THE WEEKEND
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Weekend
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2013
PUBLISHED SINCE OCTOBER 6, 1990 • Vol. XI NO. 3,200• SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2013 • N 100.00
POLITICS APC And 2015, Who Shall We Send? - Pages 16-17
Harassment Of Nigerians In - Jonathan Kenya To Stop Soon
PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has assured the Nigerian community in Kenya that he would end the challenges of intimidation, harassment, discrimination and extortion of Nigerians by the Kenyan security operatives. Jonathan gave the Nigerian community. assurance on Thursday Our correspondent night in Nairobi, the report that complaints by Kenyan capital, when he the community revolved held an interactive around illegal session with Nigerians deportation and living in that country. maltreatment of Newsmen report that Nigerians by Kenyan the meeting was part of authority. the events lined up for Jonathan said that his the three-day state visit government was aware of the President to Kenya of the development and on the invitation of that it was one of the Kenyan President, major issues to be Uhuru Kenyatta. addressed during talks The President made during the state visit. the remark as part of his “We are aware that response to several there were issues and complaints from that is why we are here representatives of the to see how we can work
with the government of Kenya to resolve the issues raised.’’ The Minister of Interior, Mr. Aba, Moro, is here because we want to sign a Bilateral Agreement and Memorandum of Understanding on this and other issues between Kenya and Nigeria during talks which the two Presidents will preside over, the president added. “We have a number of issues and many complaints have come to us. “I remember when my wife was to come here for a programme, there were issues. “Some Nigerians were just sent back home
without passing through the normal procedure which almost created a diplomatic row between Nigeria and Kenya.
“But I said that Nigeria will not have to engage in unnecessary diplomatic row with any African country but
would rather look at positive ways of managing the situation because we have Nigerians everywhere. “It is better we manage the development to the benefit of the two
countries than going into unnecessary diplomatic issues. “Of course, the President is my good friend and I believe myself and the President Continues on page 4
NEWS
My Husband Abandoned Us - Stowaway boy’s mother Page 4
VISIT: L-R: President Goodluck Jonathan, President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya, First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan and wife of the Kenyan President, Magareth, during the state visit of President Jonathan to Nairobi recently.
INSIGHT Governor Amaechi Won’t Die - Page 6
MOMENTS OF SCRUTINY
Nigeria: 14 Years
Of Anomie Page 5
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CRIME
Woman Docked For Misappropriation, Breach Of Trust
His Royal Highness, Chief Patrick Igbinidu, the Iyase N’Udo cuts the tape to open the modern Police Station built by the Rubber Estates Nigeria Limited recently; while the Managing Director of the company, Mr. Eric Hocepied (closed right), the representative of the Edo State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Patrick Mustapha (closed left) look on.
MRS. Mary Musa, 35, has been arraigned before a Katsina Chief Magistrates’ Court for alleged breach of trust and misappropriation of N4.2 million belonging to one Alhaji Usman Rafindadi. The Police Prosecutor, Insp. Babangida Shehu, told the court that the complainant reported to the police that the accused person came to his shop, located opposite Katsina Motor Park, and collected some items. Shehu said the
Man Demands N455, 000 Compensation From Wife To Marry Another Woman A man, Hussaini Haruna, have prayed a Grade 1 Area Court to order his wife, Aisha, 20, of Uke village to pay him N455, 000 to marry another woman. Hussaini, through his counsel, Mr. Nuru Mua’zu, told the court that he did a research on the term ‘khuli’ under Islamic law of divorce. “According to the law, the husband is expected to get back money from the wife if she is the one seeking for divorce. “This money is to enable the man to marry another woman to replace her as the first wife. “In the circumstance, we are asking for the sum of N455, 000 as ‘Kuhli’ for her
divorce,” Mua’zu submitted. Aisha in her response told the court that she was eight months pregnant for Hussaini. “Instead of paying him any money, he should be the one looking for funds to take care of me and my unborn child. The Presiding Officer, Malam Danladi Musa, asked Hussaini how much he paid as dowry on Aisha, which he responded was N10, 000. When the presiding officer asked Aisha whether it was true that Hussaini paid N10, 000 as dowry, she said it was not true, adding that he paid only N7, 000.
Due to the discrepancies in the amount paid as dowry, Musa asked Aisha to go and confirm the correct dowry from her marriage guardian. He adjourned the case to Sept. 17, for continuation of hearing. Newsmen recall that on August 27, Aisha had prayed the court for divorce. Aisha had earlier told the court that her parents gave her out in marriage at the age of 13 without her consent. The mother of one said that she stayed in the marriage for seven years, adding that she had lost interest. She said her loss of interest
Court Remands Suspect For Allegedly Stealing Car AN Upper Area Court, sitting in Karu in the FCT ordered the remand of one Murtala Jibril in prison for alleged stealing. The Police Prosecutor, Cpl. Adam Peter, told the court that the matter was reported at the Garki Police Station by one Ifeanyi Igwe of Durumi, Abuja on June 17. Peter said that the complainant told the police that the accused stole his car with registration numbered, EF 215 LND from where it was parked. The prosecutor told the court that during police investigation, the accused admitted to have conspired with two men whose
names were given as Ahmed and Umar Danjuma, (now at large) to steal the car. The offence, he said contravened Sections 97 and 287 of the Penal Code.
The accused, however, pleaded guilty to the charges against him. The Presiding Judge, Alhaji Umar Kagarko adjourned the case to September 10 for ruling.
was on the grounds that she was a child at that time the marriage was contracted. In his reply, Hussaini, demanded that Islamic procedures be followed in granting the divorce. “This is an Islamic matter and there are procedures to follow before a wife is granted
2 Apprentices Sentenced To 6 Months In Prison For Stealing Vehicle Gear-Box AN Abuja Senior Magistrates’ Court, sitting in Zone 2, have sentenced two mechanic apprentices to six months in prison for stealing a vehicle gear-box valued at N90, 000. Senior Magistrate Aminu Eri sentenced AbdulRasheed Umar and Mohammed Isah after they pleaded guilty to the twocount charge of joint act and theft. Eri, however, gave the convicts an option to pay a fine of N400 each. Earlier, the Police
Police File Criminal Charges Against contrary to the Penal Code. Cleric The charges, filed by
THE police in the FCT have filed a criminal suit against the Chief Overseer of the Sabbath Church in Dape Village, Life Camp, Abuja, Isaiah Okoye, for alleged culpable homicide. Newsmen report that the police also listed Ngozi Ogbonna, a member of the church, in the suit. The suit was filed before Justice Jude Okeke, a vacation judge in the FCT
High Court. Okeke has fixed September 19 for the arraignment of the suspects. A copy of the charge sheet obtained by newsmen showed that the police filed a two-count charge on alleged criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide, an offence
her wish for divorce. “One of the procedures is that the woman has to pay what is known as ‘Khuli’. “Khuli means, paying back some of the expenses the husband made in the course of marrying the wife. “Although I don’t have the document here, but the total expenses I made on her is around N300, 000,” he said.
woman collected 240 bags of rice, 550 cartons of spaghetti and 250 Jerry cans of vegetable oil valued at N4.2 million under the pretence of selling the commodities and paying the money into his account. He said that after selling the goods, she diverted the money to her personal use. Shehu said the accused was standing trial for criminal breach of trust and misappropriation of funds contrary to sections 312 and 309 of the Penal Code. The Chief Magistrate, Mr. Kabir Shuaibu, granted the accused bail in the sum of N50, 0000 and two sureties who must be residing within the court’s jurisdiction. He adjourned the case to September 30 for further mention.
Insp. Tony Akerele, alleged that Okoye performed a “special” deliverance on two teenagers whom he claimed were witches in his church. Akerele, in the charge sheet, alleged that the accused used ropes to tie the victims for three days without feeding them, which caused the death of one of the victims.
Prosecutor, Mr Monday Akor, had told the court that the case was reported to the Maitama police station by Richman El-Hassan, of Agadez St, Wuse 2, on August 27. According to the prosecutor, the complainant entrusted his BMW car gear-box to his mechanic to
fix in the workshop behind Banex plaza,Wuse 2, where the two apprentices worked. He said that the convicts stole the gear-box and sold it to a scavenger for N5, 000. Akor said the convicts’ offences contravened the provisions of sections 79 and 287 of the Penal Code.
Man, 35, Jailed 8 Months For Buying Stolen Freezer AN Abuja Magistrates’ Court sentenced a 35-yearold businessman, Umar Lukman, of Jabi, Abuja, to 18 months in prison for buying a stolen deep freezer valued at N80, 000. The convict was arraigned by the police on a one-count charge of theft and receiving stolen property. Magistrate Abolaji Abdulateef, who sentenced the convict, gave him an option to pay a fine of N8, 000. Abdulateef warned the convict to be cautious when buying any product that costs less than the normal price. Earlier, the police
prosecutor, Cpl. Friday Idi, told the court that the convict bought the freezer for N2, 300 from Daniel Shakoro, a security guard attached to the house of Mrs. Helen Bestone, his employer. Idi said that Shakoro stole the freezer, which belonged to Bestone and then sold it to Lukman at a give-away price. He said that following the complaint made at the Gwarimpa Police Station on August 29 by the nominal complainant, the police investigated the matter, arrested the security guard and recovered the freezer.
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N ws Impunity, An Impediment To Development By RICHARD EWEKA IMPUNITY has been described as a major impediment to development, fiscal and democratic accountability in Nigeria. This assertion was made by the Coordinator, Girls’ Power Initiate (GPI), a non governmental, non-for-profit youth development organisation Delta State centre Mrs. Ehita Aikpitanyi, while delivering a lecture on Impunity, the Anchor of Corruption at the 17 th graduation ceremony of GPI, Benin City centre, recently. Speaking further, she said impunity is very high in our society today as people willfully violate the rules, principles, laws, ethical regulations, and human rights with the confidence that there would be no consequences thereafter. “Impunity in Nigeria cuts across all tiers and arms of government especially budget allocation and implementation. It thrives unabated despite the existence of legal framework creating room for all manner of corruption in the country”, she concluded. Adding her voice, the Coordinator of Brave Heart Initiative (BHI), Priscillia Usiobaifo, said that Impunity has done so much damage to Nigeria, and the issue of
- NGO Coordinator Impunity is being discussed everywhere and call on all to team up together to fight the scourge to a standstill before it destroys the fabric of the nation. The Co-ordinator of GPI Benin Centre, Mrs. Grace Osakue delivering her speech at the occasion congratulated the graduating girls, saying they are the lucky and special girls graduating today (12) out of the 20 that started the program said the vision of GPI for them is to be an ambassador of the programme and pursue their dream of becoming great in future. Delivering the welcoming address at the occasion, the officer in charge Phil Inusa said GPI focuses on the empowerment of girls between the ages of 10-18 years. “A major strategy she GPI uses is a three year comprehensive sexuality education curriculum with different modules, which fortunately the graduating girls have been studying for the past three years and have proved themselves to be worthy ambassadors of the content of the curriculum, as well as the rural outreach intervention they carried out, their various activities and participation in the activities which are the criteria for graduation”
Etsako Central Holds Environmental Sanitation By ADAMA AUDU THE monthly sanitation exercise for the month of August was observed in Etsako Central Local Government of Edo State last weekend amid strict monitoring by the Council officials. In all the Communities visited, it was observed that the major roads were barricaded to prevent human and vehicular movements while most residents were seen clearing their surroundings. In a short interview with the WEEKEND OBSERVER the vice – chairman of the Council, Hon. Charles Eshiesimua enjoined residents of the council area not to see the monthly environmental exercise as a purely Governmental Affair but that in which cleanliness should start from oneself, bedroom down to our premises on daily basis. Hon Charles Eshiesimua, the Vice Chairman of the Council who made this
declaration in Fugar the administration head quarters of the council Area after monitoring the last month environmental sanitation exercise in Fugar and environs ensure the exercise is said to ensure the Exercise is effective, there is schedule drawn up by the council were the various Heads of Departments are assigned specific areas in the locality to be monitored on daily basis to ensure there is effective cleanliness. The vice – chairman however complained that the council has been having challenge of non – observance of the sanitation exercise in Iraokhor community. The Head of Department of Environment of the Council, Mr..S.O Abokhe, said apart from ensuring that the various communities are kept clean, the Council also monitors Weather forecast given by NIMET and the National Metrological Agency especially as it affects erosion – prone Communities in the Council Area .
Graduation:The Co-ordinator of Girls’ Power Initiative (GPI) Benin Centre, Mrs. Grace Osakwe (4th right) in a group photograph with graduands of GPI in Benin City.
CP Commend RENL By OSAZUWA AKONEDO EDO State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Foluso Adebanjo has commended the management of Rubber Estates Nigeria Limited, RENL for building a modern police station at Udo Community in the Ovia SouthWest local government area. The police commissioner stated this on Wednesday at Udo Community during the commissioning of the newly
built police station by the rubber estates. WEEKEND OBSERVER reports that the modern police station built with aluminum roof and slide windows was also equipped with standby 6.5 KVA generator, sunk bore hole with 5000-littre-tanks, Divisional Police Officer’s office furnished with air conditioner, counter with 24 inches television and satellite receiver, flushing systems and bathing rooms for both inmates and officials amongst
others. The commissioner who was represented at the ceremony by the assistant commissioner of police in charge of Benin Area Command, Mr. Patrick Mustapha said the police would ensure that the facilities are well maintained. Speaking further, the Edo police boss described the police station as beautiful and urged the people of Udo community to continue to assist the police with vital
information. “Thank you (RENL) for this beautiful police station. I hope as a community we would continue to assist the police with vital information to ensure that crime is minimized” said the commissioner. Also speaking, His Royal Highness, Chief Patrick Igbinidu, the Iyase N’Udo said he would continue to thank the management and staff of the rubber estates company because the company done the community proud.
Lagos State Bans Molue From Mainland
By RAHEEM IBRAHIM
THE Lagos State Government has banned commuter buses, popularly known as Molue, from plying routes on Lagos Island, Lagos. The government says no Molue bus should cross any bridge linking the mainland with the Island, such as Third Mainland, Eko and Carter bridges, as they could no longer operate in the Central Business District, CBD.
The state government said the decision was taken in its determination to ensure adequate monitoring of commuter bus operators as regards compliance with traffic rules and regulations. The General Manager, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Engr. Babatunde Edu, at a stakeholder’s meeting with the Branch Chairmen of the Lagos Urban Bus
Owners Association of Nigeria (LUBON), the operators of Molue buses in the state in Oshodi, said the new directive came into effect since 19 August, 2013. “Though the Lagos State Government was supposed to have commenced enforcement last month, being a responsive and responsible government which believes in enlightenment before
Igbos Plan Peaceful Protest In Festac By RAHEEM IBRAHIM FOLLOWING the failed assassination attempt on the Managing Director of Young Shall Grow Motors Limited, Chief Vincent Obianodo, and the rising crime rate in FESTAC Town, Lagos, residents, mainly of Igbo people are planning to stage a peaceful protest this weekend.
Gunmen believed to be assassins recently blocked Obianodo’s Lexus Sports Utility Vehicle, SUV, in FESTAC, and tried to assassinate him. The suspected assassins riddled Obianodo’s SUV with bullets, killing his driver and a female police orderly, while Obianodo, who narrowly escaped death, was injured in the arm and has been flown abroad for treatment. The gruesome attack has prompted the residents to
lose faith in the ability of the police in FESTAC to protect them, because they said this was one gruesome attack too many. The residents are planning the peaceful protest against the backdrop of the incessant security challenges in FESTAC Town and its environs, while calling on the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar to nip it in the bud before it gets out of hand.
enforcement, we therefore decided to shift the enforcement to 4th of this month,” he said. Edu stated that LASTMA has been mandated to ensure strict compliance with the ban and impound any bus that flouts the ban after 4 September. The General Manager further said that Molue buses could ply roads in any other part of the state aside the restricted areas, reiterating that government has not banned the buses outright. He said the buses are restricted to areas like Orile, Iyana Ipaja, Mile 2, Mile 12 among others and urged operators to voluntarily comply with the new directive. While taking the operators through the prohibited routes, which include Iddo, Ebute Ero, Apongbon, Obalende, Idumota, CMS, among others, Edu appealed for cooperation and support of all the stakeholders. Responding, the leader of the team, Engr. Taofeek Adesina commended the government for its effort to restore sanity and order in the state and therefore pledged
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N ws Prince Elema Burial Ceremony Commences In Benin City THE final burial rite for late Prince Friday Imaghodor Otutu Elema of the Elema Royal Family of Iyekogba has commenced in Benin City the Edo state capital yesterday. Speaking with Weekend OBSERVER at the lying in state/family rite/interment at his residence Prince (Dr.) Friday Elemas’ Court 24 Imueruze street, off upper Adesuwa road, Elema quarter, the eldest son of the deceased Prince Pedro Elema described his father as a hero, a, solid rock, a titan and the pillar of Elema dynasty. “My father is a philanthropist to the core; he has touched the lives of people in so many ways, the hope for the hopeless and saved a lot of people form land speculators. He is very accommodating and a listening father and a friend. He has built up all his children by given us all quality and sound education, and today, we all, will ever remain grateful for he has not given fish but taught us how to fish. Today he is no more, we will remember him forever” he concluded. The eldest daughter of the deceased Princess (Barr.) Francisca Elema described her father as the most loving and caring man that has ever existed on the face of the
earth and pray that God help the entire family fill the vacuum created by his death. “My father is very loving and caring man in my life. He is my best friend, my first client. I love you and will always ever do”. The Manager Tantalizer Plc Lagos and a daughter of the deceased Princess Rosemary Favour Ehizuwamen Elema said she has no exact word to describe her father who she said lived a very simple life but yet affected many lives. “You are my hero and your memory will never be forgotten for your remarkable contribution to our lives”. Barr. Prince Ivie Fidelis Elema described his father as the great litigant who never attended a law school but yet a teacher to lawyers.” The death of the Patriarch of Elema is a big loss and a mighty blow to the entire royal family of Elema but we the entire family will keep his dream alive. Prince Elvis Benedo Elema thank God for the contribution of Late Friday Elema to the Elema family, he described him as the Iroko of Elema family. “He is a nice man and has blessed our lives positively, we will forever remain grateful to him”.
Suspected Cultists Attack 27-Yr-Old Man
THE life of a 27 year old man, Osamudiamen Ikponmwonba is precariously hanging in the balance following his refusal to subscribe to the membership of a dreaded cult group (name withheld). Osamudiamen’s family home at Sakponba Road, Benin City, Edo State was invaded in the early hours of penultimate Thursday by gunmen suspected to be cultists. The WEEKEND OBSERVER gathered that O s a m u d i a m e n Ikponmwonba has been under constant threats by some leaders of the cult group who are hell bent in initiating him into the secret cult, following the demise of his father who was a leading member of the dreaded fraternity. It was gathered that O s a m u d i a m e n Ikponmwonba had rejected all entreaties for him to voluntarily join the cult group, claiming that his Christian faith abhors membership of
any secret organisation. He was said to have based his refusal on the ground that the activities of the group revolves around extensive rituals and worship of idols. A source who spoke to this paper on condition of anonymity, said Osamudiamen’s case is compounded by the fact that he is the only child of
of Kenya will be able to solve all the problems,’’ he said. Jonathan said that his Administration believed strongly in the unity and cooperations among African countries. He said for integration to happen in the continent, people must be able to move freely without hindrances. Contributing, Moro assured the people that one of the agreements to be signed by both Presidents is on “humane treatment of nationals of both countries. “In every country there must be people who are to enforce the laws of the land, but we expect that as friendly country and based on cordial relations, people must be treated with some level of dignity “And that is part of the bilateral agreement which we will be able to iron out and sign with the government of Kenya. “We believe that with the signing of the agreement, the constant harassment of Nigerians especially honest Nigerians doing legitimate business in Kenya will no longer occur,’’ he said. Earlier in his welcome address, the Nigerian High Commissioner to Kenya, Mr. Akin Oyateru, had listed the intimidation of Nigerians, among the challenges, faced by the mission. ‘‘Mr. President, Kenya is a beautiful and lovely country with a very good climatic condition. Many Nigerians
have made here their homes as a result of work and business enterprises,” he said.. We have people in corporate work, those in international organisations, and those engaged in businesses. “Indeed we have two banks here, UBA and Ecobank, the third one GTB is to fully open next year. “The Nigerian community here is peaceful and a vast majority of them are well behaved. “However, Mr. President, the community here has a major challenge. “In recent times there have been problems between the Kenyan law enforcement agencies and members of the Nigerian community on issues of immigration, resident and business permit and in certain cases, unlawful deportation. “These have caused considerable unease, distress and frustration among members of the community. “There have been several reports of unlawful arrests, intimidation, harassment of Nigerians and the mission has maintained that due process must be observed in dealing with its nationals “As much as possible, administrative measures should be applied rather than judicial in order to find effective solutions,’’ he said. In an address read on behalf of the community, Bishop Paul Nnamdi of International Faith Ministry,
institution. It would be recalled that the father of the stowaway boy, Mr. Osaigbovo Oikhena who appeared for the first time on Tuesday since the incident occurred; while speaking with journalists at Government House in Benin City, said when he lost his job, he decided to move to a new apartment that he could afford but his wife refused to move with him and continued staying at the three bedroom flat at Ehigiagbe Street, off Goodwill road in Benin City. Responding, Mrs Evenly Oikhena said the apartment at Ehigiabe Street, Off Goodwill road in Benin City was rented for them by her sister, adding that she was the one paying for the accommodation she was staying before with her husband. She said when she had problem with LAPO, it was no longer easy for her to pay for the accommodation. Adding that it was at that critical condition in her life that her husband abandoned her and the children and started staying with his mother. “He left me with the children when I was in a condition that I cannot be able to meet my business again. He stays with his mother. It is his mother that is controlling him. I stay with my mother with my four children”, she said. Evelyn said she had problem with the financial institution when she was robbed by men of the underworld in one of her business trip from Koko, the administrative headquarter of Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State sometime last year. “We separated over one year now. We separated because of the problem I had with LAPO. I was robbed on my way from business trip to Koko market in Delta State. I always go to the market to buy goods”, she said. She added that she had defect in one of her eyes that has affected her vision as a result of severe beating by her husband. “I also had defect in one of my eyes that affected my vision at the moment. I cannot see with
one of my eyes at the moment due to incessant beatings I received from him. The question you people should ask him is whether he knows the private school Daniel was attending before I transferred him to a public school at Ogbe”. Speaking further, she said the husband and his family members have been disturbing her with several calls on hearing that her son has been given scholarship by Rauf Aregbesola Foundation. “He has since abandoned us. When I reported to him that his son was missing, he responded by saying that, “I should go and look for his son for him. He and his family have been disturbing me with several calls since they heard that Daniel has been given scholarship”. Evelyn said she would not reconcile with her husband. Meanwhile, sources said at the close door meeting with the Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, the stowaway boy, Daniel Oikhena told the governor and the SSS that he doesn’t want to see his father. The sources said there was an heated argument between the governor, SSS director and the official of the State Ministry of Women Affairs over the custody of the stowaway boy. “The SSS and officials of the Ministry of Women Affairs said that government should take custody of him(the stowaway boy)”, said one of the sources. Speaking with the Weekend OBSERVER, Mrs. Evelyn Oikhena said she will resist any attempt to deprive her of the custody of the boy. “If it happens, I will ask them to detain me along with him. I am not after the scholarship money. All that I am after is to release my son to me. My son is still in government house and we are yet to conclude on it,” she said. It would be recalled that the stowaway boy, Daniel Oikhena while in security custody in Lagos reportedly cited maltreatment and home disturbances as the reason for his action.
