Nigerian observer 29 11 2014 by Nigerian Observer

THE NIGERIAN

Weekend

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2014

PUBLISHED SINCE OCTOBER 6, 1990 • Vol. XI NO. 3,264 • SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 20 14

• N 100.00

Lawlessness

CMYK

CDAs Abandon Mandate, Opt For

Destruction And Violence By MIKE OSAROGIAGBON

HE search for the greatest happiness for the greatest number has often been described as a collective effort, involving individual contributions of members of the society towards meaningful improvement and sustainable development in all spheres of human life. From the earliest periods of human history, communities, as parts of larger societies, have sought to improve the standard of life of its members through self-help efforts usually referred to as community development initiatives. The people identify their needs, choose what they want, and take cooperative actions to satisfy those needs. Pages 4 - 5

We Don’t Pray Through Any Intermediary - Ohen Osa, Holy Aruosa Cathedral

PAGE 29

“So, the woman went outside and brought a cane. They really beat me up until I was very weak. She then took me to one of the rooms and tied me down there. She tied my hands to the back of my head and tied my legs separately so that they were open. That very day, 30 men used me in the room where I was chained. - Page 3

THE SUNDAY

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2014

NEWS

Afemai Cultural Festival Holds

THE Afemai cultural festival organized by Sam Osiakpeme Nig. Ltd, project Nolly wood and Afemai connect held recently at Auchi the administrative Headquarters of

Etsako West Local Government Area. Declaring the ceremony open the Acting chairman Etsako west local Government Hon. Alasa Idaro Muhammed Stressed

Role Of Sec Schools Principals Stressed

the need for such programmes geared towards cultural revival of our rich heritage in the wake of progressive decline. He added that this realization informed the hosting of second

world Black and Africa Festival of Arts and culture FESTAL in 1977. He then commended the initiators of the Festival for their bold initiative that is worthy of emulation.

Owere Elaba revealed that “Oghidian” as a deity has enormous powers to solve spiritual problems, heal the sick and protect the people against evil. He noting that the festival will last for seven days with prayers for protection offered, he urged all members of Osokpikan society in Edo State to turn out enmasse to join the Oba of Benin, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo to celebrate the 2014 annual

Igue festival. He used the opportunity to advise youths in the state not to make themselves ready tools for violence in the forthcoming general election, since politics is not “a do or die” while calling on all well meaning citizens of the state to support the peace initiatives of the Oba of Benin.

Osokpikan Holds New Yam Festival Nov 29 THE Osokpikan Society Incorporated, Evbomodu chapter in Ikpoba-Ohka Local Government Area of Edo State is set to celebrate the New Yam festival today Saturday, November 29, 2014. One of the leaders of the society in Edo State and Head of the Evbomodu chapter, Owere Iyekoretin Elaba said, the New Yam festival is celebrated every year to usher in peace and good tidings in Benin

Kingdom. Owere Elaba stated that during the festival, prayers are offered to the ancestors and the “Oghidian” deity for peace and development of Benin Kingdom and Edo State in general. He said traditional medicines are given to people freely to solve spiritual problems, and other ailments irrespective of nature of the sickness or disease.

2015: Tony Kabaka Cautions Aspirants, Leaders Against Heating Up Polity By LUCKY EFESE AHEAD of the forthcoming All Progressives Congress, APC Primaries across the state, a chieftain of APC in Ordeo and senior Special Assistant to the Edo State Governor on Neighbourhood Watch, Comrade Tony Kabaka Adun, has cautioned all the aspirants and some APC leaders against heating up the polity in the state by claming that some aspirants have been anointed by the Governor and some leaders. Comrade Adun, who spoke to newsmen in his office in Benin City, was quoted to have said that some aspirants are using the name of our pragmatic and consciention Governor to say that they have been endorsed for the plum jobs and that they were the sole candidates, even if it was obvious that the selection of candidates, popularly known as Party primaries will commence on the 1st to 8th of December He pointed out that the humble Governor, who is number one leader of the APC and the father of all aspirants in the state could not have anointed any aspirants when he knew that democracy is practically based on popular demand by the people. He warned those using the name of the Governor to desist as that could lead them loosing the primaries. He urged every aspirant

under the platform of APC, to strategies towards winning the ticket, just as he saw that Governor Adams Oshiomhole dose not have favourite aspirant because he wants who will build and consolidate on the achievements so far recorded in the state. In described the Governor as an accountable and transparent leader, whose political disposition in the state have impacted positively on the lives of the people for these few years of his administration. He congratulated the Governor and the good people of the state on the commissioning of some viable projects in the state and prayed for God’s

intervention upon him so that he could successfully end what he had started well in the state. On the same vein, the chairman of Akugbe Venture, a tax consultant firm to the Edo State Government, described one of the leading political Icons and former minister of states for works under PDP, Chris Engr. Chief Ogiemwonyi, JP as a man with abundant wisdom, who always wants to distinguish himself in whatever he does. Comrade Kabaka posited that he was a man that believes in action and described his move to APC as a practical demonstration of his passion for positive change in governance.

By BERNADETTE IDALU

GODWIN Ehigiamusoe of the Lift Above Poverty Organisation (LAPO) has been given honourary fellowship Award by the Institute of Attitudinal change Managers. The recipient who was honoured due to his social and e c o n o m i c empowerment of the masses through his organisation was represented by Moses Ehigiamusoe who pledged an behalf of

Police Exonerates Self was investigating NIGERIAN Police has exonerated itself from reported lack of diligent prosecution that resulted in dismissing the case against Nyanya bombings accused, Aminu Sadiq Ogwuche by an Abuja Federal High Court on Tuesday. A statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, Emmanuel Ojukwu yesterday, stated that at no time did

the Nigeria Police arraign the suspect in court for terrorism related offences. “Moreover, the purported prosecution/ arraignment by the Police could not have happened as the Police could not prosecute a suspect it never arrested, never investigated nor had in its custody. “It would be recalled that the Department of State Security (DSS), that had intelligence on the Nyanya Bombing and

He further stated that the role of principals of secondary schools as builders of the Nation being trainers of all the segments of the society, cannot not be over-emphasized. “Education is the main axis upon which every other social economic activities revolve” he added. He then on behalf of the executive chairman Etsako West Local Government Hon. Hassan Kadiri, declared the conference formally open.

LAPO Boss Honoured

Ogwuche Prosecution Flop

By JOSES SEDE

THE recognition of the significant contribution of principals of secondary schools in the development of education in the nation has been stressed. This view was made known at the conference of all Nigeria conference of principals of secondary schools” held at the Council Hall Auchi yesterday by the acting chairman Etsako West, Hon. Alasa Idaro Muhamed.

it, made a formal request to the Nigeria Police to assist in extraditing one Aminu Sadiq Ogwuche to Nigeria from Sudan, through the Interpol channel of which the Nigeria Police is well versed. “It was at this stage and for this reason that the Nigeria Police Force filed charges against the suspected fugitive Aminu Sadiq Ogwuche, based on information that he fled to Sudan.

the establishment to continue the fight against poverty of the down trodden masses. The institute which was having its first and award ceremony lecture, honoured ten fellows, and eighteen professional fellows to beef up the already existing three full members and two associate members. Jonathan Nikori, the Director General of the Institute stated that due to the degeneration of

ethical values in society there a rose the need to identify, train and retrain change drivers because of their capacity to touch and change lives positively. Though it was a wake up call for award recipients to entrench positive values in society, the director did not fail to sound the warning that , erring fellows would face disciplinary action or possible dismembership if found wanting.

Late Princess Aisagbonbuomwan For Burial THE family of Evbokpolor and Ogie-Ohobe of Benin has announced the demise of princess Igue Aisagbonbuomwan (Nee Ebokpolor and OgeOhovbe) on September 10, 2014 at the age of 112 years. She is survived by seven children, five step children, 33 grand children, 13 great grand children, three great, grand children and five daughters-in- law. Among the children are Mrs. Stella Igbinosa, Prince Chris A. Elaba, Elder Anthony A. Elaba, Hon. Vincent E.A.

Elaba, Prince Osayemwenre Dick, Mrs. Helen Osazuwa and Prince Otamere Dick, The step children are Mrs. Helen Osagiede, Mrs. Victoria Aiguokhian, Owere Jyekoretin A. Elaba, Mr. Johnbull A. Elaba and Rev. Eric A. Elaba. In a release signed by Chris Aisagbonbuomwan for the families, the corpse will leave Jess Royal Hospital, Benin City for her residence at No. 13, Eromosele street, Evbomodu quarters, along Benin-Auchi Road, Benin City, Edo State for interment.

THE NIGERIAN

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2014

C ime

Shocking Confession Of Sex Slave “So, the woman went outside and brought a cane. They really beat me up until I was very weak. She then took me to one of the rooms and tied me down there. She tied my hands to the back of my head and tied my legs separately so that they were open. That very day, 30 men used me in the room where I was chained.” The experience of Ifekoya Adejoke is as harrowing as it is heartbreaking. Lured by a false promise of ‘greener pastures’ abroad, the young Nigerian ended up a merciless victim of human trafficking, chained to a bed in a dingy, dirty Libyan room and forced to sexually satisfy up to 30 men in a single night... Adejoke, a Lagos indigene, explained that an impoverished background led her to survive by hawking water as a young girl before she became an apprentice hair stylist. “When I lost my dad, his family claimed my mum was responsible for his death,” the 21 year old tearfully said, sharing her experiences at a popular church in Lagos. “They left us with her and ever since then, she has

Ifekoya

been the one catering for us.” Aged 19, a middle-aged lady walked into the shop where she was styling and approached her with an unusual proposal. “She came to me and said there was a country she was staying in and if she takes me to that country, I would make money and would be able to cater for my family.” “My happiness knew no bounds,” she recalled, her judgement veiled by the blind promise of greener pastures. “I said, ‘Finally, an angel has come’. Unknown to me, she was a devil in human’s clothing.” Just one week later, without even informing her mum or siblings, Ifekoya was in a vehicle with the mysterious lady en route to Libya. “She said when we got there, we would board a

flight to Spain where I would start work as a stylist”. The long journey by road through the infamous Sahara Desert was nothing short of hellish. “We were seeing dead bodies strewn on the ground,” she reminisced, shuddering at the grisly recollection. “Even the vehicle that was following us directly passed on top of a buried bomb; the vehicle just exploded and everybody there died.” Ifekoya witnessed scenes far too horrific to repeat as masked men attacked a vehicle close to hers, beating the occupants to a stupor and raping the women inside. Finally making it to Libya’s capital city of Tripoli, Adejoke was taken by the woman to a duplex. The first glimpse of her new home was a shock to behold. “I

Ifekoya met five Nigerian girls there who were half-naked,” she stated. Smiling wryly at her bewildered confusion, the woman said she would ‘explain everything tomorrow’. “The following morning, when I woke up, she brought some underwear for me and said these were the clothes I must use to work,” the young Nigerian narrated to the sober crowd. As realisation dawned to what she had unknowingly entangled herself in, Ifekoya bluntly refused. “That afternoon, people said they wanted to meet me because I was new but I protested,” she continued. “So, the woman went outside and brought a cane. They really beat me up until I was very weak. She then took me to one of the rooms and tied me down there. She tied my hands to the back of my head and tied my legs separately so that they were open. That very day, 30 men used me in the room where I was chained”. Shackled as a sex slave alone in the dark, dirty room save for the ravenous men who forced themselves on her, Ifekoya’s willpower slowly began wilting. “After two weeks, the other girls came to me and said that if I didn’t accept to do this, she would tie me

down for two years. When I knew the whole thing was like that, I just accepted.” Informed that she would have to repay a total of $9,000 to the devilish lady to ‘cover the costs’ of her travel to Libya, the young Nigerian prostituted for almost one year before finally ‘earning’ enough to ‘buy’ her freedom. However, as hope finally beckoned that she could leave such hellish lifestyle, fate struck another venomous blow. “Immediately I planned to leave the place, I started falling sick – seriously sick.” Nearly one year of sleeping with multiple men on a nightly basis had taken its toll on her young body. “To my greatest surprise, my womb fell. I had to be taken to the hospital where they operated on me to remove it.” Feeble and practically penniless, Ifekoya now faced the ominous challenge of making enough money for the journey back to Nigeria. Her options were limited. “At the end of the day, I had no choice. I still had to resort to the same thing to come back to Nigeria,” she admitted. Eventually ending up in another brothel, she began saving up for the return leg of her nightmare journey, after encountering a fellow Nigerian prostitute who had

a similar story as a victim of deception and exploitation, the duo struck a strong friendship and resolved to At this point, they made what tumed out to be a life’ changing discovery. It was when we were in one of our friend’s house that we were interoduced to Emmanuel TV, she expalined. “W started watchign and praying along with it.” Almost 2 year aftr her interepid trip across the Sahara Desert. Ifekoya and her friend embarked on the jorney back to Nigeria, ±inspired by the clips they had seen on Emmanuel TV. The television station of controversial Nigerian Pastor TB Joshua. They decided to make The Synagogue. Church Of All Nations (SCOAN) their first port of call. After receiving prayer for ‘deliverance’ from the ‘spirit of prostitution’ and hearing of their sordid stories, Joshua decided to give the ex-prostitutes N200,000 ($1,200) each to restart their lives. “God has kept me alive to pass this message across the youth ‘the young Nigerian emotionally concluded, admonishing her age mates not to fall prey to the same tactics used to lure her into slavery.

THE SUNDAY

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2014

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Vandalised House at Aruogba

CDAs Abandon Mandate

-Opt for Violence, destruction And Vandalism By MIKE OSAROGIAGBON

However, distressing events in recent times have reemphasized the rising need to revisit and reconsider the basis for the establishment and existence of Community Development Associations (CDAs) as these bodies originally charged with carrying out developmental activities have abandoned their mandate and opted for lawlessness, vandalism and destruction. On sighting policemen and our Crime Correspondent, a middleaged woman tip-toed from hiding, stood in front of a burnt building and wept uncontrollably last Saturday afternoon, November 22, 2014, when armed thugs attacked Aruogba community in Oredo Local Government Arae of Edo State. She went behind the building to ascertain what was spared by the blaze, unfortunately, all were reduced to ashes. Relics of plastic chairs, canopies, wheel-barrow, motorcycle, refrigerators and a delivery van packed in front of the building revealed the source of her agony. Pointing at a shop in the house, she stated, “this is my store, this building belongs

to my husband. He is not a member of CDA, he nor dey hold meeting with them. i don’t know why they burnt his house”. Even when policemen and our Crime Reporter were leaving the spot, she stood there, gazing and wailing. In another location in the crisis ravaged community, a woman who was equally hysterical with tears flowing freely, said she was looking for her husband and son. She said all of them lived together in their house before the madness erupted but missed one another while escaping the invasion. “I am looking for my son and husband. I don’t know their whereabouts. I have lost property, but to lose my son and husband is what i cannot endure. I over heard the gunmen matching them

away with commands...Move now! Or i fire you”. She sobbed. She did not however spare the police officers as she asked rythorically where they were during the onslought. “Police! una dey this Benin?, you mean you did not hear the ta! ta!! ta!!!, to! to!! to!!!, gbum! gbum!! gbum!!!, gbosa!!!?”. She roared. Indeed, Saturday, November 22, 2014 was a day many residents of Aruogba wished it never came owing to the CDA induced crises that engulfed the locality. No fewer than five residential buildings and six exotic cars where set ablaze while windshield of over seven vehicles smashed by the rampaging hoodlums. A luxury two-flat bungalow with corrugated roofing sheet said to belong to the Chairman, Community Development Association (CDA), Mr. Wilfred Aiyamenkhue was among the affected buildings. Electrical appliances, chandeliers and other household property

including four flashy cars covered in the compound were not spared. It was scooped that the occupants escaped death by the whiskers. In fact, there was nothing to recover. The panic and confusion that greeted the violence caused many parents and children to run helter-skelter for dear life. But one person allegedly lost his life in the fracas. Amid all these, a man who simply identified himself as “Old Soldier” said the crisis provided him the opportunity to demonstrate to his wife and children his military training. “Old Soldier” who was visibly contented with his acclaimed self defence techniques told our correspondent that on hearing the sporadic shooting, he swiftly evacuated his family to the back of his building from where they watched over 40 armed youths paraded the streets like soldiers on operation show of force. He disclosed that within few minutes of the shooting, the streets were empty. Commercial tricycle operators popularly known

as Keke NAPE immediately withdrew their services. True to type, that crisis in Aruogba Community last Saturday replicated similar cases being recorded in many areas across Edo State. Just last September two brothers were shot during CDA/elders meeting at Okabere town in Ikpoba-Okha local government area. Azagba, Okhoromi, UtiOgheghe, Ebo, Evbuovboba and Evbuoriaria communities, to mention but few, had at one time or another be engulfed by similar violence. It is either inter or intracommunal violence which in most circumstances are perpetrated with maximum impunity. What actually caused the Aruogba community unrest? Our correspondent scooped two separate visions. The two sides however agreed that it was a case of protracted leadership battle in Aruogba CDA. It was learnt that the battle involved two key players, one Mr. Wilfred Aiyamenkhue said to have been the CDA chairman for over 15 years running and

one Mr. Okoro Ogbaretin allegedly elected by elders in the community to take over their CDA affairs. Mr. Wilfred was said to have approached a Benin High Court which allegedly upturned the elders election and reinstated him for another four years. It was further gathered that this did was not to be accepted by Okoro and his loyalists. Contacted, the embattled CDA boss Mr. Wilfred Aiyamenkhue stated that after the court ruled in his favour, Okoro and his gang invaded the community in protest of the court judgement. Mr. Okoro Ogbaretin while dismissing his rival’s claim stated that on that fateful day, Mr. Wilfred stormed the town with armed thugs and killed one of his aides in the process of sporadic shooting. The head (Odionwere) of Aruogba community Pa Ewansiha Owieadolor stated that the community resolved to elect Okoro Ogbaretin as the new chairman since Mr. Wilfred Aiyamenkhue has ruled for 15 years. Continued on page 5

THE NIGERIAN

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2014

e “In some localities where government is yet to fully

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cover in its developmental strides, landlords and individuals levy themselves to maintain electricity, roads, schools, hospitals to mention but few while CDA chairmen and their executive members cruise in latest cars and live in fortified mansion”.

CDAs

Continued from page 4

He added that their decision to remove Wilfred was informed by series of court cases arising from sales of land against the community. He further said that the Mr. Wilfred went and obtained court order reinstating him but the faction led by the new chairman resisted him. Pa Ewensiha further that his son was wounded in the fracas and taken to police station. The Commissioner of Police, Edo State Mr. Foluso Adebanjo confirmed arrest of nine persons in connection with the violence. Mr. Adebanjo also revealed that a gun and live ammunitions were recovered. Unconfirmed sources however maintained that the suspects have been charged to court.

The law enforcement agencies are well aware that many so-called chairmen of CDA and their loyalists carry loaded guns while on “duty” but they turn their eyes away for God knows reason. When crisis like this erupts, the security agents wound act only for temporary peace, after which culprits are left off the hook “due to lack of evidence”. It is on record that most communal disturbances are caused by CDA or youth chairmen who wanted to remain in power after the end of their tenure. They employ terror, brutal force and all manner of incivility in their dealing with prospective land developers and among themselves. The viable place of elders in the community has been hijacked to pave way for looting and

Comrade Adams Oshiomhole

misappriopration of monies that acrue to the community from sales of land and other levy collected from developers forcely. Investigations revealed that hardly would one find CDA-financed project in community around the state capital. In some localities where government is yet to fully cover in its developmental

stride, landlords and individuals levy themselves to maintain electricity, roads, schools, hospitals to mention but few while CDA chairmen and their executive members cruise in latest cars and live in fortified mansion. The embattled Aruogba community is an example of a locality that is rich but yet very poor. The major road

Folusho Adebanjo, Edo State Police

that connects it with Ogba Housing Estate, Off Airport Road, Benin City is begging for attention. Hospital, market, schools, water, electricity, access road and other basic amenities that make life meaningful and place habitable are not readily available. One wonders therefore what the CDA stands for in such a community. Community Development Association (CDA), as the name implies is by all standard meant to attract and execute developmental projects in the community it operates. Anything short of this, amounts to deliberate deviation and criminal strategy to covert community common wealth to personal property. This is the point relevant authorities should step in to prevent lingering communal brouhaha being experienced in many parts of the state. The palace of the Benin

Monarch, Enigie, the security agents and the Edo State Peace and Conflict Resolution led by Chief Eduwu Eghator should reexamine the structure, functions, duties and actions of CDAs in the state. The recruitment of thugs and acquisition of arms in whatever guise by some CDA members and stakeholders of communities should be discouraged. Illegal levy collection and land speculation should be fought with sincerity and transparency. The accounts of CDA should be regularly audited and the executive made to be accountable to elders and youths in the area. Whoever is elected to CDA executive should be made to understand that the transient nature of the office, and that membership of Community Development Association (CDA) is not license to criminality neither is it immunity against prosecution.

THE SUNDAY

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2014

n Badeh & The Fifth Columnist I sight IN a statement at a conference issued by the Chief Of Defence Staff (CDS) Air Marshal Alex Badeh on 8th October, 2014, described “Fifth Columnist” as moles in Nigerian Armed Forces responsible for the conflicting stories that emanates from the military to the media and members of the public. He went further to say, “if we know how many condolence messages he has received that his house was burnt that his whole village has been burnt but no Boko Haram has gone to his village”. Less than a month after he confidently made that statement his home town in Mubi, Adamawa state was captured by Boko Haram. After the attack and capture of his home town, reacting to questions by journalists on Tuesday 4th November 2014, Air Marshal Alex Badeh debunked claims that Nigerian armed forces were not capable of defeating Boko Haram insurgents in the North East, he sheepishly said, “if a CDS loses his home town, its same thing as losing Lagos, Enugu and other parts of the country”. In sane countries such comments can lead a Service chief to jail. If a Service chief who boasted earlier that his home town has

not been captured and blamed the fifth columnist for peddling such information comes out few weeks later to tell us capturing his home town is like capturing other states calls for questioning. On Monday 20th January 2014, Air Marshal Alex Badeh resumed office as Chief of Defence staff, speaking during the handing over ceremony, Mr. Badeh said he would do his best to contribute to the stability of the country. CDS Alex Badeh should have known by now his best is not good enough to rescue our nation from insurgency, Nigerians have lost confidence in him, he has made history in Nigeria by becoming the first serving service chief to have lost his home town to insurgents. Many are calling for his resignation but trust power drunk Nigerians, no matter what happens they can’t swallow their pride and humbly resign, they must stay till the end or bow out shamefully if they are ordered to resign. On the 1st of October 2014, the United States Secret Service Director, Julia Pierson, the first woman to lead the agency whose duty is to protect the president, his

By JOE ONWUKEME family, the vice president and former presidents resigned amid mounting criticism over series of security lapses, the major one was a breach on 19th September 2014 when an armed man climbed over the white house fence and made it deep into the executive mansion before being stopped. In her words: “I think its the best interest of the secret service if I step down, congress has last confidence in my ability to run the agency, its painful to leave as the agency is reeling from a significant security breach”. That’s a society where human beings respects the sanctity of their institutions, they take responsibility in any breach in their security, apologise and resign, but here in Nigeria, any breach in security lapse is a conspiracy theory. It is embarrassing to see our soldiers fleeing without firing a shot and abandoning their barracks when ever they are under attack. It hurts when ever I read or watch how innocent children, women, men are displaced and killed almost on daily basis in the North East.

