Sat 24 May 2014 by The Guardian Newspaper

S A T U R D A Y POLITICS 10

Confab And The Battle For Resource Control

E D I T I O N

SHOWBLAST 33

COVEREXTRA 51

CELEBRITY 23

Soaking Up Afropolitan

Social Media:

Freedom Park

The Bad, The Ugly

Screen Stars In Yenagoa For AMAA 2014

The Good,

Vibes At

TheGuardian Conscience, Nurtured by Truth Saturday, May 24, 2014

Vol. 30, No. 12,931

www.ngrguardiannews.com

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No Mutiny In Maiduguri Barracks, Says Military • British Foreign Secretary Supports UN Sanctions Against Boko Haram From Madu Onuorah, Abuja HE Defence Headquarters T has vehemently denied reports of a “Second Mutiny in Maimalari Barracks as Soldiers Manhandle Commander” by online media. A statement in Abuja signed by the Director Defence Information (DDI), Maj-Gen. Chris Olukolade, said: “What the online outlet garnished and dubbed as ‘mutiny’ was just a presentation of complaints by representatives of personnel families, who wanted the ban on motorcycles as a means of public transportation in the barracks reversed. “Soldiers were not involved

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

NEWS 3

President of the Nigerian Academy of Engineering, Prof Ayo Ogunye, left; Engineer Akinwunmi Adegboye, Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Engineering and Prof Oritsegbem Omatete, Guest Speaker/Chemical Engineering Department, Covenant University, Ota during the Fellows’ Forum with the theme, ‘Serendipity to Production: Developing a National Knowledge Base’ organized by the academy in Lagos yesterday.

Jonathan Hands Over 2014 Budget To Finance Minister For Implementation

Gunmen Kill 31 Villagers In Fresh Borno Attacks

From Njadvara Musa, Maiduguri

GANG of armed Boko A Haram sect members attacked a town and two villages of Kirenoa, Nura and Naforu in Marte Local Government Area of Borno State in over three dozen Toyota Hilux vehicles and motorcycles, and shot dead 31 people, before setting several houses and mosques ablaze in the early hours of yesterday. Kirenoa is a border town with

Cameroun; and is about 132 kilometres north of Maiduguri, the state capital. According to a resident of the town, Bukar Fannami, the vehicles and motorcycles were laden with Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and petrol-bombs in setting several houses, a mosque and shops ablaze with plumes of smoke that last for over five hours. “Other settlements attacked last night by the gunmen

include two villages of Nura and Naforu, 10 kilometers away from here. As we ran for safety to other villages, we were ambushed by another set of gunmen who started firing sporadically. “Some villagers fell on the ground, while others were shot dead,” said Fannami in a telephone chat yesterday in Maiduguri. He said as the houses were set ablaze, the attackers carted away food items such as

beans, rice and millet, including livestock into waiting pickup vans, and fled towards Dikwa and Gambouru/Ngala desert tracks. On the casualties in two villages, he said besides the slain 18 residents of Kirenoa, 12 people were also killed and buried yesterday morning at Nura and Nufora villages, according to Islamic rites. Speaking on security before the multiple attacks, he said:

“Some soldiers were brought to Kirenoa in patrol vehicles early this year, but left for Maiduguri and Dikwa last month; leaving behind a handful of policemen in this town. “In other two villages, which are about 12 kilometres from here (Kirenoa), no security personnel were deployed to protect us from Boko Haram gunmen.” Confirming the multiple attacks yesterday in

Maiduguri, Borno State Police Commissioner, Tanko Lawal said besides the attacks in Kimba in southern Borno State, armed hoodlums also attacked two other villages and a town in northern part of the state. He said the reports of the Dikwa and Marte Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) indicated that about 30 people were feared dead yesterday at Kirenoa, Nura and Nuforu settlements in Chad Basin areas.

2 | Saturday, May 24, 2014

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Boko Haram: ‘Jonathan Sought Obama’s Help Last Year’ From Tunde Oyedoyin, London RESIDENT Goodluck P Jonathan knew his administration couldn’t fight the war on terror alone, so he sought the assistance of United States President, Barack Obama, in September last year and the American president responded swiftly

by sending two teams in December and January, one of Jonathan’s aide has revealed. The aide said that the country’s security agencies’ capacities, including intelligence gathering and citizens’ awareness, must also be increased in the war against terrorism, which he said “is new to Nigeria.”

Speaking to about 40 Nigerians, mainly people from Niger Delta, at the Holiday Inn Forum, Kessington, West London last Saturday afternoon, Oronto Douglas, the senior special adviser to the President on Research, Policy, Documentation and Strategy, said it is wrong to criticise

Jonathan and accuse him of not reacting swiftly to the Boko Haram threat and not seeking international assistance on time. Douglas said: “That the President didn’t ask for international help is not correct. I can tell you categorically now that as at 2012, the President had made a request to the US,

Britain and a few other countries for support. “In September 2013, at the United Nations (UN) Assembly, the President had a meeting with President Obama where he raised two important issues: oil theft in the Niger Delta, because it is an international crime, as the crude was being stolen from

Military Refutes Second Mutiny In Maiduguri Barracks rounds of assorted ammuniCONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 tions, as well as drilling and there was no single shot machines and other fabricatfired by soldiers throughout ing equipment. the period, as claimed in the He reminded the general report.” public to report suspicious He stated that although the persons to security agencies ban was part of security in their localities to prevent measures put in place for the unwholesome act by terrorsafety of the soldiers and ists. their families, the Acting Meanwhile, British Foreign General Officer Secretary, Mr. William Hague, Commanding (GOC) obliged yesterday lauded the United their request and directed a Nations (UN) addition of suspension of the ban, pendBoko Haram on its sanctions ing when the planned alterlist. native transportation The UN Security Council’s Al arrangement is put in place. Qaida Sanctions Committee “He was not insulted or had on Thursday added Boko manhandled, as reported. Haram to its list of groups The imputation of mutiny subjected to financial and was concocted by the online arms sanctions. medium ostensibly to raise In a statement made availfalse alarm and create the able to the News Agency of impression of disquiet in the Nigeria (NAN) by the British military. Deputy High Commission in “It is very obvious that a secLagos, Hague said Britain had tion of the media is feasting always wanted and supporton the current security chaled the sanctions. lenges and is desperate to “The United Kingdom (UK) sustain the tempo of the crihas shown its strong support sis through sensational for securing the listing. reportage,” he added. “Britain was the first country Olukolade noted that to proscribe Boko Haram and mutiny is a very grievous was pleased to support breach that attracts severe Nigeria’s demand that the sanctions in the military and UN takes action. should not be trivialised by “I, therefore, welcome the those who don’t understand listing of Boko Haram by the its ramifications. UN Security Council’s Al “The general public is thereQaida Sanctions fore requested to discounteCommittee.’’ nance the rumours, as no He said that the sanction such incident took place. was a demonstration of the “The mass media is again international community’s requested to beware of liftsupport for Nigeria’s effort at ing stories on the military fighting terrorism, adding: from online media, as this “Boko Haram is an inhuhas become the main chanmane organisation that has nel of disseminating falseno respect for religion or hood on happenings in the belief or a person’s right to system.” decide his way of life.’’ In another development, the military spokesman said cordon and search exercise has led to the discovery of rocket launcher production facility at Dorayi District in Kumbotso Council of Kano By Kenechukwu Ezeonyejiaku State, following the arrest of HE Diocesan Bishop, a prominent Boko Haram Lagos Mainland and member. Archbishop, Province of He disclosed that locallyLagos (Anglican made anti-aircraft gun and Communion), The Most Rev. mortar accessories, as well as (Prof.) Adebayo Dada Akinde rocket-propelled grenade has called on government to tubes and launcher, along alleviate the sufferings of with accessories, were recovNigerians and curb crime ered. through the provision of Also seized, according to good governance. Olukolade, were three AK47 He made the call while rifles and hundreds of

Nigeria and sold all over the world, including the US. “That was when he had the foresight to seek foreign help. So, he told the US President: ‘We need technical assistance. But that wasn’t all he said to the US President, as he also raised the issue of Boko Haram and the war on terror in the northeast and elsewhere. “What other way do you request for assistance than for a President of a country talking to another to say this is what we need? In fairness to Obama, when that request was made in September, by December, he sent a team and by January again, he sent another team and all these things were happening.” Fielding more questions from the audience, Douglas revealed that the Borno State governor is not helping the efforts to find and release the Chibok girls, adding: “Security needs cooperation and not antagonism. If Shetima (Borno State Governor) is really in support of the release of those girls, he will be cooperating with the federal government and the security agencies to get these girls out.

Soldiers Kill Two Suspected Boko Haram Members In Katsina OLDIERS yesterday conSpected firmed the killing of two susBoko Haram members

Gombe State Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo displaying his permanent voter’s card after receiving it at the Herwagana ‘A’ polling unit in Gombe… yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

in Katsina State. The Commanding Officer of the 35 Battalion of the Nigerian Army in Katsina, Col. Alhassan Gerema, made the announcement while speaking with newsmen in Katsina. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quoted him as saying that troops raided a house at Filin-polo Quarters in Katsina, following a tip-off. The commander said that two suspected Boko Haram members died during the operation and that one other member was captured. Eyewitnesses said troops surrounded the hideout of the terrorists and exchanged fire with the suspects. Residents have vacated the area following the incident.

Akinde Tasks Leaders On Good Governance T

delivering his presidential speech at the 2nd Session of the 3rd Synod of the diocese

with the theme: ‘But As For Me And My House, We Will Serve The Lord’ held at All Saints Anglican Church, Yaba, Lagos yesterday. Akinde noted that government has promised a lot in terms of offering good governance but nothing appears to be done and unemployment and crime seem to be on the increase daily. “Much has been said about reforms, especially in the electricity sector. Yet, in most parts of the country,

the power situation has substantially worsened. Unemployment, especially among the youth, has jumped to alarming levels in recent years. Government’s promise to cut the figure, currently at more than 25 percent, has not come true from all appearances. Violent crimes such as armed robbery, crude oil theft, kidnapping and abduction remain challenges in the country. Child labour and abuse, rape, youth restiveness and insur-

gency also remain a menace,” Akinde said. He urged leaders to rise up and truly fight corruption, which he said has ruined the nation, noting that unless they are seen to prosecute convicted officials, they will be making mockery of their purported fight against the menace and sending wrong signals to intending investors. He however called on Christians who are the most targeted of the terrorism attacks by the Boko

Haram insurgents in the northern part of the country, to remain prayerful and optimistic in what he called “tugging forces trying to pull down the fabrics and foundation of our highly endowed country.” He finally called on all Nigerians not to loose hope in the face of what the country is passing through at the moment saying: “However gloomy things may be, we can only hope for a better tomorrow if we work hard at it.”

Guber Poll: INEC, Obiano Want Ngige, Nwoye Petitions Dismissed From Chuks Collins, Awka

• As Tribunal Adjourns Judgments Sine Die

HE Anambra State T Governorship Election Petition Tribunal for the

the petitions presented their final written briefs and arguments. Governor Willie Obiano’s lead counsel, Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), Chief Ademoyega Awomolo (SAN)

November 16, last year’s election, presided over by Justice Ishaq Bello, had a hectic day yesterday when parties to

for the Independent national Electoral Commission (INEC) and Chief Patrick Ikwueto (SAN) for the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) again used the opportunity to urge the tribunal to dismiss peti-

tions filed by Comrade Tony Nwoye and his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and that of Senator Chris Ngige of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Nwoye and Ngige came second and third respectively in the November 16,2013 gov-

ernorship elections in the state. The tribunal chairman, Justice Bello, after hearing the briefs and arguments, told the parties that they would be communicated when the judgment is ready on or before 19th June 2014.

Saturday, May 24, 2014 3

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NEWS

Jonathan Hands Over 2014 Budget To Finance Minister For Implementation From Mohammed Abubakar, Abuja

Departs For South Africa For Talks On Terrorism, Zuma’s Inauguration

IVE months after it was presented, President Goodluck Jonathan formally handed over the signed copy of the 2014 budget to Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of

the Economy (CME), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and the Director of Budget, Dr. Bright Okogwu in Abuja yesterday for implementation. The hand over preceded the departure of the President to Pretoria, South Africa, where

he is expected to have highlevel discussions with other African Heads of State and Government on combating terrorism in Africa. He is also expected to be among other world leaders that would witness the inau-

guration of President Jacob Zuma for a second term in office. The continent’s five regions will each be represented by two Heads of State and Government at the talks, which will focus on collec-

tive action to effectively roll back the scourge of terrorism in Africa. The handing over ceremony of the 2014 budget was confirmed by the Presidential spokesman, Dr. Reuben Abati, who said the

Jos Bomb Blast: Nigeria Is At War, Says Jang From Isa Abdulsalami Ahovi, Jos HE Plateau State Governor, T Jonah David Jang, has described the insecurity situation in the country as a war declared by insurgents on Nigeria. He stated this yesterday in Jos, while speaking with journalists after visiting the scene of Tuesday’s terminus market twin bomb blast that left scores of persons dead. Jang, who flew in yesterday from abroad, described the perpetrators of the blast as enemies of the country. “The worst kind of war to fight is when your enemies are unknown; that is why the war against insurgency is dragging. “Most of those who attack us are mostly from outside Plateau or outside the country. They bring their bomb materials from outside and then assemble them in one of the houses in the state. I am calling on the people of the state to be security conscious and vigilant. Our people must be suspicious of anything around them,” he said. Jang further called on citizens of the country to stop playing politics with disaster, saying, “I am disappointed the way some politicians in the country treat President Goodluck Jonathan. Some of those criticising Mr. President cannot proffer solutions to the insecurity in the country. “Some were in government before and did not do better, but all they do now is play politics with disasters. Whether they like it or not, President Goodluck Jonathan will win the 2015 elections by the grace of God.” On the abduction of the girls from Government Girls College, Chibok, Jang said Mr. President is worried. “Some of those insulting Mr. President that he has not done anything about it are ignorant. Nobody is untouchable in the country. I am calling on Mr. President to arrest those who have made utterances about making the country ungovernable.” He then declared that all traders without shops at the terminus market should desist from trading their wares by the roads. Jang further commiserated with the families that lost their loved ones and said Mr. President had asked for the full report of the blast, noting that he believes he (Jonathan) would assist the state.

Eligible voters collecting their Permanent Voters Registration (PVC) card at Maryland Ward 001 in Enugu yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

President’s actual assent to the budget took place on Wednesday this week. Abati, who explained the slight delay in the handing over of the budget, said it was as a result of the absence of the minister when the President endorsed the document, hence the need to formally hand over to her. “The President actually signed the 2014 Budget two days ago. But you know that the Minister of Finance was not in town. So, he needed to hand over to her and the Director Budget for onward transmission. That was what he did today. The ministry will be addressing the press in the next one hour, (yesterday),” he said. The President, through Okonjo-Iweala presented a budget of N4.6 trillion for 2014 to the National Assembly on December 19, 2013. The two Chambers of the legislative house passed the budget in April. Other leaders expected at the talks, which will take place ahead of President Jacob Zuma’s inauguration for a new term in office include the leaders of Ghana, Republic of Congo, Chad, Angola, Rwanda, South Africa, Mauritania, Algeria and Ethiopia. Jonathan, who will be accompanied by the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Aminu Wali and some key aides will return to Abuja after attending Zuma’s inauguration on Saturday (today).

New Document Guiding Privatised Power Sector Will Stem Poor Services, Says Amadi From Karls Tsokar, Abuja HE Chairman of the T Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Sam Amadi, has said the updated document to guide the operations of the newly privatized Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) would boost service delivery in the country. Receiving the report, which tactically replaces the Electrical

Installations Regulation (CAP 106) of Law of Federal Government of Nigeria yesterday in Abuja, Amadi said the national project is necessitated “in order to address and stem the incessant sub-standard installation and supply activities of utility operators, licensed contractors and electricity consumers.” He reiterated that the current system in the general operations of the sector “are subopti-

mal and highly inefficient”, to which the need to maintain standards in the devise, construction and general business of electricity structure in Nigeria is imperative to ensure reliability and safety. He added that the Technical Working Committee (TWC) was carefully selected and charged to “review CAP 106 – Installation and Supply Regulations, with the view to incorporating other aspects of

the power industry which were not covered in detail, new developments and improvements in the power system technology.” The TWG comprised members representing a wide spectrum of electricity industry stakeholders including, the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Federal Ministry of Power,

Lagos State Electricity Board, Metering Code Panels (MCP), Distribution Code Review Panel (DCRP), representatives of the Distribution Companies, Licensed Electricity Contractors Association of Nigeria (LECAN), Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Professors from three Nigerian universities, two Law firms, and the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).

Confab:MOSOP, INC Fault Retention Of 13% Derivation, Insist On Resource Control From Kelvin Ebiri, Port Harcourt HE Ijaw National Congress T (INC) and the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni have reiterated the clamour for resource control even as they kicked against the retention of the 13 per cent derivation principle by the National Conference Committee on Devolution of Power. Both the INC and the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP) warned that the Niger Delta might experience a fresh wave of unrest if the national conference refuses to grant the oil producing states resource control or increase the derivation to at least 50 per cent.

INC spokesperson, Victor Burubo told The Guardian in Port Harcourt that the oil producing states have never been satisfied with the current 13 per cent derivation, thus the demand over the years for fiscal federalism which will enable the various states endowed with natural resources to control them and pay taxes to the Federal Government. He emphasised that the retention of the present 13 per cent does not appeal to the Ijaws and other ethnic nationalities in the Niger Delta. According to him, the aspiration of the oil producing communities is to take full control of their God given natural

resources. “Resource control is the only way forward. The thinking that Nigeria will continue to exist on the basis of all the states going to share money derived from the Niger Delta every month is no longer sustainable. Some people in this country have become lazy and no longer working to develop their region because of free oil money that is shared in Abuja at the end of every month. This has to stop. We want to control our resources,” he said. The INC spokesperson said the leadership of the national conference should realise that the decision of the committee remains unacceptable to the Ijaws and other ethnic groups

in the Niger Delta who had anticipated that the conference would avail them the opportunity to control their resources. Similarly, the Media/Public Affairs Advisor to the MOSOP President, Mr. Bari-Ara Kpalap, stressed that the Ogoni people want the derivation to be increased to at least 50 per cent by the conference while effort is being made to actualise total resource control by oil producing states. Kpalap urged the conference and the political leaders in Niger Delta to appreciate the enormous sacrifice the people of the Niger Delta, who suffer environmental pollution, have made towards the economic

sustenance of the Nigerian state since independence. He warned that the Niger Delta unrest might erupt again if the rest of the country continues to ignore the people’s demand to control their resources and pay tax to the Federal Government. “We have come to the point where we must have to control our resources and take full ownership of it. We have the resources in our land but we are not controlling it. We demand that we control our resources. At worst, we should have 50 per cent derivation; afterwards we can graduate to total control of our resources. We insist on fiscal federalism. Anything else will be unacceptable to us,” said said.

4 Saturday, May 24, 2014

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NEWS Anambra To Spend N10bn As Obiano Flags Off Roads From Chuks Collins, awka N FURTHERANCE to the continuity agenda policy of his administration, Gov Willie Obiano has flagged-off the construction of more roads in Anambra state.

The projects with a total cost of about N10billion include the Amansea – Ndiukwuenu – Awa – Ufuma road (27km); Ndiukwuenu – Okpeze road (4.5km) and the Amansea – Agu-Awka old road (5.5km). .

Obiano who went to inspect the on-going project at the Amansea end, expressed satisfaction with the quality and pace of work done so far, and noted that the roads projects are vital to the food basins of the state. According

to him, “the roads are peculiar as it traverses four local government areas of Awka North and Awka South as well as Orumba North and Orumba South and when completed they will facilitate the evacuation of agri-

APC Raises Alarm Over Arrest, Intimidation Of Members In Gombe HE ALL Progressives Congress (APC) has alerted the nation to the systematic arrest, harassment and intimidation of its members and supporters in Gombe by the PDP-led government in the state and its police collaborators. In a statement issued in Lagos on Friday by its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the

party said the clampdown on the APC in Gombe is similar to what obtains in Bayelsa state, over which the party had cause to raise the alarm on May 14th, and is sure to extend to other states as the 2015 general elections approach, because of the desperation and anti-democratic credentials of the PDP. It said the situation in Gombe State is marked by

the continuous destruction of APC properties, including offices, flags, posters, banners and billboards in most of the local government areas and party headquarters. ''Sadly, the police who are maintained by taxpayers' funds and are expected to be non-partisan have been providing cover for the PDP agents who engage in this

destructive spree, while being quick to arrest our members and supporters who try to resist the destruction of our party's properties. ''In addition, the police engage in frequent arrest and detention of our youths and supporters, who are then charged to court in an action that is clearly aimed at weakening their resolve to exercise their constitutional rights of free association, and ultimate-

Aliyu Appoints New CPS

cultural produce from the food basins Anambra State.” . The governor therefore disclosed that, “we will keep a close eye on the progress and quality of work done on these road projects because we are determined to ensure that we achieve one of our targets in agriculture which is self-sufficiency in food production and food security for our people.” The Amansea – Ufuma road awarded in March last year has two bridges and culverts and will be completed within the next 18 months, the 4.5 kilometre Ndiukwuenu – Okpeze road has one bridge component and is on schedule, while Aamansea – AguAwka old road is to be completed in six months.

From John Ogiji, Minna IGER State Governor N Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu has approved the appointment of his Senior Special Assistant on Media Analysis, Mr Israel Ayegba Ebije as the Director General (Media & Publicity) and Chief Press Secretary. A statement by the Commissioner for I n f o r m a t i o n , Communications and Strategy, Danladi Ndayebo, said Ebije’s elevation was in recognition of his hardwork, dedication and commitment to duty. Ebije was first appointed Senior Special Assistant on media to the governor in 2011 and later senior special assistant on media analysis to the governor, a position he held till his new appointment. According to the statement, Ebije “has been hardworking, dedicated and committed to the job, hence the decision of the Chief Servant to elevate him,". The statement therefore added that the new Chief Press Secretary would be expected to use his office to project the image of the Government, Governor and people of Niger State. Before he joined Governor Aliyu's team, Ebije was the Niger State Correspondent for Daily Trust Newspapers. He has since assumed duties.

Group Endorses Fayemi For Re-Election From Muyiwa adeyemi, ado ekiti

…Fayose Criticises Okorocha For Campaigning For Fayemi

SOCIO-economic group A made up of Ekiti indigenes, E-eleven, has

mation agenda. Ajiniran stressed that the assessment of the group showed that the Governor has performed creditably well in all the 8 areas, which his administration set out to address. . The Chairman while speaking for the group said that the E-eleven discovered that Fayemi has not been influenced by money or the power which his office carries to make him abuse the people he governs; stressing that the has governed the State with panache and good character befitting of the

endorsed the Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi for re-election ahead of the June 21 governorship election. . The group, led by its chairman, Mr Femi Ajiniran on a visit to the Governor yesterday said they had keenly followed the activities of the Dr Fayemi administration since 2010 in order to ascertain whether the Governor would keep to the promises he made to the people of the State in his 8-point transfor-

governor of the land of honour. . "We have decided we will review your activities in the last few years viz a viz your 8point agenda for the state. On each of the items, we found that you have done us proud and we are indeed happy. . Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in Ekiti State, Mr. Ayodele Fayose has berated Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha for staying in Ado Ekiti to drum support for Governor Kayode Fayemi. Okorocha was said to have

been in Ado Ekiti since Thursday when the All Progressive Congress (APC) held a Mega rally to canvass support for Fayemi's re-election. . He had been visiting various communities with over 50 vehicles branded "Okorocha 2015" to sell APC candidate to the Igbo residing in the state. But Fayose has described the action "as an exercise in futility", saying; "one million Okorocha cannot save Fayemi from defeat on June 21." . Speaking through the Director General, Ayo Fayose Campaign Organisation

(AFCO), Chief Dipo Anisulowo, the governorship candidate, who condemned Okorocha for abandoning his duty post in Owerri for Ekiti election said: "Okorocha must have realised the futility of his efforts with what the Igbo people at Fayose Market in Ado Ekiti did to him yesterday." . Fayose decried the arrest of two of the Fayose Market traders, who prevented Okorocha from entering the market yesterday by armed policemen and condemned the intimidation of voters, who have made up their minds to vote for the PDP on June 21. .

TheGuardian on Sunday Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

SUNDAY, MAY 25, 2014

DEMOCRACY DAY

COVER

SPECIAL REPORT

Inside Nigeria’s Baby Factories

In Search Of The Dividends D

EMOCRACY Day is here and it is time to assess the project and establish how fast and steady we have come, in terms of deepening the process and stabilizing the institutions of democracy. With a wobbly economy and rickety social security apparatus, can we in clear conscience roll out drums in celebration on May 29?

Guardian takes a TtheHEdeep look into why business of buying and selling babies is booming in the country as patrons speak on the issue.

NEWSFEATURE ow physically challenged persons get around in the campuses.

ederal Government IBRU BUSINESS Ftalks much of its

WO Popes in one era Growing The possibilities, but it is — how the Catholics difficult to place figures Economy handle two Pontiffs — Through SMEs on what it is doing to one Emeritus and the make this a reality. other in office.

These and more in The Guardian on Sunday. Grab your copy

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Saturday, May 24, 2014

NEWS

Nigeria Gets India’s $100m Credit To Power Communities In 3 States From Mathias Okwe (Assistant Business Editor), Kigali, Rwanda NDIA has boosted Nigeria’s bid to upscale electricity supply particularly in the rural communities with a concessionary credit of $100 million for the financing, supply and commissioning of electricity in three states of Kaduna, Cross River and Enugu. The good gesture comes as 25 fresh investors from the US, UK and Germany have indicated interest in portfolio investment in Nigeria and have assured the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of

Wins Award For Mortgage Refinancing Innovation Finance, (Dr.) Ngozi Okonjo Iweala in Kigali, Rwanda of their desire to invest in the country because of the abundant opportunities in the economy. India’s Line of Credit (LOC) Agreement for the energy boost in Nigeria was equally signed in Kigali last Thursday, by Mr. Yaduvendra Mathur, Chairman & Managing Director on behalf of Exim Bank and Dr. (Mrs.) Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, for and on behalf of the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, during the 49th Annual Meeting of the African

Development Bank Group at Kigali. The new line of credit is for financing three projects: supply and commissioning of transmission lines, distribution of transformers for 96 communities in three senatorial zones of Enugu State; Substation including solar mini grid electrification and solar street lighting in the state of Kaduna and the construction of 2 x 26 MW gas-based power plant in Cross River State in the Delta Region of the southern part of Nigeria. This is the first LOC to the Government of the Federal

Republic of Nigeria. Under the LOC, Exim Bank will reimburse 100 per cent of contract value to Indian exporters, upfront upon the shipment of equipment and goods / provision of services. Major export items from India to Nigeria are transport equipment, machinery and instruments, pharmaceuticals and non-basmati rice, electronic goods, and manufacture of metals. With the signing of this LOC Agreement, Exim Bank now has in place 190 Lines of Credit, covering 76 countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America, Europe, Oceania and the CIS, with credit commitments of over USD

10.43 billion, available for financing exports from India. Exim Bank’s LOCs afford a riskfree, non-recourse export financing option to Indian exporters. Besides promoting India’s exports, Exim Bank’s LOCs enable demonstration of Indian expertise and project execution capabilities in emerging markets. Commenting on the gesture, the Finance Minister expressed gratitude to the Indian Government and expressed the desire of the Nigerian Government to utilize the credit optimally to upscale electricity service delivery to the grassroots as part of government’s inclu-

The Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro (second left) being received at the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) QUORRA, Apapa, Lagos by Chief Staff Officer, Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC), Real Admiral Samuel Osinowo (left); Flag Officers Commanding (FOC) Western Naval Command, Samuel Alade; and Commandant NNS QUORRA, Commodore Segun Adebari on his visit to PHOTO: AYODELE ADENIRAN flag off the 58th anniversary of the Nigerian Navy and the Navy Week yesterday.

INEC Cancels PVC Distribution In 205 Polling Units In Akwa Ibom From Inemesit Akpan-Nsoh Uyo HE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday announced the cancellation of the distribution of the Permanent Voters Cards (PVC) in 205 polling units across 24 local council areas of Akwa Ibom State. The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Akwa Ibom State, Dr. Gabriel Ada who announced the stoppage of distribution of the PVC in the 205 affected

units said the exercise will only take place in 2779 out of 2982 polling units in the state. Meanwhile, low turnout was noticed in Uyo metropolis, Itu, Ibiono, Ibesikpo/Asutan council areas when visited by The Guardian, as INEC commenced the three-day distribution of the PVC. The distribution, INEC said, was the first step towards ensuring credible, free and fair election in the 2015 general election. The process is going on simultaneously in

nine other states of the federation namely Taraba, Gombe, Zamfara, Kebbi, Benue, Kogi, Abia, Enugu Bayelsa states. Dr. Ada explained that the distribution of the PVC in the 205 units of Akwa Ibom State was cancelled because of either multiple registrations or wrong capture of bio-data of people during the 2011 voters’ registration across the country. The worst affected local council areas in the cancellation were Uyo, Ikono, Onna, Ikot Ekpene, Nsit Ubium,

Ukanafun and Etim Ekpo with 39,26,17, 16, 12, 11 and 9 polling units cancelled accordingly, to mention but few. However, the REC said a fresh registration of voters will be conductedin the affected units between May 28 and June1, 2014. “Eligible voters who registered in those centres in 2011 should endeavor to go out and re-register. Nigerian who have turned 18 years since the 2011 registration of voters or have not registered before

should also enlist”, he urged. In Itu, Ibiono, Uyo council areas visited, most of the indigenes attributed the low turnout in the morning hours to those going to work and farm, noting that by weekend, the turnout would be encouraging. It could be recalled that the REC had explained that the PVC provides adequate security features to reduce vulnerability to counterfeiting and shall be used for identification and authentication of voters during elections.

‘Nigeria Remains Top Foreign Direct Investment Opportunity In Africa’ By Debo Oladimeji and Lekan Okusan THE Minister of Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga, his power counterpart, Prof. Pat Nebo and United States (U.S.) Secretary of Commerce, Penny Pritzker who is leading 20 American companies on an Energy Business Development trade mission to West Africa are very interested in fulfilling U.S. President, Barack Obama’s power Africa initiative, which is to increase access to power in Africa.

Speaking during the signings of US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) Power Sector Grant of US N76b power grant in Lagos, Aganga said that in August, President Obama would meet with African leaders in United States on the power Africa project. “There

will be a meeting of hundred African CEOs with another hundred American CEOs which U.S. Secretary of Commerce, Penny Pritzker’s ministry will be hosting. “I am working with my ministry on the nominees from Nigeria,” he said.

He described the meeting as very important. “This is the first time a U.S. commerce secretary will be visiting Nigeria in 22 to 25 years. It signals that today, the President Obama’s administration views Nigeria differently.” His power counterpart, Prof.

Pat Nebo was equally impressed with the U.S new initiative. “We are hoping to see a lot of investment coming to Nigeria on account of this very visit. You can see the level of enthusiasm everybody is asking question,” he said.

Ex-Shell MD, Onyejekwe Urges Youths To Be Focussed Managing Director FandORMER of Shell Nigeria Exploration Company (SNEPCo), Mr. Chike Onyejekwe, has called on Nigerian youths to remain focused in the pursuit of their goals in life despite the numerous challenges. Onyejekwe, who recently retired from SNEPCo, spoke at a send off dinner ceremony organised on his behalf by Lagos Island Millennium Group on the Environment (LIMGE). LIMGE is a Non Government Organisation (NGO) set up to clean up the Lagos Island area when it became infested with cattles and was dumping ground for its neighborhoods, which forced many tenants in the area to migrate elsewhere to set up their commercial offices. According to the former Shell MD: “The younger ones should remain focused, be hard-working, read and broaden yourselves. Also, they should try to understand what is happening in their immediate environment.” He added that it was important for people to know that there are many others aspiring to be at the top. Recalling his 36 years stewardship as Shell, he noted that it has been a very successful career managed with some challenges along the line. He said he was happy that he made his mark regardless of the challenges. The president, LIMGE, Chief (Mrs) Taiwo Taiwo, said Onyejekwe’s career, human relationship and life is worthy of emulation. She lauded his effort in ensuring that Lagos Island returned to its past glory, including the refurbishment of the Ajele fire station.

Group Wants Chibok Girls’ Rescued Soon By Laolu Adeyemi OTHERS under the auspices of the Association of Professional Women Bankers in Nigeria have admonished the Federal Government and allitsinternationalpartnersto hasten up their efforts in ensuring the safe return of the over 200 kidnapped Chibok Secondary School Girls in Borno State to their parents. The group explained that her demand was to avert a looming disastrous health challenge on the deeply traumatized parents of the children. Speaking with newsmen in Lagos, Chairman of the group, Mrs. Tinuola Thompson-Ajayi disclosed that “as a mother, the pains of endless waiting, coupled with the uncertainty of the safety and protection of the innocent girls, especially against sexual abuse and unhygienic condition, could have dangerous psychological implications on the already traumatized parents.”

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NEWS UNICEF, WHO Bemoan Global Maternal, Child Deaths From Charles Akpeji, Jalingo HE United Nation Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) have concluded arrangements to roll out Every Newborn Action Plan with the aim to end preventable maternal and child deaths by the year 2035. The plan, which would be rolled out next month, according to the leadership of both organisations, would go a long way in putting an end to preventable maternal and child deaths, which seem to be gaining prominence in sub-Sahara Africa. This was made known yesterday by UNICEF Head of Global Health Programmes, Dr. Mickey Chopra in a press statement. Chopra believed that majority of the “almost three million children who die before they turn one month could be saved if they received quality care around the time of birth.” Observing that the deaths tend to be among the “poorest and most disadvantaged population” Chopra, felt sad that “new-born death account for the staggering 44 per cent of total mortality among children underfive, and represent a larger proportion of under-five deaths.”

Agric Minister, Adesina, Enters Race For ADB Presidency From Mathias Okwe, in Kigali, Rwanda S the clock ticks down to A the end of the second tenure of presidency of Dr. Donald Kabrueka at the African Development Bank (ADB), the search for who succeeds him next May when he steps down has begun behind the facade of activities at the on-going Annual General Meetings (AGM) of the bank, which was officially opened yesterday by Rwandan President, Mr. Paul Kagame. Regional and inter-bloc alignment meetings onThursday

were visible everywhere within and around the Annual Meeting Village in Kigali, as countries began to sell the candidacy of their favorite candidates to other regions. Nigeria’s Agriculture Minister, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, is one of six early candidates projected to succeed Kabureka, a former Rwanda finance minister, who in 2005 defeated a Nigerian and thenVice President of ADB, Dr. Olabisi Ogunjobi, to become ADB president about nine years ago. He got the mandate renewed at the expiration of his first team four years ago.

Nigeria Government officials, led by the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, were seen attending high- profile political and business meetings, just as the director in charge of International Economic Relations, Alhaji Haruna Mohammed, also hosted regional meetings. The search for the successor of Kabrueka has begun, as his country’s president, Paul Kagame, yesterday described him and the bank as a great asset to the African Continent. Kagame made the observation

when he formally declared open the annual meeting attended by some African leaders, including the Chair of the African Union, President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz of Mauritania, President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, President Ali Bongo Ondimba of Gabon, Deputy President William Ruto of Kenya; former president of Tanzania, Benjamin Mkapa, former Botswana President, Festus Mogae and Chair of the African Union Commission, Dr. Dlamini Zuma among others. Kabrueka took time off to give in what appeared as an account

Council Chairman Denies Hiring Fake Military Men By Kenechukwu Ezeonyejiaku HE Chairman of Amuwo T Odofin Local Council of Lagos State, Mr. Ayodele Adewale, has denied allegations by the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Umar Manko, of engaging the services of fake military officers. Addressing a press conference in Festac Town, Lagos, Adewale said the council has not hired fake military officers, even as he accused the Area F Commander, Dan Okoro, an assistant commissioner of police (ACP), of high handedness and abuse of office. “I want to state categorically and emphatically that this local government does not engage or harbor fake military officers and will never have cause to do so”.

Bloomberg Media Gets Managing Director By Ijeoma Opara LOOMBERG Media Group CEO, Justin B. Smith, has announced Adam Freeman as the first Managing Director of Bloomberg Media for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, responsible for leading Bloomberg’s multi-platform media operation – web, mobile, television, digital video, print magazines and live events – across the regions. The new leadership structure reflects Bloomberg Media’s new strategy to expand its global media footprint beyond television to multiple media platforms across European, Middle Eastern and African markets. Freeman’s appointment will ensure Bloomberg’s consumer media content, advert products, distribution, licensing deals are carefully tailored to serve each distinct, individual market. Freeman is the founder of Mutual Media, a digital advertising start-up, and served as Chairman for Metropolis Music Group. During a 13-year tenure at UK’s The Guardian – most recently as Executive Director of Guardian News and Media until 2013 – he worked alongside the editorial leadership to drive the digital transformation of its print brands and spearheaded the expansion of its global commercial operations.

of stewardship he offered in the institution. He said: “ Fifty years later, we can say we can be proud that the African Development Bank has been faithful to the dream of the founding fathers-an institution, which has remained true to its mandate and for which Africans and their partners can be very proud of. From a modest start, today the ADB is a first class,

Chief Imam of Ibadan, Alhaji Suara Baosar, Aare Musulumi of Yoruba land, Alhaji Abdul Azeez Arisekola Alao and Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, during the commissioning of Bodija Esatates Mosque in Ibadan. PHOTO: NAJEEM RAHEEM

Oloja Blames Poor Education For Abysmal Discourse By Anote Ajeluorou ERHAPS, Nigeria’s problems are traceable to the poor education being offered in the country’s higher institutions of learning. The result of this poor intellectual output evidently becomes manifest in the quality of social discourse, especially in the political arena, which is preventing democracy from delivery quality life to the populace.

These were the views of The Guardian editor, Mr. Martins Oloja, yesterday when he received the author of a new book that examines the ‘now’ generation and what it has to offer the country in the face of current challenges that daily buffet its ‘older’ generation counterpart. The book,Are We The Turning Point Generation? is written by Chude Jideonwu, an entrepreneur and youth activist.

Oloja lamented that the universities were no longer the space to look to for quality books that set the tone for engaging social discourse since they have become a shadow of themselves. He added that since the professors have seemingly abandoned their craft, young writers like Jideonwu deserve commendation for filling the gap. Oloja said: “What we lack is

quality discussion, which we want; we lack quality democracy, quality conference, whether constitutional or national. And we believe the only way we can overcome these challenges is to have as many people as possible discussing these issues. So, congratulations. Even when the professors are not writing, it is good you, the young ones are trying to fill in the gap.

Lagos Plans Database For Rapists By Bertram Nwannekanma S a mean of identifying serial rapists and meting out stiffer punishment to them, the Lagos State Government has planned a database of sex offenders to enhance the efficacy of justice system. Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ade Ipaye , disclosed this at a three-day Action Planning workshop for the review of the justice sector reform in Lagos state. The workshop, which was geared towards achieving a sustainable approach to improve justice delivery in the country, was funded by the United Nations through

the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC) in collaboration with the European Union and the Federal Government.. According to Ipaye, Lagos state features a justice system that encourages compliance with the rule of law, that aids effective governance and improves the lives of residents. The commissioner, however, call for the need for linkages with renowned training institutions all over the world through partnership, staff exchange programmes and virtual exchange forums to facilitate peer review and fast track developmental reforms especially in the area of forensic examination. Project Coordinator, Justice

Sector Reform, UNODC, Mr. Ade Omofade, said the organisation is embarking on review with a view to update action plan projects in 10 states of the federation. He said the project was initiated with a view to support national priorities for effec-

tive coordination and cooperation among justice institutions. Other states listed for the project are Anambra, Bayelsa, Benue, Cross Rivers, Imo, Osun, Katsina, Yobe and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

Accident Claims Life In Lagos By Wynner Ejere N accident involving a mini bus with registration number APP643XF and a private car occurred at Five Star bus stop along ApapaOshodi expressway yesterday claiming a life and leaving many badly injured. The accident was said to have been caused by the impatient private car driver. An eyewitness who narrated the cause of the accident told The Guardian that it occurred when the driver of the car, which was en route Oshodi on a very high speed hit the mini bus whose driver immediately lost control. The mini bus subsequently tumbled several times and eventually caught fire. The passengers were trapped inside the vehicle and it took the assistance of good Samaritans to rescue them from the wreckage of the vehicle.

Kwara Women Hold Prayers For Chibok Girls From Abiodun Fagbemi, Ilorin RS Omolewa Ahmed, wife of Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara state, yesterday said only ceaseless prayers could salvage Nigeria out of its present security challenges. She, however, believed that the situation especially the insurgency would be short-lived if it

was frontally tackled without political, ethnic or religious colouration. She was reacting to the prayers of women in Kwara State who gathered in Ilorin to pray for over six hours for the peaceful release of the over 200 abducted girls at Chibok, Borno state by terrorists. The prayers, anchored by Mrs.

Ahmed, saw the women in hundreds taking turn to pray in both Islamic and Christian ways. Omolewa, while addressing reporters at the event, said since warfare remained the exclusive duties of men, women could only complement such endeavour with fervent prayers.

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Indian Universities Alumni Welcome New Indian High Commissioner To Nigeria By Debo Oladimeji HE President of Indian Universities Alumni T Association, Nigeria, Dr. Collins Onyense and others hosted the new Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria, AR Ghanashyam in Lagos recently. Speaking during the occasion President Indian Universities Alumni Association, Nigeria, Dr Collins Onyense said that “receptions for High Commissioners of India to Nigeria are landmark occasions in our Alumni Association dairy of events. It is important as it serves the purpose of welcoming you, our Patron and to assure you of our support and cooperation while you serve in this exalted position as the High Commissioner,” he said He said that Indian Universities Alumni Association, Nigeria is an umbrella body of Nigerians who studied and obtained degrees in the various Indian Universities and institutions of higher learning. “The idea to form the association was conceived in the late 1980s by some of us who came back to Nigeria earlier from India and were faced with the harsh pronouncement of our degrees being inferior to others,” he recalled. Onyense said that the membership strength of the Alumni Association has grown to over thirty thousand spread all over Nigeria. “These are of course those we can identify. The list is bound to increase with the latest surge by young Nigerians going to India to study. Part of our objectives is to strengthen Indian- Nigerian relations.” He assured the High Commissioner of a loving experience while in Nigeria. “Having lived in both countries, we stand in a better position to make comparison of India and Nigeria. Like India, Nigeria is a beautiful, hospitable, resourceful and enterprising country. The few days you must have stayed in Nigeria would have revealed the similarities of both countries.” He said that the Indian Universities Alumni Association so far enjoyed wonderful relationships with the staff of the Indian High Commission and the Indian Business community in Nigeria. “While I thank some members of the Indian Business Community that have distinguished themselves in furthering a better Alumni members association, I will request your Excellency to work towards bridging the gap

The President, Indian Universities Alumni Association, Nigeria, Dr. Collins Onyense with the new Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria, AR Ghanashyam, wife; Head of Indian High Commission in Lagos, Mrs. Rani Malick and members of the Indian University Alumni Association in Nigeria. that exists between us and the Indian community in Nigeria. “It is a known fact that while companies from other countries will be willing to work with graduates’ from their country universities, the same cannot be said of Indian companies. The gap still exists despite efforts from the past High Commissioners and the high Commission staff to change the situation. Your Excellency, an effort in this regard will further enhance the great leap in Indo-Nigeria relationship,” he said. President Indian Universities Alumni Association Nigeria, Rivers State Chapter. Hon Barrister Churchill Wosu, said that “it is in the spirit of the revered Gandhian openhearted generosity that I represent and present this goodwill message of having to receive the Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria with an open hand and mind of the good people of Rivers State Chapter on this occasion,” he said. According to him, the history of Rivers State

Branch of the Alumni had a chequered one.” Having suffered two successive premature collapses occasioned by uncertainty of job placements and academic discrimination by virtue of where our certificates and degrees were obtained. It was traumatic for our members in the 80s and even more Herculean a task was to get employed in the 90s. But today we are all the toast of our nation, Nigeria,” he said. He regretted that despite the huge presence of Indian owned companies and shops in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, not one of them has a Nigerian graduate from one of the Indian universities on their employment list. “ If we were once discriminated by some Nigerian companies, our own Indian-owned companies need not despise their products,” he said. The Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria, A.R. Ghanashyam recalled that India has a lot in common with Nigeria. “In the part of India where I come from, we

prostrate in front of our parents and teachers to greet them. A friend of mine said it is exactly what they do in some parts of Nigeria. I don't feel I am in a country where cultures and traditions are different at all. I feel very much at home. Traffic jam is something we see everyday in bigger cities in India. It is a sign of progress and development,” he said. He described the members of Indian Universities Alumni Association in Nigeria as the real Indian High Commissioners. “The Indian High Commissioners may come and go in every two years or five years. As far as I am concerned, you are the real Indian High Commissioners. We would like to communicate directly with you people from Abuja on a regular basis. The type of problems you are going through in Nigeria, we have gone through the similar problems in India. I can tell you all the mistakes we made, so that you don't have to repeat them. That is the best way to learn,” he said.

Hunt For Criminals Gains Ground In Anambra State By Onyedika Agbedo INCE assumption of office as the SWillie Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Obiano has never hidden his disdain for criminals. Through the various security agencies in the state, he has been on the look out for them and to his credit, over 350 criminals have been reportedly arrested in the

state within the short spell he has been in office. Meanwhile, those who can no longer withstand the heat have expectedly fled the state. Onitsha, the commercial hub of the state and the entire south-east region, has been the greatest beneficiary of these efforts. The city had been synonymous with all kinds of crime, which disrupted both commercial and social

Some of the suspects paraded by the Anambra State Police Command… recently.

activities within it and even environs. But it is gradually wearing a new image, thanks to the offensive launched by the Obiano administration to rid Anambra State off all shades of crime and criminals. Already, residents are giving kudos to the governor for his determined efforts to restore sanity and order in the state. Speaking with The Guardian, the leader of the Hausa community in Onitsha, Alhaji Ilyasu Yushau was very enthusiastic about improvement on security in and around Onitsha. He said that Obiano has recorded a huge success within a short period in office and had effectively sanitised Onitsha and environs. Yushua pointed out that a good number of the Community who fled the town on account of insecurity was gradually coming back. Chairman of the Rojenny Group, Oba, Chief Rommy Ezeownuka also said the governor’s intervention was timely as it saved the state from the menace of criminals and would check capital flight as many traders and business men were leaving the state in droves. He observed that Obiano had well articulated policies and programmes to make a difference and urged the people to provide useful information to security agents while those arrested should be tried

and punished accordingly if convicted. Chairman, Zone One, Onitsha Main Market, Chief Valentine Onuorah noted that the efforts of the governor were yielding the desired result as nightlife was gradually returning to Onitsha. He urged traders to reciprocate the governor’s efforts by prompt payment of taxes and levies. Meanwhile, the administration’s onslaught against criminals in the state continued to yield fruitful results as the State Police Command recently recorded another major break-through in crime fighting with the arrest of an alleged notorious arms dealer and some kidnap and child trafficking suspects. In a statement made available to The Guardian through the Governor’s Senior Special Assistant (Media), Mr. James Eze, the State Commissioner of Police, Usman Gwary had while briefing journalists in his office at Amawbia, revealed that the suspect, one Mr. Onyebuchi Obiekezie, hails from Imo State, has a shop at the Main Market, Onitsha and has been in the business of selling arms illegally to criminals for over 10 years. Gwary stated that the police recovered automatic pump action riffles, double barrel guns and some cartridges from the suspects, saying the suspects had provided useful infor-

mation on whereabouts of two other members of the gang as well as where more arms were hidden. He assured that the ongoing mop up operation at Onitsha was still on and was being extended to Nnewi and Awka, adding that the successes recorded so far were made possible because of the support given to them by Governor Obiano, adding that his morale and financial assistance had raised the morale of policemen and inspired them to work harder. The Commissioner had also disclosed that the police arrested two kidnap suspects, Mr. Anthony Okweke from Ezi in Ebonyi State and Ejike Okosa from Oraifite, Anambra State who have allegedly confessed to several acts of kidnapping including the recent kidnapping of a certain woman at Ebenebe who had been rescued. He had explained that the police equally rescued a kidnap victim who was taken from Inland Town, Onitsha. He said the rescue followed a distress call, which made the police to swing into action and intercept the kidnappers who escaped into the bush, abandoning their victim in their red-coloured Honda car from where three AK47 rifles and 10 magazines loaded with 100 rounds of 7.6 mm live ammunition were recovered.

