Sat 01 June 2013

S A T U R D A Y

E D I T I O N

President after president have not been sincere with us. There is no excuse...Just like the roads, electricity, there is no reason whatsoever why the refineries should not be working. None whatsoever. I mean, refineries are being built everywhere… petroleum technology is almost COVER 10 as cheap as ipad and ipod technology.

CELEBRITY 27

For Mama Arewo Lanre Hassan, 50 Happy Cheers For Five Decades On Stage

TheGuardian Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Saturday, June 1, 2013

Vol. 29, No. 12,574

N150

www.ngrguardiannews.com

Homosexuals Go Underground Over Passage Of Law

By Joseph Okoghenun S lawmakers intensify A efforts to criminalise homosexuality in Nigeria, investigations have revealed that gays and lesbians in the country have gone underground for fear of being used as scapegoats.

Unlike before when some of them freely identified themselves as homosexuals, The Guardian learnt that most homosexuals now keep mute on their gay status.

While a church, House of Rainbow, solely dedicated to the interest of gays in Nigeria was forced to relocate from Lagos where it had two centres and several followers to the United Kingdom some years ago, most of the known clubs and relaxation centres often patronised by gays in Lagos have practically dried up.

But sources told The CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

JUSTHUMAN 44

Six women and 14 children, between the ages of nine and 14, handed over to Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State at Government House, Maiduguri by the military Joint Task Force (JTF) in compliance with the presidential directives to release detained female and under-aged suspected Boko Haram members… yesterday. (Story on Page 4)

ANENIH TO PDP

Give President, Governors, Legislators Automatic Tickets

By Ehichioya Ezomon, Group Political Editor

RESIDENT Goodluck P Jonathan, governors and members of the National Assembly of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may get automatic tick-

• Makes Special Case For Jonathan ets to run in the 2015 general elections.

This is, however, premised on the party accepting the suggestion by the Chairman

of the Board of Trustees of the PDP, Chief Tony Anenih, who said the automatic tickets could only be given to a sitting president and gover-

nors, who had performed creditably in office.

Still, he made a special case for President Jonathan, saying that he did not see any diffi-

culty in the PDP extending the gesture to the president to serve a second term if he so desired.

He said the same gesture should be extended to performing members of the CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

Nasrawa Police Killings: Agony Of A Fiancee, Pains Of Survivor POLITIC 5

Supreme Court Dismisses Oni’s Bid To Unseat Fayemi

THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, June 1, 2013

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2015: Jonathan, Governors, May Get Automatic Tickets CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 National Assembly, even though the Constitution does not circumscribe their tenure or number of terms they can enjoy.

The former Minister of Works and current Chairman of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), made the proposal in Abuja at the weekend at a dinner meeting convened at the instance of President Jonathan with select leaders of the party that graced the event from across the country.

This was barely two weeks after he advocated in Asaba, the capital city of Delta State, a new system of nominating presidential and governorship candidates of the party.

The instant suggestion is coming on the wing of a campaign to get the PDP constitution amended, to provide a return ticket for a sitting president for a second term in office.

A group, Concerned PDP Democrats, a pressure group, is spearheading the campaign.

Leader of the group and Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Imo State, Nze Elvis Agukwe, told a monthly magazine in March that the PDP couldn’t be too careful to guard against dissension, acrimony, backlash and anti-party activities from its primaries.

Hence, the group’s proposal for the party constitution to be amended, to allow a sitting president automatic ticket for a second term. But this does not include governors, lawmakers and council chairmen.

However, Anenih, who is canvassing the inclusion of governors and National Assembly members, said he did not see anything wrong, “if the PDP considers automatic tickets for the president and its governors, who have performed well and are seeking a second term.”

“It is my view that with the outstanding performance of President Jonathan in the

areas of Power, Rail and Water Transportation, Road Construction, Aviation Reforms, Education, Agriculture, Job Creation, etc., the party should not find it difficult in granting him the opportunity to serve a second term, if he so desires.”

Anenih said his proposition was made against the backdrop of the incidents of rancour and disunity that have always attended the party primaries.

“Since this gathering is allembracing and fully representative of our party membership nationwide, I would like to repeat what I said in Asaba about our party primaries,” he said.

“I did say that, over the years, our primaries have been the most serious sources of rancour and disunity in our ranks, and, that we usually invest so much resources and energy fighting ourselves in the primaries that should have gone into the larger battle against our political rivals.

“I had admonished that we could not continue this tradition of internal warfare and hope that we would have enough energy left to win elections.”

Anenih said he had consequently proposed the evolvement of a new system of selecting flagbearers at the presidential and governorship levels that would preserve the party’s unity and reserve its energy and resources for the greater battle for political power.

“The proposed arrangement would, I believe, help to forestall frictions and acrimony in the nomination process, in the overall interest of our party and the nation,” he said.

Anenih, however, condemned what he called the “persistent negative profiling of the administration of President Jonathan,” and urged the PDP leaders to rally round and unite behind the president in the task of nationbuilding.

“The opposition has been relentless in churning out damaging propaganda about

this administration for the purpose of destabilising it,” said. he “It is sad that a few members of our party are accomplices of this evil mechanisation. I enjoin all of us to assist in promoting the policies and projects of the Jonathan administration.

“Our historical and political experience demands that we give President Jonathan the maximum cooperation to succeed in transforming this country into a stable and prosperous industrial nation. If we do not cherish and sell our good product, nobody will help us to sell it.”

Anenih decried the widespread indiscipline in the state chapters of the party, and the disrespect shown to the office of the president by some top leaders of the party.

“For instance, a situation where Mr. President visits a state for an official function, and some of the PDP governors of the states in the zone do not attend the function

even when invited, is not a good testimony,” he said.

“As party leaders, we must learn to show loyalty and respect for constituted authority, that being the only way to promote unity.”

He stressed the importance of unity to the development of the party, warning that, “if we want to continue to enjoy the solid support of Nigerians, we must show to them that we are deserving of their support.”

“We cannot afford to continue to act unruly, create unnecessary tension in the party with the consequence of heating up the polity, and expect Nigerians to applaud us,” he said.

“Nigerians can only be encouraged to identify with us if the promotion of harmony, cohesion and development of the party and our nation is topmost on our agenda.”

Anenih advised that the leadership crisis in the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF)

Guardian in confidence that gay practice is still secretly thriving in the country. BBC had reported about a gay club in Lagos early this year.

And House of Rainbow founder, Rev. Jide Rowland, told The Guardian early this year that his church, though underground operating now, has at least three cells in Lagos, making Nigeria where the church has the highest Africa. in members Chief Researcher/HOD (Head of Department) of Clinical Sciences Division, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), Dr. Oliver Ezechi, however, said that the subterranean method of operation of gays would worsen the fight against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in Nigeria.

Ezechi said over a dozen had homosexuals approached NIMR for HIV counseling and treatment before the passage of the

nations’ anti-gay bill by the Senate in 2011. He added that for fear of being punished, the homosexuals have since gone underground.

“Anti-gay bill will affect the fight against HIV in Nigeria because homosexuals would go underground. We were discussing with them on HIV-prevention service before the onset of the law.

But once the bill came up, the homosexuals were not ready to talk to us because they were afraid they could be picked up. Once you criminalise any medical service, people would go underground. That might not solve the problem of HIV. Therefore, we need to dialogue and see how to provide assistance to them,” Ezechi said.

Lawmakers in the House of Representatives joined their Senate counterparts on Thursday when they voted to ban gay marriages, outlawed any group actively supporting gay rights and endorsed

suit of reconciliation, noting that there were four more states to visit.

“During these visits, we had frank discussions with our state governors and other party leaders,” he said.

“It is true that some governors have complaints against the leadership of the party. So also have there been some complaints against the governors.

“In any case, the problems raised are not insurmountable, as the party leadership is already working hard to resolve them.”

He said at the end of the tour of the states, the members would collate the reports of the reconciliation efforts, including appropriate recommendations, and submit to the President, for the identified issues to be holistically addressed.

He urged the gathering that, as party leaders, “we must collectively commit ourselves, more than ever, to work selflessly and tirelessly, so as to

From left, former presidents, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, General Yakubu Gowon [rtd], first Military Governor, old Rivers State, His Eminence, King Alfred Diete at the just concluded mid-term report of transformation agenda of President Jonathan in Abuja.

Gays Run For Cover Over Passage Of Law CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

involving Governors Rotimi Amaechi and Jonah Jang should be urgently addressed.

According to him: “We must seek to promote unity and enforce discipline. Consider the case of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum where there are now two Chairmen, both members of the PDP. “This is an embarrassing situation, which must be urgently addressed. The supremacy of the party must be recognised and enforced.

“The leadership of the party will not tolerate a situation where it will preside over a divided house.

“If we expect the PDP house to stand the test of time, to withstand and overcome the storms and crises being fuelled by the opposition parties, we must be united, focused, decisive and dedicated to a common cause.”

On reconciliation in the party, Anenih stated that in the last few weeks, members of the BoT had visited a number of PDP-controlled states in pur-

a measure that also calls for 14-year prison sentence for any “public show” of affection by same-sex people.

The Senate had passed the law in 2011 despite pressures from foreign countries where gay marriage is acceptable.

Senate President, David Mark, insisted that the bill prohibiting same sex marriages “is irrevocable”.

“We will not compromise on this. I want to invite you all to join the crusade of decency in our society. There are many good values we can copy from other societies but certainly not this one (same-sex marriages). We have to prove to the rest of the world, who are advocates of this unnatural way, that we Nigerians promote and respect sanity, morality and humanity. Every individual is a product of the union of a man and woman,” he said.

Coordinator of Justice for Gay Africans Society, Mr

Godwyns Onwuchekwa, a gay and a UK-based Nigerian, had said that the Nigerian government should leave the fight against gays to God. “If God hated gay people, let God himself destroy them as you said he did to Sodom and Gomorrah. Or is your God powerless? Why are you fighting for the one who is supposed to be most powerful? If God is against homosexuality, what is he waiting for? It is either there is no God or God doesn’t hate gay people,” Onwuchekwa said.

Speaking in the same vein, Rowland said the bill would be detrimental to the work of his church in Nigeria. “Any negative effect on the antigay bill will have detrimental effect on the work and mission of House Of Rainbow in Nigeria. The lives of LGBTI people and their friends, families and allies will be further frustrated with fear and prejudice. We need to pray and stand up against injustice,” he said.

Military Arrests 56 Insurgents, Others From Madu Onuorah, Abuja HE Nigerian military yesT terday said a total of 56 identified insurgents were apprehended with the help of Military Police dogs.

Also, it said a group of terrorists moving from village to village in search of large quantity of food were tracked and apprehended, off. tip a following Director of Defence Information (DDI), Brig- Gen. Chris Olukolade, said in a statement in Abuja that items recovered from the arrested insurgents include seven packs of IEDs Explosive (Improvised Rocket two Devices), Propelled Gun chargers, a two magazine, rifle machetes, bomb detonators, camouflage and other miliuniforms. tary Others were medicines equipment, charms, seven vehicles, including a Jeep tricycles. eight and Olukolade further disclosed that the terrorists were moving around in a Toyota Land

Cruiser Jeep, with registration number Borno XA 428 ADM. He stated that the vehicle, which was suspected to have been stolen, was eventually

impounded at Daban Masara, with weapons, such as AK 47 rifle, single barrel shotgun, double hand shotgun and various calibres of ammunition.

The Defence spokesman stated that the campaign to rid the country territories of the insurgents continues, adding: “The intensive cordon and search operation being conducted by the troops of the special forces received a major boost from civilian cooperation in communities close to locations under focus.

“It is believed that some stranded terrorists are keen on establishing new camps and are being trailed accordingly.

“There were also a few

encounters with some insurgents in forest locations, apart from the identified and destroyed camps.”

THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, June 1, 2013

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THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, June 1, 2013

NEWS

NGF Crisis: Arewa Elders Lampoon Governors, Jonathan From Saxone Akhaine, Northern Bureau Chief HE Arewa elders have T expressed serious concern over the controversies surrounding the election of the leadership of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) and the political crisis that has pitched President Goodluck Jonathan against some members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The elders wondered how the political leaders would organise the 2015 general elections if cannot put their houses in order.

Besides, they have also

expressed mixed feelings over Jonathan’s mid term report and declared that the administration has not met the yearnings of Nigerians by ameliorating their sufferings and improving the socio-economic condition of the nation.

The National Publicity Secretary of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Mr. Anthony Sani who spoke yesterday in an interview, lampooned both the 36 state governors and President Jonathan for the controversies over the election of the Chairman of the NGF and the political crisis it has generated within the ruling party.

According to the ACF chieftain,

“the controversy demonstrates the wisdom of those who submit that democracy is yet to take root in Nigeria.”

He added: “If 36 governors cannot democratically elect their leader, then imagine the problem when 73 million Nigerian voters are to produce their leaders democratically.

“So, I plead with the governors to appreciate their place in the order of things and together with Mr. President enthrone democratic ethos in the polity.

This is because they are expected to act both lodestars and bellwether.”

However, while praising the government of Jonathan on its effort to improve the power sec-

tor, the railway and few other areas of the economy, Sani stated that “the real issue is a need for appropriate balancing betweenmacroeconomicsand microeconomics.”

Said he: “The performance of government policies and actions are measured by how much they affect the standard of life of the people. This is to say there should be effects on unemployment figures, reduction of poverty level, reduction on infant and mortality rates, reduction in illiteracy and improvement in life expectancy. On the whole, socio economic indices that include Misery Indices and Human Development Index should

also be made public before realistic appreciation of the effects of the Transformation Agenda can be ascertained.

And so, I want to say that good as figures on the macro economics may appear, there should be improvement on peoples welfare.”

He continued: “It may well be that the administration has tried in its campaigns against corruption. But the pension scandals and management of the reports on petroleum subsidy and reports by Ribadu Committee does not give cause for cheers. More distressing is the manner the judiciary delivers more of technical justice than substantive justice.

“There is need to reform the judiciary in favour of substantive justice. Democracy may differ in forms, but when it comes to its elements of liberty, justice and common decency, democracy does not differ.

So, those who are redefining the three elements of democracy can as well reinvent the wheel or redefine the truth.

And that is why we say full fledged democracy with strong institutions is yet t take root, given the prevailing strong man or big man syndrome and ethnic nationalism that threatens to supplant party politics.”

Hunt For Weapons Of Mass Destruction, Expert Urges JTF

By Laolu Adeyemi the seizure of FGayaOLLOWING large volume of arms on Street, Bompai, Kano

HRM, Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, JP (middle) and members of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) during the association’s courtesy call on the Royal Father as part of activities to commemorate its 53rd Annual General Meeting in Kano yesterday.

I Don’t Lose Sleep Over Opposition Criticisms, Says Jonathan From Mohammed Abubakar, Abuja OR those who think that FJonathan President Goodluck is bothered about the public criticism of his administration’s policies, the president has told them not to lose sleep, as he is no longer bothered about their activities.

At a family dinner organised

by the national leadership of his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), at the Banquet Hall, Aso Villa, on Thursday night, the President said such attacks by the opposition was one of the best ingredients of democracy.

The occasion drew large crowd of PDP top supporters from across the country, where they exchanged ideas on how to move the party for-

ward, while also patting themselves on the back for what they called their unprecedented achievements. But the absence of some notable key figures of the party took the shine off the gathering.

For instance, key personalities like former President Olusegun Obasanjo, his deputy, Atiku Abubakar; Second Republic Vice President, Dr. Alex Ekuweme;

and pioneer chairman of the party, Chief Solomon Lar, were absent.

Making allusion to the current political environment, Jonathan said for the fear of being misunderstood, he would rather not make comments.

But he said: “I always tell people if I’m told that opposition parties are meeting, I used to tell them that there are two

58 Boko Haram Suspects Regain Freedom In Borno, Yobe From Njadvara Musa, Maiduguri

• Govs Shettima, Gaidam To Rehabilitate Them

Ncompliance to the presidenIdetained tial directive to release Boko Haram suspects,

State, Lt. Lazarus Eli, also presented 38 released suspects to Yobe State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Barrister Ahmed Mustapha Goniri at the Government House, Damaturu.

The released suspects include 17 women and 21 children between the ages of eight and 15.

Presenting the released suspects to Governor Shettima, the Brigade Commander of 21 Armoured Brigade on behalf of Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral Sa’ad Ola Ibrahim said: “On behalf of the Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral Sa’ad Ibrahim, we are handing over the six

the military Joint Task Force (JTF) in Borno and Yobe States yesterday released and handed over58suspects,comprising20 women and 38 children to Governors Kashim Shettima and Ibrahim Gaidam at the Government House of the affected states.

In Borno State, six women and 14 children between the ages of nine and 14 were handed over to Governor Shettima at the Government House, Maiduguri, by the JTF spokesman Lt. Col Sagir Musa.

The spokesman of JTF in Yobe

women and 14 children arrested so that they could be fully rehabilitated and reintegrated into the society and become responsible and good citizens of this state.”

While receiving the suspects, governor Shettima said: “We most sincerely thank Mr. President for his magnanimity.

This marks a milestone in our quest for peace and to restore normalcy not only in Borno state, but the entire region of the North and the country at large.”

He, therefore, commended men of JTF for keeping the detainees “hale and heart,” adding that they will be fully

rehabilitated for them to be better citizens. The governor also pledged that the released Boko Haramsuspects would be trained in various skills and trades, while the 14 children would be sent to schools.

“These released young women and children before us today (Friday) in Maiduguri would be trained at various vocational training centres to acquire skills and trades. The 17 very young men will also be sent to schools; a sum of N10, 000 would be given to them if their parents agree to fully enroll them into schools. The enrolment of these kids was also under the fulfillment of a condition of attending schools for 30 days running without a break.”

things to know. If opposition members are holding meeting everyday without sleeping then you should smile.

“But if they stop holding meeting, though sometimes out of the kind of character and sometimes type of person, I say if you see the opposition abusing the President, then go and sleep well.

“If they start clapping for the President then you should know that something must be wrong somewhere. Nobody should be deterred about conspiracy or gang-up, long as you are playing politics people must conspire, there must be gang-up. They have done it and they must continue to do.

“One thing about the PDP is that it is different from other political parties and that is one reason that PDP would continue to survive and endure. The party is not built on individuals; our founding fathers are here. PDP is not built on conspiracy against any individual or group of individuals.

“PDP believes that we have a country and we must protect this country, we must develop this country and we must prepare this country for our children and that is why PDP has the largest heart among all the political parties because we believe in the country.

during the week, a security expert, Dr. Ona Ekhomu has advised Nigerian military authority to focus on the search for weapons of mass destruction in the country with a view to preventing terrorists from carrying out further damaging attacks on the citizenry.

Ekhomu, who is the President of Association of Industrial Security and Safety Operators of Nigeria (AISSON), said aggressive searches and seizures of weapons would drastically limit the ability of terrorists to carry out bombings, shootings, killings and maiming in the country.

Stating that Nigeria was under grave threat from weapons of mass destruction, Ekhomu argued that it was unfortunate that foreigners were always implicated in plans to undermine Nigeria’s security.

“It was totally unacceptable for a foreigner to sell dangerous weapons in Nigeria including surface to air missiles that could constitute grave threat to Nigerian civil aviation,” he said.

The Chairman of School of Management and Security in Lagos commended the Joint Military Task Force (JTF) on the large arms seizure in Kano and urged security agents to expand the search for weapons throughout the country.

He also advised that the JTF team that made the arms seizure should be rewarded to motivate other service personnel to exhibit greater alertness in the search for weapons of mass destruction.

Ekhomu, however, decried the extremely porous nature of Nigeria’s land, air and sea borders, which makes it possible for dangerous weapons to be smuggled into the country.

He urged border security agents to exhibit more dedication, professionalism and patriotism in their work in order to intercept dangerous weapons.

Speaking further on the issue, Ekhomu also advised the Federal Government to provide reward money for information about arms caches to

THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, June 1, 2013

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NEWS

Supreme Court Dismisses Oni’s Bid To Unseat Fayemi From Lemmy Ughegbe (Abuja) Muyiwa Adeyemi (Ado Ekiti) HESupreme Court yesterday T in Abuja dismissed an appeal brought by ousted governor of Ekiti State, Chief Segun Oni of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), praying it to set aside the verdict of the Court of Appeal which sacked him from Ekiti State Government House.

Following the crisis that rocked the nation’s judiciary which led to the President of Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Isa Salami being suspended from office, Oni thereafter appealed to the Supreme Court alleging likelihood of bias in his appeal following his defeat at the Ekiti Election Appeal.

Oni relied on section 36 of the constitution which guarantees right to fair hearing and had asked the apex court to revisit the judgment of the Court of Appeal which removed him from office.

However, Fayemi opposed the appeal and contended that as at the time the governorship election was conducted in 2007, that the Court of Appeal was the final court empowered to determine governorship election matters.

The governor relied on the provisions of section 246 (3) of the constitution and urged the court to decline the invitation to meddle into an appeal that had been successfully concluded.

In an unanimous decision, the Supreme Court agreed with Fayemi and held that the

attempt by ousted former governor Oni to lure the apex court to exercise it authority by meddling into an appeal already determined by the Court of Appeal, which is the final court over the governorship election matters, is an attempt to get back into Ekiti State Government House.

In the decision read by Justice Sylvester Ngwuta, the court declined Oni’s invitation to interfere in an appeal that had been adequately determined and settled by a competent court, which had the final say on such elections as at the time the election was conducted.

The court subsequently dismissed Oni’s appeal and insisted that his appeal has nothing to do with section 36 of the con-

stitution, especially in view of the provision of section 246 (3) of the same constitution.

“This Supreme Court has no power or jurisdiction to entertain this appeal. We have consistently declined invitations to set aside decisions like this where the principle of separation of powers of our courts.”

The court also noted that the National Judicial Council (NJC), which thoroughly investigated the former President of Court of Appeal as well as other members of the panel, found nothing against the jurists and exonerated them and as such, has done nothing to warrant the accusation of likelihood of bias as alleged by Oni. It also stated that the issue before the court is not whether

the Court of Appeal violated section 36(1) in its decision sacking the former government but whether, in view of 246(3), can this court exercise authority to interfere with the matter.

The court thereafter dismissed Oni’s appeal but made no order as to cost.

In his reaction to the judgment, Fayemi called for the establishment of election offences commission, noting that had the former governor been prosecuted for committing electoral fraud in the state, he would not have had the opportunity to approach the apex court with this frivolous appeal with the purpose of distracting the government of Ekiti

State.

“Oni engaged in judicial frivolity and unfortunately, in Nigeria, there is no punishment for electoral frivolity.

“This decision reinforces the need for the establishment of election offences commission to handle people like Oni for committing electoral fraud and wasting the time of people elected to serve Ekiti State,” Fayemi said.

Meanwhile, it was jubilation galore in Ado- Ekiti, the state capital, when news of Fayemi’s victory reached his supporters and well-wishers. They took to the streets in their thousands to celebrate the long-awaited verdict.

I Approached Supreme Court To Sanitise Judiciary, Says Oni From Muyiwa Adeyemi, Ado Ekiti Court to seek reversal because I governor of Ekiti FdayORMER State, Chief Segun Oni yestersaid his decision to

A member of the legal team, Mr. Bola Okeya; Chairman, Ekiti State Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Chief Jide Awe; Senator Olu Adetunbi (Ekiti North); Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Wale Fapounda; Governor Kayode Fayemi; Senator Tony Adeniyi (Ekiti South); member of House of Representatives, Mr. Femi Robinson; and state Deputy Chairman of ACN, Chief Dele Falusi rejoicing with Fayemi shortly after yesterday’s Supreme Court in Abuja dismissing Mr. Segun Oni’s challenges of his position.

approach the Supreme Court to challenge the ruling of the Appeal Court which removed him from office, was not a mere judicial gamble but was intended to inject sanity into the judiciary which he alleged has been bastardised by some unscrupulous judges.

Oni, who spoke at a thanksgiving service held at the Methodist Church of Nigeria, Tabernacle of Praise in Ifaki Ekiti, his country home, immediately after the verdict said he would not leave politics because of the loss he suffered at the Apex Court.

He said: “After the Appeal Court judgment in Ilorin, I felt disenchanted and I went to the Appeal

felt the oppressors will be given more strength if they are not challenged.

“I was determined to pursue the case to the end and I thank God we have been able to achieve this because some people wished us dead along the line.

“You can see that since people like us had risen to challenge some unbridled tendencies in the judiciary, that judges and other judicial officers are now careful. They have seen that people can rise up and ask question if they feel aggrieved with their judgments.

“The suit was not filed out of desperation, but it was meant to infuse sanity in the system, so that Nigerians can have hope in the judiciary, the last hope of the common man.”

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THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, June 1, 2013

NEWS ‘Domestic Tourism To Get Priority’

By Olawunmi Ojo RANSFORMATION of domesT tic tourism is to receive priority under the new leadership at the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), headed by Mrs. Sally Mbanefo.

Since resuming about two weeks ago, the new Director General and Chief Executive of NTDC, in her early meetings with the management and staff of the corporation, has outlined her focus to be the development of the local content, highlighting it as the critical factor in successfully selling Nigerian tourism brand to the outside world.

“We must address the domestic market potentials, secure the buy-in and confidence of Nigerians in the sector and get Nigerians to be proud of their tourism heritage and industry.

Appeal Court Upturns Lower Court’s N25m Compensation Decision For Baba Suwe

By Joseph Onyekwere HE Lagos Division of the T Court of Appeal yesterday upturned the judgment of the lower court, which ordered the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to pay N25 million to a Yoruba comedian, Babatunde Obadina, popularly known as ‘Baba Suwe’ as compensation for detaining

him for several days over allegation of drug trafficking.

Justice Yetunde Idowu of a Lagos High Court, Ikeja had awarded that amount to the comedian. The appellate court in its judgment delivered by Justice Rita Pemu considered all the three vital grounds of appeal in favour of the appellant (NDLEA).

The NDLEA had in its appeal asked the court to allow the appeal and set aside the judg-

ment of the lower court.

Justice Pemu in her lead Judgment unanimously adopted by two other Justices, namely Justice Chima Nwanze and Justice F. O Akinbami described the N25 million damages awarded to Baba Suwe as erroneous, oppressive and superfluous.

Justice Pemu held that even though the trial judge had discretion to award costs in a fundamental human right suit,

such award of damages must be based on law and not arbitrary.

In addition, the appellate court held that the lower court judge erred in law when it ordered NDLEA to pay Baba Suwe N25 million as compensation and that the appellant should publish a public apology in two widely read national newspapers.

Justice Pemu said: “Damages must be based on law, even

Group Urges Responsive Leadership

By Olawunmi Ojo Non-Govermental A Organisation, Asabe Shehu Yar’Adua Foundation, has decried what it calls the uncaring attitude of many public officers, well-meaning individuals and corporate bodies to the appalling poverty, which pervades the Nigerian society.

In a statement by its founder, Ambassador Asabe Shehu Yar’Adua to commemorate the 2013 Democracy Day in Nigeria, the organization said, “the current trend portended danger to nation-building unless we take pragmatic steps to sincerely tackle the rising poverty among the youth, women and less-privileged because of their strategic role in economic growth and national development.

“Children are the future of tomorrow. We can only protect and guarantee their future if we do not neglect their mothers. A nation that encourages poverty among such categories of its citizens cannot be said to be safeguarding its future leaders.”

Ubah To Conduct Polls, Tackle Insecurity From Uzoma Nzeagwu, Awka GOvERNORSHIP aspirant in A Anambra state, Dr Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah has vowed to conduct council polls in the state within the first 90 days if voted in as the chief executive of Anambra come 2014 election.

Ubah, who fielded questions from newsmen yesterday in Nnewi, explained that government at the grassroot would encourage moral development, as well as help to empower people in various communities.

He however frowned at the development where various past administrations failed to organize the election, insisting that they had the opportunity but lacked the courage and political will.

As part of his agenda, Uba who is the chief Executive, Capital Oil and Gas Industries Ltd, hinted that he would run a type of business government which is aimed at improving the state economy and provide the needed welfare to the masses.

Director General of Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Mrs. Sally Mbanefo (left); Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Chief Edem Duke, and General Manager of the National Theatre, Mallam Kabir Yusuf during a press briefing and launch of Nigeria’s Tourism Brand Identity at the National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos… yesterday.

PHOTO: AYODELE ADENIRAN

Soyinka Advocates Monument For Slain SSS, Policemen

By Yemi Ogunsola ROFESSOR Wole Soyinka has expressed his deep empathy with the pioneer Director of the State Security Service, General Abdulahi Mohammed, over the latter’s regrets that casualties among security agents are treated with general indifference.

Soyinka describes it as a “legitimate indictment.”

Last week Friday night, while the SSS was paying the last respects to its officers slain in Nasarawa State on May 7, Mohammed had lamented: “The anger is that if a solder is killed in this operation, it is just a number; if a policeman is killed, it is just a number; if a member of SSS is killed, it is just

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a number. If any member of the terrorist groups is killed, you see the human rights people crying to the high heavens as if members of the security agencies have no human rights.”

Reacting to the statement, the Nobel laureate said: “I also feel morally chastened by his challenge. It is a legitimate indictment, I think. I felt quite troubled by this accusation. The tendency is that many people seem not to consider security people as citizens like the rest of the community and that is not uniformly true. Part of the cause is that these agencies are often agencies of harassment.

So there is some kind of antagonism towards the security people.

“I want to assure General Mohammed that his challenge

is legitimate, but at the same time, it is not totally true that there is no humane consideration. Society cannot do without security. They are the ones in the line of fire. They take the most horrendous form of attack. Though the recognition is there, the recognition has to be stronger.”

He declared the killing of securitymen in both Bayelsa and Nasarawa States as ‘unacceptable’, saying though he did not believe in the justice of collective punishment, “I agree with General Mohammed that that shrine (in Nasarawa) should be razed to the ground. Further, I also believe that a monument should be erected there honouring the fallen securitymen.

Recently, I referred to them as a complement of Boko Haram

(BH), that is, Harassment Bureau (HB), all of us know what we suffer at the hands of security people from time to time. Nonetheless, we know that they are human, and we are not without appreciation of the work they are doing, especially during this critical time in the nation.

“So I sympathize with his position, calling for that shrine to be levelled. But, in addition, as a reminder to the nation of what security people go through, a monument should be erected on that very spot, listing the names of the security men.

Soyinka also expressed surprise that “ the Presidency has not thought it fit to even order flags to be flown at half mast in honour of those who died.”

Group Condemns Call For Emergency Rule In Plateau From Isa Abdulsalami Ahovi, Jos ORRIED by the call by the W Iyase of Ogwashi-Ukwu in Delta State, Chief Collins Afuwa that President Goodluck Jonathan should extend state of emergency to Plateau State, the South-South Indigenes Association on the Plateau has stated that the statement cred-

ited to the high chief is borne out of ignorance.

In a statement issued by the Association in Jos and signed by its President-General, South-South Indigenes, Plateau State Chapter, Mr. Smart Irabor and Senior Special Assistant on SouthSouth Matters to Governor Jonah Jang, Mr. Sunny Iyere, the association pointed out that Chief Collins has no iota of

knowledge of the politics of Plateau State and the root cause of the problems that previously existed in the state.

It pointed out that Plateau is presently a united state and a place where various indigenes of other states living therein live in peace with one another, adding that peace has since returned to the state, which chief Collins failed to appreciate.

To consolidate on the prevailing peace and foster good and harmonious relationship with various people residing in the state, the association pointed out that Jang appointed South-South indigenes as one of the Senior Special Assistants in his cabinet, adding that there are other Senior Special Advisers that are also appointed from other parts of the country.

though it is at the discretion of the trial judge. The award of N25 million to the respondent was based on wrong premises and it is uncalled for.”

She further held that no evidence was placed before the court to warrant such outrageous award adding that the court ought not to have overburden NDLEA with such award of damages. On whether the NDLEA had reasonable reasons to detain Baba Suwe from the day of his arrest (October 12, 2011) till October 21, 2011 when the Federal High Court order to detain him was obtained, justice Pemu held that the Agency was justified to do so.

She added that the appellant placed before the lower court documentary evidence and exhibits being results of various scan conducted on Baba Suwe which justified his detention for several days over allegation of drug trafficking.

On whether the Lagos State high court has jurisdiction to entertain the suit filed by the respondent (Baba Suwe), Justice Pemu held that based on the pleadings before the trial judge, it is the Federal High Court that has constitutional jurisdiction to entertain the suit and not the State high Court.

Court Bars PDP From Taking Further Actions Against Amaechi From Kelvin Ebiri, Port Harcourt PORT Harcourt High Court A has barred the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from taking any further action against Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Amaechi pending the determination of a suit challenging his suspension from the party.

Justice Emmanuel Ogbuji gave this order following a suit filed by Governor Amaechi seeking to void the actions of the National Working Committee, which suspended him from the party Tuesday due to a purported petition by the Felix Obuah-led PDP which accused the governor of refusing to reinstate the suspended chairman and legislators of the Obio-Akpor local government court.

Amaechi, through his legal team led by Akin Olujinmi, wants the court to declare null and void his suspension, which he insisted is illegal and a breach of the 1999 Constitution as amended, owing to the fact that he was not availed fair hearing prior to the suspension.

According to the counsel to the governor, the action of the party is unconstitutional and was taken in bad faith.

The governor is also asking the court to set aside the suspension, but in the main time the court should direct that he should not be deprived of his right to attend activities of the party.

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THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, June 1, 2013

Iloh Hails Executive, Legislative Synergy In Delta HE Permanent Secretary, T Federal Ministry of Labour, Dr. Clement Iloh, has commended the executive and legislative arms of government in Delta State for effectively engendering a cordial synergy in discharging their various constitutional responsibilities.

He gave the commendation during a visit to the speaker of the state House of Assembly, Mr. Victor Ochei, in Asaba.

According to Iloh, this encouraging development has placed Delta State far above her contemporaries in creating a healthy interface between the three arms of government irrespective of the sacrosanct of separation of power.

He observed that, the faithful implementation of Gov. Uduaghan’s three-point agenda is attributable to this exemplary relationship, which has in turn brought tremendous dividends of democracy to Deltans.

From Njadvara Musa, Maiduguri ESPITE the massive arrests D and destruction of Boko Haram training camps and hideouts by troops of the Military Special Operations (MISOP) in Borno State, gunmen suspected of the Islamist sect torched two Churches at Hrazah and Hembe communities in Gwoza Council on Thursday about 7.45pm.

Meanwhile, violence has erupted again in Maiduguri, Borno State, as gunmen suspected to be members of Boko Haram sect shot dead the District Head of Dala Alamderi, Alhaji Liberty Dala on Thursday by 9:pm at his residence.

According to an eyewitness, the gunmen came in a tricycle chanting ‘God is great’, before bursting into his parlour and shot the district head and fled in the same vehicle into an unknown destination.

Gwoza is a border town with Cameroun and 135 kilometres south of Maiduguri, the state capital.

The gunmen, according to an eyewitness, used Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and petrol-bombs to set the two churches ablaze, before killing two residents that lived near the Hembe church premises.

He said: “We had just finished

taking our supper when some armed men started shouting ‘God is great’ and three of the gunmen threw some explosives at this church. The other two gunmen used petrolbombs in setting our church here in Hembe on fire.

“Some of us run into our houses and shout for safety, as we did not know the next target of the gunmen.

“Thursday’s night’s attacks and killings in Hembe and Hrazah, 25 kilometres from our village, are strange to hill dwellers. We have been hearing attacks and killings by Boko Haram sect members in Maiduguri and Gwoza towns.

But these attacks on our churches will never be forgiv-

en, as no religion condones the taking away of someone’s life. What have the Gwoza Hill dwellers done to these gunmen?” queried the eyewitness yesterday in an interview at the Bama road motor park, Maiduguri.

Confirming the separate incidents yesterday in Maiduguri, the Borno State Police Command spokesman, Gideon Jibrin, said the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Gwoza sent in a report, indicating that armed men attacked the hill dwellers of Hrazah and Hembe, where two person were feared killed along with the burning down of two churches Thursday night.

Abuja Orphanages Celebrate Children’s Day T was fun for about 40 chilIbased dren of three orphanages in Kubwa- Divine Wounds of Jesus Christ Orphanage, Ark of Refuge Orphanage and Kubwa Divine Orphanage- as they were treated to fun to mark this year’s Children’s Day celebration.

The venue of the event, organised by Big Events Managers, with the support of the First Choice Foundation, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), was Divine Wounds of Jesus Christ Orphanage premises in Kubwa in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

It was fun galore for the children and staff and management of the orphanages, as they danced, played, ate, drank and even went home with gifts from the organisers of the love festival, led by its General Manager of Big Events, Ms. Esther Okugo, who coordinated the event, made the children happy with their gifts and presence at the occasion.

Expert Wants Local Content Policy To Guide Electricity Development

By Azeez Olorunlomeru OLLOWING Federal Fregulatory Government directive to body of the power sector, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission [NERC] to commence full implementation of an alternative funding scheme on prepaid, experts have urged government to design a frame work that will give consumers the right to procure pre-paid meters from operators and install within a week without any condition.

Speaking in Lagos on the development of pre-paid meters, the Chief Executive Officer, Momas Electricity Company Mr.Kola Balogun, said one of the major challenges facing the industry was the difficulties consumer encounter in accessing credits for meters.

He said policy on local content should be strengthened. “We should ensure that every thing that comes in to this country has a bit of local content that will help growth,” he said.

NEWS

Gunmen Torch Churches, Kill Three In Borno

Experts Decry Poor Healthcare Delivery

By Bukola Apata and Toyosi Ajayi XPERTS have decried the poor manner healthcare services are being delivered in Lagos State.

Speaking at a Providers’ Forum in Lagos, the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Healthcare International, Dr. Andrew Isiorho, said that over 60 per cent of people enrolled for healthcare services were not being properly treated by their healthcare providers in some hospitals.

He implored healthcare providers to give adequate attention to patients in promoting affordable healthcare services in the state.

Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Get-Well Specialist Hospital, Dr.Lumumba Otegbeye, noted that there is need for hospitals to improve on their relationship with health management organisations (HMO) and enrollees to promote maximum benefits for Nigerians in the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

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Japaul Oil Restates Commitment To Safety

By Ekwy P. Uzoanya APAUL Oil and Maritime Services has restated its commitment towards safety standards in its areas of operations.

The Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the company, Mr. Paul Abiodun Jegede, stated this during a safety seminar organised by the organisation in conjunction with C. S. Offshore Integrated Services Limited to celebrate its safety success in Lagos.

The managing director said the company, which is “epitome of local content in its operations”, has been rated AA in terms of quality service delivery to many oil companies.

General Manager, Offshore, Mr. Shittu Olugbenga, appreciated the policies of government, especially the 2003 Cabotage Act, in promoting its operations, adding that that the three-month safety campaign the company embarked on impacted positively on the company’s relationship with clients.

The Technical Superintendent, S. C. Offshore (CSO), Mr. Adokiye Boywhyte, said that there was no magic in safety, stressing that a synergy from all departments is important for safety to be achieved.

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Commercial Councilor, United State Mission, Rebecca Armand; Lagos State Deputy Governor, Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire; Founder, The Children and Business Network Nigeria, Toyin Olakanpo; Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola; Executive Director, Lagos Businesses, Diamond Bank, Uzoma Dozie and wife of former governor of Cross River State, Mrs. Onari Duke, at the First Annual Chief Executive Officer Forum and Business Roundtable held in Lagos….

PHOTO: FEMI ADEBESIN-KUTI

Dangote To Create 15,000 Jobs In Jigawa From John Akubo, Dutse HE Chairman of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has made a commitment to create over 15, 000 job opportunities with the construction of 150,000 metric tonnes sugar refinery in Jigawa State.

Dangote, who made the disclosure yesterday at the closing ceremony of the First

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Jigawa Economic and Investments Summit held at the Sir Ahmadu Bello Hall Dutse, said he has taken a decision to exploit the vast sugarcane production taking place at Kaugama Local Government along the Hadejia river valley.

He said the company would, apart from serving as a market for sugarcane producing farmers from the area, able to

employ up to 15,000 people from the state.

He pointed out that the summit has opened a window of opportunities for investors to come in to the state and explore the various investment openings for them to key in.

Also at the occasion, representative of Diamond Bank Plc, Alhaji Muhammed Lawan

Business Law Conference Excites CJN, AGF Mukhtar in her remarks comthey grow in their career.

HE Chief Justice of Nigeria, mended the theme of the conOn his part, the AGF said he T Alooma Mariam Mukhtar ference, describing it as timewould direct the attendance of and Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN) have tasked lawyers on the need to continually update themselves with the best practices by attending conferences and workshops on business law.

Particularly, the duo referred to the forthcoming 7th Annual Business Law Conference being organised by the Section on Business Law (SBL) of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) as an avenue for lawyers to brainstorm and update their knowledge.

This opinion was expressed by the duo during a courtesy visit by the NBA-SBL executives at their respective offices in Abuja to intimate them about the programme.

ly and relevant to contemporary issues in the legal profession, which would be beneficial to the young lawyers as

not less than 50 lawyers from the justice ministry to attend the conference because of the benefit of such conference.

Shuaibu, assured of the banks readiness to bring forth prospective clients that would invest in Agriculture, healthcare and the Export Processing Zone (EPZ) at the Maigatari border town of Niger Republic.

He said the bank has successfully collaborated with the state government for its first ever Jigawa Investments Summit.

A respected Indian lawyer is expected to speak on: “ The Legal Profession in an Emerging Economy” at the conference slated for June 17 to 19 at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos.

Auditor-General Calls For Quick Passage Of Audit Bill HE Auditor General of the Federation, Samuel Ukura, has called on the National Assembly to fast track the passage of Audit Bill currently before it, even as he said he was excited over new Audit House as foremost clearing house in the country.

The eight-storey Audit House, a laudable initiative of Ukura who was appointed in 2009 by late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, is located in the Central Business District.

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Apart from the ambience of the new office, more of the auditors are now located in one complex which makes their daily operation smooth.

The Benue State born auditor believes that the passage of the draft Audit Bill, which seeks to give the office of the Auditor General full autonomy, would put the office in its proper footing to perform its statutory functions.

The bill when passed into law, seeks to place the office on the

first line charge of the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federal Government.

According to Consultant to the Auditor General of the Federation, Tijani Ahmed Shuaibu, who spoke on behalf of Ukura, scarcity of fund is hampering auditors from carrying out their legitimate functions. He decried a situation whereby less than half of the 97 missions abroad had their accounts audited in 2012.

Baptist Church Holds ‘Carry Your Baby’ Programme HEPHERDHILL Baptist SwillChurch, Obanikoro Lagos tomorrow hold a fruit of the womb programme titled, “Carry your baby’ at the church auditorium, Obanikoro bus stop, Ikorodu Road, Lagos.

The church’s Senior Pastor, Rev. Israel Olu Kristilere, in a statement said the programme is targeted at couples seeking the fruit of the womb as well as those who want to stand in the gap for their loved ones seeking the fruit of the womb.

THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, June 1, 2013

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NEWS Kwara Gets New Security Outfit From Abiodun Fagbemi, Ilorin WARA State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed yesterday said a new security outfit coded Kwara State Joint Action Security Force (KSJTF) would within “the next few weeks” commence operations in the state.

Though Kwara had in the past enjoyed some peaceful moments, recent pockets of violence within the state could make the move by the government a necessity.

According to Ahmed in an interactive event with reporters in Ilorin, his government had already procured

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state of the arts security gadgets for effective take off of the operations of the KSJTF. The security personnel for the outfit, the Governor said, would include the Police, the Army, Navy, Airforce, State Security Services (SSS) and Security and Civil Defence Corpse (SCDC).

He said, “Security issue is a national issue. The police is largely charged with the job of maintaining internal security.

But don’t forget that the same police had before now suffered long neglect and shortage of personnel.

“In Kwara we had intervene in

the area of provision of equipment for the police. It would still not end there, as the KSJTF will in the next few weeks come up in strategic places within the state.

“The operatives are well kitted. We want to put an end to some pockets of violence in the state and this is the best way to do it.”

He nevertheless urged the people of the state to be more conscious of their environments especially “strange faces” around them in order to effectively support the operations of the special security outfit.

Oshiomhole Denies Amaechi’s Reported Financial Support For Re-Election From Alemma-Ozioruva Aliu, Benin City DO Sate Governor Adams Oshiomhole yesterday denied reports in a national daily (not The Guardian) that Rivers state governor, Rotimi Ameachi contributed N500 million to his re-election last year which the publication had listed as part of the reasons for the opposition to Ameachi’s reelection as chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF).

A statement yesterday by the governor’s Special Adviser on

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Oyo Govt Hasn’t Borrowed A Dime In Two Years, Says Ajimobi From Iyabo Lawal, Ibadan YO State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi yesterday kickstarted the second half of his administration with prayers, declaring that his government, despite the huge number of projects being undertaken by it, had not borrowed a single naira from any quarters in the last two years.