How do our service chiefs feel when they hear such news? Nobody or group of persons should be allowed to inflict pains and take over some parts of our country, it is the duty of our government to take care of her citizens and defend its territory against external or internal invasion. It is only in Nigeria that the criteria for national honours to our service chiefs and other top security chiefs is just by the virtue of their offices not the impact or what they contributed in curbing insurgency and other security challenges. CDS Air Marshal Alex Badeh, Lt General Kenneth Minimah, IGP Suleiman Abba, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) and other service chiefs should be grateful to democracy, it is in our democracy that a rag tag terrorist group like Boko Haram will take over a battalion, capture some territories in our country, declare the captured territories their caliphate and nothing will happen, if it were in the military era, some of our service chiefs, both the retired

Chief of Defence, Badeh and active ones would either have been in jail or dead for such security lapses. What is happening now in our polity is what you get when you sacrifice credibility on the alter of sentiments, favouritism and ethnicity, until our service chiefs, politicians, law makers, political appointees etc starts to pursue the interest of Nigeria over their selfish interest, accepting responsibilities for their own negligence and do the need full when the need

arises, we may never get it right in this country. Air Marshal Alex Badeh has been humbled by the latest turn of events, who will he blame this time for the capture of his home town? The moles in the Nigerian Armed Forces he described as “Fifth Columnist” or the soldiers he said deserves to die for constructive mutiny against their officers? When a tree falls the sound of the fallen tree determines how big the tree is.

No Letting Up On Fight To End Polio AT a time the Ebola virus is fast spreading to other climes, with a recent case detected in Texas, it is apparent that Ebola is now a global disease. With over 3000 death recorded in West Africa alone, and as the number grows daily, there is the need for all to pull the necessary resources together in the eradication and spread of Ebola. While global effort against Ebola continues, we must not forget that though no viable vaccine has been fully certified by global health bodies, the disease is controllable through what Tom Frieden of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) calls “rapid, focused interventions”. The Ebola success story in Nigeria is worthy of mention here and with U.S officials taking a cue from the former in the hope of preventing the

By RAHEEM OLUWAFUNMINIYI transmission of the virus in the U.S, after Thomas Eric Duncan was diagnosed with Ebola in Dallas, Ebola hopefully can be contained if extensive response is pursued. To understand how Nigeria went around the Ebola conundrum, it is important to note, beyond the usual untenable arguments, that the on-going polio campaign the country in the last couple of years have engaged in contributed in many ways to the country’s success at impeding the virus. How viable is this fact? According to the Guardian, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation was reported to have built in 2012 an emergency command centre

to assess the presence of Polio in the region, an initiative which assisted Nigeria to proactively contain the Ebola spread. Since Patrick Sawyer’s diagnosis, Nigerian healthcare personnel, employing emergency operations, had confirmed 19 cases in addition to one probable case. By late September, health officials had identified 894 contacts with those cases and conducted 18,500 visits with those who had potentially been infected to check for Ebola symptoms. Since then, no new cases have been recorded. It is today clear that Nigeria’s effort at containing Ebola is a pure indication that it can also deal with some of

its other health challenges, most importantly polio. Polio is severe mostly because of its lasting physical disability on its victims. These individuals face daily challenges that mostly impede them from living normal lives. Significant progress in the global effort to eradicate the disease has however been made, with 99 per cent reduction since 1988. Nigeria, Pakistan and Afghanistan remain polio endemic countries. While Pakistan recently immunised 34.2 million children or 95 per cent of all children below five across the country, with further hope of immunisation, Nigeria’s effort has been remarkable. According to Ted Turner in a recent article, Nigeria has so far recorded just six polio cases in two states in 2014 which is over 85 per cent reduction. The article observed that more than 75 per cent of all children have received the oral polio vaccine in eight northern Nigerian states, a proof of the significant progress made on polio. Interestingly, the effectiveness of Nigeria’s polio initiatives and its dramatic reduction has been hinged on the support of stakeholders (traditional and religious leaders) at all levels of government. In fact, Mr. Turner’s article aptly noted that “Their commitment to ending polio…was clear, and they have delivered on [it] in the intervening years.” While Mr. Turner’s view that “Nigeria’s progress on polio is… fragile” and that “there is reason to be concerned about a decline in high-level over-

sight at the state and local government levels” is acknowledged, this writer is however, of the view that government at all levels, including traditional and religious leaders cannot do it alone. Hence, apart from the significant efforts of UN agencies like World Health Organisation and UNICEF, Rotary International, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the United Nations Foundation, governments in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, a number of others too have taken the polio end game seriously. As Africa’s only endemic country, few Nigerians or organisations have made polio eradication an important task. One of such Nigerian is Sir Emeka Offor. Through the Sir Emeka Offor Foundation (SEOF) both moral and financial support has been given to a wide range of the polio initiatives. Sir Offor’s resolve to wipe out polio from Nigeria remains utterly indubitable. In August 2013, he cemented his commitment to the END POLIO NOW with a grand donation of $1.3 million to Rotary International in Lisbon, Portugal. At the PolioPlus presentation, he stated that the turning point for him was when he received word that his earlier donation of $250,000 was applied immediately to the on-going efforts in Global Polio Eradication Initiative. Sir Offor, the first Rotary International Polio Ambassador in Nigeria presented another donation

of $1 million to Rotary International PolioPlus campaign this year as part of his commitment “to provide resources that support polio immunization efforts in Nigeria and throughout the world.” Together, the amount donated to Rotary towards Polio Eradication by the Foundation totalled $3.1 million, an amount matched by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation 2 for 1, bringing the total to $9.3 million. While we recognise some of the salient points raised in Mr. Turner’s article, we make bold to say that the dramatic and successful reduction of polio cases in Nigeria in the last couple of years is mostly part of the direct financial intervention of Sir Offor. Though the Nigerian Government has not officially recognized Sir Offor or the Foundation as a distinct partner in the Global Emergency Eradication Initiative, and considers such funding as simply coming from Rotary International, yet the Foundation’s continued involvement in recent projects with the Ministry of Health, WHO and UNICEF continues to reflect SEOF as core partners in the polio eradication project. The dramatic success recorded in the fight against Polio in Nigeria is unprecedented. With the level of huge funding among other Polio related initiatives, Nigeria’s polio status will sooner end. With 95 per cent reduction in polio cases, we are now this close to ending polio.

THE NIGERIAN

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2014

Politics Prince Steve Alao To

Edo People

Vote For Sustainability Of Change Being Experienced In The State Immensely articulate and vibrant, his progressive temperament is easility discernible in his closeness to the grassroots and in the manner he carries people along in the political process. An unrepentant admirer of comrade Governor, Adams Oshiomhole the Chairman of SUBEB, Prince Steve Alao is an interviewer’s delight and a respectable voice in the realm of articulations on social, economic and political issues. In this interview with Richard Imhoagene and Grace Osagie, he predicts victory for APC in forthcoming elections. Excerpts;

Chief Steve Alao, SUBEB Chairman

Recently there was a mega rally at Fugar. How can you assess the event? I want to thank you very much for the question. I am not the one to assess myself, because I was major participant in that rally, and it was meant to galvanize and mobilize party faithful, to reassure them of the party’s commitment to maintain its place in Fugar, Edo North, and Edo State as a whole. It is the people and the media like you that can assess it. However, I believe the success of such a political rally can be measured by the amount of popular support it receives. The number of youths, men and women that came out to support the rally is a testament to the fact that the people accept APC. It is a confirmation of the fact that they have accepted the new life that the APC has brought to Edo State, and they have expressed their commitment to ensuring that the progressive kind of government continues to move the state to greater heights. I can say categorically that the really was 99.9% successful. In view of the coming elections and considering the importance of Fugar in the politics of Edo North, can you confidently say that the APC has a majority of the support of the people in Fugar? You see, one thing that makes me glad is the fact that our people are no longer deceived by propaganda. They are now politically aware, and they can see the difference in governance that the APC has brought to the state. Like the Governor has said, projects done by our party are those

Chief Steve Alao, SUBEB Chairman that you can eye mark. They are physical projects that you can see and feel. The people know what they want. The practical governance of the APC, championed by the Comrade Governor, Adams Oshiomhole is what they want. Development is what they want, and that is what the APC is offering. I can tell you today that the average Fugar man or woman is a strong supporter of the APC because they believe in APC. The Governor recently marked six years in office. How would you rate his performance as Governor of the state in the last six year? Let us call a spade a spade. I will start with the area that directly concerns me. Education in Edo State has taken a new turn. Gone are the days when they used to say that there was no money to renovate schools, construct new classrooms, or provide new chairs and tables for our students. Oshiomhole has proved them wrong. We can now see massive reconstruction and renovation of schools all around the state. Our children can now learning under conductive environments, red roots all over the state and so on. You will agree with me that practically all sectors of the state have been upgraded by the governor. They are there for you to see. We don’t believe in talking too much. The people of the state can attest to this. Oshiomhole is a people-oriented Governor and he has really done well. I believe there’s much more to expect from him in the next two years. How do you see politicians

who are disconnected from the grassroots but want to get their votes? Well, it has been a tradition for some individuals in some political parties to do such. All I will say to them is if you choose to be disconnected from your people at the grassroots, others will get connected to them. This is one very important factor in the APC. We don’t just visit the grassroots, we stay in touch because we are always with them. What are the chances of APC In Edo State come 2015? APC is the leading party in Edo State. You have to understand that political parties do not win elections, it’s the populace that determines that. Its not everybody that belongs to a political party, our party is here to bring change and for the average Nigerian the indices of change are there. When you look at the indices of change you will be able to judge for yourself, Most especially the young ones, APC should be their party and I believe that with the leadership of APC, they are men of integrity that will bring about a change in this country. So it’s not about rebranding yourself when you yourself have not changed. There are credible Nigerians who mean well for this nation. Going back to Edo State, we have had governors in Edo State but Oshiomhole has made credible change compared to previous leaders we have had in Edo State. So there are still credible leaders like my leader of Edo State

and I believe in his leadership and I believe he will be able to add value to the leadership at the federal level. So the idea that all politicians are the same is not visible in Edo State as APC is delivering and the people can attest to the difference in governance, comparing past and present government in the state. The last time we spoke you sounded very optimistic about Oshiomhole’s intention to run for presidency. If I may quote you correctly you said the world is awaiting the Oshimhole’s phenomenon to be unleashed on Nigerians, is there any disappointment to recent development? Well a man must have his aspiration, My wish and prayer is for him to become the president of this country. I believe because I have worked closely with him and I know he can take this country to our promised land and that is my personal belief. And of course we cannot force an aspiration on a person but in my opinion if Nigerians have the opportunity to have him to run he will change this nation. We have all seen what he has done in Edo State and if he decides to run, he will save this nation because this nation needs to be saved. Your message to Edo people? I believe Edo people now understand the role of government and can choose for themselves credible leaders. They have their voter’s cards to choose these leaders. Now you cannot deceive an Edo man anymore. My advise to them is that they should vote for sustainability of the change being experienced in the state.

THE SUNDAY

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2014

Landmark THE drumbeats are underway, the birds do sing as best as they can. The body can’t go numb and the feet cannot grow weary as they dance on the rapturous ecstasy. It is true that great people are celebrated every day, but history will not forgive humanity if it fails to recognize special days in the lives of special people. Certainly, the earth quake, the clouds burst open in cyclonic shouts. Even the sun smiled in radiating brilliance. Mankind was convinced by the remarking events of that day that something phenomenal had happened. Nature itself announced the birth of a woman whose destiny would change the course of history forever. When Dr. (Mrs.) Philipa Omamhe Idogho was born on that significant day of November, surrounding witness knew she should be great, but their clouded and consumed minds could not fathom the immensity of greatness clenched within her palm, neither could they conceive the fortunes that she brought along. A true leader does not really need a title to exude best standard leadership quality. A true leader must follow his people because he is their servant. A true leader must understand the concept of leadership and that properly defines leadership in its actual sense. Dr. (Mrs.) P. O. Idogho has defined herself as a leader who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way. She has become increasingly progressive, creating a style of leadership many in her class would prefer they do not contemplate. For almost seven years as a Rector, she has been able to combine intelligence and brilliance to rally human and material resources to achieve p r e d e t e r m i n e d developmental objectives in Auchi Polytechnic. Now Auchi Poly has left the brinks to become one of the topmost developed higher institutions in the country. Yes, she has indeed distinguished herself as a leadership example for future Nigerians. She marks her birthday this 29th day of November. Her impact and selfless service to humanity are unmeasurable. Her administrative prowess

and leadership style have earned her the respect and admiration of the average individual, the affluent, and even the government, attracting several accolades, honours and names befitting of a true champion. Some call her the Amazon, others call her a complete disciplinarian, and some others call her the goal-getter. She is smart, brilliant and resultoriented. She is a master planner, an innovator, a renovator, and a passionate and committed leader. She is driven by development and a predilection for making things better. This woman is adorned with elegance, and she emits an air of quality, basked in euphoria of congenial gracefulness. Her simplicity is an irony in the face of corruption. She is a no-nonsense fellow, and yet the most adorable, playful and humble woman of her pedestal. With

Dr. (Mrs.) P. O. Idogho

Idogho: The Amazon Adds One By LAMAI CASSIUS/RICHARD IMHOAGENE delectable alacrity, she faces any task head-on without compromise, and discharges her duties without sentiments, irrespective of whose ox is gored Yet her leadership style has managed to make thieves cringe with fear. Yes, the people are more secured and united towards a common developmental agenda for the institution. That is why she is being celebrated for her resounding and consistent physical and psychological agenda for the hapless people. As a result of her consistent advocacy for all Nigerians on myriads of issues, her landmark achievements in the school, Dr (Mrs.) Idogho is seen as a messiah, liberator, a prophet born before her time. Expectedly however, she made friends and at the same time managed to have a few enemies. We must therefore understand that Dr. (Mrs.)

Idogho suffers. She has managed to endure blackmail and poisonous criticisms each time she harps on the need for change on skewed issues. She is critical, very revolutionary and as such vulnerably disposed to elitist conspiracy and ethnic sentimentality. We must also understand that in the midst of all the perceptions however, the truth remains that she is among top Nigerians that have poured out fountain of their knowledge towards charting a direction for Nigeria in its journey to true democracy and sustainable developments. We must indeed understand the Dr. (Mrs.) Idgho, just like the Mahatma Gandhi’s, Martin Luther King Jnr., Nelson Mandela, Abraham Lincoln, Albert Schweitzer – lived before their time as such were at one time subjects of critical appraisal. They however stood their grounds to chart golden pathways towards positive human

social existence for generations to come. So when news of her reappointment came up, a lot of individuals who have been following the activities and developmental transformation taking place at Auchi Polytechnic were not surprised, because she truly deserved it, considering the upgrade the institution has witnessed since she became Rector in 2008. As Rector of the institution, she heralded a transformation agenda that has catapulted the polytechnic to the topmost echelon of tertiary institutions in Nigeria. For five years in a row, web metrics, an online rating organization, ranked the polytechnic the best in Nigeria. The blossoming Philipa Idogho Campus, a sister campus of the polytechnic, is a brainchild of Dr. (Mrs.) Idogho, which she nursed, nurtured and saw to completion. The campus is now the envy of all, as she has been able to synchronize the activities of both

campuses into an organized network of system for administrative, academic, and working convenience. She has also reached out with a Midas touch to the state of welfare of the staff and students of the institution. She made human capacity development a major focus in her administration, ensuring that lecturers seek and gain further education to improve on their qualification. The polytechnic has trained (and is training) several staff at several institutions within and outside the country. We must understand that leadership propagated by the leader is our best bet towards managing the systematic rot in our institutions. We must understand that it is instructive to advocate for a leader who takes all the blames and shares all successes. One who draws conclusion from bottom up communication from across all spectra of opinion. She is a leader who can tell everyone the same story, even when it

is inconvenient or difficult. She is a leader who works hard and inspires others to do the same. We must not forget that the type of leadership we have had did not care about solving soaring crime rate, stalled economy and crumbling infrastructure. They however choose to spend time settling personal vendettas, fuelling ethnoreligious issues, enriching personal connections, and dividing our commonwealth for their own selfish purposes. The massive upgrade of facilities and infrastructure within and around the campuses, the digitalization of the school system through the establishment of e-libraries and laboratories, research development in science and technology, entrepreneurial development through the standardization of CEDAP (Centre for Entrepreneurship Development, Auchi Polytechnic), protection of the school boundary through the construction of a perimeter fence around the institution, and other developmental strides. She has also improved on the commercial development of the institution through the establishment of Polyventures (producing table/sachet waters), and businesses in fish pondery, animal husbandry, Poly Bread and so on. She has also commercialized research projects carried out by both staff and students. Dr. (Mrs.) Philipa Idogho has successfully defied all odds to achieve greatness which has earned her superlative degree of regards by all. On her birthday, she will not just be remembered for her exemplary leadership style, character and utmost humility, but will forever be celebrated for leaving her mark on the lives of thousands of people who she has impacted positively or inspired to attain greatness. As you celebrate your birthday, we, beneficiaries of your landmark contributions to the development of mankind can only wish you more success and achievement in life’s sojourn. As countless as sand at the seashore, so shall the rest of your days be on earth. Happy birthday ma and many happy returns.

THE NIGERIAN

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2014

Jonathan

Atiku

Buhari

2015: Let’s Have Debate On Issues NIGERIANS ought to be having an urgent, indeed fundamental, debate about the very direction of their muchtroubled country. Instead, I fear that too many of us are content to frolic as Nigeria burns, to engage in lazy bandying about of pat, tiresome phrases and omnibus stereotypes. I saw a particular example during a recent speaking visit to Sussex University in the UK on November 3. A Nigerian student at the university accosted me as soon as I arrived at the venue of my talk. He professed to be a follower of my column. And then he let me know that he had come specifically to debate me. “What are we debating about?” I asked. “You’re an APC (All Progressives Congress) supporter,” the young man asserted. Then he added: “I don’t support the PDP, but I’m for President Goodluck Jonathan.” I was astonished by his assertion. First, his claim that I was sympathetic to the APC was demonstrably false. I’ve written no piece that could be remotely mistaken as pro-APC. On the contrary, I have consistently stipulated that the APC, in ideological and other respects, struck me as—at best—PDP lite. I had stressed that fact in several columns. And I once made the point to Kayode Ogundamisi when he interviewed me on BEN TV in London. Somehow, however, my would-be interlocutor had

cast me in the APC camp. When I asked how he’d come to his wholly untenable conclusion, he pointed to my criticism of President Goodluck Jonathan. Quite apart from the falsity of his claim, the more disturbing implication, for me, was the student’s supposition that the real debate Nigerians ought to have is one along the lines of PDP and APC. That socalled debate is a distraction. As I contended in the opening paragraph, Nigerians have profounder questions to ponder. The first, inevitable question has to do with whether the contraption called Nigeria should continue to exist. Anybody who thinks that question is settled is either self-deluding or dishonest. Nigeria is far from a firm idea. Yes, there’s a territory that answers to the name, but there’s nothing yet like a Nigerian identity or spirit. There’s no better time than now to commence the debate about Nigeria’s continued corporate existence. And if Nigeria must remain one, then all of us hoarded into the space called Nigeria must decide on what terms. It is silly to persist in proclaiming the creed that Nigeria is not open to negotiation. The reality is that even ethnic identity—which has always seemed far more organic and stable than the idea of nation—is deeply contested and contentious. One has only to glimpse any Internet forum devoted to Nigeria to realize how

By OKEY NDIBE violently fractious the country is. The way Nigerians savage one another across ethnic, religious or state divides is nothing short of scandalous. There’s no demeaning epithet that Nigerians don’t haul at the construed “other.” The verbal dehumanization reaches sometimes rises to such a scale that one has little difficulty picturing the horror of Rwanda in Nigeria. Come to think of it, the Biafran horror preceded Rwanda’s—and perhaps, in some ways, shaped it. Apart from coming to grips with the question of what we must do with the current burden called Nigeria, Nigerians ought to grapple with the undeniable crisis of underdevelopment. Let’s suppose that a majority of Nigerians end up backing the idea of Nigeria remaining a territorial entity. Then it must fall on Nigerians to decide how best to anchor the rapid transformation of all aspects of their lives. My Sussex University “debater” wanted to convince me that Mr. Jonathan has succeeded. As proof, he reeled off some “facts.” Nigeria, he said, had overtaken South Africa as Africa’s largest economy by Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The president was building some federal roads. Some ghost workers on federal rolls had been unmasked, and removed from the payroll. Trains were now running from Lagos to Kaduna and

beyond. Etc, etc, etc. To his list, I juxtaposed mine. Nigeria’s healthcare system is so scary that no Nigerian governor, minister or president would consent to being admitted for treatment in any Nigerian

with roadside refuse heaps. Power supply in Nigeria remains a scandalous crisis, despite massive expenditure and a program of privatization. Too many Nigerian roads, including those that connect different states, are in deplorable condition. Too many men

“There’s no better time than now to commence the debate about Nigeria’s continued corporate existence. And if Nigeria must remain one, then all of us hoarded into the space called Nigeria must decide on what terms. It is silly to persist in proclaiming the creed that Nigeria is not open to negotiation.” hospital. The quality of education in Nigerian public schools—from primary to university—is on the whole so ghastly that pupils and students at all levels are victims, not beneficiaries, of something misnamed education. There’s hardly any government-owned Nigerian university that has a library worthy of the name, much less a fully equipped lab. Most of the country has no trash disposal system, so that major cities as well as smaller towns are often eyesores, (mis)decorated

and women indicted for corruption—even convicted—are ensconced in public office. Some 200 Chibok girls remain captives of an Islamist group that has declared them less than human. Major swathes of the northeast of Nigeria are in the hands of Boko Haram insurgents. The point, I told the student, should not be whether Mr. Jonathan has failed or not. He has not succeeded. He’s a victim of his limitations, but also—of even greater import—he’s

operating in a political culture tailored to produce failure. Above all, Nigeria ought to create a different culture. It must become a society based on laws, with consequences for those who disregard the law—or be NOTHING at all. A different, positive political culture and ethical atmosphere would not solve all our problems. But they would ensure that Nigerians merely contend with the personal failures of elected officials, without the additional fertilizer of a pathological political and moral environment. What kind of nation are we when government officials claim that they know the sponsors of terror, but insinuate that the financiers are too big to be arrested? It’s either the officials are lying or—if not—that Nigeria is a jungle where grand criminals are above the law. Nigeria’s elite should be leading the debate for the country’s transformation. Instead, some of the most vocal among them help to perpetuate the impression that it’s PDP or APC, automatic ticket or no, Ijaw or Fulani, Christian or Muslim. And they certainly enable the political parties to get away with failure to define their ideological positions, their diagnoses of the country’s crises, and their prescriptions for the way forward. We’re all caught in the symbolism of the broom or the din of a socalled transformation agenda that needs to be transformed from fiction to reality.

