Sat 06 July 2013 by The Guardian Newspaper

S A T U R D A Y

e D I T I O N LOVE&LIFE 17

COVER 49

CELEBRITY 25

Does Death Penalty Not Make Arithmetic Sense? eliminating The Crooked To Save The Many

Married Off At 14, This Fulani Girl, Hauwa, Still Worked Her Way To Kannywood Stardom

Ene Maya,

Benue Ex-Beauty Queen

TheGuardian Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Saturday, July 6, 2013

Vol. 29, No. 12,609

www.ngrguardiannews.com

N150

Police Disown Rights Commission Report On Baga Massacre From Karls Tsokar, Abuja he Police high command T has distanced itself from the report by the National human Rights Commission that implicated the Joint Task Force (JTF) in extra-judicial killings during the April operations Iin Baga, Borno State. Part of the said report reads: “ A Police report said soldiers started shooting indiscriminately at anybody in sight, including domestic animals. This reaction resulted to loss of lives and massive destruction of properties.” But Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, in a release signed by the Deputy Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, said: “ the Force wishes to rebut references to it by recent media reports credited to the National human Rights Commission (NhRC) which created the impression that a report issued by the Force indicted the JTF on the Baga incident. This is not true and cannot be true. It is important to note that the Nigeria Police Force is a component of the JTF operating in Borno State and CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

President Goodluck Jonathan operating construction equipment at the Shagamu interchange during the flag-off ceremony of the reconstruction of Lagos/Ibadan expressway yesterday

Jonathan Apologises Over Lagos-Ibadan Expressway By Mohammed Abubakar and Tosin Fodeke ReSIDeNT Goodluck P Jonathan said yesterday that the continuous rehabilitation of roads in all parts of the country to enhance social and economic well being of Nigerians, would continue to receive the attention of his administration.

To achieve this, the president said the administration would partner with state governments and other relevant stakeholders. The President gave the pledge during the flag-off of the reconstruction, rehabilitation and expansion work on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway Sections 1&2 at Sagamu Interchange in Ogun State. he used the opportunity to apolo-

gise to Nigerians, especially inhabitants of the South-West, for the inconveniences they have had to live with occasioned by the deplorable nature of he road. The 127.6-kilometre project worth about N167 billion commences at Ojota Interchange through Sagamu junction, Ogere in Ogun State and terminates at Ojoo in Ibadan, Oyo State.

Section of the project consist of the reconstruction and expansion of Lagos-Ibadan Dual Carriageway from LagosShagamu with a total length of 43.6 kilometres. It commences at Old toll gate in Oregun/IKosi-Ketu, Lagos terminating at Sagamu Interchange in Ogun State. The second aspect involves the reconstruction of Lagos-Ibadan Carriageway from Shagamu

–Ibadan. It commences at Sagamu interchange in Ogun State and terminates at Ojoo interchange in Oyo State covering a total length of about 84.0 kilometres. The expressway is also a major artery that connects Lagos to other states of the federation and forms part of the Trans-Saharan highway that CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

NEWS 3

Govt Turns To Coal To Raise Electricity Supply

THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, July 6, 2013

Ekiti ACN Rift Settlement: Mind Your Business, ACN Tells PDP HE Action Congress of T Nigeria (ACN) has said that the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) overstepped its bounds by criticizing the decision of the party’s (ACN’s) leadership to settle the rift between Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti and a member of the House of Representatives from the state, Mr. Opeyemi Bamidele. In a statement issued in Lagos yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party wondered why the PDP, beset by a various crisis of its own making, would use the time it doesn’t have to dabble into what is strictly the internal affairs of the ACN. It said the ACN leadership has no regrets for saying Fayemi should be allowed to

go for a second term because he has performed well, adding that a student who does well deserves promotion. “This is unlike the situation in the PDP where even a President who has failed woefully, using his own lowered ‘marking scheme’, is being offered an automatic ticket. ACN rewards excellence, not indolence, and we have no apologies for this”, the party said, asking when Mr. Bamidele appointed the PDP as his defender. ACN wondered why the PDP leadership has been gallivanting from one zone to another trying to reconcile its ever-warring members, if indeed the ruling party believes that other parties have no right to do the same.

Police Disown Report On Baga Massacre CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 other parts of the country and cannot set out to discredit an outfit which it is part of. The said report therefore did not emanate from the Nigeria Police Authority.” The IGP restated the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to the partnership it shares with the Nigerian Armed Forces in the fight against terrorism as well as in various joint efforts at main-

taining the internal security of the country. While stressing that the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force encourages and supports this synergy, Abubakar noted that the Police High Command recognizes the positive effect of such synergy with the Armed Forces and other Security Agencies which is responsible for the peace and normalcy gradually returning to the NorthEastern States of Borno, Yobe, Bauchi and Adamawa.

“It seems, however, that what has irked the PDP is that where its own reconciliation efforts have failed woefully, because they were insincere, ACN’s have succeeded, due largely to the discipline in the party and the sincerity of its efforts. After all, we don’t go around suspending or destroying our best performers in the name of ‘reconciliation’,’” it said. ACN advised the PDP’s Acting National Publicity Secretary, Tony Okeke, to

learn the elementary lessons of being a party spokesman, which include not making comments unless their are compelling reasons to do so. “We have noticed the enthusiasm of the new spokesman, which is good, especially since he wants to impress his masters so they can keep him on the job. But he needs tutelage and mentoring so that he can carry out his duties effectively. So far, he has not availed himself creditably,” the party said. Meanwhile, the ACN has said

its spokesman has been vindicated for saying that the party’s former National Treasurer, Mr. Kenneth Kobani, had other reasons for resigning from the party than what he (Kobani) said, which is that the APC “has a clear ethno-religious slant, and does not take into account the security and geo-political realities of the very complex Nigerian state”. The party said Mr. Kobani’s true position has been reflected in the fact that he was part of the PDP’s delegation to a

meeting with President Jonathan, even when he (Kobani) had barely left the ACN. “We knew the truth would soon come out, but it did even sooner than we imagined. First, the PDP placed a full page advert to cast aspersion on our party’s spokesman (as if there is no better way to spend a party’s funds), and then Mr. Kobani on the same day surfaced in Abuja as a member of delegation of a faction of Rivers PDP!. Who is lying now?” the

Court Adjourns Daniel’s Trial To November 7 From Charles Coffie Gyamfi, Abeokuta N Abeokuta High Court A yesterday, again adjourned the trial of the former Governor of Ogun State, Gbenga Daniel to Thursday, November 7, 2013. Daniel is facing a 38-count charge proffered against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), bordering on fraudulent practices and conversion of official and private property into his personal use, among others, during his eightyear tenure as the Governor of the State. He is being defended by 17 lawyers out of which are four Senior Advocates of

Nigeria (SANs). The legal team is led by Prof Taiwo Osipitan (SAN). The case is being prosecuted on behalf of the EFCC by Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) and two other counsel. Daniel, during the trial which began in October, 2011, filed an application, urging the court to strike out counts one to 13 of the charges on the grounds that a panel set up by the state government had already indicted him on the same counts. But Justice Olarewaju Mabekoje ruled against Daniel’s request. Not satisfied with the ruling, Daniel, through his legal team, appealed the ruling at the Ibadan Appeal Court.

In adjourning the case yesterday, Mabekoje explained that he had to adjourn the case to allow the High Court to determine the merit of Daniel’s application. The Appeal Court has fixed Wednesday, October 9 for hearing of the Application. At yesterday’s sitting, Mrs. Titilola Akinlawon, who led Daniel’s legal team, appealed to Mabekoje to adjourn the case indefinitely. But in response, the judge stated: “We cannot just adjourn indefinitely, but we must wait for the determination of the merit of the application filed by the Defence team at the Appeal Court.” All the EFCC counsel were absent from the court sit-

Kwara Speaker Wants Financial Autonomy For State Assemblies From Abiodun Fagbemi, Ilorin HE Speaker of the Kwara T House of Assembly, Rasaq Atunwa, has canvassed full financial autonomy for states legislatures to enable them deliver dividends of democracy. Atunwa stated this yesterday on the floor of the Assembly while receiving a delegation of Accountability and Voice Initiative Group from Abuja, which was in Kwara in continuation of its nation-wide tour of the state Assemblies to inti-

mate them with the need for financial autonomy. The Speaker noted that such financial autonomy would enable the state legislatures to carry out their oversight function, saying this was one of the ways the electorate would reap the dividends democracy. Atunwa described a situation where states legislatures look up to the executive to approve funds for the execution of its responsibility as uncalled for. He called on state governors to support the move for financial autonomy for states

Assemblies so as to assist their functions, saying any state governor against the idea should be tagged a “dictator and put to public shame.” . Earlier, the leader of the group, Mr. John Mutu, said financial autonomy for states legislatures should not be a war between the executive and legislature, adding that such would ensure evenly distribution of dividends of democracy to the people. Mutu said Nigerians are now looking forward to seeing a set of legislature that would hold the executive account for

ting yesterday. Akinlawon informed the court that the prosecution team was unable to be at the sitting due to the closure of the Sagamu, Lagos/Ibadan Expressway, as a result of the visit of President Goodluck Jonathan to Sagamu to perform the official ceremony of the flag-off of the reconstruction of the road.

Jonathan Approves Appointment Of Kekere-Ekun As Supreme Court Justice RESIDENT Goodluck P Jonathan has approved the appointment of Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun as a Justice of the Supreme Court. This is contained in a statement issued in Abuja yesterday by Mr. Soji Oye, the Acting Director of Information, National Judicial Council (NJC). The statement said the appointment was sequel to the recommendation of the NJC and the confirmation by the Senate on June 26. According to the statement, the Justice would be sworn in by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Aloma Muktar, on Monday, July 8 at the Court. Supreme

Jonathan Begs Nigerians Over Lagos-Ibadan Expressway CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 links Lagos on the Atlantic Ocean, to Algiers on the Sea. Mediterranean President Jonathan described the Lagos-Ibadan expressway as the first dual Carriageway in the country, having been constructed 35 years ago. “This road is therefore of great socio-economic importance not only to Nigeria, but the entire subsaid. he region,” The President, who underscored the high volume on traffic on the road, said at least 250,000 vehicles ply the road on a daily basis, adding that it was in recognition of such economic importance that he previous administration, “in good fate” in 2009, entered into a concession agreement with a concessionaire as a premier publicprivate partnership scheme

in the road sector in Nigeria. “However, four years later and due to non-performance by the concessionaire which resulted in recurring fatal accidents, unprecedented traffic jams, security breaches, compromised public health and safety and the continued outcry on the state of disrepair of this road, the concession agreement was terminated in May, 2012. “As a responsible government, we had to intervene immediately in order to ameliorate the hardship faced by the public on his road. Consequently, we had to deploy two reputable road construction companies to carry out emergency repair works on the road to ease the free flow of traffic and at the same time, we commenced the process of procuring the contracts for full reconstruction and expansion of the road”, he said.

Jonathan pledged commitment to the timely completion of all road projects by making adequate arrangement for their funding. “In addition to the annual budgetary location for the projects, this administration has commenced negotiation with Infrastructural Bank Plc to complement the federal government’s contribution to the project. With this arrangement, funding is assured and the projects can be completed as scheduled”. The president however admitted that there would be great inconvenience to road users during the period of the execution of the contracts and appealed to them to bear the situation since at the end, it would be to their advantage. Ogun State governor, Ibikunle Amosun, in his remarks, commended the president for his personal

involvement in ensuring that the road project was brought to the front burner. He, however appealed to the president to intervene in the rehabilitation of the 25- kilometre Shagamu-Ogijo-MosinmiIkorodu road where petroleum products are being transported to all parts of the country. The second road which he sought the president’s intention is the 36-kilometre Papallanto where the Olorunsogo Power Plant is located. He said the situation of the road is so bad that a journey of about 15 minutes takes about two hours. He said because of the strategic location of the state as the centre to the socio-economic location not only to the South West, but to the entire country, the state government had spent over N200 billion on road projects that are essentially owned by the federal government.

THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, July 6, 2013

NEWS

Govt Turns To Coal To Raise Electricity Supply From Emeka Anuforo, Abuja ACED with the many challenges of thermal power stations, the Federal Government has started major moves aimed at exploring the nation’s neglected coal reserves. Proven coal reserves in the country, according to statistics from the Ministry of Power, amount to about 639 million tons, while inferred reserves are in the region of 2.75 billion tons. The Ministry of Power said it is targeting the generation of at least 4000 mega watts of electricity from coal in the

• National Framework On Coal To Power Underway nearest future. To commence the process, a committee was inaugurated yesterday to identify the impediments to coal powered electricity generation and develop strategies for investment in coal power generation. The committee is also to develop a national framework for coal to power. Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, who inaugurated the committee in Abuja, emphasised the urgent need to diversify the fuel for power

generation in Nigeria in line with global practice. He said his ministry was working with the Ministry of Mines and Steel to explore the nation’s coal for power generation. Coal, he emphasized, provides an efficient source of fuel for baseload power plants. “Nigeria is blessed with abundant deposits of coal spread in 13 states of the federation. Significant commercial quantities are evident in the belt spanning Enugu, Benue, Kogi, Nasarawa and Gombe,” he

said. He stressed how undeveloped virgin coal assets require detailed exploration work and development of infrastructure, noting that other coal files were currently being mined on skeletal basis. Nebo recalled that Nigeria’s generation mix currently consists of 70 per cent thermal plants and 30 per cent hydropower. In an assessment of world average generation mix, he rated coal 41 per cent, gas 21

per cent, hydro 16 per cent, nuclear 13 per cent and oil five per cent, noting that Nigeria needs to key into the global trends. According to him, “when you look at the contribution of coal to power in some countries, you will realise that South Africa has 93 per cent, China 79 per cent, Poland 87 per cent, Australia 54 per cent, and USA 45 per cent. He said the committee would “review the status and adequacy of available studies and

project documents relating to the establishment of coal fired power plants; examine the impediments and challenges to the development of coal fired power plants in the country and make recommendations towards facilitating investment in coal to power generation.” Nebo added: “The members of the committee will also liaise with other stakeholder agencies to review current initiatives of private investors on coal to power and advise on areas of possible support and collaboration with the ministry, and also make other recommendations towards facilitating the utilisation of coal for power generation.” The Director of Power at the Ministry, Mr. Sanusi Garuba will head the committee.

MTN Deactivates Unregistered SIM Cards, Airtel To Follow Suit By Adeyemi Adepetun OLLOWING the expiration Fistration of the deadline for SIM regon June 30, MTN has

Director General, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Dr. Joseph Odumodu (left); Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Samuel Ortom; former Director, Ghana Standard Board, Mr. Lawrence Yankey; and Industrial Development Officer, United Nations Industrial Development Organisation, Mr. Raymond Tavares, during SON and UNIDO national consultative forum in Lagos in the week.

Labour Party Embarks On Membership Drive Ahead Anambra Guber Election From Ezeocha Nzeh, Abuja HEAD of the governorship A election in Anambra State later this year, the leadership of Labour Party (LP) yesterday announced that it will begin full mobilisation by moving additional 100, 000 membership registration cards to the state to effectively place itself on ground and pursue its membership drive following the recent registration into

the party by one of the governorship hopefuls, Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah. This is even as the party boasted that it has what it takes to win the election in Anambra State, stressing that it would bury the godfather syndrome in the state and field a candidate that will create employment and build industry, and use the feats to fight the incidence of kidnapping that is prevalent in the state.

Speaking when one of the governorship aspirants for the election, Chief Ifeanyi Ubah led his supporters to present himself to the members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party in Abuja, the party’s national chairman, Chief Dan Nwanyanwu described LP as one founded on strong ideology of social democracy. Nwanyanwu, who told the candidate in clear terms that

the party will not offer him an automatic ticket, stressed that the party would, however, provide a level playing ground for the best candidate to emerge. The LP chairman also warned those who are eyeing the Anambra State government house to stop dropping and using the name of President Goodluck Jonathan to intimidate other candidates, noting that LP is battle ready. He, how-

Efforts On To Address NGF Leadership Crisis, Says Tukur From Abiodun Fagbemi, Ilorin HE National Chairman of T the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur yesterday said “work is in progress” to address the leadership crisis rocking the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF).

He stated this in a brief interview with reporters in Ilorin when he paid a courtesy call on Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State at the Government House. Both print and electronic journalists had waited patiently to take Tukur up on some national issues in the polity, especially as it relates to the party but to their dis-

may, he was taciturn as he simply said, “work is in progress” when the NGF question was put to him. Accompanied by Ahmed, the National Chairman swiftly hopped into his waiting car amidst party supporters and chieftains in the state who gave him a rousing reception. There has been deepseated crisis in the NGF fol-

lowing its May 24 controversial election with two governors, Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State and Jonah Jang of Plateau State laying claim to the forum’s chairmanship. Amaechi defeated Jang in the election by 19 to 16 votes to the consternation of the Presidency, which allegedly opposed to his continued leadership of the forum.

ever, urged the oil magnet to be ready to submit himself to the supremacy and authority of the party. Speaking earlier, Uba noted that he was a labour man before he decided to join the party, adding that he had worked as the chairman of the Petroleum and Jetty Owners Association in the country. “I sincerely believe in Nigeria; I am an accomplished businessman, a family man, and a devoted Christian. Let me confess that I am rattled by the condition of Anambra State and feel that it is hightime I joined the politics through this great party in other to serve my state and country. “I believe that Labour is the party that can offer me the opportunity to make the change we earnestly desire in Nigeria. I believe that there is no other platform presently available for me to actualise my desires of taking Anambra State to its desired height. Based on this, I offer myself to this great party,” he noted.

announced that it has deactivated unregistered subscribers as directed by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). In a statement yesterday, MTN Nigeria’s Corporate Service Executive, Akinwale Goodluck said the telecommunications firm has deactivated all unregistered SIMs, but that those deactivated can reconnect at any of their outlets. “We, therefore, wish to inform affected subscribers that they can reconnect their lines by visiting the nearest MTN Service Centre, ConnectStore or SIM registration point. We have set up registration points in several places for this purpose,” he said. Goodluck explained that the process of reconnection would be easy. He said: “On arrival, you will be required to complete the SIM registration process or update your personal information and provide biometric data, after which your SIM card will be re-activated as soon as possible. “We urge all affected customers not to panic, as our team of customer service officers are more than ready to assist in reactivating their lines once they have completed their SIM registration as mandated by the NCC,” he said. Meanwhile, one of the top executives of MTN Nigeria told The Guardianthat the telecommunications firm could not give the figure of those affected now, stressing that they were not yet authorised to do so. Airtel too has promised to comply with the regulator’s demand. Speaking to The Guardian, Airtel Nigeria’s Head of Value Added Services, Deepark Srivastava, “as a law-abiding firm, we shall comply with all regulations, including disconnection of unregistered SIMs.”

THe GUARDIAN, Saturday, July 6, 2013

NeWS emergency Rule: FG To Distribute Grains In Affected States From Njadvara Musa, Damaturu OLLOWING the adverse Fliveseffects of emergency rule on in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states, especially on farming activities, the Federal Government has approved the distribution of 25,000 metric tons (about 500, 000 bags) of assorted grains from the strategic grains silos to people. Speaking yesterday in Damaturu on the effects of emergency rule on business, farming activities and living conditions of people, the

Minister of state for Finance, Dr Yerima Ngama has disclosed that the President has directed him and the Minister of state for Agriculture, Alhaji Tijani Bukar tor elease grains from the Federal Government’s Strategic Grains Silos for distribution to people in the three emergency states. This directive by Mr. President follows the “cries and hues” that I and the Minister of state for Agriculture took to him over the prolonged sufferings and inconveniences of people of the

three states caused by Boko Haram insurgency and the subsequent emergency Rule declared last May by the President.” Dr. Ngama noted that the insecurity has caused untold hardship on the people as the restriction of movement has greatly reduced farming activities in the affected states; hence the intervention by government as Ramadan approaches. He said that the 25,000 metric tons of food items would translate into 930 truckload of maize, millet and guinea corn.

The minister further explained that because of the large quantity of food required, it will however be released for distribution in batches. “In the first batch, a total of 399 bags of 665 truckloads will be released to the three states under emergency rule. ‘Borno state, which is the largest and worse hit by the insurgency, will take the lion’s share of 324 trucks, Yobe will get 195 trucks while Adamawa will be left with 170 trucks load,” said

the minister, while giving a breakdown of grains distribution. Ngama also announced that the President had given another approval of the sum of N250 million for the purchase of rice, cooking oil and other accessories to be distributed in the three states. He said in Yobe, all the 178 wards will be given a truckload of food items, while the remaining will be shared to civil servants, police, army and other organizations in the state.

Tambuwal In Benin, Keeps Nigerians Guessing On Political Future From Alemma-Ozioruva Aliu, Benin City PeAKeR of the House of STambuwal, Representatives, Aminu yesterday kept Nigerians guessing on his political future as he said the issue that he was going to dump the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) party remained a rumour. Tambuwal was in Benin City to felicitate with the state deputy governor, Pius Odubu, on the silver jubilee celebration of his marriage and his birthday and to also pay homage to the Benin monarch who also recently celebrated his birthday. Odubu was a member of the House of Representatives between 1999 and 2007.

Curiously, however, there was no member of the state leadership of the PDP at the airport to receive the Speaker as the airport was filled with supporters of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), led by Odubu, and some of the party’s members in the House of Representatives including Pally Iraise (Owan), Samson Osagie (Orhionmwon/Uhumwonde), Rasaq Bello-Osagie (Oredo) and Jim Adun. When contacted, state chairman of the PDP, Dan Orbih said the party was kept in the dark about the Speaker’s visit to the state. “I am not aware that they are expecting him. If the leader was coming, I would have been there, but I was not informed and I am not aware.”

State publicity secretary of the PDP and CAN, Matthew Uroghide also said the party was not aware of the coming of the Speaker. “As a party, we were not aware of the coming of the Speaker. The chairman is in Abuja and if he had been informed, he would have dele-

From Alemma-Ozioruva Aliu, Benin City He reported governorship T ambition of former president of the Trade union Congress (TUC), Peter esele is reportedly ruffling some

ASUU Vs Government! What Do University Teachers Want That Government Cannot Give? SUNDAY, JULY 7, 2013

Conscience Nurtured by Truth

He cat and mouse game between ASUU and governT ment seems endless. What else

From John Akubo, Dutse He wife of the Vice T President, Hajia Amina Sambo has challenged

Women And Affirmative Action

feathers in edo state government as some politicians who have been nursing governorship ambitions have since last week started re-strategising in the event that Governor Adams Oshiomhole eventually decide to lend his support to his fellow former labour leader. Although esele denied the rumour, many believe there could be elements of truth in Oshiomhole’s desire to handover to somebody who would sustain the developmental strides and institutional style of administration he is trying to establish for the state. The style, it is said, would make it almost impossible for “selfish politicians without character” to run the state the way they like. But a state official of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) told The Guardian yesterday that, “it is still too early to discuss 2016 when the governor has not even spent eight months in his

term.” second However, a Senior Special Assistant to the governor, erasmus Ikhide, said: “Any serious politician would be ruffled once they know that a more credible person is interested in the same position they are angling to get. Although, I cannot confirm whether he is interested or not, but definitely, a man of his calibre will ruffeathers.” fle The governor’s keeping mum on the matter so far has also given the story more credence but the Peoples Democratic Party said the issues does not have anything to with it as a party. It is strongly being rumoured that the PDP may present current Minister of Works, Mike Onolememen, as its gubernatorial candidate in the 2016 election in the state and esele is from the same edo central Senatorial District with the minister.

VP’s Wife Challenges Muslim Women On Insecurity

can ASUU do to get government attention apart from perennial closures; hasn’t the strike option become obsolete and cheap? FAYeMI: T Was Not Ambition That Brought Me To ekiti, I Came Here To Serve

hearing the rumour from you. I am here to celebrate with my brother, the deputy governor on the occasion of his silver jubilee wedding anniversary and his birthday and to also pay respect to His Royal Majesty, the Oba of Benin and felicitate with him on his birthday.”

Unease In edo Over esele’s Alleged Governorship Ambition

TheGuardian

POLITICS

gated somebody to welcome him.” In a brief chat with journalists, Tambuwal who arrived in a private jet at about 10.30am marked 5N-LDM, said the rumour that he was planning to leave the PDP was false. “I am a member of PDP and I am

He Big Noise That Has Not Translated To Good content

BUSINeSS Federal Government And How Not To Concession Public Assets RAMADAN Islamic Clerics On Change Of Attitude And Fear Of God The Guardian On Sunday is new, fresher, bolder; a delight to behold and more importantly, reader-friendly! Book a copy today.

Nigerian women to play their role as caregivers in the current challenge of insecurity by assisting security agencies to bring about peaceful coexistence among people in the country. Hajia Sambo, who gave the advice during the northern conference of women da’awah (preachers) held recently in Dutse, explained that women as mothers and wives have fundamental roles to play for peace and harmony in the society. “As women, always speak the truth that will bring peace to this nation, especially now that we are experiencing rising cases of violence. “We should therefore live in peace with everyone irrespective of our faith and ethnic

background,” she said. According to her, President Goodluck Jonathan was doing everything possible to ensure that peace reigns in the country. Sambo urged the women preachers to go into the grass roots to teach the women in the rural areas about their religions. She commended the participants for their zeal in evangelism of the Islamic faith, adding that it shows their commitment to contributing their quota towards taking the religion of Islam to a higher level. According to her, “As mothers, it is incumbent on us to be knowledgeable so as to guide our young ones and the society at large. Women are nurturers of families, they are builders and sustainers of nations and therefore creating opportunities to build and enhance their capacity is always a good omen for any society.”

FG Condemns Military Actions In egypt By Azeez Olorunlomeru He Federal government has T condemned the actions of the egyptian Military in overthrowing a democratically elected President, Mohammed Morsi as well as suspending the country’s Constitution. In a statement made available to The Guardian by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, government observed that the unfortunate development was a gross violation of the Constitutive Act of the Africa Union, which prohibits unconstitutional change of government. “This is a truncation of the aspiration of the egyptian people to freely express franchise through the ballot box.” The statement reads further that the action will constitute a serious setback to the remarkable progress Africa has made in fostering the culture of democratic governance in the Continent. The government called for the immediate restoration of democratic order in egypt and urged the egyptian Armed Forces to allow democratic culture to thrive. It also called on the egyptian people to exercise restraint in the peaceful pursuit of their legitimate grievances.

Kingmakers Welcome Appeal Court Judgment From Anietie Akpan, Calabar He etuboms Traditional T Council (eTC) of the Palace of the Obong of Calabar, the highest king making body of the efik people has welcomed the Appeal court judgment that sacked the Obong of Calabar, edidem ekpo Okon Abasi Otu V and disqualified etubom Anthony Ani from contesting. Speaking on the heels of the July 4, 2013 judgment of the Court of Appeal, the Chairman of the eTC, etubom Bassey Okor Bassey Duke yesterday said, “this judgment confirms the fact that the position of Obong of Calabar is cast in stone; solid as the rock of Gibraltar and constant as the northern star, as the only challenger was never an eligible candidate.” Consequently, he said, “the entire efik community and all well-meaning people welcome the decision of the court that Chief Anthony Ani is not traditionally qualified and eligible to contest to be Obong of Calabar.” etubom Ani had challenged his disqualification from the race by the kingmakers and the enthronement of edidem Otu to the throne in 2008, saying the process was not in order. However Duke who declined to entertain questions from reporters said, “the judgment is still being studied carefully and further pronouncement shall be made to ensure conformity with the said judgment of the Court of Appeal and our ancient tradition in due course.”

THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, July 6, 2013

NEWS Court Adjourns My Pikin Appeal To Monday For Hearing By Joseph Onyekwere HE Court of Appeal, Lagos T division presided over by justice J.S. Ikyegh on Friday said it would on Monday hear the appeal filed by the convicted producers of ‘my pikin’ teething mixture. The decision of the court followed the Respondents plea of time, to enable them file their response to the Appellants applications seeking the bail of the convicts pending the determination of the appeal and the application seeking for departure from the Rules of the Court as well as an accelerated hearing of the appeal. By this adjournment, the respondent (NAFDAC) is, therefore, expected to have

filed all necessary processes by the next adjourned date to enable the Court hear the pending applications. On May 17, this year, Justice Okechukwu Okeke, now retired of the Federal High Court, Lagos in his judgment found guilty and convicted the appellants, Egbele Austin Eromosele and Adeyemo Abiodun to seven years inprisonment while ruling that their firm, Barewa Pharmaceuticals Limited be wound up and assets forfeited to the federal government. The Judge found them guilty of conspiracy and sale of dangerous drugs. But on the same day, counsel to the convicts, Osaro Eghobamien (SAN) filed a Notice of Appeal on their

behalf challenging the decision of the trial Judge. He later filed a 14 ground amended Notice of Appeal on July 3, 2013 contesting the judgment and insisting that the trial judge erred in law in failing to consider the evidence of the defence but relied wholly on the unsworn statement of DW1 (defence witness 1). “The learned trial Judge erred in law in convicting me for conspiracy and sale of dangerous drugs relying on unsustainable evidence in the absence of either direct evidence of identified victims who may have consumed the drugs, or autopsy/forensic reports in proof of the alleged deaths as a result of taking the

drugs”, the appellant stated, urgency of the matter, it will insisting that the conviction is adjourn same to Thursday, unreasonable, unwarranted July 11 by which time the and cannot be sustained hav- Respondents would have ing regard to the evidence. filed a necessary response to The Court was of the view that enable the Court hear the owing to the nature and application.

Burglars Raid Abia House Of Assembly From Gordi Udeajah - Umuahia URGLARS who raided the B Abia State House of Assembly building complex have vandalized four operation vehicles belonging to the House, police source said. The burglars removed the brain boxes of three T oyota Hummer and that of a Coaster bus, valued at about

five hundred thousand naira. The State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Geoffrey Ogbonna told The Guardian yesterday that the incident happened Thursday night, and the police has commenced investigated. A top staff of the House who spoke on condition of anonymity, “suspect internal complicity in the act.”

Ekiti Empowers 82 Communities With N300m From Muyiwa Adeyemi, Ado Ekiti TOTAL 82 communities in Ekiti State on Thursday, got cheques of N300million to undertake various community projects under the Self-Help Programe of the State Government. Presenting the cheques to the various benefiting communities in Oye- Ekiti, the State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi said the gesture is in fulfillment of the resolutions reached with community leaders in the state during the stakeholders’ meetings held last year. He added that the self-help project is in line with the government’s commitment to doing development with the people. Representatives of the benefitting communities as well as their traditional rulers were in joyful mood as they filed out to receive their checks. Many of the towns unions defied the early morning rainfall, came out in full traditional regalia and masquerades, which turned the entire ceremony into a carnival.

Akande Emerges President Of Brentwood Association HE City Administrator of T Brentwood in the state of Missouri USA, Bola Akande,

R-L: Wu Hongbo, Under-Secretary-General, United Nations Department for Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA); Gerald Ilukwe, Managing Director/CEO, Galaxy Backbone Ltd Hon. Ibrahim Gusau, Chairman House Committee on ICT; Ambassador Alhassan Gana, Permanent Secretary, Office of the Secretary to Government of the Federation at the United Nations Public Service Awards Ceremony at Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain.

NEMA Delivers Relief Materials To Victims Of Violent Attack From Ali Garba, Bauchi HE National Emergency T Management Agency (NEMA) has provided assorted relief material to victims of internally displaced persons from Yobe, Borno and Adamawa states that are currently residing in Gombe State. The support came as a result of the security challenges in the three states. The Director General of NEMA, Muhammad Sani Sidi said these while presenting the relief items on behalf of Federal Government to the Governor of Gombe State, Ibrahim Hassan DanKwambo in his office

yesterday. He said that the items are meant to cater for the large number of internally displaced persons in the state as a result of current challenges in the neighbouring states. Sidi commended the State Government for the continuous support and collaboration with NEMA and for allocating a befitting accommodation and storage facility to the Gombe Operations Office. He assured the governor that more equipment would be deployed to enhance the operational capability of the office. He appealed to the state gov-

ernment to take the disaster risk reduction campaign by NEMA seriously especially with the 2013 annual rainfall prediction of NIMET and its

implications for flooding. Dankwanbo thanked Federal Government for it prompt response to pledge of internally displaced per-

sons who are residing in the State. Items presented include food items and other materials worth millions of naira.

Ministry Fights Attack By Alleged Gay Rights Group From Nkechi Onyedika, Abuja HE Federal Ministry of Information yesterday said it has fought off the attack on Nigeria’s National Portal by a group of gay rights activists. The ministry says it is taking additional measures to stem future attacks by hackers whose criminal activities are on the increase globally in recent times. In a statement yesterday in

Abuja, the Chief Press Secretary to the minister, Joseph Mutah, alleged that the attackers were traced to the same group that recently attacked websites of other governments across the world claiming to be fighting for gay rights. He claimed that the attacks are a criminal attempt to blackmail countries that have resisted pressures by homosexuals

to legalise gay marriages. “While we recognise that Nigeria is a full-fledged democracy with robust guarantee of freedom of opinion by all citizens, it is criminal for anyone within or outside our country to use criminal means to express or canvass such opinions. The Fed Ministry of Information will liaise with security agencies to investigate last night’s attack.

US Celebrates 237th Independence Anniversary From Lillian Chukwu, Abuja

… Lists Panacea For Nigerian Democratic Growth

HE United States of T America has commemorated its 237th anniversary of

American Ambassador to Nigeria, Terence McCulley in a speech on the July 4th anniversary in Abuja with a theme on “Celebrating unity in diversity” said that a diversity that must be cherished, protected and embraced would promote democracy. He urged proponents of the

the declaration of Independence with a call for economic growth and peaceful co-existence in a democratic Nigerian state and in the northern region in particular.

Boko Haram insurgency to adopt peace, “we hope the insurgency in the north will be contained with minimum loose of innocent lives. People of the northeast Nigeria are most affected by this insurgency. “They are the ones who are suffering. We hope for

restoration of peace in Borno State and all the other areas that are affected by the insurgency, we hope for economic development there,” the Ambassador added. McCulley said on the current situation in Egypt that “the President (Barack Obama) has expressed con-

cern in that situation. Obviously Egypt is an important allied in the Middle East. Our hearts are with the people of Egypt at this moment and we hope for rapid restoration to constitutional order.” He listed three tenets of a successful democracy to include human rights, dignity and equality among men and women.

has been named the President of St Louis Area City Management Association (SLACMA), an organization saddled with the responsibility of fostering collaboration among local government administrators in all the 75 municipalities in the area. According to a press release from the office of the Mayor of Brentwood, Mayor Pat Kelly, Bola, who is currently the Vice President of the organization, would assume office as the new president of SLACMA next month. Her new appointment, which resulted from a vote of confidence passed on her by 75 City Administrators and managers of all the municipalities in St Louis, is coming exactly two years after she was named the first AfricanAmerican to be appointed as the City Administrator of Brentwood.

Oba Akran Dismisses Death Rumours HE Akran of Badagry, T Aholu Menu-Toyi 1, says he is not dead as being widely speculated. The Akran told the News Agency of in Nigeria (NAN) Badagry, Lagos, that the news that he was dead is false. He appealed to members of the public to disregard the false news. “For over a week, the Palace has been inundated with stories via the mobile phone and social media, particularly the internet about my death. “As you can see, I’m very much alive, enjoying a remarkable healthy lifestyle and attending to the day-today royal engagements within the kingdom, the state and the nation.

THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, July 6, 2013

NEWS Liberia Canvasses Closer Economic Ties With Nigeria From Gordi Udeajah, Umuahia HE Liberian Vice President, Mr. Joseph Bakia, has canvassed for greater economic relations between his country and Nigeria, lauding the role of Nigeria in the sustenance of peace in West Africa.

Bakia who said he was in Abia State yesterday at the invitation of the Chancellor of Gregory University Uturu, Dr. Gregory Ibe, where a College was named after him, spoke in Umuahia, the state capital after he paid a courtesy call on Governor Theodore Orji at

Government House. He said: “Nigeria has been helping our country and this gives us great hope. Nigeria has stood with us even during the difficult days and still does so even in the time of our crises. We are very grateful for all that Nigerians have done for us.”

He also said that Nigeria has been one of those countries that have opened nose for aviation travel between Nigeria and other countries, as well as introducing banks and insurance companies, which he believed that Abia State could also facilitate in its own way by assisting

Liberia business-wise. Welcoming the Vice President, Governor Orji said that the relationship between Nigeria and Liberia has been cordial and both countries have a lot to share in bilateral relationship that fosters peace and unity in Africa.

Northern Council Chairmen Form Forum From Collins Olayinka, Abuja HE compartmentalisation T of Nigeria political blocks is on the upward swing with the formation of a new forum for local government chairmen from the northern part of the country. The new body, which may not be unconnected with strategising for the 2015 general elections, is code-named “Northern Local Government Chairmen’s Forum (NLGCF).” The Chairman of Dekina Council of Kogi State, Mohammed Ali, was elected to lead the Forum at an election held yesterday in Abuja. In his speech, Ali said though the local government administration has gone through various challenges, transformations and modifications, there is the need for the stakeholders to engender speedy development at the lowest level of government. He identified high mortality

rate, Almajiri phenomenon, high-rate of unemployment, poor infrastructure and increasing insecurity, as issues requiring urgent attention. While lauding President Goodluck Jonathan for his untiring efforts toward resolving the security challenges confronting the region, Ali called on the President to assent to the Hydro Power Producing Areas Development Commission (HYPPADEC) in the collective interest of the nation. He also observed that while dredging and construction of river ports across the country aimed at boosting the economic base of the country is a welcome development, government should also explore the possibility of extending the construction of river ports to Makurdi, Yelwa in Kebbi, Ibbi in Taraba and Yola in Adamawa states. He told his colleagues in the

forum to design attractive and enticing promotional campaigns to market the tourist and cultural heritage in the northern Nigeria to the world. “We must take responsibility at this stage of our existence to advertise and sell our beautiful

waterfalls, pristine lakes, amazing game reserves, colourful carnivals, ancient monuments, as well as our uncommon history.” He revealed that the forum would periodically provide peer review and cross-fertilisa-

tion of ideas that will lead to the widespread prosperity of the region. Prof. Jerry Gana, who chaired the occasion, lauded the step and described the forum as a veritable vehicle for development.

Immigration Arrests 147 Illegal Aliens In Ondo From Niyi Bello, Akure ITING threats to security, C the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) yesterday in Akure, Ondo State capital announcedthearrestof147illegal immigrants from various spots in the metropolis for repatriation to their respective home countries. The arrested illegal aliens, who were paraded by the service at its state office, are said to be Nigerien and Chadian immigrants who entered Nigeria without valid travelling documents. The state Comptroller of NIS,

Adetola Sessi disclosed that the illegal immigrants were picked up by his men at the Saabo and Shasha areas of the state capital and that they would be repatriated to their countries of origin immediately because they were constituting great security risks especially when it was discovered that they had no means of livelihood. He said two of them attacked and injured some immigration officers while trying to resist arrest on Thursday. Sessi said the illegal immigrants had been living in the state for a very long time and that it took his men diligent surveillance to fish them out

their hideouts adding, “The arrest of the illegal immigrants was in line with the resolve of the incumbent Comptroller-General of the NIS to rid the country of persons who are in the country without valid travelling documents. “Most of them entered Nigeria through illegal routes and settle down among our people, creating problems because they had no jobs, no family and no credible means of identity. “They are ready tools in the hands of self-serving politicians and religious bigots who would want to use them to achieve their parochial, selfish interests.

Lagos Seeks Academia Support On Infrastructural Challenges By Tunde Alao HE Commissioner for T Works and Infrastructure, Lagos State, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat has called on the country’s academia to dedicate itself to proffering appropriate solutions to the various challenges confronting the nation. Describing tertiary institutions as the bastion of solutions to issues within their locality, Hamzat noted that the successful discharge of this responsibility would stand it in good stead to lead the change the nation needs. Hamzat spoke at the third International Conference of Faculty of Education, Lagos State University (LASU), where he presented a paper titled,

“The place of Infrastructural Development in Tertiary Education.” He said that with demonstrated commitment to functional and quality researches, the institutions could reach the zenith of their potentials and relevance. While urging governments across the nation to accept a responsibility to put in place, “a framework for the tertiary education institutions to be more innovative and responsive to a globally competitive knowledge economy and their requirement of the changing labour market for advanced human capital,” the Commissioner advised LASU to create a credible and strong consultancy unit to access the rich avenue of funds available.

Legislator Cautions Against Creating Many Laws From Tunde Akinola, Abuja MEMBER of House of A Representatives and former Nigerian Envoy to Ethiopia, Ambassador Nkoyo Toyo yesterday cautioned against the rate at which laws are created in the country, notingthatithassucceededinraising the cost of running government. She said the way forward is to strengthen the existing laws instead of creating numerous ones that have negative effects on government expenditure. Addressing journalists in

Abuja, she said that the creation of any law is followed by appropriation, which in a way affects government’s investment in development and capacity building. Toyo said: “I think we have a lot of laws. Whenever you create a law it must be followed by appropriation for secretariat, the staff and all. That is what is making the cost of running governance in Nigeria so high. Nigeria is one of the most expensive governments in the world to run because government takes almost 70 per cent of the budget and civil service.”

Parents, Students Appeal To FG Over ASUU Strike OMEAbuja residents on yesSFederal terday appealed to the Government to meet the demands of striking Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities (ASUU). Some of the parents and students, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, called for the immediate implementation of the 2009 agreement. They also described the current strike as disheartening. It will be recalled that ASUU had on July 1, embarked on nationwide strike over claim that Federal Government had not kept to its 2009 agreement with the union. Olumide Michael, a parent, said that it was unfortunate that the government failed to keep its own side of the agreement.

Ewherido, Personal Loss, Says Solomon ENATE Minority Whip and SWestsenator representing Lagos senatorial district, Mr. Ganiyu Olanrewaju Solomon, has described as a personal loss somewhat, the demise of Senator Pius Ewherido from Delta State. Solomon, who witnessed the start of the crisis that eventually claimed his life, said he was still in shock because he could not believe it was the last he would see of the deceased. He said he was with Ewherido at the National Hospital, Abuja, where he had his first operationbeforetheplantofly him abroad. But the senator eventually gave up the ghost. “I’m still self-abnegating that he possibly couldn’t have died,” Solomon said. “He gave no inkling he would not survive it. It didn’t seem to me that it was the end; that I possibly won’t see him again but his remains is troubling! “I am, however, struggling to come to terms with my religious doctrine, that God only gives and takes and I pray the Almighty God grants him eternal rest.

Oyegbade Gets Award HE chairman and chief T executive of Virgo Services Nigeria Limited, Chief Oyegunle Oyegbade will be invested man of the year 2013 on July 13, 2013. The award will be bestowed on him by the African Icon Of Our Generation Award at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja. Oyegbade’s company, Virgo Services, will also be awarded Foremost Indigenous Engineering Company of the year. Incidentally, Oyegbade was recently honoured with a doctorate degree in Business Administration at the University of Lome, Togo. This award ceremony is being packaged by Accolades International and the International Centre for Comparative Leadership, Abuja. Dr. Luke Okojie, chairman of the awards committee said the awards are for change agents whose zeal for excellence are without parallel in Africa. The yearly awards started in 2007.

THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, July 6, 2013

NEWS Anohu Denies Opposing Ubah’s Entry Into LP From Chuks Collins, Awka HE controversy trailing the last week’s entry into the Labour Party (LP) of the Anambra-born oil magnate, Chief Ifeanyi Ubah, may have taken a new dimension with a member of the state House of Assembly and chieftain of the LP, Emeka Anohu, denying reports that he was averse to the presence of Ubah in the party. The lawmaker pointed out that contrary to the claim by the publication that it was reason why he stayed away from Ubah’s membership declaration event, he was actually very keen to attend but was out of the state on official assignment then. Anohu, in an interview with journalists yesterday in Awka, emphasised that he never spoke to any journalist anywhere on such topic and actually saw Ubah’s presence in the party as a welcome development. He said that as committed party man who believes in the supremacy of the party at all times he sees his entry as a boost to the party’s national rating, leading many of his followers to pick LP’s membership cards.

Enugu 2015: Nsukka, Awgu Zones Battle For Governorship Sthe politics of zoning conA tinues to attract arguments in some quarters of Enugu State ahead of 2015 governorship election, a group that operates under the aegis of Enugu State Citizens Forum in Onitsha, Anambra State, has declared that “Nsukka man will have to occupy the Lion Building in 2015.” The group, which reacted to a report credited to another group called Greater Awgu Cultural zone, who claimed to

be in position to produce the next governor of Enugu in 2015, said in a statement in Onitsha that the position of the so called Greater Awgu zone was funny in the sense that they rejected zoning at the outset of the report and ended up saying that they have be given chance because it is their turn. The statement signed by Chief G.C, Eze, from Enugu West zone,(Chairman), Mr. Theo Rays Ejikeme from Enugu North (Secretary) and Mr.

Comrade Anthony Okwute from Enugu East, Nkanu zone (PRO) respectively, wondered on what ground the members of Greater Awgu wish to realise their dream, if not zoning. “If we have to quote them, they said that we have four cultural zones in Enugu namely: Nsukka, Udi, Nkanu and Awgu, and ended up saying that it is Awgu turn to produce the next governor. To us, this is contradiction and funny because at the outset they said that zoning to Nsukka was not dis-

cussed. Our question now is on what basis are they asking for a Greater Awgu governor?”, the group asked. The statement also described as funny the issue of Awgu as a zone in Enugu State, noting that Awgu, Aniri and Oji river local government areas, which they claim to make up the zone, are part of a federal constituency with a seat in the Federal House of Representative under Enugu West Senatorial zone and as such cannot be measured

with Nsukka or Nkanu zone. “Chime with deep sense of justice, equity and fair play and of course peaceful coexistence has said that Nsukka man will succeed him in 2015 because other zones have taken their turn, and we believe that the voice of the governor, who is well accepted among the good people of Enugu State, has to be respected as a way of appreciating the good works he is ceaselessly doing in our state since 2007”, the statement added.

Ibadan Agog For Glo Concert BADAN is set to host the Glo Ibilled Slide and Bounce Concert for the Casa Lucio Event Centre, Toll Gate, LagosIbadan Expressway today. A statement from Globacom enjoined youths and the young at heart to troop out to the Glo World shop at Challenge, Ibadan, to meet, greet and receive signed autographs from some of their favourite artistes featuring at the concert. On the bill are P-Square, Omawumi, Waje, Naeto C, Bez, MI, Chee, Burna Boy and Lagbaja. “ Glo subscribers who have recharged up to N1000 since June 10 should send ‘Yes Ibadan” to 30188 to get an invite to the mother of all shows in Oluyole city,” the statement concluded.

Imo To Host Health Summit

A cross section of Niger Deltans living in the South-West led by Comrade Joseph Evah (second left) during their courtesy visit to Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) leader, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu, over the death of his mother, Alhaja Abibat Mogaji, in Lagos.

Revenue Board Seals Off Companies Over N80m Tax Evasion From Gordi Udeajah,Umuahia BIA State Government, A through its Board of Inland Revenue (BIR), has formerly sealed off the operations of three corporate

Bayelsa Repositions StateOwned Oil Firm

From Charles Ogugbuaja, Owerri FTERten years of holding the last health summit, the Imo From Willie Etim, Yenagoa State Government has concludONSIDERING the peculiar ed arrangements to host a fourposition of Bayelsa State as day health summit. a major oil producer in the The State Commissioner for country, the state governor Health, Dr. Joe Obi- Njoku, said has set in motion process to the forum would be held in reposition the state own oil Owerri from July 9 to July 12, company and called for intenadding that those invited to sified efforts to enable the attend and make their invalu- company acquire more able inputs on ways to move the stakes in the industry to add sector forward include, faith to its existing marginal and and community-based organi- ordinary oil blocs. sations, non-governmental Governor Seriake Dickson of organisations, private and pub- Bayelsa State emphasised the lic medical practitioners need for synergy between the among others. The commissioner said the newly-inaugurated board of theme is “Community based the oil company and the primary healthcare: A road map Bayelsa Development and Corporation to accelerate health care deliv- Investment ery in Imo State” with a sub (BDIC), so as to them explore theme “scaling up outreach opportunities in the downhealth care services through stream sector of the oil and health at your door step pro- gas industry. Dickson while inaugurating gramme.” He noted that the state govern- the Chairman and members ment was building 27 general of the Board of the Bayelsa Oil Limited at hospitals and 637 health centres Company Government House, in the 27 councils of the state.

organisations in Aba and Umuahia for N80 million tax evasion in the last six years. The sealing was effected in Umuahia on Thursday and Aba yesterday by a court official, who was accompanied by

Yenagoa, yesterday explained that government has tasked the board to fashion out policies to reposition the state for active participation in the nation’s oil and gas sector. Describing the company as strategic, Dickson challenged the board to take advantage of the existing favourable investment climate to shore up the asset base of the company “Let me charge the chairman and members of the board to build on the assets of that company. “You will have our support to make effort and take advantage of the various situations that are favourable right now to ensure that we build on our asset base in terms of upstream assets and operations. “But beyond that, it is my charge to you also to explore opportunities in the downstream sector because our company should be involved in all aspects of the oil and gas industry.

the state BIR Chairman, Mr. Udochukwu Ogbonna, and other BIR top officers. The sealing was as a result of the order of Abia State High Court presided over by Justice Ken Wosu, following a suit filed before it by the revenue board. The affected companies included Nifex Vegetable Oil Mills Ohanze, Aba; Pancham International Limited (PJS), Aba and Mr. BIGGS, Aba Road, Umuahia.

Ogbonna warned taxable persons and corporate organisations to pay their taxes as at when due to avoid facing legal action. Ogbonna said:” I hereby call on all taxable persons in the state to heed government’s urge to pay their taxes. There is a continuous exercise that will deter tax evasion in the state. The establishment of Mobile Revenue Courts that summarily try tax evaders is very imminent in the state.”

Suswam Assures Agency Of N400m Counterpart Fund Release From Joseph Wantu, Makurdi ENUE State Governor, Gabriel Suswam, has assured the release of the sum of N400 million counter part funds to the state chapter of Community and Social Development Agency, CSDA to enable the state benefit from the second phase of the World Bank assisted programme. Suswam gave the assurance when the General Manager of CSDA, Mrs. Rebecca Afaityo, led benefitting communities in the state on a courtesy visit to the governor at Government House, Makurdi. He charged the benefitting communities to make judicious use of the projects executed by the CSDA, and urged

Afaityo to continue to engage rural communities meaningfully for positive results. Afaityo said that about N480 million has been committed to 366 micro-projects made up of 57 blocks of three class rooms, 57 health centers, converts bridges, electricity generation and potable water supply in rural communities. Chairman, Community Management Projects, Mr. Paul Abba, said the success recorded by the agency was made possible because of the counterpart funds agreement signed by the state government. He, therefore, urged the state government to expedite action towards the release of the N400 million to enable the state benefit from the second phase of the pro-

Religious Group Condemns Edo Hangings RELIGIOUS group, A Community of Sant’Egidio, has protested the recent hanging of three condemned criminals on death row in Benin prison. Its National Coordinator, Prince Henry Ezike, said the action marked a brutal return of death penalty in Nigeria, which had been put on hold for over seven years. It called for the immediate suspension of all executions with a view to re-establish the moratorium on executions in the country. The Catholic group stated that it was opposed to death penalty in all cases without exception, adding that it is a cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment any human being can receive. “We wish to state here that no life has been replaced by the death of another. Furthermore, there is scientific evidence that capital punishmentisnothelpfulinlowering the level of crime rate. Rather, it continues the infernal circle of violence and vengeance, as there is no justice without life,” he said. Ezike noted that innocent people could be caught in the web if there were found at the wrong place and time. “There is the need for everyone to speak with one voice in condemning death penalty and continuously ask the federal and state governments to explore other options in their fight and determination to eradicate crime in our society,” he said.

THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, July 6, 2013

METRONOTES

Nigerian Barbers On The March Again... As J. Green Mbadiwe Holds 21st Barbing Contest By Ibukunoluwa Kayode NE day in 1992, Chief Victor Ngozi Mbadiwe found himself really angry at the contempt with which barbers were held in the country. He then braced up to change this mindset and halt the disrespect meted to barbers in Nigeria. Mbadiwe swung into action and created a platform to encourage barbers to keep their chin up, as they go about their art. He sought to enthrone and ensure hard work by doling out cash and gifts worth millions of naira to barbers through an annual barbing competition. And over 20 years after he started his Annual WAHL Barbing Contest, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of J. Green Mbadiwe and Sons Limited, sole distributor of the highly rated Sterling, Illinois, US-based WAHL clipper brands in Nigeria and the subregion has, has gathered enough gusto to wax lyrical on his passion to assist barbers. “It is something I like doing, I like to bring youths together and make them understand that this industry is not for laid back people and illiterates. I want them to be proud of what they are doing,” he said. “The barbing profession is a noble one because it’s a job that seeks to make one beautiful. Look at President Goodluck Jonathan, even Governor Fashola, they surely have barbers who cut their hair. President Barack Obama has his own barber; you see, Obama has a way of cutting his hair. It is the job of a barber. “Again, I am marketing a product that I want anybody using to be happy and know that this is some-

thing they could do and earn a good living. So I have to support them, and this competition is a way of encouraging them towards making a good living and to be proud of what they are doing.” At this year’s 21st edition of the contest, hundreds of ecstatic barbers from various areas of Lagos trooped en masse to the Syrian Club, Ribadu Road, Ikoyi, to witness who would wear the crown as the champion and bag the mouth watering cash and gifts at stake. Twenty-four contestants, including three female barbers, were on hand to slug it out. Spelling out the criteria on which the contestants would be judged, the Chief Judge, Yomi Olowokere said: “It is overwhelming to see great barbers coming from different areas of Lagos to perform and test their skills to know who is best in the industry. Indeed gone are the days when society looks down on barbers and profess them as nuisance.” He continued: “We would be testing the contestants for their appearancehow neat or otherwise they are-, their equipment-handling of their tools, skill-which involves their creativity-, and speed. And each of these carry 25 marks.” Blast of the ‘Start’ call, clippers went buzzing as the hair stylists frenzied to put up their best acts on their models. At the tick of about 15 mintues, which was the allotted time, three barbers emerged victorious. Ahmed Olorunmeye came out the second-runner up bagging N50,000 and a barbing kit as well .Ahmed Sherrif was the first runner up, going home with N100,000 and a barbing kit, while the winner of the competition,

Adeniran Oluwafemi Olayinka bagged the sum of N150,000 and a state-of-the art WAHL clipper barbing kit. The first prize winner, Adeniran, an Iyana-Ipaja based hair stylist, felt on top of the world after he was announced 2013 barbing champion. “I am very grateful to God Almighty. Last year, I got a ‘NO’ at the preliminary stage. So this year, after I qualified for the first time, I vowed to take nothing less than victory in the competition. I know I am the best, I believed that I am the best,” he said. “I have been a barber since 2004,

and I thank God for Chief Mbadiwe for availing us this opportunity to show our stuff and prove our mettle.” Some of the past winners of the barbing contest, who were at the event, were still basking in the euphoria of their wins as they praised Mbadiwe’s benevolence towards repositioning their careers through the annual event. “My winning the annual WAHL Barbing Competition was an exciting experience; it took me to levels that I never dreamt of, “ said the 2012 winner, Kayode Adewunmi.

“I urge barbers that did not win in this edition, never to have a low selfesteem, rather to continue putting in their best and be hard working.” Also Collin Ukaegbu, 2009 winner and second runner-up 2012 still relishes the day he was crowned champion. “It was one of the happiest days of my life. It is a privilege being part and winning in this contest. To win in a competition like this gives you courage to do your job with renewed verve. And it makes us believe that we are indeed good ambassador of our profession,” he said.

Chief Mbadiwe, his daughter Carissa, and Nabil Zabadne

Berkley Science Magnet School Helps Green The Grass On The Other Side N an unusual move for this clime, a private Ischool primary school has adopted its public counterpart and reached out with gifts for the pupils as well as offer of assistance to the school and its teachers. It has also offered scholarships to two pupils from the public school to transfer to the high fee-paying private school. It was another Children’s Day and Berkeley Science Magnet School decided they would spend it with another school, Ogudu Nursery and Primary, and quite a day it was. Uptown babies met with downtown children and had fun together at the premises of the public school as part of the Annual Community Service initiative of Berkley Science Magnet School in Ogudu GRA, Lagos.

The day started off splendidly. After the prayers and the opening remarks were said, the interactions began. The children played and mingled and formed play groups, without a care as to who was from which school. A short intermission saw some gift giving and the presentation of the goodwill items that Berkeley had in store for the Ogudu Primary School children. The official gifts as well as the donations from the Berkeley parents were handed out to joyful and very grateful children. As officials from the Lagos State School Education Board and the Kosofe Local Council Development Area, Mrs Oyesoro and Mrs Folake Ajayi, watched, they couldn’t help but applaud the effort put in by Berkley to plan

L-R, Assist head teacher, Mrs. Oguntoye, COO, Berkley Academy with Kosofe LG Excos and little Scholaship Winners, Promise and Haisat, Durring Berkley Community Service Programme 2013, friday

this event and actually see it to fruition. In reaction to the laudatory remarks, Chief Operating Officer of the Berkley Science Magnet School, Dr. Maria Onyia, stated that the school made the decision to adopt the public school as a new spin on their annual Community Service, which has become an unfailing tradition among the school’s staff, the students and their parents. Dr Onyia explained that the aim was to contribute positively to student learning and teacher development. “I believe that this visit will benefit both student groups. Ogudu Nursery and Primary School students will appreciate the fellowship, friendship and supplies brought to school by our children. Even more, our children will develop renewed appreciation for what they have and the parents that work hard to provide them with opportunities that other children do not enjoy, while also teaching them the virtues of sharing and giving.” The highbrow school drummed up gifts of all sorts from the Berkeley parents, ranging from toys to backpacks to stationery to storybooks and many more primary school necessities and treats. The biggest gifts, however, had to have been the ones given to Miss Haisat Abubakar, a sweet little orphan girl and Master Promise Ihegadinma, who both got full-ride scholarships to attend the top notch school. The scholarships, which were worth N500, 000 each per annum, were awarded alongside gift items to the general student population totalling more than N100, 000, excluding donations. On prior Community Service exercises, activities performed by the Berkley pupils included street cleaning, tree planting, orphanage visits with donations and another of its kind to the Ogudu Police Post. Speaking on the inspiration for the initiative, the school’s COO, Dr Onyia, who is a scholar of Positive Social Change from Walden

University, United States, said that she was motivated to contribute to the society as the government could not be expected to do it all. “The government on its own can’t handle the problem in the sector. Communities, individuals and private entities must help also because eventually, we all roam the same Earth and somehow we meet. In a state like Lagos where Governor Fashola is working very hard, I am encouraged to support the government and, like Pastor Sam Adeyemi preaches on the need for all of us to give back. We must look for how to serve. We must reach out and try to level the playing ground for all people.” Dr. Onyia also vowed that the relationship between the schools would not end there as it would be maintained through continuous sharing of resources and provision of worldclass training for the teachers. “The key issue is teaching these pupils that all children, regardless of socio-economic backgrounds, are still children. We have offered to maintain the relationship with our adopted school by sharing resources and providing training for the teachers. One day, we will ship in a container load of resources and share to the students. We have goodwill abroad. If they allow us train the teachers, they will be getting free world class training, which we otherwise would charge a lot of money for. “ In her closing note, the school supervisor revealed that she also was a product of the public school system but grew and ascended to heights that saw her attending higher institutions like Walden University, where she obtained a PhD as well as five California teaching credentials and a Doctor of Education degree from a world class university. Dr. Onyia promised that there would be more initiatives and outreaches in the years to come.

THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, July 6, 2013

METRONOTES

Chinese Embassy Organises Essay Competition Between Nigerians And Chinese By Onyedika Agbedo a bid to promote better understanding ItheNandChinese friendship between Nigeria and China, Embassy in Nigeria initiated an essay competition in May this year between Nigerians and Chinese on their lives and working experiences in the two countries. At a ceremony in Lagos last Saturday, the Embassy unveiled the result of the competition and gave out different categories of awards to the winners. Giving an insight into the objectives of the essay competition and how the winners emerged, a member of the organising team, Mr. Zhu Yaozong, said the exercise was geared towards achieving cordial relations between the citizens of both countries. He said: “To share the life and working experiences of Nigerians and Chinese and promote the understanding and friendship of the people of the two countries, we sponsored an article-soliciting activity on “My China Story” (for Nigerians) and “My Nigerian Story” (for Chinese). The activity started on May 4, 2013. The activity gained enthusiastic responses from Chinese enterprises, overseas Chinese and local Nigerians as well. Up to the closure, which was by the end of May, we received 188 works in total, with 104 works as “My Nigeria Story” and 84 works as “My China Story”. On June 10, the representatives of various parties set up an appraisal committee. After several rounds of voting, 12 works were chosen as prize winners on June 18.” He added: “The works either reflect great interests and unique understandings on history, culture and social customs of China and Nigeria, or record extraordinary business expenditure and moments of mission-accomplished of the overseas Chinese. Meanwhile, they tell fine stories of interaction of the people of the two countries in real-time life and describe the profound relationship between them. The articles are worth reading both on culture and practical grounds.”

By Joseph Okoghenun HE pomp and ecstasy that heraldT ed the arrival of the popular Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) System five years ago in Lagos is fast dying away as most buses on the system have basically become molue- Nigeria’s slang for rickety and sullied big buses. The BRT is an intra-city public transport initiative instituted by the then Governor Bola Tinubu of Lagos State in 2007, but actuallised by Governor Babatunde Fashola-led administration in 2008 to alleviate challenges of Lagos heavy traffic jams, bus scarcity among others. The system, which is currently managed by National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in partnership with the Lagos State Government, goes from Mile-12 through Ikorodu Road and Funsho Williams Avenue up to TBS. When it started, some elites abandoned their cars at home for the buses that were seen to be cheap, fast and comfortable. But five years down the line, such qualities have not only disappeared but some of the rich who used to romance the system have abandoned it for their personal cars, thereby swelling up the Lagos terrible traffic jam. When The Guardian visited Mile-12 to TBS route of the buses on two different occasions recently, different levels of BRT’s degradation was highly revealed. While some of the buses appeared mangled and damaged, others simply exhibited a condition of buses that needed urgent replacements. A high number of the seats were seen damaged with just the irons that once held down the seats dangerously left behind by the man-

The Prize Winners and judges in a group photograph. Standing fifth from left (front row) is the Consul General, Liu Xianfa. In his remarks, the Consul General of the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria, Liu Xianfa, harped on the similarity between the two countries, especially the fact that both share the same National Day of October 1. Noting that both countries has a lot to learn and gain from each other, he called for closer cooperation and understanding between Nigerians and Chinese. A staff of the Confucius Institute, University of Lagos, Mrs. Victoria Arowolo, who was the First Prize winner, ‘My China Story’ was visibly delighted by the award and was full of praise

for the organisers of the competition. She said: “My first contact with China was when I travelled to Shanghai in 2004 to accompany my husband who was studying for his Masters degree in Shanghai University on a bilateral agreement scholarship between China and Nigeria. After landing on Chinese soil, it dawned on me that China is not a country where you can live without breaking the communication barrier. At the beginning, I could not go out alone without my husbands company. I later saw the pressing need to study Chinese language in order

to be relevant and integrated into the Chinese environment, which I deed. “After returning to Nigeria, I discovered that Chinese people are also exploring business opportunities in Nigeria. I searched for a place where my knowledge of Chinese language could be applied. Today, I am a local Chinese instructor at the Confucius Institute, University of Lagos. My contact with China has added value to my life. I thank the organisers of this award for the honour accorded me and other recipients. To China I say more grease to your elbow.”

privately owned ones appeared neater and comfortable than the BRT. The system also looked not well managed as tens of passengers waiting for the system on their way going to the Island were seen stranded for more than 30 minutes at Ketu, experience also repeated by those seeking the service of the buses at both TBS and Fadeyi en route to Mile-12, especially in the evenings. A passenger, who simply gave his name as Taofik, told The Guardian that passengers most times face delays from the buses mostly during rush-hours. “ I have been here (Ketu bus stop) for more than 30 minutes now. I am not likely going to get a bus soon because, as I learnt, the drivers are on break. The question I keep asking: is it right that every driver should go on break at the same time? I think something needed to be done,” Taofik said. When The Guardian visited BRT office at Ketu, about 15 buses under the system were seen abandoned in a bushy yard. The only good thing that has differentiated the system from other molues has been absence of bus hawkers, mobile preachers and beggars, who are common in privately owned big buses. Public Relations Officer (PRO), BRT Cooperative, Nonye Uwumere, told The Guardian that she could not comagers of the transport system. Some of mirrors. Knobs, which were once doors or doors that cannot be closed, ment on the sorry state of the systhe broken seats were wedged with big used by passengers to indicate their a situation that encourage some pas- tem, adding that it was not in her stones. A female passenger got serious- bus stops have been destroyed, forc- sengers to hang on doorways in busy power to do that. “ You people do not ly injured on her wrist by a bad seat in ing passengers to shout owa on top of periods, a typical scenario that often see anything good in BRT system,” their voices, to indicate their bus one of the buses. play out in molues. Uwumere said. “As for the molue stops- a scenario quite common in While some of the buses dangerously When the system was compared with thing, I do not have answer to that; I go on with just one side mirror, others privately owned molues. some other privately owned molues am not authorised to speak on it,”she Most of the buses either have broken along Ikorodu-Mile-2 axis, some of the added. simply ply the road with broken side

Five Years After, BRT Degenerates Into Molue

THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, July 6, 2013

AFRICA

‘The Number Of People Killed By Terrorist Attacks In Africa Far Outstrips Any Deaths That Are Experienced By Westerners’ Extracts from the speech by President Obama at Young African Leaders Initiative Town Hall at the University of Johannesburg-Soweto, South Africa on June 29, 2013. HE African Growth and Opportunities Act, T the term expires in 2015, and I understand there’s a bill which provides for an extension to 2019. Do you think this bill will be passed? And if it isn’t passed, what do you think the impact will be on small states in Africa that are benefiting, such as Lesotho and Togo? Well, it’s a great question. (Applause.) By the way, what kind of law are you practicing? Well, for those of you who are not as familiar with it, the program we call AGOA is basically a trade arrangement that allows probably 95 percent of goods from Africa to come into the United States without tariffs, duty-free. And, as a consequence, it obviously gives African exports a greater advantage. And the whole idea is that historically, if you look at the relationship between Africa and the rest of the global market, dating back to colonial days, the idea was somehow that raw materials get sent somewhere else, they got produced somewhere or refined somewhere else; sometimes they’re sold back to Africa, but the jobs, the value, the profits are all someplace else. And we graduated from those colonial times to the idea of aid, which continues to be critically important. There are parts of Africa that — where, right now, people just need food, or right now people just need medicine, and it is the obligation of wealthier nations to help deliver that food or that medicine. But everywhere I go in Africa, what’s very clear is people want to break out of a dependency trap. The idea is not that Africa somehow should be the ward of some other country. What we need is an Africa that is building, manufacturing, creating value, inventing, and then sending those products around the world and receiving products in return in fair terms of trade. And if we do that, then there’s no reason why Africa cannot succeed. The largest resource in Nigeria is our human capital, and we would like to ask a twopronged question. The first is, how can the United States deepen its investment in deploying technology that will develop our vast human capital as well as the education of her youth? My second question — it’s twopronged, sorry, Mr. President — considering how long the war on terror has been on for, would you say that we’re winning the war on terror, seeing that there are new terrorist groups developing in Africa, one of which is in Nigeria? Thank you. Well, those are both great questions. Thank you. And before I answer the question, I just want to be clear: I am surrounded by opinionated women in my house all day long — (laughter) — so I’ve got good practice dealing with strong women. You guys haven’t met Michelle, but you’ve probably seen her on TV. She’s not shy. (Laughter.) And Malia and Sasha, they’re just taking right up after her. So every night at dinner I’m surrounded. In terms of human capital and young people, I think there is no doubt that the most important investment any country can make — not just an African country — any country can make is educating its youth and providing them the skills they need to compete in a highly technological advanced world economy — countries that do not do that well will not succeed. Countries that excel at training their young people are going to succeed, because these days businesses can go anywhere. And one of the key criteria for any business

is, where can I find outstanding workers? Where can I find outstanding people to manage a plant or manage my sales force? And if you have countries with high illiteracy rates or limited skills, you’re going to have problems. And I want to be clear that this is a problem in the United States, not just a problem in Africa. One of the main things that I’m spending a lot of time on is trying to push Congress to improve our early childhood education, because it turns out that children are most susceptible to learning between the ages of zero and three. And so working with parents, particularly mothers, around reading to their children, proper nutrition, stimulating activities. Then, when they get to school, making sure that our schools are prepared and redesigned for today — because a lot of the schools in the United States were first created during the agricultural era and aren’t always appropriate for what’s required today. And then on into what we call community colleges, which are two-year colleges or fouryear colleges and universities. So across the board, we’re having to rethink education and workforce training. And one of the things that we want to do is to partner with a country like Nigeria and identify ways that we can provide direct value added — whether it’s in helping to train teachers, helping to incorporate technologies into the education process. So, for example, one of the things that you hear across the continent is, because a lot of Africans still live in rural areas, it may be difficult for them to access education and schooling once they get beyond a certain level. Well, are there ways in which we can pipe in, essentially, a university into a rural community? And suddenly, you’ve got the lecturer right there, without the same costs or obligation for a young person to take on when they go to travel far away from home in order to study. And so I think that there are some excellent ideas that sometimes we’re doing country by country, depending on the country. But this is an area where I would love to get more input from young people in terms of what they think would work. And so part of the Young African Leaders Initiative may be to elicit additional ideas from those — particularly those who may be working in education and have a sense of what are the barriers right now for young people in order to succeed. Now, with respect to the socalled war on terror, there’s no doubt that

we’ve made some progress in dealing with some extremist groups — for example, core al Qaeda and bin Laden, that was based in the FATA area between Pakistan and Afghanistan — that they have been greatly diminished. But what is also true is that in some ways, the problem has metastasized. You have more regional terrorist organizations, like a Boko Haram in Nigeria, espousing an extremist ideology, showing no regard for human life. And although they may not have the same transnational capacity that some of the earlier organizations did, they’re doing great harm in Africa and in the Middle East and in South Asia. People always talk about the terrorist threat to the United States or the West, but the truth of the matter is, is that the number of people who are killed by terrorist attacks in African countries, or in Muslim countries, or in South Asia, far outstrips any deaths that are experienced by westerners. It’s typically people right there where these organizations are based that are most likely to be killed. When the Kenya Embassy bombing happened, the overwhelming majority of people who were killed were Kenyans, not Americans. And so this is not just a problem for us. This is a problem for everybody. Now, the question is, how do we address this problem? It is my strong belief that terrorism is more likely to emerge and take root where countries are not delivering for their people and where there are sources of conflict and underlying frustrations that have not been adequately dealt with. The danger we have right now, for example, in a place like Somalia is that it’s been two generations, maybe three since there was a functioning government inside of Somalia. Now, we’ve started to see actually some progress, in part because of intervention by African nations in Somalia to clear the space, to create the space for governance. But you look at what’s happening in Mali, for example, right now. Part of the problem is, is that you had a weak central government and democratic institutions that weren’t reaching out as far into the country as were necessary, and we’ve got to build those institutions. A lot of what we talked about in terms of responsiveness and governance and democracy, those things become defense mechanisms against terrorism. They’re the most important defense against terrorism. So I don’t start with the attitude of a military solution to these problems. I think the more that we’re giving people opportunity, the more that we’re giving people education, the more that we’re helping resolve conflicts through regular democratic processes, the less likely they are to take root. Now, having said that, there are some extremist groups that will not compromise or work

through a democratic process, and we have to also be realistic about that. And what we want to do is partner with African countries to figure out how we can help. But I promise, this notion somehow that we want to somehow expand our military reach — I was elected to end a war. I’ve ended one. I’m now in the process of ending another one. Every few weeks, I go and visit soldiers who are your age, who have had their legs blown off in Afghanistan, or worse. Every week, I’m writing letters to the families of fallen soldiers. Sometimes I go to Arlington National Cemetery, where our heroes are buried, and I hug those families and I feel their sobs on my shoulder. This idea somehow that we want to get more involved militarily around the world is simply not true. First of all, it costs a lot of money, and the United States, just like every country around the world, has to think about its budget. And where we intervene oftentimes it’s not very effective because unless you’ve got a local population that is standing up against terrorism, we end up being viewed as interlopers and intruders. So with — in the Africa context, what we want to do is to build African capacity. We want the African Union and other regional organizations to build up the capacity to send in peacekeepers, to be able to nip terrorist cells that may be forming before they start and gain strength. And we can provide advice and training and in some cases equipment, but we would love nothing more than for Africa, collectively, to say no to extremism, say no to terrorism, to say no to sectarianism — which in the case of Boko Haram, for example, is an example of essentially a religious rationale for this kind of violence — and the United States to be able to step back and worry about selling iPads and planes. That’s what we would like to do. But what we won’t do is just stand by if our embassy is being attacked or our people are in vulnerable situations. And we expect countries to work with us to try to deal with some of these threats. And this is a global issue; it’s not just one related to the United States. Okay. All right. I’m very much worried about some of United States international — I mean foreign policy, especially on the environment. President Obama, today I want you to tell these young leaders about the foreign policy of the United States on the environment. The biggest challenge we have environmentally — and it is an international challenge that we cannot solve alone — is the issue of climate change. There are other issues: dirty water, dirty air. But the truth is, is that we’ve made enormous progress over the last several years, over the last several decades in the United States. And if you come to the United States, environmental quality is pretty good. And internationally, we’ve promoted policies around how mercury is released into the environment, and how other poisons are released in the environment, and how businesses have to be held to international standards in terms of worker safety. Those are areas where the United States have been at the forefront. We’ve been at the front of the line, not the back of the line when it comes to those issues.

Lighthouse

THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, July 6, 2013

Truth Has No Elder Brother...

An African Holy Communion (II) Continued from last week RAYS bearing covered China plates followed. That again was unusual. The bread of Holy Communion usually came in a pile in one tray. But the aroma that greeted the various olfactory lobes was, oh! So delicious! Fried stew and probably meat. Involuntarily, several, if not all mouths present, filled with ptyalin-rich saliva. Several stomachs rumbled too. It was getting to 6.30 p.m. Thirty minutes past the usual break time. Somehow, this communion ritual had been rather unhurried. It would be alleged later that it was deliberately done to hone the appetites of the gathering to make them more prone to temptation. Glances were exchanged again, but more surreptitiously this time. An elder cleared his throat, tense. Ogundiran’s fingers were tapping the table rhythmically as the next item was brought in. It was a big flask. The type with a tap close to the base.

Where was the bottle of Dubonnet wine? No other thing came… Then, when Ogundiran was apparently satisfied with the setting; that is, after a big bowl of water and a big napkin had been brought, he sent the serving girls out. But then, he escorted them to the door and closed it after them. Then he locked it. It would be quite logical to imagine that many would be tempted among the gathering to check the contents of the awaited supper while Ogundiran was briefly absent from the table. But that was against proto-

col. So, they all waited impatiently till Ogundiran returned. Ogundiran said a brief prayer. Then. He lifted the cover of his plate. “Haa!’’ suppressed consternation as they all gawked goggleeyed. The first elder to find his voice screamed in a whisper: “Iyan reee! Alagba Ogundira” (this is pounded yam ! Elder Ogundira) ‘Eyii ni eran ara mi (this is my flesh) intoned Elder Ogundiran in all solemnity. By reflex, others scrambled to uncover their plates. They were not disappointed. Both the pounded yam and the pile of efo (leafy vegetable soup) with chunks of meat that topped it, steamed alluringly – faintly reminiscent of a smokey Mt. Sinai. One of the elders touched his pile gingerly and tasted it quick. He chuckled sincerely. But realizing the absurdity of his behaviour in the present circumstances, he quickly

frowned – insincerely. Ogundiran remained silent. Watchful. Then a member of the gathering gave a start as an idea occurred to him. He stood up carefully, then scurried to the big water flask. Gingerly, he opened the tap. Having omitted, in his hurry, to bring along a container, the contents of the flask splattered on the floor. The strong tang of Ajaabale Oguro (Fresh palmwine) filled the air. The elder instantly closed the tap and withdrew in silence. “Eyii ni eje mi” (this is my blood) Ogundiran intoned again. What happened in the next moments remains till date great cause of controversy. Baba Akanbi, a venerable elder noted for his love of palmwine (outside the church, of course), quietly took his calabash and made for the flask. He did not close the tap till his calabash was brimfull. He returned to his seat and was careful not to meet any eyes as he settled back to guzzle

Yemi Ogunsola yemiogunsola@gmail.com 08069074718 his prize. “Baba Akanbi, you are the Rock on which I will build my own church,” Ogundiran’s voice sounded again. All Baba Akanbi managed to mutter in mid-gulp was “Gbere, Gbere “(‘Well said, well-done). However, by this time, attention had shifted from errant Baba Akanbi; two of the members were already dealing away at the contents of their China plates. However, about four of the elders had stood up. They could stand no more of the ‘sacrilege’. Quickly, but silently, they packed their things ... prayer staff, Bible, etc. As they made for the door, Ogundiran intoned after them most solemnly ‘ “What you have to do, do quick....’’ Then Ogundiran sat down with his ‘’faithful’’ and commenced his own meal. His Last Supper. The ‘communion’ proceeded silently ... with utter concentration, the only sounds being those from the natural passage of pounded yam bolus down eager gullets. Three minutes passed. Then the door to the church creaked open, slowly.... Two of the elders who had left earlier, tiptoed back in. This time, it was Ogundiran’s turn to be surprised. Without any explanation whatsoever, the duo went straight for their plates of Iyan. The other elders were so engrossed, only one or two bothered to shoot the decampees a quick glance and promptly resumed their ‘holy’ engagement… Concluded

AFRICA

Three Shot Dead As Morsi Backers March On Egypt Army the show of force failed to deter Morsi’s supporters. Shots rang out after one supporter tried to hang a picture of the ousted dent Mohamed Morsi marched on the Republican Guard headquarters leader on barbed wire outside the headquarters, said the corresponduring mass rallies against the dent. But, despite being warned Islamist’s ouster. twice not to approach the building, According to a correspondent, at the man did so, and the members of least three people were killed and the Guard started shooting. many more wounded as shooting Bursts of gunfire could then be erupted after thousands of Islamist heard from both directions, triggerdemonstrators approached the ing panic, before security forces headquarters chanting “traitors” used tear gas to disperse the crowd. and “Morsi is our president”. A senior Brotherhood official, The bodies of two people were covered with sheets, said the correspon- Ahmed Fahmy, later urged Morsi’s dent, adding that another protester supporters to back off and not to confront the military. was shot in the head and fell, parts Morsi, who has not been seen since of his brain spilling from his skull. The Islamists had streamed on foot Wednesday, had issued a defiant call for supporters to protect his towards the headquarters from a elected “legitimacy”, in a recorded Muslim Brotherhood rally that speech aired hours after his attracted tens of thousands at removal. Cairo’s Rabaa al-Adawiya mosque. The military had said it supported They accuse the military of conthe right to peaceful protest, but ducting a brazen coup on Wednesday against President Morsi, warned against violence and acts of civil disobedience such as blocking Egypt’s first democratically elected roads. president, after millions called for Armed forces were on high alert in his ouster on the June 30 anniverthe restive Sinai peninsula, after sary of his first turbulent year in Islamist militants killed a soldier in power. a machinegun and rocket attack. The armed forces have already sworn in an interim president, how- Clashes also broke out in the Nile ever, and the newly appointed Adly Delta province of Sharqiya. On the eve of yesterday’s rallies, Mansour issued his first decree yesMansour called for unity in a televiterday, dissolving the Islamist-led sion interview. “All I can say to the parliament and appointing a new Egyptian people is to be one body. intelligence chief. We had enough of division. Shortly before yesterday’s rallies, “The Muslim Brotherhood is part around a dozen low-flying military of the fabric of Egyptian society. jets screeched across Cairo, a day They are one of its parties. They are after warplanes had left a heartshaped trail of smoke in the sky, but invited to integrate into this nation EADLY gunfire rang out in Cairo D yesterday as thousands of supporters of deposed Egyptian presi-

and be part of it.” Prominent liberal leader Mohamed ElBaradei defended the military’s intervention. “We asked the army to intervene because the other option was a civil war. We were between a rock and a hard place, and people need to understand that,” the former UN nuclear watchdog chief told the BBC. Army chief General Abdel Fattah alSisi announced Morsi’s overthrow on Wednesday night, citing his inability to end a deepening political crisis, as dozens of armoured personnel carriers streamed onto Cairo’s streets. Military police have since rounded up senior members of Morsi’s

Brotherhood. But the movement denied reports its supreme leader, Mohammed Badie, was among those held, instead saying he would address a rally later yesterday. Morsi himself was “preventively detained” by the military, a senior officer told AFP hours after his overthrow, suggesting he might face trial. A judicial source said the prosecution would begin monday questioning Brotherhood members, including Morsi, for “insulting the judiciary”. Thirty-five of them have been banned from travel. Morsi’s rule was marked by accusa-

tions that he concentrated power in the hands of the Brotherhood. He was also blamed for a spiralling economic crisis, fuel shortages and violent protests. His supporters argue the president was confronted at every turn with a hostile bureaucracy left over by former strongman Hosni Mubarak, overthrown in the country’s Arab Spring-inspired uprising of 2011. US President Barack Obama has said he was “deeply concerned” about events, but refrained from calling the military intervention a coup. The African Union suspended Egypt in response to Morsi’s ouster, after Middle Eastern governments welcomed the military intervention in

South Africa Says Mandela Not Vegetative ELSON Mandela’s doctors N advised his family to turn off the ailing icon’s life-support machines last week, a court document has shown, prompting South Africa’s government to say yesterday he was not “in a vegetative state”. A June 26 court filing obtained by AFP described Mandela’s “perilous” health and appears to show for the first time just how close the critically ill 94-year-old came to death. “He is in a permanent vegetative state and is assisted in breathing by a life support machine,” lawyers said on behalf of 15 Mandela family members including his wife and three daughters. “The Mandela family have been advised by the medical practition-

ers that his life support machine should be switched off. “Rather than prolonging his suffering, the Mandela family is exploring this option as a very real probability.” The filing pressed a South African court to urgently resolve a bitter family feud over where the remains of three of Mandela’s children should be buried, which could have implications for Mandela’s own final resting place. On the day the document was drafted, President Jacob Zuma abruptly cancelled a trip to Mozambique to confer with Mandela’s doctors amid fears the 94-year-old may be close to the end. President Zuma, Mandela family members and his close friends

have since reported his condition has improved. South African presidential spokesman Mac Maharaj told AFP yesterday that Zuma’s office “had not been party” to the court material and would not speculate on its content. “We did not file any document and we are not saying that it’s true or not true,” he said. Maharaj told AFP that doctors had since said Mandela is not currently “in a vegetative state”, but the spokesman refused to comment on Mandela’s previous condition. “We do not go into clinical details of his condition for reasons of doctor-patient confidentiality,” said Maharaj, also citing the “dignity of the former president”.

THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, July 6, 2013

OVERLAPPING WORD GAME with OLULANA KAYODE O8023183727 olulana3@yahoo.com Starting from the square numbered ‘1’, fill in the first word, writing from left to right. Also fill in the second word, starting in the box numbered ‘2’ You will observe that the second word will overlap the first word. Also, the third word will overlap the second word and so on. Keep on filling the words in a clockwise direction until all the squares are completely filled, using the clues/ definitions below:

Solutions To Overlapping Word Game ‘25’

Overlapping Word Game ‘26’ 1. Allison Madueke: Petroleum Minister 2. Close relationship 3. Large-scale storm system 4. Like a dream 5. Frozen 6. Soil-related 7. Gulping sound 8. An increase in favourable activity 9. Based on nuclear energy 10. Place for temporary stay 11. Exercise of raising body from floor 12. Human being collectively 13. In case 14. Move unsteadily 15. Unintentional mistake 16. Kind of bottled water 17. Member of Shiite group 18. Obligation under law 19. Tropical storm 20. Observer 21. Fibrous protein 22. Alcohol solution 23. Constantly moving 24. Smaller amount

1. Okorocha 2. Harmony 3. Yankari 4. Arisen 5. Nasal 6. Saloon 7. Onset 8. Threat 9. Attack 10. Kismet 11. Meters 12. Section 13. Ion 14. Nyesom 15. Minna 16. Asperse 17. Saleable 18. Blending 19. Gainsay 20. Ay Show 21. Wobble 22. Legitimate 23. Material 24. Rial

By Bayo Ogunmupe\ 08034673443 http:/ogunmupe.blogspot.com

On The Path Of Winners

Prayers that Jehovah Answers ORMAL men and women live to make imN pact in the world. They live to achieve goals so as to realize their human potential as beings on the earth plane. There are two ways to achieve these goals. The first is to work to realize goals, making a living therefrom. The other is to pray in order to accomplish your set objectives. Working is inevitable in life. Even if you want to settle for a vegetative existence, you still need to work. But in order to realize laudable goals, to succeed in your careers, you need prayers. A politician wishes to become governor or president in order to reach the apex of his career, the same way a physician needs his own hospital, becoming its chief medical director to feel fulfilled as a doctor. To aid you to realize your full human potential is the reason I offer to inform you on how to pray the prayers that God answers. The belief in one God started among the Jews about 1513 BC. They named that God in Hebrew: Yahweh (Jehovah in English). They usually used Moses to beg Him in prayer. The English call Jehovah, God or the Almighty. The Arabs call God, Allah and they use the cities Makkah, Medina, hills Saffah and Marwa and the mosque, Kaabah, to beg Allah in worship. In the same vein, Christians use the name Jesus, the Christ to beg God so that Jehovah can hasten the acceptance of their prayers. But why is constant, persistent, sleepless, overcoming prayer so needful? One, there is a devil. He is cunning, he is mighty, he never rests, he is ever plotting the downfall of the children of God. And if the child of God relaxes in prayer, the devil may succeed in ensnaring him. Two, prayer is Jehovah’s appointed way for obtaining things and the secret of all lack, in our experience, in our life and work, is neglect of prayer. This is brought forcibly out in the Bible book of James chapter 4, verse 2: “Ye have not because ye ask not.” This is the secret of the poverty and power-

lessness of the average Nigerian —- neglect of prayer. Three, those men whom God set forth as patterns of what he expected people to be —- the apostles —- have been men of prayers. They have differed from one another in many things, but in prayer they have been alike. Four, prayer occupied a very prominent role and played a very important part in the earthly life of Jesus the Christ. Turn, for example to Mark 1:35: “And in the morning rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.” The preceding day had been a very busy and exciting one, but Jesus shortened the hours of needed sleep that he might arise early and give Himself to more sorely needed prayer. Five, praying is the most important part of the present ministry of the risen Jesus. Christ’s ministry did not close with his death. His atoning work was finished then,

but when he rose, he entered upon other work for us his congregation. Six, prayer is the means God has appointed for our receiving mercy and obtaining grace in the time of need. Seven, prayer in the name of Jesus is the way Jesus Christ himself has approved for his disciples to obtain fullness of joy. Eight, prayer with thanksgiving is the means that God has appointed for our obtaining freedom from all anxiety, the peace of God which passes all understanding. Nine, prayer accomplishes many things. It promotes our spiritual growth as almost nothing else, except the study of the scriptures. Ten, prayer brings power into our work. If we wish power for any work to which God calls us, be it preaching, teaching, personal work, or the rearing of our children, we can get it by earnest prayer. 11, prayer avails for the conversion of others. 12, prayer brings blessings to the community and the nation. 13, prayer for results is de-

scribed in few words: “Acts 12:1. In order that a prayer should be really unto God, there must be a definite and conscious approach to God. We must have a definite and vivid realization that God is bending over us and listening as we pray. 14, another secret of effective prayer is praying without ceasing. We read in Hebrew 5:7 that “ in the days of his flesh” Christ “offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears.” 15, a third secret of right praying is also found in Act 12:5. It is in the three words- of the church. This underscores the power in united prayer. God delights in the unity of His people and seeks to emphasize it in every way. So, God pronounces a special blessing upon united prayer. Jesus said: “If two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven,” Matthew 18:19. Two people might agree to ask for the same thing, yet there be no agreement as touching the thing they asked. One might ask it because he really desired it, the other might ask it simply to please his friend. But where there is real agreement, where two believers perfectly agree to ask for a thing, such prayer has irresistible power. But when is it right to pray? In the first chapter of Mark, we read that Jesus chose the early morning hour for prayer. Many of the mightiest men of God have followed his example. In the sixth chapter of Luke, we read, “And it came to pass in those days, and he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.” Moreover, Jesus prayed before and after all the great problems in his life and after great achievement. He usually withdrew from the multitudes into the wilderness to pray. The first hindrance to prayer is to ask for God’s favour in order to spend them for pleasures, James 4:3. A selfish purpose in prayer robs prayer of power and God’s favour. Sin is the second hindrance to prayer. Isaiah 59: 1-2 says “Your prayers are not answered because you wallow in sin. According to Isaiah, God’s ear is just as open to hear as ever, His hand just as mighty to save, but there is a hindrance. The hindrance is your own sin.”

THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, July 6, 2013

TheGuardian

THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, July 6, 2013 | 15

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Politics Business Tycoon Joins Anambra Guber Race

Abiodun Aluko, former deputy governor of Ekiti State under the tenure of Ayo Fayose, whose impeachment was nullified by the Court of Appeal, said he has put the political crisis of those periods behind him and is now looking forward to contesting next year’s governorship election on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

From Chuks Collins, Awka S the race for Anambra State Government House intensiA fies, with the election day drawing nearer, a successful businessman, Chief Ugochukwu Okeke, has declared his

From Muyiwa Adeyemi, Ado Ekiti As a governorship aspirant in next year’s election in Ekiti State on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), what edge do you have over the other aspirants? N December 19, last year at IkereEkiti, I declared my intention to contest the next governorship election of Ekiti State. At the gathering, I said I have everything to effectively govern the state, in terms of education and experience. It is true there are many aspirants in the PDP, because everybody knows that PDP has a very good chance of winning the next election, as this government is not performing. Go and talk to people in town, seven out of 10 of them would tell you that they are awaiting for PDP to take over from the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). They have been disappointed; they know that they have made a mistake about this present government. So, in the PDP, we know that we are the government in waiting; hence we have many aspirants. As for my chances, I know I have everything it takes to compete favourably and beat any other aspirants in the race. The point remains that Fayose was my boss and I would still give him the respect he deserves. You would recollect that he was physically present during my declaration and I told everybody that he too was interested in this business, but that if not himself, the only person he could endorse is Abiodun Aluko. Fayose, at that venue, said it is not a do-or-die affair. During his own declaration on April 5, this year, I was there on a solidarity visit, and he repeated it again that if it is not Ayo Fayose, the only person he can endorse is Abiodun Aluko, to let you know that we have put the past behind us. Everybody knows that when it comes to experience, qualification and exposure, I tower high above any other aspirants. I have structures in every local government area of Ekiti State and have touched the lives of many Ekiti people. So, as long as the primary is free and fair, I can beat my chest that I would beat all other aspirants. What is your take on the zoning formula being clamoured for by the people of Ekiti South, where you hail from? The issue of power shift, zoning or rotation or whatever you call it is just fair and equitable, but I am not basing my ambition on the fact that I am from the South. I hardly talk about zoning, because I don’t want people to view my ambition from the point of weakness. For me, I am prepared to slug it out with anybody, but if the party says for fairness and equity that it should go to the South, all well and good. That even makes it better, but the point is that the party leaders know where their strength lies and that it is when they field a candidate from the South that they can win.

Aluko

‘PDP Can Win 2014 Governorship Election In Ekiti’ What are the antecedents of some of those making noise all over the place? They have been given an opportunity in the past and they wasted it. Do they think Ekiti people are stupid to the extent that they would not remember what happened less than 10 years ago? Or what would you say about somebody who is presently holding an office that nobody can reach. You call him, he would not pick your call and he has not impacted on a single person, even as a federal officer. Do they think the people are stupid? Ekiti people know their friends; they know who is who and whom they should present. Integrity is very important! How many of them have integrity? I can make bold to say that throughout my career, my character and service has never been called to questions. Nobody has ever taken me to court. EFCC is not after me; my integrity is intact. This issue is not going to be a party affair alone; there are other stakeholders who would have an input in who becomes the next governor of Ekiti State. We want to present the best person. I may not be the richest, and I am not the poorest either, but when it comes to integrity, I can challenge anybody to a debate. We cannot just present anybody; Ekiti people are not stupid. If PDP presents an unacceptable person, Ekiti people would not accept such person.

PDP knows who and who can be presented and the Ekiti people would accept and vote for, and I am one of them. Zoning and primary, which one do you prefer? Zoning is not something new to Ekiti PDP. In fact, it is in our constitution. As far as the zoning issue is concerned, I believe in equity and fairness and the seat should be zoned to the South, because that was the arrangement before now. During our regime, when Fayose was scheming for a second term, even our own party leaders said no, that it was going to the North. They insisted that it must go to the North; that Central has had two terms and after the North must have had two terms, the position would shift to South for another two terms. That was why some of us in 2006, including Osuntokun, Gbenga Aluko, who were strong aspirants, were screened out for no good reasons, other than to give way for the North. The North was deliberately given an opportunity to be the governor in 2007. If all of us had gone to the primaries, it would have been either Abiodun Aluko or Akin Osuntokun that would have won the primaries, not somebody from the North. But we were intentionally schemed out. Yet, the North had it twice, so the candidate should now come to the South. But like I said, I am not talking from a position of weakness.

intention to run for the coveted seat at a well-attended ceremony in Awka, the state capital. Okeke, who described himself as the face of the new breed leadership in the state, told the people that he was ready to change things for the better, adding that he has a burning zeal to take the state to the next level. He told the crowd that thronged the Udoka Estate office of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to witness the declaration that he has no money or godfathers, but was banking on the people’s support to win. He stressed that he was poised to change the status quo and give the state the much-needed massive development in all sectors. Okeke said as a tested and trusted successful manager of men and materials, he would use the states’ resources, if elected, in line with the reformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan to turn things around in the state. The aspirant also saw human capital development as the pivot of his administrative vision, hence a key element in his campaign modules. Seeing it as all-encompassing to all other sectors, with the right people in government, fixed infrastructures, agriculture and security, he promised that the state under his watch, would recover its number one position in the country. The agriculture sector, according to him, would be revolutionised in such a way that the state would become self-sufficient and have enough for export. He stated his determination to tackle the current insecurity, kidnappings, killings and robberies all over the state, which has been scaring local and foreign investors away, so as to provide jobs for the teeming youths. More so, he expressed intention to pursue regular electricity supply in the state to enable all able-bodied men and women get busy, “so that no one would like to spend time to plan or perpetrate evil or any vice after a day’s job. “With security and electricity fixed, investors from all parts of the world would naturally flock to the state, with or without solicitations,” he said. On the prolonged crisis in the leadership of the party in the state, which has of late extended to the national level, Okeke noted that it was normal and obtains in a large family. He was, however, quick to point out that in a meeting of great minds, there were bound to be issues and such were usually resolved almost immediately. The absence of local council administration in the state for so long also caught his attention, describing it as “an inexcusable anomaly, because the greatest partners in development is the local government,” vowing to get it off the ground at the right time. A member of his campaign team, Azubike Dike, described him as the new face of leadership and development that is young and capable of taking the state to greater heights. The state party chairman, Ken Emeakayi, commended Okeke for the courage and determination and prayed for his success, assuring him of a level playing ground.

Okeke

THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, July 6, 2013

16 |

POLITICS

‘Amaechi Will Never Become Godfather Of Rivers Politics’ Amaechi sent myself and Senator Magnus Abe, then Commissioner for Information, to meet with him, meaning that Amaechi and Omehia didn’t talk. It was that same day that Amaechi left for Ghana and the process to claim his mandate started. And I can tell you that most of the people dining and wining with Amaechi today are those who ran away from us. From the moment Amaechi left Nigeria, I led the charge for him to get his mandate. Every meeting towards that was held in my OUR relationship with Governor Chibuike Amaechi is central house, such that even though our tenure hadn’t expired as local government chairmen, Omehia, then governor, dissolved us, as to the issues in Rivers politics today. What was the relationmost of us were seen as Amaechi’s men. ship with him before, after the 2007 election and your reaction But it never bothered me and there was no day that Amaechi, to his allegation that you betrayed him? from Ghana, would not speak to me, sometimes up to 10 times Ordinarily, I wouldn’t want to comment on anything that has to do with the governor of Rivers state, vis-à-vis my relationship in one day, sharing with me what he was hearing and I was clearwith him. But certain events that started reoccurring has made ing his doubts. In fact, at that time, there were a lot of documents in circulation it imperative for one to clear the air on certain things the public that they found billions of naira in one account or the other. I should know. was chased around by the Economic and Financial Crimes Yes, I was the chairman of Obia-Akpor Local Government Council in Rivers State between 1999 and 2002. Thereafter, there Commission (EFCC) at the time. There was nothing that was not done to make me withdraw my support for Amaechi. was a break when the federal government had to stop to assess That is why it is very painful when people forget comments they the importance or otherwise of local government. Of course, nothing came out of that and by 2004, we had anoth- had made. You are a good person or a strong character when you er local government election, which I re-contested as my second are in line or in agreement with what every other person is doing at that time. But the moment you disagree for once, you term and won. Governor Chibuike Amaechi was the Speaker of the state House are tagged either a sell-out or betrayer. At that time, I was not a betrayer. I never had a character, of Assembly then and that was when we knew each other. We because it was working for him. When Amaechi was in Ghana, had no prior relationship before then. We were in the same most people gave up hope, but I didn’t. team of Dr. Peter Odili under the Peoples Democratic Party Then, I had everything with me to terminate Amaechi’s ambi(PDP), though he was at a higher level, but we were also at the tion. Offers were made to me to do so, but I refused. I was not just level where we were making our own contributions. The relaa mere supporter; I also committed my resources. tionship was cordial. In fact, I had to leave my home and never saw When we had the primary for the governorship elecmy wife for three months, as I was basicaltion, I was the rallying point of virtually everyone ly based in Abuja. who was supporting Amaechi, to the point that And to move around, I was disguisthe money for the logistics was given in my ing myself in kaftans and agbada house. That will tell you about the level of dresses. I was the only person confidence or how I was in charge of the that if they could get, then the process. whole of Amaechi’s governorDuring the primary, I was Amaechi’s ship dream was gone. agent and I signed the governorship Unfortunately, those who result sheet. are today dining and wining Along the line, problems came up. with Amaechi are the very When they were to give flag to all the set of people who said he South-South PDP flag bearers in Port would be governor over Harcourt in December 2006, the issue their dead bodies. Then, of former President Olusegun at night, they would go Obasanjo’s preference for the govto Omehia’s house to ernorship seat came up. beg for appointments. Some of us said we were not going But as they heard that to participate in the flag off of the we went to court with a campaign. In fact, we were to disstrong legal argument rupt the giving out of flags to other and were likely to win, states’ governorship flag bearers, but most of them came to us. Amaechi prevailed on us to allow the I was in a position to termiwhole process, and we heeded his nate whatever ambition he advice. (Amaechi) had to be goverAfter that, Chief Celestine Omehia nor. came to see Amaechi at his official resiAmaechi’s lawyer, Lateef dence then. Fagbemi, will tell you the role I played and how and when I smuggled Amaechi into Abuja in the night. Then I never betrayed him. I never

Minister of State for Education, Nyesom Wike, spoke to journalists in Abuja on his relationship with Rivers State Governor Chibuike Amaechi and the political crisis in the state. Our Abuja Bureau Chief, MADU ONUORAH, was there and reports.

went and told security men that he was coming. But today, the governor sees me as a betrayer. By my own understanding, betrayal will mean that we have an agreement to do something and I sold out. But what agreement did I enter into with him that I never fulfilled my part or I sold out? In one of the days I was going to Abuja for issues connected to his mandate, I nearly lost my life to armed robbers on Uromi road along with two former council chairmen. Today, these are people Amaechi does not want to see. And when we went to London to see somebody that has to do with the mandate, these gentlemen nearly froze to death in the winter and were almost arrested while waiting for me downstairs outside the house. Security operatives noticed that the two guys were waiting for long at the same spot and later approached them to inquire of what they were doing there. This was all in the bid to help Amaechi regain his mandate. Luckily for me, as the security operatives were about to pick them, I appeared and told them that they came with me. By the grace of God, we won Amaechi’s mandate on October 26, 2006 and he was inaugurated the following day and I was appointed Chief of Staff. But that appointment did not augur well with some people, in spite of everything I did. I didn’t realise that people had positioned themselves for the same appointment. You can’t believe it that on December 3, 2007, I was to be assassinated in Port Harcourt at Garrison Junction and my driver was killed. They blew up my fuel tank, thinking that the vehicle will catch fire. I never knew how I came out unhurt. The magnitude of the shooting attracted the Air Force and Brigade commanders nearby, as well as the director of the State Security Service (SSS), who all said the attack was a professional job. As am talking to you, in spite of the fact that the Chief of Staff was to be assassinated, nobody investigated that matter to ask what happened. Nobody ever asked me anything about the matter. The governor never asked the security men what was going on with the attempted assassination of his Chief of Staff. Never! Nobody took a statement. The following year, 2008, unknown to me, they called in the EFCC and I was invited for allegedly lodging billions of naira in my account. Meanwhile, from when that account was opened in 2002 till the time, what had passed through it was about N100,000,000 (One hundred million naira). How could I have paid such money when I was not a signatory to government accounts? I was neither a permanent secretary nor director of Finance. But it was surprising that the government of Rivers State never supported me in the matter. As I am talking to you now, the governor never asked questions about this. Ask Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) and the present state attorney general, who were involved. The governor never for once supported me in that matter. But God saw me through and I got to the Supreme Court and won. After the assassination attempt and EFCC harassment, what the governor did was to distance himself from me. But I am happy because God used me as an instrument for him to achieve what he has achieved as a governor. Whether today he wants to see me or not is immaterial. Amaechi is today talking of Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF). Today, I am a small boy. But when I was laying my life down, I wasn’t a small boy. Because he has become the chairman of the NGF, I am no longer qualified; I am insignificant to talk to him. I know why I am insignificant to him now. It is because

CONTINUED ON PAGE 55

Wike

Recently, the President was passing through the state on his way to Bayelsa and we had to receive him at the airport. He wanted to shake people on the line, Amaechi told him not to greet the party officials and elders for security reasons. But I told the President that those were state party officials and he is the leader of PDP. The President then told him, ‘just forget it, they are all Rivers people,’ and went and shook hands with everybody. Of course, the governor got angry and left even before the President’s aircraft took off. Ask those who were there.

TheGuardian

Saturday, July 6, 2013

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Love&Life

... Celebrating The Feelings You Share!

With Michael Uchebuaku

Princess Of

IN THIS EDITION True Confession:

‘She Is Getting Married To A Rich Man Soon, But She Says I’m The One She Wants’

Love

The rule: Ask the opposite sex one question about love, and choose your lover from the top 3 answers. Cha Cha, on 08142568962, is asking all men: “What will make you leave your girl and follow other girls?” *Call Mike: 07031028714 to send questions or issues.

Special Requests A female teacher in Lagos, 44, Yoruba, needs a divorcee or widower of 50-55 years. 08062284572. Eberechukwu, 43, a widow, in Lagos, needs a responsible widower of 45-55 years for marriage. 08032179750. Lendo, 42, medical doctor, cool, handsome, nice, wants an honest and beautiful, light-skinned girl with large hips, Genotype AA, from 20-25 years for marriage. 08174429715. Simon, graduate of Accounting, in Lagos, needs a kind individual to help him get a job. 08085137573.

Love Adventure:

‘I Was Gang Raped In Cairo’s Tahrir Square’

Professionals Dr Nnamdi, 32, medical doctor, from Imo, civil servant with the Fed. Ministry of Health in Kaduna, wants a lady medical doctor/medical student of 18-35 years for marriage. 08035830985. *If you’re a single & searching nurse, doctor /professional, call/text 07031028714.

The Obutu Lake: Healing Water! Romantic Jokes Link-Up (Love/Dating Connections)

Blackberry Pin(g) Connect: Exclusive Dating & Marriage Forum For The Smartphone Community.

Love News Women Cheating On Husbands Up 40 Percent True Confession From Abroad: ‘I Poisoned The School Busy Bee Volunteers’

Lover’s Answers Game:

Name: Ene Maya, Benue Ex-Beauty Queen

If you want to be our next Princess of Love, e-mail or forward your photos/data to ireto007@yahoo.com. Call 07031028714, 07032944123.

