Endless wait for Chime

THE

ADVOCATE ...for Equity and Justice

www.theadvocatengr.com

Vol. 1 No. 13, Monday, January 21 – Sunday, January 27, 2013

N150

"They slaughtered my twin brother like a dog”

Biafra Govt will be inaugurated Feb. 20 — Onwuka, BZM Leader

– Dr. Ugwu-Oju

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Endless wait for Chime: Save Enugu Group set for showdown Traced to Wellington Hospital, London, may return this week Enugu Assembly under heavy attack Anglican, Catholic Bishops differ ‘De facto Gov’ disburses 4-months allocation

By Ted Peters

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FTER spending four months outside his office under the official reason of accumulated vacation and the failed attempt by his aides to defend the prolonged absence, the Enugu State Governor, Mr. Sullivan Chime, whose whereabouts has been shrouded in secrecy, has finally been traced.

The governor, whom the state government had consistently maintained was only enjoying his vacation from September 19, 2012 till date, has in the actual fact spent the last four months on admission at the Wellington Humane Hospital Swiss Cottage, London.

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Abductors of 78yrs mother of Bayelsa Speaker demand N40m ransom Gov. Chime

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The Wellington Humane Hospital Swiss Cottage London where Enugu State Governor, Sullivan Chime is reportedly being treated of an undisclosed ailment. Inset: Governor Sullivan Chime

Igbo States disagree over President General Page

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Nigeria stands on faulty foundation – Prof Nick Eze

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Endless wait for Chime: Continues from front page

Details of his ailment remained undisclosed just as it was not possible for anyone to identify the governor's personal physician in Enugu.

The Government House Physician, Dr. Anthony Ogbonna, who according to sources, had managed the governor's health for sometime before he travelled in September last year, reportedly advised him to seek medication abroad. But it could not be ascertained if he travelled with the governor. Efforts to speak with him on the health condition of the governor proved abortive as The Advocate could not trace him at the Government House after several attempts.

The Save Enugu Group, SEG, a group of Enugu indigenes, that recently took up the challenge of fishing out the governor with a view to ascertaining whether he is still capable of continuing with his duties as governor, said the independent investigators it commissioned to locate his whereabouts had turned in the report of their finding.

governor's health condition. It further demanded that all persons involved "in this grave misconduct be summarily sanctioned."

The letter reads: "You may recall that we had on 7th January 2013, written to you on the above subject and essentially raised issue on the whereabouts and status of our Governor. We further suggested that some eminent sons and daughters of the state be constituted into a delegation to seek him out and

down to Wellington Humane Hospital Swiss Cottage London.

"It is therefore clear that all along officials of your government were lying to the people of Enugu State. The health status of any public official, particularly Chief Executives like a State Governor is not a private matter. The people have a right to know as invariably their tax is being deployed to take care of that officer.

"In the light of the above, we

resisted the pressures being mounted in all quarters to effect some changes that would enable him take full control of the duties of the absentee governor.

His reason, according to dependable sources, was that the constitutional provision on how long the governor could stay outside his office before the seat could be declared vacant was not clearly defined and could therefore be cumbersome to grab the seat more so when the cabal that had effectively taken control

'We have found Chime at We l l i n g t o n H u m a n e Hospital London', Claims SEG The group said following the failure of the state government and its officials to disclose the whereabouts of the governor, it commissioned its own investigators who tracked the governor down to the London Hospital where he is being treated for an undisclosed ailment contrary to the government's claim that Chime was on vacation, hale and hearty.

The SEG disclosed this in the second letter forwarded to the State Acting Governor, Mr. Sunday Onyebuchi last week in which it reiterated its earlier demands that some eminent persons in the state should be constituted into a delegation to seek Governor Chime out and report back to the good people of the state.

The letter entitled "Re-Prolonged and unexplained absence of His Excellency Sullivan Iheanacho Chime Governor of Enugu State" was addressed to the Acting Governor through the Secretary to the state government. It was signed by six members of SEG namely Messrs Maxi Okwu, Chief Willy Ezeugwu, Chief Barr.

Ray Nnaji, Ozo Igbonekwu Ogazimora, Comrade Victor Chigozie Eneh and Comrade Ibuchukwu Ezike.

The group asked the Acting Governor to make a broadcast to the people of the state appraising them on the true situation of their Governor while an apology should be tendered on behalf of the government "for all the falsehood dished out by your information managers" over the

Gov. Chime report back to the good people of Enugu State, since we had lost confidence in the credibility of government information m a n a g e r s .

"Well last Sunday 13th January 2013 specifically by 18.28 hrs. an investigative and credible online news service known as Sahara Reporters posted that our Governor was in a London hospital with serious health challenges. We have waited for government response to this breaking news to no avail. It is unfortunate that your government has not deemed it fit to deny or confirm the report.

"This is against the backdrop of t h e o ff i c i a l E n u g u S t a t e Government position that our Governor was on vacation enjoying his accumulated leave.

"Today (January 16) makes it four months since the last public citing of our able Governor. We had always known that he would not stay away for so long on vacation unless circumstances were above his control. Pro-actively we commissioned our own investigators who tracked him

demand: 1. That you make a broadcast to the people of Enugu appraising them on the true situation of their Governor; 2.

That you apologize on behalf of your government for all the falsehood dished out by your information managers; 3. That all persons involved in this grave misconduct be summarily sanctioned; 4. That you invite the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Enugu branch, ably led by His Grace Bishop Emmanuel Olisa Chukwuma to organize an interdenominational prayer and fasting session for one week for divine intervention for our ailing G o v e r n o r . " Neither the Acting Governor nor the Governor's information managers have reacted to the group's demand as they did when their first letter was dispatched to the Government House. The government had merely dismissed the group as "attention seekers" and those wishing the governor dead.

Onyebuchi had maintained a sealed lip over the controversy trailing the governor's absence since he began to act midSeptember last year and had

of the governor's office in his absence, has not given him (Onyebuchi) any breathing space.

Another reason, The Advocate further learnt, is that the Acting Governor is not sure of the true state of the governor's health having been in the dark for a long time and was not allowed to pay a visit to the governor overseas since he left the country. He was said to have expressed his desire to visit the governor in December but it was turned down by members of the cabal because they feared that allowing him to have full knowledge of the governor's incapacity, could embolden him to take over power.

The leader of the cabal, who is working closely with the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Mr. Eugene Odo, had ensured that the lawmakers pose no threat of impeaching the governor or transferring full constitutional powers to the acting governor to function as the State Executive Governor . Although, some a n a l y s t s h a d a rg u e d t h a t Onyebuchi, in his present capacity as acting governor, had the full right to function as governor, others believe that unless he was sworn-in as the

governor, he cannot assume full responsibility as governor.

The Speaker and his Enugu North (Nsukka) people are resolute in their underground scheming to ensure that power does not return to Nkanu land (Enugu East) from where Onyebuchi hails. Their fear is that if he is empowered to take over as governor to serve out the remaining part of Chime's tenure, he might decide to contest the 2015 election using incumbent factor, which will deny Enugu North the opportunity to produce the next governor.

Chime had given a strong assurance that he would work for the emergence of his successor from Nsukka area and this might be scuttled if he is not available to direct affairs.

Odo is among those from Enugu North said to be eyeing the governorship seat in 2015 but he has not made any formal declaration of his intention to contest. Sources, however, said that a group of politicians was working underground to present him and part of their agenda is to ensure that the coast was made clear for the emergence of the next governor from his zone.

As tension continued to heighten in the state over the endless wait for Governor Chime's return, elders of the state and some religious leaders, who had adopted a siddon-look posture over the governor's absence, decided to speak out on the disturbing scenario currently playing out in the state, which has compelled many including the SEG to demand the application of the Doctrine of Necessity in the state.

Enugu Anglican, Catholic Bishops disagree The Bishop of the Enugu Anglican Communion and Chairman of Enugu State Christian Pilgrim Board, Rt. Rev. Emmanuel Chukwuma, who voiced out his anger over the deceptions going on in Enugu since the last four months, said he was not happy with the way the family of the governor has been handling issues relating to the present state of the governor's health. He said that the governor's immediate family should be blamed for the present call for the application of the Doctrine of Necessity in the state.

The visibly angry Bishop Chukwuma declared: "The whole scenario is very unfortunate. There is quite a lot of deceit right in the entire issue. I must say that I, Bishop Chukwuma, am one of those behind the installation of Sullivan Chime as the Governor of Enugu State. I gave him support and I was the only bishop, who blessed him. No other bishop blessed him

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Biafra Govt will be inaugurated Feb. 20 - Onwuka, BZM Leader Leader of the pro-Biafra group, Biafra Zionist Movement, BZM, Barrister Benjamin Onwuka and 100 members of his group were recently released from Enugu Prison after the Enugu High Court granted them bail following their remand on account of the re-declaration of the sovereign State of Biafra on November 5, 2012. He issued the statement below in Enugu last week where he declared his group's intention to continue with the struggle for the actualization of Biafra.

By Patrick Okolie

The Statement: On May 30th 1967 , the Eastern National Consultative Assembly led by Dr. Alvan Ikoku, mandated His Excellency General Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu to declare the then Eastern Nigeria, the Republic of Biafra.

General Ojukwu took up the challenge and declared the Republic of Biafra on that historic day. On July 6th 1967, the whole world declared a war of genocide against the Biafran people, with some Islamic fundamentalist like Usman Katsina boasting that Biafra would be liquidated in 24 hours. That 24 hours later became a long three years of Biafran struggle to emancipate the entire black race from the yoke of white colonialism, racism and hatred. By 1970 over 3 million Biafrans in defence of their country and freedom had paid the supreme sacrifice with their lives.

On November 5th 2012, at Coal Camp Enugu, the Biafra Zionist Movement took up that challenge once again and renewed that original mandate of May 30th 1967 and re-declared the Independence and the Sovereignty of the Republic of Biafra.

The Biafra Zionist Movement visited the old wound that prompted Emeka Ojukwu to act and that was the near attempt by the Muslim North and Obafemi Awolowo to campaign openly for the annihilation of the Ibo race. The BZM reclaimed the independence of the Republic of Biafra on two compelling grounds/factors namely: That it is now abundantly clear that the Security of life and Property of the Biafran people are no longer safe and quaranteed in the entity called Nigeria and therefore on November 5th the Biafran people resolved to re-declare their independence based on the May 30th 1967 Mandate that was vested on Emeka Ojukwu by the leadership of the Rep of Biafra in order to quarantee the security and the survival of the Biafran people according to International.law.

2. That it is also very clear that the Biafran peoples right to freely worship their God according to their Christian faith is no longer guaranteed and safe in the entity called Nigeria and therefore on November 5th 2012, the Biafran people resolved to opt out of Nigeria in order that the Biafran people could be given protection under the United Nations Convention on the freedom of worship and Association.

On that November 5th the Biafran people accomplished that objective and for the first time the news about

Biafra was aired on the International Network, television, Radio, Internet, Facebook around the world. It was a remarkable achievement by the Biafran people and they deserve to be thanked for their stoicism and sacrifice. With the above, the inauguration of the Biafran government is now slated for February 20th 2013 here in our Coal City Capital Enugu.

The whole world will witness the

What Biafra will do for its People HOPE: Since 15th January 1970 , the people of Biafra have been pressed to the wall. As the SLANG was read out by the coward Yakubu Gowon that the war was a draw through the famous No Victor No Vanquish, but behind the scene plans were adopted that will make the Ibos especially to pay for simply defending themselves against the

The Biafran government will establish a very sound economic system that will be based on individualism. The market will determine what action the government will take. We will not interfere or prejudice any individual who wants to make or invent anything that will enhance the economic well being of the state.

The government of Biafra will support individual and help to attract foreign investors into our country to create jobs for our people.

The days when our University graduates will become Keke NAPEP Riders or Okada Riders after graduating from their Universities will go. Our graduates will be economically agile and active after their University course.

The government will encourage individual investors and open up international trade that will make Biafra an international player in the world.

LESS DEPENDENCE ON THE OIL

Barrister Benjamin Onwuka, BZM leader rising of the sun backed up by Mount Zion and nothing shall prevent us from forming a government of National Unity that will propel our country to the apogee of International Politics.

We believe that we have the support of the USA, the EU, Israel and the International Community because for a very long time our people have been openly told that they are not wanted in Nigeria and it is for us to make that arrangement to be independent so that we can secure the live and property of our people as it is done else where in the world.

The near attempt by the North to dance with Islamising the Biafran people through the activities of the Boko Haram is a fatal mistake they will live to regret. The Repubic of Biafra will be progressive, strong, democratic and forward looking and will be joining the International Community to foster peace and economic empowerment to all the peoples of the world.

The Nigeria State has failed to provide for security of life of the Biafran people, so it is a challenge that we will assume from February 20th 2013 .

attempt to annihilate them from the surface of the earth. Obafemi Awolowo came up with economic strangulation of Biafra by adopting the 20 Pounds policy in order to keep the remnant of Biafrans at the lower end of the economic ladder.

Since 1970, our people are being reminded of the defeat they suffered at the hands of the world led by the British government. Our environment is been destroyed on daily basis because of Oil and our people are being killed daily because of the taste of the Nigeria State quest for Oil. The lack of Hope and prejudicial policies of the Nigeria State since 1970 has dragged a lot of citizens into all sorts of ways in order to find their daily bread. But the assurance from now is that the Rep of Biafra from Feb 20th will restore our lost hope and put in place a government that will respect and support it’;s citizens to achieve whatever they want to do in the world. Biafra will be a beacon of hope for the aggrieved people of Biafra and give hope and opportunity to all its citizens.

The Oil some will argue has been a cause on us instead of a blessing. To some extent it is true because since the end of the war, the oil has been the main source of Nigeria revenue providing almost 95% of our foreign earning revenue. This blind policy by the Hausa Fulani/ Yoruba Axis has led all other industries to die. For instance the Palm Oil and Cashew industry which was the back bone of the economy of the then Eastern Region have been allowed to die. Nigeria today is importing cooking oil from Malaysia which is a shame. The Malays came to the then Eastern Region in 1953 and took the palm Kernel to their country for plantation. Today Malaysia is one of the largest exporters of the Palm crude to the world earning the country Billions of dollars in foreign earnings.

The Biafran government is going to restore our Cash Crop industry the Palm Oil and Cashew Industry and all other industries that have been allowed to die in Nigeria . Biafra would not be dependent on the Oil for its survival any longer.

We are going to diversify into Human Resources Capabilities in order to be self reliant and not on oil all year round.

The Japanese economy is built on man power, human intelligence, hard work and patriotism. Let those opposed to Biafra be made aware that Biafra will be a country of Human Resource and not on Oil. We will also support our Universities and scientist to come up with inventions that shall build upon to the service of all man kind.

E D U C AT I O N I N F R E E M A R K E T BIAFRA CAPITALIST STATE Since 1970 Education in Biafra has

collapsed because of the policies of the Nigeria govern to stiffen the strength of the Biafran people.

Before Biafra was declared education was the crown jewel of the Biafran people. But today if Biafrans don't sell their lands their children could not afford to attend Higher Institutions any more. Our entire education under Nigeria has collapsed. School fees are higher compare to other parts of Nigeria .

If they struggle to attend up to University level, no jobs when they finish resulting if not as traders, but kidnappers, Okada riders or Keke NAPEP. The Biafra government that shall be formed in February is going to restore our educational system.

There will be free education from Nursery to University. School teachers would be well paid and schools shall have well equipped computer labs so that our children would be equipped to compete with their American European, Israeli, Chinese and Japanese counterparts. Biafra would be the mother of Education rom Feb 20th 2013 .

A TRUE STATE The Rep of Biafra will be a land of opportunities for all provided that you work hard. In Biafra there would be no majority nor minority.

A tiv man will have the same right as Ijaw. Ogoni man will be the same as Igala man. Ibo as Efik and Urhobo as Ibibio. No one will buy power or influence in Biafra . Neither can you organize political tugs to intimidate or harass your opponents. Freedom of the expression shall be up held.

The press will have the freedom to print what they consider to be in the interest of the state. Individuals will have every right to express themselves in any way they feel.

No Police brutality, No security force brutality, but all must respect the law and allow the security agents to protect our country.

THE BIAFRA OF TODAY The following States would constitute the Republic of Biafra .

Edo State, Southern Ondo State, Bayelsa, Rivers, Benue State, Kogi (Ajaokuta down South) Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Delta State, Imo, Abia, Ebonyi, Enugu, Anambra.

Others who wishes to follows the door shall be open to them. The Rep of Biafra will be a Pure Jewish/ Christian State .

As Biafra rises let us join together to build this country for the sake of those that have paid with their lives.

Am calling on all Biafrans to join the government on Feb 20th 2013 and by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Rep of Biafra has now come to stay. We shall be a very strong and supporter of Israel . May God bless all Biafrans and May God

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DECAYED INFRASTRUCTURE

Jonathan pays surprise visit to Ikeja Police College P resident Goodluck Jonathan on Friday surprised the authorities of the Lagos State Police Command when he paid an unscheduled visit to the Police College, Ikeja.

With the President were the Assistant InspectorGeneral of Police, Zone 2, Mr. Mamaah Tsafe; the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, Umar Manko and other military and air force officers.

Jonathan, who arrived at the college premises at about 3 pm, immediately proceeded on an inspection

tour of the hostels, college kitchen, dining hall and the Officers' Mess.

For the college authorities, the visit was nothing short of an embarrassment as the commandant of the college, CP I.F. Yerima was unable to tell the President how and when Channels TV filmed the decay in the college.

In an attempt to salvage the situation, Yerima had turned to his deputy and other senior officers of the college for assistance but all kept mute.

Enraged, Jonathan declared the documentary by the TV station a smear campaign.

He said, “This is a calculated attempt to damage the image of this government. The Police College, Ikeja is not the only training institution in Nigeria.”

Meanwhile, a crowd of recruits, who had gathered to catch a glimpse of the President, hailed him repeatedly for his visit.

They said, “Our number one President, the God sent President, the President of Nigeria, among others.”

Jonathan acknowledged the cheers by raising his right hand.

However, a senior police officer of the college said that the decay in the college began more than a decade ago.

Fire accidents killed 230 in Rivers T

Name: Iwuji Jennifer Date of Birth: Jan 4 Hobby: Singing, Reading and Dancing Likes: Every good thing Dislike: Every bad thing Source: St Santos Productions 07067899677

HE Rivers State Government said on Thursday that no fewer than 230 persons lost their lives in 222 fire incidents in the state in 2012.

The government also said 73 persons suffered different degrees of injuries from last year's fire outbreaks within the state.

A senior principal officer in the State Fire Service, Mr. Golden Elenga, who made this remark during a stakeholders' workshop on fire emergency in Port Harcourt, recalled that the petrol tanker fire in Okogbe, Ahoada West Local Government Area, claimed about 200 lives.

Elenga added that the state

recorded loss of lives in other fire incidents, even as he blamed most of the fire outbreaks on electrical faults.

He explained that within the year under review, the state fire service received 304 emergency calls while 82 of such calls were discovered to be false.

He said, “In January, 2012, 60 fire calls were received, 17 were false calls while the actual number of fire incidents was 43. In February, the same year, we received 29 calls, 11 were false while 18 calls were real.'’

Earlier, the South-South Coordinator of the National Emergency Management Agency, organisers of the

workshop, Mr. Emenike Umesi, stated that the event was aimed at examining fire management operations in 2012.

Umesi pointed out that the workshop was also necessary in order to proffer solutions for better synergy and more efficient operation in 2013.

He noted that fire incidents and other forms of disasters could have serious implications for national development and socioeconomic well-being of the people.

“There is no doubt that repeated exposure to disasters leads to chronic poverty and makes the people even more vulnerable,” he said.

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Monday, January 21 – Sunday, January 27, 2013

Alleged Grafts: EFCC, ICPC probe 12 governors

By Our Reporter

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O fewer than 12 governors are being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission for massive fraud and misappropriation of public funds in their states.

Impeccable sources said that the discreet investigations commenced after the anti-graft agencies received several petitions against the 12 governors.

While the EFCC is investigating eight governors, the ICPC is probing four, it was revealed.

The sources said that most of the petitions were received after the said governors had celebrated their first year in office.

A senior official of the EFCC, who pleaded anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, told our correspondent that the number of the petitions against each of the governor was so huge that the agency could not ignore them.

The official added that though the commission did not have the powers to prosecute the governors because of the immunity they enjoy, it would continue with the probe.

According to the source, nearly all the governors were aware that there were petitions against them but they did not know that investigations had begun.

He said, “We won't wait until they finish their tenure before we start our work. Moreover, we are not talking about one or two petitions against the governors, the petitions are in huge numbers and we have a duty to act. Of course, not all the allegations in the petition will be true but we have to find out first.

“Once they finish their tenure, we will be sending out invitations and making arrests. We have a minimum of two years to finish our investigations on them. When they finish ruling, we will be ready.”

When pressed to divulge the identity of the governors, the source refused. The official expressed fears that the governors could scuttle the investigations by bringing political pressure to bear on the agency and its investigators.

He, however, identified Governors Rochas Okorocha of Imo State; and Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State as being on the probe list.

“Both of them are aware of the investigations but others are not.

If we give you their names, they will start intense lobbying and manoeuvrings which won't aid our investigations,” the source added.

Last year, the sacked chairmen of the 27 local governments in Imo State had told the EFCC that Okorocha misappropriated funds from a N13.5bn bond raised by his predecessor, Ikedi Ohakim.

The Association of Local Governments of Nigeria also alleged that since June 2011, the Joint Accounts Committee in Imo State had not functioned and all statutory allocations due to the local governments totaling over N80bn had been misappropriated

by Okorocha.

Following the ALGON petition, among others, operatives of the EFCC visited Imo in October and commenced probes into the operations of the state joint account with the local government as well as the financial records of the state under former Governor Ikedi Ohakim.

However, the state Commissioner for Information, Mr. Chinedu Offor, had said, “The investigation of the state finances is a welcome development because the EFCC is finally making efforts to investigate and hopefully recover billions of Naira spent on phantom Internetbased projects.

“Okorocha was the first sitting governor to have called on the

EFCC to set up a unit in every governor's office to pre-empt and prevent corruption rather than launching investigations after the funds go missing. He runs the most transparent administration in the country and has nothing to hide.”

As learnt, Uduaghan is being investigated for the “suspicious award of Asaba International Airport contracts and other projects.”

“The petitions against the Delta State governor and some of his officials queried the way they have been awarding contracts and questionable projects. We have gone to the state and invited some of the officials.

They have told us what they know but we are not satisfied so we will keep at it,” the source

added.

Confirming the petitions against the governors, the Head, Media and Publicity of the c o m m i s s i o n , M r. Wi l s o n Uwujaren, said, “We have petitions against some of the sitting governors and we are making some enquiries about the petitions. I cannot tell you the governors being investigated even though the public is aware of some. Yes, the governors enjoy immunity but it won't deter us.”

Similarly, ICPC spokesman, Mr. Folu Olamiti, confirmed that the agency was probing four governors.

He said, “I can't give you their names and I can't tell you how far we have gone but we are investigating four governors.

The governors enjoy immunity but the people they use to pilfer public funds don't. We are interrogating their men and when we are done, we will charge them to court.”

Abductors of 78yrs mother of Bayelsa Speaker demand N40m ransom

By Our Reporter KIDNAPPERS of Mrs. Betinah Okunwa Benson, 78-year old mother of Rt. Hon Kombowei Benson, Speaker of Bayelsa State House of Assembly, have demanded a ransom of N40 million as a condition for her release.

The Speaker, Hon. Benson, who confirmed this in a telephone interview in Yenagoa, said that the kidnappers called him on telephone and made the demand, adding that he was allowed to speak with her abducted mother who sounded normal.

He , however, did not say if he would meet the demand of the kidnappers or not.

Mrs. Benson was kidnapped last

Monday by unknown gunmen from her residence in the riverside Korokorosei community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state.

The gunmen who stormed the residence in the early hours of Monday and abducted the aged m o t h e r o f t h e s p e a k e r, a development that threw the entire community into confusion.

The woman was whisked away by the heavily armed abductors at about 12.30am, according to sources who said that the incident as the latest in the series of high profile kidnapping in the Niger Delta region.

The Speaker, Kombowei Benson, could not be immediately reached after the incident, but one of his close aides said that the gunmen stormed the riverside community in two speedboats when most of the natives had retired to bed.

On arrival at the village, the source stated that the gunmen, started shooting sporadically into the air to scare away the villagers that might want to resist their operation.

The gunmen were said to have made straight to the residence of their target and took her to their waiting speedboats before disappearing into the labyrinth of creeks in one of the speedboats.

Mrs. Betinah Okunwa Benson

CBN revokes licences of 236 Bureaux de Change

T

he Central Bank of Nigeria on Wednesday withdrew the licences of 236 Bureau de Change operators.

