Ekweremadu dares Chime

Vol. 1 No. 24, Wednesday, June 5 - Tuesday, June 11, 2013

N150

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2015 ENUGU GUBER ELECTION

Ekweremadu dares Chime My successor 'll come from Enugu North - Chime No, there is no zoning in Enugu - Ekweremadu

Man, 25, arrested for selling son N500,000 *Page 1

Church budgets N335m for bishop's installation *Page 5

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How APGA crisis can be resolved – Offia-di-uluge 11 * Pa

Read Advocate online: www.theadvocatengr.com

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Wednesday, June 5 - Tuesday, June 11, 2013

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Ebonyi APGA blasts Elechi

...Elechi should account for N144B allocation Chinedu Ngwuta, Abakaliki

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ll Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, factional Chairman Ebonyi State Chapter, Mr. Jerry Obasi, Monday, said that the administration of Governor Martin Elechi of Ebonyi State was yet to show anything for over N144 billion federal government allocations and other intervention funds that had come into the coffers of the state for the past six years.

Obasi, who spoke to our correspondent in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital expressed misgivings over the magnitude of uncompleted projects embarked upon by Governor Elechi since he assumed office in 2007.

The opposition party helmsman in the state upbraided the Governor of Ebonyi State for

embarking on lopsided projects which he said were capital intensive and devoid of workable time table indicating when the projects would be completed and put into use by the people of the state. Obasi scored the present administration under Governor

Elechi low as he pointed out that poverty was still ravaging the people of the state, particularly residents of the rural areas. He added that the present administration had not shown any willingness in the fight against corruption perpetrated by public office holders in the state.

According to Obasi, “Cumulatively, I won't say that Governor Elechi has done well in the past six years. Most of his projects have not been completed and I wonder if he will complete them before leaving office in 2015.

“Since the governor took over the mantle of leadership, the road leading to the State House of Assembly is still in a deplorable condition even as most roads purportedly constructed by the

By Our Reporter

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HE Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Tuesday, called for the arrest of the former Head of State and Presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change, (CPC), General (rtd) Muhammadu Buhari, following his frequent provocative statements.

The President of CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, in a statement signed by his Media Assistant, Kenny Ashaka, said that Buhari, having in various occasions justified the action of the sect…, therefore, he stands a big security threat to the country's corporate existence.

Oritsejafor maintained that it was so unfortunate that when every Nigerian was praying for successful military onslaught on the insurgence, Buhari rather than sharing the same feeling with well-meaning Nigerians was busy indulging in careless statements, without regards for victims of the sect's violence who were mostly Christians.

The statement read, “The retired General was widely reported by several national newspaper Correspondents, who monitored the Liberty Radio programme “Guest of the week”, to have questioned the “special treatment” given to the NigerDelta militants by the Federal Government while the Boko Haram members were being killed and their houses destroyed by government.

“They (the Niger-Delta militants) were trained in some skills and were given employment, but the

Gen. Buhari ones in the north were being killed and their houses were being demolished. They are different issues. What brought this? It is injustice”, the former Head of State was quoted to have said.

“I cannot wish away the outburst of harshly critical statements, especially as some of them are directly related to the defense of the Boko Haram sect whose members have continued to kill, maim Christians and burn Churches. I feel the pain inflicted on Christians living in the north is too deep for us in CAN to ignore any unsavoury statement that tend to portray innocent Christians who have been killed by the sect members as the aggressors. “It is shocking that at

a time well-meaning Nigerians are praying for the success of our soldiers, Buhari, rather than reflect the mood of the nation in his statements and conducts is indulging in careless statements without regards for victims of the sect's violence who are mostly Christians.

“I have, several times been vindicated that Boko Haram is not inspired by pecuniary motives, the latest of which is the statement by Robert Fowler, the released former United Nation's envoy to Niger Republic who said in a BBC programme, “Hard Talk”, aired on Tuesday, 4th of June, 2013, that his captors never talked of poverty, but islamisation of Africa.

present administration have already collapsed”.

“He has not justified the over N2 billion that comes into the state as federal allocation. If you multiply N2 billion by 12 months of the year, you will get N24 billion; N24 billion by 6 years will give you N144 billion.

“The Governor is yet to justify these funds and other intervention funds that had come into the state for the past 6 years. I'm not saying that he doesn't have good intention but his lieutenants are his greatest problem”.

T h e C h i e f t a i n , h o w e v e r, commended Governor Elechi for his worthy initiative tailored towards the growth of infrastructure in the state but maintained the governor's lieutenants including members of his cabinet have continue to sabotage the good intention of the governor.

“Spent and defeated politicians with outburst of temper and elders like Buhari who take delight in inflaming religious and ethnic passions should, therefore, be arrested and made to explain some of the issues raised by them.

This is why I call for the arrest of Buhari now. Buhari is a big security risk to Nigeria's cooperate existence.

“It is laughable that Buhari, an exHead of State, a General in the Nigerian Army who has served this country in different capacities would support Islamists who are confronting those in his constituency who are fighting to keep the nation from dismemberment. For Buhari who has led a Brigade of troops in 1982 to repel invading Chadian troops from the same northeastern borders of Nigeria, the first major foreign invasion, to oppose a state of emergency when some parts of Borno and Yobe States had been occupied and the Nigerian flag replaced with theirs, burnt Churches, schools, government institutions, killed innocent Christians, attacked traditional rulers and others not sympathetic to their cause, speaks volume.

“The retired General's sad commentary has not portrayed him as a national leader. As a retired General, he should have known that fights against terrorists are not mere child's play. They are much more difficult than conventional war which he fought in 1982. If Buhari is a national leader, he should have been more concerned about the killings of innocent ones by the sect members and the success of the troops and not that of terrorists as he has been doing.”

“He has tried his best but we won't give him a pass mark; what would have been cardinal in Elechi's administration is not there; Elechi's government is antieducation and I score him low for that and other variables like micro industrial schemes to complement infrastructure are not there.

“The level of hunger here is high and nothing is being done to handle it; there is no night life in Ebonyi state. It is only in Ebonyi state that by 9pm all commercial activities close. You can't even get any Tricycle home or joint to eat.

We are moving backward in this state”, he said.

Police officer arraigned over alleged murder of three

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34-year old police officer, Corporal Abu Bolaji, was Tuesday arraigned before a Lagos State High Court sitting in Igbosere, over alleged murder of three persons, Ibrahim Olojede, Rotimi Phillips and Friday Uti. Trial of the defendant, which was to commence immediately after his arraignment, was stalled as the prosecutor, Mr Olayintan Soetan, told the court that he was not prepared for the trial since he was not aware of it.

Soetan further told the court that the defendant was avoiding trial by refusing to answer his name whenever his name was called at the prison, adding that the trial was to commence earlier but the defendant's hiding tactics stalled it.

Responding to the prosecution's claim, the defence counsel, Mr Victor Okpara, argued that his client never avoided trial by not answering his name in prison, noting that his client had been using the same name at the lower court where he was first arraigned and remanded in prison, and at the High Court where he is standing trial.

According to the charge LCD/77/2010: “Cpl Abu Bolaji (M) at about October 2, 2009 around No. 21 Olonde Street, Alagomeji, Yaba, in the Lagos Judicial Division murdered one Ibrahim Olojede (M).

“Cpl Abu Bolaji (M) at about October 2, 2009 around No. 21 Olonde Street, Alagomeji, Yaba, in the Lagos Judicial Division murdered one Rotimi Phillips (M).

“Cpl Abu Bolaji (M) at about October 2, 2009 around No. 21 Olonde Street, Alagomeji, Yaba, in the Lagos Judicial Division murdered one Friday Uti (M).

The prosecutor noted that the three offences are contrary to Section 316 (1) of the Criminal Code Law, Cap C17, Vol. 2, laws of Lagos State, 2003, and has ten witnesses to be called for the case.

However, the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges. The trial judge, Justice Ebenezer Adebajo, adjourned the case till July 8, for trial.

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2015 ENUGU GUBER: Ekweremadu dares Chime ·My successor 'll come from Enugu North – Chime ·No, there is no zoning in Enugu State – Ekweremadu

By Ted Peters

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OVERNOR Sullivan Chime of Enugu State and Deputy President of the Senate, Chief Ike Ekweremadu representing Enugu West at the National Assembly, have disagreed over which senatorial zone in the state should produce the next governor of the state on the platform of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. While Chime said last Wednesday that his successor would come from Enugu North Senatorial zone based on the party's internal zoning arrangement and assured the people of the zone that he would do everything possible within his powers to support one of their sons for the position, Ekweremadu countered him Monday saying there was no zoning arrangement for elective offices in Enugu State in the 2015 general elections.

Ekweremadu, who spoke with newsmen in Abuja against the backdrop of Chime's endorsement of PDP's zoning or rotational arrangement for the governorship seat in the state, said there was nothing like zoning in Enugu State.

Responding to questions from the people of the state during a Town Hall Meeting organised at Nike Lake Resort Hotel, Enugu to mark the Democracy Day and his 6th anniversary in office, Chime explained that whereas it was not within the powers of the state to create the long-sort after Adada state being agitated for by the entire people of Nsukka in Enugu North Senatorial zone, the state fully identifies with the struggle and whereby it was not realized before 2015, his party, the PDP would make sure that somebody from that zone clinched its governorship ticket.

He said: “It is not within the powers of Enugu State government to give a state. But of course we are fully in support of the agitation for Adada state and we are doing all we can to make sure that it is actualized.

Then in the event it doesn't happen… well we work towards it, the issue of who becomes governor is in the hands of our people. It is within the hands of our people but within the PDP I believe we have an understanding that definitely our candidate will come from that (Nsukka) zone.

“So it is an understanding within the PDP as a party, but who eventually becomes governor will depend on all of you because in all elections from 1999, we

have always had people from all the three zones contesting. So this arrangement is a PDP affair, so all things being equal, we hope the candidate will come from there and also we hope and we know and we are working towards ensuring that whoever emerges as PDP candidate will also emerge as the governor."

The governor, however, declared that the person he would like to succeed him must be somebody that has been part of the system in the state in order to sustain the programmes and projects of his administration and not one that

would abandon them.

Apparently piqued by the governor's position, the Deputy Senate President, whose governorship campaign posters had flooded parts of the state, said he would be glad if somebody from Enugu North becomes the governor of the State in 2015, “but not on the basis of zoning.”

Contrary to expectations of many in Enugu state that Ekweremadu was eyeing the Lion Building, he declared that he has no gubernatorial ambition for 2015.

Ekweremadu said: “There is no zoning in Enugu. I am not aware and nobody is aware. I have been in politics in Enugu since the beginning of this particular dispensation. People from every part of the state have vied but somehow, somebody would win.

So, I am sure that our brothers from Nsukka understand that clearly. I stand to be challenged.

“I want anybody to tell me a document or a meeting where the governorship of Enugu has ever been zoned since 1999.

“I will be happy if somebody from Enugu North becomes

governor but not on the basis of zoning.

“Probably they are the only one that has not produced the governor of the state but like I said, it has nothing to do with zoning. There is nothing like zoning in Enugu as at today.

“Until zoning is done, I don't think anybody who wants to run from other parts of the state can be stopped. But for me, I am not running for governorship.”

Those who reacted to the new development in Enugu said that the silent “war” between the duo had been blown open and feared that the glaring disagreement between them on the crucial issue of governorship could lead to a major political crisis in the state.

“We are not surprised by what is happening. Ekweremadu had been nursing the ambition to govern the state since 2007 but when former Governor Chimaroke Nnamani gave the seat to Chime he decided to remain at the Senate.

“It is difficult to believe that he is not running in 2015 because when his posters appeared all over the state early this year he did not disown them rather he remained silent. I think he is still interested but his problem is that he is not favoured by the PDP zoning arrangement. He is from the same zone with Chime (Enugu West),” said a chieftain of the party who preferred anonymity.

You cannot produce your successor, PDP chieftain tells Obi

·Says Umeh was not his driver

By Ted Peters

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IONEER Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Anambra state, Chief Joseph Okonkwo has advised the state governor, Peter Obi to drop his plan to produce his successor in the forthcoming governorship election in the state saying such arrangement has never worked in the state.

He also dismissed as untrue and embarrassing the allegation that the National Chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Chief Victor Umeh, was his driver, explaining that Umeh had served as his Special Assistant and he was highly pleased by his (Umeh's) rising political profile.

Chief Okonkwo, who is popularly called Ofia-di-ulu, said that he had personally admonished the Governor Obi on the need to complete his tenure successfully and quit honourably without wasting his time to pursue the installation of his successor, as such a move has never worked in the past and

could not be realized in the present dispensation.

"I have told Peter Obi not to bother himself about installing his successor. It doesn't work particularly in our Anambra state and we will not allow it this time around. The votes will count and whoever succeeds wins. Nobody will write result in his room.

There is nothing like

incumbency f a c t o r i n A n a m b r a because there are s o m a n y interests and everybody will come out to ensure that only the best emerges as the next governor,” he said.

Okonkwo, a first r e p u b l i c politician, said he was confident t h a t t h e Chairman of Independent N a t i o n a l Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Attahiru Jega, would ensure that the Anambra election was not hijacked by any group, stressing that the best candidate which would emerge from the PDP, would have a better chance to govern Anambra after Obi. Faulting the description of the APGA chairman as his former

driver, Okonkwo said that Umeh had worked diligently with him in the past as his Personal Assistant and was proud of him, adding that it was his political mentorship that had contributed to Umeh's successful political career which produced two governors in Anambra and Imo state respectively.

“I read in a newspaper where the Obi people said that Victor Umeh was my driver. That is a complete fallacy. The truth is that Victor was never my driver, he was my Special Assistant, he is my boy, my product and I am proud of him. He has now installed two governors in his party, APGA, and these are what he learnt from me.

“I told Obi to call Nwobu-Alor to order because Nwobu-Alor has personal grouse with Victor Umeh which was connected to me years back. I told Peter to go back and work with Victor because he is a hard working young man and that he should enjoy his fruit of labour. Victor is an educated Estate Manager before he went into politics. I still urge Obi to go and reconcile with Victor because both of them are my boys.”

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Jonathan proscribes Boko Haram, Ansaru ...Supporters, collaborators for prosecution under new Terrorism Act solicits

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resident Goodluck Jonathan has approved the proscription of Boko Haram and authorized the gazetting of an order declaring the group's activities illegal and acts of terrorism.

In a statement by Dr Reuben Abati, Special Adviser to the President on Media & Publicity, said the order which has been gazetted as the Terrorism (Prevention) (Proscription Order) Notice 2013, was approved by President Jonathan.

According to the statement, the order affects both Jamaatu Ahlis-Sunna Liddaawati Wal Jihad, popularly called Boko Haram and Jama'atu Ansarul Muslimina Fi Biladis Sudan, also referred to as Ansaru , with a 20 years term of imprisonment prescribed for persons who

or renders support for the groups.

“The proscription order warns the general public that any person “participating in any form of activities involving or concerning the collective intentions of the said groups will be violating the provisions of the Terrorism Prevention Act”. ” Section 5 (1) of the act prescribes a term of imprisonment of not less than 20 years for any person who knowingly, in any m a n n e r, d i r e c t l y o r indirectly, solicits or renders support for the commission of an act of terrorism or to a terrorist group.” ” For the purposes of subsection (1) of section, “support” includes: incitement to commit a terrorist act through the internet, or any electronic means or through the use of

printed materials or through the dissemination of terrorist information; receipt or provision of material assistance, weapons including biological, chemical or nuclear weapons, explosives, training, transportation, false documentation or identification to terrorists or terrorist groups; receipt or provision of information or moral assistance, including invitation to adhere to a terrorist or terrorist group; entering or remaining in a country for the benefit of, or at the direction of or in association with a terrorist group; or the provision of, or making available, such financial or other related services prohibited under this Act or as may be prescribed by regulations made pursuant to this Act.”

First lady denies involvement in Amaechi's suspension

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Name: Iroabuba Faustina Name: Okoli Brenda Mob: July Modeling and Acting Hobby: Hobby: Dancing Likes: Honesty Likes: Honesty Dislike: Dishonesty Dislike: Gossip Email: brendyo417@yahoo.com Email: katefaustina@yahoo.com Source: st santos productions Source: St Santos Productions/07067899677 07067899677

he first lady,Dame Patience Jonathan, Thursday, said she had no hand in the suspension of the governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. In a statement, the Senior Special Assistant to the First Lady on Media and Publicity, Ay o O s i n l u s a i d t h e allegation was “not only dubious, but also diversionary, unfair, unkind, and therefore totally unacceptable”.

According to him, Mrs. Jonathan was not an official of the PDP and as such could not have led 'the elders of the party by the nose' to take such a decision.

“It has again come to our notice that a new twist has been introduced to the carefully orchestrated scheme to anchor the political fortunes or survival of certain embattled politicians on a deliberate demonisation of the First Lady, Dame (Dr.) Patience Goodluck Jonathan.

“This new twist came by way of a so-called “investigation” reported on the front page of a national daily, yesterday.

“According to the report, the First Lady, as characteristic these days, is being alleged to have influenced the suspension of Governor Rotimi Amaechi from PDP by the National Working

Committee, NWC, of the party.

“We consider it laughable that it can be assumed by any sane person that the First Lady could possibly “summon” the members of the NWC of the party for the purported purpose of handing down “stern directives” on crucial party decisions.

“We ask, on what platform?

Within what contexts? In what capacity? Is it not an unfortunate insult on all the elders that constitute the NWC to insinuate that they were assembled by the First Lady, or anyone else for that matter, and instructed on positions of the party? And why couldn't newspaper's “investigators” name at least a few of those in attendance of this famous meeting?

“We consider it a most unbecoming insolence, to say the least DISRESPECTFUL, of any one to suggest that the whole of PDP was led by the nose and influenced by a private interest, in a matter that so evidently borders on party discipline and administration.

“Only recently, we were compelled to make a statement, warning those who have become specialists in looping their self-induced political travails around the First Lady, to develop another strategy for their survival.

“This was when another

vicious lie was circulated that Her Excellency had, again, “summoned” service chiefs in Rivers State, and instructed them to be firmer in handling the Rivers matter.

“Let us state once again, that the First Lady is not an elected official of state, neither is she a party functionary. She therefore recognises very clearly her place in the scheme of things and acts always accordingly within context.

“In safe estimation, the whole of this is a conscious calculation to sustain the issue of Governor Amaechi in full public view, as well as to explore the possibility of keeping public sympathy in his favour.

“While we have no challenges with the Amaechi camp struggling for political survival and relevance, we wish to state categorically our strong objection to the wicked use of the name and profile of the First Lady in the process.

“For us this is not only dubious, but also diversionary, unfair, unkind, and therefore totally unacceptable.

“We wish to warn that if this trend continues in the near and distant future, we may be constrained to take action within legally permissible limits to protect the integrity of the office and person of the First Lady.”

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Road crashes: FRSC declares four states, FCT notorious

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he Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, has declared four states and Federal Capital Territory, FCT, as notorious with records of highest number of road traffic crashes and fatalities in the country.

Man, 60, allegedly kills wife over N500

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ronna Street in AbuleEgba area of Lagos was, Monday, thrown into confusion after a 60-year-old man who allegedly killed his wife over his missing N500, locked himself up with the corpse.

Reports said fight broke out after the man identified as Gbadebo Elegbede, accused his 17-year-old son of stealing his N500 at about 7am. His wife, Maria, was said to have defended his son, an action that reportedly led to a verbal confrontation with her husband, which degenerated into a scuffle.

In the process, Gbadebo was said to have hit his wife with a hard object on the face, causing her to slump.

His son, Johnson, was said to have attempted to lift his mother from the floor only to discover that she was motionless and bleeding from the mouth and nose.

Johnson reportedly ran out to alert neighbours to come to his mother's help, but they met the door of the apartment locked from inside, with Gbadebo threatening to kill anyone who attempted to force the door open.

Eye witnesses said some of the deceased's relatives who rushed to the scene were also prevented from seeing Maria's corpse as the door was still locked.

Policemen at nearby divisions who were contacted said they were yet to be informed about the incident Tuesday evening.

An eye witness said “ this is not the fight time he is doing this. The first time they lost their daughter, he locked her up in the room preventing everyone, including his wife from coming inside.

“Till date no one can tell what he did with her corpse. As you can see, everyone is afraid of him in this area”, the eye witness who simply gave her name as Nwankego said.

As at 4pm, sources said, Gbadebo was still inside the room with Maria's corpse and no one could say what he was doing inside there.

Corps Marshal and Chief Executive of FRSC, Mr. Osita Chidoka, who disclosed this during the inspection of an ongoing Trauma Centre at the hospital, Abuja, said the rating was based on positing of highways reports as at the end of 2012 and the first quarter of 2013.

Chidoka who named Bauchi, Kogi, Kaduna, Delta states and the FCT, as the notorious said the Corps was currently working on an engagement plan with the governors of affected states and the FCT Minister to ensure improved road safety practices in their areas of jurisdiction.

He reiterated the commitment of the corps to ensure a zero per cent record on road crashes in any part of the country, in pursuant to the Accra declaration on road safety of 2015 and United Nations decade of action on road safety , 20112020.

On the Trauma Centre which has a landing space for air ambulances, the Corps Marshal commended the management of the National Hospital, describing it as “a pride of place to the nation's health architecture.”

He said when commissioned, the centre would add value to the corps' drive towards prompt medical care for road crash victims and qualitative advantage to emergency and rescue services in Nigeria.

According to him, the FRSC has through its numerous initiatives, acquired 3,000 Closed User Group, CUG, telephone lines which were distributed among its management team, operatives in the Field Commands and all Federal Medical Centres nationwide, to ensure seamless interface and prompt attention for road crash victims especially those with trauma cases.

He also said that the FRSC has acquired 57 ambulances and established 84 functional road side clinics as part of measures to address road crash-related issues and stated that the Corps will partner with the National Hospital on the training of FRSC medical personnel on contemporary global best practices on trauma care. He further said that plans are in the works to get Insurance companies to dedicate part of funds generated from third party insurance holders t o c o m p l e m e n t e ff o r t s b y government to alleviate the plight of road crash victims.

Chidoka also disclosed that the FRSC will integrate the proposed partnership with the National Hospital on training into the ongoing World Bank programme on capacity building adding that 40 officers are presently in France on a Safe-To-Load scheme under the sponsorship of the World Bank

and Total Nigeria partnership as part of measures to ensure the safety of Tankers in Nigeria.

In his remarks earlier, the Chief Medical Director of the National Hospital, Dr. Bello Shehu said that the essence of the facility tour was to solicit for the FRSC buy-in for the Trauma Centre which is slated for commissioning in September this year, as lead

agency in road traffic administration and safety management.

Dr. Shehu also described the Centre as a level 1 facility for handling trauma cases in the country at the moment and added that on completion, the 50 bed capacity Centre will rank the best in the country with a round-theclock administration and

specialists on stand by to handle trauma cases.

It will be recalled that aside from the Uthman Danfodio Teaching Hospital in Sokoto which has a functional Trauma Centre, other health institutions with Trauma Centres in the country, are the ongoing projects at National Hospital and the Gwagwalada Specialist Hospitals in Abuja.

Church budgets N335m for bishop's installation

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HE Catholic Diocese of Nsukka in Enugu State has budgeted N335 million for the Episcopal ordination and installation of its new bishop, Godfrey Onah.

Announcing the budget in Enugu

on Tuesday, a former Minister of Information and Chairman of the organising committee, Chief Nnia Nwodo, said the committee had mapped out strategies to raise the fund through its finance subcommittee.

Nwodo said the committee had reached out to the people of Nsukka living in different parts of the country as part of its efforts to raise the money.

He also said the committee had lined up luncheons in Enugu, Nsukka, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Lagos, and called on the people to donate generously.

“We like to beckon on all Nsukka people to respond to this call, irrespective of our political, religious or social difference.

“We expect them to donate generously to this that has brought most of us together,'' he said.

Nwodo said the ordination would take place on July 4 in Nsukka, adding that up to 50 bishops, 1000 priests and 5000 lay faithful, were expected to honour the occasion.

Pope Francis had on April 13 nominated Monsignor Godfrey Onah, the Vice Rector of the Pontifical Urban University in Rome, as the bishop-designate of Nsukka following the retirement of Bishop Francis Okobo, on grounds of age.

Reps seek sole power to impeach President

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Bill seeking absolute powers to solely initiate a n d e x e c u t e impeachment proceedings against a sitting President to rest with the National Assembly Tuesday, scaled second reading on the floor of the House of Representatives.

The Bill is intended to amend section 143 of the 1999 Constitution.

Debate on the general principles of the Bill appeared as several members were of the opinion that it was not necessary.

Surprisingly, however, the Bill passed second reading when Deputy Speaker of the House, Emeka Ihedioha, who presided over plenary, put the question to voice votes.

Sponsors of the bill were of the opinion that it would remove “ambiguities in the process of removal of the President and Vice

President from office on allegations of gross misconduct and provide for more transparent and democratic procedure for impeachment and other matters.”

Section 143 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) provided for the procedure of impeaching the President and, or the Vice President.

But promoters of the amendment Bill, Mr. Yakubu Dogara and Chairman of the House Committee on the FCT, Mr. Emmanuel Jime, argued that there were a lot of defects and ambiguities in section 143 of the 1999 Constitution.

They also separately denied the assertion that the move was targeted at impeaching President Goodluck Jonathan.

Dogara, who quoted several foreign authorities to buttress the

justification of vesting the powers to impeach a sitting President exclusively on the parliament, especially in America, argued that one of the defects in the provision was the only basis to initiate impeachment proceedings against the President, as enshrined in the constitution, was for “gross misconduct” which he said was not clearly defined.

In the opinion of Mr Jime, it was intended to address constitutional challenges that the lawmakers were finding difficult to challenge.

Section 143(11) reads; “In this section, 'gross misconduct' means a grave violation or breach of this Constitution or a misconduct of such nature as amounts in the opinion of the National Assembly to gross misconduct.”