My Husband Abandoned Us When I Had Problem With LAPO - Stowaway boy’s mother By OSAZUWA AKONEDO
MRS. Evelyn Oikhena, the mother of the 13-year-old stowaway boy, Daniel Oikhena has refuted her husband claims that she refused to move with him to an apartment they could afford. Speaking with our reporter on phone yesterday, Mrs Oikhena said her husband, Mr Osaigbovo Oikhena abandoned her and the children since last year when she had problem with Lift Above Poverty Organization (LAPO), a micro finance bank
Harassment Of Nigerians In Kenya To Stop Soon Continued from page 1
father, and family members who are members of the cult group had threatened to eliminate him if he refused to subscribe to the oath of membership and willingly present himself for initiation into the cult group. It was further gathered that the matter was initially reported to the police, but the police authorities appeared reluctant to make
any arrest and prosecute the case. Consequently, Osamudiamen was said to have resigned his fate to God until the attack at his family home penultimate Thursday. According to our source, Osamudiamen who miraculously escaped unhurt, had since abandoned his family home and gone into hiding because of the severity of the threat on his life.
By EFOSA BRADLEY
said Nigerians were stigmatised by the Kenyan authority. “A Nigerian walking or driving is a Police target. “Even when you provide all the documents requested, a rigorous profiling must start until something in their own opinion worthy of some sort of intimidation and terms for settlement is discovered. “There are issues of illegal
deportation, difficulties in obtaining work and business permit and difficulties in coming in and going out via land borders “Nigerians married to Kenyan do not enjoy the same privileges like their European counterparts who are readily given attention. “Your Excellency, all we are asking is a level playing ground for our people,’’ he said.
Seven Days Fidau Held For Sisi Ajara By MORRISON HAYBLE
FRIENDS, well wishers and family members of the Inu-Umoru as well as government officials, politicians and community folks formed the army of the mammoth crowd at the seventh day Fidau prayers, marking the demise of the mother of the Chairman of Hart Land and Sefraco Conglomerate, Hajia Sisi Ajara Inu-Umoru who passed on at the age of 72. Prominent amongst the callers was Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole whose arrival with his retinue of aides further glamoured the occasion. Others were the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Chief Lucky James and his
Environment counterpart, Mr. Clem Agba, Traditional Rulers including the Aidonogie of South-Ibie, HRH Alhaji A.K. Danesi, representative of the Otaru of Auchi Kingdom, Engr. Azeez Momoh and a cross section of the society. The occasion also witnessed beautiful long processions of different groups of community women carrying assorted food stuffs on their heads into the Inu-Umoru’s premises as part of customary homage obligation rites to the family. However, the chief celebrant and eldest son of the deceased, Chief Abu Inu-Umoru could not be reached for comments as he was said to be recuperating after an exhaustive overseas journey conveying his mother’s corpse home.
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“In actual fact there is nothing like dividend of democracy in Nigeria at the center because you can only have a dividend when your investment begin to yield and truly yield a profit. Thus it is rare to have a dividend were one has not invested. So what can the ruling power, or party say it has invested on Nigeria and Nigerians?”
Nigeria: 14 Years Of Anomie HOW many Nigerians had wished for the return of democracy when the country was held bound by military rule. In fact many Nigerians actually sacrificed their personal comfort and lives to ensure that democracy returned to the bereaved nation. Many Nigerians had also fought tooth and nail, agitated and struggled seizelessly for the return of democracy. In the same vein many Nigerian patriots and comrades from all stratras of society also lost their lives, while others went into forced exiles to escape from the strong grips of tyranny and despotism that had taken over the country during those dark days. After enduring continued period of darkness and suffocation, eventually God Almighty restored democracy to Nigeria miraculously when the people lest expected it. On May 29, 1999, after almost twenty years of military interregnum, began another era of democracy in Nigeria. The Peoples Democratic Party PDP under the leadership of General Olusegun Obasanjo (rtd) won the general election and was sworn-in on that suspicious day May 29, 1999 to the satisfaction
of everyone. Thus Nigerians had heaved a sign of relief, and with great expectation looked forward to a life of peace, growth, development and progress. But 14
the greed of PDP leaders who choose to serve themselves rather than fulfill their obligation to Nigerians. This is not just the views of a critique of PDP’s inept
• Chief Olusegun Obasanjo
years into our d e m o c r a t i c dispensation, there is virtually nothing on ground to console us of our sad fate and destiny. The bitter filling UP of misfortunes, pain and suffering as a result of PDP’s misrule, misgovernance, maladministration and its failure to fight the mighty corruption has plunged Nigeria into the depth of socio-economic quagmire leaving it hanging by the precipice. According to Jude Oluwajuyitan in a recent write up in the nation of Thursday August 29, 2013”… they remain intractable because of
on the faces of the masses those who have been voting for them. It is a shame indeed that the PDP has failed to deliver the so-called “dividend of democracy”
PDP’s investment on Nigeria and on Nigerians is corruption, looting of public treasury and dissention. And sadly what is the dividend of its investment on Nigeria
• President Goodluck Jonathan
management of the nations affairs, it is also that of the various probe bodies set up by the government itself as well as that of the judiciary that at different periods indicted nearly all the past PDP chairmen, past senate presidents, past speakers of the Lower House, ex-governors some of whom have served jail terms at home for financial malfeasance or abroad for money laundering”. It is therefore regrettable, shameful and scornful that of the 14 years of PDP’s misrule, that the ruling party cannot put smiles
a phrase coined by the media to Nigerians. In actual fact there is nothing like dividend of democracy in Nigeria at the center because you can only have a dividend when your investment begin to yield and truly yield a profit. Thus it is rare to have a dividend were one has not invested. So what can the ruling power, or party say it has invested on Nigeria and Nigerians? What kind of investment has the ruling power invested in Nigerians that is supposed to attract the appropriate dividends? From what is on ground everywhere
and Nigerians is perhaps, nothing but misery and sorrow. Apart from these, PDP’s dividend of democracy to Nigerians in the past 14 years are so many that there is no space to enumerate them all here, but only to mention just a few (which has already made this writer sick) these includes, terrorism, insurgency, bitter ethnic rivalry and conflicts, religious bigotry, (leading to mass killings), mass murder, r e l i g i o u s fundamentalism, human trafficking, poverty, mass unemployment, epileptic
power supply, skyrocketing inflation, food insecurity, insecurity of life and property, program, genocide, socio-economic failure, failed infrastructures failed educational standard, failed water supply, dangerous roads, failed medical care, failed critical infrastructures and so on and so forth. In truth, Nigerians are worst off today than where they where 14 years ago. Today, most Nigerians have become traumatized as if they were living under war conditions. Most parts of Nigeria have become war zones due to the nauseating poverty and wretchedness. Thus the PDP as the so-called largest party in Africa in the last 14 years has plagued the Nigerian soul with darkness, wickedness, lies, and hatred. The PDP has led Nigeria with failed promises, with intrigues and uncertainty. The PDP has thus performed abysmally, abnormally, poorly and nonchalantly. The PDP has led Nigeria to the path of p r e d i c t i o n , retrogression, hostility, conflict, separatism, even as the state of anomie rules the land.
“The bitter filling UP of misfortunes, pain and suffering as a result of PDP’s misrule, misgovernance, maladministration and its failure to fight the mighty corruption has plunged Nigeria into the depth of socio-economic quagmire leaving it hanging by the precipice.”
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I sight
Gov Amaechi Won’t Die By ODIMEGWU ONWUMERE
receiving death threats for supporting Amaechi.
Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State
ONE of the ways to live is to be diligent. We live for something and, most times, die for something. But fear is worse than death. It is pertinent to say that the strength and the love to sit with a man in adversity are better than to lavish pleasantries beyond words to a man who is not in difficulties. Governor Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State has been shouting beyond words of threats to his life. The September outburst was not the first time he shouted. He has been accusing the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Mbu Joseph Mbu of plotting to take his life, and many people are paying nonchallant ear to him. But no matter who have been planning to kill Amaechi, it is in the interest of humanity to say that Amaechi won’t die a death that was orchestrated by his perceived enemies. He would die at the time when his God wants him. Planning to Kill Amaechi or whoever because of the lucre of
politics will never solve any of the many disheartening Nigeria’s problem that are as a result of maladministration. Whoever was fingered that was espionaging Amaechi’s private movements from his security details was just a coward. What do some persons gain if they kill? We must know that whoever that says the truth or writes the truth in the political imbroglios that are in Rivers State in the recent times, the person is marked. Just in June this year, a member of the House of Representatives, representing Degema/ Bonny Federal Constituency, Davies Sokonte, shouted that his life was threatened for supporting Amaechi, and that all his relatives were not save in the threat. This is how the politics in the state have become; politics of bickering and tinkering. In the same vein, a commissioner in the state made it public this September that he was
Airport, where the governors were
Governor Amaechi would have been killed.
sure that the crises do not abate. But, it is the
Mbu, Rivers State Commissioner of Police
Apparently, the commissioner had received deadly-phone calls from an ex-militant leader. Some persons might think that Amaechi and these persons who have told the world about their life status were just joking. No. They were not joking. If they were joking, we would not have seen or read in July how four of Amaechi’s colleagues from the North, who paid him solidarity visit, were pelted with stones by political opponents at the Port Harcourt airport. What is the evidence to threat of life if not this! Instead of investigate the matter as Amaechi raised alarm that his life was in danger, Mbu rather awkwardly told the world that the
molested, was a public place and that anybody was free to access it. Not even a letter that Amaechi directed to the authorities to redeploy Mbu was hearkened to. Rather, what we got from the police czar in Abuja, when he later visited Port Harcourt, was that Mbu was found not wanton, in the police professional duty. While Amaechi was shouting today that his private movements were being investigated by Mbu, his crying out in July was that strange policemen and intelligence officers also, were deployed in his lodges in Port Harcourt and Abuja, without his acquiescence. It is obvious that without intelligence,
It is not gainsaying the fact. In Igbo, we say that if a crying-child is pointing endlessly at a particular place; go check there, you will find his or her beater. Why wanting to kill Amaechi? What is the gain in all the aggressions and unsound behaviours that are being meted out to Amaechi? Those whom Amaechi have accused that wanted to kill him, should know that only buffoons resort to violence and killing in the face of uproar of what so ever kind. Ask many of the people fighting Amaechi what his offence is, they cannot even tell you. What they are after is just the money that their paymaster(s) continue to pomp to them in making
belief of most of us that Amaechi wouldn’t die through those who no longer pay him courtesy calls. Killing Amaechi is shear psychosis. We must all not allow this to happen. If it happens to Amaechi, it could be some other person next. Like that, we are going back to the era of 19992007, when killing of politicians nearly became a festival to those who indulged in such inhumane practice. Let Amaechi not die this way; not even people who want to go to heaven would want to be killed by their perceived enemies. While death is an invention of nature, we must to know that assassination is a crass invention of goons.
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Insight Understanding Wike’s Politics By SIMEON NWAKAUDU
OF late, the nation’s political space has been inundated with several political reports and commentaries on the person of Barr. Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, the Minister of State for Education. If he travels to his home-state for a weekend, his political a d v e r s a r i e s manipulates the media to question why he returns home every weekend. These opponents make ridiculous comments which attempt though without success to question his commitment to his assignment as a minister of the Federal Republic. If he fails to travel any weekend, the same adversaries who usually hide under the mask of phantom political groups call him an “Abuja Politician”. Whichever way it is viewed, it is a case of the proverbial cockroach in a court presided over by chickens. The cockroach will always be adjudged guilty. The unfolding political drama in the country has clearly revealed who the men of honour are. Those who have principles which they are willing to stake their necks and political future for. Those who are ready to stand by the generality of their people, irrespective of the economic consequences and the likely pains that their personal preferences may suffer. For Barr. Wike, politics
has always been and will always be peoplecentric. All pursuits must be determined by the overall strategic interest of the people. At all times, the aspirations and the collective will of the people must be considered before any position is taken. For him, once such a position is taken, the eyes must be on the goal to ensure that the interest of the people is protected. The interest of the people in this case super-cedes the interest of one man or a cabal. Therefore, at every turn, he is with the people, irrespective of whose ox is gored. As a local government chairman, this political philosophy drove his actions. It was on this basis that he put in place unprecedented achievements that set him aside from the crowd of local government chairmen. As a firm believer in g r a s s r o o t s development, he evolved as the national president of Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, ALGON. All Nigerians know the collective achievements of ALGON under his watch. The promotion of primary healthcare, security and staff welfare across the country. Standing with the people is second nature to Barr. Wike. This is fundamentally why he is in politics. It is only natural that if you stand with the people, the people stand by you.
As Chief of Staff to the Rivers State Government, Wike was the politician that brought stability into an administration that his hardwork , dedication and commitment gave life to. At the time, despite all political grievances that stakeholders had, he was able to build a rare unity of purpose in the state’s political framework. Since he left, the administration in
wonder, the negative paid political propaganda against his person has yielded no fruit. The people know him personally. They know what he stands for and are not deceived by the antics of paid political commentators and advertorial consultants whose assignment has been to feed the public with concocted stories. Since Barr. Wike became the Minister of State for Education, the
Jonathan, the overwhelming delivery of 125 Almajiri Schools, 16 girl-child schools, implementation of N150billion nationwide adult literacy programme, 72 elibraries for Federal Government Colleges, phased total rehabilitation of 24 Federal Government Colleges and the commencement of the construction of vocational and technical colleges in all the 11
Nyesom Wike, Minister of State for Education
the state no longer has a stabilizer as there is no administrator that is willing to sacrifice personal ego and ambition for the people. It is clear that the minister comes from a solid political background that he always works in a manner that promotes the interest of the larger percentage of the community. Little
game has changed. For those who remember the mantra, no longer business as usual, they will gladly agree that there is a new way of doing business at the basic education sector under the supervision of the Minister. We can only highlight some key performance indicators in this piece. First, the Minister executed on behalf of President
“The unfolding political drama in the country has clearly revealed who the men of honour are. Those who have principles which they are willing to stake their necks and political future for. Those who are ready to stand by the generality of their people, irrespective of the economic consequences and the likely pains that their personal preferences may suffer.”
States of the South-East and South-South zones. Lest I forget, he has successfully executed the distribution of over 60million textbooks and library resource materials to pupils and students of primary and junior secondary schools nationwide. We cannot leave out the fact that he is a champion of training and re-training of teachers across the country. Over 1million teachers have been trained under his watch to improve efficiency and national development The facts of the minister’s achievements since he joined politics are public knowledge. Wherever he found himself, he has worked relentlessly to improve the condition of the
people. In doing this, he has rejected every single attempt made by those who self-centred to intimidate. It is his rejection of the intimidation antics of political adversaries that has generated this campaign of falsehood and name-calling. Even in our community setting, those who resort to name-calling and the raining of insults at the height of an intellectual argument are people who upon sensing defeat would attempt to divert attention. It is no longer news that the Rivers community, now the South-South geopolittical region and the entire nation crave a Jonathan Presidency post 2015. The reason for this preference is not far-fetched. The President in the last two years has set in motion an unprecedented pace of development. The only areas he is faulted by his critics are areas that relate to “our local political procedures”. For the Nigerian people, these areas are better ignored since the President is serving them well. Wike being a people-centric politician and administration like always remains with the people. This is where he derives his might and followership. With the people by his side, he is always at home in Rivers State and elsewhere, while his opponents find solace on the pages of paid a d v e r t o r i a l s , documentaries and falsehood. No politician of South-South origin who understands the loud voice of the people will be anti-Jonathan. It is unfathomable, to say the least. Just of recent, those who performed less enjoyed a second term, while should a performer be denied a second term, simply because nonperformers have declared so.
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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2013
International Man Confesses In Video Killing Man In Crash
A Russian warship is moored in the Cypriot port of Limassol, on May 17, 2013.
Critics Savage Diana Film After Premiere
CRITICS have savaged “Diana”, a biopic of the late princess of Wales who died in a Paris car crash 16 years ago, just hours after its world premiere. Lead actress Naomi Watts has already defended her involvement in the controversial film, which follows Diana’s romance with London-based Pakistani surgeon Hasnat Khan. But within hours of the premiere, a string of merciless reviews in the British press shattered the party spirit. The Times praised Watts for doing “her level best with a squirmingly embarrassing script” but concluded that the film was still “atrocious and intrusive”. “Poor Princess Diana,” wrote Guardian critic Peter Bradshaw. “I hesitate to use the term ‘car crash cinema’. But the awful truth is that, 16 years after that terrible day in 1997, she has died another awful death.” The Daily Telegraph gave the film two stars — one more than both the Guardian and Times — but was also withering in its assessment. “What’s the point of ‘Diana’?” reviewer Davis Gritten asked rhetorically. Diana and Fayed died when the Mercedes in which they were travelling slammed into
a pillar in a Paris road tunnel in 1997 while being pursued by press photographers. Diana and heir to the British throne Prince Charles divorced in 1996 after 15 turbulent years of marriage which produced two sons, Princes William and Harry. Watts, dressed in a figurehugging white gown, was joined on the red carpet at London’s Leicester Square by British-Indian actor Naveen Andrews, who plays her onscreen lover. The British-Australian actress who came to prominence in “Mulholland Drive” in 2001, admitted that she had taken a risk by accepting the role of the “People’s Princess”. Asked if she felt the film would offend Diana’s sons, she told BBC TV: “Hopefully if they get to see the film, they will feel that we have done it in a respectful and sensitive way. “We try to honour the depiction of her character in the best possible way.” But on Wednesday, Watts stormed out of a separate interview with BBC radio, apparently offended by one question. The film has been largely
ignored by the royal family. Its producer Robert Bernstein claims the royals gave some help in allowing filming in Kensington Gardens, where Diana used to go jogging, but a spokesman for the royals told AFP the area was not under its jurisdiction. Some critics have noted that Watts bears little physical resemblance to Diana: she had to wear a prosthetic nose for the film. She is the only established movie star in the film. Andrews is best known for his role in the TV series “Lost” although he also played Juliette Binoche’s love interest in “The English Patient” 17 years ago. Watts claimed in an earlier interview that she “found herself constantly asking for (Diana’s) permission to carry on” in the film. “I felt like I was spending a lot of time with her. There was one particular moment when I felt her permission was granted,” Watts told the Mail on Sunday. Khan, who still works in Britain, has described the film as “completely wrong” and said he did not intend to see it.
He has never spoken of his relationship with Diana, meaning the filmmakers had to imagine the scenes between him and the princess. As if on cue ahead of its release, new conspiracy theories about Diana’s death have begun circulating after police revealed they were investigating claims that a member of Britain’s special forces was involved. Scotland Yard said in August that detectives were checking the “relevance and credibility” of information they had received. Official investigations into Diana’s death have concluded that the chauffeur of the Mercedes, Frenchman Henri Paul, was driving under the effects of alcohol at the time he ferried the couple from the Ritz Hotel across Paris.
Bosphorus known as the Istanbul strait that separates Asia from Europe, an AFP photographer reported. The Priazovye on Sunday started its voyage from its home port of Sevastopol in Ukraine “to the appointed region of military service in the eastern Mediterranean”, a military official told the Interfax news agency.
Russia, a key ally of Damascus, has kept a constant presence of around four warships in the eastern Mediterranean in the Syrian crisis, rotating them every few months. It also has a naval base in the Syrian port of Tartus whose origins date back to Moscow’s close relationship with Damascus under the
plead guilty and take full responsibility for everything I’ve done to Vincent and his family,” Cordle says. Later, he says he understands that by releasing the video he’s giving prosecutors “everything they need to put me away for a very long time.” Prosecutor Ron O’Brien on Thursday said Cordle was a suspect in the deadly crash but hadn’t been charged. O’Brien said he saw the video on Wednesday and downloaded a copy onto a CD as evidence. He said he’ll ask a grand jury to indict Cordle for aggravated vehicular homicide with an alcohol specification, a charge that carries a maximum of eight years in prison upon conviction. O’Brien said Cordle’s blood sample from the night of the crash tested positive for alcohol and negative for drugs. Defense attorney George Breitmayer III said the video “is a strong testament” to Cordle’s character. He said Cordle intends to cooperate with prosecutors. Police in June said Canzani,, died at the scene after his Jeep was struck. Cordle ends the video confession by “begging” viewers not to drink and while driving.
Parents, Police Search For RunawayTeen relationship,” Drinkwine said. Couple But in the weeks and
POLICE in Michigan are looking for a young teen couple who had such an intense relationship, according to their families, that they have apparently run away together. Jayden Thomas, 13, of Clare, Mich., and Braxton Wood, 14, of Mt. Pleasant, Mich., have been missing since August 26 and have not been heard from, according
Russian Warships Cross Bosphorus, En Route To Syria
THREE Russian warships crossed Turkey’s Bosphorus Strait Thursday en route to the eastern Mediterranean, near the Syrian coast, amid concern in the region over potential US-led strikes in response to the Damascus regime’s alleged use of chemical weapons. The SSV-201 intelligence ship Priazovye, accompanied by the two landing ships Minsk and Novocherkassk passed through the
A driver has confessed in a video posted online that he’s to blame for a wrong-way car crash stemming from a night of heavy drinking that killed another man and says he’s willing to take “full responsibility.” The 3 1/2-minute video, posted on at least two websites, shows 22year-old Matthew Cordle describing what led to the accident in which he killed the man three months ago. “My name is Matthew Cordle, and on June 22nd, 2013, I hit and killed Vincent Canzani,” he says somberly. “This video will act as my confession.” Cordle says in the video he “made a mistake” when he decided to drive his truck home after “drinking really heavily” and hit the other car, killing the 61-year-old Canzani. The video begins with Cordle’s face blurred as he describes how he has struggled with depression and was simply trying to have a good time with friends going “from bar to bar” the night of the accident. He then describes how he ended up driving into oncoming traffic on a highway. Cordle’s face becomes clear as he reveals his name and confesses to killing Canzani. “When I get charged I’ll
Soviet Union. Moscow vehemently opposes the US-led plans for military action against the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in response to the chemical attack outside Damascus last month. Russian President Vladimir Putin warned on Wednesday that any US Congress approval for a military strike against Syria without UN consensus would represent an “aggression”.
to their families. Braxton apparently took the family’s Ford Explorer during the early morning hours and picked up Jayden before taking off. “We looked around the house and realized Braxton was missing and we still didn’t comprehend it because Braxton hasn’t had driver’s training. He is a young 14, so no drivers’ experience whatsoever…,” Braxton’s mother, Sarah Kiley, told ABC News. Kiley immediately called 911 to report her son missing. Meanwhile, in Clare, Jayden’s mother woke up to a note left on the mirror with lipstick. “She wrote, ‘I love you so much. Stay happy and beautiful.’ So I know she loves me,” Kelly Drinkwine said. Hours before they vanished, Drinkwine told Jayden the six-month relationship with Braxton had become too serious. “The day that she left I said I no longer support this
months leading up to the couple’s disappearance, both families say they became uneasy watching the relationship grow. Drinkwine’s initial concern began after Jayden made a comment during volleyball camp that she couldn’t live without Braxton. “…That’s when I thought I had to not necessarily pull the plug on their relationship but try to bring my daughter back to reality,” Drinkwine said. Kiley also became concerned when she noticed Jayden and Braxton alienated friends so they can be together. “They didn’t want to hang out with friends. Their focus was each other and that’s pretty intense for 14-yearolds,” Kiley said. The couple was due to start their freshman year at different high schools this week and their parents say they even briefly broke up because of that.
