Nigerian observer 26 10 2013

THE WEEKEND

Weekend

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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2013

PUBLISHED SINCE OCTOBER 6, 1990 • Vol. XII NO.3,207• SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26, 20 13 • N100.00

ENCOUNTER

Gov Oshiomhole Has Etched His Name In Gold - Hon. Obasuke - Page 8

Debt Management

Senate Committee Reaffirms Commitment To Economic Transformation

By VICTOR OMOALU

THE Senate Committee on local and foreign debts has reaffirmed its commitment towards improving the economic growth of Nigeria with the 3-day retreat on contributions of public debt management to economic transformation held in Benin City.

In his opening remark at the retreat, the chairman of the Senate Committee on local/ foreign debts, Senator

Ehigie Uzamere, said since the inception of President Goodluck J o n a t h a n ’ s administration, the issue

PRESIDENTIAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON NATIONAL DIALOGUE/CONFERENCE The Presidential Advisory Committee on National Dialogue/Conference will visit Edo State on Monday, October 28, 2013.

All stakeholders including Civil Society Groups, Traditional Rulers, Women/Youth Organisations, Religious Groups, Ethnic Nationality Groups, Professional Groups, the Judiciary, Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, Organised Labour, Student Leadership, Leadership of the National Assembly, Conference of Speakers of State Houses of Assemblies, Organised Private Sector, the Physically Challenged, Edo in Diaspora and other interest groups are invited to make presentations at the Conference.

Venue of the Dialogue/Conference is Imaguero College Hall, Sapele Road, Benin City from 1:00pm.

All stakeholders and interest groups invited through this announcement are advised to be seated by 12:30pm.

SIGNED: DR. AKILU SANI INDABAWA Committee Secretary

of transformation has become a topic of discussion in various fora held across the country.

Senator Uzamere said the retreat was aimed at building members capacity on public debt management and to expose the House Committee on Current Trends and techniques in public debts management, just as he stressed the need to support such initiative that would help advance the nation economically.

The Director-General, Debt Management Office (DMO), Dr. Abraham Nwankwo who presented a paper on the topic: Contributions of debt management to e c o n o m i c transformation, pointed out that Nigeria was

faced with the problem of data before the establishment of the Debt Management Office in 2010.

He added that the DMO is very critical and strategic for debt management, both local and foreign, given the function it plays to give Nigeria a good image at the international level.

Dr. Nwankwo said “When you see the public debt, one wonders what money was used for.”

While stating that no state has the individual authority to borrow

money, without the approval of the Federal Government and the

National Assembly, Nwankwo noted that if all states do what they

ought to do interms of development, Nigeria will be transformed.

Oshiomhole Commissions 100 Taxis For Ex-Okada Riders

By ADAMS OYIBOKE

G O V E R N O R Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has commissioned a hundred units of Suzuki cars procured

by Ikpoba Okha Local Government of the state for distribution to former motorcycle riders who were banned from operating in the area.

Speaking at the c e r e m o n y , Oshiomhole also said that the Ministry of Transport has been directed to ensure that

all vehicles old or new used for commercial purposes are painted in the taxi colour approved by the State Government.

The Governor said “the value of these vehicles shows how a local government can complement the efforts of the state government. It was my lot to try to take into account the overall interest of our state, I found myself having to reverse myself when I Continues on page 4

COMMISSIONING: R-L: Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, Hon. (Mrs.) Itohan Osahon-Ogbeide and Chief David Edebere during the commissioning of the 100 Vehicles purchased by the Chairman of IkpobaOkha Local Government at Idogbo in Edo State yesterday. Photo: CHARITY OZIGBO-ESERE.

MOMENT OF SCRUTINY

National Confab

Passing The Acid Test!

- Page 5

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CRIME

Man, 23, Bags 3 Months For Stealing A Moulding Machine A KUJE Magistrates’ Court sitting in the FCT on Wednesday sentenced a labourer, Joel Simon, 23, to three months imprisonment for stealing a moulding machine.

The Magistrate, Mr. Azubuike Okeagwu, said the convict was guilty as charged and sentenced him to three months imprisonment with an option of N10, 000 fine.

“The convict pleaded guilty to stealing a block moulding machine belonging to his master and he is hereby convicted of the offence,’’ Okeagwu said.

Reports say that Simon, who had no counsel, had pleaded guilty to the charge of stealing and pleaded for leniency.

Earlier, the prosecutor, Cpl. Ocheche Samuel,

had told the court that one Samuel Amali, of Sabon Lugbe, Airport Road, Abuja, reported the matter at the Kuje Police Station on Oct. 21 Samuel said that Amali claimed that the convict, who resided with him at Sabon Lugbe, on October 20, stole his block moulding machine valued at N90, 000.

The prosecutor said that Simon had been working as a block maker for the complainant at his block making industry.

He said that during police investigation the stolen machine was recovered from the receiver to whom the convict had given it to sell.

Samuel said that the offence committed by the convict contravened Section 289 of the Penal Code.

Court Dissolves 29-Yr-Old Marriage Over Lack Of Care, Threat To Life

The Financial Director, Mr. Alain Mary (2nd left) supported by the Chief Accountant, Mr. Felix Ojighizuwa (3rd right) presents award items (TV set, Deep Freezer and House Hold Furniture) to awardees in Finance Department of Okomu Oil Company Limited.

Court Remands Businessman Over N3.5m Fraud

AN Isheri Senior Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, on Wednesday remanded a 45-year-old businessman, Afolabi Samson, for allegedly swindling unsuspecting customers of N3.5 million.

The Magistrate, Mrs. Adejumoke OlagbegiAdelabu, ordered that the accused be remanded in prison, following objection to his bail application by the prosecutor, Insp Nurudeen Thomas.

Afolabi, of no fixed

AN Ile-Ife Customary Court in Osun, on Wednesday dissolved a marriage contacted 29 years ago between Bolatito and Ismaila Jinadu, due to lack of care and threat to life.

The President of the court, Mr. Gani Awoyera, said he took the decision to dissolve the union, as efforts to settle the couple

amicably had failed.

Awoyera dissolved the union and directed that four of the children should remain with the plaintiff while the last child should be in the custody of the defendant.

Bolatito had on September 14, dragged her husband before the court for abandoning her and their five children.

AN Ilorin Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday ordered one Adeyemi Peter and Adeolu Oni to be remanded in prison for allegedly stealing items worth N300,000 from Shoprite Supermarket.

The Magistrate, Mr. Nurudeen Adeyanju, gave the order after Peter and Oni were arraigned by the police on a two-count charge of criminal conspiracy and theft.

Adeyanju ordered that the duo be remanded at the Okekura Prison Yard in Ilorin until November 13.

The prosecutor, Insp.

Kareem Jimo, told the court that the accused conspired with others at large and stole items from the drinks section of the mall at Fate road, Ilorin,

on October 18.

Jimoh alleged that Peter and Oni were arrested when they are about to leave the scene of the crime.

The prosecutor said that

the offence contravened section 97 and was punishable under section 288 of the Penal Code.

If convicted under section 288, they could be

THE police on Wednesday in Lagos arraigned a spiritualist, Isiaka Adeleke, 34, over an alleged N8.7 million fraud.

Adeleke, of No. 8, Onadejo St., Olosu Road, Ojota, Lagos, is facing a four-count charge of conspiracy, fraud and stealing before an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court.

The prosecutor, Sgt.

Austine Onwemere, told the court that the accused committed the offences sometime in March at the same address.

He said that the accused defrauded Mr. Abdul Oladunjoye.

“The accused collected N7 million from Oladunjoye, under the pretext that he would pray for Allah’s blessing on the

address, was arraigned on a two-count charge of fraud and stealing.

He, however, pleaded not guilty.

Thomas said the accused committed the offences on October 28, 2012, at his former office located at 28D, Ogudu Road, Ojota, Lagos.

He explained that the accused had collected the amount from some unsuspecting customers under the pretext of

Court Remands 2 Over Theft At Shoprite imprisoned for seven years or given an option of fine or both.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges against them.

helping them to invest the fund in a profit yielding company known as the Formidable Trust Investment.

The prosecutor said that the accused was arrested based on a petition by one Mrs. Porbeni Oyitare over the alleged fraud.

Thomas argued that the accused has been on the run since he was given bail in December 2012 by the police.

“Many police officers had been sanctioned over this case. Those duped are still calling and coming to the station.

“As at now, the accused has no specific residential and office address,” he said.

He explained that the

offences contravened Sections 312 and 285 of Criminal Code of Lagos State, 2011.

Reports say that Section 312 recommends 15 years imprisonment on conviction.

Counsel to the accused, Mr. Olusegun Aghawa, pleaded with court to grant him bail, promising that “he won’t jump bail.”

“The defendant, invested the fund in Formidable Trust Investment with the aim of reaping profits; he is also a victim of the fraud,” Aghahowa said.

The court, however, advised the defence counsel to make a formal application for bail.

The case was adjourned till October 31 for hearing

Spiritualist Arraigned Over N8.7m Fraud money to facilitate a haulage business for Oladunjoye,’’ he said.

He said that Oladunjoye intended to use the sum to purchase two trucks for the business.

“The accused also collected N1.7 million from the complainant to help him purchase one Lexus car from the U.S, a representation he knew to be false,’’

he said.

According to the prosecutor, the accused converted the sums to his personal use.

He said that the offences contravened Sections 285, 312, and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to all the counts.

According to the law, the accused might be sentenced to as much as 15 years imprisonment, if convicted.

Reports say that the Magistrate, Mr. J.A. Adegun, granted the accused bail in the sum of N300, 000 with two sureties in like sum.

He adjourned the case till November 24, for mention.

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Benin Monarch Offers Royal Blessing To EYFD

By VICTOR OMOALU

The newly elected president of the Intellectual’s Club of Nigeria, Benin City, Intellect Marcel Oseyi Ighalo taking the oath of office during his swearing-in ceremony/End of Year Party of the Club, which took place recently in Benin City

Appreciate One Another Intellects Urged

By FUNMI BABATOPE

MEMBERS of the Intellectual’s club of Nigeria, Benin City have been enjoined to take advantage of the rare opportunity to appreciate their fellow intellects for the overall progress and development of the club.

This appeal was made by the new president of the association, Intellect Marcel Oseyi Ighalo during his swearing-in as the 10th President of Intellectual’s Club of Nigeria/end of year party, which was held at Hotel Philomena Benin City last Sunday.

He expressed gratitude to his predecessor, Intellect Kayode Esogban and other members of the club for their support, commitment and prayers which ushered in the

present administration, adding that the progress of any club or association is all about co-operation and team work.

Intellect Ighalo promised to bring his wealth of experience to bear in his effort to take the club to the next level and bring about meaningful changes and transformation that will impact positively on the lives of members of the club and generality of the people.

The president enumerated the focus and prospects of the new Executive of the club under his leadership for the next two years to include amongst others prioritize members and their family welfare, improve on members commitment to the club and its activities, increase members financial base, thereby improving that

of the club as well as direct their collective resources and ideas into fruitful enterprises that wound yield positive results.

Intellect Ighalo added that, his leadership will also change the ideas and orientation of the teeming youths whom he described as future leaders, impact good morals in them and transform them to channel their God’s given talents to positive ventures that will facilitate rapid societal development, even as he promised to assist the less privileged persons in the society while nothing that the task of moving the club forward is quite challenging and enormous. He, however expressed confidence that with their collective support and co-operation, they will

together achieve their set goals and sued for their cooperation in the drive to take the club to enviable heights.

He further promised to justify the confidence reposed in him and assured them that he will carry them along in the scheme of things as well as welcome useful suggestions and ideas geared towards the overall development of the club.

Speaking in the same vein, the wife of the president and associate intellect, Mrs. Rita Ighalo pledged to support her husband morally and spiritually as well as mobilize other associate Intellects to contribute their quota to the overall upliftment of the club of the women wing and the a s s o c i a t e intellects,opportunity to show love, exchange pleasantries, with food and drinks and have fun to the admiration of those present.

later shifted to Usagbe primary school attracted crème de la crème in the society within and outside the local government to include the traditional ruler of Udochi chief Alhaji Umaru Ekpoki, the Oliora of Udochi, Barrister Donald Boi, Commissioner for Land and Survey, the Secretary to Estako East Local Government, Hon (Mrs.) Benedicta Attoh, the Secretary to Etsako Central Local Government, Chief Anthony Omoahia, Chief Jackson Sule, the chief host whose PA is the celebrant, Hon Emmanuel Momoh and his wife, the acting APC chairman in the local government, Hon Paul Osugbo and his wife, Hon Musa Zukenene, leader of zone 2, Alhaji Sir Waziri Oshiomah, all the councilors

led by the leader Hon Atahiru Murtala Supervisors and Special Assistance among others.

While congratulating in newly wedded couple the chairman of the council, Hon Emmanuel Momoh caution them against third party affair saying in every successful marriage is build on four major things such as love, trust, patience and tolerance.

He said they should always let love radiate in their daily activities and not to discuse their problems anyone so long there is trust in the marriage while marriage is an institution that one never graduate.

Brother Khalilu-Lah is the Personal Assistance to the Chairman, Etsako Central Local Government Hon. Emmanuel Momoh.

Holy Wolimat-Nikah Held With Glamour

By GIFT ONAGHAMA IT was a celebration galore last weekend as brother Khalilu-Lah hooked to Sister Faredah Bilal in Holy

Wolimat-Nikah according to Islamic rite at the JattuUzairue Central Mosque in Etsako West local government area.

The reception which was

THE Benin Monarch Omo’N oba Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba of Benin has offered royal blessing to the Edo Youths United for Democracy (EYFD) a socio-political.

Non-Governmental organisation aimed at fighting against the social ills that has bedeviled democracy in the country.

The monarch who gave his blessing during the organisations courtesy visit to the palace last Wednesday charged the youth body to develop a positive attitude if they must achieve the set objectives.

The National President of the organisation, Barr. Adaze Andrew Emiwata had told the Monarch they were in the palace to acquaint the monarch with body and to seek royal blessing.

Barr. Emwata noted that the youths were responsible for about 70 per cent of the social ills that have halted the electoral process since the inception of democracy in 1999.

While listing some of the electoral ills which he said were mostly perpetrated by youths to include, illegal multiple votes registration,

snatching of ballot boxes, physically assaulting the electorate during elections and illegal ballot paper thumb printing. Barr.

Emwata assured that his organisation will not relent on its oar towards disabusing the youths, minds against such ills that will mar the existence of democracy in the country.

He pointed out that during the military reign, Nigerians still experienced the principle of one man one vote during the presidential election of June 12, 1993, adding that the reverse is the case today.

The EYFD president, who informed the monarch of the organisation’s forthcoming peace/security summit for the youths of the Midwest region, vowed that his organisation will exploit all legal means to retrieve the royal artifacts that were stolen by the British colonialists.

He also used the opportunity to inform the monarch of the EYFD’s resolved to summit memorandum at the proposed National conference.

The memorandum according to him is aimed at advocating for the creation of Midwest zone as the seventh geopolitical zone.

Okomu Oil Honors Staff With Long Service Award

By RICHARD EWEKA

OVER 70 members of staff of Okomu Oil Palm Company Limited has benefited from this year’s long service award given to deserving members of the Company for loyalty, honesty and dedication of service.

Speaking to recipient at the occasion, the Managing Director of Okomu Oil Palm Company Limited, Graham Hefer who also received an award of excellent and exemplary transformational leadership from Agricultural/ Allied Employee Union of Nigeria, Okomu Brance commended the awardees for the and urge them to remain committed, focus and dedicated to the service of the company and will continually be recognize by the Organization.

Hefer thanked the recipient of the long service award and charged them to remain focus and dedicated to contribute effectively to the growth of the organization. “I thank you for your commitment, courage and dedication to the company for all these years; you are the foundation of the company. I encourage you to stay more and urge others to stay long as well, when this happens, the company

becomes stable, this equally lead to growth of both human and material resources of the company” he concluded.

The Human Resource Manager Fedelis Olise who delivered an award speech titled “discipline” called on all staff of the organization who wants to benefit from the organization to embrace discipline. He said discipline entails self control and resisting temptation when it comes ones way.

“Discipline is what is needed in life to make success. This act by members of staff has moved the company forward to greater height. If we must leave a mark on the sand of time, we must be discipline in all we do” he concluded.

Responding to the gesture of the company, an awardee who has severed the organization for 20 years Uche Kika said over the years there have been great transformation in terms of human and material resources and the working environment has been made conducive for all staff to give its best for effective service delivery. “We have come a long way, comparing the past and present, you will agree with me that there has been a great transformation”.

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N ws Cleric Charges Youth On Purpose Of Their Lives

By RICHARD EWEKA THE National Youth Minister of Christ’s Chosen Church of God International Apostle Dr. John Okike has called on youth to find the purpose of God for their life if they want to enjoy his great blessings and favour.

He made the call while speaking with youth at the 2013 National Annual Youth Convention with the theme: “His purpose may Gain,” holding at the Church International Headquarter in Benin City, Edo State.

Apostle Okike said God’s purpose for creating man is for his pleasure. “It is clearly stated here in the Holy Scriptures that God created man and all other things for His pleasure” Rev. 4:11 Speaking further he said there are three major ways through which we please God, these include true worship; service to God and reflection of kingdom life. Do you know that fulfilling God’s purpose most of the time demands that we forsake or part with certain things we feel are too dear or precious to us.”

VC Explains Why Nigerian Graduates Are Unemployed THE Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Prof. Biyi Daramola, says Nigerian graduates are unemployable due to the lack of self discipline and commitment to vigorous academic pursuit.

Daramola said this in a lecture entitled; ‘’The Role of Science and Technology in Human Resource Management’’, he presented at the Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, on Thursday.

He spoke at a forum organised by the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria.

The Professor of Agricultural Economics said it was regrettable that many Nigerian graduates could not secure jobs after years of applications.

He said that the lack of exposure to science and Technology was also a major factor responsible for their plight.

The vice chancellor said it was high time the country’s education curricula be fashioned in a manner to make mathematics compulsory for all courses at all levels.

This, he said, would boost students’ interests in science and technology from their tender ages.

Daramola urged governments to ensure proper funding of science and technology at all levels of the academic cadre, adding that “they should also help in the

establishment of monotechnics and polytechnics or universities of technology that would expose students to skills acquisition.

“Over the years, Nigerian education policies have recognised the importance of science-based courses in the nation’s education curricular and thus pursued the policy of giving more attention to science-oriented courses during admissions into the nation’s tertiary institutions.”

He said that the empahasis on science and technology would facilitate the actualisation of the country’s desire to join the comity of developed economies by the year 2020.

In her remarks, the Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Prof Modupe Adelabu, who was represented by the Commissioner for Education, Mr. Kehinde Ojo, said the distributions of 48,000 laptops to students and teachers, as well as renovation of all schools by Governor Kayode Fayemi-led administration underscored the importance placed on education.

The President/Chairman of Council, Mr. Victor Famuyibo, who was represented by the Registrar/Chief Executive Officer of the Institution, Mr. Sunday Adeyemi, pledged that the council would continue to live up to expectations in its commitment to the management of human capital for maximum productivity.

Deputy Gov Advises Council

By CLIFFORD AGBAJOR Vice Chairman EDO State Deputy Governor Rt. Hon. Pius Egberanmwen Odubu has advised council Vic-chairmen in the state to complement the efforts of their chairmen.

He gave the advice when he received the forum of VicChairmen of Local Government Areas, Edo State, in Benin City, yesterday.

The deputy governor urged the Vice-chairmen to be loyal, and support their chairmen in order to have a good working relationship for the overall interest of the people of their respective council areas.

