THE
ADVOCATE ...for Equity and Justice
www.theadvocatengr.com
Vol. 1 No. 7, Monday, October 8 – Sunday, October 14, 2012
Chime moves against God’s House Page 5
N150
Police buy stolen gadgets from me Page 28 – Fake Soldier
FLOOD: We’re hungry, sick, dying, victims cry to FG We have not had bath for 7 days T Epidemic outbreak imminent Pregnant women deliver in camps
By Ted Peters
he frequent flood disasters ravaging many states of Nigeria, in some cases, could be likened to the Biblical Great flood which God reportedly used in destroying the first world. So far, 148 people have died nationwide on account of the flood disaster in 21 states of the federation, according to Red Cross. Mostly affected states are Delta, Kogi, Anambra, Rivers, Bayelsa and Benue. Other states include Niger, Kwara, Kebbi,
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Igbos haven't had a fair deal in Nigeria's 52 years – Ohanaeze Kogi flood victims now refugees in Enugu State
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Pope's domestic servant Paolo Gabriele jailed for theft Page 4
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Pope's domestic servant Paolo Gabriele jailed for theft
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Ruth Emmanuel Stage Name: Rutex Birthday: August 28 Phone: 08053595342 Profession: Student/Artist School: Kogi State University, Ayangba Hobbies: Singing, Dancing, Reading & Praying Dislike: Dishonesty & Gossip
he BBC's Alan Johnston said it was probable that the Pope would pardon Mr Gabriele, seen here on the right Pope Benedict's ex-butler Paolo Gabriele has been found guilty of stealing confidential papers from him and sentenced to 18 months in jail. Prosecutors had called for a three-year sentence but it was reduced because of "mitigating circumstances". Speaking before the verdict, he said he acted out of love for the Church and did not see himself as a thief. Gabriele had denied the theft charge but admitted photocopying documents and "betraying the Holy Father's trust". Gabriele's lawyer had asked for the charge to be reduced, but described the sentence as "good" and "balanced". Christina Arru later said she did not intend to appeal against the verdict, Reuters reported. The agency quoted her as saying Gabriele was "serene" about his fate and "ready to accept any consequences”. This is not the end of the affair of the Pope's butler. Under Vatican law a sentence does not become definitive until it has been confirmed by two appeal courts and this could take months to complete. But the Holy See would like to see rapid closure of the butler scandal. Vatican Radio a n d t h e Va t i c a n d a i l y newspaper have devoted little space or time to the trial as they are giving major prominence to a conference of bishops from around the world which begins in Rome this weekend. The subject: The New Evangelisation or how to stop the current haemorrhage of believers in many formerly predominantly Catholic countries. A swift end to the trial of Paolo Gabriele was part of Vatican strategy to regain confidence among believers after an embarrassing string of scandals inside the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church. Gabriele is "very likely" to be pardoned by Pope Benedict, Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi said, though it is not clear when this might happen. The former butler was accused of stealing and copying the Pope's documents and leaking them to an Italian
journalist. The BBC's David Willey in Rome says official Vatican media have almost totally ignored the trial since it began and morning radio bulletins have omitted to mention the story. 'High moral motives’ The verdict was delivered after two hours of deliberation by the judges. Presiding judge Guiseppe Dalla Torre handed down a sentence of three years, then cut it to 18 months on the grounds of Gabriele's lack of a criminal record, his apology to the Pope and past services rendered to the Church. The former butler will also have to pay court costs out of his own pocket. Gabriele has now been returned to house arrest inside his Vatican apartment, where he has already been confined for several months. The verdict brings to an end a week-long trial that has revealed an embarrassing breach of security at the highest levels of the Vatican. On the last day of the trial, defence and prosecution lawyers gave their closing arguments, and Gabriele made a final appeal. "The thing I feel most strongly is the conviction of having acted out of visceral love for the Church of Christ and of its leader on earth," he said. "I do not feel I am a thief.” Ms Arru accused the Vatican police of irregularities and failures during their investigations. She asked the court to reduce the charge to common theft or illegal possession, saying Gabriele had high moral motives although he had committed an illegal act. Prosecutor Nicola Picardi
had sought a three-year sentence, with an indefinite ban on Gabriele holding public office or positions of authority. During testimony, the three judges presiding over the court heard how Gabriele used the photocopier in his shared office next to the Pope's library to copy thousands of documents, taking advantage of his unrivalled access to the pontiff. He would later pass some of them on to journalist Gianluigi Nuzzi. In 2010 Mr Nuzzi released a best-selling book, entitled His Holiness, largely based on the confidential papers and detailing corruption, scandals and infighting. Confession Its publication sparked the hunt for the source of the leaks inside the Vatican, leading to Gabriele's arrest in May. Police also told the court how they found thousands of documents at Gabriele's home, including some original papers bearing the Pope's handwriting. Some had the instruction "destroy" written by the Pope in German on them. Although Gabriele entered a not guilty plea, prosecutors say he confessed to taking documents during an interrogation in June, a confession he later stood by in court. He told prosecutors he hoped to reveal alleged corruption at the Vatican, and believed that the Pope was being manipulated. "I feel guilty of having betrayed the trust of the Holy Father, whom I love as a son would," he told the court earlier this week.
Paolo Gabriele
THE
ADVOCATE
Monday, October 8 – Sunday, October 14, 2012
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NEWS
By Ted Peters and Uba Ani
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HE members of Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries, MFM, have cried out over the move by Enugu State Government to demolish its South East Regional Headquarters located at No. 3 Zik Avenue, Uwani Enugu. Already, the church has dragged Governor Sullivan Chime to the State High Court challenging his government's decision to pull down the “House of God” which, it claimed, was lawfully acquired by the church since 1994. The Enugu Capital Territory D e v e l o p m e n t A u t h o r i t y, ECTDA, had notified the church of its intention to demolish the large church building saying that the State Executive Council had given necessary approval for it on the ground that it was located within the Asata River waterway. Leaders of the church engaged officials of the state government in a prolonged dialogue over the issue but all efforts to get the government to rescind the decision proved abortive hence the church opted for the court. In a suit No E/585M/12 filed at the Enugu State High Court by the church's counsel, Ikeazor Akaraiwe of the Akaraiwe and Associates, supported by a 16paragraph affidavit sworn by Pastor Kennedy Udogaranya on behalf of the Church's registered trustees, the church sought among other reliefs an interlocutory injunction r e s t r a i n i n g t h e defendant/respondent (Governor Chime), by themselves, assigns or agents from demolishing the plaintiff's church building at 3 Zik Avenue by P&T Bridge Enugu as stated by His Excellency the Governor and alter ego of the 1st Defendant/Respondent on Monday 17th September 2012 when he visited the said building which is covered by Certificate of Occupancy dated 27th July 2009 and registered as No 17 at page 17 in volume1449 in Lands registry at Enugu and further covered by building plan approval of 2002 pending the determination of this suit. Upon the application made by the plaintiff through the motion, The Chief Judge of Enugu State, Hon. Justice Innocent Umezulike granted an order restraining the defendants which includes; Enugu State Government, Enugu State
Court stops Mountain of Fire demolition We prayed for Chime’s re-election, now he is against us Capital Territory Development Authority, Hon. Commissioner, Ministry of Land and Survey and Hon. Commissioner of Environment from advancing further in the demolition exercise till the 3rd day of October 2012 when the motion on notice will be heard and determined. When the matter came up on October 3, the Court further extended its earlier order till the December 18,2012 when the matter will be listed for hearing
24 and signed by the Hon Commissioner of Lands and Survey, Dr Chukwuemeka Ujam reads:“Notice is hereby given to you who have or may still have genuine interest in plot B Public Building Commercial Layout, Uwani Enugu in Enugu South Local Government Area of Enugu State that the Building Certificate of Occupancy of the said plot dated 1995 and registered as 33/33/1999 in Deeds Registry to Anunba Daniel but subsequently gave
The later correspondence from the Ministry of Lands which the church described as “an after-thought”, was seen as an effort by the government agencies to cover-up the suspected breach of due process of the law and received by the church on the September 3, 2012 states: “You are notified that after 14(fourteen) days from the date of this letter, the Enugu State Government will exercise its right to revoke the right of occupancy over the said plot in
Mountain of Fire building marked for demolition and determination. But in a twist, when the demolition was not carried out on September 21 as threatened by the government agents due to pockets of resistance through the court suit and pleas from various quarters, the state government through its Ministry of Lands wrote the Church and other members of the public who may have genuine interest in the said plot of land that it had been revoked. This, the church said, was a ploy by the government to strip the church of its right of occupancy in order to pave the way for the demolition of the edifice. The letter dated September
Power of Attorney to you dated 2nd….1998 is hereby revoked for building without approved building plan and also building a worship centre in a commercial/residential area, thereby violating the purpose clause which in addition constitutes a breach of covenant.” Not done with the plan which unfolded like an unrehearsed script, and upon the perception of a possible breach of process, the church received another letter dated September 7, 2012 on October 3, 2012 from the Commissioner, Ministry of Lands notifying the church of its intention to revoke the said plot of land.
accordance with Section 28 (s) (A & B) of The Land Use Act”. According to a member of the church, “one is left with doubts as to why the 'letter of intention to revoke', though bearing an earlier date, was only delivered on October 3, about one month after it is believed to have been written, otherwise the uncoordinated ways these letters were hurriedly done and delivered looks suspicious and suggests ardent resolve to effect a must-win situation against the people of God.” The Advocategathered that following the mass demolition of structures perceived to be in contravention of development laws in the city by ECTDA,
Governor Chime on Monday September 17 made an unscheduled visit to the church after an inspection of the ongoing Zik Avenue - P&T Bridge project on a fact-finding mission where he met some of the church officials. It was learnt that after a short discussion with the Church's Pastor, Kennedy Udogaranya on the lingering issue of adverse encroachment of church building on the Asata River w a t e r w a y, t h e G o v e r n o r summarily passed his verdict disapproving the building and reportedly declared that the demolition of the multi-million Naira building would commence on Thursday, September 20, 2012. The Assistant General Overseer, AGO, of the church, Pastor Ladi Abiodun, who addressed a news conference on the issue, explained that Mountain of Fire Ministry through her General Overseer got the two plots of land, A and B from one Basil Ene who transferred the Certificate Of Occupancy to the church on May 27, 1994 after satisfying all the necessary conditions required by law. The AGO wonders why government is hell bent on demolishing the Mountain of Fire Ministry Church at its present location even when there are numerous such structural development along the Asata River bank starting from Coal camp to New Haven areas, adding that the government might have ulterior motives. Pointing at another building opposite the church located very close to the river, Pastor Abiodun said“government should be transparent and holistic in her acclaimed drive to protect the water ways otherwise why was this building not earmarked for demolition as in our Church's case”. He said that government duly allocated the said twin plots of land A and B to the original owner and upon request by the Church to the Governor, the land's certificate of occupancy was formally transferred to the church, contending that it tantamount to ultra-bias for government to reverse herself in that circumstance. Abiodun further elucidated his submission with the fact that the scenario is the same as in the Anglican Church near Edward Nnaji Park, New Haven and Catholic Bishop's residence which fence almost closed the Igboeze Street, Independence Layout, Enugu, yet these houses
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FLOOD: We’re hungry, sick, dying, victims cry to FG Continues from front page that the last flooding in the area Oyo, Ogun, Lagos and other states have also got their shares of the killing flood. No fewer than 134,000 people are estimated to have been affected by the floods nationwide. Concern is growing about the spread of waterborne diseases. Hundreds of homes have been submerged forcing the residents to seek refuge in other communities and states that still have dry land.
Snakes, Crocodiles now major threats Another disturbing dimension to the current humanitarian crisis caused by the floods is the report that crocodiles, snakes, hippos and other water animals washed into homes. "Torrential downpours in recent weeks have caused widespread destruction and forced many families into makeshift camps," the Red Cross said, adding that the situation could worsen with more torrential rainfall coming in the next few days. An official of Bayelsa state government said the terrain of the state had intensified the effects of the downpour. "Most parts of the state are swampy with a lot of sea water mixed with fresh water because we are close to rivers and the Atlantic (ocean)," said Tam Alazigha, the Chief Economic Adviser for the state. "A lot of people have been displaced. Snakes, crocodiles and hippos have been displaced and are ending up in people's homes. Everyone has been displaced," laments Alazigha, who also said, more rain is forecast and authorities are evacuating residents to shelters that have been set up in schools located on higher ground. He expressed concern that "the bad part is there is no relief yet.” Alazigha revealed that the government was working to enhance drainage around the bulging rivers. "Our main goals are to help settle the displaced people and improve on the drainage. Our hope is that when the drainage gets better and the waters subside, we can deploy more resources to see how much we can save," he said. Also, in Benue state, more than 25, 000 people were displaced after a local river overflowed, the National E m e rg e n c y M a n a g e m e n t Agency (NEMA) said.
Nightmare for travellers Worst still, Lokoja, the Kogi State capital and its environs also suffered the impact of the flooding. It would be recalled
occurred in 1969 during the civil war. Sadly, in the latest tragedy, property, farmlands, and the Niger Bridge, the link between the north and the south of the country were completely submerged. Since the last three weeks, it has become impossible for motorists to travel from the south to northern parts of Nigeria through Lokoja; the ravaging flood has been rising steadily. Even the alternative route, MakurdiGboko road which the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) earlier advised motorists to take, is no longer passable as it became flooded few days later. Those traveling from Abuja and other northern states to the East now pass through Nasarawa and Plateau, a longer route at extra cost.
communities of Kogi State draw tears. Thousands of people affected are now refugees after losing to the floods everything they had in life. Anambra Governor, Peter Obi, who had repeatedly visited the flooded communities in Ogbaru, Anambra East and Anambra West cried to high heavens and drew the attention of all relevant government agencies to quickly wade in and save the citizenry who have been rendered homeless. Although, the state government on its own had tried to help the victims, the impact on the affected people was minimal given the large number of those needing urgent help.
Pathetic experience of Kogi victims at Uzo-Uwani refugee FG's evacuation camps It was a pathetic experience order violated Last month, the Federal E m e rg e n c y M a n a g e m e n t Agencies(FEMA) ordered residents living along River Niger to move to higher ground. The evacuation order affected the states of Niger, Kogi, Kwara, Kebbi, Anambra and Delta. But this was ignored. NEMA said even when engine boats and barges were sent to the areas to evacuate the residents, many declined the offer, and rather expressed doubts over the prediction on the impending disaster. But a few weeks later, the reality dawned on the residents of the banks of River Niger and even the tributaries. From Adamawa to Jigawa, Bauchi to Plateau, Benue to Kaduna, Kogi to Cross River, Imo to Akwa Ibom, Ebonyi to Edo, and Delta to Taraba; many Nigerians have suddenly become refugees in their fatherland courtesy of the killer floods. All the affected states have gory tales to tell even though some are not heard due to lack of communication in some affected local communities. In Imo, severe flooding in Oguta, Nekede, Owerri and other parts of the state rendered many residents homeless, while thousands have also lost their homes and property to the flood in Delta State. Greater part of Asaba, the state capital had been submerged and the state Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan said it is the worst natural disaster ever witnessed in the state since its creation. In Edo State the story is not different as Etsako area of the state was submerged. For the people of the area, it is a season of agony and tears. Similarly, the experiences of the people of the Riverine communities of Anambra State and the Ibaji
when The Advocate visited Uzo-Uwani local government area of Enugu State earlier last Wednesday. Majority of the people of Ibaji local government area of Kogi State who fled their home state after they were sacked by flood are now refugees in Iggah, Ojjor and Ogrugu communities in the neighbouring Enugu State. They came from Ekanyi, Affa, Obale, Echeno, Odeke and Iyike communities in Ibaji council. The situation in the three refugee camps was indeed pathetic. Hunger, starvation and diseases were visible among the inhabitants comprising aged men, women, youths and children. Everything that makes life meaningful is lacking in the camp. Many of them sleep outside under a cold weather while those who secured mat space inside primary schools and local church buildings are not better off; the houses have poor ventilation. They refugees lack food, drugs, dresses and shelter among other things, as a matter of urgency Apart from the assistance they have received from the Uzo-Uwani local government whose Chairman, Mr. Cornel Onwubuya provided some relief materials, NEMA is yet to come to their aid.
NEMA South East zone yet to act The attention of the South East zonal office of NEMA had been drawn to the plights of the Ibaji refugees in Enugu State but the agency, as at press time weekend, was still being expected by leaders of Iggah community and the council officials who had been trying to provide succor to the refugees. Officials of Enugu State
E m e rg e n c y M a n a g e m e n t Agency(SEMA) , had visited the area but the refugees said no relief material had been presented to them so far by the state government.
Uzo-Uwani LG provides relief material It was a great relief for the refugees in the three camps last Wednesday (October 3, 2012) when the Uzo-Uwani council boss, Mr. Onwubuya, presented relief materials worth about N5 million to them. The relief materials brought down in a lorry through the rough terrain to the refugee camps, include 100 bags of rice,4 big bags of beans, drugs, 500 mosquito treated nets, 100 bags of toilet rolls , 20 gallons of 25 kg of groundnut oil, 75 torch-lights with batteries, cartoons of disinfectants, bags of onions , cartoons of Maggi cubes, 30 bags of salt, cartoons of bathing and washing soaps, mats and blankets, trailer load of satchet water, bottled water, among other essential items. Onwubuya, while making the donation, appealed to the federal government to also come to the aid of the victims, saying his council alone cannot shoulder the responsibility of catering for the refugees who, he said, are in dire need of assistance. He said he was in touch with the Kogi and Enugu state governments in respect of the plight of the victims. The council chairman told the people that he was touched by their plight; hence he had to quickly "donate this widow's mite which is a small demonstration of our concern to you all at least for now." He said the council would continue to monitor development in the camps until the victims are well rehabilitated and better taken care. He promised to procure some clothes for the victims many of who came with only the dresses they put on at the time they were evacuated.
Refugees in Enugu are over 10,000 Red Cross According to the Chairman, Enugu East Local Government Red Cross, Mr. Wilson Nzekwe, who also donated some tents and blankets to the victims, more people are being brought into Uzo-Uwani from Kogi State disaster zone every minute, thereby causing the over-crowdedness of the camps. He said the current figure of refugees in the three camps could be about 10,000. Chief Maximus Ukuta, leader of Iggah community, the major host of the refugees, thanked the
Uzo-Uwani and Ibaji local government authorities for coming to the aid of the victims but stressed the need for NEMA to urgently intervene by sending relief materials to the area. He expressed the fear that epidemic could break out in the refugee camps because of the large population of the refugees and the poor sanitary condition of the classrooms and churches in which they are currently camped. Ukuta said apart from the people of several Ibaji communities in Kogi State now in their area, many natives of Enugu Otu, Anam and Nzam from Anambra East and A n a m b r a We s t l o c a l government areas who were hit by the flood are also seeking refuge in Uzo-Uwani council of Enugu State.
How we escaped the flood in Ibaji Farmer James Oyekwu, a farmer from Odeke who is at Iggah refugee camp with his wife and seven children, narrated how they left their homes in wooden canoes after the flood had submerged their home, farmland and destroyed harvested crops. “We are now hopeless because everything we have had been lost to the flood. I don't know the sin we have committed. I have not seen this type of thing since I was born. Right now, our condition is terrible. We thank the people of Enugu State that have helped us so far. We came down here because we could not be evacuated by Kogi state government. “You can see the large number of people here. Some sleep inside the classroom and the Catholic Church building here and you can imagine what we pass through at night. Children are more here and some of them have started falling sick because of the poor environment. Help us to appeal to the Federal Government to come to our aid urgently. We have not had bath since seven days we arrived the camp. We need food, money, clothes, shelter and drugs to survive here. Let them come to our aid to avoid death in this camp,” Oyekwu told The Advocate.
Four die trying to save goat in get-away canoe He disclosed that four persons including a man, his wife and two children drowned when their boat capsized on their way to the refuge camp in Iggah after their home in Odeke was
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Monday, October 8 – Sunday, October 14, 2012
FLOOD: Epidemic outbreak imminent
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NEWS
Continues from page 6 destroyed. It was gathered that the victims were sailing in a wooden canoe when the goats they were taking along in the boat began to disturb the movement of the boat and in an attempt to calm the goat down, the boat capsized and all the occupants drowned.
Tw o babies delivered by refugees But while their relations were mourning their death in the camp, some others were celebrating the arrival of new babies. They said that a woman delivered a baby in a boat while fleeing the flooded Ibaji community; another gave birth in the refugee camp on arriving the camp. They regarded the safe delivery of the babies as compensation for the loss the suffered in the flood disaster but the nursing mothers are said to be in dire need of medical attention which is lacking in the area. The aid agencies which could have provided such assistance are yet to arrive the camps. Although some officials of Ibaji local government visited the three camps on Thursday, The Advocate learnt that they did not come with enough relief material. They were said to have made a firm promise to get in touch with Governor Idris Wada to brief him on their findings and the need to deploy resources in aid of the victims.
APGA calls for dredging of River Niger Meanwhile, the national Chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Chief Victor Umeh, who reviewed the impact of the ravaging flood on communities along the banks of River Niger, said the flooding would have been reduced if the river had been properly dredged. He called on the Federal Government to urgently embark on the dredging of the River Niger as a way of checking overflooding of the river banks and to save lives and property of those living along the coast of the river. Umeh also urged the Federal Government to urgently come to the aid of the flood victims by sending relief materials to the affected states through NEMA to alleviate the suffering of the victims since the scale of the disaster was too much for the state governments alone to handle. The APGA Chairman observed that what happened through the current flooding had clearly brought out the urgent need for the Federal Government to dredge the River Niger. He stated that “the overflooding of the banks of the
River Niger starting from Lokoja down the coast of the River Nigeria happened because of the huge silt that has accumulated along the coast of River Niger making the river no longer able to carry the volume of water occasioned by heavy rain. If the River Niger had been de-silted through dredging, this flood disaster would have been averted.” Umeh recalled that the issue of dredging the River Niger had been a constant issue and many times contracts to that effect had been awarded by the Federal Government but unfortunately not properly executed. “A long term solution to this overflowing of the banks of the River Niger will be the government awarding contracts for the dredging of the River Niger from Niger State down to the Atlantic Ocean. “The dredging of the River Niger will achieve two purposes One is that it will now make it possible for vessels to come from the Atlantic Ocean into the River Niger inland waterways and in fact making the Onitsha Port facility be put into use as large vessels can now berth at the Onitsha seaport. “Secondly, the dredging will now make the River Niger capable of containing the water flowing through it thereby averting the type of over-flooding experienced right from Lokoja in Kogi state down to Anambra State.” Umeh said that APGA was highly dismayed by the type of flood disaster experienced in four local government areas of Anambra State namely Ayamelum, Anambra East, Anambra West and Ogbaru local government areas. “We wish to call on the federal government of Nigeria to urgently come to the aid of these people who have been completely displaced from their homes.” The Advocate had in an editorial in September advised the Federal Government to declare the flood disaster a national emergency to enable it get the attention it deserves. “The urgent need for the Federal Government to declare an emergency on account of these natural disasters can not be overemphasized. Government should also set aside palliative funds to assist those affected without delay to alleviate their suffering and restore their hope as citizens. Besides, it will not be a burden too heavy for the government to rebuild the homes of those now rendered homeless as was done by governments of Indonesia, Japan and other Asian countries in recent years as a result of Tsunami of those years,” The Advocate wrote.
