategies And Methods Towards

education is about empowering the voters with appropriate knowledge aimed at making them ‘ready, willing and able to participate’ in elections with confidence. The goal is to enable the voter to make well informed decision about an impending election, become knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the coming elections, provide information about the electoral process, promote positive attitude to elections, explain the essence of democracy, motivate the voter into positive action – in short inform the voter about the importance of election and why he should participate in it. (www.orsam.org .tr/tr/tr/ upload/secimler/3…). IMPORTANCE OF VOTERS’ EDUCATION Voter’s Education is part of the general effort aimed at deepening and sustaining democracy, promoting maximum voters participation and holding elected members accountable after election. It covers activities connected with the election including registration, voting, the use of ballot papers, the roles of individual citizen, sanctity and secrecy of the ballot and security of the voter, etc. Against this background the importance of Voters’ Education cannot be overstressed. This is much more so in a country like Nigeria just emerging from a long period of military rule and dictatorship. Citizens need a learning process in democracy and democratic practice and as just observed, voters’ education promotes a body of knowledge for effective participation in elections. It not only induces commitment to ‘free and fair election’, it also provides necessary voters’ information and other knowledge-based materials which enable them to cast their votes on election day. Also it helps in building confidence by stressing the importance of participating in election, observance of the rule of the game, fair play, knowledge of the key actors, acceptance of election result etc. POVERTY OF VOTERS’ EDUCATION IN NIGERIA CONTEXT OF MAKING STRATEGIES In Nigeria today, there are many signs of poverty of voters’ education and we

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15 2014

need to identify some of them as contextual basis for making strategies. These include thuggery, rigging, rabid support for the wrong reasons, complacency and failure of law enforcement, tribe-based political choice, violence, intolerance, corruption (stomach infrastructure), insecurity, youth negative participation, disorderliness, late arrival of election materials, improper marking of ballot papers, slow redress system, poor consequence management. They are symptoms of a serious malady in voters’ education in Nigeria. The task is to work out strategies to check them as we prepare for the 2015 elections. For instance violence is very prevalent here warranting the deployment of soldiers and the youth are ready recruits for it and become victims in the end. In the developed democracies many of these anomalies do not happen as often as seen in Nigeria largely because of long entrenched effective socialization process – civic education. YOUTHS The role of the youths in elections has been both impressive and depressing. While the educated ones – the corps members have helped in promoting the integrity of elections, many of the poorly educated help in defiling it by serving as thugs and agents of violence. During the last general election in America, the youth - first term voters were seen looking for their voting station patiently without resort to violence. In Nigeria the reverse would have been the case. In the past, youths have been seen in Nigeria helping in the snatching of ballot boxes and visiting violence on other voters as party thugs. Also the average voter was easily cajoled to sell his vote for a small amount of money or some bag of rice and salt which some politician now elegantly refer to as ‘stomach infrastructure’- a euphemism for corruption or defilement of the electoral process. Why the gap? The truth is that such people have little or no knowledge and understanding of democracy. Their value premium on voting is low and the importance of the ballot is lost to them, they are ignorant of the fact that

it is with their vote a government is formed and elected representatives are controlled. All these happen as a result of poor political education thereby allowing room for such flaws. In other words the level of voters’ education is low and thus the need for voters education campaign even beyond the 2015 election to promote information on electoral process, cause ‘positive attitude towards elections and motivate people to participate in them meaningfully’ in a responsible and acceptable way. This calls for larger issue of civic and character education requiring the attention and intervention of schools, family and faith based organizations. One of the ways to check violence, enlighten groups is appropriate education which voters education could afford citizens including the youths. CONTENTS OF VOTERS EDUCATION Based on the Nigerian experience especially of misuse of ballot and proclivity for violence, the contents of Voters education program should cover rules and expectation of elections, roles and functions of government/ state, essence of democracy, importance of election and citizenry participation, basics of the constitution, the electoral framework –the constitution, electoral laws and other regulations, voters’ information, security, free and fair election, patriotism need for tolerance, healthy competition, sanctity of votes based on the idea that one’s vote counts, vote is secret and security is guaranteed after votingvote as source of power, good governance and development, leaders’ tolerance of others, decorum of contestants, morality, ethical conduct, access to justice, assurances that ballot is secret, election free and fair to all parties, how, where and when to vote, role and right of the voter, human right, benefit of voting, the curse of violence, role of the citizen in democracy etc. Educators’ impartiality, universality of educational campaign and clarity of message, etc, should be observed. PACKAGING Depending on the audience-target group,

some of the contents would be given more focus and emphasis than others. This is a kind of ‘different strokes for different folks’ - using appropriate method. A package for the rural dwellers cannot be same as that of contestants for political positions. For instance, a sensitization session with contestants and youth will in addition to

poor villagers or rural dwellers will stress the benefit of voting, secrecy of ballot, security after voting, how, where and when to vote and the like. We may find the use of mass media better for one , while town hall meeting more appropriate for the other. STRATEGIES There are many strategies and methods to

information’. In short identify audiences and use different types of media such as TV, Radio, Press, Internet to reach them based on the context of the audiences. Others include use of printed materials, posters, flyers, lectures, town hall meeting, market shows, arts and culture, face to face interaction, use of the telephone, commercial

voters information dwell more on good conduct, tolerance, patriotism, danger of violence, duties and responsibilities of a good citizen, acceptance of result, the need to follow due process for redress, etc, while audience with the

apply in voters education program but as experts insist, the educators’ first step is to ‘consider the target audiences and use appropriate methods to reach them bearing in mind their location, level of literacy and access to

advertising, distance learning, teaching methods, films, Audio Visual Aids, etc. VOTERS EDUCATION AND INFORMATION, ALTERNATIVE METHODS OF COMMUNICATING VOTER EDUCATION, METHODS OF VOTERS

“Voter’s Education is part at deepening and sustaini maximum voters particip members accountable aft

THE NIGERIAN

D scourse Improving Voter’s Education 17

-SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 10 2014

EDUCATION-ECP VOTER HAND BOOK- PAKISTAN) The strategies are based on the idea of effective communication and as already noted for purpose of easy reference the methods can be subdivided into two: namely direct contact activities and indirect contact through the mass media activities. Thus in a highly illiterate

the use of mass the media in a society with high illiteracy rate such as Nigeria and how easy is it for educators to transverse the length and breadth of the country in order to have direct interaction say with those in the Creeks, High lands and the vast majority of rural dwellers most of whom are illiterates? These are practical issues that

Whatever is the case, the voters’ education program should be conducted at each of the local government areas of the country. TARGET AUDIENCES A good voters’ education should not only be able to make the voter to become more knowledgeable and know how, when and where to vote and why, also it

populated country such as Nigeria, an important task is the selection of appropriate strategies and methods. They must be cost effective in addressing the issues at hand such as the ones identified earlier. For instance how effective is

must be considered in choosing any strategy. It calls for creative thinking, hard work and commitment to best practices including the proper segmentation and identification of target audiences now in our journey to 2015 elections.

should be able to address leading problems associated with elections. A good understanding of the country including obstacles to elections, nature of problem and their sources will help in identifying target groups for voters education. This will include voters and

of the general effort aimed ing democracy, promoting pation and holding elected ter election.”

non voters alike for general approach. In particular youths, students, first time voters, urban youths, rural youths, illiterate voters, the aged, disabled women and other minority groups can constitute different target groups. NIGERIAN POLITICAL ELITE As hinted earlier, the greatest threat to elections is violence with its associated forms of rigging traceable to the Nigerian political elites who recruit the youths for so many unholy and unclean activities that are inimical to the integrity of the election process. The political elite have not shown good example so far and they need some education. Man is a learning animal and with proper education or training he can be made to do things better. In this regard the focus of voters education should also be on the political class with emphasis on code of conduct, patriotism, healthy competition and the like. The political parties, contestants, etc, can be educated to behave responsibly and assist in the task of voters’ education and the youth to abhor violence. The role of corps members on election day which has had salutary effects, attests to the good service the youth can render when properly socialized. Youth violence depicts the ugly side of the uncultured citizen. Sensitization of key actors in the electoral process such as INEC officials, Security agents, Civil Society groups, Voters Educators with emphasis on patriotism, fair-play, best practices, impartiality, etc, is equally desirable. Today there are marginalized people in the country including the youths, the elderly, the disabled, etc, and the task of the educator is to reach out and bring such groups of people to the electoral folds. We must not only try to find out why the Nigerian youth are so vulnerable to violence and why the average Nigerian citizen is easily manipulated by the elites, also we must use the voters’ education program to empower them with correct information and knowledge to resist temptation. WHO WILL BELL THE CAT? – NEED FOR VOTERS’ EDUCATION FUND

Who will bell the cat? The first reaction is to shout INECthe election management authority in Nigeria. The task is enormous and far beyond the resources of INEC in terms of men and materials. In my view, the problem of Nigeria’s election is not with the lack of knowledge of what to be done but the lack of capacity and political will to do the needful. The situation of Voters’ education is deplorable and needs much injection of due funds to attract the right men/women and attain the desired reach. Also, there is the problem of underestimation of the importance of voters’ education in the country. Consequently there has been inadequate resources devoted to it. Towards this end there is the need for Voters’ Education Fund to be supported by the political parties, business organizations and international bodies. While INEC can spear-head and coordinate the sourcing of resources, all hands must be on deck to raise the tempo of voters’ education in the country. CIVIC AND C H A R A C T E R EDUCATION Some would rather want INEC to restrict itself to voters’ information and voters’ education only. However as things look now, the execution of voters’ education program cannot be very successful unless it is grounded on civic education which is a continues exercise aimed at promoting citizenry participation, good character education, civic responsibilities, sound knowledge of the constitution, democracy and democratic practices. Unfortunately as noted earlier, this like the study of history, has become one of the neglected areas of our educational system to the detriment of voters’ education. Also, the electoral body has to be ready with voters’ information for the educators to use with other relevant materials in the voters’ education programs. The task at hand is too enormous for the election authority to do alone in Nigeria. COLLABORATION This leads to the next obvious strategy - that of collaboration with

competent organizations such as the Civil Societies to prepare and take well articulated voters’ education packages to all the nooks and crannies of the country. As indicated earlier, the voters’ education has to be local government based and driven. It is suggested that at least 5 five well trained voters’ educators be appointed for each of the local government to be charged with promoting civic education, voters’ education and dissemination of voters’ information to citizens to be coordinated by INEC. Though civic education is normally left to schools to handle, there is nothing wrong with INEC showing more than ordinary interest in deepening democracy in Nigeria by engaging the appropriate education authority to energize that aspect of our education. BORROWING FROM OTHER COUNTRIES IDEA OF MOCK ELECTION Some countries have tended to focus attention on children and youth by conducting mock elections for children to participate, having parallel voting during election that would not be counted, encouraging campaigns for school positions and organizing seminars, workshop, special lectures for young people for purpose of political/ voters education. The NGOs could come handy here in lending a helping hand to the cause of voters’ education in the country. CONCLUSION - NO ONE BEST WAY There is no one best strategy or method : the prevailing situation say the target group for instance may help in deciding the methods. There is no use throwing flyers, radio and Television adverts in English at the stark illiterates in the rural areas. Direct interaction may be better with eyes on cost effectiveness. Creative thinking, commitment to democracy, patriotism, cost consideration are of essence here. The Local Government area should be the hub of Voters’ Education with INEC coordinating, monitoring and evaluating for necessary action. VOTERS EDUCATION AND INFORMATION, ALTERNATIVE METHODS OF COMMUNICATING VOTER EDUCATION, METHODS OF VOTERS EDUCATION-ECP VOTER HAND BOOK- PAKISTAN)

THE NIGERIAN

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15 2014

TERNATIONAL

Netanyahu:

