Sat 25 May 2013 The Guardian Nigeria

S A T U R D A Y COVER 49

Security Challenges: Police As Endangered Species!

E D I T I O N

MARRIAGE & FAMILY 24

NEWS 4

CELEBRITY 27

A Raging Marriage/Family Controversy: What, After all, Is Wrong With Polygamy?

Fare Thee Well,

Rise And Rise Of

Achebe

Belinda Effah,

Nollywood’s Star Actress

TheGuardian Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Saturday, May 25, 2013

Vol. 29, No. 12,567

N150

www.ngrguardiannews.com

NGF Election:

Amaechi Wins, Despite Odds

By Godwin Ijediogor (News Editor) and Adamu Abuh (Abuja) GAINST all odds, Rivers A State Governor Chibuike Amaechi yesterday in Abuja defeated Plateau State Governor Jonah Jang to win a second term as Chairman of

Polls 19 To 16 To Retain NGF Chairman the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF). Amaechi polled 19 votes to Jang’s 16.

All the 36 governors, except

Yobe State Governor Ibrahim Gaidam, were in attendance for the election conducted by the Director general of the

NGF, Asishana Bayo Okauru at the Rivers state Governor’s Lodge.

Ondo State Governor

Olusegun Mimiko, who was earlier picked to run for the vice chairmanship position against Zamfara State Governor Abdulaziz Yari, stepped down when it became obvious that the trend would be repeated,

thus Yari was chosen for the post.

The election, it was gathered, was by open-secret balloting, whereby each voter (governor) was handed a paper on which to write the name of his choice and drop in a box.

Some of the governors, disappointed by the outcome, were said to have left the venue immediately, while Amaechi’s supporters went into a celebration mood.

As a prelude to the NGF election, the Nigeria Northern Governors Forum (NNGF) had held a meeting at the Niger State Governor’s Lodge in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), presided over by its Chairman and Governor of Niger State, Dr. Mua’zu Babangida Aliyu, where sources said Katsina State Governor Ibrahim Shema refused to step down for his Bauchi State counterpart, Alhaji Isa Yuguda, who also refused to support; hence Plateau State Governor Jonah Jang was unanimously picked as consensus candidate.

The Guardian learnt that Jang was later presented to, and endorsed for the post by, PDP governors at the Akwa Ibom State Governor’s Lodge.

Akwa Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio was all over town coordinating and mobilising some of his colleagues to support Jang’s candidature.

The contention for the position had led to a simmering rift between the Presidency and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and Governor of Rivers State, Chibuike Amaechi, finally snowballed into an election yesterday, the first in its short history, with …emerging as CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

POLITIC 12

(From Left) Brand Manager Star, Biyi Fagade, rap artiste M.I, singer Tiwa Savage and Media Relations Manager NBL, Edem Vindah at a press conference held at the Rhapsody’s Lounge, Victoria Island, Lagos to unveil artistes for this year’s Star Trek

I See Trouble Ahead, Warns Primate Ayodele

THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, May 25, 2013

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Despite Odds, Amaechi Floors Abuja Opponents CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 the new Chairman.

Amaechi has been having a running battle with the Presidency for some time.

Last month, aviation agencies prevented the aircraft of the governor from leaving Akure Airport in Ondo State shortly he and his aides returned from the burial of the late deputy governor of Ekiti State, Mrs. Olufunmilayo Olayinka, in Ado-Ekiti.

Officials at the different aviation agencies initially gave conflicting reasons for the grounding of the aircraft, which was released a few hours later.

The House of Representatives committee set up to investigate the circumstances surrounding the grounding of the aircraft was reported to have indicted the Ministry of Aviation, the National Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the management of Caverton Helicopters over the issue.

Although the report is yet to be formally presented to the lower legislative chamber, its content showed that officials of Caverton were pressured into denying their relationship with the Rivers State government and NCAA. The is said to have indicted the aviation ministry for unprofessionally denying knowledge of the ownership of the aircraft.

The committee indicted Caverton for falsifying the documents it presented to the aviation authorities, claiming that this action was responsible for the grounding of the aircraft.

It further recommended prosecution of all those found culpable by the office of the Attorney General of the Federation.

The committee lamented that the aviation ministry and its departments ignored calls to submit a list of all private jets and owners and documentations for examination and comparison of their treatment with the Rivers State case.

It described the attitude as an attempt to conceal the fact that many of the aircraft in operation are running on expired permits or licences, as this would in turn invalidate the case against the Rivers State government.

The move to oust Amaechi as NGF chairman took a new dimension with the forma-

tion of the PDP Governors Forum, headed by Akwa Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio, who is believed to have coordinated the onslaught.

The Presidency was alleged to have influenced the stalling of the election of a new NGF chairman two months ago until it is able to get enough governors on its side to support its candidate and stop Amaechi’s re-election.

It was speculated to have initially backed the candidature of Katsina State Governor Ibrahim Shema, but settled for his Bauchi State counterpart, Isa Yuguda, when it could not get the support of most of the governors, especially those of the opposition parties, majority of who at that time wanted Amaechi to return for a second term, more so as its efforts to make the PDP Governors Forum adopt Shema as the consensus candidate of the PDP governors failed.

To actualise this dream, the Presidency is said to have mobilised its staunch allies, including Akpabio, Gabriel Suswam (Benue) and Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa) to drum up support for its candidate.

With this, Amaechi was left to slug it out with Shema, who later stepped down for Yuguda, in yesterday’s election.

Most of the governors, particularly those in the opposition, save a few, were opposed to what they saw as the Presidency’s interference in who heads the Forum.

As a result, many of them vowed to resist any attempt by the Presidency to foist anyone on them; hence a handful of them were favourably disposed to Amaechi’s bid.

Birth Of PDP Governors’ Forum (PDP-GF) HE move to see Amaechi off as NGF chairman led to the formation of the PDP Governors’ Forum (PDP-GF).

It started when the President summoned the PDP governors to a meeting on the night of Sunday, February 24 at House 7 of the Presidential Villa.

It was obvious the President had an ace up his sleeves during what was thought to be a routine parley between the President and governors elected on PDP’s platform.

Ostensibly sensing that he

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Director-General Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) announcing the victory of Rivers State Governor Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi(right) as the re-elected Chairman of the Forum…yesterday

might be humiliated, Amaechi was said to have excused himself.

It was gathered that attempts by Niger State Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu to underscore the needlessness of the new association, since it was the party that set up the NGF in the first place, was shot down by proponents.

Some governors were allegedly shown video recordings of Amaechi’s alleged threats to unseat the President.

At the end, around midnight, PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, presented Akpabio to journalists as the new PDP-GF chairman, in what was seen as a move to first clip Amaechi’s wings from within.

Akpabio later denied any plot to unseat Amaechi as NGF chairman, saying: “The new Forum will not lead to a crack in the larger forum. We will work together to promote our interests.”

He stated that he was elected to enable the party restrategise in view of the formation of the All Progressive Congress (APC) by the opposition political parties.

He added: “Part of the resolution is that we should have continued interaction of the party, the NWC and leadership of the Board of Trustees and build a synergy with the NGF.” That done, Amaechi was to be ousted at the next meeting of the NGF, which was scheduled for Monday, February 25—if his opponents were able to muster a simple majority (19) to do so.

But that was not to be, as the meeting ended in a deadlock, forcing the NGF, and indeed Amaechi’s opponents, to shift the election to yesterday.

A communiqué read by Amaechi said: “We, the governors of the 36 states, at our third meeting of the year held today (Monday, February 25, 2013) at the Rivers State Governor’s Lodge, Abuja, deliberated

over a number of issues and resolved as follows: “Members reviewed the affairs of the Forum in the past 21 months detailing activities, achievements and challenges experienced during the period.

“After exhaustive deliberation of the issues regarding filling vacant positions, the Forum resolved that election in this regard be postponed until May, when the chairman’s initial two-year tenure will expire.”

Thus, the expected showdown turned out to be an anti-climax, and observers wondered why, given that 19 out of 22 PDP governors attended the meeting of the PDP-GF a day earlier and created the impression that they were going to play along.

Before then, the PDP-GF was said to have penciled down, and mobilising support for, Shema as Amaechi’s replacement.

But even some PDP governors were said to have insisted on having an election to choose his successor.

In spite of all the scheming and horse-trading, the antiAmaechi camp could still not gather enough support to oust him.

The outcome did not amount to a victory for his opponents. If anything, many analysts saw this as a defeat of some sorts.

A source said Amaechi knew it was all politics and had taken it in his strides.

On this matter, nothing had been sacrosanct, and nothing was permanent, except interest, whether personal or collective.

Amaechi’s ‘Sins’ MAECHI’S fall out of favour with the Presidency, headed by a fellow Niger Delta man from a neighbouring state, was not unexpected, but it took a while in coming.

Perhaps the first indication of an impending move to curtail his influence as NGF chairman and his alleged vice presidential ambition in 2015 was from the Minister of

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Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe.

Orubebe had said then: “I am particularly piqued by the disrespectful behaviour of Amaechi to the person and office of President Goodluck Jonathan, which will no longer be tolerated.

“Amaechi should mind the business of governing Rivers State, whose capital city, Port Harcourt, has degenerated since the governor took over.”

He spoke in response to Amaechi’s revelation that South-South state governments wanted the federal government to hand over the construction of the East-West road to them to ensure prompt action on the major road linking all the states in the zone.

A visibly angry Orubebe added: “The man has forgotten that it was by the grace of God that he became the governor of Rivers.

“Today, he sees himself as the governor of governors and begins to feel that he is even bigger than the President.

“He must have respect for the Presidency; he must have respect for the President. It is unfortunate that people from the South-South, even governors, particularly Amaechi, have no respect for the President.

“I think this is the right time we should let him know, and I have decided to speak, because this is the time to speak.”

That perhaps set the ball rolling for what has been unfolding since then.

Also recall that Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark, frontally condemned the NGF, especially for holding different view with Jonathan on some national issues, which many at that time suspected to be aimed at Amaechi.

Amaechi’s ‘sins’ are numerous, and include his alleged insubordination and disrespect for Jonathan, as alleged

by Orubebe; his cold war with the President and Dickson over boundary

demarcation and location of the Soku oil wells between Rivers and Bayelsa, for which he at a point accused the Presidency of ceding the contentious oil wells he claimed belong to Rivers to Bayelsa.

This forced the President to issue a statement absolving himself of any complicity in the dispute, just as Amaechi refuted allegations that he was undermining the SouthSouth agenda to retain the Presidency in 2015.

Other allegations leveled against Amaechi are allegedly instigating the NGF against the Presidency regarding the Excess Crude Account and Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF), and his perceived sponsorship of crisis within the PDP NWC aimed at hijacking the party’s structure ahead of the next general elections.

Amaechi was also said to have supported former Bayelsa State governor, Timipre Sylva against Dickson, the anointed candidate of the President, at the heat of the contest for the party’s governorship primary.

In addition, the NGF, and by extension Amaechi, was fingered in the recent frosty relationship between Tukur and some members of the National Working Committee (NWC), which culminated in the ouster of Tukur’s Deputy, Sam Jaja, who was Amaechi’s nominee, as well as the state chairman of the party loyal to him.

It would be recalled that Amaechi, shortly before the 2011 elections, had a brush with the wife of the President, Dame Patience Jonathan, over his planned demolition of the Okrika waterfront in Port Harcourt.

The outcome of yesterday does not in any way mean an end to Amaechi’s problems. If anything, it can only spur his political adversaries to move on and probably diminish him, politically, forever.

Thus, ahead still lie many more battles for Amaechi, and whether he survives them, only time will tell.

THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, May 25, 2013

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THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, May 25, 2013

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Chinua Achebe (1930 - 2013)

By Anote Ajeluorou ANy in the literary community were disappointed when President Goodluck Jonathan failed to name a monument after the late Prof.

Chinua Achebe. This was even after the National Assembly recently held sessions in honour of the literary legend and called on government to name a prominent monument in his memory.

Rather, Jonathan said he and the Ghanaian President, John Dramani Mahama Mahama, would jointly rebuild Central Primary School, where Achebe attended his elementary school in the 1940s.

Jonathan had spoken glowingly of Achebe, as a philosopher who employed his writing to telling effect, noting how Achebe had applauded the 2011 elections that brought him (Jonathan) to power as being significantly better than previous ones.

It was after Achebe’s first son, Ikechukwu, had given a vote of thanks that Jonathan announced what would be done to Achebe’s primary school.

Heart-warming as this may be, it still fell far short of how the literary community wants their hero to be immortalised. They had actually expected the National Library, still under construction, to be named after the man who made library part of his growing up years and who went on to become a library of knowledge itself, sharing his knowledge of African worldview with a world audience that stood spellbound for well over three decades.

President, Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Prof. Remi Raji-Oyelade, said it might be too early in the day to know what President Jonathan would do in that regard, since it takes time to arrive at what would be appropriate for a man like Achebe. He noted, “It takes time for us to do the right thing. Jonathan might use it to launder the image of government.”

Curiously, Minister of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, Chief Edem Duke, was absent in all the activities held to mark Achebe’s transition. From last Sunday when weeklong activities started in Abuja at the National Ecumenical Centre, only the Minister of Information and his Finance counterpoint, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala showed up.

Raji-Oyelade put it thus, “In anything that has to do with culture in this our country, especially writers, you cannot be disappointed in a thing like that, in the way we are treated like lepers. I speak as ANA president. But for Governor Peter Obi, ANA president won’t be called to give funeral oration at Awka” for their own man, a man who founded the organisation.

Former ANA president, Dr. Wale Okediran, also expressed surprise that Jonathan didn’t make any pronouncement about immortalising Achebe, adding that perhaps, he didn’t want to make the same mistake he made with the renaming of the University of Lagos as Moshood Abiola University.

Okediran noted, “I was surprised because I thought he would use the occasion to make a historic statement. Unless he’s in the process of deliberations; but it was a very good moment to have made that statement.”

Okediran also expressed surprise at the absence of Duke in the Achebe burial process, saying, “We had

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Jonathan, Others Bid Achebe Final Farewell •Achebe’s Elementary School To Be Rebuilt tremendous relationships with previous culture ministers like Chiefs Ojo Madueke and Adetokunbo Ademola. Madueke actually attended one of our conventions. But we’ve not been seeing much of the current culture minister. We hope this will improve soon.”

Achebe’s Homeward Stretch The journey that started on March 21 when the world was jolted by news of his death finally came to an end yesterday when he was laid to rest in his hometown, Ogidi, at about 3pm. It began at the St. Philip’s Anglican Church at about 11am when President Goodluck Jonathan and his Ghanaian counterpart, President John Dramani Mahama and other dignitaries arrived Ogidi for the burial.

First to arrive was Delta State governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, dressed in his Itsekiri traditional attire and in company of a handful of state officials. After this, the State Security Service officials went on over-drive in their zealousness to cordone off the church from anyone without permit. Their overzealousness formed part of Rev. Ikechukwu Nwosu’s sermon. Nwosu, who stood in for the Primate of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh, had observed how SSS officials almost prevented the vicar from entering the church.

Jonathan said he was in Ogidi to appreciate God for creating somebody like Achebe from a little known place like Ogidi and Nigeria.

Jonathan described Achebe as “a philosopher and like all

philosophers, he used literature, a subject he loved and knew very well, to express his philosophic ideas.”

The President breezed through Achebe’s books, talking about their subject matters, especially Things Fall Apart, which title, he said, “is unique and a reference to colonialism as putting a knife to things like our values, culture and customs for things to fall apart.”

Jonathan also took on Achebe’s political treatise about Nigeria, The Trouble with Nigeriaand concluded, “Achebe said political leadership is what is wrong with Nigeria. Things Fall Apart is as far back as 1958 and he noticed that there was something wrong with Nigeria. Then came There was A Country”.

The president read an excerpt from the book indicating Achebe’s scathing criticism of corruption as it was far back as the 1950s and 1960s.

Jonathan then asked, “Those in office today, have they changed? Perhaps, Achebe’s grandchildren will write There Is A Country. All of us must work hard to change this country. Achebe said in his book that 2011 election was significantly better. So, we must fix our elections and leaders must work towards a better Nigeria so that their children will write There is A Country”.

Nwosu, who took his bible text from Matthew 1:3, titled his sermon ‘Achebe: Parable to the Nigerian nation. Achebe’s life and times, he noted, were parables to the people of Nigeria, saying that Achebe’s life ran like a story that had strong message for the people.

Nwosu said, “We appreciate Jonathan for coming for Achebe’s burial. We thank God for making Achebe to come to this side of the planet and the gift God lavished upon him so that all drank from his fountain of knowledge; a giant in the literary world, a man of social action. People like Chinua Achebe cannot be buried; he will live on.”

He urged Nigerians not to despair but to be hopeful and forge ahead with determination, saying Nigeria would excel just as Achebe excelled in spite of the difficulties he faced.

“Nigeria shall be well by defying all negative forces.

There’s no end to Nigeria’s exploits. When rough times come upon you, don’t chicken out,” Nwosu said.

Nwosu also saluted Achebe for being a practical man in his faith and convictions. He said Achebe’s rejection of national honours was part of him being a parable to Nigeria, adding that he meant well by so doing. He said, “Achebe believed thoroughly in Nigeria” The cleric also pointed out Achebe’s standpoint in the gay controversy raging in the Anglican community, saying the literary icon vehemently opposed

the idea of gay and said so openly, calling it an abomination.

Governor Peter Obi took over the ceremony after the sermon and called out dignitaries to pay their last respects to Achebe.

Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Prof. Viola Onwuliri, brought the international dimension when she brought messages of world leaders from far and near to the congregation. She extolled the virtues of Achebe as encapsulated in the condolences sent to her ministry.

However, while quipping about the large number of them, Onwuliri inadvertently committed a diplomatic gaff when she said the letters of condolences were in a “Ghana-must-go bag” apparently forgetting the presence of Ghanaian President, Mahama. She quickly corrected herself, but not before it had caused a mild guffaw in the church.

Chief Emeka Anyaoku also lent his deep basal voice to the condolences. The diplomat said Achebe gave Africa a voice and confidence to speak for themselves having been so denigrated by the colonial masters. He noted, “Achebe gave us confidence through his writings. He told us Africans and the world that Africa has a very respectful culture that subsists till today. He helped us discover ourselves. Te legacy Achebe has left for Nigeria and Africa is a legacy that will subsist in Africa and the world for a long time to come”.

Ghanaian President, Mahama called Achebe an icon of African literature, a great man. He admitted to Things Fall Apart shaping his life while growing up. He expressed his gratitude for the way Achebe lived an exemplary life and how much empowerment he gave to many who would follow his footsteps.

He capped it off saying, “Achebe will never die!”

Achebe Shut Awka, Ogidi down That Achebe was a great man is not in doubt. But this became particularly clear to Ogidi folks early on Thursday when thousands of Nigerians and foreigners descended on the sleepy town in a carnival of life for the late literary icon. As early as 9am, food canteens had their food emptied outby guests. It turned out a scramble of sorts as both civilians and uniformed officers from Police, soldiers, SSS and others scouted the road on which St. Philip’s Anglican Church is located.

Even at the state capital, Awka, where Achebe was laid in state at Alex Ekwueme Square, his immense stature as a big masquerade was unmistakable. He shook Awka and local folks were compelled to the realisation that a great masquerade had entered the midst of the living.

THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, May 25, 2013

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NEWS Gunmen Kill Father, Sons In Maiduguri From Njadvara Musa, Maiduguri ESPITE the Presidential directive to release some of the detained Boko Haram suspects, violence continue to erupt in Maiduguri, Borno state, as three gunmen suspected to be members of the Islamic sect shot dead a trader (name withheld) and two of his children in Pompomari ward of the metropolis at about 7.35am on Thursday.

The gunmen, according to an eyewitness and resident of the area, came in a tricycle and ambushed the trader and family members in the house, after the dusk to dawn curfew, before firing several gunshots into the heads and chests of three victims.

He said: “As we were preparing to go out after the 9pm7am curfew, some gunmen burst into our neighbour’s house and started chanting God is great before they shot and killed the man and two of his children that usually assist him at the shops and house.

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Nigeria Gets AU Nod For Non-Permanent UN Security Council Seat From Oghogho Obayuwana, Foreign Affairs Editor, Addis Ababa HE African Union (AU) T Executive Council has finally given Nigeria the nod to jostle for the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) nonpermanent member seat.

Nigeria’s president, Goodluck Jonathan is one of the 75 current and former heads of state including 15,000 other invited guests streaming into the

Ethiopian capital for the 21st Ordinary session of the AU. But there is more work to be done in the aftermath of the AU endorsement of Nigeria’s candidacy of the UNSC. Before the elections proper in October in New York, where she would need two-third of votes by members to secure the seat, Nigeria has to move swiftly to lobby other regional groupings for support. The African group has the highest

number of countries (54).

The other regional groupings include Asia-Pacific group (53), Eastern European Group (23), Latin America and Caribbean Group (GRULAC), (33), and Western European and other Group (WEOG) (28) + One observer member state.

Speaking to the Nigerian media at the end of a series of meetings, Foreign Affairs minister, Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru noted that AU’s

endorsementwasunanimous, stressing that, “Usually once you have got your regional endorsement, the journey is easier. What the countries will ask for is reciprocal support.

The UNSC is the highest legislative body in the world.”

Asked about the possible hurdles ahead, especially as Nigeria exited the seat not too long ago, even producing the Council’s president (Professor Joy Ogwu) in July 2010, the min-

Crescent Varsity Disclaims Fake Admissions UTHORITIES of Crescent A University, Abeokuta have drawn attention of the general public to a fraudulent website www.topix.com advertising fake Crescent University supplementary admissions to defraud unsuspecting admission seekers.

In a statement through the Public Relations Officer, Idris Katib members of the public are advised not to pay any money into private accounts of any admissions ‘agent’ as now being requested, urging that all enquiries about the institution’s 2013/2014 admissions should be channeled through the website at www.crescentuniversity.edu.ng or admissions office of the institution’s registry.

Katib also advised the prospective candidates of Crescent University, Abeokuta who scored the UTME national minimum to visit the institution’s campus at Km 5, Ayetoto Road with a N5, 000 bank draft of any bank paid in the name of the University.

Lagos Assembly To Make FoI Bill Public

By Wole Oyebade HE Lagos State House of Assembly yesterday disclosed its plan to make the State’s version of the Freedom of Information (FoI) Bill open to the public before passage into law.

The bill, which domesticates the FoI Act 2011, allows “every citizen of the State access to any record under the control of government or public institution notwithstandinganythingcontained in any law or regulation.”

Speaking at the one-day public hearing on the bill yesterday, Speaker of the House, Adeyemi Ikuforiji said the House had decided to post the bill on the Internet for the public to freely access and make contributions before its passage by the House.

Ikuforiji, who said this in reaction to contributions by Civil Society Organisations on the need for wider assessment of the bill, said the approach was necessary because of the sensitive nature of the bill.

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ister said, “I do not foresee any region to be problematic.

Nigeria has been there before.

This will be the first time we will go there in quick succession. Work begins because even countries that want to go in five or 10 years time are already campaigning.”

Meanwhile, the AU Commission chairperson, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma has vowed to take the agenda of the AU further to include “socio-economic development: the fight against poverty, the empowering of women and investment by the private sector.”

Addressing the World Economic Forum in Cape Town earlier this month, Dlamini-Zuma spoke on the importance of agriculture and the role of the private sector in “ensuring a prosperous and peaceful continent.”

Since taking up the position of chairperson in October last year, she has consistently stressed the role of women in lifting Africa out of poverty, calling on women to make sure their voices were heard in defining what the AU is now calling its Agenda 2063 – a strategy for Africa over the next 50 years.

Guber Aspirant To Build Achebe Literary Centres

By Onyedika Agbedo President Goodluck Jonathan being presented a bouquet of flowers on arrival at Bole International Airport, Addis Ababa for the 50th Anniversary of OAU-AU… yesterday

Cynthia’s Mouth Stuffed With Hair Net, Says Pathologist

By Bertram Nwannekanma HEtrial of the alleged killers of facebook girl, Cynthia’s Osokogu resumed yesterday at the Lagos High Court, Ikeja with the Chief Consultant pathologist at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Prof John Obafunwa testifying.

Obafunwa, who conducted autopsy on the deceased, told the court presided by Justice Olabisi Akinlade that the late Osokogu’s mouth was stuffed with a black and yellow hair net, a white handkerchief and the attachment of the weaveon she fixed.

The pathologist, who showed pictures of the autopsy activities on the late Cynthia at the court, stated that the killers tapped her mouth from the mouth back to the neck area.

The professor stated that late

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Cynthia’s lungs were heavily engorged with blood, weighing between 400 and 500 grams rather than the normal 250-300gram, adding that there were also tiny beads on the surface, attributing it to blood accumulation called Pulmonary Oedema.

Prof Obafunwa explained further that there were also tiny beads in the lining of her voice box while the kidney, when sliced, had dark spots in some areas, indicating a shut down of blood circulation due to shock.

According to him, the seven bruises on Cynthia’s thighs were suspected to be bite marks while when the corpse was skinned, deep bruises, which couldn’t be seen on the skin were found on various parts of her leg.

The autopsy pictures

revealed that Cynthia’s hands were tied with tape and a chain covered with blue plastic wrap and there were bruises at the back of her right hand and her mouth was disfigured.

The pathologist stated that Cynthia’s corpse was labeled unknown when brought in, adding that the only clothing she had on was an under shirt with pink stripes.

While being cross examined by the defence counsels, Prof Obafunwa maintained that based on their examination and microscopic study, there was no evidence that the late Cynthia was suffering from any disease like Asthma or Tuberculosis.

The professor of forensic medicine had earlier testified that Cynthia died from asphyxia, that is, an absence of oxygen

supply to the body, adding that the blockage of the deceased’s upper respiratory airways was the immediate cause of her death.

The 24 years old girl was allegedly drugged and murdered by her facebook friends in a hotel room last July in Lagos. The friends Okwumo Nwabufor and Olisaeloka Ezike were arraigned on charges bordering on conspiracy to commit murder, murder and felony.

A Pharmacist who sold the Rophynol drug to the alleged killers, Osita Orji is accused of reckless and negligent act while Nonso Ezike, who pawned the deceased’s Blackberry phone, is charged with possession of stolen property. Further hearing on the matter has been fixed for May 31, 2013.

More Tributes For Achebe, As Son Thanks Jonathan, Obi, Others From Uzoma Nzeagwu, Awka S literary giant, Prof Chinua Achebejoinedhisancestors on Thursday, his son, Dr Ike Achebe has expressed profound gratitude to all that contributed in one way or the order to make the burial a success.

Dr. Ike Achebe was particularly grateful to President Goodluck Jonathan, President

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John Mahama of Ghana, Governor Peter Obi, the NASS members, among others, who supported the burial.

“President Goodluck Jonathan was the first to send his condolence after the death of my father. I also thank him for being physically present,” he said.

Achebe thanked many people but was particular about Gov

Obi, who, he noted, took the burial personal.

He recalled his visit to the family in Boston soon after his father died and the so many late night meetings with him for the success of the burial.

As Nigerian and foreign dignities continue to pour encomiums, Rev. Canon Andrew Wheeler who represented the Archbishop of Canterbury,

Rev. Canon Andrew Wheeler noted, “Prof. Achebe was a man of International recognition not to Africa but throughout the world.

“He is a man of International understanding, who many British citizens know something of his significance. I am here to express my respect and feelings of others in the United Kingdom.”

N aspirant in next year’s A gubernatorial election in Anambra State, Chief Udo Udeogaranya has said that he would build three state-of-theart literary centres to immortalise the late literary icon, Prof.

Chinua Achebe, if elected the governor of the state.

In a statement yesterday, Udeogranya said the literary centres would be built in Achebe’s hometown, Ogidi; the state capital, Awka; and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

He said the centres would serve to sharpen the literary skills of Nigerian youths and also encourage them to emulate the late writer’s achievements in life.

He said his administration would also enact a public holiday in the state, to be celebrated every November 16, in the honour of Prof. Achebe and Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, since both men shared the same day of birth.

“I believe in the promotion of human talents and encouraging the youths to eschew all sorts of societal menace, but rather become protégées of men like Achebe,” he said.

Udeogaranya appreciated President Goodluck Jonathan and his Ghanaian counterpart, Mr. John Mahama for attending Achebe’s burial ceremony on Thursday.

He added: “Indeed President Goodluck Jonathan has times without numbers expressed his deep appreciation of men and women who stands with noble ideals and have paid them respect to the last. This is worth emulation.

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THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, May 25, 2013

NEWS

NigeriaReports67PerCentReduction In Polio Cases Within One Year From Chukwuma Muanya, Geneva IGERIA yesterday at the 66th World Health Assembly (WHA) told other delegates that the country has been able to reduce the number of Wild Polio Cases (WPV) by 67 per cent from 48 this time last year to 22 cases now.

Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Ado Gana Muhammad, yesterday in a statement to the Assembly said no type three polio virus (WPV3) has been reported since November last year, the number of circulating genotype from 14 strains to two that type one (WPV1) and type two (WPV2) and the North West is no longer an epicenter of polio.

Muhammad also asked the WHA for easier approach to use vaccine products that can

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• No Type3 Polio Virus For Six Months • Adopts Special Strategies To Address Vaccine Rejection, Insecurity Of Health Workers In The North be administered by almost anyone and generation of new technologies for delivering vaccines in the most simplified way possible to reach more children.

He, however, said while Nigeria wishes to accelerate the use of newest vaccines, it is worthy to note that new vaccines are much more costly than the traditional antigens.

Muhammad said the cost of the basic package to vaccinate a child has risen rapidly, and there is minimal global guidance for tracking vaccine prices. He noted that monitoring vaccine prices and setting global norms for the cost of

vaccines is an important tool that will enable us to prepare for financing our programme.

Muhammad urged the Secretariat to continue its work to develop indicators within the Global Vaccine Action Plan Monitoring and Evaluation Framework that track vaccine prices.

The NPHCDA boss who spoke on behalf of the Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, said: “As a consequence of these efforts by the Federal Government and partners there has been 67 per cent reduction in the number of WPV as compared to similar period in 2012. No type3 WPV

in the country for six months now. The North-west is no longer an epicenter.

Circulating genotype has collapsed from 14 to two. There has been improvement in the quality of the campaign as judged by less and less number of children missed at each round.”

Muhammad, however, admitted that the country still have challenges. “Security has been of concern in specific areas in the two North East (NE) states of Borno especially in the ten Local Government Areas (LGAs) and Yobe, where state of emergency have been declared. Normalcy have how-

ever started to return in the areas, while, with the cooperation of and collaboration with the security team we are already moving to provide required services, especially polio and other immunization,” he said.

He said the government has put in place some special strategies/tactics for the North, especially in the North-east.

Muhammad said although the country has made significant improvements in her Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) programme, she is still faced with many obstacles in reaching ‘the last two children’. Vaccine products that are easier-to-use are needed.

On the call for easier to use vaccines, Muhammad said: “In Nigeria, our cold chain is adequate at the national and zonal levels but there are gaps at district, LGA and communities levels.

Aero Begins Flight Operations To Douala

By Chika Goodluck-Ogazi ERO Contractors Airlines has announced the commencement of its flight operations to Duoala, Cameroon, even as it disclosed plans to take delivery of two brand new Q400 next generation aircraft in two weeks’ time.

The Flight Operations and Accountable Manager, Ressel Leefoon said on Thursday that the move by the company aims at expanding to African regions and serve the customers better.

Speaking at a press briefing in Lagos, he stated that the flight operations to the Central African country, Doula, Cameroon would commence on Monday 27, May 2013.

He said that the drive to make travel available, affordable and reliable to the flying public prompted the management of the airline to introduce the route, as part of the plans of the management to embark on aggressive route expansion in 2013.

Meanwhile, the Acting Managing Director, Obaro Ibru said: “We are making travel more convenient and reliable for our customers.”

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Blackout Looms As Egbin Power Plant Breaks Down

By Roseline Okere LACK out looms in most part of the country as Egbin Hydro power plant suffers a major system collapse at the early hours of yesterday.

Though, the Presidential Task Force on Power put the country’s generation at 3,740 Mega Watts as at Thursday last week, the present challenge at Egbin, may lead to a further drop in power generation this weekend, if efforts by the management to rectify the problem prove abortive.

Egbin power plant has capacity to generate 1320 Mega Watts (MW) when operating at full capacity, but has not been able to contribute significantly to power generation in the country due to constant system collapse.

The Chief Executive Officer of Egbin Hydro power plant, Mr Mike Uzoigwe, told The Guardian yesterday, that efforts were being made to ensure that the system collapse does to lead to power outage in the country.

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Executive Director, Guardian Press Limited, Mr. Toke Alex-Ibru in a warm handshake with the Minister of Petroleum Resources Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke at the foreground of St. Anthony College, Oxford, England where the minister delivered a lecture on the Future Of African Energy in A Changing Global Market…last week.

Amosun’s Wife Gives 500 ATM Cards To Senior Citizens IFE of Ogun State goverW nor, Mrs. Olufunso Amosun, through her UPLIFTing the Aged Welfare (ATM) Cards, has given out 500 free ATMs to senior citizens drawn from across the 20 local government areas of the state as part of her efforts to give a helping hand to the elderly people who, due to old age, can hardly fend for themselves again.

Speaking during the launching ceremony of the UPLIFTing the Aged Welfare (ATM) Cards at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto in Abeokuta, Mrs. Amosun said the cards would hasten and reduce the rigour and other challenges encountered during the distribution of food and commodities to the aged across the length and breadth of Ogun State.

She explained that the Welfare Card, which was donated by Ecobank Plc, was a continuation of the her UPLIFTing the Aged welfare package

designed to make life more comfortable for the senior citizens in the state, saying the enlisted aged people could now access their monthly stipends through the Welfare Cards to purchase their food and other commodities without having to come down to Abeokuta, or workers travelling hundreds of kilometres to

distribute those items.

Her words: “The Welfare Cards are in line with the proposed cashless policy of the state government to reduce handling of cash in the society. This would go a long way in uplifting the lives of our revered citizens and contribute positively to the development of our economy.”

Edo Council Boss Inaugurates Economic Team From Alemma-Ozioruva Aliu, Benin City ETERMINED to replicate the infrastructural development of the state government and to improve the economic condition of the people in the community, chairman, Ovia North East local government of Edo state, Mrs Lucy Omagbon yesterday inaugurated an economic committee

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Group Tasks Jonathan On Niger Delta Development COMMUNITY leader in Delta A State, Chief Richard Enaredei (JP) has urged President Goodluck Jonathan to be more proactive and pragmatic in the development of the Niger Delta region. He observed that the Niger Delta bears the brunt of environmental devastation arising from oil explorati on and exploitation, suffered untold hardship over decades amidst abundant natural endowments, but remains in squalor and abject poverty.

Chief Enaredei made this disclosure at Esanma in Bomadi LGA, Delta State during the occasion of his swearing-in ceremony as the Chairman of Esanma standard Elite Club.

According to him, “the Niger Delta region is the proverbial cash cow but virtually had nothing to show for it”.

He said “Niger Delta which accounts for 90 per cent of Nigeria’s revenue be developed; that the means of livelihood of its inhabitants have

been greatly hampered by the exploration activities that feed the rest of the nation.

Other Executive members of the club that were sworn-in were Mr. Benebragha Showoye, Vice Chairman; Mr. Kuro Amana, Secretary; Mr. Boboye Gidegha, Ttreasurer; Mr. Dijay Zuokumor Kpuduku, Organising Secretary; Mr. Jimmy Yebibiabor, Public Relations Officer; and Mr. David Amanah, Patron.

for the council which she gave the responsibility to improve, source and manage the revenue generation of the council.

Omagbon said members of the committee, headed by banker turned politician, Charity Ameyaenvbo, were properly selected and made up of men and women of proven quality and tracks records from the local government area.

“All of them in the committee are men and women who are fit and capable to be the local government chairman, even though they contest with me at one time or the other, they are ready to come and join me and lift this local government forward and I think this is a rare occasion.”

She said the terms of reference include improving income generation, sourcing for revenue and play advisory role on expenditure pattern and infrastructural development in the local government area.

Foundation Tasks Members On Selfless Service

By Oluwakemi Ajani HE President of Ojiana Omambala Foundation (OOF), Mr. George Udedibia, has advised members of the Foundation not to relent in their selfless service to the community. He also said that the purpose of the Foundation is to act as intermediary between the government and the people.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the OOF held in Anambra State recently, the president said it was necessary to bear in mind the need to keep the people abreast of what is happening around them, considering that the world has become a global village.

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THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, May 25, 2013

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NEWS Ijaw Communities Give Discordant Accounts On Alleged Attacks From Alemma-Ozioruva Aliu, Benin City ISCORDANT tunes yesterday trailed alleged attack on Egbema communities in Edo and Delta states, even as leaders of the kingdom have accused officers of the JTF of killing and arresting some of their youths in Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State and called on the presidency to intervene to avoid unwarranted confrontation between the community and the peace keepers.

But a group, Egbema Voice of Warri North Local Government, yesterday declared that the alleged attack was a false alarm even as it accused a group known as Egbemas For Positive Change for allegedly attacking their fellow Ijaws only to heap the blame of the attack on men of the JTF.

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Sambo Urges Nigerians To Cooperate With Jonathan From Mohammed Abubakar, Abuja ICE President Namadi Sambo yesterday led a high-powered federal government delegation to the National Mosque, Abuja to pray for Nigeria as part of the activities commemorating the forthcoming Democracy Day celebration.

With him were the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Admiral ola Sa’ad Ibrahim, Inspector-General of Police, (IGP), Mohammed Dahiru Abubakar, members of the National Assembly, minis-

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ters including the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Senator Bala Mohammed; Minister of State for Works, Alhaji Bashir Yuguda as well as a one-time Nigerian Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Ibrahim Agboola Gambari.

Sambo told newsmen that the country required peace to enable her to make the desired progress.

The VP, who listed the “ tremendous” achievements being recorded by the current administration led by

President Goodluck Jonathan, however said the government needed more support from Nigerians to enable it meet the yearnings and aspirations of the country.

“We thank Almighty Allah for granting good health and guidance to our president and the whole administration for the successes that we have been witnessing in providing dividends of democracy to Nigerians.

“Let me therefore seize this singular opportunity to call upon all Nigerians to be our brothers’ keepers and to

continue to give this administration the support that is necessary for the achievements of our transformation agenda,” he said.

The Chief Imam of Abuja National Mosque, Ustaz Musa Mohammed called on leaders to be fair minded and spoke on the need for them to just and be ready to give account of their stewardship to the people.

He however implored Nigerians to continue to obey constituted authority and avoid acts that could be detrimental to the peace and stability of the nation.

GEP Rewards Members Today AURAPAD Empowerment G Foundation (GEP), a nongovernmental organisation, is set to reward members who have contributed and worked earnestly in an event, which holds today at the Aquatic Hall, Waterparks, Ikeja, Lagos.

The awards’ categories, which cover students, widows and single mothers, unemployed and professional networkers, will see people going home with fridges, TVs, trips abroad, lands and cars.

Speaking at a media briefing, the founder of GEP, Mr. Bolaji Rosiji, noted that the foundation has a structure in place that feeds and clothes the less privileged in the society.

Within a year, GEP has registered over 9600 members nationwide, and with its health products, provides succour to many.

Rosiji said: “This foundation has been set up using Gaurapad health products to improve the health of the people, thereby creating means of livelihood for them, improving their health status, while giving back to the society from funds realised. We are, therefore, rewarding those who have worked hard and contributed meaningfully to the growth of the foundation.”

Scholars To Meet On Education

BY J.K. Obatala EMBERS of the Africa Future Foundation (A.F.F.) have concluded arrangements to meet at the Nigerian Institute for International Affairs (NIIA) in Lagos, May 30, to map out a strategy for reviving the nation’s moribund educational system.

A.F.F. operates under the aegis of the Africa-America Institute (A.A.I.)-the New York-based educational aid body, which sponsors the fabled African Scholarship Programme for American Universities (A.S.P.A.U.).

“We think everyone has had enough,” said Augustine Esogbue, Professor Emeritus at the Georgia Institute of Technology (U.S.A.) and one of two vice presidents of the foundation. “We simply can’t tolerate current conditions in our education system any longer,” he added.

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Ondo Group Lauds Elegbeleye’s Appointment

By Abiodun Fanoro NDO State Eminent Persons Group (OSEG) has lauded the appointment of Mr. Gbenga Elegbeleye as the new Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC).

OSEG in a statement at the end of its Executive Council meeting in Lagos at the weekend commended President Goodluck Jonathan for what it described as “a bold and well thought decision aimed at ensuring that the commission is giving the right leadership to pilot the nation’s sports”.

The statement signed by OSEG’s Chairman, Barr. Banji Alabi, said it was “well thoughtful of President Jonathan to have decided that another capable hand that combines wider experience in other fields of administration succeeds the former NSC boss, Dr. Patrick Ekeji who was an achiever in his own right” “The appointment is one of the best in recent times. It is an indication that we have a listening president, who is ready to put the right people in the right positions; Elegbeleye served as the deputy Chairman of House Committee on Sports and contributed immensely to the development of grassroots sports through donations and direct sponsorship of various sports championships” Alabi while expressing the gratitude of the entire people of Ondo State to Jonathan, noted that “the President has by Elegbeleye’s appointment shown that he is truly dispassionate and that he is a true father of the nation by not considering the fact that Ondo is not governed by his party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP)”

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Suspected Ritualits Arrested In Ilorin Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Alhaji Abdul Azeez Arisekola Alao and Chairman of Airtel Nigeria, Oba Ayoola Otudeko at the burial of Arisekola’s wife, PHOTO: NAJEEM RAHEEM Alhaja Risikat Arisekola in Ibadan…yesterday.

Yobe Approves N1.9 Billion For Boko HaramVictims, Farmers From Njadvara Musa, Damaturu OBE State Executive Council has approved N1.9 billion as compensation for Boko Haram victims and for procurement of 6,000 metric tons of fertilisers for farmers.

Briefing reporters on the outcome of the council’s meeting at the Government House, Damaturu, the Commissioner for Information, Alhaji Goni Fika, disclosed that the com-

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pensation is strictly for residents and communities whose houses, places of worship and other property were destroyed by Boko Haram members in the last two years.

“The disbursement of N187.5 million to the victims of Boko Haram is strictly based on the SEMA assessments of damages done to houses, places of worship and other property in 2011 and 2012.

This token will assist victims

rebuild their houses and places of worship, though the lost lives in the four-year insurgency cannot be fully compensated by government, ” Fika said.

According to Fika, while the council approved N653.7 million for the construction of roads at three housing estates in Damaturu, it also earmarked N259.4 million for the payments of registration fees of governmentsponsored candidates for the May/June 2013 West

African Examination Council (WAEC) and National Examination Council (NECO), adding that farmers would also benefit from the funds.

“As the planting season has commenced in the state, government also approved the sum of N787.5 million for the procurement and distribution of 6, 000 metric tons of urea, and they are to be sold at subsidised rates to boost farmers’ productivity and incomes,” Fika said.

Okorocha Condoles, Donates To Families Of Slain Policemen From Charles Ogugbuaja, Owerri MO State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, yesterday condoled with the families of the police and Department Security Service (DSS) men killed by unknown insurgents in Nasarawa State and donated N200,000 to each of the bereaved families.

Okorocha who paid

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unscheduled visit to the Inspector of Police, Abubakar Mohammed, and the Director General of the DSS, through their representatives in the state, Police Commissioner Muhammadu Musa Katsina and Director of SSS in the state, urged other wellmeaning philanthropists in the country to show kind-

ness to the affected families, regretting the unfortunate incident.

He urged the Federal Government to come up with a condition of service acceptable to all for the security operatives in the country in view of the increasing hazardous jobs they have found themselves.

Despite the problem, the governor urged security operatives in the country to remain resolute in the discharge of their duties.

Receiving them, Imo CP, Katsina and the state Director of DSS, said they would send Okorocha’s gesture across to their bosses for onward transmission to

From Abiodun Fagbemi, Ilorin WO suspected ritualists have arrested in Ilorin for attempt to steal buried corpses in the town for ritual purposes.

The suspects were said to have seized the opportunity of the road being constructed between Bolanta junction and Gambari in the area to embark on the illegal act.

It was learnt that the road construction affected some graves in Ajia compound, forcing the owners of the corpses in the affected graves to exhume them for a re-burial purposes.

The suspects, however, reportedly took advantage of the action to exhume corpses and remove their parts.

One of the suspects, who were caught by the residents, was said to have been apprehended while exhuming a corpse and was found with a bag containing parts and clothes of the corpse.

The suspect, whose name is given as Saka, in his early 30s, was reportedly selling secondhand wears in the Bolanta area before abandoning the business to become a Muslim cleric.

It was learnt that after converting his shop to a consulting office where his clients sought his service for spiritual purposes, his landlord, who suspected him to be a fraudster, evicted him from the shop.

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THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, May 25, 2013

NEWS Women Vibrant Human Resources, Says Ezekwesili

By Debo Oladimeji ORMER Vice President of the Africa Region of the World Bank and former Minister of Education, Mrs. Obaigeli Ezekwesili has said that women’s involvement in the decision making of the government and organisation where they work is vital for national development.

Speaking on the topic “Women’s Leadership: Why Africa Is Rising,” at a forum organised by Vital Voices Global Partnership (Africa Programs) in Lagos on Thursday, said that it was clear that Africa is doing better than it used to do in the area of women empowerment.

She said that, “as long as only 30 percent of formal labour force in Africa is women, you have a problem. If 70 percent of Africa informal sector are woman you have a problem because the informal sector does not function at the level of productivity that enable people to lift themselves out of poverty.”

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‘Excessive Litigations Hinder NDIC Settlement Capacity’

By Ibe Uwaleke, Head, Judicial Desk IGERIA Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), said yesterday, that it is capable of fulfilling its statutory mandate as a financial net player to operate the deposit insurance scheme in Nigeria and to cushion the effect of financial losses of depositors of bank accounts, if lawyers will desist from unnecessary court actions, which frustrate these efforts.

The managing director and chief executive officer of the corporation, Alhaji Umaru Ibrahim, said this at a one-day sensitisation seminar organ-

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ised for the corporation’s external solicitors in Lagos with the theme, “Challenges to Deposit Insurance Law and Practice in Nigeria.”

Ibrahim, who was represented by the corporation’s executive director, corporate services, Honourable, Lola Abiola Edewor, said that apart from excessive litigations by lawyers, the corporation also faces the problem of execution of court judgments against its assets as the liquidator of failed banks based on the misunderstanding of its role as a liquidator.

He added that another problem is the lack of proper understanding of the distinction in the legal status of NDIC as a liquidator and deposit insurer by legal practitioners, courts and the general public, noting that the difficulty on the part of the corporation in recovering debts owed to failed banks due to inability to trace the debtors and lack of collateral, are other related challenges facing the organisation.

According to him, the seminar is to put the problems on the front burner so that lawyers who defend their cases in

courts will become aware and better equipped with information regarding the operations of the corporation.

“We recognise that the corporation cannot achieve much in addressing the legal challenges without the full understandingbyoursolicitorsofthe issues involved. This seminar is one of the steps being taken by the corporation to sensitise lawyers handling cases for the corporation, and an avenue to put heads together to enable the organisation to address the challenges and realise its mandate,” he stated.

LHAJI Afeez Ijaye has been A elected the new President of Apongbon Committee of Friends. Other elected executive members in the election, which took place on April 28, 2013 are: Alhaji Shamsideen Akinlusi, Vice President; Alhaji Alamu Lasaki, General Secretary; Alhaji Gaheeb Gatta, Asst. General Secretary; Mr. Matthew Adelekan, Treasurer; Alhaji Shakiru Alao, Financial Secretary; Alhaji Fatai Abdulahi, Auditor; Alhaji Babatunde Durojaiye, Social Secretary; Otunba Adetayo Oyebanjo, Welfare Officer; Alhaji Shakiru Tyson, Chief Whip; Alhaji Aremu Nollah, Ex.OfficioI,andPrinceHameed Ololade, Ex Officio II.

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LISCO, manufacturers of V the original Hollandais colorful fabric, is set to launch their latest collection tomorrow at the prestigious Four Points Sheraton Hotel in Lekki.

Dubbed the Hommage a l’Art collection, the new artful series will be launched with a fashion show in conjunction with Moms Media, a PR and marketing consultancy firm with a bias for the female segment of the society.

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Apongbon Committee Elects New Officers

By Victor Olushola HEADof the 2015 election, a civil society group, Enough Is Enough Nigeria (EIE), has called on the media to continuously awaken the consciousness of the public on electoral proceedings.

Speaking to newsmen at Alausa, Lagos, a board member of the group, Adebola Williams, bemoaned that there were not enough advocacy issues on the pages of newspapers in the country.

Williams said that 2015 is around the corner and all efforts must be put in place to ensure free and fair election, informing the people to register on time, select wisely and protect their votes.

Vlisco Launches new Collection Tomorrow

Selling Babies Abominable, Says Mrs. Orji From Gordi Udeajah, Umuahia ORRIED by the practice of selling babies even by their own mothers and parents, the wife of Abia State governor, Mrs. Mercy Odochi Orji Thursday asserted that such an act it was an abomination.

Speaking at the flag-off ceremony of this year’s Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week (MNCHW), which featured delivery of integrated health care packages for mother and child, she said that those that sell babies for money or other reasons should note that the sold babies could become prominent personalities in future.

According to her, a lot still needed to be done to drastically reduce maternal and infant mortality rate and drew attention to the report that one million children die before the age of five due to malnutrition, while 26 percent is as a result of neo-natal deaths.

Group Challenges Media On Advocacy

Foundation Gives Women Vaccines HE Optimal Cancer Care T Foundation will give subsidised Human Papiloma Virus

General Manger, Ogun State Printing Corporation, Mrs. Oyinkansola Cole; Ogun State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Barr. Yusuph Olaniyonu; Special Assistant to the Ogun State Governor on Information, Mr. Yemisi Fadairo and General Manager, Ogun State Radio Corporation, Eng. Tunde Awolana, during the Ministerial Press Briefing as part of activities to commemorate the state governments second anniversary …yesterday.

Borno Reduces Water Supply To 40 Million Litres From Njadvara Musa, Maiduguri HE supply and distribution of potable water to the 2.8 million residents of Maiduguri metropolis in Borno State, has dropped to 40 million litres a day due to rehabilitation and maintenance of water works at the Kirkasama and Dalaram Water Treatment Plant (DWTP) plants.

Residents of the city need about 70 million litres to meet

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the daily water requirement, the state Commissioner of Water Resources, Alhaji Mai Sheriff disclosed at a press conference on Thursday to commemorate Democracy Day and second year in office of Governor Kashim Shettima at the Water House complex, Maiduguri.

Sheriff said that despite the challenges facing the Water Resources personnel and directors to meet the water

requirements of residents, the “Water C Project” near the stadium has reached 65 percent completion to supply seven million litres of potable water a day.

Sheriff also assured the people that the completion of Water C Project, along with the renovations works on the Maiduguri Water Treatment Plant at Dalori and Kirkasama Water Works project will collectively increase the daily

water supply to 70 million litres.

He, however, lamented that following security challenges, the Water Resources Ministry suffered the loss of one of its directors to the Boko Haram gunmen and the kidnap and eventual rescue of General Manager of Water Board, Alhaji Baba Gujbawu, in addition to displacements of five other directors from their respective residences this

FERMA Introduces Monitoring Units On Roads From Niyi Bello, Akure NEW approach to fixing federal roads across the country “before the cracks turned to ditches,” to reduce the cost of maintenance and reduce carnage, has been devised by the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA), according to authorities of the agency.

The new approach, as disclosed by the agency’s Managing Director, Engr.

Gabriel Amuchi, involved setting up of inspection teams to monitor the state of the roads and the establishment of a quick action squad that repairs spots that have been identified to be failing.

The FERMA boss, who spoke

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through the agency’s Secretary and Legal Adviser, Mrs. Stella Anukam, disclosed this at the palace of the Aro of Akure, Chief Adeyemi Adedipe during a courtesy visit yesterday, added that the squad has enough financial, personnel and material support to carry out immediate repairs before the identified bad spots deteriorate further.

Anukam, who was in Ondo State as the leader of a team of officials of the agency on inspection tour of on-going rehabilitation works in the three states of Ondo, Delta and Edo, said the management of the agency had discovered that lack of immediate action

in road repairs, was the major cause of the bad states of roads in the country.

According to her, “FERMA started the quick intervention programme because we discovered that if these roads have been fixed at the initial notice of failure, a lot of money and energy that are dissipated at the failed stage would be saved. Prevention, as they say, is better than cure.

“The surveillance teams that have been put together cover the whole of the country and they bring progress reports on the states of the roads to the management regularly. That is why we have been able to prevent new failures to a large extent in the last few months.”

In his address to the team, Adedipe, who was described by Anukam as one of the major stakeholders in FERMA, by virtue of his being a former member of the agency’s board, tasked governments at all levels to show more assistance to the body to ensure smooth maintenance of roads across the country.

He said that, “Government should also pay more attention and commitment to giving the roads to concessionaire who will be saddled with building and maintaining the roads, but not to the detriment of Nigerians by way of cut-throat toll fees. This will reduce the burden of road maintenance on the neck of government.”

(HPV) vaccine to women and childrenonChildren’sDay,May 27.

This was disclosed by the Medical Director of the foundation, Dr. Femi Olaleye who said it his own way of finding solution to the horrible healthcare statistics in Nigeria, especially intheareaofcancerprevention.

The vaccine, which was formerlygiventolittlegirlswhoarenot yet sexually active, according to Olaleye, has now been certified safe for women as well.

Olaleye, who also does a free cancer screening for women on Fridays, said further that the vaccine, which goes for N7,500 will be given at N3,500 to women and children on Children’s Day.

Firm Gets Operation Licence

By Daniel Anazia S part of its logistics plan for Christian pilgrims to Israel this year, Hadur Travel and Tours, a leading international travel company with specialised interest in executive group tours, agro tours and pilgrimages has announced its latest packages for the second quarter of 2013.