THE SUNDAY

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2014

S curity

Defence Chief, Air Marshal Alex Badeh

Bomb Blast Scene

Shekau

Terrorism: At a time that the dare devil terrorists detonated their diabolical article of trade-BOMBS and unleashed deadly violence on over forty youngsters in an all boys high school in Yobe State, the least most Nigerians expect from their political leadership is not a sign of weakness but a resolution to be much more combative and effective in crushing decisively these terrorists. Nigeria’s ambassador to the United States of America, Prof. Ade Adefuye who represents the nation in a country reputed as the most important in terms of international visibility and significance just did the opposite by painting a graphic picture of an administration that is frustrated to such a level that it has no other way out but to moan and cry like a child. As a citizen I am aware also that President Jonathan has indeed made the right response by affirming his administration’s resolve to end these vicious circles of violent terrorism threatening to tear apart the beloved Nigerian Nation. At his declaration of intent to run for a second term under his political party- Peoples Democratic Party [PDP] the President fundamentally

Organise And Stop The Agony

painted a picture of an administration that will continue to work and remained undeterred by the blood cuddling antics of these murderous terrorists. The administration also has laid out in broad terms other practical measures to bring about a permanent resolution of this debacle. Even with these reassurances from President Jonathan, the statement made by the Nigerian Envoy to the United States in which he criticised his host country for failing to sell military hardware to Nigeria is indeed an unnecessary agony which should not be entertained at these trying periods of our nation’s history particularly given the fact that millions of Nigerians are looking up to the political leadership to show the light for others to follow towards providing effective panacea to these mindless attacks on Nigerians by these terrorists. The Nigerian Envoy to the United States reportedly chided the United States of America for refusing to sell weapons to Nigeria to effectively contain the Islamic insurgency in Northern Nigeria. The news report further indicated that he said the war against the insurgency

By EMMANUEL ONWUBIKO would have been won long ago, had the US agreed to sell weapons to Nigerian government. The litany of interrogatories that immediately follow from this agony of a Nigerian diplomatic official are to find out if the United States is the only producer of weapons and military hardware and secondly has this official forgotten that even from the name of one of the most fearsome weapons AK47 there are other good alternatives for arms supplies such as Russia from where this calibre of weapon originated. But this gentleman Mr Adefuye continued with his song of lamentations when he delivered an address at a meeting with U.S. Council on Foreign Relations approximately twenty four hours before the public declaration for second term interest by President Jonathan, and said America’s response to Nigeria’s request has been so far surprising, as it is disappointing given the cordial diplomatic relations that the two countries have enjoyed. His words: “The Nigerian leadership: Military and Political, and even the

general populace, are not satisfied with the scope, nature and content of the United States’ support for us in our struggle against terrorists. We find it difficult to understand how and why in spite of the U.S. presence in Nigeria with their sophisticated military technology, Boko Haram should be expanding and becoming more deadly,” Adefuye told the gathering in Washington. He explained that at first, Nigeria had problems with the manner in which intelligence was being shared and that the U.S. Government claimed that the problem has been addressed, but it is still there. He said: “The U.S. Government has up till today refused to grant Nigeria’s request to purchase lethal equipment that would have brought down the terrorists within a short time on the basis of the allegations that Nigeria’s defence forces have been violating human rights of Boko Haram suspects when captured or arrested. He further affirmed that; “This is based largely on reports submitted by human rights groups and sections

of the Nigerian media that have sympathy for the opposition parties and are prepared to use whatever means possible to embarrass the government of President Goodluck Jonathan. “The Americans claim that lethal law forbids the sale of lethal equipment to governments that violate human rights.” This ‘crying’ diplomat Mr. Adefuye said: “We implore the Council on Foreign Affairs to put pressure on the State Department and the Department of Defence to re-examine the basis of their refusal to sell the equipment to Nigeria. Our people are not very happy with the content of America’s support in the struggle against Boko Harm. The terrorists threaten our corporate existence and territorial integrity. There is no use giving us the type of support that enables us to deliver light jabs to the terrorists when what we need to give them is the killer punch. A friend in need is a friend indeed. The true test of friendship is in the times of adversity.” According to him, the United States has nothing to lose if Nigeria is a secure nation, adding that Nigeria has played prominent role

in ensuring sustenance of democracy in Africa and ensuring stability which America will benefit immensely from. Come to think of it why is this diplomat openly castigating the United States when it is clear even to the most illiterate kindergarten that there is no binding military cum defence pact between Nigeria and the United States unlike the same kind of partnership that exists between all of our sub regional neighbours and some World powers like France and the United States? Does Ambassador Adefuye need further elementary lessons in international diplomacy to know that you don’t task the third party to assist you do your fight when you have nothing in common in terms of strict applicable and binding military pact? Must we celebrate our ignorance always in public? What is the most primary duty of government? Please lets stop this abysmal and disgraceful celebration of ignorance in international arena and take concrete measure to procure arms from alternative sources other than the United States to engage these terrorists and defeat them once and for all.

THE NIGERIAN

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2014

D velopment

Nigeria: From Consumer To Producer Nation Over the years, it has been discovered that the Nigerian people and government, still depend on imported or foreign items in order to sustain and regulate some affairs of the country, in such that, the entire citizenry to some extent, have gradually developed the notion that imported goods may be better than home made products. This may have been borne out of a faulty foundation, which may have been impliedly instituted by those who have always enjoyed various position of authority in governance. The process of producing various products through the institution of factories and industries in this country, should be greatly encouraged because it will help to empower our youths, and also enhance economic cum sociopolitical development from different angles. Nigerian government should endeavour to create that desired enabling environment for her citizens, by way of

empowering the people through sensitization and establishment of modern facilities that will help facilitate the process of production in the country. Besides, Nigerians also should learn how to appreciate locally made products just like they have come to fully embrace the quality of ‘our home made’ products in the music industry. When we appreciate our products in all ramifications, it will bring about encouragement both on the part of the government and the citizens, to go into more production, hereby bringing development to our economy and reducing the exploitation that comes with importation of products. Recently, the Federal Government said that the sum of $191.6bn had been saved in the last three years through the implementation of its sugar policy. The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment Mr. Olusegun Aganga, stated this at the fourth Annual workshop

By OMEIZA ROBINSON for Industry, Trade and I n v e s t m e n t correspondents in Abuja with theme; ‘Building a greater nation through s u s t a i n e d transformation.’ The Federal Executive Council had, at its 37th meeting, which was held on September 19,2012,approved the Nigeria sugar master plan for implementation and adoption as a government strategic road map for the development of the sugar sub-sector. The policy, which took effect on January 1,2013,led to an outright ban on the importation of refined sugar in retail packs. The plan contains fiscal and investmentspecific incentives designed to stimulate and attract new investors to the industry in order to increase local sugar production and reduce the nations precarious dependence on imports. According to the plan, an investment of $3.1bn

(N496BN) would be needed from the private sector to effectively implement the sugar policy. Aganga, while quoting figures provided to him from the National Bureau of statistics, said in 2011, the total amount spent by the country for sugar importation was $240.6bn. This figure, he added, had been brought down significantly to $49bn as at the end of the second quarter of this year. Aganga said through the implementation of the reforms in the sector, a total investment of $3.2bn had been made as against $100m investment in 2011. He put the number of jobs to be created in the sector at over 80,000 as against 3,850 jobs created in 2011.He said “we did not have a national sugar plan in 2011, but now. We do. The number of jobs in the sugar industry then is 3,850 but today, we are looking at over 80,000. “Investment in

sugarcane, of course, was $100m then but now we are talking at $3.2bn”. Giving the breakdown of the investment inflows into the free Trade zones, the minister stated that the Onne oil and Gas FTZ, in River state, had attracted investment worth $6bn noting that Investment Commitments in the FTZ were worth $6.7bn in the last one year. He added that other FTZ, across the country under the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority also generated $4.4bn investment in the last one year, noting however, that the ministry of Trade and investment was currently reviewing the operations of the free Trade zones to make them more functional. Overall, Aganga said that Nigeria had secured over N6.6tn investment commitment over the last one year. “The breakdown of the total investment commitment showed that expected FDI into the country stood at N3.9bn, while investment commitment

from local investors stood at N2.7tn.”The minister said President Goodluck Jonathan had initiated and implemented farreaching industrial policies, which had helped to diversify the nations economic and revenue base; attract fresh foreign direct investment, created employment and increased the capacity utilization of key manufacturing sectors of the economy. Under this arrangement, it is evident that if we give more attention to internally generated production and manufacturing in the next few years, our youths would have been largely empowered, the problem of unemployment would be solved and our economy would be greatly transformed on the positive in such that foreign investors would come and invest in our country, and we would also begin to export our products to other countries.

THE SUNDAY

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2014

N tion

Shock!

-As Jonathan Repeats Broken Promise For 2015 This is the 6th year the polyglot nation of a tens of thousands ethnic nationalities have been looking up to President Goodluck Jonathan for political and economic redemption. Unfortunately for the people, the salvation they seek seems merely blighted by issues that didn’t transcend ethnocentric or religious struggles. To this end, sadly, these issues are exploited to political ends and into a sinking foul political morass. This is what Adolf Hitler called “spiritual terror”, in his book titled: Mein Kampf. “I understand the infamous spiritual terror which the Social Democratic press exerts, particularly on the bourgeoisie, which is neither morally nor mentally equal to such attack; at a given sign it unleashes a veritable barrage of lies and slanders against whatever adversary seems most dangerous, until the nerves of the attacked persons break down… This is a tactic based on precise calculation of all human weakness, and it’s result will lead to success with almost mathematical certainty”. Mr President’s pestilential politics of “religious terror”, cloaking itself as democratic path way – which is absolutely divisive – is to quench the peoples’ bated breath against his ‘Transformation Paralysis’ that is slowly winding by. Nigerians have suddenly forgotten President Jonathan’s electoral promises some six-year ago that echoed from the shrewdness of political emptiness. “We will fight for JUSTICE!, We will fight for all Nigerians to have access to POWER!, We will fight for qualitative and competitive EDUCATION!, We will fight for HEALTH CARE REFORMS!, We will fight to create jobs, for all Nigerians!, We will fight corruption!, We will fight to protect all

By ERASMUS IKHIDE Citizens!, We will fight for your rights!” Those were the exact words of President Jonthan to a nation that has gone through leadership brigandage for decades. The president repeated those promises for his 2015 election on November 11 as he did on September 18, 2010. Nigerians watched the president declared his intention again for the highest office in the land after daunting credentials of failure at the same Eagle Square. This time around, he could not elicit that unusual hopes in the mass of Nigerians who have been tortured with his unfulfilled electoral promises and lurid Illusions of governance in the last six years. Those reassuringly promises of renewed hopes which brought him to power in 2011 have become big bluff. His initial profile of a profound thinker and reticent leadership gave way to bewildering cluelessness, bowing rather to a ruthlessly graft-infected and fractious ruling class that brought the nation to its kneels. The president who has risen from modest circumstance, whose political ascent of the hitherto obscure son of a rural canoecarver and fisherman from the oil-producing south; decent at heart, generous, chivalrous and tolerant man become suddenly weak-kneed. That President Jonathan falls for their bait has everything to do with his leadership credential. Even though he has everything it takes to pacify a country with simultaneous on-again-offagain rebellions in the north and south, as a PhD holder with all the Petrol-dollars, Nigeria is still firmly in the grips of power failure, more feebler than what I experienced in Somalia a few

weeks ago. The populace whose civic responsibility it is to constantly put the president to task on the sanctity of the nation’s constitution and its inviolability chose to hide under religious or ethnocentric subterfuge. A nation is in danger if a backsliding president is not reminded of his avowed, “We will fight for JUSTICE” and the taunted rule of law’s matrix. Nigerians are unable to put the president to task over the withdrawal of the security protection from the number 4 citizen. The electorates are not concerned about the Nigeria Police illiterate interpretation of the nation’s constitution. Thanks to the Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, media concerns, several rights groups and other well meaning Nigerians. The NLC and NBA came particular hardly on the presidency and distinguished themselves as the bastions of the nation’s democracy. “We at the Nigeria Labour Congress are appalled by the withdrawal of security details of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, ostensibly because he had defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC). “The act is shameful, distasteful, unconstitutional and demonstrates our parochial sense of power and very little knowledge of history. No part of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria says the Speaker of the House of Representatives should come from the majority party. “Section 50(1)(b) only says, ” There shall be …a Speaker and a Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, who shall be elected by the members of that House from

President Jonathan among themselves…’ “In the Second Republic, the Honourable Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chief Edwin Ume-Ezeoke, was elected from the ranks of NPP, not just an opposition party but the third strong , after UPN and NPN. We have other precedents across the world. “We find it appropriate to cite the examples of Mimiko and Ali Modu-Sheriff, governor of Ondo State and former governor of Borno State respectively. Their security details were not withdrawn when they defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). “It gives us concern that our political leaders are determined to learn very little about democracy and always seem too keen to overheat the polity over things that count for little. “The police and other security agencies complicit in this disgusting conduct should hold their heads in shame. Herein lies the essence of strong institutions which we have always advocated. “For those who take pleasure in converting to personal use, public/state institutions, and today’s men soon become yesterday’s men. What goes around comes around. “In light of the foregoing, we demand immediate restoration of Tambuwal’s security details and all the rights and privileges that accrue to the Office of the Speaker. It is not about Tambuwal, it is about the office which he holds. “And in any

case, only few, arguably, will contest that he has not discharged and acquitted himself as speaker. We would like to be on record that we will not fold our hands while little minds threaten our hardearned democracy. Nothing should happen to Tambuwal”, the NLC posited. The NBA presented its objection more aptly: “There is no crime in defecting to another party and the IGP is not the person responsible for interpreting what the constitution says on any issue. That is the responsibility of the court”. “The deployment of the security personnel is not because of a particular political party but because he is the speaker.” “His defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), therefore, has nothing to do with the office of the speaker.” NBA added. Questions earlier raised whether he will have the requisite toughness to negotiate the minefield that is political life in the country has come to the fore, albeit disingenuously. Now, he has deployed his newly acquired grim stuff into negative use – meddling in the politics of another arms of government. Nigerians will continue to remember President Jonathan for a long time to come if he redirects his combative energy into terminating the nihilist Boko Haram group. Nigerians are not so sure Mr President is truly committed to routing the Boko

Haram militia. Evidently, they could not comprehend what drives their leader to BurkinaFaso to contrive a truce between the military and the toppled Blaise Campaore after 27 years on the saddle at a time his country is being dynamited by Boko Haram insurgents a few days ago. President Jonathan’s promise of: “We will fight corruption!” is not in consonance with his past. The President who eventually succeeded the disgraced governor, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, now granted presidential pardon by the same Jonathan has a tainted path with corruption. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC did seized $13.5 million from his wife, Patience, in 2006 on suspicion of money laundering. From the foregoing, Mr President’s 2015 promises of zero-tolerance for corruptionrelated cases; power generation, infrastructural revamp, agrarian rejuvenation, rule of law, Stepping up to the Boko haram’s plague and the like cannot be relied upon. The President’s six years of democratic desecrations or political corrosion are not mere coincidence of mishaps as he rose through to the pinnacles of his political career. They are cautiously shambled to determined end. This is the reason Nigerians must rise to end President Jonathan’s charade, come 2015.

THE NIGERIAN

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2014

Roadmap Towards Road Safety In Nigeria

ON behalf of the board, management, staff and students of CCYD, I welcome you to the workshop on “Youth and Road Safety: Road Accidents in Nigeria- Causes and Prevention”. It is the 9th in the series of workshops, seminar and lectures organized by the centre so far. The Centre for Child Care and Youth Development is a registered NGO(19198 of 15 th August 2005) dedicated to the promotion of Child Care , Youth Development and Empowerment. The workshop is aimed at promoting relevant information, knowledge and skills in Road Safety in order to check the current high carnage in our high way. Its importance can therefore not be overemphasized. In spite of the remarkable efforts of relevant agency especially the Road Safety Corps ,the rate of road accident in Nigeria has remained very high and alarming. The majority of the victims are youths understandably so because of the hyper movement nature of young people many of whom serve as drivers and thus highly

susceptible to road accidents. Road accidents are violent killers of innocent souls and a sad but steady source of wastage of our precious human resourcewithout respect for the rich or poor, the intelligent or the foolish person. The task of

the accidents are traceable to poor knowledge, improper training, inexperience of the driver, indiscipline, disregard for high way code, general poor attitude and rascality of some road users especially those blowing sirens in convoy of big men, poor consequent

improve on. The country is most ill equipped to deal with emergencies. I came to realize this in the hard way. In 2008, I was involved in motor road accident, which exposed me to the reality of life – the thin line between death and life and how human failure can result in death. The average road user is highly

promoting road safety in Nigeria is thus a collective one as available statistics show that over 80% of road accident is due to human error. In Nigeria most of

management and of course inadequate maintenance of road facilities. In short there is a high deficit of road safety consciousness in Nigeria that requires collective effort to

vulnerable to bad driving and within a split of a second the living becomes the dead. I was lucky to survive. many died. I have since written about that sad and unfortunate incident

With

Dr. John Abhuere which ignited my interest in road safety. It occurred to me that we can reduce road accidents in Nigeria through responsible behaviors in the high way: when every person behaves responsibly many accidents would be avoided. The laws are there but are not obeyed and most violators go unpunished. On

reflection on my sick bed, I reached the following conclusion: Over speeding kills, making phones call. Many of the drivers on the road are illiterates, lack concentration, and

response to accident scenes is slow, poor and usually untimely. Management of road traffic accident is unprofessional and facilities such as hospitals, water, ambulance are few where at all. The hospitals are ill – equipped for emergency cases. Nonetheless, all these may not even be necessary if everyone were to be safety conscious on the road. If the drivers were properly trained and licensed, if the vehicles were well maintained and the high way codes observed. In our view, these lapses explain why road accident is very high today in Nigeria. I hope that this workshop will generate enough information and help promote road safety consciousness among the road users. As they say “ it is better to be late than the Late- so drive safely in order to be able to arrive at planned destination. Let us develop the character for road safety, and empower our youths for the task at hand Merry Christmas and happy new year in advance. Thank you

“Nonetheless, all these may not even be necessary if everyone were to be safety conscious on the road. If the drivers were properly trained and licensed, if the vehicles were well maintained and the high way codes observed. In our view, these lapses explain why road accident is very high today in Nigeria.”

THE SUNDAY

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2014

DELTA WATCH WITH

APC Stalwart Makes Case For Isaac House of Assembly, the Asaka AN all Progressive

JOEL CHUCKWUAGHONIM APC Ward 7 Chairman Urges Youth THE chairman of All To Shun Violence Progressive Congress (APC) Ward 7 Okpujie/Okalo in Igueben Local Government Area of Edo State, Mr. Robert Ogbeni has advised his members in the three levels of government not to allow any political party to influence them with material things. Mr. Ogbeni charged the members in his ward, particularly the youth not to allow candidates use them as political thugs during the forthcoming election. He also advised the candidates not to use the youth as political thugs during the election to enable them exercise their franchise with out fear or favour. He commended the Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole for his distribution of democratic dividends across the nooks and crannies of the state. He appealed to the next governor of the state to work with the legacy laid down by the Comrade Governor, so as to move Edo State to greater heights. In another development, the women leader in ward 7, Mrs. Monica Ebhohon advised the members in her ward not to fight or influence people to enable them exercise their civic right and render accountability. She further said that the APC is the only party that can bring change to Edo State. Mrs. Egbohon appealed to APC members in the three

levels of government to vote for APC candidates that will bring development, not only in the state but in the nation in general. In a related issue, another leader in ward 7, Mr. Elinmhiesmhon Gabriel, a retired civil servant of the Nigerian Observer, also thank APC leaders in the three levels of government for good leadership in the party. Mr. Gabriel appealed to the state Governor to rehabilitate the old OkpujieEgbiki road, and also the Okalo-Egbiki road for easy accessibility as farming is the major occupation of the people in that area, to enable traders to come and evacuate their farm produce. He also appealed to the governor to bring more chairs to Okpujie/ Okalo primary schools. He thanked the Onogie of Okalo, H.R.M Egualonia JP,

H.R.M of Ebele (AMB) Aikpaogie for their good leadership in their various communities, and prayed that God grants them the wisdom, strength, and resources to pilot the affairs in their various communities.

Congress (A.P.C) Stalwart in Benin City, Edo State, Mr. Frank Oligie has appealed to people of Edo State particularly in Orhionmwon Local Government Area of Edo State to vote for Barr.

The Chairman, APC Ward 7 Okpujie/ Okalo in Igueben Local Government Area of Edo State during the Ward meeting

constituencyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lost glory will be re-gained. Speaking with newsmen in his country home in Benin City, he said Barr, Asaka is the only person that can help the area saying that if Barr. Asaka is voted in, Orhionmwon East Constituency will witness big changes in the area. He thanked the Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole and his Deputy Hon. (Dr.) Pius Odubu for the road constructed in Igbanke Community and Retired Justice Olubor who attracted the construction of the road in Igbanke Community.