Real Danger To Israel’s Security

AS Prime Minister, Netanyahu has consistently invoked his solemn duty to protect Israel’s national security. Ironically, he has become the single most reckless individual who is imperiling the very security of the state. One need not look far and wide to discern N e t a n y a h u ’ s disingenuousness and misguided policies that have only undermined Israel’s future security. He uses his political skills to deceive and mislead in order to ‘protect himself from political defeat’ while disregarding what is best for the future of the state. He surrounds himself with cronies blinded by their skewed ideological zeal with no morals or scruples to support his sinister political agenda. To be sure, Israel under Netanyahu’s stewardship is globally on the defensive, isolated, threatened from within and without, loathed and criticized by friends and foes alike, and with no prospect to achieve peace, which jeopardizes not only Israel’s security but its very existence. By what measure can Netanyahu claim that the occupation of the West Bank enhances Israel’s national security? Nearly fifty years of occupation did nothing but poison the Palestinians, intensify their hatred and animosity toward Israel, and drive them to extremism, which gave birth to Hamas and an assortment of other jihadist groups. How does the building of settlements and their expansion under the pretense of securing the borders provide Israel with better security? Thousands of soldiers are stationed throughout the West Bank to protect the settlers, making the settlements a security liability rather than an asset. Moreover, the settlements became the source of the Palestinians’ resentment and violence, and their continuing expansion closes the window for a twostate solution. The settlements diminish the prospect of establishing a Palestinian state while risking Israel’s security and national identity and

alienating the international community. Instead of embracing the Arab Peace Initiative (API), especially now that the entire region is in turmoil and the Arab states are more eager than ever before to make peace, Netanyahu still rejects it irrespective of the fact that many current and former Israeli political and military leaders beseech him to embrace it. By rejecting the API, Netanyahu has yet again forfeited another historic opportunity to negotiate, with some give and take, a lasting peace which more than anything else could radically enhance Israel’s long-term national security. Netanyahu habitually ignored Israel’s Western allies’ pleas to moderate his policies toward the Palestinians and end the occupation. Frustrated and angered by his continuing violation of Palestinian human rights while usurping their territories inch by inch, the European countries have abandoned him. The loss of the West’s moral and political support will have long-term security implications on Israel, as the country becomes increasingly isolated and ever more vulnerable to outside threats. Engrossed by his selfgrandeur and lack of sensitivity, Netanyahu betrayed Jordan’s King Abdullah, Israel’s closet Arab ally and the custodian of the Muslim Holy Sites, by using the Temple Mount— the most sensitive area to both Jews and Muslims—to assert Jewish right to the site at a time of extreme tension. To galvanize and further strengthen his political base, Netanyahu provoked the Palestinians by his restriction on their mobility, night raids, and arbitrary incarceration, deliberately instigating them to resist, often violently. He then uses the Palestinians’ resistance to the occupation to justify his harsh treatment to the cheering of the growing right-of-center segment of the population. As Aristophanes once observed, “You [demagogues] are like the fishers for eels; in still waters

By ALON BEN-MEIR

they catch nothing, but if they thoroughly stir up the slime, their fishing is good.” Netanyahu and his government’s systematic discrimination against

consequences as Israel cannot count on the loyalty of nearly 20 percent of its population, especially in times of intense conflict with the Palestinians in the West

• Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli PM Israeli Arabs has alienated them to a point where they now stridently and vociferously condemn the Israelis’ inequality and openly side with their brethren in the West Bank and Gaza. The continuation of Netanyahu’s policy toward the Israeli Arabs could have disastrous national security

Bank and Gaza. Rather than working in earnest in the search for peace under US auspices, Netanyahu never negotiated with the Palestinians in good faith. He recklessly defied America’s call to freeze settlement building, which the US considers a major impediment to peace.

By defying his country’s closest ally, whose commitment to Israel’s national security is central to its very survival in a sea of hostilities, Netanyahu must now take blame for the crisis between Israel and the US and for the deterioration of their bilateral relations, which have never stooped so low in Israel’s history. By not reining in his loosetongued ministers, Netanyahu has become complicit in their outrageous verbal attacks on US officials. The absurdity of these ministers, including Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon, Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, and Economy Minister Naftali Bennett, is surpassed only by their blindness to grasp the indispensability of the US to Israel. What makes matters worse is that the Netanyahu government has lost its credibility in the US, whose political, economic and military support helped Israel become a formidable regional power, which Netanyahu and many of his supercilious ministers take for granted. The irony is that Netanyahu invokes national security concerns even when he personally came under intense criticism from American officials, one who anonymously called him “chickenshit” and a “coward.” “I am under attack,” he told the Knesset last week,” simply because I am defending the State of Israel. If I didn’t stand firm on our national interests, I would not be under attack.” Finally, what has and continues to adversely impact Israel’s national security is the country’s political factionalism that

prevents the emergence of a cohesive policy toward the Palestinians which has plagued Israel. Netanyahu’s government is no different than previous ones; it consists of disparate political parties with different political agendas, led by selfconceited individuals. Every minister believes that he or she should be the next prime minister, but none has the courage, vision, and the leadership qualities to lead, and none have a clue where Israel should be in 10 or 15 years down the line. This includes the other two party leaders, Justice Minister Tzipi Livni (Hatnua) and Finance Minister Yair Lapid (Yesh Atid). Although both hold moderate views toward the Palestinians, the fact that they never challenge Netanyahu to change course and did not leave the coalition government means they have become complicit in Netanyahu’s ill-advised policy and its dire implications to Israel’s national security. Leave it to Netanyahu to successfully manipulate and play one party leader against the other, knowing that they cherish their jobs and titles more than taking real responsibility to serve the nation. Although Israel has legitimate national security concerns, Netanyahu subordinates it to his narrow ideological agenda and uses it as a tool to manipulate the public. His unwillingness to develop a genuine national security strategy, which must rest on peace and be supported by all political parties, ensures that what follows is at best paralysis and at worst a misguided policy that will lead to disaster.

“By what measure can Netanyahu claim that the occupation of the West Bank enhances Israel’s national security? Nearly fifty years of occupation did nothing but poison the Palestinians, intensify their hatred and animosity toward Israel”

THE NIGERIAN

-SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 10 2014

W rld Report

U.S White House

U.S President, Barack Obama

A Republican Reward For U.S Is Awaited

THAT the Republican Party won these midterm elections is firmly established except possibly in the minds of the most partisan Democrats and even they would have some doubts about their party’s direction. Elections are fought on promises and ideas and now that Republicans have won fair and square they should proceed with speed and deliver to the Americans what they were promised. Americans should expect no less than a full implementation of republican agenda. This should start from the first day of the next congress and will be much easier since the party would control both Houses with clear majorities. The party should go ahead and repeal Obama Care. This would bring back the old and tried system of the past when insurance companies would deny

care for pre-existing conditions. If one is born with a problem why should it be the business of insurance companies to provide coverage that the patient was stupid enough not to insure against? There are serious problems with Obama care. It would cost jobs, it would impose the government on an unwilling people. It is big government at work. Less than full implementation would be a betrayal of the American people. America is in the imminent threat by ISIS. It is time to teach the Islamic radicals who is in charge. America does not take lightly any threat to its corporate existence. On the first day of congress of the people they will command the Commander-In-Chief to put booths on the ground in Iraq and Syria and push back the Muslim lunatics back to whence

By BENJAMIN ADUBA

they came; back to the Othman Empire. This is the 21st century and America is King. While over there they should abolish Iran and her dreams of World D o m i n a t i o n . Republicans can kill three birds with one stone. Now in the MidEast they should go for the final solution of the Palestinian question by ensuring the safety of Israel forever by annihilating the remnants of Palestinians and other insolent Arabs. Israel is God’s promise to Abraham and America is God’s enforcer. Mr. McCain should be in charge of this project. America is a nation governed by laws and nobody who enters America by breaking her laws should be allowed a breathing space in

America. So in the words of that great republican presidential flag bearer Mr. Mitt Romney the lives of all illegal immigrants should be made so unbearable that they would self deport and those who fail to get the message should be put in concentration camps just as was done to the Japanese during the war. And to make sure the situation did not recur hundred foot walls should be built along all US borders which would be policed by border guards at the rate of one armed guard per a yard of territory and with authority to shoot at sight. Africa had been ceded to the Europeans for the longest time and the Europeans have made a mess of things over there. America

“So in the words of that great republican presidential flag bearer Mr. Mitt Romney the lives of all illegal immigrants should be made so unbearable that they would self deport and those who fail to get the message should be put in concentration camps”

needs to take Africa back. A super Power ought to make sure that the world sees it footprint. Therefore America’s presence must be felt in Africa. China should be beaten back to her Asia territory and not allowed to expand its influence beyond the Orient. Africa was discovered by the West and to the West it must belong. Travels to the Ebola infested West Africa should be restricted and no West African should be allowed into the United States to infect its honorable people. Stupid nurses and doctors who foolishly went there to cure an incurable disease should be quarantined and made to suffer for their foolishness. Radical East Africa should be civilized and told to reject the ungodly Muslim religion which has been desperately seeking a foothold in East Africa. Al-Qaida, Boko Haram, and every known or unknown terrorists should be attacked by air, land, and sea. North Africa should not be a spring board of radicalism. The business of America is business, and everything possible to help businessmen and women to succeed

would be done. Concepts such as minimum wage, health benefits (which most often benefit labor leaders), taxes which provide big government with funds to waste, are things of the past. Republican party will once more live the true meaning of its founding: limited government; government of the few, for the few, by the few; upward mobility by people of European descent; women should be told that the Bible confers leadership to the masculine gender and that their place is in the kitchen; not in the pulpits or as governors. Minorities should be educated to understand that God appointed people to be apostles, ministers, cooks, janitors and that each person should understand their places and be content. Janitors should not aspire to be the president of these United States. There are many more things to be done. Doing the above would be regarded as down payment on the promises to a brave New World. In 2016 with the capture of the presidency, America’s dignity in the world would be fully restored. And America’s Age will last for a thousand years. God bless America.

THE NIGERIAN

i Kogi Jail Break: Matters Arising

V ewpoint 20

THE recent invasion of the Koto-Kariffi Federal Medium Security Prison in Kogi State by unidentified armed men was the second of such occurrence in the last two years and at the end about one hundred and forty inmates were set free. The recent Kogi jail break was carefully planned and executed with impunity. The incidence has really caused serious embarrassment to the nation, while there are signs of agony in the voices of the people of the community where the prison is situated. From all indications, there are reasonable grounds to link the onslaught to powerful external forces either within or outside the state. Whatever the motive of the breakers, the action was ill – motivated and condemnable. In 2012, similar

ON Tuesday, October 28, 2014 the Speaker of Nigeria’s House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal formally announced his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the plenary of the House. The newly confirmed Inspector General of Police, Mr. Suleiman Abba, ordered the withdrawal of the official police security aides attached to Mr. Tambuwal on Wednesday October 29, 2014-a day after his defection, allegedly in compliance with Section 68 (1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended). The State Security Service (SSS) and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) are said to have followed suit. I have read a lot of uninformed and indefensible commentaries on the effect of Mr. Tambuwal’s defection from the ruling PDP to the opposition APC. Some have argued that by defecting to the party in the minority, Tambuwal has lost his office as Speaker. Others have contended that it is morally wrong for Tambuwal to defect to the APC without first resigning as the Speaker. This line of

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15 2014

By RAHAMAN ONIKE

occurrence was recorded in the same prison when about two hundred awaiting trial inmates were set free by some unidentified persons. Such cases are becoming rampant under the present democratic order. The report from the Authorities of Kogi state prison services has indicated that fifteen out of one hundred and forty four escapees have been rearrested. It was learnt the attackers operated for over three hours unchallenged by the police, prison guards or any other intelligence service. By implication, the security personnel attached to the prison could be suspected of compromises or probably they are ill-equipped to resist the invasion of the prison by

the armed men. When the jail break first occurred two year ago, public need to know what the prison Authorities found through investigation as the immediate and remote causes of the security breach. Who were actually found to be culpable when investigation was conducted? Another important issue for consideration is the psychology of the inmates of the prison. In my view, the way the inmates escaped to thin air shows that an average Nigerian prisoner always looks for an escape route probably due to poor condition of the prisons in Nigeria. Again, the remaining one hundred and twenty nine

inmates that are still at large are potential threats to residents of the Community where the prison is located. The outcry of the people of the Community has also indicated that except the escaped prisoners are found and re – arrested, the peace currently enjoyed by the various Communities in the Area will be in jeopardy. Given the possible security implications of the jail break, it is high time full investigation be conducted to really identify the motive and the sponsors of the onslaught with the view to prevent future re – occurrence of the malady. The critical question, however, must be who in fact are breaking the prisons. The above notwithstanding, the residents need to be more vigilant to prevent future re –

occurrence. Strikingly, the civil society owes the nation the responsibility of reporting any strange movement as part of measures to rid the society of the criminals who frequently mastermind the jail break. The reality is that such dangerous assignment cannot be undertaken by a single person rather it ought to have involved conspiracy among several persons. It is difficult to completely exonerate the prison officials of being accomplices in the conspiracy leading to the attack on the prison. Besides, the Authorities of the Nigerian prisons need training and re – orientation on emotional intelligence and effective strategies to manage the psychology of the inmates. The use of coercion in handling the inmates by the prison officials could at times make the prisoners to become fallible in a situation where there is an attack on the prison. Apart from Kogi State experience, jail break and riots by the inmates seem to have become common phenomena in Nigeria. This justifies the call for Nigerian prison reform. In the

developed countries of the world, prison service is a corrective and rehabilitative Institution. Whereas the operation of the Nigeria prison service are both brutish and burdensome. Without necessary reform, there may not be an end to protests and other forms of barbarism among the inmates of the Nigerian prisons. Radical reforms in the personnel quality, adequate budgetary provision for the inmates and enabling environment for genuine rehabilitation should form the bedrock of the reform process. I am not under the illusion that attack on prison could be traced to Boko Haram. However, it is difficult to dismiss the rationale behind the insinuations which form the basis of linking the attack to the insurgents. There should be search light pointed in the direction, given the unconfirmed report that some of the inmates are members of Boko Haram. Except proper investigation is carried out, a lot of people will continue to ask questions.