The new package, according to the firm’s Chief Executive Officer, Olufunke Taiwo, starts with the receipt of Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission’s Private Tour Operator License.

With the introduction of our new five-day low budget Jerusalem pilgrimage package, busy executives longing to visit Israel to fulfill a lifelong dream and enrich their spiritual life now have a great opening to realise their goal at affordable prices.

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THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, May 25, 2013

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METRONOTES

Pomp, Thanksgiving At Church Building Dedication

By Ekwy P. Uzoanya T was a ceremony of praise, prayer and thanksgiving. Tuneful hymns and choruses pervaded the auditorium, with the congregation luxuriating in their soul-stirring experience. It was under this atmosphere that the ultra-modern church building of Archbishop Timothy Olufosoye Memorial Anglican Church (ATOMAC) Ogba, Lagos was dedicated last Saturday.

The Bishop of Lagos West Diocese of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, the Rt. Revd. James O. Odedeji dedicated the building, declaring that the church is the hope of this generation and mankind.

It was the first of such service by the newly enthroned Bishop Odedeji. In attendance included the Bishop of Idoani Diocese, the Rt. Revd. Ezekiel Dahunsi, the retired Bishop of Lagos West Diocese, the Rt. Revd. Dr. Peter Awelewa Adebiyi and the Chancellor of the Lagos West Diocese, Justice Babashola Ogunade (rtd).

A two-storey edifice, the foundation laying ceremony was performed on July 20, 2011 by the then Bishop of the Lagos West Diocese, Adebiyi.

The structure has an auditorium with a gallery section, offices, hall, conveniences and parking space. In the front view is the imposing 15-metre belfry that makes the church currently, the tallest structure on its Mokuolu Street location.

Odedeji tasked Christians to realise that the church is a place set apart to worship in unity and harmony, God, who in times past had moved various people to build temples where people would gather to honour His name.

The cleric assured the congregation that God’s name must be praised in the place, stressing

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the need for them to take care of it.

He said: “God is looking for a place where His name will be hallowed. This place is a hallowed ground; it is a dedicated place. It is a place to exalt one another, a place to preach the undiluted word of God. It is the hope of this generation and mankind.”

He continued: “Maintain it, beautify it; we can’t afford to disappoint God. It is our heritage, be happy to donate to the progress of the work of God.” The Vicar of ATOMAC, Rev. Abiade Adeniji, while acknowledging the efforts of past vicars in the search for land in a fully built-up area like Ogba, recalled that what had culminated in the completion and dedication of the elegant structure started with the charge to him by Bishop Adebiyi on his resumption of duty in the place on August 6, 2007 to work to get a permanent place of worship for the young church. And the search for a suitable land started.

Tremendous support from the Diocesan, Adebiyi, and other people, the Vicar said, paved the way for the purchase of the plot of land on which the church now stands.

Adeniji noted that by divine arrangement, Band of Faith, a women’s group at the Archbishop Vining Memorial Cathedral Church (AVMCC), Ikeja, arrived timely at the scene to partner with the members in executing the project. These women did so with astounding level of commitment that saw them embark on three fundraising events to shore up their financial contribution to the project. Some other families outside the church also made donations for this cause.

For the church members and collaborators –

Archbishop Timothy Olufosoye Memorial Anglican Church (ATOMAC) Ogba, Lagos Band of Faith members, who were present in their numbers, their joy knew no bounds.

The church turned 10 years a week before. In coming this far, they had used a member’s house, freely made available to them to worship.

From there, they moved into the plot of land, renovating the house, which they inherited and used it for their services. This was demolished to make way for the building when its construction

started.

The high point of the occasion was the handing over of the “Deed Of Dedication“ to the Vicar.

Awards were also given to those within and outside the church whose contributions led to its growth and success of the building project, including the Band of Faith.

From Rotary, New Lease Of Life For 40 Physically-Challenged Speaking with The Guardian, one of the beneficiaries, a journalist with PM News, Aponmade, who recalled the pathetic incident that led to the amputation of his left leg, said the wheelchair would help his mobility a lot.

“My disability was a long story. But to cut it shot, I was a normal human being until the unfortunate incident, Agboola Ibrahim, Babatunde Tolulope, which happened in early 2009. It was a sickness medically termed ‘Arterial Ogedengbe Omowale, Olubo Segun infection.’

Davids, Tope Ogunbayo and Yakubu “By and large, after taken several Ahiv.

Two organisations, namely Orile Agege drugs and carried out series of tests in different hospitals, the result was that I General Hospital, represented by its Acting Apex Nurse and Public Relations had my left leg amputated in Officer, Mrs. Ilori Iyabo and Mrs. Adeniji December 31st, 2009. Since then, I have Folashade respectively and St. Joseph been on clutches. But that has been very stressful. But with this wheelchair, Catholic Clinic, were presented two movement, especially within my comwheelchairs each. pound can be lot more easier,” he

FOURTY physically challenged individuals were last Thursday relieved of the physical and socio-economic burdens associated with their status, as Rotary International, District 9110, Nigeria presented to the beneficiaries, 40 wheelchairs.

BANKOLE SHAKIRUDEEN ADESHINA was there and reports.

T was a gesture conceived to lift the Iselected burden and put smiles on the faces of beneficiaries. And as early as 10am, the beneficiaries, drawn from communities in Lagos and Ogun States, thronged the venue of the donation.

Accompanied by friends, family members and relatives, they brimmed with joy in anticipation of the gift. Some of them include Saheed Hassan, Toheeb Adeshina, Kayode Aponmade, Mufutau

A cross-section of beneficiaries

added.

Another beneficiary, Saheed Hassan, a 35-year-old Islamic teacher, who two legs was crippled up to his waist, said his disability can be traced back to when he was three years old.

Reminiscing his ordeal, Hassan, who teaches at a Moderasah, explained: “I’m from a polygamous home. My predicament, according to my mother was more of spiritual affliction inflicted on my by my stepmother, who at that time was said to be jealous of my mother’s fruits of the womb. My mother was the first wife and had eight children; four boys and four girls. But as at that time, my stepmother, who happened to be the last wife, had not given birth to a male child. But she had given birth to two male children thereafter,” he recalled, fighting tears back from his eyes.

The project, organized under the District Wheelchair Committee (DWCC), which was led by a past President of the Rotary Club of Gowon Estate, Mr. Jemilu Bawakata, was implemented under the leadership of the District Governor, Dr Kamoru Omotosho.

In his remarks, Bawakata said 650million people, which forms about 10 per cent of the global population, are suffering from one physical disabilities or the other and out of the statistic, 10 per cent are in dare need of wheelchairs for survival.

He therefore noted that the gesture

by Rotary was born out of its compassion for the overwhelming economic burdens faced by physically challenged individuals in the country.

According to him, in a competitive states like Lagos and Ogun states, even able-bodied individual finds socio-economic survival very tasking and competing, thereby putting the physically challenged at great disadvantage.

In his words, he explained: “We are here to give some Wheelchairs to some physically challenged persons in our community. We are to note that

wheelchair is more than an assertive device for many people with disabilities; it is the means by which they can exercise their human rights and achieve inclusion and participation. A wheel chair provides mobility, it ensure a better health and equality of life and assists people with disabilities to live full and active lives in their respective communities.”

Bawakata however warned the beneficiaries not to turn the gift to a device of begging, warning that such should inspire the optimal utilization of their creativity and productivity.

He said: “We have seen or heard cases where the beneficiaries keep reappearing, because we do this on annual basis. We even learnt that some of you (the physically challenged) are in possession of more than five wheelchairs; some even give it out for rents! This is not acceptable by us in Rotary. Our aim is to reach out to all those who are in need of it and put a smile on their faces by donating the essential device to them for their easier mobility,” he added.

In his earlier submission, the District (Governor) leader, urged other organisations, individuals, including politicians to join hands in reaching out to many downtrodden Nigerians who are in dare need of help.

“The task is too enormous and requires collaborative efforts. We must join hands together to wipe out hunger, starvation and poverty from our land. We must be united in the crusade to put smiles on the faces of many downtrodden Nigerians. This is the vision of Rotary, this should be the collective vision of every stakeholders in the country; from corporate organisations, to institutions, individuals, including politicians.

There are many people out there whose dreams depend on our helping hands. Let us lend it to them as see their dreams being fulfilled. By this, we will achieve a better society and world together,” he said.

TheGuardian Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

10 | THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, May 25, 2013

Politics ‘Injustice, Unequal Development Causes Agitation For More States’ With all I have said so far, will it be fair to challenge the executive for no just cause? After all Yau Gwajo-Gwajo, Speaker of the Katsina House of Assembly, insists his this is not a popularity contest. What would be leadership is not a rubberstamp of the executive. the essence of confrontation with the executive?

I know that some states legislature are not in tions are designed within the budget, 75 per

By Godwin Ijediog or good terms with their executive, but that does cent of which goes into capital projects. So, not mean that every other state legislature when the executive is preparing the next HAT is the relationship between the execushould be in disagreement with the executive, budget, we are always represented. tive and the legislative since you became not when the executive is performing.

Also, we go for our oversight functions every Speaker some six years ago?

We have our full financial autonomy and as quarter, capturing item-by-item, according to It has been very cordial and excellent. The reason their releases, so that we crosscheck what is in speak, some of my members are not in the for this is simply that our governor has only one the paper with what is on the ground. country and the executive may not aware of it. vision, which is how he can contribute his own Is that not part of the independence we are talkBeyond that, each and every one of us in the quota to the development of the state, which for- House also returns to give account what the ing about? tunately he has been doing even before he Is it only when we are confrontational and executive had executed in our constituencies. became governor. heat up the polity that we are not rubberThese are various ways by which we execute That has made our job easy, since we are also stamp? I beg to disagree. our oversight functions. here for the development of the state.

Some people see states creation as mere poliWe thank God for Governor Ibrahim Shema, There is need to have focused and prudent lead- because there are really few states that are tics, as some of the existing ones are not ecoership in anything we do, whether in states or the functioning the way we are doing here. This is nomically viable? federation, as it makes transformation easy.

To me, states creation has more advantages because majority of the budget estimates are This state is presently the way it is because we than disadvantages. Unfortunately, we don’t things that are implementable and that is why have a leader who knows that governance is not a it is easier here to implement the budget, the have leaders who are accommodating enough. tea party; who knows that it is about the destiny contents of which originate from the people If we do, there won’t be agitation for more and commonwealth of the people. states. themselves.

If you are not prudent and focused, one cannot Everybody needs to be represented, however There is something we called CDC, initiated have the kind of development we are witnessing by the governor, which is represented by the small the group may be. Some of our leaders, in the state presently. who are opportuned to lead us, concentrate entire state. It is a combination of the repreIt is only in this state that we don’t differentiate sentatives of the local governments, traditiondevelopment only within a particular tribe or which tribe you are, as we believe we are all section. al rulers, commissioners and youths represen- Gwajo Nigerians.

Of course, such kind of treatment can only tatives.

Also, we are one of the few states whose legislaThe essence is to generate their own wants 40 per cent mobilisation immediately and on divide the people, but this state is different. Be tive arm enjoys full financial autonomy, just like and needs and present it to the state governrest assured that if the governor gets three cars, completion of the job, without knowing the the judiciary. And when you have financial auton- ment, because we discovered that sometimes, governor, commissioner and even seeing for example, it would be given one each to the omy, it makes you more independent. three senatorial districts, as there is no preferthe state may be constructing roads for the them. Once it is been certified, you collect That is why we don’t need to inform the execuential treatment here. locality, while water may be the most imporyour cheque. tive when we are going on any oversight funcI think agitation for more states is essentially tant to them at that time.

This is probably the only state whose treastions.

This is why the state government, led by the ury is very sound, and that is why we are coop- because of injustice of unequal development or Some people believe oversight functions are mere governor, decided that the budget should no development at all. If the leaders are justifyerating with the executive. endorsements of what the executive is doing? ing the resources available to them, I am sure originate from the people, while the state govSince we are here for the good of the people Our own oversight functions are real; our resolu- ernment designs the projects according to there won’t be this kind of agitation for states and the governor is executing projects that tions are sent to the executive and there are really their needs. are beneficial to the people, we don’t have any creation, even if there would be, it won’t be this no resolutions that we have sent to the governor Again, it is only in this state that a contractor option than to support him to give his best to high. that he didn’t give clear understanding and This is in addition to the large size of some would not borrow before executing a job. the people. acceptance.

Given all these, can one say the House is a rub- states and to make for easy governance and Once you have the contract papers, it is as When it comes to the budget, most of our resolu- good as a cheque, because you are paid your bringing government closer to the grassroots. berstamp of the executive?

W

‘PDP Can Win 2014 Governorship Election In Ekiti’ was there on a solidarity visit, and he repeated been given an opportunity in the past and S a governorship aspirant in next year’s elecit again that if it is not Ayo Fayose, the only per- they bundled it.

A tion in Ekiti State on the platform of the Do they think Ekiti people are stupid to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), what edge do you son he can endorse is Abiodun Aluko, to let

From Muyiwa Adeyemi, Ado Ekiti

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 now looking forward to serving to contesting the next year governorship election on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ticket and urged the party to respect its zoning formula.

have over the other aspirants?

On December 19, last year at Ikere-Ekiti, I declared my intention to become the next governor 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 on the field. The point remains that Fayose was my boss and I would still give him all the due 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

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 and have impacted positively on their lives.

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 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.

What are the antecedents of some of those making noise all over the place? They have

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 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 carrier, my character and service have 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.

11

THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, May 25, 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 ‘21’

Overlapping Word Game ‘22’ 1. Culture & Tourism Minister

1. AKINJIDE

2. Oil-producing material in rocks

2. DESTROY

3. Settle into comfortable position

3. YIELD

4. Free time

4. DIVORCE

5. Make vehicle engine go faster

5. CEDE

6. Assorted

6. DEPOSE

7. Removed

7. SELDOM

8. Able to be eaten

8. OMITTED

9. Multitude

9. TEDIOUS

10. Lately

10. USELESS

11. Short personal poems

11. LESSEN

12. Mixture of vegetables

12. NIMBLE

13. Small dry particles

13. LEAD

14. Try hard

14. ADVANCE

15. Machine for powering equipment

15. CENTRE

16. Not far off in space

16. REALITY

17. Late Super Eagles Striker

17. TYPICAL

18. Train

18. ALLOWANCE

19. Reptile with shell 20. City in Oyo State

19. CEREAL

21. Daily period of darkness

20. LANGTANG

22. Item of little value

21. ANGULAR

23. Having three parts

22. LARGESSE

24. Fasting period before Easter

23. SEVERE 24. REST

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

On The Path Of Winners ERSEVERANCE isn’t about talent or time. It is P about finishing whatever is started. Talent gives hope for the accomplishment of your ambition.

But perseverance guarantees your success. Thousands of people have talent, but lack the staying power for the accomplishment of their goals.

No matter how talented you are, there cannot be great success without perseverance and courage. World War I flying bomber, Edward Rickenbacker, said, “I can give you a five-word formula for success, ‘think through then follow through’.”

Many people think things through, but few follow through. If you desire to succeed, then understand these about perseverance.

One, perseverance means you are determined to succeed, not destined to succeed. The difference between great people and others isn’t lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge but rather a lack of determination. You can find this determination in great people everywhere and in every age. Hannibal, the black Carthaginian general who fought the Romans in the Second Punic War, asserted, “We will either find a way or make one”.

He went on to lead a campaign that took him over the Alps to defeat the Roman Empire.

Two, perseverance recognizes that life isn’t a long race, but a series of little daily victories.

Three, perseverance gains you your life’s rewards.

Walt Disney’s request for loan was rejected by 301 banks before he finally got a “yes”. The loan he received enabled him build Disneyland, the first and most famous theme park in History. Many life’s failures are those who did not realize how close they were to success, when they gave up.

Four, perseverance draws a sweetness from adversity. Confronted by adversity, many gave up while others rose up. The winners succeeded through perseverance. Winning over adversity makes you wiser than ever. Five, perseverance compounds your gains. Going beyond your limits is the secret of lasting success.

Doing this takes relentless perseverance, with success rebounding over time. Six, perseverance means never stopping until the task is done. Success is like wrestling, you don’t quit when you are tired, you quit when the task is done. Fatigue and discouragement are no signals to quit; they’re signs to draw on your reserves. Seven, perseverance demands all you have. It doesn’t demand more than you can give. But perseverance means more than trying, it is an investment in the future.

How Perseverance Sustains Your Ambition Besides, perseverance is an attitude of tenacity of purpose. All you need to win is to be persistent and consistent. Then you can win the trust of your fellow travellers.

Eight, failure is caused by the wrong belief that success is a destination. Complacency takes root when you feel good about your present success. It is ironic that past success can be the enemy to future success.

Nine, make resiliency your way of life. Harvard Professor of Psychiatry, George Valiant, in his book, “Aging Well”, identifies resiliency as a characteristic of successful people who live to old age. He writes: “resilience reflects individuals who resemble a twig with a fresh, green living core, when twisted out of shape, such a twig bends, but it does not break. Instead it springs back and continues growing.” This is a good description of how you must be if you desire to conquer adversity and make the most of your talent. You cannot be a champion if you only work on the days when you feel good.

Ten, lack of vision is an enemy of success. Everything created is actually created twice.

First, it is created mentally, then is created physically. The first vista of creation comes from Vision.

Champions always keep a larger vision in mind as they toil away at their profession. They see in their minds’ eyes what they want to be and they keep working at it.

Besides, you need courage to persevere; your never leaving the familiar may mean that you are comfortable. But your willingness to let go of the familiar means you are courageous. American historian, James Robinson, asserted, “Greatness is largely due to bravery, courage in escaping from old ideas, old standards and respectable ways of doing things.”

Our situations are not made by circumstances. We can define our circumstances by actions. You must be willing to give up all you have in order to become all you can be. Italian actress, Sophia Loren,

once observed, “getting ahead in a difficult profession requires avid faith in yourself. That is why people with mediocre talent, but with inner drive, go much farther than people with vastly superior talent.” The opposite of courage isn’t cowardice, it is conformity. It is not enough to believe in something, you must live for something. A belief is something you argue about but a conviction is something you die for. You cannot really live unless you have something you are willing to die for.

General Omar Bradley remarked, “Bravery is the capacity to perform properly even when scared half to death. “And the famed World War II commander, General George Patton said, “Courage is fear holding on a minute longer.” The difference between hero and coward is one step ahead.

When it comes to relationships, there are three ways of dealing with others. The low road, where we treat others worse than they treat us.

The middle road, where we treat others the same way they treat us. And the high road, where we treat others better than they treat us. The low road damages relationships and alienates others from us. The middle road may not drive people away, but it doesn’t attract them to us. However, the high road creates positive relationships with others and attracts people to us even in the midst of conflict.

Taking the high road requires two things – courage and forgiveness. Courage allows us to turn the other cheek and treat people well while they treat us badly. But you can only muster courage by relying on forgiveness. When we keep score of wrongs committed against us, we reveal a lack of maturity. You cannot succeed in isolation. Becoming your best requires the help of others. When you take the high road with others, you attract helpers to yourself and you put yourself in a position to help others as well.

To become a leader in the modern world, you have to be an innovator. That keeps

Chester Arthur you ahead of the crowd which makes you an easy target. Adversity will always be the partner of progress, so fight on in spite of opposition.

Our champion today is Chester Arthur, the 21st president of the United States. Dignified and handsome, Chester Arthur looked like a president.

The son of a pastor who had emigrated from Northern Ireland, he was born in Fairfield, Vermont in 1829. He graduated from Union College in 1848, became a teacher, was called to the bar as an utter barrister. He practiced law in New York City, served as Quartermaster General of the state of New York during the civil war.

In 1871, President Ullyses Grant appointed him Collector of the port of New York.

Arthur effectively marshalled his thousand Customs employees on behalf of Roscoe Conklings’s Stalwart Republicans.

Honourable in his personal life, Arthur however was a firm believer in the spoils system.

He staffed his Customs House with party workers rather than civil servants. In 1878, President Rutherford Hayes, intent on reforming the Customs House, ousted Arthur. Conkling and his followers then fought for redress by fighting for the renomination of President Grant. For party unity, Arthur was chosen as vice President to James Garfield.

THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, May 25, 2013

12

POLITICS

‘I See Trouble Ahead’

Ayodele

Primate Elijah Babatunde Ayodele, founder of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church in Lagos, spoke to DEBO OLADIMEJI on the need for President Goodluck Jonathan to seek the face of God to avert further bloodshed in the country, among others.

AN the state of emergency in three northern C states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe bring an end to the Boko Haram insurgency?

The state of emergency has been foretold earlier before now. I am not granting this interview to criticise any government; I pray for the progress of the government, because we want peace in this country.

But the government is not taking the right direction. The amnesty for Boko Haram members is the greatest mistake President Goodluck Jonathan would make. The moment he does that, this government will be weak.

He shouldn’t grant them amnesty; they will go at the appropriate time, as they are going to be weakened.

All we are talking about now is for the President to seek God’s direction, instead of more of human direction.

The issue of state of emergency is not the solution; al-Qaeda is already in the country and there are still problem ahead. State of emergency is not the solution. He should not have declared the state of emergency; there are lots of ways to handle it. Insurgents are everywhere now, even in the southwest.

How should they tackle it?

That is the reason the President has to seek the face of God. I have giving him several solutions.

He is going to sack some of his ministers any moment from now, but who are the people that he is going to put there? Has he consulted God? He believes more in the power of human beings than God. Two, he had to really do something, because some of the people that killed former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua spiritually are still in his cabinet and are the people that wanted to kill his wife.

There is going to be problem between the President and the governors, who are going to

break into three to fight Jonathan’s government.

He should quickly go into total reconciliation and prays to avert impending dangers in his government.

I see confusion in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as well.

Everywhere, Nigeria needs serious prayers and to seek the face of God. Jonathan has to be very careful, because there will be a lot of changes in the Villa. He must also pray for protection of his life, so that nothing happens to him, because they want to bomb his aircraft.

Jonathan should not get involved in any occultism. Nigeria is being ruled by darkness.

Nigerians should pray for the Governor of Cross River State, Liyel Imoke, and the Governor of Enugu State, Sullivan Chime for protection, and as well as the First Lady of Nigeria.

I still foresee death among the governors. I foresee misunderstanding, breakage, insincerity and betrayal among them. Some of the big dignitaries will be disappointed and some of those who want to become governor will not.

Some prominent politicians are going to pass away.

If Buhari contests the Presidency in 2015, he would be wasting that ticket. I see the formation of a new party, apart from what we have on ground, which would tackle the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). PDP is in trouble.

The President will have some political miscalculations, which will also cause problems for the National Chairman of PDP, Bamanga Tukur, who will face many challenges.

There will be a lot of misconception in PDP. The All Progressive Congress (APC) is not a major opponent, because liars are part of APC. The main opposition will come up to fight PDP, except they don’t register new parties.

If Jonathan wins the second term, it is going to be a very slim and shaky victory. He should seek the face of God and not go by what people say to deceive him.

He should find solutions to Nigeria’s problems, otherwise Nigeria will be disintegrated into six geographical parts and six nations will come out of Nigeria. The issue of presidential pardon for Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha and amnesty for Boko Haram shouldn’t have come up this particular time.

We need prayers for the coming elections in Anambra, Osun and other states.

There is so much bloodshed in the country and

we need to pray against it. Concerning the corruption aspects of it, Jonathan cannot fight corruption. No way!

Do you think Jonathan should run in 2015?

He should seek the face of God and should not listen to the voice of man.

Do you have any fear concerning the government?

I see the House of Representatives in disarray, because Speaker Aminu Tambuwal will be pushed into what will cause trouble for him and will be betrayed at the end.

He will face some political challenges and at the last minute, they will rubbish him. Some House members will face challenges of corruption and will set some other up.

I can tell you that not all these big men want Tambuwal to be there, so there is going to be a lot of challenges for him. He must be very careful, because they will want to plot against his political aspirations.

I don’t see this House making any serious impact. Let us pray that we don’t see an accident involving the Speaker. Let us pray that we don’t lose any of the Emirs.

What is the implication of volatile statements by politicians on the 2015 election?

We are moving towards disintegration; all these volatile statements should tell you that Nigeria is not one anymore.

God is telling me that we should pray, so that the situation will not lead into further bloodshed.

Do you foresee a resurgence of crisis in the Niger Delta?

The government of the day must be very careful, so that it will not lead Nigeria into disintegration. There are lots of things that the government of the day has to do at this moment, be it constitutional review or whatever.

I foresee controversial bills coming up in the National Assembly and both chambers must be very careful about this.

The government of Jonathan will not see peace until he seeks the face of God. How far can the committee set up on amnesty for Boko Haram members go?

It is a waste of time and energy. Another splinter sect will come up after the amnesty. That is why I am warning this government to forget about amnesty.

How would the cleansing you are talking about happen?

I foresee a revolution in this country, if Jonathan does not do as directed.

‘I Support Autonomy Of The Local Governments’ Eddie Mbadiwe, representing Ideato North/South Federal Constituency of Imo State in the House of Representatives on the platform of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and Deputy Chairman of House Committee on National Security, Intelligence and Public Safety, spoke to NKECHI ONYEDIKA in Abuja on security challenges in the country, state of emergency recently declared in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states, the APGA crisis and Igbo presidency, among others.

S leader of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the A House, how do you feel about the current crisis rocking your party?

I am worried about the crisis, because All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), by philosophy, is a progressive party. The crisis is very bad for our party and our people, but I believe that with time, this crisis will be resolved.

People shouldn’t believe that they are right all the time; they need to make concession at times, because at the end of the day, society is bigger than any of us. We should be thinking of what is best for our community and our people, which we are not doing that at the moment.

I came from England to run for this election. I would have joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), but I believed PDP could not move this country forward, because there is no philosophy.

This is not what politics is all about. Politics is about service to society, but PDP is a party where people are only after what they can get from the system.

That is why I support the merger of some of the opposition parties to form the All Progressives Congress (APC). I am not saying they are different human beings, they are the same Nigerians, but let us have some different philosophy that defines where we are going.

PDP doesn’t know where they are going, but APC will give more stability to this country.

There are too many political parties in Nigeria. To have any meaningful opposition, the other parties have to merge to have

a more formidable platform to go for power.

The way they are fragmented at the moment, they can never get power. So, the merger is good for the country.

But your party has dissociated itself from the merger. So, which APGA do you now belong to?

There are factions in APGA at the moment. There is the faction led by Anambra State Governor Peter Obi that does not believe in the merger. Our national chairman made a statement that APGA will not surrender its certificate, which means that they are not ready to merge.

There is Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, who believes in APC and held a rally recently to say APGA in Imo or APGA Rochas is now APC. I am with my governor. If Ojukwu had not died, there wouldn’t have been this split in APGA. The major cause of the split is the fact that Ojukwu, who had been the rallying point, is dead.

If he were alive, I am sure APGA in the next election would have gotten about four states and that would have given us a leverage to grow.

But as the party is at the moment, if I tell you that APGA will win Anambra election, I am not being realistic, because you must unite first to be able to win.

So, the crisis is very bad for our people.

How would you assess the APGA government in Imo? It is doing very well. I travelled home some weeks ago and the road infrastructure being put in place is wonderful.

But the government needs to publicise what it is doing.

Non-conduct of council polls and lack of internal democracy in the political parties remain a bane of our democracy. What do you think is responsible for this?

There is no internal democracy in all the political parties in the country, and it is a major problem that must be addressed.

Local government election in Nigeria is a charade, as each governor wins all the seats, which ideally is not possible.

That is why I am appealing to the National Assembly to have the courage to domicile all the elections in the Independent national Electoral Commission (INEC).

The State Electoral Commission (SIECs) should be scrapped, because it is a waste of time and resources. All they are doing is what the governors ask them to do, so they should be complete-

Mbadiwe ly dissolved.

We cannot grow, as a country, if people have no confidence in the electoral process. We need to muster courage to address this fundamental issue by scrapping all the SIECs and put all elections under INEC. I am not saying that INEC is an angel, but its performance in the last elections was more credible than it used to be, and it is getting better and I believe it will be better in future elections.

Do you support autonomy for local governments in the country?

I support autonomy of the local governments, but it has its merit and demerits. Granting them autonomy may make the federal government too strong and defeat the federal structure we have. The federal government may use the local government to subvert the state.

It is an issue that has to be looked into critically, but there is need for the local governments to have direct allocation, because in some states, the governor seizes the money and gives them what he feels like giving them.

THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, May 25, 2013

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THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, May 25, 2013

ISSUES&POLITICS

Atunluse: Ibadan celebrates its reformer

By Festus Adedayo ANY people have sought to understand M why Abiola Ajimobi, a man who had turned down several chieftaincy titles from many respected monarchs, would accept the conferment of the Aare Atunluse of Ibadanland on him by the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Samuel Odulana, Odugade 1. For a man who had, from inception, believed that such conferment often interferes with the smooth running of government, many atimes constituting a stumbling block on the way of good governance, why would he accept this chieftaincy title? Or put differently, how different is this from the rejected titles?

To understand why the Governor of Oyo State accepted the offer, you would need to take a shuttle into the unprecedented inroad he has made in the renewal of the city of Ibadan, the state capital, in the last two years. Inheriting an unplanned, widely considered dirtiest city in Nigeria as the state capital, Ajimobi expressed his plan from the outset to change the typecast of filth heaped on his kindred and the city of birth. So he embarked on an aggressive urban renewal and city beautification exercise that has left most skeptics stupefied about its transformation.

Themselves arrested by this transformation of the city and the unprecedented infrastructural revolution happening in the state, the opposition had sought to, not only belittle the efforts but cast aspersion on its raison-deter. Not only that, a leading light of this tar-brush-him politics and former governor of the state, had sought to hit Ajimobi’s head against the revered monarch of Ibadan by appealing to base and primordial sentiments, insinuating that the Olubadan was not happy with his son, the governor.

How does Ajimobi tell the world that this is not true? How does he verbalize his respect and appreciation for a king who, in spite of the gang-ups of the Sadducees and Pharisees who constitute the opposition parties of Oyo State,

has overtly and covertly given kudos to the governor for a job well done? More fundamentally, how does Ajimobi tell the world without saying anything that these mudsling-him politicians, a kingpin among them himself a high-ranking Olubadan chief, have no consent of the revered monarch in their campaign of hate and calumny? How does he tell the world that as is his wont, the former governor had embarked on another journey to dreamland?

Being a human being composed of flesh and blood, how does Ajimobi receive feedback from an apparently appreciative Ibadan people whom the opposition had lied was unappreciative of the turn-around of their city from that of filth to a proper metropole?

If one can access the mind of the governor by telepathy, the need to answer the above questions must be the reasons for his accepting the offer of the highly respected monarch who has chosen to make him the Aare Atunluse (City Reformer) and his wife, Florence, Yeye Atunluse of Ibadanland.

But why would Kabiyesi make Ajimobi a City Reformer? Telepathy, again, would be our resort. Ibadan had courted a notorious renown as a very dirty and unplanned city. Visitors and residents of the state capital were besieged by a daily ritual of disregard for aesthetics in building of houses, mounting mountains of debris and a haphazard culture of street trading and erection of kiosks by the roadside. These all contributed to the unfavorable image of a dirty city that Ibadan had. These were further worsened by a culture of impunity that had grown hydraheaded over the years which was superintended over by many residents most of whom are not indigenes of the capital city.

Areas in the state capital like Beere, Oje, Iwo Road, Challenge, Dugbe, Ring Road, Sabo Suya Spot and many others, pre-May 2011, looked like mangers. Kioks and stalls littered the roadsides, many of them competing for space with asphalted road paths. And nobody seemed to be bothered. Because it was becoming a culture,

it had dug deep into the people’s skins like leeches. It was apparent that anyone who attempted to rewrite this trend would court the people’s wrath.

To be fair to the last two Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors, they were not the harbingers of this unfortunate renown. They inherited it. Their only blame was that they lacked the vision to rebuild a house of debris into a palatial mansion, the kind of vision that gave birth to the current Ajimobi acclaim.

Please permit this revelation of state secret: When he first began the yeo-man campaign to beautify Ibadan, many of his executive council members were far from Ajimobi’s page. They thought he would be frightened off this against-method policy the moment he was confronted by decades-old filth establishment. And off Ajimobi went. True to their prediction, the establishment resisted it. One popular musician who built a magnificent complex on a setback was quoted to have confided in some people that no government would ever think of dualizing the complex’s road, not to talk of identifying its structural err. It took the Ajimobi government’s human kindness to meander an ongoing dualization of this same road from consuming the edifice.

Today, the hitherto mentioned filth hot-spots in Ibadan are as clean as London’s St. Charingcross. A culture of order now pervades Ibadan and obedience to Ajimobi’s evangelism of cleanliness seems the beginning of wisdom.

Many elite who commend the governor today were themselves afraid when the painful revolution began. Many executive council members, who, like the biblical Peter, denied their Principal at inception, now preen themselves in identification with one of the most revolutionary governments in Oyo State history. This is why many who once lived in Ibadan and have the opportunity of visiting the city again go back with the testimony of a revitalization of a rejected city of filth. Indigenes of the city, who had endured years of denigration, today thump

Ajimobi their chests that they hail from that reformed city.

The Olubadan, being the father of the people, and who collates different views of his populace on a daily basis, could thus not close his eyes to this uncommon transformation. As such, the conferment of Atunluse title on this uncommon reformer. As the traditional Akoko leaves are being stuck to Ajimobi and his wife’s ears, let us all hail the man who upturned the biblical observation that a prophet has no honour among his own people. *Adedayo, PhD, is Special Adviser (Media) to Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State.

Re: In Defence Of My Name And APCON

By Adekunle Jacobs AST week, I stumbled across a publication entitled ‘In Defence of My Name and APCON’ by Mr. Lolu Akinwunmi, the Chief Executive Officer of Prima Garnet and out-going Chairman of the Advertising Practitioners’ Council of Nigeria (APCON) in major dailies, mostly published on Tuesday 21 May 2013.

Even though the piece was addressed to friends, family members, clients, prospects, business associates, government officials and security agents, I could not, as a passerby and keen watcher of the media and advertising industry, avoid getting interested in the issues.

I understand that one of the betterknown telecommunication companies, Airtel Nigeria to be specific, has been embroiled in a dispute with Mr. Akinwunmi’s business interest.

Specifically, Airtel Africa allegedly terminated an agreement it had with Prima Garnet’s affiliate, Ogilvy Africa. Akinwunmi Juwah It is further alleged that Prima Garnet, maintain status quo’.

Is it an injuncThe second interest involved is that of rather than sue that group company has decided to take it out on the local tion, two injunctions or an order of the telecom company. It is definitely, telecom company perhaps due to his status quo? Is it possible to have two in the long term, at the receiving end as its voice in the media has been greatlarger than life he wields in the adver- injunctions on the same matter?

The second question flows from the ly stifled. Currently, it is alleged from tising industry. Part of the allegations statement ‘the grand plan is to frusmedia sources that Airtel cannot in the media is that the telecom company took the view that Lolu trate the last few months of my tenure advertise freely due to these restricAkinwunmi, being the MD of Prima as APCON Chairman, slime and dis- tions. Did the court really restrain it Garnet as well as being the Chairman credit me…and get the government from advertising or is this an overof APCON is using his good office to to remove me from this position…’ Is eager extension of court orders? frustrate any attempt by this telecom this about Lolu Akinwunmi’s image, Should APCON be more discerning? company to place any advert in the businesses or about APCON? Whose Another factor in all of this is Mr. interest is better served in this contro- Akinwunmi’s interest(s). A lot of quesNigeria media. tions have been raised regarding the I suppose ‘In Defence of My Name and versy?

APCON’ is meant to address the allega- APCON, to me, is definitely not having relationships in question. First, the tions; although the piece left me with its interest served. Based on Mr. relationship between Ogilvy and more questions afterwards than Akinwunmi’s commentary, APCON Prima Garnet (Mr. Akinwunmi’s combefore regarding the truth and issues has been alleged as partisan or at best pany), I am led to understand that the doing Mr. Akinwunmi’s bidding. clients Ogilvy introduces to Prima even from Akinwunmi’s perspective.

My first question might sound mun- Interestingly, no member of the Garnet would be free to engage addidane but I need some clarifications APCON council has spoken up so that tional agencies or even choose not to here. Mr. Akinwunmi says there are we can tell the real thinking of APCON. work with Prima Garnet. two injunctions and further says in Are they reluctant travelers being Specifically, is it true that Ogilvy (the the closing part of his advertorial that dragged along in awe of the telecom company’s contracting partner) has in its affiliation agreement the court ‘ordered that all parties Chairman?

L

with Prima Garnet, stipulation as follows: Ogilvy agrees to introduce to Prima Garnet, those Ogilvy Clients that indicate an interest in having local agency representation in Nigeria, although it is understood and agreed that such referred Ogilvy Client may, at their absolute discretion, choose not to engage Prima Garnet and/or to engage another agency within Nigeria If the above is a correct provision in the affiliation agreement, can Mr. Akinwunmi give the complete story including why it is blocking STB McCann from acting as agency alongside Prima Garnet for Airtel? Did Mr. Akinwunmi make this provision known to APCON or did APCON willfully disregard it?

Still on Mr. Akinwunmi’s interests in the matter, is it true that Ogilvy, the senior affiliate of Prima Garnet, agreed in its contract that: ‘Ogilvy Africa and Prima Garnet (affiliate agencies) who are directly involved in the day

to day management of the telecom company’s account, agree and undertake that they shall not directly or indirectly, offer any services same or similar to that being provided under this Agreement during the term of this Agreement to any entity, person or company, engaged or providing same or similar product/services as provided by the telecom company.’

If this is true, is it correct that Mr. Akinwunmi owns substantial interest in 141 Worldwide which provides advert agency services to another major telecom company in Nigeria which continues running its adverts and businesses whilst APCON, headed by Lolu Akinwunmi, clamps down on Airtel adverts??

Is APCON aware of this? Or would Mr. Akinwunmi supplement his advertorial and give a complete story; and perhaps correct the heading of the piece to read, ‘IN DEFENCE OF MY NAME AND BUSINESS’.

Nigerian businessmen are very interesting people. There’s this rather emerging but unfortunate tendency to whip up xenophobic sentiments, whenever their interests clash with those of their foreign associates.

While I wouldn’t tolerate any foreign investor trampling upon a Nigerian affiliate, by the same token, I wouldn’t tolerate a Nigerian company scaring away foreign investors.

I believe there are elders in the Advertising industry, who can conveniently wade into this festering crisis and resolve it amicably, because at the end of the day, everybody is a loser if the matter remains unresolved.

Both Mr. Lolu Akinwunmi, the Prima Garnet cum APCON boss, and Mr. Segun Ogunsanya, the new CEO of Airtel Nigeria, are young, brilliant Nigerians, whose maturity and leadership are being called to question here. I call on both of them to get off their high horses and jaw-jaw instead of war-war.

Jacobs contributed this piece from Lagos.

TheGuardian

Saturday, May 25, 2013 17

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Love&Life

... Celebrating The Feelings You Share!

With Michael Uchebuaku

Princess

IN THIS EDITION

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True Confession:

Of

‘My Married Lover Wants A Goodbye Quickie, But I Want So Much More!’

‘What I Learnt After My Wife Left Me’

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CONTINUED ON PAGE 18

‘What I Learnt After My Wife Left Me’ IFE can be so horrible at times, but everyLI carry thing happens for a reason. That is the belief and probably most of you as well. It’s that belief in life we learn from and try to come to terms with events and situations to offer ourselves peace and hope.

With the exception of death and taxes, horrible situations can be avoided if we see the little things that ultimately lead up to the big thing.

My story is a perfect example of a horrible situation that could have been avoided if I only saw the little things.

Growing up I had the misfortune of learning to adapt to many different fathers in my life. My mother (God rest her) worked day and night to support our large family. What gave her comfort was always having a man around, which ultimately ended in a contentious divorce with all of us kids witnessing this from the front row.

One thing I did observe during all of this turmoil was how it could have been prevented. My

Love Adventure little mind saw every grim detail that led to the demise of my mother’s marriages. I knew (or at least I thought I did) I was to use that knowledge for the person I would eventually marry. I only wanted to do it once and use my experiences as a template for what not to do and create the ultimate family life of stability, but I was wrong.

My wife of almost 20 years has left and the situations of my mother’s past had nothing to do with this sad scenario. Most important, it was the little things I missed that turned her away.

Granted, this situation is never one-sided. It takes two to make a marriage work or fail, but the man is considered by most the leader of the household. In other words, family members feed off his happiness or unhappiness

and use that emotion as the foundation.

Women are different. Most keep quiet with their emotions, wants and needs until ultimately things blow up and the slow downfall begins.

My soon-to-be ex-wife is a perfect example of a woman who tried to please and only needed the little things to make her happy. Most important, she wanted me to listen, but I didn’t. All the signs were given to me, but in my mind, I thought it didn’t matter enough to consider as I worked constantly thinking I was doing the right thing.

This progression soon turned to bitterness and resentment as my wife finally gave up. I begged and pleaded realizing my mistakes, but it was too late. Someone else has come into her life and offered her what she wants and

needs.

Is this a rebound on her part? Perhaps. Is this just a fill-in from a woman who begged for time and an ear to listen? Indeed so. The scenarios are endless, but simple little things could have been provided to avoid this lifealtering event.

Simple communication on each other’s wants and needs are the key that could have saved this and probably millions of marriages as well. You could love each other to death, but if one person is crying out and the other is not listening, the results over time are devastating.

Unfortunately, there is a flock of listeners just waiting in the wings to scoop up individuals like my wife and offer the world.

By Jerry Maldonado.

Culled from: www.dailycaller.com *Do you have an amazing or adventurous love experience to share? Tell us how you met. Email your story to: ireto007@yahoo.com. Call

THe GUARDIAN, Saturday, May 25, 2013

18 |

LOVe&LIFe Romantic Jokes

‘My Married Lover Wants A Goodbye Quickie But I Want So Much More!’

In A Courtroom Dear Love Doctor, ’M 19 and he’s 30 years older than N a courtroom, a lawyer called his I me. We both work for a superstore.

Ielderly first witness who happens to be an He’s sexy and fun to be with but he’s woman to the stand. He went to her and asked, “Ma’am, do you know me?”

She responded, “Why, yes I do know you Mr. Pollus. I’ve known you since you were a young boy, and to be frank, you have been a big disappointment to your parents and to the society.

“You are a liar, you cheat people including your wife, and you manipulate people and talk about them behind their backs. You think you are a big man when you don’t even have brains. Yes, I know you!”

The lawyer was stunned! Not knowing what else to do, he pointed across the room and asked, “Ma’am, do you know the defence lawyer?”

She replied, “Yes, I do. I have known Mr. Gideon since he was a young boy too. He has been your very good friend since childhood because the two of you have the same character. He has also been a very lazy man and he has a drinking problem. In fact, he is a criminal and can’t even build a normal relationship with anyone and his law practice is one of the worst in the entire state. Not to mention that he cheated on his wife with three different women, one of them your wife. Yes, I know him.

The defence lawyer almost fainted.

The Judge called both lawyers to his table and in a very quiet voice, said, “If any of you idiots asks her if she knows me, I’ll make sure you lose your license.”

Words Of Wisdom Appearances can be deceiving.

The real beauty is inward.

Love Dictionary

What Is Sex Selection ex selection is the attempt to conSachieve trol the sex of the offspring to a desired sex. It can be accomplished in several ways, both pre- and post-implantation of an embryo, as well as at birth. It has been marketed under the title family balancing.

Preference for sex of child In many cultures, male offspring are desired in order to inherit property, carry on family name, to provide support for parents in old age.

In countries such as India, China and Nepal sons have been favored over daughters.

According to a 2011 Gallup poll, American parents favor boys by a 40% to 28% margin. The results were similar to a survey in 1941, when Americans preferred a boy to a girl by a 38% to 24% margin. The overall preference was driven by men, of whom 49% preferred a son compared to 22% who preferred a daughter. Men’s preference for sons was most pronounced among men aged 18 to 29. Women, on the other hand, showed no preference for either sex, with 33% stating that they preferred a girl and 31% responding that they favored a boy. evidence suggests couples in the United Kingdom tend to pick sons and daughters in roughly even numbers.

A 2009 study at the University of Ulster found that having sisters, as compared to brothers, can enhance the quality of life of an adult.

Post-birth Sex-selective infanticide (killing children of the unwanted sex) Though illegal in most parts of the world, it is still practiced.

Sex-selective child abandonment Abandoning children of the unwanted sex Though illegal in most parts of the world, it is still practiced.

Sex-selective adoption - Placing children of the unwanted sex up for adoption Less commonly viewed as a method of social sex selection, adoption affords families that have a gender preference a legal means of choosing offspring of a particular sex.

Source: en.wikipedia.org.

married with two little kids.

It all started off with us having lunch together and a bit of harmless flirting, then it got serious. One night we had to stay back late and ended up having sex inside the store.

I knew I’d get fired if anyone knew what we were up to but he said he loved me and made me feel I was special to him. It seemed worth the risk at the time. even so, I was almost relieved when he got transferred to another branch. He didn’t call for a week but

True Confession

can’t talk to anyone at work because they’d go straight to the boss.

then sent a text to say he wanted what he called goodbye sex with me.

I knew that he just wanted a quickie with me but I want so much more. I want him to want me for keeps, to leave his wife and his home and go steady with me, but he says that can’t happen because of his kids.

He’s demanding I meet him or he’ll tell the boss what we did. I told him that I’d tell his wife but he said that she wouldn’t believe me.

I’m so scared of losing my job. I cry myself to sleep at night and I can’t concentrate on my work in the day. I

Advice: There is a lot you can do to start to feel better. Start by telling that irresponsible man “No deal”, and no more sex. Don’t worry, he won’t tell your boss - he’s got too much to lose.

Thank goodness he’s been moved to another branch.

He won’t leave his wife either, and it’s lucky for you that he won’t. Could you really trust a man who could cheat on his family like this?

Next time, don’t sell yourself so cheaply and don’t let anyone use you.

Don’t get drawn into having sex

unless you feel cherished and loved by someone who’s giving his all to the relationship. That is the best way to find the right partner for you.

Your say: Do you have advice on this problem? Please share your thoughts. Call 07031028714 or 08131161840. *Send your comments/stories to Love Doctor. e-mail: ireto007@yahoo.com If you’re in a crisis, call 07031028714, 08131161840 or 08023700641. For free marriage/relationships counseling, call Love Doctor Mike 07031028714, 08023700641 or Chris 08023913619.

Visit www.romancestory.org

TRUE CONFESSION FROM ABROAD I had an arranged marriage in 2004. It was a marriage where my mum chose my husband for me and I was just expected to turn up for the wedding.

Y mum had been very hard on M me throughout my life and I wanted her to love me - I wanted her approval so badly. So thinking that it would make her finally approve of me, I agreed to the arranged marriage.

It has been almost six years. No one except my husband and I know why I still do not have a baby yet. The truth is my marriage remains unconsummated.

Being strangers, my husband and I were never able to feel that type of passion for each other. We have grown to love each other as a brother and a sister and are very loyal to each other.

To the outside world, we successfully pass off as a normal husband and wife. But of course we are struggling to have a baby, albeit for different reasons than most couples in this awful predicament of a childless marriage.

Due to the fact that we do not have an actual marriage, we are forced to go to fertility clinics to find an artificial way to have a baby. I find it heartbreaking to go through the treatments, knowing that if my life had turned out differently all this may not be necessary and I could be enjoying trying for a baby the natural

‘A Marriage

By Name’

way.

I come from a family where divorces are not allowed and are frowned upon.

I have kept all this pain in my heart and I struggle to sleep at night. I yearn for a baby and the love of a child. even more, I yearn for a ‘real’ husband. One who can touch me and make me feel loved in a passionate way.

But I have grown to accept the brother that I found in return for the arranged marriage.

My mother does not know how she has ruined my life. I would never want her to know the truth. What makes it worse is that I still live without my mother’s approval today – oh the bitter irony!

Being young, I sacrificed myself, trying to make others happy. By the time I realised my mistake, it was too late.

I love my husband like a sibling and a friend but sometimes when I watch romantic movies, my eyes fill up with tears. If only my life could

have been real like other couples.

I am slowly learning to love myself, but sometimes I smile on the outside but cry so deeply within me.

Names have been changed.

Picture posed by models.

Your say: Have your say about this true confession...

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Chizzy, 28, graduate, in Ph, wants a sugar mummy in PH or Owerri.

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Be warned!

Love Connection CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17 needs a HIV Positive man of 33-38 years for marriage. 08140670746.

Doris, 32, graduate, from Anambra, HIV Positive, needs a Godly employed guy for marriage.

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Jennifer, 21, in Lagos, needs a capable man to assist her in her studies. 07014082621.

Tayo, 41, dark, Yoruba, graduate, in Lagos, needs a mature, responsible man of 40-50 years for marriage. 08036444506.

Angelica, 29, in Jos, needs a man of 34-45 years. 08059597678.

Jovita, 28, needs a responsible man for marriage. 07039756263.

Men Looking For Relationship/Marriage ekene, 44, businessman, from enugu, in Lagos, needs a woman of 30-35 years for marriage.

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Mike, 43, a consultant, from Imo, in Lagos, wants a lady not more than 30 years for friendship.

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Oke, 40, 5.10ft, in Lagos, property developer/contractor, needs a graduate, working, Christian lady of 25-35 years for a serious relationship. 08186531672, 08136688353.

Michael, 35, from Akure, a virgin, civil servant, needs a virgin, fair, graduate, working girl of 2025years in Akure, Ondo state, for marriage. 08177563030.

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THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, May 25, 2013

| 19

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

LOVE&LIFE HIS is the only known virgin forest T in Nigeria. It is located in Anambra State, Southeast Nigeria. It

Ikenga Virgin Forest: Where Cultivation is Forbidden!

Love News

‘One Hundred Orgasms A Day Left Me In Agony’

could do. I just had to bite my lip and sit on my hands and hope no one noticed.”

While some people might cry jealousy, the 44-year-old suffers up to 100 orgasms a day Ramsey insists the continuous climaxes leave thanks to a condition called Persistent Genital her exhausted, in pain and unable to hold down a relationship.

Arousal Disorder (PGAD).

“Other women wonder how to have an Ramsey’s orgasms are triggered by slight orgasm –– I wonder how to stop mine,” she pelvic movements –– she’s experienced them on public transport, doing her housework and said.

Doctors believe the incurable syndrome was driving a car. caused by an accident in 2001 when she fell “I’ve even had one in public,” she told the down some stairs. This may have led to a UK’s The Sun. “I was travelling home on the train and it was Tarlov cyst on her spine, which compressed a bit of a bumpy ride. Every jerk of the train or her nerves and led to sexual dysfunction. vibration made me more aroused and it was a Ramsey first became aware of her problem in 2008 after she had sex with a new boyfriend.

40-minute journey so there was nothing I “I had constant orgasms for four days,” she recalled.

“I thought I was going mad. We tried everything to make it stop. Squats, deep breathing, I even sat on frozen peas but the orgasms and sexual arousal continued for 36 hours –– I must have had around 200 orgasms during that period. The pain and exhaustion was excruciating.”

PGAD symptoms might be similar to arousal, but experts say they don’t relate to sexual desire or libido.

According to Sexual Health Australia, there is no known cure, however some women find pelvic massage, medication and sex therapy can help.

It can happen to women of any age but there are no official statistics about its prevalence.

Ramsey, who was originally from Hertfordshire, UK, said she feels she’s lost control of her body.

“Imagine feeling aroused for no reason other than you got up that day,” she said.

“Both women and men just don’t seem to get it –– they seem to think it’s a great thing and, believe me, it’s really not.”

Ramsey will travel to London next month to see an expert.

“At the moment I am able to work,” she said.

“But without the correct treatment this condition can limit my ability to work. I don’t want that. It’s already destroyed my chance of having a relationship.”

Some names have been changed.

CULLED FROM: www.dailymail.co.uk. *If you want to advertize or sponsor Love & Life call 07031028714, 08023700641, 07032944123. come as a shock to many, but there IKimTismight such thing as too many orgasms.

Ramsey from New Jersey would know – –

is a thick forest reserve. Till date, it has neither been cultivated nor its trees cut. It is a typical rainforest composed of tall evergreens, climbers and thick shrubs reputed to be the home of many species of animals that have gone extinct in other parts of the country. At the centre of the forest is a communal shrine presided over by a high priest who protects and ensures that the sanctity of the forest is never compromised.

Oganigwe Masquerade Society Of Ikenga This masquerade group inhabits the interior of the Ikenga virgin forest, under the leadership of the high priest and holds sway within and around it. It acts as the protector of the sacred virgin forest against unauthorized persons entering or tampering with the forest. The Oganigwe has three servant masquerades through which this surveillance is carried out namely: 1. Otokolu masquerade – which is the tallest of all the masquerades.

2. Njeozi masquerade – which acts as the messenger / informant of the Agu Oganigwe.

3. Agu Oganigwe – the protector of the virgin forest, an active force that is never seen by the uninitiated but can be heard. It locally portrays the character of a lion, the king of the forest.

This masquerade group displays only at night, attended by those initiated by rites and rituals into the cult.

The ‘Njeozi’ has a way of recognizing any non-initiate who attempts to intrude and watch their performance.

He reports such to the Otokolu who in turn metes out an appropriate punishment to the defaulter. Women cannot be initiated into this masquerade cult and are forbidden to be seen within the vicinity of the forest whenever Oganigwe appears as it is seen as affront and attracts dare consequences.

Courtesy: http://www.nacd.gov.ng/Anambra_st ate_Tourist_sites.htm *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.

