The Nation February 09, 2013

Cynthia’s murder:

How suspects escaped from hotel, witness tells court as trial opens PAG E 5

2015: PDP jittery over APC's emergence PAGE 2

INEC lists conditions for merger of ACN, ANPP, CPC, APGA Electoral Act allows merger, says commission's top shot

Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper www.thenationonlineng.net

VOL.07 N0. 2397

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2013

N150.00

Polio vaccination tragedy:

Gunmen kill nine women in Kano We'll track down killers, I-G vows PAGE 2

Jonathan: I’m saddened by killings

$3m bribery scandal

Lawan, Emenalo granted bail PAG E 6

International passports seized

Rousing welcome as Chime returns to Enugu PAGE 58

Shielded from newsmen

•Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State acknowledges cheers from the mammoth crowd on arrival at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, from Abuja…yesterday.

Inset: The governor being hugged by his deputy, Mr. Sunday Onyebuchi and his wife, Nneka PHOTOS: Cletus OBI

South West Expo 2013: Participants vow to pursue region’s economic integration

PAGE 59

2NEWS

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EW days after four parties combined to form the All Progressives Congress (APC), there are indications that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is jittery that it may lose control of some states in the North-East, North-West, North-Central, South-East and South-South.

The party had since 2011 poll lost its control of the South-West and the row between the National Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur and sacked National Secretary, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, seems to have foreclosed the chances of the party in the region in 2015.

Also, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday said the four parties ought to hold separate national conventions to ratify their decision to merge before any merger application could be considered.

Investigation by our correspondent revealed that contrary to the posturing of Tukur, which dismissed the APC as no threat, the PDP fears that the new merger party could spring a surprise.

Findings revealed that the PDP leadership is worried that it might lose total control of states in the NorthEast, where Tukur hails from, to APC. It was learnt that the sectarian violence in the NorthEast and the failure of the PDP administration to restore peace had caused political leaders to seek an alternative platform.

In spite of the fact that VicePresident Namadi Sambo went on an appeasement mission to Borno State last week, the people of the state may pitch their tent with the progressives in APC. Also, the long-drawn battle between Tukur and Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State has made the loss of the state a fait accompli if the matter is not addressed.

Other strategic states in the North-West and North-Central where the PDP sits on a tight rope are Zamfara, Kano, Jigawa, Katsina, and Kaduna.

While the PDP may lose one or two states in the SouthSouth, the South-East is likely to be a battle ground for all the parties.

According to investigation, PDP leaders had been analysing the political situation since APC made its debut.

A top source, who spoke in confidence, said: “The party has really been quirking since the four parties formalised their merger with the emergence of APC. With the present internal crisis in the party, the leaders fear that the new party might benefit from it unless the situation is remedied.

“What the APC has done to the PDP is to force it to go back to the drawing board and re-strategise for 2015.

Tukur may be pretending that APC is no threat, but even within his own National Working Committee (NWC), all is not well.

“Tukur cannot boast that it enjoys the confidence of PDP members in any state in the North-East. The Boko Haram crisis and conflict with Nyako have worsened the leverage of PDP in the zone.

“And the North-West, where a former CPC Presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, commands large following is an uphill task for Vice-President Namadi Sambo to tackle.

THE NATION SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2013

2015: PDP jittery over APC emergence Yusuf ALLI, Managing Editor, Northern Operation “The agitation for power shift to the North in 2015 is also more pronounced in the North-West than any part of the North.”

A chieftain of the party said: “It is difficult for PDP to dismiss APC with a wave of the hand. Our leaders have agreed that we have a challenge at hand and we are working out appropriate strategies to curtail this political menace.

“We have agreed that we must put our house in order as fast as possible or else we may lose out in 2015.

“Even the presidency is not underrating the forces behind APC.” Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday said the four parties could only transform into APC after fulfilling all the conditions in Section 84 of the Electoral Act. A top official of the commission said: “Merger process is not a one-off thing or a day’s process. All the four parties need to comply with Section 84 of the Electoral Act, including holding separate national conventions to ratify their decision to merge.

“As far as INEC is concerned, we have only noted the new aspiration of the four parties. We have not received any letter on the merger.

“The parties know what is involved in a merger. That is why they are yet to communicate INEC. “One thing is clear, the Electoral Act gives room for merger of parties after all procedures have been complied with. It is left to the parties to take advantage of the law. So, the question of illegality does no arise yet.

“The final decision to approve the merger or not is

•INEC lists conditions for merger of ACN, ANPP, CPC, APGA

•Electoral Act allows merger, says INEC top shot solely that of INEC.” Section 84 of the Electoral Act says: “Any two or more registered political parties may merge on approval by the commission following a formal request presented to the commission by the political parties for that purpose.

“Political parties intending to merge shall each give to the commission 90 days notice of their intention to do so before a general election.

“The written request for merger shall be sent to the Chairman of the commission and shall be signed jointly by the National

Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer for the time being of the different political parties proposing the merger and shall be accompanied by (a) a special resolution passed by the national convention of each of the political parties proposing to merge, approving the merger. (b) The proposed full name and acronym, constitution, manifesto, symbol or logo of the party together with the addresses of the national office of the party resulting from the merger; and (c) Evidence of payment of administrative costs of N100,

000 or as may be fixed from time to time by an Act of the National Assembly.

“On receipt of the request for merger of political parties, the commission shall consider the request and, if the parties have fulfilled the requirements of the Constitution and this Act, approve the proposed merger and communicate its decision to the parties concerned before the expiration of 30 days from the date of the receipt of the formal requestProvided that if the commission fails to communicate its decision within 30 days the merger shall be

deemed to be effective.

“Where the request for the proposed merger is approved, the commission shall withdraw and cancel the certificates of registration of all the political parties opting for the merger and substitute a single certificate of registration in the name of the party resulting from the merger.

“Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (2) of this section, no merger of political parties received by the commission less than 90 days before any general election in the country shall not be considered by the commission.”

•From left: Ekiti State governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi; Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu; Senator Olabiyi Durojaiye and Gen. Yakubu Gowon, at the 80th birthday ceremony of Durojaiye in Ikeja, Lagos... yesterday.

Polio vaccination tragedy: Gunmen kill nine women in Kano

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HE anti-polio campaign turned bloody in Kano yesterday as no fewer than nine health workers, all of them women, deployed for the routine inoculation of children in the metropolis were gunned down by terrorists.

The killings, which occurred in two areas of the city, appeared co-ordinated and came three weeks after gunmen attacked the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero.

Four of the Emir’s guards and his driver died in the January 19 attack while two of his sons were injured. The three are currently abroad for treatment.

The first of yesterday’s attacks occurred at Haye, Hotoro Quarters, when terrorists opened fire on health workers who were in the area for the exercise. Seven were killed in the incident.

Witnesses said they saw gunmen arrive in tricycles before launching their attack.

Some thirty minutes later, terrorists riding on a motor cycle stormed the Shargawlle Comprehensive Health centre at Unguwa Uku on the outskirts of the city and made to burn it down while the immunisation programme was in progress.

They succeeded in torching only a part of the centre and then opened fire on the health workers, killing two of them.

The terrorists immediately

•Jonathan condemns killings •IGP vows to apprehend killers Kolade ADEYEMI, Kano Augustine EHIKIOYA, Abuja with agency reports fled the scene before the arrival of operatives of the Joint Task Force (JTF).

The attack shocked residents of Kano where women often go from house to house to carry out the vaccination exercise as Muslim families feel more comfortable allowing them inside their homes than men.

The incident also signaled a new wave of anger targeting immunization drives in the country, where clerics once claimed the vaccines were part of a Western plot to sterilize young girls and underlined the religious tensions surrounding the inoculation of children in one of the few nations where the disease still remains endemic.

The spokesman for the State Police Command, Magaji Musa, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, confirmed the incident.

He said: “This morning (yesterday), at about 9.30 am, some gunmen stormed Hotoro and Angwar Uku health centres and killed nine people, including two women.

“The health workers were on routine immunization exercise,” he said.

No arreast has been made, but the affected areas have

been cordoned off,” he said.

Also speaking on the incident, the Commissioner of Health, Dr Abubakar Labaran, said two of the injured people had been rushed to the hospital.

He described the development as sad.

In October, police said two officers involved in guarding a polio immunization drive there were shot and killed.

Some Islamic leaders in the North have previously opposed polio vaccinations, claiming they could cause infertility.

On Thursday, a controversial Islamic cleric spoke out against the polio vaccination campaign, telling people that new cases of polio were caused by contaminated medicine.

The Kano State Government banned motorbikes from carrying passengers after the attack on the Emir.

No group has claimed responsibility for yesterday’s attacks.

Nigeria remains one of the few countries left in the world where polio remains endemic. Several years ago, religious clerics had some of their followers stopped from receiving the vaccines, saying that it would sterilize their children.

According to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, there were 121 cases of polio in Ni-

geria last year, compared to 58 in Pakistan and 37 in Afghanistan.

President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday condemned the killings, describing the incident as "dastardly terrorist attacks."

The President, in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, said he was saddened by the killings.

He said the loss of the women’s lives would not be in vain as the Federal Government would ensure that the mission to totally eradicate polio from Nigeria in which they were patriotically engaged is carried out successfully.

He commiserated with the families of the victims and the government and people of the state on behalf of himself and the government of Nigeria.

The President also assured Nigerians and the international community, especially international health organisations and Nigeria's development partners that the Federal Government would not be distracted from its objective of accelerating the reduction of maternal and child mortality in all parts of Nigeria.

Promising that the Government would continue to do ev-

erything possible to track down agents of terrorism in the country, Jonathan also ordered enhanced security measures for health workers in high-risk areas.

He prayed for the repose of the souls of the victims of the attack.

The Inspector General of Police, Muhammadu Dahiru Aabubakar, said in Kano yesterday that the people behind the killings would be fished out.

Abubakar, who was in Kano in company of the Minister of Police Affairs, Caleb Olubolade, to commiserate with the people and government of the state over the attack on the convoy of the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, which claimed six lives, said the police had swung into action in its efforts to track down the perpetrators of the dastardly act.

He also lamented the attack on the Emir's convoy, saying it was very disturbing, assuring that steps were being taken to tackle the ongoing security challenges.

According to him, some successes were being recorded by the police, as some of the suspects had already been apprehended.

He said: “We shall not be deterred in the task before us.

Some time, some day, we will overcome the challenges.

THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2013

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2013

COMMENTARY 5

THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2013

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EBRUARY 6, 2013 was a magnificent day for Nigeria.

As the sun rose over the eventful day, Nigerians all over the world celebrated the thrashing our Super Eagles gave Mali’s Les Aigles to reach the final of the African Cup of Nations in South Africa. But prosperity was not done with us, for as the jubilations rang out, news that several of our most significant opposition political parties, including the All Nigeria Peoples Party, Action Congress of Nigeria, Congress for Progressive Change, and the All Progressive Grand Alliance had merged to form one party gave cause for much more celebration. As the news of the newly formed All Progressive Congress trickled in, the social networks went crazy. Nigerians young and old; far and wide expressed their delight at the possibility of this new coalition party. Opposition victories have been hard to come by in the last decade and this new coalition not only gives the vast majority of worn-out Nigerians a tremendous sense of achievement, it gives millions of people new hope that their cause was right and new determination that change will finally show its face in Nigeria.

For many of us, this week has been a time to be proud; a time for reflection on the possibility of a new dawn, a time where our country has the chance to sow the seed of success in overcoming the great turmoil that our electoral and political process has thus far represented. Now, as Nigerians look towards 2015, it is beginning to look like we may be standing at the beginning of a new chapter in our history; one that will hopefully be defined by a prosperous democracy incontrovertibly built upon the will of the people.

Nigerians have really been put through the ringer. Apart from dealing with the dearth of security, employment, health care, education, striving to provide for our families and rising crime to name a few, we have been lumbered with a political leadership that is solely focused on personal interests rather than on solving our widespread problems. And even though there are over one million and ninety nine thousand things that Nigerians would ideally like to see done differently, the one general consensus of what people want right now seems to be a change of government.

A very smart man known as Albert Einstein once described insanity as ‘doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.’ It would be difficult not to agree with him. If having the same party in power since 1999 translates into a reality where we still have no stable electricity, no unity, no security, no peace, no job opportunities, no development and hardly anything good, then how on earth can anyone expect a different result in terms of the way the country is governed if the same party keeps hoisting itself into power? It would naturally follow that in order for our life to change from the nightmare we are living, into a more structured dream, we must change; the country must change and government must change. And for the first time in a very long time, a vehicle with the ability to translate that nightmare into a dream and then into reality is being presented to Nigerians. That vehicle

New dawn is this newly formed united merger.

However, now that the first leg of the task has been achieved, this marks the point at which the real work needs to be done.

To consolidate the exceptional success that the merger represents, the APC must now pass the crucial test without allowing the demons of the past to re-emerge. The demons which defy stepping up to the challenge of putting personal interest aside in order for the party to operate in the interest of all the people of this nation. The party must set the objective of making Nigeria a place liveable for the right of the many. The coalition must work in partnership with each other to create a dynamic, broad and competitive platform for progressives, for minorities, for women, for children, for the poor and for every interest. The party must be fashioned as an entity that seeks to restore trust in Nigerian politics, cleanse Nigerian politics and decentralizes it so that people can once again have hope that politics can be about the service to the public.

The APC should be a party entrenched with solid ideals; the ideals of integrity, impartiality, unity, honesty and development. And it should also be a party equipped with the valour to welcome new ideas required to make those standards a reality for Nigerians; a party of practical process in pursuit of a gallant cause and the solemn obligation to act accountably, transparently, and impartially. These should be at the core of APC’s intention for Nigeria.

True democracy has never been a concrete box that isolates the political leadership from the people. And if it’s true democracy we are interested in, then the party leadership must embrace that fact. Leaders of APC have the obligation to use their positions of power to earn the people’s trust because that is what will primarily impact the public’s confidence in the party. As the governors and leaders of the opposition gathered in front of the residence of the Lagos State Governor to announce the merger, they must know all too well the enormous responsibility that they have undertaken and the great trust that the Nigerian people may be willing to place in them. More than anyone, the leaders of the APC know well the change that

Nigeria desperately needs. They know that this country is anxious to step away from its past, desperate to get those things done that need doing for the future.

No less important, the parties that have come together to form the APC must each individually get their acts together.

The ongoing internal wrangling and court cases that litter the corridors of most of the opposition parties have to stop with immediate effect. If the APC is to have a chance of success and have a chance of being inclusive and nonpartisan in its internal decision making, then the different entities that form it must find a way of letting bygones be bygones, cooperating and actively seeking consensus through compromise and dialogue.

Each of these parties is responsible for cooperating fully with the ideal and unity necessary to establish and promote the APC. Let me state a simple truth: public faith in the political process is extremely low. Many people are still pessimistic, especially given the fact that a number of the strong players in the new coalition were once part of past governments. Part of the APC’s challenge is to earn the trust of the people by avoiding political trickery, standing up to the PDP, abstaining from inflammatory behavior, working together and convincing the public that the party really is ready to be the fresh new change Nigeria needs despite some of the personalities that make up the party.

If managed well, the APC has the ability to bring Nigeria together once again, to unite people as one nation in which our hopes for Nigeria corresponds with a sense of consideration, decorum and responsibility. Let us be hopeful and optimistic about this chance. One can only shape the opposition and make it what they need it to be when they participate in the process.

As Nigeria prepares to embark on this new chapter in its political life, one element of change seems to rise above all others in terms of importance: specifically the need for our politicians to show love for Nigeria. Love for Nigeria means putting public interests above personal interests. It means doing everything possible to keep partisan politics fair and clean.

Love for Nigeria is not about the words that politicians speak but about their actions. It’s about putting nation building above everything else. Leaders of APC must display their love for Nigeria.

With 2015 approaching, we have a chance to start a new chapter, to put aside individual and party interests, to insist on accountability from the political class. More than anything, we should all accept individual responsibility for making this happen because only individual Nigerians putting Nigeria’s interests first can build the just, democratic society that will make present and future generations of Nigerians justifiably proud. As this new dawn breaks, the APC is giving Nigerians a platform to do just that.

February 6, 2013 truly was a magnificent day for Nigeria and as we keep our eye on the making sure the APC does right by us, let us also keep our fingers crossed for the success of our Eagles in the African Cup of Nations.

NEWS Cynthia: How suspects escaped from hotel, witness tells court

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OUR men accused of complicity in last year’s murder of Miss Cynthia Osokogwu were yesterday arraigned before the Lagos High Court in Ikeja.

Okwumo Nwabufo, Ezike Olisaeloka, Orji Osita and Ezike Nonso were arraigned before Justice Olabisi Akinlade on a six-count charge

Eric IKHILAE of conspiracy, murder, stealing and negligence .

Nwabufo and Olisaeloka allegedly tricked the lady they met on facebook to Lagos from Nasarawa State and strangled her in a hotel room.

They pleaded not guilty

•Trial of four opens when the charge was read to them. Their trail commenced immediately, with the prosecution led by the state Attorney General, Ade Ipaye, calling its first witness, Mrs Ifenyinwa Njegbu, a receptionist at the hotel where the alleged mur-

Lagos housewife seeks IGP Abubakar’s intervention…over alleged threat to life

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Lagos housewife has pleaded with the Inspector General of Police (IGP), M.D Abubakar, to urgently and personally intervene in a case of threat to life involving her and an ex-commissioner (name withheld) in Ogun State.

The housewife, Mrs Aderonke Odupitan, in one of her petitions to the IGP, said she had been living in fear for more than 10 months after her alleged confrontation with the commissioner

on the telephone.

The woman alleged that the ex-commissioner, on one occasion, used a car to trail her to her house.

The petition, which was signed by Mrs. Odupitan, also averred as follows: “Before the said car was spotted near my family’s Amuwo Odofin, Lagos residence, I received a telephone call, threatening my life during the conversation that lasted almost one hour in which he (the ex-commissioner)

promised to send his thugs to deal with me on or before or after November 12, 2011.”

The petition further said: “Ever since then, I have not been able to have a sound sleep because my life is being threatened.”

“I know that the police must be working on my allegations, but because of the seriousness of the matter, I appeal to the IGP to personally intervene in order to expedite action on the case,” the housewife said.

Illegal bunkering: 17 refineries destroyed in Rivers

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N the determination of the Nigerian Navy to put an end to illegal bunkering and oil theft, 17 refineries have been destroyed and a vessel impounded in Rivers State in the last three weeks, with five more illegal refineries to still be destroyed in the next few days.

The new Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Eastern Naval Command, Rear Admiral Joe Aikhomu, made

•Vessel impounded Bisi OLANIYI, Port Harcourt the disclosure during his maiden visit to the Nigerian Naval Ship (NNS) Pathfinder, Rumuolumeni, Port Harcourt.

Aikhomu disclosed that the impounded vessel, MT Divine Favour, was operating in the territorial water-

ways without documents, while the petroleum products in the vessel were also not documented.

The FOC, who visited NNS Thunder, NNS Burutu and NNS Kwanya in Onne, near Port Harcourt which are naval units under his command, said the navy had put in place measures to enable it surmount its challenges.

der took place.

Mrs Njegbu told the court how the first two defendantsNwabufo and Olisaeloka who brought the lady to the hotel, escaped after allegedly killing her. The witness said the duo escaped on the excuse that they wanted to withdraw money from a nearby ATM. Mrs Njegbu told the court that while on duty on saturday 21, July 2012, she checked in two guests, a man and a woman, who claimed to be a couple into room C1 of the hotel at about 12am.

She said at about 8am while she was preparing to hand over to one of her colleagues, Vivian Amule, the first two defendants informed her through the phone that they were checking out.

“After I had handed over to my colleague, I asked her to

check out the couple since they had told me that they were leaving that morning,” he said.

Mrs Njegbu said when she resumed duty the next day, her colleague told her that the couple had left, but that a brother of the man had taken over the room because the room was not going to expire until 12pm of July 22, 2012.

She said she noticed that the brother of the man who had booked the room was still occupying the room.

She said while sitting at the reception, a man in brown long sleeve shirt went straight into the bar with a brown bag and he was drinking.

When asked to describe the person she saw, she described the second defendant (Olisaeloka) as dark in complexion, tall, young. She also identified him as the second person in the dock who had on a pink polo T-shirt.

She told the court that after

Adeleke varsity VC advises students

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HE President and Vice Chancellor, Adeleke University, Ede, Osun State, Professor Ayandiji Daniel, has charged the new students to brace all odds and if they want to be successful.

Daniel made the appeal during the second matriculation of the faculties of Business and Social Sciences; Faculty of Sciences and Faculty of Arts of the school.

He stressed the need for students to be ready to sacrifice for them to be successful. “Take responsibility for your life; do not give excuses.

You are too loaded to fail.

The unit measurement of desire, as they say is sacrifice. You have to make sacrifices, some of which may appear to suspend your liberty. Remember that your real liberty depends upon our ability to change our world. You cannot change your world except you are informed,” the VC said.

According to the VC, most people admire to be first class, but they do not desire it. He advised the students to back up their admiration for success with action.

sometime she saw a man who is fair in complexion that wore a dark sun glasses coming down from the upstairs towards her, where the second defendant (Olisaeloka) in the bar met with the first defendant (Nwabufor) at the reception and they went out together before she stopped him because it is the normal thing to do, especially when the person did not officially lodge in the hotel.

The witness said they didn’t return until around 3pm, when someone called the intercom phone of the hotel and identified himself as the occupant of room C1, revealing that he is not going to return to the hotel, saying “ you people should remove the idiot from the room.”

Mrs Nejgbu said she replied that sir “but you promised to come back and pay for the room”, the only thing he did was to drop the phone.

“Immediately I called the manager and explained what had happened. So he told me that if he didn’t come back the girl will pay for the C1 room, so he told me to call the room through the company’s intercom phone and I called but there was no response.

“The manager, Mr Victor, went upstairs and said he knocked at the door and there was no response, so he told me to take the master key since am a lady like her that I should go and open the door, so I went upstairs to the room and knocked severally and there was no response, so I used the masters key to open the door

•Continued on Page 58

6 NEWS

THE NATION SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2013

CBN releases guidelines on Agent Banking

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HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday unveiled a guideline for agent banking in the country.

The guideline is in line with the powers conferred on the banking watchdog by Section 2 (d) of the CBN Act, 2007 and Section 57 (2) of the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act (BOFIA), Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

The statute empowers the CBN to issue guidelines for the maintenance of adequate and reasonable financial services to the public.

The objective of agent banking, it said, is to provide minimum standards and requirements for agent banking operations, enhance financial inclusion and provide for agent banking as a delivery channel for offering banking services in a cost effective manner.

Agent banking is the provision of financial services to customers by a third party (agent) on behalf of a licensed deposit taking financial institution and/or mobile money operator (principal).

The agent banks are expected to receive cash deposit and withdrawal, carry out bills payment (utilities, taxes, tenement rates, subscription etc.), payment of salaries, funds transfer services (local money value transfer), balance enquiry, generation and issuance of mini statement, collection and submission of account opening and other related documentation among others.

They are also to carry out cash disbursement and cash repayment of loans, cash payment of retirement benefits, cheque book request and collection, collection of bank mail/correspondence for cus-

Collins NWEZE tomers, any other activity as the CBN may from time to time prescribe.

The applications for licence will be accompanied with board approval, document that will outline the strategy of the financial institution, including current and potential engagements, geographical spread and benefits to be derived among other factors.

Under the guideline, SuperAgents are described as agent networks that will establish a collection of outlets or franchise within its wide network of outlets that will be under its supervision and control.

The Sole Agent is expected to be a sole agent, who does not delegate powers to other agents but will assume the agent banking relationship/ responsibility by himself while the Sub-Agents are networks of agents that will be under the direct control of a super agent as may be provided in the agent banking contract.

Also, licensed institutions are advised to renew all agent agreements biennially except otherwise required while the CBN will, at least on annual basis, monitor financial institutions/agent relationships; compliance with laid down guidelines and regulations.

The approach for monitoring super-agent would differ from other agent types in view of the probable higher risk, liquidity management and consequences of failure. In the case of super agents the CBN shall require full disclosure on persons or entities that control more than 10 per cent or more of the share capital or has powers to exercise significant influence over the management.

Why APC will succeed—Shekarau

•NGO says new party will retire PDP

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ORMER Presidential aspirant of the All Nigeria Peoples Party, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, said the failure of the Peoples Democratic Party in the last 15 years has helped to strengthen peoples’ faith in the new All Progressives Congress (APC).