The bank, in a circular made available to newsmen, said the withdrawal of the licences took effect from Monday, January 14, 2013.

The circular read in part, “This is to inform all authorised dealers and buyers (BDC operators) and the general public that the operating licences of the Bureau de Change companies stated below are hereby revoked, with

effect from January 14, 2013.

“Consequently, all authorised dealers, buyers and the general public are advised that any foreign exchange transactions, including sale to and purchases from these BDCs, as well as transfer of funds through them and or on their behalf is illegal.”

Some of the BDCs that got their licences revoked, according to the circular, are Acclaim, African Shelter, Afrinvest, Continental Finance Limited, Halal, Kano Agency, List and Naira Cheque.

Others are OMF, Planet, Safe, Sha'ada Fas, Sunlight, Taha, Third

World, Vintage, Dual Currency, Sabon Ruwa and Sea BDC. The CBN had, on November 3, 2010, in a circular referenced, FPR/DIR/CIR/FXM/01/004, cancelled the issuance of class 'A' BDC licences, following its review of the two-tier structure of the market.

The bank had said in a statement signed by its then Head of C o r p o r a t e A ff a i r s , M r.

Muhammed Abdullahi, that the latest appraisal of the policy initiative revealed gross abuses of the enhanced official funding of the Class 'A' category of the BDCs

and the negation of the expected benefits to the economy The bank said in the statement, “The CBN has also been inundated with complaints from foreign countries that some Nigerian travellers indulge in cross-border transportation of large sums of foreign currencies in cash.

“Indeed, returns from the Nigerian Customs Service on foreign currency declaration by travelers show that large amounts, up to $3m cash, have been taken out of the country by individuals in single trips.”

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ADVOCATE

How 2015 Jonathan, Atiku interests tear Ohanaeze Ndigbo apart

By Ted Peters & Larry Onwuta

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EADERS of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo are currently locked in a bitter row over who controls the machinery of the umbrella body for Ndigbo with the 2015 presidential polls at the centre of the dispute.

There are indications that the major issue at the centre of the dispute is political the 2015 Presidential Election the interest of President Goodluck Jonathan and that of Alhaji Abubakar Atiku - said to have divided the group. But some top members of the umbrella Igbo organization dismissed the political interests of the two politicians as baseless.

Some top Igbo politicians working for Jonathan and Atiku were said to have infiltrated Ohanaeze lobbying to produce an executive that would be loyal to them which they would use to endorse their candidate as the past executive did for Jonathan without any concrete agreement with Ndigbo.

The attempt by one of the groups to hijack the executive may have paid off as the "new executive" elected in a controversial manner, is loyal to a top Ebonyi State-born functionary in Jonathan's government . It was learnt that another top official in the Senate from Enugu State who is said to be working with Atiku could not have his way as his preferred candidates for President-General and Secretary-General were edged out.

The two straight tenures of four years served by Ambassador Ralph Uwechue as President General of Ohanaeze terminated on Saturday, January 12, 2013 when he personally dissolved his executive at the General Assembly of the organization held at Ohanaeze National Secretariat, Enugu. This was to pave the way for a fresh election that would produce another executive for a period of two years in line with its constitution.

The Ime-Obi, which is the highest decision making organ of Ohanaeze had adopted a zoning formula for the election of the new national executive and the various member states including Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo, Abia, Delta (Anioma) and Rivers, under the arrangement, threw the contest for the respective positions zoned to them open to all eligible members .

The time-table for the election of the new leadership was released during the first week of January and duly signed by Prince

Richard Obiroa Ozobu and Chris Asoluka as Secretary and Chairman of the Electoral Committee respectively.

The election was slated for Saturday, January 19, 2012 and the position of PresidentGeneral zoned to Ebonyi state since it is rotational. However, it has been the convention that the State whose turn it is to produce the President-General normally hosts the delegates for the

minds that insisted that this is the auspicious time to right the wrongs of the past by conducting, at least, for once, a fair, free and credible election devoid of its usual "carry-go-and collect cash from politicians." It was also the contention of the progressive-minded personalities that Ndigbo in this nick of time need a leader with guts, vision and the integrity to re-unite all and sundry rather

also said to be against the election holding last Saturday, stressing that a proper thing must be done this time.

Ozobu, who had all the nomination forms filled and returned to the secretariat by the aspirants from various states, had insisted that the screening and clearance must be concluded before the election proper. He told the committee members and the Uwechue executive committee that January 12 was not feasible and that January 19 which was original scheduled should be adhered to, but he was

out.

Present at the General Assembly was who is who in Igbo land; from former President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Prof Joe Irukwu; former Anambra Governor, Dr Chukwuemeka Ezeife; Senator Uche Chukwumerije; Chairman of the South-east council of traditional rulers, Eze Cletus Ilomuanya; Rear Admiral Allison Madueke; former Health Minister, Prof A.B.C. Nwosu; Elder Bob Ogbuagu; former Ohanaeze President-General, Eze Ozobu; former Secretary General, Joe

Ozobu Uwechue election. Therefore, the lot fell on Ebonyi State government to indicate interest which they discreetly did.

Having released the time table and zoned it to Ebonyi, four aspirants were said to have indicated interest to run for the coveted leadership stool of NdiIgbo. They include Chief Gary E n w o - I g a r i w e y, S e n a t o r Emmanuel Agboti, Senator Anyim Ude and Ambassador Aja Nwachukwu, all from the Southern Senatorial District of the State. The contenders were said to have bought nomination forms, filled and returned to the secretariat of the electoral committee manned by Prince Ozobu.

Besides, in line with the Ohanaeze constitution, each state is expected to produce three aspirants to the national level for election. The three applicants would be forwarded by the affiliate states after they had gone through screening and clearance by the state committee.

However, the bubble was said to have burst when a powerful clique within the leadership of Ohanaeze started indicating serious interest on how to plant their candidate by fair and foul means.

This, of course, didn't go down well with some progressive

Igariwey than running an exclusive administration.

But these arguments were seen by the "powerful hawks" as not "only stupid" and an "old fairy tale", but a ploy by the so-called "progressives" to install their cronies in readiness for 2015.

In order not to give way to chance, the group led by Igariwey, which enjoys the strong support of the outgoing President General, Ambassador Ralph Uwechue, with the tacit support of the Chairman of the Electoral Committee, Chris Asoluka, met before the fixed date, and rescheduled the election for Saturday, January 12, 2013 at Enugu.

Even after fixing the new date, Igariwey-Asoluka group went into works to mobilize their loyal supporters and delegates without giving out adequate notice as regards the change in time table.

They allegedly didn't inform the other three Presidential aspirants from Ebonyi state and other delegates ostensibly to hijack the processes.

Worried by the conflicting dates, the 'Ime Obi' was said to have met on that fateful Saturday, January 12, 2013 and agreed that the election should still hold on Saturday, January 19, 2013 as earlier stated. The Secretary of the Electoral Committee was

Asoluka turned down.

Uwechue and Asoluka, who were determined to have their way, quickly removed Ozobu from the committee and replaced him with Dr. Mrs. Grace Eneh to continue with the duties of the committee's secretary.

Ozobu insisted that he remains the Secretary of the committee and would not release the election documents to anybody.

This prompted Asoluka to adopt interim measures by asking the contestants who were willing to continue with the election under his own arrangement to come forward with the photocopies of their nomination forms. Some complied while a few others from Ebonyi and Delta (Anioma) declined as they had lost confidence in the Asoluka-led committee.

After the General Assembly where Uwechue formally announced the dissolution of his executive to pave the way for the conduct of a fresh election, some dignitaries including Senator Uche Chukwumerije and Professor ABC Nwosu, who were said to be opposed to what many regarded as "kangaroo arrangement," had advised against holding a factional election and left the hall. They declined to speak to newsmen when approached on their way

Ozobu Achuzie; Prof Anya O. Anya; Leader of the MASSOB, Ralph Uwazurike; Amb. Eddy Onuoha, among others.

Thereafter, Asoluka-Igariwey group took over the proceedings and elected the new leaders in the one-sided exercise which attracted wide condemnation from aggrieved members of the Igbo organisation.

For the President General slot, Chief Igariwey had contested against his younger brother, Barrister Idume Igariwey and Hon. Friday Isu, the immediate past member of the State House of Assembly. The duo were said to have stepped down for Igariwey to emerge while nothing was said of Aja Nwachukwu and Emma Agboti regarded as major opponent of Igariwey in the contest.

Sensing foul play with regard to change in the election date, some delegates and contestants from Ebonyi, Rivers, Enugu, Delta and Imo boycotted it, just as the three major aspirants from Ebonyi State equally stayed away.

Unlike in the past when some Governors used to grace the event, this year's excercise was completely boycotted by all the Governors of affiliate states, perhaps as a protest to the

Continue on page 25

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Monday, January 21 – Sunday, January 27, 2013

7

NEWS

Heart attacks more common among the unemployed

P

eople who recently lost their jobs are more likely to suffer a heart attack than their employed peers, a new study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine has stated.

Researchers found that people were especially likely to have a heart attack during their first year of being out of work, and that each successive job loss was tied to a higher chance of heart problems among more than 13,000 older adults though it's not clear if or how unemployment, itself, might have caused the extra heart attacks.

Researchers on the report from the Duke Clinical Research Institute in Durham, North Carolina, said a combination of stress, worsening lifestyle and poor management of chronic conditions without health insurance may be to blame. Those without a job may be unable to control their high blood pressure or to manage their diabetes (with their usual medication), or rates of smoking may be exacerbated.

But it's too early to know for sure

what's behind the link which means it's also too early to recommend ways to ward off heart problems among the recentlyunemployed.

The new data came from a large U.S. study of 13,451 adults who were interviewed every other year, for an average of 12 years, about their health, lifestyle and life events such as employment and job loss.

Study participants were 55 years old at the onset, on average, and two-thirds of them were overweight or obese. One in seven people was initially unemployed.

During the research period, 1,061 of all participants almost eight percent had a heart attack.

Researchers found the more times people had been let go leading up to the latest survey, the higher their chance of having a heart attack. Unemployment was still linked to a 35 percent increased risk of heart attack after the researchers accounted for the effects of poverty and education, as well as race, age and other heart risks.

Job seekers Researchers weren't surprised to find the association, but we were surprised to find that the effects were so large, on par with classic risk factors such as hypertension and diabetes. They said the associations are strong, and they

remain despite accounting for a whole host of possible explanations.

While more research is needed to understand why unemployment may affect health and who is most at risk, people who recently lost

their jobs, as well as doctors who treat them, need to be aware of added heart risks and be extra vigilant about the signs and symptoms of a heart attack. There is “a fairly convincing relationship between job loss and adverse health.

Boundary dispute: Monarch demands review of Enugu-Ngwo constitution

By Chioma Jumbo

T

he traditional ruler of Enugu Urban 1 autonomous community in Enugu North local government area, Igwe Moses Nnamdi, has asked Enugu state government to compel the Enugu-Ngwo community in Udi local government area to expunge chapter 5 of its constitution that tend to suggest that parts of Enugu Urban1autonomous community is under the control of Enugu Ngwo community.

In a-four page statement signed by Igwe Nnamdi, he alerted the state government that despite the rulings on its white paper issued after a judicial panel of inquiry into the Enugu Ngwo civil disturbances in 2005, the Enugu Ngwo village has not, as ordered by the state government, expunged chapter 5 of their constitution which claims that some parts of Enugu Ngwo community are located in Ajagu/Agangwu community enacted as Enugu urban 1 autonomous community in Enugu North local government area.

The monarch maintained that as far back as 2005, the Enugu state government had on page 10 of its white paper issued after the findings of the Judicial panel of enquiry into the disturbances by Enugu Ngwo youths, stated that Igwe I.O.U Ayalogu of Ngwo

Assa autonomous community in Udi LGA “is not and cannot be the traditional ruler of another autonomous community in Enugu North LGA.” The white paper clearly stated in page 4 that Enugu Ngwo village which is located in Udi LGA does not have any of its own components in Enugu North LGA. The white paper also stated on page 4 that the Enugu state government shall set up a committee to re-write the Enugu Ngwo constitution and especially to delete chapter 5 of the old constitution of Enugu Ngwo which claimed that Enugu Ngwo village has some of its geographical locations in Enugu North local government.

Igwe Nnamdi therefore asked the state government to pursue to a logical conclusion the i m p l e m e n t a t i o n

recommendations of the 2005 white paper to avoid another civil disturbance and to clearly confine the two autonomous communities to their distinct territories.

Reacting to a publication that placed disclaimer on him as having ceased to be the mere head of Ajagu/Agangwu (Enugu Urban1), Nnamdi stated that he has never held such position in his life, explaining that he was duly selected, presented and was functioning as the traditional ruler of enacted Enugu urban 1 autonomous community.

The monarch therefore called on the general public to disregard the disclaimer on him, describing the publication as unlawful, libelous, worthless and offensive to Ngwo clan.

He recalled that in 1988, he was initiated and admitted as a member of Ozo Ngwo and later a

member of Ubelenze Ozo Ngwo, the highest titled body in the entire Ngwo clan. “I held the highest post of President of this highest titled body in Ngwo for a record and longest period of 12 years from 1996 to 2008 when I voluntarily withdrew to become its President emeritus,” the Monarch said.

Igwe Nnamadi alleged that the authors of the disclaimer had made constant attempts to eliminate him to enable the traditional ruler of Enugu Ngwo community succeed in an inordinate ambition and attempt to extend his domain from Udi LGA to his own domain in Enugu North local government.

“Save and except that the Enugu Ngwo authors of the purported disclaimer correctly stated and admitted in the publication the truth that Ajagu/Agangwu is also

the enacted Enugu Urban 1 autonomous community in Enugu North LGA of Enugu state, all other contents of the publication are false and deliberate, malicious misrepresentation of the true position of my community and my position and office as the traditional ruler of enacted Enugu Urban 1 autonomous community in Enugu North LGA. “For the records, my community natively known as AjaguAgangwu town but enacted as Enugu Urban 1 autonomous community located in Enugu North LGA, has her own autonomy and independence which is incontrovertibly distinct from the independence and autonomy of Ngwo Assa autonomous community and its Enugu Ngwo composite village, all of which are entirely located in Udi LGA,” Igwe Nnamadi further explained.

2013 will yield fruits in Abia – Gov Orji G

overnor Theodore Orji of Abia State has said that the toils and struggles to get Abia out of the woods will start yielding fruits this year.

According to him, there is a time

to plant and a time to get yields.

The governor's Special Adviser on Public Communication, Mr. Ben Onyechere, in a statement yesterday in Abuja, said: 'This year is going to produce many ripe

fruits in Abia, whether our detractors like it or not. My government inherited a decapitated economy and bad blood created by the past administration.

“In the past year, our detractors had mischievously tried in vain attempts to cast aspersions on the state's ability to reverse the trend of spell left by their sponsor but rather than pay attention to their nefarious vituperations, we dug in to our promises to re-invent Abia State by laying foundation of land mark projects since castles are not built in the air or media houses.

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Monday, January 21 – Sunday, January 27, 2013

ADVOCATE

NEWS

FG orders return of toxic ship to UK

The e-waste-laden ship at the Tin-Can Port Lagos, yesterday.

T

he Federal Government has vowed to place heavy sanctions on the e-waste ship that was arrested on Wednesday. It also ordered that the toxic wastes laden containers on board the ship, MV Marivia Monrovia, be shipped back to the port of origin in the U.K. This came after security operatives at the Tin-Can Island Port concluded examination on the two offensive containers bearing the e-wastes.

Director-General of the National Environmental Standard and Regulatory Agency, NESRA, Dr. Ngeri Benebo, said sending the consignment back to the port of origin was in conformity with the provisions of Harmful Wastes Act, promulgated after the Koko waste saga.

“We are sending the e-wastes back to the port of origin,” the director general said, adding that the agency was going to work according to Nigerian laws on the matter and do exactly what the laws said.

Benebo promised that the vessel owners would be heavily sanctioned in line with the laws of the land How captain tried to deceive security agencies “The captain wanted to deceive Nigerians. When he realised that there was a red alert on the containers, he lied that the containers were not destined for Nigeria and that they were meant for another country, which was completely false.

“I conferred with the Comptroller General of Customs, who said that once it is manifested as Nigeria, the containers must be dropped and inspected in Nigeria.”

She said the inspection of the containers, as directed by the comptroller-general, was carried out by officials of the NPA, NIMASA, the Customs Service and other security agencies.

Benebo said it was discovered that the containers were meant to be disposed off in Nigeria.

According to her, Nigeria will

never be used as a dumping ground and “we will resist any attempt by any country to make Nigeria dumping ground.”

Benebo said her agency acted on a tip off to track down the toxic contents in the ship. The names of the importers are Messrs Moronuk David and Bonik Investment.

Ship discharges other containers When Vanguard got to Berth Four of the port where the ship was anchored, M.V. Marevia was seen discharging its cargo while the two deadly containers were isolated from other containers.

On the outcome of their examination, the officials of the NESREA, who conducted the test on the items in the container kept sealed lips.

Contrary to claims that all the relevant security operatives were on ground for the examination, Va n g u a r d o n l y s a w representatives of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Terminal Operator and those of NESREA. An NPA official said they did not know the outcome as they were

Some of the ship's content being examined.

only there to observe what the NESREA team was doing. The NPA official said NESREA team used their equipment to test the items and refused to disclose their findings.

Items in the containers In the two 40-footer containers were used fridges, used television sets, used micro-wave ovens, etc considered hazardous.

Public Relations Officer of TinCan Island Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, Chris Osunkwo, said, yesterday, that they were unable to do the examination because all the agencies were not on ground.

Osunkwo said there was so much confusion as to the actual content of the containers but stressed that true details could only be got after the examination.

Several calls to the head of NESREA team at press time did not yield results, as she seemed to be ending a call each time her phone rang. She also did not respond to text messages.

Assistant General Manager (AGM) in charge of Public Affairs of the NPA, Ileya Musa,

said after the examination, what was discovered were used electronics and directed Vanguard to NESREA for details.

ANLCA reacts Reacting to the development, National President of the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Prince Olayiwola Shittu, said the danger of the incident was the likely agitation for the return of security agencies sent out of the ports by the Federal Government to reduce delay in cargo clearance.

Shittu explained that these agencies including NESREA should relate with their international counterparts on intelligence gathering to ensure that such goods do not leave their ports of origin in the first place.

He advised that should any vessel flouts the directive, the crew should be arrested and prosecuted, adding that any shipping company that aids the importation of such cargoes should be charged also.

Past waste dumping incidents This is not the first attempt to

dump toxic wastes in Nigeria.

The first attempt was in 1988 when a shipment of over 3,500 tonnes of toxic wastes from Italy was imported to Koko Port, a coastal community in the old Bendel State, now Delta State.

In April 2010, the NCS arrested and detained a Maersk Line vessel, MV Nashiville, laden with toxic wastes (lead batteries classified as Basel code A1180 and broken televisions).

In June 2010, NCS also arrested and detained a ship, MV Gumel, in Lagos port for bringing eight containers with materials suspected to be toxic wastes.

Also, in October 2010, a vessel, MV Vera D, carrying three containers laden with toxic black and white television sets, was detained at the Tin-Can Port, Lagos. The toxic-laden containers were sent back to the port of origin in the US. In December 2012, NESREA impounded four containers of used electronics described as “ewastes” in Apapa Port.

Tax evasion: 5m Lagos residents to face prosecution

By Our Reporter

L

agos State Government has vowed to commence the prosecution of tax defaulters in the state.

Disclosing this at a joint briefing by the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice Mr. Ade Ipeye, Special Adviser to the Governor on Taxation, Mr. Abimbola Shodipo and the state Executive Chairman Inland Revenue service, Mr. Tunde Fowler said that of the estimated eight million residents in Lagos,

statistics shows that only three million pay their taxes. He said that about five million residents do not pay thus leaving the tax burden on the three million who pay.

According to the state Commissioner for Justice, machinery has been put in motion to ensure criminal prosecution of these tax defaulters in the state.

He said that some 300, 000 were found in the last three years through the traffic offenders' demand for tax clearance not to

have paid any tax.

He said that some of these tax evaders are being investigated and that criminal charges will soon be instituted against them.

Some, he said, have been invited to answer for discussion on their outstanding tax liability.

He said that most of the defaulters are professionals who have the means to pay their taxes but failed to do so because they feel they have no need of government.

Officials of the state government said that a formal notice have been served on residents with tax liability with a caution for them to pay up what they are owing.

They said that the state was not enacting any new law but was

going to enforce a federal law which empowers each arm of government in the country to collect stipulated taxes.

According to the state government, in 1999 only 252,000 Lagos residents were paying tax, but this figure of taxpaying residents rose to 728,000 in 2005.

From a figure of 728, 000 in 2005, the number of taxpaying residents grew to 2, 700,000 in 2010 and increased by 300, 000 in 2011.

They said that as at 2012 the figure of taxpaying residents stood at three million.

Officials of the state government said that as at 2010 about 254 companies were owing the state a tax liability of about five billion naira.

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FOREIGN NEWS

Obama moves to stem gun violence W

ashington (CNN) -President Barack Obama has proposed background checks on all gun sales and bans on military style assault weapons and highcapacity magazines as part of a package of steps to reduce gun violence in the wake of the Newtown school massacre last month.

With relatives of some of the 20 children killed in the Connecticut rampage looking on, Obama signed 23 executive actions -which don't require congressional approval -- to strengthen existing gun laws and take related steps on mental health and school safety.

He also called on Congress to reinstate an assault weapons ban that expired in 2004, to restrict ammunition magazines to no more than 10 rounds, and to expand background checks to anyone buying a gun, whether at a store or in a private sale at an auction or convention.

Referring to the young students killed in the Newtown shootings on December 14 and other victims of gun violence, Obama said the nation must do a better job of protecting its children, especially when they are in schools, shopping malls, movie theaters and other public places.

While some of the steps he proposed are given little chance of winning congressional approval in the face of the nation's powerful gun lobby, Obama said all efforts must be made to reduce chronic gun violence in the country.

"This is our first task as a society - keeping our children safe," the president said, adding that saving even one life would make the changes he seeks worth the effort.

Republicans immediately rejected the Obama proposals as an attack on the constitutional right to bear arms.

"Nothing the president is proposing would have stopped the massacre at Sandy Hook," said a statement by Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Florida, considered an up-and-coming GOP leader.

"President Obama is targeting the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens instead of seriously addressing the real underlying causes of such violence."

The powerful National Rifle Association said it would work with Congress to find what it called "real solutions to protecting America's most valuable asset -- our children."

"Attacking firearms and ignoring children is not a solution to the

crisis we face as a nation," the NRA said in a statement. "Only honest, law-abiding gun owners will be affected and our children will remain vulnerable to the inevitability of more tragedy."

Gun rights at center of debate NRA President David Keene said the "Second Amendment is going to survive" Obama's efforts on gun control.

"What we want to see is what they really have in mind. They've got bullet points. There's going to be a lot more to it than that," Keene said on CNN's "The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer."

Obama called accusations that he seeks to violate gun rights untrue, saying opponents want to wage a campaign of intimidation and fear instead of working with him for needed changes.

"We can respect the Second Amendment while keeping an irresponsible law-breaking few from inflicting harm on a massive scale," he said.

Gun control support rises but divide remains over what to do Gun control supporters, including relatives of shooting victims, lauded Obama's proposals as a good first step to reduce gun violence and urged legislators to take on the difficult issue instead of reverting to partisan postures.

"When you are disheartened by the number of steps that have to be taken, by the fears of gun advocates, by the politics, please dig deep and find new heart," urged Emily Nottingham, the mother of Gabe Zimmerman, the legislative staffer killed in the 2010 Tuscon shooting that disabled Democratic Rep. Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona.

"Think for a moment about your young staffers, your children or grandchildren," Nottingham continued. "Now imagine that that cell phone in your pocket is vibrating and the message says they have been murdered by a stranger with an assault weapon.

Imagine that, then shore up your resolve and keep working to protect your staffers, our children, our nation. We need you to not give up."

However, Jerry Henry of the Georgiacarry.org website, which opposes tighter gun controls, told CNN that the Obama proposals were misdirected.

"He did absolutely nothing to address the criminal element," said Henry, who argued that studies show criminals get guns on the street instead of buying them from licensed gun shops that conduct background checks.

Fully enforcing existing gun laws and making criminals serve their

full prison terms would do more to halt gun violence, according to H e n r y, w h o a d d e d t h a t government "cannot legislate evil out of the minds of men."

Polls capture public sentiment Vice President Joe Biden led a panel assembled by Obama to examine gun control steps after the Newtown shootings, which sparked a fierce public debate over how to prevent such mass k i l l i n g s . B i d e n ' s recommendations formed the basis of the package of proposals Obama announced Wednesday.