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Premature Ejaculation/Low Sperm Count – Solution Is Here Call 07025350586 Baby Sex/Gender Selection – Decide the sex of your baby (male or female). Call 07025350586, 08122352054, 08131161840 Call Mike on 07031028714, 08131161840 or 08023700641 to link up and for direct hook up. Also call if you have engagement, marriage, wedding, anniversary or birthday announcements to make.

THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, May 25, 2013

20

RELATIONSHIP

How To Enjoy Your Relationship

By Alita Joseph S I write this piece, I am trying to think how A often I hear the words “female species”. But I am not sure that it is a common phrase compared with ‘male species’. So I conclude that it is rarely used.

But for ‘male species’, the men themselves use it often to describe themselves which makes me won-

By Kemi Amushan EING single can be very boring and lonely.

B Every lady has been there at some point in her life and I bet she didn’t really like it —- unless she was taking a breather from a previous relationship. So are you still single and tired of waiting for “The One?” Or maybe you’re married, but marriage isn’t as fun or exciting as you thought it would be? All you need is a trip back to the basics of love and happiness!

A friend of mine, ‘Funke’ told me recently: “Why are men so scared of commitment? Are all men jerks who can’t give up their freedom? Do men really only want sex?” Funke is one of the many frustrated ladies in the world who are approaching their 30’s and still

der if actually, they, the male gender themselves really understand themselves. But what is obvious is that women will continue to find man’s behaviour baffling and difficult to understand. Yet we need each other to make this world a better place and keep it populated.

Women who have some idea of how to get the most from their men are in “relationship heaven”. Here are some ways someone suggests you can live with

him happily.

For a start, do not make any attempt to challenge his independence; he sees it as his prerogative: whether he is married or not, he thinks of himself as a free entity and would only live by his own rules. But that is difficult to accept in a marriage. So once he is with you, make him aware that he is a responsible adult who heads a family. But tread gently, his fierce attempt to maintain his freedom stems from his playful nature, so indulge him, after all, his playful nature is what makes your relationship fun.

But when there is work to do however, the behaviour is no longer funny.

That is When to remind him that he has responsibility as the head of the family.

My uncle was one example. A serious player in the boardroom in his own time, he turned to this mere boy on weekends. On Saturdays, he would have driven in and out of the house three times before breakfast at 8a.m., dressed in jeans and tee-shirt. On the dining table, the wife who always wondered where he went would ask questions and discuss the news. But in a good mood, she would point out that she had loaded the washing machine with his clothes and that of their four children. In a lighter mood, she would inform him, she needed his help with them. With time, he did not want to be told about them. As early as 7am, he had done the washing.

Don’t Shout At Him Talk calmly even when you feel really annoyed with him. When he does something you did not like, do not confront him immediately. If you do, you will shout out of anger. But when you speak in a quiet tone, he understands what he did wrong than when you

are not the problem.

Now are you a frustrated single woman? Or a married one, and you’ve somehow “lost that loving feeling?” Then let me say it again: Most times, it’s not the guys who’s the problem. My advice is always the same: If you want to get married, don’t wait for the proposal before you start acting like a wife. If you want to get married in the future, you’ll have to act like a wife right now! And I’m not talking about pretending to be someone’s wife. I’m talking about being “wife-material”, being the kind of woman that every good God-fearing man out there wants.

So my question to you is, “Are You Wife Matehaven’t found “the one.” And every time they rial?” Now, I know you might be thinking to ask me what they should do about the men yourself that no two women are exactly alike. in their lives, I smile and I try to find the My idea of ‘wife-material’ isn’t the same as anmost polite way to tell them that the guys other woman’s idea of “wife-material.” My answer: It doesn’t matter. Your idea of “wife-material” won’t help you get married. In fact, your idea of “wife-material” might actually be killing your chances at getting married!

Let me say that again: It doesn’t matter what your idea of the term “wife-material” is. What matters is a man’s idea of “wife-material.”

(After all, he’s the one choosing a wife not you!). Lots of women get married, but less than half of all wives are happily married. Who are those lucky, privileged, happily-married women? You guessed it -- they’re the women who took the man’s view of “wife-material” into consideration. All they did was learn all about what men really want in a wife and then adjusted their lives to genuinely become the kind of woman all the good guys look for! Now let’s talk about the secrets of happy wives. Let’s start with four of the biggest mistakes that these smart women avoid at all costs: Pretending.

It’s one thing to try to be wife material, and a whole other thing to be wife material. So stop trying -- read, learn, and apply. As the success gurus would say: “Don’t talk about it —- BE about it

Are You

Wife

Material?

scream or refuse to speak to him.

Touch him as you speak to him. Your touch not only conveys how you feel, it also shows that you are appealing to him.

Reward Good Deeds If he behaves in an annoying manner, frown instead of telling him to stop. A man sees himself as unencumbered by etiquette. So he won’t stop misbehaving and he may continue because he thinks that you are trying to correct him. Ignore him; his intention is not to annoy you but just to pull your legs.

When he sees that you are not happy with his behaviour, he will stop.

But make sure to react pleasantly when he behaves in a manner that pleases. Hold his hands and laugh into his eyes. React the moment he does something nice and he will know what he did to earn that pass mark.

Watch Your Body Language Your posture when you argue says so much. Impart the message that you are both there to work at issues together. Do not take a posture that says that you want to resolve issues physically. If you stand with hands on your hips and feet wide apart, he automatically squares himself and wants to fight back. Do not give him the impression that you are too submissive, either. Act confident. If you stand quietly, head tilted to one side, he sees you as someone to treat any way he wants to.

He Is Not Romantic?

Teach him and he will learn. Plan outings that involve only the two of you.

Buy gifts for him. With time, he catches on that you expect him to do the same things. On the long, he will understand that affection is what nurtures friendship.

Showing Off. It’s okay to be happy about your relationship, but if you have to be sweet and touchyfeely with your man around his friends and family just to show that you “own” him, then you’re in trouble. The better men out there find this behavior distasteful, so avoid it.

Using The Wrong Language * Saying “you” a lot. (“You’re so irresponsible.”) * Rushing the relationship. (“When are you going to propose?”) * Using “always” and “never.” (“You’re always busy. You never have time for me.”)

This language is poisonous to a man who is pondering marriage. Don’t scare him away.

Blackmailing.

Most of us like getting even with our men when they’ve done something wrong. So how do you “get even” with your man when he makes you mad? Here’s a tip: Never, ever blackmail him. It’s lame, it’s low and unladylike. My advice: Stick to the silent treatment.

Or better still, just talk it over. Good men listen!

Now, if you’re like most women, I can guess that you’ve made at least one of the mistakes I mentioned above. Or if you haven’t, then you probably know someone who had. What does that mean? It means it’s an epidemic! So many of us stay single or get stuck in unhappy marriages because in the eyes of men, we’re not “wife-material.” We make these horrible mistakes that make us look too unattractive and unappealing for marriage. We need to go back to the basics. We need to know what men really want in a wife. We need to re-learn the good, old-fashioned ingredients of a happy marriage and by doing that, we’ll have less single women out there.

Change your attitude today and be that kind of woman any good man would want to spend the rest of his life with.

To the best loving relationships we all deserve, good luck in love and life. Cheers.

tHE GUARDIAN, saturday, May 25, 2013

LOVE & LIFE 21

08116706852 Email: amara@amarablessing.com

WEEKEND with AMARA

‘What Is Love Without sex?’

HIs is what they have used to lure girls to bed t against their wish. Guys tell girls they can’t be sure of their love until they open their legs for them. some silly girls don’t even believe a man loves them until he sleeps with them.

But, the fact is this: sex does not guarantee love.

A man who is genuinely interested in you will love you and pamper you with those beautiful gifts even without getting sex from you. sex is just something that cements an already established and existing love relationship.

When you keep giving your body to every man just because he professes love, how many of them are you going to sleep with before settling down with the right partner. It is only a man who is empty that you hook with sex. I have seen men who, no matter your sexual adventures and beauty, they dump you once it’s time to get serious because you are empty upstairs. Develop yourself more intellectually and show femininity. Mind you, I said “femininity” not “feminism”. Femininity is Godly and agrees with nature while feminism is anti-God. sex is vital in marriage, but there are more important things he is looking out for in his woman. stop believing that sex and your body is all you need to have him. If he settles down with you just because of those things, what happens by the time you are 50 and the whole thing begins to drop? What if there is no money or gut to go under the knife? there are things that make up a real woman: Godliness: the woman remains the powerhouse of the home. If the woman knows God, her home will be blessed.

Contentment: A real woman will not push her man to steal or defraud people just to make her happy. I believe every woman needs a man with vision who has daily source of income, but never a super-rich dude. Never settle for a jobless man because frustration will set in. Let him get something doing first, no matter how little.

Enterprising spirit/Hard work: A real woman works hard to support her man. she does not just sit at home or drive from place to place with other idle women. she works with her two hands.

Humility: A real woman knows that there is power in humility. this doesn’t mean she does not know who she is; she just wouldn’t see her-

self as anything without God’s grace.

Good cooking skills: When was the last time you prepared a proper meal for your man?

Are you one of those girls who are conversant with every big restaurant in town but cannot go into the kitchen because of their nails? A real woman knows how to cook and feed her husband and children.

Good housekeeping skills: It is when you have children that people get to know how neat you are. sadly, so many Nigerian ladies cannot take care of the home just because it is so cheap to engage a house-help. What are the things you can comfortably do when the house help is gone? Can you even clean the house and singlehandedly get things properly arranged or you are one of those “pancake ladies”?

Honesty/Integrity: A real woman does not play games with men. she is real and stays far from those who do. A real woman cannot keep two relationships at a time. If you think you are smart by keeping five of them at once, you are the most foolish of all women.

Loving heart: A real woman has a heart full of

IMAGE AND ETIQUETTE With Pamela t’s never all sunshine Iweeven for the best of us; all have our share of cloudy and rainy days. this is part and parcel of life here on earth and can be very trying for us in our journey. sometimes it seems that nothing quite prepares one for it and at other times it seems that every incident in our life prepared us for that very moment. there is some truth in both statements for no matter how much understanding one gets, nothing quite braces you for the shock when life tries you. Every challenge in life is supposed to develop and inspire you. How you respond to those challenges however, determine if you emerge for better or worse.

People respond in different ways to what life gives them and that, essentially, is what makes us all so different. some of us come out so disillusioned we have little or no hope in humanity–poisoned by distorted images and suppositions. For instance, most times when we hear people speak in general terms about others or situations, these assumptions are largely based on their own experiences and their restricted interactions. Everyone has his own story–yes, and people do have substantive reason why they draw the conclusions that they do. However, it cannot change the truth that everything is not as it seems; we cannot continue to look at life through a mirror – that is through our own experiences alone; it can only reveal to us a fraction of the truth compared to the whole picture. As individuals and communities, we would experience much development, success and peace if we were a bit

compassion for the less privileged. How many times have you stopped your man from helping others?

High self-esteem: A real woman does not create time to be going through her man’s phone and email. Doing this only tells us how idle and jobless you are. Get yourself occupied with more important things. A real woman will never confront another woman because of her man. she is confident of herself and worth. Her price is far above rubies and she knows that she is a blessing to any man who has her.

Intelligence-not just academic, but natural/native: she uses her head properly for the right things.

Ability to take care of your body and that of your man: You cannot call yourself a real woman just by applying all the foundation on your face and wearing every good designer perfume. When people look at your man and children, what do they say about you? simple etiquette—walking, talking, sitting, dancing and doing everything with some feminine charm: she knows how to carry herself at all times.

Finally, your sex life in marriage: there is what we call depreciation in economics; it is applicable in real life. If you are too much in a haste for sex or involved in it more than you should, chances are that you will lose interest in it at that very point when you need it most. this is why we have very hot girls who become useless in bed once they get married! I have handled a case of a woman who was involved in porn video while in school almost losing her marriage because her husband isn’t getting satisfied in bed. Guys, if you think she is hot now, remember that very word, depreciation. she will reach her peak and then begin to lose it all. Even her body will be lovely at the initial stage but wait until she drops one and you may not stand the sight of her feminine body again. sex is not all you need to have a man; there is more to life than just sex. stop being deceived by what you see and hear from the media; a lot are all lies. We now live in a world controlled by sex.

I think this mass-produced and consumed porn has ruined the healthy and natural sexualities of so many. What happened to sex that wasn’t selfish and fetishistic, one-sided or sadistic, demoralizing or dehumanizing? sex that was about doing what felt right rather than what feels most wrong? Or dare I say mutual intimacy rather than looking at your partner as just a body that can be manipulated in any number of ways. I think porn happened. I think we really need to wake up, this problem is getting worse by the day.

Women are beginning to see men as powerhouses who must satisfy them in bed even at the expense of their lives. Men, on the other hand, see women as just sex toys and nothing else. Our so-called herbal doctors are coming up with terrible and harmful products for vaginal tightening and penis elongation. We have suddenly moved away from the natural.

Girls now live all kinds of life—smoking and drinking alcohol with different sizes of penis going in and out and at the end of the day, they pick any of those vaginal tighteners and tell the “foolish” man (most men are when it comes to women) that she is such a decent girl.

Even with all the warnings against the use of spanish Fly, folks still go for it. Women can no longer stay off sex for just six months when their man is out of town (more money for makers of sex toys and more damage to our relationships).

08116706879 (SMS only).

E-mail:regalgraces@yahoo.com

When Life Happens, Emerge Stronger more open and had more faith.

It is unwise to be ignorant of the aspects that often make us slide downhill. More so, it is difficult to recognize or withstand those aspects when one is in the thick of it, but you can cultivate the attributes and values that counteract those negative inclinations. this goes a long way in preserving, strengthening and refining us. the Presumptuous trap in Fair Weather this is one of the most dangerous traps any one can fall into – especially when you have had so much experience. It is such a deadly trap because it has its root in pride; we know that when pride shoots up, the fruit is always a fall. When you feel like you’ve been there and done so much that you can spot a situation a mile off, it gives you a false confidence that makes you lie back and …well, make presumptuous decisions. David, even though he was a great man of war, sought the will of God often, always asking what he should do. On a particular occasion it had to do with the same army he had just defeated, he asked God yet again if he should go up, however, this time God’s answer was not the same; he told him to go behind the army (2 samuel 5). It was wisdom that he constantly inquired of God no matter how similar or surmountable the situ-

ation appeared. the Depression trap in Rainy Days Depression often sets in when we get disappointed with our lot; often it is when we make a costly mistake or when we have put so much hope into something and end up disillusioned. Depression is defined as “a mental state characterized by a pessimistic sense of inadequacy and a despondent lack of activity” (Wordweb).

I think it is safe to say that we all know a bit about this dangerous emotion. sometimes we succumb to the temptation to search and reason within ourselves for much needed answers, however, in that state, your understanding is clouded and can only serve to confine you to a defeated state of mind and approach.

It so happens that a percentage of our surmise of ourselves and state is true, however, it

is usually exaggerated and distorted in this state; for instead of making you free – like you expect the truth would, it entangles you further in disillusionment and holds you captive. Looking away from yourself will keep you from further destruction; we should not derive our confidence and substance from ourselves for we are so inadequate and always will be. God alone should be our source and our strength.

Look instead to Who He is and what He is (or can be) to you – not unto yourself. When depression sets in – don’t be too busy to ask for help Focused Eyes – true sustenance in both Rain and sun.

Whether in rain or in sunshine, we should always look to our source and the Author of our life. Do not look like Lucifer did upon his own glory and met his fall (For he forgot from Whom his glory was derived), or upon our inadequacy and smallness like Peter did when he walked on water, for our strength and help is never of ourselves. We must look instead to Jesus for of Him all things were made and do consist.

We must cultivate a daily practice of teaching ourselves to keep our eyes focused. Cultivate a habit of seeking the Master each day with a sincere heart. Whatever the clouds might bring, when life happens, we will come out richer and more developed in spirit.

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.

22 LOVE & LIFE

THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, May 25, 2013

MARITAL SEX

Misconceptions Of Male/Female Sexuality

By Juliana Idoko T takes a daring wife to have an “I affair. But it takes an even more daring wife to face marital issues and work on rekindling the love she felt when she said, “I do.” Dr Frances Cohen Praver, a clinical psychologist, psychoanalyst and the author of The New Science of Love: How Understanding Your Brain’s Wiring Can Rekindle Your Relationship said. Most times, deciphering what is true from what is false when it comes to sex and relationship poses some challenges to the smooth running of marital relationships. Men want sex more than women do, bad sex always lead to breakups, if he had an affair, he doesn’t love you, and many more are some of the confusions that make couples feel bad about each other.

But most of the time, they’re not true. So, which are true and which are false? Read on, as we tap from the tested and trusted wisdom of Dr Praver.

Men want sex more than women do.

Wrong. The reason why men tend to wishfully prod their penises into our determinedly turned backs, isn’t just to do with desire. Other factors have a big influence, too. For example, we’re still more likely to do most of the housework on top of holding down a job. So we’re exhausted! Plus, hormones make us feel like having a lot of sex during certain times of the month, rather than all of the time.

And, because we tend to attach more emotions to sex than men do, we

aren’t going to beg him for action if he’s been giving us attitude. If you’re a truly a great lover, you should know how to please anyone. It’s extremely likely that someone who knows a lot about sex and has had lots of practice is going to be better in bed than an inexperienced virgin.

Technically, that is. However, if you’re crazy about said inexperi-

enced lover (physically or emotionally) — oh, and if he has a double-jointed tongue — it might be the best sex you’ve ever had. “Good sex” has as much do to with perception and the brain as technique than the genitals.

Happy couples have good sex most of the time. Right, and my neighbour’s buying me a private jet for my birthday! Show me a couple that’s having

out-of-control, raging, lusty sex every night after years of sharing the same bed, and I’ll show you a pig that can fly. Toss this one out of the window immediately! Life and all its pressures get in the way for all of us. Does it mean your friend is lying if she claims to have fabulous sex after five years of marriage and two kids? Maybe. Or maybe she

Answers To Sexual Performance Problems HAD a lot of questions and reacIfocused tions from the articles that on sexual performance and I’ve tried to explain what we want to achieve with those articles. I really appreciate all the responses but I shall gently touch some of the sensitive questions.

1.

Most persons are concerned about the amount of time required before ejaculation. The man wants to know if two minutes or 20 minutes means a difference in satisfaction. And I have this to say: please stop being a performance freak. Enjoy fore play with your spouse. Touches are more satisfying.

Cuddling and caressing will bring better sexual fulfillment. Practically, I need say that we can have multiple orgasm without ejaculation. I advise men to guide their excitement away from the penis. Keep it controlled by the brain. You do that by concentrating on parts of the body that are not necessarily the genitals. The ears, neck, arms, waist, back of the knee, feet, can be very erotic. Paying attention and gently treating each other with tenderness will do more satisfaction. Do something different.

2.

Also to delay ejaculation would require practice. A lot has been written against masturbation yet I believe that people don’t really know until they know. We can practice delayed ejaculation when we masturbate. We can control it, until we learn how to do so in real intercourse. Masturbation, contrary to what people have said, does not inhibit sexual performance. Much of the problems of our sexual relationships is due to superstitions and traditions we have not even proven.

Most of them are mere assumptions. We need to let go of them to really enjoy our relationships. We must learn much about how our bodies work, and be very positive.

Unreal guilt can be dangerous. I

Not all sexual problems are prayers will help more then drugs. mean, guilt formed by people’s opin- 3. solved with drugs. Right relationMost are not medical cases, they are ion and not necessarily scriptural ships, and attitudes, counseling, and merely psychological. Some men injunction. hardly retain erections. They have some natural stops. Like noise, intrusion, distraction, monotony, pressure... etc. we are not all the same. Some people just shut down once they hear a bad news or haven’t resolved a quarrel. Sex is mostly controlled by the brain. So don’t be quick to have drugs. Talk to someone, share a secret, pray. Really pray. Don’t think that because it is sex it can’t be surrendered to God. 4.

Try discussing the problem with your spouse. Have sessions with your spouse, and if need be see a specialist. Maybe some people need visit a therapist in most general hospitals or teaching hospitals.

You will find the answers you seek!

5.

Sex positions matter a lot.

We need to know which best suits our condition, height, weight or size of sexual organs. Please never complain about size. It is never a disadvantage. Just pay attention to your spouse. Practice what we have presented so far, and you will see tremendous result. The point is keep knowing each other’s body, and enjoy it.

6.

Once again, please go through previous articles. I am sure we can get it from the archives. Go to the net; browse The Guardian newspapers link and you can read previous articles. It is more than a year now; I believe you will find the answers you seek!

7.

Keep sending the texts, questions and most importantly, prayer requests. I shall be praying for you and I strongly believe that a camel will pass through the eye of a needle, and water will taste like wine! Find fun and fulfillment.

E. C. SAMUEL intimatefaithministry@yahoo.com 08027173447 sms only

thinks you have a great sex life and doesn’t want to admit she doesn’t. Or maybe her definition of great sex is different from yours. Or maybe she really does have terrific sex… once a month. It’s all subjective.

If you have to plan sex, and it isn’t spontaneous, something’s wrong.

Heaven help your partner if you believe this one. Desire might well tap you on the shoulder in the early stages of a relationship, but the hormones that fuel the tapping disappear after about 18 months. Well, if you’re lucky actually; plenty of couples find desire drop dramatically after about nine months. But don’t panic. It doesn’t mean you’ll never fancy each other again; it just means that you need to keep reminding your body and brain how much you enjoy sex. Spontaneous sex is usually good sex. But planning a sex session — anticipating it, looking forward to it — this makes for pretty good sex as well.

Men are more promiscuous than women. The real truth is, this one is probably true, but by much less than you think. When polled about their sex lives, men overestimate while women underestimate, due to societal pressures. It’s also totally dependent on how attractive the people in question are. An attractive, sexually liberated woman is likely to have had more partners than a not-so-fab-looking guy around the same age, for instance. It’s called opportunity.

If they had an affair, they don’t love me. Wrong again. If your partner cheats, it doesn’t necessarily mean he doesn’t love you. It does, however, mean he doesn’t respect your agreement to be monogamous.

Women don’t like porn or dirty sex.

Take a look at all the emails I get from women asking where to buy good female erotica and you’ll see how silly this myth is. And the reverse applies as well: Not all women want rose petals scattered across the bed and romantic massages, rather than raunchy, lusty, wicked romps. Every woman is different, but bottom line?

Anyone who thinks men are the only ones conjuring up lurid, graphic fantasies about other passengers on the subway is deluded.

Most women orgasm through intercourse. I’m not going to harp on about this one because anyone who’s ever read any of my other articles practically has it written on their forehead in felt tip marker pen that only 30% of women orgasm from penetration alone. But it is worth repeating. Most women need stimulation of the clitoris by a hand or a vibrator during intercourse in order to climax. It’s not anyone’s fault that the penis isn’t enough; it’s a design fault in the female body. The clitoris is outside the vagina, rather than inside it (not terribly helpful of whoever has the female body patent, I agree). True, some women claim to have fabulous orgasms through front vaginal wall stimulation. But the good old-fashioned clitoral orgasm is far more common and reliable.

Men are always ready for and want sex. If you’re talking a 17-year-old who’s just landed his first girlfriend, you’re probably right. It’s likely he will walk, talk, daydream and want to have sex every waking second (and when he’s asleep as well). But once a man hits his mid-20s (and often before that), other parts of his life start to become equally as important as sex, and all that energy and focus is needed elsewhere. Real life dampens a lot of men’s sex drives more efficiently than a bucket of water poured over a solitary lit match. Work, stress, pressure, bills, arguments… they all stop him (and you!) from feeling like sex all day, every day. There is a man attached to that penis.

THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, May 25, 2013

23

WOMAN

Ify Loves It When The Air Is Fragrant With Scents is not just a luxury, but also an art.

On the potential of the scent and fragrance business in the economy, she said: “There is a great market for the industry in Nigeria and it has a huge potentials. People are still learning to embrace the use of fragrances. There is need for the re-orientation of Nigerian businesses in the use of fragrances in their environment to create a friendly ambiance.

How your business environment smells has a lot to tell about you”.

The mother of five says it is important to know the differFY Amuchie has been a creative person right from her sec- duce heart beat rate, lower blood pressure and relieve stress. ent kinds of fragrances. “Some fraondary school days. She was one of the few students at the grances are ideal for living room, “Rose, Jasmine, Gardenia, Ylang ylang and Sandalwood Air Force Secondary School, Ikeja, Lagos who had passion for create a romantic ambiance. Sage, Vanilla, Patchouli bedroom and kitchen. Many drawing. Little did she know that she would later find herself and Pine create a cheerful surrounding. Lemon, people are not educated on in a business that deals with passion and the knowledge of this, that there are differpeppermint cinnamon and eucalyptus clear the fragrances. ent brands.” mind. Citronella candles are ideal for chasing She was in the habit of experimenting with her mother’s From passion to mosquitoes and other insects.” perfumes by mixing two or more together to create a new making it a busiFrom playing around with her mother’s frascent. Her mother, a very fashionable person, noticed her in- grances as a child, Ify matured to identify ness of offering terest in fragrances early in life. luxury and excluthe need for people to imbibe the culture She grew up in a disciplined home in Lagos and was atsive fragrances, of using of fragrances not only in their tracted to people who wear nice scents. Her husband was ac- homes and offices, but their entire surshe has extually attracted to her because of her passion for scents. panded by inroundings. She thought about owning Before venturing fully into the fragrance and scent busicorporating a fragrance store, even when still in ness, Ify was obsessed with scents and had always sold frainterior design paid employment. grances even at the Union Bank Plc Lagos, where she served into the busi“Then I decided to leave paid emas a National Youth Service corps member. ness. ployment in order to do someShe spoke of her passion thus: “I developed the passion for thing I liked and have enough Her advice for scents and fragrances as a child but could not express it. So those who time for my family, especially after my education, I got a paid job in the bank but I was sure my children, who are still want to venthat I was doing something that I had no passion for. I felt ture into fraquite young”. then I was into paid employment for the experience.” grance She said she got encourageIfy attended Air Force Secondary School, Ikeja. She probusiness is: “If ment from her husband, her ceeded to the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN), where she family and some friends you feel the risk bagged her first degree in English Language. Thereafter, she who shared in the vision. In is worth it, take got a Masters degree in International Law and Diplomacy it but it has a lot fact, it was her brother who from the University of Lagos. She worked with Zenith Bank to do with pasgave the business name, and Visafone Communications Limited. She is presently un- ‘Reeds & Scents’ and she sion. I feel dergoing courses on Fragrances and Design at the London happy, and fuladded the line ‘Luxury + School of Design, as well as Business courses at the Lagos filled about what Art for the senses’, beBusiness School.

I am doing and I cause for her, fragrance In the course of her romance with fragrances, she has come have the supto understand that it is important for people to know that port of my hussweet smell is therapeutic. “The nature of fragrance kills band.” stress. I found out that there is too much stress in Lagos. That is why we should make the use of scents as part of our culture. Perfumes and scents are just not the white man’s thing; everybody has the right to smell good. Even in the northern part of the country and some parts of Africa, there is always a fragrance,” she enthused.

She said that different fragrances could be used to identify races and people. “It all depends on what it is used for. There are special brands we recommend to people because of their originality, uniqueness and long standing. Most of these luxury brands are British, French and Spanish.”

Ify opines that fragrances are calming, make people feel at home, brighten moods, bring back memories and can even lead to intimacy. “In fact, it is not enough to have a beautiful house, office, shop, hotel and others. The question should be: How do they smell?

“Our mood can be influenced by the smell coming from the surrounding. Fragrances soothe the air, are healing and relaxing, address headaches, anxiety, fatigue, allergies and depression.

“They even improve sleep. Candles, diffusers, refresher oils and incense come in different fragrances. For example, citrus are mood up-lifters. Lavender is used for relaxation. It can re-

When people think of fragrances, what easily comes to their minds are body fragrance, air fresheners and a few other deodorants but Mrs. Ify Amuchie, the Chief Executive officer of Reeds & Scents, a scents and fragrances outfit at Lekki, Lagos believes there is more to what your sense of smell. The University of Nigeria Nsukka graduate of English Language and student of London School of Design, the banker-turned-therapist told Bertram Nwannekanma about the therapeutic effect of scents and fragrances and why Nigerians should imbibe the culture of using them

I

‘

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There is a great market for the industry in Nigeria and it has a huge potentials. People are still learning to embrace the use of fragrances. There is need for the re-orientation of Nigerian businesses in the use of fragrances in their environment to create a friendly ambiance. How your business environment smells has a lot to tell about you.

Amuchie

24

THe gUARDIAN, Saturday May 25, 2013

MARRIAge&FAMILY

Which Is Honest To God: Polygamy Or Monogamy?

By Yemi Ogunsola if there had been more than one FusRANkLY, eve in the famed garden of eden, can any of be very sure that Adam would have picked just one and left the other eves in the cold?

Don’t rush to give an answer. Take your time…

No. None of us can be sure…

In fact, chances are that such a maiden edition of the human male would be so virile he would have catered to all the eves available.

And there would have been no religionists around to raise objections. even the Creator, who was eager to have his creatures multiply and fill his new earth would have hailed Adam’s masculinity—- and gallantry.

Why then do some fellows flaunt Adam as an example of a thoroughbred “monogamist”.

But even if by any chance, Adam had actually picked one and ignored the other nubile ladies, he would have been guilty of uncommon callousness and a wastage of “woman resources”.

In fact, the other ladies would have created one hell of a racket that neither the Creator nor his co-workers would have enjoyed that “rest” he allegedly took on the Seventh Day. Thankfully, Adam was spared that dilemma.

He had only one eve to pick.

Not so today.

Today’s “Adam” is faced with so many choices; beautiful choices…

Now, there are many Adams and many more eves…

For as long as can be remembered, polygyny, the form of polygamy in which a man marries

more one woman at a time, has flourished worldwide. That is, until Christianity began its spread. (Polyandry, the other form of polygamy in which a woman marries more than one man at a time is rare though not non-existent).

It is interesting however that Christianity and Islam which both took their roots from the same Judaistic source (of genesis), parted ways over polygamy. While many Christians condemn it as sinful/ungodly, it enjoys wide and enthusiastic acceptance among Muslims.

Yet both claim to worship the same god.

Before the advent of Christianity (and the criminalization of polygamy by British law as bigamy) Nigerians, like other Africans, were unapologetically polygamous. even after Christianity with its discordant tunes on polygamy, many Christian churches do not frown on members practicing polygamy.

In fact, bigamy—- the “crime” of polygamy—has been wisely and blissfully ignored both within and outside the Nigerian legal system.

The interesting thing is that both the Catholic Church and many other protestant churches that prohibit polygamy are replete with incidents of secret romantic alliances among even high-ranking members—-putting the lie to their purported marital rectitude.

While it is argued, and rightly too, that the average male is naturally polygamous and that it is not given unto man(and woman) to love but one, sociological reasons like the acrimony and rivalry that often characterize polygamous homes are strong arguments against the practice.

Another factor is the increasingly vibrant voices of women in matters of matrimony, a fallout of gender equality advocacy reverberating globally.

The foregoing notwithstanding, the rising figure of painfully single ladies in Nigeria seems to be clear warnings that we are headed for the romantic frustrations common among the women of “monogamous” europe. Serial monogamy is the “disease” of

europe —- where both men and women marry several spouses consecutively only to discard them for fresh ones. It seems not to have helped matters. It has, in fact, encouraged a mentality of regarding marriage as a temporary arrangement on which not to build any lasting hope.

What is the way out of this religio-cultural dilemma?

All three of Joe Darger’s wives are related, and two of them are twin sisters. Darger started by simultaneously courting his first two wives who are cousins. The three of them got married the same day. Years later, he married his third wife, the twin sister of one of his first two wives. They all live under a single roof with their 24 children. Each wife has her own bedroom, with Joe rotating from room to room each night.

‘There’s Modern, Better Polygamy’ ‘Sociological Pressures Aid Polygamy’ Dr. (Mrs) Franca Attoh spoke to AJIBOLA AMZAT on the practice of polygamy in Africa How do you view polygamy? egARDLeSS of their level of education, the consciousness of the average African man, especially those raised in our cultural setting, has not changed. African man imbibes westernization in term of his academic qualification, his dressing, but he remains an African man in his consciousness. Hence, you will notice that the moment they are able to achieve some measure of success materially, there is always tendency to let go of the inhibition that the whiteman’s religion or education is imposing on them and you find them marrying many women. And if the white man’s religion becomes a challenge, they find a way around it by keeping many mistresses. So, invariably an African man is still an African

R

Attoh

man underneath. And this is a cultural issue.

The hurtful part is when a woman is led into believing that she is going into a monogamous relationship, then the man makes a lot of money later and he starts thinking of fulfilling his desire to marry more women. I think it has to do with our culture more than any other factor.

What do you think of polygamy as a promoter of gender inequality?

I do not think so. Of course some people may want to read into its power relations, power dynamics, by arguing that a man marries many women to show he is more superior. This is not so. The truth is that most African societies are deeply patriarchal, the nucleus of authority flows from the man. Man

has always been superior in the African context. We have never had a level of parity between man and woman.

Where you find women distinguishing themselves, such women are admitted into the privileges enjoyed by titled men. But you would see that these are women who have passed their reproductive age, and are no longer ‘women’ so to speak.

They are more or less like men. And they too would have attained a particular status in terms of achievement. So it has nothing to do with gender inequality.

Would I be right to say that you are personally comfortable with polygamy?

I am a Christian and Catholic, and the doctrine of my faith says it is “one man, one wife”. Of course, if my husband decides to take a second wife tomorrow, I may not be comfortable with that. But if at the beginning of the union, he told me that he was likely to get a second wife, of course that would enable me to make my decision whether to marry him or not. But certainly, I would have walked away because I am a catholic and Christian faith forbids polygamy.

The truth however is that the modern polygamy is not the same as the polygamy practised in the traditional African society because men of substance today who engage in polygamy do not bring their women into the same compound. Most of the women in polygamous marriage today are professionals, and they mostly live in separate apartments so that in the end, they have little or nothing to do with their mates, except when they have a family gettogether. In that case, petty jealousy which characterizes polygamous marriage might not be a thing to worry about.

Head, Department of Sociology, UNILAG, Professor Adebayo Ninalowo spoke to AJIBOLA AMZAT Why do some men practise polygamy?

Y some cultural nuances across the African continent, it is permissible for a man to have more than one wife. Some religious tenets such as Islam’s allows a man to have more than one wife provided that he is capable of loving and taking care of all of them equitably. I think the principle is that of fairness.

Secondly, according to a particular cultural tradition across Africa, polygamy is an acceptable practice. Remember, African societies used to be mainly rural. A man would get married to two or more wives in order to have a large family to assist him in the farm. The logic of division of labour provides rational basis for polygamy in that era.

Thirdly, family members may encourage some men to marry more than one wife for the purpose of procreation. According to African cultural tradition and the bible, marriage or conjugal relationship exists so that procreation can continue. Where after a while a marriage has been consummated and children are not forthcoming, members of the extended family may start getting worry, eventually, the man is encouraged to explore elsewhere by taking another wife.

Fourth, another reason outside the problem of infertility is when a man is not happy with the marriage or with the wife he is married.

Rather than going on conjugal escapade outside of the matrimonial home, he might be

B

Prof. Ninalowo

compelled to look elsewhere for marriage and the exploration may get consummated.

And in Yoruba culture, if a woman is carrying pregnancy for a man, such woman is not just a girlfriend, she is also wife and that is also part of being polygamous.

Thus, there are cultural reasons, biological reasons, religious reasons, or practical reasons of satisfaction.

Does polygamy not reinforce gender inequality?

Look at it in another way; if Mr. Right is not forthcoming, some ladies will go for Mr. Available. Sometime the man a lady would settle for could be a married man. It is the same for the man who married Miss Available when he could not get Miss Right.

By the time the reality dawns him, he begins to have yearning for another woman. These are reasons leading to polygamy. Is not better for a woman to be married to a married man than not to be married at all? If you are talking about equity you have to consider fulfillment of needs also. Why would one worry about equity if it will not mitigate human misery. You may not imagine the extent to which being a Miss Somebody means for a lady until you address Mrs. somebody as Miss somebody. Women don’t take kindly to it. So marriage provides a lot of psychological succor for women.

But do you not think the system that allows men to take more women as wives and forbids women to do same sustains social inequality?

Well, I think you are right. It is a patriarchal system. And patriarchy sustains and reproduces gender inequality.

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THE GuARDIAN, saturday May 25, 2013

MARRIAGE&fAMILY

No Religion Outlaws Polygamy…

By Yemi Ogunsola EITHER Islam nor African tradition (reliN gion?) outlaws marrying more than one wife. Islam teaches that men can marry two, three, even four wives but with the proviso that they treat these wives “equitably”.

Yoruba Muslims capture this comically with the phrase: Me l’oLo’un wi —- God says (you can marry) me. The word “me” is a prefix for me-rin(four), me-fa (six)…me-edogun(15), merindinlogojo (156) ad infinitum.

The various interpretations to which the word “equitable” is subject do not alter the plurality inherent in the Islamic injunction.

But the various interpretations are interesting. first, “equitably” does not necessarily mean equally. It means fairly , impartially. Thus for three wives of clearly different sizes, ranging from slender to very large, equity implies giving yards of clothing sufficient for each. Thus the slender wife may get three-and-a- half yards while the large wife gets seven yards.

The yards are not equal. But they are equitable.

Most traditional peoples are polygamous.

Especially in Africa. The Ifa corpus of the Yoruba teaches for instance that okan soso poro l’obinrin dun mo lowo oko; bi won ba di meji, won a d’ojowu, bi wo ba di meta won a d’eta ntule, bi won di merin won a di iwo lo rin mi ni mo rin o…

(It’s best that men marry only one wife; when wives become two, rivalry begins. When they become three, they may bring the household to ruin. When they become four, they engage in needless bickering). And so it goes on and on.

The injunction here is quite pragmatic.

While Ifa does not condemn polygamy as “sinful”, or the polygamist as a “sinner”, it points out the dangers inherent in a multiplicity of wives. The instructive thing in particular is

that the sage of Yoruba tradition, orunmila, who (supposedly) gave the advice, married more than one wife.

Another Ifa verse cites Oosaala, chief of Yoruba deities, as a good example of a king/leader who avoided polygamy so that he could better focus on matters of state. The Ifa verse says “it’s pretty hard to live among 40 wives and not commit domestic blunders occasionally, that was why Oosaala, who presided over the affairs of Ile-Ife could not afford to emulate those with numerous (200) wives; rather, he stuck to only Yemowoo”.

Even among the Jews of old from whose religion (Judaism) Christianity sprang, the man reserved the freedom, not only to marry many wives but to also have concubines. However, the concubine, or her children had no right of inheritance. In fact, the personalties most beloved of Yahweh, the god of the Jews in the Old Testament (Abraham, the father of faith; David, the warrior after Yahweh’s heart; solomon, “the wisest man”) were all celebrated polygamists. solomon had 700 wives and 300 concubines.

Christians don’t speak with one voice on polygamy. Many Christian are polygamists.

Many churches accept polygamy. And the nearest to explicit comments on monogamy in the New Testament comes from a source other than Jesus, the “founder” of Christianity.

Rather, the source is believed to be Paul the Apostle (1Timothy 3:2, 1Timothy 3:12 and Titus 1:6) where he stated that a church leader should be the “husband of but one wife.” Paul did not extend this advice to the whole Christian community. It shows the advice was dictated by the responsibilities that go with Church leadrship.

It is interesting to note however that the history of the Catholic Church which outlaws polygamy to the point of celibacy among its priests, is replete with scandals involving otherwise devout priests breaking their vow

through multiple sexual escapades.

As it was then, so is it today. Even among non-Catholic monogamists, cases abound of “men of God” who preached monogamy all their lives only to be discovered after their deaths that they had wives “outside matri-

mony”.

And Europe which outlaws bigamy has a remarkably high incidence of “serial monogamy”—- where both men and women marry several spouses only to discard them consecutively for fresh ones.

Polygamy Breeds Touts, lawlessness, Others

By Bukola Apata Rs. Bimpe Osagie, a marriage counselor, says though there were people in the Bible who had many wives and even concubines, polygamy is not good because the wives and children will be affected. “ Definitely, the man at the centre will love one wife more than the other and this is where war begins in the home.”

Bimpe notes that sometimes, the husband is irresponsible thereby abandoning the children for their mothers to cater for, thus saddling only the mothers with both providing for them and instilling discipline. such children often take to crime which affects their future and the society.

The stress in a polygamous setting, she adds, often becomes so much it affects the health of the husband which may lead to his death or he abandons his wives and children to look for another

M

wife so it is a vicious cycle. “I believe it should be one man, one wife because the more the wives and children, the more the war in that home.”

Mrs Bimbola sowemimo, a pastor and lecturer, opposes Polygamous polygamy.

Christians, she says, are pracTestament “Old ticing Christianity”, which, according to her, has been refined to a better life after Jesus Christ died to set us free from sin.

“We have seen times without number how polygamous homes operate. Even the ones who give an impression that all is well only pretend, as the usual vices that come with polygamy are hatred, enmity, envy, jealousy and what have you.

These have also contributed to the problems of this country because parents give birth to children they cannot afford to care for. Most of them just roam the streets to survive, which has given rise to one of the biggest problems of this country—- Boko

Haram.

“Corruption is also on the increase partly because many polygamists are earning the of wage minimum N18,000.00 monthly, which is not enough for one person. so, with two, three or more wives, the next thing is to start stealing government money to be able to survive with his family.”

A Trader at Oshodi Market, Tanwa Aleja, declares: “I will never allow my male children to be polygamous because their father who happens to be my husband was a polygamist before his death and I know what I went through. He was married to five wives and had 10 children, but there has never been harmony or peace in the house. It was war everyday and this was what led to the sickness of my husband until two years ago when he died. so I don’t think polygamy is a good thing when you look at the damages it causes in some homes…”

‘Men Are Designed To Be Polygamous’ Mr. Najeem M.Akinyemi, a polygamist admitted that physical or sexual attraction is the major factor that drives many men into multiple marriages, He shared his experience with BANKOLE SHAKIRUDEEN ADESHINA. ITHER by fate or circumstance, Mr. E Najeem Mustapha Akinyemi is a polygamist married to three women—one already divorced him.

Initially, he detested the idea of polygamy but yet, fell into it.

A transporter who knew the economic burdens that come with multiple women, Akinyemi was determined to be monogamist until fate turned the tide against him. And for this, he would forever blame his ‘supposed’ first wife, whom he said had since left him: “unfortunately, I married a wife who was very aggressive and nagging. Her attitude became so unbearable that to avoid trouble, I had to slip into heavy drinking and keeping late nights. But as God would have it, during this trying time, I met a Good samaritan, whom God used to rescue me from the path of destruction. “she was so loving and caring. she took good care of me. she would always prepare good meal for me and counsel me against drinking to stupor and any other stupid ideas. she was the type of person I had always wanted as my wife. And for this reason, I had to marry her.”

But marrying a second wife caused a serious battle that the young man never bargained for. “My first wife became more aggressive, hostile and intolerable. And I had no choice than to do the needful, which was to let her go,” he reminisced.

While acknowledging that polygamy is economically expensive, Akinyemi said it also aids healthy competition. “ One interesting thing about my polygamous experience is that all my wives are driv-

en by a sense of competition to give their children the best training and education. for me, this is a good one. And apart from the initial problems, all my children are united and inseparable.”

Akinyemi soon fell in love with another women.

He submitted that there is a thin line between polygamy and adultery: “Islam is very explicit on this. You must not throw yourself into adultery by engaging in polygamy without observing the principle of equity. If one wife requests N10,000 from me and I am able to give her, I would not wait for the second wife to ask before giving her, say N5,000. By that, I believe I have tried to balance the scale. It’s only the Almighty Allah that can be (perfectly) fair.”

He agreed that among several factors that could drive a man into polygamy, economic buoyancy and sexual compatibility of the couple are fundamental.

Naturally, he said, men are sexually more active than women, adding that to exercise this libido, one woman, especially with inferior libido, can not withstand or satisfy such a man. Hence his insistence, based on personal conviction and the many inevitable temptations posed by many irresistibly beautiful women all over, that men are naturally designed to be polygamists.

“By nature, a woman can never be enough for a man. This is because a man is naturally a polygamist. That is why you will see many stranded women begging and praying fervently for husbands, besides the huge numbers who are professional whores. All these are because of the imbalance in the number. However, I’m not saying that there are no genuine monogamists, but they are very rare. In every 10 men, you can hardly find one sincere monogamist—it’s either he is married to one wife and keeps concubine(s) or has secret wives,” he added.

But where is the principle of equity, if a man is allowed to marry as many as he wants and a woman is denied the same

privilege? such a puzzle is better left to God for clarification, Akinyemi replied.

He said, “for instance, if you see a beautiful woman now and you get so attracted to her that you can’t but approach her. And fortu-

nately enough, you have your way. Would that stop you from admiring another and more beautiful woman elsewhere? No! A real man is meant to respond to these temptations, but positively and according to the established laws.”

‘Polygamy Prevents Loneliness In Old Age’ ALHAJI Kabir Yusuf, a staunch Muslim, is a 48year-old civil servant, officially married to two wives. He spoke with BANKOLE SHAKIRUDEEN ADESHINA. usuf explained that tempY tations that drive men into polygamy include barrenness, sexual incompatibility, incessant quarreling … among others. “ I had my first marriage in 1980. And like a young and progressive minded human being, it was never part of my agenda to have two wives, even though my religion permits it. I have always pitied the polygamists, especially those having troubles to reconcile their wives.

“And for good 25 years, I kept this ideal until 2005 when I married my second wife.

Maybe it was an act ordained

by Allah. something led to something and I become a polygamist and surprisingly, since then, I have never had course to regret it for one day. “ However, the major reason

why polygamy is very good is that it prevent loneliness during the old age of the husband, as the younger wife will serve as a loyal companion when the first wife’s children begin to bear their own children and the woman is obliged to go and assist them in child-bearing.

With a second woman around, whose children will of course be much younger as at that time, the companionship can not be broken so soon. “ Apart from the companionship, the second and younger wife tends to have more interest and time for the husband and takes care of him more than the older wife whose main concerns now revolves around the wellbeing of her children only. “ Having said that, the most Alhaji Yusuf

important thing to consider before pushing for the idea of polygamy is the ability to strike a balance between the wives. If your strength and means do not take more than one wife, do not copy others and subject yourself to the wrath awaiting the violators of the prescribed polygamy creeds by the Quran.”

THE GUARDIAN, Saturday May 25, 2013

26

MARRIAGE&FAMILY

Polygamy: A Mixed Bag Of The Good, The Bad, The Ugly DEBO OLADIMEJI spoke to people with varied practical experiences of polygamy OME who find themselves in the polygamous setting are Senjoying advising others against it. Mrs X said that though she’s her marriage as the third wife, she will not advise her children to go into polygamy. “I prefer monogamy. I will not encourage my children to go into polygamy,” she said.

She admitted that before she went into polygamy, she prepared her mind for what she was going into. “My mind was really prepared for what I was going to put up with. And to me I can’t see anything wrong in it. Once you know what you are going into and you prepare yourself very well.”

With wisdom, she said she has been able to cope. According to her a man that is married to one wife has one challenge. If he is married to two wives, he has two challenges. “That is what is happening in that set up. To have the resources is important.

It is not good for you to overstep your boundary. If you don’t have the resources to marry more than one wife, don’t go into it.”

For Micellines Olopade, 68, a Catholic, he would have been

contended with one wife but for the fact that he did not want to have the same experience his mother had: His mother gave birth to five children but only one (himself) survived.

His first wife, Ruth gave birth to two children, a boy and a girl before he married another wife.

“After I married my second wife she gave birth to four children, one boy and three girls,” he said.

He warned that it is not good for people to marry one wife and have concubines. He asked God for forgiveness for marrying two wives, but he beats his chest that he doesn’t have concubines.

“My mother was the first wife of my father. My father had three wives. He was also a Catholic,” he said.

Olopade explains: “When I married my first wife, our love is like that of Romeo and Juliet. Then my second wife, Alice later joined. But it is like I have the same level of love for my two wives…”he said.

He is happy that his children are all doing well. “One is a trader and some are in school. My wives have never fought,” he said.

Alhaji Chief Tajudeen Suberu Ododo, Baale (traditional ruler) Ije- Ododo in Iba Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Lagos said that the issue of polygamy is in accordance with God’s injunction in the Quran. “I have many wives. My first wife is late, the fourth one is late as well…” he said.

Ododo maintains that God wants us to marry more than one wife. “That is why God created more females,” he said.

The traditional ruler explained that the Quran permits people to marry more than one wife. “The most important thing is for you to take good care of your wives,” he said.

The Baale disclosed that there is an advantage in marrying more than one wife. “But everything has to do with your star,” he said.

With hindsight, he said that in those days his first wife used to give her nod for her to marry a new wife.

“Once a woman was pregnant for me I would tell Abeni (his first wife): ‘I have offended you because I have impregnated another woman,” he said.

His latest wife, Mrs. Bukola Ododo, 40, is the 12th wife of the Baale:

“Everybody knows that polygamy has its downsides,” she concurred.

She said that a lot of men had died as a result of polygamy-due to problem emanating from jealousy among their wives.

Bukola said that it is not good for a man to marry more than one wife. “It always ended up in regret. But I am not praying that my husband’s own should be like that. He is a traditional ruler, I cannot say that he should not marry another woman.

I only pray for long life and good health for him,” she said.

She reminisced that she is from a monogamous background.

“My father is late and till today my mother did not remarry.

One wife one problem and vice-versa. People should be satisfied with one wife. Do not have concubine. It can lead to HIVAIDS,” she warned.

She added that unless a woman loses her husband very early in life there is no need for her to remarry.

“It is God that predestined that I will marry Kabiyesi( traditional ruler) because I tried my best not to marry him,” she said.

On his part Waheed Olajide, a trader, said that people should not marry more than one wife.

“I am a true Muslim. But I have learnt that it is not good to marry more than one wife. My father married four wives. My mother, Seliat, is the first wife,” he said.

From experience, he said that to marry more than one wife is a big problem.

“May be your first wife has had like four children before you married the second wife. The new wife will want to have equal number of children with the old wife,” he said.

For peace to reign in the family, he said one should marry one wife.

Olajide said he is not going to have more than one wife. “My father had five wives. Due to family problem I spent almost three years in the womb of my mother before I was born.

According to the story, I was as black as a charcoal,” he said.

He stressed that there is no way a man can have equal love for his two wives. “Although my religion allows a person to marry up to four wives, provided you can have equal love for them. But there is no way a man would have one love for his two wives,” he said.

Alhaji Ododo

Clergymen: God Never Intended Polygamy…

By Elijah Eda Samuel O Pastor Seyi Macaulay, an educationist, Social Entrepreneur, and President of Dreamyouths International, the original injunction of God on marriage in Genesis 2:24 “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh“ was grossly violated by many of the Old Testament saints.

“Jesus came in the fullness of time to save humanity from the curse of the law, including marital curse, such as suffered

by Abraham, David and Solomon. The Genesis injunction is reaffirmed in Matthew 19:5 by our Lord Jesus Christ.

This makes it erroneous to use the marital experience of the Old Testament saints as standard today. The standard of the New Testament is summarized in Titus 1:6, that ‘If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.’”

He declared that having concubines is worse than bigamy.

T

“I discovered that every bigamist in the bible experienced one form of family anarchy: Father Abraham’s children are in an unending war in the Middle East; King David’s household produced accursed children: Jonadab the rapist, Absalom the rebel and Adonijah an inordinate ambitious young man; King Solomon the multi-talented bigamist produced Rehoboam, the man under whom the united Israel suffered irreversible disintegration.”

He noted too that the New Testament stipulates that those with more than one wife are free to worship God like any other persons, but they are not qualified to aspire for church leadership: “If any man desires the position of a deacon or bishop he must be husband of one wife.”

He however considers it “ not socially justifiable” for a man who had married many wives before becoming a Christian, to divorce them.

He laments stories of pastors

divorcing their wives to marry fresh ladies and other women showing up with children after some Christians die. “It is better to remain single and make heaven than to married and miss it,” he said.

“If you choose bigamy, be ready to live with the negative consequences like broken home and unending civil war after you are long gone.”

Dr. Godswill Moses, an information Technology Expert, is the Senior Pastor of Life Centred Christian Assembly, Isolo - Lagos.

“God’s dealing with mankind from inception shows that He (God) is averse to polygamy.

Gen 2:18 shows that God intended monogamy and not polygamy to be the design for human marriage.

On humanitarian consideration, I sincerely feel that polygamy will promote chaos, incessant marital breakdown, unfaithfulness and ill-treatment among spouses. The common bigamy practices or tendencies in the Bible were carried out by unbelieving

kings like Abimelech of Gerar and Herod the Tetrarch.

Jesus Christ reflected God’s position in his earthly ministry while attending to a related issue. He said “...from the beginning, it was not so…”

Matt 19:8. In solving the issue of divorce, he referred to God’s original design – One man, one wife “...Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female” (Matt.19:4). God did not make male and females because he never intended it to be so.

Venerable Joe Eziaghighala, the Vicar in Charge, All Saints’ Church, Surulere, Lagos said it’s difficult to say “Yes” or “No” to whether or not bigamy is a realistic law. “Bigamy is viewed (in Europe) as a critical issue because the culture, religion and legal statutes criminalize this practice. “ But there are also cultures where bigamy contradicts their cultural and religious codes. These are cultures like the African and Islamic cultures where polygamy is welcome as part of the mores and

norms of the people.”

Such cultures have provisions that enhance the practice of polygamy. A man can marry more than one wife. This could be for a number of reasons that include the desire for male successors, eccentric personal choices, the desire to display affluence, the desire to avoid the problems of inheritance occasioned by barrenness etc.

While it is a serious crime for one to infringe the rules of bigamy in the Western world, the African communities have a more tolerant posture. This is because two sets of cultures and norms exist side by side in the community. This also explains the value conflict that sees some Christians opting for multiple marriages, while they are still in the Church.

What then do you say to Biblical personalities who were polygamous?