Chioma, 21, student, in Owerri, tall, beautiful, needs a sugar daddy that can help her in her education. 07039520944. BB PIN 22C6916E. Christopher wants a beautiful, rich, single lady or sugar mummy not above 40 years for a relationship. 08126850574. BB PIN 330CF388. Johnson, 27, dark, 5.11ft, in Lagos, wants female friends of 30-55 years for casual/discrete relationship. 08031811220, 08096607660. BB PIN 299FAFB1. Shafiyi, 30, in Lagos, needs a busty and romantic girl of 18-28 years in Lagos. 08099123322. BB PIN 331C12B7. Prince, 28, wants a rich sugar mummy in Abuja or its environs. 07089147303. BB PIN 2A5F133F. *Connect to Mike on WhatsApp or BlackBerry Pin: 21978F71 for details on how to send your BlackBerry or Smartphone Connect request.

‘I Was Gang Raped In Cairo’s Tahrir Square’ over. The battle for democracy in Egypt has claimed many victims, but none so brutally and consistently as the writer Sonia Dridi tells the story of Yasmine El-Baramawy, who was sexu- many women who have been sexually assaulted these past two years, ally assaulted by a violent mob last simply for having dared enter November. In the middle of a surging crowd of Cairo’s Tahrir Square. Lara Logan, a correspondent for US men, Yasmine El-Baramawy is TV network CBS, is the most highpinned to the bonnet of a car as it profile victim of mob sexual assault makes its slow way across a square full of protesters. More sets of hands in Egypt. The savage attack on her in 2011, on the night Hosni Mubarak than it is possible to count claw at stepped down as president, may her crotch, grab her breasts and have briefly brought the country’s grope inside her pants. sex assault epidemic to light, but to The mob tears feverishly at her clothes, some use knives to try to cut think it started and ended there them off her. For more than an hour, would be a grave mistake. According to a 2008 survey by the she is violated as she clutches at her trousers, praying for the ordeal to be Egyptian Centre for Women’s Rights S news breaks of another female A journalist being gang-raped in Cairo’s Tahrir Square, Egyptian

Love Adventure (ECWR), 83 per cent of Egyptian women say that they have been sexually harassed at one point in their lives. Foreigner or not, veiled or not, almost every woman in Egypt has experienced the outrage of being grabbed or verbally harassed on public transport, at work or on the street. On January 25 last year, the second anniversary of the Egyptian uprising, 20 cases of sexual assault were reported in Tahrir Square alone. Yasmine El-Baramawy, the young woman pinned to the car bonnet,

was Tahrir’s victim on the evening of November 23 last year. My colleague, fellow female news reporter, Hania Moheeb, was viciously attacked in January. And I only barely escaped assault at the hands of a mob back in October of last year as I was doing a live cross from Tahrir Square for my French TV news channel. Listen to Yasmine speak now and she sounds like the strongest, most defiant woman in all of Egypt. “I am not afraid to go back down into the street. You have to stand up for your rights and, above all, don’t stay silent. Talk!” Yet, ask her to relay the events of that evening in November and it is clear the night still haunts her. She remembers suddenly finding herself in the middle of a mob of some 200 men, aged

between 18 and 40. “Some looked like thugs, some looked like normal people. It was as if I was in a washing machine, being pushed and pulled and grabbed. I didn’t know what was happening to me or when it would end. I thought that I would faint or die. But I didn’t.” At one point, Yasmine was lifted onto the bonnet of a car by men claiming they had come to protect her. However, they simply continued the attack, whispering in her ear, “We are going to f**k you”. She recalls being covered with blood and excrement after hav-

CONTINUED ON PAGE **

*Do you have an amazing or adventurous love experience to share? Tell us how you met. E-mail your story to: ireto007@yahoo.com. Call 07031028714, 07032944123.

THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, July 6, 2013

18 |

LOVE&LIFE

‘I Was Gang Raped In Cairo’s Tahrir Square’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE ** ing been dragged on the ground for so long. “It was in my hair, on my face, in my mouth,” she says. Eventually, passers-by from a nearby neighbourhood rescued her, including a woman dressed in traditonal Islamic dress. Months after the attack, she discovered, at a doctor’s surgery, she had anal lacerations, evidence her aggressors had penetrated her with a knife. Unlike most victims of sexual

True Confession ‘She Is Getting Married To A Rich Man Soon, But She Says I’m The One She Wants’ Dear Love Doctor,

Y name is Jack. I am 19 years old. M I met a girl I love so much in a restaurant. She is 18 years old and we have been in love for the past six months. But recently, I heard that she would be getting married to a well-known rich man. But, she doesn’t want to get married because of me. And my worst fear is that she threatens to leave home if forced to marry the man. I asked her why and she said that she loves me to the extent that she wants me to be the one to marry her and that she can’t stay without me. But, the worst of it is that she is demanding for sex and the man threatens to kill me if he sees me around her again and if he doesn’t win her heart because of me. Please help me, doctor. I, too, truly love her. Please tell me what to do. From Jack. 08169439869.

Words Of Wisdom Material things will not last, but true love will.

Women Looking For Relationship/Marriage Kemi, 34, dark, works, wants a widower or divorcee of 40 years in Lagos for marriage. 08115667034. Rose, 26, graduate, from Oyo, in Lagos, needs an educated, responsible Christian man of 28-35 years. 08085307565. Happiness, 29, Igbo, needs an educated, serious Igbo widower of 30-35 years for marriage. 08066651155. Nkem, 33, from Anambra, needs a mature man for marriage. 08036865191. Martha, 31, single mother, in Ondo, needs a mature man to take care of her. 08029550443. Mimi, 20, from Anambra, needs someone to help her in her education. 07065862820. Flora, 19, tall, dark, from Anambra, wants a sugar daddy. 07068830895. Blessing, 25, from Anambra, needs a born again Christian or pastor for marriage. 08039430469. Chidera, 34, from Nsukka, lives and works in Enugu, needs a HIVPositive man for marriage. 08034909493. Tosin, 31, educated, 5ft, in Lagos, needs an employed, caring, Christian man of 31-45 years. 07032285612. Ada, 38, fair, a teacher in Anambra State, needs a pastor or any responsible man within Anambra state for a relationship that can lead to marriage. 08130433177.

assault in Egypt, Yasmine had the courage to complain, describing her attack to the Egyptian media and demanding that the authorities take action and find the perpetrators. In the process, she became the face of a nascent women’s rights movement in the country. In February, Yasmine’s face was seen on dozens of placards held up by a large crowd of women at a demonstration against sexual harassment in Cairo. The protest caused ripples in Egypt, a conservative country where relations between men and women are still taboo and problems such as sexual harassment are routinely swept under the carpet. I was attacked on October 19 last year. I was in Tahrir Square when a group of men began to assemble, forming a circle around me and my co-worker, Ashraf Khalil. I felt the mood shift as the crowd grew bigger and slowly closed in on me. As soon as I had finished my live cross, a dozen men pounced. Stay on your feet and don’t fall on the floor, I told myself, as the men started jostling. Ashraf bear-hugged me tightly and started shuffling us towards a fast- food restaurant 500 metres away. I had about 50 men all around me, touching me all over my body. At one point, the mob tried to force me into a car. “I’m gonna help you”, came the repeated cries from the mob, even as their hands groped me. Ten terrifying minutes later and inside the sanctuary of the fast-food shop, I watched in horror as the fists of the mob beat on a metal roller door that a quick-thinking restaurant

Love Adventure employee had pulled down to protect us. Compared to Yasmine or Lara Logan, I had a lucky escape. Yet it helped me understand why colleagues had taken to comparing Tahrir Square to war zones such as Syria or Iraq. A festive atmosphere and amazing energy often fills the square as families and Egyptians from different social backgrounds congregate to express both their joys and frustrations. Yet, there are also predators, or baltagiya as they are known locally, plain old thugs as well as groups of young men who come to the square with the intention of finding a victim. As a result, an incredible sense of nervousness among women has pervaded Tahrir Square. Moods can flip in a second. Police, who are hated by the greater population as throwbacks to the Mubarak era, are mostly afraid to set foot inside the square in case the mob turns on them. Tarek Said Ali, a police lieutenant from the Giza Governorate admits that “the level of state security there is zero” and confesses that “nobody, whether he is a low-rank or a highrank police officer, would risk going there”. Compounding the lawlessness is the fact that most victims of sexual assault do not file complaints because they feel that to do so is pointless. It is well known that cases are often dropped and the perpetrators are rarely punished. The police lieutenant added that often a woman will file a complaint

only to withdraw it due to family pressure, such is the shame attached to being a victim of sexual assault. “The problem in Egypt is that we look at women as if they are something hateful or shameful, although our religion does not say so,” the police lieutenant said. Veteran activist and movie director Aida El-Kashef agrees. “The men are taking all their anger out on women because they see them as the weaker link ... this is what we are feeding them, in schools and through our sheikhs [leaders]. It has increased over time. When I was a kid, it was not that violent. I think it has to do with the deterioration of all aspects of living in this country,” he said. One of the other reasons commonly put forward for the violence is the issue of marriage. Generally speaking, men cannot get married until they have a house, which has been increasingly harder to find because of Egypt’s economic difficulties. As a result, many Egyptian men are still single well into their 30s or 40s, creating a degree of collective sexual frustration. Perhaps this also explains why the online pornography audience in Egypt is one of the world’s highest. Yet this social cancer has emerged due to political reasons, too. Under the Mubarak regime, sexual harassment of women was used as a tactic to dissuade them from protesting in the street. For female journalists, it was a tactic used to discourage them from covering the demonstrations. Many believe the Islamists in power also used it as a weapon to empty the square.

In an effort to fight this societal plague, many Egyptians are now mobilising. One of the most recent initiatives is called Tahrir Bodyguard, a group of volunteers that goes down to the square when protests are planned, aiming to prevent the assaults. They are recognisable by their helmets and fluorescent yellow vests. Young men have been the most active in the bodyguard movement, many citing the same motivation — “Because it could happen to my sister.” There are so many people engaged in the revolution in Egypt and, for the most part, it is a movement typified by idealism and hope. And yet as long as the country turns a blind eye to the widespread violence against women, it will remain a flawed movement. Of all the people I have interviewed on this subject, one who stands out is Omar, a doctor who, along with Ahmed, a soldier, helped to rescue Lara Logan from her attackers back in 2011. Shocked to find the American journalist naked on the ground, having been violated by hands as innumerable as they were anonymous, Ahmed carried her on his back and put her in a military vehicle — even as some in the crowd continued to assault her. When they finally got her inside the car, Omar looked across to see the soldier crying. “How can they do that to a woman?” Ahmed said, sobbing. “This has nothing to do with the revolution.” CULLED FROM: ninemsn.com

CONFESSION FROM ABROAD

‘I Poisoned The School Busy Bee Volunteers!’ stopped near a bank of trees, snapped a large twig off and used that to stir the drinks. After morning tea, a few people were in and tidy up the large unruly garstarting to complain they felt sick. We dens around the grounds of our put it down to the summer heat and school. We had a great turn out of started work on the gardens on the about 15 parents and soon got into other side of the school. the work of stripping out the dead As we got to the bank of trees where I plants and making everything look had snapped the twig off the branch neat and tidy again. Just before morning teatime, one of to stir the coffees, one of the parents mentioned that the trees were highly the parents announced she’d brought in cakes and fruit for every- poisonous Oleanders and that we needed to wear gloves before pruning one to share. As the school was locked for the holi- the branches as they contained a highdays, the only room we had access to ly toxic sap. It was only at this stage, that I started was the gardener’s shed. Thankfully, the gardener kept tea, coffee and sug- to think that stirring the drinks with a fresh Oleander twig may have been a ar in his shed and another parent had thought to bring a flask of milk, mistake, but I was sure that the few so we were able to stop for hot drinks drops of sap that had gone in the cups wouldn’t have been enough to make with our snack. As everyone was busy, I volunteered anyone sick…. A few hours later, about half the parto make the drinks and made my ents were complaining of stomach way to the gardener’s shed, which pains and were feeling sick. It got so was out on the other side of the bad we had to cancel the busy bee and school. all went home. I noticed when I was in the shed I found out a few days later that nearthat the gardener kept the tea and ly all the volunteers had got bad stomcoffee containers on the same shelf as the pesticides, but it seemed okay ach cramps (myself included) and one parent had ended up in hospital, but as the supplies were in sealed tins. I made the drinks up and had them was now doing okay. I didn’t know how to confess what I’d on a tray, carrying them across the done. I didn’t know Oleanders were school grounds, when I realised I poisonous and would never have hadn’t stirred the sugar into the harmed anyone on purpose. In fact, drinks. I’d made myself quite sick as well. I was exhausted from the gardening When the parents got together again and couldn’t be bothered walking all the way back to get a teaspoon, so I just at the start of school this year, they all Y kids’ primary school had a M busy bee during the school holidays so parent volunteers could get

discussed what could have made them so unwell. It was decided in the end that it was either the cakes and fruit that had sat all morning in the hot car or somehow the gardener’s drink supplies had become contaminated with the pesticides he kept in there. I’m thankful that everyone recovered with no real ill effects, but I still feel really bad that the parent and the gardener got the blame. The mother kept apologising to everyone about her food and the gardener has now been banned from keeping any food products in his shed. They’re both so sorry to

have caused everyone to be so sick, when I still think the finger should probably be pointed at me. I think this year I’ll stick to what I know and only put my hand up for classroom volunteer work instead. Names have been changed. Picture posed by models. Your say: Have your say about this true confession... Have you had a similar experience? Tell us your story. Call 07031028714. Courtesy: womansday.ninemsn.com.au NB: Call Mike on +2347031028714 if you have a story from abroad to share with us.

THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, July 6, 2013

ROMANTIC PLACES, FLIGHTS & CRUISES ... hotels, airlines, ships, restaurants, clubs, resorts, beaches & more.

LOVE&LIFE

The Obutu Lake: Healing Water! HE Obutu Lake, Omogho, is an offshoot of T the Odo River, covering a large 10 hectares of land. People come here all year round for

lake provides water for irrigation of abundant rice and vegetable farms during the dry season. It is also a reservoir of fishes and a delight to fishing and excursions. During the rainy sea- local fishermen who ply their trade along its son, it covers a larger area of land. The water bank. In the rainy season when the lake overof this lake is considered an antidote by flows its banks, the fishes are easily caught. The locals: when fetched at midnight and withbeauty of the lake lies in its clear crystal nature out being observed, the water has power to and as a natural fishpond its sand beach procure a person of ailments and poisoning. The vides a serene environment for relaxation.

There are no harmful animals in the lake. Students from far places come to the lake for excursions and picnics. It is attractive for tourism, rowing, swimming, leisure and recreation. There was an attempt in the past by the Odo River to flood the lake but this was foiled by a sand dune on its path towards the lake. It however succeeded in dumping a large quantity of sand into the

far end of the lake, making it a bit shallower than the near end. Courtesy: logbaby.com *Are you going to get married or wed soon? Do you want us to cover your wedding or to report on your hotel/resort next? Call 07031028714, 07032944123, 08023700641. *If you want to advertize or sponsor Love & Life call 07031028714, 07032944123.

in Lagos or Shagamu. 08142372211. Joseph, 29, from Benue, in Jos, needs a sugar mum or Hajia of 29-40 years to care for him. 08078933779. Uche wants a working lady of 27-31years from any state of the South-East besides Ebonyi state for marriage. 08064934844. Kelvin, 28, from Abia, works in Lagos, needs a working lady of 20-27 years. 08169354747. Martins needs a beautiful, sexy girl of 18-28 years for a romantic affair. 08060445849. Lloyd, 30, fair, in Lagos, wants a career woman of 30-40 years for marriage. 07039806033.

Chisom, 30, in Abuja, wants a wealthy lady of 30-45 years for a serious relationship. 08038458331. Austin, in his late thirties, needs a working class lady of 30 years and above for marriage. 08039139558, 08126077599.

Men Looking For Relationship/Marriage Owolabi needs a responsible woman for a relationship that can lead to marriage. 08148446441. Peter needs a workingwoman of 24-32years for marriage. 07036793530. Emmanuel, 38, businessman based in UK but in Nigeria now, needs a working or business lady of 27-45years for a serious relationship. 07088271442. Jim, 37, works, needs a beautiful, educated girl with good character, from 24-28years in Lagos for a serious relationship. 08096455279. Emmy needs a mature and independent woman of 35-55 years living in Lagos, only for

mutual companionship. Text 08131161840. Dennis, 39, graduate, employed, in Lagos, needs a good lady for marriage. 08085911023. Gbenga, in Lagos, needs someone to help him get a job. 08160773601. Ossy, 23, needs a caring sugar mummy of 35-42 years in Imo or Abia. 07051513689, 07030256796. Olawale, 28, handsome, Lagos, wants a sugar mummy. 08136388896. A man of influence needs a beautiful girl. 08034612809. BB PIN 267D2992. John, 35, businessman in Lagos, wants a fun-loving lady of 25-35 years for marriage. 08148074887. Daniel, 26, orphan, student, needs a sugar mum

Women Cheating On Husbands Up 40 Percent! HE number of women cheating on their T husbands has risen by more than 40 per cent in the past 20 years, a new study reveals. The National Opinion Research Center’s General Social Survey found that one in six wives cheat on their husbands, up from about one in 10 in 1991. The percentage of men cheating on their wives has remained the same at about one in five. “Men are still more likely to cheat than women,” Yanyi Djamba, director of the AUM Center for Demographic Research said. “But the gender gap is closing.” University of Washington sociologist Pepper Schwartz says the rise in infidelity can be attributable to an increase in women’s financial independence. She says social media also plays a role, giving women more freedom to meet men and “They can afford the potential consequences of an affair, with higher incomes and more job prospects,” Ms Schwartz says.

Love News “They have more economic independence and may meet a better class of mate.” Lawyers have also noticed a difference. Alton Abramowitz, president of the Chicago-based American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, says in the last decade, there has been an increase in the number of divorce cases sparked by unfaithful wives. “We always had a few cases with women, but they were much more discreet about it,” he said. “In the past 10 years or so, though, there’s been an uptick in those cases coming through our office.” Your say: Do you have any wedding disaster stories? Let us know. Courtesy: ninemsn.com.au. *If you want to advertize or sponsor Love & Life call 07031028714, 08023700641, 07032944123.

* Call Mike on 07031028714, 08131161840 or 08023700641 to link up and for direct hookup. *If you have announcements to make: Call Mike07031028714 or Simon-07032944123. *SCAM ALERT: Beware of scammers! Please do not respond to any strange numbers besides the official number 07031028714 above for link up or to publish your request. Be warned!

THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, July 6, 2013

RELATIONSHIP

The Art Of Giving By Alita Joseph HEN you give…” is a common statement. Still, some people find it difficult to give out even when it is your due. They refuse to part with things because it is in their power to release it —- it could be money, time or information. So we condemn them for being stingy. But stinginess comes in many forms – from your boss who finds it difficult to pay workers due salary to your friend who complains that the time spent chatting with you occasionally would be better spent making money. But the most painful is a partner who is tight-fisted. But before you condemn him, how do you yourself give. Remember that like and like must meet each other. So, are you generous, yourself? If you are not, you may not be able to influence him to be generous to people. It is good to be generous. Generosity removes borders; it creates friendship and makes happy relationships. Learn to be generous, you are helping yourself, because people will remember your large heartedness. They will equally remember when you refuse to give when it was within your power to do so. However, you can give too much and complain instead of being happy that you can rally round people. You need to know when to give and feel happy. You desire to give because

“W

you want to help the needy so that the recipient of your kindness is happy and you are happy. You do not want to feel that you have been dispossessed or sad when you give your guy or friends money. A happy giver knows when and how to give a lesser-income boyfriend money so that his dignity remains intact. You cook for your man because you want to treat him fine and not because tradition says it is the woman’s duty to cook. You are large-hearted when you help your best friend to look for a good job. You do not think that your friendship has to end because you have a smart job while she is still an applicant. A generous mind however knows where to stop, so you should not keep maintaining your boyfriend who has refused to look for a job because you are kind and sympathetic on his joblessness. Balance your kind gestures because you don’t have to do too much for people to like you. Do not be generous to the extent that even a well- meaning partner takes you for granted. Weigh requests, look at situations; if your partner leaves the bills unpaid because he knows that you will pay, stress that buying and taking care of the family was enough responsibility for you. If he does not buy presents for you because he says that you have enough, remind him that little gifts makes you feel appreciated. Don’t be in a hurry to take up his responsibilities around the house. Before you do, ask yourself, if you are happy to do certain things. If you feel taken for granted, refuse to do what you think is beyond you. Do Not Pay Like With Like If you count the good things your guy has done for you, they may not be enough to encourage a happy relationship. Do not choose the moment he asks for a little money when he is broke to remind him how he refused to give you once. When you do this, you are not paying him in his own coins, you are stingy and unkind. And your relationship is not the only thing that suffers your unkindness. You are likely to be mean to anybody who comes close to you. Learn to give and you will be happier. Surprise your stingy partner occasionally by buying him gifts.

Handling Your Man Right By Kemi Amushan EN are not like us women. They have a different hard drive. You can never force a man to do what he doesn’t want to. Sometimes, we are impatient with our men. Then we get mad and say hurtful demeaning words to them. That must stop. You need to watch it ladies and I mean it. Whenever your man does something you don’t like, do you get mad? I’m sure the answer is ‘Yes’, but there should be a limit to that anger. Some women decide to stay quiet and not say a word; but the problem can never fix itself if you do so, trust me. So sisters, both approaches can hurt your relationship. Therefore, you need to learn the right things to say in every situation in your relationship.

When you get mad, it’s confrontational and when you don’t get mad, his bad habits will go unchanged. We need a different approach and that’s what we’ll be discussing today. But for now, let’s talk more about why getting mad and staying quiet can be bad for your future. Getting Mad? Have you heard this joke before? A husband and wife were in their living room relaxing. The husband read something in the newspaper and remarked: “Hey, it says here that women talk twice as much as men.” The wife sighs, “That’s because we have to repeat everything we say to you.” After a moment, the husband looks up from the newspaper and asks: “Sorry, what did you say?” It’s funny, but this joke reflects a fact of life. We do talk a lot more than men do, especially when we’re emotional. When we feel angry, we can go on and on and on about what makes us angry. Right? But here’s the danger: When you’re angry, you’re temporarily ‘insane’. And the things you say can be pretty ‘insane’, too. Some real-life examples I’ve heard from people: “You don’t care about me! You don’t care about anything but yourself!” “You’re so insensitive! I wish I never met you!” “Big? You call that big?” (Remember this? ) we all say it to our men I’m certain about that. it’s completely wrong to emotionally blackmail your man. Tell me something? How would you feel if your man blackmailed you emotionally? Bad, right? So, you should say to yourself that I wouldn’t take this from him so therefore I wouldn’t say such hurtful words to him too. Staying Quiet

On the other hand, when their men does something they don’t like, some women don’t get mad. They don’t lash out. They don’t voice out their anger. Instead, they stay quiet and keep their emotions inside. Why? Because they’re afraid to “rock the boat.” They’re afraid to make a fool of themselves. And secretly, they hope that the problem will solve itself. Will it solve itself? Not likely! After all, guys can be pretty dense. Right? They almost never know and when you stay quiet, he’ll think there’s nothing wrong. And later on, when you get fed up and finally tell him about the problem, he’ll ask: “Why are you telling me this just now?” then he gets even more angr So what is the right way to let him know how you feel without being too confrontational, or too passive. The answer is redirection. Here’s the thing: Expressing your disappointment directly at him can make him defensive. Not expressing your disappointment can make him complacent. So what’s the right thing to do? The answer is in Redirection. Basically, you express your disappointment, but not directly at him. Instead, you direct it at something else. something that makes him feel guilty. Here’s a great example: Let’s say he promised to take you out to dinner or watch a movie, then cancelled it at the last minute. The next time you meet, instead of getting mad at him, you say: “I felt a little disappointed our date didn’t push through. I even went through the trouble of picking out a nice dress for the occasion. I wish you could have seen it!” Can you see the difference? You still expressed your disappointment, You redirected your disappointment into something that made him feel guilty and you kept the mood light and fun -- like you were a spoilt little sister he can’t say “no” to. And best of all, because he feels guilty, he’ll want to make it up to you. If only to see you in that hot dress! That’s how effective redirection is. You stay honest with yourself, and you still find a creative way to strengthen the relationship despite his mistakes! Here are a few other examples to help you get started: “I felt a little disappointed you didn’t call. I couldn’t wait to tell you about my promotion.” “I was a little disappointed our date didn’t push through. I was having a bad day.” “I’m a little disappointed we parted ways early last night. I kind of missed chatting with you.” And a whole lot more of subtle ways to redirect. Easy, right? So, I would implore you ladies to just keep these three “rules” in mind when trying out this new

“redirection” skill: * Don’t lie -- as in, don’t mention a “nice dress” when you really didn’t get one. Because I know we ladies can be cheeky. Lol.

ber two. * Always lead with “I,” not “you.” “Redirection” is just one creative way of using your words to make a man do what you want. QED.

* Your number one priority should be to strengthen your relationship. Making him feel guilty should be a distant num-

To the relationship we all deserve, good luck in love and life. Cheers.

THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, July 6, 2013

LOVE & LIFE 21

WEEkEND with AMARA

08033832503 Email: amara@amarablessing.com

Femininity vs. Feminism the subtlety of Satan would be IyouTHINk laughable if it wasn’t so dangerous. I’ll give an example. The feminist movement is not about empowering women to be feminine; it uses masculine tactics to achieve its agenda. Get it? Feminism, which is anything but feminine, does not stand for femininity, which is where a woman’s true power lies. Though it pursues some causes that most of us would consider honourable, it masks an agenda that is more sinister than the masses, or even some of the leaders of the movement could believe. In the end, feminism will do us all more harm than good. Once we are all on the bandwagon of “feminism,” we will find ourselves going in the opposite direction of where we really wanted to go. I don’t know about you but I find this really disturbing. It seems that the main women fighting for abortion rights are not interested in having children or building strong and godly homes and children. How far do we push the envelope in the name of equal rights? And do you, a woman, really want to do everything that men do? These are important questions we need to ask ourselves. I have sat down to think and ask myself these questions and Amara has concluded that she has no business with a man who cannot be a man and function in his God-given roles of providing and protecting. Perhaps you just see feminism as being able to do certain things if you wanted to do them. But that begs the question; don’t you have better things to do with your time than battle over issues that have no urgent relevance to your world? I feel this whole “feminist movement” is out

of control and initiated by the devil and his cohorts to destroy creation plan. As godly women, we must understand that we win battles on our knees. We don’t fight with flesh and blood; it’s more spiritual than physical. Lasting victory will only be gained as we war in the spirit. Don’t get me wrong. I am not in support of women feeling and acting useless without a man. I stand before men and women and speak my mind at all times over every issue without minding whose ox is gored. But that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t depend on my man for guidance, assistance, and direction because God, Jehovah, has made it so. I am the weaker vessel, yes I can achieve whatever a man can achieve and much more, but the place of authority in the home remains his. He has the power of authority, I have the power of influence and so he does what I want him to do. For those who are confused at the anger you witness from the feminist camp, it is important to note that anger masks extreme pain. Majority of these feminists are lesbians and women who are hurting from past experiences. Many times we criticize lesbians—I used to see them as hopeless and useless. But from my recent interactions with some of them, I can tell you that lesbianism is borne out of a relational void. It is a longing for love gone out of control. A lot of women are daily trooping onto this very deadly road of lesbianism. A lot of them have resorted to seeking out each other’s comfort, companionship, and physical stimulation simply because they are tired of trying to make it work with men. But, from what I have come to know from my Lord Jesus, no one is beyond the hope of healing and deliverance. Ladies, you don’t have to go against nature and creation plan just because love isn’t forthcom-

IMAGE AND ETIQUETTE With Pamela

ing. You can still find love. All you need is make Jesus your first love and watch Him as He brings that very man who deserves your tender heart. Forget the immediate gratification for your longing as that will make you fall prey to lesbianism and ruthless men. Remember Esther the slave girl. Don’t forget Ruth. Her case was entirely useless until God supernaturally raised Boaz. Some have men in their lives but they still desire their fellow woman. It’s all in your mind my dear friend. See yourself as someone who needs help (that’s if you will accept that) and cry unto God for help. Deal with those things and friends that keep reminding you of this horrible lifestyle. Throw away those sex toys, videos, and magazines; they can only hasten your destruction. Have you been broken over and over? It’s not a reason for you to hate men and begin to hurt yourself thinking you are hurting someone else. Simply pick up the lessons from that experience and open up again to love. As long as you live, never stop loving because that is why you live. The Potter loves you and He wants to put you back together

08167089656 (SMS only). E-mail:regalgraces@yahoo.com

Anchor Your Heart In Truth “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” Proverbs 4:23

NOTHER translation says it this way: A “Above every charge keep thy heart, for out of it are the outgoings of life.” – Young’s Literal Translation. The choicest and most essential part of our lives is our heart; the strength of our convictions and dreams lie in our heart, we feel in our heart and preserve with our hearts, etc. To put it simply, our heart is who we are; what is in our heart is what eventually expresses itself in our words, actions and gestures. Likewise, everything that tries to change, convict or influence us has to get to our heart. Whether it comes via our senses; feeling, appearance of things or the sway of words, it is all designed to reach and anchor itself in our hearts. All you really need to do is to watch some of the adverts that run on television; there, try to feed the desires one might have for security, love, success, health, etc. If this is true, it is of utmost importance then that we censure and choose carefully what we permit to take root in our lives or in this case, hearts. Like the Young’s Literal Translation terms, it “above every charge”. To charge means “To make a rush at or sudden attack upon, as in battle” (Wordweb). Which implies that at every step, anything contrary to life should not be allowed into your heart. In this age of increasing darkness and uncertainty, it is necessary to be always vigilant and brave – uncompromising concerning the foundational principles of our redemption. Here, I will assume that the necessary upon which everything else lies is in place – being eternal life and salvation – now we will go unto some of the tools that are very necessary to triumph and accomplish

again. I am a living testimony to what God can do to a shattered, broken, and useless life. Don’t give up yet, don’t hate every man because he left you. Don’t start fighting for equal rights with men just because you have been battered and bruised. Nature has created us to submit to men and it is only through submission that we can control our men. There is a good man out there; he is just a few steps away from the door of your heart waiting for a clean-up before he takes his place. God has sent him; don’t let him go.

one’s destiny. Strengthen Yourself This is a very important point. True leaders (whether you are in charge of a troop or not, we are all lights in the darkness, we all have our levels of influence,) should be able to see further than each situation. True leaders have the greater responsibility to not only be encouraged but to lift others up. They ought always to keep a level head and be the voice of reason. Here is a perfect example: “And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.” – 1st Samuel 30:6 These men of David were formally castoffs who technically owed David their lives. It is understandable how bleak they must have felt. However, David did not allow their discouragement or sorrow to waylay him. The story ends with the restoration of everyone captured including their goods. Had David not strengthened himself in the Lord, this victory and many more would not be in history.

When You Are Weak, Don’t Mingle With The Weak When you are weak is the best time to avoid those who potentially will think exactly like you would. Those who will help you see how bleak your situation is or how theirs is and how much problems they have. It is good not to avoid people based on their issues but it is wisdom to choose the right time to be with them. When you are strong you can encourage another and lift the person up; you can see beyond his or her issues and offer good advice, very importantly, you can protect yourself because you are in the light. When you are weak, depressed or in the dark anything you see from that perspective is warped, perverted and exaggerated. At times of weakness, it is wisdom to seek those who are strong and will be able to shed some light into our situation. It is wisdom to avoid those who would deepen the pit you have found yourself in and elongate the time of the dark cloud above you. “Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend” Proverbs 27:17. Choose wisdom. Fear not Now this is one very common principle that unfortunately has a root in most people’s

hearts. It all starts from our childhood; we are taught to fear everything from darkness to strangers and the devil. What is the result? Bondage. “And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage” Hebrews 2:15. Whether it be the fear of tight spaces or allergies or the unknown it all boils down to death of some aspect of life; spiritual, physical, emotional, etc. We can respect what a speeding car can do if it collides with a person but the Truth says “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man”. Ecclesiastes 12:13. Whether it is news of wars or the dread of seeing your boss, “above every charge keep thy heart” in the perfect peace and rest that our God has freely given. Lets us consider Job who through permitting fear into his heart opened a door for the devil “For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me.” – Job 3:25 ANCHOR YOUR HEART IN TRUTH: ALWAYS kEEP THE END IN VIEW. “Brethren, I count not myself yet to have laid hold: but one thing I do, forgetting the things which are behind, and stretching forward to the things which are before,” Philippians 3:14 (ASV) I love this truth because it leaves everything in the past in the past. It does not give consequence to what was, neither does it to whatever situation presently is but only a reaching forth to one’s goal. Whatever you need to do to keep the end in front of you, do it. Write it on your wall, bind it on your neck, live a life of discipline, simplicity and chasing hard after God; do not pick any weight that burdens and let go of all burdens–do not be robbed of your true inheritance by anything in this fleeting world. The time is short and many are already leaving. Let your end only mean that you can say “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith” 2 Timothy 4:7 (kJV) Image and Etiquette addresses general perceptions, societal norms and expectations and personal expressions with the goal to cultivate social graces, suavity and a dignified presence for personal development and effective interpersonal relationships. If you have questions on Image and Etiquette please send them to askpamela@regalgraces.com or SMS 08116706879.

THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, July 6, 2013

22 LOVE & LIFE

MARITAL SEX XPERTS are not agreed on whether sex E addiction is a real condition, but most agree that it is an actual, if not a diagnosable, disorder. However, it is not listed in the ‘bible’ of psychology, the DSM-IV. DSM-IV is the 4th Edition, Text Revision, of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, also known as DSM-IV-TR. It is a manual published by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) which includes all currently recognized mental health disorders. The DSM-IV codes are thus used by mental health professionals to describe the features of a given mental disorder and indicate how the disorder can be distinguished from other, similar problems. Sexual addiction has ties to mental illness, but good enough, it can be treated, if help is sought early. Early intervention is key for the good of both the addict, the significant other and the society. This write-up was informed by a note from a young woman who wrote to ask if she has married a sex maniac and if marriage is all about sex. She took the courage to ask, but we know there may be some others in similar situations, if not worse, hence our decision to share part of our response to her with you. The following is her complaint. “My marriage is barely three months and I am contemplating running away because of my husband’s incessant demand for sex. We courted for some time and he didn’t show any of these signs. As a matter of fact, I convinced him that we wait until we are properly married before getting intimate and we didn’t have problems with that. He now tells me that he waited for so long and can’t have enough of me. He is driving me crazy and I feel alarmed when he comes home. Will he get over it? Have I married a sex addict? Please help fast,” worried girl. It takes a lot of courage to come clean with one’s sexual woes. While we commended the worried girl for her courage, we encouraged her not to run yet. Most young men get so thrilled after marriage that, just as he said, ‘they can’t get enough of their beautiful brides.’ Though we encouraged her that he may change with time, we also acknowledged the fact that he ought to be loving and considerate about her too. Sex should be an

“A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flash, and I will give you an heart of flesh.” Ezekiel 36 vs 26 “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he. Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee. The morsel which thou hast eaten shalt thou vomit up, and lose thy sweet words.” Proverbs 23 vs 7-8 “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” Jeremiah 17 vs 9 WISH we could read through those Icould passages again. I really wish we give it some deep thought. I’ve read books on human psychology, temperaments and character studies. Many times, there is so much complexity in humans that it is difficult to properly categorise them. Why it is wrong judge a person is because we don’t know the heart. A person may say things that his heart does not agree with. See, it bothers me when people advise that we should follow our hearts. What heart? The deceitful, hardened heart? Wicked heart? We are like the condition of our heart. A sick heart can’t act healthy. Sometimes I ask those who judge people why they think they are nor-

Signs He Might Be a Sex Addict

expression of love and affection between two adults, leading to mutual enjoyment. Where the enjoyment is one-sided, it breeds hatred and resentment. We advised that in addition

mal themselves. I sincerely pray for our readers and I ask God to help them find the fulfillment they seek. Words come slow in expressing how we feel when we write. Sometimes I feel so inadequate, I think we don’t have enough answers. But I know something. All the principles won’t work if our hearts are the same. Jesus advised that we shouldn’t put new wine in old bottles. You don’t command submission. Some people are naturally stubborn. You may coerce or threat-

to engaging him in a robust and loving communication about her plight, she should check out the following to know some signs and symptoms to look out for, if his case is

en them to obey you, but inside they are still indignant. You only succeeded in making them ‘act’. But they won’t do it. Some men think that the only way they can control their home is to be inconsiderate and hard on their wives. That is how they think. And no matter the sweet words, their frame of thoughts remain. It is true that the bible says that out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks, but some people say words without heart in it. The truth

A New Heart

much more than marital exuberance, so as to seek help early. They may be of benefit to you too. So, read on to learn more about the signs sex addiction. Compulsively cheating on a partner or spouse. Engaging in multiple extramarital affairs that have almost nothing to do with intimacy. Masturbating excessively and/or obsessively. Getting involved in unsafe sexual encounters despite knowing they’re risky. Compulsively engaging in phone sex. Making a habit of having anonymous sexual partners. Turning to prostitution — either soliciting sex from prostitutes or becoming a prostitute or escort. Engaging in sexual behaviour that interfere with other obligations like work, family life, and school. Trolling classified ads online or in print for sex partners. Getting irritable, anxious, or angry without frequent sex. Spending an inordinate amount of time planning (often deviant) sex fantasies. Feeling a great deal of guilt and remorse after engaging in sexual behaviours. Frequently arguing with family and loved ones about the hypersexual behaviour. Engaging in unhealthy or compulsive sexual behavior despite knowing the risks of physical harm to self or others involved. Repeatedly trying to curb the sexual fantasies, urges, and behaviours without being able to. Habitually having one-night stands. Knowingly compromising personal relationships (including marriages) in order to fulfill sexual fantasies and urges. Performing sex acts that tend to be precipitated by a depressed mood. Engaging in exhibitionism (a desire to expose parts of the body), in public. Getting pleasure out of voyeurism and frequently engaging in it. Dear worried girl, if you recognize a good number of these traits in your spouse, encourage him to seek out a therapist in order to get some help. Else, he is just crazy about you and will soon get over it with your help.

is that we have been trained to talk well, but no one has an access to the way a person really thinks! The bible says ‘the heart can deceive’. Most times, it deceives the person who owns it. Following a heart that is deceitful or wicked is dangerous. Those who have followed an uncircumcised heart have wreaked havoc. You can sleep with and raise kids with a person whose heart is not right with you. The person will rebel. No matter what the person is right now. My only discovery is that God

can change hearts. How will your wife love you? Only when God changes her heart. How will your husband love you and treat you well? Only when his heart is touched by God. How can you overcome your weaknesses, fears, and moral failures? When your heart is pure! Who can make his heart clean? There is no detergent in all the stores of the world that can do that. You can cleanse your way by willful obedience, but the heart? Only God can do the change. I once prayed this song by Cece Winans. “Heart like yours, is my desire, Heart like yours is what am searching for Full of compassion Nothing wrong within Please hear me Lord, give me a heart like yours” Have you ever thought you are right because that is how you feel? Suppose your feelings are wrongly fired up? Suppose you are not supposed to feel that way? Suppose you think it is your spouse that is wrong and it is not? Suppose it is how you are thinking about that issue that is making you not to forgive your spouse? Submission to your husband seems difficult because of the way your heart is wired! May be your heart is just exaggerating that offence. Have you ever prayed? I mean, alone in quiet submission to the one above us all. Only the one who made the heart can clean, unite and heal it. Pray and ask God to give you a clean heart, renew the right spirit within you. He promised to give us a new heart. If you could talk to God now, He will. He did the same for me. I can tell you the story! Everything changed. E. C. Samuel 08027173447 sms only Intimatefaithminstry@yahoo.com

TheGuardian

Saturday, July 6, 2013 23

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Life&Style She was born and raised in the city, but Pamela Esiri’s heart is in the village, among her people, to bring them enlightenment. A trained lawyer with a Masters degree in Environmental Law and Policy, Pamela runs the EmoEfer’Otu Foundation for Children in Abraka, Delta State to give indigent children good education and proper upbringing. The foundation recently marked its sixth anniversary in Abuja and this gave her the opportunity to reflect on how it has fared so far and its plans for the future. Pamela spoke with NIKE SOTADE.

WOMAN

Pamela’s Mission, Passion For Grassroots Kids people no come here come take picture go take collect money for another place o. So they told me off, there was nothing like a red carpet reception from the people. But I told them “I belong here, this is my father’s street, Esiri Street,” and I told them that I’ll be back.” Pamela said she went back and tried to restrategise. “I went from school to school, trying to find out what the children’s problems were and I was amazed to know that things had gone that bad. Parents were cheating, paying for their children to pass exams in order to be promoted. Teachers were not even committed. The children couldn’t speak English, they were speaking

Urhobo language in the classroom and teachers were teaching in Urhobo. There were no desks in the classrooms, the children were just growing up on their own, doing whatever they liked. I couldn’t believe what I saw, that the education system in Delta State had gone that bad, that standards had deteriorated completely. So I felt that I had to do something about it.” This burning desire for change gave birth to Emoeferotu Foundation, a native name translated literally from English. “I was totally shocked with what I saw on ground. I said to myself’, ‘these children are the wealth of the society, every adult was once a child and if you take a child as an in-

ERY ebullient and lively, Pamela Esiri is, inV deed, an interviewer’s delight as there was no dull moment with her throughout the over one hour encounter. Armed with her Masters Degree in Environmental Law and Policy from London in 2007, Pamela decided to go home in Delta State to “experiment” and see how she could positively impact her people. But what she saw really shocked her. Hear her: “I had just got my Masters degree in Environmental Law and Policy and I said, “let me go and work with the people in the village”. As environmentalists, myself, Oronto Douglas and other people were working together. We got there and just discovered that we couldn’t even communicate with the youth. You’ve just had an agreement with these boys on what you wanted to do with them and you’ll come back and discover that they were doing an entirely different thing. I discovered that I couldn’t even talk to the people on ground. They didn’t even understand what you were discussing with them. You don’t know where their loyalty actually lies. I had lived in Lagos all this while and didn’t know that things had gone that bad. Initially, I thought that maybe we were too advanced for them, maybe it was our fault that we couldn’t understand their language, but I discovered that these people have had a different orientation entirely. We didn’t know that over the years, these boys had grown up by themselves without proper guidance.” Seeing the situation, she said, “Oronto just talked to me and said, ‘look, let’s go and work with the children, to take them away from this deve trend,’” she recalls in local parlance. Asked the meaning of deve, Pamela brought out the Delta girl in her as she says, “Oh! So you don’t know the meaning of deve e (laughs)? It is like the Omo Onile trend in Lagos. It means development levy. When you want to build your house, they’ll just come and attack you, asking you for levy like the Omo Oniles before you can do anything.” Having agreed with Oronto that it was better to catch them young, she went back to the village and started working with the children. “For two years, I was going there, grooming the children, giving them small scholarships, entertaining them and also trying to expose them to things in the urban areas, because they were in the real rural areas. We had to go by boat from one house to another in the riverine areas. Her efforts didn’t, however, come without challenges: “I faced a lot of opposition. In Oronto’s village, he was accepted because he was an Ijaw man, but I wasn’t even accepted in my community in Orie Abraka. They warned me not to come. Una don come too? Make una

Pamela

I was amazed to know that things had gone that bad. Parents were cheating, paying for their children to pass exams in order to be promoted. Teachers were not even committed. The children couldn’t speak English, they were speaking Urhobo language in the classroom and teachers were teaching in Urhobo.

vestment, nurture that investment, you will enjoy them later’. That was how I felt about the children, that if you invest in them with good policy and everything, you wouldn’t need to worry when they become adults. So I just carved the name “children are the wealth of the society” and being a very traditional person, I went to meet my father and some elders and asked them to put it in Urhobo language for me and my father said Emo-Efer’Otu”- children are the wealth of the society. That was how we came about the name,” she explained. And the foundation has been busy since then. “We went to the schools, talked to them and told them we wanted to have a better life for them, to make school interesting for them. We talked to the children, headmasters and teachers and they were interested. We checked out their results and first did a prize-giving ceremony for them. MTN gave us some small money that we used, they gave them exercise books, bags and money to feed them and they’ve been doing that till today. Every year, they give us money for the prize-giving ceremony.” According to her, the teachers, too, we’re not well trained and since in her words, “you cannot give what you don’t have”, they had to re-train the teachers too. Six years down the line, with financial commitments from the board of trustees, friends, MTN and DESOPADEC, the foundation has been able to meet some of its obligations. “Now they are beginning to trust us, because if I tell them I was coming, I would be there and they know that as I’m coming I’m bringing a lot of goodies for them. We don’t treat them shabbily because they are living in the rural area, but we try to make them dream big,” she said. Apart from prize-giving, Pamela says, “we have a scholarship scheme as well. We just did our sixth anniversary and our scholarship scheme is in August. For this, we go to the extremely remote areas in Warri North, Burutu, Isoko North and Ethiope local councils. We get the poorest of the poor who have done primaries 4, 5 and 6 in their schools for scholarship tests and we try to reduce their cut-off marks. Because they are educationally disadvantaged, teachers don’t want to go there to teach. We also groom them, mentor them, send them to leadership camps and excursions and by the time they are in JSS3 and SSS1, we send them to boarding schools because we feel that we have given them the right foundation to make the right decisions when they get to secondary school.” The foundation also provide books, sandals and other things for those in primary schools where they are taught social etiquettes, sex education and mentored in other skills. This effort naturally has not come without its financial challenges as Pamela reveals that, “transportation takes the best part of our resources because we take the children from different local councils to bring them together. From our headquarters in Abraka, we go to Sapele, Koko and other places to give the underprivileged children some exposure.” Pray, how would one person want to shoulder the responsibility of many people such as Pamela is doing? She replies: “I think it is just who I am. I don’t like to see people suffer. I didn’t grow up suffering, my father was able to take good care of us, but when I see people suffer it hurts me so much. I just feel that this world, this life isn’t mine and one day I’m going to account for whatever I’ve done with my life.”

THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, July 6, 2013

24 |

PEOPLE God has used us in these 25 years, positively, to impart on the lives of our people. First, in the lives of the people of Orhionmwon/Uhunmwonde federal constituency for eight years and now at the state level as deputy governor

Odubu

‘Our Years Of Wedlock Have Been Used To Bless Society’ Dr Pius Odubu is the Deputy Governor of Edo State. Last Monday, July 1 was his birthday. More remarkably, it also marked the 25th wedding anniversary of the lawyer-turned-politician. Though, a morning mass was held on the day to fete orphans, today, it would be the turn of family, friends and associates to get a treat from the Odubus in a convivial atmosphere. Ahead of the celebrations, the deputy governor spoke to ALEMMA-OZIORUVA ALIU, spotlighting his life and marriage through the times, highlighting lessons learnt over theyears for the benefit of the young and concluding that, indeed, life has been good. It has been 25 years of wedlock for you. From hindsight, how has the experience been? T has been a mixed bag; the good, the bad and the ugly. You might say these should all be part of life, but we can only pray that the good times be more than the bad times. For me, however, it has been 99 per cent good time and perhaps one per cent bad time. God has been very kind to my and my family. For this, I am immensely grateful. Twenty-five years ago, one was still a single

young man. I got married at 31. After my return to the country, following a sojourn in pursuit of higher education, I discovered that she was a perfect match and together we started the journey. For every married couple, you pray for the fruit of the womb and God has blessed us bountifully; we have four lovely children who are all doing well. During this period, we have contested elections six times - twice into the council, twice

into the House of Representatives and twice now as deputy governor. Four was successful, the initial two wasn’t quite successful, not because we didn’t win but because we were rigged out. And God has used us in these 25 years positively to impart on the lives of our people. First, in the lives of the people of Orhionmwon/Uhunmwonde federal constituency for eight years and now at the state level as deputy governor. We thank Him for the privilege to serve. As to whether we have served well, we leave that to the judgment of the people. I am grateful to God for good health and prosperity. I also thank my parents, my family, the Odubu and Osunde family for supporting us every step on the way. They have given me their shoulders to lean on in trying times, in good times and bad times. How did you meet your wife? My friends tease me that I am not an adventurist, that I just reached out across my street and married my wife. My family house is at Osayonwanse street, the next street is Enwasede street where my wife’s family house is. So we met as young persons and grew to like each other. Ever since, there has been no regret. She has supported me in everything that I have done; she is my most fervent prayer warrior. Before meeting her, what kind of life did you lead as a youth? I have never tasted alcohol in my life, I’ve never smoked, even kola that they break after prayers, I’ve never tasted it. I guess you will say I must have been running around women, no, I never also did that. I grew up very shy and up till now, I am a very shy person. That affected my relationship with the opposite sex. For me, I saw everything good in my father and wanted to be like him. My father never smoked, never drank and of course doesn’t eat kola. However, one area I am not like my father is that he is married to four wives while I am married to one. But I am quite satisfied and don’t intend to marry another one. I have always lived a modest life with the fear of God and everything that is good. What was your upbringing like? I grew up a Christian, don’t mind the euphoria of okaaku they call me now. I attended Catholic schools. My father is 93 years old but he brought us up to fear of God, to respect every other human being and to live a very disciplined life. My father is a disciplinarian extraordinaire. Of course, as a traditionalist, he did not necessarily believe in Jesus Christ, but he believed that there is God and that we must all serve him. Now advanced in age, he goes to church and he is deeper in the work of God. What inspired you into politics? I was born into a family of politicians. My father, a renowned politician in the NCNC days in the Midwest region, was one of those that fought for the creation of the region. He was a councillor at various times in the council. My mother is of the Osunde family in Ugo, a very influential family also into politics. So when I came home and went to the law school, they were then about doing the constituent assembly that would snowball into the next political dispensation. I participated actively in the run-off to that and of course the zero party election that came up. As a young lawyer, I also assisted in making it a success and joined forces with others to produce Dr Roland Ehigiamusoe as the council chairman then. When the new dispensation came, I was the state legal adviser for the Liberal Convention in the then Bendel State. Then came NRC and SDP. One was just content to support people. But because of my father’s influence and the role he played, they said it was time that they pay back and they all nominated me to go to the council as chairman. That was how I ventured into politics. I think it is more-or-less reaping from the good job my father did. I was invited to come and contest the election and the rest is history. Why do people refer to you as a native doctor? First, I love and respect tradition because the Bini tradition is a perfect representation

of the 10 commandments. The Bini tradition says thou shall not steal, thou shall not commit adultery, thou shall not covet your neighbour’s properties and so on. So I am a respecter of tradition. Also, my foray into politics is in a largely rural constituency. I had to know my people and how to communicate with them in our native dialect, which is Bini. And in doing so, I had to now master the Bini language and parables. So when one is campaigning, I resort to a parable suits the occasion and also a song that will capture the message one is trying to deliver. So everybody started saying this man must be a native doctor. That name was popularised by the Governor jovially. And quite frankly, I don’t begrudge anybody for calling me a native doctor because it is just to lighten up moments. Everybody knows I am a devout Christian. Why did you chose to marry on your birthday? Some of us will like to be special in what we do. That informed deciding to marry on my birthday so as to make the day double celebration. And it has given me the opportunity not to forget our anniversary. How has it been running the state as a deputy with a governor many describe as a workaholic? It is easy to work with someone whose belief and ideas you share; it is easy to work with someone who to a large extent is like you. I have always believed in hard work, I have always lived a disciplined life and I have always shared this innate conviction of serving the people and bringing them satisfaction. I see these and more in the Comrade Governor, Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole. So it was easy for me to key into his mission and vision. The only difference people see in us is that I am an introvert while he is an extrovert. But what do we expect from you after the end of your second term? Only God knows tomorrow. For me, I am content to serve, partner with Mr Governor to do our best for the remaining years and months of this tenure. It is too early to think about what will happen in the nearest future. But like I told somebody sometimes ago, for me privately, publicly and politically, I have decided to leave my life to God; let Him use me the way He deems fit, let Him write my story, I think that captures the essence of my tomorrow. What have been your most tensed situation and happiest moment in government so far? My happiest moments in government are quite few. First, when I was picked by Governor Oshiomhole as his running mate; second, when we were able to reclaim our mandate in court, third, when I was picked again by him as his running mate, and fourth, was the ground breaking ceremony of the construction of Ewhegai-UghoUronhigbe road because from the beginning of time, that road has been very deplorable. We have always wished for that road to be asphalted. My most difficult time was the re-nomination exercise for our second term; my nomination became the issue. It was as if I was the one contesting for governorship. Ideally, it was the responsibility of the governor in consultation with party leaders and elders to pick his running mate. Mr Governor stuck by me. I want to appreciate the good people of Edo state who throughout that period stood by me. The PDP accuses this government of corruption and lack of transparency. How would you react to this? The opposition party unfortunately sees nothing good with the ruling party. But if you are asked today to name one governor that is transparent and honest in his activities, that man is Oshiomhole. Edo state is one of the few states that have in place the procurement law and where due process is the watchword. The governor embarks on elaborate explanation of government activities at all times because he believes that he is accountable to the people, that the people must lead and that he is there as their servant.

