Senate backs emergency rule in Borno, Yobe, Adamawa

Vol. 1 No. 23, Monday, May 20 - Tuesday, May 26, 2013

Enugu North Local Government Area

Blazing the trail in 3rd tier governance Page 11

N150

I will remain with Ndigbo, they are so nice to me -P Jonathan age 3

Senate backs emergency rule in Borno, Yobe, Adamawa

By Ted Peters & Uba Ani

120 insurgents arrested at burial of Boko Haram commander

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gainst all expectations, the Nigerian Senate Tuesday unanimously backed the state of emergency slammed on Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states last week, by President Goodluck Jonathan, following what was seen as ceaseless and senseless killings of people in the affected states

by Boko Haram Islamist group.

The Nigerian military announced the arrest of 120 militants at a funeral ceremony for one of the commanders of the Boko Haram killed during a

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PROFESSOR CHINUA ACHEBE GOES HOME: The remains of the departed literary icon, Prof. Chinua Achebe arrived Nigeria from United States Tuesday. He was received at Abuja by members of his family led by his widow, Prof. Christie Achebe, SGF Anyim Pius Anyim, Gov. Peter Obi, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, his children and other dignitaries before leaving for Enugu en route Nkwelle Ogidi, his final resting place in Anambra State.

Chime is a blessing to Enugu State – Monarch Page 18

Some powerful persons want to suppress my child's murder - Pastor Page 2 ¡Four suspects remanded in prison custody

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6 pregnant teenagers nabbed for intending to sell babies in Enugu ¨4 others in police net for stealing 12-day-old baby

By Ted Peters

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HE illicit business of selling babies to make quick money which has been thriving in the South Eastern part of the country for sometime

now, has assumed a more dangerous dimension as the perpetrators have continued to adopt different styles to continue with the human trade even with the current vigilance by security men and members of the public.

Six pregnant young girls who were

quartered in a house in Ogui area of Enugu capital city by members of the "Baby for sale" syndicate were nabbed Tuesday while three of the human merchants are now in police net.

Also in Enugu, the police recovered a 12-day old baby stolen

from his mother and sold to a couple. Four suspects including the sellers and the couple that allegedly purchased the stolen baby are now being interrogated.

The Enugu State Police Command confirmed, Tuesday, the arrest of six pregnant young girls in a home

where they were allegedly being prepared to deliver their babies for sale.

The Public Relations Officer of the command, Mr Ebere Amaraizu, said in a statement that the girls were arrested at No. 7, Anyansi Lane, Ogui in Enugu.

According to him, the girls, aged between 16 and 17 years, had negotiated with people who would buy their babies after delivery.

It could not be ascertained at press time how the girls were impregnated or who was responsible for their pregnancies which were at different stages.

Amaraizu confirmed the arrest of three other persons in connection with the incident, saying that investigations are in top gear on the incident.

The police spokesman said the girls were smuggled out of their guardians' homes.

In a related development, four persons have been arrested for allegedly stealing a 12-day old male child from the mother after delivery in an unnamed maternity home on Ebony Paint road, Awkunanaw, Enugu.

Amaraizu said the arrest of a couple led to the arrest of two others allegedly involved in the incident.

The arrests followed a report made by the nursing mother whose child disappeared from the hospital.

He said the police had recovered the stolen child, who is in good health, while the suspects were helping the police in its investigations.

Some powerful persons want to suppress my child's murder - Pastor ¡Four suspects remanded in prison custody

By Ted Peters

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ATHER of the four-yearold Marvelous Ugochukwu recently murdered allegedly for ritual purposes, Rev. Pastor Charles Nwachukwu Ejim has raised an alarm over the alleged attempts by some influential and wealthy persons in his community to sweep the murder under the carpet.

The bereaved Rev. Ejim has therefore called upon Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State and the state Commissioner of Police to look into the matter in order to ensure that justice was done.

However, following public outcry against the heinous crime and the alleged reluctance of the investigating police officers to bring the culprits to book, the new police commissioner in the state, Mr. Abubakar Adamu Mohammed was said to have ordered that the suspects be charged to court without any delay. The four suspected killers of the young boy were therefore arraigned before an Enugu Magistrate Court last week

for murder and thereafter remanded in prisons custody.

Marvelous Ugochukwu Ejim, a nursery 3 pupil, was reportedly kidnapped from his father's compound on Thursday April, 25, 2013 at Umuatugbuoma village, Akaegbe-Ugwu community in Nkanu West local Government Area of Enugu State.

Umuatugbuoma is about four kilometers away from Enugu capital city.

The key suspect in the murder case, an intimate friend of the Ejims, one Chijindu Ewo, 23, allegedly abducted the lad and connived with four others who slashed the boy's throat with a knife in a hideout.

The blood of the slain Marvelous was said to have been drained inside a bucket and taken to a yetto-be identified person(s) apparently for ritual. The boy's corpse was later dumped inside a bush behind his father's compound.

The incident occurred at a remote village, Umuatugbuoma , Akaegbe-Ugwu in Nkanu West local Government Area of Enugu

State on Thursday, April, 25, 2013.

The principal suspect, who confessed to the crime, had named four other suspects who took part in killing the boy and detectives from the homicide section of the State Criminal Investigations Department, CID, of Enugu State Police Command arrested the four suspects, who are now being detained in Cell 1 at the CID. But speaking with The Advocate in Enugu, Rev. Ejim alleged that even after the key suspect, Chijindu had taken police detectives to the scene of the incident, and identified four other young men in the area said to be involved in the killing of the lad, the police seemed to be footdragging in prosecuting the suspects.

"The key suspect, Chijindu has taken them to the spot where the killing of my child took place; he has given them names of the four young men involved in the killing.

Three of them were arrested. The police men are saying that they don't have enough evidence to prosecute the four suspects. But I am aware that some wealthy

"The detectives are saying that the key suspect have named many accomplices.

If that is true, why can't they screen all those he was said to have named. But I am sure that the key suspect, Chijindu said that only four persons were involved in my child's killing. Now the police are saying that they are going to release the four suspects because they don't have enough information Marvelous Ugochukwu, victim to prosecute them.

We a r e v e r y of suspected ritual killing surprised.�

When contacted, the persons want to suppress the state Police Public Relations matter so that the blood of my O ff i c e r, P P RO, said that innocent child will be wasted in investigation into the matter was vain," he said.

Ejim alleged that the family of the on course but denied knowledge of key suspect had obtained a any attempt by some officers and medical report apparently from a influential persons in the purported Pyschiatric hospital to community to suppress the matter. give the false impression that the He advised anybody with issues key suspect suffered insanity way regarding the investigation into back in 2000. "All this is aimed at the alleged murder of the lad to suppressing the case," he alleged. come forward with such for The pentecostal pastor added, necessary action.

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I will remain with Ndigbo, they are so nice to me - Jonathan ¨Fulfills campaign promise to S-East ¨Says Ethiopian airline will fly from Enugu in June ¨ What we want from you– Igbo leaders

By Ted Peters & Mary Chinda

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RESIDENT Goodluck J o n a t h a n , S a t u r d a y, expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the people of the South East geo-political zone for the tremendous supports they have given to him since he ventured into national politics with a firm promise that he would remain with Ndigbo and would always protect their interest in his administration.

The president, however, fulfilled his campaign promise to boost the economy of Ndigbo and the South East zone by commissioning the remodelled terminal of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport Enugu, with an assurance that the first international flight by Ethiopian Airline would take off from the airport next month.

Jonathan, who also addressed Igbo stakeholders and political leaders at a forum held at the Government House, Enugu, noted that the people of the South East had been so nice to him, saying he had enjoyed a robust support of the Ndigbo and would therefore remain with them in all his activities.

He said that the upgrade of the Enugu airport was one of the key requests he received from the people of the South East during his campaign in 2011, adding that he promised to bring about the transformation of the economy by opening up the international wing of the airport.

"This is the fulfillment of that promise. I am grateful that this promise is being fulfilled through key interventions not only here at the Akanu Ibiam international airport, Enugu, but also at the Sam Mbakwe Cargo Airport in Owerri and other major sectors.

We shall not relent until every promise we made is fulfilled," the president said.

According to him, "with Enugu hosting a brand new runway and a newly remodelled terminal, the South East region of Nigeria will be saying to the world we are open for business.”

Laying the foundation of the new international terminal of the airport, a project expected to be completed in December 2014, the president said when completed, the airport would lift about 500,000 international passengers each year as well as facilitate the export of farm produce from Nigeria.

He said that the South East is a land-locked area, stressing that "if there is any zone in this country that really needs international airport, it is the South East

President Goodluck Jonathan because most other zones have access to the sea but the South East is land-locked even when the people of the zone are more in commerce, industry and are the most travelled."

Thanking all Nigerians for giving him the opportunity to serve, Jonathan said that even though it was not possible to do all things within a space of eight years in government, he had taken few things that are salient and did them so well which had led to significant changes.

"You will agree with me that within the past two years, we have identified some few areas and we are working hard in those areas and we are doing well in those areas and we will continue to work hard in those areas and surely this country will change.”

"What we request from all Nigerians is peace. We cannot do anything when we do not have the peace. With peace there will be economic development, employment and we can create wealth. Without peace we cannot get to where we want to go.

"And for that reason government must make sure that all parts of this country enjoy peace and we are pleading with our people where we have false religious conflicts to give peace a chance. I said false religion because the concept of Boko Haram is not Islam, so it is a pseudo religious conflict with ethnic cleansing in some parts of the North. We have excessive robbery and kidnapping in some parts of the

South South and South East.

Government is pleading and we must talk to our boys, brothers and friends that they must make sure that we live in peace in this country.

"Government is pleading for people to live in peace but where people still feel they must continue to cause crisis in any part of the country, government will enforce law and order," the president said.

Var i o u s m i n i s t e r s o n t h e president's entourage had

addressed the stakeholders on the numerous infrastructure developments in the zone declaring that the administration had shown enough commitment to the progress of the South East.

Earlier, Governor Sullivan Chime had applauded the president for the humility, calm disposition and uncommon statesmanship which he had meticulously deployed to record outstanding achievements since destiny beckoned on him to lead this great country.

"Precisely on December 18, 2010, you concretized your promise of the first-ever international airport for the South-East zone when you commissioned the expanded and upgraded tarmac of the airport here in Enugu. Today, it is a reality. We look forward to being witnesses, once again, when you also personally commission the new-look domestic terminal of this airport which now boasts of facilities for both domestic and international flight operations.

Mr. President, we say a very big thank you," Chime said.

Speaking on behalf of the South East leaders, the Governor of Anambra state, Peter Obi, thanked the president for his commitment towards the development of the zone.

He, however, listed some areas which require urgent federal government's intervention in the zone including the construction of the second Niger Bridge, federal roads particularly rehabilitation of Enugu - Port Harcourt, Enugu Onitsha and Owerri - Elele federal roads as well as the critical ecological problems in some

states of the zone.

Indeed, Obi referred to the fulfillment of the electioneering promise when he told Jonathan that the South-East merits its own international airport to enable the people, being the most widely travelled in Nigeria, traverse the world to market their entrepreneurial attributes.

On the Second Niger Bridge, the Igbo leaders said: “The bridge will serve as an important economic corridor that is at the heart of a globally recognized emerging industrial hub, not just for this nation, but for the entire Africa. The salient national benefits of a second bridge across River Niger cannot be overemphasized.In our last meeting, you promised to flag off this project within the First Quarter of 2013. We humbly plead that you return to our zone in the not-too-distant future to fulfil this promise for which your commitment is not in doubt.”

On roads, they said: “The presence of a good road network.

The present state of most federal roads in our zone remains deplorable and our people very often use these roads as a comparative measure of the federal government's commitment to our zone.

“In this context, sir, we wish to once more as a people appeal for your due attention to the EnuguPort-Harcourt, Enugu-Onitsha, and the Owerri-Elele federal roads, which we have repeatedly brought to your attention. These roads form a critical tripod in our national transportation mosaic.

Similarly, a critical bridge on the hump of the federal road linking Abakaliki to Ogoja is in dire need of replacement.”

“The erosional incursions in our five states”, the Igbo leaders said, “seem to have no boundaries.

Some work has been done, but much more remains to be done.”

State of Emergency: Military operations already yielding results Presidency

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resident Goodluck Jonathan has thanked Nigerians for their support for the state of emergency declared last week in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States.

Senior Special Assistant to the President, Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, made this known in a statement on Sunday.

The statement read, “President Goodluck Jonathan has expressed gratitude to all Nigerians for the overwhelming support they have given to the declaration of state of emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states.

The President also thanked the leadership of the National Assembly and many of its members, who have through calls and personal visitations, given solidarity and support for this extraordinary step taken by the President in order to halt the

mindless killings, bombings and general insecurity that had prevailed in that part of the country.

“The President also notes with gratification the positive disposition and understanding of the governors of the federation, especially the Northern Governors Forum, Leaders and Elders in the North, traditional rulers, religious leaders, cultural and political groups nationwide, including opposition political parties, civil society organisations and the media.

Okupe said the President was appreciative of the efforts, loyalty, commitment and sacrifice of members of the armed forces and other security agencies, who had demonstrated commendable patriotism and gallantry in compliance with the order of the

Commander-in Chief.

Okupe further stated, “Mr. President also appreciates the encouragement by members of the diplomatic corps and international community, and promises that as a disciplined force, members of the Armed Forces will operate according to acceptable international rules of engagement and will pay particular attention to the safety and well-being of the citizens of the affected states during this period of emergency rule.

“Mr. President also notes that the efforts of the Armed Forces have already started yielding positive results, as available information confirm that the insurgents have been dislodged from their previous safe havens and camps, while many have been apprehended, and their activities in the affected states have been brought to a total halt.”

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Achebe: Igbo artistes line up pre-funeral events

By Ted Peters

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he Igbo coalition of artistes and writers in collaboration with Godfrey Okoye University is organizing pre-funeral activities in honour of the late literary icon, Professor Chinua Achebe.

Chairman of the Organizing committee, Ogbueshi Emma Okocha, told reporters in Enugu that the activities will run from May 17 to 21 when they will join the larger national burial programme at the arrival of Achebe's corpse in Enugu.

Okocha said that a civic centre would be built in Enugu and named after Achebe in recognition to his literary contributions.

He further disclosed that masquerades would perform in all the communities of Igboland on May 25 to honour Achebe as an institution and as masquerade performer.

"Achebe was a historian through literature and we are going to create history through his burial. We are poised to celebrate the Igbo averter, he will be buried with masquerades because

of his courageous stand against corruption," said Okocha.

According to the week-long memorial programme, May 17 will feature interdenominational service while on May 18, there will be a colloquium at the Godfrey Okoye University by six Vice Chancellors and Professors. The night of May 18 will feature ace comedian, Chief Chika Okpala, (Zebrudaya Okoroigwe Nwogbo) alias 4:30. There will also be cultural performances like the Atilogwu Ezeagu, Ikorodo from Nsukka among others.

The climax of the programme is on May 19 when internal football match between the Igbo first-eleven would play against the world stars like Kanu Nwankwo and Jay Jay Okocha at Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium Enugu.

Also, Rangers International FC will play against Tunisia in honour of Achebe and former President of Tunisia, Habib Bourguiba, the influential Arab leader who lamented and cried to stop the slaughter of Igbo people during the Nigeria civil war

in 1969.

Night of May 19 will feature stage presentation of choir of the GOU, UNN and the Enugu state choir conducted by Prof. Laz Ekwueme and Nwokolobi Agu to be conducted by Nwokedi of the Champion Lagos choristers. There will equally be tribute by the world renowned poet and Professor of modern languages, Chimalum Nwankwo.

May 20 will be day of presentations by people like the great sculptor Demas Nwoko who was Achebe's roommate at the University of Ibadan. Also to speak are Prof. Chukwuemeka Ike who is Achebe's contemporary, Achebe's publisher Arthur Nwankwo, Prof. Emordi, famous writer Elechi Amadi, Senator Jim Nwobodo of University of Ibadan alumnus where Achebe studied English, former Vice President Alex Ekwueme, former Secretary General of Common Wealth, Emeka Anyaoku, Prof. Bede Okigbo, author of Blood on the Niger and The Jews of Africa Emma Okocha.

8 to die by hanging over ex-police officer's murder

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Name: Ijeoma Ezenwafor Name: Okoli Birthday: 16 OctBrenda Hobby: Modeling Profession: Student and Acting Likes:Traveling, Honesty Music, Praying Hobby: Dislike: Dishonesty Likes: Honesty, Neatness, God fearing Email: brendyo417@yahoo.com People Source:Nagging, st santosLies, productions Dislike: Dishonesty 07067899677 Phone: 08068092202

mo State High Court presided over by Hon. Justice C.M.I. Egole, has sentenced eight persons to death by hanging for their alleged involvement in the brutal murder of an ex-police officer, Nze Dominic Ohamadiaku Duru, from Izombe, Oguta local council area of the state.

Those waiting for the hangman include James Ugwuoha Duru, Fester Nuforo, Alexander Nnadi alias Apollo, Friday Nuforo and Jonathan Chuddy Nnadi, a staff of Imo Broadcasting Corporation, IBC, Owerri.

Others are Chifoanu Okorie, Matthias Ohazurike and Evans Egbujor, while the ninth accused person, Mrs. Sussana James Duru, was

however discharged and acquitted by the court for not participating actively in the dastardly act.

Delivering judgment We d n e s d a y after analyzing critically the evidence before him in suit number HOW/4C/2007, Justice Egole pronounced the eight persons guilty of conspiracy and murder.

“You are to be hanged on your neck until you be dead and may God have mercy on your souls”, Justice Egole said.

In exonerating the woman, Egole said she was only linked to one of the convicts, James Ugwuoha Duru, by marriage, adding that although she accompanied her husband to the house of the deceased on that fateful day, she never participated

in the heineous act.

In pleading for leniency, the convicts took turns in showering encomium on the deceased and even went further to describe him as “our father and benefactor” and appealed to the court to tamper justice with mercy.

Evans Egbujor expressed worry over the uncertainty that now envelopes his i m m e d i a t e f a m i l y, especially as his wife is currently lying in the morgue and awaiting burial.

The convicted persons and others still at large, had on that fateful day, lured the deceased to his farmland in Okpuzi in the village, where they laid siege for him and snuffed life out of him.

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50 killed as ancient tree falls in Imo

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ver 50 people are feared dead while several others were critically injured when a tall tree known as Osisi Ukwu Uko, collapsed on buildings, as well as those transacting their business in a market located under the tree.

The tragedy struck at Umudagu Mbieri, Mbaitoli local council area of Imo State late Thursday night, following a heavy downpour that was accompanied by a ferocious windstorm and thunder.

It was also gathered that most of the victims were either traders, who were selling their wares in the market, their customers, some passers-by and others who were taking shelter in the town hall and the surrounding houses.

A boy, who simply gave his name as Emeka, said at the scene of the ugly incident that “about 50 bodies had been removed from the place”, adding that a woman whose leg was dismembered by the fallen tree, had been taken to hospital where medical personnel were battling to save her life.

The devastating rainstorm, which started at about 6 pm on the fateful day, continued through the night and spilled over to the morning hours of Friday.

Some of the places damaged by the fallen tree included a segment the market stalls, the town hall and some private buildings located close to the tree.

No fewer than 11 more bodies, including a small girl, were dug out from under the weight of the fallen tree before newsmen left the scene of the tragic incident

Friday, even as the youths were still digging and combing the entire place for more bodies.

Lamenting over the ugly incident, the former state chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP,

Affairs, Mr. Ademorin Kuye, made the remarks at the 2013 ministerial Press Briefing held in Alausa, Ikeja, to commemorate the sixth year anniversary of Governor Babatunde Fashola's administration.

Kuye said the statistics was a product of a recent research

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agos state government, , said that over N1 billion was spent monthly by residents on merriment and entertainment in the state.

The state government however, said advocators for Local Government autonomy were insincere, saying “they were only pushing for it to score political points.”

Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy

Chief Marcellinus Nlemigbo, whose ancestral home is a shouting distance away from the scene said, “the incident was most devastating and has thrown the entire community into deep

conducted by the State's Ministry of Economic Planning and Budgeting, saying “this justified the reason why local Governments demand that anyone organising events in the state must pay the Merriment Tax.” According to him, “There is merriment tax in that

mourning”.

Continuing, Nlemigbo said: “The tree was a symbol of the community and no living person in our community can fully narrate the history attached to the

tree. The tree had always been there until yesterday (Thursday night)”.

While debunking the rumour now making the rounds that the tree had fetish attachments to it, Chief Nlemigbo however expressed unhappiness that some elders in the community had severally resisted earlier arrangements to fell the tree.

A villager that gave his name as Amarachi Obumunonye blamed the community's elders for bluntly refusing initial plans to cut the tree.

He however recalled with grief that when some parts of the tree were trimmed about 20 years ago, the two individuals engaged to execute the job died unexpectedly after about a week, adding that this lent credence to the belief that the gods residing in the tree had been angered.

Some villagers around the scene confirmed that a middle aged mad woman had May 14, 2013, warned the traders, who usually sold their wares close and under the tree to relocate or be prepared to face unpleasant consequences but this was largely ignored.

Wailing and lamentations coming from very close relations and sympathizers still enveloped the scene, while joint rescue operation from Umudagu youths, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, the Fire Service, policemen and men of the State Emergency Management Agency led by the Executive Secretary, Mrs. Uche Ezeonyeasi, were still working at press time.

constitution, its part of the rate Local Governments can collect.

We have not fully utilised the benefit of the entertainment industry in this state”.

“Over N1billion is spent monthly in Lagos state on entertainment and parties, we have the records to confirm this and this people, how many of

them pay tax? The money goes into drinks, wine, food, aso-ebi and all of that and when they spend all of this money; they do not want to pay anything to the government”.

He lamented that the benefits of entertainment have not been fully tapped and utilised in the state and the country, stressing that taxes accruing to the government are spent on merriment.

FG to train 700 N-Delta youths in ICT, others

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etermined to confront the high rate of joblessness in the Niger Delta region, the Federal Government has concluded arrangements to train over 700 youths in various fields of endeavour at the skill acquisition centre in Otuoke, Ogbia Local Government Area

of Bayelsa State.

The Federal Government is also collaborating with an Irish company with a view to training 200 of the youths in assembling of I-pad and other telephone accessories and offer them automatic employment.

Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe, while

on a tour of the N3.4 billion Otuoke Skill Acquisition Centre, said construction works at the centre would be completed by June and the campus put to use in July, 2013.

Orubebe said: “This centre is going to train our youths in oil and gas, maritime studies and i n f o r m a t i o n a n d communications technology, ICT. A company is also coming here to train our youths in

assembling of I-pad and telephones.”

The company, he said was working with GSM providers, MTN, Etisalat, Airtel, and Glo, adding, “200 of the youths will automatically be employed by the company. I just come back from Ireland. I went there for a meeting with the company owners and that also is on course. We are going to start the programme in this campus.”

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FG repatriates 19,000 illegal immigrants *N405 billion surveillance cameras for Nigeria's borders, US to provide support- Minister

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he Minister of Interior, Abba Moro, has revealed that 19, 000 illegal immigrants have been arrested and repatriated by the Federal Government to rid the nation of expatriates suspected to be fueling insurgency in parts of the country. Moro told newsmen that: “19,000 illegal immigrants have been sent out of the country and that surveillance equipment would be installed at the nation's borders, in collaboration with the United States of America.”

According to the minister, “extraordinary problems require extraordinary solutions and we will do what is necessary to address the current challenges”.

Explaining the cost implications of installing the surveillance equipment at the borders, Moro revealed that the earlier quotations by two foreign firms with the expertise to undertake the project, ZTE and Hawaei conglomerates, were in the region of about $2. 6 billion (about N405 billion). His words, “on the cost of implementing the surveillance equipment in our borders, we are in the process of certifying one of those that can be awarded. It is within the region of $2.6 billion and it was tendered by a Chinese firm, ZTE and Hawaei conglomerate”.

He added, however, that with the offer by America to play a role in the project, the cost would be reduced in the final analysis.

“That money may be reduced as the United States Government is also in touch with us in fighting terror and the US government has offered to provide surveillance equipment which we will deploy to the borders”.

The minister noted that checking the influx of illegal immigrants from neighbouring countries was a great challenge due to the porous borders in the Northern states but every necessary step would be taken to stop them, especially with the war on terrorism. Massive troops deployment at the Northern borders have since been undertaken by the military authorities, following Tuesday's declaration of State of Emergency in the three states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa.

Prisons reform The minister also expressed the Federal Government's determination to reform the nation's prisons by bringing in private sector managers and decentralizing the system.

According to him, once the National Assembly amends relevant sections of the nation's constitution which placed prisons on the exclusive list, the executive would vigorously pursue the policy in the interest of efficient prison management .

He said: “The prison service is an exclusive element of the constitution. We have repeatedly indicated the readiness of government to introduce the Public Private Partnership model in the Nigerian prison.

“We have had visits from our friends from South Africa and the United Kingdom and we are tinkering with the idea of the decentralization of the prison system to enhance efficiency. But until the relevant sections of the constitution are amended, it remains the responsibility of the Federal Government”.

On steps to end Fulani /farmers clashes, the minister said the Federal Government would

pursue the creation of grazing grounds and routes for the herdsmen and that the implementation of that policy would hopefully bring about peace. Many innocent people have been killed in such raids in Bauchi, Plateau, Kaduna Plateau, A d a m a w a , Ta r a b a , K o g i , Nassarawa Benue, in the North and even Enugu and Delta states in the south.

According to him, “the crises between the Fulani and farmers have risen to a worrisome level. It is a sad development in this country. It is an unfortunate development. Only on Tuesday I had cause to go to Benue State, Agatu Local Government Area to

be precise, on account of attacks

by Fulani herdsmen who attacked five local communities and it was a very sorry experience, given the number of farmers that were killed. “What government is trying to do in that regard is to create separate routes and paths for the Fulani, as well as, grazing grounds so that once they are properly defined and they confine themselves to these routes and grazing grounds that will minimize the clashes between the Fulani and farmers”.

Moro also condemned the frequent clashes between officers of the Nigeria Police and those of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, particularly the

recent killing of two Civil Defenders at a vandalized pipeline site in Lagos.

The minister declined to give details of the investigations carried out on the incident, as according to him, President Goodluck Jonathan has personally waded into the matter and therefore decided to await the outcome of that intervention before speaking further on it.

His words, “it is unfortunate that the Civil Defence and the police should clash in the first place for whatever reason. But Mr. President has intervened and we have agreed that such a thing should not happen again.”

Achebe is Nigeria's hero - Metuh

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B U J A N AT I O N A L Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, Thursday, said that Nigerians have voted the late literary icon, Professor Chinua Achebe as the Nigerian patriot whose selflessness inspired many since independence.