My understanding of marriage is defined by a literal interpretation of Genesis 2:24, that defines the principle of a man leaving his father and his mother, to cleave to his wife, in which case, the two (not three

or more) will then become one flesh. This understanding is based upon the fact that if God had desired to have polygamy as standard format for Christian marriage, He would have created two Eves for one Adam or two Adams for one Eve. There are Biblical references to men who were polygynists in the Bible, most of who ironically were friends of God like Abraham, Jacob, Solomon, David etc. It was Lamech, who married the women, Adah and Zillah who blazed the trail.(Genesis 4:19).

But the intrigues in the families of these notable polygamists were quite alarming. The problem created by Abraham’s multiple marriage is tormenting the world up till today.

Jacob’s experience did not fare any better. The family intrigues almost tore his family apart.

David saw murder, incest, and even the loss of his wives, as a result of polygamy. Solomon’s heart was taken away from God as a result of his multiple wives.

No wonder, Christ’s apostles were all monogamous.

‘Polygamy Fulfills Man’s Desires Not God’s’

By Laolu Adeyemi

Venerable Eziaghighala

In the opinion of Barrister Kunle Adeniran, a Pastor, Matthew 19 :4 states clearly how Jesus answered question from Pharisees on marriage in line with God ‘s principle as contained in Genesis chapter 18:18-24.

“I agree that some people claim that their culture allows them to be polygamists, but culture cannot

erode the principle of God in marriage. God has instituted marriage before the advent of culture. Culture of many wives only fulfils selfish desires and nothing else.

“One of the major examples in the bible is Abraham who took in another wife. His house was unsettled until God specifically urged him to send out the second wife (Haggai). And we can also see the negative side effects in

our world today. The singular act by him birthed many problems in the world today.

“It is rather unfortunate for those men of God found culpable in this regards. They are expected to preach against it.

“Nigerians should not be ignorant of the devices of the devil as it is relates to marriage and we should try our possible best to maintain the standard of God Adeniran

TheGuardian

Saturday, May 25, 2013 | 27

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Weekend

CELEBR ITY

KokoommaShoots Belinda Up The Continent’s Acting Skies

By Shaibu Husseini

ALL, pretty, vivacious and very articulate Belinda Effah got T the right icing on her shimmering career cake when she was named best promising actress at the 2013 edition of the African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA). The star of Frank Rajah Arase’s The Refugee and Charles Novia’s recent hit Alan Poza got a welldeserved nomination and eventually won the award for best promising actress for delightfully interpreting the role of Kokomma, the lead role in the movie of same title. Belinda was believable as Kokomma. Moviegoers say she was so attached to the role that she made it look as though she was relieving a personal experience. No wonder the hall roared with applause when she was named the best promising actress on the continent on the strength of her beatific acquittal of the role.

“The AMAA Award has humbled me and I feel very honored,” she said. “I am very grateful to Almighty God as He alone did it for me. But I must also thank the entire Royal Art Academy family, to Emem Isong and Uduak Isong Oguamanam and the director of the movie Tomrobson for the opportunity’’.

An occasional model, was she relieving a personal experience in Kokoomma? She laughed out loud and replied: “Abeg ooo, I have never been raped, neither do I know anyone who has been raped before. As an actor, you have to become the character you are playing for proper interpretation and that is what I did. I became Kokomma the victim of rape. That is how I was able to carry the role, which earned me an AMAA.’’ Described by colleagues as intelligent and focused, Belinda ventured into acting in 2006 after she took the decision to participate in a reality show dubbed Next Movie Star. She was not lucky with the show and things proved difficult too afterwards.

It was difficult getting acting roles. To make ends meet, Belinda took up a paying day job, which she later dumped in 2011 for the movie industry and since then, she has not looked back.

“I came back to the industry in 2011 and things started sorting themselves out,’’ she enthused.

Acting for Belinda did not start from when she decided in 2006 to be part of the television reality show. She had always loved the arts and had a flair for writing. She wrote a lot of short stories and poetry and was a vibrant member of her church theatre department and choir. Though she later studied Genetics and Biotechnology, her passion has always been for the arts. So, when the opportunity presented itself, Belinda seized it and today she is regarded not only as a fast rising actress but one of the most dependable among her contemporaries.

A native of Odukpani Local Government Area of Cross River State, Belinda an old girl of Nigerian Navy Secondary School, Borokiri Port Harcourt, and an alumnus of the University of Calabar was raised in Calabar, the Cross River State capital. She grew up with her parents and siblings and described growing up as fun.

“It was a love-filled home. We shared great moments together,” she says adding that rather than object to her decision to venture into the arts, the Effah’s were very supportive. “My father ensured all his children have a good education to at least a first degree. Afterwards, we had the liberty to choose our career. I had my first degree and I delved into acting and I got my family’s blessings,’’ she said.

Star of critically acclaimed productions such as The Room, Udeme Mmi, Mrs. Somebody, Lonely heart, Encore, Havillah, The

Hunters, Jafaar’s house, Mama Africa and After the proposal, Belinda described all her movie appearances as challenging but named her first movie role which was in a short film titled The Room as her most nervy movie outing.

She said: “I was very nervous on my first day, as it was an MNET production and I know how detailed they can be. So, I had to show I had what it takes to act’’.

Outside the prolific Emem Isong, Uduak Oguamanam and the crew at Royal Arts Academy, Charlize Theron and Africa’s leading actor Majid Michel are the other two acting personalities that have continued to provide Belinda with the right kicks and encouragement to succeed. ‘ “I like Charlize Theron because she is the first lady of African origin to win an Oscar. I love her unique way of interpreting roles and I love her tenacity. Majid Michel is what you will call a method actor who is very focused and always delivers on any job he takes on,’’ she said.

For Belinda, it has not been a smooth ride down this road, however. She has had a couple of bumpy moments. She also says that it does not worry her when some male fans lust after her or when the gossip press puts a search light on her.

“There are odds that come with the trade so I don’t find these things strange. I am just coping fine and really it has been a bumpy ride for me in the industry and it got to a point where I had to take on a day job so I could survive. I believe when life throws you lemons you make lemonades.

There is no easy way to anything. I appreciate whatever challenges I have gone through in my acting career. It has helped sharpen me to the person I have become. And I am happy for it. In fact, acting makes me happy and that is my staying power’’.

Courteous and humble, Belinda will do anything to keep clean, neat and healthy friends and would avoid untidy people and environment.

She said: ‘’cleanliness is next to Godliness, and so I like clean, neat and healthy people and environments. How you take care of yourself and your environment goes a long way to show the kind of person that you are and how detailed and committed you can be as an individual’’.

Belinda would skip any question that has to do with her relationship with the opposite sex but would list qualities that her ideal man must possess if they have to co-habit. “I expect a Godfearing man who is capable of being a man and not a boy. Relationship is about two people and not about self. So, the person must understand the true essence of relationship before embarking on one with me,’’ she surmised.

Belinda

Celebritygist…

A Second O’jez Honour For Peter Igho…Tomorrow NTA. The O’jez Entertainment Award had played host to several deserving Nigerians, which inCommission (NLRC) Peter Igho clude Chief Dele Momodu, Ken Calebs Olumese, Alhaji Bamanga will take his turn again tomorTukur and Kenny ‘Keke’ Ogungbe row to receive the O’jez Enteramong many others monthly in a tainment Award. The award, period spanning more than a which holds monthly at the celebrity restaurant, O’jez, inside decade now. Only Igho, the late the National Stadium complex, Ambassador Segun Olusola and Surulere, Lagos, is given to indi- Steve Rhodes have been honoured twice. viduals in recognition of their service to the entertainment in- But Igho is returning to receive the second honour because of his dustry.

It is the second for the television accomplishments. Former Director of Programmes and member man Igho who was honoured shortly after he retired from the of the Management Board of the Broadcaster and FtheOREMOST current Director General of National Lottery Regulatory

Nigerian Television Authority, NTA, for many years until he retired from the broadcast industry, Igho is now blazing the trail at the National Lottery Regulatory Commission where he is Director General.

Chief Host of tomorrow’s event, Nollywood star Zach Orji in a statement signed by O’jez media Company, Media Image Managers, MIM said the broadcaster’s years at NTA left an indelible mark in the nation’s entertainment industry.

“No producer or actor worth his salt will ever forget the name

Peter Igho,” Orji said in a statement. “Till date, his name rings a bell in the nation’s entertainment sector for his contributions and assistance to practitioners. He was like a father to all practitioners. Similar thing he is doing at the National Lottery Regulatory Commission and that is why the prestigious O’jez Entertainment Award, the only monthly award series that has been on for more than a decade now, decided to honour this very rare Nigerian. Peter Igho deserves this honour and many more.”

Peter Igho

28 |

THE GUARDIAN, Saturday May 25, 2013

FITNESS With Oyinkan Talabi (Bodyworks)

Colon Hydrotherapy HAD been feeling bloated and craving sugar—yes, even I am not IOnperfect.

Monday, a friend who was feeling the same way suggested

The colon contains nearly 60 varieties of good bacteria, which aid digestion, promote vital nutrient production, maintain pH (acidbase) balance, and prevent proliferation of harmful bacteria.

we start off our detoxification with a “Colonic”. Though I had never had one done before, I had heard a lot about it and so agreed to try it out.

After my sessions (I had 2), I was tired and hungry, had some steamed vegetables for dinner and slept like a baby. The next day, I woke up really energized for my morning workout sessions.

So, what is a colonic? Colonic irrigation or Colon hydrotherapy as the name implies, is water therapy for the colon. The main functions of the colon (large intestine, rectum and anus) are The absorption of water and minerals The formation and elimination of feces

Colon hydrotherapy is actually not a new treatment. In fact, ancient Egyptians are said to have used it and it was also used medically until recent times when it was replaced by strong purgatives, which are used for emptying the bowel before surgical procedures.

Basically, 6 litres of water is feed into your body via a tube inserted in your rectum (yes, your rectum). As the water goes in, any solidified waste in your colon is flushed out.

Why do you need one? Well the large intestine is long (5.5 feet) and

folded up. Solid waste on its way out of your body sometimes gets stuck in corners or slows down on its journey, especially if you don’t have enough fiber in your meals to help the momentum.

This will accumulate and harden in the colon and in turn may: Prevent the absorption of water and nutrients Lead to constipation and being bloated Allow harmful colon bacteria and yeast to grow Cause stagnant toxins to be absorbed into the bloodstream through the colon wall (called autointoxication) Lack of fiber, excess sugar, and a diet high in red meat are believed to contribute to the problem.

What are the benefits?

It helps the digestive system be more effective and increases the body’s absorption of vitamins and nutrients As the colon is cleansed, undigested waste is pushed through the system, clearing the way for good nutrient absorption. If waste remains in the body for too long, it becomes a breeding ground for bacteria and illness.

Maintains regularity and prevents constipation Constipation — especially when it’s chronic — encourages a sluggish digestive response, which in turn leaves waste in the system longer. This increases the likelihood that toxins will be released into the bloodstream. It is also a cause of other illnesses and irritations, such as hemorrhoids and varicose veins.

Increases energy Releasing the toxins from your body refocuses the energy usually used for forcing waste through your intestines to other parts of your body.

Improves concentration Poor diet and ineffective vitamin absorption can cause you to become distracted and lose your concentration. The buildup of mucous and toxins in your colon can keep your body from getting what it needs to function, even if you eat a consistently healthy diet. Cleansing the colon with a detoxification diet can be the difference between feeling alert and not being able to focus. This has far-reaching ramifications for work, your relationships and your overall health.

Decreases risk of colon cancer All the toxins that you eat, drink, breathe in and absorb through your skin end up being processed by your gastrointestinal system and liver. If they are not cleared out of your colon and liver as quickly as possible, they can wreak havoc on your body’s systems.

By releasing stagnant body waste, you reduce the causes and the risk of polyps, cysts and cancerous growths in your colon and gastrointestinal tract.

Maintains pH balance in the bloodstream Foods that cause colon blockages are acid-forming, particularly high-protein diets without enough fiber. This leads to general malaise in the body. The tissue of the colon eventually becomes diseased and inflamed, reducing the colon’s ability to do its job, which is to allow only water, minerals and vitamins to pass into the bloodstream. If yeasts, molds, fungus, bacteria, parasites or fecal material enter the bloodstream and connected tissue, the body’s pH will be thrown out of balance.

Like everything else in life, there are risks involved like risk of bowel infection because, the good bacteria in your system is also flushed out during the procedure. However, taking a probiotic or yogurt will help restore that.

Another risk is dehydration; this can be averted through drinking a lot of water after the procedure.

If you have any existing medical condition please, check with your doctor first. Where can you get one done? Check out a spa close to you and only proceed if you feel comfortable with the environment and the therapist.

I definitely felt unclogged and lighter. And as much as I would like you to try it, it shouldn’t replace a healthy diet and regular exercise.

Love your body…and it will love you back!

WELLNESS & BEAUTY

By Victoria Ekanem

Causes Of Dark Circles Under The Eyes (4) Nutrients Too little iron or Vitamin C could cause dark circles under your eyes. Low haemoglobin, in particular, could be the culprit. If you think you might be anaemic, taking supplements to increase your iron intake may reduce or even cure the dark circles.

On the other hand, too much of certain minerals can be the cause. If you take in too much potassium—in bananas, etc — this may be the reason for your dark circles. Try to reduce your potassium intake or increase the amount of table salt in your diet to compensate.

Pregnancy During pregnancy, surging hormones and other changes in the body often cause the skin colour and texture to change. This is particularly true for dark-haired women.

Pregnant women should be particularly careful to apply plenty of sunscreen and cover up (par-

ticularly with light coloured clothes) when they go out in to bright sunlight.

Continued hormonal imbalances after childbirth may also cause dark circles under the eyes. This may be in addition to suffering from dark circles during the pregnancy or may only occur after childbirth.

Rubbing Eyes Rubbing at your eyes can cause marks in this area.

In children, particularly, constant rubbing can result in dark marks around the eyes. This rubbing may be due to substances in the air that are irritating the eyes. Such irritation could also be due to allergies.

If you rub your eyes a great deal, this could be the cause of the dark circles under your eyes or could be making them significantly worse. The advice is obvious: stop rubbing your eyes. If the urge to do so is unbearable, consider the possi-

bility that you are suffering from an allergy or irritation.

Sinusitis Whether caused by allergies or more specific issues, the Sinuses

can be responsible for dark circles under the eyes.

Sinus or nasal inflammation results in venous congestion. Venous circulation (circulation of blood through the veins) is the return of blood to the heart.

This is under low pressure (the high pressure action of the heart pumping blood through the body has slowed by the time the blood is on its way back) and, therefore, easily impaired.

Chronic nasal inflammation — like severe sinitus — impedes the venous blood as it tries to pass through the tiny vessels in facial skin. The blood is trapped and shows through the skin where it has built up.

Treating the sinus problem — or allergy — should reduce the appearance of dark circles under the eyes. For many people, the dark circles will go altogether.

If you suffer from severe headaches as well as dark circles under your eyes, this could be another sign that your problems are sinus-related.

THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, May 25, 2013

| 29

FOOD&DRINKS

Egg Noodles With Tuna Fish Stew

By Chinelo Nwagbo GG noodles with tuna fish stew is a nutritious and tasty E dish that can be eaten at any time. Egg noodles served with tuna fish stew has unique characteristics and health promoting benefits that are not common in other pastas.

As we all know, pastas are piece of hardened, unleavened dough that are moulded into various shapes. They are made from flour or common wheat, water and sometimes egg.

They may come in so many forms like dried pasta (macaroni, noodles, amori, rigatoni and lasagne).

Egg noodles served with tuna fish has noodles, tuna fish, kidney beans and carrot as its base ingredients. It provides the body with important nutrients like protein, carbohydrate, vitamins (vitaminB1, B3, B6, C, E), minerals (potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, selenium) and little fat, especially unsaturated fat called omega–3 fatty acid.

All these important nutrients present in the dish help in keeping one in the best of health. Studies have shown that consuming egg noodles with tuna fish stew is beneficial to people that are suffering from malnutrition and anaemia. It is also an ideal dish for those that need an increase in nutritional needs like pregnant women for successful pregnancy and healthy baby.

Eating egg noodles with tuna fish stew helps children to attain adequate physical and intellectual development. It can help sick people recover quickly from illnesses. It is an ideal food for athletes because it provides the body with carbohydrates, which are broken down to give energy to the body.

Carbohydrates are also essential in healthy, balanced diets.

There is worldwide consensus among high-level nutrition scientists and international dietary guidelines that carbohydrates are key ingredients in an eating pattern that promotes healthy longevity and pasta is a good source of carbohydrate.

Egg noodles with tuna fish stew, is therefore, recommended

for those that want healthy long life.

Pasta, especially those made from whole grain (which contains the germ and the bran that are high in fibre) does not cause sugar in the blood to rise quickly, so it gives the benefits of prolonged carbohydrate absorption.

Ingredients Quantities Egg noodles 2 packs Water 1½ litres Sea salt Method of preparation Add noodles, a few at a time to salted boiling water.

To prevent noodles from sticking to the bottom of the pan, stir gently until the water returns to a rapid boil.

Boil the paste (egg noodles) and drain when firm to bite.

Rinse with cold water to stop cooking.

Tuna fish stew Ingredients Quantities Canned tuna fish 2 tins Canned kidney beans 1 Tin Tomatos puree 1 tin

Fresh pepper (grounded) Carrot Onion Olive oil Seasoning cube Sea salt Water

2 medium size 2 medium size 1 medium bulb 3 tablespoons 1 to taste 1 cup

Method of preparation Wash and chop the carrots into small cubes.

Heat the oil in a pot and sauté the onion.

When golden, add the tomato puree and pepper and sauté for an additional 5 minutes.

Add the seasoning cube, chopped carrots, kidney beans and tuna fish.

Simmer for another 5 minutes.

Stir and add salt to taste.

Remove from heat and serve with egg noodles.

E-mail: chineloeby@yahoo.com

Treat Yourself To Organic Wine

By Ibukunoluwa Kayode

NDULGING in light refreshment after a day’s work is a great option to barIingain for. You can do so with Lobetia Tempranillo, a red wine that can deliver terms of sedating the palate for memorable refreshment.

The wine is made from naturally grown Spain’s famous Tempranillo grape. It is made to add flavour to every occasion and offer its customers value for their money.

Structured with an in-depth of bouquet red berries and cherries, it leaves fresh notes of slight astringent on the palate and at the same time, a harmonious long finish.

Tempranillo can be served both at formal and informal occasions such as dinners, cocktails, birthday parties, house warming and naming ceremonies and outdoor events like beach parties, pool parties and picnics.

This organic wine can be sighted in any wine market across Nigeria, ranging from the big wine supermarkets to local wine shops at an affordable price.

It has a perfect weight for a variety of dishes ranging from continental to local, such as beef, pork, sausage and meatier pastas.

THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, May 25, 2013

30

HOME&DECOR

Organising With Boxe

By Ekwy P. Uzoanya O successfully manage space and keep things from view T until they are needed in homes that have space constraints, then consider boxes. They are hide-and-seek option that can sit pretty and at the same time be practical.

Besides helping in space management, boxes can be used to provide stylish look in homes. With them nearly everything except perishable items, toxic substances, flammable liquids or fuels can be stored. Other items such as books, linens, clothes and jewelry can find comfortable spaces in the boxes.

At such time like moving into a new house, boxes are convenient for packing various items. For such periods, fragile items such as glass cups should be given extra protection by packing them in boxes while also heeding rules necessary for keeping them intact to avoid breaking.

Since they can be used to create a look in a space, one can go for what appeals to him from the various materials and shapes they come in such as square, rectangular and round.

Some come in sets of two, three and even five different sizes.

Boxes in sets look good especially when arranged according to sizes. Such kind of arrangement can be useful in organising items simply by looking at the sizes in relation to the things to be stored in them.

Boxes may be labeled for easy identification of their contents. Effective use of space can be achieved by using them in places such as top of cupboards and wardrobes without them giving the place an ugly look.

The nature of the material a box is made of will determine the level of care needed in handling it.

For example, a plastic box is definitely more fragile than an iron trunk box.

Avoid placing other items on boxes packed with breakable items such as mirror and chandeliers.

For such items, stuff paper in between the spaces when packing them. Just like everything in use, boxes should be kept clean. Leather boxes need cleaning and polishing from time to time to maintain their shine.

The outside of plastic boxes can be cleaned with a damp cloth. Iron boxes need spraying or painting to prevent them rusting. For all types, avoid touching the inner lining.

Home Care Tips OME simple items can be used in handling home prob- Mix equal amount of lemon juice and salad oil. Rub into scratches Smercial lems. To freshen up the home, rather than go for com- with a soft cloth until scratches disappear. fresheners, which have the tendency to mask one For Water spots: odour with another, open up windows and doors for some time for ventilation.

Fill some small containers with vinegar and place around the room. Alternatively, prepare potpourri from favourite herbs and spices. Place the potpourri in a small basket or jar or in a small sachet bags.

For garbage: Empty the garbage frequently and clean the can as needed.

To inhibit growth of odour-producing moulds and bacteria, sprinkle half cup of borax in the bottom of the garbage bin.

For grease spots: Immediately pour salt on the grease spot to absorb grease and prevent staining.

For scratches:

Remove watermarks by rubbing gently with toothpaste on a damp cloth.

Window and glass cleaning: Do not wash windows while the sun is shining on them because they dry too quickly and leave streaks. When polishing windows, use up and down strokes on one side of the window and side-toside strokes on the other to tell which side requires extra polishing. To polish windows or mirrors to a sparkling shine, try a natural linen towel or other soft cloth, a clean, damp chamois cloth or crumpled newspaper.

One word of warning about newspaper: while newspaper does leave glass lint-free with a dirt-resistant film, persons with sensitivities to fumes from newsprint may wish to avoid the use of newspaper as a cleaning tool.

Adapted from Products Around The Home

31

THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, May 25, 2013

With Sereba Agiobu-Kemmer

sereba.agiobu.kemmer@ngrguardiannews.com

GARDENING

The Great Garden Workout ARDENING not only beautifies your G home, it’s good exercise too. Gardening is not only good for your soul, it helps you burn calories and strengthen your bones and muscles. Trying your hand at gardening may be a best-kept secret to getting and staying in shape. If you garden for pleasure, you may not be aware how beneficial this hobby is for your health. While you are preparing your garden plot to grow fresh vegetables or while you are busy turning the compost pile, you’re actually doing a decent amount of exercise as well! Studies have shown that gardening is an excellent form of physical exercise because it works most, if not all, of the body’s major muscle groups. While enjoying yourself in the garden, you are also working all the major muscle groups: legs, buttocks, arms, shoulders, neck, back and abdomen. Gardening tasks that use these muscles build strength and burn calories. It also increases flexibility and strengthens joints. When you are working in your garden you are constantly moving, bending over, picking up, stretching, twisting, squatting, lifting – in other words, exercising! A garden workout without being as stressful on your body as some other forms of physical exercise like weight lifting, aerobics, or running (jogging) working in your garden for 45 minutes can burn about the same number of calories as 30 minutes of more traditional exercise programmes like jogging or aerobics. And unlike other forms of exercise, gardening is engaging! You are actually accomplishing something wonderful. You are actually on your way to becoming healthy and fit.

There is enjoyment in making things grow, prosper, and produce from a patch of dirt.

Losing weight by Gardening Losing weight requires you burn more calories than you consume and so the amount of weight you’ll lose gardening depends on several factors like the specific garden activities you are performing and your size. A 180-pound person will use 202 calories during 30 minutes of digging, spading and tilling. Even 30 minutes of cutting grass on a riding mower burns 101 calories.

The National Institute for Health of America lists gardening for 30-45 minutes in its recommended activities for moderate levels of exercise to combat obesity, along with biking five miles in 30 minutes and walking two miles in the same time.

Iowa State University claims that women in general can burn around 300 calories with an hour of moderately strenuous gardening activities like cultivating or using a spade. Men typically burn around 400 calories per hour during same. Raking and carrying leaves is another good activity and burns a little less calories than using a cultivator or a spade. This provides exercise for your legs, back and arms as well. The reason is that the ground is providing resistance and thus your muscles work hard to move the earth. Using lawn mower is an excellent workout. However, not all mowers give you the same kind of exercise. The manual reel mowers are recommended to maximize the amount of calories you burn.

If you use a reel mower, women can burn almost 400 calories an hour, while men almost 500. A power mower will reduce this to around 250 calories, for women and 350 for men. In addition to reel mowers, if you use other manual tools in the garden like a rake instead of a leaf blower, you’ll be

better off.

Planting transplant including trees, shrubs etc work out to about 250 calories for women and 350 for men. This activity also provides your arms some exercise. If you plant trees you can expect to be digging holes, so that translates to a pretty decent upper body workout.

Weeding is a necessary chore in the garden.

Some people hate to weed, but if you consider that you are exercising while you weed, you can think of it as replacing a trip to the gym.

Weeding burns at least as many calories as mowing the lawn with a power mower.

Some of the best garden activities you can do to both work muscles and burn calories are to move compost, rake, dig holes for transplanting etc. You can burn over 100 calories when you turn the compost pile for 15 minutes.

It takes at least 30 minutes, three to five times a week, to really receive any health benefit from gardening. However, researchers are now saying that you can break that 30 minutes up into shorter active period throughout the day. As long as each activity lasts at least eight minutes and is at moderate intensity, when you total them up to 30 minutes per day, you will reap the same rewards as if you had been gardening for half an hour straight.

So you can do a little weeding in the cool of the morning and go back in out to the garden in the evening to prune and trim.

As with any exercise it is important to warm up and stretch before you begin gardening and afterwards. Vary your activities to avoid overusing specific muscles. To prevent back injuries, bend from the knees when you rake and hoe or when you lift heavy objects like bags of potting soil. You will want to protect yourself from excess sun exposure. Wear a hat.

Drink adequate fluids to avoid being dehydrated, and retreat to some place cooler if you feel yourself getting overheated. As with any other form of exercise, check with your doctor first, if you are not used to strenuous exercise, and take things slowly in extreme heat. We do garden for the pleasure, after all. Getting in shape and losing weight are just the icing on the cake.

Therapy for the mind Gardening is relaxing, energizing and rejuvenating. It is excellent for improving strength, endurance and flexibility. It soothes your mind and spirit. During your time in the garden, the demands and stresses of your everyday life seem to fade away. You can totally immerse yourself in your plant and your garden chores. Digging, raking, planting, harvesting, trimming, transplanting, mowing, and mulching are all therapeutic to the body and spirit. even weeding, to many gardeners, is an extremely rewarding garden task. One strongly feel the benefit of gardening extend beyond the physical weight loss. It also improves your intellectual, social and emotional health.

Something that is not as widely publicised as it should be. It has masny rehabilitative properties that many people within society can attest to.

Aromatherapy? Who needs it when you are working and weeding in the midst of the soothing scents of grass and fragrant plants?

I’d much rather be among plants out in the sunshine than a crowded room with music blaring doing aerobics. In the garden, there is breeze, things get dew on them, things flower, the sound, the smell, the rhythms of the natural environment and the repetitive, soothing nature of many gardening tasks are an excellent way to fight stress and fatigue, even symptoms of depression or low mood.

Laying sod

Turning compost

Exercise for back muscle

Planting tree

Lifting, carrying leaves

Trimming and pruning shrubs

Hoeing and weeding

Planting into dugged holes Photos by Sereba Agiobu-Kemmer

THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, May 25, 2013

32

FASHION

Glamour At Design For Life Fashion Show

By Nike Sotade The Samsung Galaxy S4 device was launched in style last weekend in Lagos stylish and sophistiFitsUN, cated is the device with all functions. Hence it was launched in a stylish way at the prestigious Oriental Hotel in Victoria Island penultimate Friday.

Apart from the brand ambassadors Kate Henshaw and Banky W, many celebrities, style icons and people from different walks of life witnessed the official launch of the much-awaited Samsung Galaxy S4 device.

Kicking off with a fashion show specially organised by Samsung to celebrate young designers, the event highlighted the distinctive qualities of the phone while the crème de la crème of the entertainment industry laughed for several hours in the company of compere Seyi Law. Amidst entertainment, four young and promising designers- Maureen Aurora Daniels, Clemas Couture, Unseen Designs, Tracy Zika and Karelle- exhibited their trendy wears on the runway.

Each designer collection represented what the new GS4 Device stands for as a Life Companion for its user.

On the Design for Life runway, Tracy Zika and Karelle’s designs that stood head and shoulders above the rest.

With their simple yet classy manoeuvres of Ankara fabric with a nice blend of colour and shapes, the two ladies blew the crowd away and got people cheering at their work, as they interlaced S4 themes into their showcase.

Highlight of the evening was the formal launch of GS4 by Banky W. He was invited on stage by Business Head, Hand Held Products, Mr. Emmanouil Revmatas to physically demonstrate the peculiarities of the phone and all through his rather energetic demo, constant gasps of ‘ohhs’ and ‘ahhs’ vibrated through the hall, as Banky highlighted the Drama Shot feature of the phone.

Breaking into some Jet Litype moves, Banky showed the already mesmerised crowd how movement while taking a shot does nothing to blur a picture with the S4.

The brand ambassador also showed off the Air Gesture and Sound and Shot features of the phone where you can easily answer a call without touching your phone and can record up to nine seconds of sound while taking a picture.

Performing along with Wizkid also electrified the entire show as GS4 device was launched into the Nigerian market in style. It was beautiful.

Banky, Kate Henshaw and Emmanuoil Revmatas at the Samsung Galaxy S4 launch

THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, May 25, 2013

33

FASHION

Wardrobe Essentials For Men

By Ibukunoluwa Kayode

popping look, wear it tucked in with dress pants for a forA man can never go wrong in his mal look or un-tucked with sartorial sense with some basic jeans for casual yet refined items in his closet appearance. Make sure you choose your perfect size to UILDING a closet of make a lasting expression. wardrobe essentials for Solid tie: This is an essential men is actually a lot easier accessory every man must than it seems as long as a stock in his closet. But, in man understands the basics. order to make a lasting stateThe goal is to present a clas- ment, having various tie patsic well dressed, polished terns will spice up looks to and successful looking man make right impression for to the world. any occasion from business to In order to hit the fashion semi-formal outings. scene in style, ensure that Polo shirts: Perhaps no shirt is your wardrobe has these few more versatile than the clasclassics and you will never sic polo shirt. The short sleeve go wrong. These pieces will collared shirts provides a work well in formal, semitimeless look that is appropridressy/business casual situa- ate for just about anything tions that call for something from casual Sunday at home a bit more polished, but not to a meeting at the office or a too strict or fussy. weekend trip visits to friends.

Here are basic wardrobe Quality jeans: This is a piece essentials for men to invest that was actually made with in to stay stylish and make men in mind. They look great, huge difference on the fash- durable and appropriate to ion scene. wear all year round. It is Blazer: An absolute essential sewed from premium heavyin order to dress up any out- weight denim for exceptional fit in a pinch. This piece durability with detailed vinhelps to add a mix with a tage-inspired finishes, reinrespectable look for formal forced stitching and metal to semiformal occasions. rivets for long lasting style.

White dress shirt: A crisp Pair of shoes: Adding a pair of white dress shirt is a versaany choice shoe to your clastile piece of clothing that is sic closet is a must, an essena closet-essential for men. tial that creates a lasting This piece wins hands-down focus on the feet from admiranytime. For that trendy eye ers.

B

SA’s Top Designers Showcase World Heritage Sites At INDABA 2013 OUTH African Tourism has proudly Sebrated partnered with South Africa’s most celfashion designers, who will showcase their much-anticipated couture interpretations of the country’s eight World Heritage Sites at INDABA this year.

The designers - David Tlale, Marianne Fassler, Thula Sindi and Nkhensani Nkosi – have set catwalks worldwide, and they will now present creations that are inspired by South Africa’s UNESCO treasures: Robben Island, Vredefort Dome, iSimangaliso Wetlands, Mapungubwe, Cradle of Humankind, Richtersveld National Park, uKhahlamba in the Drakensberg, and Table Mountain at INDABA. The garments representing these sites will adorn the “South Africa Heritage and Culture Pavilion”, a first at INDABA and a one-stop-shop for every delegate and visitor to enjoy the best kaleidoscope of Heritage and Culture experiences, products, services and offerings in South Africa.

The Heritage and Culture Pavilion, a partnership between the National Department of Tourism and South African Tourism, in collaboration with the Moja Heritage Collection, will be situated at the Durban Exhibition Centre during Africa’s top travel and tourism trade show, INDABA. “We have placed a major emphasis on our country’s heritage and culture, and its important tourism role at INDABA this year. Having the support of our country’s top fashion designers in promoting our country’s world heritage sites through their incredible work is a major boost and a wonderful creative addition to the show,” said South African Tourism Chief Executive Officer, Thulani Nzima.

THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, May 25, 2013

34 |

PEOPLE

‘To Fully Exploit Our Tourism Potentials, We Must Be Serious About Security’ you have kept expanding. How have you managed the expansion?

Things are changing a lot. More hotels are springing up everyday. When you go to GRA, a lot of hotels are springing up. On Joel Ogunnaike alone, there are about 13 hotels. A lot of people are getting into the hotel business because they have seen the opportunities. There is a lot of competition; if you do not brace up, you would be. At our facility here, for instance, we keep doing new things every time and adding to what we have. We started the GRA facility about three years ago, nonetheless, we have kept updating the quality of our offerings there.

So what have you been doing right over years to sustain your brand?

Basically, we just talk to our customers, listen to them and let them advise us so we can

By Olawunmi Ojo adjust and correct our lapses. We also learn ITH the reported opening of at least one on the business. When I travel, I stay in hotels hotel every other month and the influx of and learn a lot. international hotel brands, the nation’s hospiWe must however be serious about the issue tality sector has been thriving in recent times. of security. Security and service are two The growth notwithstanding, the challenges things foreigners consider in bringing any besetting the subsector, which have persisted form of investment and patronising any over years, are multifarious. From erratic power tourism facility. supply, importation of majority of the products Internationally, tourism has become a huge and furniture, dearth of skilled personnel, to income earner. Nigeria has not got to that security issues, the list draws on. It is therefore level yet. What are some of the limitations, tasking to sustain a good brand. aside funding?

In spite of these limitations, Austin Eruotor, Basically, we have infrastructural problem. It President, White House Hotels & Conference is about the biggest hinderance. The cost of Centre, Ikeja, has over the last decade waded doing business in Nigeria is too high. There is through the murky waters, standing tall. His the issue of multiple taxation. In Lagos state outfit, which started out just as a musical events today, you have so many people coming on location, has grown into an entertainment, the same terms. You also have the power chalevents and hospitality rendezvous frequented lenge. Power generating sets which ought to by trendsetters in business and entertainment. be back up now serve as the main power Located in the fast paced, highbrow Ikeja busi- source. These are some of the reasons why ness area of Lagos, the unrelenting patronage he hotels with high standards in Europe are far gets from fun lovers and famous personalities cheaper than Nigeria. If we can have steady has also earned his facility a reputation as a power supply, I am sure Nigeria would comCelebrity Hangout. pete with foreign hotels.

And this did not just happen. Passion is at the But what has been the stand of industry heart of all Eruotor has achieved. Before the idea stakeholders on the issue of multiple taxaof veering into hospitality full-time crystallized, tion?

WhiteHouse was the ‘go to’ place for album The FG and state governments should reconlaunch, music shows, private parties and so on. cile the regime of fees payable. Multiple taxa“We knew where we were going from the onset. tion is still on inspite of the fact that the case We knew we were going into hospitality busiis in the court, this is oppressive. This kind of ness but we had to start from somewhere,” he situation forces out foreign recalls. investors. People should be Over time, patrons of his location began to able to determine to an request for accomodation. There were no extent the cost of operation resources to embark on such project. Still, their or doing business in this requests prompted an action. In addition to the country. The law should be event hall, he built some rooms and the accept- straight and must not favour ance among the patrons was heartwarming. He particular people. And the has since not looked back; he has been expandprocesses of setting up business ing. should not also be cumbersome.

With a vision to “be the best in service delivery, The issue of security at a time gave guided by a philosophy of warm, prompt and people a lot of headache to the extent courteous service,” the win-win disposition that private companies were providing adopted by the Eruotor-led WhiteHouse team to security for themselves and their business. all comers has been one of the most powerful Has the situation improved? attractions that patrons have noticed, making We are still providing our security. them to repeatedly patronize the facility.

Generally, the southwest is still better comHow attractive was it when you ventured into pared to what is happening in the north hospitality because of the insurgence of Boko Haram. You Hospitality is a very attractive business. You must however know that it is affecting everymeet a lot of people. It opens doors for other body because somebody in America or businesses. In Lagos for example, I do not think Europe may not know the difference. All they we have enough accomodation. If Lagos state or know is that the insurgence is happening in Nigeria were to host a big international event, Nigeria. I personally lost a business; a client like the senior FIFA World Cup, we may not be that was supposed to patronise me went to able to cope. We do not have the infrastructure Abuja and a member of the crew was for it. As things stand, there are no 5-star hotels attacked. Afterwards, they were meant to in Nigeria. So there is still a lot of room for stay in Lagos for another project but expansion and opportunities for new entrants that incident made them move to in the industry.

Ghana. Government should When people come into a new country, the first brace up and do the right impression they get matters. If you come and do thing; it is the key to not get good accomodation, if you had a lot of development. money to invest, would that experience not They affect your decision. So we are still way behind in terms of development and tapping into the opportunities that abound in the sector.

Our lending rate is too high. Most of the businesses you see are through self effort. You cannot be borrowing at 25 per cent interest rate.

How do you pay back? In the west, the borrowing rate is about five per cent. You have long-term and medium-term loans. Here, you only have short-term, which is inhibiting development.

Eruotor In your almost 10 years in the industry,

Austin Eruotor is an entertainment buff. But about a decade ago, his exploits on that turf led him into hospitality. As with everything he does, he became pasionate about it. Today, as President, White House Hotels & Conference Centre in Ikeja, he speaks on the WhiteHouse enterprise, what it takes to brave the odds in Nigeria’s business clime and the lessons life has taught him.

W

must realise that whatever affects the poor would ultimately affect the rich because we live and inter-relate together.

In broad sense, are we doing enough in Nigeria to explore the vast tourism potentials of our nation?

We are not doing enough at all. If you look at the Carribean Islands, Jamaica, for example, tourism is about the only thing they depend on their. It is their major income earner. When people from America or Europe have any little break, they are in Jamaica. Nigeria has more but we are not exploiting the resources. We have water everywhere, out weather is perfect allyear-round, we have a lot of sites that can be developed, yet we are not developing these tourism potentials.

Government should create the enabling environment – good infrastructure, road network, power, security, and jobs would be rolling out from the sector. If Nigeria becomes a destination, tourism is capable of attracting so many investments. Even the locals and artisans would make money. It would be a win-win situation for everybody.

Also, corruption is still the order, we must fight it collectively. The infrastructural decay we have can be fixed. But it is sad that things keep getting worse everyday. There seem to be no commitment to fix Nigeria. Look at the power challenge; it is all man-made. The mentality of the average Nigerian that when it gets to my turn, I would collect, should stop. We all need reorientation.

I understand you are invloved in a project, TourPR. Could you give some insight into what this is all about?

This is a leadership programme. We are individually leaders. This project would help brigde the communication gaps

When people from America or Europe have any little break, they are in Jamaica. Nigeria has more but we are not exploiting the resources. We have water everywhere, out weather is perfect all-year-round, we have a lot of sites that can be developed, yet we are not developing these tourism potentials.

Government should create the enabling environment – good infrastructure, road network, power, security, and jobs would be rolling out from the sector observed in all facets of the society. Once there is a gap, it causes a lot of confusion. This project is essentially to help with re-orientation with regards to correcting ills in the society.

We must realise that if investors are forced to leave because of the security situation, our economy would suffer.

WhiteHouse has over the years been involved in a lot of leadership initiatives, among them the 1000 Leaders Forum, so as to help train the youth to become good leaders at their individual level. When achieved, this would reduce restiveness and make our youths more productive with immense effects on the economy and society.

The TourPR is basically trying to brigde the gap between public relations and tourism.

This tries to bring stakeholders in both subsectors to form a common front and help government on such issue as insecurity and unemployment through tourism and public relations.

White House is an enterprise that has run for almost a decade. What has made it succeed thus far?

Dedication, hardwork, passion. When you enjoy what you do, it becomes easy. Service is the key. We offer personalised service.

Our facility contains about 27 rooms here and in GRA, about 40 rooms. But our service is personalised and prompt. All food is served a la carte and fresh. We also upgrade our facility regularly; each time you come here, you see new things. We have room for conferences, party, weddings. In our GRA branch, we have a big gym, swimming poll, pool bar, and many others.

There is good space, the ambiemnce too is wonderful; these are features that attract most of our foreign visitors.

Over the years, the quality of our service has endeared us to many customers who in turn have become loyal to us. At weekends, our facility is the place to be in Lagos becasue of the various programmes and offerings available to our customers. We usually have a lot of live band on hand to entertain guests all night.

TheGuardian

Saturday, May 25, 2013 | 35

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Entertainment

Sony Neme nemesony@yahoo.co.uk 08111813096

AMAA Policy Unites African Filmmakers Stories by Sony Neme HE unification of the African continent through is being T made possible by the African Movie Academy Awards, AMAA. Ironically, while other countries celebrate their movie people over AMAA, the nigerian government has never even congratulated nigerian actors who have remained the real ambassadors of the country.

This much was revealed by Peace Anyiam-Osigwe, the CEO of AMAA in an exclusive interview with The Guardian at Ikeja, Lagos last Saturday. She spoke on the gains, challenges and future of AMAA. nine years after, Anyiam Osigwe explained that it has not been easy as she has been able to carry the awards all alone with the kind of sponsorship AMAA requires.

Her words: “It has been a tug of war. It is unfortunate because the mentality here is that sponsorships are easier for foreigners than for local projects. It is not funny at all as nigerian brands are not getting required sponsorship that they deserve to pull these projects through. when we started AMAA, the idea is that of a reward system that will graduate into our plan, but by the fourth year it peaked. And before you know it, AMAA has taken a life that was bigger than we anticipated.”

She further stressed that the credibility of AMAA has peaked as members of jury are men of integrity from notable film festivals a across the world.

“So when people talk about influencing the outcome, I only laugh because I don’t even know winners until they are being announced. If people observed very well, Shaibu Husseini who is a member of the jury and chair of the selection committee who came in late into the hall on the day of the event because the jury meeting lasted till late and they had to prepare the winning list.

Shaibu was at that when the event started and when he came, the head juror, June Givanni, went through to ensure that it was as the jury agreed. That was the level of carefulness that goes into the final selection,’’ she further hinted.

AMAA nomination process, she stressed, is not an easy task as entries for the award keep increasing yearly. Last year, over 300 films were entered for the award, but this year the AMAA CEO disclosed that the secretariat received 674 films. Even the categories have increased from 20 to 26 with the creation of the diaspora categories. Her words: “we started with getting as low as 100 films to 200 films but by the fourth year, AMAA peaked, gained continental acceptance and the entries came pouring in. By this year, we received over 600 films and as I speak with you, AMAA receives entries from 54 African countries. we have also expanded in terms of administration. From just an office here and in South Africa, AMAA at present has functional offices in Ghana, Kenya and Malawi. we can also be easily reached in Mozambique, Egypt. So we will keep expanding and we will keep rotating our nomination events. we had the last one in Malawi and we have staged nomination events in South Africa, Burkina Faso and in Ghana.”

She further revealed that much of the funding for AMAA goes into “flying in nominees and guest first to Lagos and then to Bayelsa who are always willing to play host to the AMAA’s.” Because we don’t have a say as to those that get nominated, we are obliged to fly in nominees according to the nomination list provided by the jury. So, if 10 people are nominated from the US for instance, we are obliged to fly them in for the awards. This year, flight alone gulped $500,000, just as we were only able to secure

Saheed and Peace 200 tickets for each of the two airlines that were made available for guests’’.

Peace Osigwe’s is unhappy that government has failed to celebrate nigerian thespians: “while South Africa and other countries are celebrating winners of AMAA as worthy ambassadors, nigerians who have continued to make the country proud are not even being mentioned not to talk of being celebrated by their own country.”

She cited the AMAA 2013 best film Confusion Na Wah by Kenneth Gyang and two films –Figurine and Irapada by Kunle Afolayan that have won the AMAA top prize and that have gone ahead to be invited to festivals around the world. with all these obstacles, why so much interest in films, when she can be making money and name as a writer, lawyer or a businesswoman. Her words: “I am a content person. I make my money from other businesses and put them into AMAA. From 2014 you will see a new Chief Operating Officer to see AMAA

through. My interest on films and the need to unite African filmmakers is my own way of encouraging them because nigerian filmmakers actually put us on the map. They need to be encouraged. The gain has been our ability to establish a good platform for Africa filmmakers, while the challenge is to maintain the network and trying to fight the negative influence of the Anglophone and Francophone (conflict) that has split Africa unfortunately. A situation whereby you have to pay more on a flight from Mali to nigeria than someone flying in from America.”

She said that the future of AMAA is very bright. “At 10 (in 2014) we expect more support from government and the corporate world, and see the brand grow bigger. I want to say a big thank you to Shehu Dantata for his efforts. My gratitude also goes to Bayelsa State Government for their untiring supports. we have embarked on the training of filmmakers across the continent.

So far, we have trained 300 in Malawi, 270 in Bayelsa and many more across the continent will benefit from this programme as we march into the future,” she enthused.

Mr. Seed Registers An Epic Stage Drama For Fred Amata @ 50 Into The Music I Scene

By Tony Nwanne

Mr. Seed nEw entrant into the music scene, AdeA bola Oriyori, popularly known as Mr. Seed, said he has come to make waves in the industry with his kind of music. His newest trac, Troway, is gradually thrilling his fans.

A solo artist,Mr. Seed’s journey into the music scene started way back, but he started singing professionally three years ago, and since then, he has done a lot of collabora-

tions, with notable like Vector, Yunggix, Sean Tero.

According to him, “ in most of my songs, I try as much as possible to be original and of course Vector is a known artist who is indeed versatile.

I have a song called ‘In the club’, which will be out soon, and I will be shooting the video.

On why it took him some time to release his album, he noted that he is new in town, and he is trying to study the music scene to ascertain the kind of album to release.

A Political Science graduate from the University of Ado Ekiti, he was in the church choir, “ that was how it all started”.

He gets his inspiration from the likes of Asa, Omawunmi, and wizkid. He sees the entertainment industry as a tough scene that requires skills and varieties to blend in it.

T was celebration galore as celebrities from all walks of life converged at the Shell Hall of the Muson Center, Onikan, Lagos to celebrate with Fred Amata who clocked 50 last Saturday. Expectedly, Fred Agbeyegbe’s award-winning epic stage drama, The King Must Dance Naked, was presented to an appreciative audience.

The cast paraded notable thespians like Kate Henshaw, Paul Adams, Keppy Ekpeyong, Jude Orhorha, Dan Chris Ebie. Others who made the drama worthwhile were Inna Erizia, Mayuwon Ogun, Samson Osinaike, Tajudeen Abeedeen and Azeezat Latefat. Francis Onwuche was the narrator while the celebrant, Fred Amata, doubled as Majebi and the executive producer.

The event was crowned with a Certificate of Occupancy from Delta State governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan that was presented by Sir Patrick Eferefe of Delta State Land and Survey.

Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAn), on the other hand was also represented

by Dr. Dolapo Bada, Commissioner for Youth Development.

The outpour of encomiums from both state government representatives and notable nollywood actors was the climax of activities. In his tribute, Zik Zulu, MD/CEO of Association of

Movie Producers (AMP), nigeria, apparently captured the described Fred as, “A dazzler and a sizzler at 50.”

He wrote: “AMP salutes the crystal symbol of the legendary Amata artistic family, Fred Amata, on his gallant adventure into the golden age.”

A message from the Actors Guild of nigeria (AGn), led by Ibinabo Fiberesima, read, “Through courage, vision, creativity, hard work and faith in God, you have attained great heights and made indelible marks in your chosen career within the short period of 50 years.”

Directors Guild of nigeria was not left out of the homage signed by its president, Andy Amenechi. According to DGn’s tribute: “Fred Amata is an enigma. To many, he is a free-spirited, fun-loving, boisterous, effervescent and creative intellect who practices his art with ingenuity.”

Interestingly, the celebration will finally come to an end with a visit to an old peoples’ home and an orphanage home which is yet to be made public. Meanwhile, the wednesday, May 15 charity football match was a gathering of celebrities, including celebrated ex Super Eagle Stars who filed out against nollywood celebrities at the Campus Square, Lagos Island..

THE gUARDIAn, Saturday, May 25, 2013

36 |

EnTERTAInMEnT Stories by Sony Neme

MBGN 2013: Thrills, Drills And Fun Trail Journey To Bayelsa HE contest to be among 34 beauties as final contestT ants to camp in Bayelsa for the Most Beautiful girl in nigeria Pageant could be described as tough and challenging. This is due to the bevy of girls who turned up for the screening. After the closure of the sale of forms, the first port of call was Asaba the Delta State capital.

Eleven lucky girls were picked from the center.

Port Harcourt was next. The tall and beautiful girls who overwhelmed the team with their poise and all other qualities. Ten girls emerged from the Silverbird Showtime Center. The welcoming atmosphere of Uyo made the visit of the team to the city memorable, on arrival for the next screening, the team was ushered into the Ibom Tropicana golf Resort for the screening. As widely known, the Efiks like their ladies plump. Six girls emerged from Uyo. Abuja screening was the next as the team moved up north. Beautiful girls thronged the Silverbird Entertainment Center .At the end of the day, 10 girls emerged from the nation’s capital.

Back to base in Lagos screening, the Silverbird galleria was full to brim as tall and qualified girls made the search a tough one for the team of eagle- eyed judges.

Thirty-two girls sailed though.

Two days later, the Lagos final screening was held in Lagos at the Silverbird galleria to get the final team for the pageant camp in Bayelsa. There was difficulty in collation during the break before release of the results.

This was due to the number of girls present. Finally, 34 girls emerged as the contestants to camp in Bayelsa in June.

The girls were screened for poise, diction, height, dentition, articulation, skin texture, body structure and a mix

Firm Unveils World-Class Entertainment Equipment

By Tony Nwanne oMIng from the stable of Jayfour C global Services, a leading entertainment and multimedia company saddled with the responsibilities of providing audio and visual services, has unveiled its newest state-of-theart equipments.

At a media tour of the equipment at the house exhibition held in Ikorodu recently, the firm has in its custody latest sound equipment, 60 x 40 stages, truss, lighting and effects, P10 mega screen and open roof system, which is presently the largest in the country were exhibited.

Abraham Durotoye, one of the company’s representatives, said during the exhibition that the equipment which include latest live sound equipments in the country will go a long way in breaking all sound barriers and event hiccups thereby turning the nigerian entertainment industry around.

Most of these equipment have a sizeable amount of lighting which can also be hired in the same way as sound equipment...”

He added that they have stock inventory, a list of top range multimedia equipment, including high-tech projectors and latest HD video cameras, screens, to those who are far from stage.

“Also to our list are video mixers, VCD/DVD, CD duplicators and online real time video editing and production equipment. It employs top name brand mixing consoles, amplifiers and out of board gears to help attain the best sound possible”.

Since its inception, Jayfour has employed top name brand mixing consoles, amplifiers and out-board gears to help attain the best sound possible. Coupled with all ancillary audio/visual equipment to go along with great sound: wireless microphones, Lavalier microphones, digital projectors, front and rear screens, video screens, podiums, stands, backline, analog/digital cabling and much

MERICA-BASED nigerian thespian, gregory Dania, has expressed the joy A of collaborating with Zeb Ejiro. Dania, who spoke with The Guardian from his Texas, Houston base expressed excitement at the possibility of an emerging Hollywood and nollywood synergy that his working relationship with Zeb Ejiro forge.

According to the Auchi, Edo State-born actor, “I am excited to work with one of the movie industry’s pioneers, Zeb Ejiro.

Zeb is my business partner here in the United States. As we speak, we are bringing Hollywood and nollywood projects to Houston Texas. It’s gonna be great. It’s gonna be a super great productions, and with the collaborations of Mr. Jack goodwell, the sky is the limit. We now have our office running here in Houston. The idea is to give our projects world attention. He further said that, “Being involved in the film industry, we must have to make this work because we have what it takes to be at the very zenith. It is an experience I cannot wait to return to.”

Dania, who is married to Bibi Dania blessed with two beautiful kids is not new to the industry. “one cannot forget to mention some of the movies that I took part in the past. They include ‘My true colour’ by Saint obi, ‘Royal Dilemma’ and ‘Tears on my Pillows’. It is great experience that I will cherish for the rest of my life.”

of beauty and brain.

All is now set for the journey to Yenego, Bayelsa State in June which is believed to mark the beginning of greater investment opportunities for the state as Silverbird Productions line up a series of world-class events to celebrate the state and nigeria.

‘I Am Excited Working With Zeb Ejiro’

Emcees, DJs Celebrate First Decade Of Hip-Hop HoRTLY after the conSAprilclusion of Ladies First edition of, Str8 Up Hip-hop, many wondered what the theme of the next edition would be. Some ardent followers of the niche urban monthly event went as far as placing calls to the organizers seeking to get more information about the May edition. After much deliberation, the producers, now Muzik Encore, in conjunction with Club Rumors, have finally decided to host the hip-hop

community to a special party celebrating the first decade of Hip-hop.

Themed ‘79-89 the definitive first decade of Hiphop Party’, the party is set to hold today, May 25 at the prestigious Club Rumors located at 15A oduduwa Way, g.R.A, Ikeja. Strictly by invitation, the party, it was gathered, will be the first of its kind in the nigerian Hip-hop scene and it will witness the presence of a good number of nigerian Hip-hop pioneers, ex Emcees and ex DJs.