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Fight against corruption not for govt alone – Jonathan

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resident Goodluck Jonathan has said the war to rid the country of corruption should not be left for his government alone, if the antigraft war must succeed.

“In arresting the menace of corruption in Nigeria, we must understand that it is not a fight to be left for the government alone.

Rather, it would require a concerted effort by individuals from all sectors to complement the effort of the government,” Jonathan said in his 234-page mid-term report presented to Nigerians last Wednesday, as part of activities marking the nation's Democracy Day. The President said he was convinced that corruption must also be fought with every sense of diligence it deserved by government and individuals.

Otherwise, he said, Nigeria's sustainable development would be undermined with dire consequences on the economy,

President Goodluck Jonathan the citizenry and the nation's collective image globally.

He said, “The citizens are,

therefore, encouraged to work assiduously with government agencies in the fight against

corruption.”

Jonathan identified weak rule of law and institutions as factors responsible for the continuous existence of pervasive corruption in the system, despite the efforts of his administration and his predecessors to tackle the scourge.

He said that was why his approach in fighting corruption was to focus on building strong institutions that had the capacity to overcome corrupt influences “and not just to sermonise about corruption.”

He said, “This approach uses the rule of law as a framework to fight corruption since corruption is a feature of weak rule of law and weak institutions.

“Fighting corruption through strengthening rule of law, institutions and entrenching transparency and accountability mechanisms in the public service procurement and project implementation is efficacious because corruption is primarily a

derogation of rule-based system.”

Jonathan said his administration was determined to make Nigeria a key global economic power, and therefore, recognised that it could not tolerate any degree of corruption.

He added that as long as Nigeria was widely perceived as corrupt, it would be difficult to attract the level of investment required to fast-track economic growth to protect the honour and dignity of Nigerians across the world.

According to him, corruption constitutes a major disincentive for investment in the Nigerian economy and increases the cost of governance and doing business.

He added that the scourge constituted a direct and inordinate taxation on the people.

The president observed that the widespread international perception of Nigeria as a corrupt country had caused incalculable damage to the dignity and honour of many honest and diligent Nigerians and to the country's global competitiveness.

Kano arms cache belongs to Hezbollah – DSS

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irector of Department of State Services, DSS, in Kano, Mr. Bassey Etang, has said the weapons of mass destruction discovered in a bunker at a Lebanese residence in Kano, Tuesday, belong to international terrorist organisation, Hezbollah.

Etang spoke to newsmen in Kano, during a joint conference with the Commandant of the 3 Motorised Division in Kano, Brigadier-General Iliyasu Abba, at the scene of the discovery in Bompai area of the Kano metropolis.

He said: “The weapons were brought in by an international terrorist organisation,

Hezbollah, to attack Israeli and Western interest in Nigeria.

“On May 28, a combined team of the JTF involving the army of the 3 Brigade in Kano and the Kano state DSS conducted a thorough search on this house located at No 3 Gaya Road, off Bompai Road, Kano, belonging to one Abdul Hassan Taher Fadlalla, a Lebanese, who is currently out of the country.

“After painstakingly searching the premises, the search team uncovered an underground bunker in the master bed room, where a large quantity of assorted weapons of different types and caliber were recovered. The bunker was

specially constructed for this purpose.”

Ta k i n g s t o c k On his part, the Commandant, Brigadier Abba, said the weapons of mass destruction include 11, 50mm antitank weapons, two 122mm artillery gun ammunition, four antitank landmines, 21 rocket-propelled grenades, RPG, 16 rocket-propelled grenades charger, one rocket-propelled grenade tube and 76 military grenade. Others are one SMG rifle, nine pistols, 17 AK-47 rifles, 44 magazines, 11,433 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition and 103 packet of slap TNT. Brigadier Abba further revealed that “investigation also confirms the existence of a Hezbollah Foreign Terrorist Cell in Nigeria.

Arrest On May 16, DSS arrested one Mustapha Fawaz the co-owner of the popular Amigo Supermarket and Wonderland Amusement Park, all in Abuja.

His arrest and confession unveiled other members of the foreign terrorists network, which led to the interception of

one member of the syndicate named Abdullah Tahini, a Lebanese, at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport with undeclared 60,000 United States Dollars on him en-route Beirut.

Thereafter, on May 26 one Talal Roda, also a Lebanese with Nigerian passport, was arrested in this same house.

According to the Brigade Commander, all the arrested suspects have confessed to have

undergone Hezbollah terrorist training and further implicated one Fauzi Fawad, also a coowner of Amigo Supermarket and Wonderland Amusement Park.

He said: “The fellow is now at large. The arms and ammunition were targeted at facilities of Israel and Western interest in Nigeria.

“However, the security agencies are making efforts to unveil the true situation. At the end of investigation, all those involved will be prosecuted.”

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Wednesday, June 5 - Tuesday, June 11, 2013

CHINUA ACHEBE: 1930-2013

Seer, Writer and Patriot Extraordinaire

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ow does one begin to pay tribute to a genius like Professor Chinua Nnanyi Achebe, or rather to Nnanyi Chinua Achebe, Ugo be n'oji-Eagle on the Iroko; Nnukwu Mmanwu; Oke Nze; Owner of Words?

I shall start from Africa's best-loved and most widely read novel THINGS FALL APART where he (Achebe) detailed the conversation between the big masquerade, The Evil Forest, and the parties to a dispute in the village.

“Uzowulu's body, I salute you”, he said. Spirits always address humans as “bodies”. Uzowulu bent down and touched the earth with his right hand as a sign of submission.

“Our father my hand has touched the ground” he said. “Uzowulu's body, do you know me?” asked the spirit. Knowledge.” Evil Forest then turned to the other group. “The body of Odukwe, I greet you” he said, and Odukwe bent down and touched the earth. The hearing then began.”

In this tribute I shall address Professor Chinua Achebe as Nnanyi Achebe, Eagle on the Iroko, and say to him: “The body of ABC Nwosu pays his respects, for you are beyond our knowledge”.

Reading you has given to many of us so much inner satisfaction, and immeasurable pleasure at your use of language that your genius will forever be acknowledged. I need however to point out that Achebe is not Evil Forest but Ijele, the king of all masquerades.

Three glimpses of Achebe the writer and the man are available from those who were privileged to “know” him well the very Government College Umuahia and University College Ibadan; the legend, late Dr. Pius Okigbo, elder brother to Chris Okigbo who was Achebe's kindred spirit from Umuahia and Ibadan; and from Professor Michael Thelwell Professor of Literature and AfroAmerican studies formerly of Amherat and now of Amherst Princeton University. Professor Thelwell delivered the incomparable “Eagle on Iroko” keynote address at the three day Achebe 60th Birthday symposium at the University of Nigeria Nsukka.

That keynote address should neither be paraphrased nor interpreted for anybody. “The Eagle on Iroko” speech, remains for me a masterpiece. Thereafter Professor Thelwell became friends with many of us of the Achebe fan club. I know that he will be at Ogidi to mourn his friend in person. We shall be there with him.

Michael Thelwell and others often referred to Achebe as the father of the African literature or father of the African novel. Chinua, typical of him, always shrugged off such appellations because it was really not important to him who the father or grandmother, or uncle of African literature is or was, so long as African writers remained focused

on “the cause of Africa”, and humanity.

However, the best characterization of Chinua Achebe that I have read was the five page introduction of him by the late Dr. Pius Okigbo for the 1986 Nigerian national Merit Award Winners lecture titled: “What has Literature Got To Do With It”.

Dr. Okigbo began: “He called him Chinualumuogu: may God fight on my behalf, abbreviated to Chinua.

When that was the prayer of Achebe senior on 16th November 1930 when the youngest of his four surviving sons was born”.

Dr. Okigbo continues: “Umuahia (Government College) sharpened his perception of the world around him, what with contemporaries like late Christopher Okigbo the poet, Okey Achike the judge, Bede Okigbo the agronomist, Vin Ike the novelist, Chu Okongwu the economist, and Madiebo the general, most of them junior to him at College but later, like him, grow to dominate their own fields”.

Then Dr. Okigbo makes a most telling revelation: “Ibadan (University College) of the early 1950s was intellectually exciting; for it was at Ibadan that Chinua began to look back on some of the things he had read at Umuahia” Ryder Haggard, Joyce Cary, Joseph Conrad. He realized that when at Umuahia he had read their references to savages, he had regarded himself not as one of the savages but as part of and on the same side as the authors. At Ibadan he came to realize that he was one of those described by the authors as savages. Thence blossomed his romance with and respect for African culture, a culture not understood by outsiders, the seeds of which had been sown in his (Achebe) family backyard.” The rest as they say is history.

In his tribute to his close friend Chinua, Mr. Momah, who wrote in from Arlington Texas (Vanguard Tuesday May 7, 2013 p. 18) said: “That Chinua will achieve greatness and fame was first predicted by my primary school Headmaster in 1943, Mr. Okongwu (Dr. S.P. Chu Okongwu's father), as sagacious an observer of humanity as you are likely to meet.

Headmaster Okongwu's prophecy

was straightforward and unambiguous. “I predict that you will meet at Government College Umuahia a boy called Albert Achebe, and Albert will make the (academic) rain that will drench all of you”. I gained admission to the famous Government College Umuahia. Chinua also won a merit scholarship! This was in January 1944.

Mr. Momah continues: In the middle of 1944, our first year in school, Chinua was promoted with five other boys to class two.

First drenching! From then till his high school graduation in 1948, he was the best student in his new class. That same year he won a merit scholarship (one of only six or seven awarded that year) to University College Ibadan (UCI) to study medicine!

“He changed courses at the end of his freshman year and I caught up with him one more time. This was in 1949. We both graduated, Bachelor of Arts in the same subjects in 1953.

Throughout those four years, our professors and lecturers, again and again let us know that Chinua was not only the best student in the class but also the best writer of English.

He achieved the best result in our degree examination. Second drenching!

“More drenching followed, fast and furious! Within five years of our graduation THINGS FA LL APART was published. Other novels followed; and success followed success”.

Mr. Momah then delivers the coup de grace, the masterstroke which in my opinion is the best assessment of Chinua Achebe as a writer. Chike Momah says of Achebe: “He was as I have dared to proclaim elsewhere the best writer of English that I think I have ever read. He is, for me, its most mellifluous exponent. For me, there is no writer living or dead who has demonstrated in greater measure than Chinua, the ability to weave a tapestry of words taken from the Queen's English and from proverbs and aphorisms of his own mother tongue, Igbo”.

Dr. Pius Okigbo seems to agree with Mr. Momah's assessment when he state that he could not compare Achebe with any other African novelist, for there was none; but rather went to another art from, to drama, and took Professor Wole Soyinka with Achebe. Dr.

Okigbo agreed with both of them that the age we now live in is “age of decline: half-dead at the top”. How sad!

It is clear from Mr. Momah's tribute that Achebe knew early enough that he was going to become a writer. In his interview with Lewis Nkosi in 1962, Achebe had said: “I was quite certain that I was going to try my hand at writing and one of the things that set me thinking was Joyce Cary's novel set in Nigeria. “Mr. Johnson” (the novel) was praised so much, and it was clear to me that this was a most superficial-picture of, not only of the country but of the Nigerian character; and so I thought that if this novel (MR. JOHNSON) was famous; then perhaps someone ought to try to look at this from the inside”.

As Achebe had said in many of his other interviews and writings, “until lions produced their own historians, the story of the hunt would always glorify-lions, if you desire, the hunter”.

Achebe was determined not just to be a writer. To him the mission of the African writer was to rescue the African past from the gross colonial misrepresentation and biased stereotyping to which it had been subjected. To him, the African writer had a duty to correct the prejudices which generations of detractors created about the Negro, and in this regard, he enjoyed a a deep brotherhood with the celebrated American writer James Baldwin. It was therefore not by “accident” that Achebe's novels about our past, THINGS FALL APART and ARROW OF GOD had an obvious objective; to show that Africans had a history. To Achebe, African world before the arrival of Europeans was a wellinfegrated one, with honour and dignity. He asserts strongly that African people did not hear of culture and civilization first time from Europeans, and that Africans were definitely not savages! Indeed Achebe said in one of his interviews that he would be quite satisfied if his novels (especially the ones set in the past) did no more than teach his people that their past, with all its imperfections, was not one long night of savagery, from which the first Europeans acting on behalf of God delivered them.

In his essay titled the Novelist as a Teacher, he goes further to say: “Perhaps what I write is applied art as distinct from pure. But who cares?” That essay written in 1965 but published in 1975 in “MORING YET ON CREATION DAY (pp. 67 73) says so much about Achebe the writer.

He insisted that the African writer must respond to the social and political issues of his age and promote the right causes of his people and when he fails to do this he “becomes like the absurd man in the proverb who deserts his burning house to pursue a fleeing rat from the flames”.

7

Wole Soyinka also agrees that when the writer in his society cannot function as conscience, he must recognize that his choice lies between denying himself totally or withdrawing to the position of chronicler or post-mortem surgeon.

The depth and clarity of Achebe's vision coupled to his logic and uncanny eye for detail single him out as a seer. His novels mirror contemporary society and are so realistic, so correlatively true to life that he nearly lost his life for writing “A MAN OF THE PEOPLE” and yet that novel was essentially a work of fiction! In his view, the main problem of contemporary African society was the lack of restraint by politicians in wielding power, added to unbridled corruption and scramble for materialism which has resulted in the destruction of democratic principles. Indeed, it is safe to state that as early as 1960, Achebe had become disillusioned with abuse of power, corruption, bad governance and impunity in post-colonial Africa. Whether one looks at his novels, or books of essays or short stories, Achebe's despair over the post-colonial political mess and the squandering of Africa's bright future is palpable.

In his angry book “THE TROUBLE WITH NIGERIA”, published in 1983 he began by analyzing where the trouble lay and ended the chapter with the haunting question: “we have lost the twentieth century; are we bent on seeing that our children also lose the twenty-first” God forbid” That was quintessential Achebe, the patriot who as early as 1960 in “NO LONGER AT EASE” had begun to point attention to corruption and the failure of the emergent indigenous administrative class in Obi Okonkwo.

For me, the irony was that Obi, after his theory that the public service of Nigeria would remain corruption-ridden “until the old Africans at the top were replaced by youngmen from the Universities” would himself become jailed on corruption charges! That was Achebe the seer, and he was still to be 30 years old!

“A MAN OF THE PEOPLE” which chronicled the political shenanigans of Chief the Honourable M. A. Nanga MP was described as a funny satire by The Observer, and as a comedy by the New Statesman newspapers. The book was a satire but it was certainly not funny to most Nigerians. It showed Achebe's despair at the mess that politicians had made of Nigeria's hard-won political independence from the colonialists. Immediately it became demonstrated with the exit of the colonial masters that politics carried with it fabulous cash prizes, politicians typified by power and saw their positions as their birthright, seeking to utilize any and every means to perpetuate themselves in such positions of power. From then, the politics of “eat and let eat” took over.

The society watched apathetic and helpless as the distinction between POWER and FORCE became blurred by political rascals until

Continues on page 8

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Wednesday, June 5 - Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Seer, Writer and Patriot Extraordinaire Continued from page 7 those whose trade was FORCE increased in their numbers and drove service-minded persons out of the political arena. Thus “A MAN OF THE PEOPLE” scrutinized what had gone wrong with both the Nigerian people and their rulers. Put differently, the central theme of the novel as I see it, appeared to be the impunity of politicians and the apathy and docility of the people; Chief Nango MP and politicians using their positions to shamelessly enrich themselves at the expense of the people, while the people with the philosophy born of despair tamely resigned themselves to the situation and did nothing!

Along with “A MAN OF THE PEOPLE” (1964), Achebe in 1965 had also written a short story “THE VOTER” which became published in 1972 in “GIRLS AT WAR” and Other Short Stories”. “THE VOTER” remains one of my favourites. All my children know about Mr. Rufus Okeke- “Roof for short” who was the local canvasser for Chief the Honourable Marcus Ibe, Minister of Culture in the out-going government (which was pretty certain to be the in-coming one as well). The political parties POP and PAP; the bribery and iyi from Mbanta; and the antics of “Roof” at the polling booth in that eight page short story, mirror contemporary Nigerian politics, half a century later and attest to Achebe's depth of vision. To imagine that the seer in him was aware of these happenings almost half a century ago!! But who listened to the seer and patriot? That the military coup of 1966 and the Nigeria-Biafra war occurred are vindication of Chinua Achebe's prophetic vision as a seer, arising from his realistic analysis of contemporary political events which according to him were evident as far back as 1964.

After the Nigeria-Biafra war 1967 70, it would appear to me that Achebe the patriot moved on to essay writing as a means of engaging his fellow compatriots and the world. “GIRLS AT WAR and “Other Short Stories” were published in 1972 and contained illuminating human tragedy stories inside Biafra such as “Girls at War”, “Sugar Baby” and “Civil Peace” as well as classics like “The Madman” and “The Voter”.

In the Preface to “MORINING YET ON CRATION DAY (1975), Achebe insisted that “a writer need never offer excuses for writing” and signaled that his book on Biafra would be written when he said: “I have no doubt that there will be some inclined to the view that

it were better to forget the agonies of that past and turn the mind to the marvelous achievements of 'reconciliation, rehabilitation and reconstruction'. I DO NOT AGREE (capitals mine).

I believe that in our situation the greater danger lies not in remembering but in

forgetting, in pretending that slogans are the same as truth and I believe that Nigeria, a l w a y s p ro n e t o s e l f deception, stands in great danger lies not in remembering but in forgetting, in pretending that slogans are the same as truth and I believe that Nigeria, a l w a y s p ro n e t o s e l f deception, stands in great need of reminders”.

He continued: “Experience is necessary for growth and survival but experience is not simply what happened. Experience is what we are able to do with what happens to us. I believe that if we are to survive as a NATION we need to grasp the full meaning of our tragedy. And one way to do it is to remind ourselves constantly of the things that happened and how we felt when they were happening (pp.vi vii)”.

That was Achebe in 1974. Thirtyeight years later “THERE WAS A COUNTRY” was published (2012). Achebe did not disappoint.

I shall deal with this book later in this discourse.

In 1983 came what I describe as Achebe's angry book titled “THE TROUBLE WITH NIGERIA” where he took on his compatriots frontally and bluntly said all that he had to say about the rot in the country. The opening sentence remains a classic: The trouble

with Nigeria is simply and squarely a failure of leadership”. Need he have said more? He maintained that Nigerians are who they are, and the country as underdeveloped as it is simply because the leaders are not what they should be. Who disagrees? On p.38 of the book he states that “Corruption in Nigeria has passed the alarming and entered the fatal stage: and Nigeria will die if we keep pretending that she is only slightly indisposed”. Again who disagrees?

Thereafter in 1987, Achebe had seen enough of military rule in Nigeria to write another full-length novel “ANTHILLS OF THE S AVA N N A H ” A c h e b e ' s “Anthills” scrutinized what the military in Government in the emergent independent African nations who came to 'clear the mess left by the corrupt civilian regimes' had made of their interventions.

Achebe was appalled at how quickly the new military leader of Kangan, His Excellency succumbed to the corruption, and to anti-people actions that destroyed their civilian predecessors. Indeed Achebe in “Anthills of the Savannah” saw the soldiers as not being better than the civilians that they had ousted.

In this novel as in his earlier writings, Achebe's concern for the feeble, effete and apathetic civil society which had adopted the “I

don't care it is not my business” attitude is clearly discernible; Achebe partly blamed the indifference and cynicism of the governed for the rot in the society.

Consequently, many of us saw in Achebe, aspects of the Ayaka Masquerade moving with a whip among the citizens, the intelligentsia and the political leaders, flagellating himself as well as them.

Then, there was Achebe's homecoming in 2009 for the AHIAJOKU LECTURE at Owerri. Fifty years of the publication of “Things Fall Apart” had just been celebrated only months earlier and Achebe's country men were hungry to see their son. The arrangements for the visit were impeccable. Governor Ikedi Ohakim, the government and people of Imo State spared no expense and no efforts to honour Ugo be n'oji, Eagle on Iroko. The Ohakin administration had journeyed to New York to persuade Achebe to come and address the people. A giant tent to accommodate a multitude was set up in Owerri. The arena was full, in and outside the giant tent. The crowd inside the tent was intimidating. Achebe's friends from the University of Ibadan, and University of Nigeria such as Professor M.J.C. Echeruo and Late Professor Adiele Afigbo among others were there. The compere Dr. Chris Asoluka, President-General of Aka-Ikenga was brilliant.

Governor Ikedi Ohakim spoke in superlatives. The atmosphere was truly electrifying. I was there. I was involved. All of us were. When it was time for Achebe to speak, the IKORO sounded. For a while Achebe was silent and his eyes became misty. He was rendered speechless by the love and adulation of the tumultuous crowd.

When he began to speak, he did not read a prepared speech; he thanked all those gathered, “the community” for being the Iroko that made his work possible because “THINGS FALL APART” was the peoples' story, our story, and not his story. And as he was wont to do he urged all of us, the society, to demand transparency and accountability in government and to take leadership roles in preserving the tenets of our burgeoning democracy. It was vintage Achebe at what would turn out to be his last visit to his beloved country. It is clear from reading Achebe's works or in interactions with him privately or publicly at the Achebe Colloquium series that he remained a patriot, a PanAfricanist and a humanist until the very end. Of particular relevance are his views on power and responsibility, corruption and good governance. He believed that the ultimate reason for failures of successive national governments in Nigeria; apart from unbridled corruption, is the failure of those in power to relate to the very people who legitimize their authority: the failure of the rulers to establish vital links with the poor and dispossessed of the country, “whose bruised heart throbs

painfully at the core of the nations being. “(Anthills p. 141).”

“ANTHILLS” further makes the point that those who are supposed to make plans for us, make plans only for THEMSELVES and their FAMILIES.” I need to end this write up now by referring to his epic work: “THERE WAS A COUNTRY” which to me is a thoroughly researched work that took decades to write. It is a serious effort by Achebe to let Nigerians grasp the true and full meaning of tragedy.

The Nigerian crises of 1966 was a tragedy of epic proportions which so many well known non Nigerian writers have written on. Achebe's “THERE WAS A COUNTRY” is the first researched full account by a Nigerian writer on the 1966 crises, and the Nigeria-Biafra war of 1967-1970. It is a courageous and painstaking effort that represents an “insider” account on the side of Biafra. So far it is the only authentic and well researched book that will be available to future generations on that most unfortunate period in our nations's history. It would therefore be helpful, and society and history would benefit from “insider” accounts from the side of Nigeria (non-Biafran) writers on the 1966 crises and the Nigeria-Biafra war. I rest this case.

I do not wish to conclude this discourse on Achebe, the writer, without referring to his 1986 Nigerian National Merit Award winners' lecture in Sokoto where he very eloquently dissected the major reasons for Nigeria's (and Africa's) underdevelopment and reduced the problems of arrogance of power and apathy of the society to two very simple stories.

The first story goes like this:

“One day a snake was riding the horse coiled up as was his fashion, in the saddle. As he came down the road he met the toad walking by the roadside.

“Excuse me sir” said the toad, “but that's not the way to ride a horse” “Really? Can you show me the right way then? “with pleasure, if you will be good enough to step down.”

The snake slid down the side of the horse, and the toad jumped with alacrity into the saddle, sat bolt upright and galloped most elegantly down the road. “That's how to ride a horse” he said. “very good said the snake,” Very good indeed; you may now come down”. The toad jumped down and the snake slid up the side of the horse back into the saddle and coiled himself up as before. Then he said to the toad, “knowing is good but having is better. What good does fine horsemanship do to a fellow without a horse?

This is arrogance of power par excellence a la Achebe!

The second story is about the apathy and “it is not my business” attitude of society that permits abuse of power to thrive. It goes: “Once upon a time, all the animals

ADVOCATE were summoned to a meeting. As they converged on the public square early in the morning one of them, the fowl was spotted by his neighbors going in the opposite direction. They said to him, “How is it that you are going away from the public square? Did you not hear the town-crier's summons last night?

“I did hear it” said the fowl, and I should certainly have gone for the meeting if a certain personal matter had not cropped up which I must attend to. I am truly sorry, but I hope you will make my sincere apologies to the meeting. Tell them that though absent in body, I will be there with you in spirit in all your deliberations. Needless to say that whatever you decide will receive my whole hearted support” The question before the assembled animals was what to do in the face of a new threat posed by man's frequent slaughtering of animals to placate his gods. After a stormy but surprisingly brief debate, it was decided to present to man one of their number as his regular sacrificial animal if he would leave the rest in peace. And it was agreed without a division that the fowl should be offered to man to mediate between him and his gods.

And it has been so ever since”. The fowl had paid the price for indifference.

Did Achebe the seer need say any more?

I have gone round many of Achebe's writings simply to emphasize that Achebe, the patriot, believes that power, whether political or religious (ARROW OF GOD) derives from the people and that those in power must be completely accountable to the people.

The depth of Achebe's vision (seer) is also stupendous considering that much of what he wrote of several decades ago, are still happening today. So what manner of man really was Chinua Achebe? The late Dr. Pius Okigbo again comes to our rescue as he says:

“There is this soft-spoken, quiet son of a catechist, behind whose soft exterior lies an iron soul and an iron will. A man of very strong convictions, tenaciously held because they are arrived at only after careful thought”.

This to me summarizes Nnanyi Achebe. As for me, I shall always see him in his works. I do hope that persons in leadership positions shall see the need to discuss with his family and his publishers so as to produce the COMPLETE WORKS OF CHINUA ACHEBE for the benefit of future generations.

For now, I go back to his short story “CIVIL PEACE” (Girls at War and other Short Stories (1972) and take solace in the resilient spirit of Jonathan Iwegbu and his family. “Nothing puzzles God”.

Onwero ife gbalu Chukwu ghali.

Adieu great man. Jee nke oma. It is well.