Withdrawal Of Tambuwal’s Security Aides By INIBEHE EFFIONG

reasoning is not only deceitful and hypocritical, but a desperate attempt to rig history. There is no singular provision in either the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act Cap. L12 LFN 2004 or even under the Standing Orders of the House of Representatives that states that the Speaker of the House shall come from the party with the majority of members in the House. Based on political practice, it is usually in a parliamentary system of government that the political party with the majority of members usually produce the head of the parliament and form a government. Even in countries practicing parliamentary system, instances abound where political parties have to form a coalition for the emergence of the head of the legislature to be achieved. On the other hand, presidential system erodes the influence and role of political parties in the emergence of the head of

the parliament, thereby giving much leverage to the members of the parliament to individually and independently elect the principal officers without much regard to the interest of their respective political parties on whose platform they were elected. How can we forget so soon? This is the same Tambuwal whose speakership aspiration the same PDP never supported. PDP never made him Speaker. As a matter of fact, his election was an act of revolt against the PDP which had preferred Mrs. Mulikat-Adeola Akande- the current Majority Leader of the House to be the Speaker. Tambuwal was elected Speaker by his colleagues because of his charisma and acceptability, not really because he was a member of the PDP. So what is the ongoing cacophony about? PDP cannot eat her cake and have it. He who comes to equity must come with clean hands and he who seeks equity must do equity. By the provisions of Section 50 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as

amended), the Speaker of the House of Representatives can ONLY vacate his office(a) if he ceases to be a member of the House of Representatives otherwise than by reason of a dissolution of the House; or (b) when the House first sits after any dissolution of that House; or (c) if he is removed from office by a resolution of the House by the votes of not less than two-thirds majority of the members of that House. For Mr. Tambuwal to be validly removed from office, at least 240 (which is the two-third of the 360 members of the House) will have to vote in favour of his removal. Anything other than this is and will be nakedly unconstitutional, null and void. It is only a court of competent jurisdiction that has the power to make a pronouncement on the constitutionality of Tambuwal’s defection. Whether the much cited provisions of Section 68(1)(g) of the Constitution

is in favour or against his defection is exclusively for the court to say. It amounts to a violent rape on the letters and spirit of the 1999 Constitution for the Inspector General of Police to declare the office of the Speaker vacant; it is clearly an arrogant usurpation of the judicial powers of the courts under Section 6 of the 1999 Constitution and it should not go unchallenged. Were Nigeria a sane country where rule of law prevails over tyranny, the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Suleiman Abba, would have honourably tendered his resignation having displayed a clear political partisanship which is unbecoming of his office as the head of the nation’s primary security agency -the police. But then, this is Nigeria where any idiot can just wake-up and do whatever he or she likes with atavistic impunity. A country where the law is disregarded and violated by those who swore to uphold it. This is not about Mr

Tambuwal or the APC, I have no links with either of them. This is about the ongoing threats against our nascent democracy. We deserve a police system that does not dance to the primordial melodies of the powers that be. We cannot continue like this as a nation. President Jonathan should see maintenance of law and order as his responsibility. He should rise above pettiness and egregious considerations. Jonathan should be reminded timely that his oath of allegiance is to the Federal Republic of Nigeria and not to his party. We have had enough of impunity under his presidency and the time to stop it is now. The security aides of Mr. Aminu Tambuwal, the Speaker of the House of Representatives should be restored immediately. Should anything happen to him, there will be no guessing as to those responsible. The Time to end this unholy culture of impunity is now.

THE NIGERIAN

-SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 10 2014

D velopment “With the use of the triple helix model of innovation in our national development strides, Nigeria stands to gain from bringing together the public, private and academic sectors thus refocusing the research institutes to be responsive to specific and identified industrial needs.” THE role of Science, Technology and Innovation (ST&I) in any nation cannot be overemphasized. As part of efforts to rescue the future of Nigeria and its people from poverty and deprivation, the Federal Government in 2012 approved the national policy on science, technology and innovation with the belief that the outputs ST&I would have positive implications for the transformation agenda of the present administration. In the words of President Goodluck Jonathan two years ago, when he undertook to be the chairman of the National Research and Innovation Council (NRIC), the President said, “I am convinced that science, technology and innovation remain the key that will help us to achieve the desired transformation. I have undertaken to be the chairman so as to provide the leadership needed by this policy to drive our national development on all fronts, while preserving and respecting the individual mandates and responsibilities of the line ministries and agencies of government.” There is no doubt that his conviction stems from the resourcefulness of the Nigerian people, apart from the fact that the gains of the application of the results from research would have beneficial effect for the quick turnaround of the economy. The NRIC, of which Mr. President is the Chair, will be involved in facilitating Federal, Sectoral, Regional, State, and Local level innovations through the creation of innovation Councils. Undoubtedly, the development will make Nigeria a global innovation outsourcing destination. Since the policy was

approved, there have been tremendous strides as exemplified by a plethora of breakthroughs in biotechnology, space research, energy development and information and communication technology (ICT) and a host of others. However one important aspect arising from the policy approval and which

Ward Based Projects As Strategy For Rural Empowerment has consistently featured in the agenda of both the 12th and 13th meetings of the National Council of Science and Technology (NCST) is the Triple Helix Concept, which has the Ward Based Cluster Concept (WBCC) as its driver. The concept, no doubt, has snowballed into Ward Based Cluster project (WBCP) which is inherent at the grass root level. This year’s meeting held in Minna, the Niger State capital has the theme ‘Science, Technology and Innovation Policy: Prospects and Challenges of its Implementation at the Grassroots’. At the courtesy visit to Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Science and Technology, Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita told her host that the Federal Government had been laying emphasis on research as one of the ways to improve the economy, adding that the Ward Based Cluster Project, a technological programme introduced recently by the government to bring up development from the grass-roots level, would soon commence in selected states as pilot projects at the six geopolitical zones of the nation.

By EWACHE AJEFU

The WCBP is a project where emerging technologies developed in the urban areas are impacted to the people within the local communities so that they can make good use of their raw materials to create capital investment. It basically aims at impacting the required skills to residents at the ward level- which is cluster of villages- to draw people from different localities to acquire skill and develop entrepreneurs. Stakeholders at the last Minna meeting believe that clusters can be used to create jobs and promote socio-economic development in the rural areas. This informed the development of a blue print for the establishment of clusters in Nigeria through synergy among stakeholders. This is based on the triple helix concept of bringing research, industry and government together to promote competitiveness in production. The blueprint proposes the promotion of raw materials-based industrial cluster in each of the 774 local governments in Nigeria by 2020. With the use of the triple

helix model of innovation in our national development strides, Nigeria stands to gain from bringing together the public, private and academic sectors thus refocusing the research institutes to be responsive to specific and identified industrial needs. As a demonstration of seriousness and commitment by government, several interventions have been made for the transformation of the rural economy through the injection of technologies developed by Federal Ministry of Science and Technology (FMST). These include, but not limited to the development of concept note and blueprint for the WBCP, study of raw materials on local government areas and ward basis completed, baseline studies on clusters have been completed, apart from the fact that pilot wards have been designated. Furthermore, visits have been undertaken by the Minister of Science and Technology with delegates from FMST to state governors where pilot wards are located,

pilot wards communities have been sensitized, projects teams have been set up in institutions from where technologies are to be deployed just as some of the institutions have achieved more than 80 percent completion of technologies to be deployed. It is worthy of note that the technologies deployed by the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) for Bayelsa State is ready, while the skills acquisition centres are being constructed. In the words of the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Abdul Bulama “ stakeholders should as a matter of deliberate policy use Science Technology and Innovation to transform Nigeria into one of the top 20 economies in year 2020, stressing that a nation that is unable to develop its STI system, will sink further down, while those with strong STI will mount up, as STI provides the basis for industrialization and sustainable development. In reinforcing the commitment of the Federal Government Dr. Bulama recently hinted that President Goodluck Jonathan is set to

replicate the success story of Small and Medium-sized Enterprise (SME) clusters in 9,555 wards across the country. According to the Minister, the aim of these projects is to promote raw materials processing clusters, which is an initiative of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council. “The success story of the Otigba cluster; Ikeja Computer Village; Nnewi Automotive SME cluster, the Kano Leather Cluster; Aba Fashion and Garments cluster; Kano Leather Cluster, Aba, Abeokuta and Osogbo tie and dye industry have proved beyond doubts that the cluster concept is one of the potent strategies required for enhancing speedy development of the nonoil sector,”. The concept has received the approval of the Federal Government for implementation in all wards across the country. “For this reason, it was named the Ward Based Cluster Project. Consequently, it would be replicated in all 9,555 wards in the country, based on each ward’s comparative advantage in terms of natural resources endowment.

THE NIGERIAN

C unselling 22

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15 2014

Function Of The School Counsellor

THE major functions of a counsellor depend on a number of factors among which are the setting in which the counselor operates and the peculiar problems or concerns of individuals in that setting. A school counsellor professionally guides and counsels individuals alone and in groups, helping them to understand themselves and their situations with a view to maximizing their personal effectiveness and satisfaction, as well as, their usefulness to the society in which they live (Adegokeetal, 2004). According to Adegokeetal 2004), a school setting function of a counsellor includes the following: • Orientation of new students (i.e, JSS 1 and transfer studies) • Educational counselling • Vocational counselling • Personal Counselling • Referral Services • Follow-up Service (individual) and alumni association) • Liasion and Placement Services • Keeping student Records – Especially, continuous Assessment and other features of the National Policy on Education. • References and Transcripts Services • Research, Planning, Students statistics and consultancy services. • School Examinations Community services. Orientation Service according+Ad • Welcomes new students • Talks to them on the history, philosophy, status, p r o g r a m m e s , achievements, problems, rules and regulations, clubs aspirations, etc. of the school and exhorts them to identify themselves with the progress of the school. • Provides them with skills for self management. • Takes them round the neighbourhood of the school • Serves as a parent, especially, to those whose parents or guardians are

from the school setting. • Helps explain students, and Nigerians long abroad, adjust to the school and the social environment. Education Counselling. • Supervises the studies of students • Monitors students academic performance at regular intervals. • Administers tests on psychological matters, scores them, interprets them and uses them for counselling interventions. • Counsels students with study problems. • Guides students on such academic matters as to the choice of subjects and the completion of JSS or SS exams or JAMB forms • Consults with teachers and liaises with parents on students academic performances and involves them in the counselling programme • Handles disruptive or problematic students, in groups or classes • Keep records of students progress or lack of it. • Equips students with study skills and provides them with necessary resources for studying. • Identifies special students for necessary attention – eg gifted pupils, handicapped ones, underachievers, repeaters. Frustrated students, etc. • Guides and counsels teachers and parents on academic matters. • Helps in placing transfer students in appropriate classes. • Arranges remedial tuition for appropriate students in consultation with parents or at that their request. • Provides information on academic and educational matters. Vocational Counselling. • Provides students with occupational information • Administers vocational test, scores and interprets them and uses them in counselling students and parents on vocational choice and combination of subjects Guides and counsels students and parents on vocational choice, combination of

subjects and helps in resolving conflicts in such matters. • Fosters vocational development in students: Arranges career talks, vocational visits to professional and vocational centres, promotes vocational

various disciplines, other professional colleagues etc. • Processes, evaluates and uses data and other inputs for referrals for counselling. • Invites resources persons for specialists inputs into the school’s

experiences attachment, pilot schemes, etc. Personal/social counselling • Counsels students on their personal and social matters and problems. • Administers, scores, interpretes test on matters and problems and uses the results for counselling. • Consults and liaises with teachers and parents, as occasion requires, on students, person/social matters and problems and involves them with counselling programmes. • Fosters personal and social developments in students, through individual and groupprogrammes, school societies, exchange programmes, hobbies, self management skills, social skills, training inassertiveness etc. Referral services. • Refers clients to other professionals as occasion requires, that is, to medical doctors, specialists in

counselling services. • Takes up cases referred to him for counselling, assessment, placement, consultations etc and gives feedback on them to the referring agencies. Follow-up services • Follows up students’ progress after leaving the school. • Liaises with the Alumni Association for progress, news and up date information. • Links students with the current school community with programmes like alumni week, newsletters, visits etc. • Encourages contribution by alumni to school progress and programmes. Liaison And Placement Services • Liaises with outside organisations which have student chapters. • Helps in streaming students eg, transition from JSS to SS 1. • Arranges exchange programmes visits,

With

O.C. Madu GSM: 08056379608 reception for visiting groups and so on. • Liaisons between students job seekers and prospect we employers including location for vacation job experiences. • Helps in arranging for learning facilities outside school programmes

programme –workshops, seminars, lectures, tours, committees, in and out of school. • Provides information educational matters to students, staff, parent and others in and out of school, within and outsides the country.

computer literacy, self help projects, vocational skills etc. Administrative Function • Helps in the implementation of the National Policy on Education especially, such features of the policy as continuous Assessment (C.A), Reporting systems, record-keeping and guidance and counselling services. • Sees to the practice of C.A in schools. • Ensures up to date record-keeping scores. • Keeps others appropriate records on students. • Sees to the safe custody and integrity of C.A and other records. • Liaises with educational agencies and authorities on educational matters and represents the school before them. • Benefits from, participates in and contributes to educational

• Provides transcripts and references on students. • Liaises with others school officers in the issuance of testimonials registers students for examinations JSCE, SSCE and others in the National Policy on Education and ensures compliance with laid-down polices on them. • Sees to the smooth conduct of such examinations collection of materials, invigilation schedules, parceling and dispatch of scripts and subject reports, etc. • Liaises with examination bodies and communicates with them on matters of examination others are: Research, Planning, statistics, consultancy services and last but not least community services. The counsellor upholds the moral tone of the school. Peace and love.