Dania and Ejiro

THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, May 25, 2013

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ENTERTAINMENT Solid Gospel Tunes Herald COSON Week As Lagos Stands Still …2face, Faze, Sound Sultan, Koffi, Ras Kimono, King Wadada entertain fans Stories by Sony Neme T was fun, glitz, razzmatazz and class as IoutNigeria’s entertainment’s finest came in their best to witness the first event of the highly publicized COSON Week.

COSON in the Church which held Sunday May 19 at the Household of God Church was as exciting and fun-filled as promised. Pastor Chris Okotie did not disappoint as he dazzled the audience with some gospel tunes after reading from the scriptures.

It was a gathering of men of God as many of them lent their praying voices and supplications for Nigeria and COSON. Those present included the President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Pastor Felix Omobude, Pastor Itua Ighodalo, Bishop John Osa Oni, Rev. J.B Odofin, Bishop

Kimono

Norwegian Professor Challenges Nigeria At COSON Lecture ROFESSOR Helge Ronning, Chairman, NorweP gian Copyright Development Association (NORCODE) has challenged Nigeria to meaningfully tap the tremendous wealth that abounds in the country with respect to the works of the mind and its creative industries.

Professor Ronning, who spoke at the COSON Lecture, was certain that the nation’s creative industries can contribute more to Nigeria’s GDP than oil.

At the lecture held on Tuesday at the National Theater Lagos, Ronning emphasized that the country will be doing itself great harm by not seriously converting the potentials that exist in its music, literature, dance and other forms of creativity into viable products.

Ronning said, “The unifying feature of the cultural industries is that their core is creativity protected by copyright and other forms of intellectual property legislation. Copyright embodies the power to alter the balance between what is private and public, what must be paid for and what is freely available. The working of markets is framed and regulated by copyright law and there is a constant tension between economic realities and legal doctrine that is played out in the arena of the cultural industries.”

The explosive lecture, chaired by the Honorable Justice A.B Gumel of the Court of Appeal, also had a distinguished panel of discussants who X-rayed the issues raised by Ronning. The panelists include Professor Bankole Shodipo, President, Intellectual Property Law Association of Nigeria (IPLAN); Professor Emevwo Biakolo, Dean, School of Media and Communication, Pan African University; Mrs. Tarja Koskinen-Olsson, Former Honorary President, Intellectual Federation of Reprographic Rights Organisation (IFFRO) and Mr. Chris Nkwocha, Lagos Regional Manager, Nigerian Copyright Commission, who represented the Director General of Nigeria Copyright Commission.

Taking the participants through the rudiments of copyright, its challenges and benefits, Ronning explained the relationship between the culture and creative industries which existence and sustenance he noted depends largely on the respect for intel-

$1m For Nigeria Tech Companies From Iroko Partners

By Ibukunoluwa Kayode UILDING the bridge to fill the techB nology investment vacuum that currently exist in the country amongst the internet entrepreneurs, the iROKOtv and Nollywood fame, Jason Njoku and Bastian Gotter, recently announced the official launch of SPARK, a 1million dollar-backed company to support and develop aspiring Nigerian tech and internet entrepreneur.

According to the Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of irokotv and Managing Partner of SPARK, Jason Njoku, “Africa is gradually witnessing huge transformation from tech ‘scene’ to tech ‘revolution’ where Lagos is very

Ronning lectual property.

He charged the audience never to “forget that the rights of authors and performers of all kinds – composers, writers, filmmakers, singers, actors, musicians – are the foundation for the cultural industries. To struggle to uphold our rights must be a central element in all enlightened cultural policy initiatives.”

The event took a new dimension when some members of the audience including Efe Omorogbe of Now Muzik and soul singer, Azeezat took the microphone and voiced their various concerns and how pertinent it is for artistes and indeed the general public to understand that selling their rights cheap and playing ignorance to the benefits of copyright is obsolete and self-defeating.

They however urged the audience to take advantage of opportunities like the COSON Lecture to help them shape their knowledge on the issue of intellectual property and protection of copyright.

Other personalities present on the day were ace producer, Laolu Akins, Erelu Keji Okunowo, the Norwegian ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency, Mr. Rolf Ree; Toju Ejuitche, Ziggima King, Bright Chimezie, Mahmood Ali- Balogun, Orlando Julius, Pa Chris Ajilo among many others.

much the gateway for the thriving. The creativity, talent, the spirit of entrepreneurship is here, but Nigeria’s business ecosystem isn’t set up to adequately support start-ups in their earliest days. This is why iRokotv decided to partner the launch of Spark in order to act as the catalyst to a period of aggressive and exciting growth in Africa’s Internet sector.”

Also speaking, the co-partner of SPARKS, Bastian Gotter, stressed, “we observe that this is where Nigeria’s business infrastructure struggle most which is why we decided to position spark to change the trend. SPARK is not just an incubator nor investors, but builder of companies where we adequately fund our companies thereby providing them with the back-room assistance they need to get started and advise them on all aspects of their business. This … is the financial, intellectual and pragmatic engine that will propel Nigeria’s Internet entrepreneurs from start-ups to dynamic businesses that generate jobs and income for region.”

Adekolu and his wife, Bishop Kayode Williams, Bishop Akinola, Rev. Folarin Obey-Fabiyi, Deaconess Olu Alonge And Pastor Nureni Alabi. On hand to thrill guests at the event were Panam Percy Paul, Asu Ekiye, Bright Chimezie, Princess Anne Iyang, Dizzy K. Falola, BOUQUI, Segun Obe and the wonder whiz kid on the saxophone, TJ Sax. Celebrated personalities that graced the occasion were Evangelist Dr. Ebenezer Obey Fabiyi, Erelu Keji Okunowo, Odion Iroje, Chris Ajilo, Mr. Cool, and Kenny Saint Best. Other were Oge Okoye Duru, Queen Ure, Emma Ogosi, Laolu Akins, Blackky, Sunny Neji, Ara, Zakky Adze, Sheyi Shey, Obiwon, Dr. Ben, Ofueze, Soul E, Dude Tetsola, among many others.

In his welcome address, COSON Chairman, Chief Tony Okoroji, took the guests through events that culminated in the memorable evening. He expressed his appreciation for the unprecedented attendance of several top bishops and pastors, just as he promised making the rest of the week a glorious one for Nigerians who will witness the seven mega events.

Meanwhile, Tuesday witnessed a huge party in Lagos as musicians offered their fans an unprecedented free ‘COSON In the Streets’ party. Expectedly, Lagosians were treated to a rare sight of some of their favorite celebrities that turned out en masse to give back to the society.

The storm began at Apple Junction in the Festac/ Amuwo area, through Festac Estate to Mile 2, Agboju - Alakija, before the train arrived the Trade Fair Complex about 11 am where a 30-minute party brought life to the otherwise quiet arena.

According to Chibueze Okereke of COSON, “After cleaning exercises that had people in the area making the best use of the opportunity to take pictures and mingle with their favorite celebrities, the fun train moved to other areas. Ace celebrities like Tuface, Faze, Sound Sultan, popular comedian, Koffi, Ras Kimono, King Wadada and many others were on ground to add fun to the delight of the people in the area.”

He said, “The event climaxed when Chief Okoroji and the Rubber Dubmaster were seen driving garbage truck at different times; while Faze and Sound Sultan, clad in LAWMA jumpsuit, were also seen cleaning the area. Residents of Agboju, 1st Gate, Maza Maza, Mile 2, Alaba, Alafia, Coker and Orile who wanted to experience the oncein-a-life- time opportunity of seeing and feeling the galaxy of stars were on the streets waving and singing along. The train later turned at the National Theatre and headed to Costain and Alaka to the National Stadium where another several minutes of festivities locked down the area.”

While some celebrities visited the Hospice in Surulere to show love and support for the physically challenged and abandoned children, Ras Kimono, Kenny

Tuface Saint Best were seen controlling traffic in front of the National Stadium.

Thereafter, they moved on through Barracks, Ojuelegba, flanking right subsequently into Ikorodu Road. Music Fans around Jibowu, Fadeyi, Onipanu, Palmgrove, Obanikoro, Anthony and Idiroko stood along the ever-busy Ikorodu Road waving to the fun train.

The party then moved to Maryland, where a serious throwdown around the Mr Biggs Arena thrilled anxious guests with superlative performances from some of the stars. It was indeed a day Lagosians will never forget.

For Chinedu Chukwuji, General Manger/CEO, COSON, the evening was a testament of what is to come. His words: “Like I have said before we have painstakingly worked vigorously to ensure that we keep to our promise in every way. We have said that the seven events are going to be rich in content and you have witnessed it yourselves. But this is just a tip of the iceberg.”

The event continued on Monday with the COSON Lecture at the National Arts Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos.

Nigerians were later treated to an evening of grace and panache as the COSON Green Ball took the Muson Centre by storm on Wednesday, May 22. The next day withnessed the finals of the COSON Table Tennis Blowout where celebrities form different fields slugged it out for the ultimate prize of N1million and the giant trophy. Muslims faithful continued with the prayers and supplications for the nation on Friday, before the Mother of all the shows, the COSON Song Awards locks down Lagos today. It will be hosted by Mr. Frank Edoho, celebrated presenter of popular TV quiz programme, Who wants to be a Millionaire, at the New Ball Room of Lagos Oriental Hotel in Victoria Island on Saturday, May 25.

Expected on stage for the explosive event are artistes across all ages and music genres. They include 2face Idibia, Banky W, Sir Victor Uwaifo, Iyanya, Flavour, Illbliss, Adewale Ayuba, Sheyi Shay etc.

AMAN Signs On Entertainment Lawyer, Consultant RTISTES Managers’ AssociaA tion in Nigeria, (AMAN), has announced the engagement of Tosin Adefope and Victoria Okere as their legal adviser and consultant respectively. We reliably gathered that the move will help AMAN in realizing the dreams of its founding fathers.

The engagement of the two international experts, our source reveals, is in tandem with their determination in taking their proper place in the Nigerian entertainment industry.

According to the president of the association, Mr. Collins Ifeanyi Onwuneme Ajereh Enebeli a.k.a Mavin GrandPa, “Adefope is an International lawyer with an array of qualifications and experience in the legal field. She has a Bachelor of Laws

(LLB) from the prestigious Law school of the University of Warwick, United Kingdom. (Alma Mata of Former United States President) Bill Clinton. Master of Laws (LLM) From the highly popular University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), USA where she specialized in Entertainment Law and Intellectual Property.”

Victoria Okere on the other hand is a graduate of English from Obafemi Awolowo University, IleIfe. She served at Ondo Stateowned printing press as a proof reader before moving to the prestigious celebrity soft sell magazine, City People as an Advert Executive and then on to TULSA printing press the biggest printing press in Nigeria at that time, as a Client services Executive.

She then relocated in 2001 to the

Tosin Republic of Ireland where she furthered her education opting for nursing thereby fulfilling a childhood love of Caring for people which has metamorphosed into Vickie Roberts Hospitality for celebrities which was borne out of her observing the vacuum in the African entertainment industry hospitality wise.

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THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, May 25, 2013

DIARY

President, Nigerian Institute of Training and Development (NITAD), Dr. Kayode Ogungbuyi (left); First Vice President, Rev. Tunde Salawu and an inductee, Mr. Abiodun Osiyemi at the 11th induction ceremony of NITAD in Lagos…recently

Governor Theodore Orji of Abia state flanked by his wife, Chief Mrs. Mercy Orji and his deputy Sir Emeka Ananaba flagging-off the distribution of vitamin A Cassava stems to farmers in Abia state…recently

Hakeem Aromire; National Sales and Marketing Manager, Pernod Ricard Nigeria, Maria Martinez, the company’s Managing Director, Dariusz Opierowiec, and another official at the launch of ‘Absolut Unique’ in Lagos… recently

(R-L) Hon Dr. Samuel Adejare, Dr Oluyemi Badero, National President St. Anthony Grammar School Esure, Ijebu Imushin, Mr. Philip Atoyebi; and Mr. Peter Bamkole (with Plaque), the chairman of the occasion,Mr. Emannuel Ijewere and some other old students during the school’s honours Awards ceremony in Lagos …recently

Director of Information of Ado-Odo Ota Local Council, Olasubomi Ayorinde; Secretary to the Council, Alhaji Olukayode Ojumo; Vice Chairman, Mrs. Olufunmi Afusat; the Council Chairman, Comrade Rotimi Rahmon; Deputy President, National Tour Operators Association (NATOP), Prince Femi Oluwashina; Head, Council Admin, Mr. Akin Shogbamu at the Press Conference on the Celebration of our Heroes Past, tagged 1842, 2nd Storey building in Nigeria, which holds on Monday in Ota, Ogun State.

Staff and officials of GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Pharmaceuticals Nigeria Limited during a Road Walk organized by the company to mark the 2013 World Asthma Day in Ikeja, Lagos… recently

Mr. Babatunde Ayobami Raji and former Miss Oluwabukola Akinde (middle), flanked by the groom parents and bridal train after their marriage ceremony at Immanuel Baptist Church, 1st Avenue, Oko-Afo, Badagry Lagos… recently

Amara Blessing Nwosu was recently trained and certified by The Protocol School of Washington. She will provide public relations, etiquette, and protocol services to local businesses and government agencies.

Mr. Chuks Nwagagbo and his wife, Nkechi after their traditional wedding in Delta State…recently

Mr. Femi Onafowokan, a staff of the Eti-Osa Local Council, Lekki, Lagos and his wife, former Miss Taiwo Odutayo (middle) flanked by Mr. Kunle Ashamu, Pastor Sunday Falade, Mr. Wole Toye, Elhadji Abu-Satar Hamed and Mr. Sola Sonde recently after their wedding in Ikoyi Registry, Falomo, Lagos

TheGuardian

39 Saturday, May 25, 2013

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Arts&Culture

By Shaibu Husseini, Cannes, France IGERIA struggled to set up and only manN aged to put up one pavilion, almost two days after the 66 edition of the Cannes Interth

national Film Festival opened in Cannes, South of France. Believed to be the biggest and well attended in the world, the Opening Ceremony of the festival took place at the Grand Theatre Lumière.

A well-rendered song by Emeli Sandé, from the film The Color Purple by Steven Spielberg preceded the introduction of members of the feature film jury led by Jury President Steven Spielberg. Other members are Vidya Balan, Naomi Kawase, Nicole Kidman, Lynne Ramsay, Daniel Auteuil, Ang Lee, Cristian Mungiu, and Christoph Waltz. The Festival was declared open by Leonardo DiCaprio and Indian legendary actor Amitabh Bachchan and the ceremony continued with the screening Out of Competition of Baz Luhrmann’s The Great Gatsby, with the key members of the movie crew in attendance.

Though an advance party, mostly officials of the Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC) arrived Cannes, early enough, but it took some time for them to set up the very austere Nigerian pavilion situated on the grounds of cinema of all nations. There is nothing in the pavilion except for a few literatures that require updating that the officials of the NFC brought to share and some films, majorly short films, made by students of the National Film Institute (NFI), which has been on continuous play on a small screen in the pavilion.

The pavilion, as in the past, serves as melting point for Nigerian motion picture practitioners attending the Cannes; most Nigerian practitioners attending the Cannes and Journalists too however feel that the NFC should do more than hosting an austere pavilion at the Cannes. They want the NFC to begin to think, from this edition, of facilitating a major showcase of Nigerian films and filmmakers in Cannes next year.

Observers want the NFC to borrow a leaf from their South African counterpart, the South Africa Film and Video Foundation (SFVF) who stormed Cannes last year and are back this year with a rich showcase of South African films and filmmakers. The South African pavilion is so well laid out, decorated and equipped that a first time festival guest thinks for once that he is in Johannesburg seeking a co-production deal with the authorities.

Last year, the South African delegation returned to Johannesburg with a pouch filled with deals, which individual filmmakers and or the South African National Film & Video Foundation (NFVF) working in association with the Department of Arts & Culture (DAC) struck. The two bodies led a South African delegation of about 130 filmmakers to the festival, the highest so far when compared to the previous years. Both bodies also showcased 12 feature films and 8 documentaries at the festival.

Officials of the NFVF say the goal is to demonstrate that South African cinema can compete on the international stage, and demonstrate

Lean Participation By Nigeria At The Cannes As Festival Closes Saturday that stories by South African filmmakers can resonate in the international market place. Besides, the NFVF and the DAC confirmed the signing of a co-production treaty with Ireland.

The treaty according to the head of the NFVF, will enable productions from both territories to qualify for the different incentives associated with home-grown content and enable collaborations between producers.

It will be recalled that South Africa already has co-production treaties with countries like Canada, Germany, Italy, United Kingdom, France, Australia and New Zealand. Already, films like Skin, (SA/UK), and The Bang Bang Club (SA/Canada), were produced under these treaties. Nigeria has no known production treaty with any country and even if it has, it has not been activated so it can be of benefit to filmmakers.

The South African’s are back in Cannes this year, even more organised and strategically positioned than they were in 2012. Same thing for Kenya, who came to Cannes this year (2013) well prepared and made Nigeria’s participation appear like a ‘jamboree’. The Kenya Film

Commission got the organisers of the Cannes filmfest to make Kenya film industry the focus of the Cannes film market. This effort has been taken in accordance to the signed cooperation agreement and to maximize on the great opportunity that Kenya has been offered by France to be the Country in Focus at the Cannes Film Festival where Kenya will showcase its creative dynamism within the artistic and economic field. That offer provides a great opportunity for Kenya and specifically the film industry to expose its works as well as connect and network with the rest of the world.

Also as a country of focus, Kenya, which did not place anywhere on the contentious 2005 UNESCO rating, has provided the opportunity for its filmmakers to promote local film productions, access professional training and international distribution with commercial distributors attending the Cannes as well as participate at the various filmmakers networking sessions. There are also boundless opportunities for contacts to be made for various exchange programmes including student exchange programmes. A producer’s Network

forum organised by the Cannes Film Market will hold before the close of the festival on May 25.

Six Kenyan top producers have been invited and fully sponsored to participate in the Producer’s Network forum by the Kenyan and French Government.

The forum as an official of the Kenyan Film Commission explained is expected to provide a platform for the producers to talk, expose the cinematographic industry of Kenya and showcase their work to about thirty French and internationally renowned film producers interested in African projects. There is indeed no doubt that the event will enable young and experienced Kenyan film professionals to broaden their scope of film distribution and expertise on film production, exchange of information, access to international financial support, and finding co-producers. This is the kind of support the Nigerian filmmakers say they expect from the NFC and not the rush to always set up a pavilion without a deliberate agenda of providing filmmakers the opportunity to showcase their works and expose the cinematographic industry to the rest of the world.

Africans Speak Against Eurocentricism

By Omiko Awa

Rock art sites have embedded in them multiples of complex symbolHE erroneous belief that the ism, metaphors and meanings that African continent has no history can provide clues to the controversies and consequently no culture, and that haunt Africa’s contribution to as such has not contributed to world civilization. It can provide winworld civilization was put a right at dows into the understanding and apthe recent colloquium on African preciation of many aspects of the Rock Art And The Pan-African Renais- continent’s history. There is no better sance held from May 22 to 23 at the way to experience the continent’s rich African Union Commission Old cultural endowment than through Conference Centre, Addis Ababa, Rock art.

Ethiopia.

The period for the celebration of African Rock Art is one of the most African Union’s golden jubilee is evocative pieces of heritage betherefore a better time to redirect our queathed to us by our ancestors. attention to the valuable historioTheir existence allows our intrographic tool and cultural evidences spection into, and interrogation of that attest to the golden period of the minds of our forebears, who Africans’ ingenuity and contribution lived thousands of years ago. to world’s civilization. It is against this African Rock Art heritage is among background that Nigeria through the world’s best, but least underCBAAC in partnership with Trust for stood and appreciated cultural ex- African Rock Art (TARA) and the pression because the continent is African Union Commission organised yet to harness and utilise the bene- a colloquium that aimed at extending fits inherent in their importance. the frontier of global understanding

T

of African history and culture.

The objectives of the colloquium include: providing a platform for updating research findings on African Rock Art; sharing experiences on the successful application of strategies for managing Rock Art sites across the continent; promoting information sharing and networking among participants to enhance capacity; raising the consciousness of a critical mass of key stakeholders on the project; examining the possibility of reconstructing African history and civilisation through Rock Art. With the above objectives the conference was expected to use African Rock Art to inspire creativity, generate publicity for the output of the project and diversity of African Rock Art, have the results recognised by the AU and UNESCO, develop strategies and action plan for the protection of the sites and enhance the protection and utilisation of Rock

Art sites by communities on sustainable basis.

However, from the ideas generated by participants and taking into congniscance the reports and recommendations of the Niamey Workshop of 2008, it was observed that African Rock Art sites are spread all over the continent thereby serve as leverage to observe, appreciate and celebrate the richness and diversity of African history and culture. Apart from disproving Eurocentric claims that deny Africa’s contributions to world history, they represent the ingenuity of African ancestors’ contributions to world knowledge.

To overcome the numerous challenges, which include poor preservation, funding, inadequate conservation skills and others the colloquium recommended to the AU Commission to create an environment, where African Rock Art could inspire members of the creative industries, using the symbols, designs,

forms and other properties of sites; adopt a Declaration of a Decade of Action for African History – promotion, teaching and knowledge of all aspects of African history including African Rock Art; adopted multi, and trans-disciplinary approaches in the study of African Rock Art; partner with host communities through the development and tourism for the discovery, protection, management, preservation and promotion of rock art; build and enhance the capacities of host communities, youths and professionals for the management and sustainability of the sites ; CBAAC and TARA to coordinate efforts towards the realisation of the above recommendations; strengthen the existing structure of SICADIA to be coordinated by CBAAC, and CERDOTOLA for actualisation of the general history of Africa; and African Governments to invest financial and other resources in the sites.

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THe GUARDIAN, Saturday, May 25, 2013

THeATRe

‘Man, Woman Talking For Better Society’

A scene of the play Stories by Omiko Awa T was the Germany-born American writer and diplomat, Henry Alfred Kissinger, who later became the 56th Secretary of State of the United States of America, who said, “nobody will ever win the battle of the sexes. There’s just too much fraternising with the enemy.”

Holding this view, this diplomat must have, himself, witnessed or experienced the struggle to be relevant latently going on between the sexes in the United States and by extension across the globe, especially in countries where popular culture is fast becoming the norm.

This long-standing battle of the sexes was brought to the stage recently by the Live Theatre on Sunday using Ola Rotimi’s Man Talk, Woman Talk as the specimen for theatrical dissection at the New Unity Centre, GRA Ikeja, Lagos.

The play, which established Ola Rotimi as not just a tragic writer, but also a humourist, generously used language to highlight the various issues both sexes hold against each other.

Set in a courtroom, though devoid of the usual court technicalities and legal jargon, the play uses humour, arguments and counter arguments to present the views of two idealistic university students, Michael, and a snazzy lady, Karina, who accused each sex as being the main cause of the ills of the society.

While Michael accuses Karina of using her stunning succulent female body to entice male folk to do her biddings, Karina counters it with the arguments that man’s sensibility lies upside down, between his legs, and that he uses his machismo to make ladies conform to his desires. And that it’s the urge to satisfy the male folks that make ladies go the extreme to outdo one another, bleach their skin, dress cute, paint their faces and attach foreign hairs on their heads.

As the arguments and counter-arguments con-

I

tinue, the two-man jury, made up of a counselor (Chiwendu Isiguzo) and a judge (Adebola Ogunshina), becomes divided; the judge, a man, supports the male folk while the counselor, a woman, takes side with the female gender. This creates a wry humour that puts each character against the other. But in a twist of imagination the arguments change with the judge being carried away by the beauty and logical presentations of the lady contender, Karina; especially when his son (a friend of the court) was invited to give evidence.

Flooring her opponent with her logical arguments, even when it was obvious, the judge reverses the result on the grounds that women are the cause of the troubles in our society; stressing that women’s vote don’t count and things must be the way men want them.

Oluwanishola Adenugba and Gbemileke ‘Oscar’ Oyinsan were producers and executive producers of the play Though the play is one of the unpublished works of the late playwright, Ola Rotimi, the duo of Adenugba and Oyinsan interpreted it differently, spicing it up to be relevant with the times by using currently words such as GSM, blackberry, sagging and other slangs, which were not known or in use as of the time the play was written.

Not meant to prove, which gender is superior, but to uncover the complementary roles men and women play in the society, the actors beautifully brought out the messages of the play, part of which is if we must make the right impact in the society both sexes must forgo their egos, listen to one another and act the talk.

DeNUGBA said, “the biggest challenge of stage A presentation is making the people to understand that theatre is as popular a culture as

music, films and, even, comedy. Some people say they would rather go for a movie than come for a live theatre show; but gradually, we are growing the audience alongside a few that believe in live theatre.

“Another challenge is funding, because most brands would rather support the popular culture genre of entertainment such as music, movies, fashion, comedy and others than live theatre. Some brands will not, even consider any live stage. And when they do, they give about 1/8th of the total production cost and still expect you to do a whole lot of things for them.

But we hope, as we continue with production, people will in future sponsor us for a whole year.”

Collaborating with what he said, Oyinsan revealed that the group would have packed up, but for their passion for plays, which has been their driving force because the business side of stage performance has not been rewarding.

He informed, “aside from entertaining people and bringing social issues to the front burner, we also use the platform to create market for those that can see the potentials in it. “ If you go for a practical theatre in Italy and all the opera centres across the world, you will see that people pay premium for a front roll seat. In fact, what they, even, pay some of the actors — instrumentalist and the rest — to perform will beat your imagination; they are well remunerated to keep the stage going. Theatre and the classical art fall into that category; so, theatre goes beyond just being classified as part of the pop culture because it is an art and a platform for passing essential messages to the people.”

Stressing the importance of their organisations — Davidhouse Multimedia, Amber 11 Media and the Spruce Company — collaborating under Live Theatre on Sunday to awaken the-

atre culture in the people, he said, “we live in a fast changing world, where it is no longer about the message, but the hardcore play; you come pay money and they give you what you want and you go away. But we are trying to go back to our roots, speak to ourselves through theatre and make the society a better place for all.”

On reason most producers repeat old plays instead of presenting new ones, Oyinsan noted, “this is because theatre in the country has its roots in the generation of playwrights such as Prof. Wole Soyinka, the late Ola Rotimi and a number of others that have written standard plays, but what we are trying to do is to acknowledge the fact that these playwrights exist or existed, and also introduce new plays.

“There are a lot of young people that have the urge to write plays that are relevant to our society because when the Ola Rotimis wrote their plays, they were relevant to their time.

However, that does not mean we can’t write or adapt stories from the past, put them in such a way that they will resonate with our generation. And if we don’t do that, obviously, we would be stocked with stories from the past.”

Calling for support to promote live theatre, the executive producer notes, “keeping theatre alive is a mission for everyone; there is so much we can do in theatre. even most of these Nollywood actors, who do blockbuster movies, if they don’t come back to do Broadway shows, they are not rated. Theatre has to come back home.

“So, we are soliciting for as much help as we can get to not only bring back theatre, but sustain it, taking it to that enviable position that will make it compete with other genres of entertainment.

BUAF, National Troupe Hold Drama Competition Kwankwaso’s Achievements eeTA Universal Art Foundation B (BUAF) is partnering with the National Troupe of Nigeria (NTN) for this year’s edition of Dramatised Storytelling Competition, which holds in Lagos and Abuja, respectively. The maiden edition of the competition, organised by the NTN was held, last year, at the National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos.

Disclosing this in her Lagos office, Bikiya Graham-Douglas, the founder of BUAF said her organisation is partnering with NTN for a wider reach, adding that the programme aims at sustaining the theatre culture in the country, aside from promoting creativity among the youths.

She said, “we want to catch these children young, inculcate theatre culture in them, so that when they are older they would have clearer picture of what it is and sustain the culture.

“This will also help them to be disci-

plined because it takes a level of discipline to go through rehearsals, interpret characters on stage and, even, partake in the competition. So, the competition will make them build self-confidence, be able to express themselves, speak in public and improve their reading culture.”

Using the competition as a leverage to groom and showcase young talents, Graham-Douglas noted that it is good for every child to have the experience of the stage as among other gains, it may help make them global ambassadors of the arts, stars and icons for others emulate.

The producer and director of many stage plays informed that over 70 schools have already registered for both the primary and secondary categories and that the competition is going to hold at the National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos, and in Abuja.

“The preliminaries for the Abuja zone of the competition will hold from May

20 to 24 at the Merit House, Abuja for schools in and around Abuja, and the National Theatre, for schools in and around Lagos; while the finals holds on May 31 and June 5 at the Women Development Centre, Abuja and the National Theatre, Lagos respectively.

We have schools from neighbouring states including Onitsha in Anambra State, so, it is a national competition; and it is open to all schools across Nigeria.”

With theme, Nigeria’s 100 Years of Existence: The Story So Far, the theatre advocate, said, “apart from using the programme to commemorate this year’s Children’s Day, its objective is very much in line with what BUF is doing to rejuvenate theatre and to get young people to appreciate our arts and culture.”

Aside from the dramatization of stories, the competition includes other theatrics such as dance and poetry.

Chronicle In Book

well-meaning Nigerians who are interested in seeing democracy work in the country.

In view of the palpable developcratic process of Nigeria, a book chronicling the achievement of the ment and sundry on-going capital governor would be launched in Kano projects being executed by the govState at a date yet to be announced. ernor, the company said it was not According to a release by a Kano- surprised when Transparency In based company, TASJ Concepts Lim- Nigeria (TIN) recently awarded Kano State the most Budget-disciited, the book titled, The Silent plined State in Nigeria, as there Achiever: Engr. (Dr) Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso And The Kano-Is-Working were strong evidences of excellent Agenda was inspired by the transfor- performance by the governor.

“It is a general opinion that honmation policies of the governor. est commendation of performing The company said it is convinced that Kwankwaso is one of the most leaders will encourage them and under-celebrated governors in Nige- others to do more, and that is the desire of the authors,” the stateria and therefore needs to be celement said. brated by corporate bodies and O spotlight the contributions of T Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Governor of Kano State, to the demo-

41

THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, May 25, 2013

SHORT STORY

By Segun Durowaiye (08055356855) WANT my husband to be my slave and do “I whatever I want. That’s my heart’s desire.

Men should be slaves to their wives. I’m sure Orilola is dating another woman; I can’t share my husband with anyone. He must do my wish and dance to my tune any day and any time. I’ll go and see Baba Ifagbemi at his shrine this weekend for a charm that’ll make Orilola become my slave so that I can toss him and use him anyhow I like.”

For ten minutes, Mrs. Orilola was talking to herself absent-mindedly. Her two children had gone to London for summer holidays, and they would arrive that afternoon with their father, Mr. Orilola.

Talking about money, you could never underrate Mr. Orilola. He was a very rich man.

He was the chairman of many companies, home and abroad. He was a nice man as attested by a lot of people. He was love and simplicity reincarnate. He took special care of his family and the needy. He touched the lives of many people who were not even related to him. He was a rich man who didn’t believe in garnering titles. He had been given chieftaincy titles but he always turned such titles down and maintained just ‘Mr. Orilola’. He was a philanthropist who doled out millions of naira in the service of humanity and wouldn’t want his name mentioned like some egoistic rich men.

Mrs. Orilola was the only wife of the tall, handsome and ebullient multimillionaire businessman. They had been married for ten years and sincerely, it was a sweet, wonderful and lovely married life. Mrs. Orilola had everything she wished. Their beautifully-furnished mansion in highbrow Victoria Island, Lagos was simply breathtaking and out of this world. It was paradise on earth. There were cooks that took care of the family meals; drivers and housemaid that made sure the Orilolas did not labour at all. They had close to 30 exotic cars at their garage; and Mr. Orilola showed unlimited love and passion to his beautiful wife.

He would travel to the United States and Europe to shop for his family, particularly his wife. She wore the most expensive clothes and jewellery befitting a queen. Her skin was smooth and velvety, like the softest flower.

The fact was that the Orilolas were living in superabundance.

That early morning, Mrs. Orilola was at the shrine of Baba Ifagbemi who was so skilled in the occult art of divination. Her mission was to get a potent love potion that would make her loving husband become her slave totally.

In the whole of Idugan, a town on the outskirts of Lagos, no one could compete with the bald-headed old man in the occult art of divination.

He was feared by all and sundry simply because of his spiritual and metaphysical powers. “Now, Baba Ifagbemi,” Mrs Orilola said, “I need the most powerful love potion that would turn my husband into my slave. To act like my houseboy and do whatever I order him. Just name your price, I’ll pay it. I have to be at home before 3p.m. because he would be arriving home from London with my kids today.” She adjusted her headgear and knelt in front of the diviner.

“Irunmole, the spirits of evil and good have heard all you want,” Ifagbemi said, “but this kind of love potion will cost you N300, 000.

The gods will take care of your heart’s desire.

If you pay me the money, I’ll bring the love potion from my magical bag of power now and hand it to you.” He spat thrice inside a ram horn containing black soap.

“Money is not the problem Baba, as you well know I’m always loaded.” she said, then delicately opened her handbag and brought out three crisp bales of N1, 000 notes, N300, 000.

She handed the three bales to the old herbalist. The diviner gave a toothy smile and giggled. He reached for a bag hanging on the bloodstained wall of his shrine. He opened it instantly and dipped his hand inside.

“Now, take this black powder,” he said, nodding his head confidently. “You’ll put it inside his food. Once he eats it, he must turn into your slave and do your wishes. He’ll take orders from you forever. This is the most potent love potion that the gods handed to my forefathers from generation to generation.

Humans mustn’t play with the gods. There are powers beyond the reasoning and sense

of mere mortals! You can take your leave!”

Before Mr. Orilola got home that day from his trip to London, his wife had already reached home. She prepared a special dish for her husband and sprinkled the love potion on the meal. She knew his favourite food and reasoned that if she prepared it for him, he would fall for the bait because it would be irresistible. Some few minutes after the food, was ready Mr. Orilola called his wife on her mobile phone informing her that he had arrived Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos and was on his way home.

About 30 minutes later, Mr. Orilola’s exotic Mercedez Benz Jeep was at the gate of his mansion. His chauffeur honked once and the electronic gate opened instantly and he drove in. When Orilola stepped down from the jeep, his wife was already at the door to receive him and the children.

“Hello darling,” Mrs. Orilola exclaimed. “How was your trip?

Hope you had a nice time.”

She giggled and smiled bewitchingly.

“I’m okay, sweetie,” Mr. Orilola replied, taking off his suit. “How are you mummy?” the kids asked delightedly.

“I’m fine. Hope you enjoyed yourselves,” she said, hugging her children. The children scurried happily into their room the next moment.

“I bought lots of beautiful and precious things for you from this trip darling, things that would make you happier than before,” Mr. Orilola said excitedly.

“Your food is on the dining table dear,” she replied.

“It’s your favourite food.

Pounded yam

The Wicked Wife and egusi soup with all the condiments that would sweeten your palate.”

“Thank you my dear,” he said happily. “You’re my angel, the one that always fills my heart with joy.”

Before long, he settled down to eat. And he did it with relish. He was almost through with the pounded yam when he developed stomachache.

“Oooophs, I’m not feeling well,” he said in pains, while holding his belly. “God, what’s happening to me?” he screamed. Mrs. Orilola who had gone into her bedroom, came running towards him when she heard his screams. Mr. Orilola was rolling on the floor, while clutching his stomach.

“What’s the matter darling?” his wife asked, really terrified. But he couldn’t utter a word. He was sweating profusely and shaking. The following minute, he started vomiting blood and gasping for breath.

“Yee, my God!” Mrs. Orilola screamed at the top of her voice. Before she could rush him out of the living room, Mr. Orilola foamed from his mouth and died. Their two children were already beside their dead father and were wondering what the hell was going on.

“Yee, help me! God, help me!” she continued to scream. This attracted the chauffeur, the security

Now, Baba Ifagbemi,” Mrs Orilola said, “I need the most powerful love potion that would turn my husband into my slave. To act like my houseboy and do whatever I order him. Just name your price, I’ll pay it. I have to be at home before 3p.m. because he would be arriving home from London with my kids today. man and a couple of housemaids in the sprawling mansion.

“Ha, God! Ha! Ha!! Ha!!!” she repeated in tears, “I’ve killed my husband. I never knew it was food poison Baba Ifagbemi gave me to put inside his food. God, I killed my loving husband,” she wept. Three medical doctors soon arrived the scene with three plainclothed policemen.

The doctors tested Mr. Orilola and he was certified dead. The three policemen heard his wife’s self-confession. She was arrested for

murdering her husband. She was handcuffed out of the magnificent mansion and taken to the police station. She made a statement which was taken as evidence, and remanded in prison custody.

About a month later, the case came up for hearing at a Lagos High Court. After four grueling hours of statements, counter- statements and legal innuendoes by the bespectacled elderly judge, Mrs. Orilola was found guilty of murdering her husband through food poisoning. She was sentenced to life imprisonment with no option of fine.

She wept and wept as she was being led to the waiting Black Maria van that would take her to the Kirikiri Maximum Prisons where she would spend the rest of her life.

It was later revealed that the late Mr. Orilola made a very lovely will for his two children.

They were to inherit his vast estate and business empire after his demise. It was also learnt that the late mega-rich business tycoon had a lot of money and billions of dollars in his account before his untimely death.

A lot of people who were beneficiaries of his big heart and others whom he had always shown kindness, celebrated his birthday every year as a mark of respect and gratitude.

42

THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, May 25, 2013

NEWSMAKER

Cycling Is In My Blood, Says Edward Osim

Edward (middle), with members of Lifestyle Cycling Club

Edward Osim, a sprinter and a member of Lifestyle Cycling Club, Port Harcourt one of the champions of the 18th National Sports Festival in Lagos spoke to DEBO OLADIMEJI on his passion for cycling and the challenges of cycling in Nigeria. yCLING is one of the neglected sports in C Nigeria. In those days, there used to be regular cycling competitions in the country.

Unfortunately, most of those competitions have gone into oblivion. In spite of that, Edward Osim has decided to make cycling a career. Edward, with the support of Port Harcourt-based Lifestyle Cycling Club, believes that the sky is no limit for him in cycling.

Osim, 23,from Ebonyi State, went home with three gold medals and one sliver in the 18th National Sports Festival in Lagos.

“I thought I would win four gold medals, but the 500 sprint for example was cancelled. So I won three gold medals and one sliver,” he said.

He is proud of the support given him by Lifestyle Cycling Club, Port Harcourt and would want the government to also support cyclists in Nigeria.

He is equally worried that the government is not training cyclists in velodrome sprint. yet, Nigeria has velodrome sprint facilities in Abuja.

“I am a sprinter. It is only in sprinting events that you can use velodrome. Cycling is done in velodrome in the Olympics,” he said.

He recalled that South Africa has a velodrome, but it is making use of it to train its athletes. Unfortunately, Nigeria is not making use of her own.

What is uppermost in his mind is to represent Nigeria in cycling during the next Olympics. “I believe I have what it takes to do well in the Olympics. If I can be trained outside Nigeria, I will be able to do more. If I can get a foreign club with consistent training, I will win gold medals in the next Olympic as well,” he declared.

Osim started riding bikes when he was a little boy. “It was a childhood sport. I love cycling, my interest was in stunting. I used to entertain people with my bike in Rivers State. They used to pay me for it,” he said.

It was in the process of stunting for the Lifestyle Cycling Club that he discovered he can do better than some of the members of the club. “So I decided to join the club in 2007,” he said Osim disclosed that Nigeria should have been the best place for cycling if there had been an enabling environment.

“We need more people to sponsor cycling competitions in Nigeria,” he said.

He had earlier won two sliver medals in a Mountain Bike Race organized by the Lifestyle Cycling Club in Port Harcourt. “I am yet to win anything outside the country because of poor preparation,” he said.

He urged the government to make it possible for athletes to be trained long ahead of competitions.

He reminisced that during the All African Games, athletes were in the camp for only one month. “I wonder how we can do a responsible training just for one month.

The last Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Games was a disappointment. The athletes were in camp only for four days. We were not prepared for the competition,” he said.

According to him, at the end of the competition, they were not given flight tickets to come back home. “We had to come back to Nigeria by road. Other countries like Ghana,

Togo and Benin Republic made provisions for their athletes to return home by air,” he said.

He is now trying to get a foreign club to pursue his career. He maintained that he needs to go on a training tour. “Six months consistent training abroad will help,” he said.

He is also worried that the officials of the Nigerian Cycling Federation are more respected than the cyclists. He also wants the government to make special roads for cyclists. “We use the same roads with motorists and motorcyclists and they don’t have respect for cyclists. you cannot enjoy cycling with the level of pollution and congestion on our roads. I heard that the Lagos State Government was planning to build roads for cyclists, if they can do that, it will be good. Cyclists and motorists should not be using the same roads,” he insists.

He is however grateful to the Rivers State Government that made it possible for the athletes to have three months camp in Port Harcourt before the national festival.

Osim was named after his father, Edward.

He recalls that his father, an Engineer, worked as a civil servant with the Ebonyi State government. His mother, Patience, is a teacher in Abia State.

“We are seven in the family. I am number five,” he said For his secondary school, he went to Peter Franklin, Aba and Eziama High School, Aba where he passed out in 2006.

He read Business Administration in 2008 for his Ordinary National Diploma (OND) in Rivers State College of Art and Science.

“After that, I had my Ordinary National Diploma (OND) in French. I knew that French will be useful for my profession. For example, I find French very useful to communicate with my colleagues in Francophone African countries,” he said.

Osim who is currently a contract staff with the Rivers State Sports Council said that he is looking forward to being employed by the Rivers State government.

Emmanuel Onasanya, the head coach for Lifestyle Cycling Club and Rivers State Cycling Association, in his comments said that Port Harcourt led in cycling during the national sport festival because they were more prepared for the event.

“The secret is hard work, consistent training, constant monthly competition in Port Harcourt by the cyclists. If there is any gold medal for the best team, we would have won it as well. Only our team was complete,” he said.

He disclosed that the country is blessed with talented athletes. “The athletes just need support from the government to develop their talents. The government should try and send the good cyclists abroad to be trained for the next Olympics. They need to participate in international competitions to prepare them for the Olympics. If they don’t participate in international competitions, how would the athletes be fit for the Olympics?” he queried.

Mohammed Bashir, National Coach for cycling said that the problem is that cycling is dying in Nigeria. “ The solution is more competition internally. Unfortunately, the sponsors are not there. People now prefer to sponsor dancing. But when you help to sponsor cyclists you help to give people a lifetime career,” he said.

He added that there is need for the cyclists to participate in international competition for them to qualify for the next Olympic in Brazil.

“The Rivers State team did very well. Rivers State won10 gold medals. Delta State won a total of two gold medals. Oyo State won two gold medals. Bayelsa State won two gold medals and Kaduna State won one gold medal, “he said.

THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, May 25, 2013

43

JUSTHUMAN

Veteran Actor, Ogundaisi Down With Spine Ailment

By Shaibu Husseini ETERAN actor, producer, director, author and architect of V the national distribution framework initiated by the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), Yinka Ogundaisi, is in pains at the Ward B of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LUTH).

Medical experts in Nigeria, India and the United Kingdom who have been on Ogundaisi’s case since February 2013 when his health condition became life-threatening, say Ogundaisi needs about N8million to get back on his feet. The various tests conducted and the most recent radiology report indicate that the Ogundaisi is suffering from ‘pathological fracture of 1.5 causing significant spinal canal stenosis’. The implication of this ailment, according to Dr. Vidyadhara, the chief spine surgeon at Manipal Hospital in India, is that Ogundaisi would suffer ‘significant instability (and) back pain by virtue of having a spinal fracture’’.

In addition, a patient affected by spinal canal stenosis, based on a review conducted by Dr Vidyadhara, would suffer ‘significant pain, numbness, weakness in the lower limb which will make it difficult for the patient to stand and walk’’. Another radiologist report from LUTH describes Ogundaisi’s illness as ‘metastasis spine disease and intervertebral osteochondrosis with osteoporotic fractures’.

Medical experts therefore advice that Ogundaisi undergoes surgical decompression and stabilisation of the spine at the earliest.

“I had hernia and then enlarged prostate which is understandable because one is 60, but the surgery on the hernia has been done. Much of the problem is with the spinal fracture’’ Ogundaisi said on his hospital bed. “It gets complicated daily just as the pain gets more severe. I have been on the bed for

Ogundaisi

weeks now. I can’t even lie on my back. I have to do everything I have to do in this position. I seriously need help. Serious help.

I don’t want to die,’’ He pleaded.

Although he noted that he has been assured that his case can be handled in Nigeria at a much higher cost, Ogundaisi said he has been advised to travel to India or the UK so his condition can be stabilized before it gets out of hand. “I want Nigerians to come to my aid. I am appealing to my state government, Oyo State, to come to my aid. I …also want the Lagos State government not to allow me die. I have spent all my adult life here working and paying my taxes… I have received help from the Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC) and the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB). They sent something to me, which is what I have used to offset some of my bills here at LUTH. But the more I stay here without any

plan to undergo the surgical decompression, the more bills I will incur and the more complicated the case will become. I have spent all my savings and have sold all that is to sell just to be taken around, but I need the help of my colleagues in the industry, my friends at the Ikeja Country club and the help of organisations like the BOI and NEXIM that would still need my expertise when I am fully recovered to come to my aid.”

Ogundaisi, is a member of the prestigious Lagos Country Club and Founder of the Global Children’s Theatre which was launched with fanfare in 2002. He’s also a member of numerous professional associations, including the Nigerian Institute of Management and an accredited management trainer with the Centre for Management Development.

Help can reach Ogundaisi through: UBA Savings account- 2000204307 and Cell phone number:

That Olawole May Not Die Of Kidney Failure From Muyiwa Adeyemi, Ado Ekiti 37-year-old Olanrewaju Olawole, life is FtheOR getting unbearable every passing day and burden of footing the bill to undergo a

Olawole

chronic kidney surgery is beyond him. That is why he is appealing to Nigerians come to his aid.

Olawole, a video-editing specialist, said he thought he was having a fever until January this year when he was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease at the Federal Medical Centre, Owo, Ondo State. So far, he has spent over N2.2 million on dialysis and N7 million is needed for the kidney transplant to be carried out by a Lagos-based hospital.

“I don’t want to die now but it is painful that I may die any moment if nobody comes to my rescue. The pain is getting too much,” he said with tears rolling down his cheeks.

A father of three and a native of Ikole Ekiti, Olawole said that based on the diagnosis carried out on him, experts discovered that his two kidneys have ruptured and he needs prompt kidney transplant to live.

Also speaking to newsmen in Ado Ekiti yesterday, his wife, Funmi said her husband has been bedridden since January this year when he was discovered to be suffering from chronic Kidney disease at the State Specialist’s Hospital before he was referred to Federal Medical Centre, Owo, Ondo State, where he has been admitted since.

Mrs Olawole, a school teacher, said N2.2 million has been expended for dialysis treatment at FMC since her husband was diagnosed with the life-threatening disease.

She said the money was realized through the sales of their personal effects, including parcels of land and other belongings.

She said her husband is now on life support at the FMC Owo, having fainted thrice last Monday, when his case had degenerated. She said he has been undergoing dialysis treatment twice in a week at the FMC to keep him alive, which she said cost him a sum of N150,000 weekly.

She said he was first treated for malaria at a private hospital in Akure, the Ondo State capital in Januar. When the fever failed to subside, she said he noticed that his right foot was swelling, saying this actually forced him to seek further medical examination at the State Specialist’s Hospital where the disease was discovered.

“When it started in January, my husband was feeling feverish and we advised him to go for treatment which he did. But later, we noticed that his right foot was swelling and we were forced to go to the State Specialist’s Hospital in Akure, where we got to know that he had chronic kidney disease.

“We have sold our valuables including parcels of land to take care of the disease. We have borrowed money to take care of him and now that we have no money to foot the bill, we are appealing to Nigerians to help us.

I am a young lady and this is not the right time for me to become a widow because it will be difficult for me to take care of three children with my meagre salary,” she bemoaned.

Readers willing to help Olawole can contact Mrs Olawale through her phone number, 08034649217, or Mr Muyiwa Adeyemi, The Guardian Newspaper, Lagos on 08033202396, 07070208048, 07087775840.

44 | Saturday, May 25, 2013

TheGuardian Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

YourMoney ‘Paying Your Rent With A Loan Leaves You With Lump Sum To Invest’ For the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of RSL Derivatives Global Services Limited, Mr. Lekan Abiola, tenants discomfort themselves but enrich their landlords when they pay their yearly rents in lump sums. In this interview, he speaks on the Rent A Month initiative being promoted by his company. He maintains that the initiative will not only take the pressure off tenants but also provide them the opportunity to improve their finances and further contribute to the growth of the economy. Excerpts:

must follow so that people don’t default. We have a way of assessing both salaried and nonsalaried persons to ensure that we have a clear picture of what their income structures are and that we are protected.

Having said that, we have a very robust monitoring system to ensure that our customers are up and doing. Once you take a loan through us, we see you as our partner and friend. That is why we have a policy that says that if the default comes through an accident, the customer is covered. But when a customer defaults deliberately, we seek to address that through the rule of law. Meanwhile, the Default Protection Pool also gives an incentive, a small bonus, for not defaulting.

Our message for Rent A Month is not for those who can’t pay their rents; it is for those that have the money and can pay their rents as at when due. But we are saying that you can invest that money in something that would yield you good profit and take a loan to pay your rent at

By Onyedika Agbedo very minimal interest. A lady came and asked us to give her N500, 000 loan and she would Briefly tell us about RSL Derivatives Global give us N150, 000 return every month. Now, if Services Limited? you finance the rent of such a person and she HAT we do on a very simple note is what is invests the money she would have used to pay called credit enhancement and we use a her rent, she would be growing her income method called alternative risk transfer. In and adding serious value to the economy at the doing this, we have partners that we work with same time. Lagos State, for example, is a N1.6 among which are banks, insurance compatrillion per annum rent market. If you invest nies, trustees and even the credit bureaus. that amount into this economy, you can imagAs part of our services, we have introduced ine the number of jobs that would be created, some products that the banks can relate with how many people that will invest in the capital before we begin to expand across all the bankmarket, and how many trillions that will go ing loan products. One of such products is the into the development of housing in Lagos State Rent A Month. There is another one we call the alone. So, what we are saying to people who RSL School Busy Fees. We are working hard to have the money to pay their rent is ‘use your bring to the market a structure that will allow bulk money for something else’ that would banks to lend to small scale industries across yield you income. You can use the bulk money board at even a discounted rate under the to buy a land; the following year, you do the same structure. The company is out to be able foundation; the next year, you take it to the to use different methodology to address the roofing level; and before you know it you have risks associated with banks lending to cusbuilt your own house. So, the essence of rent a Abiola tomers in this kind of the market. month is to help Nigerians channel the bulk How original is this service to the company? money they use to pay rents to more economic I have had the opportunity to work with a benefitting propositions in the market. That is banks give the landlord his money while the leading marketing research firm in Africa, an our commission to this environment. tenant pays them back monthly. But the banks Does RSL Derivatives offer mortgage services? insurance company and in the banking sector. are saying that this market that you are talking The initiative is a product of my experiences No, we don’t! We are only saying that people about is not structured and wants to know and those of others that are partnering with should convert that lump money that they their fallback position if the man defaults. me in this project. Thank God for the advent of want to pay to the landlord into something As a credit enhancement company, we came the internet; we have also seen what other peoprofitable while we take care of their rents for into the market and created what is called Deple are doing elsewhere in other countries. We them. The idea is that if somebody is addressfault Protection Pool (DPP). Our proposition to looked at other models across the world and ing your rent for you, you have the lump sum the banks is ‘if we profile somebody and he is have redesigned those models to help create that you would have paid to the landlord to do okay by us and we recommend him/her to you, solutions that the market can relate with; to other things. I have seen people come to us and if you lend to him and he defaults, we will pay.’ help the banks address seemingly backend of say that they want to borrow money to start a With that, the banks have accepted to lend to defaulters that is becoming an issue in the small business. But we don’t do that. We only people for purposes of rents payment and that market; to help tenants to be able to source for facilitate our banks to lend to rents. But the is where we are. We have created that kind of the kind of funding that they require; to help money you are going to give to your landlord, buffer for the banks to be able to lend. We have small scale industries to be able to access why don’t you use it to start a small business. given the banks 100 per cent coverage of their funds at a lower cost and help them grow.

That is the value we are creating in the market; default. This is called alternative risk transfer Talking about Rent A Month specifically, how it is beyond rent. using an enhancement proposition for the does it work?

What has been the response of Nigerians to the banks to be able to lend. And I hope we can service since inception?

Before I address that issue, let me explain begin to grow the value of this product across It has been very good. Our clients have been inquickly our philosophy. Our philosophy as a all banking products as we evolve as an institucreasing. We receive hundreds of calls everyday company in development terms is what we tion. from people making enquiries. People are albody has really gone to the market to test it. call community of help. We think that if we What is the cost element to the customer? ready benefitting. Schools are signing on the What we believe is that if you put the right can bring every party involved in a particular The customer pays the bank fee. One of the school fees product. Banks are now coming to mechanism in place, if you don’t short problem together, we can evolve a solution. banks that we work with now charges about discuss with us. change your process, if you assess people And in this wise, who are the parties first of all?

2.17 per cent interest every month on reducing based on what their financial capacity is, they We are educating the market on basic requireIn the rent market, you have the landlord, the balance. Another bank charges about two per would not default as long as their employers ments. We are already in Lagos and Abuja and tenant, and the agents. Now, what does the cent. And we know that more banks are comwe have plans to establish in Port Harcourt, or whatever they do pay their salaries as at tenant want? ing in and the more they come in, the lower when due. So, ensuring that we get the neces- Kano, Kaduna, and Ibadan.