"The world has changed, and it's demanding action," Biden said at the White House event.

Opponents promise a political fight, with an NRA spokesman saying Tuesday that the group has experienced what he called an "unprecedented" spike in membership numbers since new calls for gun control began in the past month.

Approximately 250,000 people have joined the organization's existing 4.25 million members, according to NRA spokesman Andrew Arulanandam.

In addition, the NRA is receiving an influx of financial contributions, he said, adding: "This is going to be a very expensive and hard-fought fight."

International poll conducted by the media on the issue indicated that Americans generally favor stricter gun control, but they don't believe that stricter gun laws alone would reduce gun violence.

According to the survey, 55% of Americans generally favor stricter gun control laws, with 56% saying that it's currently too easy to buy guns in this country.

However, only 39% say that stricter gun controls would reduce gun violence all by themselves.

Obama called for citizens to let their elected representatives know what they think, saying: "The only way we can change is if the American people demand it."

He proposed legislative steps he previously has backed, such as reinstating the Clinton-era ban on assault weapons, and also requested that funds be made available to help treat mental illness and provide schools with support to enhance their safety.

His executive actions signed Wednesday called for tougher enforcement of existing laws and required federal agencies to provide data for background checks.

A senior administration official told reporters the price tag for the entire package was $500 million.

Obama also said he would nominate B. Todd Jones, the

President Barack Obama acting director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, to become its permanent chief. The agency has been without a full-time director for six years.

A main focus of Obama's steps was closing loopholes in background checks. While requiring universal background checks would require congressional approval, some of the executive actions signed by Obama were intended to bolster the existing system.

Across the country, to buy guns during the past 14 years because of criminal records, drug use or mental health issues, according to FBI figures.

That figure, however, is a small fraction of overall gun sales.

"If you look at the combination of likelihood of passage and effectiveness of curbing gun crime, universal background checks is at the sweet spot," said Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-New York, a leading backer of such screening.

Obama also called for more money to strengthen gun safety at schools, including hiring more counselors such as retired law enforcement officers to help educate students on gun issues.

He also called for more funding for communities to hire more police officers, but stopped short of seeking the NRA's proposal for armed guards at every school.

The poll conducted Wednesday showed that respondents favored armed guards in schools by 54%45%.

Congressional hearings planned Legislators said working with Congress will be paramount in curbing gun violence. California Rep. Mike Thompson said on Tuesday that a ban on highcapacity magazines could garner Republican support, but a full-

scale assault weapon ban would be hard to get passed in the GOPcontrolled House.

House and Senate committees said they would start holding hearings on gun control measures in coming weeks.

In New York, Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday signed into law a series of new gun regulations -- the nation's first since the Newtown shootings.

Both New York's GOP-controlled Senate and Democrat-controlled Assembly approved the measure by overwhelming margins.

It includes a statewide gun registry and adds a uniform licensing standard across the state, altering the current system, in which each county or municipality sets a standard.

Residents are also restricted to purchasing ammunition magazines that carry seven bullets, rather than 10.

Keene derided outlawing highcapacity magazines as "a bidding match" that focuses on the wrong issue.

"So the president says you don't need 30-round magazines. How about a 10-round magazine?

Andrew Cuomo says, 'Well, I can do better than that. I'll make it a seven-round magazine,'" Keene said.

"The fact of the matter is the kinds of people who do this, particularly the mentally unbalanced -- who are the most likely people to do it -- shouldn't have any magazines," he said.

"The changes in New York are largely cosmetic," said CNN legal analyst Paul Callan, who described state's existing regulations as "the toughest gun laws in the United States."

Lawmakers in at least 10 other states are reviewing some form of new gun regulations in the New Year.

10

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ADVOCATE

Antony Aniemeka Igwagu Foudation: Respite for Indigent Obinagu Udi Students

E

ducation they say is the bedrock of development and any nation that toys with the education of her citizens is doomed. Before Independence, education in eastern part of Nigeria were identified with families of the outcast or rather reserved for the rich, and those who accepted the new religion early as it was seen to be synonymous with the white man's new faith.

The enthusiasm to identify with western education which came with the white man has grown over the years thus greater percent of Nigerian people presently have developed the knack for the acquisition of formal education but the opportunity for formal education is still farfetched as the nation and her federating states has persistently budgeted below 26 percent of the total annual budget being the United Nations benchmark on budgets for education in member nations.

In the early 70s the majority of the children of Obinagu people in Udi local government area of Enugu state, southeast Nigeria were not privileged to pursue formal learning owing to the financial incapability of their parents to take such responsibility. Worse hit were those who lost their parents early either during the war or otherwise; their situation were unimaginable, some of these indigent children who were almost frustrated by these difficulties but who had the inspiration and enthusiasm had to sell firewood and other means of survival to attend primary and secondary schools.

Inspite of the difficulties associated with sending children to school in those days, Late Chief Anthony Anaemeka Igwagu saw tomorrow as he invested his scarce resources without limit on the education of his brothers, children of his kinsmen among many other extended relations.

“Over the years, experience has shown that one major factor that ushers in an era of disabled educational opportunity is poverty. Convincing evidence of the magnitude of damage done to the future of those who had aspired to acquire education, but unable to acquire same , owing to poverty and want of financial support, can be seen and observed in the present realities of socioeconomic cum political limitations experienced by those whose hopes of acquiring formal education have become forlorn.

However, there's no doubt that the other factor unconnected with poverty, also engender situations where people either did not

acquire a formal education at all or did so partially, that the level of education so attained cannot effectively help improve their socio-economic wellbeing in a now sophisticated society like ours”.

These were the submissions of Pastor Victor Uchenna Achime, Consultant Architect, philanthropist and one of the numerous beneficiaries of Late Chief Anthony Igwagu who worked with the then P&T before and after the war; a man according to testimonies sacrificed his reasonable comfort to actualize the lives of others.

c o m m u n i t y, p e o p l e ' s empowerment and development.

According to Achime, in pursuit of the vision, the scholarship foundation with the motto, “let the sun shine” provides access to post secondary education to members of the community who otherwise would not have the financial means to their educational needs and aspiration.

He explained the mandate of the scholarship foundation as encouragement and support of Obinagu Udi students for the pursuit of college, graduate and vocational education through financial aids, advisory and other

partners dedicated to ensuring that students are supported as they persist in their studies and earn their degrees.

He disclosed that the membership of the foundation is open to all who desire to put smiles on the faces of people and all who desire to set aside some fund to help the needy realize their educational pursuits.

On what the foundation's targeted goals, the Board Chairman enumerated that the benefits accruable to the Obinagu Udi people in particular and Enugu State at large to include, giving scholarship to children especially

Pastor Victor Uchenna Achime Today a new vista of development on the education sector in Obinagu Udi local government area of Enugu State has been instituted through the setting up of an education foundation in memory and honour of the late p h ilan th r o p is t Late C h ief Anthony Igweagu.

The foundation known as ANTHONY ANAEMEKA I G WA G U M E M O R I A L S C H O L A R S H I P FOUNDATION is the making of a group of like mind individuals who were products of the late Igwagu's education investment and who deemed it worthwhile to give back to the society that has given and kept them.

Presenting the mission and vision of the Foundation during the launching recently, the Chairman of the Foundation's Board of Trustees, Architect Victor Uchenna Achime stated that ANTHONY ANAEMEKA I G WA G U M E M O R I A L S C H O L A R S H I P FOUNDATION is primarily based on the believe that an educated populace is important for good governance, healthy

grants.

ANTHONY ANAEMEKA I G WA G U M E M O R I A L S C H O L A R S H I P FOUNDATION is a non-profit organization, registered in Nigeria, which believes that education is a catalyst for positive change, such that can transform the lives of individuals and families as well as enhance the economic and civic health of a society.

Achime listed the aims and objectives of the foundation to include, direct financial support to students for post secondary education, provision of information that students and families need to make sound educational choices and offering opportunities to those who share in the foundations vision to participate in its realization through financial and in kind support or volunteerism. Others are contributing to enlightened public policy through advocacy for its vision of post secondary education opportunity without financial barrier and leading to collaborative network of community and educational

the less privileged in the area, actively encouraging the youths of the area to channel their energies and talents into productive venture as well as encourage youths. Other achievements expected are to ensure development and growth of our society through socioeconomic empowerment of the youths by sound education, to ensure the eradication of illiteracy in the society through the provision of education aid to deserving scholars, and to create avenue and platform for harnessing the best brains among the youths otherwise economically disabled to themselves through education.

Achime who also sank a water borehole for his immediate kindred said, “I have both the belief and the background that make me want to help others like I was helped. I have gained some educational attainments, two master degrees; one in Architecture and the other in project management from reputable institutions of higher learning. I will work to create opportunity for others. I know

these things take time and if I will do my best, I will achieve the dream. We should all try to give back to the system that kept us”.

While guaranteeing that integrity will guide the management of the foundation, inoder to maintain the highest standard in all its relationship with the students, Donors, Students and the general public, the soft spoken man of God also stated that the organization believes in the principle of operational transparency so that the confidence reposed on it by its partners will not be lost.

In his own speech during the formal presentation and launching of the foundation, a board member of the foundation and lawyer, A D Igwenagu said that the foundation is the product of people with the firm belief in education as the panacea to human empowerment for a better society.

He said,” we the founders of this scholarship foundation are ardent believers in concept human development as we imbibed from our mentor Late Chief Anthony Igwagu whose ideals are significantly seen in his overall self denial and contributions towards the happiness and wellbeing of his people”.

“This empowerment through education places the beneficiary on threshold of useful and purposeful socio-economic survival, thus making such person realize his educational aspiration”.

According to the legal practitioner, Late Chief Igwagu's selflessness and desire to sow a seed of goodwill that will leave a mark on the sand of time through the propagation and creation of privileges for the deprived to acquire formal learning was inspirational to the setting up of this foundation; in sincere resolve to demonstrate what our late benefactor stood for.

“It is upon these convictions about the desire of Late Chief Igwagu that this foundation came into being, in his memory, inoder to likewise make meaningful investment for the support of financially challenged or indigent children of our community whose willingness and brilliance to get formal education are in full glare”, the board member said.

He further said that societal fundamental problems like socioeconomic retardation, poverty, social vices, etc may remain persistent without effective opportunities for the acquisition of formal education by the citizens, adding that with moral education the society will change for the better.

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Monday, January 21 – Sunday, January 27, 2013

11

OPINION

Prayer for Chime, my governor

By Obiora Obasi

N

ot long ago, a reporter with The Punch newspaper filed in what he thought was a scoop: that Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu was dead. Although Lion Building promptly refuted the report, a latent mill had been revived into action once more to produce nothing but rumours. And the mill has not disappointed. It has churned out all manner of inconceivable tales about the governance of Enugu State, the health condition and by extension the whereabouts of Chime.

Chime has cancer of the lung and no matching donor has been found, Chime has HIV a fitting disease since he is a womanizer, Chime has partial stroke a consequence of the arrest of his son Nnamdi in Brazil over money laundering, Chime is in a hospital in the UK, Chime has been moved from the UK to India, no he underwent a successful surgery in India and is recuperating in the UK he even attended the daughter's wedding in the UK, no he is in Brazil, no he was in Enugu mid November but when he developed complications from the operation he underwent he had to be rushed back (to where?), Chime died a long time ago but his death cannot be made public yet due to power struggle among a certain cabal (cabal again?).

An online news stable, 247ureports.com, in an article entitled “Details on Sullivan Chime's Health, and The Brazil Connection”, actually claimed to know the true position of Chime's health condition when it reported that prior to leaving Nigeria “…the governor was exhibiting symptoms indicative of leukemia in adults symptoms such as anemia, bleeding, and infections, growth of lymph nodes or other organs, general swelling and pain.” And that as a result of “these developments, the governor's personal physician

Gov. Chime initially believed the governor may have suffered from chronic lymphocytic leukemia [CLL] or acute myelogenous leukemia [AML]…” which necessitated that the governor be flown to the United Kingdom “for proper diagnosis and applicable treatment.” Hmm, what a mouthful! Reminds one of Chief Zebrudaya Okoroigwe nwa Ogbo Alias 4:30, who in a certain episode of the now rested sitcom The New Masquerade bemoans the penchant of doctors for befuddling their patients with bombastic medical jargons. He senses his doctor's smartness when, instead of treating him of the simple headache he complained of, proceeds to inform him that he has been infected with Hankrokakus imbecity, just to make him afraid and part with his money.

It does not end here. Maybe you have heard too that the letter Chime wrote to the state House of Assembly stated that he would be

away for only six weeks, and that Sunday Onyebuchi is a lame duck acting governor since the governor gave him a financial approval ceiling of Five Hundred Thousand Naira only, that the de facto governor is the chief of staff Ifeoma Nwobodo, that Chime's ascension as governor of Enugu State was a stratagem by former governor Chimaroke Nnamani to return the governorship position to his Nkanu clan (the deputy governor, and now acting governor, Sunday Onyebuchi is an Nkanu man) having known that Chime was physically unfit to govern the state, and might die before completing his tenure, Chime this, Chime that.

And then the invectives-galore in several online forums by our teeming bored, uninformed youths. They called the governor all sorts of names. It is really frightening to read some of the things people think and wish their fellow human beings. When did we come to this pass, where we

have divorced our heart from our head, where the milk of compassion has dried up in our hearts, where we have obliterated empathy from our dictionary of living, when?

Even if the governor is truly sick and for personal reasons he does not want to disclose his whereabouts or the nature of his illness, does it warrant this barrage of invectives spewing from our people? After all, the governor has done what is constitutionally required of him to ensure that the ship of state does not hit the rocks by promptly appointing his deputy who, on his own merit is eminently qualified to be a governor, to act for him while he is away. And to the credit of the acting governor and his executive council, Enugu has rarely missed governor Chime. Work has continued unabated in all the project sites littered all over the state and salaries are being paid on schedule.

For me, I join all men of goodwill who appreciate the transformation governor Chime has brought to Enugu State to pray that he comes back alive, fit as fiddle. At the risk of sounding as an encomiast I dare to say that governor Sullivan Chime is one of the most focused, purposeful and successful leaders of our time. He has changed Enugu State with his singlemindedness and self-effacing nature. He has proven that a governor can perform, in concrete terms, without plastering his face on every available public space.

Such candour! Even if he is truly sick, I will continue to pray for him to recover.

I do not blame the genuinely concerned people of Enugu State who have had to be thrust upon the unenviable role of deciphering the whereabouts of their governor, and the implications of his absence. The buck stops on the table of the governor's media managers who, true to human nature, have failed to learn from history, as recent as the Yar'dua debacle. Pray, what harm would

revealing the governor's true health status cause the Chime family and the good people of Enugu State? And for lieutenants to be cowardly before their principal is one of the gravest dangers of any thriving enterprise.

A single dose of forthright communication on the governor's whereabouts would have been enough to dispel all the cloudiness, conjectures and rumours surrounding the governor's absence, although it might not have been enough to dispel all the deep-seated angst and animosity being expressed by our online crowd of internet addicts and barefaced bellyachers.

Yes, governance all over the world, especially in our clime, has always been an esoteric art where the opinion of the majority does not always weigh much in the scheme of things, except when it is needed to achieve an end. But that is why there is the fourth estate of the realm, the press, which duty it is to dig beneath the veneer of official secrecy and bring to light whatever it is that may be against the public good. The role of the Nigerian press has been most appalling in our quest for development. Of all the hordes of press men and women none has been bold enough to dig deep enough to hit gold. Instead we are sold on beer parlour, hear-say journalism, which spells doom for all of us, except we change our ways. That is why, except in few instances, the corruption cases that litter our court dockets lie fallow while we hobnob with politicians and criminals, and when we report we fill our files with innuendos. Is finding the whereabouts of Chime really that difficult in this age of real time news syndication? I doubt. I once heard the proverb of a man who complained that his dog was always running after every vehicle that passed his compound, whether going to or from. His wonder was what his dog would do with the vehicle if it caught it.

Obasi writes from Aba. Contacts: 08063270616, emekaobioraa@gmail.com

HON. NWABUEZE OKAFOR: STEERING ENUGU SOUTH L.G.A- TO GREATER HEIGHTS

S

ince the creation of Enugu South Local Government Area in Enugu State, some 21 years ago, the greatest problem that has plagued the L.G.A has been the absence of a conscientious, dynamic and God fearing leader. Our search for a God fearing or better put it, a good leader, has been long and earnest. But, whether we like it or not, it is a misconception to think that every leader is God fearing and God sent, particularly in Nigeria Political Scene where power indeed changes men and sometimes can even change the supposed and true God fearing and God sent leader to become a disappointment, then in return what you will see is spurting grill of famished hopes, broken dreams and unfulfilled promises. No wonder Lord Aktin said, “that power corrupts and absolute power,

corrupts absolutely”.

Importantly, it is worthy to note that Enugu South L.G.A. came into being in September 1991till date; its leadership rotates between Amagugwu, Amechi Uno and Obeagu. It may be sad to mention here that apart from Steve Ike Ngwu who established a secondary school to his credit, there is no other past Chairman in Enugu South L.G.A. who can point to any project in any community within the Council as his own achievement while in office.

The past chairmen even those who went for second term only succeeded in sharing money, enriching themselves and some few friends, swimming in personal aggrandizement and appropriate maximum clannish supremacy, so that their voices will be heard and feared. But the truth is that history

will continue to outlive life and a day of reckoning must come, if not now, certainly later for the victory of evil over good is but temporal.

Today, a Daniel has come to judge. A young, ebullient and charismatic Nwabueze Okafor has mounted the saddle of the leadership of this Local Government and he is steering her affairs to greater heights. He has proved to people that truly wisdom does not reside with the aged alone. He has also let people know that there is money in the Council, unlike his predecessors who were wicked and insensitive to the plight of the people and heartlessly milked the council dry.

The young man is not such a greedy leader; he has demonstrated rare leadership qualities that have unequivocally underscored his credentials as a true and courageous

people's chief servant leader. His exploits in peace initiative but more importantly on road developments, road rehabilitations and road construction which will continue to attract for him accolades and prayers from the old and young including non-natives and visitors. Most of these roads were dilapidated, yet he fixed them and tarred the roads with drainage system on both sides in almost every community within the Local Government Council Areas.

It is a new dawn in Enugu South.

It is also a fit that have never been seen anywhere even in local Governments that are richer than Enugu South. His developmental trend is unequal as the gesture has brought in socio-economic liberation to Enugu South. These roads now facilitate easy movement of people and goods and it should

become a road map to industrializing Enugu South.

The well meaning indigenes of Enugu South both home and in Diaspora should take advantage of the chairman's magnanimity to establish industries or partner with the Local Government to articulate an industrial blue print that will be endearing to our people. We should not allow the efforts of the chairman to fritter away.

This is a time that many communities are competitively and effectively seeking developments at all levels. Now that our own is in the fore front of the efforts, the die is cast as true political leadership indeed remain a virile pre-requisite for development of communities and nations.

Dave Chukwu wrote from Port-Harcourt

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Monday, January 21 – Sunday, January 27, 2013

FROM THE

ADVOCATE

COURT

Two pastors jailed 10yrs over illegal banking

T

wo pastors, Glory Abrefera and Rev. Vincent Okpogo, have been sentenced to 10 years imprisonment each for operating an illegal bank in Warri, Delta State, thereby forcing innocent depositors to lose their money.

An Abuja High Court, presided over by Justice Buba, found the accused persons and their company, Mustard Seed Micro Investment Limited, guilty on a four-count charge of carrying out banking practice without licence.

The accused persons were said to have, between 2006 and 2007 in Warri, Delta State, engaged in illegal banking practice without the required banking licence,

thereby committed an offence contrary to section 2(2) of the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act, Cap B3, Vol 2, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

The charge read: “That you, Pastor Glory Okeoghene Abrefera,

Reverend Vincent Okpogo and Mrs. Nonye Abrefera (still at large) while being directors of Mustard Seed Micro Investment Limited, between 2006 and 2007 at Warri, Delta State within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, knowingly consented to the

carrying on of banking business without a valid licence by the company and thereby committed an offence contrary to Sections (2) and 49(1)of the Banks and other Financial Institutions Act Cap B(3), Vol 2, laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.”

The men were arrested following a petition by some of the depositors to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, detailing their dubious activities.

EFCC subsequently investigated the activities of the fake bank and arraigned the suspects in 2011.

Counsel to EFCC, G. K. Latona, described the judgment as a milestone in Nigerian judiciary.

He said it was the first time that persons were convicted for carrying out banking practice without licence, adding that the judgment would serve as a deterrent to others.

Man docked for biting off journalist's ear

T

HE Ogun Police has arraigned a 50-year-old man, Alao Akala before an Abeokuta Magistrates' Court for

Court

allegedly biting off the left ear of a journalist, Saheed Ganiyu.

Ganiyu's ear was bitten off when he was investigating the

background of late political godfather of Kwara politics, Dr. Olusola Saraki.

Another journalist, Rasaki Olayiwola was also reportedly hit on the head with a camcorder stand by the accused.

Police Prosecutor, Sunday Eiagbejiale told the court that the accused committed the offence on January 3, 2013 at Ago-Ika in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

Eiagbejiale told Magistrate Matins Akinyemi that the accused attacked the two journalists who were carrying out their lawful duties without just cause.

He said “ Akala attacked the journalists when they were on a research mission into the background and origin of late Saraki who was reported to have claimed to be from Abeokuta.

“Akala bit off Ganiyu's left ear, causing grievous harm and hit Olayiwola on the head with a camcorder stand. `”It will interest this court to know that the journalists were in Abeokuta from Ilorin to research the claim that

23-yr-old man arraigned for raping 6-yr-old girl O

Chief Olusola Saraki was from this town.

“As an indigene, I was giving them the lowdown of how the late Saraki was related to Abeokuta, when the accused came mid-way into the interview, broke the camera and turned the venue upside down.”

The prosecutor added that the accused also “maliciously damaged” the journalists' camcorder valued at N300,000.

The prosecutor said the offence contravened Sections 355, 335 and 451 of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun, 2006.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge of assault and unlawful damage.

Akala, who was not represented by any counsel, pleaded that he thought the journalists were prospective buyers invited to inspect his family property where the incident took place.

Magistrate Akinyemi granted bail to the accused in the sum of N140,000 with two sureties in like sum and adjourned further hearing to March 3.

hospital where the girl had been taken for treatment. “We want to tender the report before the court as an exhibit, “ he added.

The accused person pleaded guilty to the charge and begged the court report from the hospital. He urged for leniency, saying he was a first ne Salisu Mohammed, 23, who forced the door open and The prosecutor said the police had the court to suspend jugdement on caught the accused committing concluded investigation and were time offender. of Nasarawa Gwong, only waiting for the medical the matter, pending report from the recently appeared before the act.” an Upper Area Court at KasuwarNama, Jos, for raping a 6-year-old girl. The Police Prosecutor, Mr Gokwat Ibrahim, said the father of the victim (names withheld) reported the matter to Nasarawa Gwong police station on Dec. 24, 2012, same day the offence was 26-year old man, Akinola Jan. 5 at Ajilosun Street, Ado- knowledge of them.

2012. committed.

Oluwafemi, has been Ekiti.

He said on the same date, time and However, the accused, who was He said the accused was facing a arraigned before an Ado- According to Enabulele, the place, the accused unlawfully not represented by any counsel, one-count charge of rape. He added that the accused, who Ekiti Magistrates' court for a c c u s e d u n l a w f u l l y a n d assaulted Sadiat by biting her and pleaded guilty to the charge. indecently assaulted Omotola incurred harm on her.

Magistrate Taiwo Ajibade ordered resides in the same compound allegedly assaulting two ladies.

Ibrahim and Sadiat Ibrahim by Enabulele said that the offence that the accused should be The Police Prosecutor, Cpl Cutis with the girl, had invited her to his room where he raped her. “The cry Enabulele, told the court that the forcefully removing their pants, contravened section 355 of the remanded in prison custody. She of the minor attracted neighbours accused committed the offence on with intention to have canal Criminal Code of Ekiti State, adjourned the case to Jan 13. for judgment.

Man, 26, remanded in prison for assault, attempted rape

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Monday, January 21 – Sunday, January 27, 2013

FLASHBACK

Nigeria’s Founding Fathers (7) Akanu Ibiam (19061995) was a distinguished medical missionary who was appointed Governor of Eastern Region, Nigeria from December 1960 until January 1966 during the Nigerian First Republic.[1] From 1919 to 1951, he was known as Francis Ibiam, and from 1951 to 1967, Sir Francis Ibiam.