THE NIGERIAN

-SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 10 2014

S curity

Air Marshal Alex Badeh, Chief of Defence Staff

President Goodluck Jonathan

Boko Haram fighters

What’s Chief Of Defence Up To?

MR. President, since the beginning of this year, is not Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh the highest-ranking military officer in Nigeria? Is this not the same man who in May of this year told the nation and the world that he knows the whereabouts of several hundred kidnapped girls but cannot reveal their location and cannot use force to rescue them, but “We will get the girls back.” In October of this year, is this not the same man whose military told the Nigerian people and the world that the Islamic extremists from Boko Haram have agreed to an instant cease-fire? So, Mr. President, we know you are in talks with him. Is he still blaming “people from outside” and “some people from this country” over the state of Nigerian security forces helplessness against the insurgents? Mr. Jonathan, didn’t Badeh tell us some months ago that, “We want our girls back, I can tell you that our military can and will do it, but where they are held, we cannot go there with force.” Okay, this is understood. But as each of the hundreds of the kidnapped schoolgirls taken out from their location to be married off, were their movements not being monitored through military surveillance? Sir, is he still in distress over his recent statement, “Nobody should say Nigerian military does not know what it is doing,” and, were you perturbed when you heard him state that, “We are not happy at all, because we are killing our

By DR. JOHN EGBEAZIEN OSHODI

own kinsmen and we are killing mostly the youths. We cannot afford to eliminate our youths, who are we going to hand over Nigeria to, we can’t kill them.” Mr. President, what is this man telling you now about the supposed cease-fire? And the very recent mayhem in his very own hometown where the insurgents reportedly

The nation would like to know. Does he still think the military “knows what it is doing?” Or is he still blaming “people from outside” and “some people from this country.” Now that Air Marshal Badeh, a man from Vimtim, is directly a victim of terror, and the rebels are in search of the “family of

God forbid! Of course, we will not die of sorrow, but if truth be told, the parents of the girls are in traumatic grief, the surrounding people are traumatized from fear and you, Mr. President, may be in a state of traumatic confusion; as to Badeh, only he can tell us! Badeh boasts that the

killed the dear son of the Emir of Mubi. But most of all, what about the burning of the house of the Chief of Defence Staff, the highest-ranking military officer in Nigeria, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh? Mr. President, tell us please. What is his new response about his house and the clinic he built on his late mother’s behalf?

Badeh for slaughter,” how soon will you be sending him to protect what is left of the people? Mr. President, the leader of the Islamic extremists, Abubakar Shekau, in a sneering manner, addressed the nation, “If you knew the state your daughters are in today, it might lead some of you … to die from grief.”

“military in Nigeria is the strong arm of democracy,” and that it “holds the constitution very dear,” adding that the constitution is “represented by the president”. Sir, is he actually saying this? I ask because the constitution is never represented by a president; instead, the constitution is the

fundamental law which always represents the established and deliberate will of the people, which the actions of the insurgents are tantamount to being against, period. If the Nigerian military is up to its task as part of our democracy, where were they at the checkpoints, as the Boko Haram forces travelled in a convoy of

trucks with multiple armored personnel carriers as reported by the press? If the Nigeria military is up to its task as part of our democracy, where were they when the great town of Mubi was captured and the residents had to run for their lives? If the Nigeria military is up to its job as part of our democracy, why are the

borders so loose that insurgents’ trucks and armories can come in openly? If the Nigeria military is up to its duty as part of our democracy, why are our soldiers always resorting to running when they see Boko Haram forces? If the Nigeria military is up to its mission as part of our democracy, how come patriotism on the part of our soldiers seems weak, and what is the reason behind their running? Is it that they are unwilling to kill our “brothers” and “youths,” in the words of Badeh? Now, we hear, as always, that the military leadership has arrested some senior officers for fleeing? What a joke! Is this the first time the soldiers will take to their heels? Mr. President, enough is enough. On a psychological level, as the election draws nearer and nearer, you should be worried about the level of motivation of the military to meet their task of protecting all of us. Mr. President, in a society that is heavily driven by ethnic, linguistic and corrupt mentalities, the unusually high level of ongoing crises as we go into the 2015 is worrisome. Here is the pain; who and what is fomenting and inflaming these national crises is the trillion naira question, and, sir, you will not find the answer here; sorry. And, good luck, on your tendency to run soon; I don’t mean run away; I mean run for the next presidency. Let’s hope all stays well in our nation.

THE NIGERIAN

P litics Musing Jonathan/ Lamido Joint Ticket 24

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15 2014

• President Goodluck Jonathan

• Alhaji Sule Lamido

By MUHAMMED IDRIS

AS we prepare for the 2015 general elections, in which the president, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is certain to contest for consolidation of his wonderful achievements, it is pertinent to brainstorm the possibility of having Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State as his running mate in view of his tremendous sacrifice in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), coupled with his enviable achievements since he assumed leadership some seven years ago. It is the laudable achievements of Mr. President Jonathan that the entire PDP members have endorsed him for a second term in order to consolidate such achievements as increase in per capital income, reduction in inflation and poverty rate, creation of sovereign wealth fund, increase in the Nigerian Stock Exchange value, reduction in food import, increase in foreign direct investment, increase in life expectancy and increase in crude oil production. Other achievements of Jonathan administration include the attainment of the local content, increase in Nigerian-owned crude oil transportation tankers, NPDC exploration and production, rail passengers, development and implementation of National Aviation Master Plan and road map and phone line. This is not all, Jonathan recorded more modest achievements as construction of 25,000Km motor able federal roads, remodeled and renovated airport infrastructure, almost 100% access to fertilizer and placing the

country as net exporter of cement. In sport, Nigeria has never had it so good. What about the establishment of Federal universities in six geopolitical zones, thereby increasing the intakes of students in federal universities admission and his deep commitment in the battling of the insurgency for the security of the nation. This is just to mention but few. Likewise, the transformation of Jigawa State under the able and dedicated leadership of Alhaji Sule Lamido in the last seven years is legendary and has stood the test of time. When Lamido resumed office some seven years ago, he left no one in doubt that he came to work and not business as usual. The basic ingredients of human development are health, education and i n f r a s t r u c t u r a l developments. These have been the focal points of the Jagora talakawa, Alhaji Sule Lamido, in Jigawa State. The government of Sule Lamido has ensured the payment of monthly social security allowance to disabled persons, free maternal and child health care, payment of monthly allowances to students of schools of nursing and health technology, general renovation, equipping, supply of medicament and recruitment of qualified health personnel, as well as establishment of Jigawa state medical supply organisation (JIMSO). The health achievements of Governor Sule Lamido are also in the areas of free Medical Care for All Prison Inmates, Free medical care for boarding students,

“Ordinarily, Sule Lamido ought to have been the running mate of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan in the first dispensation in 2011 but for some high ranking political decision, which Sule Lamido himself did not dispute and accepted it in good faith.” rehabilitation, renovation, completion, equipping and construction of administrative Block at Rasheed Shekoni Specialist Hospital, distribution of free treated mosquito nets to the people of the state and Introduction of “Ask Jigawa People” health initiative. Indeed, the health sector has been revamped to meet the health needs of the teeming populace, focusing on primary health care delivery which has also been ranked the best in northern Nigeria by the World Health Organization’s standards. All these were done for the good people of the state because the government of Sule Lamido believes in the gnome, which says “health is wealth.” The Sule Lamido led administration has also given much importance to the promotion of education in the state. Under the education sector, Governor Lamido provided free girls and disabled education, introduced public private partnership programme “PPP” on schools improvement, introduction of “rescue our schools” programme for improvement of all learning institutions in the state, reintroduction of schools inspection and monitoring and recruitment of qualified teachers and training for those already employed. His government equally provided learning

materials, schools furniture, beds and beddings and hundred percent increment on students scholarships, students’ feeding, epayment of scholarship allowances, construction of thirty-one new hostels block for 6,200 boarding students (secondary schools), construction of thirty-eight new blocks of 3 classrooms each, construction of seventy blocks of science laboratories and completion of renovation works in forty-eight schools and construction of one hundred and sixty-nine and six new toilet blocks. Alhaji Sule Lamido government has also sponsored one hundred and three students to study ICT in Singapore and restored overseas postgraduate scholarship programme. This is not all as Lamido administration still made giant strides in education through construction of new lecture theatres, classroom blocks and Administrative offices in all tertiary institutions of the state, Provision of thirty-two sitter buses for all girls boarding schools, introduction of excellence merit award to graduates that excel in their first degree and award of automatic scholarship for post graduate studies, annual sponsorship of one hundred best students in the state to study in overseas and re–

introduction of mock examinations for final year students. Governor Lamido equally made fundamental achievements in the commissioning of an ultramodern edifice built to house the state’s Ministry of Land, Housing, Urban and Regional Planning by the President of Nigeria’s Senate, Most Distinguished Senator David Mark. Similarly, in May, 2013, the former President Olusegun Obasanjo commissioned so many projects executed by Governor Sule Lamido. In view of this development, the former head of state, General Abubakar had also recommended that leaders across Africa borrow a leaf from Sule Lamido’s excellent initiative. The people of Jigawa State are agrarians thus; Governor Sule Lamido provided farming incentives such as fertilizers and irrigation for the farmers. He ensured the vaccination of animals against epidemics so that the state can supply the required meat and hides to Nigeria and neighboring nations as Niger Republic. The Jagora talakawa empowered the youths and engage over seventy thousand of them in direct employment, skills acquisition and development, making them highly productive. The Sule Lamido administration has

also witnessed transformation of good road networks and electrification of metropolitan to the likes of people in the state and visitors to the state. The administration of Alhaji Sule Lamido in the past seven years has drastically reduced the hitherto high level of unemployment through the establishment of ten Micro Finance Banks that provide succor to the less privileged in the state. Ordinarily, Sule Lamido ought to have been the running mate of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan in the first dispensation in 2011 but for some high ranking political decision, which Sule Lamido himself did not dispute and accepted it in good faith. Now that Jonathan is being called for second term to consolidate his laudable achievements, he should consider the governor of Jigawa State as his running mate based on achievement, loyalty and dedication to the aspiration of Jonathan in particular and Peoples Democratic Party in general. Indeed, This is in spite of some calculated attempt to hoodwink him to other side. Lamido remain committed to aspirations of Jonathan and PDP. Jonathan/Lamido ticket is collective achievers that will further resolve the nation’s economic, political and social problems.

THE NIGERIAN

-SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 10 2014

Does God Know The End Of Man? MAN, the Bible recorded was specially made, probably because of the exceeding love and grace the LORD has for mankind. Gen. 1:2628, Gen. 2:7. God made man to be above all that He created. He formed man to be His ambassador on earth. And He never failed to see to his welfare. Gen. 3:8 states, “And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day” to visit His own that inhabited His Vineyard but found that they had veered out to scuttle the end result of their live! Gen. 3:23-24:- They were ejected from their comfortable abode to the harsh weather of life. We could also see that Adam and Eve were

given two great children, of which, one of them was a keeper of sheep, and the other a tiller of the ground. Gen. 4:2. This was the beginning of their lives. Both knew and probably believed that it was imperative to appreciate God with their substances. Cain, being influenced and powered by the spirit of ingratitude took to God, an offering the LORD considered unworthy, He and his offerings were outrightly rejected, but for Abel His, was accepted. Gen. 4:16. Cain being insane was in propelled and induced by demon to kill his own brother for no just cause.