Please, Pay Our Stipends, Monarch Tells Uduaghan

HIS Royal Majesty Obi Stephen Chukwuyemeze Osagie 111 J.P the Obi of Akumazi Kingdom in Ika North-East Local Government Area of Delta State, has appealed to Delta State Government led by His Excellency (Dr.) Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan for the payment of the traditional rulers monthly stipends in the state. H.R.M Osagie J.P who is the third (3rd) longest reigning monarch in Delta State said the monthly stipends has no

increment. H.R.M also advised the political representatives to always visit their wards, constituencies to know the problem in their ward or constituencies and find ways to enhance it for one good turn deserves another. He also advised the youths not to allow any political class to use them as thugs during the forthcoming election, also the electorates should not allow any political class to

influence them with material things. H.R.M. appealed to the Delta State Governor (Dr.) Emmanuel Uduaghan to come to the aid of Akumazi kingdom to complete the Health Centre project which he came to inspect and promised to contribute his quota. He advised the people of Akumazi Kingdom

Party Co-Ordinator Advises Electorates To Exercise Their Franchise 2015:

THE Co-ordinator of a political party in Owerreolubor in Ika North-East Local Government Area of Delta State has advised members of the Public to get ready for the forthcoming general election. Mrs. Nkenchor Gladys Obiakele, the coordinator advised members of the public to dust their voters cards in preparation for the forthcoming election to enable them exercise their franchise. She

Isaac Asaka for House of Assembly in the forthcoming election. Mr. Oligie who is a retiree in the Nigeria Army said if Barr. Isaac Asaka is voted in to represent his constituency in the

advised the youths to desist from acts capable of truncating the success of the forthcoming election. Mrs. Nkenchor charged the candidates to always remember their bearing after they have successfully won the election, as one good turn deserve another. She enjoined them to always visit their constituencies to know the problems affecting their areas and find ways to resolve them.

SPINAL CORD: Prince Monday Afueden of Okalo in Igueben Local Government Area of Edo State.

particularly the women to go for antenatal in the neighbouring village which is about three (3) four(4) miles away. H.R.M. appealed to the traditional rulers in the world particularly those in Delta State to maintain peace and orderliness in their various communities, by carrying

their subjects along. He thanked the Chief in Akumazi Council for their co-operation with H.R.M. in creating peace and orderliness in Akumazi Kingdom, and prayed Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wisdom, strength and resources in contributing their quotas and assisting H.R.M to create peace and tranquility in the area.

APPEAL has gone to the public to come to the aid of a Spinal Cord Meningitis patient residing at No 49 Eguare Okalo near Okalo Palace in Igueben Local Government Area of Edo State Prince Monday Afueden a 30 years old Spinal Cord patient, has been bedridden since birth as a result of his illness which crippled him. His pathetic situation worsened when he lost his parents. Prince Afueden now struggles to take care of himself. A good Sammaritan doctor told him that his case could be solved if only he would find the money for a surgical operation. He has called on

philanthropists, Non G o v e r n m e n t Organisations (N.G.Os), Churches and good citizens of Nigeria and people from all walks of life to come to his aid by paying something into his account. The account number is 0034861933 Prince Monday Afueden, Union Bank Plc with G.S.M number 08060746349 or 08157655721 and 08028629116. He has also appealed to the three levels of government to come to his aid, especially the Ministry of Women Affairs and the chairman of the Local Government Area Council to show concern.

Spinal Cord Patient Calls For Help

THE NIGERIAN

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2014

Weekend

“After the first week with Weekend Observer, I knew this was where I was meant to be. My love for the pen grew rapidly, and I had an editor (still do) who was ready to push me to my limits to bring out the best in me”.

Discourse The outgoing IT students of The WEEKEND OBSERVER from left Gedu, Richard, Grace (UNIBEN) and Uche from Delsu

My Editor Pushed Me Hard T

HE kind of reactions I got from friends and course mates when I disclosed my intention to work with The Observer Newspaper were discouraging. They made statements like “Observer does not pay”, you won’t get

Imhoagene Richard

exposure”, and so on. After everything, I remained undeterred. My decision to have my industrial training at the Bendel Newspapers Company Limited was based on the fact that I had previously had a stint with Silverbird Television during my Polytechnic days. I fell it would be wise to have some knowledge of the workings of a print media organization. After several procedures were observed, I was assigned to the WEEKEND OBSERVER under the tutelage of the Editor, Osazua Ivbaze . At resumption, the editor welcomed us and greeted us with a test Feature story on the title “Strikes and

National Development”. This was when I knew that I was here to work. I wrote my piece and submitted. I beamed with smiles and blushed when my Editor called me a “Superstar Writer”. Two articles later, and I got more commendations. That was when I decided not to fall short of expectation, but to do my best with undeterred commitment. After the first week with Weekend Observer, I knew this was where I was meant to be. My love for the pen grew rapidly, and I had an editor (still do) who was ready to push me to my limits to bring out the best in me. When I look back now, I am

glad I let him push me. My second week at Weekend Observer was when I met Lamai cassius. The first time we met was at Auchi Polytechnic. He was in HND2 when I was in ND2. It was nice to have met a familiar face, having already met Mrs. Boyo, a Senior Staff at the department. Lamai took me and the other IT students around the organisation, from the Newsroom to Communications, to the Computer/Production room, to Accounts/Audit, Administrative Block, Sunday Observer, Lithography, Engineering, Compilation and Circulation departments. The first few weeks was

-Richard Imhoagene spent getting acquainted to the workings of THE WEEKEND OBSERVER. Writing became a regular part of my daily life. With supervision and guidance from my Super-talented and dynamic editor, my writing skills became sharpened. I soon was encouraged to be a regular feature on WEEKEND OBSERVER . As time went on, I got engaged in some other activities. At one time, the Secretary, Madam Philomena was absent and I had to fill in for her. I then seized the opportunity to learn how to “call” and format stories. I also learnt how to scan

pictures for production, activities I became actively involved in the course of my Industrial Attachment. WEEKEND OBSERVER also exposed me to the practical act of interviewing in the course of my training. I co-anchored interviews with individuals such as Idele-Ero, Hon. Ayuba Scdenu, Senior Special Adviser to the Edo State Government. Prince Alao, SUBEB Chairman and countless other political office holders and political aspirants. My Editor subsequently expanded my horizons when Continue on Pgs 16 & 17

THE SUNDAY

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2014

W ekend Discourse

I.T. Students Speak On Their 4 Month My Editor Pushed Me Hard Continued from Pg 15 he began to give me pageplanning responsibilities. Before long, I began to plan our news pages and it was also a very enlightening experience. Planning the Delta Watch page also became my major responsibility. The stories are sent in, worked over and I planed the pages. Another high point of my

time at The Weekend Observer was making new friends. There were students from other institutions and they kept coming. I got to meet and make friends like Uche Okonye from Delta State University, Blessing, Precious, Amanda, and Joseph from Auchi Polytechnic, Ufuoma and Greg from Delta Stale Polytechnic, Ogwashi-Uku, Tega, Annabel, Isabella,

Anderline, and Blessing from Delta State Polytechnic, Otefe. It was exciting having different people from different backgrounds and environments. The most interesting moments are the “laughs” we shared. Precious and Blessing (Auchi Poly) were always on hand to thrill us to exciting stories of events, real and unreal. With them, there was never a dull

“In the course of my internship with The NIGERIAN OBSERVER, I was opportuned and privileged to acquire and develop a platters of useful skills that will certainly prove invaluable in terms of academic, industrial and personal relevance”.

Uche Okonye

EFORE my internship with the Nigerian Observer, I had been theoretically taught on how to write different types of news stories, source for news worthy events, how to write features and editorials, various techniques required in carrying out research for features and editorials and the nittygritty of interviews etc. I also learnt the different proof reading and editing sings. In short, I had been taught early all the primary and secondary characteristics of journalism during my time in school. However, not withstanding the fact that I had been able to learn all these theoretically, I have never had the opportunity of fully implementing the knowledge acquired and actually putting them into practice. And it is believed that, without practice, the whole learning process is incomplete because

practical is an essential component of the learning process. Therefore, my industrial training with the Nigeria Observer availed me the perfect opportunity and privilege of carrying out series of practices on the knowledge I have been able to acquire in class and at the same time, develop and enhance my skills on journalism. Putting all I have been able to acquire during my time in school into practice with the Nigerian Observer has truly refined my skills and has set me on course to finally realize my journalistic dream. In the course of my internship with the Nigerian observer, I was opportuned and privileged to acquire and develop a platters of useful skills that will certainly prove invaluable in terms of academic, industrial and personal relevance. Thanks to my internship with The Nigerian Observer, I can now successfully conduct an interview without fright or intimidation not withstanding the caliber and personality of the interviewee. This is as a result of the fact that during the course of my internship with the Weekend Observer, I was exposed to quite a series of high profile interviews. Interviewing high profile personalities immensely boosted my self

moment There were times when I felt there was more I could do, and. there were times when I got the “Writer’s Block”. My Editor would simply look at the story and say “it is not flowing, what’s happening”? I don’t know how the title came about, but everyone started calling me “Deputy”, a title Mr. Lamai Cassius solely and colloquially bestowed on me. At WEEKEND OBSERVER, we were privileged to really be a part of the entire production, from news gathering to lithography. Production days (Fridays) are usually a mixture of work and play. Mr. Lamai was always on hand to provide the weekend crew with refreshment. The Department was so organized that by Thursday morning, all stories, excluding news stories were already selected, compiled, typed, proof-read, and ready to be used. There was always work to do. We visited a lot of places, from markets, to

the Oba’s library, Uhokpota Hall, the state secretariat, the Central Hospital, and so on. I cannot forget the day Grace and I visited Ekiosa Market. We had one major task, to uncover the irony in the name. We were to go to the section where sacrificial, fetish, and idolatrous items were sold, and we did. The stench coming from dead and decaying rodents and bones made me sick in my stomach. I thought to myself- “this is journalism” We spoke to the 1eader of the section and got what we went there for. By the time we heard our IT was only going to last for four months, I felt bad because I was beginning to enjoy being a field journalist. I made up my mind that I really wanted to work during my IT and WEEKEND OBSERVER made me work. I have really learnt a lot here and I don’t have any regrets whatsoever. However, one major challenge we faced at the department, and the whole of the Observer was lack of

has taught me how to source for news worthy events successfully, it has also taught me how to craft out news stories from posters, handbills, press releases, speeches, news bulletins etc. I can now proof read and edit both news and feature stories with ease. This is because I did all these consistently during the course of my industrial training. Lastly but certainly not the least, I can now successfully write hard news stories, feature articles and even editorials. During the course of my internship, I wrote a lot of news stories and articles that were published. The crux and Zenith of it all, is that despite the fact that I am still a budding and relatively raw journalist, I can now confidently stand upright and boast that I now understand to an extent the basic rudiments of journalism practice having systematically complemented to a large extent the theories I learnt in class, with the practical experience I was privileged to acquire during my industrial training with the Nigerian Observer worked for a period of five days every week. News are gathered from Mondays to Thursdays. These stories are then

planned into their various pages and on Fridays, we go to press and then, on Saturdays the published newspapers hit the news stand. Ably led by the charismatic, highly industrious and dedicated Osazua Ivbaze, The Weekend Observer is quite different from the daily Observer in the sense that the daily observer mainly deals with hard news stories while the weekend observer mainly focus on features and editorials. Another major difference is that the daily observer publishes on a daily basis while weekend observer publishes only on Saturdays. My stay at WEEKEND OBSERVER has left an indelible mark on my mind that can never be erased. I was mostly impressed with the editor, Mr. Osazua Ivbaze, as a result of his unflinching and unflagging zeal and commitment to duty. He imbued the journalist spirit in me and ensured that I was always on my toes. It is contribution to my overall development as an individual can never be over-emphasized. Never a man of many words, his deeds, creativity and

chairs. Students kept joining from different institutions and the number kept increasing, but chairs never did. As at the time of “filing in this report”, we had a total of 14 students and 2 staff at The Weekend Observer but we had just 7 chairs and 5 tables. Perhaps, the management should look into t he problem and do something about it. All in all, Weekend Observer rocks, my Editor, Mr. Osazua lvbaze rocks, and BNCL rocks. I know there’s still a lot to learn, and I’ll seize every opportunity I get to do so in the future. I would like to appreciate the chairman and the entire members of the Board, the General Manager Rev. Monday Aigbe, all the cleaners of the organization. My amiable editor Mr. Ozazua lvbaze, The Weekend Observer crew, Mrs. Oboyo Aunty Philo, Mr. Lamai and all IT students of the department. It was a pleasure working with you. We may be parting, but the moments we shared will forever remain fresh in my memory.

I Have Learnt A Lot

confidence and also equipped me for the task at hand. It was a very useful and beneficial opportunity for me because as a journalist, I need to relate and interact with various individuals in order to get my news worth stories and facts. Also, as a result of my internship with Observer, I can now successful plan newspaper pages whether it is pages for lard news stories or pages for features articles, I now know when, where and how to place photographs and the kind of photographs to use in a story. Furthermore, due to my industrial training, I can now transcribe interviews with speed and a great deal of accuracy, I am capable of doing this because I transcribed a whole lot of interviews during the course of my internship with the Weekend observer. Prior to my internship, I never had the opportunity of transcribing an interview so it was quite a challenge for me at first. However, due to continuous practice and constant exposure to the art of transcribing, I am now able to transcribe interviews and audio recordings with speed and accuracy. Moreover, my internship

-Uche Okonye

actions are simply infectious. A highly detribalized man, he alway s provided the enabling environment for all those under his supervision to flourish and fulfill their true potentials. I am grateful to Mr. Lamai Cassius, a senior reporter who always ensured that I am well nourished and ready for the rigors of journalism practice. To my fellow co. I.T’s especially Richard Imhoagene, Gedu Longlife Akpotueragha and Osagie Grace I am highly indebted to you guys as you made me not only a better journalist but also a better person. I learnt a whole lot from you guys. Also, to Ehigie Precious, Osolobri, Blessing, Ijeh Eseoghene Gregory, Akpomukoro Anderline, Igbenikaro Isoken, Musa Joseph, Greatness Benjamin, Abeh Promise and Agarrey Ufuoma I am most gretful for your cooperation and tolerance. My stay at Weekend Observer is a most memorable and pleasant one. I couldn’t have wished for a better place to spend my internship. It is an experience that will definitely stay with me through out my life time.

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THE NIGERIAN

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2014

W ekend Discourse

hs Internship In BNCL

Am Now Better Equiped -Gedu Longlife

HE Student Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) is the hing that has been put in by higher institutions to ge students in practical edge that would equip to be able to complete rably with others in the et place. erience they say is the eacher. And so, the world s not looking for place have good grades/good cates to present to the e world rather what the seeks out for, are ls that are skilled and got the experience to r at a particular point in

er institutions chuns out ands of graduates every and these graduates do ave what to bank on diately they are out of the ty of the school. It is st this backdrop that the rsity of Benin came up he Industrial Training me under the student trial Work Experience me is empowered to e students acquire the ssary skills and ences that would project mage of the student and f the institution in a better o the outside world. s is so because the et is a highly competitive where only the skilled xperienced can compete rably for survival. The ent Industrial Work ience Scheme popularly n as I.T., is usually rked upon by students of gher institution such as echnic and Universities de the classroom to re further knowledge in area of discipline in ical sense. Because ally what is mostly red within the four walls classrooms are theories cannot stand the test of ompared to the practical re capable of instilling emaining permanently in nd of an industrial for life. cured a place in Bendel paper company Limited shers of The Nigerian rver title at Airport Road city. As a matter of fact, whole of the second ster is dedicated for the d a report of the whole is at the end of the 4-6 hs exercise before one is d by the industry as well e institution at the end of xercise. ust 4th, 2014 was the first resumed work at the an Observer and my first of call was the nistration Department e acceptance letter was d on the first day of our osal to work at the any. s at the admin office that assigned to work at the

Weekend Observer and I was equally introduced to the Weekend Editor Mr. Osazua Ivbaze who warmly received me as well as my colleagues: Richard Imhoagere and Grace Osagie both of the department of Mass Communication, University of Benin, Benin City. Bendel Newspaper Compny Limited, publishers of the Observer titles has three basic segment of that publishes its Newspapers and they are: Daily Observer, Weekend Observer and Sunday Observer whose publication is only on Sundays while Weekend’s is on every Saturday. The first experiences I was exposed to by my Editor, was the one he asked me to do a write up which was entitled “Strike and National Development” and the overall effects its has on the nation as well as the higher institutions. The following day, I was given another one still addressing the issue of strike entitled “Nigerians: Doctors stop going on Strike” To my joy, all these write ups were published in our first week of our resumption on the 9 th of

August, 2014 by the Editor on our Weekend Newspaper. I was amazed because at first, my thought was, that the Weekend Editor wanted to test out ability to write features. Because prior to this time, we were told that write-up of I.T students are never considered for publication even up to a month before they are given the chance to do so, whoever this was not so at The Weekend Observer where I worked as an I.T. students. Aside my Editor, Mr. Osazua Ivbaze, we equally have three staff of The Weekend Observer and they are Mr. Lamai Casius, Mrs. Oboyo and our Secretary Sis Philomena. These crew never treated me as an intern but as a staff and practically carried me along in the entire Newspaper Production process. Basically, the experiences I have got within the space of the 4 months that I spent in Weekend Observer cannot be under mined. For instance, I was able to write Feature stories/Articles News stories, restructuring tuning of stories that are not properly written, Proof

reading and editing of stories transcribing of recorded interviews, conducting of interviews, covering of events and joining the other staff in the entire newspaper production process on Fridays until all the stories are filmed before closing for that day. I was been able to caption a news/feature stories with an appropriate caption that was publishable. I cannot forget the recent knowledge that I had in planning news story to a dummy which I practicalised myself and I discovered that was really interesting. Experience is a vital instrument that gives one an edge over others who have no knowledge in such field of discipline. Scanning of picture was seen as a mountain that one could not have climbed in an ordinary day but by the Grace of God, I was also able to scan and save pictures that were used for stories in our publications. It is highly imperative/ permanent to state clearly that at Weekend Observer every Friday is usually our production day and everyone goes to the computer room, where copy

who have writing by nature to calm me down and made me see no big deal in writing, with much clarity through examples of stories and other type of features that I would encounter in feature writing as a course and as a journalist which am aspiring to become. I got my confidence back and in less than an hour I wrote my story and submitted my exercise to my lecturer as at when due. I became better with each exercise and assignments that came later in the course and when it was time to write exams, I did my best and got a B grade when the result came out. Second semester 300 level is a fixed curriculum for all mass-communication students to go for SIWES training and I decided to do mine in a print house to really challenge myself in terms of writing and knowing all that entails newspapers production. I got accepted with The Bendel Newspapers Company Limited (BNCL) which owns the production of the Nigerian Observer Newspapers.

My attachment all through the four months I stayed in the company working directly under The Weekend Observer was an awesome experience I can never forget in a hurry. Being able to conquer my fear or phobia as it maybe, practicing and becoming better every day in feature writing, news story writing, planning of stories on a dummy, interviewing and proof reading likewise experiencing the process and stages involved in newspaper production is a great experience in deed. My Editor, Mr. Osazua Ivbaze is an easy going man who willing to teach you and help bring out the best in you as a journalist. He gave me the opportunity to write on any thing that interest me, provided that it’s publishable and never hesitates to publish a good work. indeed, it has been an amazing experience working under a creative editor like The Weekend Observer Editor. I will be wrong not to acknowledge other wonderful persons that taught me things I never knew and is always willingly

fitting proof reading and editing to ensure a perfect work is done prior to this, when I was told about a dummy, the first thought that crossed my mind was a cartoon, not knowing that, the dummy is like an instruction manual that gives directives to the page planner on what and how a page should be structured in a newspaper. Sincerely speaking, cannot express the knowledge I have acquired within the space of this I.T because I could recall vividly that some of my colleagues in other departments only know when the newspaper is out and how to write stories. But I do not only write stories, rather, I participate in the entire newspaper production process. Permit me to clarify, that, our newspaper companies of 32 pages, same applicable to Daily and Sunday Observer. It would be highly incomplete to drop this pen without acknowledging my amiable and indefatigable editor, Mr. Osazua Ivbaze who treated me like a son by carrying me along in the entire newspaper process and what journalism entails. Mr. Lamai Casius, a very good friend has always been with us and teaching and making ensure, there is peace amongst the interns and all other department in the organisation. A man who is always carrying and loving but always serious on production day. My thanks goes to Mrs. Boyo and Sis Philomena our Secretary for their mother

Gedu Longlife care. My final thanks goes to my friend and colleagues in the office, Mr. Richard Imhoagene, Grace Osagie both of Uniben. Interns from Ogwachukwu, Abraka, (Delsu) Auchi, Open University, Oghara Poly, which are, Mus a Joseph, Osolobi Blessing, Greatness Benjamin, Abeh Promise, Akpomukoro Anderline, Agarrey Ufuoma, Igbemkaro Isoken, Anabel and Ijeh Gregary and Otega. These interns came from different institutions but by the Grace of God I was able to cope and understand the diverse categories of people they are and that alone is an experience. My appreciation also goes to Mr. Oboh in the pre-press, Mrs. Josephine, Sis Kate and all others who work in the computer section, its my prayer that God will bless and keep you in his love all and my God bless The Nigerian Observer as a whole for granting this opportunity to work in this wonderful place that is loaded with talents.

What An Amazing Experience Working Under A Creative Editor -Grace Osagie could remember the feeling I had when my lecturer gave an exercise to the class to do a personal feature story that ends with “not all that glitter’s is gold”. I felt a nervous shut down as I held my pen to commence writing; I could barely think of anything to write or a story to suit the topic given as a phobia I never knew or had any gripped me. My heart raced the more as I turned, seeing my course mates sway their pens as they write and I had no clue of what to do. The course was features writing and all that raced in my head was Grace, “how are you going to pass this course!!”. Still trying to put myself together while my mates has gone one page and the second counting for others. My saving grace was when my lecturer left the classroom, his lecture time was up for the afternoon and he asked us to submit the exercise by 4pm that same day. It took the help of a friend in 400 level who had no difficulty when it comes to writing and my best friend

to take me on assignments as it relates to journalism practice, Mr. Lamai Casius and Mrs. Oboyo who gave me the chance to practicalize all I learnt in the classroom. The BNCL is a friendly and conducive environment for learning and the companies

Osagie Grace

acceptance to students who come for SIWES attachment is highly commendable. The company gives a platform to students who are willing to learn to gain practical knowledge of that which they learn in the classroom and by so doing make them strong and viable journalist which can confidently stand with top journalists from other media houses in the country likewise abroad. Like is stated earlier, I came to BNCL, Producers of The Nigerian Observer to conquer the phobia I have about writing and to prove to myself that I can be a good writer, work in a print media house after school and perhaps have my own media house in the nearest future. The phobia I must say I have overcomed, and like the saying, practice makes perfect, I believe with continuous practice not allowing the experience end here after my SIWES, the sky sure is my beginning and not my limit. With much gratitude to my Editor, Mr. Osazua Ivbaze, Mr. Lamai Casius and Mrs. Oboyo and also to God Almighty for the sound mind to learn and assimilate.