Akanu Ibiam

Early years Ibiam was born in Unwana, Afikpo, Ebonyi State on 29 N ovember 1906, of Igbo background. He was the second son of Chief Ibiam Aka, a traditional ruler of Unwana. He himself later became traditional ruler, Eze Ogo Isiala I of Unwana and Osuji of Uburu. He attended Hope Waddell Training Institute, Calabar, and King's College, Lagos, and then was admitted to the University of St. Andrews, graduating with a medical degree in 1934. He was accepted as a medical missionary of the Church of Scotland, in which role he established Abiriba hospital (19361945) and later superintended mission hospitals at Itu and Uburu.

Ibiam was never ordained as a minister, but he was elected and ordained as an elder of the Presbyterian Church. He was knighted in 1951 for his work as a medical missionary of the Church of Scotland. Ibiam was president of the Christian Council of Nigeria (19551958). In 1957 he was appointed principal of Hope Waddell Institution. In 1959 Ibiam was president of the

1967 - 1970, Ibiam actively assisted the Biafrans, helping obtain relief supplies through his church contacts. As one of the six Presidents of the World Council of Churches (WCC), Ibiam spoke at the WCC Meeting in Upsalla, Sweden in July 1968 where the problem of relief for refugees was discussed. Bola Ige, Adviser to the Church of the Province of West Africa was also present, and ensured that the name "Biafra" be avoided in the WCC resolution, since that could imply recognition of the state. However, Ibiam was instrumental in ensuring that the nightly air lift of relief into Biafra was started. In 1969, he traveled across Canada to raise humanitarian aid and support for the people of Biafra.

Ibiam returned his knighthood and renounced his English name, Francis, in protest against the British government's support of the Nigerian federal government.

Later years

Akanu Ibiam University College of Ibadan. On a visit to Northern Rhodesia, he was refused service at a cafe reserved for whites, an affair that became notorious. In 1962, he was chairman of the committee that established the Protestant Chapel at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka Campus.

In the lead-up to Nigerian

independence Ibiam served in local government, in the Eastern Regional House of Assembly, and in the Legislative and Executive Councils. After Nigeria gained independence in 1960, Ibiam was appointed governor of Eastern Region, holding office until the military coup of 15 January 1966 that brought Major General

Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi to power.

His authoritarian successor, colonel Emeka Ojukwu, immediately ejected Ibiam from the State House in Enugu. Later, Emeka became president of the breakaway state of Biafra.

Nigerian Civil War During the Nigerian Civil War of

Following the war, Ibiam continued work on reconstruction and hospital service. Ibiam was responsible for the Bible Society of Nigeria and the Christian Medical Fellowship. He became a president of the All Africa Conference of Churches.

Ibiam died in December 1995.

More than 20,000 people attended his funeral in Unwana.

The Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, and the Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic, Unwana, Ebonyi State are named after him.

Chief Dennis Osadebay T his is as good as anytime to remember our formost politician. The first Premier of Midwest Region, Chief Dennis Chukude Osadebay (June 29, 1911December 26, 1994) He was a Nigerian politician, poet, journalist and former premier of the now defunct MidWestern Region of Nigeria, which now comprises Edo and Delta State. He was one of the pioneering Nigerian poets who wrote in English.

As a politician, he detested party politics and tried to form unbiased opinions on important matters of the period. He was also a leader of the movement to create a Mid-Western region during the Nigerian First Republic.

Early life and poems

Chief Dennis Osadebay

He was born in Asaba, Delta State to parents of mixed cultural backgrounds. He attended Asaba Government School at Asaba, the Sacred Heart School in Calabar and Hope Waddell Training

Institute. He joined the labor force in 1930 as a custom officer working in Lagos, Port Harcourt and Calabar. He subsequently went to England to study Law during the 1940s. It was while studying that he started publishing poetic verses. He was then known as a newspaper poet, as most of his writings were published in the West African Pilot and a few other newspapers.

In his writings, Osadebay used both his personal life and public events as inspiration. In Africa Sings, a collection of poems, he delved with themes from a personal point of view, such as a sullen poem written about his twenty fifth birthday and the coming of middle age.

However, his best work in the volume, were poems written from an impersonal view point. In his adventurous poem, black man troubles, he used pidgin English to lament the status of black Africans in colonial Africa and injustice in the society.

His poems were also notable for

faithfully representing modern poetic rhythm.

Political career

Osadebay was one of the founding members of the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons in 1944. He left the country to read law a few years later. After, completing his studies, he returned to Nigeria and established a law practice in Aba and was also made the legal adviser of the N.C.N.C. In 1951, he contested and won a seat on the Western Region House of Assembly which was dominated by the rival Action Group (AG).

He soon became the leader of opposition in the region from 1954-1956 but gave the mantle to Adegoke Adelabu in 1956. After the death of Adegoke Adelabu, he took on his familiar oppositional role in 1958. In 1960, he became the president of the Nigerian Senate and upon the creation of the Mid-Western Region in 1963, became the pioneer premier of the newly created region.

14

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Monday, January 21 – Sunday, January 27, 2013

ADVOCATE

Nigeria stands on faulty Professor Nick Eze is a social scientist, politician, business magnet and public affairs commentator. In this interview with our correspondent UBA ANI he said that the on-going constitutional amendment is but a mere jamboree, contending that unless there's a peaceful review and negotiation of Nigeria's statehood through referendum, the unending agitations, tribalism, nepotism and corruption will continue to inflict deep wounds on the Nigeria's structure and such will further jeopardise the unity of the country.EXCERPTS What is your assessment on the level of development in Nigeria, in relationship with revenue generated from the liquid gold?

I think development is not assessed on the surface.

Development is assessed from the structure. We have a country that had the opportunity to excel but we decided not to. As a nation we have not developed compare to the resources we have. On individual basis, Nigerians are developed.

There are first-class Nigerians that can compare with any of their mates in other parts of the world.

But as a nation, we have refused to develop and because it is an issue of mind, we refused to tow the line of development. And that is why we have not achieved the level of development our people required.

There's no ratio between the resources and development. It is zero, because even when the resources are there, it does not alone amount to development. I'll give you an example, if you have forestry, it is resources, but it is not development. Those who own the forest, they live inside it and they will be called bushmen or a bushman. So I will say that in Nigeria, the Oil is not even within the hands of Nigerians. So it cannot bring development for Nigerians because the resources from the oil are being shared among some few individuals, so they have fat purses and it cannot be translated into legitimate wealth, rather, it is an ill-gotten wealth. And that's why one cannot use ill-gotten wealth to develop; instead they are hiding it until they stash it away. So there's no relationship between the resources we have and the level of development that exists. What has happened to our development is that we have a crawling development from the African perspective. Looking at the eastern part of Nigeria, perhaps we are the second generation of educated people. So you can see that in some parts of Nigeria our mates are the fifth generation. Go to the west. That was why we fought, so that there'll be even development. After independent you will find out that those who had vision for development were not allowed to participate in the administration, instead people were co-opted or imported into the system that took charge and the disparity is there and it is very c l e a r. T h e l e v e l o f o u r development as a country is low but Nigerians have excelled on

individual basis. Even the good houses you see within cities are individual houses. Individuals have catalysed development more than government which should have led the way, but in this country, it is the other way round.

What is normal in other countries are abnormal here but what is abnormal is also normal here. That is the kind of development we are witnessing.

At what point did we drift from the normal to the abnormal?

Historically, it will be traced to

Now when they have control and domination they have not transformed it into a leadership that the ordinary Nigerian will feel. The military came and we are blaming them but I will rather blame Nigerians because the military that has ruled our country are all Nigerians. And in the military regime if you take record of the total number of military during that era, they were dominated by civilians. We had one administrator in a state with many commissioners and many

post independent era. After independence, our leaders were carried away by the fact that they've taken the position of the colonial masters, so they drifted.

The colonial master came, targeted the resources, when they took twenty resources, the ploughed one or two back to the system. That's why there's only sub-way in whole of eastern region, done by the colonial masters in Enugu and it stopped there, but one should not forget that they used the rail system to export coal and other resources of the state to their land. So we deviated and that led to the war and since after the war, the individual Nigerian have not come back to track, just like you have the railway that derailed and since then it has not come back to track. So the successive government have failed to bring Nigerians back to track. The Northerners and the westerners fought the easterners for a purpose; domination and control.

other civilians clustered in the administration, so it was still a problem of misplaced priority. We have agreed that itthe truth is not far-fetched that these people and all of us called Nigerians have not agreed to be one country. That's why we have individual countries in Nigeria and that's why we never agreed to have a successful planning and anchor on the plan to drive our motto on a fair way. We missed the track from the post independent era; we missed from where we lost our bearing during the military and then the civilians.

What we have now are people, except for a few, born within the era of dis-integration threat and era of impunity of the military.

They were trained along this thought and today they continue to operate along there line of thought. So we are still missing from where we lost our track.

A look at our electoral system, selection or election, is it part of what is missing?

In America for instance you have

what is called the Gambinos and Mafia Families that controls the construction and structural development within the New York area and within the south west area there the actual Gambinos who are in the business of duping other people; they are concentrated in Philadelphia and California down to ... but in Nigeria, what you have is the same Gambino, the Mafia Families playing in the political arena. In America the Mafia, play in the business arena and not otherwise as obtained in Nigeria.

Professor Nick Eze The Mafias are playing in political arena because there's no business in Nigeria without government.

For them to gain control of the resources, they play in government. So it is neither selection; because if you are asked to select a team, you will go for your neither best eleven, nor election because if you are asked to elect, you'll elect the best brains.

Let me tell you, Sarduana of Sokoto, Alhaji Ahmadu Bello was the leader of the Northern Nigeria.

He brought out Tafawa Belewa.

Between Sokoto and Bauchi, look at the distance. He knew that he needed to be at the home front to effect development in the region, so he pushed Tafawa Belewa to the Federal and supported him to be prime Minister. Such thing cannot happen within the other regions because there's no dream.

He did it because they looked at the line-up of the Sokoto caliphate; they looked at the Usman da Fodio system of leadership that produce new

leaders at every point. Within our eastern region they frustrate new or emerging leaders at every point for them to remain perpetually in position and in possession of the resources. As a result they make sure that the bright people do not enter the arena of leadership but the North keep producing new leaders. At every point they have their best eleven up to twenty but here we don't have even the second eleven playing in the field.

So it is neither selection nor election; it is what the young people call mess-up. This is because we have shot ourselves on the leg. If you don't allow the truth to be told at the school and at the church, where else would you teach truth?

Do you believe in the orchestrated issue of constitutional amendment upon the claim that it is defective, if you do, what areas do you think should be amended?

There's no constitution in the first place. So you'll be amending out of nothing. This is because there was no constitution ab initio by Nigerians just as it is being recited that “We Nigerians made this constitution” but it is not true, we never made any constitution.

What we have was imported document interpreted to us that we are bound together. It is a mixture of “Agidi and Gworo”, it is a poor combination. So there was no constitution. What I am saying is that we need to thank God that we are approaching 2014 which will be the centenary anniversary of that amalgamation without consent. It is the amalgamation amendment that will enshrine a credible constitution. So it will involve every part of Nigeria. For instance my community was not part of the amalgamation, because there was no road within this area in 1914 and nobody actually represented us in the making of that document. And the document was practically made outside this country; that brought us together as Nigerians so it was that forceful marriage of people from different ethnic nations that resulted in the continuous agitations for amendment. In fact for us to have a people's constitution, we need a referendum. First, to say that I want to continue to be a member of this community called Nigeria, that's primary. When everybody agrees that they want to be Nigerians then we now draft a constitution for Nigeria by

Continues on page 15

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Monday, January 21 – Sunday, January 27, 2013

Foundation – Prof Nick Eze Continues from page 14

Nigerians. As it is now you can amend from left to right and remember that anybody that comes to amend the constitution amends it in such a way that it will suit him. Today the Nigeria as a component has no constitution that is acceptable to every Nigerian, which means that the people on their own have not accepted the provisions of the document. How many Nigerians can recite some relevant sections of the constitution? This is because people are not comfortable and they don't have confidence in the document. So whether we like, accept it, or not, we need to sit down in whatever manner or nomenclature and agree to be one country. That is when tribalism and nepotism will d i s a p p e a r, t h a t i s w h e n corruption will disappear. Then we will be into this business together, we will know what we like individually and as such will be reflected in the constitution and it will work for everybody.

So I believe that the first thing we should do is to go back to the various wards, local government and states, call for a referendum and let every state come to the table with their terms, then we can discuss and negotiate.

Thereafter, we can have an acceptable document 'Bye Law', what we call constitution is Bye Law. Sometimes people think a constitution falls from heaven; no it is the common law that guides and put us together.

Some people say it will lead to the disintegration of the country, what's your opinion?

Who said so? Already we are disintegrated. Everybody is in his own state which stands as a federating unit. All the Governors are Chief Executives Officers (CEOs) that on its own is semi-disintegration. But the irony is that everybody runs to Abuja to collect monthly allocation and it means that it is the only thing that is holding us together today. Any day that federal allocation is cancelled, everyone will move to his tent. So it will not lead to anything. Like in my place here we have palm oil, in the North there's Cattle, onion, etc. So everybody needs everybody, even the people that petroleum is in their place don't have yam, and they need it. So these are the points where we can negotiate. Today people buy petrol at different prices in the country I buy in Enugu N130, in Abuja it is N97 yet there's no refinery in Abuja. The refinery in terms of distance is near to me in Enugu than Abuja. At the same time when you move further to the North, some places are N200 while some are N97, so the issue is this we are distorted as a

people. We are marching from different points, entering the road, there's no clear definition of our destination. We should define our destination. What do we want? Americans said that they wanted a country that will be strong, free and mighty. They were building it. Here we don't know what we want. We need to know what we want. So it borders me that when people are out of government, they speak with the other side of their mouth, when they enter government, they speak with other side of their mouth.

Those who find themselves at corridors of power seem to play 'the winner takes all' game in the management of the people's common wealth, what is your view?

There's no common wealth.

That's why they don't care. Of course there's no common wealth. What we have is a 'trading company' called Federal Government which generates income; distribute these incomes by hand to the people, otherwise, positions come to privileged people just as it comes with responsibilities and duties, you will be able to manage the three of them in such a way that none of them will collapse. If you have duties, responsibilities and privileges, you will be able to manage the three of them in such a way that none of them will collapse. If you focus so much on your privileges as an administrator or a functionary of government, what about your duties? How can you be managing peoples resources on their behalf and for them and when you buy a bus with their money and you brand it with your picture, put your photograph?

That means the entire aeroplane that are coming from UK would have had the face of the Queen.

This is because it's not your own, you are just a functionary and there are categories and departments, and people here are behaving as if governments is a trading company. It is because there's no school of governance.

People have not been thought the meaning of government.

Government is full of responsibility. Look at Obama, five years in governance, he has grown old because he takes responsibility. That's what governance is. Governance is not about ceremonies, it is not about partying. So we need people in governance that will own up to their responsibilities and discharge their duties. And they should be guided by the necessary checks and balances.

You don't dash a man a state in the name of governor. A Governor should be a helmsman, he should be the last man to go to bed in that

state but today, you can't even reach your Governor.

Are you saying that there's no democracy in Nigeria or that what we claim to be practicing is not in conformity with democracy ideals?

You tell a man that you will remove him from office only if you are part of the process that got him into the position so if there's democracy----.

Democracy is a formation of governance. It is like a football team where you agree on the formation you want to play and every member know that this 4-4Z is your formation and as a result nobody will be playing solo. If we have a democracy that does not allow for peoples voice, does not allow freedom of selection, a democracy that does not guarantee the winner and the best, it is not a real democracy.

However, it could be said that Nigeria is still in a learning process but if a student learns so much without passing exams, he becomes a drop out. So we should be able to practice it well. If we are not comfortable with the American system, there's African democracy, then we should resort to African democracy; that means a setup that is run by mates. In African democracy there are points you will become a hero, you score some other points, you'll become a leader, you score some other points and you will become an elder, it is there. If we cannot effectively imbibe the 'Oyibo' democracy of ballot papers we should seek the alternative. For instance this state (Enugu) has never voted in real terms since 1999 in such a way that their votes determined who got the franchise of the people during elections. My friend, what kind of democracy can this be called? And that is the problem we are facing because the issue is this, as a young man, if you get involve in bringing out a masquerade, if you don't prepare your masquerade very well, it will disgrace you in the public, because the make-up might all fall off at the arena; the kits will fall off at the square and it bring shame to the followers of the masquerade. That is the kind of democracy that we have. That is what we are witnessing. Nobody is born with full knowledge, it is either you learn, follow or you join. However you do it, there must be a pattern or formation.

What we are witnessing is, the moment you have the driver climb into the vehicle, he runs away without the passengers.

That's the kind of democracy that we have.

So do you mean that we are existing on a very wrong foundation?

We are just existing, because

Prof Nick Eze there's no structure. Honestly between 2003 and 2007, we had a democratic line-up that people should have capitalized on and then we will take off but we decided to crash the plane. Then after crashing, we came back to square one and people are scattered. So there's no democrat in Nigeria, no republican. All we have is a mixture of interests. The moment you are at a place where your interest is defined very well, that's where you'll find yourself.

There must be ideological democracy by principle. I am a democrat and I believe in election. I believe in sincerity of purpose, let us go and canvass for vote, sell our character because every person is made up of character. What we are selling is not the name; it is the character of the man. So where you do not even know the man, you can't explain his character, it means that you will enter a vehicle that has no plate number. You will get lost because you can't identify where you entered the vehicle from. This is what we are witnessing today and that is why everybody is crying. But people are just weeping for nothing; they are just being sentimental because you cannot eat your cake and also have it.

What solution do you proffer to this situation and what ways do you think that the people should use to make demands on the system?

The only way we make demand is for us to first get our democratic independence from our leaders.

If we can get independent from our leaders, we can now beat our chest and say, look Jega, with all

the gadgets available, let's try it.

Even if the elections take us a whole month, we must not all vote one day. In America the result were being announced while people were still voting because everybody want his vote to be counted. Voting gives some self fulfilment; for the fact that his name is there as one who voted gives one some sense of pride. We want an electoral process that will guarantee individual political freedom.

From that you say, okay, I have a voters card, I have voted but my vote did not count and vote was entered into real ballot papers, not duplicated ones, not in a state where election results were written before the electoral materials arrive at the destinations. You see, a cheat is like a thief and a thief can destroy, a thief can steal from both his mother and father. That's why he is conscienceless, so if you think that when you train a thief to go and steal from your neighbours and where there's no neighbour, he will steal from you. What we have seen is that we have a distorted democracy that is manufactured by us for ourselves. This distorted democracy is now fighting us and that is the conscience that the leaders don't have to fight. This is because you created a robot and that robot is now destroying things in your house; you cannot do anything. Let us now agree, you know that we have tried parliamentary system, tried the presidential system, it appeared that in everything we move from bad to worse. People will want to

Continues on page 18

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Acting Governor of Enugu State, Mr. Sunday Onyebuchi presenting a souvenir to the out-going GOC of the 82 Division Nigerian Army, Enugu, Major-General Olayinka O. Oshinowo, who paid him a farewell visit at the Government House, Enugu.

The Acting Governor of Enugu State, Mr. Sunday Onyebuchi flanked on his left by the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Mr. Eugene Odo, Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Victor Okolo, Chief of Staff, Mrs. Ifeoma Nwobodo and the State Chairman of the PDP, Engr. Vita Abba, during a prayer session for the year 2013, at the Government House, Enugu recently.

Wife of Enugu State Governor, Mrs. Clara Chime flanked on her left by wife of the Speaker, State House of Assembly, Mrs. Ada Odo, Chairman of Nkanu East L.G.A. Evang. Sam Iyiogwe and wife of the Acting Governor, Mrs. Nneka Onyebuchi, right, during the Enugu State Women prayer network held at the Michael Okpara Square Enugu.

Also The Director General Importers Association of Nigeria, Chief Osita Okereke addressing trainees for assignment of National Taskforce for combating illegal importation of weapons, at NYSC Orientation Camp Awgu

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IN

City

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3 IMPORTANT REASONS WHY RELATIONSHIPS BREAK

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re you satisfied with the relationship you have with your partner? Are you satisfied with the relationship you have with your friends? Are you satisfied with the relationship you have with your parents or just anyone who has a connection with you in your life. If you consider very carefully, you would realize that most people in this world are not quite satisfied with their relationships. Not only that they also think about breaking the relationship to make a new one with someone else. In fifty percent of cases people leave their relationship because of getting bored with their partner. Thinking deliberately, you can make a decision that these relationships could be saved if there was a little more understanding. A good understanding is the most prominent part of any relationship, because a good understanding helps make the relationship stronger. If your partner doesn't like you, there may be hundreds of reasons, but why you are not able to make your partner understand your feelings is that you have less understanding with your partner.

But this is not the only reason why a relationship might break.

Truthfully speaking, there may be thousands of reasons depending on the depth of the relationship you have with your partner. Here, i have tried to give you a list of reasons you should be careful about to save your relation with your partner. Otherwise your relationship may break without giving you any signal.

Lack of understanding The first and the most important reason to be careful about, less understanding makes relationships weaker. The most important thing

bothering you' it is another big reason of any break up. Most of the times, people feel that their partner doubts them; they avoid asking their partner for reasons to show their belief and confidence in their partner. This is where people make mistakes and let the relationship break easily for life. If you are feeling that your partner is feeling doubts, you should always try to clarify your partner's mind as soon as possible. You should speak to your partner directly and clarify all the issues very carefully.

While talking to your partner, never hurt your partner's feelings. It might create an altercation in your discussion which will lead to a bigger problem. Your partner may not be interested for any more discussion and will have a mindset full of doubts about you. This is what might make your relationship break very easily. that you can do to increase understanding is by interacting with your life partner as much as possible. More interaction means more understanding. More understanding helps you build stronger relationship for life. Although it is a slow process but it works very effectively.

Having Doubts We often find ourselves wondering if our partner truly loves us, we hurt ourselves when we ask questions like this, why not enjoy your relationship? Though there may be times in your life when your partner may be doubtful about you. It depends on you how much you are careful about your partner's feelings. If your partners feels you should ask the reason for being sad. It may look like doing a simple thing,

but doing something like this works quite well to make your partner understand how much importance you feel for him. Avoiding this type of questions that help your partner feel your love might result badly. Your partner might start doubting you if you keep doing this continuously. This is where the relationship might start to break. Just remember, to save your relationship, you need to show your love to your partner. You will have to let your partner feel your love. If your love is not shown in your activities, it may be the starting point of a break up.

Less Clarification Rule number1” say it' no matter what's

Remember, you should let your partner enjoy your relationship. Otherwise, your partner might feel bored and may think about leaving you. I know that the basis of relationship is true understanding and true love. How many times do you feel all these sweet words actually work in life? It's a real world and you have to be practical enough to treat your relationship well.

It's true that real love doesn't end. Creating a relationship with such a level of love is almost impossible in today's world. If your partner doesn't enjoy getting connected with you, it is very much possible that your partner would leave you for life. Think carefully, isn't it same for you as well? Just understand my words very carefully. It will not be very difficult for you to save your relationship from being broken.

Make up tips for the dark skin

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air-skinned women have to be careful when applying makeup to their skin to avoid looking over the top, RITA DOMINIC looks amazing but today we are concentrating on the dark skin, Women with darker skin tones, on the other hand, can get away with much darker and bolder makeup colors.

M

ash the bananas along with milk and then apply on your face. Wash it off after 20 minutes. This makes the skin smooth and supple Blend turmeric powder with milk and apply on the face. It removes the tan and helps to reduce the facial hair. Scrub it off with a good face scrub and then wash with cold water. You can also keep it overnight.

Mix oatmeal along with curds and tomato juice and

They don't have to worry as much about applying too much blush or wearing darker eye shadows.

However, dark-skinned women can still benefit from following several makeup tips. Keep reading to find out the best ways you can complement your dark complexion

Use liquid foundation to even out your skin tone Wo m e n w i t h d a r k complexions often have problems with an uneven skin tone. A good foundation will help even out your skin tone. If you can't find one that matches your skin perfectly, it may help to mix two foundation shades together.

After you have moisturized your skin, apply the foundation all over your skin with a flat-top brush or cosmetic sponge.

Don't skip the powder Since darker skin tones tend to get oily, it is important to always use powder. After you have applied your foundation, sweep some translucent powder on your

skin with a large powder brush. Carry your powder in your purse so you can touch up your makeup in the middle of the day.

Wear a darker blush color Fair-skinned women depend on blush to warm up their complexions. Women with darker skin tones can get away with not wearing blush.

However, blush is always nice to wear on special occasions. Coral, deep orange and wine blush colors

typically look the best on dark complexions. Apply blush to the apples of your cheeks with a blush brush. If your blush is not showing up on your skin, apply a crème blush under it to increase the intensity.