Prof. A.B.C. Nwosu Former Minister of Health Sunday 12th May, 2013

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Wednesday, June 5 - Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Continued from last edition

Damola Awoyokun : Too small to be a hercules

By Mazi Chike Chidolue

T

he following is the view of a Yoruba man, Duro Onabule, on Achebe.

“Whatever the bad feelings of his critics, Achebe's reputation, unlike his contemporaries, is that of a straightforward man.

He has never been known to be cowardly, neither does he cringe before nor collaborate with local or international establishment. .Achebe's character is definite as he does not charade in the day only to be settled at night…….Even if Awolowo was not in the position to effect his belief in starvation as a weapon of war, the fact remains that he (Awolowo) publicly took that position and was widely reported in the media in Nigeria and abroad….Is Chinua Achebe fair to Awolowo in his criticisms?

The appropriate preceding question is : was Awolowo fair to himself when he publicly upheld starvation as a legitimate weapon of war, more so during a civil war in which the outside world was disgusted with television visuals of thousands of starving malnourished innocent children? Achebe's critics on his latest book, especially Yoruba, should objectively read “AW O”, O b a f e m i Aw o l o w o ' s autobiography, in which throughout , there is not a single sentence complimentary to Nnamdi Azikiwe, portrayed as an ethnic jingoist….Yet, Awolowo's criticism of Azikiwe were never mischievously interpreted as hatred for Igbos.

Nobody of Achebe's status and with terrible experiences of the civil war could be expected to write his recollections without justifiable criticism of starvation as a weapon throughout the war. His critics just have to be realistic rather than being emotional.”

Damola Awoyokun and Odia Ofeimun would want Achebe's THERE WAS A COUNTRY: A PERSONAL HISTORY OF BIAFRA not only banned but all existing copies of the book burnt. Damola said ”Instead of writing the book as a writer who is Igbo, Achebe wrote the book as an Igbo writer ( I do not see any difference here except that an Igbo writer is one who writes in Igbo language.) …All the places that should alarm the moral consciousness of any writer, Achebe is either indifferent or dismisses them outright because the victims are not his people.

But in every encounter that shows the Igbo being killed or resented by Nigerians, or by the Yoruba in particular, Achebe intensifies the spotlight, deploying stratospheric rhetoric…Furthermore, not only does he take pride in

ignoring the findings of common sense, he allocates primetime attention to fact free rants just because they say his people are the most superior tribe in Nigeria. The book, to say the least, is a masterpiece of propaganda and sycophancy. It is not a writer's business to be an accomplice to lies.” Damola is guilty of the same charge for where Biafra or Igbos are the victims, he ignored it totally, as in this case where the American secret files say that “Mohammed the Second Division Commander was reported to have criticized Obasanjo thus: “We told you not to end the war the way you did so as to sort things out, you went on gaddamgaddam and finished it.” Damola ignored the fact that what Murtala Mohammed meant was that Obasanjo did not give him time to apply the FINAL SOLUTION TO THE IGBO PROBLEM! That is, to give him time to wipe out the Igbos from the surface of the earth Next, I do not think that Damola Awoyokun has the competence, experience or stature to grade Achebe's literary work.

Odia Ofeimun said” I believe he (Achebe)got it very wrong in that book and therefore, since I believe that we must allow generations coming after us to live by the spacious and opportunistic views that our fathers had, we must contest all the lies, we must ensure that their wrong views of the way the world works get corrected…...

Achebe says that Igbo people are individualistic and that was what helped them to acquire western education, catch up with the Yoruba and then took over all the jobs.

It is a very wrong description of what actually happened. What happened is that before independence, the NPC and the NCNC reached an agreement to run Nigeria together. Nnamdi Azikiwe refused to form a coalition with the AG because the Yoruba were educated and would be competing with the Igbo people for the jobs. Therefore they wanted a coalition.( with the NPC.) Because that coalition was a very conservative one, they wanted to go with the Hausa Fulani, who did not have enough people to take over the jobs that the Europeans were exiting from nor did they have any to deal with the new jobs that would be created by independence. So, the Yoruba leader was jailed and the Yoruba who could have looked for jobs were shunted aside. So, the NCNC, though they have a strong following in the Western Region, arranged for the jobs to be taken over by their primary constitutuencies. That was it.

The above statement constrains

me to define a lie and an incorrect statement. One tells a lie when one knows the truth but proceeds deliberately to tell the opposite. An incorrect statement is one that is generally limited by inappropriate or incomplete knowledge. It is not a deliberate act. Ofeimun has deliberately told a bundle of lies. What Achebe said was “ The Igbo culture being receptive to change, individualistic and highly competitive, gave the Igbo man an unquestioned advantage over his compatriots in securing credentials for advancement in Nigerian colonial society. Unlike the Hausa/Fulani he was unhindered by a wary religion a n d u n l i k e t h e Yo r u b a unhampered by traditional hierarchies.

This kind of creature, fearing no God or man, was custom made to grasp the opportunities; such as they were, of the white man's dispensation.

And the Igbo did so with both hands. Although the Yoruba had a huge historical and geographical head start, the Igbo wiped out their handicap in one fantastic burst of energy in the twenty years between 1930 and 1950….

The rise of the Igbo in Nigerian affairs was due to the self confidence engendered by their open society and their belief that one man is as good as another, that no condition is permanent. It was not due, as non Igbo observers imagined, to tribal mutual aid societies. The “Town Union” phenomenon, which has often been written about, was in reality an extension of the Igbo individualistic ethic.” Achebe never said that” the Igbo took over all the jobs.”

Zik decided never to ally with Awolowo after the carpet crossing incident of 1951 in the Western House of Assembly at Ibadan, which prevented the NCNC from forming the government in spite of the fact that the NCNC was declared the winner of that election or as Achebe would put it “Chief Awolowo 'stole ' the Government f ro m h i m ( Z I K ) i n b ro a d daylight.” Job opportunity or who would take over from the departing British was never part of the issue at all. During the colonial era and immediately after, the Igbo relied on merit and competence for advancement and securing appointments in the public service . It is worth mentioning here again, that the first Nigerian to be appointed a Federal Permanent Secretary by the British was Mr. F.C. Nwokedi an Igboman! This achievement of Mr. Nwokedi had nothing to do with the NCNC NPC COALITION. With such men as Chiefs T.O.S. Benson, Adeniran Ogunsanya, Kolawole Balogun, Adegoke Adelabu and many others of timbre and caliber it was impossible that “the Yoruba who

could have looked for jobs were shunted aside.”, because their leader was jailed! By the way, it was a Yoruba judge, Justice Sowemimo who sent Awolowo to jail. It is very surprising that Ofeimun left the stark naked facts and decided to dish out outlandish fiction and lies to the public ;just to ridicule and defame Achebe.

On the Twenty Pounds Policy, Damola, you deliberately avoided the main issue .We are saying that all the bank accounts opened in Nigeria by Igbos, but operated in Biafra, were reduced to TWENTY POUNDS no matter the size of the account! We are not complaining about the exchange value of the Biafran currency. As the victor, Nigeria was free to pay twenty pounds or nothing for the Biafran money in spite of the N O V I C T O R N O VANQUISHED bogey. Your reference to Zik's statements condemning Ojukwu, Igbos and Biafra is in bad taste and very poor logic. Zik, having abandoned Biafra and the Igbos in particular, in their darkest hour, had to make himself amenable for pardon by Nigeria! Therefore Zik's statement on Biafra, were not objective, credible or valid because of the above handicap.

Since the anti intellectual opium that has made most non Igbo Nigerians to hold Igbos responsible for the first coup, is still prevalent, I need to bring in Ademoyega again where as part of the FIVE MAJORS' prescriptions for clearing the Nigerian Augean stable, said, “Tax and trade laws would be such that it would be unnecessary for any individual to accumulate unspent money in local and foreign banks, while millions of Nigerians have little or nothing to survive on. It should be impracticable for a single man to spend two million naira to build himself a personal house, while a very large number of Nigerians in the same community dwell in hovels, and sleep in gutters and under bridges. The Government would not cater for the interest of a few people, while denying the majority of Nigerians their rights and privileges as happened with the Obasanjo Government.

That Government helped a few Nigerians to make easy millions of naira through oil distributorship, while denying the majority of Nigerians their rights to obtain loans to buy motor cars, on the selfish declaration that “it is not the intention of Government that every Tom, Dick and Harry should own a car”. Such a comment constituted a most diabolical comment on the good intentions of the January 15 revolutionaries, who removed the evil politicians with the purpose of instituting a corrective and

revolutionary military era.

“Educationally, we had agreed that there was only one answer to the mass illiteracy that troubled Nigeria in 1965, namely, mass education both formal and informal……..Moreover, the people, especially in the North, had been exploited for a long time and had become inured to suffering, blaming their man inflicted wounds on the will of Allah, whereas Allah was totally opposed to such human wickedness…”

Ademoyega went on to say, “Today, if one were to ask “when did the preparation for the revolution really begin?” the most accurate answer would be, “from 1961”, because the three of us who formed the nucleus of the revolutionary group had met in that year. Although we had not there and then planned a revolution, we had seen eye to eye and we knew that we had a common cause. It was as if the seed was sown at that time and only needed time to germinate, grow and bear fruit” Damola, was it the Igbos that synthesized this climate of patriotic spontaneous disposition to rescue Nigeria from further decay?

Ademoyega continued, “But these meetings were between Ifeajuna and me on the one hand and between Nzeogwu and me on the other….Moreover, active efforts were made to get in touch with more officers of the Army so as to ascertain their inclinations and loyalty. These contacts were made most quietly and surreptitiously. A coup d'etat is not a conventional operation of the Army. Preparations for it could not at any time be done in the open or in plain language.

Therefore when we discussed with officers, unless an officer showed serious interest, we always sounded casual and the matter was always left unspecified and inconclusive.”

The other aspect of the coup which could not have been handled by Ndigbo is illustrated here by Ademoyega. “The Battle Group Course went on without a hitch in Abeokuta until the first week of December 1965. There were twenty student officers on the Course, all Captains. I indoctrinated and orientated them towards the revolutionary thought concept. I also held personal interviews with all of them. I took the whole group on an official reconnaissance of all the strategic locations in Lagos and I taught them how important positions could be held or defended in time of war or other military actions. This was acknowledged as a very Continues on page 10

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Damola Awoyokun : Too small to be a hercules Continued from page 9 successful exercise and student officers were particularly happy that they were being introduced to the practical aspect of their defensive duties. If the coup took place before the course ended, many of the officers would have carried out any duties allotted to them without looking back, and our Lagos operation would have been as successful as the Kaduna operation came to be.”Damola, perhaps, this military exercise was also sponsored by The Igbo State Union.

Before the coup, the whole country was in distress; but the West was the most distressed, with the widespread riot, killings and their leader, Awolowo, in prison.

The West was therefore, the tribe in greatest need for a coup to change the Federal Government, and restore their liberty, not the Igbos.

It has become necessary to ask, why has the North always succeeded in first, allying with the East(Azikiwe) to deal with the West and finally with the West(Awolowo) to destroy the East (Igbos)? Zik returned from America with the noble ambition to found a 'BIG' One Nigeria, which was not a bad idea. But the foundation for that size of Nigeria was lacking. The summary of the feasibility report on the One Nigeria Project said NOT FEASIBLE, NOT VIABLE AND NOT PROFITABLE! Awolowo saw this and wisely decided to concentrate his efforts in working for the Yorubas .Similarly, Sardauna, in answer to a question by a journalist, said, “I am first and foremost a moslem, secondly a Northerner, I am yet to be a Nigerian!” Why Zik could not come to the same conclusion as Awolowo and Sardauna remains a puzzle. My great and near fanatical admiration for Awolowo has been based on this self evident fact that Awolowo served and sacrificed everything he had for his Yoruba people .The Igbos were not that lucky with Z i k . A f t e r t h e Aw o l o w o constitutionally insinuated carpet crossing of 1951 in the Western House of Assembly, at Ibadan, ZIK decided not to ever have anything to do with Awolowo in politics, which was a most imprudent decision. For it is said that in politics, there is no p e r m a n e n t e n e m y, o n l y permanent interests!

Also, Chairman Mao Tse Tung said “There is a time to ally with the enemy, but more important is to know when to break with the enemy! It is true that the Federal Government of NPC and Zik's NCNC sent Awolowo to jail, for which he was entitled to be bitter, it is also equally true that the Igbo led NCNC under Dr. M.I. Okpara formed the United Progressive Grand Alliance UPGA, with the Adegbenro led Action Group and

other progressives, to oppose the Nigerian National Alliance NNA. Arising from this alliance , Dr M.I. Okpara(M.I. POWER) informed Akintola that he would be visiting Ibadan. Akintola told him not to come, that he would not be in . Okpara said he would at least sign the Visitors Book in his absence. Okpara visited Ibadan as a show of solidarity to Adegbenro and the Yorubas. Okpara and his team were treated to a very rousing and enthusiastic reception by the students of Ibadan University, which was chaired by Prof. Hezekiah Oluwasanmi. I was an undergraduate at Ibadan University then. During the last election to the Western House of Assembly before the coup,

Okpara on behalf of the Igbos, sent Mazi Ukonu of Eastern Nigerian Broadcasting Service to Ibadan, as a continued show of solidarity with the Yorubas, where he stayed at Awolowo's house at Oke Ado to announce the correct version of the election results. All these should not have been lost on Awolowo when he decided to support Gowon to crush the Igbos during the war, more especially with his inhuman strategy of 'STARVATION IS A LEGITIMATE WEAPON OF WAR!' As regards the fate of the soldiers and politicians arrested in Lagos, the failure of the coup there, threw the revolutionaries into a quandary. Probably, in the ensuing

confusion and tension, the arrested politicians and soldiers became a heavy load and were unfortunately shot.

Your recourse to 21,000 pages of American secret files was most unnecessary when you could have benefitted immensely from Major Adewale Ademoyega's 194 pages book, WHY WE STRUCK .

While you relied entirely on the American secret files which are not only a reported speech, but one doctored to suit some entrenched partisan interest, my own account is based solely on what came out of the horse's mouth.

Damola, I had expected the same logic and reasoning you displayed in your masterpiece of

ADVOCATE an article EINSTEIN AND THE EXPRESSWAY CHURCHES to be once more evident.

By confronting Emeritus Professor Chinua Achebe, Ndigbo and Biafra the way you did , you failed to meet the mark of adequate intellectual depth and strength and exposed your smallness in grappling with such a LABOUR OF HERCULES. MAZI CHIKE CHIDOLUE B. Sc. Hons. Physics. University of Biafra (1967) Former Officer, 12 Commando Brigade Biafra Army.

Tel:07032361122; e mail cchidolue@gmail.com April 15, 2013. .

INTERVIEW

We'll move Nigeria from darkness to light Vanguard of people's Revolutionary struggle (VPRS) says it will move Nigeria from darkness to light, eliminate corruption and actualize the country's potentials as a great nation. fraudulent election.

The rot in every sector is irredeemable and only revolutionary changes remain the panacea. This we discussed.

What is your take on the APC merger in the making?

We are watching with interest

How do you see politics?

Nigeria is now doomed to imminent collapse. Corruption is the killer. In their quest for selfish gains, greedy politicians looting the treasury are tearing the people apart even when the people want to be together and co-exist peacefully. Nigeria's greatness through unity in diversity as projected by the founding fathers has been sapped, destroyed by corruption. Whatever the situation, the people in whom sovereignty resides should be in the picture of the resolution of the issue not the disgruntled politicians out to serve their pockets to the detriment of people.

This is clarion call in the struggle for socio-economic progress. All hands must be on deck! We are looking forward to possible relations with fraternal organizations in all parts of eh country and overseas.

P olitics s hould mean discussing issues properly, not degenerating to immoral levels and sordid fabrications to score cheap point. Nigeria since Independence more than 52 years ago should have much to offer in terms of competence and ability, not mediocrity, What would you say about p a l p a b l e i g n o r a n c e a n d Boko Haram?

Boko Haram is a by-product of decadence. corruption and bad governance.

How would you describe

y o u r o r g a n i s a t i o n ' s How do you view the state pardon granted the former experience so far?

The VPRS is people-driven Governor of Bayelsa State, and fully committed to the Diepreye Alamieyeigha by security and wellbeing of the Jonathan Administration?

E.N.C. Mekowulu

A

ccording to the VPRS National Chairman, Chief E.N.C. Mekowulu, “Nigeria is now doomed to imminent collapse.

Corruption is the killer.

“Nigeria's greatness through unity in diversity as projected by the founding fathers has been sapped, destroyed by corruption”.

He was addressing newsmen after the organization's

conference just held in Abuja.

Following are the excerpts: Y ou have just held a

conference in Abuja. What did you discuss?

people.

Our nation-wide spread represent the patriotic and p r o g r e s s i v e f a r c e s . We revolutionaries are fighting for social justice and the elimination of the corruption that has totally crippled Nigeria and subjected the people to poverty in the midst of plenty.

Our experience has shown that Docility is no longer the language of the oppressed and exploited people.

In exercise of the fundamental rights enshrined in the constitution, VPRS emerged years back with the startling facts that Nigeria should have moved towards the frontline nations of the world but for corruption, mass deceit and The state of the nation?

It is a reckless abuse of office, a most unpatriotic act. It's no wonder the administration merely pays lip service to anticorruption crusade.

That Alamieyeseigha as a Nigerian governor on trial was reported chained in Britain then owing to the circumstances of his case should not have been treated otherwise on the basis of Nigeria's sovereignty in Europe where in the past their King was beheaded.

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How APGA crisis can be resolved – Okonkwo, Offia-di-ulu ¡Says Nigeria needs time to nurture democracy Chief Joseph Okonkwo, the Offia-di-ulu III of Enugwu- Ukwu is the founding Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Anambra State. He was actively involved in the first republic politics and has continued to play a major role in PDP. Recently, he was appointed as Adviser to the PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Bamaga Tukur. In this interview, the PDP stalwart reviewed the 14 years of democracy in Nigeria, the forthcoming governorship contest in his home-state, Anambra and the face-off between Governor Peter Obi and the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, National Chairman, Chief Victor Umeh. Excerpts

By Ted Peters

entire problem which Jonathan has been struggling to see how far he can resolve it. But the main problem we are appealing to the President to see how he can solve is the problem of corruption, particularly in governance and outside government.

Today May 29 is Democracy day in Nigeria, the last 14 years we have witness democracy what is your assessment, have we made progress?

So far the worst democratic government is far better than the best military government, in the military days we were ruled by fiat but now we are ruled by legislation.

Our democracy is still very young because after having gone through a lot of military interregnums, this is the only time our democracy has lasted as long as 14years without being aborted. In the past they were aborted in less than two years, three years, and four years none have ever lasted for more than five years. But now we stayed for 14 years of democracy and I pray that there will be no more interregnums by the military so we can have progress. So am happy about the development so far hoping that in future that more things will happen. If you allow democracy to be nurtured, with trials and errors we will be able to have a breakthrough one way or the other.

Are you concerned that apart from the civil war the only time Nigeria has witnessed the loss of lives in this magnitude we are witnessing now is under the Jonathan administration?

doing his own side up to Onitsha, Ogidi and Nkpor. From here to PortHarcourt you can now access your way, it didn't happen in the past during Obasanjo, it was during Jonathan that we are having all these improvement so we are making progress but what we need is time to nature the democracy.

So you think apart from the fact that worst democracy is better than the best military era, you think we have not In these 14 years, your party really achieved anything in PDP has held sway and people this 14 years of unbroken feel we are slow as we are not civilian rule? where we suppose to be and We have achieved more in terms of power during this Jonathan's period that the party has use its because in the eight years of internal crisis to really slow Obasanjo we never had it good, development‌ there was no light anywhere in Nigeria we were living in darkness.

But today since Jonathan came to power if we want to be sincere power has improved and then most of our road networks have greatly improved. In the eight years of Obasanjo's rule we had no road from Enugu to Onitsha, we had no road from Enugu to Port-Harcourt but since Jonathan came to power and brought this new Minister of Works and this new FERMA set up, they now took over the jobs of contractors particularly in the maintenance of these roads, a lot of things have gone right. Enugu Onitsha road has been maintained even up to Onitsha end. The old Onitsha road starting from Enugu, the Enugu axis has been completely reconstructed by Governor Chime and then Governor Peter Obi is also

I agree with you, the party was just recently recovered from Obasanjo.

Obasanjo who took over, you see as a founding chairman of PDP this is not what we expected to see when we are founding the party, but unfortunately after this party was founded Obasanjo came out of prison and was foisted on us in the party and he virtually turned away and drove away the entire founders of this party starting from Bananga Tukur to Alex Ekwueme to myself and eventually all of us and brought in new people who didn't know much about what we did and those who actually worked with Abacha now came back to power and this was what has brought the party to these problems.

It is now that under Jonathan that we were able to organize a free and fair contest where people like Bamanga Tukur emerged and with the

emerges of Bamanga Tukur who now brought in the old leadership, people who understand what democracy is all about that we are now seeing a new PDP and I know that if we give him more time to nurture this party, the party will improve, what is required is time.

You pointed out the area of achievement of Jonathan administration in the area of power and infrastructure. But one problem of this administration is the issue of insecurity, Boko Haram and the kidnapping everywhere?

The problem of Boko Haram and insecurity cannot be blamed on Jonathan. In most Igbo communities when there is insecurity in a place, you need the commitment of the indigenes of those areas to meet those problems because they live with those people and they are their children, they should be able to tell the security agents who and who are causing problems in those areas and things will be taken care of. There is no way Jonathan can know exactly what is happening in Sokoto or what is happening in Maiduguri or what is happening in Yola or what is happening in Yobe or Adamawa. We need the individuals and the local leaders in those areas to sort those security problems. And then you see the problems that were created by closure factories which made people became unemployed caused this

It is not only under Jonathan's administration; mind you Rewanu did not die in the hands of Jonathan, Abiola and family never died in the hands of Jonathan. You forget about Sargent Rogers, you forget about all those murderers who were killing people with impunity even when the military was here, you forget about how your fellow journalist Dele Giwa died of letter bomb, these were not during Jonathan. This has been very on going, it never started with Jonathan, Dele Giwa was not killed

by Jonathan, Dele Giwa was killed during the military regime. Rewanu, Abiola's wife, Kudirat and a host of others, people who are still missing including your colleagues. There was this man who was captured in Kaduna and was assassinated I have forgotten his name, he was a journalist. But today we understand what is happening, it started with the Niger Delta when people said they were fighting for self emancipation.

There were looking for their rights, they own oil and you don't even blame those people from Niger Delta because they own the oil and most of the oil wells do not belong to them, they were not even give permission to participate in what is their birth right and their areas were polluted so they were fighting for self defense.

From what you have said, what is the way out of these lock jam, is the situation we have come to live with and the President doesn't seem to have solution to it and as a statesman what is the way out of this situation?

It is not true that the President doesn't have solution to this lock jam, it is not true. This quagmire we found ourselves in needs the input of everybody, including yourself. I give you an example of my local community, we had some people who were tagged kidnappers and

criminals in my area and they were participating in robberies but they were living within our communities.

As a community leader when I got that information I arranged a team and we went to their various parents and we told those parents to ensure that their children vacate our town.

If they want to do all those nefarious activities it has to be done outside our community and we even issued a threat that if they are adamant and stayed we were going to burn their father's houses and get them lynched and they all left. Most of them went to Asaba to relocate and by now we got information that most of them have been killed in one robbery or kidnap incident or the other. But they left our place, if every community does like that then this people can be chased out. The Boko Haram people live among people but the local indigenes who know them and who are their relatives conceal them and fail to report them to the authorities. Even if you send a solider to go to a place to capture a Boko Haram suspect there is no way he can do much except with the cooperation of the local indigenes, I think it is what is lacking in the North and how can you blame President Jonathan, it does not make sense.

Your party is today under serious threat from the emerging APC are you worried over the development?

Am not worried, I don't blink an eye because from history available to me and as an experienced politician, I know that mergers have never worked in the past and that strange bird fellows can never come together and become one. Bola Tinubu spent eight years as governor of Lagos state he has nothing to show for it. The developments that are taking place in Lagos state is taking place under the administration of Fashola Babatunde, nothing happened during Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, nothing happened, he didn't do anything, he didn't improve on anything and nothing happened then what is he talking about? Buhari who over threw a democratically elected government cannot come today to say that he is a democrat. If he had allowed Shagari and Ekwueme to continue then as they were, Ekwueme would have finished his eight years tenure and the process would have continued and we would have gotten sanity a long time ago but he came and aborted the whole democracy. How can he now turn back to say that he is a democrat, who would accept that?

I personally have even confronted him on that, so these are the main issues not aggrieved politicians coming together saying that they want to form APC and over throw PDP. But PDP all the same still need to put its house in order, this is my contention.

Just two days ago, this same issue of the merger was tested and it gave PDP a very bitter pill, which is in the Governors Forum election?

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‘Umeh was not my driver’ some few months left and we hope other people will join them but the votes will actually count. Nobody today can stay in his living room or comfort of his house and write results and send to anybody, Iwu days are gone. Jega has a name to protect and he won't like to soil his hands.

No, no, no. It is not true, the story that was sold to the people by the western press controlled by the so called ACN Governors, it is not fact on the ground. It's not factual, it is a fiction because the ACN has the monopoly of the Western press in Lagos, that thing you read in the pages of newspapers was not exactly what happened.

Has the PDP your party the capacity to route the ruling party in the election?

Then what happened because I know you too did not attend the meeting?

From the information available to me from most of our governors, PDP Governors abinitio before the meeting held their meeting and then endorsed one of theirs. It was the treachery of Amechi because he has been living under treachery and perfidy. That was how he betrayed his boss Peter Odili who brought him into limelight, made him a member of House of Assembly, made him Speaker of the House of Assembly and eventually ensured that he became governor. The same man now because Obasanjo nominated him to run on the same ticket with Sule Lamido and as an opportunist he now fell for that and wants to betray his brother, so what was done was not done in good faith, it was not done in bad faith. If you look at the signatures signed by the PDP governors and their allies Peter Obi, Mimiko and others they were more in number.