THE SUNDAY

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2014

VIEWPOINT

Who Is Fooling Who? An Outsized Outlook Of

An Hypocritical Nigerian

By RICHARD IMHOAGENE IT is no longer news that the current political gladiators who roam and operate within the corridors of power have for long administered governance on its people with utmost dishonesty, hypocrisy, and gross aggrandizement. The situation has indeed worsened and has ridiculed the eco-political, socioeconomic, and sociopolitical affairs of our dear nation-Nigeria. Surprisingly, there is a new twist. People, who collectively have called its

subjects fools, have now begun to throw foolish stones at themselves. We shall examine two or more controversial issues that have characterized the nation’s political sphere in the last 10 years. The immediate past administration of deceased president, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and his deputy turned president, Goodluck Jonathan, in 2009 promised Nigerians 24hrs electricity by attaining 6000mw before December 31, 2009. The same government budgeted

President Goodluck Jonathan

billions of naira for purchase of generator sets, its maintenance and diesel for the government house for the year 2010. Now, why would the same government who promised constant power supply be making provision for generator sets even in Aso rock? The ruling party, People’s Democratic Party (PDP), in 2007, displayed sheer hankypanky and mischief when it made an “unfit” man its flag bearer for the highest position in the land. A man with a history of frequent medical appointments and checks-up, and countless hospital visits both home and abroad. Even as governor of Katsina state, he was at a time recuperating for six months outside the country. This is to say that these so-called party leaders and godfathers were fully aware of his state of health but went on with their decision, which some quarters believe was done to fulfill geographical rituals, i.e. “our brother’s turn or our uncle’s turn.” It is believed that the dictatorial commando turned civilian president, “Baba Iyabo” wanted to please the northern sect before finally allowing the south-south a taste of the National Cake.

The face-off between the Tambuwal-led House of Representatives and the president about three years ago exposed the level of disregard for due process on the part of the government. Now, the story goes that Lawan, a member of the house, was implicated in a bribery scandal with Femi Otedola, a business mogul and chairman of FO oil (Formerly Zenon). It is believed that the noninvolvement or non-public involvement of the president in covering up the mess of the house is the singular reason for the house’s impeachment threat on the president at the time, on the claim that he had delayed the implementation of the 2012 budget. What beats us most is the fact that the leadership of the house was invited to Aso Rock for a closed-door meeting with the president. The result of that meeting is still unclear. But why would both the executive and legislative arms of government treat such an important issue as that of impeachment as a matter of personal differences, except of course it is in the real sense. The question is “who is fooling who?’ It is bad enough that the government

of Nigeria would result to deceiving the people in a bid to call them fools. It is worse that they now display foolishness among themselves, which is total ridicule in the eyes of the international community. The funny thing is Nigerians now take pleasure in sitting back, and watch them embarrass themselves locally and internationally. The President, in his speech at the 2012 Independence Day service held at the Christian Ecuminical centre in Abuja, stated on National Television to the whole world that Nigeria had been ranked second by Transparency International in the fight against corruption, only for Nigerians to be greeted a few days later by the “BIG LIE” the president had told. In their reaction, the government foolishly said that the story was lifted from a local newspaper, when it wouldn’t have taken five minutes to confirm such a report. Recently, about a month ago, news of a ceasefire between the federal government and Boko Haram broke out. Every quarter jumped at it, acknowledging the development. It did not take 24hrs for Nigerians to find out it was the “BOBO of the Century.” As expected,

responsibility for the news began to be tossed from the military to the DHQ to the federal government, and so on. It did not take long for the lay man to realize that it was simply a political move. A momentary propaganda to clear the path towards Jonathan’s reelection declaration bid. That singular move confused the ordinary foot soldier at the battle front and he lowered his rifle and guard; it made the northern dwellers vulnerable because they were made to believe imminent danger had been overcome, and they paid with their lives. The privatization exercise of the power sector which has seen Nigerians plunge deeper into darkness is another fallacy worth considering. Nigeria’s electric power sector was indiscriminately sold to political sponsors who have little or no idea about electricity transmission or distribution. Nigerians actually pay more for more darkness. What Nigerians need is a total over-hauling of the entire structure of government. The mental frame work of those who govern us is faulty, and this tells negatively on their decisions in government. We can only hope for that day when home shall be home again, and we can indeed be proud of our leaders.

The Trouble With Nigeria

By KINGSLEY AGESE/ PIUS ABAH

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

Personally, the problem with Nigeria is squarely disunity. Nigeria is not the only country that is populated with people of diverse cultures, languages and religions. Some countries with similar composition like Nigeria have been able to surmount evils of ethnic chauvinism, religious bigotry and such other divisive tendencies to grow into a cohesive entity. But why is the Nigerian fate different. Nigerians are yet to see themselves as one people. As far back as 1947, the late Yoruba leader, Chief Obafemi Awolowo made the following statement in his book, Path to Nigerian Freedom, “Nigeria is not a nation. It is a mere geographical expression. There are no Nigerians in the same sense as there are “English, Welsh or French. The word Nigeria is merely a distinctive appellation to distinguish those who live within the boundaries of Nigeria from those who do not.” Chief Obafemi Awolowo was not the only Nigerian to see things this way. The late Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, the first and the only Prime Minister Nigeria ever

had, said this in 1948. “since 1914, the British government has been trying to make Nigeria into one country, but the Nigerian people themselves are historically different in their backgrounds, in their religious belief and do not show themselves any sign of willingness to unite. Nigerian unity is only a British creation for the country.” These two great Nigerians have longed passed away, one can just imagine what they would have said in the light of how things have gone worse. Crisis everywhere, while some are motivated by religious bigotry, others are political and ethnic killings. Presently, mindless genocide is taking place in Nigeria with the menace of Boko Haram’s attack especially in the northern part of the country, as a result of disunity which manifest in different areas of our national life. In preferring solutions to Nigeria problems, people have made multifarious suggestions. Some have called for the convocation of sovereign national conference; some call for return to parliamentary system; some others demand a devolution of powers

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

An average Nigerian puts the interest of his ethnic or religious group before the national interest. Nigerians are too factionalized to form and developed political entity. Lack of unity has cost Nigeria progress, economic growth and development, political stability, national integration and credible international image. The question now is what is the way forward for Nigeria? Nigeria cannot afford to remain on a spot, forward

she must move and to attain this people of Nigeria must be united and ready to take unpopular decision that envies some hope and antidote to our longstanding challenges as a people. The issue of Boko Haram insurgence should be tackled, problems of ethnic and intertribal war should be addressed and lastly the problem of bribery, bureaucracy, favoritism and nepotism in public services should be discouraged

David Mark, Senate President

THE NIGERIAN

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2014

LITERATURE Hardley Chase, Chinua Achebe Oke Ndibe’s Epiphany By ONYX IFEMAMBI Okey Ndibe, your article on how Chinua Achebe saved you from James Hadley Chase makes me put on a green and white thinking hat. Achebe you said awakened your cultural sensibilities. You regurgitated how awesome it felt to be in the midst of a culture that made you proud to be a Nigerian. You stated that the 2-day event in London “showed the potential power of rich, deep cultural production”. You demonstrated by many examples how the exchange of arts and culture has made it easy for you to mix and mingle with people from Austin, Texas, New London, Connecticut, all the way to Nairobi, Kenya and London, England. The arts, poetry, music, dance, and movies of Nigeria seem to be the consistent piercing light in the often dark and cloudy portrait of the Nigerian people. Are you calling up arms for a war of change? Is the pen the sword for a new heart? Already, those who have eyes have seen, and those with ears have heard the call. We have had enough of rhetoric, and intense, political debates by those who claim to foresee which way Africa is going. Now are you saying that those with the pen will save Africa? Even the great scientist Albert Einstein bowed to the power of the arts. He said, “It would be possible to describe everything scientifically, but it would make no sense; it would be without meaning, as if you described a Beethoven symphony as a variation of wave pressure”. If the extremely talented German composer Ludwig van Beethoven had spent his life describing the perfect combination of sound that would make a spring quartet, he would have been another forgotten head stone in the Rhine Valley. He is not. He is famous because, with his pen, he actually birthed music, an art that carved his tunes on the marble slabs of time. He etched the geography of his people. Art is the heart and soul of a man. Artists including writers, poets, musicians, actors, actresses, and dancers will restore the Africans’ place on the world map. In the meantime, most of us agree that synchronous heartbeats maintain the life of the man. Yank it off, and a man is deeply wounded, then he dies. The literature of the pen smith, the songs of the poets and the laughter from drama, keep the sweet, thumping rhythms of the heart. In times of war, we rely on their songs to give us hope. As we celebrate weddings, their songs transform the mood to joy. When nations are built, an artist is called upon to compose an anthem, a

Chinua Achebe song that pulls a group of individuals together into a nation state. The British sing, “God Save the Queen” written by a British composer, Thomas Arne. Americans salute to the “Star Spangled Banner” by the American Francis Scott Key. At school assemblies, graduations, sporting events, the people honor their nations with the deep intensity of songs and poetry. These artistic compositions of anthems and pledges are the glue that keeps nations together. From independence in 1960 until 1978, Nigerians sang, “Nigeria We Hail Thee”, an anthem written by a British expatriate, Lillian Jean Williams, and set to song by another Briton Frances Berda. In 1978, at the ripe adult age of 18, Nigeria became agitated by the growing pains of youth, and allowed the sons of the soil, John Ilechukwu, Eme Akpan, Sota Omoigui, B. Ogunnaike and P. Aderibigbe to amalgamate a new song for the heart of the people. The indigenous Benedict Odiase and the Nigerian Police Band set the current anthem “Arise O’ Compatriots” to music. The artists established the tune for the hearty call to duty. Therefore, the anthem builds patriotism in people. It builds the hearts of men and women who make the nation. It is impossible to build a nation without men, women and children with heart. The heart beats for the self, and then it beats for others. It leaps in joy when you love beyond self. In the same manner, patriotism builds love for country. What do parents put into a child to make patriotic heartbeats? It is memories of songs, stories, and dances—all creations of the artist. When Okey Ndibe visits London, and his heart leaps for things of cultural value, it is the patriotic beat imbibed in him from Achebe, Soyinka and others. Those who grew up chasing Chase cannot argue that James Hadley Chase left such cultural marks on them. I can bet you twenty-five thousand naira that they are not travelling around the world getting high fives,

because they were youngsters in Africa reading about a British mystery set in America. This is not an indictment against the foreign novel. The point is simple. Artists in all forms contribute more to the sense of a historical bank in a child by encrypting songs and stories of tradition through their various art forms. It is this sense of a unique people that brings about a positive image of our culture when we travel around the world. More recently, Africa has been led to believe that a membership in the G8 or other economic powerhouse is the most important hallmark of a great nation. The place of art in the maturity and reputation of great nations like England, China, Greece and Italy cannot be underestimated. Even where power is now old glory, it is the arts that tell the old story. When Nigerians first visit London, they drop their bags at the front door of the family friends’ house, and rush to the nearest tube station. They head to Trafalgar Square at the heart of the city to take a picture with pigeons. It is the artistry of the sculptors (artists) that memorializes the Battle of Trafalgar, a celebration of the British victory over France and Spain in 1805. China has its Tiananmen Square, a place of important cultural gathering for the people. We can go on and on with examples from Greece, Germany, and Italy. Even modern communities in the United States are often built with central cultural centers with museums and sculptors commemorating the history of the people. A man is his art. A man rich in his art and culture is a very wealthy man. Therefore, I am secretly wishing that Okey Ndibe is calling us to feel rich in our possession of art, and strut like proud peacocks next time we are accosted with the often caustic question, “Where are you from” while abroad. We are well-to-do sons and daughters of Africa. Oh you talented artists, preserve our stories, music, poetry, drama, and arts with class. In doing so, be mindful that it is not a light duty to be ambassadors of culture. In all, the art movement can resurrect the heart of man, and will restore Nigeria and all of Africa to her rightful palace of glory. Like the mythical Phoenix, art will bring light back to a place everyone wants to ascribe darkness. The self is unique. Only Art expressed from within the self endures. Art is rich. Art is beautiful. Art is a song for the heart from the heart of another. Wherever you are, when you express the love of nation, it is the artistic experience of words, idioms and riddles told by your parents; stories of the masters like Achebe, Soyinka, Ndibe, Okri, Adichie, (not Hadley Chase); music of Sina Peters, Fela, Okosuns, Christy Essien, Osadebe, Prince Nico Mbarga that breath the sweet fragrance of home. It is the memories of Christmas masquerades, Eid el Fitr festivals, the art of the naming ceremonies, weddings, yam festivals, initiations, the songs, dances, the sculptors, and the art of the food preparations, the art of speaking, greeting, and being with the people that rejuvenate that desire for sweet home. It is art that will bring Africans home to Africa again.

My Next President Of Nigeria

By BAYO OLUWASANMI

would be the change we want and the change we need. My choice is a leader with vitality and insight. The individual represents a face of change and charity for Nigeria and Africa. A president capable of electrifying Nigeria and the world with hope and joy. My pick for the president will be an exceptional president. The term “first 100 days” has been widely recognized as a measure of leadership dynamism. Whether you’re a newly elected president, CEO, or executive at any level, what you do in your first 100 days will be absolutely pivotal to your success or failure. Your first 100 days in a new executive job will help you to seal your leadership, build a team you can count on, and have a bottom line impact before your first few months on the job is up. It’s a period to get clear your going-in

mandate – your contract with key stake holders. I believe my next president will use the first 100 days to structure goals for what has been described as an “Impossible Future” while simultaneously performing the duties of the presidency. A structure that unites warring ethnicities and build a team of “A” players – get the right people on the bus. My choice is capable of jump starting a vision with 30, 60, 90-day catalytic breakthrough projects, and master the political chessboard and culture that will earn quick wins for the new administration. It’s all part of the bottom-line results before the end of the first 100 days. I believe my choice of the next tenant of Aso Rock possess the three important determinants that are crucial for moving Nigeria from a failed state to enduring state: adaptive leadership, citizen

compassion, and communication techniques and capabilities. Adaptive leadership is the president’s ability to adjust the direction or agenda depending on the current political or social climate. Any successful president must share a certain level of citizen compassion. My pick has the ability to relate to persons of another class, ethnic, religion, or group and is able to transcend socioeconomic gaps and identify with poor Nigerians. Citizen compassion is relevant because it helps to attune the president to the needs of poor Nigerians. By demonstrating citizen compassion, the president will develop legislative agendas accordingly, and ultimately create good policy. It allows the president to obtain an accurate reading of public sentiment, particularly in times of uncertainties or disorder like we’re going through right now in our

country. President Franklin Roosevelt became the president when America was at its darkest hour. In the midst of the Great Depression, Roosevelt demonstrated his sense of citizen compassion by recognizing in his first inaugural address that Americans were concerned with the state of the economy. In holding the office for more than a decade, Roosevelt was a shining example of a successful president. A president must possess communication techniques and capabilities. The president’s communication skills are constantly on display in the forms of speeches, letters, and press conferences. The communication aptitude of the president will play a major role in bringing adaptive leadership and citizen compassion to the forefront.

It can help bring about desired results in the National Assembly. Notions of power and symbols of power are always very masculine. Nigeria has unbroken record of electing men either as prime minister or president or installing men as head of state by military coup. All of the men that have served as the chief executive of our nation with the exception of Murtala Muhammed, were colossal failures. Now is the time to allow the men to develop some leadership spines and get their bearings right and draft a woman as it were, as the next president. My fellow Nigerians, I’m pleased to inform you that I’ve found my warriors that would rescue and restore Nigeria. I’m honored and very proud to present to you my next president of Nigeria Dr. Oby Ezekwesili and the vice-president Dr. Joe OkeiOdumakin.

THE SUNDAY

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2014

C mpus Watch

‘African’ Is Fashionable

IN a highly competitive society like Nigeria, it takes more than sheer brilliance to stand out. The discouragement posed by the highly disabling environment characterized by epileptic power supply, lack of infrastructure, and the relative high cost of running a business, makes it even more fretting. With a Mass Communication career in sight, Opoju Faith Ocheche has broken free from the boundaries of convention, and has redefined trend and glamour using the simplest of fabrics. In this interview with WEEKEND OBSERVER’s intern Richard Imhoagene, this super dynamic and exceptionally creative designer and creator of Ocheche Couture takes us into a number of issues including how she copes as a student and Fashion Designer. Excerpts: Good Afternoon, may we meet you please? Good afternoon, I am Opoju Faith Ocheche. I am a 400 level student of Mass Communication in the University of Benin. I am a fashion designer. I live in Ibadan with my

family, although, I am from Akoko-Edo in Edo State. How long have you been a fashion designer? I have been a fashion designer since my JSS days. Although, I had my first major exposure in SS3 when I had my first runway experience. Then there was also a time I participated in a talent hunt. I showcased my designs, and that was like the break for me. It’s been beautiful ever since. I came to the University of Benin, and with a lot of encouragement from my roommates, I decided to start sewing again, and here I am. How do you cope being a student and a Fashion Designer at the same time. Well, I guess I basically understand the fact that my future lies with me. It means if I have a passion to become a fashion designer, I have to work towards it. That entails discipline and a lot of hardwork. I put the passion into my work to ensure that I am successful. Most times, I work at night when others are sleeping, so that I’ll be able to focus on studies

- Ocheche

during the day. It’s been challenging though, during the day, I shuffle between sleeping and classes. But I know I have a focus and that is what keeps me going. Now, what kind of designs do you do? First of all, I do strictly female dresses. I don’t do trousers for any reason. Dresses, gowns, skirts, blouses, and so on. I also do female jackets and blazers. I do native designs like Iro and Buba, and I do western clothes including Bridals and so on. Now, we have noticed that you use a lot of local fabric. What inspires your style of design? I like Nigerian fabrics because the prints are beautiful. Like I always say “African is beautiful”. Before now, people used to see Nigerian fabrics like Ankara as not fashionable and outdated. They felt it could not be considered as glamourous. Now, when you bring African prints and add a blend of western fabric, you can make beautiful and timeless designs. Who are your targets as a designer? I would say everybody. Yes everybody that’s because

apart from ladies who approach me, men can also contract me to make clothes for their spouses, sisters, mothers, and so on. I have some designs in mind that I intend to work on in the nearest future for plus-sized women and pregnant women especially. Some pregnant women feel they can’t be fashionable, and I want to try and correct that idea. So, I intend to open their minds to ways they can upgrade their styles. You don’t have to loose your fashion sense because you are pregnant. I have things for pregnant women, mothers, aged women, young ladies, and even for brides. Okay, where do you see yourself in the next five years? I see myself at the Nigerian Fashion Week, the Paris Fashion Week, and so on. I see myself taking pictures with Tiffany Amber and other top designers all around the world. I see myself making an impact, mentoring young people on how to express themselves through their talents. I love to see young people do great things, and I believe I can do a lot to help them believe that they can be who they want

to be. What has been the highest point of your fashion career? Well, it depends on what you mean. But I think I’d say the first time I had a wedding contract. That was the first time I made over a hundred thousand naira. I had just about two months and I delivered. It was a beautiful experience to take up such a challenge and earn good money at the same time. Now, what are the major challenges you face as a fashion designer, and the industry in Nigeria, what challenges does the industry face in Nigeria? Personally, time is a major challenge, having to combine clothe making and my studies is a major challenge. It’s a very demanding job, and I have quit a number of clients. So time is a major factor for me. However, I had to adjust, because I always remember the words of Chief Obafemi Awolowo (of blessed memory). He said people always ask what is the secret of his success is. He said when people are sleeping, he is awake, when they are awake, he is walking,

when they are walking, he is running, and when they start running, he is flying. As for the fashion industry, I will say it has really grown. We now have more acceptance and more recognition. But they are too many so-called “fashion designers”. There are quacks everywhere that spoil the image of the industry. Also, we need better infrastructures to help our work become better. So, if I see you after school, will I see Ocheche the newscaster on CNN or Ocheche the designer? You ‘ll definitely see me displaying my designs on runway. Education doesn’t determine who you become. It only makes you better in what you choose to become. Finally, what is your advice to young people like you who may be afraid to express their talents and skills? I just want to tell them to dare to do it. You never know what you can do until you actually try. And when they do, they should not lose focus, but remain committed despite the challenges that may arise.

THE NIGERIAN

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2014

L adership

Jonathan

President Jonathan Needs Support Therapy Several people have asked me about the many pressures facing the Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan, and if these pressures call for the need of some form of supportive and mental health therapy. President Jonathan, has been known to have gotten spiritual or divine help from religious leaders with great property wealth, and that is very much okay if it gives the president some kind of comfort. We will never know if the President is heavily psychologically troubled, as there has been no direct psychological contact with him. But what if in private the President is suffering from having been a victim of selfinflicted or society-induced pains, emotionally and personally, and even

physically, then could therapy help? There is the possibility that the President may be experiencing a typical form of presidential frustration like the mass Jonathan frustration (MJF), as many of his administration’s actions on security and safety in particular are producing fewer and fewer results than they should. Mr. President, should you agree to this angle of thought, in terms of special help, there is what is called psychotherapy. It focuses on mental and emotional challenges that could be coming from inner pressures due to issues like instability in the nation. Therapy allows the individual in need to be listened to, and it makes that individual feel good to be listened to—to know that

By DR. JOHN EGBEAZIEN OSHODI someone else cares about you and wants to assist unconditionally, and is someone who is not looking for something for himself or herself directly or indirectly. Therapy involves making the individual become more self-aware of realities on ground. It allows the individual to express thoughts and feelings, as well as worries weighing on the mind in regard to many of your battles and issues like the unending irregular power supply, pitiable accommodation, meagre transportation, poor traffic management and security challenges as well as issues of mass corruption and distrustful team members. On a deeper level, troubling the president could be

unfinished pains like the issues of oil/fuel/kerosene scandals, the missing oil money, tragic death of job seekers during a government recruitment exercise, police pension theft, and the nonstop deaths from ethno-religious crises, and many other crises. Mr. President, it could be you have talked or are talking to close friends and family members, as it is very helpful to talk about these ongoing national problems and their effects on you as a person, but sometimes, we need help that the people around us aren’t able to give. This is especially true when one needs extra support, an outside objective perspective, or some expert guidance, and this is when talking to a therapist becomes important. Sir, it is unknown at this time if you have been diagnosed with a mental health problem that would benefit from therapy but what is clear is that many people in therapy seek preventive-type help, as in

the case with weight of Nigeria’s ongoing commotions. As a matter of fact, in times of possible job stresses like yours, or issues of self-doubt, or during difficult times, therapy becomes essential. Sir, the thought of taking a pill or being prayed for to solve many of our national problems, especially when they become an issue to one’s emotional/physical well-being, could come with side effects which may include other body-related ailments or external pressures for position, money, or contracts. Sir, one could argue that your collective frustrations could be coming from swelling disappointments, competing negative factors at all times, the perception that you are not doing much, when actually the reality could be less true. Sir, when repeated frustrations continue to drop on you, apathy sets in, personal suffering sets in, “wear and tear” sets in, and physical ailments follow and even death comes knocking. But, God forbid, we still need you around! Sir, should you consider

seeking therapy with the help of a professional therapist or certified psychologist (not a psychiatrist, whose treatment is mostly based in medicating humans); you could avoid the hidden pains of slow death. One major consequence of not seeking therapy with the help of a professional therapist is becoming afflicted with a long physical illness. As you may know, it is rare for the leader in other countries to die in office, but not in the case of Africa where it is much more common. Sir, the prevalence of long-standing emotional troubles or grief could affect life expectancy in Africa, especially in Nigeria which some may deny. Sir, in the light of your recent declaration for the 2015 presidency, the ongoing and recent extraordinarily stressful events, further compound the effects of your lingering grief in regard to the nation’s mounting challenges. Therefore, Mr. President, at this period of need, personal and supportive therapy for you could give some comfort.