Flood disaster in Nigeria
When silence is not golden Continues from back page development areas which had already been established with completed infrastructure and buildings. What Imo State needs are not more government but an enabling environment to conduct their business activities. Governments all over the world are downsizing and not expanding nor duplicating positions. The governor should as a matter of u t m o s t u rg e n c y a r r e s t t h e unplanned road construction going on in Imo state as it is obvious that the gimmick to gain quick popularity has backfired. But more troubling is the environmental impact disaster the scheme is raising. The flood ravages threatening the entire Imo state will be worse during the next rainy season if remedial actions are not taken now. The governor must urgently rationalize the entire road works that has caused more damage than it has solved. What is being experienced now is that bulldozers have created huge flood paths where these did not exist before and as far as the governor was concerned breaking-up road tracks with dozers are excellence signs that he is performing. It should be dawned on him now that a huge environmental disaster is waiting to ravage Imo state in the near future if the governor has not braced himself to redirect his approach to roads construction in Imo state. The governor should think policy deep before going public with such policies. The idea of announcing first before digesting the policy is making a caricature of him. He appointed a team of what is considered first class advisers, he should gather them periodically to brainstorm on policies, considering all pros and cons before announcing and implementing them. The obvious contradictions on his statement are too much to be glossed over. The idea of erecting five star hotels in Okigwe and Orlu flies on the face of realities of their need in those areas. What businesses are there in Okigwe and Orlu to support Five Star Hotels. They are no five star hotels in Nigeria today, the closet to be rated five star hotel is Nicon Hilton in Abuja but it is
four star as far as world rating is concerned. The privately owned hotels in the two towns are meeting the needs there. Instead the governor should consider using the resources earmarked for the phantom five star hotels to erect industrial parks and provide plants and machineries for our jobless graduates roaming about and turning into kidnappers for want of what to do. Okigwe and Orlu can be turned into industrial manufacturing centres if modest industrial parks are erected with central provision of power source to manufacture needed essentials such as leather products, detergents, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, medical products, biscuits etc. The governor should stop misinforming the people about the ghost godfather that were feeding fat on local government finances because as he is pointing that accusing finger on his imaginary godfather a dozens fingers are pointing at him as a confirmed political godfather unless he is confirming that before he was elected governor he was also feeding fat on local government finances. It is morally reprehensible to tarnish the hard earned reputation of accomplished men and women with a swipe of generalization especially coming from the number one citizen of the state. The governor should stop playing politics with the education of Imo state children because education is the number one priority of Imo state citizen. Education at primary and secondary levels has been free for over 15 years in the entire country and was made possible by the federal government. The ceaseless free education propaganda mounted by your government is not helping matters in the educational sector. the governor should take a complete census of the existing schools and repair and modernize the dilapidated ones rather than abandon them as the Eldorado he is promising about new school buildings will not materialize as the cost cannot be met by his administration. At the University level, the governor should face the realities here again as Imo state can
only boast of two higher education institutions namely Imo State University, and Umuagwo College of Science and Technology. The reality check is that these two institutions can hardly satisfy the number of Imo State aspiring students. Our counterparts in the Southwest are encouraging their citizens to start opening up private universities in that region and instead of Governor Okorocha adopting such a laudable approach he is busy announcing all kinds of non existing free education and non existing payments of N100,000 to Imo students which not one single student has collected. The governor should discontinue his penchant to behave as if he is Imo State and Imo State is him. Government is not personal, it is an on going institution. He has a tenor that will expire in 2015 and going by the way he is performing no Jupiter can elect him to govern Imo State after 2015 unless he completely changes his approach. He is bleeding Imo State to death and even the hangers on around him are saying so also. His one man show is counter- productive and no longer impresses even the keke riders who were his bastion of support. The governor should realize that a majority of Imo State critical mass are losing their confidence in him which is in contrast to their feelings a year ago. The reason is of course simple - what you the governor repeatedly announced to them is not what is on the ground, namely, the masses know that there are no 1000 kilometers of tarred roads, as a matter of reality, there are no 100 kilometers of tarred roads under your administration. The projects personal to you and your siblings are what you are more interested in and cosmetics beautification of existing government buildings rather than putting in place economical inducing infrastructure. The masses are aware that the huge gates being erected all over Owerri municipal have no economic value to them. The masses are very worried that the bargain they believe they struck in electing you has turned into a huge loss, that you, the governor is a "classical buyer beware!" Dr. Lewis Uchendu writes from Abuja
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Monday, October 8 – Sunday, October 14, 2012
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S/South Assembly applauds N/A on Bakassi, Cameroon ICJ case By Edem Archibong, Calabar
The Cross River State Chairman of the South South Peoples A s s e m b l y, D r. A m b r o s e Akpanika has commended the members of the National Assembly for rising to the occasion to call for the revisit as well as supporting opinions of well meaning Nigerians that there should be an appeal of the ICJ judgment which has been long delayed because of the on intringue surrounding the Bakassi ceding to Cameroon. In a brief chart with the Advocate in Calabar, Dr. Akpanika declared that the position of National Assembly would have been the first before the handing over process were made, describing the Obasanjo administration as “garrison in the country” and having the atitude of alienating Bakassi for whatever hidden agenda not unconnected with building of business empires or attraction of international laurels for himself. In truth, the feet dragging of the Government over the Bakassi Peninsula might not be unconnected with undue influence of past administration. He expressed joy that today; the Nigerian people want the Bakassi matter to be revisited as they have been eloquently
expressed in different ways. The issue left is to establish the abundant evidence that exist to offset the current position of the Bakassi against the one held by the ICJ judgement while the request for extension of the handing over dateline exercise to the Republic of Cameroon, consequent upon the bungling of the terms of the Green Tree Agreement is also commendable. On Self-determination, some Nigerians are criticizing Bakassi natives for threatening to secede. I would describe the people who are not really following the events of the country as confusionists because they are claiming what they are not and misleading the Government as well. Dr. Akpanika, who was one time commissioner for Health recalled that the moment Nigeria with-drew its security agencies from Bakassi Peninsula and left the people to their faith despite the earlier threat given by the people of ancient City of Calabar that, “if Nigerian withdrew its troops from Bakassi, the people and owners of Bakassi will take the is destiny in their own hands”. He argued that there was no reason for praise singers to criticize the Bakassi people who
David Mark, Senate President had been abandoned to their faith and left with no option than to seek self determination should the irregularities in the implementation of the Green T r e e A g r e e m e n t ( G TA ) continue. The social critic explained that Self determination in itself is an intrinsic and inalienable imperative in the exercise of human placement and displacement arising from
international relations. That is why to deny the Bakassi people an opportunity of a plebiscite or referendum in the implementation of the ICJ declaration is contrary to the United Nation charter on human right. If Nigerian Government still remain adamant because of Obasanjo's influence and fails to appeal the ICJ judgment or blow a whistle for the bungling of the
Green Tree Agreement till the expiration of the dateline, then the issue of self determination will no longer be a threat to Nigeria. On the issue of the S'South Governor's involvement in economic summits with high ideals being postulated each time it comes up to improve the g e o g r a p h i c r e g i o n , D r. Akpanika further explained that “economic centralization as a matter of policy and the current globalization in economic principles are not new. They have been consistently taunted by the World Bank and IMF. But this principles of the global financial institutions cannot be actualized in the midst of unbridle corruption” in Nigeria. For this reasons, the great gathering of S'South Governor's “in the name of economic summits could be one of those ceremonies carried out to flaunt our wealth and potentials” because when you find out that “nothing is happening at all, long after the big ceremonies, then the reason is not far fetched. “It might be that the same or similar reasons could be proffered for the supply of power in spite of the monumental expenditure and the flaunting of great names associated with the Nigerian Power sector,” he said.
Suswam advocates for unity in Nigeria By Donald Kumun, Makurdi
A
s the “2012 EKO” National Sports Festival Torch of Unity moves round the 36 States of the Federation, the Benue state Governor, Rt. Hon. Gabriel Torwua Suswam, CON, has declared that Peace and Unity should be the watch word of every Nigerian just as sports is one sector that is capable of strengthening the national unity of the country especially at this period that the country is going through many ethnic agitations. He disclosed that at present, he is doing everything possible within there alm of his qualifications as the chief security officer of the state to ensure that his state takes the first position and rule the
country in the forthcoming national sports festival tagged “EKO 2012”. The Governor who stated this while receiving the Torch of Unity from the Torch Relay Team led by the Zone 1 (North Central) Coordinator of the National Sports Commission, Mr. Caleb Gidado in Makurdi last week said he has approved the sum of N27m to prepare Benue athletes for the event adding that the various contractors handling renovation of sports facilities in the state have been fully mobilized with all the necessary equipments moved to site with the contractors promising to complete work latest November 2012. Earlier, while handing over the Torch of Unity to the Governor, Mr. Caleb Gidado, expressed gratitude to Governor Suswam for welcoming his team to
Makurdi and charged him to main the good work he is doing in the sports sector He charged the Benue Team to ensure that they make the state proud at the festival and assured his state contingent of every possible means that would guarantee their success through logistic and welfare packages. He stated that Aper Aku stadium which is currently undergoing massive renovation will soon be completed to allow Lobi stars play their matches in Makurdi. On his part, the Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Mr Aonduwase Chia, who led his Permanent Secretary, Director of sports Council and other sports administrators in the Ministry to receive the Unity Torch at the Agan toll gate, said it is in realization of sports
development that the Governor has given much attention to the sports sector to the envy of many as seen in the massive employment of 141 performing athletes, coaches and organizing Secretaries. “The sponsorship of state's team to national and International competitions; provision of additional sporting facilities such as standard 18 hole Golf Course ;renovation of sporting infrastructure like the McCarthy Stadium, Akume Atongo Stadium and the ongoing works on the synthetic turf at the main bowl of Aper Aku stadium complex among others” On the international scene, the Commissioner revealed that the state also sponsored a delegation to Maputo for all Africa Games in 2011, while state Golf Association, he said was also sponsored by the state government for a training tour in South Africa in March this
year. “It is important to mention that our darling team, Lobi Stars Football Club at FA Cup Finals remains fresh in our minds. The brilliant performance has once again put us on the pedestal of participating in 2013 African Championship. I wish to register my profound gratitude and respect for the wonderful contributions accorded to the Ministry by sports philanthropists in the state.” This is even as the state Chairman, Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, SWAN, Mr. Emmanuel Ujah has called on the Benue state government to as a matter of necessity provide all the relevant sports training facilities to enable the various coaches call to camp timely and discover athletes which according to him is the only way to achieve the target of becoming excellent and best in sporting activities in the country.
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EDITORIAL
FLOODS: How efficient are the emergency services? N
igeria is currently under the attack of deadly floods which took the nation and her citizens by surprise. There are fears that the flood disaster could spread to other areas within the coast of River Niger and River Benue as more rains have been predicted in the next few days. Heavy losses in terms of property and lives had been recorded in more than 21 states that have so far been affected by the flood. Reports indicated that 148 lives have already been lost to floods and the most states are Delta, Kogi, Anambra, Rivers, Bayelsa, Benue, Niger, Kwara, Kebbi, Oyo, Ogun and Lagos. No fewer than 134,000 people are also said to have been displaced nationwide and most of them are now refugees in their fatherland. Several households have been deprived of their source of livelihood and many children
have been thrown out of schools. Expectedly, famine which has begun in many states following the washing away of farmlands and crops, will no doubt worsen the living condition of the citizenry next year more so when the authorities appear not to have any concrete plan for proper rehabilitation of the displaced. Reports reaching us from the affected states indicate that the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA and the various State Emergency Management Agencies, SEMA, have not demonstrated that they have capacity and resources to handle the emergency. which the nation now finds herself. Questions are being asked regarding the actual purpose for the creation of NEMA and other emergency services that are funded with tax payers' money. Their impact is not felt in the current disaster and even where they were swift
in their response, the results achieved were not meaningful. This is unacceptable. Besides regular warnings and alert about impending disasters, the emergency management agencies should be prepared at all times to respond to emergencies before they escalate and the primary objective which is why they were set up ab initio is and should be to save lives and property. There had been complaints that inadequate manpower and resources often hinder the operatives of these agencies to effectively discharge their functions. As cogent as this may be, the agencies haven't demonstrated that the much available to them had been judiciously utilized. Be that as it may, the Federal Government should as a matter of urgency strengthen NEMA and other agencies responsible for emergency
management in the country. If inadequate funding is actually their handicap, there is no justifiable reason why such vital agencies should not be duly empowered to discharge their functions at a time like this. Many Nigerians who haven't got jobs years after graduation, would be glad to take up employment in such agencies and meet the yearnings of the people. And if it has been found that the resources made available to the agencies in the past have been diverted, then the authorities should not waste time in bringing the culprits to book. On the other hand, the State Governments which have not funded SEMA to discharge their duties, should learn from the recent flood disaster and begin to see the agency as an important arm of their government by setting aside adequate funds for their activities. Safety of the citizens is a primary responsibility of the government. Nigerians are tired of hearing sad news about innocent lives being lost to flood due to the failure of the government agencies to perform their primary duties by saving lives.
Oh God, where do I go from here? Save my Soul.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR Dear Sir, I write to ask the Federal Government to seek a review of the October 10 ICJ judgement over the Bakassi peninsula to the UN. The ICJ has been open-minded The people of this peninsula have travelled a hard road; they are entitled to self -determination as they have proved; they are Nigerians;but have been lop-off. It has been proved that the Green Tea Agreement (GTA) has failed.They have been uprooted from their ancestral lands,becoming refuges in the country of birth..There is need for a plebiscite/referendum.This has been done in South Sudan. The 12th Brain storming session of the Nigeria Institute of International Affairs has offered a number of ways forward; all of which centre on the need to go beyond the ICJ legal frameworks''by engaging all the parties through stipulated processes,or we wait and allow the situation to play out with unintended consequencies''. It would be remembered that peninsula came under Cameroon sovereignty in two stages-- the northern area on August 26,2006 and the southern area on August 14,2008. The ICJ verdict was based ,among other things , on the Anglo-German Agreement on April 12,1913 and 1975 Maroua Declaration which were fraudently interpreted, and without ascertaining their wishes. It is a fact that the judges who sat on the case came from Britain.France and German; represented by judges Higgins,Guillaume and Carl August respectively. ''History teaches us ''said Abba Eban,South-African born Israeli stateman''that men and nations behave wisely once they have exhausted all other alternatives'' Also,as Judge Dillard succinctly put it in the Western Sahara Case(1975 I.C.J 12,122), ''It is for the people to determine the destiny of [a] territory and not [a] territory the destiny of people''. Thank you and God bless. Yours faithfully' Bernete Ebere-Emezue 08026230410, Owerri, Imo State
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FEATURES
Nigerians should go back to agriculture and lay less emphasis on oil – Onyenweka An 85 years old Cocoa farmer in Abia State, who had been adjudged as the number one cocoa producer in Nigeria, Chief David Nnochirionye Onyenweaku was among the 148 distinguished Nigerians who were conferred with National Honors by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan on Monday September 17, 2012 in Abuja. Chief Onyenweka who hails from Ahiaeke Village, a suburb near Umuahia was awarded Officr of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, OFR. In this chat with The Advocate Correspondent in Umuahia, Joe Akwarandu, the renowned Cocoa Farmer expresses delight at the prestigious honour, which he described as unexpected and the work of God. He emphasizes the need for Nigerians to embrace agriculture. Excerpts: Congratulations Chief, may we know how you feel over your recent award? I feel highly delighted and full of thanks to God who made this award and honour possible. I never thought in my life time that this neglected cocoa farming I choose to invest on, would one day attract the attention and recognition of the governments and much more honoring me with a prestigious Award of Officer of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (OFR). I feel highly honored. Can you recall when you started farming in cocoa and what motivated you? Thank you. I started farming as far back as 1952 after my primary school education in 1949. The story is so long, but I have to mention that immediately I left school, I had the burning desire to become a farmer and I enrolled into Umudike Agricultural Research Institute between 1950 - 52 where I was trained on the techniques of rearing sheep and poultry farming. After the course, I was presented with a Diploma Certificate in field Agriculture. I refused to pick a job in the institute as was the vogue then, but instead approached an elder brother Mr. Paul Onyenweaku, now late who helped me with little finance to start the practical of what I was thought. I started with the breeding of sheep and poultry but somewhere along the line, I had a misfortune when all my birds died in one season. That forced me to change to palm oil trading. While I was transacting my palm oil business, I think it was the will of God that I met one cocoa farmer at Umuahia beach market popularly called Akwata who came to sell some bags of cocoa to the merchants at the beach. I watched as the man sold his bags of cocoa at a staggering amount of eight pounds. I was jolted and that singular experience forced me to pick immediate interest in cocoa farming. I had to befriend the farmer to learn the technicalities including the
versatile training I had with Umudike Agric Research Institute. With the little money still left with me, I started buying lands to plant cocoa seedlings of various species. In 1962, the renowned Agricultural Premier of Eastern Nigeria, Dr Michael Okpara (of the blessed memory), launched an Amazon Cocoa seedling project which I participated in planting of c o c o a . D r. O k p a r a d i d everything to encourage us and through it, I was able to acquire up to 10 acres of land around Umuahia and environs. That way I started to make money of my own in cocoa. I remember vividly how on one day I was able to sell some tons of cocoa I produced from my farms for over forty pounds. I used some part of the money to acquire more lands from one Mr. F. Ndubuka from Nkata Ibeku in Umuahia. These lands have remained my property up till today. Chief, has it been rosy all the time, or did you encounter any obstacle in the business before or after the civil war? I love that question my brother. It has not been all that rosy. I remember in 1980, we were given loans by the government. Unknown to us, some government officials swindled us by giving us fake receipts when we were repaying, these loans. After sometime we were arrested and clamped into detention by the government for failing to repay the loans. When we presented the receipts which the government officials issued to us, it was discovered that they were faked. We were taken to court. While in the court, I made bold to tell the trial magistrate that we were swindled, to which he replied that we should first of all pay back the loans and turn back to sue the officials, who we alleged to have swindled us. On that insistence, I told the magistrate that I was going to repay my own loan and handover the case of the government officials including the trial judge to God for judgment. The court busted into
Chief David Nnochirionye Onyenweaku laughter. Having paid my own loan, some of the other farmers who could not repay theirs and were still in detention. They appealed to me to buy up their lands and pay up their loans so that they would not go to prison. I was able to pay the loans of three pound each owed by some of the farmers and acquired their mass lands that has today increased my acreage. Can you tell us what was responsible for adjudging you as the biggest cocoa farmer in the country? Sometime ago in the nineties, the IITA in Ibadan and its officials during their tours of Nigeria to appraise the production of cocoa, I took them round my farms which measured more that 50 kectres fully planted with cocoa. They were amazed and confessed that they have never seen an individual farmer with such mass land of cocoa. And I can proudly say that I supply the highest quantity of cocoa in the country. Not that alone, due to high technical training I had, I also produce the best quality of cocoa which has been proved by
researchers for years. Now that you are aging and may not be strong enough to go to the farms as before, are there members of your family who are undertaking the day to day business of this empire. In short have you any successor when you finally retire? The gentleman sitting with us is my son. He is Mr. Uche Onyenwaku. He will succeed me and I am also encouraging some youths from my place here in Ndume to join in the farming of cocoa. Those who agree to come and are in the farm, I pay them about N800 daily to encourage them learn the technicalities. Are there things you would want the Government to do for you to further enhance your productivity? Yes. Access roads to my farms have been our problems. I on my own improvised a bridge in 1960s which can no longer be able to carry any vehicle to the farms. We are forced to carry out the conveying of the products to very long distance on head to where we pack the vehicles before bringing them
to town. If the government would kindly help us by providing access roads to the farms we would be very grateful. Subsequently we appeal for government's assistance in providing chemical with which to treat the plants against pests. Looking back as a successful farmer, what would you think you have achieved? I can boast of a good family, good education to my children, and healthy life by the grace of God and comfortable home. Though I lost my lovely wife some months ago, I still thank God that he takes care of us. Secondly the farm business has afforded me the opportunity to touch lives. From time to time I have employed over 1000 workers in my farms and have a welfare scheme for them. I also have residential home for them at the farm which they live and only come home at weekends. That way they don't pay rents. Now that you have been conferred with the national honours of OFR by the President, what do you advise the nation as regards farming and reduction of unemployment in the country? My advice to Nigeria and Nigerians is that we should go back to agriculture and lay less emphasis on oil which could dry up any day. And my other advice goes to our youths including graduates to embrace agriculture and I can testify that farming is lucrative and honorable profession which can catapult anybody to the highest level in life. And I seize this opportunity to thank the President, Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, the Minister of Agriculture and R u r a l D e v e l o p m e n t , D r. Akinwumi Andesine, the Abia State Governor, Chief T.A Orji and Abia State Ministry of Agriculture and production for recognizing my little contribution in the development of the nation through Cocoa production.
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POLITICS
Leadership and Nation-Building in Nigeria L By Prof. George O. Obiazor
eadership and nation-building have consistently been Nigeria's most constant priority agenda before and since independence fifty-two years ago. Unfortunately, in spite of all good intentions and spirited efforts of the nation's leaders since 1960, these twin problems have remained a national dilemma. Throughout Nigeria's history, sub-national or ethnic nationalism has dominated and sabotaged all meaningful discussions and debates about national integration and nation-building. In fact, no generation of leaders, military or civilian, has been able to create an atmosphere of credibility to ensure Nigeria's claim to a political future as a nation. None was able to evolve a unifying national ideology that was embraced either by fellow political elites or by the Nigerian populace. Recently, some Nigerian political leaders have said that “Nigerian unity is not negotiable”. This is an irony because these leaders have forgotten, or have failed to learn, the lessons of history. Nigerian unity is definitely negotiable and must be re-negotiated for it to stand or survive the test of time. The reality over the years remains that in spite of the best efforts of all our leaders past or present, Nigerian unity is not guaranteed. It is simply, at best, an aspiration and not yet an achievement. Hence, the statement that Nigerian unity is “not negotiable” is simply a historical fallacy. In fact, just recently too in a brainstorming exercise at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) one outstanding Nigerian scholar referred to our country as one of the “most and fastest declining states in the world” and supported the assertion with startling and incontrovertible statistics. If we are to salvage our country, we must begin to face reality, stop the syndrome of self-deception and selfdelusion about a Nigerian historical exceptionality. There is no such thing as Nigeria being exempted from the logic and verdict of history. Today, if the truth be told, our diversity has turned into disorder, and our democracy into an invitation to incremental anarchy. For Nigerian unity and nationbuilding to succeed the leaders need to borrow a leaf from or emulate the experiences of countries that did not ignore the element of pluralism in their respective countries and societies. Nationalism, including ethnic nationalism, is not about to disappear in world generally, and certainly not in Nigeria, no matter how much we want to wish it away. It is still a potent force and all its advocates feel they have a strong case and believe that history is on their side. Without mincing words, the disparity between claims to nationhood and the political realities in Nigeria are responsible for the political instability, military coups, sporadic guerilla warfare, crises and violence that have characterized Nigeria's history. It is equally the same realities that compel the Nigerian political elites-military or civilian-once in power to quickly split
along many lines, particularly, the lines of ethnic origin, religion and region. The result has been inter-elite rivalries, reciprocal suspicion, hostility of position and status conflict among Nigerian elites. Consequently throughout our history, our national elites have been engaged in deadly competitions and competitions and conflicts of hostile sub-cultures, resulting in various danger signals that threaten the survival of the country. There is hardly any national issue over which our incoherent national political elites would accept consensus. Every issue is subjected to political maneuvers and intrigues, conspiracies and sabotage of one another or of one group against heightened level of elite insecurity, with its inevitable national psychosis.
LEADERSHIP One thing is clear and has always been clear: Nigeria needs credible and committed leadership for unity, nationbuilding and development to be attained and sustained in the country. In fact, we need not just leadership in the ordinary sense of the word but heroic leadership because our national problems, now more than ever, require the talents and inspirational articulateness of an extraordinary person or person for the design and execution of sustainable solutions. Certainly ordinary people or mortals have tried over the years and failed; so, perhaps, only heroes or heroic leaders and transcend the various cleavages and conflicts that continue to hang around the country's neck like the proverbial albatross. We need heroes, crises managers and leadership capable of carrying the people along. In the history of nations at crossroads like ours, France had a Charles De Gaulle, Indonesia had Surkano, Yugoslavia had Tito, Egypt had Nasser and Turkey had Kemal Mustafa Ataturk, to name just a few. These were all self-confident, visionary leaders and, without doubt, patriotic and genuine nationalists. As Richard Nixon said, “a leader is one who has the emotional, mental and physical strength to withstand the pressure and tensions, and then, at the moment, to make a choice and to act decisively. The men who fail are those who are so overcome by doubts that they either crack under the strain or flee.” In fact, the worst leaders in the world have been those who refused to make decisions over critical national issues. Nigeria as a country needs a leader who is a political man who can direct the attention and affection of the people toward himself and the collective aspirations of the entire nation. The irony is that in the past when those leaders vacillated and refused to make critical decision, they indirectly invited challenges to their own authority and legitimacy. Consequently, ours has been a country of “outrageous paradox” in the sense that it is a nation threatened, not by its masses who have nothing, but by its elites who have everything. In this context, the solution to the issue of leadership and nation-building must begin with the correct diagnosis or identification of the basic sources of the country's problems over the years. And
Prof. George Obiozor our experience ought to point to the fact that in spite of our pretences of unity, the Nigerian society actually remains sharply divided by mutually reinforcing cleavages with each segment of the population living in its own separate world. The consequences have been that all along the dangers of a breakdown of the system have been clear to any reasonable interested observer of Nigerian politics, locally as well as internationally. We must therefore reform-if you like, transform-and restructure the political system in a way that compels the allegiance of the various peoples and that comply with their individual or group aspirations. We need a system that can effectively contain or reduce the level of the disintegrative tendencies in Nigerian society. The leadership must also recognize that any new system for the country must take cognizance of the present national reality that today no single group or bloc, no matter their pretences to power, can again dominate the people and is seen as fair, just and equitable.
RESTRUCTURING THE POLITICAL SYSTEM Nigerian politics needs restructuring and institutionalization as a way to contain its adverse effects on efforts towards nation-building, national integration and national development. It is possible that with appropriate political structures, the leadership and other national problems can be reasonably managed through the democratic process. In that regard, Nigeria needs a system of shared power, bearing in mind that political decency flourishes best in societies in which stable, peaceful and just political institutions make it difficult for reckless and lawless political adventurers to thrive. Today we have two choices: first, to continue to follow our present political arrangements which favour overcentralization of governance and resources. This road is where we are now
and has in the past and present led us to all kinds of sorrow, including a civil war, the Niger Delta crises and Boko Haram, among others. It is a difficult, if not an impossible, road to follow for successful and sustainable nation-building, national unity and integration or progress. The second choice is to recognize our irrepressible pluralism and the necessity for voluntary integration. Coercive integration-or integration by force or by intimidationhas failed all over the world including Africa. Events in Sudan, for example, are indicative of the reality that no matter how long you hold people by force against their will; eventually the people's yearning for freedom and voluntary association would triumph. Vide the former Soviet Union, Yugoslavia, etc. (Otherwise as an African adage points out: if you insist on pinning and holding your victim on the ground indefinitely then you yourself must remain on the ground with him indefinitely then you yourself must remain on the ground with him indefinitely). In Nigeria it is possible to conclude that besides the failure of leadership, another important element that has retarded or restrained our development is a faulty political structure and institutional failures. In the view of many objective observers, the “true federalism” which many Nigerians are calling for is actually a call for decentralization would redeem the country from its constant and perennial fluctuation between social crises and chronic political instability and threats of national disintegration. Indeed, we can no longer afford to ignore the fact that from the beginning, ours has been a country of an uneasy alliance of hostile sub-cultures and ethno-national groupings. Also, we cannot as of today, forget the fateful consequences of history, particularly, the ever present regional, religious, ethnic and cultural clashes and crises that have characterized Nigerian politics. For one thing, we now know that no amount of government-sponsored propaganda and
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Leadership and Nation-Building in Nigeria Continues from page 11 jingles can really make up for a defective political structure or for institutional and leadership failures. A political system that makes it difficult for leaders to l e a d e ff e c t i v e l y a n d f o r followers to follow voluntarily is a recipe for ether progressive anarchy or national catastrophy. Our system of government must respect our respective cultural identities, interests and priorities.
FEDERALISM Federalism is classically defined as a specie of government wherein local autonomy defined in terms of either ethnicity, language, religion or race is preserved and encouraged. Thus defined, the euphemism about “unity in diversity” that is expressed when speaking about the United States, India, Switzerland or the present devolution process in the United Kingdom, for example, becomes more meaningful. Federalism, in essence, is simply “a contractual noncentralization” involving structural dispersion of power among many centres whose legitimate authority is constitutionally guaranteed. Hence, entrenched diffusion of power or division of power among levels of government remains the principal characteristic and argument for federal democracy. It becomes therefore clear that when one speaks of federalism, one means, in short, “Coordinate supremacy of the levels of government with regards to their respective functions.” Certainly in this context, the “golden rule” of federalism as stipulated by scholars and political analysts, has been constantly ignored or breached in Nigeria over the years. Nigeria has also ignored the important aspect of the equilibrium between the CENTRE and the REGIONS. Our present defective federal system needs to give way to true federalism, which will also enable leaders to deliver social justice and guarantee citizens' right, safety and security across the country. It has become clear worldwide that leaders who are unable to ensure justice at all times and to all citizens regardless of their ethnicity, region, creed or 'state of origin' have no right to demand peaceful behavior amongst the citizenry. As I have often observed and remarked, “Throughout history, those denied justice have had no interest in peace.” The nature of a political system conditions the expectations and behaviours of the operators, politicians, bureaucrats and citizens alike. A
flawed system can hardly compel the obedience or loyalty of all citizens, nor can it promote good governance. Here we cannot avoid stating the obvious fact that operating a system with a strong, overarching centre and basically a unitary system in the guise of a federation-as we have had since 1967-has been the root of the constant do-or-die struggles by our sectional political leaders for the control of the central and state governments. This, according to Professor Elaigwu, has “turned the game of politics into the battle of politics” among the Nigerian elite. We should stop and ask the question: why is the democracy in Britain different from the other democracies in France, Germany, the United States, Canada, and Australia and so on? Democracy differs in these and other nations because nations adopt and adapt systems that are amenable to their own unique political realities and sociocultural circumstances. A country is declared a failed or failing state when its administrative institutions and organs of government are dysfunctional and result in constant policy paralysis and corruption. We therefore need a political system and related institutions and organs of governance that guarantee TRUE FEDERALISM with appropriate power sharing mechanisms. Certainly continuing to operate a lopsided caricature of federalism will neither guarantee justice for all nor guarantee or promote national integration and national development. And as long as any section of the country continues to view the system as unjust and unfair, there would always be feelings of injustice, unfairness and marginalization. We must begin now, before it is too late, to apply to our national politics, structures and relationships, the golden rule “do unto others what you would like done unto you,” or from the reverse side of the coin, “do not do to others what you would not like to be done unto you.” Justice has no price and nationalism-even at its lowest or primordial level of ethnicity-also has no price.
