The Nation February 18, 2012

Jonathan’s objection to Sovereign National Conference is wrong -Tinubu

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Supreme Court reinstates sacked Kwara CJ three years after

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My share of sexual harassmen t —Fast

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Robbery foiled at Ogun Governor’s Office Page 6

It’s part of the things we inherited, says Amosun We know what we met on ground... I told you before that to buy guns in Ogun State is easier than to buy water or a bottle of Coca-Cola and that is the example of what we are seeing N1.3tr fuel Page5 subsidy probe: EFCC awaiting Senate, Reps reports -Lamorde

ENTER AGBA-AKIN ADINNI OF IJESHALAND

Boko Haram:

Nigeria risks break-up, Bauchi Governor Yuguda warns Page4 ...Madalla bombing suspect Bama linked with Mogadishu Barracks blasts Page 5

Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu flanked by Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Alhaji Abdul Azeez Alao Arisekola (left) and Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State at the turbanning of Asiwaju as Agba-Akin Adinni of Ijeshaland in Ilesha... yesterday

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2012

AT ASIWAJU TINUBU’S TURBANNING

•From left: Baba Adini of Yorubaland, Alhaji Tunde; Osun State Deputy Governor, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori; Osun State Governor, Mr.Rauf Aregbesola; the newly installed Agba-Akin Adinni of Ijesha-Land, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; wife of Osun State Governor, Alhaja Serifat Aregbesola and Are Musulumi of Yoruba-Land, Alhaji Azeez Arisekola Alao, during the installation ceremony organised by Ilesha Muslim Community in Ilesha, Osun State yesterday PHOTO:State House

•Alhaji Ahmed Badmus and Oba Gabriel Adekunle Aromolaran, Owa Obokun of Ijeshaland.

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CTION Congress of Nigeria (ACN) National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, yesterday objected to the claim by President Goodluck Jonathan that a Sovereign National Conference (SNC) is unnecessary because he has set up a committee chaired by Justice Alfa Belgore to work on a new constitution.

He said the convocation of the conference is imperative, adding that sovereignty belongs to the people of Nigeria.

Tinubu stressed: “We want Sovereign National Conference. Nigerians who voted for the President have the right to demand for the convocation of the conference, and not that the President should select some people to make the constitution. Sovereignty belongs to the people.”

Tinubu also said that the unity of the country must not be sacrificed on the altar of religion, warning those fanning the embers of disunity to spare a thought for nation-building.

The former Lagos State governor spoke at Ilesa, Osun State, where he was turbaned as the Agbaakin-Adinni of Ijesaland by the Muslim community.

The impressive ceremony, which was witnessed by statesmen, captains of industry, politicians, top government officials, friends, associates and admirers, held at Okesa Praying Ground in the ancient town.

At exactly 2.10 pm, the turbaning ceremony was performed by the chairman of the occasion and Aaare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Alhaji Arisekola Alao; the Asiwaju Adinni of Yorubaland, Alhaji Badmus Adekilekun and other top clerics from Yorubaland.

Also in attendance were

•Asiwaju being turbanned

PHOTOS: Isaac Jimoh AYODELE

Jonathan’s objection to Sovereign National Conference is wrong -Tinubu •Says: ‘Let’s not use religion to divide Nigeria’ Emmanuel OLADESU Deputy Political Editor foremost traditional rulers, including the paramount ruler of Ijesaland, Oba Adekunle Aromolaran; the Timi of Ede, Oba Muirudeen Lawal; Olufon of Ifon, Oba Aderemi Adedapo; Oba Magbagbeola Adekunle; the Aragberi of Iragberi, Oba Sunkanmi Olagberuade; the Olobu of Ilobu, Oba Asiru Olatoye; the Elerin of Erin, Oba Yesufu; the Oloigi of Oigi, Oba James Adeleke; the Oru of Ijebu-Oru, Oba Muniru Basorun; Oba Taofik Olaposi; Oba Tajudeen Adetunji and Oba Adesanya Ilesanya.

Tinubu also received the insignia of the title as well as a certificate and staff of office amid a loud ovation by dignitaries. As he moved forward to receive them, shouts of “Jagaban Borgue, Asiwaju of Lagos and Aare of Ile-Oluji” filled the air.

At 1.45 pm, Tinubu, who had landed in Ilesa in a chopper, stormed the venue with pump, accompanied by Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and his wife, Sherifat, Senator Bayo Salami, and Secretary to Osun State Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti.