TheGuardian

Saturday, July 6, 2013 | 25

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Weekend By Shaibu Husseini

RETTY Fulani damsel, Hauwa Abubakar, a.k.a Hauwa Waraka, is not just a player in the motion picture industry up North (Kannywood); the soft-spoken lady has emerged one of the notable figures of the vibrant industry. It took just her participation in Waraka, her first film, for the sun to rise for Hauwa who is undoubtedly one of the beloved actresses in Kannywood and the darling of many Kannywood producers. A Fulani ‘beauty’ from Adamawa State, who was born in Jos, but currently lives in Kano, Hauwa was forced into marriage at 14, but thankfully, she said, it didn’t take long for the marriage to pack up. “It had to because I was not prepared for what they forced me into and I was too young. Thankfully, there was no issue involved; so it was easy for me to move on after which I relocated to Kano,’’ she said. It was not long after Hauwa relocated to Kano, the centre of home movie production up North, that she caught the movie bug. She was exposed to a lot of Indian and Kannywood movies and, according to her, she ‘fell in love and admired’ the acting abilities of some of the actors and actresses. With time, she felt an urge to interprete roles. The urge grew until she took what some will call a ‘step of faith’. From a role in ‘Waraka’, which she named as her first film as an actress, Hauwa Abubakar has become an actress to watch and a household name in the North. She rode on the back of the success of the movie to pick up other scripts. “I was told of the audition, I attended and I was picked to play the role. After the movie came out, people liked it and they started calling me Hauwa Waraka. Some producers saw it and they sent for me to be part of their next project. That was how it started for me and it has remained one job getting me the next one’’ she said. But in spite of the fact that she has played varied roles, Hauwa fans still complain that Hauwa has mainly been cast to play lewd roles or roles that make her character appear wayward. “There is no sin in that,’’ she cuts in, and adds: “I only play roles I am given. I don’t go to them to say, ‘cast me in this role or that’. That will be unprofessional. But am sure that they find that I play the roles I am given well which is why they cast me to play them. In fact, the producers of the film should be in a better position to tell you why they cast me. But those roles I play are far from my person as Hauwa. I have never smoked, drunk or taken drugs. If I am playing a prostitute, I must dress like those in that business so that you can believe my portrayal. That is what acting is about.’’ Star of Yar Maye starring the dashing

Hadiza Gabon, Hauwa, when not busy on set, spends time at home resting and doing house chores. “I am always at home. I don’t just go out for going sake. Something must take me out of this my comfort zone (her home which she owns). Outside that, I will say that I am an indoor person.” An actress with a very unique voice that makes scriptwriters write scripts that demand some singing around her, Hauwa revealed that on so many occasions, she has been confronted by folks who told her she has a soothing voice that makes the day complete for them whenever they hear her speak or sing. “People used to tell me that whenever they hear my voice, their day is complete (loud laughter) but I thank God for that special gift. At least I am able to affect them in that way.’’ So how does Hauwa handle advances from fans? “I can’t stand them,’’ she declared, “once I establish that your handshake is going beyond a handshake, I cut off communication with you;

CELEBR ITY but I will never be rude or snobbish. If you continue to disturb me, then I will politely give you a ‘no’ for an answer. I don’t want a boyfriend. I want a soul mate and so there is no time to play or mess around with anyone.’’ A devout Muslim who describes herself as ‘Proudly Fulani’, Hauwa says she is not in any way pleased at the way some people view movie practitioners and entertainers generally. Some moviegoers, she said, have found it find it difficult to draw a line between actors and the characters they potray in movies. She accuses some of generalizing. “One person does something and they say it is everyone. One person puts out a crazy behaviour and they say that’s how actors and actresses behave; whereas it is just one person that is involved. I think there is a need for such people to begin to look at us differently because we have great, educated, financially stable, disciplined and decent people in this noble profession. There was a time they referred to us as dropouts and

Hauwa Abubakar:

Making Waves On The Movie Turf

wayward people, but that story has changed because we have even Ph.D holders in the industry. So we are decent people,’’ Hauwa said. Hauwa hopes to play a long game in the movie and she also has her mind on ‘settling down’ soon. She says: “I don’t have any regret being an actress and I don’t have any regret playing the roles I have played in movies. I was only being professional and I would continue as one. What we do on screen is just to make people believe. That is why someone has to play a prostitute if the script demands that one should play such a role. It is only when you carry such acts off set that you should be talked about in bad light. And for me, I am just a quiet, decent, religious and easy-going person outside the screen. But put the lights on me and I will assume whatever role I am given to play. So, I don’t have any regret. I am happy and I hope to keep doing this as long as Allah keeps me alive and gives me the strength. I only look forward to marrying a decent man and I am not in a hurry. I believe in God’s time and it is always the best time.’’

Celebritygist…

No, Not That Road Don Pedro Aganbi… S

Don Pedro

OME members of the Lagos Circle of Critics (LCC) have asked us to tell the IT specialist-turned-actor Don Pedro Aganbi, that whoever advised him to agree to be sworn in unconstitutionally as ‘factional chairman’ of the Lagos State Chapter of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) did him great disservice. Aganbi, former PRO of the Lagos AGN and the leading actor in most movies by The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM), contested the last Lagos AGN election with notable comic actor, Victor Osuagwu. Both men contested for the office of the chairman. However, it was Osuagwu that was declared winner of the election and was subsequently sworn in as substantive chair of the chapter by the AGN President, Ibinabo Fiberisima. But days after, members of the LCC said they received a disturbing text message that suggested that the cool, calm and humble Aganbi has been sworn in as chairman

at a ceremony in Surulere supervised by a ‘suspended’ former chair of the chapter, Emeka Rising Ibeh. Those who gathered to swear Agambi in reportedly claimed that the election was ‘rigged in favour of Victor Osuagwu’’. In fact, the AGN President was accused of ‘manipulating the electoral process to favour Osuagwu’. A member of the Electoral Panel had declared that Osuagwu scored 80 votes as against Agambi who polled 60 votes. Well, members of the LCC say they don’t want to believe that the content of the text message is true; but if it is true, they will advise Aganbi not to allow himself to be used to factionalize the Lagos AGN which he wants to chair. Rather, they want Aganbi to, ‘like a gentleman that he is’ toe the path of honour —- which is for him to petition and appeal the decision of the electoral panel and wait for the outcome of the appeal. They say the AGN constitution is clear on the procedure to take should a contestant feel aggrieved.

THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, July 6, 2013

FOOD&DRINKS

Beans Porridge Served With Fried Plantain By Chinelo Nwagbo

ATING healthy and staying fit are just some of the goals people want to achieve. In order to achieve these, it is essential to consume wholesome foods and exercise regularly. Beans served with fried plantain is a wholesome and highly nutritious dish that contains all the essential nutrients that promote good health. It is rich in protein, vitamin A B1, B2 B6, C, D, E, folate, iron, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium and complex carbohydrates. Considering the health benefits of beans, they should be known as “healthy people’s meat” instead of “poor people’s meat,” as they are often called. It has many therapeutic / health values. Regular consumption of beans is an ideal food for lowering elevated cholesterol (a type of fat that circulates in the blood). In addition to lowering cholesterol, beans’ high fibre content prevents blood sugar levels from rising too rapidly after a meal. This make beans a healthy food for individuals with diabetes, insulin resistance or hypoglycemia (abnormal low levels of blood sugar). Studies done in universities have shown that eating beans on a regular basis reduces a person’s risk of developing diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and obesity. They have also shown that fibre also helps to increase stool bulk and prevent constipation (a condition in which there is difficulty in emptying the bowels, usually associated with hardened faeces) and digestive disorders like irritable bowel syndrome and diverticulosis (a condition in which a person’s colon wall has small bulging sacs of tissue pressing out from it). Higher legume (beans) consumption is associated with reduction in heart attack risk. A study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine confirms that eating high fibre foods, such as beans, helps prevent heart disease. Consumption of beans is essential for menstruating women, who are more at risk of iron deficiency because they are good source of iron. Growing children and adolescents also need beans for maximum development and maintenance of good health. Beans with fried plantain is recommended for children to help attain maximum growth and development; pregnant women for successful pregnancy and producing a healthy baby and anaemic, undernourished and convalescents for fast recovery from illness. So do your body well by eating beans with fried plantain today.

Ingredients Quantities Brown beans 2 milk cups Salt a pinch Water 1 litre Fish (Titus) I medium Fresh tomato 4 medium Pepper 2 medium Salt To taste Seasoning 1 Olive oil 1 teaspoon Onion 1 medium bulb

Method of preparation Peel a ripe plantain and slice it. Heat oil in fry pan over medium heat. Fry on both sides until golden brown. Remove from fry pan to drain on paper towel. Enjoy fried plantains while they are hot with beans. E-mail: chineloeby@yahoo.com

Method of preparation Sort the beans to remove stones and unwanted particles from it. Wash and drain the beans. Heat a pot with water and salt, and add the beans. At boiling point, reduce heat and simmer. To avoid the beans being crushed, do not stir with a spoon, but rather shake the pot gently, holding onto the handles. Wash the fish thoroughly (already cut). Season the fish with onion, salt and some pepper. Steam till the water is almost dried up. Debone the fish and cut in pieces. Cut the pepper and tomato. Heat the oil in frying pan. Fry or sauté the chop onion, pepper, tomatoes. Add the fish to the sauce. Stir and add a pinch of salt to taste. Simmer for few minutes like 5 minutes Remove from heat and pour on the cooked beans. Fried plantain Ingredients Quantities Plantain 4 medium size Canola oil 1/ 2 cup Salt to taste

Wine For All Occasions By Ibukunoluwa Kayode

HEN it comes to making a choice of cabernet to fill in the mood for any occasion, Oak Leaf is one of the finest brands of wine to opt for. This wine originated from California and has since served its customers with years of extreme satisfaction. Oak leaf has over the years come in other bottles of varietals of wines from chardonnay, pinot grigio, white zinfandel, shiraz, sauvignon blanc, sweet red and merlot with each finely crafted in rich taste and appealing colour. This wine sells well in the restaurant and hotels across the globe and is also a perfect choice for dinners, cocktails and other occasions. Oak leaf can be sighted in most wine stores here in Nigeria. Oak leaf is a carefully selected grape wine with unique microclimates for both warm and cool nights. This wine holds a vibrant fruit and elegant structure of flavour rich in colour and smooth taste to sedate the palate for optimum refreshment. This is a wine with 100 per cent cabernet sauvignon with a bottle size of 750ML and less alcohol balance. It is incredibly rich with a very savory long finish. It combines notes of tropical fruits with refreshing accents of apple, peach and melon alongside a blend of pinot grigio to make a fresh, crisp finish for a smooth taste. This clean pinot grigio wine makes a delicious and perfect accomplishment to any meal of apricot-glazed cornish hens, alongside local delicacies.

| 27

THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, July 6, 2013

HOME&DECOR

Colour Explosion At Garden Show dening and floral arrangement is one that has the potential of providing viable business opportunities in Nigeria if developed and properly GARDEN and flower enthusiasts were availed the op- nurtured. According to her, nature is beautiful, and gardenportunity to feel the architectural element of flowers ing is a lucrative business that requires little or at The Garden Show 2013, which held at Oriental nothing as startup capital. Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos recently. “The art must come with passion as only then It brought together lovers of garden and flower enthusiasts who came to network and see how to create would it make a difference as a business. This prompted the collaboration with the Garden and an industry for flower grooming in the country. Exhibited were flowers of different shapes, colours and Flower Club of Nigeria. Gardening, flowers and floral arrangements have become firmly established sizes. There were displays by organisations such as Honey Comb, Flowerstalk, Wendu and Jasmine Rose, as a lucrative business in developed countries and Nigeria as well. The art of gardening requires paof flowers offering varieties of colours, textures and tience, care and a desire to nurture and grow a scents, alongside gardening ideas and products. flower, first as a seed and then as a flowering There were several patterns of aesthetic display of plant.” flowers, ranging from home scene by Urban Living, According to her, the event provided unique opgarden by Patch Of Green, and kids play area that exportunities for individuals or companies to exhibit cited the imagination of visitors at the event. or advertise their services to potential clients and Speaking at the event organised by The Winihin Jemide Series, Mrs. Winihin Ayuli-Jemide, the founder customers. About 1,000 guests graced the two-day event and president of the venture said that the art of garwhich saw people buy or order products online.

By Tony Nwanne

Styling And Comfort With Blanket By Ekwy P. Uzoanya OR a fresh new presentation in the bedroom Fthethis season, blankets can do the trick. Besides versatility of look they can be used to achieve in decoration, blankets are suitable bed covering for cosy and restful sleep in cold season and throughout the year. They add comfort, a homey feeling and are also an easy way to add texture, colour and design trends to your home. A search in bed linen stores will show the right one to purchase. Cotton blankets are excellent as a layering piece to enhance the bed or to use alone. They are either woven from natural fibres like acrylic and nylon.

Qualities and advantages Cotton blankets are soft and comfortable. They are breathable and absorbent. They are durable and long lasting. Cotton fibres will not peel or shed. Care instructions The two enemies of cotton are colour fading and shrinking; taking a bit of care can prevent both. Cotton is machine washable and dryable but high temperatures will cause it to fade or shrink. Always wash cotton in cold or cool water on a gentle cycle. Machine drying (no high heat) is recommended to help cotton blankets retain their shape. For a smart room bed look, matching the colour of these bed linens with existing décor will make for a luxurious and liveable space.

28 |

THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, July 6, 2013

FITNESS With Oyinkan Talabi (Bodyworks)

What Are You Wearing? F

OR every activity, there is an appropriate dressing style. For the chef in the kitchen, there are kitchen-appropriate clothes; the astronaut as well has to dress for the temperature. The medical field is even more interesting. The doctor has his work-appropriate dressing. Ditto for the nurses, surgeons as well as surgical nurses. My point is, even in a particular field dependent on activity, your attire must be appropriate. This applies to working-out as well; your outfit must be appropriate for your activity. What makes an outfit appropriate? The main factor is functionality and comfort. Stylish is really not a factor; it is an added bonus. Some of the things to look out for are: Comfort: your workout clothes must not be tight; you should dress for your present size, not the size you are aspiring to be. You will end up spending most of your time adjusting your clothes and this will lead you to be distracted from your activity. Having said that, your clothes also shouldn’t be too big; you don’t want to look sloppy and oversized clothes too can get in the way of your movements. Functionality Generally, workout clothes can cross a variety of activities. However, some activities like swimming need their own specialized attires based on functionality, some based on the culture of the sport. Expect a certain type of dressing, for example, golf and tennis. However, generally speaking regarding functionality, does your outfit allow you to be functional and comfortable at the same time in your chosen activity? Sports Bra For the ladies, strapping down when working out is very important; the skin around your breast is delicate. You don’t have muscles there (you have chest muscles but not breast muscles), only fatty tissue and skin. Constant unsupported movement stresses the skin and causes it to sag. And No, this is not the time for your lacy bra or a fancy cut bra, you should wear sports appropriate

bras, which provide adequate support. Different activities call for different support levels like a runner needs different support from a golfer. Socially Acceptable I believe this is an important guideline, we shouldn’t only dress for ourselves, we should always dress in a way that even the people around are comfortable to be around us. I was out running this week and a lady ran past me and I almost fell over and sprained my knee. She was wearing a cute running top paired with the shortest of running shorts. I could see her bum cheeks as she ran. Some men almost twisted their necks looking at her as they walked. Now I am more open minded than the average person however, there are lines of modesty that don’t need to be crossed. If you need to wear tiny shorts, wear cycling shorts or leggings underneath. Low cut tops are distracting both for the trainer and the people around you, sheer legging are also no no. Footwear Choosing the right kind of footwear depends on your exercise activity. Certain exercises require shoes that are light in weight, while others require more ankle support. If you perform more than one type of workout, you may want to buy a different pair of shoes for each activity. For example, if you are a runner, you need lightweight shoes that are designed specifically for running. A basketball player needs more ankle support to protect your ankles so high top shoes are appropriate; footballers need a lot of grip so their footwear must cater to that. Be Safe Make sure your clothes and shoes have reflective material on them and take a flashlight and even a personal alarm with you if you are out and about at night or early in the morning. Love your body and it will love you right back

WELLNESS & BEAUTY By Victoria Ekanem

Food & Water AT foods naturally rich in iron, Vitamin C and Folic Acid. Cut down on salty foods and avoid caffeine, sugar-rich drinks and alcohol. Don’t smoke. Drink plenty of water; at least eight glasses a day. The more clean, still water you drink, the better. Water is great for the skin and helps to flush out any toxins in your body. Drink gradually throughout the day. Don’t try to drink it in about two or three sittings. If you do, your body may go into detox and start flushing out toxins which may make you feel unwell.

Hemorrhoid Cream This may not sound too attractive, given the usual use for this sort of cream, but Hemorrhoid cream contains yeast and/or shark’s liver oil. Both are good for the skin. Rub a little of the cream around your eyes. Be very careful not to get any in to your eyes. Lemon/Tomato Juice Dab a little lemon or tomato juice in to the

Treating Dark Circles Under The Eyes (2)

darkened areas two or three times a day. Be very careful not to get the juice in to your eyes. Massage Simply tapping the skin very lightly with the pads of your fingers can help to reduce the appearance of dark circles under the eyes by increasing blood circulation to this area. Massaging your eyes can help to sooth headaches and reduce eyestrain as well as being beneficial for dark circles. Be careful when massaging your eyes, though; it’s very important to be gentle. You should also make sure that your fingers are clean before you touch the area around your eyes. Wash your hands thoroughly. Always use the middle or ring finger as it is easy to apply too much pressure with the index finger. Only use the pads of your fingers, never the fingertips as you could easily scratch your eyes with your nails. You should never scratch the skin around your eyes and certainly never the eyes themselves. Try this simple massage technique. Place the balls of your fingers on your eyebrows and gently press down. Move your fingers down around your eyes making circling movements. Continue around the eyes until you come to the bridge of your nose. You can repeat this massage technique two or three times and can use it regularly throughout the day.

THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, July 6, 2013

With Sereba Agiobu-Kemmer

sereba.agiobu.kemmer@ngrguardiannews.com

GARDENING

Lantana – Easy Plants For Landscaping

Lantana weeping lavender trailing plant covers a wall

Landmark Pink Dawn Lantana rare, they are easy to find, you’ll notice them everywhere. Even if you don’t recognize the name lantana, you probably would recognize the blooms. Lantana produces bunches of small flower clusters (called umbels), which are a mix of red, orange, yellow, or blue, purple and white florets. Other colours exist as new varieties are being selected as cultivars. The flowers typically change colour as they mature, resulting in inflorescences that are two-or-three-coloured. Lantana plants are prized by gardeners for their unusual blooms, and unique character. If you have a hot, baked spot, lantana is your answer. This hard-working plant not only thrives with little moisture, and in full, unyielding sun, it does it with ease. Once

Bandana cherry lantana HE botanical name for Lantana is Verbenaceae. Lantana is an evergreen vining shrub. Its landscape uses include ground cover or planting beds trim, for borders, slopes. It is easy to grow, and a great choice for containers or for hanging planters, since it spills over nicely. Lantana can also be shaped into a bush. Lantana is one of the plants that one recommends for people who want plants that are perennial (you need to plant them only once), hardy, low care, relatively drought-resistant, easy to find and provide lovely colour all the year. You don’t have to be a horticulture expert to have pleasant, colourful shrubs and bushes in your landscaped garden. These plants aren’t ‘Bandana Pink’Lantana

but you will want to plant your lantana in a well-drained location in your garden in which it will be fully exposed to the sun. This flowers wants well-drained ground but will tolerate poor soils. They tolerate salt sprays, so they are popular in beach communities. As drought-tolerant plants, they are good candidates for xeriscaping. They do well in hanging baskets and containers, which might be a great choice if you live in a colder region as these can be moved indoors over winter. Lantana is a genus of about 150 species of perennial plants in the verbena family, verbenaceae. They are native to tropical regions of the Americas and Africa but exist as introduced species in numerous areas, especially Australian-Pacific region. The genus includes both herbaceous plants

L. Lucky pot of gold brightens the border

Lantana luscious grape displays lavender-purple flowers on floriferous plant

Lantana white

Patriot’s firewagon cluster of yellow flowers, turns bright yellow finally red-orange. plant, just be sure to get the top half inch of soil wet. A well-balanced fertilizer 20-20-20 NPK is best for lantana. If growing outside normally, apply first just after planting, after that, just once a year. For container lantana, apply fertilizer twice a year, making sure its well watered. Pruning When growing lantana plants, you should know that some species can reach up to six feet high. Others only grow up to two feet tall. Keep this in mind when choosing a suitable site for your plant. You will need to prune the plant to keep its growth under control. Lantana plants, whatever way they are used in the landscape, are lovely to behold.

established, lantana plants are extremely drought-resistant. They can produce big bright, healthy clusters of blossoms even under the hottest, most intense sunlight. You can expect it to produce an abundance of brightly colored flowers all year round, and it is a magnet for butterflies. Humming birds like it too. You can also expect your lantana plants to smell sweet. It’s easy to grow. Plus if you have a sunny spot indoors, you can grow it as a charming indoor plant. For the very reasons just mentioned, lantana plants are a great choice for people who don’t want to spent lots of time working in their yard, but want a nice, colorful look in their garden. Lantana is fast-growing. Don’t plant too many or you’ll be overrun. Lantana isn’t picky about the type of soil it will grow in,

and shrubs growing to 0.5 – 2m (1.6 – 6.6 ft) tall. Lantana species are widely cultivated for their flowers in tropical and subtropical environments and (as an annual plant) in temperate climates. Propagation You can either propagate lantanas by seed or from stem cuttings. Watering & Fertilizing You’ll need to water your lantana a lot when you first plant, keeping soil moist on a consistent basis about twice a week for the first two months. Once established, you won’t need to water them as much, though if they don’t receive at least one inch of rainfall, you should water once a week. When applying water, make sure to do it directly to the soil so as not to make any of the foliage wet. If you’re growing lantana as a container

Potted specimen of ‘Lucky peach’ Lantana Plant

Lantana mound with vibrant red, orange and yellow flowers

Samantha L. has yellow flowers and variegated leaves

Velvet Lantana plant

THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, July 6, 2013

30 |

SOCIETY

A Well-Deserved Honour For Imomoh Recently, ARCO Petrochemical Engineering Company Plc organized a dinner in honour of the President of the Society of Petroleum Engineers Worldwide (SPE), Egbert Imomoh in Lagos. Here are some faces at the occasion.

Mr. Alfred and Mrs. Julia Okoigun; Egbert and Pat

Mr. O.J Mbonu and Mr. Ray Ihyembe

Engr. Egbert Imomoh and his wife, Pat Imimoh

Mr. John Momoh, Chief Don Etibet and his wife

Mrs. Justina Lawani and Mrs Gloria Aiyegbusi

Mr. Pius Ajabhu giving the vote of thanks

Ambassador and Mrs. Empire Kanu

Mr. and Mrs. Chris Uwaje

Engr. and Mrs. Greg Ero

Mr. and Mrs. G.T Grant

Prof. and Mrs. Olu. Akinyanju

Mr. and Mrs. Imo Itsueli

Alfred Okoigun (left), Spencer Onosode and his wife

Mr. and Mrs. Maxwell Okoro

Mr. and Mrs. Olatokunbo Carew

THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, July 6, 2013

SOCIETY

Dignitaries At Shema’s Son’s Wedding ROMINENT dignitaries, including the First Lady, P Dame Patience Jonathan, State governors, family, friends and well-wishers penultimate Saturday

thronged the Thisday Dome, Abuja, venue of the reception ebrate the wedding of their children- Yamani Ibrahim dinner in honour of Katsina State Governor Ibrahim Shema and Shenaz Dan Dawaki. Here are some faces that Shehu Shema and the Ibrahim Dan Dawaki family to cel- graced the occasion.

Hajia Dandawaki, the couple, sister of the groom, Dr. and Hajia Shema, Ibrahim Shema and another relative.

Taraba State Acting Governor Garba Umar; Minister of State for Mines and Steel, Alhaji Musa Mohammed Sada; Governor Peter Obi (Anambra); the couple, Governors Ibrahim Shema (Katsina); Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom); Idris Wada (Kogi); and Theodore Orji (Abia).

Hajia Dandawaki; Hajia Shema; Hajia Sambo; and wife of the President, Dame Patience Jonathan, greeting Mrs. Obasanjo, wife of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Former Heads of State, Generals Abdulsalami Abubakar and Muhammadu Buhari, Katsina State Governor Ibrahim Shema, his Kano State counterpart, Mallam Rabiu Kwankwaso, and Vice President Namadi Sambo praying at the groom’s home in Kano.

ISSUE

Of Escravos, Slaves And Need For Name-Change or Ogunfunmi becoming Oluwabiyi and Oluwafunmi respectively. In more dramatic cases, one has heard of Mr. Jesutumbi HAT’S in a name? For individuals, especially in techno-in- (Jesus has given me re-birth) in place of Fatumbi (Ifa has given me rebirth), and Jesugbamila (Jesus has saved me) instead of dustrially advanced societies, the meaning of a name is sometimes a trite matter. But generally, and especially in pre- the old Ogungbamila (Ogun has saved me). Close to home, some of my own family did modify our origiindustrial societies such as ours, names still continue to exert more than just a passing influence on the psychological, utili- nal name from Ogunsemoyen to Ogunseye. Ogunsemoyen breaks down in mainstream Yoruba as ‘Ogun se mi ni oyin’ (or tarian and pedigree-dimensioning dynamics of daily life. So oyen). That means ‘Ogun has decorated me’. Back in time, crucial can names be in the historical self-definition and group-identity renewal of whole societies that nations, cities, Ogunsemoyen was somehow shortened to ‘Ogunse’, the name my grandfather took to Lagos as a family man in the first even communities, have been renamed across the world to decade of the last century. The children he had in Lagos (my signal the psychological, factual and sometimes religious reown father included) had ‘Ogunse’ as their surname. But in a definition of a people’s standing, both in their own percepclassic spirit of expedient self-rebranding, some of my more tion and in that of the world around them. educated uncles decided that ‘Ogunseye’ (meaning ‘Ogun decUndertaken either as a pragmatic or dramatic gesture, reorates’) was rather more ‘mainstream’ and adopted it. There naming of places, people or even a thing almost always has a functional substance to it. It would therefore be unwise to ca- were dissenters, including my own father, who stuck with the sually dismiss the import of this universal tendency, even in a old name, Ogunse. But why the change? I had asked my favourite uncle, now country such as ours, with its million and one security and long-deceased. He replied that Ogunse simply meant ‘Ogun socio-economic challenges. does’ without specifying what it has done! I then learnt from Africa is replete with examples: Burkina Faso (‘Land of the him, to my surprise, that our original family name was OgunBeautiful’) is a name-change invented by the radical former semoyen, which had a full meaning. My uncles thus releader of that country – Thomas Sankara - to replace its unimaginative former name – ‘Upper Volta’, which, as is narrated branded the family with Ogunseye, which they considered by those who know, became that country’s colonial name be- more meaningful than Ogunse, more mainstream-Yoruba and more ‘Lagos-friendly’ than Ogunsemoyen. As an adult, I cause the French were focused on the electricity-generating potential of the upstream damning of a river in that country. now suspect they didn’t go back to Ogunsemoyen - pronounced with a distinct accent of the Ilaje dialect - perhaps beHence, ‘volta’! Northern Rhodesia became Zambia in self-renewing defiance cause they thought it a bit ‘up-country’. At about age 14 or so, while preparing for high school, I chose to take sides with my of the colonialists’ nomenclature. Bechuanaland (typically more educated uncles, as my elder brother and many cousins mis-pronouced and therefore mis-named by the British) was had already done. changed at independence to the indigenous name of Agree or disagree with the motives for identity renewal by soBotswana. Zimbabwe was Rhodesia and Harare was Salisbury. cieties or individuals, a key feature of all these efforts is the South West Africa became Namibia at independence. Coloconscious choice of what is reckoned to be a better name, or nially-named Gold Coast became Ghana. Dahomey became one that is seen as more attuned or suitable to new or emergThe Republic of Benin. The examples are endless. All have defied the colonial and foreign-adventurers’ logic to re-set an au- ing realities – even if the new names are sometimes no more than a throwback to some real or imagined halcyon days. So, thentic logic of self-renewal anchored in history. Apart from countries, cities and communities, even families you would therefore think – or, shall we say, we could therefore assume that normal societies and individuals should seek and individuals sometimes find it necessary, or psychologia name-change or renewed self-projection that is positive in cally satisfying, or simply expedient to rebrand through remeaning and perception, as well as psychologically uplifting. newed nomenclature. It’s fairly commonplace these days for Pentecostal and evangelical Christians to tweak their family’s That’s the name of the game of name-change. Fast forward to 2013, in the Delta State of Nigeria. A former historical identities in light of their new faith and worldview Portuguese-speaking colleague in the UN, who regularly visabout the spiritual significance of a name. Among some Yoruba Pentecostals, for example, we have seen cases of Fabiyi ited the Niger Delta and Escravos used to tease me that Nigeria By Bolaji Ogunseye

must be the only country in the world, which proudly parades ‘Slaves’ as the name of an important town on its territory! It is inconceivable that we have kept this awful name because nobody in the various governments in Nigeria post 1960 understands Portuguese and therefore the meaning of this town’s degrading name. Our foreign affairs ministry and some of our Universities (including perhaps Modern Languages Departments of Universities in the Niger Delta) have people who understand and speak Portuguese! So ignorance is clearly not a credible excuse here. I have no doubt that the Portuguese had a ‘good’ or at least functional reason for naming that location ‘Escravos’ centuries ago, at the height of the pernicious trans-Atlantic Slave Trade. That place must surely have been one of the busiest and popular slave-holding and slave-buying ports around the Niger Delta. But 50 years after independence, what – in the name of God – could be the good reason for Nigeria keeping the name Escravos? I doubt that Chevron, which uses Escravos as its major operations hub in Nigeria should be proud to be operating its lucrative oil and gas business out of a town of Slaves! But of course, it’s not Chevron’s business to stop Nigerians insulting ourselves. Having mentioned this untidy situation to many Nigerian (and Niger Delta) friends in and outside government since almost a decade of my formal return to the country, and having observed no action to end the embarrassment, I thought it best to call the attention of the two people in the country who I know should be the most concerned. President Goodluck Jonathan and Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan are, after all, both eminent free-born sons of the region, and, I have to assume, also good friends. This is why I choose to be optimistic that Mr. President and the Delta State Governor will reach a quick decision on this urgently required name change. I call their joint attention especially because I do not know exactly whether the re-naming of a Nigerian town is in the exclusive (Federal only) or concurrent list of constitutional discretions. Despite our pervasive poverty, and problems of electricity, water, education, health and bad-roads, no Nigerian should live in a town called ‘Slaves.’ Whether the needed remediation is an exclusive or concurrent item in the constitution, this is a national embarrassment that must be laid to rest with the utmost urgency. That name change must happen now. Ogunseye, Principal Consultant and Chief Executive, Sustainable Impact Konsult (SIK), wrote from Lagos. bogunseye@sikonsult.com; erinje@yahoo.com

THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, July 6, 2013

32 |

FASHION

Miss Nigeria 2013 Pageant Holds Today A

Contestants who will vie for Miss Nigeria crown today

Noëlla Coursaris Musunka Named As AFWL 2013 Ambassador N OËLLA Coursaris Musunka has joined fellow ambassador, Ghanaian model and philanthropist Menaye Donkor Muntari, and champion of African fashion, as an AFWL 2013 Ambassador for the third edition of the fashion event taking place from August 1- 3 in London. A fierce activist who works towards the empowerment

of African girls and women, Noëlla has spoken at the UN and at the Kinshasa Parliament, and has had her work featured on the BBC’s Focus Africa. She spoke during the Opening Plenary of the 2012 Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting and she hosted the 2013 Cinema for Peace Gala for Humanity, where Ben Affleck received an award for his work in DR

Congo. On her appointment as AFWL Ambassador 2013, Noëlla said: “I am honoured to be an ambassador for AFWL 2013 as I strongly believe in the power of fashion to inspire and connect people. I am delighted to be representing African designers and to help them showcase their talents for the world.”

FTER weeks of rigorous selection, the grand finale of the Miss Nigeria 2013 beauty pageant and Charity Ball will hold today at the grand InterContinental Hotel on Lagos Island. Created in 1957, The Miss Nigeria Beauty Pageant is Nigeria’s foremost pageant and discovering platform for young ladies. Notable among them are beauty queens such as Grace Oyelude, Julie Coker, Helen Prest-Ajayi, Binta Sukai, Vien Tetsola, Sylva Edem, Ene Lawani and Damilola Agbajor to name a few. Now in its 38th year, the Miss Nigeria Pageant, organized by The African Times Network, has become a strong symbol of African culture and tradition. This year’s theme: “Every Nation Needs A Queen,” is centered on unity across the 36 states of Nigeria to promote beauty in diversity. The event promises to be more engaging and fulfilling in hopes that it will further unite Nigerians across its many cultural divides. In preparation for today’s event, 36 contestants entered for a reality TV show titled: The Making of a Queen which was filmed in Lagos, partly at the InterContinental Lagos and other neighbouring cities for a period of two weeks. During the reality TV show, the contestants were given tasks and they had interactive sessions with their fellow contestants. They were then judged based on their elegance, poise, talent, intelligence and beauty. After a rigorous and nail-biting process, they were narrowed down to 21 finalists, who will compete for today’s crown at the grand finale. Most importantly, these contestants would be representing their individual selves as the pride of Nigeria. Thereby, adhering

to the theme “Every Nation Needs a Queen”. In doing this they would be promoting unity and celebrating our cultural heritage. Unlike in the past, where they had to represent individual states. According to the organizers: “This year’s event promises to be a bigger and better show than ever before. We have a plethora of highly qualified contestants competing this year, and every single one of them embodies the core values of our organization.” “We aim to create role models who through the beauty pageant will serve as ambassadors that will help define a new Nigeria; enrich the beauty of the Nigerian Woman, create a new vibe, energy and spirit for the advancement of women while positively impacting their communities,” they said. The organisers have also unveiled the name of the Special Guest of Honour for today’s event. The nation’s first Miss Nigeria Queen, Mrs. Grace Tinuke Oyelude, who was crowned Miss Nigeria in 1957, has been given the honour at the event holding at the main Banquet Hall of the Intercontinental Hotel at 7pm. Miss Nigeria 2013 is proudly sponsored by InterContinental Lagos, Martini, Aero Contractors, Mud Cosmetics Nigeria, Linda Ikeji, R&R Luxury, Genevieve Magazine,SARI Signature, Lo’Lavita Hair, Cool FM/Wazobia FM, AIT, 1407, Studio 24, among others.

Oyelude

THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, July 6, 2013

| 33

FASHION

Monochrome Magic Basic black and white still remain the striking combination to beat this season on the fashion radar By Ibukunoluwa Kayode

PPOSITES do attract, and the two classic opposites of black and white are ever being paired to create a monochrome magic, a very easy trend to wear. It’s also rather diverse; you can use it to create a sporty, sexy, edgy or glam look, so all you really have to do is decide which one you’d like to go for. The monochrome-themed outfit is gaining more power both on the runway and high street fashion powerhouses with exquisite designs from different haute couture designers. The pairing of black and white to many might not seem striking when it comes to fashion but this season it’s a different story. The ‘dull combination’ referred to by many seems to be delivering magical statement on the fashion radar. On the trend list for 2013, the “mono” look has been organised into different logical pieces from stripes to grids, blocks, polka dots and figure-flattering

vertical planes to captivate every onlooker. Monochrome is not only here to deliver class when it comes to prints but is also set to deliver a great assemble of accessories to match with. Whichever way you choose to wear it, this classy combination can both fit into smart and casual outfits, bringing out the modern, cool and assertive chic woman in you. Here’ s how to wear monochrome to make it work for you: . Introducing another colour would lessen the impact. So if your neckline begs for ornamentation, choose a statement piece in black or white. Shoes can be black, white, or a mix of the two, and makeup should do nothing more than highlight your brows and bone structure. . To fit in with this season’s monochrome style, you will find many accessories available in black or white, or a striking combination of the two. A great way to wear this trend would be to team a black dress with a black and white oversized clutch or wear a black and white scarf to lighten your outfit. Alternatively, there are shoes available in a huge variety of styles to suit every budget from flat pumps with a black and white dogtooth check to plain black or plain white wedges and heels.

THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, July 6, 2013

DIARY

The Alawe of Ilawe Kingdom, Ekiti State, Oba Adebanji Ajibade Alabi (left), presenting the certificate of conferment of chieftaincy title of Bobagunwa of Ilawe-Ekiti on the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Aminu Tambuwal at the first coronationanniversary of the Alawe of Ilawe Kingdom, while Gov. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State and his wife, Bisi Fayemi watch with keen interest in Ekiti…recently

Sponsor of the Ilawe-Ekiti Unity cup competition, Chief Kola Akomolede, (The Asiwaju of Ilawe-Ekiti) presenting cup to the Captain of the winning school, United High School, Ilawe-Ekiti, while his wife, Chief Mrs. Abike Akomolede watches after the competition in Ekiti…recently

Director-General, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) Dr. Joseph Odumodu and MD/CEO Promasidor Nigeria Limited, Chief Keith Richards during the presentation of NIS ISO 22000:2005 Food Safety Management System Standard certificate to Promasidor Nigeria by SON in Lagos…recently

Pupils of Emerald School with their teachers during the lunching of a book titled “ Collection of Poems and Stories from Our Hearts” in Lagos…recently

Managing Director, VDT Communications Limited, Biodun Omoniyi (left); Managing Director, MainOne Cable, Funke Opeke and Chairman, VDT Communications, Tunji Gafaar during the company’s customer forum and presentation of ISO 9001: 2008 to the public in Lagos…recently

Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State receiving a souvenir from Mr. Ukaeje Uda, Brewery Manager, Nigeria Breweries Plc Aba, during the governor’s visit to the company in Aba… recently

The Managing Director, Sterling Homes, Mr Kunle Adeyemi (middle), a staff of Sterling Homes, Mr David Kazeem (right) with an allotee during the physical allocation of land to customers at Havilah Parks & Garden Estate, Mowe, Ogun State… recently.

Representative of the Speaker of the House of Representative and the guest speaker of the occasion, Opeyemi Bamidele (middle), flanked by the President and Chairman of Council, Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM), Dr Michael Olawale-Cole (right) and the Vice Prisident of the institute, Dr Nelson Nwaga (left) at the institute’s Distinguished Management Lecture held at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs…Tuesday.

President of Newburgh Theological Seminary, Dr. Glenn Mollette; Dr. Francis Oleghe and Mrs. Carole Mollette at the graduation ceremony of Newburgh Theological Seminary in Evansville Airport Holiday Inn in Indiana, USA where Oleghe bagged a Doctorate degree in Ministry…recently

Marketing Manager, Gulder, Legend and Life, Emmanuel Agu; Winner of the Legend Dubail Shopping Experience Promo, Roselyn Monday; special celebrity guest, Desmond Elliot and Brand Manager Legend Extra Stout, Funsho Ayeni at the 3rd Legend Real Deal Promo raffle draw, held in Lagos State…recently

TheGuardian

Saturday, July 6, 2013 |35

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Entertainment

Sony Neme nemesony@yahoo.co.uk 08111813096

Mayor of California For African Film And Entertainment Investment Summit HE Mayor of Los Angeles, United States of T America, is expected to grace the maiden African Film and Entertainment Investment Summit scheduled to hold from the December 11 to13, 2013, at Oriental Hotel in Lagos, Nigeria. The two-day event designed as an annual episode is organized by School of Media and Communication, Pan-Atlantic University, Trend Media City Ltd and the Federation of Pan-African Filmmakers. In his welcome address at a pre-summit media briefing, Prof Emevwo Biakolo of the School of Media and Communications, said, “The summit has been designed to provide an annual forum for financiers, foreign and local investors, film and other content producers, studio executives and media experts to meet to secure financing, expertise and technology for Pan African film, television, music and entertainment content, infrastructure and capacity development.” Biakolo added, “The event will incorporate extensive discussions, clinics, workshops, guest speaker sessions, business meetings and social events that will help our present and future leaders in the film and entertainment industry to develop their capacities or transform original ideas into global quality products. A major plan of the summit is to launch at least one film and entertainment fund.” Key topics for discussion at the Summit, he said, include setting up film commissions in Africa; civic leaders’ contribution to media, Locations, resources, Film festivals - structure and distribution of films; investment in content production; Investing in distribution; infrastructure, film cities, studios, equipment; and Global religious media initiatives.” One of the partners who is also the Chief Operating officer of the summit, Mrs. Fathia Plange, expressed joy at the interest shown by the black caucus in the US congress. Mrs Plange who is also the Executive Director of

Trend Television, said, “The black caucus in the United States of America has shown interest in investing in the creative industry in Nigeria. They will be represented at the event, though (we) are yet to get names of their representatives.” For Fidelis Duker, Regional Secretary General, West Africa, Pan Africa Federation of Filmmaker, (FEPACI), “This is a very laudable project. The summit is a most welcome development and I believe Africa will benefit largely as investors will be coming to make filmmaking better.” Duker who is also the President of Africa Festival Network, said, FEPACI is in partnership as the summit falls within one of its objectives, which is to encourage investors’ confidence on filmmakers. Patricia Edemadide, Manager, The African Film and Entertainment Investment Summit said N30, 000 will be charged for the conference proper, covering breakfast and lunch. “We are going to have a gala on the first day and Nollywood party on the last day of the event. We are expecting participants from the whole of African, America, Canada and Europe,” she said. Edemadide said, “Most of our people are out to market it, like Mrs. Fathia Plange, who was in California, US, for a conference; and the Mayor of Los Angeles has promised to attend. We are just waiting for an invitation from the Governor of Lagos State, Batunde Fashola (SAN), which we are trying to get soon.” She said the decision to begin the annual event was made because the school has already opened a Nollywood Study Centre, “And we are keen in growing the creative industry in Nigeria, being a media and communication school for that matter. So we are going into this with two other partners, Trend Media City Ltd and the Federation of PanAfrican Filmmakers.” The briefing attracted some notable Nollywood personalities such as Madu Chikwendu and St Obi among others.

Duker

OJB Committee Confirms Amaechi’s $100, 000 ITH the knowledge that Rivers State Governor, Rt Hon Rotimi Amaechi has W doled out the $100, 000 needed for the kidney transplant for the ailing OJB, came a barrage of offers from some medical personnel. These offers and request

OJB

are coming from medical doctors and other professionals who suddenly realized that they can help OJB’s situation. They are however making these offers for some fees. But the head of OJB Fund Raising Committee, Nomoreloss is wiser. In a telephone chat with The Guardian on Thursday morning, Nomoreloss, while confirming the donations from Governor Amaechi, said that he was under pressure as different people are offering to help in sorting OJB’s medical situation. He however said plans were on to fly OJB outside the country for proper medical attention. Efforts to get a comprehensive list of donors were not successful as his phone was switched mid-conversation.

ThE GUARDIAN, Saturday, July 6, 2013

36 |

ENTERTAINMENT Society Of Nigerian Film & Video Professionals Unveiled hE last has not been heard T on efforts towards repositioning the movie industry.

From right, MI, Onyeka-Owenu and Rockson

Judges At War As Panic Grips Contestants At Glo X Factor With MI’s Task ...This is war, says Rockstone; for me it is a do-or- die concern, replies M1 hE battle for Globacom’s N24 milT lion prize money for the winner of X Factor, the world’s biggest singing reality TV show, has assumed an interesting dimension, with the judges of the show taking on each other at the Boot Camp. As the remaining contestants at the camp battle to secure a place in the Top 9 stage of the contest, the judges are also seeking to out-do each other to ensure that the candidates they are mentoring do not only go far in the competition but also end up winning the ultimate prize. According to an insider, the contestants who are grouped into the Under 23, Over 23 and Group singers are under the tutelage of Onyeka Onwenu, MI and Reggie Rockstone. Their briefs include mentoring the singers assigned to them and helping prepare them for the live performances, and progress in the contest. Rockstone, father of hiplife music in Ghana, reportedly fired the first salvo. “This is war. I need the best army to go to this war. People say I am cocky, I’m over-confident or whatever. So I’m gonna stay that way. But tell you something, I don’t know what category or who I am mentoring. But everything I touch becomes gold. I am winning this competition,” he boasted in his American accent.

For MI, “This is do-or-die. It is MI’s time now. And that difference is going to show. I am not looking for great. I am not looking for average or ok, I am looking for someone with the ‘X’ and he is going to come from my camp,” MI fired back. The Elegant Stallion, Onyeka, is not to be outdone either. In her words: “I am ready. I do not take risks. I know about entertainment. Period. I can work with any of the groups but I think the real challenge for me will be to work with the ‘Under 23’ and that is what I will like to do. I promise to work hard in ensuring that my group produces the winner of Glo X Factor.” Meanwhile, the 135 contestants in the Boot Camp of X Factor are currently facing a hard task of satisfying the judges for a place in the next stage for the singers who made it from the auditions in Nigeria and Ghana. It was part of measures to reduce the number of those moving into the next round, our source further revealed. he said, “After scaling the tasks set by two of the judges, Onyeka Onwenu and Reggie Rockstone, the lucky contestants are battling to impress the third judge, rapper MI, who gave them the unenviable job of singing one of five songs he despised most.” Onyeka had asked them to sing one of the five selected love songs to impress

her, while Rockstone gave the contestants only one hour to learn to sing and dance and come back to the stage to perform ‘song and dance’ at the same time. Those who impressed the two judges are now faced with a bigger challenge of scaling the hurdle put on their way by MI. According to MI, “It is self-belief, focus and drive that have brought me this far. There are five songs I absolutely hate. I despise the songs and I don’t want to hear them in my life”, he told the contestants, adding, “Your task is to learn one of those songs and come and try not to irritate me. I will bury my head on my table. If I look up, it means you have got my attention, if I don’t, it means you have failed the task.” As the contestants left the stage to begin the assignment, they wondered aloud, “how do we sing a song which MI despises in a way that he will like the song?” Viewers will know who cracked MI’s puzzle in the next broadcast of the show over this weekend. how will this battle among the judges progress? how will the contestants fare with the judges at the Boot Camp? All these will be aired today on the next episode of X Factor on AIT and Soundcity at 7.00 p.m., and on STV and V Channel at 8.00 p.m. The show is also broadcast on Sunday on NTA at 5.00 p.m., WAP TV at 6.00 p.m., ONTV and Real TV at 7.00 p.m. as well as on TVC at 8.30 p.m. and Kennis Music at 9.30 p.m..

Osupa, Muri & Aluko, Others For Fuji Night hREE giants’ fuji artistes, King Saheed – Osupa, Muri-ThunT der and Remi-Aluko will lead other artistes for a fuji night tagged “Olugikun – Olu Fimo Day” courtesy of M.T inc; in conjunction with Ibrobal A.V.P. A release from one of the conveners, Mr. Kayode Ayanlola

(Kay Jay Music World-Wide) said other artistes that would grace the show include – Rashed Shanko, Nuru Iya Yerui, Saki Salamsalam, Tawa Epo Akara, Evang. Bukola Oyeleye (Aduragbemi) and others. The show comes up on Friday, July 5, 2013 at TOP-ONE Garden, from 8p.m. till day break.

The latest in this direction is an effort driven by a group of veteran film-makers led by Dr. Ola Balogun. It is to be known as The Society Of Nigerian Film & Video Professionals. The essence of the meeting, which was strictly by invitation only, was for the invitees to debate on the proposed constitution and move on to form a nongovernmental organization whose sole aim is to reposition the fledgling movie industry. According to the veteran entertainer, “The purpose of the meeting is to enable a restricted and carefully selected Nigerian film and video professionals to lay the groundwork for the registration of a non-profit making body dedicated to the development of film and video production in Nigeria.” Though the inaugural meeting was not well attended, Dr. Balogun distributed the draft constitution to the few members present. For the producer of Cry Freedom, “Enough of government policies that tend to take movie makers for granted. This body has two broad objectives: one is to ensure that we are able to secure grants for our productions from the private sector as it is done in developed countries where we learnt from; secondly to groom younger generations to take over from us as we are on our way out.” For him, “Going to NEXIM Bank for fund is a pipe dream. Also, if government is appointing anybody,

they should be able to do that through a panel of professionals, not civil servants, who will vet the appointee records and what he has to offer the office he is to occupy.” Balogun’s was not happy that most of those invited who had, in fact, been protesting the appointment of Dr. Danjuma Dadu, a building engineer as NFC boss, shunned his invitation for a meeting of the new helmsman at the Nigeria Film Corporation in Ikoyi, Lagos scheduled for the same time. A glimpse of the draft constitution reveals that membership of the Nigerian Film Society group, “Shall be by invitation only, following appropriate deliberation by the Board of Trustees. No reason shall be given to the public for inviting or not inviting anyone to join. Executives shall be made up of The Chairman, General Secretary, treasurer/financial secretary, the auditor, social secretary/ welfare officer, project officer and membership officer.” In attendance were Rasheed Gbadamosi, OFR, chairman of the occasion; Tunde Oloyede, Miguel Enwerem and Patrick Afun.