RELIGION On religion we categorically advise that Nigeria totally avoid the virus of religious politics. No issue in history has divided nations and caused protracted conflicts, wars and national disintegration as religion and religion-based nationalism. Both dangerous elements are being vigorously canvassed, cultivated and promoted by some Nigerian leaders and citizens in their struggle for power and dominance. These
leaders and citizens should learn the lessons of history as they inadvertently push the country into the path of perdition. Religion led to the partition of India and Ireland, among other countries, and both religion and related sub-national nationalism led to the disintegration of Yugoslavia, the Federation of Malaya and Singapore, Sudan and a host of other nations too numerous to mention here. Nigeria's Founding, Fathers, with wisdom, sense of history and foresight, wishing to checkmate religious crises enshrined the SECULAR State doctrine in the 1960 and 1963 Constitutions. Those who today are deliberately resurrecting religion as a factor in Nigerian politics are walking on a dangerous path. Those wishing to institute here in Nigeria the 1648 European doctrine of “eius region euis religio” (he who governs a region determines the religion) should be equally prepared to divide Nigeria permanently along religious lines as Europe did at that time. You cannot, for instance, establish in one multi-religious federation a state religion without inviting reciprocal measures from the other federating states. Modern nations carefully avoid divisive issues like religion because they are aware of the historical “harvest of tears, iron and blood” associated with it. Nigerians should genuinely start worrying over the frequent religions riots in certain parts of the country, and reflect more on the wisdom of our Founding Fathers who insulated it through the legacy of the two Constitutions they left to us. The constitutional recklessness over religion, federalism and resource control since the end of the civil war resembles the adage of “throwing away with a shovel what our founding fathers gathered with a rake.” Such a phenomenon is usually associated with prodigal sons, and we should stop behaving like prodigal sons but instead, return to reclaim the true legacies of our fathers in our journey to nationhood. We must accept that all the conflicts and tensions in Nigerian politics today are not figments of some people's imagination. Many of the conflicts or tensions originate from real issues and require strong and self-confident but fair-minded leadership to resolve. Unfortunately, Nigerian history has shown that some of our political leaders and their followers learnt no lessons from the Nigerian civil war of 1967970. Although this lecture has touched upon a number of issues
in Nigeria's history and politics, the focus, however has been on leadership and nation-building. Generally I believe that leadership is everything in politics, nation-building and national image at home and abroad. Simply stated, leadership means the ability to get people to follow and support the leader voluntarily, and the ability to affect human behavior so as to accomplish a mission envisioned or designed by the leader. Leadership distinguishes an individual from the crowd, and reflects a quality possessed by an individual or a leadership group. Generally leadership is associated with positions of authority in various human endeavours. Effective leadership produces results, attains goals, realizes visions and achieves objectives more quickly and at a higher level of quality than ineffective leadership. Nigeria is capable of attaining the greatest possible heights in nation-building and socio-economic development. The country has all the necessary ingredients-human as well as natural resources. Nigeria could be not only a country of the future but also a country of the present, and what is needed to realize its manifest destiny is
genuine nationalistic leadership rather than sectional and ethnic champions. As the late sage, Dr. P. N. C. Okigbo put it, the crisis of leadership in all Africa South of the Sahara “is a crisis arising from the absence of a coherent system of choice of politics and economics such as to allow leaders to emerge who will take their country as a whole as their constituency and who do not regard themselves merely as the canonical representatives of a section or group within their country. The voice of the leader must be the voice of the country not the special dialect of any bit of the country.” In other words we need a hero-leader, a compassionate patriot, and a tolerant courageous leader who understands and shares the aspiration of Nigeria as a country where, in the words of our first National Anthem, “tribe and tongue may differ but in brotherhood we stand.” Indeed it is clear today that only inspirational leadership will dramatically change the “agenda for failure,” which most of our leaders seem to have followed in the past-to the detriment of our national aspirations-to a new agenda which allows our people to live in peace. Progress and unity.
Benue flood is so devastating
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environment, the medical team are doing everything possible to ensure that no life is lost. “Since we started, you can see that the camp is really filled up. The cases are many though most of them are malaria cases, Upper Respiratory infection, Diarrhea, catarrh, and cough. These are the situations I met on ground. Nobody pays a kobo for any drugs here. They are all supplied by government. But we need more Doctors and medical personnels to take care of the situation”. In an interview with the Head of Department of Crop and Environment Production, University of Agriculture Makurdi, Prof. Ebenezer Ekefan who is an environmentalist, Government should step up campaign on tree planting in the country to prevent national disasters concerning environmental issues. “The causes of the environmental disasters across the world are many and vary. The most important one that is attracting global attention is the issue of global warming. This has been an issue that the whole international community is really working towards to see if they would reduce it as much as possible. The issue of global warming actually comes along with the increase in what we call green house gasses like Carbondioxide in the
atmosphere, which increase temperature because the gas has ability to absorb and retain heat”. To forestore further occurrences and more harm in the country, Prof. Ekefan cautioned that every household should intensify effort and take care of their environment in order to avert more environmental disasters in the country. He expressed sadness over the skyrocketing price of kerosene in the country, which according to him has caused a lot of hardship on the less privileged to depend so much on firewood as the only source of their fuel thereby increasing more deforestation. He called on the federal government to encourage the growth of bio-diesel plant such as jatropher and create and enabling environment for private sector to go into production of bio-diesel. “We need to think of recycling waste such as sachets of pure water that always litter our streets. These at times block our drainages that gradually lead to flooding in some parts of our towns”. The floods, no doubt, has thrown a lot of Nigerians into untold hardship leading to the death of one of the twins that was delivered (prematurely) by a woman in one of the camps in Makurdi.
THE
ADVOCATE
Monday, October 8 – Sunday, October 14, 2012
13
Foreign NEWS
US jobless rate tumbles to near four-year low
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he United States' unemployment rate fell below 8% in September for the first time in 3½ years, giving President Obama a boost in the wake of his sluggish debate performance and suggesting the economy may be a bit stronger going into the final months of the year than previously thought. Overall, employers added 114,000 net new jobs over the month, a relatively modest figure but in line with what analysts had expected. Job growth for July and August was revised considerably higher than previously reported, to 181,000 and 142,000 r e s p e c t i v e l y, t h e L a b o r Department said last Friday. Far more surprising was the unusually large decline in the jobless rate, from 8.1% in August to 7.8% last month. All year, the unemployment figure had hovered between 8.1% and 8.3%. The September rate is the lowest since January 2009, when Obama was inaugurated as president.
At this stage of the election season, any new economic report is unlikely to have much effect on voters' decisions. The latest report, which was more complicated than most, was met with skepticism, even aspersion, from some corners. Former General Electric chief Jack Welch accused the Obama administration of manipulating the jobless rate. While economists took the steep drop in unemployment with a grain of salt, they generally agreed that the report overall was evidence of an improving, albeit still tepid, economic recovery. S i g n i f i c a n t l y, t h e unemployment rate for September didn't fall because more people dropped out of the labor force, as in previous months. The average hours worked last month rose, as did workers' hourly earnings. And the share of the working-age population with jobs considered an important measure of labor-market health reached the highest rate in more
Job seekers speak with with job recruiters while they attend the Coast to Coast job fair in New York,
Iran Jams VOA's satellite broadcasts
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he governmentappointed board that o v e r s e e s Vo i c e o f America and other U.S.sponsored broadcasts has responded with outrage to the latest incidence of satellite jamming of international Persian-language broadcasts by the Iranian government, calling it "a deplorable violation of well-established international agreements." A statement this week by the Broadcasting Board of Governors said the jamming has disrupted broadcasts by VOA's Persian News Network, Radio Farda, and Radio Free Europe's
Persian-language service. The BBC's Persian-language programming has also been affected. The statement said that the jamming coincided with reports of street demonstrations and arrests that took place this week as Iranians reacted to the collapse of the rial. The practice of deliberate interference with broadcast signals, known as “jamming,” is prohibited under rules of the I n t e r n a t i o n a l Telecommunications Union. Iranian state media has not commented on the jamming.
than two years. "Absolutely, it's positive," said Paul Ashworth, an economist at Capital Economics. "There's nothing to dislike about it.” Stock investors reacted cautiously to the employment news. The White House cheered Friday's report, coming just two days after Obama's first debate with Republican challenger Mitt Romney. "Given the dearth of positive news, it's still a welcomed report," said Harry Holzer, a professor of public policy at Georgetown University. For Obama, he added, "the timing of this may cut short any strong movement to Romney because of the bad debate." The jobs report, the next-to-last one before the Nov. 6 election, takes away one of Romney's talking points that, under Obama's watch, the economy has struggled with more than 8% unemployment for 40-plus consecutive months. In a statement Friday, Romney shifted his focus to the net loss of manufacturing jobs from 3½ years ago. And he said the overall unemployment rate would be closer to 11% were it not for the many workers who have dropped out of the labor force. Depending on assumptions made in the size of the potential labor force, analysts said the real jobless rate could be between 9.5% and 11%. As for manufacturing, after a strong comeback in the prior two years, hiring at factories has fizzled this year amid weaker global growth and
a slowdown in business investments by American companies. Labor Department officials defended the integrity of the jobs report, noting that unemployment rates have fallen by such large magnitudes in the past. Part of the explanation for what happened in September, they said, was that their survey of households which is the basis for the jobless rate calculation determined that 873,000 more people were working last month. That's almost eight times more than what the survey of employers showed in new jobs. Over time, the two surveys track each other; in fact, averaging the last three months, the job numbers from the two surveys are not that far apart. But the smaller household survey can be much more volatile from month to month, even as it does a better job capturing hiring at new companies and the selfemployed. Despite the apparent discrepancy, economists said the jobs report suggested that the economy had bounced back from the spring doldrums with more pep than previously thought. With the upward revisions for the summer, the nation added on average 146,000 jobs a month in the third quarter. That compares with 67,000 a month in the second quarter. The revised job numbers also may help explain the disconnect over the summer when consumer confidence steadily improved while reports did not show a corresponding gain in jobs. Still, analysts remained cautious about the economic outlook, saying one month's report doesn't change the trend
of a recovery that has been largely bumpy and sluggish. Job growth depends on economic performance, and the most recent indicators show some improving trends, notably in housing, but still weak overall growth. If the housing market continues to gain strength, it probably would give a boost to consumer spending and hiring. Housing sales and new-home building have picked up recently, and refinancing activity has surged in the last couple of weeks in the wake of the Federal Reserve's new bondbuying stimulus program to drive down long-term interest rates. In September, the real estate finance sector added 7,100 jobs, the most in more than a year. Wood manufacturers, buildingsupply retailers and architectural services industries with close links to housing also increased payrolls last month. Healthcare led all sectors in job creation last month, adding 44,000 to its payrolls. Transportation and wholesale businesses added 17,000, and employment in financial services, including real estate, grew by 13,000. Manufacturing shed 16,000 jobs last month, underscoring the decline in global trade, difficulties in Europe and a slowdown in China. The other head wind for the economy is the uncertainty over fiscal spending and tax increases next year. Heidi Shierholz, a labor economist at the Economic Policy Institute, said she was heartened by the big drop in the jobless rate. “It gives us hope that there's going to be a somewhat faster decline in the unemployment rate than we had previously expected," she said.
Death toll in China landslide rises
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hina's official news agency says another body has been retrieved after a landslide on Thursday in southwestern China, bringing the death toll to 19, including 18 elementary school students. The Xinhua news agency said that the body was found Friday afternoon. Xinhua did not identify the victim or say whether it was the body of a person earlier listed as missing. Yilian county officials said the 18 students were confirmed dead early Friday, about 18 hours after the landslide buried a school and three farmhouses in the village of Zhenhe. Officials earlier said one person was injured and was receiving treatment at a temporary medical station. The government said the landslide blocked a river, and water pooled around the buried buildings, hampering rescue
efforts and forcing the evacuation of around 800 people. Officials said about 2,000 residents, police, medics and military personnel rushed to the scene to begin rescue efforts. Normally, the students would not have been in school, because China is in the middle of a week-long national holiday period. But officials say the students were making up for
classes that were canceled following last month's earthquake which left 81 people dead. S o u t h w e s t e r n Yun n a n province is a mountainous, earthquake-prone region. Last month's 5.6-magnitude temblor devastated several villages and displaced more than 200,000 people.
Rescuers search for victims after a landslide, triggered by sustained rains, buried a school and three farmhouses in Yiliang
THE
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Monday, October 8 – Sunday, October 14, 2012
ADVOCATE
FLASHBACK
Benjamin Nnamdi Azikiwe (November 16, 1904 May 11, 1996), usually referred to as Nnamdi Azikiwe and popularly known as "Zik", was one of the leading figures of modern Nigerian nationalism who became the first President of Nigeria after Nigeria secured its independence from the United Kingdom on 1 October 1960; holding the presidency throughout the Nigerian First Republic. Early life Azikiwe was born on November 16, 1904 in Zungeru, Northern Nigeria. His parents were Igbo; his father Obed-Edom Chukwuemeka Azikiwe (18791958), a clerk in the British Administration of Nigeria and his mother was Rachel Ogbenyeanu Azikiwe. Nnamdi means "My father is alive" in the Igbo language. After studying at Hope Waddell Training Institute, Calabar, Azikiwe went to the United States. While there he attended Howard University, Washington DCbefore enrolling and graduating from Lincoln University, Pennsylvania in 1930. He obtained a masters degree in 1933 from the University of Pennsylvania. He worked as an instructor at Lincoln before returning to Nigeria. Newspaper career After teaching at Lincoln, Azikiwe, in November 1934, took the position of editor for the African Morning Post, a daily newspaper in Accra, Ghana. In that position he promoted a proAfrican nationalist agenda. Smertin has described his writing there: "In his passionately denunciatory articles and public statements he censured the existing colonial order: the restrictions on the Africans' right to express their opinions, and racial discrimination. He also criticised those Africans who belonged to the "elite" of colonial society and favoured retaining the existing order, as they regarded it as the basis of their well being." As a result of publishing an article on May 15, 1936 titled "Has the African a God?" written by I.T. A. Wallace-Johnson he was brought to trial on charges of sedition. Although he was found guilty of the charges and sentenced to six months in prison, he was acquitted on appeal. He returned to Lagos, Nigeria, in 1937 and founded the West African Pilot which he used as a vehicle to foster Nigerian nationalism. He founded the Zik Group of Newspapers, publishing multiple newspapers in cities across the country. Azikiwe became active in the Nigerian Youth Movement (NYM), the first genuinely nationalist organization in Nigeria. However, in 1941 he backed Samuel Akinsanya to be NYM candidate for a vacant seat
Nigeria’s Founding Fathers (1)
Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe in the Legislative Council, but the executive selected Ernest Ikoli instead. Azikiwe resigned from the NYM amid accusations of discrimination against Ijebu members, taking all Ibo and most Ijebu members with him. Political career After a successful journalism enterprise, Azikiwe entered into politics, co-founding the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC) alongside Herbert Macaulay in 1944. He became the secretarygeneral of the National Council in 1946, and was elected to Legislative Council of Nigeria the following year. In 1951, he became the leader of the Opposition to the government of Obafemi Awolowo in the Western Region's House of Assembly. In 1952, he moved to the Eastern Region, and was elected to the position of Chief Minister and in 1954 became Premier of Nigeria's Eastern Region. On November 16, 1960, he became the Governor General and on the same day became the first Nigerian named to the Privy Council of the United Kingdom. With the proclamation of a republic in 1963, he became the first President of Nigeria, while Abubakar Tafawa Balewa was the Prime Minister. Azikiwe and his civilian colleagues were removed from power in the military coup of January 15, 1966. During the Biafran (19671970) war of secession, Azikiwe became a spokesman for the nascent republic and an adviser to its leader Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu. After the war, he served as Chancellor of Lagos University from 1972 to 1976. He joined the Nigerian People's Party in 1978, making unsuccessful bids for the presidency in 1979 and again in 1983. He left politics involuntarily after the military coup on December 31, 1983. He died on May 11, 1996 at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, in Enugu, Enugu State, after a protracted illness. His time in politics spanned most of his adult life and he was referred to by admirers as "The Great Zik of Africa". His motto in politics was "talk I listen, you l i s t e n I t a l k . " H e was,however,viewed in some quarters as a narrow-minded Igbo ethnic expansionist. The writings of Azikiwe spawned a philosophy of African liberation Zikism, which identifies five concepts for Africa's movement towards freedom: spiritual balance, social regeneration, economic determination, mental emancipation, and political resurgence. Places named after Azikiwe
include the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu, the Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Awka, Anambra State, Nnamdi Azikiwe Press Centre, Dodan Barracks, Obalende, Ikoyi, Lagos. His portrait adorns Nigeria's five hundred naira currency note. History reveals Zik as the only individual whose name appeared in a democratic constitution. The Nigeria's 1963 Republican Constitution which was an amendment of the 1960 Independent Constitution has the following words: “Nnamdi Azikiwe shall be deemed to have been elected President and Commander in-Chief of the Armed Forces,” as submitted by then Prime Minister Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa who posited that, “Nigeria can never adequately reward Dr. Azikiwe” for his nationalism. Achievements He was inducted into the prestigious Agbalanze society of Onitsha as Nnayelugo in 1946, a customary recognition for men of significant accomplishment. Then, in 1962, he became a second-rank red cap chieftain or Ndichie Okwa as the Oziziani Obi. In 1970, he was installed as the Owelle-Osowa-Anya of Onitsha, making him a first-rank, hereditary red cap nobleman or Ndichie Ume. In 1960, Queen Elizabeth II appointed him to the Privy Council of the United Kingdom. He was conferred with the highest national honour of Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR)[14] by the Federal Republic of Nigeria, in 1980. He has received fourteen honorary degrees from Nigerian, American and Liberian universities, which include Lincoln University, Storer College, Howard University, Michigan State University, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, University of Lagos, Ahmadu Bello University, University of Ibadan, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, and University of Liberia. Sports Azikiwe was actively involved in sports at every stage of his life, and he was successful in many of the events that he participated in. They include Welterweight Boxing Champion Storer College (192527); High Jump champion, Howard University InterScholastic Games (1926); Gold Medalist in Cross Country, Storer College (1927); Back-stroke Swimming Champion and No. 3 swimmer in Freestyle Relay team, Howard University (1928); Captain, Lincoln University Soccer Team (1930); Winner Two Miles Run, Central InterCollegiate Athletic Association
Championships at Hampton Institute Virginia (1931); Bronze Medalist, Richmond Cross Country Marathon (1931); Gold Medalist in the 1,000 yard run, One Mile Run and Three Mile Run, Catedonian Games in Brooklyn, NY (1932); Silver Trophy winner in the Half Mile race, and Silver Cup winner in the One Mile Race, Democratic Field Day Championships, New Haven, Connecticut (1933); Runner-up (with G.K. Dorgu) at the Lagos Tennis Men's Double Championships (Division B 1938); anchor man for the ZAC team which won the 50 yards Freestyle Relay at the Lagos Swimming Championships (1939). He won letters in athletics (Lincoln University) and cross country (Storer College and Lincoln University), swimming (Howard University), and football (soccer) (Lincoln University); entered to compete in the Half-Mile Race and OneMile run at the British Empire Games to represent Nigeria, but was rejected by the A.A.A. of Great Britain on technical grounds (he dropped his English Christian name, “Benjamin”); and founded (with M.R.B. Ottun) of the Zik's Athletic Club to promote athletics, boxing, cricket, football, swimming and tennis in Nigeria. Politics During his lifetime, he held several political posts, especially in Nigeria. They include Executive Committee Member of Mambili Party, Accra (193537); General Secretary of National Council of Nigerian and the Cameroons (194445); President of the NCNC (194660); VicePresident of the Nigerian National Democratic Party (194760); Member for Lagos in the Legislative Council of Nigeria (194751); Member for Lagos and Leader of the Opposition in the Western House of Assembly (195253) Member for Onitsha in the Eastern House of Assembly (195460); Minister of Internal Affairs (Jan.September 1954); Minister of Internal Affairs, Eastern Region (1954); Member of His Excellency Privy Council, Eastern Nigeria (195459); Primer of Eastern Nigeria (195459); President of the Senate of the Federation (Jan.-November 1960); Governor-General and Commander-in-Chief of Nigeria (196063); President of the Republic of Nigeria (19631966); and Chairman and Presidential candidate of the Nigeria People's Party (197883). Professional world He made a name for himself in the professional world. He was a Third-class Clerk, Treasury Department, Lagos (19211924); Recruit, Gold Coast Police Force (Jul.-September 1924); Solicitor Clerk to the late Mr. Justice
Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe Graham Paul at Calabar (Jan.Aug. 1925); Instructor in Political Science, Lincoln University (193134); University Correspondent for the Baltimore A f ro - A m e r i c a n ( 1 9 2 8 3 4 ) ; General and Sports Correspondent for the Philadelphia Tribune (192834); Editor-in Chief of the West African Pilot (193745); Correspondent for the Associated Negro Press (194447); Correspondent for Reuters (194446); Managing Director of Zik's Press Limited printers and publishers of the West African Pilot (Lagos), E a s t e r n G u a rd i a n ( P o r t Harcourt), Nigerian Spokesman (Onitsha), Southern Nigeria Defender (Ibadan), Daily Comet (Kano), and Eastern Sentinel (Enugu); Managing Director of Comet Press Limited (194553); Chairman of West African Pilot Limited and the Associated Newspapers of Nigeria Limited and six other limited liability companies (195253); Chairman, Nigerian Real Estate Corporation Limited (195253); etc. Societies and organizations He was a member of many organizations and societies, including Anti-Slavery Society for the protection of Human Rights; Phi Beta Sigma fraternity (Alpha Chapter and Mu Chapter); West African Students' Union; Onitsha Improvement Union; Zik's Athletic Club; Ekine Sekiapu Society of Buguma, Kalabari; St. John's Lodge of England; Royal Economic Society; Royal Anthropological Institute; British Association for the Advancement of Science; American Society of International Law; American Anthropological Association; American Political Science Association; American Ethnological Society; Amateur Athletic Association of Nigeria; Nigerian Swimming Association, Nigerian Boxing Board of Control; Nigerian Cricket Association; Ibo State Union; Nigerian Table Tennis Association; Nigeria Olympic Committee and British Empire and Commonwealth Games Association.
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ADVOCATE
Monday, October 8 – Sunday, October 14, 2012
15
Odd world
My Oga is the father of my baby, 15-yr-old girl tells court
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Valerie Spruill
Woman finds out her dead husband was also her father V
alerie says she was raised in Ohio by her grandparents because her mother was a “night lady,” who was a family friend. It wasn't until she turned nine that Valerie found out that the man she thought was her f a t h e r, w a s r e a l l y h e r grandfather, and the “family friend,” was her real birth mother. After her mother died in 1984, Valerie later met a man she would later marry. 20 years later, in 2004, with the help of a DNA test, she found out her late husband, Percy Spruill, who had died 6 years ago in 1998, was actually her biological father. For years, Valerie says she overheard odd whispers she couldn't figure out, and one day, her uncle finally told her the truth about her “husband,” who was really her father. Valerie's father/husband met her mother when he was just 15 years old, and no one is sure how many kids they had, but at one point, he somehow fell in love with his daughter and married her, and also had three children with her. Valerie says she isn't sure if her husband knew he was really her father because he never talked about it, but admits there is a possibility that he knew, and was just afraid to tell her the truth. Asked why she's decided to
let the world in on her family secret, Valerie Spruill explained that she “wants to set an example” and inspire those who are going through a rough time. She said she also wants to show other people who were born into miserable situations that they can still lead, good, productive and fulfilling lives, as she is a living, breathing example. “I want this to be more of an inspirational story,” she says. “If I've come through this, anyone can come through anything through the help of the Lord.” Now retired, after working for over 30 years in the accounting department at Goodyear, Valerie has three children and eight grandchildren. Valerie said her story “needs to be told, because children need to know where they come from,” she said. “And I know it hurts, because I have been devastated by this.” She says to this day, she is still seeing a therapist to come to t e r m s w i t h t h e d i ff i c u l t revelation that she was married to her father, and had children with him. (So does that make her own children her brothers and sisters too?) Valerie also says that she hopes her decision to go public with her story will help her find the rest of her siblings. “My biggest goal is to find
[my siblings and let 'em know that their mother loved them, no matter what,” she said. “And [to say, 'Thank God she gave you away like she did me, so you could have a beautiful life.'” One of the six brothers she is aware of advised her not to go public, saying, “Val, that might bring up a whole lot of skeletons in the closet.” She says she told him, “Well, I'm not a skeleton, and I'm hurt.” But Valerie believes the hurt can be outshined by the truth. “It's a miracle how God reveals and heals at the same time, and he gives you that blessing to keep on going … If this old lady done come through all this, and God's still got her here and still with a good heart because you find so many mean, vicious people in the world, and you don't have to be you can love no matter what you've come through or where you've been in this world.” Heard any shocking news lately? Well, the news 60-yearold Valerie Spruill found out 6 years after her husband died probably tops anything you've ever heard in your life. Val e r i e S p r u i l l , f r o m Doylestown, Ohio, recently discovered that her husband Percy was also her father, according to a report from the Akron Beacon Journal.
BUJA A fifteen yearold-girl, Miss Udoh Comfort, yesterday, narrated before a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, how her guardian, one Mr Francis Ekong, 40-years, forcefully slept with her three times and got her pregnant. Comfort who came to court with her 6-month-old baby, told the court that the man perpetrated the illegal act when his wife was not at home, adding that Ekong threatened to send her back to the village any day he saw her with any boy. The girl, who mounted the witness box yesterday, told the court that she confronted Ekong upon discovering that she was pregnant, only for the man to blatantly deny responsibility, alleging that she must have slept with one of the boys in their neighborhood. She said it was at that juncture that somebody took her to the National Agency for Prohibition of Traffic in Person and Other Related Matters, N A P T I P, a m o v e t h a t culminated to the arrest and subsequent trial of her guardian
and his wife. In a two count charge that was filed before the high court, NAPTIP, alleged that Ekong who resides at Mpape Ajugula Street, FCT, Abuja, “on or about May 2010, caused the unlawful carnal knowledge of Miss Udoh Comfort (F) 15 years old of Akasoko, while she was under your custody and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 13(1) of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Law Enforcement and Administration Act, 2003 as amended.” Count-2 of the charge entered against both the man and his wife, reads: “That you Mr Francis Ekong (M) 40 years old and Mrs Margaret Ekong (F) 30 years old of Mpape Ajugula Street, FCT, Abuja, sometime in 2008, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, employed Miss Udoh Comfort (f) 15 years old of Akasoko as a domestic help and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 22 (1) of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Law E n f o r c e m e n t a n d Administration Act, 2003 as amended.