Dr. Odubu who enjoined the Vice-chairmen to be creative and responsive to the yearnings of the people urged them to emulate the developmental initiative of the Oshiomhole-led government to

enable them to live-up to the people’s expectations.

On the just concluded local government election in Esan North-East, Rt. Hon. Odubu commended the doggedness and commitment demonstrated by the council chairman and the people during the build-up to the election which culminated in victory for All Progressive Congress (APC).

The forum Secretary and Vice-Chairman, Egor Local Government Area, Hon. Desmond Ugbo in an address read on behalf of the chairman of the body, Chief Benson Osifo said they will continue to see the deputy governor as a role model as he occupies a similar position at the state level.

The forum later appointed Dr. Pius Odubu as its Grand patron.

Apostle (Dr.) John Okike, National Youth Minister, giving lecture during the Day 2 of Youth Convention of Christ Chosen Church of God International at the Central Cathedral Church, Benin City. Photo: MOSES OBOH.

Oshiomhole Commissions 100 Taxis For Ex-Okada Riders

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and to invest my political capital in order to enhance the security of the state, I had to take the painful but inevitable decision to ban the use of motorbike for commercial purposes in the three core local government’s that constitute the heart of Benin City.

“I did promise that we would try to provide palliative jobs for okada riders as well as take long term decision to increase the fleet of the Comrade bus and provide cars for the original okada riders.

We are still working on that, so for me it was a brilliant surprise when the Chairman of the local government invited me to

come and commission these taxis. I am not ashamed to say that you have worked faster than me” he said.

He said “let me use this opportunity to remind those who have bought private cars for commercial purpose to ensure that such cars wear taxi colour approved by the State Government.

“From now on, the task force and the police are advised that any vehicle that is not registered for commercial purpose or painted with commercial taxi colour will not be allowed to ply the roads of the state. If they do, they will be arrested and prosecuted according to

the law and the vehicle impounded”, he added.

The Governor congratulated the Chairman and leadership of the party in the local government for putting the resources of the local government to judicious use.

Earlier in her address, the Chairman of the local government, Hon Itohan Osahon-Ogbeide said the presentation of the cars to the displaced Okada riders would be in two phases, adding the first phase is the flag off of the 100 Suzuki taxis sponsored by the Ikpoba Okha Local Government in collaboration with the

Convention for the Suppression of Financing of Terrorism.

He said the world would become a better place if countries that flout the convention by organising, instigating, abetting or partaking in terrorist acts, money laundering and other such crimes were punished.

“The burden of terrorism, militancy, violent crimes and insurgency are direct consequences of the indiscriminate and illegal inflow of small arms and dangerous weapons to Africa.

“International law has always been a subject of debate, especially in view of the occasional flagrant disregard for rules of international law by the big powers while they are forcing same down the throats of lesser powers.

“There is need for a paradigm shift in the thrust of international law if we must face the realities on ground to enhance greater global peace,’’ he said.

Ekweremadu, who is also Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, called for strengthening of regional and continental communities as well as organisations for international law to be efficient globally.

He said the future and efficacy of international law would depend on the growth of regions and sub-regions.

According to him, the cooperation among African States will serve as a means of achieving what they could not achieve over the years due to embedded interests at the global level.

“We should take every necessary step to encourage the growth of regional and sub-regional cooperation as a means of achieving what we could not achieve at a global stage owing to multifarious constraints,’’ he said.

The Attorney-General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke, called for the reexamination of the concept of universal law of all nations and designed strategic values and goals for Africa.

Ekweremadu Blames Terrorism, Other Crimes On Illegal Inflow Of Arms THE increase in terrorism, militancy and other forms of violent crimes is the direct consequences of the indiscriminate and illegal inflow of small arms and dangerous weapons to Africa.

The Deputy Senate President, Sen. Ike Ekweremadu, made the observation on Thursday at the Dr Felix Okoye Memorial Lecture in Abuja.

He stressed that illegal inflow of arms to Nigeria and other African countries was in disregard of international laws, treaties and conventions guiding the sale of arms.

The theme of the lecture, which was organised by the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS), was “Contemporary International Law as the Universal Law of all Nations: An African Perspective’’.

Ekweremadu called for the sanctioning of states that flout the International

Road Transport Employees Association of Nigeria.

She said the local administration has built primary schools, provided seats and tables to pupils and teachers, transformers to boost electricity in the various wards in the council area.

Mrs. Itohan-Ogbeide said the choice of the Suzuki taxis was based on the cost effectiveness, ruggedness and the three years warranty by the The company she added, was to operate the park for five years in the first instance after which the terms of agreement would be reviewed “after satisfactory performance.”

In the documents, the company was to ensure that 90 per cent of the park is made up of temporary structures with a good amount of visible green area.

The company agreed to comply with the instructions and even wrote that it would remove all structures on the land at its own costs without recourse to the FCTA. In May 2010, however, the Transport Secretariat on inspection at the site observed that the structures were not in tandem with the earlier agreement but A-Class, again, gave an undertaking that it stood by the earlier promise to remove structures on the said property “until such a time that actual physical development of the Maitama Transit Way commences. A-Class reiterated that it would remove the structures at its own cost without any form of compensation.”

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“The PDPs administration has lacked the human face and the milk of humane kindness flowing in its veins. So what does President Jonathan want to celebrate but the incarceration of the souls of hundreds of millions of Nigerians who are in the dungeon of pain and suffering.”

National Confab: Pass The Acid Test THE recent pronouncement by president Goodluck Jonathan to provide a befitting platform for all Nigerians including the various ethnic nationalities and other stakeholders to discuss and jaw jaw on various issues that has been plaguing the very existence of the Nigerian nation is a very welcomed development.

The age-long agitation for a sovereign. In National Conference in particular as different from a national conference or w h a t e v e r nomenclature is a very earnest development that should be given a d e q u a t e consideration.

For once, it is my hope and belief that the nation should get it right this time around, as the proposed conference would provide the much needed opportunity for Nigerians to assuage the raging and burning fire beneath the belly of the Nigerian nation.

Though many patriots have reasoned in recent times that anything short of a sovereign national

conference would not hold water however the proper and wise thing to do as I confirmed in this column many months ago is that only a true national conference would create but a true level playing ground for all the various ethnic nationalities on how to voice their opinions on how to move the nation forward and if we are to remain as one nation one people.

Conversely many other patriots claims that anything other than a sovereign national conference would be a ruse, another jamboree leading to further waste of time, resources and more palaver.

Ironically, Nigeria as a nation today is a mixture of the absurd, and the bizarre. The nations sunk in the phantasmagoria world of darkness and illusion.

Today, Nigeria is a nation that is wrapped up in the ridiculous, were all things evil and satanic is wide spread with disdain and impunity over all that is good and normal.

Today, Nigeria as a nation exists under a

very abnormal and subnormal conditions which is generally repulsive and not acceptable in civilized and developed climes.

Thus, it remains to be seen if the national confab and its resultant fallout would vigorously

approval. Arguably for me, this idea would amount to a sell out, as the exercise would be an exercise in futility, null and void.

If anything, if the conference is to translate and transform the aberration that is

If the proposed national confab is to pass the acid test as being the basis on which to fashion out a new constitution based on the proclamation of “we the people” and if the new constitution drafted would be

Nigeria, then the report must be backed by the power of sovereignty of the people.

Thus if indeed the national conference is to have any legitimacy, and legality, then it must be subjected to a REFERENDUM – only then would the document confirm the sovereignty of the people.

subjected to a REFERENDUM by all Nigerians then the sovereignty of the people shall prevail.

For long, we have continued to relie on a constitution that is not based on the sovereignty of the people, and this is truly abnormal and deceptive to say the least. So if President

Jonathan

and dynamically have any impact or any significant influence on the way and manner in which Nigeria is governed.

As a matter of fact the crux of this piece is related to president Jonathan’s decision that the national confab’s report would be brought before the National Assembly for

Jonathan goes ahead to present the report of the confab to the National Assembly for approval so be it.

But it is known generally, that the National Assembly have never been in favour of any sovereign national conference on the basis that their cannot be two sovereignty.

Conclusively, if the outcome of the proposed conference is not subjected to a referendum for representative of Nigeria nationalities and interest group to discuss the fundamental issues of their national existence and experience and come up with a new constitutional frame work that is subject a referendum by the people” then the whole issue of the national conference would have been nothing but another Jamboree, another failure, that may ultimately lead to the disintegration and conflagration of the Nigerian nation. But God forbid. Thus subjecting the report of the confab to a REFERENDUM, means passing the acid test.

“If the proposed national confab is to pass the acid test as being the basis on which to fashion out a new constitution based on the proclamation of “we the people” and if the new constitution drafted would be subjected to a REFERENDUM by all Nigerians then the sovereignty of the people shall prevail.”

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V ewPoint 1993: When Nigeria Revolted And The WILL you leave your pearls with a thief believing he has changed? Will you wait and hope that a thief you leave your pearls with will change? Will you

entrusting it in the hands of a real transformation committee?

Some faithless say we do not have it in us to move this change.

Others say we are too

By DR PEREGRINO BRAIMOH the Cabal. Our victory was short-lived, partly because we—as is with many other revolutions—did not

Late Abacha

write and protest that a thief you leave your pearls with changes?

How about leaving your pearls with a thief who does not even understand what stealing is, or what it is to change? Or will you remove your pearls and find an honest and competent man to put them in care of?

I ask these questions in review of the pressing and dragging situation in Nigeria, Africa’s largest and one of the continents wealthiest nations. Is there any sense in all we say and write, drumming for a change in attitude and an eruption of efficiency, decency and honesty from the proven inept in power? Or is it time the 159,995,000 Nigerians commence on the serious journey of taking their nation and revolution back from the corrupt Cabal that hijacked it and

referred to a “private citizen,” someone who does not actively take part in government and issues that govern him.

thing, as I and others have previously presented, the Presidential system is too divisive and holds less promise as compared to the

don’t have ropes on their necks?”

Where did all these Cabal come from? Out of which corner did Army General Obasanjo (rtd) re-emerge?

Parliamentary system.

For another, we all sat back and let those who did not join us in the fight against the Babangida administration, come out of the shadows and seize our victory. Fela sings, “where did these emerge from that they

How did we let Lieutenant General Aliyu Gusau (rtd) bring him back? How did we let the same General Gusau from the B a b a n g i d a administration we had just ejected, douse an Agbada and become the head of our National security? Is this not why we were “blessed” with MEND, Boko Haram, Ombatse and the like?

How did we let Major General David Mark (rtd), aka, ‘telephones are not for poor people,’ from the Babangida administration, remove his military fatigues and become our Senate president? How again did we let Colonel Sambo Dasuki (rtd), another Babangida henchman replace Gen. Gusau also as our head of Security?

Tukur, Yar’Adua, jang, Elechi, Nyako… The list of the retired military and political recycles is

Late MKO Abiola

diversified and at war with each other, thanks to the mischief of the Cabal, to work together to take back our country.

They say we are not like the Arabs. May I remind us that before the Arab Spring, Nigeria first sprung.

Nigerians marched together, civilians and the army, who showed us their support as we protested; and on August 26th, 1993, one of the harshest dictatorial regimes in recent global history, the Babangida Military government “stepped aside.”

We did it. We were committed. We were united.

We were determined and with God on our side, we the multitude were successful.

Unfortunately, what we fought, bled and died for in 1993 was quickly hijacked from us. First

by Abacha and later by

realize that ousting one bad government was not the end of our campaign, but the beginning of our responsibility to actively be a part of carefully securing our future. The Greeks coined the word, “Idiot,” for this, An Idiot

Obj

We sat back believing simply that “democracy” was the answer. An ordinary vocabulary with no head or brain. We did not realize that democracy is only as useful as the people we put at the helm and the system we apply for one

THE WEEKEND

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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2013

i

V ewPoint

Recovering Of A Hijacked Revolution ridiculous. A strong piece, someone wrote in which he called Nigeria the world recycle capital, presents numerous unbelievable cases. And

possibility to shine, bring us value and be recognized in the global scene.

I do not have all the answers to the way we

record of competence, efficiency and decency.

Unlike our past experience where we brought the worst of us, this time, we will bring

Vice President Sambo

beside those in power stand their Camarilla of thieving Cabal. Our president has conceded that he is obliged and subservient to the goons. Good luck helped us get rid of Abacha, but as Good luck cannot solve this, shall we not once again step-up to recover 1993? Can we the people do better if we decide to take back our nation? Will we again fall into the hands of these same vultures who have widened the gap between the rich and poor and make life so unbearable for the masses? Will we do better with privatization, and with education?

I say we can. It will not be easy, it will not be immediate, but rather than leaving our pearls with those who we hope but lack the ability to ever change, we the people will give what is left of our pearls the

be allowed to invest a maximum of N10,000, all as equal shareholders, and in an open management, thanks to the tools of internet

needs right now and needs urgently is JUSTICE. This transformational council of our top representatives can

question is, we will do 1993 again? Or will we continue to die, while the Cabal rob our nation dry, transfer all our assets to themselves, steal our

ensure that a system of top to bottom justice can be implemented to curb impunity at the top and bring an end to the impetus for all forms of criminality, terrorism, kidnapping at the bottom.

This “Electoral college,” “Supreme Council,” “Vizier” team, or “Council of Elders” like we had in Africa of yore, can support and establish a permanent system of governance that will transform our nation into the Nigeria of our dreams.

So knowing that we have done it before; in our chronic state of critical crises the

hopes and future and force us into slave labor and death in painful, agonizing humiliation?

Shall we the masses who hold all the power, continue to be threatened by these wicked and insensitive, gluttonous people and do nothing? Must we not have and be able to use some leverage?

Let’s talk to each other about taking back Nigeria. Tell people the dream and the will of 1993, to take back 1993.

A hashtag? A gathering?

Will those who know how to lead the way, or na to dey whine dey go?

Take Back 1993!

David Mark

shall restructure our government and nation.

Thank God, there are so many brilliant Nigerians locked out of the current runnings of things who will all come forward and structure a new plan for our nation. A head to the new “democracy.”

Together we will decide for instance on returning to a more reliable and less divisive parliamentary system.

We will decide if and how to reconstitute the entity called Nigeria with the protection of life and the paving of a path for progress at the top of our concern.

We can select a group, a transformational committee from respected Nigerians.

Those who led the past revolution and this one, the fore speakers, the professors, the preachers, the media activists, those we know in our communities who have a proven track

the best of us together to make a transforming committee of say, 500 or 1000 Nigerians. A thinktank, who will immediately confer and determine what our new government will look like. Who will decide how to strengthen our judiciary.

Who will I believe and hope, decide to ban private money in politics, so the Cabal can NEVER again buy victories for their cronies.

On privatization, if this group deems it necessary, perhaps we can have a public conglomeration in which millions of Nigerians will

communication, all will be a part of running this conglomeration that will be rich enough to buy our public assets. Such a system will also facilitate for instance, our collective protection of PHCN infrastructure in our communities, being shareholders.

These are all ideas our council will consider and configure.

Reading a piece written by Sonala Olumhense, he buttressed a belief we have all held—that at this point in time, Nigeria does not need money, machines, car industries, satellites in space. What Nigeria

“I say we can. It will not be easy, it will not be immediate, but rather than leaving our pearls with those who we hope but lack the ability to ever change, we the people will give what is left of our pearls the possibility to shine, bring us value and be recognized in the global scene.”

THE WEEKEND

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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2013

n Gov Oshiomhole Has Etched His Name E counter

HE is a lawyer by profession, thinker and conceptualist. Highly dynamic and endowed with the rare gift of making good thing to happen, even under pressure, Barrister Macdonald Obasuke, the Honourable Commissioner for Commerce and Industry has long been identified as a young man gifted with sterling leadership qualities. Humble, amiable and proactive, Hon. Obasuke who spoke to our reporter on important issues such as the proposal by Edo State Government to sell Edo House in Lagos describes Governor Adams Oshiomhole as a pillar of democracy and good governance. Hon, (Barr) Macdonald Obasuke who answered our questions in Queen’s English is indeed an interviewer’s delight any day. Enjoy his views.

Excerpt Since you became the Hon. Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, how would you describe your e x p e r i e n c e ?

I am a man of experience in governance. I have served meritoriously at the local government level before our dynamic and people-oriented governor, Governor Adams Oshiomhole found me worthy to serve in his administration. I must say that I am very grateful to him and our party leaders for this great opportunity. On my experience so far in government, I will say that it has been interesting and challenging, especially when you are opportuned to serve under a man like Governor Oshiomhole who is a workaholic and knows how to inspire those working with him.

In this administration, you must be on your toes if you are a member of the executive council because the governor is in a hurry to develop and transform Edo State. I am happy that I am part of this administration because I have learnt a l o t .

What are your views on the proposed sale of Edo House in Lagos given the reasons for which government has decided to sell it?

Let me start by saying that people are very much likely to appreciate and make informed opinions about issues if they settle down to study before making comments. The Edo House in Lagos has been dilapidating all this while and it has not been yielding anything tangible in terms of profit to Edo State, yet Edo State is paying a lot on that building on tax to the Lagos State Government. In the past, some government sold government properties at grossly undervalued rate without recourse to the people, They did it secretly without public knowledge.

The administration of Governor Adams Oshiomhole believes in transparency, accountability and prudent management of resources. As a result of this, it advertised the proposed sale in the newspapers because the governor believes that the people should know what is happening in the state. I think that our

governor deserves commendation for its openness and transparent disposition.

Let me add that government intends to erect a five-star hotel in Benin City with the proceeds from the sale.

This five-star hotel will provide revenue for Edo

In Gold -Hon. Obasuke scale enterprises. He is a perfect gentleman, hardworking, result oriented and a team player. Let me also say that he is a man with a great vision. He is

Hon Barr Macdonald Obasuke

State and will also provide employment opportunities for people.

In this way, Edo people will benefit from the house if sold than a situation where we will be having a property in Lagos that has become a liability to Edo State instead of an asset.

What is your relationship with Hon. Akhilele, the Special Adviser to the governor on small and medium scale e n t e r p r i s e s ?

I have a cordial working relationship with Hon. Akhilele, the Special Adviser to the Governor on small and medium

working beyond his scope by way of contributing his quota towards ensuring that the state becomes industrialized. I enjoy working with him.

Together we are working assiduously towards achieving Governor Oshiomhole’s vision of development and transformation of Edo S t a t e .

Sobe town just marked another anniversary, what is the significance of the celebration?

We always celebrate the anniversary of Sobe and this is usually done every year. After the boundary adjustment exercise, we

became part of Edo State and since then, we have been celebrating this great event colourfully. Recently, we did double celebration.

Since Sobe became part of Owan West Local Government Area, we have been elevated.

Governor Oshiomhole, a detribalized Nigerian has wiped away tears from our faces. He has empowered Sobe and through his broad vision, he has made a Sobe man part of the Edo State Executive Council.

So the jinx has been broken, thanks to our broadminded governor, Governor Adams O s h i o m h o l e .

What is your opinion on Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s Administration?

Governor Adams Oshiomhole has etched his name in gold as leader of the finest quality. He came into government with a great vision to develop and transform Edo State. In the Educational Sector, he has done wonders.

Our primary and secondary schools have been rebuilt to world class standard. Many roads have been reconstructed and rehabilitated, Benin City has been beautified and e m p l o y m e n t opportunities have been provided for our youths.

What is more, the governor has launched Edo State into global l i m e l i g h t .

What is your advise for our youths?

The youths are the strength of a nation. My advise to our youths is that they should be law abiding and seek for good ways of bettering their lives. Crime does not pay. Our governor is a lover of youths and has created employment opportunities through which several youths have secured employment.