His nomination, according to Metuh, in the social media sponsored promo entitled, The Nigeria Patriot Search and powered by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), received the highest number of votes. Announcing the winner in the strongly contested competition, Chief Olisa Metuh, said the exercise was among others, designed to search for the most patriotic Nigerian whose selflessness inspired many Nigerians since independence and to engage Nigerians in a soul

Chinua Achebe searching to immortalize Nigerian citizens that have positively impacted on the society. Metuh in the statement said that Mr. Destiny Young, a senior architect at Centre Point Technologies at Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, who nominated Achebe has emerged winner of the promo that ran on the PDP official facebook page (official peoples democratic

party) April 17 to May 15, 2013.

He said: “We initiated this promo with the objective to identify that Nigerian whose selflessness is worth emulating and who should be seen as a hero by every Nigerian. This is part of a reorientation campaign we have initiated towards our goal of sustaining national unity. I wish to congratulate Mr. Young Destiny as the winner of this contest and also appreciate every Nigerian who took part in this exercise.” The promo which ended on Wednesday at 6.00 pm, attracted many comments and “likes” and was shared by a lot of Facebook users. The person whose comment had the highest number of “likes” was to be declared the winner and have an opportunity of meeting and having dinner with a PDP Governor or Minister of their choice. Metuh observed that the exercise was completely

transparent and that the winner emerged based on automatic online and real time counting by Facebook which eliminated any form of participation or interference by the organizers.

He also congratulated the runners-up which includes Musa Mikaya who nominated Gen. Yakubu Gowon; Toba Owojaiye, who nominated General Theophilus Danjuma as well as Miss Nonye Amaliri, who nominated the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, to emerge the only lady on the first four runners-up.

The PDP spokesman urged Nigerians, especially the youth to take advantage of the PDP social media platforms including the party's facebook and twitter accounts as well as its website to participate in national discourse and to get information on the activities of the party.

I remain authentic APGA chairman -Umeh

N

ational chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Chief Vi c t o r U m e h , T h u r s d a y, described the Awka High Court judgment which vacated the order restraining Maxi Okwu from parading himself as national chairman as a miscarriage of justice, insisting that he remained the authentic chairman of the party.The order of the Federal High Court which restrained Maxi Okwu from parading himself as national chairman, was Wednesday vacated by the same court which some people interpreted as a victory for Okwu.

But Umeh told newsmen that the interim order was to last for only 14 days, adding that its vacation did not affect the stay of execution granted by the Court of Appeal in Enugu.

He also explained that it did not affect the position of the

Chief Victor Umeh Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, on the matter.

INEC recently affirmed that

Chief Victor Umeh remained the national chairman of the party.

Vacating, the court order the presiding Judge, Justice M.T.

Salihu, ruled that the court was quick to say that the vacation of the exparte order on Okwu was not in any way aimed at vitiating the stay of execution by the honourable justices of the Court of Appeal that reinstated Victor Umeh on April 8 as the national chairman of the party.

Justice Salihu, after a long argument by counsel of both sides, said the rule of the Federal High Court exparte order had a life span of 14 days, stressing that the order was meant to be obeyed and, therefore, vacated the order.

“But I must make it clear that the vacation of the exparte order does not affect the stay of execution by the learned Justices of the Appeal Court,” he added.

The judge noted that the issue of the authentic leaders of APGA should await the Court of Appeal decision on the substantive appeal.

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must not be buried at the community but at the evil forest.

Paul was eventually buried at the cathedral's burial ground.

Ever since this conflict, there have been continued crises in the community such as gang rape of young girls, cult activities and arson.

The elders of the community met to find a lasting solution to the crises. They decreed that the only surviving child of the family, Barry Nnamojeni who was in the seminary school should be brought to act as the Chief Priest of the Obodufi shrine. Barry's life ambition was to be a priest.

The community, in order to restore peace in the land, has decreed that Barry should be brought back home from the Seminary School or be killed so that new order will be restored in the land.

Barry has with-drawn from the school and disappeared into thin air.

The big question today is “where is Barry the only surviving son of Nnamojeni family?”

By Jonas Ugwuanyi

I

t is exactly two years and four months this May, that hell was let loose in UmunugwoObiome community, Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State.

It all started when the Chief Priest of Obodufi, the powerful deity in the community died and it is only his family that is authorized by tradition to offer sacrifices to the shrine.

Obodufi is regarded as the god of the land that protects and prospers the people of Umunugwo-Obiome community both young and old.

Paul, the son of the Chief Priest of this powerful shrine, unfortunately, is a Christian and in fact, the Catechist of the village church. At the death of the Chief Priest, Paul Nnamojeni, his son was expected to assume the position of the Chief Priest of the shrine. Paul refused. That means, he has disobeyed both the deity and the people. Paul's reasons were that he was a catechist and

that his son Barry was in a seminary school.

The community threatened to sanction him. While the confusion was still going on, the people attacked the catechist's house and

the wife was killed.

In the process, he wrote his son, Barry who was in the Sacred Heart Seminary School, Nsude.

After the attack on the family

house of Catechist Paul, the town continued to witness conflict and days after, Paul and Ekema, the last of the only two children, he has, were killed.

The community insisted that Paul Jonas Ugwuanyi writes from Enugu

Presidential committee visits resettlement area for Bakassi returnees

By Edem Archibong, Calabar

A

t last, the Presidential Committee headed by the Cross River State Deputy Governor, Mr. Efiok Cobham for the resettlement of Bakassi returnee did applauded the alternate home at Day Spring 1&2 and Kwa Island peninsula, still within Cross River coastal territory for Bakassi indigenes.

The team included the Minister of Interior, Comrade Abba Moro and became the first of such committees since the ceding of Bakassi peninsula to Cameroon to visit the people's choice area for relocation.

As the Chairman of the Committee, Mr. Cobham asserted that the committee could have concluded their work based on information at their disposal, but they found it necessary to visit the area chosen by the Bakassi indigenes for resettlement to help them make on the spot assessment that would determine the habitability of the environment.

He indicated that the Committee's visit to Day Spring 1&2 and kwa Island peninsula was a purposefully design to help them to exactly determine what may be required by the Federal Government to relocate the Bakassi people there and help them rebuild their lost ancestral home and traditional infrastructures.

Additionally, the immediate past Acting Governor of the state confessed that their actual visit to the fishing settlement territory has also helped his committee to make accurate and near perfect report to

the Presidency over the fate of the displaced people of Bakassi who rejected the three wards of Ikang in Akpabuyo local Government of Cross River State as their new home.

After landing with flying boat at Ikang landing jetty, the Minister of Interior, Comrade Abba Moro described the second day boat journey as rewarding while the first day attempt to locate the Day Spring 1&2 and kwa Island peninsula failed through the use of a Naval craft attach to NNS Victory, Calabar as it slammed on shallow sea level and could not gain assesses to the Day Spring peninsula creeks.

On the second day attempt which was through the use of flying boat to the area, the Minister bared his mind that the Federal Government of Nigeria is very much interested on the possible accessibility to the Day Spring and kwa Island peninsula which is the reason he took the risk of using flying boat to the area.

He expressed regret over the displacement suffered by the Bakassi people in the Nigerian nation and plead that the reasons for their visit are to help the Federal Government in making a possible final decision on what should be done for the people.

“It is very unfortunate because such displacement is against international practice and conventions on humanity. We are appealing to the people of Bakassi to continue to be patient because once the Federal Government takes a decision on Day Spring peninsula; we shall all abide by it”, he maintained.

Commenting on the visit, Senator Florence Ita Giwa described it as a,

long journey which is over the past twelve years for her as a Nigerian, as Bakassi political leader as well as an indigene of the area, she can only thank God for seeing them through the struggle.

Senator Giwa who sounded more pastoral than a politician insisted that they cannot do anything else than put everything in-to the hands of God to solve the problem for the Bakassi people while commending President GoodLuck Jonathan who is now emerging as the messiah to the displaced Bakassi people.

The frontline political leader in Southern Senatorial District of Cross River State used the opportunity to appeal to all Bakassi indigenes both at home and in Diaspora to remain calm because we all come from one family as well as express gratitude to the Cross River State Government for their role.

“It is antagonism that led to agitation. The failure to accept the people of Bakassi as normal human beings who lost their homes, and that, there was a promise that the people of Bakassi will be relocated in a neutral environment with their political structures, ancestral homes and traditional institutions in place”, she explained.

However, The Advocate investigation in Calabar revealed that there had been disagreement between the Bakassi natives with Cross River State Government over the three Ikang wards which served as a temporary relocation area for the displaced people of Bakassi Local Government.

The bone of contention arises from the fact that politicians from the three Ikang wards which is constitutionally recognized to

7

belong to Akpabuyo Local Government had hijacked all the supposed benefits and relief materials meant for the displaced people and also denied them their ancestral names for both political and traditional identification.

Their problems were further compounded by the Cross River State Government under former Donald Duke as Governor who signed the obnoxious law No.7 of Cross River State to permit the state Assembly to convert three wards of Ikang in the present Akpabuyo Local Government and merge it to become the new Bakassi Local Government without notifying the National Assembly.

Consequent upon this complete ostracism and denial of political rights, ancestral benefit and traditional heritage as well as alien treatment by their new landlords resulted into total revolt against the Federal Government whom supported the choice of refugee's camp as their new home.

This situation could not change for almost eight years of Senator Liyel Imoke 's administration as he toed the line of his predecessor and insisted on the three Ikang wards which is constitutionally recognized to belong to Akpabuyo Local Government Area of the state, to be the new Bakassi Local Government.

The Bakassi indigenes are perhaps, very thankful to the Cross River State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Mike Igini who then refused to bend to State Government's pressure in 2010 calling for voters exercise in Bakaassi Local Government to be conducted at the three Ikang words in Akpabuyo Local Government Area as the real Bakassi Local Government.

This decision was in support of the

formal request made by the Bakassi People's Assembly residence in Calabar to Attahiru Jegga to conduct the voters exercise in Day Spring 1&2 and kwa island peninsula where the natives now habit. This was done successfully.

In spite of this, the strong opposing force persisted against the resettlement of the displaced Bakassians at Day Spring 1&2 and kwa Island peninsula claiming that they are owners of the said Day Spring and cannot be habitable to the people except the three Ikang wards.

This opposition were clearly demonstrated during the three day visit of the Presidential Committee Headed by the Cross River State Deputy Governor, Mr. Efiok Cobham as the politicians who opposed the Bakassi indigenes choice of Day Spring 1&2 carried placards bearing inscriptions like 'Day Spring is Not Habitable', 'Let Bakassi remains at Ikang' and so on.

The opposing voices which included the present Chairman of Bakassi Local Government Area, Dr. Ekpo Bassey, known to come from Ikang South ward in Akpabuyo Local Government also informed the committee that the Bakassi indigenes are very well accommodated at Ikang while supporting the state law No.7.

However, bystanders believed his action is a clever representation of the state government's decision that is the actual master mind of the script in attempt to frustrate the Bakassi natives dream.

Similarly, the public hearing conducted by the Committee in Calabar was not free from dissenting memos as opportunities were given to authors of such memos to confirm or deny their stand but those who supported Day Spring for Bakassi indigenes were more in majority.

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ADVOCATE

Chime is a blessing to Enugu State… He has made us proud – Obimo monarch Continued from page 19 Nigeria motto is “To Restore the dignity of man”, but my motto is “to protect the dignity of man.

Igboman has no dignity to protect. Look at this, every zone in the country has six states each except southeast. If you ask the Igbo's to bring out one state for themselves to be recognized, they will not. I am not begging to be an Igboman in my next life if there's any. I 'ev never seen this kind of life and this kind of greediness of a people. Again what platform?

Look at Ohaneze Ndigbo. What is Oha, what is Eze and where the Eze are's in it? Where are the Eze's in Ohaneze Ndigbo? So what I am telling you is that Igbos have lost focus. Look at the war we fought, look at the investment scattered all over Nigeria. About 60% percent of all the private investment in the whole Abuja capital territory is owned by Ndigbo. What are we going?

Look at the food we eat here in Enugu; the tomato, Onion, goat, yam, etc, everything is coming from there. What do you do with foreign reserve? Is it not to feed your family, take care of yourself and children? Are you talking or are they talking? Who is there?

Look at Igbos, no forum. If they are asked to bring out a governor so that an Igboman will contest for presidency, it will hit a wall but tell Northeast or Northwest even with the crisis in Maiduguri some Emirs will just sit and come out with something meaningful but here can we? Look at Adada state which we have been fighting for since, but for them when you call any meeting anywhere you see them came first and distribute pamphlets demanding Etiti state, Orashi etc. Don’t mind them. So I tell you that as far as I am concerned, as far as this state is concerned, we thank God that we have the person like Chairman of PDP in Enugu state who has been very loyal to the governor. We also look upon him for greater things tomorrow. Infact there's no opposition in the state. It is the best in the southeast. Do you know that some Enugu people outside, when they come back, the start doubting if this is still Enugu. No go slow. Have you forgotten where you are? See the flowers, see everything.

Sometime while I was passing I saw some women sweeping the streets.

It is said that in the area of human empowerment, Gov Chime did not create jobs or empowered the ordinary people through other means and that's why there's high rate of crime especially kidnapping, what is your view?

If you hear 'go to hell', do you know the meaning? It means poverty, that is go to hell. Check the number of people that graduate from the universities every year. I've got to expatiate this as my advice to the federal government. If somebody finishes from the university and go for Youth Service, and they are paying N20,000 or thereabout while in service, he finishes and remain idle. I opine that they should be entitled to some stipend at the end of the month. Will they go to demand money from his father or mother in order to wash his clothes? Well they go demand money after training them in the university. After serving he will come out and stay idle. The idle mind is the devils workshop.

Look at docile industries, none of them is functional, yet you are

talking about having this or that.

In 20 years, let me tell you what you don't know. Go and write it down, in 20 years to come, you won't be using fuel. This NNPC will go because the world power has discovered solar energy. Do you think that the use of computer is much an advantage to us? No, it is a disadvantage us because some of our banks are closing down.

The job meant for three persons, computer alone could do it and the others will remain idle.

Unemployment is not a state issue, it is a federal government issue and something must be done. You hear Boko haram here, you hear of this or that, idle people, you will here come follow, me, I will give you this, I will give you that, don't follow any person because you won't even know the objective. But thank God that the Head of State have declared state of emergency in the affected states. Go there within one week you won't hear any of these things again. Don't rule us by petting, we are black people. You don't rule Blackman by negotiation or be ready to face the consequences; you don't rule a Blackman by pleading. I was in

Biafran army; I was an officer commanding a company. There was nothing that would have made Biafra succumb except through the use of extreme force.

No peace would have made us to surrender. Igbo's are the most populous tribe in this country. Go to Kano we have about 3.2 million Igbos in Kano alone, go to Maiduguri after the Hausas and Fulanis the next population is Igbos, to Igala land remove the Igalas the next population is Igbos, go to Ibadan remove the Yorubas and in Lagos the Igbos are more in population. We learn languages easier than anything.

Go to Lome, to Contonu you will see an Igboman who has live in Lome for the past 50 years. He speaks their language but he is from Ohafia. Go to Cameroun, go to even Sa-Tome there are Igbos.

If you go to America you will some of your father's age mate who are Igbos still living there.

Let's show concern to the people in power, let our rulers accept criticism just like Sullivan accepted criticism. I am not against anybody that criticizes but do it in normal way.

Thanks

Obi's bid to pick successor responsible for APGA crisis – Umeh

T

he National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Victor Umeh, has blamed the protracted leadership crisis rocking the party on the activities of selfish individuals who have no interest of the party at heart.

Umeh, who spoke in Abuja while inaugurating a committee to rebuild the party, accused Anambra State Governor Peter Obi of sponsoring various unconstitutional means to unseat his leadership of the party.

The committee was also mandated to search for and recommend credible Nigerians for appointment into the party's Board of Trustees.

The committee, which is chaired

by Ziggy Azike, has Senator Chris Anyanwu, Mrs Uche Ekwunife, Victor Ogene, Ezenwa Onyebuchi, Felix Ogbuagu and Onwuka Ukwa as members.

Others are Chris Giwa, Austine Ndigwe, Chikwe Udensi, Willy Ezeugwu, Benjamin Ngbor, Mic Adams and Ezinne Amaka.

Umeh said despite all sacrifices the party leadership made to install Obi as governor, he still exhibited selfish interest and gross disrespect of the provisions of the party's constitution.

"The person who is sponsoring this crisis in the party is no longer hidden, he is the Governor of Anambra state. If he is afraid of

who would succeed him or how to handle the primaries, he should remember that it is the same leadership that stood behind him.

It he enjoyed our leadership when it mattered most, he should not begin to castigate us now at the twilight of his tenure," he said.

Umeh said APGA is not party to any merger talks but is always open to an alliance with other progressives who are ready to offer credible leadership to Nigerians. He said the party will soon constitute a constitution review committee to examine

ways of reforming the party.

Azike said the inauguration of the committee marks a new dawn for the party and thanked members of the National Working Committee for recommending them.

“Victor Umeh is the authentic National Chairman of APGA because the only chairman of the party is the one recognised by the Independent National Electoral

Commission (INEC) that is why nobody is approaching them, they are coming to us, we have won elections in the past and we will win more,” he said.

Son of the late party leader Chukwuemeka OdimegwuOjukwu Jnr urged members of the committee to rise to the occasion and called on all those who left to come back to the fold to help rebuild the party.

Chief Daniel Achebe (brother to late Prof. Chinua Achebe),middle, flanked by some family members, at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu to receive the remains of the late literary icon Tuesday.

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Monday, May 20 - Tuesday, May 26, 2013

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Damola Awoyokun : Too small to be a hercules

By Mazi Chike Chidolue

W

hen I read your trilogy on Biafra, published in The NEWS Magazine of 25, February, 4 and 11 March 2013, based on 21,000 pages of American Secret Files, as you claimed, I wondered whether it was the same Damola Awoyokun who wrote EINSTEIN AND THE EXPRESSWAY CHURCHES in resplendent logic and language that is writing again. To read 21,000 pages is quite a feat, even if each page contains one line only!

The time needed to read 21,000 pages will certainly tend to infinity as we say in mathematics. I do not intend to take you up on the possibility of such a task. You sought to create the impression that since your source is American Secret Files, all you said is unquestionable truth. The USA being the world capital of present day CAPITALISM, every political opinion emanating from there is ideologically suspect by people of different political orientation.

Reason being partly because of what John Buchan said in his novel THE THIRTY NINE STEPS, -“ Capitalism has no conscience no fatherland!”, and partly because the USA is the sponsor of a very deadly type of international terrorism detailed by John Perkins in his book CONFESSIONS OF AN ECONOMIC HIT MAN in which he said “Economic hit men ( E H M s ) a re h i g h l y p a i d professionals who can cheat countries around the globe out of trillions of dollars. They funnel money from the World Bank, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and other foreign “aid” organizations into the coffers of huge corporations and the pockets of a few wealthy families who control the planet's natural resources. Their tools include fraudulent financial reports, rigged elections, payoffs, extortion, sex, and murder. …..I should know; I was an EHM……Jaime Roldos, president of Ecuador, and Omar Torrijos, president of Panama both had just died in fiery crashes. Their deaths were not accidental. They were assassinated because they opposed that fraternity of corporate, government, and banking heads whose goal is global empire. We EHMS failed to bring Roldos and Torrijos around, and the other type of hit men, the CIA sanctioned jackals who were always right behind us, stepped in. “……Because of my fellow EHMs and me, Ecuador is in far worse shape today than she was before we introduced her to the miracles of modern economics, banking, and engineering. Since 1970 , during this period known euphemistically as the Oil Boom, the official poverty level grew from 50 to 70 percent, under or unemployment increased from 15 to 70 percent, and public debt increased from $240 million to

$16 billion. …….Third World debt has grown to more than $2.5 trillion, and the cost of servicing it over $375 billion per year as of 2004 is more than all Third World spending on health and education, and twenty times what developing countries receive annually in f o re i g n a i d … . ” Wi t h t h i s background of American insatiable quest for global economic domination established by an American, who was an insider, the credibility of your source of information on Biafra, is blowing in the wind, coupled with the fact that you are apparently the Obasanjo type who swallows everything from the white man; as illustrated in his hiring of Baroness Lynda Chalker as his omnibus guide, counselor and supervisor.

21 million pages from American secret files cannot match the account of MAJOR ADEWALE ADEMOYEGA who was not only an ear and eye witness, but also, participated throughout in the planning and execution of the January 15, 1966 coup, from Genesis to Revelation so to speak .He was one of the SEVEN MAJORS who held the one and only formal meeting of the coup, one of the FIVE MAJORS that planned and executed the coup and also one of the THREE MAJORS that formed the inner core! Odia Ofeimun's regrets and lamentations that the FORGOTTEN DOCUMENTS OF THE WAR including Major Ifeajuna's account of the coup did not see the light of day is unhelpful. Ifeajuna and Nzeogwu being Igbos, their account, will not be accepted by most non Igbo Nigerians because of the igbophobia that has poisoned their reasoning. The unfriendly and destructive outburst from a section of the Yoruba nation against Achebe's new book on Biafra, confirms that Ademoyega's book on the coup - WHY WE STRUCK, received scant or no attention from the Nigerian reading public. This has remained so even though it is known that ADEWALE ADEMOYEGA is non Igbo, but a FULL AND RED BLOODED YORUBA IN NAME AND BEING! His 'offence' is that because of Nigeria's victory over Biafra, in that war, facilitated by the strange and most unusual collaboration and collusion of COMMUNISM AND CAPITALISM, to suffocate a people struggling for survival, the first of its kind in world history and made possible by the intellectual domination of Ojukwu

by Britain our former colonial master, he did not join the band wagon of anti Igbo feeling to hold the Igbos as the sponsors of THE GLORIOUS J A N U A RY REVOLUTION.I will quote Ademoyega's book copiously and extensively in an effort to bring out the true picture of that event even before an unwilling audience. .History is also taken to mean his

story. Emeritus Professor Chinua Achebe has written his “THERE WAS A COUNTRY A PERSONAL HISTORY OF BIAFRA”, laying emphasis where he chose. Damola, you can write your own history of Biafra or Nigeria and lay emphasis as you like. Nobody has the right to task anybody on where emphasis is laid. It is most improper if not immodest of you to assault Achebe on this score.

On the January 15, 1966 revolution, it is now known, settled and agreed that the FIVE MAJORS who planned and executed it ,had as the final part of the operation , to free Awolowo from Calabar prison and make him their leader. With this in view, why do you persist in calling it an Igbo coup? The best interests of Ndigbo will not and cannot be served by Awolowo, as the new leader of the revolution, were the coup to have succeeded in Lagos. If it were an Igbo coup, the arrangement would have been that power would be ultimately handed over to an Igbo man not to AWOLOWO. Because of your uncritical obsession that it was an Igbo coup, which did not have the welfare of Awolowo at heart, you said “ In reality, there was no army unit heading to Calabar to spring Awolowo from prison.”. Major Adewale Ademoyega counters your stand thus “……Yet there was one arrangement we had left till the date was fixed. It was the arrangement for the release of political prisoners, particularly Chief Awolowo. Now that our own date had been tentatively fixed for mid - January, it became necessary to gear up that arrangement. At the end of the first week in January, Major Anuforo and I arranged to meet Captain Udeaja……….Having briefed Udeaja generally and got his consent, we gave him his task.

He was to fly in a special plane provided for the purpose to Calabar on the morning of the D Day ,to effect the release of Chief Awolowo and bring him to Lagos on the plane…” . Damola, you seriously need to note the above point even if it goes against the grain.

Yet, if all the FIVE MAJORS were Igbos, their intention was national. Entre Major Chukwuma Nzeogwu in 13 YEARS OF MILITARY RULE

by James O. Ojiako, a Daily Times Publication. “We seized power to stamp out tribalism, nepotism and regionalism .There were five of us in the inner circle and we planned the details. On Saturday morning, the officers and men thought they were going out only on a night exercise. It was not until they were out in the bush that they were told the full details of the plan. They had bullets, they had been issued with their weapons but I was unarmed. If they disagreed, they could have shot me. It was truly a Nigerian gathering and only in the army do you get true Nigerianism…….They did it for

the good of their country……”

Where did Ndigbo come into this business in the light of Nzeogwu's statement? Tell me Engr. Damola Awoyokun, the all knowing authority on the January coup and the Nigeria Biafra war.

You said” Ojukwu”, said Stephan, ( the West African correspondent of Bavarian Broadcasting, Munich) “was a supporter of the coup, the first in the country's history. He sympathized with the January 1966 plot makers, but was careful enough to avoid any overplayed attachment to them.

Ojukwu told me later that it had been him who had requested General (Aguiyi) Ironsi to crush the coup ..”How amazing?

Ojukwu an Igbo man, advising Ironsi another Igbo man, to crush an Igbo coup! The two parts of this sentence are mutually exclusive.

Though your belief in an Igbo coup is very strong, you went on probably subconsciously to quote your American Secret files where they said, 'According to Lieutenant Colonel Abba Kyari, military governor of North Central State, “there is no question that Major Nzeogwu, Ibo leader of 1966 coup in Kaduna, had been a nationalist, not a tribalist, who was acting for the good of all Nigeria.” Damola ,Nzeogwu was acting for the good of all Nigeria not for the good of the IGBOS, SO SAID A NORTHERN MILITARY GOVERNOR! When Nigeria engages in dastardly behavior it does not attract your attention as in this case where your American files continued to quote Abba Kyari “… explaining that Nzeogwu having been falsely informed that Nsukka was in Biafran hands, boldly entred Ubolo Eke ,near Nsukka at night and was killed. Nzeogwu's corpse was transferred to the North and given full military burial ,but not before northern soldiers had plucked out his eyes so that he would never see the North again.”

What an effort, a dead man being prevented from seeing again! With this type of treatment given to the corpse of a dead man, only God knows what they did to Colonel Tim Onwuatuegwu who was captured alive! They may still be killing Onwuatuegwu up to this day!

Your American files said again, ”At the Kano airport, soldiers seized an Igbo stewardess from a plane on which she flew in from London. She was never heard of again.

Chinua Achebe had extensively discussed the prevalent national resentment of the Igbos by other Nigerian ethnic groups. Ndigbo cannot help this unjustified, diabolical, conspiratorial, animosity against them by volunteering their extinction from the planet earth. Almighty God placed Ndigbo in this part of the globe, and they will not betray the responsibility of preserving their specie. You concocted all types of fables to portray the IGBOS as

being unsympathetic on the size of the northern casualties during the first coup. Ademoyega speaks again “….It would be recalled that by late 1965 the efforts of the Balewa Government to Northernise the top echelon of the army was already bearing fruit.

Some Northerners were already holding most of the strategic positions in the Army. Those positions could easily be used to thwart our attempt to change the Government. Sheer caution dictated that we would be sure to neutralize those officers so that our revolution would have a chance of taking off and succeeding .Later events did fully justify our apprehension, since it was the escape of only one of those marked down for arrest that brought us intense hardship and finally compromised our success. There was no plan whatsoever to arrest or kill all the officers above the rank of Major as was later claimed by extreme Northern propagandists.

Even among those earmarked for arrest, only four were Northerners, two were We s t e r n e r s a n d t w o w e re Easterners. But the North had always had more than 50% of the intake of officers into the Army since 1961, and more than 70 % of the intake of the other ranks.