The LORD, who is always aware of every activity of life visited Cain to ask after Abel. Cain, probably unaware of the omnipresence power of God at all time and in all places, tried to lie about the whereabout of Abel. He, however, pleaded for mercy when the LORD poured His wrath and what would befall him Gen. 4:10-16. Beloved, it is important to know that every act done, good or bad is not unknown to God. They will be accorded judgement as the case may be at the appropriate time. For God shall bring ever work into judgement, with

every secret thing, whether it be good or whether it be evil. Eccl. 12:14. Let us know that God is never interested in your failure in life. He desires you and I to succeed and reach our expected end to the glory of His name. Jerem. 29:11. whoever He gives assignments, He ensure is endued with power to exercise it to the end. But, whoever decides to deviate from His instructions is lift to navigate in the sea of failure till he is either consumed or retraces his steps back to Him. 1 st Kings 3:1-14, 1st Kings 13:1-6. The Bible

RUMINATION With

Ernest Ikhureigbe admonishes us that God is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the End, the First and the Last” Rev. 22:11. No one can be compared with him. He knows everyone and He assigns responsibilities according to one’s ability. And anyone that facts should be held responsible. I have observed that man decides on his own to fail in life for diverse reason borne out of perceived ignorance, knowledge of the world, pride of life, lust of life, inability to bear the challenges of life, lack of knowledge of the God’s word and many others. Many fail to know that there is time for every thing in one’s life. No wonder the Bible states

“in Eccl. 9:11 “I returned and saw under the sun that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong,…………but time and chance happeneth to them all”. Beloved, God knows it all from the beginning to the End. He is omnipotent, omniscience and omnipresent. No event in life happens without His knowledge. Nothing happens without Him knowing, Lam. 3:22, John 1:3.In Him all things Col:1-16-17. So, brethren, that Judah Iscariot, King Saul and many others failed in their assignment was borne of crass ignorance and greed. Take heed and learn from it. 1st Corith 10:12.

whatever comes the way of a footballer, be it a stone, orange, can, empty water bottle and many more, is liable to be kicked if it gets to the foot or hand of a footballer. There is this urge to always keep the legs busy because that is the language of the spirit in football. The reason why some people read and they find it difficult to comprehend, is because the spirit of what they are reading has not entered into them. As soon as the spirit enters them, what they are reading begins to sink and the understanding comes easily. This can be ascertained by what the book of Job chapter 32 vs 8 “but there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.” Having said all these, the gateways to contacting these spirits into the life of a man is made possible through the instrumentality of the eyes and the ears. It could make a whole lot of sense if I have told you that human ears and eyes have unlimited memory card. And because the memory card of humans is unlimited, he/she can never be tired of seeing or hearing things in life as long as he/she lives. But in order not to be entangled with our wrong

looks, there is a direction God wants us to look so as to get it right. Hebrew chapter 12 vs 2a which says “looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith:” It is only Jesus that we can look at and we would not get it wrong neither will the wrong signal get into us. Lastly: James 1 vs 25 says that “but whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed”. Therefore the man whose blessing is sure is the one who looked into the perfect law of liberty which is the word of God and a doer of its works, not just a hearer, this kind of man is certainly blessed in his deed not in another man’s deed. I therefore so urged everyone to get connected to the Holy Spirit which tend to life to be their savior partner because where the Holy Spirit is, there we have God the Father and the Son Jesus Christ. This is why people say “if you look anyhow, you see anyhow. Be mindful of what you pay attention to,hear or watch with your eye for they are the gateways to a man’s destiny.

Infallible Truth About Life

DO you know that life is a spirit and everything that exists in it is all spirits? I have discovered an infallible truth about life and its inhabitants. All that we do in this life is all controlled by a spirit. In other words, every living and non living creature has a spirit attached to it. Man is a spirit which has a soul and lives in a body. The body is the building or the house that serves as a protective mechanism to both the soul and spirit. I sincerely believe that some persons might not agree to my discovery but keep your fingers crossed and come along with me as I unravel the mystery of the spirit behind every creature. Do you know that there is a spirit behind every book? And that is why when an individual picks up a book and reads for 1, 2, or 3 times, what he/she has read in the book sticks into the mind of the person if not all but some parts. The truth is, no one puts the entire book or bury it in the person’s life but the moment your eyes gets in contact with the book, you can easily recall what your eyes have seen in the book either consciously or unconsciously. Another thing that spread easily like a striking goats is the spirit at music. A spirit also controls music. All, an

individual need to do is to hear or allow it sway through the ear. Don’t allow it stay, do all you can to avoid hearing or singing it but in as much as your ear has heard it partially or totally, be rest assured that the spirit of that particular song has entered you. It will be very gleaning that at a later moment when you intend taking a rest, your spirit man would begin to play back what has been installed in it. It would be so amazing that after all your dodging and various attempt to ignore the song, but due to the fact that man’s spirit get connected easily to any kind of spirit, it easily pave way for penetration. Man’s spirit is vulnerable therefore what you feed your spirit with will determine what it would vomit back to you. Whatever, your look has a long way in affecting the life of an individual positively or negatively. When a guy looks at a lady too much, the spirit of that lady will enter him. Because behind every looking, there is a spirit involve and behind every hearing, there is also a spirit involved. Whoever disagrees with me should check the book of Job chapter 31vs1.it says, “I made a covenant with mine eyes, why then should I think upon a maid? Now what Job is saying

By GEDU LONGLIFE

here is, that he has made covenant with his eyes not to behold a maid, which means, he does not want to look at a lady at all. Then the question follows “… why then should I think upon a maid? This question simply gives or point to the fact that what a man thinks about is directly proportional to what he has seen or looked upon or heard. Many humans are under the influence of masturbation and excessive huge for sex due to exposure of nude pictures and pornography whose spirits have entered into them. As a result, these sets of persons cannot do without having sex almost every day because of the encounter such persons have had with the spirit of pornography which has become acceptable to their spirits. A young man that had sex with dogs was under the influence of the spirit of the dog because I sincerely believe that, that young man must have being looking at the dog for a very long time and had been imagining within himself that, if these dogs were to be humans, I could have done this. And even because he could not

take off his eyes from the dogs, the spirit entered him and made him do what a normal human being should not do. A mad man or woman is also under the influence of an unclean spirit and so whatever, that spirit wants the individual to do is what the fellow would do because he/she is under the control of a strange spirit. Money is another spirit that is so strong and powerful and that is why people can die to have it. The robbers engage in stealing and killing people because of the influence of the spirit of money. They can’t just look at money and take their eyes off it. And so by their continual looking at other people’s money, the spirit entered them by making them take what does not belong to them. Also in order to have much at it, they jump into carrying all kinds of dangerous weapons to scare people in order to take forcefully what does not belong to them. And if there comes any suspicion, they kill to cover up. There is a spirit in football. The more you play football, the more you become better and accumulate more skills. Because football has a spirit,

THE NIGERIAN

A ribiz 26

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15 2014

Organic Agriculture:

Will The Meek Inherit The Earth? THE practice of organic agriculture combines traditional methods with today’s knowledge of health and environmental sustainability. In Morocco it is generally observed that the more remote the farming communities – and most often the more disadvantaged – the less they apply pesticides and other chemicals to grow their crops. That is simply because their economic status, unlike that of communities closer to the cities and with more available access to information in regard to agricultural trends, results in their not having the means to transition to cash crops that do require the application of chemicals. Thus for example in Morocco’s High Atlas mountains, whose inhabitants produce 35 percent of the nation’s walnut crop, it is the

By DR YOSSEF BEN-MEIR communities furthest up the valleys – the most marginalized and most difficult to access – that can secure organic certification. This is in contrast to the villages in lower-lying areas which grow not only walnuts but also apple, pear and other trees requiring the application of pesticides that prevent them from acquiring organic certification for years to come. Market trends in nations around the world that have demand for organic product can be a direct boon for the poorest of farming communities and developing nations. By adopting methods to ensure their agricultural product does not become contaminated, farming families – who represent the highest proportion of the world’s poor – can

dramatically increase the price of their raw and value-added products. Will it be the case that public, civil, business and international agencies assist these communities in the certification process, in the provision of the training that is necessary and in the purchase of their certified products? If so, then the meek (or the least wealthy) shall inherit the earth; that is, attain greater income and environmental sustainability from the rewards of organic agriculture. A successful organic agricultural enterprise and the new profit it generates can have a twofold effect, increasing household income and enabling communal reinvestment in human development projects in

education, health and the formation of further new businesses. In this way an organic initiative can actually be an engine not only for a green economy but also for broader social change. What will further buttress the agricultural economy of the rural poor is the creation of additional value-added activities – for example, pressing walnuts into oil, introducing greater water efficiency, tree and plant nurseries, building cooperatives and establishing direct links with international buyers. In undergoing this transformational process in Morocco with the High Atlas Foundation’s social enterprise, HA3 (High Atlas Agriculture and Artisanal), one can

readily understand the enormity of the challenge. In order to achieve success, the necessary outside partners must gain the trust of rural people – something which is not given away, but earned over months and years. Within communities there can be discord and thus the process of building cooperatives must also be one of building confidence. From the other direction, even as the organic movement champions traditional agricultural approaches, there are still methodological changes, particularly at harvest time, that need to be adopted by the farmers, who have undertaken the same procedures for

g e n e r a t i o n s . Concomitant to this is the requirement for training to be both ongoing and experiential; the delivery of such workshops requires constant proximity to the people, something which agencies too often do not have the capacities or interests to do. Even with the great dedication of communities and partners, there still remains a strong element of what can only be characterized as good fortune. Project viability and persistence are probably the major determinants to raising the necessary financing, for example. Nevertheless, individual donors are in uncharted waters as they make the necessary investment in a start-up that begins as an untested value chain. In sum, the financing aspect must be far more systematized and available, and less seemingly up to chance, in order for organic agricultural production to take-off in marginalized rural communities. With all the hurdles to the achievement of these goals, those people long dedicated to the practice of community organic agriculture and local human development have good ideas of what must be done. The reward of helping to realize relative prosperity and the fulfillment of human potential, while at the same time nourishing and replenishing the soil, provide an undying energy. Through this, the meek shall experience greater social justice.

THE NIGERIAN

NEWS-XTRA

-SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 10 2014

Today’s Diet With Pastor E. A. Adeboye

Arise Now!

Memorise: should begin to fly And make straight paths for your feet lest that Possibly, you are which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it already in the air flying, rather be healed. Hebrews 12:13. then arise to you implies Read: Isaiah 60:1-3 that you should begin to WHEN God speaks, it person (Hebrews soar (2 Corinthians 3:1 can be in various forms: 12:13), your spiritual 8). it can be an advice, an feet receives strength All these changes in invitation, an now and I command position are possibilities encouragement, a you to be upstanding in with God, not just by warning, a declaration Jesus’ Name. To the your own strength. or a command. The fellow standing, arise Once you are willing word “Arise” in the implies that he should and you trust in Him, divine statement of jump into action, this you will experience today’s Bible reading is was the situation of your desired change. purely a command. Just Samuel in the house of However, you have to like in Genesis 1:3, Jesse (1 Samuel 16:12- recognise your current where God commanded 1 3). If however you are state. A dead fellow light to appear in the already walking, arise to feels nothing, for such midst of prevailing you means that you people, no matter what darkness, “Arise”, is a should begin to run. they hear they are not command from the David was already in touched, they don’t feel Commander-in- Chief action against Goliath, it. Unfortunately there Himself to you today. but a time came he are even some ministers Your spiritual position stepped up his action by of God like that; they are or posture, prior to running towards Goliath impervious to the voice receiving this command before releasing the of God. “Arise now” to arise, will determine stone from his sling (1 may be the last chance the type of response Samuel 17:48). This for such to come alive. expected of you. Hence, implies you need to add Whatever your state to an already dead speed to your action. may be, a change for the fellow, arise means Suppose you are better is possible, and it come back to life. If running already, arise to is coming your way this your spiritual case can you means that you season in Jesus’ Name. be said to be a dead situation, this day, you ACTION POINT will come back to life in “Sincerely assess your spiritual Jesus’ Name. To the one position and pray accordingly.” who is asleep, arise means wake up. If you have been spiritually asleep, by God’s mercy you are being awoken from your slumber in Jesus’ Name. To the one who is sitting down, arise means stand up. To be sitting is better spiritually than to be asleep, yet this is far from what God expects. If you have been spiritually sitting or you are spiritually a lame

“Your spiritual position or posture, prior to receiving this command to arise, will determine the type of response expected of you. Hence, to an already dead fellow, arise means come back to life.”