Ola Balogun

Families Ready For Maltina Dance All season 7 was indeed a spectacle reIria,Tcently at the Silverbird GalleVictoria Island, Lagos, when a group of colourfully dressed dancers delighted fun seekers with agile dance moves. The dancers’ performance depicted dance styles from the 1960’s to the present era. It was an ingenious flash mob executed by Maltina, the premium non-alcoholic malt drink from the stable of Nigerian Breweries plc to herald the start of the 2013 edition of popular family reality TV show, Maltina Dance All season 7 aptly tagged “The Evolution”. Speaking after presentation, Mr. Ageni Yusuf, Corporate Affairs Adviser, Nigerian Breweries plc, who was represented by Mr. Edem Vindah, Corporate Media and Brand PR Manager said, “The dance performance is a tip from this season of Maltina Dance All. As we all know, it is the foremost experiential and sponsorship platform of the Maltina brand renowned for promoting togetherness with friends and loved ones. The TV show, which made its debut in 2007, has remained Nigeria’s first and only family dance TV show featuring families from various regions across the coun-

try.” Vindah further explained that the show is, “About the emotions, excitement, fun and the unbreakable bond that ten families will showcase when they challenge themselves by learning and performing various dance styles from the 70’s, 80’s, 90’s and to the present day in the famous Maltina Dance All academy. This is going to be evolution of dance from time past to the present. The winning family will go home with the grand prize of a whopping sum of N6 million and of course, a brand new car. The first and second runners up will also get N1 million and N500, 000 respectively. The show will bring to the fore, the Nigerian people’s essence and values of sharing, happiness unity, cooperation, vitality and creativ-

Michael Adegoke

THE guArDIAN, Saturday, July 6, 2013

| 37

ENTErTAINMENT world, especially the ‘Delta Beyond oil’ drive, just as the team of coordinators is bent on attracting foreign investors into the Nigerian entertainment industry. There will be a grand cultural gala nite on the evening of Day Two where Nigeria’s entertainment exports will be showcased. Already, DJ Jimmy Jatt and two other top artistes that are yet to be unveiled will provide music at the event. In an exclusive interview with The Guardian on Wednesday, Mrs. Kemi otegbade, CEo, Heartlink Ventures ltd, lagos, said: “The whole idea about the annual event is to take advantage of Nigeria’s high population to increase per capital income. It’s a roundtable forum for Nigerians and the rest of the world. We had a pre-event visit to the uS by some members of our team driving this project.” The six-man team include Dr. Ayodeji Afikuyomi, MD, unicorn Holdings, ltd; Yinka ogundimu of globalcare Environmental Needs; olatunbosun okpeseyi of Dikpo okpeseyi & Co and Tope Idowu of Teewai gold Media llC, as well as Mayor Akinpelu, our Consultant on Strategy & Publicity. “We realized that a lot of Nigerians want to come back home and invest, but they don’t know how to go about it. They are tired of the system; they want to imbibe our virtue as Nigerians and impart our cultures to their children... And lots of HE Embassies of Nigeria in Washington and New York in partnership them want to invest, have a partnership and help in contributing to our economic growth. They just can’t come to Nigeria if with top Professional bodies are hostthey don’t have somebody to entrust their investments on. “ ing the maiden Corporate Nigeria The objectives of the Corporate Nigeria Stakeholders & InStakeholders & Investors’ Forum – a world market roundtable in New York, vestors’ Forum, she said, “are to take advantage of Nigeria’s high population to increase per capital income. Entertainment from 29 30 July, 2013. According to the event promoters, the industry ranks as number one, followed by fashion as we have very many Nigerians based in states, especially in georgia. high level international event which They believe and I also agree that we are the most fashionable will take place at Hotel Marriot, Manin the world. our Ankara designs sell well and more businesses hattan, New York, would bring tocan be recorded from that sector. Forget Paris. We are very cregether world investors, organized ative and fashionable so we can export what we wear. Then private sector and representatives of Nigeria’s government decision makers take a look at what our artistes are doing in music, movie and other aspects. These are areas government must not ignore. particularly the Ministry of Trade and There must be an agency that should harness the opportuniInvestment and some State governties of exporting entertainment, fashion and movie, as well as ments. The guardian gathered that governor all that we gave not been focusing on. She said the idea was mooted years ago and culminated in the of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel uduNigerian version that held in Ikeja Sheraton Hotel & Towers, aghan, Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Presilagos, and met our objectives.” dent of Institute of Directors, Arc. T.C. Participants from Nigeria are required to pay a registration Awagu; A.I.g Tunji Alapini, Engr. Didefee of $1,000 per head, excluding cost of ticket and accommoolu Falobi, FNSE, top bankers, industry leaders are among the guest speakers. dation. Administrative fee, she said, is $200 as registration is The best of Nigerian culture will be on prepaid while tickets and accommodation can be done individually or through the group. parade as Delta State who are major For further enquiries, participation and enquiries, contact sponsors are expected to storm the info@heartlinkgroup.com; heartlinkgroup@gmail.com . venue to sell its potentials to the

Best of Nigerian Arts And Culture To light up New York T

Kemi

‘I Am More An Artiste Than A Producer,’ Says Samklef and hope to humanity. “My evolution in the music scene has been mind- blowing and what I did recently can be HougH not many people know that termed as spiritual. I am very spiritual; I believe Samuel oguachuba, popularly known as everything that controls the physical is spiriSamklef entered into the music scene as a tual. I also believe in energy and frequency,” he music producer, his artistic prowess has alnoted. ways overshadowed his producing skills. Though an indigene of Imo State, he was born Samklef is perhaps one of the busiest music and bred in lagos. As a producer, he has producers at the moment, but he has decided worked with names like Sunny Neji, ruggedto focus more on his musical career. man, Durella, Wizkid, Skales, D’Prince (Mo’ The prolific producer who, before now, has been selling himself as a producer now wants Hits), Simisola, J Bryte, Emmsong, o’cube, Jahdiel, Vector, Mudina, to mention a few. to concentrate more on selling himself more In recent times, it has been like a rebirth for as an artiste. him because of his collaboration with Terry g. “I started as an artiste; I just did the video for the song Suwe and people are surprised I could “A whole lot of people do not know that the first group I was part of was formed by Terry g. do that. But first I did ‘The rain’ where I We used to do gospel music then; he later left showed my other skills. I have been showcasthe group to forge his own future while I was ing my stuff because as a businessman, you taking out time to discover myself at the time. need to sell your brand. I have come to discover that most producers don’t make money It all started for me when I produced the hit song titled My Life for Durella. Skales heard because there are no structures.” about my expertise and he introduced me to Samklef has successfully established himself EME where I did two songs for Wizkid titled as one of the best producers from this part of Tease Me and Don’t Dull. I also organised the the continent. Not resting on his oars, he deteam that shot the video Holla at you Boy. So it is cided to explore and unveil yet another side of now a rebirth for me, I did a song titled Display himself – an inspirational singer with a very with Terry g with whom I’ve surprisingly not strong passion for communicating god’s love been in a studio until recently.

BY TONY NWANNE

KCEE Joins other Entertainers For london Crack Ya Ribs gust 25. Julius said the move was fuelled by his decision to satisfy that rave of the moment and london fans already yearning for Kcee’s limpopo song. The the limpopo master, Kcee, deal was signed about 48 will be joining other tophours ago in lagos between rated entertainers already Kcee and reel laif Entertainconfirmed for this year’s Crack Ya Ribs show in london ment, the organizers of the show. and Manchester. As already Entertainers already conannounced, the london edifirmed for the show before tion will take place at 02 Arena on August 23 while that now are Bovi, Senator, Funny of Manchester will take place Bone, Eddie Kadi, Dan D Humorous and Akpororo . at the Methodist Hall on AuNE of Nigeria’s most reo sourceful entertainers, Julius Agwu, has announced

KCEE

AfricaMagic’s, Tinsel, Auditions For New Stars oPulAr Pan-African TV series, Tinsel, celeP brated its 1000 episode in a grand event in lagos in the month of May; as part of the th

celebration, the AfricaMagic & Tinsel team gave recognition to the many people behind the scenes who in the last five years help to create the spectacular magic that viewers and fans have now come to know and love. As part of its contribution to the development of local initiatives and productions in Nigeria, AfricaMagic, Africa’s leading television content provider is once more throwing its doors open to aspiring actors and actresses in the city of lagos to audition for roles in the popular multi-camera soap opera. The audition which is scheduled to hold in the cosmopolitan city of lagos on 12th, 13th & 15th July 2013, from 7am to 5pm at the Protea Hotel, leadway; 1, Mogambo Close, Maryland Estate; is seeking to cast several new roles. The open audition aims to provide opportunities for talented Nigerians to live their dreams of starring in the popular soap opera and launch their acting careers to a continental audience. To audition, interested persons are required to come along with an individual and a recent studio 5 by 7 ‘clear’ photograph colour portrait photograph. Since its debut to a continental audience in 2008 when the first season was launched, Tinsel, a thirty minutes series, has won the heart of many DStv viewers both in the country and on the continent. The widely watched TV drama series which airs five days a week with an omnibus every Sunday on AfricaMagic Entertainment with a repeat broadcast on AfricaMagic entertainment With a 1000th episode under its belt and currently in its sixth season, Tinsel has become a must watch for millions of DStv audiences on the African continent; a development that

Biola Alabi, MD MNET West Africa prompted AfricaMagic to air previous seasons of the show on some of the AfricaMagic channels and Silverbird TV to the delight of many television viewers. The very popular soap opera airs five times a week on AfricaMagic Entertainment, channel 151.

TheGuardian

Saturday, July 6, 2013

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Arts&Culture Review By Anote Ajeluorou

IGERIA is in dire need of role models. From the political, economic, academic to other fields of endeavour, Nigeria, as a nation, has recorded more failures and disappointments than the optimism and fervour that heralded her independence from colonial rule. Ironically, the failure and disappointment largely stemmed from the actions or inactions of men saddled with steering the ship of state. Yet in this failure of a nation is the personal example of successful achievement of certain men and women such that they are unarguably the models society needs to chart a path to a bright future yet again. One such men in Nigeria’s public space whose life is a shining example to many is the erudite scholar, legal luminary, politician, writer and community leader, Prof. Ben Nwabueze. He hails from Atani in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State. Now in his 80s, Nwabueze’s personality, which he has just documented in Ben Nwabueze: His Life, Works and Times – An Autobiography (Volumes 1 & 2; Gold Press Limited, Ibadan; 2012) dominates the decisive generation that has shaped modern Nigeria. He was among the privileged few that took advantage of one shinning light of colonialism – education – and exploited its merits to the fullest. Nwabueze has since been part of the shaping that a new nation just emerging from foreign domination needs to survive in a modern, dynamic world that is ever changing. His academic, scholarly works in law have served as foundational materials for legal education in the country and beyond. Nwabueze is a household name in the legal field and has been an outstanding personality in the country in various fields. Nwabueze’s autobiography is a compelling story of a man who rose from the grips of poverty just like many Nigerians, and by extension, Africans and steadily climbed the ladder of success through sheer hard work and exceptional brilliance as a young boy in his native Atani village school. Indeed, Nwabueze’s books read as counterpoise materials to the great many fictional works of great literary figures. The first volume particularly provides counterpart reading material to such works as Things Fall Apart, Arrow of God and other such works that describe typical village life as it was lived before and during colonial rule in parts of Africa. It renders faithfully the economic, social, political, religious, moral and legal systems and practices as they originally were practised and their subsequent erosion by western lifestyles through colonialism and Christianity. Nothing escapes Nwabueze’s lens, having himself lived through it in his boyhood years and tasted its many sides and actively engaged in its happy and sometimes not so happy aspects. In all this, the legal giant regrets the erosion of many good sides of the original lifestyles of Africa as symbolised by practices in his Atani community. Also, his western lifestyle has also sensitised him enough to some unsavoury aspects of those African practices that need to make way for new, better ones that promote human happiness and unity. In his native Atani, for instance, Nwabueze has worked tirelessly to ease the negating impact of the osu caste system to be mitigated and for such individuals to be integrated into the community fully as co-equals. AVING dispensed with the formative years H of his life in Atani, Onitsha, Enugu and leaving for London to study law at University of London and obtaining a doctoral degree and consequently teaching and legal practice in volume one; having laid the foundation for some of the beliefs and ideas and personalities that shaped his life, Nwabueze turns his attention to the later part of his life. In volume two, Nwabueze turns his gaze on the activities, organisations and vocations that later shaped his lifelong engagements, particularly his foray into public life in his patriotic zeal to serve Nigeria and make a better place for all Nigerians, especially the poor masses. From volume one, he recalls how he became involved in Ohaneze Ndi Igbo, a socio-cultural group set up in 1976 to engage a victorious

Ben Nwabueze’s Journey Through Life In Print

Ben Nwabueze Nigerian to its responsibility to a defeated Igbo nation just emerged from a horrendous civil war, with signs of marginalization already beginning to rear its ugly head. He was its secretary-general for several years thus its spokesperson. By so doing, he helps in raising the profile of all marginalised people in the country to agitating for their rights to be accorded equal opportunities in all spheres of life. But Nwabueze wasn’t just a champion of a marginalised Ndi Igbo, his kith and kin across the Niger; he felt the leadership gulf in the political space and how less and less it served ordinary Nigerians and the need to fight it through both constitutional and advocacy means. In this wise, he and some like-minded, respected individuals formed The Patriots. As he put it, “…I have been chairman of an organisation of eminent Nigerians called The Patriots, an organisation recognised and respected throughout the country as a patriotic organisation, which makes me a leading patriot. Nigeria, as the object of my patriotic and nationalistic feelings, was not just an idea existing in the mind or in the imagination”. But he is quick to argue that as patriotic as he considers himself, Nigeria is yet to emerge as the desired nation, with its inability to fashion a viable system of political co-existence that best addresses its multi-ethnic interests and bring them into harmony, like true federalism, a system he has consistently advocated. He thus asserts, “Ardent Nigerian patriot and nationalist that I am, and much as I frequent-

autobiography. And he pulls several punches in the process on which many Nigerians would take him on. He relates his troubled eight months’ tenure as Education Secretary and the crises that beset the education sector at the time, the many strikes and how he was able to manage them. This was also the time he served under Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida, a man he has painted a portrait in his book. But Nwabueze does so after a caveat, when he says, “An important point of which anyone writing IBB must first put into account is that he was victim of a system of absolute power, and that anyone else in such a position of absolute power would also be prune, to a greater or lesser extent, to its evils influences and allurements. No one in the whole history of humankind has been known to be above the allurements of absolute power, and few are known to give up so willingly”. While not entirely exonerating the aberration that military rule was and its principal actors of which Babangida was one, Nwabueze would rather berate Nigerians for allowing themselves to be so ruled for such a long period, with the civil populace not being able to challenge it. He goes on to admonish, “Such power in the hands of one individual is most awesome indeed. I, myself as Secretary for Education and Youth Development, had experienced its alluring and seductive influence. It’s power that should never be entrusted to one man or a junta of men”. Chapter 9 of volume two of Ben Nwabueze… would excite many readers, as it paints the picture of Babangida, with its enigmatic question, ‘What kind of man is he?’ Many will be amused by Nwabueze’s portraiture of Babangida, just as others will be outraged by it though insider view it may seem, as perhaps a sort of indulgence for the man under whom he served for eight months. Indeed, it just might not dispel what most Nigerians already take for granted and therefore in stark contrast to Nwabueze’s portraiture of the man who held the nation in the jugular for eight long years. This chapter echoes Tony Momoh’s book, Prince of the Niger that dressed Babangida in saintly robes. It just might ring false to many ordinary Nigerians that suffered eight years of the man’s misrule that plunged the nation into economic hell. Nwabueze describes him as “Easy. Nice and down-to-earth, he is so delightfully chatty without being talkative, and puts everyone around him completely at ease… For the whole period of my tenure, I experienced nothing of the Machiavellianism; nothing of the Maradona-like skill in dribbling people to achieve his ends; nothing of the smooth ly desire it, I never entertained the illusion manipulator of men and events; nothing of that Nigeria is a nation. For, it is not – not yet. the crafty, unreliable, ever-weening autocrat Nigeria is a state, not a nation”. interfering in, and directing, all affairs of This realisation has formed a large part of his state from his office or bedroom. He might advocacy for constitutional democracy and well be crafty. How else really could he have social justice to be entrenched in the Nigerian survived in that office for eight long years polity. With a deep grasp of the subject matter amid all the tumults of social and political from his training in law, Nwabueze came to discord?” view constitutional democracy “as the best form of government for humankind, which EVERTHELESS, Nwabueze’s autobiograwent hand-in-hand with the passion for the phy is indeed a treasure in understandcustoms and traditions of my beloved homeing Nigeria’s historical evolution. Having town, Atani”. The passion also led to the writbeen born at a time of political ferment and ing of three defining volumes, when colonialism was at its last gasp and Constitutionalism (1973), Presidentialism (1974) taken advantage of the privileges of formal and Judicialism (1977). education to heart, Nwabueze’s life story But he is mindful that constitutional democ- runs parallel to his country’s. He has also racy alone is not enough to drive society forbeen part of shaping his country’s socioward, as has often been the sad case with political fortunes. Ben Nwabueze… is certainmany African countries that lay pretence to it. ly a great read not just because of what he Social justice is its necessary counterpoint has written about but also his style, which that must also be pursued with equal vigour stems from a cultivated mind, a man as the means to provide comfortable living exposed early to the joys of reading the conditions for the generality of the masses to greats that shaped world events. elevate them from suffering. It’s for this reaSo that his literary skill makes the two volson, he says, “Advocacy for justice and amelio- umes a joyful exercise in tracing the trajectoration of the condition of the under-privileged ry of a great Nigerian mind, starting from his members of society became yet another passmall, narrow world of Atani village to the sion of my life and, as in the case of constitugreat stage of a London University and his tional democracy, I seized every opportunity, having to straddle a vast socio-political space spared no efforts, and employed every platin the affairs of his country Nigeria. This form and every avenue available to me in the book is commended to every reader desirous form of public lectures, writings to propagate of glimpsing a great mind and a country in a it.” flux! Nwabueze leaves nothing out in his explosive

THE GUARDIAN Saturday, July 6, 2013

ARTS 39

Why Africa Must Appreciate Homegrown Philosophies Bangura By Gbenga Salau HERE have been different calls that for Africa and Africans to get out of its logjam and conquer many of the challenges it is grappling with, it would take homegrown ideals, philosophies and policies. This position was re-echoed in Lagos recently by Professor Abdul Karim Bangura at the Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilisation, (CBAAC)/University of Lagos Public Lecture Series, held at the University of Lagos Main Auditorium. To him, for Africa to take its rightful place among the continents of the world, and to be a shining light to the rest of the world, its leaders must make the citizens the centre of governance as well as develop and engage its thinkers in policy formulation. The Professor of Howard University, USA, who spoke on the topic, ‘Democratic project and the human condition across the African Continent’, said that Africans must begin to come out stronger in their thinking and engagement of the world. Locating his topic within Nigerian context, he wonders why Nigeria cannot be one of the leaders in the world despite the fact that it has produced many great minds who have contributed to world discourse in terms of arts and innovations, such as Wole Soyinka, Chinua Achebe among others. He maintained that it is up to the present generation of Nigerians to bring Nigeria to its true glory. The don, who has five doctorate degrees from different fields, also stated that African countries must come together and work together, if not, it would remain at the bottom. “This thinking is undoubtedly part and parcel of the cultural heritage of Africans. However, it clearly needs to be revitalized in the heart and

minds of some Africans. Indeed, as Kofi Nyidevu Awoonor (1999) and I (Bangura 2003) posit, the African life concept is holistic- that is, it is based on an integrative worldview. All life to the African is total; all human activities are closely interrelated. This has as its underlying principle the sanctity of the person, her/his spirituality and essentialist. This essentialist view of the person confers value to his or her personhood. All else-his/her labour and achievement flow from this value system. Even shortcomings cannot invalidate it. “The essence of an African-centered approach is that it is imperative and urgent for Africans to be concerned about broader development as well as approaches to development that are undergirded by humanly or fellow feeling towards others. When African-centeredness is considered along with the idea of the socializing effects of developmental environments and the possibilities of reinforcement to these nations and contexts, the implications for an African development process appear vital. “Although compassion, warmth, understanding, caring, sharing, humanness are underscored by all the major world orientations, African-centered thoughts serve as a distinctly African rationale for these ways of relating to others. African-centeredness gives a distinctly African meaning to, and reason or motivation for a positive attitude towards the other. In the light of the calls for an African renaissance, African centeredness urges Africans to be true to their promotion of good governance, democracy, peaceful relations and conflict resolution, educational and other developmental aspirations. We ought never to falsify the cultur-

The DG of CBAAC, Prof. Tunde Babawale and Dr. Tunji Braithwaite congratulating Prof Abdul Karim Bangura after delivering his lecture. al reality, which is the goal of African centeredness. Thus, we would have to oppose all sorts of siphon” In his speech, The Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Chief Edem Duke, who was represented by Mrs. grace Gokpe, said Nigeria, as many parts of Africa, is confronted with the challenge of poverty, disease, unemployment, illiteracy, terrorism and many other ills. He however believed that the country could overcome the challenges through resolve to make democracy work. The DG of CBAAC, Prof Tunde Babawale, said that though the condition may appear hopeless, there are in recent times signs of recovery in some parts of the continent.

“What will be required to sustain this tempo and take us out of the woods is to strengthen our democratic institutions, install focused and visionary leadership in political offices, ensure that our bureaucracies are imbued with efficiency, legitimacy, prestige and authority and shielded from instrumental manipulation by transient power-wielders and rent-seeking groups.” The Chairman of the occasion, Professor Adele Jinadu, underscored the critical leadership the African middle class can and should play in the continuing and endless struggle for the sustainability of the democratic project in Africa as a people-centered and public interest.

With Torn, Nollywood Comes Alive By Florence Utor AyBE because of the knocks it has M received over the years maybe not. But Nollywood is beginning to up its ante in the attempt to produce world-class movies that can compete with other film cultures. It is gradually making movies that have depth and rounded characters- one major aspect still lacking in the industry. A new movie, Torn, directed by Moses Inwang, aka Sneeze, which stars industry heavy weights such as Monalisa Chinda, Joseph Bemjamin, Bimbo Manuel, Ireti Doyle and Julius Agwu is set to prove that Nollywood has indeed come of age, 20 years after Living-In-Bondage. The blockbuster is an action-packed movie that dwells on the issues of multiple personality disorder. It is a psychological and emotional thriller involving two friends, Ovu and Nana, who both believe they are married to the same man – Olumide. The issue of who is lying and who is suffering from multiple personality disorder dominates the plot. Then begins the unravelling of the truth by a top psychologist - what really is going on behind the façade of a seemingly

happy, young couple and their perfect family friend. According to Inwang, “this is a situation many find themselves in, knowingly or unknowingly, trying to be someone else either because they admire the person or that is what they too have always wanted to be. I believe people who find themselves in this situation can identify with it and change where necessary.” The dreadlocked director added that he wanted to do something different from the usual norm, something more complicated and different. In his words “once you start watching a Nigerian movie, you can tell what the outcome will be but this is not the case”. Ireti Doyle, a major character in the movie, who shows her finesse in one of the roles, confessed that divulging herself of whom she is as well as the character of Sheila in the Mnet popular soap, Tinsel, which she is currently playing, to really flow in the new role was not easy as the industry is not use to having deep scripts as well as deep female characters such as in this film. The movie, billed to be premiered on July 27 at the Silver bird Galleria Lagos will be released on August 2.

Monalisa

Joseph

Ireti

Nwankwo, House Committee Chairman on Culture, Commends Art Teachers at NGA Exhibition By Ruth Byoma HE Chairman, House T Committee on Culture, Honourable Ben Nwankwo has said that life without art is like living without beauty. He was speaking at the opening of the maiden Art Teachers’ exhibition organised recently by the National Gallery of Art, NGA, at Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja. Represented by Honourable Ajiboye Robinson, he said the exhi-

bition is timely as it charts a course for teachers to rub shoulders with core professional artists who enjoy various avenues of patronage such as wall space display, art marketing, art dealing, art auction and web based art market among others. According to the lawmaker, the exhibition is not only very important and reflective of the practical side of the Art teachers who are generally known for their theoretical competence, but a

laudable initiative and a capacity building event that deserves every one’s commendation. ”It is my hope that this show will expose the Art teachers to the real world of mainstream Art market while simultaneously sustaining the virility of the art profession to the admiration of their students and the public at large,” he said. The three day exhibition featured 57 works of various genres from art teachers in

Nursery, Primary and Secondary Schools in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Present at the opening ceremony were the Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Chief Edem Duke represented by the Director, Tourism, Johnson Odekina, the DG, NGA, Abdullahi Muku, management and staff of NGA, teachers and students. The exhibition was anchored by the Director, Curatorial Representative of the Chairman, House Committee on culture, Hon. Ajiboye Services, Titus Akusu. Robinson admiring one of the printings on display at the exhibition

THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, July 6, 2013

NEWSINTERVIEW

‘Canada, Land Of Oppotunities’ Dr. Amos Kayode Fayehun is a Canadian registered Immigration consultant. His real function is to help people that want to study, go for holiday or even relocate to Canada. He told BUKKY OLAJIDE of the opportunities available in Canada.

Fayehun

Why does Canada want immigrants THE major issue is that Canada is the second largest country in the world after China. And while China is having about 1.3 billion population, as we are talking, Canada has less than 34 million people. So, that Canada needs people to survive is a serious understatement and they will continue to need people, especially the youths because their population is aging now and there is nobody to work and the fear now is that in the nearest future, it will be difficult for them to have a productive workforce to keep the industry going. So definitely, Canada needs people. But some people capitalize on this to advertise. Yes, Canada needs people but there is some specific kind of people they need. They need quality, young, educated and talented people. That is, people that can contribute positively to the economy of their country. So they need those category of people who have the mind of making Canada their home, not criminals because Canada will not touch a criminal for a minute. What are the opportunities in Canada ? They are so enormous. Canada is the first in the list of countries that supply oil and gas to America. This implies that even the resources in terms of oil and gas in Canada is more than that of Nigeria. Also, the agricultural land is enormous, the agricultural technology is not manual. With this kind of opportunity and with very small population, you can imagine that for somebody who is ready to work, study or relocate has ample opportunities. I did not even know that there is such kind of opportunity until I moved there as a permanent resident four years ago. So I went back to the university to study human resources management and immigration consulting. So I am here in Nigeria to establish outfit for two main reasons : First is training and development. I discovered that training and development is very crucial to Nigeria. It is part of the solution because the kind of caliber of people we have is nothing to write home about. We have some graduates in Nigeria that cannot measure up to what we call international standard. We have some graduates that after their name, they don’t know anything again. So we have some graduates that probably qualify as engineers but they are full of theory, they never saw some of the basic equipment in the engineering. We have some as medical doctors that have never seen the modern technology to measure ordinary temperature. So, with this in mind, we are geared to see what we can do about training and development to young talented and professional Nigerians. So we have two kinds of plans for that: It’s either we bring some expertise from America and Canada to Nigeria to train people with kind of specific areas of needs or otherwise, we can make it the other way round, that is, taking some professionals and talented individuals to Canada for training especially in the private and public sectors – banking, engineering, architecturing and so on. The training will make them to meet international standards. So we are already training some bankers

who will go in June and we will continue to train in other sectors. That is for training and development. Another thing is that I just discovered that now that Canada needs people, that means there is a yawning gap but Nigeria has population which they don’t even know what to do with it, so I can see a kind of needs with these two countries I belong to. As a Nigerian and as a Canadian, I believe that I have a role to play. So what I am trying to do now is to segment those clients into basic four areas. First, are those who want to visit Canada, so we are going to package a lot of people to visit Canada. More than 30 million people visit Canada every year, so we are talking to individuals and professionals so they can see the kind of ample opportunity they can have. From visiting, may be they can develop some kinds of business links that can benefit them in the long term. That is for the visitors. Another one which Nigerians or Africa in general have never capitalized on, is temporary workers. There are lots of opportunity for temporary workers in Canada. There are some kinds of products that is seasonal, that at times they need people to come and help them especially in the agricultural and construction sectors. Because of the weather, there is a specific period that they need to do a lot of work, and by that time, they need to do a lot of work and by that time, people that are available is not enough so there is a kind of opportunity for temporary workers, which countries very close to them like South America, the Mexicans and the people in Colombia have been capitalizing on that. So, they come to Canada briefly, work for six to nine months and go back to their country and be sure that next year is there, and go back at that time of the year again. So, I want to see if I can encourage some professionals here that can go and fit into that kind of temporary. So, we are working on temporary workers’ work permit. The third category is for students. We have three categories of students. There are minor: You will be shocked that a lot of people nowadays even start from high school after they have finished their school. There are a lot of people that are investors, there are even investors here in Nigeria for par adventure they want to diversify to investment in Canada, sincerely Canada is another opportunity for people to invest in a very suitable and secure environment. So the second one is entrepreneur So what can they invest on? They can invest in agriculture, oil and gas, fast food construction and so on. So you know with the new infrastructure is not going to be expensive like that of Nigeria. There is also entrepreneurship. These are people that want to invest but do not need to get involved with the management of the company. Entrepreneurship means managing a company, for example, he has a cargo, a courier service and also bureau de change so he enters Canada as an entrepreneur, what he need to do is to set up a team, have his own staff and equipment. There are also those people who want to come to the country, concerning through. We have some spouse where the husband is in Canada and the wife is in Nigeria and we have some parents whose grandparents and relatives are in Nigeria and they want to sponsor them to Canada. So because one of the cardinal point to Immigration law to Canada is what we call family unification, they don’t want family to scatter once you are Canada they want you to be close to your family, if somebody have a spouse, father, mother and so on, you can sponsor them. So that is the major thing we do here, the other one is that those people that found themselves in Canada went there and along the line they don’t want to come to back to Nigeria.

THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, July 6, 2013

NEWSINTERVIEW

‘Nigeria’s Mineral Resources Under-exploited’ MR. Alex Abaito Ohikere was appointed a year ago by President Goodluck Jonathan as the first substansiveDirector General of the National Steel Raw Materials Exploration Agency (NSRMEA). An internationally trained geologist with over three decades of practice, Ohikere, in this interview, says his agenda at NSRMEA is to revive the lucrative sector by increasing its current 2 per cent contribution to the GDP to 10 per cent. He speaks with BANKOLE SHAKIRUDEEN ADESHINA. Can you recount your experiences since assumption of office at NSRMEA? N my first day in office, I was overwhelmed by the love demonstrated by members of my staff as they welcomed me with a lavish reception and good promises to contribute to the upliftment of the agency. Since we came in, we have tried to add value to what we met on ground, laying emphasis on maintenance and sustainability while many developmental strides have taken place in areas of mineral exploration, physical infrastructure, machines and equipment. Our achievements were showcased in November last year at a well attended quality stakeholder’s forum organised by our agency at Nicon Luxury Hotel in Abuja. These include procurement of a new rig, Atlas Copco multipurpose drilling rig, Sino truck low loader, Atlas Copco 20 Bar compressor, reactivation of agency’s machine tools workshop that was closed for over 15 years, maintenance of R&D equipment, renovation of Lokoja and Obi exploration bases, procurement of 4 hilux project vehicles and repairs of some of the old rigs and on the job training of staff. These activities made it possible for the agency to intensify its field exploration work that had been slackened for upward of six years. Statutorily, NSRMEA is responsible for, among others, carrying out the exploration of steel raw materials in all parts of Nigeria and elsewhere for the iron and steel industry. How have these activities contributed to the nation’s economy and the wellbeing of ordinary Nigerians? If Nigeria had not invested in oil exploration in the fifties, you can imagine what would have happened. Lots of money was spent in the search for oil, never knowing whether petroleum would be struck. Today the oil and gas sector is the mainstay of the economy. In minerals and metals sector, we are in the stage of exploration, trying to evaluate the quantity, quality and viability of the resources. Artisanal miners are exploiting these resources without finding out whether the mineral is occurring in commercial quantities or not. They expend money, labour and time without using modern mining equipment. Our Agency, an exploration outfit, is bridging the gap between initial discovery of mineral occurrences and their exploitation. What are your plans as the NSRMEA DG and how much have you achieved in line with these objectives? My vision does not differ greatly from the Agency’s vision of being a world-class geo-scientific information centre for investors and researchers in solid mineral sector. In line with these objectives, the geo-scientific data previously gathered from Itakpe iron ore deposit and Lafia/Obi coal deposit are now being upgraded to meet international standard, while new ones are being generated from the new areas of exploration especially the newly discovered iron ores at Jaruwa (Kaduna State), Gidan Buzu (Yobe), Lamba (Bauchi), Gidan Jaja (Zamfara) and Akpogu (Kogi). Based on database at your disposal, what is the state of the nation’s solid mineral industry? The mining sector is not tapping the various resources we have identified. The potential is

Ohikere

‘

’

great but the cement and conThe worth of the nation’s minexploitation so struction industries far is crude and are operating activeeral resources, which include artisanal in ly. iron ore, gold, ferroalloys, nature. Before A paltry 2 % is said industrial minerals are quite proper mining to be the contribucan be mechation but the plan is enormous but they are not yet nised, the that by year 2020, a being tapped and therefore investor has to minimum of 10% will cannot fetch money carry out be contributed to detailed explothe GDP by the secration involving tor. core drilling. We cannot yet say the state of The worth of the mineral resources of the industry is healthy, as the mines are Nigeria, which include iron ore, gold, fernot there yet, compared with countries roalloys, industrial minerals are quite enorlike South Africa, Australia or even Ghana. mous. Currently, what is the worth of Nigeria’s How can Nigeria develop the industry to its steel and raw materials industry and how full capacity like other developed countries much does this contribute to the nation’s of the world? gross domestic product yearly? As government and agencies responsible I think you are thinking of the Metals and for implementation of policies, we need to Minerals sector generally. The sector is not realise that resources, if not used, are not contributing as it should. Remember benefiting anybody. Exploitation of the when mining was active in Jos Plateau resources will engage millions of able-bodbefore indigenisation; the solid mineral ied people to create wealth. The resources sector was contributing much at that like the coal can be used for coal-fired time. But now, unfortunately, the mines plants to generate electricity, which is our are not there, only limestone/marble, major problem in the country. granite, silica sand/gravel quarries for the Capitalising on the peculiar geology of the

area, with active plates movements (tectonics) of the area, Japan uses geothermal energy to generate electricity. We should also use all resources available to us in Nigeria to make life more pleasant for our people. We need to combine hydrothermal, gasfired and coal-fired facilities to generate enough and cheap power or electricity. For industrialization of the nation, steel production is indispensable. You need iron ore, coal, fluxes and refractory materials for steel manufacturing. What do you think are the challenges hindering the maximization of the potentials of this industry? The challenges include inadequate proven reserves due to inadequate detailed exploration, inadequate infrastructure e.g. railways, seaports and roads, shortage of skilled manpower, lack of cheap electricity and lack of modern mining and mineral processing technology. How can these challenges be mitigated? The government should deliberately fund exploration to discover more mineral deposits since they are depleting assets. This will go a long way to provide the much needed proven reserves which are of interest to investors while more modern exploratory equipment are required for speedy and efficient exploration programmes. Training and re-training of technical personnel to keep abreast of modern exploration techniques is also essential. Government should not relent in its efforts at repositioning Nigeria as an exploration/mining destination and should press on with its power programme to ensure cheap electricity. As a geologist, what do you think is responsible for fierce climatic reactions, which has culminated into deadly flooding across the world lately? There are two main factors responsible for climatic change, which is principally dependent on the earth’s temperature. These factors could be natural or manmade. Methane and Carbon dioxide are generated by both organic matter and animals/human. Both compounds are green house gases, which tend to hold heat in our atmosphere. The Polar Regions which are snow covered get melted with the increase in the green house gases. Methane is generated naturally by wetlands and by man’s burning of fuel (oil and coal). With increase in world population this is bound to increase. The carbon dioxide which would have been used up by the plants in photosynthesis remains on the increase because of deforestation, some geological processes may also contribute as it is generally believed that the universe goes through various changes with geologic time, which may be thousands or millions of years. How can we reduce the impact of this disaster? Well there is really not much we can do, unless we can reduce the emission of these green house gases into our atmosphere. The terrible effect of flood on man and structures can be prevented by avoiding building on river valleys and flood plains. Proper monitoring of the weather and the dams upstream should be carried out regularly by relevant agencies. What is the contribution of NSRMEA on the quest to achieving uninterrupted power supply in the country? Our ministry, Mines and Steel Development have been given the task of making sure that coal contributes 30 percent of power generation by year 2020 in the Transformation Agenda of this government. The vision the nation has is to generate 35,000 Megawatts in 7 years time, which means power from coal-fired plants is expected to be 10,500 MW. Our agency, whose mandate is to carry out detailed minerals exploration, has a vital role to play in achieving this. Currently, we have carried out exploration of coal in many areas, including Lafia/Obi, Gombe, Bauchi, Kogi, Amasiado, Afuze amongst others all in attempt to play our role in this important quest of the government.

THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, July 6, 2013

HEALTHFEATURES By Joseph Okoghenun T is no longer news that Nigeria Itheir loses thousands of children before fifth birthday. But what may be new and cheerful for parents is that there is a lot they can do, not only to prevent such deaths, but also to prevent morbidity through cheap and affordable nutrition. Various experts who spoke in Lagos recently at a two-day seminar organized by Nestle Nigeria in conjunction with Development Communication (DevCom) on nutrition, water and rural development, said nutrition was more important for a child in its few days of life than anything. The nutritionists said that nutrition for pregnant women, exclusive breastfeeding for children for the first six-months of life and supportive feeding with home-made meals along with breastfeeding after sixmonths of life till a child’s second birthday or first 1,000 days of life, could define survival rate and intelligence of children within first two years of life, even in adulthood. A child’s first 1,000 days of life is calculated from a woman’s first day of pregnancy to the child’s second birthday. Deputy Director/Head of Nutrition, Federal Ministry of Health, Dr. Chris Osa Isokpunwu, who spoke on the importance of nutrition in the first 1,000 days of life, said malnutrition is one of the greatest child-killer conditions in Nigeria. He said malnutrition contributes a whopping 53 per cent of deaths to under-five mortality rate in the country. Isokpunwu blamed malnutrition on low rate of exclusive breastfeeding for the first six-months of life which he put at 13 per cent, and early initiation of complementary feeding before the age of six-months which he put at 76.1 per cent. He urged mothers to scale up nutrition before pregnancy and during pregnancy till age two of a child’s life, to empower its emotional and mental development. “Adequate nutrition in the first (1,000 days) two years of a child life, is the window of children’s survival and optimal growth and development into adolescent and adulthood. As a matter of fact, focus of nutrition should be on the first 1,000 days of a child’s life as it is known to be a foundation for good health in adulthood and in preventing some of the nutrition related non-communicable diseases that we often see in adulthood,” he said. According to the United Nations Children’s Education Fund (UNICEF), every single day, Nigeria loses about 2,300 under-five children, a scenario that makes the country the second largest contributor to the under-five mortality rate in the world. “The deaths of newborn babies in Nigeria represent a quarter of the total number of deaths of children under-five. The majority of these occur within the first week of life. Malnutrition is the underlying cause of morbidity and mortality of a large proportion of children under-five in Nigeria. It accounts for more than 50 per cent of deaths of children in this age bracket,” UNICEF said. President, Nutrition Society of Nigeria (NSN), Prof. Ngozi Nnam, said the first 1,000 days of life could determine what the child would become in life, both academically and health-wise, adding that if a child did not get enough nutrition in its first two years of life, “that child is destroyed for life.” The nutritionist, who said that malnourished children lack 13.5 per cent of intelligence quotient (IQ), added that if a pregnant were malnourished, her child’s certain

Nutrition As Medicine For Children In First 1,000 Days Of Life important brain parts would be irreversibly deformed for life. Nnam, who is a professor of Public Health Nutrition at the University of Nigeria (UNN), said: “First 1,000 days period from start of a woman’s pregnancy to her child’s second birthday – sets the future for the child, his future health, well-being and success in life. First 1,000 days of life is one of the periods of growth spurt when cells, tissues and organs are developed and bones are formed. “It is a critical window of opportunity to provide the child with adequate nutrition for proper growth and development. This is a period of rapid growth when infants and children are especially vulnerable and at greater risk of malnutrition leading to stunting, wasting, underweight and micronutrient deficiencies. “First 1,000 days is a period of rapid brain development. Up to 70 per cent of brain development happens during pregnancy, 15 per cent during the first year of life and development of brain almost completed by second birthday. “Some nutrients are needed for proper brain development – protein, iron, folate, iodine, some fatty acids from fat and carbohydrates. At least 50 brain neurotransmitters are affected by the intake of nutrients in the first 1,000 days. Inability to provide adequate nutrients for proper development reduces IQ by 13.5 points and the effect is irreversible. Inadequate

supply of nutrients during the first 1,000 days leads to stunted brain and stunted growth. “Poor nutrition in the first 1,000 days predisposes a child to chronic diseases in adulthood. Seeds of chronic illnesses – diabetes, heart disease and obesity – are laid in the womb,” Nnam said. A new Lancet series on maternal and childhood nutrition finds that over three million children die every year of malnutrition, accounting for nearly half of all child deaths underfive. Prof. Robert Black of the Department of International Health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, United States led the consortium of experts who

The first 1,000 days of life is from conception to the second birthday. This determines the health and cognitive ability of the child for the rest of his life. There is a window of opportunity between pregnancy and age two where 1,000 days can shape a child’s future and offer a unique window of opportunity to shape healthier, more prosperous future and society.

produced this series. “This series strengthens the evidence that a nation’s economic advancement is tied to the first 1,000 days of every child’s life. Malnutrition can hunt children for the rest of their lives. Undernourished children are more susceptible to infectious diseases and achieve less education and have lower cognitive abilities. As a result, under-nutrition can significantly impede a country’s economic growth.” Saving The Children, an international non-governmental organization which works in over 120 countries, including Nigeria, reported this year that “the 1,000 days from the start of a woman’s pregnancy until her child’s second birthday are a critical time for brain growth. During this period, malnutrition affects the structural and functional development of the brain, directly affecting cognitive development. It also has an indirect impact, affecting the way children learn and their ability to interact and engage with the world.” Nestle Nigeria Scientific and External Affairs Manager, Chioma Emma-Nwachukwu, said for children under the age of two, the consequences of under-nutrition are particularly severe, often irreversible with adverse implications for the future. “In pregnancy, under-nutrition can have a devastating impact on the healthy growth and development of a child. Babies who are malnour-

ished in the womb have a higher risk of dying in infancy and are more likely to face lifelong cognitive and physical deficits and chronic health problems. For children under the age of two, under-nutrition can be life- threatening. The child’s immune system is weakened, giving rise to common infections such as pneumonia, diarrhea among others”, Emma-Nwachukwu said. She added: “The first 1,000 days of life is from conception to the second birthday. This determines the health and cognitive ability of the child for the rest of his life. There is a window of opportunity between pregnancy and age two where 1,000 days can shape a child’s future and offer a unique window of opportunity to shape healthier, more prosperous future and society. “Evidence shows that the right nutrition during the 1,000- day window can save more than one million lives each year; significantly reduce the human and economic burden of diseases such as tuberculosis, malaria and human immunodeficiency virus /acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS); reduce the risk for developing various non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, and other chronic conditions later in life; improve an individual’s educational achievement and earning potential; and increase a country’s gross domestic product (GDP) by at least two to three per cent annually.”

TheGuardian

Saturday, July 6, 2013 | 43

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

NaturalHealth Natural Health With G. C. Ihesie

Mobile phone no: 08033065263, E-mail: ihesie84@yahoo.com.

The Amazing Healing Power Of Watermelon , botanically known WasATERmELON Citrullus lanatus, is actually a

vegetable, not a fruit. It belongs to the Cucurbitaceae family, which comprises vegetables like cucumber, pumpkin, etc., that grow in most tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Watermelon is believed to be native to Africa. Watermelons vary considerably in size and colour from cultivar to cultivar. It can be oblong or spherical in shape and light-green to dark-green in colour, with white mottling stripes. The inner pulp is usually bright red. However, there are other varieties that have pink, dark-brown or orange coloured pulp. The red pulp, the rind which is whitish green in colour and the seeds are parts of watermelon used as a refreshing drink or for therapeutic purposes. Chemical Constituents/Nutritional Benefits Watermelon is a nutritional powerhouse, low in calories, no fat and no cholesterol. It is made up of 90% water. The red pulp is a good source of lycopene (a carotenoid) and betacarotene which are powerful antioxidants that protect against many diseases such as heart disease, prostate cancer and other types of cancers. The lycopene and the betacarotene content of watermelon increases with ripening. Also, watermelon is a very rich source of vitamin A, vitamin C and bioflavonoids, folic acid, the B-vitamins (B1, B2, B3, B5, B6) and essential minerals like potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and smaller amounts of copper, iron and zinc. A recent study has shown that watermelon has a high concentration of an amino acid called citrulline;

and the kidneys (and other organs in the body) convert this amino acid into another amino acid known as arginine, which helps to give strength to the blood-carrying vessels (cardiovascular system) and promotes their overall health. For the male reproductive health, citrulline and arginine have been found to work like “natural Viagra” in the treatment of erectile dysfunction. The same study revealed that drinking watermelon juice with meals for 21 days will raise the blood level of arginine by 22 percent. Watermelon is equally a rich source of pectin which is believed to help protect the body against any form of harmful radiation. The watermelon rind is the whitish green part between the skin and the red pulp. This part which contains some chlorophyll, silicon and essential minerals should be taken together with the pulp and should not be discarded. The seeds of watermelon are low in carbohydrates, but high in protein (about 30%), edible oil (20 40%) and a phytochemical known as cucurbocitrin – a substance believed to dilate the capillaries and may therefore help in reducing blood pressure. Furthermore, the seeds are high in micro- and macro-nutrients like potassium, iron, zinc calcium and phosphorus. Therapeutic Properties, Health and Medicinal Values of Watermelon Watermelon has the following therapeutic properties: Anticancer, Anti-inflammatory, Antioxidant, Antiprostatitic, Antipyretic (Febrifuge), Cardiac, Demulcent, Diuretic, Enuresis, Hypocholesterolemic, Hypotensive,

Laxative, Litholytic, Pectoral, Purgative, Tonic, Vermifuge, etc. 1) Kidney, Urinary Disorders and Infections A regular intake of watermelon juice acts as a mild natural diuretic (the high level of potassium and low level of sodium lower the density of urine and increase its flow). In this way, watermelon juice assists the kidneys in eliminating chlorides, nitrogenous waste products (such as urea, uric acid and creatinine), excess salts, etc. The increased flow of urine helps in drawing out accumulated toxins ((manmade products, tobacco smoke, pesticides, artificial flavours, etc.) from the blood, the kidney itself and other internal organs. Therefore, in conjunction with other remedies, watermelon is used in the treatment of all cases of

acute infections, sexually transmitted infections, nephritis, kidney and urinary bladder stones, bedwetting, prostate enlargement, fluid retention (especially in pregnant women and those with premenstrual syndrome). A healthy person has healthy blood with favourable blood chemistry and inner biochemical harmony maintained by the liver and the kidneys which act as body filters. 2) Erectile Dysfunction Watermelon is an excellent source of B-vitamins, citrulline and arginine; (and the last two give energy and act like natural Viagra). Therefore, it is highly beneficial in checking erectile dysfunction and in boosting male

fertility. 3) Visual Problems Watermelon juice contains powerful antioxidants like betacarotene, lycopene, vitamin C, lutein and zeaxanthin which help to protect the eyes or the optic nerves and lower the risks of age-related glaucoma, macular degeneration and drying up of the eyes that may result in loss of vision.

PetLife With Dr.Tunji Nasir

Do-It-Yourself Syndrome By Dr Tunji Nasir O the uninitiated, discussing worming in T dogs may somewhat be too flat, as much literature abound on this topic. However, I still find it very germane to dwell on it because of the numerous complaints I receive in the clinic arising from the effects of worms in puppies and adult dogs alike. Worms and deworming in animals should ordinarily command priority attention in the basket of ‘must dos’ and ‘must knows’. Paradoxically, these issues are the most abused by owners because of their wrong belief that the vet is not so important in this regard. many owners play the tortoise by indulging in ‘Do it yourself Syndrome’ and they often fail woefully to get the targeted responses. Just like self-medication in man, a lot of problems can ensue through the owners’ indiscretions. It may be apt and seems to be the right thing to do in certain developed lands because a lot of deworming drugs are marketed as over the counter (OTC) drugs; sold in supermarkets and may even be displayed on the vets’ shelves. In such places, the benefit of an open socie-

ty, where limits are defined and rights are appreciated, is enjoyed by the owners of pets. Also, the prescriptive power of the veterinarians is adequately remunerated; hence, there is no furtiveness in the manner in which the liaison between the veterinarians and their clients are conducted. What happens here is very interesting. I will state without any fear of contradiction that most of our practices survive on immunizations, de-worming and to a little extent, ectoparasitic control. Removing one of these three profit centres will render a lot of us impotent. Hence, the propensities of the average vet to jealously guard his business by making sure his clients respect their schedule when it comes to these routine clinical activities. Because the water in the drum has found a leaking spot, most pet owners like I men-

tioned above, have found the easy street to walk. They de-worm their pets themselves in a bid to save some money since the exercise requires no special skill. The trouble is, the environment that we operate from is not educated. De-worming drugs like every other veterinary specialty is not too common to an extent that they will be displayed like wares in the market place. So, many people resort to using drugs formulated for man to de-worm their animals. And they end up not completing the job, as they either give below or above the recommended dosages. For under-dosages, the problem is slow and sure. Invariably, no treatment is offered and a resistance problem is created —- that particular species of worms are sensitized to the drugs and anytime that same drug is used later, no optimal relief is

effected. On the other hand, when the cliff is scaled, there is no other option than to go under. At such instances, the effects of megadoses are seen. The pet suffers such deleterious consequences that major clinical monsters are unleashed on the poor animals. The problems can be acute (sudden, following the administration of the drug) or can be chronic, when the effects tip-toe into our eventual awareness. The question is, why do we have to subject our poor pets to these stressors which may eventually claim their lives? The only reason I can deduce from all these is that most owners who indulge in these habits do so to save cost. However, it becomes a macabre dance, and what goes around, comes around because at the end of the day, the money that was intended for the vaults end up in the vet’s bank deposits. It is not only the subject of de-worming that is so treated, but it is easily the most abused. Nowadays, clients have degenerated to the level of vaccinating their dogs and other pets themselves without any regards to the salient conditions that must be fulfilled in terms of clinical environment that must prevail before the antigen is introduced. So many drugs; chemicals and equipment are being misapplied as we turn our pets into fields of experiments. It will do a lot of us a lot of good if the vet’s opinion is always sought. If you are not sure of his counsel, try a second opinion. It might just be worth the trouble.

THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, July 6, 2013

44 |

BUSINESS INTERVIEW

Anigioro

Travel And Tours Without Tears and that was how SkyGuide Travels and Tours came to be. What is SkyGuide Travels and Tours about? It is a one-stop shop where people who have travel issues can come without fear of being disappointed. We have a good team that ensures that our clients are satisfied. SkyGuide Travels and Tours Limited is established to handle all issues relating to the aviation industry viz-a-viz flight booking/reservations (Local and International), visa processing/procurement, hotel reservation and so on. SkyGuide started effectively since July 2012. How has the journey been so far? The journey has not been that rosy, but it has been a wonderful experience. Our clients are smiling and we are happy that there are no complaints. We have been able to carve a niche for ourselves. What makes your company different from others? We have excellent customer service. We are always there for our clients. We have been rated by the regulatory agency and our clients as being reliable, trustworthy and highly professional in the way we handle our client’s transactions/enquiries. We cherish and protect the interest of our clients and keep them satisfied at all times. HY did you leave your banking job to How do you cope with competition? set up this business? Competition is very good because it will It is about fulfilment. Banking job is always keep you on your toes. It will make not for lazy people. It is for those who are you know if you are doing well or not. mentally and physically alert. I have always Though SkyGuide is young, we have been believed that you got to go where your inter- able to win the hearts of our esteemed est lies. At a point, I got interested in doing clients. travel business and with my banking backWhat is your own definition of success? ground, coupled with the necessary training My own view of success is not about on the job, I believed I could do better in the money but being able to make someone business. When I went for holiday in Canada, happy without stress. It is all about going I saw International Association Of Travel the extra mile to put a smile on people’s Agents (IATA) and from there I made face. The fact that my customers come back, enquiries. I followed it up and went for prop- satisfied, is a success story for me. er training. After that I realised I could do it From what you have achieved so far, can

Kola Anigioro is a thoroughbred professional who knows how to make his clients feel at home. The University Of Ibadan-trained biochemist and nutritionist is a member of Chartered Institute Of Bankers Of Nigeria and holds a Virgin Atlantic Airways/GTMC Fare & Ticketing Training certificate (VA-1 and VA-2) 2012 in United Kingdom. He held managerial positions at different branches of Eco Bank and First Bank in Lagos. While working as a Banker, he set up his own business: SkyGuide Travels and Tours Ltd, Lagos in 2012. He also runs a cargo business with office in the United States. The Multi-skilled business manager spoke to GERALDINE AKUTU about his business and other issues.

you say you are fulfilled? I would say I am fulfilled to some extent, but I think we still need to cover some frontiers. I believe one needs to improve and be better everyday. Who are your clients? We have corporate clients, individual clients and government agencies. How do you relate with your clients? We have one-on-one relationship with our clients. We treat them like family and render quality services which make them keep coming back. What are the problems facing tourism in Nigeria? The industry itself is filled with what I call ‘briefcase’ practitioners, who have little or no experience. Some of them are not registered and you cannot locate where they stay. They create very bad image for the industry and people are sceptical because they do not want to fall prey to these fake ones. There are no proper policies guiding tourism in Nigeria. How can these problems be solved? I think it is a general thing which happens in all sectors of the economy. There is a body that regulates this business in Nigeria known as Nigerian Association Of Travel Agent (NATA). Myself as part of the body and others are enlightening people to do the right thing. I am not against anyone going into travel business, but am asking those who want to do this business to register with NATA body to be certified and go for the required training to learn the do’s and don’t’s of the job. As an entrepreneur, how do you cope with challenges? I prayerfully confront them and face them squarely. Whether we like it or not, challenges will come, but it is how they is handled that matters. I don’t let them weigh me down, rather I try to improve. How do you combine home front and your

career? The two complement each other. I carry my wife and children along, they understand the nature of my job and by the grace of God they are co-operating. Aside your busy schedule, how do you relax? I relax by going to church and playing football. What valuable lessons have you learnt on this job? I have learnt that whatever you set your mind to do positively, you are going to achieve. It may take time but you are going to get there. If you put your mind on negative things, then what you think is what you will get. I am a very optimistic person and don’t believe in failure. What is your advice to young entrepreneurs going into this line of business? Be positive minded, work hard, believe in yourself, get registered and go for the necessary training to keep you equipped on the job.