Therefore if casualties were to happen, it was more likely to be in that proportion than anything else.

The wicked propaganda that followed the coup was only made possible by the weakness and non revolutionary principles of the Ironsi regime , which bore no semblance to the well ordered and well controlled government that was envisaged and could have been run by us if our plans were fully executed…”

In your prejudiced mind, you trivialized the critical and crucial safety valve that ABURI ACCORD provided by saying “All his (Ojukwu's) performances in Ghana that culminated in the Aburi Accord of January 1967,or discussion with the Awolowo led National Conciliation Committee five months later, turned out to be ruse. ” You overlooked the very important fact that at Aburi, an agreement was reached, signed and sealed by Ojukwu and Gowon.

When they returned to their countries, instead of implementing the accord as signed, Gowon allowed his 'super' permanent secretaries, to interpret that document which was not written in Greek or Latin language, but in plain simple English language, and ended up, refusing to implement it and therefore PRECIPITATED THE WAR. If Gowon had implemented the ABURI ACCORD as signed in Ghana, on January 5, 1967, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN NO WAR. I should have closed my case here in ABURI, but could not resist the urge to respond to some of your other foibles.

Nigerian commentators on the civil war

Continues on page 10

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Monday, May 20 - Tuesday, May 26, 2013

Damola Awoyokun : Too small to be a hercules Continued from Page 9 always fight shy of the ABURI ACCORD and its tremendous and strategic importance, because by so doing, IGBOS are set up for the kill on the guillotine of ethnic cleansing. Every unbiased umpire will agree that THE CIVIL WAR WAS CAUSED BY GOWON BECAUSE HE REFUSED TO IMPLEMENT THE ABURI ACCORD! Any objective and sincere inquirer on the cause of the war, should go no further than the ABURI ACCORD! In Biafra, we had as our mantra, ON ABURI WE STAND, while Gowon, instead of standing on ABURI with Biafra, torpedoed and demolished the good work done at Aburi Even though the credibility of your American Secret Files is hanging in the balance, I am curious to note what they said here. “The secret US document called Njoku the best Enugu has (and one of the very best Nigeria has produced).The UK defence advisor who had known Madiebo as subordinate officer First Recce Squadron for several years, said he is “perfectly charming socially, but quite worthless professionally.

He is weak, ineffective commander and consistently had worst recce squadron.” To affirm what he was saying, he showed the US defence attaché, Madiebo's file at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst. Madiebo's records were abysmal…..”.

The coup was purely a Nigerian enterprise by patriotic citizens.

Ndigbo or The Igbo State Union as at the time had no hand in the coup, as confirmed by Ademoyega when he said “It was in mid November 1965 that we held the one and only formal meeting that preceded the coup .The meeting was held in Lagos, in the military quarters of Major Ifeajuna……The meeting was very short. There was a consensus that something had to be done quickly to save Nigeria from anarchy and disintegration and to restore peace and unity to the nation. It was agreed that only the use of force could bring immediate end to the violence being perpetrated in many parts of the country. It was, however, agreed that the use of force should be minimal. Political leaders and their collaborators were to be arrested, but wherever an arrest was resisted, it was to be met with force. Otherwise, no one was to be killed. Only the heads of government, that is, the Prime Minister, the four regional premiers and their right hand men, were considered most essential to arrest throughout the country .And among their military collaborators, only the top echelon and those holding strategic positions were named for arrest. These included the GOC of the Nigerian Army, General Ironsi, the commanders of the two brigades, Brigadiers Ademulegun and Maimalari, the Chief of Staff Army HQ, Colonel

Kur Mohammed, and the Adjutant General of the Army, Lieutenant Colonel Pam. Others were the Deputy Commander of the NDA, Colonel Shodeinde, the Quartermaster General of the Army, Lieutenant Colonel Unegbe and the Commander of the 4th Battalion which was based in Ibadan and was the most politicised unit of the Army, Lieutenant Colonel Largema.

Contrary to the load of wicked propaganda that has since been heaped on us, there was no decision in our meeting to single out any particular ethnic group for elimination or destruction.

Our intentions were honourable , our views were national and our goals were idealistic. We intended that the coup should be national in execution so that it would receive national acclamation.

We planned that the use of force should be minimal so that our methods could at once be seen as superior to those of the politicians, who simply went on killing the very people they were called upon to govern. The need to bring more of the middle level officers (Majors and Lieutenant Colonels) was discussed. But the few names that could be mentioned had to be dropped because their interpersonal connections would compromise the security of the planning. After ninety minutes of discussion, the meeting was over. We dispersed as if from a prayer meeting since it was a Sunday and the Lord was in our midst……..

“NNA Plan to Wallop the West “It was at this time that I met Chief H. O. Davies for the first time.He was a famous politician who had been in the nationalist struggle since 1941. He was a Federal Minister under the Balewa Government….I soon got into deep conversation with him on the political situation in the country, I was particularly interested to know what the Federal Government's view was, apart from Balewa's public statements.Chief H. O. Davies made it clear that the Federal Government had no, solution to the political crisis”(.Damola are you hearing this? Since the Federal Government had no solution to the crisis the January boys not the IGBOS had to step in.)” He said that everybody was just waiting to see what would happen next and that nobody knew exactly what that would be; but surely something was bound to happen. I left Chief Davis feeling that the Balewa Government had something up its sleeve .Otherwise, the minister would not be so emphatic that something was bound to happen… “ .On January 3, 1966, I went to work with Ifeajuna. After extensive prodding, we discovered that the Balewa Government had a terrible plan to bring the Army fully to operate in the West for the purpose of eliminating the elites of that region, especially the intellectuals who were believed to be behind the intransigence of the

people against the Akintola Government. It was for this reason that the government had attacked the intellectuals of the Region, especially those at Ife, intimidating and victimizing them for their refusal to support it.

People like Solarin of May Flower School, Ikenne, were among those marked down. It was also intended that if the plan succeeded in the West, the next target would be the East. The Federal Government was to use loyal troops for this purpose and the 4th Battalion at Ibadan commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Largema and the 2nd Battalion temporarily commanded by Major Igboba, but soon to be taken over by Lieutenant -Colonel Gowon, w e re d e s i g n a t e d f o r t h i s assignment.” If the January boys had not intervened, Sardauna and the Balewa Federal Government would have recolonised and severely subjugated Southern Nigeria and placed it in a condition far worse than Southern Sudan experienced before her independence. Damola, I hope you can now see that the January coup was very divinely timely.

Ademoyega continued ” The operation was fixed for the third week of January 1966, when the Sardauna would have returned f ro m h i s p i l g r i m a g e , a n d Lieutenant Colonel Gowon would have completed his takeover of the Ikeja Battalion.

In preparation of this horrible move by the Federal Government, the high echelons of the Army and the Police were being reshuffled.

Major General Ironsi was ordered to proceed on leave from mid January. He was to be relieved by Brigadier Maimalari, over the head of Brigadier Ademulegun…..In the Police, Inspector General Edet was sent o n l e a v e f ro m D e c e m b e r 20,1965.The officer closest to him was retired and the the third officer, Alhaji Kam Salem was brought in as the new Inspector General. The stage was thus set for the proper walloping of the West…….

“Late on the 14tH, news reached us that the Sardauna had been having a meeting in Kaduna on that day with Chief Akintola of the West, and that both Brigadier Ademulegun and Lieutenant Colonel Largema were in attendance. It was obvious to us that they were putting finishing touches to their planned “walloping of the West”. But we felt confident that we were one step ahead.” .

After the revenge coup, neither the triumphant NORTH nor you Damola, expressed sympathy to Igbos because of the over 200 Igbo casualties compared to the about 26 casualties of the first coup by your account from the American secret files! .” You went on to say” that the Igbos in the North were widely taunting their hosts on the loss of their leaders. ‘Cardinal’ Rex Lawson,a popular Igbo musician, released

songs titled Ewu Ne Ba Akwa (Goats Are Crying) and others celebrating “Igbo power….”. I do not intend to comment on your assertion that Igbos in the North celebrated the death of northern leaders because it is neither here nor there. But the record song you referred to, was a high life number released by Cardinal Rex Jim Lawson a Kalabari, long before the first coup. You had to foist authorship of that high-life record, on Igbos to further criminalise and calumnise them.

At that time, once a highlife record was released, whether by Bobby Benson, E.C.Arinze, Stephen Amechi. Victor Olaiya, Eddy Okonta, Chief Bill Friday, Roy Chicago, Victor Uwaifo, Agu Norris, Baby Face Paul, Ambrose Campbell and His West African Rhythm Brothers, Stephen Osadebe or any others, those of us in the know, would immediately and correctly name the author.

May be, you were not in circulation then.

To further put the Igbos in bad light, . you said “He (Achebe) claimed that they (the Igbos) were the dominant tribe, led the nation in virtually every sector politics, education, commerce and the arts”. You agonizingly noted in your pathetic myopia “which included having two vice c h a n c e l l o r s i n Yo r u b a l a n d … ” Yo u r l i s t i s n o t exhaustive . At that time, Engr.

Francis C.N.Agbasi was the first Nigerian Principal of Yaba College of Technology and Mr. Clement Odunukwe was the Senior Lecturer in charge (Principal) of Federal Emergency Science School, Onikan, Lagos.

Also, Mr. F.C. Nwokedi, was the first Nigerian Federal Permanent Secretary to be appointed by the colonial masters. When Mr. P. G. Stallard was retiring, Mr. Nwokedi ought to have succeeded him as the first Nigerian Secretary to the Council of Ministers. But because he came from the 'wrong' tribe, he was skipped and Mr. S. O. Wey was given the post while Mr. Nwokedi became the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Modesty will not restrain me from expressing my joy, be it of local patriotism because, the last three gentlemen mentioned above, hailed from my home town, Nnewi, and Mr. Nwokedi was from my village, Edoji. Since these institutions are in Yoruba land, you created the impression that the Yorubas benevolently allowed the Igbos to occupy those posts. You deliberately ignored the fact that they are Federal Government institutions and appointment into those positions followed very rigorous due process. I had described in a previous article how Professor Kenneth O. Dike was unanimously elected the Principal of the University College Ibadan, by the University College Council. It bears repeating for your benefit. The Chairman of the Council, Dr. Akanu Ibiam, went to London, and consulted Sir Charles Morris, Chairman of

ADVOCATE the Inter - University College Council that found Principals and Vice Chancellors for colonial Universities. Sir. Morris said to Dr. Ibiam, ”Why do you come to us? You have your man there (Prof Kenneth Dike).You are lucky to have a ready made man on the spot.”In my second session as an undergraduate at Ibadan University in 1965/66, a Yoruba undergraduate wrote an article in which he said “If this university was situated east of the Niger, one would understand; but to hear people 'keduing' about all over the campus in a university founded in Yoruba land is unacceptable.”

Kedu is the Igbo word for how do you do. In that same year, some of us students were hanging around the Faculty of Science premises where Faculty Lecturers were reviewing the sessional results of students. We asked Dr. V.O. Olunloyo, Senior Lecturer in Mathematics who was the first lecturer to come out of the meeting, about the result of Mr ONWUCHEKWA, a final year Mathematics student. He said, second upper. We expressed our dismay, for we had expected Onwuchekwa to make a first class in the light of his brilliant records.

Dr.Olunloyo remarked, “ You don't expect Onwuchekwa to make a first class considering the high standard set by Kenku last year.”

I am not aware that the record set by Prof Iya Abubakar in Mathematics has been equaled or broken ,yet Kenku made his first class without equaling Abubakar's record. Instead of saying that Onwuchekwa did not meet the first class bar, he resorted to ethnic politics by comparing Onwuchekwa's ( an Igbo) result with Kenku's(a Yoruba) result . In 1998, Emeritus Professor Chike Obi solved the over 300 years old Mathematics puzzle FERMAT'S LAST THEOREM, established in 1637 by a French Lawyer/Mathematician, Pierre Fermat. Chike Obi's paper was accepted for publication and appeared in the USA based Journal of Algebras, Groups and Geometries, Vol. 15 pp 289 299 (1998). Despite the fact that Chike Obi's paper was published by a renowned and distinguished American Journal, Dr. Olunloyo and one Ogunsola, an actuary, openly disputed without any basis, the validity of Chike Obi's proof. To add to these polemics by s o m e Yo r u b a s , D a m o l a Awoyokun accused the Igbos of boastfulness and excessive exhibitionalism, of their strenuous achievements, when it is known that potentials, abilities, competences and the like, are either God given or acquired. The Igbos have not been known to be boastful for such attributes coming their way. Achebe simply traced the Igbos' 'LONG WALK' to acquire them, which made Damola furiously uncomfortable.

Your mindless determination to tarnish the image of the colossus, Achebe has failed.

To be continued on next edition

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ADVOCATE

Monday, May 20 - Tuesday, May 26, 2013

11

Blazing the trail in 3rd tier governance: The transformation programmes of Emeka Edeh Administration vision backed with high level of work done on the secretariat, in Enugu North Local Government Area ingenuity, transparency, wit and openly declared that the council

By Ted Peters, Rex Arum & Mary Chinda

N

igeria as a state has been threatened by multiple signs of failure occasioned by leadership crisis and mismanagement of available resources at various levels of government. Consequently there's a general lack of trust for the leaders by the governed, whose expectations from government were hardly met by past regimes over the years.

Local government system was formally created in Nigeria in 1976 primarily to bring government closer to the people at the grassroots level. The experiences at the third tier of government in many states across the country have not been encouraging owing to abysmal failure of the leaders who always blame their poor performance on poor funding and in some cases lack of autonomy.

But in Enugu State the story is quite different as the Council Chairmen under the current administration of Governor Sullivan Chime were given free hands to administer the affairs of their councils.

This largely contributed to the numerous achievements which most local government areas in the state have recorded especially in terms of provision of basic infrastructures that have improved the living condition of the people. Although a few of the councils are still lagging behind in terms of infrastructural development, the service delivery at third tier of government in Enugu State had been exemplary.

During a public hearing on the constitutional review in recent past, many Nigerians were in support of a full autonomy for the local governments but a section of Nigerians had canvassed the scrapping of the local government system primarily because they believe that the third tier of government had failed to deliver on its constitutional mandate.

Mindful of the poor rating of the councils over the years, some council chairmen took up the challenge to prove the critics wrong by going extra mile to utilize available financial resources prudently to make an appreciable impact. One of such few local councils where outstanding human and infrastructural development had been acknowledged by keen observers in recent time is the Enugu North Local Government Area under the leadership of Mr. Emeka Edeh. The council and others like the Abuja Area council, Lagos Island Local Government and Edo North

Local Government were exceptionally selected as the most performing councils in the country.

In Enugu State, the level of successes recorded by the p r e s e n t administration of Emeka Edeh under a period of 15 months had been described as amazing.

Enugu municipal council which came into being in 1956 but metamorphosed into what is now known as Enugu North local government after several balkanization maintains a unique position as the seat of governance of Enugu State.

The leadership of the council personified in Mr. Edeh (Mayor of Enugu) is driven by a high

doggedness. Enugu people believe he has actually excelled and his government has clearly demonstrated within a short time in office that leadership by example is rewarding.

Success they say is not a function of what one is given; rather it is a function of what one achieves with what is given. It is not a game of gambling, instead it manifests through vision, courage, determination and perseverance.

When The Advocate team visited the local government headquarters in Enugu metropolis, it was difficult to believe that the place still serves as the council headquarters because of the aesthetic beauty of the secretariat complex which had been totally transformed. A serving commissioner in Enugu State who met the team during the visit, on seeing the impressive

chairman “is a blessing to the people of Enugu”.

It was observed that the council offices which had been dilapidated over several decades have been turned to an ultra-modern secretariat with state-of-the-art facilities.

With this rare and extra-ordinary demonstration of visionary leadership by the council chairman, the Enugu North local government administration went into town bequeathing feasible landmark developmental projects in all the nooks and crannies of the council area. In education, health, electricity and roads, Hon. Edeh- led administration has a lot to show having made remarkable effort to compliment the giant strides of the Sullivan Chime-led administration in Enugu state in the provision of quality infrastructures through good governance.

We have full control of our Federation Account allocations in Enugu State – Hon. Emeka Edeh Honourable Emeka Edeh, Executive Chairman Enugu North Local Government Council, speaking with The Advocate Editorial team after the inspection tour of the projects in the area, said that the secret of the huge successes recorded by his administration within 15 months in office were made possible because his team of Executives and Councillors ignored all forms of external pressures and vehemently refused to see government treasury as a pot of honey; or as a cake set on a dining table.

In this interview with Advocate Editorial team, Hon. Edeh noted that vision is usefully and persuasively expressed in the profile of a man who possesses a popular dream adding that the populist ideology of Governor Chime, which he towed, has been the spring board that gave him a quantum leap to put up such an impressive performance within a short time in office. Excerpts May we meet you Sir? I am Hon Emeka Edeh, Chairman Enugu North local government council.

We want you to give us some of the details of the project that your council has done since you assumed office and why you embarked on them?

You are welcome. When we assumed office we discovered that the major roads in Enugu North and the Capital Territory were being developed by His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Enugu State, we became bordered with the issues of trying to connect the internal roads to the these major State roads that were being done by the state government, therefore we decided to deal with the inner roads within Enugu Metropolis.

We have Ihewuzi which is the first road we dealt with. Ihewuzi road is the road connecting Presidential road with Ukwa Street down to independence layout. These are two major roads connecting Presidential down to Independence Layout and with the roads the tendency of having a major traffic hold-up at Presidential road is minimally reduced. We have another road at

The new face of Enugu North Local government council secretariat after a super face lift by the administration of Hon. Emeka Edeh Ologo, the former shooting range area, this road has not been developed for the first time. Our administration is the first to take up that road and we have completed it within the space of one year. All these roads we are talking about are asphalted with drainages and culverts. We have the Winners Church road, a road connecting Presidential and Nwafor Orizu road and we have

finished asphalting this road.

Again, we have the Onuato road; it is a ring road that will link the Presidential Road to Winners Church Road to Nwafor Orizu and to Presidential Road again; that is at the end of the Customs office. There is also Idume Road to at Ngwo. It was started by my predecessor, when we assumed office we discovered that this road has not been completed so

we decided to continue it and as we are talking now this road is being asphalted. We have a total of about six roads we have been able to do within the shortest time, which is within sixteen months with culverts and drainages.

Are there new roads that you opened within the council area?

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Continued from page 11 No, we are not interested in just opening roads by just grading and bulldozing of roads. This is because once there is rain it will just wash out the whole thing, so there is no need of spending people's money in doing that but we did one along Udi-siding because of the agitation from the people of the area, we were able to earthwork that road and the one at Ebeano Market. These are the two roads we did un-tarred.

We noticed that you are building a health center at Ngenevu we also saw one at Coal Camp and some other places. Can you give us a little information about the progress of work?

With the movement of UNTH to Ituku Ozalla there was a need for health centers in the urban centers to function very well; to make them accessible. As a government we discovered that there is need for workable health system in the Local Government when we assumed office, we started with Ngenevu health center. Ngenevu is a suburb at Coal Camp. It is not motorable but we were able to carved out land area from the people there to make sure we erect a workable health center. Also, we have a laboratory center around that area. Ngenevu is in ward 5 while the laboratory center is in ward 6.

Although they are close but there is need for a working laboratory center so you can go there and get diagnosed before going to the health center. We have one that is on-going at Premier Layout and we believe God that in the next two months the Premier Layout project will be completed. We did not just set up these health centers, we also hire Doctors to attend to patients in the centers.

We discovered that among the Youth Corpers posted to Enugu North some are doctors, so we employ them for the period and upgrade their allowances so they could be able to stay at the doctors' quarters and attend to patients. That is our method of dealing with these health centers issues.

Do you provide drugs?

Yes, our L.G provides drugs in the 18 health centers in Enugu North. The problem we have is that if you make these health centers above health centers it will turn to a 'Cottage hospital' and the State Government will automatically take it over. For this reason, we are trying to make sure that it is within the scope of a health center lest it turns to a Cottage hospital and the state government will take it.

What are the challenges you are facing in that sector?

The challenges we are facing are sometimes funding and the doctors to take care of the

patients. You know the state government introduced free maternal/child health system and all the Local Government in Enugu State keyed into this programme to make sure that there is a synergy between the State Government and Local Government in terms of health centers and primary health system. Sometimes there are administrative hitches.

The one-man bridge which is a popular bridge in this council precisely at Ogui Urban has been expanded even though it is not motorable, what informed that project sir?

Not minding that we are in Enugu urban, we still have some suburbs within the Enugu city.

Ogui urban area is one of such suburbs in Enugu North LGA and when we were much younger we discovered that we had a bridge called one-man bridge, the reason being that no two persons will be able to walk on that bridge at the same time. So we decided to expand the bridge and this was as a result of demands by the people at the grass root in the area. And this was possible because we have our ears to the ground and we discovered that there are serious demands on the system from the people of the area for the expansion of that bridge. It has been expanded as you people can see. It can now take more than ten persons at time.

Sir, you described Ogui community as a suburb in the metropolis, what more effort/s are you doing to uplift the status of Ogui community to a full urban area?

We have a layout around Independence layout called Premier layout. This layout, should I call it 'the hope of the people that are downgraded'; that is if I should use that word, but the issue is that as a responsible government we decided to develop the area to a reasonable level. That is why we have motorable roads there. We are grading all the roads so that people will have access to their

lands and develop it.

Two, we are building a health center there; three, we are taking up electrification there; we cannot call it rural electrification because the area is not a rural but an urban setting.

Again we have erected an electric transformer base at that place waiting installation.

Four, we discussed with the state government and Enugu State Water Corporation to make sure that the water scheme that is being launched is extended to that area. So I think in positive terms that the basic needs of the people is being extended to this area and once we have them we believe so much that this area will be developed.

That is where this government anchors our urban development programmes on and I equally believe that within the shortest time, we will start asphalting these roads that are of the premier layout. It is like the new Ogui Township.

Can you tell us what you were able to do in the area of youth development?

A: We have done a lot in this aspect, a lot in the sense that we understood the problem of illiteracy, that is one , if you are not educated it seems you are off the society; it will attract inferiority complex. So our administration decided to stepup action on education sector in our local government. Based on that, we sponsor candidates majority of whom are indigent student for WAEC/NECO and JAMB exams. Equally we have opportunity of getting admission for merited students to the university and that is achieved sometimes through asking them for quota for our local government. We equally pay stipend to enable them buy handouts and to transport themselves and sometimes where possible, have the privilege of feeding themselves while in school. We have what we call on ad hoc staff of the local government, this is the area we use to cushion the effect of hardship meted on our people here in Enugu North. Presently we employ about 200 youths in this scheme, we pay them every month and give them the orientation to be able to use whatever they get to open up something for a better tomorrow.

What are the 200 people doing?

We employed them as workers in Enugu North to perform ad hoc duties, we equally helped some women who, either their husbands are dead and have none to help them, or that their husbands are still alive, but do not have a means of livelihood.

At intervals we give them some money to open up some petty business for them to be getting some money with which to sustain themselves. We have widows we pay in our local government on monthly bases, so this is what we have done in the area of human empowerment.

Chairman, we use to visit this council, it has never been so uplifted or transformed, we noticed t h a t m a s s i v e transformation has been done and the work is still going. What informed your decision to embark on this massive facelift on assumption of office?

Before assuming office on 4th of January 2012, I was in the Local Government as a Deputy Chairman. When we were there we discovered that there is need for a total turn-around in the local government secretariat, the place was dilapidated and totally a write off. So we decided to uplift the face of the local government headquarter, so that people coming around will see that we are doing something, and the thing that engineered us to doing this is based on the slogan 'charity begins at home'. So we decided to start ours at home we are still doing more until we complete it and we believe that

by God's grace we will complete every project at hand this month.

What we are going to do after this month is to sustain what we have already done.

Now as part of efforts to expand the market in Ogbete, we learnt you are building a shopping plaza; can you give us details of that project?

The issue is that we discovered that there is no modern market in Enugu metropolis and Enugu North in particular. Ogbete main market is near a totally modern market, we have Shoprite in Enugu which is a State project.

That is why we now decided discussing with some foreign investors. We discovered entering into negotiation with this people that there's a possibility to erect a modern market at Aria market which is off Enugu Onitsha express road.

We also entered into negotiation with a bank to enable the foreign investor to start the project and we have informed our people who would want to own stalls in the complex to pick forms to enable them to get shops. So it is a Public-Private- Partnership, (PPP), which is totally what it is.

At the end of the day we believe

by August 2014 which is the deadline for the completion of this project, we will actualize it and once actualized we will move Aria market completely from this place, then we will have a complete modern market.

ADVOCATE What are you doing in respect of these congestions occasioned by multiple parks and roadsside trading that have persistently created traffic congestions at the Ogbete/Old-park areas?

We have an obstruction team.

They are the people to work on this traffic issue. The state government through the Ministry of Transport and Capital Territory Development Authority are equally doing something about it. Therefore we are working together to make sure that traffic around this area is decongested. We are going to be meeting with these two ministries with a view to solving the problem.

Chairman, all these achievements would not have been possible if funds were not available, can you tell us if you receive your funds from the federal government without the state's interference because this has been a major problem in the country.

Purely we have to state without mincing words that we have full control of our Federation account’s allocations in Enugu State. Allocations are not the only basis for achieving these things, we have what we call internally generated revenue, IGR, and these include the taxes and the rates we generate daily in the local government. When we came in here, we discovered that the highest money collected previously was about N20m for small scale, stallage fee around N14m, if summed up, we have a total of about N30m or thereabout per annum, but when we came in, we devised better means to increase these things and we actualized the sum of above N69m for last year; that is total turnaround, above hundred percent increase. And by the grace of God what we will have this year will be more than last year because we have also devised new methods of increasing our internal revenue.

What have been your challenges despite these successes?

There are many challenges. we have political, financial, administrative challenges. Infact there are so many of them but they can be tackled one after the other. In the area of political challenges we have our internal issues, if you are able to effectively manage your internal issues between ward 1 and ward 13 then you will be able to keep crisis to a barest minimum level.

There are Administrative issues, where you have the zeal to work but because of such issues as bureaucracy and red-tapism, you Continues on page 13

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ADVOCATE

Continued from page 12

Excellency the Executive Governor of Enugu State?

would be unable to actualize your vision within the time frame you projected. Again, financial constraint is a very important factor here, sometimes having very low allocation from the federation account and small internally generated revenue tend to derail your vision to execute what you have in mind to do for your people and because of that you may not be able to finish your programmes.

Total support, in fact I can't measure it, I can actually say that the relationship we have is quit cordial than what His Excellency had with our predecessors. This glaring in the fact that in our own time majority of the structural issues we had, we go down to the grass root, get their opinion, make consultations and reach out to him (The Governor) then with our opinion he can now make a decision and once a decision is reached at this level, the going gets smooth.