He was decked in a light cream agbada, with a brown cap

and shoe to match.

He walked briskly, waving at the crowd as he moved from one spot to the other within the crowded venue to pay homage to traditional rulers, community elders, Muslim clerics and other guests.

After exchanging greetings with many guests on the expansive field, he fell into the warm embrace of Aare Arisekola, who shared the high table with him and other guests.

Welcoming dignitaries to the ceremony, the Chairman of Ijesa Muslim Community, Alhaji Dhikirulahi Sanni, explained that the title was bestowed on Tinubu in recognition of his roles during Aregbesola’s battle to reclaim his stolen mandate from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He also recalled that Tinubu played a major role in the reconstruction of Ilesa Central Mosque, saying that he sent money to the building committee to make progress on the project.

Dhikitulahi added: “We also appreciate your antecedents and contributions to the emancipation of the down-trodden since your days as NADECO chieftain, senator and governor. You fought to sack the PDP cabals from Ekiti, Osun, Ogun, and Oyo states. Our people

have never had it so good since the enthronement of democratic rule.”

He appealed to Tinubu to assist in the implementation of the laudable projects of the community, especially the hospital project recently embarked upon by the faithful.

The Chairman of the Chieftaincy Committee of the association, Isa Azeez, said: “Asiwaju is a warrior for the masses. He fought war and liberated the Yoruba from bondage. I pray for long life and prosperity for you. We want you to assist us in the implementation of our projects here.”

Arisekola Alao, who eulogised the host, enjoined him to always thank God for giving him power, fame and honour, adding that the honour done to him was a honour to all the Muslim faithful in Yorubaland.

He called for religious unity and tolerance among the various sects, stressing that those who blame Islam for the Boko Haram onslaught are mischievous.

The Aare Musulumi urged Muslims, Christians and adherents of traditional religion to continue to live in peace in Yorubaland in the interest of peaceful coexistence in the region.

He traced the genesis of Is-

lam in the Southwest, saying that the roles of Mallam Quadri Akinniyi, Sheidu Oogun, Abe Momodu, Umoru Sarumi, Seriki Owoeye and Orikesinro would not be forgotten. He also praised all those who had contributed to the growth of the religion, praying Allah to bless and reward them appropriately.

He cautioned against using Islamic titles to boost personal ego, stressing that it is a divine call to the service of Allah.

Alao, therefore, advised the Muslim community in Yoruba land to bestow titles on Governors Babatunde Fashola (Lagos State), Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo), Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun) and Rauf Aregbesola (Osun), assuring that they would promote the cause of Islam and welfare of the people.

The Muslim leader applauded the achievements of the ACN governors and admonished them to create more employments for youths, who he described as leaders of tomorrow.

Turning to Tinubu, he advised the new Agbaakin Adinni to dedicate himself to the service of the people.

At the ceremony were the deputy governor of Osun State, Otunba Titilayo Laoye; Senator James Kolawole; Senator Jide Omoworare; Dr. Olu

Agunloye; Prof.

Ajayi Boroffice; Hon. Bola Akinterinwa; Mrs. Jumoke Anifowose; the Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly, Yemi Ikuforiji; his Oyo State counterpart, Mrs. Monsurat Sunmonu; Alhaji Tajudeen Bello; Alhaji Lanre Rasak; Alhaji Lateef Raji; Hon. Sola Akinwumi; Segun Famodun; Chief Alami Macfoy; Lowo Adegbuyi; Peter Babalola and Kunle Famoriyo.

Others include Adetilewa Sijuwade; Layi Oyeduntan; Mrs. Modupe Awodogan Sola Iji; Akintunde Adegboye; Dr. Samuel Olulade; Bayo Osinnowo; James Faleke; Jide Kosoko; Segun Adekola; Timothy Owoeye; Toyin Omidiran; Hon. Famurewa; Bola Ilori; Sunday Akere; Dr. Muiz Banire; Israel Adekunle; Hon. Olabinjo; Ipoola Omisore; Toun Adediran; Segun Adetola and Sola Lawal.

Muslim clerics at the ceremony were the Chief Imam of Osogbo, Alhaji Mustapha Ajisafe; his Ilesa counterpart, Alhaji Kareem Elesinnla who delivered the opening prayer and Alhaji Dhikirulahi Sanni, The host caretaker chairmen, whose banners welcomed the guests to the venue were Isa Azeez (Ilesa East); Lanre Balogun (Ilesa West); Segun Olanibi (Ilesa West); Disu Oyedele (Atakumosa East); Dr. Gbenga Ogunleye (Obokun) and Taiwo Fatiregun (Oriade).