Importance Of Vigilante Group Stressed By JOEL CHUKWUAGHONIM

CHIEF Suny Efi, the Onyewebuodaeson I of Ejeme – Unor Kingdom in Aniocha Local Government Area of Delta State, has commended the efforts of the people in Ekuku – Agbor Community in assisting the vigilante men in the area. Speaking with newsmen in his palace Ekuku – Agbor Chief Onyewebuodaeson I, who is also the Chairman Vigilante Group of Nigeria (V.G.N) Ekuku – Agbor Division said since the inception of the outfit, the group has been facing three major challenges, Chief Suny Efi, said some adults and youths in the area were involved in criminal activities and that the culprits were being arrested and handed over to the police. The chairman said in

AKHABUE – I formerly called Miss. Blessing Akhabue is now known and called MRS. BLESSING ESEOHE ABAI. All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities and the general public should please take note.

cases involving juvenile delinquents, parents and the Chiefs in council were involved in the settlement. According to him, he has organised series of symposia to educate traditional rulers and parents on how to discipline their children, adding that in the same vein he organised seminars for his vigilante outfit in his division (Ekuku – Agbor) and invited army and the police officers as resource persons. He said the relationship between members of the vigilante group in Ekuku – Agbor and the police is very cordial because without the police “we cannot settle criminal cases in the area, so we need the police, also as the police need us to ease their job”. Chief Efi advised okada (bike) riders in the area to stay off the road by 9.00pm because anyone caught would be arrested and handed over to the police. He said most crimes are carried out at night. Explaining his crime combat strategy, he said the group has introduced a patrol unit. According to him the team consists of members from different units in Ika South Local Government Area Chief Efi said there was a great different between a youth

CHANGE OF NAME

OGHAGBON – I, formerly called Miss Joy Ekoren Oghagbon is now known and called MRS JOY EKOREN OSAHON OMOSEFE. All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities and the general public should please take note.

YESUF – I, formerly called Miss Yesuf Latifah Ilunuamhie is now known and called MRS. ILEOGBEN LATIFAH YESUF I. All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities and the general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

PUBLIC NOTICE ASSOCIATION OF AKWA-IBOM INDIGENES, OKADA BRANCH The above named Association has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for Registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act of 1990. The Trustees are: 1. Mr. Joseph Sunday - Patron 2. Mr. Otu Daniel - Patron 3. Mr. Boniface Cypian - President 4. Mr. Emmanuel Akpausoh - Member 5. Mrs. Chijere Godwin - Member Aims and Objectives: 1. To promote unity, love and progress among members 2. To preserve, project and uphold the dignity of Akwa-Ibom 3. To promote general understanding and peaceful relationship with other groups. Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigirs Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: PATRICK IBEKWE

movement and a vigilante outfit. According to him, to be a member of a vigilant group one must be screened first by one’s community which will recommend one to the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in the area, who if satisfied, will give the prospective member some orientation. The chairman appealed to the three levels of government philanthropists, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) churches and meaningful citizens of Ekuku – Agbor community to come to their aid in providing security logistics, such as patrol van, rain boots, rain cap touch lights, uniforms and monthly stipends.

• Chief Sunny Efi

CHANGE OF NAME AGBAJOH – I, formerly Miss Shirley Eyitemi Onome Agbajoh, now wish to be known, called and addressed as MRS. SHIRLEY OSEGHALE. All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities and the general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME ADERINTO – I, formerly known and addressed as Aderinto Paul Oyekanmi is now known, called and addressed as MR. ADERINTO OYEKANMI OLAYIDE. All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities and the general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME IYOHA – I, formerly Miss. Iyoha Catherine now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. UBAH O B O K H A F U A CATHERINE. All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities and the general public please take note.

THE NIGERIAN

I sues 28

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15 2014

What Jonathan Said On Power Supply

SPEAKING with United Nations diplomats on Monday, 31st January 2011 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, President Goodluck Jonathan made this promise: “If I’m voted into power, within the next four years, the issue of power will become a thing of the past. Four years is enough for anyone in power to make a significant improvement and if I can’t improve on power within this period, it then means I cannot do anything…” Three years later, in January 2014, in anticipation of his 2015 presidential bid, the same Goodluck Jonathan issued a six-month ultimatum to power companies to hurriedly address the power situation in the country. Six months came, and six months went, and today, Nigeria’s power generation and supply is at an all time low. Fifteen years ago, when Nigeria’s democracy was still relatively new, the People’s Democratic Party told Nigerians that we had a 6000mw installed capacity of electricity, and “within a year,

By TIMI FRANK

this would go up to 10,000mw.” Fifteen years later, with over $50billion spent on the power sector alone, we are now being told by the Goodluck Jonathan administration that power generation in Nigeria has “increased from 3000mw to 4000mw.” With this inconsistency in question, it is clear that instead of Nigeria’s power generation and supply increasing and progressing under the leadership of Goodluck Jonathan, it has gotten worse. However, regardless of the inconsistent figures, let us search our hearts and ask ourselves: has power improved in our homes? Do we have more light that we used to have? Or is the government spending our collective money on invisible power generation projects, while quoting fabricated power generation figures? Sometime in 2013, a legislative delegation led by Senate President, David Mark, went to inspect the Mambilla Plateau, that hosts

one of Nigeria’s hydroelectric dams. With over N160billion ($1billon) spent on this project, the delegation was expecting to find a facility that had up to 2000mw generating capacity. Instead, what the delegation found was that next to nothing had been done on the project – the dam site had not even been cleared; making the media speculate that the money for this much-needed project had lined the pockets of associates of the ruling party. Earlier this year, the Federal Government again announced that an additional N752billion has been earmarked for the power sector over the next few years. In the atmosphere of this report, recent studies have shown that due to the government’s inability to provide light for the people, today, everyday Nigerians have been forced to spend N796.4billion of their own hard-earned income to fuel their generators annually.

What this means is that over the next four years, if Goodluck Jonathan is reelected, based on his trackrecord (or a lack thereof) of not being able to solve the power situation in the country, cumulatively, everyday Nigerian households will be forced to spend $19.2billion on fuel, which is equivalent to N3.1trillion. Another 2009 study on electricity distribution among the six geo-political zones in Nigeria showed that on average, these days, Nigerians enjoy only four to six hours of power supply per day. However, in 2009, the Federal Government and the Power Holding Company told Nigerians that of the 10 National Integrated Power Projects (NIPPs), four had been completed, and six were 80 to 90 per cent completed. More than 24 months later, and $8billion spent on these projects alone, WHAT DO WE HAVE TO SHOW FOR IT? In this regard, it is time that as a nation, we begin to ask

• President Goodluck Jonathan ourselves: WHAT HAS THE PRESIDENT BEEN DOING WITH ALL THE MONEY THAT HAS BEEN SPENT ON POWER GENERATION SINCE HE TOOK OFFICE? We must also question the significance of the

President’s statement, especially when he said that if he cannot improve power within four years, it means that he cannot do anything… The results (or a lack thereof) have begun to speak for themselves…

Africans Can Only Get Credit For Africans

AFRICA is the only place left for Africans to get full credit for their efforts. Until Africans wake up and present themselves as masters of their own destiny in Africa, no black man anywhere in the world will be respected. As long as those of us that have opportunities to excel as individuals or as a group rely on these comfort zones outside as our last refuge, the incentive to make Africa a comfortable home will elude our children. Think mass deportation to Europe, Asia and Africa Eh? Most Africa countries started out on the right foot immediately after independence since most realized the roles and value of education, healthcare, industrial estates and agriculture. Farmers were organized through cooperative boards with price stability. Free Education was promoted as a goal to awareness in pursuing expertise that would be inadequate without skill labor on the farm. Teaching, Law and Medicine were the leading professions. (Iwe kiko, lai si oko, koi pe o). We have made our share of success everywhere but the credit will always elude us unless it is to further the progress of African Continent. Since our success outside Africa is like

playing and sometimes winning away game from home. Unfortunately, even Africans do not credit our own until outsiders so decided. It is not a matter of a prophet without honor at home, it is a case of admiring what others say, do and value. Even if most claims did not originate or made in Africa. There are three types of Diaspora Africans. Many that left after school and experience, some stayed investing heavily at home and those that could not be bothered or got lost after two or many bad experiences swearing never to go back there. One of our 1st generation children that made it: Obama contributed more to Africa than he would have, had he been born in Africa. If Romney had delivered the world from the worst economic recession since the last depression, reduced unemployment from over 10% to below 6%, killed Osama Bin Ladin and given America Romneycare as in Massachusetts, he would have been hailed as a hero. Despite trumpeted fear of inflation and deficit, both are running lower to the disappointment of unrepentant critics. No one admitted the wise decision to remove chemical weapons

By FAROUK MARTINS ARESA

from Syria before ISIL got them. Africans’ faults are exaggerated or punished more than those of whites. Dismiss our empathy with Obama because he is our son. Call it common attacks in all mid-term elections. After all Bill Clinton thinks he got worse attacks than Obama just as Richard Nixon thought he got the worst attack. The difference here is what offence or moral turpitude has Obama committed? We have a friend; he used to say he and his children would go back and live in his village, when asked. If he refused to go back, no one knows why he thought his children would ever live there. As our children got older and became teenagers, professionals or losers; the same police, gangs and street violence that had fallen native children started to fall ours. In Chicago one weekend, 23 black children fell to gangs’ bullets. Biko, it is not that dreadful in Johannesburg or Lagos. Nowhere is this notion better displayed than in two instances: judicial process and religion. The two may explain why we have fallen backwards in other fields for

which we lack credits. While growing up, we often hear our elders that had travel far and wide starting their sentences with: In civilized countries, that would never happen. It became a disappointment when we saw what happened in civilized countries that would never have happened in Africa. Before you ask what? An alien from space will be shocked to understand how people interpret cold blooded murders in the daylight. Not once or twice but on a regular basis. It has always been the case and books or witnesses had always told their stories. What are different these days are cameras all over the place, even from mobile phones. Please note that witnesses have always seen the same events slight differently depending from which side it is viewed. The jury system is the conscience of western democracy on which our legal system is based. It is still evolving and dynamic compared to ancient Sharia laws. Unfortunately, in many countries outside of Africa both whites and blacks would view the same situation differently and render judgment according to their biased views. Stack differences based on ethnic

and political biases are different from motives. The law takes care of motives that are argued by adversaries. Justice also varies between the poor and the rich, in Africa not only outside Africa. Most of the disparities have to do with ability to afford legal representation. Even legal aid employs lawyers the system allocated money can only cover for the poor. But to turn a pin on its head, what used to be called copious lie is now called different views. Just to justify cold blooded murders. More important is the way people are judged and credited differently. In the case of children growing up in a society, they see situations in black and white and question any impropriety as if they are born with innate ability to judge right from wrong. So they would question a parent and verify from the other why a brother, sister or friend is treated differently from them. As we get older, we begin to lose the objectivity and our prejudice grows. This is the reason young men and women are idealistic in their youths and become more conservative as they grow older. Cases in point are returning Africans and hippies of yesterday as conservatives of today. As we grow older, we tend to

inherit the prejudice of our community with the fear of losing our old ways of life that is being threatened by new thinking or new comers. Ingrained in these are privileges we stand to lose if the old system is not retained. If that is the case, one would expect the conservatives in Africa to hold on to our norm and custom. But remember that the only norm and custom that survive are those that can stand up to changes in the society. If the old norm and custom label you a brute for retaining religion that sacrifice human blood, unless you sacrifice goat or chicken instead, you are a brute. The way many reject the label is by baptism into Christian, Muslim or Hindu of mass destruction. Africans must fight not just cry for justice, fairness and right to equal justice on land we labored or were cheated. But, simply put, it threatens the existence of new owners the same way the American Indians were threatened and displaced. Indeed, entrenched powers will be foolish to yield land and power back to original owners. Mind you, it is the credit Mugabe of Zimbabwe demanded in his Country and what has brought him and his people so much economic misery.

THE NIGERIAN

-SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 10 2014

Everton Demand £60m For Ross Barkley EVERTON want a vast fee from Manchester City for Ross Barkley, Manchester United are upping their interest in a defender valued at £32 million; David Moyes took the Real Sociedad job on the advice of Alex Ferguson; and Liverpool are willing pay over £10m to speed up Divock Origi’s arrival at Anfield - the main stories making headlines in today’s newspapers. Everton demand £60m from Manchester City for

Origi Wants Liverpool Return In January

THE Belgium international striker, who was loaned back to Lille after his summer transfer, says that he is in regular contract with Brendan Rodgers and would love to move early Divock Origi says that he “would love to move to Liverpool sooner rather than later” if it is possible that he could cut short his loan spell with Lille. The Belgium international moved to Anfield from the French side in the summer but was loaned back for the season as part of the deal. Origi has impressed in Ligue 1 this season, scoring five goals already, and would like to head to Anfield when the transfer window reopens, with reports suggesting that the Reds’ struggles to get the likes of Mario Balotelli firing could prompt an early return for the Belgian. “Maybe January, who knows? It is not me who makes the decisions but, if the club choose to let me go in January, I would go,” he told reporters. “I would like to join Liverpool then. I said that I would stay for the whole season and I wish to remain honourable in that, of course, but, if there was a decision by the clubs, I would not say that I would not like to go to Liverpool in January.” Liverpool have struggled for goals this season thanks to Luis Suarez’s departure for Barcelona and Daniel Sturridge’s injury problems

• Origi

Barkley: The Toffees are determined to hold on to key player Ross Barkley - and are willing to play hardball with Manchester City in order to do so according to the Manchester Evening News. The paper reports that, “City will have to shell out £60m to land Ross Barkley - and the big question is when the Blues will make their recordbreaking bid for the Everton and England superstar... City remain at the forefront of the suitors and are poised to at least double Barkley’s wage - and match the asking price that would make Barkley a record for an Englishman, and that potential deal would be the biggest between two British clubs.” The other clubs keen, the report adds, are Manchester United and Chelsea. As for Barkley’s view? Well, a “source close to the player” told the paper that, “It’s a Wayne Rooney situation all over again... he is ambitious and wants to be at a club on the biggest stage.”