But how have you enjoyed the support of His

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Monday, May 20 - Tuesday, May 26, 2013

The Advocate crew went to town to sample the opinion of the people on the performance of the council

HRH Igwe Tony Ojukwu

A new look St luke’s Primary School Ogui Nike, rebuilt

by Enugu NorthLocal Government Council

Presidential-Winners Church- Lagos street link road constructed

by Enugu North Local Government Council

An Ultra-modern medical laboratory built by Hon. Emeka Edeh’s administration in Enugu North local Government Council

Ologbo Roads started and completed by the Hon. Emeka Edeh - led administration in Enugu North

His royal Highness Igwe Tony Ojukwu “The Chairman has been up and doing. Obviously, his heartbeat is to transform the local Government Area into a citadel of aspiration and a penchant of hope. Well, unfortunately, he is not the noisy type who would have trumpeted these weighty achievements.

Before his arrival, masses never knew there were huge sums in the local Government treasury until he came in and began scooping out these moneys for building hospitals/health centres, renovating schools, empowerment programmes for women and youths, so much so that he does not need to campaign for a second tenure as his works speaks out for him” “He has done so much to please the electorates” “His transparency is exemplary”.

His performance topples that of predecessors.

“He has endeared the Local Government to the people through this innovative development projects.”

Advice: “Well, I think those in other leadership positions should emulate him, they should aspire to serve, be a servant-leader to the people by sampling the needs and aspiration of the people before embarking on any developmental projects.”

Honorable Ebeneze Ikechukwu Ngwu (Former Deputy Chairman of North Local Government Council): “I give him a pass mark, when compared to the achievements of the preceding Chairmen of the council. Infrastructurally, the

Local Government has blossomed as he has engaged in massive road construction projects. Such projects include tarring some important streets and construction of new roads and drainages within Enugu North. There are Ihewuzi road into Independence layout from Presidential road. From presidential road into Onuato and joins winners road. There are projects everywhere; in Coal Camp area etc. He is also currently opening new roads at Ngwo and Premier Layout. I know that there's an on-going electrification project at Premier layout as well as the building of a community health center. The renovation of St Luke's primary school in Ogui with big gully erosion threatening to sweep away the place is simply remarkable. But lastly the local government council headquarters which has been given an unbelievable facelift is such that could anyone who had left the local government for the past one year to think he is in the wrong place” Advice: “I would charge him to continue the good work since governance is all about giving the electorate the dividends of democracy” Engr. Okechukwu Okezie (Businessman) The Chairman of Enugu North local government and his council are doing well. He has done some local roads, even the ones people least expected. The roads from Presidential road to IhewuziUkwa Street has been done and also the one from Winners area to Lagos Street.

There are others that are ongoing, the drainages are

On going Presidential-Onuato- Winners church ring roads by Enugu North Local Government Council

completed and they are piling the road. Hon. Emeka Ede led administration in Enugu North has shown that education is of paramount importance to any given society. I have seen very rickety primary schools before but have been rebuilt and renovated to such an outstanding class. He has done great. A lot of renovations had been done in the council headquarters. I was amazed at the level of transformation that has been done there.

Most important is that the quality of jobs done there are very high, I wonder where they got the finance, inspiration and idea to do what they are doing. This is because overtime, past administrations had cried for lack of funds or little money in their purse. Besides, these things were done within one year and five months. As it is said through a popular maxim; ''The reward for good works is more work” and like Oliver Twist we want him to continue and do more.

Pastor Victor Ebemiboye (Resident Pastor, Living Faith Church Enugu).

“Well, as a church we are so excited about the road because we had suffered for long in this neighborhood before it was constructed.

Now, the road has eased us a lot of traffic problem for members of the congregation who drive in for service. The speed at which he constructed the road is remarkably impressive. We continually pray for success of his administration” Advice; The good work started should be maintained as I am sure he would go places if he continues this way”.

Another view of St luke’s Primary School Ogui Nike, rebuilt by Enugu NorthLocal Government Council

14

THE

Monday, May 20 - Tuesday, May 26, 2013

ADVOCATE activities of his staff and cronies.

Overthrow

General Yakubu "Jack" Gowon

G

eneral Yakubu "Jack" DanYumma Gowon (born 19 October 1934) was the head of state (Head of the Federal Military Government) of Nigeria from 1966 to 1975. He took power after one military coup d'état and was overthrown in another. During his rule, the Nigerian government successfully prevented Biafran secession during the 19671970 Nigerian Civil War.

Gowon's Education University of Warwick (1983) Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (1955 1956) Staff College, Camberley Joint Service Defence College

Early life Gowon is an Ngas (Angas) from Lur, a small village in the present Kanke Local Government Area of Plateau State. His parents, Nde Yohanna and Matwok Kurnyang, left for Wusasa, Zaria as Church Missionary Society (CMS) missionaries in the early days of Gowon's life. His father took pride in the fact that he married the same day as the future Queen Mother Elizabeth married the future King George VI. Gowon was the fifth of eleven children. He grew up in Zaria and had his early life and education there. At school Gowon proved to be a very good athlete: he was the school football goalkeeper, pole vaulter, and long distance runner. He broke the school mile record in his first year. He was also the boxing captain.

Early career and political ascent Yakubu Gowon joined the Nigerian army in 1954, receiving a commission as a Second Lieutenant on 19 October 1955, his 21st birthday.

He also attended both the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, UK (195556), Staff College, Camberley, UK (1962) as well as the Joint Staff College, Latimer, 1965. He saw action in the Congo (Zaire) as part of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force, both in 196061 and in 1963. He advanced to battalion commander rank by 1966, at which time he was still a Lieutenant Colonel.

Up until that year Gowon remained strictly a career soldier with no involvement whatsoever in politics, until the tumultuous events of the year suddenly thrust him into a leadership role, when his unusual background as a Northerner who was neither of Hausa or Fulani ancestry nor of the Islamic faith made him a particularly safe choice to lead a nation whose population were seething with ethnic tension.

In January 1966, he became Nigeria's youngest military chief of staff at the age of 32, because a military coup d'état by a group of mostly Igbo junior officers under Major Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu led to the overthrow of Nigeria's civilian government. In the course of this coup, mostly northern and western leaders were killed, including Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Nigeria's Prime Minister; Sir Ahmadu Bello, Sardauna of Sokoto and Premier of the Northern Region; and Samuel Akintola, Premier of the Western Region, Lt Col Arthur Unegbe and so many more. The then Lieutenant Colonel Gowon returned from his course at the Joint Staff College, Latimer UK two days before the coup a late arrival that possibly exempted him from the coupist hit list.

Success in twentieth century world affairs since 1919 and the subsequent failure by Major General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi (who was the head of state following the January 1966 coup-with Gowon his Chief of Staff) to meet Northern demands for the prosecution of the coup plotters further inflamed Northern anger. It should be noted that there was significant support for the coup plotters from both the Eastern Region as well as the mostly left-wing "Lagos-Ibadan" press.

Then came Ironsi's Decree Number 34,

which proposed the abolition of the federal system of government in favor of a unitary state, a position which had long been championed by some Southernersespecially by a major section of the Igbodominated NCNC. This was perhaps wrongly interpreted by Northerners as a Southern (particularly Ibo) attempt at a takeover of all levers of power in the country. The North lagged badly behind the Western and Eastern regions in terms of education due to their religious related unacceptance of western education early, while the mostly-Igbo Easterners were already present in the federal civil service.

On 29 July 1966, while Ironsi was staying at Government House in Ibadan, northern troops led by Major Theophilus Danjuma and Captain Martin Adamu stormed the building, seized Ironsi and his host, Lieutenant Colonel Adekunle Fajuyi, and subsequently had the two men stripped naked, flogged and beaten, and finally shot. Other northern troops, led by Lieutenant Colonel Murtala Mohammed, the real leader of the counter-coup and who later succeeded Yakubu Gowon as head of state, then seized the Ikeja airport in Lagos. Several Igbo and Eastern minority officers were killed during the counter-coup.

The original intention of Murtala Mohammed and his fellow coup-plotters seems to have been to engineer the secession of the Northern region from Nigeria as a whole, but they were subsequently dissuaded of their plans by several advisors, amongst which included a number of high ranking civil servants and judges, and importantly emissaries of the British and American governments who had interests in the Nigerian polity.

The young officers then decided to name Lieutenant Colonel Gowon, who apparently had not been actively involved in events until that point, as Nigerian Head of State. On ascent to power Gowon reversed Ironsi's abrogation of the federal principle.

Buildup to the Biafran War In the meantime, the July counter-coup had unleashed pogroms against more than 50,000 Easterners throughout the Northern Region. Hundreds of Eastern officers were murdered during the revolt, and in the North, as commanding officers either lost their control of their troops or actively egged them on to violence against Igbo civilians, it did not take long for Northerners from all walks of life to participate. Tens of thousands of Igbos were killed throughout the North. The persecution precipitated the flight of more than a million Igbo towards their ancestral homelands in eastern Nigeria. Lieutenant Colonel Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, the military governor of the Eastern region who did not allow attempts

by Northern soldiers stationed in his region to replicate the massacres of Igbo officers, argued that if Igbo lives could not be preserved by the Nigerian state, then the Igbo reserved the right to establish a state of their own in which their rights would indeed be respected.

There arose tension between the Eastern region and the northern controlled federal government led by Gowon. On 45 January 1967, in line with Ojukwu's demand to meet for talks only on neutral soil, a summit attended by Gowon, Ojukwu and other members of the Supreme Military Council was held at Aburi in Ghana, the stated purpose of which was to resolve all outstanding conflicts and establish Nigeria as a confederation of regions. The outcome of this summit was the Aburi Accord.

The Aburi Accord did not see the light of the day, as the Gowon led government had huge consideration for the possible revenues, especially oil revenues which were expected to increase given that reserves having been discovered in the

General Yakubu Gowon area in the mid-1960s. It has been said without confirmation that both Gowon and Ojukwu had knowledge of the huge oil reserves in the Niger Delta area, which today has grown to be the mainstay of the Nigerian economy.

In a move to check the influence of Ojukwu's government in the East, Gowon announced on 5 May 1967 the division of the 4 Nigerian regions into 12 states: North-Western State, North-Eastern state, Kano State, North-Central State, BenuePlateau State, Kwara State, Western State, Lagos State, Mid-Western State, and, from Ojukwu's Eastern Region, a Rivers State, a South-Eastern State, and an EastCentral State. The non-Igbo SouthEastern and Rivers states which had the oil reserves and access to the sea, were carved out to isolate the Igbo areas as EastCentral state.

One controversial aspect of this move was Gowon's annexing of Port Harcourt, a large city in the Niger Delta, in the South of Nigeria (the Ikwerres and Ijaws), sitting on some of Nigeria's largest reserves, into the new Rivers State, emasculating the migrant Igbo population of traders there.

The flight of many of them back to their villages in the 'Igbo heartland' in Eastern Nigeria where they felt safer was alleged to be a contradiction for Gowon's "no victor, no vanquished" policy, when at the end of the war, the properties they left behind were claimed by the Rivers State indigenes.

Minority ethnicities of the Eastern Region were rather not sanguine about the prospect of secession, as it would mean living in what they felt would be an Igbodominated nation. Some non-Igbos living in the Eastern Region either refrained from offering active support to the Biafran struggle, or actively aided the federal side by enlisting in the Nigerian army and feeding it intelligence about Biafran military activities.

However, some did play active roles in the Biafran government, with N.U. Akpan serving as Secretary to the Government, Lt. Col (later Major-General) Philip Effiong, serving as Biafra's Chief of Defence Staff and others like Chiefs Bassey and Graham-Douglas serving in other significant roles.

Gowon as war leader On 30 May 1967, Ojukwu responded to Gowon's announcement by declaring the formal secession of the Eastern Region, which was now to be known as the Republic of Biafra. This was to trigger a war that would last some 30 months, and see the deaths of more than 100,000 soldiers and over a million civilians, most of the latter of which would perish of

starvation under a Nigeria-imposed blockade. The war saw a massive expansion of the Nigerian army in size and a steep increase in its doctrinal and technical sophistication, while the Nigerian Air Force was essentially born in the course of the conflict. However, significant controversy has surrounded the air operations of the Nigerian Forces, as several residents of Biafra, including Red Cross workers, foreign missionaries and journalists, accused the Nigerian Air Force of specifically targeting civilian populations, relief centers and marketplaces. Gowon has steadfastly denied those claims, along with claims that his army committed atrocities such as rape, wholesale executions of civilian populations and extensive looting in occupied areas; however, one of his wartime commanders, Benjamin Adekunle seems to give some credence to these claims in his book, while excusing them as unfortunate by-products of war.

The end of the war came about on 13 January 1970, with Colonel Olusegun Obasanjo's acceptance of the surrender of Biafran forces. The next day Obasanjo announced the situation on the former rebel radio station Radio Biafra Enugu.

Gowon subsequently declared his famous "no victor, no vanquished" speech, and followed it up with an amnesty for the majority of those who had participated in the Biafran uprising, as well as a program of "Reconciliation, Reconstruction, and Rehabilitation", to repair the extensive damage done to the economy and infrastructure of the Eastern Region during the years of war. Unfortunately, some of these efforts never left the drawing board. In addition to this, Gen. Gowon's administration's policy of giving 20 pounds to everyone who had a bank account in Nigeria before the war, regardless of how much money had been in their account, was criticised by foreign and local aid workers, as this led to an unprecedented scale of begging, looting and robbery in the former Biafran areas after the war.

Postwar Years The postwar years saw Nigeria enjoying a meteoric, oil-fueled, economic upturn in the course of which the scope of activity of the Nigerian federal government grew to an unprecedented degree, with increased earnings from oil revenues.

Unfortunately, however, this period also saw a rapid increase in corruption, mostly bribery, of and by federal government officials; and although the head of State himself, Gen. Gowon, was never found complicit in the corrupt practices, he was often accused of turning a blind eye to the

On 1 October 1974, in flagrant contradiction to his earlier promises, Gowon declared that Nigeria would not be ready for civilian rule by 1976, and he announced that the handover date would be postponed indefinitely. Furthermore, because of the growth in bureaucracy, there were allegations of rise in corruption. Increased wealth in the country resulted in fake import licenses being issued. There were stories of tons of stones and sand being imported into the country, and of General Gowon himself saying to a foreign reporter that "the only problem Nigeria has is how to spend the money she has."

The corruption in Gowon's administration culminated in the notorious "cement armada" in the summer of 1975, when the port of Lagos became jammed with hundreds of ships trying to unload cement.

Somehow, agents of the Nigerian government had signed contracts with 68 different international suppliers for the delivery of a total of 20 million tons of cement in one year to Lagos, even though its port could only accept one million tons of cargo per year.Even worse, the poorly drafted cement contracts included demurrage clauses highly favorable to the suppliers, meaning that the bill began to skyrocket if the ships sat in port waiting to unload (or even if they sat in their home ports waiting for permission to depart for Nigeria). The Nigerian government did not fully grasp the magnitude of its mistake until the port of Lagos was so badly jammed that basic supplies could not get through. By that time it was too late. Its attempts to repudiate the cement contracts and impose an emergency embargo on all inbound shipping tied up the country in litigation around the world for many years, including a 1983 decision of the U.S. Supreme Court.

These scandals provoked serious discontent within the army. On 29 July 1975, while Gowon was attending an OAU summit in Kampala, a group of officers led by Colonel Joe Nanven Garba announced his overthrow. The coup plotters appointed Brigadier Murtala Muhammad as head of the new government, and Brigadier Olusegun Obasanjo as his deputy.

Later life Gowon subsequently went into exile in the United Kingdom, where he acquired a PhD in political science as a student at the University of Warwick. He lived in north London / Hertfordshire border, and very much became part of the English community in his area, where he served a term as Churchwarden in the local church.

In February 1976, Gowon was implicated in the coup d'état led by Lt. Col Buka Suka Dimka, which resulted in the death of the now Gen Murtala Mohammed. According to Dimka's "confession", he met with Gowon in London, and obtained support from him for the coup. In addition, Dimka mentioned before his execution that the purpose of the Coup d'état was to re-install Gowon as Head of State. As a result of the coup tribunal findings, Gowon was declared wanted by the Nigerian government, stripped of his rank in absentia and had his pension cut off. Gen Gowon was finally pardoned (along with the ex-Biafran President, Emeka Ojukwu) during the Second Republic under President Shehu Shagari.

He returned to Nigeria in the 1983, and in the 1990s he formed a nondenominational religious group, Nigeria Prays. Still based in the UK, General Gowon today serves an 'elder statesman' role in African politics, operating (for example) as an official observer at the Ghanaian presidential elections 2008.

Furthermore, Gen. Gowon is also involved in the Guinea Worm Eradication Programme as well as the HIV Programme with Global Fund of Geneva.

Gowon founded his own organization in 1992 called the Yakubu Gowon Centre.

The organization is said to work on issues in Nigeria such as good governance as well as infectious disease control including HIV/AIDS, guinea worm, and malaria.

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COURT

Court convicts 'My Pikin' killer syrup makers, Court Adeyemo Abiodun, suddenly “The company is also ordered to winds-up company started shaking and gradually be wound up compulsorily, in line dissolves began to collapse. with the provisions of the law, and Federal High Court years imprisonment each on the The judge then summoned the its assets forfeited to the Federal sitting in Lagos, Friday offence, while he ordered the medical doctor in charge of the Government” Okeke ruled. pastor's convicted and setenced to company to be compulsorily Federal High Court, who after It will be recalled that the said seven years imprisonment, two wound up and its assets forfeited e x a m i n i n g t h e a c c u s e d , “My Pikin syrup was reported to marriage over e m p l o y e e s o f B a r e w a to the Federal Government. confirmed he was hypertensive, have killed over 80 children in the “The prosecution tendered and his blood pressure, very high. country.

Pharmaceutical Company Ltd, Adeyemo Abiodun and Ebele several exhibits in the trial of the Justice Okeke ordered that the In the trial, the prosecution called infidelity Eromosele. accused, but failed to lead accused be offered a seat but seven witnesses, while the

A

A

n Orile-Agege Customary Court in Lagos on Monday dissolved the four-year-old marriage of one Pastor Segun Fasina and his wife, Abosede, over the wife's alleged wayward life. The President of the court, Mr Joseph Adewusi, said that the marriage had broken up irreparably. “Starting from today, you seize to be addressed as husband and wife.You shall go your separate ways unmolested.

“The petitioner shall pay the sum of N30,000 to the wife to enable her start a business to keep body and soul together,'' Adewusi ruled. Reports said that the petitioner, Fasina, had filed the suit on March 12, seeking dissolution of the union over his wife's infidelity.

Fasina, of 4, Moses St., Alagba, Orile-Agege, told the court that Abosede had lost her sense of dignity and was now smoking and consuming alcohol.

The pastor also said that his wife was troublesome and a gossip.

“My wife, Abosede, possesses all the bad habits one can think of.

She was accused of stealing a phone in our house.

“I believed she actually stole it because of her behaviour. She goes to other co-tenants' apartments to gossip.

“And whenever there is any fight in the house, my wife's name is always mentioned.

“As a pastor, I have prayed for her deliverance from the evil acts but my effort was in vain.

“Since the marriage is childless, we owe ourselves nothing. So, I want the court to dissolve the union.”

But, Abosede, 30, a housewife, denied the allegations. “My husband is adulterous. He counsels his church members at home, and I discovered that most of them are ladies. “He was inside the room counselling a woman when I dashed in. “ But to my surprise, my husband and the woman were both naked in our bed. “My husband beat me and threw me out of the house. “When I reported the case to his father, the man said, I should not disturb his son.

“I am not a drunk. My husband saw me with alcohol that was meant to cleanse my stomach, so that I can get pregnant,” she said.

She told the court that despite his adulterous lifestyle, she was still in love with him.

The company and its employees were charged on an amended sixcount charged of the production of a killer syrup, “my pikin.”

There was mild drama, midway into the judgment, as one of the convicts suddenly began to collapse.

Trial judge, Justice Okechukwu Okeke in his judgment, convicted the accused on two counts, while he acquitted them of four counts.

The Judge accordingly sentenced the accused to seven

evidence that the accused actually produced the adulterated drugs.

“I hereby find the accused not guilty of counts one, two, five and six, dealing with production and adulteration of drugs, while I find them guilty of counts three and four which is conspiracy and sale of the drugs.

“The accused are hereby convicted as charged” the court held.

Shortly after allocutus by defence counsel, the first accused

however, proceeded with delivering the sentence.

“In as much as I appreciate the passionate plea of learned silk, especially considering the state of the first accused, I am however, bound by the provisions of the law.

“Having found the accused guilty on two counts, the convicts are hereby sentenced to seven years imprisonment each on the charge.

The charges are to run concurrently.

defence called only one witness.

The offence for which the convicts are sentenced, contravenes the provisions of section 1 (a) of the Counterfeit and Fake Drugs and unwholesome processed foods (Miscellaneous provisions) Act No. 25 of 1999.

It attracts an imprisonment term not less than five years or more than 15 years, or a fine of N500,000, or both fine and imprisonment.

Woman seeks divorce for lack of sexual satisfaction hardly enjoyed sex with my marriage because he is unable to understand why her attitude by husband husband”, she said in her satisfy me in bed and not changed towards me. My wife

A

former airline cashier, Mrs Grace Oguche, pleaded with an Agege Grade 'A' Customary Court, Lagos to dissolve her seven-year old marriage to her husband, Mr Maxwell Madu, over his alleged poor performance in bed and being unemployed. ”Ever since we got married, I

testimony in chief. "My husband does not perform well on bed. It was God's grace that we had the only child of the union. My husband maltreats me, calls me a prostitute”.

She added that her husband failed in his responsibilities and she was the one taking care of the house, yet he never appreciated her.

“I want the court to dissolve the

responsible at home.”

Meanwhile, Madu denied the allegations and said, “I agreed with her bid to dissolve the union.

Because of my state of unemployment, my wife went to another man's house for sex. ”My wife is never satisfied with sex, rather she complains so that she could get it somewhere else.

I love my wife, but I do not

comes home late, flirts around with different men and ,at times, she does not come home.

“So, I want the dissolution of the marriage because my wife gets sexual satisfaction outside”.

Court president, Mr Emmanuel Shokunle, told the couple to maintain the peace and adjourned the case to May 20 for further hearing.

Sunny Ade's guitarist jailed 3 years for drug trafficking

T

he Federal High Court in L a g o s , Tu e s d a y, sentenced Sunny Ade's former guitarist, Fatoke Abiodun, who was arrested by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, to three years imprisonment for drug trafficking.

Abiodun, who was brought before Justice S. Seidu of the Federal High Court pleaded guilty to one count charge of unlawful exportation of 1.575kg of cocaine.

The defence counsel, Mr Bayo Onifade, had pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy since the convict is 62 years old, a husband of three wives with 12 children.

In his ruling, Justice Seidu sentenced the convict to three years imprisonment with effect from the date of arrest. He noted that the appeal of the defence counsel and the fact that the convict pleaded guilty without wasting the time of the court

were carefully considered.

It will be recalled that Fatoke Abiodun was apprehended by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on January 1, 2013 at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA)

Lagos. The convict who played guitar for music star, King Sunny Ade for over three decades was caught while attempting to board an Air France flight to I t a l y. D u r i n g search, two parcels of cocaine w e i g h i n g 1.575kg were found industrially hidden in the false bottom of his l u g g a g e .

Fatoke reportedly blamed his involvement on financial hardship. According to Fatoke, “after my primary education, I only did one year in the secondary school before I went into music. I can play any kind of guitar but my music career is a sad story.

"I played for King Sunny Ade for 30 years before I was unceremoniously retired in 2007. I was unprepared and without severance money I saw the bitter side of life. This is my first time of involving myself in drug trafficking. I did it out of frustration because at my age I could not provide for my family.

I am ashamed of myself”.

Speaking on how he got involved in drug trafficking, Fatoke explained that he got a call from a friend. “I live in Ibadan with my family. I was invited to Lagos where I was given 50,000 naira and they promised that every arrangement will be ready for me to travel soon.

They promised to pay me one million naira. If not for my condition, I would have turned down the offer but it was my last hope to be free from financial difficulty. I was given the bag and my ticket but at the airport NDLEA detected the drug.

Since then, I have been in deep pain. I feel bad because I have no one to help me” Fatoke regretted.

THE

Monday, May 20 - Tuesday, May 26, 2013

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PICTURES FROM THE LAUNCH THE BAYELSA DEVELOPMENT AND INVESTMENT CORPORATION IN JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA.

Dr. (Mrs.) Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, Minister of Finance, accompanied by the representative of President Jacob Zuma of South Africa and Deputy Minister of Economic Development, South Africa, Professor Hlengiwe Mhkize, Gov Dickson and other guests walking in to the BDIC office during the commissioning ceremony in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson, accompanied by the Speaker of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Kombowei Friday Benson and other dignitaries arrive for the commissioning of the BDIC office in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Gov Dickson (2nd left), explaining a point on arrival for the commissioning ceremony of the BDIC office, Udengs Eradiri of the IYC (middle), South Africa's Deputy Minister of Economic Affairs, Professor Hlengiwe Mkhize, who also represented President Jacob Zuma (1st right), observe proceedings.

Governor Henry Seriake Dickson (middle) in glasses and bowler hat, being welcomed to the BDIC regional office in Johannesburg, shortly before it was commissioned.

Nigeria's Finance Minister, Dr. (Mrs.) Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, who represented President Jonathan and her entourage arriving the BDIC office for the commissioning ceremony.

His Royal Highness Alhaji Dr. Ibn Idrissa, Emir of Fune and Chairman Fune Emirate Council, being conferred with PILLAR OF EXEMPLARY LEADERSHIP AWARD recently, by the Executive Secretary of Leadership and Role Model Foundation of Nigeria Godfrey Chidozie Esq.

L-R, Kufre Ekanem, Corporate Affairs Manager, Cadbury West Africa; Prof. Ngozi Nnam, President of the Nutrition Society of Nigeria and Emil Moskofian, Managing Director, Cadbury Nigeria Plc during the Cadbury Bournvita Endorsement Ceremony held at the Golden Royal Hotel, Enugu.

L-R, Prof. Ngozi Nnam, President of the Nutrition Society of Nigeria; Emil Moskofian, Managing Director, Cadbury Nigeria Plc and Mrs. Nneka Onyebuchi, Wife of the Deputy Governor, Enugu State during the Cadbury Bournvita Endorsement Ceremony held at the Golden Royal Hotel, Enugu.

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17

S

equins are spectacular elements that confer an extravagant note to any outfit. Precious fabrics have assaulted the street fashion over the last seasons. Sequins are already very shiny and usually look best when paired with matte or sheer fabrics. For a cover up, choose a sheer scarf, a matte blazer, or a cashmere cardigan rather than a metallic jacket. When you choose shoes to go with your sequins, you have a few options, pumps, black patent leather, suede, or velvet are all appropriate choices. Stay away from super sexy, over the knee boots, since your sequin dress is already very hot. If you want to wear your sequins in the day, though, they look fun when paired with combat boots. Wear your sequin dress with a pair of very thin tights or pantyhose with a low den in a solid color. Patterns won't match sequins and fishnets will make your outfit too busy. Sequins dresses are pretty flexible so they instantly attract attention, and you can easily form a vulgar appearance.

ong sequin dresses should not be worn during the day. A head-to-toe sequin outfit is only appropriate for evening events. Thus, sequin dresses are perfect for cocktail parties, for New Year Eve's night, or for the red carpet. When you wear them, leave any statement accessory at home; you do not want to look like a disco ball. When purchasing, make sure sequins are sewn one by one; otherwise, if you break one, all of them will fall. Such clothes have to be manually washed, but first test a sequin to see if color does not fade.