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Confab: Resource Control Becomes Contentious Again By Samson Ezea URING the 2005 National Political Conference organised by President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration, so many issues became contentious and one of them led to the abrupt end of the Conference without anything meaningful achieved to justify the huge public fund spent for it. Contentious issues at the Conference include rotational presidency, derivation principle/resource control/fiscal federalism, devolution of powers, ban on former military heads of government/military administrators from politics, use of electronic voting machine for elections, immunity clause for president, governors and their deputies, state creation (especially for the South East), tenure of the office of the president and governors. It would be recalled that the last straw that broke the camel’s back during the Conference was the disagreements between the Northern delegates and their Southern delegates, especially from South-South on the issue of resource control/derivation principle. The South-South delegates had staged a walkout from the Conference on June 14, 2005 over the contentious derivation principle and stayed away from further proceedings. The delegates from the oil-rich zone had demanded an irreducible minimum of 50 per cent derivation, but accepted in the interim 25 per cent derivation with graduated increase to attain the 50 per cent over a period of five years. But the northern delegates were opposed to it, thereby splitting the conference into two opposing camps. Not even a meeting Chief Obasanjo held separately with the opposing groups could assuage their feelings. As a result of the demand, the Conference ended without reaching a consensus on derivation funds, resource control and tenure of office for president and governors Even other contentious issues of which consensus was reached by delegates were never implemented as many were of the view that the crux of the matter at the Conference was the issue of resource control. It is believed that the issue of resource control will continue to remain contentious in the polity, because of its strategic importance in the development of any region ahead of others or until the country gets leadership and followership right. Prior to the inauguration of the ongoing National Conference, many Nigerians had expressed reservations and concern that with the experiences of the past, contentious issue like resource control may rear its head and tear the delegates apart. A delegate at the National Conference dis-

closed to The Guardian that each geo-political zone came to the Conference with an agenda that is not nationalistic or patriotic, but selfserving and sectional. ‘The main agenda of the South-South delegates at the Conference is to fight for resource control because they have oil. Southwest wants devolution of power/ fiscal federalism. Southeast wants additional state. Northeast, Northwest and some part of North Central want the status quo to remain. Nobody is ready to shift ground or see reason with the other person. This was what happened at the Committee stage which may affect the outcome of the Conference,” the member said. The same scenario that marred the 2005 Conference gradually manifested at the Committee stage of Conference. After several meetings, members of National Conference Committee on Devolution of Power failed to reach an agreement on resource control. The meetings largely had members of the committee split along North and South, with those from Northern Nigeria wanting the status quo to remain and their counterparts from the South wanting a change. During the Committee’s last meeting before the World Economic Conference (WEF) in Abuja, Jack Tilley Gyado from Benue insisted that resource control should continue to be on the exclusive list, but added that a mechanism be created to accommodate states. While trying to calm delegates who were engaged in fierce disagreement over the issue, Mr. Tilley Gyado said, “We should return to the President’s speech in which he urged delegates to consider the unity of the country as paramount.” A Southern delegate, Ms. Ankio Briggs, argued that mineral resources should be listed under the concurrent list to enable states be involved in the extraction and management of the resources in their domains. Former Deputy Senate President and delegate at the Conference, Alhaji Ibrahim Mantu said the attitude of delegates did not reflect the high esteem Nigerians have for the Conference and urged them to show more patriotism and nationalism in dealing with issues brought to their attention. Jeremiah Useni called for the sitting to be adjourned to enable members meet, interact and agree on the position that would ultimately be presented when the committee reconvened. Alternatively, he suggested that votes should be taken on the two motions before the committee. When it was obvious the committee would not be able to resolve the matter, Mr. Coomassie ruled that debate on it be suspended till the next sitting. Many delegates, largely

from the South, have insisted that states producing resources such as oil get at least 50 per cent of the resource produced; a move largely opposed by Northern delegates. Resuming sitting in Abuja after short recess, the Committee members met in a closed-door seven-hour meeting on Devolution of Power and emerged without a decision on the twin issues of derivation principle and resource control. The committee could equally not resolve the arguments from different geopolitical zones that the onshore-offshore oil dichotomy be reintroduced in states which minerals are located off the coasts. Rising from the meeting most of the members refused to make comments when asked to speak on their individual positions on the issues that have attracted intense debate for weeks now. However, Co-Chairman of the Committee, Obong Victor Attah, disclosed that each of the committee members had opportunity to state his positions on the issues. Attah, a former Akwa Ibom State governor, expressed optimism that the committee would arrive at a decision. He said after every member had spoken on the issues, it was decided that they should all go and ponder over the issues raised by individuals. According to him, every member is expected to come back “refreshed” for a final decision to be taken on the contentious issues. He said committee members were advised not to take any decision in the direction that would create disequilibrium in the system. He explained that members were also admonished to think beyond oil and gas as the only mineral resources in the country. Members from the North had before now spoken in support of a reduction in derivation principle or, at best, retention of the existing 13 per cent. However, members from the South, particularly those from the South-South geopolitical zone, wanted an increment to 50 per cent. As the members resumed for plenary on Wednesday where all the recommendations made by various committees will be debated and upheld, the issue of resource control is raging gradually even when it has not been discussed on the floor. Not satisfied with the manner the issue was handled at the Committee stage without clear conclusion or resolution, Ankio Briggs on Thursday submitted a minority report on the matter. Briggs presented her minority report on Thursday morning, after the committee’s co-chairmen, Victor Attah and Ibrahim Coomassie, submitted the main report. Briggs, a Niger Delta activist, said she disagreed with the main report of her committee. However, a delegate, Bello Haliru, raised a point of order saying the rules of the confab do

not allow for a minority report because it states that only consensus or 70 per cent would be adopted. Ms. Briggs had in her report supported increase in derivation to resource producing states to at least 50 per cent from current 13 per cent, as well as state police; issues rejected by her committee. Although the Conference leadership has rejected the minority report, Briggs’ continued push for 50 per cent increase even when her Committee members are opposed to it appears to be a confirmation that resource control is one of the major agenda of the South-South at the National Conference. For now, Briggs is not the lonely voice from the region at Conference agitating for the increment. Another delegate from South-South region, Dr. Isaac Osuoka has also thrown his weight behind Ms Briggs, accusing the Conference leadership of promoting the northern agenda by refusing to accept the minority report. He threatened to mobilise the Niger Delta militants to return to the creeks if the Conference did not agree to the increment. Investigation reveals that other delegates from the zone are tactically in support of the struggle, but are waiting for the time the matter will be debated on the floor of the House. It was also disclosed that most delegates from North are already mobilising to shoot down the issue at plenary session. One of the delegates from the North, Dr. Junaid Mohammed alleged that Ms Briggs is being sponsored by the Presidency, assuring that the North are ready for debate on the issue during plenary. In the same vein, one of the delegates from the South-South told The Guardian that the country’s political cum security atmosphere is not conducive and timely to agitate or struggle for such increment in derivation principle. The delegate said: “The country’s problem is not resource control, but corruption. Until the monster called corruption is tamed, there is no headway for the country. What has the leaders done with the 13 per cent derivation for years? The neglect and suffering in Niger Delta region is overwhelming.” Also speaking on the issue, Mr. Kenneth Imansuangbon said that delegates should look beyond resource control or derivation principle, and work on how to get the leadership and followership right in the country. “The problem is not who controls resource or not. It is all about getting the right leadership and followership for the country. If we get it right, no one will ever care who controls what because everything will be working for the good of all.”

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‘2015 Elections May Not Be Realisable Because Of Insecurity’ Most Reverend Emmanuel Chukwuma, the New Archbishop of Enugu Ecclesiastical Province (Anglican Communion) speaks on Boko Haram insurgency, National Conference, 2015 general elections and other sundry issues. From Lawrence Njoku, Enugu Nigeria is faced with several challenges. Do you think the ongoing national conference can provide solutions? HE national conference is very much welcomed because it has stopped a lot of people from making much noise. It was clever of the President to have allowed it to happen; there is lesser tension in the society from their side. It is a good way of keeping people busy and they are discussing issues which we hope if legitimised could take us further. My worry is that there is no law backing the conference. Whatever they are doing now is like a proposal. That is why I am seriously advocating that we should not allow the conference end like previous ones where decisions were swept under the carpet. I am happy to hear some of the things they are talking about, but what I have not come to terms with is how they will end up. I will like their recommendations to be submitted to the National Assembly, which will help sponsor some bills, take decisions that the President will probably sign into law to help the country. Be that as it may be, there are many of them who are sleeping members, an indication that they shouldn’t have been there in the first place. For those who have toiled for the success of the conference however, we hope that their decisions will impact positively and implemented by the President. It will be a share waste of funds if recommendations of the conference are not implemented. I will urge Nigerians to hold whoever will not allow the decisions to be implemented accountable. We should know how to be responsible and responsive. If at the end of the day, the resolutions of the conference are not implemented, we should call those who have organised it to question. How do you hold them accountable when there is no law backing the Conference? That is where the will of the people comes to test. Laws are made and implemented by man. We have glossed over a lot of things in the past and that is why we are the way we are today. The people should know how to take responsibility, and demand result at every kobo of public money that is spent. I want to believe that by the time the people ask questions, somebody thinking of playing pranks will have a rethink, and pursue ideologies that will be of greater good for the people. Do you support the intervention of foreign countries in the search for the abducted schoolgirls? It has a lot of implications. It is an indication that our security system has failed. It means inadequacy and irresponsibility. It is very dangerous, because outsiders are now infiltrating into your secrecy and for me, we have to be careful because such infiltration could result to anything. Such admission of inadequacy could be a leeway to invitation of the military. If we are capable and helping others as claimed, I see no reason why we can’t curb the Boko Haram issue. Unfortunately, they have spent a lot of money on security, but it has not been reaching the people in-charge of the security. That is why there is porosity in the security agencies. The other day, the soldiers opened fire on the official car of the GOC and that was a demonstration of how they feel about their leader. Go to the Barracks and see police and army officers with protruding belly doing nothing. Again there are people who will not want the insecurity occasioned by Boko Haram to end, because they are making millions out of it. In

Chukwuma all the demonstrations about the Chibok girls will not bring a solution. What should bring a solution is that since we have failed in physical welfare, the spiritual welfare should take over. I was preaching somewhere, and I said; if it took only one angle at the tomb of Jesus to destabilise the soldiers, God can also use an angle to destabilise the Boko Haram if we pray fervently. If the President can close down Abuja for two or three days for World Economic Summit, why can’t we declare two or three day of fasting and prayers to collectively seek the face of God, ask for His intervention in this problem. I strongly believe that something positive will happen. I believe that what we are into is the time of God’s battle and not human battle. No amount of weapon will suppress these people, but prayer can move them and that is why all of us must rise and pray to God for intervention for an end to this as well as the release of these girls from captivity. Don’t you think the security crisis may disintegrate the country, if not well tackled? That is quite true. There is the feeling that what we are passing through could result to a revolution where by heads may roll and people made to submit power. The situation is getting out of hand and if the power that be does not surrender for peace to reign, then they may be planning to move the power by force. What I feel is that President Jonathan has tried for six years, for him to now go for another four years may be very aggressive. I

think he should pipe down and not declare. He should read the handwriting on the wall. If not, many may lose their lives over it. We are praying for them, human beings are very difficult and that is why you see this dangerous trend. 2015 elections may not be possible because right now the atmosphere is very tensed. You cannot conduct election in places where this kind of thing is happening. It has spread to Jos and Kano and nobody knows where else. So the election for 2015 may not be possible or reality if this continues. I pray that peace returns, because we cannot conduct elections in this situation. Is President Jonathan not seeking re-election, the easy way out? It may not be a solution, because the northerners have ruled the country for a long time and that is why I am saying that it is wrong for anybody to force him out. Nigeria is not for the northerners alone. Time has come that if they don’t like Jonathan, somebody from the middle belt or Southeast should take over, but nobody should insist that it is his right. It is not acceptable. Politicians should be very careful in their utterances and action. The idea of them trying to recycle themselves in office is causing us all these. They should know when to quit public offices, having been there for too long. If somebody has been in government for some time, he should allow others to go. It should not be seen as opportunity to perpetuate people in power and that is why Nelson Mandela has remained a hero even in death. He finished a term and said no more and

The situation is getting out of hand and if the power that be does not surrender for peace to reign, then they may be planning to move the power by force. What I feel is that President Jonathan has tried for six years, for him to now go for another four years may be very aggressive. I think he should pipe down and not declare.

this should be a lesson to our people. People have become so greedy, so corrupt that they will not leave power. Many of them are even ready to die for power. This is a warning that I want to sound to all of us. That is why the young ones who were told some thirty years ago that they are leaders of tomorrow have come up to still meet the same set of people in power and this makes them to agitate to enable them have their way. I believe that time has come for those who are above seventy to quit the stage and let the young ones take over. You cannot continue to have old wine in new skin and expect it to work that is what is happening today; analogue and digital cannot work together. There will be confusion and network failure. So we pray that our elders will begin to withdraw and let the young ones be given opportunity to come up. You cannot have the level of mass unemployment we are experiencing so far and you expect things to work. Has the president done enough in the last six years to seek re-election? I think Jonathan has tried in the midst of confusion; we have to thank God for him. He has done his best in several areas but there are many things to be done. I must say that corruption has moved to the highest level, security has declined seriously and these are important indices that must shape any economy. Our budgets are not stable and the whole governance has lost grip of integrity and sincerity. On the case of friction and pressure, I think it is good to bow out when the ovation is loudest, but that does not mean he should be forced out. I will not succumb to forcing him out whether he has performed or not. It is good to leave the stage than remaining there in the midst of confusion and crisis, when many innocent lives are being lost; this is what we don’t want. It is when you

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POLITICS ‘Boko Haram Insurgency Is A Confirmation Of Failed Security System’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11 pass a test that you get to the next class. Jonathan has not fared well and I think he needs to make a u-turn or perform better to deserve second term, but not in this atmosphere of insecurity, corruption, unemployment, injustice and insincerity. I think Nigerians deserve a new spirit. If what is going on now is not checked, the country might collapse. What do you see of the democracy we have had in the last 15 years? For me our democracy has not fared above sixty per cent in the sense that we have not had military incursion, it has

been straight civilian rule. The unfortunate thing is that our democracy which is supposed to be government of the people has failed to be so. It has been government for certain people and that is creating some problems for the country. The ruling party, PDP has monopolised a lot of things. Their oppression and monopoly has caused a lot of tension and that is why our democracy must have a new leaf, a paradigm shift. What we need now is integrity, sincerity, accountability and responsibility. Good governance is what Nigerians deserve and not party. There are people in the country that have achieved the name ‘any government in power’ and use their money to recycle themselves. The democracy of our time has not truly delivered as

Chukwuma

expected. The good governance we are looking for has eluded us, education is on spiral decline. The polytechnics and colleges of education are on strike for almost a year, there is no sensitivity on the plight of the students. The universities are trying to regain their semesters. Our hospitals are in dilapidated situation and cannot take care of our medical needs; the rich ones go abroad for treatment because there is no confidence in our medical personnel. mandela was sick and never flown abroad, but was treated in South Africa, why shouldn’t ours be so? Our democracy has not helped matters at all. The Aviation industry has moved forward, all airports are wearing new look but it is disastrous that Nigeria has no airline. This government has encouraged more or private airlines and the domestic terminals that are built for domestic use in Abuja have been turned and converted into private terminals. If all those who own private jet could combine to produce airline for Nigeria, that will help us grow as a nation, but monopoly has continued in that sector. We have not made headway with the privatisation of the power sector and this has affected industrialization. There is improvement in communication, but the followership should also do well to be good followers. Housing has not improved and the roads may have improved in other places, but not in the southeast. Unemployment is still very high and security has failed. Tomorrow you will be sworn-in as the new Archbishop of enugu Province. What does it mean to you? It means additional responsibility because to be an archbishop you have to administer administrative province made up of Dioceses which Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) has created. enugu was created as province five years ago with the first archbishop, most rev Dr Amos madu. The tenure of the archbishop then was to be five years and his five years tenure had elapsed and therefore there was need for an election which was conducted on April 8 and I was unanimously and unopposed elected by the House of Bishops of Church of Nigeria as the new archbishop of enugu ecclesiastical Province. This means a shift of responsibility, a shift of power from the old archbishop to the new archbishop and the Province of enugu covers two states of enugu and ebonyi. One has to give thanks to God for the honour bestowed on me. It is also a responsibility I have accepted to ensure that the entire province and Igbo race are protected and defended from any sort of political rigmarole and strangulation. We have to speak out, be the voice and conscience of the people, defender of faith and also see to the needs of people around us. So it is for me to spread the gospel of love, gospel of humanity and unity among people of God.

‘Govt Should Negotiate With Boko Haram Over Abducted Schoolgirls’ Kabir Adamu, an expert in VIP Protection and High Risk Security in this interview with KARLS TSOKAR in ABUJA suggests the government should go backdoor and negotiate with Boko Haram members over the abducted schoolgirls. With the efforts being made to rescue the Chibok girls, should Federal government negotiate with Boko Haram sect members? OverNmeNTS all over the world have various channels they use in solving such challenges. The bottom line is that it is a risky venture. There are peculiar situations that may require forceful approaches to solve them, but there are also circumstances that require diplomatic approach. In the case of Boko Haram, the group is ruthless, their brutality is not in doubt, and they have shown this before, killing people at every point and all that. These are teenage girls who have been kidnapped obviously to be used in gratifying the amorous whims of the terrorists. Whatever we do, the goal should be the safety of the girls. The classical scenario is that the official position may be that we will not negotiate with terrorists. However, back door channels involving intelligence experts, crisis management specialists and negotiators should be deployed. The developed countries of the world have employed this technically and it has worked for them. What is important is the safety of the girls. The DIA, DSS and NIA should spearhead this effort because it requires intelligence, diligence and tact. Won't this mean that the insurgents have won the war against government? The strategy described above has the dual effect of not allowing terrorist to think they have won but will lead to a win-win situation. Because the goal of the government would be achieved, but at the end, a step has being taken that has rescued the girls. And also very importantly, we can say there is a link that can be used to reach the group, if and when the need arises. In your opinion, what do you think the federal government should do to put the situation under check? The presidency must introduce a performance measure-

ment mechanism for all the security and intelligence agencies. The performance measurement mechanism must have specific performance indicators with timelines. This will allow the presidency, perhaps the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) to measure and hold to account these agencies that fall short of the benchmark. A military solution should be pursued alongside a well thought out soft counter terrorism measure including de-radicalisation, which will be wide ranging and far-reaching and not the prison specific type contemplated by the Office of the NSA. In pursuing this fight against terror, where do you think the government has erred? These terrorists are human beings like you and I, they live among people, communities and villages. The people know them, a classical case in point is the recent killing of more than 200 in a village in Borno, they came to attack and met an already prepared community vigilante, that repelled them, fought them to a stand still. Some of them tried to escape but could not. The government erred in the first instance in not winning the hearts of the people. The necessary support the communities would have given the security operatives was not there when this challenge started because the government was very far from the people. Insurgency can only be won by the government when it wins the heart of the people. Because the people are the target of the insurgents while the government rules the people, so the plan is to create disaffection and disharmony between the government and people, thereby causing confusion. The counter allegations making the rounds that some Senators from Borno State are working against the Nigerian government and the Senators saying the security operatives are working with information, which is credible? This is a situation where these lawmakers are representing more than one million people, covering a wide expanse of land, they have access to many information. And this is a situation that requires intelligence and information. So, they are bound to receive different information from different quarters, some may be wrong, others mischievous and others right. But he may not have the capacity to sieve through all these and make good use of the right ones and throw away the wrong and mischievous ones. So, in such a case, he

would be blamed for supplying false information. But again, if he gets information but fails to supply same to the security operatives, he would be accused of hoarding useful information, in which case, it would be worse. So, quite frankly, blaming these people for giving information that turned out to be false, as the military claimed, is not entirely right. I won't blame them, though they went public with some of the information, but I believe it is part of the frustration that the military is slow to respond to distress calls from the communities. The military on the other hand have a responsibility; there are professionals in intelligence gathering. We all know that an analyst gathers information and intelligence, sieves through to access the authenticity or otherwise before taking full action. But this is a war situation where quick action is required. Despite this, the slow response of our security agencies to distress calls is not it. We really need to do more than continue this blame game; it is definitely not in the interest of the nation.

Adamu

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ISSUES & POLITICS The National Conference Debate

Power Rotation And Nigeria's Political Future By Felix Amadi HE history of global political civilisation is T replete with nations that webbed their socio-political life on concepts that indigenously suited their peculiar circumstances and others that settled for off the shelf doctrines. Examples can be found in the constitutional monarchy of Great Britain, the French choice of republicanism from absolute monarchy, the United States settlement for federalism and Nigeria that has so far unsatisfactorily applied the British and United States constitutional models. Our bane is in the inability to institute a constitutional framework that puts in a capsule the plurality of the Nigeria polity in terms of ethnic, social, cultural and religious configuration due to our aversion to the application of concepts which may not conform to general democratic tenets. For instance while conventional democracy principle simply emphasises majority rule, our own democracy must be plurality weighted due to our diversity otherwise nationhood becomes for us a journey very difficult. Let it be our home-grown method since nationhood runs with clear national identity. I therefore submit that plurality weighted democracy is best conceptualised in power rotation carefully ordered in the constitution as a means of satisfactorily defining our well cherished co-existence in federalism. Rotation of power at the centre or other levels of governance provides that essential window of expectation of participation in the process that determines the social and economic well being of constituents without which real and imagined feelings of neglect and marginalisation will manifest as national questions. National questions are natural impediments to nationhood, which have so far forced us into constitutional debates at least once a decade since independence in 1960. The fact that we have not been able to satisfactorily define our federalism more than 50 years after we assumed the status of a federal republic goes to prove that our past debates have not lent consensus ad idem to our efforts in constitutionalism. Is rotation not that consensual power sharing mode left behind to the detriment of our national stability? If we must face facts, a firm expectation of POWER by every zone would beget restraint from the prevailing unbridled struggle for political supremacy. With it our stakeholders will focus their energies on national growth and development. We need to consolidate on such platform as delegates engage one another in the ongoing conference. Power rotation is not a new idea in Nigeria but has always been made to look ugly by both political idealists and irredentists from zones with seeming majority population without due consideration of its huge merits in a plural polity like ours. Credit for the progress made in our democratic process since 1999 to some reasonable degree goes to "power shift"; a warped application of power rotation by some political parties. Its perceived non-application in certain quarters is responsible for the crises of confidence rocking the political landscape ahead of the 2015 general elections. A clear fact is that 'power shift' (and the challenges it threw up) has underscored the relevance of power rotation in our constitution if we must have a momentum in our march to nationhood. It would be the much needed elixir rooted in esprit de corps. Some sections of the country with perceived higher electoral strength argue against power rotation because they wish to hold on to power as their seeming right in democracy. Besides, other arguments against power rotation in the constitution have emerged. One such argument is that power rotation is ethnicity based and impracticable in a polity with over 102 ethnic groups. Another is that it will enthrone mediocrity in the leadership of the country. These arguments will not hold water if corollaries to power rotation are equally enshrined in the constitution. Such corollaries, which ultimately fix the axis of power rotation at the centre, are therefore considered a sine qua non. The best known corollary of power rotation is true federalism. Nigerians seek real federalism

of the centre and viable component units with each having historical, geographical, economic and linguistic affinity of its peoples even in the face of ethnic diversity. The six geopolitical zone structure agreed upon in the 1995 constitutional conference and being applied in many matters of national importance by successive leadership of the country since 1999 certainly meets the requirement. It is therefore essential to recognise the six zones in the constitution as federating units. The next corollary is a measured devolution of powers between the central government and the federating units. The concentration of state power at the centre in our current structure has not only made our federalism a misnomer but has given birth to perennially pernicious power struggles and endemic corruption. Since most of the present federating units (states) seem economically unviable, they will hardly sustain structures that accommodate power devolution as envisaged hence the need to enthrone the six geo-political zones structure as already noted. One term presidency is another corollary that illuminates the practicality of power rotation as it can actually happen many times in a citizen's lifetime. With six federating units, a complete power revolution is archived in a generation of 30 years if one term presidency of five years is enshrined in the constitution. By this constitutional provision, the North holds power intermittently for 15 years with maximum spread among its catchment zones and the south does the same. This will surely guarantee one generation of relative equanimity in Nigeria. To overcome the challenge incapacity or death of a sitting president could pose to power rotation, the presidential and vice presidential candidates must come from the presidential zone. In the event of the death or incapacity of the president, the vice completes the term without injury to the zoning structure. Alternatively the president runs without a single constitutionally recognised deputy while the heads of the zones double as deputy presidents. In the event of the death or incapacity of the president, the deputy president from the presidential zone is sworn in to complete

the term of the zone while election holds in the affected zone for the replacement of the former deputy president. A corollary worthy of serious consideration is what I have termed “Discretional De-enfranchisement”. It is an envisioned constitutional provision that disallows registered voters in a presidential zone (P-Zone) from participation in a presidential election where citizens of Nigeria constitutionally designated “zonal indigenes” are the only candidates representing contending political parties. However, such eligible voters in the P-Zone will have constitutionally reserved for them the right of voting their zonal indigenes in the primary elections that produce the presidential candidates of the contending political parties. The summary here is that: Political parties present the candidates; voters in the P-Zone elect the candidates; voters in the rest of the country elect the president. This approach will eliminate the much-feared mediocrity in leadership as the election of the president would involve the P-Zone electing their bests for the political parties and the rest of the country choosing who they consider best for the country from the zonal bests. Therefore, presidential elections will rise above sectional gangsterism and political party manipulations and arbitrariness often experienced in our clime. More importantly it will promote social-cultural diffusion in the country as Nigerians learn more about the political dynamics of every section of the country. I sincerely doubt if this concept has benefitted from any form of academic evaluation. I also do not know of its precedence in the constitutional history of any country modern or ancient. From a legal perspective it looks in fact an infraction on basic human rights. In spite of these, I strongly believe this corollary will strengthen and make more effervescent the process of a new regime of power rotation. Since the reason for rotation is to prevent the monopoly of state power by any person, group or section of the country and the monstrous struggles and the corruption that goes with such monopoly, it is essential the constitution takes a hard look at the legislature and limit legislative service same way executive

service is limited. This is essential because political power rotation is our democracy defined. In it lies the inclusiveness that encourages all stakeholders. Because our democratic culture is different from those of the U.S. or UK from which we copied our democratic structures, legislative service in Nigeria cannot be without constitutional boundaries as Nigerians are power rotation restive. It is in conventional knowledge that any electoral victory in Nigeria other than for a second term of four years is hardly real and goes to sow the seed of discord in the constituency where it occurs because power is expected to have rotated to another section. To further safeguard rotation of representation in the legislature, the constitution must prevent a transmutation to any legislative house by someone who has served out his/her term as governor with an appropriate time bar. This usual transmutation from Government House to the Senate Chambers ridicules our democracy. It is significant that at the centenary of the inauguration of Nigeria as a political union, the President, His Excellency Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan in spite of mounting challenges from opposition convoked a national conference with a view to strengthen further the socio-political and economic fabrics of the country. This was conveyed in His inaugural speech, which was commended by most delegates to the conference. Now that the conferees have broken in to committees, this piece is a clarion call for the committee on political restructuring to specifically discuss power rotation and recommend it into the constitution. If achieved, it will significantly remove the strife and brigandage that has characterised the socio-political life of the nation replacing it with the peace of mind that inclusiveness and expectation engenders. Power rotation has the quality of essentiality for our democracy, as it would provide the required roots for national stability. • Chief Amadi, a company executive, was a senatorial candidate in the 2011 general elections and can be reached on felixoamadi@yahoo.com

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Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Arts&Culture By Kabir Alabi Garba

NISA, the sprawling town in Odo-Otin Local Government Area of Osun State played host to an assemblage of unusual guests last Saturday. And the visitors came from far and near to felicitate with the ‘son of the soil’, Prof. Gabriel Olatunde Babawale who was being honoured with the chieftaincy title of Bobogunwa of Inisaland together with his wife, Mrs Adetola Babawale who was also conferred with Yeye Bobogunwa, reflecting the popular axiom that “beside every successful man, there is always a woman.” Indeed, the Director-General, Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilisation (CBAAC), Prof. Tunde Babawale is a success story that his native town would love to explore and associated with. Although the installation ceremony was advertised as part of activities to commemorate the 36th coronation anniversary of Oba Joseph Oyedele as Olunisa of Inisaland, it was clear that the conferment wasn’t only the flagship, its memory would continue to linger for years. The size and quality of personalities — from diverse areas such as the academics, traditional institutions, arts and culture community — was simply overwhelming. Among the personalities were the Deputy Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Prof. Duro Oni; Professors Olu Obafemi, Solomon Akingboye, Omoniyi Adewuyi, Ademola Omojola, Dele Orimogunje, Derin Ologbenla, Ademola Dasilva, Akin Alao, Iyiola Oni, David Aremu and Ojo Olunleke. In the audience were monarchs from neigbouring towns such as Akirun of Ikirun, Oba Rauf Adedeji; the Oragun of Oke-IIa, Oba Dokun Abolarin; and Aragbiji of Iragbiji, Oba Rasheed Olabomi while traditional chiefs of Inisa rallied Olunisa for the historic moment. There were also Dr. Femi Omidire, Laja Odukoya, Adeola Faleye Akin Onipede, Alabi Soneye and Ademola Azeez, while Heads of parastatals in the Ministry of Culture and Tourism such as National Troupe; National Theatre; National Gallery of Art; National Institute for Cultural Orientation were also represented. In the house also were veteran filmmaker Tunde Kilani, movie producer Remi Ibitola, veteran drummer and artist, Muraina Oyelani and other artistes. In his opening remarks, the chairman of the Inisa Descendants Union, Mr. John Olanipekun underscored Babawale’s exploits at various institutions where he has worked including the University of Lagos and CBAAC. He noted that, among other achievements, he had moved CBAAC from a relatively unknown institution to global acclaim. “Babawale has been everywhere, but he has not forgotten home,” Olanipekun added. One after the other, the monarch saluted Prof. Babawale and urged other accomplished people to emulate him in terms of his commitment to the development of his roots. In the words of Oba Oyedele, Babawale is an Omoluabi-the Yoruba’s ideal son. He said, “he is one of the pillars holding Inisa. Like other members of Inisa youth Initiative, he is always working for the progress of the land.” The Aragbiji noted that the fact that the people that Babawale has worked with at different times rallied round him at the ceremony said much about his character. Saying that he (Kabiyesi) was one of his students, the monarch said Babawale is a brilliant, hardworking and responsible family man from whom youths

Babawale and wife as Bobagunwa and Yeye Bobagunwa of Inisaland

The Olunisa presenting the certificate of office to Prof. Babawale and wife

Orangun of Oke-Ila, Oba Dokun Abolarin (left); Akirun of Ikirun; the Babawales; and Oba Joseph Oladunjoye Oyedele

Former Vice-Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Prof. Omoniyi Adewoye with Prof. Babawale.

In his response, the CBAAC boss said that while he was glad that his people had considered him worthy of the honour, the development had further inspired him to do more. He said, “I believe that everyone has the responsibility to genuinely contribute to the liberalization and growth of his town, country and the world at large.” Certainly, Babawale’s cap must have been crowded with series of awards and medals in recognition of his unique contribution to human development. Just last month, on April 3, 2014 precisely, the Natural History Museum (NHM) of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife honoured Prof. Babawale (alongside another distineducation without contributing to the develguished son of Osun — Chief (Dr.) John Agboola opment on ones land is useless.” Odeyemi) with the Natural History Museum Oba Akirun was marvelous in his terse Award for his “distinguished contribution to remarks, as he cracked jokes, sang songs to the preservation and conservation of African deliver his message. His showmanship raked Cultural Heritage.” in wide applause from the audience. He noted A political scientist, who has also distinthat no matter how widely a person is recogguished himself as an astute culture adminisnized and honour abroad, one must strive to trator, Prof. Babawale, in the almost eight years be relevant at home. as the Director/Chief executive Officer of “Babawale is a son of all Yoruba kings. He is CBAAC, has lifted the profile of the culture one of our own icons. It is good that he is been agency nationally and globally. honoured at home today because home recog- In fact, the volume of activities that CBAAC has nition is important,” the Akirun said. undertaken under Babawale’s leadership is so intimidating that the Federal Government has begun to appreciate the need to always enlist the service of technocrat to man strategic sector of the national economy such as culture. But his efforts and contributions have continservices. The event is billed to take place June 21 ued to be recognised within and outside from 12noon at Tafawa Balewa Square, Onikan, Nigeria as reflected in last Saturday’s event. AS the largest and most populous town in Lagos. Odo-Otin LGA, Inisa is believed to have ancestral links with laafin of Oyo, the Alara of Aramoko in ekiti and Owa of Ijesaland. The town was founded many centuries ago by Ooku, a brave prince and warrior from Ofaeesun, a small but historic settlement near Ofa in the present Kwara State. Ofa-eesun itself was founded by a prince of the Alaafin royal dynasty of old Oyo. From this historic link with Ofa, the pinces and princesses of Inisa are commonly referred to as ‘Omo Mojo’ while people of Inisa are generally referred to as InisaOyemojo. The combination of ‘Oye’ and ‘Mojo’ is traced to paternal parentage and maternal parentage of Ooku, the founder of Inisa. Tee Mac

Babawale:

Culture Administrator’s

Day Of Honour At Inisa have a lot to learn. The Orangun of Oke-Ila congratulated the Olu of Inisa and the people of the town, saying they were blessed with many icons. Oba Abolarin said, “Today is a special day of joy. What we are witnessing should remind us that most Yoruba towns have icons. But many have a lot to learn from Babawale and his cotownsmen who have been contributing to the growth of the land. There is a lot to do for the development of our towns. Government alone cannot do everything. Our sons and daughters must look back and give back to the society.

World Music Day 2014 Celebrates Peace, Togetherness By Florence Utor

He success of the first musical day in France in 1982 was remarkable and it subsequently resulted in its adoption as an annual event. Its popularity recommended it to the rest of the world where over a hundred and fifty countries, through free concert and festivals, celebrate the day with events that provoke the spirit of togetherness. Nigeria first joined the global affair in 2001, through the logistics support of the French Cultural Centre (Alliance Francais). The festival is recognised by United Nations educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNeSCO) and other international organisations. Talents expected to perform include Tee Mac and the Gold Convention, Ozzy Bosco, The Wonderkid, Seun Olota, Daddy Kool and the Jazz Project, Seyi

Solagbade, Oseghale Sunday (Mr. Sanitation), Wura Samba, Blessomania, Peters Funsho Lewis, Francis Goldman, Stella Monye, Jagunlabia and the Oracle Band, Aje Melody, D’Legend Sistarz and Lagos State Council for Arts and Culture among others. With the theme, Celebrating Music for Peace and Togetherness through Live Performances, the 2014 edition is organised by the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), in partnership with the International Cultural Agency, Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN) and Lagos State Government’s Ministry of Home Affairs and Culture. The event will be a platform to showcase the great talents that abound in Nigeria. It is also a unique platform for corporate organisations and leading communication companies to advertise, promote and sell their products and

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Instructions on how to play the game Starting from the square numbered ‘1’, fill in the first word, writing from left to right. Also fill in the second word, starting in the box numbered '2'.

You will observe that the second word will overlap the first word. Also, the third word will overlap the second word and so on. Keep on filling the words in a clockwise direction until all the squares are completely filled, using the clues/ definitions below:

OVERLAPPING WORD GAME with OLULANA KAYODE O8023183727 olulana3@yahoo.com Solutions To Overlapping Word Game ‘52’

Overlapping Word Game ‘53’ 1. Saidu ____, Kebbi State Governor

1. Onasanya

2. Supporter of aristocratic rule

2. Yankari

3. Box

3. Infuse

4. Study something

4. Select

5. Require something

5. Tara

6. Able to be eaten

6. Raiment

7. A country within South Africa

7. Entail

8. Upper part of torso

8. Illegal

9. Hollow under bird’s wing

9. Gallery

10. Displeasure

10. Ryazan

11. Printing error

11. Zanzibar

12. Offence

12. Barrow

13. Very advanced in years

13. Owlet

14. Printed version

14. Letter

15. Edible bulb used as vegetable

15. Reduce

16. Space dust

16. Cement

17. State in S.E. United States

17. Trivial

18. Legal relationship between spouses

18. Alkalize

19. Existing through all time

19. Endure

20. Financial support to ex-spouse

20. Eliminate

21. Spirit in nature

21. Nates

22. Very unfriendly

22. Scribble

23. Follow

23. Ledger

24. Obtain as result

24. Erne

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

On The Path Of Winners

Planning That Lifts Beyond Mediocrity ITHOUT a plan in place, your life is mired in W poverty. To escape, I urge three steps to financial freedom. One, ascertain your location at each period of your life. You cannot grow in success without first finding out your present position. You need to know where you are to plot and navigate to your expected destination. There are a few ways to access money. Generally, these are through inheritance, income from businesses and gains from salaried work. If you don’t know where you are going, you won’t know when you get there. Determining your destination before commencing your journey is the best way to plan your life. Without focus, you leave your life to chance. Two, you must choose your vehicle to travel your life in. The vehicle you choose determines how fast you get to your destination. However, investing in yourself, via self-education, being updated and relevant is vital to your security and cash flow. Time is vital in matters of making wealth, because time waits for no one. Time is money and time wasted equals money wasted. Which is why you should acquire discipline to avoid being overtaken by Parkinson’s Law. This law has remained true in our lives from time immemorial and keeps us poor, if not evaded. Parkinson’s Law states that a man’s expenses will always rise to meet his income and make him stay the same station in life. What the law simply means is that no matter the extra income you earn, you will always increase your expenses to fit into your income, which makes it impossible for your gains to reflect on your net worth. Since God wants you to have different vehicles of wealth creation, you should use your strategies to create multiple streams of income in order to become rich. Then discover your primary and dominant stream of income. As you operate within your dominant source of

Johnson income, either as a paid employee or a career business owner, use your financial intelligence and investment mindset to develop other streams by diversifying yourself. You start with your main stream, ending up with at least three other vehicles of wealth creation, such as advertising, consultancy, networking and franchising. Consolidate each stream and keep expanding and you become a force to be reckoned with in Nigeria. But mind your worldview, for success without a successor is tantamount to failure. For we now have many selfish believers, who are prosperous without inheritors. “But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is He that giveth thee power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant, which He sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.” (Deut. 8:18) The primary reason for prospering His people is

to empower them to establish His kingdom. Enlightening the world on Jehovah’s kingdom is very expensive, and that is the primary reason why God prospers people. Then, after you are prosperous, what next? The next thing is posterity, leaving a legacy behind you for the succeeding generation of descendants. Your descendants will then fulfill the purpose for which God prospered you. God only prospers you for the purpose of building His kingdom. To leave a befitting legacy is the reason why you should develop the posterity mindset. Posterity thinking isn’t natural to us. Our parents, teachers and leaders didn’t know it. They taught us to live for today. They could not give us what they don’t have, which is why we must make conscious effort to personally develop posterity mentality. God empowers people to become wealthy, so that His kingdom can be established. Be a posterity thinker in order to gain Jehovah’s blessing, so as to propagate God’s kingdom. Since Jehovah is a generational God, He expects us also to be generational minded. “A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children. But the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous.” (Proverbs 13:22) So, let your legacy be at least two generations compliant. Two generations after you must enjoy what your existence established. Otherwise, you have not fulfilled the perfect plan of God through maximising your opportunities. Our champion this week is Andrew Johnson, the 17th President of the United States (1865-1869), who succeeded President Abraham Lincoln, who was assassinated in the closing months of the American civil war (1861-1865). His lenience toward the South during reconstruction embittered the Republicans in Congress, leading to his political downfall. Johnson lacked formal education, but his homespun lifestyles were assets, which built him a political base in Tennessee.

Born in December 1808 in Raleigh, North Carolina, he moved with his parents to Tennessee in 1826. Johnson organised a party that elected him first as alderman and then mayor of Greeneville. During his eight years in city administration, he found a natural home in the states’ rights Democratic Party of President Andrew Jackson. He emerged their raucous spokesman. He was elected member of the US House of Representatives for 10 years as their representative (1843-53) and then served as governor of Tennessee (1853-57). Elected US senator in 1856, he adhered to the dominant democratic views favouring lower tariffs and opposing anti-slavery agitation. In 1860, however, he broke with the Democratic Party after Lincoln’s election as President and opposed Southern secession. When Tennessee seceded in June 1861, he refused to join them, remaining in his post and loyal to the union. In recognition of his loyalty to the Union, Lincoln appointed him military governor of Tennessee in 1862, which by then had been liberated by the Union army. To broaden the base of the Republican Party, Lincoln nominated Johnson as his Vice on his successful re-election ticket of 1864. Thrust unexpectedly into the Presidency in April 1865, he was faced with the reconstruction of the confederate states. Congressional Republicans, who favoured severe measures toward the defeated South, were disappointed by Johnson’s programmes. The Congress voted articles of impeachment against him, but the move failed by one vote short of two-thirds majority. But Johnson’s usefulness as a leader was over and he was not nominated for re-election. However, in 1875, he was elected senator from Tennessee, shortly before he died in July of the same year.

TheGuardian

Saturday, May 24, 2014 | 17

www.ngrguardiannews.com

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Love&Life

... Celebrating The Feelings You Share!

with SIMON Egbo 07032944123

IN THIS EDITION

True Love Story:

Love Connections

Princess of

Women Seeking Relationship/Marriage

Love

Divine Mercy, 29, from Imo State, AA+, 5ft tall, an orphan, undergraduate, a devout Christian, needs an educated devoted Christian, Igbo, widower, not a divorcee, age between 30 and 35, for marriage. Please call 08066651155.

I’m In Love With My Married Boss

Nneka, 40, from Enugu State, 5.6ft tall, fair and busty, homely and employed, needs a devout Christian, Igbo man between 37 and 47 for marriage. Miss Esther, 23, sexy and pretty, needs a mature and working class man for a relationship. Please call 08186423145.

LIFE STORY

Precious, average in height, fair in complexion, needs a mature man, between 40 and 45, for a serious relationship. Please call 08082962536. Call professor love on 07032944123 for relationship/marriage counseling & direct hook-up. Please call before texting your request.

‘Revenge Is Sweet, Or Should That Be Savoury?’

Men Seeking Relationship/Marriage

LOVE QUOTE

Prospect, 29, fair, tall and athletic, energetic and handsome, needs a rich sugar mummy in Lagos, Abuja or Port Harcourt. Please call 08131620416. BB PIN: 3296c595.

Follow love and it will flee, flee love and it will follow.

Fertility Problems/Fibroid /Seeking Male Child Do you have fibroid, sexuallytransmitted infection/disease, find it difficult to get pregnant, have any form of infertility problem, miscarriages or need a baby boy or girl? Call 07025350586 or 08122352054. Do you have low sperm count or premature ejaculation? Solution is here. Call 07025350586.

Baby Sex/Gender Selection Decide the sex of your baby (male or female). Call 07025350586, 08122352054 or 08131161840.

Lovers' Answers Game The rule: Ask the opposite sex one question about love and choose your lover from the top three answers. This week’s questions are: Should I ask my boyfriends’ best friend (who is a guy) to help me find out if my boyfriend is cheating on me? Call 07032944123 to send your question or answers.

Henry, 39, fair in complexion, needs a Hausa or Igbo woman, between 40 and 50 for relationship. Please call 0811556826.

Dakore Egbuson Nollywood Actress

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

Michael, cool and handsome, based in Lagos and very hardworking, needs a sugar mummy for a relationship. Please call 08085753679.

‘Revenge Is Sweet, Or Should That Be Savoury?’