They should continue to keep faith with the peopleoriented administration of Governor Oshiomhole. Even the blind can see and the deaf can hear of the people-oriented projects that Governor Adams Oshiomhole has executed across the state. What we all owe the Comrade Governor is loyalty and prayers to enable him continue the good works.

What is your message for Edo people?

My message to Edo people is simple. They should continue to support Governor O s h i o m h o l e ’ s administration. They should not relent in their prayers for him and for us, the members of his cabinet to enable us continue to support his vision for development and transformation.

How do you relax?

I hardly have time to relax because I don’t play with my job. I like to work always and think of better ways of achieving results.

However, whenever I have time to relax, I relax by reading and by playing with my family. I am a real family man.

“Many roads have been reconstructed and rehabilitated, Benin City has been beautified and employment opportunities have been provided for our youths. What is more, the governor has launched Edo State into global limelight.”

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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2013

n

E counter Tourism Is The Beauty Of Life -Hon Jemitola ARTS, Culture and Tourism run in her blood. Today, we present to you, Hon. Aanena Elizabeth Jemitola, the Hon. Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Tourism. Highly intelligent and gifted with the power of oratory, Hon. Aanena Elizabeth Jemitola is a woman of excellent public relations as she makes out time to receive visitors especially to press with a great measure of courtesy, irrespective of her tight schedule. our reporter interacted with her recently on the issue of a meeting of Stakeholders in the Tourism sector held in Benin City some weeks ago as well as on several issues of interest. She proved clearly while answering our questions that she is a woman that has a way with words.

Hon. Aanena Elizabeth Jemitola

What is the essence of the meeting of Stakeholders in the Tourism sector held in Benin City some weeks a g o ?

The meeting of Stakeholders in the Tourism sector held in Benin City some weeks ago was organized to raise awareness about the great investment potentials inherent in the Tourism sector in Edo State and to reflect on this sphere of life that could be said to be the beauty of life. During the meeting, officials of this Ministry and the stakeholders in the Tourism Industry came together to reflect on the Tourism potentials of Edo State. Edo State as you are aware, is the

home of culture, Arts and Tourism and it is interesting to note that the present administration ably led by Governor Adams Oshiomhole is highly interested in Tourism and has done much to boost Tourism and in Edo State. Our able and dynamic Governor, Governor Adams Oshiomhole is a man in love with Arts Culture and Tourism and we are very happy about this. The beauty of Tourism in Edo State lies in the fact that the three senatorial districts in Edo State have great tourism sites and our tourism potentials have long been acknowledged by the international community. I am proud to be an Edo

woman, and every Edo person should be proud to have come from Edo State.

Could you please discuss some of the tourism potentials in Edo State?

The list is endless. We have the Oba’s palace.

The royal palace in the heart of the city is a repository of Benin history, arts, crafts culture, sculptures, brass relics, plaques and other art works depicting historical events are richly displayed on the wall and paneled doors. We have the National Museun which is located in a beautiful garden within the king’s square, Benin City.

The oval shaped Museum has on display, artifacts of the Benin and other courts laid out in a narrative form.

We also have the Emotan statute which is located in Oba market road, opposite the Oba market.

Emotari was a market woman who traded in petty food stuff at Oba market. The Asoro statute is a statute of Chief Asoro, the Benin Hero who died while bravely resisting the advance of British invading force during the 1897 British Expedition.

The statute was erected at the King’s Square, just by the beginning of Sokponba Road. The name Sokponba” is traced to Asoro, meaning “No other person dares to pass this road except the Oba”. He died on the road in a defiant stance against the British Invaders.

Sokponba road and Sokponba village derived their names after his brave resistance. The Igun bronze casters can be found in Igun Street, Benin City. In the past, these works of art were

made exclusively for the King. The Igun street is the traditional home of Benin bronze casters whose famous works are in Emuseun in Europe and among private collections. There are also many cavers in ebony wood and terracottas. It is from among these set of carvings that the famous mask of “Festac 1977” was produced, We have Chief Ogiamen’s residence along Sokponba Road which displays a high mark of traditional architecture. It was declared a monument by the National Antiquities Commission. Rarnat Park and its monument were erected in memory of late General Ramat Mohammed because of his role in the liberation of the Mid-west religion from the Biafran forces during the civil war and his exemplary leadership as Head of State. We also have the Benin Moat which is the world’s largest man made earthwork before the advent of technology and it is the most readily noticeable landmark encircling the city. The Ogba zoological Garden was established in 1 inside a forest reserve in Ogba village which is four kilometers from the city centre. The zoo covers an areas of about 11 hectare and houses monkeys, lions, antelopes, which are presently no. available. Ughoton is another tourist attraction.

Ughoton village which is about 42 kilometers from Benin City is closely interwoven with Benin myths and history. it is lately significant for its connection with captain Philip’s expedition. We

also have the Okonju Wild life sanctuary which contains rare species like the white-throated monkey and several other animals. The Sokponba Holiday Resort lies about 45 kilometres from Benin City. Furthermore, we have the Udo Tourist Centre, Ososo Tourist Centre, Somorilca Hills, Edegbake and Oghodoghodo caves, sand beaches of Agenebode, Gelegele fountain, statue of “Giant Aruaran” at Udo, the palm trees and lawns of the Nigerian Institute of Oil Palm Research (NIFOR) about 32 kilometres from Benin City, Amahor waterside on the confluence of two rivers in Esan West, Idoa Hill near Ewu, etc. our festivals are usually very colourful namely Igue festival, Age grade festival, manhood festival and masquerade f e s t i v a l .

What are your comments on the administration of Governor Adams O s h i o m h o l e ?

Our amiable and dynamic governor, Governor Adams Oshiomhole has done much for this state in terms of development and transformation. It is important to mention that his impact cuts across all the facets of our society.

He is a blessing to us as Edo people. In the educational sector, his impact has been overwhelming. Many roads have been reconstructed and others rehabilitated. Benin City has been beautified.

Many of our youths have been employed and are now living meaningful lives. Today, our story has changed as Edo people

because of the giant developmental and transformation strides of our Governor.

You stated earlier in this interview that Tourism has vast economic potentials.

Can you please throw more light on this?

There are countries in the world whose economy are thriving as a result of tourism. For instance, thousands of people visit Israel every year.

Consequently Israel makes a lot of money from Tourism. The point that I am trying to make is that Tourism is a goldmine.

God in His infinite mercy has blessed nations with several economic resources and Tourism is one of them. In Edo State, we are richly blessed with great Tourism potentials and we have long discovered this. This explains why our Governor is showing interest in this sector and doing much in this regard.

What is your advise to our youth?

I am happy to remind our youth that we have a Governor who is interested in the youth and this explains why he has done much to engage them in different capacities. My advise to them is that they should keep faith alive with this administration. They should stay away from crime and be law abiding.

What is your message to Edo people?

My message to Edo people is that they should keep praying for Governor Adams Oshiomhole. They should continue to support his administration by doing their best to preserve the projects that have been executed and the ones that are being executed.

“The beauty of Tourism in Edo State lies in the fact that the three senatorial districts in Edo State have great tourism sites and our tourism potentials have long been acknowledged by the international community.”

THE WEEKEND

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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2013

v

A iation

Nigerian Aviation: A Tale Of Woes WHEN the soap is dirty, what shall be used in washing it? Nigeria is a beautiful land; that’s a statement of fact. We take everything and anything, in fact sarcastically we take nothing. We go to bed and wake, what we see, we take, questions are not asked and when asked, very little comes by way of answers.

I get honestly amused at our attitude to life and the very essence of what makes us what we are.

My admonition this week is on a rather strange phenomenon of ghost tales and how we just talk, complain, display temporary grief and move on.

The aircraft was not hired by the family, it was not hired by the Ondo state government, it was not hired by me and certainly not you, maybe Associated Airlines hired the aircraft from themselves. The ‘craft was carrying Agagu’s corpse, his son, a state commissioner, boss of the undertaking company yet it was not hired by anyone. Ghost tales!

How many of us recall the Bellview crash in Lisa Village, only few years after, remember the tales of the Lisa Village project that began, today it is in a state of nowhere.

How about that Dike led investigation panel that went to all the airports, made recommendations, billions were spent, billions still being spent, and more air disasters.

This is a nation I have come to appreciate because of its peculiarities, while we are yet to understand a phenomenon, another sets in.

Did we really forget that Sosoliso crash and those kids, for several hours, infact a day after the crash, the manifest of the aircraft was yet to be released, then the manifest was being vetted by the State

Security Service (very awkward) as I ask what has the SSS got to do with the “vetting” of manifest of a plane that virtually had only school children going on Xmas vacation.

The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) even said the then Minister, Aborishade would release the manifest. When the Airport fire fighting vehicle (only one) came, it barely had water, though the authorities have come out to deny it, not that we expected otherwise, most of the dead were visibly badly burned.

Fast forward to Dana, and add Associated Airlines, same difference, except that the current Minister has allegedly added that these crashes are acts of ‘god’. Infact during Dana, while thugs stole and scavenged, others fought the fire with sachets of ‘pure’ water.

We have an Aviation Ministry that has watched at times as an aircraft ran into a herd of cows.

Plane manifests treated like WAEC expo questions.

Does it ever strike one, that as usual again those who had earlier boarded the same crashed aircraft had complained that the aircraft was not in good shape, just like the Bellview Aircraft, just like Sosoliso, just like Dana…Truth is a hard commodity in not only the airline business, but most things in Nigeria.

In times like these, every Nigerian both those that fly frequently and those who flew last in 1976 become air and craft experts and then as is always the case it would be accusations and counter accusations…lies, and ghost tales.

In Nigeria we have a President, a Minister for Aviation, countless agencies, and experts and yet airlines do “crew exchange” borrow and

By PRINCE CHARLES DICKSON lend planes like it’s a TOD (temporary over draft) bank facility. Pilots fly for their airlines and are borrowed to other airlines. Aircraft due for major routine maintenance check are left to fly.

waters if they do not have potholes already, are the domain of pirates, then one decides to trek to his destination a government official with his convey of 20 cars at 200 kilometers per hour blasting sirens would hit the man.

our airspace to Oshodi motor park flying planes like Majekobaje (do not let it spoil) Lagos Kabukabu with planes quaking like some ‘e go reach’ ali chikwendu transport J5.

Ghost tales: Did you hear that ‘dead bodi get accident story’ or that

• Stella Oduah, Aviation Minister

Big men cannot fly our airspace again, poor men cannot travel our roads, travel forty minutes from Jos to Bauchi and be interrupted by bigger boys (armed robbers), that is after the big boys (policemen) have also robbed the driver. Our

If our leaders are not wicked why would an airline over-sell its tickets I remember the BAC I-II aircraft belonging to EAS that crashed in Kano on May 4, 2002 the plane was reportedly carrying over load. Virtually all the local airlines have turned

‘Agagu’s corpse dies in crash’ reported by a prominent media (not this one) or that gist about voodoo and metaphysical powers of the dead Agagu, how the coffin won’t open and wasn’t damaged…how about the wife died too,

“If our leaders are not wicked why would an airline over-sell its tickets I remember the BAC I-II aircraft belonging to EAS that crashed in Kano on May 4, 2002 the plane was reportedly carrying over load. Virtually all the local airlines have turned our airspace to Oshodi motor park flying planes like Majekobaje (do not let it spoil) Lagos Kabukabu with planes quaking like some ‘e go reach’ ali chikwendu transport J5.”

Obasanjo’s son and the first casualty figure of several hundreds.

I was an observer at the last Presidential Forum on Aviation some years back, I concluded then that Nigerian needs a coup de people, that is a people inspired uprising…I wept profusely for this nation…because I said more will die, and yes more have died, ask the families of the Dana debacle and more will die.

Soon someone, some government group or agency would organize the gathering of the “socalled experts” a bunch of the same people that killed the national carrier, and planning to float another, same people who supervised the buying of aircrafts that were older than our centenary. Simply put a gathering of the problem to solve the solve the problem with some ghost tales.

Who has forgotten that pilots take their simulator forms home and fill and they are re-licensed.

NCAA officials get first class tickets to the Bahamas with their wives, concubines, mistress and girlfriends to go have fun, and they in turn certify the planes without seeing them.

If a plane is so bad that passengers can notice through the sound and movement and then not even the pilot complains and even if he complains, still flies that plane because some oga@the top say so. We are in trouble that all the current ad hoc mend your trouser arrangement cannot solve.

I love the Bible story of Noah and the ark, very few people listened, but rained it did and it rained and rained and rained.

The ghost tales is going to continue, does anyone really think we are ready as a people to stop these tragedies–only time will tell.

THE WEEKEND

11

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2013

Ne ws Jonathan Incorporates Lagos In FG I wish to seek for your Borrowing Plan To NASS therefore, understanding and to request you to admit the Lagos State

By JOSES SEDE

ABUJA - President Goodluck Jonathan has included Lagos State Development Policy Operation 11(DPO) in the federal government 2012-2014 Medium Term Borrowing Plan for Senate approval.

In his letter to Senate President David Mark which was read on the floor of the red chamber yesterday, President Jonathan specifically wants the Senate to include and approve the sum of $200 million for Lagos State as part of the state’s ongoing DPO being funded by the World Bank.

It was entitled: “Request for inclusion of Lagos State Development Policy Operation11 (DPO) into the 2012-2014 Medium Term Borrowing Plan of the Federal Government.”

“I wish to refer to the above subject and to inform the Distinguished Senate President that the World Bank approved a Development Policy Operation (Budget Support) for a total credit amount of $600 million to the Lagos State Government in the 2010 to be implemented in three tranches of $200 million each.

The first tranche of $200 million was approved by the National Assembly in the 2010 Borrowing Plan. The DPO 1 was implemented in 2011.

Unfortunately, the second

tranche of the DPO 11 was not captured in the 2012-2014 Medium Term Borrowing Plan.

However, given the importance of the second tranche to the success and sustainability of the first tranche, I wish to submit it for your consideration for inclusion in the current borrowing plan but with no additional funding request.

The World Bank supported Public Private Partnership (PPP) Project which was approved by the National Assembly in the 2010 Borrowing Plan with a total credit amount of $315 million and disbursed $15 million to date, after about two years of project implementation.

The World Bank has therefore embarked on restructuring of the project in the face of current realities in a manner that would release $200 million for allocation to Lagos DPO 11.

This is an action that the World Bank with the support of its Board can undertake. They propose that the $200 million DPO would enable the state complete some critical infrastructure projects including: Ultra-Modern Burns Centre and Cardiac and Renal Centre at Gbagada General Hospital; 27km Light Rail along the Lagos Badagry Expressway Corridor to Marina; and completion of the 70 million gallon per day Adiyan Water facility among others.

In the light of the above

HAPPY BIRTHDAY OHONMS!

Development Policy Operation 11 (Budget Support) into the 2012-2014 Medium Term Borrowing Plan to enable the state consolidate the gains of the first tranche of the operation with no cost implication to the Borrowing Plan since the $200 million had earlier been approved in 2010", the letter read in part.

FG Commends Resident Doctors For Suspending Strike THE Federal Government has commended members of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) for suspending to their strike.

The commendation is contained in a statement issued in Abuja by the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu.

The statement said that the government commended the doctors for keeping to their promise to suspend the strike following the agreement reached with the government.

It said the decision to suspend the strike was reached at the two-day stakeholders’ meeting with the leadership of the association.

CHANGE OF NAME EDOROR – I formerly known and addressed as MRS. EDOROR JOY OSEAHUMEN IDIAKE. All former documents remain valid.

Concerned authorities and the general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME AILODION – I formerly Churchill Osamudiamen Ailodion, now wish to be known, called and addressed as OSAMUDIAMEN I S R A E L OSAMUDIAMEN. All former documents remain valid. University of Benin and the general public should please take note.

MISS OHONMI BELLO OSAKUE, daughter of Chief Bello Osakue (The Iyase-Okhuaihe of Ohovbe) in Benin Kingdom was three years old on Friday 18th October, 2013.

CONGRATULATIONS and many Happy Returns! From Mr. Last M. Osagiede & family

Members of the newly elected Executive of the Intellectual’s Club of Nigeria, Benin City, taking their Oath of office during the swearing-in ceremony/End of year party held recently in Benin City.

CHANGE OF NAME IZEVBOKUN – I formerly Miss Helen Izevbokun, now wish to be known, called and addressed as Mrs Helen Igunwe. All former documents remain valid. Edo State Universal Basic Education Board, Benin City and the general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME EDEGBE – I formerly Miss Gladys Osamede Edegbe, now wish to be known, called and addressed as MRS. GLADYS OSAMEDE AIGIOMWAN. All former documents remain valid. Edo State Universal Basic Education Board, Benin City and the general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME VANDI – I, formerly Miss Naomi Vandi, now wish to be known, called and addressed as MRS. NAOMI JOHN. All former documents remain valid. Nigeria Public Force (NPF) and the general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

BAKARE - I, formerly called Miss Rhoda Olufunmilayo Bakare is now known and called MRS. RHODA O L U F U N M I L AY O ADHEKE. All former documents remain valid.

Concerned authorities and the general public should please take note.

EKUNWE - I, formerly known and addressed as Mrs. Ekunwe Queen now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. QUEEN OGBEBOR. All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities and the general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME ODIA – I formerly known and addressed as Miss Odia Esosa Gift now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. ESOSA GIFT OMOGIADE. All former documents remain valid.

Concerned authorities and the general public should please take note.

CORRECTION/ CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, IYAMU OGHOGHO JULIET wish to bring to the information of the general public that I am the same person as IYAMU OSAYANGHION, IYAMU OSAYARION and IYAMY OSAYAMIEN as appeared in my Primary School Leaving Certificate.

Henceforth, I am now properly known and addressed as IYAMU OGHOGHO JULIET. All former documents remain valid.

Concerned authorities should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME AIYEWA – I formerly known and addressed as Miss Irete Victoria Aiyewa now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. IRETE VICTORIA AIYEWAYESUF. All former documents remain valid.

Concerned authorities, Edo State Civil Service Commission and the general public should please take note.

ADDITION OF NAME TIJANI I, OLUWASEUN AGBOOLA wish to be bring to the information of the general public that I am the same person as OLUWASEUN TIJANI as appeared in most of my documents. Henceforth, I am now properly known and address as OLUWASEUN TIJANI AGBOOLA. All former documents remain valid.

Concerned authorities and Diamond Bank Plc should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAMES We, formerly known and addressed as OHIOMU SYLVESTER, MRS. OHIOMU RITA IFEYINWA, OHIOMU FAITH FAVOUR CHIDINMA, OHIOMU DIVINE IKECHUKWU, OHIOMU PRECIOUS NKECHI, OHIOMU GIFT ESTHER and OHIOMU GLORY EBUBE now wish to be known and addressed as MR. ONYEOMA SYLVETER, ONYEOMA RITA IFEYINWA, ONYEOMA FAITH FAVOUR CHIDINMA, ONYEOMA DIVINE IKECHUKWU, ONYEOMA PRECIOUS NKECHI, ONYEOMA GIFT ESTHER and ONYEOMA GLORY EBUBE. All former documents remain valid. General public and concerned authorities should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME UHUNAMURE – I formerly called Miss U h u n a m u r e Osagioduwa now wish to be called MRS. E H A N I R E OSAGIODUWA. All former documents remain valid.

All concerned authorities and the general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME ILUEBBEY – I formerly called Miss Mary Emoshoriamen Ochuwa Iluebbey is now known and called MRS. M A R Y EMOSHORIAMEN OCHUWA SALAMI. All former documents remain valid. SUBEB, concerned authorities and the general public should please take note.