Ajimobi spoke at an inter-faith service organized to mark the second anniversary of his administration at The Remembrance Arcade, Government House, Agodi, Ibadan.

According to the governor, this was achieved through his administration’s financial engineering and deft management of government’s meager

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resources.

The service witnessed the assemblage of traditional rulers, eminent personalities, opinion leaders, members of the state executive councils, the legislators, judicial officers, market men and women, politicians as well as Islamic and Christian religious leaders who led prayers for the state and the government.

Governor Ajimobi, who assessed his administration in the last two years and gave himself pass mark, said that the contracts awarded by his government included construction of roads and road dualization, bridges, motor parks, neighbourhood markets and other development projects.

The governor said that his government had not borrow a dime to execute those projects, all of

which he said had changed the face of the state. ``I am happy to inform you all that in spite of all the projects that we have executed and are still executing, Oyo is one of the three out of the 36 states in Nigeria that has not taken any loan,’’ he said.

The governor also said that the remaining part of his administration would be devoted to the construction of N52 billion 108kilometre Ibadan Circular Road with development corridors, mass housing schemes, logistics centres, cargo airport and two five-star hotels, one of which is already being constructed.

Governor Ajimobi, who expressed his commitment to transforming the state to an enviable position, thanked the

people of the state for their cooperation and support, which he said, was unprecedented in the history of the state. ``We are very happy with ourselves and with what we have done. What we are trying to do to bring back the Oyo State that we used to know, that is, to restore the lost glory of our state,’’ he said.

Media, Kassim Afegbua, and made available to journalists, said: “To state the fact, there was no time that the Rivers State Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi donated any money, let alone the sum of N500 million either directly or by proxy, to the Campaign

funds of Governor Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole.

“Again, we wish to state unequivocally that there was no time that the Rivers State Governor spent two nights in Benin City before, during and after the Campaigns of the Comrade Governor.

Brain Drain Hits Kaduna Polytechnic From Saxone Akhaine, Northern Bureau Chief XODUS of teachers has hit the premier polytechnic in the north, Kaduna Polytechnic (Kadpoly), following the delay by the Federal Government to convert the institution into a City Technical University as earlier pledged. Most of those lecturers that have abandoned the Polytechnic in search of greener pasture were the bulk of its experienced hands, particularly those with Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in the various Colleges and departments of the polytechnic.

But the newly constituted

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Polytechnic Governing Council’s Chairman, Chief Sergeant Awuse, at the inaugural meeting yesterday, assured the academic community of speedy effort to obtain Federal Government’s approval to upgrade the institution to a university status, and also halt the brain-drain affecting the institution.

According to Chief Awuse, “ I think Kaduna Polytechnic is overdue to have been converted to University, going by the amount of infrastructural facilities, technical equipments and the manpower strength available here”.

Calabar Gets New Metropolitan Archbishop From Anietie Akpan, Calabar NEW Metropolitan Archbishop, Most Reverend Joseph Ekuwem has been installed as the Metropolitan Archbishop of the Calabar Archdiocese of the Catholic

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Church.

Ekuwem, who was installed at the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Calabar, the Cross River State capital yesterday, replaces Archbishop Joseph Ukpo, who is retiring after having attained

the retirement age of 75.

Born in 1949, Ekuwem was Bishop of Uyo Diocese in Akwa Ibom State until he was appointed to take over the Calabar Archdiocese by the Papacy in February this year.

Nigeria celebrates World Milk day ...Healthy Milk, Healthy Family S Nigeria today joins the global celebration of the A June 1 World Milk Day declared by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations, nutritional firms are using the occasion to draw attention to the importance of milk to nutrition, even as Nigeria struggles to attain the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

The FAO proposed and commenced celebration of the World Milk Day with the first one held on June 1, 2001.

Since then, many countries spread throughout the world have participated in the celebrations and the number is growing each year. It is celebrated in over 30 countries around the world.

According to the FAO, the World Milk Day "provides an opportunity to focus attention on milk and to publicise activities connected with milk and the milk industry.

The fact that many countries decide to do this on the same day lends additional importance to individual national celebrations and shows that milk is a global food."

A key goal of the MDGs adopted by world leaders under the aegis of the United Nations in 2000 is to halve the percentage of the world population living in poverty by 2015. Food and nutrition are key components of any effort to halve poverty, while experts agree that milk is one of the products that provide sustainable nutrition at low cost. We are committed to increasing awareness of the importance of milk in the food basket and its contribution to maintaining balanced diets and healthy living.

Milk contains valuable nutrients, building blocks and components for maintaining a healthy body. It is an important, natural food for everyday consumption all over the world. The power of milk provides us with endless opportunities. It is one of the richest natural sources of nutrition.

Launched in 2000, the day in the UK is used to promote

the importance of drinking milk at school to children in a fun and educational way. In the UK, MPs show their support for school milk by visiting local primary school's Whilst at the schools they will be handing out school milk to 1,000's of children as they act as an "honorary milk monitor" for the day.

Why do we celebrate World Milk Day? Milk is a near perfect food source loaded with nine essential nutrients needed daily to keep bodies healthy and strong. Making a difference in the lives of more than 852 million people worldwide who suffer hunger pains everyday is a huge undertaking. FAO believes no single individual, organization or sector can solve the problem alone; therefore many companies have partnered with FAO to help achieve the UN Millennium Development Goals.

“Milk contains nutrients that contribute to the growth, development and protection of the human body; and therefore, nutritionists around the world are united in promoting the consumption of milk as an important source of nutrition.

A great deal of knowledge about the nutritional value of milk had been gathered, from which its uniqueness and goodness clearly emerged. “Milk contains valuable nutrients, building blocks and components for maintaining a healthy body. That is why milk is an important, natural food for everyday consumption and part of a healthy diet all around the world”.

How World Milk Day was celebrated in the past DeLaval began a global campaign to celebrate World Milk Day in 2006. Kansas City celebrated by taking milk mustache photos of home office employees.

In 2011, a website www.worldmilkday.com was created to help spread the word and encourage everyone to contribute to the celebration of milk. In 2010, DeLaval partnered with Roberts Dairy and Dairy Farmers of America to provide free milk, cheese, yoghourt and ice cream to patrons at the Liberty Farmers Market located in Liberty,

MO and Merriam Farmers Market located in Merriam, KS on Saturday, May 30th. DeLaval employees graciously volunteered their day to spread the word about the health benefits of milk and milk products as well as educating the public about our mission to offer dairy farmers solutions to make their dairies profitable and sustainable.

Origin of Milk Day IN 1878 milk was delivered for the first time in glass bottles. Glass bottles were chosen as they kept the milk fresh and healthy which was supplied to many customers.

Earlier milk was supplied to customers in big cans which were exposed to many harmful elements. Thus, milk was supplied to people and refrigerated milk didn’t come into existence until 1938. Till this day we don’t know why January 11th is known as Milk Day. Its only later that many countries started supplying milk in glass bottles. The Lester Milk Jar, which had a lid as a screw cap was the first milk “bottle” in America. It was not patented until January 29 1878.

Milk Day Warren Glass Company was the first glass company to have patented in the year 1880. Eventually in October 1878, the milk started being supplied in bottles in America and in the year 1880 every seller sold milk in glass bottles.

The United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization declared June 1st as World Milk Day in 2001. On the other hand, the FAO in 2000 declared that September 28th as the World School Milk Day. Many schools celebrate Milk Day; therefore in the UK the 2nd week of October is celebrated as the School Milk Week every year.

In Illinois during the first weekend in June, Harvard Milk Days are celebrated in Harvard. This festival started in 1942. The Kalash people in northern Pakistan celebrate milk day which is known as “Joshi” which falls during their spring festival.

Lighthouse

THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, June 1, 2013

Truth Has No Elder Brother...

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Yemi Ogunsola yemiogunsola@gmail.com 08069074718

Seventy-Four Men Saw The God Of Israel…

-ASK the average Bible reader if anybody has -prompt ever seen Yahweh, the God of Israel and the reply is likely to be “No.” He may however add that the only person who almost saw the god of Israel face to face was Prophet Moses, but then even Moses only saw Yawheh’s “backside.”

But that is a lie.

At least 74 men saw the God of Israel race to face. Not only that, they also ate and drank in his presence – and probably with him.

The 74 men even saw Yahweh’s feet and described what was under them. And this is clearly recorded in the Bible.

But why in the name of all that is true and honest have many Bible readers down the ages pretended, not to see this passage and prefer to continue to mouth that cheap, common lie that: “Nobody has ever seen the god of Israel.”

The truth is that that passage puts the lie to the idea being promoted by certain interests that the entity Yahweh, is the one and only omniscient, omnipotent and invisible God of the whole universe.

To now admit that 74 persons saw him face to face reduces him to the level of a physical being.

But that is exactly what the Bible clearly states: “Then Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu and seventy of the elders of Israel went up, and they saw the God of Israel; and there was under his feet as it were a pavement of sapphire stone, like the very heaven for clearness. And he did not lay his hand on the chief men of the people of Israel, they beheld God, and ate and drank (Revised Standard Version, second Edition).

I shan’t disclose that portion of the Bible right away. That’s mild penalty for our penchant to mouth traditional fallacies, simply because some “hallowed” authorities say so. Well let’s just say it’s in Exodus; search it out.

It should be noted that the scribe who recorded this encounter on Mt. Sinai was himself surprised, that the elders who saw Yahweh did not fall dead or something, as was the belief then (even today) that nobody sees God and lives.

So the surprised scribe writes: “And he (Yahweh) did not lay his hand, on the chief men of the people of Israel.” Then he repeated “they beheld God and ate and drank.”

Rendered in modern parlance, the scribe was saying something like: “Can you beat that!

Those old fellows actually saw God —- live! And rather than die or something, they actually had a rollicking time eating and drinking!”

Now, let’s see how other Bible versions render this passage. One of the versions actually put an exclamation mark!

Then went up Moses, and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel; And they saw the God of Israel, and there was under his feet as it were of sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in its clearness.

And upon the nobles of the children of Israel, he laid not his hand, also they saw God, and did eat and drink.” (King James Version).

Then Moses went up, also Aaron, Nadab and Abihu and seventy of the elders of Israel.

And they saw the God of Israel and there was under His feet as it were a paved work of sapphire stone, and it was like the very heavens in its clarity.

Yahweh?

But on the nobles of the children of Israel, he did not lay His hand. So they saw God, and they ate and drank.” (New King James Version).

Then Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu and 70 elders (leaders) of Israel went up the mountain.

On the mountain, these men saw the God of Israel. God was standing on something that looked like blue sapphire as clear as the sky.

All the leaders of Israel saw God, but God did not destroy them. They all ate and drank together.” (Holy Bible, Easy-to-Ready Version).

Apparently rattled by this passage, the translators of this Bible version quickly explain in a footnote: “The Bible says that people cannot see God. But God wanted these leaders to know what he was like, so he let them see him in some special way.”

“Then Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu and seventy of the elder of Israel went up the mountain.

There they saw the God of Israel. Under his feet there seemed to be a pavement of brilliant sapphire, as clear as the heavens. And though Israel’s leaders saw God, he did not destroy them. In fact, they shared a meal together in God’s presence!” (New Living Translation).

A million pities that we may never corner Prophet Moses or any of those elders for an interview. We would have loved to ask so many questions.

• What did Yahweh’s feet look like?

• Were they bare or shod?

• What did his face look like?

• What type of food was served? Manna and Ambrosia or lamb meat with goat milk?

• In what kind of plates was the meal served?

• Who served the meal? Were there females among them?

• Did any of the elders sneak away part of the delicacies as memento for his people back in the Israelites camp?

• Did Yahweh partake of the food? Nothing in the passage says he didn’t.

• Who set the table? Table? Didn’t you know there was furniture on Mt. Sinai? Yahweh himself told Moses: “And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst. According to all that I show you concerning the pattern of tabernacle, and of all its furniture.” (Exodus 25:9).

Some of my beloved friends have countered that what Moses and the elders saw was a vision and not a true-life Yahweh.

But that’s not true.

Yahweh himself is quoted as saying that with other prophets, he spoke in dreams and visions, but with Moses, it was “face to face like a man with his friend.”

Angered that Aaron and Miriam, criticized Moses for marrying an Ethiopian lady, Yahweh, lashed out.

“If there is a prophet among you, I, Yahweh make himself known to him in a vision, I speak with him in a dream. Not so with my servant, Moses, he is entrusted with my entire house (which house?), with him, I speak mouth to mouth, clearly, and he beholds the form of the LORD.” (Numbers 12: 6-8).

Who really is this entity who has his residence in Mt. Sinai where he receives and entertains special guests?

Yahweh’s dwelling must be quite expansive to accommodate 74 guests at a time, excluding the permanent residents. And he had furniture there. (And carpenters too?).

Many times, Moses disappeared into this dwelling for 40 days or more. That Moses was never reported to look weak or famished after any of such sojourns indicates there were provisions there to accommodate and feed Moses for those long periods.

Who was/is this entity who treated 74 men to a sumptuous meal on Mt. Sinai?

Until the world, Africans especially, snap out of the mental rut of “letting things be,” of “leaving well alone,” too scared to ask pertinent questions about so-called “sacrosanct” religious materials, the Western powers and their puppeteers, will continue to fool us with retrogressive religious submissiveness while they make advances in science and technology –-- and flex muscles with the very gods…

TheGuardian

10 Saturday, June 1, 2013

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Cover ‘Certain Mindsets Must Change For Nigeria To Stay United’ That mane… Many don’t know that when Akinwande Oluwole Soyinka was born on Friday, July 1934, the moon was in the Zodiac Sign of Leo. Little wonder then that in the presence of this Cancerian, there’s that strong feeling of being close to a benevolent Lion… The 79-year-old “Teacher” and Nobel Laureate, in this encounter with The Guardian team of YEMI OGUNSOLA, KABIR ALABI GARBA, DEBO OLADIMEJI AND AJIBOLA HAMZAT, sounds alarms on burning issues of national interest—-from the worrisome trend in our democracy, errors of governance, masterminds of Boko Haram to legislative looting and the imperatives of continued unity. And matters of beauty...

OW would you assess democracy at 14 and President Jonathan’s administration at two?

How would I assess his tenure? I think there is an expression in tennis: “ unforced errors”, when two people are playing, and when one outplays the other, there are certain strokes called “unforced errors” —unnecessary, avoidable. A product of sloppy thinking or over-confidence. I call them “unforced errors”. There are many promises, first of all, unfulfilled. One, of course, is power (electricity). The issue of power, so essential to the generation of the economy; for the maintenance of the existing level of the economy. The problem till now has not been solved. There are many infrastructural examples of that. It’s scandalous, for instance, that the artery to the rest of the nation, the Expressway from Lagos to the interior, is in such decrepit state. It’s a disgrace to any regime, to the former presidents of this nation, whether you talk of Yar’Adua or Obasanjo. It’s humiliating for the entire nation.

Nowhere else in the world can that happen. I repeat, nowhere else in the world, either in this continent or Asia or Europe is such a critical artery, the road to the rest of the nation, left in such a decrepit state without a president either hanging his Minister of Works or committing harakiri. This is just one example.

Unforced errors include, for instance, the

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whole attitude of petroleum supply. The issue of fuel subsidy etc,etc. There have been many highhanded actions which are totally unexpected from a democratically elected president. I refer, for instance, to the action during the oil subsidy protests when suddenly armed Police and the army were sent to take over a public square which does not even belong to the Federal Government but belongs to a state where people were demonstrating, protesting a glaring deformity in governance… I give those examples as governance by “unforced errors”.

Must Nigerians always suffer in the midst of plenty ?

To run the economy of any society or community, there are deliberate minuses and pluses. If you are about to insert a minus into peoples’ lives, you’ve got to compensate some of the moves. Suppose for instance, certain compensations have been by way of the amelioration of the citizens’ lives. In order words, if people have seen that the removal of oil subsidy will be compensated by a number of policies that take the burden of existence from their daily lives, you will find that there will be very little agitation against oil subsidy. In order words, we are not just talking about the increase in the pump price of petroleum.

We are talking about what exactly is being given in return; there was nothing. You cannot just wake up and say that you are increasing the price of petroleum, when up to then, the public did not even see what was being

done with the tax they paid. They didn’t see what was being done with the revenue that accumulated from the major commodity that is sustaining the nation. It is just like adding minus upon minus upon minus.

I say this confidently because I know that the president was advised at a time that before you do this.. do that and that and that. This wasn’t done. It was after the public rebellion broke out that we heard that a number of vehicles had been imported to be distributed... So that people like you and me would be quite happy to park our vehicles and take public transportation. This is what we are talking about —the compensation of pluses. Let us not go into the issues. For example, we know where the oil subsidy has been going. That it was subsidy with heavy quotation marks. In other words, there was never any real subsidy anywhere.

Tam David West has kept insisting that some people in government deliberately keep our refineries out of service to ensure fuel importation One hundred percent correct! That is the crookedness that I said. Oil subsidy, in fact, has been a word that should always be used not just with heavy quotation marks, but with triple quotation marks on either side. Because that subsidy. Tam David West was a Minister of Petroleum he knows what he was talking about to start with. But you and I are also basic commonsensical people and we asked ourselves ‘how comes that all these years, our refineries are not working? Is it just incompe-

THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, June 1, 2013

“I think it is time for me to say some of these things. I like to keep a lot of these things to myself. I just talk to some people in Government: “Do you people understand what’s going on? Are you sure you are doing your job?”

But let me reveal some of these things… Azazi was coming from the United States where he had gone to negotiate for some surveillance helicopters. Because some of these Boko Haram people were already infiltrating along the cattle routes into the South” tence or is it sabotage? This is a question we’ve all been asking. Tam David West just put it for us in knowledgeable terms.

How powerful could those forces be that a sincere president could not tackle them and get things right?

President after president have not been sincere with us. There is no excuse. This is part of what I am saying. Just like the roads, electricity.

There is no reason whatsoever why the refineries should not be working. None whatsoever. I mean, refineries are being built everywhere…petroleum technology is almost as cheap as ipad and ipod technology which reinvent themselves everyday.

Do you think, with this high level of advanced corruption, is democracy working in Nigeria?

All societies are struggling with corruption.

What is important is to see a government which is very serious about eradicating corruption. And quite frankly, I don’t think this government has the slightest interest in eradicating corruption. It is evident in so many levels.

Fortunately, there are institutions which have been put in place. Like EFCC, I criticize EFCC a lot, but frankly, given the Nigerian situation, I think they are not doing too badly at all.

Unfortunately, as you and I know, certain presidents had to use them politically. Crippled them from functioning effectively by protecting some obvious criminals and directing the attention of this organization towards perceived political enemies. But in spite of all odds, I think we need to be grateful… that EFCC has achieved as much as it has. EFCC doesn’t operate alone. The judiciary is involved. We have seen that judiciary itself requires total fumigation as the new President of the Supreme Court (Mariam Muhktar) recognizes.

What will be your comment on Mariam Muhktar’s performance so far?

I am still watching . I think it is too early to comment. If there is so much rot in any organization, you don’t expect it to be fumigated overnight, but we have seen some steps, pronouncements which have been backed by some forms of action. But again, talk about the judiciary take again the case of Salami. I ask myself: ‘what is it? What is at stake?’ The judicial commission has pronounced on that, the NBA has pronounced on it. It is as if the president himself has an interest in the matter. He took the first step and has been asked to reverse it, he doesn’t. One wonders what is at stake.

Beyond this, what are the radical measures that you want Jonathan and his governors to take to move Nigeria forward.

Well, let me talk about governors. It seems to me that the immediate responsibility/mission of the governors today is to protect democracy.

I see a certain veering towards dictatorship. It’s been commented upon and I agree that there is certain high handedness, some actions are being taken. We are witnessing a repeat of some of the conduct of Olusegun Obasanjo who not only subverted the judiciary but virtually began to indirectly militarise the nation by certain forms of arbitrary actions. It is either

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we are running a federal constitution or we are not.

The front row in the protection of democracy should be occupied right now by governors since events are going on around us which involve them; which for me do not portend well for democracy. Now on development; the governors should also learn that they are in a position to act far more autonomously than they are doing at the moment. My favourite word is decentralisation. Even if the centre is under-developing the nation, the governors have the responsibility to develop their own areas. And they can do this by independent action —- by decentralising the process of development. And some governors have proved themselves capable of that –— when the Federal Government tried to make Lagos State government buckle under Tinubu.

Tinubu demonstrated that you can still generate sufficient wealth from within your own zone, your state. We have seen how Lagos has been transforming itself. We have seen this kind of action also being taken by certain governors in terms of education, health, public transportation where the Federal Government has been dragging its feet. Some governors have been taking unilateral actions. I know governors who have involved the citizens in the private sector in boosting the education standard, the environment. Others have focused on housing, some on health, some on road building; including taking over Federal roads saying that ‘we cannot allow this to continue’. That is why I am talking about decentralisation. That in spite of the centre, governors can still better their environment.

Frankly speaking, do you think we are practicing federalism?

That is exactly what Iam saying: that we are not practicing federalism. And therefore, the governors have the responsibility to push the envelope as far as they can. And to say sometimes to the centre: ‘go to hell. We are now concerned with our own salvation. We see you playing so much politics you have no time even to fulfill your responsibility to the state.’

Some people are saying that Jonathan should not have declared a state of emergency in the North. What is your opinion on this?

Let me go back to an interview which I gave to… (is it The News?) Over the Boko Haram thing which was sadly misunderstood by many people. Many people in the North thought that I was talking about them, no. I was talking about a fraction of them. A fraction, very small. I made it quite clear, but many people are uncomfortable, —- may be they themselves are partially guilty in some way—- they assume that I was addressing all of them. Those who started the Boko Haram are a small, minuscule, what I called the ‘hard core’ northeners. I repeat that expression: hard core northerners. Some of them are not even politicians; some of them are civil servants. But they are the ones whose entire philosophy of coexistence is built around the mentality of “domination”. They exist. Why are we pretending and lying to one another that they do not exist? That minority exists. I am going to give you another analogy.

One of the most violent criminal organizations that infested the United States was called the Yardies; They came from Jamaica. They were actually thugs, criminals armed by political parties ; especially in Kingston. That was how they began.

The Yardies became so powerful. They began dealing in drugs, proliferation of arms. They became real channel between the Caribbean and the United States for the passage of drugs.

They were feared. They were violent, vicious.

They (United States) had to create a special squad to deal with the Yardies. When the political parties realized that this people that they had armed had now virtually taken over the governance, both sides moved against them.

Some of them fled Jamaica, when they found that the place had become too hot for them.

Because the political parties realized that they

‘Crooked Elements Cripple Refineries To Enjoy Subsidy’

had created monsters, Frankensteins who were eating up, not just the government, but the state.

I am giving you that analogy, to illustrate what has happened in Nigeria. It was these politicians, these “hard core” domination-ruled minds that unleashed these thugs against their opponents in the North to begin with. There was also political infighting in the North as there was in the South and East.

People did not understand what Azazi was saying at that conference in Asaba. I was there, I listened. Because of what he said, I arranged to meet Azazi to discuss the situation in Nigeria.

He said it’s this notion, this rotation idea in the PDP which then gave one side or the other at some times the notion that they had to rule Nigeria. That this was also responsible for the violence we were witnessing in the country. He wasn’t saying that was the only thing responsible. And so they created these largely from the almajiris —- they sent some of them for training in Somalia, Mauritania, some went to Afghanistan.

When I said that .. people were saying “ah ah ah!” Now with all the interrogation, every child now knows that “Yes this was true” and this has been going on for years. Exactly like the Yardies, these people were recruited, in the case of Nigeria on the basis of religious hate; in Jamaica, it was on the basis of drug wealth.

They became dons. The almajiri who received extra training, sophisticated weapons etc now turned against…

It’s an identical pattern that we witness in any society. Now, the almajiris began to say to their former handlers ‘wait a minutes.. you are not quite as holy as you pretend to be’. Because these recruits have been radicalized, they have

I think I see signs of a recognition that if we are to remain within one community that we all have to treat one another as equals.

We all have to accept the same set of protocols will bind us together. That you cannot say these protocols do not apply to you. That you do not have immunity and you cannot act with impunity to hurt the rest of the nation. I have a feeling that this very simple commonsensical law for harmonious co-existence is beginning to penetrate certain formerly unteachable and unreachable elements in society.

been taken over by the extreme Islamic clerics. Their own mentality revolves around the jihad, jihad in the violence sense of the word… That is why they are turning against their own people in the North. They now saw themselves as the warriors of God —- they are not interested in the petty, political infighting for which they were recruited and trained in the first place. The mission of being in control of Nigeria, which was the aim of their recruitment officers , their handlers now became secondary. They now moved to a stage where they now say that the “only vision which we have is total islamisation of society by whatever means”.

The only difference between these two is that in the case in Jamaica, the criminal, wealthbuilding elements took over, controlling the proportion of Jamaica extortionism, sex trade/sex traffick all of course got fuelled by the drug trafficking. In this case, the intoxication is not drugs, but religion. And when you have this mixture of religion and politics, you have got a really toxic society. You cannot reason with that combination. And when violence, of course, is now used to promote that cause, it is only one answer: you have to respond, first of all, by some form of violence, defensive violence. That is human nature, that is normal otherwise you and I will not be sitting here, if the state had not responded with defensive violence. So when you know reached the point where you discover that while you thought that you are under siege that what you were experiencing were mere pin pricks; that in fact, this people have been building their own independent force. And you are discovering camps all over the place which had existed for many years under your very nose. What do you expect? Except you take over…What people like me have been saying for couple of years is that “The nation is at war” and when the nation is at war, what do you do? At least, you must cordone off certain zone and try to neutralize those zones.

The state of emergency has been long in coming. You can quarrel with the state of the emergency: should they have left the governors in power? What happens to the normal revenue accruing to those state? Who controls it? Who gives the order? You can go into details if you like.

Before Azazi died, I met him in London. We spoke for about an hour and a half in which he revealed a lot of things. I was very happy about that meeting because I had some questions to put to him. When I read a few weeks ago that they were now discovering cells in the south, I just laughed. During my lecture at

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THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, June 1, 2013

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11 the 100 anniversary of King’s College about two years ago, I warned that there were already Boko Haram cells in the south. I used the expression that ‘we are all here speaking grammar. Until they come swarming over the walls and scatter all of us, before we get serious’. I said that there were cells already in the South. And Azazi confirmed it when we met in London. We spoke for one and a half hours. I don’t want to go into the details.

What are the states of these cells now, are they still intact?

You know that one or two have been broken up. But that doesn’t mean that there are not others. Those cells have been there. Azazi revealed that we are being infiltrated via some of the cattle routes and this has been responsible for some of the clashes between the farmers that we have been witnessing and the ambushing of farmers in Oyo State in Ogbomosho even in Ogun State by Fulani herdsmen. When we met, he was coming from the States. I think it is time for me to say some of these things. I like to keep a lot of these things to myself. I just talk to some people in Government: “Do you people understand what’s going on? Are you sure you are doing your job?” But let me reveal some of these things… Azazi was coming from the United States where he had gone to negotiate for some surveillance helicopters.

Because some of these Boko Haram people were already infiltrating along the cattle routes into the South…The evidence is becoming quite clear open, I don’t consider it a security matter any longer and the people are waking up to the reality. When I go hunting, I move into the bush quite a lot. I see “camps”. I see cattle rearer settlements where they camp from time to time. It is some of those which have been, in many cases, converted to some of these camps. When you hear about camp, camp, it is not that they just go into the bush to carve out some areas. There has always been some existing camps. So when I say this nation is at war, I know what I am talking about. Along the line, I try to control what I do say. But I try to find ways of penetrating into the ears of those who are responsible that, “you are so damn complacent, it is pathetic; that until the United Nations headquarters is blown up, until Police headquarters are blown up.

You don’t know what is going on…”

Some people raise suspicions that Azazi’s death was not really…

I don’t know. I am not a conspiracy theorist.

When I sound alarms, I based them on facts.

If I hear something tomorrow which makes me suspect his manner of death, I will say so.

Right now, I don’t know.

Nigeria will be 100 years next year. Do you think Nigeria’s unity is actually working or is workable? Going by all the calamities that have dogged the nation The question really for me is whether or not we are learning from experience. I have a feeling that if a calamity occurs, it could degenerate into a total destruction of the personality or community. But if that person or that community can learn from the calamity, then of course, that person or community can grow stronger. That is always possible. From what I am seeing, I will say that those who thought that they were completely invulnerable — that they were untouchable, that they could act with impunity, that different set of laws applies to them than to the rest of society, I believe that they are beginning to understand that this is a very short-lived and self-deceiving kind of mentality. I think so. I think I see signs of a recognition that if we are to remain within one community, we all have to treat one another as equals. We all have to accept the same set of protocols will bind us together.

That you cannot say this protocol do not apply to you. That you do not have immunity and you cannot act with impunity to hurt the rest of the nation. I have a feeling that this very simple commonsensical law for harmonious co-existence is beginning to penetrate certain formerly unteachable and unreachable elements in society. So, your question I need to put in abeyance. I want to study further how deeply that education, which is self-inflicted incidentally, has penetrated… So calamity is assailing us on all sides —-MEND is trying to resurrect its own. I notice, by the way, people are talking about 56 or sixty-something policeman who were killed in the North. For me, it is catastrophe.

Nobody seems to remember the 12 policemen who were killed in the East not so long ago. These are unacceptable figures for any

President after president have not been sincere with us.

There is no excuse. This is part of what I am saying. Just like the roads, electricity.

There is no reason whatsoever why the refineries should not be working. None whatsoever. I mean, refineries are been built everywhere… petroleum technology is almost as cheap as ipad and ipod technology

‘Suspected Terrorists Infiltrate The South Through Cattle Routes/Settlements’ society. How could you just kill 12 Police officers who were accompanying —- I can’t remember the details—- a corpse to a funeral. To me, this is as reprehensible as the slaughter of those 56 or 86 in the North. I can not think… it should not be allowed in the society without massive condemnation and a massive backing of a redressive action against such element. There must always be equity in social dealing.

There was a time you championed the registration of a political party. You headed a political party. But suddenly we didn’t hear about that political party again That political party I started for young people like you who complained that they could not join any of the existing political parties. I said “look, come together. If you cannot join existing political party, why don’t you form your own? I will assist you all the way I can.” Unfortunately, many of them who came to the party did not believe that I was not going to run. When they found that I was damn serious, that I had absolutely no intention to run, they began to fall away. Some came into the party thinking that all the money that I won for the Nobel had become millions and millions and they came thinking that we were there to share out money. I said “you can’t be serious. Me myself, I am still working. I am still teaching… all over the place to make a living. I don’t have money. I formed the political party because I expect you to go back to basics. You will resurrect bicycles and you will go from house to house. You will stand in the market place” as the former President of Brazil, Luiz Inacio de Lula, was telling me the other day.

When he formed this political party, it took him many years before his party won the election. He said he would stand in front of his house handing out leaflets “…my name is so, so, so. I am forming a political party and this is what I want to do.” That is why I keep saying, ‘this is a “zero kobo” party.’ This is what you have to do ..If you want to make an impression on people Is the party still alive and kicking?

As a movement, yes.

But I am out —– it has been handed over. I did

what I had to do and it is now up to them. But from time to time, I remind them “don’t surrender. Don’t accept. Even what INEC says. If I want to form a political party and if my energy and my resources are limited to the inhabitants of Freedom Park, why should I not be allowed to do so? This is my contribution to the society. That is what democracy is all about. People will say “it is too expensive to maintain so many parties . Then forget that word “democracy”.

But even the model we are trying to copy, the US, they have limited number of parties?

No they don’t. From time to time, other parties come and they are registered. We have had independent candidates. Why shouldn’t we have independent candidates in Nigeria.

Why shouldn’t I just wake up and say, “I don’t want to join a political party but I want to serve the people here. Go round and say ‘please vote for me.” Let us have a real robust, exciting democracy…

When the issue of national conference, whether sovereign or not, is brought up.

Some people get jittery. What do you think makes them so uncomfortable with what is so obviously a necessity?

I don’t know why they are so scared. I can understand why those who are in power are scared. They feel that what will emerge will be an undermining of their… the status quo. If some of the elected legislators, for instance, oppose it, you can see where they are coming from. They use such ridiculous arguments like “we were already voted in by people, therefore what are you talking about”. But you are voted in on what basis? Suppose the people now are saying “we don’t want a presidential system”.

That means, of course, the people want to erode exactly the basis on which you forced them to elect you. Because people participated and they still participate in these elections because if they don’t—- and that is the only platform on which they can. Otherwise, other people will come in. But they do it grudgingly.

I have encouraged people to contest elections.

As I said that “if you don’t contest election from the very honourable position —- that the system is intolerable anyway —- you are giving yourself another four-year handicap, then another generation handicap . Then a whole generation handicap and so on. Go in there, but try and undermine it from within as much as you can. Say to people when you get there: ‘we are robbing even those who elected us, we are robbing them blind. Our salaries, our allowances are criminal. So let us, while we are here, do something about it even before the election. Before we undermine the system completely, let us at least take away some of the obnoxious aspects of our existence here.

This inordinate looting of society, of the treasury under the legitimized democratic banner.’

And so, simultaneously, you must work to undermine the system, those who are outside and those who are inside, criticize. Even while you are there. So we know, as the saying goes, that you are not one of them. It’s going to be a tough thing, but you have to understand why even those who yesterday were saying “nothing except a sovereign national conference”, they get in there and say “Oh! Those who are saying what we were saying yesterday should go and have their heads examined.” That expression has been used by some of the people there right now, who, in fact, were in favour of the national conference. What is wrong with sitting down? The same arguments we used before have not been invalidated?

Why do you keep running away from active participation in politics? We need people like you there?

I do not have the temperament to stand it, election. It requires the same kind of temperament..

I’ve heard that many times, I don’t understand what you mean by that?

It is either you have the temperament or not?

Some people are born politicians, some people acquire politics.

We are not asking you to be a politician. We are asking you to be a statesman in politics.

To be a statesman in politics, you still have to go into politics first. And then, it is by your conduct, by your position you take, by demonstrating to everyone that despite getting into politics on a partisan platform, you are a politician of the people or something. But you need to get in there first. You have to go on a partisan platform. I say I don’t have the temperament for that.

Do you now know those who killed Bola Ige? Hmm. Let me just say this, I am pretty convinced, three main persons plotted his death.

The truth will come out. But I hope before I die, I will be able to write those names, so that the day the truth comes out, I want you to open that envelop and see. When I say “I hope”, it means that, I want to be 199 percent certain, but already I am only about 95 percent certain about those who plotted his Why death. do you think he was killed?

I will use one word. He was a “threat”.

The Full stop. choosing of June 12 by South-west governors as democracy, do you think Absolutely. I applaud those who continue to observe genuine democracy day, May 29 is an Ego Day, it came out of the personal ego of somebody. It is anything, but a Democracy Day. And I want states to even go further and refuse celebrating May 29 as Democracy Day. Off record, are you still (as you put it in one of your books)‘susceptible to the provocation of beauty’?

Thank Goodness! I am! There is nothing off record here, and our women get more beautiful by the day from what I see…

THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, June 1, 2013

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

On The Path Of Winners

Character As Guarantor Of Success ANY make it into limelight but they M rarely stay there long without character.

Absence of strong character eventually topples their success. This is because you cannot climb beyond the limitations of your character, Sometimes, people are tempted to take shortcuts, and integrity of character prevents that. People of talent may feel superior, expecting special privileges. Integrity helps them to know better. When your talent makes you a gift to the world, character protects that gift.

People are like icebergs, there is much more to them than meets the eye. Only 15 percent of icebergs are visible character is like that. The rest of them like character are below the surface. It is what they do when no one is watching them. When you are too topheavy with talent, then you are likely to get into trouble for lack of character. You can never succeed without strong character.

Character keeps you steady no matter how rough the storm is, character is the pedestal determining how much weight you can sustain.

So, what exactly comprises character? I believe character contains the elements: One, self discipline, which is the ability to do what is right whatever the circumstances. The Greek Philosopher, Plato calls it,’ the first and best victory over oneself.’ That keeps the future for the disciplined person. Without discipline, all your gifts no matter how great, will never blossom. A flash of greatness depends on what you already are. What you are going to become will be the result of previous self discipline.

Two, your success is determined by your values. Your core values are the principles you live by. Ideally, you should write out your core values so that they are beacons used as your guide, One man most admirable as a coach

was John Wooden. He was a former basketball coach of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), the most populous of university in the world. When he was 12, his father gave him a seven point creed to live by. Here are they. One – be true to yourself, two- help others, three-make each day your best, four-drink deeply from books, particularly the bible, fivemake friendship a fine art, six-build a shelter against a rainy day by saving.

Finally pray for guidance and give thanks to the almighty for your blessings. Indeed, the man without values is a slave to his circumstances.

The third pillar of character is a sense of self identity. The question of who am I? serves to provide you with the motivation for self-discipline. No matter how hard you try, you cannot behave in a way that is inconsistent with how you see yourself. Thus, an accurate sense of self identity is essential to your success.

The last pillar of character is integrity, you will fail in your ambition if you did not envision the kind of person you want to be before setting out on your ambition. People with consistency which comes with integrity are always compelling. Talent without character is a dead end. A study by Korn Ferry international at the UCLA Graduate School of Management asked 1,300 business executives to identify the top trait needed to enhance business effectiveness. Coming first was integrity. In second place was concern for results with responsibility coming third. Thus, if you want your talent to take you far, you need to protect that talent with integrity.

A character standard is more important than a gold standard. The success of all economics systems is dependent on both righteous leaders and righteous people. Indeed our future depends upon our national character, that is, whether we are spiritually or materially

minded. Your character impacts on others, enabling you to build a life with others. Your consistency of character attracts others to you.

Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “What you do thunders so loudly that I cannot hear what you say.” Impressions are like shadows, they disappear when light is beamed on them.

Character is the genuine article. The more you shine light on it the more of its details you can see. Character shows that who you are and who you appear to be are the same.

While character is the sum total of your choices, it also communicates.

No matter how brilliant you are, you will never engender confidence in your subordinates if you lack simple honesty and moral courage. Character cannot be inherited, it cannot be bought. No matter how talented, he cannot become great whose character is hopelessly flawed. Character determines what happens to you.

Character gives the longevity of tenure in any career any relationship and any worthwhile goal. The only thing that refuses to be buried in the tomb is the character of a man. Never forget that talent is a gift but character is a choice.

Here is how to become a champion in the area of character. One, never give up or give in to adversity. Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared, ambition inspired and success achieved. The foundation of character is doing what you don’t like to do to get what you want. Two, always do the right thing.

French author, Moliere said, “Men are alike in their promises it is only in their deeds that they differ.” The

difference is that people of character do what is right regardless of the situation, and it isn’t easy to do the right thing when it will cost you more. Three take charge of your life. Mediocrs often tend to blame circumstances for their plight. Truly we must accept many things are outside our control in life. However, developing your character is your personal responsibility, while your circumstances are beyond your control, your character is not. So commit yourself to the development of your character to protect your talent.

Your journey to greatness begins from your decision to make good character your goal.

Mandela

O-Meal As Osun’ Sucker Punch Against Child Hunger

By Gbenga Fayemiwo OR many political office-holders, delivering on promises made upon occupying the golden stool is not only an arduous task, it determines the operations of the timetested principle of recall. Once when an office-holder forgets or neglects the pact he made with the electorate, amnesia results consequent upon which the people determine their destinies by their voting power.

A Yoruba maxim says “when a man wakes up hungry early in the morning, under the pangs of an unsparing empty stomach, approaches a food seller to buy food on credit, he would appeal to all earthly authorities to bear him witness that he would pay before the setting of the sun.”

Hunger is an essential part of nature.

It hastens a man’s appetite both for food and other great things of life.

Hunger can be of the stomach or of the mind depending on the state of needs.

My first contact with the pernicious acts of hunger was during my reading of “The Reluctant Rebel” written

by Lt. Fola Oyewole on the Nigerian Civil War. The Army Officer who was initially arrested as part of the group that planned and hatched “Operation Damisa” the January 15, 1966 putsch was detained in the Eastern

F

Aregbesola

part of Nigeria at the outbreak of the civil war. He was forced to fight on the Biafran side against his will and under Colonel Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu.

Things were moving fine until the arrest, trial and execution by firing squad of that highly cerebral Colonel Victor Banjo alongside Majors Emmanuel Ifeajuna, Alelenwa and Agbam in Enugu. Oyewole alongside others like Major Wale Ademoyega who were Yoruba officers fighting on Biafran side were consequently withdrawn from the war front, returned to prison and sentenced to hunger that went for days. Oyewole initially did not realise the sentence until a Biafran prison warder told him to “manage,” a euphemism which he was later to learn meant that he had to be without food in detention.

Speaking about hunger, it was Mother Theresa who, while calling attention of the world community to the plight of the poor in Calcultta, India, insisted that the poor should no longer be neglected, abandoned and despised as the wealthy are wont to do. The nun pleaded that hunger had many dimensions and had remained, since h i s t o r y , mankind’s long-term enemy. Hunger is the enemy of knowledge. It is the enemy of education. It is also the foe of civilization. A hungry man can neither take nor understand instructions.

What Ogbeni R a u f

Aregbesola, the unstoppable Governor of the State of Osun is doing with providing free, daily meals to primary school pupils in the state’s public primary school classes one to four is very instructive. For seven-and-half years, the preceding PDP administration led

by Brigadier Olagunsoye Oyinlola (Rtd) played politics and monkeyed around with the school meals project.

Feeding less than 10,000 pupils across the state at a cost of N3 million per school day, our people got the short end of the stick, a pure, raw deal to put it mildly.

Today, Governor Aregbesola has turned around the concept and made it a reality by providing meals freely to 254,000 pupils in Primary One to Four in all public schools across the state.

To actualise this, the employment generating capacity of the scheme was enhanced as 3,000 caterers were empowered, trained and kitted to cook sumptuous meals for the children.

The project is developing on an impactful trend as poultry farmers across the state whose pens had hitherto gone empty were re-stocked to produce broilers at twelve weeks to service the O-Meal scheme. Every week since the Aregbesola administration began the O-Meal (School Feeding) programme, the state has been able to locally source 15,000 whole chickens from local poultry farmers in Osun who rear the broilers and sell directly to the O-meal officials to be used in preparing food for the primary school pupils. Things have never been so bright for poultry farmers in the State of Osun as they are also producing 254,000 eggs weekly which the government had been sourcing to service the pupils.

In the same breadth, catfish farmers are already producing 400 tonnes of catfish (clarias gariepinus) which the state has been using to serve the pupils under the O-Meal scheme just as 35 heads of cattle are slaughtered weekly to produce beef for the children.

Observers have been wondering why

Governor Aregbesola has gone this whole length to feed the children of ordinary members of the society who attend public primary schools in the State of Osun. The reason is not farfetched. Enrolment figures jumped geometrically since the inception of the programme. Juju maestro, Evangelist Ebenezer Obey sang that “when food is no longer in the contentions of the poor, the bag of poverty is exhausted”.

The imperishable words of the former President Dwight D. Eisenhower who told a stunned world during the maddening armed race that “every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired, signifies in the final sense a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed” clearly comes to mind. Whatever assets the society acquires without thinking of what will happen to our children and their future will constitute a worthless and crass liability against the future.

Whatever a society does that leaves the youthful and endangered generation behind will not last and is doomed to fail. Good food for our pupils in public primary schools will enhance their learning capacity and capabilities, guarantee the society against the scourge of truancy, achieve improved literacy rate, contribute to national manpower development, improve productivity, reduce the burden of dependency ratio, assure improved autonomous savings buy households, ease the challenges of learning while also assuring that the pupils develop resistance to and immunity from debility and consequent mortality.

Governor Aregbesola ought to be commended for seizing the initiative and turning the programme which suffered notorious abuse and obtuse manipulations under the last PDP administration into a worthy achievement for which others now go green with envy. Attempts made to run it down have been largely unsuccessful.

O-Meal is another first and will con-

tinue to serve the interest of the masses of our people to the shame of those who exploited them for 90 reckless months of wanton ravage and plundering that shall never come this way again.

Osun pupils in public elementary schools who now enjoy O-Meals as one of the benefits of a government voted for by their parents are relishing the joy of democracy, good governance and government unusual.

Things cannot be the same as they were anymore. Aregbesola has demonstrated his love for the people by the O-Meal scheme to which he has committed huge public resources for the benefit of members of the public.

That, to me, is good governance as opposed to self-aggrandizement of the past.

While seeking the people’s mandate in 2007, Aregbesola unfolded his SixPoint Integral Action Plan one of which was Banishing Hunger. He has, apart from Osun Rural Enterprise and Agricultural Programme (OREAP), taken another bold step to lock the doors of our children’s stomach against hunger through the O-Meal scheme.