Tinubu, who described the day as a day of thanksgiving, paid tribute to the Owa of •Continued on Page 6

THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2012

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2012

Boko Haram: Nigeria risks break-up, G Bauchi Governor warns

OVERNOR Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State yesterday in Lagos painted the gloomy picture that awaits the country should the Islamic sect, Boko Haram succeed with its ongoing insurgency.

The governor, who at a time ,was alleged to be one of the sponsors of the group, did not only deny the allegation but said: “It would be a tragedy for any governor to finance the activities of a group that takes lives.”

He added: “I do not think any governor would do that.

If you are in the business of politics, you should realise that you will die one day and God will ask you to account for your deeds in life.”

Governor Yuguda, who delivered a lecture titled “Nigerian Unity: Marching For-

Kunle AKINRINADE ward to Greatness” at a business luncheon organised by the Island Club, said of the Boko Haram insurgency: “Under the weight of the current Boko Haram insurgency, Nigeria may implode, leading to a general breakdown of law and order, creating a refugee crisis and escalation of crossborder crimes and violence.

This will ultimately lead to a gradual collapse of the subregion.

“Those beating the drums of war at the slightest tension in the land must know that breaking up a nation is very hard–as hard as its founding,

and often just as violent.

“Perhaps with the exception of Czechoslovakia, there is no record of a country disintegrating into its constituent parts peacefully. They should save Nigeria having to experience and live through such a great unknown.

“Nigeria as it is, has come to stay. The issues that unite Nigerians are more important and certainly more numerous than the few that divide them.

“In any event, there will be no winner in such war that these doomsday prophets are advocating. A free-for-all internecine conflict in Nigeria will take on the character of several different battles-an

inter-regional, intra-regional religious war between Muslims and Christians; an ethnic war fueled by pent-up tribal grievances within a single state or across the boundaries of neighbouring states; an indigene-settler, farmer-nomad war of attrition and an all-out war between the haves and the have-nots across the length and breadth of the country ‘’It will be a war without a warfront, because the whole country will be the theatre of battle and every inhabitant a reluctant warrior. And it will be a general war with an unprecedented number of casualties that, in addition, will cause large-scale suffering in

which several millions of internally-displaced persons will be rendered homeless and many more refugees will be forced across Nigeria’s borders into neighbouring countries.”

On Boko Haram, the governor said: “As far as I am concerned, the activities of the group give its members away as animals, and our society must find a way of dealing with it. Anyone who takes up arms against the people and the state is nothing but a criminal, whether as Boko Haram, Niger Delta militants or any other group that might be fomenting violence.

“The Boko Haram insur-

gency is a product of poverty.

We Muslims know that the greatest sin anyone can commit is to take another person’s life. The sect’s members must have been wrongly indoctrinated to kill in the name of religion.

Responding to a question on speculations that some northern governors are behind the sect, he said: ”Any governor who has sworn with the Bible or the Quran is duty-bound to protect lives and property, ensure justice and equity and provide social amenities. And any one who has not done these has failed completely. ‘’Therefore, if there is any governor involved or behind Boko Haram, God will catch up with him, because human lives are sacred, so no one has the right to take the lives of fellow human beings.”

Supreme Court affirms Borno, Zamfara governors’ elections •PDP faults judgment

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HE Supreme Court yesterday affirmed the victory of both Borno and Zamfara state governors in the April 26 governorship elections.

The apex court held that failure of the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal to hear the petition of the Borno Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its governorship candidate, Alhaji Mohammed Goni within 180 days robbed the tribunal of jurisdiction to hear it.

Borno Governor, Kashim Shettima, and his party, the All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP) had gone to challenge the decision of the Court of Appeal which restored the petition of the PDP and Goni.

Although the tribunal had on November 12 dismissed the petition because the petitioners failed to file the requisite application within the stipulated period for the pre-hearing notice, the appeal court last December upturned the judgment.

It ordered that a fresh panel should hear the petition on its merit.

Citing Section 285 (6) of the 1999 Constitution, Justice Walter Onnoghen in the judgment set aside the judgment of the Appeal Court.

He said: “It follows that where a tribunal fails to comply with the above provisions, the jurisdiction to continue to entertain the petition lapses or becomes spent and cannot be extended by any court order howsoever well intentioned, neither can a court order create and confer jurisdiction on any court/tribunal on any matter where jurisdiction has not been conferred either by statute or the Constitution.