Some women might think sequin dresses are not appropriate for them or for their age, but sequins are no longer only associated with luxury or partying. A middleaged woman can successfully make an elegant impact even if she is wearing a long sequin dress. For a more subtle look, navy blue and black sequins are more indicated. However, women who are not afraid of being in the center of attention should try powerful colors. Since sequin dresses are somewhat sassy, they can definitely make a woman seem confident and full of attitude, so they should be embraced by all ladies.

For make-up, go with the smokey eye look using dark eye shadow and thin black eyeliner. Don't wear any necklaces as your dress is already very glamorous but you could wear some simple bracelets. You don't want to look too accessorized, you know? For a purse, just bring a wrist clutch, something that you can hold onto on your wrist and not a hand clutch because it can get hard to hang on to when you're out partying especially if you plan on getting waste. When you pick shoes, remember that sparkling models are too much. You only want the dress to stand out, and nothing to ruin its effect. Opt for nude models, because you can't go wrong. Sandals are also a right choice. High heels are definitely a must during the night. Makeup should be clean and neutral. When it comes to bags, a minimalist clutch is the best option.

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equin dresses are already so over the top it can be tough to figure out how to accessorize them. The first thing you need to know about accessorizing sequin dresses is that you must avoid intricate and loaded accessories. Much like you would with a busy print, you are going to want to find understated accessories to wear with your sequin dress. Once you get the hang of picking out accessories for your sequin dress, though, the dress may just be quite versatile. A sequin dress is a natural choice for a night in a nightclub, but with the right accessories, you can actually make your sequins work for a date, a dinner party, or even a daytime look. A plain, black sequin dress will be the easiest to wear, but if you are confident, you may want to try to pull off gold or maybe even a brightly colored dress.

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Chime is a blessing to Enugu State…

He has made us proud – Obimo Monarch In this series of The Advocate Royalty and Splendor, we feature a first class traditional ruler in Enugu State, Igwe Spencer Ugwoke who has piloted the affairs of Obimo community in Nsukka Local government area of Enugu State since the past 34 years and still working hard to uplift his community and improve the wellbeing of his subjects. He spoke to The Advocate at his palace in Obimo on various issues including the traditional institution, the administration of Sullivan Chime, President Goodluck Jonathan among others.

By Ted Peters

were there when he perform many miracles including raising the dead, yet he was instructing them to do some form of ritual in his remembrance. So I said that I must have to do something in my domain that I would be remembered for. I don't have houses, I don't have money and I don't measure men by riches but by the idea they impact to others so that when I am no longer living, I will be remembered for it.

I am still building my palace for the past thirty-four years. The one I am living in at Nsukka I built it before I became the Igwe. I am an Estate Surveyor and Valuer. You know it is a money making profession. It is a very mighty palace and I have not been able to finish it. Don't ask me why because I believe you should know. By the grace of God I have trained all my children. They are all graduates.

Number one, if I say this and I don't say another one, it is okay for me. To travel from Abakpa Nike through Opi to Nsukka is only thirty minutes; in thirty minutes you are in Nsukka town. Imagine!

I come from Nsukka town, I see Ogrugu road, I have never been on transfer to anywhere, so I know everything. Before now during rainy season you can't pass Ogrugu road, you can't pass Timber Shade, you cannot pass University road but go and see them now, before now you can't go to Orba from Nsukka, I don't know if you know where I am talking about. Now if you are going from Nsukka to Orba, in less than 10 minutes you are there, what could not be done in one hour in the past.

Remember that sometimes when you are traveling to Enugu, we go through Opi, Obolo through Ovoko and back to Nsukka. He has made us proud.

What is your assessment of Governor Chime as his administration clocks six HRH Igwe Spencer Ugwoke (Enyi di uru 1) years in office on the May It has been very nice. Why I said that it has been very nice is that we Anambra state and even to Idah. people, it is part of life; it is for 29?

We are aware that Chime during his second term bid promised at various fora to hand over power to an Nsukka man after his second term but now people have started seeing Senator Ekweremadu's posters everywhere in the state.

How do you see this development?

Your Royal Highness, may we know your background I am Igwe Spencer Ugwoke, (Enyi di uru 1), the traditional ruler of Obimo, Nsukka Local Government of Enugu State. I am an Estate Surveyor. I studied at University of Science and Technology Kumasi Ghana where I graduated in 1975. By 1979 I was called by my community to take the mantle of leadership as the traditional ruler. Since 1979 till now I was in the then Anambra State Council of Traditional Rulers and held various chairmanship positions in the council's committees. I have also been in the Enugu State council of traditional rulers, held positions and I am one of the longest serving traditional rulers in Enugu Enugu North senatorial district and the state at large.

How has it been leading your people in the past 34 years on the throne?

have had various developments; religiously and otherwise. When I came to the throne in 1979 about 85 percent of the people of my community were idol worshippers and why I tell you this is that Christianity helps to enlighten the people on where to go and what to do for a better society. I am an Anglican to the core, I' m a knight of St. Paul, I am an Evangelist but I brought the Roman Catholic Parish into Obimo, brought the Anglican Parish, and the Assemblies of God. We have secondary schools, about three secondary schools in my domain built by the people. We have other amenities like water, apart from the fact that every village is endowed with spring water. There has been introduction of pipeborne water and electricity. We have established a large expanse of land as a layout, for housing and industrial development. We passed through the Ministry of Lands and Survey to obtain all the necessary approvals for more than 2,000 plots of 60ft by 100ft each with the roads properly laid out. I gave the Roman Catholic Church led by Rev. Fr. Paul Adoration Ground of about 100 hectares free of charge. These are parts of what we have done. We are growing, people travel through our community to Onitsha, to

That's the impact of development.

history making.

Apart from this water problem that you mentioned, are there other challenges facing your community?

What led to the burning of your car?

Yes, a solution to a problem leads to another. That's part of life. I am not among those who run away f r o m p r o b l e m s . We h a v e problems. You see, to change certain customary practices is not easy. Sometime ago I told your colleagues during an interview like this that 'uneasy lies the head that wears the crown' as an adage should be used by only those who have worn the crown. So if you have not worn the crown, you should not use that adage because you don't know the uneasiness. It is those of us that are wearing crowns that know the uneasiness.

Certain customary exercises are not easy. This crown that I am wearing; you cannot dictate where it is pinching me now. It is only me that is wearing it that can truly know. You see, I am a psychologist sort of. I accept trials and difficulties as part of life, while people shy away from certain things that they come across as problem but I call that part of life because I know it. If I go back to the history of my community, my car 504 SR was burnt by my

It was just a minor misunderstanding. Even when it is not, my car have not done anything wrong to deserve burning because I didn't use it to kill anybody as to say that such grievance ought to be. I was just a young man, imagine my age 34 years ago controlling a community of more than 25,000 people. It is no easy to the make history. I shouldered it. We were five that contested for the Igweship position and almost all my opponents had my age mate as sons but I didn't care because I was reading a book titled and I came across an adage which says that it is the biographies of great men that form the history of the world. I wanted to create history and I have made history. I have ruled my community 1979 till date. It is for history sake. Therefore even Christ when he was dying, he has made the lame work, the blind to see and that he has performed many other miracles. When he had the last supper with his disciplines, he gave them bread and said “take and do this in remembrance of me.” This is because he felt that he might be forgotten. These were people who

Chime is the best that Enugu State has ever had. I have been on the throne for long, I have jumped many hurdles, I have tested many whether, I am not among those who come to Enugu to clamour to see the Governor but I am seeing his works, we have tested two soups and Sullivan Chime has thought us another lesson. One of the things I learnt from him is silence, talking less and doing more. The opposition can say anything, yet he keeps silent. Look at the state, Enugu State is the best in the South East, it is the best both in development structure and peace. Go and see what is happening in Anambra, read the papers and see what is happening at Imo, go and see Abia. It is only in Ebonyi that there are less crisis but as far as infrastructural development and peace are concern, Enugu State is the best.

There are no oppositions to the government. They are only making noise to attract an Abuja attention. Chime has done very well, we have tested two soups and we now know which one is better.

You are from Enugu North senatorial zone, please can you enumerate those things Chime has done that made you tag him better soup?

Let me tell you, those posters are meant to bamboozle laymen. It is not for intelligent and mature mind. I am not convinced that Ekweremadu is even aware of that. He cannot be and I don't think he is aware. I know who Ekweremadu is; he is a chap that deserves some respect and maintains some dignity. In Enugu state as you may know we have a tripartite arrangement which have not been introduced in any other state in the Southeast but because we are the former capital of the Eastern Region, we are also the headquarter of Southeastern states and whatever is obtains in other southeastern states, starts from here. Sullivan has made it to stand and it will move in that direction; after Enugu West, it will move to Enugu North. This is done to avoid conflicts. We the traditional ruler, about 85-90 percent supports this system. I don't believe that Ekweremadu is aware; I believe it is the making of propagandists.

Yo u k n o w t h a t l a c k o f employment create many

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Monday, May 20 - Tuesday, May 26, 2013

on the law establishing Chime is a blessing to Enugu State… chieftaincy, I have the right to advice and my advisory capacity He has made us proud – Obimo monarch ends within the state. I am not

Continued from page 18 propagandists.

Do you mean that Enugu North Zone deserve to produce the next Governor?

Definitely, this is because as at now, I don't see anything against it. In our profession there's a law that says 'value property as they are seen during inspection.' Yes, as at now Enugu North zone should produce the next governor of Enugu State.

The public worry is that Ekweremadu has not come out publicly to dissociate himself from those posters.

Well, remember when our governor travelled out first, remember that we were all dumfounded or have you forgotten? There were media reports here and there. People wrote in the media that the Governor was dead. In fact we were all dumbfounded. I am one person who abhors any form of romance with government but the level of peace we enjoy now in the state has never been experienced in recent time. Have you forgotten the Nnamani era? The kind of things seen during that era has not been seen since Sullivan came.

This is because Sullivan is a Godsent Governor. I am convinced that his predecessor never behaved the way he is behaving for the interest of the public. The various slogans in vogue at the time, do you hear that again? So this young man is a genius. He is a God sent; look at the silence, look at his style of leadership. Do you know that about a week ago he distributed 57 cars to Development Centre Administrators at Okpara square?

I gathered that he stood up for a long period during that function.

We never knew that he could even stand up at all based on the kind of stories we read on net, I don't know what you people call internet. They published that somebody is dead. So if somebody is dead, are they the proper person/s to confirm it? If I as your very close friend die, it is not your responsibility to announce my death, no matter how closely related. Who sent these things on the internet? Do you know that they are belittling the state? Anybody who insults a governor has insulted the state.

Some were saying that when they were contesting at the polls they were not given the support but now we are saying it is Nsukka people. Let me tell you my friend, traditional rulers only know government in power and not a government that is trying to be.

Until you succeed they will bow to you. We are loyal to the Governor.

Igwe you have so much

HRH Igwe Spencer Ugwoke (Enyi di uru 1) praised Chime that even the people with aspiration to take over from him could be scared. Now that you feel that it is the turn of your zone, do you think that the zone can produce such a capable candidate that will fit into Sullivan's shoes?

Let me give you an example. Let them come out, many are now coming out to become governor, some are looking for ministerial appointment, some for commissioner. I am sure if I tell you that I'll make you a minister, and that you should bring N20million you'll go back to run around for the money, so that's what they are doing. They create an impression that they struggled and therefore should be recommended for something. Are they the people who chose Sullivan Chime? No matter

how he came out, most of us including you here were against his candidacy because he was picked by Chimaroke Nnamani. We were not happy about selecting him but that's how God works. If you are doing good, you should keep it up, don't stop doing good, and don't be annoyed because they didn't pay you back, this is because those who will pay back are ones you don't know. If Nnamani knew that this man will not follow his footsteps, he would not have adopted him. He came with quietness and as a ruler he kept his

silence. If you remember when we had crisis in my domain on church issue where they wanted to impose a rule that any married woman who violates adultery or fornication law will come for confession in the church. I said no, it cannot happen; I am the Igwe of the community. We fought for it everywhere. I insisted that our custom should prevail. To question our tradition is sacrilege. When this Governor came, we all changed. I am among those who didn't believe but I changed because the weather changed. If Nsukka brings somebody who is not good enough, I will plead with the people to endure it as we endured Nnamani for eight years. But we are hoping that we will get it right.

The Governor himself knows what he wants to leave behind.

Unfortunately it is not what Chimaroke Nnamani wanted to leave that he left. God's hand was involved. Look at what the newspapers are writing, he doesn't talk to anybody and he doesn't respond to all the criticisms.

Igwe you know that the zoning system has been distorted especially by PDP, why do you still believe in the zoning arrangement since at the federal level it does not exist?.

Let me say something, I have limited answer to some questions.

There are questions meant for me and there are questions meant for other people. Anything that is federal or zoning it is my Governor that you will go and ask that question and whatever he says is the one to follow, we will obey him, but for the state, based

authorized to do so at the federal level but in the state here, yes I can advise on zoning. If you remember my interview sometime which appeared in the papers? When I had an interaction with Chimaroke Nnamani, I questioned him about the visit of Obasanjo when he came to Enugu State and commissioned nine projects and of the entire project only one was commissioned in Enugu West, precisely Oji-River, the rest were in Enugu East zone. I asked why Nsukka did not have a fair share of those projects, not even one for Nsukka that has majority of the population and everything in the state. If there should be equity, we deserve something meaningful. Then the Governor told me to wait for our turn. All was reflected in even the appointments he made after the statement and the state has been quiet. We are still afraid because we may still get our own governor that will have a second government house at Nkanu.

Whatever is the case, let us have the picture of someone from Nsukka to hang in the Lion Building as the Governor of Enugu State.

An Nsukka man is the chairman of the ruling PDP in Enugu state.Do you think that his position influenced the democracy dividends showered on Enugu North senatorial zone?

Well, yes. The chairman of the party in Enugu is from Nsukka.

We are happy he is from Nsukka.

It is the level of discipline in the party that is making the governor to do well. This is because he adheres to the party principles and manifesto. I know that Vita Abba has been the Chairman of the party for the past six years. Now watch the party system in Enugu state, go to other states and see that there are factions. There's no state in the southeast that do not have factions in the party.

Remember when Sullivan was taken to court after the election, the whole traditional rulers including myself and the whole Enugu state people…. Let me tell you a judge doesn't always take decision against the interest of the people. What happened to that case, and where is now?

We elected him and we are happy with him. There is nothing the court could have done. Infact we would overtake the court.

Lastly let's talk about the nature of Traditional rulers, are they being taken care of in the scheme of things?

They are being taken care of in the state (Laughs) and I thank the state Government, they have done what other Governments have never done. Look at the cars they

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gave to each and every one of us.

It doesn't matter the make or name of the car, the most important thing is that at least there is a car for every Traditional Ruler. If subsequent government comes in and feels like according us more respect we shall not reject it.

Do you subscribe to role given to traditional rulers in the constitution?

Yes we want it, because whenever there are crises, they will say where the traditional rulers are. I say let us introduce the fourth tier of government. I am sorry to take you back, this system of Government we are practicing in this country and we are not matured for it. The country is not matured for it, the people that practice presidential system of Government 98% of them are educated. There is no Head of state that is richest in Amrerica.

Barack Obama is not being counted as one at the richest. But tell me who happen to be a Head of State here in Nigeria, who is not claiming to be among the richest. Look at the system at governance, if this system will continue, let us have fourth tier in t h e c o m m u n i t i e s . Yo u r community may need water, your community may need electricity, your community may need schools, hospitals and then allocation should be made to the fourth tier. You will then put some local Government staff there to be monitoring the allocation and be reporting to the local Government Chairman. But it is we the traditional rulers and our cabinet, we shall decide on where to disburse the funds, and it must be in the constitution to have the enforcement of the law. You know the law is no respecter of persons.

But come here and see, its only when the Governor is going to any public function, and they will tell all Igwe's to come out, not even an invitation letter, but only on Radio or public service announcement. Which state in the North or in the West will you tell the Emirs or Obas to come out in the field? I don't go out to the fiel, it's an insult to the institution (laughs) there are people who came to my house and told me Igwe we want to see you. And I asked them, you want to see me, for what, is it because you are from Abuja? Now Attah of Igala here, can you just go to his palace like that without appointment? So when they came in, I finished them, I said to the Igbos among them “Look at you, you're from Abia, you're from Imo, I don't blame you. Let me remove my regalia and drop my P. A and let your Kogi friend take us to Attah of Igala, Let us see whether he will receive us. You people are saying 2015, an Igboman should be or not. Where is the platform?

Which platform? (APGA, cuts in), yes you are correct. The Governor of Imo state is now talking about APC. You see it, University of

Continues on page 8

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Insecurity, political challenges: Nigeria must remain united - Rev. Jesse Jackson, Clark, Yakassai

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ormer American presidential candidate and civil rights activist, Rev Jesse Jackson, Friday, described Nigeria as a country having all the potentials to emerge as future global economic power bloc appealing to Nigerians to strive towards peaceful coexistence and work towards national unity.

Rev Jackson who led other Nigerian politicians to dismiss the doomsday predictions that the ongoing security challenges and agitations by politicians ahead of

the 2015 presidential poll that the country will disintegrate, said Nigeria must remain a united nation.

His position was supported by the Ijaw National Leader, Chief Edwin Clark, former Presidential Adviser to Alhaji Shehu Shagari, Alhaji Tanko Yakassai and the Governor of Bayelsa State, S e r i a k e D i c k s o n .

They all spoke in Yenagoa at the Major Isaac Adaka Boro Anniversary colloquium.

Rev Jackson who was a guest speaker at the event with the

theme , "Oil and Peace: Compatibility for Sustainable Growth in Nigeria," said issue of terrorism is a global phenomenon and the people involved are killing innocent people to attract attention.

His words, "it should be known that when one has democracy issues can be resolved through non-violent means. You can create a new leadership and take over leadership with the right message of change. You have have the right to peaceful protest and the free press. So, you don't

need to kill somebody before you can be heard. You can be heard by simply sitting down and talking.

"There is problem in democracy when people can't talk and be heard to change things.These people tend to speak in a voice that would be heard. When people fail to be heard and participate, it become a valueless democracy.�

Jesse Jackson noted that the reported deployment of drones and troops to troubled areas of the country is a decision that can be made by the President and based

Police arraign 9 for alleged armed robbery, murder in Enugu ¡Arrest 3 others for robbery

By Ted Peters

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INE persons have been arraigned before an Enugu Magistrate Court by operatives of the Special AntiRobbery Squad, SARS, of the Enugu state police command for alleged armed robbery, conspiracy and murder.

The suspects gave their names as Nnamoko Paul, Ugochukwu Nnaji also known as Agbomorocco, Collins Ogechukwu Uzor also known as Danwisiki, Elvis David, Ugokwe Obiorah Johnpaul popularly called Okporoko, Michael Obinna Uduji alias Mayor, Ifeanyichukwu Ani, Anthony Okwuosa also known as Sparrow and Chekwube Enete.

They were arrested in the course of police investigations into a reported case of car snatching involving Toyota Yaris car with registration number MUS 139 BC and other valuables, which allegedly took place at Idaw River axis of the state capital recently.

Sources said that during police investigations, a clue was provided leading to the arrest of the suspects from whom the stolen car and some valuables, believed to have been stolen from members

of the public in past robbery operations, were recovered.

The State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ebere Amaraizu, said the suspects had revealed how they participated in series of criminal activities within Enugu, Ebonyi, Anambra, Delta among other state, adding that the suspects allegedly admitted to have carried out armed robberies, car snatching and in some cases killed their victims who resisted to part with their belongings. Items recovered from the suspects were one Englishmade gun cut to size, two locallymade guns, one Toyota Camry with registration no SW 302 RLU, one Toyota Hummer Bus with registration number DZ 807 AAA,Riffle casing, Toyota Camry with registration number AY 32O AWK and Toyota Camry with registration number AW 148 AWK. However, when the suspects were arraigned in court, they pleaded not guilty and were accordingly remanded in prison custody.

Speaking on the development, the state commissioner of police, Mohammed Abubakar Adamu, expressed happiness with the impressive performance of his men which he noted came as a

MD Abubaka result of their dedication to duty as well as the cooperation of the members of the public who provided the police with useful and timely information on the activities of men of the underworld. He urged members of the public not to relent in contributing their quota to effective policing in order to sanitize the society. In a similar development, operatives of SARS have also nabbed three notorious armed robbery suspects with an

object that resembles a gun while 664 wraps of weeds suspected to be Indian hemp were recovered from them. The arrest was made at Akpugo axis of Nkanu West local government area of the state by the operatives during one of their regular patrols in the area.

Suspects who gave their names as Chidera Ekpundu,Tochukwu Nnamele and Uba Daniel are now helping the police in their investigations, according to the police spokesman

6, 966 girls to share N35.8m grant in Katsina

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he Katsina State Government has b e g a n t h e disbursement of N35.8 million under its Conditional C a s h Tr a n s f e r ( C C T ) programme to 6, 966 primary school girls in the state.

Hajiya Bilkisu Kaikai, the Special Adviser to Gov. Ibrahim Shema on Girl-child Education and Development,

Gov. Ibrahim Shema

said the amount was being disbursed to selected pupils under the fifth round of the programme. She said while issuing out the grant to some of the beneficiaries at Unguwar Tsamiya village in Kaita Local Government Area of the state on Thursday, that each of the girls would receive N5,000.

She added that the money was to support pupils from very poor homes in the pursuit of primary school education.

Kaikai urged parents in the

state to enrol their wards especially girls into schools.

Earlier, the Coordinator of the programme, Alhaji Kabir Sani had said that the cash assistance was intended to encourage girl-child education.

He charged parents of the girls to ensure proper use of the fund to enhance the education of their daughters.

The programme was aimed at promoting girl-child education in nine selected local government areas of the state.

on facts and intelligence available, but pointed out that the American example on the deployment of drones has not been palatable.

"The country must spend more time on conflict resolution. You can not put out the pains of the suppressed people in that way.

You must resolve conflict with justice "Nigeria must be determined to achieve a united Nigeria to achieve joy. That is a Nigeria decision. States have their place and tribe have their traditions.

But the ultimate protection should be one Nigeria. One Nigeria must be achieved for the country to achieve power. Nigeria must not disintegrate and must remain strong. With or without doomsday predictions on the acts of violence and terrorism, the issues must be resolve through negotiation and not separation. In America we had the South threatening to secede, but the President fought to keep the union.�

He challenged the leadership and citizens of the country to unite and utilize her huge human and material resources to better the lives of the people and foster national integration.

Recalling the crucial role Nigeria played in dismantling apartheid in South Africa and the liberation struggle in the Southern hemisphere of Africa, the former US congressman said the entire African continent and the backs in the diaspora were looking up to Nigeria for leadership He noted that only peaceful coexistence would ensure the country occupy its rightful place in the comity of nations.

Specifically, the renowned civil rights activist, lauded the Bayelsa State government for organizing series of activities to immortalise Major Isaac Adaka Boro whose struggle for justice and equality he compared to the efforts of Dr Martin Luther King Jnr. In his remarks, Governor Seriake Dickson pledged that the state government would continue to celebrate the legacies of Isaac Boro.

The governor said despite the contradictions in the country, Nigeria remains a nation of endless opportunities and possibilities On his part, elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark stressed the need for equality for all sections of the country where no group would be excluded from the mainstream.

The discussants presents at the colloquium including Alhaji Tanko Yakassai, Prof Godini Darah and Dr. Emeka Enejere called for socio-economic justice as

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Monday, May 20 - Tuesday, May 26, 2013

Senate backs emergency rule in Borno, Yobe, Adamawa ¨120 insurgents arrested at burial of Boko Haram commander Continued from cover page confrontation with the military.

Many other militants were reported to be fleeing towards the eastern border to Chad and Niger republics.

Meantime, the curfew imposed on Yobe and Borno states had been relaxed just as the military said it has made progress in the campaign against the Boko Haram insurgency in the two states.

The Constitution stipulates that the proclamation be approved by two thirds of the whole Senate and the House of Representatives, failing which the proclamations and actions taken under the proclamations lapse immediately.

It was against this backdrop that the Senate President, David Mark, announced during last Thursday's plenary that all members of the chamber must turn up for today's sitting so they could form a quorum to handle the issue.

Deputy Senate President, Chief Ike Ekweremadu, had during President Goodluck Jonathan's official visit to Enugu State last weekend assured that the state of emergency would receive the unanimous endorsement of the National Assembly and urged the president to go ahead with necessary programmes that would restore public order in the troubled areas of the country.

The House of Representatives also endorsed the state of emergency even though some members from the North were seriously opposed to it.

Tuesday's vote in the Senate and the House of Representatives came on the heels of the reinforcement of military forces in the three states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa affected by the state of emergency.

At least 200 troops were confirmed to have been ferried into Adamawa State on the southern flank of the northeast presently under emergency rule.

Reports said the special forces deployed in Borno State had, Monday taken six towns from the Boko Haram terrorists and destroyed an equal number of camps in those towns.

The liberation of the towns came as soldiers apprehended 120 members of the Boko Haram group who were ironically making arrangements for the burial of one of their commanders killed in confrontation with the military.

Following the onslaught, the terrorists were said to be fleeing towards Chad and Niger Republics but they are being contained by troops at the borders.

A statement signed by the Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General Chris Olukolade on the development said: “The Special Forces have now secured the environs of New Marte, Hausari, Krenoa, Wulgo and Chikun Ngulalo after destroying all the

terrorist camps sited in the vicinity of these localities. The troops are already interacting with locals and citizens assuring them of their safety and freedom from the activities of insurgents.

“Terrorists fleeing towards Chad and Niger Republic are being contained as they have had encounter with Multi-National Joint Task Force in various locations towards the border.

Advancing troops also observed a

few shallow graves believed to be those of hurriedly buried members of the terrorist groups. In Maiduguri, about 120 terrorists were arrested as they organized burial of one of their commanders who died in an encounter with Special Forces the previous day.

“The arrested insurgents are in custody of the Joint Task Force where they are being interrogated”.

Meanwhile, Defence

Headquarters said it has observed the use of photographs purportedly taken in the areas covered by the operations and “wishes to state that the photographs are questionable as they do not reflect any related reality of the social or geographical environment.

Following relative peace witnessed in some parts of Borno and Yobe states, the JTF has relaxed the curfew in order to ease

the hardship being faced by the people, especially the poor masses.

A press statement signed by the JTF Spokesman, Lieutenant Colonel Sagir Musa and issued to newsmen in Maiduguri said: “The 24-hour curfew earlier imposed in Gamboru-Customs Area, Mari Kuwait Area of University of Maiduguri, Bakin Kogi Area, Kasuwan Shanu-Kofar Biyu Area have been relaxed from 6am to 7pm”.