O-Meal is a demonstration of Aregbesola’s love for the people. He has not and can never abandon them.

He has moved along with them in the task of making Osun the best place on earth to live. And the people are saying “YES!” School children are now eager to learn. Ivan Pavlov, the Russian Psychologist while teaching the world his discovery about Operant Conditioning concluded that human beings have the tendency of going to a place where their desires are met. Enrolment in Osun public schools are mounting. The teachers are motivated to teach while the pupils are eager to learn. Thanks to visionary leadership provided by Ogbeni Aregbesola against all odds.

• Fayemiwo is in the Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Governor’s Office, Abere, Osogbo.

TheGuardian

Saturday, June 1, 2013 17

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Love&Life

... Celebrating The Feelings You Share!

With Michael Uchebuaku

Love Connection

Princess

IN THIS EDITION

Special Requests

True Confession:

‘I Believe That My Girlfriend Raped Me’

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Of

Love Adventure: ‘My Wife Had A One Night Stand With My Friend’

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

Odo River, Omogho: A River ‘Disguised’ As A Man! Romantic Jokes Link-Up (Love/Dating Connections)

Former Miss Nigeria (UK),

Dabota Lawson

True Confession From Abroad: “Should I Give Up My Life For Love?”

Love News Oral Sex Linked With Throat Cancer

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

‘Help, I Am Devastated!

My Wife Had A One Night Stand With My Friend!

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CONTINUED ON PAGE 18

friend who watched her get drunk, throw up and who was not in a clear state of mind and he took full advantage and had sex with her. and I have been married to my childI am so confused. My first instinct hood sweetheart for just over 10 years. was to kick my wife out of the house I am very committed to my marriage and head over to my friend’s place and have resisted, despite various with a baseball bat and beat him opportunities, messing around with severely. anyone.

Now I am just absolutely devastatMy wife, a beautiful woman, who ed.

The anger I feel I am worried I had not had many relationships will not be able to contain. If my ex(none sexual) before we were marfriend came within reach of me ried, is very much a ‘home body’. After there would be a serious problem. going through a bit of a rough patch My wife has subsequently suffered a happened and asked if she was OK. recently (moving city due to my job to use the bathroom. We went up breakdown due to guilt and Out spilled tears and the story.... and adjusting to a new foreign counstairs. After being in the toilet for ‘I went to the pub, only your friend try), I had been encouraging her to go almost half an hour and throwing up attempted to take her own life (she was there, not the work colleagues out a bit, even if I was not around, to 3 times I finally emerged to find your never was the most emotional robust). She was admitted at the joined there by some work colwe had been out with before.

We had build up her confidence and get her friend watching a movie. We sat and hospital and sedated within three leagues as we had done once. By the a few drinks and watched the band. to meet some people. She is not a big talked for a while. Your friend had hours of arriving home. time I arrived home, it was just after Your friend was joined by some othdrinker but normally knows her had a rough week and, well, one midnight. I sent the babysitter home, ers whom he knew from previous vis- thing led to another and we ended up How can my life be so completely boundaries and sticks to them. f***ed up in the blink of an eye? unpacked my bag, had a shower and its to the same pub. They were drink- having sex. I felt like I didn’t really We have a good sexual relationship went to bed at about 1 am). As I lay ing a lot and encouraged me to have care what was happening but I didn’t What should I do? I feel I will never by any measure and despite ups and be able to trust my wife ever again. down, it entered my mind that my some shots. Eventually I was quite downs over the last 10 years have a really enjoy it either. It just hapWhat about my children...they need wife would get home any time as the drunk and told your friend that I strong relationship with open compened.’ band at the local pub normally finwanted to go home. When we got munication. If she has too much to My reaction was explosive...I am dev- their mother.... outside, I realised I was feeling pretty astated. My friend, who I thought was Help me !! drink, she can be pretty flirtatious and ished at midnight and, as she was CULLED FROM: www.loveshack.org with my trusted friend she was safe. sick. We walked for a while in the unaware of her impact on the men a ‘Gentleman’ I could trust has My head hit the pillow and, after a direction of home, then jumped in a betrayed me. My wife had never done *Do you have an amazing or advenaround her. turous love experience to share? Tell taxi. Your friend told the taxi to take Last night, I flew home from a three- tough week etc, I slept. anything like this before and was so I woke to the sound of my wife com- us to his place (his place is just one day work trip knowing my wife was riddled with guilt that she told me as us how you met. E-mail your story to: ireto007@yahoo.com. Call ing into the room at around 4:30 am. block past our place). When we got out for a few drinks and live music soon as she walked in the door.

07031028714, 07032944123. there I realised I was not at home and What do I make of all this? with a good friend of mine at the local After seeing the time, I was straight away worried that something had knew I was going to be sick so asked pub. I had expected they would be My wife went out with my good in my 30’s and married with two IjobAM beautiful kids. I have an excellent with a bit of international travel

Love Adventure

THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, June 1, 2013

18 |

LOVE&LIFE Dear Love Doctor, Today while we were both in respective depressed moods at my off-campus apartment, my girlfriend jumped on me and started kissing me very forcefully. I told her I really did not want to and pushed her aside. I got up and she came up to me, pulled down my trouser and started groping for my manhood. I pushed her away but she kept forcing and forcing herself on me. I clearly repeated ‘no’ many times. Eventually I got away, as it was difficult because I didn’t want to hurt her, and she pushed me on the bed and grabbed my stuff and forcing it in her mouth. I tried to push her away but I didn’t want to hurt her, even though she was hurting me.

Eventually I felt as though it was pointless to resist and just let her. I was not aroused at all but still ejaculated (is that really possible?). I sincerely feel so invaded, hurt, angry and most of all, it made me feel even more depressed, like I’m sinking into this black hole. I feel robbed of something but we have been dating for over four years and I’m a man. Should I feel like

Romantic Jokes Who Enjoys Sex More?

MAN and a woman were having A drinks at a business conference when they got into an argument about who enjoyed sex more.

The man said, “Men obviously enjoy sex more than women. Why do you think we’re so obsessed with getting laid?”

“That doesn’t prove anything,” the woman countered. “Think about this: when your ear itches and you put your finger in it and wiggle it around, then pull it out, which feels better: your ear or your finger?”

Words Of Wisdom Don’t be carried away by external appearances. True beauty is inward.

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‘I Believe That My Girlfriend Raped Me’ True Confession this? Do I have a right to feel like this?

From Richard.

Advice: You certainly have a right to feel like this and this is an important issue you are bringing forward. Not having your girlfriend respect your refusal is extremely serious. Your boundaries were not respected; you

were clear and clearly ignored. This doesn’t sound romantic, exciting, or sexy. It sounds degrading and controlling: two characteristics you do not want to have in your partner. You need to have a serious discussion with your girlfriend and give her a stern warning. If you still feel so hurt, you can go to the counseling center at your school and tell them what happened – not as a couple, but as someone who has survived a rape.

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 for help

07031028714, 08131161840 or 08023700641. For free marriage/relationships counseling, call Love Doctor Mike 07031028714, 08023700641 or Chris 08023913619.

Visit www.romancestory.org

Lovers’ Answers Game The rule: Ask the opposite sex one question about love, and choose your lover from the top three answers.

Cha Cha, on 08142568962, is asking all men: What will you look at before going into a relationship with a girl? *Call Mike: 07031028714 to send questions or issues.

CONFESSION FROM ABROAD I am torn between following my responsibility and my heart. I grew up in Vietnam knowing I would always follow in my father’s footsteps by marrying the daughter of one of his associates and becoming a partner in his business within the next 10 years. For the first 24 years of my life this was acceptable; it was in fact the only reality.

Now everything has changed.

CAME to Sydney on exchange to Iversity. finish my last two years in the uniMy parents said I needed to be educated about the world and see how lucky I am to have my life established for me.

It was believed that I would see the example of people wasting their lives in Sydney on drugs and fleeting pleasures and appreciate how hard my father has always made me work and the control needed to be successful.

Instead I was accepted immediately by an amazing group of people and for the first time in my life, I controlled my time, my money and I was able to choose who I was friends with without worrying about my parents’ disapproval.

With them so far away, it was easy to forget the life that has always been waiting for me and enjoy every

Should I Give Up My Life For Love? moment of my life here in this wonderful country.

I never questioned that I would return to my real life eventually, the dutiful son earning his father’s approval by following his example completely.

My time in Sydney has been a dream with none of the history of my country and my family forcing me to act and think a certain way.

My dream became even better when I met Anna on campus early last year. She is everything my parents would hate, she works at a bar, she loves to argue and has opinions about everything and she doesn’t know what she wants to be doing 10 minutes from now, let alone 10 years from now. I know that her worst crime in my parent’s eyes is that she loves me.

I didn’t realise how much I loved

her in return until I received a letter from my parents two weeks ago containing a cheque for my final term of tuition at university and extra money to buy a ticket home at the end of July.

Suddenly my time has run out and I have to wake up from my dream. My time in Sydney has changed me and I am scared that I cannot go back to the world I once lived in and I can’t imagine being away from Anna. “My parents mean everything to me, but I worry that if I give up the life I have now, I will never be happy and always wonder how my life could have otherwise turned out.”

I have not told Anna about my parents or their plan for me, only that I come from a very traditional Catholic Vietnamese family. I don’t think she will appreciate the diffi-

culty I have in choosing whether to abandon the life I have always worked for and anticipated.

I know it is selfish but a part of me isn’t sure her love is enough for me to give up my family and my future.

I also do not want her to stay with me only out of guilt. How do I make this decision that I feel could change my life forever?

Names have been changed.

Picture posed by models.

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

Have you had a similar experience?

Tell us your story. Call 07031028714.

Courtesy: womansday.ninemsn.com.au NB: Call Mike on +2347031028714 if you have a story from abroad to share with us.

Love Connection CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17

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ThE GUARDIAN, saturday, June 1, 2013

| 19

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LOVE&LIFE

Odo River, A River ‘Disguised’ Omogho: As A Man! hIs river is located at the heart of Iwolo T village in Omogho community in Orumba North Local Council Area of Anambra state. It is the source of the famous Obutu Lake. The legendary story of this migrate-river’s origin is very interesting. It was revealed that the river has not always been in its present site but only appeared in 1930 as most people who witnessed its emergence in its present location are still alive today.

According to history, the 18th century wicked rulers of Omogho extended their dubious activities to Ududonka deity of Nanka in Oruumba North Local Council Area.

After their deaths, the Ududonka retaliated and the wonderful Odo River surfaced from

nowhere, directing its course to the residences of all those past wicked rulers, destroying everything in its path with a great flood, believed to have been a means of spiritual cleansing of the land of the past atrocities by its rulers.

In the year 1930, stories have it that Onu Nwambogu an indigene of Iwolo village, Omogho saw a stranger in the evening of that fateful day, making inquiries about the residences of the past rulers of the town. But on second thought, he turned to ask the man why he is asking for the directions to a place which had been destroyed by the great deluge and has been overgrown with, but saw him no more. That night, it rained heavily with lightening and great thunderstorm, the magnitude of which had never been wit-

nessed in the community before.

In the morning, it was observed that the farmlands had been flooded. Tracing the course of the flood, it was observed that it followed exactly the direction Onu Nwambogu had pointed out to the strange man the previous day. On consulting the oracle, it was established that the strange man was ‘odo’ river, disguised as a man!

Diviners revealed that the stranger was a cleansing spirit who came to purge the town of the abominations committed by the past generation. One month later, there was another rainstorm and a flood split the Odo River into four different units, one of them being the Obutu Lake. The Odo River changes course yearly, taking a different direction each time. The water is brownish

Love News

Oral Sex Linked With Throat Cancer: Australian Study RAL sex has long been considered the safer sex option O for young people wanting to avoid pregnancy or sTI infection.

But research from the University of NsW (UNsW) suggests that giving oral sex to somebody with human papillomavirus (hPV) could be linked with oesophagus cancer.

Rates of oesophagus cancer have been on the rise, particularly in men, but doctors have been unsure why.

Professor shan Rajendra from UNsW compared the behaviour of people with throat cancer with those without and found that a high proportion of those with cancer have hPV in the oesophageal tissue.

For years, having Barrett’s oesophagus “where the throat cells change due to chronic heartburn” was thought to increase throat cancer risk. But Professor Rajendra’s research suggests it’s only people with hPV in their Barrett’s that need to be concerned.

Professor Barrett studied just 261 people and said a larger longitudinal study was now needed to confirm his findings.

Past studies have linked hPV to mouth and throat cancers.

When researchers from Ohio state University compared people with mouth or throat cancer with those without, the greatest difference was their oral sexual behaviour.

The greater the number of oral sex partners someone had had, the greater their risk of oesophageal cancer.

With male and female high school students now being immunised against hPV, experts hope the incidence of oesophageal cancer will drop over the next 20 years.

The study was published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology.

Some names have been changed.

Courtesy: ninemsn.com.au. *If you want to advertize or sponsor Love & Life call 07031028714, 08023700641, 07032944123.

and undrinkable but the local people access clean water by digging holes at the bank of the river, which collects fresh drinkable water. There is a natural sand beach at the river, which is attractive for tourism, sightseeing and investment by the hospitality industry.

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THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, June 1, 2013

20

RELATIONSHIP

Why Opposites Make Good Matches

By Alita Joseph Y ideal woman is soft and considerate. I have a hot “M temper, so I need a partner who calms me down.

“I want a man who shows me love and affection.”

You hear the above expressions among intending couples.

And they not only say what is desired in a life partner, they confess that persons who make such wishes do not possess the qualities they seek in potentials. These therefore are people who deliberately look for opposites to match themselves. So, I believe that when we look for that person who complements us in a relationship, we seek the one who is opposite to our personalities. Some are very much aware that they would not want to live with or marry someone who is like them but some fall in love with their opposites without knowing why.

For example, a man who has the tendency to party non-stop realizes his weakness and he knows that his lifestyle would not favour him when he begins to raise a family. He therefore may not choose to settle down with a woman he knows to be more at home in a night club than in a kitchen. He deliberately and consciously looks for a homely woman who would not only know how to tolerate his behaviour, but would teach him how to become a more homely person.

But those who do not deliberately marry others who share no interest with them, do so because they recognize that their partners possess what is missing in themselves. Hence, I agree with the opinion that nobody chooses a life partner

blindly. I agree that nurture and experiences predetermine what we seek in a relationship.

Example of nurture deciding who you marry is that the average male would look for a woman who looks up to him as the leader of the household. It hardly makes sense in this modern time of equality of genders. But the woman knows that for peace to reign in that household, she has to play along.

Ordinarily, he may not have wanted to marry a woman who could earn an income outside the home, bear and rear children and still respect him as head of the family. So he feels strongly attracted to her. But the major reason may be that he wants to learn how she can manage it all.

The woman on the other hand may discover that although her income enables her to live an independent life, she feels incomplete without a man. So she falls in love with that one who does not feel intimidated by her success. He admires her way of life. And she feels complete because she is able to find a man who makes her feel dependent, the way a woman has been raised to with with her partner.

Their love life may raise eyebrows here and cause tongues to wag, but left to them, they have found their ideal match and are living life the way they want it. And it would be better if “concerned people” could mind their business. Grit your teeth, shake your head and pray that it does work well for them.

Like you, they are managing their lives. They may not appear happy because of the constant argument. But look at your own relationship; you may not be similar to your better half at all. You may not fight because you have found ways to go through life together. For example, a woman who sees her husband as a father figure is not on equal footing as her husband. But she realizes that she has to behave like a child to make him stay committed. She thinks that if she is needy and dependent, he forgets that he wants to depend on his better half. But when you see your partner as a parent, there is a problem of dependency and trust. There are many ways we marry our opposites and still succeed because we admire them for who they are. How do you relate? According experts, opposites will always manifest in these forms.

Master and slave?

You have a problem with authority and control. If you earn equally, one partner may become insecure. To exert authority, he may take over the house hold expenses. The partner who fears responsibility does not protest because she thinks that her better half is too stubborn or domineering and gives in easily.

Distance and pursuer They are both afraid of intimacy and feel alright that while one person may claim to be neglected, that he/she does not necessary crave for it. So they have the freedom to do what they like in their relationship.

Hurtful Words That Can Ruin Your Relationship

By Kemi Amushan ETTING into arguments and misunderstandings with your man can be very tiring and draining.

Do you know that just a slight change in your choice of words will mean a huge improvement in your relationship with your man? You have to be able to choose your words wisely before saying something that will hurt your man over a period of time. Words are like eggs. Once thrown out, they could never be put back together again and that’s when we find ourselves apologizing over and over again.

A few years ago, a friend of mine told me a rather disturbing problem. She told me that she used to have great sex with her husband every single time until one night when the mood in the bedroom drastically changed forever. What happened? They just had an argument where, in a fit of anger, she insulted her husband by pointing below his belt and yelling: “BIG? You call that big?” That was awkward!

Since then, even after they apologized, kissed, and made up, their lovemaking has been starkly different. Their bed sessions are now shorter, less fun, less intense, and much less satisfying than before. By calling him “tiny,” she just made a huge mistake.

With her careless words, she probably killed the romance in their bedroom for the rest of their lives.

Now, Are You That Kind Of Woman Who Always Speaks Her Mind?

When I told my friend what I thought, she tried to explain herself by saying that she was just mad and angry at him and she didn’t really mean it! But then that doesn’t matter now, does it? The words stuck, and it planted a seed of insecurity that sprouted and grew every time her husband took off his pants. Every time he would take a shower, he’d think: “I’m tiny.” Every time he goes to the toilet: “I’m tiny.” Every time he makes love to her: “I’m tiny.” My advice would be: never say bad things about a man’s family jewels, unless you want to scar him for life. Got it? Good. Now let’s discuss four other things you should never ever say to the guy you love.

You Should Never Ever Talk Down At Him It doesn’t matter if you praise him 10 more times

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than you criticize him. It’s human nature that we remember only that one criticism at the end of the day. It’s even worse if you talk down to him in front of friends, family, or co-workers.S o be very very careful.

Never Say ‘Never’ And ‘Always’ These fatalistic words should never be used in arguments and misunderstandings with your man.

Like insulting his privates. They plant seeds of doubt and insecurity and they put your future together in question.

Not Being Romantic At All Some women refuse to be romantic to their men.

They say: “He’s not romantic to me, so why should I be romantic to him?” This mistake can also put your future together in jeopardy. You should learn to say the right things to your man.

Talking About Your Previous Relationships Believe it or not, but this seemingly harmless activity can also plant the seed of doubt in a man’s heart, especially if you’ve already made any of the previous mistakes I mentioned. Why? If you’ve already made him insecure with your words, and then you start talking about your ex, he’ll think you’re comparing him to your ex and that he’s falling short of your expectations. A lot of men would give up on the relationship there and then. So don’t risk it! Now, here’s the sad part. The lady I talked about earlier isn’t the only person who ruined her relationships with her careless words. Over the years, I’ve heard heartbreaking stories from so many people I’ve lost count. If you are one of them, this newsletter is especially for you.

Now, if you are thinking to yourself “what am I going to say to my man to make him feel better” ?, then let me give you a few suggestions.

Supportive Suggestions Your man is not perfect. He craves your support and respect, but he knows he has certain weaknesses and needs your help from time to time. So when he’s troubled, give him your love, support, reassurance and a few

helpful suggestions. Few things boost the male ego more than overcoming problems.

Statements Of Hope Never say “never!” You’ll want to be your man’s biggest fan, who’s always behind him in good times and bad. Optimism is contagious. And when a man is optimistic, his heart is in the right place to lead the relationship.

Be Romantic No matter how manly he is, he likes sweetness.

That’s because the more feminine you are, the more masculine he feels.

And yes, when a man feels

like a real man, the more he’ll act like one! So my advice: Don’t skimp on the sweetness. You’ll miss out on a lot if you do!

Don’t Talk About Your Exes Need I say it? As much as you can afford to, leave your exes out of the conversation. Unless, of course, he asks about them! These are just some of the things men want to hear from you. Simple, right? But their effect is anything but

simple. These tiny gestures can make your man love you more, commit to you, lead the relationship, and more. Make no mistake. Your words can make your relationship stand the test of time. Or they can ruin the relationship in one evening, as they have done with others. It’s totally up to you!

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

Cheers.

THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, June 1, 2013

LOVE & LIFE 21

08116706852 Email: amara@amarablessing.com

WEEKEND with AMARA

Material Wellbeing Or Inner Peace?

IFE isn’t really about getting to a destination.

It’s about how we live along the way. It’s easy to become so goal-oriented and so focused on our dreams that we overlook the simple things we should be enjoying each day. Life is a journey; there is no such thing as the finish line.

Once we accomplish one dream, God will give us another. When we overcome that challenge, there will be another. There is always another mountain to climb.

If you make the mistake of living just for the destination, you will look up one day to realize you have missed out on the biggest part of life.

Most of life is routine. Most of us get up every morning, go to work, come home, eat dinner, go to bed and then do it all over again. There are very few mountaintops; you graduate from school, you get married, you have a child. The high times are few and far between.

But many people live only for the mountaintops; they’re so focused on earning promotions, they work night and day. They don’t really enjoy their families—they are so stressed up raising the children. They don’t enjoy their children. They are so caught up in solving daily problems they don’t enjoy the best moments of each day. They are focused on moving from the status of a millionaire to a billionaire.

Friends, we have to slow down and enjoy the journey. Nigeria, Lagos in particular, has a way of turning a sane and calm person into an insane person, and this is happening because of corruption and the unwillingness of our leaders to change our nation.

Some spend their whole lives trying to reach a goal only to find out it’s not what it was all cracked up to be.

My friend, the real joy is in the simple things.

It’s never about how elaborate the wedding is; it’s not about how big the mansion is; it’s not about your marriage to a prince or president’s daughter. It’s never about you getting married to a guy who gives you security men to guard you at all times; the man who cannot afford a gate may end up giving you the peace you need.

I was once with a man who gave me everything material, but peace was far from me; it came with endless tears. Friends and people out there saw just wealth and a girl who had it all.

But they were wrong. I got to understand the meaning of peace as an adult when that relationship came to an end. Now I can boldly say

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and beautiful whenever she wears a new hairstyle. You can use your money to employ the best chef in town and have him or her serve your husband like a Duke; he will go to sleep with the house help or secretary who notices that his shoes are dusty and should be cleaned.

Your home (children and spouse) remains your number one ministry. Financial stress in the world hasn’t helped us. Mothers used to sit back at home and take care of the children. But, we now have a society where a new baby is deprived of that opportunity to bond with the mother—it pains my heart. We now live in a world where family time is a no-no.

Families no longer eat dinner together; they no longer watch movies together. Children go to bed before parents come home and parents leave home before children wake up in the morning. This is the main reason for the loss of family values. Something has to be done; we must find a way around it.

Nigerians are even beginning to send their aged parents to care homes; this is not Nigerian. Your parents took care of you from when you were born until you became an adult and now that you have to take care of them, you go to dump them in a care home. I don’t know about Islam, but the Holy Bible that I what love is and what it is not. If that little “reality time” will come. read tells me that our aged parents are our man out there gives you the life you want, Back to the main issue; slow down and enjoy pride. Are you aware that the greatest joy of please go on and enjoy life with him. That the journey right now. Take time for the peofairy tale wedding you want to have is not a ple God has put in your life. They won’t always your aged parent is to be around his/her chilguarantee that the marriage will last. be there. The Holy Bible in James 4:14 says: “Our dren and grandchildren? You live in a big The real joy is in being with your family, lives are like a mist.” We are here for a moment house and have stewards attending to you; why can’t you keep your mother or father in wife/husband, and children, getting up early and then we are gone. People lost their loved your big house around his/her grandchiland seeing the sunrise, taking a walk ones yesterday and today; they are gone fordren? Having their grandchildren around through the park with your spouse (I can’t ever. I am sure so many are in regrets right adds years to their life. trade these for all the diamonds in this now because they didn’t give their loved ones Never make the mistake of allowing money world). Of course, the goals and accomplish- the most important thing they needed-time. take over the place of human beings in your ments bring us a sense of satisfaction, but No matter how much you love me, I don’t they are only temporary. Don’t say Amara ad- need your money and love if I won’t have your life. You can throw money at your wife; the vised you to marry a man who is jobless; he time. Your children will get all the money they man who shows affection has her heart. You can throw money at your children and send must have a source of daily income. What I need from you today; they won’t be with you am saying is that he must not be rich for you tomorrow because you denied them the most them to the best schools in the world; that house help who knows how they eat and to marry him. If he has a job or business, if he important thing every child needs to grow sleep could mean the whole world to them. has his daily source of income, please go well-your time and love. Build a cathedral ahead and marry him. But never make the today and your children will tear it down with Your husband does not need just a woman at the peak of her career; he needs a woman mistake of getting married to a jobless man. their two hands tomorrow if you fail to build who even when she is at the zenith of her caIf you must marry him, please wait for (and them. help) him to get a job first before you marry You can give all the cheque books to your wife reer knows that her home and her relationship with husband, children, and relations him. Frustration will always set in if you or girlfriend with the right to make withare more important than anything else. marry a man who does not leave home in the drawals at will; she will use it to take care of morning to work. No matter the extent of that small boy out there, possibly your security Blessed is that man or woman who will never sacrifice his or her family on the altar your love for him, please have it in mind that man or steward who tells her she looks good

IMAGE AND ETIQUETTE With Pamela The Value Of Peace And Contentment Peace is described in the dictionary as “in a state or relationship of non-belligerence or concord; not at war (or in disunity – my emphasis) – untroubled, tranquil” – Random House Unabridged Dictionary or “The absence of mental stress or anxiety” – Wordweb. Contentment, on the other hand, is described as “Happiness with one’s situation in life” Wordweb “Satisfaction” – Random House Unabridged Dictionary.

It is a true blessing to be at peace within one’s self; to be able to lie in bed at the end of the day and sleep in peace; to be quiet and alone without needing company to drown out the voices in your head. (I am highlighting peace here as it has to do with our actions). A heart at peace and a clear conscience is of great worth. One who is satisfied and without blame can see clearly what is in front of him – both seen and unseen. Happiness is his state of mind and it overflows easily, there is clarity of purpose and hope that never disappoints.

Contentment is not resignation to one’s lot neither is it mediocrity – far from it. It is rich in substance, an anchor in the rain and in the sun, a knowing and consciousness of divine purpose and the humble submission to it.

This is what keeps many men from destructive emotions such as greed and pride. Where contentment and peace (or in other words, a certain fearful expectation of judgement) is absent, there is turmoil, torment and...well, fear! If one’s priorities are not rightly aligned at this point, this results in vain pursuit of security. Where your priorities are not in their

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Can You Live With Yourself? proper place one is moved by poisonous impressions such as pride, greed, envy, strife “For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work” (James 3:16). KJV A Clear Conscience Everyone of us has done something or things that we aren’t proud of. However, very few of us have peace in spite of it. No one is righteous in himself/herself (for Christ is our righteousness – 2 Corinthians 5:24) and yet, it is possible to live at peace with God, one’s self and with man – as far as it is possible. Not many people are comfortable in their own skin or live a life of contentment that is devoid of fear. Sadly, only a few taste of it – even for just a season. Yet, this state of being is reachable to all men in Christ.

There is a treasure that we have in us that is of so much worth to those who will acknowledge and heed it. Have you ever had that feeling when your instinct seemed to be telling you something? You just felt that something was amiss only to find out that your gut was right on the money? Often times, you hear people say “I just knew something was wrong; I only wished I had listened to my heart.”

This treasure can be called our conscience. It’s like a compass pointing you in the right direction. Listen to your conscience. There have been times when I wasn’t quite sure what to do. As far as my eyes could see and I could deduce from the situation around me, everything pointed to one direction. However, I’ll have this unsettled feeling in my heart that defied reason (You have

spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God…” You can only try the spirits with the word of the Lord Therefore, man must have a clear conscience towards God Himself/Herself and Men – as far as it is possible.

I am only going to dwell a little on the first prerequisite because it is of the same that the other two are derived.

“And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also”. 1John 4:21 KJV “So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself”. Ephesians 5:28 KJV “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, to judge and be certain your heart isn’t driven and with all thy strength: this is the first commandby just some emotion or philosophy). It can be ment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt so distinct and demanding that you can only love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other but heed it and take the steps that would keep commandment greater than these”. Mark 12:30 - 31 you at peace with it. Time shows constantly KJV that had I not paid attention to my conscience, I find no need to say so much as the scripture I would have made some costly mistakes. Keep clearly says it all. What we truly have is an audia free conscience and your heart will be at ence of One for we find that we return to where peace. we first began. We hope and strive to spend In this way, we all must walk in the light that eternal union with God. Should we “meet” all we know. Emotions and philosophy are very other requirements and miss the first and the often unreliable and most people on earth last, nothing we lived for would be worthy of walk according to this voice. However, if your honour or preservation. conscience is alive, very often, it would lead you along the paths that natural eye cannot Image and Etiquette addresses general percepperceive and save you from a multitude of sor- tions, societal norms and expectations and perrows. sonal expressions with the goal to cultivate When making a decision and you perceive an social graces, suavity and a dignified presence unsettled or heavy conscience (not emotions for personal development and effective interbased on experiences or your own desires – personal relationships. If you have questions learn to judge right); it is a good time to pause on Image and Etiquette please send them to and listen. The bible says we should test the askpamela@regalgraces.com or SMS spirits. 1 John 4:1 “Beloved, believe not every 08116706879.

22 LOVE & LIFE

THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, June 1, 2013

MARITAL SEX “And Adam knew Eve his wife,…” Gen. 4 vs 1 “Then said Mary unto the angel, how shall this be, seeing I know not a man” Luke 1 vs 34 “Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying. After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my Lord being old also? Gen. 18 vs 12

A Sanctified Sexuality

AVING shared my opinion on sexual H problems encountered in marriages, I received a lot of responses. Yet I need clear certain assumptions.

I am not a doctor, just a pastor * and counselor I do not recommend drugs. I * mentioned Viagra but did not recommend the use or disuse of it. But if anyone needs drugs for treatment of ailments related to sex, the one should consult a professional health officer. There are good drugs at the pharmacy these days.

Most of the practical ways of * solving sexual dysfunctions have been indirectly stated in the articles. So I suggest we go back to some of those writeups, we would notice some very effective practical ways to enhance performance.

I want to recommend that we * go through all the articles in this column. If possible, you can browse the internet and get former articles so related. It would really help.

Feel free to send messages. If * we have not replied, we will soon. I do sincerely appreciate all counsels, prayers, suggestions and questions. We are equally committed to you. And I trust God soon everything will be fine in your marriages and personal lives.

Answers will come.

I am aware that there are sin* gle persons reading this column too; our prayer is that God will guide you and help you fit rightly in destiny’s path.

In this edition, I want to tell us that we can have a satisfying sex in our marriages in spite of all odds. If we approach our seeming challenge rightly, it won’t be a hindrance to the bliss we expect in our affairs.

The word ‘sanctified’ actually means separated for a purpose. When something is separated like that, we term it ‘sacred’. Sacred things are satisfying, wholesome, and soul-lifting. So should sex with our spouses be.

By Juliana Idoko HY do people at some point in their lives do what they know to be a cardinal no-no in relationships – cheating? Something you do and one day you wake up and three-quarters of everyone you know hates you because they found out? Anyone who has been a victim knows it’s so awful. Some men blame biology, insisting that it is the most efficient way to ensure that the species flourishes. Technically and reproductively speaking, that is true. Whereas many believe that man is polygamous by nature, others feel it’s a cover-up for their search for variety.

All these, incidentally, help explain the persistent sex appeal of successful, dominant men. Whether they be high-ranking politicians, movie or music stars, glamorous athletes or wealthy entrepreneurs; power, as Henry Kissinger once noted, is the ultimate aphrodisiac.

Without further ado or confusing rationalizations, read these other reasons men claim are behind their actions.

They aren’t having it as much as they’d like to After a certain age, we commit to someone because we like her an awful lot and need a socially defensible way to sleep with her on a regular basis. That is marriage. Now, let’s be adults here, sex is one of the most important parts of a healthy marriage relationship. It is also what separates friendship from a romantic involvement.

No matter how emotionally fulfilling a relationship might be, if it is

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Sarah had ‘pleasure’ with her husband at 100 years of age. How can a man at that age give pleasure in sex?

I will share a few things I have discovered that can make you enjoy your sexual relationship. * Share it with your rightful partner. Once you are married, see your spouse as the one you are meant to share that wonderful experience with. If you love a person, it is not really difficult to make love to him or her. Love your spouse, outside sex, and the sex itself would be satisfying. Love can be learnt. Someone said mothers love their children in a special way because they actually bore them in the womb for nine months and gave them suck. I don’t agree. People have loved some children they thought were theirs… just thinking the children were theirs stirred up a strong bond. Love is simply an awareness, acceptance, value.

Just accept your spouse as part of your life, and you will notice the dramatic change in your emotion, and the pull will be strong. * Stay healthy. Eat right,

exercise often. Don’t take it for granted. Deliberately plan your meals.

Vegetables, fruits, proteins, are very nourishing. It has to be balanced.

Exercise at least twice a week. It is easy. No one needs inspect you. Just skip till you sweat, or go swimming.

It will keep you in shape. Also, keep your mind properly exercised. Play games, puzzles, solve mathematics or read materials that would stimulate the mind intellectually. Write exams! Engage in a quiz or debate.

More than anything, our mind affects our performance. Read a little biology, study human body. You will do a better sex. * Never compare. We are all different. We live in a performancebased generation. And the way we measure performance is bad. We often overlook the huge difference in our make-ups and experiences. In trying to make the world a global village, we try to become what we are not. God had ‘determined the times before appointed and the bounds of their habitation’ (Acts 17 vs 26). When we were born, place, and parents,

and experiences are unique features of our make-up and destiny. We are not supposed to do things exactly the way someone else does them. See our heights, colours, dispositions, languages, friends, people we met, changes along our lives. Don’t expect anyone to ‘perform’ like the porn star in the movie. I am not against learning and change, am only saying we should not forget our uniqueness. It would reflect even in our new learning’s. There are things we shouldn’t change. So, while you improve on performance, make sure it is you; make sure you present exactly your size of penis or boobs, or whatever the way God made you. We can only be the best of ourselves even in sex. Please understand your spouse, and stop expecting what they can’t offer. We worry about the size of the breast or penis. Even a man’s nipples and buttocks can be very exciting. The whole body is covered with the largest sex organ in the world – The skin – explore it! Kiss, hug, nibble, stroke, tickle, squeeze, add any other thing… longer foreplay

Reasons Men Cheat sexually inadequate, it is more frustrating than having no relationship at all. Men tend to jettison such incomplete relationship and see cheating as an option.

They were cheated on Some men who have been cheated on feel that evening up the score will iron everything out. However, never has hurting someone made you feel less hurt yourself. Though this may probably make a lot of sense to young people in casual relationships, it is counter-productive in marriage.

They want to know they’ve “still got it” Everyone has a deep-seated need to feel wanted and attractive, not just by their significant others, but by the public at large. That’s why you clean yourself up when you’re just going out with your friends, or why your lady friend puts on makeup even if she’s just going shopping.

Even the occasional harmless flirting by or with an attractive member of the opposite sex can put a little extra pep in your step, and that’s fine, because it’s likely that your partner will reap the benefits. For a truly insecure man, though, that won’t be enough. He needs to actually score, in order to feel validated.

If you combine the insecurity here with a sexually frustrating marriage we first discussed, it’s almost understandable why some men stray.

They couldn’t say ‘no’

If we’re being honest, we know that there are often those gorgeous women walking around, waving their assets in men’s faces and handing out open invitations for sexual intercourse. Most men have, at some point in their lives, had such attractive women really come on strong to them. How they handle it depends on several factors, especially their dating status. If single, they hit it like it owes them money. Not single?

They know what the answer should be, but do they have the willpower?

The kind of man who gives in to this kind of temptation is often less experienced with women. He believes it to be an opportunity he can’t pass up. But one who has been around the block a time or two, sees that kind of come-on for what it is: abnormal, desperate and kind of a turnoff.

They find their partner less appealing than before

guarantees satisfaction in sex. * Have a positive outlook on life. The bible says Abraham’s body was dead (like weak erection or totally impotent, Rom. 4 vs 19 – 20). But he had pleasure with his wife! How? He was weak in body but ‘strong in faith’.

Sarah was his wife, he made love to her anyway! She was barren, but they had sex! Some of us have allowed depression, expectations of the society to rob us of the joy of living. Life is too short to belittle, my friends. Enjoy the moment.

Find each other. Ravish the body, enjoy what you have. See, have fun. The desire to have orgasm have caused a lot of problems in sexual relationships. We can improvise! I personally do not see what is wrong in using sex toys (of course with your spouse); if it would guarantee the satisfaction, and hasten orgasm. Sex is more of touches than ‘banging’ and ‘jerking off’ (see Gen. 20 vs 6, 4; I Cor. 7 vs 1 – 2). Just enjoy it!

Abraham was giving glory to God. Be thankful. Miracles will happens in your home. Be lively and happy. Avoid endless quarrels. Settle it quickly. * How about making love without sex? See, sex is wonderful. It lowers stress and blood pressure, boosts immunity, burns calories creates better self-esteem, creates deeper intimacy, boosts body’s painkillers (endorphins), guarantees better sleep.

Sex helps define who we are and how we connect with life. But I need to tell you that our sexual enjoyment extends far beyond the immediate physical crescendo. It should have significance in our broader fulfillment. More than sex, we need love. Do we share intimacy, secrets, lay bare our sensitivity and vulnerability? Do we connect deep in the souls? I would rather have a soulmate than a bedmate!

We need each other beyond the folds of bed sheets, or the rush of morning sex. That whole exhaustion would be meaningless if we don’t know how to make love to the heart! The greatest feeling in the world is not that of sex, but to know that someone in this world thinks of your more than anything or anyone else. Have you achieved that?

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

Sometimes in a long-term relationship, people let themselves go.

Maybe she’s gained a ton of weight, maybe she’s developed a drinking problem or maybe she just can’t seem to package herself well enough. Whatever it is, the problem with familiarity is that you don’t notice these things as they happen over time, the way you would with a friend or relative you don’t see very often.

You wake up one day and realize that the creature sharing your apartment is a far cry from the girl you first said “I love you” to. Again, for some men, it comes down to choosing between having a difficult and potentially fruitless discussion with her, and just chasing tail elsewhere.

The love is lost Love (or at least feelings), we learn as we get older, is a big part of what makes great sex great. Take those away, and you’re just two animals humping. When love has been thrown overboard and a marriage is devoid of feelings, it’s tempting to replace those lost feelings with the excitement that comes with meeting and bedding someone new.

So are these reasons, excuses, explanations, or rationalizations? They all belie the simple fact that he is involved in something in which he does not fully wish to be involved. If you feel like you’re going to cheat, try to determine if it is for any of the above reasons (or something altogether different) and see if it can be resolved. This is because, cheating, above all else, is an act of disrespect and cowardice.

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

TheGuardian

Saturday, June 1, 2013 23

Life&Style

WOMAN

Mama Of The Senegalese Community In Nigeria Mrs. Aida Sow is an entrepreneur and Senegalese politician. She is also the Woman Leader of the Senegalese community in Nigeria.

She has lived in Nigeria for about 20 years and has company, Vision Senegalese Limited. She shares the story of her sojourn in Nigeria and life as a woman.

By Ozo Mordi HE literally floated to the dance floor and Sa robust when took a few graceful steps to the music, shout of “Mama” filled the air. Such is the level of her popularity among her people – the Senegalese community in Nigeria.

Apart from her beauty and elegance, the statuesque fair-skinned woman is the Woman Leader of the Senegalese community in Nigeria, the Secretary-General of the Nigerian arm of Alliance Pour La Republique (APL), the ruling political party in Senegal.

On this occasion, she wore a flowing purple silk gown with eye-catching embroidery which was decorated with crystal stones. She stood out indeed. The occasion was the Senegal’s 53rd independence anniversary celebrations on April 7. She flew into Lagos from Abuja to make it a memorable event for her people who live in Lagos. According to her, Senegalese President, Macki Sall has dictated this because Lagos remains an important part of the Senegalese embassy.

In fact, Mrs Sow’s clout as an organiser is acknowledged even by her people as she is said to have single-handedly rallied the community in Nigeria and handed their votes which ensured that Sall won the 2012 general elections.

She is not nursing an ambition for a political office, she stresses, pointing out that she is satisfied with taking care of the Senegalese in Nigeria. She says that her people live in every part of Nigeria and not just in Lagos and Abuja.“You find them in places like Port Harcourt, Kano and Kaduna,” she enthused.

Woman leader may most times translate to mother-general, as even the affairs of the men are thrust on her. And she admits that it is no small job. But she is encouraged that her country’s president appreciates her efforts and trusts her enough to give her the job to do. “He trusts me and members of my party love me.

That is why I am here.”

Taking care of her people may also mean getting involved with their problems. “I do everything. If it is a problem, I try as much as I am capable of doing even if it involves spending money. It can be difficult but when someone comes with a problem, I feel that I have to do something. I would not be happy if someone comes for aid and goes away unhappy because I failed him. I therefore chip in what I have to give hope.”

Mrs. Sow is an Abuja entrepreneur. “Business is my main calling”, she emphasised and declared that “Nigeria is a land of opportunities.”

She has lived in Nigeria for about 20 years and founded her company, Vision Senegalese Limited here. Vision, as she calls it, is borne out of a dream, adding that there are three subsidiaries under the entrepreneurship. She started by opening a fashion house, which was followed by a dry-cleaning business and a cookware and dealership in electronic appliances.

“I started small. I would bring things from Senegal to sell here and after a time, I opened the shop which was followed by the cookware store. Because I am aware about people’s complaints about how dry-cleaners handle their clothes, I decided to bridge that gap by setting up the business.”

Imprints Of A Woman Leader She was married to a Nigerian whose name she does not want mentioned in the newspaper. They have been divorced for some years now, although she says that they remain friends. They have children who are in school overseas.

Prodded to talk about matrimony, she humorously asked, “Do you want to give me another husband?”

But the new man would have to be honest, she says, adding: “I would not live with a man who tells me lies.”

Irrespective of what caused the breakdown of her marriage, she says that she chose to live in Nigeria, stating that the decision informed her setting up a business here. “Nigeria is a great country and the ambassador of the whole of Africa. Nigerians are friendly and nice, and you feel at home when you live among them.”

She describes herself as a simple person.

“Life is easier when you try not to be complicated. I can befriend anyone, even someone who has no material wealth. All that I demand is respect all around.”

She thinks that the Nigerian is friendly, noting that in all the male specie – black or white – behave alike.

On the Senegalese woman, Sow says: “She is brought up to take care of her husband. She takes care of herself and she knows it is a duty to be polite and civil to her husband. Generally, Senegalese women are happy people; they are hard working, quiet and quite creative with fashion. We have influenced Nigerian fashion with our style. Nigerians come to Senegal to buy our clothes. The Senegalese love fashion.”

She confesses that like most Senegalese women, she loves facial make-up. “I change dresses everyday. You would not see me wearing the same dress for two consecutive days. I like elegant people around me.”

Although she can be described as incredibly beautiful, Mrs. Sow sees mocks beauty as only skin deep, observing: “It is what goes on in the heart that makes a woman beautiful. Good thoughts will radiate and make a face attractive. And when you complement these good wishes with a good dress sense, you look outstanding.”

Her glowing skin is all thanks to nature, she says, revealing that it is Shea butter from Senegal that is at work. “I rub it in at night and bathe in the morning. It contains no chemical; it makes you look 10 years younger than your real age.”

Her philosophy of life is that to be happy, you have to give happiness. “I don’t accommodate hatred. When I feel offended, I complain to the person who makes me feel hurt. We talk it over and there is no bitterness. That is why I look young.”

Her biggest put-off is untruthfulness. “I want the truth no matter how bitter. If you lie once to me, I would not feel comfortable around

you.”

She believes that the African woman is very intelligent and independent. “She does not wait for the man to make her happy or provide her every need because she works very hard. In this she is not really different from her male counterpart.”

She advises women to go into business as a career. “With a business of your own, you can plan your work to suit the running of your home”.

A female politician, she says it is possible for more women to become presidents of their countries in Africa, even in Senegal. According to her, Mrs. Sir Leaf Johnson is doing well in Liberia. And she describes Senegal as having a strong democracy, noting that the country has had only four presidents in 53 years of independence.

Pointing out that the country has never experienced a coup d’état, she emphasises that every president has been democratically elected.

Sow worked as an Air Steward with Air France for eight years.

It is what goes on in the heart that makes a woman beautiful. Good thoughts will radiate and make a face attractive. And when you complement these good wishes with a good dress sense, you look outstanding.