“It is my considered opinion that by the lower court ordering a retrial which had ceased to have jurisdiction in the matter, it attempts to create jurisdiction in the said tribunal by operation of a court order which is not only very erroneous but unacceptable.

“It is very worrisome that despite the decision of this court on the number of days which the Electoral Act had provided for a tribunal to sit over election appeal, which is 180 days, some of the justices of the lower court are making an order for retrial.

“Where will the tribunal get the jurisdiction to sit again after the expiration of 180 days?

It is, therefore, my view that

From KAMARUDEEN Ogundele, and Augustine EHIKIOYA, Abuja the tribunal has no jurisdiction to retry the petition.

“I therefore find merit in this appeal and it is hereby allowed. The decision of the Court of Appeal is hereby set aside and the judgment of the election petition tribunal is hereby affirmed,” Justice Onnoghen said.

In the Zamfara appeal, the apex court also upheld the victory of the ANPP candidate, Governor Abdulaziz Yari.

The PDP had approached the apex court, praying it to reverse the concurrent decision of the two lower courts.

Delivering the lead judgement, Justice Muntakar Commassie held that both the tribunal and the Court of Appeal have done sufficient justice to the petition and therefore alligned himself with it.

“I have gone through the processes filed and heard the argument of cousel and I have to a conclusion that the appeal lacks merit. The judgement of the lower court is hereby affirmed,” Justice Commassie held.

However, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday faulted the ruling of the Supreme Court.

In a statement issued yesterday by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Prof.

Rufai Alkali, the party said that its petition, which was based on verifiable irregularities in the election, was dismissed on technical grounds by the apex

•Borno State Governor, Kashim Shetima (middle) jubilating with his supporters after the Supreme Court ruling in his favour in Abuja yesterday.

PHOTO ABAYOMI FAYESE

court.

The statement reads: “The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has received the Supreme Court judgement dismissing our petition in the govenorship election in Borno State with deep sadness and utter disappointment.

“Our sadness stems from the fact that our well marshalled petition, which was based on verifiable irregularities, was dismissed on technical grounds. We share in the disappointment of the people of Borno State whose mandate was brazenly usurped in the 2011 elections.

We, however, urge them to

remain calm, law abiding and stay focused on the next election.

“Meanwhile, our attention has been drawn to reports in several media outlets purporting that the Supreme Court has declined the PDP application for a consequential Order on the Governorship of Kogi State.

“In order to clear all doubts emanating from the reports, we wish to make it abundantly clear that the Peoples Democratic Party is not a party to any suit before the Supreme Court regarding the Kogi State governorship election. Neither have we sought any conse-

quential order, because there is no reason to do so.

“The situation in Kogi State is very clear and unambigous, and we therefore do not require any interpretations or consequential orders to validate the election and swearing in of Governor Idris Wada.

“Nigerians will recall that Governor Wada emerged from properly conducted primaries and took part in an election duly conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the 3rd of December 2011. By the time the Supreme Court ruled on the tenure of five governors, Governor Wada was already

issued a certificate of return by INEC and was only awaiting his swearing-in.

“Governor Wada on the directive of INEC has been duly sworn in and has assumed his legitimate duties as governor of Kogi State. We therefore have no reason to resort to any form of litigation to establish the facts. ‘’In the meantime, the Party shall investigate the circumstances involving the so-called suit with a view to unravelling those behind it. This is neccesary in order to call anyone inloved to order if he or she is found to be a member of the PDP.”

Sokoto elects new governor today amid tight security

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RMED policemen were deployed in the streets of Sokoto State yesterday ahead of today’s governorship election.

In the race are the immediate past governor, Alhaji Aliyu Wamakko, who is flying the flag of the PDP; Alhaji Yusha’u Ahmed Kebbe of the ANPP; Alhaji Abubakar Yabo of the CPC and Alhaji Garba Ila Gada of the DPP. The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Baba Bolanta, said no fewer than 5,000 police officers and men would be on duty all through the election to “ensure a proper security arrangement that will guarantee peaceful

Adamu SULEIMAN,Sokoto and Augustine EHIKIOYA,Abuja

conduct of the exercise.”

Materials for the poll have also arrived Sokoto for onward distribution to the 23 local government areas and the wards.

About 628 observers from Project Swift Count (PSC) have also been deployed for the poll.