Shekarau, who spoke in an interview with newsmen in Benin City, they were waiting for whatever moles the PDP would plant in the merger.

The former Kano State Governor said leaders of the various political parties that came together to form the APC had decided to sacrifice their personal wish for the interest of the nation.

He said the merger was not about any individual or personality but about giving the Nigerian people an alternative.

According to him, “I think to the best of my knowledge and understanding, all the people you may think have ambition in all the political parties involved are all ready to sacrifice and play the game of give and take.

“We are waiting for the unexpected and we are planning for it. There is no way you can stop peoples’ ambition in any political party.”

Meanwhile, A non-governmental organisation, Kogi Progressive Front (KPF), has said the newly formed APC is set to unseat the Peoples

Osagie OTABOR, Benin and Muhammed BASHIR, Lokoja Democratic Party (PDP) from its many years maladministration.

The Leader of the Group, Chief J O Yusuf, stated this at a media conference in Lokoja.

He described the merger of the opposition political parties as a good thing for the people of the country, adding that the time to save Nigerians from the beastly looking PDP government is here.

Using Kogi State as a case study, Yusuf stated that the PDP-led government in the state was incapable of leading the state to the transformational destination.

He added that the PDP-led government was terminally ill and could not salvage the state from underdevelopment and poverty.

Yusuf noted that the last nine years in the state had been a monumental failure and waste of state funds, calling on all opposition parties to come together to flush it out.

But the Special Adviser to governor Idris Wada on Media and Strategy, Jacob Edi, described KPF’s observation as shallow.

He said in a democratic setting, the group was entitled to their opinion, no matter how warped, adding that the government would not be distracted by such reasoning.

•Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi; his wife, Erelu Bisi Fayemi; and former governor of Ekiti State, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, during the funeral service for Olori Abigail Adejugbe, at the Cathedral Church of Emmanuel, Ado-Ekiti... yesterday.

$3m bribe: Lawan, Emenalo granted bail

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HE Chairman, House of Representatives’ Adhoc Committee on Monitoring of Fuel Subsidy Regime, Hon. Farouk Lawan, returned home yesterday after staying in prison for one week.

He was granted bail by a Federal Capital Territory High Court alongside his co-accused and committee secretary, Mr. Emenalo Boniface.

Each of them was released on N10 million bail and two sureties each in like sum.

They were arraigned last week on a seven count charge of conspiracy to corruptly obtain $3 million from oil magnate, Femi Otedola, with a view to removing the name of his company, Zenon Petroleum and Gas Company, from the list of firms indicted for fraudulently receiving subsidy payments from the Federal Government.

In granting them bail, Justice Mudashiru Oniyangi said the offence for which they were charged was “ordinarily bailable”, moreso that “the discretion of the court to grant bail must be exercised judicially and judiciously, upon presentation of material facts.”

But he ordered the accused persons to deposit their international passports with the Registrar of the court, and restrained them from travelling outside the jurisdiction of the court without permission.

“Consequentially, therefore, I have come to the conclusion, after considering the facts, that this is a proper circumstance where the court can exercise its discretion judicially and judiciously,” he said.

“Finally, I hold that the application succeeds and I therefore overrule the objection by the prosecution,” the judge concluded.

The alleged offence is contrary to Sections 8(1), 10 (a)(ii), 17(1)(a), 23(1) and 26(1)(c), and punishable under Sections 8(1), 10, 17(1) and 23(3) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

Lawan is mentioned in count one to four of the charge while Emenalo is mentioned in count 1, 5, 6 and 7.

They both pleaded not guilty.

Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), the private prosecutor hired by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Adoke (SAN), said the alleged offences attract two to seven years jail term.

Counsel to the accused, Mr. Rickey Tarfa (SAN) prayed the court to exercise its discretion to admit the accused to bail.

•Court seizes their passports Kamarudeen OGUNDELE, Abuja The application was pursuant to Sections 35 and 36(5) of the 1999 Constitution as amended and Sections 340 and 341(2) of the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC).

Tarfa told the court that the accused persons were on administrative bail and never violated it.

“The first accused has had cause to travel out four times since the commencement of the investigation. He has been a member of the House since 1999. He is currently chairing the Committee on Financial Administration.”

Citing the case of Onwubagu v State, 2008, All Federation

Law Report, pt. 420 at page 764 and the case of Ebute v State, 1994, 8 Nigeria Weekly Law Report (NWLR), pt. 360 at page 66, Tarfa urged the court to note that the accused voluntarily submitted themselves.

Awomolo opposed the bail application and urged the court to note the nature of the offences and the likelihood of the accused persons committing another one.

He said: ”The offence the accused are charged for are corruption by public officer at the highest level, particularly in the legislative arm.

“The accused persons in their Affidavit did not give undertaking that he will not be a

member of another committee and that he will not demand or receive bribe.”

The Prosecutor said that Lawan was part of the legislators that enacted the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000, adding that the accused persons “knew the intention of the lawmakers, now they are part of the violators.”

Replying on point of law, Tarfa urged the court to discountenance the submission of the Prosecutor, saying investigation had been concluded so there was no likelihood of interference by the accused persons.

He added that the provision of the ICPC Act cited by Awomolo does not take away the discretion of the court in granting bail.

Why I turned down an offer to be a judge –Bola Latinwo

•Pages 44&45

•Lagos company offers her job, scholarship to university

•Pages 16&17

Fine hour for girl who writes with her toes

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Four months after, it’s still tales of woe for

flood victims

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IBB: 20 years at war with history vincentakanmode@yahoo.com

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T amazes me that Nigerians, particularly the media, still take former head of state, Gen. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB), with all seriousness each time he speaks. Of course, as a man who led the country for eight years, the nation’s history cannot be complete without a mention of the self-styled evil genius. I also appreciate the fact that personalities make the news and the concept of personality could lose its meaning, if a man that ruled the most populous black nation in the world for eight years is not seen as one.

My grouse is that we still take his utterances so seriously, knowing full well that he is a general whose words are not his bonds.

For eight odd years, he led a government whose directive principles were deceit, chicanery and graft. Shortly after he seized power from Gen. Muhammadu Buhari in a palace coup in 1985, he initiated a political transition programme with a promise to hand power over to an elected president in 1990.

Nigerians believed he meant well for the country and gave him all the support he needed. But as the promised handover date approached, Babangida began to dissemble.

He changed the handover date from 1990 to 1992 and later to 1993. Nigerians kept faith with his promise only for him to annul the freest and fairest election in the nation’s history through which Babangida’s close friend, the late Bashorun MKO Abiola, emerged as the president.

Yet the annulment of the June 12, 1993 election was only the climax of the numerous acts of deception perpetrated by IBB while he held sway as military president. For instance, he had hardly settled down in office when he turned the nation into one huge debating club, asking Nigerians to express their opinions over a plan by his government to take a loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Nigerians were almost unanimous in their resolve that the nation needed not patronise the Shylock organisation so as not to become a puppet on its string. Unknown to the debating public, the IBB government had already taken the loan they were passionately kicking against.

Of course, Nigeria had to abide by the conditions the IMF had given for granting it the loan, among which was that the nation’s currency whose value at that time was almost twice that of the dollar, had to be devalued.

That became the genesis of trouble for the naira. The Babangida government introduced the second-tier foreign exchange market, and, within a few months, the value of the naira against the dollar crashed from about 65 kobo to about N60. Today, a Nigerian in need of one dollar must be willing to sacrifice about N160!

It will also be recalled that the Babangida government almost stirred a serious religious crisis when it secretly dragged the nation, recognised by the constitution as a secular state, into the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC). It needs not be said that whatever mutual suspicion existed between the practitioners of Christianity and Islam was greatly accentuated by that act. It is, therefore, no surprise that some parts of the country are boiling in the cauldron of religious intolerance today.

Afraid of his place in history after he had to vacate Aso Rock with his tail between his legs

in the height of the religious crisis provoked by the flagrant annulment of the 1993 presidential election, Babangida has persistently been searching for relevance in the nation’s socio-political space. It began with his pronouncement when he was forced to vacate the presidential villa in 1993 that he was only stepping aside. His proteges and bootlickers took that to mean that he would still return to power at one time or the other, and, therefore, sustained their loyalty to him. He became a regular face at public functions, particularly funerals, and made sure he added his voice to every public discourse in order to keep himself in the consciousness of the public. In fact, many believe that he knew he had no chance each time he threw his hat in the ring for presidential contest, but had to keep doing so in order to remain in the consciousness of the Nigerian public.

During a face-off he had with IBB last year,

‘

Considering that IBB plotted his way to power with aggrandisement as sole motivation, what message are we passing across when we pay such undue attention to a soldier who subverted the constitution to style himself president?

•Acting Governor of Cross River State, Mr. Efiok Cobham presenting a laptop computer to Mrs. Ruth Ene-obong of Girls Secondary School, Akim, Calabar, one of the beneficiaries of the state government’s E-learning and Digital Education Programme.

Cross River boosts e-learning, distributes 10,000 laptops to teachers ENULTIMATE Friday, the Cross River State Government further cemented its position as one of the most ICTfriendly states in the country with the distribution of laptop computers to about 10,000 secondary school teachers.

The distribution of the computers is aimed at enhancing and fasttracking the implementation of the e-learning policy of the state government.

The Project Management Officer (PMD) of T-CAP Project, Mr. Chinenye Mba Uzoukwu, disclosed that each of the laptops has a variety of over 300 subjects to enable teachers teach their students as well as enrich them-

P

selves.

Questions set in the past 20 West African Examinations Council (WEAC) examinations and their answers in every subject are also installed in the laptops.

He said the laptops are connected to internet services and are also installed with anti-virus.

Uzoukwu explained that by the exercise, the entire state will provide a new brand of leadership to move the country forward.

Only about two weeks ago, Interswitch, an integrated payment and transaction processing company, had as part of its 10 years anniversary, specifically honoured Cross River for integrating identity and payment technol-

ogy to enhance provision of dividends of democracy to the citizens and residents of the state.

Late last year, the Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON) had similarly honoured the state governor, Senator Liyel Imoke, declaring him the “Digital Governor.”

So when the state government flagged off the Teachers Laptop Computer Distribution to enhance its e-learning in schools, the state made history as the first state in Nigeria to make all her teachers ICT-compliant.

Speaking during the flag-off of the distribution of computers to teachers, the state Acting Governor, Mr. Efiok Cobham, said since

’

former President Olusegun Obasanjo had counselled that silence should be the best answer for the gap-toothed general. But no one seems to have profited from Obasanjo’s counsel. Hence we shouted it on the roof top when the man who, on account of his selfish ambition nearly plunged the nation into war in 1993, turned himself into peace counsellor at the launch of two books written in honour of former external affairs minister, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi, in Lagos penultimate Friday.

“Nigeria is precious enough to be saved and it deserves an investment of our time and resources to make Project Nigeria a success,” said IBB who, as the sitting head of state, had wondered the magic by which the nation had not collapsed. One cannot but wonder which Nigeria he would be talking about today, if pro-democracy activists had not rescued the country from him in 1993.

Haunted by his misdeeds, it is understandable that IBB is perpetually searching for relevance among a people that could consign him to the anthill of inglorious history. What cannot be understood is the obligation the media owe him to go to town with a story if he is pressed and needs to visit the gents.

Considering that IBB plotted his way to power with aggrandisement as sole motivation, what message are we passing across when we pay such undue attention to a soldier who subverted the constitution to style himself president? That whatever means a man adopts to plot himself to the top is worthwhile?

It would have been better if he had seized power in order to better the lots of Nigerians, but many of us are living witnesses to the circumstances in which he overthrew the Buhari/Idiagbon regime that had rescued the nation from the thieving NPN government and was steadily returning it to the path of sanity. IBB is at war with history. Unfortunately, he cannot outlive it.

the world has gone digital, the gesture was borne out of the state government’s desire to belong to the league of nations that have done it right in using ICT to transform and revolutionalise education, adding that any nation that negates education will remain perpetually under-developed.

“The world has been turned into a global village with the role computer is playing. So the state’s decision to key into it is apt to enable our students compete with their peers anywhere,” he stated.

The journey to turn around education in the state did not begin today. It started with an Education Summit immediately the present administration came on board in 2007, which reviewed the educational system, content and quality and came out with what is now known as the Cross River State Standard.

This involved a comprehensive renovation of schools across the state and for a start, 60 secondary schools were taken under the phase one of the programme, while 41 schools have been earmarked for phase two.

This included the building and equipping of four laboratories for the basic sciences, namely Physics, Biology, Chemistry and Computer

•Imoke

Science with state of-the- artequipment based on the high premium which the state places on education as reflected on its annual budget.

This is in keeping in line with the underpinning philosophy of the Imoke administration, which is that the development of the human resource is the best infrastructure to invest in.

Cross River is doing it right because it understands the fact that a state which aspires to become a leading Nigerian State will only be day-dreaming if it does not step up its acts by according education a top priority.

Commissioner for Education, Prof. Offiong E. Offiong, explained that e-learning is simply the deployment of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to facilitate teaching and learning.

Fashioned after models in countries like Finland, Canada, Korea and India, Offiong said the policy will position the state and its people to be able to respond positively to the demands of the 21st century.

With teachers seen as the drivers of literacy, he said: “It became imperative for the teachers to first be made to acquire ICT skill/knowledge and then step down same to the children in schools.”

He disclosed that for effective use of the computers, a training programme for the teachers commences in a few days.

The e-learning policy is expected to leverage on the Tinapa Knowledge City established last year at the Tinapa Business and Leisure Resort.

The Tinapa Knowledge City is an ICT incubator, the first of its kind in sub-saharan Africa. Here, young graduates are trained on the development of computer programming and software development.

The state government is collaborating with First Bank and Ecobank on the e-learning project, which according to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, is a “watershed in the annals of Education history in Cross River State.”

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•Some of the victims when they were in camp

When the Federal Government approved a N17 billion intervention fund for victims of last year's flood disaster, there were audible sighs of relief in the affected communities. Four months on, SHOLA O'NEIL and OKODILI NDIDI report that it is still not yet Uhuru, as hunger and misery continue to stir anger in the affected states.

‘The flood disaster has set us back by 10 yrs’ the works with regards to the rehabilitation of victims in the state.

Bayelsa got N500 million from the Federal Government’s emergency fund as well as another N500 milion from business mogul, Chief Mike Adenuga Jnr. Consequently, the committee had at least N1 billion in its kitty.

Mr. Francis Doukpola, a former governorship aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was announced as Azazi's replacement in the second week of January. The new chairman met with other members of the board for the first time penultimate Monday.

Like he did while the disaster lasted, Governor Seriake Dickson assured the people of his determination to ensure that their sorrow was assuaged. But it appears that Gen. Azazi’s death delayed things.

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I

T is more than four months since arguably the worst natural disaster hit the Niger Delta and other parts of the country.

Hundreds of lives, including that of a traditional ruler in Delta State, were lost. An estimated 1.2 million persons were displaced as thousands of houses were washed away.

In response to the situation, President Goodluck Jonathan, on October 9, 2012, announced an emergency measure worth N17.6 billion direct financial assistance to help flood-ravaged states and some Federal Government agencies tackle what is perhaps the worst humanitarian crisis since the end of the Nigerian civil war.

The states were categorised A – D, based on degree of impact and humanitarian fallout.

The A states—Oyo, Kogi, Benue, Plateau, Adamawa, Delta, Bayelsa and Anambra got N500 million while their B, C and D counterparts got N400 million, N300 million and N250 million respectively.

President Jonathan also announced a National Committee on Flood Relief and Rehabilitation to assist the Federal Government to raise funds "to mitigate the pains and ensure effective post-impact rehabilitation of victims."

However, investigations conducted by our correspondents in some of the affected states revealed that millions of victims are yet to feel the impact of the rehabilitation programme announced by the President. In Delta, Bayelsa and Rivers states where special committees were established to manage the funds, bureaucracy has hindered access to the funds.

Consequently, thousands of victims are facing untold hardship and hunger compounded by the destruction of their homes and strategic infrastructure like bridges and roads linking communities and other parts of the country.

BAYELSA STATE The death of former National Security Adviser, General Andrew Azazi, in the unfortunate helicopter crash at Okoroba, Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State on December 15, 2012, shortly after he was appointed chairman of the Post-Flood Management Committee, threw spanners in

The chairman of the community, Mr Godwin Kekende, said the flood had set Abari back by over 10 years. He said numerous fish ponds and fishes worth millions of naira owned by the community members were washed into the river.

"The irony is that when we go to the river to fish, there is nothing to catch. I keep wondering where all the fish that escaped from the ponds went. They are gone with the flood

,

The people of Otuasegha and Imiringi communities in Ogbia Local Government Area typify the tragedy of the flood disaster.

They share a common boundary on the Kolo Creek, which is linked by a bridge constructed

by Anglo Dutch oil giant, Shell Petroleum Development Company, on the Edepie Roundabout in Yenagoa. The bridge is one of several swept away by the flood.

In Otuasega, Imiringi and the road leading out to Edepie, the three bridges at Otuasega, Imiringi and along the Imiringi/OtuasegaEdepie link road were completely destroyed and posed danger for uninformed motorists plying the road.

Environment right groups, Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN), in a report after a post-flood visit, noted that the collapse of the bridge poses some danger to community folks and even obstructs the free flow of water and thoroughfare on the creek.

There are two other bridges, including one leading to Yenagoa, through Edepie, which were destroyed by the flood.

At Igbogene community, Yenagoa Local Government Area, the agony of underdevelopment is magnified by the collapse of a wooden footbridge, which was built by the people through levies and other fundraising strategies. The bridge provided the only access for the community’s inhabitants to Yenagoa, the state capital.

"When the flood came, some members of the community still pooled resources together to raise the bridge so that it would not be destroyed. But the bridge, like every other thing here, bowed to the destructive power of the flood. So, we are back to square one. I had to wade through the water to get a taxi here this morning," Alabra, a resident of the community, told our reporter at Mbiama Junction.

Mr. Willy Etim, a member of the Bayelsa Post-Flood Management Committee, confirmed that the death of the former chairman hindered the take-off of the committee. Speaking through the telephone, Etim said there was not much he could say until the committee eventually took off.

•Amasughan whose two year old baby was carried away by the flood

•Mrs Elizabeth Okafor DELTA In Delta State, the total loss from the flood was put at a whopping N10 billion. No fewer than 231 communities in 12 local government areas of the state were adversely affected by the flood, according to a report presented by the Technical Committee on Flood Impact Assessment set up by Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan.

The report, presented to the governor by Prof. Chris Orubu, on behalf of the Prof. Eric Arubayi led-Committee penultimate Monday, also disclosed that 304 schools, comprising 220 primary and 84 secondary schools, were damaged. Also, 357 fish farms and 753 market stores were affected.

Uduaghan hit the ground running with the state's share of N500 million from the Federal Government. He set up a committee to manage the funds even before the IDPs left camps in Asaba, Oleh, Ughelli, Warri, OgbeIjoh and others in the state. The governor put the cost of the flood at over N10 billion, hinting that the state government would go

THE NATION, Saturday, Februay 9, 2013

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•Some of the displaced victims •Mr Osilunia displaying the cassava stems allotted to Olua Ossissa, Ndokwa East

•Elder Aminugo Pius beyond the N500 million granted by the Federal Government.

He said: “This problem is enormous for the state government to shoulder alone because it is not going to be easy for the state government to raise N10 billion for the reconstruction of infrastructure. The Federal Government gave us N500 million grant, but we have not touched the money as we have been spending funds from our coffers.”

Earlier, the governor had set up a 12member committee, headed by Justice Francis Tabai, to advise the state government on effective utilisation of the Federal Government’s grant. The committee also coordinates fund-raising efforts with individuals, organisations and donor agencies to source additional funds for the victims.

Nevertheless, shortly before the IDP camps were closed, Governor Uduaghan approved a N174 million transportation stipend comprising N5,000 and N3,000 for adult and youth IDPs respectively to facilitate their transportation back to their various

have to take care of their children first," she said.

Okpe said common effort and unity had kept the community together since they left the refugee camp at Ogbe-Ijoh, headquarters of Warri South West Local Government Area.

"What we do is that anybody who goes out to fish brings whatever he catches to the community and we share them among the various families. When one person cooks, it is for everybody.

"The Obubu Creek where we carry out fishing is now a no-go area because the flood deposited debris and water hyacinth have taken over everywhere. So, where do we start from?"

Besides having to grapple with hunger and sickness, the community is also mourning the death of 22 persons, including a two-year-old boy, Tamarankro Amasughan, who was swept away from his father's compound by the strong current of the flood. The grieving father said he lost his speedboat and other personal items when he heard that his son had been swept away by the flood.

Abari: Dozens of houses gone with flood The people of Abari in Patani Local Government Area could be considered lucky because no life was lost to the flood. Our reporter, who visited the sleepy town on the bank of the Niger last Sunday, gathered that over 40 buildings and property valued at several millions of naira were destroyed.

No fewer than 10 buildings were said to have been washed away into the River Niger.

The ancestral home of Porbeni, grandfather of the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Deziani Alison-Madueke, and father of Admiral Festus Porbeni (rtd), was a shadow of its old regal self. Like the community, the storey building had been battered, bruised and humbled by the flood.

,

•Mary Egwuonwu

communities. The governor promised that they would not be abandoned.

Shortly after its inauguration, the committee distributed more than 46,000 farm inputs to five local government areas of the state in Delta North Senatorial District as part of the efforts to rehabilitate the displaced persons in Delta.

Recently, the committee also distributed materials to eight local government areas in Delta South Senatorial District in Burutu, Ughelli South, Ughelli North, Patani, Bomadi, Warri South, Udu and Isoko North L.G.A. In spite of the committee’s efforts, however, there seems to be a widening gap between demand and supply.

Ayakoromor: One disaster too many When the leaders of Ayakoromor community in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State said disasters had landmarked their recent history. They were not exaggerating. The devastation caused by the flood came on the heels of the rebuilding of the community by troops of the Joint Task Force in 2011. An indigene of the town, 'General' John Togo, had brought a calamity to the Ijaw town when he engaged troops in a deadly battle that culminated in JTF's invasion and destruction of the community in 2011. The community was rebuilt by the troops in response to a presidential directive months later before flood disaster came knocking.

When the inhabitants returned to their ravaged community from refugee camps last December, they met a desolate village and very distressed ancestors, whose "peaceful rests" the flood also shattered.

Ebaokumo Davenpolo, one of the victims, told our reporter that they were perplexed to find that age-long corpses and skeletons of their forebears had been pushed from the earth to the surface. A young man in the community joked that "They (corpses) were probably sent to come and find out why the community is in disarray and why they are no longer being fed."

The reason why their ancestors are not being fed is no secret. The town's interim Chairman, Mr. Okpe M. David, said the living would only remember to 'feed' their ancestors when they themselves have had enough to eat.

While thanking the state government for quickly responding to the plight of his people by swiftly evacuating them, he remarked that there is more work to be done to preserve those who were saved from the flood. He said despite personally leading the committee to the community, Justice Tabai had yet to bring restitution to Ayakoromor.

The fate of the nearly 3,000 inhabitants and their misery was palpable on January 18 when our reporter visited the town. Residents who spoke with our reporter wore sorrow on their faces. They said they did not know where their next meals would come from.

Mama Tuluku Alakpa, an octogenarian, looked expectantly at our reporter when he visited her dilapidated abode in the middle of the town. She hoped that the visit would at least put food on her table for the day. "My children have been taking care of me, but they

Ebaokumo Davenpolo, one of the victims, told our reporter that they were perplexed to find that age-long corpses and skeletons of their forebears had been pushed from the earth to the surface. A young man in the community joked that "they (corpses) were probably sent to come and find out why the community is in disarray and why they are no longer being fed’’

,

Yet, in the over 1,000 communities affected by flood, the greatest threat is hunger. Mrs. Alice Saware, a middle-aged farmer, said in pitiable tone: "While we are suffering right now, my greatest concern is for the next harvest season. Now is planting season and we can't plant because we do not have seeds or cassava stem."

Speaking in the same vein, the chairman of the community, Mr Godwin Kekende, said the flood had set Abari back by over 10 years.

He said numerous fish ponds and fishes worth millions of naira owned by the community members were washed into the river. "The irony is that when we go to the river to fish, there is nothing to catch. I keep wondering where all the fish that escaped from the ponds went. They are gone with the flood."