WOMAN

Sow

PEOPLE

GARDENING

HOME & DECOR

24

THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, June 1, 2013

WOMAN

Nwangwu… When

Beauty And Brains Meet

By Ibukunoluwa Kayode vERYTHING about Dr. Rosemary Nwangwu suggests that she E may be a candidate for Miss Nigeria; she is pretty, sassy, open and welcoming to friends and strangers alike. But there ends the comparison between this hardnosed academic and bimbos on catwalk.

However, if you are an avid reader of bedtime stories, then hold your breathe for the princess is about to kiss the frog prince of Nigeria’s dilemmas – the education sector. Will she bring it to life? That was the million dollar question on the lips of everyone when she mounted the rostrum at the Congress Hall of Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja last Thursday. You will hear the pin drop as this international education and development expert, took on one of the most daring academic challenges in the land; expectations were high because she had rescued several failing schools and education systems around the world.

State governments and dignitaries from all walks of life gathered to share her views as she launched two critically acclaimed books on the Nigerian educational system.

A seasoned Educationist, a professional teacher, a veteran in development assistance, Dr Nwangwu had led a number of teams in developing technical reports ranging from assessing the performance of states in the SEEDS benchmarking exercise to collating programmatic outputs in the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF). She generated country reports in the State of Eritrea in the Horn of Africa and served on advisory capacity on the development of similar reports in other countries.

In Nigeria, Nwangwu was a team member that developed the UNESCO National Education Support Strategy (UNESS) 20062015 for Nigeria and in 2010, led the country Team in developing Nigeria’s report for the E-9 Ministerial Review Meeting presented during Nigeria’s hosting of the meeting in Abuja.

With more than 27 years of practice under her belt, Nwangwu who designed the maiden UCPD, a document that collates all the programmatic activities of UNESCO in Member States in the Agency’s mandate areas of Education, Science, Culture and Communication was in her elements. Our reporter who attended the event spoke with Dr. Nwangwu on the serial failures of Nigeria’s education system and the path out of the woods. Excerpts.

Your new books — the Transformational Teacher and Taking Responsibility for School improvement; a handbook for principals and head teachers seeks to place responsibility for schooling and learning achievements squarely on the shoulders of Nigerian teachers. Considering that teachers are poorly paid, poorly trained, constantly owed, and oftentimes voiceless and powerless, do you think they are in any position to take responsibility for our failing schools?

The assertions are right and so are the worries that you have mentioned. However the teacher has a job to do, a job that he or she sought and gave thanks for receiving. That job needs to be done! The teacher understood pretty well what is expected when he/she signed own for the responsibility. Other professionals are also being faced with a lot of definitive challenges.

Teachers will be no exception in creating a semblance of authority around their domains of control - the classroom and the school. Even with these worries, a few teachers are still able to define their work beyond pecuniary considerations and such teachers persist in packaging themselves as the professionals You seem to believe that no excuses is good enough for failure, however, have you ignored the fact that schools exist in certain ecosystems and cannot be but a reflection of the attitude of the society towards education. Why did you single out the teacher?

Again you are right and that is why the last chapter deals with Government taking responsibility. Schools do exist in ecosystems and have always been that way. That is why the book dwelt on stakeholders collectively showing interest in education and supporting teachers. The fact remains that teachers have a responsibility to at least get their jobs done which is no longer the case at the moment. The predominant case is that of lamenting their state and having no sense of responsibility for the goings-on in the system.

The book also recognizes the role of society in holding up the quality of education by value demonstrated by society. The book highlights the role of society in the demand side of education. This is demonstrated in support and interest in the conduct and welfare of teachers.

Anyone who witnessed the encomiums and critical acclaim your books earned today would ask why the celebrations! Many of those who praised your books said you have your fingers on the pulse of our educational system. Do you feel that way? And as a follow up, what in your view is wrong with our educa-

tional system?

Our educational system suffers from a lack of attention to the real issues namely the goings-on in the classroom. Part of our problem also is that we emphasize the infrastructure and by implications the supply side of educational inputs. The aspect of content is hardly attended to. The two are such positive comments because they touch on the soft issues, the content part of educational development. The pulse of the system is the teacher. The teacher not just their certificates!

Our educational system is riddled by such other issues as lack of planning and non-existence of proper projections. So we do not know what our school systems really need and how soon, how soon and in what quantum.

Those are serious assertions; we have always had development plans and policies, when did we run into this conundrum?

Since after the era of Rolling Plans, the education system has failed woefully to stick to any strategic plan whether referred to as framework or roadmap. In 2006 UNESCO supported Nigeria with an education sector analysis that was supposed to project short, medium and long term plans. Models were simulated and dumped by successive governments. Soon after, the Obasanjo Administration introduced the Medium Term Sector Strategy (MTSS). This too was not adhered to. There seems to be an inherent ad hocism ingrained in the system where people scratch their heads and come up with one thing or another to do. Oftentimes policies exist but are not implemented.

Programmes are initiated on paper with no ability to translate policies into programmes and plans.

Sounds like all motions and no movements, who gets the blames for all these?

Have you any response or palliatives for our educational system that seem bent on turning Nigerian youths into illiterates and half-baked graduates?

Yes indeed it is a series of motions and absolutely no movement. We have not learnt to translate the curriculum into practical realities or equip the teacher to interested and teach the curriculum correctly. I do believe that the solution is easy if we are sincere about getting it right. We need to get down to the schools as the primary functional units of an education system. We need to empower key players at the school level and these are the teachers and head teachers. The head teacher is the first instructional leader of the school and should be

taught to take this responsibility seriously. When Head teachers are empowered, they support their teachers and harness the support of communities. The education system will therefore work better if schools and communities are empowered to become functional elements in the school. Mentors are also needed to groom new teachers and serve as role models for these teachers. These are policies that can work and requires the bottom up approach. This requires celebrating the head teacher who can run the school given appropriate incentive mechanisms. The reward system will create a healthy competition among schools.

These are interesting perspectives, but first convince me that you understand the full gamut of the issues; what has school attainment been like in the different zones? Are there examples of what you are advocating for Nigeria anywhere in the world?

School attainment has been very poor. Our children are not doing well at school. And they start failing all the way from enrolment in primary one. Since 2008 there has not been up to 30 percent pass at WAEC SSCE in many of the states. Some states including Bauchi, Imo, Anambra and Rivers have scored up just above 40 percent on average.

A pass mark at SSCE is 5 credits and not up to 30 percent of our children score up this mark. In some states pass marks have been 0.45 percent and below. Such states include Yobe which has scored 0.45 in 2008; 0.14 in 2009 and 0.04 in 2010. Gombe scored 0.50 in 2008; 1.59 in 2009; and 0.13 in 2010. There are other bad results but these are the worst ones.

Besides examinations, the monitoring of learning achievement tests conducted in Nigeria in 2006 among primaries 4 & 6; JSS 2 and SS2 shows that children are unable to read and write failing in literacy, numeracy and life skills. All over the world, the curriculum is being translated into competences.

These are serious indictments and what do you think has become of these children? What can be done to remedy the situation? Is anarchy staring us in the face?

These children are sadly lost. They have been given damaged collaterals. They have been processed into nothingness and are no use to themselves or society. These young people fall into the youth category of ages 15-35. The latest statistics from the World Bank shows a spread of the youths in this range. According to the statistics presented at the Nigerian private sector economic forum, 21.4 million of Nigerian youths are in schools; 4.7 million are in wage employment; 14.2 in the farms and 13.4 million are working at their own enterprise. A whopping 11.2 million have no employment at all.

This is a disaster waiting to happen.

The issue is that even those on wage employment have no security in their jobs. Any little occurrence disrupts the work of these young people. The fact is that none of these young people is assured of livelihood secured or none secured.

The 11.2 who are idle are canon folders and a threat to the country. These young people may be geniuses in their own ways. But undeveloped, they can easily turn these into negative activities that further threaten the peace of the country.

Nwangwu

THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, June 1, 2013

25

PEOPLE

Anazonwu

For Society’s Sake, Anazonwu Invents Game To Reduce Road Accidents Down Town Drive game, newly invented by Mr. Victor Anazonwu may be one thing stakeholders have been looking for to reduce road accident in the country.

By Joseph Okoghenun HE life of Mr. Victor Anazonwu, the Chief T Ideation Officer (CIO) of Elipses Projects, a marketing communications and innovative firm, is rooted in invention and diversification.

Such innovative outlook recently propelled him to invent a game, Down Town Drive, meant to reduce road accidents by teaching roads signs and codes through a game. Down Town Drive game, Anazonwu said is a product of research of the past 10 years.

Explaining the motive behind the game, the Anambra State father of three said: “Down Town Drive game was inspire by the observation that everyday thousands of people die from road accidents globally so that motor accidents kill more people than AIDS does.

That shows that road accident is a big disease.

And sadly in Nigeria the incidence of road accident is higher than global average. Most of us have lost friends, relatives and friends to road accidents. Those who do not die get maim, and the cost of treatment is enormous.

“Imagine those who cannot use their legs and hands anymore because of road accidents?

Why does Nigeria have high number of road accidents? If you look at Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) data and analysis, it is because of human errors. Some of the human errors arise from poor education of the rules and education guiding driving and the use of the road. Some people sit in their homes to get their driver’s licences while the lives of thousands of people are in their hands. Therefore, many Nigerians do not know that there are roads codes that enable one to drive safely.

We asked ourselves what we could do to remedy the situation. But we know that there are many people who drive every day we cannot force to school to learn road signs. We thought of how to make them

The innovative game is like ludo, draft or scrabble, game.

What we did was to configure the concept of ludo game to teach about responsible road use. For example, instead of just moving seeds around, we turned the entire experience into a track or road so that seeds mimic cars on the road

learn the principles of safe driving again. That how Down Town Drive came about.”

Anazonwu although not a regular scientist likes late Albert Eistein and Thomas Edison has his life centered on curiosity. Down Town Drive game, the marketing communications expert said is one of the end products of that curiosity.

Anazonwu started his early education at Santa Maria, now Zik Avenue, and Primary School, Enugu, in the early 70s and Government College, Owerri, Imo State. After his secondary school everybody predicted that he would become a lawyer because of his argumentative style. His lawyer father, though keen that the young Anazonwu became lawyer later in life, advised him to study any other course in his first degree with the intention of returning to study law. “My father encouraged me to be a lawyer and told me that even though he himself was a lawyer, he found out that the best lawyers are people with multiple academic backgrounds. He would cite Justice Oputa and one of the English lawyers with mathematics background. And he would add ‘ I want you to be the best lawyer you want to be; study anything in your first degree and later come back to study law,’” Anazonwu said.

Excited with his father’s advice, he got admission to study history at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN). His initial excitement of studying law later in life was soon to wane down while he was in 200 levels at the university.

“But in my second year, I was already regretting because I thought the process of studying history for four years and coming back to study

law would be too long. I became a little impatient and became less attracted to law than I was as a younger person,” he said. “Those were the days of Dele Giwa, Ray Ekpu, Yakubu Mohammed and Newswatch. In those days at UNN, we used to gather at free readers association and every week, I would forego my money for food to buy Newswatch. My favourite writer was Dan Agbese. So, I was seduced by journalism and media.”

After graduation, he went back to the university for his masters in journalism before securing job with the now defunct The Outlook newspaper in Enugu in 1988.

Again, frustration set in his media pursuit as he realised that society was not being changed for the better because what he and his colleagues wrote. “I just realised that I needed a new challenge in life,” he said.

That change saw he went back to UNN for his Masters in Business Administration (MBA).

That later made him to change line of job from journalism to advertising and started working with Sunrise Marketing Communications in Lagos with the aid of his former lecturer and APCON pioneer registrar, Prof. Charles Okigbo. He later moved to MC and A and Satchi Advertising company and STB-McCANN advertising in Lagos. After 14 years in STB-McCANN, he resigned to establish Elipses Projects with his wife, Ngozi.

Anazonwu said the Down Town Drive game would go a long way in reducing road accidents in Nigeria because of its easy –tounderstand manner.

“The innovative game is like ludo or draft, scrabble, monopoly and chess games. What we did was to configure the concept of ludo game to teach about responsible road use. For example, instead of just moving seeds around, we turned the entire experience into a track or road so that seeds mimic cars on the road. The game can be played either by one person or four people.

To start, one would need to throw a dice and whatever the play determines the movement of the seed. But to start, one needs to throw six from the dice to move from the initial. The next road sign the play would encounter is check your car. This is one basic rules FRSC and car manufacturers advise Nigerians everyday: Even though your car is brand new, it does not mean that it cannot malfunction.

Before, you drive out every morning, one should do simple physical inspection of one’s car like, look at the tyres to see whether they are over-inflated or deflated. It could be that the car is licking off oil and the water might have dried off. The break-fluid might have gone. If you look at under your car every morning, it takes lot of pains away later on.

Your break-fluid might have licked and you will not know not until you hit the road and press the break under serious condition. Just imagine what that could lead to. To move from the initial to the next point, one must throw a dice to move- meaning one should commence driving with low speed. And to move to the next level, one must throw two, subsequently three as a mean of explaining that speed and acceleration is built gradually.

It is not advisable to move from zero to 80kms. Just in five steps, the game would have reminded the player of two things: Check your car and move steady and gradually. After four, the player can then move according to the throw of dice so that if he throws one, he moves one step and if he throw two, he moves two steps which is similar to cruising speed of one’s car.

But as one pass this point, everywhere one’s seed falls, one is expected to obey the instruction on that spot. What we have done is to incorporate kilometres into each of the squares and road signs because we realise that majority of Nigerian road users do not know road signs. We incorporate road signs that are not commonly known. If one landed on no parking spot for instance, one would be penalise to move two steps backward. If one lands on good spot, there is a reward. What that tells one is that roads are govern by rules and regulations. The game teaches simple discipline and compliance to highway codes. A blue circle with a number inside tells the driver the minimum speed he supposed to go. In Lagos, it is absurd to see cars driving at 20km/hr on a fast lane. It is wrong. But red circle with a number means do not speed beyond that number.”

Anazonwu, who said he is looking for partners to get the game into the hands of Nigerians, advised other Nigerians to switch on their creative power.

26

THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, June 1, 2013

PEOPLE

‘We Have Become A Barometer Of Public Opinion In Nigeria’ delivery rating by some government agencies. How do these agencies react to polls results?

I must make a difference between what an opinion polling is and an advocacy. We are an opinion polling firm, independent and unbiased. When we have these results, we throw them out on our platforms. Then if we have access to any of the institutions, we send it to the responsible office; that is where we stop. We are what you call a database. We send you information, what you do with that information is left with that officer or the institution.

Some have observed that the size of your sample population is somewhat usually small. For a country of over 160 million people, could the sizes be representative enough of the views of every adult person in Nigeria?

We have a technical partner, Gallup Polls, which is the world’s premier Polls organization. Gallup has been our partner since What attracted you to NOI? raped, female population per se in Nigeria 2006 and has taught us their robust methodology in opinion polling.

NE interesting need was the fact that has been raped and that is very high. We opinion matters; the mode of opinion also found out in that poll that a lot of peo- Technically, the sort of methodology we research to be able to tell a story and get ple were still with the perception that it is a use is such that if you were to sample the whole Nigerians a hundred times, 95 times involved in the decision making process. I way a woman dresses that makes her susyou would get the same result as ours. found that very fascinating because that’s ceptible to rape, and that was a huge disWhat challenges do you face in the connot very far from what I have been used to. covery. 78 per cent of Nigerians thought duct of your surveys?

That was the first thing for me. I also found that rape cases get unreported because of We have not got challenges so far. What out that it could be a platform for change. the stigma. we have actually got are confirmations. For This is like an indigenous company where Another interesting one we did was on a lot of data resides and we don’t have that hidden banking charges. A huge percentkind of data in Nigeria. A lot of what is said age of the banking populace in Nigeria about the economy or development in were complaining. 61 per cent felt they We want to be able to provide a platNigeria is always keyed back to internawere being exploited by banks and asked form for Africans to voice their opintional organizations. So this is also like a that there should be some kind of transresort to local data where international parency. I know that the Central Bank of ion and connect to their governorganizations can pick up Nigeria (CBN) has been working real hard information from this company. And so to get banks to be a bit more transparent in ments so that governance can get better and people can feel more far, it has been interesting those charges. I know last month it How would your wealth of experience announced a recovery of about N8.6 billion. appreciated affect your new assignment at NOI Polls?

These are the things that show that we are In two ways: competency and integrity. very much relevant in terms of our polls.

What informs your choice of issue for opinWe work with a lot of information here, which are vital in decision making for both ion poll? the public service and private sector comWe work in teams. We have a team of panies. Therefore, what I bring to bear here experts responsible for sitting and sievwould be in terms of the integrity of infor- ing through topical issues. Now the reamation, ensuring that what is going out son the NOI Polls was founded was to be can be depended on by decision makers. a barometer of public opinion. So at Secondly, we would ensure that we have anytime anyone wants to understand competent professionals to carry out these how people feel about a topic, what processes and duties. you have to do is go to NOI One key thing that I think is the underlin- polls.com and find out what people ing foundation is research and that is what think about that topic. this is all about. Here, we do opinion We have a product we call ‘what’s research based on what the public is saybuzzing in the news.’ Every Monday ing, using that to create policies, products we discuss what is going on in the and develop different things that can country, pick a topic and we have a relate to the populace or clientele. specific design. We have several design What are some of the opinion polls you experts who would now design an have conducted in recent times and how instrument, which is to be administered impactful have they been? without bias. We don’t pre-empt any of We have had some very interesting polls. our respondent. Typically, it takes about Last year, we did one poll every two four days from start to finish. Then, we months, but now it is one poll every week. release every Tuesday morning, what That is a tremendous leap and it has been we call a press release.

How well has your barometer been very challenging in terms of funding. But accepted by the public? at the same time we have found a perfect way of People have been very willing to talk remaining above waters. but there is really no platform for that.

One of the very interBy platform, I mean platform for a scienesting ones I think tific presentation of those opinions. But we did was on Rape the reception has been heartwarming. during the Indian We are happy that when we ask those Bus Rape incident. questions, people want to engage in We wanted to find out conversation.

You undertake opinion polls on what rape is like in service Nigeria. It was very interesting that at least three in 10 Nigerians know a rape victim. That is, 30 per cent of the adult population knows somebody that has been raped. If you multiply that, that is another 30 per cent has been

Ms. Oge Funlola Modie is the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NOI Polls Limited, a leading independent opinion polling and research organization, working in partnership with Gallup (USA) to champion opinion research in Nigeria and West Africa.

The first woman to head the organization, Modie joined NOI Polls as the Chief Operating Officer in February 2012 and was appointed Managing Director and CEO in August 2012. Prior to joining NOI Polls, she was the Fund Director (West Africa) for The Makeda Fund, a US$50million SME private equity start up fund focused on investing in women entrepreneurs across West Africa. An avid volunteer for SME causes, she also lends her voice to women development programmes around the world.

In this interview, Modie tells MATHIAS OKWE that as the only registered Polls Company in the country surveying the pulse of Nigerians on topical issues, her NOI Polls Limited has become a data bank for public opinion matters. She also speaks on her plans to drive NOI Polls to become the biggest brand in Africa.

O

instance, for the water survey, the World Bank said our result has further confirmed their Report. We have also got such confirmations with Water Aid, which says the North does not have access to water. The list draws on.

Where does financing for all these come from?

We have created business units because the opinion polling has a call centre. We need to maintain our one a week polls. So created about three other units: the Business Club unit; the Consultancy unit and the Knowledge Management Centre.

We have people who subscribe to services on the Business Club, we do a range of services for them and they pay. That is what we use to fund this.

In the area of consultancy, we do quite a lot of work for the private sector. We also sell our publications. It is not a lot of money, but we are now looking for sponsors, people who are interested in pushing and sponsoring public opinion. Our partners, Gallup do daily public opinion polls and we are doing weekly. So we are almost six days behind. We are the only indigenous public Opinion Polling company in West Africa. Across Africa, we are the second indigenous, every other polling organization is tied to IPSAs or some other else. We have one in Kenya and we have one here. And I think one just came up in Tunis.

How come we have only two polling companies in Africa?

The reason, one is knowledge. I think that in Africa, we have been through so many dictatorships that a lot of people don’t think that their voices count. So it is more for the civilized society; that is why I said it is knowledge of the fact that information is democracy and that people need to let out information for change to be done. It is that disconnection that government is lacking because government actually needs that connection with people where their voices are heard through a scientific way.

What is your vision for NOI Polls Company in the next five years?

To be the biggest public opinion institution in Africa, we want to be big enough to cover the entire continent.

Right now, we have people requesting to come and do internship, so we must be doing something good. So in five years from now, we want to be big; we want to have partners across the globe. We want to be able to provide a platform for Africans to voice their opinion and connect to their governments so that governance can get better and people can feel more appreciated.

Modie

TheGuardian

Saturday, June 1, 2013

27

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Weekend

By Shaibu Husseini sure, eulogies will pour out freely tomorrow for the Fbers,OR iconic Olanrewaju Hassan Adesina as friends, family memcolleagues and fans of the veteran actress who is popular as Mama Awero, converge on the grounds of LTV 8 in Ikeja, Lagos for a grand reception to mark Mama Awero’s golden jubilee on stage and screen. Albasit, the communication outfit handling the golden jubilee shindig, say they have invited Mama Awero’s long-standing fans and colleagues from all over the country to join in the reception for the ageless actress of the stage and screen who is roundly considered a colossus.

A natural talent and a gifted actress who was born on October 3,1950 to the family of Alhaji Adisa Rufai Hassan and Alhaja Rafata Asake Hassan of Imaro compound Isale – Eko in the Lagos Island area of Lagos state, there are so many reasons why Mama Awero should be celebrated. Those who have followed what is widely considered to be her proliferate career as an actress—a career that has spanned five decades now—say the acclaimed quality and skillful theatre amazon whose passion for acting is glaringly boundless should be celebrated for her dexterity on the acting turf. Her many fans say that Mama Awero who earned that alias from her role as Mama Awero, in

Garlands For

Mama Awero,

Amazon Of The ‘Naked Light’

a production back in the late 80’s should indeed mount a raised platform and be celebrated for being a delight to watch on stage and screen, always. Most of those who have had the opportunity of working with her, say Mama Awero represents for them, a perfect example of who any actress should strive to be like both off and stage. They hold and rightly too that hers is a summation of hard work and an inalienable commitment to her first and what she says has remained her only loveacting.

A very likeable personality, Mama Awero’s professional career commenced five decades ago as a pioneer member of Young Stars Concert Party, a theatre company that later transformed into Ojo Ladipo Group. The group- Ojo Ladipo was then under the able leadership of the legendary Ojo Ladipo who was popular as Baba Mero. Ojo Ladipo it was who helped in shaping the career of most great Nigerian artistes including Chief Adebayo Salami who is popular as Oga Bello.

It was as a member of the Ojo Ladipo group that Mama Awero’s love for acting became immense. Her quest to be grounded in the arts particularly dramatic arts made her enroll for formal training at the defunct Lagos School of Dramatic Arts run then by Chief Olude, a foremost drama scholar. This was between 1969 and 1971. When the legendary Ojo Ladipo died, the Ojo Ladipo Group was renamed Awada Kerikeri Organization (AKO) and Mama Awero stayed on and performed on stage and screen leaving positive impressions after impressions.

Mama Awero has not looked back since then and she has not done anything else apart from featuring in movies, television and stage productions. The actress with an unquenchable passion and unrivalled commitment to the theatre has remained relevant not just because of her believable artistic carriage of diverse characters, but because the actress whose tenacious perseverance, devotion to, and mastery of the art is unrivalled is blessed with the gift of make believe.

Married to Mr. Aliu Adeshina and blessed with children, Mama Awero had her early education at Saint Peters Primary School, Faji, Lagos between 1956 and 1963. It was while at Saint Peters that the talent of the likeable actress whose watchword is perseverance started manifesting. She took her arts straight from early school to the field and still feels an overpowering nostalgia for her first acting appearance.

“The whole of my body was just shaking. Butterflies filled my stomach. I almost told them I could not face a crowd.

Olanrewaju Hassan

CELEBR ITY But with some encouragement from the crew, I summed up courage and the rest is history,” she recalls her first’’ With the Ojo Ladipo group and later the Awada Keri Keri organization, Mama Awero reigned over the Nigerian stage and screen. Not only has she remained unshaken and unbeatable, Mama Awero has continued to reign and she seem, in the estimation of industry critics, to have outlasted many Nigerian actresses particularly her contemporaries in terms of sustained relevance and applause.

Viewed generally especially by industry observers and critics as remarkably versatile and roundly admired for her simplicity despite her fame, Mama Awero has not only been recognized at home and abroad for her acting prowess, but has also received awards for costuming several stage, films and television productions. A member of the Board of Trustee of the embattled Association Of Nigeria Theatre Arts Practitioners (ANTP) and an Environmental Ambassador of Lagos State, films produced on celluloid that have benefited from Mama Awero has been an enduring feature on many celluloid flicks like Omo Orukan by Awada Keri Keri, Aropin Teniyan by late Chief Hubert Ogunde, Ija Orogun, Ogun Ajaye by Awada Keri Keri, Kadara by A Productions, the two part Taxi Driver by the late Chief Adeyemi Afolayan and Kona Kona by Abayo Aderonmu.

She has her name on the credit lines of over 200 home video productions including Ayookan, Ebun- Igbeyawo, Omorewa, Eti Ikun, Asewo To Re Mecca, Bo Otitife, Back to Africa, Majata and lately Tade Ogidan’s Wahala Kunle.

Star of memorable stage productions like Ayanmo on stage, Ilu Le and Ogun Awoyaya and a recipient of many industry awards including the Orlando Martins Award of Excellence, Arts and Culture Ambassador of Nigeria, Life Time Achievement Award and the ANTP Ever Green Award, Mama Awero has performed in countless television productions including the long rested Awada Keri Keri comedy series, Wale Adenuga’s Super Story, Apreel Ventures Dear Mother and Tajudeen Adepetu’s Family Circle.

Chairperson Indigenous Language Female Artistes of Nigeria and member of the Board of Albasit Communications, the firm managing her career, Mama Awero says there is no retirement for her as long as she can still breathe.

“Actors don’t retire. They play on until the body retires,’’ she quips. Witty and very generous, Mama Awero expressed optimism about the future of the Nigerian theatre and motion picture industry. She craves for a situation where government will get well involved in the affairs of the industry, which she describes as a gold mine. She also wants government to invest in provision of the kind of infrastructure that will attract proper investment in the sector whether internally or externally.

“We were not lucky during our time to get the kind of attention from government that the industry is receiving. Now that they seem interested, they must help the industry grow by providing the enabling environment and for providing the needed infrastructure like electricity, monies to make films and film villages so that people can be sure that whatever money they put into a film they will get it back and also gain,” she surmises.

Celebritygist…

Mercy Johnson Thanks All, Returns To The Screen Popular Nollywood actress Mercy Johnson is back to work after the mandatory maternity leave. This is MJ’s fifth job after giving birth in December. She sent a note to celebritygist during the week to say thank you to her fans for waiting patiently for her. “I want to say thank you to the fans, friends, colleagues and producers who were there for me. Many of them proved to be friends on and off work,” she noted. “Many adjusted their schedules for me and sent in their greetings during the child dedication. I am back with grateful heart and understanding that I am here because God through the help of people made it possible. Or how could I explain the overwhelming votes I got at AMVCA despite being away and inactive on social media (she won the Best Actress in comedy at the maiden edition of Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards- AMVCA-)? How could I explain the numbers of producers and scripts waiting for my return? How could I explain the overwhelming love and gifts while I was away? I am very grateful and here to say a big thank you to everyone who played a role and those who as much as had good wishes in their hearts.”

That Toyin Adegbola Prison Story On Odua TV Looking at popular actress, Toyin Adegbola on the hot seat of Odua TV last Sunday, there were no tell-tale signs that she has been arrested or incarcerated ever in her life but by the time the celebrity known as Ashewo to Re Meca opened up on her 10 days behind bar, guests at the popular celebrity hangout, Troy in the Ogba area of Lagos, knew they were in for a long and memorable night.

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THE gUARDiAn, Saturday, June 1, 2013

FiTnESS With Oyinkan Talabi (Bodyworks)

The Fruit Called Avocado ollowing my colonic irrigation last week, i have been on a Fpation. “keep the colon healthy” drive because i am prone to constiSo, i am eating a lot more vegetables; edikaikong, efo, steamed vegetables, salads, the whole, whole works. i have also rediscovered some vegetables and fruits like avocado, honeymelon and eggplant. i thought to share with you some of the benefits of the avocado.

The avocado is considered to be a perfect fruit. Yes, it is rich in calories. However, they are good calories, which are easily burnt off by your body. it is jam-packed with close to 20 different nutrients like potassium (30% more than a banana) and monounsaturated fats, folic acid, Vitamin E, B- vitamins, and fiber. it also has the highest content of protein than any fruit.

Some of the goods of the avocado include: Healthy brain: Avocados combine omega-3 fatty acids with natural vitamin E, which has been clinically proven to prevent Alzheimer’s disease from progressing and even reversing it in its earliest stages.

Healthy heart: The rich monounsaturated fats in the avocado is great for your heart and it also helps to lower blood pressure.

Pregnancy: Folic acid is commonly recommended for pregnant women to help the fetus develop its brain and other vital organs.

Eye health: Avocados contain carotenoid leutein, an antioxidant that protects the eyes from oxidative stress damage leading to poor vision, cataracts, and macular degeneration.

Blood pressure: The combination of avocado’s high potassium, omega-3 and oleic acid contents are beneficial to reducing blood pressure.

Blood sugar: Avocado’s monounsaturated fats can prevent or reverse insulin resistance, a source of type 2 diabetes. The high soluble fiber of avocado helps prevent blood sugar spikes.

Anti-inflammatory: inflammation is considered the basis of most non-contagious diseases. Avocados have an abundance of plant phytonutrient polyphenols and flavonoids, which are anti-inflammatory agents.

Anti-aging: The master antioxidant glutathione supports the liver and the nervous system. it is responsible for replenishing and recycling other antioxidants in the body. it is vital for a strong immune system, and avocado is one of the few foods that contain a considerable amount of glutathione.

Digestion: The nutrients and enzymes in avocado reduce inflammation in the stomach and small intestine’s mucous lining. This also improves the body’s ability to absorb carotenoids and nutrients.

Cancer: Avocados can help protect against prostate and breast cancers.

The avocado fruit also has other uses apart from eating it: Hair and Face mask: it is a great exfoliant for the skin and moisturizing hair mask.

Baby Food: Babies from the ages of four months can have avocado as their introduction to solid meals.

So be creative with including the avocado into your meals: it can replace proteins in a meal, can be mashed up and eaten with biscuits, bread, potatoes, in salads, grilled and on its own with some salt. whichever way you choose, choose an avocado.

Love your body... and it will love you right back!

wEllnESS & BEAUTY

By Victoria Ekanem

Causes Of Dark Circles Under The Eyes (5) Skin F you suffer from Eczema or other skin problems, this may be the cause of your dark circles. given that the skin around the eyes is thinner and more sensitive, it is no surprise that this area can be affected more severely than any other by such complaints.

Consult your physician before you use your prescribed cream or lotion around your eyes; it’s very important not to get these creams in your eyes. Many of the natural remedies discussed later should help to reduce the marks.

They may even prove beneficial to the skin on other parts of your body.

Smoking Smoking is a habit that most of us recognize as unsafe and unhealthy, even those that continue to smoke.

The effects of smoking can be felt in every part

i

of your body and the skin can be particularly badly affected. if you can possibly give it up, do so. it’s worth it.

Stress As discussed in the section on Fatigue, stress and the resulting lack of rest are often the cause of dark circles under the eyes. it is important to remain calm and centered.

Take time for yourself and keep things in perspective. Prioritize your work and home life sensibly and don’t let trivialities get in the way. when things do threaten to get out of control, try counting up to ten before you respond.

Don’t let things get too much for you and seek advice from people you trust whenever possible. Don’t take everything on to yourself when other people could share the load.

Pamper yourself. weight loss

Dark circles under the eyes can be caused by sudden and severe weight loss. This is often a result of illness, which should be treated by a medical professional.

Try to maintain a healthy body weight. when your weight loss has stabilized, try to eat sensibly and healthily to regain some, if not all, of your lost weight.

if you are obese, your weight may also be a contributing factor to the dark circles under your eyes. This may be due to the strain on your body and mind or because of underlying or resulting ill health (notably kidney problems). Poor circulation due to obesity could also be a factor in the appearance of the dark circles under your eyes.

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FOOD&DRINKS

Egg Rolls Served With Orange Juice

By Chinelo Nwagbo E all have cravings at snack time, but there are so “W many boring choices out there,” says Christine Dahm of Lean Cuisine. “Snacking should be enjoyable and something we look forward to.”

Egg rolls make a great appetiser or party food that is easy to make. Egg rolls are very tasty and healthy snack. They supply high biological value protein from egg and soy protein.

In addition, they also supply carbohydrate from flour, as well as minerals and vitamins like vitamin C, A, C, E, potassium, manganese, folate, vitamin B6, niacin and molybdenum from the vegetables.

Egg rolls are high in calories, fat and sodium. So, if you are watching your weight, limit the amount of egg rolls you eat or choose healthier appetiser options to help control the number of calories you consume.

You can control the number of calories by baking the egg rolls instead of frying it, and filling the egg rolls with only or mostly vegetables will cut the fat and calories.

Vegetables such as cabbage, onion ginger used in preparation of this recipe the body to neutralise dangerous free radicals that can cause damage to cells, which can cause arteriosclerosis (narrowing or blocking of the artery walls as a result of fat and cholesterol deposit), diabetes (excess sugar in the blood), colon cancer (uncontrollable growth of the cells) and asthma (difficulty in breathing).

Antioxidants vitamins (like vitamin A, C, E) in vegetables also help to reduce the risk or severity of many illnesses. Both healthy and ill persons can benefit from consuming egg rolls. It is good for the malnourished, people that are recovering from illness for quick recovery and the obese.

Also, children and pregnant women can benefit from this nutritious snack. It helps in achieving optimal growth in children and for a successful pregnancy in pregnant women.

You can get already made and packaged spring rolls in all health food shops.

Recommendation Egg rolls are recommended for children, youths, pregnant women, nursing women, convalescing patients and all those that require a supply of high-quality nutrient food prepared in an attractive and delicious way.

Ingredients Sesame oil Sugar Garlic, finely chopped Ginger, grated

Quantities 1 teaspoon ¼ teaspoon 3 cloves

Salt To taste Sugar ¼ teaspoon Scallions, sliced thinly 1 medium size Carro 2 medium size Red pepper cut into one-inch julienne strips 1 Cabbage, shredded 1 medium size Soy sauce 1 teaspoon Chinese rice wine ¼ cup Shrimps, cooked and minced 10 Egg roll wrappers 1 package (4 1/2” by 51/2”) Method of preparation In a wok or skillet, stir-fry the ginger and garlic in 2 tablespoons of oil until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add veggies and stir-fry over high heat for 2 minutes. Add sesame oil, sugar, soy sauce, vinegar and shrimp.

Fill and roll the egg roll

vitamin C, which has preventive properties against infections. Orange and melon juice is an ideal juice for people suffering from an infection, whether light or severe, acute or chronic.

wrappers, using one tablespoon of filling for each roll.

In a skillet set over moderately high heat, heat the remaining oil and saute the egg rolls until golden brown on all sides, using tongs to turn them.

Serve when cool enough to eat, with dipping sauce.

Melon and orange juice This drink combines the anti-infectious qualities of oranges with the refreshing and cleansing effect of melon. It supplies vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals that promote and revitalise health.

Therapeutic properties orange and melon juice Prevents infections (boost the immune system) This is due to the richness of the juice in vitamins, especially

Prevents retinal disorder (ideal for good sight) This therapeutic property is due to the juice high content of carotenoids and antioxidant substances, which protects the retina.

Recommendation Orange and melon juice is highly recommended for those that want to boost or build a strong immune system and prevent eye problem.

Ingredients Quantities Oranges 1kg Melon 1kg Method of preparation Peel and chop the fruits.

Process the fruits through a liquidiser (if a liquidiser is not available squeeze the orange, add the melon chunks and use an ordinary electric blender).

Serve cold with egg rolls.

E- mail: chineloeby@yahoo.com

Red And Spicy Flavours

By Ekwy P. Uzoanya also known as Syrah, is one of the variSHIRAZ, eties of red wine that can be sighted in wine shops in the country. It is delicious red wine, made from dark-skinned grape and comes with spicy flavours of blackcurrant and black pepper.

Though the origin of Shiraz is traceable to France, it has come to be associated more with Australia where it has been taken to a high level of popularity and produced under different labels such as Penfolds, Wolfblass and Wyndham Estate.

The climates under which the grapes used in the production is grown, the soil, country of production and even the methods of production of the various brands account for the different tastes and aroma noticeable from one Shiraz to another.

It means that each producer’s personal Shiraz has its own personality and qualities to enjoy.

Being robust in flavour, a glass of Shiraz is a great accompaniment for meat dishes. Shiraz wines do well with hearty foods like beef. Their spicy notes also make them great choices for spicy foods, like Mexican or Cajun. Outside pairing with some other food, many wine lovers like to drink a Shiraz alone because of its deep, fruity flavour.

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With Sereba Agiobu-Kemmer

sereba.agiobu.kemmer@ngrguardiannews.com

GARDENING

Horticultural Therapy -Ancient Practice, New Profession ORTICULTURE is the art and science of H growing plants, Horticultural Therapy has been defined as ‘the use of plants and gardens for human healing and rehabilitation’. It is an ancient practice but rather new profession Horticulture has been used as therapy for centuries. The premise of creating a tranquil garden setting for therapeutic purposes is believed to have originated in the 19th century with Dr. Benjamin Rush, often referred to as the ‘The Father of America Psychiatry’ and a signer of the America Declaration of Independence, who observed and documented the benefits of working with plants for his patients. He believed that garden settings had a calming effect on the mind of those suffering from mental illness. Throughout the ages, gardens of all varieties have been revered as a place of peace and tranquility where one can escape to reflect and rejuvenate. This has given rise to the concept of horticultural therapy that is growing in popularity today.

An increasing large body of research attests to the unique values of horticulture as a therapy for people with physical, mental, emotional and social disabilities.

The American Horticultural Therapy Association (AHTA) was formed in 1973 to promote and develop the horticultural therapy profession. AHTA provides training and professional registration within the United States.

The professional designation of Horticultural Therapist Registered (HTR) which is recognized nationally and internationally, requires a university degree with course in horticulture, human services and therapy in addition to a 480 hour internship supervised by a credentialed horticultural therapist.

Degrees in horticultural therapy are offered in some universities like Colorado State University, Oregon State University, Rutgers University School of Environmental and Biological Sciences and Texas A&M University.

According to the Canadian Horticultural Therapy Association (CHTA) defines horticultural therapy as a “formalized discipline of the use of horticultural activities and other related activities to enable people to participate in their own healing process. It is more properly administered by trained professionals such as horticultural therapists but can be practiced by many others informally.

In the UK, Horticultural Therapists (generally called social and therapeutic horticulture STH practitionals within the field), they work with clients to promote health and well being.

Through individually tailored STH programmes and with caring and observant encouragement, they help clients develop across physical, cognitive, social and emotional spectrums. Today horticultural therapy at any level is recognized as a useful alternative therapy that supports healing by promoting happiness, peace and gratification. It is also helpful for relieving stress and assists in the general well being for those suffering from physical and psychological disabilities. They work with a wide range of people who are disabled or disadvantaged by age, circumstance or ability. Clients include those recovering from illness, people with learning and behavioural difficulties and people with mental ill health such as depression or dementia.

Using horticulture as therapy builds on a special connection between people and plants and the natural world to promote healing in a non threatening way. H.T. uses gardening and plant-related projects to improve people’s physical, cognitive, emotional and social functioning.

As plants are non discriminatory and non threatening, anyone can be successful. It doesn’t matter how old or intelligent a person is, their race, religion and IQ don’t matter either.

Plants will respond to anyone providing care.

Studies show that success with plants can lead to successes in other aspects of our lives. This is important for individuals whose disabilities or limitations might hinder their accomplishments in other pursuits.

Its non invasive application is suitable for everyone. Today horticultural therapy is worldwide practice, recognized as an effective treatment for clients of all ages and abilities.

The discipline has been introduced in various settings. It is used in rehabilitation and vocational centers youth outreach programs, nursing homes and other types of old peoples facilities, hospitals, hospices, homeless shelters, substance abuse centers, prisons, schools, mental health centers and botanical

H.T, as occupational therapy for elderly

Place to reflect to relax, social interraction

Products from vocational hoticulture going places

Therapeutic horticultural activity, Ancient practice, new profession

Patient engaged in horticultural therapy, for speedy healing process

Therapeutic horticulture for the disabled

Beautiful Simple Plant boxes

School garden club

Cultivating child’s appreciation for gardening

Children developing sense of responsibility and community PHOTOS: SEREBA AGIOBU-KEMMER

gardens. Four distinct program types as defined

by AHTA, are used to provide horticultural therapy for special populations in this vast array of settings: HORTICULTURAL THERAPY: The engagement of a client in horticultural activities facilitated by a trained therapist to achieve specific and documented treatment plan where the process itself is considered the therapeutic activities rather than the end product.

Therapeutic Horticulture: A process through which participants strive to improve their wellbeing through active or passive involvement with plants and plant related activities. In a therapeutic horticulture program, goals are not clinically defined and documented but the leader has training in the use of horticulture as a medium for human well being.

Social or Community Horticulture: A leisure activity related to plants and gardening. A typical community garden or garden club is a good example of social horticulture setting. No treatment goals are defined no therapist is present, and the focus is on social interaction and horticulture activities.

Vocational Horticulture: A vocational horticulture program, which is often a major component of a horticultural therapy program, focus on providing training that enables individuals to work in the horticulture industry professionally either independently or semi independently.

These individual may or may not have some type of disability. Vocational horticultural programs may be found in schools, residential or rehabilitation facilities, prisons, among other places.

Benefits of Horticultural Therapy: There are many benefits to horticultural therapy and its non invasive application. For the elderly in old people’s home, it can help provide a sense of purpose and be a platform for developing friendships and sense of community. For those confined to hospice care, gardening can provide a sense of hope and renewal in prison settings, horticultural therapy teaches inmates responsibility and commitment as well as job training while tending to the prison’s gardens.

Gardening can provide meaningful work, not busy work for clients in long term care. It provides opportunities to make decisions, develop cognitive skills and become part of a community. The sensory stimulation in a garden may slow the effects of dementia, stimulate memory and assist in coping with chronic conditions.

While people can benefit from simply viewing and growing plants, the benefits of people plant interactions can be focused and enhanced with guidance from a horticultural therapist.

Adaptive tools and therapeutic gardens can provide an even greater degree of accessibility and therapeutic benefit. Horticultural therapy is becoming widely accepted worldwide, but still need to be more recognized in the formal sectors such as healthcare and education ‘institutions are realizing the need for complementary alternative therapies such as HT Horticultural therapy could be a vital part of any kind of treatment center.

The advantage of working with a horticultural therapist.

You can certainly practice horticultural therapy informally on your own, but you may benefit more from working with a certified horticultural therapist or going for formal training. A horticultural therapist is a trained professional who works with a rehabilitation team including doctors, occupational therapists and mental health practitioners to teach patients about the art of gardening, the creation of a therapeutic garden and its benefits. For people with disabilities, mental issues or emotional challenges a trained horticultural therapist can help initiate the healing process by introducing patients to the concept of gardening and cultivating their appreciation for all that a garden has to offer.

Horticultural therapy is an emerging profession that forms a large and cultural significant part of green care, the conceptual framework using other natural mediums for therapy such as care farming and ecotherapy.

A simple garden is all you need The setting for horticultural therapy does not have to be elaborate or complex, a simple garden in your backyard or plant boxes can be therapeutic. The primary objectives are to express your creativity through plant life, try new things, and derive a sense of accomplishment for your efforts. In addition, a garden is a great place to share the great outdoors with your family and friends while reaping the many health benefits it has to offer.

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DIARY Senior reporter, Guardian Newspapers Limited, Mr. Ajibola Amzat and other award winners at Rotary humanitarian award dinner held in their honour in Lagos recently.

Staff and management of Big Events and First Choice Foundation at an event organised for children of the Divine Wounds of Jesus Christ Orphanage, Ark of Refuge Orphanage and Kubwa Divine Orphanage in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), to mark this year’s Children’s day celebration.