THE WEEKEND

12

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2013

Circumspect With VICTOR O. OKENNI I HAVE deliberately borrowed the phrase, “piercing the veil” from the Nigerian legal jurisprudence to enable me appropriately drive home an important and crucial point in this piece. “Piercing the veil means going beyond the veil.

No right thinking person will undermine the importance of a National Conference in the life of a nation for it affords the citizens a great and golden opportunity for them to address burning issues, during deliberations.

No doubt, the almighty God has been generous to Nigeria in terms of our abundant material and human resources. It is ironical that irrespective of these great blessings from God, majority of Nigerians live in penury and abject poverty in the midst of plenty.

Insecurity has been promoted across the country because there is little or nothing for the youths to do, as the jobs are grossly inadequate.

Government is not creating new jobs and most of the companies that were in Nigerian have relocated to other parts of the world.

At 53 years, the country is in a state of abysmal failure and shame.

Almost everything is in shambles especially now that the present leadership of the country lacks direction, vision and focus.

The level of stealing of crude oil by some persons is disturbing. This, in my opinion is one of the greatest crimes that anybody can commit against a country. Nigeria being a country that depends only on oil is being robbed of huge amount of money on a daily basis as a result of theft of crude oil.

This is great disservice to the nation.

It is even more disturbing that government is not doing something concrete to stop this illegal and criminal act.

Government at the federal state levels are complaining about economic crunch. But I believe that for now, the solution to this economic crisis lies within us. In other words, we need to look inwards in order to resolve this crisis. The federal government should hunt for the oil thieves and make them face the wrath of the

law.

Many great Nigerians, some are dead while others are still living, have been calling for a national conference that will afford Nigerians an opportunity for us to sit down together to discuss our problems and way forward for our nation.

Former President, Chief Obasanjo made an attempt at getting Nigerians to talk, but for selfish reasons and because the members were given a script to follow or not allowed to function independently, the conference to me was just a talk show and a ruse ended up without achieving anything. That conference ended up on a shameful note because there was no sincerity of purpose on the part of those who organized it.

I am surprised that President Goodluck Jonathan has just woken up to the reality of having a national conference at this time that members of his party, the Peoples Democratic Party P.D.P are divided among themselves.

This of course throws up an important question bothering on the issue of sincerity. One therefore wonders if this conference not designed to satisfy the yearnings of one person, the President.

It will be recalled that the issue of a third term for Chief Obasanjo featured prominently during the last National Political Reform Conference and it became clear that the conference was organized basically to enable Chief Obasanjo have a third term. That singular inordinate selfish ambition led to the demise and funeral of the conference.

This time again, president Jonathan has called for a conference because the ship – the P.D.P upon which he could sail to Aso Rock as President is about hitting a huge rock. I would not have been feeling this way if President Jonathan had indicated interest in getting Nigerians to talk before the collapse of P.D.P. From the way things presently stand, it will be correct to say that while the idea of having a conference is a good one in view of our present numerous problems and challenges, one is not sure

Piercing The Veil Of A National Conference

President Jonathan whether the call for the conference is genuine.

It appears from the look of things that the dangers ahead in terms of his bleak and uncertain political career is the main reason why the wisdom to have a conference now appeals to President Jonathan. In other words, what really matters to Jonathan is his ambition to rule Nigeria again, and not the welfare of Nigerians.

Nothing in life lasts forever or permanently.

With the disintegration of the Peoples Democratic Party, a party that its leaders and adherents in the past proudly described as the biggest in Africa, President Jonathan does not need a prophet to tell him that he may not make it to Aso Rock during the next Presidential election. With this feeling in his mind, he has become desperate in his ambition to become president again.

While there is nothing wrong with the desire to seek for power, I strongly believe that power should be in the hands of those who are better equipped for it and understand it’s dynamics power and not challatants.

Since President Jonathan became

the president of Nigeria, he has not demonstrated any remarkable skill at statesmanship and administration. The fortunes of the country have continued to dwindle under his leadership and the country has continued to witness tougher security challenges under his colourless and luckestre leadership. Ethnic rivalry and tribalism have been further deepened.

Like I earlier said, the idea of having a conference is necessary. However, this must be backed up with a good purpose. Thus if President Jonathan is not calling for a conference merely because he is seeking for legitimacy and support for his unpopular administration and to enable him have a smooth ride to Aso Rock for another term, then the purpose must be a good one. In that regard, it is important for members of the conference to engage in very serious discussions on certain issues. Firstly members must discuss the possibility of living together continuously or breaking the country into parts to enable the various groups go their separate ways. This issue

deserves serious and urgent attention in view of the facts ethnicity and tribal sentiments have dominated the political scene and our national life generally.

Secondly we must discuss the issue of security and this will only arise only if it is possible for us to continue to live together. Life in Nigeria has become worthless. The issue of insecurity in the country has done very serious irreparable damage to us as a nation in many ways.

Apart from the fact that properties wroth millions of naira have been lost to security challenges, many lives have been cut short.

Furthermore, members at the conference also have the responsibility of discussing our failure at conducting free and fair elections.

I have earlier said in one of my articles in the past that good governance commences from the ability conduct to good and credible elections because good elections usher in leaders who have been voted for by the masses.

Thus since they were voted for by the people these leaders believe that they

have the responsibility of doing well while in office.

The present structure of the country must also be deliberated on. It is necessary to examine this matter because during the period of regionalism, the country prospered because the country enjoyed the blessings of unity, oness and togetherness. With the creation of states, the seed of disunity was sown and today the country has been balkanized into several dragments. This has deepened on ethnic or tribal sentiments and created suspicions.

Members could also discuss the type of government that should be practiced. I think that the presidential system that we are practicing is too expensive because it is being abused in this country. We have practiced parliamentary system of government in the past and the country faired well at that time. I think that “we should try it again by practicing the British model of parliamentary system of government.

There is also need to discuss the possibility of practicing true federalism to enable the various states in the federation be in charge of their resources and pay tax to their federal government as done in other advanced and civilized parts of the world.

This country will do better under this federalism where the center is weak and the federating units – the states are strong, federalism will remove the issue of dependence on “allocation” from the federal government because it will transform the states masters of their destiny rather than being “beggars”.

The satanic “immunity clause” for governors and the president must also be discussed with a view of expunging it from any document that will arise from the conference.

Irrespective of how bad and sour our affairs as a nation may be, it is not beyond redemption. The country can still be salvaged from the present mess. We only need focused, dedicated and committed Nigerians to remove Nigeria from the woods or doldrums and not pretenders and charlatans.

THE WEEKEND

13

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2013

oChanging Notions Of Masculinity,

F reignXtra

Preventing Violence Against Women IN Bangladesh, a man forced into marriage vents his frustration by beating his wife when she disobeys him.

In Cambodia, a husband justifies slapping his wife on the grounds that she must have done something she shouldn’t.

In Indonesia, some men believe that if a wife doesn’t look after her husband’s needs, she deserves to be punished.

Violence against women is neither culture nor region specific. It cuts across community and class and makes no distinction. Findings of a recent UN study on men and violence in Asia and the Pacific underlined that while patterns of violence against women differed, it was pervasive in all the six countries studied.

The study entitled ‘Why Do Some Men Use Violence Against Women and How Can We Prevent It? Quantitative Findings from the UN Multi-country Study on Men and Violence in Asia and the Pacific’ was released in Bangkok on September 10, 2013. A collaborative effort involving academia, research institutes, civil society, UN agencies and governments, the study provides the largest multicountry data on men’s perpetration of violence against women.

So why do some men use violence against women?

“It is well documented that violence against women is a manifestation of unequal gender relations and masculinity governed by patriarchal beliefs and institutions.

But we wanted to understand from men why they abuse women.

This is why this study took us four years,” said Emma Fulu, one of the authors, in an interview with Citizen News Service (CNS) in Bangkok.

Fulu is a research specialist for Partners for Prevention, a regional joint programme of the UN Development

Programme, the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), UN Women and United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme in Asia and the Pacific that conducted the study from 2010 to 2013. Ten thousand men,

aged 18-49 years, living in rural and urban areas of six countries (Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Papua New Guinea,) were interviewed about their use and experiences of violence, gendered attitudes and practices, childhood, sexuality, family life and health.

Nearly 50% of them admitted to have resorted to physical and/or sexual violence against a female partner.

Three thousand women were also included in the study to better understand men’s use of different forms of violence against women (specifically, intimate partner violence and nonpartner rape); assess men’s own experience of violence as well as their perpetration of violence against other men and how it relates to the perpetration of violence

against women; identify factors associated with men’s perpetration of different forms of violence against women; and promote evidence-based policies and programmes

violence against intimate female partners out pervasive across the Asia–Pacific region, its prevalence varied from 30% to 57%. “We found that that controlling

violence, but in Cambodia and in Indonesia, sexual violence was more common than physical violence. Partner rape was also found to be more pervasive than rape of a non-partner in all sites studied except in Bougainville in Papua

to prevent violence against women.

The study, which did not explore all forms of violence against women but focused on intimate partner violence and nonpartner rape, compared men’s reports with women’s reports of their experiences of intimate partner violence as a form of validation.

One of the most important finding was that while men’s use of

behaviour, frequent quarrelling with partner and gender inequality were the underlying drivers of violence against women,” said Fulu.

However, patterns of intimate partner violence perpetration varied across sites, found the study. For example, in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, almost all the reported partner violence occurred within marriage, and physical violence was more common than sexual

New Guinea.

One of the reasons for this could be the difference in the experiences of abuse faced by men during their childhood. “Men’s use of violence is associated with complex interplay of factors. Childhood abuse was found to be linked to violence as well their notions of masculinity,” pointed out Fulu. In addition to physical violence, the study found

By SWAPNA MAJUMDARITY

out that men also resorted to economic and emotional abuse. This ranged between 16% in Bangladesh (urban) to 41% in Sri Lanka and 83% in Papua New Guinea (Bougainville).

But this violence can be prevented if men and women are equally valued recommends the study. It also suggests that governments should ensure violence against women (whatever its form) is never acceptable.

In 1994, the International Conference on Population and Development had outlined women’s central place within the development agenda which included reproductive and sexual health rights. But, even today, almost two decades later, gender equality still remains elusive in many countries in Asia and the Pacific.

In a country like India where violence begins even before a girl is born through sex-selective abortions, data emerging from the UN study could be useful to push for government policies and programmes that empower women by ending discrimination they face in all aspects of their lives. Lives of women can be saved when countries value men and women equally, address reproductive and sexual health needs and prevent violence against women.

“We found that that controlling behaviour, frequent quarrelling with partner and gender inequality were the underlying drivers of violence against women...”

THE WEEKEND

14

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2013

s

I sues

Nigerian Workers And Work Ethics A studied view of some Nigerian workers brings to the pellucid surface flotsam and jetsam of brazen and utter disregard for work ethics and professionalism.

Pragmatic and religious observance of even common nuances, forms

in cash.

At 8 a.m. you are already at the bank, but you cannot enter to do your niggling business.

You are ordered to stay within a certain perimeter on the premises of the bank by an eager-toplease security man. You

and rules of the work ethic vademecum seems to be a mountainous task for a motley depressing number of Nigerian workers. In fact, work ethics which are the pivots of workers’ behaviour or principles and rules which control and influence workers’ attitude are as Foreign to Nigerian workers as Martian Aliens are to earthlings.

You are confronted with the deficiency in the work ethics and professionalism domains of some Nigerian workers when you go to some Nigerian banks.

In this gamut, here is a c o m m o n p l a c e experiential rendition.

You have exhausted your cheque-book and you need a new one. It takes seven days or more to get a new cheque-book at your bank. You dash to your bank like a bat out of hell because you need to make a substantial payment for something next week. And with the cashless policy you cannot make the payment

ask him why you should he waiting since Nigerian banks open at 8 a.m. He tells you in person that there is an important meeting going on. A meeting at a time when customers should be at the banking hall doing different transactions?

You query inaudibly.

It is 8:30 a.m. now, you are still waiting, and the number of those waiting to get into the bank has increased. That means an unfanciful struggle as Nigerians always seem to be in a hurry to nowhere.

In all of that, the morning dew moistens you. You say thank God it is not afternoon when the sun is “angry”. You cannot stand waiting in the sweltering heat.

Finally, at 8 a. m. , you are let in. The security man thinks he has done you a favour, so you should reciprocate the “kind” gesture when you are on your way out. You make straight for the Customer Service Unit.

There you meet a young pretty lady at her desk

By FREDRICK NWABUFO

chewing gum at 9 a.m.

Her harum-scarum chewing makes an annoying “tau tau” sound.

You say, “Good morning ma”, although you are older than she is, “Please

the door opens. You take two steps out. The security man gives you a menacing after-all the favour look.

You remember, you have not given him “something” For

I need to make an application for a new cheque-book”. She looks at you and presses forward to stare at her computer and fiddle with its mouse. You say again, this in a more stupidly ingratiating way, “Please ma I need to make an applicantion. She cuts in before you finish the sentence, “I heard you, I am not deaf”. She Fumbles her hand into her drawer, brings out a form, that is after much drama, and haughtily hands it to you to fill out. She has done you a great favour.

You still say, “Thank you” after the humiliating service. And she leaves you with a sour reply, “Don’t mention it what for?

For the bad service? You question in your head. A memento it is, because it re-echoes in your ears.

After your business is done and the ego-bruising episode is gone, you want to leave the bank.

You are deflated. You approach the security door at the exit. You enter,

letting you in before a croud of people who are on pins and needles. You dig out a sum good enough for a security man. You do not want him to add other lashing to your already beaten spirit. He is happy. He patronises you, “Oga you too much jo!” And he leaves you with a parting expression, “Oga thank you - For calling!” it rings in your head long after you have left the bank.

You have just been extorted. You may change to another bank. But your - Friend Tayo tells you he gets worse treatment at

his own bank. He literally grovels to bank -officers to get a transaction done.

He also informs you, not surprising though, that it is a Nigerian problem.

Most Nigerian workers lack work ethics and professionalism. You agree it is true. You have taken enough poppy-cock to know it is true.

You go to a Nigerian federal ministry that has called -For an expression of interest in a given project, and needs a competent contractor to execute the project. You know you are qualified.

So you have prepared all the necessary documents to meet with the Director who has been assigned to handle matters concerning the project.

The Director’s Secretary tells you snobbishly that you cannot see her boss.

And that you have to hand in your documents to her without a tussle or a hassle, you give the documents photocopies of Course) to her in a file.

She instructs you imperiously to come back after a week to know the progress of your File. You are enthused with that.

You look beyond her repulsive attitude, You say, “Thank you”, fulsomely. Nigeria is changing, you think. You did not give her “something” as you are leaving.

A week passes you decide to go back to the Director’s office alter the passing of another work it is a Monday, and it has been two weeks since you tendered your documents for scrutiny and consideration. You are there now, confident and cheerful. You believe you will get the Contract. -

Alas! Without any show of penitence, the Secretary announces to you that your file cannot be found - She adds that the contract has been awarded to someone else already so you do not need to bring another set of documents You are ruffled. How can that happen in just two weeks?

You hide your anger. You do not want to look desperate You know because you did not give her “something”. You make a controlled gait to leave a last impression of pride and elegance. She mockingly leaves you with a menento, ‘Oga try next time”.

The reality of crass disregard for professionalism, courtesy and work ethics by some Nigerian workers hits you in the face again.

Defeated, you persist in eating –the dung of Nigerian workers.

The anecdotal analyses above are definitive picturesof the plummeting in professionalism and work ethics capital of some Nigerian workers. The individual cases are representative of many other related cases.

Again, it is clear that just as professionalism and work ethics are lacking in some Nigerian workers in the private sector, the same thing can be said of Some Nigerian workers in the public sector. Both sectors must as a matter of exigency train and retrain their staff in the imperatives of professionalism, work ethics and courtsey And there should be severe reprehension for flouting the canons of these essential elements of service.

Again, it is clear that just as professionalism and work ethics are lacking in some Nigerian workers in the private sector, the same thing can be said of Some Nigerian workers in the public sector. Both sectors must as a matter of exigency train and retrain their staff in the imperatives of professionalism, work ethics and courtsey’ And there should be severe reprehension for flouting the canons of these essential.

THE WEEKEND

15

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2013

s Curbing The Bane Called Corruption I sues

CORRUPTION has been with us for a very long time.

We were born in it, grew up in it, live with it, and will probably die in it, if appropriate measures are not taken. It is a disease that has consumed every facet of the Nigerian economy, reduced the citizens to poverty, and deprived the nation of meaningful and sustainable development.

The term corruption covers a broad range of wrongdoings or corrupt practices that are basically unethical and morally reprehensible. The World Bank defined “corruption as the abuse of public office for private gain.” Denis (2001) defined corruption as “giving something to someone with power to obtain a favour.”

Joseph Nye saw corruption as a “behaviour which deviates from the formal duties of a public role because of privateregarding pecuniary or status gains.” Other definitions of corruption like the “violation of established rules for personal gains”, “betrayal of public funds”, “misuse of public power”, and the “perversion of state of affairs through bribery” have also been used. In 1991, Ruzindana asserts that corruption in Africa is a problem of routine deviation from established norms by public officials and parties with whom they interact. He identified the types of corruption in Africa as bribery, private gains, and other benefits to nonexistent workers and pensioners (known as ghost workers).

In Nigeria, the giving and taking of bribe is the most widely known form of corruption, which his popularly known as egunje, cola, settlement among other names. But corruption manifests itself in various widespread practices such as election rigging, falsification of census figures, examination malpractice, extortion by public officials, Advance Fee Fraud (419), and many others. Chief Afe Babalola (SAN), stated that, “In the last 20 years, the pervasiveness of corruption in all its ramifications has assumed renewed dimensions of cancerous proportions in Nigeria, to the extent that the Germanybased Transparency International, a respected independent, universal, nongovernmental organization, ranked Nigeria in the unenviable position of being

the most corrupt nation in the world for a consecutive period of more than 7 years.”

What a ranking!

The growing corruption in Nigeria can be traced to the people holding power at the federal, state, and local government level. These government officials are notorious for mass embezzlement of public funds. Government are not only the ones guilty, people in private sectors and also the law enforcement agencies are involved in corrupt practices. The Nigerian Police officers today, are considered as the most notorious and corrupt public officials in Nigeria.

Also, within the educational sector of Nigeria, corruption is pervasive especially in secondary schools and higher institutions. Corrupt practices in the educational sector include; parents paying exorbitant sums of money to guarantee their child score in exams, and also using unorthodox means to influence their children’s admission into secondary schools and higher institution; students sorting out their courses to get their grades, and also cheating in exams halls; lecturers collecting money from students or demanding sex from students to influence grades, among other corrupt practices.

Many blame greed and ostentatious lifestyle as a potential cause of corruption in Nigeria. Late Chief Obafemi Awolowo stated that, “since independence, our governments have been a matter of few holding the cow for the strongest and most cunning to milk. Under those circumstances everybody runs over everybody to make good at the expense of others.”

According to President Goodluck Jonathan (vice president then), “corruption

By UTI ANIEKAN UDOH

is due to insecurity as most people accumulate wealth for fear of the future. People have to pay school fees for their children, provide food and essentials. Some people may not want to be corrupt, but because they want to secure their future, they go the extra mile to get out of the way.” Another cause of corruption can be

regime made the first attempt at fighting corruption in Nigeria in recent times.

His regime also witnessed the introduction of Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Investigation Commission (ICPC).

Despite the efforts and all measures adopted by these

States Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton on her visit to Nigeria said that, “corruption has robbed Nigeria of opportunities to lead Africa and indeed the world.”

Corruption in Nigeria has brought about poverty, poor state of infrastructure and poor road network, reduction in public spending on education and other productive sectors such as agriculture, income

• Ibrahim Lamode, EFCC Boss

linked to ethnicity which is called tribalism in Nigeria.