Kekende and the Secretary, Mr. Abraham Zituboh, took our reporter round the community, pointing out relics of the devastation. The only health centre in the town was in ruin and on the verge of collapse, while several parts of the community's school had been eaten away by the flood.

Okparabe: Farmers' agony The situation is not different in Okparabe and Ariavharien communities in Ughelli South Local Government Area of the state.

A waist-high mark on the wall of Elder Aminugo Pius told the tale better than the octogenarian could. "I could not believe that a day would come when I would be paddling canoe round this community. But that was what we saw. Initially, we made to de-flood our compound by digging drains to take away the water, but the more we dug, the higher the water rose. This was no ordinary water. It did not come from rainfall and the nearest river is quite a distance from here."

The handsome farmer said life had not been the same for the community as "men and women lost properties and farms they invested the better part of their lives acquiring. Where does a man of my age and status start from?" he asked rhetorically.

Filtering a small quantity of garri with a square filter, 65-year-old Arierire Hospital had a tinge of tears on her hollow eyes when our reporter knocked on her wooden door.

Pointing to an empty wasteland near her home, she said: "That is all that is left of months of hard work, weeding and clearing under the rain and sun: rotten cassava stems and roots. Now I can only eat cassava bought from my fellow farmers."

But Hospital is even luckier than Odjai Orudje, who now squats with her friend, Victoria Oyonvwin, the Otota Evweya (women spokesperson) of the community. She said: "I don’t need to say much to you, Mr. Journalist. Take a look at me. My (gauntly) physique tells my story. I have nothing to my name but this cloth around my neck. Please tell the governor that we are suffering. Tell the President to come to our aid."

As the pang of hunger bites harder, anger is growing. Aminugho Moses said nobody in Okparabe had received farm implement or seedlings from the state government. He

Continued on page 14

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‘We were perplexed to find our corpses washed from the graves to the surface’ Continued from page 13

•Joseph Okechukwu

•Mrs Ngozi Okagbue

IDPs at the Ogbe-Ijoh and Cavegina Primary had been surviving on the charity from his School camps in Ogbe-Ijoh and Warri children and the meager pension he draws respectively told our reporter that some from the Nigeria Police Force (NPF). unscrupulous volunteers and officials in Government is doing its best —Justice charge of the camps stole items like TV sets, Tabai mattresses and food items, including bags of Contacted on the deluge of complaints, the rice.

Chairman of the Delta State Committee on David Okpe, chairman of Ayakoromo Flood Disaster, Justice Francis Tabai, told our community, alleged that over 350 bags of rice reporter that his team was doing its best at the Ogbe-Ijoh camp were taken away by a under the situation. He said the committee Red Cross official who claimed that they was overwhelmed by the magnitude of the were returning them to the state government. disaster. He said Governor Uduaghan "We expected that those food items would handed out guidelines on the committee’s be given to us to take back to our operation, which, he said, it was abiding by. communities in order to help us deal with the Speaking on the committee's challenges, initial problems. TV sets and other items at the retired jurist said it had the problem of the camps also vanished. People were just statistics, noting that it could not rely on benefiting from the agonies of victims." figures provided by the various communities Buttressing the allegation, Comrade Austin because they were inaccurate and mostly Ozobo of the Ijaw Peoples Development inflated.

Initiative, said: "One community leader, His assertion was supported by Prof.

Oyakonghan Ekerebe of Ekorogbene, wrote a Orubu, who said some persons pressured petition against one of the volunteers. At the him and members of the technical committee to doctor their report, which was presented to end of the day, they called him and gave his community 40 bags of rice, 10 bags of beans Governor Uduaghan earlier this week. and N70,000 cash. The items were taken to Similarly, he said it was impossible for it to the community some days ago. embark on physical distribution of the "The petition was because the community materials to every community in the 14 local registered 200 IDPs, but after paying 130 of government areas devastated by the flood. them, they took away the remaining money.

"The N500 million may seem to be a lot of This angered Ekerebe, who then wrote the money, but considering the magnitude of the petition against those involved in the act," he problem, it is inadequate. In Aboh, one of the stated. communities most affected, if we decide to Findings by our reporter suggested that the use the money to alleviate the suffering of the fraud perpetrated in the various camps were people there alone, it still won't be enough. carried out in collaboration with Virtually every house in the town was communities' representatives, who destroyed and they are of different types. We compromised their people's interests for their saw the impact in all the communities we own gains. visited and it is serious. Aboh is completely The Commissioner, Bureau for Special under water," he stated.

Duties, Mr. Tony Nwaka, debunked reports Consequently, he said, in spite of opposition to the idea, his committee chose to of misappropriation of materials by government officials and NGOs. He also said use local government council chairmen as it was not true that some IDPs did not get the contacts to reach the victims. He recalled that transport allowances approved by the those that were saddled with the governor. "You know our people; they would responsibility were pointedly asked to give never have left the camps without their consideration to the weakest, aged, pregnant money," he said. women and nursing mothers when Nwaka, in a long telephone interview with distributing the items.

The Nation, stated that there were 22 Speaking in the same vein, Olisa Ifejika, government approved camps in the state, spokesman of the Delta State Committee on noting that any other camp outside those the Management of FG Fund and Postwere illegal.

Rehabilitation of Flood Victims, said: “There "It is possible, and there is a committee set up at were some situations the local government where some persons level to take yam gathered themselves seedlings to the endtogether in a place. But users. It is unfortunate Filtering a small those are never that the committee has quantity of garri with a government camps and not done very well, square filter, 65-year-old you don’t expect considering the barrage of Arierire Hospital had a government to give criticisms. But we have money to everybody who tinge of tears on her our own monitoring claimed that they were in strategies to determine hollow eyes when our camps not known to whether the farm inputs reporter knocked on her government. have been equitably wooden door. Pointing "We also had cases distributed. The to an empty wasteland when people rushed to committee is not the camps immediately unmindful that the first near her home, she said: they were set up because set of yam seedlings "That is all that is left of they thought that distributed did not go months of hard work, government would pay round. We will provide weeding and clearing compensation. These sets more farm inputs in due of people never spent under the rain and sun: course.” even a night in the camp NGO, Red Cross rotten cassava stems and and the governor was officials stole materials roots.

Now I can only eat clear that the transport —Victims cassava bought from my allowance was only for The anger of the IDPs is fellow farmers. those in the camps," he not restricted to added. government officials and Nwaka, however, said the committee alone. he could not rule out Some members of the

,

lambasted the committee's handling of the exercise, saying: "Before we left the camps, we wrote our names. They took statistics. Yet we did not get anything. Those saddled with the task should be transparent in how they handle it so as to avoid insinuations of politics and favouritism."

He suggested that even beyond such gestures, the government should consider giving cash to help those who lost their homes in order to rebuild them and tackle the problem of acute shortage of accommodation in the flood-ravaged areas.

Oko Amakon In Oko Amakom community, as in many others, new buildings are springing up. Life is returning gradually. But it is a herculean struggle for these mainly rural dwellers worst affected by the floods. The community is one of the six communities that make up the Oko Clan in Oshimili South Local Government Area, lying on the banks of the River Niger. Others are Oko Obifule, Oko Anala, Oko Gbele, Oko Umoko and Oko Odinfulu communities.

Many in these mainly agrarian communities have suffered untold hardship since the disruptive floods destabilised their socio-economic lives. Many of them lost their means of livelihood, homes and property to the floods.

The traditional ruler, Onihe Okakwu of Oko-Amakom, Okakwu Nnonyeli Ijeoma, was too sick to speak with our reporter. His son, Ben Ijeoma, lamented the plight of his sick father. He said the monarch's health took a turn for the worse when he returned to his ruined compound.

Chief Dennis Egonu, 72-year-old Onihi of Oko Amakom, painted a bleak a picture of poverty, neglect and resignation of a people unsure of their fate and what to expect from government. He said: “Since government told us to go back after the floods last year, we have just been managing to take our nets and fishing in the bushes and other lakes around the communities. That is what we use to provide for family, but that small thing we do is not enough to provide for our needs.

Even cassava cuttings to plant in our farms cost N800 a bundle. Before you can find two bundles, it may take over two weeks. So, we are fishing to provide food."

He said the IDPs had been left to their own devices since they left the camp at St. Patrick College, Asaba. “They (government) gave us a bag of rice, N5,000 for the elderly, and junior persons got N3,000 for transportation back to our communities. Afterwards government brought us yam seeds, which were divided and each family got three seeds. But what will three yam seeds do for a farmer with a capacity to plant 2,000 seeds?"

He urged the government to provide more yam seeds to farmers in Oko community, advising that 200 yam seeds to each farmer will go a long way in assisting them.

Chief Egonu said fishing net costs N4,000 a bundle, adding that a fisher man may need up to three to make meaningful income.

Moses Obah, another farmer, praised the Delta State Government’s efforts so far. But he stressed that returnee flood victims had huge financial challenges, adding that the money provided by government to victims was insufficient. He suggested that government should provide soft loans to residents in order to facilitate the rehabilitation process He said the rebuilding of their homes had been done with assistance from their children who live and work in different parts of Nigeria.

Ben Ijeoma is apprehensive of what fate would throw at them in the future. “If this kind of flooding happens a second time, we can do nothing but depend on God to come to our assistance. No one can predict what will happen this year or next,” he said.

In Ewulu Community, Aniocha South LGA, just like in Ndokwa East LGA, many of the returnee flood victims share similar experiences. Mr. Osilunia Patrick, an 81-yearold retired police officer in Olua-Ossissa Community, Ndokwa East LGA lost his entire fish farm to the floods.

He said: “Before the floods came, I used to manage three fish ponds. But the floods destroyed all the 2,000 fish in my ponds. The most painful of the situation is that I had only about a month left to harvest my pond. I lost the contents of the entire pond."

While echoing complaints of inadequate seedling for farmers, Osilunia said fish farmers were not given anything. He said he

,

cases of sharp practices, including theft of leftover items. "Where they might have happened, they were negligible and far between because the camp commands comprise various political leaders and persons from the LGAs." Victims recount ordeal in Owerri After the initial ordeal of the flood disaster that ravaged most states across the country at the tail end of last year, the hapless victims have woken up to new challenges which they have been grappling with after the flurry of material gifts and cash donations have dried up.

One of the major challenges of the victims who left the relief camps set up by governments of the affected states, after they were sacked from their homes by the floods, is the fear of outbreak of water-borne and other communicable diseases.

Another area of great concern is the issue of accommodation. For some of the victims who left the relief camps after the flood abated, the challenge of rebuilding their damaged homes or building new homes for those whose houses were completely washed away is overwhelming, considering the fact that they also lost their means of livelihood to the ravaging flood.

In Imo State, two council areas of Ohaji/Egbema and Oguta were submerged when the Oguta Lake overflowed its banks.

Gone with the flood that sacked the area at dawn were fish ponds, crops, houses and other valuables.

Some of the victims, who narrated their ordeal to The Nation, described the experience as agonising. They hinted that since they returned to their homes after the flood, life has not been the same again.

Mrs. Theresa Ekwunor, who lives by the bank of the Oguta Lake in Oguta Council Area, stated: “I have been trying to repair the part of the house that collapsed after the flood, but my fear is that the foundation of the building may have been affected. But I have nowhere else to go.”

According to the widow and mother of four, “since we returned to our house, the major challenge has been influx of mosquitoes and reptiles that were washed ashore by the flood and the children are sick more often than before. We need the assistance of government to start our farm business again. Even though we are already indebted to public-spirited Nigerians, we need their assistance now more than ever before.”

Another victim, Chief Augustus Ehirim, posited: “It will take the flood victims another five years to fully recover from the damages caused by the flood. For instance, I lost over two hectares of cassava and yam farm. So, how do I feed a family of nine from charity?”

Chief Ehirim observed that although there had not been any reported case of outbreak of epidemic, the flooded communities were living on the verge of possible health crisis as a result of possible pollution of their sources of water supply by the flood.

“We are afraid about the heightened health risks in the flooded communities and except something urgent is done to avert that, we cannot say for sure that our ordeals are over,” he said.

According to the community leader, “our houses are no longer safe for living and some of the roads are not yet motorable. Electricity has not been restored in some communities that were thrown into darkness during the flood. In fact, the challenges are enormous and we are appealing to government to quickly come to our aid.”

The effects of the flood in Imo State are not restricted to the victims only but to the entire residents, as the cost of food stuff has sharply risen in the last few months. The reason for this is that the two affected council areas are the only agrarian communities in the state and hence the food basket of Imo State.

The member representing Ohaji/Egbema/Oguta Federal Constituency, Hon Gerald Irona, identified health and shelter as the imminent challenges. "We should be thinking of ways to prevent an outbreak of epidemic, especially water borne diseases, and to provide accommodation for the displaced persons as most of the submerged homes are no longer habitable due to structural defects," he said.

The lawmaker, a trained civil engineer, expressed fears over the safety of the victims who have returned to their hitherto submerged homes, urging interventionist agencies to continue to assist them beyond the provision of relief materials.

15

THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2013 •Sympathisers at the service of songs held in honour of the deceased

•The late Akinbola on her wedding day

•Shola, the deceased husband

•Casket bearing her remains about to be lowered into the grave

32-yr-old woman dies battling cancer as help comes knocking A

RINOLA Akinbola, remember? She was the 32-year-old ex-banker whose battle with debilitating breast cancer was published in Saturday Nation about three weeks ago with the headline “32-yrold suffers breast cancer, needs N3.5m for treatment in India”.

Sadly, barely one week after kind-hearted Nigerians had started contributing towards raising the sum of N3.5 million needed for her treatment at the Forte Cancer Hospital, New Delhi, Indian, Akinbola lost her battle to stay alive. She died penultimate Friday at about 5 pm.

Indeed, she died in a world where many still search for true meaning to life. A world where modern advances afford man the leisure to look inwards but only discover an uncomfortable emptiness. The only solution to modern man’s dilemma, it is said, is to acknowledge that God gives meaning to life.

This readily comes to mind at the news of Akinbola’s death. It will be recalled that the

Kunle AKINRINADE life-threatening disease first reared its head sometime in 2006 when it appeared in form of a lump on one of Akinbola’s breasts but she mistook it for a ‘minor’ Keloid that would soon vanish.

But what the ex-banker thought was a minor ailment soon punctured her once bubbling life after it refused to heal. She had visited several public and private hospitals without remedy to her problem.

“When it first appeared as a lump on one of my breasts, I was shocked when doctors said it was a sign of cancer and that the only remedy was the removal of the affected breast to prevent it from worsening. I wasn’t really convinced that it was a cancer, considering the prevalence of wrong diagnosis in many of public hospitals in Nigeria. Before I knew it, it had gone out of control and I now live with excruciating

pain everyday,” Akinbola had recalled.

She had initially visited many public and private hospitals without any solution and was again referred to a specialist hospital where she was admitted for treatment. She was, however, thrown out of the hospital when she could no longer afford to pay for her treatment. ”I have been to many hospitals; both public and private but I was discharged by doctors at the last private hospital where I was admitted for treatment because I could not defray my medical bill. As you can see, this is my parent’s residence and I have been here for months now. I decided to move in with my aged parents because my husband alone cannot look after me because of his job demand.”

In the medical opinion of Dr. Devavrat Arya, Senior Consultant, Medical Oncology, Fortis Cancer Hospital, India, Akinbola’s case demands “a review of slides, blocks and testing will require chemoport insertion.

•Akinbola’s son, Bamidele

This requires chemotherapy on a weekly basis before the completion of treatment.”

The dying Akinbola had asked for the assistance of Nigerians towards raising money for her treatment, saying: “We have got in touch with Fortis Specialist Hospital in India, and doctors at the hospital have confirmed that my condition has not gone worse as to defy remedy. I have been told that the solution is a major surgery that could contain the cancer once and for all.

“But we have spent a lot of money since the sickness went out of control and cannot afford the sum of N3.5 million requested by the hospital for the comprehensive treatment. It is almost a hopeless situation and I have since been counting my days on earth and that is why I want to appeal to kind-hearted Nigerians to •Continued on Page 47

THE NATION, Saturday, Februay 9, 2013

22 Against the backdrop of the 2015 politics in Benue State, Governor Gabriel Suswam spoke with a select group of journalists in Abuja on his rumoured senatorial aspiration. Our Managing Editor, Northern Operation, YUSUF ALLI, reports: How would you react to accusations that governors are a threat to democracy? would expect highly-placed Nigerians, including a respected elder statesman like Senator Jibril Aminu, to be more cautious in making statements on a collective leadership representing the entirety of Nigeria. This is because the governors represented different states and those states make up what is Nigeria. So, if you dismiss and derogate them in a manner he did, it means you are reducing Nigeria to a position that people in other countries will not respect her leaders. It is not about the governors as individuals as each governor is representing a component state that makes up Nigeria.

So, if you derogate either the governor or the President, you are invariably derogating the country.

So, for leaders that were in positions of authority whose views are taken very seriously, they should be very cautious in their utterances. Federalism is dynamic and each governor is elected to represent the hopes, aspirations and fears of the people; therefore, as federalism there are issues that should be addressed.

Even in American democracy, which is over two centuries, there are issues they are still addressing; ours is just about 16 years and you expect that we can’t raise issues of federalism. It is not correct. So, the issues raised by the Nigerian Governors Forum are issues that affect their people which they want addressed. When people have problems with their respective governors, instead of address them as such. They generalise them.

So, Senator Aminu should address the issue he has with his governor as a local issue in Adamawa State. The Senate President is from my state. We don’t have issues. I respect him and he in turn gives me my respect. So, how can an issue in Adamawa become an issue in Benue State that will become a general statement? We have no issues with Mr. President. Some people just want to create artificial problem where none exists.

There were media reports that you and your Rivers counterpart disagreed over 2015.

It’s absolute lies. I was surprised when I saw it. There was nothing like that. The Governor of Rivers and I never discussed 2015. We never even had time to discuss anything relating to 2015. I find that very mischievous because in the report, they attributed it to one of my aides but I went to UK alone. I did not go with any aide. When we met, it was just Governor Akpabio, the Governor of Rivers and I. When we met, we drove together and went to see Governor Chime. We chatted with him, we ate together and we took a walk together; 2015 was not on any of the issues we discussed. That report is mischievous and absolute lies.

2015 is a few years ahead and it is being rumoured that you are eyeing the Senate.

Are you interested in a Senatorial seat?

I have said it before and I am repeating that it is rather too early for me to decide on what I want to be in 2015. The reason is that the task of governing Benue State is very enormous because we have a lot of challenges. So, to begin to project into the future on what we want to be is a huge distraction. For anybody to begin to engage in that high level of distraction is something I would not want to engage myself in. I have been insisting that I want to concentrate and deliver on the promises which I made to the people.

As politicians, some people would continuously want to extract some things from you to the extent that they would start campaigning and co-ordinating for you and I have found myself in that kind of situation where people go out and start referring to you as a Senator for 2015. So for now, I want to concentrate and face the business of governance of the people of Benue State , rather than engage in distractions

I

eight years as a governor. Don’t you think I can do something else? It is possible that I would want to do something else. If the people want me to go back because I represented them well during my stay in the National Assembly, even that is premature, because governing a state like Benue (which is absolutely difficult to govern) and I have successfully done that in the last six years. Let them allow me to concentrate on the task of governance. For now, I am not interested in any other thing, but to concentrate on the mandate at hand.

How do you see Nigeria sending troops to Mali when we have our internal security challenges?

What President Goodluck Jonathan has done is highly of commendable. Based on information from security agencies, most of the Boko Haram members were trained from northern Mali; and they were creating a lot of problems for our country. When the President decided that Nigeria will be one of the countries that will intervene in Mali, I think it is a welcome development. The National Assembly too did not hesitate. We are hopeful that in the next few months, the activities of Boko Haram in Nigeria will reduce. This is because the base where they were getting their training is being destabilised. So, they will no longer have people who will train Boko Haram operatives. But beyond sending troops to Mali, Nigeria must take steps to ensure that the borders are well protected. If our borders remain as porous as they were, then we are going to have problems as some of them will sneak into Nigeria and begin to train people here.

On the issues of security in Benue State, I am somebody who takes issues of security very seriously.

Before I became governor, Benue was in war with virtually all the states bordering her. We were in crises in Nasarawa, Taraba and Cross River states.

When I became governor, I decided to engage the people personally and the chief executives of these states. We held meetings and I have continued to do that up till today. Therefore, in the last six years, you have not heard the issue of crises involving Benue and the neigbouring states. The issue we had was with the Fulani which is not peculiar to Benue. Even in the far North, you have Fulani having problems with the peasant farmers. In Taraba State, the Aku Uka met with all the •Governor Suswam prominent sons of the state and gave me a peace award in Wukari. That was very unusual, because there were frequent violent clashes. So, substantially, there is peace now.

Also, when I came into office, there were security issues within the state. So, I went to the late President Yar’Adua (May his soul rest in peace) and I requested that he should allow me to form a Task Force. He agreed and I went on to form Operation Zenda, which has performed creditably in checking security issues that we had in the state. As at the time I became governor, you couldn’t stay out beyond 7.00pm, the criminal boys were all over the place. But night life in Benue now is 24 hours. Benue is about the only state in the North now that has night life of 24 hours.

Can you give an update on the Boko Haram kingpin that was recently traced to Benue State?

The Boko Haram kingpin who was traced to Benue was because of the watchful eyes of security operatives in the state. The security personnel were unable to arrest the Boko Haram members, but as it is, we have heaved a sigh of relief because, according to security reports, they had actually started recruiting people.

Unfortunately, when I raised the alarm that they were threatening to attack me, the Nigerian media just moved on me. The media accused me that I was being an alarmist. Since they traced this major operative to Benue, nobody has written to apologise to me that I was speaking from the position of information available to me.

If those terrorists could have the audacity to attack the Emir of Kano, then the media could have tried to found out why I had publicly alerted the nation. Nobody asked me and they went on to write editorials and all kinds of comments against me. And since they tracked the man there, no newspaper has made a major story because they had already branded me an alarmist and all sorts of names. So, Nigerians should be more careful when issues of security are concerned.

You were recently given some controversial awards in the USA, why did you influence these?

I was invited to the US for the purpose of which you mentioned, but it was greeted with the usual Nigerian politics. Some ACN supporters wrote that the Martin Luther King people should withdraw the award based on unfounded reasons which they gave. In spite of that, the award was given to me. Also, the State of Georgia gave me an award as the Honorary Citizen of Georgia as an Honorary Ambassador of the State of Georgia . So, I cherished and valued the awards. whether I want to go to the Senate. It is possible that after so On what basis? many years in politics, I want to do something else rather In regard to the provision of potable water, you know that than active politics.

Benue is divided into three senatorial districts. The senatorial But the elders in your zone endorsed you for the Senate district that suffers most for lack of water is Zone ‘C’ – the during their meeting at Katsina-Ala. Are you ready to Senate President’s senatorial district. And since Otukpo is the accept the offer? major town in the zone, I feel we should enhance water The elders in my Senatorial Zone had invited me for a circulation within Otukpo which is the central town of Idoma reception. They then said that they wanted me to go to the Senate in 2015. That is what the people wish. May be my wish people. The same thing with Zone ‘A’. In Zone ‘A’, the biggest town is Katsina Ala which is situated on a river bank, just like might be different from their wish. I have spent eight years in the National Assembly by the grace of God; I am spending Continued on page 47

Boko Haram: Sending troops to Mali is good but...

–Governor Suswam

THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2013

23

Edited by: VICTOR AKANDE

Tel: 07029013958

E-mail: victor_akande@yahoo.com

ntertainment

•SEE PAGE 28 & 37

I dropped out of school because of acting

LOCATION

BACKSTAGE

SNAPSHOT

REEL NEWS

MUSIC

SCREEN

—Ibrahim Chatta

How I persuaded him to quit smoking —Wife

24

THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2013

STAND BY! h

Wit

VICTOR AKANDE E-mail: victor_akande@yahoo.com Tel: 07029013958 (SMS only)

THINK

nt part of An importa s of any the succes is its civilisation late the mu ability to e t led to the a factors th f other success o s.—Eric civilisation rt Reine

SNAPSHOTS

The PMAN drivers are sober However, as a luxury ride, PMAN desired some drivers to take its lots to some enviable destination. The drivers were supposed to be servant leaders, but they turned reckless rulers

Comedian Funny Bone in Genevieve Nnaji's arms?