Y friend Louise never does anything by halves, which didn’t really bother me until she became a mother. Up until then she’d been as much of a beer swilling meateater as the rest of us, but giving birth transformed her into the ultimate organic, free range, ‘my body is a temple’ sort of bore you’d never wish to meet. The rest of us gave up drink while pregnant but still had the odd glass to see us through the long sleepless nights, but that was simply not good enough for Louise and if it hadn’t been for her husband Steve working with my husband Grieg I would have dumped her without a second thought. That makes me sound really shallow, but until you’ve endured one of Louise’s lectures about how we owe it to the future generations to embrace only everything that’s good and pure you cannot actually imagine expiring through sheer boredom. All of us had kids at the same time and suddenly socialising was based around going to each others’ homes

TRUE CONFESSION for easy suppers, which were usually fairly relaxed, even with Louise in full flow. After witnessing her shake her head in horror over anything meat-based most of us were reduced to always adding a dish of plain pasta and salad to everything else on offer, but even this wasn’t enough and she started bringing her own tasteless meals. Again, most of us would have just ignored that and got on with it, but it was difficult especially as a dinner couldn’t go by without one of her lectures. Steve’s a lovely guy so we didn’t really want to dump him, and as Greig reminded me a few times, he’s also my husband’s boss so keeping him onside was always going to be a good move. Having exhausted all her attentionseeking moves, and finally becoming aware that we were all now tuning her out or changing the subject when she starting droning on, Louise decided that anything non-organic, vegetarian

or free range was making her ill. She sprung this on us one night when Wendy had cooked, and we were halfway through the meal when Louise leaped to her feet, clutching her throat dramatically and gasping. The table was in an uproar with everyone thinking she was choking and after much coughing and wheezing she turned to Wendy and gasped “Oh my God, what was in that dish?!” Poor Wendy was absolutely mortified and stammered that the food was totally vegetarian. “But not organic? said Louise, “Oh Wendy, I’m so sorry. I should have told you that anything non-organic gives me a terrible reaction. I can feel my throat swelling up but it’s all my own fault!” and she thumped down dramatically in her chair, waving a paper napkin in front of her face. Wendy was practically in tears and I wanted nothing more than to throttle Louise, but instead I suggested that

everyone come to our house for dinner the following month. I reassured Louise that my past experience stood me in good stead as waitress for the evening. “Trust me,” I said firmly, “I’ll make you all a vegetarian meal you’ll never forget.” I thought long and hard about my menu for that evening, utterly convinced that Louise was talking complete nonsense about bad reactions to non-organic food but unsure how to put an end to her behaviour once and for all. Eventually, when I realised that the Monday after my dinner party was going to be the school open night I realised I had the perfect opportunity to make such a fool of her that she’d never abuse someone as timid as Wendy again. So when everyone arrived at our home they were greeted by huge pitchers of homemade organic beer and banana chips and although Grieg wasn’t the only one making anguished retching faces I ignored the murmurs and made

CONTINUED ON PAGE 18

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

18 | Saturday, May 24, 2014

LOVE&LIFE Relationship And Love Tips For This Week

Seven Effective Ways To Reach A Compromise With Your Partner F you want to have a lasting and Iknow healthy relationship, you should how to reach a compromise with your significant other. As an important part of any relationship, compromise can help you achieve mutual understanding and teach you how to overcome the hardship of living together. Here are a few effective tips on how to reach a compromise with your partner. 1. Identify The Real Problem Don’t give way to emotions, but just try to identify the real problem. If you pull other issues in, it will be impossible to find the compromise. It is necessary to reject all disagreements if you want to figure out the true issue. There is no doubt that real love can surmount many barriers. Stick to the real problem and it will be easier to reach a compromise with your partner. 2. Listen To Each Other Let your partner express his/her point of view. It doesn’t mean that you should always agree with them, but it is important to take into account all opinions. Don’t think only about yourself, because you can also make mistakes. You need to listen to each other and make exceptions, if necessary. 4. Tweak Your Compromise Keep in mind that compromise is a kind of agreement that you can tweak every now and then. The main point is to identify the issue and stick to other points of a compromise. There is no need to focus on a certain agreement, because you can tweak it. Try to be open to your partner and communicate freely. Both of you will eventually feel happy if you use your diplomatic skills in resolving conflicts. 5. Define What You Want It is difficult to come to a common decision if you don’t exactly know what you want to get in some kind of a disagreement. Only you know what can make you feel okay and happy. Don’t forget to take into account your partner’s ideas and desires. 6. Suggest A Possible Compromise When you try to understand each other’s feelings and state what you want, it is important that both of you suggest all possible compromises. If you have a big desire to reach a compromise, both of you should find a suitable outcome with a good grace. This new outcome will satisfy your interests to the maximum. It is necessary to suggest a great number of variants to solve your common problem. 7. Don’t Fear To Bend A Little Sure, much depends on the nature of your character. Don’t be very proud and fundamental when it comes to your happiness. It is almost impossible for both of you to get what you want at once. That is why someone has to bend a little to reach a compromise. Your partner should also be ready to bend, if necessary. You won’t lose much, but you may have a chance to find a common ground and get rid of conflicts and live happily. All you need is to follow these seven rules and be reasonable if you want to reach a compromise. Life is full of situations that can ruin your love and relationship. Everything depends on your willingness to stay together against all the odds. Have you ever used the compromise as a tool to solve life problems?

I’m In Love With My Married Boss EVERAL months ago, I told my boss that I Sdidn’t had feelings for him. I made it clear that I intend on anything happening

TRUE STORY FROM ABROAD

between us and that my husband (of 20 years) is my best friend and our marriage is a good one. He responded by saying: “Umph… Wow. I don’t know what to say. No one at work has ever told me that before.” He ran his fingers through his hair and rubbed his head as I talked. I told him I had had these feelings for a few months and that it was very emotional for me. He had said a few months earlier that he couldn’t have sex with his wife while she was pregnant, because it felt as though there was someone between them. So, I figured that he just didn’t love her enough to get past her belly. Another time, he complained that she was so emotional and critical at home. That was when I started feeling bad for him and wanted to make him happy. When he met her, they were quick with everything: moved in together after six months, married a year later and had a baby during their first year of marriage. His wife’s biological clock was ticking and she wanted to hurry and have kids. So, I had it in my head that he was just not really in love with her. I was like that with my husband, too, but we grew to love each other and it worked out and they will probably

work out fine, too. So… I tried a few times to distance myself from my boss, but it was hard, because we work so closely together. When I told him my feelings, he told me, “I …I can’t say anything…, because of my position here. I hope you understand?” I was not sure what he meant by that. Was he trying to say that he feels the same way, but can’t because of his position as my boss? Then, he kept saying he was married, with a baby, and questioned why I was telling him this. He then said he understands that married people have crushes on other people and that we are higher animals, because we can choose to be with one person. Then he said: “Wow, you really threw the ball in my court, didn’t you?” Then, he smiled. Four years ago, he was single and I had taken my wedding ring off to get it resized. I joked with another co-worker that I was single. He overheard that and said, “Oh, good. Now, I can take you out on a date.” He would, on occasions, brush stuff off my face and if someone complimented my work, he would light up. I had the feeling that he liked me a lot. He still admires my work and expresses to me that he didn’t want me to leave just

‘Revenge Is Sweet, Or Should That Be Savoury?’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17 a huge fuss of Louise. “Rather than serving two lots of food and drink I thought we could all have a vegetarian night!” I announced briskly, “We’ve got spinach and ricotta bake and soya lasagne, so tuck in!” I could see everyone helping themselves to tiny portions and then the look of surprise on their faces as they realised the food was absolutely delicious in comparison to the foul concoctions of vegetable crumble and meat free casserole that Louise served, but that was hardly surprising as I’d spent a fortune on steak mince for the lasagne and added a rich chicken stock to the ricotta bake. The so called organic beer was one of the cheapest lagers I could find decanted into jugs and Louise was drinking glass after glass with no ill effects, as well as having second portions of the lasagne. There was an awkward moment when I brought in the massive strawberry cheesecake and she stopped for a second to say “You didn’t use gelatine for this, did you?”. “Of course not’ I frowned, “I made sure it was just lemon juice as that’s such a good setting agent with the cream” and she piled

her plate high. When we reached the school on Monday night Louise was at the home baking stall, in full flow to all around her. “We really need to address this issue of catering for different dietary requirements” she said loudly, “I’m not the only one who suffers terribly as a result of this but with a bit of effort everyone can lead as normal a life as possible. Emma made a wonderful meal on Saturday and I enjoyed every bite, knowing that there was nothing there which could make me ill” she beamed approvingly at me. “Are you sure you were fine?” I asked imploringly and she beamed, “Absolutely. I felt marvellous. Why do you ask?” I looked round at all the interested faces, especially those who had witnessed her behaviour at Wendy’s. “I’m so sorry” I said earnestly, “I made two lots of everything and thought I’d frozen all the meat based food. But I froze the wrong lot and everything we ate on Saturday wasn’t just non-organic but had meat in it, even the beef gelatine. But thank God you’re alright – at least it means all your allergies have cleared up.” She might still be a vegetarian but if she is she never talks about it. Courtesy: womansday.ninemsn.com.au

because of my feelings. He said I was too valuable. I was flattered, but then hurt, because he seemed to not feel the same way about me. He seemed to not be bothered at all by what I said to him. He was more interested in my working than anything else. But I keep thinking of him saying he couldn’t say anything and that I threw the ball into his court and I wonder what he meant by that. I needed closure. I know this is completely wrong, but I just want to know if he has feelings for me as well. I don’t want anything to come of it though, and I don’t expect him to show how he feels. For a few months, I tried to find a job somewhere else, but never found anything. So, I am glad that I didn’t do anything stupid to hurt our marriages. I deeply care about my boss and worry about him when he is under stress or sick. I never show it though or talk to anyone about it either. When I mention something funny that my husband and I did, he seems to want to do the same thing and right away texts his wife about it. Today, he mentioned to me only that he and his wife were going away for a weekend without the baby. I wonder why he told me that. What do you think about all this? *If you want to be our next Princess of Love, email or forward your photos/data to simonclar@yahoo.com or call 07032944123

ROMANTIC POEM Girlfriend Poem Shadowing Eternity © Oscar Grullon A special place for you and me An undying bond to guide us free Loneliness blocking the day Our Love lighting the way Your gentle touch Your smiling face There is no corner No dark place Our passion flowing in the waves My heart stands still Awaiting your pace Our love, withstanding time Diminishing doubt, in our mind There is no place I rather be… Than in your heart and in your dreams…

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Saturday, May 24, 2014 | 19

RELATIONSHIPS

Single And Searching By Alita Joseph FRIEND has consistently told me that a party is hardly the best place to meet a life-mate. Her explanation is that fun is the sole aim of a party. All the alcohol and the need to let go and relax melts away the moment you leave a party, she insisted. I have heard a girl narrate how she fixed a date with a man she met at a party and was disappointed by his appearance the following day, so she told him that she had never met him and refused to go out with him. With the men, they do not pretend that they want a life partner at a gettogether. It is fun first; they would be pleasantly surprised if something more serious develops, a male friend has said. I say, however, that when you go to a party, the intention is not to keep yourself company. And it is still a good place to meet interesting guys. Just know who you have jammed at that party, how you met him and you may be able to turn him into a good and loving husband. You want to know that he is single, of course, so watch that guy you are eyeing and who appears to be mesmerised by you. A married man would not show his interest, if at all he has any, so openly. Only a single guy thinks it is his birthright to rove the room. And it is not décor that interest him; it is the women, certainly. Learn to tell the one that has caught your attention correctly, and you would have a good friendship if noth-

ing else. Is He Experienced? YOU will know if he has just started dating from his behaviour. He will be nervous, although he continually looks around in search for a woman. When his eyes meet yours, he will look away. But if you are interested, make the move, without making it obvious. Make your friends to go closer to him and strike up a conversation with him. Then, allow things to take off from there. But know, however, that being so new in relationships, he may not think of a long-term friendship. He may only want to play the field for sometime before he declares for a particular woman. Being new too, it is still too early to say his behavior in a relationship. But assuming you are able to date him for a while, can you wait for the time it may take for him to think of settling down? If He Is Care-free HE may have come to that party without a girl, but it does not mean he does not have a girl friend. Although he may also be among his group of male friends, he may be seriously searching for a woman to start a new relationship. Time will tell if he wants a serious love life or he wants varieties. Time will tell if he wants a fling, something that begins and ends at that party. You would never know unless you meet him. To attract the attention of that handsome man who appears to be engrossed in a conversation with

By Kemi Amushan HESEdays, it is so easy to tell a lie. The simplest TLong lie to tell is the “I LOVE YOU” kind of lie. before now, one would really get involved with another for a while, thereby knowing the persons dos and don’ts and other personal stuffs people in love share together. But these days, men and women lie to each other in the name of love to get what they want. And this has caused different relationship problems overtime. What a shame! Today, we would be talking about how to weed out the unserious men (players) from the commitment-ready ones. So now, how do you know if a man really loves you or is just playing with your feelings to get what he wants? The answer would be that you make him chase you and watch his true colours show as the days go by. It is as simple as that! For this to keep happening to you, it may be that you keep attracting the wrong kinds of guys. Or is it that the man you are with right now is acting cold and distant. If you are going through any of these situations (or similar), then you might be feeling a bit frustrated and very worried that would the rest of your life be like this. A girlfriend of mine had issues with her boyfriend some months ago. He started losing interest in the relationship after two months of dating. They used to be inseparable for those two months that I got to see her less and was even getting jealous of that. But it was the happiest I had seen her in months, so I did not mind. I was happy for her. Now, all of a sudden, he started growing cold once they got really serious. I was confused about what had suddenly happened. She could not really think of what could have gone wrong, but the only thing that changed was she moving in with him. She said that ever since then, he suddenly was not as sweet and caring as he used to be, and got annoyed more easily. She was in a state and did not know what to do at that time. I felt sorry for her. Now, let us get something straight ladies. Just because a guy moves in with you and calls you his “girlfriend” does not mean he is already decided to commit the rest of his life to you. In fact, if you are not careful, he might even completely lose interest in the relationship just as quickly as he started pursuing you. Sadly, this problem happens to many of us. But what is even sadder is that it is a problem we can prevent if we all knew a few facts about men. So, why do so many men lose interest after get-

his friends, but who you have noticed to look at you more than once, do not appear to be too eager to meet him. If you rush, you could scare him away. Get closer by watching one of his friends who have been going round the room. Approach him at a good time when you know he would give you his attention, and then tell him you and your friends have seen his friends and would like to meet them. When he introduces you to your object of admiration, shake his hands

and hold it a bit longer. Laugh into his eyes. Flirt with him and see how he reacts. Remember, it is possible he does have a girl friend. So, he could be the one that breaks all relationship rules. He may also be the most loving individual who believes that two people in relationship need individual space sometimes. Do, however, tread gently. Make the right conversations. Turn down the

Weeding Out The Real Guys From The Liars ting into a serious relationship with a woman, or moving in together, or having sex with her? The reasons are not too far-fetched. He “Won” You Too Easily IN my friend’s case, she moved in with her man after two months of hot, sizzling, exciting dating. Guess what? That is way too soon. Ever heard of the phrase, “Men love the chase?” If not, you should better remember it for the rest of your life, because it is one of the biggest, most tried-and-tested facts about men in love. Men love the chase. Period! And when you give in to him too easily, such as by getting into a serious relationship with him or moving in or having sex with him too soon, then it means you “surrendered” to him too quickly. You gave up your body, your heart and your freedom and surrendered it all to him way too easily. And that is a problem. Here is why: Are you even sure he really loves you? If you did not make sweet love to each other, would he still love you? If you did n o t move in to-

gether, would he still love you? That is the problem when he “wins” you too easily, just as a kid that gets too many toys loses interest very quickly. What y o u

need to do before things get serious is to be together for at least three to six months. It is to put him in what I call his “chase mode.” Here is how it works: Every guy chases in the beginning. When you are just starting out, he puts his best foot forward every time. He takes you to nice dinners, buys you nice gifts and says all the sweet words, just to get the one thing he wantsyou- all to himself. But what happens when you surrender too easily? It takes him right out of “chase mode,” and it puts him in a “being chased” mode. After all, he is already “won” you. The pressure is off him and now on you to keep him interested. Now, here is the thing: Some guys are more interested in “finding true love” than others. I am sure you know what I am talking about? Most guys you meet in the dating game will only be interested in sex and not really love. We call these kinds of guys “players,” and they can only stay in “chase

mode” for a short time, just long enough to get into most women’s pants. But the guys who are ready for serious rela-

suggestion to take a stroll to a dark corner. If He Wants a Date IF he sees whom he wants, he will make eye contact and hold it, even if he is still talking and laughing with his friends. To show you are interested, catch his eye, smile and look away. Pretend to be in deep discussion with your friends, then look at him again and smile. Repeat once more. After the third time, he will know that you want to meet him. The Experienced Guy HE is confident and does not hide the fact that he is looking for another conquest the moment he enters a place. If he sees you glancing around, he will meet your eyes squarely. If you look away, you will see him still staring when you decide to check him out the second time. To catch this man, you will have to play bold. He is experienced at meeting women. He is confident sexually, so there is no need to be shy. Return his eye contact, go over to say hello and chat with him. Discuss general things, do not talk about personal things, and do not pay him a compliment about his dressing, unless they are exceptional; not unless you notice that he is the vain type. Discussing personal matters so soon may put him off. Do not forget that men still like to be the chasers, so impress him any way you can and enjoy a good evening. Then, watch to see how things develop from there.

tionships and want to find true love, just as much as you do, can stay in “chase mode” for the rest of their lives if they think they have found “the one!” We call these wonderful men “keepers.” In my opinion, it is our job to weed out the players from the keepers, and we can achieve that by putting them in “chase mode” and see who stays long enough, not just to say their love, but also to prove their love for you. That is why I tell most of you to date your men for at least three to six months, because most players lose interest after two months (3 tops). If they do not get what they want in three months, they give up and move on to the next woman. But the keepers will hang on and their love for you will grow with each passing day. The ability to put a guy into “chase mode” is one of the most important and valuable love skills you can ever learn in your life. When you know how to make a man chase, you skilfully weed out the players and spot the men that truly love you. Until next time, remember: The “chase mode” brings out the best in men, while the “being chased mode” brings out the worst in him. I urge you to learn this approach on making men meet, chase, catch and keep you, because unless you know how, you will always risk falling for a player’s tricks. But when you know how to put him in “chase mode,” you will expose his true colours soon enough and never risk him losing interest in you too soon. There is something even better. Even if he is already growing cold and distant, it is not too late. Here is the great thing about the “chase mode.” When you know how it works, you can put a man into it anytime you want. If you are single, men will want to meet you and know you better, and the braver ones even start asking you out. If you are dating, you can instantly spot the players from the keepers, so you can spend your time and energy on the guys who will really work hard for your love. And if you are in a relationship that is growing cold, all you need to do is “flip a switch” and suddenly, your man will be in “chase mode” all over again. The possibilities are endless, but you need to make the first step. You need to learn how to make a man chase, first. The first step is right in front of you now, so why wait? Sometimes, the smallest step can lead to true love and life-long happiness. Take your very first step now. To the loving relationship we all deserve, good luck in love and life. Cheers!

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

20 Saturday, May 24, 2014

WEEKEND with AMARA

08116706852 Email: amara@amarablessing.com

Men, Treat Your Wives Well SEE men always reminding their Ithey wives that they are the head and so become dictators in their home. Many are now the Idi Amin instead of a father in their home. Your wife becomes a zombie the very moment she hears you stepping into the house. Your children all stop being children and behave like grannies just because daddy is back from work. You know what you’re doing? You are only raising hypocrites and children who don’t know what childhood is. The only result you are expected to get are adults who cannot face their future; adults who will keep messing up in life. You are raising children who will dread having daddy around when they become adults. You are building no relationship between your wife and yourself. Don’t forget; whatever relationship you have with your wife is the relationship you will end up having with your children. A husband is not his wife’s slave master. Yes, we are enjoined to honour our husband just the way Sarah did. I encourage women to submit to their own husbands and possibly call him ‘lord’ if that’s what she likes. But the man shouldn’t see himself as master if he is to lead well. His leadership must follow the example set by Christ, the Head of the church. Simply said, a husband must love and lead like the Saviour did by serving. I see men who put

it on their wife’s face, reminding her, regularly, that he is the master and boss. A good leader does not go about calling himself the boss. A good leader does not become a terrorist just because he is a leader. Sadly, so many men have become terrorists in their homes. If you are one of those who go about with trumpet in the home reminding your wife and children that you are the boss, it simply shows you are yet to be the leader. When you have a good leader, things fall into their rightful place. A leader is someone who serves. We have very bad leaders in Nigeria because they don’t even think about serving; they think about being served and so they use every means available to acquire wealth in order to be served. One of the best ways to serve your wife is to understand her needs and try to meet them. Do you know your wife’s top three needs? What worries her? What kind of pressure does she feel? Learn the answers to questions like these and then do what you can to reduce her worries, her troubles, and her pressures. What do you do about your wife’s dreams and hopes? She has plenty, do you know what they are? Are you cultivating her gifts? If she has a knack for decorating, cooking, fashion and beauty, do you help her develop that? Are you helping her grow into the woman that God made her to be? Are you one of such husbands who destroy her gifts and

IMAGE AND ETIQUETTE With Pamela “A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” – Proverbs 18:24 GOOD friendA ship can be one of the most rewarding relationships one can experience in a lifetime. However, true friends are very few and far in-between; it is just as difficult to find a good friend as it is to be a good one. Friendship is meant to be mutual and reciprocal, or otherwise one is guilty of great ingratitude. In Luke 14, Jesus advised a rich man who had invited Him to a feast that when he makes a feast he should invite people who cannot repay him so that he would receive his reward at the resurrection of the just. Jesus’ statement shows that friendship is to be reciprocated. Friendship means more than times of laughter, it means that we are able to sympathize with our friends, give hearty counsel, faithful reprimands and give help them when we can. Here a few things one can do to nurture our friendships. Nurture A Genuine Relationship with God There is only one God, one Creator, one Lord. It is necessary that you have a good and healthy relationship with Him. Should you have a guilty conscience, it points back to your relationship with Him. Are you dissatisfied with life, unsure of your purpose in it? It points back to a relationship with Him. Does fear lurk all around you? It points back to a relationship with Him. What righteous desire consumes you like fire in your bones? The answer points to your com-

dreams the moment she comes into your home? What was she when you met her? What is she now that she is your Mrs.? Are you one of those men who promised sending her to school and now you have turned her to nothing but a baby-making factory? Are you your wife’s hero? This is your God-given assignment as a husband. The holy book instructs husbands to live with their wives in an understanding way (1 Pet. 3:7). How are you serving your wife as you lead your home? Do you see her as a superwoman with no feelings and who shouldn’t get tired at any time? A good number of men have succeeded in destroying their wife’s sensual feelings. How will she do that? She wakes up at 4am and is on her feet till 9pm. She is not complaining, but all she needs is a husband who can speak some sweet words into her ears to keep her going. She is down because the man who should help lift up her spirit keeps reminding her that she is just a housewife who does nothing but laze about. Recently in the US, I was watching Dr. Phil on Oprah Winfrey Network when a man who saw nothing good in his ‘housewife’ was asked to swap roles. At the end of the day, the man had to change his mindset about full time mothers being lazy. If only you can feel the burden on her, you would know that she should be celebrated. You can lead her by serving. You can use

love to make her a better person. You can ask her to lie back as you serve her breakfast in bed. You can choose a weekend to take over her duties, look after the kids, and allow her to go pamper herself or get some timeout with the girls. Why not take a date night, take her to a very serene environment and have a heart to heart talk with her? Ask her how you are doing in this area. Ask her how you can do better. She may not open up to you if you speak to her the usual way and in the usual place. Take her to an entirely new environment and if possible, let it be a weekend with her (without the kids). Spoil her with some spa treats (if you can afford that). Find out what she likes because it’s possible that she’s my type (I enjoy being close to nature better than going to a five-star hotel and the best restaurant). Whatever it is, be sure to give her what she wants and never what you think she wants. I bet you, she will open up if you speak to her in the language she understands. When she does, please help build her up. Learn how to talk with your wife; learn how to get her to talk with you. Every woman is unique, her ways are different from the ways of your girlfriends and other women who were in your life before her. You must study her and bring out the best in her. This is your greatest and number one ministry on earth.

08116706879 (SMS only). E-mail:regalgraces@yahoo.com

Nurturing Friendship munion with Him. Should you not know Him you will never know the Truth, never truly live and never achieve your true potential. Truly all things begin and end with Him. Still we have His promise that when we seek him and seek him with all our heart we shall be found by Him – Jeremiah 29:13 A relationship with our neighbour “No man is an island” – John Donne Whether an extrovert or an introvert, we all need intimate relationships. Healthy intimate relationships. Whether it’s a relationship with your father or mother, sister or brother, wife or husband or a true friend, everyone needs a warm relationship “...for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen” – NASB (c) 1995. Especially for everyone who professes to be a Christian these words ought to be of utmost importance for we have been called to love, not only in words but in deeds also. Pleasant phrases Never abandon pleasantries for any flimsy reason. Most times, people forget all their “please”s and “thank you”s in the name of marriage or a close relationship. No time than ever has it been more important to be pleasing and respectable to one in whom your relationship is of a personal nature. Each person needs to feel needed and appreciated everyday so season your words with words and phrases that endear the heart. And in a marriage, what better place to hear such endearments than from the mouth of your spouse. Use endearments A continuation of pleasantries is the

use of endearment. In the case of a marriage relationship, don’t just pick any name; choose one that means something to the both of you. Use it, not just in special occasions but in mundane ones to. Instead of saying just “yes” in reply to his or her call, add a “dear” after the yes. Your reply would sound endearing and very importantly, it wouldn’t come off sharp or abrupt. “Dear” is a good enough endearment for a close friend. Gift Giving It is said that the gift is not as important as the thought. Generally, this is true. Sometimes, the thought is more expensive! Gift giving can be a complex predicament especially when you have very little or no information. In the corporate world, one must tread carefully in order to prevent stories that touch the heart but it is nonetheless a rewarding venture. In social circles, it is a lot less constricting and personally, I do not think people do it enough! If you were going to meet someone for the very first time and you judge it appropriate, it will do you a lot of good if you can offer a flattering gift. If your pocket isn’t deep enough, creativity can make up for so much. And when you’re shopping for a rich (maybe difficult to please) person think outside the box. A gift that might mean something to most folks could mean nothing to him or her. More so, if they have got an ego problem it might come off as an insult. Oh, don’t break the bank but to say that it is not a daunting task is an understatement. It should be the same for someone special (and not necessarily rich), dig deep and carefully; yes, they might appreciate the thought alone

but they deserve something special too. Be Gracious Nothing feels a home or relationship with peace and love more than a content and grateful attitude. Contentment is so underrated or perhaps abused for lack of proper understanding. It doesn’t mean indifference or laziness, no. It means, first of all, sincere gratitude and then diligence in making the most of what you have – it is never a complaint but always a constructive, loving (the operating word being loving) journey. So be gracious in thought and expression, treasure and nurture you closest relationships and the beauty and health of it will translate wherever you go and in whatever you lay your hands on. Image and Etiquette: As a young lady, I suffered much from inferiority and timidity. I had an unhealthy distrust of myself and God-given beauty. By God’s grace, I found answers in the Bible (especially the Songs of Solomon) which transformed me. His Word transformed me from a bitter, angry teenager to a cheerful, content, peacefilled and purposeful woman; Jesus changed me from the inside out. I have a passion for etiquette and image and I know that our outward image and our attitudes are influenced by our heart; therefore, image and etiquette is spirit, soul and body. Having been given the knowledge, experimental application and experience through His grace alone, this is what I teach. Unconventional…yes, but it remains the truth to the degree that I have understood it. For this, I make no apologies. Website: Email: www.regalgraces.com.

Saturday, May 24, 2014 | 21

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

SHORT STORY By Segun Durowaiye (08055356855) Continued from last Saturday

NKNOWN to the heavily pregnant woman, Salewa, that Bogunde had cursed her, she was really preparing for the day she would be delivered of her baby. She had bought baby kit worth several thousands of naira. Her husband, Tumi, was also in an expectant mood. He loved her with every ounce of his soul. Their relationship was a love made and perfected in heaven. Salewa and Tumi had been lovers for close to 10 years before they consummated the relationship by getting married. Throughout the period they were dating, it was purely a platonic affair. Tumi was a tall, handsome and dark-skinned young man, who was an exquisite fashion designer, while Salewa was a nurse working with St. Daniel Hospital, the only reputable hospital in Ashaka town. When a woman is naturally beautiful, like Salewa, her beauty and charm would radiate more when she is pregnant. Salewa was not the kind of woman that indulged in skin bleaching; she was naturally beautiful and lovely to behold. She had a light skin, really adorable and enchanting. And her pregnancy actually revealed a woman filled with the grace of God. The love story of Tumi and Salewa was the talk-of-town in Ashaka. Salewa was around 28 when Tumi she got married and God further cemented it by giving Salewa the fruit of the womb. Sincerely, a lot of people were happy with their love affair, while some were unhappy with the romance adventure, including Bogunde, a man who was always filled with bitterness and hatred. He hated the guts of the young couple and wished them nothing but doom and death.

Bogunde The Demon (2) The actual month of delivery for the highly expectant couple was around the corner the ninth month. Salewa had started feeling the throes of pregnancy in the second week; she couldn’t sleep that night and was rushed to the hospital by her husband. “I don’t know how I feel, Tumi,” she said, in excruciating pains. “Oh God, the pains are getting every fibre of my body. I am dying… I am dying…” she continued to scream on their way to the hospital. “It is the baby…,” Tumi said, “This is the ninth month. You will soon get over it.” For two days, Salewa was in the labour room, as doctors battled to save her life and the life of her baby. The doctors wondered what went wrong with the normal child delivery process and suggested caesarian section (CS) for Salewa on the third day. Bogunde was all the while watching the hospital scene through his magic mirror and getting happier by the minute when he noticed the confusion among the doctors and the gnawing pains Salewa was going through. For the past few days, Tumi had resorted to fasting and prayer when he realised the battle was beyond what the doctors could handle. He knew CS was a risky venture that could lead to death. “God, help me!” he thought prayerfully, “I don’t want to lose my lovely wife to the cold hands of death.” Meanwhile, Salewa was on danger list, as she was experiencing excessive bleeding. The doctors had written her off, saying there was absolutely no hope of her survival. She was just crying and shedding tears of sorrow. She said amid tears, “why not put down your knives, injections and scissors and engage in prayers for my soul… I am dying… I can feel it,” with her heart heavy with grief.

It was as if Salewa knew that the phase she was passing through at the moment was something beyond the ordinary; that she was at the gate of hell. The doctors instantly put their heads together in unison, holding arms together in one accord and started a powerful prayer session. As they chanted ‘Amen and Amen,’ the head of the medical team placed his right hand on the stomach of Salewa and uttered: “May the bleeding stop by the power of the Almighty God!” The other doctors chanted Amen and instantly, Salewa stopped bleeding and the next minute, she was delivered of twins, two boys. “The doctors screamed: “Hallelujah! Hallelujah!! Hallelujah!!!” as they burst into a victory song, thanking God for saving the life of Salewa and the safe delivery of her twins. Unfortunately, at the other end, Bogunde had become blind at the mention of God by the medical team. A thunderclap was heard during the prayer session, which struck his house and instantly blighted his sight. The whole hospital premises rejoiced at the birth of Salewa’s twins. It was a gay and merry mood. Tumi was dancing all the while and singing praises to God. He just couldn’t hide this great joy. From that day Salewa was delivered of her twins, Bogunde remained blind. The first year rolled till the fifth and Bogunde was blind and in pains. His body throughout these years was decomposing gradually. He couldn’t stand up, eat or drink anything. Maggots were equally coming out of his body. He had emaciated terribly and looked gaunt and thin, like someone afflicted with the HIV/AIDS virus. In the sixth year, Bogunde’s most-loved son, Kudeji, died in a ghastly motor accident, and

his other children died one after the other. Each time any of his children died, his eldest wife would rush to his room to tell him and he would say nothing, because he couldn’t speak. He would just nod his head thrice and shake it sideways and would remain dumb. He was in pains, really agonising and excruciating pains that he only could feel. His room was filled with an offensive stench that could suffocate a healthy person. But Bogunde refused to die as the years progressed. People wondered why he remained alive, despite the untold pains, agony and misery he was passing through. Somehow, the news got to the hearing of his closest friend, Shogunro, who he had made blind after taking his wife. Shogunro revealed to the whole town that unless the mysterious ring buried in Bogunde’s right leg was removed, he wouldn’t die. That was in the seventh year. So, the people gathered themselves and besieged Bogunde’s house and his right leg was ripped open and the mysterious ring removed. He screamed as the evil ring was dug up from his thumb. But he was motionless and suffered terrible pains, continually screaming as his heart beat reduced in palpitation. He shed tears of blood. That moment, Bogunde confessed all the evil things he had done in the past. Hundreds of people gathered to hear this horrifying and terrifying confession of a man who was a friend of the devil. Then finally, at exactly 9 p.m., Bogunde suddenly dropped dead, foaming some blackish stuff through his mouth, as death knocked for him. From that day onward, Bogunde’s residence in Ashaka became a ghost or haunted house, where nobody visited. The reigning king at the time ordered that the house be burnt the following week. Thus, it is shocking to know that the heart of man is filled with wickedness.

WORKING ACTRESS AM Omoni Oboli and I represent Naija! What a week we have experienced; more bombings, more kidnappings, more terror, little assurances, fearful expectations, the kidnapped girls still not found and to summarize it all, more Nigerians being killed. We truly are living in interesting times! Many of us have lost faith and hope in a one Nigeria, and have clearly voiced our pessimism on all social, print and electronics media. Very few actually stand out to broker solutions that would serve to unite and bind us closer together as a nation. If you listen to the news often, there’s very little that has been said to instill a sense of nationalism in the hearts of this generation of Nigerians. The other day, my husband and I were watching a movie, and we laughed at so many obvious errors in the ‘Hollywood’ movie. Maybe many other people also observe these errors, but very few voice these errors with the same venom that they do with our movies. It seems that we Nigerians take special delight in destroying anything Nigerian before it even gets to see the light of day. Look around you Nigerians! No one is applauding your criticisms or giving you points for your careful observance of your flaws. They love the fact that a potential giant is still wallowing and asleep, so that they love to feed on your weaknesses because that’s what makes them seem stronger. The idea that a black nation with so much wealth could arise out of their terrible state (which they put on themselves) to become ‘important’ in the affairs of the nations is unimaginable to many other nations of the world, and their sentiments are heightened with the help of a few of their ‘nice’ friends from Nigeria, who do nothing but rubbish the image of Nigeria at every given opportunity! I’m not a great fan of any one football team. Sorry to all those trying to place me in any team, but I love the game. But, I have come to respect a particular group of footballers, and in a sense that makes me their fan, Arsenal Fans! Wow! They went 9 years without a trophy! In those nine years, I heard all sorts of abuse under the sun against their team, their manager and their club, but they persisted! I saw them come close to clinching some trophies, but lost it, and many other times they were so far off that the fans were already looking at the next season’s fixtures so that they don’t have to dwell on their woeful outing in the current season, but they persisted! They

The Arsenal Factor

know Nigerians had it in them to be this ‘Faithful’. How come we are able to be dogmatic and downwere insulted, assaulted and disgusted by many but that didn’t deter them from hoping and praying for a miracle for their breakthrough. right stuborn opposing fans in a bid to break their spirit, but they persisted! Many called for them to change They kept on faithfully watching their team re- about the team, sides (and many of them considered it) but they ceive the trashing that they didn’t deserve, be- but we refuse to persisted! They held on to the fact that the club cause they always seemed to play so well, and give the same dedication to the was making more money than most other clubs still persisted! The few that even braved the things that matter Omoni Oboli in the 9 years of trophy drought as a way of con- move to other club sides found themselves the most, our dear soling themselves. In other words they still per- back in the fold because they couldn’t stay country, Nigeria?! sisted! I mean, how does anything or any entity away from their beloved team, Arsenal. What was it that kept them going as fans? I’m How come we are ready to destroy our own still make money when the very thing they set out to achieve with the money was not forthcom- not talking to the fans all over the world now, homegrown products without batting an eyeing? It beats me, but I understand it is their dedi- but specifically to the fans of Arsenal Football lid, which benefits us as a people, including Arsenal fans, but we are willing to give that same cation to their club. They saw the insult coming Club in Nigeria! Wow, wow, wow! I didn’t dedication to our own football clubs, movies and Nigeria in general? What I see is that the capacity to love and be true devotees is inherent in us, but we are unWILLing to put it to use when it concerns our fellow Nigerians in anything So it’s a matter of the ‘Will’. If even only the Arsenal fans commit to the things of Nigeria wholeheartedly as they already do with their beloved club, we would see a mighty change in Nigeria like we have never seen before. We would see the ripple effect of the enthusiasm of a few rubbing off on the majority so that the economic implications would be far reaching. I’m a Producer, filmmaker and an actress, but I dare to dream of the day we would use that same ‘Arsenal factor’ to so transform our fan base and monetary dedication to our movies so that what we see today would be forgotten in just a few months, not years, with that sort of dedication. I have come today to stir the hearts of all of us as a people to begin to look beyond the now, to look at the positives of Nigeria (and trust me there are many, we have just chosen not to see them) to see that what we hold our hands together to do can so impact the world, that the Nigeria, as we know it now, would be a forgotten nightmare because we would be living our dream. That the Nigeria we would see would be the one who never leaves anyone behind, because we are one nation bound in freedom, peace and unity. If it affects one Nigerian anywhere in the world, it concerns us all. #BRING BACK OUR GIRLS #STOPBOKOHARAM #GODBArsenal players jubilate after scoring a goal LESSNIGERIA

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

22 | Saturday, May 24, 2014

WOMAN

Crazy About Naija... Working Towards A New Country Born in Washington DC to a former Nigerian diplomat, Olaboludele Simoyan studied architecture in addition to obtaining two other degrees. She left her lucrative job in the insurance industry to help build Nigeria to be the8th wonder of the world. Kemi Amushan spoke with her.

T a time many are dying in pursuit of employment, Olaboludele Simoyan braved the odds and left the comfort and security of her well-paid insurance industry job to devote herself to a mission of making Nigeria the 8th wonder of the world. “I was complaining and grumbling about the poor state of things in Nigeria just like every other person until 2005 when I said, ‘No, nobody will do it for us if we don’t do it ourselves. Yes, I resigned my appointment to halt and find a solution to Nigeria’s problem. Somebody has to make the sacrifice, somebody has to pay the price and do it. If we Nigerians don’t get up and do something about Nigeria, Oyibo man won’t do it for us. Working with unwavering determination and reading close to a hundred books, I came up with a book titled, The 8th Wonder of the World – Made in Nigeria and The 8th Wonder of the World – Made in Naija,” she says. An extraordinary two-in-one book, Simoyan in it prescribed the solution to Nigeria’s problem. While the ‘Made in Nigeria’ is where we are now, with all our problems and all our grumblings, ‘Made in Naija’ is where we are going. The 8th wonder of the world, made in Naija is about the new Nigeria, with new ideologies and a new way of thinking. Creatively planned to make an impact, one has to turn the ‘Made in Nigeria’ upside down to be able to read the ‘Made in Naija.’ “I purposely planned it that way so as you turn the whole book upside down to read either the second book or the African proverbs, you start thinking of looking at your problems from different angles too. I know I don’t have all the answers but as you read mine, you may come up with your own answers and we begin to grow and multiply, with so many answers to choose from. It is a very solution-oriented book. I’m not interested in talking so much about the problem, but the many answers available,” Simoyan said. An architect by profession, Olaboludele, the daughter of former diplomat, Chief Olayinka Simoyan was born in Washington D.C. and had the privilege of living in various countries. She graduated from the University of Lagos and has three degrees. She worked at various times as an architect and subsequently, as an insurance broker before she resigned in 2004, coming up with the block buster book that she thinks contains the solution to the problem of Nigeria. “I’m 100 per cent ajebota and 100 per cent ajepako. I chose to pay the price to build the new Nigeria because there is something unique about Nigeria that even the foreigners that come to Nigeria can attest to. We are focusing too much on the negative part of our lives instead of the positive. There is job to be done quite alright but if we don’t roll up our sleeves, nobody will get the job done.” “I am building Nigeria to be the 8th wonder of the world, so I am 8th wonder personified. I am setting example of what the 8th wonder is all about and I am expecting that everyone should go all out and begin to do those things that are eighth wonder – things that are extraordinary, things that are great, things that are impressive, things that are

Simoyan fantastic and things that are exceptional,” she enthuses. She said she wrote this book to “change the mind-set of the people that making money should not be uppermost in their minds. Getting the information out there is what is uppermost in my mind. That is why I give out the soft copy free of charge for anyone from any part of the world to download and read by visiting www.naijamania.com. People think I’m crazy to put free copies of my five years sweat online and they are right – I’m crazy about Naija. I wrote the book because I was

day, you will have that money, you are still going to drive your car on the bad road that you are supposed to have fixed with the money and end up dying or losing your loved ones. So, it is a problem with the way we think, the way we see our country and the way we analyse situations. There is too much unilateral thinking – one line, one mode. There are many answers to just one problem, many solutions but we should start thinking multi-dimensionally.” Believing that many Nigerians are problemoriented, Simoyan urges all and sundry to be solution-oriented instead. “We think only of the problem and not the solution. When you are solution oriented, when you see a problem you think ‘What can I do about this? You may not get the answer immediately but in no time it will click. Because there is a saying that ‘there is no problem that can resist the act of sustained thinking.’ “Whether we like it or not, Boko-Haram is aggressively pushing what they believe in. Those of us that believe in a new Nigeria should also begin to push, purposefully, deliberately and aggressively too. All the evil and corrupt people are pushing Nigeria to a certain direction, those of us that are patriotic should begin to push aggressively in the opposite direction; pushing Nigeria on the direction we want her to go. Starting with yourself; do those little things you can to create a change in your environment and people around and you will see that when you make a demand on others to follow suit, they will, because you have set the example.” Besides giving people access the contents of the book free of charge, Simoyan is also going to schools to propagate this vision. “I’ve been to undergraduates in universities but I am focusing on the secondary school students so I could sow the seed of the new naija, the seed of the 8th wonder into their mind, into their hearts, into their consciousness and 5-10 years from now we shall be able to predict where our nation will be because people will be thinking differently. “So far, all I have been doing are with the support of friends and families; those who believe in me. And that is why I have not gotten the kind of reach I envision. I pray for sponsors that could help us stock our secondary school libraries with this book. I don’t want students to buy the books. I want to give it to them so that it will send a message to them that it is not about money making but about you becoming a new Nigerian, playing the part that you have to play. I plan to have workshops with 100 students’ leaders in each school. The student leaders will pass the message to others,” she said. In one of her many acts of patriotism, Simoyan is inspiring the Super Eagles to bring back the World Cup in her usual extraordinary way. It is an 8th wonder hairstyle indeed! “I am doing a practical demonstration of what the 8th wonder is all about. I am inspiring the Super Eagles to bring the World Cup back to Nigeria. I am also inspiring Nigerians to inspire the Eagles. I have this extraordinary hairstyle, which is first among the extraordinary world cup hairstyles and other things that I’m going to be doing to inspire the Super Eagles. I call it Keshi Kick off Right! You can call it an 8th wonder hairstyle. When you inspire people, an average person does what ordinarily he pregnant with something and God gave me couldn’t do. the ability to write it.” “Hopefully, I will display all the other ideas Talking about the problem with Nigeria, that I have as a build up to the world cup if I Simoyan says it is multidimensional. “If we sell more of my books or get sponsorship. put all of our problems in one basket and For now, this is what I can afford with my you only have one problem to pick and shoestring budget. We are coming up with solve, and if you solve that problem, it has a these extraordinary ideas so that people will ripple and far-reaching effect on all the now copy us at the world cup, instead of us other problems, which problem will you always copying them. Bringing the world pick and solve?’ I’ll pick the mindset probcup home will be an 8th wonder and when lem. that happens, Nigerians will begin to believe “Somebody that steals millions of naira is that we can do all things; we can change our corrupt? There is something wrong with the country positively. Let us all ensure we play way he is thinking because at the end of the our parts in inspiring the Eagles to victory.”

TheGuardian

Saturday, May 24, 2014 | 23

www.ngrguardiannews.com

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Weekend By Shaibu Husseini IGERIA’S Fredrick Leonard, Kanayo O. N Kanayo, Clarion Chukwurah, Uche JomboRodriquez, Monalisa Chinda, Chioma Chukwuka-Akpotha and Ghana’s Majid Michel, Adjatey Anang and Joselyn Dumas are among some of the continents screen celebrities who will be battling for honours at the 10th edition of the Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) holding this evening in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital. The government and people of Bayelsa have since the inception of the AMAA played host to what is unarguably the continents biggest reward system for filmmakers. There are 26 categories in all, but the award for best actor and best actress, as well as best films are usually the most coveted. Twelve nominees, all of them potential winners, are in the race, but only two will emerge the continental leading actor and actress today. Here is a clip on some of the leading onscreen personalities seeking a confirmation of their rating on the continental acting turf. Majid Michel- Brother’s Keeper POPULAR actor, Majid Michel, is not new to awards and nominations, especially at the AMAA. He has been nominated several times as leading actor category and only won the award in 2012, the same year Rita Dominic emerged best actress. The Ghanaian actor of mixed parentage returns to the nomination table this year on the strength of his beatific performance as a twin in Okey Ezeugu’s Brother’s Keepers, directed by Ikechukwu Onyeka. If Majid, who is simply called Shaker, gets the award today, it will be double for the star of Somewhere in Africa and the winning will also reconfirm his rating as a leading actor in the continent. Joseph Benjamin- Murder At Prime Suites KOGI-born actor and co-host of the reality television show, MTN Project Fame West Africa, is in nomination for the leading actor’s crest of the AMAA. His role as a detective in the movie, Murder at Prime Suites, is what earned him a nomination. A leading man, Joseph has been having a good run on the movie turf, having proven in some critically acclaimed works, like Tango With Me, Mr. and Mrs. and lately Kayode Adeboye Paul’s Married, but Living Single that he is an actor that can be relied upon. If Joseph wins, he will be admitted into the club of the continent’s leading men. Mothusi Magano- Of Good Report BORN in South Africa, Mothusi Magano is best known for his starring role as Charles “Mingus” Khathi in the SABC3 drama series, The Lab. But it is Magano’s commendable portrayal of a school paranormal teacher in Jamil Quebeka’s stunning movie, Of Good Report that earned him a nomination at the AMAA. An actor of vast credit, Magano has featured in a number of award-winning films, including Hotel Rwanda and Tsotsi (Oscar Winner for Best Foreign Film). Magano, who has also acted in numerous theatre productions, including A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Romeo and Juliet, Bread and Butter and The Coloured Museum, needs today’s win to have his name written on the list of the continent’s leading men. Lynda Sokholu- Forgotten Kingdom

CELEBR ITY

Screen ‘Stars’ In Yenagoa For AMAA 2014

SOUTH African actress, Linda Sokhulu, was nominated for her role in Forgotten Kingdom, a movie in contention in the major categories of the award, including best film and best di-

rector. Best known for her role as vibrant, sassy exhooker, Cleo Khuzwayo, on the SABC1 soap, Gen-

CelebrityExtra and more….