“Sir, in the light of your recent declaration for the 2015 presidency, the ongoing and recent extraordinarily stressful events, further compound the effects of your lingering grief in regard to the nation’s mounting challenges.”

THE SUNDAY

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2014

C unselling

With

â&#x20AC;&#x153;To stay young and healthy, we must choose both aright and in so doing, we will learn to live with a happy heart in spite of our handicaps.â&#x20AC;? Many centuries ago King Solomon wrote these famous words; A merry heart doeth good like a medicine. Every doctor can testify to the truth of that statement. A cheerful, optimistic attitude is excellent medicine for what ever ailment it is. We have all known people who were so seriously ill that no one expected them to live. Yet, they managed to pull through, in spite of, their seemingly hopeless condition. It was their will to live, that made all the difference. On the other hand, we have seen people with some minor illness from which they should have quickly recovered, yet they died in spite of all that medical science could do to save them. Why? Because they simply had no will to live. When the patient himself gives up, there may be little that doctors and nurses can do to save him. So, if you are sick, do not become discouraged. Determine to do all in your power to help yourself. This will aid your doctor in helping you back to health. Successful living depends not only on us choosing the right diet, with the right minerals and vitamins, important as they always are. It is equally important to maintain a wholesome attitude toward the world around us. To stay young and healthy, we must choose both aright and in so doing, we will learn to live with a happy heart in spite of our handicaps. Our children need to be taught that, life is full of joy inspite of temporary setbacks and misunderstandings. To be happy, we must all develop an optimist attitude toward life. We must learn to forgive and to forget all the unhappy incidents in the past. We must live for the future, using every means within our power to keep well and strong to the very end of our days.

O.C. Madu GSM: 08056379608

Successful Living Above all, we must place our trust in divine power, realizing that every life has a purpose, a goal toward which we are all unconsciously striving. Life is rich and full of meaning for those who have really found the way to live. These are the age-old secrets which the world is sorely in need of today. Most of the ailments that afflict the human race can be alleviated by using the simple remedies that nature has so abundantly provided. And in following these ideals, we can enjoy life to the full, knowing that we have found the secrets of happy living. Cultivate a happy disposition so that life will soon have an entirely new meaning to him. First of all, he must take a good look at himself and his own attitude all through the years that have passed. If he has been unhappy, he must find the reason why he has felt that way and why things have not gone as he would have desired. This may not be easy or pleasant, for he probably has some hostile feeling toward those around him. All those unhappy experiences of the past have no doubt left their scars and there may be little he can do to change things now. But a candid review of the past will definitely help him to find a new approach to life in the future. At least, he will be less inclined to make the same mistakes again. According to Clinton, if you live long enough, you will make mistakes. But if you learn from them, you will be a better person. It is how you handle adversity, not how it affects you. The main thing is never quit. We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure. There is no end

to the adventures that we can have, if only we seek them with our eyes open (Jawaharlal Nehru).

allowances for others too often; we have judged other people by our own miserable outlook on life.

short spell of illness may give us reason for being thankful that we have enjoyed good health for so

Life is therefore, one big road with lots of signs; so, when you are riding through the roads, do not complicate your mind. Flee from hate, mischief and jealousy. Do not bury your thoughts; put your vision to reality. Wake-up and live (Bob Marley). According to Vivekananda Swami, we are what our thoughts have made us, so; take care about what you think. Words are secondary, thoughts live and they travel far. Having once taken a good look at all these unpleasant things, he should henceforth, determine to forget them for the rest of his days. No good will comes from constantly mulling over an unhappy past. He must now look to the future, accepting things as they are and doing his best to make all wrongs right again. When a person comes to understand himself and his own shortcomings. It is easier for him to make

Our thinking was no doubt, affected by the problems that were troubling us at the moment. Late, we may have realized that these misunderstandings were brought on because of circumstances beyond our control. Understand ourselves-once we come to understand ourselves we can begin to see things through the eyes of others rather than merely our own. Such an outlook will enable us to forget the injuries of the past. It will help us to develop a happier attitude toward those whom we formerly misunderstood. And in so doing, we begin to find those secrets of happy living we desire. Life that once may have seemed so dull and meaningless now begins to glow with hope and confidence once again. We have faith in future as we develop confidence in those around us. We feel younger and more capable of enjoying life to full. All that we do takes on new meaning, as we develop a brighter outlook. Even a

long. A spirit of optimism will do much to smooth out the rough places all along the way. It will carry us through all kinds of difficulties and make more tolerant of others, particularly those that have caused us trouble in the past. Once we develop a new attitude of confidence in our fellow man, we begin to find new meaning for those who have found the keys to successful living and who have learned to look forward with confidence to the future. An optimistic attitude is the greatest asset one can ever have in life. It pays rich dividends in peace and contentment and often in material things as well. Optimism changes gloom to gladness, sorrow to joy, despair to hope. Even the pessimistic person can develop a new attitude and change for the better. Through the year, we either cultivate a happy outlook on life or we develop a disposition that

is not so pleasant. The choice is ours and ours alone. We are moving either in one direction or the other. We never stand still in this respect. Unhappy attitudes from poor habits of thinking. But even this, can be changed provided one has the desire and the will to do so. Research shows that some times, it is difficult for old people to keep cheerful habits. The passing years may bring a sense of futility, a feeling that life holds no more real interest for them. Such people tend to become very restricted in their later years and we may wonder why. On careful inquiring, however, we usually find out that these people have always been somewhat pessimistic. During their younger years, they have perhaps managed to cover their real feelings to some extent, but now, the true situation becomes only too clear. Some older people are unhappy because of certain physical handicaps. It may be a touch of arthritis or a little shortness of breath when they exert themselves. Some of this is to be expected as one grows older. The machine is slowly wearing out; the marvelous body is showing the signs of age. Research also, shows that in their desire for attention, these people often conjure up all kinds of aches and pains, most of which may not actually exist. But these individual are sure they must have some strange malady for which there is no real physical basis for their numerous complaints. Their troubles are largely in their minds In addition to all the wonderful new medicines now available, there are certain natural remedies that every one can and should use. These are sunlight, fresh air, pure water, rest, exercise, a well balanced diet and trust in Divine power.

THE NIGERIAN

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2014

P litics

How Lack Of Internal Democracy Will Ruin PDP In 2015 Guber Polls In Lagos State By OLUMIDE ABAYOMI

“It is common knowledge that notable leaders in Lagos PDP have forged an alliance under the leadership of Chief Bode George and Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe with the sole objective of stopping Obanikoro’s governorship ambition, while rallying round a new entry into the party, Mr. Jimi Agbaje.” Just like in 2007, the smear campaign and mudslinging has begun to be tarred on Lagos irrepressible politician and grassroots mobilizer, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, over his renewed bid to run for the office of the governor of Lagos State. Though he is yet to officially declare his intention, the stage seems set for the final war in the state’s chapter of the Peoples Democratic

Bode George

Party (PDP) ahead of 2015 gubernatorial election and the battle line is drawn between supporters and opponents of Obanikoro, the immediate past Minister of State for Defence. It is common knowledge that notable leaders in Lagos PDP have forged an alliance under the leadership of Chief Bode George and Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe with the sole objective of stopping

Obanikoro’s governorship ambition, while rallying round a new entry into the party, Mr. Jimi Agbaje. But while Agbaje and his backers have been dropping the president’s name, insinuating that Agbaje is President Goodluck Jonathan’s candidate to win Lagos, spirited attempts to foist him on the party through an unpopular consensus arrangement is likened to the Lagos PDP going again on the path of self-destruct and playing directly into the hands of their major opponent, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Just when imposition of candidates instead of primaries, is going out of fashion in the All Progressives Congress (APC) and with its chances of capturing Lagos almost becoming a possibility, it would be foolhardy for the PDP leaders to think the change Lagosians want is the change of baton from one godfather (Tinubu) to another (Bode George). To imagine that Lagosians weary of the godfather factor which has dictated the way things were run since 2007 will allow the menace to reincarnate in another form is sickening and I very much doubt that this will happen. ‘Godfatherism’ is fast becoming an irritant to the Nigerian voters. They want a candidate who can stand on his own; one who will be responsible for the decisions he makes, one who won’t think twice before allocating sums

for project. This is not to say that outside influence can ever be dispensed with in politics. I doubt if that will ever happen but such outside influence cannot be concentrated in just one man to whose whim and caprices the sitting executives bows. As a true democrat, who has seen it all in public service as a council chairman, commissioner, Senator, Ambassador and lately Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, all Obanikoro is asking for is a level playing ground and anybody seeking to govern any state in the country should not be running away from primaries to test his popularity. “I am confident of victory at the primaries because I am a grassroots person with grasp of key issues in the state. All we are asking for is a level playing field where we can all come out to test our popularity among the people,” he told newsmen recently. It is therefore laughable that after several dirt thrown to dissuade the man, fondly called Koro, from contesting failed, the leaders pulled out of their bag of tricks another stunt lately, when a Lagos High Court was urged to stop Obanikoro from participating in the forthcoming primary on the ground that he has dual citizenship and for presenting forged documents to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Resulting to the antics that failed to stop the man in 2007 election is an idle waste of the court’s time. Despite pursuing the matter at the tribunal up to the Appeal Court, an effort that failed to stop his participation at the polls, resuscitating the old lady’s tale in 2014 would be an exercise in futility. Rising in Obanikoro’s defence, the Group of Concerned Lagosians (GCL), a Lagos-based political advocacy group, has roundly condemned the PDP chieftains, Chief Bode George and Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe, for what it described as “a consistent antagonist and character assassination campaign aimed at truncating the gubernatorial aspiration of Senator Musiliu Obanikoro.” According to the group, in a statement by its coordinator, Olayinka Sotade, it is now common knowledge that the duo of George and Ogunlewe are hell bent on derailing the success of Lagos PDP in the 2015 gubernatorial polls with their insistence on producing the party’s candidate by hook or crook. “The latest in their character assassination game is a flimsy lawsuit seeking to bar Obanikoro from the polls based on a concocted accusation of dual citizenship. All of this is motivated by a simple fact: the fear that Obanikoro will sweep the primaries landslide and then proceed to win the gubernatorial elections. “Let it be made clear that Musiliu Obanikoro is a natural

PDP National Chairman, Adamu Muazu born citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and nowhere else, not USA, not UAE, not Outer Mongolia. Instead of meeting him at the party primaries, desperate individuals are resorting to the same dirty tricks they used in years past to at most frustrate his aspiration, and at the least confuse the electorate. “Having served as Nigeria’s High Commissioner to Ghana and Minister of State for Defence, Obanikoro had the highest level of Security Clearance obtainable from the Federal Government. Such clearance comes after a rigorous security check by relevant security agencies. If he was violating the Constitution of Nigeria in any way, including allegiance to a foreign power, this would have been discovered and his appointment would never have happened. “We are solidly behind Senator Obanikoro and wish to let Bode George and his cohorts know that Obanikoro is a true son of Lagos who has served Lagos decently all through his public service career without any criminal record, accusation or litigation. He will not be intimidated by half baked politicians who are already afraid of meeting him at the primaries,” the statement ended. In a related development, Mr. Joe Igbokwe, the Lagos APC spokesman recently played god and proclaimed that Obanikoro’s candidature is dead on arrival. According to him, “after voting for a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Lagosians cannot stoop so low to vote for Obanikoro. Anything the PDP touches turns to ashes.” From Igbokwe’s statement, it is clear that Obanikoro is the APC’s biggest headache in the

Lagos 2015 gubernatorial race; hence their constant attacks at Obanikoro. Every time the Lagos APC resorts to its campaign of calumny against the PDP, Obanikoro becomes the target of their vituperations as if he is the only gubernatorial aspirant on the platform of PDP Lagos. This has only confirmed the open secret that the APC in connivance with Jimi Agbaje are playing out a script targeted at truncating the success of PDP in Lagos. Curiously, it is on record that not only does Jimi Agbaje fraternize with the APC, he has never criticized nor found anything wrong with the APC government in Lagos State. It is the same with the Lagos APC whenever they launch attacks at Lagos PDP. They pretend as if their man in the PDP does not exist. George Oladipo Philips, a political affairs analyst and Lagos PDP loyalist, also voiced similar concerns in his reply to the Lagos APC. According to him, “Igbokwe continues to bark like an overexcited attack dog, but let him be told that his self-indulgent feeling of importance begins and ends in the doorsteps of his paymasters in Bourdillon. He is in no position to determine who Lagosians will vote as their governor in 2015. Lagosians know who to vote for and if indeed, the APC is confident of their performance in Lagos, Obanikoro and PDP Lagos should be the least of their concern.” My advice to the APC is to focus on running a decent electioneering campaign devoid of mischief, pettiness and blackmail. No conspiracy or connivance between the APC and its mole in the PDP, can stop the PDP from winning the Lagos 2015 gubernatorial elections.

THE SUNDAY

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2014

I sues

Where Are Abia Elders? By PROF. OLADIMEJI KEHINDE

THE kind of administrative and leadership tragedy that has signposted the governorship framework of Theodore Ahamefula Orji of Abia State since 2007 cannot be possible in my Ondo State because our people are not docile, timid and slavish to money! I trust them, they will revolt. The average Igbo person can do anything for money. In their morbid quest for it, they can commit matricide or patricide if need be! I make these declarations with a sense of responsibility. Nevertheless, I hold the ethnic group in high esteem for their courage, grit and doggedness. Their survivalist template is exemplary. With the systemic deterioration of Abia State, I am compelled to ask: where are the elders from this state? Is it possible that all of them have been compromised and cannot intervene? Do we also take it that in their own estimation, the governor has done so well that there are no lacunae? Could it be that the killer squad of the government has so intimidated everyone to the extent of speechlessness? Even in states that are getting their act together, wellmeaning citizens still find loopholes. Why is Abia different both in the region and in the country? Of course, the independent local media and official megaphones have all abdicated their constitutional responsibilities. In 2011, an emancipated Gov. Orji gleefully announced to a disinterested world that he had liberated himself from strangulating clutches of his predecessor, who, allegedly, still wanted to be calling the tunes. Ever since then— seven years on—nothing has changed. Rather, the governor dissipates so much energy and huge financial resources in fighting the former governor, Orji Uzor Kalu. If he is not doing this, he is spending fortunes on multi-media propaganda, with a high deployment of new media technologies, particularly 247ereports exclusively sponsored and fully bankrolled by the Abia State Government specifically

for figments of imagination, cock-and-bull yarns and fairytales about Kalu Let us accept it for purposes of this presentation that Kalu’s best was not good enough during his own tenure— coming immediately after years of military ruination. Should that now be the preoccupation of his successor? In any case, most other governors of Kalu’s era did not perform creditably as well. Therefore, why will the present governor be carrying on as if he is the only governor to have succeeded another governor? Why are his contemporaries not making mountains out of their predecessors’ molehills? For me, such obfuscation strategies show weaknesses of the incumbent, who cannot move out of the shadows of his predecessor and create fresh developmental vistas. Why must a state’s chief executive cry over spilt milk and most times indulge in wolf-crying? Such theatricals bespeak drunken emptyheadedness! These kinds of illusionary and diversionary antics in governance have become obsolete—they were used during military rule. I hear the governor’s son, Chinedu (aka Ikuku), who left school not long ago, is the boy in charge of day-to-day running of the state and nothing gets done without his consent! I also understand that the boyish chap uses a combination of armed-to-theteeth military and police escorts in a convoy that is usually longer than that of his father! This kind of mediocrity is only possible when the head is shallow and busy in benefactor witch-hunt. What is this talk about legacy, legacy, legacy, Ochendo global and Ochendo grassroots and perpetual decimation of Kalu’s imprints? I was a lecturer in Abia State University during Kalu’s regime. At no point were we owed salaries as obtains now. The employees of ABSU and Abia Poly are in salary arrears of between four and nine months. Yet, everyday, my stranded colleagues inform me that their sensibilities are

Orji Kalu

Theordor Orji

“Is it that the elders in Abia are unaware of these retrogressive and parlous developments? Or, are they elders of the stomach who are only interested in gastronomical challenges?” assailed with “legacy stuff”! What legacy? Of underdevelopment, salary indebtedness collapse of holistic social infrastructure, prostitution, youth unemployment, kidnapping and :: vicious, occasionally lethal, attacks of political opponents or critics. I remember the bestial abduction of an editor in Lagos at the instance of Gov. Orji. I have never heard of such deviancy in a democracy. Is it that the elders in Abia are unaware of these retrogressive and parlous developments? Or, are they elders of the stomach who are only interested in gastronomical challenges? Poverty is indeed a challenge to humanity and does make a man lose his dignity. When you are axphyiatingly manacled by the basic necessities of life and sustained by governor ’s periodical handouts/peanuts/ pittance, you cannot contemporaneously have the moral fibre to look him in the eyes and critique his backwardness. Are there no comfortable men like Arthur Eze in Abia who will call a spade a spade? Orji should in his remaining days address issues of governance. Preoccupation with Kalu’s ghost has been overstretched so much that it is no longer holds water. It has become inelastic and untenable in comparative circumstances involving other 23-year-old states. I do not want to go into the Hiroshimalike blast by Prince Arthur Eze. That is the

incontrovertible summation of the disaster that God’s own state has become. The serial demonization and futile humiliation of Kalu have become childish and wasteful (regular advertorial diatribes with money that should be used to fix roads, especially in Aba and Umuahia) spending confers heroism on the man. No amount of acerbic advertorials can diminish him. Nigerians, particularly Abians, know the truth. Seven years of antagonism by Gov. Orji and bullishness of his vanishing supporters have not benefited the state in any way. Public ridicule arising from governmental clownishness, hooliganism and belligerency has become the only legacy in the incontrovertibly worst state in Nigeria. Good governance is not achieved on the pages of newspapers via pugilistic attacks and duplicitous supplements and electronic media dubiousness of virtual accomplishments! Having lived in Aba, Umuahia and Uturu for eight years (2001-2009) as a lecturer, I make this proposition: let T. A. Orji and Orji Kalu walk the streets of these towns separately and unaccompanied today and let us see who will be stoned between them. I can bet with my life that Gov. Orji’s villainous profile will manifest. For me, this is the simplest way to test both men’s acceptability and popularity. Let us stretch this debate further; if there are no elders, real men, in Abia State, are there no patriots? Are we all

saying that the state is an El Dorado? A paradise on earth? Are there no rooms for improvement? Are the craters in Aba hallmarks of modern civilization? Is the absence of vital social infrastructures the dividend of democracy? In the absence of elders and patriots, what of women? I remember the Aba Women’s Riot of 1928. Can’t we have such an upheaval in the face of this non-development in Abia State? Where are Abia youth? What of pressure groups? Have all these constituencies been silenced or have they given up in frustration? Have the media and students been cowed to stupor and haplessness? Is the decay in Abia beyond redemption? Do we outsource the remaining days of Orji to one of his colleagues or get President Goodluck Jonathan to appoint an administrator after the declaration of a state of emergency urgently? From where cometh answers to these posers! Abians arise, stand up for your right, and do not allow your so-called elders to mortgage your life with the connivance of the governor. Your future is in your own hands. Take up the gauntlet. The saddest aspect of it all is that this man wants to retire to the senate at all costs! If, God forbid, he gets to the upper legislative chamber, he will establish his pugilism art this time against whoever he will replace in line with his bad habit! With the paucity of vocal senior citizens in Abia, the time has come for the

intelligentsia in Nigeria, market men and women and unemployed youth to take the bull by the horns and effect a positive change next year. They should not allow Gov. Orji to install a puppet which was the mistake Orji Kalu did against all oppositions and wise counsel. So, Kalu should be held vicariously for the disaster Ochendo and his clan of backers, especially the so-called hunger-ravaged “elders” represent. Enough of these propaganda and online figments, cock-and-bull yarns and fairytales about Kalu through Abia State government-owned 247ereports exclusively set up to embarrass Kalu. As I said earlier, Kalu cannot be the problem of Abia. The insurmountable challenge is leadership vacuity. To be fair to Ochendo, I know of some inherited “legacy” projects like the repainted old secretariat building, refurbished School Road Model Primary School, rehabilitated Dialysis and Ophthalmology Centre (former Alaoma Hospital), Umuahia, and the General Hospital at Amachara. I commend him for giving these and other uncompleted projects a facelift. Has it ever occurred to Gov. Orji and Abia wretched elders that if Kalu failed, he, as a powerful and imperial Chief of Staff for eight years, equally shares in the nonperformance blame, if not more than Kalu? Just food for thought as we anxiously await his overdue exit. Finally, I ask, for the umpteenth time, where are Abia elders?