People tend to seek favours from officials they know, thereby putting pressure on the ethical disposition of the official.

Over the years, there have been various attempts to tackle corruption in the country, but these efforts were short-lived. In 1999, ex-president Obasanjo presented a bill to the National Assembly on, “the prohibition and punishment of bribery, corruption and other related offences.” His

agencies to combat corruption, it continues to rise because those clamouring for the punishment of those guilty of corrupt practices are themselves corrupt.

Moreover, the effect corruption has on the economy has been devastating. It has affected socio- political and economic development of the nation, aggravated poverty, fuelled conflicts, made life unbearable, sustained injustice, and promoted bad governance and underdevelopment. United

inequalities, insecurity, k i d n a p p i n g s , unemployment, reduction in the quality of goods and services available to the public, inflation in the prices of goods and services, poor economic growth, among others. This bane needs to be tackled properly before it totally cripples the Nigerian economy.

The problem of poverty is indeed a national one, and its effects touches and affects every Nigerian regardless of tribe, religion, and state. To control

“To control corruption in Nigeria, the law must be respected by all, followed to the latter, and allow to take its course. The rule of law must be entrenched because it strengthens the judiciary and the anti-corruption agencies. The immunity granted on public officials should be removed; misappropriation and embezzlement of public funds by them should be accounted for. Cases of corrupt practices should be investigated properly and culprits punished in line with the provisions of the Anticorruption Act of 2000 and the 1999 Constitution.”

corruption in Nigeria, the law must be respected by all, followed to the latter, and allow to take its course. The rule of law must be entrenched because it strengthens the judiciary and the anti-corruption agencies. The immunity granted on public officials should be removed; misappropriation and embezzlement of public funds by them should be accounted for. Cases of corrupt practices should be investigated properly and culprits punished in line with the provisions of the Anticorruption Act of 2000 and the 1999 Constitution. The law enforcement agencies and other agencies must be thoroughly cleansed, restructured, re-orientated and highly motivated to do their jobs properly, and their officials monitored properly.

The government should see that these public officers are well paid and their lives insured. Anti-corruption agencies must be revamped and given the free will to fight corruption; their strategic and operational capacity improved, their preventive capacity improved, and their cooperation and coordination strengthened.

And most of all, there is need for the orientation of the minds and hearts of Nigerians, never to glorify corrupt practices, but kick against it. Pratibha Patil once stated that, “Corruption is the enemy of development, and good governance. It must be got rid of. Both the government and the people at large must come together to achieve this national objective.” We as citizen need to get up and fight corruption because corruption will continue to grow if we remain detached from fighting it. So there is work to be done by all of us.

The situation in our country calls for the communal cleansing to get rid of the evil of corruption.

We also need to take it to the feet of God because the task is not going to be an easy one. As Frank Serpico puts it, “The fight for justice of corruption is never easy.

It never has been and never will be. It exacts a toll on our self, our families, our friends, and especially our children.”

We need the strength and will to fight corruption without fear or favour, because without these, we will lose the fight against corruption before the battle line is drawn. The future of our great country is up to us.

THE WEEKEND

16

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2013

i

D scourse THE adverse effect of the quest to be logged on is taking a big toll and addiction not just of teenagers around the world but also adults. This has affected the society tremendously in our everyday lives and activities including the workplace. The 2013, Symantex Internet Secret Threats says that 41 percent of attacks on social media platforms are related to flakers, Malware, predators, state and nonstate actors including business competitors.

Other cyber security privacy issues are not just Internet oriented but behavioural, so the emergence of the First Lady, Dame Patience on this malaise affecting the world is not just by chance. As the I n t e r n a t i o n a l Telecommunication Union (ITU), IMPACT and other stakeholders took interest in the humanitarian and philanthropic strides of this Amazon by giving her the gauntlet and mandate to carry on the torch as a shining symbol of Africa.

Dame Patience was officially on 22 July, 2013, inaugurated in Geneva, Switzerland as ITU Child online Protection Champion (COP) for her relentless pursuit to protect not only Nigerian children online but the African continent. She was appointed a global ambassador to spearhead the continent’s protection of children online so as to protect them from cyber bullies, threats, strangers and all forms of harmful effects of the Internet. Prior to her investiture at Geneva, the First Lady hosted the First “National Youths Online Summit” in Abuja where the youths of Nigeria from various endeavours met with major stakeholders in the ICT sector, such as Google, NCC, NITDA, among others, to rub minds during an interactive session that was beamed live to Africa and the world by the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA).

The event was a germane approach to reaching the youths who are the main targets online particularly when the ICT is used by majority of these age groups. The First Lady was again on target as she delivered the theme of this year ’s summit: “The Internet; Emerging Threats, Solutions for the Youths,” which underscores the importance of the Internet as an ubiquitous modern day tool as well as its increasing

Dame Patience: P Online And ICT C

vulnerabilities.

Consequently, On the 3rd September, 2013 in line with the mandate of Her Excellency at the online summit in Abuja, she explained that the summit was the beginning of a national campaign to inculcate a culture of safety for children and youths while they are online as well as to mobilize schools, teachers, parents and government to intensify efforts directed towards ensuring their protection online.

The primary responsibility of the platform was to provide a medium for young people from across Nigeria, with the age bracket of 1225 years; highlight and discuss emerging threats in the use of the Internet; proffer solutions that will promote safety on the information cyber highway and to ensure that children and youths stay safe while utilizing online resources. It was a platform that also provided opportunities for them to be aware of policies and efforts on child online protection around the world.

The summit also had components expected to impact safety skills, a bulwark against the growing population of cyber crimes, online threats, and give first hand tool kit to empower the youths. It also afforded them online training from the private sector stakeholders like Google, New Horizon, NCC, among others. While 100 lucky participants carted away various prizes and gifts, including sponsorship from New Horizon, the First Lady also used the august occasion to unveil her

By CHIGOZIE CHIKERE

• Dame Patience Jonathan

website on child online protection.

Speaking at the event, the First Lady said youths must endeavour to inculcate a culture of safety while they are online, and also reemphasized the importance of protecting young people from the negative aspects of the Internet so as not to fall prey to online predators.

The Guest Speaker, Mrs.

Titi Akinsanmi, of Google West Africa, used the occasion to enlighten the youths to periodically change their password, at least, three months; restrict the amount of information posted online, and when transacting any activity electronically, to ensure that they are on authentic sites of the organizations. While the interactive session

“Dame Patience was officially on 22 July, 2013, inaugurated in Geneva, Switzerland as ITU Child online Protection Champion (COP) for her relentless pursuit to protect not only Nigerian children online but the African continent. She was appointed a global ambassador to spearhead the continent’s protection of children online so as to protect them from cyber bullies, threats, strangers and all forms of harmful effects of the Internet.”

lasted, the youths shared their various experiences and posed a lot of questions to a panel of experts while a communiqué was officially presented by the youths to the First Lady, by Miss Somto Fab-Uzokor.

The summit aptly came to an end while having in attendance notable personalities like, Mrs. Omobola Johnson, Hajia Zainab Maina, Prof.

Raqquayyatu Rufai, Brig.

Gen. Nnamdi Okore-Affia, ICT’s service providers like Microsoft, Oracle, NIRA, CISCO and SAP. As a prelude to what happened in Nigeria, the global youth summit ‘Beyond 2015 Costa Rica 2013’ that took place from 8th to 11th September, 2013, is a platform for young people to interact, ensure their inclusion in the most important decision of the 21st century. It was hosted by the government of Costa Rica and organized by ITU

together with organizations in th family, as well as pa from government, ind media and civil societ expected to bring tog young people from a the world with a vi highlighting their pri and according concerns in crucial na as well as interna policy formulation decision making proce It seeks to contribute United Nations and Society engage processes while prior ICT inclusion as a c pillar.

The communiqué re by the National Y online Summit in N was also to form wh First Lady will be pres to the global patron, M Laura Chinchilla, Pre of Costa Rica at the youth summit.

On the world stage, Patience highlighte strategic importance summit, saying tha historic gathering of y from across the globe not have come at a time than this and that timely considering significant milestone quest for a better wo ourselves and chil While exposing threatening effects o moral, physical safet integrity of our childr the interface with Internet.

According to her, am the advantages o Internet is that it comm global audience spontaneous dissemi of information acros globe because it is rel cheap, accessible affordable anytime day and poses no barr the users. She educationally, the In enhances lea efficiency, imp communications a motivates practical lea develops writing a boosts positive at among peers and pro variety of answe different problems, enhancing acad performances of stud While believing th Internet has invade privacy and it is threa

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i

D scourse

Pioneering Youth Cyber Revolution

other he UN artners dustry, ty. It is gether ll over ew to orities their ational tional n and esses. to the d Civil ement ritizing central

eached Youths Nigeria hat the senting Madam esident global

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mongst of the mands with nation ss the atively e and of the riers to said nternet arning roves ability, arning; ability, titude ovides rs to , thus demic ents. at the ed our atening

the moral and physical security of our children, she also agreed that it has a lot of advantages; she opined that besides its interactive and other social advantage, they are used by criminally minded people to perpetuate crime against the children or persuade them into unacceptable social practices and behaviours.

She recounts a 2012 statistics released by IMPACT which said a lot about fears for the youth. For instance, victims of child pornography in 2012 comprised 75 percent female, 13 percent of male victims and 12 percent of both genders. Twenty-four percent of teenage users of Twitter admitted that they are exposed to cruel behaviour, while Facebook was put at 93 percent, Myspace 17.7 percent and Instant Messenger was 15.2 percent, thus emphasizing that looking at the ages of victims, it is quite alarming as 76 percent were preteens, and 15 percent teenagers and nine per cent infants.

While the American Academy of Pediatrics, has observed that cyber bullying is the most common online risk for all children which account for many deaths that parents must guide against. The Academy contends that 32 percent of children who use Internet admitted being targets of online abuses, including postage of threatening or aggressive messages and embarrassing pictures of children online. She, however, thanked President Laura Chinchilla for hosting the world and the ITU for the event; she equally attested to the five themes of the event: “Beyond 2015 Summit,’ ‘Change Your World,’ ‘Stay Safe,’ ‘Respect your environment,’ ‘Get Ahead’ and ‘Be Healthy’ that they are all relevant to the survival of our collective aspirations as a people as well as the progress of the youths and children across the world.

In furtherance of her mandate, as the world stood still on Tuesday, 17th September, 2013, when the First Lady hosted the “2013 World Cyber-Security

Conference’ with the theme “Cyber Insecurity – A Latent Threat to National Security and Economic Development,’ in Abuja, in collaboration with the private sectors, civil societies and NGOs, parading distinguished and notable speakers from across the globe that includes former Prime Minister of Israel, Mr. Ehud Barack, Brahima Sanon, Mr. Tunde Lemo and Salma Abbasi, who did justice to the various themes of the year in relating to their various perspectives and professional endeavours.

The Child online Protection Champion in her address to declare the conference open, said that she was convinced that online crime is indeed a global challenge which needs urgent attention from all of us.

Urging all hands to be on deck, she said since her investiture and inauguration she had been working assiduously with key partners to ensure that the huge responsibility placed on her shoulder by the UN, through ITU, is successfully carried out.

Dame Jonathan said that the Internet technology is one of the most outstanding innovations in the field of communication in the history of mankind, that its content is as diverse as human thoughts and that it has completely changed the society and opened up new vistas and avenues for communications, research, commerce and entertainment, but unfortunately, the immense benefits and contribution of the Internet comes with its risks and wishes to assure everybody, including her global partners, of her commitment in ensuring that the Nigerian child, African child, and the children of the world are protected from all forms of online risks, attack and abuses.

She, however, said for a successful drive of this global assignment given to her, she needs some key pillars necessary for the effective success of her strategies. These include, among others, capacity building in partnership with all relevant stakeholders both local and international,

thereby focusing on building a human and institutional cyber security capacities; organizational structure, it will enable the creation of a viable, sustainable and smart COP campaign which will be specific, measureable, achievable,

cause of COP in their respective countries.

Contributing, Mr. Tunde Lemo, Deputy Director of CBN, emphasized on what cyber fraud poses to a cashless society. He made mention of virus, Malware, phishing, denial of service attack, website Hijack,

While reiterating cyber crime challenge to cashless Nigeria, he opined that it has surpassed illicit drug trade as global top revenue earner for organized crimes. That the cyber crime network has become a highly organized with its own value chain including researchers of strong attack methods, hackers who compromise account data and make them available to dump vendors and the dump vendors are wholesalers of compromised account data who sell to various street level fraudsters including fraud rings/networks spanning

Nigeria to install Internet protocol (Close Circuit television, CCTV) cameras on all their ATMs and said the public should be aware, be vigilant in the type of website they enter their credit cards, debit cards for shopping and they must be aware that even banks’ website are being cloned this days.

While the keynote address speaker, Israeli former Prime Minister, Mr. Ehud Barrack emphasized that young adults who are persistently logged on the Facebook or any social network are more often to

hacking, mobile pharming, social engineering, card/ data interception and terminal cloning. He said that financial institutions are the greatest culprits with 37 percent retailers and restaurants 34 percent, manufacturers, utilities and transportation organizations 20 percent, with professional service firms 20 percent, that malicious hackers execute over 7,000 attacks everyday at the targeted industries.

across the globe.

But hopeful that measures put in place by the CBN and other financial regulators across the globe has been able to reduce the rising crime rate of perpetrators through its centralized tracking systems, policy frameworks, inter-banks data dissemination, sensitization and awareness campaign to the public of the nefarious activities of cyber crimes. He also said the CBN has instructed banks in

show psychological disorder. He added that a cyber threat on Nigeria is also a threat to not only Africa but the entire world and lectured on a global approach for tackling cyber crime and terrorism.

While the summit had the support of Winigroup, New Horizons, NCC, NITDA, FIRS, NTA, NOKIA, and other civil society organizations, the convener of the summit, Dr. Dame Patience Jonathan said in these days of bringing your device to the office, issues like whistle blowing, security and military organizations must be mindful of the type of computer wares they bring and their visitors connect to the organization’s network and that if possible the organization should have a stand-alone software for staff, visitors, among other, so that employees can be stopped from stealing classified information and using their own drives to store them.

Youth engage at a cyber cafe

realistic and time bound.

While setting up a Technical Advisory Committee of 17 men and women including wives of each state governors to establish child online protection in their states to drive home this campaign to the grassroots as state COP Ambassadors.

Enthusiastically, she also intended to use her office as President of African First Ladies Peace Mission, to enlist the support of her colleagues to champion the

“Urging all hands to be on deck, she said since her investiture and inauguration she had been working assiduously with key partners to ensure that the huge responsibility placed on her shoulder by the UN, through ITU, is successfully carried out. Dame Jonathan said that the Internet technology is one of the most outstanding innovations in the field of communication in the history of mankind, that its content is as diverse as human thoughts and that it has completely changed the society and opened up new vistas and avenues for communications, research, commerce and entertainment...”

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How To Be Happy Again YOU probably vividly remember the day, the hour, and the very moment when you discovered that your partner was having an affair outside your relationship.

You opened an email, looked at a text messages on his/her cell phone or caught him/her with someone else and it crushes your feelings.

From that point on, the question at the back of your mind has been. Is it even possible for us to be happy together again?

The first challenge after infidelity is to learn how to trust your partner. There is wariness and a resolve to never be betrayed and hurt each other like that ever again. It’s smart to be cautious and to look for signs that your partner really has ended the affair and really willing to change.

Rebuilding your trust does take time and effort and begins with the conscious decision to heal the wounds and move forward.

But, the question of happiness remains with couples even after the wariness eases up and trust starts to return back to them, real happiness in the relationship seems impossible. It is as if something has died and never to be returned or neither person is sure it can be revived.

It is important to seriously consider whether or not you are willing to stay in the relationship after you caught or discovered your partner having an affair outside the relationship. Even if you don’t want to “give up,” as a result of love, you should consider if there is a genuine repentance from your partner, take

out time to think about what is truly best for you in the given situation.

The decision to stay in or leave the relationship is a big one, so be sure to look at the facts you have, the observable signs of change and also how you feel. Make the right choice for you.

If you decide to stay in your love relationship or marriage after infidelity,

then make happiness a top priority, this is not something that you merely hope will happen over night or one day because feelings have been hurt.

It is essential because if you are not happy most of the time in your relationship, then, why

By GIFT ONAGHAMA

are you in it at all? So try to develop happiness and love as they are some of the ingredients of a good relationship.

Of course, even couples whose relationships have never been disrupted

Happiness is a choice.

It might not feel like you have much power to be happy when your life has been turned upside down and your relationship feels broken. You can’t force yourself to be happy, but it is possible to choose to be happy

same, while others are not. They feel anything can go in life thereby having prepared mind to bear anything that come their way. So when you remember that you get to choose your response to whatever your partner has said or done and you are the one who determines your mood

by cheating struggle occasionally (or frequently) to be truly happy. It is up to you to decide whether or not being happy is a priority.

If it is, then don’t allow the potential for happiness to be squashed by what happened in the past.

Maybe not giddy or blissful, but a happier place than you was before.

Anything about life is a personal choice, there are some who are highly emotionally attached and once they are hurt, they find it so difficult to remain the

and attitude, you step into a power you may have forgotten you or possess. You no longer let the affair dictate how you feel about yourself, your partner, your relationship and life.

Do more of what makes you smile together as you

remember your power to choose a response to what’s going on and to be as happy as you can be, you redirect your energy and attention towards everything. This might mean that you literally change course and stop whatever you were doing and do something else instead.

If scrolling through depressing or negative Facebook posts is bringing you down, for example, you can log off. If sitting home alone is bringing worries, you can call a friend or go outside and take a walk.

Think about what or who makes you smile– no matter how simple it is– and then go do that activity or be with that person.

This is a conscious decision that you can make each and every day and it really works to bring more happiness back to your life. Make sure you are moving forward in your relationship with the same level of consciousness. Stop doing the same things you have always done together. Talk about what feels fun, relaxing, exciting or somehow positive to each of you and then do those things together.

Even though you two are still working on trust and changing habits, you can also create opportunities to enjoy being together and that is the fodder for happiness.

“Even though you two are still working on trust and changing habits, you can also create opportunities to enjoy being together and that is the fodder for happiness.”

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W eKEND ENTERTAINMENT

Stories

By EFEMWENKIEKIE OSAS KELVIN

My Life Took A Dramatic Turn When Dad Died -Ice Prince

Kanye West Bans Kim From Cosmetic Surgery

FROM humble beginning in Jos, plateau state chocolate city wonder kid, Panshak Zamani. Popularly known as Ice Prince has grown to be one of the hottest and most respected rapper in the country. Thanks to his victory at the 2009 Hennessey Artistry where he came tops. And while it may all look rosy on the outside, Ice prince has revealed that it’s not been easy after his dad passed away, adding that just like any street kid, he had his own fair share of ups and downs, and so fans should not be carried away by glitz and glamour which has become his trade mark today.

Though, born to upper middle class parents, the Oleku singer insists he was not born with a silver spoon, and his dad died in 1999 and his life took a dramatic turn! I wasn’t born with a silver spoon. “Ice prince told the entertainer’s TONY OGAGA ERHARIEFE in an exclusive chat backstage during the 8th edition of Julius Agwu’s Comedy show, crack ya Ribs held Nicon Hilton, Abuja, recently.

Dressed in all the white designer T- Shirt and pants with a muffler dangling around his neck, Ice Prince peered at you from behind designers glasses crested with a Fez Cap which gave him that clean cut look of an American Marine but for his goatee. “My dad was not a billionaire, nether was he a pauper” he said arching his bushy eyebrows to drive his point, “he sent us to good school and we had vacations outside

the country: we were Okay but in 1999 I lost him!