Kalu Ikeagwu speaks for Nollywood As noble as the initiative for peace may be, it is a disappointment for some members of the association.

Why? Because, like Lucifer, some people are born to thrive in controversy WRITE TO US!

•Kalu Ikeagwu

25

THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2013

RE ELNEW S The Plague at Berlinale Forum

Memoir of Nollywood at 20 in Germany

WED Expo changes from TBS to Landmark

Josh Duhamel to host Nickelodeon's Kids' Choice Awards

26

THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2013

verdose is fast O a k a , a g o d A e David hold name in th e se u o h a g in m h beco artiste says that rom e h T . e n e sc c si F mu genre of music. the w e n a h it w s e com t album in 2007, tion rs fi is h g in rd co re d distribu n a g n ti e rk a m s artiste cite sic industry. He u m e th f o e n a b e as the s and plans for th ce n e ri e p x e is h shares E MEDEME. W V O h it w re tu fu

In Nigeria, entertainment is a crazy circle —Overdose Marketing and distribution and distribution have always been an issue. When last did you get a video CD? They wouldn't even let it develop before it goes to the internet and online stores for download and so all we have to do is take the bull by the horn

27

THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2013

Ice Prince denies snubbing Glo’s offer

Bimi bows out of Nigerian Idol

Tokunbo Chord follows father's footsteps

Xstar Justice drops new single and Video No Be Me Na God

•Xstar Justice

Glo Big Friday Show hosts new MTV Base Vjs

28

THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2013

ntertainment

THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2013

ntertainment

ntertainment

ntertainment

ntertainment

ntertainment

‘I once hawked ice cream, doughnuts and even worked as a bus conductor’

37

ntertainment I really don't like guys who smoke, not because of any reason but because it is not good for their health.

So, the question is: Why do you do it? Really, when I found out, I sat him down and talked to him about it

Oh, I miss a lot!

Sometimes, when I am in the midst of some of my friends who are graduates, I tend to think about it. The Yoruba would say, “Bi mi o ka we, mo ka ogbon ori mi”; so, I am still intelligent and educated in my own way. I have never been to the four walls of the university, but I have taught myself a lot of things

How I persuaded him to quit smoking—Salamat Shaaba Chatta

Premier League

Title

race not over yet Pg 32

Alba: New Messi contract great for Barcelona fans Saturday, February 9, 2013

AFCON FINAL

Nigerian

Power Vs Spirit Burkinabe

THE NATION SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2013

•Cheick Fantamady Diarra of Mali evades challenge from Godfrey Oboabona of Nigeria during the Orange Africa Cup of Nations, South Africa 2013 Semifinal football match

AFCON 2013:

Super Eagles soar to glorious heights

Eagles’ defence, key to AFCON success - Taribo

•Oboabona

•Keshi

•Taribo

THE NATION SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2013

Inside The

Glass House WITH AMINU MAIGARI

Super Eagles, this is your chance

Black Stars look to the future

•Put

•Kwesi

Sommer reveals Bayer Leverkusen won't move for Sunday Mba

•Sunday Mba

Burkina Faso manager Paul Put says Nigeria are favourites

PAGE 36

Saturday, February 9, 2013

GHANA, MALI fight for bronze again

38

THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2013

HO LLYWOOD GIST

Two go home as

Knorr Taste Quest gets hotter

Braxton's autistic son stars with her Chris Brown returns to court again

Crane over Ghollywood

Martha Ankomah to be honoured

I want to be like Fela —Efya

Model: Rosbarbara

•Ipad

•Jane Ezeh

•Linda Ejiofor •Yvonne-Vixen-Ekwere

•Goldie

•Hon. Dabiri-Erewa

46

INTERVIEW

THE NATION, Saturday, Februay 9, 2013

President Goodluck Jonathan in 2011 honoured George Turnah, a lawyer, as a Member of the Order of the Niger (MON). The students’ union activist and National Vice-President of the National Union of Nigerian Students (NANS) in his days at the Niger Delta University (NDU), Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa State, is now the Special Assistant on Youth Matters to the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). In this interview in Port Harcourt, Rivers State with BISI OLANIYI, Turnah discloses what prompted him to float a foundation, while he did not have the privilege of growing up in a united family, among other issues. Excerpts:

T

What is George Turnah Foundation about?

HE George Turnah Foundation is a non-interest, nonprofit, purely charity organisation. Our idea is to try and provide support for the less-privileged. We are interested in education, sports, health, capacity building, youths’ development and, of course, agriculture.

Drugs are killing the youths and must be condemned.

Teenage pregnancy will also be campaigned against.

I floated the foundation because I grew up with difficulty.

Things were very tough. To survive was very tasking. Except a few states that have now come up with free education, even at the primary school level, many students drop out. Many cannot even afford “handwork” fee. These gave me a lot of concern. I also want the youths to be meaningfully engaged. Through the foundation, I will be able to touch lives positively, by the grace of God and will be a source of joy.

Late last year (2012), we presented relief materials to victims of floods in Rivers, Bayelsa and Delta States. We earlier suspended the presentation of relief materials to flood victims in Bayelsa State because of the death of my uncle, Chief Meni Jonathan, but the presentation •Barrister Turnah was later done. The natural disaster was really unfortunate.

Government should also try and resettle the victims of the floods in order to have a sense of belonging.

You said your growing up was very tough, which made you to float the foundation to assist the less-privileged. You are from Kolo town in Ogbia LGA of Bayelsa State. Did you also not have shoes while growing up, like President Goodluck Jonathan?

If it was growing up without shoes, it would have been fine.

Grace of God, commitment, strong-will, focus and hard work saw me through the challenging period. In view of irreconcilable differences with my dad, Mr. Elvis Turnah, I later moved with my mum (Elizabeth Charles), to her father’s hometown, Edeoha in Ahoada East LGA of Rivers State.

To pay my WAEC fee, my mum had to borrow money from cooperative society with interest.

She also had to make basins of garri, which she would take to the market for sale. I would also look for firewood to split and sell. At a point, I had to hawk fresh corn (maize) to complete the WAEC fee.

I was among the last to enroll for the examination because of the fee challenge.

I got encouragement from my late paternal grandfather, a retired Student unionism is dead in headmaster in Kolo town, Ogbia LGA of Nigeria. It is nothing to write home Bayelsa State, who purchased my JAMB about. I am working with my team to form. I got admitted to the University of see how we can revive student To pay my WAEC fee, Ibadan (UI) in Oyo State to study Law unionism and make it more vibrant. and was also admitted for Law at NDU, Student unionism should be a check my mum had to borrow Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa State. I would the system. Not that the students money from cooperative on have preferred to study Law at UI, but will always be against government, opted for my state’s university because of society with interest. She but to put the leaders on their toes lack of funds in order not to become a through peaceful protests, thereby also had to make basins liability in a far place. NDU was actually ensuring good governance with my second choice, while UI was my first emphasis placed on the welfare of the of garri, which she choice. My name was on merit list in UI. people.

I was very active in my university would take to the market There is no part of Nigeria that I did days, especially in student unionism. In not travel to then, as one of the leaders for sale.

I would also my year one, I was elected the General of NANS, with the struggle kept alive.

Course rep for Law. At times, there look for firewood to split Throughout my stay at NDU, school would be documents from lecturers to were not increased once. Attempts and sell. At a point, I had fees photocopy and course-mates would were made by the authorities but were want me to make copies for them and I vehemently resisted. These days, to hawk fresh corn would be ‘appreciated’, which assisted activities of students’ union leaders are (maize) to complete the me a lot. disappointing and ridiculous.

God later provided Dr. Goodluck We were always confronting the WAEC fee.

I was among Jonathan for me as a father, while he was authorities of NDU as students’ union the last to enroll for the the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State leaders. In spite of travelling round the and he took over the sponsorship of my country for NANS activities, I took my examination because of university education. My uncle, who studies seriously. In my 400 Level at returned from Malaysia, also helped. the fee challenge NDU, when our results were released, Upon graduation, I served at the Abuja some persons wrote a petition against headquarters of the Independent Corrupt me to the Senate, that I would not Practices and Other Related Offences have made such results since I was Commission (ICPC). I later went to the always moving from one campus to Nigerian Law School in Lagos. another for NANS activities, but they forgot that I never joked You were students’ union leader at NDU. Are present with my books. I would be awake throughout the night to students in Nigerian tertiary institutions still checking the read. excesses of our leaders?

The Senate of NDU invited me and brought out my answer

sheets. They asked me the examinations’ questions and I gave them the answers on the spot. They were impressed. When NDU organised a reception in my honour, after my election as National Vice-President of NANS, my father came to the campus. The late Public Relations Officer of the university, Mr. Ebiegberi Amazige, in a quiet discussion with my father, mentioned to him that one thing he liked about me was that despite my students’ union activities, I never joked with my studies. Mr. Amazige also narrated the Senate’s story to my father. My dad was very happy and he told me the story much later. I am proud to say that I finished from NDU. Lecturers should be more disciplined. In an academic environment, the student’s ability to pass examinations should be purely on merit/competence and not through sorting with cash, sex or gifts. Compromising academic standard through cutting corners always lead to the production of half-baked graduates who will not be employable.

With the current transformation agenda of President Jonathan in the education sector, there is hope, but there is need to check corruption in the system.

ICPC and EFCC should continue to fight corruption in our schools, religious places/worship centres and families, among others. Jesus Christ was a servant leader, but what are we experiencing these days?

What have you learnt from your parents?

My parents are still alive, but they are not together. I did not have the privilege of growing up in a united family. My dad had two other wives who are not currently with him, but had children for him. My mum was the first wife and I am also the first child. My mum had to pull out and later got married somewhere else in Bayelsa State.

I grew up more with my mum.

She placed emphasis on fear of God, hard work, truth and honesty.

When my dad was working at the School of Nursing in Port Harcourt, I stayed with him between Primary 2 and 4. He later moved to the Ministry of Health in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, where he retired. He is back to private life. My parents are nice people.

Is NDDC really committed to the development of the Niger Delta, in view of complaints by stakeholders of insincerity by persons at the helm of affairs?

NDDC, under Dr. Christian Oboh as the Managing Director, is well committed to the transformation of the Niger Delta.

Dr. Oboh is a cool-headed, competent and hardworking gentleman. He is very passionate about the development of the Niger Delta. The former managing directors of the commission also did their best. NDDC is currently embarking on various capital-intensive and people-oriented projects. The commission is doing well. There is need for the Federal Government to keep faith with release of funds to the NDDC, which is an interventionist agency. The East-West Road dualisation by the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs is suffering.

NDDC has just taken over the Bayelsa airport project.

With the support I am giving to Dr. Oboh on youth matters in the Niger Delta, his job has been made much easier, with peace restored. The managing director of NDDC is no longer facing pressure from the youths. Blocking of gate of the NDDC’s corporate headquarters in Port Harcourt by Niger Delta youths has stopped, through my contributions and ingenuity.

Most Nigerians are saying that President Jonathan has not performed up to expectations. How do you react to this?

The President is committed to the transformation of Nigeria and he is performing well. There can be no magic with development. It is a gradual process. The President is a silent achiever. He is not a noise maker. He is bringing Nigeria from a sorry state through reforms. Let us be fair to him. He is always bubbling with ideas and creating jobs. President Jonathan’s achievements will campaign for him in 2015.

Let us bear in mind that government alone cannot create jobs. Enabling environment must be provided for the private sector to operate optimally, with employment opportunities to be provided. The President is sincerely fighting corruption and blocking all the areas where some people acquire illegal funds. Why is the elite crying? The oil thieves and those involved in fuel subsidy scam are currently facing the music.

They are now blackmailing the Federal Government by making fuel scarce. They should not constitute themselves into nuisance or become untouchables. Nigerians are becoming wiser.

‘I hewed fire wood and hawked fresh corn to pay my WAEC fee’

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...and the woman died when help came knocking

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•Continued from Page 15 helping me to raise the money.”

The deluge of responses from members of the public was so encouraging that she called our correspondent on the telephone shortly after the story was published. Speaking in a low tone, she said: “I want to thank you for your support by publishing my story. My spirit has been lifted since morning as I have been flooded with calls from far flung members of the public. They were those who have read my pathetic story in your paper and were willing to assist me financially.

Some of them even promised to drop some money into the bank account opened in my name.”

A few days after her death, a top of official of Lagos-based Fatimah Charity Foundation, Mr. Sylvester Isidahomen, visited The Nation’s office asking for a link with the relations of Akinbola.

Isidahomen said: “We were touched by the pathetic story of the lady and had wanted to contribute to her treatment.

Unfortunately, we learnt that she died a few days after the story was published.

However, the founder of the charity organisation, Hajia Bintu Tinubu, felt that the deceased’s son should be taken care of and that is why we would like to be linked with her family so we can assist in caring for her son.”

Incidentally, deaths of this nature shake men’s faith in God. Questions were asked at the emotion-laden service

• Officiating ministers at the Service of Songs

of songs held in her honour in Lagos on Monday: ‘Is God there? Does He care? Is He fair? Why must it be her? But, why must it be Sister Arinola? Yes, why must it be this unassuming dedicated church worker?’

At times like this, the road to comfort is to wax philosophical: “God giveth and He taketh”. This much was confirmed by the Zonal Pastor of The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Gate of Praise Parish, Abule Egba, where the deceased worshipped

till death.

At the service of songs organised by the church, Zonal Pastor Iyiola Olayori, in a sermon titled: “It’s Time”, said: “There is a purpose for everything on earth. Everyman is a sojourner on the surface of the earth. Even if a man lives long like the biblical Methuselah, he will definitely die one day. Sister Arinola Akinbola came, saw, participated and conquered. Anybody that dies without a child came to this world like a snake that passes on the rock without any

My spirit has been lifted since morning as I have been flooded with calls from far flung members of the public.

They were those who have read my pathetic story in your paper and were willing to assist me financially. Some of them evenpromised to drop some money into the bank account opened in my name

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trace. Let us thank God for her life because she knew God. We might think that she lived a short life but to God it was a long life.”

At the requiem, the 12-year-old son of the deceased, Bamidele, sat in between relations and sympathisers while the service lasted.

The remains of the deceased were interred the following day at about 1pm at the Matori Cemetery, Mushin, Lagos State.

2015: ‘I have not made up my mind’ Makurdi, the state capital. So, I built three major water projects, one for Zone ‘C’ in Otukpo and another at Zone ‘A’ at KatsinaAla. The two water treatment plants have since been completed and I have just awarded the contract for the reticulation of water in the two places. The reticulation contracts which are ongoing as I speak now will soon be completed.

As for the state capital, the funding for the reticulation contract is quite prohibitive.

When I requested for preliminary costing, one contractor gave me a cost of N19billion and another N12billion. The cost of the Makurdi water treatment plant is just N5billion. And so, I made a request to President Jonathan publicly when he came to commission the projects. I told him that I have done what I should do, but the reticulation is slightly above the capacity of the state and he promised that he was going to assist. I have written reminder letters and the Minister of Water Resources has also acknowledge receipt of those letters. We have epileptic service of water distribution in Makurdi now, because the pipes in use now were laid in 1973, and these are not modern pipes. So, majority of them are broken and so, water can’t move from the water treatment plant to the small reservoir we have now. We are working on that.

In this year, we are going to start laying new pipes but obviously for me to say that I will generate N19billion is not practicable in a state that the average it receives from the Federation Account is N1.5 billion and the salary wage bill is over N2billion and there are other issues you have to contend with.

So, I haven’t quite achieved what I want to in the area of water supply as it relates to the state capital. However, we have done quite a lot in the villages through the provision of motorised boreholes and hand pumps throughout the state.

In over 90 per cent of the villages in Benue State, you have in one way or the other, people enjoying either hand pump water or motorized water. We have also provided some good allocation for the provision of water supply in this year’s budget but I cannot mention the figure as it is yet to be approved by the state Assembly. I also want to add that the Federal Government has also awarded a contract for the construction of earth dam in Zone ‘C’ for about N7billion, that will also complement our efforts. We are

invite someone to America for an award. also building small earth dams in places UNESCO is a respected world organisation water is difficult to get through boreholes.

We are building one in Ushongo and another and for the State of Georgia too to honour me. That means that truly the world has in Ogbadibo local governments. It is with all become a global village and people are of these that the UNESCO appreciated and interested in what is happening, especially in gave me an award in the USA . developing countries like Nigeria with a What about the Gboko water works? huge population. People in the developed I once took the Minister of Water world are interested in what is happening, Resources there at Ameladu which is meant particularly in a to supply water to developing country like Gboko town, Nigeria. So, I think, headquarters of the Tiv based on their judgment, people. The water they would have said treatment plant which OK, this one has done was built there was not When the President what is going on across properly done. It was a the world and therefore shoddy job. When the decided that Nigeria deserves our applause. job was completed, it Otherwise, even myself, I didn’t last for one year. will be one of the was surprised. The So I have been countries that will award is an indication pressurising the Federal that as a leader even Government to come intervene in Mali, I what you are doing in and repair it. The think it is a welcome your house is being minister had inspected it taken notice of. So, it has and I have also gone development...

But humbled me and made there with some beyond sending me to understand that contractors, so if, the there is nothing you do Federal Government by troops to Mali, as a leader that goes the end of this first Nigeria must take unnoticed. quarter fails to come in, I What are you doing will take it up and do the steps to ensure that to stimulate agro-allied repairs. It is major industries to preserve repairs after which the the borders are well most of the crops that Federal Government will protected. If our are being wasted in pay us. It is major repairs your state? because where they take borders remain as Benue, as you know, the water is Buruku, porous as they were, produces a lot of food which is a local crops. So, as a government and where then we are going to government, we are they built the treatment have problems as creating the enabling plant is a different local environment to promote government. So you take some of them will agro-allied industries. water from another local sneak into Nigeria As it relates to government, you go and perishable products, we treat it in another local and begin to train have a juice factory government and send it which was back to that local people here commissioned by the government. So, we are President when he doing a backward visited the state last year. integration to ensure that The plant is leased out to both Gboko and Buruku Transcorp. The plant is have water 100 per cent. taking in the bulk of There are oranges that are produced in that state. As insinuations you applied for the award… for tomatoes, the previous administration No. No. No. I didn’t apply for the award. had started a tomato factory. We intend that In fact, I was surprised when I got the by this year, we will complete it and lease it invitation. For the award as prestigious as out. We don’t want government to that, UNESCO is not a small organisation to

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Continued from page 22

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participate in the running of any of these companies. That company, when completed, will take not just most of the tomatoes produced in Benue State, but southern part of Taraba and northern parts of Cross River State.

We will soon take delivery of four rice mills and two cassava flour mills. When we have those mills, we will be able to have farmers to produce more cassava; since there will be competition in pricing; since there will be factories needing cassava. We have also leased out Taraku Mills which had being comatose for a while. Now some people have taken it. We have leased it out and the company has started skeletal production.

Since Benue is the largest producer of soybeans, Taraba will now start taking a chunk of it.

We have also started a piggery farm in collaboration with the State of Iowa in the USA. You will be highly impressed if you go to the piggery farm. We are now moving forward with the help of the Central Bank of Nigeria to set up a meat processing factory.

We have gone very far with the Central Bank that is willing to give us about N1billion to start the meat processing plant. For people who will be producing cattle, they will have an immediate place where they can have an immediate return on beef.

We also have an ambitious plan to kick start a cattle ranch. We already have an environment that is very conducive at Ikyogen, where the former Governor of Benue State, late Aper Aku, had started a ranch. Unfortunately, when he started, he had some issues since the bulls were brought from Argentina and our conditions here were so harsh. So, this time, we have taken some experts there and they have recommended that our local breed can withstand the weather and so we want to crossbreed them and start the ranch that will be a feeder to the meat processing plant.

It will interest you to note that Namibia is the largest supplier of most of the meat that is consumed in Europe. I went to the factory and I saw what they are doing there.

Nigeria, with our size and resources, there is no reason why we should not do that. I am not going to be in competition with Namibia, but let us be in a position where Benue can supply most of the hygienic meat.

It is unfortunate that when you see the way they carry meat, it is not hygienic at all.

These are some of our initiatives in agriculture.

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2013

•Obudu Mountain Resort

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N alluring desti nation makes Cupid’s arrow more poignant.

And so, in this period when love is in the air, when love is celebrated the world all over, there are new trends within the tourism industry-the focus in trendy pack-

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S part of its plans to make this valentine season a memorable one for its numerous guests, Southern Sun Ikoyi Hotel has put together a lavish offer for the season.

Packaged specially for the season, the essence of the Valentine Weekend Special Offer is to create an atmosphere of love at an affordable rate to its numerous and prospective guests as they share in the love of the season.

The package would run from February 14 to 17 and guests will enjoy a special room rate of N42, 500 which covers bed and breakfast for two people, room service breakfast, 10% discount on laundry and dry cleaning, complimentary gym with sauna and steam room facilities and guaranteed hi speed internet service at no extra cost.

According to Mark Loxley, the hotel’s General Manager, “for all our guests who love sea food, the

age tours in which the couples are treated as royalties. Now that the St. Valentine’s Day is around the corner,many find it difficult selecting the best destinations to make the day memorable.

Thankfully, Nigeria’s tourism industry is gradu-

ally growing. Domestic tour packagings which were to be virtually absent are now some of the options.

Taste Love Garden at Obudu with Experience Cross River.

Experience Cross River, powered by Remlords Group, is putting together a

package for the Valentine weekend.

Couples can book and have a memorable experience at the ranch. The bus will depart Calabar to Obudu Mountain Resort on the morning of February 15.

At the resort, couples would be treated to a lunch

Tourism News

Southern Sun offers special packages

they can join the bus ride to Obudu.

Like always, Nigeria’s prime destination-Cross River-still offers other options like Tinapa Resort and its surrounding and many other places.

La Campagne Tropicana, Ikegun, Lagos

INVESTOUR promotes business between Africa and Spain

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•Sales/PR Manager, Southern Sun Ikoyi Hotel, Ubong Nseobot (second left), with the children and staff of Arrows of God Orphanage at the presentation of items to the orphanage by Southern Sun Ikoyi Hotel and excellent service delivery. With Thursday Valentine sea food He further added that guests a sublime atmodinner buffet would come can upgrade to executive sphere, soothing with a 20 per cent discount. rooms as well as enjoy early rooms and personNot forgetting the 20 per check in and late check out alized services, its cent discount that comes privileges upon availability. facilities offer with our popular Sunday Southern Sun Ikoyi Hotel is modern comfort, brunch with guests enjoying a global brand renowned for perfect for business priority table reservation’’. its tradition of customer focus and leisure.

and candle light dinner at Love Garden. They will also have the opportunity to participate in the Couples’ Swimming competition.

There is also a ride on the cable car, the longest in Africa.

However, couples coming from outside the state are expected to come early, so that

HE fourth edition of the Invest ment and Tourism Business Forum (INVESTOUR) addressed cooperation and business opportunities between Spain and Africa. Celebrated on the occasion of the Madrid International Tourism Fair (FITUR), INVESTOUR 2013 brought together representatives from 33 African countries and over 50 Spanish entrepreneurs. (FITUR, 31 January) An initiative of UNWTO, the Madrid Tourism Fair Institution (IFEMA) and Casa Africa, INVESTOUR 2013 held under the theme ‘Tourism Development in Africa: Challenges and Opportunities’ highlighted some of the key competitive areas for tourism in the region – air connectivity, investment, branding and product development. The B-2-B session, which serves as a business platform for participants, attracted over 50 Spanish companies to explore opportunities around 200 African tourism projects in areas such as hospitality,

transportation, education, know-how and infrastructure.

“Bringing together the public and private sectors with potential international partners, it represents a unique opportunity to reinforce business relations between Spain and Africa and advance sustainable development in the continent”, said UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai, opening INVESTOUR. Against the backdrop of international tourist arrivals growing by 6% in the region in 2012, the event took place “in a moment in which Africa continues to strive in the tourism map”, he added.

The importance of the correct strategic planning in tourism to promote Africa’s development was highlighted by the Minister of Tourism of Benin, Jean Michel Abimbola.

“The diversification of the economy is the key to attract

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2013 is a kind of luxury hide away that has the stamp of class. The resort prides itself on being a paradise beyond imagination. One could understand the reason for the sentiment. With beautiful decorated rooms that are steeped in African motifs, a lush sandy beach , one could understand why the claim of being a paradise.

Lagos is one state that one is spoilt for choice on where to go.