Author, Mr. Onyema Offoedu-Okeke, Executive Director, Heritage Bank Limited, Mr. Robert Mbonu, Royal Father of the day, Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe and Special Guest of honour, Chief Rasheed Gbadamosi, during the public presentation of the book entitled: ‘Artists of Nigeria’ in Lagos…recently

Chairman, Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Lagos Chapter, Dr. Francis Faduyile; Dettol Representative at the Global Hygiene Council, Dr. Nneoma Idika and Secretary, NMA, Lagos Chapter, Dr. Bamigboye Babatunde at the 53rd NMA Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference held in Lagos…recently

Senior Pastor, Light of Salvation Evangelical Ministry, Lagos, Pastor Ayo Ayolola; Deputy Director of Military Hospital Lagos, Brigadier Life Ajemba; Senior Pastor, Christ Glorious End Rime Evangelical Church, Pastor Lai Bamidele and his wife at the one million fund raising project ceremony held recently in the church auditorium in Abule-Egba, Lagos

The groom, Oluwatobi Oni with his wife, Yetunde flanked by the groom’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Oni after the couple’s wedding in Martins Crosswind, Maryland, U.S.A…recently

Managing Director, Unity Bank Plc, Ado Yakubu Wanka (2nd left), receives PCIDSS certificate (Global IT Certification) from Mrs. Adedoyin Odunfa, Managing Director of Digital Jewels Ltd in Abuja recently. With him are Executive Director, Risk Management Division, Unity Bank Plc, Rislanudeen Muhammad (left) and the bank’s Divisional Head, Information Technology, Atiku Zuberu.

Miss Bukola Falode, Mrs. Oludotun Odubela with children, Oluwasijibomi and Mosadoluwa during her thanksgiving service for the Methodist Church of Nigeria ‘s awards given to her recently in Ibadan

Bishop of Lagos West Diocese, Anglican Communion, the Rt. Revd James Odedeji with members of Band of Faith, Archbishop Vining Memorial Cathedral Church, Ikeja, Lagos during the church building dedication of Timothy Olufosoye Memorial Anglican Church, Ogba, Lagos recently

Mr. Tayo Ajayi and his wife, former Miss Tayo Falomo (middle), flanked by the bride’s parent during their wedding ceremony in Ogun State…recently

Mr Stephen Odenigbo and his wife, Loveth during their wedding in Enugu recently

TheGuardian

Saturday, June 1, 2013 | 35

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Entertainment

Sony Neme nemesony@yahoo.co.uk 08111813096

2face, Iyanya, Sunny Neji, Majek Fashek, Rock At COSON Song Awards Stories by Sony Neme HEN Chief Tony Okoroji, Chairman of W Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON), promised Nigerians that the COSON Song Awards will be the best in recent times, he actually knew what he was talking about. Aside a few hitches, last Saturday’s show is arguably one of the best in recent times. It was grand, full of allure, spectacles and what showbiz should be. With the presence of an array of music greats, Nollywood stars and other stakeholders in the entertainment industry, it witnessed a return of razzmatazz that the music industry was once associated with.

Beyond the superb organization, the setting at the Oriental Hotel venue was grand.

Most outstanding is the magical motor vehicles that brought the awards presenters on stage. It was a night that set a new bar for the organization of entertainment events in Nigeria. To crown it all were the artistes that got guests dancing all night as they were at their best. Chief Okoroji captured it thus: “From the themed red carpet ‘fantastico’ to the show itself, it was pure magic. Many marvelled at the huge theatre of the COSON Song Awards, knowing that they had been part of genius and history. No one left the event without saying ‘wow!’ that was a promise fulfilled.”

Sunny Neji had set the tune thrilling the distinguished audience with a medley of his hit songs, Mr. Fantastic and Oruka. It wasn’t much of a surprise that Oruka was among the ten award-winners of the night.

The endless spectacle continued when 2Face came on stage, guests threw caution to the winds as they danced on before making way for his newly wedded wife, Annie and D-One to present the next awards. 2face performed ‘If Love is a Crime’ and ‘Implication’ before topping his day with the evergreen song, ‘African Queen’, which carted home one of the awards of the night.

Iyanya, who just returned from a very successful tour of USA and Canada was irresistibly his usual self. He was hot and a master of the stage giving new energy to songs like ‘Kukere’, ‘Sexy Mama’, ‘Flavour’ and ‘Your Waist’ and many more.

The event also saw the resurrection of the rainmaker Majek Fashek as his performance revealed that whatever challenges he may have had in recent times, he remains one of the most enigmatic performers in the history of Nigerian music. When the natural entertainer went on stage, all hell broke loose s guests could not help gyrating to the evergreen mystical song, ‘Send Down the Rain’. It was expectedly one of the award-winning songs, just as the heavens responded when it began to rain outside the auditorium. “The mystique of Majek Fashek still lives”, enthused a die-hard fan.

Another artiste that made the night unforgettable was beautiful Seyi Shay who dazzled in her cute costume and choreography. Phyno and Solid Star also had superlative performances on a night that everything went right.

Dr. Victor uwaifo andthe rainmaker, Majek Fashek at the COSON SONG AWARDS The first spectacle that hit guests was the opulence and sheer splendour of the red carpet fantastico themed in crème silk where stars mingled and sipped cocktails with flashlights exploding from the paparazzi. At about 9pm, the guests were ushered into the huge events arena by the beautiful hostesses selected after several weeks of contests of beauty and brains conducted by a celebrity cast comprising Ruggedman, Queen Ure, Kween Onakala and Aisha Joy. Segun Obe, came on stage and took the audience through a sonorous rendition of Nigeria’s national anthem to signal the start of the historic event. Then the curtains opened to reveal the insignia of the COSON Song Awards that rose majestically on the stage crafted by Italian trained Pat Nebo. On the huge screen, a golden bird appeared, searching in the deep forest of creativity.

When the bird found what it was looking for, it took off on a historic journey, flying and meandering through the streets of Lagos and the major landmarks of the city, dodging the vehicles in traffic until it found its way into Victoria Island and then flew into Oriental Hotel. Awoko finally perched on a metal gong, the musical instrument common to the peoples of Nigeria.

The nightingale had arrived!

For starters, Awoko was sculpted as the distinct plaque of the COSON Song Awards by a young Yaba College of Technology graduate, Dare Adenuga. The choice of Awoko, we reliably gathered, was deliberate because it is a

lead singing bird celebrated in many songs of Yoruba songwriters. It is reputed to have out-of this-world lyrics and singing talent. In Yoruba mythology, when Awoko shows up, every other bird bows. Awoko video animation was carefully executed over a month of creative effort

by Ademola Tajudeen.

On the stage as host was courteous Frank Edoho, the very popular host of TV quiz programme, Who Wants to be a Millionaire? His entry gave way to the giant screen that began the story of Nigerian social culture from the 60s woven delicately into the music of the times unfolded with nostalgia.

That was before the ten most memorable songs of the 60s were played back and the presenters, Segun Arinze and FRCN’s Cordelia Okpei dramatically appeared from the bowels of the stage in a 1960 Chevrolet Impala to present the Song of the 60s award won by Victor Uwaifo’s ‘Joromi’. It was simply amazing and a repeat of Chief Okoroji’s dramatic arrival on the stage of the National Theatre from the roof, decades ago.

Actor Kalu Ikeagwu and fast-rising singer, Seyi Shay who presented the award of the Song of the 70s won by Prince Nico Mbarga’s Sweet Mother arrived in style in a Citroen D Super.

At the star-studded event were Sir Victor Uwaifo, Evangelist Ebenezer Obey Fabiyi, Mike Okri (PMAN Ist Vice President) and Pa Chris Ajilo. Also in attendance were Orlando Julius, Sir Shina Peters, Bright Chimezie, Dizzy K. Falola, Flavour, Righteous Man, Bracket and

African Muzik Magazine Makes Bold Entry FRICA’S Biggest Entertainment Company A in America -- BIG A ENTERTAINMENT—- will today present the official Nigerian launch of the much-talked-about African Muzik Magazine devoted solely to the promotion of African music and artistes!

The promoters said, “It is the first of its kind with a wide reach of over 14 African countries, including the U.S, Canada, Europe, Malaysia and the UK.” The event starts with the traditional red carpet by 8pm at The Prestigious Club Rumors,

Oduduwa Way, GRA Ikeja, Lagos.

Expected at the star-studded event are 2face, Timaya, Flavour, Iyanya, Davido, Ice Prince and Sound Sultan. Also expected are Kcee, Ruffcoin, Bracket, Pacifik, Wizkid, Timi Dakolo, JJC, 2Shotz, Phyno, Sean CZA, Stormrex, Wizboyy, Ruggedman, Mbryo, 9ice, Chidinma, jmartins, M.I, Vector and EME Crew. Mr. Raw Nwanne, Eniola Badmus, illbliss, W4, Solid Star, Rexx, EFA, 2Sec, Adaz, Busker E and Weird MC are also billed to attend. So also are Effect MC, Nonny D, Ransome, Smile Fine Face, Basket-

mouth, Julius Agwu, Bovi, Buchi, Gandoki, Gordons, I Go Die, Mr. Ibu, Simcard, DJ Jimmy Jatt and several others.

Media Partners we gathered include Coundcity, Notjustok, Iroking, Music Tatafo, Metro 97.7FM, The NET, Livebeats, Linda Ikeji Blog, 360 Media Services and AMC. The event is proudly supported by Big A Entertainment, 9ja’s Next Big Act, Club Rumors, Now Music, Hypertek, AMAN, Fano Shipping, Villa Angelia.

Zakky Adze, among many others.

From the Nollywood community were stars like Fred Amata, Segun Arinze, Patrick and Iretiola Doyle Jennifer Eliogu, Fidelis Duker, Kalu Ikeagwu, Beautiful Nubia, Annie Macaulay Idibia, newlywed Femi Brainard and media personality, Prince Bisi Olatilo among several others.

THE COSON SONG AWARDS WINNERS Song of the 60s: Joromi Victor Efosa Uwaifo Song of the 70s: Sweet Mother Prince Nico Mbarga Song of the 80s: Send Down the Rain Majek Fashek Song of the 90s: Wonder Wonder Femi Kuti Contemporary Afro Song of the New Millennium: Olorioko Kehinde Akinbode (Alias Kenny Kore) Contemporary Pop Song of the New Millennium: African Queen 2Face Idibia & Black Face Contemporary Highlife Song of the New Millennium: Oruka Sunny Neji Contemporary Afro Song of the New Era: Iheneme 2Face Idibia Contemporary Pop Song of the New Era: Chop My Money Peter, Paul & Jude Okoye Contemporary Highlife Song of the New Era: Baby Oku Flavour

THe GUARDIAN, Saturday, June 1, 2013

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eNTeRTAINMeNT Stories by Sony Neme

Female Winner Emerges At Legend’s Real Deal RACe Omaleye Folashade, G has emerged as the first female winner in the ongoing entertainment pocketful legend Real Deal National Consumer Promotion. Folashade is a 25-year-old bar owner from ekiti State, but her name popped up during the second raffle draw held at the lesukka events Centre, Port Harcourt, Rivers State last week.

She will be joining seven other male consumers for the next batch of legends who will be shopping for items of up to a million naira in value in one of the biggest shopping malls in Dubai, in the United Arab emirates.

The excited lady said: “even when posters were on the The Real Deal Group walls of my bar, I didn’t expect that I will win. Though

By Victor Olushola I drank from bottles of legend and sent in my entries eNTRAl Working Committee for just like any other person, I The Future Awards (TFA) has anwas so delighted when I renounced the formal calendar for ceived the call that I the activities of the 2013 awards cerhave been chosen as one of emony, which also came with a the lucky winners that will major step. for the awards’ biggest prize, Young out Internet access should call or SMS travel to Dubai and shop for a According to the executive DirecPerson of the Year will be Africa-based. 08022226712. million naira!” tor, The Future Project, Chude He also revealed that it has been Head, Division Human Resources and Folashade’s worries about an Jideonwo, after visiting Ghana, seven years of inspiring young Niger- Youth Development, African Union international passport was alSouth Africa and ethiopia, “we are ian leaders across the country.

Commission, Dr. Raymonde Agossou, layed by Mr. Funso Ayeni, Senexcited to announce that The Fu“We have visited 23 states with the said: “We are very proud of The Future ior Brand Manager, legend, ture Awards will go continental for awards, the town hall meetings, con- Awards because it has always been Nigerian Breweries Plc,: “The the first time – and this move is ferences among others and we have based on performance and achievelucky consumers’ trip to timed to coincide with the just-con- touched thousands of lives. That ment. Those values have remained inDubai is an all expense paid. cluded 50th anniversary celebralegacy will remain.” tact and should always be.”

Just like we got international tion of the African Union.”

Nominations are now on for The FuThe event will hold in August 2013. passports for some of those Jideonwo said this year’s edition ture Awards season 8. “Please nomiJudges will be officially unveiled in a that embarked on the would be hosted in partnership nate any inspiring young Nigerians statement next week and there will be first Dubai trip, we will also with the youth office of the African between 18 and 31 in the categories no public voting for The Future Awards get international passports Union Commission, based in Addis above by going to: www.thefu2013. for Grace and any other conAbaba, ethiopia, and nominations tureafrica.com/awards. Those withsumer that does not have one.”

Another winner, emuejevoke Oputu, a banker in Port Harcourt who was unaware of the ongoing promotion, she turned, a fan reached back and FAN slaps Beyonce on the butt, emerged the lucky individual and not only was he not thrown tapped her on the behind. whose ticket was picked at According to e-source, Her response out of the concert, but a video of the venue of the draw. He was, “Without missing a beat, the 31him doing it went viral, making would join others for the year-old diva lashed back: “I will him a pseudo-Internet celeb. Aclegend Dubai unique shophave you escorted out right now, alcording to The Hollywood Reping experience. There were right?” Beyonce and husband, Jay-Z, porter on May 28, the fan slapped other raffle draws for conBeyonce’s but at a concert in Copen- have been in the news of late, batsumers present at the bar as tling against rumors that the couple hagen.

Chika egbogu won a Blackis pregnant with their second child, Queen Bey got a rude awakening Berry handset while Paul following the cancellation of during her performance of “IrreUmeh went home with the placeable” at a Monday night show dates of the Mrs. Carter Show World 130 litre refrigerator. Uba Tour due to health problems. The in Copenhagen. Donning a Ananaba won a 32 inch lG TV rapper allegedly shot down the alleskintight blue bodysuit, Beyonce In a related development, the gations via e-mail to New York’s Hot reached out to touch the hands of first set of winners in the onseveral fans close to the stage and, as 97.

Beyonce going legend Real Deal promotion, have since returned to Nigeria after a three-day tour of Dubai, United Arab emirates with sweet tales of their respective rooms. Dur- society that has done so much their trip. The seven lucky for you. ing the tour, which was diwinners that had emerged “ I will come here again. I rected by a senior officer in were Uchechukwu Dennis the orphanage (names with have always been here and I Chukwu, Nwabuoke held) after each of them had will always make out time to Ikechukwu Ambrose, visit them. I also seize this op- Oluwabusuyi Kelvin Olreceived a piece of Davida portunity to thank the state textile, they hugged and ubusuyi and Solomon Okoro blessed him with prayers be- government because these Ike. Others are John Akoji, as aged people can’t get it better. well as Temitope Ogunyemi fore rendering the traditional happy birthday song. Very clean environment, well and Austin Nwakaife. They ventilated, you can see that For Fred, “This is very emohad travelled to Dubai on Frithere is a deliberate effort to tional. I decided to make day, May 17 empty-handed, make these our fathers and this visit with my friends but returned to lagos on and colleagues just to show mothers enjoy their old age.”

Monday, May 20, 2013, each The Old People’s Home is a some love to the aged. They with a luggage full of gift place where majority of the in- items, ranging from the luxudeserve everything you can mates have nobody to fall do for them now. Seeing rious to the bizarre. back to, while a negligible few people of this age and sharFred and friends at the orphanage According to the rules of the ing this moment with them were brought in by their fam- promo, each winner had only day afternoon, saw the Nolly- is more than gold to me. I N continuation of his ily members who pay a token one minute, during which he golden birthday celebration, wood star presenting food o N15,000 per annum. They feel elated being with these can amass as many items of Fred Amata was with over 40 stuff and clothes to each of are taken care of by the state aged people. When you see their choice as possible, as the inmates. old people at their exclusive government. And ultimately these people you will belong as it does not go above home at Yaba, lagos. The activ- He spent some time with their burial expenses are come more challenged on the value of N1 million. This ity, which took place last Sun- each of the aged people in borne by the state. the need to give back to the

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The Future Awards Season 8 Goes Continental

Fan slaps Beyonce’s butt At Copenhagen concert

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Fred Amata Shares Love At Old Peoples’ Home

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first phase of the Unique Shopping experience took place at Deira City Mall, Dubai.

At a special media parley to welcome them, Mr.Temitope Ogunyemi, who was the first to shop said: “I never wanted to go out that night because I was a little depressed as a result of long traffic. I called a friend of mine and we went to De Dems Park. People were drinking legend extra Stout and I chose to drink it so as not to spoil the fun. And that bottle of legend won me this trip to Dubai. Ogunyemi returned with ‘42’ Inch lG leD TV, a ‘32’ inch Toshiba leD TV, a projector, and a couple of other expensive items.

The winners were also taken on a tour of important sites in Dubai. He said: “We had a lot of fun, wined and dined at exquisite places like Chinese and Brazilian restaurants. We also visited a lot of interesting places such as the Dubai Gold Shop, the frontage of the Sheik’s Palace, the museum and many other exciting places. My last words for all lovers of legend extra Stout is that stay with the Real Deal’.

Another lucky consumer, Mr Austin Nwakaife, said, “It all started when my wife suggested that we should spend some time outside that Friday night, and my friend, who was around insisted we go to De Dems Park where the legend extra Stout promo was being held. When I didn’t win a TV or fridge I left the place in annoyance. I was trying to get a cab to my house when my friend came to drag me that I have won a trip to Dubai. I told him to leave me alone that I had never won anything in my life, but he dragged me to the venue of the promo. even the bouncers helped him in dragging me inside. And there they told me I won.”

He used his 60 seconds very judiciously by picking a couple of expensive electronic such a ‘42’ Inch Toshiba leD TV, Home Theatre, phones.

According to Ayeni, “The brand conceived the Dubai Unique Shopping experience as a consumer reward scheme for the brand’s teeming loyal consumers. He said, “legend has consistently achieved higher volume sales and is now the fastest growing stout brand in the Nigerian alcoholic beverage market. Our consumers made it possible because, without their support and patronage, we would not be where we are today. “legend promised to take 25 consumers that emerge from the transparent raffle draws to Dubai to shop for items at the biggest shopping mall in Dubai. Right now, seven of them have gone to Dubai for the shopping, and they have experienced Dubai. We will still stage more raffle draws where the remainder of the lucky consumers will emerge in a transparent manner. At this stage, I can only advise consumers to continue consuming legend extra Stout for this unique opportunity of shopping for items worth N1 million.”

ThE GUARDIAN, Saturday, June 1, 2013

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ENTERTAINMENT Stories by Sony Neme T was a glorious evening as notable entertainment personalities celebrated Peter Igho At O’Jez on Sunday May 26.

Indeed it was an evening that major players in the entertainment industry in Nigeria, under the auspices of the O’jez Entertainment Forum award series, came to pay tribute to a man that has served the industry with a lot of dedication and commitment for over three decades as Director of Programmes of the Nigerian Television Authority, NTA. On retirement from the NTA, Peter Igho, populary known as Mr Television, was saddled with the responsibility of revitalizing the National Lottery Regulatory Commission as Director General, a position he had held for four years now and virtually turned the commission around, using the same magic touch he had applied at the NTA. The night’s excitement began with the O’jez band setting the mood.

The forum’s compere, Nollywood super star, Charles Inojie, was at his best dishing out jokes and directing proceedings of the evening.

When comedian Elder O came on, the hall exploded in excitement.

For almost 20 minutes, the wavemaking artiste showed the stuff he is made of as he made Igho and his

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More Garlands For ‘Mr Television’ Peter Igho beautiful wife as well as his large entourage reel with laughter.

When it was time for tributes, Nollywood stars Paul Obazele, Ejike Asiegbu, Zik Zulu Okafor, Jimi Solanke expectedly took time to extol the virtues of Igho, whom they all described as a stand- up man. his long-time friend and associate, Mr. Kamal, an Indian, went down memory lane and told the large gathering how he met Igho and the journey so far.

The encomiums were punctuated with the performance of upcoming Afro hip hop act, T2. She wowed the crowd with her hit song ‘hotter Dan Fire’ and her sexy dance steps.

Peter Igho in an emotion-laden voice took the floor after the presentation of the award and gift. he thanked O’jez Entertainment Forum awards committee and industry practitioners and promised to continue to do what he had been doing. “Service to the people and country is my life and that I will continue to do as long as God continue to give me life and strength.”

Jimi Solanke ended the memorable night with a medley of highlife songs.

Igho receving the O’Jez awards

New Village Headmaster Star, Jumoke Celebrates At Orphange the Obafemi Awolowo

By Tony Nwanne Univeristy, Jumoke, STAR in the coming who stars as one of the New Village headOlori in the remaster, Jumoke Ayadi, vamped New Village celebrated her birthHeadmaster series had day at the Modupe starred in sitcoms and Cole Orphanage last flicks that Sunday, May 26, 2013. include Squatters, Bellas Jumoke was spotted Place, Married But Living wining and dining Single, Centrifugal with the special chilForce, Love in the slim, dren at the home for Mama Africa, In The the mental and physi- Music, Hackers, Heavens cally challenged situHell, Shackled and Famated on St. Finbars ily Business.

College Road, Akoka, “Birthday period for Yaba, Lagos. me is usually celeThe party train, which brated with the lessmoved to Jumokeprivileged, because it owned Jays Wine Bar gives me great pleasure in Surulere had friends to see the less-privand colleagues of the iledge smiling”, she actress in attendance. said A Yoruba graduate of Jumoke

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Bravo Magazine Dazzles At The Coliseum hE Niteshift Coliseum, Opebi_Ikeja T Lagos came alive, last Sunday, with dazzling entertaining events that character-

Azeezat made it interesting. Beautiful Nollywood face, Jenifer Eliogu did not disappoint as she co-anchored the event with ized the Bravo Weekly’s third anniversary. It Alariwo of Africa. was a parade of excited faces of celebrities It was a big day for new and undiscovered and numerous guests that made the pastars as the weekly magazine dedicated a parazzis’ day. A day that Mr Dada Eriye, Pub- special part of its event in the Future Stars’ lisher of Bravo Magazine chose to say a Concert. It was a competitive part of the huge thank you to his numerous readers event, and the upcoming stars locked and advisers. horns for the Future Star prize. Among At the event were Victor Adoji of Zenith those that got the guest dancing were Bank, Ramon Nasir, Ebi Akpeti and Mr Gboof, Donleo, Xxentive, Missy Joe, Nene Imoyo, all of United Bank for Africa and for- Johnson, Dakubta, Ozzy Bosco, Francis Sky. mer Lagos State Commissioner of the Envi- At the end, Nene Johnson of defunct Xtacy, ronment, Dr Muiz Banire. who emerged winner has this to say “ I am Also in attendance was the Special Media so elated, humbled by this award. The Adviser to Governor Uduaghan of Delta award is like the opener of my solo career. I State, Mr Felix Ofou; helen Sosu, Publisher thank God Almighty and the publisher of of Global Excellence Magazine; Mayor Akin- Bravo Weekly for this honour. pelu, aka Lord Mayor, Publisher of Top The stage was there for top artistes also Celebrity Magazine, Ejiro Roman Adigbo rocked the audience with their great hits, and Mr Moses Obajemu of Skye Bank, as with Mike Okri proving that he is still in well as Mr Ugo of Soulcom Publicis, Pubcontention. Azeezat came back on stage lisher of Yes International Magazine, Azuh after a fantastic rendering of the Nigerian Arinze. Top music stars like Mike Okri, Zaaki Anthem, and King Wadada also didn’t disAzay, King Wadada, Black Reverends, appoint his fans.

Gospel Act, Ben Orise Launches New Album, Celebration hE launch of Ben Orise’s new T album, Celebration, was amidst fanfare, words of exultation, praise jams

Orise in performance

and dance performance. This was provided by a renowned gospel artiste, David Moore, at The Redeemed Christian Church of God, Victory Parish, Okota, Lagos, with friends, families and parishioners in attendance. Orise, a rising gospel star and a music director in the same church for about three years thrilled his church members with such quality music.

According to an elated Orise who has been playing secular music since the 80s, “When I started music, I never thought of gospel anyway but it got to a point in one’s life when something hits you and you feel that thing; then you know that there is need for a change. I was out there in the wilderness. I left this country with my secular music band and I got somewhere and the Lord said, ‘Yes, thank you, my son, it’s about time’.

“I didn’t know what moved me, but I heard this still voice, which was irre-

sistible. It said, ‘My son, it’s time for you to sing gospel music’, and I was convinced that ‘yes, this is the Lord speaking. So, it is not about me at all. This is what the Lord has created me for. This is his purpose for me, to sing gospel songs for him”. he sermonized further: “This is all we need to take us to the next level, and all we need to make it in life is God. Anything outside God is scanty. Without him, you don’t have a root.” he said the 11-track album would make people feel the touch of God in their lives and bring positive changes to them.

“I am just waiting to explode. I just said, let this one go. I am just waiting to dish out more songs for those who love the gospel of Christ and even those outside of the faith. As the Lord helps us and grants his grace, we shall continue to thrill our listeners with more songs.”

After the launch last weekend, the Delta State-born gospel artist said he was ready to shoot his video soon and flood the airwaves with it.

TheGuardian

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Saturday, June 1, 2013

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Arts&Culture

Scenes from the CBAAC event

Cultural Grooming For Young Nigerians

By Gbenga Salau HE Centre for Black and African Arts and T Civilisation (CBAAC), last Monday, staged an inter-secondary schools debating competition with the theme, Does culture have a role to play in curbing insecurity in Nigeria?

Organised in collaboration with the Society for the Performing Arts in Nigeria, (SPAN), the contest was part of activities lined-up to celebrate 2013 Children’s Day anniversary, and also, to sensitise school children the importance of culture in the society.

But the event was not all talks, as there were cultural presentations and poetry recitations from participating schools.

Before the welcome speech by the Director General of CBAAC, Professor Tunde Babawale, there was a light entertainment from Uncle Jimi Solanke’s band. Students of Baptist Model College also thrilled guests with a cultural dance. Students of Corona Secondary School were not left out, as they showcased their creativity in the spoken word. The duo of Saka and Sule of the Lafomania group were also on hand to entertain participants.

Babawale, in his speech, argued that the prosperity of the nation reside in the values children are exposed to at home, school and the society. He called on parents to give more attention to their children for them to be the

future leaders that they ought to be.

“We must constantly teach them the values of honesty, hard work, humility, civility and integrity in private and public conduct. Our children must be made boys and girls of good breeding as demanded by our culture. Such properly bred individuals are described as Ezigbonwa among the Igbo, Mutum kirki among the Hausa and Omoluabi among the Yoruba.

“You will agree with me that no one deserves more attention and celebration than our children. They symbolise the bridge that link our today with our tomorrow and even the future. Because of their importance in our society and lives, the Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilisation is statutorily established to preserve, promote and propagate African culture as well as investing in children and youths.”

He disclosed that the centre’s interest and investments in children and youth programmes are encouraged by the fact that children are malleable and can be turned into positive torchbearers, thereby helping in facilitating societal growth and development.

According to him, though government has been making efforts to confront some of the challenges facing the youths, it is clear that more still need to be done, as there is need to see the challenges facing the children and youths as a desperate disease that needs a desperate remedy.

The CBAAC boss disclosed that the insecurity in the country made the centre to pick a theme to look at how culture could play a role in providing solution. “ Our children live daily with the threats of robbery, kidnappings and other forms of violent conduct. It is also sad to note that the culture of tolerance that characterises inter-group and inter-state relationships and helps to promote societal harmony, cohesion and peaceful co-existence, which was once treasured in our contemporary times have disappeared. Given this situation and the desire to halt the descent into anomie, using the instrumentality of culture, CBAAC took the decision to dedicate this year’s edition of our international Children’s Day celebration to the theme: Does Culture Have A Role To Play In Curbing Insecurity In Nigeria?”

Guests that graced the event include two monarchs, the Aroyekeye 1, Oba Dokun Abolarin, and the Osamawe and Paramount Ruler of Ondo Kingdom, Oba Victor Adesimbo Kiladejo, Jilo 111 while the Erelu of Lagos, Abiola Dosunmu, chaired the event.

In his speech, Oba Kiladejo stated that traditional rulers can perform a pivotal role in the use of culture to promote security, noting that it is incumbent on all royal fathers to use their thrones to foster security through the promotion of several aspects of culture that emphasise peace and development.

Oba Abolarin commended CBAAC for invest-

ing in children. He noted that despite the challenges confronting the nation, the future of the country is very bright.

The Chair of the event, Erelu Abiola, said adults in some ways have failed the children.

She stressed the importance of loving our neighbour, adding that it is panacea to peace.

She enjoined all to love one another.

The President of SPAN, Mrs. Sarah Boulos, commenting on the importance on culture, stated that a country does not exist without art, as culture and art are the life of the country. She maintained that without the art, children cannot live.

The schools that took part in the debate are Mbari Mbayo Secondary School, Corona Secondary School, St Gregory Secondary School, Tinder College Secondary School, Rolex Secondary School, Kings College and Topgrade Secondary School. The schools through their representatives, two each, argued for and against the role of culture in curbing insecurity.

Before the debate, a documentary on the series of Children’s Day programme organised by CBAAC was played while Precious Ige, a young boy, wowed guests and the students with his dexterity on the talking drum.

Also, Starfield College, St Gregory College, Ewu Tutu Secondary School, entertained the children and guests with different cultural dance displays.

THE GUARDIAN Saturday, June 1, 2013

ARTS 39

Inside the exhibition hall

In Addis Ababa, Echoes Of African Rock Art Keep Pulsating

By Omiko Awa University of Pretoria, South Africa; Prof.

N addition to participating actively in other Ianniversary programmes of activities lined up for the 50th Salima Ikram, Prof. of Egyptology, American of the African Union (AU), Nigeria’s University in Cairo, Egypt; and David involvement in the golden year package became robust with the staging of a colloquium and exhibition on Africa Rock Art and the Pan-African Renaissance, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The two event ran simultaneously from May 22 to 24, 2013.

The AU, at its fourth Session of the Conference of Ministers of Culture (CAMC4) held in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) from October 29 to November 2, 2012, approved that the Nigerian Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation through one of its agencies, Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilization (CBAAC) to organise and host the twin event.

This invitation was in recognition of CBAAC’s contributions to the subject and a follow-up action to previous engagements. It provided the desirable platform for updating research findings on African Rock Art and the panAfrican renaissance. It also provided avenue for the sharing of knowledge and experiences on the successful application of strategies for managing Rock Art sites across the continent.

Commissioner for Social Affairs, African Union Commission, Dr. Mustapha Sidiki Kaloko, declared the exhibition open while the colloquium was presided over by the Nigeria’s Minister of Culture and Tourism, Chief Edem Duke. Other guests in attendance were, Nigerian Ambassador to Ethiopia and Permanent Representative to the African Union and UNECA, Ambassador P. Lolo; the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Ms. Nkechi Ejele; representative of the Chairperson of the AU, H. E. Dr. Mustapha Sidiki Kaloko; Commissioner For Social Affairs, African Union Commission, Ali Moussa Iye – UNESCO’s Chief of the Section of History and Memory for Dialogue; Prof Francisco Matsinhe, Executive Secretary, African Academy of Languages, Bamako Mali; Prof Mbuyamba Lupwishi, Director-General, Observatory for Cultural Policies in Africa (OCPA), Maputo, Mozambique; Prof Charles Binam Bikoi, Executive Secretary, Regional Centre for Research into Oral Tradition and the Development Languages, Yaoundé, Cameroun.

Others included: Prof. George Abungu, former Director-General of the National Museum of Kenya, and currently a Prof. of Applied Anthropology, University of Florida, Gainesville USA; Director-General, National Commission for Museum and Monuments (NCMM), Nigeria, Mr. Yusuff Abdallah; Artistic Director, National Troupe of Nigeria, Mr. Martin Adaji; Dr. Yonas Beyene, Programme Director, Association for Research and Conservation of Culture, Ethiopia; Prof. Audax Mabulla Prof., Archaeology Unit, University of Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania; Décio Muianga, University Eduardo Mondlane, Maputo, Mozambique; Dr. Ndukuyakhe Ndlovu, Department of Anthropology and Archaeology,

Coulson, Chairman, Trust for African Rock Art (TARA), Nairobi Kenya among others.

According to Chief Edem Duke, Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, “Africa’s Rock Art heritage is among the world’s best, but unfortunately, the least understood and appreciated. This is because the continent is yet to harness and utilise the benefits inherent in this important heritage. Multiples of complex symbolism, metaphors and meanings embedded in African Rock Art sites can provide clues to the controversies that dog Africa’s contribution to world civilisation. They can also provide windows into the understanding and appreciation of many aspects of the continent’s history.”

He said, “African Rock Art sites and images are fragile, vulnerable and threatened by the expanding populations, building, mining, road construction and poorly managed tourism. The most common of these threats are theft and vandalism.”

To stem these threats, he said, “government agencies, museums, educational institutions and various NGOs can form partnership by working to safeguard the art through documentation, legislation, increased public awareness, improved security, community engagement and responsible tourism.”

Mrs. Nkechi Ejele, the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, said: “African Rock Art provides us opportunity to see, appreciate and celebrate the richness and diversity of African history and culture.”

She continued, “they not only provide us with a strong sense of pride in a rich African past, they remind us of our common and unifying ancestry. They also disprove and debunk egocentric claims that negate Africa’s contributions to world civilisation.”

While saying they can play important and key roles in the continent’s desire to achieve economic growth and development, he noted, “African Rock Arts can help in breaking our monolithic reliance on fossil fuels (i.e. petroleum and gas) through investments in and promotion of cultural tourism.

It is important to say that cultural tourism holds the ace to Africa’s economic growth in the future. If promoted and developed, African Rock Arts can become one of the fastest growing sections of the continent’s culture and tourism industry.”

In his presentation, Babawale traced the root of the project to a mere dialogue between two individuals, Ms. Amolo Ng’weno of Kenya and retired General Ishola Williams of the Pan-African Strategic and Policy Research Group (PANAFSTRAG) in the course of a meeting on an on-going pictorial coverage of some unique rock paintings in

Dr. Mustapha Sidiki Kaloko… declaring the exhibition open. With him were Culture and Tourism Minister, Edem Duke (right) and other guests

Guests at a session of the colloquium East, and Southern Africa, by David Coulson of the Trust for African Rock Art (TARA).

The dialogue, he recalled, later metamorphosed into small group discussions, which resulted in the revisit of the pre-historic art and artists as well as art works.

The desire to further action on the subject, Babawale said, informed the broadening of the membership of the discussion group, to include African Agencies, experts and scholars involved in the study of African history and civilization.

According to him, CBAAC was invited to further engage scholars and experts in the field of Archaeology, Anthropology, Cultural Linguistics, Curatorial and allied services to unearth the intangible heritage information hidden in African Rock Art. The maiden twoday meeting was held in Nairobi, Kenya, from May 23 to 24, 2006. It was hosted by TARA, a non-governmental agency based in Nairobi, Kenya, in whose custody some of the Rock Art photographs were kept.

It was unanimously agreed at the forum that CBAAC should serve as the arrowhead of the Pan-African project on the reconstruction of the history of the Black and African people’s.

CBAAC and TARA were thereafter, mandated to liaise with scholars in the area of Rock Art studies – Archaeology, Culture, Linguistics, Palaeontology, Anthropology, Folk-Lore — and other areas of relevance to Rock Art, in East

and Western Africa, in preparation for the Phase II of the project. CBAAC was further mandated to undertake further studies on the presence of Rock Art sites in West Africa, with particular emphasis on Nigeria.

Findings revealed extensive distribution of Rock Paintings in the predominantly rocky areas of Nigeria, namely Ikom Local Government Area of Cross-river State and its environs; different locations in Bauchi State, and Iwo Eleru in Ondo State. Searches also revealed extensive distribution of unique sets of stone paintings, otherwise known as monoliths. The drawings, which were on stones have been classified as ‘sophisticated’ by scholars, with each carved stone carrying Nsibidi — a mode of writing credited to the Ejegham people of the Bantu stock, who were carriers of the Bantu civilization, and who claimed to have migrated from the Congo Basin.

Oral traditions of the people, emphasised the documentation function of these drawings, insisting that prehistoric Africans in the course of migration, spread a sophisticated civilisation documented in a writing the colonialists could not decode; and because they could not interpret what they saw, they termed it ‘primitive writing.’ The argument then was that the Nsibidi writing could be older than the historically acclaimed hieroglyphics of Egypt.

THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, June 1, 2013

40

SHORT STORY

By Segun Durowaiye (08055356855) OPHIA and Nkerom were legally marSbeautiful. ried and had a son. Sophia was really Light-skinned, tall, gazelle-like and charming. Her teeth were sparkling and as white as snow. She was also gaptoothed, with a disarming smile and starry eyes. Sophia’s beauty was celestial and enchanting.

Her husband, Nkerom was an insurance broker but still hustling to make ends meet. He was dark-skinned, short and stocky, with piercing eyes revealing a man with a wicked mission. It was very difficult to fathom what was on his mind at a particular moment. He hardly smiled and spoke. And when he did, it was with careful disposition. His financial standing was not so encouraging and this often caused petty quarrels between him and his angelic wife.

Most times, misunderstanding normally arose and had to be settled by elders of the family. All the same the relationship continued as they had to make do with managing their meagre resources.

Nkerom was always on the drawing board everyday mapping out plans and strategies that would banish poverty from his life as he realised that time was nobody’s friend and he was fast aging. He knew definitely that mother luck would answer him one day and he would hit it big and that would put an end to the incessant nagging of his delectable wife.

It seemed Nkerom’s expectation was gradually coming to reality the day his wife got a job as an air hostess owith KBM Airways, a thriving multinational company. He was happy and delighted at the development and exuded confidence and hope of breaking the yoke of poverty. He said excitedly: “Sophia, you have got a very good job now! If we play the game skillfully, we’ll soon be in millions I assure you.

Hope you got my drift. This is our only opportunity, please don’t let it slip through our fingers.”

“Nkerom darling, I understand every word you’ve spoken. I assure you I’ll deliver whenever the opportunity arises. No kidding. We are on the right path,” she replied.

A couple of months later, fortune smiled on Sophia when during a particular trip a traveller, Ronald Silverworth, met and fell in love with her.

“You really mean you’re a divorcee, Sophia?” the multimillionaire South African mulatto asked her.

“I’m telling you the truth and nothing but the truth,” she replied with a satanic and sly smile radiating over her face.

“Oh, boy! Sophia, just give me your love and I’ll take you to paradise with millions of money!,” Silverworth said gleefully with all sincerity.

“I’m all yours Silverworth!” Sophia answered for the umpteenth time. “My love and heart is yours forever!” she assured him.

And that was it! Sophia had finally ensnared an innocent multi-millionaire South African businessman in her love bait. She was acting on instructions from her husband, Nkerom. This was actually one connivance too many. It was a planned work. Ronald Silverworth fell for the ruse, hook, line and sinker.

Just two months into the ungodly relationship, Sophia and Nkerom had become very rich, courtesy of Silverworth. He spent millions of dollars on Sophia. In one year, he had changed Sophia’s fortune by making her a millionaires. He built two mansions for her, one in her home town and the other in Lagos.

Sophia drove around the town in sophisticated wonder-on-wheels. She had several cars and took Siverworth to her parents in the village. Touched by the level of poverty of his supposed in-laws, he built a beautiful duplex for them and he spent thousands of dollars on them mothly. It was the highest point of deceit as Sophia still met with Nkerom, her real husband.

Somehow, the unexpected happened.

Sophia became pregnant for Silverworth!

At that very time, the tall and handsome Silverworth was in his late 40s. And it gave him so much joy.

He took Sophia on a one-month holiday

The Evil Couple to Miami in Florida, United States. When they came back from the trip, Silverworth started getting threatening telephone calls from unknown men. He wondered who could be after his life for he couldn’t imagine hurting anybody or stepping on toes.

One day, he flew in from his base in Cape Town, South Africa to finalize some business deals in Nigeria. He was chauffeur-driven to Pearl Avenue in highbrow Victoria Island later in the afternoon in company with Sophia.

About 15 minutes, later they were in the comfort of his sprawling mansion in Pearl Avenue.

As usual, the lovebirds were enjoying the bliss of life in the beautiful mansion.

At about 11p.m, they started hearing sounds of gunshots in the main compound. The security men on guard were instantly killed by some daredevil robbers who had gained entrance into the living room in a commando fashion. Silverworth was gripped by fear when suddenly broke into his room.

“Where’s the money now! Dollars! Dollars!

Bring them out now!,” threatened the masked robbers, numbering about 10 and clutching AK47 rifles and other submachine guns.

“Please, I’ll give it to you, just don’t hurt me or my darling…” Silverworth begged. He stood up and opened his wardrobe. He gave the robbers a briefcase containing 950,000 dollars.

“Thanks a million!,” the kingpin of the robbers said in a guttural voice and cocked his rifle. “This is your parting shot!”

He fired a volley of shots into Silverworth’s chest. The man collapsed and died. Then the kingpin turned and faced Sophia, who all these while wasn’t perturbed. He took off his mask

and stretched his hand towards her. Sophia grabbed the hand of the kingpin and they burst into raucous laughter. Behold, it was Nkerom her husband!

“Come closer dear,” he called softly, “mission is accomplished! We can now go home now and live our dreams…life is sweet!”

After Silverworth’s murder, Sophia aborted the pregnancy she had for him. She started living big with her husband. They kept spending money as if there was no tomor-

He fired a volley of shots into Silverworth’s chest.

The man collapsed and died. Then the kingpin turned and faced Sophia, who all these while wasn’t perturbed. He took off his mask and stretched his hand towards her. Sophia grabbed the hand of the kingpin and they burst into raucous laughter. Behold, it was Nkerom her husband!

row. A couple of months later, nemesis caught up with them. Their son, Peterson, suddenly died of a strange illness. They were deeply pained.

The Nigerian Police Force, in collaboration with the Interpol, had been probing Silverworth’s death. Five months later, it was discovered that Sophia and Nkerom masterminded the murder. They were arrested at the Muritala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos one Saturday as they attempted to jet out of the country to Canada. They were charged with murder and arraigned in court accordingly. They were shocked when the elderly and bespectacled judge pronounced judgement on them.

“That you, Sophia, connived with Nkerom your legal husband and murdered Mr. Silverworth your benefactor and carted away 950,000 dollars on the spot. Under the criminal jurisprudence and legal power bestowed on me, I hereby sentence both of you to death by hanging.

“Sophia, you have committed a most atrocious and inhuman act. Nkerom, you and your evil wife shall rot in the fiercest bottom of hell. Your sentence will run concurrently. You’ll both spend one year with hard labour in the prison, after which you’ll face the hangman and die a gruesome death. So be it.”

At the final pronouncement of judgement, Sophia burst into tears and sobbed like a baby. Nkerom shook his head remorsefully as they were led out of the courtroom by five grim-faced policemen.

Sophia continued wail as they led them to a waiting van that would convey them to Kirikiri Maximum Prisons.

After one year in the prison, they were taken out of their cells and brought to the hangman’s chamber. There and then the noose was thrown around their necks one after the other. And they died a most painful and horrible death.

TheGuardian

Saturday, June 1, 2013 41

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Health Natural Health With G. C. Ihesie

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

Natural Ways of Maintaining Prostate Health (VII) Home Remedies for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia or Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy (BPH) N last week’s edition, we mentioned tomatoes, pumpkin seeds, watermelon seeds as some of the specific foods that have been proven to be effective in the management and prevention of prostate enlargement. Other foods include: Soybeans (Glycine max) Studies have shown that the consumption of soy-based foods helps in preventing prostate enlargement.

Prostate enlargement is less prevalence among Japanese men and this has been attributed to the Japanese diet that is rich in soy and tofu.

Soy is a staple food in many Asian countries and is rich in proteins (the source of essential amino acids), dietary fibres, vitamins C and E, iron, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus and calcium. It is low in fat and is cholesterol-free. Soy also contains plant oestrogens like isoflavones (primarily genistein and daidzein) and anthocyanin that have antioxidant properties which are known to help control prostate enlargement and may reduce the risk of hormonedependent cancers, such as prostate cancer, breast cancers as well as other cancers.

Anthocyanin is also found in red cabbage, red wine, green tea and berries.

Onions (Allium cepa) Onions are bulbous perennial or biennial herbs believed to be native to the Northern Hemisphere. For more than 6,000 years, onion bulbs have been cultivated worldwide and

I

used as food and for healing various health problems.