From video recording of that election which has circulated round the world, Delta state governor was the agent of Jona Jang in that election, vote were cast, counted and all of them were there and all of a sudden you are‌

If we put our house in order, we have the number and if politics is a game of number. Most of the people whom you see today in APGA including the National Chairman of APGA were PDP people but they were disgruntled with the way things were going and they left so if we put our house in order and allow sanity to prevail and we bring back sanity to the party, people will come back.

That are the efforts we are making in this reconciliation. behind them, who ever emerges becomes the candidate. For the record Jonathan has not said that he is a soul candidate of PDP, but he is the leader of the PDP today.

Your state, Anambra is going to face governorship election maybe by this year November, December or January next year and a lot of interest are going on, the ruling party there, APGA is in crisis, ytour own party in that your state is in disarray. What exactly is going to happen, what are we expecting actually to happen?

If you read the papers yesterday what our national chairman Bamanga Tukur was talking about in the Vanguard or one of these national papers that said that the party is making drastic effort to ensure that sanity and peace returns to the party.

So we are going ahead to see that we are reconciled and once we finish the process of reconciliation, the PDP will reunite and then as a very big family we would be able to forge ahead, but the reconciliation is on going and will soon come to fruition.

We all agreed and said here before me that we are not party to what happened and the press had no access to what happened. Whatever you are hearing is hear say, what I now saw that I believe in was the hand written signatories of governors which is there and nobody has disputed the signatures to say that they were forged and the were more in number, there was no way any other number Lets talk about APGA now that has been in power in can defeat that number.

You said Amechi is committing treachery that he is trying to betray Jonathan, does it mean that he has no right of aspiration?

Amechi, if he wants to aspire will wait for PDP convention. We have a leader, you have to respect your leader and queue behind your leader.

In every set up there is a hierarchy, Jonathan today is the leader of the PDP in Nigeria, the jury, if you don't like him and you don't want to fall in line with his leadership, you resign from the party and join another party, you cannot be in his party and be a black leg, this is the point am making.

So in the same manner, no Igbo man should aspire to be President of Nigeria?

If you want to be president, go and tie up your belt and wait until we get to the convention, where we can now, people will declare their interest, buy forms and their supporters queue

ADVOCATE

Anambra, we know that APGA is now threatened by the crisis between the National Chairman of the party Sir Victor Umeh who happens to be a close associate of yours and Governor Peter Obi. So how do you feel about the problems between these two people?

I feel bad, I feel very, very bad and sad. I feel very saddened by these problems between Peter Obi and Victor Umeh. I read in the papers yesterday written by one special adviser or assistance to the Governor Obi on press matters that Victor Umeh used to be my driver and PA. For the records, Victor Umeh was never my driver or PA. He was special assistant to me for many years and we work harmoniously together and up till tomorrow he remains a friend to me not even a boy because he has over grown to be a boy, he is now a friend of mine. Peter

Obi as well is equally a friend of mine, I met him when he was a youth corper and today he has grown to be a man and our Governor and we would respect him and adore him and he worked closely with Victor to grow this APGA. I have also intervened personally in this their problem and advised that since Peter Obi was also a creation of the same convention that brought Victor Umeh to power, that they should allow each other to prevail.

In Ondo state, Dan Nwanyanwu is working with Mimiko and he will remain there for eight years to round up with Miniko, he's been chairman of the party for the past six years and nobody is complaining. Why should Victor Umeh's own be different, allow him to run out his tenure and the same Victor Umeh did extremely well in the second emergence of Peter Obi for second term. He worked assiduously throughout and too hard for party. I had to go in just as an intervener. I went to Government House Awka, called Peter and said don't border yourself talking about putting a successor, it cannot work, it has never worked any where, people who tried to put a successor were today full of regrets.

Finish your tenure history and posterity will judge you, we can't even judge you. Whatever you are doing will be left for posterity and history to judge you not we, so don't border yourself putting a successor for us, you cant do it even if you want to attempt, its not possible. Anambra is developed and so civilized for one man to say he wants to put a successor, we wouldn't allow it, we will stop him. This time around like what happened in Edo state for Adams Oshiomhole to emerge, the votes counted, in Ondo state, the vote counted. Today I understand from what I heard from the INEC that the guidelines would be out in June, a couple of days from now, if these guidelines are out for the election, we will all go back to Anambra and ensure that we enlighten our people telling them the importance of votes.

Nobody is going to sell his vote; the votes are going to count. At the end of the day the votes will count and who ever campaigns will win. Today, only very few people are making impacts in the field but we still have

What is the best way to reconcile APGA crisis?

Well I wouldn't even like APGA crisis to be resolved because if it continues it will put us at advantage.

But the truth has to be told that Victor Umeh was never my driver or my PA, he was an SA to me and he matured and all he learnt from me politically he put into practice and he is doing very well with it. As a political guru who has trained a lot of people politically, he is one of my products and I am happy with him that he is doing very, very well. He has been able to install two Governors, whether you like it or not, he was instrumental to the installation of Mr. Peter Obi as Governor of Anambra State and Chief Rochas Okorocha as Governor Imo State. This is a fact of history, you can't take it away from him and these are things he learnt from me and I am happy about it, I am highly impressed. He comes here to pay me homage, that was why when I saw this house leaking I went to Obi and say don't allow this to happen, call Nwobualor to order.

You think Nwobu-Alor was the problem?

Nwobu-Alor was abinitio the person who started this trouble.

Do you think he has any personal issue to settle with Umeh?

Yes, but it is not an issue I will discuss here, but I know there are some personal scores.

Back to you party, what in concrete terms do you think could be done to put PDP Anambra in order?

Bamanga Turkur our national chairman, having brought in people to advise him and does not go to Ota to take directives, using his political dexterity and his years of experience will be able to articulate things that will make us get this house back on track it is just a question of time and I am sure in the next couple of weeks or one month we will be able to get this house in order.

But I want to assure you that no one man can be in control of that party anymore as it was in the past, as they say they go to Uga, that Obasanjo has given them mandate, it will not happen again. The votes will count,

membership will count and politics will come back to a game of number.

How can the issue of factions be stopped in Anambra?

Most of you are living witness of how PDP was formed; Major General A.B Manman made a prophecy which up till today has continued to be very relevant in Anambra State. He said if you kill justice and impose injustice, Anambra PDP will erupt in flames and if that happens, that it will take a lot of time for it to be brought back to normal. Ever since then, Anambra PDP has never been the same up till today, after about 14 years. We have not leant from history; this was the prediction of Gen. A.B Maman and his group in writing. The man who won election then was Prof. A.B.C. Nwosu, but just because of some personal reason, he was dropped and Mbadinuju was imposed on Anambra people. Today Mbadinuju is full of regret for ever being a Governor, have you heard about Mbadinuju anymore, but we are still here, even Prof. A.B.C Nwosu is still here.

For the record can you tell us who you are?

My name is Chief Joseph Anene Okonkwo (mfr) I started my political career in 1976 with then Waziri Ibrahim when we formed the National Unity Council which metamorphosed into NPP in those days. But because of leadership problem which made us to have a split, Waziri went to GNPP while we remain the authentic NPP with Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Jim Nwobodo and the rest of others like B.C Okwu, Mbazuluike Amaechi and some other people.

We then formed the government in the old Anambra consisting of Enugu, Ebonyi and this present Anambra and I happened to be the Deputy Chairman of that party then, the NPP in the old Anambra until the emergency of Buhari in 1983 December cum January 1984, who threw us into detention for no just cause and I ended up staying 19 months in prison. After that I went back into my contract business and continued with my personal life. For the records, I never participated in the Abacha contraption.

It was when Abdulsalam made a serious offer to go after few months and lifted ban on politics that we now came back and formed the PDP from G34. I and Dr. Alex Ekwueme were instrumental to the formation of the party in the whole Igbo states and I emerged as the founding chairman of the PDP in Anambra state where we eventually turned Anambra state into a one party state.

It was after the injustice that was meted to Prof. ABC Nwosu and the dissolution of my executive by Obasanjo who abinitio was not a member of this party, he was brought out from prison, that made us had a wasted eight years in democracy, that is by the way but history will record him and judge him right or wrong, either way. So ever since then, we have been leaders of the party members of one reconciliatory body or the other. And today, I happened to be one of the political advisers to the National Chairman of the party.

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My dream is education for all – Henry Okenwa Henry Ikechukwu Okenwa, Philanthropist, Businessman, Politician, Social commentator and Executive Director Henrich Education Development Initiative blames the social vices in the country to lack of education of the citizens adding that he created Henrich Education Development Initiative; a scholarship foundation to contribute his quota in fulfillment of his social responsibility to the society that nurtured and brought him to limelight. In this interview with THE ADVOCATE, the ICT professional noted that Education is synonymous with development. education. So many people

By Rex Arum

Personality I am Henry Ikechukwu Okenwa, a native of Agbani in Nkanu West Local government area of Enugu state; a businessman, Information and Communication Technology, I C T, p r o f e s s i o n a l a n d a n entrepreneur. I am also the Director of Henrich Global Concept Ltd, an ICT Company that is located in Enugu.

Your vision Education is the bedrock of development. Consequently I believe that the problem in our society will be taken care of through mass education of our citizens. I am a believer in the supreme law of love. I love the people; it is my dream to make my widow's-might contribution to anything that will bring development to mankind and to the society; infact, anything that will transform the society positively, that is what I live for and that is what I represent.

Yo u r E d u c a t i o n foundation: By the grace of God I run an initiative called Henrich Education Development Initiative. The programme is about a foundation that set up to make sure that education is brought back to our people. We know that our society is educationally disadvantaged, there are lots of people out there who are intelligent but don't have means to go to school. We have been experiencing social vices in the society owing to lack of literacy among the people; for instance the menace of Boko Haram and other social vices are connected to people who never had an opportunity of going through the four walls of school; by that I mean formal education and as a result they are not informed. The effect is that this group becomes vulnerable to indulge in various social ills. That is why the hoodlums in the society capture them and give them bad orientation and that is why they are troubling the society today. In almost every community or to say the least, no community is safe anymore, everybody is being troubled by teenagers, young people who indulge themselves in social vices; rape, stealing, drug abuse are not left out in the context and a whole lot of problems that they persistently give to us. That is why Henrich Education Development Initiative sat down to discover these problems of our society and we said that all these problems, there is no way they can solve themselves unless somebody get up to do something. After a

Henry Ikechukwu Okenwa, critical survey of the problem we Beneficiaries from the thought about what to do and how programme.

to go about it. This critical situation inspired our decision to setup a foundation that will among many other responsibilities, advocate that people should go back to school, woo parents to talk to their children about the importance of education; how it can help them, help the society and help the nation in general. That is why we have gone into it to see what we can achieve no matter how little; we believe it is going to make a great impact. We have started paying school fees of some people; we have been paying within the last three years, WAEC fees for some indigent students as well. A good number of them running in hundreds; we are printing excise books, we have printed over ten thousand of it that have been shared to primary school pupils and some secondary school students as well as embarking on public enlightenment progammes to tell them that there is no substitute to education. If you want to transform any society, education is an inevitable tool you can use to do that and that is why we have setup this foundation and we believe, as we have started in a little way, in the saying that stated, “you should not despise the little beginning, though your beginning may be little but your later days will be greater increased.” We have started it in a small way; we know by tomorrow it is going to be a big venture.

This is a venture we have started and this is the third year that we are running it; at first we printed about three thousand copies of excise books we shared; the second year we printed five thousand and this year again we printed about two thousand. In the scholarship aspect of it; already we have about thirtyfive people we are paying their school fees both in the secondary school and in university level. Then we have already on ground forty people that have benefited from the WAEC grants that we are offering to schools especially from our local community Nkanu West because they say charity begins at home.

The WAEC grant is payment of the Senior School Certificate Examination fees for final year students in secondary schools in the area.

Procedure for selecting the scholarship beneficiaries.

We are targeting specifically those students that are in schools who are intelligent but perhaps their parents do not have the means to support them to carry on. So when we come to school we organise exam, anybody that appears to be the best st nd rd in that school like the 1 , 2 and 3 , we select those three persons from that school and we move on to another school. We do the same until we get the number of people our fund can carry for that year. But remember we give priority

consideration to indigent students especially the male students in our How we ascertain students who local communities, they don't cannot afford school fees or believe that education can do indigent students. anything in their lives anymore.

When we come to any school first They are now in the habit of we usually have meeting with the comparing themselves with people principal especially the secondary who made it, not haven gone to category; when we ask one or two school; those who didn't go to questions, they are the people that school and they have made it. Some are in touch with those students, will say it is better that nobody go to they know their students by their school instead of going to while names and by their performances, away their time in school, other some of them will tell us that this ones believe that it is better they use person or the other who is at home their time in something else's and is an intelligent student but because make money. The society is money the parents do not have money or driven and our young generations the means to pay for their WAEC are being destroyed by this fees such student was unable to take mentality. They don't like to go to such examination. We usually ask school and it is a very big challenge them to invite such person/s and getting them convinced that there is after a little interaction, of course if no substitute to education in terms you see somebody who is feeding of societal developments. from hands to mouth you will The second challenge is that when know, you don't need a soothsayer you go to some of our schools to tell you that the person actually especially the secondary schools, need your help. So we have well honestly the condition of our rational ways to determine who schools are in complete disarray. benefits from these grants we are Many of them are moribund or alternatively not in very good offering to them. shape. When you go there you will Funding.

Well as a matter of fact like I told ask yourself do students come to you earlier that we started small and this school, but the truth is that we know we will get somewhere students do come there and learn some day. Henrich Education under dilapidated infrastructure.

Development Initiative have been Thanks to Governor Chime who bearing the burden alone and the has given maximum attention to burden is so onerous for one person Education in Enugu state because to bear but the truth is that we have in some other places some of them taken the initiative, the records are learn under the thatched roofs, there and people are seeing it, We some don't even have good shelter know we have well meaning and at the end there is nothing to Nigerians and of course in our local show for it due to poor condition of government Nkanu West, who will learning. At the end of the day when see what we are doing and it will they take WAEC in such condition aggravate their interest towards that you see their result is nothing to and over a period now we have write home about, that is the been talking to people, it is not only problem because they are not Henrich that have embarked on this properly taught. So government kind of venture, there are other can come in the area of provision of people but at a point I know we are infrastructure like building and going to meet ourselves somewhere rehabilitation of the existing and together we will put heads structures and also providing together as the saying goes materials that can enhance 'together we stand but divided we learning. Fortunately, Enugu State fall'. I am going to engage some of is experiencing a total overhaul in us in discussions so that we will the school system and just recently harmonise and see how best we can Governor Sullivan Chime donated maximise everything for the greater a bus to each secondary school in good of the people, because it is Enugu and I know he is still going said through a popular maxim, “the to do other things to improve our more the merrier.” I therefore call schools. on well-meaning individuals come There are so many challenges you on board and join hands to help our can think about; some will go to e d u c a t i o n s e c t o r b e c a u s e school they don't have food, they will tell you after school that they government cannot do it alone. come back to meet hunger as there Challenges: will be no food to eat. How will As a matter of fact there are lots of they sustain. In the past, some attendant problems in educational giants in the academic sector today sector; starting from the grassroots even sold firewood to see up to the tertiary institution, there themselves through education but are problems everywhere; the today such things are no longer interest of the people. Our students there because the urge or desire for have perverted mentality; their formal education has dwindled orientation is bad in the area of over the years.

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eneral Murtala Ramat M u h a m m e d (November 8, 1938February 13, 1976) was a military ruler (Head of the Federal Military Government) of Nigeria from 1975 until his assassination in 1976. He is widely recognized as a national hero of the Nigerian Nation.

Role during 1960s coups Muhammed opposed the regime of Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi which took power after a coup d'etat on January 15, 1966 carried out mainly by Christian Igbo from the south, in which several northern Nigerian leaders had been killed under gruesome circumstances. Aguiyi-Ironsi, as GOC of the Nigerian Army, brought normality back to the nation by imprisoning the coup makers and intimidating the federal cabinet into handing over the helms of government to him.

However, Many northerners saw this and the reluctance of Ironsi to prosecute the coupist and the fact that the army was purportedly giving exceptional privileges to the coupist as an indication of Ironsi's support for the killings. Consequently northern politicians and civil servants mounted pressure upon northern officers such as Muhammed to avenge the coup.

In the night of July 29, 1966, northern soldiers at Abeokuta barracks mutinied, thus precipitating a counter-coup, which may very well have been in the planning stages. The c o u n t e r- c o u p l e d t o t h e installation of LieutenantColonel Yakubu Gowon as Supreme Commander of the Nigerian Armed Forces, despite the intransigence of Muhammed who wanted the role of Supreme Commander for himself.

However, as Gowon was militarily his senior, and finding a lack of support from the British and American advisors, he caved in. Gowon rewarded him by confirming his ranking (he had been an acting Lt. Colonel till then) and his appointment (Inspector of Signals).

Nigerian civil war During the Nigerian Civil War, Muhammed was General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Nigerian Army's 2nd Division.

This division was responsible for the legendary beating back of the Biafran Army from the midwestern region, as well as crossing the River Niger and linking up with the 1st Division, which was marching down from Nsukka and Enugu. It is noted in some quarters' especially, in Asaba Delta State, that Gen. Murtala Muhammed supervised the cold blooded killings of innocent civilians when his men entered the town during the Biafran War.

Muhammed's encounter with disaster during the war happened shortly after, as he attempted to cross the River Niger to Biafra.

Despite the recommendation of his superiors at Army Headquarters in Lagos that he wait for the bridge, which had been blown up by the retreating Biafran forces, to be rebuilt, he insisted on a riverine crossing.

Twice he was beaten back, but he steadfastly kept resolve and finally made it through on his third attempt. Shortly after this, Muhammed fed up with reprimands from Army HQ, decided to quit his command and left for an extended holiday in the United Kingdom, but not before threatening to resign his commission. His historic military feats during the war won him National acclaim and respect even from his adversaries.

Role after the civil war On his return to Nigeria after the war, he was given back his old position of Army Signals Inspector and it seemed the last chapter had been written in his army career. However, with the declining popularity of the Gowon government, which had been characterized by excesses and corruption, some Army officers, acting in what they claimed to be patriotic interests, approached Brigadier Muhammed and two other wartime colleagues. It has been speculated that the real reason for the coup was the frustration on the part of wartime commanders, who felt that despite their efforts

to win Nigeria the war, their army colleagues who had remained at Army HQ, away from the frontlines, were reaping the benefits amidst an atmosphere of corruption. The coupists identified with the now popular Muhammad as the one who would lead after deposing the Gowon government.

Head of state On July 29, 1975, Brigadier (later General) Muhammed was made head of state, when General Gowon was overthrown while at an Organization of African Unity (OAU) summit in Kampala, Uganda. Brigadiers Obasanjo (later Lt.General) and Danjuma (later Lt.General) were appointed as Chief of Staff, Supreme HQ and Chief of Army Staff, respectively.In the coup d'état that brought him to power he introduced the phrases "Fellow Nigerians" and "with immediate effect" to the national lexicon. In a short time, Murtala Muhammed's policies won him broad popular support, and his decisiveness elevated him to the status of a folk hero.

One of his first acts was to scrap the 1973 census, which was weighted in favor of the north, and to revert to the 1963 count for official purposes. Murtala Muhammad removed top federal and state officials to break links with the Gowon regime and to restore public confidence in the federal government. More than 10,000 public officials and employees were dismissed without benefits, on account of

age, health, incompetence, or malpractice. The purge affected the civil service, judiciary, police and armed forces, diplomatic service, public corporations, and universities. Some officials were brought to trial on charges of corruption. He also began the demobilization of 100,000 troops from the swollen ranks of the armed forces.

Twelve of the twenty-five ministerial posts on the new Federal Executive Council went to civilians, but the cabinet was secondary to the executive Supreme Military Council.

Muhammad imposed the authority of the federal government in areas formerly reserved for the states, restricting the latitude exercised by state governments and their governors in determining and executing policy. Newly appointed military governors of the states were not given seats on the Supreme Military Council, but instead were expected to administer federal policies handed down by Muhammad through the military council. The federal government took over the operation of the country's two largest newspapers, made broadcasting a federal monopoly, and brought remaining state-run universities under federal control.

Murtala Muhammad initiated a comprehensive review of the Third National Development Plan. Singling out inflation as the greatest danger to the economy, he was determined to reduce the money supply that had been swollen by government expenditures on public works.

Muhammad also announced that his government would encourage the rapid expansion of the private sector into areas dominated by public

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corporations. He reappraised foreign policy, stressing a "Nigeria first" orientation in line with OPEC price guidelines that was to the disadvantage of other African countries. Nigeria became "neutral" rather than "nonaligned" in international affairs. The shift in orientation became apparent with respect to Angola. Nigeria had worked with the OAU to bring about a negotiated reconciliation of the warring factions in the former Portuguese colony, but late in 1975 Murtala Muhammad announced Nigeria's support for the Soviet-backed Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola, citing South Africa's armed intervention on the side of the rival National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (União Nacional para a Independência Total de Angola).

The realignment strained relations with the United States, which argued for the withdrawal of Cuban troops and Soviet advisers from Angola. In October the Nigerian Air Force took delivery of Soviet-built aircraft that had been ordered under Gowon.

Assassination Murtala Muhammed was killed along with his aide-de-camp, Lieutenant Akintunde Akinsehinwa, on February 13, 1976 in an abortive coup attempt led by Lt. Col Buka Suka Dimka, when his car was ambushed while en route to his office at Dodan Barracks, Lagos. He was succeeded by the Chief of Staff, Supreme HQ Olusegun Obasanjo, who completed his plan of an orderly transfer to civilian rule by handing power to Shehu Shagari on October 1, 1979. Today, his portrait adorns the 20 Naira Note and he stands one of the only three national heroes of the Nigerian Republic.

Murtala Muhammad International Airport in Lagos is named after him.

Car in which Murtala Muhammed was assassinated.

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COURT

Man accuses friend of stabbing him, theft

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imon Stephen, who accused his friend, Nafiu Mua'azu, of being a thief, on Tuesday, told a Gwagwalada Upper Area Court in the FCT that the friend stabbed him on the chest with a knife.

Stephen, who was led in evidence by the prosecutor, Insp. Martha Paul, told the court that he caught Mua'azu “red handed” when he broke into his father's house on March 13, to steal.

“I caught my friend, Mua'azu, at about 2.30 a.m. when he entered my father's house to steal.

“I recognised him and called his name and when he noticed that I had seen him, he used a knife to stab me on the left side of my chest.”

The witness told the court that he was later taken to the University Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada, where he spent N200,000 on treatment.

Mua'azu, a resident of Anguwan Dodo in Gwagwalada, was earlier arrested and arraigned on a fourcount charge of joint act, criminal trespass, causing grievous hurt and theft, but he denied the charges.

The prosecutor had told the court that the accused and one other n o w a t l a rg e , c r i m i n a l l y trespassed into the compound of

the complainant of the same address with intention to steal.

She said that when the accused

was caught, he stabbed the complainant with a knife on the left side of his chest, leading to

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WO young men have been remanded in Agodi Prison by an Ibadan Magistrate Court for allegedly using a magical ring to abduct and gangrape a 19-year-old secondary school girl in Ibadan.

The two suspects, according to a police source, were charged with conspiracy, rape and stealing of a Blackberry phone belonging to the victim.

The rape victim said she closed from school at Wofun Iyana Church, and was accosted by the suspects who insisted she should follow them to their residence.

But, when she refused, one of them allegedly used a magical ring to hit her on the chest and she became unconscious.

“There is a boy who was not my boy friend. He was a student in that school about two years ago.

His name is Biola. He had wanted to date me several times which I politely turned down. Just last Wednesday, when I closed from

school, Biola came to me in company of two unidentified boys and said his mum wanted to see me. “'I asked him what led to the invitation by his mum. I then told him I would not go. Then, one of the two other guys who had a ring on his hand hit me on the chest and I was unconscious. They took me to the residence of one of the two boys and raped me.

“Before raping me, they gave me alcoholic drink and after the crime had been committed, they

Dr. Paul Orhii, who commended the judiciary, disclosed that the agency had recorded about seven convictions since 2009.

Afolabi was said to have been arraigned before the court on May 12, 2011 under Section 25(1) of the NAFDAC Act, Cap 1, Law of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and punishable under section 25 (1) of same Act. He explained that on March 15, 2010, at Isale Agbara Street, Osogbo, the convict was said to

A

“She doesn't come home everyday any more; she is always going to night vigils without her children.

“I have also seen her with different men; please separate us so that she can continue her wayward life.”

The petitioner also told the court that his wife was in the habit of spending his money on her lovers.

The respondent, Adenike, 38, mother of four, denied the allegations, saying that her husband was the one involved

gave me 'covenant water' threatening me that I would die if I told anybody of the act.”

A top policeman who claimed anonymity because he was not instructed to speak, confirmed the story, saying: “On May 15 at 0815 hours, one Adekola living on Akanbi Street, Molade area of Ibadan reported that his younger sister and a secondary school student went to school and did not return home. All efforts to trace her proved abortive.

“Then about 23:00hours, an

unanimous caller called through the victim's GSM number and identified himself as kidnapper and demanded N6,000. The DCO led other policemen and the victim was rescued.”

She was unconscious and was rushed to a nearby hospital. She later narrated how she was kidnapped and gang-raped by three persons. Two arrests have been made while the third suspect is still at large. The two suspects have been charged to court.”

Same sex marriage: Reps approve 14 years imprisonment

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h e H o u s e o f Representatives, Thursday, endorsed a 14 years jail sentence with no option of fine for same sex couples just as it outlawed gay clubs and societies in the country.

The lawmakers took these

have attacked NAFDAC Assistant Director, Mrs. Yedunni Adenuga and other officials of the agency, when they found prohibited potassium bromate in his bakery.