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o
P litics
Genesis Of Rivers Crisis KIDNEY Island is a small detached piece of land off UTC junction in Port-Harcourt City of Rivers State. The Island was predominantly occupied by people of low
By OBI EBUKA ONOCHIE
their activities. When the government came up with the proposal for the demolition of the slums, the predominant occupants of water fronts
on the Island were demolished with property owners being compensated. Whether the compensation was
(Okirika people) protested against it. Fortunately or unfortunately depending on the side of the divide, the first Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Mrs. Dame Patience Jonathan is from the Okirika ethnic group of Rivers State. Okirika people saw the then proposal of Rivers government as an affront to them and subsequently reached out to their daughter, the first lady for intervention. The first lady intervened but her intervention was not enough to stop the governor whose mind appeared to have been made up and the slums
adequate or not is now a matter of logic and reality. This followed by the removal of Okirika Local Government Chairman by the governor after he hosted the first Lady to a dinner. If the removal was based on the dinner or a mere coincident, still remains a matter of debate. At this point, political sycophants and vultures went to work and the issues were turned into ego, ethnic, personality, and positional fight. As it is in politics, one incident could prove to be a chain reaction depending on the texture of breed of people involved.
Stomach is the easiest route to a man’s heart they say and wife is the easiest route to selling whatever you have be it idea, fight, favour or what have you to a politician. Rivers State water front demolition and sacking of Okirika local government chairman were relegated to the background and Governor Amaechi’s Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) activities were projected to Mr. President as one coming from a ferocious, energetic politician armed with enormous treasury of the
many battles. The political hawks in Rivers State who before now were rendered jobless and lethargically lazy sprang back to life. A lot of issues, actions and inactions combined to escalate what was supposed to be Rivers affairs out of proportion. President Goodluck’s silence was taken to be a tacit support for the band of politicians gunning for Governor Amaechi’s head. They so much pummelled the governor until he started gasping for help from some of his colleague governors who considered him to be a
the social media which was popularly termed, “Rivers House of shame” was the height of the unnecessary political fight which took the drop of blood on the floor of the assembly house to bring some level of sanity. There has been some concerted effort made for peace not only in Rivers State but NGF and PDP in general. Though the effort for peace has not yielded any result yet but the level of political damage already experienced in Rivers State is ticklish at the moment which definitely needs a tactical solution. The governor’s attempt to use the land dispute with Bayelsa State which contains oil as a rallying point for Rivers people to
Jonathan
income in what was usually referred to as the “water front”. But the water front inhabitation extended into the heart land of Okirika people. Government of Rivers State under the present Governor Chibuike Amaechi administration considered the Island and water fronts’ residential areas as slum and dangerous to human inhabitation. In addition to slummy status of the Island, it is the toll of insecurity to lives and property. It has taken on the city of Port-Harcourt as the government believed that the slummy Island provided a safe haven to criminals and
Amaechi
state at his deposal, consorting and collaborating with perceived political enemies of the president on 2015. This marked the beginning of Governor Chibuike Amaechi’s
“This followed by the removal of Okirika Local Government Chairman by the governor after he hosted the first Lady to a dinner. If the removal was based on the dinner or a mere coincident, still remains a matter of debate. At this point, political sycophants and vultures went to work and the issues were turned into ego, ethnic, personality, and positional fight. As it is in politics, one incident could prove to be a chain reaction depending on the texture of
victim of raw political show of power. Governor Amaechi’s loquaciousness did not help his matter and his cabinet team helped in compounding the governor ’s woes by running to the media to make inflammatory and injurious statements with expectations of public sympathy. The governor failed to realise the enormous power heaped on the presidency by the constitution which automatically forces him (the Governor) to fight from a losing ground. The shame we saw all over
fight the presidency failed. Akuku-Toru local government area of Rivers State has been in land dispute with Nembe local government in Bayelsa State long before governor Amaechi became governor. The land in question contains crude oil wells which the governor ’s camp tried to sell to the people of Rivers State as an attempt by the president who is from Bayelsa to forcefully cede their oil wells to his state but the land dispute preceded both President Goodluck and Governor Amaechi.
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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2013
e X-Raying The Legalisation Of
P rspective RECENTLY, Governor Rochas Okorocha passed the bill of the legalisation of abortion into law in Imo State. The bill is called ‘‘Imo State of Nigeria, Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law Number 12 of 2012.’’ ‘‘According to the new law, every woman shall have the right to enjoy reproductive rights, including right to medical abortion in cases of sexual assault, rape, incest and where the continued pregnancy endangers the life or the physical, mental, psychological or emotional health of the mother. ’’ This law has kicked up so many arguments and comments against it. But the governor has debunked the news saying that the bill would eliminate violence in private and public life, prohibit all forms of violence, including sexual, psychological, domestic and harmful traditional practices. He further explained that the bill was expected to provide maximum protection and effective remedies for victims and punishment of offenders. According to the Governor, the bill would equally enable every woman to enjoy reproductive rights as well as the right to medical abortion in cases of sexual assault, rape, incest. But obviously looking at this law, where does it state the punishment meant for those who rape or commit sexual assault? Even on the path to giving women right for abortion after rape, sexual assault, government really has to watch it, because this is like giving them (women) ticket to go to a cinema to watch a movie any time they were bored. The issue of abortion is a serious one, so our government should calculate before choosing for the general public; putting other girls who have been waiting for this golden opportunity into consideration. Abortion is ending pregnancy by using medicine or a surgical procedure. In Texas, the legal definition of an abortion is the use of any means to terminate the pregnancy of a female known by the attending physician to be pregnant with the intention that the termination of the pregnancy by those means will with reasonable likelihood result in the death of the foetus. Some women consider an abortion because their pregnancy might threaten their life, health or the baby may have severe birth defects. While other women, choose to end their pregnancy without any known problems with their health or with their unborn child.
Apart from an intended or planned abortion, there is spontaneous abortion. This other form of abortion is often called miscarriage, it can occur when problems with a pregnancy cause the woman to lose that pregnancy naturally. Abortion risks are fewer when an abortion is done in the early weeks of pregnancy. The further along in the pregnancy, the greater the chance of serious complications and the greater the risk of dying from the abortion procedure. For instance, it has been discovered that; one death per every 530,000 abortions if it is at eight weeks or less, one death per 17,000 abortions for pregnancies at 16-20weeks and one death per 6,000 abortion at 21weeks and more. There are factors that also determine the possibility of complications and there include; the skill and training of the doctor, the kind of anaesthesia used, the health of the person who want an abortion procedure use. There are different procedures to carryout abortion which are; Medical Abortion (nonsurgical), Surgical Abortion or Dilatation & Curettage (D&C), Dilatation & Evacuation (D&E), Abortion by Labour Induction and Dilatation & Extraction. For the sake of this article, I will be considering three out of the five procedures. Medical Abortion is a way to end a pregnancy with medicines without a surgical procedure. The protocol approved by Food and Drug Administration allows this type of abortion up to 49days after the last menstrual period. It is recommended that only a physician can perform a medical abortion and this procedure of abortion can only be used in early pregnancy; usually up to seven weeks, but sometimes up to nine weeks. The possible side effects and risks of medical abortion procedure ranges from; cramping of the uterus or pelvic pain, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea, warmth or chills, headache, dizziness, fatigue, inability to get pregnant due to infection or complication of an operation, allergic reaction to the medicines, haemorrhage (heavy bleeding) possibly requiring treatment with an operation, a blood transfusion, or both, incomplete removal of the unborn child, placenta, or contents of the uterus, requiring an operation and death (but rarely). Surgical procedure is known as Dilatation and
Abortion
operation, possible hysterectomy as a result of complication or injury during the procedure. Haemorrhage (heavy bleeding), emergency treatment for any of the above problems, including possible need to treat with an operation, medicines or a
all true. This is exactly what so many girls and women do to get rid of unwanted pregnancies. That is why you hear of the death of some girls who do abortion, some die from the pain or excess bleeding. Some live in guilt, frustration and fear of being hunted in time to come. Although abortion on whatever sense is believed to be a sin, a murder of a child, but what if a girl was sexually violated not even by a man she knows but by men she
blood transfusion and death (but rarely) Dilatation Extraction (D &E) is a type of abortion that can be done after 16 weeks gestation. It may be done in the clinic or in the hospital for more advanced pregnancies. The doctor will open the cervix and grasp the child’s foot with an instrument and deliver the child except for the head. While the head is kept in the birth canal, scissors are used to make a hole in the back of the head, a tube will then be inserted and suction is applied. The contents of the unborn child’s skull are suctioned out, the bones of the head collapse and the child is delivered dead. The risks and side effects of this procedure is same with those above. I know as some of us read this, we would be angry, cursing, scared, and wondering if all these are real, to be honest these are
has never seen, are we going to encourage that woman to carry that child? We live in a wicked and corrupt world where evil happens day in and out and so victims of rape should be given a legal right to get rid of such conception. The abortion procedures are already dangerous and scary, allowing these girls/ women to secretly go to doctors that might probably be quacks is worse because it might at the end result to barrenness. And then, they will begin to curse and abuse themselves, declare dry and wet fasting crying and shouting in prayers like there is no God. There is nothing worse than to bring into this wicked world a child gotten from rape, whose father cannot be identified and who reminds you of your painful past. I think the legalisation of abortion for sexually abused women is fair. These
By PRAISE EGHWRUDJE
Curettage (D&C) with vacuum aspiration. This surgical procedure is generally use in the first 12 weeks of a pregnancy. Unless there are unusual problems, this procedure may be done in a doctor’s
• Governor Rochas Okorocha office or clinic. The doctor first opens (dilates) the cervix an then empties the uterus with suction. After suctioning, the doctor may scrape the walls of the uterus to make sure the unborn child, placenta, and contents of the uterus have been completely removed. Possible side effects and risks of surgical procedure ranges from cramping of the uterus or pelvic pain, a hole in the uterus (uterine perforation) or other damage to the uterus, injury to the bowel or the bladder, a cut or torn cervix (cervical laceration), incomplete removal of the unborn child, placenta, or contents of the uterus requiring an additional operation, infection, complications from anaesthesia such as respiratory problems, nausea and vomiting, headaches, or rug reactions, inability to get pregnant due to infection or complication from an
are some of the comments on social media concerning this issue. The major complaint against the legalisation of abortion is that a lot of people would take advantage of it and abuse it. There is also the fact that it is a sin in most religions of the world and even cultures but is abortion the worse sin in the world today? A lot of people frown at it but if we want to start passing judgement, we should start from what leads to the sin. If many disagree with abortion, then they should start by stopping the act of fornication, rape and sexual abuse. Is it not funny and laughable how people comment on social media against the approval of abortion for rape victims and yet, they rape babies who do not know anything about sex. When you pick newspapers, watch television and listen to radio, you will marvel at the number of rape cases happening in this nation that are reported. Even in the church that is suppose to preach Christ and family members who are suppose to protect their loved ones against this evil are not left out. Legalising abortion is not the major problem we are faced with in this country; government should find ways to bring rape and sexual assault cases to a minimum level. There should be an open gate for victims to bring such cases before the law and let those who perpetrate such evil dance to the drum of the law. There should be a strong law against it and anyone found wanting should not be allowed to go free be it a relation to the victim or not. What we need in this country is an active law that fights against crime and not one that has two spoon face like the ‘‘legalisation of abortion that is meant for sexually abused persons which can also increase the rate of abortion from other women who were not raped, sexually assaulted, or had any health issues that warrant a medical abortion.’’ This law will only give people more opportunity to commit crime, let us save ourselves from future lamentation and choose a better law. Finally, Former Surgeon General C. Everett Koop and Physicians Ad Hoc Coalition for Truth stated (warns) in 1996, that this type of procedure (of abortion) is never medically necessary to protect a mother’s health or her future fertility. On the contrary, this procedure can pose a significant threat to both.
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P rspective Nigerian Universities And The Desecration Of Academic Procedures ACADEMIC processes and procedures have been desecrated by many universities in Nigeria. I mentioned in the preceding piece ‘Nigerian Universities and the Bastardization of Admission Processes’ that the decay in the admission processes started from the early nineties. The same period witnessed so much strike that academic activities were flippantly suspended. I spent five years in the university for a four- year programme and witnessed three
some idle students gets involved in vices ranging from rape to murder, cultism, drunkenness, drugs, robbery, fraud and when academic activities finally resumes, these behaviorally downgraded students pollutes the already tensed academic environment with their new found vice, fostering cultism and criminal activities on campuses. While the vice ridden campuses constitutes
Ruquyyatu Rufai, Minister for Education
Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strikes in my 2nd, 3rd and 4th year led by Dr Attahiru Jega and Dr Assisi Asobie plus ‘Babangida Must Go’ riot which led to closure of universities. Cumulatively extra thirteen months were added to the academic calendar. Thus the first desecration of academic processes and procedures is the frequent disagreement between government and lecturers leading to industrial disputes. Whenever the disputes are suspended, students get rushed through examinations without adequate notice resulting in mass failures and carry over. Due to frequent strikes,
academic nuisance, the activities of lecturers who constantly harass female students with sexual advances is another form of academic bastardization. These female students especially the cute, sexy and kinky among them are deliberately failed in examinations so that they will surrender their under wears to the lustful teachers. Those that refused to submit their bodies are deliberately kept on campuses while their colleagues graduate till they recant their stiff neckedness. In July 2013 female students of Creative Arts Department of University of Lagos were so abused by the sexually rampaging lecturers that they had to go on public
By OBINNA AKUKWE
protest to preserve their cherished womanhood. They urged the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Raheem Bello, to investigate the allegation and bring the culprits to book. During my time as a student union leader, I took up such issues with the university authority severally though those who indulge in it then do so more discreetly-now it is openly solicited. In addition to sexual harassment, there is the problem of truant lecturers who abandon their academic tutorship to gallivant around for other businesses. This truancy is noticeable in schools in Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt and other first generation universities domiciled in cities where various political, business and social activities abound. These gallivanting lecturers appear in the lecture hall sometimes once or twice per semester, issue handouts and disappear again. The students end up hearing and knowing nothing especially in technical related courses, engineering, accounting and sciences .I have had course to jokingly ask some senior lecturers and professor friends of mine whether they actually see their students, especially from the manner they absent themselves during academic seasons. Coupled with the truancy of lecturers is the issue of falsification of results in the examinations records registry. Some students have learned the act of influencing workers at the exams registry so that results could be falsified to upgrade their low academic status. In March 2013, Abia State University had to withdraw an academic degree they issued a former governor of the state because according to them, it was irregularly awarded. Sometime around 2009 authorities of a university in Benin discovered that their computerized registry
has been compromised. Some fraudsters actually inserted names of nonexistent students into the system and were awarding results to them at every turn. When this computer manipulation was discovered, the school sought the assistance of a US owned IT firm in Abuja and that was when I knew about the issue. The school was advised to install Oracle database and run it on Linux platform. There is the Education Tax Fund (ETF), which requires that every corporate firm pays 2% of their profit towards the education fund. In 2011 a new act established the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) requiring corporate firms to dedicate 2% of their realizable profit to tertiary education. In 2012 alone, FIRS remitted N183 billion naira to ETF. Where is the impact of 183 billion naira collected in 2012 by ETF on the nation’s tertiary education system. ETF could transform university education by applying these funds towards provision of hostel accommodation, lecture halls, research support, library etc. There is also the annual education budget from the presidency to augment, all these are enough to improve the quality of educational services in Nigeria. This Education Trust Fund has over the years been a chess pool of corruption and the funds used to settle politicians and party loyalists with fictitious spending. All this turns the student’s academic life cycle into a bundle of turbulence and
the processes serially bastardized. One of the attractions of some private universities in Nigeria is the stability of academic procedures. Thus parents could predict when their wards would graduate from school. There is also low incidence of sexual harassment, truant lecturers and incompetent ones who have refused to upgrade their knowledge base are weeded out. However, the gain of some of these universities is countered by the exorbitant cost of enrollment. Highly rated Covenant University, Otta, owned by Winners Chapel charges about N520, 000 per session as at 2013 and many cannot afford such per head-though the church offers scholarship to some of their members to study there. Therefore, the poor will have no option than to contend with the decayed system. The Nigerian student suffers a plethora of adversities which makes them unable to grasp the much intended knowledge transfer. Little wonder many of them cannot defend their certificates anywhere. I have had course to interview and discuss with groups of fresh accounting graduates desirous of jobs and was shocked that some of them have not grasped the basics of Double Entry Book Keeping, while more cannot perform simple Bank Reconciliation Statements. Seeking explanations on management accounting issues like Break-Even Analysis, Cost-VolumeProfit Analysis would get them stare at you as if you are Hollywood film actor and you dare not probe
further to seek computations of Discounted Cash Flows (DCF), Net Present Value (NPV), Internal Rate of Return (IRR), Equivalent Annual Cost (EAC) all of which are elementary to capital budgeting techniques. Asking them to prepare detailed cash budgets or cash flow analysis for a given period is akin to asking too much. This sorry state made lots of companies to spend millions in retraining their personnel before they could undertake simple tasks. The students are simply being denied the environment to grow in knowledge. The Nigerian Government should declare a state of emergency on tertiary education. They should sanitize the processes of gaining admissions and regularize the academic procedures to disenfranchise truant lecturers, checkmate academic victimization and sexual harassment. The lecturers should be provided the enabling environment to undertake serious academic experiment. Staff of the Universities should be adequately remunerated to reduce incidence of abandonment of duty. The academic community should have upper hand in who become the Vice Chancellor and the University Visitor, whether president or governor, should minimize interference. Constant exorbitant increment in school fees by government-funded universities should be discouraged. Further embezzlement of ETF funds should stop and government must ensure that this fund is applied to aid tertiary education and end the desecrated academic procedures in Nigerian universities.
“The Nigerian student suffers a plethora of adversities which makes them unable to grasp the much intended knowledge transfer. Little wonder many of them cannot defend their certificates anywhere.”
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P rspective ASUU Strike, As It Turns Students To Artisans CLAIRVOYANTS around the world should please hurry down to Nigeria for their service is well needed around here. Their coming now will be a little too late but it is better late than never. Since ours is a nation with great predilection for strikes, their being of service to us will help us make the most of industrial actions we experience here. Of course, having seers around will mitigate the effects of strikes on our lives, making it a thing to exploit, not to deplore. For, given the right information, we have the capacity to turn a seemingly unpleasant circumstance to a wonderful one. And this we can actualise as regards strike, if we had forecasters within our reach. It is a common knowledge that Nigeria has enough clairvoyants. In fact, the country is brimming with them. From the gods of men in Lagos synagogues to the ordinary man at the street corner who would always correctly tell you the team to carry a match even when the game is still afoot. We have them here. It is just that they have not redirected their ability to this all-important area so needed by Nigerians. Given their wizardry in the act, I don’t want to believe that telling when a strike would end is too much a thing for them to foresee. No it can’t be, not when these men stay in Nigeria and predict what is to happen overseas and it happens just as they presaged. With this established, let us then call on them to look inwards. Perhaps, they may by that begin to receive honour in their country. Actually, these gifted people should be in the employ of the government. It is not out of place to demand that. Since government is notorious for carrying about in a manner that triggers strike, let it make available for us seers who will provide us with the telling that would help us manage our lives while industrial actions last. Today’s subject is informed by a report I read which has it that the strike embarked upon by ASUU since July 2, 2013 has forced many students in Abeokuta and its environs to register for various vocational trainings. The report revealed that the students, tired of idling about at home and spurred
by their parents, took up vocational trainings in tailoring, hairdressing, auxiliary nursing, electronic repairs, shoe making, carpentry etcetera. One Bisi Adedeji, who is a student of History and Diplomatic Studies at the Tai Solarin University, IjebuOde, said, “I voluntarily told my parents I wanted to learn the trade after realising that a solution to the strike is not in sight and looking ahead for employment benefits after acquiring the degree certificates which is in doubt. I quickly decided to learn the trade for my benefits and to be
By UGOCHUKWU UGWUANYI
trainings. Some of them may have opted not to go for this training immediately the strike began because of this fear. Seeing the lingering slant the strike has taken: they may sign in for the training on the seventh week only for it called off on the nineth week. In that scenario, will the two weeks be enough to provide them with all the knowledge required for the craft? It is for this reason that we should be availed the service of seers who will readily tell us at the outset
• Fagge, ASUU Preisent
• President Goodluck Jonathan
independent and an employer of labour.” Most of the students interviewed said they were tired of sitting at home and have grown to be passionate about their training, adding that the current high rate of unemployment in the country and the challenges of getting a white collar jobs led them into going for the training. For Mr Femi Shodunke, whose ward is an undergraduate, the strike may be a blessing in disguise as many of the students may end up using the trade learnt while it lasted to better their lives in future. As laudable as this initiative of the undergraduates may be, I have one fear for them which is that the strike may be called off at any moment thus putting the kibash on the completion of their
on the Federal Government after which it would accept its fate and return to the classroom trusting God to intervene in the matter. You know that is what we are good at: beckoning on the Almighty for help in issues we can glaringly take care of by ourselves. In the same vein, the Federal Government can spill the beans as regards when they intend to make the lecturers return to work. They can simply disclose how long they would want to call off the bluff of ASUU. Although the Finance
them become more of an artisan than a student whenever the strike is called off. In the hostels you will be sure to find sowing machines and other equipment littered over the place. There is even a great probability that you may find students trying to fix their clients’ vehicles under that tree in front of their dorm while lectures are going on in their classes. But cheerio for this is just a supposition. My fear is that mocking remark of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation(SGF) spells the possibility bringing this to
of an industrial action how many months it is to last. Better still, any of the two sides to the trade dispute should be magnanimous to let us know the length of days the strike would take, for both of them are in a position to. Hence, it is not enough for ASUU to tell us that they are embarking on a “total and indefinite strike”. In as much as they left us a clue in that, the union could have gone further to tell us the exact number of days it can wait
Minister ’s claim that government has no money to foot the N92 billion demands of ASUU is instructive, she could have added that ASUU could therefore remain on strike till the end of the life of this administration for all they care. If only she had been that generous with the above line, then would Nigerian students know they have over a year to toy with. With that in mind, don’t be surprised when you see
life. At a recent meeting between the government and ASUU over the impasse, SGF- Anyim Pius Anyim had ridiculed to the amusement of those on government’s side that the Minister of Education should “go and give them(ASUU) N400 billion,” It is the fact that such a scornful statement can come from a senior government official like him that makes one understand why more students are enrolling for artisanal
trainings. That pejorative remark is much of a pointer to how long it will take for the strike to be called off. If only these people will speak in plain languages so that poor students would understand their fate. But since they wouldn’t, let them at least employ forecasters to come to rescue of students. But seriously speaking, do we really need the services of clairvoyants? And do we indeed need parties to the industrial action telling us when they will culminate the strike? I know the answers to these questions are required to guide undergraduates who would want to use the time-out to enter for artisanal training, however, here is another poser: Are our students supposed to punctuate their university education with accidental skills acquisition programmes? These goes to show that there is truly no alternative to ending the current strike that has crippled activities at the nation’s public universities. On that score, it is incumbent on ASUU and the government to work sincerely for the quick resolution of this impasse that has the potency of turning our young ones into artisans rather than scholars. It’s not even as if they will be good artisans as their trainings will ultimately be disrupted by the call-off of the strike. Further, they may not have fixed their entire mind on learning the craft since their ernest expectation would be for the strike to be called off. Similarly, the possibility that they would not see the end of the trainings could tamper their devotion to the vocational tutelage. It is bad enough that the country is already reputed to be overflowing with halfbaked graduates, let’s not make it worse by creating room for half-baked artisans as well. It’s high time academic activities is allowed to resume in our public universities.