The industry itself is filled with what I call ‘briefcase’ practitioners, who have little or no experience. Some of them are not registered and you cannot locate where they stay. They create very bad image for the industry

TheGuardian

Saturday, July 6, 2013 | 45

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Travel&Tourism

... Explore, experience the best of destinations!

The Spring in the love garden

By Lape Soetan LTHOUGH Obudu Mountain Resort, first creA ated as a horse and cattle ranch in 1951, is one of the most famous tourist attractions in Nigeria, until recently, I had only met two people who had been there. From the stories they told and the pictures I had seen, I knew Obudu was a place I wanted to go, yet going there was a bit like going to Australia – desirable but unlikely. I mean, how would I even get to Obudu? I do not know anyone there and the only two people I know who had been there know little about how to organise a trip there. I pushed the dream of visiting Obudu to the back of my mind, occasionally remembering it whenever I came across yet another beautiful picture of the resort – usually on a calendar. Obudu must be one of the top ten pictures most used on Nigerian calendars. When you’ve had a dream for so long that you’ve even forgotten about it and that dream comes to pass, the feeling is thrilling, and that was exactly how I felt when a few weeks ago, I was on the way to Obudu. In spite its name; Obudu Mountain Resort is not actually in Obudu. It used to be until new local governments were created in Cross River state, Obudu Mountain Resort found that it was now located in Obanliku. The Resort kept its name though. Obudu is a 6-hour drive from Calabar. The drive is long but tourists often break it in half by stopping at Ikom, which is 3 hours from Calabar, taking a break before continuing the journey. There’s quite a bit to see on the way from Calabar to Obanliku as one passes through different Cross River’s local government areas. I found the journey fascinating and liked road signs that announced local government I was in as we went from Odukpani to Biase, Yakurr, Obubra, Ikom, Boki, Obudu and finally, Obanliku. One of the

The cable cars

especially of the ravines, are like no other. In the cable car at Obudu, you travel up through the clouds making you feel almost invincible. The ride gives you a sort of quiet adrenaline rush. No trip to Obudu would be complete without going on the cable car. At the top of Obudu Mountain, you are in heaven. Or as close to heaven as you can be without leaving earth. Seeing the mists move through (yes, through!) and all around you would make you think of Wuthering Heights and the moors of Yorkshire in which that story was set. The attraction of Obudu is how close to nature you feel while there. Once at the Resort, I decided to go on the Canopy Walkway. To get there, I had to take a short walk through the forest and I really felt like I was in a jungle. It was quiet yet noisy with birds calling to each other. What I found most fascinating was the drip, drip, drip of water on the leaves which was odd as it wasn’t raining. The sound was from falling drops of dew created by the trees. I wished everyone studying biology had the chance to be where I was. The Canopy Walkway is a 100m long swinging bridge about 70m above the forest floor. Being so high in the forest on that little bridge was awesome. At the end of the canopy Walkway is a look-out point from which you can see rainforests – the like of which you may not be able to experience so easily in other parts of the country. Nigeria’s forests are rapidly declining and Cross River is one of the few places left in the country where you can enjoy this natural phenomenon. Back from the high of the Canopy Walk, I took a walk around the Resort. Actually, I lie. I’m not sure anyone can walk around the Resort, the place is huge! As I walked, I patted myself on the back for packing sensibly and wearing comfortable shoes. High heels really don’t belong in Obudu. The Resort is the place for outdoor activity. When you’re not hiking in the forest and looking for natural pools, you can go horse-riding, swimming or go on the Canopy Walkway. By evening, you should have worked up a healthy appetite and be ready to devour your dinner at the Resort’s restaurant. Bonfires held almost every night near the restaurant are fun to watch and are a relief from the cold. Temperatures in Obudu can go as low as 4oC during the rainy season! If, like me, you prefer warmer temperatures, you should go to walked in hand-in-hand and sat down. It was Obudu during the dry season (between Noclear how the Garden had gotten its name. vember and January). The winding road from the bottom of the When I told a friend I had been to Obudu mountain (and the Water Park) to the top is 11km long with 22 hairpin bends – the most fa- Mountain Resort, she said her parents had spent their honeymoon there and I could see mous of which is called the Devil’s Elbow. On why. Obudu is a beautiful place. The Resort one side of the Devil’s Elbow is a 300m-deep ravine and on the other side, the hill climbs up forces you to appreciate the beauty of naat an angle of 90 degrees. That part of the road ture. It makes you feel at peace. It’s a holiday spot not just for honeymooners but also for is particularly difficult for drivers with little friends as well as families with young chilknowledge of the area hence its name. At the bottom of the mountain, you have two choices dren. My favourite things about Obudu were the spectacular views and the swirling – either be driven up by someone who knows the area well (perhaps someone suggested by clouds. Could anyone be there and not feel closer to his fellow man and to nature, not the Resort) or take the cable car. I chose to feel that ultimately this world is a good take the cable car up and drove down the place? I could not. Obudu will bring out mountain later. The cable car ride up Obudu Mountain Resort those feelings in you too. Lape Soetan is a writer and blogger. Visit her is a thrill. At over 4km long, it is the longest blog, www.lapesoetan.com, for travel tips and cable car ride in Africa. I have been on the stories. cable car that takes you to the top of Table Mountain in Cape Town and I can tell you that For information on how to book holidays to the one at Obudu is more exciting. The views, Obudu Mountain Resort, email obudures@yahoo.com

Obudu: A Tourist’s View things I remember most about the car journey (apart from learning that if you get car sick, you should turn off the air-conditioning and wind down the windows) was the cloying smell of fermentation I noticed especially after Ikom. I was told that the smell was the result of villagers drying cocoa pods before selling them. Who knows, perhaps the Mars bar you ate the other day was made with cocoa that came from Cross River. Finally, we came to Obanliku. Obudu Mountain Resort is 1576 metres above sea level so when my ears started feeling blocked like they do on airplanes; I knew we were close to the Resort. The first points of interest you come to at the Resort are the Water Park and the Love Garden. The Water Park has got this huge swimming pool and winding water slides that would delight the water babies out there. The cheesily nicknamed Love Garden is pretty with luscious grass, flowers and a spring bubbling happily through it. Just as I was about to leave the Garden, a couple

The canopy walk

THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, July 6, 2013

46 YourMoney

BRANDINTELLIGENCE

With DESMOND EKEH desmondekeh@yahoo.com; 08023215535

Kolade’s Canons: Tasty Nuggets From A Boardroom Genius By Ntia Usukuma HEN world-renowned inventor and W philosopher, Francis Bacon, declared many years ago that “some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested”, he probably never visualised that a few centuries down the line, a team of courageous and determined writers would put together in three collected volumes, digestible benefits of reflections covering over half a century of indelible actions of a board room genius, teacher, broadcaster, public servant, professional manager, diplomat and teacher of teachers, Dr. Christopher Kolade. Led by Richard Ikiebe, a senior faculty member at the School of Media and Communications, Pan-Atlantic University, the editorial team worked for months to create a landmark collection titled Kolade’s Canons. This monumental work is in three volumes. Volume One, printed in orange cover and titled ‘People. Leadership. Management.’ begins with an introduction, which is a biographical sketch of Dr. Kolade. It has three successive sections: Leadership/ Governance; Management and Human Resources. The second volume of this text, printed in blue cover, is subtitled ‘Business and Economy. Nation Building. Ethics.’ This volume has the following sections: Business/Economy; Nation Building and Ethics. Volume three, printed in purple cover, is sub titled: ‘Broadcasting’ and contains material in four sections: Policy Issues; Professional Issues, Management Issues and ‘Back of the Book.’ What could have motivated Ikiebe and his team to undertake this monumental achievement in respect of a subject that embodies the healthier, sterner, firmer fibre of our nation’s soul? Ikiebe explains: “Dr. Kolade as we know has become something of an icon in the Nigerian business community. He has become an extremely very powerful speaker, motivator, and a leader by example in several ways. What happened was that we were doing a biography on Dr. Kolade, which required that we should get some of the things that he had done before. And so we were going through his papers and we realised that they were so rich and so well put together and well written. And I decided that the book needed to be published because there was no way we could include them in the biography. That was why as the editor of the Canons, I decided to publish separate books. Initially, we thought we were just going to have materials for one book but as it turned out, we had

enough materials for the three books.” Apart from Barnhouse publications, publishers of this text, many other institutions and organisations have contributed immensely to the success of Kolade’s Canons. Cornerstone Insurance, a company licensed and certified by National Insurance Commission to do both general and life insurance, and African Capital Alliance, a private equity investment outfit, were active sponsors of the project. Kolade’s Scholars, an initiative of Pan-Atlantic University and Christopher Kolade Foundation, would handle the scholar programme for indigent undergraduate at PanAtlantic University initiated with proceeds from the public presentation of The Canons held two months ago. With this humanitarian angle, it is obvious that Kolade is bent on making meaningful contributions to the society in perpetuity. Also, speaking about the impact The Canons will make on readers, Kolade said: “If you are seeking to be a blessing to people, you ought to think deeply about what you are doing so that you can deliver the right quality or benefit to the people. I go back to the fact that these were remarks, lectures that I gave somewhere. Every time I talk to people, my desire is that they should have a clearer understanding of what we are discussing. But more importantly, if we discuss something that people should identify for themselves a role that they can play in making things better. You just don’t talk about something and say this thing is bad, you say ‘okay its bad, how can I make it better’? Those were my reasons and that is what I think the impact would be on those who read this with interest.” However, Ikiebe sees the benefits beyond information for the elites. “Nigeria is a place that is deprived of materials for teaching. We are in a university setting here. You find out that in most of the materials we have make references to United Kingdom and American authors that don’t know anything about our own experiences here. I believe very strongly that Kolade’s Canons would become books that are in demand for executives who want to refresh themselves because these are deep and incisive speeches that he gave over a period. They are very deep and illustrative. They reflect our own culture and business culture. We can relate to them because we are Nigerians; and he’s talking as a business leader in Nigeria. He’s not talking as a theorist but as a practical person who experienced making business decisions on a daily basis. Kolade’s Canons would be a lot more useful than most of the things we get from Harvard and co. I am not saying that Harvard is not relevant but having Kolade’s Canons is extremely

valuable. It took a lot of work to publish this book. It was not a one man’s effort even though I am the editor of the book. We had a team that worked with me. It was a joint effort. Various people contributed in making Kolade’s Canons what it is today,” Ikiebe said. From the Canons, one finds Kolade’s analyses on Leadership and management quite intriguing. He believes leadership is accountability. His views: “Personal integrity is not only part of character expected in a leader, it is a requirement of leadership. Leadership is behaviour and performance, not just position, because while position confers authority, performance and behaviour confer respect. Again, leadership is an influence relationship between leaders and followers. Therefore, acceptability and indeed acceptance by the led is a crucial ingredient of leadership because from the followership perspective, the influence relationship allows followers to be built up through the tasks that they perform at the behest of the leader.

And from the organisational viewpoint, leadership ensures that the entity’s objectives are achieved, that the team is cohesive and its individual members actualize their dreams.” Speaking to the Harvard Business School Association of Nigeria in April 1994, Kolade stated that the most important factor in management is the person of the manager. “For that reason, the values and character of the manager are central to management decision-making. These values and character are developed as the manager builds up knowledge, skills and insights. These attributes and competencies need to be continuously maintained and sustained through the changing dynamics of the business environment in order for the manager to remain relevant,” he said. Thus, Kolade advocates a habit of lifelong learning. “Learning is truly a lifelong activity… and it is mainly through learning that the manager builds upon his personal attributes and acquires the knowledge, skills and insights which he needs to succeed in a general man-

Chivita At 10: Gains, Challenges And Prospects HIVITA, a premium fruit C juice and flagship brand from the stable of Chi Limited recently launched a new campaign to mark the brand’s 10 years of excellent performance in the Nigerian market. The campaign reinforces the brand’s “100% fruit juice content”, a tagline that has won for the brand, top-of- themind position among fruit juice consumers across board. Although competition in the juice market is growing fiercer with different juice makers deploying various strategies to increase sales even as new entrants join the fray, Chivita seems to have squeezed more juice out of a tight market than its major

rivals. The fruit juice market is a peculiar market driven more on volume sales than price differentiation. With a price ceiling, most brands rely on other strategies to outwit competitors and for Chivita, the health carrot may be magic wand. Many industry analysts have identified as part of the reasons for Chivita’s steady climb to the top, the health carrot the brand has been dangling with its threelegged brand promise: “No added sugar, No added preservative, No Artificial colours and Flavours.” These analysts believe Chivita’s growing dominance flows from the absence of artificial sugar additives in the product in

the face of growing healthconsciousness among Nigerian juice consumers. Even the Managing Director of Chi Limited, Roy Deepan admitted as much in a recent interview when he said: “To get the natural product to our consumers is not an easy task.” In Nigeria today, incidence of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, stroke and heart diseases is mounting. Experts have linked these diseases to high consumption of refined sugar, among other factors. With a life expectancy of 58 years staring Nigerians in the face, a growing number of Nigerians are becoming wary of refined sugar. Their fears are heightened by a wave of

nutrition advocates who campaign for the return to natural foods. Gradually, to add a number of days to their age, Nigerian consumers are in recent years searching for natural foods in the Nigerian foods and beverages brand basket. Chinedu Chukwuka, a juice stockist at the popular Mushin Provision Market, revealed that even among the lower class, there is increasing preference for natural fruit juice. Chivita Premium Fruit Juice was first introduced in the country in 1996 at a time when a good number of Nigerian consumers had a penchant for patronising imported products based on the perception that they are

of higher quality or just to display affluence. In the attempt to grow the economy, the Federal Government had to introduce ban of certain categories of goods including juice in 2002, to wean Nigerians from their foreign goods addiction. However, over the years, Chivita has grown its equity with campaigns that have helped to build brand presence and kept the brand stuck in the consumers’ consciousness. One of such outstanding campaigns, which was aimed at positioning Chivita Premium Juice as a food product with Nigerian roots, was ‘Be Nigerian, Buy Nigerian.’ The campaign sold the brand as a Nigerian brand of international quali-

ty such that big hotels and airlines moved over to support the brand. The product is also found in markets outside Nigeria’s shores. The brand also enjoys the parental pedigree of Chi Limited, a company that boasts 30 years experience building and marketing a number of successful food and beverage brands. The company is equally a massive investor and promoter of local content in marketing/ advertising support and has for years been exploring the accruals from celebrity endorsements of popular Nollywood artistes such as Jide Kosoko, Ini Edo, and Nkiru Sylvanus to rev up the brand visibility and connection with the consumer.

YourMoney 47

THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, July 6, 2013

BRANDNEWS Samsung Unveils Energy Saving Air Conditioners AMSUNG Electronics West Africa, a subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Company Limited, a leading manufacturer of air-conditioners, is focusing on delivering healthy air conditioning that is also energy saving. Samsung’s unique, Virus Doctor Technology, helps eliminate all bacteria and air borne viruses up to 99.9 per cent efficiency, including the infamous H1N1 virus. The Virus Doctor feature has helped consumers in not only enjoying cool air, but also a hygienic environment. According to Director, Consumer Electronics, Home Appliances, IT and B2B, Samsung Electronics West Africa, Sunil Kumar, “the future of air conditioning usage lies in the Indoor Air Quality (IAQ), along with conservation of energy and environment. To that end, Samsung has developed air conditioners addressing all three concerns. We believe in delivering value to consumers in all the products we introduce to the market.” Kumar added: “We have developed these air conditioners on the back of Built for Africa (BFA), R&D. As at date, all Samsung split air conditioners are fitted with Triple Protector technology, developed and patented by us.

BRANDINTELLIGENCE Renaissance Credit Gets CBN Licence ENAISSANCE Credit Nigeria, operating under the name Rencredit MFB Limited, has been granted a state License by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). Speaking on the CBN licence, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Renaissance Credit Nigeria, Mr. Segun Akintemi, stated that, “this is a great milestone for the company as we are equipped not only to remain a leading provider of consumer loans within every community we operate, but also to ensure we are within reach across all platforms— physical or virtual.” The state licence empowers the company to consolidate

its business objectives, one of which is to offer consumer loans up to N500, 000.00 within 24 hours to lower and middle class income earners in and around Lagos State. With strong core operations and information technology platforms provided by T24 banking software and Experian Information and Data Management Systems, Renaissance Credit would be able to perform enhanced analytics with a goal to improve customer interaction and feedback. Renaissance Credit commenced operations on October 17, 2012, having received its banking licence from the Central Bank of Nigeria.

‘Dulux Mobile Room Make-Over Activation’ Enters Phase Two HE ongoing experiential T campaign by the Chemical and Allied Products (CAP) Plc.,

British Airways Introduces New Hi-tech Bag Tag HIS month, British Airways T is to try a new electronic bag tag that could do away with the need to have a new paper tag every time you fly. British Airways Managing Director, Brands and Customer Experience, Frank van der Post, said: “This is a fantastically simple, yet smart device that gives each customer the choice to have their own personalised electronic baggage tag that changes with the swipe of a smartphone every time they fly. As the saying goes, ‘good things come in small packages’, and this innovative device is no exception. Along with other initiatives we are investing in,

we believe it has the potential to revolutionise the way our customers check in and pass through every airport around the world in the future.” Once checked in, customers just need to hold their smartphone over the electronic tag, which automatically updates with a unique barcode containing their flight details and an easy-to-see view of their bag’s destination. Not requiring a traditional paper tag to be printed and attached, customers can then save precious time by having their electronic tag quickly scanned at the bag drop, going straight through security to relax before catching their flight.

Belvedere Vodka Wins At TheFiftyBest.com Awards ORLD-renowned spirit, Belvedere Vodka, has received a W remarkable endorsement and accolade from the spirit industry’s most authoritative rating bodies, as it won gold medals at the International Spirits Challenge 2013 and TheFiftyBest.com In the 2013 International Spirits Challenge Tasting Awards, Belvedere was awarded Double Gold for its ‘Belvedere Classic’ and ‘Black Raspberry’ variants in the International Spirits Challenge. Additionally, the brand’s variants, ‘Belvedere Classic’ and ‘Belvedere Unfiltered’ won Double Gold in the TheFiftyBest.com ‘Best Vodka’ category. For the International Spirits Challenge category, more than 50 industry professionals participated in a blind tasting of various products where scores were awarded for aroma, appearance, taste and finish – with Belvedere Vodka and Belvedere Vodka’s maceration Black Raspberry coming out top against their global competitors. TheFiftyBest.com, which rates the finest in wines and spirits, gathered 26 contenders who were evaluated for the distinguished ‘Best Vodka’ award. Using professional criteria, the vodkas were served blindly to 20 pre-qualified judges and rated on a one to five point scoring system with five being the best.

a subsidiary of UAC of Nigeria Plc (UAC) and the technological licensee of AkzoNobel, world’s largest paints and coatings company and manufacturers of Dulux premium brand of paint, has entered its second phase after the successful completion of an exciting first phase during which the activation van roved major streets and roads within the Lagos Metropolis. Several hundreds of commuters tried to catch a glimpse of the living room setting that was showcased. According to the Managing Director, Chemical and Allied Products (CAP) Plc., Mrs. Omolara Elemide, the second phase of the campaign tagged

‘Dulux Mobile Room Make-Over Activation’ promises to be more exciting for the target consumers as the activation methodology will change from roving van to stop over approach in which the activation team will stop over intermittently at different consumer touch points such as Housing Estates, Shopping Malls etc. Elemide further disclosed that unlike the first phase of the experiential campaign in which the setting of the activation rig was a living room setting, the activation rig would wear a bedroom setting for the second phase giving target consumers an idea of how they can make over their bedroom using blend of colours either by working with interior decoration experts or using the Do-ItYourself (DIY) approach.

Heineken Clinches 17 Awards At Cannes Lions 2013 EINEKEN has reinforced H its strong creative credentials with a total of 17 prestigious awards it won at the 2013 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in France. The record number of wins for the company included Heineken’s first ever Grand Prix in Creative Effectiveness for its ‘Open Your World’ global integrated campaign and a Gold Lion PR for ‘The Candidate’, which was also selected for a Titanium and Intergrated bronze and award. The Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity is the world’s biggest celebration of creativity in communications. At this year’s event, more than 35,000 entries from 92 countries were showcased and judged. The ‘Legendary Journey’, part of the ‘Open Your World’ campaign, encapsulates Heineken’s approach to

asking its drinkers to live beyond their boundaries, inspiring men across the world to seek new experiences. The campaign was developed in partnership with Wieden + Kennedy, Amsterdam. ‘The Candidate’, created with Publicis Italy and activated by Edelman London, outlined the brand’s creative and unconventional approach to recruitment. It was released earlier this year and rapidly became a global viral and PR sensation, amassing 2.8 million views within seven days and unprecedented global media buzz. Heineken’s investment in design and innovation was also recognised and celebrated. Its futuristic ignite bottle picked up Silver for its use of Exhibitions or Live Events and Bronze each for its Your Future Bottle and The Wall of Opportunities activations.

Managing Director, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Mr. Nicolaas Vervelde.

JSP Communications Partners Glo Lures Customers With “Move to ABF On Prevention Of Blindness Greener Pastures” TV Commercial

LOBACOM’S new musical video featuring the nine newly G signed Ambassadors — Flavour, MI, Omawumi, Waje, Lynxxx, Bez, Naeto C, Chee the Voice and Burna Boy — has gone viral and is generating unprecedented interest among youths in the country. Titled “Move to Greener Pastures”, the TV commercial is trending on social media with over 50, 000 hits within two days of its release on Glo’s online media portals and on YouTube. Shot on locations mostly in Lagos, the commercial depicts the iconic artistes moving over to the Globacom network and urging their numerous fans to join them to have a delightful experience on the network that is unlimited in innovation and cost-effective value offering. Speaking about their experience during the shoot of the commercial, the Glo ambassadors said it was memorable as they had a wonderful experience at the locations. “It was a really wonderful experience and a fascinating welcome for us into the Glo family. We look forward to working with Glo on future projects as the commercial will further project us into limelight”, new Glo ambassador, Omawumi revealed.

SP Communications, a Jagency major Public Relations in Nigeria and Africa, has realigned its corporate social responsibility strategy around education and helping the blind. To this end, the company has formed a strong partnership with the new African Blind Foundation (ABF), whose mission is to “educate, support and encourage the visually impaired members of the society in Nigeria and Africa and give them hope.” At a presentation ceremony, the Global Strategist of JSP Communications, Dr. Phil

Osagie stated that, “we identify ourselves fully with the vision of the African Blind Foundation not only in providing support for the blind but also in paying particular attention to preventive strategies. In Nigeria as well as the entire African continent, blindness and poverty as a whole is worsened by three main forces of scarcity — the scarcity of resources, scarcity of expertise and scarcity of will. Contrary to popular opinion, our main problem is not the scarcity of resources; it is more the insufficient level of will in the society at large.”

First Beltino Unveils Trebet Table Water In Warri Today IGERIA’S bottled water market is poised to witness the N emergence of a new brand today as Trebet table water would be formally unveiled to consumers at a public presenta-

Glo Ambassadors Chee, Waje and Omawumi at the screening of the new Glo TV commercial on mobile number portability, “Move to Greener Pastures”, held recently at Villa Medici, Victoria Island, Lagos. PHOTO: BASSEY PETER

tion ceremony slated for Warri, Delta State, today. The new brand, manufactured with the latest machinery and technology, is produced from an ultra-modern factory located at Kilometre 15, NNPC Road, Ekpan in Warri, Delta State. Trebet is also produced with the latest water purification technology known as Reverse Osmosis System. Experts have attested that this is the best water purification technology available in the world currently. This technology has been scientifically proven as having the capacity to purify water with zero per cent error rates. It eliminates any opportunity of bacteria escaping, while at the same time preserving in the water, essential nutrients useful to the body. It has also been scientifically proven that Reverse Osmosis technology is much better than the Ultra-Violet purification process currently being used by most portable table water producing companies in Nigeria.

THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, July 6, 2013

NEWSMAKER

N’Delta Bigwigs Celebrate IYDA’s 10th Anniversary On his part, Tony Uranta, Secretary General of United Niger Delta Development Energy Security Strategy (UNDESS) and one of the special guests of honour at the event, warned that T was a gathering of eminent personalities ignorance is the worst disease that can assail from the Niger Delta region at the National anybody; and urged the youths to fight for Theatre, Lagos recently, when the Ijaw Youth their rights, stressing that nobody would fight Development Association (IYDA) marked its for them. He noted that in the tender heart of th 10 anniversary. The theme of the celebration youth lies the future promise of love, of joy, of was, ‘Youth empowerment as an antidote to bliss “for in youth is the seed of wholesome restiveness and political instability in Nigeria: humanity; in the youth is the foundation of the A study of the Ijaw Youth Development kingdom of peace”. Association Empowerment Scheme’. Dr. Frederick Fasehun, the founder of Oodua Since it was formed in 2003 by Comrade People’s Congress (OPC) and the Convener and Joseph Evah, the association, which recently Chairman of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) gave about 400 GCE and JAMB forms to indiwho was one of invited special guests, gent indigenes of the area, has trained over expressed surprise at the myriad of challenges 300 youths in skills acquisitions and has facing the youths and called on the Ijaw youths empowered over 500 members with its to support the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) Amnesty Allowance Benefits. and agitate for its passage. He reiterated that The guest speaker at the occasion, Barrister the youths were in order fighting for control of Efiye Bribena averred: “It is not the big pleastheir own resources. ure that counts the most; it is making a great Comrade Joseph Evan, coordinator of Ijaw deal out of the little ones. If you leave your chil- Monitoring Group (IMG) and President-General dren with a positive attitude; you leave them and founder of IYDA and who was the Chief an estate of incalculable value: the greatest Host, told the youths that war begins in the gift”. human heart and that returning violence for Quoting John Wooden, he added: “Success is violence multiplies violence. never final; failure is never fatal; its courage “Violence is a lie, for it goes against the truth that counts. Your children need you to show them how to face challenges and the unexpected with courage, and how to use their fail- Violence is a lie, for it goes against ure as opportunities to learn and grow. Don’t circumvent the process and bail them out. Tell the truth of humanity; violence is a them about the challenges and failure of your crime, for it violates the foundation life, and how you have got through them. Show them how to refuse to stay down when of a society; violence is an enemy, for they get knocked down, and that to begin again is the first step to success”. it delays the day of justice.

By Obire Onakemu

of humanity; violence is a crime, for it violates the foundation of a society; violence is an enemy, for it delays the day of justice. “Tomorrow has become a stone wall that our youths stare at with angry desperation. They should be consigned to the margins and the liberating oxygen of truth and justice which alone will make for peace and prosperity. They should not mortgage tomorrow for the fleeting pleasures of today. And of the ‘world of dream’ and what they call the ‘real world’, the former is a land of peace and the latter of pain and toil. “The youths must resist aggression and reject oppression; seek compassion and learn commiseration. And they should have the imagination to flee violence and the inspiration to refuse vengeance”, he philosophized. Evah added: “The Niger Delta needs peace. We shouldn’t depend on only oil. And those who are involved in the economic activities of other areas apart from the Niger-Delta should be able to give back something to the youths and the people of the region. “President Goodluck Jonathan is not a member of the association. When he was a governor, he assisted the association in the area of empowerment; he knew the power of the association; he knows what they are doing and we are expecting assistance and empowerment from him because he knows the power of the association.

“We know the types of people and cabals that want to frustrate him not to do something for his own people. We are saying that he should break the cabals and move forward to do something for his people”. Dignitaries who graced the occasion and were presented with awards included the Director-General of NIMASA, Mr. Patrick Z. Akpobulokemi; Chairman, Silverbird Group, Mr. Ben Murray Bruce; Secretary General of United Niger Delta Development Energy Security Strategy (UNDESS) , Mr. Tony Uranta; Managing Director of Citicode Nigeria Ltd, Chief Mac Yoroki; former Special Adviser on Niger Delta Affairs, Mr. Timi Alaibe and father of the day, HRH Alex Sikaboro. Others were the Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Niger Delta Affairs, Hon. Kingsley K. Kuku; Commissioner for Culture, Bayelsa State, Mr. Felix Tuodolo; mother of the day and acting Liaison Officer, Lagos, Mrs. Rosemary Siawei; guest speaker, Barrister Efiye Bribena; leader of the Niger Delta Volunteer Force, Alhaji Asari Dokubo; Delta State govenorship aspirant, Barrister Festus Keyamo; President of Ijaw National Congress (INC), Lagos branch, Chief Patrick Keku; President, South South Women, Chief (Mrs.) Vickie Djevmudu; and President of Arewa Youths Consultative Forum, Alhaji Yerima Shetting.

TheGuardian

Saturday, July 6, 2013 49

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Cover Death Penalty In Nigeria: To Be Or Not To Be? Jonathan

By Samson Ezea ONTROVERSY over the rightness or C wrongness of death penalty is once again on the front burner in the country following the recent endorsement of the death warrant of some criminals in Edo State by the state governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole. This was years after such sanction had not taken place for reasons best known to state governors who had despite that the action is accordance with the 1999 Nigerian Constitution as amended, avoided signing death warrant of criminals. Many are of the view that Oshiomholeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s action might be as a result of the recent wake-up call by President Goodluck Jonathan urging the state governors to discharge their constitutional responsibility by signing death warrant of criminals in their respective states. It is on record that since 1999 till date, only two state governors have signed death warrants of criminals. While the then Governor of Kano State, Ibrahim Shekarau, signed the first warrant in 2006, Oshiomhole, brushing aside protests by human rights groups, approved the execution of two condemned criminals last year. As a follow-up, four death row prisoners were executed in Edo State recently. It is estimated that more than 970 inmates are awaiting execution in various prisons across the country, having been found guilty of crimes ranging from murder to armed robbery. A website, Death Penalty Worldwide (DPW), which specializes on information concerning capital punishment globally, claims that while more than 2,600 persons were executed in Nigeria before 1999, only 22 have suffered the same fate since the return to civilian rule. In 2010 alone, there were 151 death sentences passed without a single execution. Quoting Amnesty International, the global human rights organisation, DPW said nine persons were executed in Nigeria in 2003 and seven in 2006, which were not announced to the public by the government. The last execution that was publicly announced was that of Sani Yakubu Rodi in Kaduna in 2006. This figure did not include the recent execution of four criminals in Edo State. While some believe that the non-implementation of the death penalty has added to the myriad of problems in Nigerian prisons which are already suffering from congestion arising mostly from the slow dis-

pensation of justice, others are of the opinion that successive governments and leaders in the country have not provided good governance that would have helped in the reduction of crime in the society. Many argue that public offices have been major sources of personal enrichment for those who have opportunity to occupy them rather use them to render good governance and selfless service to humanity that would create employment opportunities. But even at that, it is obvious that even in the developed countries of the world that appear to be providing good governance through public offices, whether elected or appointed, crime rate appears to be still on the high side. Most prisons in Nigeria were built before 1960 and are in decay. That is why in a recent prison break in Akure, the Ondo State capital, the walls of the prison simply gave way. Despite yearly budget for the relevant agencies which supervise prisons in the country, the situation across the country is far from improving. So, in most cases, it is widely believed that most prisoners usually come out more hardened, and pose more security risk to the society than even before they were imprisoned. On the other hand, some argue that sparing them might make them to change for the better and contribute meaningfully to the society, as statics have shown that death sentence has not served as a deterrent. According to such arguments, cases of armed robbery have not reduced since the penalty of death by firing squad was introduced decades ago. They believe that rather than discourage the crime, the incidence of armed robbery has been on the rise. Another of the valid arguments, apart from the belief in the sanctity of human life, is that once a person is executed, it is impossible to reverse the punishment even when it is later discovered that he was actually innocent. However, today, about 21 countries,

including many states in the United States of America, the Russia Federation, China, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, Ukraine, India, Egypt, United Arab Emirate, that still carry out capital punishment have not been swayed by the those opposed to death penalty. They have moved on with it despite global pressure for its abolition. Just recently, the state of Texas executed its 500th convict since 1976. Surprisingly, some states in Nigeria recently passed new laws stipulating death penalty for the crime of kidnapping. The affected states are Abia, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo and Bayelsa. There have also been calls in recent times for the inclusion of corruption on the list of crimes punishable by death. If state governors have gone ahead to sign the bills on death penalty for kidnapping into law, it then smacks of sheer hypocrisy when they shy away from signing the execution warrants of those that have been condemned. Besides, in the absence of official execution of condemned criminals, has anybody bothered to find out what happens to the numerous suspects that have been arrested over the years for offences such as armed robbery and kidnapping? Most of them were believed to be summarily executed extra-judicially; which is why cases of extra-judicial killings are high in the country. It was alleged that the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke (SAN) recently said that no fewer than 7,108 persons were killed by the police alone in the four years preceding 2012. Many believe that unless or until the Act is expunged or amended in the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s statute book, state governors have a duty to make it work or otherwise work with those opposed to it to amend or remove it from the Constitution.

Most prisons in Nigeria were built before 1960 and are in decay. That is why in a recent prison break in Akure, the Ondo State capital, the walls of the prison simply gave way. Despite yearly budget for the relevant agencies which supervise prisons in the country, the situation across the country is far from improving. So, in most cases, it is widely believed that most prisoners usually come out more hardened, and pose more security risk to the society than even before they were imprisoned.

Oshiomhole

Adoke

THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, July 6, 2013

COVER

Groups Disagree Over Edo Hangings From Alemma-Ozioruva Aliu, Benin City HERE was an unusually large presence of armed security men, mostly prison officials, around the Sapele Road Prison in Benin City, the Edo State capital on Monday, June 24 this year. Some of the smart-looking prison officials even had security dogs with them, making many residents to wonder what was amiss, except the few prison officials and some nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) who had gone to a court to get a stay of execution earlier that day, which was served on the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice Edo State, Henry Idahagbon. News later filtered in that three out of four condemned criminals, had been hanged, Governor Adams Oshiomhole having signed their death warrants; two late last year and the other two were signed by previous governors. However, the fourth convict was yet to be executed, because he was sentenced to death by firing squad. Prison sources told The Guardian that the convicted criminals had always been in special cells and wore special prison uniforms with the inscription, ‘CC’, and were seldom allowed to mix freely with other inmates. Reactions immediately trailed the hangings, particularly from Amnesty International (AI) and other civil society organisations within and outside Nigeria. The Edo State Civil Society Forum for Policy Dialogue, comprising over 30 civil society organisations (CSOs), at its meeting on Tuesday, June 25 urged President Goodluck Jonathan and Oshiomhole to exercise restraint in the use of death penalty in Nigeria, as a respect to the existing de facto moratorium on executions which has been in place in the country since 2006. But the state government and other stakeholders have continuously said the governor was only carrying out his constitutional responsibility, while others wondered why there should be a plea for stay of execution considering the heinous crimes the three persons committed. Idahagbon said the convictions were secured many years ago as far as from the Supreme Court and three of the executed criminals were convicted outside the state, but had been in prison in Benin City. He said the executions were at the prison authorities’ request to go ahead. On claims of an existing stay of execution order, Idahagbon said his office got the papers but that the execution was not to be carried out by his office. But the prison authorities claimed not to have received any stay of execution order. According to AI’s Death Sentences and Executions 2012 report, Nigeria had not carried out any known executions since 2006. The organisation reiterated its call for the Nigerian authorities to stop all executions immediately and respect a moratorium on executions in the country. It opposed the death penalty in all cases without exception, regardless of the nature or circumstances of the crime, or the individual’s guilt or innocence, because it is a violation of the right to life and the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment. An activist and Executive Director of African Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), Rev. David Ugolor, said the signing of the death warrants by Oshiomhole was a constitutional matter, adding: “Oshiomhole should not be held accountable for the hanging of those people; he didn’t make the Nigerian law that says if you commit capital offence, you should be hanged. “When he was contesting for governorship and was taking his oath of office, he made a commitment that he would implement the constitution and the constitution specified that he should carry out this function. The civil society in Edo are not accusing Oshiomhole, but what we are saying is that we have a responsibility to encourage him, because he is our own, to know when to act and when to issue statements. “We are saying that Oshiomhole should be seen to be pursuing an agenda that will abolish death sentence. It is not about Oshiomhole

The NGOs should be asked who cares for the families the victims left behind and where they were when the offence were committed. The holy books abhor killing of innocent souls and that why they place injunction that “whoever kills by the sword must surely die by the sword.”

Ugolor versus civil society.” For those still waiting for their death warrants to be signed, Ugolor said: “I appeal to the governors, including Oshiomhole, not to sign death warrants. They should join forces with civil societies in Nigeria to end death penalty. “As soon as we are able to end the culture of impunity in this country, I can assure that some sense of justice will be established. So, at any point in time in history, there have always been movement to take society to a higher level, and the issue of death penalty also comes within that strand. “That is why civil societies around the world have come to the conclusion that taking peoples’ lives is not the best way to address crime, and if we bring it back to the Nigerian context, you will agree with me that in Nigeria today, death penalty has actually not solved the problem of crime as there are socio-economic reasons why crime has increased dramatically in Nigeria. “And from my own perspective, as a civil society activist, I think the Nigerian government, having signed to the moratorium to join the global community in abolishing death penalty, should be seen to be actively committed to those goals.” But the state chapter of the Coalition of Registered Political Parties (CRPP) has condemned the position of human right activists in the state over the executions, describing their comments as self-serving and ill-motivated. Its Chairman, Dr. Samson Isibor, in a statement in Benin City, commended Oshiomhole for signing the death warrant of the executed criminals, saying it would

serve as a deterrent to others who may be thinking of committing heinous crimes. “We are much grateful to the governor for not allowing tax-payers’ money to be used in feeding notorious killers under the pretext of converting their death sentence to life imprisonment, as being canvassed by human rights organizations. “The governor should ignore those critics and condemning the execution of these hardened criminals who deserve no sympathy of any responsible organization,” Isibor said. While accusing NGOs of playing to the gallery, Isibor noted that they just want to justify the money they collect from foreign donors in the name of fighting injustice, human rights abuses and mis-governance. “The NGOs should be asked who cares for the families the victims left behind and where they were when the offence were committed. The holy books abhor killing of innocent souls and that why they place injunction that “whoever kills by the sword must surely die by the sword.” Idahagbon, while defending his boss, said he was surprised at the furore trailing the executions as state governors were under a legal duty to sign execution warrant and could be sued for failure to do so in accordance with the provisions of the law. He said the advocacy of the AI and the civil societies in the state should therefore be directed towards amending the country’s criminal laws, so that death sentence could be converted to life imprisonment and expunged from the law. He explained: “As we speak today, in Edo State, there are three offences that carry

Taking peoples’ lives is not the best way to address crime, and if we bring it back to the Nigerian context, you will agree with me that in Nigeria today, death penalty has actually not solved the problem of crime as there are socio-economic reasons why crime has increased dramatically in Nigeria.

death penalty. The first is murder, under Section 319. The second is armed robbery and the third is treasonable felony. “When a person is charged with armed robbery or any of these other offences, the judge has no discretion; he/she must impose the sentence of death because that is the law. Let me say that every governor of a state is under a legal duty and constitutional responsibility to sign execution warrants.” The commissioner threw more light on the sins of the executed quartet. “Daniel Nsofor entered a vehicle from Ekpan to Ehor with two others, including a lady called Maria Imariagbe. About 7.15pm, they disembarked from the vehicle at Ehor and seized Imariagbe, strangulated and killed her before collecting her money. “Chima Ejiofor was a spare parts dealer here in Benin. He had a relationship with a woman that led to the birth of a baby, who was two and half months old then. “He came to visit the baby and the mother at their house, gave money to the mother to go and buy soft drink and before she came back, he poured acid into the mouth of the baby and the baby died. “What was his excuse? That as a first child and in his state of origin, he was not expected to have a child out of wedlock. “Osarenmwinda Aigbokhian went into the bush and said he saw a big deer. He said he shot at the deer and the deer died. He went there and he started butchering the deer. “While butchering the deer, the deer turned to a human being. He didn’t stop to say ‘oh, let me run to the village to call people to come and see the wonder of the world’. “He kept on butchering, cut the human being into small, small parts and buried it in several parts of the bush. “And when autopsy was done, there was no mark of any bullet, so there was no shooting. The person was killed with a very sharp object.” He said of the remaining convict, who was not executed because the sentence of the court is that he should die by firing squad: “He went with his gang to a house to rob. After robbing the man of his possessions, they raped his wife. After raping her, they took a bottle and inserted it into her private part until she bled to death.” On the issue of moratorium on executions, Idahagbon said it was a non-binding resolution by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly. “As I speak with you, 58 countries have capital punishment in their law books. Among these 58 countries are the most populous nations in the world, including China, India, United States (US) and Indonesia. “It will interest you to know that of the 52 states in the US, 32 of them have capital punishment. Next Wednesday, there would be another such execution in Texas.” He continued: “Capital punishment has been in existence from time immemorial. Ironically, I am a member of Amnesty International and speaking for myself as an individual, I am against capital punishment. “But Amnesty International should direct their advocacy towards the National Assembly so that the law can be amended and capital punishment expunged. Until that is done, it is not a matter at the discretion of the judge.”

THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, July 6, 2013

COVER

‘Death Sentence Is No Longer In Vogue’ Legal Defence and Assistance Project (LEDAP), a non-governmental organization of lawyers and other professionals which handled the case of the four prisoners on death row in Benin, Edo State before they were finally executed, has not only condemned the execution, it is also seeking to protect the rights of the fifth prisoner on death row, ThankGod Ebhos from the hand of executioner. Presently, LEDAP has filed a notice of appeal and motion for stay of execution against the judgment. In a conversation with AJIBOLA AMZAT, the Executive Programmes Director, LEDAP, Adaobi Egboka spoke on the need for the government to repeal capital punishment from Nigeria’s statute. Why did LEDAP condemn the recent execution of the four convicts on death row in Edo State? EDAP basically condemns the execution of the inmates because they filed an appeal against the judgment of the Federal High Court in Benin and all death roll inmates still have appeal pending before the Court of Appeal in Lagos. It is a total disregard of the rule of law. Also, by international standards, their lawyers and their families need to be told. But none of us were informed. So for us, it is more of secret execution because the concerned people were told before they were executed. What do you think is wrong in executing people who were found guilty of murder? Who really says they are guilty? This is the 21st century. The world is moving beyond killing convicted criminals. Death sentence is no longer in vogue. And for a country like Nigeria where there are still many challenges in the administration of criminal justice, no proper forensic test is being carried out presently. We are still speaking about confessional statements. Our criminal justice system is challenged and we cannot in any way ascertain 100 per cent guilt of a convict. Our position is that a country that cannot

give justice should not even take life. Our concern is what if an innocent man is executed in the process? Our judicial system as it stands today cannot ascertain who is guilty and who is not. There are still a lot of abnormalities that need to be corrected. Most times, it is always the very poor in the society that are caught up with the issue of capital punishment in Nigeria. This is because they are mainly unable to settle their way at the police stations. And all these years that we have had capital punishment, has it really deterred crime? A lot of researches have shown that capital punishment is not an effective deterrent. During the last United Nations Periodic Review, Nigeria was categorized among those practicing moratorium on execution. Nigeria executed last in 2006. Why are we now going back into the dark age of execution? With the current security crises, this is even the wrong time to be flouting international law to which Nigeria is a signatory. Now the country needs international support against internal security crisis, so we mustn’t be doing what will make us incur the hostility of international community. The rule of law must be respected. LEDAP recently compiled the statistics from the Nigeria law reports on death penalty cases from 2006 to 2011, and the finding shows that 39 per cent of death sentences by trial courts were quashed on appeal within the period, indicating a high risk of wrongful convictions and sentences. Between last year and now, LEDAP had three more cases of people on death row released because the Court of Appeal upturned their judgment. There are two of such people that are going to be freed next week. These people could have been executed with the law prescribing capital punishment. There could always be an error. What alternative punishment would you propose for effective control of homicide? Note that we are not saying that the convict should go free. We firmly believe that criminals should be punished, but their human rights must be respected. In punishing them, the state doesn’t have to take their lives because there could be some innocent ones among them even after all the caution is tak-

Egboka crime while alive. It is better we concentrate on reducing crime rather using the limited resources to pursue criminals, let’s look at how we can rework our criminal justice system, to ensure that those arrested are tried properly. Putting your argument in the context of the recent jailbreak in Ondo, don’t you think life imprisonment may increase jailbreak? Have we asked ourselves why did jailbreak happen? There are many cases of awaiting trial persons in most Nigerian prisons. Prisoners on death row are just about 1,000. The people in prisons are more of those awaiting trial. So en. Alternatively, you can give the person life the question we should be addressing is why imprisonment and make them do community are we still having suspects kept on awaiting work that will benefit the people in the comtrial for years. munity. That is making them pay back to the What does Nigerian law say about how consociety they have wronged. victs on death row should be killed? But how can justice be given to the families of It is still contentious. There is a recent judgvictims? ment that submits that the mode of execution I look at it in the sense that criminals suffer for by hanging is cruel, inhuman and degrading. their crime by making them to pay for their That judgment still stands.

Our position is that a country that cannot give justice should not even take life. Our concern is what if an innocent man is executed in the process? Our judicial system as it stands today cannot ascertain who is guilty and who is not. There are still a lot of abnormalities that need to be corrected.

‘Death Penalty Is Primitive’ Chief Chuks Muoma (SAN) in this interview with SAMSON EZEA, condemns the use of capital punishment, describing it as primitive. What is your view on the raging issue of capital punishment recently meted to some criminals in Edo State? APITAl punishment is primitive and savours of the mosaic law of “a tooth for a tooth an eye for an eye”. Vengeance is neither correctional nor a suitable punishment for a wrong. This philosophy of vengeance belongs more to Sharia law than 21st century jurisprudence and civilized conduct. Let us always endeavour to update ourselves with the current trend in international affairs if we really aspire to be part of international community. What do you think is wrong about it, consid-

Muoma

ering that the action is in line with the constitution? The wrong in it is that two wrongs do not make a right. The essence of punishment is correctional and rehabilitational. An offender should live to feel remorseful for his crime and learn to be of better conduct; for this purpose I prefer the option of a long term in prison. The Edo state governor’s action was constitutional, but weighed against the trend of current international legal thinking on the subject; the governor’s action was brash and uncivilised. The governor, although a fine gentleman, still has the uncompromising temperament of a trade unionist. Let us tell ourselves the truth, we all know that our constitution has not been strictly followed in the governance of this country. So what is immutably special about capital punishment being in line with the constitution? There have been cases in several countries, in which a person was charged, tried, convicted and executed for a capital offence, only for it to be discovered, years after, that such condemned and executed person did not commit the alleged offence/crime. How do you remedy such injustice? It is a cardinal principle of our jurisprudence that rather than convict/punish one innocent person, let a hundred guilty persons be set free. There is no perfect justice system in the world, so it is safer to err on the side of caution. Let us not make mistakes, which we cannot subsequently correct. Do you support the abolition of the law, considering the high rate of crime in the society today?

So what is immutably special about capital punishment being in line with the constitution? There have been cases in several countries, in which a person was charged, tried, convicted and executed for a capital offence, only for it to be discovered, years after, that such condemned and executed person did not commit the alleged offence/crime. Crime rate in Nigeria may not be higher than those of the countries of European Union and North America. Find out the crime rate in the states of New York and Illinois, then you will realize that the crime rate in Nigeria is not so outrageous, except the recent cases of armed insurgency and militancy. Do you think that governments at various levels in the country are doing enough to discourage increase in crime? In this country, governments at various levels are not doing enough to discourage crime rate. We cannot tackle crime rate while our youths are unemployed. There is a high rate of youth unemployment in the country and that is why our youths are fleeing the country in their droves. Those who cannot get employment seek migration to Europe, the Americas and Asia, while those who cannot migrate out of the country are either hawking cheap consumer goods, stealing or committing other crimes. Nigeria is a paradise for the political class and its sycophants and allies. Very few they are who seek political offices with genuine altruism and uncompromising commitment to service.

Okoh Supports Capital Punishment “There was a recent report where armed robbers went to a family and raped all the women, including the mother of the house. “As if that was not enough, they inserted a bottle into her private part and killed her. Now, where is that woman’s human right? and support marriage as a union between a man and a woman. He said: “Rape is becoming an embarrassing situation in this country and as religious leaders, we must continue to react against deviant behaviour. “There was a recent report Okoh where armed robbers went to a family and raped all the From Nkechi Onyedika, Abuja women, including the mother of the house. HE Primate of All Nigeria “As if that was not enough, (Anglican Communion), Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh, has they inserted a bottle into her private part and killed her. thrown his weight behind the use of capital punishment Now, where is that woman’s human right? in Nigeria. “The armed robber has been “Capital punishment must be effected against those who executed and some people are commit crime. Anybody that talking of human rights. What of the rights of the woman has degenerated to the level who was raped and killed? of depravity deserves capital “The federal government punishment,” he said. should not allow foreigners to The Primate, who decried the rising incidence of rape in teach us morals and human the country, appealed to reli- rights. Capital punishment should be effected on those gious leaders to preach who rightly deserve it.” against deviant behaviour

THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, July 6, 2013

COVER

‘Edo Executions Amount To Disregard For Human Life’ were the victim, how would you feel? “Moreover, the last execution of convicts was done in 2006 and we are worOR the Executive Director of Civil ried that President Goodluck Jonathan Liberties Organisation (CLO), Ibuchukwu Ohabuenyi Ezike, the recent urged governors to resume the act and Oshiomhole, who claims to be a progresexecution of three convicted criminals sive, was the first to obey such an awkin Edo State is nothing but “utter disregard for human life and the rule of law,” ward and conservative call. “Jonathan sees crimes in only those and therefore, condemnable. who kill few persons, but not in the According to Ezike, the CLO, being a member of the International Federation politicians who kill millions through corruption, mis-governance, mass unemfor Human Rights (FIDH), is against the ployment, abuse of due process, rule of execution for several reasons. law and human rights. “CLO is against death penalty or capi“The other day, it was the national comtal punishment as the best option for penalising people that committed mur- mon entrance results into federal government colleges that became a colossal der or crimes in that there is a global shame. Those that morally killed candicampaign against capital punishment. dates who scored over 150 marks but Also as a Christian, my faith is against can’t secure admission in preference for such heinous perpetration, no matter those who failed, though not out of their the reason. We can’t take what we can’t making, are not the President’s create. headache; it is the wake up call on gover“What Governor Adams Oshiomhole did in Edo runs contrary to the law since nors to kill that is his challenge.” The rights activist said Nigeria needs the convicts had stayed for so long a to learn from most developed countries time without execution after they were convicted and that is why it has received where sanctity of life is the order of the wide condemnation from the world, just day. “Death penalty is globally recognised as like the gruesome hanging of the Ogoni a cruelty against mankind, especially in Nine in 1995. the human rights community and “More so, they were already in court among human rights activists and the against the execution before they were hanged. The International Federation for civilised world. Human Rights (FIDH), a federation of 194 “What purpose does death penalty serve? Life imprisonment teaches more human rights groups from 130 countries, has also jointly issued a statement lessons than death penalty and is a better option because convicts will suffer more, with the CLO condemning that wickedrepent and feel remorse for their lawlessness,” Ezike said. ness, as perpetual prisoners than killing One of our reasons they frown at the of convicts. hangings, Ezike stated, is because of “Nobody doubts that the executed conissue of long stay of execution. “You convicts’ crimes were heinous, but the arguvicted somebody over 10 years ago but ment all over the world is that death refused to execute him till now. If you By Joseph Okoghenun

penalty is out of fashion and does not serve any positive motive. “If the reason for executing those convicted and the likes is to deter people from indulging in such crimes, has it achieved that since ages? “I think not enforcing death penalty can serve a better purpose; hence we condemn the act. In this case, the convicts were in court and the process had not been consummated. It is worrisome, no matter how those in support make their odious defence,” he added. Ezike said there are a number of available options the state government could have utilised to avoid the kind of criticisms currently trailing the executions. “It could have allowed the court process to be concluded before carrying out the act, if it must be done. Second, the government could have commuted the sentences to life imprisonment, judging from the fact that this is a government that touts itself to be a progressive one and populated by people from human rights and labour backgrounds, some of who had campaigned against the execution of people implicated in coup plots and sentenced to death”. The activist urged government to replace any obnoxious laws militating against the sanctity of human life, including outlawing death penalty. “The National Assembly should rise up to the occasion and place Nigeria among the comity of civilised and humane societies of the world. It is doable. Death penalty should be abolished and this is our demand and we stand by it”.