Other areas/wards where the 24hours curfew have been relaxed include Ruwan Zafi-Customs Area, 202 Housing Estate, Bama Road, 303 Housing Estate Bama Road, Dikwa Low-cost Housing Estate.

Also affected are Simari-ZannariKwanan Yobe Area, 505 Abba Gana Terab Housing Estate, Muna Garage Road, Chad Basin Muna Garage Road, Baga Road Federal Lowcost Area, Bolori, Jajeri and Umamari Area.

In a related development, the Special Adviser to Governor Ibrahim Gaidam on Press Affairs and Information, Alhaji Abdullahi Bego said: “In view of the relative peace in Damaturu, the Yobe State capital and its environs, the curfew has now been relaxed from 6am to 6pm.”

The statement said, “In view of the need to sustain the relative peace that all parts of the state currently

Teenager, two others electrocuted in Makurdi

By Our Reporter

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teenager and two others have been reportedly electrocuted in parts of Makurdi town after they allegedly tampered with Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, power transmission lines.

Eyewitnesses said that the victims met their untimely death in the process of vandalizing PHCN cables and illegal manipulation of the lines at different points in the state capital.

According to the eyewitness, one of the victims was a secondary school teacher who in an attempt to exchange the source of electricity to his residence got himself entangled in one of the power lines. ”He was burnt and electrocuted instantly and nobody could get to him nor attempt to rescue him from the live cables because it would have been suicidal ,” he said.

Corroborating the story, the Senior Special Assistant to Benue State Governor on Public Utilities, Mr. Gadaffi Asemanya who regretted the death of the victims wondered why they infringed on the property of PHCN without due authorization. ”It is actually unfortunate that the

three persons lost their lives but these unfortunate incidents should serve as warning to all persons who have made it a habit to always tamper with PHCN facilities because it is the common practice in most places today. ”You will recall that just few weeks ago, a 16 years old boy was almost roasted by PHCN high tension cables when he attempted

to vandalise the lines. It took my personal intervention with the assistance of PHCN staff and security personnel to rescue him from where he was trapped. ”We cannot continue in our lawlessness; the government of the day is doing its best to ensure that it improves our living condition but unfortunately some persons have taken it upon themselves to frustrate these

efforts of government. ”How can anybody in his right senses take an adventure on PHCN power lines? It is unthinkable because its suicidal, but people are doing it for reasons best known to them; and it is rather unfortunate,” Asemanya added.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO in the state, DSP Daniel Ezeala said the command was still investigating the matter.

Abia Executive Council dissolved

By Charles Okechukwu, Umuahia

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overnor Theodore Orji of Abia state has formally dissolved his state executive council.

Affected by the dissolution are all the commissioners, the Chief of Staff to the governor, the Deputy Chief of Staff and the Secretary to the State Government.

Briefing journalists after last week's executive council meeting, the outgoing commissioner for Information and Strategy, Eze Chikamnayo said the dissolution was not based on any ill feeling by the governor but a normal routine of government aimed at reengineering the machinery of

government.

He said that the affected officers were expected to hand over to

their permanent secretaries within one week.

According to him, members of the EXCO thanked the governor for the opportunity given them to serve, noting that this is the first time in the state that commissioners served for two consecutive years without interruption.

The outgoing commissioner said that it was expected that a new EXCO will be constituted by the governor in the next few weeks.

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ADVOCATE

2 injured, 28 nabbed as Police, Traders clash in Ebonyi

By Chinedu Ngwuta

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o fewer than two persons including a policeman and a trader have sustained severe injury after a clash erupted between a team of Anti-Crime Patrol men and some traders of the popular Abakpa Market in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital which brought the market to an abrupt closure on Saturday May 11, 2013.

Many traders scampered for safety while some of them were said to have lost goods worth millions of naira in the clash.

The Advocate learnt that the AntiCrime Patrol men on routine duty were driving along Gunning Road when they ran into a heavy traffic gridlock and in an attempt to bring the situation under control to pave way for free flow of traffic saw two other road users fighting on the road. The fight was said to be responsible for the traffic jam and one of the policemen made efforts to separate them.

An eyewitness said rather than halting the fight, the fighters turned round and attacked the policeman who was seriously beaten up. They struggled to snatch his gun from him and in the process the gun triggered off and injured one person.

The traders thereafter mobilized

MD Abubaka themselves and attacked one of the Policemen who they critically

injured after which they snatched his gun from him and damaged the police vehicle.

Meanwhile, the injured Policeman had been hospitalized in the Intensive Care Unit of the Command Clinic where he is currently receiving treatment while the person who sustained injury when the gun triggered off was taken to the Federal Medical Centre, Abakaliki, FETHA, for treatment.

Confirming the incident, the Ebonyi State Command Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO,

Deputy Superintendent of Police, DSP, Sylvester Igbo, said that a team of Anti-Patrol men while driving along Gunning Road encountered a traffic jam which one of them tried to bring under control before he was attacked and brutalized by the Abakpa Market traders.

“On 11-05-2013 at about 1825hrs, a team of Anti-Patrol men were driving along Gunning Road by Abakpa Market and there was a traffic jam. One of the Police alighted to assist clear the jam. He trekked down to the point where it started while others were trapped in the jam” “On reaching the point, he saw two persons fighting because of the jam. He went to separate them and to ask them to go out of the

road the two persons attacked the Police Corporal and struggled to take his gun away from him. In the process, the gun went off and injured one. The traders joined hands to attack the Policemen.

One was badly injured and his gun taken away from him by his attackers and they smashed the Police vehicle” “The injured Policeman is placed on Intensive Medical Care Unit at the Police Clinic in Abakaliki while the other person is at FETHA” DSP Igbo who said 28 persons had been arrested in connection with the clash, however, appealed for calm as he promised that as soon as the Police get to the root of the matter; its update will be made known to members of the public.

Pastor abducts, assaults his GO's 13-yr-old daughter

By Our Reporter AN Oredo Magistrate Court sitting in Benin, Monday, remanded a cleric, Pastor Fidelis Ejoke, 23 for abducting and indecently assaulting his General Overseer's 13-year-old

daughter.

The accused person pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge of unlawful and indecent assault and abduction, an offence which contravenes Sections 360 and 362 of the Criminal Code.

Police Prosecutor, Mr. Samuel Ogaht, told the court presided

over by the Chief Magistrate, Mr. Peter Edo-Asemota, that the the minor was the daughter of the Pastor Ejoke's General Overseer.

Testifying, the 13-year-old junior secondary school student told the court how the accused started making love to her in

November 2012.

She also explained how the said pastor asked her to go to her mother's safe to bring money, adding that she gave the money to him without counting it and later the pastor confirmed it was N145,000.

The court, however, said the accused should be remanded in prison while the case was adjourned to June 23, 2013.

How I was kidnapped by my lover -Victim

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28-year-old man, Ayodele Olaoye, who was allegedly kidnapped by a lady, Esther Phillips, he met at Pegas Club in Opebi, Lagos, has narrated his ordeal before an Ikeja High Court.

Esther was said to have conspired with six others to commit the alleged offence. The other suspects are Patricia Nna, Kingsley Okonwa, Osita Adigwe, Uzochukwu Ezioha, Jude Sunday and Michael Olarenwaju, who are being prosecuted by the Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecution, DPP. The seven defendants who were arraigned on March 5 are facing a five-count charge of conspiracy, armed robbery, kidnapping and neglect to prevent felony.

Led in evidence by Mr Ade Ipaye, Attorney General of Lagos State and Commissioner for Justice, Olaoye said he had taken the accused to bed twice since they met in February 2012 and they became friends. Olaoye, who said he came back into the country in December 2011, after his graduation from a university in England, said the first defendant gave her name as Jenny and claimed to be a student of Lagos State University, LASU. Olaoye who was testifying at the trial of the seven kidnap suspects before Justice Olabisi Akinlade, said on April 22, 2012, at about 4

p.m, which was on a Sunday, the first defendant asked him to follow her to her hostel in LASU and he agreed because he trusted her.

How I was kidnapped Olaoye said he drove his Nissan Muranno SUV and picked Philips up at a first generation bank in Opebi and they moved towards LASU with Phillips giving the directions that he should go and pick her friend, the second defendant, whom he said gave her name as Juliet.

He said after they had picked up Nna, the second defendant at Dopemu, Philips told him that the lady was her school mate.

According to him, after driving for sometime, they told me to stop at an isolated place because they were pressed, adding that immediately he stopped the car, three men, Okonwa, Adigwe and Ezioha, entered his car through the back door.

He said the defendants who were armed with a battle axe and knives dragged him to the back seat and took his mobile phone, wrist watch, necklace and money.

Olaoye said he was tied up, blindfolded and taken to an unknown destination by the first to fifth accused persons who told him to cooperate or they would kill him, adding that they took his phone and called his mum first to inform her that he was in a cage.

The ransom The plaintiff said after speaking with his mum, they also called his father and told him that he was in a cage and demanded a ransom of $400,000.

He said Phillips specifically told him to try and convince his parents to pay the money or the guys would kill him.

Olaoye said he was incarcerated

for four days, adding that the defendants collected N5 million ransom from his parents.

According to him, his father, Mr Segun Olaoye, paid N5 million to them which they shared among themselves.

My escape He said it was while they were sharing the money that he was able to sneak out of the house where he

was being held and took a motorcycle to his father's office in Gowon Estate in Iyana-Ipaja.

After which he wrote a statement at the Police station but he couldn't remember the exact date or the particular police station.

However, Justice Akinlade adjourned the matter to May, 17, 2013, for continuation of trial.

Erosion sweeps 2 communities, threatens 7 others in Enugu

By Patrick Okolie

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esidents of OdongbuAmogbeke and Akponge-Amoju in Ezimo, Udenu Local Government Area of Enugu State have been sacked by gully erosion while seven other communities are being threatened by the menace.

Conducting members of the Enugu State Assembly Committee on Environment round the devastation, the Deputy Chairman of the council, Mr Natty Eze, said the victims were now scattered in neighbouring villages.

Eze said they affected communities currently lacked lands for agriculture which was their main occupation.

He listed other areas affected by the menace to include Mkporogwu-Ezimo-Ulo road and Ugwu Odor-Uruneya erosion site in Udunedem ward.

Others are the two erosion sites at Obollo-Afor, four at Amalla community, Ama-Orba and IyiOpu Ozalla erosion site which he said were beyond the financial capacity of the local government.

Eze said the council had controlled the erosion site at Umuezejo-Obollo-Afor and appealed to the state and federal governments to come to their aid.

He commended the assembly committee on environment for their foresight in collating data on ecological disasters threatening the state.

Responding, the Chairman of the committee, Mr Donatus Uzogbado, called on communities in the area to imbibe and revive the culture of road maintenance by checking erosion at its onset.

Uzogbado said waiting for the government to do all things even when people in the community were facing environmental threats was not the best.

The chairman advocated the involvement of community leaders in the control or prevention of environmental degradation to monitor quality of work by contractors.

He said the committee was on the environmental audit of the 17 Local Government Areas to bring them to the front burner of discourse for prompt action by the government.

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ADVOCATE

Bee Venom as HIV, Cancer cure

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f reports from the researches of a team of medical practitioners at the Washington University School of Medicine, USA, and the testimony of an Ibadan-based apitherapist are anything to go by, perhaps the world should get ready to heave a sigh of relief from AIDS and cancer.

Unlike most other ailments where the body's defence apparatus fights foreign objects thereby protecting the body, in the case of HIV, it attacks the soldiers, the Thelper lymphocytes, also called CD4 or T4 cells. Noted Wikipedia Free Encyclopedia; these are white blood cells that are essential part of the human immune system. They are called helper cells because one of their main roles is to send signals to other types of immune cells, including CD8 killer cells.

T4 cells send the signal and CD8 cells destroy and kill the infection or virus. But as a popular Igbo adage says, when the lion is incapacitated, the antelope visits to settle old scores, so if CD4 cells become depleted, as is the case in untreated HIV infection, or immune suppression, the body is left vulnerable to a wide range of infections that it would otherwise have been able to fight.

Following the report of the USbased medical scientists (Hood J.L, Jallouk A.P, Campbell N, Ratner L and Wickline S.A) that a toxin (melittin) found in bee venom could destroy HIV and tumor cells without harming nearby cells, there have been varied reactions from the public.

Some described it as a miracle, others were skeptical while a few said it was impossible.

Bee venom as a weapon: Engr. Ayodele Salako, an Ibadanbased apiculturist/apitherapist, said although most orthodox medicine practitioners do not believe in alternative medicine, the answer to most diseases of man lies with nature and, unless we go closer to nature, we will not discover its many wonders.

He added, honey bee venom, also called apitoxin, is one of the major products of the bees and they use it to defend themselves, the queen bee and their territory, it is their weapon. Also God has put something in the bee venom for healing so once a bee stings you, 45 minutes or one hour later, it dies and that venom, within your body system, begins to do a lot of wonders. The introduction of that venom through the stinger into your system may cause some pains and that pain is the pain that kills pains, he said.

Bee venom therapy (BVT): Salako reeled out a number of ailments that could be combated with bee venom which include

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headache, insomnia, osteoarthritis, fractures, inflammation, high blood pressure, skin problems, back pain, infertility in women, eye problems, wounds that have refused to go for about two-three years. The best remedy for arthritis is Bee Venom Therapy, BVT, he stated.

Mr. Ndubuisi Okwum , a staff of Scripture Union, Nigeria, echoed Salako's view. He said: I learnt a bit of apiculture at Umudike, Abia State and since the 90s, I have known that bee sting can cure

malaria (acupuncture), so I am not surprised at this recent research development.

Mr. Harry Porter, reacting to the story, HIV, cancer: Bee venom to the rescue on Vanguard website, said; this is what we call nature signature. This is the suggestion of what a fruit or leaf or animal or insect can cure by looking at its structure and what it resembles.

Taking a good look at bees, you can see that the comb resembles a DNA structure and a virus. So it's a great possibility that the cure for HIV can come from it. More

research is needed to get a pure sample that will do this without rendering the surrounding cells useless or dead.

If you have a severe headache and I administer BVT via a bee sting, there will be quick relief. As an apitherapist, I studied body anatomy so I know at what points to apply the bee sting so that the venom can be carried through the required route to the targeted site.

If you complain of insomnia and I give you BVT, within 20 minutes, you will sleep off," said Salako, noting that "a farmer who goes to the farm and is being stung by bees will not fall ill easily. He is free from having fever regularly, free from insomnia, high blood pressure, skin problems, eye problem, back pain, HIV etc. Bee venom is very powerful against many ailments.”

Bee venom against HIV Salako, who claims to have been treating HIV-positive people with bee venom, said; I have used bee venom to treat some HIV positive patients. I say it on live broadcast but many people don't believe it.

If one can just look for one confirmed HIV-positive patient, they should send him/her to me.

After 8-12 weeks of treatment, the person will go for another test.

Usually, after the first 8-12 weeks of treatment, he will notice a decrease in the viral load. Then we continue the treatment for another 4-5 weeks and the patient goes for another test until there is no more AIDS virus in the system.

Apart from the BVT, I also apply other bee products like propolis with honey.

The researchers had said that bee venom contains a potent toxin called melittin that can poke holes in the protective envelope that surrounds HIV and other viruses.

It has even shown melittin-loaded nanoparticles to be effective in killing tumor cells.

Asked if any kind of bee could be used for BVT, Salako replied in the negative saying; the female bees are the only ones that can sting so only female bees are used in BVT. The male bees are called drones; the mature female bees are called queens which lay the eggs. The drones cannot sting; their main function is to fertilize the virgin queen during her mating flight after which they die.

Extinction of bees: Some people argue that if the antiHIV/cancer activities of bee venom proves to be true, then bees may become extinct sooner than later but Salako allayed this fear saying that a queen can lay about 2,500 - 3,000 eggs per day, adding that it will rather create the much needed job for the youths.

Hypertension, commonest cardiovascular “In Nigeria, a recent rural and hypertension. There is the disorder, says Cardiologist semi-urban community-based primary and the secondary

A

medical practitioner, Dr Anthony Adimekwe,has described hypertension as the commonest cardiovascular disorder, as well as the number one cause of life-long drug treatment.

Adimekwe, a Resident Cardiologist in the Department of Internal Medicine, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), disclosed this in an interview.

According to him, there is an urgent need to promote public awareness of hypertension and to encourage the public to prevent and control this `silent-killer'.

The World Hypertension Day (WHD) is commemorated on May 17, every year.

The theme for the 2013 event is “Healthy Heart Beat Healthy Blood Pressure''.

According to the cardiologist, hypertension is an increase in blood pressure to a level that can damage body organs. It is commonly known as High Blood Pressure.

“Hypertension has to do with an increase in the level of blood pressure. It has to be high to such a level that it can damage body organs.

“In medicine, that level has been defined to be greater than or equal to 140/90mmHg of blood

pressure, as measured using a s p h y g m o m a n o m e t e r, o n a person's arm. Hypertension usually has no symptoms.

“H o w ever, to d iagnos e hypertension, this raised blood pressure must be seen to be consistently raised at three consecutive measurements, taken at least one day apart from each other,“ he said.

Adimekwe noted that the prevalence rate of hypertension in the country was about 32.8 per cent.

study in Enugu State puts the prevalence of hypertension in Nigeria at a range between 32.8 per cent and 46.2 per cent.

“While a meta-analytical study published recently in the wellrespected online PubMed publication (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/ 23272273 ) estimates the nationwide prevalence to be between 8%- 46.4%,“ he said.

The cardiologist identified two major types of hypertension.

“There are two types of

hypertension. The Primary constitutes about 95 per cent of the cases, while the Secondary is about five per cent.

“Primary hypertension is largely genetic and hereditary; thus, it runs in families.

“However, the predisposing factors of hypertension include too much intake of salt, alcohol, absence of fruits and green vegetables in the diet, lack of exercise, living a sedentary lifestyle, smoking, and many other factors.

Abia to probe collapsed building that claimed four lives

By Okechukwu Charles, Umuahia

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bia state government is to set up a panel of Inquiry into the immediate and remote cause of the collapse of a three storey building at Agbama, Umuahia which killed some occupants with a view to forestalling future occurrence.

The state governor, Chief Theodore Orji who cut short his official trip to Abuja to see things for himself at the scene of the collapsed building, directed the owner of the building to produce the architect who drew the

building as well as the contractor handling the project to answer to some questions.

The governor stated that there must be some structural defects that led to the collapse of the building and used the opportunity to sympathize with the families of those who died in the incident.

He described the incident as unfortunate and thanked all those who assisted in the rescue effort including the medicals, security personnel and companies that provided equipment for the evacuation exercise.

The governor, who later visited survivors who are receiving treatment at the federal medical centre, Umuahia condoled with them over the sad incident and donated the sum of N500,000 to take care of their hospital bills.

Earlier at the site, a representative of the company carrying out the evacuation of the collapsed building, Melborne construction company, Ikenna Balogu said 4 persons died in the incident while 3 are receiving treatment at the hospital, adding that they want to remove the debris at the site to ensure that none was left.

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Monday, May 20 - Tuesday, May 26, 2013

Cross River ICT/ E. Learning Education System: The myth of economic transformation

By Edem Archibong, Calabar

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t is pathetic to recall the poor and deplorable state of the Cross River State’s education system between 1999 2007 when NECO exam was abolished in state's public schools while the education sub sector also experienced decimals failure of pupils and students for both the state common entrance examination as well as the West African School Certificate exams.

No gain saying that this poor performance placed Cross River State in the WAEC exam malpractice prone map unabated until the emergence of Senator Liyel Imoke as the Governor of Cross River State, and inherited the liability of abysmal failure from his predecessor on 29th May, 2008.

In attempt to correct the mishandled sub sector by the past system, Senator Imoke extended his best brains search light for an experienced staff into academicians profile, until Professor Offiong Effanga Offiong was discovered to captain the education sub sector with a mandate to transform the system.

This was no mean task, as he brought his expertise to bear within a span of time and this has gradually yielded dividends that can be clearly seen due to the presence of lots of ongoing infrastructural development at the Cross River State University of Science and Technology (CRUTECH), Calabar and its various sub campuses in Obubra, Ogoja and Yala which is a positive impact on the sub sector.

Notably, the State Commissioner for Education, Professor Offiong E. Offiong recently recounted the success story of his Ministry during an exclusive chart with the Advocate thus: “I must say here at this point that running a multicampus system of a University is a very expensive venture. But the vision of letting the multi-campus University to stand was to bring the University education closer to the people as much as possible.

Off course, with it’s attendant cost to the state government. I think the people are really happy that in some places, they don't really need to go too far to have a University education.

More so, there have been a number of expansions in terms of the number of programmes that the University is offering since the inception of Senator Liyel Imoke's administration. There has also been a tremendous linkage of the University with other Universities outside

Nigeria and even donors within Nigeria.

Student's enrolment: Above all, there have also been a tremendous scope in the student enrolments into the (Crutech) when compared to 2007 before we came in, the enrolment then was about 4,000 or slightly 4,000.

But today, we are talking about an enrolment list that is growing over 10,000 students or probably approaching 12,000 students now.

For us, it means that, we have offered opportunity for people who ordinarily would not have had a University admission. So we already were making an impact. Another unique instance of the impact which I have always refer to it often is the case of 2008 when the state Ministry of Education were trying to recruit teachers for the state Technical colleges. It was very difficult to find indigenous teachers in the technical area.

Surprisingly, in 2011 when we conducted the second recruitment exercise for our technical colleges, we had more than enough applicants in terms of the teachers in the technical subjects or trade subjects. And a bulk of them was also from the state owned University of Science and Technology. Therefore, for me, it means that there is already a positive impact of having the Cross River State University of Technology.

Adult and Non-formal education The adults and non-formal education sub sector have been significantly driven in the last five years and have introduced another programme in addition to the existence of about 250 Adult Literacy centers across the state.

We have come up with the programme,”Literacy by Radio “which we are running in partnership with Cross River State Broadcasting Corporation (CRBC).

That aspect has also done a tremendous impact for those who may not be able to go to the centers due to the nature of their jobs, especially some of our farmers who come probably back from their farms late in the evening but who can afford a radio hand set. They can easily hook onto this programme.

These programmes have been able to assist us significantly in increasing the number of literate adult that we have across the state. It's also helping us to reach out to our illiterate adults in Ejagham, Bekwarra, and Efik Languages. We have in the last one year decided to mount illiteracy by Radio programme in pigin English to help in expanding the reach out of this

programme.

We have also moved on in terms of statistics of those who are now literate in our state and I can tell you that the last Bureau of National statistics data showed that we are approaching 88/90% literate in the state. This is a lip from the 2007 that we were when Senator Liyel Imoke's administration came into office.

We believe we will be able to still do more in this direction.

Introduction of ICT/E. Learning Education in public schools: Now, how do we measure on what we have been able to do? We are not too happy with the quality of education that we have. And that brings us to the use of ICT. We have to introduce e-learning in our school system because what the developing countries now holds as the emerging technological giant in the world like the Asian Tigers and the Brazil. You may now ask, what is the quality of education delivery that has transformed the economy of those countries?

The simple answer is the use of technology to the level of teaching and learning. What I mean is the leverage for the transformation of the state economy is education. And this education is also because they have been able to adopt technology as a tool to enhance teaching and learning.

In our case now, we live in the global village. Or in other words, a child now in Cross River State is expected to compete with a child in South Korea, a child in Malaysia, a child in Brazil. And the only way they can compete is

to be availed with the tools that is being used in those countries.

And we know that it is not going to be enough to import computers and drops in our schools as it was done in the past. Therefore, we said, every teacher in Cross River State must have a lap top. We also recognized the fact that they have a lot of pressing needs in terms of what to do with their salaries. But if we are able to impact very little in terms of demands of their pocket, it will further enhance the number of people who will be interested.

For this reason, we had collaborations with two Banks, First Bank and Eco Bank who are financing this project for a repayment which is spread for 24 months. So with this development, about 10,000 teachers have acquired their lap tops.

We also have a training plan which we are beginning to role out for a teacher. And when we finish this training plan, we expect all our teachers must be able to acquire basic digital literacy certificate which is the (micro soft words certificate).

Besides, we also know that even within the state frame work, we may not have the capacity to deliver this effectively and in a very sustainable manner. So, we recently sign a MoU with Educomp Solution, India to partner with the Cross River State Government to drive the e. learning education programme in our schools. So, probably, we may be the first state in Nigeria that is approaching the ICT training in a very holistic manner.

We have also intervened in 60 secondary schools across the state with the provision of ICT Laboratory in secondary schools.

ICT in Primary Schools There are some primary schools in the state through some of our donors have been given computers and we are also helping them to set a computer resource center to enable the children even at that level to be able to use computer.

The whole essence is to ensure that as a child in Cross River State schools system finishes, he/she must have acquire ICT skills. It is not just about teachers, but we are starting with the teacher's because we want this Educomp domesticated in our schools. This will be translated into ensuring that by 2015 at least, a child in Cross River State schools system should be able to acquire ICT skills at graduation to help him/her fit into any sector of the economy.

Impact Assessment: All our effort can then be measured in terms of impact when we recall 2007 which recorded a very low performance level of 5% from the WAEC exams by students of the state.

But in 2012, students from the state scored 50.03% in WAEC exams and the state was ranked 7th position in Nigeria.

In addition to this, the state is not just interested in good results but those reliable results as WAEC went ahead to delist the state from the list of examination malpractice prevalent free states.

That is another impact of what we are doing which is not measured by us but an external body”, he concluded.

Principal impregnates student in Kogi

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he Principal of Baptist High School, Ekinrin/Adde, in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State, Mr. Ajayi Ajibulu, has been accused of impregnating one of his students and trying to abort the pregnancy.

Sources from the town revealed that the girl (name withheld) was a regular caller at the Principal's house who was a friend to her father, a retired Army officer and usually helps to deliver message from their sister who lived in Lokoja.

The principal was exposed when a friend of the girl saw a letter written by the principal given to the girl to deliver to a doctor who will help them to abort the pregnancy.

The girl was said to have been scared of undergoing the abortion which was the third time, and therefore, refused to deliver the letter to the doctor on time before the friend saw the letter.

The friend was said to have quickly hinted the girl's father who raised alarm that caught the attention of the town. Irate youths of the town later ambushed the principal and led him to the palace of the king.

The King, Oba Solomon Hambolu was said to have persuaded the community not to take law into their hands but

allow the palace to take action on him.

It was gathered that the Principal, who is also a Deacon in the Church, had been having crisis with some members of his staff who have been accusing

him of involving in diabolic dealing.

While at the palace, the Principal was said to have escaped and fled the town.

PUBLIC NOTICE

AKOJI ABALAKA FOUNDATION The general public is hereby notified that the above-named Foundation has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja for registration under Part “C” of the Companies & Allied Matters Act, 2004.