Uche Jombo-Rodriquez Done With A Long Night TAR actress, Uche Jombo-Ro- movie an interesting one. groups of people to hold the industry Sherdriguez, has concluded work on “I think Uche has done well for her- to ransom.” 14th independent movie, A Long self. She started out as one of the Night. The movie, which parades stars, like Julius Agwu, Van Vicker, Bayray Mcwizu and Dayo Amusa, tells the story of three sisters held hostage over a night. Two of the leading actors- Agwu and Vicker- were full of praise for JomboRodriguez. According to Agwu: “The simplicity of the story and the way intriguing plots were woven together will make this

fringe actresses (waka pass) and became an elite actress over time, and now she is a major movie producer, providing employment and contributing her quota to the movie industry. I am impressed.” For Vicker: “Uche has earned her respect by creating employment opportunities for the industry. “In Ghana, this is one of the things I advocate; we need more and more people, like Uche, to spring up, so as to make it impossible for some small

Jombo-Rodriguez disclosed that the movie would not be released until next year. “I have movies to be released this year already, and this one is part of the two movies I have already shot for 2015. “So far, so good. We have shot 14 movies from Uche Jombo studios,” she said. She made her screen debut in 1999 in Visa to Hell and since then, she has had over 100 movies to her credit. As a screenwriter, Jombo-Rodriguez has written and co-written several

movies, including The Celebrity, Games Men Play and A Time to Love. She went on to produce her own m o v i e s , including Nollywood Hustlers; A Mother’s Fight; My life, My Damage; Under Your Skin; and Oge’s Sister, among others.

erations, Sokhulu is also better known for her role as Nikiwe Sibeko on SABC3 soap Isidingo. An alumnus of the Natal Playhouse, Sokhulu needs today’s winning to earn a rating on the continent’s screen acting turf. Chioma Chukwuka-Akpotha- Accident POPULAR Nollywood actress, Chioma ChukwukaAkpotha, is in nomination for the AMAA leading actress crest for her performance in Teco Benson’s Accident. The Oraifite, Anambra State-born actress of Dry My Tears, Bended Knees and Painful World, among other hit titles, won the AMAA for leading actress in 2006. So, if she wins today, it will be double for the married actress, who is regarded for the ease with which she bumps into roles. Clarion Chukwurah- Apaye CLEARLY one of the continent’s biggest female movie stars, who has not only been consistent, but has also been having a pronounced run in the acting skies, the iconoclastic diva, Clarion Nneka Oluwatoyin Chukwurah, is in nomination for the leading actress crest. The warm-hearted superstar was nominated for her role as Apaye in the movie of same title, directed by Desmond Elliot. A disarmingly humble, elegant actress, mother and charity worker, Clarion, who has received countless awards, including a FESPACO award for best actress, needs today’s winning to simply reaffirm her position as one of the distinguished actors of the continent. Joselyn Dumas- Northern Affairs HAILED as the new queen of television show, Joselyn Dumas was born, raised and had her early education in Ghana. She also studied in the United States (US), but returned to Accra a few years ago and has been in and around entertainment circles. Host of the MNET television show @ Home With Joselyn Dumas, the pretty and hardworking actress was nominated for her performance in Liela Djansi’s movie, Northern Affairs. Joselyn needs this win today to announce her grand entry onto the continents screen acting turf. Kanayo O. Kanayo- Apaye ANAYOModestus Onyekwere, popularly known as KOK (Kanayo O. Kanayo), is a leading Nigerian actor. KOK, who made his debut in 1992 as a leading actor (Chief Omego) in the phenomenal Nollywood movie, Living in Bondage, won the AMAA as leading actor in 2008 and received a special recognition award last year. So, he is certainly not a new comer to awards and nominations. He was nominated for his performance in Desmond Elliot’s Apaye. The actors’ actor of vast credit, who outside acting enjoys a lucrative past-time as event compere, politician and communication consultant, has appeared in over 250 movies and equally garnered awards from home and abroad, including the Afro-Hollywood Award and ZAFAA Award. A Member of the Federal Republic (MFR) and Chairman of the Governing Board of the National Institute of Hospitality and Tourism Studies (NIHOTOURS), KOK needs today’s win to simply re-affirm his position as a leading actor in the continent. OTHER nominees of the leading actor and actress category include Uche Jombo-Rodriquez, Monalisa Chinda and Daniella Okeke (Lagos Cougars), Uche Nnadili (B for Boy), Adjatey Anang (Potomanto) and Zengo Mgqobe (Forgotten Kingdom).

24 | Saturday, May 24, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

GARDENING With Sereba Agiobu-Kemmer Making Good Soil Out Of Bad:

sereba.agiobu.kemmer@ngrguardiannews.com

HAT’S So Important About The Soil? W SOIL is arguably the most important component in a successful garden. Granted, soil is not the fun part of gardening, but it is the foundation of a great garden. One of the tenets in organic gardening is, “feed the soil and let the soil feed the plant.” It is really common sense. Plants get water, air and nutrients from the soil. Starting a new garden with really great soil will save you time and money in the long run, both in work and replacement plants. If your garden is already planted, you can still give it a boost by side-dressing and mulching and rich organic matter. Organic Matter ORGANIC matter does many wonderful things for a garden, and it is just silly not to take advantage of it. There would be no organic gardening without organic matter. Decaying organic matter is how plants are fed in nature. Unfortunately, we have become very tidy landscapers and tend to remove any dead plant material that falls onto our lawns. It would be so much more beneficial to allow the fallen leaves to blow off into the bushes, where they will not only feed the soil, but also prevent erosion and mulch the soil. Organic matter, added to garden soil, improves the soil structure and feeds the microorganisms and insects. Soil is full of living organisms that help maintain the balance needed to maintain soil health. Building healthy soil is an ongoing process, because plants can deplete the nutrients in the soil as they grow. Adding organic matter will help replenish or “feed the soil.” Organic fertilizers, made from plant, animal or mineral sources, release their nutrients slowly, which means that plants can feed as they need to and there is no sudden change in the make-up of the soil that might harm the microbial activity. What Is Good Garden Soil? SOIL is generally evaluated on fertility and texture. Fertility is a combination of essential nutrients and good pH that makes these nutrients available to the plants. Texture refers to the size of the soil particles and their cohesiveness. A good garden soil will have a friable texture that allows it to hold and drain water and a good soil pH. Just like people, plants need certain nutrients to grow well and fend off disease. Plants need 16 elements for healthy growth, carbon, hydrogen and oxygen that are obtained from water and the air. The remaining elements can only be accessed by plants in mineral form and must be in the soil. Soil fertility refers to the amount of these elements in the soil. Nutrients THE primary nutrients used by plants are nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Organic fertilizers can be made from plant, animal or mineral sources and are basically returning what was taken from the soil. They are released slowly, which means that plants can feed as they need to, and there is no sudden change in the make up of the soil that might harm the microbial activity. Soil Fertility And Growing Plants SOIL fertility is hard to measure, but you can let your plants tell you if your soil is at least in a good range. Healthy, lush and pest free plants are happy with their soil fertility. Plants that are struggling, lanky, discoloured or stunted are asking for a better soil fertility. How Do You Know You Have Bad Soil YOU can know for sure by having your soil tested. A quick guess of your soil’s health can be made by looking at your plant. If they are thriving, don’t fix what isn’t broken. If your plants are languishing, yellowing or otherwise looking sickly or you feel like you are forever feeding them, it would be worth testing your soil. pH A LOT is made of soil pH. In layman’s terms, pH is a measure of the soil alkalinity. The scale goes from 1.0 to 14.0, with 7.0 being neutral. The lower the numbers goes from 7.0, the more acidic the soil. The higher they go above 7.0, the more alkaline. The reason soil pH matters is that nutrients in the soil are only available to plants if the soil pH is within a certain range. Many plants like a pH in the low acid to neutral range (6.2-6.8), but that is not true for all plants. Rhododendron, heathers, lilacs and clematis will thrive in alkaline or even chalky soil. The only sure way to know where your soil’s pH falls is to have it tested. Keep in mind that it takes time to alter soil pH and your soil pH will tend to revert to its old pH over time, necessitating repeated treatment. It is better to garden cooperatively with nature. Select plants that are suited to your site conditions and that will be happy with their growing conditions and will contribute to a healthy garden climate. Making Good Soil IF your pH is off, you will need a recommendation for adding lime to raise the alkalinity or sulphur to lower the soil pH. This is easy enough to do and should be done in stages, so as not to shock the plants. Generally, it is recommended that you not add more than five pounds of lime or sulphur per 100sq ft of existing garden. If you were wise enough to test your soil before putting in a garden or lawn, go ahead and dump in the whole recommended amount. Adding Nutrients

Landscape planting with organic mulch from untreated wood chips.

Compost bin with its decaying organic contents

New Raised bed from amended soil THE three primary nutrients used by plants are nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Nitrogen is largely responsible for healthy foliage and stem growth. In the soil, nitrogen is made available to plants by nitrogen-fixing bacteria that converts nitrogen into nitrates, a form plants can use. Nitrogen does not remain in the soil for long; it gets used up by the plants and by decaying matter in the soil. It is also water-soluble and can wash out of the soil rather quickly. Even so, an excess of nitrogen will cause a lot of foliage growth at the expense of flowers and fruits. Phosphorus is very important for root growth. Flowering bulbs and root crops can always use some phosphorus. That is why bone meal is often recommended for bulb plant-

Fallen leaves left on the ground to feed the soil as in Nature

Tropical garden with all the complement of a swimming pool BBQ and alfresco Diner ing and crucial for producing flowers and you will sometimes see fertilizers high in phosphorous content advertised as flower boosters. Potassium is needed for overall plant health. It keeps plant growing and aids their immune systems. Like nitrogen, potassium is also water-soluble and needs to be replenished from time to time. Besides the three primary nutrients, there are several trace elements (about 16) that are necessary for good plant health, like calcium, magnesium, zinc, molybdenum, etc. If you find you need to add nutrients to your soil, you will have the choice of organic or inorganic. Inorganic fertilizer has some pluses in its favour. It is cheaper than organic fertilizer and acts more quickly. However, it does nothing for the soil and in some cases, actual-

WEEKENDBEATS /36

SHOWBLAST /34

Nigeria’s Toyosi Akelere Batlles Other Young African Leaders for MTV Honour

25 Years After, DJ Jimmy Jatt Rolls Drums

MONDAYS–FRIDAYS IN THE GUARDIAN

SATURDAY, May 24, 2014

20-Year Old Nigerian, Others Emerges Best Student At U.S. University differences in the spelling of certain words and adjust to a new metric system. These NITED States First Lady, constituted challenges but I Michelle Obama, and was able to overcome them other dignitaries were by putting in extra time to among those that celebrated study. I also faced some diffi20-year-old Nigerian girl, culties due to the difference Merrilyn Akpapuna, who in the education system. In emerged the overall best Nigeria, the teaching system graduating student at the follows the British pattern, Dillard University, New which is different from the Orleans, United States. system in the United States.” The Psychology graduate “However, despite these who obtained the highest challenges, my cumulative academic honour Summa grade point average is Cum Laude (first class), was 4.0/4.0. In other words, I on the same podium with made an A in every course I the wife of the American took during my four-year president at the institution’s valedictorian, during its convocation. Also, three other Nigerians, Victor Ogburie, Stephen Igwe, and Emole Anyadimgba, joined Akpapuna in the league of the best graduating students at the university. The three salutatorians all made a first class in their chosen disciplines. Akpapuna, who also won other awards for highest academic achievements for the College of Arts, Sciences and College of General Studies, The crème of the entertainment said that her success in the industry converged on the Shell hall 155 years old ivory tower was of MUSON Centre on Sunday to revel not without some chalin the first edition of The Chronicles lenges. She said, “When I first got of Ushbebe which was organised by to Dillard, I had to learn the Priderock Entertainment.

Stories By Falaiye Kola Oluwaseun

Solidstar

Sean tizzle

study in the university. My stay in the US and particularly in the university was not all about academic work, I took time out for my social life and made a great effort to ensure that my spiritual life did not suffer,” she added. According to Akpapuna, she participated not just in student politics but also in other activities that affected humanity positively. “I was also a student activist and a leader. I was the President of the African World Network Organisation and Lead Fellow of the Melton Foundation,” she said.

Business Etiquette /36

COEASU Strike Update: Kwara Colleges Of Education Workers Suspend Strike TRIKING workers at the three SEducation Kwara State owned Colleges of has suspended their six-

TWO WORDS /26

Take It Powered by POISE

CAREER /27

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week industrial action called by Committee of Unions of Tertiary Institutions (CUTI). The announcement for the strike suspension was made by the Chairman of the Committee, Malam Shehu Sanni, at the end of the congress of the union held at the College of Education, Ilorin. According to Sanni, the strike has been suspended for three weeks to allow for negotiations between the union and the state government, adding that all members of the three unions under CUTI have been directed to return to work.

“The members of the College of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU), Non Academic Staff Union (NASU) and Senior Staff Union of Colleges of Education in Nigeria (SSUCOEN) met to take the decision,” he said. He stated that the union decided to suspend the six-week strike due to the intervention of Senator Bukola Saraki and Global Peace Movement, and added that the senator appealed to unions to go back to work to allow for negotiation and promised that nobody would be victimized as a result of the strike.

Make A Good First Impression CARTOON SERIES /35

THE CURSED

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

26 Saturday, May 24, 2014

CAMPUS

YOUTHMAGAZINE

ASUU-FUTO Backs Management In Battle Against Land Encroachment

NECO Set To Curb Exams Fraud

HE Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO) Branch has expressed its solidarity with the university management in its battle against the unscrupulous activities of some indigenes of host communities on encroachment of the institution’s land. The Vice Chairman of ASUU in the school, Engr. Dr K. N. Nwaigwe, during a solidarity visit to the Vice Chancellor, frowned at the crisis caused by the indigenes of host community which led to destruction of university’s properties worth millions of naira as well as buildings under construction at the new FUTO staff quarters. Commending the Union, the VC, Prof Chigozie C. Asiabaka, thanked them for their solidarity visit, and stressed that the support was encouraging in the fight against encroachment on the University’s land. He lamented the wanton destruction of the university properties by indigenes of Umuanunu Obinze, Umuchima, and Ihiagwa communities.

tions papers,” he said. Okpala explained that the Council members HE National Examinations Council (NECO) of staff are well orientated and know that has said it will take adequate measures to there are no go areas, and when they misbesafeguard the credibility of its certificate. have, there is no amount of pleading that This was made by the Registrar of Council, would let them off the hook. “There is no Promise Okpala, in Abuja. amount of intervention from any quarters He stated that fraud reduces the value that can make us go back on our decision, our attached to our certificates and so we make members of staff are fully aware of this,” he efforts to ensure that area is effectively said. checked. “To this development, the council He stated that fraudulent activities by memhas put in place new strategies, including bers of staff are low in view of many other dischecks and balances to tackle fraud associat- ciplinary measures introduced by the Council, ed with the sensitive materials such as ques- adding that they are closing every loophole to

Stories By Falaiye Kola Oluwaseun

ensure the attainment of global standards. According to him, the Council’s biggest battle still remains localised leakage in examination centres, but we have put in place machinery that ensures we are always a step ahead of them. “We are dealing decisively with localised fraud which is what is required to practically eliminate high-scale fraud.” He advised Nigerians not to fall into the traps of those that may claim to be in possession of the Council’s materials such as question papers before examinations, as they are swindlers who are taking advantage of desperate people.

Change The Funding Pattern Of Government Universities — UNILAG VC HE Vice-Chancellor of University of Lagos, Prof. T Rahamon Bello, have said that the current system of funding the nation’s ivory towers does not promote efficiency, pro-activeness, scholarship and best practices. He suggested that government should consider payment of tuition fees for university students rather than subvention. “If this is done, it will change the situation and make the universities live up to their mandates with less disruption to academic calendars,” he said. He added, “The amount of money that the Nigerian government devotes to education, which is lower than 26 per cent of its expenditure as recommended by UNESCO, explains in part, the little progress that has been made in this sector since 1990. “Lack of adequate financing has been identified as the greatest problem facing education development in Nigeria. And it’s further compounded by the growing number of students that enroll annually in our universities, leading to many recurring problems in the system over the years. Institutional deterioration and salary erosion during the past decade have prompted substantial brain drain of academic staff and impeded new staff recruitment,” he stated.

Director Business Segment, Etisalat Nigeria, Lucas Dada; Deputy Director, Enterprise Development Centre, Pan-Atlantic University, Mrs. Nneka Okekearu; Acting Chief Executive Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Matthew Willsher; Idongesit Umoh, one of the Top 10 Winners Etisalat EasyBusiness Millionaire, and Director, Enterprise Development Centre, Pan-Atlantic University, Peter Bankole at the Etisalat EasyBusiness Millionaire Hunt Grand Finale held at The Wheatbaker Hotel, Ikoyi, Lagos.

TWO WORDS

uki@poisenigeria.org,

wondered if I belonged to that seat. I did not feel that I was doing anyone a favor, even though I was still earning the same NYSC pay until I was retained after my NYSC. Some of us spend so much waiting for people to validate us. Stop waiting to be validated by convention when your experiences have validated you already. Your ability to spot and fill any need is more important than a person’s ability to spot your ability. Some of us run even when an opportunity is presented to us. That is because in our own secret corner we run away from challenges rather than embracing and overcoming them. Solving problems that no one knows about, builds your confidence to solve the ones that will make you a star. Some of us want to be paid, rewarded or recognized before we add value in a bigger way than we are doing, what we don’t realize is this: The only way for people to see your value is when you express it by solving problems. There are three things I learnt from my NYSC/First Job experience: No one will tell you that you are not qualified -The Endto do a job that you are already excelling at. TOOK my first job after NYSC. Half way through Challenges are the things that separate warmy service year, the person I was directly riors from mere men. reporting to had left the organisation. I was sur- If an opportunity opens up, don’t expect that prised to come to work one morning and meet people will immediately think of nominating his empty chair. He was the IT Helpdesk Officer. you for it. If you want it… My first and most pressing thought was, “What will happen to all the people that will call the TAKE IT help desk this morning”. I was so bothered that I The people around you may not know what you did not wait to find out if a replacement had are made of, but one day a giant will pass by and been hired or not. I sat on his desk and started everyone will be scared. Will you be ready to Take attending to the support calls. For the first few It? If you have any questions about how to take days I kept on thinking someone would tell me I opportunities or prepare yourself for one, let’s was not qualified enough or that I didn’t have discuss it on the Poise’ Graduate Finishing the required experience but from that day on I Academy Blog on Monday. Post a comment on became the Helpdesk Officer and no one ever Poisegfs.blogspot.com

Experience is the best teacher, but the tuition fee is very high. I am Uki Dare, C.E.O of Poise’ Graduate Finishing Academy, mother of two and wife of one. I will share with you lessons I have learnt from my experiences around transforming from a young lady with big dreams to a young C.E.O with massive goals. I won’t bore you with long prose and philosophical arguments I promise to be real and answer all your questions in just TWO WORDS.

Uki Dare

Take It

O you feel you are being over looked for something you deserve? Maybe it’s a promotion, a reward or a thank you. It might even be a leadership position that you feel you should have been nominated for. If there is a promotion or leadership position that you believe you are qualified for, I have two words for you…. Take It. Just like David did. There was a great hunter named David… David didn’t actually set out trying to be a hunter oh. He was a shepherd. He only killed animals in the course of doing his job. As a shepherd, David’s main concern was taking care of his sheep, keeping them healthy and fed, caring for them regularly and guiding them home. But you see, one fateful day, there was a lion threatening to affect his job by killing his sheep. Killing lions was the job of a hunter, so the situation on ground meant that David needed a hunter in order to be able to do his job. There was no hunter around to do it, so David took the job in order to do his job as a shepherd. …That’s how David became a hunter. Interestingly, everybody still saw David as a

shepherd, even though had killed a lion and a bear. David had developed the skills of a hunter, even though no one knew it or recognized it. Some years later… There was as a great warrior named David… Oh yes, the same one which was a shepherd and a hunter, then become a warrior. He didn’t mean to become a warrior oh. He was only being a good citizen. His dad asked him to go and give his brothers food at the battle front and on his way, he heard the horrible voice of giant threatening to destroy his home and people. The shepherd in David couldn’t ‘do nothing’. He said to himself, “Surely this is the job of a warrior.” He looked around for one, but there was none. They were all too afraid. No one offered David the job to be a warrior but once again, he couldn’t just sit by. He considered his past experiences, his faith and his strengths: and when David realized that he had everything it took to defeat the giant and save his people, he didn’t wait for someone to offer him the job of a warrior. He took it. …That was how David became a warrior. There was a King named David…But that is a story for another day

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28 Saturday, May 24, 2014

JOBS & CAREERS

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JOBS & CAREERS

30 Saturday, May 24, 2014

JOBS & CAREERS

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FROM THE DESK OF THE CEO

National Development Strategy Series

NICHOLAS OKOYE, Founder EMPOWER NIGERIA Initiative,

PILLAR 3 SYSTEMS, STRUCTURE AND INFRASTRUCTURE PAPER 4

Remodeling the Nigerian System

N paper 1,2 and 3 of the Systems, Structure Ichallenges and Infrastructure I have talked about the to the Nigerian System. I pointed out that Religion and Culture has the most effect on our way of life and the two are sometimes mutually exclusive and they do tend to undermine the progress of a viable political system and structure, especially as the case is with Nigeria. Here in most cases our Leaders would rather impose their religious beliefs on the people irrespective of the conflict that it would cause in the long term. The Nigerian System has become known for inefficiency, corruption poor service, no maintenance and so on. Whereas we do have quite a number of hard working and intelligent Nigerian people, they tend not to direct their power towards fixing Nigeria, I wonder why? So Nigeria continues to drift. Nothing demonstrates this scenario more than the recent Global campaign that has ignited the World of social media, “#BringBackOurGirls”. The Nigerian Government was able to get the World to come over to Abuja to experience Nigeria emerging as a true economic Power house, by hosting of the World Economic Forum for Africa, but the entire time leading up to and even during the conference, the World Press and even the Nigerian press was focused on the story of the over 200 kidnapped girls that have been taken by terrorists in the Northeastern part of the country. And that has become our experience. If only the Federal and State Government Agencies involved had given more attention to the kidnapping of our girls prior to the World getting involved the international Press may have been more forgiving of Nigeria. Well the international Press, and the World came down hard on us. I happen to be in the United States as I write this column and believe me when I say that the Nigerian Girl Kidnapping issue is currently the biggest story in the United States this week, every local Television station, every radio talk show, every Taxi Driver, Hotel door man, restaurant host, waiter, every phone in program, every newspaper from the Wall Street Journal to the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Boston Globe you name it, Hollywood, Academia, the United States Senate, Congressmen, President Obama and Mitchel Obama and even Hillary Clinton the most probable next President of the United States, are all talking about Nigeria and the campaign to bring back our girls. It was quite overwhelming. And I will not lie to you, they have not been very complementary about our Government, our Political Leaders and our Nigerian System. In fact the New York Times in its editorial said in not these few words that Nigeria is just another African disappointment. Hillary Clinton said the Nigerian Government has a responsibility to secure the release of the girls and tackle this constant murder in the North East, she said more uncomplimentary remarks about our Government, which I do not care to repeat here. And before our Politicians start to

making money for themselves and are not interested in creating wealth for our Nation or its citizens. Our institutions will never be able to live up to expectations and sooner or later there will be an anti-climax, in which we will all pay dearly for not making any attempt to change this bogus, outdated and retrogressive system. And that anti-climax is coming sooner rather than later. In the United States Nigerian doctors are some of the most respected professionals in medicine, this used to be a position reserved only for the Indians but Nigerians have proved themselves over time. And the hospitals in the United States have been able to separate the dedicated hard working Nigerian Doctor from the clumsy, misdirected, unproductive Nigerian Nation. So we need to learn from the dedication of our Nigerians in Diaspora and find out how they have gained the respect of the international community by simply doing their jobs. What is really behind the failed Nigerian System? I did say we have a culture that badly needs updating, I have also said in the past that many of our religious Leaders had a strangle hold on our Political establishment, but there is more. There is the insatiable appetite for money, amongst our Leaders, our Citizens and now even our youths. I do not know when and where this worship of Money in Nigeria started but it has destroyed the fabric of forward thinking and everybody including the young children are thinking about when and where they will hit the next million, Mitchell Obama the first Lady of the United States has demonstrated a commitment to the kidnapped Nigerian school without having to work for it off course. So it girls. In her Mother’s day address she made it clear the mothers of the United States are with the Nigerian mothers dur- means that in order for us to build a new ing this trying time of Boko Haram insurgency. Nigerian system we need new Nigerian Values. A value is what people care about, and if you care about something strong enough and you value it you will imbibe it and it will become get defensive as they always do, I will like to What is a system by the way? Well a system is your system. We presently care about money a remind them it is not really about the simply a way of doing things. Everything is a lot and so everybody is chasing after it without #BringBackOurGirls campaign, NO, it is more system, the way you read your books is a syscaring how they get it or how it comes. And about our Nigerian System, which is driving tem, the way you drive your car is a system, since society as a whole is ready to give you the more and more people into poverty, and cre- the way you hire, fire and train your employating desperate and dangerous young people ees is a system, the way you get promoted, get titles, the honorary degrees, the awards once you get the money, you will never see the need willing to murder, and unleash havoc on their compensated and get rewarded is a system. to change, we are in a vicious circle. fellow citizens. This campaign was just one We have structural and political systems for more example for the World to see how our Nations, organizational and cultural systems Getting a New Nigerian System will take a lot Leaders can handle and manage a crisis. The for corporations and information systems for of work but it can be done. We can start from true test of Leadership is not when things are Corporations, Nations and Individuals. So for the top work directly with the bottom and then work our way back up to the top again. going well but when things are seriously chal- Nigeria and Nigerians we must find a way to This means that we need to go down to the lenged and you need to react with the best change our National system so that we can children in primary and secondary school. The possible strategies that will provide solutions build a Power House for future generations, at the same time defend your integrity. So there is little that can be done to save the pres- President, the Governors and the Local Government Chairman and their counterparts once again we have missed the bus, we could ent generation it’s all about the future now. in the Private Sector such as Executives of have ceased the moment of the World The present Nigeria System is NOT sustainEconomic Forum and really demonstrated a able. It throws up poorly trained and ill moti- major Corporations, successful Entrepreneurs, all need to volunteer their time to taking on Nigeria rising, but we failed as we were over vated Leaders, who in turn will focus only on students in a school nearby where we can talk shadowed by the about values and the rebuilding of the calamity of the Nigerian State. We need a new ideology, a new insurgency, value system and a new direction and we need which is by the to sell this to our children before it’s too late. way populated Once we do this we can then work with the by not more rank and file of workers in the private and pubthan a few hunlic sector. This must be done if we are going to dred rag tag get Nigeria back on track. You can invest bilfighters, and lions in building a new house, but if you built their small numthe house in the wrong area and a land slide or bers are really earth quake comes, your house is gone no matdoing damage to ter how much you spent on it. That is the chalNigeria and its lenge Nigeria is facing, again the billions we position in the spent on the hosting of the World Economic World. Forum in Abuja clearly shows that if you do A New Nigerian not build on the right foundation all your System money and efforts at promoting Nigeria will How do we amount to nothing. We did not respond to the change our kidnapping of our girls in the way the World System and repoexpected us to, so the very week of the World sition our Nation Economic Forum in which the World press for sustainable could have been taking about a new Nigeria development? rising in a positive light was all lost due to the rise of the #BringBackOurGirls campaign, which put more focus on what we did not do as against what we have been able to achieve. The World press was focused on the girls and not the World Economic Forum and so that is once again for Nigeria, an unfortunate relay of P.Diddy joins the campaign to bring back our girls. Giving the Nigerian insurgency a Global STRATEGY. face.

32 Saturday, May 24, 2014

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EMPOWERNIGERIA GUIDE TO PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

YOUTHMAGAZINE CASE STUDY

GLOBAL ENTREPRENEURAL LEADER

By Nicholas Okoye

nokoye@empowernigeria.com

STRATEGY UR Journey will cover the perO sonal strategy for Professionals, business people and Political Leaders over the next week months. I will provide you with the strategy for Peak Performance and success which in turn will give you the money you deserve. You can get rich by positioning yourself and driving up your creativity. As I have always said getting rich is about creating value through creativity and innovation and not the sad way in which wealth is promoted in political circles in Nigeria. My audience are the professionals, entrepreneurs and businesspeople who want to play on the global stage, together we will define the path for greatness. Personal Strategy In order to define your personal strategy we have to define what your purpose in life is. In Nigeria many people tend to limit their purpose in life to the need to make money, be rich or wealthy. However that is a lame definition of purpose and that is what fuels the Nigerian way of life which the rest of the World sees as a largely corrupt society. Your Personal Strategy will include your overall life journey, where you have been where you are going ad how you intent to get there. In developing your personal Strategy we must go through the following a. Determination b. Positioning c. Connecting d. Excursion Determination To determine what should be your purpose in life you have understand your true passion. What excites you? What would you do for free? What would you rather be doing in place of what you are doing now? If you love educating people then maybe you should be a teacher, or even own a school or a University. If you love numbers then you should be involved in the finance industry as an investment banker, financial analyst or asset manager, or if you have the means or you can create the means then you should own a bank. Whatever you decide it should be something you are passionate about. If you have gone far in your career.

ARTHUR BLANK: RTHUR Blank was born to a Jewish family, in Flushing, New York. Blank graduated from Stuyvesant High School in New York City and went on to attend Babson College, where he graduated in three years in 1963 with a B.S. degree in Business Administration and accounting. He also received an honorary degree from Furman University, where the Falcons held training camp until 2005. After graduating from Babson College, Blank was hired by Arthur Young and Company, where he was a senior accountant. He later joined the Daylin Corporation, where he rose to become president of Elliott's Drug Stores/Stripe Discount Stores, a division of Daylin. When Daylin decided to sell off that division, Blank moved to another division, Handy Dan Home Improvement Centers. Bernard Marcus was CEO of Handy Dan and Blank was vice president of finance when both were fired in 1978 as part of an internal power struggle. In 1978, Blank co-founded Home Depot with Marcus. New York investment banker Ken Langone assembled the initial group of investors. The store revolutionized the home improvement business with its warehouse concept and Blank and Marcus became billionaires as a result. Blank spent 19 years as the company's president before succeeding Marcus as CEO. Blank retired from the company in 2001 as co-chairman. In February 2002, Blank purchased the Atlanta Falcons franchise in the National Football League from owner Taylor Smith, the son of team founder Rankin M. Smith, Sr., who took over the team after the elder Smith's death. In September 2004, he bought the Arena Football League franchise, the Georgia Force; he moved the team back to the city of Atlanta after it had spent several years in suburban Gwinnett County. Blank has expressed serious interest in

purchasing other Atlanta franchises. In early 2006, he temporarily withdrew from contention as a potential buyer of the Major League Baseball team Atlanta Braves. Some months later, Blank re-entered serious talks with Time Warner and a report indicated that a sale was imminent. However, in February 2007, the Braves completed the sale of the team to Liberty Media. Blank has also spoke of purchasing an expansion franchise in Major League Soccer. Atlanta is currently being considered for MLS expansion. Blank is the Chairman, President, and CEO of AMB Group, LLC, and chairman of The Arthur Blank Family Foundation. He serves on the Board of Trustees of Emory University and the boards of Staples and Cox Enterprises. He is divorced and has six children and three grandchildren. As of September 17, 2008, his net worth was estimated at $1.6 billion. In 2011, Blank was the recipient of the Freeing Voices, Changing Lives award from the American Institute for Stuttering. Blank was inducted into the Junior Achievement U.S. Business Hall of Fame in 2006, and in 2005 he was named National Entrepreneur of the Year by Ernst & Young LLP. In 2003, for the second time in three years, Blank was named Georgia's Most Respected CEO by Georgia Trend magazine. He also owns Mountain Sky Guest Ranch in Emigrant, Montana; Atlanta Falcons Physical Therapy Centers; and PGA TOUR Superstores.

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SHOWBLAST

YOUTHMAGAZINE

Bantu

Diana

Bakare

Vocal Slender

Soaking Up Afropolitan Vibes At Freedom Park By Chuks Nwanne ROM a humble beginning last year, AfropoliFholds tan Vibes, a monthly live music gig, which at the Freedom Park, Marina, Lagos, has grown into a sort of movement, with both locals and expatriates in attendance. Gradually, the music project initiated by Ade Bantu with his 12-piece Bantu collective, has opened a new chapter in the country’s showbiz industry, proving a credible alternative to the usual hiphop shows around town at no cost. Now in it’s 14th edition, the Amphitheater of the Freedom Park provided a perfect venue for this month’s edition held on Friday, April 16, with artistes such as juju-highlife veteran Sina Ayinde Bakare, an elder statesman with over 50 years of musical experience and son of the Juju legend Ayinde Bakare; Russian-Nigerian songstress Diana Bada and 2014 Google Africa Connected Award winner Vocal Slender. As expected, Bantu and his band members were at the centre of the gig that lasted into the nights. Even as the band was having its sound check, guests had started trickling in one by one, group-by-group, cooling off with the special Epe palm wine served in calabash; it’s a tradition at the gig. That night, the Freedom Park bubbled with activities; the car park was full to capacity. Guests include both young and old, rich and poor, blacks and whites… it was a mixed audience, all united by music. Here, status and colour was never a barrier.

The stage finally came alive with Bantu and his band singing Ile, a song that set the tone for the night. From Ile, a track that talks about home sweet home, the band swiftly switched to Sound Sultan’s version of ‘Ile’ song, Area, then back to their version. It was cheers all the way, as the backup singers treated the audience to some great dance moves on stage. From Ile, Bantu tuned to Show Them Love, a song inspired by the killing of some SouthSouth kids in the name of witchcraft. A know musical activist, he laced the track with his usual commentaries, before singing No Man Stands Alone, a track taken from his 2010 album, featuring Lord of Ajasa. Next on stage was Ajegule brought up Eric Obu, otherwise known as Vocal Slender, who raised the tempo with his debut track, Owo ti yapa. Backed by Bantu’s band, the young chap, aside from sampling his new tracks such as My Baby, used the platform to announce his latest achievement in the industry; winning the Google Africa Connected Award. An Afro Pop/Dancehall/Reggae artiste, with a flair for hip hop and R&B, Vocal Slender came to limelight after he was featured in the 2011 BBC documentary, Welcome to Lagos, where he exemplified rare survival instincts in the midst of poverty. He has since established his music career, presently giving back to the society through his Ghetto Love initiative. As soon as Vocal Slender left the stage, the audience went wild as Bantu performed his pop-

ular song, No More No Vernacular. At this point, some guests, who had been feeling cool on their seat, had not option than to jump to the stage to groove; it was like everyone was waiting for that conscious track. You needed to see the ladies dig it on stage, while swinging their waists to the sound of the heavy instrumentals. Indeed, it was fun watching the ladies. Then, it was time for ‘oyinbo gal’ Diana Bada to do her thing; the Afro-soul singer came fully prepared. Forget her Russian connection, Diana is a true daughter of Africa; her outfit that night says it all. Again, don’t be deceived by her dainty looks; on the microphone, she’s a firebrand. She first opened with her reggae mash-up track, Dem So So from her album, Fun day. By the time she took the first verse from the song, she showed her other side; Diana the rapper. As if deliberately programmed to spark up excitement, Bantu returned on stage again, this time singing hit track Lagos Jump; truly, the song got fun loving Lagosians jumping. From there, the band moved into freestyle session, playing Oritse Femi’s Double Wahala, then switched to Sean Tizzle’s Sho Lee, Fela’s Lady, before doing Lagbaja’s Konko Below, a track that triggered waist dance. It was fun all the way, as the band took the audience down the memory lane. However, the atmosphere changed when juju-highlife veteran Sina Ayinde Bakare was introduced on stage; you could tell where the

elderly ones were seated that night. Playing his guitar with so much dexterity, Bakare brought back the memories of the good old Isale Eko. Infact, he was lost in the performance; he enjoyed himself playing that night; you could feel it. however, even at his age, baba is still in full control, keeping close eye contact with his band. Though he sang mostly in Yoruba, the audience connected well with his free flowing groove; good music is good music. Unfortunately, Jaga Jaga singer, Eedris Abdulkareem, who was billed to wrap up the night could not make due to other engagements. However, Bantu and his band, alongside other artistes on the bill, ensured the audience had mad fun free of charge. “We get like minded artistes on stage with us to share one energy, put our ego aside and entertain people. It’s all about the fun behind it, the showmanship and the craftsmanship behind good music,’ the organisers hinted. Adegoke Odukoya popularly called Ade Bantu, is a Nigerian-German musician, producer and activist is founder of the Afro-German musical collective and leader of Bantu & Afrobeat Academy Band. He won the 2005 Kora Award, Africa’s version of the American Grammy Awards, for his album ‘Fuji Satisfaction.’ The Afropolitan vibes’ creator speaks on being an all-round entertainer and breaking new grounds in his career. For sure, the Afropolitan Vibes is his latest intervention in the ongoing effort to revive live music in the country.

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YOUTHMAGAZINE Fally Ipupa, Flavour, J Martins, 4x4 Storm Yenagoa For AMAA At 10 Stories by Chuks Nwanne ENAGOA, the capital of Y Bayelsa State will today come under heavy sound of

Filmmaker, Tunde Kelani; producer/director of October 1, Kunle-Afoloyan; Francois Sastourne; MD, Terra Culture, Bolanle-Austen-Peters; filmmaker, Mahmoud Ali-Balogun and lead actor, October 1, Sadiq Daba at October 1 Exclusive Private Screening last Sunday at Intercontinental Hotel… in Lagos

music, as notable African stars such as Fally Ipupa from the Democratic Republic of Congo, alongside Nigerian contemporary high-life act, Flavour, Ghanian 4x4 musical group and Nigeria’s J-Martins will perform at the AMAA Gala Nite. Announcing the musical stars that will be on parade, Mr. Tony Anih, Director of Administration of AMAA said that Nigerians and international guests that will be in Yenagoa for the awards should be prepared for a great time with the

musical artistes drawn from West and Central Africa. “As an African brand, AMAA always parade the best of our musical stars and celebrities to perform and host the awards. We are continuing in that tradition again and for our 10th anniversary we went for the best available within the continent.’’ The awards that is being sponsored by Glo, MRS oil, Sterling Bank as platinum sponsors will also have Nigeria’s Segun Arinze, loyd Nathaniel, Ghana’s Nana Asokor and a yet to be announced South African as hosts of the event.

Afolayan woos corporate investors for October 1 in private screening By Anote Ajeluorou HE intent was clear. Nollywood is in dire need of new converts. She is in search of new investors. It explained the complexion of the sparse audience made up mostly of top business executives and upwardly mobile Lagos types. They’d come with a new enthusiasm for the Exclusive Private Screening of Mr. Kunle Afolayan’s new offering, October 1. Only filmmakers Mahmoud Ali-Balogun (Tango with Me) and Tunde Kelani (Maami, Arugba) were the odd men out from Nollywood, and Delta State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Mr. Richard MofeDamijo, who sneaked in and out, a fitting explanation for the lack of activity in that state on the portfolio he has held for several years now. Filmmaker, Afolayan and General Manager, Terra Kulture, Mr. Joseph Omoibom were clear about the intent. There’s a desire to woo new sets of investors to the sector if only to project the maturity of the industry and be able to take it outside. The Cannes Film Festival in the South of France just opened, but like before, Nigeria, Africa’s largest filmmaking country, is absent. Afolayan’s October 1 and Half of a yellow Sun are the turning point cinematic experiences needed to open the global outlook for Nollywood. But their experiences show that Nollywood’s resources alone are not enough to take it to the next phase. Outside help is needed; and it’s in abundance in the corporate sector. It needs digging deep to unearth it. That was just what Afolayan and Terra Kulture boss, Mrs. Bolanle Austin-Peters are seeking to do with October 1, a new experiential film that takes Nollywood’s cinema inches closer to its destination with

the Exclusive Private Screening. More of such screenings are being arranged for big business operators in the hope that the USD$2 million budget for making the film could be defrayed with ease. Afolayan told the audience, “It’s been a long journey, but thank God for his grace. The budget for this film is USD$2 million. How to recoup the money I don’t know. We made this film through our sweat and blood”. As usual, Afolayan said he got most of the money for the film from relations, friends, with support from a few bigwigs like Lagos State governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, Elizade Motors’ boss, Ade Ojo among others. It was why he and Austin-Peters were taking the filmic gospel to new investors, who he said were largely less enthusiastic about investing in films, just as they were non-cinema goers. He, however, noted, “But support is 30 per cent. I raised the rest through blood and sweat. Film is investment but it’s also art and recouping money spent isn’t easy. You people here don’t go to cinema. So you can write the budget off in big cheques. In any case, how many cinemas do we even have? So, we’re looking to go outside, but before then, you need to see what we can do”. Just before the screening, boss of culture promoting centre, Austin-Peters noted how proud she was to bring about the private screening of October 1. She stated, “This is a perfect blend of purpose coming from a highly talented man. It’s a fantastic movie. This is an opportunity here for us for something that is very unique, that has job-creating value for society”. Austin-Peters recalled her experience staging Saro the Musical last year and lamented how technology failed her coupled with its non-theatre performance environment, but praised the

abundance of talent on offer in Nigeria, as October 1 film also evidently indicates. October 1 is a crime story told with ingenuity with a good dose of politics thrown in for good measure. To stop the serial murder of virgins in Akote, the departing British officer drafts in Danladi Waziri (Sadiq Daba) to resolve the crime before the Union Jack is lowered for the Green-White-Green to be hoisted up. Waziri’s finding, after a series of compelling and bizarre events, is as astonishing as it has had reverberating judicial J. Martins Flavour consequences for the Nigeria that soon emerged from October 1, 1960 and till date, a Nigeria still struggling for a foothold on its true destiny as a nation state. It’s yet again Afolayan’s quality offering after Figurine and Phone Swap. Afolayan HEAD of this year’s edition consideration. Submitted leaves no one doubt about his directorial of the Nollywood Movies movies should not exceed 180 abilities in this film that will make for com- Awards (NMA), organisers minutes and/or should be in a pelling viewing experience when it eventu- have announced their readi- maximum of four parts, while ally opens for the public. Like half of a Yellow ness to accept entries from in- short movies should not exSun, it’s another look at Nigeria’s history at dustry stakeholders, as ceed 40 minutes. that crucial point of Nigeria’s independence preparations begin in earnest The submission forms can be and what that historic moment portended towards the grand event filled at http://www.nollyfor the new nation. As he put it himself, “I billed for October 18, at the In- woodmoviesawards.tv/subwant to document history for young people tercontinental Hotel, Victoria mission, while the deadline for to learn about our history. As a people, how Island, Lagos. submissions is June 30, 2014, far have we learnt from our history? Tagged The Centenary Edi- with nominations to be an“This screening is to pitch the film for spon- tion, the award ceremony nounced in August 2014. Theresorship. The film will go to cinemas around with the theme ‘100% Nolly- after, final decisions will be at the world. Any brand pitching with us will wood’, will form part of activ- the discretion of the nominatravel with the film. We’re open to corporate ities to marked the country’s tions panel. sponsorship. The film will be shown in cin- centenary celebration. Entries, which must come in emas in Lagos and Abuja”. On the entries, interested hard drive or DVDs, should be Unlike some in its rank of well made films, stakeholders are required to sent to SW1 Media, 18, Esomo Afolayan’s October 1 boasts 100 per cent note that only English and Close, off Toyin Street, Ikeja, Nigerian cast and crew. The only foreign Nigerian indigenous lan- Lagos. The award initiative, input is the colour separation and mixing guage movies produced, re- which focuses on the Nigerian done abroad. leased or premiered between film industry and its practiFebruary 1st, 2013 and April tioners, aims at recognising 31st 2014 will be eligible for and rewarding excellence in

Entry Opens For NMA 2014 A

Nigeria’s Toyosi Akelere Batlles Other Young African Leaders for MTV Honour S entretainers from difffrent parts of A Africa gear up for the MTV Africa Music Awards (MAMA) billed for June 7, at the Dur-

Toyosi

ban International Convention Centre (ICC), organisers have released the list of five Africa’s most inspiring trailblazers, who have been nominated for the inaugural MTV Base Leadership Award created by Viacom International Media Networks Africa and MTV Base as part of the 2014 MAMAs. Taking place outside Nigeria for the first time, The MTV Base Leadership Award category is awarded to a young African under the age of 35 who, through their leadership and contribution, is making a positive impact towards the growth and development of Africa across a broad spectrum of disciplines. The award is one of three new ‘lifestyle’ awards, including the Personality of the Year and Transform Today by Absolut, created in 2014 to further reflect the aspirations of Africa’s youth. According to the list made available to the media, Nigeria’s Yoyosi Akelere of RISE Network, will battle Ashish Thakkar (Tanzania); Humphrey Nabimanya (Uganda); Ludwick Marishane (South Africa) and Dr Sandile Kub-

heka (South Africa) for the big award. The CEO of Rise Networks, Nigeria’s leading public and private sector funded social enterprise committed to wholesome youth and education development, Akerele is passionate about youth development and national transformation. She is an alumnus of the US Government’s International Visitor Leadership Programme for emerging leaders and was described by American First Lady Michelle Obama as one of her personal inspirations. The RISE National Youth Forum, the flagship project of RISE Networks, has attracted hundreds of thousands of young people in more than 20 Nigerian states in the last five years Commenting on the award, Senior Vice President & Managing Director, Viacom International Media Networks Africa Alex Okosi, said, “we are delighted to recognise the achievements of these extraordinary and inspirational young individuals who are working every day to make positive change on the African continent.” While Ludwick Marishane (South Africa) is the founder CEO of Headboy Industries and is South Africa’s youngest patent-filer after having invented DryBath® at the age of 17,

Dr Sandile Kubheka (South Africa) completed his MBChB degree at the College of Health Sciences at the age of 20, making him the youngest graduate in the college’s history. Ashish Thakkar (Tanzania), founder and owner of the Mara Group, is an entrepreneur, who founded his first business in 1996 at the age of 15 with a $5,000 loan, while Humphrey Nabimanya (Uganda) has been a HIV/Aids activist, advocating for safe sexual behaviour among Ugandan youth. MTV Base chooses the winner of the MTV Base Leadership Award. Voting in the music categories is open at www.mtvbase.com and closes on midnight on 4 June 2014. Voting for Song of the Year closes during the show on 7 June. Meanwhile, the 2014 MAMA is set to feature stunning performances from African and international artists, including the awards’ signature collaborations between artists of different genres and cultures – a high point of every show. The ceremony will air live across the continent at 21:00 CAT on MTV Base (DStv Channel 322) and MTV (DStv Channel 130). The show will be amplified on radio by media partners Gagasi FM, Yfm and Capricorn FM.

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KEEP IT REAL...

Saturday, May 24, 2014

YOUTHMAGAZINE

with Kemi Amushan

Events

Controlling Amushan Kemi

Woman

WENT to the bank one day and saw this interesting couple. They looked quite odd together. They caught my attention for quite a long while because they were right in front of me so I had a front row seat to their interactions. Of course, their physicality was the first thing I noticed. Apparently they were engaged soon to be married. The bride-to-be was an attractive woman and well put together. Her future groom, on the converse, was a little more – how shall I put this? Slovenly. Let me not make you run to your dictionaries- it means untidy and dirty. Now while it appeared as though she spent a good amount of time on her hair, makeup, and highly-coordinated outfit, he chose to throw on a pair of shorts and a stained t-shirt for the occasion. But what was even more fascinating than their outward disparity, was the way in which she communicated with him“Put that in this bag!” she commanded as he tried to figure out what to do with some documents he was holding on to. “Do not get out of this line!” she scolded when he told her he needed to use the restroom. “Get your passport photograph ready,” she instructed as they neared the end of their wait. And when they reached their final destination at Window 1, she immediately announced, “We’re here to open a joint account” without giving him the chance to speak first. In my mind, I was like “ Mo gbe”. In my mind, I was like this is one marriage that should never happen. The poor guy nodded his head with a terrified look in his eyes as if he was about to sign his own death sentence. This actually got me thinking and worried. Now to be really serious with ourselves: - Do women really enjoy leading men around by their noses? - Do we actually find weak and passive men sexy or exciting? - Do we want to spend the rest of our lives with a guy we can boss around, dictate to, or walk all over? And, if the answer to all of this as I expect it would be is “no,” why is emasculating a man so common amongst women these days. Ask any man and he will tell you that being emasculated is one of the worst things a woman can do to him. At first, some guys seem to accept reluctantly without protest and adopt the whole “happy wife, happy life” mentality. However, it’s usually not too long before they rebel. Some check out of the relationship and some may even cheat. When a woman emasculates a man, not only does she lose respect for him, but he loses respect for himself. And it won’t be long before he finds something or someone who builds him back up. Women often take on a “ball-busting” role when they are in a relationship with a man they don’t truly respect. Maybe they trust him not to cheat, but they don’t trust him to accomplish a simple task without giving him detailed directions and instruc-

tions. Maybe it doesn’t start out that way, but after a few mistakes on his part, these women have the mentality that their guy is just a “dumb guy” who can’t do anything right. And so they have to do it themselves or micro-manage him unless they want it done wrong or not at all. Even in healthy relationships, the temptation to occasionally emasculate a man can be great. Who among us hasn’t gotten a bit dictatorial from time to time? I most certainly have because of my nature but personally, I’ve had to make a conscious decision to eliminate any “ball-busting behavior” with my man and have only stumbled once or twice in months. How about you? Are you emasculating your man without meaning to? You need to ask yourself if you engage in any of the following: - Do you tell him where to go and what you want to do each and every time you’re together? - Do you make all of the plans and put your interests and tastes before his? - If he says something silly or makes a joke that isn’t funny, do you roll your eyes and scornfully tell him he’s lame? You’ll receive bonus points if you do this when in public or while out with friends, by the way. - Do you say things like: “You always mess this up,” “You never do it right,” or “Why is this so difficult for you?” - Do you stop him from doing whatever he’s about to do and tell him, “Never mind, let me handle it.” - Do you indicate his salary is simply not sufficient? - If you see him doing something incorrectly, do you point this out and offer unsolicited advice on how he could do it better? - Do you offer unsolicited advice – period? - Do you become angry, annoyed, or irritated at the little things you think he does wrong? - Are you overly critical? - Have you tried to change him? - Have you told him you don’t like his friends or how he spends his free time? - Are you adamant he does things on your terms? If you find yourself wanting to emasculate your guy, it’s time to ask yourself why. There are almost always deeper issues going on. If however, you are with a man you truly respect and trust, quit with the henpecking and bossy behaviour please and start building him up rather than tearing him down. Make him feel good about himself. When we do that, a man of quality will always want to rise up and be the man you believe him to be. It is that simple. To our happiness. Cheers.