The tenant earns his income or salary on a the interest. In fact, a bank said to us that if we We believe that the more people understand sary information about a client is what we monthly basis but the landlord wants his rent cover them 100 per cent, they would reduce what the banks want before they lend, the must do. We have been able to address that on an annual basis. The tenant is crying that he their rate further by five per cent. But for us to more our volume of customers will increase. through our structure and system. We have doesn’t earn his salary on annual basis. The get there, all the stakeholders must come toWe believe that the market is huge but we need about five steps that customers must pass agent is in-between and says that he has no gether and ensure that it works. to adequately educate the people, which we are through before they get money. problems with whatever agreement they How are you covered as a company in the deal? currently doing. As we continue to roll out, we What are those steps? reach.

The assumption is that this environment is They are basically assessment processes that will continue to expand the scope of our servThat is what we are trying to bridge. The probvery debt oriented; that borrowers default a are really not things that we would not want ices and also our branches and let everyone lem is funding and the banks are the ones that lot. But to us, it is merely an assumption as nocome in. to make public. But they are trade steps we are licenced to fund. Now, the idea is for the

W

Our message for Rent A Month is not for those who can’t pay their rents; it is for those that have the money and can pay their rents as at when due. But we are saying that you can invest that money in something that would yield you good profit and take a loan to pay your rent at very minimal interest.

THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, May 25, 2013

| 45

BUSINESSINTERVIEW

‘Unfair Levies, Duties Crippling Indigenous Manufacturing’

S a manufacturer of waste management A equipment, do you think state and federal governments are taking the recent NIMET seasonal rainfall prediction serious?

First, you should acknowledge that these people are experts and they know much about what they are talking about. They have given these notices about impending heavy rainy season and the expected flooding. Now many states are interested in buying waste management equipment. However, there are other state governments that do not seem to understand that it is an important thing to do.

My advice based on the predictions of NIMET (Nigeria Metrological Agency) is that stakeholders, especially state governments, should take advantage of the reality of climate change to buy waste management equipment to protect their environment and avert destructive floods.

I say this because you find that when drainages are blocked, there are chances of flooding which cause big damages. But if the gutters are open and domestic waste products are managed well, even when there is flood, not much damage to lives and property would be recorded.

Some government functionaries complain that local manufacturers cannot meet demands, especially for waste disposal bins and trucks.

How would react to this?

Most people that insist on importing such equipment are those that want to siphon money abroad. All what they need could be sourced within Nigeria. It is not only Innoson Technical Company, there are other companies producing such equipment in the country. But we can only advise because if they want to keep importing, we cannot stop them. They may have their reasons but they should know that whenever they are importing such equipment made overseas in preference to our own products, they are encouraging those abroad while discouraging indigenous manufacturers. If they give us the necessary support through patronage, we would develop the industry more, so that our people would also get job opportunities.

We also export outside the country. The waste bins being used in Ghana presently were produced here. We have dustbin trucks manufactured at Nnewi factory. We have plastic dustbins and buckets manufactured in Enugu. And many states in Nigeria are using our products today.

What challenges do indigenous manufacturers face?

First, the federal government has been doing a lot to solve the problems confronting indigenous manufacturing industries. Electricity is number one. For instance, as at the time we started this factory, we always had 20 percent supply but supply has increased. In fact, we are approaching 80 percent supply from the national grid.

But while you import some plants or machinery, how do you grapple with the problems of port processes and custom clearance?

While I cannot complain of so many challenges in those areas, our concern is that there is increase in importation of plastic raw materi-

als in Nigeria now. They said that any plastic raw material being imported into Nigeria should attract a levy of five percent, duty of five percent in addition to five percent VAT (Value Added Tax). That is a total of 15 percent extra charges!

Now, the problem we have with that is that other countries that usually come to Nigeria to purchase those items no longer come basically because of the five percent increase in levies on importing raw materials to Nigeria. Here is the direct effect of that 15 percent increase in levies. They now go elsewhere to buy those goods since the ones made in Nigeria have become very expensive.

In other countries outside Nigeria, it is only five percent duty that is paid. So, you see, those people that decided to take their factories outside Nigeria get their raw materials at just five percent duty and they can afford to sell cheaper. It is true Eleme Petrochemicals Company produces raw materials but the fact is that they do not have all the raw materials we need.

Government ought to impose levy on only those raw materials that could be sourced in the country from Eleme, while others should attract normal duty rate. It would be acceptable if they can place levy on those raw materials Eleme could produce. But our grouse is that Eleme does not produce the major raw materials for plastic manufacturing.

Petrochemical raw materials are many.

How are indigenous manufacturers reacting to that development?

We are producing but our foreign customers are no longer patronizing us, they have diverted to other countries. In fact, the increase is too high; we are now producing for only the Nigerian market. Before now, our products serve the whole of African market. I knowm that the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, (MAN) has been trying to explain this burden to the federal authorities but as we speak nothing positive has come out of that effort.

How supportive has government been towards indigenous industries?

Most government establishments purchase our vehicles; they are giving us good support in that area. Government has done a lot of things to support my factory, starting with state governors, especially Peter Obi and Sullivan Chime. All of them are encouraging the progress of indigenous production.

As in the textile industries where the Lebanese and Indians are major competitors, how much competition do you face from their nationals in plastic and automobiles?

I don’t believe it is healthy to encourage monopolies. We need competitors to get the best out for the people. If more people join indigenous manufacturing, I believe it would ultimately be more beneficial for all.

But our cries on the five percent levy must be heard. It makes us lose export opportunities and patronage from other countries.

Government should as a matter of urgency remove it. Five percent apiece for duty and vat is okay for raw materials, but the addi-

Chukwuma

tion five percent levy is a killer to indigenous manufacturers in Nigeria.

Do you think generous discounts to foreign buyers can keep them coming?

If you give discount below your cost price, you are gradually closing down the factory.

Now, is it better to shut down the factory? Or are you saying that is the intention of government for putting that five percent levy on industrial raw materials? Instead of growth, this levy will pull us down.

Have you tried to diversify, like producing pellets for other industries like Nigeria Breweries?

When you get into manufacturing newly, you find your market without trying to push out those that are in the business before you.

We developed markets outside Nigeria so well, but because of the five percent levy, they now started going to other places.

Did the federal government come out with this policy without consulting manufacturers?

I do not know if they actually consulted manufacturers. But we, the ones on the ground doing the manufacturing, do not like that levy. May be they consulted people who are not into manufacturing. Real manufactures would tell government that the levy is counter-productive; it is choking our business.

If you have the ears of President Goodluck Jonathan, what special appeals would you make to him about teething problems faced by manufacturers especially those in your sector?

Two things; the president should know that five percent levy on raw materials will not help the economy. Government gives free duty on CKD (Completely Knocked Down) vehicle parts for only 40-seater buses and above. That also would not help us. If they want to give free duty to mass transit vehicles, it should be left at that without segmenting on the basis of seating capacity.

I don’t believe it is healthy to encourage ‘monopolies.

We need competitors to get the

best out for the people. If more people join indigenous manufacturing, I believe it would ultimately be more beneficial for all

‘

Chief Innocent Ifediaso Chukwuma is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Innoson Group of Companies that produces plastics and automobiles. In this interview with LEO SOBECHI, Chukwuma examines the effect of discriminatory government policies on indigenous manufacturing in Nigeria.

Companies that produce 30, 35, 38 or 40 seaterbuses will enjoy the free duty. But to insist that it is only 40-seaters and above that be entitled to free duty is targeted at encouraging just one company and only TATA produces buses of 40seating capacity.

Some of our buses here are 37-seaters. Tell me how a company would pay duty on 37-seater buses and not for 40. Does that then mean that we have to go and change our factory system, rebuilding the factory to accommodate the manufacturing of 40-seater buses? It is grossly unfair. If government wants to give free duty for commercial buses or mass transit buses, it is welcome. But basing it on the seating capacity is mind-boggling.

Talking of tyre manufacturing, is the enabling environment there for sourcing of raw materials in Nigeria?

Nigeria is a virgin place for manufacturing activities. Anything you can think of in Nigeria is possible so long you will do it well. Raw materials cannot be a problem when Nigeria has good rubber. No factory can source all its raw materials internally. That Ajaokuta is comatose is unfortunate but it is not a big hindrance.

Are you not worried by the state of road infrastructure in Nigeria, especially the southeast where your factories are based?

There is no way all the roads would be in perfect shape all the time. Some of the roads could be good this year and next year becomes bad.

Government is trying and work is on-going to repair some of the roads. I do not expect all the roads to be good at the same time; there will always be wear and tear.

Some manufacturers complain of poor personnel quality in the country, what is your experience with workers?

Whenever we employ we send our employees on training. After the training, he is qualified and goes to work. You can train anybody to your satisfaction; it depends on how you train.

Most manufacturing firms in Nigeria do not spend money on training; without training how can they work satisfactorily?

Your Hummer buses and those from Toyota have been a subject of comparison. How is your company coping with the competition?

Toyota is more than 100 years; we are only three years. We are not fighting anybody but just doing our thing our way. They do not even know that I exist. Innoson buses are not affecting their sales. Everyone has his own market share, the market is large.

THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, May 25, 2013

46 YourMoney

BRANDINTELLIGENCE

With DESMOND EKEH desmondekeh@yahoo.com; 08023215535

Poor On-line Visibility Stunts Business Growth In Nigeria, Says V-Connect Boss In spite of the vast marketing potentials of the Nigerian business environment, inadequate data solutions and a lack of sufficient on-line visibility are some drawbacks plaguing business owners. General Manager of VConnect, Deepankar Rustagi, in this interview with NTIA USUKUMA speaks on how to shore up Nigeria’s business capacity through this untapped goldmine.

ELL us about V-Connect and why you started TV-CONNECT the firm? commenced operations two and a half years ago. The company was born out of the fact that people need information. We have seen situations where people have lost their lives because they lack information to the right hospital. There are times they couldn’t reach the police and there was robbery in the house and they didn’t have the numbers of the police.

So, we started with the emergency numbers.

We gave numbers where people could find blood bank, emergency numbers for police stations and fire brigade numbers. That was the primary idea why we started the V-Connect before we moved on to business contacts and addresses.

Presently, we have seven 700, 000 contacts of businesses operating in Nigeria, by far the largest single repertoire of contacts in Nigeria, and we are growing this by the day. If anybody is in a situation where they need information they can just log on and find the information.

We also have a call centre which runs 24 hours a week. We started that two and a half years back. At that time not many companies had call centres aside the telecoms companies. So, people can equally call in to get any information. We set up the call centre because we wanted people to have information. So, we started because we felt there was a lack of information and no contact on the internet. It is information about businesses, products and services.

What are your biggest challenges so far?

With the businesses, the biggest challenge we

face is that most of the people own mobile phones. Ninety-nine per cent of small businesses own mobile phones and in a situation where the contact person leaves that business, the phone numbers has to be updated. So, keeping the information is relevant for us. We make sure that we update this information periodically to provide correct information and that is a challenge from the business side.

From the user’s side, it is creating more awareness. In the last three years, the interest usage has picked up remarkably. Three years back, some people had smart phones but not everyone was using data. Today people use BBM or Whatsap rather than SMS. Internet usage has even gone to a different level.

How do you make profit from this service?

We make money from helping small scale businesses promote themselves. We have small packages like N3, 000, N5, 000 and N10, 000 on how they can promote their services in their locality.

The other way is corporate advertising.

Companies that want to promote themselves on the website as a top rated site in Nigeria can use us; there is a lot of advertising space which can be utilised by different brands.

Can you put a figure to the value of businesses VConnect has provided this year?

I would not be able to put a value in terms of monetary terms. For instance, there are some people who are selling Ipad, others do flash (one of our products). The cost variation is very high but I can tell you that there are more than 1.3 million people making such searches a month. This encompasses various kinds of searches, from restaurants to spa services to printers to publishers, etc. There are people who come online to ask questions like, ‘how can we reach the publisher of this newspaper?’ ‘where can I find a job?’ We see enquiries of all kind. It will be very difficult to put a value, but what we try to put in place is a returns on investment and mechanism for our businesses. We make sure they get three times of what they invest so that they feel the growth in what they have invested into the business.

To register on our site is free; to search for any information is free as well. If there are 700, 000 businesses registered free, as a prospective investor or as a body or government organisations that work with small and meduim scale businesses, there are so many resourceful things

Rustagi you can create from this.

We also do calculations from our data, since we have substantial sample size. We can identify in Lagos which businesses have grown in the last six months. As the numbers are growing we can talk about other opportunities coming up.

It seems your focus is on SMEs...

In every economy, small and medium scale businesses play a very important role in the growth of the economy. Yes, we are an oil dependent economy but small and medium scale businesses are important. If you compare in Ghana, the contribution of SME to the GDP is 55 per cent, in Kenya it is 62 per cent, and in South Africa it is much more than that. In

Nigeria, it is less than 45 per cent though some people say it is not properly calculated. While in Africa on an the average it is 50 per cent.

Another important factor is the employment rate. In a country like Ghana, 70 per cent of the people are employed by small and medium businesses while in Nigeria, it is just 27 per cent of the people that are employed by small and medium scale businesses. Yet we are considered one of the most enterprising people on earth.

There are tools to run small and medium scale businesses and we also offer that.

You are working on information and data, which are critical to businesses. Has there been any security challenge on this?

I don’t think there are security challenges because it is publicly owned. I can walk into any store and get this information. Even if you go to India and you want to buy something, they wouldn’t ask you where you are from, because these things are publicly available. We don’t ask you for tax details or NET profit because those details are with the government. But about basic available information that helps them promote themselves which is most times available online. This poses no security challenge. Even an agency like SMEDAN that is involved in a lot of activities with small and medium businesses also has consolidated data of some businesses.

In just two and a half years, you already have 700, 000 businesses on your database. What next moving forward?

The volume of businesses in Nigeria is huge.

SMEDAN data says we have 17 million businesses in Nigeria. V-Connect has only registered less than half of this so far. We register only businesses that have fixed structure; that is mandatory.

We have registered businesses from Computer Village, Alaba International market, Agege market, Trade Fair, etc. Everyday, more than a thousand businesses approach us to register on our site, which really shows the hunger. People are interested in promoting themselves and making their businesses work.

Besides, our systems are built to accommodate more businesses and we can still expand. So, as we grow we can expand our machines. We also want to provide state of the art facilities. The service we offer should be state of the art so that people don’t feel deprived of quality services.

Society Endorses David Mark Commends Close-Up’s Oral Health Activities Nutrition Bournvita Food Drink HE Senate President, David HE Nutrition Society of re-endorsed by the highest T Mark has commended T Nigeria (NSN) has collection of nutrition Unilever’s premium toothBournvita, a food drink experts in Nigeria. We dedipaste brand, Close-Up and other stakeholders in Nigeria’s oral health system for their persistent effort in taking oral health awareness campaign to the nation’s grassroots.

Speaking at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, where the World Oral Health Day was recently marked, Mark, who is Nigeria’s National Oral Health Ambassador, revealed that many Nigerians were still unaware of the relevance of oral health to their entire well being.

He said the appointment of State Oral Health Ambassadors for each state of the federation and Abuja further underlines the importance he attaches to his role as National Health Ambassador.

The 37 Oral Health Ambassadors were formally inaugurated during the event.

The appointees include: Senator Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, Chairman Senate Committee on Health representing Delta State; Dr. Hakeen Baba Ahmed representing Kaduna; Mr Tunde Lemo, the Deputy Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria repre-

Senate President David Mark (centre) and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health, Mrs. Fatima Bamidele (right) presenting the N100, 000 prize to the winner of the Close-Up sponsored essay competition, Chiamaka Azubike, in Abuja, recently. senting Ogun State; Innocent Healthy Teeth for Healthy respectively.

Tuface Idibia representing Lives.

Speaking at the event, Benue State; Dr. Mohammed Azubuike Chaimaka of Managing Director of Ibraheem, the Dankaden of Anglican Girls Grammar Unilever Nigeria, Mr. Thabo Kano representing Kano State; School emerged the overall Mabe, represented by the and Governor Godswill winner of the competition Nutrition Health Manager, Akpabio for Akwa Ibom state, and received N100, 000 cash Mr. Victor Ajieroh stressed among other prominent prize. Enaiye Grace of Africa that Unilever is committed to Nigerians.

International College, Abuja, continued awareness creAlso at the occasion, the took the second position ation, knowledge building Senate President and the while Vera Chioma and behaviour change Permanent Secretary, Federal Ekechukwu of Naval Officers around oral health in Nigeria Ministry of Health, Mrs. Wives Association Secondary and remains committed to Fatima Bamidele presented School (NOWASS) came third. providing every Nigerian prizes to the winners of the They were rewarded with with the right, appropriate Close-Up sponsored essay N70, 000 and N50, 000 and oral care technology. competition with the theme:

from the stable of Cadbury Nigeria Plc. The certificate of endorsement was formally presented to the management of the company at a ceremony held at the Golden Royale Hotel, Enugu.

Government officials, nutrition practitioners, academia, trade partners, members of the press and the general public, attended the event.

While presenting the endorsement certificate, President of the Nutrition Society of Nigeria, Prof.

Ngozi Nnam said: “The decision to endorse Cadbury Bournvita was taken after a multi-step process including independent laboratory tests of the brand claims that lasted several months.

Cadbury Bournvita is clearly a food drink that is rich in energy and essential micronutrients.”

In his response, the Managing Director of Cadbury Nigeria, Emil Moskofian said: “Cadbury Nigeria is proud to have its flagship brand, Bournvita

cate this endorsement to the loyal consumers who have chosen Cadbury Bournvita and made it the leading food drink in Nigeria. We also thank our trade partners who have helped to ensure that Bournvita is consistently available in every city, town and village of Nigeria over the past five decades.”

Also, speaking at the ceremony, Marketing Director, Cadbury Nigeria, Dele Anifowoshe, said, “after a clear and thorough certification process, this endorsement of Cadbury Bournvita puts the brand ahead of its contemporaries as pacesetters in the food beverage market. I am pleased to note that Cadbury Bournvita is the only food drink in Nigeria endorsed by the Nutrition Society of Nigeria.

Having pioneered the fortification of food drinks in Nigeria in 1994, it is very satisfying to obtain this verification by the experts as we evidently stand tall when it comes to nutritional contents, rich cocoa taste and non-stop vitality.”

THe GUARDIAN, Sunday, May 26, 2013

46

BUSINeSS Customer Services Skills In The Nigerian Context(3)

By Helen-Linda Azodoh HeY should be made to understand that this T is part of the package, and as such should be expected every now and again. I have witnessed situations in the Nigeria, where an employee is happy to pick a fight with a difficult customer. It is a situation I find most shocking and should be a definite no-no. Any employee that exhibits that sort of behaviour, should be pulled up for disciplinary action immediately.

This will also serve to reiterate the employer’s non tolerance of such behaviour and the perceived importance of the customer to the business.

Barriers to Communication In the Nigerian context, there are barriers to communication unique to us.

A) The first that springs to mind, is our not realising that the employees role is to serve the customer and facilitate them in whatever business they have with our organisation. So quite often, we are approaching the employee from the wrong stand point.

Resident Manager, InterContinental Hotel, Lagos, Marc Lambert (left); Director, Human Resources, Khadijah Junaid; Director, Sales & Marketing, Silvia Jurecka; Front Office Manager, Mohammed Tanko; and General Manager, Didier Coeln, after a media tour of the hotel…at the weekend.

Latest African Gold Rush: Hotels the global average of 3.3 per cent and 4 per cent in accordance.

Source: CNN

ajor international hotel chains are inM creasingly rolling out thousands of new rooms in Africa’s business hotspots,

Fund said that sub-Saharan Africa’s economy is expected to expand by 5.6 per cent in 2013 and 6.1 per cent next year, outpacing

keen to expand their footprint on the continent’s burgeoning economies.

From Lagos and Kigali to Nairobi and Johannesburg, the world’s best-known hoteliers are targeting Africa’s growing urban centers to benefit from a rising number of business travelers and a huge undersupply in available rooms.

“There’s a growing demand in those capital cities because they are the centers of business, of government and of commerce -– all of which have hospitality needs,” says Patrick Fitzgibbon, senior vice president of development for Hilton Worldwide, europe and Africa.

“We have a very bullish feel for these markets and we are very excited about the opportunity Africa presents,” he adds. “I think that for the next 20 years we are going to have our hands full with opportunity.”

For the next 20 years we are going to have our hands full with opportunity.

Patrick Fitzgibbon, Hilton ‘World woken up to Africa’ Last month, the International Monetary

...Five-star InterContinental Ready For Launch

By Ikechukwu Onyewuchi He InterContinental Hotel Lagos, a soon-tolaunch five-star hotel, at the weekend, conducted a facility tour of the hotel premises on Victoria Island. The tour was led by the Hotel’s General Manager, Mr. Didier Coeln.

Flanked by senior management personnel, Coeln noted that the 23-storey edifice would compete favourably in continental hotel and tourism business.

“We are almost at the point of opening. This hotel is set to make a difference in this city with luxurious service that will rouse warm feelings whenever they remember their stay with us whether it is business or leisure. Our guests will be rejuvenated after they experience our authentic elegant, sophisticated” “Guests will enjoy staying in our rooms which have been designed to make their stay memorable.” In addition he said, the hotel boasts complimentary high speed Wi-Fi across the property. We have partnered with InterContinental Hotel Group to bring the In-

T

terContinental Hotel, one of the world leaders in hotel management to Nigeria.”

Coeln noted that “all InterContinental Lagos guests will be delighted with our creative and delicious mix of cosmopolitan and local delicacies in its three restaurants, including the Ekaabo Restaurant (offering a delightful blend of Nigerian and international meals), the Soho (with a Chinese chef and ambiance, as well as the Milano Restaurant and bar, where vintage Italian wines and dishes are served.

He advised guests who want the best cappuccino in town to visit the Lounge Café, which also offers pastries.

Coeln said the Hotel Lagos has The Grand African Ballroom, a 1,400-capacity theatrelike hall. “This in addition to six Meeting Rooms providing adequate facilities for business travelers to organise meetings and events.

Resident Manager, Mr. Marc Lambert, noted that the hotel is not all about meetings and lodging.

NDFF Conference Targets US Portfolio, Real estate Investors

By Geoff Iyatse eAL estate funding and forR eign portfolio investment (FPI) will top this year’s Nigerian Development and Finance Forum (NDFF) conference holding in Washington DC, United States, from June 4 to 5.

The previous three editions of the event, which is targeted at Nigerians in the Diaspora and foreign investors, were held in London, the United Kingdom.

According to Jide Akintunde, Director, NDFF, this year’s series will focus on opportunities in the Nigerian mortgage sector.

He noted that the choice is justified by the enormous funding opportunities in the housing sector.

“There is a rising effective demand for housing in Nigeria, following the nearly a decade of annual Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth of above 5 per cent. In the latter part of the period, the housing sector has been revamped, though per-

sonal finance and informal credit substantially account for funding of new residential development. This demonstrates significant opportunity to invest in one of the frontiers of investment in Nigeria,” he noted.

Akintunde said a leading expert in the sector, President/CeO of Pison Housing Company, Roland Igbinoba, would make the lead presentation. A panel consisting policymakers and private sector operators will support him.

Dr. Iwa Salami of the School of Law and Social Sciences, University of east London, will also speak at the conference, which will assess and discuss policy thrust of President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.

Salami, author of Financial Regulation in Africa: An Assessment of Financial Integration in African Emerging and Frontier Markets, will speak on opportunities in Nigerian stock market Participants and delegates are drawn from the real estate and

housing finance sectors of the United States and Nigeria.

Official data from Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Ms. Amal Pepple, puts Nigeria’s housing deficit at about 16 million units while a statement by the Lagos State Commissioner for Housing, Adedeji Olatunbosun Jeje, said the State accounts for a 30 per cent shortfall. The funding aspect of the deficit is put at $445billion.

Recognising the challenge, the Jonathan administration, has introduced some policy reforms in the sector. The reforms focus on land titling, house finance, low-cost/social housing, urban regeneration and regional development.

Yet, experts have consistently pointed out that funding remains a crucial aspect of the country’s desire to provide decent shelter for its citizens.

Akintunde said the funding gap and the need to highlight its opportunities to the international market make this year’s

conference timely.

Day two of the event is a gala dinner with briefings on Nigeria’s social programming and the role of its citizens in the Diaspora.

The conference will address market trends under various topics such as Nigerian Real Estate and Housing Finance: Market Development and Investment Opportunities, Market and Governance: Policy Anchors and the Medium Term Country Outlook, Security and Nigeria’s Country Outlook, Nigerian Financial Market Infrastructure and Project Finance Opportunities, Policy Framework and Opportunities for Diaspora Investment as well as Export Manufacturing In Nigeria: Partnership Opportunities And Regional Market Development.

There will also be photo exhibition by veteran photographer and collector, Baba Shettima, on historic Nigerian diplomatic and trade events from 1900.

B) Body Language: The second is the fact that the average Nigerian is extremely expressive in their manner of communicating, with a lot of gesticulating and raised voices, that may come across as aggressive and thereby create the wrong tone for business from the onset. Our body language at times tells the whole story, before we have even uttered a word. We need to be extremely conscious of this in our day to day dealing with customers.

C) Thirdly, Nigerians are very curt in their manner of speaking and this comes across as rude.

D) Choice of language; a lot of Nigerians tend to use the wrong language when expressing themselves. Some of them do not realise they have actually used the wrong language as a result of their limited vocabulary. Therefore, any employee that has to deal with customers, needs to be conscious of the fact that some people have a limited command of the english language, and may not necessarily use the right words to express themselves.

Good customer services skills can make an organisation more effective and efficient. This is because, the organisation is better able to utilise its resources elsewhere as they have an effective customer services programme and do not need to divert resources to it. It also has the effect of creating better morale and increased work satisfaction in an organisation because there are less complaints from customers, resulting in less stressed employees too. Good customer services increases the image of a company and its products, leading to customer loyalty and therefore increased productivity.

The Way Forward Changing the attitude of employees in the Nigerian work place is a big ask. For change to take place effectively, it needs to start from the top.

Management need to identify the needs within their specific organisation as it relates to their culture and aims and objectives of their organisation.

The current status quo should be evaluated to identify the gap between where the organisation is and where they need to be.

The goals the organisation needs to achieve should be spelt out to facilitate the process of getting there.

The process to get the desired goal should be very well defined.

The services of a Human Resources Consultant should be retained to help achieve this goal.

There should be continuous evaluation and continuous training to ensure the desired results are achieved.

Azodoh, Chartered MCIPD (London), is a human resource consultant based in the UK. She is also MD of Orchardview HR Solutions, accompany that provides HR training to organisations in Nigeria.

Email:helen.azodoh@virgin.net

YourMoney 47

THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, May 25, 2013

BRANDNEWS KFC Thrills Customers With Tasty “Snacker” FC, the world’s most popular quick service restaurant, recently K launched a new scrumptious and yummy eat–as-yougo “Snacker” much to the delight of its consumers.

Snacker, the latest addition in the KFC menu, is a toasted sesame bun with one-piece crispy strip, lettuce and pepper mayonnaise.

According to KFC Head of Marketing, Mr. Vikram Varma, “people especially youths and students are tired of regular meat pies, hot dogs and rolls; they are looking for something real. KFC, in line with consumers’ expectation, now has a real snack, which is affordable as well as great tasting. It is believed that customers need to be able to refuel throughout the day to maintain optimal energy level and that is where KFC Snacker comes in. It also fills in certain gaps between regular meal periods.”

Varma also pointed out that KFC has also introduced an innovative campaign for all categories of its customers. “KFC has come up with some simple and exciting games, called “KFC SNACKER GAMES,” to enable customers participate and win a free Snacker voucher. This will be carried out in selected tertiary institutions and locations until May 2013 in Lagos and Ibadan. This would provide an opportunity for customers and lovers of snacks to taste and enjoy the new KFC Snacker,” he said.

Etisalat Launches Programme In Telecoms Engineering IGERIA’S education system N recently witnessed a boost when Etisalat Nigeria launched a Masters course in Telecommunications Engineering, known as the Etisalat Telecommunications Engineering Programme (ETEP).

The first of its kind in West Africa, the programme is a corporate social responsibility initiative of Etisalat Nigeria in partnership with the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Etisalat Academy in the UAE, Plymouth University in the United Kingdom and Huawei.

The programme is established at the Electrical and Computer Engineering department of ABU, one of five approved universities in Nigeria accredited to offer telecommunications engineering, but previously

only at undergraduate level.

Speaking at the event, Chairman of Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Hakeem Bello-Osagie, said the M. Sc. Programme is aimed at contributing to local manpower with regards to telecommunications technology skills.

“Telecommunications engineers are involved in the planning, design, commissioning and monitoring of complex telecommunications networks, wireless systems, broadcasting systems and future broadband networks. We are delighted to champion this first of its kind project in order to promote the telecommunications industry which has been dubbed as the backbone of the new economy and plays a central role in facilitating reliable and fast information exchange,” he said.

Etisalat CEO, Steven Evans (left) shaking hands with VC, Ahmadu Bello University, Prof. Abdullahi Mustapha after the signing the academic collaboration agreement recently

BRANDINTELLIGENCE Star League Excites Consumers At Tuface Campus Connect O further reward top parT ticipants in its ongoing Star League Text and Play, the brand recently hosted the top 20 players in the Edo State League.

Contestants were hosted at the Tuface and friend’s campus connect tour after-party powered by Star. The afterparty was held at Oxygen Club, GRA, Benin City, the Edo State capital where the con-

testants got the opportunity to enjoy their favourite beer brand as they partied the night away with Tuface and his friends.

The score of “players” brought together left so much talk in “the heartbeat of Nigeria”. Other “players” who top their respective league tables would be hosted to after parties at Enugu, Port Harcourt, Abuja and Lagos.

CNN’s ‘African Voices’ Profiles Chimamanda Adichie FRICAN Voices, a weekly show that examines the A diversity, dynamism and global influence of Africa’s people and culture and highlights Africa’s most engaging personalities within and in the Diaspora on CNN will be featuring Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, one of Nigeria’s most prolific writers.

Pioneering the way for a new wave of Nigerian writers, Adichie narrates her award winning novel, Half of a Yellow Sun, as it tells a human story of a brutal and controversial civil war which took place in her homeland, Nigeria, in the late 60s.

Highly influenced by her mother, Ifeoma Adichie, who became the first female Registrar of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Adichie is bold, vivacious and candid; a storyteller living her truth.

And that fulfilment translates into Award winning novels.

Describing her development as a writer, between her books Purple Hibiscus, Half of a Yellow Sun and Americana, Adichie says “they are such different books, and I think I wrote them from very different places in my life, emotionally.”

According to her “For Purple Hibiscus, I was very homesick, I was in the US. Suddenly I was romanticising the hibiscus flowers in our front yard and I wrote this book, about missing home, nostalgia. Half of a Yellow Sun was so different. I knew I was writing about this very intense, contested history

Speaking at the launch, held at Reeds restaurant, Ikoyi, the Managing Director, Pernod Ricard Nigeria, Dariusz Opierowiec, said the drink was shaped in about four million exceptionally designed bottles for consumers’ satisfaction.

He said, “Absolut Unique is a limited edition of nearly four million bottles, each uniquely designed and individually numbered.

No two bottles are alike. For the consumers, there is a wealth of different expressions to choose from as each bottle reflects the individuality of each of us. There is no brand like that in the world that does something like this.

“This Unique packaging with the same great product has stepped up the ante again and this time we are making our mark in Nigeria,” Opierowiec enthused.

Speaking on projections for the Nigerian market, Opierowiec explained that though the company has had presence in Nigeria via a third party distributor, it decided a couple of months ago to open an affiliate considering that the country is one of the most promising in the world.

“Pernod Ricard is a very wide portfolio company that is going to be one of the most profitable, volume wise, in the market. So this product launch in this region is an attempt to consolidate on our brands including Absolut.

“Pernod Ricard Nigeria is back with full support and to revitalize the brand. We are going to support the brand as much as we can, meaning that it would not just be about the distribution, but to creatively support with events in order to ensure that people enjoy cocktail events using the Absolut brand. In doing this, we would develop a cocktail culture and train bar men.

“We are also bringing Absolut with a unique kind of packaging to ensure that a couple of thousands of people can keep it and really feel proud that they have something really unique,” Opierowiec said.

HE Federal Government has been called upon to create an enabling environment for business initiatives to grow and T blossom.

President of the National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria (NIMN), Mr. Rotimi Adeyeye, made the call in Ibadan while unveiling the logo of the forth-coming Oyo Mega Trade Fair.

He said it was the duty of government to create an enabling environment for the players and not to dabble into business ventures.

Speaking earlier, the president of Oyo Mega Trade Fair, Mr. Delight Owoyemi, said the 10-day trade fair, which kicks off at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba, on August 9, is aimed at building brands of major manufacturers, opening up Oyo State business opportunities to investors within and outside Nigeria, exchanging technical and commercial information as well as showcasing industrial and technological innovations.

Golden

Penny

S a show of appreciation and reward to esteemed customers, Golden Penny Foods recently held the 2013 edition of its customers’ forum at Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos.

The forum was tagged ‘Bigger, Stronger and Sweeter’.

The event also witnessed the unveiling of the new Golden Penny sugar variant, the latest addition to the Golden Penny Foods family.

The event had in attendance a combination of key distributors and customers from the North, South, East and Western regions with the likes of Alhaji

A

Rewards

Trade

Salisu Sambajo (MFR) and Mrs. Elizabeth Ajibola, among others.

It provided an opportunity for customers to interact with the company. Several customers and long serving distributors were also rewarded with mouth watering prizes and gift items like brand new cars, air conditioners, plasma screen TV sets, refrigerators, First Class airline tickets and different cash prizes. It was an outstanding show of appreciation, as Golden Penny Foods affirmed that their customers are key to growth and development.

Glo Launches Infinitiser, Revolutionises Postpaid Lines ATIONAL telecoms operator, Globacom has launched a firstof-its-kind post-paid product that enables subscribers to N enjoy the full range of Glo voice, data and business offerings with

Adichie and I did so much research, and I cried a lot when I was writing it. My grandfathers died in Biafra, and here I was kind of mining the pain of my family.

“Then Americana, I laughed a lot writing it. It’s just very different, I don’t so much see it as a kind of linear progression the books. It’s sort of more just like occupying different parallel spaces,” Adichie concluded.

From uncovering historical atrocities to playing a role in shaping Nigeria’s future, Adichie revealed she is considering a career in politics.

the convenience of a single monthly bill rather than recharging different voice and data accounts.

Glo Infinitiser, as the new product is called, makes it possible for Glo subscribers to make absolutely free calls to 26 million subscribers on the Glo network once the beneficiaries pay the monthly subscription fee of N5, 000.

Speaking at the launch of the product in Lagos, Globacom’s Head of Corporate Sales, Kamaldeen Shonibare, described it as the biggest post-paid product offering ever in Nigeria. “Infinitiser gives a golden opportunity to achieve more, enables you to talk endlessly with loved ones and business associates. It helps you to close your deals and get fulfillment. It eliminates the difference between day and night because you can make free calls on it 24 hours a week,” he said.

Targeted at existing and potential pre and post paid customers, the new product also offers free 1GB of data monthly along with the free calls. Calls to other networks will be at the low rate of 25 kobo per second, on-net SMS at N4 per message and international calls at the rate of N9 per minute to seven destinations namely, United States of America, United Kingdom landline, Canada, India, China, Singapore and Hong Kong.

GOtv To Broadcast Today’s Champions League Finals

OTV, one of the nation’s leading value-for-money pay TV brand G on Digital Terrestrial Transmission (DTT) is set to up the viewAbsolut Unique Launched ing experience of subscribers with the live screening of the final of the prestigious UEFA Champions League Cup between Bayern Into Nigerian Market N a bid to expand its market, Pernod Ricard, makers of Premium Munich and Borussia Dortmund.

Vodka, Absolut recently launched its unique collectors item, IAbsolut Unique in Nigeria.

NIMN President Unveils Oyo Mega Fair Logo

According to the company, the station will today at 7p.m. local time, on GOtv’s SuperSport Select, treat its subscribers to a spectacle that is a moment in history: two of Germany’s Bundesliga stalwarts, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, taking on each other.

This game will not only be a chance at UEFA glory but an opportunity for the long-time adversaries to prove who deserves to be called the ultimate champion: Bayern Munich – which thrashed Barcelona a dizzying 7-0 aggregate, or Borussia Dortmund – which stood up to Real Madrid’s feistiness.

Marketing World Awards Begins Preparation For 2013 REPARATIONS for one of P Nigeria’s annual landmark events in the country’s marketing arena, Marketing World Awards MWA (2013) have begun in earnest.

Now in its third year, the Marketing World Awards has continued to represent the pinnacle of achievement by rewarding outstanding performance across the integrated marketing communication industry.

As the unrivalled badge of excellence for the marketing sector, this prestigious award attracts the industry’s biggest

players and is the one of the most hotly contested awards in the marketing space. With refreshed and refined criteria, the Marketing World Awards 2013 will showcase the latest innovations and initiatives’ recognising the exceptional work of Nigeria’s marketing champions over the past twelve months.

The award night is a platform for the industry to demonstrate and celebrate the advances made in the key areas of digital, experiential, media, stewardship, efficiency, innovation, corporate social responsibility and creativity.

Globacom’s Head of Corporate Sales, Kamaldeen Shonibare (middle) with Mrs. Abimbola Umozurike of Glo Customer Care (left), and Brenda Akhigbe of Glo Corporate Sales during the launch of Glo’s Infinitiser in Lagos recently.

Nobel Carpet Rewards Distributors Nationwide N demonstration of one of its core beliefs that distributors conINobel stitute major bastions to any business, Lucky Fibres, makers of Carpet, recently dazzled its trade partners across Nigeria

to grand receptions to appreciate their support.

The Distributors’ Parties, which held in four key cities across Nigeria, started in Lagos and covered the company’s distributors within the South West Zone. The Port Harcourt branch party covered the entire Eastern Zone while the Kano branch party covered the whole Northern Zone.

The event featured presentation of awards to deserving distributors that were able to meet and surpass the set target during the just concluded trade promo.

The high points of the events were the presentation of the star prizes to a total of five winners. Mrs. Adesina Olukemi (Kess Carpets) and Mr. Surajudeen Oladokun (Obokun Carpets), winners from Lagos and Ibadan, got brand new Honda City and Hyundai Elentra cars respectively.

Sir R.C Oforukwuga (RC Ofor Carpets) and Mr. Tony Ogu (Tony International Carpets), winners from Port Harcourt zone got a brand new Honda City and Hyundai Accent cars respectively, while Alhaji Lawan Abubakar (Beli Ventures Nigeria Enterprises), winner from Kano party got Hyundai Accent.

Speaking at the Lagos party, General Manager, Nobel Carpet & Rugs, Mr. Kunal Malhotra, stated that Lucky Fibres Plc has decided to reward these distributors for their continuous and unparalleled support for the brand.

He also emphasised that the success the brand has achieved is heavily hinged on the support enjoyed from the distributors.

THE GUARDIAN, Sunday, May 26, 2013

47

BUSINESSAGRO

‘Translating Research Results To Commercial Scale Is Now Being Achieved’Í In our attempt to foster effective linkage with the industry, the Institute sought approval from the Head of Service of the Federation for the establishment of the Department of Extension and Industrial Linkages to properly coordinate the Institute’s activities with the industry. We were lucky to get the approval alongside with other approvals to establish Departments of Production and Analytical Services as well as Finance and Accounts.

What have you brought to bear on the industry in terms of technology/research applications since you took over at the Institute?

Within two years, we have been able to properly package some technologies ready for the industry to take up for commercial production. These include industrial enzymes production, readyto-eat-therapeutic-foods based on local cereals and legumes, High Nutrient Density (HND) biscuits and drinks and tomato processing.

Also, we have developed food products for the elderly, and people with increased nutritional requirements such as people living with HIV including diabetics.

We have been able to bring the above projects to logical conclusion ready for industrial take up as a result of some cutting edge research facilities INCE taking over as DG two years ago, would that we acquired recently. These include, Ultra you say you have struck a better relationship Performer Liquid Chromatography, GC-MS with the industry than in the past; how?

Spectrometer; AAS; NIR; Fat Extractor, Florescene FIIRO’s primary constituency is the industry. microscope to mention a few. The acquisition of The broad mandate of the institute is to assist in these equipment has also facilitated our collaborapid industrialisation of the national economy ration with some national and international unithrough processing of local raw materials into versities for collabora tive research work. forms suitable for use in industries, develop- Apart from the Industry, what has been your colment and upgrading indigenous technologies laboration with other stakeholders like universiand transfer of developed technologies to ties, polytechnics, non-govern mental organisaindustry most especially the SMEs for commer- tions and other researc h institutes in Nigeria? cial production and marketing. Relevance to In the last two years, we have intensified our industry therefore, became the yardstick for efforts at collaborating with Universities and measuring the Institute’s achievement. other relevant organisations in and outside Since I resumed duty, I have made commercial- Nigeria. We have signed MoUs with Ondo State isation of the Institute’s R&D results through University of Science and Technology, Federal acquisition of entrepreneurial skills and indus- University of Technolo gy, Owerri and Yaba trial linkage my priority. We have made some College of Technology.

The MoUs have started modest achievements in terms establishing a yielding fruitful results.

Based on our collaborabetter relationship with the industry within tion, we have successfu lly installed Cassava these two years. We are currently renewing rela- bread, fruit juice and smoked fish machineries tionship and opening up discussions on strate- and equipment at Ondo State University of gic collaborations with the likes of Nestle Nig. Science & Technology.

Discussion is on advanced Plc, Honeywell Group, Chi Group and so on. We stage to commence a 3-month Certificate Course have signed MoUs with some of these compa- in Techno-entrepreneu rship with Yaba College nies on some specific projects that could result of Technology. in commercial production activities based on Some of the national institutions we are collabsome technologies developed in the Institute. orating with are: Bank of Industry; Bank of

For too long, Nigeria has depended largely on imported finished goods to the detriment of its local industrial sector to the end that there are low capacity utilisation and the attendant job losses. But, Dr. Mrs. Gloria Elemo, Director-General, Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi is beginning to influence the industrial landscape by getting local industrialists to tap into the technologies capable of positively changing the profitability of operations. Elemo spoke to FABIAN ODUM on the progress the Institute has made in the past two years she assumed headship of the foremost research body. Excerpts.

S

Elemo Agriculture; Raw Materials Research and Development Council; Standards Organisation of Nigeria; National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control; Nigeria Export Promotion Council; Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria; National Poverty Eradication Programme; Nigeria Investment Promotion Council; National Directorate of Employment; National Youth Service Corps.

We have signed an MoU with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), South Africa while we are in the process of signing MoUs with the Standard and Industrial Research Institute of Malaysia (SIRIM) and the Food Research Institute of Ghana.

We are currently developing a model tomato processing plant with Alvan Blanch, a reputable food processing equipment fabricator in UK. The Institute also established collaboration with some non-governmental organizations that have relevance to its mandate. Prominent among these organizations we have working relationship with are: GAIN (Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition), WISHH (World Initiative for Soya in Human Health) and EU (GRATITUDE project – Gains from Losses in Tuber crops project).

How has the face of FIIRO changed in the last two years under your leadership?

The Institute has witnessed tremendous infrastructural development in the last two years, which some commentators have described as unprecedented in the history of the Institute.

Right from the gate, the Institute is now wearing a new look. A fully air-conditioned gatehouse and reception have been constructed with a 50-car capacity carport.

The Institute perimeter fencing has been fully renovated with massive horticultural and landscaping giving the Institute a new look. The road network within the Institute is currently being tarred. A solar lightening project is on going in the Institute to provide illumination for the Institute’s external environment.

To boost the revenue generation capacity of the Institute, the Institute’s Multi-purpose Hall has been fully renovated and fit to host any international conference and programmes.

Five laboratories have been fully remodeled to international standards while Directors and most of the Deputy Directors have been provided with befitting and decent office accommodation.

Which of your achievements in the last two years can you say you cannot easily forget?

Work is still in progress on a lot of projects. In research, you can spend years on a particular project before getting a breakthrough. Even though we have made some giant strides in the last two years, the best is yet to come but I cannot easily forget the first major assignment that confronted me as I was just resuming as the DG/CEO. In August, 2011, when I was just settling down as the DG/CEO, I was faced with the accreditation of the Institute. The Nigerian Academy of Science was commissioned by the Federal Government to accredit some Research Institutes. The Institute came out on top with a five-year accreditation. This makes the Institute one of the best research institutes in Nigeria. It makes me so glad.

The approval we got from the Head of Service to establish Zonal Offices in the six geopolitical zones is also an achievement that cannot be dismissed by the wave of the hand. This will assist the Institute to spread its tentacle all over Nigeria for effectiveness of its operations.

The North West Zonal Office, Kano has taken off fully. Arrangements have been concluded for the take off of the South-South, South West and the North East Zonal Offices.

What is your scorecard in the Transformation Agenda of Mr. President?

The Transformation Agenda document is a beautiful document. The agenda clearly indicated and spelt out the roles of science and technology in the achievement of its goals.

At the Institute, the Transformation Agenda is a priority and that is why we are using our mandate towards achieving goals of the Agenda especially in the areas of job creation, development of indigenous technologies, local content development, quality improvement for made in Nigeria goods and so on.

The Institute recently established Technoentrepreneurship & Techno-economics Division to properly coordinate its entrepreneurship programmes to address the issue of increasing unemployment. Ours is a specialized entrepreneurship programme i.e. techno-entrepreneurship for promotion and development of technical enterprises based on the technologies developed at the Institute.

The Institute has witnessed tremendous infrastructural development in the last two years, which some commentators have described as unprecedented in the history of the Institute. Right from the gate, the Institute is now wearing a new look. A fully air-conditioned gatehouse and reception have been constructed with a 50-car capacity carport

48

THE GUARDIAN, Saturday May 25, 2013

TheGuardian

Saturday, May 25, 2013 49

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Cover

Abubakar

A police officer handling over a cheque to one of the children of a slain policemen

The Police At The Mercy Of Terrorists, Criminals

By Godwin Ijediogor (News Editor) N the last six months, the number of policemen and women that have died from attacks by terrorists and criminals in peace-time Nigeria is unprecedented, especially in the northern part of the country and the Niger Delta.

In the last two weeks, Boko Haram insurgents in Bama and Eggon killed over 45 police officers and men of the State Security Service (SSS) in Borno and Nasarawa states alone.

The Bama attacks claimed over 55 lives, including about 22 policemen, and caused the destruction of five Police, Prisons and Nigerian Army formations in the town.

On Friday, April 5, 16 policemen allegedly hired to lead the convoy of boats heading for Azuzuama in Southern Ijaw Council of Bayelsa State, were attacked by suspected militants and 11 of them died. Their bodies were recovered four days latter in the creek.

Kano, Yobe and Borno states have bore the brunt of most of the attacks, with many officers killed or injured.

The Nasarawa attack on Tuesday, May 7 led to the death of over 30 policemen and SSS opera-

I

tives who were ambushed on their way to raid the armoury allegedly belonging to the Ombatse cult.

Reacting to the incident, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Abubakar, in statement signed by force deputy spokesman, Frank Mba, said: “This disturbing, condemnable and highly distressing incident, coming closely after similar ones in Bayelsa and Borno states, have thrown up new and emerging threats in the delicate task of policing our country.

“We consider the attack not just an attack on the Nigeria Police and its officers and men, but also an attack on the collective will of Nigerians to protect and preserve our dear fatherland. This, we have vowed, to put an end to.”

The IGP ordered all field commanders and special units, including Assistant Inspectors General of Police (AIGs) and Commissioners of Police to “harness all resources available within their domain in ensuring that this reign of terror and lawlessness is brought to an end.”

He added: “The Nigeria Police Force, working in conjunction with all positive- minded

Nigerians, will do everything within its powers to fish out and bring to book all those involved in this and other similar killings of law enforcement agents. We must put an end to this endless circle of impunity. Enough is enough”.

Last Friday, over 150 widows and orphans of the policemen and prisons officials killed in Bama by Boko Haram gunmen, grudgingly accepted a N5 million donation by Governor Kashim Shettima when he paid a condolence visit to survivors of the attack.

This happened just as wives of the slain policemen in Nasarawa barricaded the Akwanga-Abuja road, causing commuters to be stranded for over four hours.

Their grievance, according to one of them, was that the corpses of some of their husbands were still missing, while government is playing politics with the incidence.

Another widow said: “If our husbands are killed, let them return their bodies. We are more than 75 that have not seen the corpses of our husbands, as only 18 bodies have been recovered.

“So, we want to know if our husbands are dead or not. Their status must be clear to us. Our husbands were sent on national duty by the government, but are yet to return. No one would pass through this place until the bodies of our husbands are returned to us.”

It has become obvious that police officers, who are hardly well-equipped for their duties, are the softest targets of criminal attacks in the country, from available reports.

Suffice it to say that their families do not fare better once they are gone, as their death benefits and other entitlements are hardly or promptly paid. Some families are ejected from their official residential quarters soon after the death of their breadwinners.

It all boils to equipping the police and re-orientating its men and officers, particularly on strategies.

Another raging issue concerning the killing of policemen/women and indeed security agents in the line of duty, is disparity of compensation among the different agencies.

This brings to question the real worth of the life a policeman/woman, and probably security agents in general.

For example, it was reported that families of the slain policemen in Nasarawa were paid a meagre N500, 000, which was later increased to N1 mil-

lion, compared to the N10 million and a house each to families of deceased officers announced by the Department of State Security Services (DSS).

This difference made it look like the policemen/women were worth less than their colleagues in sister security agencies, prompting some northern governors, led by their Chairman and Governor of Niger State, Babangida Aliyu, to call for a correction of such disparity.

While speaking in Abuja during the peace forum and launch of the Northern Governors’ Wives Forum almanac, Aliyu insisted that families of the policemen and other security agencies killed be given equal treatment in terms of compensation and other incentives.

“It is only in Nigeria that criminals and hoodlums kill security operatives and go free. We want equal treatment for the families of all the policemen and the SSS. “There is no justification anywhere why there should be disparity in the payment of compensation to the families of the officers killed.

“There is no country in the world where a criminal can kill a police or any security operative and go free, no matter how connected they might be. But here in Nigeria, it happens,” he lamented.

At a ceremony not quite long ago, Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Dikko Abubakar, said N8.5 million worth of insurance was paid to 17 dependents of police officers who died in active service in Zone Six. The IGP, represented by then Commissioner of Police in Rivers State, Mohammed Indabawa, said in Port Harcourt while distributing the cheques to beneficiaries, that each beneficiary received N500, 000 under the police insurance scheme.

He disclosed that out of the officers who died, four were from Rivers, six from Akwa Ibom, one from Cross River and six from Bayelsa commands.

As the police and other security authorities try to unravel the circumstances surrounding the incessant killing of their officers in the line of duty and put an end to such avoidable deaths, it is instructive that the morale of their living colleagues be boosted by adequately equipping them and reviewing their compensation schemes.

Police In C’River Contend With Lack Of Equipment policemen in Cross River State have not been experiencing incessant XCEPT for the recent communal attacks by hoodlums. clash between the people of However, the condition of living in Adadama in Abi Local Government terms of kitting, accommodation, Council of Cross River State and funding, ammunitions and others is Amagu community in Ikwo Council poor, while cases of bribery thrive. of Ebonyi State when a police staRoadblocks are not there except for tion was burnt down in Adadama, occasional stop and check opera-

From Anietie Akpan, Calabar

E

tions and the ones mounted by the military. A police constable who preferred anonymity, said their condition is so poor that enough ammunitions are not given to them on patrol.

“Most times, we buy our bullets and this is not good. We don’t have enough vehicles and enough fuel

for the few vehicles available. Some senior offices even take patrol vehicles as their personal or official cars and the stations are left bare.

“Even the State Crime and Investigation Department of the state police headquarters is a sorry sight.

From the entrance, it stinks like hell

CONTINUED ON PAGE 51

Imoke

THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, May 25, 2013

50

COVER

NASARAWA ATTACK: Two Families Claim One Decomposing Bodies From Karls Tsokar, Abuja HE grief of the families of Benjamin T Abughul, an agent of the State Security Service (SSS) and Christian Ibekwe of the Crime Investigation Department (CID) of the Nigeria Police, two security agents slain by suspected cultist in Akwanga, Nasarawa State last week, is made worse as both families are contesting over one lifeless, swollen and blacked-beyond-physical- recognition body that they assume its their relations’.

Although the late Abughul’s elder brother, Kenneth had two days before the corpse of his brother had gone beyond recognition, identified and confirmed his late brother’s remains in the presence of some the slain SSS Inspector’s colleagues, the Ibekwes are saying the almost decomposing corpse looks like their brother’s too.

The case became so complicated that the Director of the SSS in the state and the Nasarawa State Commissioner of Police, had to retain custody of the corpse and order for a deoxyribonucleric acid (DNA) test to ascertain whose body it is.

Late Abughul, the breadwinner of his family, was not married. His aged mother, Mbasen Abughul who has being bed ridden for 10 years after a stroke, who could not hold back her tears but barely managed to mumble a few words that conveyed the intense anguish that could not be concealed. “He is gone, never to come smiling at me again, but I will soon join him,” she said.

This is the agony of many families who could not claim the corpses of their loved ones for proper burial after the massacre of the combined team of Mobile Policemen and SSS detailed to arrest an allegedly well known spellbinder and his devotes in Asaikyo village near Lafia.

The reaction that has trailed the death of more than 100 security agents by the Ombatse militia group in Assakio near Lafia, has continued to draw concern from all

From Uzoma Nzeagwu, Awka LTHOUGH there is no Boko Haram Islamic sect in Anambra State, there have been attacks on security operatives, especially policemen for some time.

Speaking on the matter, Police Public Relation Officer in Anambra State (ASP) Emeka Chukwuemeka said: “I don’t think there is anywhere policemen have not been attacked in Nigeria”, adding that officers and men of the command are equal to the task and have highly reduced the incidence of attacks by hoodlums, particularly armed robbers.

A

Policemen on duty

Nigerians.