£32m Defender May Save MANCHESTER United United are upping their interest in a defender valued at £32 million; David Moyes took the Real Sociedad job on the advice of Alex Ferguson; and Liverpool are willing pay over £10m to speed up Divock Origi’s arrival at Anfield the main stories making headlines in today’s newspapers. United eye up bigmoney defender: Manchester United are stepping up their efforts to sign Athletic Bilbao defender Aymeric Laporte in January, according to the Daily Mirror. The France U21 centre-back is one of Europe’s most promising defenders and is also on the radar of Chelsea and Arsenal. The report claims United have made

• David Moyes

Ferguson Backed Me To Take Real Sociedad Job - Moyes

THE former Manchester United boss has challenged himself by taking the reins at Anoeta and says that the Spanish club will benefit from the patience not shown by the Red Devils. The Manchester United that la Real will benefit legend had recommended from the Premier League Moyes to the Red Devils giants’ lack of patience. “I always believed I was before a disastrous 2013the right person for the job 14 season at Old Trafford and I still believe that was saw his successor the case,” the Scot sacked, with Louis van declared. Gaal now in control. “I don’t know about The Scottish pair have having to repair my image remained in contact since, because there was with the 72-year-old nothing wrong with how backing up his friend’s we worked [at United]. I belief that a move to Spain think everybody could see would do him good. “I spoke to Alex and said that, whoever is in charge ‘this is the opportunity that of Manchester United, it’s has come my way, what quite a long job to do do you think?’,” revealed things and obviously nine Moyes to reporters in San months would never be Sebastian, “and Alex said enough time for any he felt it was a great manager. “I do think that most real opportunity for me. football people understand “I mentioned the that there is a period at opportunities I had had Manchester United of back in the UK and I felt transition. I took over from that probably, after the Sir Alex and it was always way things had gone [at going to take time, United], I should move whoever was in charge. away. “We talked about the The manager needs to be opportunity, which he given the opportunity to thought was a great get on with his job and be opportunity. I felt it was the given that time that he right move for me and he needs. “I don’t think anything will backed me up.” change. I will work the Still adamant that he was same way I have always not given enough time for done. I had a great time at his methods to succeed at Everton when I was there United, Moyes now says

and came away from that with a lot of high regard. I would not have been offered the Manchester United job if I had not done well at that club so I still stand by what I said at the time: I wasn’t given enough time to succeed or fail ... so Sociedad are going to get the benefit of that.” Sunderland hit with FA charge The charge relates to the reaction of Sunderland players to referee Lee Mason’s decision to award a penalty for the visitors after Seamus Coleman went down under a challenge from Connor Wickham. Sunderland players surrounded referee Mason as they claimed Wickham had won the ball as he slid in on the Republic of Ireland right-back. Leighton Baines scored the resulting spot-kick to ensure Roberto Martinez’s side salvaged a 1-1 draw at the Stadium of Light. A statement on the FA’s official website said: “Sunderland have been charged by The FA following their game against Everton on 9 November 2014. “It is alleged that in or around the 76th minute of the game, the club failed

to ensure its players conducted themselves in an orderly fashion. “The club has until 6pm on 17 November 2014 to respond to the charge.”

enquiries about the 20year-old through an intermediary, who could save their season, with a view to securing a deal in January. Laporte is apparently high on Louis van Gaal’s wish list but he has a £32 million release clause, given his age and potential. Paper Round’s view: By all accounts Laporte is indeed a useful player with a bright future, but £32m does seem rather excessive for a 20-yearold defender. Yes, he has La Liga and Champions League experience, but he is yet to feature at senior level for his country and in terms of risk, when talking about that kind of money he can only represent a big one. The thing is, though, United are that desperate for defenders, they may well pay that kind of money. It is no exaggeration to say that he really could save United in the short term, such is their crazy need for anyone at the back who is solid and reliable.

Manchester City Outcast Nastasic offered to Arsenal

THE Serbian defender has not featured for the Premier League champions and is available for around +6.3 million in the January transfer window Manchester City defender Matija Nastasic has been offered to Arsenal and Tottenham in the January transfer window for a cutprice +6.3 million, Goal can reveal. Nastasic was told to find a new club over the summer but remained at City despite interest from a host of Italian sides. City’s desire to recoup as

• Nastasic

much as possible of the +15m they paid for him and the 21-year-old’s refusal to accept a drop in his +94,000a-week salary blocked a move away from the Etihad Stadium. The Premier League champions are, however, prepared to let Nastasic leave on the cheap in the January transfer window, with the Serbian now outcast under Manuel Pellegrini. Nastasic has not even been named as a substitute in any of City’s matches this season since playing in the Community Shield defeat to Arsenal in August.

THE NIGERIAN

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15 2014

Murray Looking For Answers After Being Thumped By Federer

MURRAY looking for answers after being thumped by FedererAndy Murray admitted he has a lot of thinking to do following his thumping loss to Roger Federer at the World Tour Finals. Murray faced off against Federer knowing that he needed a straight sets win to advance to the semifinals.

However that never looked like happening as the Scot won just eight points in the first set and didn’t win a game until he was 6-0 5-0

down. World number two Federer wrapped up the 60 6-1 victory in 56 minutes, leaving Murray with plenty to ponder as his World Tour Finals

involvement came to a disappointing end. It has not really happened to me before like that where winning games has been an issue,” said Murray, who last lost

season, scoring six goals in 19 appearances in all competitions.

during the World Cup, where he was caught sinking his teeth into Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini’s shoulder. That incident saw him handed a four-month suspension from all football, after he had been banned for 10 games for doing the same thing to Chelsea defender Branislav

Ivanovic in a Premier League match against Chelsea in April 2013. Now a Barca player following his summer move from Liverpool, the 27-year-old is keen to prove that he is a changed man by talking about the steps he has taken to banish his disciplinary problems once and

I’m Played Out Of Position At Real Madrid He has admitted that he would rather play a bit higher up the pitch, but is ready to feature wherever the coach needs him. “It’s true I play a little deeper for Real Madrid. I can push a little further forward for Colombia,” James told reporters. “I hope to play where I feel most comfortable and help the team to win. I feel more comfortable where I play for Colombia because I like to be closer to the goal; that works better for me. I can score and pass from there. “But as a player I have to be prepared to play in any

position.” James has been in excellent form for Madrid so far this

WALES hope to take advantage of Kompany’s absence in BrusselsBelgium could give another outing to a three-pronged strike force laced with pace and power as they look to make up for the loss of defensive leader Vincent Kompany against Group B pacesetters Wales in Sunday’s Euro 2016 qualifier in Brussels. Third place Belgium are three points behind the Welsh but have played one game fewer and can move above their opponents thanks to their superior goal

difference, while Israel are sandwiched between the two in second place. Marc Wilmots’s side will again be without captain and central defender Kompany, who was badly missed as their fragile defence was frequently exposed in the friendly against Iceland on Wednesday despite a 3-1 win. This prompted goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois to lay into his team mates at the end, saying that a repeat of that performance would see them beaten by Wales, whose

manager Chris Coleman was at the game. Belgium coach Wilmots admitted that his defence had not been at their best, but said that he had been busy trying out different options. One such tactic was a threepronged attack of Christian Benteke, Romelu Lukaku and Divock Origi, the latter being the pick of the bunch with a cracking left-foot shot for his third international goal.

Juventus Want To Win The Treble

THE versatile attacker is determined for Massimiliano Allegri’s side to make an impact in Europe as well as Italy this season Simone Pepe has stressed that Juventus are no longer satisfied with just winning the Serie A title, but have set their sights on an historic treble. The Turin outfit have dominated domestically in recent years, but have not won the Champions League since 1995-96 and were knocked out in the group stages last season. Despite another inconsistent campaign to date, which has seen them lose two of their first four group games, Pepe is determined to end their European drought. “We have many targets this season because we’re out to win all three

Andy Murray

THE former Monaco star has admitted that he prefers a more attacking role at club level but is prepared to adopt any role he is given under Carlo Ancelotti James Rodriguez says he is not fully comfortable with his role at Real Madrid as he would prefer to play in a more attacking position. The 23-year-old impressed for Colombia at the 2014 World Cup playing close to the striker, but he has been utilised in a more central role at Madrid due to the presence of attackers such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema.

by the same margin against Novak Djokovic in Miami back in 2007. “I’ve had tough losses and heavy defeats but nothing quite like that. “It’s very frustrating,

when I’m trying my best. I’ve never been in that position before in my whole career. “Maybe I need to make some changes to my game, but that’s the one good thing - I have time now to do that.”

-Pepe

competitions – Coppa Italia, Serie A and Champions League,” Pepe told JTV. “I’d never won anything before coming to Juventus and when you start winning you always want more. Three league titles aren’t enough, you want four, then five. It’s only natural.” The attacker has been plagued by injuries in recent years, but he is raring to go again after a long rehabilitation process. “I’m in good shape and have been for the past four to five months. I’m training with the team every day and that’s important as far as I’m concerned. “I had a long and serious injury but you need to keep going. I wanted to get back in action and put this period behind me.”

I’m Getting Mental Help

THE 27-year-old is taking his anger issues seriously and has sought specialist help in a bid to ensure the red mist never descends again Barcelona star Luis Suarez has revealed how he is receiving psychological help in a bid to overcome the anger problems that have seen him suspended twice in 15 months for biting opposition players. The Uruguay international’s most recent offence occurred

Wales Hope To Take Advantage Of Kompany’s Absence In Brussels

Luis Suarez

for all. He told El Observador: “After the suspension I had some really hard times. I’m getting psychological help and the club have been a constant support.” As he moved ever closer to his return to football against Real Madrid on October 25, Suarez was also accused of being fat by sections of the press, but he has now spoken out against those who questioned his fitness. “I was never overweight,” he added. “It was just as Luis Enrique said on one occasion: ‘Tell me when you see Luis Suárez thin’. The doctor who carries out the medicals at the club said that I was one of the six players at Barcelona who had the lowest percentage of fat and lowest weight. It was all part of the newspapers’ game.” His inability to control his temper has seemingly been the factor behind Suarez’s omission from the list of candidates for this year’s Ballon d’Or, but rather than protest against the snub, the former Ajax man is remaining philosophical, while targeting his first league goals for his new club.

THE NIGERIAN

France Always Want To Win - Deschamps

THE 46-year-old has made it clear that les Bleus are desperate to keep up their good form in their friendly with Albania France coach Didier Deschamps has insisted motivation is no problem for his side ahead of their friendly against Albania on Friday. As Euro 2016 hosts, France do not need to qualify and are preparing for the tournament with friendlies. However, Deschamps has stressed his team are still hungry for wins as they look to extend their unbeaten run following the World Cup. “Of course we want to win, even though it doesn’t count,” he said at a press conference. “These will be our 14th and 15th games, and this year we lost only once, against Germany, the world champions. So we need continue this ambition to win.

-SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 10 2014

England Players ’ll Welcome Hodgson - Baines

THE Three Lions manager is due to remain in charge until the end of Euro 2016 but the Everton full-back says that he can continue to offer the squad a lot with his experience The England squad see manager Roy would be delighted to Hodgson’s contract

extended beyond Euro 2016, according to Leighton Baines.

Fernandez Out For Three Weeks

THE Argentine missed his side’s 2-1 win over Arsenal on Sunday and will be out for at least the rest of November. But in some good news for Garry Monk’s men, Wayne Routledge and Nathan Dyer are set to return to training next week. Swansea drew 0-0 in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Cardiff City on Thursday, and Monk was pleased to give some players much-needed game time. “It was a good chance to give a few players some minutes,” he told the club’s website. “It was important for the likes of Leon [Britton], Jordi [Amat] and Dwight [Tiendalli], who are coming back from injury, and also for some of the boys who haven’t played as many minutes recently. “During the international breaks, it’s nice for the players that remain here to have a focus at the end of a week’s training.