BY SEGUN DUROWAIYE

In association with

Date(s): 25/05/2014 Description: A stage play where a group of troubled Band mates fell in love with the same girl. Location: Terra Culture, Tamiyu Savage Street, Victoria Island, Lagos. Promoter: M-IKAZ TICKETS: 3,000.00, 5,000.00 BUY TICKETS HERE: www.afritickets.com

Hear Word! Date(s): 23/05/2014 Description: This is a stage monologue written by Ifeoma Fafunwa Location: Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos Promoter: iOpenEye Production TICKETS: 5,000.00, 10,000.00 BUY TICKETS HERE: www.afritickets.com

Road To The MAMA Date(s): 30/05/2014 Location: Federal Palace Hotel, 6 - 8 Ahmadu Bello Way, Lagos Promoter: MTV Base TICKETS: 5,000.00 BUY TICKETS HERE: www.afritickets.com

African Rock Culture Concert Date(s): 06/07/2014 Description: African Rock Culture Concert is features top rock artistes Location: POWERLINE BIBLE CHURCH (GLASS HOUSE), Apapa-Oshodi Epressway, Lagos Promoter: Pretty Boy Music TICKETS: 5,000.00, 10,000.00 BUY TICKETS HERE: www.afritickets.com

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XNF Proudly Presents The Beatdown Night Championship Date(s): 31/05/2014 Description: This fighting championship will feature fighters from all over Nigeria Location: National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos Promoter: XNFighters TICKETS: 5,000.00 BUY TICKETS HERE: www.afritickets.com

Saturday, May 24, 2014 37

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WEEKEnDBEATS Seyi Alesh In Concert With Friends Stories By Chuks Nwanne OSPEL singer Seyi AleshinG loye popularly known as Seyi Alesh is set to host his an-

nual concert, Seyi Alesh and Friends in Concert come May 30, at the Redeemed Christain Church of God, Court Of His Zone Majesty Lagos. Ipaja, Abesan, Currently based in the united States, the saxophonist, whose love for God is evident in the vocal breaths he infuses into his instrument, said he wants people to enjoy and tap into the beauty of worshipping God in style. “That’s why this edition will be hosted in nigeria. This concert will be the first of its kind

and will be a medley of sorts as other soulful and prominent gospel artistes will also be joining me on stage in nigeria to bring down the roof in worshipping and praising God. The concert will feature gospel artistes such as Psalm Ebube, Pita, D Bass Dayo, Bukola Bekes, Don Praizzy, Lade King, Psalmos, Segun Oluwayomi, Toeyorsea among others. Seyi Alesh has in the past worked with well knownartistes such as Kunle Ajayi, Sammie Okposo, Tope Alabi and played on the same platform with popular international artistes, including Kirk Franklin, Donnie McClurkin, Hugh Masekela & Israel Houghton

DJ Jimmy Jatt

25 Years After, DJ Jimmy Jatt Rolls Drums

Alesh

By Ijeoma Opara

Health Insurance Convention For Showbiz Industry underway HOuGHT the nigerian enT tertainment industry is fast gaining international accept-

ance, with practitioners living large, there has never been in existence a well-structured health system scheme for the industry and its parishioners. As a result of this, the industry has lost several of its beloved musicians and actors to dreadful sicknesses like renal failure, fatal accidents and other vices, while trying to raise funds to save them. This is indeed an indication that that an awareness of health insurance among the practitioners has become imperative. In a bid to educate parishioners on how to take care of the future, some players in the showbiz industry are planning the maiden edition of the nigerian Entertainment

Industry Health Insurance Convention. Organised by the nigerian Entertainment Industry Lecture Series in partnership with national Health Insurance Scheme (nHIS), Lagos State Ministry of Health and nigeria Medical Association, the event is scheduled for July 22nd, 2014 at the Grand Ball Room of Eko Hotel & Suites in Lagos. Designed as a customised learning and education platform for the practitioners and invariably members of the public at large to understand the importance of health insurance and at the same time embrace it, the convention seeks to illuminate complex issues of health care practice and policy by bringing together leading-edge doers and thinkers to speak to practitioners on the need for health insurance scheme.

Melomania Sings For Super Eagles By Geraldine Akutu n a beat to rally support for Ithethe nigerian team ahead of 2014 FIFA World Cup slated to take place in Brazil from June 12 to July 13, singer Melomania has composed and released a theme song titled We Rule the World, which is coming few days after another wave making singer, Solidstar dropped his own version in support of the Steven Keshi-led team. According to Melomania whose real name is Chukwuemeka Okorie, “the inspiration came because of my love for sports. I’ve been following the Super Eagles for years. I’ve had this inspiration since 1994 when we made our debut in the world Cup. We proved to the world that we are Africa’s best in that competition. In 1998 we also did the same. I looked at our past glory and I came up with a theme song

AVInG spent 25 year in the nigerian H showbiz industry, frontline disc jokey Jimmy Adewale Amu, popularly known as DJ Jimmy Jatt, is set to celebrate his 25th Anniversary on the entertainment scene, with a nationwide tour across six major cities. The tour, which will commence in Lagos on the fourth week of May, will continue till mid June, with cities such as Enugu, Benin, Port Harcourt, Ilorin and Abuja on the bill. Speaking at a press briefing held recently in Lagos herald the project, Jimmy informed that the celebration will include the screening of DJ Jimmy Jatt documentary, the launch of his Foundation for the entertainment, with its first project billed for July, a formal dinner on August 3 to mark his anniversary the ‘Jimmy’s Jump Off’ for September 30, which will wrap up celebration.

“This year will also mark the return of my legendary TV show Jimmy’s Jump-Off, which has featured nigeria’s biggest music acts including Tuface, Mode9, M.I, Ice Prince, the Late Dagrin, Sauce Kid and others. A documentary on my career and an official video Glasses Up, featuring Tuface and Burna Boy, will also be released as the theme song for the anniversary,” he said. According to the DJ, the celebration is an opportunity to take people through his journey in the industry and also show his appreciation for their support. “I’m celebrating my anniversary as being a Disc Jockey in the entertainment industry in nigeria in the past 25 years; I will take the years before 1989 as a period of learning. It is hard to believe that 25 years have gone by and I have been having the time of my life doing the job I love.” The dinner event will also witness the

formal unveiling of his latest album. “The album is a reflection of my experience as an entertainer in the past 25 years. It also has an adequate representation of the various genres of music includes reggae and rap,” he said. While counting himself lucky for being part of the formation of the DJs in nigeria, Jimmy added, “there has not been a time in the past 25 years that DJs are being discussed and I’m not mentioned. I’m so happy having been fulfilled in my line of career. When I started out as a DJ, people didn’t want to be associated with such, but I was determined to be successful and here am I today being celebrated.” Over the years, DJ Jimmy Jatt has encouraged young people, who aspire to become DJs, to be focused and determined to succeed. However, for him, 25 year is not a time for retirement. “It is opening a new phase to becoming stronger and better as a DJ,” he hinted.

Countdown To The Decider At Federal Palace Casino HE window to win a super T jackpot is still open to casino aficionados across the country, especially this month, at Federal Palace Hotel & Casino, Victoria Island Lagos. With only one month to go, The Decider casino car jackpot, which started on March 14, 2014 and runs until Saturday June 21, 2014, offers players the chance of winning any of these two luxurious cars Jaguar XF or Range Rover Evoque as a grand prize.

However, within the remaining 30 days, patrons of the casino operated by Sun International South Africa, and managers of the Federal Palace Hotel & Casino, still have a chance to qualify for the car jackpot by simply playing their favorite Slots and Tables games in the casino. The grand finale will take place on June 21, 2014 at 11.00pm; every qualifier present will have a chance to be among the 36 finalists, but there will only be OnE winner,

who will have the rare opportunity of choosing either Jaguar XF or Range Rover Evoque as his/her p r i z e . To participate, visit the Federal Palace Casino today, register in its Most Valued Guest (MVG) loyalty programme, start playing the exciting Slots and Tables games and stand a chance to qualify for The Decider car jackpot. Learners evening can also be pre-arranged for first time casino guests.

It would be recalled that the hotel recently gave away as prize a Toyota Land Cruiser SuV on 14 December, 2013, and has now opted for purely luxurious cars; courtesy of Coscharis Motors Ltd. The casino experience is a conscious effort by Federal Palace Hotel to give its guests, variety beyond the comfort in the rooms, top quality recreational facilities in the Pool Club, special local/continental cuisines and several relaxation spots

State Of The Nation… A Fresh Beat From K1 Melomania that dwells on the faith and hope that we can rule the world again. We can’t just keep living on our past glory. The song was composed to motivate and cheer the players to victory within and outside the football pitch.” He informed that, “I want them to break record again. My aim is to make it an official theme song for the Super Eagles. I will also come up with a video to boost the song,” he

uJI music icon, Alhaji Fa.k.a. Wasiu Ayinde Marshall K-1 De Ultimate, is at it once again. He has just dropped yet another breathtaking audio of a hits, entitled State of The Nation. It is on record that, K-1 has broken almost every box office record in album making and concert attendance and has been crowned with laurels for his dexterity on music. The new album, dedicated

to the Awujale of Ijebuland, HRM Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, is K-1’s way of lending his voice to various challenges our great country, nigeria, is passing through at the moment. The album also features a special dedication by the Waka music Queen, Alhaja Salawa Abeni. The special introduction for the album featured Hip-Hop ace, Olamide and new Queen of Hip-Hop, Honey B.

36 Saturday, May 24, 2014

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WEEKENDBEATS

At last, COSON, IBAN, BON Resolve Copyright Impasse By Chuks Nwanne FTER months of negotiation cum A peace meeting brokered by the DG of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) Emeka Mbah, the impasse between the Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) on one hand, and the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON) and Independent Broadcasting Association of Nigeria (IBAN) on the other hand, has finally been resolved. The dispute was finally put to rest on Wednesday, after the parties signed a memorandum of understanding, with resolve to work together for the interest of practitioners in particular and the nation in general. The agreement signing ceremony, which was witnessed by practitioners from both industries, brought to an end the prolonged disagreement between the music and broadcast industries in Nigeria spanning over 30 years, which culminated in a major crisis in the last quarter of 2013. Addressing both parties at the signing ceremony held at the Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, DG of the NBC, Emeka Mbah thanked both parties for their understanding throughout the negotiation, describing the outcome as historic. “The journey was difficult and challenging, but I want to believe that we are having a new beginning. With this MoU, we are making a statement that we are leaving the past behind to create a new future for the industry.” To Mbah, the agreement and the development is a good new to not just the broadcast and music industry, but the entire creative industry. “This is not just about the music and broadcast industry; it’s about the entire creative industry. This is about respect for intellectual property; once you lose respect for intellectual property, you’ve lost respect for everything.” He therefore urged the parties to work together in the interest of the nation. “We cannot have a broadcasting industry without the music industry, so, we need each other to function. Let’s all see this as the beginning of better things for the creative industry. This agreement will send a message to all other sectors that have been abusing the creative industry that the time is

• Parties Sign Memorandum Of Understanding

Abubakar Jijiwa of BON (left), Kenny Ogungbe of IBAN and Chief Tony Okoroji of COSON at the signing ceremony in Lagos up,” he noted. Also speaking, the DG of the Nigerian Copyright Commission, Afam Ezekude urged both parties to ensure they keep to the agreement in the interest of the nation. “I did not realize that this day will ever happen in my time but I am glad that it has happened. I was made to understand that this agreement covers the year 2014 and 2015, so, I urge you to commit yourselves to this agreement. I thank the chief negotiator for bringing us to where we are today and I’m sure that in future, we will look back to this event and apply the same maturity in our future negotiation. There were skeptics about this issue, but I’m very pleased that we are here today to witness this history. What it means is that, as Nigerians, we can get things right,” he said. Veteran broadcaster Chief Mrs. Julie Coker, who witnessed the event, noted that, “everything that needs to be done has been done. I think it’s a pleasure for me to witness this event. However, both sides must try to fulfill

the commitment they’ve made today to avoid any rancour in future.” While Chief Tony Okoroji represented COSON at the signing ceremony, Mallam Abubakar Jijiwa represented BON and Kenny Ogungbe led IBAN team. Also present at the event are notable musicians and stakeholders in the broadcast and music industry. Speaking on behalf of BON, Jijiwa said, “When the crisis was going on, I knew something will give way for peace because of how both industries need each other. I’m happy that after several months of heated negotiations, we are here as witnesses of this historic day. This is a new dawn but we must all work hard to ensure that we achieve the objectives of today. I want to assure all that the members of BON and IBAN will meet their obligations by this agreement,” he said. In his remarks, COSON Chairman, Chief Tony Okoroji observed that for many years, Nigeria had run away from addressing copyright problem, thereby leaving many frustrated and

driving important investment out of our nation. “There are many, who had given up, believing that the problem will never be solved. Finally, we have sat on the same table with the broadcasting industry and made stringent efforts to find a working agreement on important issues that have stood between our music and broadcasting industries. It may appear like a miracle but it has happened’. He continued: “While there is no way in which we can undervalue the importance of today’s agreement, I wish to say that our expectations must be tempered as we have had to make significant compromises so that we can move forward. This agreement is therefore an important first step as we begin the journey to end the many bad habits that have held the creative enterprise unprofitable in Nigeria,” he said. Representative IBAN, broadcaster and Managing Director of Ray Power FM, Mr. Kenny Ogungbe expressed satisfaction at the resolution of the

Business Etiquette with Rita Okoye

Honours For Zim, As He Drops Throway

Make A Good First Impression Rita Okoye USINESS Etiquette means that you act was 20 minutes late. Shola didn’t get the B professionally and exercise proper job. She made a bad first impression and manners when engaging with others. It was deemed unreliable. Hopefully Shola is about presenting yourself with the kind of polish that shows you can be taken seriously. One of the ways we display etiquette is through the impressions we give out. You never get a second chance to make a first impression. This is very important for anyone who wants to advance their career. Impressions are not just the ones that we give in person but over the phone or via email or social media. Impressions are made in the first 5 seconds and are hardly changed. Let’s look at some examples of bad first impressions. Shola had a job interview. She was so excited about meeting the manager. As a new graduate, she really wanted a job. Her interview was for 9am in Ibadan. There were several candidates that applied for the job and Shola was shortlisted from 500 applicants. She did her research about the company and was confident that she would get the job. She arrived at the interview but

has learnt her lesson. ABC photo store recently opened on a popular high street. The staff were known to be rude and lacking in basic business etiquette. That was the impression most people got about them. Any time customers entered the store, the staff were either engaged on a personal call or gossiping among themselves at the till. None of the staff came over to ask customers what they needed. The news of their lack of Business Etiquette spread across town like wild fire. Within 6 months the store closed down due to low sales. Can you imagine what would have happened if the staff were trained properly or knew how important it was to make a good first impression? Jide was always in a hurry and on this occasion his impatience was costly. He was sending off an important email to a company, for a summer program. He forgot to check his work and quickly pressed the send button. His application was full of

crisis, expressing his association’s readiness to abide by the agreement. “I’m personally happy for what has gone down today. Every organization in the broadcast industry will queue up behind the agreement we have signed here today. It is binding and we are proud that we have made history in Nigeria at 100.” While conducting the signing ceremony, the chief negotiator in the BON/IBAN/COSON/NBC/NCC Joint Committee, Mr. Mac Emakpore, who was in the middle of the negotiation, thanked the parties for bringing to an end a crisis that according to him threatened the growth of the creative industry in Nigeria. “Several meetings down the line in the midst of heated arguments, we have finally come up with this document which is being signed today. I give God all the glory for this progress made in the history of Nigeria.” Present at the event were such big wigs of the broadcasting industry such as Hon H.A.B. Fasinro of Smooth FM; Mr Larry Izamoje of Brila FM; Mr. Deji Awokoya of Beat FM, Classic FM and Naija FM; Ms. Evita Mousalli of Cool FM, Wazobia FM and Naija Info FM, Mr. Adetunji Majeed of NTA, etc. From the music industry were the likes of Lagbaja, Rub-a-dub master, Ras Kimono, Azzezat, Daddy Fresh, KSB, Edi Lawani, Efe Omorogbe and Patrick Doyle. Mr. Joel Ajayi, Hon John Ewelukwa Udegbunam, Alhaji Sikiru Agboola and General Manager, Mr. Chinedu Chukwuji represented the Board of COSON at the historic event. It will be recalled that in 2013, COSON instituted back to back multimillion naira law suits against some of Nigeria’s biggest broadcast stations including AIT, Ray Power, STV, Rhythm FM, Beat FM, Classic FM, Naija FM, Smooth FM, Brila FM, etc., with a threat to sue many more broadcast stations. In response, Broadcasting Organizations of Nigeria (BON) and Independent Broadcasting Association of Nigeria (IBAN) announced the suspension of the broadcast of the music of nearly all the topmost musicians in Nigeria, all of them members of COSON on radio and TV stations across Nigeria. This resulted in massive public outrage across the country followed by an all-out media war between the music and broadcast industries, until NBC intervened.

The staff were known to be rude and lacking in basic business etiquette. That was the impression most people got about them. Any time customers entered the store, the staff were either engaged on a personal call or gossiping among themselves at the till. None of the staff came over to ask customers what they needed.

grammatical errors and he hadn’t signed the application form. He didn’t get the summer internship. He later looked back at what he had sent and was so upset with himself for not checking his work and for not making a good first impression. The above examples show how important is it to make a good first impression. It will not only help you stand out but it can be the difference between winning or losing something of value. • Author Rita Okoye rita@majesticallyrare.com • Rita Okoye is an event planner, publicist & personal development trainer

By Kenechukwu Ezeonyejiaku OR taking pride in the African Fcause spirit and projecting her through his songs, young

coupled with the difference he brought into his music through promotion of Africa “I really discovered a big talent in him and the spirit of Africa in him too because definitely now, if you look at most of our Nigerian musicians, they are not playing their music to hook our culture; they have mixed our music to that of westerners. But Zim’s music is 80 percent African and his music is African-Makossa-Hip Pop.” The overjoyed recipient of the awards, Zim, thanked the organisers for selecting him out for recognition, adding that the honour is a challenge to do more.

and upcoming artist, Zim has received a recognition award from Artmark and Gbedu Awards. At a glamorous event held recently at the Vegas Club, Ikeja, Lagos, Gbedu honoured the singer with award for Best Rising Star Artist of the Year, while Artmark presented him with Best Upcoming Afro Hip-hop Artist of the Year. Listed among the brightest and promising young artistes in the country, Zim came to limelight last year after he dropped his hit single, Africa. Meanwhile, his latest single, which is gradually picking up on air, is titled Throway was also released at the event. Present at the ceremony include factional President, Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria, Comrade Hajiah Amina Dangaji; Nollywood stars, Genevieve Nnaji and Cossy Orjiakor; Victor Olaotan of the Tinsel; Kas; renowned reggae artise, Majek Fashek and others. Speaking at the event, Archbishop Orji, one of the organizers, informed that the award was necessitated by the strides, which Zim has made since storming the music industry, Zim

Saturday, May 24, 2014

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FASHION

Kinabuti Hosts Fashionita Kids At Launch Of Its New Children & Jewelry Collection By Kemi Amushan AST Saturday was a day of fun LKinabuti and games for kids at the fashion Initiative (KFI). There were squeals of excitement in the air as dozens of children converged at the Kinabuti atelier for the launch party of the new Kbuti kids-wear collection. The invite, which was tagged for fashionable kids truly lived up to expectation as the kids all looked adorable. They were treated to so much fun from the games activities to sweet treats, and even their own personal high fashion photo shoot where they were all swagged up in various Kbuti outfits. The event also served as platform for the launch of the Kbuti jewelry collection, which featured a mini fashion show to display the jewelries by models. The new jewelry collection is a compilation of gorgeous distinctive pieces made from varying materials, from leather, semi precious stones etc, they comprise of earrings, edgy cuffs, neck pieces, and lots more. Kinabuti launched its children’s line in 2013 via the diffusion line KButi, the decision to branch into the children’s line fully came as a result of the numerous orders for bespoke pieces for kids by their parents and having realized how much fun it was, hence the plan to go full blast with it.

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Saturday, May 24, 2014

FASHION Iderawunmi Eniola Claire is a beautiful young designer and illustrator. She chats with Myles Igwebuike and Kemi Amushan on how she started and her passion.

Young Stars Rising: Iderawunmi Eniola Claire.

DERAWUMI Eniola Claire is Idesigner. a freelance illustrator and Basically, she sketches designs and prints for designers and she illustrate already designed clothes. She’s also an architecture student. She did art in elementary school but never took classes for the fashion illustrations and paintings she’s so passionate about now. She mentioned that it’s a talent and she’s so crazy about it. Idera has worked with a few photographers and designers in developing their concepts. Most of her works are still in anticipation mode so she has to be very observant. She mentioned her future projects with Sanusi Lagos, Rukky Simone, Dola Posh, Lubee Abubakar, Grey and other designers and photographers. “How the fashion industry takes over almost everything, the schools, churches, offices is so alluring...it also involves a whole lot. My fascination is complete when I see how ideas undergo different stages before being introduced to the real world, its just wonderful”. She quipped. She talks about her new illustrations saying: “My new illustrations are still confidential for now but I’m working on artworks for the Gidimint open day and my May-Models illustrations. You can follow my instagram page @claireidera to view my WIP and final sketches”. Idera loves anything that flatters her body. She’s open minded to new styles and loves floral prints. “At a time because of her skinny stature. I hardly got clothes that were my size but i would wear them still and then try holding them up with belts and safety pins. Those times were very embarrassing. Thank God for tailors.” Lol. She describes her style in three simple words: Simple, trendy and comfortable.

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40 Saturday, May 24, 2014

FASHION

On The People’s Runway At AFWN 2014 EASON One of the Africa Sbrought Fashion Week Nigeria the international media to Lagos last Sunday, as both upcoming and celebrity designers paraded the best out of Africa By Nike Sotade The maiden Nigerian edition of the African Fashion Week (AFW) which has been held in other fashion capitals of the world, took place last weekend at the Expo Hall of the Eko Hotel &Suites in Victoria Island, Lagos. Organised by the founder of Africa Fashion Week London (AFWL) Ronke Ademiluyi, last weekend’s event saw a lot of talented upcoming designers showcasing their best pieces on the catwalk with few established brands supporting them. On Saturday, there was a Street Catwalk showcase at The Palms Shopping Mall, Lekki and on Sunday the runway shows, tagged the “People’s Runway,” with over 30 African designers and the Red Carpet Gala night took place at the Eko Hotel & Suites. For a maiden event, it was quite impressive, despite the little hiccups. The show was prompt, as designers started showcasing as at time scheduled and organization was quite impressive. The first parts of the show saw upcoming designers showcasing their African inspired pieces. They all paraded African prints in contemporary designs. The gala night was the major event of the evening where guests were treated to an array of lavish buffet while designers were also showcasing their stuff on the runway at the same time. At a point the event was threatened by a fire outbreak but it was professionally brought under control and guests were ushered out for a short while and then back in to continue the show. Talented Designers such as Ade Bakare, House Of Marie, Isi Atagamen, Alabi Couture, Buchiver, Elegante by Tiannah Styling, Elikem the Tailor, Belois, Magnetic Elegance and many more brought out their best pieces. This first International Fashion Runway Show had a special focus on up-coming designers in the country. Themed: “The People’s Runway,” it had the objective of illuminating the creative exploits of the real talents in the Nigerian fashion turf, especially the relatively undiscovered ones, to help them build sustainable careers for themselves. It also showcased the achievements of the established designers and celebrated the veteran icons of the Nigerian fashion sector. Africa Fashion Week Nigeria (AFWN) season one was divided into two events happening on the same day. The first show took place in the afternoon while the gala show took place in the evening. The afternoon preGala show presented a cross

section of brands including Isi Atagamen, Buchiver, Dé Laurels, YCR, Ifeanyi Nwune, IJC collections, Afrikanus by Rui Lopes, AAMAA a la Mode, Elikem The Tailor,Magnetic Elegance[ME], Long feet boutique, Faerens, Jazz Effect,Yon

Seno, Belois Couture, Mademoiselle Anglaia, Meg Alabi. These designers showcased their full collections at a sponsored show, funded by AFWN’s sponsors. And the evening Gala fash-

ion showcase was a line-up of designers such as Elegante by Tiannahs styling, Yutees, Zarita Couture, Dyzn ,House of Marie, Emos Ejiro, Big Ben, Raymona, Queen E collection, Awe Dzyn, AFT, Lines by Chaab,Style by

Adesuwa,BA’AN WURE,St Eves. The climax of the evening was a special inspiring showcase by Veteran Designer and Nigerian fashion doyen, Princess Abba Folawiyo of Labanella Couture, in an

impressive presentation that closed the runway show. Here are some of the inspiring pieces from AFWN 2014. It was a commendable maiden edition by the Ronke Ademiluyi -led team to present the best out of Africa

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Saturday, May 24, 2014 41

DIARY

Coordinator of Ijaw Monitoring Group (IMG), Comrade Joseph Evah (left); American Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. James Entwistle; and Assistant Secretary of State, Bureau of Conflict and Stabilisation, Mr. Rick Barton, during a recent meeting on the state of the nation at the Ambassador’s residence in Lagos.

President, Nigerian Institute of Training and Development (NITAD), Dr. Kayode Ogungbuyi (right) presenting a certificate to a graduand, Prof. Gbade Sote of the University of Lagos, at the first graduation ceremony of the professional Post Graduate Diploma Course (PGD) of NITAD in Lagos… recently

Director, Triumphant Gate Company Limited, Mr. Kunle Olusanya; Dr. Albert Odulele; Managing Director, Triumphant Gate Company Ltd,Mr. Peter Ubuwere; and Executive Director, Mrs. Adeola Ubuwere, during the company’s 6th anniversary/inauguration of the company housing scheme held at Oriental Hotel,Lagos …recently

Representative of Hansgrohe Nigeria, Oluwasanmi Jiboye (left); Managing Director, DKK & Associates, Temitope Jemerigbe; Managing Director, IL Bagno, Micheal Owolabi and Executive Director, IL Bagno, Adetola Owolabi at the 10th anniversary celebration of IL Bagno in Lagos…recently

Executive Members of a Brothers Across Nigeria (BAN) led by their Chairman Barrister Uche Igwe during their visit to Federal Medical Center Umuahia Abia State to give succor to the Sick to mark their last Easter celebration

Immediate Past President of Association of National Accounts of Nigeria (ANAN) Hajia Maryam Ladi Ibrahim (left); 1st Vice President, Mr. Anthony Nzom; ANAN President, Alhaji Sakirudeen Labode; 2nd Vice President, Alhaji Shehu Ladan; and Treasurer, Prof. Muhammad Mainoma during ANAN 32ND AGM in Abuja…recently

Olutobi Ojuawo and his heartthrob, Ayoade Omotoso, pose with their parents during their wedding in Ilorin, Kwara State... recently

Uncle to the groom, Brig. Gen. Mannix Nyiam, the groom, Dr. Abang Sunday and his bride, Gloria during their wedding on Saturday May 3, 2014 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Ikot Ansa, Calabar, Cross River State

Mr. Tope and Mrs. Tope Ayanbade-Akinduyinnu after their traditional wedding in Oshogbo, Osun State…recently

Pupils of Lafred Primary School during their annual inter-house sport and the School’s 15 years anniversary in Lagos… recently

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42 Saturday, May 24, 2014

TRAVEL&TOURISM scope to include the best travel brands across the continent with the presence of 24 African countries including South Africa, and attracts thousands of international visitors and media from across the world. As it stands today few tourism trade shows can rival Indaba save for Internationale Tourismus-Börse Berlin, Germany and World Travel Market in London, United Kingdom. According to the South African Tourism Minister, Van Schalkwyk, “a modernized and Pan –African Indaba is a pivot to take tourism to the next level.” But how sustainable is this progress in the face of growing terrorism in the continent, deficiency in basic tourism infrastructures, cumbersome visa regime, slow air connectivity, and restrictive administrative border? It is no news that the reign of terror perpetrated by al Shabab in Kenya, the raging attack by Boko Haram in the northeastern Nigeria and armed violence in some other African countries are the scarecrow driving away international tourists. To make the mater worse, unsuitable taxes and restrictive visa policies, inadequate infrastructure and poor inter-sectoral coordination between aviation and tourism continues to undermine tourism business at significant level. But first we need to grow intra African trade, said a South Africa economist Mike Schussler. IntraAfrican travel can be made simpler and quicker. Thus, there is need to urgently work on simplified and joint visa regime, a uni-visa that can quickly be made available electronically and enable tourists to move around Africa more easily and more affordably. Speaking at the 56th meeting of the UNWTO Commission for Africa, the UNWTO SecretaryGeneral Taleb Rifai said to fully realize the potentials tourism has in promoting growth and development in Africa, it is imperative to work towards a better alignment of tourism and air transport policies in the region.” It is also important to build more hotels, lodges, bed and breakfast restaurants, build effective transportation system, and set up information technology, energy, water, sanitation and others. Effort should also be made to guarantee safety tourists both domestic and international travellers. The 2013 World Bank Report says tourism directly will employ 6.7 million people by 2021 in Sub Saharan Africa. And the continent will soon outpace other regions in tourism growth as the years roll by. The prediction is tied to the continuous cooperation among the African states. This is the reason Africa has to sit up and buy into the Indaba project. With a vibrant Indaba supported by institutional power like AU, tourism may indeed be the catalyst for the economy progress of Africa and uplift the continent from the morass unemployment and poverty.

Albert Luthuli International Conference Centre Durban

Integrating Africa Through Indaba a beneficiary of this opportunity by recording 56 million international tourist arrivals, trailEOPLE have never stopped travelling. Deing after the Americas (163 million), Asia and spite the increasing incidents of crisis in Pacific (234 million), and Europe (534 million). different parts of the world, international But Africa can do a lot better if they collaborate. tourist arrivals worldwide hit one billion The continent can “pursue joint marketing” to mark in 2012. That is the good news according gain a greater share of the global tourism marto the United Nations World Tourism Organi- ket, said the Chairperson of the African Union sation (UNWTO). In the following years, the Commission, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma number increased by 5 percent. This moveduring an Inter ministerial meeting held in ment has generated more than US$ 1,075 bil- Durban, South Africa. lion revenue worldwide in 2012. And Africa is By 2030, Africa international tourist numbers By Ajibola Amzat, who was in Durban, South Africa

could grow from its current 56 million to 134 million as more Africa countries privilege tourism in their development. This possibility is the driving force behind Indaba 2014, which was described as the first and largest tourismmarketing event in the continent. And the theme identified for Indaba 2014, The Best of a Continent Under One Roof: Plug into Africa’s Growth captures the objective succinctly. Though Indaba has been at the centre of South and Southern African tourism growth in the last thirty years, the 2014 Indaba expands the

Tour Operators Explain Why Growth Of Tourism Business Remains Slow in Nigeria Nigerian travelling agents routinely offer places like South Africa, Kenya, OURISM business suffers stunted growth countries in Europe and America to their in Nigeria largely because of the poor clients. state of infrastructures and lack of capacity “This is so because these countries of inby operators in the industry. terest have invested massively in the This is the view of the Nigeria tour operatourism sector, and raised the level of tors who attended Indaba 2014 held retheir infrastructures. But this is not the cently in Durban, South Africa. case in Nigeria,” said Rabo. The group, constituted by not fewer than While South Africa for instance budget 22 operators, noted that there are various N17 billion (R856m) for tourism marketdestinations in Nigeria with huge tourism ing in 2013, Nigeria budgeted paltry sum potentials, but such places are in different of N1.2 billion the same year. The allocastages of neglect. tion has even come down to N1 billion in According to the Vice President of Na2014. tional Association of NigerianTraveling The fund scarcity is even worsened by Agents (Abuja zone), Alhaji Saleh Rabo, the Supreme Court ruling, which premany of the Nigerian participants at Indvents Nigerian Tourism Development aba 2014 are buyers who merely package Corporation (the agency responsible for tours of foreign countries for Nigerian the marketing of tourism in Nigeria) tourists, but there were no single Nigerian from collecting hotels levy. exhibitors at Indaba trade show. The MD/CEO of Sky Jet Travels and Tour, Mr. David Awe, who also attended Dur-

By Ajibola Amzat

ban Travel show commented on the poor state of transportation in Nigeria. Bad roads and lack of proper regulation in the transportation sector impacts negatively on tourism business in Nigeria, he said, noting that most Nigerian roads are like bush path compared to roads in advanced countries. He concluded that the federal government lackluster approach to marketing tourism would continue to rob the country of huge gains that tourism could bring. However, the Chief Operating Officer of International Travel Express Limited, Mr. Johnson Uankhide said the travel business can do better if operators invest more in skill acquisition. He said many of the so-called travel agents are ticket vendors who parade themselves instead as tour operators. “There is more money to make in travel business than just selling travelling tickets to tourists,” he noted.

Mayimele

SAT Appoints New Communications Manager Readers’ Choice Awards under her marketing tenure. Her career spans over 13 years, as Global Manager, Communi- as a Marketing Communicacations effective from 2nd May tions practitioner. She has years of experience in Market2014. ing Research and Strategic Prior to joining SA Tourism, Planning in the advertising Mayimele has most recently and media industry. She has worked as a Marketing Manworked in leading global adager for SABC3, where she vertising agencies in the area headed up Marketing and of Strategic Planning, both in Communications for the channel, which was also voted South Africa and outside the the best TV channel in the Star country, including Nigeria and Ghana. OUTH African Tourism has Sment announced the appointof Ms Risuna Mayimele

Saturday, May 24, 2014 43

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TRAVEL&TOURISM People from different countries of the world recently gathered at The Gambia to celebrate the International Roots festival of the country. The Festival described by many participants from Canada, London, Jamaica, Scotland, Germany and America as a link, bringing Africans in the Diaspora and those at home together was celebrated in a grand style. The Country with less than 2million population went agog during the celebration of the African history. There was no room for racism as both black and white people filled up the three Ships that ferried participants from Banjul to the historical Kunta Kinteh Island, Juffureh and Albreda where some events of this year Roots festival took place. LAOLU ADEYEMI was there and reports AINS, agony and oddity of slavery in Africa P by the colonial masters may have become history; its effects remain indelible in the heart of many Africans, most especially those who are in the Diaspora. Over Four hundreds years of Slavery and dehumanization of Africans, left many family separated from their roots and the legacy of colonization has kept the people of the black race distant from their identity, culture, traditions and history. Till date, the effect still resonates, leaving many Africans groping in the dark as to who they are, their strength and their origin. Arguably over 70 percent of Africans in the Diaspora know not their roots, a condition that imposes psychological trauma on many. These and other burgeoning issues on how Africans who are lost in the Diaspora could trace back their roots were the salient issues raised at the just concluded 11th edition of Roots festival of The Gambia. Just like Alex Halley, the late American Historian who discovered his roots in the Gambia village of Juffureh after writing a book based upon his findings which later became a TV series known to Million as “Roots”; many participants at the festival wished they could know their roots. A 57-year-old Jamaican based in the United Kingdom, Lorna Bryan spoke with passion that she doesn’t know who she is and attributed the backwardness of African to issue of identity. She was close to shedding tears as she said: “The reason Africa is not developed is because we don’t know who we are”. The major thing Bryan wishes to achieve in life again is to go back to her roots, build a house

The Gambia Roots Festival Unites Africans In Celebration Of Culture and come back to her base (origin). Describing her maiden trip to the Gambia Roots Festival as wonderful experience; Bryan desires to do a DNA test to know her roots. “Since I heard about this festival, I have been thinking on how to do a DNA test just to know my roots”. Interestingly, Prince Jaiden, who was also on the two and half hours boat ride with her UK-based mother to Kuntah-Kinteh was indifferent. The 6year-old boy suddenly quipped, “Today is my favorites day”. Of course, everybody on board of the Lady Jacerine boat paid apt attention, wanting to hear the London boy speak again. Basking in the euphoria of the moment, enriched by the cool breeze of River Gambia Jaiden said again: ‘Today is my Favorite day’. Another UK-based African lady who withheld her identity said she desires to know her roots. “Countless time, some African in United Kingdom tell me I look like someone from an Igbo tribe of Nigeria and some said I look like the Fulani tribe of the northern Nigeria but I don’t know my roots,” she disclosed. The 26-year-old mother prayed God to make her find her roots someday before it is too late. Tina Jones-Sawodogo said: Africans at home need to educate those in the Diaspora about who we are because a lots of misinformation about Arica are going around the world like a viral. The population of Africa in the Diaspora if well informed could be used to foster economic development in Africa as a whole. Our population is economic power. Speaking at a symposium to herald the roots festival themed ‘African Culture in the 21st Century: Prospects and Challenges’ Doctor Runoko Rashidi of California University – an African America said the programme organized by the Gambia is a good one because it helps bridges the gap between Africans at home and those in the Diaspora. In his welcome address, President of the Republic of The Gambia, Yahya AJJ Jammeh urged all Africans in the Diaspora to trace their roots, saying African can achieve more if they come together. Jammeh said the festival themed “Celebrating Unity Through Culture” is a pointer to the high value Gambians put on their authentic African culture as well as the promotion of cultural di-

versity and inter-cultural dialogue. “The need to include the cultural dimension into development cannot be over emphasized in this day of globalization. Culture is not only leisure. It affects our societies and daily lives. It encourages tolerance, harmony and understanding between people”. The Chief Commander officer of The Gambia however disclosed that his doors are open to potential investors in his country. The biennial event, which took place between 9th of May to 17th May in The Gambia, had many participants across the world in attendance. Africans from Canada, Scotland, United Kingdom, Jamaica, America and other countries of the world graced the 11th edition of The Gambia Roots Festival. Cultural dancers at the festival radiate the culture and the rich heritage of The Gambia in their dance. School Children were not left out of the celebration as some secondary school students came en mass to welcome participants and other tourists who choose to attend the event. In fact, breath took the glamour of the occasion. The mind-blowing reception provided by government and Indigenes of Juffereh and Albreda during the historical Festival made it a worthwhile experience for all participants. Among dignitaries that grace the occasion were a Poet, Mutabaruka, A Lecturer at the California University, Dr. Rashidi Runoko; Dr. Julius Garvey, son of Marcus Garvey, the father of Pan African and a host of others. Popular reggae musician, Sizzla Kalonji and A US based Musician, Yewande Austin performed at series of events to herald this year Roots Festival. Other activities used in commemorating the 11th edition of the Gambia Roots festival include canoe paddling competition and swimming competition. Meanwhile, in an interview with the Minister of Tourism and Culture of the Gambia, Hon. Fatou Mas Jobe-Njie says, Roots 2014 commemorates the enforced enslavement and transportation of millions of Africans to the Americas and the Caribbean Islands. Africans and friends of Africa from the Diaspora were presented with a unique opportunity to attend and participate in The International Roots Festival 2014.

The vision of the roots festival according to her was to connect all African in the Diaspora with those at home and serve as viable agent of change and development in the Gambia and in Africa at large. The 11th edition of the International Roots Festival, which is a historical, cultural and educational event, is designed to encourage peoples of African Descent who reside within the Diaspora to further discover, re-affirm and re-embrace their ancestral identity through confronting a physical past. Jobe-Njie said her Ministry invited all Africans descent and all persons committed to the well being of Africans and the development of Africa, to participate in development of The Gambia and Africa at large. “We invite you to become associated with this biennial event which is growing in steady numbers and reaching out to people residing within member States of the EU, The Caribbean Islands, The united states of America, Canada and Latin America who wish to fulfill an ambition of returning to their “roots” and to experience the life and cultures of their people with whom they have been separated for hundreds of years”. In The Gambia ancient traditions are still undiluted and in abundance to enrich those destined to obtain a deeper cultural and spiritual identity. The Gambia provides one the opportunity to redress and to come to terms with ones true antecedence. Speaking further, President Jammeh also acknowledged the global contributions made by Africans towards the world’s social, cultural and economic development during the last century. “Despite the enslavement of its people; the plundering of its natural resources and a highly organized conspiracy to keep Africa economically dependent, the people of Africa have come far, winning the struggle for Independence and Emancipation, liberating the Continent and establishing strong footholds throughout the Western World,” he argued. The Roots Festival according to Jammeh, brings together positive thinking Africans who share the same common objectives, origins and heritage, who collectively focus on all positive key aspects that may contribute to the social, cultural and economic growth of the Continent as we move towards the next century. Previous Roots Festivals that have taken place in The Gambia have resulted in higher levels of communication and co-operation amongst Gambians and Africans throughout the Diaspora.

Some primary school pupils welcoming participants to Albreda and Juffereh

Some indigenes of The Gambia entertaining participants from the canoe during the Canoe Paddling and Swimming competitions which were part of activities to mark this year Roots Festival in The Gambia Seaport, Banjul.

The ancient building in the historical Kuntah Kinteh Island, formerly Forth James PHOTOS: LAOLU ADEYEMI Island.

44 Saturday, May 24, 2014

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HEALTH FEATURE

Salt As Hidden Poison For Hypertension By Joseph Okoghenun VERYONE eats dietary salt. But too dietary E salt could lead to primary hypertension. Studies on people who depend on less salty diet confirmed that too salt is a necessary poison that people could live happily without. There are at least 40 careful studies in unacculturated human populations who at one time consumed, or continue to consume, less than 3 grams of salt per day and in these populations, blood pressure did not and does not rise with age. The example of Yanomamo Indians illustrate how too much salt could cause hypertension. “The Yanomamo Indians still lead a life very similar to the last million or so years of our evolution, and like primitive man eat a diet that is very low in salt and saturated fat and high in fruit, vegetables and roots. The Yanomamo Indians are not overweight, do not smoke and are very fit. Their blood pressure does not rise with age although they spend much of their time fighting and are under great stress. This tribe does not develop vascular disease, although many die of infection,” Prof. Graham MacGregor of Blood Pressure Unit, St George's Hospital Medical School, London and Prof. Hugh Edward De Wardener, wrote in International Journal of Epidemiology. “However, when they migrate to a Venezuelan or Brazilian town and adopt a western lifestyle, they, like native Americans, become overweight and develop diabetes and premature vascular disease. They appear,therefore, to be a group, which, though predisposed to vascular disease, is protected by the way they live. There are other similar examples, which clearly indicate that cardiovascular disease (strokes, heart attacks and heart failure) could be entirely prevented if we changed our diet and lifestyle.” Salt makes the body hold on to water, the extra water stored in the body could raises blood pressure. But the higher the blood pressure, the greater the strain on one’s heart, arteries, kidneys and brain. This act can invariably lead to heart attacks, strokes, dementia and kidney disease. Journal of Human Hypertension reported that dietary salt ‘s damage is beyond hyperten-

sion. “In addition to raising the blood pressure, dietary salt is responsible for several other harmful effects,” the journal reported. “ The most important are a number which, though independent of the arterial pressure, also harm the cardiovascular system. A high salt intake increases the mass of the left ventricle, thickens and stiffens conduit arteries and thickens and narrows resistance arteries, including the coronary and renal arteries. It also increases the number of strokes, the severity of cardiac failure and the tendency for platelets to aggregate. In renal (kidney) disease, a high salt intake accelerates the rate of renal functional deterioration.” Also, high salt intake may prevent blood pressure drugs such as diuretics from working as well as they could. Diuretics drugs, commonly known as "water pills," help the body get rid of unneeded water and salt through the urine. Getting rid of

excess salt and fluid helps lower blood pressure and can make it easier for the heart to pump. Diuretics may be used to treat a number of heart-related conditions, including high blood pressure, heart failure, kidney and liver problems, and glaucoma. In a study published in the American Journal of Hypertension this year, researchers led by Dr. Niels Graudal, a senior consultant at Copenhagen University Hospital in Denmark, said high levels of daily salt intake could shorten a person's life span and raise their risk for heart disease. "Salt intake above 12,000 mg [milligrams] is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality," the report said. " Too much salt is as bad as too little salt. The question then is how much salt are you supposed to consume per day? Adults are

advised to eat no more than 6 grams of salt a day – that is around one full teaspoon. There is a challenge with eating out when it comes to reducing the amount of dietary salt in food . Medical experts said while roughly 80 per cent of our dietary salt comes from processed foods like bread, biscuits and breakfast cereals, and prepared ready meals or takeaways, just 20 per cent comes from the salt we add while cooking or at the table. How should you then reduce high salt intake? Measure with teaspoon the amount of salt you want to add to your food, is the general advised. And avoid food seasonings as they are laden with sodium (salt). Rather, get extra flavour with herbs and spices, and chilli, ginger, lemon or lime juice. If you really cannot do without a salty favour, you can try using a small amount of low-sodium salt substitute. Avoid smoked meats and fish for they contain a lot of salt. Look out for low-salt recipes, and avoid eating out, if possible.