Father tied son’s legs and abandoned him in the bush for 3 days
Father of the little boy
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his little boy was found inside the bush near a river in Okpuno Awka crying by the community security service during the sanitation exercise. His legs were bound in chains and locked with a padlock. From investigation his father whose photo also appeared above known as Alhaji by his fellow Okada riders and hails from Igala community of kogi state is the one chained his two legs and left him in that bush for three days now without food
or water. Its this same man that told his neighbors that his son has been missing since three days now and both him and neighbors were searching for him together without them knowing that he knew where his son is. But luck ran out on him today when the security men from the community discovered the boy crying in the bush. The little boy happens to be the only child from his former wife. Who is no longer living with him.
THE
Monday, October 8 – Sunday, October 14, 2012
16
ADVOCATE
Health
Pharmacists in Abia accused of sharp practices By Joe Akwarandu Umuahia
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bia State Deputy Governor, Chief Emeka Ananaba, a retired Colonel in Nigeria Army and a renowned pharmacist has accused some pharmacists in the State of betraying and cheapening their profession for material gains. Ananaba said hard earned professional certificate ought not to have been sold to road side medicine sellers who hang such certificate in their shops to evade prosecution from the drug agencies.
By Health Day
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he latest research on v i t a m i n D supplementation has found that it won't help ward off the common cold in otherwise healthy adults who have normal vitamin D levels. "In the healthy adult population, vitamin D will not prevent or reduce the severity of common colds," said the study's lead author, Dr. David Murdoch, a professor and head of pathology at the University of Otago in Christchurch, New Zealand. "At present, no supplement has been shown to prevent colds," he added. "We need evidence from rigorous studies - like ours -- before making claims about any nutritional supplement's potential to prevent colds.” Results of the study are published in the Oct. 3 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. Vitamin D helps keep the immune system functioning well, and several observational studies have suggested that people with higher levels of the vitamin have fewer colds. Colds
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testosterone shortage could cost you your life. As if losing muscle mass, bone density, and your sex drive to low T levels wasn't bad enough, new research shows the decline can also increase your risk of prostate cancer, heart disease, and even death. Follow these steps to lift your levels and lengthen your life. 1. Uncover Your Abs As your waist size goes up, your testosterone goes down. In fact, a 4-point increase in your body
The deputy governor who was visibly irritated at the ceremony to mark the 2012 World Pharmaceutical Day in Abia State and as a representative of the state governor Chief T.A Orji did not hide his disgust at the carefree and sub standard posture of the practitioners whose duties were to save lives, but instead sold out their honorable profession to quacks. He however called on the members of the pharmaceutical association of Nigeria in the State to re- appraise their roles
and put their house in order so as to check saboteurs and quacks in their midst. The Deputy Governor suggested that pharmacist should institute a task force to implement the regulation of laws guiding the profession against defaulters. Earlier in his welcome address, the state chairman of the association Pharmacist Emeka Ogbonna had lamented at the chaotic medical distribution of in the state which he attributed to the incessant hazard to the people.
Ogbonna pointed out that research have shown that over 90% of medicines distributed in Abia State went into illegal hands and markets such as Ancria markets, Tenant road, New market Cemetery road all in Aba and Umuahia. He stated that the illegal business have made the government to lose a lot of revenue and advised the State government to enact laws to stop the sale of medicine in the open markets and also insist that production and sale of medicine must be according to law. The ceremony also featured a lecture by Senator Nkechi Nwaogu titled Improved Pharmaceutical Care: The role of the Legislator. Senator Nkechi Nwaogu
harped on the role of Pharmacists in the country which included working closely with medical doctors to save lives but buttressed the situation where drugs were found with road side distributors and quakes. She called for the policing of enabling laws governing drug distribution, manufacturing and administration in the country advising the pharmacists to protect their profession against proliferation. The highlight of the occasion was the conferment of award on the state governor, Chief Orji as the Grand Patron of the association and on other personalities who have distinguished themselves in the profession.
Vitamin D won't save you from common cold, latest study says are also known as upper respiratory infections. To test this association, Murdoch and his colleagues recruited more than 300 healthy adults from Christchurch. All had normal vitamin D levels at the start of the study. Half the group was randomly assigned to receive oral vitamin D, while the other half received a placebo tablet. The vitamin D group was given a once-monthly pill that contained 200,000 international units (IU) for the first two months, and then 100,000 IU for the rest of the 18month study. That works out to slightly more than 6,600 IU daily for the first two months and just over 3,300 IU daily for the remainder of the study. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in the number of
colds. Those taking vitamin D averaged 3.7 colds per person during the study, while the placebo group had an average of 3.8 colds per person. There also were no differences in the number of days of work missed due to upper respiratory infections. Participants in each group missed an average of about three-quarters of a single day of work during the study due to a cold, and colds lasted about 12 days in each group, according to the study. "Both groups had a similar number of colds, thus we can conclude that vitamin D had no effect in preventing colds in this group," Murdoch said. "This is the first study to show this so conclusively, as previous studies all had major limitations -usually because they studied too
few people or for only a short time.” Murdoch said there is no evidence right now to suggest that people with a vitamin D deficiency would see a benefit in terms of fewer colds from high levels of vitamin D supplementation, but added that a trial like his would need to be done to be able to say conclusively that this group wouldn't benefit. Dr. Jeffrey Linder, author of an accompanying editorial in the same journal issue, and an associate professor of medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston, said: "For people with adequate vitamin D levels, this trial shows pretty conclusively that vitamin D doesn't reduce the frequency of colds.” Linder said he's "pessimistic that we'll ever cure or be able to prevent the common cold.” "I'd be hard pressed to
5 Easy ways to increase your manpower mass index, about 30 extra pounds on a 5'10" guy, can accelerate your age-related T decline by 10 years. To keep your gut in check, even when you're eating out, try using these . You'll learn how to sculpt rocksolid abs in 4 weeks. It's the most effective muscle-up weight loss program ever. 2. Stop Stress Mental or physical stress can quickly depress your T levels. Stress causes cortisol to surge, which "suppresses the body's
ability to make testosterone and utilize it within tissues," says David Zava, Ph.D., CEO of ZRT Laboratory. Cardio can be a great tension tamer, unless you overdo it. Injuries and fatigue are signs that your workout is more likely to lower T than raise it. 3. Build Your Biceps Finnish researchers recently found that men who lifted weights regularly experienced a 49 percent boost in their free testosterone levels. "As you
strengthen your muscles, the amount of testosterone your body produces increases," says Zava. You need to push iron only twice a week to see the benefit. To create your own cutting-edge routine, check out . 4. Fill Up On Fat Trimming lard from your diet can help you stay lean, but eliminating all fat can cause your T levels to plummet. A study published in the International Journal of Sports Medicine reveals that men who
imagine that there's something you can take that would prevent the common cold, and I have not seen any well-designed randomized trials for any of the over-the-counter cold preventers," he said. The best advice, Linder said, is what you probably already know. Stay away from people who are sneezing a lot, and if you're the one sneezing, try to stay away from others and sneeze into a tissue or your sleeve to help avoid the spread of germs. Wash your hands frequently. And take steps to be in good health: Eat a healthy, wellbalanced diet; exercise regularly; don't smoke and get plenty of rest, he advised. He added, however, that even with taking precautions, most people will get between three and four colds a year, and those colds will last around 12 days each.
consumed the most fat also had the highest T levels. To protect your heart and preserve your T, eat foods high in monounsaturated fats, food such as fish and nuts. 5. Push Away From The Bar Happy hour can wreak havoc on your manly hormones. In a recent Dutch study, men who drank moderate amounts of alcohol daily for 3 weeks experienced a 7 percent decrease in their testosterone levels. Limit your drinking to one or two glasses of beer or wine a night to avoid a drop in T.
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Adeleye canvasses true federalism, solutions to corruption in Nigeria By Edem Archibong, Calabar
S
ince the era of famous Roman Empire in ancient Rome, the important role of politics and politicians were considered synonymous with that of the Priest or Clergymen in society while the ancient philosophers (now scientists) relied mostly upon the political initiative to facilitate their smooth operation in bringing new ideas for the benefit of mankind. It is no gain saying that, the Priest or Clergymen were held in high esteem as the most holy and revered people considered capable to speak on sensitive issues which are often beyond the comprehension of the philosophers and politicians since they devote more time in solitude and communion with God. This conception perhaps, informed the annual media briefing of RT. Rev. Tunde Adeleye, the President of the Synod, Diocese of Calabar Anglican Communion, and Cathedral Church of Holy Trinity to mark the 2012 year's synod held at Ikom town Archdeaconry with the theme:”Repent and return to your first love,” taken from the book of Revelations chapter 2 verses 5. The text expressed the Clergy's opinion that “true Federalism is a major solution to the challenges of administration in Nigeria. What is being practiced in Nigeria now is unitary system of government. We are unable to see anything federal here. A situation where Governors go to Abuja every month with caps in their hands to ask for money to run their states is not true federalism. Federalism, he said is a situation where the states are more or less self-governing states. In which case, the states must be separate and they should all maintain the management of their internal affairs but merely coming loosely together. For example, we believe that the Federal Government has no business with direct management of education, health, roads, housing, lands or total monopoly of the revenue generated from the states. Each state should be allowed to manage its resources and pay Tax (where necessary) to Federal Government. Our background differs, just like our traditions and culture. We
should be allowed to be what we are, as we live and work together as a nation. Nigerians are great people. We can live and be together and be free to operate in our apartments. True Federalism will allow the states to have their police,(for those who can afford it); build their roads, determine the kind of education system they want, decide how many local government areas they want and so on. We truly need true federalism to help us live and work together”. Deregulation: On the issue of deregulation, the Clergyman stated “without mincing words, we think that the best thing that can happen in this country now is deregulation provided that it is again not corrupted. To have an economy with free competition and multiple involvements in the management of the resources, industry, enterprise, provision of goods and services, manufacturing, commerce, agriculture, transportation, education, banking etc is what we need now. This is done all over the world and it is a blessing to the people and their economies. We think it will be good for us too because deregulation will create employment, ascertain the provision of social amenities for the populace. Example is the electricity problem. Once more institutions are involved in generation and distribution of power with a healthy competition; we can be assured that supply will be adequate and continuous. This will be the same with other public goods and services. Again, it will reduce prices in the long run because of high and competitive supply, it will provide job opportunities for the people, keep the industries alive and functioning, increasing of our per capita income as well as encourage both locally and foreign investors while we shall acquire more knowledge and experience from the practical lessons”. Besides, there will be multiplier effects on other sectors of the economy such as education, Production, Communication, energy and so on. This has helped all over the world and if corruption will permit, it can work in Nigeria. But be warned not to allow the relatives of selfish and heartless “money bags” to buy over the companies and industries. Unemployment: The happiest
news anyone can receive in Nigeria now is creation of jobs for the teeming jobless people in the country. One of the reasons why most Nigerians voted for President Good Luck Jonathan was his promise to create jobs. That was a very comforting promise for anyone, any day. Our children are jobless and millions of our graduates are roaming about in the cities looking for jobs. Many of them have resorted to do internet robbery plus other societal ills while the fortunate few have joined the bandwagon of corruption. It is for these reasons that we therefore request that: The Federal Government should make haste to create jobs according to what he promised. It would be better if the curricula of our Tertiary Institutions include basic training in trades and craftsmanship so that, graduates understudy same mandatorily. This will bring about improved economy if we have graduates as printers, photographers, and mechanics (without being called engineers), Tailors, masons, painters, farmers, drivers, carpenters, designers, cooks and so on. The next issue militating against the country is corruption. There is hardly anything more to say about corruption because we live in it and live with it. No one learns how to be corrupt in Nigeria. We are so corrupt that our children grow up to think that it is way of normal life. It may look as if these expressions are too gloomy but all of us know that corruption in Nigeria has affected all parts of the socio-political and economic life of the country. It has eaten deep into every part of our economy. So the begging question is,”what can we do now? In attempt to finding solutions to corruption in Nigeria, Rev. Adeleye proffers that Nigerians should pray more while the clergymen will continue to preach against corruption from the pulpit. He also wants those found to be corrupt officials to be severely punished with the relevant laws to serve as deterrent to others, while those who directly or indirectly refused to be bribed should be rewarded, while ensuring strict adherent to all laws on corruption in Nigeria. The opinion of the Clergyman also touched on the issue of declaration of assets by public
Rt. Rev. Tunde Adeleye officers to be taken seriously to ensure that those who get rich quickly by suddenly acquiring large scale properties beyond their expected income should be investigated and such investigation made public. Again, effort should be made to ascertain that only the credible men and women of character are enlisted into the Police Force, the Army, Civil Defence and as well as the Immigration Services while the family background of all people desiring to hold political offices right from the Local Government Area to the national level should be made public before hand. Quoting from the bible, the Rev. gentleman says that “a man who cannot manage his home should not be entrusted with the management of the people” with special reference to the Local Government Chairmen, Councilors, Governors, Legislatures and the President who were not known to be good managers of their home affairs should not be voted into public office. It is a corrupted life background which will always affect public performance generally, the text read, while urging that those known with cultist background from secondary to University days should be prevented from holding any public office in the land. The next point of comment by the clergyman concerns the performance contract Agreement initiative of President Good Luck Jonathan
between the Ministers to enable them perform their assigned responsibility expediently, is well accepted. He opines that this type of decision had never happened before in the history of Nigeria and expressed the hope that the Ministers will deliver as expected and on time. For the poor state of our road networks for both the state and Federal Government of Nigeria, the Clergyman declared that even though the Government has claimed to have done much, those claims are yet to be translated into practical realities as for example, Calabar, the Capital of Cross River State is now completely cut off from other part of the country in terms of road network system. The man of God also ventured into grey area like the Niger Delta issue and proffers that this part of the country lays the Nigeria's golden egg and should not be allowed to perish, but should be encouraged by getting more than the present 13% derivation principle. concluding the man of God also spoke in favour of the retirees while condemning the officials who were placed in the position of responsibility to care for the pensioners' but instead embezzled their money. For this reason, he revealed that it is the God's anger that is responsible for their revelation and warned that unless the officials repent, even if they escape from government’s punishment, they will not escape the judgment of God.
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Igbos haven't had a fair – Ohanaeze, Secretary General Chief Nduka Eya, the Secretary-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo is an educationist, elder statesman and a patriot. He told The Advocate in this interview, staff Ted Peters, that Igbos in Nigeria have had a rough deal in 52 years of Independence. He also speaks on Nigeria's journey so far as a nation and the hope for the future generation. Excerpts Nigeria will be 52 October, how do you see our journey so far as an independent nation? We thank God; you know a young man or girl born 52 years ago should be a family person with children, looking forward to grand-children. So on that score, God has been kind to Nigeria and I think God loves Nigeria. Let me talk about Ohanaeze which I am the secretary, first before I take on other issues. The Igbo have had a very rough deal in 52 years in Nigeria unlike any other ethnic group in this country. Forty years after the war, the Igbos are still groaning to be part and parcel of Nigeria, a country they contributed so much to building, and they live in any part and regard it as their home, yet now and then they are being chased by rats. The war came as a result of these chasing around and the people said, Okay, leave us alone so that we can go and manage our own affairs. Gowon and his group said he was doing police action but it turned into a war. They dragged us back, we gave up and we came back fully as Nigerians. Yet they don't accept us as Nigerians. Do they want us to fly in the air? The collective interest of Ndigbo is that we are Nigerians, whether Nigeria breaks up today or tomorrow, Ndigbo remain Nigerians. There is a statement that if you go to any part of the world and you don't find an Igboman, run away from the place because nobody lives there. These are people, they go to Zamfara, they go to Sokoto, they go to Bauchi, they go to Katsina, they go to Lagos, they go to Ilorin, settle there, they use their strength and struggle with their entrepreneurship spirit, they develop the place, build houses there more than they build in their own towns. And yet people don't accept them, what have we done to Nigeria? Their collective interest this time around is that key position that is the presidency of Nigeria should go round all groups in Nigeria and that's why the Igbo supported the South-South, they will say we supported Jonathan. How did we come about this great literal question, in 52 years, one section of this country through the barrel of the gun have ruled us for 38 years, doing things the way they
Nduka Eya, Secretary General Ohaneze liked without consultation, passing decrees, creating states as it pleased them, creating local governments as it pleased them. So Kano has 44 local governments while we in Enugu have 17, Anambra has 21, added, the whole of Igboland is not up to what some two states have. And yet we all own this country. Let me come to Igbo language. “Ezuo k'esi eri anu udele, atotuo ngiga, meaning - vulture is not an edible meat but there are people who eat vulture but they do not bring down the basket until all the concerned are around. In this country, some people have been eating this vulture at the exclusion of others. We are saying that, enough is enough. We are part of this system and if you don't want us to participate, let us go our separate ways for goodness sake. What is all this? Governance means equity, fair play and justice. Igbos have not been given fair play, Igbos have not be given justice. This is what we are crying for. And when you put the rulership from 1960 down to the present, the SouthSouth have not even been there at all. That's why we said, those who have not been there should, particularly when the man by divine mercy was already sitting there. And some people who
have ruled us for thirty something years clamoured for the man to go so that they will come back. Ah! Ah! Na only you get this thing? This is our stand, we are saying that when you put the table of rulership from 19602012, you'll see 38, 12, 1, Ndigbo 6 months, and the SouthSouth was already on sit. And somebody said go away so that I'll come back but we said no. That is why we supported the South-South and this SouthSouth is where the golden egg is laid. Do you know, I have always told Nigerians that they forget history. What is the genesis of Niger-Delta problem? When politicians were organizing a million man march for Abacha self succession bid, they recruited the young men from that place and they went to Abuja and saw where the oil money is going and they were amazed and told themselves that they were cheated all these years. That was how the trouble started and it expanded. We in old Biafra, we didn't want to go, Gowon was saying the other day that Ojukwu seceded from Nigeria and I said shut up who told you. Ojukwu seceded, you want to remind us about the dead bodies they put in trains and dropped in Enugu station. You want to remind us of the genocide? I said the sore that
is healing, you want to scratch. Go and pray, that is what you should be doing and ask God for forgiveness. They said no victor, no vanquished, now we know after 40 years, who is the victor and who is the vanquished? And let nobody deceive us. I listened to one Jumat Mohammed the other day when he was dealing with a young girl from Bayelsa. He was talking with the same arrogance; anybody who thinks he will break away will be brought back. He thinks Nigeria will still do the same as they did during the Biafra war. Things have changed and people are much wiser. Those arrogance of born to rule, they must put it under the carpet. Nobody in Nigeria, there is no state in Nigeria that cannot produce a president. Let them shut up and stop being arrogant. Give me suya comes from the body of the “Nama” and they should know that. The position of Ndigbo is after Jonathan who is from South-South, the next will be South-East to go in now with unbroken succession, going by the type and how we rule this nation. All those from the socalled North who have aspired, we say it is the turn of the SouthEast. We were the least after Bayelsa; 6 months; we want to taste that power, we want to
taste that master key. Will this zonal argument work for Nigeria? The zonal issue did not start today, it started with Karibe White constitutional review. The recommendation was given to Abacha who had gun and they pushed it away and promoted this decree, this constitution which was a military decree. Many Nigerians don't know. It was when they were repeating that they said in this decree, missed in this script will just be regarded as an omission. Originally it was a military decree; the military supreme government ruled with decree, why didn't he put the recommendation of six zones? They now called it convention. We are saying we don't even want zone any more. Those six zones should now be regions because historically Nigeria had four regions as Northern Nigeria, Eastern Nigeria, Western Nigeria, and Mid-West Nigeria. Those ones worked better. The University of Nigeria, the first five million pounds used in building the university came from the Eastern Nigeria Marketing Board. So why are we strangulating ourselves because there is oil. So why we are saying six regions is that it will stop the rat race for local governments, for creation of states. We are saying go back to the 6 regions. South East, South west, Southsouth, in the south, North east, North central, North west in the North. The Kogi people can now know they can have a taste of the presidency from their zone or region. Before when they say Northern Nigeria they know where it went and the people who took it knew that those people are wiser now. Don't rob them. When we go to our region there should be two federating units the federal government and the regional government. That is the style of Ndigbo when you get to your region, with the regional coat of arm in the centre of our flag that is green white green,that is if we still want to be one country. When we were region, I remember Eastern Nigeria flag have green white green with our coat of arm, a shield and a tiger and one Man
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deal in Nigeria's 52 years Continues from page 18 stopped, struggled with their leaders that fought to put this faster than normal. My school the best economist? Soludo, an people wearing wrapper and shirt carrying spear in the middle. Bayelsa has already established their own as a state. They have their logo in the flag, we are united as a country but it is better we develop at our own pace. And Igbos are ready to go and develop their own place. Why are you chasing them around as if they are not part of this country? We are saying no to that. We have fought a war, we know what war means. We don't want anymore war. We want to sit down and run this country. So we are saying if you go to your region, and you get the federal money between the federal and their regions, if they want to create 35 states in your region go ahead and do so and fund them. Similarly in local government, if the North Central or North East gets its own money and decide to create a million local governments, they should do so and fund it with the regional fund. These people will not agree, they said they will not agree. They cannot say they will not agree because when they cheated us beyond level they accepted region, why won't they accept region now? Let everybody go home, start with your place let's know whether we can extend hands and shake hands across the Niger. What kind of country is this? So coming to your question I've just told you where the Igbos are going. This country is one we have accepted but it must be one in fair play, equity and in justice. Anything outside that, there will be crisis and God loves us too much. This country would have broken up. Let me remind Nigerians in 1950s when we were talking about self government the West was ready and we ourselves were ready. And the British who are the evil genius, seeing what is happening in Nigeria, I believe they are even beginning to see the trouble they created. They were using the North against the rest of us but we said no you can't rule us from now. They found the Igbo very difficult, they abandoned the mystery, they refused to be colonized. The whites said yes we will go. Azikiwe in his wisdom being a Pan African said no. These people are our brothers let us wait for them. Believe me honestly, if Zik had said let's go with our own, we would have gotten self independence, probably this nonsense will not be happening now. But people are blaming him but it was his vision at the time. So he was doing a good thing to unite us. Now those who
sweat and set up these things are the most maltreated. Why? An oppressor succeeds only when the oppressed agrees to be oppressed. You hear my point? An oppressor is only successful when the man he oppresses says yes carry on, but when he says no they have a rough time oppressing him. The Igbos are not ready for a war again but Igbos are saying give us justice, give us fair play, give us equity. Alright, on my own I agree with Ndigbo completely. Most especially, Nduka Eya agrees with Ndigbo but in this 52 nd anniversary, I'm asking “umu nnem Ndi-igbo ife na eme nte di nte n'onu”. Don't point at Yorubas, don't point at Hausas for what is happening; you are responsible for what is happening to you. A si ka kpokoo ekpokoo, ufodu mmadu a na agbanaje. A si gi were nke di n'enu, iwere nke di n'okpuru. (When they say let us unite, some will be scattering. When they say take what is up, you prefer to take the one that is under). If our representatives in the National and State Assembly are up to their task about our collective interest we will not be in this mess. Let's speak to them. “ Asi onye kwu eziokwu si naria bicycle ya?”. The Igbos always speak in parables “Igwe bu ike” but is it true? Anyi ano n'igwe? When you say “Igwe bu ike” they are scattering, Asi a n'azota ani tup azota ute. Ofodu no n'azo ute rapu ani, ndi n'azo ani azota ani, I we zuru ute choba ebe iga edebe.” “Aburu anyi onu Ndigbo”. I'm speaking in Igbo, akpacha m anya n'ekwu ya, Onye Igbo kpata obere ego onwe okwuoto ekene eze. Mmadu Igbo one di ka Dangote, O bu barrel of the gun ka haji megide anyi? Ibeto n'ere cement, emebie olu ya. Dangote is the sole cement maker in Nigeria, Anyi ewekwara Uche? Biko ozugonu. Nigeria will go places. You know, those who go to church, faith, hope and love are the good virtues but Nigerians do not love themselves, if they do all thesekatakata will not be. It used to be good before, you know those of us who are in the second side of the century; we are almost on our way out. The young people think we are telling fables. When you tell them they'll think it is not real. Let's look back, see the present and make provision for the future. From the way you've spoken, there seems to be no hope for the future generation of Nigeria. If the present crop of
nation together are lamenting the setback they have encountered in this 52 years, what then will be the hope for the future generation? All the present and future generation should open their eyes and open their ears. None of them have fallen in line. The role model for many of the young people are these politicians, these charlatans, do you understand me? When I was in school, I had a teacher, what he wore as a school teacher was a short (knickers), a shirt, a tie on it, hose and shoe and a biro pen, inside the hose. We looked at him as a god. His salary was minimal but he is clean, he is a man of character, he taught us well and we believed in him. Today if you are a thief and you have money, you are everything.
teacher when I was in class three said, whenever you are too happy, suspect yourself. What does it mean? As a human being, you are supposed to be happy, but when you are too happy, something must be wrong because you are not suppose to be too happy. See call it moderation. When you live with moderation everything will be alright, but when you want to acquire everything to yourself and you think you can now dictate to others, you are wasting your time. I had told the ruling party and I am saying it again in this 52nd anniversary - the ruling party of Nigeria believes that hunger is legitimate instrument for dictatorship. They make the rest of us hungry so that we can always come to them and beg for bread. As they promise us bread,
Igboman, the former CBN Governor he replaced came out a first class professor of economics and he is one of the best in Nigeria. He said lets bring our highest denomination to N20 and without even protest from Nigerians, they stopped it, why? Whose interest are they serving? Don't we know the people who are carrying these money about? If we adopt N20 all those who keep money in their homes in their vaults or water tank will bring them out and slot them to the banks. They didn't want this, now they want N5000 currency. Do you know how much one million of N5000 currency is? Two hundred pieces, that's two raps, so if you are carrying ten million naira in you “agbada” no one will know that you are carrying this money.