Delivering his judgment, Justice Babs Kuewumi pronounced that Afolabi was guilty of the offence leveled against him and sentenced him to one year imprisonment with option of four thousand naira.

Husband, Wife accuse selves of infidelity in divorce suit 42-year-old civil servant, Adeshina Tabura, had told an Ikorodu Customary Court, Lagos, that his wife's lover used to visit their matrimonial home.

Tabura, a resident of Gbenga Salami, Ikorodu, while testifying in a divorce suit he filed, said his wife's lover was also always threatening him through phone calls.

“My wife once confessed to me that one man saw her in a hotel and the man had been threatening her to bring money.

Babangida Hassan, adjourned the matter to July 9 for continuation of hearing.

Two use magical ring to gang– rape 19-yr-old student

Baker jailed over bromate he Federal High Court in Osogbo, Osun State, has convicted an Osogbo bread baker, Mr. Afolabi Nurudeen, for obstructing officials of National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control, NAFDAC, in the course of performing their duties.

Meanwhile, NAFDAC has impounded counterfeit medicines valued at N59,300,000.00 in Lagos.

Director-General of the agency,

serious bleeding and hospitalisation.

The presiding judge, Alhaji

in extra marital affairs.

“Severally, I have seen my husband flirting with different women that I know. “He had married three wives after me and I never complained. He wants to marry another wife, that's why he wants me out of h i s h o u s e . ” She prayed the court to help save the marriage.

The court president, Mrs Ronke Adetola, adjourned the case till June 24, for possible reconciliation and judgment.

decisions while considering the report on a “Bill for an Act to prohibit marriage or civil union entered between persons of same sex, solemnization of same and other matters related”.

The House also placed a 10 years jail term for members of gay associations or those engaged in gay processions. The lawmakers resolved that any marriage or civil union entered into by persons of same gender is prohibited. The bill on same sex was introduced on the floor of the House last year. A public hearing on the matter was held in October, 2012.

The senate had also passed a bill prohibiting same sex union with similar jail terms for offenders.

With the consideration of the report, the bill will now wait for harmonisation with the senate's version.

Thursday's consideration of the report was presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Emeka Iheioha.

The House resolved that “marriage contract or civil union entered between persons of same gender by virtue of a certificate issued by a foreign country shall be void in Nigeria, and any benefits accruing therefrom by virtue of the certificate shall not be enforced by any court of law in Nigeria”.

It banned outright the solemnization of same sex marriage in place of worship like church, mosque, traditional places .

The Bill provides that: “Marriage or civil union entered between persons of same gender shall not be solemnised in any place of worship either in a church or Mosque or in any other

place in Nigeria”.

The House insisted that “Only marriage contract between a man and a woman either under Islamic law, Customary law and Marriage Act is recoganised as valid in Nigeria.

Same sex marriage, an absurdity The bill described same sex marriage as an absurdity that should not be allowed in the country. The House ruled that no person should be allowed to operate a gay club.

The bill further stated that “any person who registers, operates or participates in gay clubs, societies and organisations or directly or indirectly makes a public show of same sex amorous relationship commits an offence and shall each be liable on convictions to a term of 10 years imprisonment .

“Any persons or group of persons that witnesses, screens, shields and aids the solemnization of a same sex marriage contract or civil union or supports the registration of gay clubs, societies and organisations, processions or meetings in Nigeria commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a term of 10 years imprisonment”.

On the courts that will have the jurisdiction to entertain same sex marriage litigations, the bill provides that both the state and Federal Capital Territory, FCT, courts are empowered to hear cases of breach of any provision of the bill.

The bill further provides that “the High Court of a State or of the Federal Capital Territory shall have jurisdiction to entertain matters arising from the breach of the provisions of the bill.”

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The Management and Staff of The Advocate Newspapers Limited, heartily commiserate with High Chief Senator Dr, Ben Ndi Obi, Obi Nwabuncha of Umuogbu Village, Awka, Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State on the demise of his beloved wife,

Deaconess Chief Mrs. Colette Ojirhomu Ben Obi (Nee Ejumudo) who will be buried on Friday, June 7, 2013 at her residence in Awka.

May her gentle soul rest in perfect peace.

Management

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Let’s Dress with the Rain

H

ey! This is the time of the year when the heavens open for hours and every time of the day suddenly seems like the perfect time to take a nap. The rainy season is here again and so begins every commuting Nigerian worst nightmare…splash of water by a speeding car, the flooding, crowded bus-stops and endless traffic are just some of the things we loathe about the rainy season. Plus, as every self-respecting fashionista knows, the rains can really cramp a girl's style…out goes the funky hairdos and light-coloured clothes that are prone to mud stains and comes in the dark, dreary colours.

Amidst all these, you can still look sunny, stylish and protected from the cold. Rainy season fashion can definitely be sophisticated. As always, all it takes is a little preparation and coordination. So, we present to you fashion tips to take you through the rainy season.

1. Invest in a gorgeous raincoat, trench coat, cardigan and leather jacket; Feel free to experiment with the sporty, colorful, as well as more glamorous ones. I particularly love me a doublebreasted trench coat, it's so chic. You can wear it with a formal outfit or go casual by pairing it with a (turtle-neck) top and jeans.

Get flirty with scarves: rainy days can be cold so why not steal some warmth from scarves? Accessorize with a scarf; chase away the gloom and cold of a rainy day by throwing a bright coloured scarf around your neck. This will not only keep you warm but the right color and print will add to that that European uber chic look.

Get your braids on: yes I know you would rather rock your expensive weaves but let them rest a while. Much rather rock that weave which cost you a small fortune and instantly adds 10 points to your beauty. But let's face it, weaves aren't exactly the most practical option for the rains. It instantly loses its bounce when wet and before you know it, you're right back at the hairdresser's hours after you left there not exactly cost-effective. So save yourself the cost, stress and high blood pressure and embrace your inner Nubian queen with braids. This is the time to rock that beautiful, big, long braids 'cos it's easier and cheaper to maintain if it get wet. Be it Ghana weaving or loose braids. You all know you don't want the rain ruining that really expensive Brazilian, Peruvian, Indian, virgin, etc, hair. If your braids get wet, you don't need to go to the salon to fix it, all you need is a hand dryer and some hair oil and your braids is as good as new. Plus there are so many exciting way. Plus, braids can be packed in so many different exciting ways.

Show off those legs: ok not quite literarily but with the puddles of water and mud, you want to wear clothes that are as far-reaching from the ground as possible, so out comes the cropped pants, skirts and dresses. Cropped pants are very in right now so get a pair or two and lay low on the full length trousers which are more prone to mud stains because they're closer to the ground.

Let your umbrella portray your inner fashionista; don't just go for any umbrella, get a uniquely stylish one. You're a fashionista, not a drab.

However, don't forget, it should be big enough to keep you from getting wet. I don't see the point of using an umbrella so small. This way, you're not caught unawares and left to scamper like a squirrel for safety when the heavens open.

Jellies are the way to go: rubber foot wear comes in so many exciting forms these days not the back-to-school kind, but some great designs like stylish flats and latex pumps which is great because they're the best thing for the rainy season. Rubber foot wear come in so many exciting forms and colors these days, and they aren't just restricted to rubber sandals anymore, now there are flats shoes and even stylish pumps that are made of rubber. But you do not have to totally give up your designer shoes; all you need to do is to have a pair of rubber sandals/shoes in your bag for when you're stepping out of the office or the house. You can then swap them for your designer shoes when you get to your destination. So invest in sturdy jellies and save your non-rubber shoes for the dry season.

Go patent: every girl (and guy) knows that a lady's handbag can be quite the treasure chest holding any and everything you can think of. Now you don't want to have to empty that treasure chest bag to dry things out when it's been beaten by the rain.

Patent leather bags are resistant to water and easy to clean when wet. Don't compromise your style; protect those precious items by investing in some stylish patent leather bag as they are more resistant to water and just require a wipe when hit by rain as opposed to leather bags which soak in all the water.

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Human parts dealers arrested for exhuming corpses

T

he Lagos State Police Command has arrested five men for allegedly exhuming corpses and selling their parts for ritual purposes.

According to police authorities, the suspects , Jamiu Adeleke, Ajibade Rafiu, Fatai Akiwowo, Kazeem Sanni and Agboola Kolawole had at different times sold human parts in Owode, Ogun State. The Police Public Relations Officer, Lagos State Command, Ngozi Braide, said Adeleke was arrested by the police and through his confession, were able to apprehend the others.

She said, “On May 15, 2013, Adeleke was arrested by operatives of the Special AntiRobbery Squad while he was trying to sell human hands for N21,000. Upon interrogation, he confessed that he bought the parts from Sanni at the cost of N6,000.

“Police arrested Sanni and he in turn confessed that the eight hands which he sold belonged to his siblings- his two brothers and sisters. He confessed that he went to their graves and cut off their

The suspects arrested for exhuming corpses heads. He confessed that he sold the heads for N8,000 each while he sold the hands for N4,000 each. “Investigations led to the home of an herbalist, Rafiu, who is also the receiver. He uses the human parts for rituals. In his

house, police recovered fresh hands which he claimed was meant for jobs for his customers.

We also saw a bottle which he said was crushed human skull mixed in fluid. He said it was for power and he uses it to make medicine

for people.”

Braide said investigations showed that prior to his arrest, the herbalist had hired some of the suspects to help him get a living human being at the cost of N40,000. Braide added that

Father of 3 commits suicide for losing job A

father of three, who was identified as Patrick Essien, was reported to have committed suicide, in Benin after he was allegedly sacked from the transport company where he worked.

His dangling body was found in the roof of the toilet at his

residence at Imasabemwen Street, off Siluko Road.

Some co-tenants, who spoke to journalists, said the deceased had complained earlier that he had been sacked, although they could not volunteer the name of the company.

According to them, a co-tenant,

who went to the toilet to ease himself, peeped in after knocking several times without getting any response. That was when he saw a body dangling from the roof.

They said the late driver had been living at the residence for the past 14 years without any wife or children but that he told them he had a wife and three kids somewhere.

According to them, “we saw him this morning. He said he was sacked and we later found him

dead in the toilet.”

His corpse was later taken away by the police.

In a related development, a 74year-old man, Clement Omorogbe, has been jailed by an Egor Magistrate Court for raping a minor in November 2010.

Presiding Magistrate, Eboh Braimoh in her judgment, said there were increasing cases of rape and sentenced the accused to serve as deterrent to others.

Man, 25, arrested for selling son N500,000 ·I did it to raise money for Europe visa - Suspect confesses

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HE Abia State Police Command has arrested a 25-year-old man, Chisom Ihemebirim from Amuzi Obowo in Imo State, for selling his one and half years old son, Chidubem Chisom for N500,000.

The command also arrested one Abraham Ukaiwe, 27, from Asaga Ohafia in Abia State said to be Ihemebirim's accomplice in the deal to sell the boy.

Little Chidubem Chisom was said to have been sold to one Mercy Nwachinemere, 45, of Umudi Abayi in Osisioma, Abia State who has also been arrested.

According to the Police Commissioner, Mohammed Tilli Abubakar, little master Chidubem Chisom was recovered from the buyer.

Parading the suspects, Abubakar said his men moved into action

following a report by one Kasarachi John, 23, from Mbawsi in Isiala Ngwa North Council said to be the estranged wife of Ihemebirim.

Kasarachi John, according to the Police Commissioner, reported that sometime in February 2013, she had a misunderstanding with Ihemebirim, her husband which made her to leave his house.

According to her, shortly after, in March 2013, she received information that their son, Chidubem Chisom, has been sold by the father, Ihemebirim.

Speaking to journalists, Ihemebirim admitted selling the boy for N500, 000. According to him, he used the money to process documents he wanted to use to travel to Libya or Spain.

He also claimed that he used part of it to renovate his house.

CP Abubakar said that the fraction of the money was

recovered from Ukaiwe, the said accomplice.

The command has also arrested a female suspect, Kate Agharanya 41, for conspiring with one and Onyinyechi Nwogu still at large to sell a baby boy for N200, 000.

The matter the police commissioner said was reported by the mother of the baby, one Victoria Nwachukwu, 20 years, of Obazor Asa in Ukwa West area of Abia state who claimed that she delivered the said baby on May 6, 2013, at Chile Maternity Home in Umunka in Ugwunagbo.

Abubakar who said that the matter is still being investigated, announced that both Onyinyechi Nwogu and the unnamed buyer of the baby were still on the run.

Meanwhile, the Abia police Command also arrested and paraded four suspects for

robbing a Catholic school, Daughters of Mary Mother of Mercy [DMMM] at Mbawsi in Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area of the state.

The suspects were Chimezie Omasi, Odinakachi Ugorji, George Ohia and one Confidence, whose surname, the police said was yet unknown.

They were said to have robbed the occupants of the school at gun point.

According to the police Commissioner, they robbed the occupants of the sum of N350, 000 cash, four Nokia Handsets and one Laptop valued at N200, 000.

The police commissioner disclosed that when they were arrested the sum of N97, 200, some of the handsets, one locally made single barrel short gun, the laptop and un registered Ladies Motorcycle said to be bought on the same day by one of the suspects, were recovered.

Adeleke, who is an Islamic scholar, however, died while trying to escape from police custody.

The suspects, who did not deny the allegations, said they never killed anyone but only exhumed corpses from graveyards.

Kolawole said he went into the business because he needed money to pay his children's school fees.

He said, “I am a farmer and I live in a graveyard in Owo, Ogun State. In December last year, I went to see my friend and begged him to lend me money to pay my children's fees. He then said if I could help him to get human skulls, he would pay me N8,000 for each.

“He came to my house at night and after he had exhumed two of the corpses in the graveyards, he gave me N16,000.

“In May, 2013, I needed money to purchase examination form for my child and I went to meet him again. He said he would give me N16, 000 for two more skulls, so he exhumed two more corpses.”

A 25-year-old suspect, Sanni, who claimed to be a commercial motorcycle rider, said he had only exhumed two corpses, adding that he ran out of the business when his clients started demanding for a human being.

He said, “Akinowo told me to get two skulls for him and I did. He gave me N6,000 and N8,000. He later told me to get a live human being for him but when I could not find one, they started disturbing me with telephone calls. I only sold two skulls.”

The herbalist, Rafiu, said he never exhumed any corpse rather, it was the other suspects that were always pestering him to buy body parts.

Rafiu, who claimed to be 28 years, said he did not use the corpses for money rituals but used it in preparing a potion which people drank for protection.

“I never sent anyone to supply me human parts. They always bring the parts to my place and beg me to buy,” he said.

Asked what was in the bottle recovered from him, he said, “The bottle I am holding contains a burnt and crushed human skull and schnapps. Anybody who drinks it will be immune to all forms of attack. I have been doing this for about seven years now but I have never drank the potion. I am even scared to use it.

“I have a wife and child and it is this job I use in sustaining myself.”

Another suspect, Akinowo, said poverty pushed him into the illegal business. Akinowo, who spoke amid tears, said he was paid N8,000 for each body part.

Akinowo said in his statement that he cut the heads of his late brothers and two sisters buried in private graves in his compound and sold them for N8,000 each.

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End of conflict in Amuzam Ugbawka Traditional Stool ¨As HRH Igwe Anthony Nwobodoeze receives Letter of Recognition from Enugu State Govt

By Rex Arum & Patrick Okolie

T

he Amauzam Ugboawka community in Nkanu East L.G.A riddled with crisis since the past 12yrs following the replacement of their traditional ruler after the demise of their former traditional ruler, Igwe Nwankwo Agu could not hide their joy and gratitude to God as they rolled out drums singing and dancing at the Enugu State Ministry of Chieftaincy Matters on Friday to receive the Letter of Recognition from the state government for their newly elected Igwe, Chief Anthony Nwobodoeze.

When the former traditional ruler died there had been disagreement over who should take over the mantle of custody of the tradition and the culture of the community.

The situation had at some point generated an uneasy calm and bad blood among the various villages that make up the community, a condition that later snowballed into an intra community conflict.

But in what could be described as a modern day miracle the community working in synergy with the Enugu State Ministry of Chieftaincy Matters led by the Hon. Commissioner Pastor Emeka Abugu, resolved the matter through a peaceful election from where Chief Anthony Nwobodoeze emerged as the new traditional ruler.

The commissioner for chieftaincy, Rev. Emeka Abugo who received the Amuzam community people in his office expressed his joy and noted that it was the first time the Amuzam delegates are coming to him on a celebrative mood rather than for conflict resolution.

He said that the community which been without an Igwe for 12yrs had always been in crisis until the State Government intervened and pointed out that the State Government is always concerned about traditional institutions in the state for onerous task of achieving peace and development in the communities.

According to the commissioner, “I feel elated having the people of Amuzam Ugbawka in this mood to thank God for using His Excellency, Gov. Sullivan Chime, who has demonstrated his vision and commitment for the return of peace to Amuzam community. As you can see Governor Chime has demonstrated his leadership commitment when he provided one hundred vehicles to the police to ensure the effective protection of lives and property. He respects traditional institutions and will gladly accept any Igwe that is popularly elected by his people.

He needs Royal Fathers to collaborate with him to achieve

his four point agenda” Giving out the Letter of Recognition to the new Igwe, Pastor Abugu urged him to reciprocate the government

commitment and gesture by moving the community forward and advised him to take up the issue of peace and reconciliation to all aggrieved party as his first

assignment.

“You are saddled with the responsibility of attracting government project to your community and to make sure your people gets every allocation due to them from the government.

Your first assignment will be to restore peace after so many years of conflicts. You have to employ all ingenuity in you to move the community forward,” He said.

Receiving the Letter of Recognition from the c o m m i s s i o n e r, H R H I g w e Anthony Nwobodoeze thanked the Commissioner and the state government for considering him worthy by upholding the collective wishes of the people.

“It is my pleasure to tell the world that I am highly favoured to have a Governor like Sullivan. I pray that he should live long. God has used him to restore the glory of the first capital of the South east- Enugu. I promise never to let him down; I will always be at his service and to my people too.”

The President General of Amuzam Elder Felix Mba who led the delegation to the Ministry of Chieftaincy said, “I owe my thanks to the Almighty God. I have no doubt that every

necessary transformation will begin to take place in Amuzam Ugbawka. What has happened today is the fulfillment of an expectation; the election that produced Igwe Anthony was a prominent one.”

Hon. Nkechi Mba told The Advocate that the community has for the past 12yrs been in conflict regarding who will be the next Igwe. She said that “there had been no peace in Amuzam before now, that was why when the government came on the 2nd of March for the election I promised my people that I will help to make sure that peace reign in our community.”

Among the dignitaries at the occasion includes Commissioner for Budget Planning, Enugu State Hon. KOK Agbowo, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Chieftaincy Matters, Ferdinand Anikwe, and Director ministry of Chieftaincy Matters, Chukwudi Ona. Others are President General Amuzam Town Union, Elder Felix Mba, Chief Enyinwede, CSP (Okengwu) Mba, Hon. Nkechi Mba, Ozo Orimiri Eze among other prominent members of Amuzam autonomous community.

Enugu NYSC boss frowns at harassment of Corps members by masquerade, robbers

By Tosin Adesile

T

he Chairman of the National Youth Service Corps, (NYSC) and Commissioner for youth and Sport, Mr. Chijioke Agu has charged employers of corps members to improve their welfare packages to encourage efficiency and productivity to supplement the effort of government.

He made this statement at the 2013 NYSC/Corps employers workshop with theme” harnessing the gain of the youth service scheme through cordial corps employers and corps members relationship” held at the Enugu north city hall which was also held at various locations within the country. The Honourable Commissioner was represented by the Senior Special Assistant on Yo u t h m o b i l i z a t i o n a n d empowerment to the Governor.

According to him,” Bridging the communication gap which is always the cause of misunderstanding between employers and corps member can be reduced to the barest minimum”.

Mr. Agu emphasized more welfare packages and the need to make corps members happy in order to give their best. He concluded his speech by declaring the workshop opened.

In attendance were, Mr. Chijoke Agu represented by Senior Special

Assistant to the Governor, Dr. Barthlomew Ezeogwu, Director General, NYSC, Brigadier-General Okorie- Affia represented by Mr. Dina Anthony, The NYSC State coordinator, Enugu State, Mr. Hilary Nasamu, Economic Adviser to the Governor, Prince Agboga Asogwa, President, All Nigeria conferences of principals, Enugu, Mrs. Esther Eze, Chief Chibuke Ebubedike, The Principal of Unity School, Zonal Inspector, NYSC Enugu North Local Government and a host of other guests.

The State Coordinator, NYSC, Mr. Hilary Nasamu in a welcome address to participants reiterated the need for a workshop in order to share with employers the various new policies evolving in the scheme for necessary implementation.

Mr. Nasamu appreciated the corps employers despite the limited resources and request for more to be done considering the geometric annual increase in the population of corps members especially in the southern states.The Enugu State

NYSC boss stressed the need for better welfare packages for corps members as well as security which need to be attended to considering the constant harassment of corps members by armed robber and masquerade.

The event also witnessed papers delivered by various facilitators,question and answer session and theatre performance to cool down the heat of the discussion by the NYSC theatre troupe.

From Left: Mrs Carol Igboka, Zonal inspector Enugu North, Dr. Bartholomew Ezego, SSA to Enugu state Governor and Mr Hillary Nasamu, NYSC State Cordinator.

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Rights Violation: Man sues police, seeks N1billion compensation

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ze Damian who the Imo s t a t e P o l i c e Commissioner, Musa Katsina stated during media briefing that he was among the five gang of kidnappers that allegedly involved in the kidnapping and killing of Managing Director, Naija Plaza Hotel, Oguta, Imo state after a ransom of N2.1million was collected between 21st to 24, February 2013 has sued Inspector General of Police Mohammed Abubaka, Cp Imo police command, OC anti-kidnapping and ASP Williams Eke in the Federal High Court in Owerri for rights violation.

I n a S u i t N o : FHC/OW/CS/82/2013 dated 18th of April, Nze through his lawyer Barr. Boniface N. Ugwu is seeking for an order for the enforcement of his Fundamental Rights through his lawyer, asking the court to grant him a total of N1billion as compensation and other damages.

The Imo State CP had stated

during the media briefing that Nze Damian was among the five man gang were quartered in Oguta, Imo state between 21st to 24th February by one of the gang's girlfriend and alleged that the said gang responsible for the kidnap and death of Managing Director, Naija Plaza Hotel, Oguta, Imo state.

In the suit, the applicant asked the court among other reliefs a “declaration that the arrest, detention, harassment, intimidation and torture of the applicant (Nze) at Enugu and at the cell at police headquarter, Owerri, Imo state and other places from 24th February, 2013 till date without trial constitutes a great violation of his fundamental rights as enshrined in sections 34 and 35 of the constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended and therefore w a s t e , u n l a w f u l , unconstitutional, illegally, null and void.”

“An order releasing the Applicant from unlawful custody

forthwith, an order commanding the police to pay Nze the sum of three hundred million (N300, 000,000.00) naira only being special/specific damages for the loss and injuries caused him as a result of his rights violation,” the application stated.

Nze also prayed the court for “an order for exemplary damages of two hundred million (N200, 000,000.00) naira only against the respondents jointly and severally in his favour for the

brazen roughshod against his right.”

“General damages of five hundred million naira only(500,000,000:00 against the respondents (police) jointly and or, severally for the breach of his fundamental human right as contained in the constitution and African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights as ratified in Nigeria”.

The court after hearing on the Motion Exparte and Application,

expressed disbelief that Imo state Police Command could incarcerate the applicant in her cell for over three months without charging to court for a mere allegation that has not been proved before a court of competent jurisdiction.

The court therefore directed that the order be personally served on the legal officer of Imo state police command for immediate compliance; for the accused person/applicant.

The Computer science graduate until his arrest in connection to the 21st - 24th February kidnap saga in Oguta was a staff of an Enugu based computer Software Company, Pixels Solution Ltd allegedly went through hell in the cause of police investigation and had his application for bail delayed owing to the alleged discrepancies by the law enforcement agents to produce him in court. However Nze has been released by the court on bail from where he will pursue his alleged rights violation to a conclusive end.

Further hearing has been fixed for a later date.

Gov. Elechi is committed to delivery on projects –Commissioner

By Chinedu Ngwuta, Abakaliki

E

b o n y i S t a t e Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Honorable Chike Onwe has re-stated government's commitment to deliver on projects embarked on by the Governor Martin Elechi's led administration.

The Information Commissioner who disclosed this while briefing journalists recently at the Staff Development Centre, SDC, as part of activities to mark the 2013 democracy day celebration in the state reiterated that the Martin Elechi's led administration was not waiting to commission projects but to ensure that the projects embarked upon by the government was put into use by Ebonyi people who are living and those yet unborn.

According to Onwe, "So, the inauguration of His Excellency, Chief Martin Elechi on May 29, 2007 as governor of a state he fought for, symbolized a colorful providence and destiny as he got the opportunity to translate the noble vision that fixed the struggle into reality. Today with investment in vision and commitment to the common solution, Chief Elechi has, in effect offered valid justification for patience and sacrifice in the tortuous struggle in those years of jackals. His administration has

provided the answer to major concerns of development, future promises and prospects. Today, Ebonyi is on the world map, receiving accolades and positive

reference from menthat matter" "The Elechi's administration addressed and dedicated itself with vigour, conviction and steel commitment to the reformation and transformation of our State which reflects in the socio economic and political programmes of the government. With assuring promises, time-tested policies, people-oriented programmes and lifechanging projects, the difference is already very clear" "Now, we think better, relate better and produce greater results.

The land is more peaceful; women and youths are increasingly participating in

governance. The talk about infrastructural revolution in the state has become a mantra. From whichever angle you look at it, Elechi has laid the foundation of the state on stone" Onwe said that the development of Ebonyi State should not be left in the hand of government alone as he noted that it was not the exclusive duty of the government to provide qualitative development in the state but through collaborative efforts of organized private sectors, civil society, including the academia.