The Board of Directors are: 1. Engr. Abalaka Daniel Akoji 2. Engr. Friday Sani Abalaka 3. Mr. Odaudu Joel 4. Hon. Emmanuel G. Abalaka 5. Barr. Abubakar Suleiman 6. Mr. Moses Enebi Abalaka 7. Miss. Goodness Ajifa Abalaka 8. Alhaji Yunusa Musa

- Chairman -Vice Chairman -Secretary/Director of Media & Communications -Director of Welfare -Legal Adviser -Member -Member -Member

Aims/Objectives: 1. To help people develop purpose-driven lives, and challenge the youths to live out God's purpose in their lives.

2. To bring relief to all ethnic groups in Kogi State, Nigeria and beyond, especially focusing on widows, orphans and abandoned children and families in remote areas of the state and the country at large.

3. To organize symposia, seminars and other programs aimed at achieving the above objects.

4. To cater for the needs or material welfare of members and the needy.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, 420 Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, PMB 198, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication.

Signed: ODAUDU JOEL - 08050446677.

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Monday, May 20 - Tuesday, May 26, 2013

Sack of 60 board workers, part of cleansing exerciseIdris Wada is committed to Kogi govt transparency, accountability and

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he Kogi Government said on Tuesday that the recent sack of 60 members of staff of the State Science, Technology and Technical Education Board (STTEB) was part of the ongoing cleansing exercise.

Acting Executive Secretary of the board, Mr Joseph Okenyi, said in Lokoja that irregularities were discovered in their employment and promotion.

He explained that the 60 people sacked were not properly employed, while the 26 demoted were also not properly promoted.According to him, the administration of Governor.

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Urhobo threaten to march naked if Jonathan refuses to run

good governance.

The affected workers, he said, were brought in through the activities of an employment racket within the board, adding that their employment was not legal.

The secretary said that he would strictly adhere to the state Head of Service's (HOS) directive to bring every management staff involved in the employment scam to book.

“All hand must be on deck to uplift the standard of education in the state and if the cleansing starts from STTEB, at least, it has started from somewhere,” he said.

Delta threatens to arrest, expel violent Hausa/Fulani herdsmen President Goodluck Jonathan

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Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan

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E LT A S t a t e Government, has warned Hausa/Fulani herdsmen, who had been on rampage, in the state, lately, killing, maiming and raping natives, as well as destroying farm crops with their cattle, that their activities were no more acceptable.

Rising from the State Security Council meeting at Oghara, the state government directed that any herdsman who allowed his cattle to destroy farm crops, kill, or cause bodily harm to farmers in the state, would be arrested and expelled.

Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Ovuozorie M a c a u l a y, w h o b r i e f e d journalists at the end of the meeting presided over by Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, said the decision was reached because of the increasing act of criminality by cattle rearers in the state.

He said that Hausa/Fulani leaders in any community, where such acts were carried out would be made to fish out the erring herdsman.

He said: “The meeting

decided to arrest and expel any Hausa/Fulani cattle rearer that allows his cattle to destroy farm crops or kill or cause harm to any farmer in this state. The Hausa/Fulani leaders in such communities will be made to fish out the culprits.”

Macaulay, meanwhile, said that that the amnesty programme of the Federal Government for repentant militants was over, adding that there was no third phase, and that there was nothing the state could do about it.

He explained that the state only complimented the Federal Government's initiative, adding that any youth agitating for a third phase of the amnesty programme should desist forthwith or be treated like a criminal.

“The state government decided at this meeting to remind youths in the state agitating for a third phase of the Federal Government's amnesty programme that the programme is over and anyone caught disrupting the peace in the name of amnesty will be treated like a criminal.”

he campaign for President Goodluck Jonathan's reelection received a boost Thursday with the people of Urhobo ethnic nationality in Delta State threatening to march naked on the streets of Nigeria, if Jonathan fails to seek re-election in 2015.

Describing Jonathan as the best President that Nigeria has ever had, the people listed the rare qualities and credentials of the President to justify their insistence that he must be returned in 2015 to consolidate the gains already recorded by him.

The Urhobo natives, who made their position, clear when they met with the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, Mr. Kingsley Kuku, in Abuja on Thursday, stated that Jonathan had impressed them and that they would still vote for him in the next election.

The leader of the Movement for the Survival of Urhobo Ethnic Nationalities, Chief Rex Anigoro, pointed out that

contrary to the castigation of Jonathan for weakness and nonperformance, the President had actually surpassed the mark attained by his predecessors.

“We make bold to say that in 2015 we will still vote for President Jonathan because of his outstanding performance so far.

But let us warn that if he refuses to run, we will march naked through the streets of Nigeria to compel him to do so.

“Tell Mr. President that the Urhobo people stand solidly behind him because for the first time in the history of Nigeria a President has declared state of emergency with democratic institutions still intact, the railway system that had since been abandoned is back while the power sector is receiving a boost just as strikes in our universities have ended. “And we are very proud of President Jonathan because of all Nigeria's presidents, he is the most educated, most responsible and responsive, most experienced and most qualified to run this

country and did not emerge out of accident as some people will want to say.

“We want Nigerians to know that Jonathan is not an accidental President but a well trained leader, who has proved that it is possible for any Nigerian to lead the country through the dint of hard work, dedication and commitment to the cause of their fatherland.

The Urhobo group however castigated the recent attempt by some of their natives to forge an alliance with the Arewa youths with a view to achieving some political ambitions in 2015, saying that those persons did not have the mandate of the generality of the people to do so.

The Presidential Adviser on Niger Delta, Kingsley Kuku, used the forum to brief the Urhobo group on steps so far taken by the Jonathan's administration to restore peace in the Niger Delta through the Amnesty programme and called on them to continue to work for peace progress of the nation.

BABIES FOR SALE: Another 14 pregnant He recalled that the pastor teens rescued in Imo recently hired an uncompleted

A

nother breakthrough has been recorded in Imo State by security agencies in their current fight against the establishment of baby making factories and trafficking in human beings, as no fewer than 14 pregnant teenagers were rescued by security operatives who stormed a building located at Umuguma, Owerri, Imo State.

The latest baby making factory is said to be owned and operated by a member of the Cherubim and Seraphim Church, simply

identified as Pastor Chinedu.

Feelers from some residents of Umuguma, claimed that the Pastor was a staff of one the local governments in the state.

A villager, who spoke on strict grounds of anonymity, said that the security operatives stormed the premises last Wednesday afternoon. “The security personnel rescued about 14 pregnant teenage girls when they stormed the place (baby making factory). They also arrested the owner of the baby factory,” the villager recounted.

building in the community and quartered the pregnant girls in the unhealthy environment.

The state police command recently raided a baby factory at Umuaka, run by a woman simply identified as Madam One Thousand.

In this particular operation, no fewer than 26 pregnant teenagers were rescued, while a 23-year-old boy said to be hired by the woman to impregnate the girls, was also arrested.

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ADVOCATE

Monday, May 20 - Tuesday, May 26, 2013

The Advocate Gospel This Week

FAMILY VALUES Text:1 Timothy 3:12-13 A deacon must be the husband of but one wife and must manage his children and his household well. Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus. (NIV) Narration

Deacons are servants. They serve Christ by serving His church. Their task is to enable God's family to receive what He wants to give them, and give to others what God wants to pass on in blessing. In one sense they are trustees who enable divine resources to be available where they can be best used. Faithfulness is a primary qualification for this role. Polygamy, either in parallel (where a man may have intimate relationships with more than one woman at the same time), or in series (where a sequence of women find the favour of one man), is not a biblical model of family life.

The Bible's teaching on marriage is that it is the exclusive relationship of one man to one woman for life. That is the level of commitment that Christ gives to those who come to Him. Infidelity is not a stable basis for bringing up children. Nor can it produce spiritually stable churches. Leaders with distracted hearts cannot draw their churches to commit themselves to Jesus Christ as the only Way. But, in the same way that joy comes as a marriage grows and a family is created, so those who serve the Lord in the church grow spiritually themselves (as well as helping others to grow).

As we serve the Lord wholeheartedly we become more assured that our faith, obedience and service is so worthwhile, and affirms the eternal life we have through Christ.

Faithful, loyal, consistent and self-sacrificial service is essential to growing a family well and for growing a church.

When selecting deacons, choose those whose homes you would like to live in. What they do at home they will do in the church. But like church elders, deacons and indeed all God's people are not perfect: they need to know where to change and desire to do so. Today's verses should enable us to see ourselves in a spiritual mirror (James 1:22-25 ).

Where we have lost our focus, the importance of faithfulness, drifted into carelessness or simply acted out a spiritual role without being the right sort of person it is time to repent, learn the right lifestyle from Christ and practise it by serving Him at home and wherever He calls us to work for Him.

Prayer: Loving Father God. Thank You for the wholehearted commitment of Jesus Christ to do Your will; and for the example He has set for me. I am sorry for the times when I have failed to follow Your high calling and lost my spiritual focus, resulting in a poor lifestyle performance. Please help me to see where I need to grow, and help me to take the necessary steps to do so, because I want to be useful to You. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Church constructs N4.5m clinic in Friday in Gombi. He said that He said the main objective of Adamawa the clinic was built to address the the conference was to bring

G

ombi (Adamawa) - The Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria has constructed a health clinic worth N4.5 million in Gombi Local Government Area of Adamawa.

The acting Bishop of Yola Diocese, Reverend Ishaku Bala, disclosed this at the opening of a three-day conference of the diocese on

health needs of the people in the area. Bala added that the church had implemented several human capacity buildings programme to improve the living standard of its members across the state.

“The church has also established poultry and fish ponds that will accommodate more than 1000 chickens and different variety of fish,” he said.

together followers to remind them of the words of God and to discuss the way forward. He said the diocese had recorded significant progress economically and spiritually.

On insecurity challenges, he advised followers to repent of their sinful ways and leaders to show the fear God in all their activities.

Four people die in T.B Joshua's church during stampede for Holy Water

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our persons have been confirmed dead at the Spintex Road branch of the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) founded by Prophet T.B. Joshua.

The tragic incident occurred after a stampede ensued at the

church Sunday during the distribution of free holy water.

The man of God, Prophet TB Joshua had earlier given the announcement on their station, Emmanuel TV, that there was going to be a distribution of anointed water at the service.

The holy water, to many TB Joshua followers is acclaimed to be the panacea to the many spiritual afflictions.

Hundreds were said to have started arriving at the church premises from 8pm last night and before the service could start this morning, the stampede occurred because of the overflow. The bodies of the deceased have been deposited at the 37 and Police Hospital mortuaries. Earlier in the morning, a flotilla of cars on the

Spintex road and its enclave, en route for an anointing water service by Nigeria's Prophet T. B. Joshua in Accra, resulted in another impenetrable gridlock which caused frustration to commuters and Residents in that area.

Hundreds of cars belonging to Nigerians in Ghana as well as Ghanaians, were parked on the sides of the road in a mesh of chaos, which spewed onto the roads, thus resulting in a go slow.

Three weeks ago, a similar situation left the Spintex road in another lock down as hundreds of people thronged the church to meet Prophet TB Joshua The Church is yet to formally issue a statement on the incident.

Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, TB Joshua accused of "Occultism” that he wasn't from Him, but was

G

hanaian Bishop Isaac Owusu Bempah, Founder and Leader of the Glorious Word Power Ministries International, has labeled two of Nigeria's celebrated pastors as partners in winning souls for the devil.

In the words of the controversial Owusu Bempah, the founding President of Believers' LoveWorld Incorporated, also known as "Christ Embassy", Dr Christian Oyakhilome (popularly known as "Pastor Chris") and General Overseer of The Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), Prophet Temitope Balogun (aka TB) Joshua, are not "true men of God", but leaders of occults, winning souls for the devil.

This claim, according to OwusuBempah, is based on God's revelation to him in a vision as well as his own analysis of the scripture, works and conduct of the two popular heads of two religious organisations in Africa.

Owusu-Bempah said he once heard Pastor Chris saying he saw nothing wrong with homosexuality and lesbianism, and wondered which true man of God would lead his flock with such beliefs.

"No doubt he [Pastor Chris] is a friend and partner of TB Joshua", Owusu-Bempa noted last week, claiming both men are dubious men of God who have a pact with the devil.

For Owusu Bempah, Nigerians

have allegedly realized the dubious character of the Nigerian televangelist faith healer and founding president of Christ Embassy and his partnership with TB Joshua and have consequently chased him out of the country to South Africa, where he presently resides.

On TB Joshua, Owusu-Bempa claimed he once saw him with his feet on the floor preaching, an incident he said revealed to him that TB Joshua was not from God. "When you see anyone claiming to worship God who worships with his feet on the ground, he's an occultist. And TB Joshua is an occultist.

"Ask yourself how TB Joshua, who claims God called him, worships with his feet on the ground? Let me tell you if you go to any church and you see the leader worshiping with his feet on the ground, it's a sign of demonism; it's occultic. People like that follow spirits that are not of God. It is occultic."

According to him, God later revealed that TB Joshua was an occultist who did not draw his spiritual powers from God. "Some time ago, I used to like TB Joshua. I was watching him on television, and the Lord opened my eyes. I saw him with horns on his head, and he had the face of a wolf. His tongue was that of a snake and he had blood smeared all over his mouth."

"Immediately, I rushed into my bedroom, and the Lord told me

working under the authority of bad spirits," the pastor added.

"That was when I realized TB Joshua was demonic and not of God." The man who has himself been labeled a false prophet by some of his critics, advised Ghanaians not to be misled by signs of wonders and so-called men of God whose powers do not come from God. He also accused TB Joshua in particular of sometimes faking miracles to win the confidence of his flock. "He can perform a clean miracle today and contaminate it with a lot of fake ones".

Joshua claimed his "own junior pastor went to his church to be healed. He was forced to sit in a wheel chair and made to claim before the cameras that he had received his healing even though he hadn't. He returned to the country and within two weeks, he passed away", Owusu-Bempah stated.

He again cautioned Ghanaians not to be in a hurry to attend the services of Prophet TB Joshua since he is the "anti-christ."

"If you are a pastor who worked under him and he gets to know you want to reveal his secrets, he kills you directly," OwusuB e m p a h a l l e g e d .

"If no one is willing to say this, I will say it: TB Joshua is the antichrist and an agent of the devil...

I know of a pastor who attended his church, and when he should tell you about what he saw, your mouth would drop," he stated.

THE

ADVOCATE

By Ngwuta Chinedu, Abakaliki

T

he Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, has threatened that any Police officer found wanting in the discharge of his duty would be outrightly dismissed from service provided incident of such brutal report was received.

He issued the threat against the backdrop of increased Police brutality in Ebonyi State particularly the recent alleged police killing of a sales boy, Ndubuisi Nwanga, who was murdered following a crisis which erupted last Saturday at the Abakapa Main Market between the Police, tricycle and motorcycle operators and traders in Abakaliki.

Abubakar, who spoke through the Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG, in charge of Zone 6,

Monday, May 20 - Tuesday, May 26, 2013

Police brutality: IG threatens to dismiss erring officer Mr. Jonathan Johnson, who was on a familiarization visit to the Ebonyi State Command, assured the members of the public that report of Police brutality by members of the public will not be treated with levity, adding that the Police was no longer in the era when things were done with incivility.

His words: “Believe you me that information has not come to us otherwise such a person ought to have been dismissed by now. We are no longer in the old days when you can do things with incivility and get away with it. I am assuring you we will get to the root of the killing and that boy will face the music. I want to also assure you that that is the main reason why we

are embarking on this visit to warn them. Our cardinal principle is that you must be civil, obedient to the political masters and members of the public.”

He stated that there was need for the police to be encouraged through advice even as he pointed out that there was also the need for the issues of corruption, indiscipline and incivility to be addressed so that the Police could do the normal thing according to law.

“There is need for us to encourage ourselves in terms of advice. That is another point; there is also need for us to talk about discipline, corruption and incivility as it occurred. Also vices and things

that we need to correct that is why I have to embark on this on behalf the Inspector General of Police to advice the men to do what is normal within the law” Jonathan charged the Police of the Command to redouble their effort in the fight against crime which he said had assumed a new trend as he called on them to always be serious, obey their political masters and members of the public even as he appealed to the public to cooperate with the Police in order to encourage them to do better.

“The men must be very serious, must be obedient to our political masters and we should also fight the crime as never before because there is new trend of crime in the society, if you do not fight them, they will fight you. We have to buckle up and fight them. We are

PDP chieftain backs 6-year single term for President, Govs

By Our Reporter, Calabar

P

eoples Democratic Party (PDP) stalwart in Cross River State, Chief Francis Bullem, has thrown his weight behind the 6 years single tenure for the president and governors in the country.

He gave the opinion in a chat in Calabar on the future of Nigeria's democracy and and current internal security challenges.

Bullem, who is a former banker of 23 years repute, therefore called for a constitutional amendment to accommodate this provision of a 6year one term for the president and governors.

He said 6 years for any serious minded person is enough to execute his blueprint and leave the stage for another person to continue saying, “as a person if you say take six years, that will be enough for me because I have not seen power as something that you want to get there and remain forever.

“You are seeing power as a proposition of what value can you add within the period of six years and then step on so that some other person can continue with legacies that you have put in place. “ So it is often very vague when somebody says that, I cannot leave because I have not completed my programme, then why do we die?

Because when you die life continues”.

He argued that there are two aspects to the six years single tenure; “if you go into the leadership position prepared you can run your programme in four, five, six years and get to a point when you say okay, you can anchor.

“But at the time you are anchoring what transition have you put in place? So the critical issue is the transition you will be giving. So, if you go in from day one and say Oh I have six years to go, what structures are you going to be putting in place or what institutions that will throw up leadership that if in six years you

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don't run through your programmes there will be continuity? That is the challenge.

“If you tell somebody to occupy an office for the rest of his life, he will do it but what structures are you putting in place from day one or before that will see you run your programme in six years and if you are not through with the six years programme you have created a transition that will take it. So, it is the dynamics of the macroeconomic”.

On the issue of zoning or rotation of political offices in the Country, he said “my attitude is that of positive optimism because rotation in itself creates opportunities for every facet of society to benefit from the incentives that such opportunities could create. It also creates some kind of even development across various segments of the society and so it is a welcome development”.

He argued that, “ordinarily, without rotation, you will find out that there are certain areas that cannot aspire to some levels of political administration and economy. It is the rotation policy, for instance, that has given us the opportunity in the South-South to produce the President of Nigeria”.

Reacting to some arguments that zoning or rotation gives room for mediocrity, the PDP chieftain said, “no, that will be an overstatement because zoning itself throws up challenges and opportunities. So what it is, is that, what system will you put in place in such a way that when you zone an office to a particular area and then the operators from there will sit down and look at the merit as a basis for choosing who represents the people. With a sound first degree anybody who is well positioned can manage the situation”.

In Cross River State, he said the Governor Senator LIyel Imoke has emphatically declared that going by equity and fairness, the next governor of the state should come from the Northern Senatorial of the state and “by His Excellency's position, it is a positive

development and on the other hand it is also a challenge for the people from the north, because you see the same issue when people talk about mediocrity.

“I want to say that if the north is given an opportunity at this stage to produce a governor in Cross River it will be able to do that very fairly and effectively. But I am not going to leave it there that the north should produce the governor, because a governor from the north is not going to be the governor of northern Cross River. He or she will be the governor of Cross River State”.

On Boko Haram, Ebullem said “it is a very challenging period for the country because when you look at it from the security stand-point you can't even identify the people called Boko Haram. And so when you say that the president is not doing enough, you know, if somebody has a grievance and is faceless, how do

you deal with the situation? ``But if you know that I am the one responsible and you reach out to me and said, what is your problem and we are able to sit down and discus, it is a different thing altogether. This is a democratic government you do not expect the president to send troops, for instance and begin to go to those areas and begin to kill people. ``It is a situation that calls for collective collaboration because, even the leaders from those areas who are not supporting the initiatives from different apparatuses of government and all of that with the amnesty committee that has been set up by government, let's see how far we go from there. ``Perhaps people will come up and take responsibility for the senseless killings that has been going on in respect of Boko Haram insurgency”.

asking members of the public to give us the cooperation. We want more information and encourage us, we will do better” While reacting to question from newsmen on the killing of Policemen in the country, AIG Jonathan described such killing as barbaric as he expressed serious concern over it, stating that it was uncalled for that men of the force who were deployed to ensure that peace reign in a particular area were killed.

He queried, “Why should I not be worried? I am a father and an author of Nigeria police force. I am a Nigerian and what concerns everybody in this country should also concern me much more than everybody. That killing was barbaric, that killing was uncalled for. Whatever it is, that killing is uncalled for. Men that are suppose to maintain law and order and to embark on a journey that peace should reign in that area some group of men decided to eliminate them.”

He further said that since his assumption of office three months ago, the police had made some breakthrough as he noted that so many persons involved in crime had been arrested by the Police while some cases of crime are being tried in the law court even while pointing out that Ebonyi State was on the low side in terms of crime except for the few communal crises recently recorded.

“So far, so good Ebonyi has not recorded much trouble apart from the few communal crises that we recorded some few months back.

Apart from that, they are at the low side in terms of crime nevertheless we are not saying that all is well, we need to be on our feet to ensure that the level of crime is further reduced”, he stated.

SPDC restates commitment to development of Niger Delta from the Bayelsa state government m a n a g e m e n t c o m m i t t e e

By Philip Eke, Yenagoa

T

he General Manager, sustainable Development and Community relations, SPDC, Mr. Nedo Osayande, stated that SPDC will continue to explore and partner with developmental bodies in moving the Niger Delta to an enviable level of development.

The General Manager stated this during the official commissioning of the transport to wealth scheme, and printing press at the Nembe city Development foundation (NCDF) liaison office in Yenagoa.

Osayande, who disclosed that the sum of N1.418 billion is invested annually to deliver community projects in Bayelsa State, expressed delight over the transport to wealth scheme and the printing press initiated by NCDF, which he noted would create employment and generate income for the people in the area.

According to Mr. Osanyande, the projects commissioned were as a result of partnership between SPDC and NCDF, with support

under the Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMoU) platform, and expressed optimism, that the projects would be beneficial to operators and the community.

He noted that it was the firm belief of Shell that partnership under the right conditions would yield better and more sustainable results for communities, and social and economic development would become less of a burden.

Earlier, chairman of NCDF, Chief Isaiah Young Dede in his welcome address, appreciated SPDC for partnering with the foundation to embark on meaningful development projects that cut across human capital development, social infrastructure and economic empowerment, which he noted has gone a long way to bring better understanding between the community and shell, which in time past were in disagreement.

Meanwhile, 35 commercial vehicles were given out to indigenous drivers from Nembe as part of the empowerment scheme of the NCDF. In his remarks, chairman of Project loan recovery

(PLRMAC), Sir, C. Ene; stated that the vehicles given out were the first phase of the revolving scheme embarked on by the foundation, adding that others would soon benefit from the scheme. He pleaded with those yet to benefit to exercise patience as the body is working hard to ensure that all deserving members benefit from the scheme. Sir Ene further appealed to beneficiaries not to betray the confidence reposed in them by fulfilling the terms and conditions of the scheme. He started that very soon future beneficiaries will get their own vehicles, depends on how soon beneficiaries respond.

He assured all stakeholders of PLRMAC's determination to ensure co-operation with beneficiaries to recover, administer and manage the pilot commercial vehicle empowerment scheme for the benefit of all. It was more less a fanfare as it was well attended by friends of beneficiaries, traditional rulers , top Government personalities among others.

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Monday, May 20 - Tuesday, May 26, 2013

ADVOCATE

US plans $250m fertilizer plant in Edo

C

onsul- General of the United States to Nigeria, Mr. Jeffry Hawkins has disclosed plans by the United States government to establish a $250 million fertilizer plant in Edo State.

Mr. Hawkins, who described Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole as one of the most effective governors in Nigeria made the disclosure during a courtesy call and inspection of projects in the state, yesterday.

The Consul-General said the $250 million fertilizer plant is being planned by the Overseas Private Investment Corporation of the United State Government.

“We are here because we are proud that the Overseas Private Investment Corporation of the US government is involved with the Green Petrochemical Company which is making a $250 million investment and we are happy that this important fertilizer plant will have the support of the United States Government. It will create about one thousand five hundred jobs. That is something we are hoping to take a look at when we are here,” he noted.

According to him “the United States have had a long relationship with you way back before your time in politics and your activities as one of Nigeria's premier labour leader and we are very happy to continue with that relationship.

“We are happy that people of your state obviously think highly of you and your re-election is what we in America call landslide. You are someone many people point to when answering the question who is the most effective governor in Nigeria, often the answer is Comrade Adams Oshiomhole”, he added.

The Governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole thanked the United State government for the planned

investment in the state noting that “We trust we can count on your support.

“I am happy for the good news, that a US agency is supporting a fertilizer plant here and this shows the confidence and we are happy about that. We are also able to attract one of Nigeria's foremost investors, Dangote group, and they are constructing a factory somewhere in Edo North behind the bank of the river Niger. That is the largest fertilizer plant in this part of the continent.

“In addition, we also believe that we can easily be a hub for power

generation, supply and distribution if the Federal Government gets its policies right.

Strategically located we have gas which is the resource for power generation. We realize that building institutions rather than strong men, we are already looking at Edo state after my tenure,” he added.

The Governor maintained that, “we think we can strengthen institutions rather than regardless of the character of the person. We are making investment in ICT, trying to deepen transparency and avoid waste in our system.

According to him, “For too long the Nigerian electorate has been taken for granted. This is the only country somebody is elected and has not finished four years in office, you are already predicting you will win the second term as if your performance is irrelevant.

When you have a system like that in a democracy you can't be sure of the future.”

The Consul General later joined the Governor on a tour of some of the projects in Benin metropolis.

Speaking in an interview after the tour of projects, the ConsulGeneral said, “I specially want to

thank the Governor for his kind heart.

We have seen a number of things that he is doing ranging from roads, health, education and drainages. He has worked hard to develop the infrastructure of the state.”

The Consul General noted that, “by far the most impressive of the projects are the drainages. It is a high prestige project. In a city like Benin it makes all the difference.

The state government has paid a lot of attention to it and is working very hard to address the issue of flooding.”

CBN begins second phase cashless policy July 1

By Our Reporter

T

he Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has affirmed that the second phase of the cashless initiative will begin July 1, 2013. Deputy Governor, Operations, C B N , M r. Tu n d e Lemo, confirmed this weekend, saying that the planned extension of the cashless policy to five states, as well as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) from July 1 still holds. The states to implement the cashless initiative include Rivers, Kano, Anambra, Ogun and Abia as well as the FCT. According to Lemo, the states and the FCT were chosen because of the large volume of cash transactions in

some of their major cities. He explained that in order to achieve the target, the apex bank and

lenders had already drawn a road map, which is being followed meticulously.

“We are ready to roll out to the six other states and there would be no

change in date. We are not shifting the goal post. We have a road map, which is being followed and we are fully prepared,” he said.

It will be recalled that the cashless policy, whose implementation began in Lagos in January, last year, is aimed at reducing the dominance of cash in the system.

The policy specifies penal charges for individuals and corporate organisations that want to withdraw or lodge cash above prescribed limits.