Nduka Eya, Secretary General Ohaneze And our youths are looking up to these things, that's why a young boy who comes out of school without sweat, probably through expo, when he looks at you, with all your sweat, riding a jeep, he brings out a gun and stops you on the way and say I want that car and in your shiver, you'll leave the car for him. Our youth, must learn that their role models are not these charlatans. I must say that there are very good ones among them but even the good ones you get surprise how they follow which is the fact that we are all mortals after all. So it's a question of their being ready. Some of them are worse than the people we are complaining about. I have had argument with young people; they said we didn't lay foundation. I said, shut up. It is because you refused to follow the foundation, you want to be in a fast lane, you will run
we will clap our hands for them hoping that the bread will come until we collapse and die while the bread will still not come. How do you see the Nigerian economy? Let me talk about the N5000 controversy. Thanks to God that Mr. President has settled the issue because I was not happy but when I read that has stopped, I became calm. What is it all about? I listen to this arrogant young man called Sanusi, a good banker. He brought about changes, very good, but arrogance is taking over him, you know that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. This is a bright young man but that arrogance is not acceptable. He takes a swipe; just like the former President Obasanjo would say, “a man may be a good farmer but not a good economist”. So, is Sanusi
We know and we know whose interest it is serving. Thanks to God that Mr. President has stamped his foot and said no. They said it's the law, but the law is made for us not for animals and it is, a high time the National Assembly abrogated that law. And we have a reference point. I am glad and I hope that it will never come again. If you go to Ghana today the highest denomination of their Cedi is 50. Why don't we take fifty naira as ours and lets see who are carrying these monies about. In the old regime, before the last elections, we saw governors carrying our money in “Ghana-must go” because they are being given a title and the televisions were showing them amongst many hungry people. Why do you think that armed
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Events and Personalities DR. ARTHUR AGWUNCHA NWANKWO’S 70TH BIRTHDAY WAS HELD AT BRIDGE WATERS HOTEL, ENUGU RECENTLY
11TH OFALA FESTIVAL IN ONITSHA
Dr Nwankwo standing while his citation was being presented at the occasion
From left - chairman of the occasion Prof. ABC Nwosu, Guest Lecturer ex-us ambassador george obiozor and former Chief of General Staff, Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe at the event
Alfred Achebe, Obi of Onitsha during in his outing during the ofala festival
Traditional title holders with the Obi of Onitsha Associates of dr nwankwo at the birthday ceremony IGNATIUS OKPARA, ENUGU STATE CORRESPONDENT OF NEW NIGERIA NEWSPAPERS RECENTLY TOOK FORMER MISS NKEIRU OKEKE TO THE ALTER AT ST. MARY’S CATHOLIC CHURCH, UWANI ENUGU ON SEPTEMBER 8, 2012.
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Monday, October 8 – Sunday, October 14, 2012
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with Chinwe Chukwu e-mail:brownsugarbarbie@ymail.com
T
o keep your body in shape you should drink at least 8-10 glasses of water every day, eat a healthy diet full of fiber and veggies, and exercise 3 times a week for 30 minutes. Easy, and simple. Only treat yourself to "junk" food once in a while. The rest of the time, eat a normal HEALTHY diet. Full of lean meat, fiber, and veggies. Everything in moderation If you don't have the “perfect skin”, who cares? No one has perfect skin. There are many foolproof ways to make your skin clear and glow. HOWEVER, a very simple thing you can do for greasy skin is a clay mask. For large pores, simply mix water & dry oatmeal together in warm water. Apply to your face and leave it on for about 10 minutes. Always use a
MILD face wash, with a clean pH balance (potential of hydrogen). Also, for the reddening of your skin, you can simply splash cold water to your face to help lessen the redness. As for the rest of your body. Always make sure to apply lotion when you get out of the shower. Chemicals in the water can actually dry your skin out. If you want a subtle glow use a self tanner lotion. Always make sure to apply it right after a shower, seeing as how the hot water opens your pores and will make the tan last longer. For your hair, always make sure to get it trimmed every 2-3 months. Try not to use too many heat based styling products, and remember to let your hair have a day off once in awhile. For damaged and dry
hair, Olive Oil is a great solution. Leave some in your hair at night, rinse it out in the morning and not only will you have amazing shine, but it also helps damaged hair and prevents breakage. Make up? "Less is more." You don't want to over do it, especially, in everyday use. Go for a more subtle "polished" look. Let your natural beauty shine through. If you're going to play up your eyes, make sure to play down your lips. Too much can be over whelming and take away from your beauty. Vice versa for your lips. To remove make up easily, always use a "pH balanced" cleanser. As for eye make-up use face wipes to remove. It slides right off. Most of these tips are common things we all were told growing up, we just never
paid attention. I don't think there are really any "beauty secrets" out there. I think it's best to keep the simple, natural beauty of yourself!
Tip s & Warn in gs Remember to get a Good night's rest!!! 8 hours of sleep can do wonders!!!
Stress can bring on break outs. Next time, remember to take a deep breathe and count to 10.
After a long day, take a long relaxing bath. Pamper yourself!!
THE
22
&
Rocking chandelier earrings
W
ithout a doubt the most glamorous earrings you can wear are chandelier earrings. These have the biggest WOW factor when walking into a room and add instant glamour to any outfit. Once you slip on a pair of fabulous chandelier earrings, you will never want to take them off. They will instantly change up your look due to their bold and rich designs. And depending on what you purchase, you can wear them with everything from hot mini dresses and ball gowns, to jeans and a blazer or a comfy maxi dress. As beautiful as they are they are not always the easiest piece of jewelry to wear. Here are some do's and don'ts on chandelier earrings that I wanted to share with you. Do select the right size for you. Depending on the shape of your face you can go smaller or bigger. If you're very petite with small features steer clear
ADVOCATE
Monday, October 8 – Sunday, October 14, 2012
with Chinwe Chukwu e-mail:brownsugarbarbie@ymail.com
from extra large earrings or they will just make you look smaller. Round face will be elongated with longer chandeliers. Don't wear with a statement necklace. Your earrings are a statement piece, so no need to clutter your look by adding more bling around your neck. Stick with a simple pendant to accessorize but chances are you don't even need it.
Dress shirt
Do put your hair up. Show off the beauty of your chandelier earrings by putting your hair up in an elegant bun or high ponytail. Sweep your hair away from your ears to let your jewels really shine. Don't wear them to the office or during the day. Chandeliers are elegant and sexy. They dress up an outfit and sparkle beautifully at night. But they are not very professional for office work. If you really want to, opt for shorter chandeliers. Do Use them to dress up your daytime look. Chandelier earrings are the perfect accessory to go from daytime casual to nighttime chic with the same outfit. If you have plans after work, simply drape your ears with dramatic chandeliers to dress up your regular work attire like in this outfit below.
rt s shi s e r D
Spo rt sh ir
t
Just because a particular shirt may look like a dress shirt, that doesn't mean it is. Sport shirts have become increasingly popular with the corporate casual dress code taking over work places. As a result, there are lots of shirts out there posing as dress shirts when they are really sport shirts. Allow me to clarify the difference between the two as most guys consider dress shirts to be anything that buttons down the front with long sleeves and a collar. The biggest difference between the two is the fitness. Sport shirts are more loosely fitted while dress shirts are more tailored and meant to be worn with a tie and under a suit. Simply put, dress shirts should fit you like they were made for you. They also tend to be more expensive. Why is this, you ask? Dress shirts have better construction, better detailing and are typically made of better quality cottons. Here are some tips on dress shirts and sport shirts:
Style The lines are a bit blurred and there are exceptions on both sides of the fence, but in general, dress shirts tend to be more conservatively styled and colored since they're meant for, well, being dressed formally. They tend to have stiffer collars (to withstand things like neckties underneath them and suit
jacket lapels on top of them). Sport shirts get away with more patterns, bigger and bolder patterns, pockets, epaulets, decorative stitching and buttons, button-down collars, etc. Sport shirts can get away with collars that are less stiff.
Sizing Most off-the-rack dress shirts give you two measurements on the tag: neck and sleeve length. For example, when buying shirts we look for 15″ (neck), 32/33 (sleeve length). An alternative you may sometimes see is European sizing: 36, 38, 40, etc. Sport shirts are usually sized S, M, L, and so on.
Fabrics Dress shirts are typically made with cottons of finer weaves, i.e tight with high thread counts and twill, broadcloth, pinpoint oxford (all cotton but each type refers to the way the fabric was woven together). Oftentimes these shirts will have a slight sheen to them. This just adds to the dressiness. Sport shirts are less formal (thus, traditionally made for “sport”), and can come in more rugged weaves like plain oxford or flannel, or lighter weaves such as linen and chambray. They also come in more colors and different patterns. Your typical plaid shirt will most likely be a sport shirt, while that expensive and neatly-folded white shirt you grabbed off the table in the high-end store is a dress shirt.
THE
ADVOCATE
Monday, October 8 – Sunday, October 14, 2012
23
Entertainment
Female musicians in Nigeria-1960 and after, in Entertainment industry By Okey Anyichie
I
n 1965 when a Jamaican female singer, Millicent Small, came to Nigeria for musical engagements, she inspired and electrified a lot of musical fans with her”velvet” voice. This black female songstress had a lot of “singles” to her credit then like “My boy lollypop”, “Sweet William and “Dearest” Her musical Tour of Nigeria in 1965 only stopped in Lagos as she could not visit the whole country. Then in 1966, she was scheduled to visit the country again, this time on the sponsorship of the Cadbury Nigerian Limited, makers of “Bournvita,” She came, again but could not be taken round the country for musical engagements because political crises had engulfed some parts of the country, especially the northern part of the country. However these two visits to Nigeria, 1965 and 1966, perhaps opened the path to musical stardom of Nigerian female singers and musicians who from the mid-60s started making a debut in the musical scene of the country. Even at that decade of 60s, a young lady called Julie Akparanta, was featured in the “Spear” magazine and tagged local “Millicent Small,” later other female young voices erupted at the end of the 60s and early 70s Mention of course be made of the first all female popgroup called the “originators” in
Benin, the present capital city of Edo state. Later female singers and musicians “erupted” in Lagos and other cities like Warri, Enugu, Port-Harcourt, Aba. In Lagos, the two identical twins, called the Lijadu sisters were always the guests of NTA Lagos musical programmes in the mid-70s. They later released a long playing disc titled “Danger” and other LPS before they phased out of the scene. The Elegant Stallion of popmusic, Onyeka Onwenu, arrived and embellished the musical, industry within the same mid'70s and she was to hold the scene to ransome until she went into other areas of entertainment. The same is known of the great songstress, Christie Essien- Igbokwe, who had up to ten titles to her credit until she transited. She was one of the great musicians that brought charm into the musical industry in Nigeria. Since these two musicians appeared at the scene, others like Nelly Uchendu, who as a civil-servant in Enugu, never hid her talents in music and recorded some discs. She was always the guest o f N TA E n u g u m u s i c a l programme, the NOW SOUND. In 1979, she was honoured with Member of Order of the Niger (MON). Another female musician, who even led a band called Helen Williams from Aba was equally around in Aba and
Wizkid
Asa:
Waje
M.I.
D’Banj
Waje
Onyeka Onwenu once or twice came to Enugu and performed at the studio of NTA Enugu. In the 80s, Dora Ifudu's voice ruled the air-waves throughout the country. This multi-talented `amazon' is both a musician and artist. Hence she always mounted arts exhibitions in Lagos. There were other female musicians, that the country from the decade of 80s was about assuming the standard of United states of America with many female voices, even in reggae music, Edna Ogholi - Ogosi who
Essien Igbokwe
had a lot of hits in this Caribbean brand of music, equally created colours in the scene. Right now there are no more female singers and musicians of the ones highlighted that made events to happen in the scene from the decade of 705 to 805 and early 90.5 What is the problem with music industry now? Is it the present economic down-turn or lack of talents in this female zone of entertainment that rose like the tide in the late 60s. Equally one should not expect much from them, as even in the
male music industry now there is a lacuna. The music industry involving both the male and female artistes are now `evaporating'. And this is not good for entertainment industry in the country, for when there was an upsurge after independence; Nigeria looked like she was going to be another great country in Africa like the republic of Congo. This central African country had set the pace in musical industry in the continent. What is happening in Nigeria?
10 of the hottest young Nigerian Musicians Wizkid Call him the “small boy wonder”, Wizkid is undoubtedly one of Africa's most promising acts for the future. He's got everything that should aid a smooth transition to the top. A fine singer who's got Africa dancing to his music, Wizkid has, since his arrival on the Nigerian music scene, given African music a whole new meaning and twist. With several awards and nominations from both local and international schemes to his credit, the “Don't dull”, “Tease me”, “Pakurumo”and “Holla at your boy” singer is the “kid” to watch. Asa One of Africa's most wellknown artists, Asa makes singing look effortless. Her global hit song “Jailer” is a testament to the depth of talent she wields. Constantly making a case for Nigerian musicians, Asa combines absolute skill,
and a flawless command of her act, to produce hits one after another. The 30-year-old World Music singer, born in Paris and raised in Lagos, is inspired by the sounds of Marvin Gaye, Fela Kuti, Bob Marley, Sunny Ade and Ebenezer Obey. The 2011 Best Female Act at the French Music Awards is without doubt, one of the finest singers the world of music has ever produced. Her 2010 effort “Beautiful Imperfection” was a big success that followed the now-famed 2007 debut, which also saw her at her utmost best fusing pop, R&B, funk, soul and reggae, an end product that wowed the world. M.I He is without doubt, the greatest Nigerian rapper alive. He commands an enormous respect not just among his many Nigerian fans but even within industry circles. M.I's delivery skill and unique
punch lines over the years have endeared him to an almost cultlike following. Recognitions from MTV, BET, and other international mediums have also helped boost his career, which has been on an upward trajectory since he entered the scene. He holds the unofficial title of “African Rapper No.1”, the same title as one of his alltime hit songs. D'Banj D'Banj is one of Nigeria's best music heads. He has a global following that can't stop dancing to his hits including the very latest “Oliver Twist”. He's been reviewed and featured on almost every important medium, and he is without doubt, the hottest Nigerian act at the moment. A signee to Kanye West's GOOD Music label, D'Banj is in many aspects, an idol and a gift to the Nigerian music industry. He is winner of several music awards including Best African Act at the MTV Europe Music Awards 2007, Artist of the Year at the 2009 MTV Africa Music Awards, and 2011 BET Awards for Best International Act; Africa. Waje She's been hailed as the smooth voice behind the chart toppers.
Continues on page 33
THE
24
Monday, October 8 – Sunday, October 14, 2012
ADVOCATE
FLOOD DISASTER PHOTOS FROM UZO-UWANI LG REFUGEE CAMP IN ENUGU STATE FOR VICTIMS SACKED BY FLOOD FROM IBAJI COMMUNITIES IN KOGI STATE.
Helpless Flood victims from Odeke community waiting for relief assistance
Foodstuff, toiletries procured for the Flood victims at Iggah, Ojjor and Ogrugu by Uzo-Uwani LG being offloaded from lorry
Regent of Iggah Community, Prince Herbert Ukuta pleading for Federal Govt’s quick assistance for the refugees
The Iggah - Odeke road completely taken over by flood. The Orient Petroleum drilling site along this road was submerged Pix also shows Wooden Canoes used in rescuing the victims from Ibaji LGA.
Chairman, Uzo-Uwani LGA, Mr. Cornel Onwubuya presenting N5m relief materials to the victims
Relief materials being distributed to the flood victims by officials of Uzo-Uwani LGA
Ojjor flood victims scrambling for food at the refugee camp
One of the Primary School classrooms converted to refugee camp in Iggah
THE
ADVOCATE
Monday, October 8 – Sunday, October 14, 2012
25
FEATURES
Benue flood so devastating – Senate President By Donald Kumun, Makurdi
A
s the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, alerts imminent Flood in six (6) local councils in Benue State, not less than 25,000 persons, especially those who refused to heed warnings have been rendered homeless as the flood has taken over 14 communities in the state. Currently, those affected by the flood are bitterly counting their losses in their respective camps. The surge which started some few weeks from now has submerged close to 10,000 households, market places, car parks, lands, crops among others. Major areas eroded by the flood are, Buruku, Katsina-Ala, Logo, Agatu, Gwer-West and Makurdi Local Governments, respectively. The communities badly hilted in Makurdi include, Kucha Otebe, Gyado villa, Brick Factories, Wadata, New Garage, Logo 1, the Abattoir along the New Makurdi bridge, North Bank and the highbrow judges quarters, area of the town where Senate Minority Leader, Senator George Akume, and Minister of State for Trade and Investment, Dr. Samuel Ortom have residential houses. Benue State University main campus and the newly constructed BSU Teaching Hospital and the regional Headquarters of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, all in Makurdi are also affected by the flood, even as the disaster has also sacked many students of Benue State University Makurdi, who are now stranded, moving from one household to another after losing their valuable items in the water. Against this backdrop, the Senate President, David Mark, while in the state recently to visit some of the affected areas to see things for himself, expressed sadness over the development and confessed that the devastation this year is beyond expectation. He assured victims of the flood of his intervention by liaising with the relevant agencies of the Federal Government to move in quickly to collaborate with the state government to alleviate their sufferings. According to him, the disaster, which also occurred as a result of water released from the Lagdo Dam from Cameroun, has made it a thing of necessity for the Federal Government to talk to the Cameroonian authorities with a view to stop the volume of water that is released from the Dam into the River Benue.
Senator Mark also stated that as soon as the water reduces, government will put in place measures in order to rehabilitate the victims. The Senate President who was accompanied by the Minister of Interior, Abba Moro, Senator Barnabas Gemade, Governor Gabriel Suswam and some few stakeholders in zone 'C', regretted the level of destruction caused by the flood and described it as a massive calamity on his entire people. “I think the devastation is much. Is unpredicted. Nobody in the last 20years has had of destruction of property but may be because they immediately managed it, not many lives were lost. We thank God for that. What can we do to avoid it? It
present government's position on the flood, revealed that from his on the spot assessment of the situation and the briefs received from experts, this is the worst flood ever experienced by the state in the last 30 years. He said that the state Emergency Management Agency, SEMA at his instance was directed to immediately set up four camps in Makurdi for victims of the disaster located at the LGEA primary school Wurukum, N.K.S.T primary School, Wadata, and St. Catherine Primary School, J. S. Tarka way and Demekpe primary school, all in Makurdi. The affected persons at these camps are being supplied with food and other vital items to lesson their plight. The camps have been opened
very difficult because it is not something you can predict. Global warming has become a reality and is something that needs well major study for us to prepare for it. The problem is, if you prepare and in another 10 years you don't have anything like this or you feel that maybe the preparation is not worth it…. but really we have to get to a drawing board and see what we can do; talk to our neighbors in Cameroun because the volume of water released from there is also part of the problem that we are facing in Benue. The immediate thing that we need to do is to discuss with them in Cameroun so that they don't release more water onto the river Benue”. Said Mark. The Benue state Governor, Gabriel Suswam in a state broadcast to sympathize and
and government officials have been instructed to receive and accommodate all displaced persons without discriminations or preconditions. 'The National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, has also responded promptly to our distress call with reliefs materials which are already being distributed to the victims. Officials of the United Nations Children's Funds (UNICEF), have arrived the state with drugs and other consumables for the children and women at the camps. In response to our distress call also, the president has sent a delegation of two Ministers to undertake an assessment of the damage caused by the floods and to explore ways at which the state can be assisted. I wish then to appreciate our dear president,
president Goodluck Ebele Jonathan for his concern and timely intervention. Let me commiserate with those who either lost their property or were rendered homeless as a result of the flood experienced from the excess rain as well as the excess water discharged from the Lagdo Dam in the Republic of Cameroun. T h e f l o o d h a s a ff e c t e d thousands of families in Katsinaala, Buruku, Makurdi, Logo, Guma, Agatu and Gwer-West Local Government areas with Makurdi metropolis recording the w ors t los s es . A part from residential buildings and commercial services, the floods have also destroyed a large number of farms and plantations a c r o s s t h e a ff e c t e d l o c a l
Benue flood disaster government areas. This unfortunate incident has raised fears of about possible shortage of food and industrial raw materials. The livelihood of this occurrence has posed a serious concern to our administration. We are already working out possible ways to confront these challenges to avert famine in our state. In the week of the disaster, I undertook several visits to the affected communities with the view to ascertaining solution to the magnitude of the problem and what need to be done to the immediate and medium term to alleviate the sufferings of the victims.” Said the Governor. In response to his distress call that Non Governmental Organization and spirited individuals should come to the aid of the victims and the state
government with reliefs materials, a member of the Benue State House of Assembly, representing Kyan State Constituency in Vandeikya local government, Hon. (Mrs.) Dorothy Mato, who was deeply touched by the disaster, visited two camps (LGEA primary school Wurukum and N.K.S.T primary school Wadata camps) and distributed some food items and relief materials to the victims. Some of the items presented to officials of SEMA at the two camps unbehalf of the victims, include; two bags of garri, 30 tubers of yam and a pack of foot wears. She explained that her inspiration was born out of the fact that human beings like her are going through such pains. Mrs. Mato who was the first individual/lawmaker to extend such fellowship to the victims sympathized with them and called on other well to do individuals to respond speedily to the distress call. In his remark, the camp Commandant of LGEA Primary School Wurukum, Mr. Terumbur Alaban from the State Emergency Management Agency, expressed happiness and described her as a loving mother that has the feelings of her fellow ones at heart. One of the victims of the flood, Mr. Hyacinth Gegu who lives close to the River, told our correspondent that two of his houses were submerged in the flood and thanked the lawmaker, the state government as well as NEMA officials for coming to their aid with relieved materials. He described the situation as terrible and called on other relevant agencies and spirited individuals to also assist them in any way they can as the flood has really thrown them off their lives. “I occupy two family houses both which are located close to the river banks at the river Benue and the two houses have been submerged by the flood completely, the water has gone beyond even the window level. All my properties have been damaged by the flood. No single item has been removed. We are stranded and terribly affected”. Said Hyacinth A medical Doctor at the Benue State Hospital Management Board,Dr Emmanuel Ankeli who was posted to the NKST Primary School camp disclosed to The Advocate that though the camp is over crowded with common diseases as a result of the ugly
Continues on page 12
THE
Monday, October 8 – Sunday, October 14, 2012
26
ADVOCATE
RELIGION
The Advocate Gospel This Week
WILFUL BLINDNESS John 9:39-41
J
esus said, "For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind." Some Pharisees who were with him heard him say this and asked, "What? Are we blind too?" Jesus said, "If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains. (NIV)
Narration : An old English expression says, "There is none so blind as those who will not see." It means that although there is nothing wrong with their eyesight, they ignore the truth they already know; therefore they cannot see or understand what is in front of them. The Pharisees did that. They had already made up their minds that Jesus did not come from God; preferring to believe lies in order to avoid what was obvious. . But Jesus knew the truth about everybody. His miraculous signs and wonders revealed what people thought about Him. Some believed that He was God's Man and others refused to believe, bringing judgement on themselves. If they had been truly blind they could have claimed to be ignorant. But they knew the Old Testament Scriptures and everything about Jesus fitted the prophetic passages about Him. They were not blindly ignorant; they were wilfully blind, rebellious against their Maker and therefore sinful, guilty before God. . Many today suffer from wilful blindness. They know the truth but refuse to do it, and then wonder why they feel confused and muddled, and know they are out of step with God. The more they disobey the truth, the angrier they become. And God is angry too! Romans 1:18-21 says, "The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them." So when people reject you because you follow Jesus, pray for them that the Lord will turn their hearts before it is too late. Pray too for believers all over the world who are suffering persecution, and pray for their 'blind' persecutors, that they may see the truth of Jesus and repent while there is time. Prayer: All-seeing God. Thank You for being the Truth, always revealing the truth and inviting the world to trust Your Word of truth. I am sorry when I have known the truth but chosen to ignore it and disobey You. Please forgive me. Please help me to pray for other people when they get angry with me because I follow Jesus. And strengthen all Your children when they are being persecuted by people who do not want to submit to Jesus. In His Name. Amen.
Prayer: Dear Lord. Thank You that Jesus spoke so clearly of the devil and how he operates. I am sorry when I have accepted his lies and been trapped into working against Your holy purposes. I pray for all those who suffer for the sake of Christ, asking that You will give them strength to stand firm for the gospel, so that even their enemies may be saved. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
SHOCKING:
A married pastor infects multiple church members with HIV
A
n American pastor named Lamar Davis was arrested, for allegedly passing the HIV virus to unsuspecting female church members, Nollywoodgossip has learned from Mediatakeout. We learned that the married pastor is the former pastor of Full Gospel Baptist Church in Atlanta. According to a new report from Dr Boyce Watkins, the pastor was arrested for reckless conduct after police found that he was sleeping with several women with whom he was not married. A woman by the name of Ronita McAfee says that she met the pastor on Facebook and began sleeping with him. Ronita says that she became concerned when one of the pastor's ex-girlfriends called to say that she had HIV. She claims that the pastor then counseled her
(presumably leaning on the word of the good “lawud”) and told her to get tested. McAfee then says that she believed that, based on her observations, the pastor himself was not interested in getting treatment or changing his sexual behavior, in spite of his status. This is what prompted her to seek out a warrant for his arrest. Ronita is, the first person to file for the arrest of someone who was found to be having unprotected sex in Clayton County, GA while knowing that he is HIVpositive. McAfee says that when the investigation began, another woman in the church leadership stepped forward with her confession about interacting with Davis. The woman even claimed that she'd been celibate for 15 years before meeting him. She too is HIV positive. Source: Mediatakeout
Pastor bags 5yrs jail
A
N Asaba Magistrate Court, Delta State has convicted pastor, Joshua Egwu, on a two-count charge of conspiracy and advance fee fraud (419) for obtaining the sum of N700,000 from one Benedict Obidinma under false pretence. Pastor Egwu was sentenced to five years imprisonment with hard labour. He was sentenced to three years on the first count and two years on the second count, according to the Magistrate both sentences are to run concurrently. Chief Magistrate S. Ehikwe also sentenced his accomplice, one Ekene Ilona, to the same five years imprisonment, for luring the victim, who
was a bosom friend to him. Prosecution called two witnesses and tendered six exhibits to prove its case. The charge against the convict read: “That you, Ekene Ilona (Melody) and Pastor Joshua Egwu, on or about September 15, 2011, at Asaba, within the Asaba magisterial district, did by false pretence, obtain the sum of N700,000 from one Benedict Obidinma by presenting a proposal for the supply of blue gas, a proposal you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 419 of the criminal code cap C21 volume 1, laws of Delta State of Nigeria, 2006.”
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Monday, October 8 – Sunday, October 14, 2012
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ADVOCATE
CRIME WATCH
Varsity student, others arrested for Internet scam, robbery
S
USPECTED bank robbers and a fraudster, Nurudeen Oyeniyi, were paraded by the Oyo State Police command. Twenty-three year Oyeniyi, a 300-level Mass Communication student of Lead City University, Ibadan, was arrested for allegedly defrauding some foreigners of millions of dollars. The suspect, who confirmed his involvement in Internet fraud, told the police that he got into the business two years ago. He also accepted to have swindled two women of huge sums of money. He said, “I am involved in yahoo business (Internet fraud). I had duped some women living in the United States of various sums of money. “I was arrested by the police as a suspected armed robber but I told them that my mother owned
the car (Range Rover Sport) that they saw me with. “My mum is a doctor and my dad a retiree. “I got into the internet fraud business one year ago. The first deal fetched me $17m while the second fetched me $25,000.” The police also paraded one Kingsley Aniankan, a house keeper, who allegedly robbed the wife of his former employer. Aniankan, who was sacked by his employer for questionable character, later attacked their residence and stole jewelry and laptop. The police said Aniankan sold the stolen items to one Alhaji Umaru Haruna in Ibadan. Also, corpse of one of the suspected robbers, who reportedly attacked a first generation bank in Iseyin on Wednesday, was displayed by
74-yr-old, bizman in prison over forgery
A
Abubakar, IGP the police. M e a n w h i l e , t h e Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Joseph Mbu, said the stolen gold was valued at N25m. The suspect, who the police chief claimed sold the gold for N13m, said he used the remaining sum to build a house at Aba Pan, Oluyole Extension
and to buy a Bora Volkswagen car. He said, “The receiver confirmed that he knows Kingsley and that he used to buy gold from him. Investigation shows that he had bought about N9m worth of gold from the suspect.”