Ezike

THE GUARDIAn, Saturday, July 6, 2013

COVER

‘God May Forgive A Murderer, And Still Allow The Law To Take Its Full Course’ Pastor Seyi Macaulay of Dreamyouths International, Lagos in this interview with ELIJAH EDA SAMUEL speaks on the issue of capital punishment. EATH sentence from biblical per“D spective is not a straightjacket answer of yes or no. According to the Old

Pope Francis

Testament, the law of Moses approves an ‘eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth”. It is written that whoever lives by the sword deserves to die by the sword. naturally speaking, whoever kills his fellow human being also deserves to be killed. If the state decides to apply this mosaic law to punish murderers, the state is not to be crucified. In Rom 13:1, it is written that, “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God’. “When the state promulgates laws in line with the principle of equity, the law should be allowed to take its full course. If you derive pleasure in taking lives of innocent people, why must you be allowed to live? “All said and done, we cannot rule out exception to the law of death sentence. The state can grant a prerogative of mercy on anyone who had committed murder. “If the state sees genuine reason for it, every case must be by its own merit. Mercy can speak where the law threatens death sentence. If not for this exception, the likes of Evangelist Kayode Williams would have died and long forgotten. It is only God’s mercy that can say no. The state can only be an instrument. “If the state deems it fit to apply death sentence on those who have no respect for human lives, let it be: they also deserve to die. After all, when America decided not to spare the life of Osama Bin Laden, the world did not shut down. Let God determine who deserves mercy. God may forgive a murderer and still allow the law to take its full course. This was the case of the robber at the right hand side of Jesus, who enjoyed God’s mercy on the cross at the point of death even though he still faced the full wrath of the law: death by hanging. We can plead for leniency for capital offence based on its merit, but still allow the law to take its course”. ‘Death Penalty Is not Trivial Except There Is A Miscarriage Of Justice’

Anyasi

Venerable Joe Eziaghighala, the Vicar-in-Charge of All Saints’ Anglican Church Surulere, Lagos also spoke to ELIJAH EDA SAMUEL on the controversial death penalty in Nigeria. EATH sentences are severe but use“D ful measures applied to serve as a deterrent from deadly behaviours which

Eziaghighala

result in the death or terminal harm of other citizens. They end in the termination of lives of those involved in taking away or severely compromising the lives of other citizens. The death sentence is not trivial except there is a miscarriage of justice. “I am of the opinion that as long as there is a crime, there must be a capital punishment. When murderers get away with their crimes, they are encouraged to commit even more crimes. If criminals remain free to do their own will, murder will follow murder, endlessly. “There is a need to ensure that the legal system is transparent so as to avoid the miscarriage of justice. Up to date forensic tools should also be applied to avoid killing innocent people, which had been experienced in the past, even among developed nations of the world. Easy access to legal facilities should be guaranteed to ensure that the innocent ones

do not suffer due to travesty of justice. “Unless the state plays this role, families of victims may opt to take the law into their hands, which could lead to a massive breakdown of law and order. Is the Bible in support of death sentence? “Yes, the Ten Commandments categorically asserts that ‘Thou shall not kill’ (Exodus 20:13). There is no mid-way point. God categorically outlaws murder, hence the Biblical maxim that those who live by the sword should perish by the sword. “There is provision for an avenger of blood, to whom belongs the responsibility of inflicting the capital punishment on those who intentionally kill other people”. ‘It’s Only God That Can Create Life And Has The Right To Take Life’ Reverend Father Paul Oladipupo Anyansi, the Parish Priest of St. Peter Claver Catholic Church, Ajao-Estate, Isolo Lagos reveals his position on the issue of death penalty in this chat with ELIJAH EDA SAMUEL. What’s you view on death penalty issue? n as much as the law has a right to protect the system, do they have the right to take a human life they have not created? It’s only God that can create life and has the right to take life. Even when it’s legitimate; for example when you have somebody who is trying to kill you or shooting randomly. Of course, you have to gun the person down in self-defence; it is also done for the common good of the state or the society so that the person does not constitute danger to life. We are living in a world of violence. no doubt. And it’s becoming worse and worse; but what is the root of all these evils? The root of all these is corruption. A lot of people are on the streets jobless, homeless. The state has not deemed it right to provide jobs and homes. We have to go back to the elites, the government and their bad governance, and bad sharing or distribution of the common wealth of the people, which some people have taken to themselves to deprive others. I condemn it. So, we have to be very careful. The root of all the evils like terrorism, murder, robbery and others that we find today in our society is corruption and bad governance. We need love and the fear of God in governance. Who are they that are in the government? How many of them are real Christians or Muslims or whatever religion they belong to? Let them govern with the fear of God. As you have narrowed the cause of crimes in the society to corruption, what can be done to kill this monster in our system? Corruption could be a way of life, just like being good could be a way of life. It’s familybased and it’s about how much you understand life, how much you price life and how much you need in a society without being corrupt. These are the values that are inculcated in children. So, if you don’t have something you can’t give it. It is unfortunate that more and more people are getting corrupt. But it doesn’t mean that all the people in the society are corrupt. Those corrupt people are the ones representing us in the government. Yet, people who want to be corrupt will be corrupt and those who don’t will always represent who they are. So we have to check the family: bring up children in the fear of God and make them grow up learning about good values of life in their sub-consciousness. For a country like this, it will take a big revolution to change and make this country turn around. You advocated revolution as an antidote to the ravaging corruption in the country. What type of revolution? Revolution of people rising up and saying that they do not want this government, they

Continued on Page 54

THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, July 6, 2013

COVER

‘Quran 2:178 Says Death Penalty Can Not Be Justified Except In Line Of Justice’ Alhaji Sheriff Yussuf is the National President of the Nasril Lahi-Li-Fathi Association of Nigeria (NASFAT). In this interview with BANKOLE SHAKIRUDEEN ADESHINA, the cleric reiterates the Islamic opposition against death penalty, especially as a way of decongesting the overcrowded Nigerian prisons. What is the position of your association on the raging issue of death penalty? S an Islamic body, NASFAT does not support the execution of prisoners as a way of decongesting the prisons. That would be wrong! But if the law provides for execution as a punishment against any offence that has been committed, then the law must be followed. The point is that if the law is no longer serving us, we the people can then resolve to change the law. Otherwise, the law must be respected. In Islam, death is prescribed for some offences. If you kill, you can be killed as well. In the Holy Quran, there is provision for retaliatory punishment, especially on killing as it was explicitly stated that the biggest offence anyone can commit in Islam is killing. You can’t and shouldn’t do that because you are not the creator of such human being. But after knowing this and still went ahead to take a life, the consequence is that your own life must be taken as well. This provision can be found on Q2:178: “…the law of equality of punishment is prescribed for you in case of murder; the free for the free, the slave for the slave, the female for the female,…” But how would you explain the contradiction of killing to justify killing, in spite of its opposition in the same Quran? Quran is explicit about this circumstance. It says killing of human being can be justified for previous killing, except in the line of justice. You have no right to go and kill any human being if you are not the judge and have not tried

such person. Even a judge does not have a blanket privilege to pass such judgment discriminatorily unless the accused has been established to be guilty of the offence. And he or she has to be subjected to fair trial; given a chance to defend himself or herself and found guilty as charged on killing innocent people before the burden of death can be passed on such person. Even after the judgment is passed, such person still has the right to appeal the judgement. And until the litigation is fully exhausted there then, the judgment can be executed. But a killer today with proper rehabilitation, can be a good person tomorrow. What is your take on this? These arguments are quite interesting. But the point is that every society has their different value systems: Diversity in culture, tradition, religion, ethnicity and politics remains one of the factors why our social system can never be the same. The value system in the United Kingdom is not the same with those in America, France and even Nigeria. In some Western countries, death penalty has been long abolished. This is because such suits their social, cultural and or religious disposition. Specifically, while many states in America are still upholding death sentence, many are not; that goes to justify the subjective nature of death penalty. But here, just like in many other countries, our value system is differently built. Our social values are influenced by our cultural, ethnic and religious inclination, which nobody can take away from us. Based on this, our social value system does not support killing of innocent people for whatever reason. That is why we don’t see it as an outrageous punishment against such act. We do not want anybody to engage in killing human beings at all, except for those deserving of it, based on the stated condition. But after knowing the implications, you still went ahead to commit such crime; there should not be any remorse in taking your own life too. Obviously, this would serve as deterrent to others from embarking on similar dastardly act.

‘Death Penalty Is Not Trivial Except There Is A Miscarriage Of Justice’ Continued from Page 53 do not want this governor, they do not want this president. It’s about being able to take up actions like people do in some other countries. But Nigerians are known to be too dormant. The Pope’s View On Capital Punishment The Church’s teaching has not changed, nor has the Pope said that it has. The Catechism and the Pope state that the state has the right to exact the death penalty. Nations have the right to just war and individuals have the right to selfdefence. Does that mean that any and all uses of force to defend oneself against a criminal, or a criminal nation, are justified? No, and most people understand that. To be good, every moral act must satisfy three elements: the act itself must be good; the intention of the one doing it must be good and the circumstances must be appropriate. First, capital punishment is the right of the state. This is the principle taught by the church. The Pope does not deny it, but neither St. Thomas or any Magisterial text presumes this gives the state an unlimited right to make capital laws and carry them out. It is inherent in a just capital punishment law that there be proportion between the taking of the life of the criminal and the benefit expected to the common good. A law, for example, that takes no account of factors such as repentance, mental age and so on, is unjust. States have executed the mentally retarded who could be of no conceivable future threat to society, and in one case a woman whose evident conversion even the state admitted. Thus, the Catechism of the Catholic Church state that assuming that the guilty party’s identity and responsibility have been fully determined, the traditional teaching of the Church does not exclude recourse to the death penalty, if this is the only possible way of effectively defending human lives against an unjust aggressor. Second to be considered is the intention.

The motive of the state is good when it follows a just law. That is, its decision is motivated by the requirements of the common good and not by motives of vengeance. This is probably not usually a problem of the state, though some officials evidence it, but it is clearly the mind of many in the public, a fact every execution seems to bring out. Third is the circumstances. There are, of course, individual circumstances related to the particular capital case which, as I noted, a just law takes into account. Here I want to consider, however, certain general circumstances. The Pope has noted that in the developed countries the possibility exists to incarcerate criminals for life, removing definitively any threat to society. Thus, the Catechism continues in paragraph 2267. If, however, non-lethal means are sufficient to defend and protect people’s safety from the aggressor, authority should limit itself to such means, as these are more in keeping with the concrete conditions of the common good and more in conformity with the dignity of the human person. Another circumstance, and one related to ‘the concrete conditions of the common good’, is the nature of our society. We have become a culture of death. The question really arises as to whether we have just laws, and whether we can execute those we do have justly. Thus, while the state may have the right, all other factors being respected, to execute the criminal, it also has the opportunity for mercy. If the greater good of the society is protected adequately, then the Church argues for mercy, so that the respect due to every life is restored and also that the unconverted might convert and save their souls. Ultimately, those who are responsible for these judgments in political society must make them in the individual cases. In doing so, however, they have a grave obligation to apply all the principles taught by the Church to the cases before them, as taking a human life is always grave matter if done unjustly.

Yussuf

‘Other Governors Should Emulate Oshiomhole’s Courage’ By Samson Ezea BUJA-BASED lawyer, Mr Chibuzor A Ezike says capital punishment is an integral part of Nigeria’s criminal justice law and that what happened in Edo State recently was in obedience to the law. “It is justice in accordance with our law. It is also necessary to state here that the action of the governor or the minister as the president as the case maybe in signing execution warrant, is always the last step before the hangman. The first step is either to write a petition or report to the appropriate authority, followed by investigation and thereafter a charge, thereafter, a full trial by court of competent jurisdiction and finally conviction and sentencing. The role of the governor starts after sentencing.

Chibizor

“My view is that the action of Edo State Governor is long overdue. You will remember that some of the convicts that were hanged were sentenced 16 years ago. And the pronouncement of the court is in accordance with Section 367 of the Criminal Procedure Act which is: ‘The sentence of the court upon you is that you be hanged by neck until you be dead and may the Lord have mercy on your soul.’ “With these pronouncements, a convict is living in fear, suspense and trauma all days for 16 years waiting for the hangman. It is traumatizing and a violation of the convict’s right not to be executed timely. The courage of the governor should be emulated”. He said that what happened in Edo State is legally correct and morally sound. “What the governor did was to comply with the law, and perform his official duty which he can be compelled to perform if he fails to do so. “A murderer must be murdered. The wages of sin is death. Nigeria is not yet mature for abolition of death penalty in our criminal justice law. It is a natural law. Death penalty for murderers just like every other natural law derives its origin from the Bible. “Death penalty was first instituted by God in Genesis 9:6 when He said thus: ‘Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed for in the image of God made He man”. In Exodus 21:12. God says “he that smiteth a man, so that he die, shall be surely put to death. The book of Revelation 13:10. says “he that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity, he that killeth with sword must be killed with sword. “The common argument is that death penalty does not deter crime. My position is that the state that operates death sentence does not use it enough to deter people. Take for instance in Nigeria where 970 persons have been sentenced to death and only six persons have been executed recently in Edo and Kano. How do you expect it to deter murderers? “The crime rate is taking a different dimension in today’s Nigeria. People are ready to die while killing. Suicide bombers are evident. Whoever kills shall be killed. Anybody whose relatives have been murdered will know the need to support capital punishment for heinous crimes like murder,” he said.

THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, July 6, 2013

| 55

POLITICS

‘Ameachi Stabbed Me In The Back’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 16 he talks to the President anyhow. He can shout on the President and say “you can’t do this” and he will go free. He will beat protocol and go free. He talks to his brother governors anyhow and he talks to the elders anyhow. Then you are talking about me, who is an ordinary minister of state? Why would I not be insignificant to him? That is not the way people in such position should behave. There is nobody in Amaechi’s government that I cannot challenge to look me eyeball to eyeball to talk about how Amaechi emerged. Nobody in the National Assembly today from Rivers State can tell me he or she is qualified to talk about how Amaechi became a governor. With all due respect, I would have left Amaechi’s cabinet when I was two years in office, but people pleaded with me not to. It could signify that things were not going on well, as we had a lot of people fighting us. And I was the one that was taking the bullets, but didn’t know that they had started planning how to edge me out and bring in new team. I was the chief of staff and director general of the campaign team when they appointed transition committee members. Yet, when the list of members was released, I was not aware. Somebody called me and said, ‘we had worked for you people, why is it that you cannot even put us in transition committee?’ That was how I bought a newspaper and saw the names and I was shocked. I went to the governor and he said there was nothing there. He then called all the leaders and said they must bring five people and he would choose one to make a commissioner. Of the 23 councils in the state, the only list Amaechi did not take was our own. He took who he wanted and who was not in the list. I went to him and he said I shouldn’t bother, because the man he took was his friend. I said I don’t have any problem with it, but why should it be that it is in our own council of all the 23 and that he was sending a signal. The problem of Uche Sekondus came up when he wanted to be the Deputy National Chairman of the PDP and there was a move to harmonise our party list. Even with Sekondus being the National Organizing Secretary, Amaechi stood firm that it could not happen. He said if we allowed Sekondus to become deputy national chairman, he would make his brother to be the governor in 2015. Do you know that as a minister, the governor never called me for once to say, gentleman, look, we cannot support Sekondus. Look at the person I am bringing? He now went to bring one referee from the Nigerian Referee Association (NRA) for that position. I don’t want to talk about his activities in government and his so-called transparency. It would be a subject matter for another day. At the appropriate time, Nigerians will know how honest all of us are and it will not be the one conferred on the front pages of the newspapers. And to humiliate me, he summoned a meeting in his lodge. While the meeting was going on, the next thing he said was that he had a new chief of staff from my place, who was my Executive Assistant and who was so used to accusing me anyhow. I never knew it was the governor who planted him to be insulting me. Each time I complained to the governor, he would say, ‘don’t worry,’ not knowing that he was acting a script. When he announced that we had a new chief of staff, people were looking at me, but I didn’t talk. He never mentioned to me that he was going to change me. He had plotted how to reduce me politically and do away with me. But man proposes and God disposes. Amaechi has always said he wants to be the (Asiwaju Ahmed) Tinubu of Rivers State and would want to be playing the politics and let the person who is going to replace him do the governing. If he sees you as a person that will not support that ambition, it becomes a problem. He knows I wouldn’t support that. So, it is your ambition to be governor that is pitching you in this political battle? Who said I want to be governor? When have I called anyone to say I want to be governor? When I fought for him, what was my ambition? When he was in Ghana and I was fighting for him here, what was my ambition? To be what?

Wike

To be minister? Look, people just sit down and say are you sure he is not doing this because of this or that? But in any case, assuming I want to be the governor, just assume I want to be the next governor, is it when Amaechi decides I will be a governor that I will be governor? Is he going to run for third term? He would sit as Lord of the Manor, as they say Tinubu does in Lagos, and say that whoever he anoints is the person that will go. Certainly, some of us cannot accept that. It is like your father gave birth to you, gave you the best education and made you to work in Shell and you bought a car for your father and you now boast, “I bought a car for my father.” Who laid the foundation for you to be able to buy the car? If you are not a governor, if I had thrown you out, if I did not want to be the instrument that God will use to terminate the ambition, where will you be as a governor? But your nomination as minister was a way of compensating your loyalty? How? Do you know the politics of making me a minister? The Tonye Cole he nominated, what was his (Tonye’s) role? Was that compensation? Those who are commissioners in his cabinet, what role did some of them play to get compensated? So, what compensation are you saying? As a Rivers man, am I not qualified on my own? Assuming I am not a politician, am I not qualified? You said you made me; that you nominated me, but some people were nominated and also disqualified. If he nominated me, who went back to influence the security report to indict me? You nominated me and you hit me at the back. Go and check the security report. Look, I did my reception as minister after swearing-in at the governor’s lodge and the governor never came down to talk to anybody or to receive anybody. A colleague of mine came there and said, “be careful. I don’t think this man is happy that you are a minister.” Another colleague came to the lodge and I

introduced him to the governor, but the way the governor received him made the man to come back and say, “be careful.” He nominated me and lobbied for me to be minister of state? In fact, let me also tell you, it is not that he should nominate me; he wanted to send me out of Port Harcourt, as to him, I was becoming too powerful in Port Harcourt. My continued presence in Port Harcourt will be a problem for him to nominate his successor by 2015. That was how he said, ok, let me push him out, believing that anybody who went to Abuja will no longer be a factor in the state. What is your reaction to the governor’s allegation that the Presidency is behind you in this political fight? But did the matter start when I became minister of state? What is this issue that the Presidency is behind me? So, I should wait for the President to tell me that my political future is gone? I will be sleeping and the President would wake me to tell me what to do? On Friday, June 28, we came to receive the President, who was on his way to Bayelsa State. The governor was in Lagos, with his APC (All Progressive Congress) friends for Governor (Babatunde) Fashola’s birthday and he didn’t come, but his deputy came. The following day, the governor came to receive the President and when he came, the first thing he did was to call the Chief Detail to the President to say if we did not get out of the place, he would not come to receive the President. Who were the people he was talking about? They are the PDP state officials that came to receive the President. Obviously, he didn’t want the elders of Rivers State to receive the President. When the President alighted from his aircraft, we all went and shook hands with him. The President went to greet the mammoth crowd that came to receive him, but the governor didn’t greet the crowd. He wanted to greet the President with only four of his commissioners and another four council chairmen. That is the humiliation he wanted the President to suffer. I am a minister and all I should have done was to go home? The President of a country is pass-

ing through an area and what you do was to bring four commissioners and four council chairmen to receive him, with some of them wearing jeans? They were so casual, as if out to demean the office of the President. When the President was to shake people on the line, Amaechi told him not to greet the party officials and elders, for security reasons. But I told the President that those were state party officials and he is the leader of PDP. The governor said the President should not shake those people for security reason and the President said, ‘just forget it, they are all Rivers people,’ and went and shook hands with everybody. Of course, the governor got angry and left even before the President’s aircraft took off. Ask those who were there. When he left the airport, he went to the church, where Chief OCJ Okocha was marking his 60th birthday. In the anger from the airport, he started saying that we are betrayers. But how? Did he nominate me as a minister to go and fight the President? Or did he mean that before I go to any meeting, I should bring the memo to him to determine which one I will support or not? Where is the betrayal from? Did he tell me that he wanted to join the APC when he joined, or that I should come and I refused? Did he tell me that he would sponsor opposition parties and I refused? As I said, at the appropriate time, Nigerians will know the truth. Amaechi has taken to the media and is using the media for propaganda. Now in Rivers State, when a bottle breaks, the media wouldn’t say it was bottle; they would say it was dynamite. When they see dynamite, they will say they saw missile. But Nigerians should stand by the truth. What also angered Amaechi this way is because he has no party; he does not have the party structure. I have started fasting that he should leave PDP and join another party, so that we all meet in the field. Let him convince Rivers people to follow him, since he thinks he is now the Tinubu of Rivers State. Let him leave now, then let us meet in the election. What is your take on the governor’s allegation that the state Police commissioner is part of the insecurity in the state? He is not happy with the commissioner because he wants one that he will use to detain his political opponents on trumped up charges of being cultists or troublemakers. Amaechi went as far as revoking the Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) of the hotel owned by the chairman of the Rivers State PDP, because he went to court to reclaim his mandate. Yet, he claims to be a democrat and believes in the rule of law. Some of us cannot be intimidated. Thank God that he will not be there forever. I don’t want to talk about this matter anymore. At the right time, Nigerians will hear in full who Amaechi really is. I have just touched the tip; I haven’t given you the full gist. For now, all the governor is doing is to throw stones to give people bad names and playing human rights activist. You are a democrat, and with the state Assembly overnight, you dissolved my own local government because the court removed the state party chairman loyal to you? How can peace return to Rivers State? What do you mean by peace? We are not quarreling; these are political things going on. They say we are Abuja politicians, but I am always home every week, and they come to Abuja too. Meanwhile, I can tell you of the few who can conveniently win their wards. I was the general commander of the last election and they know that I know which one won or didn’t win their wards, because I have all the results with me. Some of these people cannot win their wards. They are only hiding behind Amaechi and don’t even know how he became governor in the first instance. Now, they are saying Wike is a betrayer. But before now, Amaechi went to churches to tell them that Wike is a strong character; that Wike is a man you can work with and rely on. He told his brother governors that Wike is a man that you can depend on. Now, he says Wike does not have character.

THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, July, 6, 2013

Change of Name ABIMBOLA: Formerly Miss Aderonke Oluranti Abimbola now Mrs. Aderonke Oluranti Moore. Former documents valid. Public note.

known as Miss Adewale Toyin Christy now wish to be called Mrs. Adeyemi Toyin Christy. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

ABU: I, formerly Miss Love Eyo Abu now known as Mrs. Love Anenam Ibeh. Former documents remain valid. NYSC, general public take note.

ADEYINKA: I, formerly known as Mrs. Adeyinka Abosede Vera now wish to be known as Mrs. Odubanjo Abosede Vera. All former documents remain valid. Public note.

ADEBAYO: Formerly Miss Omolara Alake Adebayo now Mrs. Omolara Alake Womiloju: Former documents valid. Public note. ADEBIYI: Formerly Miss Adebiyi Ibukun Adejoke now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ayodele Ibukun Adejoke. Former documents remain valid. Public note. ADEDIBU: Formerly Miss Adedibu Bukola Adesunbo, now Mrs. Adeleke Bukola Adesunbo. Former documents remain valid. Nigerian Institute of Architects, Interior Woodwork Ltd and public take note. ADEJO: Formerly known as Miss Aderonke Adetumi Adejo now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Aderonke Adetumi Olarinde. All former documents remain valid. Lagos State Minister of Education District 2, public note. ADEOLU: Okunade Adeolu Gbenga is the same person as Adeola Samuel Okunade. Former documents remain valid. Public note. ADEPOJU: Formerly Miss Adebimpe Titilope Adepoju now Mrs. Adebimpe Titilope Olusakin. Former documents remain valid. Public note. ADERIBIGBE: Formerly Aderibigbe Esther Yemisi now Mrs. Onanusi Esther Yemisi. All former documents remain valid. WAEC, MLSON LAUTECH and public note. ADESUYI: Formerly Miss Adesuyi Folasade Olaide Oluwafunmilade now Mrs. Idowu Folasade Olaide Oluwafunmilade. Former documents remain valid. Public note. ADETUNJI: formerly Babafunke Oluwamayowa Idowu now Babafunke Oluwamayowa Adetunji. Former documents valid. Public note. ADEWALE: Formerly Miss Sekinat Gbemisola Adewale now Mrs. Sekinat Gbemisola Agboola. All former documents remain valid. Public note. ADEWALE: I, formerly

ADEYEMO: I, Miss Adeyemo Omotola Adedoyin now wish to be known, called and addressed as Mrs. Olatunji Omotola Adedoyin. All documents remain valid. AFEEZ: I, formerly Mr. Erinle Omodele Afeez now Mr. Crystal-Kolawole Omodele Oluwajuwo. All former documents remain valid. Public take note. AFOLABI: Formerly Miss Kehinde Oluwatoyin Afolabi now Mrs. Kehinde Oluwatoyin Folarin. Previous documents remain valid. General public note. AGORO: Formerly Miss Adiat Tinuola Agoro now Mrs. Adiat Tinuola Jabita. Former documents remain valid. Public note. AGWATU: Agwatu Chinwe Vivian now Mr.s Iheme Chinwe Vivian. All documents remain valid. Public note. AIMUAN: Formerly Miss Esther Adesuwa Aimuan now Mrs. Esther Adesuwa Nnamani. Former documents remain valid. Public note. AJIBADE: Formerly Miss Moriam Olanrewaju Ajibade now Mrs. Moriam Olanrewaju Ibrahim. NYSC and public note. AJILORE: I, formerly Miss Ajilore Dorcas Oluwatosin now known as Mrs. Bailey Dorcas Olwuatosin. Former documents remain valid. General public take note. AJINDE: Formerly Ajinde Opeyemi Stephen now Opeyemi Omooluwa Greatness. Former documents remain valid. Public note. AJISEBUTU: Formerly Miss Ayodeji Tumininu Ajisebutu now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Ayodeji Tumininu OyeIgbemo. Former documents remain valid. General public note. AKANIMODO: Formerly Miss Akanimodo Yewande Nimota now

Mrs Yewande Abisoye Olorunrinu. Former documents valid. Public note. AKINMOSIN: Formerly Miss Caroline Oluwayomi Akinmosin now Mrs. Akinnusi Caroline Oluwayomi. Former documents remain valid. Public take note.

valid. Public note. AKUDINOBI: Formerly Miss Akudinobi Ugochinyere Ihunna now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Ikechukwu Ugochinyere Ihunna. Former documents remain valid. General public note.

AKIMU: Formerly Mr. Kadiri Akimu Yahaya now Mr. Kadiri Yahaya. All former documents remain valid. Public note.

AKWARA: Former Miss Kesiena Esimajegharanyomi Akwara now Mrs. Kesiena Esimajegharanyomi Atie. All former documents remain valid. Public note.

AKINBO: Former Miss Akinbo Morufat Ronke now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Onabule Morufat Ronke. Former documents remain valid. General public note.

AMADI: I, formerly Dr. Amadi Chukwunwendu C. C. now known as Dr. Amadi Celestina Chinwe Michael. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

AKINBOLA: I, formerly known as Miss Akinbola Funmilayo Esther now wish to be called Mrs. Funmilayo Esther Alabi. Previous documents remain unchanged. Please note.

AMOKE: Formerly Miss Amoke Chinonyelum Blessing now Mrs. Ezeja Chinonyelum Blessing. Former documents remain valid. UNN, Olam, public note.

AKINDELE: I, formerly Miss Akindele Olutola Apinke now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Akano Olutola Apinke. Former documents remain valid. Public note. AKINLADE: Former Miss Iyabo Taye Akinlade now Mrs. Christianah Taiwo. Oyo SUBEB and public note. AKINKUNMI: Formerly Miss Akinkunmi Bolanle Mercy now Mrs. Adenodi Bolanle Mercy. All former documents remain valid. General public note. AKINOLA: Formerly Miss Omotayo Aina Akinola now Mrs. Omotayo Aina Ibidokun. Former documents remain valid. Public note. AKINTUNDE: Formerly Miss. Akintunde Adebisi Moroti now Mrs. Nadi Adebisi Moroti. Former documents remain valid. General public take note. AKINYEMI: I, formerly Miss Akinyemi Oyinkansola Olakunbi now Wishes to be known as Mrs Adetayo Oyinkansola Olakunbi. All former documents remain valid. Dangote Cement Plc and public note AKOMAKOWE: Formerly Mr Pender Ogaga Akomakowe, now Mr Pender Ogaga Akomakowe Enuofu. Former documents valid. Public note. AKOR: Formerly Miss Ube Esther Akor, now Mrs Ube Esther Oyebode. Former documents

ANOSIKE: I, formerly known as Chioma Scholastica Anosike now wish to be called Chioma Scholastica Unachukwu. Previous documents remain valid. General public note. AROWOLO: Formerly Arowolo Cecilia Olubunmi now Adako Cecilia Olubunmi. Former documents remain valid. Public note. ASAYE: Formerly Afolasade Olaitan Asaye now Mrs. Afolasade Olaitan Asaye Odumuyiwa. Former documents remain valid. Public note. ASEM: Former Miss Onyeka Elizabeth Asem now Mrs. Onyeka Elizabeth Casey. Former documents remain valid. NYSC, Unilag, public note. ASUQUO: Formerly Mr. Okon Victor Asuquo now Mr. Victor Oti Nelson. All former documents remain valid. Public note. ATERE: Formerly Miss Atere Adekemisola Adeyinka, now Mrs. Alobo Adekemisola Adeyinka. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. ATETEDAYE: I, formerly Miss Atetedaye Olushola Ibukun now known as Mrs. Adeoye Atetedaye Olushola Ibukun. Former documents remain valid. General public take note. AWARAKA: Formerly Miss Awaraka Cordelia Chizoma now Mrs. Ejiaka Cordelia Chizoma.

All former documents remain valid. Public note. AWOBIYI: Formerly Miss Awobiyi Olufunmilayo Eniola now Mrs. Ogunlade Olufunmilayo Eniola. Former documents remain valid. LSUBEB, public note. AWONIRAN: Formerly Miss Awoniran Kafilat Adebukola now Mrs. Balogun Kafilat Adebukola. Former documents valid. Public note. AYANDA: Formerly Miss Ayanda Aminat Titilope now Mrs. Bawala Aminat Titilope. All former documents remain valid. General public note. AZIKE: Formerly Azike Nneamaka now Onyema Nneamaka. Former documents remain valid. Public note. BADMUS: Formerly Miss Badmus Olayinka Folakemi now Mrs. Adika Olayinka Folakemi. Previous documents remain valid. Public note. BAKARE: Formerly Miss Bakare Elizabeth Abiodun now Mrs. Aremu Elizabeth Abiodun. Former documents valid. Public note. BALOGUN: I, formerly Miss Balogun Mariam Salewa now known as Mrs. Olagunju Mariam Salewa. Former documents remain valid. NYSC, general public note. BELLO: Formerly Miss Bello Jumoke Monsurat now Mrs. Oluwayemi Jumoke Monsurat. All former documents remain valid. General public note. BENSON: Formerly Miss Abosede Oluwasola Benson now Mrs. Abosede Oluwasola Adeyemo. Former documents valid. NDLEA Ikoyi Lagos note. BILLY: I, formerly Miss Billy Olanike Yvonne now known as Mrs. Shodiya Olanike Yvonne. Former documents remain valid. General public take note. BRIGHT: Formerly Mrs. Bright Oby Irene Ogonnaya now Mrs. Opara Oby Irene Ogonnaya. Former documents valid. Public note. BURAIMOH: Formerly known as Miss Buraimoh Olamide Teniola now addressed as Mrs. Akolade Olamide Teniola. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

NAME: OBIORA: Family of Obiora now known as Chukwuchebe. Evang. Chukwuchebe Godfrey, Mrs. Chukwuchebe Victoria Obianamma, Chukwuchebe Uchenna Arnold, Chukwuchebe Edna Ngozi, Chukwuchebe Ifeoma Juliet, Chukwuchebe Stella Nkiru, Chukwuchebe Joy Ukamaka, Chukwuchebe Victoria Oluchukwu, Chukwuchebe Chijioke Godfrey. Former documents remains valid. Public note. CHIEMENEM: Formerly Miss Mary Jovita Chiemenem now Mrs Udochukwu .B. Mary Jovita. Former documents valid. Public note. CHIJIONWU: I, formerly Miss Nwamaka Nwakaego Chijionwu now known as Mrs. Nwamaka Nwakaego Chikezie. Former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHIKWENDU: Formerly Miss Chikwendu Uchechi Esther, now Mrs. Sampson-Anya Uchechi Esther. Former documents remain valid. Public note. CHIME: I, formerly Miss Mary Nwanneka Chime now known as Mrs. Mary Nwanneka Adekanye. Former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHINWEUBA: Formerly Miss Chinweuba Adaku Miriam now Mrs Adaku .M. Chukwuemeka Izimah. Former documents remain valid. Public note. CORRECTION OF DATE OF BIRTH : This is to notify the general public that I Sylvester Emeka Okeke, Male, a native of Umuokpalaeri Village Enugu-Ukwu in Njikoka LGA of Anambra State, hereby State that my correct date of birth is October 13th 1961. that this correction of date made supersedes all previous ones. IMT, UNIBEN, NYSC, TNPLC etc take note. DAIRO: Formerly Dairo Tinuade Olayemi, now Olatunji-Thomas Tinuade Olayemi. All former documents remain valid. Public take note. DIKE: Formerly Miss Dike Blessing Chinyere now Mrs GinikaOtuokere Blessing Chinyere. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

EDHEKPO: Former Mrs. Francisca O. Edhekpo CHANGE OF FAMILY SUR- now Esukuseide Fran-

THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, July, 6, 2013

Change of Name cisca Princess. All former documents remain valid. Public note. EGBE: I, formerly called Miss Anna Egbe now Mrs. Anna Egbe Allu. Former documents remain valid. General public note. EIGBIREMON: Formerly Miss Eigbiremon Cecilia Gladys now Mrs. Ebhoman Cecilia Gladys. All former documents remain valid. Public note. EKEH: I, formerly known as Esther Chizoba Ekeh now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Esther Chizoba Asuelimen Ok Plast Ltd., & general public take note. EKEH: Formerly Miss Ekeh Sonia Ogochukwu, now Mrs. Ifediba Sonia Ogochukwu. Former documents remain valid. Public note. EKPOKPOBE: Formerly Miss Oghenekevwe Ekpokpobe now Mrs. Oghenekevwe Egbedion. All former documents remain valid. Public note. EKWE: Formerly Miss Ekwe Regina P. now Mrs. Olika Regina P. Former documents remain valid. Public note. ELODINMUO: Formerly Miss Elodinmuo Nneoma Oyinyechukwu now Mrs Ojemade N n e o m a Oyinyechukwu. All former documents remain valid. General public note EMESOWUM: Formerly Dr. Miss Onyekachi Stephanie Emesowum, now Dr. (Mrs.) Onyekachi Stephanie Oparah. All former documents remain valid. Public note. EMOKHOR: I, formerly Miss Priscilla Agwunopua Emokhor now Mrs. Priscilla Agwunopua Ayodele. Former documents remain valid. Public take note. ENAHORO: Former Miss Blessing Enahoro now Mrs. Blessing Anthony Ohiowele. Former documents remain valid. Public note. ENEKWE: Formerly Miss Nwamaka Leila Enekwe now Mrs. Nwamaka Leila Filatei. Former documents remain valid. Public note. ENIFENI: Formerly known as Miss Shukurat Olamipo Enifeni now addressed as Mrs. Shukurat Olamipo Enifeni Bello. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

ENO: Formerly Miss Imaobong Eno Joe now Mrs. Imaobong Joe Dickson. Former documents remain valid. AIRTEL Nigeria and public note.

Mrs. Adejoke Dorcas Abosede Kolawole. All documents remain valid. General public take note.

ERAGBE: Formerly Miss Sandra Agnes Eragbe now Mrs. Sandra Agnes Odige. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

FAROTADE: Formerly Miss Farotade Adeline Folashade now Mrs. Ayanda Adeline Folashade. Former documents remain valid. General public note.

ESEKWE: Formerly Mr. Esekwe Cosmos Isioma, now wish to be addressed as Mr. Isioma Cosmos. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

FAYEMI: Formerly Miss Fayemi Grac-e Oluwatoyin, now Mrs. Ojo Grace Oluwatoyin. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

ETHAN: We, formerly known and addressed as Pastor Salmon Uzoezi Ethan, Pastor (Mrs.) Victoria Emiebenomo Ethan, Orevaoghene Precious Ethan, UsiwoOghene Deborah Ethan, Oghenekome Grace Ethan, Enifome Theodora Ethan, Ogheneruno Promise Ethan, Ewomazino Victor Ethan now wish to be known and addressed as Pastor Solomon Uzoezi Eto, Pastor (Mrs.) Victoria Efemena Eto, Orevaoghene Precious Eto, Usiwo-Oghene Deborah Eto, Oghenekome Grace Eto, Enifome Theodora Eto, Ogheneruno Promise Eto, Ewomazino Victor Eto. All former documents remain valid. Chevron Nigeria Limited, Corporate Affairs Commission, Benson Idahosa University, Benin, Lead City University, Ibadan, Nigeria Immigration Service and public note. EZE: Formerly Miss Eze Linda Chinasa, now Mrs. Mmaduabuchi Linda Chinasa. Former documents remain valid. Public note. EZEBUIHE: Formerly Miss Ezebuihe Chidinma Angela, now Mrs. Onuoha Chidinma Angela. Former documents remain valid. Commission for Museum and Monument, Owerri. Public note. FABUNMI: Formerly, Miss Ibilola Roseline Fabunmi now Mrs Ibilola Roseline Olowookere. Former documents remain valid, Public note. FALOYE: Formerly Miss Adebanke Olapeju Faloye, now Mrs Adebanke Olapeju Ugbaja. Former documents valid. Public note. FAMODU: Formerly Miss Famodu Mojisola Adenike now Mrs. Ogunnaike Mojisola Adenike. Former documents remain valid. Public note. FANIYI: I, formerly Miss Adejoke Dorcas Abosede Faniyi now known as

GBADAMOSI: Formerly Gbadamosi Ajoke Sikiratu, now Mrs. Ososomi Ajoke Sunday. Former documents remain valid. Public note. GEORGE: Formerly Miss George Temitayo Rekiat now wish to be known as Mrs. Ibrahim Temitayo Naomi. All former documents remain valid. General public note. GIWA: Former Miss Giwa Abiola Alimah now Mrs. Suleiman Abiola Alimah. Former documents remain valid. Public note. GODO: Formerly Miss Bolade Bilikis Godo now Mrs. Bolade Bilikis Ogunbunmi. All former documents remain valid. Lagos State Govt. and public note. IBIKUNLE: Formerly Miss Ibikunle Olubunmi Yetunde, now Mrs. Abiri Olubunmi Yetunde Nita. Former documents remain valid. Public note. IDOWU: I, formerly Feyisetan Ebunoluwa Idowu now wish to be known as Feyisetan Ebunoluwa Alebiosu. Former documents remain valid. Public please note. IHEANACHO: Formerly Miss Joy Chinyere Iheanacho now Mrs. Joy Chinyere Obikeze. All documents remain valid. Public note. IHEANACHO: Formerly Miss Iheanacho Chika Jacinta, now Mrs. Ezeoffia Chika Jacinta. Former documents remain valid. Public note. IHEDIOHAMMA: Formerly Miss Ihediohamma Obiesie Onyinye now Mrs. Onyinye Oragwu. Former document remain valid. Public note. IHEKUNA: I, formerly Miss Roseline Ngozi Ihekuna now known as Mrs. Roseline Ngozi Bright. Former documents remain valid. UNILAG, general public take note.

IHUOMA: Former Miss Huldah Ihechi Ihuoma now Mrs. Huldah Ihechi Uwom. Former documents remain valid. Public note. INEZIA: Formerly Mr. Inezia Goodness, now wish to be known as addressed as Mr. Mark Goodness. All former documents remain valid. General public note. ISMAIL: Former Miss Zainab Mummy Ismail now Mrs. Zainab Abubakar Samdi. All former documents remain valid. General public note. ISHOLA: Formerly known as Miss Kuburat Oluwatoyin Ishola now addressed as Mrs. Khadijah Oluwatoyin Fatai. Former documents remain valid. Public note. IWU: Formerly Miss Iwu Chika Anthonia now Mrs Egbuho Chika Anthonia. Former documents valid. Public note. INYAMAH: Formally Mr. Emmanuel .C. Inyamah, now wish to be addressed as Mr. Emmanuel .C. Joseph. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. JACOB: I, formerly known as Patience Akhayagboke Jacob now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Patience Akhayagboke Umoru. OK Plast Ltd. & general public take note.

ments remain valid. Public note. LUCKY: I formerly Momodu Lucky, now Momodu Jackson Morgan. Former documents remain valid. General public take note. MADU: I, formerly Miss Bridget Nnenna Madu now Mrs. Bridget Nnenna Osaji. All documents remain valid. NYSC, public note. MARY: Formerly Miss Mary Ojoruyolumi Mordi, now wish to be addressed as Miss Joy Ojoruyolumi Mordi. Former documents remain valid. General public note. MONDAY: Formerly Miss Monday Ofure Peace, now Mrs. Ewone Ofure Peace. Former documents remain valid. Public note. MORDI: Formally Miss Shalom Ojorane Mordi, now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Shalom Ojorane Aboyi. All former documents remain valid. General public note. MERENU: Formerly Miss Merenu Ugochi now addressed as Mrs. Matins Ugochi. Former documents valid. Public note. NDULAGWA: I, Miss Uzoamaka Gloria Ndulagwa now Mrs. Uzoamaka Gloria Okunu. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

JAKPOR: I, formerly Miss Lydia Jakpor now Mrs. Lydia Agbenson. Former documents remain valid. General public note.

NJOKU: Formerly Miss Njoku Vivian Chinenye now Mrs. Orioha Vivian Chinenye. All former documents remain valid. General public note.

JENTEGBE: Jentegbe Temitope Adeola now Mrs. Ariyibi Temitope Adeola. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

NNYABA: Formerly Mrs. Nnyaba Grace Ujo, now Mrs. Nwachukwu Grace Ujo. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

JIM: I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Peace Anthony Jim now Mrs. Peace Anthony Muftau. All former documents remain valid. Penisular Hotel & Towers, general public take note. JOSHUA: I, formerly Jeremiah Olusegun Joshua now known as Hungevu Olusegun Mahutin. Former documents remain valid. Zenith Bank, EcoBank, general public take note. KOLAWOLE: Formerly Miss Kolawole Tomilayo Olayomade, now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Aremu Tomilayo Olayomade. Former documents remain valid. General public note. LIS-OGUNLEYE: Formerly Mrs. Lis-Ogunleye now Miss Ogunleye Racheal Damilola. Former docu-

NWABUKO: Formerly Nwabuko Chika Grace now Abe Chika Grace Ifeoluwa. General public note. NWACHUKWU: I, Miss Nwachukwu Ngozi Blessing to be called Mrs. Ukorah Ngozi Blessing. All documents remain valid. Education District VI and the public please take note. NWANEKEZIE: Formerly Nwanekezie Destiny Chinonso now Mrs. Ochi Destiny Chinonso. Former documents remain valid. Public note. NWANKWO: Formerly Miss Nkemdirim Augustina Nwankwo now Mrs. Nkemdirim Augustina Ozoigbo. Former documents valid. Public note. NWEKE: Formerly Nweke Chukwuekwu Rita now

Okojie Chukwuekwu Rita. All former documents remain valid. Public note. NWOKOLO: Formerly Chioma Lovelyn Nwokolo now to be addressed as Mrs. Chioma Lovelyn Victor Okpala. Former documents remain valid. Public note. NWOSU: Formerly Miss Nwosu Angel Ngozi, now Mrs. Ike-Alum Angel Ngozi. Former documents remain valid. Public note. NZEME: Formerly Miss Nzeme Nkeiruka Queen Whendolen now Mrs. Ofoji Nkeiruka Queen Whendolen. Former documents remain valid. General public note. OBASUYI: Margaret Odagbon Obasuyi Margaret Odagbon ObasuyiAdogun and Margaret Odagbon Okpiafo. All refer to one and the same person. All former documents remain valid. General public note. OBIDIEBUBE: Formerly Miss Obidiebube Sheila Chimdinma now Mrs. Ezeani Chimdinma. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. OBIEKWE: Formerly Miss Obiekwe Patience Blessing Kelechi, now Mrs. Anigbata Blessing Kelechi. Former documents remain valid. Public note. OBI: Formerly Miss Obi Edith Ifeoma now Mrs Nnaji Edith Ifeoma. Former documents remain valid. General public note. OBUGE: Formerly Miss Obuge Pamnigey, now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Leghemo Eniye Pamnigey. Former documents remain valid. General public note. ODETUNDE: Formerly Miss Oluwatoyin Oluwatobi Odetunde, now Mrs Oluwatoyin Oluwatobi Ola-Danisa. Former documents valid. Public note. ODO: I, formerly Mr. Odo Emmanuel Offor now known as Mr. Njeze Emmanuel Offor. Former documents remain valid. General public take note. ODO: Formerly Miss Blessing Odo now Mrs. Blessing Nwogu. Former documents remain valid. Public take note. OGBONNA: Formerly Miss Ogbonna Helen Chidinma now Mrs Helen Omega Awara. NYSC, Abia-Poly, Public note. OGBONNA:

Formerly

THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, July, 6 , 2013

Change of Name known as Miss Ogbonna Adaugo Chinwe now addressed as Mrs. Asugha Adaugo Chinwe. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

OGBU: Formerly Miss Ogbu Patience Udochukwu, now Mrs. Chidiebere Patience Udochukwu. Former documents remain valid. Public note. OGUNBANJO: Formerly Miss Ogunbanjo Olayemi Ibidun now Mrs. Ogunlewe Olayemi Ibidunni. Former documents remain valid. Public note. OGUNBIYI: Formerly Ogunbiyi Adeyinka Aderemi now Mrs. Dawodu Adeyinka Aderemi. Former documents remain valid. Public note. OGUNDELE: Formerly Miss Ogundele Omotoyosi Mariam now Mrs. Bakare Omotoyosi Mariam. Former documents remain valid. Public note. OGUNJIMI: Formerly Miss Aminat Motunrayo Ogunjimi now Mrs. Aminat Motunrayo Ajayi. All former documents remain valid. Public note. OGUNKOMAYA: I, formerly Ogunkomaya Dele Michael now Ayodele Dele Michael. Former documents remain valid. Public take note. OGUNLE: Former Mr. Ogunle Adeyemi Matthew is now Mr. Olufemi Adeyemi Matthew and Miss Oluwaseun Elizabeth Aluko is now Mrs. Oluwaseun Elizabeth Olufemi. Former documents remain valid. Public take note. OGUNLOLA: Former Miss Cecilia Sakirat Ogunlola now wish to be known as Mrs. Cecilia Oluwafunmilayo Adekoya. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note. OGUNOIKI: Formerly Ogunoiki Morenike Omolara now to be known as Cole Morenike Omolara. All former documents remain valid. Public take note. OGUNYEMI: Formerly Ogunyemi Samuel Bunmi now Oluwayemi Samuel Bunmi. All former documents remain valid. General public note. OHIOWELE: Former Miss Benedicta Omonefe Ohiowele now Mrs. Benedicta Chidi Ogbuji. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

OHIRI: Formerly Miss Rita Ugo Ohiri now Mrs. Rita Ugo OhiriAkhimiemona. All former documents remain valid. General public note. OJO: Formerly Miss Oluwaseun Elizabeth Ojo now known as Mrs. Oluwaseun Elizabeth Adeyemo. Former documents remain valid. Public note. OKEH: Formerly Miss Okeh Chizoba, now Mrs. Amadi Joy Chizoba. Former documents remain valid. Public note. OKEKE: Formerly Okeke Chioma Nwanneka Favour, now Okechukwu Chioma Nwanneka Favour. Former documents remain valid. Skye Bank Plc, Aims Asset Mgt, public note. OKELE: Formerly Miss Okele Rametu Aigbomeire henceforth bears Mrs. Ojoh Rametu Jennifer. All former documents remain valid. Pacific Holdings Limited and the public to note. OKONKWO: Formerly Miss Okonkwo Uju Patricia, now Mrs. Ugbo Uju Patricia. Former documents remain valid. Public note. OKORIE: I, formerly Miss Okorie Nneka Prisca now known as Mrs. Obioma Nneka Prisca. Former documents remain valid. General public take note. OKOROCHA: I, formerly Miss Mavis Nkeonye Okorocha now known as Mrs. Mavis Nkeonye Iwuakwu. Former documents remain valid. General public take note. OKPARA: Formerly Miss Stella Okpara now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Stella Onwe. Former documents remain valid. General public note. OLADEJI: I, formerly Miss Oladeji Oluwabunmi Oladoyin now known as Mrs. Ogedengbe Oluwabunmi Rosemary. Former documents remain valid. General public take note. OLASUNKANMI: I, formerly known as Miss O l a s u n k a n m i Omobolanle Toosin now wish to be known as Mrs. Longe Omobolanle Tosin. Former documents bearing my old names remain valid. General public take note. OLAYINKA: Formerly Oluyemisi Olufunke Olayinka now Mrs. Oluyemisi Olufunke Oropo. Former docu-

ments remain valid. Public note. OLEOLO: I, formerly Miss Oleolo Oluwatoyin Bukola now known as Mrs. Idebi Oluwatoyin Bukola. Former documents remain valid. General public take note. OLOWOJOBA: Former Miss Olowojoba Adekemi now Mrs. Adekemi Omotola Omotayo. Former documents remain valid. Public note. OLOWOLAYEMO: Formerly Miss Olowolayemo Etana Rose now Mrs. Osayameh Etana Rose. All former documents remain valid. Public note. OLUFOLA: I, formerly known as Miss Abiola Helen Olufola now wish to be called Mrs. Abiola Helen Tijani. Previous documents remain unchanged. Pls note. OMONIYI: Formerly Busayo Omotayo Omoniyi now Busayo Omotayo Folorunsho. Documents remain valid. Public note. ONUAGWU: F o r merly Miss Onuagwu Precious Chizaram, now Mrs. Chima Precious Chizaram. Former documents remain valid. Public note. ONUOHA: Formerly Miss Emily Nnene Onuoha , now Mrs Emily Nnene Akparanta. Former documents valid. Public note. ONWUKWE: Formerly Miss Onwukwe Adaoma Geraldine now Mrs Ugochukwu Adaoma Geraldine. Former dcouments valid. Public note. ONYEKACHI: I, formerly Miss Onyekachi Constance Osinachi now known as Mrs. Chinwe Constance Osinachi. Former documents remain valid. General public take note. ONYEKE: Formerly Miss Blessing Onyewu Onyeke now Mrs. Blessing Onyewu Abure. Former documents remain valid. Public note. OPE: Formerly Miss Ope Alimot Ibijoke now Mrs. Balogun Alimot Ibijoke. Former documents valid. Public note. OPUTAH: Formerly Miss Vivien Nkechi Oputah now Mrs. Vivien Nkechi. Former documents valid. Public note. ORAGBADE: Former Dr. Miss Adedunni Oragbade now Dr. Mrs. Adedunni Olusanya.

Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria and general public note. OSAREMWINDE: I formerly Miss Osaremwinde Bridget Itohan, now wish to be Mrs. Osazuwa Bridget Itohan. Former documents remain valid. Public note. OWEAKA: Formerly known as Oweaka Family now known as Albert Family. Former documents valid. Public note. OWEAKA: Formerly known as Oweaka Ken now known as Albert Ken. Former documents valid. Public note. OWOSO: I, former Miss Damilola Caroline Owoso. now wish to be known as Mrs. Damilola Caroline Oniasanmi. All documents remian valid. General public take note.