‘Nigeria Should Imitate Other Nations And Budget For Natural Medicine’ From Chuks Collins, Awka ROF. Elias Egoigwe Osinkennia, a versatile and widely travelled natural medicine practitioner is among the few Nigerian educated elites advocating for the recognition of African herbal medicine. Osinkennia has urged the federal, state and local governments to encourage further research, development and standardisation of herbal medicine, adding that herbal medicine has been acknowledged to be efficacious in the treatment of stroke, ulcers, poisons, mental ailment, infertility, epilepsy among others. “We Cannot, therefore, attempt to suppress it or its accomplishments for Ever,” he said. He said he refers patients to orthodox medical hospitals without hesitation whenever he has cases that are beyond spare of natural medicine. Desirous of expansion and better packaging, he intends to acquire grinding and blending machines to assist in fast preparation of herbs and roots. Nations like India, South Africa, Kenya and many others, he pointed Out, have motivated and encouraged their herbal practitioners to Flourish. Such nations, he stressed, have visibly as a matter of deliberate national policy continued to appropriate large chunk of their annual budget to herbal medical research, its study and growth. Through that, according to him, they have continued to expand the frontiers of herbal and natural medicine not just for the benefit of their nations but mankind. It as a result of such efforts, he added, that most of our moneybags throng those countries for medical tourism. The low level of government interest in herbal research and roots development, he

pointed out, was the main reason for the lack and near absence of botanical gardens in Nigeria. Such gardens as could be seen in places like India, Pakistan, Indonesia and even Switzerland, enable drug manufacturers easy access to the roots and herbs they require for their products. Osinkennia disclosed that what we have today as “food supplements” are granulated roots and herbs tactically packaged in fashionable manners by herbalists from other countries. “This is because governments of their countries are interested and involved in the sector, with a view to making the best out of it. They believed in their people’s abilities and the efficacy of their medications. Then, the authorities simply would step up studies, regulations and supervision of the practice. Most universities in those countries have herbal medicine and research as courses of study. This enables constant improvement in their applications and presentations in line with modern medical trends,” he said. In open display of his appreciation for orthodox medicine, Osinkennia said he has built and donated hospital to Nimo community, in order to promote maternal and child health care in the area. He said has given out several scholarships to bright but indigent students, build houses for the poor and also writes off their medical bills. The herbal expert is an active member and patron of many religious, community, national and international socio-cultural organizations. The herbal expert revealed a sharp and steady rise in the mental cases in the country, especially among men from

ages 20 to 50 .He traced it to a number of socially related causes, including unemployment, marital, political and spiritual factors. These, he pointed out manifest in form of rising insurgencies, restiveness,

Osinkennia

economic cum religious intolerance, kidnapping, murders, rape and armed banditry. He, therefore, urges those in position of authority to deliver democracy dividends.

TheGuardian

Saturday, May 24, 2014 | 45

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Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

NaturalHealth Natural Health With G. C. Ihesie

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

Your Liver And Your Health (III) T is now known that cigarette smoking is one Ibecause of the world’s most dangerous evil habits, tobacco smoke contains the most destructive substances in our environment. In our last publication, we noted, “… tobacco smoke hampers the normal development of many an organ in infants and children, especially the necessary firmness and strengthening of the liver…” Many people may wonder how tobacco smoke does harm the liver in infants and children. Today, exposure of infants to tobacco smoke has been linked to sudden infant death syndrome, and it is an established fact that maternal smoking during pregnancy or exposure to second-hand smoke affects children from infancy and beyond. Infants, young children and adolescents exposed to second-hand smoke may experience lung and liver insufficiency. Also, “passive smoking”, i.e. exposure of nonsmokers to environmental tobacco smoke, is associated with the increased risk of coronary heart disease, diabetes, cancer, etc. Studies have shown that tobacco smoke yields a mixture of more than 2,000 highly toxic chemicals, and out of these poisonous chemicals, carbon monoxide, tar and nicotine are the most deadly. For example, when tobacco smoke is inhaled, carbon monoxide is combined with haemoglobin (Hb) in the blood to form carboxyhaemoglobin. This complex compound interferes with the uptake of oxygen from the lungs and prevents their release into the tissues and cells where they are needed. The overall health of every organ in the body is dependent upon fresh oxygenated blood. The organs become weak and insufficient in their activities and functions when they are regularly deprived of the life-giving oxygen. When this happens on a daily basis, virtually all the organs in the body, namely the liver, kidneys, heart, stomach, stomach, brain, thyroid, eyes, etc are prevented from functioning optimally, thus disease may then start much later. Studies have shown that the organ-damaging effects of these poisonous substances (tar, nicotine and carbon monoxide) in tobacco smoke

are worse in foetus, infants and children, whose organs are developing at a very fast rate. More so, their foetal blood, with foetal hemoglobin, has a very high affinity (over 200 times than in adult) for these poisonous substances in tobacco smoke. Depriving the foetus, infants and children of their fair share of oxygen, either through maternal active or passive smoking, amount to strangulating and weakening of many of the rapidly developing organs. The liver is affected most, because it needs the highest concentration of oxygen to function optimally, especially at this foundational level of human life and physical existence. The liver has been described as the “Balance Wheel of Life,” “Living Laboratory” and regulator of the health of the physical body. A healthy liver is an efficient barrier that prevents the establishment of any kind of growths (benign or malignant) in the body. It is now known that almost all physical health problems are related to a malfunctioning or inadequate functioning of the liver, and in most cases, the foundation are laid during developmental stages of our

physical life: in utero, at infancy, during the childhood stage and during the years of adolescence. Diagnosis Of Liver Problems IN today’s world of artificiality, the “chemical age,” the liver has to work harder than ever. It must always try to cope with detoxifying thousands of toxins and chemicals added to our foods, drinks and the air we breathe, poisons from viruses, infectious bacteria, fungi, like yeast (Candida), mould, parasites (worms), etc. Therefore, its detoxification functions are easily overloaded and overwhelmed. Recent studies have shown that all over the world, liver problems are on the increase. It has been revealed globally that one in every 10 persons suffers one form of liver dysfunction or another. That is, the liver is overloaded, toxic, sluggish, insufficient in its activities or diseased. In fact, it has been discovered that by the time most people have reached the age of 30, their liver might probably be functioning at 75 per cent of its full capacity. Many natural medicine practitioners believe that one of the first signs of a weak, sluggish, congested and insufficient liver is anger and irritability, sadness, unpleasant moods, sensitivities to oily and fried foods, loss of appetite, coated tongue, malaise, fatigue, etc. These signs are indicating that the liver is weak and may therefore need help. Liver Function Tests UNFORTUNATELY, the current Liver Function Tests (LFTs) used primarily to screen or monitor liver diseases may not show the total health of the liver. For example, LFTs are indicated in some liver diseases when a patient is jaundiced. In this condition, blood test for Bilirubin; liver enzymes; ALT- Alanine aminotransferase- formerly known as SGPT (Serum Glutamate Pyruvate Transaminase); AST- Aspartate aminotransferase, formerly called SGOT (Serum Glutamic Oxaloaceti Transaminase); AP- Alkaline Phosphatase; and GGT- Gamma Glutamyl Transpeptidase are elevated in cases of viral Hepatitis A, B, C and toxic hepatitis, while Albumin, a major protein and blood clotting factor produced by the liver could be low in cases of chronic liver disease.

A high level of blood fats (total cholesterol and triglycerides) may be found in cases of fatty liver and build up of fat in other body organs. Also, elevated blood fats are usually assumed to be the first sign of liver dysfunction. Furthermore, LFTs are indicated in patients who have liver diseases, but are not jaundiced, e.g., convalescent post-hepatitis patients, chronic alcoholics and smokers, patients with cirrhotic and secondary liver cancer or hepatoma. There are specific immunological tests that allow the precise diagnosis of viral hepatitis A, B, C and D. Ultrasound scans, CAT scan and other imaging techniques are used to access the size and shape of the liver and to detect cancerous growths or tumours of the liver. There are cases where liver biopsy is carried out to really determine the actual state of the liver, i.e. where massive destruction of liver cells is suspected, e.g. in cases of severe, acute liver inflammation or owing to many years of chronic liver inflammation. In such cases, instead of liver cells regeneration, severe scarring of the liver cells (fibrosis) and the distortion of the “architecture” of the organ, a condition known as cirrhosis of the liver, occurs. Ascites (a collection of free fluid in the abdominal cavity) and easy bruising are the result of liver cirrhosis, owing to failure of the liver to manufacture albumin (protein), blood clotting factors, etc. As we have noted above, a weak and congested liver may show negligible signs and the symptoms of early liver dysfunction may be vague and non-specific. More so, the liver function tests may give “normal” results, because the conventional liver tests detect only a diseased or damaged liver and may not be sensitive enough to indicate when the liver is sluggish, weak or congested. Therefore, many natural medicine practitioners do recommend a liver diet and liver cleansing regimen as soon as some non-specific and vague symptoms are noted, such as anger and irritability, mood changes, poor concentration and “foggy brain,” intolerance to fatty and fried foods, etc. To be continued.

PetLife With Dr.Tunji Nasir Dr. Tunji Nasir. HE other day, we talked about the importance of serological titretesting after the initial puppy/kitten series of vaccination to determine whether the subjects concerned were actually immunised as a result of the vaccines administered to them and how it is even more relevant to periodically carry out the same process for adult subjects ‘one year after’ vaccination to prevent adverse sequel of over-vaccination. As we have already determined, the process is quite simple and fast. It only involves collecting a small amount of blood from these subjects and carrying out the process by your local veterinarian in his clinic. It should be a protocol that you should demand from your veterinarian to afford you a rest of mind about the effectiveness of the vaccination protocol. This is because there are lots of factors that could militate against the success of the entire process. There are the issues of vaccine and vaccination failures, which are plausible factors in this environment, owing to certain unsavoury practices of vaccine marketers. Sometimes, there is the issue of very deficient clinical judgments, like the unending and inexplicable

Pet Vaccination: Issues (2) practice of early vaccination of puppies before the complete decline of maternally derived antibodies in these puppies, which effectively renders these unfortunate puppies unimmunised. So, for the smart pet owner, the

extra cost to be incurred for this titre-testing is so much less important than the likely event of losing that priced puppy to utterly preventable diseases, like Parvo, distemper, hepatitis or even Leptospirosis.

For emphasis sake, let me tell you about some cases that we are currently dealing with in our facility. Four puppies, whose age range from 10 to 17 weeks, were brought in with the familiar history of poisoning. The complaint was that all puppies, except one, started vomiting and voiding bloody faeces in the last 24 hours with depressed appetite. The principal suspicion of the owner was that a “relief maiguard,’ who probably despises the enormity of the work of tending the puppies, deliberately poisoned them with rat poison and to that effect, the maiguard has been sacked this morning.” However, a subtle counsel that the problem be investigated, owing to the communal nature of the presentation and the fact that adult dogs in the house were not affected, was grudgingly acquiesced to by the owner. Because we had suspected Parvoviral Enteritis, based on a careful consideration of the history, despite his insistence that the puppies were vaccinated, we proceeded to take two actions.

One was to call the vet who had vaccinated these puppies to confirm the veracity of the man’s claims that the puppies were indeed vaccinated, because there was no documentation to show that the exercise was carried out. Of course, the vet returned an affirmative verdict. The second action was to try to detect parvovirus antigen in the blood of these subjects. The process took less than 10 minutes and all the puppies were confirmed to have the disease, despite claims of vaccination. The result of this test became opium for the client to be speculative when he suddenly conjectured that the veterinarian did not do his work of vaccinating the puppies. For, according to him, if he did, the situation would not have arisen in the first instance. Now, these are posers. Were the puppies vaccinated? If so, did the vaccine fail? Why did the vaccine fail? Or are we suddenly dealing with nonresponders? Could all the puppies be non-responders? I have surmised that the concept of non-responding individuals cannot stand here, because of certain circumstances that are exigent in this case. To be continued…

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Saturday, May 24, 2014

PHOTO NEWS

A Protesting mother from Chibok during the protest of “Bring Back Our Girls” in Abuja on Thursday. PHOTO: LADIDI LUCY ELUKPO

Protestants during the “Bring Back Our Girls” in Abuja on Thursday

Cross section of Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) Lagos State Wing during the protest of “Bring Back Our PHOTO AYODELE ADENIRAN Girls” safe and alive in Lagos on Thursday.

Pupils of Government schools and Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) Lagos State Wing during the protest of PHOTO AYODELE ADENIRAN “Bring Back Our Girls” safe, alive in Lagos on Thursday.

Chairman, Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Kwara State, Comrade Musa S. Abubakar (left) presenting a letter of protest to the Kwara State Governor, Dr Abdulfatah Ahmed during their protest to Government House, Ilorin over the abduction of Chibok girls on Thursday.

Cross-section of Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) members during their protest to Government House, Ilorin over the abduction of Chibok girls by Boko Haram on Thursday.

“Bring Back Our Girls” protest..

Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Prof. Viola Onwuliri and other Imo State women leaders during a prayer and fasting session for the nation and President Goodluck Jonathan held at the premises of Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education (AIFCE) in Owerri.

“Bring Back Our Girls” protest in South Africa

“Bring Back Our Girls” protest...

PHOTO: LADIDI LUCY ELUKPO

Saturday, May 24, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

BRANDNEWS

BRANDINTELLIGENCE

Creative Directors Circle Takes Off In Lagos OISED to synergise and P boost the growth of Nigeria’s advertising and creative industry, the Creative Directors Circle (CDC) comprising renowned creative technicians within the Nigerian creative industry have announced its smooth take-off in Lagos. The aggregation of these creative experts has been necessitated by the need to set the standard by which creativity is measured in Nigeria. In a statement by the President of CDC, Lanre Adisa, the major objective of the body is to act as pressure group to influence regulatory

bodies and fast-track professionalism in the advertising industry. According to him, “other objective of CDC is to put structures in place to catalogue the industry, identifying exemplary performance and celebrating them. Also, we are going to install a peer jury system to help balance the standard and ensure the industry doesn’t lack by constantly identifying and training the next generation. CDC will create an Archiving/Library system that would ensure creative works are accurately chronicled for posterity.” While acknowledging the

immense contribution of the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON), Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN) and other regulatory bodies in Nigeria, Lanre stated that CDC would play a strategic role in making a success of the Lagos Advertising Ideas Festival (LAIF) as a major stakeholder in what goes down with LAIF. Some of the inaugural members of CDC are Uzoma Okoye, MD/ECD Etuodi; Anthony Ekun, Executive Creative Director of SO&U; Abolaji Alausa, Creative Director at Noah’s Ark; Yomi Omotehinwa, Executive

Creative Director at Cosse; Steve Babaeko, CEO/CCO X3M Ideas, Clement Omemu: Managing Director/ECD at Rosabel; Kunle Shittu, Creative Director at STB McCANN; Temitayo Adereti, Creative Director at YBR; Tunde Sule, Creative Director at DDB; Chima Okenimkpe, Executive Creative Director at Insight Communications; Ken Atunwa, Executive Creative Director at TBWA; Suleman Momoh, Executive Creative Director at 141; Lanre Adisa, MD/Executive Creative Director at Noah’s Ark; and Kenny Badmus, Executive Creative Director at Centerspread.

BrandiQ Campus Club Train Moves To Redeemer’s University EQUEL to the successful launch of the first BrandiQ Campus SApril, Club at the Pan-Atlantic University (PAU), Lekki, Lagos, in students of the Redeemer’s University are next in line to experience the unique impact of robust cerebral gymnastics. BrandiQ Campus Club is a platform designed to intellectually equip students of Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC) in universities and polytechnics, and develop their brainpower and creative minds during their formative years in school. The event, which will hold on May 29 at the main auditorium of Redeemer’s University, will provide students the rare privilege of interacting with industry experts in the Nigerian marketing communication space. According to the Editor-in-Chief, BrandiQ Magazine, Mr. Desmond Ekeh, the major objective of establishing the club is to “give students the platform to assimilate the industry and activities of players in the industry and help them transit from the university to the labour market.” Ekeh, who stated that he conceived the idea of a brandfocused magazine right from his days as a student of journalism, announced the intention to move the BrandiQ Campus Club train to other major campuses across the federation.

Wild Fusion Unveils New Digital Training Centre FRICA’S leading digital marketing agency and Google A AdWords certified partner, Wild Fusion, has launched a specialist digital training organisation, Wild Fusion Digital Centre (WDC), in a bid to provide expert digital marketing training. Speaking on the latest development, Managing Director of Wild Fusion Africa, Noel Douglas-Evans, commented on the Professional Diploma in Digital Marketing. “We are living in an ever-evolving digital world and developing capability in the digital marketing arena is absolutely paramount. What we offer will help raise the standard of marketing, help build capacity in the digital industry, and create a new level of marketing professionals to the business community. The benefits for all of us working in this expanding digital space are obvious as more and more marketers in digital arena learn their craft. “This is an internationally recognised digital marketing certification programme accredited by the Digital Marketing Institute (DMI), Ireland, and also by the Scottish Qualifications Authority.” With its focus of providing practical training, all courses at Wild Fusion Digital Centre are delivered by experienced certified digital professionals who make use of the digital tools and knowledge taught in its courses on a daily basis. WDC provides professional training courses that specialise in helping businesses train their staff in creating real opportunities for increased access to consumer leads, brand awareness and increased revenues streams across digital platforms. The centre is the official certified local partner of the DMI, Ireland, the global standard in digital marketing education and certification. It offers DMI’s Professional Diploma in Digital Marketing suitable for professionals at all levels involved in planning, implementing and measuring digital strategies.

President of CDC, Lanre Adisa (left); Creative Director, SO&U, Tony Ekun; Vice President of CDC, Chima Okenimkpe; and Treasurer of CDC, Steve Babaeko at a brainstorming session in Lagos…recently.

LG Donates Air Conditioners To Lagos Health Centre S part of its Corporate tainability; we have enabled malaria which has been pro- deprived institutions and A Social Responsibility (CSR) investment and innovation nounced to be the biggest communities. It is my firm activities, LG Electronics, a required to deploy new tech- killer of pregnant women and belief that the items we are global leader in Consumer Electronics and Heating, Ventilation and Air conditioning, visited Ojokoro Primary Health Centre in Lagos where it donated some units of the recently launched LG Mosquito Away Air Conditioner as well as treated mosquito nets to the institution. The brand, which has received accolades from Nigerian consumers for having consumers best interest at heart in the development of cutting edge technological products, embarked on this gesture in order to enhance health care and fight the scourge of malaria, which has been confirmed to be the major killer of pregnant women and children under the age of five in Nigeria. Speaking at the occasion, General Manager, Air Conditioning and Energy Solutions, LG Electronics West Africa Operations, Mr. Junhwa Jeong said: “Over time, we have remained competitive while improving sus-

nologies and to safely and responsibly develop progressive products.” He added: “We trust that the Mosquito Away Air Conditioning units as well as the treated mosquito nets we are donating today will improve health care and further push back the scourge of

children under the age of five in Nigeria.” Also speaking, the Managing Director, Fouani Nigeria Limited, Mr. Mohammed Fouani said: “This visit which is part of LG Electronics’ Corporate social Responsibility (CSR) activities is aimed at reaching out to

Cristal Festival Now Hold In October RGANISERS of the muchawaited Cristal Festival, which was initially billed to hold between July 23 and 24, 2014, has been postponed to October. A statement by the Founder & CEO, Cristal Festival Network, Christian Cappe, said: “We have decided to postpone the Cristal Award till October due to the wave of attacks that shook Kenya on May 3 and 4. Hence, as a result of concern raised by these events, we are also compelled to move the event to Morocco. Our responsibility as event organiser is, foremost, to

ensure the security of our attendees, guests and staff. Contrary to what we experienced in the past in other countries, the attacks constitute a real risk to citizens and tourists.” She also revealed that they consulted widely before arriving at the decision. “In the end, it seemed preferable to postpone the event till a later date, while maintaining our human and economic investment on the African continent. Given the strong increase of entries in competitions, and the high-end range of conferences that lay ahead,

donating today will go a long way to empower this health centre as well as the people of this community in their quest to enjoy sound health.” Receiving the items on behalf of the health centre, the Chairman of Ojokoro LCDA, Hon, Olabisi Olabinjo commended LG Electronics for the gesture.

we decided to postpone the event and expand the programme. It will, therefore, be held in Marrakech in line with the Data World Congress scheduled for late September,” she said. According to her, Juries will be invited from September 30 while members of the Advertisers Grand Jury and African Leadership Council will be invited from October 2. The Awards Ceremony and Gala Dinner will be held at the Pullman Palmeraie on the evening of October 3. Regarding competitions, the eligibility period will be extended until September 5.

LUTH, Pathcare, Others Win Health Awards HEN the two-day 2014 Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) in W Health in Nigeria Conference opened in Abuja recently, it did not only create a platform for discussions around the huge benefits of PPP but also created an opportunity for existing ones to be assessed and rewarded. The Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), PathCare Laboratories, Primus International and Garki Hospital were among those recognised and awarded for their participation in PPPs in the health sector. Mr. Emmanuel Abolo of the PPPs in Health Nigeria, noted that the objective of the award is to recognise organisations who have played strategic roles in upgrading healthcare infrastructure and services through PPP arrangement, adding that nominations for the awards were based purely on a team of independent assessors. According to him, the organisation recognises that to build sustainable healthcare system and infrastructure in the face of growing challenge, Nigeria must embrace informed PPPs as a means of easing the strain on government budget. Tagged “Connecting the Dots: Policy, Practice and Profitability,” the conference was put together to engender greater traction for the practice of PPPs in the health sector of the Nigerian economy.

Sterling Bank Sponsors 10th AMAA In Bayelsa S part of its resolve to expand the marketing opportunities of A the African movie industry and bolster creativity in Nollywood, Sterling Bank has concluded plans to sponsor the 10th edition of the African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA). The event, which will hold today in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, at the newly refurbished Dr. Gabriel Okara Cultural Centre, is expected to rally support for talented thespians in the African movie industry. Speaking on its involvement in the sponsorship of the AMAA, which will be hosted by Bayelsa State Tourism Development Agency, the Group Head, Strategy and Communications of Sterling Bank, Mr. Shina Atilola, stated that the decision of the bank was based on the need to invest in the entertainment sector to fully exploit the marketing opportunities that abound in it.

48 Saturday, May 24, 2014

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BRANDINTELLIGENCE

With DESMOND EKEH desmondekeh@yahoo.com; 08023215535, 08111813032

Brand Packaging: Tracking The Acceptability Of Sachet Products By Nigerian Consumers By Lukmon Oloyede HE marketing approach of packaging prodT ucts in sachets could be traced back to India in the early 80s when HUL and CavinKare companies started resorting to Low Unit Pricing (LUP) strategy. These companies used their sachet pack to extend sales in the low income group especially among low end consumers in urban and rural markets. Ever since, sachet products have become a marketing strategy deployed by brand owners within the Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) industry to bolster market penetration and Return On Investment. By this means, it makes the products available in small, more affordable packs to fill the bottom-of-the-economic-pyramid segment. Years ago, shop keepers in corner shops would fill tea, water, flour, powders and other goods into small nylon bags, using word-of-mouth to trade to consumers who wandered into their shops. Since then, we have come a long way; we no longer have the time to spend large parts of our days purchasing, preparing and consuming goods. The trend of sachet packaging has brought a new set of demands and needs for branding and packaging. It has also led to a sharp rise in the demand for single-serve, ready-to-consume and, most of all, convenient product packaging. Sachet or packet is a small disposable bag or pouch, made from plastic, tin foil, or Mylar, often used to contain single-use qualities of foods or consumers goods. Arguably, Cowbell sachet holds a leading position in powdered milk market in Nigeria today. The brand has also found its way into the hearts and homes of thousands of consumers in many neighbouring countries, including Benin, Nigeria, Chad and the Central African Republic. Nowadays, sachet pack is not only used in the promotion of water, milk and detergents, but also other segments from drinks to beverages, drugs, cosmetics and confectionery to oral care. The concept has continued to be a major tool used to intensify sales and improve market share, especially when introducing a new product into a competitive market. Besides, since sachet packs often come in small economic sizes, it makes it possible for low income consumers to afford them. For instance, when Seaman Aromatic Schnapps was struggling to re-position itself as a youthful brand after many years of placing itself as a royal and success celebration brand, the brandowner’s introduction of sachet pack was a gimmick that enabled the brand to suavely key into this market segment.

Similarly, the launch of Hypo bleach in sachet stirred competition with JIK, a giant brand in the segment, in just few years of its entrance into the market. Hypo, which came out in sachet and pet bottle, filled the vacuum of the mass market that has always craved for single use and affordable bleach pack that suits their needs. Recent findings by The Guardian have revealed that single-use sachets with their ease of use, aesthetic appeal and versatility have become one of the key pack styles allowing brands to adapt their products to consumers’ active lifestyle. It has also allowed consumers to take their lifestyle on the road. Commenting on the reasons for consumers’ penchant for sachet products, Lead Strategist at Reputation Raise, Mr. Tobiloba Olusesi, attributed the trend to the desire of consumers to have their products on-the-go and also in small affordable prices. He said: “The trend has forced more brand owners to launch their

products in sachets in order to meet the need and standard of living of the consumers.” Olusesi also believes the packaging of products in sachets have become a trend that has come to stay. He, however, recommended that there is a need for persistent inspections and studies by concerned agencies, such as National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), in order to ensure quality control and safe guard the health of consumers. The Executive Director of STARCOM Media, Mr. Ayodele Kupoluyi, attributed the consumers’ affinity to sachet-packaged products to financial constraints of the mass market. “Sachet products are often referred to as economic pack because it is often targeted at the mass market. In the past, packaging simply had the purpose of protecting goods. Today we see it as an integral part of the product, as well as a reflection of our lifestyle. Whether it contains our daily medication or favourite flavour coffee,

Samsung Galaxy S5’s Football Will Save the Planet Advert: A Review By Abiodun Obisesan HE aggressive battle of mindshare of T smartphone consumers was demonstrated recently when Samsung unveiled its latest Television Commercial (TVC) tagged Football Can Save the Planet. Challenging traditional status quo, as far as TVC production is concerned, viewers of this maverick science fiction TVC have been thrilled by its sheer inventiveness and robust narrative. Not only has the mass media aided in sustaining creativity in TVCs, it has also been strategic in stimulating the interest of consumers on specific brands which apparently Samsung intend doing. The brand displayed a keen awareness of its target market which football as an iconic sport enjoys a huge global following of well over one billion viewers across the world. It strategically weave the unique selling point of Galaxy S5 around Football Can Save the Planet narrative in a bold move to stampede its competition, while also achieving a break-away status that is symbolic of championing a new order within the smartphone segment of the market. It is worth noting that in February 2014, the heroics of Homer‘s legend in King of Ithaca, Odysseus, was fused into

15 characters as typified by Heineken’s ad campaign tagged Odyssey. Instinctively, Heineken embarked on the Odyssey ad campaign to inspire wholesome greatness in man. With the entrance of Samsung’s Football Can Save the Planet whose high-flying ad was scripted and produced by Heathrow Advertising Agency located in London, the creative genius in this TVC production also confirm the grill and grits of a painstaking and artful brand television commercial. In the four minutes, 16 seconds TVC, a Hollywood dramatic scene was created which shows the world’s top players in training at a secret location ahead of the Galaxy11’s showdown against the intrusion of aliens. Legendary German player and coach, Franz Beckenbauer has taken his team of Galaxy11 warriors to a mystery location, equipped with space-age technology and state-of-the-art facilities, to hone their skills ahead of the ultimate intergalactic contest. The session starts with a unique version of target practice and agility activation featuring Lionel Messi, Victor Moses, Christiano Ronaldo, Mario Gotze, Wayne Rooney, Ike Casillas, Chung-Young, Radamel Falcao, Luiz

Oscar, Wu-lei, Aleksandr Kerzhaov and Stephane El Shaarawy. These football gladiators were carefully selected to represent the continent that is on the verge of alien invasion. In the final scene, the Galaxy11 stamped out the aliens as Messi’s incredible strike resolved the conflict. While the rave Football Can Save the Planet will continue to resonate among creative geniuses and viewers around the world, some consumers have critiqued the ad. Fredrick Bamidele, who works as an ad executive at Swift Company, maintained that the scientific fiction TVC was over-hyped. “That ad is simply fantastic. It must have cost millions of dollars to have been executed with the array of firstclass football stars. But I feel that most of the scenes were over-dramatised, leaving little room for credulity.” Also, Mariam Shuabu made her input to the Samsung ad. ‘‘I am not a football fan and find it pretty difficult to connect to the football-centered television commercial. No, doubt, it is a very arresting ad but most female consumers, who do not enjoy football and admire their stars, may not understand the deep import of the ad.”

sachets have become our constant companions,” he said. Citing the example of Cowbell milk, he noted further that “the company gained huge market penetration with the dairy market ever since the introduction of its sachet Cowbell brand and, before long, forced the biggest market player in its category, Peak milk, manufactured by FrieslandCampina WAMCO Nigeria Limited, to launch in sachet too. Kneipe Nigeria Limited, maker of Dano Milk and Nutricia, also followed suit promptly in order to also compete at that segment of the market. “They enable consumers to take their needs and luxuries on the road. Producers have the possibility to profit from trend by investing in advanced sachet packaging technology, thus increasing their market share as well as profitability. So, to me, I see it as a win-win thing — both brand owners and consumers meet their demands through sachet packaging.”

Dele Odugbemi Becomes MediaShare’s MD integrated marketLin EADING ing communications group Nigeria, the Prima Garnet Africa Group, has announced the appointment of Dele Odugbemi as the new Managing Director of MediaShare, its media independent/management agency. Until his appointment, Dele Odugbemi worked with Aegis Media Group in South Africa and was responsible for the business growth and supervising of the General Motors Account Team in South Africa. He also served as the MD of Ogilvy Africa Media. Odugbemi, an MBA holder in Technology Management, has over 15 years of experience in multinational media account management and has managed key clients like Virgin Atlantic, MTN, Diageo, SuperSports, MNet, Nestle, Unilever, Motorola and Airtel at both local and international levels. The media management veteran also worked with the OMD Network

where he rose to the position of Head of Planning and Innovations at MediaReach OMD Nigeria. Odugbemi, who is particularly strong in unconventional media placement, has been involved in a number of significant transactions within and outside the Nigerian advertising industry. As the MD of Ogilvy Africa Media, he did extensive work on Airtel and other key accounts across many markets within the region. The new MediaShare boss has had broad complementary competencies covering media sponsorships, digital media management and senior account management. A former lecturer of lecturer/consultant on Technology Policy, Odugbemi is a regular speaker at advertising industry programmes across the continent. He is expected to bring in vast and varied industry experience into the company and group at large.

TheGuardian

Saturday, May 24, 2014 | 49

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Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Cover

Some sympathisers clearing debris at the scene of Tuesday blast in Jos

Jos Blast: Survivors, Victims, Relatives Recount Ordeals Water Tanker driving into the scene of the blast perse the crowd that were hitting the suspected parked J5 car. The angry youths were hitting the UESDAy was another black and evil day in car with stones, because they believed that the Jos, the Plateau State capital, following the vehicle was parked there for evil intention. twin bomb explosions that rocked the densely That the suspected bomb-laden vehicle later populated area of Murtala Mohammed way blew off confirmed the suspicion of the irate near the Terminus Market, mainly occupied by youths. People who surged to the scene were street traders. The incident which left scores uncontrollable as everybody wanted to see dead, and property worth millions of naira what was happening and find their beloved destroyed occurred at around late noon, when ones who were in the market. It took the comactivities in the market were in full swing. bined efforts of the security personnel to conBy 3.00pm on that day, the first explosion was trol the crowd. heard with vibration felt metres away from the Personnel of the Fire Service were on hand to scene, shattering glass windows and car doors put off the smokes bellowing from the blasts outside the scene, while any available object at and they eventually succeeded leaving bare the the scene like human beings, vehicles, tables victims of the explosions. Some of the dead peoand other objects were squeezed beyond recog- ple were burnt beyond recognition. Some have nition. no hands, legs, or heads. The horizontal and As sympathisers rushed to the scene to catch a popular Ahmadu Bello Way leading to the scene glimpse of what happened, after about 26 min- of the incident was littered with chunk of utes of the first blast, another explosion went human flesh. The explosions cut and flung off with devastating and deafening effect. That parts of the victims to the other streets. second blast would have had more effect but it People who could see their beloved ones in was averted by the soldiers of the Special Task their shops were seen weeping, wailing and cryForce (STF) who fired guns into the air to dising. Later the security agents cordoned off the

From Isa Abdulsalami Ahovi, Jos

areas, while cleaning commenced. Because of the enormous destruction and havoc caused by the blasts, clearing of the debris is still going on and immediate opening of the site for business to commence is not yet in sight. The State commissioner for Information and Communication, Barrister Olivia Dazyam, who briefed the journalists from time to time, disclosed that the two sites of the explosion are not yet good for human existence and that fumigation is being carried out to avert the outbreak of some disease. At the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), Plateau State Specialist Hospital, Bingham University Teaching Hospital (Jankwano), Our Lady of Apostle (OLA) Hospital, FOMWAN Clinic and yellow Clinic, Nasarawa, there were no enough bed spaces for the victims. The dead were just piled together, making it even difficult for journalists to accurately count the number. Some of the survivors sustained various degree of injuries including life-threatening ones. That is why it is not possible to arrive at a correct figure giving much room for journal-

ists to speculate, because according to the Zonal Director of the National Emergency Agency (NEMA), Malam Abdulsalam Mohammed, more corpses are still being recorded everyday making it extremely difficult to arrive at a particular figure. “It will be out of place to give a casualty figure now as we are still discovering more corpses every day.” Information and Communication Commissioner said that preliminary investigations have revealed that congestion in the affected areas of the bomb blast contributed immensely to the high number of casualties which hampered evacuation efforts. Dazyam therefore emphasised the need for people to comply with the law banning street trading in the state which is still in place. He solicited for the cooperation of the public to ensure the enforcement of the law. A 200 Level student in the Department of Religions Studies of the University of Jos, Miss Martha, told The Guardian that her deceased mother was a petty trader in the market, adding that the bomb exploded right in front of her

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50 | Saturday, May 24, 2014

COVER

Gory Tales Of Jos Twin Blast CONTINUED FROM PAGE 49 mother and reduced her body to pieces. Benson Nnoli, a Mass Communication student of the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) who said he was immediately contacted by his younger brother who informed him that their mother had lost her two legs and one hand to the blasts, adding that their mother later died the next day. According to the calm Nnoli “it is better that she died because losing two legs and one hand is not a good thing. She will no longer be useful to herself and other people again. She would have just been a burden and liability. I think, as my other siblings agree with me, it is better that she died.” Kabiru Usman Mohammed, a mobile dealer of second hand cloth, said that no sooner that he left the place of the blast than the bomb occurred. He said he thanked the God for saving his life. But he said that he is not a happy man as he is mourning the death of his elder brother, Mallam Yusuf Mohammed who died in the blast. He said his brother has provision stores opposite the scene of the blast. “He died immediately and all his goods in the stores were destroyed. We were able to see his dead body in the store before he was evacuated to the hospital. Again, our younger brother, Hussaini, who is in primary four, who feigned illness in order to avoid going to school that day, also died with him. What a double tragedy!” Mallama Aisha Garba Shekarau, a housewife who is on admission in one of the hospitals, said that she went to the market to buy provisions. “When I went to the first store, the price there was too high. I went to the other one and the price was almost the same. I now decided to go to the last store and that if the price remains the same, I will come back to the first seller. I was about getting to the place when the explosion occurred. “I didn’t know how I got here. I was unconscious. But when I gained consciousness, I discovered I am in the hospital. I started feeling pains and I realized that I had a fracture in my left leg which the doctors are trying to fix. I thank God. But one of our neighbours from Angwan Rogo is still missing up till now. We don’t know what actually happened to her. We would have gone to the market together but since she had a lot to buy that day, she left before me.” A woman on admission at OLA Hospital, Mrs. Mopelola Ephraim, who said she had been slated for discharge, said she has no fracture, but wounds all over her body. According to her, she was just passing by when it occurred, adding that she would have passed the area before the explosion but because there was a hold up occasioned by the street traders and hawkers who have literally narrowed the road for easy passage of vehicles,

she had to come down from her vehicle to walk to Terminus. She said she was coming from Lamingo where she went to visit her friend who is working in JUTH. In some of the hospitals treating the injured, some victims could not speak as their mouths are either stitched or their heads covered. In some cases doctors do not allow journalists to talk to them so that they do not force themselves against their ability. In all these hospitals, doctors are working round the clock to ensure that those admitted are given the maximum services. At Plateau Specialist Hospital, the Chief Medical Director, Dr. Sanusi Gidado disclosed that 79 victims were brought, 44 were dead and 35 injured, only five people out of the 35 admitted, 30 were treated and discharged. In one of the hospitals, a victim who is on admission does not have any physical injury but could not talk. He was just looking without responding to any overture. The doctor confirmed that he did not sustain any physical injury, adding that scanning also revealed that the patient does not have any internal injury. But members of the family who are with him said the victim is neither dumb nor deaf. “This is our brother who is a trader where the blast exploded. We are praying to God to bring him back to his normal self. And with the help of the doctors also, he will regain himself.” A relation stated. Shops along the busy Ahmadu Bello Way have remained closed since the blasts occurred. Also shops at Murtala Mohammed Way, Rwang Pam Street, Kashim Ibrahim Street, Masalancin Jumat and part of Bukuru Park all remained closed for the two days not under duress but out of sympathy for those who lost their beloved ones. Immediately after the blast, the restive youths at Angwan Rukuba, Tina Junction, Gada Biu, mobilised for reprisal attacks. But this was swiftly brought under control as they were dispersed by the security agencies. Before the security operatives could come, the youths had killed one person while about three Keke NAPEP (tricycles) drivers were beaten and their tricycles seized. The one person killed was dumped in a shallow gutter. Investigation revealed that within the Hausa dominated areas, the elders were able to prevail on their restive youths who were also poised for reprisal action. This means that while shops around terminus areas were locked, business activities were booming around places like Bauchi Road, Zololo Junction, Dilimi Angwan Rogo, Fillin Ball, Congo Junction, Rikkos and Gangare. Also in other Christian dominated areas that are not close to the scene of the blast like Tudun Wada, Dadin Kowa, Anglo-Jos, Bukuru, Farin Gada, Rukuba Road, Gada Biu, business activities boomed. The Christian community in Plateau is accus-

Some survivors of the blast being taken to hospital for treatment: PHOTOS: ISA ABDUSALAMI AHOVI

ing the Hausa community of connivance with the suicide bombers, saying that most of the bomb blast incidents are linked to Islam. They said the suicide bombers live among them, yet they are either afraid to expose them or cover them up. But in interview with the Hausa community denied any form of collaboration with what they call “criminal elements.” They argued that where the blasts took place was occupied by both Muslims and Christians altogether. “It is an attack on everybody. If the blast was targeting Christians, it would have been somewhere like churches. Muslims and Christians are all victims.” Recently, the Church of Christ In Nations (COCIN) blamed the spate of insurgency on Islam saying that Boko Haram is a child of Islam. According to COCIN President, Rev. Dachollom Datiri, “It is manifestly evident that Boko Haram is a terrorist, militant fundamentalist Islamic Rebel group. It is a Jihad group and their objective is mainly to Islamise Nigeria by attacking Christian communities, slaughtering and using specially made swords to slice off their heads, killing and removing the vital parts of the body for ritual purposes, looting, abducting and raping of Christian girls and women. “Boko Haram is a child of Islam. It is a brainchild of Islamic fundamentalism brooded over the years by radical Muslim youth groups trained and indoctrinated both locally and internationally by extremists to hate and kill Christians. “Even though Boko Haram claims that their war is against Western education, yet they thrive on using the very components and products of western education and civilization, eg. Car, communication and internet facilities, weapons, and they have not wage their war against Emirs, Governors and elites, some of who have attended and their children attended first class schools all over the world. Yet Boko Haram continues to attack with reckless abandon innocent Nigerians in schools, churches and public places. Most places targeted are predominantly Christian centres.” Meanwhile, government agencies and groups have been visiting the state and the scene of the blast. The Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, visited the scene of the blast on Wednesday from where he proceeded to the Government House where the Deputy Governor, Mr. Ignatius Longjan received him. The police chief told the deputy governor that the government would not tolerate what had happened, adding that investigation into the blast is ongoing, promising that whoever is behind the dastardly action will be brought to justice. Abubakar said President Goodluck Jonathan felt pained hence, he sent him to come to

assess the situation. Abubakar vowed that the perpetrators of the blast would not go unpunished. He further said the police would do everything possible to unmask the perpetrators of the Tuesday blast. He stressed that, “we have visited the injured in the hospital and they are fast recovering.” He described the situation as very unfortunate, promising that security agencies are on top of the issue. “We would do anything humanly possible to unmask those who committed this heinous act.” Abubakar appealed to the good people of plateau state to continue to be patient and provide adequate information to the security agencies so that they will be able to arrest those behind the evil act. He also promised to work closely with the Plateau state government and hospital management to ensure that the victims recover. Responding, Longjan thanked the federal government and the President for the love and concern shown. Mohammed had since left government House for the Yakubu Gowon Airport Jos enroute Abuja. Longjan had earlier visited the Plateau Specialist Hospital where he cheered those on admission receiving treatment. Speaking with journalists after the visit, Longjan disclosed that the government would foot the bills of all the injured ones in the various hospitals, saying that the government is very much concerned about their state of health. He appealed to the citizens of the state to take what had happened with every sense of equanimity and calmness as explosions of that nature do not discriminate, adding that anybody can be affected whether one is a Muslim, Christian or a nonbeliever. He said that the moment called for a sober reflection, pointing out that it was not the time for apportioning blame. “What has happened has happened. This is not only in Plateau State.” The deputy governor advised the citizens of the state, especially the journalists not to be rushing to the scene of a bomb blast. At the Specialist Hospital, the Chief Medical Director, Dr. Sanusi Gidado, told journalists that two people died on Thursday morning. Expectedly, the restive youth of Angwan Rukuba, Tina Junction, Gada Biu wanted to mobilise for a reprisal attack, but were swiftly dispersed by a combined team of the soldiers of the Special Task Force (STF) and the Police, but before they were dispersed one person was reportedly killed with others injured. It was gathered that the Hausa Muslim elders were able to prevail and persuade their restive youth who wanted to cause crisis and nothing happened. The scene of the incident has been cordoned off by the security operatives while shops around Ahmadu Bello Way, Murtala Mohammed Way, Rwang Pam street, Kashim Ibrahim, part of Bukuru Park, Masalacin Jumat were all locked.

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Saturday, May 24, 2014

COVEREXTRA Dating website, Badoo is a popular rendezvous for people seeking love, but the site has also become a danger zone where sex friends and Internet scammers are on the prowl. AJIBOLA AMZAT observed the activities on the social network for a couple of months and brings this report ARELY eight years after its launchB ing in London, Badoo, a dating website has become a favorite rendezvous for millions of subscribers across the globe. According to Alexa Internet, an American company that provides commercial web traffic data, Badoo ranks as the 136th most popular website in the world with over 140 million registered users. In fact the popularity of Badoo may have beaten the imagination of Andrey Andreev, the Russian entrepreneur who founded the site. Created to serve as a meeting place for date hunters and love seekers, Badoo already operates in 180 countries including Nigeria. But while many subscribers use Badoo to find friends, dates, and future spouse, many more use the site as a tool to carry out illicit acts. Badoo now may have become more of a site where sex predators, online romance scammers and con artists lay siege for unsuspecting visitors. Victims of Strange Lovers In Nigeria, Rivers State Police Command had recently arrested a five-man gang of kidnappers, including a lady who through Badoo lured an oil worker and a businessman into a hideout where they brutalized and fleeced the latter of their savings. The victims eventually died while in captivity. There was also the sad story of a 33year-old woman befriended on Badoo by a young man who led her to be gang-raped by seven boys at Idi -Iroko, Ogun State. The suspects were arrested only after they had violated the poor lady. Many more are the sad stories of ‘love’ nurtured on Badoo, which goes unreported. Anonymity, the First Sign of Danger nosy Visits to Badoo website by this reporter over a period of two months reveal a pattern that normally should have put a wary caller on red alert. First, is the use of code-name or pseudonym by several subscribers. Examples of such names include Brown Princess, Simplemercy, C Gold, Her Majesty, Angel Eyez, Alhaji, Mr. Strong, Handsome and many more. With names such as these, the authentic identity of such subscribers is masked. A visitor is then left to rely only on the identity provided by profile photographs of the subscriber. But then, the photograph could as well be the image of some individuals in far away land, and not the one belonging to the prospective date. Notwithstanding, there are others

Screen shot of Badoo dating site

Badoo: A Lair For Sex Predators, Scammers? who provide full names, some of which may as well turn out to be a fake. Interestingly, there are Badoo subscribers who display photos of celebrities on their profile page, giving off the impression that the rich and famous are also available for Internet romance. Often time, this is a scam. While on the site, the reporter had attempted to chat up someone he thought was Mercy Johnson because of the photographs displayed on her profile page only to find out that the person was an impostor. On her wall, the fake Ms. Johnson listed her interests to include: A man between 35 and 75 years of age who is rich and generous and ready to shower her with gifts. “I am a shopaholic,” she added. There are also profile photographs of Caucasian women on display among

the group of people that are supposed to be living Lagos. One of such women is Peggy, 29, who wants to date a handsome, but rich fellow. As a Badoo ‘veteran’ pointed out, some these pictures especially those showing white faces were harvested from the Internet. The images are mere baits deployed to woo an unsuspecting date. “The site has so many scammers on it, and no way to contact customer service,” a subscriber complained in anotherocial network. Another way Badoo’s users hide identity is by giving one-word answer to questions. An anonymous Badoo subscriber spoke about people who give short answers to questions whenever he engages them in conversation. “They couldn’t really answer my questions properly. So I decided to do some research and found their profiles were a fake. I feel stupid for going on there.”

Members of five-man gang arrested over the killings of an oil workers and a businessman in Rivers state.

Andreev

By giving scanty answers, it is difficult to discover if the person at the other end is lying. Nevertheless, Badoo subscribers do not always hide identity because they are out to con others. There are those who conceal their identity simply as a way to protect themselves from cyber prowlers who are out for no good. A lady who identified herself as Ritacy said, she used that name in order to stay out of trouble. “You really do not know who is there on the other side.” Virtual Love Nest Though Badoo has gained reputation as “a meeting place for dishonest people,” as a subscriber described it, some people have indeed found love on Badoo. The case of a 25-year-old lady, Sarah comes to mind. “I have been dating my boyfriend for 6 months now. He is a soldier. He always shows me love and tells me how much he loves me. I met him on Badoo,” Sarah was quoted on Ladun Liadi’s blog. This endorsement does not come near the testimony of a guy who identified himself as Rotsen on Nairaland. He met his girl friend on Badoo in 2010, “I was at Badoo to flirt, but surprisingly, when I came across my wife online, I started interviewing her. At the end of the day, I liked the things she told me about herself. I guess she liked the things I also told her about myself because we fell for each other when we first saw at her office. The next day, I appeared at her office again and offered to take her out and she obliged. It was while we were leaving the place that I proposed to her and she accepted. Within one month I traveled with my people to their place in Delta State for an introduction. Three Months later, I married her traditionally. Eleven months

after, she gave me a bouncing baby girl.” This is the kind of story that Andreev and his 200 employees may like to hear. In fact, the website refers to itself more as a social network than a straight dating site. The two months of socializing on Badoo by this reporter has also produced three friends: Ese Baby, 27; Ritazy, 30 and Paula, 36. They are indeed real people with genuine interest for romance. Badoo As Scammer’s lair But there are also acquaintances like Blessing who invited the reporter to Festac in Lagos for quick sex on the first meeting; Tosin, who tried to sell herself as a Marketing student at University of Abuja; Sharonkay who needed a companion for a gig in Ikeja and wanted the reporter to come the first day of their meeting on Badoo. But none of them beats the persuasive power of Mary, 29. Hear Mary speak: “Hello I will love to tell you a bit about me; I am friendly, courteous, affectionate, respectful, and most of all a gentle-lady. I believe in being open and honest, loving your family, being a real friend, treating others with respect, being committed to the ones you love regardless of their actions, showing affection, doing the little things that show you care, listening before deciding, and of course true love.” Mary said she earns reasonable income, and wanted a true lover. But there are many they earn low income and are interested in men three times older. Yes, true love seems to be what some Badoo subscribers really want, but that is the scarcest thing to find on Badoo. “It is a site for the sex freak and cyber crooks,” said a journalist who had been on Badoo before she got tired of the deceit on the site.