He called on all Ebonyians to afford themselves the opportunity of the centenary and democracy day celebrations to renew their resolve to work closer as team players to guarantee more democratic dividends to the people of Ebonyi State.

He added, “We have always insisted that the complex task of

qualitative development in the state is not an exclusive duty of government. It is largely an inclusive challenge, involving government, organized private sector, the media, civil society, including the academia”.

“Ebonyi is a land of resources.

Our potentials are great. Let's advance the frontiers of our freedom; most importantly, let's remind ourselves and pass on to our children the beautiful storythe Ebonyi story.”

“Let's recall the liberating and forceful impact of our famed culture of honesty and sincerity of being our brothers' keeper. This year's celebration affords us the grand opportunity to prove that we are indeed a people of honor and integrity, he said. Obviously in Ebonyi state, he said, “we are happy to announce from the mountain tops that democracy met leadership”.

Policemen killings: Report to be made public at appropriate time I-G

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he Inspector-General of Police, Mr Mohammed A b u b a k a r, s a i d o n Monday that the report of investigation into the killing of 49 policemen in Nasarawa State would be made public at the appropriate time.

Abubakar gave the assurance in Abuja in an interview with newsmen shortly after the inauguration of 12 patrol vehicles for the Abuja-Kaduna Highway.

It would be recalled that 49 police personnel and 10 operatives of

the State Security Service (SSS) were reportedly killed at Alakyo Village in Nasawara State on May 7 in what was described as a deadly ambush by members of the Ombatse cult from the ancestral shrine of the Eggon speaking people of the State.

Abubakar vowed that nobody or group of persons operating under any name would kill the personnel of the force and go scot-free.

“Investigation is ongoing and the outcome of the investigation will

be revealed to Nigerians at the most appropriate time.

“We cannot keep quiet to allow anybody in this country, whether individual or group of persons, under whatever canopy they call themselves, to kill officers of the police and go scot-free.

“There has never been speculation, we have always given the number out, that we lost 49 police officers, '' he said.

Commenting on the closure of Wonderland Amusement Park and Amigo Supermarket, the I-G

said the closure was part of measures to secure the nation.

“There is nothing new, security is security. You know what is happening in the country.

“We will go ahead to take any measure that deserves to be taken to ensure that Nigeria is safe and Nigerians are given safe and secured environment.

“We shall do everything humanly possible beyond reasoning to ensure that Nigeria is safe and our people are safe and secured no matter what it takes,'' he said.

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Wednesday, June 5 - Tuesday, June 11, 2013

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Enugu has lowest crime rate – IGP Abubakar Enugu State because police ...Receives 100 patrol vehicles donated by Enugu govt officers would be adequately

By Ted Peters

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he Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Dikko Abubakar, yesterday, declared Enugu State as having the lowest crime rate in the country, saying that this fact was buttressed by statistics and empirical evidence.

Abubakar, who was speaking yesterday while taking delivery of 100 brand new vehicles donated to the police by the Enugu State Government, stated that this was largely a result of the tremendous support that the administration of Governor Sullivan Chime has been giving to the police and other security agencies.

He said: “Today, I can confirm, as

the Inspector-General of Police, that Enugu State has the lowest crime rate in Nigeria. I also confirm that Enugu is one the safest places in Nigeria. This is the result of the wonderful partnership between the Enugu State Government, the Police and other security agencies”.

He commended Governor Sullivan Chime for the gesture, saying it was an example that his colleagues should emulate. “I commend you (Chime) for this gesture. This is a shining example for your colleagues to emulate.

This is a practical demonstration that you love and care for your people and that you understand what it takes to provide security of lives and property”.

The Inspector General said the latest donation of vehicles by the government was unprecedented in the sense that it included both patrol vans and sedans (saloon cars) adding that it fell in line with the new policy objective of his administration to move away from vans as is the practice in the advanced countries.

He also praised Governor Chime for has massive road development programme in the state, noting that the provision of streetlights on the major roads of Enugu metropolis was of great assistance to the police in their war against crime in the state.

Alhaji Abubakar promised that with the vehicles “a new brand of policing would commence in

trained in the use of the vehicles.”

Stressing that the gesture was a challenge to the police, he charged officers and men of the Enugu State Police command to use the vehicles only for their stated purposes to rid the state of criminals and warned that any abuse or misuse of the vehicles by the officers will be sanctioned.

Earlier while presenting the vehicles consisting of fifty patrol vans and fifty cars, Governor Chime remarked that it had been the policy of his administration since inception to partner with the police to maintain security.

He disclosed that the vehicles were provided in partnership with local government councils and were fully equipped with modern

communication gadgets. The Governor added that the saloon cars would be used for patrols within the metropolis while the vans were to cover intergovernment routes and the borders.

The Governor said that his government was determined to ensure that the people will feel the presence of the police wherever they are and in the event of any incidence of crime, the police will appear within five minutes of receiving any alarm or emergency notice.

It would be recalled the Chime administration had over the past six years variously donated over one hundred patrol vans to the Police and other security agencies in the state.

I will not recruit thugs if I become Local Govt Chairman – Hon. Chukwu Continued from page 25 My development centre did not record any death and it depends on how I coordinated my affairs.

So in my area there was no record of death because, the man we are serving is a man of peace i.e our governor, His Excellency, Chief Nwancho Elechi. I try to emulate his footsteps .His government is built on the platform of peace, that is why I try to adopt the same method in my own area, so I have actually tried to make peace with my people and during the election, it was peaceful in my own area, you can't get everything by violent so during the election, we had to use our own discretion and with that peaceful measure, we were able to win our peoples' heart.

What is the frequency of bursary payment to students under your development centre?

It has been on yearly basis, last year we paid four million Naira.

We are waiting for this year, 2013, because it is a yearly event.

We use to pay four million (4m) every year. In 2011, 2012 respectively we paid 4 million Naira to our Law students to enable them pay their school fees. And none of them is complaining, so we give them N400, 000 and we have helped up to 10 of them, so if you calculate it, you will know that it is about four million Naira yearly since we came on board There is rumour making rounds that you are preparing to contest the Chairmanship position of your Local Government; to succeed Hon. Lazarus Ogbee.

How true is this?

I have that intension; I have the

Hon. Francis Chukwu ambition to succeed him. In Ezza South just like every other Local Governments, there is what we call equity and the essence of that equity is to make spirit of fairness or character workable.

When you talk about federal character, it has to do with distribution of resources evenly to development centres, so we don't want a situation where one area will be developed and the other will not be developed, and we don't want a situation where certain group of people will be marginalized. Equity has to do with good conscience, a natural justice; that is what federal character is all about. So I have the intension to contest on the grounds of equity, because the Ogbee own sub-clan which is

Izzikworo has been there in several occasion. And even Marcellus Nwokporo who handed over to him as the chairman is from the area and he took the second tenure which Marcellus Nwokporo would have finished, and for Ogbee to say that he is re contesting, it means he doesn't want to give peace a chance. So on ground of equity he should leave the throne. We are not accusing him of any other thing but for him to step down because it is our turn.

What will be your major project if you eventually become the Chairman of Ezza South Local Government?

Thank you! My major project should be electricity, education, youth empowerment. Our people

are educationally backward; I will award scholarships to help the youths so that they become more educated and create more jobs for my people. My major focus will be on agriculture. We must do something because we cannot be running a government where we depend solely on oil revenue. We will also try to practice agriculture in our area, to empower people through that.

What do you intend to do for Eke Market if eventually you emerge the Local Government Chairman?

If you look at that market, you will know that it is in a sorry situation, and the present government ought to have done that because there was a time we discussed that in our meeting and am surprised that he did not implement what we agreed in that meeting. He only asphalted the motor park and if eventually he finishes his tenure without doing anything, I will do something to build Lock-up stores, tile some other strategic points of the market and then put the market in proper condition.

In terms of revenue generation, people coming to the market, have in one way or the other helped in the revenue generation. What would your office do if you eventually emerge the Chairman, to protect them from danger?

Okay, when I become the Local Government Chairman, I think it will be normal to make internally generated revenue, it is normal, but it is equally abnormal without refurbishing the area where the revenue is coming from. So if we actually collect revenue, people should know why they are paying whatever tax.

Insecurity has been a major problem facing Ezza South, how do you hope to tackle it if you win election as chairman?

Well it is a very big menace in Ezza South. There are people who feel that when you are talking about politics in Ezza South, they believe that you should belong to one part, click or the other. That is the kind of insecurity we are facing here, they say plurality is the soul of democracy. That another person is contesting is not an excuse for the other group to attack them and so when I get there, I am a discreet person, and I know how to go or involve those who are discreet in my government. I am not going to employ touts, am not going to employ people who will be involved in thuggery or one nefarious activity or the other. So my own will be entirely different, it is not going to be business as usual in my government.

Who is your role model?

My role model is Chief Martin Nwancho Elechi, Ebonyi State Governor. His government is built on the platform of peace, I like imitating him. I like bringing down some of his policies to the grassroot in my own little way.

What is your message to Ezza South people especially as electioneering periods draw closer?

My message to Ezza South people is that they should not be held by sentiment. Ezza South Local Government Area is not for sale. It is not meant for the highest bidder. They should examine facts and look at what is on ground. They should elect their leader based on equity.

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I am not an advocate of solar system but... says Kemenanabo Engr. Olice Dickson Kemenanabo is a household name in Electrical Engineering in Bayelsa State. He hails from Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area of Bayelsa State and presently the Special Adviser to the Executive Governor of Bayelsa State, Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson on Power and Energy. He also serves as the General Manager Bayelsa State Electricity Company Limited, a pioneer Electrical Engineering student of University of Port Harcourt, a fellow of the Nigeria Society of Engineers (FNSE). He spoke with our correspondent on several issues and challenges of electricity distribution in Bayelsa State. Excerpts

By Philip Eke, Yenagoa Sir, vividly can you tell us about Bayelsa State Electricity Company Ltd, the journey so far and the prospect of its establishment by Governor Henry Seriake Dickson in the provision of power to Bayelsan?

Bayelsa Electricity Company Limited is a company incorporated under the Company and Allied act 1990, the company is Limited by shares on the 5th of June 2012 at the corporate affairs commission Abuja. The company is invested with the responsibility to generate, distribute and market the electric power in Bayelsa state and beyond.

Our emphasis on power generation is based on what we refers as the principles of market order in power sustainability. To that extent, we shall explore the available gas fields in Bayelsa State both at the under developed level and the flare pipeline gas line to ensure we generate electricity efficiently for the people of Bayelsa State and if the need be supply to the National grid through a bulk energy system.

That is what Bayelsa state electricity company is charged to do, to do that we also have internal structure which we are trying to develop.

The structure is divided into three broad areas, Bayelsa electricity company Ltd power, Bayelsa electricity Ltd gas, Bayelsa electricity Automation, these are the three internal structures that will drive the process of providing reliable sustainable and efficient power to the people of Bayelsa state and beyond

In Bayelsa, we have PHCN, Bayelsa State Electricity Company Ltd, which area are you so inclined and how well are you equipped in the distribution of power to the citizenry?

Basically as I said Bayelsa electricity company Ltd is in infant stage because the company was fully incorporated Just last

and there was light - it has an incubation period between now and six months to re-engineer the old system of PHCN which is currently handling all the equipments and then maintenance and also the marketing. We have crafted a technical and economic policy that will make us deliver power within the next six months.

But we are also charged by the national electricity regulatory commission and other regulatory bodies to ensure we do that with five years. We have a dynamic system of five years on our own because we know the importance of electricity to fast-track to ensure rapid economic/social development.

Sir, can you enumerate some of the challenges of electricity power generation in Bayelsa State and Nigeria in general?

Engr. Olice Dickson Kemenanabo year 2012, I was made the substantive Managing Director, this year precisely January. Before then, I was acting as special adviser to the Executive Governor of Bayelsa State on Power and Energy, I was also engaged in the privatization of the entire network. After now PHCN will cease to exist and we are going to take over PHCN, the liabilities and assets of PHCN to ensure that power is distributed to every nook and crannies in the state and therefore, I want to say that my area of coverage is to distribute power to the entire state even though currently PHCN is supplying us power from Gbaran Transmission Station, eventually it will cease to exist in Bayelsa State.

As a proactive and resourceful electrical engineer, how would you achieve this noble dream of yours?

Honestly speaking, the entire country power sector reforms provide that every PHCN successor company takes over the entire infrastructure assets and liabilities and manage it to ensure dynamic sustainable power system. We participated in the privatization of PHCN, we have a

percentage at stake of Port Harcourt electricity distribution company, if you want to know further, Port Harcourt electricity distribution company comprises of the district of Akwa-Ibom, Rivers State, Cross Rivers State and Bayelsa State, that is why the first states formed a consortium refers to as the four power consortium Ltd. We are the winners of Port Harcourt electricity distribution company Ltd and therefore we have acquired the assets and liabilities of that company. We paid twentyfive percent (25%) of the total cost as specified by the federal government and we are in the shadow management period.

What we are doing is to conduct concrete electrical power generation and we are in the process of feasibility studies to create the way forward for us to develop a power system, that we intend to do and that is what we are doing right now.

Sir, precisely, you are now in infancy stage, how long can we see the dividends of constant and reliable power supply in Bayelsa State?

Power is not the way God pronounced, let there be light

I have said it all, we have three basic key challenges, the first one is poor distribution networks, a situation where distribution network cannot be able to isolate un-healthy part and allow healthy part to remain in services, a situation where a distribution network does not have a capacity to deliver power supply to consumers is a serious problem, and therefore, the distribution network does not required to meet the standard requirement. For instance, electricity is set probably 400 voltage and you receives less than 300 voltage is a common occurrence like in our radio station, Radio Bayelsa. Secondly, technicality, over seventy five percent are not technical staff, while twenty five percent 25% are technical staff of technical oriented establishment, while five percent are auxiliary staff. It is a difficult condition to handle because training is also a problem, un-skilled staff are in the habit of infiltrating into technical training opportunities, we want to change the ugly trend, seventy percent (70%) technical, if possible twenty five (25%) is non technical, and five percent (5%) auxiliary should also have technical and allied knowledge that would be trained to acquire the relevant skills to manage the power generation system which we are planning to put place.

Thirdly, the orientation of our people for free electricity consumption is another serious problem; I thank the present Government in changing the psychology of the people in paying electricity bills, people should learn how to switch off their lights in the day time, they should also learn how to manage electricity using energy efficient equipment, these are the major challenges of using electricity in Bayelsa State. Even in Free Town, nothing is free.

The fourth is political which I would not delve into.

You are a guru in this field, like in some advanced countries there is uninterrupted power supply, in Bayelsa State and Nigeria, electricity supply is not steady. What are you going to do to have reliable power supply?

In one of the workshops I recently attended, it was very obvious, most of the considerations were based on regulatory and legal frame work, asset based electricity. The framework did not capture technically how electricity is generated, transported and distributed effectively.

For instance our major advantage is that we are sitting in a place where Bayelsa State can generate electricity up to 1000 megahertz because of the abundant gas stocks, that is why we are going to use what we refer to as merit order to generate electricity. Gas can be used to drive electricity,we have in some areas where power plant is completed but cannot be utilized.

I can give you an example which is in Calabar. Calabar has 451 megahertz completed over three years ago but not in use. Here at Gbaran we have 225megahertz, that was NIPP project that has gas process and delivered to the manifold since 2010 by Shell, and therefore, Bayelsa State would be at advantage of having constant and reliable electricity supply. So, our mission statement is to generate electricity to national grid, the availability of gas would increase the potential of electricity supply to the citizens.

Sir, how would you achieve the mission statement as you have enumerated?

Well, I have said it all, we are going to harness the natural resources, we have and the internal structure that would be put in place for effective performances.

What is your plan for the distribution of electricity to interior communities?

Actually, we are not looking at Yenagoa, most of the transformers people asked for are redundant, transformers are now turned to stand by generators, because the distribution network is not available, every household are asking for transformers so once we are able to efficiently distribute network, providing the necessary conductors that can take power from the sub-stations to various homes, most of the transformers are going to be removed from the system. As a matter of fact, there are some transformers that have gone wrong but we discovered that 500 KVA, all that goes in 20 Continues on page 24

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VVF: Ebonyi First Lady seeks FG's assistance

By Chinedu Ngwuta, Abakaliki.

W

IFE of Ebonyi State governor, Mrs. Josephine Elechi, Wednesday, called on the Federal Government to assist the backlog of uterine prolapse patients from various parts of the country admitted at the National Obstetrics Fistula Centre, Abakaliki.

Mrs Elechi made the call during the discharge of another round of

46 clients who were treated free of charge, courtesy of the collaboration between her pet project, Mother and Childcare Initiative, MCCI, and the Centre.

The NOFC, which was built by the governor's wife and later taken over by the Federal Government two years ago, has continued to receive financial support from the MCCI for the treatment of Vesico Vagina Fistula, VVF, and uterine prolapse.

She said: “The centre has recorded the repair of 1,621 and 238 uterine prolapse clients, including 46

“Due to financial constraints, we have concentrated on the repair of uterine prolapse clients from Ebonyi State, in view of the precarious situation in which these helpless women find themselves, pending when fund comes from the federal government to assist us in this regard, to enable us accommodate clients from outside the state.”

She said the free repair exercise was borne out of her desire to rid the society of the ugly trend and degradation suffered by VVF/uterine prolapse victims as a Mrs. Elechi repaired of uterine prolapse clients result of their condition which discharged today (Wednesday), arose in the course of performing their God-given responsibility of free of charge.

pro-creation.

One of the discharged clients, Aluma Mary Orji, from Ezza North local government area, thanked the governor's wife and centre for the free treatment.

“If they were collecting money, I don't think I would have benefited.

I would probably have died with it,” she said.

Medical Director of the Centre, Dr Sunday Oduoye, cautioned women to strictly adhere to the instructions of the doctors not to have sex for the next six months and to access medical services from competent hospitals and health centres in their areas.

NAFDAC seizes $250,000 contaminated bread improver

A

N estimated $250,000.00 worth of contaminated bread improver (Edlen Dough Conditioner) imported from the USA has been confiscated at the Onne Port in Rivers State by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC. NAFDAC head of Ports Inspection Directorate in Port Harcourt, Dr. Musa Umar, said the product loaded in 10 containers was first suspected by NAFDAC officials at the port in January while thorough examination on April 16 and re-examined in the presence of the importer, clearing agent and manufacturer were done on May 2.

He said findings in the series of investigations confirmed that the product imported by Dorcas-Jedi Investment Nigeria Ltd had already deteriorated and unfit for human consumption by the degree to which the product's integrity had been compromised.

“Some cartons were soaked and there were evidence of bloated cans and products spilling on to the

N

ational Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, weekend, paraded four suspects over the importation of counterfeit drugs worth N59 million.

While parading the suspects before newsmen, DirectorGeneral, NAFDAC, Dr. Paul Orhii, said he was more embarrassed by people losing their lives due to fake drugs than flimsy claims of those he

boxes. Full examination was attempted for all the 10 containers but no product with acceptable physical attributes was seen,” Umar said.

He said the economic loss for the end users (bread bakers) would have been enormous if the product was allowed to enter the market as its utility value had been lost.

A representative of the product's importer, Dr. Ottih Ezuma attributed its spoilage to long delay

from the shipping company that shipped it from Savannah Sea Port in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Customs Area II Command Controller, Magaji Mohammed, who handed the products over to NAFDAC said his command had likewise handed over to NAFDAC

426 bottles of naturelite children's multivitamin discovered to have expired.

The spoilt products still in custody at government warehouse, Onne Port are to be destroyed by NAFDAC Enforcement Unit after necessary official documentation.

NDLEA arrests 20 illicit drug distributors in Kaduna

T

he National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested 20 major distributors of illicit drugs in Kaduna after its men raided three notorious drug havens.

The Commandant of the agency in the state, Mr. Mohammed Jibrin, told newsmen in Kaduna that the raid followed a tip off by the residents of Sabon Tasha in Chikun Local Government Area and Mando in Kaduna North Local Government Area.

Jibrin said men of the agency raided such spots known as Black Street and Kantin Agan in Sabon Ta s h a i n C h i k u n L o c a l Government Area, where it

described as 'fake drug abettors' on failure of technology in identifying fake products.

The names of the suspects were given as Mr. Paul Ogbonna, Mr. Celestine Eruokwu, Mr. Ifeanyi Edeh, and Mr. Ozoemena Odo. Orhii said that Mr. Celestine Eruokwu was a generator dealer, but was arrested for importation of 90,000 doses of counterfeit Maloxine tablets.

arrested 13 drug addicts and distributors.

“The operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency stormed the area and discovered that drug sale is the major criminal activity that takes place there, and we made a lot of arrests of the dealers there.

“We got about seven drug dealers and some drug addicts, that is the users.

“The area is notorious for that crime to the extent that the inhabitants of that area called it Black Street and they were jubilating after the raid, because all of them were before now apprehensive of what could

become of their lives because of the threats of the drug addicts in the area.

“But, they so cooperated with our officers that they rendered assistance by pointing to them some of these hide-outs within the areas and with that, we were able to comb the place and make arrests.”

According to him, the agency is still searching for another major distributor in Sabon Tasha, who is now at large.

“We also seized hard drugs not only cannabis but psychotic substances such as valiums and other improvised substances, which is even more of the worry for security agencies now, things

like, solutions, `suck and die', they call it, it's a liquid form from the name, one should even be afraid, that is you drink it and die. But we got it in large bottles. Some boys were abusing it.''

The commandant said that the officers also raided a popular area, known as Mando Engineer, where it arrested seven drug dealers and six addicts, who were in possession of 22.4 kg of cannabis sativa and 2.4 kg of psychotic substances.

He appealed to the public to assist the agency in its fight against drug abuse and illicit sale.

Jibrin urged the government to enact a law against the sale of improvised intoxicants being abused by youths and drivers in the state.

He said that recent findings indicated that counterfeiters of medicines now hide under the shadows of other businesses to carry out their activities.

He said: “Based on an intelligence report that Eruokwu was in possession of counterfeit Maloxine tablets, operatives of NAFDAC Investigation and Enforcement Directorate raided his house.

“They discovered and impounded counterfeit Maloxine tablet (90,000 doses) 600 packets x 150 x Stabs, with an estimated market value of nine million naira.”

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Why 16,000 JAMB results were cancelled– Minister

M

inister of Education, Prof. Ruquayyatu Rufa'i, has explained that 16,000 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME, results were cancelled by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, because of examination malpractices by the candidates.

Rufa'i spoke through Mr. Julius Ameh, Tuesday, in Abuja, during the presentation of the Teachers' Guide for the teaching of the National Values Curriculum, NVC, in Basic Education, which was funded by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission, ICPC. She said: ”We shall be resolute in our decisions as there shall be no sacred cows. Nobody, no matter how highly placed, will be allowed to get away with the breach of the law or perpetration of corruption and evil in our colleges and tertiary institutions.”

The minister said the inclusion of the guide into the numerous literature available in the education sector, especially on corruption and value orientation, was an indication of the premium which the administration placed on education and transparency in the conduct of government business.

She said: “It is also an eloquent testimony of the present administration's determination to heal the wounds of the past quickly, put the ugly past behind and use the new NVC to stretch hands of fellowship to aggrieved Nigerians for complete reconciliation.

“The Nigerian child must be encouraged and taught that

integrity pays.”

His self respect must be restored and his growth process rewarded through mentoring and parental care.” ” she added.

Chairman of ICPC, Ekpo Nta, in his address, said that the NVC was applicable at all levels of education and was designed to expose the Nigerian child to a value-based curriculum that incorporates ethical values into academic studies from the early years to adulthood.

“The curriculum has been infused into subjects and courses at basic, post-basic and teacher-education levels. It has also been infused into the curriculum of mass literacy and non-formal education,” he said.

Nta further pointed out the need for teachers to be trained and properly oriented on the methodology and behavioural imperatives for imparting such values. “ We t h e r e f o r e , r e q u e s t commissioners for education and

chairmen of SUBEB to order for more copies of the teachers' guide such that every school in the basic education system in each state is given enough copies for the use of teachers,” he added.

The Executive Secretary of National Educational Research Development Council, NERDC, Prof. Godwill Obioma, explained that the NVC as approved by the National Council on Education, NCE, in 2004 was to educate young Nigerians on their duties, rights as well as obligations to

themselves and the society.

He added that ICPC and NERDC developed the Teachers' Guide to assist teachers as implementers of the NVC, to acquire the knowledge as well as serve as a source of materials for the teaching of the new ideas.

“The Teachers' Guide is expected to make the implementation of the NVC easier for teachers. It is meant to serve as a resource material for the effective implementation of the NVC,” Obioma further said.

NUC scraps 'Pass' grading in varsities

T

HE National Universities Commission (NUC) has scrapped the 'Pass' grading in the nation's universities.

The implications are that, 44 per cent rather than the initial 39 per cent will now be the mark for assessing failure just as 'Third Class' will now be the least grade for graduation in all the universities.

According to the Vice Chancellor, Kwara State University ( K WA S U ) , M a l e t e , P r o f .

Abdulrsheed Na'Allah Tuesday at the pre-convocation press briefing of the university, the directive would be easier to implement at KWASU as the university had started the grading system since establishment three and a half years ago.

He said: “The KWASU had technically eliminated the pass grading by making 45 per cent the least scores for success. Even the

FACTS BOX 1] Most prolific mother ever.

The greatest recorded number of children born to one mother is 69, to the first wife of Feodor Vassilyev [Russia]. In 29 pregnancies between 1725 and 1765 she gave birth to 16 pairs of twins, 7 sets of triplets, and 4 sets of quadruplets. Only two of the children failed to survive their infancy. The mother also holds the record for giving birth to the most set of quadruplets.

2]. Most common cause of sudden death.

Coronary heart disease is the most common cause for sudden death. The main factors that put an individual at risk of the disease are cigarette smoking, high blood pressure and high levels of cholesterol.

3]. Oldest disease.

Leprosy is the oldest disease with cases described as early as 1350BC in ancient Egypt.