Onion bulb is an excellent source of amino acids (such as glutamic acid, arginine, lysine, glycine, etc.); vitamin C; vitamin E; B-vitamins, e.g. B1 (thiamine), B2 (Riboflavin); folic acid; potassium; phosphorous; calcium; manganese; sodium; sulphur; and, in lesser quantities – manganese; iron; copper; zinc; and selenium. It is rich in dietary fibres and contains no fat.

Essentially, onion bulb contains essential oil with many sulphurous compouonds such as allicin (diallyl disulfide), flavonoid quercetin, etc., which make it a powerful immune booster and an excellent antioxidant and antitumour agent.

Recent studies have shown that a daily liberal intake of raw whole onion or taking raw onion juice is one of the most effective home supplements for the prevention of prostate disorders in men.

Consumption of onion inhibits organ enlargements and inhibits the establishment of cancerous centers in the body. However, the health and preventive benefits of raw onion manifest only after long-term usage.

Sea foods It is advisable to substitute red meat with sea foods such as salmon fish, mackerel, tuna, fish, herring, etc. These sea foods are very high in omega-3 fatty acids and other fish oils.

Omega-3 oil fatty acids are benefi-

cial for cardiovascular health and help in preventing prostate tumours and cancerous growths. It has also been found that by taking any one of 1 tablespoon of virgin coconut oil, walnut oil, linseed oil, sunflower oil or evening primrose oil daily helps in relieving the symptoms of prostate enlargement.

Supplements for Prostate Enlargement Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) Apple cider vinegar is an acidic solution produced by fermenting apples.

The healing benefits have been known for thousands of years, and

recent studies also show that apple cider vinegar contains more than 90 different bioactive substances including apple pectin, malic acid, acetic acid, tartaric acid, propionic acid, lactic acid and numerous enzymes. It also contains Vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin A, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin B6, beta-carotene, vitamin P (bioflavonoids), potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorous, chlorine, copper, iron, silicon, fluorine and other trace minerals.

Owing to its high content of betacarotene, vitamin C, vitamin E and vitamin A, ACV has powerful antioxidant activities.

Sipping diluted apple cider vinegar solution (2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar in one glass of water a day) helps to restore the body’s acid/alkaline balance, boosts the immune system, removes accumulated toxins in the body and helps lower blood cholesterol.

Apple cider vinegar may not cure or reduce prostate enlargement and prostate cancer directly; however, it does these indirectly by helping to remove potentially dangerous toxins and mopping up or neutralizing free radicals - in the body – which can cause the damage of cells and thus lead to prostate degenerative changes in the prostate gland.

Blackstrap Molasses Crude blackstrap molasses is a healthful sweetener that contains significant amounts of a variety of minerals that promote health.

Scientific analysis has shown that blackstrap molasses is an excellent

The Healing Values Of Corn Silk (Maize Silk) ORN is known botanically as Zea mays. It belongs to the family of grasses which is sciC entifically called Gramiaeae. Corn silk, also classified as Zea mays, is the silky (hair-like) styles (10-20cm long) found between the ears and the husks of corn. When fresh, they are light green or yellow-brown in colour. They are usually harvested when the husks are fresh; and they are dried in a warm and airy room or in a drying shed. The drying process takes approximately 714 days. Dried corn silk resembles fine, dark, crinkled hair, and is used as herb and not as food.

Dried corn silk is cut and stored in an airtight container - preferably in a dark glass container. The medicinal values, (especially the diuretic properties) of the silk, like those of any other herbs, diminish after about two years of storage. Corn silk is effective either fresh or dried. However, when used fresh, it may act as a laxative. It is one of the safest herbs that can be used for children, pregnant women, nursing mothers, adult and the aged.

Constituents Of Corn Silk: Laboratory analysis reveals that the main active constituents of corn silk are as follows: Maizemic acid, fixed oil, mucilage, sugars, resin, saponin, salicylic acid, oxalic acid, alkaloids, tartaric acids, flavonoids, anthocyanins, tannins, thymol, steroids, allantoin, etc.

Miscellaneous constituents of corn silk include: Vitamins (B vitamins and PABA, panthothenic acid, thiamin, beta carotene, Vitamins C and K); it also contains high amounts of potassium, silicon (silica), calcium, magnesium, iron, phosphorus and zinc.

Therapeutic Actions Of Corn Silk: Diuretic, demulcent, tonic, mild stimulant, antiinflammatory, analgesic, lithotriptic, antiseptic and antimicrobial; and is a mild anodyne.

Method of Preparation / Dosages: (i) Infusion (tea): 1 to 2 teaspoons of the dried herb is infused for up to 10-15 minutes in a teacup of boiling water. This could be taken warm or cold 3 -5 times daily, depending on the severity of the condition.

Alternatively:-30g of the herb is infused in a litre of boiling water, and a cup (200 ml) is taken three times a day. (ii) Decoction: The silk from 3 ears of fresh corn could be boiled with 3 tea cups of water for 5 minutes; and half or one cup of the decoction could be taken at once for up to 3-4 times a day. (iii) Tincture of Corn Silk: Corn silk is soaked in 130g or 500ml of alcohol as a standard herbal tincture. (iv) Corn Silk Capsules: Dried corn silk is powdered and capsulated. 2 capsules are taken 3 times daily with plenty of water at meal times.

Corn silk has been proven to have a very high amount of potassium which makes it a very balanced herbal diuretic. It stimulates the renal epithelium cells to excrete and increase urine flow in cases of water retention. Because of its high potassium contents, it does not upset the body’s normal chemistry (i.e. electrolyte balance). Also, due to its saponins, allantoin and mucilage contents, corn silk exerts demulcent or soothing and healing effects on irritated tissues in the body.

Therapeutic Indications (Or Uses Of Corn Silk)Corn silk is given as an effective and balanced herbal diuretic for minimizing oedema (water retention) at the in the lower limbs as in pedal oedema in pregnant women, prior to the monthly menstruation as in premenstrual syndrome (PMS), dropsies due to heart disease, hypertension or the subpalpebral oedema (bag of water under the eyes).

Unsweetened corn silk infusion alone is an excellent remedy given to children

source of most vital nutrients. For example, two tablespoons of blackstrap molasses contains the following: Calcium (117.53 mg), Copper (0.28 mg), Iron (2.39 mg), Magnesium (29.38 mg), Manganese (0.36 mg), Potassium (340.57 mg), Phosphorus,; and trace minerals like Chromium and Selenium (2.43 mcg).

Taking two tablespoons of organic blackstrap molasses daily as a sweetener together with Vitamins A, C, E and Zinc has been found to shrink enlarged prostate and prevents the degenerative changes in the cells of the prostate gland that can cause malignant growths.

Other Supplements Lycopene occurs most commonly in tomatoes, and has been found to be very helpful in reducing the risk of BPH and preventing prostate cancer. Taking lycopene together with vitamin E, selenium and zinc daily, helps in decreasing the risk of prostate (and other cancers) by 50%.

Research has shown that while selenium protects the inside of the cell, vitamin E protects the cell membrane and selenium works synergistically with vitamin E to protect the whole cell. Patients with BPH and prostate cancer usually have low zinc levels in their blood. Therefore, taking zinc as supplement enhances the immune function and helps to protect the prostate gland.

Taking either flaxseed oil or fish oils (omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids) or evening primrose daily helps protect against prostate cancer.

with profuse albumin in urine due to nephrotic syndrome (Nephrosis).

Corn Silk is used as a soothing and relaxing herb to help calm and alleviate the irritation and inflammations in the kidneys, urinary tract, prostate and the urinary bladder, which often result in burning and painful urination. Therefore, corn silk is usually recommended in cases of nephritis (inflammation of the kidneys), cystitis, urethritis, prostatitis and bedwetting.

Corn silk clears toxins, catarrh, cataract deposits and reduces the formation of sediments in the kidneys and bladder. It is used for the treatment of renal calculi (kidney stones) and urinary bladder stones and gravel.

The stone-breaking (litholytic) property of “stone breaker” (Phyllanthus nuriri) is enhanced when it is combined with corn silk and given as infusion (tea). Also, taking a mixture of corn silk and Phyllanthus nuriri as tea regularly helps in the treatment and prevention of gallbladder stones, cholecystitis (inflammation of the gallbladder) and sclerosis of the liver. Corn silk is a gentle blood-purifying remedy and it helps in clearing excessive uric acids deposited in the joints and body tissues. It also exerts some analgesic and anodyne actions in the body and this makes it useful in the treatment of rheumatism and arthritis, gout and sciatica.

A regular intake of corn silk infusion is one of the cheapest ways of losing excess body weight (obesity). For this purpose, corn silk is more effective when it is taken in combination with other herbs like chickweed (Stellaria media). Studies have shown that taking an overnight cold infusion of corn silk exerts hypoglycemic (blood sugar-lowering) effect, especially in an overweight patient. Taking corn silk infusion or the tincture will help in “cheering up a depressed spirit” and calming a restless mind.

THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, June 1, 2013

42

HEALTHFEATURE

Chukwu

lifestyle patterns may reduce or intensify risk.

Whereas in our society, being sedentary and overweight was once seen as evidence of good living, reducing the body mass, healthy eating and regular exercise limit the chances of disease.

Sometimes, people cannot avoid environmental risks, such as regular exposure to smoke from cooking with firewood at home, for commerce or within many ‘unseen’ cottage industries, due to the limited resources in the family or community and poor national infrastructure.

Cancer treatment is expensive regardless of what regime of treatment is adopted; the use of drugs (chemotherapy), and the application of radiation (radiotherapy) or surgical intervention. The most recent development called immunotherapy (requiring manipulation of the immune system), is even more expensive than the other three. Since treatment is expensive, investment in cancer prevention and early detection is money well spent.

Guidelines for reporting biopsies of the gastrointestinal tract and the liver, for use in Nigeria have been produced. This will provide a basis for comparing status and outcome of patients with diseases, especially cancer, affecting these organs. With guidelines for other cancers developed, trends in the occurrence of other forms of the malignant disease can also be tracked.

Based on records from the cancer registry in Ibadan, the occurrence of cancers can be ranked as presented below: • When considering men and women of all ages, breast cancer is the most common, followed by cancer of the cervix, prostate, colon (large intestine) and rectum, lymph nodes (lymphoma), skin, and liver, in that order.

Amongst men only, prostate cancer topped the chart, followed by colorectal (colon and rectum) cancer, lymphoma, liver cancer and skin cancer in that order. Cancer of soft tissue, brain, nasopharynx (nose), larynx (voice box - throat) and leukaemias (blood) also ranked amongst the top ten cancers in the population around Ibadan.

Amongst women only, cancers of the breast and cervix, followed by colon and rectum, lymphomas, ovaries, skin and uterus are widespread.

The large bowel is a frequent site of cancer that is common to all persons. It is the second most frequent site for cancer to occur in men, and the third most frequent site for cancer in women. Other sites ahead of it on the chart are those associated with sexual reproduction.

Pathology plays a significant role in identifying this and other systemic disorders. More than 70 per cent of all decisions about diagnosis and treatment, hospital admission, and discharge rest on such medical test results.

Since diagnosis is the foundation of all patient care, pathology is a unique medical specialty.

When considering men and women of all ages, breast cancer is the most common, From their vantage position, pathologists are able to assess the incidence and patterns followed by cancer of the cervix, prostate, colon (large intestine) and rectum, of diseases. Their observations should therelymph nodes (lymphoma), skin, and liver, in that order. fore be considered in developing a health Amongst men only, prostate cancer topped the chart, followed by colorectal (colon policy and development of public infrastrucand rectum) cancer, lymphoma, liver cancer and skin cancer in that order. Cancer ture. For instance, the health benefits in domestic consumption of Liquefied of soft tissue, brain, nasopharynx (nose), larynx (voice box - throat) and Petroleum Gas (LPG) support a shift from use leukaemias (blood) also ranked amongst the top ten cancers in the population of firewood to widespread adoption of cookaround Ibadan. ing gas. This move saves the forest and peoples’ lives.

The emphasis in health policy should be on Although rare, testicular cancer occurs Asia. The early onset of the disease is prevention and early detection of the disease within our population, and has been seen attributed to exposure to environmental and the time to act is now. From all indicain a 19 year old. The risk of occurrence is carcinogens especially hepatitis B virus significantly higher when the testes do not tions, the burden of cancer can be expected (HBV), a toxin produced by some moulds descend into the scrotal sac at the right to rise, but with early detection, cancer cases in crops (aflatoxin) and hepatitis C virus time. This is easily detected if parents check need not claim so many lives. As the environ(HCV) at birth or soon afterwards. ment changes, one should expect a change in The male bias of liver cancer is explained at birth or soon thereafter.

In many cancer treatment centres in the trend of cancers. So much work needs be in some cases by the presence of male horNigeria, about one out of 10 cases seen will done by all and sundry- individuals, groups, mone receptors within cancerous cells. be prostate cancer (6 – 12 per cent). The corporate bodies and governments.

Liver cancer has also been found to result average age when this cancer is seen is Everyone must take responsibility but this from complications of other ailments. In between the 65th and round about the 70th must be premised on clear and dependable all, it has been found that the major known causes of liver cancer are preventa- birthday. But it could occur any time, from information. age 40 up till the 90th birthday. It is the Cancer awareness programmes are required ble. Yet, it is the cancer most commonly sixth most common cause of cancer death to educate people on the risk factors in the known to kill men in this environment. environment, and desirable changes in estabLung cancer is better known to the public in men all over the world.

Prostate cancer is more likely to affect lished patterns of behaviour. Socially responand it is usually associated with cigarette black men, and there is evidence to suggest sible corporate entities, the dynamic civil smoking. But the development of lung that among African - Americans and society – with the range of bodies and noncancer is also associated with some enviCaribbean men, those whose ancestry can governmental organisations - working with ronmental pollutants, including those be traced to West Africa, the Nigerian area health experts and the media are well placed related to occupational exposure such as tin mining, building and even some other- in particular, are more prone to the disease. to assist here. wise innocuous cottage industries, which In any case, evidence suggests that the disOn its part, federal government needs to ease progresses more rapidly in our envirely on the use of firewood. review its commitment to healthcare. At ronment.

High incidence of lung cancer among present, public expenditure on health is less Genetic factors can account for the inciwomen, had called attention to the culpathan a quarter of that recommended internability of chemical pollutants derived from dence of certain cancers. Sometimes peotionally; $8 per capita, compared to the recwood burning and the use of charcoal for ple inherit genes that make their cells ommended $34. This is too meagre and can prone to being defective. Environmental cooking. These environmental risks are make no significant impact. Investment in also considered important in cases of lung factors also play a part in the incidence of health must be improved. cancer among young people regardless of the disease. But individual choices, for example those that influence dietary and their gender.

Cancer In Nigeria: A Pathologist’s View

By J. Olufemi Ogunbiyi HE burden of cancer is rapidly increasing T and it is likely to continue as more people live longer. Cancer cases tend to be higher amongst the older age group. World Health Organisation reports show that there are presently more deaths from cancer than from AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria combined. HIV itself is an additional cause of the increased incidence of cancer. It is time to do more than lament or pay lip service to the burden of cancer.

Diagnosis of cancer is facilitated by the work of pathologists. The human body is made up of cells, and it is also regulated by cells. Because of their close study of cells, pathologists are able to recognise dysfunctions or abnormalities that manifest as disease or that which has the capacity to snuff out life.

Cancer refers to a condition in which cells of any part of the body grow in an uncoordinated manner without regard to surrounding tissue. It manifests as a mass and has the uncanny propensity to spread to surrounding or distant sites. Growths could be benign but a cancer occurs when growths are malignant. Cancer causes death in many instances, if not detected and treated early.

There are different types of cancers, and they feature in different ways in different places. I will briefly refer to three or four cancer types for the purpose of this discussion.

Liver cancer, in the first instance, generally tends to be seen more in men than in women. Its incidence increases with age, reaching a peak among the 50 and 60 year olds. There is ,however, a marked shift towards the younger age groups (among people over 30 up to 50 year old) in high incidence areas like Africa and South East

THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, June 1, 2013

43

HEALTHFEATURE

‘Staphylococci, Pile Don’t Cause Erectile Dysfunction’ In our environment, some people blame Prof. Julius Esho, a urologist, is the staphylococci for erectile dysfunction? How scientifically correct are they? pioneer Dean of Clinical Sciences, Staphylococci are not one of the organisms Lagos State University College of that cause infections in the urinary tract.

Medicine (LASUCOM) and Head of Because staphylococci are common bacteria (they are on your skin right now), even when Department of Surgery of Urology you send your urine specimen for test, the laboratory scientist will tell you that there are Unit at LASUCOM, until recently presences of staphylococci. But those are conwhen he resigned. Trained at the taminants. Nigerians will jump at it and use it University of Ibadan, Case Western as explanation (for erectile dysfunction). We claim to know everything and make wrong Reserve University, United States, decisions as a result. It is not staphylococci that cause erectile dysfunction. When you say and University of Minnesota is an issue in erectile dysfunction, Graduate Medical School, Esho, who infection you are right. But it is not infection caused by had worked at King Fahad Specialist staphylococci. Infections that can interfere with erection are infections that are more Hospital, Saudi Arabia, and Lagos potent and more virulent to make a person University Teaching Hospital sick. We are talking of tuberculosis that silently destroys some systems in the body, among (LUTH)/College of Medicine other diseases that can interfere with muscle University of Lagos (CMUL), functions, blood flow and metabolism.

Is malaria not one of the causes of erectile explains the intricacies of erectile dysfunction? dysfunction, popularly known as Malaria is an issue in everything because it weakens the body. When you have malaria, weak erection. even the most attractive girl will not turn you on (sexually) until you get over the malaria.

By Joseph Okoghenun What is the solution for erectile dysfunction?

How prevalent is erectile dysfunction in Nigeria? There is solution in that you know the things IKE many things in Nigeria, it is very difficult not to do, like obesity, for instance. Can you to say that this is the incidence of erectile dys- imagine a man who is so big that even the function. We do not have figures; we do a lot of phallus (penis) cannot reach where he wants guessing. But when we apply scientific method it to reach sexually? Abnormality in the exterto erectile dysfunction, we find out the number of people that have the problem is as large as we have in other parts of the world. We are not any more superior to other races as far as erectile dysfunction is concerned. It is very common. To tell you how common it is, we did a study for a company on a drug that helps alleviate erectile dysfunction. We were exposed to many people as young as 30 years and above. Incidence of erectile dysfunction increases with age. It is like your new six-cylinder engine that operates like gazelle. But if you use the same engine for 10 years, it would begin to grumble. The human body is like that. Blood supplies to certain parts of the body cannot be as good at 60/70 years of age as they were at 20. All sorts of things, including diseases, joint pains, diabetes, drugs for the treatment of such conditions, may contribute to diminishing erectile function.

How serious is it?

It is very serious. If it happens, the patient is the one that knows how serious it is. You are not going to see it on his face. But it is very, very serious to the man. Do you know that if a man had erectile dysfunction, he would lose his authority in the home? Erection is what makes a man to know, or feel that he is in charge. And erection is what makes a woman accept a man as her husband. Take away erection, the woman would complain. Erectile dysfunction can affect a man’s performance at work. Aside emotional instability, it can lead to break down of marriage. One of the patients I attended to confided in me that his wife was bringing boyfriends into their bedroom. What can be more serious than that? It places the man in a helpless situation; he has lost control of his family. He cannot guarantee the loyalty of his wife anymore. And he cannot complain because he is seen to be the one at fault.

Aside aging and diabetes, what other factors are responsible for this condition?

There are many other factors: drug abuse, alcohol abuse and renal failure. Some drugs that are used to treat hypertension can dampen erectile function.

But it is a common belief that alcohol increases sexual libido in a man. How come it reduces erectile strength?

Alcohol increases the drive but diminishes the performance. It gives the man the euphoria that he is making waves even though he is doing nothing. Alcohol dampens judgment; it does not Esho enhance performance.

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nal genital of a man if the opening is not in the right place, if the testes do not come down, the man would not have enough of the hormones needed to initiate erection process. After we have ruled out that, we look at drugs he consumes. We also look at psychological aspect (you know that if there is a quarrel between man and woman, erection towards the woman may not be there, whereas, if the same man sees another girl, there may be erection).

There are drugs meant to treat erectile dysfunction by doctors.

Some patients consume aphrodisiac drugs on self-prescription basis for the purpose of treating erectile dysfunction. Is it wise to self-medicate for the purpose of treating erectile dysfunction?

It is not advisable to self-medicate on any drugs; it is too risky. Drugs for erectile dysfunction are high-risk drugs. I have seen a patient who took overdose of recommended drug for erectile dysfunction. He got into serious trouble.

What trouble?

What happens when erection comes up but does not come down for seven days? Don’t you know that would cause a lot of embarrassments, pain and discomfort for the person? So, self-medication for erectile dysfunction is not nice. Yet, Nigerians patronise herbal drugs in form of opa eyin, jedi-jedi among others for erectile dysfunction.

Does that mean that jedi-jedi does not cause erectile dysfunction?

Maybe I do not know what our people call jedijedi. I thought that jedi-jedi has to do with diffi-

culty around the anus like prolapsed and pile.

That is not the cause of erectile dysfunction. But the association is so strong that if somebody has hamorrhoid, and the doctor recommends medical treatment, chances are that he will run away because he believes that it will interfere with his sexual potency. But they are not related. The person who has hamorrhoid may be having it for several reasons that may also cause erectile dysfunction. Supposing that somebody has cancer in the rectum and because the cancer is blocking the passage so that his anus is congested, that person will not remember what erection is all about. But our people will say that it was jedi-jedi that took away his sexual energy. Jedi-jedi is not the pile we doctors know.

Some men boast of having close to 10 sexual rounds per session. Can that be true and how many rounds should a normal man go for in a sexual encounter?

It depends on the age of the man. If the man is the 20s, two or three rounds are normal. But as the man matures, it goes down to two or one and even the one becomes occasional. That is maturity. It is not a competition. That is what misleads some people. Sex is designed basically for procreation.

Most men do not want to discuss about ED even though they boast of their sexual prowess. The higher the figures of sexual rounds claimed, the higher the chances that they are lies. We need to let our people know that erectile dysfunction exists. If it is because of to old age, we can understand. But why should an old man go and marry a teenage girl? He is looking for trouble; he is telling the girl to be prostituting under his roof.

Do you know that if a man had erectile dysfunction, he would lose his authority in the home?

Erection is what makes a man to know, or feel that he is in charge. And erection is what makes a woman accept a man as her husband. Take away erection, the woman would complain. Erectile dysfunction can affect a man’s performance at work. Aside emotional instability, it can lead to break down of marriage.

THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, June 1, 2013

44

JUSTHUMAN

Nasarawa Police Killings: Agony

Audu

Sarah

From Msugh Ityokura, Lafia T took a lot of encouraging words and loads of persuasion to convince Sarah Maaji, whose fiancé, the late Corporal Audu Nanpum, was among the policemen allegedly killed in Alakyo village in Eggon Council of Nasarawa State on May 7 by the Ombatse cult group, to recount her pains since then.

On Friday, June 7, it will be exactly one month after the dark cloud hung in the horizon for the bereaved. Yet there is no sign that things are going to get better for some of them. Their sorrows and pains are not easing. If anything, anxiety is mounting for those who are yet to be handed the bodies of their loved ones.

At the base of Mopol 38 Squadron in Akwanga where the police officers were drafted for the assignment, virtually all the wives of the victims were said to have packed out of the barracks, even as those living around the premises were said to have relocated to their villages.

Those who survived the attack, 13 of them, feel abandoned by government, as the injured ones are said to be currently footing their medical bills at the Lafia Specialist Hospital in the state capital, while some of them who have been discharged are still being held down by the hospital management over outstanding payments.

One of the most pathetic cases is that of 35year-old Audu from Plateau State, whose body is yet to be found almost one month after the attack.

He had shortly before embarking on the “duty of no return” done his marriage introduction to his in-laws said to be in the same Eggon, with his heartthrob, Sarah, in the hands of whose kinsmen he met his brutal death while on official duty to the village.

When The Guardian visited Sarah at her home in Akwanga, the 25-year-old, in an emotion-laden voice, after persistent persuasion, relived her story.

“Our traditional marriage was to come in July and all arrangements to that effect had been concluded and I was looking forward to the D-Day not knowing what fate had for me.

was surprised when he retorted and asked me why I got married to a non-Eggon person and that in fact, my husband had been killed.

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Al-Makura

“The most painful part of the incident is that when I was told that my husband-to-be was among those killed in my village, I immediately called his phone line and it went through.

“I spoke with the person that picked his call and he responded in our native language. I then told him that my husband was among those policemen and owner of the phone and that they should please spare his life.

“I was surprised when he retorted and asked me why I got married to a non-Eggon person and that in fact, my husband had been killed,” she bemoaned.

Abubakar

Sarah said she was and still is shell-shocked that she is finding it difficult to sleep well till date, moreso as Audu’s body is yet to be recovered.

Ngbede Garba, who hails from Apa Council of Benue State, is one of the few police officers who survived the attack.

His reluctance to speak to The Guardian concerning the incident was understandable for many reasons, including officialdom.

But he disclosed that he had to foot his medical bills himself, while counting himself fortunate and favoured to have come back alive.

According to the 43-year-old corporal, he witnessed his colleagues being slaughtered by the cult members, adding: “They used machete on me severally, but it could not cut me. You can see the scars on my face,” as he pulled off his shirt to show the minor wounds he sustained in the attack.

Meanwhile, the police authorities are yet to compensate the widows and families of the late officers.

Whereas the Nasarawa State government has given out N1million each to their widows, the police authorities are still battling to ascertain the status of the widows and their families, as if the list used by the state government to compensate them is not enough.

The Commissioner of Police, Umar Shehu, who has just being posted to the state, said the incident took place before he was redeployed and as such, he could not comment on the mode of compensation.

The affected families are to meet with the police authorities today, although reasons for the meeting have not been made known.

But it may not be unconnected with verification exercise for further compensation, a source told The Guardian.

In Alakyo village, which is about 10 kilometres from Lafia, tension was still high, as the fear of the unknown reigns.

At the time The Guardian visited, most residents had relocated to other towns and villages for fear of envisaged reprisals from the security agencies.

An indigene of Eggon who identified himself as simply Umar, said they would not want a taste of the Odi (Bayelsa State) and Zaki Biam (Benue State) experiences; hence their relocation to areas considered safer.

Saturday, June 1, 2013 45

TheGuardian Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

YourMoney

INTERVIEW

The Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Musa Sada recently inaugurated a Coal-to-power committee to address alternative energy resources and diversify the nation’s electricity challenges. The Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Linus Awute at the inauguration of the seven-member committee spoke to Lillian Chukwu in Abuja on the team’s mandate: HAT main goals instigated the inauguration of the Coal W to Power Committee?

The committee so far inaugurated is the grand initiative of the Minister of Mines and Steel Development Arc. Musa Mohammed Sada. We believe that it is our responsibility as the custodian of the Solid Mineral Sector to provide an answer to our national energy challenges. Coal is an important source of energy for the World, particularly for power generation, and we have it in abundance here in Nigeria.

The minister had deemed it necessary to set up a committee for Coal-to-Power and the driving motive is to see how we can key into what today constitutes the major element of our national agenda which is to increase power production to a level that will meet the industrial development needs of this country.

That is what the larger population is yearning for. Even though in recent times this increases have been experienced but we in the Solid mineral sector believe very strongly that the occurrences of coal resources in abundance, extra studies can take place to situate the status of this coal and the committee so far inaugurated today on behalf of the minister is actually to assembly all existing studies on this subject matter, evaluate them and see how we can use them to add value to the implementation to the concept of coal to power.

We have coal in abundance and the quality that is somehow better than what obtains in some other country. Coal to power as a concept is viable and is also cheap and with the kind of coal that we have with very low ash level has a lot to do with the issue of environment. Ours is that appreciates ecological considerations. So we want to use this concept to drive the need to have future power plant that is going to be powered by coal.

What about the assertion that use of coal to fire power plant has adverse environmental consequences? It speeds up global warming and emits hazardous substances such as carbon dioxide Yes it has. Every development project has adverse, unintended environmental consequences. What matters now is the fact that in Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, just as in Federal Ministry of Environment, we have very strong regulatory instruments backed by law that make ecological consideration paramount in all development activities operating in the Sector. All minerals miners are aware of this and so power plant operators will be made to observe the rules and regulations on safety of the environment. The coal in Nigeria ranks among the best in the world because of its high calorific value and low ash content that makes it even more suitable for power generation. Efficiency is the most important parameter for measuring the effect of coal-powered plant. With that you can reduce emission significantly.

Do you mean that the mines ministry will build a power plant powered by coal?

No. The concept is Coal to Power. Two sister ministries are most relevant here, these are the Ministry of Power and Ministry of Mines and Steel Development. The committee, which we have inaugurated is a technical committee that will function in interface with a counterpart Technical Committee in Ministry of Power who already has agenda on power plant development in Nigeria.

Does that now mean an end to power or electricity chal-

Awute

Coal To Power Development In Mines And Steel lenges in the country?

I don’t want to be misquoted. All I am saying is that Coal is an important source of energy particularly for power generation. As I earlier said, we have coal in Nigeria in abundance.

The demand for it right now is high in the World but we don’t want to encourage its export as the domestic demand for energy is very high. The need for energy and economics of producing and supplying it to the end-users are central in our Coal to Power concept. The Committee on Coal to Power has been made to bear this in mind in consideration of this assignment. For those who worry about carbon dioxide (CO2) emission, I am an environmentalist.

We have coal in abundance and the quality that is somehow better than what obtains in some other country. Coal to power as a concept is viable and is also cheap and with the kind of coal that we have with very low ash level has a lot to do with the issue of environment. Ours is that appreciates ecological considerations. So we want to use this concept to drive the need to have future power plant that is going to be powered by coal

We have in my Ministry the economic and regulatory conditions, which are consistent with our national ambition to achieve increased power generation through Coal to Power. We are sure of where we are going in this direction.

What prompted the ministry’s prioritizing this concept at this time?

The issue of power generation is on the frontline of government debate. We are keying into the debate by making it more participatory and by acknowledging the potential which the Solid Minerals Sector holds for the Nigerian economy. This commitment is what has provided the motivation to identify the most promising developments, which will lead to improvements in the Power Sector.

What about the issue of funding, which is always the bane of such government developmental projects?

That will take care of itself. Funding will rely on the roadmap that would be generated from the Committee’s work. We expect to have a result oriented programme implementation strategy that articulates the result framework and the position of government and the Private Sector on the Scheme, including the condition for mutual accountability for achieving the set goal. Engr. Mohammed Amate, the Director-General of Mining Cadastre Office, heads the sevenmember Committee. He is to work with other Chief Executive Officers and Directors in the Solid Minerals and Metals Sector.

46 YourMoney

THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, June 1, 2013

BRANDINTELLIGENCE

With DESMOND EKEH desmondekeh@yahoo.com; 08023215535

By Ntia Usukuma OR major soccer leagues in Europe, the final of the UEFA Champions League is the usual swansong of the league season. Last Saturday, Bayern-Munich faced Borussia Dortmund in the 2012/ 2013 Champions League Final. To most soccer fans, that should be competition enough.

But for brand experts, market analysts and sponsors, it goes beyond the action on the turf. It is the time to count the cost, analyse the value and dissect various strategies and successes of competitors in different categories of sponsorship.

For instance, in the world of footwear and apparel, the final battle was between Adidas and Puma. These are brands kitting Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, respectively.

According to global news agency, Reuters, Puma is catching up with Adidas and Nike in soccer sales.

Among all sports, football has indeed scooped the most sponsorship deals according to research by IFM Sports Marketing. The annual World Sponsorship Monitor report shows that while other sports struggled for sponsors, football attracted about $4.5 billion in global sponsorship in 2012.

In league sponsorship, banking giant, Barclays, recently extended its sponsorship of the Premier League in England until 2016 in a threeyear deal worth £40 million a year from 2013.

The Barclays Premier League is broadcast for over 185, 000 hours a season reaching 212 territories and over 650 million homes with a cumulative global audience of 4.7 billion. Another banking giant, BBVA Bank is the title sponsor of the equally popular Spanish La Liga and La Liga B in a deal that could be worth up to $97 million annually.

In the kitting category, the largest shirt sponsorship deal in history of sport so far was signed last year between Manchester United and General Motors. The car maker paid $659 million for a seven-year contract with the English champions. In April, the club also signed another sponsorship deal with Aon Insurance Group.

The company paid almost $30 million per season for the rights to Manchester United training ground, training shirts and overseas tours. According to the Aon Chief Marketing Officer, Phil Clement, the price is reasonable considering the international reach provided.

“We felt that for global reach it was good value,” he said. “Compare it to running an advertising campaign in 120 countries. Advertising is difficult. To have one programme that works globally, externally and internally – that’s a nice value proposition,” he explained further.

Also last year another English football club, Arsenal, extended its annual shirt and stadium sponsorship deal worth $45 million annually.

Spanish Real Madrid sold its shirt for €30 million per season.

It is The UEFA Champions League that attracts mega multinational brands. This soccer festival is sponsored by a group of multinational corporations, in contrast to the single main sponsor typically found in national top-flight leagues.

The tournament’s current main sponsors are: Ford, Gazprom, Heineken, MasterCard, Sony, UnCredit and HTC. These corporations dole out millions of dollars for perceived mileage that is created in the eight months and 144 matchesworth of sponsorship activation.

For instance, the official website of UEFA reveals that the FC Bayern München’s 2-1 Wembley victory against Borussia Dortmund was aired in more than 200 countries to an estimated global average audience of 150 million and a projected

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Soccer Sponsorship Deals: Evaluation Begins As Major League Seasons End global unique reach of over 360 million viewers.

The final attracted a peak of 23.78 million (average 22.5 million) viewers in Germany, a record for a UEFA Champions League fixture in the country. The competition has provided that nation’s top three most-watched broadcasts so far in 2013: Bayern’s semi-final second leg away to FC Barcelona and Dortmund’s semi-final first leg against Real Madrid occupy second and third spots respectively.

Indeed, the final is one of 15 match days in the UEFA Champions League calendar and all of them proved to be extremely popular with fans, generating global audiences of between 105 and 228 million viewers during live match broadcasts.

The UEFA Champions League continues to be the prime driver of traffic to UEFA.com, with a 13 per cent year-on-year growth in visits and 25 per cent in visitors to the competition’s homepage – a section recently nominated for a prestigious Webby Award. Complementing traditional coverage was the use of key digital platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, Google+ and YouTube, extending the number of followers of UEFA’s official social media channels to around the 22 million mark. On Facebook, where the brand has over 10 million fans, people have been playing a football and fingersthemed pinball game, emulating the star of the TV advert, to earn bragging rights against their peers. During the semi-finals, Dutch foot-

ball legend Clarence Seedorf took to the brand’s Twitter account to offer his take on the action in real-time and respond to questions set by fans.

UEFA further expanded its digital outreach with innovations at the four-day UEFA Champions Festival and at Wembley Stadium, where over 1,000 tweets and posts from fans and famous names were displayed on the giant screens before and after Bayern’s victory.

Even online, remarkable opportunities were also created. The latest Facebook analytics, provided by Sports New Media, reveal that UEFA’s page was growing at a faster rate than every other sports league in the world. Along with the UEFA Champions League, the UEFA Europa League and UEFA.com pages have grown by over 100 per cent over the last five months, while the official UEFA Women’s Champions League page has enjoyed 248 per cent surge over the same period.

All these opportunities are the windows sponsors like international beer brand Heineken, now in its seventh consecutive season of involvement with the UEFA Champions League tournament, expect to leverage on.

Heineken’s Global Brand Activation Director, Hans Erik Tuijt, in an online chat reveals that his brand has created a number of eye-catching executions, building on the learning and experience of previous years’ activity such as Heineken Star Player, the innovative dualscreen game as well as various activities in spe-

Why PAU Re-branded To Pan-Atlantic University, By VC FRICA’S prestigious post-gradA uate school, hitherto known as Pan-African University recently embarked on a strategic move to reposition the school with the unveiling of its new identity.

With this new development, the institution will be known as PanAtlantic University. This was announced by the ViceChancellor, Prof. Juan Elegido at a press conference which held at the Victoria Island campus of the university.

Elegido explained that the decision to take a new name was necessitated by the creation of an institution with a similar name by the African Union (AU).

He said: “In 2008, the AU established a Pan-African University that is meant to be a network of universities across Africa. One implication was that here in Nigeria, there would be two PanAfrican universities. The first, a

private university based in Lagos and owned by the Pan-African University Foundation and which had been in existence since 2002, and the second, a node of the AUsupported institution, which would operate from the University of Ibadan.”

According to the Vice-Chancellor, several efforts to get the AU to change the name of its institution met with no success. “Once it became clear that we could not get the AU to alter its decision, we decided to change our name,” he said. “This is because the confusion which could arise from sharing our name with another institution would be damaging for everyone concerned. In choosing ‘PanAtlantic University’ we were mindful of its closeness to the former name and of the fact that we can retain the acronym PAU.” The Pan-Atlantic University currently has three teaching and

research units: Lagos Business School, School of Media and Communication and Enterprise Development Centre. The new name has already been approved

by the University’s Governing Council and the Nigerian Universities Commission (NUC) and will come into immediate effect.

Vice Chancellor, Prof. Juan Elegido; Deputy Director of the Enterprise Development Centre (EDC), Mrs. Nneka Okekearu; Dean, Lagos Business School (LBS), Dr. Enase Okonedo; and Dean, School of Media and Communication (SMC), Prof. Emevwo Biakolo all of the Pan-Atlantic University (PAU) during a press conference to announce the change of name from Pan-African University to PAU… recently.

cific local markets.

Evaluating Heineken’s sponsorship strategy and related things the brand has learnt in recent year, Tuijt said, “first of all, it’s important to remember why we do sponsorship; ultimately, it’s a more efficient way to have a conversation with your consumers. It’s perfect for a beer brand — the best conversations happen over the best beer. Intrinsically, I think beer brands should sponsor as it gives you talkability. So, we sponsor the things that people like to talk about; the James Bond films, football, rugby. Believe me though; if our fans liked synchronised swimming we would sponsor that.

With our sponsorships, we do two things strategically: we create conversations, and we bring the sponsorships into our world. So instead of sponsoring something and saying, “we’re so proud of it”, we bring them into our world with the Heineken tone of voice.

“We put our strategy into these big icons.

With the new advert for the Champions League, Road to The Final, the briefing was that it needed to be aired across the whole world.

We know that in the U. S. for example, and other important markets, they are not necessarily big football markets, so it needed to work as a brand campaign, but with a Champions League theme. That’s the new strategy in place.

Create a conversation and put the brand point of view in so that people can say, ‘hey, that’s typically Heineken’.”

On the mode of activating the brands sponsorship globally Hans Erik Tuijt explained that the brand, being in different stages in different markets, is activated in about four different ways.

In his words, “we say to our marketers in different markets that either you’re anchoring the brand (so you’re small, there’s not much premium beer, we’ve limited awareness and distribution), or you’re building (so there’s more distribution, and awareness is above say ten per cent but below the thirties) or you’re a ‘Starface’ (where we are the established premium brand).

“In ‘anchoring’ market, it’s a small beer market. So we run one or two trial promotions around the Champions League final, which we then complement with ATL. In the ‘building’ markets, engagement is the focus in these markets. The likelihood is that people have trailed us at some point, so the sponsorship gives us a reason to have more of a conversation with people. Converting for us here becomes a lot easier through the sponsorship.

In our ‘Starface’ markets, the whole marketing mix comes in. Sometimes the challenge is to remind marketers that we’re ultimately a beer brand, not a football brand. People also forget that Heineken has 1.5 per cent of market share worldwide. We’re small; the beer industry is actually small. In individual markets there are hundreds of local brands. We believe that with the Champions League, we’re building the beer market.”

YourMoney 47

THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, June 1, 2013

BRANDNEWS Abiagait Launches New Diabetes Care Device In Nigeria UCCOR may have finally come for sufferers of diabetes in Nigeria as a new product, which would help them monitor their health better, has been launched into the market.

The product, Bayer Contour Ts Blood Glucose Monitoring Device, is an easy-to-use metre which enables individuals and families to monitor their blood glucose without any assistance from a health care provider. It could also be used in hospitals by doctors to get instant result for their patients with 100 per cent accuracy.

The Provost, College of Health Sciences, Osun State University, Oshogbo, Prof. Olutayo Alebiosu, who was chairman at the launch said 60 per cent of all deaths in the world according to World Health Organisation (WHO) statistics are attributed to chronic non-communicable diseases of which diabetes and cardiovascular diseases are part.

He said Nigeria has the highest number of people suffering from diabetes in Africa. Alebiosu said the management of the disease is very expensive and not affordable by majority of the sufferers, noting that while sufferers of HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis receive medications and do laboratory tests free, there are no subsidies for diabetes care.

Guest lecturer, at the launch and a consultant at Ahmedu Bello University Teaching Hospital Zaria, Prof. Geoffrey Onyemelukwe called for a lifestyle change especially by urban dwellers from processed foods to natural foods to stem the diabetes pandemic.

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BRANDINTELLIGENCE Winners Emerge In Justrite Chop Life Promo

A

NURSE at the Ogun State Ministry of Health, Department of Public Health, Mrs. Adeyemi Abosede has emerged the Star prize winner of a brand new Honda car at the Justrite Superstore Chop Life consumer promotion draw which took place recently.

The star prize winner who was not present at the well attended draw session which held at the Alpha Centre, in Sango Otta, Ogun State, revealed that she was on duty at the office when the good news came through her cell phone.

According to her, she was initially skeptical when she got the call but still managed to find her way to the venue of the event.

Speaking on the event, the Managing Director, Justrite Superstores, Mrs. Tosin Aderinwale said the company is happy at the outcome of the promo, although the crowd that attended was far more than envisaged.

“The promotion is designed to reward the company’s loyal customers. We do this regularly to give back to our customers who have always been there for us but this is the first time we will have it this big.

The impressive turnout is testimony of our consistency over the years and the customers have come to believe in us. It is also indicative of our large customers base, we have loyal followers,” she said.

Baileys Cream Unveils New Elegant Bottle

Amstel Malta, Tuface And Friends Rock Abuja HE capital city of Nigeria, Abuja, recently came alive as the T Amstel Malta sponsored Tuface and Friends Campus Connect gig, which has been touring major universities made a historic stop in the city.

In a night filled with exciting music display ably championed by ‘African Queen’ crooner, Innocent Ujah Idibia, fondly called ‘Tuface’, students and a cross section of Abuja dwellers thronged the popular Tiffany Gardens in Gwagwalada to have a great time out with ‘Tubaba’ and Friends.

The ecstatic and electric atmosphere coupled with an all-star retinue of entertainers billed to perform during the Campus Connect gig with Tuface and Friends elicited pure feelings of joy and smiles from fans who were also treated to chilled Cans of Amstel Malta, the quality low-sugar drink from Nigerian Breweries Plc. Speaking at the event, Mr. Abayomi Abidakun, who represented Brand Manager, Amstel Malta, Doyin Owotomo, expressed delight for the impressive turnout of the students and the outstanding musical performances by the acts.

He commended the musical orientation of the Abuja students and lovers of good music. “I am so impressed with the unprecedented turn out for this gig that is being powered by Amstel Malta.

Amstel Malta has always championed and advanced the cause of youths by encouraging them to be the best they can be. Hence, tonight’s performance is also a clear demonstration of how a premium brand can connect to university students and the good people of Abuja,” he said.

the premium Irish cream drink from the stables of BTheAILEYS, Diageo Brands Nigeria is stepping out in a new elegant bottle. exotic drink erstwhile known for its short bottle now comes

Regional Manager, Anglophone West Africa, Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals, Mr. Frederic Lieutaud; CEO, Abiagait Healthcare Solutions Ltd, Mr. Isaac Thompson Amos; Director, Chemical Evaluation and Research, NAFDAC, Mr. Momodu-Segiru Mamodu; and German Consul General, Mr. Walter Von Den Driesch, at the launch of the device in Lagos recently.

FGBMFI 2013 Business Seminar Holds June 7 And 8 S part of efforts towards sharpening the entrepreneurial skills A and career development strategies of Nigerians, the Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship International (FGBMFI), South West 3 District, will from June 7 to 8 hold its 2013 Annual Business Seminar.

The event will hold with the theme “Business and Career Sustenance Strategies” at the Banquet Hall, Lagos Airport Hotel, Obafemi Awolowo Way, Ikeja at 9a. m.

At a press conference to announce the programmes for the event, recently, the District Coordinator, South West District 3, Mr. Fola Aguda said the seminar will help participants to acquire critical skills that will enable them structure their careers and businesses for sustainability.