As always, the islands and peninsulas that surround the state beckon. For those who may not have the money to places like Obudu, with a little planning ahead of time, one could plan a low budget Valentine experience and still have a swell time.

Apart from well-rehearsed and much trumpeted sites, there are some emerging tourist sites that possibly, with time, would become full destinations.

For families, they could strike out to discover their own beach fronts to enjoy a perfect Valentine. From Maiyegun beach front down to Ikegun and further are beautiful beach fronts brimming with coconut

ICTP commends Nigeria on tourist products

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•Arinta Waterfall

trees. There are so many safe and isolated beaches to go .

But for those who love to be in places where the booze is on, private beaches such as Oniru and Elegushi

•La Campagne Tropicana

investment and preserve the millenarian’s traditions through projects such as ecotourism and training”, he said.

“Africa is a destination and Africa is a market” said the Minister of Tourism of South Africa, Marthinus van Schalkwyk, echoing debates which underscored that in the current economic circumstances, initiatives such as INVESTOUR can make a difference both in promoting tourism development as well as in bringing new opportunities to companies in Europe.

In closing the event, the Minister of Tourism of Senegal, Youssou N’Dour, underscored that INVESTOUR is “a unique opportunity for African countries to showcase their tourism potential to Spanish investors and partners. Tourism is a sector that can make a difference in our region, and therefore we will continue supporting this important initiative in the future.”

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EETINGS Africa 2013 will take on a dis tinctly pan-African flavour. It takes place from February 18 to 21, 2013 with trade exhibition show days on February 19 and 20.

Meetings Africa 2013 is being hosted by the South African National Convention Bureau (SANCB) and will showcase Africa’s diverse business events product offering.

Amanda Kotze-Nhlapo, executive manager of SANCB, said the strategy is to make Meetings Africa a truly African showcase to grow the capacity of the collective African business events industry and transform regional Africa into one of the world’s business events powerhouses. The theme of this year’s event is “Advancing Africa together”.

“We want to work with our business event partners on the African continent and want more global and African associations to use the great resources we have in Africa to

beaches are options.

For those in Ekiti State, the number one spot for Valentine would ordinarily be Ikogosi Waterfall. But due to the renovation activities currently on in the place, the

waterfall is closed. But nearby, the water might not be warm, but sparkles and brims with life.

The Arinta Waterfall is one of the alluring places I have visited.Its surrounding with the pristine, huge trees that hold the rocky hills in warm embrace is always exhilarating. Here, couples and families could have a good time.

Facorp Mangrove Park at the outskirts of Warri, Delta State have all it takes for lovers and family to have a good time at a rather modest cost.

But for those looking for the upscale resorts in Delta State, Abraka Turf Club, one of Nigeria’s leading destinations would not be a bad idea.

Ada, the idyllic town in Osun State, is the home of MicCom Golf Club. The resort offers everything for relaxation for the Valentine.

Here, one is sandwiched by nature and the peace it brings.

The Olumirin Waterfall, Erin Ijesa is undergoing renovation, but that may not dissuade people from going there. The surrounding may not be bad to spend the time in.

HE International Coalition of Tourism Partners (ICTP) has sent a congratulatory message to Nigeria for introducing tourist visa cards to ease the burden of tourists carrying cash while in Nigeria and a biometric registration system for the tourism industry workers.

This follows a meeting at FITUR between Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, the Director General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation and Minister Alain St.Ange of the Seychelles.

In a press statement released in Madrid, Spain by the organisation, a co-founder of the internationally acclaimed body, Alain St.Ange also commended Nigeria for its efforts at curbing fraudulent tendencies in the industry.

Alain St.Ange lauded these efforts at repositioning the tourism industry in Nigeria with international standards and best practices.

“We in ICTP are very pleased with these developments and innovations in Nigeria. We believe these new products are good for tourism growth in the continent,”he said.

Accordingly, the ICTP is encouraging other countries in Africa to do what Nigeria has done for the growth of tourism in their countries. “We encourage other countries in Africa to introduce these products to ease the movements of tourists who would not carry cash because people don’t carry cash across borders any longer,”he said.

On the introduction of biometric registration, the ICTP said it viewed the development as a right step forward at instilling confidence in tourists in line with global standard and best practices. The biometric registration will ensure that the CV of hotel staff are always available to all tourism establishments prior to recruitment of new applicants. This will remain an internal confidential data base for the tourism industry. It is an innovative system and Africa will be watching how it develops as it will ensure hotels have the latest information on the tourism workforce.

Otunba Runsewe and Alain St. Ange

Meetings Africa 2013 holds soon

•A past Meetings Africa forum network and create mutuallybolster business event beneficial business hosting and delivery,” she partnerships,”she said. said.

Kotze-Nhlapo said she’d She added that Meetings like to see Meetings Africa Africa offered the industry becoming the premier Africa and exhibitors an opportuplatform for business events. nity to see the best of South The event will see more Africa’s and the continent’s than 50 African association business events industry buyers, 200 international under one roof. hosted buyers and 200 local “It’s the perfect platform corporate and government for business events industry buyers in attendance. professionals to meet,

International Conference and Incentive Travel Research (ICR) was appointed by SANCB to evaluate and screen international hosted buyers for Meetings Africa 2013 to ensure those that attend have a real interest in bringing their business events and incentives to Africa.

Several changes have been made to the Meetings Africa format to ensure buyers and exhibitors get as much as possible out of the event.

SANCB has introduced a dedicated Seminar Day on 18 February 2013 -before the actual trade exhibition starts to enable buyers and exhibitors to attend the various targeted seminar sessions.

The Meetings Africa Association Day will also be held on February 18, 2012 and is a must-attend event for African Association leaders. It is designed to energise and engage association executives.

Among its aims are to build

the national and pan-African association communities and promote their engagement with international associations.

A new event at Meetings Africa 2013 is the Decision Makers Forum that will be held on February 19, 2013. It’s a platform for key decision makers and industry leaders to engage to better understand the pivotal role business events can play in generating economic prosperity in South Africa’s cities, municipalities and provinces.

Buyers and exhibitors can once again make use of the highly effective Meetings Africa Business Matchmaking system to pre-schedule appointments online to ensure their time at Meetings Africa 2013 is productively spent. The Meetings Africa Golf Day will take place on 21 February 2013, providing networking opportunities in a different way for corporate executives, hosted buyers and exhibitors

THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2013

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Maintaining intimacy during pregnancy

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HARING dates, intercourse and an ticipation of parenthood should bring couples closer - with or without orgasm The swelling belly that punctuates the beauty of motherhood can sometimes be a speed bump to intimacy between husband and wife. It doesn’t have to be. Here’s how to navigate maternity in a way that preserves the romance and sexual chemistry.

Mission 1: How can a husband create an atmosphere for sex without coming off as a selfish, horny, insensitive pervert?

Emotional Foreplay! Romantic overtures like the husband bringing flowers, cooking a special dinner, caressing the stomach and even brushing the hair are signs of tenderness to remind his lady that she is still beautiful and adored. It doesn’t hurt to come right out and call her beautiful either.

Intimacy during pregnancy is about more than sex; it is ultimately about two people feeling connected in a cloud of protective love and desire of their own making. That means intercourse, emotion, and communication are all part of the intimate package needed especially during pregnancy.

Mission 2: As the baby grows, sex feels uncomfortable for me as a wife. What are the most comfortable positions for sexual intimacy during pregnancy?

First of all, you won’t harm the baby. Second of all, fatigue, nausea, breast tenderness, and the increased need to urinate during sex may be so off-putting during the first trimester that sex is not feasible. But in the second-trimester when the hormones kick in and the breast grow rounder and more luscious — whoa baby! Here are tips to consider for sexual intimacy during pregnancy then: have sex sideways, or lie on your back slightly propped up on a pillow while your partner holds your legs up. Mutual oral or manual stimulation might also be comfortable and desirable.

Mission 3: How can I think about sex when I’m fat and feeling unpretty?

Embrace pregnancy as one of the most beautiful times in a woman’s life. It’s a cliche but it’s true. Many men actually like when the body becomes rounder, especially the bosom. Femininity is often associated with soft, fleshy curves. Remember the full-figured Rubenesque art celebrated as the epitome of womanhood during the 17th century? So, buy some clothes —including lingerie — that flaunt that incredible belly and bosom!

Mission 4: Why do I crave MORE sex now that I’m pregnant — and what if my hus•Adeola, my dear, the lady after my heart. God bless you.

You don’t know how many lives you touch every Saturday. Your articles make my day. As I was reading your article of 26 Jan 2012, I read the story of Dami. It is not only the women but some men too are fraudsters too.

Most of them call telling you that they are in the EFCC cell, that you should send recharge cards. Some call telling that their divorce case is in court that he you should

band can’t keep up with my new sex drive?

Many pregnant women, due to the increase in progesterone and estrogen, may find their libido surging! Their bodies will supply extra sensitivity of the breast and labia, as well as increased vaginal lubrication. These basics for increased sex drive, however, may go no where if the husband’s drive goes down. Sometimes husbands fear they can hurt the baby, which is rarely true. Let him know that the baby is protected by your abdominal muscles as well as the amniotic sac.

Some husbands find maternity to be a time of pristine adoration and find sex with the mother figure inappropriate. If your husband has this reluctance, consider going to talk it out together with a therapist. If that doesn’t work, you might have to consider self-pleasure.

In the final trimester, a lack of sexual interest might be shared by both of you as you anticipate parenthood. Husbands often exhibit lower testosterone and increased estrogen that might lower their sex drive as they near fatherhood, according to a recent report in Redbook Magazine.

Mission 5: If I want to have sex while pregnant, during what time periods are safest?

The first trimester is generally not recommended or even desirable if you are experiencing physical symptoms such as nausea, fatigue, breast tenderness and cramping. In the second trimester those ailments wane and that time is generally the safest and most lusty period. The final trimester is safe as well and can relieve the stress of being pregnant. However, during the final days be cautious about orgasms that squeeze the uterus and consider opting for simple intercourse without climax.

Some reports suggest women who continue sexual intimacy while pregnant , especially during the last trimester, don’t need forced deliveries.

Mission 6: Can I use personal satisfaction toys during intimate play with my spouse?

According to Dr. Marjorie Greenfield of DrSpock.com, using toys, such as vibrators during pregnancy, is safe. However, some experts caution that you increase the risk of going into early labor because the more powerful orgasms could lead to contractions in the third trimester.

Make sure any object inserted into the vagina is clean to avoid bacterial infections. Also, do not insert too deeply so as to avoid puncturing the placenta, according to doctors on BabyCenter.com — objects can punctuate more readily than flesh.

As an alternative, the husband may wish to try a vibrating ring for intercourse.

Some women report that the orgasms from electric sex actually help them fall asleep better during pregnancy.

Mission 7: If I’m not experiencing the expected lubrication during pregnancy, what can I do?

Try a non-irritating lubricant like AstroGlide or Slippery Stuff. If you prefer to go the organic route for intimacy during pregnancy, coconut oil is a great natural lubricant that smells good and is anti-bacterial.

Mission 8: Instead of sex, what else can my husband and I do to feel close to each other?

Hugging, kissing, spooning should be constant staples when a couple plans intimacy during pregnancy. Avoid massages which could be too stimulating to the uterus and baby. Going on dates might be a fun activity to look forward to — and not just for the wife.

Dates would remind the husband that he’s special and that you have time for more than just the baby. This is very important psychologically as the husband undoubtedly anticipates that you and the baby, by virtue of being in the same body for nine months, will be devoted to one another in a way he can’t share. Some couples enjoy writing daily letters, notes or journals to each other about their maternity experience and anticipation — tokens that can be shared later with the child as a keepsake.

Don’t forget the technical flirtations by text-message, email or cell phone when the spouse is working and away from home frequently. Three-way intimacies like listening to romantic music with headphones on the stomach for the baby or reading aloud together so the baby can pick up on both your voices are also overwhelmingly tender moments.

Source: Yahoo Health

From you to me provide money for the divorce case and that once that is over then he gets married to you.

Further investigations, you discover there is no divorce and the person is happily married. You find someone you have not seen telling you I love you.

•Adeola, I don’t know what the world is turning into. I remember days of pen pals. I have seen people get married

through this. There are genuine ones out there also the ones who are fraudsters and more.

All you do is if your profile is published be on alert, be careful, be warned, that is just the truth. Most of the men calling may not have genuine interest, all they are looking for is bed partners or to dupe one. Please keep it up. Don’t let these fraudsters kill your vision.

God bless you. Have a great

•From right: The author, Cry for Change-an artistic work on socio-political and ethno-religious crises in Nigeria, Biodun-Thomas Davids; the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) Comptrollerrepresentative of the Interior minister, H.R.Yerima ; Commander, FRSC, RS 2.19, Oshodi Unit, S.A Ogundayo, during the recently held speech presentations on: Treating the Threats to National Security: Socio-political Cum Ethno-religious Crises Perspectives and unveiling of Cry for Change-an artistic work on socio-political and ethno-religious crises in Nigeria, at the Nigeria Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Victoria Island, Lagos.

day. – Onyi, 08028260208.

•Hi Deola, more power to your elbow. My name is Adeyinka Olowoniyi, I’m a reader of your articles because I’m also in matchmaking business and I want to react to the guy who said a girl duped him.

Maybe the guy is impotent or how can someone be so foolish that you are in love with someone you have never seen before. I beg continue with your good work. God will crown your efforts.

Hearts With Adeola Agoro E-mail: libranadeola@yahoo.co.uk Tel: 08023162609

Three ways to make him fall in love with you

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AVE you ever found yourself falling for a man you were dating and wondered if he was feeling the same way? Did you find yourself trying to prove what a great catch you are by being sweeter, funnier and smarter in hopes that he would fall in love with you?

Focusing on what a man wants and ingratiating yourself in this way may feel like the natural thing to do, but it’s the worst way to try to make a man feel romantic love for you.

Love isn’t a reasonable emotion - and being “nice” and “understanding” and “a good sport” won’t get you where you want to go. Here are some ways that will:

Tip 1: Don’t give a man more than he gives you. Love, and inspiring a man to fall in love with you forever, is all about you being able to receive love.

Most of us only know how to give. We give for lots of reasons - because we’re taught that’s the way to get to a man’s heart (it isn’t) because we see other women do it, and because deep down, it feels uncomfortable and scary to be vulnerable enough to really get love.

“A man is actually turned off when he gets more from you than he gives.”

A man is actually turned off when he gets more from you than he gives.

When you shower him with affection, attention, dinners, gifts, and always go out of your way to drive to his place, it makes him think of you as a mother or a friend instead of inspiring his emotional desire for you.

Tip 2: Don’t give away exclusivity if he hasn’t yet committed. We become totally, emotionally invested in a man when we’re exclusive with him because he has all our time and attention. There’s no way we can stop wondering about where the relationship is going. But the more we think about it and talk about it, the more we push a man away.

Tip 3: Don’t give him gifts, make him dinner or pay for dates Yes, this sounds unfair, and yet, who pays is often the difference in his mind between friends hanging out together and a “date.”

If a man complains about paying for everything, let him know you don’t care what you do, you feel great being with him, and you don’t want to pay. Walking, hanging out in bookstores, having a picnic in a park can all be fun, romantic ways to get close to a man.

(And forget about cooking dinner, or trying to make dating “reciprocal.” A bowl of popcorn and something to drink is fine.)

When you give a man gifts, give him all your attention and energy, and give MORE than you receive, you’re OVERFUNCTIONING. Overfunctioning is doing more than your fair share and stepping up to rescue a man because you know you can do a better job. It’s arriving from your masculine energy. It feels aggressive and forward to a man.

And it’s totally unattractive to him.

•Mr. Shyam Gangwani, Business Development Manager, Techblow Nigeria Limited (middle), welcomes the Iyalode of Yorubaland, Iyalode Alaba Lawson MFR JP to Techblow's stand at the Nigerian Turkish International Cosmetics Exhibition at Eko Hotels, Lagos with them is Mr. Olowojesiku Olusegun, Marketing Managing, Shongai Packaging Industries Limited.

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INALLY, the last scene was shot and shooting ended. Though, she had enjoyed working on the movie, titled ‘City Game’, and had had a great time with some of the cast and crew, Muna was glad it was all over. It had been a difficult few weeks dogged by problems on set. The male lead, James Abbey’s behaviour had grown more outrageous as shooting progressed. He was either touching her inappropriately in the romantic scenes they did together, or mixing-up his lines, just to confuse her. She did not understand why the actor was acting that way towards her until another actress on set wised her up.

“Because of his status and looks, James thinks he’s God’s gift to women. Most swoon over him and would do anything to get close to him. I think his oversized ego has been bruised by your indifference to his charms. To him, you are a lowly actress who should be grateful that the great James Abbey is even looking in her direction. Just ignore him and get on with the job,” she advised.

Then, there were some of the outfits she had to wear for some scenes. They were so skimpy, they looked more hankerchiefs than clothes for an adult. There was a day she had been reluctant to wear a dress she deemed too short.

Besides overexposing her thighs, the cut-outs at the waist left part of her belly on display.

The director was not amused by her attitude.

“You have a very sexy figure so what’s your problem?

In this business, you do what you are told, not what you want. Remember that if you want to get far in this game.

You are an actress so act like one!” he had admonished her.

“Uptight little bitch! She should be in a convent, not on a movie set,” Muna heard James say to a group that hung around him on set as she went to change for the next scene. As she wore the outfit, she silently prayed that when the movie came out that her parents would not see it. Her parents were staunch Christians, with her father being a deacon in their church. She and her siblings had been brought up strictly on sound religious values.

With his conservative ways, he would likely have a heart attack seeing his daughter dressed that way in a film.

He had never been in support of her choice of career. He saw actors especially actresses as people with questionable morals who lived a fast life. “Can’t you see that most of them are not married or are divorced? It’s their lifestyle that’s responsible. I don’t want that kind of life for you.”

He had often told her to get a regular job and forget about what he termed ‘this acting nonsense.’

Indeed, she had wanted to give up, do as he wanted, when this last role came up.

Now she was in two minds.

Should she continue with her acting career with all the hassles involved in getting roles or quit?

“You love acting. It’s what makes you happy. So, why do you want to quit?” asked her close friend, Alex about a week later. They had known each for over a year and had first met when Muna had first visited the advertising agency where he worked in connection with a job. It

was during one of the low points in her acting career when she had decided to quit and get a job. He had wanted to date her then and though she had turned him down, stating she was not interested in a relationship then, they had remained friends. “I will wait because of the love I have for you. Maybe one day, you will change your mind and we can be a couple,” he had said.

They were having a late lunch at a popular eatery on the mainland. He had visited her earlier at home and suggested the outing, stating that she needed to relax after all the hard work on set. They had first gone to watch a movie- the latest James Bond film-at the cinema before ending up at the restaurant.

Muna drank some juice before speaking.

“You know the reasons,” she said explaining how tough the industry was.

“No sector is easy. It’s the same in most professions.

You just need to toughen up to get ahead. With time, success will come,” he assured her.

“You think so? You think I can ever make it in this industry?” she asked sceptically.

“Why not?” he replied.

“You’ve got what it takes.

Maybe you are too much in a hurry to make it big. Rome was not built in a day you know. There are some who have been acting for many years and are yet to hit the big times. Be patient.”

For how long, she thought.

“See who is here,” a voice she would recognize anywhere, said. Muna slowly turned her head and met the dark eyes of James Abbey.

He had just entered the eatery and his presence was creating some excitement among its patrons and staff alike. He was as usual, surrounded by an entourage which included his P.A, some ladies in loud make-up and clothes and other hangers-on.

“Hi,” she greeted him coolly. She had not forgotten his treatment of her on location in her last production.

Then to her shock and annoyance, Alex exclaimed, “It’s James Abbey!” and jumping up, extended his hand for a handshake. The actor shook it briefly before turning to Muna.

“I see you guys are having fun. Can we join you?” he asked.

“Of course, you can. We...”

Alex began to say when Muna quickly cut in.

Star of destiny (2)

“This is a table for two. So, no space. Sorry,” she said rather curtly.

“I see you are still upset because of what happened at our last production. You should let bygones be bygones. Anyway, it’s a good thing I met you here. There’s a project coming up soon.

The producer is a good friend of mine,” he stated. He then turned and gave a sign to his P.A. who removed a card from his jacket pocket which he placed on the table. Bending low, James said close to her ear: “It will pay you to call me if you want a role in the movie.” He walked away then, like a Prince at court before his adoring subjects.

At a nearby table, Muna overheard a group of teenage girls raving about him.

“Oh my God! He’s so handsome!” one exclaimed.

“So cute! He’s even better looking in the flesh!” the other added.

“He’s my idol! Oh, I wish he could be my boyfriend!” another gushed, looking as if she would faint any minute from the sheer pleasure of seeing her ‘idol’ in the flesh.

“Silly girls,” Muna muttered darkly to herself.

She got even more annoyed when she saw that Alex was still staring in obvious admiration at the actor as he made his way upstairs to a more secluded part of the restaurant. His progress was slowed down by admiring fans who swarmed round him, some shaking his hand, others taking pictures with him on their mobile phones, all gushing over him. He lapped up all the attention, playing the role of famous movie star and heartthrob of millions of the nation’s female folk to the hilt.

“Idiot,” Muna said silently.

“What are you staring at?

Haven’t you seen a movie star before? You all make me sick, gushing over him like he’s a special being or something,” she stated, frowning deeply.

“He seems a nice fellow,” Alex said, still staring.

Muna sneered.

“Nice fellow, my foot!” she said vehemently, remembering how he had tormented her when they worked together. “I can’t stand him.”

“What did he want anyway?” he asked, turning to her.

“Something to do with a production,” she said, glancing at the card on the table.

She picked it up, scanned it briefly before putting it in her bag. She would rather die than call ‘that bastard’ in respect of a role.

In Mandela’s country About three months later, Muna boarded a plane to South Africa for another production. It was the same one James had talked about at the restaurant, and no one was more surprised at the turn of events, on her being part of the movie, than her. A week after their encounter, she had got a call from the producer’s secretary, inviting her for a meeting in his office. Out of curiousity, she had gone to see him. He had talked about her working on his new movie, and had offered her the second lead role. Things had moved fast after that.

Shortly after, a script was sent to her and rehearsals began. Muna was happy at the way things had turned out.

The only downside was that she was working with James Abbey again as he was the lead actor in the movie.

They had shot some scenes in Nigeria and so far, he was behaving himself. The remaining scenes were taking place on location in South Africa and that was why she was on the plane with some cast and crew members, flying to Jo’burg.

Being June, it was winter in the country. Muna was unprepared for the cold which hit her as soon as they left the airport.

She had packed a sweater and some scarves but they could not keep the cold away.

“Here. Wear this,” James Abbey said, giving her a thick winter jacket and some gloves. They were shooting an outdoor scene one night and she had stood, shivering

with cold in front of the house which they were using as a location.

“Thanks,” she said, quickly putting on the garment and the gloves. She felt warmer and she smiled gratefully at him. Since they arrived, Muna had been surprised at the change in the actor. From being an egoistic, selfish prig, he was considerate, thoughtful and kind. It was a side of him she never knew existed and it made her begin to reassess her opinion of him.

‘He’s not that bad afterall,’ she thought as she watched him in a scene. ‘And he’s a fine actor, one of the best.’

It wasn’t only her views of James that was changing.

Muna’s life was about to change as well. She got a hint of it when she called Debi on the phone from the hotel they were staying.

Debi told her ‘City Game’ was out and it was a big hit.

“Everyone is talking about the movie. And your role in it.

They are saying you acted so well in the film that it could get you an award at AMAA. Some directors and producers have been calling, to get you to work on their projects.

Many reporters too have been calling. They want interviews with you. Girl, you’ve made it! You are now a star!”

It took time for Debi’s words to sink in. How could that be?

She, a star sought after by producers and the media? She shook her head.

“Better not get carried away.

You know how Debi loves to exaggerate, blow things out of proportion,” she told herself after the call ended.

On getting back to Nigeria though, Muna discovered Debi was right afterall.

The first sign she got of her new status was that she began to be recognised wherever she went. People would stare at her, some would smile and wave, others point and whisper among themselves.

Scripts were pouring in as well, even from some in the industry who had refused to give her roles in the past because of her refusal to sleep with them.

Then, there was the media

interest. In the press, especially the soft-sell magazines, she was being hailed as the ‘hot new thing in Nollywood.’

Her pictures were splashed all over the papers with many stories written about her. At first, she found it disconcerting, even weird seeing her pictures in the papers.