“These goes to show that there is truly no alternative to ending the current strike that has crippled activities at the nation’s public universities. On that score, it is incumbent on ASUU and the government to work sincerely for the quick resolution of this impasse that has the potency of turning our young ones into artisans rather than scholars.”
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Gurus Of The Law Known As SANs
THE roll-call of those conferred with the Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) title in the country could just as well read as the makers of the nation. Starting from the very beginning with Chief Rotimi Williams and Nabo GrahamDouglas, we have over the years seen illustrious names such as Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Prof Ben Nwabueze, Bola Ige, Gani Fawehinmi, GOC Okocha, Yusuf Ali, Afe Babalola, Wole Olanipekun, GOK Ajayi, Olisa Agbakoba, Chimezie Ikeazor, Tayo Oyetibo, Michael Agbamuche, Folake Solanke, Femi Falana etc. mount the lofty pedestal. Anambra State tops the list of SANs followed by Ogun State. Recently, a mere letter from a wellknown SAN nearly killed a self-advertised king. Here is how it happened. There was so much trouble in a certain town in the Southeast over the creation of the socalled Autonomous Communities. One man who would rather rule in Hell than serve in Paradise, as John Milton wrote in Paradise Lost, led the charge of the dismemberment of the town, and crowned himself the king of his miniscule autonomous community.
The prominent leaders of the town who would not want their homeland split into puny communities got a distinguished SAN to dispatch a letter to the uppity “king”. When the letter got into the man’s hands, he screamed “SAN!” and promptly fainted. Traumatized members of his community had to rally to great lengths to bring him back to life. As his acute palpitation was giddily transcending to chronic trepidation, the man kept muttering in Igbo: “Igwe ejee nga!” The expression simply translates to: “The king goes to jail!” It took no time at all to dawn on the man and his tiny community that they could not muster the resources to hire another SAN to undertake the imminent court battle on their behalf. To save himself from the abomination of a king going to jail, the man had to plead with the potentates of the larger town to ask the SAN to drop the case as he no longer had any use for the autonomous community he planned to lead. The clout of a SAN is indeed immense in Nigeria. It is akin to royalty, an aura fit only for kings. When a SAN steps into a court, it is like the very charge of electricity. All eyes definitely turn towards the figure of singular
By UZOR MAXIM UNOATA
• Mohammed Adoke SAN, Attorney-General and Miister of Justice
distinction. As the rule stands, SAN is a title that may be conferred on legal practitioners in Nigeria of not less than ten years’ standing. To be thus decorated, one must have of course distinguished oneself in the legal profession. In the scheme of global comparison, SAN is the equivalent of the rank of Queen’s Counsel in the United Kingdom, Australia and Canada.
The rank of a SAN amounts to admission into the “Inner Bar” as opposed to the “Outer Bar” consisting of junior advocates. The conferment of the title of SAN is steeped in the highest legal tradition. It is made in accordance with the Legal Practitioners Act 207, Section 5 (1) by the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee, headed by Chief Justice of Nigeria as
“The clout of a SAN is indeed immense in Nigeria. It is akin to royalty, an aura fit only for kings. When a SAN steps into a court, it is like the very charge of electricity. All eyes definitely turn towards the figure of singular distinction.”
Chairman. The body consists of the Attorney-General of the Federation and one Justice of the Supreme Court who is chosen by the Chief Justice and the Attorney-General for a term of two years which is renewable on one occasion only. The other members are the President of the Court of Appeal; five Chief Judges of States chosen by the Chief Justice and the Attorney-General for a term of two years renewable on one occasion only; the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court; and five legal practitioners who are Senior Advocates of Nigeria chosen by the Chief Justice and the Attorney-General for a
term of two years renewable on one occasion only. The history of the conferment of SAN dates back to April 3, 1975 when Chief F.R.A. Williams and Dr Nabo Graham-Douglas were honored with the first two titles. Chief (Mrs) Folake Solanke holds the distinction of being the first female to be made a SAN in 1980. Thus far, less than 500 lawyers in Nigeria have been conferred with the high title of SAN. But before the attainment of the elegant status of SAN, the requisite work is done in the early days at the bar. It is the application that the young lawyer brings to bear on his work that propels in time to reach the heights of the profession. As a standout repository of knowledge and experience, the story of every given SAN deserves to be told. For such a guru of the law to die without writing an autobiography or even having a biography against his name amounts to burning down an entire library. The enormous information contained in the personage deserves the sharing of the wider world instead of being interred within the bowels of the earth. The testament of the SAN deserves circulation while he is alive instead of indulging in gaudy celebrations upon his death. Even more crucially, the SANs ought to stem the corruption and the rape of the law hampering the growth of Nigeria into real civilization.
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Nigerian Youths: The Trustee Of Posterity IT is a cliché to say that Africa is endowed with enormous natural resources with enviable human capital availability, but it is still true. Without a shadow of doubt, the future looks bright and colourful. Our dream of becoming the continent that all would envy can be fully realized if it’s demographic advantage “large population” of the youth are mobilized, empowered and integrated into the day to day running of government. We should be part of the stakeholders and not be treated as aliens. For sure, we are
the trustees of posterity. According to a recent report, about 65% of the total population of Africa are below the age of 35years, and over 35% are between the ages of 15 and 35 years. Further survey shows that by 2020, out of 4 people 3 will be on average of 20 years old. It thus makes Africa the most
youthful continent. The sad part of it is that more than half of the population of African youth survive on less than $2 per day. This is a poverty threshold by international standard. A large number of them are jobless, while some are not gainfully employed. Ironically, many are living the life that is not worth the weight of the word “life” itself. Because of this, they indulge in crimes and other social vices that are inimical to economic growth. Here in Nigeria, the situation is even worse. More than 40 million Nigerians are without job. We the
youth of this great nation that prides herself as the giant of Africa doesn’t even know what tomorrow holds for us. To escape from the claws of poverty and hardship many of our brothers have met their untimely death on their way to Europe in search for greener pasture that no longer exist. Our leaders are not living up to expectation.
By UCHECHUKWU CALEB OBI We are in a country where “chop I chop” has become a norm for every public office holder, where corruption has beclouded godliness and where justice is reserved for the highest bidder. The disparity between the rich and the poor is u n c o n c e a l e d . Corruption in Nigeria is like a gully erosion that destroys the soil, thereby making it u n c u l t i v a b l e . Unemployment is our greatest challenge, and the measures aimed at tackling it are mere cosmetic approach like
the so-called YouWin and Sure-P that we are not sure of. These are programmes designed to favour a select few. The major panacea to curbing the malaise of unemployment is the direct creation of jobs through the establishment of industries and revamping the ailing ones. Mr. President is now a
preacher of national unity. He seems optimistic that our dear country will not disintegrate in 2015. He is oblivious of the fact that we are dancing on the brink and that there is a ticking time bomb “youth unemployment” waiting to explode. Unemployment is a ticklish and serious matter that shouldn’t be handled with kid gloves. In 2012, many young people took to the streets to protest against joblessness in Senegal, and to the voting station to press for a change of government. Their vote
which was their weapon of change worked for them. According to the proverbial saying, “The voice of the people is the voice of God.” Former president Abdoulaye Wade, an old man of 86 years, who succeeded in uttering the country’s constitution to favour his third term ambition just like what former President Olusegun
Obasanjo wanted to do, was defeated. The key lesson from Senegal’s election violence is that youth unemployment can fuel
controlled by these corrupt and heartless pot-bellied politicians whose elderly rascality is becoming a show of shame everyday. We
the fire of political violence and civil unrest, which may pave way for the dreaded revolution which many of us are afraid to talk about. The time has come for the Nigerian youth to creep out from their shell of ignorance, those that are still sleeping should be asked to wake up from their slumber and let us face the reality. You cannot make an omelette without breaking eggs. Time is the wisest counsellor of all and that time is now. For how long should we sit and watch our future been decided and
have been marginalized and disadvantaged by these gerontocrats to the extent that PDP that claims to be the role model party selected a geriatric, someone who suppose to be a grand father to be the national youth leader. We have sat for so long at the river of Babylon. How do we sing our song of success as youth in a failed generation. We can no longer mortgage our future with these crop of politicians whose stock in trade is to loot the treasury of the state. The Yerimas in the National Assembly, the kill-joy of our tomorrow leaders are all enemies of democracy. A stitch in time saves nine.
“For how long should we sit and watch our future been decided and controlled by these corrupt and heartless potbellied politicians whose elderly rascality is becoming a show of shame everyday.”
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I sues How Fair Is Nigeria’s Electricity Tariff? ON Monday August 19th 2013, a crop of young civil society activists and the representatives of several print and electronic media gathered at the Bolton White Hotel in Garki, Abuja with a common purpose in mind – to brainstorm on how to reduce Nigeria’s high cost of governance. Predictably, the special guest speaker turned out to be the very outspoken erstwhile Federal Cabinet Minister in charge of Education and also solid minerals during the President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration (1999-2007) – Dr. (Mrs.) Oby Ezekwesili. Expectedly, she thrilled the audience with her erudition and delivered a profoundly professorial presentation on the challenges of under- development that confront Nigeria and one of them was the ever present problem associated with the disappearance of the real/manufacturing sector of the Nigerian economy which to a lot of experts is easily attributable to the high cost of production. Incidentally, the poor electricity power supply situation is the key factor responsible for the closing down of most manufacturing firms that found it almost impossible to finance the exorbitant cost of providing electricity through independent power sources. The Nigerian state in the last 14 years, said it invested substantial amount of public fund running to over $16 Billion USD into the ever inefficient electricity sector but the local consumers still lament that poor electricity supply has remained the fundamental cause of their economic nightmare. Determined to implement lasting panacea to this lingering electricity power poverty, the Federal government has decidedly privatized the former publicly owned Power Holden Company of Nigeria (PHCN) and the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) was re-organized by President Goodluck Jonathan who appointed a core of young but tested
and trusted technocrats and statesmen including the United States -trained lawyer Dr. Sam Amadi who is the executive chairman of the newly reformed and transformed NERC. As part of its regulatory oversight NERC recently disclosed that the electricity tariff would be reviewed to attract good investors who would agree to invest their resources and talents to revive the dying sector because without good pricing environment, willing investors may be scared away because they would be unsure of how to recoup their investments. The move to hike the tariff has come under considerable challenge by a number of Nigerians who are afraid that the prevailing atmosphere of poverty may not allow most Nigerians to afford the high cost of electricity. But NERC through a recently released statement has clarified the situation and asked for public understanding just as the agency assured poor electricity consumers that Government has set aside princely sum of money to subsidize electricity to the teeming poor populace. The Assistant General Manager of NERC Ms.Maryam Yaya Abubakar who signed the extensive release explained that the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has noted the comments of Nigerians on the recent increase in the fixed charges for some class of customers, including a recent story in the press attributing comments to the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar, that centred around a purported arbitrary increase of an unstated and undefined charge from
By EMMANUEL ONWUBIKO
N225 to N 700. Questions, she said, have been asked as to why such ‘increase’ at this time and the rationale for fixed charges for electricity consumption? She never wasted time to respond to the interrogatory that as a
1st June 2012 when the second edition of the Multi Year Tariff Order (MYTO 2) came into force, it has conducted two Minor Reviews and published its findings on 1st December 2012 and 1st June 2013, as required by the law.
Yaya Abubakar stated clearly that the two Minor Reviews conducted by NERC did not result in any increase of tariff because the indices stated above and the fundamentals of the MYTO, as shown in the Methodology and the financial model available
• Prof. Nebo, Minister of Power
responsible regulator the agency is committed to respond to the concerns raised by consumers in print and electronic media and through social media. The spokesperson of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission stated that the agency considers it of utmost importance to always explain to the consumers that the tariffs they pay are fair, reasonable and necessary to guarantee continuous improvement in electricity supply to Nigerian homes and businesses. NERC, she said, wants to make it clear that since
Speaking further she stated that a Minor Review under the Multi-Year Tariff Methodology published by NERC in 2012 involves an examination of interest rates, exchange rates, inflation rates and available generation capacity during the preceding 6 months; and if these report a change of plus or minus 5% individually, such change will be applied to the tariff published for each distribution company. Bringing the technicality of her explanation to the ordinary person’s everyday mode of expression, Ms. Maryam
published in full on NERC’s website have not significantly changed. The commencement and results of both Minor Reviews, she affirmed, were announced via various national print and electronic media, including some that have carried various provocative statements that bear absolutely no connection with the truth. She then proceeded to present the entire scenario in broader perspective thus; “The changes that some customers have belatedly noticed in their electricity bills were announced by the
“The spokesperson of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission stated that the agency considers it of utmost importance to always explain to the consumers that the tariffs they pay are fair, reasonable and necessary to guarantee continuous improvement in electricity supply to Nigerian homes and businesses.”
commission on 1st June 2012. The MYTO stipulates tariffs for the 5year period from 1st June 2012 to 31st May 2017 based on the expected cost of generating, transmitting and distributing the electricity for homes and businesses during these years”. “This means that the tariff order issued to every distribution company has an approved tariff for 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016. Except there is a Minor Review of the MYTO, which takes place semi-annually, with results announced on 1st December and 1st June each year, each distribution company is authorized to collect only the approved tariff announced by NERC. An examination of the tariff tables for the respective eleven (11) distribution companies that were nationally published last year shows all the tariffs for the period 2012 – 2017. The total electricity tariff paid by all consumers in Nigeria comprises a single monthly fixed charge and a variable energy charge that is based on consumption”. She further broke down the details of what the commission considers as fair and reasonable pricing regime thus; ” It must be made clear that for residential customers who use either single-phase meters or three-phase meter (R2), the fixed charge approved under MYTO is N500 for 2012 and N700 for 2013?. As days go by, it is expected that NERC will engage the civil society community further to throw more light on the unfolding revolutionary steps being put in place by government to deliver uninterrupted electricity power supply to all Nigerians at fair and reasonable price. One way out of the current difficult debate over electricity power tariff is for NERC to sign public social contract with Nigerians to ask Nigerians to give the regulator twelve months to see if the new pricing regime is unable to achieve the lofty objectives for which they were set in the first instance.
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P litics I WANT to accept the fact that the position of party leadership, candidate, board of trustee and the alter ego must be differentiated in the political process if indeed the APC has provided itself as a credible alternative to the PDP against the forthcoming elections in the Nation and not only that, in building a nation that has values for her youths. Much as I am highly of the strong opinion that our Nation needs a twoparty system so that a firm and clear-headed opposition could be in place in strengthening our democracy and as an advocate of youths involvement in government and its power balancing, I don’t also join some egocentric Nigerians to accept in the entirety that it is the party and not the candidate or candidature that has solutions to the Nigerian
APC And 2015, Who S
Akande, Mallam Muhammadu Buhari, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Mallam (Dr.) Ibrahim Shekarau to be precised can filter the words of the youths and independent minds on all platforms in adjudging who bears the flag in the 2014 Gubernatorial elections in some states as litmus test and the 2015 General Elections. In my own view, the major challenge that will rock, if not already rocking the party as at present is “Who shall we send”? The “who” in question, I know isn’t anybody but people of sound mind with anger to change the embarrassing situation of our nation, men who the love of money cannot buy, men who the lust of office cannot kill,
By DEOLU OYEBODE
accept in public, men of high values; such which are very hard to find. Of all the possible avalanche of aspirants who have been warming
up for the presidency, hopeful of using the ticket of the just registered APC for the electoral battle front come 2015; some of the rumored leading aspirants
include Mallam Muhammadu Buhari, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, Hon. Aminu Tambuwa, Nasir El Rufai, Rochas Okorocha, Comrade Adams Oshiomole among others; and I have come up as a spectator of APC process and wants to suggest in consideration of a Mallam Nasir El Rufai as the best candidate on these five (5) reasons: NIGERIA NEEDS A TOUGH LEADER: Comparative History in Nigeria has told us that our nation needs tough people at the realms of affairs who are focused on adjusting the system irrespective of whose ox is gored; one who can step on toes! Today, people talk about Mallam Buhari, the governors of AD (19992003), some Governor’s of
blue print and they don’t care who is affected so far the interest of the generality of the people is positively affected, most especially on infrastructural revolution, taxation and the general rescue of the systemic failure in our policy and politics. Of all the aspirants that have interest or could be interested in the race, I opine that Mallam Nasir El Rufai is not found wanting in this regard. My reasons are not farfetched; One, El Rufai as a Minister of the FCT and the DG of BPE turned over the Bureau of Public Enterprises and the Policy Reform had been the basic structural foundation that the nation still builds on till today; Secondly, The effrontery to challenge the N54million Senate bribery
Mohamadu Buhari
Rochas Okorocha
Ibrahim Shekarau
problems. I appreciate the fact that the new political party has a manifesto that is in line with poverty reduction and sustainable development of the nation, which has made someone like me, to share interest in its formation, and can rescue the nation from the whims and caprices of the accidental leaderships that have bedeviled our nation since its democracy. I am of the consideration that the newly registered APC can correct the systemic failure if only the leaderships of Chief Bisi
men with wills and opinions, men who can stand a demagogue done, men who will never accept in private what they cannot
Aminu Tambuwal
the ANPP and PDP in the North between 1999 till date and Mallam Nasir El Rufai as Minister of FCT etc, because they have a
“The major challenge that will rock, if not already rocking the party as at present is “Who shall we send”? The “who” in question, I know isn’t anybody but people of sound mind with anger to change the embarrassing situation of our nation, men who the love of money cannot buy, men who the lust of office cannot kill, men with wills and opinions, men who can stand a demagogue done, men who will never accept in private what they cannot accept in public, men of high values; such which are very hard to find.
scandal shows that he is zero tolerant to corruption and toughness; Thirdly, the Abuja Land Reforms and the restructuring of the Abuja Master Plan has given the federal capital territory a new look and if care isn’t taken, considering the fact that Nigerians and her leadership abuses every available infrastructure and are never interested in building more, we will abuse the whole process if another person like El Rufai isn’t saddled with the responsibility again, I mean one, who has the tough
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P litics
Shall We Send? mind to attempt the impossible. Everyone mentions Abuja today as one of the best artificial cities in the world, yet the powers-thatbe had forgotten that only the tough pays the tough price. A person as tough as El Rufai in implementing tough policies is needed as the APC flag bearer and not those looking for every opportunity to contest; fourthly, El Rufai was successful in reforming the Public Service and if for no reason he could stand against the third term agenda of President Olusegun Obasanjo on the ground that it was against the general interest of Nigerians, I think I am not mistaken to have said this man is tough enough to face the tough challenges of the Nigerian Nation. AGE AND GENDER REPRESENTATION: Another important factor I think is very important that I want to suggest to the APC party leadership in choosing/selecting “whom” to send before the 2015 Presidential election is Age and the gender representation. Sincerely speaking, with due respect to those affected, never again shall a 80-years Governor Martins rule in any state in Nigeria, never again shall a man as old as Muhammadu Buhari become the President of Nigeria as old as 70years. I undoubtedly understand the fact that Nigeria needs someone who has the age and the zero-tolerance to corruption or the discipline toga as her president before the nation could move ahead, but we have got better persons who are younger and have scaled above boards in these values and values. We have got a lot of recycling at the detriment of this nation but we think we are doing much good to the nation rather; we are
strategically killing the system at the detriment of the intellectual youths who have one or two things to offer. It is only in this nation that our leadership believes that recycling the old will proffer solution to the new order problems facing the nation that requires
parades a 62years old Umar Garba Chiza as its National Youth Leader. These are indications that our political systems have no plans at all for the youths in their twenties and thirties. It is on this background that I opine to the leadership of the APC to
Oshiomhole
pragmatic new order solution. It is only in this nation that a Dr. Bello Haliru who was a Commissioner in old Sokoto State now Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara States becomes a minister of defence after 33years, Major Gen. David Mark Rtd., a military governor of Niger State became the Senate President after 28years; Governor Muritala Nyako, governor of Niger State in 1976, became governor of Adamawa State after another 36years; Governor Jonah Jang the factional NGF chairman was Governor of Benue State in 1985 and 27years later the governor of Plateau State) and unfortunately a prominent political party
consider this in selecting her candidate because the youths are eager to know who becomes the alternative to Goodluck Jonathan whom she (APC) had christened ‘a Kindergarten President’. An attempt to field a 71years old Gen. Muhammadu Buhari might frustrate the popularity of your party and what it had earlier been preaching in the south west. We understand that leadership of political parties must be old enough to be grandfathers with grey hairs because of the wealth of experience and need for critical decisions of the elders, that it why some of us youths do not challenge or have course to query the Obasanjo’s
75years of age, the 74years age consideration of Chief Bisi Akande, or that of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s 60years or that of Buhari as the leader of the APC, who was Head of State when some of university graduates today were not born, it only becomes questionable to know what he remains yet undone to be contesting again as president. I think he has expired! Nasir El Rufai is 53years and it’s an appreciable age for the Presidency of the system. One who still has a future at stake and can move around for campaigns without stress should be considered. The problem of Nigeria requires agile souls and not weak bones due to age or health related challenges. POLITICAL HISTORY AND SERVICE TO THE NATION: In my own view, which I know that the leadership of APC will accept with me, that anyone who is to govern Nigeria must have a political history, not only at the State level but at the Federal level, because the complexities in at the national is more than those of the states. Some Governors of the APC, most importantly the second term governors, might be interested but the challenges are different. The challenges in the local government are different from the state level and likewise the federal. A balance of administrative competence with political history at the selection of candidacy come 2015 Presidential election will not only produce a tough candidate to defeat but a credible person to lead the bedridden system. El Rufai whom I suggest the leadership of the APC could consider had been involved in various presidential tasks and knows how the presidency operates in contemporary times better than any of the avalanche of aspirants, who might be viewing Nigeria from the “old school” or “we shall”
“Our nation needs leaders now and not rulers. People who will take pains to listen to what the people are saying without inconsistency with the party norms in abolishing poverty in our lands.”