Aguda, who is the Managing Partner of Ed. Theo Consult (Oil & Gas), said: “A good number of businesses and other service organisations start well but do not endure. Success in business and career is not powered by zeal and hard work alone. The knowledge and application of the right strategies, which have been tested and proven, are the success drivers in life’s endeavours.

“The theme of this year’s seminar focuses on impartation of strategies that will empower participants to run their businesses and careers successfully. We have, therefore, carefully selected experts and practitioners who will share their experiences with us.”

Aguda said the seminar will attract a fee of N10, 000 per participant/N15, 000 per couple but assured that “this highly enriched programme will propel you to the next level as you strive to build and enduring business and/or career.”

Apple iStore Alerts Nigerians On Fake Products

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N a bid to checkmate the illegal proliferation of its products, World’s Mobile device giant, AppleiStore has advised Nigerian consumers to avoid buying grey Apple products from unauthorised resellers, as these products do not conform to the brand values and service promise of Apple.

Core Group Africa’s Executive Director, Rutger-Jan van Spaandonk states that, “with the opening of iStore, genuine Apple products can now be bought in Nigeria at the right price and with the full scale support as well. Quality conscious Nigerian consumers can now enjoy the amazing Apple store experience as well as obtain full peace of mind. With the full two years warranty offered by Apple iStore and the world-class sales and technical team, Nigerians should resist the temptation of buying grey products from unauthorised resellers.”

Spaandonk stated further: “On the face of it, consumers may feel they are getting a great deal by buying grey products, since they are seemingly original but just sold but unauthorised retailers.

But the customers still groan in the long run. In no time, customers realise they have bought products which cannot deliver on the brand promise. The economy also suffers, as duties are not usually paid to government by the importers of grey products”.

The grave implication for this trend is that brand values and equity are eroded and consumers’ loyalty lost. When brand promises are not fulfilled, consumers naturally begin to develop cold feet and lose faith in the ability of the products to deliver the promised utilities.

in a beautiful new bottle with ‘shoulders high’, giving it an enchanting look that leaves its admirers desirous of the creamy spirit drink.

Speaking at the media launch of the new bottle, General Manager, Diageo Brands Nigeria, Mr. Felix Enwemadu said the introduction of the new Baileys bottle into the Nigerian market is in line with the global drive to further position the brand uniquely in the minds of its consumers.

“We have created a beautiful new bottle which is both modern and stylish and has a greater sense of femininity. Baileys is a brand that appeals uniquely to women and the new bottle was created to embrace and celebrate the stylish and contemporary woman. The new Baileys bottle evokes the brand’s modern, feminine sense of style,” Enwemadu said.

Enwemadu further explained that, “the striking new design is the next step in the brand’s quest for renewed femininity as it restates the provenance and heritage of Baileys in a more elegant way. The new bottle has been heightened and the shoulders lifted, to give a more elegant profile and pose a more alluring and impactful prospect on shelves and in shops worldwide.”

Brand Manager, Baileys, Lola Ashafa; General Manager, Diageo Brands Nigeria, Felix Enwemadu; Marketing and Innovation Director, Guinness Nig. Plc, Austin Ufomba; Marketing Manager, Diageo Brands, Sola Oke, at the unveiling of the new look Bailey recently.

Tobacco Firms Join Forces To Fight Smuggling, Counterfeiting HE world’s four largest T international tobacco companies have forged a joint venture to fight the illegal trafficking of excisable consumer goods.

British American Tobacco, Imperial Tobacco Group, Japan Tobacco International and Philip Morris International recently launched the Digital Coding and Tracking Association (DCTA), to promote international standards and digital technologies to help governments fight smuggling, counterfeiting and tax evasion.

The DCTA draws upon the industry’s collective expertise in securing international supply chains and developing sophisticated technologies to help distinguish genuine product from counterfeit.

Spokesperson for the DCTA, Pat Heneghan said: “Today’s legal supply chains are global,

complex and involve many parties. When combined with the sophistication of the criminals and terrorists who traffic illicit goods, it means national governments must use the latest advances in technology to secure supply chains if they are to make any real progress in addressing this dangerous and growing problem.

“The world’s four largest international tobacco manufacturers have come together to launch the Digital Coding & Tracking Association in order to offer governments a twenty first century solution to the international problem of illicit trade.

“With governments looking at ways to secure tax revenues in these austere times and crackdown on the criminals that prosper from the black market, we are certain that the DCTA can provide the technologies and expertise needed to make a real impact.”

African hip pop artiste, Tuface Innocent Idibia and Mr. Abayomi Abidakun of Nigerian Breweries Plc during the Amstel Malta sponsored Tuface and Friends Campus Connect show in Abuja recently.

Otitan, Rule T Naves Win Heineken Sailing Regatta 2013 WO overall winners have Federation racing rules for T emerged at the just sailing. Only teams who are concluded 2013 Heineken members of a recognised Sailing Lightning and Tarpon National Sailing Championships which took place at the Lagos Yacht Club recently.

The Otitan Dara boat, which had Graham Gips at the helm alongside members of his crew, Kristiann Gips and Charles Weller, emerged overall winner in the lightning Regatta category. In the Tarpon category, the ‘Rule T Naves’ boat with crew members Carol Khouri, Yosi Anisfeld and Precious Eyong emerged overall winner.

The two-day event featured over 90 sailors from different nationalities taking part in the sailing competition.

The Heineken National Championships for Lightings and Tarpons is organised annually by the Lagos Yacht Club under the current International Sailing

Club in Nigeria can compete in the annual Heineken National Championships for Lightings and Tarpons.

According to the organisers, Lightings are propelled by just three sailors with the help of the wind, while Tarpons are allowed to be propelled by two or more people equally with the help of the wind.

Innovation Manager, Nigeria Breweries Plc, Roelof Segers, who also took part in the sailing competition, stated that there is a perfect match between the Heineken brand and the sailing competition.

“Heineken is the most international premium lager brand; that is why we sponsor premium sports in Nigeria. For the Heineken brand, it is very important for us to be part of this national sailing competition,” he said.

Castle Lager Tops In SABMiller’s Mercatus Awards ASTLE Lager was recently awarded a Grand Prix at the C SABMiller Global Mercatus Awards. This is the highest marketing accolade within SABMiller Group.

SABMiller introduced the annual Mercatus Awards in 2003 to recognise the best performances in the field of marketing throughout their global operations. With over 200 brands from six continents and 75 countries, there are extremely rich pickings from SABMiller’s stable. With this in mind, it is clear to see that Castle Lager’s consistent brand experience offering, close collaboration with all parties involved and sheer determination are what it takes to win such an accolade.

The Castle Lager journey back to its premium position is one that has taken place over approximately three years. Castle Lager, SAB Limited’s flagship mainstream brand, was in decline for over a decade owing to fluctuations in strategy and changing market dynamics. With a rapidly growing black middle class, the brand began to communicate on a platform of individual aspiration, which was not true to what it had stood for over the decades. The brand had moved away from its core proposition and alienated its traditional consumers. Changes were required to ensure that the brand communicated with consistency. The brand purpose, narrative and insight were all placed under the spotlight to get Castle Lager back to its core DNA.

THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, June 1, 2013

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NEWSFEATURE The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), in collaboration with MICR Technical Implementation Committee, has announced recently that only two companies among the 14 that print cheques for Deposit Money Banks (DMB) are accredited to print cheques and other “debit pull” paper instruments for the Nigerian market.

The 12 others, constituted by foreignbased printers, were neither accredited nor re-accredited. This decision follows the CBN’s policy to domesticate cheque printing in Nigeria.

Notwithstanding, the decision has raised key questions around the capacity of the two local printers to meet the demand of more than 300 million cheques per year by commercial banks. AJIBOLA AMZAT examines the merits and demerits of the CBN’s decision. his last visit to South Africa, President IhisNGoodluck Jonathan had hardly completed speech on the imminent “national industrial revolution” set in motion by his administration, when CBN issued a circular that put an end to the business of 12 foreign-based printers in Nigeria.

In a circular signed by the director of Banking and Payment System Department, Dipo Fatokun, dated May 9, 2013, the apex bank announced two local firms as the accredited printers. They are Superflux International Limited and Tripple Gee and Company Plc. The unaccredited foreign-based firms were advised to either domesticate their operation or take their business elsewhere. The printers are Kalamzoo Seure Solutions Ltd, Birmingham, England; Security Print Solution, UK; CFH Total Document Mgt Ltd, England; Smith and Ouzman Ltd, England; Tall Security Print Ltd, England; A1 Trade print Services, England; Papi Pinting Coy Ltd, UK; Corrinum Continous Ltd, UK; Euphoria Comm. Ltd, UK; DLRS Group, Ireland; Camelot Ghana Ltd, Accra, Ghana; Shave and Gibson Group, South Africa.

To boot, CBN enjoined banks to patronise only the accredited companies and warned that penalties would be meted out to those banks that defy the directive. This decision has attracted both compliments and criticism from stakeholders.

Those who applaud CBN viewed the decision from the nationalistic point of view. Every nation is expected to grow her economy and create jobs for her citizens. Patronising foreign companies rather results in capital flight, and limits the employment opportunity for Nigerians, they argued. China, United Kingdom, South Africa, Ghana and other economies firmly protects jobs of their citizens. In Nigeria, jobs are being taken abroad on regular basis. At present, the unemployment rate in Nigeria stands at 20.3 per cent according the National Bureau of Statistics.

The situation is even growing worse as population balloons. Therefore, any attempt to attract more investment to Nigeria and boost employment opportunities for the Nigerians is laudable, the argument goes. This position informed CBN’s call for domestication of cheque printing in Nigeria, and the subsequent de-accreditation of foreign-based printers, says a CBN official.

In contrast, there are others who reason that CBN’s decision may put banks under unnecessary stress. Presently, more than 300 million cheques are printed annually for Nigerian banks, according to industry watchers. These volumes were previously handled by the 14 printers including Nigeria Security Printing and Minting Plc. But with the exclusion of 12 printers in the production process, the burden of cheques supply for 23 Nigerian banks will fall squarely on the two accredited companies. How does the CBN plan to address the challenge of huge demand for cheques that will be laid at the doorsteps of the two accredited printers? Can the two accredited printers take the orders of 23 banks and deliver them on deadline? What is the cost implication of printing cheques by two printers instead of 14

Sanusi

CBN De-Accreditation Of Foreign Cheque Printers: Nationalism At The Expense Of Economic Expediency? printers? These are the important questions that CBN failed to address in the published circular. In addition, the accredited printers offer services that extend beyond the printing of cheques.

Superflux and Tripple Gee do print other security documents including ballot papers for INEC, certificates for universities and other security documents. Bankers who spoke with The Guardian in confidence said the situation would certainly put greater pressure on the production capacity of the accredited printers. “It may take us back to the era when fake cheques flooded the market,” a banker disclosed. The banker said though CBN has introduced a number of security measures to guide against reproduction of fake cheques, but concentrating production on a couple of printers may further weaken the security system already in place. Also, the cost of printing cheques may rise if production is left to two printers only.

A Lagos mortgage banker agreed to the previous speaker saying, the decision is tantamount to telling banks to bite more than they can chew. “It will somehow have an adverse effect on the banking industry.”

He added, however, that CBN might take this decision in order to drive electronic transaction.

“It is easier to monitor the movement of fund through electronic platform because every transaction will pass through the CBN. That may be

one of the undisclosed reasons. It could be a way of driving the cashless policy of the CBN”.

It will be recalled that CBN governor said recently that the apex bank had taken some actions to focus attention on electronic payments as a veritable payment service option.

Presently, the Nigerian Electronic Fund Transfer and Instant Payment transaction on the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement stands at N80 billion daily. CBN has projected that the electronic transaction will hit N2.48 trillion on a monthly basis.

Regarding de-accreditation of the foreign-

But we expect a more robust engagement from CBN. When they mooted the idea of localizing cheque printing, we also indicated the challenges that may cause delay.” According to the broker, the institutional challenge in Nigeria is a key factor in setting up a factory in Nigeria.

based printing companies, however, CBN has pointed out that the decision to delist the companies was taken after several admonitions to their owners and their brokers in Nigeria. As far back as 2005, the bank has introduced a policy, which stipulated that cheque production in the country must be fully localised by the end of 2009. The admonition was repeated after the 2006 accreditation exercise, but the foreign printers turned deaf ears to the call.

In response to the CBN’s allegation, one broker for a foreign printer who declined to be named because he was not authorized by his principal to speak lauded the introduction of the domestication policy. “It is a good decision, but we expect a more robust engagement from CBN. When they mooted the idea of localizing cheque printing, we also indicated the challenges that may cause delay.”

According to the broker, the institutional challenge in Nigeria is a key factor in setting up a factory in Nigeria. “But our principals are working to overcoming this challenge. We need the support of CBN to embark on huge investment in Nigeria. This may not happen when you force us out of the market because de-accrediting other cheque printers is tantamount to forcing them out of the Nigerian market.”

The broker disclosed that some of the foreign firms have indeed started relocating investment to Nigeria, “but we need more time.”

Furthermore, agents of some foreign printers faulted the CBN’s argument on employment creation. They ask: “If CBN is talking about generating employment, how much of employment can be generated in a close-knit industry like the security printing? How many employees can a security printing company employ?

It is rather a technology-driven industry; therefore the argument to domesticate printing firms in order to provide employment is a weak one.” To this group, the CBN’s decision is rather counter-productive.

Further still, there are those who believe that the authorities of the CBN is influenced more by private interest than by national interest. “I would not be surprised if some of the decision makers at CBN and the Bank of Industry (BOI) are not shareholders in any of the two accredited companies” a senior bank officer said. This is a view that some brokers also share. That was how close the source got to mentioning the name of the CBN governor, Malam Lamido Sanusi But this claim was invalidated by the investigation carried out by The Guardian. The Corporate Affairs Commissions report on the two companies does not include any of the CBN or BOI’s director as ownership members. For Triple Gee and Company Plc, the directors are: Victor A. Haffner, Gani Gbadebo Giwa, Olayiwola Osuolale, Mishela Fiama Diggira, Samuel T. Ayininuola, and Felix K. Bajomo. For Superflux International Limited, the directors are: Talabi Olatokunbo, Talabi Aderinola and Talabi Omowonuola.

“But these people could be fronts for some principals officer of CBN and other government functionaries”, another observer said.

The Guardian attempted to speak to the CBN spokeperson, Mr. Ugocukwu Okoroafor on the matter, but he requested that question be mailed to him instead. At press time, he is yet to respond to the questions sent to him a week ago.

Reacting to the allegation, the Division Head Marketing, Superflux International Limited, Mr . Gabriel Okonkwo said such allegation is not unexpected considering the goodwill extended to Superflux by CBN’s governor, Malam Sanusi by attending the launching of N700 million facilities acquired by the company recently. Said he: “I think what may have warranted that kind of speculation from some quarters is because we were able to bring CBN governor to commission our facility. But you know who Mr. Sanusi is. He is not that kind of person. It took us a lot of effort to get him to attend because we wanted him to see what we have on ground.” Sanusi led a team of CBN staff to attend the event. With the launching of the facilities, he said the company has capacity to print cheques for all the Nigeria banks. “The new facilities recently commissioned by CBN governor has put our company in the position to take cheque orders of all Nigerian banks including banks in other African countries,” Okonkwo said.

Brokers for foreign printing firms take this boast with a pinch of salt. They said no single Local printer could handle the printing of all Nigeria banks at present.

THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, June 1, 2013

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POLITICS

Namibians Owe A Lot To Nigeria, Says Olorunfemi programme with the TAC (Technical Aid Corps) that the federal government is running.

So, we would amend that and it will then be signed by the time the President comes visiting.

There is another one on the joint oil refinery between Namibia and Nigeria, which has been on the drawing board since 2002, with just one or two clauses to be tidied up.

Right now, they are exploring for oil, but have not found the commodity in commercial quantity and a refinery has to service the neighbouring countries as well. Angola is building a refinery, which is yet to be completed. So, all fuel supplies are imported into Angola, Namibia, Botswana and other countries through the Warwurbe Port in Namibia.

There is another agreement on mutual legal assistance on extradition between the two AN you give insight into some of deals countries, meaning that we could exchange President Goodluck Jonathan would have prisoners, and fugitives, if they are wanted in consummated had he not cut short his State each country.

Visit to Namibia to return home?

Others are on youths development, tourism Namibians were so excited about the visit. I and visa exemption for diplomatic office holdhave been here for a while and I have not seen ers, which would late be extended to business that level of enthusiasm shown by the Namibian government and people towards the people and other Nigerians for years, instead of the one or two weeks visa we are currently visit of a Head of State. experiencing.

So, it is a very good sign that the friendship is Those ones on culture, as well as mining and still on; the mutual respect is still there and the geological services are being tidied up and I’ long-standing relationship going stronger by am sure of these would be completed by the the day. time the Presidents comes visiting again.

In terms of the agreements, we were to have signed about seven agreements if the President Talking of extradition, one would want to know the number of Nigerians in Namibian had visited. But it is not too bad, because the prisons? postponement will afford us the opportunity to We have, as of the last count, eight Nigerians tidy up some of the ones that could not be tidied up for signing at the time he was to have in Namibian prisons. That tells you that it has not been a bad experience here. visited.

One is the Foreign Service Training in which in Do you have to deal with bad conducts from Nigerians here?

Nigeria is to assist Namibia in training its Since pre-independence days when Nigeria Foreign Service officers. came strongly to support Namibia’s quest for An agreement for technical medical doctors self-determination, they have been able to was to bring Nigerian medical doctors to keep up the interest, showing gratitude and Namibia, but it had not been tidied up. It was also relating with Nigerians as a brother that discussed and we realised that it is a different

That President Goodluck Jonathan had to abort his trip to Namibia due to attacks on security agents in various parts of the country, especially in Nasarawa and Borno states, but Dr. Biodun Olorunfemi, Nigeria’s Ambassador to Namibia, spoke to journalists in Windhoek, including MOHAMMED ABUBAKAR, on what the President’s visit would have meant for both countries and the relationship between the two countries.

C

Olorunfemi came to their assistance in times of need.

The cordiality has continued and they feel more at home too with Nigerians. Some Namibians also schooled in Nigeria and some are high-level officers in government, such as permanent secretaries and ministers.

The relationship between Nigerians living here and Namibians is quite good and we do not experience the type of trouble you are talking about.

However, a few people have come falling foul of the laws, because they didn’t know what to do about Immigration, especially some transiting to Angola.

But we really don’t have that kind of trouble, no problems of crimes among Nigerians here, as compared to the other parts of the world.

We also encourage and keep preaching to them to ensure they have their correct papers and do not stay beyond the time they are allowed or do those things that could tarnish

Nigeria ’s image here.

On the whole, how are Nigerians faring in Namibia?

Nigerians are faring very well in Namibia; those of them here legally are doing very well.

Incidentally, a lot of them are professionals, such as medical doctors, who one way or the other came here under the TAC, with a few coming on their own. Over 90 percent of them are professionals.

These include professors, Deans of faculties and Heads of departments (HoDs), mainly in the areas of Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry in the universities under the TAC, which the Nigerian government has been running since inception.

When do we expect the President to visit?

As soon as possible! Being a very busy person, they have to look at his programme and see how soon he can come.

So, I cannot on my own give you a specific date until I receive that information.

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ISSUES&POLITICS

‘There Are Many Windows Open In The Netherlands For Genuine Businesses’ Fortunately, I have been able to do that. Before anybody goes home, either voluntarily or involuntarily, they will go with their luggage.

I visited prisons and detentions and insisted that they must be given some training, let them do something, so that as you are dropping them and taking them home, they will be able to sit down and start practising that skill and may be master it.

So, the relationship has been so cordial. We are trying to develop the existing relationship that started over 100 years ago. We have some Dutch companies such as Lever Brothers, KLM HAT kind of relationship do Nigeria and Royal Dutch Airline, Shell, Heineken, etc being Nigerians have with the people of very big in Nigeria.

Netherlands? What kinds of skills from Nigeria So, we have so many Dutch companies in are in demand here and what kind of report do Nigeria and we have good relationship with you get from the government here regarding our host country and it is developing rapidly.

Is the Nigerian House here open to Nigerians Nigerians living here? who come into this country to get registered We have different levels of Nigerians living and supported? here. We have so many Nigerian working at Yes, it is on our website and you can even go international organisations, including Shell, there to see it. As soon as you come in, you regthe International Criminal Court (ICC), ister through the website and we take note that Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical you are here.

Weapons (OPCW), Common Front For Our door is open 24 hours a day and seven Commodity, etc. days of the week for Nigerians to come and tell We also have Nigerians in the private sector us what problems they are having and we are here.

As an ambassador, you are the mother of docu- ready to assist them.

How many Nigerians are here in The mented and undocumented people. For the Netherlands? undocumented, I make sure that even when We have about 20,000 Nigerians, documentthey are being deported, they are allowed to go ed and undocumented. home and pick their luggage. They may not want to go home because they have nothing to How about those serving terms in prisons or in detention? show for it if they are picked on the street and thrown into the flight back to Nigeria. You have We have them, but we do not have the accurate statistics, because our host country is usuto give them everything they have in their ally reluctant to give us the actual data of house before you can move them home.

Dr. Nimota Nihinlola Akanbi, Nigeria’s Ambassador to Netherlands, told CHUKWUMA MUANYA at The Hague that Nigeria would be the centre of attraction to the whole world in the next 15 years, because of its enormous potentials, especially oil and gas.

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Nigerians in its prisons.

What is the conduct of Nigerians here like?

Are some of them engaged in illegal activities or having issues with the authorities?

Since I came on board, I have not been sleeping with my two eyes closed, because they could call me at night to come and pick the body of a Nigerian unconscious in the plane and by the time you get there and the person is rushed to the hospital, about 70 grammes of cocaine may be brought out of his stomach.

Some will die and some will survive before we send them back to Nigeria.

But as a teacher, part of my job has always been guidance and counseling. So, I do go to communities here to counsel them that it is possible for them to make it in Nigeria and it must not a matter of do or die.

If you are here illegally, you cannot do anything. You cannot even go to the hospital, you cannot do any work and you would not allow them (authorities) to see you, because if they do, they will put you in jail.

By the time you know it, they continue hiding and are jobless. When you ask them when they arrived here, they will tell you ‘some 15 years ago.’ You ask what they have been doing since then, they will say ‘nothing.’

They don’t want to show their faces in Nigeria, because they have wasted the prime part of their lives.

So, it has really been teaching, guidance and counseling that is actually helping our people and some of them are now good citizens.

Some decided to go home voluntarily and if they decided to do so, some cash is given to them at the airport to start a new life.

Those people here are people that want to be

Akanbi here. The rate of crime I met here was about 70 per cent, but it has reduced to about 15 per cent.

So, we are good citizens of Nigeria here.

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POLITICS

At Town Hall Meeting, Chime Affirms Enugu North For 2015 Governorship On PDP Ticket From Kodilinye Obiagwu, Enugu OR the first time since he became governor six FChime years ago, Governor Sullivan Iheanacho came before his people, stakeholders in Enugu State, those who voted him into power and gave an account of his stewardship. He chose May 29, aka Democracy Day to let the people assess him.

There was no standing room in the conference hall of the Nike Lake Hotel. As Chime faced the gathered presidents of various town unions, traditional rulers, community leaders, religious leaders, trade unionists, the media, private citizens, he said: “I have come to give account, address some concerns, issues you may wish to raise. This is midterm into our second term. I am not here to tell you what we have done but to answer questions. Don’t remind us of what we have done; we want to hear what we have not done and where we have failed. This government is not to build Enugu, we are here to set the foundation on which those who will come after us will build upon.”

According to him, the activities of the government had been based on a 4-point agenda he propounded during the elections six years ago.

On assuming power, that agenda was widened, “after a tour of the state. We compiled a compendium of the needs of the people and our activities have been based on the two documents. The assessment in the end will be for you.”

With him were members of the state executive state council and members of the House of Assembly and government appointees at different levels.

It was a harvest; every question was welcome, no one was barred. For nearly two hours, about 58 questions were thrown at the governor. The issues raised ranged from the sublime to the ludicrous. Some were couched as pleas, observations, remarks, accusations or straight criticisms.

Someone wanted to know why there were so many lunatics and destitute people on the roads, “you will think they threw open the doors of the Neuropsychiatric Hospital.” A journalist inquired about, “the internal revenue generated by the state in the last six years; how much has been spent and what is the government’s debt profile?”

A trader accused the government of failing to create a forum for traders and requested: “We want a SA (Senior Adviser or Assistant) for Market Matters to give us a sense of belonging.”

The governor was told that there was a lack of access to information in the government and “this is the reason people write anti-government stories. Why are you far from the media; people say that you are not press friendly.”

A member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Ezeagu in Ezeagu Council who didn’t know his ward leader, wanted the governor to help him.

What was he doing about the aging civil service, employment, reviving ailing industries, the Daily Star, Hotel Presidential? When will Enugu become an oil producing state?

A traditional ruler wondered why after the government presented them with cars recently “nothing followed.” He and his colleagues wanted some money along with the gift to enable them pay off the N2.5 million loan on the car.

Another traditional ruler wanted the government to reconstitute the Traditional Rulers Council, which was disbanded a long time ago.

Has the governor heard that Kogi State has annexed Ette in Igboeze North? A concerned citizen wanted the mechanic village cited in his area to be relocated because of the menace of kidnappers who have turned the vacant space into an arena for their nefarious acts. A father wanted to know when the government will resume the payment of bursary, “which some states are using to alleviate the suffering of indigent students.”

Why are cars being clamped when “the parking spaces we were promised and paid for have not been provided,” meanwhile the roads are good but dirty? What is the state waste management authority, (ESWAMA) doing? When the government complete the construction or rehabilita-

Chime

What could be seen as the high point of the Town Hall Meeting was when the governor pointed out that the state could not do anything about the agitation of the Nsukka area in the Enugu North senatorial zone for Adada State. tion of some roads, which are now abandoned.

But why is there “no befitting international conference centre in Enugu. Why won’t the government rehabilitate the present one? A good conference centre could earn the government some revenue.” Security has not been too good, “despite the clean bill of health by the IGP. There is need to strengthen the neighbourhood organisations. A good security could boost investment opportunities.”

A Bishop of the Methodist Church wanted to know why the government is not allowing Christians to use school premises as places of worship, “especially with the influx of people displaced by insecurity in some parts of the North.”

And of course the obvious question about water; the state has perennial problems supplying pipe borne water to every home in Enugu.

Someone complained that there is no water in Agbani area. The point was made of the inadequate distribution of water in the particular areas of the state capital. Why is there a problem in retaining health workers posted to the rural areas to man the Primary Health Centres and why are the facilities in these centres not adequate?

How does Nsukka get the Adada State that it has been agitating for decades? Can the state help on this?

It was a forum that raised every question, except for a few sensitive security issues like the dressing code of SARS operatives who “dress shabbily in mufti” and the arming of Vigilance Neighbourhood organisations.

From 5.53 pm till 7.50 pm Chime, in a chronological order answered the questions. Some of his commissioners were called upon when they

were needed. Although the governor did not gloss over any question, there were obvious pointers to the fact that some of the questions caught the government team unawares. For instance, those who expected “facts and figures” about the state’s finances were obviously disappointed when the governor stated, in answer to a question, that it was unfair to have expected that the commissioner for finance to come to the town hall meeting with all the minute details.

“I am sure you didn’t expect him (the commissioner) to come to the gathering with his books. We publish our records every year,” Chime quipped. He was quick, however, to add: “When it comes to money, you don’t just mention figures, you must be saying the correct thing.”

Not all the questions suffered the same fate.

Chime called on his Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Water who is also the General Manager of the state Water Corporation, O’Brien Offordu to explain why there was no supply of water in Agbani in particular. The SSA assured that his corporation was on course to provide water to some places. For residents of Agbani specifically, he said, “give me two weeks and hold me responsible if I fail.” The wave of murmur that swept through the hall showed that a few people took him serious.

And when the Commissioner for Works, Godwin Madueke took the cue from Offordu and asked for three weeks before an “abandoned” road was rehabilitated, a similar murmur swept the crowd forcing the governor to ask, “I hope this is not a joke?”

The beggars on the streets of Enugu have

nothing to do with anyone throwing open the doors of the Neuropsychiatric Hospital, but rather “with the influx of people into Enugu.”

The governor pointed out that “street begging is a crime and a sin. The security (agents) are watching them as some of them have been used to commit crimes in the past. We will make sure that they are off the road.”

Explaining why Christians have been denied the use of schools, Chime said: “It was because of the experience of the past. When they come in, other things happen. When they come in they begin to lay claim to the place. So the best thing is to keep them off.”

It will be awhile before the state gets an international conference centre. The government has no interest in completing the centre started by a previous government. Chime said the cost of completing it is huge and “no responsible government will spend that kind of money completing it.” He is hoping investors could be attracted to the venture.

Lack of access to information in Enugu is an issue. From incidents in the recent past, a few people were surprised when, the governor sternly said: “I don’t know the information you want from them (media aides). If you are asking questions about the personal lives or business of anybody, then we have no regret to tell you that they don’t have any right to tell you anything.

“If it is in allusion to what happened in my absence then we don’t have any regret; the section of the Press that is involved in that scam is still active. For me, it bothers on irresponsibility, mischief. If you want information, you know where to go and get it. I am not interested in what you publish.”

Nevertheless, his stern mood softened as he said that although the forum was not the right place for anyone to be asking about his ward leader, he observed happily that the question came “because this is a PDP state and we are all PDP.” What could be seen as the high point of the Town Hall Meeting was when the governor pointed out that the state could not do anything about the agitation of the Nsukka area in the Enugu North senatorial zone for Adada State.

Said the governor: “There is nothing we can do about Adada State because it is not in our powers to create states, but we will work to make sure it is actualised. If it does not happen, we will work towards them having the governorship (in 2015). The question of who becomes governor is in the hands of the people. In the PDP, it is our understanding that our candidate will come from that zone. This is a PDP arrangement. We are working that who emerges as the PDP candidate becomes the governor.”

While emphasising the political sameness of Enugu he noted: “We still have two years, plenty of time. We won’t waste our time doing politics in Enugu. Everybody is in the PDP and this will save us campaign time.

“The major task is having you select people who will go into the election for us. Rather than go round campaigning and disturbing you, we will have you select your future leaders and then vote for them. It has been working. It is my style. We will work till May 28, 2015.”

And at 7.50, the governor got a standing ovation from the audience as he concluded: “If for any reason I have slipped any question, it was not deliberate. If it is very serious, then you can ask me again. Thank you for this very interactive session. In the next two years, we will continue to do the things we were elected to do.

Government is a continuum; no one government can provide everything for our people, but certainly within our means, we will try as much as possible to make provisions for our people.”

Although the hall was filled to capacity, it was easy to notice those who did not attend Chime’s inaugural Town Hall meeting. For example, there was no serving member of the National Assembly from the state. As significant as the event was, were the stakeholders who should have been with the governor not invited or were they not interested? Where were the members of the other parties? Or was the governor’s town hall meeting only for PDP people and government officials

THE GUARDIAN, Saturday,June, 1, 2013

55

Change of Name ABARA: I, formerly Miss Caroline Ngozi Abara now known and addressed as Mrs. Caroline Ngozi Okolie. Former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

ABDULLAHI: Former A b d u l l a h i Muhammed Ibrahim now Abdullah M u h a m m a d Ibrahim. Former documents remain valid.

Public note.

ABOSI: Formerly Miss Abosi Immaculeta Kasarachi now Mrs. I m m a c u l e t a Matthew Iroadumba.

Former documents valid. NYSC, public note.

ADERINTO: Formerly Miss Aderinto Ifeoluwa Ruth now Mrs Oriyomi Ifeoluwa Ruth. Former documents remain valid.

Public note ADEGBESAN: Formerly Miss Temitope Omolola Adegbesan, now Mrs. Temitope Omolola Bukola. .

Former documents valid. Public note.

ADEKOYA: Formerly Miss Adeyemi Oluseyi Adekoya now to be addressed as Mrs. Adeyemi Oluseyi Durojaiye. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

ADENIYI: Formerly Odugbemi Olanrewaju Adeniyi now Odugbemi Michael Olanrewaju. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

ADETUWO: Formerly Adetuwo Ajoke Mercy now Mrs. Sofela Ajoke Mercy. Former documents valid. Public note.

ADUKU: I, formerly Miss Aduku Emaojo now wish to be known as Mrs. Onoja Caleb Emaojo. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

AFFIRMATION OF NAME: This is to certify that the names Daramola Olukayode Gbenga and Daramola Olukayode Olugbenga refer to one and same per-

son. Former documents remain valid.

Public note.

AFFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Mr. Momodu Abraham Steven now known and addressed as Momodu Wonderful Abrahim Steven. all documents valid.

General public note.

AFOLABI: Former Dr. Afolabi Grace now Dr (Mrs.) Olajide Grace.

All former documents remain valid.

University of Abuja to note.

AGATA: Formerly Onwurah Agata Chinyere now Onwurah Chrysantus Chinyere.

Former documents remain valid. Public note.

AGINA: Formerly Miss Agina Chinwe Eugenia now Mrs. Okoroafor Chinwe Eugenia. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

Miss Esther Olubunmi Akinkumi now Mrs. Esther Olubunmi Ajayi. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

AIGBE: Formerly Aigbe Obiazi Isaiah now Solomon Emeke. All former documents remain valid. Financial Institutions, Government Agencies, public note.

AIMUFI: Formerly Miss Henrietta Aimienota Aimufi now Mrs. Henrietta Aimienota Adeyelu.

All former documents remain valid.

UBA, UNIBEN & public note.

AKINLADE: Former Miss Akinlade Iyabo Tayo now Mrs. Oyelami Christianah Taiwo. Oyo SUBEB and public note.

AGU: Formerly Miss Agu Calista Ugochukwu now Mrs. Obodo Calista Ugochukwu. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

AKINOLA: I, formerly known as Bolanle Ayisat Akinola now wish to be known and referred to as Mrs. Bolanle Ayisat Jolomi-Ojuyah. All former documents remain valid. Public note.

AGWU: Formerly Miss Agatha Nkemjika Agwu now Mrs. Agatha Nkemjika Ibeh. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

AKINOLA: Former Miss Toluwalase Mobolaji Akinola now Mrs. Toluwalase Mobolaji Odunayo.

Former documents remain valid. General public note.

AJEWOLE: I, James Bridget Oluwaseun formerly Mrs. Ajewole Bridget Oluwaseun now Mrs. Odikpo Bridget Oluwaseun. Nigeria Immigration, Nigeria School of learning, public note.

AKINTAN: Formerly Miss Bisoye Oluwaseun Akintan now Mrs. Ayomide Oluwaseun Bisoye Akintan Adejuwon.

All documents remain valid. Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, general public note.

AKAIGWE- OKOYE: Formerly Miss Joy Chekwube AkaigweOkoye now Mrs. Joy Chekwube Ubochi.

Former documents remain valid. Public note.

AKEREDOLU: Formerly Miss Akeredolu Abimbola Olukemi now Mrs. Alo Abimbola Olukemi.

Former documents remain valid. Public note.

AKINKUMI: Formerly

AKINTOKUNBO: Formerly Miss Akintokunbo Abosede Oluwafunke now Okutubo Abosede Oluwafunke. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

AKINTOLA: I, formerly Miss Akintola Oluwabusayo Oluwaseun now known as Mrs. O y e n i y i Oluwabusayo Oluwaseun. Former documents remain

valid. General public take note.

AKINWALE: I, Formerly Miss Akinwale Deborah Titilayo now Mrs. Olafioye Deborah Titilayo. Former documents remain valid.

Public note.

AKINWALE: Formerly Miss Akinwale Bukola Olaitan now wish to be known as Mrs. Olusoga Bukola Olaitan.

Former documents remain valid. Public note.

AKINYA: Former Akinya Agboola Olaniyi now wish to be known and addressed as Agboola Olaniyi Agboola. All former documents remain valid. General public should please note.

AKINYEMI: Formerly Omotola Adeola Akinyemi now Omotola Adeola Ugenyi.

All documents valid.

Public note.

AKOREDE : I formerly Miss Shakirat Adebukola Akorede, now Mrs Shakirat Akorede Bhadmus. All former documents remain valid. Public note.

AKPENE: Formerly Mercy Emesomiade Akpene now Mercy Emesomiade Negbenose. Former documents remain valid.

Public note.

AKPOFURE: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Ofejiro Onome Akpofure now wish to be known as Mrs. Ofejiro Onome Aroriode. All documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

AKUBO: Formerly Miss Grace Ogwu Ibrahim Akubo now Mrs. Grace Simon Enejoh David. Former documents remain valid.

Public note.

ALOZIE: formerly Miss Alozie Nnenna Angela now Mrs Angela Nnenna Okeri. former documents valid. Public take note.

AMADI: Formerly Miss Amadi Glory Nkeiruka now Mrs. Glory Nkeiruka Eze. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

AMODU: Formerly Miss Victoria Avosuahi Amodu, Now Mrs Victoria Avosuahi Ajayi. Former documents valid. Public note.

ANEKE: Formerly Aneke David Chizoba now David Rosemary Chizoba. Former documents remain valid public note.

ANYANWU: Formerly Miss Adaeze Ozioma Anyanwu now Mrs Edwin Adaeze Ozioma. Former documents valid. Public note.

ANYANWU: I formerly known and addressed as Miss Ogechi Mercy Anyanwu now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ogechi Mercy TochiOpara. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

ARODIWE: Formerly Miss Arodiwe Nwamaka Ngozi now Mrs. Okechi Nwamaka Ngozi. Former documents remain valid.

Public note.

ASOGWA: Formerly Miss Patience Onyinyechi Asogwa now Mrs. Patience Onyinyechi Elokhe.

Former documents remain valid. Public note.

AYINDE: Formerly Miss Ayinde Olabisi Kafayat now Mrs. Orire Olabisi Ayinde Kafayat. All former documents remain valid. General public note.

BABATUNDE: Ajayi Babatunde Opeyemi now Ajayi Babatunde Opeyemi Yusuf. All documents remain valid. Public note.

BELLO: Formerly Miss Bello Musifat Bolanle now Mrs. Bolanle Musifat Oyetunde.

Former documents remain valid. Public note.

CHANGE OF FAMILY S U R N A M E : NZEDIEGWU: We formerly known as Nzediegwu now wish to be known as Elochukwu. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

CHIAZOR: Formerly Miss Chiazor Vivian Udoka now Mrs.

Nwanze Vivian Udoka. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

CHIMA: Formerly Miss Benedicta Nkechi Chima now Mrs. Benedicta Nkechi Ekwueme.

All former documents remain valid.

General public note.

CHIMA: Formerly Miss Benedicta Nkechi Chima now Mrs. Benedicta Nkechi Ekwueme.

All former documents remain valid.

General public note.

CHUKWUMA: Former Miss Juliet Ndidiamaka Chukwuma now Mrs. Juliet Ndidiamaka Nwabueze. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

CHUKWU: Formerly Miss Chukwu Beatrice Udenna now Mrs. Nwafor Beatrice Udenna.

Former documents remain valid. Public note.

CHUKWU: Formerly Miss Chukwu Grace Obiageri, now Mrs Igheneki Grace Obiageri. Former documents valid. Public note.

DADA: Formerly Miss Felicia Funmilayo Dada now Mrs. Felicia Funmilayo Akinyemi. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

DIBOH: Formerly Miss Diboh Uchenna Roseline now Mrs. Udefi Uchenna Roseline. Former documents remain valid.

Public note.

DURU: Formerly Miss Betty Ugonna Duru now Mrs. Betty Ugonna Eziakor. All former documents remain valid. Public note.

DURU: I formerly Miss Duru Chinwe .K. now wish to be called Mrs. Okpaireh Chinwe.K. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

EBEWELE: I, formerly Mr. Ebewele Augustine now to be addressed as Mr. Akhator Ebewele Augustine. Former documents remain valid. General public note.

56

THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, June, 1, 2013

Change of Name EBIAFA: Formerly Miss Gloria Tokoni Ebiafa now Mrs. Gloria Tokoni Donatus.

Former documents remain valid. Public note.

ECHEZONA: Formerly call Miss Vivian Oby Echezona now called Mrs. Vivian Oby Onazi. All documents remain valid.

General public note.

EDEJI-OFFORAH: Formerly Edeji-Offorah Clarine Chioma now Edeji Clarine Chioma. Former documents valid. NTI Kaduna, AOCOED, LASU, public note.

EDHEREDINO: Formerly Miss Helen Orowo Edheredino, now Mrs Helen Orowo Ogunyemi.

Former documents valid. Public note.

EDUNWOYE: Formerly Edunwoye Omokemi now Edunwoye Omokemi Ajoke. Former documents remain vlaid.

LASU, External System & public note.

EGBOCHUKWU: Formerly Miss Egbochukwu Anulika Comfort now Mrs. Onwukwe Anulika Comfort.

Former documents remain valid. Public note.

EKANEM: Formerly Miss Mfon Okon Ekanem now Mrs. Mfon Sisan-Adidi.

Former documents remain valid. Public note.

EKE: Formerly Miss Eke Udodirim Onyebuchi now Mrs. Agbo Udodirim. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

EKWENYE: Formerly Miss Ekwenye Eziaku Franca now Mrs Franca Eziaku Chibuike. Former documents remain valid. Public take note.

ELAKAMA: Formerly Miss Aminat Musa Elakama now Mrs Aminat ElakamaObe. Former documents remain valid.

NYSC and public note ELEKOLUSI: Formerly Miss Elekolusi

Olayemi Abike now Mrs. Odumosu Olayemi Abike. All former documents remain valid. Public note.

Miss Falana Yewande Ayodele now Mrs. Akinpelu Yewande Ayodele.

Former documents remain valid. Public note.

ELUCHIE: Formerly Eluchie Chinonso Theresa now Udoh Chinonso Theresa.

Former documents remain valid. Public note.

FISHER: Formerly Miss Fisher Mautin Omolara now Mrs. Atukpor Mautin Omolara.

Former documents remain valid. Public note.

EMERENINI: Formerly Miss Emerenini Chinonyelum Linda now Mrs. Anyanwu Chinonyelum Linda.

Former documents remain valid. Zenith Bank, public note.

GBADAMOSI: Formerly Zarau Temitope Gbadamosi now Mrs. Zarau Temitope Oladitan.

Former documents valid. Public note.

ENEFIOK: I, formerly known and addressed as Miss G o o d n e w s Imaobong Enefiok now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. G o o d n e w s Imaobong Francis Essien. All former documents remain valid.

ENWEREMADU: Formerly Miss Enweremadu Nzube Rosemary now Mrs. Onyeanuforo Nzube Rosemary. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

ERETAN: Formerly Miss Folasade Josephine Eretan now Mrs. Folashade Josephine Ebietsuwa. All documents remain valid. Public note.

EZEAGU: Formerly Miss Ezeagu Chika Perpetual now Mrs. Ezulike Chika Perpetual. Former documents valid. Federal College of Education (Technical) Asaba.

Public note.

EZEORACHI: Formerly Miss Ezeorachi Chinyere Hope now Mrs. Mbaeyi Chinyere Hope. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

FAJEMISIN: Formerly Miss Adebimpe Kikelomo Fajemisin, now Mrs Adebimpe Kikelomo Ogunshola.Former documents valid. Public note.

FALANA: Formerly

HAMMED: Formerly Mrs. Hammed Oluwatosin Christianah now Akingbehin Oluwatosin Christianah. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

IBECHEOZO: IÂ formerly Mrs. Latifat Ibecheozo now wish to be known as Miss L a t i f a t Aisekhaomon.

All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

known and addressed as Mrs. Adedoyin Bolanle Boladuro. All former documents remain valid. Public please note.

JUSTIN: Formerly Justin Onyeka Emeka now Anthony Emeka Ahanotu. Former documents remain valid.

Public note.

KADIRI: Formerly Miss Lare Kadiri now Mrs. Lare Kadiri Daniel. Former documents valid. NYSC, public note.

KALU: Formerly Miss Ijeoma Ngozi Kalu now wish to known, addressed as Mrs Ijeoma Ngozi ObinnaUmelo. Former documents remain valid.

General public note KEFAS: Formerly Mrs. Patricia Kefas now Mrs. Patricia Kefas Yusuf. Former documents remain valid.

Public note.

KIADII: Former Miss Kiadii Rosemary now Mrs. Edi Rosemary.

All former docuIBRAHIM: Formerly ments remain valid.

Miss Ibrahim Public note.

Opeyemi Naima K. now Mrs. Olawoyin KUYORO: Formerly Opeyemi N. K. For- Miss Kuyoro mer documents re- Oluwaseun Omoleye main valid. Public now Mrs. Onanuga note.

Oluwaseun Omoleye.