Tuberculosis Schistosomiasi, an infectious disease of the Lungs has been seen in Egyptian mummies dating from the 20th dynasty, [12501000].

Compiled by Patrick, 08132597886, e-mail: jesuskidallday@gmail.com

NUC had recently given the same order to all the nation's universities.”

No fewer than 231 students of the institution graduated Saturday during its maiden convocation ceremony.

According to Na'Allah, five of the graduating students made the first class grade, 59 made the Second Class Upper list, 145 made second Class lower list and 22 are in the Third Class degree. He said those

who are not graduating together with their colleagues will not be included in the graduands' list due to the Senate's decision to ensure that they remedied their areas of deficiencies before graduation.

He said the university was established to engineer development and it has been doing that in due course.

He explained that the university started academic activities on December 17, 2009 and that since

then it has implemented the vision and mission of getting to its glorious level.

He said in pursuance of the mandate of the university, it has established Malete film village, Rana Power Company, among others to support the students and the host community.

Already, the Rana Solar power when perfected would serve as veritable source of energy for the host community and the institution.

I am not an advocate of solar system but... says Kemenanabo Continued from page 22 KVA, once we have efficient distribution network, power distribution will be extended to the villages . Like in Radio Bayelsa, the power distribution is very low which cannot carry most of the equipments, hence Radio Bayelsa is always on with their private plants, this is what we actually want to correct. When the distribution network is corrected we are going to face the rural communities. Government has made frantic efforts to make sure power goes to rural communities, like the power station at Gbarantoru to Sagbama to be distributed, with the standard voltage equipments are easy to maintain for anybody to manage.

But once we develop a network that 32000 Voltage and it is radial, in the sense that it comes directly from the source and then distribute directly to the people.

A single fault from one transformer can collapse the distribution of the entire network, that is not a distribution network that can be sustained in an urban area, so we intend to put injection sub-stations and then radiate through 11000 multiple feeders to ensure that once there is a problem in one particular feeder, it is only that particular feeder that can be affected which we can effectively supply light to Radio

Bayelsa which is so essential to us, hospitals among others, that can generate revenue ,and the maintenance of the equipment to ensure accountability of electricity supply network going from Sampou to Agbere under construction.

We have also completed the Amassoma 30 KVA line and the injection sub-station and is ready to operate in Niger Delta University and Amassoma Town to be connected to the national grid.

That may come up any moment from now as necessary changes have to be made to make it very effective.

Sir, how will you enhance the training of staff in meeting modern trend of power generation?

Training would be very vigorous.

Technical staff would be trained for greater performances, we have technical partnership with Canadian School for training staff, and this can ensure rapid productivity. Computer can be used to ascertain fault in an office to detect faulty lines which may enhance productivity.

There are issues of over grown weeds and trees that hindered distribution network; what measure would you put in place to

tackle this?

You know, Niger Delta terrain is very bushy and unfriendly, therefore, there should be constant clearing of weeds and trees in distribution lines in averting poor power electricity supply. Rural agency would be established in collaboration with Federal Government Agency for effective power supply like Angiama network where over forty communities was powered, has to be revisited for reactivation. Also cluster communities have to be put together to get to the closest flow station that we can get gas, do Island Generation and distribute to the various communities, then engaged in what we referred as private public community oil company partnership (PPCOCP) there would be aggressive collaboration in the power distribution network, which includes the Government oil companies and the communities to be manage by private investors.

I appeal to Bayelsans to always bear with government in the g e n e r a t i o n o f e l e c t r i c i t y.

Government is making concerted effort to make life easier in the distribution of power and the electricity consumers should pay their bills to enable government deliver improved services to the people.

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I will not recruit thugs if I become Local Govt Chairman – Hon. Chukwu

Hon. Barrister Francis Chukwu, lawyer and Coordinator of Ezzama development centre in Ebonyi state has not only proven himself an astute leader, but also a trailblazer who would easily create a pathway rather than follow where the pathway leads.

He was appointed in 2007, Hon, Chukwu had proven that development centres can actually be the hope of a common man in the democratic setting given his avowed commitment to bring democratic dividends to his Ezzama people.

Hon. Chukwu rendered assistance to indigent men and women in the area, built befitting secretariat and health centre for the development centre, embarked on the construction of culvert and bridges to ease transportation problems among other screaming achievements.

Hon. Chukwu pointed out that he has the ambition to contest the forth coming Local government elections in Ebonyi State adding that he would not recruit thugs into his administration; a measure, he thinks would help to address insecurity problem in Ezza South.

In an interview with The Advocate reporter, Chinedu Ngwuta, Hon. Chukwu stated that the challenges of leadership could be survived through denying oneself some pleasures among other good virtues as perseverance and hard work.

Who is Hon Barr Francis Chukwu?

Honorable Barr Francis Chukwu is the Coordinator Ezzama development centre.

Sir, since you assumed office as the coordinator, what are the projects you have embarked on which are of benefit to the masses?

One of the projects I embarked upon is our secretariat, that is our council secretariat, before I came on board, we were faced with the challenge of accommodation, and then the first project I embarked upon was building of the secretariat. When we were about to construct the secretariat, we discovered that the Land we were about to use was already in the possession of church people, that is Ezzama Bible Believers, it was a church property, we have to compensate, relocating them after we bought another land for them to build their house. We purchased about one hectre of Land for them which took us up to One million and fifty thousand Naira. With that, we paid them before we were allowed to enter into the Land.

Infact, we laid the foundation of that place on 23rd January, 2008.

The provisions were made, and now we have finished the construction. We have completed the project and it has been commissioned by the Executive Governor of Ebonyi state Chief Martin Nwanchor Elechi. We have finished every aspect of the building with floor tiles. Infact, we did not just use 'any how' material but with quality materials.

Can you expressly articulate how much you invested in that building for the completion?

Well, as it stands now, we spent nearly a hundred million Naira, before it got to 100% completion.

What is your major aim of going into such project even when you were not up to three months in the office?

Yes! I wanted the best for my people. Of course it is a very gigantic project, but I can not do any other thing than to yield to the needs of the people; what the people demand from me. That was the yearning of my people that I should build a befitting secretariat for them, and that is why I decided to embark on such gigantic project, despite our lean

Hon. Francis Chukwu allocation. In Ezza South Local Government area, my development centre has the least allocation. So far in the allocation accurable to us is the least among all other development centres in Ezza South.

In the course of building the secretariat, what are the challenges you encountered?

You can not embark on such project without challenges, infact we made a lot of sacrifices during the construction, sometimes we deny ourselves some of our rights, particularly myself, sometimes I deny myself my earnings, so as to take care of our projects and of course, the other challenges are there; such as the poor allocation we receive. So it was a very big challenge to me but once I made up my mind to do it, I decided to finish it at all cost, no matter what, because I was truly determined to complete the project and now it has been completed.

You noted that your development centre receives the lowest allocation, in Ezza South Local Government; are you telling us that your development centre does not receive up to 10% of the total allocation of Ezza South Local Government?

Yes of course! My Development

centre doesn't receive up to 10% of the total allocation of Ezza South. I think the chat is there and it is a public document, you can go to any of the chats and see things for yourself.

What other outstanding achievements have your office recorded, which you can beat your chest and say that you have really affected lives positively?

The outstanding achievement is the secretariat complex. It is really a complex building as you can see, it is two upstairs while others are working on bungalows and that is prototype material, I decided to build upstairs and that is to stay my own is uniquely different from others. It is a very gigantic one, you may not know the magnitude of the job done, and you will see the concept when you get inside, you will see the complexity of the building. If you are looking at the building from outside, you will not know the exact size of the building, except when you get into the main building. It has a courtyard.

Sir, why do you think that such project is the primary need of your people, because most of the coordinators are embarking on construction of culverts and bridges, giving money to the

people at beer parlours?

Well, I want to re-affirm that I want good leadership for my people. And of course I know it is capital intensive but I know leaving a good legacy for my people is the best and that is why I decided to embark on that one.

And of course everybody will benefit from it. It is not meant for one person alone, it is going to touch every life. Any coordinator that is succeeding me will not have the problem of building another secretariat, already that one is more than enough and I believe it can stand the test of time before another one will be constructed.

You supported some primary schools by way of paying some counterpart fund, to enable them finish already existing buildings.

We also discover that it was only one primary school building that you started on your own. Why do your administration support projects rather than initiating new ones?

Thank you very much! You see in every community, people have their peculiar problems. Whatever project I embarked on was necessitated by the peculiar need of my people and of course, these people need support in their various schools, financial support which I did. The Ezzama civic centre was constructed by the community and social development agency and I supported them with one Million Naira, likewise Kpakpaji high school, I paid up to 1.2 million Naira and I also supported them with N250,000 for their science Labouratory equipment and there are many of them I supported with N250,000 for their buildings.

Progressive primary school at Ishieke, I also supported them with huge amount of money worth up to N200,000 and Imbani primary school. Apart from building a six classroom block for them, I supported them for the second building with the sum of N150,000. Though it is capital intensive, my secretariat is more than two hundred projects put together. So that was done because of the peculiar need of my people.

You have done a good number of school projects and some culverts were also built by your administration. But we have not seen any of the efforts going into health sector. What is the reason

for that Sir? In the health sector, we have a project going on there, you may not have seen it, but it is there. For instance, the day Her Excellency the wife of the governor Chief Mrs. Josephine Elechi came to our development centre, we donated up to a million Naira to them. We bought about 15 motorcycles for Mortality and morbidity staff for their monitoring committee. They use the motorcycle to enter into villages, to fish out people who are having delivery problems. I mean pregnant women, so we renovated the primary health centre at Inyimagu, the renovation cost was not less than N450, 000. We also procured drugs worth of one million and hundred thousand for them, we build cupboards for them for dispensing their drugs, and so many other things. Even the health centre at Onuafor, that was built by MDGS, we procured Land to compensate the Land owners because before the building came up, there was cassava farm there and we had to remove those cassavas and compensated the owners. We have been rendering other services to them.

What have your office done to alleviate poverty and empower the youths?

My comment on that is that, I have actually assisted so many people to alleviate poverty and a case I pointed out is about 64 number adhoc staff I employed, and pay them from my own purse. It is not government but I did that; it is not the state governor, 64 adhoc staff in number and I have been paying them on regular basis. I have also empowered some of the people who are hair dressers, typists or computer operators, I have helped them with not less than N100, 000 each and if you calculate the number, they are more than 30 people that received not less than N100, 000 from me. Even cripples and less privileged people have benefited, we have been doing it as a seasonal greetings, sometimes during Christmas and Easter periods.

During the 2007 general elections, we learnt that two persons were killed in Ezza South, to be precise Kpakpaji area; did your development centre record any death during the period?

Continues on page 21

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The Advocate Gospel This Week

RESPONSIBLE AND CARING RELATIONSHIPS Text: 1 Timothy 5:3-4 Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need. But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God. (NIV)

NARRATION Our old sinful nature is more selfish than we think.

But in the family of God we follow Jesus who unselfishly gave His own life to save us, when we could not help ourselves (Romans 5:6-8). If He did that for us, then how much should we do for others, especially those who cannot help themselves? So one of the first tests of our faith in Christ is the way in which we treat our elderly and helpless relatives.

Practically, it is only fair. Our parents sacrificed their time, energy and money to look after us as we grew up: so when they are less able to provide for themselves, we have an obligation to help them.

That is a personal debt of honour which we should not ignore. It is also a spiritual priority to care for parents and grandparents, and to do so lovingly.

When we do so, God is pleased. If we despise this instruction, God is dishonoured.

The care of elderly relatives can be one of the most testing experiences of our adult lives. Our parents understand this because often they will also have looked after their parents. They know the cost. Some will do everything to avoid being a burden on the family; others will indulge what they see as their right. Nevertheless it is our spiritual duty to administer God's grace to frail and mortal humanity; it is a very important part of following Jesus.

Prayer: Dear Lord God. Thank You for loving me, and for sending Jesus to be my Saviour at such great personal cost. Forgive me when I ignore the needs of others, particularly the older members of my own family. Please help me to reconsider how I can fulfil my spiritual responsibilities to them, in caring for them and showing my gratitude for all they have done for me. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Chief Imam remanded in prison sometimes in 2012 at Alaba Estate Langbasa town, Etiover N3m fence Osa Local Government

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hief Imam of Lagbasa Central Mosque in Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State, Alhaji Akibu Adam, is still languishing in Kirikiri Prisons, Lagos, several days after he was arraigned before an Igbosere Magistrate Court, Lagos for damaging the fence of an estate belonging to Archbishop Felix Job. The Chief Imam is been detained following his inability to meet his bail conditions.

Adam, who was arraigned alongside four others, Alhaji

Oseni Falana, Chief Shamsudeen Elegbeleye and Tunde Ashafa, was alleged to have conspired with others to destroy the fence of a 10-acre land located at Langbasa Estate, in Eti-Osa council.

Police Prosecutor, Michael Okon, alleged in the threecount charge leveled against the defendants, that the destroyed fence, valued at N3 million, belonged to Archbishop Job. Part of the charge reads: “That you, Akibu Adam, Oseni Falana, Shamsudeen Elegbeleye, Tunde Ashafa and others at large,

Area, Lagos, did maliciously damage the fence of entire 10 acres of land valued at N3 million, property of Archbishop Job.” The alleged offence committed by the defendants is punishable under sections 52, 337 and 409 of the criminal law of Lagos State, 2011.

When the charge was read to them, the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges and were granted bail in the sum of N5 million by Magistrate H. O. Omisore.

The matter has been adjourned till July 2.

Emergency Rule: CAN decries renewed killing of Christians

Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor

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hristian Association of Nigeria on Thursday alleged that Christians were still being killed in the North by Boko Haram members despite the emergency rule imposed by President Goodluck Jonathan.

CAN President, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, stated this in a statement by his Special Assistant (Media and Public Affairs), Mr. Kenny Ashaka.

Jonathan last May 14 had declared emergency rule in Yobe, Adamawa and Borno states following the unending violence in the states.

Oritsejafor said, “Last Friday, for instance, an executive member of CAN in Gwoza Local Government, Rev. Luka Bazigila and a member of the COCIN Church, Yohanna,

both of who were in attendance at a Christian fellowship were shot dead by gunmen, who mounted a tricycle.

“Members of the sect also killed the step mother of the Medical Director of the Borno State Hospital, when they could not find the doctor at home. A Muslim guard, employed by a Christian architect in Abuja, was mistaken for a Christian and shot dead. One COCIN member on the Mandara Mountain was burnt by members of Boko Haram on Sunday morning.”

Commiserating with the families of the victims of the renewed killings, the CAN President called on Christians to pray for peace and unity of Nigeria as well as an end to the insecurity.

Oritsejafor added, “In the light of a recent statement that the military recovered a document containing the names of Boko Haram sponsors, I call on the Federal Government to expose the sponsors now. I believe that such exposition will go a long way in the fight against Boko Haram and serve as a deterrent to others who might want to toe the same line”.

Citing reasons other than religion as the cause of the insurgency by Boko Haram, the CAN President pointed to a recent statement by the leader of the sect, Alhaji Abubakar Shekau, where he called on Islamists in Afghanistan, Pakistan andIraq to join the sect to create an Islamic state in Nigeria.

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Democracy Day: Gov. Elechi tasks Nigerians on imperative of freedom.

By Chinedu Ngwuta, Abakaliki.

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overnor Martin Elechi of Ebonyi State has tasked Nigerians to the imperative of freedom in a democratic setting which he said was the sole aim why Nigerians opted for the transition from military rule to civilian rule in 1999 while noting that “today marks 14 years of uninterrupted civilian rule in Nigeria after a protracted period of military interregnum” Elechi, who gave the charge during the 2013 Democracy Day celebration at the Abakaliki To w n s h i p S t a d i u m w h i l e presenting his speech titled, “the imperative of freedom in a democratic setting” noted that freedom was the fundamental human right which every dick and harry struggle to achieve.

According to Governor Elechi, who observed that Nigerians were also coincidentally celebrating their 100 years of nationhood which will end in January 2014 stated that, “It is important to note that in our 100 years of existence as a country and, prior to our independence, in our quest for transition from Military to Civilian Rule, and in our quest for democracy as a preferred option, the connecting thread is the quest for freedom.

Freedom is a fundamental human right which every nation struggles to attain; which every corporate body and nay, every individual, struggles tenaciously to achieve; because it is freedom that manifest our greatest potential in arts, in science, in industry and in human organization. In brief, it is in freedom that we are at our best “ He further noted that the victory over colonial rule which was hardly remembered was the real cause of our celebration as he pointed out that despite the recorded achievements on the economic well-being and overall development provided in some dictatorial setting such he said did not still guarantee voluntary mass participation instead result in mass alienation and slavery.

“The fundamental gain in democracy is, therefore freedom: freedom to choose who to rule us, freedom to criticize programmes and policies of government and, most importantly choose, freedom to contribute by way of advice on how governance can better be improved” “It also includes freedom to choose which political parties to belong to and freedom to vote according to one's conscience.

Since such freedom is a shared value, it implies that nobody's right to say' yes' on an issue is

superior to another person's right to say 'no' on the same issue”

“That explains why the Peoples Democratic Party echoes the slogan of “One Man One Vote, One Woman One Vote, and One Youth One Vote.

Nobody has the right to coerce anyone else to vote against his conscience” “Worse still, the coercion and often times, the killing of those who have contrary views to what a local wants, is a crime against humanity and an offence against God. Our freedom is, therefore, guarded within the limit of the law of our land.

Where such is not the case, the citizens lament their fortune. This explains why we organize on regular basis,

town hall meetings and provide public opinion boxes for the citizens to express their feelings without fear of molestation-a practice that is unthinkable in a military dispensation”, he said.

Also, Governor Elechi said that the backward slide noticed in the nation today was unnecessary going by the honest labor of our forefathers which has brought us where we are today.

He pointed out that there was a backward slide in the quality of education being given to the present-day children; there was a backward slide in the display of honesty as corruption, he said was taking a centre stage in public life, adding that “there was also backward slide in moral rectitude” even as he said that granted the “progress we were making in politics which is the main centre of conflict that we still have a long way to go.”

Ahead of the next local government election in Ebonyi state, Governor Elechi, who condemned in its entirety the banditry and brigandage as well as vile butchery of innocent citizens all in the quest for power in the last general election which he said was unjustifiable noting also that during their quest for Ebonyi state creation and independence, they never engaged in any form of violence.

“As we brace up to the next local government elections, coming up in a few months' time, let our political gladiators know that this administration will go any length to ensure prevalence of peace borne out of the imperative of people's right to freedom. All security agencies shall be deployed to the maximum, to guarantee the freedom of even the smallest person in Ebonyi State”, he said.

Flooding in parts of Yenagoa: Bayelsa Govt warns land developers against building on natural drains

By Philip Eke, Yenagoa

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n a clear demonstration of concern over flooding affecting some residents of Yenagoa, resulting from the ongoing road construction works, the state Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah has undertaken an assessment tour of some of the affected parts of the town.

Speaking to newsmen at the end of the tour, the Deputy Governor assured the people that government would put palliative measures in place to lessen their sufferings, while appealing to the affected residents to show understanding and cooperate with government by clearing their drainages to make for free flow of water.

Rear Admiral Jonah assured them that government was doing everything possible to address the problem and directed the commissioner for works and infrastructure and other relevant ministries as well as agencies to work closely with the various contractors to create temporary channels to drain out water from the affected areas.

Describing the landform of Yenagoa and its environs as very low, the Deputy Governor observed that though it is difficult to completely prevent flooding in the meantime, the present administration would engage the services of technical experts to carry out relevant baseline studies with a view to constructing major drainages within the town.

Rear Admiral Jonah however, warned the people to resist the temptation of building on natural drainages, stating that henceforth, government will not hesitate to deal decisively with those who

flout the already existing land development and town planning laws.

“The drainage problem has been a persistent one, because people build on areas that they are not supposed to. We have seen some channels that people have built

across, thereby obstructing the flow of water. It does not encourage sustainable development and so we will do everything we can to put a stop to that within the confines of existing urban and town planning laws.”

“Bayelsans should also help us, you don't need to dump garbage on drainage path because if you do that your house will be flooded. There are areas we have identified that needs immediate intervention for water to flow, he said”.

Ebonyi Assembly recalls suspended members.

By Chinedu Ngwuta, Abakaliki.

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wo suspended members of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly, the former Deputy Speaker, Honorable Valentine Okike-Uzor, member representing Onicha West Constituency and Honorable Princess Lilian Igwe, member representing Ivo Constituency who were suspended on grounds of alleged gross misconduct have been recalled and their suspension lifted.

After a careful deliberation of a two separate reports presented by Honorable Julius Nwokpor who was the Chairman of the adhoc committee to investigate the allegation leveled against them on the floor of the house which deliberated on by the committee on the whole, the Speaker of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Rt. Honorable Chukwuma Nwazunku said that “the suspension of Okike Valentine has been lifted, he is going to resume as a member of the House and not as a deputy speaker and also that of Lilian Igwe” The motion for the adoption of the adhoc committee reports was

moved by the Majority Leader of the house, Honorable Sam N. Nwali, who appealed to other members to adopt the reports and was seconded by Honorable Chike Ogiji who noted that to err is human while to forgive is divine.

The report read in part, “on.

Valentine Okike-Uzor accepted the allegations, although he claimed that there was never a time he went out with sole intention of discussing the leadership of the Hon. House, instead, that the three times he discussed the House matter with the Secretary to the State Government and His Excellency were all coincidence, bearing in mind that he was not the head of the assembly” however the House held that the impeachment of Hon. Valatine Okike-Uzo as the deputy speaker should remain irreversible and that his suspension should be lifted to allow him join his colleagues in the act of legislation having shown sufficient remorse.

The former deputy speaker was impeached on Thursday, 14th March, 2013 over allegation of gross misconduct which borders on insubordination, indecent dressing, gossip, plotting to

impeach the leadership of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly and promoting disaffection against the leadership of the Honorable House.

While presenting the adhoc committee report on the alleged misconduct of Honorable Lilian Igwe, Chairman of the Committee, Honorable Mabel Aleke who was represented by Honorable Kingsley Ikoro a member of the committee observed that the independent investigation of the adhoc committee and the testimony of those who were invited confirmed that Honorable Princess Lilian Igwe actually involved herself in the act of drinking to the point of stupor. He added that she accepted guilty of her misconduct and showed signs of remorse which she demonstrated through three letters of apology she addressed to the committee.

The committee therefore recommended that for the fact that Honorable Princess Lilian Igwe had shown sufficient remorse in her act that the honorable house should caution her and grant her leniency to enable her join her honorable colleagues.

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Forbes rates Aliko Dangote World's 25th richest man

By Our Reporter

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enowned international journal, Forbes, has said Africa's richest man, Aliko Dangote, is now 25th richest man in the world.

Forbes also said Dangote is now the first African entrepreneur to lay claim to a $20 billion fortune as the stock value of his largest holding, Dangote Cement, leaped just three months after it released its annual ranking of the world's richest people.

The report noted that Aliko Dangote's 93 percent stake in the cement company is now worth $19.5 billion.

This was in addition to his controlling stakes in other publicly-listed companies like Dangote Sugar and National Salt Company of Nigeria and his significant shareholdings in other blue-chips like Zenith Bank, UBA Group and Dangote Flour.

His extensive real estate portfolio, jets, yachts and current cash position, which includes more than $300 million in recently

awarded Dangote C e m e n t dividends, Dangote is now worth more than $20 billion. The price is largely a market response to the company's impressive 2013 Q1 results.

The cement manufacturer's unaudited results for the three months, ending on March 31, showed that the company's pre-tax profit rose to $339 million, representing an 80.6 percent increase from last year and a strong indicator of the company's future earning potential.

The results also indicate a 79.5 percent rise in its earnings per share over the corresponding period last year.

Explaining the company's share price boost, Carl Franklin, Dangote Cement's Head of Investor Relations in the U.K said in the first quarter of 2013, the company had a huge increase in demand across Nigeria, gas supply improved considerably and the capacity was much more ramped up.

“So Q1 was the first sign of just how profitable we can be in Nigeria. The amazing thing is that 66 percent of our gas-fired production in Q1 was done at 84 percent gas.

“Imagine what would happen to margins if we did the same amount at 95 percent. This has given investors a good sense of what we can really do when everything goes in the right direction”.

INVESTORS SPEAK: Top 10 performing stocks

By Patrick Okolie

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n the top 10 stocks last week a r e M c N i c h o l s Consolidated Plc, Neimeth International Pharmaceuticals Plc, Union Bank, Ikeja Hotels plc, Livestock Feeds, and IPWA. Others that garnered enough patronage to make it to the top ten performing list include Evans Medicals, UTC Nigeria Plc, Jos International Breweries and Champion Breweries.

McNichols plc, recorded 31.40 percent price appreciation or N0.54 gains to emerge the highest price gainer during the week. It started the week at N1.72 and closed at N2.26 per share.

Listed in the food product sector of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, under the Alternative Securities Market, AseM, McNichols manufactures, packages and distributes vitamin A fortified sugar, chocolate powder, powdered milk, cereals and other food products.

Of the 11 companies quoted in the emerging market segment of the NSE, McNichols is one of the four stocks which share prices trade above two digit level, while the rest still lurk around the nominal price (50 kobo)s. Starting the year at 72 kobo, McNichols, has therefore achieved 213.89 percent return on investment when compared with the current market price. At the end of transaction on Friday, investors bought 160,100 shares of the company. Determined to keep up the pace of returns to shareholders, the company said it plans to increase its installed capacity by 300 percent during the year. Available financial statement from the company showed that it posted a turnover of N389 million for the year ended December 31, 2009, as against N388 million in 2011, while profit after tax stood at N9.2 million, up from N6.01 million in 2011.