Service note. SOLARIN: Formerly Miss Solarin Oludare Enitan now Mrs. Akusebo Oludare Enitan. Former documents valid. Public note. SOFOLABO: Formerly Miss Morenikeji Oluwaseyi Sofolabo now Mrs. Morenikeji Oluwaseyi Sontan. Former documents valid. Public note SOPITAN: Formerly Miss Sopitan Beatrice Oluwaseyi now Mrs. Lawani Beatrice Oluwaseyi. All former documents remain valid. LSUBEB, public note. SORO: I, formerly Mr. Soro Anthony Olubunmi now known as Mr. Ogedengbe Anthony Olubunmi. Former documents remain valid. NYSC, GNLD International, GTBank, general public take note.

Okoye Chinonso Christiana. Former documents remain valid. NYSC, General public take note. UMO: Formerly Miss Utibe Umo Ekanem now wish to be known as Mrs. Utibe Ekanem Echemi. Former documents remain valid. Public note. UMORU: I formerly known as Sunday Umoru now wish to be known and addressed as Jephthah Jephthah. All formal documents remain valid. General Public please take note. UMORU: I formerly known as Queen Ufuoma Umoru (nee Utoro) now wish to be known and addressed as Ruth Jephthah. All formal documents remain valid. General Public please take note.

OYIJE: Formerly Mrs. Ugwumsinachi Victory Oyije now Mrs. Ugwumsinachi Victory Odilo. Former documents remain valid. Public note. OYINYEN: Formerly Miss Faith Omatosan Oyinyen, now Mrs Faith Omatosan AkomakoweEnuofu. Former documents valid. Public note. PEDETIN: Formerly Miss Boya Tolulope Pedetin now Mrs Ogunbanjo Tolulope Pedetin. All former documents remain valid General public note

SUKAI: Formerly Miss Sukai Gift, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Gift Peter Igbinovia. Former documents remain valid. General public note.

UDEANI: Formerly Miss Udeani Nnenna Peace, now Mrs. Agu Nnenna Peace. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

UMORU: I formerly known as Peace Oghenefejiro Umoru now wish to be known and addressed as Hannah Oghenefejiro Jephthah. All formal documents remain valid. General Public please take note

PHILLIP: Abigael Seyi Phillip now Abigael Seyi Ogwu. All documents remain valid. Public note.

UGAR â&#x20AC;&#x201C; IFU: I, Morphy Ugar Ifu have been using Morphy as my surname whereas Ugar - Ifu is my surname. All documents remain valid. General public take note.

URUABANI: Formerly Miss Uruabani Chibuzo Felicia, now Mrs. Chinachi Chibuzo Felicia. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

UGOJI: Formerly Miss Ifeanyi Esther Ugoji now Mrs. Ifeanyi Esther Akpati. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

USMAN: Formerly Miss Usman Christopher Cordelia now Mrs. Iyaogeh Afenoso Cordelia. All former documents remain valid. Public note.

PHILLIP: Rebecca Enakelo Phillip now Mrs. Rebecca Enakelo Ogwu. All documents remain valid. Public note. SABITU: Formerly Miss Fadekemi Yidiat Sabitu now Mrs. Fadekemi Yidiat Olakunle â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Awe. Former documents remain valid. Public note. SALAMI: Formerly Miss Salami Risikat Abimbola now Mrs. Olatoye Risikat Abimbola. Former documents remain valid. Public note. SANNI: Formerly Miss Sanni Iretioluwa Modupe, now Mrs Olagbemi Iretioluwa Modupe. Former documents valid. Public note. SHITTU: I, Mumuni Gbolahan Shittu the biological Father for Aishat Aramide Adunni Shittu Apooyin. All former documents remain valid. Nigeria Immigration

UBALUA: Formerly Miss Rosemary Chiekwue Ubalua now Mrs. Rosemary Chiekwue Ukanwa. All documents remain valid. Public note.

UMORU: I formerly known as Stephen Eseoghene Umoru now wish to be known and addressed as David Eseoghene Jephthah. All formal documents remain valid. General Public please take note.

UGWUMBA: Formerly Miss Ugwumba Ugochi WARIZERIBE: Formerly IF FOR Sandra, now Mrs. Jude- Miss Hope Diami Okafor Ugochi Sandra. Warizeribe, now wish THE as Mrs. Former documents re- to be addressed main valid. Public note. Hope Diami KaborloPURPOSE bari Wite. Former docUGWU: Formerly Miss uments remain valid. Ugwu Peace Udodilim, GeneralOF THISnote. public now Mrs. Asogwa Peace Udodilim. Former docuCHANGE OF ments remain valid. Public note. NAME YOU UMENNAJIUBA: Former Miss Umennajiuba Chinelo Jacinta now Mrs. Francis-Obi Chinelo Jacinta. Former documents remain valid. Public note. UMEOHANNA: I, formerly Miss Umeohanna Chinonso Christiana now known as Mrs.

WANT TO BUY A COPY PLEASE CALL

0802 306 4437

THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, July 6, 2013

SHORT STORY By Segun Durowaiye (08055356855) VERYBODY at the office knew that Shalewa E was dating Mr. Asuquo Benson. Asuquo was a Manager in the company while Shalewa was a Computer Assistant. Shalewa was a very beautiful and charming lady in her early 20s. She had all the seductive and alluring qualities a lady should have. Everything was in the right proportion – white set of teeth, well-curved shape, a lovely nose and sparkling starry eyes that could tempt any man. Asuquo had been dating her for the past three years, and everybody at the office knew this but pretended as if nothing was happening. Asuquo was a married man and in his 50s, with four children. They started the illicit romance immediately Shalewa was employed in Gold Waters Insurance Limited. Sincerely, Asuquo knew that Shalewa had a fiancé but he didn’t give a damn because of the weakness of the flesh. To him, Shalewa’s fiancé could go to blazes; he didn’t mind. The illicit relationship was very interesting and sweet. Asuquo could dare the gods because of this delectable beauty! Tosin Peters was actually Shalewa’s fiancé. Tosin was a young man in his late 20s. He was a graduate of Business Administration from a reputable university and he had a good job. He was tall, dark-skinned and handsome. He was a senior staff in a marketing firm based in Lagos Island. Tosin and Shalewa’s relationship had started ever before Shalewa got the job at Gold Waters Insurance Limited. Tosin was deeply in love with her and a date had been fixed for their wedding. Love is such a sweet feeling and can be painful also! Tosin loved and trusted Shalewa with every fibre of his being and soul. She meant everything to him. No one could dare believe the fact that Shalewa was two-timing and dating someone else even when her wedding date had already been fixed. Shalewa was a pretender of the highest order. The wedding ceremony was the talk of the town. Invitation cards had been printed and some staff of Gold Waters Insurance Limited were also invited. It came to the knowledge of Asuquo that Shalewa would soon be a married woman after she must have walk down the aisle with her fiancé. Despite the glaring fact that Shalewa would soon be in holy wedlock with her fiancé, she still had a fervent and rapturous love-making session with Asuquo three days to her wedding day! What would eventually happen in this heartbreaking relationship since Asuquo had bluntly refused to let go of Shalewa and she was shamelessly in ‘love’ with him? What kind of love was this? Shalewa was a woman possessed by the triple grip of money, lust and greed. Tosin took care of her and she also grabbed material things from Asuquo on daily basis. Where would this dangerous drift end? The wedding ceremony took place on the last Saturday in the month of October. It was a great event where all the pomp and pageantry of wealth was displayed by the couples’ families. Tosin was so happy to have as wife a lady he loved with all his heart, unknown to him that he was now married to a beautiful devil. Immediately Shalewa resumed duty at her working place, she continued her illicit love affair with Asuquo, throwing all caution to the winds. The shameful amorous relationship continued on a more frequent level even now that she had now become Mrs. Peters. The passion, fervency and frequency with which they made love was so amazing that people began to wonder why on earth she got married to Tosin Peters in the first place. One particular breezy Sunday evening, Tosin cooed a pertinent question into the ears of his beloved wife. He began: “My lovely wife, please tell me if you really love me the way I love you? I can feel myself loving you like never before. Each and every passing day, my heart keep telling me I’m married to an angel. Please, do you feel the same way like me?” She replied:“Of course I love you sincerely from the bottom of my heart my darling husband. Tosin my dear, you’re my heart, my soul and everything. God knows I love you and will ever do. You’re my love. I think of you every day and every hour. Nothing matters to me than your love. Nobody can love me the way you do…” Then she sneaked out of the bedroom the next moment and walked into the kitchen where she laughed

Killed By Two-Timing Wife mischievously to her heart’s content. Tosin still believed her wholeheartedly despite her evil and atrocious lies. Asuquo and Shalewa’s illicit romance affair continued to wax stronger despite what anybody said. They made love always on a daily basis, during and after office hours. A year after her marriage, Shalewa became pregnant. Tosin was so happy at the good news. He was overjoyed! Nine months later, Shalewa was delivered of a bouncing baby boy. The paternity of the baby boy became a mystery to watchers of the relationship. People thought by all indications, that Asuquo was the father of the baby boy but legally and rightfully Tosin should be the father. All the same, Tosin claimed ownership of the baby boy. In fact, Tosin never knew he had a rival in the person of Asuquo Benson. He thought he was the only person sleeping with his ‘beloved’ wife. One year after the birth of the baby boy, Shalewa and Asuquo’s illicit relationship reached a satanic twist as they plotted how to kill Tosin. “My darling Shalewa, I’ll visit Baba Onigba Oro after office hours tomorrow to get a very potent juju to kill your husband. Is that understood?” Asuquo asked, feeling really excited. “That’s a great idea!” Shalewa replied happily. “My dear, let’s kill the crazy man. He’s becoming a big headache for us. Let’s silence him forever!” And so, the two evil lovers connived to kill Tosin. As they had planned, the following day after office hours, Asuquo visited the shrine of Baba Onigba Oro to get a potent juju that would kill Tosin Peters. A few hours later, he was at the

shrine of the juju man, which was located on the outskirts of Lagos. “That is no problem,” the herbalist said, “I’ll give you a powerful juju called magun. When she’s going home to meet her husband she should walk over it. Take this amulet, it is called magun. Once her husband makes love to her, he would crow seven times like a cock and then somersault thrice. He would die the next moment. My fee is N50,000 only.” “Thank you very much Baba Onigba Oro! Money is not the problem. You know I’m always loaded. This is N60,000. I’m happy to hear this!” Asuquo replied excitedly. “Thank you so much my son! You always make me happy!” the old herbalist said with joy, baring his brown and dirty teeth. The following day, Asuquo gave Shalewa the juju amulet called magun and told her what to do. Shalewa was so happy when she collected the juju. She did as instructed and went home after office hours. Tosin was busy that night working on some documents he took home from the office. He wasn’t in the mood to make love and felt reluctant. However, simply because he loved her, he fell for her evil plan. Alas, the devil was at work in the person of Shalewa. That eventful night, she lured and seduced her husband to make love to her. Without much ado, they were now in the bedroom, ready to make passionate love. Five minutes into the love making session, Tosin suddenly got up and crowed like a full grown

cock for seven times. Then he somersaulted thrice. And painfully, he fell on to the bare floor and lay stone dead. Surprisingly, Shalewa screamed for help under false pretences. She was actually shedding crocodile tears. Neighbours rushed to their bedroom that evening to sympathize with her. From then on, Asuquo and Shalewa became inseparable like Siamese twins. But Almighty God was quick in anger because nemesis took its toll on Asuquo a month later. He suffered a devastating stroke that paralyzed his two legs and one arm. He couldn’t go out to the office again and he was full of excruciating pains all over his body. Asuquo spent millions of Naira for medical help but it was fruitless. He got leaner and leaner, reeling in physical and emotional pains till he breathed his last three months later a penniless and frustrated man. Before long, Shalewa was hit by smallpox. It covered her whole body. She couldn’t sleep for several weeks for she was in pains. Her beauty instantly faded away and she looked gaunt, ugly and unkempt. She sought medical solution too but it was fruitless. Her ailment defied orthodox medicine. She became a beggar on the streets of Lagos and everybody avoided her like a plague. Six months later, she went mad and confessed her past evil deeds. Tosin’s parents took custody of her little child. She gave up the ghost when her son was two years old.

THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, July 6, 2013

TRANSITION Remembering Nigeria’s Lady Of Songs, Christy Essien Igbokwe (1960-2011) By Onyedika Agbedo WO years ago, precisely on June 30, 2011, the music stopped for T Nigeria’s Lady of Songs, Chief Dr. (Mrs.) Christy Essien Igbokwe, MFR, FICA. She died at 50 years at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja, Lagos. Born on November 11, 1960, in Okat, Onna Local Council Area, Akwa Ibom State, music for Christy Essien was part of life, having made early musical efforts as early as age seven, when she started dancing with drama groups in schools. She, however, made her first music outing in 1976 on Now Sound TV programme, NTA, Aba, almost concurrently with her first acting step as she joined The New Masquerade TV Programme in NTA, Aba, taking up the famous role of Akpena, the troublesome wife of Prince Jegede Sokoya. She would soon combine this musical odyssey alongside her matrimonial affairs as she got married at the young age of 19 to 26-year-old Edwin Igbokwe (then General Manager of Punch newspapers), with whom she had and raised four children, all males. This was not, however, before she had dropped three albums: Freedom (1976), Patience (1977) and Time Waits For No One (1978). Her marital life was never a cog in her wheel as the music kept flowing freely and steadily. The same year she got married, she released One Understanding and proceeded the following year, 1980, to release Give Me A Chance. Still the next year (1981), she dropped Ever Liked My Person, after which she took about five years break before coming back in 1986 with an album, aptly titled, Taking My Time. After this came It Is Time (1988), Hear The Call (1990) and finally, Mysteries Of Life (1994). Needless to stress that all albums were instant hits and enjoyed attention on Nigerian airwaves and at parties. Little surprise, therefore, that Nigeria’s Lady of Songs received acclaims both from within and outside the country. Among her international awards include “Silver Prize” Winner at the 6th Seoul Songs Festival, South Korea (1983); “Grand Prix” Winner at Neewollah Music Festival at Independence, Kansas, USA (1983); “International Special Achievement” Award of MUSEXPO, Acapulco, Mexico (1983); “Certificate of Merit” Award for Song writing and composing at the 10th Annual American Songs Festival, Los Angeles, USA, (1983); “Audience Favourite” Award of International Music Festival at Baker University, USA (1983); and “Silver Prize” Winner at Second International Music Festival of Oklahoma University, USA (1983), among others.

Igbokwe

One of her most cherished recognitions, however, came from home, where in 1980, she received the famous award of the “Lady of Songs” by Nigerian Entertainment Writers. Then came the “Star Performer” Award of Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) (1983); “Best Actress Runner-Up” Award for Excellence by Silver Jubilee Committee of the Nigerian Television Organisation of Nigeria (NTA) (1984); “African Music Mother” Award by Music Extravaganza’84 in collaboration with African Music Development, New York, USA; and AkwaIkwoEket (The Greatest Singer from Eket Community) by Eket Local Council Authority. She also received among numerous others, “Service to the Music Profession” Award by PMAN; “Merit Award for Excellence in the Field of Music Therapy” by Medical Association of Nigeria; “Lover of Children” Award in recognition of her contribution towards child social and welfare development in the society by legendary Page Boys Club (Socio-Cultural & Humanitarian Club); “Merit Award for African Heritage” by The Gong African News Magazine

Robert Olufemi Afilaka (1929-2013) By Chris Irekamba HE LATE Chief Robert T Olufemi Afilaka was born on December 20, 1929, to the late Daniel Ajayi Afilaka of Anaye Street and Madam Alice Oke Afilaka, who were devout Christians of the Anglican Communion. He had his primary education at St. John’s Primary School, Iloro Ilesa, and St. Mathias Anglican School, Erin Ile, Kwara State between 1936 and 1944. He proceeded to Ilesa Grammar School, Ilesa, for his secondary education, where he finished in 1953. On leaving the school, Afilaka started work between 1953 and 1961 with the Western Region Ministry of Local Development and the Nigeria Railway Corporation before proceeding to England in 1961 for further studies. Pa Afilaka studied Insurance in Holborn College of Law, Commerce and Language, where he graduated as an Associate of the Chartered Insurance Institute of London in 1967 having completed the qualifying examination in 1966. Due to the loss of his father at a very tender age of nine, Pa Olu Afilaka had to fend for himself with the support of his loving but strict mother. This necessitated his having to work very hard even as a student in England. During his stay in England, he worked with the Metropolitan Police Catering Department at the Hilbury Vale Police Station, where he rose to the post of Catering Manager. He left the catering job for insurance at the Pearl Assurance City of London as an underwriting staff. Having completed his studies,

Afilaka he returned to Nigeria in December 1966 and started his insurance career with Glanvill Enthoven, an international insurance brokerage firm, as an Assistant Office Manager. He resigned from Glanvill Enthoven to take up the position of the First Insurance Officer in the Nigerian Railway Corporation in 1970. He was invited to work with the newly created National Insurance Corporation of Nigeria (NICON), where he voluntarily retired in March 1991. At NICON, the late Pa Afilaka worked in various departments. He was at one time NICON’s Northern Area Manager, covering the whole of northern states before he was transferred back to Lagos, where he retired as a Con-

troller. He also represented Nigeria in various international conferences. He also served as NICON’s representative at the Nigerian Aviation Pool, jointly managed by UNIC and NICON for the insurance industry. A widely travelled man, Pa Afilaka attended various insurance seminars, workshops and conferences in Nigeria and all over the world. Pa Afilaka until his last breath, he was a committed Christian. He was a member of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion. He was baptised in the church on December 25, 1936, and became a communicant in 1956 at the Anglican Church, Ido District, when he was serving as a station staff in Abalabi Station. The late insurance guru was a

long-standing member of Iloro Youth Christian Society of St. John’s Cathedral Iloro-Ilesa Young Men Christian Fellowship of Bishop Adelakun Memorial Church, Surulere; and Egbe Alufa of St. Margaret Church Oke-Ooye, Ilesa. As part of his commitment to the spread of the gospel, he donated parcels of land to both Anglican and Pentecostal Churches. In December 2005, he was made the grand patron of the choir of St. Margaret Church. He contributed generously to the development of both St. Margaret’s Church and St. John’s Cathedral. A member of Ilesa Social Elite, the late Afilaka was a committed family man who loved every member of his nuclear and extended family unconditionally. That manifested in the way he was variously described by members of the family in their tributes as “pillar”, “cord”, “coordinator”, “extraordinary”. The late Pa Afilaka saw to the unity of the Afilaka family. His life was a lesson in contentment and humility. He was a man of candor and conviction, traits he passed on to his children. Pa Afilaka breathed his last peacefully after speaking to his children. He is survived by brothers, sisters, wives, children, grandchildren and greatgrand-children, among whom are Taye Afilaka, a Special Assistant to the Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko; Kehinde Otubu, Modupe Daub, Omololu Afilaka, Lara Amos, Lola Orelu, Mobo Biobaku, Bankole Afilaka, Salewa Okunola, Bolaji Afilaka and Yisola Afilaka, among others.

(2010); and the “Nigerian Woman of Valor” “Award by National Centre for Women Development, Abuja (2010). She is not forgotten, even in death, as only two years upon her demise, she has already received three Posthumous Awards, from both the local and international scenes, including, “Entertainment Icon” by West African Women in Leadership Conference (in Ghana) (2011); “Excellence in Outstanding Performance and Hard Work” by National Association of Akwa Ibom State Students (NAAKISS), University of Lagos Chapter (2011) and Top 100 Professionals 2012 by International Biographical Centre, Cambridge, England. The late Igbokwe was Matron to many associations, especially those related to youths’ activities. She was also deeply involved in charity programmes, dating back to 1980 when she started championing the cause of the less privileged in our society especially the Nigerian Child. Her passion for kids was evidenced in her works such as Show a Little Bit of Kindness, Do You Hear Me Children, Seun Rere, Hear the Call and Onwegh Ihe Ka Nwa Na Uwa (Nothing is greater than child). It is indeed remarkable that Royalty from the sales of her past albums remains directed towards charity projects and the needy in our society. The Lady of Songs charity projects were far-reaching as they cut across various geo-political zones in the country. In Adamawa State (then Gongola State), she raised funds used by the State Government to fence, equip, renovate and provide drinkable water and main pump to the state’s only rehabilitation centre (at Jada) for the handicapped. In Rivers State, she raised funds for the Catholic Children’s Home and Psychiatric School. In Enugu State (then old Anambra), she fully equipped refectory for the School of the Blind, Deaf and Dumb, Ogbete, Enugu, while in Plateau Sate, she raised funds through Command Performances to provide scholarship endowment fund for able-bodied and handicapped children of the state. The late Igbokwe must be credited with the formation of Performing Musicians Employers Association of Nigeria (PMAN) in 1982. With her ideas and husband’s support, she recorded the feat as the brain behind the formation of the only recognised national (union) body for musicians in the country, meant to cater for the welfare and protection of Nigerian musicians and their rights, nationally and internationally. When the Union was heading for extinction, she was dragged to head it so as to revive her baby. This culminated in her serving as PMAN President for two terms. She was a founding member of the Performing and Mechanical Rights Society (PMRS) of Nigeria and was the Chairman of the Board for two consecutive terms; becoming the second female to head the Society after Chief (Mrs.) Keji Okunowo. The society is majorly concerned with the general responsibility of negotiating, collecting and distributing royalties on behalf of musical copyright owners who are mostly its members. It is on record that what the littoral state in Nigeria are enjoying today is as a result of the abrogation of the obnoxious onshore and offshore oil dichotomy which was made possible by God through Christy’s final push. She mounted campaign of persuasion that saw the regime of General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida initiate and abrogate the dichotomy; thereby putting paid to the struggle that lasted decades. It was through her interventional effort that the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) remains today as separate entity. When it was planned for scrapping or merging with the Nigeria Police Force, she brought pressure to bear on the Federal Government and thus the FRSC was spared till today. This, again, was during the military regime of General Babangida. A successful businesswoman, she was the Group Managing Director of her family’s group of Companies, Chuduak Limited, Sountrain Entertainment Limited, Chuduak Graphic Machinery Limited, Eagle Graphic Equipment Limited and Chuduak Properties, before her death on June 30, 2011, at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH). Her husband, Chief Edwin Igbokwe, describes the honour accorded to her at death as overwhelming and appreciates it.

Pa Edoki For Burial July 13 A Samuel Imoke Edoki, faP ther of a Lagos based journalist, Richard Edoki, is dead. Edoki passed unto glory on April 17, 2013, at 76 years. He would be buried on July 13, this year, at his hometown of Igbo-Ekureku in Abi Local Council Area of Cross River State. A devout Christian, the late Edoki was an elder of the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria. He was a very kind and loving person. Edoki was an Intelligence Officer with the Nigerian Army. He worked with the Directorate of Military Intelligence (DMI), 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, 34 FAB Obinze, Owerri, Imo State, and different formations of the Army Intelligence.

He is survived by his wife, children, grandchildren and brothers, among whom is Richard Edoki, a News Editor with Rhythm 93.7 FM.

Edoki

TheGuardian

Saturday, July 6, 2013

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Sports

Sunday Mba scored Nigeria’s winner against Cote d’Ivoire in the quarterfinal of the South Africa 29013 CAF Nations Cup. He is one of the stars expected to lead the Super Eagles to victory over the Elephants today in Kaduna.

CAF Nations Championship By Christian Okpara

HE African Nations Championship, a T competition, which features national teams peopled by players based in their countries, is the only tournament that Nigeria has never won. In fact, the country has not qualified for the competition since its inception in 2009. In the qualifiers for the Cote d’Ivoire 2009 edition, Nigeria was knocked out of the race by Ghana, who defeated the Coach Okey Emordi-tutored side 3-2 on aggregate. The country also failed to make the second edition, Sudan 2011, when Niger Republic defeated a side tutored by Daniel Amokachi 2-0 on aggregate. Since then, qualifying for the competition has been one of the main concerns of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), which believes that as the best football-playing nation in Africa, the country should be in every major championship in the continent. “It is embarrassing that a country as big as Nigeria, with so many talented footballers, have not played in the African Nations Championship (CHAN) since its inception. This has been of major concern to the NFF and we are poised to correct that,” a member of the NFF board, who pleaded anonymity, told The Guardian yesterday. He said the NFF has programmed the Super Eagles for success in the qualifiers, especially now that most of the home- players have international experience following their sojourn ion the full national team. According to the board member, the series of training camps and friendly games involving most of the home-based stars were part of the design to ensure that Nigeria is ready for the qualifying race, adding that in Stephen Keshi the country has a coach who understands the psychology of the local stars and how to deploy them for maximum effect. “We have been monitoring Cote d’Ivoire (Nigeria’s opponents in today’s game) since

‘Eagles Set To Right The Records In Kaduna’ the draws were made and I can assure Nigerians that we will make the competition this time around,” he said. Also looking forward to a successful campaign against the Elephants, Coach Keshi says his boys are ready for whatever the Ivoirians would throw at them. “We have been working very hard in the last four days. And I am happy that the boys are beginning to understand how we want them to play on Saturday. We are battle ready, all we ask is for Nigerians to continue to pray for us,” Keshi stated. The Eagles on Thursday had their first training session at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna, venue of the game. Keshi is hoping to be the first to lead a Nigerian contingent to the tournament and perhaps even win it. “Let me say I have absolute confidence in you to achieve the feat of defeating Cote d’Ivoire, but you must have belief in yourself more to achieve the set goal,” Keshi told the boys ahead today’s game. The Elephants arrived in Kaduna on Thursday afternoon for the match. The 26-man Ivorian delegation, led by Koffi Roger Yao, includes seven other officials and 18 players picked by Coach Norbert Saraka. The Elephants prepared for this game in Ghana.

The 18-man squad includes Sylvain Gbohouo, Badra Ali Sangare, Tiecoura Coulibaly, Akesse Mathias Kassi and Ange Baresi Gloudoueu. Until his boys’ defeats to Uruguay and Spain at the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup tournament in Brazil last month, Coach Stephen Keshi had not lost a competitive game since taking the saddle as Super Eagles’ Head Coach in November 2011. The 52-year old started with a 0-0 draw against Botswana in an international friendly at the Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City on November 12, 2011 and three days later, set his boys on rampage to defeat 2012 Cup of Nations-bound Zambia 2-0 at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium in another friendly. The Zambians eventually won that Africa Cup tournament staged in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon. Keshi returns to the lush turf of the Ahmadu Bello Stadium today to guide his muchloved home-based lads against their counterparts from Cote d’Ivoire. It is on record that back then, when majority of Nigerians had no faith in the homebased professionals, Keshi gave them a level-playing turf in the senior team and gave them a sense of belonging. They were right there in his camp and cal-

culations from the beginning, with quality playing time in the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches and several friendlies, and five of them eventually making the final cut for the Cup of Nations finals in South Africa. One of those, a certain Sunday Mba, emerged the hero of the spectacular quarter win over Cote d’Ivoire in Rustenburg and scored the lone goal over Burkina Faso in Soccercity that handed Nigeria the coveted trophy for the first time in 19 years. The home lads’ gutsy performances encouraged Keshi to take 14 of them to the training camp in Germany mid-May, ahead of the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Kenya and Namibia and the FIFA Confederations Cup, with eight of them making the cut for the Confederations Cup showpiece in Brazil. The boys have the opportunity to further justify Keshi’s confidence in them today, as they seek to shoot past the Ivoirians and get Nigeria into the African Nations Championship for the first time. And with Nigeria having won all major football tournaments staged by South Africa since the end of the 2010 FIFA World Cup finals, there are many who believe that once the Eagles get past Cote d’Ivoire, they would go all the way at the 3rd African Nations Championship finals in South Africa in January 2014. His unbeaten streak having been torn by Uruguay and Spain in Brazil, Keshi aims to start another winning streak at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium.

It is embarrassing that a country as big as Nigeria, with so many talented footballers, has not played in the African Nations Championship (CHAN) since its inception. This has been of major concern to the NFF and we are poised to correct it

THE GUARDIAN Saturday, July 6, 2013

62 |

SPORTS

Leave Stephen Keshi Alone! S

TEPHEN Keshi does not deserve the flak he has been receiving since returning from the Confederations Cup in Brazil.

Was I watching a different competition? Why are the Super Eagles and their manager, Keshi, subjects of abuse and criticism for what, in my estimation, was a relatively good performance in Rio? I have been truly shocked at the negative reactions. To make matters worse, there is even an underground plot to sack Keshi, and a clamour for the recall of old ‘soldiers’ like Yobo, Osaze, Martins, and so on, to the team! I just cannot believe it all.

Stephen Keshi (right) instructing defender, Godfrey Oboabona, what to do during a recent match.

In going to the Confederations Cup, did any Nigerian think the Super Eagles had the squad to defeat football superpowers Uruguay and Spain? For God’s sake these are two of the best and most experienced teams in the world. Beating either of them would have been a monumental and unexpected achievement on one hand and a great upset on the other. Yet, the Eagles played both teams to the ground. They matched them largely and even surpassed them in some aspects of the game – athleticism and power. The Eagles’ defeats were not a true reflection of their gallantry and hard work. True, the team failed to convert some glaring chances, but that’s the nature of football – you don’t get it right all the time. The Eagles fought hard and worked hard but failed to create enough clear, goal-scoring opportunities. The team needed a clinical finisher doing what Forlan, Neymar, Cavani, in other teams were doing for their own team. Otherwise, the Super Eagles were strong in every match except the one against Tahiti that showed their lack of experience and professionalism despite their winning it easily. Stephen Keshi and his team that included a few home-based players did well in my reckoning. In a championship such as the Confederations Cup coming first is not necessarily the measure of how successful a team is. There can be only one champion, so all the others cannot be considered losers! Particularly, a young African team like Nigeria with the odds of winning at that high level stacked heavily against her. So, let us be realistic, Nigeria could have somehow won the match against Uruguay but lacked the polish to finish off their fantastic all-out attacking wing play. The Super Eagles were a breathe of fresh air. They were a delight to watch. They were different from every other team in how they played – fast and furious unadulterated attacking football! A little tinkering here and there would turn them into a truly portent force. That’s what we need to do now, instead of turning

Segun Odegbami the screw on coach Stephen Keshi, who has so far done a great job providing the psychological platform for home-based players to believe in themselves, raise their game and play confidently with their overseas-based professionals. The impact of Keshi’s strategy will manifest fully in the long run, not necessarily completely in the short term. Bringing back old but renowned players who are past their prime would not add any value to the Eagles. Indeed, they had all been tested previously and had nothing better to offer. The team that Keshi is gradually building would become a terror to the rest of the world by 2014. The old brigade of players would not change anything. They would only compound matters just as they did when they were brought back for a few matches and failed to impress. They will only become unnecessary distractions to the team. That is not the way to go. Keshi Is On The Right Path. The Confederations Cup was an opportunity to gauge the strength of the present Eagles against the highest level of opposition in the world. Now we have a good idea where we stand relative to the football superpowers. We are not too far behind. Between now and the summer of 2014 there is enough time to still shop for and nurture the best available younger players to make Nigeria one of the teams to watch and to beat at the next World Cup. Stephen Keshi should be given the free hand and support to complete what he has started. He is on the right path.

MTN Football Scholar: At Last An Insurance Policy For Budding Footballers By Tony Nwanne

Oan average Nigerian boy, playing football comes naturally. From generation to generation football has become a culture, even almost a religion. Either as a boy brought up on the highbrow streets of Ikoyi or raised in the farthest grassland of the Northern region, playing football is in-born. It also doesn’t matter if he is born and bred in the remotest village in the creeks of the Niger Delta or in the splendour of Maitama district in Abuja the trait runs in every blood. It is a common phenomenon to see young boys playing soccer without any apparent benefit beyond pleasure. On the streets, school grounds and even within the limited spaces in the backyards of their family houses, they display unequaled happiness and satisfaction, running after the round leather to exhibit their inherent skills. In most cases, they are neither deterred nor disturbed by an obviously frustrating and strong intensity of sunshine or a rampaging downpour of rainfall. They, presumably, have consolation in the soothing experience the soccer game offers each time they gather to play. A sight of a soccer ball constantly announces a time to get outdoors for an entertaining moment with the round leather game. An American soccer scout, Kevin May, once lent credence to this: “An average boy from Nigeria is a, naturally, gifted footballer, he needs little or no extra energy, he has the raw talent with which he can outsmart any of his contemporaries on a good day. Just give him a soccer ball, he knows the right way to kick it,” he said. From North to South, East to West, the story is the same. Everywhere you go in the country, the passion for football is immeasurable. The zeal to either play or watch someone playing is never diminished with the distance you travel or the height you go. Young boys jump fences, sneak out of homes and defer or even skip their lunch, just to hook up with their peers to play the beautiful game. Across the land, football is

the language spoken and understood by all tribes. However, over the years combining football with schooling has been a major challenge confronting not only aspiring footballers but also the administrators of the game who continually seek how to produce indigenous soccer stars who are also lettered. This is by all means a Herculean task of generating educated footballers, for the socio-economic development of the beautiful game in the country as well as promoting a universal standard of creating a good balance between football playing expertise and quality education. And so, when in 2011, MTN Nigeria introduced the Football Scholar initiative, a programme that focuses on ensuring that the youth combined their quest for soccer stardom with quality education, many followers of the game felt that at last Nigeria’s sportsmen have the opportunity to plan their future while growing in the

game. With a youth soccer camp, which focuses equal attention on football and academics, the initiative provides a platform for Nigeria’s best student-soccer players that are academically sound, to earn scholarships to American universities. Three years on, the initiative has seen young Nigerians travelling abroad to fulfill their dreams of becoming educated soccer stars. The first edition produced Richard Ochefije, who is currently at the Loomis Chaffee School in Connecticut, Abdusalam OganlaAdbusalam, studying in Knox College in Illinois for a degree in Economics, Anthony Amolo, Berkshire School, a preparatory academy in Massachusetts and Ifeanyi Edemba, who is already at Knox College, studying for a degree in Conservation and the Natural Sciences. The eight finalists in the 2012 edition, including Precious Ozoh, Oyeniyi Adebare, Figbe

Young Nigerians waiting for accreditation during the MTN Football Scholar Season Three trials at Ogbe Stadium Benin City… recently.

Prosper, Tapshak Augustine, Ekeh Shadrack, Sanni Kehinde and Sampson Isaac, will be leaving for the US and Canadian Universities this September. Without a programme to educate the youthsportsmen, the nation continues to produce stars and athletes who could barely spell their names correctly. It is a situation which the chairman of the Lagos State Football Association, Seyi Akinwunmi, once described as an ugly trend in the history of Nigerian football: “This is a big challenge, football has been bastardised by the low level of educational standard of our players.” Universal ethos, especially the one obtainable in the developed world, gives a uniquely balanced attention to educational development and opportunity for a fulfilled sporting career to every interested child. This standard is, unfortunately, lacking in most third world countries, among which Nigeria is considered prominent. Negotiating a formidable structure for Nigeria’s football development that will guarantee the anticipated platform favours the emergence of the football field dominated by educated soccer stars and the green white green jersey regularly donned by football icons that have successfully passed through the classrooms as much as the training pitches is a task for all. It calls for valuable contributions, from both the private sector and government agencies. In this perspective, the question of who will be the harbinger of the good news becomes as challenging as the principal issue. There is no doubt that most companies are aware of their Corporate Social Responsibilities, but for long, many have failed to notice this critical deficiency in Nigeria’s football development and youth emancipation. To the General Manager, Consumer Marketing, MTN, Kola Oyeyemi, nothing is too big to be done for the youth segment of the society. According to him, MTN has recognised the need to promote services and products that will be of great benefit to the segment which he described as the most dynamic in the society, “no brand has invested in the Nigerian youth like MTN has done and the entire Nigerian community is a witness to this” Oyeyemi declared.

THE GUARDIAN Saturday, July 6, 2013

SpORTS European Round-Off

Rooney Is Not For Sale, Moyes Insists AvID Moyes has insisted that Wayne Rooney is “not for sale” and will remain a Manchester United player. The new United manager faced the media at his first press conference since replacing Sir Alex Ferguson and immediately sought to put an end to speculation linking Rooney with a summer move. The England striker’s future was thrown into doubt towards the end of last season

when Sir Alex Ferguson claimed he had requested a transfer for the second time in three years. But United have consistently said they will not sell, and Moyes could not have been clearer as he fielded questions on Rooney in Old Trafford’s Europa Suite. He said: “Wayne Rooney is not for sale. He’s a Manchester United player and will remain a Manchester United player.

I’m looking forward to working with him.” Moyes revealed there has been “several meetings” with Rooney’s camp and expects him to become United’s record scorer one day. He added: “I see a glint in his eyes. He looks happy, he looks like he will knuckle down and get himself right.” “I have known Wayne since he was 16, when he was at Everton.

It is a little bit of deja vu. He is training really well, he is coming back in good shape. “Wayne won’t be sold by Manchester United.” Moyes was also questioned about rumours bringing Cristiano Ronaldo back to Old Trafford and although he wouldn’t speak directly about the Real Madrid star, he added: “This club always interested in the best players.”

My Future Is With Real Madrid, Says Ronaldo RISTIANO Ronaldo is happy C at Real Madrid and has no intention of leaving the club

Rooney

Transfer Gossip • Southampton manager, Mauricio pochettino has confirmed his interest in leandro Damiao. The 23-year-old Brazil striker has also been linked with Tottenham. • Chelsea’s reshaping of their squad under manager Jose Mourinho continued last night, with striker Demba Ba, 29, holding talks with Anzhi Makhachkala. Midfielder John Obi Mikel, 26, will follow him out of Stamford Bridge. • Turkish side, Besiktas say they are hopeful of signing Emmanuel Adebayor, 29, after lodging an official bid for the Spurs striker. • Arsenal are finalising negotiations with Real Madrid for the £22m signing of striker Gonzalo Higuain, 25, who will become the club’s record signing and highest-paid player. • Manchester City is ready to listen to offers for Brazilian rightback, Maicon. The 31-year-old is behind pablo Zabaleta and Micah Richards in the Etihad pecking order. • Real Madrid central defender, pepe, 30, is understood to be top of new Manchester City boss, Manuel pellegrini’s list of transfer targets. • David Moyes is set to announce that striker Wayne Rooney, 27, is staying at Old Trafford when he faces the media for the first time as Manchester United manager yesterday. • West Ham and Cardiff City are both in the hunt to sign 31year-old forward, Javier Saviola, who is available on a free transfer after his contract at Malaga expired. • Newcastle United look set to pull out of the race to sign Wigan Athletic striker, Arouna Kone, 29, because he does not fit into the Magpies’ “blueprint”. • Chelsea and Tottenham are continuing to monitor Brazil international, Hulk, 29, after the Zenit St petersburg forward confirmed he is aware of the interest from both clubs. • Former England striker, Carlton Cole, 29, who has been released by West Ham, is understood to have held talks with newly promoted premier league side, Crystal palace. • Meanwhile, the Eagles are in talks to sign defender Umaru Bangura, 25, from Norwegian club FK Haugesund. • Hull City have made a final “take it or leave it” £4m offer to Burnley for their 24-year-old striker, Charlie Austin. • Fiorentina have signed veteran Italian midfielder, Massimo Ambrosini, 36, whose contract with AC Milan has just ended after 18 years with the club. • Malaga have announced the signing of Ivorian Bobley Anderson, 21, from Moroccan side, Wydad Casablanca on a fiveyear deal. • Slovenia international, Bojan Jokic, 27, has signed with villarreal, leaving AC Chievo verona. • Spartak Moscow’s Argentine defender, Nicolas pareja, 29, is to go on loan to Sevilla for one year. • Roma have agreed to extend the loan of Jose Angel, 23, to Real Sociedad by one year. • liverpool have told 26-year-old striker, luis Suarez he has three weeks to sort out his future after which he will be told to knuckle down and commit himself to the club.

amidst ongoing speculation that he could return to Manchester United. “Manchester United is a club that has been in my heart since I was there, everyone knows that I have passion with that club. But my future now is with Real Madrid and I want to be there,” Ronaldo told reporters. The portugal international stated earlier this week he still has warm feelings for the English champions and misses his time in England, but has now made it clear a return to Old Trafford is not an option for him at this stage of his career. “It is not the day to speak about my future. I am going to have time to do that before the preseason. Basically it is now

time to rest after 10 months of a long season. I enjoy playing there, I have been playing in Spain for four years so I want to continue there,” Ronaldo stated. He added, “For my national team, I hope that we can qualify for the World Cup - it will be a big goal for us - so we are focused on that and I am looking forward to being in the World Cup. “Of course, I always look forward to getting better and better throughout the season and this year is going to be the same. I will try to be focused all the time, to win la liga and to win the Champions league like we always do.” The 28-year-old has scored an incredible 201 goals in 199 appearances in all competitions for Madrid since joining the club in the summer of 2009. Ronaldo has a contract with los Blancos until 2015.

West Brom Is Right For Me, Anelka admits ICOlAS Anelka plans to ball and that’s why I signed N end his career at West here. He knows me and I know Brom after signing a one-year him. I also have friends in the deal at the Hawthorns. The 34-year-old former France international also has the option of a further 12 months and is hoping to see out his footballing days in the Black Country. He told the club’s official website, www.wba.co.uk: “I think I will finish in England, I’m happy here. I also hope that it will be with this club. I think this is the right club for me. “I’m 34 years old now and I want to enjoy my football. I hope everything will be perfect. “I hope we will be successful this year and hopefully we will reach Europe. We will try to do better than last season. “That’s why I’m here. When I spoke with the head coach, he said he wants to do better than last year. We will try our best to do that. “We will also try to do the same in the cup competitions.” Anelka’s relationship with Baggies boss Steve Clarke, who he also worked with at Chelsea, proved key in his decision to return to England from his short spell at Juventus. He said: “I know the club and I know the head coach, which was very important for me. “He knows how to use me on the pitch, which is important later on in your career. “I know he likes to play foot-

changing room.” The sight of Anelka in an Albion shirt may come as something of a relief to the club’s fans, who have previously seen him score five times in seven appearances against his new employers. Anelka said with a smile: “I’ve always liked West Brom. “I have a lot of good memories of playing against West Brom, and now I have to do my best to score for West Brom. When I was playing for Chelsea, it was always tough to beat Albion. “The team plays good football and I know I will be able to play my game here. Hopefully I will be able to help the team win more games. “I don’t know which position I will play. As long as I’m playing and enjoying my football, I’m happy.”

Anelka

Ademulegun Soccer Competition Thrill Fans In Ondo ETERMINED to give youths in Ondo State the platform to D exhibit their talents, sports philanthropist, Engineer Raph Ademulegun, has decided to organise a football competition in Odigbo local Government Area of the State. The competition is holding in Ajue, Ore and Odigbo areas of the council, which comprises two constituencies with eleven wards. Ademulegun said during the week that he decided to venture into the project because according to him, “football is one of the many ways of youth development and empowerment in a developing country like Nigeria.” The first phase of the Ademulegun soccer cup competition kicked off in Ajue Grammar School in Odigbo local Council last weekend between Ajue United from Ajue Ward and Ultimate FC of lafia. It ended 3-3. The Odigbo center and that of Ore zone will hold this weekend. Engineer Ademulegun said in his opening speech that the competition would be used as scouting ground for players that will be registered to feature for Marpec Football Club, which will represent Odigbo local Government area of Ondo State in coming football tournament in and around the Ondo state. In a related development ex- Super Eagles and Shooting Stars of Ibadan player, Zion Ogunfeyemi, has lauded the initiative of Ademulegun for giving youths in the area opportunity to showcase their skills. The Ondo State Football Agency Zonal Coordinator for Ondo South senatorial district said that Ademulegun should be commended and encouraged for his initiative. The ex-shooting stars player said he would also used the tournament to pick academy players for Indo State Football Agency in the south senatorial district and the state at large.

Teams Battle For Top prize At Milo B’Ball By Adeyinka Adedipe EFENDING champion, St Judes Girls Secondary School, D Bayelsa, will clash with Government Day Girls Secondary School, Gboko, Benue State in the finals of the Milo Secondary School Basketball Championship, which ends today in lagos. The Benue girls will have to be at their best to dethrone the champions, having lost to Bayelsa in the opening group games on Tuesday. The Bayelsa team is the favourite but it has to be at its best to repeat its winning performance against its opponent in a game, which takes place at the sports hall of the National Stadium, lagos. Bayelsa saw off yejide Girls Secondary Grammar School, Oyo State in one of the semi-final games, which ended 16-14, while Benue girls defeated Government Girls Day Secondary School, Zamfara 37-16 in the other semi-final game. In the boys’ category, International School, lagos (ISl) will hope to win their first trophy after finishing third on two occasions. The lagos team will face St. Joseph’s Secondary School of Benue in the boys’ category final. The Benue boys, who lost their first match to lagos on Wednesday, surprised spectators as they overcame hard-fighting Government Secondary School, Minna, Niger State in the second semi-final game. ISl’s coach, Ernest Ijeoma said his team has the capacity to defeat St. Joseph in today’s final. A confident Ijeoma told The Guardian that they had done everything to ensure that the trophy stayed in lagos. “I think we are in this year’s tournament to right our wrong having qualified as one of best losers from the Western Conference. We were so unfortunate to have lost to Ogun at the zonal final but we are ready to ensure that we clinch the trophy this year,” he said. For Ijeoma, their performance in lagos must also be replicated

Sixteen MISTON Stars For National U-17 camp

6 plAyERS out of the 26 picked by foreign scouts in the just con1(MISTON cluded Mimiko Under-18 International Soccer Tournament 2013), have been invited to the Nigeria U-17 team’s camp in preparation for the final phase of preparation for the FIFA U-17 World Cup in UAE. A letter signed by the Nigeria Football Federation’s (NFF) Chief Technical Officer, Siji lagunju, made available to journalists yesterday in Akure, stated, “we are pleased to inform you of the selection of 16 players from the concluded MISTON to the National U-17 camp in Abuja. The camping exercise will commence from July 7 to 20, 2013 at the FIFA goal project, package B, National Stadium, Abuja.” Some of these players are from clubs from Ondo, Ekiti, Oyo, and Akwa Ibom that participated in the first edition of the tournament, a baby of the Caring Heart Sports Foundation (CHSF). Chairman of CHSF, Dr. Abass Mimiko, represented by Ahmed Faleye, Secretary of the Foundation, said MISTON remains a platform for discouraging youths from crime towards creating a better future for them. While presenting kits on behalf of the foundation to the players in Akure, Faleye pointed that the foundation is a non-governmental organisation and only named the tournament after the Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, because of his laudable achievements in the sports sector in the last four years.

TheGuardian

Saturday, July 6, 2013

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

NSC Promises Ex-Olympians Better Welfare Package HE Director General of the National Sports TCommission, Hon Gbenga Elegbeleye, has promised to work hand in hand with the Nigeria Olympians Association to take sports to the desired height in Nigeria. He also promised a better welfare package for them. Elegbeleye made the pledge when the leadership of the NOA paid him a courtesy call yesterday at his National Stadium office, Abuja. The Olympians body, which was led by the President, Prince Henry Amike, had earlier told the Director General of the body’s willingness to partner the Ministry in the area of sports development. “We have come to assure you of our willingness to work with you in other to take sports to the next level Amike said. “We have the capability and wealth of experience which we can bring to the table if we are involved,” he added. Prince Amike also used the opportunity to solicit the DG’s assistance in the area of welfare package for exOlympians and athletes in general. “Most of us use the better part of our lives representing the country but we are hardly looked after when we retire from active sports. You need to see the present condition of most of my colleagues, very appalling to say the least. Some us can’t even put food on the table,” the ex-hurdler explained.

Bauchi, Katsina For YSFON’s Shema Cup Final EFENDING champions, D Bauchi, and host state, Katsina, will today at the Katsina Township Stadium lock horns to decide the winner of this year’s YSFON organized third edition of Governor Ibrahim Shehu Shema U-17 Boys Soccer tournament. To get to the finals, Bauchi State defeated Kebbi State by 4-3 penalties after their match ended 0-0 at regulation time, while Katsina walloped Federal Capital Territory (FCT) 4-0 in a onesided encounter in the second semifinal match decided at the same venue. Meanwhile, the National President of Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria (YSFON), Nasiru Gawuna, has commended all the participating teams for exhibiting spirit of sportsmanship throughout the duration of the weeklong championship, even as he expressed gratitude to the Governor of Katsina State, Ibrahim Shehu Shema, for his commitment towards grassroots football development. He noted that the tournament, which would be declared closed by Shema, assisted by members of his cabinet and top government officials, has became an avenue to discover talents since its inception. He charged other state governments to emulate Katsina State and partner YSFON in grassroots sports development.

Super Eagles celebrate winning the 2013 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in South Africa

South Africa 2014 CHAN Qualifier

Keshi Expects Tough Game, As Eagles Tackle Cote D’Ivoire UPER Eagles’ Coach, Sdifficult Stephen Keshi, expects a game against Cote d’Ivoire today in Kaduna. Both sides meet in the firstleg of the CAF African Nations Championship qualifier, but despite naming a strong squad, the Nigeria coach remains wary. “On Saturday, it will be tough because we are playing against Cote d’Ivoire not against Tahiti or Gambia,” he said. “Cote d’Ivoire has equal potentials back home just like Nigeria and other top African football playing countries. “So it is not going to be an easy game but we hope to have a good score line at the end of the game,” he said. Nigeria has failed to qualify for the tournament, which is open only to players playing within their country’s domestic league. Ivory Coast coach, Norbert Saraka, has to make do with inexperienced squad, while

Keshi can call on eight of the squad that came third behind Spain and Uruguay in Group B of the Confederations Cup in Brazil last month. They are goalkeeper Chigozie Agbim, defenders Francis Benjamin, Azubuike Egwuekwe, Solomon Kwambe and Godfrey Oboabona, midfielders Sunday Mba and Emeka Eze and striker Mohammad

Gambo. The squad also includes striker Dele Olorundare, the leading scorer with 11 goals in the highly competitive national championship. “I have absolute confidence in you to achieve the feat of defeating the Ivory Coast — believe in yourselves,” was the message Keshi gave his squad as they began preparations this week. “Our chances of success

have been enhanced by playing the first leg at home — I believe that gives us a big advantage over the Ivorians. “The target is South Africa and you have the experience, maturity and tournament exposure to reach that goal.” Known as ‘Big Boss’ because of his imposing physique and strong views, Keshi in February became the first Nigerian to win the Africa Cup of Nations as a footballer

Djokovic Beats Del Potro To Reach Wimbledon Final OvAK Djokovic beat N Juan Martin del Potro in a thrilling Wimbledon semi-final, overcoming the Argentine after four hours and 44 minutes. Top seed Djokovic and eighth seed Del Potro exchanged the first two sets before Djokovic won a brutal third. But Del Potro hit back in the fourth-set tiebreak to force a deciding set, which Djokovic won to

secure a 7-5 4-6 7-6 (7-2) 6-7 (6-8) 6-3 victory. The match was the longest men’s semi-final in Wimbledon history. The previous longest lastfour encounter was the 1989 match between Boris Becker and Ivan Lendl, which Becker eventually won. “It was one of the best matches I’ve been a part of,” said Djokovic, winner of the men’s singles at Wimbledon

in 2011. “I could not separate us, apart from when I was 2-1 and a break up - and I dropped serve. That’s why he’s a Grand Slam champion. He came up with some top shots, credit to him.” Serbia’s Djokovic, who was playing in his 13th consecutive Grand Slam semi-final, is bidding for his seventh major title. Before yesterday’s match

Published by Guardian Newspapers Limited, Rutam House, Isolo, Lagos Tel: 4489600, 2798269, 2798270, 07098147948, 07098147951 Fax: 4489712; Advert Hotline Lagos: 7736351, Abuja: 07098513445 (ISSN NO 0189-5125) Acting Editor: All correspondence to Guardian Newspapers Limited, P.M.B. 1217, Oshodi, Lagos, Nigeria.

FELIX OGUEJIOFOR ABUGU

and a coach. He captained the ‘Super Eagles’, who defeated Zambia in the 1994 Tunis final, and steered them to victory over Burkina Faso in the 2013 Soweto final five months ago. Only one of his 25-man squad — goalkeeper Badra Ali Sangare — was in the ‘Elephants’ squad eliminated from the 2013 Cup of Nations by Nigeria at the quarterfinals stage.

E-mail letters@ngrguardiannews.com; www.ngrguardiannews.com

••ABC

on Centre Court he led Del Potro 8-3 in head-to-head encounters but was beaten by the Argentine in last year’s Olympic bronzemedal match, held at Wimbledon. Del Potro was not even sure if he would be able to play after aggravating a knee injury in his quarterfinal but he held his own for much of the first set. However, with the score at 6-5 Djokovic, 26, found another gear, managing to break the Argentine for the first time in the tournament.