The first Co-Chair of PSC, Dafe Akpedeye (SAN) said in Abuja that the group would use the swift count methodology it adopted for the 2011 general election and the recent governorship elections in Kogi, Adamawa and Bayelsa states.

He said: “For the Sokoto election, PSC will deploy a total of 628 observers to observe the process, and 600 of these observers will be deployed to randomly pre-selected polling units spread across the 23 local government areas of the state. The remaining 28 are mobile observers. All the observers have since been accredited by INEC. “The observers were also trained for this purpose in 24 centres spread across the state.

The training, which was rounded off on Wednesday, was organised in order to ensure that the governorship election is adequately observed in line with the PSC’s

mandate of building the confidence of voters in the election and promoting free, fair, peaceful, credible elections in Nigeria.

“The major advantage of the swift count methodology is that it provides more representative and accurate information about the electoral process in real time to voters, political parties and INEC. This is so because it involves the use of information and communication technology (ICT) and statistical principles.”

He asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct the election “transparently and ensure

fair treatment of all political contestants and citizens, political parties, civil society and domestic monitoring organisations, media and security services.”

The commission, he added, should “ensure that electoral officials and materials are deployed early enough to the polling units so that the accreditation and voting process begin as scheduled. This will help to achieve confidence in its operations. ‘’The commission should also guarantee the secrecy of the ballot, which in PSC’s estimation has continued to be a huge challenge.”

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2012

Madalla bombing suspect, Bama, linked to Mogadishu Barracks explosions •Panel sends report on Zakari Biu to IGP

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•From left: Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, Secretary to the Ogun State Government; Barrister Taiwo Adeoluwa and the State Commissioner of Police, Nicholas Nkemdeme, at the scene of the robbery incident at the Governor's Office, Abeokuta... yesterday (See story on Page 6)

N1.3tr fuel subsidy probe: EFCC awaits Senate, House reports—Lamorde

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HE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is waiting in the wings for the reports of the Senate and House of Representatives investigation of the alleged N1.3 trillion spent on fuel subsidy last year by the Federal Government.

The reports are to guide the EFCC in taking appropriate action on the matter, its Chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde said yesterday in Abuja.

Lamorde told a delegation from civil society organisations led by African Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ) that the commission is ready for partnership with any individual or group.

He said the ongoing petroleum subsidy probe is in the larger context of combating economic and financial crimes in Nigeria.

He said the Commission is desirous of getting information from other CSOs to enable it achieve the mandate of looking at the subsidy regime and its management in the past.

Lamorde added: “I am aware that the House has concluded its proceedings. But we also know that the Senate probe is still ongoing.

“We are waiting for these two reports and we would merge their reports with the KPMG report.

“We are just waiting for the two chambers to conclude their investigations before we can move to the next level of our investigation. But as it were, we have gone very far.

“We would welcome you at any stage to support us with any information you have, which will enrich the job we are doing.

“We have accepted the offer of collaboration which you initiated. We would work out the terms of collaboration. We would also welcome any CSO which you know in this area.

We would also appeal to you to introduce us to any other CSO you think is credible. But like you said, we partner with CSOs, we don’t sponsor CSOs.” The EFCC Chairman said the Commission has been able to get a lot of materials from independent sources that are involved at different levels of the administration of the

Yusuf ALLI, Managing Editor, Northern Operation subsidy regime.

He listed the independent sources as Tank farm operators, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Department of Petroleum Resources, (DPR), Customs and the Nigerian Ports Authority(NPA) among others.

In his response, the Executive Director of ANEEJ, Rev. David Ugolor, said his organisation is one of the leading civil society organisations working on revenue transparency in the extractive sector in Nigeria.

He said the group came to identify with the leadership of the EFCC and to follow up what the EFCC is doing and to support Lamorde to succeed.

He added: “Prophetically, I have told Lamorde that we would need to work together The same Nigerians that would want people to succeed in office will not give the necessary support needed to succeed in office. That is why we are here to partner with you.”

He commended Lamorde for the work he has been doing and said Nigerians are comfortable with his leadership of the EFCC. He, however, warned that he should be wary of executive interference.

Ugolor disclosed that ANEEJ was working on several issues around the reforms in the oil and gas sector.

“We are also presently one of the leading civil society organisations working on the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), and we have participated in several EFCC-organised activities both nationally and in the South-South.”

The EFCC had recently summoned 38 oil companies over N1.3 trillion allegedly spent on fuel subsidy in 2011.