“It will only get worse. So, better get used to it,” James told her one day, a few months after their return from S.A. To Debi and her other friends’ surprise, she and James had become friends and grown quite close. “I thought you hated the guy. Now you are so close, like Aki and Pawpaw,” Debi had stated a few days earlier.

“What do you mean?” she now asked James.

“That’s the price you pay for fame. Loss of privacy. You are now public property, adored by millions everywhere who think they know you. As for the media, a time will come when no week will pass without a report on you, some true, some outright falsehood, others scandalous,” James, who had been the object of intense media scrutiny for years, stated.

Muna gazed at him thoughtfully.

“Scandals? What if I don’t get involved in any?” she asked.

“Then they will create one.

They have to sell their magazines afterall,” he replied.

“Now, you are beginning to scare me,” she noted.

“Don’t be. That’s what it means to be a celebrity. Most people only see the bright side of it. But there’s a downside which you will come to see with time. Enjoy your celebrity status while it lasts because the public can be very fickle.

And remember this: don’t let the fame go to your head. And never forget your old friends who knew you when you were a nobody. Many will want to be your friend now because of your fame but it’s only the old ones you can really trust,” he advised her.

Muna was grateful for his advice as she adapted to her new found fame.

But Alex was not too happy about her closeness with James.

“You couldn’t bear the sight of the guy before. Now you are all over the place with him,” he grumbled one day.

“We are working together on another production. So, it’s the job,” she explained patiently.

“Then what do you have to say about this then,” he said showing her a story about her and James in a magazine. It had a screaming headline: “Nollywood’s hottest new actress in sizzling romance with lover boy James Abbey!”

She read the story then burst out laughing.

“What’s so funny? Is it true?” he asked.

“If you believe this, then you are not as smart as I thought you were,” she stated, glancing at the picture of her and James in a tight embrace that was obviously taken on set.

But he was not satisfied with her response and a quarrel broke out between them...

•To be continued •Muna’s new fame puts a strain on her relationship with Alex.

Next week, he gives an ultimatumto choose between him and James.

What will be her choice? Details next week!

•Names have been changed to protect the characters’ identities •Send comments/suggestions to psaduwa@yahoo.com or 08023201831.

FAMIL Y HEAL TH AMILY HEALTH

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God’s master plan for the family

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EAR Reader, Attempting to put up any physical structure, without a master plan, will certainly end in futility. Once a master plan is drawn, all the builders have to do is to follow it explicity, thereby ending up with a beautiful building.

Marriage and family are not exceptional. Every architect knows the futility of attempting to put up a structure without a master plan.

Marriage can be likened to a house. The Architect who drew the master plan is God. God’s Word says: For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God (Hebrews 3:4).The husband and the wife are the builders, who must painstakingly follow the design of the Architect, to arrive at success in their family. Under the topic, God’s Master Plan for the Family, this week, I shall be teaching on, The fundamental nature of The Family.

Marriage is the foundation for the family. After mar-

riage couples no more live like single individuals. After marriage, children are added (either by birth or adoption) and additional parties (related either by blood or association) come into the home. A family then is established.

Families are products of marriages.

The essence of the family is to create an enabling environment for effective upbringing of children, so they can grow and properly pursue the plan of God for their lives.

The home is where the character and destiny of an individual should begin and take proper shape. The future of humanity depends on the family because it is through the family that we all come. No matter how good or luxurious a school is there is no better environment than the home.

Abraham understood this and by that understanding, he was able to order his household aright. God’s Word says: For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment; that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him (Genesis 18:19).

If God were to comment on your family, would He say something positive about it? Abraham and his family were successful in all that they did, because their lives were patterned after God. The question is, are we fulfilling God’s plan for our family? We desire our families to be the best for our children, so they can make the most of life.

When families operate according to God’s plan, they become successful. Family success is the foundation for all-round success.

There is only one right way to live, and it is laid out for us in the Bible, which is the Word of God. A man’s testimony is incomplete without a mention of the state of his family.

Is your marriage and family experiencing a crash or turmoil? You need to make a decision to belong to God. You need to be born again. This is done by confessing your sins and accepting Jesus as your Saviour and Lord.

If you are ready for this new birth experience, please say this prayer: Dear Lord, I come to You today. I am a sinner.

Forgive me my sins. Cleanse me with Your precious Blood. I accept You as my Lord and Saviour. Now I know I am born again!

Congratulations! Till I come your way again next week, please call or write, and share your testimonies with me through: E-mail: faithdavid@yahoo.com Tel. No: 234-17747546-8; 07026385437, 07094254102 For more insight, these books authored by me are available at the Dominion Bookstores in all the Living Faith Churches, and other leading Christian bookstores: Marriage Covenant, Making Marriage Work and Building a Successful Family.

Five reasons you might need a calcium supplement

Health equipment forexercise I

E

XERCISE can be very strenuous. Mental stress or disaffection plus exercise may not result in better health. Our mental disposition is important for effective exercise.Exercise is something that should be enjoyed

mall, or a nice estate, for example, can be good for sight-seeing and we may forget for how long we have been walking. To make it a good physical exercise, the walk should be brisk or fast, not strolling. To make it a mental

Jumping rope is easy and excellent for rich and poor alike

to make it most effective. In many gyms round the world, the managers add music or television viewing to accompany exercising.

Many aerobics video guides are accompanied by exciting or sweet music.

Walking and jogging are good and easy ways of exercising. However walking under compulsion because there is no transport may not give a psychic satisfaction and rather may be depressing for some walkers.

Walking as a desired exercise is best in streets with sidewalks and clean air.

Walking as a necessity can become enjoyable if you listen to music with an ear piece or from a pocket gadget as you go along. More and more streets in developing countries are becoming conducive for walking.

Walking is one of the easiest exercises we can do.

Walking in the cool air of early morning or late evening can be very satisfying and calorie burning.

An interesting environment is an incentive for us to walk for a long time. The beach, a park, a shopping

relaxation or to unwind from the hustle and bustle of life, the stroll is best.

Your staircase is a useful exercise instrument.

Again, going up the stairs under compulsion because the lift is not working does not give the mental satisfaction and overall health derived from taking the stairs by choice.

Elders in places where elders are highly respected readily send younger ones to do everything for them.

The Elder should however not forget to exercise the

Your staircase is a mini gym

joints and muscles with those little trips around the house. A short flight of steps is a very useful and safe gym for mild and brief exercises.

For everyone, if you do not have time to go walking, jogging on the spot at home is a good way of getting mild exercise. Count to a certain number, sing a song, or recite a poem while jogging on the spot. You will be making your lungs push out bad air and freshen up your breath. This is a useful early morning exercise that costs only a few minutes.

Carrying small weights while jogging on the spot makes the exercise more calorie burning.

A better exercise to stimulate the cardiovascular system, particularly the heart and blood circulation is using a skipping rope. No, they are not just for kids.

They are also for adults who want to remain healthy. For those who live in crammed conditions at home, for those who do not have nice streets to walk or jog on, for

those who do not have enough time to go out walking or jogging, jumping rope is an easy exercise solution. A few minutes jumping does not need much space and you end up with fresh breath, a bit of sweat which removes toxic waste from the body, a better functioning heart and circulatory system, and a happier psyche.

The exercise done should be compatible with any disease condition or any therapy a person is undergoing and should be disCarrying small weights while jogging improves

the exercise

cussed with one’s health care giver.

A healthy person can hardly give a cogent excuse for not exercising. Jogging on the spot and skipping rope need very little space and very little time and very little money. From fat dames and pot-belly daddies to lazy kids, these are actually exercises that can give you a lot of fun and laughter, so have fun and keep fit and snap a few photos while you are at it.

Dr. ’Bola John is a biomedical scientist based in Nigeria and in the USA. For any comments or questions on this column, please Email bolajohnwritings@yahoo.com or call 07028338910

n 2012 a controversial German study came out that there was a link between those taking calcium supplements, and the supplement causing heart attacks. A later study from Harvard Medical School showed no correlation between calcium supplements and artery damage leading to heart attacks, but the damage had been done. Women were afraid to return to using calcium supplements.

Truth is, most women don’t need a calcium supplement as long as they are receiving the recommended 1,000 milligrams of calcium daily through their diet. This can be done easily with three to four servings daily of dairy products or calcium fortified foods. But there are still risk factors out there that would make it important to have a calcium supplement. Here are the top five.

You have a history of restrictive dieting Actress Gwyneth Paltrow was diagnosed with osteopenia, a precursor to low bone mineral density, after a fracture. As she was only in her mid-thirties at the time, it was highly unusual for someone that young to have a disorder that typically affects much older women. The cause? A highly restrictive, raw food, macrobiotic diet. So if you’re a restrictive eater, make sure you’re getting the recommended amounts of calcium to prevent fracture and other problems associated with low bone density.

Your mother or grandmother have low bone density, osteoporosis or osteopenia While not totally hereditary, there is a link between a family history of bone-health issues like osteoporosis and your risk for having it as well. A calcium and Vitamin D regimen is still the recommended offense in preventing these bone disorders. It’s especially important with a close family history, to be mindful of your calcium intake.

You love your diet soda If you’re like me and love your diet soda, you need to also be aware of the risks. The phosphoric acid soda contains has been shown to deplete calcium in the body.

This isn’t a big issue in people with healthy bone density on its own, but if you use diet soda to replace food and nutrients in order to avoid calories, that combines risk factors.

Not only are y o u n o t ingesting calcium, but you’re depleting it a s well.

You’re a vegan Vegans aren’t necessarily restrictive eaters, but without ingesting any animal products or animal byproducts, it’s hard to get your calcium requirements from a plant-based diet. You would have to eat over seven cups of kale a day just to come close. Vegans also have a problem finding a suitable supplement because many contain animal products or derivatives. If you are vegan, there are plant-based calcium supplements available to help you get the calcium you need.

You have restricted mobility Bone health isn’t just about calcium, it’s also about exercise. Weight bearing exercises and strength training help to make for stronger, denser bones. However, if you are limited in your mobility, and can’t do these exercises, it’s important to do everything you can to keep your bones healthy, so a supplement might be needed.

As always check with your healthcare provider to determine what is best for you and your health before taking supplements. They will be able to give you guidance, dosage guidelines and what you need based on your needs. Calcium is a huge part of keeping your bones healthy and strong so you can keep being active for years to come.

Source: Yahoo Health News

THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2013

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ETWEEN 2007 and 2010 before he became Ekiti State governor, I wrote articles in his honour on his birthdays (February 9) but I deliberately did not write in 2011 and 2012 because I was waiting to see how he would fulfil his electoral promises to the people, which I had vouched on his behalf that he would do in those articles.

I am encouraged to write in his honour this year because he has kept most of his electoral promises and this has made us (his aides) very proud.

Dr. Kayode Fayemi is the only governor till date who got into office in an unusual way. He fought a legal battle for 42 months to reclaim his mandate from usurpers.

The legal battle saw him going to court a record four times before he finally triumphed on October 15, 2010 at the Court of Appeal, Ilorin Division.

One unique character of Dr. Fayemi is his nonviolent approach to the struggle to reclaim his mandate. It is on record that in the face of glaring provocation arising from the massive rigging of the 2007 and 2009 re-run gubernatorial elections in Ekiti State by the PDP, he consistently told his supporters not to resort to violence as he wouldn’t want to be governor over dead Ekiti people.

He had a formidable campaign organisation with able lieutenants and foot soldiers who were so dedicated and selfless that they became thorns in the flesh of the usurpers. Press releases backed with facts were adequately churned out of the campaign organisation as well as periodic press conferences, lectures and general mobilisation of A C N supporters.

There was underdevelopment of Ekiti under the regime of the interlopers. There was political upheaval, violence, uncertainty and anxiety almost on a daily basis until the illegitimate regime was brought to an abrupt end by judicial hammer.

On his assumption of office in October, 2010, Dr. Kayode Fayemi promised to restore the lost glory of Ekiti State but with a caveat that it was not going to be easy. Two years after this declaration, the state has witnessed an unprecedented turn around in many facets.

Going by his eight-point agenda as the cardinal roadmap to Ekiti development, he has touched all aspects of the agenda considerably.

Dr. Fayemi took his time and carefully identified what he wanted to do and how to do it before launching his agenda fully.

He inherited a debt of N42 billion and many abandoned projects from his predecessor and a meagre N2.5 billion monthly allocation from the federation’s account which is the second lowest in the country. But with careful planning, prudent management of resources and an avowed commitment to the welfare of the people, he has

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TRIBUTES

THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2013

Kayode Fayemi at 48

•Governor Fayemi

Hakeem JAMIU been able to deliver, within reasonable limits, dividends of democracy to the people in an unprecedented manner.

In two years, Fayemi has turned Ekiti State around such that discerning observers say the job he has done could suffice for a four-year term. Just as the way he came to power is unprecedented so is his style of governance. Apart from his eight-point agenda, he has twice toured the 16 local governments to know what the people actually wanted and this is what he has incorporated in the annual budget of the state.

This has translated to sustainable development in all Ekiti communities. For instance, this is the first time in the history of Ekiti State that all communities would feel the presence of government through a project. There is no town where a secondary school has not been renovated in Ekiti State as all the 183 schools have been renovated; 2,820 youths have benefitted from the Youth Commercial Agriculture (YCAD), while cassava bread was launched in the state in August 2012.

The governor’s second agenda is Infrastructural Development. The Fayemi Government has commissioned 103 kilometres of roads in two years. All the roads linking the state capital to other towns and neighbouring states are all resurfaced with thick asphalt; this is apart from the five-kilometre road construction in all

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N a recent encounter with journalists during an inspection of projects in some parts of Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, Governor Kayode Fayemi was asked how he manages to raise funds for the numerous projects his administration is undertaking in the state. The reporter had asked the question upon realising that the Operation Renovate All Secondary Schools in Ekiti (ORASE), which led to the renovation of the 183 public secondary schools in the state and the purchase of 40,000 units of furniture for teachers and students cost the state a whopping N2.5billion.

For a state that is ranked number 35th on the federal allocation ladder and gets a little above N2billion monthly from the federation purse, the reporter’s concern seems apt, especially given the fact that the comprehensive renovation of public schools and the computer-per-child initiative of the administration are running side by side with other projects.

When the journalist was told that the state would soon commence the comprehensive renovation of all hospitals and primary health care centres in the state beginning from January, he simply retorted: “Your Excellency must be a magician!”

Fayemi had politely told the reporter that the passion to see poverty and sickness banished from the state and the determination to make the Ekiti the number one destination of choice for business and leisure remain the vital tonic that drives the developmental agenda in Ekiti and provides the creativity that unlocks the required funds. What perhaps is unknown to the journalist is the fact that JKF, as Dr Fayemi is popularly called, remains one of the few leaders in the country who view their call to serve as a privilege and therefore put in everything to ensure that they leave a legacy.

Caroline Mcloughlin, Executive Director of the Washingtonbased Centre for Visionary Leadership, vividly captures the essence of visionary leadership in one of her works. According to her, “Visionary leaders are the builders of a new dawn, working with imagination, insight, and boldness. They present a challenge that calls from the best in people and brings them together around a shared sense of purpose. Their eyes are on the horizon, not just on the near at hand. They are social innovators and change agents, seeing the big picture and thinking strategically.”

Mcloughlin’s definition, no doubt, encapsulates those key attributes that have marked JKF as an innovative leader with a great ability to inspire others and an insatiable appetite for setting and attaining developmental goals. Through a combination of forceful imagination, prudent spending, compassion for the led and placing much premium on the concept of doing development with the people, JKF has, in the last two and a half years, been able to launch the state on an irreversible path of development.

In theory, JKF has espoused the concept of good governance and the concomitant empowerment of the citizens as well as the strengthening of the institutional framework at the various

the 16 local governments of the state which makes another 80 kilometres.

Many rural roads have been opened up by the Bureau of Rural Development and Ekiti State Community and Social Development Agency (EKSCIDA), which is funded by the state government and the World Bank.

EKSCIDA has executed over 180 micro projects in the last two years. Fayemi has done rural electrification of many communities in the state.

Certain towns that have not seen electricity in the last 200 years have been connected to the national grid.

Dr. Fayemi knows that water is a basic necessity of life and he has been addressing the water problem with a multipronged approach. He has embarked on the construction of mini-water works in many towns like Okemesi, IpoleIloro, Efon, Ido-Ile and Maryhill in Ado-Ekiti.

These are already supplying water to many towns around their locations.

These were commissioned in 2012 October.

In Ado-Ekiti, Water has been extended from Ureje water works to Mary-Hill and this has supplied water to Okeila, Housing, Afao Road, Odo-Ado and Adebayo which have not seen water in the last 10 years. The second phase of the water supply is the sinking of boreholes in many communities as a stop gap measure pending the final laying of pipes to all towns in the state and the total turn around maintenance of the major dams of Ero, Egbe, Ureje and Itapaji to operate at maximum capacity.

MDGs have sponsored the constituency project of some National Assembly legislators which is the sinking of boreholes in about 26 towns. Apart from this, some of the governor’s aides have assisted in repairing and sinking boreholes in such towns as Ilawe and Igbemo Ekiti.

This year, there are positive signs that the water situation will improve drastically. Apart from the pipes that have been laid between years 2011 and 2012, another 26,000 length of pipes would be completed by the end of March.

The new pipes are for the extension of water to new areas that would be serviced by the dams which are currently undergoing turn around maintenance for maximum output. The Ureje Dam is currently undergoing a turn around maintenance which has reached 50%, while that of Ero dam which one billion naira has been allocated, will commence soonest.

The good news about all these is the international assistance which the Fayemi government has attracted to the state. Ekiti is one of the 12 states selected by the World Bank to benefit

from the Urban Water Reform Project.

Also there is an EU grant of N500 million yearly for five years which Ekiti State and two other states will receive under the Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Reform Programme. Arrangement is almost concluded with the African Development Bank (ADB) to assist the state in terms of water infrastructure.

As many as 20,000 elderly citizens were paid N5,000 monthly as social security. As many as 29,341 laptops have been distributed to students while 12,244 were given to teachers. The free health programme of the government captured about 60 percent of the population, while the free health mission has benefitted as many as 400,000 Ekiti indigenes many of whom have undergone free surgery for various ailments.

The Ire Burnt Bricks, which has been moribund for the past 21 years, has been resuscitated and will start producing in March. The company has the capacity to produce 20 million bricks in a year and will employ about 200 workers.

The transformation of Ikogosi Warm Spring Resort centre is another wonderful feat of the Fayemi administration. The resort has been transformed such that it can compete with any international tourist site apart from its unique feature as the only natural warm and cold spring in the world.

The government will embark on operation renovate all hospitals this year, while the urban renewal currently going on in Ado-Ekiti would be extended to other major towns of Ikole, Ikere and Ijero. One invaluable gift for Ekiti people is peace which has returned to the state since Dr. Fayemi assumed office. The peace is palpable such that the state is now attracting investors, especially since infrastructural development is going on at an alarming rapidity.

A visiting investor, who has not visited AdoEkiti in five years, said: ‘I can see a town bursting at its seams and in the process of exploding into a modern city. Obviously, there are so many infrastructure in place and this will encourage people to invest in the state with a lot of capital inflow’. Ekiti owes this and many other good things to the visionary and result–oriented leadership of Governor Kayode Fayemi.

Little wonder then that he won the Leadership prize as ‘Governor of the Year’. The Action Congress of Nigeria, Ekiti State chapter, as well as the party leaders, socio-cultural groups and many towns in the state are so proud of his performance that they have adopted him as their flag-bearer in the 2014 gubernatorial election.

This is a call for him to do more. As Ekiti people celebrate this enigma, who has brought joy to many homes and restored the lost glory of the state, I join them to wish him a happy birthday!

•Jamiu wrote in from Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State.

JKF at 48: The music has just begun

‘

He admits that what he has brought into governance in the last two years is the kind of trust that is based on and compels competence, openness, concern and reliability. “Trust is a public good; we cannot do great things collectively without trust.

But trust has to be earned

,

Olayinka OYEBODE lectures and discussion groups he has participated locally and at the global stage. In practical terms, he demonstrates this in the running of the affairs of Ekiti State by laying emphasis on key elements of good governance, including accountability, transparency, efficiency and effectiveness, responsiveness, the rule of law and forward vision.

JKF stated this much in his most recent publication – “Reclaiming The Trust.” He admits that what he has brought into governance in the last two years is the kind of trust that is based on and compels competence, openness, concern and reliability. “Trust is a public good; we cannot do great things collectively without trust.

But trust has to be earned,” he stresses.

Within two and half years, Fayemi has been able to place Ekiti on the centre stage by re-awakening the Omoluabi concept in government and laying a solid foundation on which a more prosperous Ekiti would be built. The Social Security Benefit Scheme which pays monthly stipends to indigent elderly citizens of the state; the computer-per-child initiative, where each student in the public secondary schools gets a solar-powered lap top computer are first of its kind in the country. The massive investments in industrial, infrastructure and tourism development in the state as well as diverse youth and women empowerment programmes in an atmosphere devoid of the brigandage and violence of yesteryears have greatly enhanced the profile of the state.

Perhaps this explains why the rain of endorsements of his person and leadership style continues to pour in torrents since the September 18, 2012 endorsement by a former Nigerian Permanent Representative at the United Nations, Alhaji Maitama Sule, at the Leadership Awards in Abuja and that of the 26 Pan-Yoruba groups under the auspices of the Oodua Nationalist Coalition (ONAC) in Ibadan, recently.

As JKF turns 48 today, the question is no longer about what he is

capable of doing as a leader. For he has been able to demonstrate his capability as an imaginative leader. Rather, the question will be about what he would not do as a leader. Regarded in some circles as ‘an activist in government’, many believe that his past has adequately prepared him for the present and the future.

John Kayode Fayemi was born on February 9, 1965 into the family of the late Chief and Mrs. Francis Falade Fayemi. A native of Isan-Ekiti in Oye Local Government, he had his elementary education in Ibadan before attending Christ’s School, AdoEkiti for his secondary education between 1975 and 1980.

He received his first degree in History and Politics from the University of Lagos in 1985, a Master’s degree in International Relations from the University of Ife, Ile-Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), in 1987 and a doctorate in War Studies from the King’s College, University of London, England in 1993, specialising in civilian-military relations and defence planning.

Prior to his active involvement in politics, Dr. Fayemi was the pioneer Director of the Centre for Democracy and Development, a research and training institution dedicated to the study and promotion of democratic development, peace-building and human security in Africa.

Dr. Fayemi was a Georgetown University Leadership Fellow in 2000 and a Senior Visiting Fellow in African Studies, Northwestern University, Evanston, USA in 2004. He is also an Associate Fellow of the Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies, University of Ibadan and was on the Adjunct Faculty of the African Centre for Strategic Studies, National Defence University, USA, between 2001 and 2005.

He was a member of the Governing Board of the Open Society Justice Institute, New York and African Security Sector Network.

He was Technical Adviser to Nigeria’s Human Rights Violations Investigation Commission (known as the Oputa Panel) and also served on three Presidential Advisory Committees on Conflict Management and Security Sector Reform; NEPAD and the Millennium Development Goals under the Olusegun Obasanjo administration.

An advocate of true federalism, Fayemi has written and lectured extensively on governance and democratisation. He is also a recipient of several awards, fellowships and grants, including the Ford Foundation grant on the Special Initiative on Africa and the Macarthur Foundation research grant. He was named Governor of the Year, 2011 by the Leadership Newspaper.

With forty and eight fruitful years in the kitty, the music has just started for Fayemi, the one Ekiti people love to call ”Ilufemiloye “.

•Oyebode is Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ekiti State.

58 NEWS

THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2013

Rousing welcome as Chime returns to Enugu

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T was a carnival of sort yes terday in Enugu as Gover nor Sullivan Chime set his foot on the city for the first time since he travelled to England last September ostensibly for medical treatment.

Relations, aides, associates, well-wishers and supporters descended on the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu in their thousands to receive him.Some arrived the airport as early as 6am and waited until 3pm when the private plane that brought him from Abuja touched

•Shielded from newsmen Chris OJI, Enugu down.

By then the airport parking lot had been filled to capacity with parked vehicles spilling to the Enugu - Abakaliki Road.

At the head of the welcome party was the deputy governor, Mr. Sunday Onyebuchi,who held the fort while the governor was away.

On hand to entertain the crowd were musical groups.

As the governor emerged from the plane,the crowd went ecstatic,with many people surging forward to touch or shake hands with him.