Avoid pale, frosty lip colors Pale, frosty lip colors look unflattering on dark skin tones. Lilac and nude lip colors tend to wash out women with dark complexions. Choose shades like burgundy, wine, brown, red and plum. Add a clear lip gloss on top so your lips look extra shiny.

10 ways to make your skin glow apply on the face. Keep it on for 20 minutes and then wash it off with cold water. It helps to remove the tan and lightens the skin Apply raw sliced potato on the face. Reduces blemishes and other scars Cucumber juice is an excellent astringent. Applying

cucumber juice on the face tightens the pores. Wash it off after 15 minutes.

Applying turmeric powder along with limejuice removes the tan. Limejuice is a natural bleach Dried orange peels mixed with curds help reduce

blemishes and scars. Wash it excellent for oily skin off after 15 minutes with Rubbing ice cubes on the cold water face tightens the pores and Honey makes the skin increases blood circulation. glow. It makes the skin soft and smooth. Helps reduce wrinkles Citrus facial mask and sandalwood facial are

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ADVOCATE

Nigeria stands on faulty foundation – Prof Nick Eze Continues from page 15

Prof Nick Eze deceive themselves by saying that we have genuine democracy, of course God has given Nigerians the gift of patience, and that gift of patience is what people are taking for granted. We never had a good democracy. So we need to define what we are doing. Let me tell you, in any civilized society, say Europe and America, when there's a problem, they get together their professionals and give them the mandate to seek solution for whatever problem and they will solve the problem, whatever they come out with, government implements. That's why they are professionals. Our own professionals are saying that the way our democracy is going is such that it will crash. Let me remind you, I did say in 2010 that our democracy is in the hands of hijackers. Initially, those days they will find a distant place and land but today hijackers will crash the plane and die like in suicide mission with all the passengers.

Things have changed. We need to know that the democracy we should run in Nigeria should be able to take care of the elders, the middle class, the young and the unborn. Today it is the democracy of pocket and stomach and it is not sustainable.

The present political quagmire in Enugu State due to the continued absence of Governor Chime seem to have no solution because it seems the present constitution did not spell out in concrete terms anything to take care of such situation, what is your view?

Let me say it again. I earlier said that we don't have a constitution.

Every constitution that is based on interpretation is suspect. Ours is based on interpretation and that greatly depends on the condition and perception of the man who is interpreting at a particular time. If

he quarrelled with his wife, his interpretation maybe affected, if he was given a new chieftaincy title a few days back, his interpretation will be different.

Now we need to make a constitution based on what we have seen and experienced. You see, it is like you've gone to pound a yam foo-foo without knowing the type of soup you want to eat it with. Now we have a problem in our hands. The absence of a governor should not be a problem, what should be a problem is the absence of a government because a governor is just one of the functionaries. In fact he is a principal functionary in a state and his absence should have been taken care of on the day he was sworn-in as a governor. All these things should have been there and that is why I said that the so-called constitution is deficient. In fact we don't have a constitution because a constitution that is meant for a Christian should have taken Sunday into consideration, a constitution that is meant for a Moslem should have taken Friday into consideration. Okay, now you have a governor and he wakes up in the morning and decides to go to work or decides not to. The constitution should have spelt out that a governor must be on seat from this point to the other point and if he is not on seat, at the prescribed time, his deputy will be on the seat fro this time of the day.

Our constitution is such that people drafted a document for us, without our contribution, without our input, so the governor that has been away for over hundred days, if he is a jolly good fellow, and if he had accumulated leave, he should spend it. Otherwise he has gone out on official duty and fails to return, then there's a state of emergency and the person that

should take over is the person called deputy governor. There is an American book titled “Battle for White House”, that is exactly what is playing out in Enugu State.

The “Battle for white House” was a battle between the Chief of Staff, the secretary and the Vice president. It was then that America knew that their constitution was incomplete, they went and amended it. But we have seen it happen; even at the presidential level we saw it, now at various states we are seeing it and now it is happening in Enugu. It should not be an issue because the constitution, if there is, should have spelt out the duties of a governor and that of a deputy governor before they are swornin. And any act of disobedience of the constitution is a gross abuse of office. It is simple, if you are leaving your house, you delegate powers to your wife. If your wife is not there, somebody in the house takes charge of the place until you come back. It is a natural phenomenon. I don't know whether we understand what life is all about. Life is something that can exist in the morning and extinguish at night. There must be a succession plan. We must plan on who succeeds after us. So the so called constitution is defective, it has proved on it's own that it is incompetent. The constitution prescribed how it should be amended and for now how do you amend without passing through processes? Let me tell you, the people who are parading themselves as amending the constitution today have no powers to do so. This is because we did not elect our House of Reps members or the Senators for them to go and amend our constitution.

Constitution should be amended

by Nigerians. What they are elected to do is to make laws for easy and purposeful governance in the country. They should confine themselves to the provisions of the constitution as it affects their responsibility. When you are campaigning, you say I am going to represent you in the House of Assembly, House of Representatives or Senate, you did not say I am going there to amend the constitution. Constitution should be amended at the Town Hall meetings; people should genuinely, not hire crown, not the orchestrated celebrities that we have seen trying to amend the constitution, do the amendments.

It means that we've not gotten it right also after two or three amendment jamborees. Even this present process is calling for another amendment. We have not amended, yet the amendments already proposed have given room for further amendment. Nobody is asking, what is the cost of these constitutional amendments? It has a cost implication to the country. If you tell Nigerians the cost of

carrying out the so called amendments, they will tell you that they would rather throw it away and make a new one. In principle, they will, I am telling you honestly, if you look at the economic consequences of amending the constitution, it is better that we start drafting a new one from today and say maybe by 2015 or 2018, we will have a brand new constitution made by the people, which is better than amending this one which is like repairing an old and rickety vehicle. It is always expensive and will never be like a new one.

Enugu State leaders seem to be docile on the present political situation in the state. As stake holder, how do you see the present circumstance, how is it affecting the people and what do you think is the way to go?

Well those who criticize the leaders maybe they are illinformed about the processes of formation of leadership. I give you an example, as a party leader in this state, a councillor that is appointed takes precedence. So when issues of government are being discussed, a councillor is invited before the leader as a stakeholder. It goes to expose the deficiency in the system. That's one, so it is only when there is a town hall meeting, every ward have a councillor, every Local Government have a chairman, every constituency have a representative both at the state and federal and also at the senatorial districts. These are the platform for discussion and platform that has been created but does it really exist? This is because it is only when the representative comes around, whatever input you have to make will be acknowledged and taken with a view to forwarding same to right channel or state. We have no option except going to court to stop their misrule. And in Enugu, for instance, which court are you to go to stop these embarrassments. The judges are under the payroll of the state. So we have to go back and look at the formation of government. And let me also say something, we actually obtained independence without struggle; there was no bloodshed and leadership was handed over to us free of charge, so we don't know the value, and that is why we messed it up. In countries that fought for independence, they know better.

Today, we need to have a new system that works. The system we have operated is not different from mere administrative appointments. Even the governors who were appointed by the military had the councils where they report to. But now you call a state governor a Chief Executive which means that he reports to nobody and that is part of the mess we are in. For us to amend anything, we should first look at

the formation. The formation is faulty. The process of getting into that formation is faulty. The seating, the administration of that formation is faulty. Now we are blaming ourselves and as we continue in this blaming game more horrible characters are planning to hijack the airship of our governance. It is not peculiar to Enugu, it is all over the states but we are talking about Enugu because Enugu State Government and the governors absence issue is on the front burner and as a state it is the capital of the Eastern Region, Enugu in fact is the headquarters of Igbo nation and the failure of Enugu to get it right means that the Igbo have gotten it totally wrong.

News Jonathan asks Senate to confirm Turaki, Nebo as ministers

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resident Goodluck Jonathan yesterday forwarded the names of Kabiru Tanimu Turaki and Prof. Chinedu Nebo as a ministerial nominees from Kebbi State and Enugu State respectively to the Senate for approval.

These nominations are coming barely a year after the former Acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Dr. Haliru Mohammed was removed as Minister of Defence and six months after the former Minister for Power, Prof. Barth Nnaji resigned.

Jonathan stated in his letter asking the Senate to confirm the nomination of the proposed ministers that it was “In accordance with Section 147(2) of the 1999 Constitution… as amended.''

“While trusting that this exercise will receive the traditional prompt attention of the Senate, please accept, Mr. Senate President, the assurances of my highest consideration.”

Meanwhile, Jonathan had earlier requested the Senate to approve N253,199,752,409 as the budget for the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, in the 2013 fiscal year, just as he sought the Senate's nod for consideration and confirmation of re-appointment of Alhaji Seleiman Barau as Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN. He informed the Senate of his administration's decision to celebrate the centenary anniversary of the amalgamation of Southern and Northern Nigeria in 1914.

Jonathan, in a letter conveying his request, said that out of the amount, N155,660,399.641 was for capital expenditure while N48,034,818,410 and N49,504,534,358 would be for personnel and overhead costs, respectively.

The president, in the letter, dated November 30, last year to the Senate President said his request was in line with Section 299 of the 1999 Constitution which vested legislative powers over the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja, on the National Assembly.

He appealed to the Senate to give the FCT budget proposal a speedy passage.

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Fraud Allegation: Frank Edoho's Ex-Wife, Iyanya opens up Katherine Obiang In Wild Nollywood Affair R

eigning Afro hip hop act, Iyanya Mbuk who was accused by popular show organizer, Opa Williams of defrauding him to the tune of N1.7 million being payment for the singer's performance at “Nite of A Thousand Laughs' shows which held recently in Benin and PortHarcourt, has reacted to the allegation.

Iyanya who was compelled to address the press last Tuesday following the allegation denied the arrest of his Manager.

Though, he admitted that the police invited them, he said they didn't spend close to 1hour at the police station before they were allowed to go their way.

Opa Williams,the producer of Nigeria's foremost comedy show, 'Nite of a Thousand Laughs' reported Iyanya to the police for allegedly collecting N1.7 million from him being payment for the singer's performance at 'Nite of a Thousand Laughs' shows which held in Benin and Port Harcourt few days ago. Unfortunately, the Kukere crooner never showed up at any of the shows.

According to him, the reason they couldn't make the Benin and Port Harcourt shows was because of the fact that they were stuck in a traffic while on their way to the venue.

“I didn't intentionally refuse to show up at the show. What happened was that Opa

Iyanya in his elements contacted me to perform at the Benin leg of “Night Of A Thousand Laughs.” We agreed for N1.7million but he paid me only N1.5 million, promising to pay the balance of N200,000,00 after the show. Later, he told me that he wanted us to perform in another show at Port Harcourt but he didn't pay me for the Port-Harcourt show.

However, I agreed to perform at both shows out of respect I have for Opa and I was in Benin for the show. Unfortunately, while I was on on my way to the venue, I got stuck in a traffic. That was when I got a call that the show had already ended.

Meanwhile, I was scheduled to close the show.”

However, contrary to reports that he was paid N1.7m, the Kukere crooner said, Opa Williams paid him only N1.5 million,

Katherine Obiang

I

know what you're expecting to see but sorry to disappoint you.

Katherine Obiang, the OAP turned actress has finally found her one true love, acting. After making

an amazing debut in Ashionye's movie 'Journey To Self', she is due to star in yet another movie called 'Lekki Wives'.

She would be starring in Blessing Egbe's drama

series alongside Kiki Omeili, Adaora Ukoh, Keira Hewatch and Chinonso Young. The series will chronicle the lives of 5 women who live in the high end part of the Lagos metropolis, Lekki.

Cyprian Ekwensi the Master Urban writer – honoured in Minna, Niger State

By Okey Anyichie

T

he Niger State government recently named a new Library that was commissioned after the first writer, whose work in 1954 called “People of the city” was regarded as the first major work by a West African Writer. Since this writer called Mr Cyprain Ekwensi from the present day Anambra State wrote that first novel in 1954, he had produced many novels like “Jaguar Nana,” “Burning Grass”, Beautiful Feathers”, “Iska”, survive the Peace”, among others and numerous children's novels.

Infact this prolific writer that transited in 2009 brought colours and honours to writing in Nigeria along with other writers like Chnua Achebe, Wole Soyinka, John Pepper Clarke, Isdore Okpewho, Elechi Amadi, John Munonye, Obi Egbuna, T.M. Aluko, Onuora Nzekwu among other writers of the first generation that spanned from 1950s to 60s and 70s.

The honour done to this Nkwelli-Ezunaka born writer is therefore well deserved for Mr Ekwensi when he was alive exhibited his skill as one of the African writers that reset the agenda of African sociology. Mr

Cyprian Ekwensi Ekwensi equally exposed the urban situation as it affected the poor in most African urban areas especially the ghetto areas where crimes and prostitution were accepted modus operandum. He apart from being a writer, was a

pharmacist by both training and profession. He worked in the present federal Radio corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) from 1956 to 1961. He later moved to federal ministry of information as the Director of information from

Chinua Achebe 1961 until the out-break of civil crises in the country in 1966. The last government appointment he had was being the managing Director of Daily Star group of Newspapers from 1975 to 1979.

He was also a consultant to a city

based news paper that was published in 1980 in Enugu called the “Weekly Trumpet.”

This newspaper served as an opposition newspaper to the civilian government of Chief Jim Nwobodo, who was elected executive governor of Anambra state from 1979 to October 1983.

This honour done to his memory is something to be emulated by his home state Anambra. Hence like the saying goes, charity should begin from home. For apart from being a Nigerian, he comes from a root and a state of a federation just like his colleague, Chinua Achebe, also from Anambra State and from Ogidi, a neighbouring town to Nkwelle-Ezunaka. The works of this transited writer have up to an extent set a standard for other aspiring writers in Anambra state in particular and Nigeria in general. And on top of that he was a man of many parts while on this mortal plane of existence.

The government of Niger state where he was born has set the ball rolling for this urban sociologist and writer. His works have spoken for him in all facets of human existentialism like the French writer, Jean-Paul Satre.

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Monday, January 21 – Sunday, January 27, 2013

"They slaughtered my twin brother like a dog”

By Patrick Okolie

I

t was a tragedy which the people of an entire community would not want to experience again. A U.S-based Economist, Mr. Ogbo Bennard Edoga, 56, was brutally shot dead by unknown armed men in his village, Aku, Igbo-Etiti Local Government Area of Enugu State. The incident occurred at 10am on December 26, 2012.

Downcast and visibly worried Journalism instructor at Fresno City College, Fresno, California, U.S.A., Dr. Mrs. Dympna UgwuOju, who is a twin sister to the victim, said what pained her most was the way "they slaughtered him like a dog."

The Advocate visited Ogbo's family compound at Aku and observed that his bewildered old mother, Mrs. Rose Edoga, who is in her late 80s, continued to look into space, occasionally nodding slowly as sympathizers streamed into the sitting room and condoled her.

"Why is it that good things don't last in this our place? And why is it that bad people will always last? Why must some people plan to kill Ogbo? I believe that Ogbo's blood is like Abel's blood; it will hunt the killers," said the angry twin sister.

Holding her head which she shook rather anxiously in deep grief as she starred into space, wondering the real motive behind the killing of Ogbo, Dr. Dympna told The Advocate during an interview inside her family house at Igbo-Etiti, "Ogbo didn't deserve to die like that. He wouldn't raise his hand against somebody. Then why was he killed?" She said the killers never meant to keep her brother alive.

She painted a picture of the injury inflicted on the victim when the gun men released shots from their AK-47 assault rifle and terminated Ogbo's once-bobbling life. "The wound could even enter somebody's fist, and he lost his entire blood at once. Three bullets were found on him; why would they spend three bullets on somebody?" she asked.

It was gathered that the last time Ogbo visited Nigeria was about seven years ago. The only reason he returned again to the country on 19th December, 2012 was to participate in the 6th annual convention and fundraiser tagged "Partnership for Development" for the proposed NsukkaUSA Ultra-Modern Medical Diagnostic Centre. The event that held from December 27 to 30, 2012 at the Princess Alexandra Auditorium, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, was put together by the Nsukka USA Inc, a non-profit o rg a n i s a t i o n of Nsukka indigenes resident in the U.S. It was also registered in Nigeria as

Nsukka-USA Charitable Foundation.

Ogbo, it was gathered, was one of the prime movers of the project.

But a reliable source, who confided to our reporter that the murdered Economist exchanged frequent correspondence with him through email, said there was a sharp disagreement concerning the actual location of the diagnostic centre. While Ogbo argued that the diagnostic centre be located at Edo Ogballa, a more centralized place, the other party insisted that the sitting of the centre should be at Enugu Ezike, a place, the source said, "is further inside."

"To show his passion for the project, he started calling me since March 2012. He said he wanted the people to have access to good, quality healthcare. But after sending me e-mail messages and making frequent phone calls, he suddenly stopped," the source said. According to the source, that said Ogbo was his bosom friend, "On enquiry, he told me there were certain thorny issues he would like to sort out with the president concerning the sitting

the key. And they saw Ogbo moving closer to the house, and released two gun shots," Dr. Okeanya recalled.

According to him, it was at that point in time, Ogbo realised that something was even happening behind him. "And he immediately knelt down and told them 'sorry o!, sorry o!' and they asked him where is the key. And he gave them the key, and they saw the pouch on his waist; they collected the pouch and directed him to lie down. He lay down; they searched him, collected his purse, phone and still went ahead to shoot him," he narrated. He added that the gun man kicked Ogbo and called him “stupid man" before eventually gunning him down.

Dr. Okeanya further narrated, "For me it was when they wanted to collect the vehicle from another driver passing by that I got up and rushed down and saw my brother in-law in a pool of blood. And I rushed him to the Attah Memorial Hospital; but fifteen minutes after, he was declared dead."

Looking very pensive, he said,

Mrs Rose Edeoga

Dr Ugwuoju of the diagnostic centre."

Dr. Ossy Okeanya, the man in whose compound the victim was murdered in cold blood, who is also an in-law to the deceased, narrated the tragedy to The Advocate. He said around 10am on December 26, 2012 he was in bed upstairs while members of his family were downstairs preparing for the day's activities, there was a stampede that eventually manifested in the dastardly act that they observed at the end of the day.

"Ogbo came in company of his elder brother, wife to the elder brother with the daughter and the grandchildren. Rather than getting anybody disturbed at the gate, he decided to walk from the gate to the main house; in the process, the hoodlums came to the elder brother who was still sitting in the car, and demanded the key of the car. The elder brother told them that he hadn't

The Victim Ogboo "Now, that was what we saw on the 26th of December, 2012.

Actually, we learnt that he had some money on him; he was bringing to my wife. We are now learning that he did some transaction in the bank on the 24th December, 2012. But I don't know whether he had the money he withdrew from the bank. But it was clear that he was bringing some money to my wife." He added pitifully, "For this thing to happen in my compound, is devastating, and considering the close relationship that we had."

"He was an amiable person. Even when I insisted that police escort be given to him, he said he needed his privacy. And he was able to maintain his privacy, and whoever did this really made a very big mistake and I don't think God will be silent about this," Dr. Okeanya said.

After the armed men killed Ogbo, they left the compound and

encountered a retired officer of the State Security Service (SSS), Ozo C. A. Akubue, who was at that material time, driving past the area. The gun men threatened to "waste him" if he failed to surrender his car key. Ozo Akubue said he initially thought that the armed young men were police men, and wanted to crack jokes with them. He said he was fond of cracking jokes with police men each time he saw them on the road. But this mistaken identity almost cost his life.

"At about 10.00hours, 26 t h December 2012, I was driving across to go and pick my children from the town and to make a few purchases. Suddenly, I reached the junction in front of this building. I saw three men but I can't describe the kind of dresses they wore. But they had their guns, automatic weapons. I thought they were police officers.

And I used to joke with them on the road while driving,” according to Akuebue.

He added, "Suddenly, they said stop, stop, stop; they were actually shouting. I said, come old boy what is the problem?

They said, if I don't stop and come down now, they will waste me! I said why do you want to waste me? Then I thought within me that these people were trained men, not just ordinary armed robbers. So I had to switch off the engine and I wanted to pull out the ignition key. But they shouted no, if you touch that key again we will waste you! Then I opened the door and came out.

"One of them rushed on me; I was wearing jeans trousers. He hit me here and there; he knew I had something inside my pocket. He forced his hand into my pocket and took away all the money I had with which I wanted to make some purchase. And I shouted, my friend that's N20,000 o! And they said if I talk again now they will waste me. I kept quiet and raised my hands up for them. I thought something was happening in my uncle's house because there was wailing and shouting in the place.

"I thought maybe they came and brought police officers to give them protection; that was my interpretation of the situation.

But I was wrong at last. So as soon as I was out of the car and they snatched my money, one of them entered my car, and made a quick u-turn and the other two rushed inside the car. They sped off while I was looking at my car disappearing in a distance. And I knew that the game was up!"

Recalling her last moment with her twin brother, Dr. Dympna, who managed to fight back her tears opened up, "I picked him up from my mother's house. He came here and we spent the night here. He slept in the room downstairs. And at the last

ADVOCATE minute, he spent the night here, and he was just admiring the house. And just as we were ready to leave for mass in the morning, Ogbo dropped his phone and the battery fell off; he didn't know the battery fell off. He recovered the back cover. He got into the car and he kept fiddling with it and the handset wouldn't come on."

According to the journalism instructor, "And he was saying 'what's wrong with this phone?' 'what's wrong with this phone?'

And my niece took it and opened it and said 'it has no battery'.

When we came back from church, he was obsessed to find where his battery was. When he found his battery, we then drove together to my mother's village; we stayed there all day because they were doing a celebration and then came back. And he wanted to go to Nsukka. He drove; he was supposed to come back on the 24th. He called and said his in-law wanted him to spend Xmas day with them, and he said he wanted to do that."

She further narrated, "But he was telling me all the time about all the meetings he was involved in Nsukka-U.S.A., and it's funny..how, you know, stories that he said he would tell me when I asked him how it went there, he would say 'ah, I will tell you when I see you', 'I will tell you when I see you'. Of course, we won't get that chance. Like when they went to visit the traditional ruler of Ibeagwa Eka. He was supposed to do some celebrations with us.

And... they...something went totally wrong there...I don't know what it was. And when he called me and I said, how did things go? He said things were perfect with the Vice Chancellor but with the Chief ndi Ibeagwa, not well at all. I said what actually went wrong?

He said, when we meet, I will tell you what happened. So I never knew he would never see me again."

The Advocate was informed that not long after the incident, the Police Area Commander in Nsukka, Ros-Amson Halladu and his military counterpart, Lt. Shuabu, in charge of Nsukka urban patrol went into action.

They blocked all entrance and exits to both the community and other neighbouring towns.

A police source said they mobilized security men and commenced frantic search and patrol of the areas. Their efforts yielded fruits as they reportedly recovered at 9th Mile the car belonging to the retired SSS officer which the gun men snatched from him to escape after the operation.

As a result, the security operatives mounted serious surveillance and conducted house-to-house search within and outside the neighbourhood. As at the time of filling this report, no arrest has been made.

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Monday, January 21 – Sunday, January 27, 2013

CRIME WATCH

Warders not responsible for pregnancies in prisons– Controller

C

ontroller, Rivers State Command of the Nigerian Prisons, Mr. Babalola Ogundana, has denied that warders are responsible for impregnating female inmates in the state.

Ogundana told the News Agency of Nigeria in an interview in Port Harcourt that the affected expectant female prisoners were pregnant before they were jailed.

Investigation by NAN revealed that most female inmates in the state prisons were at different stages of pregnancy. The controller said male warders were not allowed to visit the female section of the prison without being accompanied by a female warder.

He said, “That (allegation) is not true because all of them (female inmates) were pregnant before they got to the prison.

“When female inmates arrive at the prison, we subject them to test

to confirm if they are pregnant or not.

“Those that are pregnant; we cannot reject them because they are pregnant. Once they are brought by a valid warrant (of incarceration), we have to accept them.

“So it is not possible because at no time will a male warder be with a female prisoner without a female warder.”

On reports that some female inmates were being smuggled outside the prison walls for sex with male warders and their clients, Ogundana said the allegation was “false and untrue”, saying the command always conduct a headcount of inmates in prison cells.

He said, “It is not possible because the warder knows that if caught in the act, the penalty is severe and so no warder will dare do it; this is a mere allegation.

“If it is for medical purpose, it has to be certified by a medical

Controller-General of Prisons, Mr. Zakari Ibrahim doctor. In Port Harcourt prison, we have two doctors and there are a lot of nurses.”

On children delivered in prison,

he said they were usually sent to their relatives after 18 months of being nursed by their mothers.

According to him, in cases where

there are no relations to accept the children, they will be handed over to orphanage homes.