THE NIGERIAN

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2014

Christian Perspective Man: The Only Image And Disobedient Creature By GEDN LONGLIFE

The almighty God in the creation story in Gen 1 vs 1-25 did all without reaching a consensus with any other. All that happened was God said let there be this or that and everything appeared as he commanded. But in gen 1 vs 26, God paused and reached a consensus with his Son and the Holy Spirit: that is the trinity before he created man. See what verse 26a says “and God said, let us make man in our image after our likeness: It is so glaring when God was communing or dialoging with God the Son and God the Holy Spirit for them to reach an agreement in order for them to have a perfect creature that looks exactly like them. The almighty creator did not just stop making man in their image but in verse 26b, he empowered him with a domineering spirit in order to rule over everything he had made both living and non living just as He is in charge of all the host of heaven. It reads”…and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. Everything, which encompasses the entire totality of God creatures, was kept under the care of man to oversee as the god of this earth. But man whom God empowered to rule over His creatures is now bent to the subjection of the creature and he is found worshipping the creatures rather than the CREATOR HIMSELF. That is why it is not surprising to see people worshipping snakes, snails, crocodiles, woods, golden images, demons including fellow human beings as gods due to loss of purpose and direction. However, the hallmark of my message today is centered on the attitude of man towards God his creator. Have you ever imagined or come to the notice that, of all the creatures of God, of things in heaven, in the air, on earth, in water and underneath the earth; all have been so obedient to God and submissive except man that was created in the image of God Himself. All things created by God have all obeyed God even

till now except for the stubborn nature of man who has refused to be bent under the tutelage of the almighty God. Man has ever been of headlong with God since creation as a matter of truth, he is the only creature that kept on rebelling and disobeying God at all times; only man is disobedient to God. For instance, in Daniel chapter 6 vs 16-22, Daniel was thrown into the lion’s den to be devoured by the beast called lions, ordinaringly lions are carnivorous animals that feeds on flesh both animals, birds as well as human flesh But because they were commanded by God not to eat Daniel as their meat, they obeyed and so did not even do anything to hurt him but laid themselves as pillows for Daniel to rest even before God finally gave them excess meats to be consumed the following day. Fish also obey God in Jonah chapter 1 vs 17. When Jonah decided not to convey God’s message of salvation to the people of Nineveh, God commanded a great fish to swallow him but not to crush him rather, to keep him in its belly till he repents. Now in chapter 2 vs 10, after Jonah had spent 3 says and 3 night in the belly of the fish, God now spoke to the fish to vomit Jonah on a dry land and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land as commanded by the LORD. The fish heeded to the command of God by doing exactly what the creator want it to do. The Birds of the air also obeyed God in carrying out its assignment given to it by God. In 1st Kings chapter 17 vs 4-6, ravens were commanded by God to feed Elijah with flesh and bread for a couple of time and they obeyed. Ravens are eaters of flesh and bread as a matter of fact, bread is its favourite but because the Almighty God did not command them to eat it but to deliver it to His servant, they did not compromise rather they kept on in this assignment both morning and evening until the brook Cherith where he drank from dried up and Elijah was asked to relocate. It however unfortunate that, when we are committed with something that we equally loves to deliver to our neighbour, we corner it and personalize it due to greed and fraud ranging in our heart. Man why can’t

you learn from the ravens who loves bread and flesh so much but yet did not fell for it when it was put in its care. Fire also did not refute God’s order of not burning His children, the 3 Hebrew men: Shadrack, Meshack and Abednego when King Nebudchadnezzar commanded them to be thrown into the fiery furnace for not bowing down to his idol in Daniel

also obeyed our Lord Jesus Christ when a great tempestuous storm arose against the boat of the disciples to the point of their boat sinking before they woke their master up and immediately, He arose and rebuked the wind and said peace be still and there was a great calm in obeisance to the creator’s authority. In Matthew 17 vs 27, a piece of money was kept in the mouth of a fish

deliver His message to the Ninevite in order to rescue them from their destruction but he refused at the initial stage before God Himself taught him a lesson. King Saul the first king in Israel in 1st Samuel chapter 15:1-21 disobeyed God when he was asked to utterly destroyed everything in the land of Amalek both humans and beast or animals but he disobeyed. The first man and woman: Adam and Eve in Gen chapter 3:1-10 also disobeyed God when they were instructed not to eat

by a lion. Samson was another good example of a disobedient man who married a strange woman and disclosed the source of his power to his socalled wife Delilah and he ended dying with his enemies, what a shame. The Israelites as a whole were a bounch of disobedient allies who were disciplined as well as punished severally for their disobedience but yet did not changed. Despite miracles performed on their behalf, these set of persons proved to be ingrates even

the tree of the knowledge of good and evil which is in the midst of the garden of Eden. But these men chose to obey the serpent whom they were to dominate and lost their eternal inheritance and joy the pleasure on earth made available by God. Moses, the Great Prophet also disobeyed God when the children of Israel demanded for water. Instead of stretching the rod to the rock, he smokes it and it denied him of his entry into the Promised Land called Canaan. The young Prophet in 1st Kings 13 vs 1-30 disobeyed divine order of delivering the message and shun food and water but to pass through another route back home and not even resting but failed in all of these and he did went back, eat, drank and rested. After the end of the disobedience and enjoyment, he met his doom and was devoured

till now, they remained the most stubborn nation all over the world. There is more to be said but I have to rest my pen. But the truth is let us stop calling ourselves of defending our Christianity within and outside our place of operation in conduct and character. A true Christian is only identified in the place of the unknown when he is tempted to do what negates his belief system just like the early apostles in the land of Antioch. We are the express image of God but we are failing in our obedience to God, this is in total negation to God’s original plan for man. God’s original plan and purpose for the creation of man is to have a sweet fellowship with Him. Because at the cool of each day, the LORD God was paying them a visit to have fellowship with man. I beseech you brethren to always be obedient to God’s directive because it tendeth to life but

Christian workshippers 3 vs 1. The fire did not burn them, neither, did the flame kindle against them, not even did the smell of the fire and its smoke was perceived on them because of God’s order. Meanwhile the mighty men that bound and threw them into the furnace were slewed instantly because God wanted to demonstrate His power in a reversed style and it happened. An ordinary stick also obeyed the word of the servant of the Lord when an oxe head fell inside the dead river or water and the servants cried “Alas Master ’ for it was borrowed” in 2 nd Kings chapter 6 vs 1-6. And in verse 6 immediately the man of God threw a stick into the location where the ax head fell, the iron began to float instantaneously without delay. Imagine an ordinary stick doing what the man of God wanted it to do and it was accomplished. In Mark chapter 4:37-39: the wind

pending when the master would need it. And the fish kept this money intact until the day the master wanted to use it to pay tax and it was found in its mouth where it was kept. What a wonder that an ordinary fish became a trusted banker when human being who were created in the image of God to be bankers kept duping their customers. And unfaithful sets of bankers that we have in this 21st century generation. The bankers need to learn a lot of lessons from this fish who became the Lord’s trusted banker and treasure. Ladies and gentlemen, I could go on and on to tell you or show you more of ordinary objects and things that obeyed God but man is found the only creature that is so rebellious and disobedient to the most high God. For instance, the story of Jonah, we talked about earlier, he disobeyed God when he was asked to

THE SUNDAY

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2014

Perspective My Next President Of Nigeria By BAYO OLUWASANMI

THIS is the concluding part of the three-part series on My Next President of Nigeria. My next president of Nigeria must be ready to move fast through chaos. Nigeria is going through a complicated past linked to an uncertain future. For the past 54 years, Nigerians have been cloaked in horror and pain, swept in a frenzy of social, economic, and political disorder and distortion. All presidents have been successful politicians at some time during their political career, yet all presidents have not been successful. My pick for the presidential ticket is a charismatic leader with good and honest heart. An intelligent leader who is highly moral. A real deal – the whole package. A leader that would be the change we want and the change we need. My choice is a leader with vitality and insight. The individual represents a face of change and charity for Nigeria and Africa. A president capable of electrifying Nigeria and the world with hope and joy. My pick for the president will be an exceptional president. The term “first 100 days” has been widely recognized as a measure of leadership dynamism. Whether you’re a newly elected president, CEO, or executive at any level, what you do in your first 100 days will be absolutely pivotal to your success or

failure. Your first 100 days in a new executive job will help you to seal your leadership, build a team you can count on, and have a bottom line impact before your first few months on the job is up. It’s a period to get clear your going-in mandate – your contract with key stake holders. I believe my next president will use the first 100 days to structure goals for what has been described as an “Impossible Future” while simultaneously performing the duties of the presidency. A structure that unites warring ethnicities and build a team of “A” players – get the right people on the bus. My choice is capable of jump starting a vision with 30, 60, 90-day catalytic breakthrough projects, and master the political chessboard and culture that will earn quick wins for the new administration. It’s all part of the bottom-line results before the end of the first 100 days. I believe my choice of the next tenant of Aso Rock possess the three important determinants that are crucial for moving Nigeria from a failed state to enduring state: adaptive leadership, citizen compassion, and communication techniques and capabilities. Adaptive leadership is the president’s ability to adjust the direction or agenda depending on the current

political or social climate. Any successful president must share a certain level of citizen compassion. My pick has the ability to relate to persons of another class, ethnic, religion, or group and is able to transcend socioeconomic gaps and identify with poor Nigerians. Citizen compassion is relevant because it helps to attune the president to the needs of poor Nigerians. By

in times of uncertainties or disorder like we’re going through right now in our country. President Franklin Roosevelt became the president when America was at its darkest hour. In the midst of the Great Depression, Roosevelt demonstrated his sense of citizen compassion by recognizing in his first inaugural address that

Buhari

and capabilities. The president’s communication skills are constantly on display in the forms of speeches, letters, and press conferences. The communication aptitude of the president will play a major role in bringing adaptive leadership and citizen compassion to the forefront. It can help bring

as head of state by military coup. All of the men that have served as the chief executive of our nation with the exception of Murtala Muhammed, were colossal failures. Now is the time to allow the men to develop some leadership spines and get their bearings right and draft a woman as it were, as the next president. My fellow Nigerians, I’m pleased to inform you that I’ve

President Goodluck Jonathan

demonstrating citizen compassion, the president will develop legislative agendas accordingly, and ultimately create good policy. It allows the president to obtain an accurate reading of public sentiment, particularly

Americans were concerned with the state of the economy. In holding the office for more than a decade, Roosevelt was a shining example of a successful president. A president must possess communication techniques

about desired results in the National Assembly. Notions of power and symbols of power are always very masculine. Nigeria has unbroken record of electing men either as prime minister or president or installing men

found my warriors that would rescue and restore Nigeria. I’m honored and very proud to present to you my next president of Nigeria Dr. Oby Ezekwesili and the vicepresident Dr. Joe OkeiOdumakin.

weapons to Nigeria to effectively contain the Islamic insurgency in Northern Nigeria. The news report further indicated that he said the war against the insurgency would have been won long ago, had the US agreed to sell weapons to Nigerian government. The litany of interrogatories that immediately follow from this agony of a Nigerian diplomatic official are to find out if the United States is the only producer of weapons and military hardware and secondly has this official forgotten that even from the name of one of the most fearsome weapons AK47 there are other good alternatives for arms supplies such as Russia from where this calibre of weapon originated. But this gentleman Mr Adefuye continued with his song of lamentations when he delivered an address at a meeting with U.S. Council on Foreign Relations approximately twenty four hours before the public declaration for second term interest by President Jonathan, and said America’s response to Nigeria’s request has been so far surprising, as it is disappointing given the

cordial diplomatic relations that the two countries have enjoyed. His words: “The Nigerian leadership: Military and Political, and even the general populace, are not satisfied with the scope, nature and content of the United States’ support for us in our struggle against terrorists. We find it difficult to understand how and why in spite of the U.S. presence in Nigeria with their sophisticated military technology, Boko Haram should be expanding and becoming more deadly,” Adefuye told the gathering in Washington. He explained that at first, Nigeria had problems with the manner in which intelligence was being shared and that the U.S. Government claimed that the problem has been addressed, but it is still there. He said: “The U.S. Government has up till today refused to grant Nigeria’s request to purchase lethal equipment that would have brought down the terrorists within a short time on the basis of the allegations that Nigeria’s defence forces have been violating human rights of Boko Haram suspects when captured or arrested. He further affirmed that; “This is based largely on reports submitted by human

rights groups and sections of the Nigerian media that have sympathy for the opposition parties and are prepared to use whatever means possible to embarrass the government of President Goodluck Jonathan. “The Americans claim that lethal law forbids the sale of lethal equipment to governments that violate human rights.” This ‘crying’ diplomat Mr Adefuye said: “We implore the Council on Foreign Affairs to put pressure on the State Department and the Department of Defence to reexamine the basis of their refusal to sell the equipment to Nigeria. Our people are not very happy with the content of America’s support in the struggle against Boko Harm. The terrorists threaten our corporate existence and territorial integrity. There is no use giving us the type of support that enables us to deliver light jabs to the terrorists when what we need to give them is the killer punch. A friend in need is a friend indeed. The true test of friendship is in the times of adversity.” According to him, the United States has nothing to lose if Nigeria is a secure nation, adding that Nigeria has played prominent role in

ensuring sustenance of democracy in Africa and ensuring stability which America will benefit immensely from. Come to think of it why is this diplomat openly castigating the United States when it is clear even to the most illiterate kindergarten that there is no binding military cum defence pact between Nigeria and the United States unlike the same kind of partnership that exists between all of our sub regional neighbours and some World powers like France and the United States? Does Ambassador Adefuye need further elementary lessons in international diplomacy to know that you don’t task the third party to assist you do your fight when you have nothing in common in terms of strict applicable and binding military pact? Must we celebrate our ignorance always in public? What is the most primary duty of government? Please lets stop this abysmal and disgraceful celebration of ignorance in international arena and take concrete measure to procure arms from alternative sources other than the United States to engage these terrorists and defeat them once and for all.

Let’s Stop This Terrorism By EMMANUEL ONWUBIKO

AT a time that the dare devil terrorists detonated their diabolical article of trade-BOMBS and unleashed deadly violence on over forty youngsters in an all boys high school in Yobe State, the least most Nigerians expect from their political leadership is not a sign of weakness but a resolution to be much more combative and effective in crushing decisively these terrorists. Nigeria’s ambassador to the United States of America, Prof. Ade Adefuye who represents the nation in a country reputed as the most important in terms of international visibility and significance just did the opposite by painting a graphic picture of an administration that is frustrated to such a level that it has no other way out but to moan and cry like a child. As a citizen I am aware also that President Jonathan has indeed made the right response by affirming his administration’s resolve to end these vicious circles of violent terrorism threatening to tear apart the beloved Nigerian Nation. At his declaration of intent to run

for a second term under his political party- Peoples Democratic Party [PDP] the President fundamentally painted a picture of an administration that will continue to work and remained undeterred by the blood cuddling antics of these murderous terrorists. The administration also has laid out in broad terms other practical measures to bring about a permanent resolution of this debacle. Even with these reassurances from President Jonathan, the statement made by the Nigerian Envoy to the United States in which he criticised his host country for failing to sell military hardware to Nigeria is indeed an unnecessary agony which should not be entertained at these trying periods of our nation’s history particularly given the fact that millions of Nigerians are looking up to the political leadership to show the light for others to follow towards providing effective panacea to these mindless attacks on Nigerians by these terrorists. The Nigerian Envoy to the United States reportedly chided the United States of America for refusing to sell

THE NIGERIAN

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2014

News Extra

Today’s Diet With Pastor E. A. Adeboye

Wind Of Change Memorise: And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. Acts 4:33 greatness of His power Read: 2 Kings 2:11-14 in John 3:2: same came WHEN the wind blows, you get new power and there is a symbolic change of garment, as it happened in the life of Elisha. After experiencing the wind of change, Elisha took off his old garments and tore them to pieces. It was only after he tore off the old that he put on the mantle that Elijah had dropped off for him. To experience the new power that the wind of change brings, you must be ready to tear off your old garments and get into new garments. At the time Jesus was crucified, Peter was a terrified weakling who went into hiding. After the wind blew on the day of Pentecost, this same Peter became the first empowered, bold preacher of the gospel of Jesus. In addition to his power-packed preaching, Peter also spoke boldly the words that brought about the first recorded miracle among the early Christians. This is precisely what all Christians of today desperately need: power and grace. The apostles of the early church had so much power that their exploits for God are still inspiring us today. Besides, there was so much grace upon their lives and ministry that even the authority of the established rulers of their day paled into insignificance. Nicodemus came to Jesus and testified to the

to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from Cod: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except Cod be with him?’ This is the time for the wind of change to blow in your life. The Lord Almighty wants to fill your mouth with testimonies. An end has come to all the curses that have been working against you. The anointing of the Lord can break all the curses in

your life. This power knows no limitations. The impossibilities on your way have to be removed because God is poised to do wonders in your life. He wants to put a new song in your mouth that will make your feet break forth into dancing and rejoicing. Get ready for a divine intervention that will divinely position you for u n c o m m o n breakthrough. You must however settle your account with the Lord and get rid of sin because it can stand in your way to blessing. God wants you to prosper and be in good health, and so shall it be in Jesus’ Name.

ACTION POINT

Pray that the anointing will destroy every yoke in your life and family.

“This is the time for the wind of change to blow in your life. The Lord Almighty wants to fill your mouth with testimonies. An end has come to all the curses that have been working against you.” RECONCILIATION OF NAME I, Mrs. Salihu Zaineb wish to bring for the information of the general public that I am the same person as Miss Brai I. Patience, Salihu Zainab and Mrs. Salihu Zaineb. Henceforth, I now wish to be known as Mrs. Salihu Zaineb. Former documents remain valid. Local Government Service Commission, Benin City, Etsako Central Local Government Council, Fugar and the general public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME EGBIREMOLEM – I formerly called Miss Egbiremolem Eunice now wish to be known and addressed as M R S . EDEGHONGHON EUNICE. All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities and the general public should please take note.

Ex-Minister, 26 Chiefs, 2,500 Others Join APC In Edo generation of Edo People will By ADAMS OYIBOKE

A former Minister of State for Works, Mr. Chris Ogiemwonyi, 26 Palace Chiefs in Benin Kingdom and over 2,500 others yesterday decamped from the Peoples Democratic party into the All Progressives Congress. Benin City literarily stood still as supporters of the decamping former Minister and Palace Chiefs at the Urhokpota Hall held a carnival at the heart of the City. The 26 Palace Chiefs under the aegis of Odolebho Chiefs Association from Edo South declared their support for the All Progressive Congress. Speaking on the occasion, the former Minister said, “when I pitched my tent with the PDP some years ago, I was with the genuine expectation that it was a platform that will truly enable me continue my service to humanity and that it will truly return power to the people as the power depicts. “PDP has continued the impoverishment of our people. The PDP have continued to lead us to perdition and the unreformed, anti-people and undemocratic Peoples Democratic Party has set us on the path of retrogression. “15 years of uninterrupted PDP national administration has woefully failed to approximate the expectations, dreams and yearnings of Nigerians. After very deep retrospection and wide consultation, I have come to the inevitable conclusion that I must join hands with the purposeful leadership of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole to help consolidate in the monumental transformation in all sphere being witnessed in Edo State. “My supporters and I have therefore decided to publicly renounce our membership of the PDP and to formally embrace the Party that is destined to bring positive change and development to Nigeria”. Paying glowing tribute to Governor Adams Oshiomhole, Ogiewonyi said, “The signposts of development are visible for all to see. Across the 192 wards of Edo State, Solid standard school buildings with red roofs have brought resurgence to our educational system. Massive roads constructions of international standards have confounded critics.” Receiving Ogiewonyi and his supporters into the APC fold, Governor Oshiomhole said, “I want to welcome you to our great party. You haven’t

come because of your personal stomach infrastructure. You have been inspired by sheer determination to join the Progressive political machinery that is in business only for the purpose of adding value to the lives of Edo people. You are concerned about the failed past and you are inspired by the quality development of the moment and you are committed to ensuring that governance is properly delivered. “We need to filter out those who represent the forces of darkness and the politics of share the money to those who believe in the politics of ‘develop the state’ and uplift the people. I know you will bring on board additional resourcefulness which every organisation needs to face the challenges of the future. Taking a swipe at the PDP, Oshiomhole said: “Like the Esogban of Benin Kingdom said, the amount of reparation which PDP have to do to this

take them more than a 100years to do. If anybody imagined what has happened in this state for 6 years, then you can better calculate how much they stole from the treasury of this state and how many miles they set us back in terms of where we are supposed to be.” Oshiomhole said in spite of the massive support given to the President in the last Presidential election, Edo People have nothing to show for it. “The erosion caused by PDP at Queen Ede has destroyed the School, the Catholic Church, rendered many hopeless and killed many of our people. “In Auchi, erosion has swept out many houses and killed several others. They shared the ecological money and gave no dime to the people of Auchi. In Esan Central and Esan West, erosion has destroyed so many houses yet PDP produced most of its leaders from Edo Central and yet they have done nothing.”

CHANGE OF NAME

EDEBIRI – I formerly Miss Edebiri Izegbuwa Diane now wish to be known as Mrs. Ogieriakhi Edebiri Izegbuwa Diane. All former documents remain valid. General public and all concerned authorities should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME ODIAGBE – I formerly called Miss Odiagbe Ose Jossy now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Ogberun Ose Jossy. All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities and the general public should please take note.

OWOBU - I formerly Miss Blessing Owobu now wish to be known, called and addressed as Mrs. Blessing Owobu Umaru. All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities and the general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME IMOINSI – I formerly Miss Imoinsi Hannah Omozusi, now wish to be known, called and addressed as Mrs. Osameke Hannah Omozusi. All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities and the general public should please take note.