Federico Fernandez

Hodgson and Baines

Bayern Don’t Need Schweinsteiger IT must be with envious eyes that Joachim Low watches Bayern Munich these days. Not only do the Bavarians have the class and leadership of Philipp Lahm, but the former Germany skipper and his team-mates are making light of the absence of Bastian Schweinsteiger. The post-Lahm era was always going to be tough for the world champions. His untimely international retirement left a gaping hole not only on the pitch – the 30-year-old is undoubtedly the game’s best full-back and a very able midfielder – but in the dynamic of the squad. Per Mertesacker and Miroslav Klose, both 100-cap stars, called it a day at the same time and Low was shorn of three key members of his squad. Schweinsteiger, still bruised and battered from his heroics in the World Cup final, was handed the captaincy, the logical choice for the armband. But, despite the midfielder’s qualities as a leader, he rarely represents his country due the string of injuries that have plagued him in recent years. Indeed, he has only just started training again after his ankles came in for brutal treatment from the likes of Javier Mascherano and Pablo Zabaleta in the final in Brazil.

Manuel Neuer, Thomas Muller and others have been charged with leading the team in Schweinsteiger’s absence but it is all too evident that the world champions are in dire need of their skipper. Torn apart by Argentina in September in a repeat of the World Cup final, they limped past Scotland before a disastrous October saw them lose to Poland before throwing away two points late on at home to Republic of Ireland. The recurring theme of all those losses has been silly goals conceded on the counterattack and one cannot help but look at those who have been manning the deep-lying midfield position – Toni Kroos, still far from adept at the defensive side of his game and Christoph Kramer, hugely talented but still painfully raw. Schweinsteiger is far more secure at the back, having blossomed as an anchor man over five years ago. As a World Cup winner and one of the most decorated players in Bayern Munich’s history, he would have been able to steer his team towards victory as the next generation of Germany stars are blooded. Borussia Dortmund legend Lars Ricken believes the Mannschaft are merely going through a period of transition and will emerge from it all the

stronger. “Klose, Lahm and Mertesacker have retired but the team is still very young and we have a pool of talented young players,” he told Goal. “We are looking towards the next European Championship. The team is hungry and they play to win more titles and show that the World Cup didn’t happen by accident. The future is great for German football.”

AFCON 2015:

Hodgson’s present deal is set to take him through to the tournament in France, which his side are well positioned to reach after winning their first three qualifying matches. The 67-year-old has responded well after overseeing a poor World Cup campaign in Brazil earlier this year, in which England were eliminated from the group stages without winning a match, and Baines says that all the players are keen for him to remain in charge. “The players would all be delighted with that [Hodgson extending his contract],” the left-back told reporters. “We all enjoy working with him. He’s a good guy, a good person to speak to. “He’s got a lot of knowledge about football, has had a lot of different jobs, worked in different countries. Us, as a bunch of players, would be really happy if he extended.” Baines also believes that

Malonga Set For Congo Debut Against Nigeria

HIBERNIANS of Scotland forward Dominique Malonga is set to debut for Congo against Nigeria in a crucial AFCON 2015 qualifier today. Congo Red Devils are second in Group A with seven points from four matches and shocked African champions Nigeria 3-2 in the first

encounter in Calabar in September. Malonga said he will be delighted to help his country qualify for the Nations Cup 12 years after their last appearance at the finals. “I am happy to play in my country,” said the 25year-old forward.

Australia Conducted Clean Bid For AUSTRALIA conducted Chief World Cup - FFA clean bid for World Cup with the customary FFA Chief Federation Football Australia (FFA) chief Frank Lowy has rejected criticism of Australia’s failed bid for the 2022 World Cup, saying the country ran a “clean campaign”. A report by FIFA’s ethics committee cleared Russia

and Qatar of any wrongdoing but criticised the activities of the government-funded A$43 million ($37.43 million) Australian campaign. “FFA did its best to run a competitive and compliant bid and to do it wherever possible hand-in-hand with the Australian Government,

government oversight,” Lowy said in a statement on Friday. The FIFA report summary was undermined soon after it was published on Thursday when the former U.S. prosecutor who led the investigation said it had misrepresented his findings.

England captain Wayne Rooney is the ideal role model for his Everton club-mate, Ross Barkley. Barkley has been compared by some to the Manchester United skipper, who started his career at Goodison Park, and the defender feels that Rooney - who is set to earn his 100th cap against Slovenia - can continue to be an example to follow. “Wayne’s always been someone that people have focused on and we’ve asked a lot of him over the years as well and he tended to produce,” he observed. “He’s now moved onto his role as captain and rightly so - he earned that right to be leading the team now, he’s a leader among the squad. “He’s great for all the players but particularly for people like Ross and the other young players who he’s often offering advice to so I think it was the natural fit once Steven [Gerrard] retired for Wayne to step up and fill that role.”

Dominique Malonga (left) tries to disposse his opponent during a match.

“I am going to help my teammates so we can qualify in front of our supporters on Saturday. We will give our best. We know that it is a crucial game for us.” Reims midfielder Prince Oniangue has called for total support for the 11,000 fans who will be at the Stade Municpal in PointeNoire. “We are based on the Holy Scriptures. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. In good days and bad days we are asking to the fans to be with us as we are only three points away, even may be one point away from qualification,” said Oniangue, who opened scoring for his country against Nigeria three months ago.

CMYK

THE NIGERIAN

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15 2014

2015 AFCON Qualifiers... 2015 AFCON Qualifiers... 2015 AFCON Qualifiers... 2015 AFCON Qualifiers...

Cranes Target Win Over Ghana UGANDA Cranes will be eager to pick maximum points when they host Ghana in a 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifier today. Head Coach Milutin

Gyan Lands Award In Asia GHANA’S striker Asamoah Gyan has been awarded the Foreign Player of the Year in the Asian Confederation. The Black Stars captain wins the continental award following his exploits in the just ended Asian Champions League. Gyan emerged the top scorer of the competition with 12 goals in Al Ain’s campaign which ended at the semi final stage. The 28-year-old’s award will be handed over to the UAE FA for onward transfer to the former Sunderland hitman who is currently with the Black Stars despite being ruled out due to injury. “Al Ain’s Ghanaian player Mr. Asamoah Gyan’s consistent and excellent performance in the AFC Champions League scoring a total of 12 goals and helping his team reach the semi finals of the competition is an achievement to be proud of,” a letter signed by the AFC General Secretary Dato Soosay to the UAE FA read. “On behalf of AFC President and the AFC Executive Committee members, it is our honour to present the AFC Foreign Player of the Year 2014 accolade to Mr. Asamoah Gyan. “The award will be sent to your association this month and we wish all the best to Mr. Asamoah Gyan for the future.” Gyan has been racking up awards after awards since his arrival in the UAE in 2011. The Black Stars leading scorer shocked the whole world with his initial loan move from Sunderland to Al Ain. Many believed the move was backward and will not inure to the benefit of the 28-yearold. But Gyan’s scoring record for both club and country has been nothing short of phenomenon.

‘Micho’ Sredojevic told MTNFootball.com that although the Black Stars will be minus inspirational coach Asamoah Gyan, he still thinks the visitors will be a tough opponent. “We cacnot take Ghana for granted because they top Group E with eight points and also have several professional players featuring in big League around the world,” added the Coach. In their first leg meeting in Kumasi, the Black Stars needed a second half penalty to cancel out Tony Mawejje’s goal to settle for a 1-all draw. But Sredojevic thinks the match on Sunday is a must win if his team is to have a chance of qualification for Afcon which has eluded them since 1978. “We are third in the Group with four points and another win would put us in a good position before we travel to face Guinea next week,” reasoned Sredojevic. Skipper Andrew Mwesigwa is expected to lead the Cranes together with South African based Geoffrey Massa and goalkeeper Dennis

Onyango. In the absence of Gyan, Olympiue Marseille’s Andrew Ayew is expected to captain the Black Stars at the Mandela National Stadium, Namboole. Midfielders E m m a n u e l Agyemang-Badu, Christian Atsu and Solomon Asante could have a great part to play for the Black Stars who need a clear win to qualify for the Afcon finals before their last Group game next week against Togo.

Nigeria Condemned To Win -Kaita

Super Eagles players acknowledging cheers from fans during a match.

Eagles In Make Or Mar Cracker With Congo By NICHOLAS EBOIGBE

THE Super Eagles of Nigeria will today in far away Port Ivoire in Congo engage their Congolese counterparts in a make or mar match in the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.

The Super Eagles Coach, Stephen Keshi have come under serious criticisms in the last few weeks after the foremost Nigerian team lost two first matches in the continental competition. The Eagles have won one match and drew one. They need 2-0 or high score result to win head-to-head battle

against Congo. The dicey encounter or situation had forced the Eagles big boss (Keshi) to invite Nigeria’s rave of the moment and villarreal striker, Ikechukwu Ucbe to the National team. All eyes are therefore on Ike Uche not only to ignite the team but to deliver the goods by producing the desired

when the two sides clash in 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying action today.

The Super Eagles will travel to point noire to take on their Group A rivals Today, with the Red devils currently second in the standings, three points clear of the Nigerians, who have endeared a rock start to qualifying. The Congolese can be hostile, we have experienced it several times but we don’t know how it is going to come today,” he told footballer. But we have been talking to the players because African Football requires the African mentality. Keshi’s continued presence with Nigeria remain steeped in controversy, with the tactician not officially contracted as head coach following the expiration of his previous deal earlier this year. He explained: I have not had any meeting with NFF. I have had

goals. It is expected that other players will contribute their quota by scoring goals since the Congolese may concentrate and mount pressure on Ike Uche. Keshi must also know what is at stake and use the correct strategies that can beat the stubborn Congolese to the game. Even though the match appears dicey, some football followers believe that the Nigerian team is

Keshi Warns His Squad Ahead Of Congo Clash NIGERIA’S Coach Stephen Keshi has warned his squad to expect nothing less than hostile Congo

...Ojiesehoba Declares Victory For Eagles By NICHOLAS EBOIGBE

FORMER Ace NTA’s Sports Broadcaster, Dele Ojiesehoba has declared victory for the Super Eagles in today’s match with Congo. According to Dele Ojiesehoba, the Super Eagles have what it takes to beat the Congolese on their home soil. “The Congolese came to Nigeria to beat us, why can’t we do same by defeating them in Congo? It has to do with determination to succeed. It is very possible in football!” he explained that

there have been dissenting voices against Coach Stephen Keshi as to his tactics and invitation of players, saying that he knows what to do to give the desire results. “You see, the Coach knows his players! He knows the in-tricks concerning his team and the strategies he will use in winning a particular match. He said he is very optimistic that Nigeria will succeed in Congo. He asked Nigerians to support the team with prayers instead of critising the coach and the players adding that football is not an easy game.

meeting with the minister, that’s all. The minister was the onethat asked me to come. You all know that we don’t have contract, we are just doing what we can for our country. We also want our country to excel, that’s why we are here.

Ike Uche

c apable of defeating their host on their home soil if they are really determined to do so. Nigerians need nothing other than the desired victory in this crucial match An outright win in this match and that against South Africa will give Nigeria the ticket to African Cup of Nations billed for 2015.

Team S/Africa Congo Nigeria Sudan

SANI Kaita has said Nigeria are condemned to beat hosts Congo in Pointe-Noire in a crucial AFCON 2015 qualifier today. The African champions are third in Group A and in danger of missing out on the Nations Cup with two rounds of matches left to be played. And Saxan of Moldova star Kaita has now said the Eagles know how important today game is to their aspiration to defend the AFCON title next year and so they must be at their best against Congo. “This is a very crucial game for Nigeria, a make or mar game against Congo. It is a game Eagles must win in order to keep their hope of playing in the AFCON next year as defending champions come to pass,” said the experienced midfielder. “The players are professionals and know how important this game is to them and Nigerians. I believe they will put in their best and go all out to win. “It is not going to be easy, but I am upbeat the guys are good enough to beat Congo at their home.”

How They Stand In Group A P W D L GF GA GD PTS 4 2 2 0 5 0 +5 8 4 2 1 1 5 4 +1 7 4 1 1 2 5 5 0 4 4 1 0 3 2 8 -6 3

Mweene Confident Of Three Points In Maputo KENNEDY Mweene says Zambia is hoping to set the record straight against Mozambique on Saturday to edge closer to 2015 AFCON

qualification. Mozambique spoilt Zambia’s opening day Group F qualifying race after holding their hosts on September 7 to a stuttering draw in Ndola. Zambia’s Group F fortunes have since changed and are now second only on goal difference to third placed Mozambique and tied on five points from four rounds of matches played. “Going to the Africa Cup is important for everyone of us because we would be getting closer to retaining our names on the map,” Mweene said. “But first, we have to concentrate in Saturday’s game. Cape Verde will be coming (On Wednesday) but it will be nice to seal a place at the 2015 Africa Cup in Maputo.”

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