“It was a big loss for me and my family. I was 13 and the eldest kid: I had a mum and

two younger sisters to look out for and so I had to grow up overnight; thank God for family support”. Recounting the person of his late dad who was a soldier in the Nigerian Army, Ice Prince described him as a great source of inspiration and like every son would say, his father was a great dad. He said dad went the extra mile to make sure he and his siblings had all they wanted.

D’banj

busy person, you know I’m always on the move; you know one time is on Nigeria; the other is on New York. I’m always on check! So I leave it at two time Zones that what’s up! They are gold anyways, D’banj added.

Kanye West has reportedly banned kim kardashian from having cosmetic surgery to enhance looks as he doesn’t want to lose her due to complications. The 36-yearold rapper has reportedly

forbidden his Girlfriend who gave birth to their first daughter, North West, from going under the knife to enhance her looks after his mother Donda West died following complications from

Kanye

Ice-Prince

Why I Wear Two Wrist Watches -D’banj Recently on Hipontv, the artist D’banj was asked why he is always seen putting on two wrist watches, the star said he always put them on time Zone, and here is his reply. “No time to check time.

Actually, it’s because I’m a

“He was a soldier”, he states in his characteristics cool and calm voice, “He taught me everything I know today. My mum was very

supportive but she died on 2011, so right now I am an orphan”. How does it feel losing both parents early in life? It feels lonely! We were three kids: a boy and two girls and I am the eldest. I became the man of the house after my dad passed on and that given me a sense of responsibility.

It made me grow up overnight!

“I am 27 but my responsibilities are more than that of a 27-year-old. I have to take care of my sisters. I thank God for elevating me. I guess I was called to do this (music).” According to Ice Prince, he would ever be grateful for the lessons he learnt from his parents, which have gone a long way to shaping him today. He says that while his dad taught him to be responsible right from early age, his mom taught him to respect women.

a similar procedure but ‘Kim was certain that she wanted to have a surgery after giving birth because she wanted a head start on losing her baby weight’. ‘Kanye told Kim in no certain terms that she needed to put her baby and her life first. He got pretty emotional because he really didn’t want her going through that kind of major surgery. He’s still traumatized from his mum’s death. ‘Donda died in 2007 at just 58year, after suffering ‘multiple post-operative factors’ following Liposuction and breast-reduction surgery.

Hope my rumoured people are reading this, who said “Kanye West used his mum for Illuminati sacrifice to enrich himself and sell album”.

Kanye West was devastated by her passing and it’s made him extremely careful of those he loves.

‘Meanwhile, 32-years-old Kim who has admitted to having Botox in the past-has been following a grueling exercise regime and has been following the Atkins Diet in a bid to regain her pre – baby figure.

They Called Me A Rejected Musician -Kcee Kingsly Okonkwo, better known as Kcee, is making waves at the moment but the young artist will not forget how he was seen and infact, labeled a rejected and dejected artist before his fortune later changed. No wonder he is still amazed at the height he has achieved since he went solo a couple of years ago.

In his words “God, the industry and my fans suddenly made me a supper attraction in the industry.

Every single I drop got me more fans, made me more loved, and ranked me a level higher than where the last track stopped. It’s simply amazing. “Having released a number of hit single that have received massive airplay, Kcee said he is all set to launch his debut album-Take over.

Nobody knows tomorrow, that is the testimony of Kcee, the Limpopo master.

Kcee

Banky W - Why I Hate Taking Pictures At Event Here’s what Banky said in an interview with Vanguard.

He also got to mention how Uzi, Ikechukwu’s brother is trying to whip him into shape like Peter Okoye.

The least favourite aspect of my job is when I have to do photo-shoots. I hate photo-shoots. I love video shoots because it seems that I am playing a role in a short movie. Photoshoots I hate like I hate taking pictures at events. I find it really annoying because you stand there and you are expected to strike poses and do all the random things you do when doing a photoshoot.

Even though I don’t like it, I have to do it because obviously, I need pictures for

my CD covers and interviews.

I don’t enjoy it at all. So I try to limit them. I really shouldn’t be saying this because my manager will be upset with me. I only do photo-shoots when I have a new album coming out.

trainer Uzi. He is the younger brother of Ikechukwu. He is an amazing physical trainer.

He tries to get me into shape

So, when I do that shoot, I try to take as many different pictures as I can so that they will leave me alone at least for the next two years. But they are necessary, because people need to see you and connect with your image as well. So it is a necessary evil.

A typical day in my life starts from when I wake up.

First, I try to say a little prayer to get my day started. Then I go out to work out with my

Banky W

so that I can look like Peter from P-Square. After my training, I come home, shower and dress for work.

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e Entertainers In Benin City Holds Stakeholders Stories By EDIONHON UYI THOMPSON

W eKEND ENTERTAINMENT In other for all the performing musicians/artiste, Nollywood actors, movie producers and marketers in Edo State to come out together and speak with one voice, the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Culture, Tourism and Entertainment to Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, Hon. Eromosele Daniel AKA Pikolo (a

comedian) in collaboration with the Edo State Ministry of Arts, Culture and Tourism hold a one day stakeholders conference recently in Benin City.

The conference which was head at the Oba Akenzua Cultural Center, Airport Road, Benin City features all entertainers and entertainment stakeholders

all over Edo State.

The commissioner of Arts, Culture and Tourism, Hon. Elizabeth Jemitola who was present at the one day conference which was the first ever conference being organized by entertainers in the state thanked all the musician and other stakeholders present at the conference and advice them

Goldie’s Death: Police May Go After Best The last good glimpse Nigerians had of Goldie was of her photos on the red carpet of the 55th Grammy Awards, where she appeared as a woman full of life.

Her death four days later on Valentine’s Day was one hell of a shock for her fans, friends and family. Her demise evoked a volcano of mixed feeling as many haters took to the social media to further hex the soul of the deceased.

for her marital status. Many did not know Goldie wedded let alone, married a white man. Now a certain Andrew Harvey, a Briton, has announced himself, by uploading photos of their wedding that proved beyond doubt the verity of their 2005 wedding. So Goldie was married? Really, at the BBA Stargame, Goldie was viewed through the lens of a single girl. Against this new

Goldie In the wake of the Valentine’s Day tragedy, damning reports began to emerge: drugs, hedonism, a little-known marriage, and husband-snatching allegations.

Goldie’s untimely death stirred a storm of controversies that cannot simply be wished away. The big question revolves around her marriage. Before her death, if you’d ask showbiz followers about Goldie’s marital status, two out of three responses would be “single.”

The remaining would be “no idea.” It hardly occurred to anyone outside her close circle that the Harvey surname she was bearing was not a stage name but her marriage name. Indeed, the Skibobo singer created a cloud of deceit around her marital status. During press conferences, questions about her marital status were curtly cut off. On Facebook, Goldie’s marital status was inconclusive. “Single” but not searching and an occasional vague affirmation that she was “in a relationship,” was all Goldie offered as explanation

background, you begin to wonder, what the hell was a 30-year-old woman with a seven-year-old marriage doing in the wild, whimsical house of the Big Brother Africa, where sex can happen at a short notice? Then you begin to wonder, where was Mr. Andrew Harvey when Goldie was gallivanting with Prezzo? A married Goldie flirted and got cosy with Prezzo, going as far as kissing him. For a married woman, that was so unAfrican.

Even outside the BBA, her love chess with Prezzo continued. There were strong indications that at the time of her death, the Nigerian pop diva and the Kenyan rapper were still love interests. One doesn’t have to be a Sherlock Holmes to deduce that the marriage was not the madein-heaven picture Mr. Harvey is now painting. Now Harvey is not making Goldie a saint as much as he is further casting aspersion on her image as a married wife.

Toxic reports in the wake of her shocking departure insinuated that Goldie was

Friend, Denrele into drugs. These allegation, debunked by close pals, are just mere conjectures. What is common knowledge was that her friendship with Denrele Edun, the eccentric Channel O presenter, who also happened to be her business partner and copresenter of their impending reality show, was not ordinary.

Now talking about Denrele, the initial story was that Goldie died in Denrele’s arms.

The question is: where, in the house, or on the way to the hospital, because the hospital declared the singer dead on arrival. There had been different accounts about Goldie’s last minutes. The stories, sketchy but riddled with inconsistencies. So who is going to give us a blow-byblow account of the last minute, including the names of people who were there?

One report said her brother was in the house with her.

When Entertainment Express visited her apartment at No 30B Ologun Kufere Street Parkview Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos, the following day, the apartment was deserted save for a weeping househelp who went in, packed her two suitcases and fled from the house.

Then you ask again a whole lot of questions: What is the police doing about it?

Where are her family members? The autopsy report indicated that Goldie died of hypertension. But the public needs to know the back story, particularly, the details of the last few minutes before her death. What, where, when, how, and who were the eye-witnesses? Questions, questions, questions. It is better to let the dead to rest in peace. And in this clime, we do not speak ill of the dead.

But this has to be said about the late entertainer: Goldie lied to us. It is no crime for a celebrity to keep her marital life out of the public radar Onyeka Onwenu did it successfully. A stern I-ammarried-but-my-marriage-isnot-a-matter-for-discussion response from Goldie would have been enough. Goldie misinformed us by her utterance, she misled us by her actions. She owed us an apology, even in death.

An insider, said the family of Goldie wants the Police to invite Denrele, for questioning, since he claimed that their hale and hearty daughter died in his arms.

“This I can tell you is the family’s positions. They want Denrele to tell them and the world the circumstances that led to Goldie’s death”, disclosed this insider who does not want his name in print.

to continue the good works that they have been doing both on stage and outside the state. And she promised to pass the agitations of the entertainment stakeholders in the state to the Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole in other for the state government to come and invest massively in the Entertainment Industry of the state and for the government to do a bill to the state House of Assembly for the state entertainers to be included when ever any show is being hosted in the state and also for corporate organization in the state to also endorse performing artiste in the state instead of them going out of the state to endorse other

Elizabeth Jemitola

Conference artiste and use the endorse artiste to carryout advertisement in the state.

High point of the one day conference was when a popular musician and the CEO of Reality Music, Senior King Ogbebor AKA S.K.O signed-on a physically challenge gospel artiste Mrs. Uwa Uyi into his music label (Reality Music).

And also, when popular gospel artiste Sister Nahomi Ehigie stormed the stage to perform her new song which everybody present took to their feet including the commissioner to dance.

Also present at the conference are SSA on protocol to Adam Oshiomhole, Efosa Iyamu, AKA EFEX (a comedian); legend music artiste Franky Iry; CEO Lockdown Entertainment Andy Bello; the Business Manager of Silverbird Television Benin; Dean. Palma Omoruyi; Planet ‘G’ Clauxz; SSA on Neighbuorhood Watch, Mr. Tony Kabaka; Olegbese; Makos Makain and other performing musicians in the state and music/firm marketers in the state

Pikolo

Rapper, Ruggedman Denies Dating Actress Nigerian rapper, Ruggedman says he’s not in a relationship with actress, Olaide Olaogun.

Speaking with Nigerian Entertainment Today, the 36year-old rapper expressed

shock at the news, describing it as untrue and biased. He however confirmed he’s friendship with the actress.

‘Na so I see ma o. I am even expecting an invitation card to the wedding sef’.

Asked what he thinks could have triggered the news, he said, ‘I don’t know why people spread such news. Perhaps it was because of a picture I took with her’ he said.

Late Dagrin’s Mother Broke Monday made it three years Oladapo Olaonipekun popularly known as Dagrin died in an auto crash.

Saturday Beats gathered that three years down the line, the mother of the late rap artiste, Falilat Olaonipekun, is broke. A Blackberry message made the rounds during the week, soliciting for support for the deceased’s mother.

The message stated that as Dagrin was being remembered by fans, his mother should also be put

Dagrin

into consideration. The message read, “DAGRIN is ALIVE. Yes in our hearts, he is evergreen.

It has been three years since our loving Dagrin passed on to rest in the Lord!

Show Dagrin’s mum some love, drop your widow’s mite in her Acct- First Bank branch Acct3046543524 Olaonipekun Oluwakemi Falilat.”

When Saturday Beats got in touch with the late rapper’s manager, Tunde Peter, he said that the broadcast

message was authentic and he actually rebroadcasted it when he confirmed its validity.

“Someone sent it to me and as I confirmed that the details are true, I had to rebroadcast it,” he said.

The development is quite shocking because though Dagrin did not reign for more than eight months before his death, he made a lot of money especially from shows. No one doubted the love he had for his mother, especially as he said in various interviews that she stood by him, so one would think his estate would make arrangements for her.

Peters further told Saturday Beats that because of the lack of structure in the music industry, nothing is working for Dagrin’s parents.

He said, “I feel his mum needs help. She claims that and currently she is not doing anything. Nothing is working at all for all these people. Our music industry is just a flop.”

Meanwhile, some artistes showed their love by using the late rapper ’s pictures as display pictures on their BBMs and avatar on Twitter. Tonto Dikeh went the extra mile by visiting his graveside and laying a wreath there.

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o

C unselling

With

The Art Of Dealing With People AS Lincoln lay dying, secretary of war station said: “There lies the most perfect ruler of men that the world has ever seen”.

What was the secret of Lincoln’s success in dealing with people?

Lincoln’s method of dealing with people. Did he indulge in criticism?

Oh, yes. As a young man in the pigeon Creek Valley of Indiana, he not only criticized but he wrote letters and poems ridiculing people and dropped these letters on the country roads where they were sure to be found. One of these letters aroused resentments that burned for a lifetime.

Even after Lincoln had become a practicing lawyer in Springfield, Illinois, he attacked his opponents openly in letters published in the newspapers. But he did this just once.

In the autumn of 1842 he ridiculed a vain pugnacious politician by the name of James Shielfs, Lincoln Lampooned him through an anonymous letter, published in the Springfield journal. The town roared with laughter.

Shields, sensitive and proud, boiled with indignation.

He found out who wrote the letter, leaped on his horse, started after Lincoln and challenged him to fight a duel.

Lincoln did not want to fight. He was opposed to dueling, but he couldn’t get out of it and save his honour. He was given the choice of weapons.

Since he had very long arms, he chose cavalry broad – swords and took lessons in sword fighting from a west point graduate.

On the appointed day, he and shields met on a sandbar in the Mississippi River, prepared to fight to death, but at the last minute, their seconds interrupted and stopped the duel.

That was the most lurid personal incident in Lincoln’s life, it taught him an invaluable lesson in the art of dealing with

people. Never again did he ridicule anyone. And from that time on the almost never criticized anybody for anything.

Criticism is futile because, it puts a person on the defensive and usually makes him strive to justify himself.

will not be judge.

And when Mrs. Lincoln and others spoke harshly of the Southern people.

Lincoln replied: “Don’t criticize them, they are just what we would be under similar circumstances”.

certain we are that it is justified.

When dealing with people, let us remember we are not dealing with creatures of logic. We are dealing with creatures of emotion, creatures bristling with prejudices and

Criticism is dangerous, because it wounds a person’s precious pride, hurts is sense of importance and resentment.

Hans Selye, another great psychologist said: “As much as we thirst for approval, we dread condemnation”.

Time after time, during the civil war, Lincoln put a new general as the head of the Army of the Potomac and each one in turn. Mc Clellan, Popel Burnside, Hooker, Meade blundered tragically and drove Lincoln to pacing the floor in despair. Half the nation savagely condemned these incompetent generals, but Lincoln, with malice towards none, with charity for all, held his peace, one of his favorite quotations was: “Judge not, that ye judged not so that you

Thoodore Roosevelt said that when he as president was confronted with a perplexing problem, he used to lean back and look up at a large painting of Lincoln which hung above his desk in the White House and ask himself: “What would Lincoln do if he were in my shoes? How would he solve this problem?”

The next time we are tempted to admonish somebody, lets pull a five dollar bill out of our pocket, look at Lincoln’s picture on the bill and ask: “How would Lincoln handle this problem if he had it?”

If you and I want to stir up a resentment tomorrow that may rankle across the decades and endure until death, just let us indulge in a little stinging criticism no matter how

motivated by pride and vanity.

Bitter criticism caused the sensitive Thomas Hardy one of the finest novelists ever to enrich English literature to give up forever the writing of fiction. Criticism drove Thomas Chalterton, the English poet to suicide.

Benjamin Franklin, tactless in his youth, became so diplomatic, so adroit at handling people, that he was made American ambassador to France.

O.C. Madu GSM: 08056379608 The secret of his success? “I will speak ill of no man, and speak all the good I know of everybody”.

Many people can criticize, condemn and complain. But it takes character and selfcontrol to be understanding and forgiving. A great man shows his greatness by the way he treats little men”.

In talking with people, don’t begin by discussing, the things on which you differ. Begin by emphasizing and keep on emphasizing the things on which you agree keep emphasizing, if possible, that you are both striving for the same end and your only difference is one of method and not of purpose.

Get the other person – saying “yes, yes” at the outset. Keep your opponent, if possible, from saying “no”, “no” response, according to Professor Overstreet is a most difficult handicap to overcome. When you have said “No”, all your pride of personality demands that you remain consistent with yourself you may later feel that the “no” was illadvised, nevertheless, there is your precious pride to consider. Once having said a thing, you feel you must stick to it.

Hence, it is of the very greatest importance that a person be started in the affirmative direction.

The skillful speaker gets, at the outset, a number “yes” responses. This sets the psychological process of

the listeners moving in the affirmative direction.

It is like the movement of a billards ball, propel in one direction and it takes some force to deflect it, far more force to send it back in the opposite direction.

The psychological patterns here are quite clear. When a person says “no” and really means it, he or she is doing far more than saying a word of two letters the entire organism, gland war, nervous, muscular gaiters itself together into a condition of rejection.

There is, usually in minute but sometimes in, observable degree a physical withdrawal or readiness for withdrawal.

The whole neuromuscular system, in short, sets itself on guard against acceptance. When, to the contrary, a person says “yes”, none of the withdrawal activities takes place.

The organism is in a forward – moving, accepting, open attitude.

Hence, the more ‘yes’ we can, at the very outset, induce, the more likely we are to succeed in capturing the attention for out ultimate proposal.

Get a student to say “no” at the beginning or a customer, child, husband or wife and it takes the wisdom and the patience of angels to transform that bristling negative into an affirmative.

“Do not complain about the snow on your neighbour’s roof, when your own doorstep is unclean,” said Confucius.

Thanks for reading.

“Criticism is futile because, it puts a person on the defensive and usually makes him strive to justify himself.

Criticism is dangerous, because it wounds a person’s precious pride, hurts is sense of importance and resentment.”

THE WEEKEND

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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2013

Conserving Ways To Beauty Routine

THERE are times it feels as if you just don’t want to be bothered going through the rudiments of beauty routine. Those hours of putting this on, taking that off, wallowing in lotion, drowning in creams, no doubt, it could really be unexciting. But there are short cuts and conserving ways to it – no fuss, less bother and you would look as great as ever. All you need is a long-staying beauty effects.

Carefree Hairstyle You need a hairdo that won’t need combing every minute, that holds its own through sun, sea, wind, showers that you can wash and forget about. What you don’t need is a geometric work of art style that may look incredible on you but for how long?

Go for a shortish hairstyle that won’t look straggy when it begins to grow out or better still have a weave-on fixed, braid or perm, nothing drastic just a little bit of curly wave around the tip of your hair. So all the after shampoo attention it needs can run through your finger tips. Great if you have the kind of mop that is fine and gets greasy quickly because perm

makes your hair thicker and dries it out so that you won’t need to wash if often while a weave can take you through a whole month without bothering.