Police buy stolen gadgets from me – Fake Soldier A 22-year old suspect, Samuel Johnson, who was arrested and paraded for impersonation by the police has confessed that most of the security equipment he allegedly stole or acquired illegally were sold to police officers in various divisions in Lagos, Southwest Nigeria. Johnson revealed this when he was paraded at the Police Command Headquarters in Ikeja, Lagos State, southwest, Nigeria. He was arrested along LagosBadagry road while wearing a Nigerian Army uniform.
It was gathered that in the course of further investigation, the police found in his possession other military and police security equipment. The items recovered from him include army uniforms and walkie talkies. Johnson from Akwa-Ibom state, southsouth Nigeria, also claimed that his major suppliers are traders at Alaba from whom he buys the equipment and sells to the police officers at a cheap prices. He denied selling his equipment to armed robbers and said that he
Samuel Johnson
wore the uniform whenever he hawked the items at police stations and pretended to be a soldier to safeguard his business. “I did not know that it was illegal to wear army uniform and sell security gadgets,” he confessed. He said he was an artist by profession and ventured into the business because it is lucrative. Johnson was arrested by military intelligence officers who handed him over to the
police at Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, Ikeja. He regretted venturing into the business, adding that he was only hoping that God would see him through his predicament so that he could live a normal life again. Police sources said that Johnson was being investigated because he was suspected to have been selling those gadgets to armed robbers who have been terrorizing Lagosians.
Farmer, 19, in court for alleged Armed Robbery A 19-year-old farmer, Aondona Ayem, was arraigned before a Makurdi Chief Magistrates' Court for alleged conspiracy and armed robbery. Prosecutor Terzungwe Kajo told the court that a police patrol team led by Insp. Matthew Zato, received information on the incident. Kajo said that the police had information that one of the suspects, who allegedly robbed people at Abakwa village in Buruku, was hiding at Akaajime Area of Gboko. He said when the team got the
report, it swung into action and arrested the accused person and recovered a locally-made pistol with five rounds of live ammunition from him. The prosecutor further told the court that the accused person made a confessional statement to the police in which he indicted eight other suspects. Kajo pointed out that the other eight suspects were still at-large but that the accused person had confessed that they robbed their victim, Terwase Gbihi, N8, 000 at gun-point. He said that the offences
B U J A T W O businessmen, including a 74-year old man, brought before Karu Magistrate's court in Abuja, have been remanded in Keffi Prison in Nasarawa State over allegation of forgery of land documents. Sunnie Motilewa, 51, of Mclowe Property Ltd Gudu, Abuja, and Usman Mohammed, 74, were alleged to have connived with one Bashiru Mohammed, now at large to forged land documents in respect of Plot 96 Cadastral Zone CIO Wu m b a D i s t r i c t , A b u j a , belonging to MAI ULU Nigeria Ltd of No. 5 Lebanon Road Kano, Kano State. They were arraigned by the Police on a two-count charge of criminal conspiracy and forgery contrary to Sections 97 and 364 of the Penal Code law. Police Prosecutor, Albert Okara, told the court that the accused persons forged the documents of the said land with intention of selling the property to deprive the rightful owner of the plot. However, the accused persons denied the allegations, but their lawyers could not prevent them from being sent to prison, as leave of court sought by Ayodele Babalola, counsel to the first accused, to make oral bail application was turned down by the court based on the gravity of the alleged offences. Presiding Magistrate, Shuaibu Ahmed, in his ruling, ordered the accused persons to be remanded in prison custody and for their lawyer to come for their bail application by way of motion. The case was adjourned till November 19 for prosecution to open his case for hearing.
contravene Sections 6(b) and 1(2) of the Robbery and Fire Arms Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004. However, when the case came up for mention, no plea was taken. The prosecutor said investigation into the matter was ongoing and asked for adjournment of the case. The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Theresa Wergbah, ordered that the accused to be remanded in prison custody. She adjourned the case to Nov. 2, for further mention.
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NEWS
Mubi massacre: Stop these killings now, Tukur tells Jonathan
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unmask the killers of the members of the National Youth Service Corps during the 2011 general elections might have emboldened those responsible for the Mubi massacre. He said, “First, it was the killing of members of the National Youth Service Corps. Now they have graduated into going into the campus to kill the students. “This must stop. The federal and state governments and the security agencies must ensure the protection of lives.” The police headquarters on Thursday said the police had made no arrests in connection with the Mubi massacre, contrary to reported claim by the spokesman for the Adamawa State Police Command, Mohammed Ibrahim. “We have made several arrests. In fact we have arrested many suspects in connection with the killings,” AgenceFrance Presse quoted Ibrahim as saying on Wednesday. Assistant Force Public Relations Officer, Emmanuel Inyang, told one of our correspondents on Thursday that the police had made no arrest. “The police have yet to make arrests but the JTF has arrested some suspects. They are being screened now and anyone that is found to be involved in the attack would be handed over to police for further investigation,”
NGERED by the massacre at the Federal Polytechnic, Mubi, Adamawa State, National Chairman of the ruling Peoples, D e m o c r a t i c P a r t y, ( P D P ) Bamangar Tukur, on Thursday asked the Federal Government to put an immediate stop to indiscriminate killings in the land. Some gunmen on Monday night stormed an off-campus residence of the students and called them out for killing. Death toll in the tragedy rose to 40 on Wednesday after some of the injured students died in the hospital. Twenty-six died on the night of the massacre as the assailants shot the students at close range and butchered others with knives. Tukur described the killing of the students as barbaric and asked security agencies to ensure that the killers did not go free. Tukur, at a breakfast meeting with a delegation from Ekiti State PDP, condemned the massacre and asked the government to, at all costs, get hold of the perpetrators of the attack. The delegation, led by Mr. Kayode Adaramodu, came to
commiserate with Tukur over the massacre in Mubi, in the Adamawa home state of the PDP chairman. Tukur tasked the Federal Government and all security agencies in the country to ensure that the murderers were fished out and punished in line with the laws of the country. He condemned what he described as wanton shedding of innocent blood in the country, saying, “enough is enough”. Tukur said, “Every Nigerian must condemn what happened. The killing of these students is unwarranted and uncalled for. What joy does the masterminds of this dastardly act derive from the deaths and shedding of innocent blood? “We are parents, how would the parents of these students that were killed feel? “You sent your child to school to study and the next thing is that his or her corpse is brought back to you. How do you expect them to feel? These killings must stop.” He, therefore, challenged all security agencies in the country to ensure that the murderers arrested and punished. Tukur said that the inability of the security agencies to
T
Taraba Deputy Governor impeached
araba State House of Assembly on Thursday impeached the Deputy Governor, Sani Abubakar Danladi, for “gross misconduct.” He had been accused of diverting a Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) project to his private school, Yagai Academy, which houses his other business ventures like Yagai Water, Yagai Printing Press and Yagai Restaurant, an act which the Assembly described as “gross misconduct.” The House of Assembly said locating the MDG ICT Centre and sinking motorised boreholes in the Yagai Academy were unacceptable, as the school was his private venture and members of the public could not access them. The lawmakers also alleged that Abubakar used his influence to acquire “a large expanse of land in Jalingo on which he built Yagai Academy
(together with all other multimillion naira business ventures sited therein like Yagai Water, Yagai Printing Press and Yagai Restaurant), an institution which is worth about N1 billion.” They said his total emoluments as Deputy Governor could not justify such investments, adding that he had breached the code of conduct for public office-holders which requires that he shows transparency in the act of governance. He was also accused of undue interference in the postings and transfers of indigenes of his local government area, Karim
Lamido, and working against the interests of other stakeholders of the local government area. Responding to the lawmakers' allegations, Abubakar said the Yagai Cybercafe was an initiative of a member of the House of Representatives and its current Chief Whip, Ishaka Bawa, representing Wukari/Ibi Federal Constituency. He said the project was carried out by MDGs Projects for Yagai Academy, noting that the school did not request or solicit for them either in writing or orally.
Dr Bamanga Tukur, PDP National Chairman Inyang stated. He expressed optimism that the collaboration between the police and the JTF would assist in getting to the root of the matter. Meanwhile, the Christian Association of Nigeria has condemned the Mubi killings and called on the National Assembly to fast-track the passage of the anti-terrorism Bill into law. The association however rejected the theory that the massacre was fallout of students' union election dispute “having regard to the manner it was reportedly carried out.” A statement on Thursday by the General Secretary of CAN, D r. M u s a A s a k e , a l s o commiserated with families who lost their loved ones, students and authorities of the affected institutions. Asake said, “We plead with the National Assembly to speed
up the bill on anti-terrorism and to introduce clauses that would discourage those with penchant for murder, bombing and other terrorist activities. “After a careful study of the various reports on the issue, coupled with the latest information that there is currently a stampede of students and lecturers who have taken advantage of the free period preceding the curfew imposed by the state government to flee the institutions, CAN vehemently condemns the barbaric act of the gunmen suspected to be members of the Boko Haram. “CAN rejects the theory of election dispute as responsible for the massacre of over 40 students, having regard to the manner it was reportedly carried out. It believes that the reason is phoney and that such a theory, arrived at in haste, can only serve to shield the real culprits and
Nigeria’s 52 Years Continues from page 30 are we doing to ourselves? When Nnia Nwodo came as Chairman of Enugu Centenary, Zik's Portrait was restored to life. It used to be a dumping ground but I think they abandoned it soon after Nnia left. Look at the Eastern House of Assembly, the building still stand strong. There is no crack on the wall and the seats there had been what they were since those days. What are we doing to ourselves? When you get angry and speak out they see you as political opponent but I am giving them ideas. They don't want to learn, they want mediocre to fill the place and answer yes sir. And I will never do. I have told people that we Ndigbo must learn not to be the dog that spits and leak at the same time. We must stand firm and say we don't want this thing. Why must they demolish these monuments? Look, the Head of Service complex, I came there first when Jerome Udoji was the secretary to the Government. It was a beautiful place. Now you
have destroyed it to build a new one that will not last more than hundred years. Why can't all these Architects design something that will incorporate all the old buildings; leave the spaces and when one comes in you see the old and the new structures? Where are the Commissioners that gave the governor advice? What have you said? They can't because they don't know, they are all new breed. I tell you something, it goes through our educational system. Why? You come and talk to the students that expo and examination malpractice is an evil, they look at you as if you came from the Mars. Why? Those in charge now are products of expos. So they know nothing else except cheating. And that is why when you said we have no hope, our hope is in the Lord who made Heaven and Earth. We pray God, turn the minds of these iconoclasts. Turn their minds because Nigeria is a big place.
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POLITICS Igbos haven't had a fair deal in Nigeria's 52 years Continues on page 19 robbery would not be there, why do you think crime will not increase? Some of them stole our votes, they are not there for us they are there for themselves and from what they say, you 'll see it. A young pauper I know who couldn't pay his rent flies helicopter to his village, whose money? He appoints the chairman of local government, enthroning mediocrity. Those who must say yes sir, those who cannot question. My solution to it after 52 n d independence anniversary is that we the Nigerian people must say no, we don't want it. I made a reference to the election. When they appointed Jega and he finished the last elections, I said there are professor and there are professors. We have had Professor Iwu as the chairman of INEC, we have Jega as the chairman of INEC, gentleman, the difference is clear. We have not even arrived, there are still pockets of charlatans who are taking our votes and I believe that by the time Jega finishes we would have arrived. The last election has improved the situation but not completely. Those who serve in the INEC must be men of integrity, who are not influenced by money, who are not persuaded by influence of power. Let me quote, I worked with man called Ephraim Akpata may he rest in peace, as chairman of INEC when I was a Resident Electoral Commissioner in Ekiti. Let everybody make a reference there. We did local government, state and federal elections. It was the election that brought Obasanjo to power. The petitions we had after the elections, about thirty in number. I attended court personally to defend our actions. The petitioners lost in 29 petitions except the one on a technical ground. That's what we want in elections. Let the people see what is democracy. Come cast your votes, make every man see and announce results. Shake hands with your opponents to concede that the people don't want you. Why do you insist when you know that the people don't want you? It is a common thing. I started in my secondary school days to do vacation job in my local government Igboeze, when it was called county council. In one of those periods, I was drafted to be part of the local election and at that time it was option A4 which Prof. Humphrey Nwosu tried and succeeded. But because we are cheats we don't want it, we said it is crude. The style involves standing behind the man you want and those who lost would see that they have lost and the election will not last for more
than 30 minutes. We did it and we succeeded except that the boys with gun cancelled the election. Abiola's election was one of the best we have had in this country. How did it go? Voters stood behind the picture of the man they wanted. Those who lost knew. At times people move from the lines of those losing to join those who are winning which shows a mark of popularity. Why do we cut our nose to spite our face? Because we want to be cheats. If people don't want you, don't impose yourself. It is like all these situations are happening in Igboland. Before you become Ezeigbo in any town, it is the Igbos there that will elect you to be their Eze. You don't go about with money and get some irresponsible people to crown you and you start quarrelling. Let accept democracy that they people are empowered to choose. Open your hearts to know whether people really chose you or whether because of what you have, you can manipulate yourself. I told one governor, the courts gave you the governorship, you are now our governor. He said no, I won election. I said to him do you want me to tell you how they were writing your result while we were still voting. They don't like me because I speak openly though not against any particular person, it is the system. In 52 years the system that guides all of us in Nigeria has broken down and personalities have now taken over, that is the reason. President Obama is not even as powerful as the president of Nigeria. Do you know how much power the president of Nigeria has, and Obasanjo made it clear that he had so much powers. The president is the man who holds the key and that's why the Igbos are saying that there's a master key. Every group in Nigeria must test that master key so that we will all be happy. Those groups that claim they own this country should know that they don't. Look! For the past ten years, there was no quarrel between Anambra and Kogi State except for a few land skirmishes but once Anambra was declared oil producing, people woke up from Kogi, they now realize that the land belongs to them, who owns papa's land? Where were these representatives when Anambra was making investments of billions? I live in the same kind of situation, I came from Igboeze North local government; we have completely non-igbo speaking tribe in Enugu state, Ette. We are divided by a river, majority of their people live at the other side of the river which is Kogi. Some politicians among them said that
we don't belong here, we belong there, we said okay, just move across the river, we don't care, this place is Enugu State. We have come to reconcile and from Ette there's a member of the house of Assembly in Enugu. Some of them are working in Enugu state while some prefer to go to Kogi. I lived in Idah when I was the pioneer Registrar of Federal Polytechnics and I know about all this things. I am sure that what is happening in Ette is also happening in Ibaji, there are some of their people living in Anambra. So I was just giving example of how Nigerians behaves. In the last few years there was no problem between Anambra and Kogi until this doom called oil and that's why Nigerians are still suffering. We used to have agricultural show. I talked about groundnut pyramids about palm kernel and cocoa and when the oil came we abandoned it and went for the doom called oil. It is now killing us. So I believe that there are Ibaji people in Anambra and there are Ibaji people in the majority who are in Kogi. When I was at Idah there was one big man who spoke Igbo and I was surprised and I related with them. So, must we quarrel because Anambra has bee declared oil producing state? There is a law that said if you come and build in my land and I don't stop you and you finish and pack in, I can no longer lay claim to it. Where were these representatives of Ibaji people in the National Assembly and the state when Mbadinuju came many years ago, when Ngige came and now when Obi came and invested so much. Is it not possible that some people who own the land where they are living in Anambra have taken some money as compensation and put in their pockets without Kogi knowing? So why do you go and hire a crowd which is visible in the camera. We will never allow it. Who the hell are you? And the chances are still there for you to prospect oil in every state. Nigeria owns the whole land, you know, and they give license. All you have to do if it is your land is to indicate and they will pay royalties to you. In fact the federal government collects the royalties on behalf of the rest of us. So what stupid palaver that they want to create as trouble for Nigeria. I told them to shut up and keep quiet and let us move ahead. After 53 years what do you think is the hope for the future of Ndigbo in Nigeria? We have hope. There is a saying in Igboland that if a child lifts his father something will close his eyes. Let young people learn. Look at what is paining some of us; I was pioneer Registrar of
Nduka Eya, Secretary General Ohaneze Federal Polytechnic Idah with late Chukwujekwu as Rector; with late Nwadialor as Bursar. Ahmadu Ali brought us specifically to create a good institution and I bet with it. If you go to the polytechnic I have a street named after me, Nwadialor has a street named after him, Chukwujekwu also has and that is recognition. Now I was brought from that institution through the University of Nigeria where I was seconded to be Permanent Secretary under Chief Jim Nwobodo of the old Anambra State in 1979. Why did I need to leave my job? It is because of this government of injustice, unfair play and inequity, because the Anambra North then was nowhere. By the time they created Anambra and Enugu State the people left were drivers and messengers. That is why we have to go to schools to bring teachers to feel the civil service. If we were fair, they should have a balance. So I was brought out for a balance. I came in as Permanent Secretary and I stayed there for eight years. Then I was appointed by the military as Commissioner for Education in the old Anambra State now three states. We did our best, there was money to steal but we were taught “Thou shall not steal”. Why do we go to church every Sunday listen to sermon and we come out and will not live it? What am I leading to? When we came, we found what was called GRA Government Reserved Area built by the Colonial Masters. Why reserved? They are occupied by Permanent Secretaries, top officials of government, who at 1.30 am the governor may call you and say look I have a problem can we go together, give me a paper by morning. He knows where everybody lives. He goes there and you do a paper and by 4 o'clock you will wonder how it happened. The example is that when the military came, I was Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Finance in the then old Enugu State and as I was going home I heard the news at about 9pm that I have been changed, I turned
back and went to the office, wrote my handover note left for my secretary so in the morning I will come and sign it. She was full of wonders. Now they have sold all those places. Apo Village which was built for our legislators, they have sold probably to themselves at very cheap rate. Today when you win election they find N50 million and give you to go and look for accommodation. Who is fooling who? Is it true that maintenance of those buildings will cost more than the multiplier effect you have given? So you see mansions. The environment for working is no longer there. They have turned the place to rabble. So, if we sold all these places before you came, if we did, what would you have sold? Iconoclasm destroying. Somebody asked me over this independence and I said the military killed the Nigerian civil service, simple as that. Every appointee goes with the man who appointed them, so all the echelons of Permanent Secretaries and DirectorsGeneral left and you left people who were never trained to be Permanent Secretaries. You appoint a level 13 officer to become permanent secretary the engine of ideas, the engine of memorandum and so on and so forth. And when you bring a file and if he finds it complicated and does not know what to do with it, he marks it K.I.V (Keep in View) and dump it in the basket and government job is suffering. I criticize I don't know why. Are you aware of the controversies surrounding the Enugu state secretariat complex project? The Enugu State government I hear they are relocating ministries and have gone ahead to bulldoze historic monuments built by colonial masters. Don't we have a sense of history? Can't we have designed something to incorporate those old things? Chimaroke Nnamani, in building whatever he was building; two commissioners' quarters built by Israelis were bulldozed from the root. What
Continues on page 29
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31
MOTORING
2013 Viper SRT-10 unveiling and thoughts
The SRT Viper
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hen the last model for the previous generation Dodge Viper rolled off the assembly line, many of us took comfort in knowing that the next generation had already been confirmed for production. The new generation SRT Viper was rumored and teased for a good amount of time, building up the suspense for the new design and powerful engine. Now, it's finally here, bringing its new look and ditching the Dodge title in the process. The new SRT Viper has received an all-new, timeless exterior design with a new carbon-fiber hood, roof, decklid, and aluminum door panels. As a first, the Viper will be offered with LED taillamps that
integrate stop-and-turn illumination in one element. Under the hood, the new Viper features a new 8.4-liter allaluminum, V-10 overhead-valve engine that will deliver a total of 640 HP and 600 lb-ft of torque. The new engine will be mated to an improved Tremec TR6060 six-speed manual transmission. For the new generation, the Viper will be offered in two different versions: standard and GTS. The GTS will offer more technologically advanced solutions, like two-mode active suspension for those clients who want to enjoy it on the race track. The SRT Viper offers a brand new exterior design language while focusing on making the body more aerodynamic, lighter,
and more functional than it was in the last generation Viper. Changes like an all-new carbonfiber hood, roof, decklid, which are 50 to 60 percent lighter than the sheet molding compound (SMC) used in the last generation Viper. Aluminum door panels now replace the SMC used in the 2010 model year, not only giving them a sleeker look, but reducing each door's weight by seven pounds from the 2010 model. SRT took weight savings to an extreme by shrinking the backlight, using 0.7 mm thinner side glass, resizing and lightening the headlamps, using a 6-pound lighter battery, and even using wiring that weighs 1.5 pounds less than the 2010 model year.There were numerous modifications made to the
Viper's body to get an impressive 0.364 drag coefficient 0.016 better than 2010 and increase performance, but several stand out from the pack. The front air intake was modified and incorporated with the brake ducts, to both increase brake cooling and lower drag. SRT positioned “Air Trippers” on the forward edge of each extractor the vents on the rear of the front fenders to generate negative pressure to enhance the frontward ground effect. The rear quarters kick outward, giving the Viper its famed fat rear end, but also are designed to kick air away from the back end, reducing drag on the tail end. Lastly, a duct along the belly of this beast draws air from underneath the vehicle and
directs it to the rear differential to keep things cool. SRT took special care not to reinvent the wheel with the new Viper, as it opted to bring back the classical low-stance and the extreme cab rearward proportions that have become the unmistakable silhouette of the iconic supercar, next to the dramatic fender "gills" another traditional Viper design cue that helps extract heat from the engine compartment. Essentially the new Viper looks strikingly similar to the 2010 model, from a side profile, but from the front, it simply looks amazing. The exterior design continues with the addition of the traditional "double-bubble" roof configuration that maximizes headroom for the driver and passenger while maintaining a low frontal area. Up front, the Viper gets dual-function, bixenon projector headlamps that feature light-emitting diode (LED) daytime running lamps and LED turn signals in a sinister "snake eye' configuration. The Viper has received a new side-exit exhaust system with cast aluminum, sill-mounted exhaust bezels that pop out from just behind the doors. A first for the supercar is the addition of new LED taillamps that integrate stop-and-turn illumination in one element. The car will be offered with a new set of wheels offered in a fivespoke, forged-aluminum "Rattler" wheel design.The GTS version adds a split sixspoke forged-aluminum "Venom" wheel design with three available finishes, including polished face with graphite-painted pockets (standard), fully painted Hyper Black, or fully painted low-gloss black. The Viper's interior was once nothing more than a seat, tape player, steering wheel, and some pedals. Throughout the years, the interior got a little better, but it never matched up well with the competition in its class. In the new Viper, SRT took care of this by adding superior craftsmanship, premium material appointments, and performance-oriented technologies. The GTS models offers full leather, and standard accent colors which have been applied to the seats, doors, center console, and stitching.
The Esteban Solar Car Team
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he Esteban Solar Car Team is a student-run team from Polytechnique Montréal, the affiliated engineering school of the University of Montreal. The organization aims to design, build and run sunpowered electric vehicles, and has produced six prototypes as
of 2012. Another major purpose of the project is to demonstrate the feasibility of electric vehicles and to promote the use of renewable energies. Construction of Esteban VI started during the summer of 2011. In July 2012, Esteban VI became the first Esteban
prototype to race in the Formula Sun Grand Prix and to qualify in the American Solar Challenge. Upon completion of the American Solar Challenge 2012, Esteban received the Teamwork Award and the Array Power Award in a tie with the winning team, the University of Michigan.
Esteban VI Solar Car
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NEWS
Chime to provide opportunities for private investors T
he acting governor of Enugu State Mr. Sunday Onyebuchi, has said that the state government was committed to providing the enabling environment for private investors to operate in the state. Onyebuchi stated this in an address read on his behalf by the State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Ozo Joe Mmamel on the occasion of the opening ceremony of Oakland Amusement Park in Enugu . H e a ff i r m e d t h a t t h e establishment of the park has added value to the existing giant strides of the state government towards entrenching a formidable tourism industry, according to him, Enugu state today has a world class road network with pedestrian walk way, and lighted streets, a pleasurable transportation system and most importantly a water tight security system to facilitate tourist activities.
The Acting Governor added that Enugu was also a peaceful heaven where people usually take shelter for holidays and weekends to avoid the hustles and bustles of other cities. Onyebuchi recalled that the state executive council approved the development of a mega amusement park and has engaged the services of a foreign firm to develop a feasibility concept plan for its development. He added that the state government has also engaged experts on the development of a new zoological garden within Enugu City . The Acting Governor disclosed that the state would as from 13th to 22nd December,2012 host its second annual Cultural and Tourism Fiesta, adding that it would be fun and entertaining. Earlier in an address, the Managing Director Oakland Amusement Park , Mr. Jide
Onwo, said that the opening of the amusement park has actualized his dream to contribute to the socio-economic development of the country and Enugu state in particular. He added that with the opening of the park that families and youths can now have a recreational centre where they could fully relax and interact outside the strict and formal confines of their homes and work environment. Mr. Onwo noted that more than 120 people have been employment to work in the park. The Managing Director observed that the Enugu State was chosen for the establishment of the amusement park because of available infrastructure, security, serenity, investor friendly policies and good governance of Governor S u l l i v a n C h i m e . He commended the state government for her support for the opening up of the park.
Ijaw struggle is aimed at uniting Nigeria – Gov Dickson By Philip Eke, Yenagoa
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ayelsa State Governor, Hon Seriake Dickson has said that Ijaws do not have any ulterior motive in their quest for resource control and proper restructuring of the country. Governor Dickson made this remark at the official commissioning of the National Secretariat of the Ijaw National Congress (INC) as well as the unveiling of Coat of Arms and hoisting of the State flag in Yenagoa. The Governor noted that the Ijaw struggle which does not mean any harm is aimed at building a more united, just, egalitarian and equitable Nigeria, where no section of the country will be oppressed. To drive his point home, Hon Dickson described President Goodluck Jonathan as a worthy Ijaw son who has continued to provide purposeful leadership in the face of daunting challenges, which he noted no President has ever encountered in the history of the country. Commenting on the INC Secretariat, the Governor
pointed out that the building would have been completed and put to use before now if it had not suffered abandonment in the hands of the immediate past administration. He paid glowing tributes to the first civilian governor of the state, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha and one time president of the Ijaw National Congress, Professor Kimse Okoko for initiating the project. Governor Dickson who also commended the contractor, Chief Joshua Fumudoh for doing a good job, restated his administration's commitment towards Ijaw Nationalism. According to the Governor, the completion of the building will not only serve the accommodation needs of the pan-Ijaw body but also give the Ijaw nation a pride of place among the comity of ethnic nationalities in the country. Earlier, Governor Dickson defied the rain to hoist the Bayelsa flag in front of the Government House, stating that the flag will at all times fly a bit lower than that of Nigeria to indicate the superiority of
the latter. He was assisted in the hoisting of the flag by his D e p u t y, R e a r A d m i r a l Gboribiogha JohnJonah(Rtd),former Governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha and ex- President of INC, Chief Joshua Fumudoh as well as the son of Late General Sani Abacha, Mohammed. In his goodwill message, President Goodluck Jonathan commended the Dickson- led administration for completing the project and the Ijaw National Congress for its steadfastness. Represented by his Special Adviser on Research, Documentation and Strategy, Barr. Oronto Douglas, the President urged the Ijaws to utilize the virtues of strong unity and fraternity which form the hallmark of the Ijaw National Congress with extreme responsibility and realistic aspiration. According to the President, the aspirations of all the ethnic groups in the country are defined by two main, parameters. One of such is the quest for good Governance and rapid development as well as the quest for genuine nationhood and enduring political structure based on true love, mutual trust and progressive socio-economic co-operation.