without a thorough knowledge of the economy and the state of the present Nigeria. Most importantly, the nation needs a person who isn’t a practical politician but one who is ready for the assignment on the desk, not someone who would want to have a say on whatsoever that happens in the political system. Differentiating between Governance and Politics will be a better tool in considering whom is to present as you are considering this. PUBLIC POLICY FORMULATORS Our nation needs policy formulators, not policy destroyers at a time like this. The major problem we have in Nigeria today is that none of our leaders are
LEADERS AND NOT RULERS: Our nation needs leaders now and not rulers. People who will take pains to listen to what the people are saying without inconsistency with the party norms in abolishing poverty in our lands. Flexible people who can adjust their ways of life with that of the people, devoid of religious fanaticism, sincerely, no former military man can take Nigeria to her Eldorado because the blood of the military is always there. You either do not question them, or you follow the last instruction. Youths of this nation, will be so much grateful to your system if for the first time you do not produce
El-Rufai
ready for neither formulating any policy nor even sustaining the ones on ground. What they are interested in is money, money and money. The nation needs the formulation of institutional policies that will reduce unemployment and poverty in our land. In my own view which I want the elders of the APC to consider is that only El Rufai can provide this ‘among’ the aspirants interested in this contest. We are in the global era of p r i v a t i z a t i o n , commercialization, down streaming of the oil sector, policy reforms and I am afraid, if you do not put people of profound quality in office, there will be problem at the long run.
an accidental president which has bedeviled the nation or a military as it has always been since 1999, the military has spent over 90% of our national presidency, either in the khakis or in the ‘agbadas’ and there is nothing to show for it. Without much Ado, I suggest of the elders of the APC to consider deeply after going through this analysis and many more of the public opinion as part of the conditions in selecting her candidate and candidature come 2015 Presidential election because the Nigerian Youths WILL NEVER Support/Vote for any Great Grand Father for Nigerian President irrespective of any branding or
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n Some Element In Benin Traditional Religion I sight
IN Benin mythology the four basic elements driving the universe are based on water, light, fire and air. To unravel these elemental beings shrouded in mysteries, let us systematically examine them individually and collectively. No human, no matter the status or spirituality can exist without the conducive type of air which scientist refer to as oxygen as human beings inhale oxygen and expel carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. The oxygen we inhale is a product from living plants which contains elemental beings. Conversely, plants also utilize the expelled carbon dioxide from man as a major raw materials for the production of food in its green leaves called photo synthesis. The elemental forces in the air which is driven by small gods and goddess are invisible to the eyes of the ordinary man on the street. But these elements have been very submissive to the intercession of the Benin monarch who is the spiritual head and custodian of Benin culture and tradition. Many individuals with a third eye can attest to this claim in the spiritual realm. In about A Couple of months back, the Oba of Lagos visited the Benin monarch to felicitate with him on his annual birth day celebration. There were some foreign tourist also
present at the palace. One of the journalists asked the Oba of Lagos what is the relationship between Lagos and Benin? And the Oba replied “I have come to see my grand Pa, so this question does not arise. As a child of the Benin Monarch, I can show you some structures put in place in Lagos to protect water elements from overrunning the island. It had been put in place for so many centuries ago and it is still very active” nothing will make me agree with some radical characters who want to turn the history of Lagos upside down”. In retrospect, “Eziza” a tornado wind could carry a man several metres high above the sea level and throw into the forest. The victim becomes lost and it may take several days or months before such individual can find his way out of the predicament. A respondent Chief Obasoyen said, “There was a man in the village of Ivbiotor who was relaxing in the cool evening breeze after a hard day’s job, “Eziza” tornado wind was passing with its elements and the old man was lifted high and thrown into an unknown destination in the forest. This man had two wives the senior one had one female child and junior one had no issue. He had to wonder in the forest for two weeks before he could trace his way back home.
By EKAIWE IGINUA OSEMWEKHA The elements of Eziza fought this man now to summount spiritual battiest and now to heal the sick with heroes, he actually became a traditional doctor of inestimable reputation
In America state of Texas a Tornado wind is known to have destroyed so many buildings, lift up trailers and heads of cattle over 500 meters high and thrown into other
and a legendary “ooiobo” the king of traditional doctors. The junior wife who wept uncontrollably for not having any issue for her husband before the incidence became blessed with a male child after the husband returned from the forest. So, it was jubilation for the junior wife as she now became the landlord of her husband’s heritage according to Benin traditional law and customs.
inhabitants in the neighbourhood. The devastating effects of elements in wind have caused Tsunami in parts of America, Pakistan, India and Australia. Elemental beings which are easier for human beings to quickly comprehend are those elemental beings which are focused with cross materials in the universe. They are associated with diverse groups that labour entirely in isolation form
“Very often, we have heard of nixies elves, salamanders and grimes, these are associated with the gross matters of the universe which we can see with naked eyes, also comparatively on all other gross materials across the globe. They contain enormous population of people, plants and animals and these are visible to the naked eyes.”
human spirits and are led from above, actively working with the c o n t i n u o u s improvement of new celestial bodies. They further their maintenance as well as their course and likewise their dis
that we already know what they occupy themselves without absolutely been obvious of the patterns in which the function and effective responsibility given to them by god to accomplish on earth. So that their activities are
interaction. Where ever this becomes necessary due to their overripeness, in order that they may come into existence again in a new form in accordance with primordial laws of creation. Very often, we have heard of nixies elves, salamanders and grimes, these are associated with the gross matters of the universe which we can see with naked eyes, also comparatively on all other gross materials across the globe. They contain enormous population of people, plants and animals and these are visible to the naked eyes. We have lived with these things, but we do not know their individual functions in real life. Some how we imagine
accomplished according to the law of creation. The activities of elements of fire is associated with Thunder-storm., thunder lightning one of nature’s most powerful elements has been known to do some very ocular things. In one case, a lightning strikes a man dead and set fire to a house. The elements are commonly referred to as “Sango” by Yoruba worshipers. At Adeyanba village in Ovia |North East Local Government of Edo State. There is a river where you cannot wash cloths or do fishing. Some people from the city who attempted to brake the jinx met their waterloo. And those who were lucky to escape never came back to recover their fishing gadgets.
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v
A iation Kwara Aviation College And The 2020 Vision THE Aviation business in Nigeria witnessed an unprecedented increase in economic boost in the late 1950s upon attaining independence after a long break off from the colonial masters . More airlines became interested in the booming sector and subsequently took advantage of the country’s growing population as the largest in Africa and the fact that Nigerians naturally love to take vacations across America and Europe thus necessitating the need for more aircrafts and eventually more airlines were established to meet demand. The establishment of the Ilorin International Airport has added another impetus to how airline operation should be run in the 21st Century. From the economic perspective, apart from the hugely justified amount of investment expended on the laudable project by the administration of Bukola Saraki in 2003 to up the ante to an international standard while creating room for expansion and future innovations. The International Airport today under the current leadership of Governor Ahmed has continued to flourish as more infrastructure and manpower training programs are being introduced just as it is done in developed countries globally. The shared prosperity agenda through
continuity of government which we have often laid claim to, as being best manifested in this regards by comparing the Kwara State’s internal generated revenue before the Aviation college idea was birthed. Job opportunities were opened to skilled and unskilled labours and the government explore the possibilities to diversify into other sectors and turn around the economy. The International Aviation College (IAC) which began operations in 2006 with the express purpose of offering aviation training to meet the serious shortages of aviation personnel on a global level but more especially in Nigeria and the West Africa subregion has attained the “giant status” as a force to be reckoned with in this modern age and time . Almost a decade after, the Aviation college Ilorin has become the quintessential training citadel for pilots and aviation professionals as a result of the stateof-the-art facilities available for learning. The IAC today, can stand at per and offer similar services provided by Nigeria’s oldest Aviation CollegeThe Nigeria College of Aviation Technology (NCAT) in Zaria Kaduna. A new dimension to the growing development in Aviation business leaves much to be desired, just as we
By WALE BAKARE have seen many ‘pioneer ’ colleges operating since the late 80’s and 90’s but unable to produce graduate pilot that will replace the
trained at the college in Ilorin. The addition of the two training aircraft to the existing fleets by the State government
nearest future. Also, It is not surprising to see the Kwara Government expand the aviation college in infrastructure and invest in human capacity building, geared towards
Stella Oduah, Minister for Aviation
aging ones and establish a good succession plan that is self replicating. However, the combination of the Visionary leadership of the former governor of Kwara State Senator Bukola Saraki and the achieving incumbent Governor, Ahmed Abdulfatahi has broken the jinx to revive the age long tradition with the graduation of the first set of commercial pilot fully
signals the end of mediocrity as far as the apprehension often associated with the incompetence of the then first generation pilots and engineers in the country is concerned. The quest for a model college and a citadel of learning that can provide services to Nigerians and other West African countries is exciting as more faculty programs are expected to be accredited in the
improving the overall welfare of the state and clients. The various trips embarked upon by the state leadership to witness on a first class basis how aviation business is being run globally and replicate same innovations here is opening more avenues for speedy development in all facets of the economy. Just like the unprecedented
successes recorded during the establishment of the Ilorin International airport cargo terminal by Bukola Saraki where agriculture export generation drive improved drastically to bring about food sufficiency through a seamless transportation network. The Aviation college, a stone throw away from the international airport can achieve even greater successes that will be the envy of other states with the master plan being proposed in the not too distance future. The most despicable sceptic of the current administration in Kwara would agree that the Aviation college is a well conceived idea even with the shoestring budget at its disposal and it’s been nurtured to address the malaise that has often been a source of headache for the federal government as aviation is critical to the development of any nation’s economy. Weighing up the aforementioned, the state government has started on a good note in anticipation of the 2020 vision to position Nigeria among the 20 largest economies in the world, but succession planning and strategic leadership development as an ongoing and thoughtful process that includes a proper assessment of programmes and rewards for excellence put in place will situate the college as the best in the continent within a short period of time.
“The establishment of the Ilorin International Airport has added another impetus to how airline operation should be run in the 21st
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W eKEND ENTERTAINMENT If Not For God, I Would Have Ended Up A Prostitute - Mercy Johnson TODAY, I thought of many things I would love to have and many dreams I am still pursuing. In all of this I’m not losing sight for the fact that if not for God I might have ended up in the street like the many kids and young adults begging for food and some prostituting to make ends meet. If we know the circumstances that force some of these people into the street, we would spare a thought for them. I am where I am today purely by the grace of God and the grace of people who believed in me from the beginning. Recently, I was at the Boys Reform Home, Oregun, Lagos, the discussion I had with the principle Mr. Kotun and much later with the special adviser in charge, all remand homes in Lagos get me thinking about the boys and girl on the street, they have dreams too. Can they fulfill those dreams on the street? The answer we likely
be no; because I won’t be where I am today if I had ended up in the street. For this reason, Mercy Johnson foundation will be doing a lot to get kids off the street. We are not asking people for money or donation, I will do all I can with the resources God has given me, and with the support of my husband to help get these kids off the street and set them on a part where they can begin to pursue their dreams. I want to plead with people, fans, friends and colleagues to spare a thought of the children on the street. We can begin by educating people around us, parents, the children and people in charge of children (Ogahouse help relationship, teacher- student relationship, and others) on the need to treat every child like the future of Nigeria depends on it.
That is an Initiative Mercy Johnson Foundation will be supporting and beyond that we will be going to different state to help spread the message-Get kids off the street, save the future. Very soon I will begin to replay some of the lessons I learnt at the Boys’ Reform home and we all can contribute to getting the kids off the street. I am grateful to everyone who has always supported me from the start, fans. Thank you and God bless you.
Being An Actor Doesn’t Mean We Can’t Do Other Things - Zack Orji
Stories By EFEMWENKIEKIE OSAS KELVIN
AS Nollywood actor, Zack Orji, goes deeper in the Lord’s vineyard, he is a bit disturbed that decisions by some actors to go into other businesses or calling attract what he sees as
• Zack Orji
• Mercy Johnson
2face Idibia Introduced Award To Support A NIGERIAN singer, Young Musicians song-writer and record producer, 2face Idibia, is initiating the “2face Peace Awards” promote peace and support young Nigerians involve in peace projects in their communities. 2face Idibia revealed this while speaking to the newsmen in Lagos. The Star said that the six winners would be selected for the Awards. According to him, the six categories are Women-Led Peace Building,
• 2face Idibia
Youth Peace Building in the environment (for those having conflicts over resources). Other Award categories are Projects on urban violence and Community Peace Building, the use of technology or Social Media for Peace Building and Mediation directed at reducing violence against women and girls. 2face also revealed the value of Prize: N 1million would be presented to each
winner along with opportunity to attend Global Peace Summits and exchange programmes in 2014. He said that almost a quarter of the world lived in areas affected by military or civil conflicts. However, 2face noted that there were young people who were busy building bridges across communities. These young people are mostly unnoticed but you will find them working hard in various places, educating people and helping to manage conflicts and promoting peace. They have become community leaders in peace building, reconciliation and post- conflict reconstruction, thereby establishing themselves as the next generation of leaders. As we march towards Nigeria’s centenary celebrations in 2014, more than anything else, we choose to celebrate these young unsung heroes, who are active in their communities, promoting peace. “We want to celebrate them through the 2face Peace Award”, Idibia concluded.
undue attention or comments. According to the artist, who is also fluent in French, his colleagues are not doing anything out of the ordinary. “All over the world it is normal for people in any field of life to go into something different when they get to a certain level. Here in Nigeria, Civil Servant and teachers try their hands on different things besides their regular jobs. So, I don’t know why that of actor should be any different. This is a normal human Endeavour. More so, most times your salary is never enough to take care of your responsibilities. “So, don’t know why that of an actor should be considered different. Being an actor does not stop us from doing other things. So, let’s not look at it as abnormal. People can always choose to express their talents in other areas,” he says. Orji, who was recently ordained a pastor at the Power-line Church, in Lagos, also countered claims that he had quit acting due to his new calling. “Well, it is true that I am now a pastor, it has not in any way affected my carrier. I have featured in various movie projects lately, the most recent being Chimamanda Adichie’s bestselling novel, Half of a Yellow Sun, which was recently adapted for screenplay. Besides, I have been on various sets. I won’t be able to tell you their titles because
Basketmouth And Dakore Become Hosts Of Nollywood Movie Award 2013 IT became known recently while organizers were reeling out plans for this year’s activities for the award which is in its second year. The award will hold on Saturday, October 12, 2013 at Intercontinental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos. The nominees will be unveiled on September 7, 2013 at the Africa Bar of The Oriental Hotel, Lekki Lagos. The movie awards show which debuted in June 2012 will add six new categories: Best Short Movie, Best Child Actor, Best Soundtrack, Best Set Design, Top Box Office Movie and Best Diaspora Movie. “We plan to make this year’s award show bigger and better”, Executive Director, Alfred Soro says. The last time we saw Dakore and
Basketmouth on stage together was at the 2008 edition of The Headies (known then as hip hop World Award).
• Basketmouth & Dakore
of most times all the producers do is to bring you scripts, without a title. I will be on set of a new movie by ace Nollywood producer, Rosemary Ingbi, next week,” he adds. Although Orji, who is most famous for his gentlemanly movie roles, maintains that these actors are simply expressing themselves, for some of his colleagues, this is not the case. Apart from losing juicy deals to music stars, some consider this movie as a basic survival instinct. After all, it seems that it no longer pay to be just an actor, with piracy and absence of structured distribution networks threatening the fabric of their industries existence. Some are even tempted to say that Nollywood is no longer in vogue. Some actors have tried their hands in music, though it can be argued that this is a show of other talents. Genevieve Nnaji, Jim Iyke, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, Kate Henshaw and most recently, Nollywood bad girl, Tonto Dikeh, are examples. Yet, pundits have said that it is important to note that the success of an actor ’s decision to delve into music goes way beyond just being a popular face or possessing good looks. Before now, one area where a good number of the screen stars had found consolation is in endorsements by corporate organizations, especially telecom giants that include Globacom and MTN. But the tidings are changing. Many music makers now own the day and in turn, call the shots anywhere they go. They are also fast becoming role models to many Nigerian youth, who hitherto revered Nollywood actors.
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W eKEND ENTERTAINMENT The Big Boss Set To Hit The Altar OSAGIE-PRESLEY Nosakhare popularly known/ called the Big Boss in the Nigerian music industry and the Nigerian/United Kingdom (UK) Technological Scene is set to hit the altar come 14th day of September 2013. The Big Boss who is the coowner of Mafibrid/PresJambz Recordz and the Managing Director/CEO of Sedge Conglomerate (United Kingdom) and also a System and Network Administrator at Primaton Ltd, Benin City will be getting marry to Miss Glory Igiebor at St. Jude’s Catholic Church, St Jude’s Street, Off Lucky Way, Off
Upper Mission Extension, Iwogban Quarters, Benin City come 14th day of September 2013. Osagie-Presley Nosakhare who co-signed P.G. Clauxz into his co-owned recording label sometime in the year 2010 and P.G. Clauxz is set to release his forthcoming album in February 2014 under the recording label is making plans to make sure the forthcoming wedding ceremony is a success. The Big Boss who has also signed a lot of big artists in the Nigerian Music Industry include the likes of E-Slo, Guru, Slim Jezzy, Don A.K.A
• Big boss and his fiancee
(Marley) and other up coming artists. The traditional marriage ceremony of the Big Boss and his medical Practitioner wife to be (Glory Igiebor) will be coming up on the 12th day of September 2013 and a lot of dignitaries will grace the occasion amongst who are: Comrade James Edosa Edionhon (who is an educationist and sports administrator) will be the special guess of honour. A chat with Osagie-Presley Nosakhare (the Big Boss) who confirmed to Weekend Entertainment that he has being long waiting for this life time opportunity to get hooked up with his long time fiancée (Glory Igiebor) and can’t wait for the 12th and 14th day of September 2013 to come. The Big Boss and his wife to be are presently in NewYork, United State of America shopping for their up coming wedding ceremony. The bachelor ’s eve which is schedule for 13 th day of September 2013 will feature a lot of Nigerian Artists like P.G. Clauxz, E-Slo, Psquare, J.Martins, Durella, Frixzy, Don A.K.A (Marley) and so on. Weekend Entertainment wishes the Big Boss the best in his marriage life.
E-Slo Storm The Airwaves Again
E-SLO storm the airways again with his new video title ‘somebody dey’, short by FreshConcept Entertainment sometime in May this year in the United Kingdom (UK). The Gospel/Circular Hip Hop and R & B artist and also a music producer is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Family Soundz Recordz based in the United Kingdom (UK) and have its branch offices in Lagos and Benin City respectively storm the Nigerian music industry sometime in 2005 when he release his first album under Judgment Day Entertainment but the album made little success. In 2009 E-Slo released his second album under Tunder Blast Music label and the album also brought the
• E-Slo
‘somebody dey’ crooner into stardom in the Nigeria music industry. The Family Soundz Recordz CEO release his first video in 2011 title ‘Oseyoma’ under MDP Music label and the video was played in television stations in Nigeria and the UK and got him nominated into the South South Music Award. The ‘Somebody dey’ video which was short in the United Kingdom and the video was premier in the UK August 2013 and in Nigeria on 1st day of September 2013 and hit television stations in the UK and was first premier in Nigeria in Lagos before being premier in Benin City and
other South South States in Nigeria. The Gospel/Circular Hip Hop artist and music producer is set to leave the country soon for the Netherlands and United States of America for tour and perform in an event being package by Mafibrid Recordz based in the United States of America (USA).
Wizkid Is Richer Than Banky W Stories By EDIONHON UYI THOMPSON
FORBES/Channel O list of top 10 most bankable African artists 2013 shows that Wizkid is richer than Banky W. Channel O, in association with Forbes Africa, presented a list of the top 10 most bankable African artists. And here’s who they say is making bank and who is talking smack! Their list was put together using factors such as endorsement value, popularity, show rates, sales, awards, YouTube views, appearance in newspapers, investment, social media presence, influence and so many other factors. - AKON: CEO of Konvict Music, opened doors with other African artiste; -DON JAZZY: producer, CEO Mavin Records, influential producer, MTN, Samsung and Loyal Milk a m b a s s a d o r endorsement. D’Banj, Kanye Westm Beyonce and Jay Z on production credit; -P SQUARE: Music Duo, featured on Forbes Africa twice, sold out concert, presidential quest in at least 5 African countries, they fly private jet; -D’BANJ: Music artist. International music brand, Good Music deal, Sony Entertainment deal; WIZKID: Music artiste. EME artiste, Starboy
CEO, affiliation with Disturbing London, several international collaboration, highest paid Pepsi ambassador in Africa and an ambassador of MTN; -2FACE IDIBIA: Music artiste, 10 million discs and at least 7 million digital sale, multiple ambassador, one campaign… associated with Guinness. Haven Homes, Airtel worldwide and philanthropist with 2face foundation; ANSELMO RALPH: Music artiste, Samsung and Coca Cola ambassador, Angola prince perfume
line, clothing label, multi million dollar tour bus, Sony artiste; -SARKODIE: Rapper, Presidential youth ambassador of Ghana, Sark clothing, Samsung ambassador, Fan Milk Ghana; -ICE PRINCE: Music artiste, Six million downloads, 2 studio owner, one foundation member, Plug N Play ambassador, Zamani foundation; and -BANKY W: Music artiste, Co owner EME, Samsung a m b a s s a d o r , philanthropist, multiple award winner.
• Wizkid & Banky W
KAS Explains His Absence, Says He’s Not Broke
FELIME singer, Karounwi Olakunle aka Kas in a chat with Punch shared light on why he’s been too quiet and not partaking of the endorsement feast Nigeria music top celebrities are flaunting these days, plus new acquired rides. When punch correspondent asked him in a telephone interview on Tuesday noting that he is likely to have been broke, Kas was very quick to debunk the notion, saying: I have been busy. The truth is that you cannot rely on music alone, hence the diversification. So, it’s amazing that people can ever think I am broke. God forbid, I am not broke. He said I will run back to London if I ever become broke. I have a sachet and bottle water producing
company, which used to be based in Maryland, Lagos. However, due to an overwhelming demand from customers, I had to shut it down and open a much bigger one in Surulere. Citing God as his inspiration, the artiste, who shot into limelight with his 2010 club hit, Fimile, says he recently gave the movie world a shot. Besides music and business, I played the lead role in a Nollywood film titled Twin Sword. I starred alongside the late Justus Esiri and Binabo Fiberesima. The movie bagged nine nominations at the African Academy Movie Awards. That in itself is a great achievement. The artiste, who also runs an entertainment outfit,
sheds lights on the reason behind the short-lived music romance he had with Nollywood actress-turned singer Tonto Dikeh.