Feeding Your Skin Think there aren’t any short cut to skin care? If you are sold on the idea of night cream as an every night duty you just can’t face, think again.

You can’t help your dry skin from inside, if you have just finished a low fat diet, wouldn’t be surprise if your skin is drier than usual, right? Well if you start dressing your salads with just as little vegetable oil mixed with vinegar, is more palatable (your skin would soon rights itself up.

Moisturizing during the day is a must though, what else protects your skin from all the grime in the air.

But instead of slapping on a moisturizer, let your make-up do the work in one go with a tinted moisturizer.

They are non-greasy creamy lotions with a hint of colour to pep up your complexion. The colour lasts longer with some than others, so test before you buy.

Make-Up-To-Stay Frankly, nothing

looks as good eight hours later as it did freshly applied. But if you steer clear of very creamy greasy stuff, there is good chance you will still look good without retouching. For water based foundation. Sweep over your face with a damp cosmetic sponge. If your skin is greasy, press on translucent powder.

Gel blushers staysput colours are usually a bit pale but they come alive if you stroke over a light dusting of translucent powder.

Creamy gel formula eye-shadow seems to almost stain your skin, stay with your under water, just smudge on with your finger tips. If you want your mascara to stay on your lashes and not smudge onto your cheekbones.

Forget the creamy protein lash conditioning types.

They do tend to streak because of their more oily formula. Try the “run proof” kind.

Lips Lips are the sleekest thing so keep intact.

Colours with best staying power are the deep ready tones that actually stain your lips.

Frosty ones that stay with you tend to be drier.

No Nonsense Nails

That means polishes that don’t chip or peel off a couple of hours after your have put them on. Paint on a base coat. Apply your colour, seal it in with a top coat.

Can’t wait for your nails to dry?

Swoosh on a quick dry spray. Sets your

“You need a hairdo that won’t need combing every minute, that holds its own through sun, sea, wind, showers that you can wash and forget about. What you don’t need is a geometric work of art style that may look incredible on you but for how long?”

Beauty Shop With Gloria Omoruyi

nails in a couple of minutes so that they are smudge resistant you will have to wait for about half an hour before doing ay heavy jobs, but it is worth it.

Easy Wear Good cuts, easy shapes and strong simple colours all add up to classic styles you will wear for years to come and you don’t have to bother yourself if this or that outfit is in fashion or not.

If you are looking for one new item, a longshirt-style dress fits the bill for veracity and wear-ability. For a nofuss dressing, you can’t beat a simple shift. Choose a neutral colour and it will take you wherever you

want, from work to a smart day out.

A single while T-shirt shape tunic and straight skirt in a cool fabric, make for a look that is fresh yet timeless.

A trouser suit is a great basic for wardrobes. Smart and stylish and it will be suitable for almost any occasion.

Stripes tend to make a big timeless impacts and it will always mix and match. If you can’t buy a complete outfit, an exciting new top will certainly liven up your basic wardrobe. Worn with a straight skirt, make for a look that is timeless and undemanding.

THE WEEKEND

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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2013

a

N tion

Looking Forward To A New Nigeria THE story of Nigeria seems to be an endless circle embedded in poverty, corruption, insecurity, killing and kidnapping, that never ends. At 53 it is still tales of woes-no water, no light, no employment, no food. Despite our selfrule, nothing else can be said about our being truly independent. We still rely on other countries for virtually everything we need in Nigeria.

The wish to have a new Nigeria devoid of all evil vices engaged in by Nigerians was my only preoccupation as Nigeria turned 53.

Sometimes it seems to me our nationalist made a grievous mistake agitating for Nigeria’s independence.

Probably if we were still under the tutelage of the white men, we would have been more economically, educationally, and politically advanced than the way we are now. Probably we would have been self-sufficient in food production and that would have gone a long way in eradicating food shortage in Nigeria and perhaps create more employment for our teeming unemployed youths.

The stories of the good old days being recalled by our elders about Nigeria before the discovery of oil fill me with nostalgia, that I wish I was born then when one can sleep with doors unlocked without fear of hoodlums or armed-robbers breaking in, when morals and good virtues were more significant than silver and gold, when men were valued by the dint of share hardwork.

When the different regions of Nigeria, the northern, western, midwestern, Eastern could boast of producing one foodcrop, cash crop or

the other in their various locality. Raging from groundnut, cocoa, kolanut, rubber, palm oil.

Even till this day, the famous groundnut pyramid and the Enugu coal is still talked about. and Nigeria was among one of the exporting nations of the world.

Unlike today when they have allowed the discovery of oil to blot their vision of seeing agriculture as one of the viable sector that could revamp Nigeria once again. I only hope that it will not be too late for our leaders to put things right before the oil-wells dry up, for it is so pathetic that despite the huge amount being realized from the sale of oil, there is no impact on the economy.

Sometimes I am almost tempted to check-out of Nigeria just like “Andrew” in the NTA patriotic jingle about Nigeria in the 80s wanted to do due to lack of water, electricity and food to go abroad and join our brothers and sisters in diaspora. It is really, really so frustrating and demoralizing when you look around you and nothing seems to be working – roads are bad, no good drinking water, no food for the poor masses, the standard of education is falling deeper and deeper and we have Boko-Haram to contend with. The system stinks as Nigeria seems to be at a standstill. But the love of my fatherland seems to be my only restraint for now and I still have this hope that Nigeria would be better again, if we all put our minds to making it work. Especially our political leaders, if they can steer the Nigeria ship to the right direction and create meaningful s u s t a i n a b l e devleopment projects that would enhance the

By GLORIA OMORUYI lives of the people.

Oh, how I look forward to a new Nigeria that would be self-reliant and

harmony with each other.

Looking forward to a new Nigeria where

fatherland.

Looking forward to a new Nigeria where white-collar jobs and paper qualification would be less of an

not totally dependent on other countries for survival.

Looking forward to a new Nigeria where men would take pleasure in tilling their fatherland once again and glorifying in the fruits of their labour.

Looking forward to a new Nigeria where though tribe and tongue may differ, but we will live in peace and

candidates would be voted for at elections on their own merit and not through rigging, of ballot papers.

Looking forward to a new Nigeria where political leaders would not be interested in looting the nation’s treasury and starching it away in foreign bank accounts, but their preoccupation would be in developing their

attraction to citizens of this nation. But men and women would be glad to work with their hands and take pride in their work.

Looking forward to a new Nigeria where greed, corruption would be purged from our system and we shall be contented with whatever we have.

Arise o compatriots!

The restoration of

Nigeria lies in our hands.

Let’s right the wrongs of yester years It is high time we started working towards

s e l f - s u ff i c i e n c y.

Depending on other nations for virtually everything will not make us grow in any way.

We should push aside oil and diversify the economy. Let each state pride themselves once again in food production.

But above all let us push hatred, tribalism and religion aside and build a nation where peace and justice reigns.

“Looking forward to a new Nigeria where men would take pleasure in tilling their fatherland once again and glorifying in the fruits of their labour. Looking forward to a new Nigeria where though tribe and tongue may differ, but we will live in peace and harmony with each other.”

THE WEEKEND

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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2013

v

E ent, People And Places THE World Health Organisation had set aside October 10th every year as World Mental Health Day. A respondent occupational therapist who spoke in anonimity said “many people out of ignorance use to attribute mental ill health to spiritual wickedness from enemies. This assertion is in correct because researchers have proved that mental ill health is like any other ailment.

The only difference is that it had affected the brain of the individual”.

Depressed people are often withdrawn and antisocial. This does not necessary mean that they don’t like people but it could mean that their brains don’t process feelings of love and hate in an acceptable manner.

Medical research reveals that people who lacked enthusiasm are destined to suffer from mental ill health. A depressed brains can also be associated with diverse ill health raging from heart problems, hypertension and obesity.

A case study is Mr. Otoigbe an idle secondary school leaver who had been afflicted with excessive apprehension, mental confusion anguish and deep sorrow a state of complete hopelessness.

He said “since I left secondary school without job for the past decade my emotional reactions have made it difficult for me to interact with my colleagues. As a school drop out. I always feel responsible for

World Mental Health Day

everything that went wrong in my neighbourhood. He described his agony as having a terrible sadness due to the fact that every successive leaders of this country had misled the youths.

A scenario that is still very fresh in my memory was when a lunatic wanted to rape a young woman who was purchasing soup ingredent. As the woman bent down to negotiate prizes, a male lunatic was passing by and eventually had an erection and he consequently penetrated through the back. This expression of serious love excitement brought the well dressed woman into the mud.

It took symnpatisizers more than 5 minutes to separate the woman from the grip of the lover lunatic.

To some rascal area boys, it was very entertaining as they hail the lunatic for the good works.

In Benin metropolis, it is a common scenario to observe some female lunatics going about their catering and laundry activities in commercial places.

They are endowed with enormous free gift of animal protein, no matter the state of the dead animal; it is a very delicious meal in the mind of a lunatic.

They do not need a knife; instead they merely use their teeth to dissect a hen that had been offered by some traditional religious worshipper to the elements that rule the night. They can also visit the local markets

By EKAIWE IGINUA OSEMWEKHA to solicit support in this unique endeavour. With a plate in hand, they collect “garri”, Okoro, pepper, salt and other ingredients free of charge in fact you have to expeditiously accent to their demand or they could spit on the exposed food items. Cases abound where

glimpse of “what is cooking” flame of smoke was in the air and an offensive odour of a rotten hen was emanating from the lunatic cooking pot.

The elite in our society do not see these less privileged people in our midst as human beings

there is still recurrence decimal of neglect and reckless abandon.

Before the coming of this administration under the comrade Governor, the health hazards constituted by lunatics was a discomfort to urban dwellers in Benin metropolis. While some herbal hospitals are

subvention given to her for the maintenance of sick people was grossly inadequate and I agree with her. Chief OmoOleavbele, one of the stake holders in the maintenance of lunatics also expressed dissatisfaction and appealed to the state

teeming up with the state government to get rid of lunatic, some beggars in front of the Catholic Church Mission Road are still constituting an eyesore to road users and visitors from within and outside Nigeria.

Around the Kings Square area the situation is even more discomfiting as some beggars are occasionally resurfacing. To some observers it appears that many of these lunatics and beggars are brought in from other states. A syndicate is in the horizon using these less privileged people for amassing wealth for themselves.

In EBS television footage about six months back, a lady in charge of one of the psychiatry herbal home complained that the

government to review its fiscal policy of addressing the problems associated with the mentally challenged persons in our society.

However in most cases the traditional psychiatry Doctor do chain their patient to the wall leading to a very dehumanizing scenario. Some patient who feel a bit relief might be tempted to abruptly stop medication as this does not augur well because this illness need a long term treatment.

Perhaps, a programme of occupational the-rapist more likely to be successful if there is no communication gap between the traditional medical doctors and their patients.

Minister of Health

a mad woman actually spat on a big bow of cooked rice at New Benin market.

This rice was eventually sold to unsuspecting fast food consumers.

A couple of years back a female lunatic could be spotted at Akpakpava Street by Dawson road junction preparing food amidst the heavy vehicular movement. It was a very captivating scenario as motorist and pedestrians were peeping to have a

who deserve quick help from the local state and federal governments in addressing their plight.

Instead they continue to shy away from this kind of dehumanizing behavioural pattern of the mentally sick.

Albeit there are some genuine traditional psychiatry homes complementing the Uselu Psychiatry Hospital to getting rid of the mentally sick people on our streets,

“Depressed people are often withdrawn and anti-social.

This does not necessary mean that they don’t like people but it could mean that their brains don’t process feelings of love and hate in an acceptable manner. Medical research reveals that people who lacked enthusiasm are destined to suffer from mental ill health.”

THE WEEKEND

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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2013

v World Postal Day

E ent, People & Places THE UNESCO had declared October 9 th every year as World Post Day. Before the Advent of Europeans to Benin Empire to communicate was a bit cube some as soldiers and the metropolitan messages had to travel several kilometres on foot or horse back in order to disseminate information from his royal Majesty, the Oba of Benin to is subjects in rural communities.

But in the early 1940’s to mid 80’s the medium of communication with relation and friends in distance places was by letter writing which was facilitated by Nigeria Postal Services. Very often one can sleight some family members in search of an interpreter to a missive written to them by their children or relations in distant places and abroad. Consequently it was an era of boom for postal services.

When a post office messenger on top of a bicycle comes to your premises it was with undaunted optimism you receive the letter from him especially when your examination report is being sent to your parents at the end of the academic year.

For the lazy students who did not work hard usually acknowledge such letters with anxiety and fear that they will fail in the examination.

For instance if you fail your promotion exams at the end of the year your parents may refuse to purchase Christmas dress and shoes for the celebration.

Other forms of postal services include

delivering post cards seasonal greeting cards and as part of school curriculum, letter writing was a part of educational endowment that was highly cherished by all and sundry.

A scenario that is still fresh in my memory was when Anglican girls Grammar School at Adesuwa College Road, Benin City held inter house sport in 1967. Some girls who wanted to communicate with their boy friends with out going through the post, implored Omojigi, a student to help them deliver their letters to their boy friends in the campus at Western Boys High School.

After collecting all the letters he tore them to pieces and said to the lover girls, “am I your post master, I have been seeking for a girl friend in this school to no avail, and there you are asking me “Omojigijigi” Western Tebe Tebe” to help you deliver letters to your boy friends. You must be joking” To us the rascally boys, it was a very fascinating scenario and we all hailed “Omojigi-gigi” In retrospect, people who write letters for the less educated members of the community were regarded as erudite scholars and were highly revered. They were regarded as “primus interprarus” that is first amongst equal.

Another exciting scenario was when Paul a young school auxiliary teacher was implored by an Elderly

By EKAIWE IGINUA OSEMWEKHA

man Mr. Okhuarobo to help in writing to his son in Lagos. The old man said to Paul “tell am say I get “eriran “this means the old had cramp on his right leg.

So at the end of the letter he asked Paul to

am so “eriran”. So every body busted into laughter and the old man could not understand why the people made jest of him.

In a society where so many kids could no

leave home without their regular media player or cell phone. As these devices become more patronized, more versatile and in expensive, the contemporary flood of communication gadgets may only

read the letter to his hearing. The old man did not hear anything like “eriran” being mentioned in the letter.

He was very provoked and insisted that Paul must use the exact word he wanted. Paul told the old man that it is not possible to write “eriran” in a letter because it is not an English world. The old man became more furious and said to Paul “tell am say I say write

longer write correct letters to their distant families and friends one tends to wonder about the kind of academic orientation that is being bequeathed to the next generation.

It seems to me that we are now living in a weird world because of advances in communication technology and the internet. So, young people can hardly

aggravate, creating even more problems for parents concerning the supervision, training and steering the behavioural patterns of their kids and words on the right direction.

The challenges confronting the kids these days can only be rightly addressed when parents realize the saying that “all children are foolish but firm correction will make

them change.

So parents should encourage their children to use the postal services by writing letters to their friends and relatives in distant places. The introduction to technology these days for a little kid is the television set. To be candid, T.V very often becomes the baby sitter still. Some medical doctors specializing in mental health have the apprehension that a mature and unnecessary exposure to a T.V set can foster a dislike for physical exercise. Confusion between truism and fantasy, emotional disturbances and later in the classroom, lack of concentration. On the other hand, a child who writes always is full of concentration and always looking at dictionary for new words and meanings.

In EBS television footage interviews about a couple of years back, so many youths and adults confessed to be guilty of not writing any letter or using the post office for the past five years. So, let us revert to the status quo of letter writing and encourage our up coming generation to always endeavour to write letters by using our postal services.

“The challenges confronting the kids these days can only be rightly addressed when parents realize the saying that “all children are foolish but firm correction will make them change.”

THE WEEKEND

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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2013

Today’s Diet With Pastor E. A. Adeboye

Deal With Little Sins MEMORISE: “Abstain from all appearance of evil.”

1 Thessalonians 5:22 Read: Thessalonians 5:21-23 Bible in one year: Jeremiah 41-44 Action point: The weakness you are able to conquer today will most likely be conquered by your generations. Start a good chain today!

IF you must be victorious in the battle against Satan and his forces, you must let your separation from evil be total and absolute.

Some people look at some things and say it is not too bad. If it is not too bad, then it contains some elements of evil no matter how little.

When you tell a ‘little’ lie to get out of a fix or to cover up some wrong, you may think it is not too bad after all some patriarchs Abraham and Isaac did the same. In fact, Jacob was worse The truth is, any sin you indulge in without fully repenting and terminating it has a way of affecting your generations and it will enlarge as it goes further. This is why any vice you do not want to see in your future generations must be stopped in your life. Abraham lied but because he

did not deal with it, the ability to lie was passed on to Isaac. He too lied and did nothing about it and by the time it got to Jacob, the ability to lie had multiplied to the extent that deception and fraud started operating in him right from the womb. He was at war with Esau and tried to subvert him in their mothers womb. But when he could not, he grabbed, his legs by the time they were coming out so that he could say they came out at the same time. Since his grandfather and father refused to deal with lies, he became the personified!

What is the vice you are still harbouring

today? No matter; how small, deal with it! You cannot be victorious if sin still reserves space in you.

Some situations may appear not so tempting, but do not turn them into tempting ones. A brother may be friendly with a lady at the place of work. It may be a purely official relationship and they may face no apparent temptation.

But by the time he begins to touch her or she begins to touch him while they exchange banters, they are now changing the mood of the relationship. If such ‘plays’ does not stop, the innocent touch may gravitate into a more sensitive touch and before long, lust fills the heart and sin is born.

Avoid every evil appearance!.

“No matter; how small, deal with it! You cannot be victorious if sin still reserves space in you. Some situations may appear not so tempting, but do not turn them into tempting ones. A brother may be friendly with a lady at the place of work. It may be a purely official relationship and they may face no apparent temptation.”

i

L ving

How To Restore Lost Integrity

ACCORDING to the Oxford Advanced Learner ’s Dictionary, integrity is the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles. It can also be seen as doing what you say you are going to do. It is a quality of fairness that we all aspire to have.

Integrity is doing the right thing in a reliable way. It is a personality trait that we admire since it means a person with strong moral principles. It encompasses many of the best and most admirable traits in a man. Honesty, uprightness, loyalty and the courage to keep one’s word or promises, regardless of the consequences.

Integrity is acting in a way that builds trust, respect and admiration in all your daily interactions and relationship. Failing to act with integrity can ruin your relationship and can also cause serious damage to your reputation that took you years to build.

Your integrity is the most important thing you have, only you can throw it away. Integrity is more than just honest, it is about more than right. It’s about being integrated, so that all the parts of your life and yourself are cooperating smoothly to honour your best interest.

To restore lost integrity is a process which adds value to your life, you have to create more energy for your self, be whole; that is be responsible for your actions and inactions, respond fully to lessons being offered to you, honour your body and respect others people around you.

However, it takes discipline, determination and the grace of God to

By OROBOR IMUETINYAN restore any lost integrity.

If you have lost your integrity, never mind, because it can be restored and developed again. All you have to do is to always tell the truth no matter how horrible it is.

Truth may be bitter, but it helps to build your integrity.

Don’t be quick to make promise. Most people are quick to make promise but very slow in keeping them and this negatively affect their integrity. Learn to always think before you say “yes” to any request, if after thinking that you can keep the promise, then say yes but if you are not sure slimily tell the person with humility that you cannot. Just try it; people will respect you for that.

Again to restore lost integrity, always remember your promise!

How will you feel when a friend promise to visit you but never did? I believe you will feel bad, upset or probably loose confidence or trust in your fiend. That is the same way people do feel about you when you do not keep to your promise. Also learn to keep to your promise in the areas of keeping to

time, payment of debts etc. when you make a promise, know that you are putting your integrity at stake, always do everything legal and humanly possible to keep your promise, people will learn to trust you.