Former documents IGUNBOR: Formerly remain valid. Public Mr Celestine Igun- note. bor, now Mr Celestine Chukwuemeke LAGUDA: Formerly Rapheal. Former doc- Miss Adepeju Raodat uments valid. Public Laguda now Mrs. Adepeju Abimbola Balonote. gun.

Former IGWILO: Formerly documents remain Miss Igwilo Ifeoma valid. FIRS and public Eucharia now Mrs. note.

Muojekwu Ifeoma Eucharia.

Former LAWAL: Former Miss documents remain Lawal Oluwajuwon valid. Public note.

Joyce now Mrs. Augustine Oluwajuwon IWEH: Formerly Joyce. Former docuHenry Bamiyo Iweh ments remain valid. now Henry Bamiyo General public note.

Donatus.

Former documents remain MADU: Formerly Miss valid. Public note Madu Njideka Angela now Mrs. Okpala JACOB: Formerly Njideka Angela. ForMiss Christiana mer documents valid.

Imabong Jacob now Public note.

Mrs. Christiana Johnson Fadiya. Former MERAIYEBU: Formerly documents valid. Titilayo Mary Public note.

Meraiyebu now Mrs. Titilayo Mary Ife JAIYESIMI: I, formerly Ogunbambi. Former A d e d o y i n documents remain Omobolanle Jaiyes- valid. Public note. imi now wish to be

MMOGONU: I, formerly Chinwe Eunice Mmogonu now Mrs. Chinwe Eunice Charles-Anumele. All former documents remain valid. Public note.

MUSTAPHA: Formerly Miss Anifat Abiodun Mustapha now Mrs. Anifat Abiodun Shofoluwe. Former documents valid.

Public note.

NJOKU: I, formerly Miss Caroline Njoku now known as Mrs. Caroline Ngozi Nwosu. All former documents remain valid. General public note.

roeze Rose Chiadikauche now Mrs. Lebechime Rose Chiadikauche. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

NWONYE: Formerly Miss Nwonye Chigozie Constance now Mrs. Egegbara Chigozie Constance.

Former documents remain valid. Public note.

NZEKWE: Formerly Miss Nzekwe Chioma Faith now Mrs. Ekwoloanya Chioma Faith. Former documents remain valid.

Public note.

NKWOPARA: Formerly Miss Nkwopara Gloria Chiagwam now Miss Nkwopara Gloria Chigagwam. Documents valid. Public note.

OBASSA: Formerly Obassa Adetoun Funke now Adeleke Adetoun Funke. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

NMOR: Formerly Miss Nmor Chioma Philomena now Mrs. Adejumo Chioma Philomena. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

OBINALI: Formerly Miss Obinali Patience Chioma now Mrs. Edeh Patience Chioma. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

NURUDEEN: Formerly Miss Nurudeen Aminat Abiola now Mrs. Agbaje Aminat Abiola.

Public note.

ODEYEMI: Formerly Miss Odeyemi Olanle Aina now Mrs. Olanle Aina Adeniji-Johnson. Former documents valid. Public note.

NWANKWO: Formerly Miss Nkemdilim Pauline Nwankwo now Mrs. Nkemdilim Pauline Oleka. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

NWANYANWU: Formerly Miss Lois Ifeoma Nwanyanwu now Mrs. Lois Ifeoma Ogueri. Former documents remain valid.

General Public note.

NWEKE: Formerly Miss Joyce Oluchi Nweke now Mrs. Joyce Oluchi Onogbosele. All former documents remain valid.. Public note.

NWEKE: Formerly Miss Chinwoke Doris Nweke now Mrs. Chinwoke Doris Achonwa.

All former documents remain vaid. Public note.

NWOBODO: Formerly Miss Nwobodo Mary Ngozi now Mrs. Nebo Mary Ngozi. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

NWOKOROEZE: Formerly Miss Nwoko-

ODINKEMERE: Formerly Miss Odinkemere Oguh Edith Uchechi now Mrs. Oguh Edith Uchechi.

Former documents remain valid. Public note.

ODUNLAMI: Odunlami Adedotun Iyadunni now Adeniyi Adedotun Iyadunni. All documents remain valid.

Public note.

OFURE: I, formerly Miss Okekhigbemen Peace Ofure now Mrs. Eze Peace Ofure. Former documents remain valid. General public take note.

OGBO: Formerly Miss Ogbo Princess Nnenna now Mrs Sopuruchukwu Princess Nnenna.

Former documents valid. Public note.

OGEGE: Formerly Anthony Solomon Ogege now Anthony Solomon Elokhe. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

57

THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, June, 1, 2013

Change of Name OGHEDO: Formerly Miss Oghedo Nwabugo Nkechi now Mrs. Okeke Nwabugo Nkechi. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

OGINI: Formerly Miss Ogini Ifunanya Jane now Mrs. Ijeomah Emeka Ifunanya Jane.

All former documents remain valid.

Public note.

OGUNBA: Formerly Miss Abimbola Odunayo Ogunba, now Mrs Abimbola Odunayo Modupe.

Former documents valid. Public note.

OGUNDIMU: Formerly Mrs. O g u n d i m u Omoseeke Modinat nee Oshinke or Osinaike now Mrs. Peters Omoseeke Modinat. All former documents remain valid. Public note.

OGUNOLA: Formerly Miss Kehinde Safurat Ogunola now Mrs. Kehinde Safurat Ogunbona. Former documents valid.

Ado-ODO/OTALGEA, OGUNSUBEB, public note.

OGUNTADE: Formerly Miss Oguntade Modupe Tomilayo, now Mrs Okunmuyide Modupe Oluwatomilayo.

Former documents valid. Public note.

OGUNSHINA: Formerly Miss Nike Ola Ogunshina now Mrs. Nike Ola Akintayo.

Former documents remain valid. Public note.

OHALETE: Formerly Miss Blessing Kelechi Ohalete, now Mrs Blessing Kelechi Ihendu. Former documents valid. Public note.

OHUKA: Formerly Miss Victoria Chikaodi Ohuka, now Mrs Victoria Chikaodi Okwuokei.

Former documents valid. Public note.

OJEAGA: Formerly Ojeaga Helen Odegua now Mrs. Odeta Helen Odegua. Former documents remain

valid. General public, take note.

OJO: Former Miss V i c t o r i a Oluwayemisi Ojo now to be known as Miss Victoria Funmi Moses. Former documents valid. Public note.

OKECHUKWU: Formerly Miss Okechukwu Chinenye now Mrs. Nwachukwu Chinenye Favour. Former documents remain valid. ESUT, Teaching Hospital Parklane Enugu and public note.

OKEKE: Formerly Miss Okeke Adaobi Pridencia now Mrs. Orikpe Adaobi Pridencia. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

OKEREKE: Formerly Okereke Samson now Samson Okereke Samson. Former documents remain valid. General public take note.

OKOGIE: F o r merly Miss Okogie Franca now Mrs. Audu Okogie Franca. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

OKOH: Formerly Miss Okoh Sonia Chizoba now Mrs. Eze Sonia Chizoba.

Former documents remain valid. Public note.

OKOLI: Former Miss Okoli Rosemary Onyeka now Mrs. Masoje Rosemary Onyeka. All former documents remain valid. Public note.

OKONKWO: Formerly Miss Okonkwo Onyinye Stella now Mrs. Eze Onyinye Stella. Former documents remain valid. NYSC, public note.

OKONKWO: Formerly Miss Okonkwo Amarachukwu now Mrs. Madu Amarachukwu Mary Catherine. Former documents remain valid. Nursing and Midwifery Council

of Nigeria, public OREDIYA: Formerly Miss Orediya note.

Ebunoluwa TemiOLAITAN: Formerly tope now Mrs. Miss Bukola Bilikis Kadelu Ebunoluwa Olaitan now Mrs. Temitope. Previous Bukola Banjo. For- documents remain mer documents re- valid. Public take main valid. General note. public note.

ORUNGBASO: Formerly Miss OrungOLAOLUWA: ForOmowunmi merly Mrs. Modupe baso Funmilayo now Mrs. Olaoluwa now Mrs. Akidima Omowunmi Modupeola Omolara Otuyalo. All for- Funmilayo. All former documents mer documents reremain valid. Gen- main valid. General eral public and NTA public note. please take note.

ORUNO: Formerly known as OLIME: Formerly Oghoghorie AnthoMiss Precious Omolewa Olime nia Oruno now wish now Mrs. Precious to be known and adOmolewa Olowu. dressed as Ugono – Former documents Oghoghorie, Anthoremain valid. Public nia Ogheneruno. All former documents note. remain valid. Bristow OLUOKUN: Formerly Helicopters Nigeria Miss Oluokun Limited and public Abosede Omobola take note. now Mrs. Bello Abosede Omobola. OSINAIKE: Formerly Former documents Miss Osinaike Temitope Comfort now valid. Public note.

Mrs. Bisuga TemiOMOMEHIN: For- tope Comfort. All fordocuments merly Miss Omome- mer remain valid.

Ogun hin Olorunjuwon State Ministry of Folasade, now Mrs Agriculture, public Medu-Oye Olorunjuwon Folasade. For- note. mer documents OZOUDE: Formerly valid. Public note.

Miss Ozoude BlessOMOSHOLAPE: I, for- ing Njideka now Mrs. Blessing mer Adeola Monulu Omosholape Isaac Njideka. Former docnow wish to be uments valid. Public known and ad- note. dressed as Mrs. Adeola Isaac Ojo. All OZIOKO: Formerly former documents Mr. Ozioko Paschal remain valid. Public Okafor and Mrs. Ozioko Chinwe R. pls note. now Mr. Ifechukwu ONIYIDE: Formerly Paschal Okafor and Ifechukwu Miss Olayinka Olu- Mrs. sola Oniyide to be Chinwe R. Former addressed as Mrs. documents remain Olayinka Olusola valid. Public note.

Coker. Former documents remain valid. PORBENI: Formerly Miss Porbeni OlPublic note. ubukola Margaret ONOH: Formerly now Mrs. Falodun OlMiss Onoh Chinwe ubukola Margaret.

Eucharia now Mrs. Former documents Onu Chinwe Eu- remain valid. Public charia. Former doc- note. uments valid. Public note.

PETER: Formerly Miss Osagbe Rose Peter, OPURUM: I formerly now Mrs Osagbe Miss Opurum Rose Graham. ForChizoba Grace now mer documents Mrs. Anoruo valid. Public note.

Chizoba Grace. Former documents re- RAHEEM: Formerly Fatimah main valid. General Raheem Ronke now Mrs. public note.

Mustapha Fatimah

valid.

Ronke. Former docu- uments ments remain valid. ECOBANK Nigeria General public take Plc and public note. note.

UGIRI: Formerly RAIMI: Formerly Miss Ugiri Akunna Raimi Lamidi Igbeaku now Mrs Olalekan Atanda Ahukanna Akunna Former now Raheem Ahmed Igbeaku.

Olalekan.

Former documents valid. documents remain Public note. valid. General public take note.

UGUSEBA: Formerly Miss Mercy OnutomSALITU: I, formerly aha Uguseba, now Miss Seliat Salihu Mrs. Mercy Eloghene now wish to be ad- Ante. Former docudressed as Mrs. Seliat ments valid. Public Alawoki. All former note. documents remain UKAWILU: I, forvalid. Public note. merly Miss Helen SAPERE: Formerly Ogechi Ukawilu now Miss Joy-Jennifer known as Mrs. Helen Sapere, now Mrs Joy- Ogechi Oseghale.

Jennifer Nta. Former Former documents documents valid. remain valid. General public take Public note. note.

SUARAU: Formerly Miss Suarau Nofisat UKO: Formerly Miss Titilayo now Mrs. Uko Glory Udo now Kamorudeen Nofisat Mrs. Jacob Glory Udo Former Titilayo (Nee-Sua- Ihetuge. rau). Former docu- documents remain ments remain valid. valid. Public note.

Ojo Local Govt. & UMEH: Formerly public note.

Charles Umeh now TOWOBOLA: For- Mr. Charles ChukFormer merly Miss Towobola wuerika.

Bolanle Stelly now documents remain Obalade Bolanle valid. Public note.

Stella. Former docuFormerly ments valid. NMCN, URIESI: Miss Uriesi Edna public note.

Ebehi now Mrs. Nya TWEH: Formerly Edna Ebehi. All forBamiyo Iweh now mer documents reHenry Bamiyo Dona- main valid. Public tus. Former docu- note. ments remain valid.

WAKAMA: Formerly Public note.

Miss Wakama UDEH: Formerly Miss Egerton Jane now Udeh Florence now Mrs George Aniefiok Mrs. Ozomadu Flo- Emmanuel Jane. Forrence Adaeze. For- mer documents remer documents main valid. Public remain valid. Public note. note.

YISA: Formerly Miss UDO: Formerly Miss Mariam Abimbola Mandu James Udo Yisa, now Mrs now Mrs. Mandu Mariam Abimbola Nsidibe Usoro. For- Olumuyiwa. Former mer documents documents valid. valid. Unity Bank Plc, Public note.

UNIUYO and public note.

UDOIMUK: Formerly Miss Udoimuk Ekemini Johnson now Mrs. Usanga Ekemini Godwin. Former documents valid. Public note.

UDOM: Formerly Miss Inimfon Akpan Udom, now Mrs. Inimfon David Ukpong. Former doc-

IF FOR THE PURPOSE OF THIS CHANGE Of NAME YOU WANT TO BUY A COPY PLEASE CALL

THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, June 1, 2013

58

TRANSITION

A Tribute To Theresa, My Best Friend

By Sonnie Ekwowusi HE was tall, exceptionally tall in the exemplary virtues which she practiced to the admiration of her children and others. She perceived motherhood as a precious gift which should be celebrated and rewarded because humanity owes its survival to that gift. She was always consumed by the passion to enthrone lasting values in the society and to promote the common good. She lived for the others and was always ready to serve the others. With her unfailing Christian faith, hope and optimism, she comforted many who sought her advice. Her faith, moderation, grace, serenity and comportment endeared her to the hearts of many.

In case you are still guessing, the lady I am referring to is no other person than Mrs. Theresa Ukochukwu Ekwowusi, my Mum and my best friend, who died in Lagos on Friday, May 3 2013 having borne her illness with exemplary Christian equanimity and resignation to the Will of God. During her pilgrimage on earth, she relished being addressed as simply Ukochukwu (a go-between, or, put differently, an advocate, or, a mediator between God and man). And she truly lived to the bidding of this her middle name.

Ukochukwu’s vivacious spirit and faith enabled her to accept and bear her sufferings. She believed that God who loved her so much and knew why she had to undergo so much pain could heal her if He wanted. Therefore, she put her whole trust in God. My Mum had a deep sense of justice. She believed that justice is the vital thread that knits human society together. She condemned injustices meted out to others. She corrected many wrongs. A conscientious Christian humanist, my Mum readily hearkened to the assistance of her suffering relatives and neighbours. She saw herself as a sort of an advocate who pleaded the cause of others. In fact,

S

she took many socio-cultural and religious problems of the others and made them her own in order to solve them.

Ukochukwu lived the virtue of hard work. She dedicated her entire life to the fulfillment of her ordinary duties. All those who lived with her would readily attest that she was a workaholic. She finished her job. She set a high target for herself in her job. She detested idleness.

Small wonder she ensured that all those who lived with her or were in contact with her were busy doing one work or the other. For example, in those critical days in which she was critically ill and Nkorika my sister obtained permission from her employer in order to be by her bedside, my mother would always remind her that she had to quickly go back to her workplace. In the same manner, whenever I went straight from the office to see her, she always insisted I must go back to my duty post on time to continue my work.

Growing up, I was a naughty boy, a never-dowell and the scum of the earth. It was not expected that I would grow up. I was despised. I was rejected and abandoned by my immediate world. But my mother, like a sweet mother, borrowing the phrase of the late high-life music maestro, Prince Nico Mbarga, took very care of me. She nursed me, fed me with my best food and cleaned the tears rolling down my cheeks. She charted a clear good path for me to follow. “The family, writes the American Jew Jonathan Sacks, is an age-old bond that holds a power greater than we dream.” The family values inculcated in us really formed the superstructure of my ethos and my behaviour up to this day. For example, it was part of our family tradition to return home before nightfall. And to date, I always feel uneasy each time I find myself staying away from home late in the night. In those occasions in which I failed my primary school exams and returned home Theresa

wearing a victim complex as if the teachers purposely failed me, my Mum would not always rebuke me but would insist I must work hard in school. I dare say that I owe the ideals, which I am struggling to live today, to my Mum. Perhaps Ukochukwu will be most remembered for her public-spiritedness and concern for the others. She was a woman who never sat back and did nothing to remedy the human misery and human deprivation around her. She dedicated the greater part of her life to praying for the others as well as sharing their anxieties, hopes and aspirations. She brokered many disputes involving her kinsmen and women and village folks.

She consoled the sick, the sorrowful and wept for the suffering and the dead. She opened her door for strangers and the socially uprooted.

Even in her sick bed at the hospital she never hesitated a moment in showing concern for the socio-economic and spiritual well being of the others. For example, in keeping with her simplicity of life, she welcomed all who came to see her at the hospital. She maintained a contagious smile even though she had not slept the previous night and was wriggling in pains. She would willingly join a nurse who had sauntered in in chorusing a hilarious native hymn or a religious hymn.

Sister Mary, a generous religious sister of the Catholic Church, who habitually came to the hospital to pray and comfort her, repeatedly told me, “Your mother is such a cheerful woman”.

“The work of dying well is, in largest part, the work of living well,” writes Richard John Neuhaus in his memorable book, As I Lay Dying. Certainly, Ukochukwu lived well and has died well too. Her exemplary life would always be a model for me, my siblings and

Adieu, Anthony Dapo Irefu

Colette Ojihromu Ben-Obi (1954-2013)

From Philip Ojisua, Abuja

EACONESS (Chief) Mrs. CoD lette Ojihromu Ben-Obi was born on February 21, 1954,

T was a sad moment for the IEdo,people of Ososo in Akoko Edo State, recently, when the body of the Chief Medical Director of Echo Scan, Dr. Anthony Oladapo Irefu arrived the town for burial. The body was first taken to All Saints Anglican Church, Ososo, amidst tiers from both young and old, before being laid to rest in his compound.

Irefu was born into the family of High Chief Michael Irefu, the Ede-Ikuru of Ososo, on October 5, 1962 at Ilaro, Ogun State.

He began his elementary education at llaro, Ogun State, and later continued at Ososo Primary School, Ososo, between 1968 and 1974 after the family had relocated home. He proceeded to Saint Aloysius Grammar School now Ososo Grammar School Ososo, where he had his secondary education, passing out with Aggregate Six, in 1979.

That same year, he was offered admission to study Physiology at the University of Ibadan, Ibadan, but because of his dream of becoming a medical doctor, he rejected the admission and rather enrolled for a Lower Sixth programme at Edo College, Benin City. The following year, he wrote the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examination, choosing Medicine as his first choice of course. He was admitted into the University of Benin, to study his dream course. He graduated in 1986 with an MBBS Degree.

After graduation, the young Doctor was posted to Mallam

Irefu Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano for his housemanship and later did his compulsory service at the same hospital, where he excelled in practice.

Between 1987 and 1988, he moved to Gusau in the then Sokoto State, where he worked in Poly Clinic and Maternity Home. In Gusau, he met Dr. Evelyn Daub, a German, whom he later married and they had a daughter, Paula Omore.

Irefu’s quest for knowledge took him to Germany in 1991, where he had further studies in other areas of Medicine including Sinology between 1991 and 1992. This boosted his practice upon his return to Nigeria.

He immediately established his first private hospital in Keffi, in the present day

Nasarawa State, bringing to bear on his practice, the new skills he had acquired in supplies, maintenance, training and use of Ultrasound Machines. He was indeed a pioneer in the introduction of Ultrasound machines to Northern Nigeria, as a good number Ultrasound machines sold in that region up till mid 2000 were supplied by his c o m p a n y .

In 1994, he relocated to Kaduna from Keffi and established Meditronics Scanning Centre. This idea gave birth to Echo-Scan Services Limited, Kaduna, which today has branches across the nation, three in Abuja, one in Asaba and two in Lagos, providing employment to hundreds of Nigerians.

in Onitsha into the reputable families of Chief Murphy Aberiare Ejumudo of Jakpa Quarters, Uvwie Local Government Area, Prince Aguara Eyimetse of Itsekiri Olu, Warri South Local Government Area and Pa Awani Edo of Obaghoro, Warri North Local Government Area, all in Delta State.

Her father, Chief Murphy Aberiare Ejumudo was a prominent chief (Ufuoma r’uvwie), a legendary figure, a reference point and a prosperous businessman in Warri. Her mother, Princes (Mrs.) Grace Ajiyenmikpiaghan Murphy-Ejumudo was a royal personage, a unique personality, an accomplished businesswoman within Nigeria and overseas.

The late Deaconess Ben-Obi attended the popular St. Andrew’s Primary School, Warri, and had her college education at the prestigious Our Lady’s High School, Effurun.

She proceeded to Y.W.C.A, Lagos where she studied Secretarial Administration. She also did a course in Administration in Canical College, Toronto, Canada.

She had a glorious job career.

She tutored at Akwarajo Primary School, Koko in the 1970s. She also had a stint at Marini (an Italian Company) in Lagos before she finally joined the service of the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA), Ahmadu Bello way, Victoria Island, Lagos in 1979 as a Confidential Secretary. Until her demise, she was a senior staff with the Nigeria Televi-

sion Authority Properties and Investment Company, Abuja, a subsidiary of the NTA. The late Ben-Obi had a Christian foundation, having been born into a Christian family.

She was a member of Christ African Church, attended Roman Catholic Church during her college days and thereafter she was a foundation member of the Bible Believers Church Ministries, Inc., Lagos, in 1990. She was a loyal, dedicated, faithful and selfless Christian in the service of the Lord. She occupied several positions in Bible Believers Ministries Inc., Lagos, including Treasurer; Head, Decoration Committee; and President, Women Fellowship (Women of Valour). In acknowledgement of her unalloyed loyalty, steadfastness, zeal, concern and Christian commitment, she was ordained a Deaconess in 1997.

Ben-Obi

Her love, sincere care and concern for as many as came in contact with her brought many converts to Christ. She was truly a mother to many in the Lord. She fought the good fight of faith, she finished her course and on Sunday, April 14, 2013 she gloriously changed her abode, landed safely on the heavenly shore, uniting with the saints of God in glory in the sixth dimension, where our loved ones are patiently waiting for us.

Left to mourn her are her husband, Senator (Chief) Dr. Ben Ndi Obi, the vice presidential candidate of the Action Congress (AC) in the 2007 presidential election who is currently serving as Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on InterParty Affairs; her children, Mrs. Julia Azike, Mr. Joshua Chito Obi and Miss Uchechi Obi; grand children and a host of relatives.

TheGuardian

Saturday, June 1, 2013 59

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Sports

AFN Golden League

Bukola Abogunloko (left) during an international competition. She was beaten at the 2nd leg of the Golden League in Port Harcourt.

Ogho-Oghene Egwero was not at the 3rd leg in Benin.

All Eyes On The Jackpot

By Gowon Akpodonor T the end of the third leg of the AFN Golden A League at the University of Benin (UNIBEN) Sports Complex last weekend, female sprinter, Peace Ukoh, celebrated as if she had won an Olympic gold medal.

Ukoh ran a fantastic race by returning 11.22secs in the women’s 100m, a performance that was hailed by the spectators present at the venue, including the Technical Director of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Navy Commodore Omatseye Nesiama.

“My happiness today is not about placing first in this event, but the fact that I was able to run a fast time,” Ukoh told The Guardian as she waved to the crowd in appreciation of their support.

“I am very glad it happened and I will continue to push harder so as to be among the jackpot winners,” she added.

The fourth leg of the 2003 AFN Golden League, sponsored by Solid Works Limited will take place this morning at the Ilorin Township Stadium. The first leg took place at the Gateway Stadium, Sagamu while the second leg at the Adokie Amesiemeka Stadium in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, followed it.

However, the third leg in Benin City was postponed due to protest by some athletes who felt that the standard set by the AFN as benchmark for selection for the World Athletics Championship, was on the high side. The AFN tagged the athletes’ rebels and lazy people crying wolf where there was none.

Three of them were banned while the Golden

League competition was suspended. Those axed for ‘instigating’ a boycott of the Benin leg of the league were Saheed Osanyande, Afeez Imama and Lekan Soetan.

When the suspension was lifted, the athletes shocked some followers of the game with their performances in their respective events.

“This is why Solid Works Limited is helping AFN in sponsoring these competitions so that talented athletes could leverage on their talents, the AFN Technical Director, Nesiama said.

The rescheduled third leg in Benin was nearly marred by heavy down pour, and according to Nesiama, Nigerians would have witnessed fast times in Benin if not for the rain.

“I was not happy when athletes could not compete in Benin last time, but this time around, they have proven that given more opportunities, they would dare Nigerian athletes in Europe and America,” he stated.

As the athletes converge in Ilorin for the fourth leg of the AFN Golden League today, Nesiama is hoping for a better performance from the athletes.

Today, the athletes are expected to compete in 16 events, including, the 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m, 100mh, 400mh and 5000m. Others are the triple jump, short put, 4x100m and 4x400m relays.

But some of the events that will catch the attention of Nigerians are the 100m, 400m and 4x100m relays. At the UNIBEN Sports Complex two weeks ago, quarter-miler, Patience George Okon representing Cross River State posted a blistering 51.96secs in the

400m women event. She is expected to give Ilorin fans another thrilling race today.

The athletes have tagged today’s 4th leg in Ilorin ‘very important’ because it would play a major role in their qualification for the final leg of the league and the National trials in Calabar later this month.

Today’s event will also serve as qualification for the AAC Super Grand Prix in Warri on June 14.

The AFN Technical Director, Nesiama said yesterday that four lanes have been reserved for the athletes at the Warri Grand Prix to compete against the best from other parts of the World.

“We will use the Ilorin leg of the Golden League to select the athletes for the Warri Grand Prix,” he said.

The athletes are expected to approach today’s meet in Ilorin with maximum concentration as adverse weather conditions at previous events dimmed their efforts, especially in Port Harcourt, where some of them were unable to compete due to torrential rain.

Ilorin fans would witness a thrilling race hoping that Peace Ukoh (11.25secs) in 100m women and Patience Okon (51.96secs) 400m women would reenact their form this afternoon.

Also expected to thrill the fans is quarter miller, Kemi Adekoya. The female athlete beat celebrated Bukola Abogunloko in the 400m race in Port Harcourt during the second leg of the Golden League.

Another athlete to watch out for is Isah Salihu of the Nigeria Custom Services. The quartermiler has been in fantastic form this season, though he will face stiff challenge from the

likes of Goddey James and Abiola Onakoya today.

The 2011 Garden City National Sports Festival (NSF) sprint king, Chris Onyeaku, returned 10.1secs to send the crowd into wild jubilation last weekend in Benin. All eyes will be on him this afternoon in Ilorin.

An elated Onyeaku said after the fantastic race at the UNIBEN Sports Complex last week that the cheering fans encouraged him to push forward in the 100m race.

“I owe the crowd a lot of gratitude because they kept urging me on when the rain was making it difficult for a fast time on the tracks. This was my second fastest time in 100m since 2011 Garden City National Sports Festival, which I won and I’m hoping to improve on it beginning with the fourth leg of the Golden League in Ilorin,” he noted.

Meanwhile, the AFN Technical Director has emphasised that winning cash prizes by placing first in each event does not guarantee invitation to camp, but meeting the standards by the AFN. The President of AFN, Chief Solomon Ogba said yesterday that he was looking forward to good weather condition today in Ilorin.

“Apart from good weather, I am appealing to the people of Ilorin and its environs to come and cheer the athletes in their respective events,” Ogba stated.

It would be recalled that a majority of the athletes, especially in the sprint events, were able to achieve the standard during the 3rd leg in Benin. However, they are hoping to have a go at the jackpot this afternoon.

THE GUARDIAN Saturday, June 1, 2013

60

SPORTS

Welcome To The New World Of Football! was a night never to forget. On the night of May 25, 2013, they IAtTdeserved their victory. the end of a grueling football match that provided the best advertisement for German football, Bayern Munich FC became the toast of football followers all over the world. But the night did not belong to them alone. Borussia Dortmund FC also shared creditably in the global limelight.

In the course of the 90 minutes, many goal-scoring chances were created (and saved by excellent goalkeeping) that the pendulum of victory kept oscillating between the two teams in one of the best displays of attacking football seen during the entire 2013 championship.

The global audience of an estimated 170 million television viewers were not only thoroughly entertained but were perched on the edge of dramatic hysteria for the duration of the match.

Many were left wondering if the teams were actually German as little in the way both teams played reflected the long-established tradition of German football – mechanical, technical, efficient and boring!

Instead, Bayern Munich FC in particular looked, for most times in the match, like an improved and better version of FC Barcelona – Tiki Taka, physical strength, and a rock-solid, disciplined defense! I suspect that the world saw a preview of the football philosophy that will rule European football (and possibly world football) for some years to come requiring a level of physical fitness to cope with the speed of the game at the highest levels that will be mind-boggling.

One thing was very clear with the 1000-plus spectators at a public event in Lagos, Nigeria, where Jay Jay Okocha and I watched the match on giant television screens as special guests at a Mastercard show in front of a live audience. If the audience’s reaction before and after the match is anything to go by, one can easily conclude that, whereas neither Bayern nor Dortmund had any local supporters in Nigeria before the match, the foundation was well laid, following a truly terrific performance, for a new

battalion of fans.

The venue was devoid of the usual electricity of EPL and some La Liga matches. Nobody wore any replica shirts of the two teams at ‘war’. There was neither cheering nor baying!

All of that lasted only until the match started and the world was treated and enriched with vintage football of the highest order – a very open game characterised by moments of exceptional individual brilliance, endless running from end to end, non-stop unadulterated attacking football, excellent goalkeeping and dramatic goals to provide the icing on the cake. Everyone present was just happy to watch an exhilarating encounter without the ‘stress’ of fanatical support.

Since last weekend, the world has changed and the balance of football has shifted. If Germany needed one single event to announce the result of its return as a global football power, it found it. What the world saw was neither an accident nor a fluke.

It was the product of a well-designed, well-orchestrated and wellexecuted programme of a football development that started with the failure of the German national team at the 2006 World Cup. Since then, the youth, academy and club football programmes introduced are running well. The clubs are attracting some of the world’s best players and coaches, and paying sensible wages.

The clubs are run efficiently and profitably (unlike the free-fall of the EPL). The country is maintaining a sensible quota system that guarantees that German players get enough playing time and opportunity, and benefit maximally from the club structures and influx of foreign players. It is a complete package of a new way of running and developing football and its business.

I can testify that both Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund

Segun Odegbami have attracted fans to themselves already within the Nigerian football planet since the final match.

Even at global level, I read that Bayern Munich have overtaken Manchester United, Arsenal and Barcelona as the world’s best financially-run and attractive football brand. Can you believe it?

In one week, the world of football has changed so dramatically!

As I join the rest of the world in celebrating the return of German football, I still find confounding a few things that run against the grain of common trends and sense.

I cannot pretend to understand the decision of Bayern Munich to let go their coach (Jupp Heynckes) that had just led them to win the most prestigious trophy in World Club football, and replace him with another (Pep Guardiola) that had not coached any team in the last one year! I cannot pretend to understand how a club (Borussia Dortmund FC) could agree to sell off its best player (Mario Goetz) to its fiercest rival (Bayern) on the eve of the most crucial match between them! I am dumbfounded.

Having said that, the most beautiful development for me is that the 2013 Champions league has added several names to our football lexicon, by throwing up truly new and authentic global football heroes that will illuminate our world for years to come Manuel Neuter, Mario Goetz, David Alba, Dante, Schweinsteiger, Sven Bender, Mario Gomez, Matts Hummels, Robert Lewandowski, and so on. Welcome to the new world.

Dufil Prima, GSK In FMCG Games Final T promises to be battle IUniversity royale tomorrow at the of Lagos Sports Complex as Dufil Prima and GSK seek to establish dominance in the finals of the football event of the maiden Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) Games, which will also witness the finals in Athletics and Scramble.

The closing ceremonies will commence with the third place match of the football event between PZ Cussons and Unilever, as both sides will attempt to enter the honours zone with a win in the match, which have all the trappings of a cup final.

PZ Cussons, otherwise known as the Hot Robb boys, will be playing to improve on their already good overall medals

standing while for Unilever, it is a must win game that they also need to stay on the medals.

PZ Cussons are already looking gold in chess, table tennis and are also in the running for the scrabble and athletics gold medals to consolidate their hold at the top.

But it is in the glamorous football event expected to attract top management staff of all participating organisations that all eyes would be centered on, as Dufil Prima seeks to maintain their unbeaten run in the tournament.

They only dropped a point in a nil all draw with PZ Cussons and were 1-0 winners over their final opponents, GSK in the last group match.

Momoh, Aiyeboh Win Democracy Day Race WO future stars, Aiyeboh T Kingsley and Rakiya Momoh emerged champions in the junior boys and girls categories in the kayak event to mark Nigeria’s democracy day celebrations courtesy of two prominent members of the club whose birthdays fall on May 29.

Aiyeboh came in ahead of Auta Baba and Auta Abdul who came in second and third place respectively while Chika Amadi and Joy Momoh finished second and third in the girls’ category.

Other winners include Aaron Moses, Kenneth Adinkwu and Omaga Simon for the senior boys category while Serah Engemeka finished tops in the senior girls category ahead of Mary Momoh and Ayo Ogunbiyi.

Sponsors of the democracy day race, Navy Captain Odey and Captain Ogbuagu, members of the Navy Sailing Club, which organised the race in honour explained that their decision to host the event was in line with ensuring that that athletes in water sports have as many competitions as possible to keep them in shape.

The celebrants said they were happy that the Navy Sailing Club allowed them to host the event because they have benefitted from the advent of democracy. “Learning watercraft is key to survival because Nigeria is a maritime nation.

Incidentally, not many Nigerians can swim and being here is a way of exposing our kids to various water sports that is available to Nigerians.”

Borussia Dortmund’s Polish midfielder, Jakub Blaszczykowski (left) vies with Bayern Munich’s Austrian defender, David Alaba during the UEFA Champions League final at Wembley Stadium in London … last Saturday. Bayern Munich won 2-1.

PHOTO: AFP

Again, Nadal Rallies To Advance At French Open AFAEL Nadal came from R behind for the second match in a row yesterday at the French Open, surviving another shaky start to beat Martin Klizan 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3.

Entering the tournament, seven-time champion, Nadal had lost only 14 sets in 53 matches at the French Open.

Now, he has lost the opening set in each of the first two rounds.

Last year, Nadal dropped one set in the entire tournament en route to a record seventh Roland Garros title.

Forced to wait a day to play because of rain, Nadal lost serve four times and needed nearly three hours to reach the third round. When Klizan’s final shot sailed out, Nadal gave the cheering crowd a relieved thumbs-up and managed a weak smile.

‘’I started a bit too defensive,’’ he said. ‘’I improved a little bit during the match.’’

Nadal also lost the first set of his opening match against Daniel Brands and was down 3-love in the second-set tiebreaker before he rallied.

The Spaniard, now 54-1 at the French Open, seeks to become first man to win eight titles at the same

Grand Slam event. Since returning in February from a seven-month layoff because of knee trouble, he’s 38-2, reaching the finals at all eight tournaments he has entered and winning six.

Defending women’ champion, Maria Sharapova moved into the third round by finishing off a rain-interrupted 6-2, 6-4 victory over 19-yearold Eugenie Bouchard.

The GUARDIAN Saturday, June 1, 2013

61

SPoRTS

TRANSFER LATEST

Suarez Is Not For Sale, Liverpool Insists has insisted wantLnotIVeRPooL away striker Luis Suarez is for sale after the player announced his desire to leave Anfield this summer.

Suarez confirmed his ambition to leave the club on Thursday, stating the effect of the english press on his public image and family life as the main reasons for wanting a transfer.

The Uruguay international publicly announced his intention to leave the club despite the continued stance he is not for sale, with Liverpool reiterating its desire to keep its leading striker.

“Luis Suarez is not for sale neither Luis or his representatives have communicated these feelings directly to Liverpool football club,” Liverpool said in a team state-

Pressure Is Reason For Wanting To Leave Barca, Valdes Reveals he pressure of being T Barcelona’s first-choice goalkeeper for a decade has taken its toll and is the main reason for refusing the offer of a contract extension beyond 2014, Victor Valdes said.

“I know I owe the club members and fans an explanation for why I decided not to renew my contract,” the Spain international told a news conference attended by team mates Andres Iniesta, Carles Puyol and Xavi.

“Barca has given me everything and I owe them everything, but being a goalkeeper here takes it out of you. It is an irreversible decision and I didn’t want people to debate the economics of a possible new contract and how much I love this club.

WPTW Inspires Youth With Sports At Children’s Day e Play to Win (WPTW) in W conjunction with First hydrocarbon Nigeria Company Limited (FhN) celebrated the Children’s Day in Benin City by hosting a youth sports camp for young women.

WPTW uses the power of sports and physical activity to inspire and empower young women within impoverished communities, particularly in Africa.

FhN, the lead sponsor for the event, partnered with WPTW to uplift and empower the female population in Benin City.

President of WPTW, Kasia Muoto, said, “It is important to inspire people early in life and teach them about their true value. I am impressed with the vision and commitment to the local community’s social development and wellness.”

FhN Chief executive officer, Constantine Labi ogunbiyi said, “We are pleased to be taking part in the Benin City Youth Development and empowerment Sports Camp.

At FhN, our values support providing guidance and empowerment in order to equip people.”

ment. “The club remains supportive of Luis and expect him to honor his contract. We will not be making any further comment at this stage.”

Suarez was named as Liverpool Fans’ Player of the Year by supporters after leading the goal-scoring charts with 30 goals in all competitions, but controversy surrounding the striker has led to a fractured relationship with fans outside the club, with his latest incident being a bizarre bite of Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic, which resulted in a 10-game ban.

The decision of the 26-yearold to publicly state his desire to leave comes amid rumors suggesting he is being tracked

by Spanish giant Real Madrid.

I Wanted Neymar At Real Madrid, Marcelo Admits ARCeLo has expressed his M disappointment at Real Madrid’s failure to tempt

Suarez

Neymar to Santiago Bernabeu.

The 21-year-old forward is set to be unveiled at Barcelona on Monday following a 28 million euro move from Santos, and while Marcelo is happy his compatriot has taken the next step in his career, he admits he would much rather play alongside Neymar than face him in La Liga.

“Playing with Neymar is completely different to playing against him. I wanted him to join Real Madrid, but I am happy for him, it’s a big step in his career,” Marcelo told reporters at a press conference.

The Brazilian insists there will

be no rift between the two players on international duty as they prepare to lock horns in Spain next season, and says his Spanish teammates at Madrid are relishing the prospect of taking on Brazil in the Confederations Cup. “It’s normal to have the odd conflict out on the pitch but once the final whistle goes, we’ll give each other a hug and forget all about it,” Marcelo said.

“My Spanish teammates at Madrid would love Spain to meet Brazil. They respect us a lot and the feeling is mutual. It’s difficult to gauge what might happen should we meet as we haven’t played each other for quite a long time but we have to remember that they are the reigning world champions.”

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TheGuardian

Saturday, June 1, 2013

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Ahmed Musa Aims To Upstage Eto’o HMED Musa has said he A hopes CSKA Moscow beat Samuel Eto’o’s Anzhi to the Russia Cup today and complete a league and cup double.

Nigeria international Musa, who is CSKA leading scorer with 14 goals, 11 in the league and three goals in the Russia Cup, said his team is seeking the double.

“It is going to be a good and tough game but we are battle ready to win the trophy. The double is my target and I will do my best to see that we win the cup at the expense of Anzhi.

Eto’o is an African legend and I have learnt from him but I hope to beat him to the trophy,” Musa told MTNFootball.com.

Compatriots Ogenyi Onazi and Efe Ambrose have won the cup in Italy and Scotland respectively and Musa said he hopes he could also replicate their achievement in Russia.

“I congratulate them for the success. god is in control, I will do my best to follow suit by winning with CSKA Moscow on Saturday (today),” he said.

In the meantime, Ahmed Musa said that he would arrive Super Eagles camp ahead of a 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Harambee Stars of Kenya.

“I will play Russia Cup final on June 1, I will then will leave Russia for germany to join the national team for the World Cup qualifiers,” Musa stated.

He urged Nigerians to pray for the national team and keep supporting them as they are set to land the World Cup ticket.

“We will secure the World Cup ticket, we will do our best on the field to achieve that, Nigerians should support us and pray for us as we won’t let them down,” he assured.

Hull City Will Shock EPL, Says Aluko IgERIA winger, Sone Aluko N said he is confident he and Hull City could be the English Premier League shock troopers next season.

Aluko was an attacking revelation as ‘The Tigers’ clinched automatic promotion, scoring eight goals in 22 starts before injury cut short his campaign in January.

Although an ill-timed lay-off meant the 24-year-old missed out on the final four months of the season, a full recovery ensures he will rejoin teammates for pre-season training on July 4.

That will begin the countdown to the Premier League kick-off on August 17 and Aluko is desperate for the chance to prove himself at the highest level.

“I’m 100 per cent confident I can go to the Premier League and play my part,” he said. “I can’t wait, I honestly can’t wait. They should fear me because I watched them far more than they’ve watched me!

“Hopefully, that will give me the advantage. Not just myself but I hope the whole team can take a few people by surprise.”

Aluko is heading back to the top flight eight years after he came within a whisker of a Premier League debut.

As the rising star of Birmingham City under Tigers boss, Steve Bruce, a 16year-old Aluko was an unused substitute for the Blues visit to Arsenal in October 2005.

That ultimately proved to be a premature introduction and it has needed spells north of the border with Aberdeen and Rangers, and last summer’s move to East Yorkshire to bring him back to the brink of the Premier League.

Aluko said he is more “tortoise than hare” but is thrilled to have arrived back in the big time. “I came close before when I got to the bench at 16,” he explained.

“The manager never put me on and I still rib Steve Bruce about it now. I could have been one of the youngest players ever in the Premier League and now I’m 24.

“Obviously I’m the tortoise instead of the hare. It’s taken me eight years to get from the bench to the Premier League again.

Musa

FIFA To Expel, Relegate Teams For Racism EAMS could be relegated T or expelled from competitions for serious incidents of racism after tough new powers were voted in by FIFA. First or minor offences will result in either a warning, fine or order for a match to be played behind closed doors. Serious or repeat offences can now be punished by points deduction, expulsion or relegation.

Jeffrey Webb, head of FIFA’s anti-racism task force, said the decision was “a defining moment”.

He added: “Our football family is fully aware that

what is reported in the media is actually less than one per cent of the incidents that happen around the world.

“We’ve got to take action so that when we look to the next 20 or 50 years this will be the defining time that we took action against racism and discrimination.”

FIFA, world football’s governing body, passed the antiracism resolution with a 99 per cent majority at its congress in Mauritius.

It was gathered that concern was raised over those who voted against the

tougher racism measures.

Former South African apartheid prisoner Tokyo Sexwale, now a FIFA member, urged congress to check cameras to see who voted against racism rules.

“Sexwale said the one per cent vote against demonstrates how football still has to fight against racism.”

Webb said of the vote against the measures: “I would like to think it was a mistake but I’m glad it wasn’t the other way. I’m glad only one per cent went that way.”

Nonetheless, FIFA presi-

dent, Sepp Blatter accepted more must be done to eradicate racism.

He said: “We need zero tolerance and strict punishments everywhere. We must lead.

We must set a tough, uncompromising example.

“We can make a difference.

We can send a strong signal to the racists that their time is up.”

Fifa commissioned a task force to address the issue of racism after a friendly game between AC Milan and Pro Patria was abandoned due to racist chanting.

Their verdict includes put-

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FELIX OgUEJIOFOR ABUgU

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ting an official inside the stadium to identify potential acts of racism and ease the pressure on the match referee.

The new rulings standardise punishment across the members, meaning federations will lose the power to impose their own judgements.

Further to the regulations that relate to clubs or international teams, the new measures would see any individual who commits a racist offence banned from stadiums for a minimum of five matches.

The five-match suspension is one that has been introduced by the Football Association, whose chairman, David Bernstein sat on the task force in Mauritius.

Also on the task force was Kevin-Prince Boateng, the AC Milan player who led the walk-off in the game against Pro Patria in January.

Former England international striker Luther Blissett, an ambassador for antiracism charity Show Racism The Red Card, admitted to reservations about the new measures.

“You’ve got to applaud them for doing something about it, my thing is when they talk about the ‘level’ of racism,” he told Radio 5 live.

“To me, racism is racism.

“FIFA have to let it be known where they are going to start this from. Any form of racism is serious enough for the bans to start, they should hit people hard straight away.”