Neimeth added 25percent or N0.20 to its share price from N0.80 at the beginning of the week to N1.00 to

emerge second on the list of top ten gainers. Listed in pharmaceutical sector, Neimeth is involved in the manufacturing and sales of pharmaceuticals, chemicals and animal health products. Already, the share price has risen by 72.4 percent y-t-d from N0.52 at the beginning of the year to N1.00 at the close of transactions on Friday. The company's financial position both in top and bottom line has not been encouraging in recent time. The company recorded a loss after tax of N69.3 million for the year ended 30th September, 2012 compared with a profit t of N113.1 million in the previous year. Though there was a 22.74 percent growth in turnover for the period from N1.89 billion in 2011 to N2.33 billion in 2012, operating profit dipped from N241.14 million in 2011 to N48.18 million in 2012.

The third highest price gainers, Union Bank, rose by 22.49 percent or N2.08 to close at N11.33 from N9.25. Union Bank, one of the eight banks rescued by the central bank in 2010, managed to escape bridged bank status and was later recapitalised on stand-alone basis, though under very controversial circumstances. As at date, the share price has risen by 384.19 percent from N2.34 at the beginning of the year to N11.33 at the close of business on Friday. The 2012 financial statement for the year ended 31st December, 2012 showed that gross earning rose by 35 percent to N96.5 billion, while profit before tax for the period stood at N8.1 billion, up from a loss of N102.6 billion the previous year. Also, the earning per share improved, rising to 46 kobo in 2012 compared to negative N12.51 kobo in 2011.

Ikeja Hotel Plc garnered 21.13 percent or N0.15 capitalgain to emerge the fourth on the list. It started the week at N0.71 and closed at N0.86 per share. Ikeja Hotel has enjoyed some level of patronage in the year, as it opened the year at N0.62 and had risen to N1.72 before declining to the present price.

Investors have, therefore gained 32.25 percent from their investment in the company. The share price has been on continuous decline since it hit N1.72 sometime this year.

Livestock Feeds Plc appreciated by 20.54 percent or N0.68 from N3.31 to N3.99 to emerge the fifth in the list. Livestock is the only company quoted on the livestock/animal specialties sector of the NSE, and it has enjoyed as much price rally as other blue chip stocks within the year. Starting the year at N0.68, the share price has rallied 486.76 percent increase compared with the closing price on Friday. The company recorded an improved turnover of

N5.43 billion in 2012, a 50 percent increase over N3.62 billion reported in the previous year. Its profit after tax was N139.1million; earnings per share improved by 42 percent at 11.59 kobo compared with 8.16 kobo in 2011.

Others are IPWA, which gained 20 percent or N0.12 to close at N0.72.

Evans Med garnered 19.23 percent or N0.50 to close at N3.10; UTC added 18.06 percent or N0.13 to close at No.85, while Jos International Breweries and Champion Breweries added 15.04 percent or N0.17 and 10 percent or N0.44 capital gains to close at N1.30 and N4.84 respectively.

With a current market cap of $20.5 billion, Dangote Cement becomes the first Nigerian company to achieve a market capitalization of over $20 billion.

“It's certainly a landmark for a Nigerian company and we're proud to be the first to achieve it.

Obviously, we are focusing on building long-term and sustainable value for shareholders through our investments in Nigeria and Africa.

Nigeria is a very entrepreneurial country and I can assure you that other companies will follow us in achieving this.”

Other companies might eventually achieve this, but it's going to take a bit of time.

Dangote Cement currently accounts for more than a quarter of the total market capitalization of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

The second largest company on the Nigerian Stock Exchange,NSE, is currently Nigerian Breweries, West Africa's largest manufacturer of Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. The company has a market cap of $8.5 billion.

Dangote debuted on the FORBES billionaires list in 2008 with a fortune we pegged at $3.3 billion.

His fortune dropped to $2.5 billion in 2009 and plunged further to $2.1 billion in 2010. His fortune surged 557 percent in 2011 to $13.8 billion after he took Dangote Cement public. He dropped to $11.2 billion in last year's rankings, but rebounded at $16.1 billion this year. Since March, his fortune has jumped another 30 percent.

Insecurity: Job creation in Nigeria, a panacea – Chukwuma

By Uju Nwankwo

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he Managing Director of I n n o s o n Te c h n i c a l Industries Nigeria Ltd, Chief Dr. Innocent Chukwuma has urged wealthy Nigerians to embark on massive establishment of industries to generate employment opportunities for our teeming unemployed youths describing it as sure way to rid the country the current security challenges.

Chukwuma who made the call on Sunday when he received award certificate as “pillar of anticorruption awareness crusader” from Anti-Corruption Awareness Organization (ACAON),he called on all levels of government, corporate organisations and wealthy individuals to contribute meaningfully in the struggle for a corruption free society by creating jobs for its citizens.

The MD Innoson groups of

companies, who is also the grand patron of the organisation in the south-east zone, stressed the importance of accountability in both public and private sector of the economy, which he said will promote economic growth and gainful employment for our youths.

Earlier in his remark, the National Chairman of the Organisation, Chief Kola Adeyemi while presenting the award said it was in recognition of his entrepreneurship drive

towards making Nigeria one of the fastest developing countries in Africa through his company as well as to appreciate his benevolence and selfless service to humanity.

He explained that his organisation, which has been working with all law enforcement agencies in detecting both minor and major crimes in many parts of the country, has come to establish its presence in the south-east zone, noting that in no distance time the impact of the organisation will be felt in the zone.

Adeyemi said as an NGO they are trying to make the country a better place for Nigerians, especially the youths and generations to come, saying “the way corruption has been ravaging the country, something serious should be done to stem it down”.

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ultry actress, Halima Abubakar is one screen queen that always gets herself in the news; either she creates them or the news creates itself around her.

No doubt, she is a lady qualified to be called a wife and mother, but she is still very much a single lady 'singing here I am'. In a recent interview, Halima claimed she would be ready for any when she clocks 34.

But if her latest post is anything to hold on to, it means Nollywood would welcome the newest 'married woman' in its 'cabal'.

Halima recently posted a wedding gown picture and dropped a note which reads, "next levels". It is not certain if she is just trying to catch fun with the post or she m e a n t i t .

Nigeriafilms.com made effort to contact Halima on phone, but her number was not reachable as at press time.

The angels in BBA 8 house!

Annabel Nairobi-born student and fashion designer, Annabel , 24, says she doesn't have any children but considers her pets to be her babies. She enjoys reading philosophical literature. She has three siblings all brothers, and all older and lists her late father as her role model, because he taught her the art of tolerance and hard work.

Huddah Huddah, 21, is a model from Kenya.

She has a Diploma in Programming.

She loves Chinese food, ugali and fish.

Her favourite books are Who Moved My Cheese by Spencer Johnson and A Man of the People by Chinua Achebe and she enjoys watching The Oprah Winfrey Show and America's Next Top Model. Her favourite musicians are Rihanna and Prezzo and her favourite actress is Angelina Jolie, “because she is beautiful, hardworking, a great actress and very charitable”.

Dillish Windhoek, Namibian-born Dillish, 22, is a third year Psychology student with a fondness for seafood. Her favourite TV shows include Keeping Up With The Kardashians and Idols and her favourite films include, The Stoning of Suriya M and For Coloured Girls. She enjoys the music of Jay-Z, Rihanna, Kanye West, DJ Zinhle and Busisiwe and her favourite actor is Kevin Hart because he is so funny and lifts her spirits whenever she's down.

Beverly 21 year-old Beverly hails from Delta State and she is the only daughter of her parents. She describes herself as “smart, sexy, humble, loyal and crazy”.

One of her favourite qualities is her sense of humour. In other people, she values “maintenance, consistency, cleanliness, truth and humility” and dislikes unkept promises, lies and pretence.

Beverley said, she entered Big Brother because she believes that her everyday life is entertaining, even when she's sad. She says also that viewers can expect “a total packaged African young diva to command the right

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qualities and characteristics of a blunt, sexy go-getter”.

Fatima TV presenter and MC, Fatima,30, is from Lilongwe, the capital of Malawi.

She enjoys seafood and her favourite book is Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code . Her favourite TV shows are Game of Thrones and Sex in the City.

She describes herself as “unique, daring, nurturing, fun and loud” and says she makes friends very easily.

Fatima is looking forward to the exposure offered by Big Brother and believes that appearing on the show will be an important stepping stone in her TV presenting career.

Natasha Self-employed mom, Natasha (26) also from Malawi entered Big Brother because she looks at it as being social, educational, entertaining and a platform for fame. She describes herself as “fun, adventurous, flirtatious, crazy and sweet” and says that the qualities she likes most in herself are her patience, calmness, jokes and tolerance. She values patience, tolerance and kindness in others, but despises control freaks, liars and unfaithfulness.

Selly An actress with a certificate in Broadcasting and Journalism, Selly,

25, is from Tema in Accra, Ghana. She entered Big Brother because of “the mouth-watering prize package” that she says would change her life, and also because she wants more drama in her life to “spice it up more”.

Betty 26 year-old Betty is a translator and teacher from Addis Ababa, with a BSc in Applied Biology. She says she is brave, confident, committed and able to make the right decisions at the right time. She likes punctual, reasonable, and confident people, but dislikes people with “big mouths”.

Her favourite food is pizza and favourite book, The Notebook. She enjoys watching Friend Zone and Disaster Date and her favourite movies are The Vow, The Notebook and Flight.

She enjoys the music of Adele, Rihanna and Bruno Mars and her favourite actor is Denzel Washington, because “he can really act”.

Koketso Johannesburg-born Koketso, 26, is an entrepreneur, currently studying towards a Law degree. She says she enjoys eating “most African dishes, but to watch my weight, I eat Thai for indulgence”. Her favourite book is The Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell and her favourite TV shows are Grey's Anatomy, Basketball Wives and Game of Thrones. Koketso says the best thing about Africa is it's potential “it's like a young bright kid with endless possibilities”.

Motamma Scientific researcher and student, Motamma, 26, from Botswana has a BSc in Agriculture and is currently furthering her education. Her favourite foods include pasta dishes and sorghum cooked in milk, her favourite books are Secret of Fascinating Womanhood by Helen Andelin and Letters to My Children by Jonathan Jansen. She says it feels 'great' that Africa's eyes will be on her 24/7. She hasn't watched previous seasons of Big Brother, but her friends and colleagues always kept her up to date.

Elergy on Chinualumogu Achebe Chinualumogu Achebe, Chigi Anusigogu Wee sina na ibu Dike Dike Mkpisi Dike Eziokwu Na Dike Umuogbenye Nodu Ofuma Ibe ino keta Aru ama aju anyi oyi Maka na ndu gi kabu oche ndo Onu na kwuta ife dinma Bulukwa onu na ekwuputa ife emelu nma Onye dika gi?

Onye melu ife imelu, welu si ndimadu kachi foo Ututu ndi edemede efogo Onwerozi ife ga egbochi fa Fa afugo ife Anya asago fa Fa amata go asusus gi Welu mkpisi fa we si Anyi-amago ebe anyi kwu Anyi ada akuja-akuja Maka na Dike mkpisi akwago-uzo Nnukwute uzo salu mbala We mee ka ife dofa anya Bulu ife fa tulu anya Fa afugo ya we si Chinualumogu

Achebe, Odogwu-nwoke ka ibu

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xactly one year since the horrific crash that claimed the lives of 153 passengers and crew of the ill fated Dana flight from Abuja to Lagos .

Tiwa Savage joins in remembering those who died on that fateful day on the 3rd of June,2012 and other celebrities like Justus Esiri, Goldie, DaGrin and the ALUU4 who have passed away.

The song comes with a lot of soul. I suggest you grab some tissue.

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Focus on Nigeria's pioneer football clubs [2] Stationery Stores Football Club of Lagos Stories

By Okey Anyichie

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tationary Stores FC of Lagos, otherwise known, as the 'Super Stores' or the Flaming Flamingoes made history in Nigeria challenge cup soccer competition now Confederation Cup Soccer competition in the mid 1960's, when this titanic football club became the first privately owned soccer out-fit to win the first soccer competition in Nigeria twice in 1967 and 1968. The competition had hitherto been won by corporate bodies.

This Lagos based club side that came, saw, and conquered in the mid 60's was owned and financed by a Lagos business mogul; Chief Israel Adebajo of blessed memory., who owned a stationary stores in Lagos and a soccer buff.

In a publication by a now defunct soccer magazine, The Soccer Sun of March 1973 gave a gist of this titanic and glamorous soccer outfit in Lagos, the first privately owned football club to ascend to greater heights in the Nigerian world of soccer when the standard of football was shaky; “efforts were made to nurse the very sick soccer baby of Nigeria back to health, but in the main, they were all totally unavailing.

Meanwhile, the country had to be involved in many international matches and what were happening? One soccer bellyflop after the other, it was disgusting. It was sickening. It was shameful. All seemed hopeless. Then one man had an inspiration and at an informal gathering in 1963 startled his audience when he promised to produce a team for Nigeria; a team that will bring back the lost glory of Nigeria soccer. He already had what might be called the rudiments of a team. '' The publication went on to highlight the achievement of the club after it had earlier played in what was called commercial league and won the league in 1959-1960 football season in Lagos and gained promotion to the first League Division in Lagos in 1961; “the new management which took over before the end of the 1961 season drew up a six year programme to produce what the then new club manager, Peter Osugo described as a model club for Nigeria. The programme began to yield result. In 1964 Stores won the League Championship and had the honour of closing the chapter in the Mulford Cup knock out series the same year when they won the trophy for Keeps.” So from the year 1964 until 1969 it was a success story for the fabulous club side.

In 1967, the club side debuted in

the way-side. It also played in the now defunct Cup Winners cup but was defeated in the final by Union Douala football club of Cameroun in 1983.

This is the saga of a club financed by an individual, Chief Israel Adebajo and contributed to the development of the game from the early 60's and the set the standard of soccer in Nigeria. Up Stores! Up the Super Stores! Up the Flaming Flamingoes!

the National F.A cup soccer on Nigeria's football becoming Such fantastic players produced competition. In 1967 the one of its pioneer club. It was in by this club include, Peter Stationary Stores carrying the 1968 that the club supplied up to Anieke, Austin Mazeli, Yakubu alias Super Stores were winning seven players that helped the Mambo, Haruna Ilerika, Segun all their matches in the Lagos 'Green Eagles' the then National Olumodeji, Baba Ali, Peter Rufai, Local League and in the end team play in the Olympic Soccer Sani Mohammed among others.

Stationary Stores FC were among emerged the league champions. tournament in Mexico.

To cap this honour they emerged Although, Stationary Stores did the pioneer clubs that started the that year's Challenge Cup not win any continental trophy professional football in the winners, the most coveted trophy like 3SC, Rangers and BCC lions, country in 1990. It played for in the country. In 1968 it was a the club produced players that Nigeria in the 1993 Africa League repeat performance by the made football assume a new look. soccer championship but fell by Stationary Stores as they won the Challenge Cup the Second time.

Despite the death of the sole proprietor and financier of the club, Chief Israel in 1969, the club would not accept defeat but rose to win the Amachree S o c c e r Competition in January 1970, after beating their Lagos rivals, ECN later NEPA FC 2-1. This victory qualified them to play for Nigeria in the Africa Cup of Champions in 1970. They were knocked out of the competition by the Ashanti-Kotoko FC of Kumasi, Ghana by 2-1. Since 1970 Stores has impacted Israel Adebayo Adebajo Pioneer Stationery Founder Stationery Stores FC of Lagos

Stores FC of Lagos

Inauguration of Nigerian sports body -taking the standard of sports and South Africa. It would be to a new frontier recalled that the 2012 Olympic

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ast week, the new national sports bodies with their respective chairmen were inaugurated in Abuja the capital territory. This ceremony thus marked another year and another effort in making sports through different events to take a new bearing.

In looking at most sporting events like Athletics, Tennis, basketball, volleyball, handball, cricket, hockey, shooting, fencing, swimming, table-tennis, badminton, squash-racket, boxing, judo, karate, takwaendo, wrestling, gymnastics, weightlifting among other sports have made Nigeria to be relevant in both continental and global competitions. But how far, how well had Nigeria impacted at the international competitions at the turn of this 21st century?

Since the 2000 Olympic games took place in Sydney Australia and international games like the commonwealth and All-Africa, Nigeria's outings have been of mediocre standard compared to other great sporting countries from Africa like Kenya, Ethiopia

games in Nigeria exposed the inadequacies of the different sporting bodies, especially the athletics and boxing, the two areas that had made Nigeria to impact in the Olympic, Commonwealth and All-Africa games staring the country's officials in the face. These new officials and their chairmen of the associations have now herculean tasks before them as the teeming sports fans across the country are looking on them to change the sporting equation of the country at the international sports meets including the three major games mentioned. Hence it is not enough to win the election into different sports body but to produce results during the international sports competition.

H e n c e We a r e tired of entertaining excuses for failures like it happened last year in London. This new set of officials have now the duty to change the standard now and set a new one that will paint a new colour for the country.

A Nigerian Weight Lifter in action

Nigerian Volley-ball players during the sports festival in Lagos

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Wednesday, June 5 - Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Friendlies ahead of Brazil 2014 W/Cup

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t has been a long campaign, but two important events still remain on the football calendar: the final round of 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil qualifying matches of the season on 7 June and the FIFA Confederations Cup, which runs from 15 to 30 June, also staged in Brazil.

In order to prepare for these challenges and to run the rule over their squads, the coaches involved will embark on a number of friendly matches between 28 May and 9 June.

The big match, played on June 2 between BrazilEngland end 2-2 at the Estadio do Maracana, Rio de J a n e i r o Luiz Felipe Scolari is fast running out of time in his mission to reinvigorate the Brazilian national team.

Nearly four months after his first match in charge, a 2-1 defeat by England at Wembley.

Nigeria on 31st May played Mexico 2-2 in an international friendly in Houston, Texas U.S.A. another African country that played a high profiled friendly over the weekend was Cameroun, in an encounter with Ukraine

ended in a goaless.

Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque will take all of the players selected for the FIFA Confederations Cup to Miami. During La Roja's penultimate warm-up match against Haiti, he intends to rotate his squad so as to give a break to certain Real Madrid and Barcelona stars, who normally make up three quarters of the team.

Didier Deschamps, meanwhile, whose France side will serve as a sparring partner for Uruguay and Brazil, is continuing his quest to reduce the average age of his side. Consequently, he has handed first-time call-ups to three 22-year-olds, namely Porto defender Eliaquim Mangala, Josuha Guilavogui, who is coming off the back of an excellent season with Saint-Etienne, and Lyon forward Alexandre Lacazette, a former youth international.

F i n a l l y, B e l g i u m h a v e travelled to the United States, to the sports centre at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, to prepare for their FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Serbia on 7 June.

Blaszczykowski signs five-year Dortmund deal B

orussia Dortmund have kitted out midfielder Jakub Blaszczykowski with a new five-year contract, tying him down until 2018.

The 27-year-old Polish national team captain, who has made 168 Bundesliga appearances to date, scoring 25 goals and setting up a further 41, put pen to paper on the new deal on Monday.

'Important cornerstone' He follows the examples of Sven Bender, Neven Subotic and Roman Weidenfeller in committing his long-term future to the beaten UEFA Champions League finalists.

“Kuba is an important cornerstone of our side, both sportingly and as a person,”

my second home,” added the games for St. Pauli while on 60-time Polish international. loan during the 2012/13, has Meanwhile, Dortmund have moved to 1. FC Nuremberg. confirmed that Daniel "We wish Daniel all the are planning ahead long term Ginczek, who scored 18 best," said Zorc. said BVB sporting director with me. I've long felt this is goals in 31 Bundesliga 2 Michael Zorc. “He was a World Cup Brazil 2014 Qualifiers sensation throughout Europe last season and we're (CAF 2nd Round) delighted to be able to build a long-term future with him.”

Group F Standings:

Blaszczykowski, or 'Kuba' for short, joined Dortmund in 2007 from Wisla Krakow, and now feels more than at home in the city. “When my contract's up, I'll be able to look back on over a decade with BVB,” he reflected; “That's a long time in professional football nowadays.

Proud Pole “It makes me extremely proud that a big club like Borussia Dortmund have shown such faith in me and

Results\Fixtures: 2/3 June 2012: Kenya 0:0 Malawi; Nigeria 1:0 Namibia 9 June 2012: Malawi 1:1 Nigeria; Malawi 1:1 Nigeria 23 March 2013: Namibia 0:1 Malawi; Nigeria 1:1 Kenya 05 June 2013: Malawi vs Namibia; Kenya vs Nigeria 12 June 2013: Malawi vs Kenya; Namibia vs Nigeria 06-10 Sept 2013: Nigeria vs Malawi; Kenya vs Namibia 5 June 2013: Malawi vs Namibia - 14:30 Local Time

Vol. 1 No. 24, Wednesday, June 5 - Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Celestine Babayaro Back page comment

Prayers and glory for Cup Victory

By Okechukwu Alaku

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en of God-turned prayer warriors appeared in good number claiming that they were behind the victory of Super Eagles in the last African Cup of Nations tournament in South Africa.

Different prayer groups and individuals some of who went into fasting or passed sleepless nights stood their grounds as key players to the victory.

Concern arose no sooner the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) paid a whooping sum of N1.9m to one of the prayer ministers than other groups emerged so much that the warriors were bedeviled with crisis each asking for a reward claiming to be the rightful god of soccer who tilted the pendulum of victory to the Nigerian side.

Nigerian won the trophy first in 1980 and again in 1994. No one ever raised a voice or told us that the strategy with which a match is won could be by prayers.

Indeed, Nigeria needed to reposition her image if only through sports then and that had compelled her to shop for

foreign coaches with all hands on deck and all the hurdles that kept us far from the cup the prayer never surmounted all the forces until the year 2012 when a local coach came on board.

Thanks to the men of God for their determination and commitment to win the trophy through prayers but they must remember we have many more trophies ahead including the World Cup which is yet to be won in Africa. Could it be that the god of soccer will allow this trophy elude us again.

Thank God if we can be sure to qualify for the quarter finals through persistent prayers.

When Rangers International of Enugu introduced praying inside the pitch-locking their heads together before their club matches in the early seventies and won most of their matches -several other clubs saw it as a factor in winning their matches.

The then IICC of Ibadan, Mighty jets of Jos, Sharks of Port Harcourt, Abiola Babes of Abeokuta etc bought the idea and embarked on prayers until each crashed and went into relegation one after the

other.

Matches accompanied with prayers are not only meant to emerge victorious but also for players to finish the competition without injury.

Those who seek for reward after the Nations Cup must realize that the entire nation including the players was calling for divine intervention too. They could have assured Nigerians that they are special warriors about to turn the table in favour of Super Eagles.

Now that the World Cup is underway the nation looks up to them for what they can do and not what the nation will do. They can be sure of rewards not only from the Nigerian public but also from African community.

Every nation desirous to win the World Cup must work hard for it. No amount of permutations, including relying on prayers can readily assure any one of victory until the end of the prestigious tournament.

Football is no mathematics as the saying goes so it is difficult to lay claim to victory in any competition from prayers.

Many more evangelists and

churches are growing up in Nigeria including those who encourage members to feed themselves with Indian Hemp to inspire them into action in invoking the spirits.

The so called churches have introduced all sorts of manipulations and indeed prayers that can turn the blue into white and black into yellow so claiming of having won a trophy through prayers may not be a dream but a fact among the believers.

We do not doubt the efficacy of prayers, but attributing certain achievements to prayers alone may not be acceptable to people for they could as well require to know in advance the score in such matches to buttress their authenticity. Perhaps the real attractions to such prediction lies in the seeming accuracy of its analysis.

For a club to win a match, it must prepare very strongly to cope with strategies of their opponents. Prayers or no prayers may be an added pep to success. No matter how frequently or persistently we pray we live in critical times and need to ask for God's guidance in dealing with the problems of life.

Hycieth Babayaro (born 29 August 1978 in Kaduna) is a former Nigerian footballer. He was named after Pope Celestine V. Club career Babayaro began his playing career at Nigerian side Plateau United, before moving to Belgium club Anderlecht in 1994, and eventually would make a name for himself, quickly gaining firstchoice status although still a teenager.

Chelsea Babayaro was signed by Chelsea after being spotted by scout Lewis Durkin in April 1997. He moved for a transfer fee of ÂŁ2.25 million, a club record paid for a teenager at the time During his time at Chelsea, the team won the FA Cup, and Charity Shield in 2000, and reached the FA Cup final in 2002. He faced competition from Graeme Le Saux during his seven-year spell, but managed to play over 200 games for the London side. His acrobatic celebrations with backflips were noted and loved by the fans of the club.

Newcastle In January 2005, he left Chelsea to join Newcastle United on an undisclosed fee, where he established himself as first choice left back. He scored his first and what turned out to be only Newcastle goal in a 31 win over Coventry City in the FA Cup. Recent activity On 21 January 2008, 29-year-old Babayaro came to an agreement with the Los Angeles Galaxy to join them on a three-year contract, effective immediately. With this move, the Nigerian rejoined Galaxy coach Ruud Gullit who previously brought him to Chelsea in 1997 and spent a season coaching him there. This time again, it was precisely recently-hired Gullit who wanted Babayaro at his new club. However, it did not take long for the move to turn sour as the Nigerian who had spent the majority of his career with top English outifts was more than shocked when faced with realities of life in the Major League Soccer. Thinking that he had arrived at sort of an American superclub that only a year earlier gave David Beckham what was widely reported to be the $250 million contract, Babayaro was agitated by what he considered to be shabby accommodations from having to fly in the economy class to sharing a hotel room on the road.

International career After being part of the victorious Nigerian team at the Under-17 World Championships in Japan (1993), Babayaro made his international senior debut in the Afro-Asian Championship in 1995, against Uzbekistan. The following year he was part of the Nigeria Olympic gold medal winning team at the Atlanta 96 football event, making the tournament's all-star team. He scored in the Gold Medal game itself against Argentina. After missing the entire 1997/98 Premier League season with a knee injury, Babayaro recovered just in time to make the France 98 squad. He was also Nigeria's captain at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, and took part in the Korea/Japan 2002 FIFA World Cup.