Security operatives had a

hectic time controlling the crowd.They formed a cordon round the governor as they ushered him into the car that took him to the Government House.

Chime smiled and waved at the crowd, but did not talk to reporters.

One protocol officer told the reporters: "Please, gentlemen, allow the governor to have a rest today. He will talk to you some other day after resting."

The Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon. Eugene Odoh, accompanied the governor from Abuja.

The airport reception was over in seven minutes.

He then departed for the Government House in a long convoy of vehicles.

Yet the crowd kept surging and waving.

The governor responded by winding down his car's side window to wave back.

Governor Chime arrived Abuja on Thursday morning from London.

Court sacks APGA national chair Umeh •I’m not perturbed, he says

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N Enugu State High Court presided over by the state Chief Judge, Justice Innocent Umezulike, yesterday ordered Chief Victor Umeh to stop parading himself as national chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

The court said, “his tenure actively ended on December 2, 2010.”

But Umeh said he was not losing sleep over it as the judgment did not come to him as a surprise.

Umeh, who spoke to reporters immediately after the judgment, was optimistic that it would be vacated by the Court of Appeal.

The judgment followed a case filed by a former Udi Local Council Chairman of the party, Jude Okoli, praying the court to determine, among other issues, whether by virtue of the proper interpretation of section 18: 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the APGA constitution, the defendant, Umeh, should remain the national chairman after four years in office without a re-election.

Coming by way of originating summons, the petitioner invited the court to declare that the continued stay in office by Umeh as the national chairman after four years without a valid convention announced by the National Executive Committee of the party is illegal, void and ultra vires the APGA constitution.

Delivering the court’s judgment, Justice Umezulike, rebuffed the objections of the defendant’s counsel, Mr. Patrick Ikwueto (SAN), that the

Chris OJI, Enugu court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the matter and that the petitioner, Jude Okoli, lacked locus standi to institute the matter having been expelled from the party for violence and anti-party activities.

The court also rejected the defendant’s argument that the non-joinder of the APGA renders the suit defective as well as the claim that having earlier instituted a similar action in court, “the instant case amounts to an abuse of judicial processes.”

Justice Umezulike, sparing ample time to dissect the issues formulated for determination, held that the court should not retreat in terror at the mere mention of domestic business of a political party.

He said: “Unless a political party conducts its business in strict observance of the rule of law, the court can be invited to interpret the law which is its exclusive business as in the instant case.”

He, therefore, ruled that the defendant’s occupation of the office of national chairman of the APGA is a contravention of the party’s constitution, insisting that the question as to whether he ought to resign at least two months prior to the national convention for a reelection becomes academic.

Umeh, who was not in court yesterday, said the judge’s intention was to kill APGA. The embattled chairman said his petition against Justice Umezuluike to the National Judicial Council was yet to be decided and urged the NJC to expedite action on it.

From left: Prof. Julius Okojie, Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission; Prof Rufai, Minister of Education; Prof. Babalola, former Chancellor, University of Lagos ; Deacon Onosode, Pro-Chancellor of the university; and Prof.

Rahman Bello, the Vice Chancellor, during the Golden Jubilee Anniversary Convocation of the institution ... yesterday.

PHOTO: RAHMAN SANUSI

Afe Babalola to Jonathan: name Aso Villa or Supreme Court, not UNILAG, after Abiola

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ROPRIETOR of the Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Chief Afe Babalola, said President Goodluck Jonathan was ill advised on the renaming the University of Lagos the Moshood Abiola University of Lagos, urging him to name the Supreme Court, National Assembly or Aso Rock after the murdered winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential elec-

and I met the deceased Cynthia naked on the bed, with one of her legs touching the ground in room C1 and I was shocked and shouted Jesus.”

She added that she rushed down to inform the manager, who went upstair to identify the corpse.

She added that the next thing was that she saw policemen who called all of them on duty to identify those they saw through the CCtv in the hotel.

She further said that she was able to identify the first and second defendants and the police took them to “Area E” police station where their statements were taken.

She said two weeks later, someone called the hotel and asked for the details of Cynthia, the deceased, if she lodged in the hotel, identifying himself as the deceased’s

brother.

She said it was not in the practice in the hotel to disclose details of their customers.

The state alleged that two of the defendants, Okwumo and Ezike, on or about 22 July, 2012 at Cosmilla Hotel, AmuwoOdofin, Festac Town, conspired to murder Cynthia.

The state also alleged that the defendants murdered Cynthia by administering Rohypnol Flunitrazepan tablet into her drink, chained her hands and legs and strangled her to death.

The duo were also alleged to have stolen three blackberry phones valued at N150,000, jewelries, an international passport and a driver’s licence belonging to Cynthia after they strangled her to death.

Orji Osita, the third suspect, was charged for negligently of selling the Rohypnol Flunitrazepan tablets to Ezike,

Kofoworola BELO-OSAGIE tions. He also advised the incoming governing council of the University of Lagos to settle the name change case out of court.

He spoke after he was conferred with Doctor of Law de-

gree (honoris causa) of the University of Lagos yesterday.

The other two recipients were Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa Balewa (posthumous) and Chief Arthur Mbanefo.

He said: “When I heard of the change, I was the first to go to the press and write to

Murder of Lagos White Cap Chief unfortunate, says Oba Akiolu

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BA Rilwan Akiolu of Lagos yesterday de scribed the murder of one of his white cap chiefs, Chief Kayode Adeshina Onimole, as an unfortunate incident.

‘How suspects escaped from hotel’ Continued from Page 5

•Says President was ill-advised

the second defendant, without a doctor’s prescription and without showing due care.

Ezike Nonso, the man who allegedly bought Cynthia’s stolen blackberry Bold 5 was charged for being in possession of a stolen phone.

Lawyers to the third and fourth defendants, Orji Osita and Ezike Nonso, the pharmacist and the man who bought Cynthia phone respectively applied for their bail.

Ruling on the bail, Justice Akinlade ordered that third defendant should continue with the N1million bail granted him at the lower court.

The judge also granted the fourth defendant bail in the sum of N2million with two sureties.

She ordered that one of the sureties must be a Grade Level 14 civil servant resident in Lagos with proof of three years’ tax payment.

Jude ISIGUZO Akinolu called on security agents to re-strategize on its security mechanism with a view to curbing future occurrences.

He noted that as part of efforts to checkmate similar incidence, he had prohibited parking of vehicles around Iga Iduguran area of Isale Eko as well as the entire Adeniji Adele area.

Oba Akiolu, who made the declaration when the Acting Comptroller General of Immigration, Alhaji Reliwam Musa, paid him a courtesy visit at his palace.

He called on members of the public to assist the police in the ongoing investigation into the murder of Chief Onimole with information that could lead to the apprehension of the assailants.

Oba Akiolu disclosed that tragedy of this kind had never occurred, asserting that it was a wake-up call to be more security conscious.

In his welcome remark, Oba Akiolu urged the Acting Comptroller General to put in more efforts in checkmating the influx of illegal foreigners into the country, following the

current security situation in the country.

The monarch said foreigners repatriated by the service must be promptly followed up by ensuring they did not return back to the country.

Reminding the Immigration boss that the service had a major role to play in the country, Oba Akiolu, therefore, called for the need for synergy with other security agents at the nation’s borders and airports with a view to meeting the desired goal.

him that UNILAG was established by an Act of Parliament.

The President was ill-advised.

Instead of saying, ‘I am sorry’, he was advised again to try to change the Act. And I wrote to him that that was wrong again.

You cannot change the Act when a case is in court.

“A new council is coming in place. My advice to Prof Jerry Gana is to approach the President to settle out of court. Let us give appropriate honour to Abiola by naming the National Assembly, the Supreme Court or even Aso Rock after him,” Babalola advised Prof Jerry Gana who will take over as Pro-Chancellor and Governing Chair from Deacon Gamaliel Onosode.

In his speech, Jonathan, who was represented by Education Minister, Prof Ruqayyat Ahmed Rufai, congratulated the university on its golden jubilee and the 10 recipients honoured during yesterday’s special convocation.

New PFN President emerges

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ASTOR Ayo Oritsejafor, the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), has announced Rev. Felix Omobude as the new President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN).

He made the announcement yesterday at the end of the PFN’s 12th National Biennial Conference, held in Uyo, Akwa State.

Oritsejafor was until this announcement the PFN President for three years.

He appealed to the members of the PFN to give the new PFN President the maximum support to enable Omobude to “shepherd the

flock’’.

The outgoing PFN President urged the church leaders to expunge corruption from the church to keep the church pure.

Prior to his elevation, Omobude was the General Superintendent of New Covenant Church in Benin City, Edo State.

ADVERT HOTLINES: 08023006969, 08052592524 NEWSROOM: LAGOS—01-8962807, ABUJA — 07028105302 COMPLAINTS: 01-8930678

NEWS 59

THE NATION, Saturday, February 9, 2013

•L-R: Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Ekiti State, Engr. Lanre Bisiriyu; Permanent Secretary, Ministry Agric and Natural Resources, Ekiti State, Engr. Oludare Abegunde; Prof. Mrs. Funmi Adekanye; Commissioner for Agric, Ogun State, Mrs. Ronke Shokefun and Commissioner for Agric, Oyo State, Mr. Odetomi Peter Oluremi, during the grand finale of South-west Expo, held in Osogbo, Osun State yesterday.

PHOTO: NIYI ADENIRAN and OLUSEGUN RAPHEAL

•L-R: Commissioner for Regional Integration and Special Duties, Osun State, Alhaji Ajibola Basiru and Commissioner for Agric, Hon. Wale Adedoyin

•Senior Special Adviser to Ogun State Governor on Culture and Tourism, Chief Sina Williams

South West EXPO 2013:

Participants vow to pursue region’s economic integration

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ARTICIPANTS at the just concluded 3-day South West Grassroots Business and Investment Forum (EXPO 2013) held in Osogbo, Osun State capital, have resolved to intensify efforts on the regional economic integration agenda within a restructured Nigerian federation.

n Adesoji ADENIYI, Osogbo n The EXPO, sponsored by Ekiti, Osun, Oyo, Ogun and Lagos State governments, in collaboration with the Vintage Press Limited (Publishers of the Nation Newspapers) in partnership with CEEDEE Resources, ended yesterday

with the participants’ seventeen point resolution, which harped on restructuring the Federal Republic of Nigeria on the basis of regional blocs that will also double as the new federating units and with the retention of the present South West states.

According to the resolution,

read by a member of The Nation’s Editorial Board, Mr. Olakunle Abimbola, the ultimate aim of deliberation of the EXPO 2013 was to eradicate poverty by productive federalism that ensures development and guarantees mass prosperity.

The conference, which

Gowon, Amosun, Akande extol Durojaiye at 80

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OLITICIANS across political divides, clergy, friends and associates of former National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) chieftain, Senator Olabiyi Durijaiye, yesterday eulogised his virtues at a church service to mark his 80th birthday, held at the Arch Bishop Vining Memorial Church, Ikeja.

In an address, the governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, said the elder statesman made great contributions to the present democratic process during the NADECO days, and as a senator of the federal republic.

The governor explained that whatever encomium poured on the octogenarian is welldeserved because his roles have affected the polity positively.

He said: “He is one those that

have made the difference in Ogun State in term of transformation, and Nigeria in particular.”

Amosun maintained that younger generation of politicians were encouraged by the lofty impacts made by the former NADECO chieftain. “As a senator, he did wonderfully well and those of us coming behind are emulating him.”

Similarly, former head of state, General Yakubu Gowon (rtd) who was present at the church service, noted that Olabiyi is a very resourceful and good man of God whom he knew when they were much younger.

“He is a man who loves the country very dearly and stick

out is neck in one of the darkest moments to salvage it. The inglorious moments took the country back in terms of development and progress. I want him to continue the good legacy he has made.”

The Chairman of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) Chief Bisi Akande, said the former NADECO stalwart was not only a courageous man who never looked back, but also put his life on the line to dare the military dictatorship.

“Durojaiye is a great man, he suffered a lot for democracy, as you may wish to recall during NADECO days, and he was arrested and incarcerated. This alone was a big sacrifice for democracy and we must always celebrate him.”

He remarked that the secret behind the ageless look of

Durojaiye was because he has a pure heart and harbours no grudge for anybody. This, the ACN chairman maintained should be emulated by all in order to get God’s favour in all ramification.

Present at the event were Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; his wife, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu; Aremo Segun Osoba, Senator Gbenga Kaka, Senator Ganiyu Solomon, chairman of the All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP) Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, former Lagos State Commissioner, Mrs Kemi Nelson and Wife of the former Vice President of Nigeria, Mrs. Titi Atiku Abukakar.

Others are Senator Olorunibe Mamora, Erelu of Lagos, Abiola Dosumu, Senator Ike Nwanchukwu, Alhaji Lai Mohammed and traditional rulers.

n Sulaiman SALAWUDEEN, n Ado-Ekiti Reverend Bankole spoke yesterday at the church service in honour of late Abigail Oyeyemi Adejugbe, held at the Cathedral Church of Emmanuel, Okesa, Ado-Ekiti, capital of the state.

Late Oyeyemi Adejugbe was the mother of the Chairman, Ekiti State Universal Basic Education, Prof Modupe Adelabu.

Bankole lamented that some clerics find it difficult to say the truth, most especially when rich individuals are involved as a result of the benefits they get from them.

Dignitaries at the event include Governor Kayode Fayemi, his wife, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, former governor of Ekiti State, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, former governor of old Western Region, Major Gen Adeyinka Adebayo (rtd.)

former governor of Osun State, Senator Isiaka Adeleke, Gen. Alani Akinrinade (rtd.), members of the House of Representatives from Ekiti State and members of the state assembly among others.

The cleric said: "It is disheartening today that those who tell the truth are being rejected, even in Churches. Sycophants are better placed. But truth remains the weapon of survival against a stormy life.

“Tell the truth always as politicians, pastors and parents, not minding whether you are crucified or not. We know those that have governed Ekiti in the past and the reception they accorded the truth.

"We know those with ears, we know those with one ear, those with half ear and those with no ears at all. But those in any of these categories are now being judged by history.

n Musa ODOSHIMOKHE n and Jeremiah OKE

Stop selling sermons, cleric urges colleagues

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Cleric of the Anglican Communion, Most Rev Francis Bankole, has urged church leaders against preaching "attractive sermons."

According to Bankole, it would do no one any good for pastors to doctor the truth to curry favours from the affluent and the influential, adding that the practice has aided the social ills which have plagued the society lately.

Traditional ruler, septuagenarian arraigned for stealing plantain

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HE traditional ruler of the agrarian community of Imedu-Nla in Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State, Chief Jimoh Adebayo, was yesterday arraigned before an OwodeEgba Chief Magistrate Court in connection with stealing a bunch of plantain, valued at N2000 Police Prosecution Officer, Sergeant Evidence Onyenmaobi, told the court that Chief Adebayo, along with a septuagenerian, Mr Wahab Atenreti (70) and Surajudeen Ayenreti (35) allegedly conspired last December 31 to steal the bunch of plantain within the premises of Jubillee Baptist Church, located in the community.

According to the police prosecution officer, "the

n Ernest NWOKOLO, Abeokuta n community leader (Adebayo) and his accomplice jumped into the compound of the church, cut down the bunch of plantain and were carting it away.

"They were sighted by the pastor of the church, who the third accused persons threatened and chased with a cutlass to prevent him from

raising an alarm."

The offence, the police prosecution officer, said contravened Sections 516, 390 (9) and 86 (2) of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun, 2006.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the three count charge of conspiracy, stealing and threat to life when the charges were read to him.

Olawoyin to deliver Archibishop Vining lecture

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HANCELLOR of the Anglican Diocese of Ife and retired university lecturer, Professor Gabriel Adesiyan Olawoyin, will tomorrow deliver the quarterly series lectures of the Archibishop Vining Memorial Church Cathedral, Ikeja.

Mounting the podium at 4:00pm shall be Professor Olawoyin will speak on the subject: “God in my life” as a guest of the Torchbearers Society, an elite group at the AVMCC. 73-year old Olawoyin, who is a scion of the royal family of IleIfe, received his bachelor’s and

master’s degrees in law from the London School of Economics in 1965 and 1966 respectively.

He returned to Nigeria after acquiring his master’s degree from the London University in October 1966, and was appointed an assistant lecturer in law at the University of Ife.

attracted scholars from the academia, top government and political functionaries from Ekiti, Osun, Oyo, Ogun and Lagos States, agreed that the whole essence of South West integration is to eradicate poverty and promote development and prosperity, saying that the regional integration must improve the lot of the rural farmers and also radically boost the grassroots economy.

The five state governors said that the South West integration agenda had nothing to do with partisan politics, stressing that the agenda should be understood and treated as the development agenda that it is.

Saying that the South West integration is crucial for the survival and prosperity of the Yoruba future generation in the context of a true federal structure, the governors noted that every political part of Yorubaland must key into the agenda.

Governors Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State and his Oyo State counterpart, Isiaka Ajimobi, called on Ondo State to take its place in South West integration programmes and activities.

The participants maintained that given the examples of China and India, and the boost the mother tongue has given education and development in these countries, Yoruba language must be given special attention in the integration agenda.

They also agreed that agriculture must take centre stage in an integrated South West economy, being the region’s natural area of comparative advantage. To this extent, farmers and their access to bank credit, extension services and crop marketing/sales strategies must be a central plank of the South West integration project.

Other resolutions at the EXPO include: “To make this a reality, strong farmer cooperatives must be an integral part of the South West integration agricultural agenda.

“The integration agenda should pay special attention to female farmers, as they have been found to be more faithful in repaying agricultural revolving loans.

“Commissioners for Agriculture in the South West should meet more regularly to compare notes on the agricultural integration agenda.

“The South West private sector must be at the core of the South West integrated market, with the South West governments formulating good market policies and the DAWN Commission acting as the

direct policy implementation agency.

“The South West economic bloc, being a maximisation of the comparative advantages of Nigeria’s South West states, is antidote to pernicious globalisation. It therefore avails the world the produce and products of the 40 million Yoruba; and also presents the 40 million-strong Yoruba market, in the best tradition of global trade and mutually beneficial exchange of ideas.

“An integrated South West economy will use the Diaspora Yoruba to access the global market for mutual advantage and rapid socio-economic development of the Yoruba homeland.

“The South West Integration agenda, through the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission, has a mandate to move the Yoruba human capital, living standards and good governance from Third to First World standards by 2025.

Therefore, the governments of the South West and the entire Yoruba must give the Commission every support to realise this lofty dream.

“The DAWN Commission also aims at full and productive employment rate of 85 per cent by 2020. Again, both the South West government, the private sector in the region and the people at large must buy into this vision and contribute their own quote to its success.

“Sixty percent of global uncultivated land is in Africa.

That shows that the global prospect of agriculture business is huge, as the world looks towards Africa for global food and nourishment. The South West integration project shall position Yorubaland to take advantage of this global agricultural market opportunity.

“Given the collapse of public morality nationwide, the Forum applauded the DAWN Commission’s Omoluabi Manual project, a moral rearmament scheme of the Western Nigeria Heritage Advancement Board, to rediscover the pristine Yoruba Omoluabi virtues, as a key part of the South West integration agenda.

“The Forum reiterated what the South West integration Agenda is and what it is not: It is not exclusive but inclusive; it is not hegemonic but peoplecentred; it is not political but developmental; it is not secessionist but federalist – to save the Federal Republic of Nigeria from decay; and launch it into a new era of productive federalism, sustainable development and mass prosperity.”

60 NEWS

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Petroleum product theft in Rivers: Soldiers detailed to protect damaged pipeline – JTF

HE Joint Task Force (JTF), code-named Operation Pulo (oil) Shield, yesterday stated that the eight soldiers who were earlier accused of stealing petroleum products in Rivers State, were detailed to protect the vandalised pipeline, belonging to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

The JTF’s Media Coordinator, Lt. Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, frowned on the alarm raised by a team from the Hydrocarbon Pollution Restoration Project (HYPREP), who alleged that the eight soldiers were siphoning kerosene at Ososike in Eleme Local Government Area of the state.

Nwachukwu said: “The JTF wishes to state categorically that contrary to the perception and false alarm raised by the team, the soldiers were officially detailed by their Commanding Officer, Col. Peter Mala, who commands the 29 Batallion, located at Bori Camp, Port Harcourt, to

UNIBEN matriculates 5,915, warns against cultism Osemwengie Ben OGBMUDIA, Benin

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2013

HE University of Benin, Edo State, yesterday admitted five thousand, nine hundred and fifteen students to full membership of the institution after subscribing to relevant matriculation oath for the 2012/2013 academic session.

Professor Osayuki Oshodin, Vice-Chancellor of the university charged the matriculating students to be loyal and true to the matriculation oath of obedience and respect to the authorities of the university that offered them the admission.

He admonished them to protect and guard their new status jealously, and avoid any unwholesome behavior that may pose a threat to the peace and progress of the university.

While administering the matriculation oath, Prof.

Oshodin said the university administration frowns on the indecent dressing by many of the female students in the name of fashion.

He said the attitude is disgusting as it has been identified to be one of the major factors responsible for cases of sexual harassment experienced by students.

The Vice-Chancellor, therefore, enjoined the female students to always appear responsible at all gatherings.

Advising the students against examination malpractice, a serious misconduct in the institution, Prof. Oshodin said the university authorities had a zero tolerance for such nefarious act, noting that it was ready at all times to apply appropriate sanctions against offenders.

“The burning issue of cultism is of great concern to the university. I know some of you may have been initiated into one cult group or the other before you gained admission into this institution. Let it be known to you that the our security network will fish you out.”

Bisi OLANIYI, Port Harcourt protect NNPC’s pipeline that was vandalised in the area.

“Following a tip off at about 2.20 am on February 6, 2013, troops of 29 Battalion deployed for the protection of PPMC right of way, discovered a dugout point along Kilometre 5, Ogale, Eleme in Rivers State.

“The PPMC pipeline was clamped with valves and two hoses attached to it. The hoses were rolled close to a building on the pipeline, from where Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK) was siphoned into plastic drums.

“Three drums filled with DPK were recovered from the scene.

Eighteen empty drums, two hoses and two suspects were arrested. As I speak, they are

currently undergoing interrogation with operatives of Sector Two Intelligence Detachment.

“The commanding officer, accompanied by operatives of the Intelligence and Military Police Detachments, had earlier in the day visited the same location to ascertain the act of vandalism and the extent of damage.

“Armed with this

information, Soldiers were mobilised to secure the products and protect the point of vandalism, against persons who may want to scoop from the site. The management of PPMC was also notified, to rectify the damage.”

The JTF’s spokesman also stressed that the protection of a facility included preventing unauthorised persons from accessing the protected site.

•From left: The Chief of Staff to the Enugu State Government, Mrs. Ifeoma Nwobodo; the State Commissioner for Information, Chuks Ugwuoke and Chief Press Secretary to the State Governor, Barr. Chukwudi Achife awaiting the arrival of Gov. Chime at Akunu-Ibiam International Airport Enugu… yesterday PHOTO: Obi CLETUS

Governor Orji signs 2013 Appropriation Bill into law, enjoins taxable adults on taxes

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BIA State governor, Chief Theodore Orji has signed the state 2013 appropriation bill into law. Speaking while signing the bill into law, Orji urged all taxable adults in the state to be alive to their responsibility by paying all government approved taxes in the state, saying that it was one of the sure ways to fast tracking the development of the state.

The assented bill raised the earlier figure from N134 billion to N137 billion, an increase of N3 billion from the original bill presented before the House on November 20th, 2012.

Orji said: “Our people

Ugochukwu UGOJIEKE, umuahia should form the habit of being passionate about the state by paying all their taxes, as the state can no longer afford to depend on the monthly federation allocation, which has become quite unsteady in recent times.”

He noted that the state could comfortably generate over N1 billion monthly from its internally generated revenue, stressing that Aba alone could generate more than that amount, like it did during the old Imo State.

The governor commended

the entire members of the House on the mature way they handled the problem which cropped up while deliberating on the appropriation bill he presented to them.

Orji thanked the house for the speed with which they attended to the appropriation bill and passed it into law, stressing that it showed the concern they have in the affairs of the state, even at the expense of their Christmas holidays.

He said that the presentation and passage of the bill into law are two different things, “the main thing is to have the discipline to execute the budget to the point where every member of the state will benefit

from it, and I assure you that such discipline will be put to use while executing the budget.”