Man aspiring to be traditional ruler charged for fraud

By Ted Peters

T

HE Police in Enugu have charged one Sir Ikechukwu Okeke, an aspirant to the throne of Amangwu-Obuoffia Community of Enugu State to court on a fourcount charge bothering on fraud.

No plea was taken when the matter came up yesterday at the Chief Magistrate Court 9 Enugu East because the accused person

was not in court.

Presiding Magistrate Mrs. E. Jideofor adjourned the case to February 8, 2013 after counsel to the accused person Mr. Foster Ugwoke told the court that his client was admitted in a hospital in Emene, and could not appear in court.

He asked for a short adjournment which police prosecutor Paulinus Onyeigbo (ASP) did not object to though he expressed reservations

that the accused person maybe avoiding the court.

In the four-count charge, the police alleged that; “you, Ikechukwu Okeke on the 10th day of May 2011 at Owokeen Petrol Station opposite National Orthopaedic Hospital Enugu did with intent to defraud, received from one William Ohaa the sum of N140, 000 which he paid into Account No. 5492010018744 of First Bank PLC.

“To watch an international football match believed to be false and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 386 of the Criminal Code Cap 30 Vol. 11 Revised Laws of Enugu State of Nigeria 2004.”

“That you, Ikechukwu Okeke in the Month of May 2011 at the Akanu Ibiam International airport Enugu did obtain the sum of N500, 000 from one William Ohaa on the false pretence that you will facilitate the procurement of Visa to enable him travel to Germany and watch an International Match which you knew to be false….”

“That you Ikechukwu Okeke on the 10th day of May 2011 fraudulently and with intent to steal received the sum of N140, 000 of one William Ohaa which you directed him to pay into a first bank account and which you later withdrew from the bank….”

“That you Ikechukwu Okeke sometime in the month of May 2011 at the Akanu Ibiam International airport Enugu fraudulently and with intent to steal received the sum of N500, 000 from one William Ohaa on the false pretence that you will facilitate his travel to Germany to an international watch….”

By the time they were accepted at LUTH, Reuben had given up the ghost.

“It's sad because he was the only surviving child of his parents. His

other siblings died in pipeline explosions and one would have thought he would have learnt a lesson from it but he continued along that line.”

I'm an informant Suspect

A

suspected pipeline vandal, Bimiwe Epasimore, who was arrested by the Police Special Task Force on Anti-Pipeline vandalism, has denied being a pipeline vandal.

The suspect, who claimed to be married and has children, said, “I'm not a pipeline vandal, I'm only an informant to security agents.

“I was set ablaze by some vandals when they discovered that I was an informant.”

Epasimore, who is presently at the Accident and Emergency Unit at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi Araba, was arrested on Saturday at Arepo area of Ogun State.

According to Police authorities, the suspect was one of the

vandals who was siphoning petrol from a Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation pipeline when it exploded.

Our correspondents, who visited the hospital on Sunday observed that the suspect was on drip in a secluded room and was handcuffed to the hospital bed while a policeman in mufti stood guard.

The suspect also had severe burns on his arms and thighs and could not talk at length having also sustained a bullet wound.

Meanwhile, it was learnt that another suspect, who was brought to the hospital with Epasimore, died at the hospital and had been transferred to the mortuary of the hospital.

A police source, who craved anonymity, said the deceased,

Sunday Reuben, would have survived if he hadn't been rejected by other hospitals.

“We had taken them to several hospitals but they were rejected.

Owners of ‘arrested’ goats fined N10, 000

O

s u n S t a t e Wa s t e Management Agency, OWMA, has ordered the owners of the five goats arrested by the agency in DeleYesa area of Osogbo, to pay a sum of N10,000 each for fine to the coffers of the state government.

Director of Environmental Management and Sanitation in t h e a g e n c y, M r. H e n r y Ogunbanwo, said any of the owners of the goats, who failed to pay the fine within seven days would lose their animals.

Ogunbanwo noted that the agency was acting in

accordance with the provisions of the article 101 of the 2002 laws of Osun State which prohibits rearing of animals in residential areas, stressing that the agency had the backing of the court.

The director explained that a court of competent jurisdiction had empow- ered the agency to arrest any animal roaming around residential areas within the state.

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Monday, January 21 – Sunday, January 27, 2013

ADVOCATE

Ebonyi is more peaceful than her neighbours – CP Mamman Sule Alhaji Mamman Sule, Commissioner of Police Ebonyi State, Fellow of the National war College (FWC) says that Ebonyi State is relatively more peaceful than any of her neighbours. In this Interview with our correspondent UBA ANI, CP Sule assured the people of the state to go about their normal business in the new year without fear of any security breach, as his command has put all necessary security measures in place to ensure a hitch free 2013. EXCERPTS What was Ebonyi State before now in terms of security?

The security situation as the time I arrived here, there were few cases of kidnapping. The day I took over from my predecessor, the next day there was a case of kidnapping where one pharmacist in town was kidnapped but later it ended in a sorry situation. He was taking to Anambra State and from there the man did not return it was only his corpse that was found. But immediately after that, I had to solicit for the cooperation of the people here so that whenever there's a case of kidnapping, they should immediately report to the nearest police station. This is because the first one that took place, where the victim died; the matter was not reported to the police. It was after two days of the incident that the matter was reported. That was after two days that the kidnapping took place.

And because of that I had to solicit the support of the people here, the Ebonyians, so that whenever there's a case of kidnapping and other crimes, they should not waste time, they should immediately report to the nearest police station. And that one I can say it has paid. This is because there was one time we had another kidnap issue; where one Nurse Obaji from a Hospital was kidnapped at Ezzamgbo. She was k i d n a p p e d o n T h u r s d a y, immediately after the kidnap, the matter was reported to the police.

From there I telephoned the DPO of the area, I telephoned the neighbouring states; Benue, Enugu, in fact I got in touch with all our neighbouring states. We also telephoned our force headquarter Abuja where we eventually sought assistance for a tracker and eventually the woman was released on Saturday. Since that time if there is a case of kidnapping, the victims will eventually be liberated through police assistance. In fact we have cases of kidnapping that are pending in court. We have over four cases of kidnapping where the victims were released and the suspects arrested and there are other suspects that being investigated at the state CID. Some are awaiting trial.

Relatively Ebonyi State is peaceful when compared to our neighbouring states.

What is the secret of success in this job of protection of lives and property?

The secret of my success is that

MD Abubakar, Inspector General of Police we have built mutual understanding with the people of Ebonyi state, the corporate officers. Information is the most important thing to us here and we get useful information from the public which enable us to perform our statutory duties. Similarly the state government is helping us a lot with all the necessary logistics that we need. That's the secret.

What challenges do police face here?

Our major challenge here is the issue of communication. There is a breakdown of our communication equipment which we use to reach out to the officers and men at the various local government areas. You know we have a radio system which police use for their communications. So since the breakdown of our mast in 2010 we have not been communicating very well. We are now relying heavily on the GSM service providers. When I took over, I wrote to the state government to come to our aid, to provide communication gadgets for us so that we can put our big set in order to be functional as before, in fact the state government approved our request. Already the building is under construction now where a joint operations control (OPS) station will be. It is the state government that is taking t h e e n t i r e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y.

Similarly, the state government entered into contract with Motorola Company to provide communication gadgets to the police here. So as soon as this joint OPS control station is complete,

and the mast restored; in fact when you go outside you'll see the equipment for the installation of the mast. A new mast is being built to replace the fallen one. So the entire local government councils will be connected. The state government intended to install masts in all the local government areas of the state with the one in the police headquarters, making it fourteen so that problem of communication will be a thing of the past. Already the contractors

have moved to sites; those installing masts at the local governments and the construction work of our joint OPS control station. So we thank the state government who came to our aid.

I am sure that by the time the communication gadgets are there and by the time the project is completed, we will invite our IGP to come and commission it; both the control room and the communication gadgets.

How long has this project lasted?

The contract just commenced last week, the building of the control station commenced last week. If you go out of my office now you'll see the place.

The year 2013 just began, what assurance are you giving the people as regards the security of lives and property in the State?

In fact we have drawn our operation order to that effect and we are assuring the Ebonyian's that the state will be adequately covered. Security has been put in place for the year, to check and control breakdown of law and order. I met with my Divisional Police Officers regularly and even yesterday we met here in my office to map out our security strategies which I will not disclose to you here.

What is your advice to the people?

My advice is that people should not take laws into their hands.

People should be law abiding.

Also people should report any suspicious movement that might likely cause breach of peace, they should let us know on time and if any offence is committed, they should report promptly to the nearest police station. Lastly the parents should warn their wards to be law abiding. They should not take laws into their hands and if anyone is wronged he/she should seek redress in law court or report to the nearest police station.

Chime: Labour, CNPP laud News Enugu Govt's efforts

O

rganized Labour in Enugu State has enjoined workers in the state to ignore the antics of few detractors, even as it lauded the Government for its efforts in ensuring the smooth running of governance in the absence of Governor Sullivan Chime.

In a statement signed by the State Chairman of the Trade Union Congress, Comrade Chukwudi Igbokwe and the Chairman of the Joint Public Service Negotiating Council, Comrade Ikechukwu Ekere, the group also commended the Acting Governor of the State Mr Sunday Onyebuchi for the “effective way he has piloted the affairs of the state.”

The statement read in part: “Workers are advised to go about their normal duties in their

various ministries, departments and agencies of government. We urge them to ignore the rumour mongers and those who have threatened to cause the breach of peace.

“Governor Chime fully complied with the provisions of the Nigerian constitution by handing over to his deputy who has been the Acting Governor ever since.

His (Chime's) absence has not affected the day-to-day running of the State because workers' salaries and other entitlements are being paid promptly.”

The Congress also restated its endorsement of the construction of the new State Secretariat and implored the contractors to strive and complete the project on schedule in order to “reduce the office accommodation challenges currently being faced

by our workers.”

In the same vein, the Enugu State chapter of the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP), has also commended the pace of work going on in the state now, saying that “our people must place our collective interests above our personal gains.”

The group, in a statement signed

by Afam Ani of the Citizens Popular Party and Frankgold Ekwueme of the Action Alliance noted that “we have gone round and observed that on-going projects are being executed in full force whereas workers receive their salaries as at when due.

“We ask our people to shun those who have other ulterior motives other than such that will benefit our people and continue to support the Acting Governor and his team because they have been doing a great job.”

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Monday, January 21 – Sunday, January 27, 2013

NEWS

Maurice Iwu, others record breakthrough in HIV/AIDS treatment

A

s the world continued to battle with efforts aimed at finding cure to HIV/AIDS, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced another breakthrough in the treatment of the disease with the discovery of an oral botanical drug, Crofelemer.

The new drug is the second botanical, and an orally administered drug to be approved

by FDA since 2006.

The latest breakthrough owes its success to a pioneering research carried out in the United States by a team of scientists including Nigeria's Professor Maurice Iwu, an acclaimed pharmacologist and tropical medicine expert.

The first botanical drug to be approved in the United States was a topical green tea extract, Veregen, in 2006. Both botanical drugs meet all US pharmaceutical requirements and can be

dispensed only by prescription.

However, ''Crofelemer is the first drug to be approved in the United States to treat HIV -associated diarrhea. It is derived from the latex of the South American sangre de drago tree (dragon's blood, Croton lechleri). A red, blood-resembling latex leaks from the tree when its bark is cut, and it is this substance that contains the novel polymolecular structure crofelemer, originally developed and standardized by Shaman Pharmaceuticals.

Fulyzag is the second botanical drug approved by the agency. The drug's approval marks an important event in the decadeslong history of crofelemer.''

The latest ''Healthnews,'' in a report entitled, ''Nigeria's Maurice Iwu, others record breakthrough in HIV/AIDS treatment: Amazon tree-derived medicine cleared for usage in HIV patients with

diarrhea,'' stated, “'On New Year's Eve of 2012, the US Food and Drug Administration announced its approval of crofelemer, marking the second time a botanical, and the first time an orally administered botanical, has received drug approval from the Administration. The first botanical drug to be approved in the United States was a topical green tea extract, Veregen in 2006.

Both botanical drugs meet all US pharmaceutical requirements and can be dispensed only by prescription.”

'The latest breakthrough owes its success to a pioneering research carried out in the United States by a team of scientists which included Nigeria's Professor Maurice Iwu, an acclaimed pharmacologist and tropical medicine expert.

Prof. Maurice Iwu

Diabetes, hypertension on the rise – Prof Obodo

T

HE Provost, College of Medicine, Delta State University, Abraka, Prof.

John Obodo, has said that diabetes and hypertension have been identified as the most silent deadliest diseases on the rise in Nigeria with about 10 15 cases being reported daily.

Professor Obodo disclosed this in Warri, while delivering a lecture titled “Combating Diabetics and Hypertension” during the 2012 Annual Dinner/Lecture of Urhobo College Old Students Association, UCOSA, Warri branch at the Chevron Recreation Club, Warri.

He lamented that the number of diabetes and hypertension cases were still on the rise in Nigeria, adding that while some are not detected on time, others are not adequately treated.

The University Don said about 675 million people in the world are diabetic patients, adding that 80% of these people are low and medium income earners.

While adding that the risk of dying from diabetics has doubled recently, Prof Obodo stressed that diabetes is the root cause of most kidney failures, weight lose, impotency, blurred vision, infertility, large babies (in the case of pregnant women) and coma, warning that researches have shown in recent time that there are also increase cases of childhood diabetics, a situation he said is worrisome because, according to him, diabetes is a lifelong ailment.

In the case of hypertension, Prof.

Obodo said that the disease is a silent killer because in most cases it is not discovered on time while some are not discovered at all, adding that because of its silent nature it has resulted in high

number of deaths.

According to him, hypertension which can be caused by excessive salt intake or hereditary are the root causes of high blood pressure, stroke and kidney failure in the society.

To curb and prevent these two deadly diseases, he called on all Nigerians to modify their lifestyle and prioritize their health issues by regularly going for proper medical check ups.

“To curb and prevent diabetics and hypertension there has to be a modification of your lifestyle. You also have to prioritize your health issues and this is very important.

Always go for proper medical care. You also have to eat balance diet and this is very important.

Discipline in diet is very important in curbing diabetics.”

He also encouraged people to have regular exercise, adding that Nigerians are not in the habit of

having regular exercise, a situation he said, should be encouraged.

He therefore, called on government at all level to provide recreational facilities for the populace, adding that by so doing it will help in encouraging its people to live a healthy lifestyle which will in turn lead to a more productive people.

While saying that though diabetics and hypertension are life-long diseases, humans can live a well

and long life if the diseases are adequately managed by the use of appropriate drugs, regularly checking your blood pressure, glucose level and body mass index.

Earlier, the Chairman of the occasion, Engr. Mike Orugbo called on the state government to reposition Urhobo College to its glorious position before handing it over to the Urhobo Political Union (UPU), the original owners of the school.

Hope for VVF patients as Jonathan orders treatment of 66,000 cases

By Chioma Jumbo

T

HERE is a glimmer of hope for the over 200,000 women suffering from Vesico-Vagina Fistula (VVF) in Nigeria as PresidentGoodluck Jonathan has instructed the Federal Ministry of Health to ensure that about 66,000 women representing one-third of the sufferers are successfully treated this year.

The Programme Manager of United States of America International Development (USAID) Fistula Care Project, Iyeme Efem, announced this yesterday in Calabar at a one day Media Roundtable on National Strategic Framework on Elimination of Fistula.

The president had in his 2013 budget speech said: “The Ministry of Health, in addition to scaling up its ongoing “Save a Million Lives” initiative, plans to give back health and hope to one-third of the pool of young girls and women who have been waiting a long time for V.V.F repairs through surgery and economic rehabilitation. In addition, we are up-scaling routine immunization.”

Efem disclosed that Nigeria has 150,

000 to 200,000 women suffering from the disease which is caused by the development of a hole in the birth canal of a woman. He said that most of the patients, who reside in the rural areas, after living with the ailment for many years, got to know that there was a cure to the disease courtesy of the sensitization and medical activities of USAID. The VVF country representative, however, said the projected figure ordered by the president to be treated appeared to be a tall dream because USAID between 2007 and now was able to assist in the repair of only 8, 000 patients.

His fear was based on the fact that the same government which made a provision of N300M and N250M in t h e 2 0 11 a n d 2 0 1 2 b u d g e t s respectively failed to release the money and no one can tell or account for how these estimates were expended.

"Nigeria is still in dire need of trained medical personnel on VVF hence the possibility of the Federal Government meeting this target is slim", Efem added.

The Programme Manager said it costs $250 US dollars (about N45, 000) to repair a single patient besides the N50,

000 needed to rehabilitate her, stressing that government bureaucracy and the Nigerian factor were working against government's good intention and appealed for the release of p r e v i o u s e s t i m a t e s .

Efem, who revealed that it took him and a few others a lot of time and energy to convince the Federal Ministry of Health to prevail on the National Assembly to budget for fistula treatment in the country, however, extolled former Senator Iyabo Obasanjo for her leading role in making provision for the disease in the budget.

He said that his pessimism over government's medical plan for the year was because only few Nigerian doctors and nurses have ventured into the treatment of VVF hence he saw no possibility of government meeting the 66, 000 target because VVF is a disease that requires specialized training by medical personnel.

According to him, repairing VVF was time consuming as the disease is often complicated, which means only few sufferers can be repaired in two weeks or a month if the patient is not to suffer a relapse. “It is more so as the equipment for the repair are expensive and must be in place for a

comprehensive treatment to be carried out,” he said.

Dr. Henry Uro-Chukwu of the National Fistula Hospital, Abakiliki, Ebonyi State who presented a paper on the “Making of the National Strategic Framework on Fistula”, said they were working on having obstetric fistula repair included in the curriculum of medical schools of Nigerian universities to introduce students to t h e d i s e a s e .

He said when he was a medical student some years ago, he only heard about the disease but knew nothing about its causes and treatment, adding that once medical students are introduced to the disease early enough, they will develop interest and want to become specialists which in the main would produce many experts on it.

Uro-Chukwu revealed that the center was working on having a Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) with medical doctors to make it compulsory for them to serve at least for three years in rural areas where fistula is endemic before returning to the urban centres.

It is only through this, he added, that the war against VVF would be waged successfully as the disease was dehumanizing women in the rural areas where its awareness was still low and patients ignorant of its free treatment in the urban centres.

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Monday, January 21 – Sunday, January 27, 2013

ADVOCATE

ODD WORLD Police detain woman for tearing maid's private part with razor

A

middle aged woman, simply identified as Uchenna is cooling her feet at the Onitsha Police Area Command for breaking her maid's hand and tearing her private part with razor blade.

The Advocate gathered that the woman allegedly used a pestle to break her maid' left hand and inflicted very deep cuts in her private part with a razor blade in the commercial city of Onitsha The incident took place at Osuma Street where the victim, Chisom Nwafor is living with her mistress before she was attacked by the suspect. Narrating her ordeal, Chisom, a 10 year old girl from Enugu-Abo in Enugu State said her mistress returned to the house last Sunday morning and started beating her and used razor blade on her private parts.

“I was changing her daughter's dress because she urinated on it. My madam entered and started shouting on top of her voice and she immediately rushed into the kitchen and collected pestle and hit me severally on my back and she hit me again and broke my left hand, I fell and she entered her room and took a razor blade, tore my pant and started tearing my private part after which she poured pepper inside my private part which was bleeding” she said.

Speaking on the incident, the Onitsha Area C o m m a n d e r, B e n j a m i n Wordu described the incident as highest level of inhumanity and said the suspect would pay for her actions.

Wordu warned parents to always give birth to children they can train instead of giving them out to such women he described as devil incarnates who maltreat vulnerable children under their care.

Meanwhile, the suspect, Uchenna shouting from the police cell, denied using razor blade on the victim when The Advocate visited the police station

How Herbalist killed 4-month-old for ritual He chased wife out before heinous act

A

father killing his own son, a four-month old baby, sounds gory, bizarre. Many may even doubt if the man is actually the biological father. But that scenario played out in Egbe, Yagba -West Local Government Area of Kogi State.

On 31 December, 2012, when everybody was busy making preparations to enter the new year, Mr. Hosea Folorunsho, a herbalist, was allegedly scheming evil in his mind.

He murdered his son, Sunday, in his sleep and buried him immediately. A neighbour allegedly saw him while burying the baby and reported to law enforcement agents.

The suspect is now in police net.

Narrating how Folorunsho, a 46year-old herbalist, allegedly carried out his scheme, Kogi State Police Commissioner, Alhaji Mohammed Musa Katsina, who paraded the suspect in Lokoja, disclosed that on 31 December 2012, when Nigerians were expecting the new year with joy and happiness, the herbalist was busy putting finishing touches to the alleged murder.

According to the CP, on the fateful day, around 11:55 pm, the father took the baby, who was deep in his sleep, and murdered him. Katsina said Folorunso then dug a shallow grave in his compound and buried the baby.

He added that the suspected

murderer was arrested by the police ambush squad in Egbe through an infant, adding that, after a thorough investigation, the police in the area took him to the headquarters in Lokoja for further interrogation.

The commissioner noted that, in the course of interrogation, the suspect led the police to where he buried the remains of the little Sunday. Katsina said a renowned pathologist in Lokoja was in the process of carrying out autopsy to ascertain mode of killing, saying, as soon as the result of the test was ready, the suspect would be charged to court.

It was gathered that Folorunso, apparently hiding his motive, in the night of 31 December, 2011,

engaged his wife in a quarrel which prompted the wife to flee the house to hibernate in a friend's house. Possibly due to the quarrel, she failed to carry her baby along.

Hardly has she left when the husband allegedly executed the killing, dug the ground behind his house and buried the baby.

The suspect allegedly feigned ignorant of his wife's and son's whereabouts the next day. But, unknown to him, a neighbour, who saw him while digging the hole, alerted the police and he was arrested.

Katsina described the killing as madness, wondering what could have caused a father to kill his own son for alleged rituals.

"I exhume Corpses, sell Skulls" - Man jailed 8yrs tells Court

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42-year-old man, Sikiru Alimi, has been sentenced to eight years imprisonment by an Abeokuta Chief Magistrates' Court for illegal possession of human skulls.

Chief Magistrate Ayoadele Ayobolu sentenced Mr. Alimi after he pleaded guilty to a fourcount charge of conspiracy, misdemeanour to wit misconduct, illegal possession of human skull and illegal exhumation of human body.

Ayobolu sentenced Alimi to two years imprisonment on each count, adding that the term was to be served concurrently.

The Police Prosecutor, Banji Sangotokun, had told the court that the offences were committed on June 30, 2012 at about 2 a.m. at Isale-Itoko in Abeokuta.

He said that the convict, who had no fixed address, illegally exhumed the corpse of one Jimoh Ogunmolu for ritual purpose.

“Nemesis caught up with him

(Alimi) when his phone mistakenly dropped at the grave site of Ogunmolu and the police used the phone to arrest him.

“Three human skulls were found in Alimi's possession,” the prosecutor said.

He said the offences committed

by Alimi contravened Sections 517, 242, 516 and 329 of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun, 2006.

Mr. Alimi, who did not have legal representation, pleaded guilty to the four-count charge.

He also confessed in court that he was a “specialist” in excavating corpses from graveyards and cutting off their skulls for ritual purpose.

“I sell the skulls at Itoku market at the rate of N5,000 each to my partner who is now at large,'' Mr. Alimi said.

He begged the court for leniency, saying he had children to cater for as his wife was dead.

The convict also claimed that his criminal act was as a result of a generational curse placed on him.

Pastor And His Wife Bathe Child With Hot Charcoal A

Nigerian court has remanded a cleric, Ajibaye Elikana, 49, and his wife, Elizabeth, in prison custody for allegedly pouring hot charcoal on their child.

The Chief Magistrates' Court in Osogbo took the decision Tuesday after hearing the Police P r o s e c u t o r, S g t . E l i s h a Olusegun, recount how the couple conspired and caused bodily harm to their 12-year old son on 2 January at Okinni area of the town, capital of the state of Osun.

Olusegun said the cleric and his wife tied the hands and legs of their son with a rope and bathed him with hot charcoal.

According to Olusegun, the poor child was abandoned on the street where he was picked up by

a good Samaritan for treatment and taken to the Central Juvenile Welfare Centre.

He said the offence committed contravened Sections 516, 335 and 351 of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol. 11 Laws of Osun, 2003.

The accused persons, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge and their counsel, Mr O.O. Alabi, applied for their bail.

But Chief Magistrate Adebayo Lasisi ordered the remand of the couple in prison custody and adjourned the case to 21 January for bail consideration.

Lasisi also ordered that the victim be brought to court on the next adjourned date to ascertain his condition.