• Kas
The singer said she used to be signed onto my label up to the time she decided to do her own thing. There was no fight or argument as we both agreed to part ways.
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C unselling Show Respect For The Other Person’s Opinion WHEN Theodore Roosevelt was in the White House, he confessed that if the could be right 75 per cent of the time, he would reach the highest measure of his expectation. If that was the highest rating that one of the most distinguished men of the twentieth century could hope to obtain, what about you and me? If you can be sure of being right only 55 per cent of the time, you can go down to Wall street and make a million dollars a day. If you be sure of being right even 55 percent of the time, why should you tell other people they are wrong? You can tell people they are wrong by a look or an intonation or a gesture just as eloquently as you can in words and if you tell them they are wrong, do you make them want to agree with you? Never, for you have struck a direct, blow at their intelligence, judgement, pride and selfrespect. That will make them want to strike back. But it will never make them want to change their minds. You may then hurl at them all the logic of a Plato or an Immanuel Kant, but you will not alter their opinions, for you have hurt their feelings. Never begin by announcing “I am going to prove so and so to you”. That’s bad. That’s tantamount to saying; I am smarter than you are I am going to tell you a thing or two and make you change your mind”. That is a challenge. It arouses opposition and makes the listener want to battle with you before you even start. It is difficult under event he most benign conditions to change people’s minds. So, why make it harder? Why handicap yourself? If you are going to prove anything, don’t let anybody know it. Do it so subtly, so adroitly, that no one will feel that you are doing it. This was expressed succinctly by Alexander Pope: “Men must be taught as if you taught them not pond things unknown proposed as things forgotten”. Over three hundred years ago Galileo said: Galileo
said: You cannot teach a man anything you can, only help him to find it within himself. As Lord Chesterfield said to his son: “Be wiser than other people if you can, but do not tell them so”. Socrates said repeatedly to his followers in Athens: “one thing only I know and that is that I know nothing”. Well, I can’t hope to be any smarter than Socrates, so,
If you know positively that a person is wrong and you bluntly tell him or her so, what happens. That will not make the person to be friendly? Few people are logical. Most of us are prejudiced and biased. Most of us are blighted with preconceived notions, with jealous, suspicions, fear, envy and pride. And most citizens don’t want to change their minds about
an illicit passion for them when anyone proposes to rob us of their companionship. It is obviously not the ideas themselves that are dear to us, but out self-esteem which is threatened. The little word “my” n is the most important one in human affairs and properly to reckon with, it is the beginning of wisdom. It has the same force whether it
I have quit telling people they are wrong. And I find that it pays. If a person makes a statement that you think is wrong – yes, event hat you know is wrong. Is it better to begin by saying: “Well, now, look. I thought otherwise but I may be wrong. I frequently am. And if I am wrong, I want to be put right. Let’s examine the facts”. There is magic, positive magic, in such phrases as: “I may be wrong. I frequently am. Let’s examine the facts”. Nobody in the heavens above or on the earth beneath or in the waters under the earth will never object to your saying: “I may be wrong let’s examine the facts”. You will never get into trouble by admitting that you may be wrong. That will stop all argument and inspire your opponent to be just as fair and open and broadminded as you are. It will make him want to admit that he too, may be wrong.
their religion or their haircut or communism or their favorite movie star. So, if you are inclined to tell people they are wrong, please read the following paragraph every morning, before breakfast it is from James Harvey Robinson’s enlightening book the mind in the making. “We sometimes find ourselves changing our minds without nay resistance or heavy emotion, but if we are told we are wrong, we are incredibly heedless in the formation of our believes, but find ourselves filled with
is “my” dinner, “my” dog and my house or my father, “my” country and “my” God”. We not only resent the imputation what our watch is wrong or our car shabby, but that our conception of the combats of makes of the pronunciation of “: Epictetus” of the medicinal value of salicin or of the date of sargon 1 is subject to revision. We like to continue to believe what we have been accustom to accept as true and the resentment aroused when doubt is cast upon any of our assumptions leads us
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2013
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O.C. Madu GSM: 08056379608
to seek every manner of excuse for clinging to it. The result is that most of our socalled reasoning consists in finding arguments for going on believing as we already do. Horace Greeley, the most famous editor in America during the time of the civil war, disagreed violently with Lixoln’s policies. He believed that he could drive Lincoln into agreeing with him by a campaign of argument, ridicule and abuse. He waged this bitter campaign month after month, year after year. In fact, he wrote a brutal, bitter, sarcastic and personal attack on President Lincoln the night Booth shot him. But did all this bitterness make Lincoln agree with Greeley? Not at all. Ridicule and abuse never do. One day, when Ben Franklin was a blundering youth, an old Quaker Friend took him aside and lashed him with a few stinging truths, something like this. “Ben you are impossible. Your opinions have a slap in them for everyone who differs with you. They have become so offensive that nobody cares for them. Your friends find they enjoy themselves better when you are not around. You know so much that no man can tell you anything. Indeed, no man is going to try, for the effort would lead only to discomfort and hard work. So, you are not likely ever to know any more than you do now, which is very little”. One of the finest things I know about Ben Franklin is the way he accepted that smarting rebuke. He was big enough and wise enough to realize that it
was true, t5o sense that he was headed for failure and social disaster. So, he made a right about face. He began immediately to change his insolent, opinionated ways. Franklin made away to forbear all direct contradiction to the sentiments of others and all positive assertion of his own and so on. He had less mortification when he was found to be in the wrong. And this mode, which he first put on with some violence to natural inclination, became at length so easy and so habitual to him. Nobody ever dogmatically express escape of him. You will now be convinced that nothing good is accomplished and a lot of damage can be done if you tell a person straight out that he or she is wrong. You only succeed in stripping that person of self-dignity and making yourself an unwelcome part of any discussion. Martin Luther King was asked how, as a pacifies, he could be an admirer of Air Force General Chappie James, then the nation’s highest-rankin black officer. Dr./ King replied, “I judge people by thrown principles not by my own”. 2,200 years before Christ was born, King Akhtoi of Egypt gave his son some shrewd advised vice that is, solely needed today, be diplomatic, counseled the king. It will help you gain your point. In other words, don’t argue with your customer or your spouse or your adversary. Don’t tell them they are wrong; don’t get them stirred up, use a little diplomacy. Thanks for reading.
“You will never get into trouble by admitting that you may be wrong. That will stop all argument and inspire your opponent to be just as fair and open and broadminded as you are. It will make him want to admit that he too, may be wrong.”
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o Indecent Dressing, The Next Level? S
ciety
INDECENT exposure is described by the Encarta dictionary as the act of deliberately displaying part of the body, usually the genitals, to somebody else in public. Unfortunately, that is the situation our society has suddenly found itself. Men and women, youths, lasses and lads, young and old even children, in short, everybody is guilty of this. As they say in the fashion world, fashion goes round. Probably, the present aim is to leave the era of modernization of covering our nakedness with clothes and return to the blind days of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden when nudity was the order of the day. Or may be controversial Artist Spencer Tunick has been making secret and discreet mobilization world over to get everyone pose for his naked artistic shot in his bid to return man and woman to the nature’s state of existence? Because I am yet to fully grasp why a decent, virtuous and responsible woman would flauntingly display her cleavage (boobs) all in the name of fashion? Funny enough this menace is seriously getting trendy and seen in virtually everywhere and places you would think deserve a little decency, even in churches and movies that are suppose to teach morals. Recently, Zack Orji, a Nollywood actor and former Chairman of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) in a newspaper interview condemned the level of indecent dressing among actresses in the country. His words: “Most movies shown in recent times are capable of destroying the moral background of children as they have become the most popular movie audience. Film production must be properly checkmated before circulation because it is wrong for an actor or actress to expose his or her body to the world in the disguise of acting”. Awkwardly too, elderly women that are supposed to be the custodian of our
culture and morals are not left out of this ‘craze’. I just pray one day, people will not walk naked all in the name of fashion. Ladies! Involving yourself in this show of shame would surely advertise your intent “I’m available” but in what manner? NEGATIVELY! The truth must be told, no man wants to marry a lady who exposes her body to everyone she comes across and in turn inviting unnecessary attractions. Seriously, can you point out one leader or worldachiever, who is a woman that indulges in this? The truth is there is none, because they are too busy with setting and breaking records. You are a mother for God’s sake, what will you teach your daughters? Another dimension is the reign of skimpy dresses which has also taken over like a wild fire in the forest. While I’m not against the female folks looking elegant, beautiful and adorable, hey, come on, there is a line you are not suppose to cross. I am not a fashion expert though, but, I guess there is a place for common sense and decency. The most common cause of skimpy dresses can best be described as fashion blunder. Imagine trying to wear a bikini that ought to be used for swimming or picnicking to office and many more like this. I am quite sure many of the readers of this article must have witnessed scenes such that a lady wearing a tight skimpy dress with a high-heeled shoe and unfortunately something fell off her hands to the ground. Picking such an item by the lady in question will soon amount to “a baby attempting to walk for the first time”. It is either the victim let go of such an item if she can, else in the process of trying to pick it she will embarrassingly expose her private property to onlookers and audience that are obviously interested in how she will solve the mystery puzzle – all because she didn’t buy a dress that is long enough
By OLATUNDE TIJANI or instructed her tailor to manage a one yard cloth, all in the name of being ‘stylish’. However, when indecent
bare buttocks or the underpants. When the morality question of sagging was posed in a television
dressing is viewed economically, those involved in its practice often spend and waste more money on clothes. Because, in a not too distant time, most at times in a matter of weeks, such persons must have outgrown, the tight, skimpy and breath-holding dress she recently bought and will soon need to go shopping again. So what is the sense in it? The fashion craze is not only left to ladies as men too have their own share of it, particularly lads who are grossly engrossed in the latest abnormality in dressing commonly known as “sagging”. Sagging is the mode of dressing where a trouser which is supposed to sit on the waist is drawn sometimes beneath the waist on the buttocks and in the process revealing
interview to some select youths including those in the entertainment industry, all they could attribute to sagging is: “it is the inthing”. How can abnormality suddenly become the order of the day? A visit to places where youths gather especially higher institutions will give one the picture of the degree of acceptance of this misnomer. Though it is very common among the male youths, some lass also join in the act much to the disdain of the public. What has our society suddenly turned into? Where is the place of ‘omoluabi’ and home training? Many institutions in order to curb the issue of indecent dressing have dress codes and also go the extra mile in enforcing such rules to ensure strict
compliance. Contrastingly, some others do not see the need for clamping down on this, thus endorsing indecency directly. That adage which says
“dress the way you wish to be addressed” has suddenly changed into “flaunt all you can” or “use what you have to get what you want”. According to Encarta Encyclopedia, Fashion refers to the kinds of clothing that are in a desirable style at a particular time. At different times in history, fashionable dress has taken very different forms. In modern times nearly everyone follows fashion to some extent. Your dressing is supposed to make you comfortable, acceptable by the society and most importantly, glorify God. Whatever you wear and you know within yourself that is not befitting or good enough and could cause confusion should not be worn at all. Your clothing is supposed to bring you
dignity, respect and identification. The prime functions of clothing are to cover nakedness, protect the body from the environment, a mark of identity and a means of nonverbal communication amongst others. Lately, the revered man of God and General Overseer of The Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye at a Ministers Conference condemned indecent dressing when he said: “I’m so concerned today with the manner of dressing of both ladies and guys, this new fashion of going about half-dressed. It is so bad; I even see it on some married women too.” Adeboye went further to remind us what dresses are supposed to be, stressing that “clothes are meant for covering our nakedness.” He emphasized that the choice of what you wear absolutely depends on you. He said he knows these actions are deliberate because “you chose to wear what you’re putting on. No designer can force it on you.” He wondered: “How can you choose to expose your body? Don’t call it fashion. It’s demonic and it’s showcasing you as one of the satanic agents of these end times. Are you a designer? Don’t allow the devil to take over your intellect, creativity, hands and scissors.” While teachers are trying their best to inculcate morals into their students, parents should know that their influence on their children upbringing is paramount. Religious leaders are also advised not to remain silent . They should speak out on this all-important issue in order to make the society a better place for us all. I will conclude with the words of the Greek priestess, Theano (420 BC), “put off your shame with your clothes when you go in to your husband, and put it on again when you come out.”
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Checking The Nuisance At Kubwa ‘Red Light District’ THE Jaji neighbourhood of Kubwa in the Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has gained notoriety because of the large presence of commercial sex workers in the area. It is also an area bustling with commercial activities with many shops, guest houses and brothels that provide cheap accommodation for commercial sex workers. Activities in the area, popularly called “Woman Bokwu,’’(women are many), peak at the weekends. Stories have it that the area was called Woman Bokwu many years back, when Kubwa was still a “jungle’’. Like bees are attracted to honey, so do the commercial sex workers attract patronage which keeps the neighbourhood so busy that one finds it difficult to separate the day from night. Like every other red light district, crime rate is also very high as there are frequent cases of burglary, stealing, drunk driving, brawls, among crimes. Mr Emeka Ogwu, a businessman, said that the presence of call girls was a catalyst to business as men preferred to hang out in the neighbourhood. “You know men and what they are up to; this area is a hub for everything because of these girls. “People in all sorts of business scramble to rent shops around here as they know they will always make brisk sales. “The drinking joints and guest houses where these girls stay make profit in multiples because of high patronage.’’ Another businessman in the area, Mr Agbo Joe, said that most of the people who patronise his boutique were call girls as they would always like to
have the latest wears. According to Agbo, ladies’ under-wears and other skimpy dresses attract high patronage because commercial sex workers will always want to look “very hot’’ in order
perceived as sex enhancers and other energy drinks are always in high demand here.’’ However, there are
“Raids are strategies for checking criminal activities; and the area in question has a lot of brothels where criminals hide.
the neighbourhood want the relevant authorities to check the activities of the commercial sex workers, because of their negative impact on children. Mrs Ify Ogbonna, a mother of three, said she had to send all her
to attract customers. Mr Okeke John who runs a patent medicine shop, said sales of particular products were high especially condoms, analgesics, multivitamins and energy drinks. Okeke noted that it was commendable that those who patronise commercial sex workers in the area purchased condoms regularly. “I am not just concerned about the business aspect of it; I am happy people are playing safe by using condoms. “Of course, products
frequent police raids in the neighbourhood, operations which the police justified. CSP Hayatu Usman, who spoke on behalf of Kubwa Area Commander, said it was usual for criminals to find a safe haven in areas where there are brothels. According to Usman, petty criminals who do not have the wherewithal to lodge in big hotels, always hide in brothels where they indulge in heavy drinking and also patronise commercial sex workers.
“That is the area they can hide after committing crimes as they may not be able to pay for expensive accommodation elsewhere. “When local criminals steal, they go for cheap accommodations and alcohol and also obtain the services of commercial sex workers. ‘Besides, we do not just raid the brothels; it is always based on tip offs. We obtain useful information from members of the public,’’ he said. However, residents of
children to boarding schools because she did not want them to spend much time in the area. According to her, it will be a bad influence on the children if they grow up in the midst of commercial sex workers and street urchins. “I have lived in this area for many years and this problem started with just pockets of harlots around ‘Woman Bokwu;’ but it had blossomed to a booming business. “Everywhere you turn is an ‘ashawo’ joint; it is disturbing, and what will
By CHIJIOKE OKORONKWO
children who grow up here become? “Sincerely, we are planning to leave this place soon,’’ she said. Mr Juwon Oke, a father of five, said that most children who were raised in Jaji area turned out to be rough and of questionable character. Oke said it was difficult to impact sound and sustainable morals into the children because the environment had big influence on children. He said he had the option to quit the neighbourhood or send his children to boarding schools. Miss Uju Ezemuo, a resident, said it was saddening that any young lady seen around the neighbourhood was mistaken for a commercial sex worker. She said that most times when she walked down the road, men would call, touch or try to talk “business’’ with her. “That’s the most annoying part of it; I will just be moving on my own and they will follow me or call me in the manner prostitutes are solicited,’’ Ezemuo said. Most residents of the area want the neighbourhood that was originally designated as residential to be rid of such activities which impact negatively on their children. However, it is the view of most observers that efforts be stepped up to curb Nigerian streets of commercial sex workers because of the high crime rate associated with their activities.
“Like bees are attracted to honey, so do the commercial sex workers attract patronage which keeps the neighbourhood so busy that one finds it difficult to separate the day from night.”
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o
S ciety Abacha Barracks: The Making Of A By CHIJIOKE OKORONKWO (NAN)
THE name Abacha Barracks rings a bell in the ears of residents and visitors to the FCT and its e n v i r o n s . This is not because it is a military garrison, but more to its thriving mammy m a r k e t . Mammy market, coined from mini-market, is a Nigerian parlance for a cluster of relaxation spots
garnished fish. The fish sellers who outnumber any other group of traders in-the market are concentrated in circularly built bars, with each seller occupying a spot where assorted fish species are roasted and sold, of course, there are beer parlours adjourning the fish spots,
including soldiers, civil servants, businessmen, and even foreign tourists. More so, our fishes are affordable; one can get a sizable fish at N1,000 and some very big ones at N2,000 or N2,500.’ A beer parlour operator who pleaded anonymity, said that the Abacha barracks
in military and paramilitary formations which peak mostly in the evening arid night periods. Mammy- markets readily provide assorted foods, drinks and other services peculiar with places inhabited by military or paramilitary personnel. Situated in the Asokoro District of the FCT, the mammy market at Abacha Barracks is a quintessential destination for fun seekers and those in search of good food, pepper soup, fish and meat barbecue and other forms of delicacies. The market suffered a lull following a devastating bomb explosion on December 31, 2010 at which 30 persons were killed and several others i n j u r e d , It however, came back in full operation with improved security arrangement. Fish barbecue is the focus of business in the market as people troop from far and near every evening to have a feel of the tastefully
ready to host those who sip’’ while savouring their f i s h . Besides, there are many other stalls where fun seekers and visitor’s could also assess garments, provisions, pharmaceutical products, and artisans ranging from fashion designers, beauty salons, cobblers, among other’s to make purchases’ or obtain various services. Expectedly, traders in the market admitted that patronage is always very high. A fish seller, Mrs. Ruth Bawa, said that fast turnover’ engendered high patronage sustained the business and guaranteed reasonable profit margins. A lot of people prefer our fishes because we are masters in the area of fish b a r b e c u e . Once it is 3.00 p.m., we start getting busy, and as people round off their day’s activities from 4.00 p.m., we get busier until we wind down at 9.00 p.m. The people who come here are from all walks of life,
mammy market is rated very high across the c o u n t r y . According to him, many visitors to Abuja insist on visiting the market to confirm what they already heard about. He noted that the market stood out from other mammy markets because of the quality and price of its fish grills. To me, Mogadishu Mammy Market (Abacha Barracks) is the best, you can go online and check it. If you look around, you will see lots of foreigner here; they have come to taste and see things for t h e m s e l v e s . If you visit the FCT satellite towns or any other place
Mammy Market where fish delicacies are prepared, the prices there are higher. For instance, a piece of fish that sells at N2,000 or N3,000 out there, sells for N1,000 here; besides, the taste here is different.
Everything one needs is here; from services to products all at very cheap prices, it is really a place, to come and cool-off.’ He, however, appealed with the military authorities in charge of the Barracks to reverse the closing time of the market to 10.00 p.m., instead of 9.00 p.m. We used to close at 10.00 p.m. before the bomb b l a s t . ’ ’ He said that the shop owners pay N3,000 monthly and N50,000 annually, adding that they recover their investments Within three month because of high patronage of goods and services in the market. He said that the fish sellers
operated separately from beer parlour operators, adding that people could buy fish from any spot and sit at any of the beer parlours to wash it down’’ with a beer or any other drink. A fun seeker Mr. Akpaji Ogbeche, said the uniqueness of the fish grills in the market endeared him to the market. Ogbeche said the atmosphere at the market was one of oneness as nobody was discriminated against because of race or class. There is something different here; I live around Karu and they roast fish there, but the taste here is different. Secondly, this is a place where you come and relax and mix with all types of people; no class segregation as you can see, and no VIP reserved places. There are even foreigners here and all of us are mingling happily here. I am interacting and learning from people I meet here and they also learn from me; we are happy whenever we are here.’’ Nonetheless, stakeholders say there is need to provide sufficient parking spaces of customers’ vehicles. Mr John Ime, a regular visitor to the market says the car park gets congested most times and people hardly find space to park. He opined that if the car park was paved or tarred and marked properly, it would accommodate more cars comfortably. They have got a massive parking space here, but it should be better organised and managed. The space should be tarred and marked in a way that every, fits into one space, that will allow for more cars to be parked conveniently. I think the money they collect at the entrance should be channelled towards that.’’
Nonetheless, a military source said that the parking space was not originally designated to be a car park, but was opened for cars in the interim since a lot of cars were previously parked by the roadside. He said that the money generated from the park was used for paying allowances of the soldiers that guard the park. That place was not meant to be a car park, it was meant for, structures but since construction has not commenced, we decided to open it up for parking. So, the issue of paving or tarring should not arise. Prior to that, a lot of cars that come here were parked by the roadside; the 450 per car payment at the entrance of the park is meant for the allowance of the guards because they perform extra duties.’’ Besides, visitors at the market worry about the intensity and ceaseless manner of smoke from the fish grills that cause serious discomfort to them; They opined that if the grills were a little spaced away from the area where visitors sit, the discomfort would not be much. According to them, the smoke could be channel through chimneys in order .o reduce its health hazard on people. Although the market is open to all persons. It should also be noted that mammy markets are meant for the relaxation of military personnel, hence visitors should be conscious that they are within a regimented environment while they commend the military authorities for stepping up security in the market, they say, there is need to enhance the, hygienic condition of the place to attract greater patronage.
“There are even foreigners here and all of us are mingling happily here. I am interacting and learning from people I meet here and they also learn from me; we are happy whenever we are here.’’