Under the policy, the CBN pegged the daily cumulative cash withdrawal or deposit limit for individual accounts at N500,000 per day and N3 million per day for corporate accounts.

Lemo had in the first phase said: “When we talk about nationwide roll-out, we are also being careful to ensure that we make use of resources in a smart way. Cash doesn't flow in the same volume in every state of the federation. What we would do in July is to look at those other market clusters where large amount of volume is transacted and add them to Lagos.”

$2.7bn flown out of Nigeria in 3 months C

entral Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has reported that foreign investors repatriated some $2.74 billion out of Nigeria from January to March of this year, suggesting that investors are moving money and assets out of the country to shield themselves from the political vicissitude.

According to the apex banks' economic report for the first quarter foreign exchange outflow from the economy was $6.54 billion, dominated by foreign exchange outflows for

'invincible'.

Invincible represents money taken out of the economy by foreign investors as dividend payment or liquidation of portfolio investment (bonds, equities, treasury bills).

The report also reported some positive tidings as the economy recorded more foreign exchange inflow than outflow in the first quarter.

The report said, “Provisional data on aggregate foreign exchange flows through the economy indicated that total inflow amounted to $34.47

billion, representing an increase of 13.5 and 20.9 per cent above the levels in the preceding quarter and the corresponding quarter of 2012, respectively.

Oil sector receipts, which accounted for 29.1 per cent of the total, stood at US$10. 01 billion, compared with the respective levels of $10.09 billion and $11.63 billion in the preceding quarter and corresponding quarter of 2012.

“Non-oil public sector inflows, which accounted for 1.4 per cent of the total foreign exchange flows declined significantly by 54.1 per cent below the preceding quarters level, while autonomous inflow, which

accounted for 69.5 per cent, increased by 32.8 per cent above the preceding quarters.

“At $6.54 billion, aggregate foreign exchange outflow from the economy Fell by 19.9 and 35.2 per cent below the levels in the preceding quarter and corresponding quarter of 2012, respectively. The fall in outflow, relative to the preceding quarter, was accounted for largely, by the 49.3 and 72.9 per cent decline in other official payments and autonomous sources (imports and invisibles), respectively.

“The invisible sector accounted for the bulk (42.4 per cent) of total foreign exchange disbursed in the first quarter of 2013, followed by industrial

sector (18. 9 per cent). Other beneficiary sectors, in a descending order included: mineral and oil sector (15.0 per cent), manufactured products (10.5 per cent), food products (8.9 per cent) , transport sector (3.9 per cent) and agricultural products (0.4 per cent).

“Foreign Exchange Flows Provisional data on foreign exchange flows through the CBN showed that inflow during the first quarter of 2013 amounted to US$10.50 billion, representing a decline of 6.0 and 13.3 per cent below the levels in the preceding quarter and the corresponding period of 2012, respectively.

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Monday, May 20 - Tuesday, May 26, 2013

I never slept with Directors in my acting career – Chidinma Aneke Enugu born Nollywood star, Chidinma Aneke, popularly dubbed “Nollywood Twin” was on the spotlight again as she opened up to The Advocate last weekend, on some controversial issues in the industry. Excerpts.

By Mary Chinda

they rush in and out of marriage.

What inspired your venturing into Nollywood?

Is it true that Nollywood directors usually sleep with actresses for roles?

Well, it was the drive change people's lives through acting, showing them that it doesn't pay to do bad and as well as the consequences of evil deeds.

(Laughs)… That's a myth! I am also a producer and I don't do it to the male folks. As an up-coming actress, I did not experience such a physical exploitation during my early days of auditioning. The bane of the industry is the do-quick notion to turn Genevieve over night which 'green horns' in the industry inspire to achieve.

In such cases, it is only desperate actresses who scout around to offer their bodies to some directors.

Is it true that Nollywood actresses do not often make good wives?

That is a fallacy! We still proudly show off the likes of Joke silver, Mercy Johnson, Chioma Chukwuka- Akpotha, Omotola Jalade-Ekehinde; the list is endless. The problem we young actresses have is the quick rush into marriage we see each day. I mean, people getting married without due preparation, without courtship and without reading good books on marriage, hence,

How would you rate the industry vis-à-vis what it used to be?

It's 90% bigger than it was a decade ago when it kickstarted. In terms of quality of

production, we now have hitech cameras, better marketing etc. It's thumbs up for the industry because we have gone a long way. However, we need government's intervention to combat the menace of piracy.

Where do you see Nollywood in the years ahead?

I am certain that in the years ahead, we would have a better and more sophisticated movie industry, second to none in Africa.

So what have you been doing recently?

Well, my twin sister and I just co-produced Adaora, Onochie, and Obiajulu, 3 different movies which will be premiered next month. We also recently finished shooting “National Service” which is on sale right now.

Mama G ushers in new daughter- in-law

By Mary Chinda

N

ollywood's screen diva, P a t i e n c e O z o k w o r, popularly dubbed Mama G, recently welcomed another d a u g h t e r- i n l a w i n t o t h e Ozokwor's family as her stepson, Pastor Don-Collins Ozokwor exchanged marital vows with Pastor Faith Okpala at the Dominion City church in Enugu.

Expressing her joy at the wedding, the super actress, lavishly gave God a dance offering, saying she was exceptionally grateful to God that her step-son, being a struggling boy had made it this far becoming a lawyer and now getting married. She added that she was particularly glad for her pastorstep-son because it was at her house he accepted Jesus Christ, many years ago at Ngwo.

Officiating minister, Pastor Okwy Agu, enjoined the couple to absorb the principle of leaving

D

avido not only has big dreams for his future, he wants to leave a legacy behind as he recently announced plans to build affordable schools across the country.

Davido made the announcement via social

father and mother behind in order to cleave to each other permanently.

The newly- wed shared that they had been acquaintances for over 20 years until their relationship tilted the love dimension in 2012

networking site twitter.

Building a school this year… We looking 4 land.. Gonna start with Osun State then move to other states! Providing affordable education. He tweeted.

Davido is still basking from the success of his last single, Gobe.

and which led them to the alter this year.

Counseling the couple, the evangelist actress, Mama G advised them to learn to draw their strength from the Word of God at both smiling and crying

times, adding that they should ensure they listen to their spiritual parents in the Lord more than their biological parents as the former would constantly supply them with spiritual nourishment for everyday life.

A

merica's music superstar, Shawn Carter, a.k.a, Jay Z will be storming Nigeria as part of his African tour come October, this year.

Married to Beyonce Knowles who is one of the highest earning musicians in the world, Jay Z reportedly announced his world tour last Thursday, and the tour will include performances in seven African cities, including Lagos.

The tour is expected to take off on Monday, September 9 in P o l a n d , w i t h performances in Accra, L a g o s , C a p e To w n , Luanda, Durban, Johannesburg and Dar Es Salaam. His highly anticipated performance in Lagos is scheduled to hold on October 9, at Ocean View restaurant, Victoria Island.

In 2006, he and his wife, Beyonce, were hosted by the former Governor of Kwara state; Bukola Saraki, who named a street after the American rapper in Ilorin, the Kwara state capital. Jay Z was also part of the ThisDay Music festival with a host of other global music icons that stormed Lagos to be part of the event.

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Focus on Nigeria's Pioneer football clubs-3sc football club of Ibadan Stories By Okey Anyichie

I

badan is one of the centres of active football starting from the Colonial days, especially when the body to organize and administer the game was formed in Nigeria in 1945.

According to an administrator and organizer of the game of football parexcellence in Ibadan, Chief Olalekan Salami, of blessed memory in his short history of the game in Ibadan disclosed; “The Hercules football club was the first club to be formed in 1937 in Ibadan the majority of its players were teachers and these included Messrs, E.A. Ogunsola (the founder), S. O Onofowokan (now retired from the West Ministry of Education.) S. A Falodun, S. A. Laseinde (former principal of the Ibadan Boys High School) who was the goalkeeper, Chief Ayodele Onagoruwa (General Manager, Co-operative Bank of Western Nigeria), P.O.C . Chukwude and T.S.B Arbisala ( a former permanent secretary, Western State ministry of Agriculture but now of the F. A.O, Mr C. R. Naze (of the ministry of Agriculture, Moor plantation, Ibadan,) Mr Olukoya, Mr Adebo wale (alias Ono Rela), Y. K. Musuro and Allagoa were also in the club.

“These according to Chief Salami were the pioneer players of the first football club in Ibadan which is now the capital city of the present Oyo State. Other clubs that followed later were , AGRIC football club formed in 1945, Nigeria Tobacco Company club formed in 1949. So these first football clubs popularized the game in this ancient city of Ibadan and made it a delight to football fans. It was as a result of these clubs and other football clubs that came in the decade of 50s that made Ibadan to win the challenge cup soccer competition for the first time in 1959 after beating police football team of Lagos 2-1.

P

remier League fans have been treated to dazzling displays from some of the world's best players over the last nine months. And with the season at an end, AFP London Sports Desk unveils its team of the year: GOALKEEPER Asmir Begovic (Stoke/BIH) The £15 million-rated Bosnian underlined why the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool have been linked with a close-season move for him as he produced a series of fine performances, played all 38 league games and managed to keep 12 clean-sheets in a struggling side.

DEFENDERS Pablo Zabaleta (Man City/ARG) In a season of underachievement at Eastlands,

WNDC now 3SC football club of Ibadan Later in 1963 a football club called We s t e r n N i g e r i a n d e v e l o p m e n t corporation football club (WNDC) was formed in Ibadan and this football club became the first Nigerian football club to win the challenge cup in 1971, when the Nigerian soccer body, the Nigeria football Association, now Confederation of Nigeria football instructed that the competition should be played on club basis rather than the Towns' football associations which were in vogue at that time except the teams that come from Lagos. And in 1971, WNDC now 3SC football club of Ibadan beat Rangers football club of Enugu 2-1 in the final of the Nigerian challenge cup now the Confederation cup.

the Argentina right-back was one of the few to emerge with any credit. His muscular approach frustrated many wingers and he also found time to charge forward to good effect.

Rio Ferdinand (Man Utd/ENG) The 34-year-old's return to form defied critics who claimed he no longer had the pace to play at the highest level. Finally pain-free thanks to an intricate fitness programme, the centre-back may have snubbed an England recall but he was an assured presence as United romped to the title.

J a n Ve r t o n g h e n ( To t t e n h a m / B E L ) Relatively unheralded when he arrived from Ajax last year, the versatile Belgian has emerged as one of the best defenders in the

The Ibadan club-side was to win the trophy in 1969, 1977,1980, 1996 and in the international scene won the first continental soccer competition called Africa cup winners cup. The Ibadan based club-side achieved this feat for Nigeria in 19 76, after winning the trophy by beating Tonniere Kalala football club of Yaunde Cameroun by 4-1. WNDC later changed its name to IICC and now 3SC. In looking at the history of the Ibadan club-side and the players produced reads like a fairy tale. For footballers that played for the club-side when it was formed were Eddy Ayoola, Niyi Akande, Joseph Ladipo (Josylad) who died last week, Dauda Adepoju, Sam Ojebode, Kola Taiwo, Amusa Adisa, Jimo Oyelaimi, Jide Johnson, Segun Odegbami,

league. Capable of filling in at full-back, he shone brightest at centre-back and chipped in with six valuable goals.

Leighton Baines (Everton/ENG) Long regarded as a key component of Everton's back-four, the dynamic left-back enjoyed the best season of his career and also impressed for England. Could follow David Moyes to Manchester United if the departing Toffees boss gets his way.

MIDFIELDERS Juan Mata (Chelsea/ESP) The Spaniard thrived as the Blues played a more fluid style designed to showcase Mata's talents. As well as an eye for a killer pass, Mata, who netted 20 times this term, also displayed stamina as he featured in 66 of Chelsea's 69 matches during a marathon campaign that brought third place and Europa League glory.

Michael Carrick (Man Utd/ENG) After spending much of his time at Old Trafford as the forgotten man in United's midfield, Carrick finally took centre-stage with the kind of influential displays his admirers have always felt him capable of. The 31-year-old's smooth passing and astute reading of the game were pivotal to United's title success, especially given the erratic form of his fellow midfielders.

Santi Cazorla (Arsenal/ESP) While many of Arsene Wenger's recent overseas signings have failed to adapt to the Premier League, there was no questioning the impact of the diminutive Spaniard following his £15 million move from Malaga.

Whether playing wide or in a more central role, the 28-year-old was at the heart of all Arsenal's best moments, scoring 12 times including a hattrick at Reading, as they finished the season

Muda Lawal, Zion Ogunfemi, Rasak Fadarin, Dejo Fayemi, Surau Adeniran among others, brought fame and honour to football in the city of Ibadan.

The club in the decade of 70s after the civil war in 1970 glamorized the game of football with top football clubs in the country like Rangers football club of Enugu which became its arch-rivals in the field of play. Bendel Insurance football club of Benin, Stationary Stores of Lagos, Mighty-Jets of Jos, Sharks of PortHarcourt among other top football clubs that were around at that early period of 70s.

Now the Ibadan club-side is celebrating its fifty years of existence will be doing so with very strong antecedents at both national and international levels. It is one strongly and took fourth place.

G a r e t h B a l e ( T o t t e n h a m / WA L ) Almost single-handedly kept his team in the race to qualify for the Champions League with a series of brilliant displays and jaw-dropping goals that earned him both the Players' and Football Writers' Player of the Year awards.

The Wales winger was granted more freedom to play in-field by Spurs boss Andre Villas-Boas and he responded with 26 goals, many of them long-range strikes and none more remarkable than the last-minute winner against West Ham that illuminated a dank night at Upton Park in February.

FORWARDS Michu (Swansea/ESP) Unquestionably the bargain of the season, Michu, who cost just £2 million from Rayo Vallecano, announced his arrival in the Premier League with two goals on his debut in a 5-0 win at QPR and never looked back. The Spaniard ended the season with 22 goals, including one at Wembley as Swansea beat Bradford 5-0 in the League Cup final to win the first major trophy in their 100-year history.

Robin van Persie (Man Utd/NED) After losing the title on goal difference last season, United boss Alex Ferguson responded by prising the Dutch star away from Arsenal just as champions Manchester City were prepared to pounce and in the process effectively regained the Premier League crown before a ball was even kicked.

The £24 million deal revitalised United as van Persie scored on his Old Trafford debut against Fulham, netted a hat-trick in his third match at Southampton and went on to finish as the league's top scorer with 26 goals. No wonder Ferguson hailed him as the most significant signing since his swoop for Eric Cantona.

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he clocks at either end of the stadium had just ticked past 92 minutes when Branislav Ivanovic made the run that will immortalise him in Chelsea's history. The header was weighted with perfection, angled across goal and looping into the net, and it was then that Chelsea knew they had another European trophy to take back to Stamford Bridge and Rafael Benítez's brief and turbulent period in charge was guaranteed its happy ending.

It was a remarkable climax to a match that ended with another of those disappearing acts from John Terry only to re-emerge, in full kit, so he could climb the steps, shake the hands of Eusébio, Michel Platini and all the other dignitaries, then help Frank Lampard to lift the trophy.

Benítez's team had been subjected to some intense pressure and will be grateful that Benfica's finishing was not as refined as their buildup play. Jorge Jesus's side pinned them back at times but they were guilty of being too elaborate in front of goal.

They will have to reflect on a seventh successive defeat in a European final while Chelsea try to make sense of an eccentric season rife with controversy and bad feeling but once again one finishing on an exhilarating high.

That makes it 11 trophies for Roman Abramovich now in just under 10 years not bad going considering the chaos that sometimes surrounds them.

Benítez's own count is three European trophies in 10 seasons and perhaps now it is not just wishful thinking to imagine the people who have campaigned

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Monday, May 20 - Tuesday, May 26, 2013

against him can at least begrudgingly appreciate the expertise of his work. The Spaniard is such a perfectionist he will probably not be entirely satisfied with the occasional carelessness of his players, or those challenging spells when Benfica looked the more accomplished side. Yet this was a night when Chelsea once again displayed the qualities of endurance and perseverance, not to mention the touch of good fortune, that helped them win the European Cup a year ago.

It was a night, too, when Fernando Torres reminded us why he was once revered as one of the more penetrative strikers in the business.

His 59th-minute strike, running from the centre-circle, beating two defenders and then rounding Artur in Benfica's goal, was a throwback

to his peak at Liverpool. He may look vapid sometimes for Chelsea but he has scored nine goals in Europe and there are only two players, Cristiano Ronaldo and Robert Lewandowski, with more this season.

Benfica had moved the ball quickly. They pressed high up the pitch and played with enough ambition and fluency in attack to create considerable anxiety in the Chelsea defence. They might also have fancied their chances in extra time, after César Azpilicueta's handball gave Oscar Cardozo the chance to equalise from the penalty spot, bearing in mind they have played 18 fewer games than Chelsea this season. Yet the bottom line is they came up short given the amount of time the ball was in or around Chelsea's area.

At 1-1, Cech kept out a dipping volley from Cardozo but there was also that moment, three minutes from the end, when Frank Lampard thumped a shot against the woodwork. Chelsea had demonstrated a greater willingness throughout to test the opposition goalkeeper and, in the process, there was always the sense that Benfica, the more stylish passing team, might regret their shortcomings in front of goal.

It was still a devastating way for them to lose. The scoreboard had flashed up three minutes of stoppage time and we were in the final 45 seconds when Juan Mata whipped his corner into the penalty area. Ivanovic was the one player who attacked the cross, rising between two defenders, his eyes firmly on the ball. He was also the

one man his team-mates would have wanted in that position. His header was sure and suddenly the players in red were on their knees.

For Benfica, it was a lesson about the importance of not always taking too many touches when there is the chance to shoot. The Primeira Liga's second-placed team had begun as the more confident side, with Nicolás Gaitán looking dangerous, Nemanja Matic impressive and Enzo Pérez driving through midfield.

There were times, certainly when the game was goalless, that Chelsea looked a little aimless in comparison, grateful that the assistant referee raised his flag as the troublesome Cardozo headed a 50th-minute cross past Cech. The striker had been offside, but only very marginally, and it was a warning to Chelsea that they were living dangerously.

Then came the moment Cech bowled a long throw down the middle, Mata applied a faint touch and suddenly Torres had spun away from Ezequiel Garay and was accelerating away. Torres held off Luisão, took the ball round Artur and finished with wonderful composure. It was a stunning goal.

The equaliser was a soft one to concede, Azpilicueta's left arm blocking Eduardo Salvio's header and Cardozo rifling his penalty down the middle of the goal. Not that it particularly mattered by the end as the victorious players took turns to give one another the bumps and ticker-tape filled the air.

Chelsea have an unorthodox way of gathering trophies but it is a successful one and they will cherish this as one of their great nights.

Nigeria on course Rooney transfer request highlights to qualify for Davis limited options for the England star Cup A

N

igeria has progressed to the next stage of qualification, as they bid to make it into the Davis Cup EuroAfrica Zone Group II .

The Nigerian Tennis team defeated Namibia 2-1 at the tournament which is taking place in Cairo, Egypt.

Both Abdulmumuni Babalola, and Clifford Enosoregbe secured victories in their games, with the only loss for Nigeria, coming in the hands of Henry Atseye.

The victory secures the first point for Nigeria, and they will next play against Zambia on Thursday.

After the game against Zambia,

Nigeria will take on Egypt on Friday, as the battle for supremacy in Group D hots up.

The winner of group D will take on the winner of group C for a qualification ticket to play in the 2014 Davis Cup EuroAfrica Zone Group II. Can Nigeria go one step further and qualify for the Davis Cup?

season of speculation s u r r o u n d i n g Wa y n e Rooney has culminated in an official transfer request from the player, and a host of rumours circulating about his next club.

Sir Alex Ferguson confirmed that Rooney had asked to leave Manchester United, although the request was originally turned down.

The 27 year old was left out of the squad for the Champions' last home game of the season against Swansea as he 'was not keen to play', according to his manager.

The decision by the club to refuse his request does suggest that Manchester United would like him to remain at the club.

Ferguson was asked about the situation, but only commented that 'it's not my decision now'. David Moyes must now discuss Rooney's future with the player, and coincidentally,he was the manager who sold him to Manchester United from Everton in 2004.

Since that time, Moyes and Rooney have been involved in a libel case over comments made in Rooney's

autobiography, for which Moyes was awarded a settlement and received an apology.

Moyes did state this week though that Rooney is 'one of the best players in the world', hinting that he would like to keep him at the club.

If Rooney is to move to a different club in the Premier League, Manchester City and Chelsea might be the two most interested parties.

Both clubs could afford his transfer fee of an estimated £40million, and his wages of up to £300,000 a week.

Manchester City were interested in 2010 when Rooney previously handed in a transfer request, although it is unknown if their interest has waned since then.

Chelsea may be looking to add to their striker options in the summer, and owner Roman Abramovich has not been averse to spending a large amount of money on a top striker.

In Europe, Real Madrid have a history of making big signings too, and Rooney is regarded as one of England's top talents by the Spanish giants. If Cristiano Ronaldo were to move elsewhere in the summer,

then the club would be under pressure to replace him with another big name.

Paris Saint Germain have displayed their ambitions in recent seasons by signing players such as Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Javier Pastore, and would be interested in another top player to aid success both domestically and in Europe.

However, one side that it appears are not interested in signing Rooney are Bayern Munich. Sporting director of the German club, Matthias Sammer, said that 'There is no contact and he's not on the agenda.'

Many clubs will always be interested in a player of Rooney's calibre, but his potential price and his lack of form this season may both deter a lot of his potential suitors.

After he has weighed up all of his options, he may even decide that the best course of action is to stay at Manchester United.

He is only 53 goals from becoming the club's top goalscorer of all time, and the lure of becoming a legend at the club might be just too strong.

Vol. 1 No. 23, Monday, May 20 - Tuesday, May 26, 2013

Joseph Akpala Back page comment

Checking irresponsible carnage on our roads

By Okechukwu Alaku

F

or some time now auto crashes have continued to dominate our roads as if the roads were not properly built and thus causing thousands of deaths as well as incalculable amount of damage to property.

There is no way one can rebuild shattered lives nor can one imagine the emotional tension that follows a tragic accident especially when the entire family is involved.

Obviously the major causes of road accidents are many but in our locality drivers are never patient and as a result create more problems that lead to loss of lives. Indeed human factors are much more related to accidents experienced in our locality. The rate of road accidents in recent times have become a source of worry that we require to look inwards and device a

means of checking these heart rending carnage.

Prior to the establishment of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) in the early eighties, there were high rate of road accidents which gave worry to the people, the government and other relevant agencies. The military Government of Gen. Babangida irked by the disturbing situation took the bull by the horns to curb the malaise-thus establishing the FRSC. The nation today appreciates the impact the agency successfully created and desires to adopt a more severe action to further reduce the life threatening factors resulting from human error.

A survey revealed by the FRSC confirmed that a total of 110

travellers died in road accidents between Benin and Lagos expressway and Onitsha and Owerri highway this year. Much as we appreciate the efforts of the FRSC in curbing these excesses, there is still more to be done to curtail these recklessness among the drivers.

Basically impatience, break components and tyres are the main factors rather than seat belts that lead to accidents. Seat belts are a device meant to protect the driver and occupants in the event of accident.

Most drivers ignore the need to check their tyres and breaks before embarking on a journey until finally they end up in roasting innocent citizens. The V should stop all busses or trailers and force the drivers to check the level of break fluids or associated fluids on their vehicles especially

that had been over 5 years on the road. In the same vein all vehicles with light on one head lamp at night should be detained till the next day no matter where the vehicle is travelling to.

Traffic Lights where they exist should be made functional to enable those unfamiliar with the lights obey and follow its control. Sometimes impatient drivers overlook them as if the lights are meant for certain categories of people. Happily the Government has stipulated a penalty of N50, 000.00 for the offenders whom we believe should be regularly.

People should be made to follow the code of conduct for driving and not to abuse these rules which help

eliminate road crashes. Overtaking while others are on queue should be checked to maintain discipline among road users. Such offenders should be detained and given adequate education, enlightenment and reorientation to serve as deterrent--- for poor road-worthiness of such vehicles can lead to major crashes on other road users. Driving in such hurried speed has in many cases crashed on other vehicles and sometimes passengers especially in cities where vehicles are often on queue.

However, it is generally believed that speed is the major cause of accidents but when one is driving under the maximum speed limit of 100kph the chances of being able to control the vehicle is likely to become impatient on occasion, but there may be serious consequences when bouts of impatience are an everyday occurrence.

Impatience though can be frustrating, irritating and indeed lead one lose his temper, the FRSC can help by seizing ones licence temporarily to enable drivers understand that payment of fine or money is not the primary motive but safety of their passengers.

Some drivers are accustomed to driving recklessly without thinking of the fate of the passengers in the event of any misfortune, and so deserve a red card as a temporary measure.

Impatient drivers are more likely to be involved in late night drinks and late night drivers are usually linked to heavy drinkers. The slogan which warns drivers--- if you drink don't drive and if you drive don't drink--- is often ignored but the fact remains that these warnings usually attest to reality when they are religiously adhered to. Similarly drug dealers never appreciate what damage these habits can influence them until it is late.

The driver who lost over 60 passengers in one swoop remains unique in our minds and the picture it paints draws the soul as if it was a plane crash.

Impatience can cost you money, friendships, pain and suffering or other consequences but it must be remembered that they are often followed by bad decisions. No one is ever comfortable with the loss of loved ones through carelessness of drivers.

J

oseph Akpala (born August 24, 1986 in Jos, Northern Nigeria) is a Nigerian footballer. He currently plays for SV Werder Bremen.

Career Akpala is a product of the Pepsi Football Academy in Lagos. His first professional contract came in April 2003 with Bendel United Football Club, a Division One club in Benin City.

Akpala later joined Bendel Insurance FC, Benin City in the Premier Division of the Nigerian Professional League, in February 2005. He was to finish as joint top scorer with 13 goals in 19 games.

Akpala was signed by the Royal Charleroi Sporting Club in the Belgian Jupiler League in January 2006. He wears the no 27 jersey.

Akpala had a very successful campaign in the 2007/08 Belgian League campaign. He topped the scorers chart with 18 goals.

In the first transfer window of the Jupiler League Akpala joined Club Brugge on the 18th July signing a contract until 2013.

So far this season Akpala has played 27 league games and has scored 13 times He has also scored 6 goals in the UEFA Europa League On 24 May 2012 the Daily Express reported that West Ham United were ready to secure the services of the Nigerian international for ÂŁ2Million however, They faced competition from Celtic for the 19-goal Club Brugge striker.

However, on the 22nd of August, Werder Bremen signed Akpala for a fee believed to be â‚Ź1.5 million.

International He made his debut for Nigeria on September 6, 2008 against South Africa.

He scored his first goal for Nigeria in a game against France in which Nigeria won 0-1 in Saint Etienne. He had played 5 times for Nigeria.

He was selected by Head coach Stephen Keshi to replace injured Emmanuel Emenike in the world cup qualifiers against Kenya on 5th June in Nairobi and in the 31st May friendly with Mexico.