THE

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Monday, January 21 – Sunday, January 27, 2013

25

NEWS SPECIAL REPORT

Endless wait for Chime: Continue form page 2

when he was coming into government. Even his Catholic bishops rejected him because of how he was brought in by the former Governor, Dr Chimaroke Nnamani. I was the only bishop and I'm still praying for him.

"But the family of the governor has to be blamed for all that is happening now because they are not sincere and open on the m a t t e r. W h e n t h e l a t e Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu was sick, his family was open to let us know he was sick.

And I personally visited Ojukwu at the hospital in London. One of my visits was at the London Clinic while the other was at the Wellington Hospital. And I was able to see him and pray for him.

But up till now, nobody has told me where my governor (Chime) is, which hospital he is in; they are hiding it. But we are praying.

All I know is that he is not dead. I even received Christmas greeting card and gifts from the Government House sent by him.

Okay! But what is the state of his health, nobody is telling us.

"I'm quite sure that he probably has some health challenges, which are normal to every human being. But there is no reason people should hide it. Rather, we should be told the details of the whole thing so that we can intensify our prayers for him.

Many of us have set up prayer warriors for him because he has been a very hardworking governor. He has made the Coal City to become one of the best states with good road networks in the entire country. And we want him to come back and complete the work.

"But they should stop deceiving us. They should let us know what state he is in for us to be able to pray for him. And nobody should be afraid to say the truth. I'm still looking for a way to find out where he is so I can visit him and pray for him. So, people in government should try to be honest. The House of Assembly should be honest too, even as I thank them for their non-chaotic stance since the present impasse in the state. I think they are just trying to be loyal and allowing the government to run even when the governor is not around. But the citizens of the state should be made to know the health status of their governor to douse tension and rumour mongering. Some people say he is dead and others say he is alive. But I know he is not dead with the information I have gotten. But I want to know which hospital he is in so, I can visit him."

Bishop Chukwuma is of the view that the constitution should be applied where necessary and that the state assembly should make necessary effort to find out the

governor's health status to enable the law to take its course. "It is time that the Speaker and his House of Assembly members should begin to really find out, just like the Senate did during the time of (the late president) Yar'Adua. They have to urgently find out the true situation of things and allow the law to take its course where necessary," he said.

"I do not think we should continue to deceive ourselves, otherwise that would amount to setting a very bad precedence.

The government of anywhere is not a personal or family property.

You come, you go and the government, which belongs to all of us remains. And so, there is nothing wrong in saying the governor is sick. We'll give him time to recover. After all, the Governor of Cross River State is sick and he is recuperating. There is an acting governor duly allowed to take absolute charge of the affairs of that state's governance. The Governor of Kogi State had an accident and they showed where he was on crutches, just like they did not hide the air crash that involved the Governor of Taraba State.

They keep saying that our governor went on accumulated leave. But he has outstayed, giving room for all sorts of rumour and apprehension in the state and now, the call for the application of the Doctrine of Necessity. As for me, I want him to come back healthy. But his family has mismanaged the whole issue," the outspoken Bishop, who is also Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, South East Zone added.

The government's information manager are yet to react to Bishop Chukwuma's literary bomshell but in what looked like an official response on behalf of the government and the governor's family, a press release came from the Government House Press Unit quoting the Enugu Catholic Bishop, Rt. Rev. Callistus Onaga as faulting those making uncomplimentary remarks over the absence of the governor.

In the press release captioned "Chime: Bishop Onaga blasts critics", the Catholic Bishop said it was morally and totally wrong for some people to wish another human being dead. While appealing for patience from the people, Onaga also congratulated the Acting Governor, Sunday Onyebuchi and his team for having effectively and efficiently piloted the affairs of the state in the absence of the governor.

He said: "We miss the fact that Governor Chime is not around.

But there are many reasons why a chief executive of a state can travel outside. The important thing is that he complied with the

laws of the land. He's entitled to his holidays during which he can do other things which he wishes to.

"The present situation is that things are not retarding because he's not there. So, we're praying that his being outside will augur well for him and eventually favour the state.We're asking our people to be patient and try to understand that with time, we shall all smile."

Bishop Onaga, however, took particular exception to those peddling unfounded rumours and others making statements that were capable of disrupting the prevailing peaceful atmosphere in the state.

He said: "It is unfortunate that some of us have been making statements that tend to cause tension. I appeal to all these people to think positively of our fellow human beings. Somebody has not been around all these while and some persons go to the press to wish him dead. No, it is, certainly, not correct.

"It's because we have lost our moral values, we've lost our social values, we've lost our ethical values; even in our cultural values, you do not begin to wish somebody dead.

Governor Chime's absence has not affected the pace of work and is not that felt except probably because one would want to hear his voice or see him at occasions.

"We're praying and hoping that very soon, the governor will come back to continue the good work he has been doing in our state, and until then, we call on our people not to peddle or listen to baseless rumours but to be patient."

Onaga, like the governor's media managers, was, silent on whether the governor is sick or not as he maintained that Chime was entitled his holidays during which he can do other things which he wishes to.

The State Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Engr.

Vita Abba, had earlier called for patience and understanding of the people over Chime's absence saying the governor, who had been away for months would soon return to his duty post, but the Save Enugu Group immediately dismissed his statement as part of the ongoing efforts to mislead the people.

"We reliably gathered that there are people within the government who have initiated a disinformation campaign to twist the demands of SEG out of contest and give it a colouration that is at variance with what it is asking for. Our demands are straightforward, we want a categorical statement from the state government on the whereabouts of Governor Chime and we want a select group of

eminent citizens of Enugu state to pay him a visit there. We expect the state assembly to play its role on this matter in accordance with the Constitution. We also expect royal fathers in the state to prevail on the affected people to provide details about the whereabouts of our governor." SEG said in one of its statements issued last week.

The group, however, reassured the people of the state that all legal and constitutional means would be explored to ensure that the state does not continue to be adrift with unexplained absence of the governor."

Four months Enugu allocations disbursed in governor's absence Meanwhile, tongues are wagging among some officials of the state government and personalities who had been watching developments in government very closely since the governor left the state mid-September.

They are said to have expressed serious concern over how the state's financial resources especially the monthly allocations from the Federation Allocation Account Committee, FAAC, are being managed in the governor's absence.

So far, four months allocations had been received in the absence of the governor. These include September, October, November and December monthly revenue from the FAAC which runs into billions of naira, the billions of naira special fund received from the Federal Government in December as well as the N250 million given to the state by the federal government under the Flood Disaster Relief Fund in October, for which there is no evidence of disbursement to the affected victims till date.

Besides, the alleged deduction of over N500 million from the state's statutory allocation monthly as the governor's security votes by the cabal even when there is an acting governor in place, has escalated the controversy in Enugu, according to sources. "I can tell you authoritatively that the acting governor has no access to the security votes being deducted monthly for the governor even when he is not in-charge of affairs since the last four months. Very soon the fifth allocation (January allocation) will come and the security vote will be deducted as usual whereas the Acting Governor is being starved of funds, you can see why these people want to hold on to power," said the source, who is an insider in the government.

It was further gathered that apart from the payment of monthly salaries to political office holders, staff of ministries and parastatals, substantial payments are being made to contractors handling government projects even without the involvement or

knowledge of the acting governor, as the cabal claimed that the payment orders made by the governor before he travelled were still valid and did not require any further approval by the acting governor.

Although the acting governor was said to have shown less concern about the disbursement of the monthly revenue to the state, sources said the issue was generating serious concerns among the top officials in government who feared that the funds being spent since the governor left the state could amount to a major financial crime that could warrant a probe by the anti-graft agency in future.

"We are even told that they take files to the Governor overseas to treat and that he gives approval for fund disbursements while on leave when there is acting governor. Well, the truth will be known before long. We need to know how the resources of the state are being managed in the absence of the governor. We deserve to know because this state does not belong to an individual. The government must be accountable to the people," a member of SEG told The Advocate.

Chime may return this week A Government House source, however, hinted that Governor Chime might return to the country this week having been confirmed fit by medical experts that his condition was stable enough to return home. Although this could not be confirmed, some residents interviewed said they could no longer believe any return date as they had heard enough of it yet the governor was nowhere to be seen.

Rumour mongers both within and outside the government had continued to deceive the public on the return of the governor.

While some said Chime had returned to his village long ago before the Christmas and was taking a rest on doctor's advice, others claimed he was flown back shortly on his return after his condition deteriorated. His media aides have repeatedly warned those making caricature of the governor's trip to exercise restraint explaining that since he left the country in September, he has never returned. However, observers of the development in Enugu blamed the state government for failing to disclose the true mission of the governor overseas, saying the rumour and speculation about the governor's health would have been unnecessary if the government had given a clearer picture of the state of affairs.

All that the people of Enugu State and indeed all Nigerians are waiting for is to see Governor Chime, whose prolonged absence has generated a lot of tension, a n x i e t y, c o n f u s i o n a n d

THE

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Monday, January 21 – Sunday, January 27, 2013

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RELIGION

The Advocate

Gospel This Week TEACHING THAT MAKES SENSE TO SOME AND NOT TO OTHERS John 14:22-24 Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, "But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?" Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me. (NIV)

Narration The Last Supper was a special private time for Jesus and His disciples. These were His last hours before being arrested, falsely tried and cruelly crucified. Judas Iscariot, the traitor, had already left the Upper Room to do his wicked work of betraying the Son of God. There were no crowds to teach or sick people to heal. It was Jesus' last opportunity to be fully open with His remaining disciples about their ongoing relationship with Himself, the Father and the Spirit.

It was such important teaching that Judas asked why they were the only people to hear it. Jesus' answer was that He would only disclose such precious, personal information to the people who loved Him; and proved it by obeying what He taught. There was no value in sharing with people who had already proved they had no desire to obey Him. As Jesus said in Matthew 7:6, “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs.” That may sound a hard message, but precious information about important relationships must be treated preciously.

The same passage of Scripture will stir love, worship and obedience in some people; while others have no interest.

Indeed, the attitude of people to God's Word shows what sort of relationship they have with Him. If you love Him, You will want to hear Him speak to you through the Scriptures; and having heard you will obey. Many claim to have socalled 'intellectual difficulties' with the Bible, but really they have moral difficulties within their own hearts: instead of honouring God's authority they assert their own; and instead of obeying they want to argue! If they keep ignoring what God says, they will stop hearing Him. But the more we obey, His Word will become more precious and relevant, and our love for Him will grow too.

Prayer: Heavenly Father. Thank You for the privilege of letting me know what Jesus said to His disciples, and for giving me a desire to learn more so that I can grow in my relationship with You. I am sorry for the times when I have not taken Your Word seriously so that I could be disobedient. Please forgive me and help me to understand that my relationship with You will only grow as I take Your Word seriously and put it into practice. In Jesus'

Name. Amen.

Adegboye warns church leaders against empire building

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ormer Dean of Faculty of Science, Ahmadu Bello University, Prof. Duro Adegboye has urged church leaders to be more sensitive to the needs of their congregation instead of dissipating energy and resources on things that are immaterial.

He made the call at the 5th anniversary celebration of Church Times Nigeria which held in Lagos recently.

Adegboye who spoke on the topic, “Church in times like this,” said it is appalling that despite the number of churches and Christians in Nigeria, the country has not fared better.

According to him, the progress of Nigeria is in the hands of Christians. “If Nigeria will be better, it must start from us. We are the ones who have the key to the success of this nation.”

Adegboye, who is a missionary evangelist at Offa, Kwara State, observed that many church leaders are busy building empires rather than building the kingdom of God; a situation, he said, had informed the unhealthy competition among church leaders.

Commenting on the growing number of church universities, Adegboye said; “we build

universities that church members cannot afford. This is unfortunate. If we build universities are we going to build our own roads? The solution to our problem is not in building our own universities but in influencing the education sector such that government decision will favour us and favour the generality of people living in the country.

“Many institutions owned by churches have been taken over by government in time past.

Many of the big universities in the world started as seminaries but today they don't even run bible-based courses.”

The former university don who has been doing evangelical work for the past 50 years, said Christians should not dissipate energy castigating Sharia but rather should also make a case for a Christian-centred legal system. “If the Muslims say they want Sharia, Christians should also insist that they want a legal system that is pro-Christian. The implication is that government will have no option but to throw out the two requests if they would cause confusion.”

Earlier in his speech, the publisher of Church Times Nigeria, Mr. Gbenga Osinaike

had called on churches to embrace the media option in their evangelical drive. He stressed the need for churches to support church-based media, noting that the attack on church leaders is growing by the day.

“If the church continues to sleep the media power will erode its influence. The only power communism had while it lasted was the media. We can no longer pretend, we need a platform where we can freely air our views and where we can be effectively represented. The world cannot tell our story better than us,” he noted.

A number of people including Dr. Christo-pher Kolade, Dr. Francis Akin Bola-John of Church Growth Ministries, Mr. Femi Adesina, deputy managing director of The Sun, Dr and Mrs. Gary Maxey and Mrs. Felicia Martins of Society for Insane and Destitute were presen-ted with the Christian service awards at the event.

Also awarded were Grace So Amazing Foundation, Zenith Bank Plc, Ayoola Foods and Laughter Foundation. A posthumous award was given to Professor Akintunde Cole Onitiri for his commitment to God's work during his lifetime.

Adeboye predicts bigger disasters in 2013 unless…

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ENERAL Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye has cautioned Nigerian political leaders to learn from disasters of 2012 and take precaution soonest to avert bigger ones.

Releasing his annual prophesies for the year 2013 at a cross over service to usher worshippers into the New Year at the Redemption Camp, he explained that there could be more devastating natural disasters like flood if necessary precautionary measures are not taken soonest to avert such calamities.

Describing the New Year as a year of signs and wonders, he said generally, God says this year will be better than last year.

According to Pastor Adeboye before the middle of the year, many Nigerians will have reason to say hope rising, adding however, that prayers and supplication be intensified .

He told the crowd of worshippers that God spared the lives of certain individuals in the country last year because of intercessory prayers of the saints, noting “the prayers of some of you minimized death of prominent Nigerians last year, don't stop praying.”

Speaking on the prophecies for individual Nigerians, Pastor

Adeboye said, “No matter the darkness around you, your star will shine brighter.

“God says, He will speak peace to your storms; Certain individuals have been stagnated for sometimes, the reasons for your stagnation will become known, will be addressed and will be eliminated, therefore progress will follow.”

Continuing on the individual category, Pastor Adeboye said in many senses of the word, this year will be of completeness.

On the international platform, the cleric said prominent world leaders need a lot of prayers so as not to die in office.

In addition, he said prominent Church leaders need prayers against planned scandals, even as he said that weather conditions may get worst, much worst, unless prayers are intensified.

But there is a cheery news when Adeboye said: “We should expect a major breakthrough in medicine this year,” concluding that nations who pass unholy laws will have a taste of divine fury.

Earlier in a brief sermon titled; “Preparing for a year of signs and wonders”, he outlined certain principles to enable one tap into heavenly reservoir of the miraculous.

According to him, this year will be a better year than the

just ended one, maintaining that the principles must include praise and worship of God, putting God first before any other consideration; evangelism; control the fullness of your joy, pointing out that one who is close to God can control even the weather around him.

Adeboye was very particular about the praise of God as a veritable tool for signs and wonders, noting that one can pray, study the Bible in silence but no one can praise God in silence.

The congregation applauded when he said: “You can never praise God quietly”, stressing that praising Him comes from a heart of gratitude and it's not quietly.

“If they say we are crazy for shouting Hallelujah in our environment and wherever we find ourselves, then that is a good kind of craziness,” he stated, adding that nobody says thank you to his benefactor with his mouth closed.

While assuring worshippers that 2013 is a year of doors, Adeboye said it is one thing to enter into a New Year and it is another to have a brand new beginning, hence he enjoined every Nigerian to live right with God who only has the capacity to give of His limitless bounties and guarantee all round peace and calm every storm in our lives.

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Monday, January 21 – Sunday, January 27, 2013

27

NEWS FROM STATES

Ebonyi state education Commissioner denies ID card contract scam

By David Uka, Abakaliki

E

b o n y i s t a t e Commissioner for Education, Prince Ndubuisi Chibueze Agbo has denied newspaper allegations making the rounds accusing the

state Ministry of Education of corrupt practices and exploitation of students in the production and distribution of Identity Card for secondary schools across the state.

Describing the allegations against the Ministry as “mere propaganda”, the Commissioner in a press briefing in Abakaliki

said no amount of blackmail and unnecessary sentiments from detractors would stop him from carrying out his sanitization programme for the education sector in the state.

According to him, the objectives behind the production of the ID cards were to reduce the rate of migration of students from

government to private schools especially during examination period as well as eradicate examination malpractices among students in the state.

His words “The purpose of the ID card production is to reduce or eradicate the migration of students from government to private schools especially during

Predictions for 2013:Olukoya, Suleman contradict Kumuyi  Nigeria 'll experience “uncommon lawlessness” , says Olukoya

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HERE was sharp disagreement between the prediction of the General Superintendent, Deeper Christian Life Ministry, Pastor William Kumuyi for the nation in 2013 and those of the General Overseer, Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries, Dr. Daniel Olukoya and the president of Omega Fire Ministries, Apostle Johnson Suleman.

Whereas Kumuyi foresees a year of great miracles and wonders anchored on Christ-like living, the MFM helmsman, Pastor Olukoya, in his 40-point prediction for 2013 at the Prayer City foresees that the nation will experience “uncommon lawlessness,” with “mysterious happenings we never heard before,” and Apostle Johnson Suleman seeing the nation's flag hoisted at half mast.

The clerics who spoke at their respective cross over services at their different churches attended by thousands of faithful said there is a glorious hope for Nigeria in the New Year.

According to Kumuyi: “It will be a year of great miracles and wonders,” stressing the need for a strong foundation anchored in Christ so that the nation could enjoy the best from God, adding that if the foundation of the nation was destroyed, the people would be affected The man of God said Christians should expect better things from God in 2013 as God had promised to give hope to His children, but stressed the need for Nigerians to turn to God through repentance in order to make their foundation stronger.

According to Kumuyi, God's people would live in plenty and abundance this year, adding that there was no need to be anxious as the year promised better things for the people than last year.

On his part, Olukoya said the nation will experience “uncommon lawlessness,” with “mysterious happenings we never heard before.”

Reeling out his 40-point predictions for 2013 at the Prayer City, along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Pastor Olukoya, who described the year as one of a “rage of political confusion,” said “all organised wicked destroyers shall split and destroy t h e m s e l v e s . ” According to the cleric, who traced the first appearance of figure 13 in the Bible to Genesis 14:4, which has to do with rebellion, the “year will generate widespread sparks of rebellion” and it will be “volatile with hot temper,” as the accused will become the judge in some situations.

Warning that “this is a year we should approach with great caution, particularly the men,” the MFM General Overseer reiterated that the year is “volatile, very fragile and very dangerous to toy with. If you do, the result will be dangerous.”

He noted that year 2013 will, as a result of the love for money by many people, witness a resurgence of occultism, while on the other hand, many sorrows will be turned to joy.

Broadcasters, both television and radio, were also warned to be careful, because malpractices in the sector may split the nation, as he called for prayers for drama and music industry practitioners, to avoid death due to their ignorant and conscious involvement in the occult practice.

Dr. Olukoya disclosed that serious prayers are needed to avert natural disasters, adding that 2013 will also witness shaking for nations that support godlessness, as well as hissing

and shame for God's enemies.

According to him, the New Year will also experience unbelievable betrayal and disloyalty, while he urged for prayers to avoid bloody coups in some nations of the world H o w e v e r, n o t a l l t h e predictions are fearsome, as the man-of-God gave the 40th prediction as “harvest breakthrough to those who set at prayers early.”

In another development, the president/founder of Omega Fire Ministries, Apostle Johnson Suleman also released his prophecies for the year 2013, saying that Nigerians should pray for the mercy of God upon our leaders at the National level

because he saw our national flag being flown at half mast.

He described the New Year as one to be large and be in-charge, adding that God says this year will be better than last year.

Apostle Suleman said: “Things will get better.

The God that kept us till now will still keep us further; it can't always be like this. God has planted and strategically positioned people who are coming up with ideas that will revolutionalise Nigeria. Some of them might presently be abroad, being trained and groomed.

“Nigeria is going to have a crop of leaders without greed.

They will come without corruption and will be selfless.

examination; to stop some private schools from excessive registration. When you go to some of our government schools especially those in the urban areas such act is prevalence.

“In all, the issues raised by some media outfits concerning the ID card and the SSCE registration fees are mere propaganda and conspiracy. We know where we are going; we are focused and nobody will stop us in as much as we are doing the right thing.

When it comes to the number of ID cards produce so far, I'm aware that about 70 schools now have their ID card. It is ongoing and properly handled and supervised by the Ministry. That we will do without fear or favour.

“Mass production and distribution of the cards have been on since September 2012 till date. There is therefore no single truth that no single student has seen a sample of the ID let alone collecting it. Some of you were even present at Government Technical College, G.T.C Abakaliki the day this distribution commenced”.

The Commissioner reiterated his preparedness to continue to promote qualitative education in the state.

The worst has happened to Nigeria. If they had told us people will die like this last year, we won't believe.

“If they had told us bombs will be thrown into a church, we won't believe. When the worst happens, get ready for the best,” he added.

PDP Chieftain applauds FG on oil subsidy programme

By Matthew Emenike

T

he Peoples Democratic Party , PDP, Chieftain in Ebonyi state, Evangelist Rommy Obasi has applauded the federal government on its effort to implement oil subsidy programme, stating that it would enhance development in Nigeria especially at the rural communities.

Obasi said that the appointment of credible people from different senatorial zones of Ebonyi state to ensure the utilization of the money generated from the oil subsidy investment was in the right direction, according to him, that would help to take development to the rural areas of the state.

He stated this while reacting to the appointment of Chief

Donatus Njoku as member representing Ebonyi south in the oil subsidy investment programme in the state. Njoku was the Chairman of Onicha Local Government Area for two terms; Obasi maintained that Chief Njoku's wealth of experience in the local government administration would contribute immensely to proper utilization of the fund allocated to the state.

The PDP Chieftain who expressed delight on the appointment also urged Njoku to use his new position to ensure that the money allocated to Ebonyi South zone is wisely expended, pointed out that since the creation of Ebonyi state, the people of Isu in Onich local government area of the state has

been neglected as they have been denied of good road network, electricity and water projects especially at Obeagu Isu where the past and present government had failed to carry the community along in terms of development despite the fact that their population and support had in various capacity assisted political leaders especially during the elections.

Obasi noted that the proper utilization of oil subsidy money in the state would not only reduce crime but create employment opportunities and development in the state, advising the people involved in the progrmme to work in partnership with the federal government as to achieve success.

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Monday, January 21 – Sunday, January 27, 2013

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BUSINESS

Nigeria owes China $678.91m– DMO

N

igeria is indebted to the Peoples Republic of China by $678.91m and not $6.26bn as earlier reported by a section of the media.

The Debt Management Office has stated that Nigeria's indebtedness to China represented 99.95 per cent of the country's total debts to bilateral and commercial creditors as at September 30, 2012.

According to the DMO, the total debt to bilateral and commercial creditors during the period under review stood at $679.22, of which $678.91m is from China.

However, China's credit facilities to Nigeria may rise due to fresh loan agreements signed by the two countries.

According to DMO, loans under negotiations from China or any other country do not constitute debt.

It said, “It is important to clarify that even if Nigeria is negotiating a new loan from China (or indeed from any other country), the loan under negotiation does not constitute a debt.

“Even when the loan is eventually contracted through the signing of loan agreement after due approval by the National Assembly, it will still not be part of the debt stock. Only the amount of the contracted loan disbursed to and received by the country, is qualified to be counted as part of the debt stock.”

However, after September 30, 2012, the Federal Government signed fresh financing agreements with Chinese institutions, though details of the expected drawdown of most of the loans are not yet known.

For instance, the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala, had on September 11, 2012 in Beijing, signed three loan agreements with the China Exim Bank. The agreements are for $500m for the Abuja Light Rail Project; $500m for the construction of four airport terminals in the country; and $100m for the Galaxy Backbone expansion of connectivity among government ministries, departments and agencies.

Also, on November 6, 2012, the government signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Sinohydro Corporation and China National Electric Engineering Corporation for the construction of the Mambila and Zungeru hydro power plants.

It was disclosed then that the Mambila plant would cost $3.2bn, with the contractors raising 85 per cent of the cost; while Zungeru would cost $1.3bn with the Federal Government contributing 25 per cent of the sum as counterpart funding.

The loan agreement signing was witnessed by ministers of Aviation, Federal Capital

Territory and Works (State), Ms. Stella Oduah, Senator Bala Mohammed, and Ambassador Bashir Yuguda, respectively, who were part of the team that worked out the final details of the agreement.