PUBLIC NOTICE MISSING MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE I, Mrs. Umaru Blessing Owobu wish to bring for the information of the general public that my marriage certificate issued to me by Holy Trinity Church, Maitama, Abuja, on November 15, 2014 has since on November 19, 2014 been declared missing. All efforts to trace the certificate has proved abortive. Holy Trinity Church, Abuja, concerned authorities should please take note. Signed: Mrs. Umaru Blessing Owobu

THE SUNDAY

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2014

I ternational Politics

President Obama

United State White House

The Americans And Jonathan’s Administration

It was a few years ago when a national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) told a few of his confidants that the United States government could not deny knowledge of what was going on in the north-eastern flank of Nigeria. Just this year, following a rash of reports and commentaries by the western press over the painful and unfortunate abduction of over 200 secondary school girls, the Goodluck Ebele Jonathan administration was armtwisted into taking a less than holy offer of the US government to help in finding and rescuing the girls. Several months down the line, it appears all the hue and cry over the proficiency of the Americans was just a hoax, a film trick. Their presence has not achieved anything but grumbles from the military

President Jonathan

By FEMI AYELABOWO

that the Americans are doing nothing but spying while refusing or delaying to release whatever information may be needed to neutralize the Boko Haram group which seems to be more intelligent than the US, French, British, and Nigerian intelligence agencies put together. Some have even wondered aloud whether the intelligence meant to be shared with the Nigerian government is not being shared with the terrorists. To compound matters, the Americans parade an ambassador in this country, who is hell bent on undermining the federal government without as much as a reprimand from the Foreign Affairs Ministry. The man, these days, goes to universities owned by

opposition figures to preach about Nigeria’s human rights records when his country so unabashedly has been and is still involved in the most atrocious of human rights abuses all over the world. His country still runs the worst detention camp in the world, yet he wants the young minds of our own land to think their own government is an irresponsible one. It has been said that this ambassador has an agenda to force through a pet project he was involved in, the African Command (AFRICOM), on Nigeria by making us see the need for it by all means possible, even if by devilish means. What is, however, most irking is the refusal of the US government to sell or allow others to sell arms to Nigeria to prosecute a battle against Boko Haram. However, the government is now looking towards the Russians and the Chinese to get badly needed weapons to fight its war that has been complicated by socalled friends, bent on destabilizing the country for ignoble reasons. And happily too, Nigeria’s ambassador to Washington has found his voice and is reciprocating the unkind gestures of his opposite number in Nigeria. Nigeria’s ambassador to the United States, Professor Ade Adefuye, recently took on the US government for refusing to sell “lethal weapons” to Nigeria to decimate the terrorists. “The U.S. government has up till today refused to grant Nigeria’s request to purchase lethal equipment that would

have brought down the terrorists within a short time,” Adefuye told Council on Foreign Relations, which incidentally was purveyor of a position paper some years back that Nigeria will disintegrate in 2015. (Many actually suspect that that is the agenda at play by centrifugal western forces, but as many have said, God forbid!) Adefuye added: “We find it difficult to understand how and why, in spite of the U.S. presence in Nigeria with their sophisticated military technology, Boko Haram should be expanding and becoming more deadly.” He said that Washington had refused Nigeria’s requests to buy heavy weaponry because of allegations the defense forces have violated the human rights of Boko Haram suspects. This, coming from a country that recently told a UN panel in Geneva that it tortured terrorism suspects after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, but that it had since taken steps to prevent any future use of unlawful, coercive interrogation techniques, baffles. “The United States is proud of its record as a leader in respecting, promoting, and defending human rights and the rule of law, both at home and around the world,” Mary McLeod, the acting State Department legal adviser, told the panel. “But in the wake of the 9/11 attacks, we regrettably did not always live up to our values.”

The State Department, according to the Boston Globe on its website, had proposed changing the Bushera position on the scope of the cruelty ban, but faced resistance from military and intelligence lawyers, who raised unspecified operational concerns. Administration officials have described the debate as a technical legal matter about unintended consequences and said no one was proposing the use of cruelty or torture in interrogations, which is banned under US law. Speaking rather hypocritically, Tom Malinowksi, the assistant secretary of state for human rights, said that there was no place the United States considered itself free to use torture. “We believe that torture, and cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment and punishment are forbidden in all places, at all times, with no exceptions,” Malinowski said. “The legal and moral argument against torture would be dispositive under any circumstances. It would not matter to that argument if torture were effective; our experience also taught us that it is not.” But the Boston Globe gave further details of proceedings: after the opening presentation by US officials, several members of the panel posed questions. Among them, Alessio Bruni of Italy asked why an appendix to the US Army Field Manual on interrogation permitted

limiting a detainee to four hours of sleep a night, as part of a special procedure for separating captives to prevent them from communicating. Bruni noted that four hours of sleep, especially over an extended period, was “definitely insufficient for a majority of people” and could be a “form of ill treatment.” Both Bruni and Jens Modvig of Denmark also pressed the delegation to discuss the US military’s practice of force-feeding detainees at Guantánamo, who are on hunger strikes. Meanwhile, this is a country that describes herself as a friend of Nigeria, yet insidiously allowing our enemies to weigh us down, but the United States forgets the resilience of Nigerian nation and how we have overcome challenges in the past. With Jonathan in the saddle, even this shall come to pass. But our leaders must stand in the forefront of calling the bluff of unfriendly nations, including Chad, which is believed to be exploiting oil in the Chad basin with 3D technology on the Nigerian end with the active connivance of prominent Nigerians and foreign business interests that want the Boko Haram war to continue for selfish interests. These businessmen and foreign interests must be taught a bitter lesson so that others who consider such treacherous tendencies in future will have a precedent to deter them.

THE NIGERIAN

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2014

Interview

Ohen Osa Harrison Okao

Mystery And Beauty Of Holy Aruosa Cathedral IT is not a church and it is also not a mosque. The Holy Aruosa Cathedral is purely a worship and intercessory centre established by Oba Esigie in conjunction with the Portuguese missionaries in 1506. It is a place where people of all faith congregate to worship and pray to the supreme God without going through any intermediary. The Benin Monarch is the head of the Holy Aruosa Cathedral while the Crown Prince is the deputy head. The Holy Aruosa Cathedral is presided over by Ohen Osa n’ohuan – ren who is the administrator and officiating priest. The present Ohen Osa, Harrison Okao, is a Justice of Peace and Master of Science Degree holder in Public Administration. In a rare show of public magnanimity, Ohen Osa Harrison Okao spoke with Weekend OBSERVER on the uniqueness of Holy Aruosa Cathedral. The interview was anchored by our Senior Editor, MATTHEW OKAGHA Mode of worship The mode of worship in Holy Aruosa Cathedral is not different from every other mode of worshipping God. At the Holy Aruosa Cathedral we start the day’s service with prayers. After the opening prayers, we sanctify the hall where we are going to conduct the service. After the sanctification, we will pray for everybody starting from the Omo N’ Oba because he is the head of the cathedral and the representative of God on earth. We pray for his son, the heir apparent to the throne and his other children, both at home and in Diaspora. We pray for other people whom God has chosen to be in different positions of authority like the president, members of the cabinet, the lawmakers, governors and humanity in general for wisdom to do things as God’s will. Materials of worship We have our own book, the book of Holy Aruosa, according to the teachings and norms of the Ancient Benin. It was written by the wise men. We equally make use of other religious books like the Holy Bible, the Holy

Quran or any religious book written by pious men when we discover that it will be of benefit to the people. Standing choir We have a standing choir. It is called Urhuneree Osian. We even have a band, Holy Aruosa Band and they feature very well in public events. How the Cathedral is administered The heir apparent to the throne is the deputy to the Oba in all ramifications but the day-to-day running of the Cathedral is headed by the Priest with support from the elders and the wardens. Evangelism Different people and organisations have different ideas and methods of spreading information about them. At the Holy Aruosa, we do advertise our weekly activities in both electronic and print media. Besides, whenever we are having any outside programme we tell the people about such activity. We don’t organise crusades, not that we are against it but we don’t just hold crusade. Meetings The priest and wardens are in the Cathedral on daily basis but Sunday is the general service. Sometimes, because it is a praying centre, we do meet regularly to intercede and our members are notified of such meetings. Appointment of the Ohen Osa The Ohen Osa is solely appointed by the Oba who is the head of Holy Aruosa. Your appointment I have been in the Cathedral since 1992 as Ohen-intraining but was officially installed on October 15, 2006. Transformation It may not be proper for me to tell you of the changes that have taken place in the Cathedral. That is your responsibility as a journalist to tell the people. In terms of programmes and mode of worship, these are things you cannot change. The Oba is the head of the Cathedral you cannot change that, the heir apparent to the throne

is the deputy, you cannot change that. Our mode of prayers cannot change but if you attend our regular Sunday service, you will be amazed by the intensity of the spiritual energy that follows every minute of the service, a lively choir, happy congregation and the undiluted message are some the things that make the Holy Aruosa Cathedral a unique place of worship. And as you can see, with the approval and support of the Omo N’Oba, we are making some changes in the physical structure in tune with modern dictates. Uniqueness It is a place where we worship God in truth and in spirit, we do not deceive ourselves. We pray directly to God, not through any intermediary, deity or object of worship. Others pray through Jesus, many through Prophet Mohammed but we do not do that. God created these personalities and before they came to this world, we have been worshiping God. The Holy Aruosa Cathedral is not a Christian Church or Muslim Mosque but a place of worship, a place where people congregate to worship God directly without any intermediary. We are simply godians.

“It is a place where we worship God in truth and in spirit, we do not deceive ourselves. We pray directly to God, not through any intermediary, deity or object of worship. Others pray through Jesus, many through Prophet Mohammed but we do not do that. God created these personalities and before they came to this world, we have been worshiping God.”

THE SUNDAY

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2014

Guinea: 2014/15 Football Season To Kick Off Dec 13

Uganda’s Improvement In FIFA Ranking UGANDA has moved six places to 78th in the latest Coca Cola Fifa rankings released on Thursday. Although the Cranes failed to qualify for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon), their 1-0 win over the Black Stars of Ghana this month in Kampala explains the improvement in the rankings. Uganda remained the best ranked nation in the Council for East and Central African Football Associations (Cecafa) and 20th in the African continent with 425 points. Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup defending champions Kenya, Ethiopia and Rwanda also improved in ranking to 114, 110 and 90 respectively. Tanzania falls two places from 110 to 112, while Sudan who featured in the 2013 Afcon event drop eight places to go 115th. Algeria remains Africa’s most ranked nation in 18th followed by Tunisia. World Champions Germany remain the best ranked, while Argentina are second and Colombia third.

Ohawuchi Match Winner In Egypt EX-Nigeria U20 star Stanley Ohawuchi was the hero for Egyptian club Wadi Delga as his goal earned them victory at Alaab Damanhour. Wadi Degla are now in third place on the league table with 17 points from nine games. The ex-Sliema Wanderer of Malta hitman was on target in the 30th minute for his team and it was enough to give them a 1-0 win. He has now scored two goals in the league. Ohawuchi scored 21 goals in 27 games for Sliema Wanderer last season in the Malta Premier league before he joined Wadi Degla.

Ohawuchi

Mashaba

Mashaba Impressed With Progress BAFANA Bafana coach Shakes Mashaba believes that South Africa’s improvement in the world rankings is just the beginning. The rise up the standings was purely based on the successful 2015 CAF Afcon Qualifiers campaign where the national side wrapped up their route to Equatorial Guinea without a defeat. Mashaba’s men have moved from 57 to 51 in the world and occupy position 11 on the Africa continent and Mashaba says he believes there’s still a long way to. “I am very impressed by this

progress, but I believe we still have a long way to go. Gradually we will get to where we want to take this team to,” said Mashaba. “There is a lot of talent and will; and those two are catalysts for sustainable success.” According to the statement from SAFA, a total of 150 new ‘A’ international matches have been taken into account for the November edition of the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking, with 817 matches being evaluated in 2014. Among those matches, 61 were part of the continental

qualifiers in Europe, Africa and the CONCACAF region, with the other 89 being friendly matches. During the qualifying campaign, Bafana racked up 12 points in six matches and denied the Nigerians an opportunity to partake in next year’s showpiece following their 2-2 draw. Following the squad announcement by Mashaba on Tuesday, Bafana are currently in camp for the upcoming Nelson Mandela Challenge against Ivory Coast at Mbombela Stadium on Sunday.

Ghana Will Not Appeal Disqualification THE Ghana Football Association (GFA) says it will not appeal the decision of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Appeal Board banning the country from the next Africa U-17 Championship for fielding an over age player. The President of the GFA, Kwesi Nyantakyi, said on Thursday that they took the decision after deliberating on it at an Executive Committee meeting. “We considered the new

decision and we have the option to appeal to CAS (Court of Arbitration for Sports), but in view of the circumstances, we think we should let sleeping dogs lie and won’t take it up,’’ the GFA President said. “The appeals committee did not convict Ghana of fraud, so it means we will not be banned from all age competitions for the next two years,’’ the GFA Website quoted Nyantakyi as saying.

The GFA filed the appeal after CAF banned Ghana from next year ’s tournament after a protest by Cameroon over the Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) test of one of the players of the Black Starlets, Isaac Twum. However, the CAF Appeal Board upheld the decision taken by the Organising Committee of the U-17 African championship last month banning Ghana from playing in the tournament.

GUINEA’S 2014/15 football season kicks off on Dec. 13 with the participation of 12 clubs, including seven from the capital, Conakry. The opening of the national football championship was postponed because of the deadly Ebola virus disease which has been affecting the country since December last year and which has killed some 1,200 out of 2,000 reported cases. Defending champions, Association Sportive de Kaloum (ASK), which will represent Guinea in the next African Champions League

Mutiu Adegoke To Leave Options Open MUTIU Adegoke has said he will leave his options open for next season after he helped Bayelsa United avoid relegation on the final day of the season at Heartland. The former Enyimba star revealed he has received offers from several other clubs, but he has yet to decide on where he will feature next season. “I have received calls from clubs who want to sign me, but I have not taken any decision yet. I am still studying the situation,” he said. “I have enjoyed my time at Bayelsa United and I

Zambia Bench Tracking Sunzu’s Recovery

THE Zambia medical personnel says it is closely monitoring captain Stopilla Sunzu’s recovery process. Sunzu is midway through a four-week layoff due to a hamstring injury he sustained while in action for French Ligue 2 club Sochaux on November 7.

“We are closely following his recovery with his club and we will be able to get another update next week when he is expected to start light training,” Zambia team physician Doctor Joseph Kabungo said. Sunzu’s injury saw him miss Zambia’s final two 2015 Africa Cup Group F

qualifying matches against Mozambique and Cape Verde on November 15 away and 19 at home respectively. The defender is expected to lead Zambia at the 2015 Africa Cup finals to be held in Equatorial Guinea from January 17 to February 8.

competition, has been training in Tunisia. Horoya Athletic Club (HAC), which will play the Confederation of African Football (CAF) competition, was in Morocco for preparations. Hafia football club, one of the oldest clubs in Guinea and three times Africa champion (1972, 1975, 1997), which is back in the first division after being relegated last season for the first time in their history, has signed a Brazilian coach, Antonio Dumas. Dumas had previously trained the national teams of Togo, Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

Mutiu Adegoke

love the family, but things could still change before the commencement of next season.” Ex-Shooting Stars defender Adegoke said the highlight of the past season for him was Bayelsa’s narrow escape from relegation. “I’m so happy that we were not relegated to lower the division because that would have been another story, thank God we make it on the last day,” he said. Bayelsa won 2-1 at Heartland to finish 15th on the table with 51 points from 38 matches.

THE NIGERIAN

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2014

Arsenal’s Alexis Is Just Like Aguero And Suarez THE Wales international has been impressed by the Gunners’ new signing and says Arsene Wenger’s men are grateful to have him in their team following his summer move from Barcelona Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey has likened Alexis Sanchez to Luis Suarez and Sergio Aguero after another goalscoring display against Borussia Dortmund. The Chile international grabbed his side’s second goal as Arsenal won 2-0 on Tuesday and has now scored 12 goals for the Gunners since his summer move from Barcelona. Ramsey says he has been impressed by Sanchez particularly his work ethic, both in matches and in training. “With the South American players, it is sort of bred into them to work hard, he is no different to any of the other players like Suarez or Aguero, so we are grateful to have him in our team,” he told reporters. “He gives 100 per cent everybody is at it in training all the time. We like to train hard. He works hard for the team and when he gets an opportunity to score, he scores. “It took him a couple of games to get into it, but he has not stopped scoring since. The thing which has impressed me most about him is his work-rate off the ball. It is always nice when the team is scoring goals, at the moment, he is doing it.” Arsenal’s Champions League win saw the Gunners qualify for the knockout stages

Rooney Has ‘No Regrets’ Over Manchester United Move

- Ramsey for a 15th consecutive season and Ramsey is confident his side can go far in the tournament. “It is a great achievement, all credit to the manager and players in those 15 years. We are always hungry to go on in this competition and do the best that we can,” he added. “We are through now and hopefully we can have a very successful Champions League. “We have come out winners against Borussia Dortmund and hopefully now we can get back to winning ways in the Premier League and go on a winning run there

Aaron Ramsey

Tigers Must Deal With In-Form Rooney

THE centre forward has been in fine form for both the Red Devils and England, while Steve Bruce’s men have a poor record against the 20-times top-flight champions Hull City must find a way to Emirates Stadium last time keep quiet in-form Manchester out to put them fourth in the United captain Wayne Rooney table. Rooney was on target in on Saturday if they are to end that 2-1 win against Arsene their dismal run of form. The Tigers travel to Old Wenger’s side, having scored Trafford on the back of three three goals in two games for consecutive defeats and just England against Slovenia and during the one win in their last 11 Premier Scotland League matches - a run which international break. The former Everton striker has seen them slip to just one place and a point above the scored a sublime volley in a 3-2 victory over Hull at the KC relegation zone. United have won nine Stadium last season as games in a row against Hull United fought back from two and will be confident of goals down to win. Rooney stretching that run to 10 after also helped himself to all four they beat Arsenal at the goals in a 4-0 thrashing of Hull

Rodgers Reminds Me Of Wenger, Says Kolo Toure THE Ivory Coast defender sees similarities between the Liverpool boss and the manager who brought him to England in 2002 and is confident he can halt the Reds’ current slump Kolo Toure has likened under-fire boss Brendan Rodgers to his old manager Arsene Wenger and is confident the Northern Irishman can turn Liverpool’s season around. The Merseysiders have endured a tricky start to the new campaign, failing to win their last four Premier League outings and languishing in 12th place, while they face a must-win clash with Basel in their final Champions League match. Toure, though, is confident Rodgers can get Liverpool back to the levels that saw them challenge for the title last season and has praised the Wenger-like philosophy he is installing at Anfield.

“I do see Wenger in him, because he’s so intelligent. He knows how to speak to players and how to get the best out of them,” Toure is quoted in The Mirror. “He will prove that, because we will come out of this hard time. “Just look at what he’s done during a short time here. When he arrived Liverpool were doing badly. He came in and brought the club a long way up. “Maintaining it is more difficult than first coming up there. I think he is learning. This season is a learning process but he will get there. “Last season was unbelievable. This season has been more tough. We need to stick with Brendan though, because he’s one of the best managers in the Premier League. “At the end of the day, he’s a fair guy who is working hard and gives 100 per cent every day. Like Arsene, he’s always there at training, trying to

improve things. His style of play is also similar. He always wants us to pass the ball and keep playing which is very important.” Liverpool succumbed to a late draw against Ludogorets on Wednesday night meaning they not won a Champions League encounter since September, but Toure believes Rodgers is simply adapting to the Champions League. “This is the first time he has managed in the Champions League,” the Ivory Coast centre-back added. “He is learning. The Champions League is tough. We’ve seen it with teams like City, who have found it tough. You have to learn about it. “You need time as a manager. I think he has done a great job for this club and we like him. He works so hard and gives 100%. That’s why I am sure we will get out of this spell we’re in.”

at Old Trafford four years ago and ex-United academy defender Alex Bruce is well aware that his side need to keep a close eye on the 29year-old. The Hull centre-back told United Review: “Wayne is always a threat, isn’t he? He’s a great player. I watched the Manchester derby and he nearly scored a great goal with a turn when he ran through, only to be knocked off the ball at the end.

THE striker came through the ranks at Everton but handed in a transfer request to force through a recordbreaking switch to Old Trafford, but admits it was hard leaving Merseyside Wayne Rooney insists he has “no regrets” over his move to Manchester United in 2004, despite leaving boyhood club Everton. The striker rose to prominence at Goodison Park after coming through the youth academy and became the club’s then youngest ever scorer, before handing in a transfer request to force through an exit. United paid +35 million for Rooney, making him the most expensive British teenager at the time, and while Rooney admits leaving Merseyside so young was hard he is convinced it was the right move for his career. “It was a tough move for me to go from the Liverpool area to Manchester,” Rooney told Manchester Evening News. “I was a Scouse lad through and through and it was a difficult call for me to make. “But I felt in terms of my football career it was the best thing for me to do and join United. A massive club and arguably the best manager of all time was there. “I felt it was the right move for me to make and I knew they were in transition at the time.

“Cristiano Ronaldo was there, Darren Fletcher had just come through and they had some good young players. I felt it was right for me and, thankfully, it was the right move for me. I have had no regrets.” Rooney scored his 46th goal for England on his 100th cap earlier in November, bringing him within four of the country’s all-time senior record, and the striker puts his return down to confidence on the pitch. He added: “I’ve always been a player who has selfconfidence and belief. If you have that attitude going into the game it does help you. “When you’re younger it’s more off the cuff in terms of finishing, but when you get older you’re practising more, learning how to finish and as the years have gone on my finishing has got better.”

Wayne Rooney

‘Africa’s Best’ Yaya Toure Facing Premier League EXCLUSIVE: The former Pain - Okocha awarded the prize for the best Nigeria star has tipped the Ivorian for the prestigious African Player of the Year award but believes Chelsea are the team to beat in England Jay-Jay Okocha believes Manchester City star Yaya Toure will miss out on the Premier League title to Chelsea, but backed him as the outstanding candidate to

be named African Player of the Year. Okocha, who spent five years in England with Bolton Wanderers and Hull City, is remembered as one of the greatest African players of his generation. He still keeps a close eye on the Premier League and has tipped Toure to be

Yaya Toure

African player of the past 12 months as a result of his performances for City as they won the title last term. “For me, Yaya Toure is the natural winner,” he told Goal. “I think the shortlist for the award shows that African football for the past two to three years has not really produced a lot of stars, because only two or three players have been consistent for the past five to six years: Yaya Toure, Samuel Eto’o and Didier Drogba. “Now that Eto’o and Drogba have gone it looks like Yaya Toure is going to be the outstanding player. After him, I don’t think we’ve really produced the great stars in Africa.” But while he expects Toure to be triumphant in the January ceremony, the former Nigeria international believes the Manchester City midfielder may miss out on adding a second straight Premier League winner ’s medal come May.

Klopp: Arsenal Fans Won’t Want Me Now THE Borussia Dortmund boss has been linked with Arsene Wenger’s job but his sides have endured a torrid start to the Bundesliga season and were comfortably beaten by the Gunners Jurgen Klopp has joked that Arsenal fans have likely gone off him after seeing his Borussia Dortmund side comfortably beaten 2-0 by the Gunners in the Champions League on Wednesday. The eccentric German has been linked with the Emirates

Stadium job in the past few weeks as pressure on Arsene Wenger grows following the club’s worst start to a season in 32 years. Klopp admitted recently that he feels a move to a Premier League club would suit him if he were ever to leave Signal Iduna Park, but now feels his standing in north London has been slipped. “I don’t think, after seeing how my team performed at the Emirates Stadium, the Arsenal fans want me on the

bench,” Klopp is quoted as saying by Mediaset Premium . “Arsenal have one of the best coaches in the world and I’m also at one of the best clubs in the world. I’m thankful for all the praise, but my future is Dortmund.” Klopp was appointed at Dortmund in 2008, since winning two Bundesliga titles, the DFB Pokal, DFL Supercup and reaching the Champions League final in 2013.

THE SUNDAY

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2014