Gov Chime
Lawmaker donates N1m, bags of Rice, others to flood victims
the victims to be patient, just as
By Vincent Anikwushe, he appealed to the Federal and State governments, Non Asaba
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member representing Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency of Delta State at the House of Representatives, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, has donated N1million, 100 bags of rice, cartons of beverages, gallons of groundnut oil and other items to the victims of flood disaster in Delta State. The donation was specifically made for the people within the effected areas of pipe line, Oko communities, Ogbe- Ofu and cable point in Asaba among others who lost their properties as a result of the flood. Presenting the items to the victims when he visited them at their camp at St. Patrick's College, Asaba, Elumelu who sympathized with affected people enjoined them not to lose hope but to be steadfast, adding that his visit was to identify with them at their critical moment and also contribute his quota towards reducing their sufferings. Describing the flood as monumental and very painful, the lawmaker equally advised
Governmental Organizations (NGO's), and well-meaning Nigerians to come to their aid. He commended Delta State E m e rg e n c y M a n a g e m e n t Agency (SEMA), Red cross and National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) officials for their commitment to the welfare of the victims at the camp. While reacting to the incidence, the victims who spoke to The Adocate, thanked Ndudi Elumelu for his benevolence, wished him well in his endeavours. Receiving the cheque of N1Million and other items on behalf of the victims, Mr. Anthony Nwanti, a director at SEMA, thanked Hon. Elumelu for his kind gesture. E a r l i e r, E l u m e l u h a d embarked on an assessment visit of areas ravaged by the flood which included Delta State Office of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Oko and Pipe-Line Communities, OgbeOfu and cable point in Asaba, River Niger Bridge Head among others.
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NEWS
Southeast zone of Nigeria polio free-NPHDA Uba Ani, Enugu
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he zonal coordinator National Primary Healthcare Development Agency Dr Mrs. Damaris Ogechi Onwuka said that the Southeast zone of Nigeria has
been polio free for over four years. Speaking to journalists in Enugu, after National midwife service scheme training, Dr. Onwuka said the zone was able to achieve the free polio situation following massive
Chime moves against God’s House Continues on pages 13 have not been marked for demolition. He stated that he had every reason to view the situation “with some kind of skepticisms that government is either partial or derailing in the implementation of her policies,”insisting that the church went through due process of acquiring the land and building the church. According to the AGO, “democracy is not like a military business where things are done with impunity; without recourse to the plight of the public, and government should understand that her primary responsibility is the overall welfare of the governed and should realize that the Church constitutes part of the governed.” A document made available to The Advocate indicated that the Town Planning Department of the University of Nigeria conducted an independent assessment of the church building site upon demand by Commissioner for ECTDA, and after the assessment, the experts wrote the Commissioner and stated thus: “That Mountain of Fire Ministry duly acquired the said land, that the church equally got due approval from the Enugu Town planning Authority before embarking on the remodeling of the existing structure, that upon inspection, the church building is properly located within the specifications of the survey plan and that the site coverage or plot ratio conforms to acceptable minimum planning standards. “The setback between the church and Asata River is 10 meters, with adequate space for both pedestrians and vehicular movements but lastly the document recommended for a retaining wall and provision of a wider packing lot for the church faithful and visitors”. The Advocategathered from a good authority that a prolonged remodeling of the church building aroused the interest of government and which resulted in the ECTDA investigation and subsequent letter to the church informing the leaders that they had violated development law of the city. A member of the church,
who identified himself as Nwachukwu and who claimed to have been following the activities of the church since the Enugu branch was established said that the Commissioner incharge of ECTDA, Engr. Ikechukwu Ugwuegede after faulting the church's remodeling project recommended one Architect Okoye of the institute of Architects as a professional that will get the job right and solved the problem of breach of development principles. According to him, the church engaged the Architect with a whooping sum of N600, 000 but when the Architect finished and submitted the job to the agency for approval the commissioner allegedly refused to approve it. Nwachukwu further recalled how Governor Chime had sent one of his Commissioners to the church during the 2011 elections to pray for his second term bid as the Governor of Enugu State but expressed regrets that now that God had answered their prayers, “he (governor) chose to take a hard stand on the same people whose untiring supplications saw him through.” The MFM member, however, appealed to Governor Chime to revisit his decision on the demolition of the Church so as to give the people of God a sense of belonging in his administration, adding that the Church was not opposed to government decision to take over her land pursuant to her right in The Land Use Act, but that should give it with a human face and provide alternative place for the church as well as support them with time and finance for effective relocation. E ff o r t s t o r e a c h t h e Christian Association of Nigeria,CAN, was futile but our correspondent gathered that the leaders of the Association have also appealed to the Governor to reconsider his decision on the matter. Officials of the State Ministry of Lands and ECTDA declined to comment on the issue when contacted by The Advocate but an insider who did not want his name in prints said that the decision to bring the church building down was collectively taken by members of the State Executive Council.
support given to polio immunization projects in the zone by the various stakeholders. On the issue of the cumbersomeness in getting babies to have all the routine vaccinations that are made available by government and her partners, Mrs. Onwuka told said the agency has introduced a new form of vaccination called penta-vaccine in Enugu and Anambra states; a system that enables babies to be immunized once against the five killer diseases. She applauded the efforts of the state governors in the southeast, traditional rulers, NGO's and Donor agencies for their unflinching support in area of health education, logistics, publicity, and other things needed for the effective routine immunization processes in the zone, stressing that without such efforts the story would have been different. The NPHDA coordinator said that the agency has a primary responsibility to strengthen primary healthcare in the country in order to check the escalating cases of infant and maternal mortality in the country and the associated pressure on secondary and tertiary healthcare institutions. According to her, “ there's need to train the primary healthcare workers, there's need to get our
women to have the right orientation on pregnancy and child care and there's also need to reach out to every child in Nigeria for all the necessary healthcare attention, otherwise the high incidence of infant and maternal health problems will continue”. “We are happy with level of monitoring and evaluation achieved by our monitoring groups as that has obviously exposed us to the challenges that are being faced in the primary healthcare sector in Nigeria and this has helped government in further health policy formulation in order to capture these challenges” she continued. She expressed dismay on the attitude of many rural women who have not bought into the idea of regular antenatal visits during pregnancy due to some kind of local beliefs and myths that women who deliver babies in the hospitals are not real women. Onwuka noted that the reason for increasing complications in infant and maternal health in Nigeria is due to lack of proper health education, lack of functional primary healthcare centers and lack of well trained healthcare personnel to tackle the health needs of majority of the populace who reside in the local governments. She maintained that health is wealth and therefore called on
Mrs. Damaris Ogechi Onwuka
all and sundry especially women to get involve in ensuring that the effort of government at all levels to achieve functional healthcare system in Nigeria through accessing the free immunizations available is realized, adding that any society that approaches her healthcare system with kids' gloves is doomed. She disclosed that women who deliver their babies in the hospital will now get N5, 000 as part of government effort to woo pregnant women to go to the hospitals during pregnancy; an offer that is part of government objective through the subsidy reinvestment programme to achieve her healthcare objectives. “We are introducing conditional cash transfer to women to encourage them to come for antenatal, learn about their pregnancy, learn about childcare before and after birth and also have their babies in the hospitals”. She said.
10 of the hottest young Nigerian Musicians Continues from page 23 Waje has a unique voice of her own one that has kept her going for years. A fine material who became a nationwide sensation after featuring on M.I's”One Naira”, Waje is one to watch. She featured on the remake of PSquare's most recent hit “Omoge Mi” as well as their “Do Me” track, off the Game Over album released in 2007. She is a recipient of multiple nominations for music awards. Brymo: 26-year-old Brymo is considered one of Nigeria's finest male singers. He rose to fame when he featured on the then popular “Oleku” song by fellow Chocolate City label mate Ice Prince. Post “Oleku” he has become the artist want to feature in their songs in the hopes of creating a hit that goes platinum. Recent successes include topping the charts with songs like Ara, which is a favourite of many across the continent, “Good morning”, and the most recent single “Go hard”. Omawumi: Omawumi, 30, is a past “Idols West Africa” finalist, whose debut single “In The Music”,
became an instant hit in 2008. “In The Music”, a Kwaito-driven song laced with subtle traces of Pidgin English, saw her top the charts for months. In 2009, she released her much anticipated “Wonderwoman” album, which included the now-popular “Ma Fi Mi Shere” song. Nneka: Her musical career took off in 2005. Since then, she's been more than impressive creating songs for a global audience. Nneka is an amazing singer who has been compared to the likes of Nina Simone, Erykah Badu and the legendary Bob Marley. Her debut album Victim of Truth, which was released in the United Kingdom in 2007, was well received. Daughter of a Nigerian father and a German mother, Nneka Egbuna was born in Warri, Oil City in the Delta region of Nigeria. She's earned praise from a wide range of industry people including Lenny Kravitz and Lauryn Hill. Davido: His “Dami Duro” single is said to be “one of Nigeria's top hits ever made”. This could be true considering how well the song has been received. And he continues to live that dream, as a young, super talented
musician who is gradually becoming a force to be reckoned with in the Nigerian music industry. An artiste of incredible flair, Davido falls under the league of extraordinary young Nigerian musicians the world should look out for. Tiwa Savage: A Grammy Award nominee, and once background singer for George Michael, she's your typical singer of substance. After years of vocal-backing for other top musicians such as Mary J. Blige, Chaka Khan, Blu Cantrell, Emma Bunton from The Spice Girls, Kelly Clarkson, Andreas Bocelli, and Ms Dynamite among others, Tiwa Savage finally made an entry onto the Nigerian music scene in 2010. Almost immediately, her “Kele Kele Love” single became a hit, recording enormous success across Nigeria and parts of Africa. An amazing songwriter, Savage has also written songs for the likes of Babyface, Kat Deluna, Fantasia Barrino, Monica and Mya. In 2009, she signed as a singer/songwriter with SONY/ATV a deal that did a lot of good to her credibility as a fine material.
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NEWS FROM STATES
Prayer, faith in God, solution to terrorism – Umahi By Uchenna Itumo, Abakaliki
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he Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State, Engineer Dave Umahi has said that prayer and faith in God remains the only instrument that will bring to an end the incessant terrorism as witnessed in the country. Engineer Umahi who disclosed that though the Boko Haram sect has unleashed terror in the nation and brought tears to many people through killings, noted that there was no problem that was above G o d ’s s o l u t i o n , a n d therefore, called on the Nigerians to pray for God's intervention in the security situation in thecountry. The Deputy Governor who made the call on the occasion of unveiling of the October edition of Rhapsody of Realities, a daily devotional of Christ Embassy Church in Abakaliki, maintained that the unity of the nation should be everybody’s priority. He urged Christians to avoid anything that can bring division, but to act as
Champions of unity of the nation. He tasked the leadership class and entire citizenry to be honest in whatever they do in service to their fatherland, adding that those who make quick money to the detriment of others will fail, adding that those in leadership position should see themselves as servants because position comes from God. Umahi who asserted that the church was agent of change commended the Founder and General Overseer of Christ Embassy, Pastor Chris Oyakhliome, whom he described as a gift to the nation, having transformed many lives in the society through his inspirational message, charging other men of God to emulate him. The Pastor in charge of Christ Embassy I, Abakaliki pastor Eunice, Oyeyemi in a press release to mark the unveiling said that the church having joined other Nigerians in the celebration of 2012 Independence by bringing succor to many lives and communities all over the country would continue to ensure that the church will be
Govt to demolish 1,800 houses in Aba By Joe Akwarandu, Umuahia
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he Abia state government has said that about 1,800 houses that have been identified as blocking the drainage in Aba the commercial center of the state shall to be demolished by the Ministry of environment soon. This was disclosed by the State Governor; Chief T.A. Orji while briefing the press in Umuahia recently after the inspection of flood that has affected many roads in Aba, the governor frowned at the deplorable condition of the roads, stating that the flood was caused by the act of blocking of drainages in the commercial city. Orji regretted that efforts and money haven been sunk in Aba by the state government to rehabilitate the city has been rubbished by the flood which was caused by many houses built on the water ways and said that the
Ministry have been instructed to pull the houses down. Chief Orji stated that a road maintenance unit has been inaugurated to take care of the roads in the State especially in Aba. He maintained that the duty of the unit would be to fill all menacing pot-holes at regular intervals to keep the roads in good shape all seasons. On the Enugu - Port Harcourt high way, the State Chief Executive explained that the state's lean resources could not meet the repair of the roads, but assured that his government was in constant discussion with the Federal government who have promised to repair the axis immediately the rains subsides. He congratulated Abia citizens for holding fort peace and security of the State while he was away and promised to continue in his quest of delivering the dividends of democracy to all and sundry.
on the vanguard for positive development in Nigeria, which she maintained was one of their corporate social responsibilities. She maintained that in the 2012 Reach-Out, Nigeria, that the church will supply relief materials to people in need, provide educational facilities in some states in the federation, provision of boreholes, and construction of facilities for the less privileged in the society. In the state, she said that the church will embark on construction of an ultra modern 4 classroom block in Ugwuachara Community Primary School in Abakaliki, the capital city. Pastor Oyeyemi commended the wife of the G o v e r n o r, C h i e f M r s . Josephine Elechi, for her efforts in bringing succour to the less privileged in the society through her pet Project, Mother and Child Care Initiative, MCCI
Dave Umahi, Deputy Governor Ebonyi State
Flood sacks 7,000 in Delta UGHELLI No fewer than 1,200 houses had been submerged and 7,000 persons displaced at Abare and Toru-Angiama in Patani Local Government Area of Delta State.
Nwaduba promises purposeful leadership By Vincent Anikwushe, Asaba
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chairmanship aspirant for Aniocha South Local Government A r e a o f Delta State under the platform of the People's Democratic Party ( P D P ) , M r. To n y B a r r y Nwaduba,has promised purposeful and effective leadership if elected into office in the forth-coming local government election in the state. Nwaduba stated this while fielding questions from newsmen at Ogwashi-Uku, stating that he was in the race to occupy the number one political office in the Local government in order to put smiles on the faces of the people and make life meaningful for the people. He lamented that the local government which came into existence in 2010, had not had its fair share in terms of development, saying that he would turn the area around for good if given the mandate. “I will operate an open door policy where everybody will be given the opportunity to contribute to the development of the local
government area. Aniocha South is workable. All hands should therefore be on deck to make Aniocha South great. It is achievable. Nwaduba, whose slogan is “Grass root man for grass root development” listed his priority to include youth and woman empowerment, massive road construction and rehabilitation, peace and s e c u r i t y, r e n o v a t i o n a n d building of more classrooms in primary schools, improving council staff and primary school teachers’ welfare among others if elected The Chairmanship aspirant who is also the chairman, National Union of Road Transporter Workers (NURTW), Aniocha South Chapter said there was nothing wrong with Local Governments having joint account with state governments. While trusting God and also soliciting the support of the people realize his ambition, he called on relevant authorities to, as matter of urgency address the poor power supply and water problem in Ogwashi-Uku, the local government headquarters and other towns in order to ameliorate the plight of
Also, 46 communities across Isoko South, Ndokwa East and Ndokwa West affected by the surging flood, are now taking refuge in Ivrogbo, an upland community in Isoko South Local Government Area of the state. State Commissioner for Special Duties, Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, Mr. Tonye Timi, who spoke to our correspondent, said over 95 per cent and 50 per cent of Abare a n d To r u - A n g i a m a , r e s p e c t i v e l y, h a d b e e n submerged by flood. He said the victims were being evacuated to the skill acquisition centre in Bulu-Angiama, hometown of the Deputy Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Mr. Basil Ganagana, adding that parts of Patani town had also been submerged by the flood. Member representing Isoko South Constituency I in the state House of Assembly, Mr. Okiemute Essien, who also spoke to newsmen at Ivrogbor, when he visited the town to address some of the displaced persons in the area and make further arrangements for the evacuation of those still trapped by the flood, said camps, including the community town hall, had been provided as temporary settlement for the victims. He lamented the level of devastation, saying that all hands must be on deck to reduce the hardship faced by the victims as well as the danger posed by the influx of people to Ivrogbo.
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NEWS FROM STATES
Army may review retirement age of service personnel – Ihejirika By Yochuku Ofoka Yobolisa, Abuja
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uthorities of the Nigerian Army have given indication to commence examination of the present retirement age of officers and men of the service to bring it at par with what obtains in the nation's universities where professors retire at the age of seventy. The army hierarchies described the present sixty-year retirement age for service personnel as utterly misplaced, arguing that it is sheer waste of trained manpower to ask military men to leave service ten years before university dons. Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), Lt-General Onyeabor Azubuike Ihejirika made the assertions on Friday when he commissioned the Army Transformation and Innovation Centre in Abuja. The army boss said that at the age of sixty years, officers and men of the Nigerian Army could still offer priceless service to the nation owing to the vast experiences and trainings they accumulated overtime. He said, “The Nigerian Army may soon begin to look at the possibility of reviewing the retirement age of service
personnel in the army based on the argument put to me by members of my alma mater, the Ahmadu Bello University when they paid me a courtesy visit recently. “They asked why the retirement ages of service personnel are pegged at sixty when professors in the universities retire at the ages of seventy. They said that it is a complete waste of trained manpower to allow army officers to retire at that age because of what the army has deposited in them. “Therefore, based on that argument I think it would amount to a great disservice to the nation to allow trained officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army to retire so early. On the prevailing insecurity in the country, General Ihejirika said that it is traditional for armies around the world to evolve a unified think-tank that would enable it tackle effectively all internal and external aggressions that may arise in the country, adding that the ongoing transformation blueprint of the army has been designed to meet international best practices in military affairs. Ihejirika said that the new army transformation and innovation centre has been put
up as a force projection to midwife army transformation and make it conform to the transformation agenda of the present administration in the country. He said that the since the Centre is expected to be the hub and driver of the army transformation, efforts would be geared towards making it a model for other armies around the globe. “The army transformation
and innovation centre is the newest of the departments in the Nigerian Army. The centre has been formed to midwife the ongoing transformation processes in the Nigerian Army. It is also heartwarming that the office complex constructed through direct labour of the Corps of Engineers is in line with the federal government transformation agenda. “Because of this fact, the Nigerian Army is expected to
Lt. General Azubuike Ihejirika
come up with a force projection that will support the President's national transformation timelines as stipulated in the national transformation agenda”, he said. General Ihejirika maintained army would at all times endeavour to synchronize its core competences towards a successful conclusion of President Jonathan transformation action plans, adding that the new Centre would seek to keep pace with global military advancements and challenges. Earlier, Chief of Army Transformation and Innovation, Major-General Ibrahim Sani said that the Centre which situates about five kilometers from the army HQ is detached not due to paucity of office space at the headquarters but to ensure that it is sufficiently isolated from the operations and interferences of the headquarters. The Centre has twelve offices, a conference room, an ICT room and conveniences to enhance productivity of the Nigerian Army transformation. Soon after commissioning the Centre in Abuja, General Ihejirika left for Ibadan, the Oyo state capital to commission the 2 Division Garrison of the Nigerian Army.
Ebonyi moves above its contemporaries in I Development – Commissioner Onwe
Abia State Govt, launches n a continued bid to boost the Internal Generated Revenue unique tax (IGR) base of the state, Governor Theodore Orji of Abia payer identity State last week launched a scheme named, Unique number Taxpayer Identification Number By Joe Akwarandu, Umuahia
Uchenna Itumo, Abakiliki
T
he Ebonyi State Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Mr.Chike Onwe has said that the state has developed faster than those states that were created alongside with it as can be seen by the volume of infrastructural development put in place by the administration of Chief Martin Elechi, the State Governor. In a joint press conference organized by the office of the Information Commissioner and that of the Chief press Secretary to the Governor, Dr Onyedikachi Eni,to mark the 2012 Independence Celebration, Mr Chike Onwe, stated that despite the lean allocation that accrued to the state from the Federation Account, that Governor Elechi has shown high
level of prudence in management of public fund by ensuring that public fund was spent for the purpose it was meant for. The state spokesperson added that unlike the politicians of this generation, the governor has brought democracy dividends to the doorsteps of the masses, by fulfilling his campaign promises. He maintained that as a frontline founding father of the state, that Elechi knew the level the people were 16 years ago, and has shown that leadership should be for the benefit of the led, rather than for the self aggrandizement of the leadership class. Adding his Voice, the chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Dr, Onyekachi Eni, maintained that though this year's celebration will be in low key, he stated that the significance of the 52nd Independence Celebration cannot be over emphasized, as
according to him, despite the menace of terrorism by the dreaded Boko Haram Sect, that the country has remained united as one nation. Dr, Eni used the opportunity to advise the media practitioners to always disregard rumour peddlers and go for fact finding as investigative journalists. He stated that the postponement of the earlier planned media tour to be embarked by media organization editors was because of the nationwide media tour the Federal Ministry of I n f o r m a t i o n a n d Communication is presently undertaking, and primarily to avoid duplication. He added that journalists practising in the state should embrace the development media theory, especially by letting outsiders know the efforts by the state government to make life better for the citizens.
project. The project which is basically data- based, is expected to capture and document the identities of all taxable adults in the state. Inaugurating the Joint Task Board of the scheme, Governor Orji said that the establishment of the electronic system was to harmonize the tax system to conform with other 19 states of the Federation which have embraced the scheme. Chief Orji disclosed that the state has paid its counterpart fund for the pilot project to take off and hoped that with the new innovation, the state government would soon begin to enjoy dependable and increased revenue to enhance its rapid growth. He stated that the project would be managed by the state Board of Internal Revenue Staff who have been fully trained for
the job and said that they have no reason not to succeed. The governor appealed to Abians to willingly pay their taxes. Replying on behalf of the Board of Internal Revenue, Chief Umeh, assured the governor that his board was fully prepared for the take off and promised that they would succeed in increasing the revenue earning of the state through the Scheme. He thanked the state governor for cueing up with the innovation by promptly paying the counterpart fund which earned the state the statute pilot state of the scheme. Highlight of the launching ceremony was the registration of the state governor, Chief T.A Orji as the first citizen of the state through capturing his identity and tumb printing by the electronic devices.
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EDUCATION
Imoke commends Airtel for Adopting Rural School By Edem Achibong, Calabar
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ROSS RIVER State Governor Senator Liyel Imoke has commended Airtel Nigeria for adopting a rural primary school in the state. The governor, speaking when a team of Airtel executives led by the Managing Director & CEO, Mr. Rajan Swaroop, paid him a courtesy call in Calabar, stated that Airtel's gesture was in line with the state's vision to provide education to the poorest of the poor in rural communities of the state. Governor Imoke, represented by the Honorable Commissioner for Education, Professor Offiong E. Offiong, praised the initiative of Airtel Nigeria to adopt a school in the state unsolicited, which clearly underlines the telco's commitment to giving back to the community through its visionary Corporate Social responsibility programme. He explained that indeed latest statistics indicate that about two percent of the state's population has no access to education, adding that Airtel's gesture has increased the opportunities available to the people of the state to benefit from modern education in pursuit of the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG). According to him, the government of Cross River State has embarked on the renovation of schools across the state in order to create the
enabling environment for teaching and reading, and so Airtel's adoption of Presbyterian Primary School, Ediba in Abi Local Government, is a bold and generous step in the right direction to complement government's effort in this regard. He expressed the appreciation of the government and people of Cross River State to Airtel for graciously electing to adopt a school in the state, pledging the commitment of his government to ensure that the school is adequately maintained. S p e a k i n g e a r l i e r, M r. Swaroop stated that Airtel is passionate about realizing its corporate vision of being the most loved brand in the daily lives of Nigerians, adding that the company recognizes the fact that the future of the country depends largely on educating the children who will be the leaders of tomorrow. “Airtel is pleased to partner with the Cross River State Government to provide educational opportunities for less privileged children. Airtel is in Nigeria to stay and we are totally committed to providing all the required support to enhance the future of this great country,” he said. Mrs Waroop also commended the effort of the Cross State Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke, for committing to providing a good future for students in the State. He explained that the adoption of the school entails that Airtel will renovate the
Gov Uduaghan
school buildings and provide furniture, textbooks, uniforms for the pupils and writing materials including white boards as well as sanitary materials required for good hygiene for children. The Airtel Nigeria team
included the Regional Operations Director (South), M r. G o d f r e y E f e u r h o b o ; Director of Corporate Communications & CSR, Mr. Emeka Oparah; Zonal Business Manager, Ikezu Onyekucha, and the Manager for CSR, Mr. Chinda Manjor.
On the Cross River State Government side were the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mrs. Anne Odey and the Executive Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Mr. Joseph Ebam.