The governor said the action of his administration has shown that they have started to implement the budget in the area of provision of amenities to the people, stressing that his government does not discriminate as it has touched the executive, legislature and the judiciary.

Earlier while presenting the bill for the governor’s assent, the Speaker, Ude OkoChukwu said the N134 billion budget was 3.2% above the 2012 approved budget outlay.

Lawmaker’s abductors demand ransom in dollars

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HERE is palpable anxiety among members of the Edo State House of Assembly over the continued holding in custody of the lawmaker representing Esan Central Constituency in the state House of Assembly, Victor Odoror, by suspected kidnappers.

It was learnt yesterday that his abductors were demanding for ransom in foreign currency.

A statement yesterday by the Forum of Former Students Leaders after a meeting in Benin City, signed by Comrade Oluwole Moyenin and Comrade Ologe Elijah and made available to journalists, said the last Sunday kidnap of Odoror was undermining the “gargantuan efforts of the Comrade Adams Oshiomhole government in the areas of security and human development.”

The statement called for prayers for divine intervention for the release of their

Osemwengie Ben OGBEMUDIA, Benin colleague, even as they described their Odoror as an “amiable and accessible personality.”

Meanwhile, security has been tightened at the Legislative Quarters of the members of the House of Assem-

bly along Ihama Road in GRA Benin City, as visitors were not allowed in until clearance was obtained from their hosts.

The Nation gathered that the abductors were demanding for a ransom in dollars, but the stae government reportedly refused to be involved in the saga as they feared that

being involved would encourage the kidnappers going after government officials. It is strongly believed that some of his friends were already considering the option of mobilising funds to pay the ransom.

The lawmaker was kidnapped in his car along with his driver.

Youths protest murder of medical doctor in Imo

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HE murder of a medical doctor, Chinonye Nwishi, by gunmen in Nguru, Aboh Mbaise Council Area of Imo State has set off a serious protest, with scores of youths in the community taking to the streets.

According to an eye witness account, the deceased was returning from his clinic located in the area about 9pm when he was accosted by his assailants who first requested for the key of his Toyota Camry car.

The source further informed that the late Nwishi was said to have been trailed by her assailants who operated on a motor-cycle from Ahiara Junction where his clinic is situated and on getting to Nkwogwu junction to divert to his home, he was accosted by the gunmen.

The deceased was said to have quickly thrown his car key into a nearby bush as soon as he saw

Okodili NDIDI, Owerri the gangsters, an action that angered the assailants who reportedly pumped bullets into his body and left him dead.

When the corpse was later discovered by the youths of the community, they went on rampage destroying everything that stood in their way. The protesters who carried placards with various inscriptions demanded from the government that the killers be fished out, wondering why their illustrious son was murdered in a less dignifying manner.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, Vitalis Onugu, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, said he was not aware of the incident, but promised to investigate the case.

‘Zero allocation to SEC will endanger stock market’

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LAGOS-based lawyer, Leon Mbakwe, has filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Lagos, challenging the zero allocation in the 2013 budget to the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC).

The human rights lawyer is asking for a perpetual injunction restraining President Goodluck Jonatham from assenting to the appropriation bill passed by the National Assembly in which it excluded SEC from the budgetary allocation.

Respondents to the suit are the Senate President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.

‘They disallowed budget proposals for Security and Exchange Commission for 2013 on the grounds that the Director General must be removed and replaced. This decision has left the Commission without any allocation on the budget for its running operation. This would, therefore, endanger my share at the stock market and also threaten the rights of workers at the Commission to receiving their salaries. The zero allocation is therefore, a punishment to the commission as an institution without cogent reason.’

While making reference to the constitution, Mbakwe informed: ‘A declaration that 2013 appropriation bill is a threat to the right to property work under equitable and satisfactory condition and respect for dignity of person (s). Life of the applicant, investors in stock market and workers at the Security and Exchange Commission. This is contained in sections 33(1) and 34 (1) of 1999 constitution of Nigeria as amended and Articles 14 and 15 of African charter on Human and people’s Rights. “

Anambra youth group hails SARS over crime reduction

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HE Ndigbo Unity Forum has commended the Anambra State command of the Nigeria Police for their efforts to check violent crimes in the state.

The group gave the commendation when its leaders visited the headquarters of the Anambra State Anti-Robbery Squad.

Mr. Augustine Chukuwdum, President of the group, said it was unfortunate that some human rights organizations have chosen to castigate SARS and its men for alleged abuses.

He commended the commander of the SARS squad, Mr. James Nwafor for successfully leading his squad to curtail the activities of criminal elements in Onitsha and its environs.

“We had a Christmas that was crime-free, where no single case of kidnapping was recorded. We commend him and his men for that,” the NUF leader said.

The forum called on the citizens of the state to support the efforts of the police by providing them with useful information on the activities of criminals, adding that the state government has provided significant support to the police.

He stressed that there was still more to be done.

Responding, Nwafor said he and his men would not relent until violent crime was totally eradicated in the state.

THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2013

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2013

Odemwingie handed West Brom punishment

Moses trains alone, Emenike missing

West Brom striker Peter Odemwingie has been fined £75,000 over of his conduct during the past two weeks but is now back available for first team selection.

The figure - two weeks’ wages - is the price he has to pay for showing a complete lack of respect towards his club.

The Nigeria forward turned up at Loftus Road on transfer deadline day without Albion’s permission but a proposed move to QPR collapsed.

Odemwingie has also apologised for his series of Twitter attacks against the club after having a transfer request rejected.

Albion said in a statement: ‘West Brom have taken disciplinary action against striker Peter Odemwingie in respect of his conduct over the past fortnight.

‘Odemwingie has accepted his punishment. He will now resume full training with his team-mates and is available for first-team selection.’

Accepting his punishment, Odemwingie added: ‘I understand how my actions have been viewed and I want to apologise to the club and our supporters for any distress I have caused.

‘I want to reassure everyone at the club and our fans that I will continue to give my all whenever I am selected. We have enjoyed a good season so far and I aim to play my part in keeping the club as high up the table as possible.’

Albion chairman Jeremy Peace added: ‘This has been an extremely difficult time for the club and it was imperative that we dealt with such a serious matter both fully and correctly.

•Chelsea star limps •Situation worries Keshi

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HELSEAwinger, Victor Moses trained alone yesterday under the watchful eyes of a team doctor during the Super Eagles’ first work-out after booking the semi final ticket at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa.

Moses limped throughout the training session as he was subjected to only jogging round the pitch at the Vits

From Innocent Amomoh, Jo’burg, South Africa University Sport Complex, in Johannesburg after sustaining an ankle injury in the semi final clash against Mali.

Also, Eagles’ top scorer in the Nations Cup, Emmanuel Emenike was conspicuously

Nigeria’s Victor Moses, left, walks around the pitch with a team staff member during a training session Friday, Feb. 8 2013 in Johannesburg.

NIGERIA VS BURKINA FASO FINAL

I’m not God—Keshi

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UPER EAGLES’ coach, Stephen Keshi says he will keep his faith in God

for Sunday’s Africa Cup of Nations final against Burkina Faso at the National Stadium, Johannesburg.

The Super Eagles defeated

From Taofeek Babalola, Johannesburg Eagles of Mali 4-1 in the semi finals match on Wednesday to reach the final and meet the Burkinabes who qualified for the first Africa Cup of nations final after upsetting the more fancied Black Stars of Ghana in

AFCON Final: Jonathan sends high-powered delegation to boost Super Eagles

• Jonathan to host Eagles Tuesday

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HEAD of tomorrow's African Nations Cup final match between Nigeria and Burkina Faso in South Africa, President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday sent a high-powered delegation to boost the Super Eagles to victory.

The delegation, according to a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Media & Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, is to be led by the Senate President, Senator David Mark.

Mark is to represent President Jonathan and the Federal Government at the match because the President cannot be physically present in Johannesburg to lead the cheering for the Super Eagles due to his official commitments in London and Paris.

The President charged the delegation to ensure that the members of the team are properly motivated and in the best possible spirits to

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja win a resounding victory for the country tomorrow.

He also tasked the delegation, which included Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State, Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State and the Minister of State I (Foreign Affairs) Prof. Viola Onwuliri, the Minister of Police Affairs, Navy Capt. Caleb Olubolade and the Minister of State (Works), Ambassador Bashir Yuguda, to reassure the team of his full support and best wishes for victory.

They are also to convey President Jonathan's decision to host a dinner reception for them at the State House Banquet Hall at 7pm on Tuesday, February 12, 2013 and personally thank and honour them for their positively transformed performance in South Africa.

Their performance, he said has undoubtedly re-estab-

MEMORANDUM OF LOSS WHEREAS Arc. Aisha Valerie Lawal 10, Hombori Street. Wuse II. Abuja is the beneficial owner of the property situated at Plot 2 in Block3, on layout plan T.P.W. 720 Government Residential Area. Agodi Ibadan in Ibadan City (hereinafter referred as "the Property").

WHEREAS the Property is covered by a BUILDING LEASE registered as No 21 at Page 21 in Volume 2071 of the REGISTER OF DEEDS at the Oyo State Lands Registry, Agodi Secretariat.

WHEREAS the Original copy of the said BUILDING LEASE is missing and all efforts to locate the said BUILDING LEASE have proved abortive.

THEREFORE, BE IT KNOWN TO ALL MEN that this Memorandum of Loss is required as evidence of the BUILDING LEASE in respect of the BUILDING LEASE and is valid for all purposes as proof of loss of the original BUILDING LEASE. Signed: Arc. Aisha V. Lawal

missing from the training.

Information reaching NationSport reveals that the Spartak Moscow forward has been asked to stay off training under the close watch of one of the team doctors at the Garden Court Hotel, Millpark.

This, the source further

Prepared by: CHUKWU OBASI & Co.

lished Nigeria as a major power in international soccer.

He urged the team to go out against Burkina Faso on Sunday with the greatest determination to win a final victory that will bring immense joy and happiness to the millions of Nigerians at home and abroad who have had their pride restored by the triumphs against Ethiopia, Cote D’Ivoire and Mali, and are praying for ultimate success at South Africa’s National Stadium.

•Continued from Back Page It could also be that the personal challenges between John Mike and Salmon Kalou, on one hand, and the awesome goals’ record of Didier Drogba, whilst playing for Chelsea last season, may have galvanised the Eagles to produce the scintillating shows they displayed against the Ivoriens and the Malians The Eagles and their coaches need to call their relations in Nigeria in order to appreciate how their recent display have united the people and made us proud as a nation.

The power of soccer is awesome, such that Nigerians now fast for the Eagles to lift the trophy at dusk against the Burkinabes.

The adage that success has many fathers is legendary.

Little wonder the blue-chip companies are falling over

the second semi final game on Wednesday evening.

The former Mali and Togo coach, who admitted that there still more to do in the team, added that the team will do everything possible to win the trophy and make Nigerians happy.

“I am not God and I can’t say that this is what will happen on Sunday. The boys have tried their best to reach this stage and I think whatever comes out of final we should take it,” Keshi said.

The former Togo coach also noted that the players had improved tactically.

“The players were disciplined on the pitch and their tactical play have been encouraging. I just want them to have fun because it is important thing.

Any job you’re doing and you’re not having fun, you are not going to have 100% results.”

On the team’s success in the ongoing campaign, Keshi said: “I don’t know how big it is for me as a coach. My aim is to make Nigerians happy which has been my challenge.”

revealed has become necessary in order to avoid aggravating the injury he sustained in the last minutes of the semi final clash with Mali on Wednesday at the Moses Mabhida Stadium, in Durban.

The medical team, it is gathered are working on both players to ensure that they become fit for the final match against Mali on Sunday at the FNB Stadium, Johannesburg.

The Eagles had a light training session on Friday after arriving Johannesburg on Thursday.

Understanding PDP’s amazing audacity •Continued from Back Page gress (APC). Reacting to the news, Alhaji Tukur jokingly told news men “If you go for a football contest, you have the top striker. You know Lionel Messi? PDP is Messi in that contest. They (opposition parties) are no threat at all. It (merger) is better. It inspires the PDP to action. In that contest, tell them (opposition parties) that I said PDP is Lionel Messi”. Unfortunately, the PDP in running the affairs of Nigeria since 1999 has not exhibited the brilliant skills of the diminutive soccer star in tackling the multifarious challenges confronting the country. But the PDP’s audacity as well as Alhaji Tukur’s arrogance and utter contempt for Nigerians is quite logical and understandable.

The lack of any reasonable linkage between governmental performance and electoral outcomes is clearly the reason for the PDP’s continued amazing self confidence. Even as their existential conditions have worsened steadily under the PDP’s watch since 1999 and Nigeria totters on the brink of state collapse, the PDP has won successive elections in 2003, 2007 and 2011 with the party maintaining a firm hold on the centre and the majority of states. It is thus all too easy for the PDP to conclude that Nigerians are incurably masochistic taking sheer delight in ever increasing misery.

No matter your perception of the PDP, you must recognise that it is serious minded in its pursuit of its mission of maintaining a strangle hold on power and sharing the bounteous national cake among its members while allowing those at the grassroots to scramble for the crumbs. Unknown to many for instance, the PDP has a training school for its cadres! At a time it was run by my former teacher, the exceptional political scientist, Professor Fred Onyeoziri. Any party that seeks to dislodge the PDP at the centre must aim to be better structured, more efficiently and transparently managed as well as stand on a higher moral pedestal in terms of its vision and mission. And as one of this newspaper’s columnists recently noted, the PDP is unlikely to approach the 2015 election in a fractious state. The contending factions, knowing what is at stake, will most likely resolve their differences at the appropriate time. Despite their current differences, for instance, the picture of ex-President Obasanjo praying fervently for President Goodluck Jonathan at the Aso Villa chapel on Sunday, February 3rd, speaks volumes.

Let no mistake be made about it. The PDP is a highly focussed party with a clear idea of its mission. It is essentially an elite cartel – a huge umbrella to protect diverse factions of Nigeria’s hegemonic elite from being beaten by the heavy rain of poverty that is the lot of their fellow country men and women. In merging to form the APC, the opposition parties must not seek to become just another mirror image of the PDP. Beyond individual jostling for positions, attention should be paid to the philosophical basis and ideological clarity of the nascent party. If the aim is simply to dislodge the PDP while Nigeria is left structurally and functionally disabled as she currently is, the country will have to seek redemption elsewhere.

Moving forward themselves to be part of the new dawn that the Eagles’ 2013 Africa Cup of Nations portends. The companies are promising cash and other incentives, which they hitherto claimed were scarce and blamed their poor finances on the country’s dwindling economy. Who could blame eggheads of these blue-chip firms? After all, nobody wants to identify with losers.

However, these corporate firms and philanthropists should stop their untoward ambush marketing style.

They must be prepared to identify with our sportsmen and women at all times.

Sport is big business. It is a capital intensive project and those marketing it need to be encouraged. The mileage of supporting sports and its participants is awesome. It is immeasurable, given its international platform.

It is a totally different ex-

perience watching other nationals stand up in the 80,000120,000 capacity stadium to respect our nation as our national anthem is sung.

Government alone cannot fund sports. In fact, government shouldn’t, as we witness in other countries where government provides the infrastructure and enabling environment for its citizenry to recreate and compete against the best in the world, whenever the need arises.

Sports can be used to reinvent other spheres of our lives in the country which appear to be comatose.

Mention must be made of Pamodzi Sports Marketing (PSM) for their initiative to attract sponsors to identify with the Super Eagles.

Pamodzi convinced Globalcom, Coca-Cola, Guinness Nigeria, etc., to support our football.

Indeed, government

should do more to encourage the blue-chip companies to support sports by giving them tax rebates and other incentives, given our unpredictable economy. I digress.

As the Eagles file onto the pitch on Sunday, they must give their best against the Burkinabes. They have raised Nigerians’ hopes.

They cannot afford to crash them now. And they can’t afford to disappoint, not even themselves now. They have run a good race and there is no stopping midway, not until they have braced the tape. They must strive to lift the trophy. That is the tape they must brace and return home to the warm embrace of Nigerians. Go! Super Eagles go!!

Nigerians deserve to be called African champions. It has been quite a while- 19 years ago inTunisia. Good luck Super Eagles.

THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2013

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TOMORROWPUNCHLINE IN THE NATION

Certainly, the British should have more reasons than Nigeria to commemorate the amalgamation of Northern and Southern Protectorates in 1914 SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2013 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM VOL.7, NO. 2397

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HE battle has been fierce, intense and unrelenting. All kinds of weapons – assault rifles, tear gas canisters, bazookas, hand grenades, cluster bombs and even unmanned drones – have been freely used on both sides. I refer to the raging civil war currently rocking the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). On various occasions, ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo has launched vicious attacks against the Goodluck Jonathan administration accusing the President of utter incompetence in tackling the Boko Haram insurgency. In one instance, Obasanjo recommended his drastic and ruthless handling of the Odi situation to Jonathan suggesting that the latter was soft on Boko Haram. We will recall that President Obasanjo ordered the levelling of the entire Odi community of Bayelsa State following the murder by elements of the community of Nigerian soldiers on official duties. During his last presidential media chat, Dr. Jonathan retorted that when he visited Odi as Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, all he saw were the corpses of innocent children and old people rather than the militants that perpetrated the crime. Undaunted, Obasanjo has launched further salvos at Jonathan in interviews on both CNN and the New African magazine questioning the incumbent’s competence in effectively discharging his role as the country’s Chief Security Officer.

A careful observer will note that in this exchange of brickbats, the two PDP leaders have been careful to distance the PDP as a party from their respective administrations. But in reality, what Obasanjo was saying is that the incompetence of the PDP government under Jonathan has been responsible for a precarious security situation that has led to the death of hundreds of people in many parts of Northern Nigeria. In the same vein Jonathan countered that a PDP government under Obasanjo in sanctioning the massacre of children, women and old people in Odi committed a crime that is difficult to dissociate from genocide. This is a severe selfindictment on the part of a party that yet boasts its capacity to cling to power at the centre for the next six decades. What really explains such amazing audacity?

Launching her own devastating machine propelled rockets from another section of the battlefield, a former Education Minister in the Obasanjo administration and one-time Vice President (Africa) of the World Bank, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, accused both the late President Musa Yar’Adua and Goodluck Jonathan administrations of wanton financial recklessness. Speaking at the Convocation lecture she deliv-

Understanding PDP’s amazing audacity

•Obasanjo praying for President Jonathan in church

ered at the University of Nigeria (UNN), Nsukka, she alleged that both administration’s had frittered away $67 billion in foreign reserves and Excess Crude Account (ECA) left behind by the Obasanjo administration. This is again another devastating indictment of the PDP. In the first place, if the PDP Obasanjo administration realized so much revenue that it could accumulate such huge reserves, why did it leave the country’s infrastructure in virtually all sectors in such a parlous state? Again, is this not an in-

dictment of the PDP’s leadership succession processes? Did the party seriously assess the competence of Yar’Adua and Jonathan before imposing them on Nigerians through incurably flawed elections?

Indeed, in his new book “The Accidental Public Servant”, former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, revealed the very cavalier manner decisions are taken in high quarters as regards the leadership of this country.

He claimed that Obasanjo, doubting the competence of Jonathan, wanted to back a Buhari/Ngozi Okonjo Iweala ticket for

—Ropo Sekoni the 2011 election. If Obasanjo was unsure of Jonathan’s competence, how did the latter emerge as Vice-Presidential candidate under the old soldier’s watch? In any case, in his first coming as military Head of State, Buhari ran a highly nationalistic administration that stoutly resisted the policy dictates of the IMF and World Bank.

How could he then be expected to work harmoniously with a Vice-President who is a dyed in the wool neo-liberal World Bank economist? Is this the kind of shoddy thinking that led Obasanjo to impose a most inept and mediocre leadership on the country following his exit in 2007?

In responding to Ezekwesili, the trio of Labaran Maku, Doyin Okupe and Reuben Abati only succeeded in further severely indicting both the Jonathan administration and the PDP. In the first place, they were completely silent on the substance of her allegations. What exactly was the $67 billion in foreign reserves and Excess Crude Account left behind by the Obasanjo administration expended on?

With such gargantuan expenditure profile, how can we explain the abysmal level of poverty in which Nigeria is still mired?

Rather, Jonathan’s aides insinuated without the slightest scintilla of evidence that Ezekwesili embezzled funds allocated to the Ministry of Education during her tenure. Why, as many analysts have asked, did they wait for Ezekwesili to make her damning disclosures before trying to taint her character and integrity? Are there other allegedly corrupt public officers that the administration is keeping mum over because they are of ‘good behaviour’? Has massive looting of public funds become so routine and normal under the PDP? In the words of Dr. Abati “They managed to leave the country in darkness, with less than 2000 MW; abandoned Independent Power Projects, mismanaged power stations…”. Mind you, the presidential spokesman is here referring to a PDP government! It certainly cannot get more entertaining.

Yet, despite its glaring non-performance and the washing of its dirty linen in public, the PDP remains supremely confident of its capacity to overwhelmingly win future elections and continue to steer the affairs of the nation. The PDP national Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, is completely disdainful of the announcement by four political parties – Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) – to merge into a new party, the All Progressives Con •Continued on Page 62

Ade Ojeikere on Saturday talk2adeojeikere@yahoo.com

Moving forward

H

AVE the Super Eagles arrived? What is happening here? Could this be the Eagles that fumbled in their group matches? What are they trying to prove? Yes, the real Super Eagles have arrived. These were some of the questions on the lips of fans who watched the Eagles’ sparkling outcome against the Elephant of Cote D’Ivoire on Sunday at the Royal Rustenburg Stadium.

Before the Elephant’s game, the Eagles flooded the media with seamless promises that teased the fans to rally behind them.

They promised to roast Burkina Faso but tottered to a 1-1 draw.

They begged the fans and raised hopes for a better show against the defending champions Chipolopolo, yet it wasn’t any better.

The pundits looked forward to the Ethiopian tie with expectation and the Eagles didn’t disappoint with another neverwrenching victory.

The three games raised doubts about the

Eagles’ chances against star-studded Elephants. What many didn’t recognise in the Eagles’ group matches was that the Burkinabes, Zambians to a little extent and the Ethiopians, were younger than our boys.

The Eagles tired out in 60mins and struggled through the last 30 minutes. Little wonder the late goals that raised doubts about the coaches’ technical savvy.

The Zambians and the Ethiopians hassled the Eagles to submission with their pace and raw talent. They had players who were unknown to the Eagles, unlike in the Elephants’ side.

The Elephants were star-studded but many of their stars are ageing. Their slow pace approach brought out the best from a hitherto tottering Eagles.

We need to drastically reduce the average age of the Eagles, if we wish to stun the world in Brazil 2014, like we did in our debut outing at the 1994 World Cup held in the United States.

Sunday Mbah’s sterling displays against

the Ethiopians and the Ivoriens is a pointer to the limitless talents at the grassroots, only if our coaches can involve the domestic league clubs’ handlers in their scouting exercises.

What we see in the Eagles is their coaches’ quest to invite home –grown lads, players who have been recycled by many fumbling Nigerian clubs in CAF’s two inter-club competitions and media creations, whose spin doctors work for shylock agents who masquerade as scouts for European clubs.

Modern day football is played by young boys with plenty of energy and zest, not adults, who can’t run at top speed all through 120 minutes.

Younger boys are fitter, more daring, inventive and who can stand the test of time.

They can be groomed to cope with any situation unlike the adults, who are burdened by the fixations of their past. They are the ones who talk about the need for the Eagles to have experienced players, as if they didn’t make the team as youngsters in the past. The

important question to ask the coaches who field these experienced stars, is how do they expect these younger boys to blossom when they are being made to rot on the bench, despite the team’s average performances against Zambia and Ethiopia As we prepare for the 2014 World Cup qualifiers, emphasis should be on strengthening the squad with talented young players, no matter where they reside, such as Syndey Sam, Nedum Onuoha Bright Dike, etc.

The coaches should be courageous enough to tell those not in their 2014 World Cup plans their decision to avoid any backlash in the media like we saw in the needless Osaze/Keshi twitter brouhaha.

The coaches must learn how to take criticism in the chin. They can’t love the country more than others. People have the right to air their views. What the coaches should learn is to take the comments they believe will help them and discard the rest.

Until the game against Cote d’Ivoire, the Eagles were an embarrassment to watch.

Their style of play changed against the Ivoriens, perhaps because of the fear factor of not losing scandalously to them.

•Continued on Page 62

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