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O inion
TO close the sale, you must knock on doors and ask for the order…… For decades, the only emissions out of Akwa Ibom Atlantic coast line communities have been that of hydrocarbon polluting the air from producing oil wells and associated economic activities. And yes, today, these communities (geo-politically referred to as “Eket Senatorial District” (ESD), hold much promise for the future of Akwa Ibom State, just as it did in the past in providing Akwa Ibom with a formidable patriot and champion of good in the person of Sir Justice Udo Udoma. We the Concerned Citizens of Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria (CCAIN) see no dearth of leadership capacity within “Eket Senatorial District”, and so we support the quest of the district towards winning the governorship election and assuming the mantle of gubernatorial leadership in Akwa Ibom State come 2015. However, recent emissions out of persons and groups purportedly representing “Eket Senatorial District” is clouded with the stench of “affirmative action” and/or “quota system”, often weak in considering excellence as a selection criteria. It must be in the tactics, because we in CCAIN are certain “Eket Senatorial District” have sophisticated minds and the district extend well beyond the “Ekid” communities that have just issued a rather boring, weak, and whining communique out of the just concluded AKISAN National Convention <albeit they characterize their occasion as some International Summit>. “Eket Senatorial District” includes Oro and MkpatAbasi communities and we encourage all from these communities to come forth with the quality of advocacy that is worthy and will assure gubernatorial election victory on the road to 2015. We trust that “Eket Senatorial District” will return with a communique that goes beyond the ring of entitlement, to substantive value proposition; a communique that pivots away from the “Justice” mantra, to presenting a candidate with a pedigree of justice, fairness, and a heart that seeks equity for all Akwa
The Road To 2015
Ibom communities. Politics has never been about “Justice”, it has always been about substance, reason, and emotion; And of course in Akwa Ibom State, forced outcome through murders, kidnappings, ballot box high jacking, election rigging, and bribing of election workers and judges. So, what lies on the road to 2015?! Appealing to Godswill Obot Akpbio (a person whom when one looks at his face, one sees the Tin-Can face of a Tin-God, a Tyrant Cannibal; one sees on his face murders, kidnappings, looted Akwa Ibom treasury, profligacy, and a bitten finger that fed him stuck in his fat mouth. Many substantive Akwaibomites have no interest in looking at his face and so boycott events with Akpabio in attendance...), is the first sign the signatories to afore mentioned “Ekid” communique need to STOP, for they appeal to instincts that will return Akwa Ibom State to those dark days of murders, kidnappings, ballot box high jacking, election rigging, and bribing of election workers and judges. Didn’t same Godswill Akpabio invade CRARN in Esit Eket and drove Sam Itauma into exile? Didn’t same Godswill Akpabio shut down all efforts at employment of Eket people through stifling Amakpe Refinery out of Eket?? Didn’t same Godswill Akpabio violate Ekpotu and Nsima Ekere of Ikot Abasi??? OK! He favored his family’s historical allies in Eket!!….is that what this empty and whining communique is all about in the name of the good people of “Eket Senatorial District”?! In appealing to Godswill Akpabio, you tacitly become an accomplice in the evil, intimidations, kidnappings, murders, and profligacy visited upon ‘Eket Senatorial District” and Akwa Ibom State by this evil faced and evil hearted person. Godswill Akpabio knows he is despised for the blood on his hands and no litany of Attah initiated projects nor claim of credit for other people’s ideas will absolve him of accountability. Alright we have seen those videos on “urban Renovation”, but so what! We have also seen the flooded-out school in Ikot
By OBONG UMANA
Ibiok Eket! Now where is the “First in Africa” Jacked up drainage system?! Ikot Ibiok Girls School in Eket is more representative of Akwa Ibom beyond the paint-up window dressing along the main thoroughfares. Akwa Ibom is all adorned in con; Iyayake! That is why we need a credible “Eket Senatorial District” candidate that trusts in the power of democracy and the people’s vote, not in Akpabio’s pronouncements and election rigging. Recently, some individual shared the postulate that “Politics in Akwa Ibom had since moved on”; Question is: moved on to where?! We in CCAIN see a tendency to move Akwa Ibom Politics back to the very dark days…it is such tendency that enable “Justice” mantra and clamor for entitlements. An overload on entitlement and emotional appeal is only begging for more of the same Akwa Ibom politics of forced outcome through murders, kidnappings, ballot box high jacking, rigging, and bribing of election workers and judges. Is this what lies on the road to 2015?! Modeling Mugabe of all people?! “Quoting Robert Mugabe, the retired senator said that for Eket Senatorial District, “the 2015 gubernatorial election is a life and death issue.” – Samuel Essien PEOPLE, REALLY?! “You in the Diaspora must act and write open letters. Write to the leadership of PDP in Akwa Ibom. Write to Governor Godswill O. Akpabio. Write to President Goodluck Jonathan. Write to Alhaji Bamaga Tukur. Write to Chief Tony Anenih. Write to all stalwarts of PDP on this all important and weighty subject.”- Samuel Essien Oh no! This is simply pitiful and somewhat desperate. Please dear ESD people do not heed the Retired Senator Etang Umoyo’s advice. And do not, repeat, do not bring Zimbabwe ZANU-PF style strife to Akwa Ibom State; it’s very bloody. There is a better way…. The cry for “Justice” is a flawed tactic…….. We in CCAIN therefore
urge a return to a campaign of “Substance, Reason, and Emotion” by every constitutionally qualified Akwa Ibom State citizen. We in CCAIN urge Akwa Ibom citizens to remain resolute and resilient in our commitment to winning the future for Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria, a future devoid of insecurity, a future strengthened by our rich diversity, and the relentless pursuit of excellence and innovation. On Zoning and how we select our leaders: In Akwa Ibom State there are families and blood lines that have been historical beneficiaries of community goodwill, but have retuned to claim dominion over those who sponsored and enabled their prominence. These families and persons thereof come under the pretext of wishing to give back to the people of Akwa Ibom State, they talk “POSITIVE ANGER!” but turn around to remain perpetual leaches, plundering Akwa Ibom common wealth whenever they have the opportunity. It is important that you know this and reject any future derivatives from these families that have demonstrated they are not good for Akwa Ibom State. As we look for leaders, Akwa Ibom must reject the tendency towards leaders with potential of further fragmenting Akwa Ibom communities. Akwa Ibom must reject candidates from communities with deep seated historical grievances that eat away at them and manifest in over compensation and sheer evil while in government. To ignore these facts, is to extend the days of murders, kidnappings, mayhem, and fear. The one thing Akwa Ibom must never do again is select her leaders out of a stock that come with grievance against Akwa Ibom people. They have consistently come with scourge earth agendas and vengeance. And to those that insist on zoning – Zoning arrangement within PDP political party is not an “Akwa Ibom State Policy”. Zoning is not in Akwa Ibom
State governing laws. So if PDP party agreed to a rotating representation schedule, that is fine and should be honored within the Party; an agreement is an agreement and carries TRUST as an inherent element. But if a candidate is
of diminished performance. S o c i o - P o l i t i c a l l y, affirmative action endorsements may seek to solve one problem, but they generate yet other conflicts and concerns. So invariably, the TRUST problem remains. Some one somewhere will always complain! The populist candidate goes to every constituency and persuade since there are no guarantees; the populist candidate then must
Gov Godswill Akpabio
outside the PDP party, he or she should be free to go out and persuade the electorate (that is if such a person has the resource and political platform). A fundamental question to ask is: what is the expectation when an Uyo person is Governor?! Develop Uyo only? Take turn in emptying Akwa Ibom treasury?? Benefit only folks from Uyo senatorial district??? Appoint, employ, and favor only family members and persons from Uyo???? If the answer to above questions is YES, then alright, there is value in the rotations and entitlements. But if ultimately we expect a Governor to serve the entire Akwa Ibom State equitably, then the zoning logic is confounding. It would not appear to matter where the person originates from! Zoning seems simply an exercise at appeasement; just so that an Uyo, Ikot Ekpene, or Eket person may earn bragging rights that their neighborhood person governed Akwa Ibom State (competent or not). Affirmative actions (zoning, quota, etc) have always bred a sense of entitlement and the mockery
demonstrate why he or she is the best for every constituency or be sufficiently charismatic to appeal to all or the majority. Oh! How naïve we are…in Akwa Ibom State votes do not matter…. Leaders get APPOINTED and names get crossed out and written in….well then… may be the whiners are on the right road to 2015! Zoning we characterize as an unsustainable sociopolitical model; it has the potential of exacerbating divisions to a point that there will be outright conflict if a group strongly feels marginalized; it stifles competency and suppresses the emergence of “best candidates”. Flawed processes consistently yield flawed or substandard outcomes. We at CCAIN urge Akwa Ibom to promote processes that lead to the emergence of “best candidates”, over affirmative action candidates. CCAIN wishes Akwa Ibom State a safe journey on the road to 2015. CCAIN Can… Obong E. Umana @ObongandI on Twitter for CCAIN Board of Directors
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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2013
Today’s Diet With Pastor E. A. Adeboye
Desires Drive Temptations
Memorise: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. James 1:14 Read: James 1:13-15 Bible in one year: 2 Samuel 13-15 Key point: Because of Heaven, you might have to deny yourself of some things you love. TO overcome the devil, you must first overcome yourself — your flesh and its desires. Most times, what we like is what the devil uses to ensnare us. “but every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.” James 1:14 Unknowingly or out of carelessness, a lot of believers over their flesh, If you develop a fondness for some new sport, activity or area of entertainment, you can be sure they will try you out in that area. The onus is on you therefore, to strike a balance to prevent such from becoming your lord. You would observe that when you decide to engage in activities that will bring your flesh under subjection like fasting, the devil will battle to thwart such efforts by arousing some feelings like love for some which ordinarily you would not have been compelled by. It is at such times that you will feel so much pangs even before 12 noon, when ordinarily on ... days, you don’t
eat before then and you don’t feel such pangs. Hold the fort and resist such onslaught by kingdom of darkness. Watch your hobbies! If you like football, Satan can use it to get you to speak unadvisedly in the course of arguments were to miss church services, If a crucial football match take place on a Sunday morning, workers service that morning may suffer
because some people will want to watch the match before going to church. If Satan succeeds in getting you to do so, he has already overcome you because by so doing, you would have proved to God that is secondary in your life i.e. He comes after the god of football. If you love movies, Satan could use this to target your life of holiness by tempting you with sex scenes sandwiched in the movie, as well as use it to kill your prayer life. When you should be praying or worshiping, you might be watching movies. To help yourself, say to the things that your flesh loves, deliberately deny yourself of them and you will overcome.
“TO overcome the devil, you must first overcome yourself — your flesh and its desires. Most times, what we like is what the devil uses to ensnare us. “but every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.” James 1:14”
Sandra weds Frank The solemnization of marriage between former Miss Sandra Reisinger (based in Austria) and Mr. Frank Osazee Imasuen (A Clergy man) took place on Wednesday 4th September, 2013 at the Oredo Local Government Council Marriage Registry in Benin City. Amongst those present were Pa. Daniel E. Imasuen (Groom’s father) Prof. E. Ogbebor Imasogie, Pastor Sunny Odia, Pastor Osaremen Abumere, family members, relations, friends and well wishers. Picture shows the couple at the Registry. Congratulations. Photo: SONNIE E. ADDITION/ RECONCILIATION OF NAME
RECONCILIATION OF NAME
I, Eloghosa Paul Ehigiator Imariagbee wish to bring for the information of the general public that I am the same person as Ehigiator Eloghosa Paul as appeared in my various documents. Henceforth, I am properly known and addressed as Eloghosa Paul Ehigiator Imariagbee. All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities should please take note.
I, Mrs. Ogbekhilu Omosigho wish to bring for the information of the general public that I am the same person as Alice Aluebho as appeared in my primary school leaving certificate. Henceforth, I am properly known and addressed as Mrs. Ogbekhilu Omosigho. All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities and Customary Court of Appeal Directorate, Edo State should please take note.
THIS SPACE IS FOR SALE
CHANGE OF NAME
CHANGE OF NAME
CHANGE OF NAME
OSAROGIAGBON – I formerly known and addressed as Miss Ameze Osarogiagbon and Miss Amen Blessing Osarogiagbon now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Jacob Amen Blessing. All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities and the general public should please take note.
UDUEFEBRAYE – I formerly known and addressed as Miss Uduefebraye Naomi Unite now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ozemwogie Naomi Unite. All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities, NYSC and the general public should please take note.
ENORENSE- I formerly known and addressed as Miss Enorense Joy Oghogho now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ogbeifun Oghoghosa Joy. All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities and the general public should please take note.
CHANGE OF NAME
CHANGE OF NAME
CHANGE OF NAME
ADELEMONI – I formerly known and addressed as Adelemoni Ojo now wish to be known and addressed as Adelemoni Elemayan Anthony. All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities, State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) and the general public should please take note.
OMOREGIE – I formerly known and addressed as Miss Angela Oghomwenyemwen Omoregie now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Angela Oghomwenyemwen Omozusi. All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities, University of Benin and the general public should please take note.
MUHAMMED – I formerly called A k u e t i e m h e Muhammed is now known and called Akuetiemhe John. All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities and the general public should please take note.
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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2013
R trospect
Nigeria Medical Workers Strike, Let Us All die?
SILENCE never won rights. They are not handed down from above; they are forced by pressure from below. – Roger Baldwin I have tried very hard to restrain myself from writing on this tragic strike embarked on by the medical and health workers union in Nigeria, but I can no longer hold myself from writing this short piece, not after what one of the health practitioners ( who prefers to be called doctors ) said in a gathering of intellectuals, that it is the prerogative of Nigerian Medical Association(NMA) members to be appointed as commissioners or ministers of health. Then I knew that he and his colleagues need to have their heads examined. My assertion was later justified when I learnt that he is a psychiatrist specialist who having mingled with mad men for years have lost his sense of reasoning. Call it pride or being boastful, but I can humbly say that I have travelled and interacted with men of various professions, including foreign health workers who are renowned surgeons, experts who at their magical touch, celebral palsy is gone, but I am yet to come across any who is as pompous as Nigerian graduates of medicine. Let no one say I have been paid for putting up this reports or that I’m one of the other health practitioners; far from it. As a matter of fact, I am married to a member of this arrogant profession. I have two female cousins who are surgeons and graduates of Harvard, not these mushroom universities that the so called medical ‘doctors’ in Nigeria attended, yet go about with shoulders highly lifted. So you see, when I write with this amount of hurting truth, I’m directly talking to my families. So let it be. I have always been an advocate that the term ‘doctor’ be reserved for the academics that go the
extra mile to obtain the highest educational degree, not a bunch of opportunists who dumped the appellation of physician for a more worthy title. For all the years that I have read my bible, Christ or any of the leaders there always addressed health workers as physicians while he refers to the highly educated ones as ‘doctors of law’. What then is this craze by these general body physicians that they control the health sector? What gave the NMA president, Mr. Osahon Enabulele the impetus to tell his colleagues to stand by even as the other medical workers go striking? My visit to a hospital today in Lagos made a mess of ‘General’ Osahon order who feel that they can do the work they are not trained for. Various calls made to my colleagues in other states to confirm the state of the hospitals where they reside confirm that the entire hospital has been grounded. I have never had a cause to be treated by any of the general body physician in my life and will never be, but I have had reasons to see a medical laboratory scientist; yes, I have lost count of reasons where nurses who do all the dirty jobs have attended to me. I have seen a family friend died when a physician who cannot carry out a test asked him to go out of the hospital gate to do a test before treatment could be carried out, but died on the way, holding the test result. I have visited a hospital where a physician was truthful enough to tell a stroke patient that they are not trained to handle such cases, telling him bluntly that his hope of walking lie with a doctor of physiotherapy (DPT). I am reliably informed by one of the NMA executive that the only medical profession that they don’t have the faintest idea of how they work is the DPT, and yet one still ask, why the discrepancy among them. It is only in Nigeria that
By FEJIRO OLIVER
a common appointed minister is above the court of law. If it were not so, who is Mr. Onyebuchi Chukwu to disobey a court order, asking him to effect all the
man is the minister of health to give a directive that Chief Medical Directors of hospitals should be only from NMA, when DPT, Optometry and
Jonathan
Onyebuchi Chukwu, Minister of Health
demands of NUMPTAM/ JOHESU. Let the truth be told, their demand is just, fair and worthy. Why must other government workers skip grade level 11 and the minister gives autocratic orders that all other medical workers apart from physicians must not skip it? What manner of working practice is it that clinical specialist are not paid specialist allowance, when NMA members enjoy such? What outdated manner of
pharmacists are leading players in the field of medicine? While I do not make claims for the medical practitioners, I advocate for their rights been given to them. That only NMA members should be appointed as CMDs leaving other medical professions out amounts to saying only graduates of Banking/Finance should head the Central Bank of Nigeria, when there are graduates of accountancy and economics in the
profession, or succinctly put; that only graduates of political science should hold political positions when they have partners in graduates of government and public administration. The position of a CMD is equivalent to chief executive officer and should be filled by any qualified medical practitioners, ditto commissioners and ministers of health. For a minister to flagrantly disobey a court order and gets away with it is another dent of the President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration. It goes to show that Mr. Jonathan’s days as a vice president were simply wasted years, since he could not learn the “rule of law” from President Musa Yar’Adua, which was the bench mark of that administration. For Christ sake, what manner of ministers do we have? Let someone tell Onyebuchi that we don’t have a minister of NMA but health. Can Mr. Jonathan be bold enough to sack this man who the medical workers have recommended his sack since last year? Can this man resign his position as a minister to allow a true health expert take over? With this medical strike and ASUU strike, a serious president would have asked both ministers to submit their resignation letters, but not Nigerian president. This is the price a leader pay when he leaves experts and technocrats to appoint political thieves in office. It is time Nigerians call the bluff off these physicians once and for all the way Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State did last year. It is time Nigerians tell them that they are like the gatemen in the various government ministries and should not use their pride to cause innocent Nigerians to die in the hospitals with no medical officer to attend to them. I feel their pains as they lie
down in their various wards, praying for the strike to be called off. I have been in their shoes losing loved ones not because there are no physicians, but there was no medical lab scientist to carry out a test. I have been to the physiotherapist department in various Nigerian hospitals and see people wriggling in pains, mothers crying to have their husbands treated of strokes, children treated of ebbs palsy, facial nerve and numerous medical conditions, yet there was no hope as the DPTs are on strike. I have known an operation successfully carried out, but because of the absence of a nurse to take care of the patient; we lost him. This is the pain I feel. Pains that the medical workers don’t feel, as they forget the Hippocratic Oath the very minute they leave the medical college. The minister of health is not fit for such a sensitive position and while his cronies in NMA who his presence is shielding will not agree to his sack, let the ears of the president listen to his medical colleagues who know his ineptitude and have called for his removal. It is not too late to bring back Mrs. Dora Akunyili who I reliably gathered was penciled as health minister, during the Olusegun Obasanjo regime, before the NMA politics went through the back door to stop it. If this strike will claim the lives of all Nigerians before the minister of health will be removed; so be it. An African proverb says, “Until you lose a loved one before you realize that other dead bodies are not sticks”. To you striking medical practitioners; today I say to you: remember you are fighting more than your own fight, you are fighting for the future of your profession and you must stand together. Break your chains and demand your rights, for united you bargain but divided you beg. If there is no struggle, progress is stagnated.
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Barcelona Didn’t Pay Me During My Illness ERIC Abidal has admitted his frustration at how Barcelona handled his exit this summer and revealed that they did not pay him during his illness. The Frenchman battled back from a liver transplant undergone in 2012 to return to action for Barca in the closing weeks of the 2012-13 season. However, it was not enough to convince the Catalans to extend his contract, citing their decision to release him as based on footballing grounds only. On from having since joined Monaco and so
Eric Abidal
far having had a regular spot in the defence, the 33-year-old has admitted that he was unhappy with how things ended at the Camp Nou. “The problem was that I was out of contract. In these cases, your contract is renewed or it ends,” said Abidal, who returns to international duty with France. “I was prepared for both situations. It was complicated and difficult to accept, but I had no other choice. The adventure with Barcelona is over, but I am very happy to have started another with Monaco. “It was difficult to understand, it was the words of Barca at my last Press conference. By asserting that it was a professional choice, it set doubts in other clubs. “It was not even about
money. The proof is that in every month that I was sick, the club has not paid me. “Today, I am fortunate to have the confidence of the Coach and the President of Monaco. Touch wood, everything is fine. But it is true that I had a period of doubt. “Would it have gone differently if Guardiola was still at the club? Certainly. This is a person who I like a lot and who I am still in contact with. “He is a great Coach, it was he who gave me my chance. If he had still been there, I might have been able to continue.”
Ozil Mesut
Real Madrid Slash Net Debt As Profits Soar
DAYS after splashing over 90 million euros ($118.5 million, £75.9 million) for the services of Gareth Bale, Real Madrid have announced a rise in profits and a 27.4 percent reduction in their net debt in their accounts for the 2012/ 13 season. euros, up 1.3 percent on last The Spanish giants saw their year’s record breaking total income continue to grow as that saw a football club earn revenue rose to 520.9 million more than 500 million euros for the first time ever. Net profit also grew a staggering 52.4 percent from 24.2 to 36.9 million euros as costs were stabilised during a relatively quiet time in the again be a star,” he added. transfer market last year when “”He remains a big name Luka Modric was their only and can once again prove major purchase. And that profit allowed for a to be very important.” Shakhtar themselves will significant reduction in the net face Manchester United, debt from 124.7 to 90.6 million Bayer Leverkusen and euros. Those figures don’t even Real Sociedad in the include a lucrative new shirt Champions League group sponsorship deal with Fly stage. Emirates worth 29 million
Lucescu Tips Juventus For Champions League Final JUVENTUS will be one of the teams’ contesting this season’s Champions League final, according to Shakhtar Donetsk coach Mircea Lucescu. The 68-year-old Romanian came face to face with the Bianconeri in the group stages of the competition last year, and believes the Turin outfit have the quality to go all the way this time around following investment in the squad this summer. Speaking to reporters, Lucescu said: “I am sure Juve will reach the Champions League final. “Juve already has a strong squad, and has been made more complete with the signing of Carlos Tevez.” The Serie A champions must negotiate a tricky Champions League group also containing Real Madrid, Galatasaray and Copenhagen, where they kick off their campiagn on September 17. Meanwhile, Lucescu also thinks that AC Milan have pulled off a great coup by re-signing Brazilian playmaker Kaka. The 31-year-old has
made a return to Rossoneri colours following a mixed fouryear spell with Real Madrid, and Lucescu believes he will prove an inspired addition. “Kaka had a difficult time in Madrid but he will once
Barcelona Are Self Destructive, Says have a tendency JAVIER Mascherano Mascherane to“Barca be a little self-
feels Barcelona have a tendency to downplay their own performances as they overlook their successes in pursuit of the perfect performance. The Catalans have enjoyed phenomenal success in recent seasons and have
Mircea Lucescu
already claimed the Supercopa de Espana this season, yet Mascherano believes his side can bee too critical of their own triumphs - even when they equalled the Liga points record when securing the 2012-13 title.
destructive at times,” Mascherano told RAC1. “There always seems to be a but... “The team won the league, registering 100 points in the process, and yet it seems as though it’s not a great achievement. “The feeling now is that even though we won the Supercopa, we were not at our best. It’s fair to say that we could have played much better, but at least we won and that’s what really matters.” Barcelona beat Atletico Madrid on the away goals rule to win the Supercopa de Espana after a 1-1 draw at Vicente Calderon and a 0-0 stalemate at Camp Nou.
euros a year which came into effect at the beginning of the current season. On top of the capture of Bale, Real spent just short of 70 million euros on the young Spanish duo of Isco and Asier Illarramendi earlier in the transfer window. However, the club also recouped around 100 million euros in sales over the past
few months as Mesut Ozil joined Arsenal on transfer deadline day and Gonzalo Higuain, Raul Albiol and Jose Maria Callejon all moved to Napoli back in July. Kaka’s decision to leave Madrid to rejoin AC Milan also eased the Spanish side’s wage bill as they were relieved of his 10 million euro net salary for the final year of his deal.