The Airtel Officiers
Teachers' Day: Uduaghan releases N1B for teachers promotion arrears Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan Friday released N1 billion for the payment of outstanding promotion arrears to primary school teachers just has he pledged further commitment to the welfare of teachers in the state. In his address to the 2012 Teachers' Day Celebration, read by his Deputy, Prof. Amos Utuama, Uduaghan commended the teachers for calling off their strike action and used the occasion to challenge teachers in the state to reciprocate the Government's gesture by redoubling their efforts. He assured that the state government would fully implement the agreement that it entered into with the teachers, adding that payment would only be made to identified teachers. "The State Government has
released one billion naira for the payment of outstanding promotion arrears to affected primary school teachers in the state. The Ministry of Education has embarked on staff audit. This is to ensure that loopholes are plugged and that teachers who are physically engaged on the job are paid,” he said. He observed that Delta State was ahead of most states in the Federation in terms of the welfare of teachers in spite of the fact that it has the highest number of teachers at the highest grade levels . The governor explained: "the state has one thousand, three hundred and thirty four teachers on level sixteen, one thousand, five hundred and thirty nine are on level fifteen while one thousand and thirty eight are on level fourteen. "I am happy to be in your midst today, especially after we have all been able to settle our differences having reached a
comprehensive agreement on all the issues involved. "Let me commend you for calling off the strike. This administration, from inception, has remained and will continue to be labour friendly at all times…You should redouble your efforts to expel the ugly spectre of falling standard of education, which is currently affecting all levels of education in the country. "I implore you to partner with us in our resolve to raise the standard of education through improved infrastructure, to ensure a most conducive learning environment. Infrastructure alone cannot impact positively on the pupils since your input is the most critical in the learning process,” he said. He used the occasion to appeal to all Deltans to show concern to their brothers and sisters who have been adversely affected by the devastating flood currently
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Monday, October 8 – Sunday, October 14, 2012
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SPORTS
Nigeria’s 52 years in sports, which way forward? Stories By Okey Anyichie
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xactly on the 1st October, 1960, the West African games were organized and hosted by Nigeria as part of the independence celebrations. The first West African games took place at the old National Stadium, Surulere-Lagos where the present National Stadium Surulere-Lagos is situated. This West African games saw even countries from out side the continent participating. By hosting this first West African games, the new sovereign state of Nigeria set the standard of being one of the new West African states that saw the need for sports, as an instrument of mobilizing their younger citizens. So the games took place on this day of independence celebrations and many Nigerian athletes who took part in the games won laurels for their newly independent country. Again a football match took place between Ghana and Nigeria for what was called independence gold cup. But unfortunately, Ghana beat Nigeria to win the cup. From 1960, the plans for sports development of Nigeria gathered momentum. For Ghana which became independent three years earlier, 1957, to be exact was having a field day in the continental sports scene, especially in the game of football. Nigeria with bigger population and size set out to impact on sports in Africa like Senegal, Cote D'lvoire, Chad Congo-Brazzaville, Guinea,
Athletics Congo-republic, Sudan, Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Libya had earlier taken the path of political emancipation. In 1963, the first body to organize sports nationally was formed called National Sports Council (NSC) under the chairmanship of Chief Gabriel Akin-Deko, who presided over this body for sports until 1966. During his tenure in office, Nigeria set out to sort matters out with other African countries in the field of sports. The climax of Nigeria's ability at the global games called the Olympics saw Nigeria winning her first Olympic game medal in 1964 in Tokyo Japan. It was a Lagos based boxer, Nojim Maiyegun, who did Nigeria proud in boxing tournament of the 1964 games in Japan. He bagged a bronze
medal in the light middle-weight class. Nigeria was among the countries that won medals at the end of the games in 1964. Nigerian teams were to be present at the global games after 1964 games, the first one the country's team participated in after 1960. Since 1964 Nigeria had registered her presence in the games in 1968, 1972, 1980, 1984, 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2012. Nigeria had in these participations, won 3 gold medals, 3 silver medal and 6 bronze medals. Thus the summer Olympics had seen the country's teams since 1960 to present except in 1976, when politics intruded into the games in Montreal-Canada. That is the score-card in this global games since 1960. Another games, this time, a
regional games called the Common–wealth games that started in 1930 in Canada saw Nigeria's participation in 1950 in New Zealand, an oceanic country. And at this first attempt at the games won a silver medal in high-jump through Josiah Majekoduami. Since that 1950 outing in New Zealand, Nigerian teams at various editions of the games in different parts of the continents where the games were hosted had given good account of their efforts till the present. The particular games were more successful for Nigeria than the Olympics. Again in 1965, Nigeria was among the African countries to start off the maiden edition of the All-Africa games in Congo-Brazzaville. Nigeria at the end of the games came second with 5 gold, 4 silver and 5 bronze medals; Egypt came first after sweeping off the gold medals in swimming events. Since 1965 games to the last one in Maputo-Mozambique in 2011, Nigerian teams had done well in the continental games. Football, the sport of all seasons and primary sporting event that is totally accepted by teeming fans all over the world, equally involved Nigeria since 1960. Nigeria won the first continental soccer event in 1973, when she hosted the second AllAfrica games in Lagos and Ibadan. Nigeria defeated Guinea 2-0 in the games soccer tournament. Since 1973 edition of the games, Nigeria is yet to win the soccer gold medal of the games. Nigeria also started taking part in the world cup soccer competition in the qualifiers for 1962 competition in Chile, South America. In 1970, when a spot was allocated to Africa, Nigeria played a round-robin encounters with Cameroun and Morocco. Morocco clinched the only ticket to the global soccer competition in 1970 edition in Mexico. Nigeria however was to qualify
to play among other global qualifiers in 1994 in USA, where the “Super Eagles” qualified to play in the second round and lost out to Italy. Nigeria after this US encounters, qualified to play in France in 1998, 2002 in Japan/South Korea and 2010 in South Africa. Nigeria again was among the countries that participated in the cadet global soccer competitions in under 17 age grade and won in China in 1985, 1993 in Japan and 2007 in South Korea. In Under 20, Nigeria had never won the competition in this age grade soccer competition but was the runner-up in 1989, and 2005 in Holland. It would also be recalled that Nigeria won the world secondary schools' soccer competition in 1977 in DublinIreland. These are however the accomplishments at the global soccer competitions. But Nigeria had also impacted at the Africa cup of Nations starting from the first appearance in 1963 in Kumasi- Ghana Nigeria won the cup for the first time after hosting the soccer fiesta in 1980 in Lagos and Ibadan. Nigeria beat Algeria 3-0 in the final and went on another victorious course in the competition in 1994 edition in Tunisia, with 2-1 victory over Zambia in the final. Nigeria is yet to win the soccer competition again since 1994. May be, there will be victory in South Africa next year, if the “Super Eagles” qualify after playing Liberia in Calabar on the 13th of October, 2012. After going down memory lane on sports in the country since 1960, one hopes that there will be improvement in different events, considering our human and material resources. For Nigeria has come to a situation that in the continent now, it should totally assure one of the top positions in every sporting event. There is light shining for this greatness in sports in Africa
Alex Ekueme under-18 junior tennis championship holds October
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n under 18 National Junior Tennis Championships is being packaged for Enugu Sports Club between October 8 and 12, 2012 by associates of the former Vice President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme as part of events lined up for the 80th birthday anniversary of the elder statesman. The tournament tagged Dr. Alex Ekwueme Under-18 Tennis Championship will attract 32 top Junior Tennis players from across the country. Organisers of the tournament said it would be a major tennis event which would be used to honour Dr. Ekwueme who is a
great lover and player of tennis. Addressing sports Journalists in Enugu, the Chairman of the organizing committee and former Board member of Nigeria Tennis Federation, Chief Ben Ezeibe said necessary arrangements were being concluded for the successful hosting of the event. “This special tennis event is being organized and sponsored by Dr. Ekwueme's loyalists and associates was to appreciate the Elderstatesman's love and passion for the game of Tennis. Dr. Ekwueme's vision is that hidden talents would be discovered during the event and
groomed for National and International competitions,” Ezeibe said. The renowned sports administrator cum businessman appealed to Nigeria Tennis Federation and the Sports Council in South East to use the opportunity of the tournament to launch aggressive Tennis programs that would take the game of Tennis to the next level. “There is a lot of money and rewarding opportunities in Tennis at the professional level. Today over one billion U.S. Chief Alex Ekwueme Dollars is carted away by successful Tennis players yearly unfortunately Nigeria is nowhere youths in tennis through this a l l o v e r t h e w o r l d b u t in these lucrative game. We want tournament,” Ezeibe said. to reawaken the interest of our
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Monday, October 8 – Sunday, October 14, 2012
ADVOCATE
SPORTS Nigera and PAN-Africanism, 52 years of impact on continental unity By Okey Anyichie
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igeria, with the celebration of freedom and independence from Colonial rule on the dawn of 1st October, 1960, the stage was set for a big role in the continental politics. Africa in this God's year of 1960 started “absorbing” the wind of freedom blowing across the continent. It was sequel to dogged activities of the one of the greatest Pan-Africanists called Osagyiefo (Dr) Kwame Nkrumah who on the day of declaration of independence at Accra, the capital city of Ghana on the 6th March 1957 declared that independence of Ghana is meaningless unless it was linked up to the total liberation of Africa. This unequivocal political statement gingered most African colonies that were fighting their colonial masters to wrest freedom and independence from colonial rule. Again on the 2nd October 1958, Guinea under a young leader, Sekou Toure mobilized his people to demand for independence from the French colonial rule, which took effect from that second day of October 1958. The French government abandoned the young sovereign nation of Guinea without any form of aid to enable her standard on her feet. But assistance came from Dr. Nkrumah of Ghana who rushed to Guinea with ten million pounds interest free loan. That was the genesis of PanAfricanism in that fateful year of 1958. Nigeria on the 1st October, 1960 joined other sovereign nations to belong to apart from the continental bodies but different world bodies and organizations. The climax was the membership of Nigeria on the 9th October 1960 of the United nations organization (UNO),
President Jonathan thus the Nigerian flag of Green and white flew from that day along with other free nations of the world. With this political and diplomatic exercises, Nigeria fully assumed an international status with all the rights of other nations of the world. However the climax of this international posture of being a member of the United Nations Organization, Nigeria dived into the waves of continental politics right-away from 1960. It was in that year that the republic of Congo plunged into political crises after independence on the 30th June, 1960. Nigeria was among African countries that sent peace keeping troops to that embattled central African country. Nigeria was later to take credit of producing her own soldier, called Major-General J. T. U. Aguiyi-Ironsi, who in 1964 commanded the United Nations'' peace-keeping troops in the republic of Congo. Since then
Nigerian soldiers had taken part in peace-keeping exercises in different parts of Africa and even at global areas of conflicts. In 1963, when a Pan-African body called organization of African Unity (OAU) was formed at the Africa-Hall, AddisAbaba, Ethiopia on the 25th May, 1963, Nigeria was one of the prominent newly independent African countries that left no stone unturned to see the existence of this Pan-African body. The Nigerian delegation to Ethiopia for the formation of the Pan-African body was led by the late Prime-Minister, Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa Balewa and he thus was a signatory to the charter that saw the birth of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) on the 25th May, 1963. The formation of the Pan-African body was born sequel to the coming together of three factions from different colonial backgrounds. Hence there were
organizations called Monrovia group, Casablanca Block and Brazzaville group. All projecting their socio-political and economic interests and off course backed by different colonial masters. It was during the “Coldwar” between East and west political and economic sphere of interests. However the coming together and sinking their different ideological interests by the African leaders to form the PanAfrican body was a demonstration of political sagacity and vision for the future of the continent. Now the PanAfrican body has now been transformed to African Union (AU) on the 7th July 2002 in Durban, South Africa. With this transformation, Africa like other continents will now set with vigour and focus to face the continental and global situations with alacrity. There is no room for half-measures in the great
stride and strive towards political and economic emancipation in this 21st century that is on the fast lane. For Africa should no longer play secondary role towards the political and economic emancipation within the present globalization exercise now. And looking at the rate political and economic events are going with all the abundance of material and human resources in the continent, there is no room for mediocrity or the continent would still be crawling while others are running. And that is why Nigeria as the leader of West African Sub-region will link up with Egypt of the Northern part of the continent and others and South Africa with other SouthAfrican countries to “fuse” into a strong continental political and economic force. Time is no longer on the side of the continent to tolerate unnecessary political “horseplaying” and bickering among African countries that was the bane of the second half of the 20th century. This present 21st century is the era of political maturity and economic development that would see Africa coming out of different economic problems that since 20th century obstructing the gigantic march towards total political and economic freedom. This will in turn abolish the present high level of poverty, diseases and different levels of problems that leveled the high aspirations of Africa among the comity of nations. It is time that our leaders should as a matter of urgency recognize that fact that Africa should now grow and develop higher after over six decades of sovereignty. Hence unity is the issue now. Nigeria should now impact harder on the political affairs of Africa in the name of generation unborn.
Four Nigerian peacekeepers killed in West Darfur
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nknown gunmen killed four Nigerian soldiers and wounded eight others in an ambush in the capital of West Darfur state, El Geneina. According to the hybrid peacekeeping operation, the assailants opened fire on the UNAMID military patrol from different directions at two kilometres from the office of the mission on Tuesday evening. UNAMID Force Commander and the Mission's officer-incharge, Lt. General Patrick Nyamvumba, who visited the wounded soldiers, condemned
the "criminal attack" and called on the Sudanese government to bring the perpetrators to justice. UN chief Ban Ki-moon said "appalled and deeply saddened" by the attack and urged Khartoum to "ensure that the perpetrators are swiftly brought to justice.” The UN Security Council also condemned the assault on the Nigerian peacekeepers. The 15 member body further reiterated its "full support for UNAMID and called on all parties in Darfur to cooperate with the mission.” West Darfur state was seen as
the most secure and calm since the return of violence in the region particularly in South and North Darfur states. The state governor Haider Galu Kuma condemned the attack saying security services started their investigations to arrest the perpetrators and to deliver them to justice. He said the attack might be motivated by the intention to provoke unrest and troubles or by robbery. UNAMID said they are working with the local authorities at the scene of the incident.
The incident increase the number of peacekeepers killed in Darfur to 42 soldiers. Composed mostly from African peacekeepers, UNAMID is working in Darfur since 2008 with the objective to protect civilians from violence and attacks by militias and different armed groups. Sudanese government and former rebel Liberation and Justice Movement (LJM) signed a peace deal in July 2011 but three major rebel groups refused the Doha agreement and keep fighting the army.
Nigerian Soldiers in Darfur
THE
ADVOCATE
Monday, October 8 – Sunday, October 14, 2012
Andy Murray loses Japan Open semi-final to Milos Raonic
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n d y M u r r a y squandered two match points as he lost his Japan Open semi-final to Milos Raonic in three sets. Raonic broke the defending champion to love in the opening game of the match as he recorded the biggest win of his career 6-3 6-7 (5-7) 7-6 (74). The Canadian, 23, engineered a second break to win the first set and battled back from 4-1 down to take the decider. Raonic will play Kei Nishikori in the final after the Japanese player beat Marcos Baghdatis 6-2 6-2. The number eight seed broke his Cypriot opponent twice in each set as he raced to victory in just 61 minutes to become the
first Japanese player to reach the final. Murray, the British number one, defeated Raonic in straight sets on his way to winning his first grand slam title at the US Open in September but predicted their next meeting would be "much tougher". So it proved with Raonic backing up his opening-game break with some solid serving as he sent down five aces in the first set. Murray saved three break points in the second set before winning it with a cross-court backhand in the tie-break and he opened up a 3-1 lead in the third with his first break of the match. However, Raonic, who had saved a match point against
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SPORTS
Andy Murray bows in defeat at the Japan’s Open Janko Tipsarevic in his quarterfinal, broke back in game seven and then smashed his way out of trouble at 30-40 and 5-6 down. A double fault gifted Murray a second match point but the Scot was unable to take advantage as Raonic took the deciding set into a tie-break
with a terrific low volley. He then won two points on Murray's serve before wrapping up the match on the second of his three match points. The defeat was Murray's first since he became a grand slam champion by winning the US Open in September. "He played well behind his
Maluleke grabs South Africa boxing title
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Maluleke
ydney Maluleke has taken over the SA featherweight boxing title by beating Sabelo Jubatha in East London. The Johannesburg fighter caused an upset when he stopped Jubatha in the seventh round at the Orient Theatre on Sunday. Jubatha was making the second defence of the title he won last December when he stopped Simphiwe Tom in the
Mazembe, Esperance renew rivalry
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P Mazembe and Esperance, the two dominant forces in the African Champions League in recent years, will renew their rivalry with a semifinal first leg clash in Lubumbashi on Sunday afternoon. (7th October, 2012) Between them, the DR Congo and Tunisian sides have won the last three editions of the tournament, and the victor in this semifinal will be the favourite to claim the trophy in the final, regardless of whether they are up against Al Ahly or Sunshine Stars (who make up the remainder of the final four). There is plenty of bad
blood between these two teams, dating back to the 2010 Champions League final when TP Mazembe destroyed Esperance 6-1 on aggregate to defend the continental crown they won in 2009. The following year Esperance played a role in Mazembe's controversial disqualification from the Champions League and went on to win the tournament themselves after overcoming Morocco's Wydad Casablanca in the final. The teams are pretty evenly matched if their respective results in the Champions League are anything to go by, and both are confident heading into this weekend's first leg clash. “Esperance is the best team in Africa. We shouldn't fear TP
Mazembe; rather it is them who should fear us,” said Esperance coach Nabil Maaloul when his side secured top spot in Group A to set up the clash with the DRC giants. “We wanted to meet Esperance of Tunis this year,” said TP chairman Moise Katumbi. “We are therefore very pleased that the results of the competition have answered our prayers. We just hope the Confederation of African Football appoints referees worthy of running the two semifinals, which will be honouring African football.” The return leg is set for Rades, Tunisia, on October 20.
fourth round. In his first defence, in March this year, he beat Wonga Ntoyakhe over 12 rounds. He started well against Maluleke, boxing from behind the jab, but Maluleka picked up the pace in the sixth round. The challenger backed up the champion in the seventh, landing left and rights until
first serve," said the world number three, who had beaten Raonic 6-4 6-4 6-2 in the fourth round of the US Open. “That made it tough for me. There was always going to be a bit of residue from the last few months”
referee Andile Matika stepped in to stop the fight. Jubatha's record dropped to 14-2, with 10 knockouts and the underrated Maluleka improved to a reported 11-3; 6. It was Maluleke's second title challenge. In February 2007, he lost over 12 rounds to Ludumo Galada in a clash for the vacant title. Galada also beat him on points over six rounds in a non-title return bout. After that defeat, Maluleke beat Sibusiso Khumalo and Grant Fourie before stopping Khumalo in the fourth round of a return bout.
EUFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TABLE & RESULTS A Teams P Porto 2 PSG 2 Dynamo Kyiv 2 Dinamo Zagreb 2 B Arsenal 2 Schalke 2 Montpellier 2 Olympiacos 2 C Málaga 2 Milan 2 Anderlecht 2 Zenit 2 D Real Madrid 2 Dortmund 2 Man. City 2 Ajax 2 E Chelsea 2 Shakhtar Donetsk 2 Juventus 2 Nordsjælland 2 F BATE 2 Valencia 2 Bayern 2 LOSC 2 G Barcelona 2 Celtic 2 Benfica 2 Spartak Moskva 2 H Man. United 2
Pts 6 3 3 0 6 4 1 0 6 4 1 0 6 4 1 0 4 4 2 0 6 3 3 0 6 4 1 0 6
CFR Cluj Braga Galatasaray
2 2 2
3 3 0
EUFA EUROPA CUP RESULTS A Teams P Pts Anji 2 4 Udinese 2 4 Liverpool 2 3 Young Boys 2 0 B Atlético 2 6 Plzeň 2 3 Académica 2 1 H. Tel-Aviv 2 1 C Marseille 2 4 Fenerbaçhe 2 4 Mönchengladbac 2 1 AEL 2 1 D Newcastle 2 4 Bordeaux 2 3 Club Brugge 2 3 Marítimo 2 1 E Steaua 2 4 Molde 2 3 København 2 3 Stuttgart 2 1 F Dnipro 2 6 Napoli 2 3 PSV 2 3 AIK 2 0
G Genk 2 4 Videoton 2 3 Basel 2 2 Sporting 2 1 H Internazionale 2 4 Rubin 2 4 Neftçi 2 1 Partizan 2 1 I Lyon 2 6 Sparta Praha 2 3 H. Kiryat Shmona 2 1 Athletic 2 1 J Lazio 2 4 Maribor 2 3 Tottenham 2 2 Panathinaikos 2 1 K Metalist 2 4 Leverkusen2 4 Rosenborg 2 3 Rapid Wien 2 0 L Hannover 2 4 Levante 2 3 Twente 2 2 Helsingborg 2 1
THE
Vol. 1 No. 7, Monday, October 8 – Sunday, October 14, 2012
ADVOCATE
SPORTS STAR JOHN UTAKA
...for Equity and Justice
www.theadvocatengr.com
Back page comment
WHEN SILENCE IS NOT GOLDEN Imo State as a case study By Dr. Lewis Uchendu
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few weeks ago an Imo state political senior citizen published an article in which he called other senior citizens of Imo State origin to speak-up about the happenings in the state. The article spoke volumes and one rascal wrote back to cast aspersions not on the contents of the article but on the messenger. But the message was incontrovertible and whilst this is not an encore but the need to speak-up is definitely more urgent than ever. Governor Owelle Rochas Okorocha is definitely not on any rescue mission but rather on a mercantile mission to corner the entire resources of Imo State for himself and his siblings. He is clinically doing so without caring what befalls Imo State when he has finished. In his chosen path to accomplish this wicked agenda, he has allowed some known 419s in Nigeria to fleece the State of her resources. An infamous high-class 419 kingpin of the Brazilian Bank saga from Anambra State is a constant companion of the State Governor. Imo State citizens hardly can obtain a job in Anambra State yet most of the contracts that are paid for in Imo State are exclusively reserved for Anambra State indigenes. Owelle Rochas Okorocha`s lame excuse is that he got the Governorship of Imo State through the direct intervention of Anambra State people. If this is the reason Okorocha has decided to treat Imo State in this callous manner, he will ultimately not succeed. His rescue mission mantra has ran aground and is in a wreck. The governor came on board on a ground-swell of acclaim and support and instead of delivering on the promised dividends of democracy, Okorocha embarked on a novel approach to governance which was more destructive than productive on what was on the ground already. He exposed his total lack of administrative competence and skill. Imo State entire fabric is being shredded and the damage will take decades to correct. There are laid down regulations on how to conduct government affairs and matters. It is sacrosanct that due process is followed in award of contracts because government is an on going institution. Okorocha mistook executive Governor to mean imperial Governor and
Gov Okorocha started awarding contracts without any adherence to due process. He awarded contracts by words of mouth, no documentation, no bills of quantities, no drawing, nothing. When the good people of Imo State raised the first alarm, he instructed the ministry of works to start backward documentation and that posed its own difficulties because the ministry was not in the picture ab-initio to determine either the scope of contract or attached design. Today, Imo State is a theatre of confused all comers road contractors screaming to be paid for jobs that are haphazardly executed with zero design, zero bill of quantities, zero scope of works, zero time frame, what a government. To worsen the matter, the Governor is hell-bent to continue on this cul-de-sac rout which ultimately will hit a dead end. During his last meeting with a selected group of contractors, he instructed them to continue works and expect no payment on job already done till January of next year. Even the members of Imo House of assembly who took this selected group to the meeting left convinced that the governor is living in another world. But the sad thing is that this selected groups were mostly Imo state indigenes who borrowed money from sources whose interest rate are hovelling between 15% - 20% per month which translates to approximately 240% per annual. It is a sin for senior citizens of Imo state not to speak-up and call the governor to order and effect an Save Our Soul (S.O.S) on these exposed contractors because they are Imo state sons and daughters. Let Imo state citizens speak-up on the size of Okorocha political
appointees most of whom hardly have an office space. When the governor first announced these appointees, it was more comical than real and people made a huge joke of it. But it is no longer a laughing matter because most of these idle appointees are constituting public nuisance, defrauding people and running 419 scams. These appointees openly complained that they hardly get paid and when they are paid they are grossly shortchanged. The entire team of Okorocha's appointees are so frustrated that they openly confessed that working for Okorocha is a yeoman assignment. That the Governor will never consult, that he is all knowing, that no one can advise him. The worst they confessed is that what the governor says today cannot stand currency the next day. That statement somersault is so embarrassing that when he talks now all around the governor just wink their eyes in disbelief. The truth is that a good number of Imo State people are now beginning to question his state of mind. On mounting the saddle of governorship last year, one of his early actions was to sack the entire elected local government set-up, an action that has no basis in law. When he was challenged, and whilst the matter was still sub-judice he went ahead and appointed transition managers. When judgment came and he lost, instead of redressing the situation he adopted a destructive action of practically disbanding the local government system in order to vindicate his miscalculation. In Imo State today, the local government centres are ghost towns and the entire nation is laughing at the macabre situation. This
confusion was set in motion of his novel 4th tier government. This contraption has not been fully explained even by the governor himself. Even before its take-off, it has been modified over three times. At first, it was to be headed by the community tradition ruler, then it was changed to the town union president, then it was changed to an appointee, then it was changed to an elected galore. What a government. The communities are complaining that the entire 4th tier is a 419 scam. Okorocha's administration requested communities to open a bank account with either Diamond bank or Zenith bank with N250,000 and many communities complied in anticipation that Okorocha's administration will pay into the opened account N5 Million for the 4th tier government take-off. The N5 million is a mirage and the fate of the communities N250,000 is at large. What a government. One wonders why Imo state has become the den of kidnappers all of a sudden. The answer is the adopted style of Okorocha's administration. If known 419s are parading proudly along the corridors of power in Imo State, the kidnapers are embolden to rampage Imo State for victims since not much is happening in terms of jobs and opportunities in Imo State. Imo State was a safe state under the Ikedi Ohakim's governorship but all that has gone to the winds. Today in Imo, an average of 20 kidnappings are going on daily and many are not reported at all. How do you expect investors to come to Imo state? The issues have been canvassed sufficiently and since the desire of most Imo state senior citizens is for improvement, here are some unsolicited advice for Okorocha to consider. The idea to place his deputy as the commissioner for works and transport is ill conceived. He should return to Government House to play his constitutional role as deputy. He was not focused as works commissioner and as a result the ministry was totally incapacitated. The Governor should stop the 4th tier experiment and strengthen the existing constitutionally established local government system. If there was any need to take government closer to the people, he should increase the
Continues on page 7
John Chukwudi Utaka (born 8 January 1982 in Enugu, Nigeria) is a Nigerian footballer who played as a striker for Montpellier of the Ligue 1. He is the older brother of Peter Utaka, who plays for Dalian Aerbin in China. Club career Utaka has played for several clubs across three continents, first for Arab Contractors and subsequently Ismaily of Egypt, then spending a season playing for Al-Sadd of Qatar, before joining Racing Lens and later Rennes in France. During his career he has mainly been utilised as a pacy winger making a very effective element in a team's counter attacking. Utaka struggled to make an impact at the start of his Rennes stint. However, he took advantage of the absence of fellow striker Alexander Frei through injury to make his breakthrough. In February 2006, he scored two consecutive hat-tricks, against Lens and Lyon, and as a result received L'Equipe's player of the month award. In Egypt, while with Ismaily, Utaka earned cult status with the local fans. They used to chant "Oh Oh Oh Utaka, Oh Oh Oh Utaka" during the matches. He played alongside the likes of Mohammed Barakat, Islam ElShater, and captain Mohamed Salah Abo Greisha under the guidance of Mohsen Saleh, later appointed coach of Egypt. Portsmouth Utaka joined Portsmouth on a four-year deal in July 2007, for a fee of around £7,000,000. He scored his first goal on 11 August 2007 in a game against newly promoted Derby County. Some sources claim he became the club's record signing. On 17 May 2008, Portsmouth won the FA Cup with a 10 victory over Cardiff City. Utaka provided the cross for the winning goal which was scored by Nwankwo Kanu. He went on to have a poor 2008/09 season but on 27 June 2009 he confirmed he would be staying at the club for at least another season. The salary being paid to Utaka become a talking point in light of Portsmouth FC's financial woes. With news agencies reporting an alleged £80,000 per week salary for Utaka a reflection of the financial mismanagement of the football club. Utaka has since hit out at these reports, claiming that he earns one third of that figure. On 23 January 2010, Utaka scored both goals in Portsmouth's 21 win over Sunderland in the FA Cup 4th Round.
Published by THE ADVOCATE Newspapers Ltd, Corporate Office: No. 30 Edinburgh Road, Ogui New Layout, Enugu Phone: 08087631127. Editor: Larry Onwuta 08080803085. E-mail: editor@theadvocatengr.com, editoradvocate@ymail.com Website: www.theadvocatengr.com