Make integrity a habit in your office, compound, school, church, or in public place. Never contribute to gossip and do not bother to tell the person that was gossiped that you heard anything about him or her, instead, study he person to know if what you heard was correct. Do not talk when you are expected to keep quiet or sit when you are asked to stand to your feet, don’t make or receive calls during any gathering, it will make people to disrespect you.

Always be honest in all your endeavour. If you area dishonest person, people around you will find it difficult to trust you. But if you are honest, people around you will learn to trust you, respect and even defend you during trials that tends to bring dawn your integrity.

Above all, ask God for mercy that will help you to build, restore or develop your integrity.

“Integrity is doing the right thing in a reliable way. It is a personality trait that we admire since it means a person with strong moral principles. It encompasses many of the best and most admirable traits in a man. Honesty, uprightness, loyalty and the courage to keep one’s word or promises, regardless of the consequences.”

THE WEEKEND

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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2013

v

E ent, People & Places OCTOBER 5 th every year had been declared world teachers day by UNSESCO. So, I would like to define the role of a teacher as one who imparts knowledge through which an individual gets utility and mental perspective of his neighbourhood. In other words, it is a due process where both formal and informal education makes a great imput in the order of return in accountability.

Retrospectively, when there were no professionals like medical doctors, lawyers and civil servants, standard six teachers were everything to the people of the Ancient City of Benin.

Teachers were like totemic animals shrouded in mysteries which are venerated.

They were hailed when ever in sight”Akowe” “Oyenkuzi” e.t.c. standard six teachers in those days were highly learned people and were better than the university graduates these days.

E x a m i n a t i o n malpractice was not a common incidence and every body took his school work seriously.

The students were matured and over 50% of them weave baskets, mats and do farmwork to pay school fees.

What we have these days are parents who bribe teachers and lectures to help their children and wads pass examinations. Teachers who force female students to book hotel rooms to enable them engage in illicit sexual affairs in order to be awarded First Class Degrees.

A popular musician, Fela Ransom Kuti define teacher thus, “as a kid mum and daddy are teachers, when in the primary school, still be our teacher, when we are in the secondary school, tutor be our teacher, when we are in university lecturer be our teacher when we start to work, government be our teachers who be

World Teachers Day

By EKAIWE IGINUA OSEMWEKHA

government teacher?” culture and tradition” After the Era of standard six teacher there emerge TC II teachers. These early trained teachers did not quite reflect my earlier definition of a teacher because they tried to relegate Edo language to the background. No

vernacular should be spoken in the class.

School pupils were made to belief, that any language which is not good enough should not be spoken in the classroom.

A respondent, His Royal Highness the OGIE-OBAZUWA asked why many Benin people preferred to speak pigeon English to their off spring instead of Benin Language said, “After the invasion of Benin Empire in 1897, Oba Ovoranmwen was deported to Calabar. So, for 17 good years, the Benins had no leader Agho Obaseki who managed to speak a little bit of English

became ambitions and wanted to be crowned as Oba with the aid of the Whiteman. But Ero of Urubi stood his ground and told the white men that obaship in Benin kingdom is hereditary and that the Oba first son was still alive.

So in a bid to speak English as quickly as

possible many families in Benin opted for pigeon.

Teachers, over several decades have not been able to correct this a b n o m a l i s .

Consequently. So many Benins are bringing up children who can not speak correct English nor can they speak their mother tongue”.

The falling standard of education could be attributed to poor reading culture, poor quality teachers and obsolete educational facilities which translate to poor quality people.

Some graduates these days can hardly read and write. Consequently, they are unable to compete

with their contemporaries in the academic world.

Teaching children, youths, and adults is to inform, develop the knowledge, skills or character of a person when the person interacts with an idea of experience.

It is true that there have been many articles written on the retrogressive standard of education which had

government, saying that teachers are not motivated, they are poorly paid and not given due respect in the society.

The attendant consequences is that school curriculum and it’s applications of educational policies had been lagging, culminating in the so called dismal performance in the

been a major bane of challenge to our modern educational structure in Nigeria. Some other school of thought have disagreed that education had fallen to its lowest ebb. These group are teachers in the primary and tertiary intuitions who put the blame on

educational sector of national emancipation.

Every successive administration had promised to reform the teaching sector through proper monitoring of polices and improving the welfare of teachers in order to attain ultimate performance. However

the absence of actions for failure of policies had fueled crises in this very crucial aspect of our national development.

Pragmatic steps should be taken to improve basic level of all segments of the teaching profession which had been described by the U.N. as fundamental to the development of overall education all over the world.

There should be retraining of all teachers in order to enhance capacity building and also to elevate facilities in our tertiary institutions.

This should be the primary focus of all well meaning responsible government because the politicians who enhance wealth overnight were taught by these teachers.

Federal government negative attitude for not quickly aiding to ASUU’s demand in order to create centres for academic excellence has converted many of our youths to be truants pilfery armed banditory and all social malaise bedeviling our society.

In the light of the above, federal government should expeditionously handle all matters relating to A.S.U.U. and all other tertiary and secondary school demands with the exigencies it deservers.

There is a saying that education is the best legacy you can bequeat to children. Therefore government should take notice that no investment in education can be too much.

“The falling standard of education could be attributed to poor reading culture, poor quality teachers and obsolete educational facilities which translate to poor quality people.Some graduates these days can hardly read and write. Consequently, they are unable to compete with their contemporaries in the academic world.”

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I’m Good For W/Cup

U-17 Women W/Cup: NFF Advised

On Preparations For Flamingoes GRACIOUS Akujobi, the Super Falcons’ Media Officer, has called on the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) to ensure the Flamingoes were prepared well for the 2014 FIFA U-17 Womenís World Cup. Akujobi told reporters in Abuja that it was time the team began preparations for the competition scheduled for Costa Rica.

Reports say that the Flamingoes qualified for the competition following the withdrawal of South Sudan from the African qualifiers earlier this week.

The spokesperson of the senior national women team said the NFA should take advantage of the opportunity of South Sudan’s

- Ghana’s Coach GHANA’s coach Kwesi Appiah says he is own man and does not need the help of a technical director to carry out his duties as Black Stars coach.

Early this week, there was publication by a local football portal claiming Klaus Topmoller has held talks with the Ghana Football Association as technical director should the Black Stars seal a 2014 World Cup berth.

The Ghana FA has squashed that rumour and expressed their support for Appiah to handle the team.

Appiah, who masterminded Ghana’s 6-1 World Cup playoff first leg win, does not to be distracted by the ‘’false report’’.

“My concentration is on the Egypt game and nobody has told me anything about any technical director,” the exGhana captain told AllSport.com.gh.

“I signed a contract which ends after the World Cup so nothing has been discussed.

“As for working with others, it depends on how you put it. For instance I can need some guys with good technical ability to scout or monitor some teams for me.

“That is something that can be done and I have always been doing that so that is not a big deal. As for a technical director I don’t know what role he will play.

“Ghana has a technical director already so I don’t know where that is coming from.”

Ghana will play Egypt in the return leg on 19 November.

Sepp Blatter

Film To Chronicle Blatter, FIFA

ACTORS Tim Roth and Gerard Depardieu are set to star in a movie about FIFA president Sepp Blatter, according to the Guardian. the World Cup in Brazil.

The project has a provisional Azerbaijan, France and Brazil title of F2014, and will be reare the locations for film shootleased in 2014 to coincide with ing, the Azerbaijani ministry of

Brazil ’ll Call Up Costa FIVE-TIMES world champions Brazil will call up Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa for the friendly internationals against Chile and Honduras next month, the country’s football federation (CBF) said Thursday.

The CBF sent a letter to world governing body FIFA saying they intend to call Costa into their squad for the World Cup hosts’ matches in Miami and Toronto.

World champions Spain had been hoping to win Costa’s allegiance for themselves as he has double nationality and did not feature in Brazil’s successful Confederations Cup campaign in June, when the hosts beat Spain in the final in Rio. In March, Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari called him up for

friendly internationals against Italy and Russia, but as they were not competitive fixtures, Costa is not yet tied to one particular nation.

Costa later made comments suggesting he would be interested in playing for Spain leading Spain coach Vicente del Bosque to say he would be interested in selecting the forward if FIFA approved his switch.

Earlier this month FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke indicated that would be possible.

The 24-year-old was born in Brazil but moved to Spain in 2007, signing for Atletico.

As a result, he is eligible to play for La Roja on residency grounds having not yet featured in a competitive match for Brazil.

Tennis: Cilic Cleared To Return After Doping TENNIS player Marin Cilic has had his nine-month ban for a doping offence reduced to four months by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Due to time already served, that means that Cilic is free to compete at next week’s Paris Masters.

Former world number nine Cilic appealed the ban imposed on him after he tested positive for the banned stimulant nikethamide.

Cilic insisted he had never knowingly or deliberately taken any banned substance and unbeknownst to him the stimulant was in glucose tablets he had taken.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled that the International Tennis Federation ban was “too severe in view of the degree of fault.”

Ban Reduced Cilic tested positive for nikethamide at the BMW Open in Munich in April this year.

Nikethamide is banned in competition although it is allowed out of competition.

Cilic has not played since withdrawing from his second-round

match at Wimbledon in June but retains a ranking of 47th in the world.

The tall right-hander reached a career-high ranking of ninth in the world in February 2010, spending 11 successive weeks in the top 10.

His ban officially ends at midnight on Friday.

culture told the newspaper.

Roth will play Blatter, while Depardieu will play Jules Rimet — FIFA’s longest-serving president, and whose name adorns the World Cup trophy.

Leuviah Films, a French production company, is in charge of the film, along with Thelma Films. According to the report, the French company does not appear to have any previous movie credits.

Funding for the project was not reported, but a video on FIFA’s official website shows that the 77-year-old Blatter ap-

proves of the casting of Roth.

“It was a very interesting gettogether,” Blatter said in the video. “I had read a lot of the CV and all the realisations [films] that this Tim Roth has made. I was very eager to meet him, and I have just realised that really we have something in common.”

Blatter said in the video that Roth agreed that the pair had “some common, let’s say, qualities”.

Emenike Dreams Serie A Switch NIGERIA’s international striker Emmanuel Emenike has revealed his ambition to play in the Italian Serie A during the course of his career.

Emenike told Eurosport.com that he fancy a move to Italian Serie A team when asked about his career goal.

“To win every trophy with Fenerbahce. I want to play for a team in Italian Serie A, one of Italy’s top-level teams,” Emenike said.

He also acknowledged Joseph Yobo big brother role at Fenerbache as well as the support he received from Bruno Alves and Kuyt.

“Best player here? I would say Joseph Yobo because he is like my brother. When we talk about friendship, that is

Bruno Alves, he has been supportive since I got here. Kuyt too,” Emenike told Eurosport.com The 26-year-old Emenike

Germany Set To Bid For Euro 2024

GERMANY will bid to host the 2024 European Championship, the German Football Association (DFB) announced on Thursday.

The news was revealed by DFB president Wolfgang Niersbach at the 41st ordinary DFB Congress in Nurnberg following a unanimous vote by the governing bodyís presidential board.

18 years after the unique ex-

perience of the 2006 FIFA World Cup, the time will be right for a new summer fairytale in Germany, Niersbach said at the Congress, in which UEFA president Michel Platini was in attendance.

The tournament might not have been put out to tender yet, but UEFA should know early on that they can count on our bid.

withdrawal.

“They should put the necessary logistics in place early to keep the players in shape for the task ahead,” she said.

Reports also say that the first leg of the qualifier against South Sudan was scheduled to hold between on November 2.

Akujobi said she was sure the Flamingoes would still have beaten the South Sudanese to qualify.

“But, be that as it may, I think we just need to start preparations as soon as possible.

“However, I believe the NFA will kick-start preparations soon, and the next step now is for the association to ensure that they open camp in time “Though they (the team) ought to have resumed camp on Tuesday, but with South Sudan’s withdrawal, it was cancelled. So, I believe the association knows what to do,” she said.

Akujobi said the team’s camp should be opened early enough, so as to enable the teamís incoming technical crew to get acquainted with the players before the World Cup finals.

“The ideal thing is for the NFA to open camp early, in order for the coaching crew to learn and understand the players.

“The coaching crew should be afforded the opportunity to get to know the players for good results,” she said.

The DFB last hosted a European Championship in 1988. We believe we have a good chance as the DFB has always given an excellent account of itself to FIFA and UEFA when hosting major tournaments in the past.

According to the DFB, the bid for 2024 will have no impact on Munichís application to host matches at Euro 2020 — which is to be played across 13 different European cities.

Emmanuel Emenike

has played in Russia and South Africa. He has been widely linked with a move to the popular English Premier League.

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Fergie Book Part Of Legacy

aggressive because to lose after such a long run undefeated was not acceptable. That’s why everyone was frustrated.”

Ferguson’s suggestion that Wenger had ‘shown his soft side’ with his signings in recent years was accepted by the Arsenal boss, but he admitted his failure to sign powerful midfield performers was a matter of coincidence.

ARSENAL’s manager Arsene Wenger has defended Alex Ferguson’s decision to publish his much discussed autobiography, which devoted an entire chapter to the enduring rivalry the former Manchester United manager enjoyed with the long-serving Arsenal boss.

While Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers and Swansea boss Michael Laudrup criticised Ferguson for revealing dressingroom secrets from his time as United boss, Wenger suggested his old rival had every right to publish his version of events and hinted he may be tempted to write his own memoirs when his career draws to a close.

“I don’t plan to write my own book at the moment, but maybe one day I will be inspired to do that,” said Wenger. “I do not say never, but at the moment I don’t have that need at all.

“The past is his history and history has to be written. It’s good. It is a legacy of his career and I think that is important. He was for 26, 27 years Manchester United manager. He was not anonymous. It is huge what he has achieved.

“Honestly it is difficult for me to answer any suggestion about this book as I have not read it, yet. I will read it, but at the moment I am a bit busy.”

Wenger went on to speak about his recollections of the famous clash with United at Old Trafford in 2004, when Arsenal’s 49game unbeaten run came to an end amid fractious scenes in a post-match fracas in the tunnel, with pizza allegedly thrown at Ferguson by Arsenal players.

“The ‘Pizzagate’ incident, it was a little unrest in the corridor,” Wenger recalled. “It was [the match after] the 49th game [of Arsenal’s unbeaten run], refereed by Mike Riley at the time, who is now responsible for the referees and I think on that day he had not his best day.

That brought a lot of frustration.

“Rio Ferdinand should have been off after 20 minutes and that is what created all the problems in the corridor. Yes it was

start his coaching career at the Gunners.

Wenger welcomed both of his sentiments, as he accepted that the likes of Robin van Persie left the club as they feared Arsenal were not equipped to compete for the major honours in the game.

“Some players [who left], sometimes were impatient,” Wenger said. “When they reach near 30, if they feel they cannot win the Premier League, they go somewhere where they feel they can win it.

“If we added all the players who have left, I would have a selection problem, but I still have one because I have plenty of good players now.

“Cesc was a different situation because he left Barcelona when he was 16, he is a Barcelona boy and Barcelona had the best team in the world. It was a little bit different.

“I hope he is right that he will come back one day. It shows that he has kept fond memories of this club and I am happy that players who have his

Kompany Is Important For City CHELSEA’s winger Eden Hazard believes Vincent Kompany’s availability will be key when they face Manchester City tomorrow.

The defender is currently recovering from a groin injury and may not feature when the two sides meet in a premier League clash at Stamford Bridge.

“Kompany is really important for City because when he plays they win and when he doesn’t play they lose, often,” said Hazard.

“We know his quality and we’re lucky to have him in the Belgium team. I prefer to play with players like that than against them.”

Chelsea will go into this game having won in the

v v v v v v

Arsenal Cardiff City Everton Stoke City West Brom Albion Fulham

Tomorrow’s Fixtures Sunderland Swansea City Tottenham Hotspur Chelsea

ARSENAL’s manager Arsene Wenger has admitted some of his star players left the club in recent years because “they did not believe they could win the Premier League” under his command.

Fabregas said that Arsenal Wenger was responding to fell short in their hunt for a suggestions from former trophy during his time at the Gunners midfielder Cesc club due to a lack of selfFabregas that a lack of belief confidence in the dressing was one of the reasons for the room, while the Barcelona trophy drought at the Emirates player also hinted that he Stadium. would relish the chance to

Cesc Fabregas

Today’s Matches Crystal Palace Norwich City Aston Villa Manchester United Liverpool Southampton

Wenger Would Welcome Fabregas Return

v v v v

Newcastle United West Ham United Hull City Manchester City

domestic league as well as the Champions league and the Belgian is hopeful that they will increase their winning streak.

“We are playing well at the moment and are in

form,” added Hazard. “We have won at Norwich; we won at home against Cardiff.

“We have got a good dynamic. I hope we can continue like this because this weekend we have

Mourinho Fined By FA CHELSEA’s manager Jose Mourinho has been fined £8,000 by the Football Association after opting against contesting his improper conduct charge following Saturday’s 4-1 win against Cardiff.

Mourinho was charged by the FA earlier this week as a result of his behaviour during the game at Stamford Bridge.

The Blues boss had been sent to the stands over a disagreement with the officials, which appeared to be sparked when referee Anthony Taylor warned Branislav Ivanovic against timewasting when taking a throw-in.

It had been suggested that Mourinho would be handed a touchline ban for his outburst, but, after admitting a breach of FA rules, he has been given the standard fine handed

out by English football’s governing body.

An FA statement on its official website read: “Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has been fined £8,000 after he admitted a breach of FA Rule E3 in that his behaviour in or around the 69th minute of his side’s game against Cardiff City on 19 October 2013 amounted to improper conduct.

“The fine is the standard penalty for the offence.”

Mourinho spoke out on the subject after Tuesday night’s 3-0 win against Schalke, saying: “What the referee wrote is true.

I was not aggressive, I was not offensive. I just had a disagreement.

That in the game is resolved with ‘shut up and sit down’. [You] don’t need to go to the stands.

“I accept the fine and against Manchester City I can work.”

another big, important match.

intelligence and knowledge will come back some day. I will watch them from up there somewhere.”

Fabregas also suggested that Arsenal’s success in signing Mesut Ozil had changed the mindset of the club.

The Germany international, though, has been forced to deal with his first taste of criticism since his arrival after his mixed display in the Champions League defeat against Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday.

However, Wenger has revealed that Ozil was unwell in the run-up to the game, as he offered an explanation for his performance.

“He was sick before the game and he was not at his best on the night,” Wenger said. “He said he felt alright, but in the two days before he had a virus and you could see that physically he was not at his best.

“Dortmund was organised to stop us from playing our game and one of their game plans was to stop Ozil to get in the game. They did that well.

Suarez Relishing Sturridge Partnership LIVERPOOL’s striker Luis Suarez believes his partnership with teammate Daniel Sturridge will get better with time.

The Uruguayan formed a memorable partnership with Klaas-Jan Huntelaar while he was at Ajax Amsterdam and he believes his current link with Sturridge has the potential to be stronger.

“Three or four years or more ago, when I played with Klaas-Jan Huntelaar at Ajax, he had a very good partnership with me,” Suarez told the club’s website.

“Now, with Daniel we are

Jose Mourinho

trying our best and we can improve.“Maybe in a few years I will be able to say my best partnership was with Daniel Sturridge, especially if we can continue to progress.

“I am so happy because when you have a very good striker, and a very good partner, for defenders it is difficult because they have to give their attention to two players - not just one.

“If maybe two defenders come towards me, this creates space for Danny. This is important not just for me, but for the team and our confidence.

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