... Klopp Hails Mesut Ozil Transfer BORUSSIA Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp has labelled Mesut Ozil’s transfer to Arsenal “a winner”. Just like in the 2011-12 season, Dortmund and the Gunners are set to meet in the group stages of the Champions League. However, unlike two years ago, the 2013 Champions League finalists are favourites to win the group, also including Napoli and Marseille. The record-breaking 50 million Euro transfer of Ozil from Real Madrid to Arsenal has sent shockwaves through Europe, but Klopp does not believe the Germany international’s arrival will make life more difficult for his side when they face the Gunners. “I don’t care who plays against us,” Klopp told Bild. However, Klopp was still full of praise for Arsenal’s transfer business and believes Madrid may have been forced to sell Ozil in order to raise cash. “That transfer is a winner. It doesn’t happen that often that 50 million Euro is pushed over the counter on deadline day,” he said. “Mesut is a cracker. Nobody knows, why he was
sold. Maybe Real needed money.” When Klopp was questioned as to whether he would invest so much money into just one player, he replied: “A few years ago [with the signings of Tomas Rosicky, Jan Koller, Marcio Amoroso and others in the early 2000s] we spent unbelievable amounts of money. But what happens in England is crazy. I don’t know 80% of the players for which a total of 700 million Euro was splashed out.” Klopp also offered his thoughts on Gareth Bale’s 100 million Euro transfer from Tottenham to Madrid. “It is not important how expensive a player is. The question is: do you really want him and can you afford him?” Klopp said. “The fees are madness, but they stay in the football cycle. Real president Florentino Perez had set his mind on Bale and simply paid the 100 million Euro. Perez also bought Hochtief [a German construction company] — maybe, sometimes, he in the morning doesn’t know what he is to do with his money in the evening.”
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43 Athletes Sign Deal With LASG FORTY THREE athletes of the Lagos State Sports Intervention Scheme, ‘Adopt-A-Talent Sports Programme’, yesterday signed a deal with the state government to facilitate their sporting career. Ewa Henshaw, secretary of the project, told reporters in Lagos that the athletes, all below 17 years of age, signed the deal in company of their parents. Henshaw said that the deal would provide better career for the athletes. “This is a trail-blazer kind of programme that can only be seen in Lagos. “These athletes have been under our tutelage for the past three years since inception of the project and it will be bad for us to lose them to other states. “These athletes are good and most of them are from other states, so it will be painful for Lagos state to lose them to other states in times of need, ‘’ Henshaw said. He said that the formal agreement was meant to forestall a renege by both parties, adding that the state government would sponsor the athlete’s education to university level. According to him, the athletes are expected to be committed and abide by the rules of the project in order to benefit from the package. Meanwhile, a table tennis coach with the programme, Wole Orukotan said the project was fulfilling its purpose. Orukotan said the state could boast of better outing in any age group event because of the abundant raw talents spotted in the project. ‘Adopt-A-Talent Sport’ is the brain-child of the Lagos State Government aimed at developing younger talents and improving sports at the grass-roots.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2013
Mikel, Others To Participate In UCL By SUCCESS OSAYI FOOTBALL clubs across Europe, participating in this season’s UEFA Champions
League (UCL) have all announced their 25-man squad that would participate in the group stages of the competition following UEFA’s
deadline. Taking a close look at the squad list of each club, one cannot help but notice the Nigerians that would be
playing for the different competing clubs. Below are the Nigerian internationals (both at senior and youth level) that would be participating: FANENDO ADI (F.C. Copenhagen, Group B): Adi is a striker for F.C. Copenhagen-the current champions of the Dannish Superliga. They are joined in group B with Spannish titans Didier Drogba’s Galatasaray. They will have to pull more than an upset to get into the knockout phase. MICHAEL OLAITAN (Olympiacos, Group C): Olaitan is a forward for Greece Super league champions Olympiacos F.C. They are joined in Group C with Benfica, PSG and Anderlecht. AHMED MUSA (CSKA
Moscow, Group D): the Nigerian international is an attacker known for his explosive pace and Fearsome dribbling. His team CSKA Moscow is joined in group D with Bayer Munich, Manchester City and Viktora Pizen. MIKEL OBI (Chelsea, Group E): Mikel is one of the most decorated players in Nigeria’s football history and arguably the most celebrated in Nigeria currently. The holding midfielder will have to stir the English premier legue also ran, Chelsea F.C., through the huddles posed by Shalke 04, F.C. Basel and Steava Bucharest for a place in the knockout phase. CHINEDU OBASI (Shalke 04, Group E): the pacey winger’s club share the same group with fellow
Elderson Rubbishes Beskitas Transfer Nigeria international left back Elderson Echiejile has denied that he has joined
Osaze Odemwingie
Obasuyi Cautions Odemwingie Against Unnecessary Utterances By NICHOLAS EBOIGBE
EDO STATE Head Coach of Football and erstwhile Green, Eagles star, Emmanuel Obasuyi has cautioned Osaze Odemwingie to stop war of words with coaches in other that he continues his professional career on a successful note. challenges in his European Obasuyi said, thus club”. “Osaze is a very humble and He advised the Eagles’ responsible player. I don’t striker to put himself in a good know how he got frame of mind so that he can controversial such that he make the best use of his was not invited to Super potentials. Eagles and then had some
Lamouchi Explains Toure, Eboue Exclusion IVORY COAST’s coach, Sabri Lamouchi, is delighted with the choice of players called up for this weekend’s World Cup qualifier against Morocco. The Frenchman took the time to explain to reporters why he chose the selected group of players after some of his decisions raised eyebrows among the media and fans. Lamouchi left out defenders Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Eboue, but included Souleymane Bamba. “Bamba Souleymane is part of the national team’s project. He is an important player who has a lot of experience within this squad,” the coach told reporters. ‘We know that he has some difficulties at club level. We have to help him to
benefit from more game time. It is important. However I work to build the best possible team for the Ivory Coast “Toure and Eboue? There is no issue with these two players. They are part of the project,” he added. “Kolo Touré was supposed to be in the team to play against Morocco. Unfortunately he is injured. I am in touch on a regular basis with Emmanuel Eboué. And I have no problem with him.” “The national selection is open to all. You have no idea how many phone calls I receive from Ivoirian players who want to join the team.” Ivory Coast take on the Atlas Lions today having already secured their place in the play-off round of World Cup Qualifiers.
“Osaze is still young. This is the best time for him to play good football and make his money. He should forget about those controversies so he can return to the national team”. He explained that the Eagles’ forward did exploits for the country in the past and that this is the time he ought
to render more service to the country. “You don’t suggest for the coach what to do. I expected him to return to the Eagles, forget the past and get back to active football”. We want Osaze to be on duty during the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. He can bring his experience to bear on the Super Eagles team”.
NFF Postpones CBN THE Nigeria Football Beach Cup Association (NFA) has postponed the Second CBN Beach Soccer Challenge Cup due to hold from September 6 to September 8, Mr Sunday Okayi, Head of Refereeing Unit of the NFA told newsmen in Abuja, Okayi said that the competition which was to hold in Abuja, would now hold from September 20 to September 22. He said the postponement was due to the Super Eagles’ 2014 World Cup Qualifier against the Flames of Malawi on September 7, at the U.J. Esuene Stadium, Calabar. Reports say that the Super Eagles will lock horns with the Flames in a crucial second round Group F 2014 World Cup Qualifier. The Eagles topping the group with nine points need only a draw to proceed to the final round of the qualifiers while the visiting Flames needed to secure a win to
advance. Reports say that the 2013 edition of the Challenge Cup would involve eight beach soccer teams. The teams are from Kogi, Nasarawa, Anambra and Abia, Sterling Bank, Aso Savings and Loans and defending champions Fidelity Bank.
Elderson Echiejile
Turkish Super League side Besiktas. It’s not true that I have signed for Besiktas. There was no agreement between Braga and Besiktas. I am still a player of Braga, the Nigeria left back, whose contract at Braga is till June 2014, said on his official website www.elderson3.com He will also go on his twitter handle @eldersonech to deny this transfer, while insisting his is focused on Saturdayís World Cup qualifier against Malawi in Calabar. “Pls disregard any report that I have signed for besiktas. I’m still a player of sporting braga, he tweeted. Everything abt a transfer is behind me as Iím focused on Saturday’s match vs Malawi”. Interestingly, Besiktas on Thursday unveiled Corinthians of Brazil left back Ramon Motta on a seasonlong loan deal. According to various other media sources, Sporting Braga reached an agreement with Besiktas on the Nigeria player, who has signed a twoyear deal.
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Tottenham To Review Real Madrid Partnership
Injured Sturridge, Worry For Liverpool DANIEL Sturridge is a doubt for Liverpool’s visit to Swansea after being ruled out of England’s qualifier against Moldova. Sturridge returned to Merseyside after being ruled out of Friday night’s World Cup qualifier with Moldova at Wembley and is also a doubt for the Three Lions’ clash against Ukraine on September 10. The 24-year-old has failed to recover from the groin injury he aggravated during Sunday’s win over Manchester United. Sturridge will now have further treatment from Liverpool’s medical staff before it is decided whether he should link up with Hodgson’s squad once more before they leave for Kiev. It is a long shot though. In fact, Hodgson wonders whether the former Chelsea man will be available when Liverpool put their 100 per cent start to the season on the line at the Liberty Stadium. “We have to be honest here,” said Hodgson. “Sturridge is doing ever so well to try and make himself available. “He was devastated to turn up injured. He wanted to be with us and to have the treatment so he could play. “But the fact is when they did the scan at the beginning of the week, it was going to be touch and go for Tuesday, and possibly even Saturday week. “He wants to be a part of it. He’s young and can recover quickly. We hope there’s some good news on Sunday morning and he can come with us and take part.
TOTTENHAM are reviewing their partnership agreement with Real Madrid after being appalled by the Spanish giants’ behaviour this summer in the course fo sealing the world record £86 million signing of Gareth Bale. The two clubs announced the link-up following Luka Modric’s move to the Santiago Bernabeu in 2012, declaring it would see the clubs “working together in respect of players, coaching, best practices and commercial relationships.” But the partnership has appeared increasingly onesided, with Madrid doggedly pursuing Bale all summer before selling Mesut Ozil to Arsenal, Tottenham’s great north London rivals, for +48 on the final day of the transfer window.
Arsene Wenger
Arsenal Investigate Betting Claims ARSENAL are investigating tweets suggesting one of the club’s academy coaches bet on the signing of Mesut Ozil “as a matter of urgency”. Ozil arrived at Arsenal on transfer deadline day from Real Madrid for a club-record £42.5 million fee. Mark Arber, 35, who for the Premier League coaches for the Gunners’ side, reportedly tweeted: academy and whose “Lovely bit of 14-1 Mesut”. Arber, a former father Bob is also a scout
Gerrard Hoping To Manage Liverpool LIVERPOOL’s captain see myself as a In Future definitely Steven Gerrard has revealed manager rather than a coach, his ambitions to manage the club in the future. The 33-year-old recently signed a two-year extension to his contract with the Reds but he is already eyeing a managerial role at the end of his playing career. “The dream come true would be to manage Liverpool, when the Liverpool job becomes available,” Gerrard told twentyfour7 Football.
“There are world-class managers there already, but we’ll have to wait and see, it would be the icing on the cake. “When you get to a certain age, my age, you need to start thinking seriously about a life after football. Gerrard extends Liverpool love affair. “I am planning on doing my badges and qualifications over the next 12 months. I
Moyes, Fellaini Ready For United - Round MANCHESTER United’s assistant coach Steve Round has defended the club’s new manager David Moyes by insisting that he is ready for the challenge of life at Old Trafford. Moyes succeeded the legendary Alex Ferguson in July but has endured a difficult start to his time at United, picking up only four points from his first three league games and missing out on several transfer targets. But Round, who followed Moyes to United from Everton, believes the 50year-old Scot has the necessary attributes to turn his time with the 20-time English champions into a success.
professional footballer, spent last season at Conference side Dartford and previously enjoyed spells with Dagenham & Redbridge and Peterborough as well as Barnet, Oldham and Stevenage.
“Without a doubt, David was ready for this job,” Round told regional newspaper the Manchester Evening News. “He has an incredible desire to succeed. He now has the stature and presence to move to a club like this. I really do believe he will be a big success. “Now I have been in this club and environment I can understand why Sir Alex and the board appointed him — to keep that continuity, work ethic, drive and feeling about the club going. “It was very important to them and I can understand now that I have been here and lived it. They were made for each other.” Moyes’s only major signing during the transfer window
was Belgian midfielder Marouane Fellaini, who arrived from Everton for a fee of £27.5 million ($42.7 million, 32.4 million euros). Although mooted moves for Barcelona’s Cesc Fabregas, Thiago Alcantara, who joined Bayern Munich from Barcelona, and Athletic Bilbao’s Ander Herrera failed to materialise, Round feels Fellaini will prove his worth. “We wanted someone who could give us strength in the middle of midfield and allow one or two of the others to play,” he said. “Technically, he is excellent. His chest control is arguably one of the best in the world. His feet are really good. He is aggressive, tackles, and has great fitness stats.
but that could change. “I remember speaking to Jamie Carragher and he really fancied it but he’s decided media is what he wants to do. He can leave managing Liverpool to me!” Gerrard has scored 159 in 634 appearances since making his debut for Liverpool in 1998.
Accrington Stanley managing director Robert Heys was recently given a 21-month ban by the Football Association for breaching their betting regulations 735 times. In a statement he admitted to making over 200 bets on games involving his own club, including 37 matches in which he had backed Accrington to lose. Tottenham winger Andros Townsend and Crystal Palace striker Cameron Jerome have also fallen foul in recent months. Townsend was given a ban and fined while Jerome was fined.
Ozil’s move to the Gunners infuriated Spurs and particularly their chairman Daniel Levy, who tried to block the deal and made no secret of his anger with the Spanish club in a statement following confirmation of Bale’s move. “Gareth was a player we had absolutely no intention of selling,” said Levy. “Such has been the attention from Real Madrid and so great is Gareth’s desire to join them, that we have taken the view that the player will not be sufficiently committed to our campaign in the current season.” Spurs are now reviewing the relationship and could cut all ties with Real Madrid, with sources insisting they are not a ‘feeder club’ for players to move to the Spanish capital. “Spurs have been bullied by Real Madrid and they won’t stand for it anymore,” a source told Goal. “They will look at the partnership and see if it’s worth it because Real have shown no respect for them.” Tottenham fans this week launched an online petition demanding an end to the partnership, stating: “Since we have agreed to form the partnership, Real Madrid C.F. have treated us and our players without respect including “tapping” up Luka Modric and Gareth Bale.
Gareth Bale
Mata Committed To Chelsea JUAN Mata has insisted he is happy at Chelsea and is committed to establishing himself in Jose Mourinho’s line-up this season. The Spaniard was linked with moves to Manchester United, Atletico Madrid, Valencia and Arsenal in the final days of the transfer window after being left out of Chelsea’s starting XI for the matches against United, Hull and Bayern Munich. mata, omitted from Spain’s squad for this week’s World Cup qualifiers, appears to have fallen out of favour with Mourinho, but the midfielder is undaunted. I think it’s normal in every transfer window that there are lots of rumours, but I’m
happy here,” he told Chelsea TV. “It’s been a very, very good two seasons for me here, maybe the best of my career, and what I want this season is the same. “I’m looking forward to achieving as many trophies as we did the last two seasons, and hopefully this is going to be a good
Juan Mata
season for us again.” Mata admitted the thigh injury he suffered ahead of pre-season had hampered him, but added: “My only aim is to play here, grow as a player and do as good a season as the last two which were amazing for me,”. “These two seasons have flown by... but to me this is good because, when you are enjoying things and you are happy, time goes quicker. “I had four weeks off [ahead of pre-season training] and to be honest that’s too much time for me, because in the last five or six years I didn’t have this sort of rest. But I’ve had plenty of rest and now I’m feeling really good. The best thing for me is to play because I love to play.”
CMYK
Weekend Sport
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2014 World Cup Qualifiers
Zokora Walks Away DIDIER Zokora walked away from the Ivoirian’s camp on Wednesday night. The Trabzonspor’s player allegedly left for an unknown destination after being stripped of the arm-band in favour of Didier Drogba, and the coach’s refusal to grant him a leave on his arrival. « Maestro» will therefore miss the sixth and last day of the 2014 World Cup qualifiers against the Atlas Lions this Saturday at the “Félicia”. The record holder for Côte d’Ivoire appearances has asked the coach to grant him a leave on his late arrival on Tuesday with Diarrassouba Ousmane Viera. But Sabri Lamouchi rejected his request since he was late for the pre-match training camp. The French-Tunisian also informed him of his decision to give back the arm-band to Didier Drogba, prompting the abrupt departure of the veteran. The coach’s attempts to reach him remained unsuccessful, but
Bafana Defend Unbeaten Record
SOUTH Africa go into their crunch 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Botswana having never lost to the Zebras, but know that a draw will not be good enough to get them into the next round. Bafana Bafana have claimed victory in four of the previous seven matches, with the other three drawn, including the last meeting in Gaborone in the reverse qualifier in June last year. Morgan Gould gave the side the lead in what was Steve Komphela’s first match in his caretaker role following the axing of Pitso Mosimane in the week before the game. But Botswana equalised through Ofentse Nato, now with Mpumalanga Black Aces, and it was two more points dropped for Bafana that could come back to haunt them at the completion of the group phase.
We’ll Explore Nigeria’s Weaknesses - Saintfiet THE Belgian has stated that it will take a miracle for the Flames to defeat the more established Super Eagles in Calabar but they are willing to take their chances Malawi technical adviser Tom Saintfiet has said his team will go into Saturday’s 2014 World Cup qualifier against Nigeria as underdogs. The Belgian also declared that his team will expect a miracle to happen in order to beat
Coach Stephen Keshi
the African champions. Saintfiet spoke to the media at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja as his team boarded their Arik Air flight to Calabar on Thursday afternoon. The flight was however delayed for almost two hours due to visibility problems. “I am very satisfied with my squad,” Saintfiet said. “The present team is full of young players who are ready to play in the tactical way we want them to play. Every team needs a bit of luck. The
Super Eagles Out To Demolish Malawi
THE Super Eagles out to prove to Tom Saintfiet and the Flames that they are the champions of Africa in today’s World Cu qualifier When Nigeria scored in the 89th minute on June 9, 2012, through Reuben Gabriel, it was going to be smooth sailing until John Banda capitalized on a mistake by Vincent Enyeama to equalize in the 92nd minute and ensure that the Flames would live to fight another day. now in charge. That day has arrived There has been so for the Malawians but so much mud slinging from much has changed from both parties in the last that evening in Blantyre. few weeks preceding Especially for the team this encounter that fans from Malawi on the of both teams will be coaching front where a ready for an explosive certain Tom Saintfiet is match.
... Moses Given Time To Prove Fitness VICTOR Moses is yet to play this season and it showed in training as he was asked to do some extra running when his team mates were warming down at the Super Eagles Thursday evening training at the UJ Esuene Stadium in Calabar. After three matches in the English Premier League without appearing for Chelsea, the Nigerian has gone on a season-long loan move to Liverpool and will hope to become a regular feature at Merseyside. The striker arrived at the Metropolitan Hotel
camp of the Super Eagles late on Wednesday night after completing his move to Liverpool on Monday. Moses has been a standout player for the Super Eagles this year and showed his immense talents once again on August 15 in the Nelson Mandela Challenge in which he came on in the second half and literally transformed the match. The Eagles scored their two goals in that second half. The Europa League winner with Chelsea is expected to be given a starting berth on Saturday as the Eagles need just a draw to qualify for the last round of qualifiers.
The Super Eagles went on from that draw to become African champions and are favoured to qualify for the last round of African qualifiers for the 2014 World Cup scheduled for Brazil. Tactical formation The Super Eagles under coach Stephen Keshi have been resolute in their 4-3-3 formation while the Flames are expected to play in a 45-1 formation, staying solid in midfield like the Kenyans did in April when they got a 1-1 draw in Calabar. The Malawians will be looking to score the first goal and then defend for their lives as they seek to cause an upset of gargantuan proportions. While the Eagles are primed to give ‘Malawi the beating they require’, according to Ahmed Musa, who is expected to start on the right of the attack. If the Super Eagles score in the first 15 minutes, expect a large
scoreline. DID YOU KNOW? Malawi have never qualified for the World Cup finals. In seven matches between Nigeria and Malawi, the Eagles have five wins and two draws. Joseph Kamwendo has 65 caps for the Flames
Vincent Enyeama (pictured) will win his 86th cap if he starts against Malawi. Malawi have lost thrice in their last eight matches while Nigeria have lost twice Nigeria have scored 18 goals against Malawi and conceded 8.
team is ready to play and I think we can recover from the flight in the next 48 hours. “The match against the Super Eagles is not do or die affair for us. We have prepared well for this match and have an equal chance of winning the game. I believe the pressure is on Nigeria. But we will try and surprise everybody by playing a great game against Nigeria on Saturday. “Nigeria are the champions of Africa. They are a very strong squad selected by coach Stephen Keshi. He selected a very strong team comprising of good players from Europe and local based players too. It is going to be very difficult for us. The Nigerian team has a lot of strength and quality in front of goal and are very good in the air and they can score from set pieces too. “Despite this, the Nigerian team also has some weaknesses and we are going to use that against them,” Saintfiet disclosed.
NFF Partners With Google For Eagles
THE Nigeria Football Federation Association (NFA) says it is partnering with popular search engine, Google for online activities for the senior national team, the Super Eagles. This is contained in a statement issued by the NFA Media Officer, Ademola Olajire, in Abuja on Thursday. The statement stated that the Chairman of the Marketing Committee, Mr. eji Tinubu, said that the project was already making impact. “The Super Eagles are
now active on the social media and have official presence on Google and YouTube. “Fans can follow them on www.google.com/ +SuperEagles and w w w. y o u t u b e . c o m / NigeriaSuperEagles, for exclusive updates,’’ Tinubu said. Tinubu said the project would serve as publicity platform for the team’s international players. “Launching of a
landing page on Google+, which is also connected to YouTube Channel, will in the medium and long term serve as a principal publicity platform for our international players. “The platform is really meant for our players in the Super Eagles and other National Teams to follow their supporters on their feelings and comments. “It will also help with the media campaign at major championships,’’ he said.
PROBABLE LINEUPS NIGERIA Enyeama Efe, Oboabona, Egwueke, Echiejile Onazi, Mikel, Ogu Musa, Emenike, Moses
MALAWI Nthala Kayira, Namwela, Sangala, Mzava Chavula, Banda, Kamwendo Nyondo, Mwafulirwa, Ngalande
Vincent Enyeama
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