Also present were the DirectorGeneral, DMO, Dr. Abraham Nwankwo, and Special Adviser to the President on Performance Monitoring, Prof. Sylvester Monye.

Explaining the rationale for prioritising the projects for which the loans would be utilised, Okonjo-Iweala said they were targeted at making a difference in the lives of Nigerians across socio-economic segments.

She said, “President Goodluck Jonathan is keeping his promise to Nigerians through these important projects. The light rail in Abuja will improve transportation for all residents, especially the working class.

“The Galaxy Backbone project will help to improve service delivery in areas like education and health, while empowering the youth with better connectivity to the rest of the world.

“And the five new airport terminals will, like the others, create jobs and also ensure that Nigerian air passengers enjoy the services and convenience that their counterparts in other parts of the world take for granted.”

On the Abuja light rail project, Mohammed had said, “We are here for formality. We are here to start drawing from the facilities so that the Chinese company that is handling it, CCECC, will get the finance.”

The project had earlier been suspended for lack of finance, but with the new financing window, the construction resumed.

On the new airport terminals, Oduah, had while announcing the loan in September 2012, indicated that mobilisation to site would begin within 90 days.

The loan, which was to be utilised by a Chinese firm for the construction of the airport terminals, has 22-year tenure, a moratorium of five years and an interest rate of two per cent per annum.

Oduah had said, “Following the approval of Federal Executive Council, we have concluded arrangements to commence the construction of not just one, but five brand new and world class international airports.

“The contracts for the construction of the five airports have a lifespan of 24 months. The projects are to be executed with a concessionary loan of 22 years with five years moratorium at an interest rate of two per cent.

“Mobilisation to site by the contractors is expected to commence within 90 days. What

this means is that before the end of the lifespan of this administration, we would have been able to bequeath to Nigerians the airports of their dreams. This is a giant, bold step by the present administration to provide Nigerians and the travelling public with airports that truly tell the story of whom we are as a nation.”

On the modernisation of the

Lagos-Kano rail line, the Federal Executive Council had on July 18, 2012 approved the $1bn loan from Exim Bank of China.

Announcing this at the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding for the award of contract, the Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar, said negotiations for $500m had been concluded, while negotiations for the second

tranche of $500m would be concluded in due course.

On December 20, the Federal Government announced that the Abuja-Kano rail line had been restored under the contract.

Maku praised the Federal Government for this achievement during his press briefing on the achievements of government on December 31, 2012.

Account for Ibru's N191bn seized assets Melaye's group A

nti-Corruption Network has called on the Special Fraud Unit of the Nigeria Police and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to account for the N191bn assets seized from the Managing Director of the defunct Oceanic Bank Plc, Mrs. Cecilia Ibru.

Ibru had forfeited the assets to the Federal Government after pleading guilty to mismanaging shareholders' money under a plea bargain deal.

She was charged with financial offences ranging from money laundering, wire fraud to abuse, after she was sacked by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

The ACN Executive Secretary, Mr. Dino Melaye, at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, called on the Police SFU and EFCC to tell Nigerians the whereabouts of all the properties, cash, shares and other things recovered from Ibru.

The ex-House of Representatives member said, “Our investigation and physical visits to some of the properties in the United States and United Kingdom revealed that some of the properties claimed to have been forfeited are still in her custody directly or indirectly.

“Nigerians home and abroad were aware of the case of Mrs. Cecilia Ibru and her eventual conviction in the court of law.

The case eventually ran aground Oceanic Bank and put billions of Naira of shareholders' money in jeopardy. You are also aware that plea bargain was introduced to this case and consequently, she w a s c o n v i c t e d disproportionately to the degree of crime she committed.”

According to him, the recovered properties should be published, advertised and sold with the proceeds deposited with the Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation and Assets Management Company of Nigeria.

The organisation also demanded that an independent body should

Mr Dino Melaye

be constituted to verify the properties and their current status through investigation and visits to the countries where some of the assets are.

Melaye said, “She (Ibru) has since been freed. The EFCC claimed that they had recovered all the properties so fraudulently acquired with shareholders' money the aircraft and monies.

If actually these monies and aircraft were recovered, they are supposed to be deposited with the NDIC and AMCON for onward transfer to the shareholders of the defunct Oceanic Bank.

“This is a pointer to the fact that the much talked about fight against corruption by President Goodluck Jonathan administration is a mere lip service and fallacy.

“You will all recall how many ministers we have published their evidentially supported corrupt practices and they are still sitting comfortably in the Federal Executive Council meetings under the watchful eyes of Mr. President.”

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EDUCATION

Expert calls for update of ICT curricula in universities M

r Anibe Onuche, Network/Communicati on Manager, Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria, on Wednesday called for an update of the curricula of ICT related courses in Nigerian universities.

Onuche told journalists in an interview in Lagos that the appraisal was essential to improve the quality of ICT graduates from the nation's universities.

“More than 70 per cent of the computer programming and languages being taught in most Nigerian universities are now outdated compared to modern day technology.

“There are new programmes and languages being introduced every day and we need to update our curricula to keep abreast with the latest developments in the ICT sector.

“For instance, sometime last year, HTMO5 and CSS3 were introduced as web-based technology and the future of mobile technology and these things are not taught in our

schools,” he said.

Onuche urged the Federal Government to take proactive measures to make the nation's universities produce world class ICT graduates.

He said that the current school curricula did not favour innovation and skill acquisition because ICT had gone beyond that level.

“There is a difference between future contributors and future

users of ICT; a trader can always buy a laptop and access his mails, he is a user.

“But someone who actually goes to school to learn computer or ICT related courses is a future

contributor; if he is adequately taught, he can actually come out with innovative solutions to address national problems,'' he said.

Onuche said it was worrisome that graduates still had to attend private institutions at huge costs to acquire recent ICT innovations because of outdated facilities in universities.

Wife of Enugu State Governor, Mrs. Clara Chime carrying the First Baby the Year, Chimsimdi Edeh, born at the Park-lane Specialist Hospital, Enugu, while the mother, Mrs. Pamela Ede and the Chief Medical Director of the Hospital, Dr. Gabriel Njeze look on.......recently

Over 6,000 fresh students admitted by UNN

By Patrick Okolie

O

VER 6,000 new students were formally admitted into various faculties of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) during the 39th Matriculation ceremony of the institution held yesterday.

Addressing the fresh students, the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Bartho Okolo congratulated them for their success during the admission stage and tasked them to tow the footsteps of great men and women who had passed through the University on their path to eminence.

The Vice-Chancellor's address was read by Deans of Faculty, as the matriculation ceremony was held in different faculties of the University.

Prof Okolor said; “You earned a place at today's ceremony because of your impressive performances at both the University Matriculation Examination (UME) and the Post University Matriculation Examination (PUME). You should all be proud of this achievement.”

“However, you should be humbled by the fact that less than 7000 of you have been given the opportunity out of the over 100,000 candidates that competed for a place at the University of Nigeria.”

Prof. Okolo advised the fresh students to resist any temptation of

involving themselves in antisocial behaviours, stressing that the University had zero tolerance policy on cultism and examination malpractice.

He further asked those who were already members of cult groups before joining the University to denounce such memberships or risk being expelled and prosecuted by the police.

“There are a number of legitimate students' clubs which are

registered with the Department of Students' Affairs. You are encouraged to identify the ones that appeal to you, and to register and participate in the activities of these genuine associations,” the VC told the students.

He also entreated them to be lawabiding and prioritise their academic work to enable them achieve their mission to the University.

The Vice-Chancellor noted that his administration had made spirited effort to improve the welfare of students and provide a congenial environment for their learning.

According to him, the administration had embarked on the execution of students' oriented projects, ranging from the modernisation of classrooms and laboratories, construction of students' multipurpose centre, to

digitalisation of classrooms and provision of facilities for extracurricular activities.

Prof. Okolo assured the students that the University will not renege on its duty to offer them the needed support to enable them actualise their dreams and aspirations. He however urged them to make their own input, stating that “to whom much is given, much is also expected”.

How 2015 Jonathan, Atiku interests tear Ohanaeze Ndigbo apart Continues from page 6 perceived undemocratic process applied in the election.

The 'Ime Obi' members were said to be piqued by the entire processes, describing it as a "kangaroo election" and have vowed to do the right thing.

They are equally worried about the desperation of the chairman of the Committee and Enwo-Igariwey who were bent on holding the election in the absence of all the stakeholders.

Some are said to have confided in some Governors that they were not party to the purported election, wondering how he wanted to lead Ndiigbo without the support of the Governors who are the political heads of the southeast states and the financial backers of Ohanaeze.

But Igariwey told reporters shortly after the election that he did not need the governors to function as Ohanaeze President General, stressing that the body ought to be free from any interference to enable it play the roles expected by Ndigbo.

No sooner than the newly elected officers were inaugurated by Justice

Eze Ozobu ,rtd, former president general, than his nephew, Prince Richard Ozobu, the secretary to the electoral committee, called the January election 12 a sham, saying he was going ahead with a fresh election scheduled to hold in Ebonyi State on January 19. Richard Ozobu is being followed by some aggrieved members of Ohanaeze like Chief Emma Okocha from Delta State who claimed they were not given nomination forms in his state.

The aggrieved states had taken steps to conduct the "proper election" for the election of the Ohanaeze Executive last Saturday, January 19, at Abakaliki but while arrangements for the election were being concluded, some members of the electoral committee went to an Enugu High Court and obtained an interim injunction halting it. The court had on Thursday given an interim injunction restraining Prince Richard Ozobu from conducting any further election to elect officers of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation other than those elected on January 12.

Chairman of the electoral committee,

Chief Asoluka and Dr. Mrs Eneh, who replaced Ozobu as secretary, went to court and obtained the injunction to stop the Ebonyi election.

The court order, signed by the Director of Litigation and Courts Division, V.A. Aneke, in the court of Justice C. I. Nwobodo, disclosed that, "upon an application by motion on ex-parte brought pursuant to Order 30 Rules 1,3, (2)(3) of the High Court Rules, 2006 and under the inherent jurisdiction of the honourable court dated January 16, and filed the same day, supported by an affidavit of 33 paragraphs sworn to by Mrs. Selina Ugwuoke-Adibuah, written address and exhibits 011-002," the order was made.

The court said that after hearing the submissions of Sir O. A. U. Onyema, counsel to the two plaintiffs with Mr. I. M. Olunkwa and Ebeke Christopher and upon considering the facts contained in the affidavit, exhibit and written address ordered as follows: "An interim injunction restraining the defendant whether by himself, agents, privies or by whatsoever or whomsoever from conducting any

further election to elect any other person as officers of Ohanaeze Ndigbo outside those elected on Saturday 12th day of January 2013, pending the determination of the motion on notice.

"An interim injunction restraining the defendant whether by himself, agents, privies and servants from further making public statements or announcements or by text messages on behalf of Ohanaeze Ndigbo National Election Committee 2013, pending the determination of the motion on notice.

"An interim injunction restraining the defendant, whether by himself, agents, privies and servants from creating any third party interest by conducting another Ohanaeze Ndigbo election on 19th day of January, 2013 and beyond, pending the determination of the motion on notice." The court adjourned the case to January 30 for hearing of the application.

However, Prince Ozobu, who claimed that he was not served the order of the court but heard about it in the media, said that after due consultation with the stakeholders, he decided to suspend the Saturday election until further notice.

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Sports in Nigeria 2013 –Taking a dive into the waves of development and achievements Stories By Okey Anyichie

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012, has gone into the limbo of history, especially for what it did in sports development. Hence looking at the year 2012, it was a year that the global sports festival called the Olympics took place in LondonBritain. The third time this country that colonized Nigeria from 1861 until 1960, organized and hosted this ultimate global sports competition. And the games attracted all the sports men and women from all the nooks and crannies of the world. Like the games slogan of faster, stronger and higher produced scintillating performances of these global athletes and the events in London, a very glamourous sporting spectacular. Africa was also at the global sports festival in London.

But sad to say, the Nigerian team to this 2012 sports festival in London failed to perform.

Nigeria came into the global Olympic games family in 1952 in Helsinki-Finland, when a team from the then colony led by an expatriate sports officer called Mr. P.V.P Powell participated in that edition of the games in Finland.

After the Finland games, Nigeria in 1956 in Melbourne-Australia competed with other countries at the games. Then in 1960, the year of independence, Nigerian team was also in Rome-Italy, the venue of the 1960 games. However, the climax of the Nigeria Olympic games since 1952 matured with the winning of the first Olympic medal by a Nigerian boxer, Nojion Maiyegun from the present Lagos state. Since 1964 games to 2012

Malam Bolaji Minister of sport games, Nigeria has only collected 3 gold medals and this is not good enough for our standard in sports development. If one takes a comparative analysis of achievements of countries like Kenya, Ethiopia and Egypt, paints a conservative picture of our standard at the games since 1952, which is sixty- one years this year.

Taking a retrospect at other events like football, athletics, boxing, judo, volleyball, handball and other events that should make

Patrick Ekeji Director of sport

our sports men and women shine last year, all were on a marginal dimension. It was even very sad that the national team in the game of football, the Super Eagles; failed to fly to the venue of the 2012 edition of the Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

Again this is another year of cadet soccer championship at both continental and global level. The Under-17 lads from Nigeria will participate at the African

championship in Morocco, having qualified in the last years qualifying encounters. The same will involve the under-20 soccer young men in Algeria after they were successful in the qualifying continental encounters. From Morocco and Algeria, four teams each will emerge to represent the continent in United Arab Emirate in under-17 global soccer competition with other teams from different parts of the world. While four teams from Africa trade

tackles with teams from different parts of the in under-20 in Turkey.

Nigeria won the under-17 global soccer championship in 1985 in China, 1993 in Japan and 2007 in S o u t h - K o r e a . Wi t h t h e s e antecedents in this under-17 soccer fiesta since 1985, Nigeria is expected to be one of the qualifiers after the championship in Morocco and play at the global level in United Arab Emirate in June this year. However, the impact from our boys in Under-20 age grade competition at the global level has not matched with the one of the under-17 lads.

Hence Nigeria is yet to win the global Under-20 championship since our boys in that age grade level qualified for the first time and played in Mexico with other qualifiers in 1983. Ghana is so far the only African country that has triumphed in that youth soccer competition in 2009 in Egypt.

That is so far the score-card of Nigeria in Turkey.

Therefore in looking a what 2013 has in store for sport in Nigeria, it is expected that all hands should be on deck.

Hence this month is expected to be an acid test with the Africa cup of nations opening up this January and ending on the midF e b r u a r y t h i s y e a r. T h e continental soccer competition among Africa nations will kick-off on the 20th of January 2013 in Africa. The expectation from the Super-Eagles of Nigeria is that they will not disappoint teeming soccer fans in the country, when the soccer session begins in South Africa. It is another soccer vaganza.

Nigeria at 2013 African cup of Nations behold the members of the “Super Eagles”

W

ith the kick-off of the Africa cup of nations in South Africa on the 19th January, 2013, a number of countries involved in the continental soccer competition had made elaborate preparations. Nigeria being among the sixteen countries in the competition equally prepared very hard for the competition by playing friendly matches with Venezuela, Cape Verde and beat Venezuela and drew with Cape Verde. With this preparations that led to building a standard team that would trade tackles with other teams in the competition, the names that made the final selection emerged during the week.

The National Team Manager, Couch Stephen Keshi had finally selected the following footballers to play for Nigeria when the competition kicks off in South Africa. Those selected are Vincent Enyeama, Austin Ejide and Chigozie, three of them goal-keepers. The rest members of the team are Joseph Yobo, the captain of the side, Elderson Chiejile, Juwon Oshoniwan, Efe

Ambrose, Azubuike Egwu Eke, Kenneth Omeruo, Godfrey Oboabona, John Mikel Obi, Nosa Igiebor, Ogenyi Onazi, Obiora Nwankwo Fegor Ogude, Reuben Gabriel, Ahmed Musa, Emmanuel Emenike, Brown Ideye, Victor Moses, Ikechukwu Uche, Ejike Uzoenyi and Sunday Mba. With these names finally out for the continental competition in South Africa this month, expectations are very high on the outcome of this competition that involves strong football playing countries like Cote D'lvoire, Ghana, Nigeria, Zambia, Morocco, Algeria and other countries. Nigeria started playing in continental soccer competition in 1963 in Ghana and did not win the competition until 1980. It was when the competition was hosted in Nigeria that the cup was won by the “Super Eagles” of Nigeria led by Christian Chukwu. Then in 1994 in Tunisia, another victorious outing took place and the team was led by Stephen Keshi. Now the die is cast, what will happen in this years edition.

Super Eagles

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World Best footballer of the year – a look at the past stars

By Okey Anyichie

W

hen the global body that organizes the game of football called federation of International football Associations (FIFA) was formed in May 1904, it had both the chairman, secretary and other officials that run both the game and politics of the game in their Headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland.

The organization of the first world cup soccer competition in July 1930, in Montevideo, Uruguay set the pattern of producing the global soccer phenomenon as the global competitions started rotating from one continent to the other. However since the competition kicked off in South-America, when Uruguay hosted and won the competition after beating Argentina 4-2, the competition oscillated between Europe and South-America, until 2002. It was in that year that two Asian countries of Japan and South Korea co-hosted the global soccer competition. Brazil became the fifth winners of the global soccer competition in this exercise of two countries becoming cohosts since it started in 1930. Now this fifth winners of the global soccer competition will host the competition in 2014, that is next year. It is expected that there would be great assemblage of star-footballers from all the nooks and crannies of the world as usual.

It would be recalled that since the global soccer competition started in 1930 in Uruguay, out-standing stars have emerged who were great scorers, skilled footballers and glamourous artistes who injected colours and delightful performances into the game. In looking at the stars of football across the globe since the game went worldwide, it is a joy to behold these stars of the game that made it both a beauty and joy to watch. Starting from 1930, many stars had emerged and later gave way to another generation of stars that thrilled football fans across the world. That must have made the global soccer body, the FIFA to organize a yearly award for the best footballer of the year on global scene. This award that started in 1991 comes out from the votes of sports journalists, national coaches and the captains of national football teams across the world.

And so whoever that emerged after the exercise would really deserve it. For the record the following footballers from different countries had won the world player of the year award since 1991 With these stars that had won the award since 1991, Lionel Messi stands out as the all time greatest footballer. And with his winning the award for the record four times in a row is something to herald about. It is interesting that going through the roll-call on this global soccer honours lists, an African footballer is among the awardees. This exceptional footballer from Liberia in West Africa, called George Weah did Liberia proud especially when his country men and women lost sanity by engaging in a civilwar, when they started killing themselves from 1989 to 1997, so by his being included as one of the best footballers of the world shows that the game has received favourable attention from the continent of Africa. One looks forward to another African footballer who would grow to win the award for Africa like George Weah did in 1995. This will show that Africa has arrived in the global soccer scene.

George Weah

Lionel Messi

Name

Year

Club

National

Luther Matthias

1991

Inter-Milan

Germany

Marco Van Basten

1992

AC Milan

Nertherlands

Roberto Baggio

1993

Juventus

Italy

Romario Faria

1994

FC Barcelon

Brazil

George Weah

1995

AC Milan

Liberia

Ronaldo de Lima

1996

PSV Eindhoven/FC Barcelona

Brazil

Ronaldo de Lima

1997

FC Barcelona/Inter-Milan

Brazil

Zinedine Zidane

1998

Juventus

France

Rivaldo Ferreira

1999

FC Barcelona

Brazil

Zinedine Zidane

2000

Juventus

France

Luis Figo

2001

Real Madrid

Portugal

Ronaldo de Lima

2002

Inter Milan

Brazil

Zinedine Zidane

2003

Real Madrid

France

Ronaldo de Assis

2004

FC Barcelona

Brazil

2005

FC Barcelona

Brazil

Fabio Cannavaro

2006

Juventus/Real Madrid

Italy

Ricardo Leite 'Kaka' Cristiano Ronaldo Lionel Messi “ “ “

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

AC Milan Manchester United FCBarcelona “ “ “ “ “ “

Brazil Portugal Argentina “ “ “

(Ronaldinho) Ronaldo de Assis (Ronaldinho)

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SPORTS STAR Nwankwo Kanu Brown Ideye

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Back page comment

Blood of Nigerian Christians (2)

By Gabriel Agbo

A

gain, the Nigerian church was attacked on the Christmas day by those who are bent on persecuting the church and if possible see that the Christian minority in the northern part of the country constantly live in fear. Gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram members attacked the Church of Christ in Nigeria (COCIN) at Piri village near Potiskum in Yobe State , at about 1:00am. The church was at a prayer session. They killed the pastor of the church Yohana Sini and another member by slitting their throats before their wives and children. Four other people were also shot and several others seriously injured. Then, the murderers who also went with explosives destroyed the church and set ablaze 21 houses in the attack that lasted for about three hours.

Like we said in the part one of this write-up, these attacks on churches and Christians in the northern part of the country have become constant for the past two years. No week passes without the news of attacks on Christians. It will be recalled that just last October (28/10/12), a suicide bomber attacked St. Rita's Catholic Church, Ugwan Yero in Mallai, Kaduna . That satanic messenger of death rammed his Honda CRV into the children's section, as the church was taking Holy Communion and instantly killed eight people and injured scores of worshippers, including the parish priest. And many of those injured may have also died later.

I wept as I watched those little innocent dismembered bodies and other lucky(?) ones wreathing in pains in the hospital, as they were shown on the television. I still ask what crime these little children committed to be blown apart

President Goodluck Jonathan

that way. Even if their parents committed 'crime' by being Christians, how about those little kids?

On the previous Christmas (2011), the Catholic Church in Madalla , Niger State was also bombed leaving scores of worshipers dead or maimed.

The same day another church was bombed in Bauchi. The attacks on the Christians have become a daily affair. In fact, the list has become increasingly endless. Now, there are series of questions to ask as this massacre continues: who are actually those behind this massacre?

Why attack Christians and churches when the problem was initially between Islamic sects in the North-eastern part of the country? Where were the security agents when this latest church was attacked, since the locations - Piri is just two kilometres west of Potiskum town, which is the epicentre of Boko Haram? The government and security agencies had very sufficient intelligence that there were imminent attacks planned in the country on the Christmas day. The security alert was all over the media on the Christmas Eve. Who was supposed to protect this particular church?

Then, what have the northern elites; the governors, Muslim leaders and clerics, serving and

former military leaders and traditional rulers done to stop this criminal madness? Have they really done enough? Why have some of them totally refused to say anything or at least publicly condemn this ongoing massacre of fellow citizens? Why are the mosques spared but churches destroyed?

Or have you read of any mosque or worshippers in the mosques bombed? Is this silence conspiratory? What has the government done to stop this?

Has our military done its best?

Do they know that war has been declared against the nation, her citizens and freedom? And if all these are done under a Christian president, what will eventually happen when a Muslim takes over? Why is the international community; United Nations, US, Britain and others still watching from afar, as these enemies of civilization reign in Nigeria? Do they still remember that terrorism has no boundaries; that terrorism anywhere in the world is terrorism everywhere? Or do they think that they would eventually be spared at last?

To some of you, I leave these ageless words of Mordecai to Queen Esther at a time the people of God were facing a similar threat with you, “Don't think for a moment that you will escape there in the palace when all other Jews [others] are killed.

If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance for the Jews will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die.” We must all now arise and act decisively and very quickly too. Yes, now! Compliments of the Season!

Rev. Agbo is the author of the book Power of Midnight Prayer and a minister with the Assemblies of God Nigeria.

Tel: 08037113283, E-mail: gabrielagbo@yahoo.com

Aide Brown Ideye (born 10 October 1988) is a Nigerian football forward currently playing for Ukraine Premier League side FC Dynamo Kyiv.

Club career Ideye began his career with Bayelsa United, before moving to Ocean Boys. Ideye was a member of the Ocean Boys team that won the Nigerian Premier League.

Ideye moved in January 2008 to Europe and signed with Swiss club Neuchâtel Xamax. Before this move to Switzerland he was on trial in the Netherlands with Willem II Tilburg, but was not signed. After three years with Xamax, Ideye left Neuchâtel to sign for French club FC Sochaux.

On 6 July 2011 he signed a fiveyear deal with Ukrainian side Dynamo Kyiv. He made his first appearance on 16 July against PFC Oleksandria and scored two goals.

And in his second game for Dynamo Kyiv he scored two goals again against FC Obolon Kyiv. On 7 August 2012, Ideye scored the winner in a Champions League qualifying 3rd round second-leg game against Feyenoord, in which Kiev ultimately progressed. He also scored against Borussia Mönchengladbach in the secondleg of the play-off round.

Mönchengladbach won the game 2-1, but Kiev progressed to the Champions League group stage thanks to a 4-3 aggregate score.

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