Earlier on, as news of the unfortunate incidence broke, 18 bodies were said to have being recovered, riddled with bullets, maimed and half burnt. Then a protest by the wives of some of the mobile policemen, drafted from the No 30 Police Mobile Squadron, Akwanga, whose bodies were yet to be recovered. They mounted roadblocks on the Akwanga-Lafia road from 9 am in the morning to 8 pm in the evening,

everyday from Thursday May 9 to Tuesday May 14. Passengers coming from Abuja to Makurdi and vice versa, were stranded for the rest of the day. A serving Minister was also caught in the milieu and was heard saying he empathised with the bereaved women and their action is understood, since it is the responsibility of the government to fish out the perpetrators of the crime and recover the bodies of the slain secu-

rity agents. But when some of the bodies where recovered, the women removed the roadblocks to free the traffic on the road.

Governor of the state, Tanko Al-Makura last week gave the wives and/or next of kin to the deceased N1 million. However, reports allege that the Nasarawa State government is neck deep in the whole imbroglio as some sources have it that the arrest order on the militia group was politically-motivated.

Some policemen lost their lives during a clash recently with the robbers. The command went into action and some of hoodlums were apprehended. They include the notorious gang leader and members of his gang who carried out the attack.

It would be recalled that last year, gunmen raided police stations at Amichi and Ukpor police station in Nnewi South Local Government area of the state and made away with 14 AK 47 rifles. They freed some detainees.

Three mobile police men attached Ukpor were killed by the dare devil armed gang suspected to be armed robbers.

It was said that the hoodlums numbering about seven, stormed Amichi station at about 2.30am in a black SUV Pajero jeep and shot sporadically into the air to attract policemen on duty.

At Ukpor, the robbers operated in white Hummer bus and a Hilux Jeep. They stormed the police station a midnight, shooting sporadically before hitting three mobile police officers.

On kitting, Chukwuemeka said police uniforms are constantly provided from the rank of inspector down to the last constable.

He added that they are provided with accommodation, but they are not enough to go round.

According to him, the command has since dismantled road blocks in the state. “Road blocks have been abolished, but where there is problem, policemen could be drafted to flash points, conduct stop and search operations, especially when there is car snatch, kidnap or armed robbery,” he said.

However, some stakeholders gave a different view of the situation within the police formation in the state. Speaking on the issues, a police officer who preferred anonymity, said

policemen are really suffering. Most of the policemen buy their own uniforms, he said, adding that those in charge corner the kits such as shoes, stockings, buttons and caps.

According to him, officers from the rank of ASP and above buy their kits while from recruit down to the inspector were to be issued kits by the police authorities. “Each officer is supposed to receive two pairs of uniforms, shoes, belt and caps because we understand these materials were provided. In fact, the hierarchy plays politics with the uniform.

They sell to the junior staff at exorbitant prices. These kits are in the store but the rank and file cannot get them. A set of buttons sells for N1,000. They equal sell stockings and polish,” he alleged.

According to him, the command loses approximately one officer monthly, killed violently either by armed robbers or kidnappers.

A policewoman in the command, disclosed that the arms and ammunition are grossly inadequate, stressing that in a unit of about 218 police officers, there is only about 15 AK47 rifles which is not enough to counter armed robbers. “The riot equipment are not there while some of the bullet proof vests available are not original. There are original ones in the store just for display. They issue fake types to policemen,” she alleged.

The accommodation for policemen is nothing to write home about, she said, pointing out that there are three types of houses for policemen. Many of the buildings are abandoned, even the high-ranking officers drive out the rank and file to occupy their houses.

However, the state Commissioner of Police, Ballah Nasarawa has taken some measures to check the activities of criminals which includes increased police presence and patrols across the state.

The bereaved families protesting the killing of their breadwinners

In Anambra, Policemen Tackle Robbers, Not Boko Haram Members

THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, May 25, 2013

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Police In Enugu Groan Under Poor Living Conditions From Lawrence Njoku, Enugu

ing constituted part of the unhygenic conditions in which the police operate, however, N Enugu State, the major problem for the none of the officials was willing to comment on police is poor living conditions. Receiving a how much they get to run their stations.

Deputy Inspector General of Police, Aliyu Y. Unconfirmed sources said however that to augKafur, who paid a visit to the Central Police ment what they receive for their monthly operStation (CPS), Enugu recently, its Divisional ations, those at the top encourage the rank and Police Officer, John Ike Mba lamented the poor file to mount road blocks among others. state of facilities at the station.

The source said this is responsible for the high Mba, who recalled that the station built in number of road blocks mounted by the police 1927, has old brick buildings occupied by reguand other security agents in the southeast, lar and men of the mobile police force and stressing: “That is why no matter what anybody their families, said that most of the buildings says about road blocks, they will not stop in have existed over the years without toilet faciliNigeria. Whatever is realized from the roadties. He called for rehabilitation of facilities blocks, among others, is used to service the staoccupied by police personnel to make them tions from time to time. You will need to buy habitable and motivate officers to perform fuel for the vehicles, for the generators, batteroptimally. ies, bullets, service and maintain other things.

A visit to some of the police stations and faciliYou cannot do this effectively with what they ties they occupy with their families, reveal allocate to you”. what they undergo daily. With foul smell oozApart from facilities, policemen on active duty ing from the environment as a result of congeshave continued to fall prey to men of the undertion, broken down toilets, among others, world. Recently, a police orderly attached to the police barracks don’t offer comfort at all to son of Enugu governor was killed along Rangers their occupants.

Avenue. Another police officer was felled at the Although it was ascertained that poor fund-

I

Asadu

Asata area and his guns removed. These came close to the killing of the former Commissioner of Police in Kwara State, Asadu in Enugu recently.

Speaking on the situation of police in the state, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Ebere Amaraizu said 11 policemen have been killed in the state from last year till now. He said although government has continued to do

its best with the supply of facilities to the police, they were however never enough.

“There is no time we can have enough. No matter how you look at it, the police will always ask for more because of the demands of services. We get kits on a quarterly basis and they are shared down the line. We provide accommodation if they are available. So, we cannot say it is all that bad but it can be better”, he said.

Boko Haram Insurgents Target Kano Police Stations father and others that were killed were. They should therefore be appreciated by looking after their families”, he said.

ANO witnessed the first attack by members of Jama’atu All attempts to speak to the concerned authorities on the payAhlussunnah Lidda’awati Wal Jihad, otherwise called Boko ment of benefits to the families of the murdered officers and Haram, on January 20, 2012, a few hours after the weekly Friday men proved abortive. But a reliable source confirmed that the prayers. police authorities were doing their best to pay to the bereaved The target was the Kano State Police Command headquarters families. in Bompai; the state headquarters of the State Security Service “You are aware that the Inspector General of Police is a man of (SSS) at ‘Yan Kaba; and the Zone One Police headquarters along his words. In fact, all necessary arrangements are in top gear Bayero University, all within the Kano metropolis. towards the payment of the deceased’s entitlements to their famThat same day, there was another attack on the Farm Centre ilies”, the source, who pleaded for anonymity stressed.

Police Station. A few days after the coordinated attacks, there Another victim, who sustained injuries during the attack on were a series of attacks on police formations at Sharada, Rijiyar their patrol vehicle, confirmed to The Guardian that authorities Zaki, ‘Yar Akwa, Mandawari and Goron Dutse. assured them of quick payment of their entitlements.

This resulted in casualties, although the main intention of the The Kano State government on its part is doing everything posinsurgents was to gain access to the well-protected armouries sible to console the families of those whose sons or daughters. of Zone One and State Command police headquarters.

When there was a bomb a few months back at the New Road The exact number of policemen/women killed could not be Motor Park which killed scores of people, Dr Abdullahi Umar ascertained, but it was clear that a handful were affected.

Ganduje, the Kano State Deputy Governor, visited the scene of Mandawari Police Station was attacked more than thrice con- the incidence a day after. secutively. Men of the station courageously repelled the Boko During the visit, he condemned the unfortunate attack, saying Haram attacks to the extent that even the Inspector General of it was carried out by people that were hell bent to cause all kinds Police was reported to have acknowledged their gallantry. of confusion among the adherents of different religions in the Police and other security operatives were killed in cold blood, country. some in their homes and others where they were posted out“Those that perpetrated this ugly incidence are criminals. They side their stations. are not representing any religion. Islam does not preach for vioMadam Rose, one of the widows of a slain police officer with lence, neither does Christianity,” he said. three children, lamented that life would never be the same A Police Sergeant, Maimuna Yusif was shot dead by unknown again. She remembered that when she heard of the killing of gunmen who drove in a tricycle and opened fire on her, a day their breadwinner, what came to her mind first was the after the motor park attack. She died instantly schooling of the children and the agony of life without her Attached to Zone One Police Headquarters, she had stopped at loved husband. one vulcanizer’s shop by the road side along Farm Centre to Sani, a son of one of the slain police officers who refused to repair one of her car tyres. Unknown to her, some gunmen were disclose the identity of his father, urged the authorities to trailing her. quickly make all the necessary preparations to ensure the A day after Maimuna’s gruesome murder, a police vehicle was prompt payment of his father’s entitlements and other beneambushed by some unknown gunmen along Sabon Titi/Madobi fits. road in Kumbotso local government. Nine police men sustained “He was killed while on duty. That shows how patriotic our gunshot wounds of various degrees. They were admitted at the

From Abba Anwar, Kano

K

Armed Forces Hospital. One of them had fractured leg and was transferred to Dala National Orthopedic Hospital.

When the injured police men were in the hospital, former governor of Lagos state, Senator Ahmed Bola Tinubu, the National Chairman of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Chief Bisi Akande and the Presidential candidate of ACN at the 2011 election, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, went to the Armed Forces Hospital, in company with the state governor, Engineer Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, to console them.

But the attacks were not limited to police, SSS men and military personnel alone. Some paramilitary personnel were also attacked. Not long ago, a patrol vehicle of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) was attacked along Madobi Way. A few days after, the prime suspect was arrested. A Sudanese man claimed responsibility, saying that had nothing to do with Boko Haram insurgency.

The then Kano state Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim K. Idris revealed that on November 20 last year, operatives engaged a gang of armed robbers on motorcycle, leading to the arrest of 28year-old Ahmed Tijjani of no fixed address, and Safiyanu Abubakar, 32, from Kebbi. One AK 47 rifle and 27 rounds of live ammunitions were found on them.

He further revealed that they confessed to a series of attacks in Kano, including that of MC PVC Ltd, Plot 28 of Sharada Industrial Estate, robberies at Charanchi and Zangon Dakata filling stations. They also confessed to two robberies at Kantin Kwari market, Gidan Keji BUK Road and one at Sharada Rubber Company.

The arrested armed robbers led operatives to other hide-outs of some men of the underworld where one bag of high density polythene chemical, four containers of ready made bombs, one leather containing sulphur, 20 connecting cables, one Jincheng motorcycle and other chemical substances were recovered.

On November 19 last year, Bello Abbas of Unguwar Wanzamai Gunduwawa qtrs, Kano was arrested. He confessed to have participated in the armed robberies in Badawa and Dakata quarters where one policeman attached to the Dakata Division, was killed.

Police In C’River Contend With Lack Of Equipment two months ago, averred that policing is not for the police alone. yet policemen and women sit out just by “There is need for all members of the the counter to work with the repelling community to work together. We call on stench from the cells. No electricity most the public for help with information. We of the time and the place is always dark. need to work together for the progress of “This is the same story in most other sta- the state. Although the state is peaceful, it tions. The furnishing is not even good for should not be taken for granted. It was the dustbin. There are no enough chairs, people who made it peaceful through tables, fans, air-conditioners and others. hard work and this effort should be susWe are really suffering. We are not prop- tained. Information from members of the erly kitted for operations. The police public is very important,” he said. needs a total overhaul,” he bemoaned.

Sodipo also solicited for more manpowCommissioner of Police, Mr. Kola er for the police, as he encouraged memSodipo who assumed duty in Calabar just bers of the public to join the force, saying

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Kwakwanso

400,000 policemen are not enough to adequately police over 160 million people in Nigeria as this is far below the UN standard.

He said the ideal situation, according to international standards, is to have one policeman to six people. He said there is nothing wrong with joining the police which he described as a respectable job just like any other.

“We have put in place water tight security strategies aimed at enhancing successful clamp down on criminals and we make bold to say there will be no hiding place for criminals in the state,” he said.

THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, May 25, 2013

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2015: Power Rotation, Zoning Take Centre Stage Nationwide it appears the centre can no longer hold in the party and the country.

Ahead of the 2015 general election, politiHE 1999 constitution, as amended, did not cal tension is already gathering momentum in the across the country over whether recognize the rotation of the post of the President of the country or any other elective President Jonathan should contest or leave the stage for the North to produce the next positions at the national level among the states that make up the country, or the geo- President. political zones or the senatorial zones or even Pro-Jonathan supporters mainly from the the federal constituencies across the country. Niger Delta region are insisting that the President should be allowed to run for secSome political parties, which tried to ond term in the interest of peace, especially enshrine zoning or rotation of political offices in their constitutions, did so for politi- in the Niger Delta Region, the revenue base of the country. cal exigency and strategic reasons. One of On the other hand, the Northerners led by such political parties is the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which adopted zon- the Northern Elders Forum are also ing formula in sharing political offices since adamant that President Jonathan should 1999, but the formula was put to test follow- not run for second term in the interest of peace, fairness and equity in the country. ing the demise of President Umaru Musa Also across the 36 states of the federation, Yar’Adua, a northerner who was on his first the situation appears to be the same, less term in office on May 10, 2010. than two years to 2015 general elections as With his Vice, President Goodluck Jonathan’s assumption of office as his succes- the political gladiators in three senatorial sor and subsequently elected as the President zones in each state square up against each of the country in the 2011 general election on other over which zone should produce the PDP platform, amidst protests and agitations governor in 2015. by some Northerners that the zone should be Investigations reveal that since the return allowed to complete its eight years in office, of democracy in the country in 1999, while

By Samson Ezea

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Mark

Tambuwal

one particular senatorial zone has continued to produce governor in some states against the remaining zones using population, ethnicity-cum-religious advantages, governorship position in other states has been rotating among the three zones in the states based on political understanding among the people of the states.

It is obvious that the clamour and agitation for the creation of more states might not be unconnected with the problems of power dominance by one particular zone or ethnic group in the state, which brought about the neglect and suppression of the remaining zones in the states.

The clamour for Apa State by the Idoma people of the present Benue State, is for them to have freedom from the dominance of Tiv people in the state who have continued to produce governors in the state with their numerical strength against the Idoma

minority.

This might be the reason why the Senate President David Mark who is an Idoma by tribe, has allegedly touted that power rotation among the three zones be included in the ongoing constitutional amendment.

The development has also brought to fore the hypocrisy of political leaders who will say different things on issues pertaining power struggle ahead 2015 between the North and the South at the national level, only to champion different agenda in their respective states.

Although some have argued that making rotation or zoning of political offices a constitutional issue might encourage mediocrity in the election of public office holders across the country, others are of the opinion that it will reduce political crisis and cost of election and at the same time promote equity and fairness in the polity.

KWARA: There Has Always Been Zoning From Abiodun Fagbemi, Ilorin EMI Afolayan, Secretary of the Y Kwara State chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), says the state is unique in terms of zoning arrangement for the governorship position, as it has always been a strong factor in the choice of the would-be governor.

Like Afolayan, many other major stakeholders lauded the arrangement as something that engenders even spread of democratic gains and a sense of patriotism in Nigerians.

But despite that, Afolayan said the ruling PDP in the state has overwhelming supporters across the three senatorial districts and “a very solid party structure,” and wherever the district the governor hails from would not ordinarily influence any policy of government.

Ahmed

Besides, he said the proposition would not always work out in some cases, noting that reactions to politics are sometimes influenced by the choice of candidates made by the opposition party.

“The zoning arrangement is not a new phenomenon in Kwara politics. In fact, the late doyen of Kwara politics, Dr. Olusola Saraki started it and it has since become an acceptable norm here,” he said.

The three senatorial districts are Kwara South, Kwara Central and Kwara North.

The PDP official added: “In 1979, the governor came from Kwara North (Adamu Attah), but in 1983, it was the turn of the Kwara South, (Cornelius Adebayo). Between 1999 and 2009, Kwara Central produced the governors (Mohammed Lawal and Bukola Saraki.) At present, it is the turn of Kwara South, (Abdulfatah Ahmed)”.

Afolayan therefore believes the arrangement could be implemented at the national level and should be based on the existing six geopolitical zones in the country.

On his part, Oyin Zubir, a leading figure among agitators for the creation of Igbomina State, supported the views expressed by Afolayan but with a caveat that the arrangement should be enshrined in the country’s constitution.

Zubir said: “It is a good thing for all the existing senatorial districts in each state of the federation to be rotating the governorship slot among them.

“This arrangement is also good at the federal level. However, we should make it a constitutional

issue so as to remove any friction on it in future.”

To Rafiu Ajakaye, an aide of Dele Belgore, Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) governorship candidate in the 2011 election, the arrangement is desirable as it would spread democratic gains across the states and the country as a whole.

Ajakaye said: “Every person and every part of the state is entitled to vie for the governorship and I will always support the exercise of that right.”

But an Ilorin-based human rights activist, Taiwo Otitolaye, views zoning as undemocratic and a system that could further divide Nigerians along ethnic lines.

He said: “I don’t support the idea; it is not a democratic song at all.

We need to allow anybody who is qualified to contest for either the post of a governor or the president. We should stop this talk on ethnicity.

“If we should operate on rotational basis, the unity of this country will be eroded.”

CROSS ROVER: Imoke Insists On Equity From Anietie Akpan, Calabar ONING or power rotation is a non-issue in Cross River State, as Governor Liyel Imoke and some stakeholders have made it crystal clear that the next governor should come from the North Senatorial district.

Even in the ongoing primaries of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Imoke made it very clear to the party’s elders and caucuses that chairmanship and counsellor-

Z

ship positions should go to areas that have not occupied the posts in the past.

In one of the interactive sessions with journalists, Imoke said as a person, he believes in justice and equity. He stated that two of the three senatorial districts in state – the South and Central – have had shots at the governorship while the North has not.

He added that it is only proper that in next dispensation, the North should be considered in the interest of equity and justice.

The PDP in the state has always maintained the zoning arrangement, even though the opposition parties have tried to no avail to scuttle it.

Chairman of Hope Democratic Party (HDP), Dr. Theo Onyukwu, said: “It is very unfortunate that we are not practicing democracy in our country and moreso in our state.

“Most state governors have become emperors. They are in charge and decide who gets what, not the people.

“The issue of successor has not started because you have the mandate to govern the people for the next three years. You are not God and at the fullness of time, the people will decide who will govern them from 2015.”

However, most people in the state have lauded Imoke for insisting on zoning, not only for the governorship, but also for other positions in the local government election.

A retired banker, Francis Bullem, said: “Zoning or rotation is a good development, because it creates opportunities for every facet of

society to benefit from the incentives that such opportunities could create.

“It also creates some kind of even development across various segments of society. So, it is a welcome development and Imoke should be commended for his stand. He has acted as a father.

“Ordinarily, without rotation, you will find out that certain areas cannot aspire to some levels of political administration and economy.

“It is the rotation policy, for instance, that has given us the opportunity in the South-South to produce the President of Nigeria.”

AKWA IBOM: A Different Ball Game N Akwa Ibom State, it is a direct opposite of what is going on in Cross River.

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Imoke

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Enugu North, Delta North Insist On

quences of depriving a people of their rights.

If we are deprived our rights, we would not be happy, so anybody that goes to equity must go with clean hands.

“We are clamouring that they are cheating Akwa Ibom in Abuja, but we are equally here oppressing ourselves. So what are we talking about?”

Traditional rulers in Eket recently addressed the press on the matter and appealed to stakeholders in the state’s politics to maintain the principle of power rotation in the 2015 governorship polls.

The Paramount Ruler of Onna, Akwa Edidem Akpabio Ukpa, who spoke on behalf of his colleagues when leaders of the Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District Assembly visited him in his palace at Ikot Edor, said going by the principle of power rotation in Akwa Ibom, it is the turn and the right of Eket district to produce the governor come 2015.

He recalled that he was among the people from Eket who signed the memorandum of rotation from Eket when it was the turn of Ikot Ekpene, warning that traditional injunction would be placed on any politician from Eket who sells out or betrays the people in its quest to produce the next governor.

Chairman of the Assembly, Chief Nduese Essien, said the visit was to solicit support from the Traditional Rulers Council and “alert you that your district is expected to produce the governor in 2015. We are on this mission to defend equity, justice and fairness to all.”

He added: “The cycle of rotation of governorship in Akwa Ibom should be completed in 2015 before starting another one based on any new principle.”

So, in Akwa Ibom, zoning remains an issue.

that since these men had occupied the position, they have well represented the interests of their areas; hence their support for Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo from Enugu North to emerge the first governor of the state in 1991 to completed the tripod power sharing arrangement.

A new order began in 1999, with the emergence of Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani from Enugu East as governor. Despite the pressures eight years after, Nnamani nominated and supported Chime from Enugu West as his successor, who was supported by the stakeholders and leaders in the state.

Chime, by 2015, would be ending his second term and the natural thing would be to see that the rotation is not disrupted by ensuring the governorship goes to Enugu North.

Perhaps to realise this, the governor had during his re-election campaign where he met with stakeholders of the zone, assured them that he would support their aspiration in 2015 should they support him in his bid, bearing in mind that his major opponents in the election were from the area.

Thus, the leaders prevailed on their sons to defer their aspirations and support Chime.

The people believe the greatest thing that would compensate them is for the governor to keep to his promise and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and other political parties to respect the zoning arrangement.

The rumoured ambition of Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, has raised concerns among the people, with his posters doting the nooks and crannies of Enugu and Nsukka.

This is not because Ekweremadu is not qualified or does not have the capacity to run for the office, but that having him in the race, in view of the position he occupies now, could alter the zoning arrangement.

Ekweremadu hails from Enugu West, the same zone with Chime. His Aninri Local Government area had also complained of marginalisation in the state.

But apparently not to be taken unawares and not wanting to rely on Chime’s promise alone, politicians in the area are now closing ranks with the aim of producing an acceptable candidate for the position.

As it stands now, what is common in the state is that power should shift to Enugu North in 2015, but whether the leaders, especially the governor, have the political will to drive it to its conclusion, remains to be seen.

Akpabio

Chime

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2015, warning that the state could be set ablaze should the PDP stakeholders from Uyo ‘steal’ the turn of their Eket bothers.

The PDP chieftain, who spoke with some journalists at his country home in Nnung Udoe in Ibesikpo Asutan Council, said it would be “morally wrong” for Uyo to rob ENUGU: North Zone Insists On Its Turn In Eket of its turn to produce the governor in 2015 2015.

From Lawrence Njoku, Enugu He stated that since Akwa Ibom is founded F the consciousness already created is not on a tripod of Uyo, Ikot Ekpene and Eket sendistorted and Governor Sullivan Chime atorial districts, the makes real his camnext governor paign promise to supshould come from port the zone, the Eket, noting that that Thus, for peace sake, the leaders Enugu North senatorisince Uyo had proal zone would in 2015 insisted that since these men had duced Attah and Ikot produce his successor.

Ekpene’s Akpabio is occupied the position, they have This is in line with the serving his second well represented the interests of political order being term, nothing in the state should be done to their areas; hence their support for nurtured since the return of disrupt the arrangeDr. Okwesilieze Nwodo from Enugu democracy in 1999. ment.

Stakeholders in the DELTA: North Demands Its Turn North to emerge the first governor state He said: “I am a nonhad before now Hendrix Oliomogbe, Asaba From violent politician of the state in 1991 to completed harped on the need for HERE is no doubt that the Anioma people and I really want power, espeof Delta North senatorial district suffer the tripod power sharing arrange- political peace to reign in cially at the governorfrom a deep sense of marginalisation when Akwa Ibom. That is ment ship level, to rotate it comes to the governorship of the state. why I am going to among the three zones It is the only zone that is yet to occupy the bare my mind. of Enugu West, Enugu governorship position since the state was “Even in your house, East and Enugu North created in 1991 by former military president, when you have about districts to reduce friction and give each Gen. Ibrahim Babangida. seven children, you won’t want to put all of While Senator Felix Ibru and Chief James them in one vehicle when you are traveling. zone a sense of belonging.

They also argued that it would foster accelIbori, both from Delta Central, have occu“We are saying that things should be done erated development and improve greater pied the plum position for over eight years as they have always been done. There participation in the affairs of the state. cumulatively, incumbent Governor shouldn’t be atavism or traces of atavism.

Thus, after the creation of the state in 1991, Emmanuel Uduaghan from the South senaThese are things (zoning or rotation) have torial district would complete his second been enshrined even in our traditional insti- its leaders, led by the late Chief Christian Onoh, former governor of the old Anambra term in 2015. tutions and the way we conduct our things State, took into account the fact that the new Little wonder that the people of Delta North for the sake of peace. creation had put him in Enugu West senato- are determined to take a shot at the position “So, we should stop doing things that rial zone, as with Chief Jim Nwobodo, also a in 2015 in the spirit of equity, fairness and are morally and politically not right. I know former governor in the old Anambra, now in justice, notwithstanding the numerous I might be challenged in certain quarters, Enugu East. but I stand for political morality.

Thus, for peace sake, the leaders insisted CONTINUED ON PAGE 54 “Any adult in Akwa Ibom that pretends not to know the answer is doing injustice to the system. There is a direction; Akwa Ibom is built on a tripod of three senatorial districts.

“What I am saying is not out of my own selfish sentiment or that I want to portray myself as a tin god; it is what will bring peace to Akwa Ibom.

“Things should be shared equally. If people are saying that it has always been like that; that it is a free ball that anybody that grabs is free to play it like rugby, then we are deceiving the society and ourselves.”

He argued that Eket, which produces the oil wealth that sustains the state, should be allowed to take its turn in the governance of the state.

“This is a very sensitive senatorial district.

Akwa Ibom is portrayed as one of the highest producers of crude oil and one of the engine rooms of Nigeria’s economy, and the wealth of the state is collected within that enclave called Eket district.

“Let us not pretend not to know the conseSuntai Uduaghan

The political tripod – Uyo, Eket and Ikot Ekpene senatorial districts – are at war again over who should produce the next governor in 2015, as the issue of zoning or power rotation takes centre stage.

Most people have argued that Governor Godswill Akpabio and Senator Alloysius Etuk are the greatest beneficiaries of zoning in the state.

Political analysts maintained that if not for the zoning arrangement by the then governor, Obong Victor Attah, and stakeholders in 2007, it would have been absolutely difficult, if not impossible, for an Annang politician to become governor.

Similarly, it would have been impossible for an Ibibio man in Ikot Ekpene senatorial district to be a senator in an Annang- dominated area, but for zoning.

Since the creation of the state in 1987, only Uyo and Ikot Ekpene districts have produced governors, with each serving two terms, due to the cooperation and political understanding of others in 1999, 2003, 2007 and 2011.

In 1999 and 2003, Eket and Ikot Ekpene districts massively supported the quest of Uyo district, and in 2007 and 2011, Uyo and Eket stood behind Ikot Ekpene to produce the governor.

So equity, fairness and political harmony demand that Uyo and Ikot Ekpene should queue behind Eket in the 2015 and 2019 governorship elections, as one good turn deserves another, despite a few dissenting voices in some quarters.

Already, Secretary to the State Government (SSG) and former Commissioner of Finance in Attah administration, Obong Umana Umana, and immediate past senator for Uyo, Senator Effiong Bob, have indicated interest to govern the state in 2015.

Two opposing camps have emerged in the state for and against zoning.

PDP stakeholders in Uyo district and others recently addressed the press, saying there was nothing like zoning or power rotation, insisting that the people of the state should concern themselves with the best materials and not zoning or rotation.

Senator Ita Enang, who read the communiqué, said there has never been zoning and there should be none.

They argued that after all, other zones contested the primaries with Uyo and Ikot Ekpene when they emerged, so stopping anybody now was not acceptable.

But immediate past state Chairman of the party and Special Adviser to Governor Akpabio on Cooperative and Food Sufficiency, Uwem Ita-Etuk, faulted his kinsmen’s claims, noting that in his previous capacity, he presided over the meeting of PDP stakeholders during which it was agreed that the office of governor should be rotated among the three districts.

According to him, there would be dire consequences for the state should Eket be deprived of producing the next governor in

I

T

THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, May 25, 2013

54

COVEREXTRA

Taraba South, Abia South Clamour For CONTINUED FROM PAGE 53 obstacles to be surmounted.

This is certainly a no mean task to convince the other ethnic groups, especially the Urhobo who are in the majority, to see reason with them.

If his declaration in Agbor in April last year is anything to go by, there is no doubt that the people have found a faithful friend in Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark.

While throwing his weight behind their quest, Clark had declared that they are fully entitled to govern the state in 2015, much as it is the right of any Deltan to contest for the number one position, saying nobody is a second-class citizen in his own state or country.

The elder statesman averred that it would amount to hypocrisy, if he stoutly defends Jonathan, from a minority group/geo-political zone, and do a different thing in his own state.

The Ijaw leader, who hails from Delta South, advised them to establish cordial relationship with the other districts, as they do not exist in isolation in the state.

“They should work together with others and make their request and others will consider it, though it is not a question of forcing it upon anybody.

“This state belongs to all of us and we must be patient if we are not ruling. All I have said is that certain people should not arrogate to themselves the exclusive right to govern this state. We are all equal,” he stressed.

But the Ijaw chief may be on a collision course with some die-hard opponents of power shift or rotation or zoning in the state, who have vowed to resist the move all the way.

Some of them, under the aegis of Old Delta Province Solidarity Front (ODPSF), argued that Delta North should not start talking of producing the governor in 2015 because the old Delta Province has not recovered from the injustice of locating two state capitals in the old Benin Province, one in Benin City and the other in Asaba.

They added that if the people of the defunct Delta Province, which fought for the creation of Delta State, were cruelly denied the privilege of hosting the state capital, no power on earth could compel them to concede the governorship to Delta North.

Undeterred, another group, the Anioma Political Forum (APF), has resolved to see somebody from Delta North occupy Government House, Asaba in 2015 with all legitimate and civil-political means, no matter whose ox is gored.

Its Secretary, Mr. Alex Onwuadiamu, urged stakeholders and all political organisations to eschew rancour in their quest for relevance and attention in the political sphere.

He stated that all over Nigeria, no ethnic nationality has ever been denied the governorship on grounds of hosting the state capital, citing the case of Ibadan in Oyo state.

“Whilst we lay claim to the governorship of Delta State come 2015, we recognise the fact that Delta State, being a multi-ethnic society, we shall at the appropriate time seek the understanding of other ethnic nationalities in pursuance of our quest for the position,” he said.

With the numerous aspirants from both Delta Central and South waiting earnestly on the sidelines to throw their hats in the ring once the whistle sounds, in disregard of the zoning arrangement, it s still hazy how Delta North would make it.

After all, in the rough and tumble world of politics, most politicians, especially in Nigeria, do not willingly give up power because of equity, fairness and justice, except in a few states.

TARABA: The South Clamours For Power Shift From Charles Akpeji, Jalingo NE of the aims of the quest for the creation of Taraba State from the defunct Gongola State which came to reality in 199, was for the people to gain political freedom.

But little did those who shouldered the crusade, majority of whom, The Guardian learnt

O

hail from the southern part of the state, know that their dreams of ensuring equity in the governance of the state, especially under the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), would be a mirage.

Unlike other geo-political zones – Central and North – that had have had their share of the number one position of the state, South is hoping that 2015 would be a dream come true.

But the incessant communal and religious upheavals in the zone and their inability to speak with one voice by throwing their weight behind a candidate, may as well thwart their quest.

Taraba South has been unlike the other zones that are ready to put sentiments aside and sponsor one candidate each for the exalted position.

At last count, over five politicians from the zone had signified interest in the governorship on PDP’s platform alone in the 2015 election.

“How, for God’s sake, would you expect our party to zone the governorship position to the South when we all know that they are not united,” wondered a PDP chieftain.

He added: “Zoning can never work in the state and with the way things are already going, don’t be surprised that the next governor would emerge from the Northern part of the state again.

“With the number of aspirants from that zone, how do you think that even if zoning is allowed, they can arrive at a consensus?,” the PDP chieftain added.

Whatever the argument, Joel Danlami Ikenya, a former governorship candidate, said: “It is very important that no zone is marginalised as he who goes to equity, must go with clean hands.

“We are part of Taraba and believe it is our turn to produce the next governor of this state. The North produced Jolly Nyame between 1992 and 1993, who came back from 1999 to 2007 and handed over to Governor Danbaba Suntai from the Central.

“We believe it is the turn of the South. I believe it will only be fair that we should also have our fair share.

“We shall insist on our rights; we shall insist on justice and I believe it will be given to us.”

Ikenya added: “Some people are calling for a Moslem candidate in the state. I share their views, in the sense that we also have Moslems in the South.

“So, if they are thinking of Moslem candidate, he should come from the South. We have prominent and well-educated Moslems from that part of the state who have all it takes to govern this state.”

Another PDP chieftain, Alhaji Danjuma Munga, carpeted those agitating for zoning, which he said is undemocratic and prayed PDP in the state should never venture into it.

“Democracy does not exclude any part of a state or a region from participating in it. The issue of marginalisation or power shift is one that has to do with the thinking of some particular sections of a state or a country when they are agitating to rule.

“I do not support zoning because it does not give the best candidates to the people. As far as I am concerned, the issue of leadership should be on merit. Whoever is qualified to be a leader should be given the chance, rather than clamouring for power shift.

“A good leader is what is desired at all times, so let us desist from talking about zoning or marginalisation. What if we do not have the good material we needed there?

“Power shift is not a good thing because it

Orji

Jang

Jega will undermine development. As far as I am concerned, in this Taraba, all sections have participated in government.”

Failure to allow power shift, The Guardian observed, might lead to an exodus from the PDP to the emerging Africa Progressive Congress (APC), although PDP chieftains dismissed the speculation.

The people of Taraba South, especially those in the PDP, have continued to clamour for the chance to occupy the governorship seat like their counterparts from the North and Central zones, or they would decamp to opposition parties.

ABIA: The South Lays Claim To 2015 From Gordi Udeajah, Umuahia N Abia, the South senatorial zone is laying Itheclaim to the next governorship in 2015 on basis that the position has been made to rotate among the three zones of North, Central and South.

The North took its turn in Orji Uzor Kalu for two terms of eight years who handed over to the Central in the person of Governor Theodore Orji, who is serving his second term.

So, going by this arrangement, all things being equal, the next state governor in 2015 ought to come from the South.

Failure to allow for a power shift, The Guardian observed, might lead to an exodus from the PDP to the emerging Africa Progressive Congress (APC), although PDP chieftains dismissed such.

The people of Taraba South, especially those in the PDP, have continued to clamour for the chance to occupy the governorship, like their counterparts from the North and Central zones, or they would decamp to opposition parties

It is instructive to note that because the principle is not backed by any law, the previous contests featured aspirants from all the zones.

Rotation among the senatorial districts are even criticised in some quarters. Chancellor of Gregory University, Uturu and PDP member from the North, Chief Greg Ibe, posited that the governorship position should not be zoned, but made open to all interested aspirants to allow the people vote in who they want.

He counselled the electorate to vote somebody with a pedigree to succeed Orji.

Former Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Prince Christopher Enweremadu, said power has been shared between the old Bende and old Aba zones, comprising Ukwa Ngwa in old Aba Province and the old Bende, without taking cognizance of senatorial arrangement; hence the next state governor should be of Ukwa Ngwa extraction.

He also said Ukwa Ngwa/Abia South agitation for power shift in 2015 would change the monopoly of the office by the North and Central zones and help address the past marginalisation against the Ukwa Ngwa in the scheme of things, which he said the advent of Orji has been redressing, as no Ukwa Ngwa man or woman has occupied the position.

Another PDP member and former governorship aspirant added: “The Abia Charger of Equity discussed rotation and Orji has consistently committed to a power shift to Abia South.

“In the current dispensation, Abia North governed for eight years, ending in 2007, while Abia Central is governing and will govern for eight years ending 2015; hence it will be the turn of Abia South.”

TO BE CONTINUED NEXT WEEK

55

THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, May 25, 2013

TRANSITION

Lessons From Chinua Achebe

By Valentine I. B. Idoko S the news of the demise of the literary icon, A Professor Chinua Albert Achebe, filtered into the ears of his admirers across the globe, many kept wondering how blind and inconsiderate death could be. Some argued that if she (death) had her eyes widely open she might have reconsidered her resolve to snatch him away from us. But that would certainly be if she were considerate enough to realise we needed him all the more.

More so, can we ever find a suitable replacement for the man whose ground-breaking Things Fall Apart (1958) serves as our (Africans’) first response to the West that “we had a past” and that “we have come of age to tell our own story”? But who/what had the most significant contribution to the development of this man’s literary skills? Why couldn’t Western education Achebe alienate him from his African root? What is his view on the role of creative writers in politics? pher, René Descartes, would write: “Reading of And finally, what can we say is his parting mes- all good books is indeed like a conversation with the noblest minds of past centuries who are the sage to Nigerians?

Achebe recalls the remarkable influence of his authors of them” (Discourse on Method, no. 5). parents, siblings, teachers and friends in his life One can therefore say without mincing words vis-à-vis his keen interest in literary works. Of that the gains of the “textbook act” wonderfully particular mention are his “energetic, egalitar- blended with the art of story telling (learnt from ian principals such as the Reverend Robert the Igbo culture) formed the basis of Achebe’s Fisher and W. C. Simpson, who created and en- literary escapades. couraged the ‘textbook act’ – a time between Looking at the happenings in our world today, 4:00pm and 6:00pm when all textbooks had to where many Africans easily lose their identity in be put aside and novels picked up and read” the name of Western civilisation, one would (There Was A Country, p. 25). It was his encounter wonder how the likes of Achebe were able to with the likes of Shakespeare and Dickens in stick to their African root despite obvious entheir works that served as his initial leap into the counters with the Western culture. Reading literary world. As the French rationalist philoso- through the English novels, he (Achebe) got to

the point – a turning point indeed – where he recognised an obvious omission in the world story – the true African story told by Africans themselves – and opted to fill the gap. He maintains that “we must tell our own story so that the world story - the Great story – may have the chance to develop” (op. cit., p. 60). It follows that it was his deep-seated commitment to play “the politics of representation” (op. cit., p.55) that made him stick to his African root without shifting grounds.

It is nice to mention that Achebe’s commitment to telling the African story is closely linked with his firm resolve to use this medium to correct the ills in our society. He notes that a true African writer has a significant role to play not just of facilitating Africa’s gradual emancipation from the grip and bigotry of the West but also from the exploitation of her corrupt leaders. He equally counsels that “decency and civilisation insist that the writer takes side with the powerless… [He should not take side] with the emperor against his powerless subjects” (op. cit., p.

58). He enjoins creative writers to be the voice of the voiceless, and the hope of the powerless and the downtrodden in our society. But how is the writer to handle his words?

Professor A. B. C. Nwosu, former health minister and one of Achebe’s close associates, in an interview with Saturday Sun (March 30, 2013)

Oba Samuel Olaitan Awujoola Passes On IS Royal Highness, Oba H (Deacon) Samuel Olaitan Awujoola J.P., the Eleyinpo of

Prof. Rufus Oladokun Adegboye (1930-2013) ROF. Rufus Oladokun AdegP boye, a retired Professor of Agricultural Economics is dead. He died on Friday April 5, 2013, at 82 years.

Born on May 17, 1930, the late Adegboye started his educational career at Saint Paul’s School, Gbongan, Osun State before proceeding to Oduduwa College Ile-Ife from 1945 to 1951. He worked briefly with the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) before embarking on further studies.

Adegboye gained admission to the Central State University, Ohio, United States of America in 1956 where he obtained a Master of Science degree in Agricultural Economics from Ohio State University, Ohio, USA, before proceeding to lowa State University, Iowa, USA, where he obtained his Doctorate degree in Agricultural Economics in 1964.

He started his working career as a Temporary Lecturer in the Department of Agricultural Organisation (now Agricultural Economics), University of Ibadan in October 1964. In 1966, he was promoted Lecturer above the bar and appointed a Senior Lecturer on July 1, 1967; Reader, October 1973 and Pro-

fessor in October, 1975. As a pioneer Staff in the Department of Agricultural Economics, he provided dedicated service to teaching, research and nurturing of students of the Department.

The late Adegboye contributed to university administration.

He was a member of the University Senate (1967-1998); Joint Council Committee on Honorary Degrees (1985-1997); member, Senate Committee for the Institute of African Studies (1971-76) and (1980-84); member, University of Ibadan Council (1974-75 and 1979); Head of Department of Agricultural Economics (1978-1981) and the Dean Faculty of Agriculture and Forest (1984-1986).

He also served as Assistant Warden, Acting Warden and Warden, Sultan Bello Hall between 1965 and 1974. Prof. Adegboye also spent some of his working years with the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife Osun State, where he served as Professor and Head of Department from 1975 to 1978.

Between 1968 and 1975, he was a member of t he Self-Help Committee of the Western State of Nigeria; member of the Local Government Advisory

Council, Osun State; and Chairman, Oyo State Land Use Allocation Committee in 1990. He facilitated the acquisition of 500 acres of land for the Faculty at Ile-Ogbo in 1985. He retired meritoriously from the university’s service in 1998 having attained the stipulated retirement age.

The late Adegboye was an authority in Land and Resource Economics. In recognition of his academic excellence, he was elected Fellow of the African Academy of Sciences in 1989 and elected Vice President (Western Africa) of the Academy in 1995-1998. He was an active member of the Rotary Club of Ibadan until his demise. He was the recipient of several fellowships and a member of many professional bodies including society for International Development, Association for the Advancement of Agricultural Science in Africa and International Association of Agricultural Economists.

He is survived by wife, children, grandchildren and a community of Gbongan people who loved him and were dearly loved by him.

May his gentle soul rest in

Ebremateme Oyaide For Burial Today AMA Ebremateme OyiM borhoro Oyaide, a devout Christian, community

Oyaide

leader, midwife and trader has died at 85 years.

She hailed from Erho Abraka in Ethiope Local Council of Delta State.

Her funeral rites began with a service of songs yesterday at her husband’s compound, Pa Oyiborhoro Oyaide, at Erho Abraka at 4.00 p.m., to be followed with internment today.

Guests would be entertained at Oria Primary School, Abraka.

Thanksgiving service holds on Sunday, May 26, at Ebenezer Baptist Church, Erho Abraka, at 9.00 a.m.

She is survived by Mrs. Rose Onokoko, Sir Festus Oyaide, Mr. Felix Oyaide, Emmanuel Oyaide, Mrs. Mabel OyaideOmonigho, Sunny Oyaide, Amos Oyaide, Charles Oyaide, and Mrs. Emilly Oyaide, among a host of relatives.

discloses that “ he [Achebe] thought a lot and spoke little … Whenever he said something, he said so in measured words” (p. 45). This quality is exemplified in Achebe’s last published work, There Was A Country, where he discusses many sensitive issues with much discretion. One can argue that the criticisms so far meted on this work are purely based on the issues raised and not necessarily on his style as the author (especially his choice of words). One can say that his parting message to Nigerians is: “In all your writings and speeches, always remember that words are not innocent – they are supercharged with meanings.” He regretted that the Nigeria-Biafra war, the greatest calamity that had befallen us as a nation, was the culmination of some chain reactions resulting from the description, in some quarters, of the January 15, 1966 coup by two words – “Igbo coup”. Thus, what began as an appeal to tribal sentiments ended as a national disaster of the highest order.

Achebe’s death is indeed a great loss and we pray God to console us especially his immediate family. May what he hoped for while he lived come to pass in Nigeria now that he is no more.

Idoko wrote from Blessed John-Paul II Major Seminary, Awka.

Awujoola

Ipapo in Itesiwaju Local Government Area of Oyo State is dead.

According to a statement by the Chairman, Council of Traditional Chiefs, Ipapo, Chief F.A. Babalola, Oba Awujoola passed-on on Monday May 6, 2013, after spending 22 years on the throne and has since been buried.

Babalola noted that as an educationist before ascending

the throne, he was highly respected amongst his colleagues for his oratory power and heart rendering speeches.

“The town, Ipapo, also witnessed peace and development during his reign. The entire Itesiwaju Local Government will miss his royal counseling as the Chairman of The Traditional Council. Final funeral ceremony comes up on June 15, 2013. He is survived by his wife and children,” the statement added.

Alexander Akpabio Udo Ukut (1933-2013) From Inemesit Akpan-Nsoh, Uyo HE Annang Royal Family T of Nto Udo Ukuk, Ikot Udoe, in Ikot Ekpene Local Council Area of Akwa Ibom State has lost one of their loved ones, Major Alexander Akpabio Udom Udofa Udo Ukut.

Born on March 15, 1933, he was the first son of the family. He attended Methodist College, Uzuokoli; St. Patrick’s College, Calabar; and Defence Information School, Fort Benjamin, Harrison, Military University, Indianapolis, United States of America for a post graduate diploma in Mass Communication.

He started life as a teacher in 1955 at Ngwa High School, Aba, and taught in such schools as Holy Family College, Abak, and was one of the pioneer teachers at Tai Solarin’s Mayflower School, Ikene, in Ogun State.

Ukut’s quest to become a trained journalist took him to the Daily Service Training Centre in 1958. He rose to become Assistant Editor of the same newspaper two years later in 1960. He was posted to Accra, Ghana, as foreign correspondent to cover West and East Africa, during which he was involved in the nationalist movements in Ghana, Benin Republic, Tan-

Ukut zania, Congo, Togo and the Organisation of Africa Unity (OAU), now African Union.

On return to Nigeria, the Nigerian Tribune employed him as Features Editor. He capped his media experience by working for Daily Times of Nigeria and the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation, now FRCN. At the outbreak of the Nigerian civil war, the federal military government of General Yakubu Gowon in February 1968 commissioned him as a captain in the Nigeria Army to establish the Public Relations Corp of the Nigerian Army and posted him to the Second

Division, Onitsha/Asaba sector. Since he was in the war front, he sustained injury and was hospitalised. On recovery, he recommended to the military authority the establishment of intelligence unit as part of Public Relations Corps in the Nigerian Army as a tool to win the war. This recommendation was approved and he was posted to Nigerian Army Headquarters, first as Commanding Officer, Provost Brigade (Military Police). He was later promoted to a Major and appointed the Director, Military Public Relations/Intelligence Corp, Nigerian Arm Headquarters Lagos in 1974.

The late Ukut retired from the Army in December 1975 and was involved in transition to civil rule programme. He was the chairman, Cross River State branch of National Advance Party (NAP) and was the governorship candidate of the party in 1979. He later joined the National Party of Nigeria (NPN). In 1980, he established the Nigerian Gong newspaper in Calabar serving as the Publisher, Managing Director and Editor-in-chief.

When he passed on January 16, 2013, at 80 years, he was still active in politics, journalism, Public Relations, military and civil intelligence as consultant to Cross River State government, M15, UK, Defense Information Agency, and Directorate of Military Intelligence, among others.

THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, May, 25, 2013

56

Change of Name ABIOLA: Formerly Miss Abiola Bukola Janet now Mrs. Oladipupo Bukola Janet. Former documents remain valid. Public take note.

ABUBAKAR: Formerly Miss Bashirat Adeola Abubakar now known as Mrs. Bashirat Adeola Bello. Former documents remain valid.

F.C.E, Zaria, A.A.U.A, public note.

ADEBOGUN: Formerly Adebogun Rukayat Yewande now Mrs. Salimon Ruqoyyah Yewande. Documents valid. FCE Abeoukta, public note.

ADEGOJU: I, formerly Miss Adegoju Roseline Iyabo now wish to be known as Mrs. Oyepitan Roseline Iyabo. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

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Former documents remain valid. General public note.

ADEUSI: Formerly Miss Adeusi Adetomilola Kate now Mrs. AyoOgunleye Adetomilola Kate. Documents valid.

Nursing & Midwifery Council of Nigeria, public note.

ADEWUYI: Formerly Miss Esther Busayo Adewuyi, now Mrs Esther Busayo Ashade.

Former documents valid. Public note.

ADEYA: I, former Adeya Festus Samuel now wish to be known as Agboola Samuel Abidemi.

Former documents remain valid.

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General public note.

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AGBIM: Formerly Miss Onyinye Claire Agbim, now Mrs Onyinye

Claire Ibekwe. Former documents valid. Public note.

valid. General public take note.

AGBOLUAJE: Formerly Miss Agboluaje Maryam Toyosi now Mrs. Badru Maryam Toyosi.

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Public take note.

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General public note.

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ALONGE: Formerly Miss Alonge Oluwaseun Favour Dimeji now Mrs. Favour Oluwaseun

ANEKWE: Formerly Mrs. Anekwe Franca Chukwuneke now Mrs. Ekwunife Francisca Chukwuneke. Former documents remain valid. ANSU, public note.

ANOSIKE: I, formerly Mrs Anosike Cecilia Onuabuchi now known as Mrs. Anosike Immaculata Ngozi. Former documents remain valid. General public take note ANYANWU: Formerly Anyanwu Peter Chinweikpe now Godffrey Peter Chinweikpe. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

ANYOGU: Former Miss Ogochukwu Scholarstica Anyogu now wish to be known as Mrs. Ogochukwu Scholarstica. Former documents remain valid.

AROJI: I, formerly Miss Aroji Charity Ebere now known as Mrs. Uchenna Charity Ebere Former documents remain valid. FIRS, general public take note.

AROWOLO:

Formerly

ASHADE: Formerly Mr Ashade Olakunle Bashiru, now Mr Olakunle James Ashade. Former documents valid. Public note.

ASUPOTO: Formerly Miss Omolara Atunke Asupoto now Mrs. Omolara Atunke King.

Former documents remain valid. Public note.

ATAWODI: Formerly Grace Ugbede Atawodi now Mrs Grace Ugbede Atawodi Sani. Former documents remain valid. INEC, public note.

ATUEGWU: Former Atuegwu Jennifer now known and addressed as Uzoatuegwu Jennifer. Other documents valid. General public take note.

AWOSIKA: Formerly Kemi Thelma Awosika now Mrs. Kemi Thelma Idibie. Former documents remain valid.

Public note.

AYIDU: Formerly Ayidu Peter-Austin now Mrs. Ayeko Bridget Chinwe.

Former documents remain valid. Public note.

BAKARE: Formerly Miss Bakare Temitope Motunrayo now Mrs. Komolafe Temitope Motunrayo.

Former documents remain valid. Public note.

BAKARE: Former Miss Bakare Temitope Oluwaseun now Mrs. Malomo Temitope Oluwaseun.

Former documents remain valid. Public note.

BANJO: Formerly Miss Banjo Funmilayo Folusho now Mrs. Oluwabiyi Funmilayo Folusho. Documents remain valid. FUNAAB, public note.

BUSARI: Formerly Busari Ifeoluwa Olubunmi now Mrs. Adeosun Ifeoluwa Olubunmi. Former documents valid. Public note.

CHANGE OF FAMILY

SUR-NAME: OYEKEZIE: We the entire family of Oyekezie, Mr. Daniel Oyekezie, Mrs. Priscilla Ifeoma Oyekezie, Chukwuka M a d u a b u c h i O y e k e z i e , Chizoba Juliet Oyekezie, Loveth Uchenna Oyekezie, a r e now Chiekezie family.

Former documents remain valid. Public note.

CHIOBA: I, formerly known as Miss Uchechi Chioba now Mrs. Uchechi Adewole-Peter. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

CHUDE: Formerly Chude Nina Azuka now Anyaegbunam Nina Azuka. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

CHUKWUDI: Formerly Ezema Chukwudi now Ezema Anthony Chudi. Former documents remain valid.

FCMB Plc, public note.

CHUKWUKAODINAKA: Formerly Mrs Chukwukaodinaka Patience Ngozi now Mrs Chikaodinaka Patience Ngozi. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

DAVE: Formerly Dave Oyindenyinfa Fakrogha now David Oyindenyinfa Fakrogha.

Former documents remain valid. Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited and public note.

DIBIE: I, formerly Miss Dibie Onyinye Chikodi now known as Mrs. Anirah Rachel Chikodi. Former documents remain valid.

NYSC, general public take note.

DIMEJI: Formerly Miss Alonge Oluwaseun Favour Dimeji now Mrs. Favour Oluwaseun Essiet.

Former documents remain valid. Union Assurance, GTBank, Fidelity Bank and general public take note.

EFUNTOYE: I formerly Miss. Ololade Efuntoye hereby notify general public of my new name as Mrs, Ololade P. Makinde.

Former documents remain valid. Public note.

THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, May, 25, 2013

57

Change of Name EGBERANMWEN: Formerly Miss Egberanmwen Omorodion now Miss Karen Omorodion. All former documents remain valid. General Public take note.

EGBEYEMI: Formerly Miss Remilekun Abeni Egbeyemi now Mrs. Remilekun Abeni Adeshina. Former documents remain valid.

Public note.

EKWEM: I, formerly Miss Ekwem Chinenye Juliet now known as Mrs. Nduka Chinenye Juliet. Former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

EKWU: I, formerly Miss Ekwu Calistar Chisom now known as Mrs. Ernest-Onyeka Calistar Chisom. Former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

ELUCHIE: Formerly Chinonso Theresa now Mrs. Udoh Chinonso Theresa. Former documents remain valid.

Public note.

EMEBRADU: I, formerly Dr (Mrs.) Emebradu Onome Isioma now Dr. Diaparomre Onome Isioma. Former documents remain valid.

Public take note.

ENIOLA: Formerly Miss Eniola Adefoluwe Omolayo now Mrs. Adeyemi Adefoluwe Omolayo. All former documents remain valid. General public note.

ESAN: I, formerly Miss Esan Bolajoko Ifeoluwa now known as Mrs. Fadipe Bolajoko Ifeoluwa. Former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

ETIRERI: I, formerly known as Etireri Odiri Irene now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Imonivwerha Odiri Irene. All documents remain valid. Public take note.