Saturday, May 24, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

PEOPLE holised wine. This means that they produced alcoholic wine. But through the process of evaporation or under vacuum; under reduced pressure have been able to remove the alcohol, hence the term. De-alcoholized is the right term. Most of those called non alcoholic in this country are juices or sparkly fruit drink; appetizers which never went through the process of fermentation. On red versus white wine;” Red wines are well researched in terms of its healthful properties. It is good for the heart , that is why it is popular in this country. “Therapeutic contents have been measured and there are anti-oxidants in the form of ante cyanogens and polyphones and they have proven health benefits. According to him, some white wines have the same components as red wines although they are not as much as those found in red wines, he states. According to him, red wine has more healthful benefits because polyphones tend to be red in colour and are healthful. Some white wines do possess the same polyphones which are not exactly coloured, and therefore not as effective as red wine. Red wine has more benefit in terms of health than white wine because polyphones are generally colours,

Kotey

Kotey, The Master Brewer By Ozo Mordi E pauses mid sentence, anxiety written on his face as he makes his excuses and walks briskly out of the room. There had just been a cut to electricity supply and Pel Extracts is on production. But he comes back soon afterwards and explains that poor power supply is a bane to business. Linus Kotey, an Applied Biochemist, Master Brewer of wines and Chief Executive Officer, Pel Extracts Limited was having a chat with the reporter when the power cut occurred, but they switched to a standby-by generator and production resumed. Irrespective of this irregularity of public supply and other problems, which Kotey identifies, he says that Nigeria could still be still be a major producer of wines. The raw materials are available, he states, pointing out that we have enough pineapple plantations. “Oranges do well here, pawpaw and sorrel are available and they make good wines”, he stresses. According to him, “Wines, basically, can be produced from fruits that have reasonable sugar content; fermentable sugar. It is not true that wines can be made only from grapes. Grapes are popular abroad because they are grown there. A climate that grows a particular fruit can use them to make wine. Grape wines are popular because grapes are available to wine makers abroad.” But can we grow enough fruits as raw material? He observes that although they become expensive when not in season, we are still able to get the volume that we need. “But we tend to scout all over the country to get enough. Transportation from farm to factory can also be a problem, especially from the remote rural areas. Because of this, price would have tripled by the time they get to the factory due to difficult terrains - bad roads or

no roads at all.” It is because of these challenges, he observes, that people get scared from the business. There would not be more than five companies that brew wines in this country. “Wine production is painstaking especially when you have to use local fruits. The technology involved is also rather specialized. It is easier to produce spirits; that is why there is a proliferation in our market”. Speaking on the quality of locally brewed spirits, Kotey believes that “you cannot divorce them from the generally accepted norms. When you say you make spirits, you have to make a product that compares with those that are imported. However, once these are registered with SON or NAFDAC, you expect that the harmful ingredients have been removed.” Kotey opines that wines have been popular with people for ages because they are nearer to natural drinks than other drinks like soda, which are carbonized. Formulation of soft drinks is mostly sugar, he says, breaking it down to emulsified concentrates of citric acid, preservatives and carbon dioxide. “Wines on the on the other hand have been produced by macerating the fruits and allowing the natural product, yeast to ferment the product. Whatever else that has evolved has been modification or modernization of that process. So instead of matching it to ferment, you can now use machine to give it that effect of maceration - to control the yeast, fermentation rate and maturation so that you have a product with a particular blend. You can have a flavour that you can attribute to a particular wine. “Like many things, wine is half art, half science because so many reactions take place that a producer cannot explain. But you know that done this way or that, you will derive a particular result or bouquet. And year in year

out, you want to repeat those things that are peculiar to your own wine. “In this part of the world, we seem to have particular liking to flavours that come from carbonize Sauvignon, a type of grape. There are other specialized flavours like sangrias and orange. So different areas have their peculiarities and even though some originate from Europe, but grapes are in many part of the world now. So you can have Carbonize Sauvignon in America and South Africa. “There is an international chart for what is considered good quality wines. The adage that the older a wine, the better, the quality is not totally true. There is a chart where you may be advised to allow the wine to age more or you may also be advised to dispose of it because age does agree with it. But the chart is not for every wine. But by and large, the wines that we drink are on the maximum two years old. And those special wines are between six to seven years old. They age them specially and monitor them. “Certain flavours are very appealing, some denote quality; there is a distinct difference between a young and aged wine. Age confers certain quality. Wines are like art; painting- a Picasso, for instance. There are some aromas that are considered as very good. They come with age. “But there are those wines that do not age well are better drunk young. They are classified too. The Beugeoulaise are better drunk young, they light and lively. Mr. Kotey observes that the term non-alcoholic wine is a misnomer, explaining that wines by nature are alcoholic because they are a product of fermentation of sugars in fruits. “By nature they are alcoholic. But for some reason, those who do not want to alcoholic wines have been able to produce de-alco-

He went into production of wine, he says in line with a vision to produce wine and drinks with locally available materials, adding that Pel Extracts began production using pawpaw and pineapple, adding that today the company is one of the leading local manufacturers of wines in this country. The products are Carta Blanca White wine, Ruby Red wine, Pel CapriTizer White and Pel CapriTizer Red wine, both are non alcoholic, he says, adding that they have distinct fruit tastes. There is also Pel Lite Cream soda, Carta Blanca alcolic wine with a fruity taste, he says, adding that there are the range of Carta Blanca spirits in the form of gin, brandy and rum. They manufacture on contract bases also, he says. They also make bitters, a drink that Nigerians have taken to. And on the question of if they are effective observes;” I believe that most in the market have some therapeutic properties. Apart from being known as a master brewer, Mr. Kotey is known as musical performer although he calls himself an amateur; “I took up music while I was student at St. Gregory’s College, Lagos. I belonged to a small group called The Strangers and we played popular songs.” When he left the secondary school, he went to Bath University of Technology in England where he read Applied Biochemistry. “I graduated as an Applied Biochemist in 1970.” He had his industrial attachment at Tropical product Institute and at the long Apple Research Station. He was here for six months and it was at the station that he began to play the guitar. “There was no access to piano which I played in those days. I played in pubs, folk songs, generally. W hen he came back to Nigeria, he joined the Nigerian breweries. But it did not stop him from pursuing his hobby and his stature as the musical scientist grew. As he explained, “Because of family connection, Mrs. Francesca Emmanuel visited my parents and saw me playing the guitar. She loves music, so she sang along with me.” When The Steve Rhodes Voices was formed in the nineteen seventies, he joined them as a pioneer member. When he was transferred to Kaduna, he continued to play at radio and television stations there. “I remember that Khalifa Mohammed had a programme which he would start with a rendition of my Sixteen Tongues Mr Kotey, even as a renown brewer has not given up public entertainment. When pressed by close friends, he plays at concerts. He has had a rich career as a brewer, he says, adding that from Nigerian Breweries, he moved to International Beer and Beverages Limited. He left Superbru as General manager to start production of wine in 1991. He is a fellow of the Brewers Association of Nigeria and a member of Master Brewer Association America. He adds that he trained in Holland under Heineken limirted, in France under the BSN Group, makers of kronermbourg Beer. He says that he has visited breweries and allied industries in Zimbabwe, Brazil, Mexico and Japan.

Saturday, May 24, 2014 53

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NEWSINTERVIEW

Teensed Foundation Holds Forum For Teenagers TEENSED Foundation, a non-governmental organisation working on the economic and social development of teenagers held a forum for secondary school students in Lagos last Tuesday. By Ekwy P. Uzoanya EENSED Foundation, a non-govT ernmental organisation focused on the economic and social development of teenagers made good its commitment to put this group of the population on the right track of achieving successful life at a forum in Lagos last Tuesday. The event tagged, “Teenagers Forum,” organised in collaboration with Ifako Ijaiye Local Government brought together students from over 13 private and public secondary schools at the Ifako Ijaiye Local Government Area office. It provided an opportunity to showcase the talents of the students in different performances such as song, dance, poetry and public speaking. Schools represented at the school included African Church Model College, Iju Grammar School, Universal White Hall, Bizben College, Camel Group of Schools, Peace College and McRoyal College. The president and founder of the organisation, Mrs. Ogechukwu Ezeokoli said that the interactive event was put together to encourage the teenagers and teach them what they need to know in making decisions about life. According to her, it is important to give them quality information at this stage and life generally so that they will be responsible and maximise their potentials. The Guest of Honour at the programme, wife of the Chairman of Ifako Ijaiye Local Government, Mrs. Modupe Oke, who was represented

by Hon. (Mrs.) Toyin Akerele told the students to be serious with their studies while looking ahead to achieve their goals in life. She cautioned them against keeping bad company and to be of good behaviour in all that they do. The facilitator, Omowunmi Julius in her talk on “The Power of Choice and Memory,” asked the students to know that the choice they make determines their course in life. She said: “What you want to become is your choice. Do not think you are too young to make a choice of what you want to become. Before you make a choice, think seriously of what it can lead to. Think of the choices you make the next minute, next day. “Define where you want to be in the next 10 years and make choices that you will look back in 20 years and smile about what you’ve done with your time, and not feel as if you want to turn back the hand of the clock. If you’ve already made a choice that has not augured well for you so far, it’s never too late to make amends.” Mr. Ekundayo Akinwale in his talk on what it means being a teenager directed their minds to the importance of understanding their purpose and pursuing it with determination. “How you pass through life is your story. Let there be more to your life than money, and pray God to help you pursue it with the whole of your life. You can start at low level and get to the highest point by pursuing your purpose in life. Success

President and founder of Teensed Foundation, Mrs. Ogechukwu Ezeokoli (fourth left), winners of speech making competition and others at the forum. requires determination. Use what is available in the environment to achieve your purpose,” he said. There was also impromptu speech competition on various topics for the schools, and presentation of gifts to winners. Ezeokoli, who is also the vice principal of Bizben College, Iju, Lagos, later told The Guardian about the vision that culminated in setting up the foundation. “I realised that teenagers have a lot of challenges; they face peer pressure everywhere, they are confused, they don’t know what to do at a particular time. The parents are saying one thing, school is saying another thing, and society is saying something else. So, we are telling them that they have the right

to choose what they want based on their values, and the earlier they make these choices, the better for them.” She narrated how it all began: “The vision came in 2006 but fear of launching out was there. I was asking myself, ‘Where will I start, where will I go?’ But I was doing it one-on-one with teenagers. But 2012, I found the courage for me to start out. We got registered last year and we are out to follow through our vision, and I believe God that we are not stopping.” Her experience growing up, however, was the motivation for the work. “I realised that my growing up wasn’t so good based on my family background, and it was God that actually helped me with people around

because my parents were not there; they were divorced, and it really taught me that I didn’t have somebody to teach me what I needed to know. That was my story. So, if someone outside my parents could tell me what I needed to know, I need to also inform other young people what they should know and prepare well for their life.” Finance, she said, is the main challenge faced in running the foundation. “You know gathering children together, you must feed them. We tried going to organisations to help us but some of them felt that they didn’t know us. But thank God for Fan Milk Plc, UAC Foods, Learn Africa Plc, and some individuals that believed in us and supported us.”

OROL Marks 31st International AIDS Candlelight Memorial By Tunde Akinola AY 18th, 2014 brought M with it another international event for OROL Youth Empowerment Initiative. The International Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) Candlelight Memorial, coordinated by the Global Network of People living with Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is one of the world’s oldest and largest grassroots mobilization campaigns for HIV awareness in the world, which started in the year 1983. The theme of the 31st International AIDS Candlelight Memorial held at Millennium Park, Abuja was “Let’s Keep the Light on HIV”. On this day, for the 31st time, grassroots organizations worldwide marked the International AIDS Candlelight Memorial. Young people from OROL raised awareness around HIV, stood together with people living with HIV and remember the loved ones lost to HIV and AIDS. During the event, many young people also got tested of HIV, courtesy of AIDS HEALTH CARE FOUNDATION (AHF) The CEO of OROL Youth Empowerment Initiative, Mr. Opeyemi Agbaje mentioned during the opening ceremony that the 31st AIDS Candlelight Memorial wouldn’t have been a great success without the overwhelming support that Nigerian Export Import Bank gave them. He mentioned

His Royal Majesty Eze Godson Ezekwesili ( Och 1 of Isuochi ), right, congratulating Senator Nkechi Nwaogu at the event.

How Monarch Marked 40th Year On Throne In Abia From Gordi Udeajah - Umuahia T was with pomp and pageantry that the traditional ruler and Ochi 1 of Isuochi in IUmmunneochi Local Council, Abia State, His

that Nexim Bank is committed to their work, their enthusiasm and their support for the next generation is a powerful testimony and example. The memorial was the happening spot for all things ‘edutainment’, and all things OROL. OROL showcased a theme relevant drama at the event. The plot of their drama told the story of a young lady who had lost her parents at a tender age, thus losing her financial support and relegated to street hawking, vulnerability, and ultimately contacting HIV. The drama aimed at educating

people about the effect of stigma on the people living with HIV/AIDS and also addressing the myths attached to HIV/AIDS. The memorial presented new knowledge on the major issues facing the global response to HIV especially on the issues of stigma and discrimination. At the event other partners such as Association for Positive Youth in Nigeria (APYIN), Pop Council, ARFH and other also gave good will messages. Followed by music presentations and lighting of candles to honor those who had died of AIDS.

Royal Majesty Eze Godson Ezekwesili marked his 40th year in office recently, thanking God for keeping him alive, healthy and making his reign successful. The traditional ruler who is the immediate past deputy chairman of the state traditional rulers council gave kudos to the State Governor, Dr. Theodore Orji for collaborating with and involving traditional rulers in running the affairs of the state He however remarked that traditional rulership is tasking and not very rosy all the time and endorsed calls in some quarters for traditional rulers in the country to be more involved in the administration of the country by being assigned specific roles by the constitution. Highpoint of the colourful ceremony that attracted dignitaries from within and outside the state including top government officials, was the conferment of the honorary chieftaincy title of " Ihie Abia 1 of Isuochi" ( Light of Abia in Isuochi) by the revered traditional ruler on Senator Chief Mrs Nkechi Nwaogu. Senator Nwaogu who is of Ngwa stock repre-

sents Abia Central in the Senate and not Abia North that has Senator Comrade Uche Chukwumerije who reportedly by his principle, does not accept Chieftaincy titles preferred to be addressed as 'Comrade'. The traditional ruler while acknowledging and commending the reported achievements of Senator Nwaogu at the National Assembly in which she is serving her third term consecutively, described her as a daughter Abians and indeed Ndigbo were always well pleased with and reposed confidence in. Senator Nwaogu expressing her elation for being so honored with the Chieftaincy title of "Ihe Abia 1 of Isuochi " outside her Abia Central Senatorial District by the revered monarch, said , “my joy knows no bounds. This honour bestowed on me by the 'Ochi 1 of Isuochi' is unique and will continue to be proud of it". She commended Abia traditional rulers for ably collaborating progressively with the state government in the maintenance of peace and security among others noting that already, the Senate was favorably disposed to considering assigning undisclosed specific constitutional roles to traditional rulers in the country in addition to their maintaining peace and stability and upholding the culture and tradition of their communities.

54 Saturday, May 24, 2014

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TRANSITION Goodnight Daddy, You Accomplished Your Mission By Emma Obi Anosike OU were definitely not one of those Y prophets who stood publicly and made pronouncements but of a truth, you were a silent oracle. Indeed, you came, you saw and you declared. You also waited patiently for the manifestation of your pronouncements and when your wishes were accomplished, you slept in peace. Daddy, you impacted me significantly beyond expression. You epitomised what and who a true father should be — an inspiration, a guardian, an instructor and advocate. I remember vividly when in 1998 I decided to join politics. My intention was to contest for a seat in Anambra State House of Assembly and if I lose, I would have earned myself political title. But you changed all that impressions and mentality the moment I revealed my plans to you. As a politician who served as an executive member of the defunct NPN, you were rather excited and proud that one of your very own has decided to adopt your footstep. Yet, you were disappointed in me for exhibiting lack of confidence in my ability to achieve victory. In your usual enigmatic manner, you rhetorically asked if there was any of my opponent more qualified for that seat in our constituency than me. Daddy, even when financial constraints appeared to be an obstacle, you prided yourself in your connections and goodwill, believing that those two elements were enough to see me through even to the Federal House of Representatives. And they did. Though you were still mourning your younger wife then, the love of a son and commitment to success spurred you into action, as you embarked on the mission to secure my victory — our victory. Nnam, you did not stop at using your numerous contacts to help me. Your personal sacrifices including your will-

ingness to serve as the lead lawyer at the election tribunal humbled me further. You were ready to give your life to see me through those trying moments that even the explosion planted at Enugu Appeal Court could not discourage you. And during my period in the Federal House of Representatives, you assumed the role of a chief adviser, the responsibility you maintained when I also moved up to the Senate as well as the times I contested for governorship seat in the state. You were more committed to ensuring that I did not stumble in my career. You were always at the forefront with your unwavering support and dogged spirit. With these qualities, you kept me on my toes and taught me not to be intimidated by the sizes of my challenges. Our relationship was beyond that of father and son because you also found a reliable ally and confidant in me, the same way I took you. I had approached you in the wake of apprehension in Umueri and Aguleri communities, following a bloody clash between the two. I was able to convince you of my need to mediate in the matter on the ground that the lingering crisis was of no benefit to any party. My idea excited you and you encouraged me on that peace mission that not only fostered peace between the two communities but also endeared me to the people and earned me the chieftaincy title of Ome Udo Aguleri. In further appreciation of my courage, you baptised me with a new name, Egbupu Isi, Ndu Agu and later, Obiajulum. However, to accompany these names was an additional responsibility to uphold the peace and unity of the entire family. No wonder you called me father at times and demanded that I always keep close to the family. Because you always listened to me, I was able to convince you to go back

to church and together, we ensured that other aged men in our community joined you in the daily morning devotion supervised by Reverend Oliver Ukaegbu at my residence. Your commitment towards this course and those of other members spurned me to invite the retired Bishop of the Diocese on the Niger, Anglican Communion, Rt. Reverend (Dr) Okeke, who administered the sacrament of baptism on those that were yet to do so and by extension, dedicated the meeting venue. You were happy with my progress in politics and ensured that you reached out to me and advised me on whatever happened in the nation’s political arena. I can still remember your admonition during Dr. Chris Ngige’s saga that ‘no good parliamentarian goes against his governor’. That singular advise created an opportunity for me to score one of my political goals, which was the construction of Otu-Ocha/Abagana Road through the collaborative efforts of state and the federal government. As a father, you wished that President Goodluck Jonathan could recognise the role I played at the 2011 presidential election and reciprocate the gesture immediately with a federal appointment. Unfortunately, that wish was not realised at that time. But you called me one day and said: “Obiajulum, I will not die until you get a political appointment from President Goodluck Jonathan because you suffered for him.” Daddy, you were prophetic in your statement and because it was pronounced with every sense of sincerity, the appointment came in your lifetime. And with that mission accomplished, you called me on phone one morning to say that your desire for me has been accomplished and that you were losing the fight against ill health. My presence in the hospital

Jideani you were admitted brought you so much relief that you demanded for immediate discharge. And four days before you finally bowed out, you called again and requested that I come home against all odds. The condition I met you troubled my heart. Yet, you engaged me in discussion for about four hours. As if you were aware that the end was near, you singularly requested that I avoid any kind of embarrassment or disgrace at your funeral because you gave your best in your lifetime. You also brought back the memory of my peace effort in Aguleri and Umuleri and congratulated me again. You equally demanded that I sup-

port the governor of Anambra State and contribute in any way possible towards his success. As you told me, the success of the governor is the success of Anambra North people. Above all, you warned that I don’t partake in discussions or actions that are destructive. Four days after, you succumbed to the power of death. Ive Umueri, there is no doubt that you will be greatly missed by all those whose lives you positively and immensely impacted. You demonstrated peace and epitomised genuine love for your children. Goodnight! Goodnight Daddy! Barrister Ovoka Jideani. Ive Umueri - Naa n’udo) Anosike, whose father will be buried today, wrote from Abuja

Okon Edet Uya, A Tribute By L. Adele Jinadu KON Uya, who died on April 17, 2014, aged 71 years, was remarkable in several respects, as evidenced by his: (i) devotion to family, friends and colleagues; (ii) selfless and committed public service; (iii) his solid scholarship, richly complemented by his cultivation, nurture and consolidation of intellectual and professional networks globally; and (iv) pastoral work in later life, based on his firm belief in religious life as a critical cornerstone on which to anchor our country’s redemption, through laying firm ethical foundations for family values, durable and strong public institutions, and building bridges across our country’s class, ethno-cultural and religious divides. He was in this sense a cosmopolitan in the truest sense of the expression. Okon Uya’s remarkable life was firmly anchored on a principled opposition to prejudice and a firm commitment to humanity, in other words, to respect for the sanctity of human life and its handmaiden — human security. He was, in short, a radical intellectual of a progressive hue, a social democrat who saw and lived the intellectual vocation and religious life as quintessentially designed to shed a penumbra of light to enable us escape the darkness of our prejudices, in order to resolve the contradictions of our existential experiences in this “vale of tears”. For him, this is the meeting-point, the symbiosis of the intellectual and religious life as “liberation theology,” properly construed and understood, as service to humanity and rejection of prejudice. Our sad loss in Okon Uya’s transition to Glory is tempered by the solid legacy of original and seminal historical scholarship he has left behind. He approached the discipline of History from a multidisciplinary prism, which points to the unity, the consilience of the humanities, law and the social sciences, defining and pursuing them in terms of their pragmatic, utilitarian knowledge-based application to development policy and democracy, particularly in Africa. It is

Uya in this sense that he shared a close affinity with other radical but progressive Afrocentric scholars, who combine a passionate concern for the decolonisation of scholarship in and about Africa with an equally deep commitment to the social responsibility of the intellectual in the public sphere, notably in using the symbiosis of science and policy to advance the public interest in Africa. These intellectuals are Afrocentric in that they bring an African perspective, as opposed to expatriate ones, to scholarship, emphasising that it must be relevant to Africa and respond to African needs and interest. This view of scholarship, especially in the form of research, teaching and pedagogy, is encapsulated in the distinction they draw between the African University and the university in Africa. This perspective informed their analysis of democracy and development in Africa and elsewhere in the world. They are radical and progressive in that they ground this analysis in a form of indigenised historical materialism, which locates the problem of

democracy and development in Africa against the background of its colonial past and engagement with globalisation as a historical process, which has led to, and more seriously deepened the underdevelopment of Africa’s human capital and the fragility of its economic and political institutions, while holding up its own historical trajectories as pointing the way to Africa to reproduce and follow. Their analysis emphasises African culture, epistemology, and history as critical elements in going beyond the Eurocentric perspectives on scholarship, development and democracy to be found in both mainstream liberal capitalism and mainstream Marxism-Leninism, especially in their application to Africa. It was in the process of Africanising or bringing an Afrocentric perspective to enrich dependency/underdevelopment theory and Marxisant political economy that Okon Uya, alongside like-minded progressive African intellectuals, such as Walter Rodney, Claude Ake, Archie Mafeje, Dani Nabudere, Issa Shivji, Mahmood Mamdani, Okwudiba Nnoli, Emmanuel Hansen and Peter Ayan’g Nyong’o, began to mentor younger African scholars and to establish networks with like-minded intellectuals in Asia and Latin America, as part of a South-South cooperation and exchange of ideas and experiences. What, therefore, characterises and unites these intellectuals as radical and progressive is their view that the humanities, law and social sciences, and indeed generally the intellectual vocation in contemporary Africa is “a child of imperialism,” that needs to be liberated to serve social transformative functions, as part of the unfinished process of psychological and structural decolonisation of Africa. However, the indigenisation of scholarship, which informed Okon Uya’s matured intellectual life with a missionary zeal, is not, and must not be viewed as a form of banal cultural relativism but an enlightened humanistic one, serving as an antithesis to prejudice, leading to and enriching universalism. It emphasises the need for Africa to make its

own contribution to scholarship, even to universality, through the assertion of its own peculiarities, in order to enrich the universal. As Okon Uya liked to argue, we must seek the universal in the context of our own peculiarities, otherwise African societies would forever be follower-societies, defining themselves in terms of the “Other”. Okon Uya’s understanding and practice of the intellectual vocation, therefore, epitomises the radical progressive Afrocentric intellectual, who problematises the democracy and development project in Africa with what can best be described as “radically disabused eyes.” The symbiosis of science and policy in Okon Uya’s intellectual life and public service found expression and outlet in his leading role in seeking solution to the theory and practice of democracy and development in Nigeria. He found outlet for this symbiosis in his membership of Nigeria’s Political Bureau, his chairmanship of Nigeria’s National Electoral Commission, his tour as Nigeria’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Argentina, and his membership of Nigeria’s Electoral Reform Committee. The Report of the Political Bureau and the Report of the Electoral Reform Committee remain landmark and incomparable blueprints for a people-centered democracy and development in Nigeria. More recently, he has been engaged with the problem of democracy and development on the African continental level as a member of the Eminent Persons Panel of the African Peer Reform Mechanism, which, as it has now turned out, is the final, memorable ending of his life-long commitment to Pan-Africa. Okon Uya’s epitaph is that he worked tirelessly and passionately with missionary zeal to make the world what it should be but is yet to be: A world of peoples, bonded together as one family, rising above prejudice and committed to be one another’s keeper. We owe him the commitment to continue the struggle to make the world what it ought to be but is not and might yet become. Professor Jinadau teaches Political Science at the University of Lagos

Saturday, May 24, 2014 55

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TRANSITION

Bessy Okiro: Exit Of A Woman Of Substance By Mike Okiro ADAM Bessy Mgbogo Okiro, mother of former Inspector General of Police and current Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Mike Okiro, who died on April 25, this year, at 96 years, will be laid to rest today. The late Madam Okiro was born on February 27, 1918, (influenza year) to the late Mr. and Mrs. Asa Ifekome. She was married to the late Prince Samuel Okiro on December 30, 1934. She did not have the privilege of formal education because she lost her parents at a very tender age. Her mother died immediately after her birth and her father five years later. As an orphan, the late Okiro was shuttling between uncles and aunts in search of a home. And while some would chase her away, others would use her as a slave. Finally, one of her uncle’s wives, Ugbala, took her into her home and treated her so well as if she was her daughter. This was when Mama, for the first time, tested what is called mother. Mama was honest to the core throughout her lifetime. There were many instances when her honesty was glaring but one case will suffice. It was in 1968 during the Nigerian Civil War when Mama went for “Afia Attack” as she called it. As they entered the canoe to ferry across to the land, plane started hovering above them; out of fear, a woman threw her bag containing lots of money and it fell inside Mama’s luggage. When Mama got home, she noticed a bag inside her luggage and on opening it

Okiro saw lots of money — Dollars, Pound Sterling, Biafran and Nigerian money inside the bag to the tune of N3.5m when converted (current value). She tied it back and instructed her children not to touch it. The following day, she went to the market and announced that she found a bag inside her luggage but there was no response. She continued this way for three whole

months. One day the owner surfaced and was at home waiting for Mama. On sighting her, Mama exclaimed, “this was the woman that was in the canoe we boarded”. Mama embraced her, went in and brought out the bag and gave it to her. The woman collected it but Papa insisted that she must count it to confirm. After counting the money the woman was overwhelmed because no dime was re-

moved from it. She knelt down in the open air and blessed Mama thus: “You will not lack in your life; you will be at home and your children will be sending Dollars and Pounds Sterling to you; you will die at a good age, etc.” Mama did not have a formal education but was bent on being lettered even in old age. She engaged the services of her granddaughter, Udochi Goodness MaduNwachukwu (now Mrs. Tanam), who taught her how to read and write in vernacular at the age of 83 years. This later paid off because she was able to write and sign her name at the American Embassy where she went for visa in 2007. She could also read the Bible in vernacular. Mama was a very religious and devoted Christian. She was an executive member of Christian Mothers – an organisation in the Roman Catholic Church. She held the post of a Treasurer at Oguta. She maintained this post until 1973 when she joined her husband’s denomination and got baptised as a member of Jehovah’s Witness at Oguta – two years after her husband. When asked why she joined her husband she said: “I noticed a drastic change in his behaviour. He became honest and open to me; his love became so alluring. Therefore, I decided to find out what brought about the change and here I am serving Jehovah the only True God, I am grateful that I joined him.” Mama and Papa were visited by tragedies that could not be ex-

Remembering Theresa Ekwowusi By Ijeoma Ekwowusi and Micheal Oluwasegun Oye T is already one year since Mrs. Theresa Ukochukwu Ekwowusi, (nee Ezikennabude, Ada Ezikennabude) our lovely grand Mum, our mentor and our close ally passed on. How time flies! Ekwowusi died in Lagos on May 3, 2013, and was buried on June 3, 2013, at her country home, Obiagu village, Amichi, Nnewi-South Council, Anambra State. Today, we all remember Grand Mum as ever. As Leonardo Da Vinci aptly puts it, “a well spent day brings happy sleep, so life well used brings happy death”. Grand Mum lived a useful life. That is why even though her death is painful to us, it still evokes a happy memory, the happy memory of grandchildren who even though they are aware that their Grand Mum is no more physically present among them, are aware that she continues to play the orchestra in heaven for them to dance. This is our joy today as we mark the first anniversary of her death! The life of Ekwowusi was a remarkable story of a destined child uniquely fashioned by God and providentially set apart for great things. Grand Mum lived a life of virtues worthy of emulation. Simple, effete, unassuming and humble, Ekwowusi touched the lives of many with her exemplary Christian life and untiring passionate zeal to bring others closer to God. Her name might not have hit the head-

Ekwowusi lines, but she stood out as a good role model and mentor to many especially women and mothers. Even though Grand Mum did not have the benefit of a formal education, she was an exceptional teacher. She would patiently sit down her grandchildren and inculcate in them many human virtues. She was a quintessential mother with inimitable warmth, endearing humility and modesty that never diminished her presence, but rather amplified her worth and magnified the depth of her character even at first contact. We still recall her last statement to us before her death, “be emblem of truth, bear fruit of honesty,

hold on to the journey of life.” Our Grand Mum wasn’t a woman who liked to stay aloof from others. She deserved the name Christian because she loved her neighbours and because she hearkened to their spiritual and material needs. We can’t remember ever seeing her idle. She always had a job in her hands. In her younger days, our Grand Mum must have been an exceptionally beautiful lady necessitating giving her the sobriquet, Nma (meaning, beauty in its essence). Nma also tried to put beauty in her job. For example, she kept her kitchen after cooking her own food every day. She swept her room every day. Before travelling to Lagos for medical

plained in their early marriage. Their first child, a baby girl, died after birth. The second child, a boy — Emmanuel— died in infancy. Mama and Papa had to move to Papa’s ancestral home, Mgbede (now in Ogba/Ndoni/Egbema Local Government of Rivers State). They had a boy, Ifakachukwu but their joy was shortlived as Ifakachukwu died at the age of five. Papa’s kinsmen found another wife for him at Mmahu and Mama’s people asked her to return. Both of them refused and stuck to each other because they loved themselves. To avoid family pressures, they escaped to Oguta where they had Michael Mbamaonyeukwu. After Mbamaonyeukwu, they had two other boys who died at infancy. They contemplated moving again when they had Anthony Ozoemizina (death should not come again). Later they were blessed with two daughters who survived. Death did not come again. While Papa was working in Eastern Nigeria Ministry of Works (PWD), Mama was trading. Both of them were determined to educate their children and worked hard for it. They created the enviable record of being the first if not the only parents within the community with four children who became graduates, all with Masters Degrees. Mama died on April 25, 2014, after a brief illness at a hospital. She is survived by three children, 17 grand children and four great grand children. Okiro writes from Abuja.

Stephen Ojo Ogunrinde Passes On treatment, she washed all clothes, dishes, cooking pots and arranged them neatly in her room. Her room, to this day, still sparkles with cleanliness. Born into the Christian family of the late Chief Eziknnabude, Okpokolo, Amichi, Nnewi-South Council, Anambra State, our Grand Mum savoured love. Her motto was “love one another”. In her humility, she did not want to be served. Even when lying sick at the hospital, she was keen on serving the nurses and doctors attending to her. 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. A woman of strong good character and remarkable personality, Grand Mum was never tired of serving her children and grandchildren. Whenever we visited her, she would abandon the job in her hands to look for food for us. She would not have her meal until she was sure that all her grandchildren had had their meal and were satisfied. No day passed without her asking about our health condition. She prayed for us every day. Surely, Mrs. Teresa Ukochukwu Ekwowusi, our Grand Mum, is missed by all. Our consolation, however, lies in the fact that her enchanting legacies have outlived her and will continue to be the touchstones upon which we model our lives.

HE death has been anT nounced of Prince Stephen Ojo Ogunrinde who died recently at the age of 90 years. BORN to the family of Arosoye Royal Clan in Emure Ekiti, Ekiti State, the late Ogunrinde joined Ministry of Works and Transport of the old Western Region, Eleyele Ibadan as trainee mechanic. He was later deployed in 1979 at the creation of Ondo State to work with the same ministry as Foreman heading the mechanical section of the ministry. After a successful completion of the stipulated years in service, he retired and went into cement business.

He was an elder in Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Owo, before his departure. He was a loving father of many children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Ogunrinde

Godwin Gbenebichie, Three Years After HE third year rememT brance ceremony for the late Prince Godwin Omaresogunwa Gbenebichie (a.k.a. Ogodobiri) who died in Sapele, Delta State on May 20, 2011, was recently held by family members, children, grandchildren and in-laws. The late Gbenebichie, who was buried in Warri, is survived by his wife, children among whom is Mrs. Mary Fatile, grandchildren, in-laws and other relatives.

Gbenebichie

Remembering Peter Majin (JP) HE remembrance cereT mony for Baba Peter Majin (JP), (Majin-Essan), who passed on to glory three years ago, was held recently by children, friends and family members. Pa Majin, who died and was buried in Essan, Niger State, is survived by children, grandchildren, in-laws and other relatives.

Majin

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Saturday, May, 24, 2014

Change of Name ABIODUN: Formerly Abiodun John Majekodunmi now Biodun Ayefemi Majekodunmi. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

ADAMSON: Formerly Miss Adamson Risikat Oluwakemi now Mrs. Salami Risikat Oluwakemi. Former documents remain valid. General public take note. ADEBAYO: Formerly Miss Adebayo Idowu Aderonke now Mrs Raji Hadirat Idowu Aderonke. Former documents remain valid. Public note. ADEBAYO: Formerly Miss Adebayo Oyenike, now Mrs Shote Oyenike. All former documents remain valid. Public note. ADEDAPO: Formerly Miss Olajumoke Racheal Adedapo, now Mrs Olajumoke Racheal Sholu. Former documents valid. Public note. ADEDOKUN: I, formerly Miss Adedokun Oluyemisi Lydia now Mrs. Akinyemi Oluyemisi Lydia. Former documents remain valid. Public note. ADEDEJI: Former Miss Funke Adedeji now Mrs. Funke Bankole. All former documents remain valid. Public note. ADEKOYA: Formerly Olufunmilayo Oluwatayo Adekoya now Olufunmilayo Oluwatayo Sanni. Former documents valid. Public note.

now Mrs. Obianuju Alex Ajah O. Former documents remain vlaid. Public note. AJAYI: Formerly Ajayi Mulikat Fadekemi now Mrs. Okesanya Fadekemi Anike. Former documents remain valid. Public note. AJIKE: Formerly Miss Ajike Abigail Olamma,now Mrs Abigail Olamma NnamdiEgeonu. Former documents remain valid. Public note. AJISE: Formerly Miss Eraromena Ajise now to be Eraromena Grant. Former documents remain valid. Public note. AJOLOKO: Formerly Miss Beatrice Sayo Oladapo now Mrs. Beatrice Sayo Ajoloko. Former documents remain valid. Public note. AKESON: Formerly Miss Gladys Ogbenne Akeson now Mrs. Gladys Ogbenne Odey. Former documents remain valid. Public note. AKIN-ADEBOYE: Formerly Miss Adenike Omotunde Akin-Adeboye now Mrs. Adenike Omotunde Falemara. Former documents remain valid. Public note. AKINDEHINDE: I, formerly Miss Olajumoke Oluwaseun Akindehinde now Mrs. Olajumoke Oluwaseun Salako. All former documents remain valid. Public note.

ADELEYE: Formerly Miss Adeleye Mariam Abiola now Mrs Fasola Mary Abiola. Documents valid. Public note.

AKINTUDE: Formerly Akintunde Motunrayo Rebecca, now Mrs. Fakunle Motunrayo Rebecca. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

ADESIDA: Formerly known as Adesida Anne Oluwabukola now known as Adesida Maria Adeola. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

AKINWALE: Formerly Miss Sarah Adebisi Akinwale now Mrs. Sarah Adebisi Afolayan. Former documents remain valid. Public take note.

AGBA: Formerly Miss Eloghene Emuobonuvie Agba, now Mrs Eloghene Emuobonuvie Mc Gill. Former documents valid. Public note. AGWU: Formerly Miss Agwu Chiamaka Patience now Mrs. Okpara Chiamaka Patience. Former documents remain valid. Public note. AJADI: Formerly Miss Abosede Jelilat Ajadi now Mrs. Abosede Jelilat Akinade. Former documents remain valid. Public note. AJAH: Formerly Miss Obianuju Maryrose Ajah

AKUETA: Formerly Miss Akueta Hannah Ottamehenrio now to be known as Mrs. Oluyomi Hannah Ottamehenrio. Former documents remain valid. Public note. AKINBOBOLA: Formerly Miss Akinbobola Foluke Lizzy now Mrs Akomolafe Foluke Lizzy. Documents valid. Public note. AKINRINOE: Formerly Miss Omolola Tosin Akinrinoe now Mrs. Omolola Tosin Efunkoya. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

AKOR: Former Miss Stella Onyinye Akor now Mrs. Stella Onyinye Asuelimen. Former documents remain valid. Public note. AKPOIGBE: Formerly Miss Edith Onajite Akpoigbe now wish to be addressed as Mrs Edith-O Lolia HamiltonIbama all former documents remain valid. General public note. AKUNYILI: Formerly Miss Chiamaka Akunyili .P., now Mrs Chiamaka Akunyili Mbanugo. Former documents valid. Public note. ALABI: Formerly Miss Alabi Sukurat Olasumbo now Mrs. Usman Sukurat Olasumbo. Former documents remain valid. Public note. ALATISHE: Formerly Miss Alatishe Adedayo Aduratomi now Mrs Okunowo Adedayo Aduratomi. Documents valid. Public note. ALLEN: I, formerly Miss Oluwatoyin Theresa Allen is now Mrs. Oluwatoyin Theresa Dada. All documents remain valid. Banks other Institutions please take note. ALOKO: Formerly Miss Maria Aloko, now Mrs Maria Okoli. All former documents valid. Public note. AMOS: Formerly Miss Chioma Elizabeth Amos now wish to be addressed as Mrs Chioma Elizabeth IfeanyiNkwocha all former documents remain valid. General public note. AMUSIRE: Formerly Miss Temitope Elizabeth Amusire , now Mrs Temitope Elizabeth Adebayo Famoroti. Former documents valid. Public note. ANAPUSIM: I, formerly known as Miss Nnenna Amette Veronica Anapusim now wish to be known as Mrs. Nnenna Annette Veronica Ezebuilo. All former documents remain valid. General public note.

main valid. Public note. ARASOMWAN: Formerly Arasomwan Evans Osakpolor now Erhauyi Esakpolor Evans. All former documents remain valid. General public note.

ments valid. Public note. BANWO: Formerly Miss Banwo Abimbola now Mrs. Moses Abimbola. Former documents remain valid. General public note.

AMANGBO: Formerly Miss Amangbo Winifred Onyebuchi Onyebuchi now Mrs. Allison Winifred Onyebuchi. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

BETIKU: Formerly Miss Damilola Opeyemi Betiku now Mrs. Damilola Opeyemi Adetunji. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

ANUFORO: Formerly Euphemia Ifeoma Anuforo now Mrs. Euphemia Ifeoma Oamen. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

BRIGHT: Formerly Miss Rosemary Eberechi Akanwa, now Mrs Rosemary Eberechi Bright. Former documents remain valid. Abia State University Uturu, public note.

ANYANELE: Formerly Miss Jane Ebere Anyanele now Mrs Jane Ebere Onyemaobi. Former documents remain valid. Public note. ANYANWU: Formerly Miss Faith Odinakachi Anyanwu now Mrs Faith Odinakachi Agbaeze. Former documents valid. Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, public note. ARIRIERI: Formerly Aririeri Laserian Uche now Lawrence Uche. Former documents remain valid. General public note. ASUQUO: Formerly Miss Asuquo Otobong Patrick now Mrs Shobanjo Otobong Adedayo. Former Documents valid. Public note. AYANLEYE: Formerly Esther Oluwabunmi Ayanleye now Mrs. Esther Oluwabunmi Eboesomi. Former documents remain valid. Public note. AZEEZ: Formerly Miss Azeez Fausat Oluwafunke now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Adeyemi Fausat Oluwafunke. Former documents remain valid. Public note BADEJO: Formerly Miss Adeola Abolaji Badejo now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Adeola Abolaji Adegun. All former documents remain valid. Public note.

ANAZODO: Formerly Anazodo Chinwike C h r i s t o p h e r Obichukwu, now Okwuchukwu Chinwike C h r i s t o p h e r Obichukwu. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

BADEJO: Formerly Miss Olubukola Omowunmi Badejo, now Mrs Olubukola Omowunmi Akinnodi. Former documents valid. Public note.

ANIEKWE: Formerly Miss Maryjane Oluoma Aniekwe now Mrs Maryjane Oluoma Ifemeje. Former documents re-

BAMGBALA: Formerly Miss Surat Bukola Bamgbala, now Mrs Surat Bukola Bamgbala Aremu. Former docu-

CHUKWUMA: Formerly Miss Ann Ihechi Chukwuma now Mrs. Ann Ihechi Umeh. Former documents remain valid. Public note. CHUKWU: Formerly Miss Chimenem Esther Chukwu now wish to be addressed as Mrs Chimenem Esther KingWobo. All former documents remain valid. General public note. CHUKWUONYE: Formerly Chukwuonye Chizoba Gloria now Mrs. Ojiaka Chizoba Gloria. Former documents valid. Public note. CONFIRMATION OF NAME: UMEJIBURU: Chinenye Chikodili and Umejiburu Chinenye Favour is same person now Mrs Umejiburu Chinenye Favour. Former documents valid Public note. DIM: Formerly Miss Dim Nkechi Nelly now Mrs Ukonu Nkechi Nelly. Former documents valid. ABSU, NYSC, Public note. DAVID: Formerly Miss Beatrice Ukachi Echefu Onyekosi now Mrs. Beatrice Ukachi David. Former documents remain valid. Public note. DEMOKUN: Formerly Demokun John Olufemi now addressed as Peters John Paul. Former documents remain valid. Public note. DUMUJE: Formerly known as Miss Martha Uvierire Dumuje now Mrs. Martha Uvierire Offen. Former documents remain valid. Public note. EDU: Formerly Miss Gedoni Elemi Edu now Mrs. Gedoni Elemi Daini. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

EGBUCHULAM: Formerly Miss Chika Egbuchulam now Mrs Chika Odinaka. Former documents remain valid. Public note. EJIDIKE: Formerly Ijeoma Chinemelum Ejidike now Mrs. Xenia Chinemelum Zuokumor, Former documents remain valid. Public note. EKELEME: Formerly Miss Ekeleme Ijeoma Nneoma now Mrs. Agunwah Ijeoma Nneoma. Former documents remain valid. Public note. EKOMA: Formerly Miss Ehionyen Dawn Ekoma now Mrs. Ehionyen Dawn Umeh. Former documents remain valid. Public note. ELUWA: Formerly Miss Patience Ndidi Eluwa now Mrs. Okezie Patience Favour. Former Documents Remain Valid. Federal Medical Centre Umuahia, public note. EMEKA: Former Emeka Uzuazoraro Jeffrey now Okoro Uzuazoraro Jeffrey. All former documents remain valid. National Youth Service Corp, Nigeria Medical Association, Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria. EMMANUEL: Formerly Miss Emmanuel Ogechi Salomy now Mrs Iheanacho Ogechi Salomy. Former documents remain valid. Public note. EWANLEFOH: Formerly Miss Ewanlefoh Isiwakhomem Joyce now Mrs. Joyce Isiwakhomem Ogieva. Former documents remain valid. Public note. EZEH: Formerly Miss Ezeh Ukamaka Fidelia, now Mrs Onyia Ukamaka Fidelia. Former documents remain valid. Public note. EZEH: Formerly Miss Callista Ogochukwu Ezeh now Mrs. Enyime Callista Ogochukwu. Former documents remain valid. Public note. EZEOFOR: Formerly Miss Jennifer Chika Ezeofor, now Mrs Jennifer Chika Nwankwo. Former documents valid. Public note. EZI: Formerly Miss Ezi Theresa Odinakachukwu, now Mrs Nnamani Theresa Chikaodinaka. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

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Change of Name FADINA: Formerly Miss Omotayo Anuoluwapo Fadina, now Mrs. Omotayo Anuoluwapo Adewuyi. All former documents remain valid. Public take note. FAGBUYI: Formerly Fagbuyi Grace Oludolapo now Mrs. Edun Grace Oludolaro. Former documents remain valid. Public note. FAKILE: Formerly Miss Fakile Olubukola Mary, now mrs Opadare Olubukola Mary. former documents valid. public note FASHOLA: Formerly Oyeyemi Rukayat Fashola now Mrs. Oyeyemi Kukayat Dosunmu. Former documents remain valid. Federal Inland Revenue Service, public note. FASASI: Formerly, Miss Fasasi Titilola Bolakunmi, now to be known and addressed as Mrs Shokoya Titilola Bolakunmi. All former documents remain valid. General public note. GEGELI: Formerly Miss Victoria Chionye Gegeli now Mrs. Victoria Chionye Ossai. Former documents remain valid. Public note. GEORGE: I, formerly known as Miss George Tomilola Ebunoluwa Adenike born Miss George Oluwatomilola Adenike now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Musari-Martins Tomilola Ebunoluwa Adenike. All former documents remain valid. Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria West African College of Physicians Olabisi Onabanjo University Nigerian Immigration Service American Embassy , British Embassy, Ikoyi Marriage Registry, GT Bank, EcoBank, FCMB, general public take note HAMEED: Formerly Miss Aderonke Olubunmi Hameed. now Mrs Aderonke Olubunmi Sholanke. Former documents valid. Public note. IHEADINDUEME: I, formerly called Charity C. Iheadindueme now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Charity C. Ezeh Adawaisi. All documents remain valid. Public take note. IBEH: Formerly Miss Jennifer Chioma Ibeh now Mrs. Jennifer Chioma Ohaegbu. Former documents remain

valid. Public take note. IBEH: Formerly Miss Ibeh Felicitas Obiageli now Mrs. Obi Felicitas Obiageli. Former documents valid. Public note. IGWEMADU: Formerly Miss Chinenye Gloria Igwemadu, now Mrs Chinenye Gloria Ikeya. Former documents valid. Public note. IGWE: Formerly Miss Igwe Nneka Angela now Mrs. Nneka Innocent Ogwuegbu. Former documents remain valid. Public note. IGWE: Formerly Miss Igwe Ifeyinwa Veronica, now Mrs Nwafor Ifeyinwa Veronica. Former documents remain valid NYSC, public note. IGWEGBE: Formerly Miss Igwegbe Chinenye Blessing now Mrs. Okonkwo Chinenye Blessing. Former documents remain valid. Public note. IHEJIETO: Formerly Miss Theresa Nkechi Ihejieto now Mrs. Theresa Nkechi Onyeneke. Former documents remain valid. Public note. IHUOMA: Formerly Miss Ihuoma Ogechi Oluchi, now Mrs Onuoha Ogechi Oluchi. Former documents remain valid. Public note. IKEGWU: Formerly Miss Ikegwu Chinenyenwa Mercy now Mrs. Dennis Obinna Chinenyenwa Mercy. Former documents remain valid. Public note. ILOEGBUNAM: I, formerly Helen Maxwel (Ucha) Iloegbunam now Helen Onyebuchi Maduakocha. Former documents remain valid. Public note ISHAYA: Formerly Miss Ishaya Salamatu now Mrs. Omonua Salamatu. Former documents remain valid. Zenith Bank Plc, public note. ISIAKA: Formerly Isiaka Abiodun Morileola now Morileola Abiodun Joseph. Former documents remain valid. General public take note. ISIODU: Formerly Miss Phoebe Winny Isiodu now wish to be addressed as Mrs Phoebe Winny Cajetan Mazi. All former documents remain valid. General public note. IWUAGWU: Formerly Miss Iwuagwu Edith Okwuchi now Mrs Okoroafor Edith Okwuchi.

Former documents remain valid. Public note IYAM: Formerly Miss Blessing Iyam, now Mrs Blessing Anozie. Former documents remain valid. Public note. IYOBHEBHE: Formerly Miss Gladys Obehi Iyobhebhe, now Mrs Gladys Obehi Mkpo. Former documents valid. Public note. JOSEPH: I, formerly known as Miss Oluwatosin Mary Joseph now Mrs. Oluwatosin Mary Ogunremi. All former documents remain valid. Public note. KALU-ONUMA: Formerly Kalu-Onuma Elizabeth, now Mrs BenIzuchukwu Elizabeth. Former documents remain valid. General public take note. KARUNWI: Former Miss Adebola Stella Karunwi now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Adebola Stella Karunwi Abifarin. Former documents remain valid. General public note. KELLYS: Formerly Nwokolie Chukwuezugolum Kellys, now known as Nwokolie Chukwuezugolum Chukwuanugo. Former documents remain valid. Public note. KEMKA: Formerly miss Victoria Chiamaka Kemka, now Mrs victoria chiamaka ezeigbo. former documents valid. public note. KOPIE: Formerly Miss Kopie Nina Mirabel now Mrs. Mirabel Oghenekevwe Wowo. Former documents remain valid. Public note. LABAEKA: Formerly Miss Labaeka Olaide Adebola now to be addressed as Mrs. Oresegun Olaide Adebola. Former documents remain valid. Public note. LAWAL: Formerly Miss Olufisayo Bayonle Lawal now Mrs. Olufisayo Bayonle Idebi. Former documents remain valid. Public note. LEWECHUKWU: Formerly Lewechukwu Onwuka, now Lechukwu Benbella Onwuka. Former documents remain valid. Public note. MADUEKWE: Formerly Miss Maduekwe Onyinyechi Sandra now Mrs Chima Solomon Onyinyechi Sandra. Former documents valid. Public note. MAKINDE: Makinde

Formerly Motunrayo

Oluyinka now Mrs. Babajide Motunrayo Oluyinka. Former documents remain valid. Public note. MAKUSOTA: Formerly Makusota Maria Anuoluwapo now known as Sonaike Maria Anuoluwapo. Babcock University Teaching Hospital and general public take note. All former documents remain valid. MARKU: Formerly Miss Oluwatomisin Esther Marku, now Mrs Oluwatomisin Esther Olayiwola. Former documents valid. Public note. MAZI: Formerly Miss Adaobi Juliet Mazi, now Mrs Adaobi Juliet Nwadialo. Former documents valid. Public note. MGBEMENE: Formerly Miss Mgbemene Hillary Amaka, now Miss Mgbemene Hillary Amaka Henrietta. Former documents valid. Public note. MEGGISON: Formerly Miss Meggison Roli Oritsegbubemi now Mrs Meggison-Olupitan Roli Oritsegbubemi. Documents valid. Public note. MOHAMMED: Formerly Rabi Bolanle mohammed now Jacinta Eheweme Abraham. Former documents remain valid. Public note. MOHAMMED: Formerly Amina Hadiza Mohammed now Lucia Imebihoro Abraham. Former documents remain valid. Public note. MOKWE: Formerly Mokwe Blessing, now Kachikwulu Blessing. Former documents remain valid. Public note. MUSA: Formerly Miss Musa Rakiya Asabe now Mrs. Awurdi Rakiya Asabe. All former documents remain valid. General public note. MUSARI: I, formerly known as Mr. Musari Olumuyiwa Damilola now wish to be known and addressed as Mr. Musari-Martins Olumuyiwa Damilola. All former documents remain valid. Olabisi Onabanjo University Nigerian Immigration Service Ikoyi Marriage Registry GT Bank, general public take note. NANBAM: Formerly Miss Nanbam Kefas, now Mrs. Nanbam Wukden Lwadet. All former documents remain valid. Public Note. NEBEOLISA: I, formerly Nebeolisa Charity Obiageli, now Mrs Ok-

wuchukwu Charity Obiageli. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

Odidegawu now Mrs. Evelyn Ashedu Chukwuji. Former documents remain valid. Public take note.

NESHORNEREK: Formerly Christiana Neshornerek Ayim now Mrs. Christiana Abiji Ayim. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

ODEWUYI: I, formerly Odewuyi Kafayat Adenike now Mrs. Aminu Kafayat Adenike. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

NJOKU: Formerly Miss Njoku Lovina Chinwendu Nola now Mrs. Enyi Lovina Chinwendu. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

ODUNEWU: Formerly Miss Odunewu Olubusayo Omolara now Mrs Isaac Olubusayo Omolara. Documents valid. Public note.

NWACHUKWU: Formerly Miss Nwachukwu Blessing Ezinne now Mrs. Anyaele Blessing Ezinne. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

ODUNSI: Formerly Miss Gbemisola Omobolaji Odunsi now Mrs. Gbemisola Omobolaji Balogun. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

NWANDU: Formerly Miss Nwandu Chidiebere Stella now Mrs Okeh-Madubuonu Chidiebere Stella. Former documents remain valid, public note. NWOSU: Formerly Emmanuel Tochukwu Nwosu now Emmanuel Tochukwu Nwabueze. Former documents valid. Public note. OBOKIA: Formerly Miss Oreva Obokia now Mrs. Oreva Ovie Efi. Former documents remain valid. Public note. OBIAGHA: Formerly Miss Obiagha Cynthia Chiamaka, now Mrs Ogbatuo Cynthia Chiamaka. Former documents remain valid. Public note. OBI: Formerly Miss Chinonso Divine Obi, now Mrs Chinonso Divine Nwigwe. Former documents valid. Public note OBIEH: Former Miss Irene Obieh now Mrs. Irene Adebayo. All former documents remain valid. Public note. OBISANYA: I, formerly Miss Temitope Racheal Obisanya now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Temitope Racheal Oniyide. All former documents remain valid. National Youth Service Corps and general public please take note. ODEBIYI: Formerly Miss Adebimpe Oluwamayowa Odebiyi now Mrs. Adebimpe Oluwamayowa Talabi. Former documents valid. Public note. ODEMWINGIE: Formerly Miss Prudence Osarenkhoe Odemwingie now Mrs. Prudence Osarenkhoe Igbinovia. Former documents remain valid. Public note. ODIDEGAWU: Miss Evelyn

Former Ashedu

OFOMATA: Formerly Miss Ofomata Helen Adaobi, now Mrs Chiekwe Helen Adaobi. Former documents remain valid. Public note. OGECHI: Formerly Miss Rita Ogechi Akuche now Mrs. Rita Ogechi Itodo. All documents remain valid. Public take note OGAVU: Formerly Miss Ogavu Blessing.N, now Mrs Chiemezie Blessing N. Former documents remain valid. Public note. OGBONNAYA: Formerly Ogbonnaya Okorie Anoh now Kelvin Ogbonnaya Okorie Anoh. Previous documents remain valid. General public note. OGBUANYA: Formerly Miss Ogbuanya Blessing Amaka now Mrs. Edoga Blessing Amaka. Former documents remain valid. Public note. OGBUWA: Formerly Miss Ogbuwa Nma Victoria now Mrs Sam Nma Victoria. Former documents valid. Public note. OGUEGBE: Formerly Miss Nfom Grace Oguegbe now Mrs Grace Ikeokwu. Former documents valid. Public note. OGUNDANA: Formerly Mr. Ogundana Akintunde Martins, now wish to be addressed as Mr. Akinola Akintunde Martins. All former documents remain valid. Snepco Lagos and public note. OJO: I, formerly Miss Folashade Christiana Ojo now wish to be Mrs. Folashade Christiana Folowoshe. Former documents remain valid General public note.

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Change of Name OJO: Formerly Oko Serah Olufunke now Mrs. Adewuyi Serah Olufunke. Former documents valid. Public note. OKECHUKWU: Former Mrs Unoma Liza Okechukwu now Mrs. Unoma Liza Egbejiogu. Former documents remain valid. Public note. OKEHIE: Formerly Miss Okehie Chinwenwa Augustina now wish to be addressed as Mrs Onyekwe Chinwenwa Augustina All former documents remain valid general public note. OKEKE: Formerly Miss Okeke Oluchukwu Ekene now wish to be addressed Mrs Ndibe Oluchukwu Ekene. All former documents remain valid. General public note OKEKE: Formerly Miss Jacinta Eberechi Okeke now Mrs Jacinta Chukwu Anthony. Former documents valid. Public note. OKEZIE: Formerly Miss Okezie Nkechi Avuekwe now Mrs. Ikpeogu Nkechi Avuekwe. All former documents remain valid. General public note. OKIYIH: Formerly Okiyih Alexandria Chidinma now Chinawa Alexandria Chidinma. Former documents remain valid. Public note. OKOLI : Formerly Mrs Okoli Gloria Ngozi now Mrs Umeadi-Okoli Gloria Ngozi. Former documents remain valid. Public note. OKONKWO: Formerly Miss Okonkwo Chimma Adaku now Mrs Emebo Chimma Adaku. Former documents remain valid, public note. OKON: Formerly Miss Gloria Uto Okon, now Mrs Gloria Benjamin Ewoh. Former documents valid. Public note. OKORIE: Formerly Miss Eudora Ifeyinwa Okorie now Mrs Eudora Ifeyinwa Ndubuisi-Ogbo. Former documents valid. Public note. OKORO: Formerly Miss Ejiroghene Onome Okoro, now Mrs Ejiroghene Onome Edhughoro. Former documents valid. Public note. OKPALA: Formerly Miss Okpala Rita Ifeyinwa Oluchukwu now Mrs Amasiatu Rita Ifeyinwa Oluchukwu. Former documents remain

valid, public note. OKPARA: Formerly Miss Rosemary Ugochi Okpara now Mrs. Rosemary Ugochi Ihebia. Former documents remain valid. Public take note. OKPE: Formerly Miss Esther Ada Okpe now Mrs. Esther Ada Ashade. Former documents remain valid. Public note. OLABIMTAN: Formerly Mrs. Moriam Oloruntosin Ajoke Olabimtan (Nee Smith) now Mrs. Moriam Oloruntosin Ajoke Laniyan. All former documents remain valid. General public note. OLADIRAN: Formerly Miss Oladiran Bolaji Janet now Mrs Adeyemi Omobolaji Janet. All former documents remain valid. Public note. OLAOGUN: Formerly Oreoluwa Sotola Olaogun now Mrs. Oreoluwa Sotola Adeogun. Former documents remain valid. Public note. OLAOSEGBE: Formerly Miss Oluwadamilola Margaret Olatunbosun Olaosegbe now Mrs. Oluwadamilola Margaret Olatunbosun Badejo. All former documents remain valid. Public note. OLARINDE: Formerly Miss Damilola Eunice Olarinde now Mrs. Damilola Eunice Alo. Former documents remain valid. Public note. OLASEHINDE: Formerly MIssÂ Oluwakemi Yetunde Olasehinde, now Mrs Oluwakemi yetunde Ojo. Former documents valid. Public note. OLATUNJI: Formerly Miss Olubukola Olubanke Olatunji now known and addressed as Mrs. Olubukola Olubanke Oni. All documents remain valid. Public note. OLOGURE: Formerly Miss Ologure Ruth Akpobome now Mrs. Eyong Victor Ruth Akpobome. Former documents valid. UNILAG DLI, public note. OLUMBA: Formerly Miss Mercy Kaodichi Olumba now Mrs. Mercy Kaodichi Onyegbule. Former documents remain valid. Public note. OMALI: Formerly Miss Christiana Ojoma Omali, now Mrs. Christiana Ojoma Arome. Former documents remain valid. Public note OMONIYI: Former Miss

Omoniyi Folake now Mrs. Folorunsho Folake. Former documents valid. Public note. OMOZOKPIA: Formerly O m o z o k p i a Ebholemhen Goodluck now addressed as Paul Ebholemhen Goodluck. Former documents remain valid. Public note. ONAGA: Formerly Miss Akunna Kenechi Onaga, now Mrs Akunna Kenechi Osa-Edoh. Former documents valid. Public note. ONALO: I, formerly Miss Gladys Uyo Onalo is now known and addressed Mrs. Gladys Steve Thompson Maduka. Former documents remain valid. General public take note. ONIMODE: Formerly Miss Onimode Olajumoke Modupe, now Mrs. Oke Olajumoke Modupe. All former documents remain valid. Public take note. ONOCHIE: Formerly Miss Agatha Ebelechukwu Onochie now Mrs. Agatha Ebelechukwu Onwudiwe. Former documents remain valid. Public note. ONOWOH: Formerly Miss Onowoh Nkiru Chigozie, now Mrs Okonkwo Nkiru Chigozie. Former documents remain valid. Public note. ONUOHA: I, Formerly known as Mrs Onuoha Amarachi Lite now wish to be known as Mrs Thompson AmarachiUnwanaobong Lite. Former documents remain valid. NYSC, General public take note. ONWUKWE: Formerly Miss Uchenna Onyedikachi Onwukwe now Mrs Onyedikachi Patrick Ogbonna. Former documents valid. Public note. ONWUMERE: Formerly Miss Celine Uzoamaka Onwumere, now Mrs Celine Uzoamaka Onochie. Former documents valid. Public note. OREBANJO: Formerly Miss Orebanjo Adenike now Mrs. Akinloye Adenike. Former documents remain valid. University of Ibadan Postgraduate School and public note. OREDEIN: Formerly Miss Omolola Olasinbo Oredein now Mrs. Omolola Olasinbo OredeinSanya. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

ORJI: Formerly Miss Orji Jessy Nnennaya now Mrs. Kalu Ekea Jessy Nnennaya. Former documents remain valid. Public note. ORUADE: Formerly Oruade Ufuoma Louisa now Mrs Chikwe Ufuoma Louisa. Former documents remain valid. Public note. OSAS: Formerly Osagie Osas Davis now Osagie Dawson Davis. Former documents remain valid. Public note. OSCAR: Isobara Etiene Oscar and Isobara Etieneobong are my names. Documents bearing any of these names are mine. Public note. OSENI: Formerly Oseni Adeola Farouk now Oyelowo Adeola Oyewale. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. SHONDE: Formerly Miss Adebimpe Rasheedat Shonde, now Mrs Adebimpe Michelle Tunkarimu. Former documents valid. OSINNUWA: Formerly Miss Ifeoluwapo Damilola Osinnuwa now known as Mrs. Ifeoluwapo Damilola Lawrence. Former documents remain valid. Public take note. OSINOWO: I, formerly known as Miss Osinowo Omololu Omojura now Mrs. Ita Omololu Omojura. All former documents remain valid. General public note. OTELAJA: Formerly Miss Otelaja Oluwaseun Foluke, now Mrs Olatoye Oluwaseun Foluke. Former documents valid. Public note. OTTI: Formerly Miss Otti Chinelo Joy, now Mrs Nwaeze Chinelo Joy. Former documents remain valid. Public note. OZOANI: Formerly Miss Ozoani Emilia Nnenna, now Mrs Mbah Emilia Nnenna. Former documents remain valid. Public note. POPOOLA: Formerly Miss Popoola Ronke Remilekun now Mrs. Idowu Ronke Remilekin. Former documents remain valid. General public note. SHONDE: Formerly Miss Adebimpe Rasjeedat Shonde now Mrs. Adebimpe Michelle Tunkarimu. Former documents valid.

SOLARIN: Formerly Miss Oluwatosin Temitayo Solarin now Mrs. Oluwatosin Temitayo Okeyode. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

UKWUMA: Formerly Miss Ukwuma Irene Kenechi now Mrs. Chukwuma Irene Kenechi. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

SEIDU: Formerly Miss Taiwo Tosin Seidu, now Mrs Taiwo Tosin Ajayi. Former documents valid. Public note.

UKWUEZE: Formerly Miss Ukwueze Onyinyechi Gift, now Mrs Agbo Onyinyechi Gift. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

SHODIPO: Formerly Miss Shodipo Rebecca Damilola, now Mrs Omakinwa Rebecca Damilola. Former documents valid. Public note. SIPEOLU: Formerly Miss Sipeolu Florence Oluwayemisi now Mrs Oluwole Florence Oluwayemisi. Former documents remain valid. Public note. SITU: Former Miss Idayat Bolarinwa Situ now Mrs. Bolarinwa Oke Adelana. All former documents remain valid. Public note. SOTAYO: Formerly Miss Sotayo Olanike Ruth now wish to be known as Mrs. Ologundudu Olanike Ruth. Former documents remain valid. General public note. SUNDAY: Formerly Miss Oluchi Patience Sunday, now Mrs Oluchi patience Begue. Former documents valid. Public note. UBONG: Former Mr. Prince Ezra Ubong now wish to be known as Mr. Prince Ezra. All former documents remain valid. Public note. TAIWO: Former Miss Esther Oluwaseyi Taiwo now Mrs. Esther Oluwaseyi Banjo. Former documents remain valid. Public take note. UCHENNA: Formerly Miss John Onyinyechi now Mrs. Uchenna Onyinyechi. Former documents remain valid. Abia State Universal Basic Education Board, public note. UDO: Formerly Miss Glory Isiaha Udo now wish to be addressed as Mrs Okachi Glory. All former documents remain valid. General public note.

UMEJIBURU: Chinenye Chikodili and Umejiburu Chinenye Favour is same person now mrs Umejiburu Chinenye Favour. Former documents valid. Public note. UMOH: Formerly Miss Enobong Mark Umoh now Mrs. Enobong Martin Ardey. Former documents remain valid. Public note. WAHAB: We formerly Mr. Wahab Taiwo Rafiu and Mrs. Wahab Abiola Victoria now Mr. Wahab-Balogun Taiwo Rapheal and Mrs. Wahab-Balogun Abiola Victoria. Former documents remain valid. Public note. YESUF: Formerly Yesuf Oluwafemi Solomon now Mr. Adewale Oluwafemi Solomon. Former documents remain valid. Public note. YUSUF: Formerly Yusuf Oladunni Rahmatullah now Yusuf Oduyoye Oladunni Rahmatullah. Lagos State Primary Health Care Board, general public take note.

IF FOR THE PURPOSE OF THIS CHANGE OF NAME YOU WANT TO BUY

UGORJI: Formerly Miss Ugorji Juliet Oluchi, now Mrs Ohaegbulam Juliet Oluchi. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

A COPY

UKA: Formerly MIss Uka Rebecca now Mrs Uche Rebecca. Former documents remain valid. Public take note.

CALL

PLEASE

0802 306 4437

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60 Saturday, May 24, 2014

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Sports

Chukwu: If I Were A Player,

Chukwu says the Super Eagles can go beyond the quarterfinal stage at the Brazil 2014 World Cup.

Christian Chukwu is a member of the technical committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), an arm of the NFF charged with liaising with the national team coaches to put up good representation for the country in international competitions. The body also helps the Federation in articulating policies and direction for the growth of the beautiful game in Nigeria. Fielding questions from CHRISTIAN OKPARA in Lagos recently, Chukwu, a former Eagles Captain and also coach, talks about Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s preparation for the Brazil 2014 World Cup, the controversy surrounding Coach Stephen Keshiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s decision to drop Villarreal striker, Ikechukwu Uche, from his squad, the Glo Premier League and ways to sustainable development of Nigerian football. Excerpts:

OACH Stephen Keshi recently announced his provi- I want to say that we argued with him on the choice C sional squad for the World Cup and among other of players and other issues, but at the end of the day, we had to give him the chance to work with the things; most Nigerians are worried that he chose to exclude Ikechukwu Uche from the team. When you look at the attacking options available in the squad, one can say that apart from Emmanuel Emenike and to an extent, Osaze Odemwingie, there is no other striker that Nigeria can actually rely on to get the goals in Brazil? I think we should give Keshi the opportunity to work the way he wants irrespective of what people think. He should be encouraged to succeed because at the end of the day, the buck stops on his table.

players he has chosen. All we are doing now is to support him to do well for Nigeria and Nigerians. Looking at the strikers at his disposal, do you think Nigeria has the personnel that would score the goals to take us to the second round of the World Cup? Football is not judged by names, but by the form of the players. I believe that the coach has done his homework. He has seen the people that will fit into whatever pattern he wants to play. He has players

Saturday, May 24, 2014 |61

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, I’ll Die To Play For Keshi When Keshi went to the Nations Cup, he was not given any chance to succeed. We thought the game against Cote d’Ivoire was our last game. But after the match… some people called it a miracle, but the team scaled through. The whole country came back strongly to demand to tell the same team that all Nigeria was looking for was the cup. People, who did not even expect Keshi to reach the semifinal, were now demanding that he brings back the cup. That’s football for you. If I was still playing and we are pitched against Argentina, I will want to make name for myself by being the player that stopped Messi and his team. That will sell me to the world. If I was a player, I will die to play for Keshi in Brazil. I hold no fear over any team, including Argentina. Fortunately, when we will meet Argentina, we would have known our position on the table. We would have played against Iran Chukwu and Bosnia. If we succeeded against them, then the morale and confidence will be there such that we will play a relaxed game against Argentina. Since you know our team and have seen some of the other sides, in your opinion, do you think that the Super Eagles can get to the semifinal as being demanded by Nigerians? What do you think will be our best performance? People have the right to wish for the best. But football is a practical thing, if you don’t prepare well… if you don’t do the right thing, you will not succeed. I believe that if we prepare well as we are going to do and every player is in good shape, I believe we can surpass the quarterfinal stage. As a member of the NFF technical committee, which is expected to help the coaches achieve their best possible result for the country, what have you done to ensure that Keshi and his crew do their job without much stress? First, we have been able to shield them away from pressure, because with unnecessary pressure you cannot achieve anything. Secondly, we have been able to help them realize all their programmes. There are certain other things we do to make it easier for the coaches to concentrate on their Keshi jobs. Let’s look at the Nigerian league; what do you think Nigeria should do to make club football attractive so that the fans will return to the stadia? If we join the rest of the world to do things the proper way, then I can assure you that the crowd will return. We must hand other the clubs to the private sector by selling shares to the public. When we do that the clubs will find ways of making adequate money for their programmes. The members of the clubs will come together to elect their officials. When that happens, the club members will begin to take their families and friends to watch games. Assuming we have 5,000 card-carrying members of a club and each pays N1, 000 every month, which is N5 million for the club every month. That is one aspect of funding for the club. There are other areas of generating money, but the management of the club must have the drive and the business acumen to run a successful club. An individual in the club, who is rich, can even buy a particular player for the club. That presence of such big playPHOTO: AFP er will bring the fans to the team’s games. That is another way of generating fun. There is a problem here. Some of the people that manage the that can sacrifice for him. I think what he is after now is to ensure that the players adapt clubs have held to the leadership so tightly that even if you want to conduct an election, they have their cronies, who form the bulk very well to whatever pattern he plans to play in Brazil. of the electorate, to return them to power. I remember those days in Rangers when we were to play against IICC in Enugu and the coach picked Nnamdi Anyafor to No. You cannot do election without selling shares. It is not a question of handpicking officials anymore. Those days when I was playplay against Odegbami in the game. People said Nnamdi was ing we usually elected our officials. That was how Jim Nwobodo not fit for that type of game. But at the end of the day, he was became chairman of Rangers. It was not by appointment. nicknamed ‘policeman’ because he held Segun Odegbami If we sell shares, people will buy and the shareholders will get throughout the game. People should give the chosen players the chance because you never know who will explode if given together to elect the chairman and other officials. Members of the the opportunity. People like Messi, Dzeko and these other stars club will have control over its affairs and after their tenure, another election will hold to elect new officials or retain the old ones. got the opportunity to show what they can do and they used The officials will do things that will earn the club money. They that opportunity to shine and become global stars.

can go to banks to borrow money for the club’s business because the books are there for everyone to see. An organization can come to build a stadium for the club and get the right to name it. They have Emirates stadium, which is Arsenal’s ground built with the assistance of Emirates, a company. Such things can happen in Nigeria if we put in the right structures. The banks can build a stadium and name it after their brands. In Nigeria today, no club has its own stadium. They don’t even have training grounds, except Rangers, which I know. And we are playing professional football. If a team is not doing well, government is worried and what next, management will start putting pressure on the referees. The referees will compromise and we have all these problems. But if the clubs were run the right way, the chairmen hold their meetings and everybody knows it is a business, things will work well. If the matches are on television, I don’t think teams will be protesting bad officiating because everything is there for all to see. If there were any problem, the people in charge would look at the video of the game and take the necessary action. Talking about referees, I remember a time the clubs came together to pledge that nobody would put pressure on the referees. But nothing seems to have changed despite that pledge? You are the one saying it. These club officials are appointed and if the clubs are not doing well, they will be fired. But if private individuals ran the clubs, when the teams are not doing well, they will accept it and work harder to succeed in future. In Europe, there are clubs that are not expected to win the league. All they do is try to remain in business as midtable teams. They have their targets. Everybody cannot win the league, but here everybody wants to win the league because they are government clubs and to get anything from government, you must show results. You played for Rangers and coached the team to many victories, but now the team hardly wins anything… what is the problem? Well, I am not with them now, so I don’t know what is happening there. Anything I say here now is just conjecture. However, I will say that in my days, Rangers had a very good youth programme. All of us came from youth clubs to make the team. Talking generally, nowadays, what clubs do is to buy players every year and expect them to win the league. There is no programme to bring up the young ones. A good professional club has no business with 35, 40 players in a season. Get about 18 or 20 players you can finance and the others will come from the youth sides. In Nigeria, only about 18 players feature in a season, so what happens to the other players? In this country now, most of the players in the junior teams are older than those in the main team, so who is fooling who? You talked about the abolition of sign on fees, but I want to tell you that even at that, some clubs still find it difficult to pay their players. If you divide the sign-on fee into 12 and add that to the players’ salaries, it will be beneficial to both the club and the player because more of them will prefer to stay back in the league knowing that they will be well paid. But the problem is that because government owns these clubs, state officials will not allow the players to earn that much. In the other way, you wouldn’t blame the government because the clubs are not generating money. Even when they get sponsors and money from other sources, most times it is not declared because they expect government to continue funding the clubs. But some clubs like Enyimba, Kano Pillars and Heartland that have been consistent at the CAF Champions League should be financially stable to take care of their needs, instead of depending on government. That is what I am telling you. Those ones are lucky because they have sports-loving governors. If after the next election, they get governors that don’t care about sports, everything will die. Now those other ones that were not doing well in the past may get lucky with their governors, so they will come up. It is a circle. That is why government should not be involved in football because the success or failure depends on one individual. That does not give room for clubs to won solid structures.

Football is not judged by names, but by the form of the players. I believe that the coach has done his homework. He has seen the people that will fit into whatever pattern he wants to play. He has players that can sacrifice for him.

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SPORTS

Super Eagles - Bring Back Our Girls!

Super Eagles’ Victor Moses (right) takes on Italy’s Di Maggio during their Brazil Confederation Cup game last year. Moses is one of the players expected to lead Nigeria’s attack at the 2014 World Cup. PHOTO:

T is Wednesday night. My heart is heavy. I am groping in the darkness that has enveloped my country. All day long in the past few days my thoughts have been in an emotional turmoil. My mind is reeling with the disgust and incomprehension of the orgy of death that surrounds me. My mind wanders away from what has been the issue of the season, the 2014 World Cup and drifts inevitably towards issues that now disturb the stability of our great country and our once happy people! There are less than three weeks to the start of the most anticipated and most followed sporting event in the world. Nigeria is gearing up to assemble its ‘warriors’ and to start preparations towards becoming serious contenders for the most coveted sports trophy in the world – the World Cup. At the same time, the country’s players must be burdened by the trauma and distractions created by the brutal killings pouring down like rain upon the country in torrents. For example, I cannot imagine how several members of the Super Eagles are coping with the news of the endless killings of their kith and kin in Nigeria. Only a few days ago, two bomb blasts occurred in a crowded market in the city of Jos. When the dust settled on the rubble over one hundred people lay dead amongst the ruins, with hundreds more carrying the scars of serious injuries. The entire country is thrown into gales of mourning. This is not an isolated incident. Similar scenarios have been playing out in several other cities in the northern part of Nigeria on an almost daily basis since the start of this year. Thousands have been killed, tens of thousands scarred for life with physical injuries and millions saddled with broken hearts. No one is immune from the effect of the dastardly acts. Not even the country’s heroes – the Super Eagles! Mikel Obi may be Nigeria’s great hope at the World Cup. But terrorists do not care. His parents and siblings live in Jos. A few years ago the Obi family went through a different but equally traumatic experience when Mikel’s father was kidnapped for ransom. This is the same city I grew up in, once a truly beautiful, cosmopolitan and peaceful place, now turned a killing field dripping with the blood of innocent Nigerians. This is the city with a rich history of football that produced some of Nigeria’s finest footballers through the generations since Independence –Goalkeeper Erewa, Sam Garba, Peter

Anieke, Tony Igwe, Ismaila Mabo, Amuda Shittu, Chris Udemezue, the Atuegbu brothers, Layiwola Olagbemiro, Patrick Mancha, yours truly and a host of several other great members of Nigeria’s Green (later Super) Eagles! Before that, Victor Moses’ parents had been killed by rioters in Kaduna, another northern city that is also a theatre of bombings and deaths in recent bloodletting by the Boko Haram. It was that incident that took Victor to the UK where his career in football blossomed. But the trauma of his past experience must be re-ignited every time he learns of another bomb blast or killing in that city. Ahmed Musa, another player, a deadly striker upon whom the fate of Nigeria may lie this summer in Brazil, comes from Kano, another active centre in the senseless bombings and killings being unleashed by the same dreaded terrorist group. This scenario is replicated in several other Nigerian cities with bombs and deaths in an intricate romance, leaving

Nigerians in a trance, flailing and groping, helpless against the rampage of the terrorists. Members of the Super Eagles must have friends and family going through the throes of this catastrophe. In the past few weeks, Nigeria has been in the international news more times than at any other time in the country’s history. The story of the kidnap of 276 young girls from their dormitory in a school in Chibok, Borno State, by the Boko Haram, takes the situation to a new and dangerous dimension. That act has instigated unprecedented global attention and outcry. The West led by the United States of America is now drawn into the effort to rescue the girls, tame the terrorists and stop the carnage that has claimed thousands of lives this year alone. Yet, all these are but a fraction of the several other present and imminent crisis that are rocking Nigeria to its foundation and threatening the country’s survival. Nigeria is currently perched on a precipice under siege of rampaging terrorists. Members of the Super Eagles, the country’s greatest ambassadors in the year of the World Cup, are not immune from the vagaries of the situation. In the midst of all this mayhem, as the world prepares to celebrate its greatest sporting event, a festival that showcases and promotes the potential of football to change the world in ways that no other event in history can or has done, the Super Eagles are expected to set aside their pain, fear and trauma, focus on football and head to Brazil. It is not easy! Even I do not know where I find the psychological balance to write about football today in the midst of the gory tales from Jos. The past few weeks have thrown up pictures of blasted places and mutilated bodies all over the country so gruesome that I wonder how members of the Super Eagles are taking it and coping on the eve of their greatest challenge! Having said that, I also wonder why they have not, as a team, added their voices to the global ‘Bring Back Our Girls’ campaign. Their own particular cry will reverberate more around the world. It will also give them additional moral impetus during the championship to increase the capacity of their determination and demonstrate the indefatigable spirit of the Nigerian by doing well and going some fair distance as a balm to soothe the pain of their bleeding countrymen and women. They can do it. After all, through the millennia, football has fascinated scholars with its ability to bridge all manner of divides,

bring the entire world together, even fiercely feuding ones, to a stage where their youth can freely and actively compete amongst one another in a healthy competitive spirit, promoting the ideals of global Peace and Friendship. The World Cup has gripped the world in its vice - confounding, fascinating, and enchanting! Used properly and correctly football can use its power to bring positive change to the world! Between the ideals of sports and the mired pits of political and internecine crises, football and humanity must find a common ground to celebrate the human spirit to conquer adversity! The Super Eagles have a new responsibility to take centre stage even from now, by further taking the message of our people’s plight to billions of the football audience worldwide in a truly global effort to ‘Bring Back Our Girls’. Meanwhile, I request readers to forgive me for I just can not get my mind beyond the new and senseless carnage in Jos. I cannot think of anything to write about when my fellow countrymen and women, old and young, are been mowed down by faceless bombers baying for the blood of the innocent! It is hard to concentrate. My country burns.

Saturday, may 25, 2014 63

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SPORTS UEFA Champion League Luiz Closes In On £40m Paris St-Germain move HELSEA are in advanced Costa is among those linked C talks with French champi- with a move to Stamford ons, Paris St-Germain over the Bridge. Because of FFP, Chelsea sale of defender David Luiz for about £40m. The 27-year-old Brazil international joined the Blues from Benfica for £21.3m in January 2011. He has made 143 appearances, featuring predominantly at centre-back, but also as a defensive midfielder. Luiz has three years left on a fiveyear contract he signed in September 2012. The Brazilian has been the subject of interest from Barcelona in the last two summers, but French champions PSG - despite recently failing UEFA’s financial fair play (FFP) rules - are set to break the transfer record for a defender to secure his services. Chelsea only narrowly complied with FFP and see this as a sensible piece of business, given the profit it would generate. Luiz is not part of manager Jose mourinho’s first-choice central defensive pairing and his exit would provide funds to strengthen in other areas. Atletico madrid striker, Diego

Ronaldo

cannot afford to spend heavily on incoming players unless they recoup similar amounts from outgoings - which they could, and did, in the earlier years of owner Roman Abramovich’s reign. The new financial restrictions, coupled with mourinho’s plans from a footballing perspective, are now at the forefront of the club’s thinking and also explain the £37.1m sale of midfielder Juan mata to manchester United in January. All 12 of Luiz’s goals for the Blues came in his first twoand-a-half seasons and although he played 34 games during the 2013-14 campaign, mourinho prefers John Terry and Gary Cahill at centre-half and Luiz is not seen as a longterm option in midfield. Chelsea also have high hopes for 21-year-old Czech Tomas Kalas and 19-year-old Englishman Nathaniel Chalobah as defensive options. The Blues also spent £12m on St Etienne centreback, Kurt Zouma in January.

Costa

Real madrid Eye 10th Title, As Atletico Stay Focused ARLO Ancelotti will C attempt to succeed where the likes of Jose mourinho, Fabio Capello and manuel Pellegrini failed by finally ending Real madrid’s wait for a 10th European Cup title when they take on arch-rivals Atletico madrid in Lisbon today. Ancelotti is Real’s 11th coach since they last conquered Europe back in 2002 under Vicente del Bosque and the club’s quest for ‘La Decima’ (the 10th) has increasingly

turned into an obsession for the big-spending Spanish giants. Ancelotti has already done better than some of the biggest names in the game by getting madrid back into the final - the first time they have graced the showpiece since Zinedine Zidane’s famous volley saw them beat Bayer Leverkusen 2-1 at Hampden 12 years ago - but the Italian knows that is only part of the battle, with all madridistas now desperate for Real to get

their hands on the trophy again. madrid’s Portuguese superstar, Cristiano Ronaldo, whose 16 goals in this season’s competition is a record, said on www.uefa.com: “It is a moment that all madridistas are dreaming about - the ‘decima’. “It is a trophy we have been looking to win for many years. Real madrid have wanted it for a long time. Since the first day we came here, we’ve felt that positive pressure to win

the Champions League. We feel like we are now one small step away from winning.” Long-serving defender, Sergio Ramos, who has won pretty much every other honour in the game, but is playing in his first Champions League final, added on the Bwin website: “It’s a unique experience. It’s a reward for all the sacrifice and hard work over so many years. “If we look it from the perspective of the group, this is the pay-off for the work the

team has put in throughout the last few years, during which time we hadn’t been fortunate enough to reach the final. At last the time has come to experience this amazing moment.” Standing in Real’s way at the Estadio da Luz are a familiar foe, Atletico who are also looking to seal what would be their greatest-ever season by lifting the European Cup for the first time. Atletico have already caused a major upset this year by

beating Real and Barcelona to the Primera Division title their first since 1996 - and now they have a chance of adding the Champions League crown in what will be the first Euopean Cup final between two teams from the same city. Diego Simeone, who has already won the league, Copa del Rey and Europa League in just three seasons as Atletico coach, said: “It’s the fruit of the labour that we’ve been doing for nearly three years.

Giwa FC Boss Urges Nigerians To Back Eagles, Keshi

decision and should be allowed to discharge his duties to the best of his ability. “Everyone is entitled to his opinion, but now that the provisional squad has been announced, the coach has crossed the Rubicon and there is certainly no going back.

Brazil 2014 World Cup

TAN Takes 12 Fans To Brazil By Adeyinka Adedipe RANSFORmATION Agenda of Nigeria (TAN) has concluded plans to fly 12 lucky beneficiaries to watch the Super Eagles’ group games of the Brazil 2014 World Cup. They will also join other Nigerians to cheer the Eagles to victory. Coordinator of the event tagged, ‘Fly me To Brazil, Waidi Akanni told journalists in Lagos on Thursday that six winners would emerge in tomorrow’s draws in Abuja, while the draw for the remaining six would be done on Wednesday to determine the winners for an all expenses

paid 12 day trip to Brazil. To qualify for the raffle draw, according to the former Super Eagles’ player, participants should log on to TAN’S facebook page, www.facebook.com/tannigeria, sign up and answer six simple questions. Also, participants can also visit TAN’s website, www.tan.org.ng/brazil to also answer questions and qualify for the draws. Akanni stated that TAN is offering Nigerians the chance to cheer the Super Eagles to victory without paying their way to Brazil. He said all participants need to have is the ability to use the

internet and log on to TAN’s website and facebook page to qualify for the draws. The draws would be conducted live on Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) and African Independent Television (AIT). Akanni stated that the initiative would encourage the youths to become adept in the use of the internet and would also help them achieve their aim of being at the World Cup next month. He said sports is the only unifying factor and urged Nigerians to use Super Eagles’ participation at the World Cup to stop violence, adding that, “we need to stop every form of hatred and come

together as one.” He noted that the transformation of the sports sector remains a key element of national transformation enunciated by President Goodluck Jonathan. “Apart from reinforcing and celebrating national unity, sports is a key element of social mobilization and youth empowerment,” Akanni added. Akanni stated that TAN is fully behind Coach Stephen Keshi and the players to do well in Brazil. He noted that since the AFCON victory, the Eagles have continued to make Nigeria proud and enjoined them to go all out for victory in all their games at the World Cup.

mBASSADOR Chris Giwa A has called on Nigerians to give their total support to the Super Eagles and pray for their success at the 2014 Brazil FIFA World Cup. Speaking on the Eagles’ chances at the World Cup, Giwa stated the Coach Stephen Keshi led technical crew has the wherewithal to led the Eagles to victory. He stated that, “the coach and his backroom staff qualified Nigeria for the World Cup, we must therefore, respect their decision on the final squad of players that will be selected for the mundial.” He said Keshi should be left to face the consequence of his

Keshi

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Saturday, May 24, 2014

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Chelsea Release Lampard, Cole Eto’o, Arsenal Drop Bendtner, Park HELSEA yesterday submitC ted a list to the Premier League of 10 players released by the Blues and there are two massive names included, with Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole now officially unattached as they consider where to play next season. Lampard and Cole have both been negotiating fresh terms with the Blues off the back of very different seasons back under the tutelage of Jose Mourinho. Cole was forced to play a peripheral role as Mourinho opted to make Spanish fullback Cesar Azpilicueta his first-choice at left-back for the vast majority of the campaign. The 33-year-old has been linked with Real Madrid, Monaco and Liverpool and is clearly a proven international player still in demand, but that doesn’t mean him or Lampard may not still end up at Stamford Bridge when the new campaign begins. Lampard in particular has held extensive negotiations over fresh terms thought to include a one-year extension on a released salary, but at the time Chelsea had to submit their list of released stars to the Premier League confirmation of progress was still some way off. Samuel Eto’o, Mark Schwarzer, Hilario and Milan Lalkovic were also on that 10man exit list, as Mourinho looks to bring silverware back to London next season

with widespread change in the first-team squad. While Lampard still has a chance of extending his Chelsea stay it looks like David Luiz is on his way out, with the Brazilian superstar very close to agreeing a shock £50m switch to Paris Saint-Germain. Lampard has scored a club record 209 Chelsea goals in 646 appearances since his switch from West Ham, including the two goals at Bolton which secured the 2004/2005 Premier League title. That was Chelsea’s first championship for 50 years and began the most successful period in the club’s history. Eto’o netted 12 times during his short spell at Stamford Bridge last term, following his move from Anzhi Makhachkala. Cole has hinted his future lies away from the Londoners after his eight year stay, falling down the pecking order this season. The former Arsenal left-back, who retired from England duty after winning 107 caps, has been linked with moves abroad and to Manchester United and Liverpool. Goalkeepers Mark Schwarzer and Hilario are also set to leave Stamford Bridge, suggesting Atletico Madrid loan star Thibaut Courtois could be set for firstteam action with his parent club for the first time next season.

SuperSport Ropes In Nuno Gomes For Champions League final AVING called the Estadio H da Luz, venue for the Champions League final between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid, home for 14 years of his 19-year career, former Benfica goal-poacher, Nuno Gomes, is the perfect man to offer expert insight on how to win in the Stadium of Light. Gomes will be pitchside with Sammy Kuffour and Carol Tshabalala in the World of Champions’ one hour 15minute build-up to the season finale. “Even though Real Madrid are the better side on paper and the talent at their disposal, the neutral venue offered by Lisbon will ensure that the final is very tactical with the odd goal determining the winner,” he said. “Atletico have one of the

most passionate managers in world football today, Diego Simeone, and they feed off his passion and energy. They could surprise us all and do the double.” It’s the first time that two teams from the same city get to contest European club football’s biggest prize and this has been hailed as “heavenly sent” in the Spanish capital. Real celebrate their triumphs at the statue of Cibeles, the goddess of fertility, while Atletico have theirs at the statue of Neptune, god of fresh water and the sea. For both sets of fans to have had to descend upon the statues in a space of just 24 hours, celebrating progression to the final, must have been an act of the gods they say.

Real Madrid will rekindle their rivalry with city mates, Atletico, this evening in Lisbon.

Madrid City Divided By UEFA League Final TLETICO Madrid have a A chance in this night’s Champions League final not only to claim their debut European crown, but also to deny their loathed and vastly wealthier neighbours, Real

Heineken House Lagos Set For Lisbon Showdown to be a thriller to IonTthepromises end as the curtain falls the 2013/14 Heineken House presentation of the UEFA Champions League today. Over a span of three months, visitors to the Heineken House Lagos witnessed the proceeding of all the 44 matches of the knock out stage of the competition. This evening the first showpiece between teams from the same city in the 59-year history of the European Cup will hold as Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid clash. It will be a special night to remember given the series of

activities lined up for the visitors attending the premium viewing experience at the upscale venue in Ikoyi, Lagos. The Senior Brand Manager Heineken, Ngozi Nkwobi, disclosed that the event is expected to bring together approximately 600 guests, including celebrities from the entertainment and prominent former football stars. “Every participant since February has been looking

forward to this grand moment. It is a great night and all the visitors for this occasion are guaranteed a spectacular night of fun and football that will have a lasting memory,” she remarked. The five ‘lucky’ Nigerian fans that embarked on an allexpense paid trip to the final match courtesy of Heineken two days ago are also getting ready for the epic final match at the 65,647 capacity Stadium of Light in Lisbon, Portugal.

Madrid, a record-extending 10th. Atletico have outperformed this season in securing a remarkable La Liga triumph, shattering the domestic dominance of Real and Barcelona and becoming the first team other than the big two to win the Spanish title since Valencia in 2004. They are also back competing with the continent’s elite after a lengthy absence and the first showpiece between teams from the same city in the 59-year history of the European Cup is their second final after they lost out to Bayern Munich in 1974. Real, the world’s richest club by income, have splashed more than €600 million (HK$6.3 billion) on players over the past five years and are appearing in their 13th final, but the first since their

last success in 2002. Their vast outlay is proof of Real president Florentino Perez’s obsession with winning what is known in Spain as “la decima” (the 10th). After Real’s La Liga campaign faltered in the final weeks of the campaign, failure in Lisbon would be a massive blow to the construction magnate’s prestige. “From the first day a player arrives at the club, he is already saying that he has come to win the ‘decima’,” former Real forward Predrag Mijatovic said this week. “There is too much pressure being put on the players,” added the Montenegrin, who scored the winner in Real’s 1-0 Champions League final triumph against Juventus in 1998. “The best way to take the sting out of this obsession is

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winning and then we won’t be talking about the 10th anymore.” Atletico, known as “the mattress makers” after their red and white-striped shirts, and Real, who play in white and are nicknamed “the Meringues”, have met only once before in continental competition, in the European Cup semi-finals in 1958-59. Atletico coach Diego Simeone will be sweating on the fitness of his leading goalscorer Diego Costa. Photo: EPA Real went through to what was their fourth consecutive final after winning a replay in Zaragoza when Ferenc Puskas scored the winner in a 2-1 success. The city neighbours have met four times this season. In La Liga, Atletico won 1-0 at Real’s Bernabeu stadium and they drew 2-2 at the Calderon in the return, while in the twolegged King’s Cup semi-finals Atletico were on the end of a 50 aggregate drubbing. • Culled From Reuters