EZE: Formerly Johnson Eze now Mr. Austine Emeka Eze. Former documents remain valid. General public take note.

EZE: Formerly Miss Eze Gladys Chinwe now Mrs. Ngwu Gladys Chinwe. Former documents remain valid.

Public note.

EZEKWE: Formerly Miss Juliet Ezekwe now

Mrs. Juliet Oganwo.

Former documents valid. Public note.

Amazige. Former documents remain valid.

General public note.

EZEKWESILI: Formerly Miss Ezekwesili Chinyere Nwamaka now Mrs. Onuegbu Chinyere Nwamaka.

Former documents remain Valid. Public note.

Omosede Akinmusire.

Former documents remain valid. Public take note.

IDJEREH: Former Miss Idjereh Endurance Ofome now Mrs. Sunday Endurance Ofome.

Former documents remain valid. Public note.

JONES-ISIBOR: Formerly Mabel Jones-Isibor now Mrs. Mabel Godwin Alobo. Former documents remain valid.

Public note.

EZEUDU: Formerly Miss Roseline Ngozi Ezeudu now Mrs. Roseline Ngozi Ofoedu. Former documents remain valid. INEC, public note.

IDRIS: Former Miss Olajumoke Rashidat Idris now wishes to be known as Mrs Olajumoke Victoria Adekeye.

Former documents remain valid. Public note

EZIRIM: Formerly Miss Chioma Ezirim now Mrs. Iroha Chioma. All former documents remain valid. Nigeria Police Force, public take note.

FABIYI: Formerly Fabiyi Ayodele Oluseyi now Oluwabiyi Ayodele Oluseyi. Documents valid.

Neuro-psychatric Hospital, Aro Abeokuta, public note.

FASOOTO: Formerly Fasooto Ezekiel Olutayo now Olutayo Ezekiel Olutayo. All former documents remain valid. The public take note.

FATOYE: Formerly Miss Mary Oluwatoyin Fatoye, now Mrs Mary Oluwatoyin Aderemi Amokeodo. Former documents valid. Public note.

FATUNBI: Formerly Miss Elizabeth Idera Fatunbi, now Mrs Elizabeth Idera Thompson.

Former documents valid. Public note.

FELIX: I, former Miss Felix Joy Eweme now wish to be known as Mrs. Joy Eweme Stephen Ovuakporie.

All former documents remain valid. Public take note.

FOLARIN: Formerly Miss Folarin Idowu Olanike now Mrs. Ogundare Idowu Olanike. Former documents remain valid.

Public note.

HUTCHFULL: I, former Miss Ekua Olufunlola Hutchfull now wish to be known as Mrs. Ekua Olufunlola Owhondah. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

IDEMUDIA: Formerly Miss Nekpen Jennifer Idemudia now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Nekpen Jennifer

IFABIYI: I, formerly Mr. Olatunbosun Ajani Ifabiyi now known as Mr. Kenneth Olatunbosun Fabiyi. Former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

IGBO: Formerly Miss Igbo Cynthia Nwamaka .N. now Mrs. Ogbuji Cynthia Nwamaka .N. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

IGUOBARO: Formerly Miss Ekinadoese Iguobaro now Mrs. Ekinadoese .C. Diji. Former documents remain valid. Directorate of Police Education, public note.

IJEOMA: Formerly Miss Doris Kelechi Ijeoma now Mrs Doris Kelechi Solomon Azuikpe. former documents valid.

Uniport, Alvan Ikoku College of Education, Public note.

ILESANMI: Former Miss Funmilola Florence Ilesanmi now Mrs. Funmilola Florence Akintola. Former documents remain valid.

Public note.

ITA UKPONG: Formerly Miss Ita-Ukpong Uduak, now Mrs Enime Uduak. Former documents valid. Public note.

IWUOHA: I, formerly Miss Linda Chinenye Iwuoha now known as Mrs. Linda Chinenye Joy Onyeme. Former documents remain valid. General public take note.

JOSE: Formerly Miss Maryam Yetunde Jose now Mrs. Maryam Yetunde Jose-Joseph. All former documents remain valid. Public note.

KESHINRO: Formerly Olayinka Adebola Bilqis Keshinro now Mrs. Olayinka Adebola Bilqis Adebowale.

Former documents valid. Public note.

KOLEOSO: Formerly Miss Koleoso Folakemi Gloria now wish to be addressed as Mr.s Adetoro Folakemi Gloria. Former documents remain valid. General public note.

LAYINDE: Formerly Miss Kofoworola Anthonia Layinde, now Mrs Kofoworola Anthonia Oke. Former documents valid. Public note.

MBA UMAZI: Formerly Miss Mba Umazi Emilia now Mrs. Uzoma Emilia. Former documents remain valid.

Public note.

MARIAM: I, formerly Mrs. Mariam Temilola Adegun now known as Mrs. Joyce Temilola Adegun. Former documents remain valid.

Embassies, general public take note.

MESARAONYE: Formerly Miss Mesaraonye Joy Ijeoma now Mrs. Akoma Joy Ijeoma. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

MODILI: Formerly Miss Modili Evelyn Ugonwa now Mrs. Opara-Chukwuma Evelyn Ugonwa.

Former documents remain valid. Public note.

MOHAMMED: Formerly Miss Mohammed Sarat Omobolanle now Mrs. Okpubigho Sarat Omobolanle. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

JANET: Formerly Akhigbe Oyokhome Janet now Akhigbe Oyokhome Aina. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

MOKEZIE: Formerly Miss Mokezie Patience Nneka now Mrs. Ngene Patience Nneka. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

JOHNSON: Former Miss Comfort Omosede Johnson now Mrs. Comfort

MORAKINYO: Formerly Miss Morakinyo Ibukun Dorcas now Mrs. Ibukun Tolulope Olubiyo. Former docu-

ments remain valid.

Public note.

MOVEMENT: Formerly Gumel Youth Movement now Gumel Youth Empowerment Association.

NDUBUISI: Formerly Miss Ndubuisi Cynthia Kelechi now Mrs. Iloka Cynthia Kelechi. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

NNADI: Formerly Miss Nnadi Dorothy Chizoba now wish to be known as Dr. (Mrs.) Chizoba Dorothy Okoli. Former documents remain valid. M.D.C.N and the general public take note.

NNAMANI: Formerly Miss Nnamani Ogechukwu Celestina now Mrs. Ezeadikwa Ogechukwu Celestina.

Former documents remain valid. Public note.

NWANKWO: Formerly Miss Nwankwo Virginia Ndidiamaka now Mrs. Cleph-Destiny Virginia Ndidiamaka. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

NWALUPUE: I, formerly Miss Ngozi Linda Nwalupue now known as Mrs. Ngozi Linda Omezi. Former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

NWANGWA: Formerly Miss Nwangwa Ezinwanyi Lynda now Mrs Onyekwere Ezinwanyi Lynda. Former documents valid. Public note.

NWAOSU: Formerly Miss Nwaosu Ucheoma Chinyere now Mrs Elendu Ucheoma Chinyere. Former documents valid. Public note.

NWAZUFU: I, formerly Mr. Nwazufu Francis Emeka now known as Mr. Nwazufu Francis Oshibe. Former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

NWAZUFU: My next kin in my share certificate with Ecobank Plc was Nwazufu Emeka but now changed to my son Master Odinakachi Francis. General public take note.

NWOKOYE: Former Miss Nkechiyere Nonyelum Nwokoye now Mrs. Nkechiyere Nonyelum Egbe. Former documents remain valid.

Public note.

NWOSU: Formerly Miss Nwosu Adama Christiana now Mrs. Amih Adama Christiana. Former documents remain valid.

Public note.

NZEAKOR: Formerly Miss Nzeakor Grace Makuachi now Mrs. Ijeoma Grace Makuachi.

Former documents remain valid. Public note.

OBBA: Formerly Miss Judith Obiajulu Obba now Mrs. Judith Obiajulu Isaac. Previous documents valid. General public note.

OBASA: Formerly Miss Tokunbo Oyindamola Obasa, now Mrs Tokunbo Oyindamola Onasanya.

Former documents valid. Public note.

OBI: Former Ifunanyachukwu Nnenna Obi now Mrs. Ifunanyachukwu Nnenna Igboanugo.

Former documents remain valid. Public note.

OBUNADIKE: Formerly Miss Obunadike Helen Chioma now Mrs. Nwosu Helen Chioma.

Former documents remain valid. Public note.

OCHEJA: Formerly Miss Ocheja Hannah Unekwu now to be addressed as Mrs. Hannah Unekwu Umaja Musa. Former documents remain valid.

General public note.

OCHILI: Formerly Miss Ochili Obiageli Miriam, now Mrs Akonobi Obiageli Miriam. Former documents valid. Public note.

ODEGBAMI: Formerly Miss Odegbami Morayo Kofoworola, now Mrs Morayo SeyiEbenezer. Former documents valid. Public note.

ODIGIE: Formerly Miss Oluwatamilore Itohan Ifeoluwa Odigie now Miss Oluwatamilore Ruth Adetayo. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

ODILI: Formerly Miss Augustina Odili now Mrs. Agustina Egboh Ogene. Former documents valid. Public note.

ODIONYENMA: Formerly Miss Joy Amarachi Odionyenma now Mrs Joy Amarachi Onyeaku. Former documents valid. General public note.

THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, May, 25, 2013

58

Change of Name ODUGUWA: I, formerly Miss Oduguwa Ramat Temitope now known as Mrs. Kilani Ramat Temitope. Former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

ODULAMI: Odulami Adedotun Iyadunni now Adeniyi Adedotun Iyadunni. All documents remain valid.

Public note.

OFODUM: Formerly Mrs. Ofodum Jacinta Ugochi now Miss Izuagba Jacinta Ugochi. Former documents remain valid.

Public note.

OFOJEBE: Formerly Miss Ofojebe Ogechukwu Nkeiru now Mrs. Anigbogu Ogechukwu Nkeiru.

Former documents remain valid. Public note.

OGBONNAYA: I, formerly Miss Hannah Ahudiya Ogbonnaya Ogburu now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Hannah Ahudiya Ugah. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

Nkechinyelu. Former documents remain valid. General public take note.

OHUNOLA: Formerly Miss Ohunola Bukola Kikelomo now Mrs Adepoju Bukola Kikelomo. Former documents remain valid.

OJI: Formerly Miss Oji Kelechi .A. now Mrs. Kelechi Iheaka Iheanacho. Former documents valid. ASUBEB, public note.

OJO: Formerly Miss Funmilola Abiodun Ojo, now Mrs Funmilola Abiodun Gesinde. Former documents valid. Public note.

OKAFOR: Formerly (Engr.) Miss Okafor Precious Obianuju now (Engr.) Mrs. Precious Obianuju Onyemelukwe. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

OKEJEME: Formerly Miss Okejeme Precious Ogechi now Mrs. Ogunnaike Precious Ogechi. Documents valid. Public note.

OGBECHIE: Formerly Nkechi Patricia Ogbechie now wish to be called and addressed as Mrs. Nkechi Patricia Ogbechie Nwagagbo.

All documents remain valid. Public note.

OKEKE: I, formerly referred to as Miss Okeke Ogechukwu Gloria now wish to be known as Mrs. Ugochukwu Ogechukwu Gloria. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

OGUNBAMERU: Formerly Olubukola Olusola Ogunbameru now to be known as Mrs. Olubukola Olusola Ajibade. All documents remain valid. Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria. Public note.

OKEREAFOR: Formerly Miss Ugochinyere Joy Okereafor, now Mrs Ugochinyere Joy Ibemere. Former documents valid. Public note.

OGUNBOWALE: Formerly Ogunbowale Olusola Modupe now Mrs. Rabiu Olusola Modupe. Former documents remain valid.

LASU, public note.

OKESIJI: I formerly Miss Okesiji Ibidunni Temitope now Mrs. Adeniji Ibidunni Temitope Olaoluwa. All former documents remain valid. FRIN and general public take note.

OGUNNOWO: I, formerly Mr. Ogunnowo Omotayo Abolaji now known as Mr. Olulana Omotayo Abolaji. Former documents remain valid. General public take note.

OGWO: Formerly Miss Ogwo Ukanwa Udeochu now Mrs. Amadi Ukanwa Chukwudi .O. Former documents valid. Public note.

OHUCHE: I, formerly Miss Ohuche Pearl Nkechinyelu now known as Mrs. Nwankwo Pearl

OKOLI: I, formerly Miss Ruth Ogechukwu Okoli now known as Mrs. Ruth Aramide Ajide. Former documents remain valid.

NYSC, general public take note.

OKORIE: I, formerly Miss Okorie Stella Ebere now known as Mrs. Adiele Stella Ebere. Former documents remain valid.

USDOD/NMOD (EPIC), general public take note.

OKOSUN: Formerly Mr

Okosun Osemudiamen Smart, now Mr Osemeikhian Osemudiamen Smart. Former documents valid. Public note.

OKOYE: Formerly Miss Nkemdilim Martha Okoye now Mrs. Nkemdilim Awani. All former documents remain valid.

OKPONUNG: Formerly known as Julie Bassey Okponung now to be addressed as Mrs. Julie Bi’onyienne Mogbo.

Former documents remain valid. Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, public note.

OKUNGBOWA: I formerly Okungbowa Eunice Kemi now Mrs. Idahosa Eunice Kemi.

Former documents remain valid. General public note.

OKUONGHAE: Former Miss Okuonghae Precious Imade now Mrs. Obah Precious Imade.

Former documents valid. Nursing & Midwifery Council of Nigeria and public take note.

OLATUNJI: Formerly Miss Olatunji Funmilola Modupe now Mrs. Obaremo Funmilola Modupe. Former documents remain valid. General public note.

OLOWA: Formerly Miss Olowa Obianuju Eunice now Mrs Egwuete Obianuju Eunice. Former documents valid.

Public note OLUSANYA: Formerly Miss Olusanya Olupelumi Oluseyi now Mrs. Olatunji Olupelumi Oluseyi. Documents valid. Nursing & Midwifery Council of Nigeria, public note.

OLUSANYA : Formerly Miss Olusanya Abiodun Olukemi now Mrs Keshinro Abiodun Olukemi. Former documents remain valid.

Public note.

OMESA: Formerly Omesa Emimie Mercy now addressed as Dauda Emimie Mercy.

Former documents remain valid. Public note.

OMOKANYE: Formerly Mrs. Adebola Esther Omokanye now Miss Adebola Esther Adetayo. Former documents remain valid.

Public note.

OMONAYIN: Former Miss Omonayin Eliza-

beth Oluseyi now Mrs. Olagunju Elizabeth Oluseyi. Former documents remain valid.

Oando Supermarket, public note.

OM O RO TIO N MW AN: Formerly Miss Omorotionnwan Omosede now Mrs. Aligbe Omosede. Former documents remain valid.

Public note.

OMOTOLA: Formerly Miss Olaitan Mobiyino Ajoke Omotola now wish to be known as Mrs. Olaitan Ajoke Okuneye. All former documents remain valid. General public note.

ONIYIDE: Formerly Miss Olayinka Olusola Oniyide now to be addressed as Mrs. Olayinka Olusola Coker.

Former documents remain valid. Public note.

ONWUEGBULE: I, formerly Miss Onwuegbule Chichi Cynthia now known and addressed as Mrs. Egbuniwe-Ebede Christabella Chinagorom. Former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

ORIVRI: Formerly known as Miss Ejiro Sophia Orivri now Mrs. Ejiro Sophia Akoh. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

OSISIOGU: Formerly Miss Osisiogu Ijeoma Veronica now Mrs Opara Ijeoma Veronica. former documents valid. SEMD, Abia State, public note.

OTUAGOMA: Formerly Miss Francisca Onoriode Otuagoma, now Mrs Francisca Vincent Idoghor. Former documents valid. Public note.

OTU: Formerly Miss Otu Jemima Blessing Uzoma now Mrs. Nnamdi-Iweha Jemima Blessing Uzoma. Former documents valid.

UNILAG, public note.

OYETADE: Formerly Miss Oyetade Oluwakemi Gloria now Mrs. Ogunwale Oluwakemi Gloria. Documents valid. Nursing & Midwifery Council of Nigeria, public note.

OZOEMENA: Former Miss Ozoemena Jennifer Chinedu now Mrs. Amara-Nwokeji Jennifer Chinedu. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

PUNEET: I, formerly Miss Puneet Sahani now known and addressed as Mrs. Sajna Rohit. Former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

versity (LASU) & public note.

RAYMOND: Former Disu Abiodun Raymond now Disu Abiodun Rahman. Former documents remain valid. General public note.

UDUMA: Formerly Miss Edna Ezinne Uduma now Mrs. Edna Ezinne Adamasi. Former documents valid. Public note.

TIAMIYU: Formerly Miss Tiamiyu Temitope Enitan now Mrs. Ayanjinrin Temitope Enitan.

Former documents valid. PubQUADRI: I, formerly lic note.

Miss Quadri Temitope Aminat now known as UDOIMUK: Formerly Mrs. Ayinmodu Joseph Mrs. Udoimuk Ekemini Temitope. Former doc- Johnson now Mrs. Usuments remain valid. anga Ekemini. Former NMEC, general public documents valid. Public note. take note.

REKRE: Formerly Okaro Rekre now Okaro Ujerekre. Former documents remain valid.

Public note.

SAMUEL: I, Shokoya Wasiu Samuel is the same person as Shokoya Wasiu Awonuga or Shokoya Wasiu Abidemi. All former documents valid.

UGESEBA: Formerly Miss Mercy Onutomaha Ugeseba, now Mrs Mercy Eloghene Ante.

Former documents valid. Public note.

UGWUNALI: Formerly Miss Ugwunali Chizoma Christiana now Mrs. Godffrey Chizoma Christiana.

Former documents remain valid. Public note.

SHABI: Former Miss Shabi Abisola Elizabeth now Mrs. Olabode Abisola Elizabeth. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

UKAEGBE: Formerly Miss Ukaegbe Oluchi Victoria now Mrs George Oluchi Victoria.

Former documents valid. NYSC, public SOROYE: Formerly Mr. note.

Soroye Kayode Ezekiel now wish to be known UKO: Formerly known and addressed as Mr. as Okam Chidinma Abolade Kayode Ezekiel. Uko now Mrs. IroAll former documents mantu Chidinma MarFormer remain valid. Public velous. documents remain note. valid. Public note.

SOWEMIMO: Formerly UREVBU: Formerly Miss Efunsola Modupe- Miss Benedicta Ojiyola Sowemimo, now ovwi Urevbu now Mrs. Mrs Efunsola Modupe- Benedicta Ojiyovwi ola Ilegbodu. Former Lamighan.

Former documents valid. Pub- documents remain lic note. valid. Public note.

SUNMONU: Formerly IF Miss Sunmonu Aminat Alake now Mrs. Otun FOR Aminat Alake. Documents valid. TESCOM, THE public note.

SUOWARI: Formerly Miss Jane Ewekumo Suowari now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Jane Geaney. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

PURPOSE

TIJANI: Formerly Miss Modupe Adenike Tijani, now Mrs Modupe Adenike Adebowale.

Former documents valid. Public note.

THOMAS: Formerly Miss Thomas Olayinka Florence now Mrs. Onwuta Olayinka Florence. Former documents remain valid. Lagos State Uni-

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TheGuardian

Saturday, May 25, 2013 59

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Sports Over the years since John Chiedozie made his name with Tottenham Hotspur in the 1980s, Nigeria has been aptly represented in the major European football leagues. From the pioneer steps of Stephen Keshi in the Belgian League to last season when two Nigerians featured in the Europa Cup winning Chelsea of England, no year has gone without an Eagle doing enough to remind football connoisseurs that Nigeria is a country blessed with many talents. Looking at the just-concluded English season, ADEYINKA ADEDIPE x-rays the contributions of Nigerians to the performance of their teams and what the future holds for them in the coming season.

Victor Moses (Chelsea) ICTOr Moses has grown into a top class player with Chelsea, making 42 appearances and scoring 10 goals in the just concluded season. After switching to the West London club on August 14 last year, the Nigerian international has grown in leaps and bounds.

Although he is yet to establish himself as a first team regular, Moses contributed immensely to Chelsea’s modest success since debuting for the Stamford Bridge outfit as a substitute in a game against Queens Park rangers.

Moses made his full debut for the Londoners when he started the League Cup game against Wolves and scored his first goal after 71 minutes, the game finished 6–0 to the Blues.

He also started his first Champions League game against Nordsjælland On October 31 last year, but he came to his own in a League Cup game against Manchester United, which Chelsea won 5-4. He capped a sterling performance with the named Man of the Match award.

Moses scored his first Europa League goal for Chelsea in a 3-1 home win against rubin Kazan, and then his second in the reverse fixture a week later.

He continued his fine form in the competition by scoring his side’s first goal in the 2-1 away win at Basel last month. He also scored in the reverse match with Basel when the Blues won 3-1 and secured their participation in the Europa League final.

Looking back on his first season with the Blues, Moses admits that he is pleased with the extent of his involvement for the club this season.

Moses may see his opportunities limited under the real Madrid boss should he take charge, but having the highly rated forward on the fringes of the first team will give his teammates the motivation they need to maintain a high level of performance.

He has experienced cup success in his first season in West London, now Victor Moses will looking to use his strong run in the Europa League as a platform to establish himself as a first-team regular next season.

Osaze Odemwingie (West Bromwich Albion) Things have not gone according to the script for Osaze Odemwingie. The former Bendel Insurance star started the season well, converting a penalty in a 3–0 victory over Liverpool on August 18, 2012.

Things started going awry for Odemwingie during West Brom’s game on September 15 against Fulham, when he kicked out at Sascha riether and was sent off. West Brom went on to lose the game 3–0, their first defeat of the season.

On November 5, 2012, Odemwingie scored a brace against Southampton, his second of the season coming from a shot that deflected off Maya Yoshida past Paulo Gazzaniga and his third a headed goal from a Shane Long cross.

Odemwingie headed in the winner against Chelsea November 17, pushing West Brom to a 2–1 home victory, their sixth win from seven home games to start the season. Later in the season Odemwingie scored against Aston Villa to make it 2–2 in the 83rd minute after West Brom had been two goals down at half-time in an enthralling match. But from then, things took a turn for the worst for the Super Eagles’ striker.

On January 25, West Brom announced they had rejected a formal transfer request from Odemwingie, a pronouncement that triggered a spate of bad press for the Nigerian.

His future at West Bromwich Albion came under doubt when he launched a tirade against his club on Twitter, in addition to accusing them of “reaching into his pocket,” reiterating his wish for a move elsewhere.

Soon after he was reportedly seen outside Loftus road in an attempt to sign for Queens Park rangers, but was refused entry as no offer was accepted for him. After initially being sent home from training on his return to West Brom, Odemwingie was later disciplined by the club for his actions on transfer deadline day and resumed training, while also publicly apologising for his behaviour.

He, however, played a bit-part for the remainder of last sea-

V

Our Boys, Their Scorecard In England son with the Nigerian expected to leave the club when the transfer market opens in few days time.

Victor Anichebe (Everton) The just concluded season could be described as Victor Anichebe’s best in the English Premier League. He played 32 games and scored eight goals for Everton. Though the big centre forward did not score much last season, he, however, made up for it with his all-round display while creating scoring opportunities for his teammates.

His former Manager, David Moyes, praised the impact of the Nigerian after the striker made a goal-scoring return from injury in January when he came off the bench to score a late winner for the Toffees against at the Hawthorns.

It was the 23-year-old’s first Premier League goal since March 2010 and his first appearance since September after recovering from the latest of a catalogue of serious injuries he has suffered in his short career.

The goal ensured Everton went a fourth game without defeat and rose into the top half of the table for the first time last season.

Goodison boss Moyes was delighted with the player’s telling influence given he had only just returned to fitness.

After extending his contract with Everton, he will be hoping to see more action next season.

Mikel Obi (Chelsea) After five seasons with Chelsea, Mikel Obi is unarguably Nigeria’s lord of the Premiership. Obi’s strength on the ball and natural aggression make him an asset for both Chelsea and Nigeria. He was in excellent form for his club this season asserting himself in his defensive midfield role.

Mikel started all of Chelsea’s first five games of the new Premier League season, and also played in the Community Shield against Manchester City and Super Cup against Atlético Madrid.

In November, Mikel was named on the shortlist for the African Footballer of the Year along with former Chelsea teammate, Didier Drogba.

But things were not always rosy for the Jos Boy. Mikel was a subject of a racism brouhaha after a game against Manchester United when Chelsea accused the referee, Mark Clattenburg of racially abusing the Nigerian after their 2-3 loss to Manchester United. He was later charged with misconduct on November 22, 2012, given a three-match ban and fined £60,000 by the by the Football Association, which found Clattenburg innocent of the allegations. .

On December 5, 2012, Mikel signed a contract extension with Chelsea, keeping him at the club until 2017. He made 38 appearances for Chelsea in all competition this season.

Danny Shittu (Millwall) At the end of the 2012/2013 season, Danny Shittu was named Millwall’s Player of the year after receiving 44 per cent of the vote.

Shittu has won over the Millwall faithful in his first full season at the club with his commitment and leadership qualities on the field, whilst his warmth and friendly persona off the field has made him an instant hit with fans of all ages.

He was the clear favourite to win the award and did so by a landslide, 44 per cent of total votes ahead of David Forde (23 per cent) and James Henry (12 per cent), who came second and third, respectively.

The English Championship outfit reached the semi-final of the FA Cup this season with Shittu at the heart of their great run.

It has proved to be a memorable campaign for Danny Shittu, who was the runaway winner to scoop the Junior Lions Player of the Year award too.

Millwall missed promotion to the Premiership after a fine beginning to the 2012/2013 season, but fans of the club believe that with Shittu and the additions promised by the management, the club would not miss it next time.

Mikel

Odemwingie

Anichebe

Shittu

THE GUARDIAN Saturday, May 25, 2013

60

SPORTS UEFA Champions League

London Bridge Quakes As Bayern, Dortmund Fight For Supremacy

HE stage is set for Borussia T Dortmund and Bayern Munich to battle it out for the prestigious Champions League trophy in the competition’s first ever all-German final.

The two clubs will take to the Wembley Stadium pitch today in a clash immersed deep in rivalry and history, with both facing the chance to rewrite the record books.

For Bayern Munich, the wounds of five previous final defeats are still present – in fact, the wounds from the pre-

vious two occasions in which they were condemned to the runners-up spot, in 2010 and 2012, are still fresh in the minds of fans and players alike.

Should they lose out to their arch-rivals this weekend, Bayern will have finished second best in more Champions League finals than any other club – no doubt a firmly unwanted title.

They head into the Wembley clash as heavy favourites though, for a number of reasons: Their stunning 7-0 semi-

final display against Spanish giants Barcelona set the record for the largest aggregate winning-margin in that stage of the competition, while they also managed to keep clean sheets in their previous four Champions League matches.

Away from the competition, they stormed to the Bundesliga title ahead of second-place Dortmund, and remain on track for the treble – an unprecedented feat for a German club - with their domestic Cup final taking

place on June, 1.

Dortmund are not to be dismissed, though, and will relish the chance of being labelled the underdog ahead of their second European Cup final, in which they’re hoping to keep their 100 per cent win record in-tact following victory in their only other final back in 1997.

While Dortmund have only netted 23 goals to Bayern’s 29 in this year’s competition so far, Jurgen Klopp’s men can boast the tournament’s second most prolific goal-scorer

in Robert Lewandowski – who’s notched just two goals less than top-scorer Cristiano Ronaldo.

A big blow for the eight-time Bundesliga champions will be the absence of Mario Gotze, who ruled himself out of the final with a knee injury he sustained during the second leg of their semi-final with Real Madrid.

The 20-year-old local lad has been a key component of the club’s success in the tournament this season but would have cut a controversial figure

in the final, which would have been his last game in a Dortmund shirt ahead of his big-money move to Bayern in the summer.

Even still, the match poses a certain amount of intrigue for the neutral, with the affair set to be a fiery contest between two arch-rivals on alien soil, with the added sentimentality of the clash being Jupp Heynckes last game in charge of the German giants before the Pep Guardiola revolution begins. No doubt he’ll be looking to go out with a bang.

Final Adds New Chapter To Adidas, Puma Rivalry ERMAN sportswear makers, G Adidas and Puma will renew their own decades-old

partner with Dortmund yielded an instant return when the club made it to the Champions rivalry when Bayern Munich League final - the biggest prize and Borussia Dortmund meet in European club soccer and in the Champions League Final expected to attract a global teleat Wembley today. vision audience of over 150 milAdidas is the long-standing kit lion. supplier to Bayern and owns a “They have overachieved our stake of around nine percent in expectations,” Puma Chief the Bavarian club, while Puma Commercial Officer Stefano became the sportswear partner of Dortmund a year ago.

The German companies were set up after a falling out by the Dassler brothers in the Bavarian town of Herzogenaurach in the late 1940s and remain among the best known global sports brands.

However, while Adidas and U.S. rival Nike dominate a soccer market estimated to be worth up to 4.5 billion euros ($5.8 billion), Puma is playing catch-up after years of focusing more on fashion than performance sportswear. Its decision to Robben

Caroti told Reuters.

“The exposure that we are having, especially this weekend, will make the club not just a local asset but it will become a truly global player,” he added in a telephone interview.

Retailers in Japan, Malaysia and Britain have been signing up to buy the new Dortmund kit which will be launched next

month, Caroti said, adding that the publicity the team has generated created a “halo effect” that would boost sales by bringing more customers into stores.

Dortmund’s success has provided a rare bright spot for Puma, which warned last week of shortfalls in sales and profit.

Adidas by contrast reported its

Lewandoski

highest ever gross profit margin earlier this month.

A renewed focus on soccer has seen Puma pull out of sailing and European rugby, saving money in order to plough it into sponsorship deals that will bring it more business.

Caroti said the success of Dortmund and individual deals Puma has done with top players

including Cesc Fabregas of Barcelona and Radamel Falcao of Atletico Madrid had helped to give its “leaping cat” brand renewed credibility in soccer.

Soccer currently makes up more than 10 percent of total sales and is growing, he said.

Puma has overall annual revenues of around 3.3 billion euros compared with 14.9 billion for Adidas.

Puma’s long-term objective is to build team sports into a billion euro business, Caroti said, adding soccer would be the mainstay of this division.

According to reports in English media, Puma are set to agree a deal worth more than 30 million pounds ($45.2 million) a year to provide the kit for English Premier League club Arsenal, replacing Nike.

Caroti declined to comment on those reports but said: “We are obviously searching for other top tier teams that could give us that global visibility.”

THE GUARDIAN Saturday, May 25, 2013

61

SPoRTS UEFA Champions League

I Started To Believe After Malaga, Says Klopp oRUSSIA Dortmund coach B Jurgen Klopp says he started to believe that his side could go all the way in the Champions League after its dramatic comeback against Malaga.

The Schwarzgelben scored two goals in stoppage time to defeat the Andalusians and reach the semi-finals of the competition, where they beat Real Madrid.

They now face familiar foe

Bayern Munich at Wembley in the showpiece and Klopp says the last-eight win inspired his side.

“It was after this quarterfinal win and particularly the way it came about, that we thought it could work out, that we had a chance to go to Wembley,” he told the club’s official website.

“It may be a surprise that we are in the final, but it’s not a sensation.”

Klopp

Klopp went on to say that his tactics are based on teamwork and the willingness to help your fellow players.

“Football is a team sport,” he explained. “The whole point of this game is to help each other improve.

“With the exception of your family members, your teammates should be the people you feel most comfortable around. That’s my idea of football.”

Meanwhile, club CEo HansJoachim Watzke believes that BVB are the only team capable of overcoming Bayern Munich, which stormed to the Bundesliga title and beat Barcelona 7-0 over two legs this season.

“I think there is only team at the moment that can beat Bayern - and that’s us,” he mused. “of course everything has to fall into place and we have to play at the top of our game. But, yes, we have a chance. In any case, we will stretch Bayern to the limit.”

Watzke went on to hail his side’s group stage campaign as the making of the team, with BVB having finished first in a group containing Ajax, Manchester City and Madrid.

Why Bayern Must Win, By Hitzlsperger “They are due a title, they ble treble, with the Bundesliga oRMER Bayern Munich FHitzlsperger midfielder, Thomas need to win. Dortmund are already won and the German says the going there with less pres- cup final against Stuttgart to Bavarians “need” to win the Champions League after losing two of the last three finals.

Everton’s Hitzlsperger, 31, spent 11 years in Bayern’s youth ranks and knows the importance of today’s Wembley final against Borussia Dortmund.

“It is massive. It is a huge game for them,” he told BBC World Service.

sure.”

Bayern lost last season’s Champions League final in their own Allianz Arena to Chelsea on penalties, having been beaten at the same stage

by Inter Milan at the Bernabeu in 2010, and have not been European champions since 2001.

Victory in London would complete part two of a possi-

Dortmund Will Miss Gotze, Ballack Insists ARIo Gotze will be “a big loss” for Borussia Dortmund but they can still win the Champions League, predicts former Germany captain, Michael Ballack.

Playmaker Gotze, 20, has been ruled out of today’s final at Wembley against Bundesliga rivals Bayern Munich because of a hamstring injury.

He will join Bayern in the summer for £31.5m after agreeing a deal in April.

Ballack told the BBC World Service: “It’s not just about Gotze. Dortmund are dangerous for Bayern Munich.”

Gotze will become the most expensive German player of all time when his transfer goes through on 1 July.

Ballack, who played for the Bavarian side between 2002 and 2006, believes he is the best young player in the Bundesliga.

“The fact that Bayern signed him for so much money shows that he is maybe the greatest talent we have at the moment,” he said.

“He is a big loss for

M

Dortmund. Also, for the guy to reach his first final against his new club and then miss out, it’s a shame.”

Ballack said it would be a mistake for Bayern to write off Dortmund, who beat his former side 5-2 in the German Cup final last season without Gotze.

come on 1 June.

“Having lost two finals in the last three years it means they really need to win this time, their team is under pressure,” Hitzlsperger, who was born in Munich, said.

“I was there against Chelsea watching and it was hugely disappointing. It was set up for them playing at home.

“In the run-up there was a great atmosphere in Munich.

Then the game changed and people stood there in despair, people couldn’t believe what they were seeing.

“That is why I am thinking they know it does matter and will do the job. They have the confidence to go there and win.”

German football has attracted considerable praise this season, which culminates in a first all-Bundesliga Champions League final.

Ribéry Ready To End Bayern’s Waiting Game WELVE years on from the T last European title – and having been beaten in two of the past three finals – FC Bayern München, says Franck Ribéry, “hope this year will be our year”.

Dortmund Has Beaten Bayern Without Gotze Before, Grosskreutz Boasts EVIN Grosskreutz has K stressed that Borussia Dortmund has previously shown that they can beat Bayern Munich without Mario Gotze and is optimistic about their chances of winning today’s Champions League final at Wembley.

Gotze sustained a muscular problem during the semifinal second leg loss against Real Madrid and suffered a setback in training this week, but the Germany international remains confident that his side can cause an upset and bring home the trophy.

“It’s very bitter that Mario can’t play. I feel really sorry for him, especially as he also missed last year’s DFB-Pokal final. But we should not forget that we also won that game without him,” Grosskreutz told Bild.

“We are once more the underdogs, but I don’t mind that role to be honest. I know very well what we are capable of. We obviously want to win the cup. That would be fantastic for us and for the fans.

“I was there when Dortmund won the Champions League in 1997 and it was an unforgettable experience.”

“It is something I have been waiting for for a long time.”

Given the dejection FC Bayern München have suffered in recent UEFA Champions League finals, such words about lifting the European Cup could easily be attributed to any number of Jupp Heynckes’ squad.

Beaten by FC Internazionale Milano in 2010 and, agonisingly, on penalties by Chelsea FC in their own Fußball Arena München last season, Bayern have a score to settle when they take on Borussia Dortmund at Wembley today.

Franck Ribéry was suspended for the first of those defeats and had to watch the spot kicks from the bench, having been substituted in extra time, 12 months ago. He speaks for all of his teammates when he says: “We hope that this year will be our year.”

“It has been two finals now, even if I didn’t play in the first one, but I played last year,” Ribéry, who has appeared in all but one of Bayern’s 12

matches in the competition this term, told UEFA.com. “We were so close to winning it, but we didn’t.”

With Bayern very much Europe’s nearly men in 2011/12 – they also finished runners-up to Dortmund in the Bundesliga and German Cup – this season could yet heal the wounds of that trophy-less campaign. Having reclaimed the league title in record time, and in some style too, Heynckes’ men take on VfB Stuttgart in their domestic cup showpiece a week on from what they hope will be a triumphant evening at the home of English football.

“It was a good and bad year for us, because we didn’t win any titles in the end, so we were sad,” said Ribéry, 30.

“This year we wanted to have a very good year and we managed to have a great season in the league. We won everything, almost every game. We broke a lot of records as well.

Now we are in the Champions League final again and this time we hope we will win it.”

Ribery

Akpoborie, Iroha, Eguavoen Set For Heineken Planet HE UEFA Champions T League 2012/13 season comes to a glorious denouement today at the Heineken Champions Planet with the final match of the competition between Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich. over a span of three months, visitors to the Heineken Champions Planet witnessed the proceedings of all the 44 matches in the knock out

Off to Wembley… Winners of the Heineken UEFA Champions League promo at the departure hall of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, on their way to London to watch the final match…on Thursday.

stage of the competition.

Today, the first ever allGerman final in the Champions League will hold and it will be a special night to remember given the series of activities lined up for the visitors attending the premium viewing experience at the upscale venue in Victoria Island, Lagos.

The Senior Brand Manager Heineken, Jacqueline van Faassen, disclosed that the event is expected to bring together approximately 350 guests, including celebrities from the entertainment world, and prominent former football stars namely; Jonathan Akpoborie, Ben Iroha, and Austin Eguavoen, who have all confirmed their intention to grace the occasion.

“Every participant since February has been looking forward to this grand moment. It is a great night and all the visitors for this occasion are guaranteed a spectacular night of fun and football that will have a lasting memory,” she remarked.

The five Nigerian fans that embarked on an all-expense paid trip to the final match

courtesy of Heineken two days ago are also getting ready for the epic final match at the 90,000 capacity Wembley Stadium.

They won the ‘Road to the Final’ activation in March, and though these five fans will miss it, other participants from the day, who will also be guests of the night, will get to watch the premier of the captivating and funny highlight reel from the event.

Reports from London yesterday indicate that the crew had a wonderful outing as they were treated to a welcome party with other special guests of Heineken International premium beer from all the 170 affiliated countries of the brand beer.

“I am still relishing the experience of the great night we had yesterday with guests from other countries. In general, it has been a wonderful experience for me. I am anxious to get to the famous Wembley stadium to watch the final match,” remarked Diana Nwajiaku-Smart, the only lady among the five disclosed in a telephone conversation last night.

THE GUARDIAN Saturday, May 25, 2013

62

SPORTS

Elegbeleye – New DG Of The NSC – A Ray Of Hope?

T is Thursday night. I have Idepressed never been more with the state of my country than I am at the present. These past couple of months I have observed unprecedented developments in the Nigerian political landscape that continue to assume frightening dimensions.

As a youngster in the mid1960s I experienced and witnessed the worst crisis in our history through the period of the pogrom and the civil war. I have since Elegbeleye then believed and hoped that things would never deteriorate to that level again. A cursory look at unfolding developments all around now indicates that my thinking and hope were misplaced – the chances of a really long night beckon menacingly.

Politics affect everything in the country, and no sector is immune from their effect, as convoluted and complicated as they are. That’s why many of us believe that it is only when we get the politics of the country right that our sports will thrive to the extent of their potentials.

So, what have politics got to do with the price of fish?

Well, in the absence of the English Premiership and other European leagues that have ended, and with little else to occupy the mind, other national sports issues forcefully come to the fore.

Some of them, without doubt, are the recent elections into vari-

ous sports federations, the unstable state of the administration of football in the country, and the appointment of a new DirectorGeneral for the National Sports Commission, all political developments that are bound to impact on the immediate future of sports in the country. It is the last matter that interests me today.

But before then, let me rest the unfinished business of the two German clubs that will be settling their scores at Wembley this weekend. By the time you are reading this Bayern Munich FC that appear to be most people’s favourite to cart away European Club football’s most coveted trophy, may have done so. Or Borussia Dortmund FC, with hopes diminished by a spate of injuries to two of its best players, may have upturned the apple cart, defeated Bayern and created another page in football history by winning the trophy every time they get to the finals! The only time they got there in the past they won it!

Any which way, it is German football, in the end, that is the ultimate winner!

So, back to my friend and new Director-General of the National Sports Commission, Honourable Gbenga Alegbeleye, former ViceChairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Sports.

Before his assignment in the National Assembly little was known about his credentials in sports. But in the four or so years that he served as de-facto head of the sports committee, so impactful was he that very few would now doubt his capacity to manage Nigerian sports from any position, including his present position.

In all that time he has been very actively involved in the politics of Nigerian sports and knows the terrain as well as anyone else.

The office of the Director-General is the steering and clearing room of all sports in Nigeria including football! How effective the office eventually becomes would depend entirely on how he plays the political ‘game’ and how well he uses the immense powers of his office to drive a clear, simple, practical and selfless agenda. As the chief accounting officer of the Commission, even his boss the Minister/Chairman, would lean on him for support in order to suc-

Delta Agog As Students Vie For Governor’s Cup was a beehive of SDomAPELE activities yesterday when Domingo clashed with

Lagos State Commissioner for Rural Development, Cornelius Ojelabi (left); Chairman of the occasion, Dr. Ayodele Ibrahim and Abike Ishola of Oto-Awori Senior Secondary School during the final of Omoluabi Talent Hunt tourney in Lagos… on Thursday.

Ojelabi Foundation Donates Table Tennis Equipment, As Omoluabi Tourney Ends HE biennial table tennis championship for secondary schools in Ojo, Iba and Awori Local Councils of Lagos tagged “Omoluabi Talent Hunt” has been concluded with outstanding schools getting sports equipment.

The three-day championship was organized by Ojelabi Sports Foundation and financed by the Lagos State Commissioner For Rural Development, Cornelius Oyefolu Ojelabi.

The indoor sports hall of Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education, Oto/Ijanikin hosted the well attended grand finale including members of the state executive council, political party leaders as well as traditional leaders in the communities.

15 schools participated in the competition, which according to the sponsor was one of the foundation activities aimed at promoting programmes that

T

are germane to the well being and also enhance accelerated development of the people in the areas of education, health and sports.

Ojelabi explained that the foundation has run a couple of programmes and the championship was introduced to schools to build people with sound minds with sporting spirits.

Morenikeji Bakare and Rilwan Mustapha, of Iba Housing Estate Senior Secondary School clashed in the boys’ singles final with Bakare emerging the winner.

Rachael Olaitan of Awori Senior College won the girls’ singles after she defeated Abike Ishola from Oto-Awori Senior Secondary School.

The boys’ doubles final was won by Lagos State Model College, Ilogbo Elegba won the girls’ doubles.

Edjekota Secondary School in the third place match of the 2013 Delta State Governor’s Cup. But officials of the state’s sports council say Tuesday’s final game in Warri would be a different experience with so many events lined up for the day.

The winner of the third place game went home with a 30-seater bus worth N13 million and N500 million cash.

And in the final between Alegbo Grammar School Ughelli and Comprehensive Secondary School OgwashiUku, officials say the sponsors have lined up many mouth-watering incentives for the teams and the fans.

While the teams will get vehicles, cash prizes, among other items, the fans are in for an exciting time with some of the trending popular artistes, including Davido

and Sheya, who will treat them to their latest music dance steps.

The State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, who initiated the revival of college sports in the state, will be the guest of honour in the final, which would also have such alumni of school sports as Austin Jay Jay Okocha, Victor Ikpeba, Davidson Owumi, John Omughele, and John Oganwu, at the present.

At the semifinals, Comprehensive Secondary School Ogwashiuku defeated Edjekota Secondary School Ughelli 3-0 through a penalty shoot out at the Agbor Stadium, while Elegbo Grammar School Effurun defeated Dom Domingo Grammar School Warri 4-2 also on penalties to qualify for the final.

A N1 million prize money and a foreign training tour await the winners of the competition.

Segun Odegbami ceed.

Fortunately, or unfortunately, (depending on how one looks at it) the present state of Nigerian sport, is like the country itself pitiable! Sport has never had it so bad (needless to get into any controversy by saying more). But this poor state provides a perfect opportunity to make a difference and to succeed with every progressive effort.

I have called him to congratulate him, and from his response I get the feeling that he appreciates the enormity of the challenge he faces, particularly the landmines that will clog his every decision and step. Coming after the daunting, but seemingly fruitless effort of well-grounded sports professional like Dr. Patrick Ekeji, Elegbeleye has his work cut out for him.

Nigerian sport is a microcosm of Nigeria. Every time you want to feel the pulse of the country look at the state of its sport. This is a country blessed bountifully by nature and the elements, yet wasting in the midst of all this plenty!

Let the truth be told, Nigeria has never been in a worse state than the present in every sphere of its life as a country. Just take a look around – the crumbling infrastructure, the insecurity, the level of poverty, the impoverishment of the youths, the decline of education, warped moral values, the hyper-charged uncertain political climate, the restiveness around the country, the disunity amongst the people, etc. Every Nigerian has now become a prisoner of some sort!

Sport, therefore, cannot be immune from the effect of the country’s state. So, without even looking at the details, sport has been suffering from the effect of the ailment that is ravaging the country.

That’s why, even as my friend ascends the seat vacated by another friend, I can only wish him well in this new assignment.

That he is coming from ‘outside’ the box, perhaps, still unaffected by the pervasive tendencies of the well-entrenched failed system, he will bring in fresh ideas, perspectives and a mind-set that will make some difference.

I like the aura around his person and his positive rhetoric since ascending the seat. It is an attitude that looks at every conceivable situation and chooses to see its potential for achievement rather than for failure. Such positivity views all things through the prism of ‘can-do’! It chooses to see past failure as a stepping-stone to future success, previous losses as incentives for future victories, and disappointments as blessings in disguise!

I like that kind of kindred spirit. That’s why Elegbeleye’s appointment provides a window of hope even though we all know that genuine holistic change would require more than what he alone would bring to Nigerian sport.

Having said all that, this is a genuine prayer for him that the moments of his greatest challenges will become moments of his greatest triumph.

SuperSport Rolls Out Programme For Action Packed Weekend T’S going to be an all-out Iremote war for control of the this weekend as SuperSport jampacks just about everyone’s favourite sport into two days of viewing.

Football fans will get to see

Managing director, Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC), Ben Langat (left), winners of the Yacht Lightning category, Graham Gips and the crew, Kristiann Gips, and National Commercial Director, Mattieu Seguin, during the prize presentation at the NBC National Boat Racing Championship held at the Lagos Yacht Club…recently.

10 grueling months of the football season come to a spectacular climax in the Champions League, Nedbank Cup and Copa Italia finals, while the tennis enthusiasts’ wait for the second major of the year comes to an end on Sunday with the start of the French Open.

Continental football continues though, with live action from Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Botswana, Zimbabwe and A n g o l a .

With heavyweight boxing no longer a box office hit, the middleweight class continues to pull in the crowds and this night’s super middleweight bout between Carl Froch and Mikkel Kessler will surely have all boxing fans glued to their s c r e e n s .

Track and field sensation, David Rudisha’s presence alone at today’s New York leg of the Diamond League, will have athletics fans staying up all night for the action.

THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, May 25, 2013

63

TheGuardian

Saturday, May 25, 2013

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

UEFA Champions League Final

Bayern Munich Finally Embracing Its Anti-Nazi Past F the form guide holds true, Icrowned then Bayern Munich will be as European champion today, a title that would inevitably see the giant German club unanimously recognized as the current best in the world.

Yet while victory over Borussia Dortmund at Wembley Stadium would cap a spectacular season, nothing it achieves in the Champions League final can overshadow Bayern’s greatest and most important triumph, one that took place more than seven decades ago.

That triumph was survival itself, attained against all odds and in the face of the most terrifying of opponents – Adolf Hitler’s Nazi Party.

During the years leading up to the second World War, Bayern had developed a strong tradition of having senior administrators, sponsors, fans and coaches … who were Jewish. That status put the club and its leaders directly in the crosshairs of the Nazis, who were determined to stamp out any sign of Jewish success or positivity.

As the tentacles of Hitler’s racist and anti-Semitic doctrine spread and the seeds of hatred that would ultimately result in the Holocaust grew, Bayern, having won its first German title in 1932, became a readily available and highprofile target.

“There was no desire from those in power to see what was known as the Judenklub (Jewish club) be successful,” said historian Dietrich Schulze-Marmeling, author of the 2011 award-winning book “FC Bayern and Its Jews.”

“The club was isolated amid all this anti-Semitism that was taking over the country.”

The Nazis certainly tried their best to erase Bayern from its position of prominence within the game and from German soccer history.

The party ordered Bayern to be demoted to a lower division despite its success, and Jewish members and supporters were forced to leave the club.

Club chief Kurt Landauer, the energetic Jewish businessman, whose vision had been crucial to its growth, continued to run operations behind the scenes despite being stripped of his official duties before being arrested in 1938 and taken to the fearsome concentration camp at Dachau.

More than 30,000 prisoners died at Dachau, either by execution or by being worked to death, but Landauer managed to escape and flee to neutral Switzerland, where he would see out the war before later returning to his post as club president.

Banners proclaiming him as the “father” of Bayern are often seen at the club’s matches and may again be on display at Wembley as Bayern seeks its first European crown since 2001.

Club members, Albert Beer

and Berthold Koppel, were not as fortunate as Landauer. They were deported and killed, according to SchulzeMarmeling’s book.

Bayern continued to operate and continued to defy the Nazis. In 1934, several of the team’s players were involved in a fight with Nazi “Brownshirt” enforcers following a dispute.

A Bayern player, Willy Simetsreiter, deliberately antagonized the Nazis by asking to have his photograph taken with Jesse Owens at the 1936 Olympics, according to The Guardian.

When the war was fully underway in 1939, a Nazi decree ordered that all spare metal be handed over and used as a resource – including any sporting trophies. Several teams obliged, but Bayern refused.

Magdalena Heidkamp, wife of club captain Konrad, took the trophies and buried them at a nearby farm.

As a further insult to the Nazis, Bayern players symbolically waved to Landauer as they lined up for an exhibition game in Switzerland in 1943.Yet even after the Allies moved in to Germany and the Nazi regime crumbled, the brave resistance of Bayern and its members went unrecognized, seemingly destined to be lost in time.

The German people wanted to try to forget their horrific memories, and even until recent times it was thought best not to embrace this period of history.

• Culled from yahoo.com

Bayern Munich’s Brazilian defender, Dante (centre) vies with midfielder Arjen Robben (right) during a training session ahead of the UEFA Champions League final match against Borussia Dortmund at Wembley Stadium, in London…yesterday. PHOTO: AFP

Keshi Ponders New Players Ahead World Cup

By Christian Okpara OACH Stephen Keshi may C invite new players to replace those, who have withdrawn from the Super Eagles’ games in June due to injury,

an official of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has disclosed.

The Eagles, who play a friendly against Mexico in the US next week, will meet Kenya in Nairobi on June 6 in a crucial World Cup qualifier

before heading to Brazil for the Confederations Cup. However, some key players, including Reuben Gabriel, Emmanuel Emenike, Kalu Uche and Victor Moses, have all withdrawn from the game due to injury.

French Open

Djokovic Wants To Complete Grand Slam It certainly was not what Djokovic would have wanted, and the Serb took the unusual step of having it announced Rafael Nadal.

With the seven-time champi- before his press conference on still working his way up the that he would not be answerrankings after his long lay-off, ing questions on the draw.

The French Open is the only the main talking point at men’s singles draw was which grand slam Djokovic, who takes on David Goffin in the half Nadal would drop into. opening round, has not won The top half was the answer, meaning the Spaniard is sched- and it is the title he craves more than any other. uled to meet world number After his superb seasons in one, Djokovic, in the semi2011 and 2012, 2013 has been finals in a repeat of last year’s more up and down, with the final.

OVAK Djokovic is a man on N a mission at the French Open - just do not mention

high of a fourth Australian Open title followed by defeats against Juan Martin Del Potro and Tommy Haas on the American hard courts.

He began the clay-court season in perfect fashion by beating Nadal to win in Monte Carlo but losses to Grigor Dimitrov and Tomas Berdych in Madrid and Rome have followed. Nadal swept to the title in both those events and goes into this tournament as the hot favourite, but Djokovic is bullish about his own form.

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According to an NFF source, who pleaded anonymity, Keshi may invite new players to fill some gaps created by the absence of some of these players to ensure that nothing stopped Nigeria from qualifying for the World Cup. “Keshi will meet with members of the technical committee to examine the situation after the friendly against Mexico. He is at the moment not thinking of inviting any new –player, but

that depends on the performance of some of the stars.

“He has said that he is satisfied with the players he has in camp, but he also admitted that some players would be called to join the team if three players on trial failed to deliver.”

Although the source did not name the players on trial, he disclosed that Keshi told the NFF he would monitor the performance of some of the strikers and midfielders in the game against Mexico.

Onazi Eyes Italian Cup UPER Eagles star, Ogenyi SMTNFootball.com Onazi has told he hopes to win the cup in Italy tomorrow at the expense of local rivals, Roma.

Lazio will tackle Roma tomorrow and Onazi, who has shrugged off an injury to be in the squad for the final, said the target will be the cup.

“I am looking forward to the cup final against Roma on Sunday. My target is to win

the trophy,” AFCON 2013 champion midfielder said.

On Wednesday, players and officials from both Roma and Lazio met with Pope Francis at the St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican in a peace initiative ahead of the cup final between the two bitter rivals.

The occasion happened during the general audience before the match to be played at Stadio Olimpico in Rome.