The firms and the amount of money they received last year alone are as follows: Oando Nigeria Plc, N228.506 billion; Integrated Oil and Gas Plc, N30 billion; MRS, 224.818 billion; A.A. Rano, N1.14 billion; A-Z Petroleum, N18.61 billion; A.S.B, N3.16 billion; Arcon Plc, N24.116 billion; African Petroleum, N104.58 billion; Aminu Resources,

N2.3 billion; Capital Oil, N22.4 billion; Con Oil, N37.96 billion; Avante Guard, N1.14 billion; Avido, N3.64 billion; Boffas and Company, N3.67 billion; and Brilla Energy, N960.3 million.

Others are: D. Jones Petroleum, N14.86 billion; Downstream Energy, N789.648 million; Dosil Oil and Gas, N3.375 billion; Inco ray, N1.988 billion; Eternal, N5.574 billion; Folawiyo Energy, N113.32 billion; Frado International, N2.63 billion; First Deepwater Oil, N257.396 million; Heden Petrol, N693 million; Honeywell Petrol, N12.2 billion; AMP, N11.417 billion; Ascon, N5.271 billion; Channel Oil, N1.308 billion; Fort Oil, N8.582 billion; Enak Oil

& Gas, N19.684 billion; Bovas & Co. Nig Ltd, N5.685 billion; and Obat Oil N85 billion.

Abe also named IPMAN Investment Limited, N10.9 billion; ACON, N24.1 billion; Atio Oil, N64.4 billion; AMP, N11.4 billion; and Emac Oil, N19.2 billion.

In 2006, only MRS, Total and Oando were listed as beneficiaries of the fuel subsidy recognised by the Federal Government. The three companies were said to have been listed as “major marketers.”

But in 2007, AP and Mobil joined and were listed under the category of majors. The same year, NIPCO was introduced and listed under the category of petrol depot owners.

HE suspected Boko Haram leader, Habibu Bama,who was declared wanted on Wednesday by the State Security Service (SSS) is also believed to have played a major role in the October 31, 2010 blast at Mogadishu Cantonment in Abuja.

The man described as an exsoldier was originally declared wanted in connection with the Christmas Day bombing of St.Theresa’s Catholic Church, Madalla.

But fresh facts at the disposal of investigators suggest that he has questions to answer in respect of other operations carried out by the Islamic sect.

There are also strong indications that the Force Disciplinary Committee (FDC) has submitted its report on Commissioner of Police Zakari Biu and five others to the Acting Inspector-General of Police, Alhaji Mohammed Dikko Abubakar.

The six were tried for the escape of Boko Haram leader, Kabiru Sokoto from custody on January 16.

The Police Service Commission (PSC) last night said it was awaiting the report from the IGP. Investigation by our correspondent revealed that Bama had been on wanted list since the bombing of Mogadishu Cantonment.

A source told our correspondent that “the suspect, who retired from the Nigerian Army as a corporal or so, was fingered in the bomb explosions at Mogadishu Cantonment.

“According to findings, he has been operating with other deadly members of the sect within Abuja-Madalla-Suleja axis. But he has a way of disguising and relocating after committing any crime against the state.

“So, the arrest of Bama will

Yusuf ALLI, Managing Editor, Northern Operation help dig into the series of bombings in these areas. You can imagine why the SSS has launched a manhunt for him.

“And given the kind of dynamic leadership at the SSS by the current Director-General, Mr. Ita Ekpenyong, and the sophistication of the service, the agency will soon get Bama.

“The challenge we have now is that since security agencies are closing in on Boko Haram members, their key leaders have gone underground.

“That is why the SSS, the military, the police and other intelligence agencies are not taking anything for granted.”

Another source said the FDC had submitted its report on the escape from police custody of Kabiru Sokoto.

Said the source: “The report has been sent to the Acting IGP for vetting and tidiness before it is sent to the commission.

“The FDC was a creation of the IGP and he must get the report, make a few remarks before forwarding it to the Police Service Commission.

“Whatever is the outcome, it is the PSC that will inform the public on whether the affected Commissioner of Police Biu and others would be sanctioned or not.

“The truth is that appearance before FDC does not amount to automatic indictment or sanction.”

A top source in the Police Service Commission said: “We are awaiting the report of the FDC from the acting IGP. On or before Monday, we will get the report.

“By our schedule, the Promotion Committee of the commission will meet on Tuesday to consider recommendations for those who should be Deputy Inspectors-General of Police and others.

Supreme Court reinstates sacked Kwara CJ •Says govs lack absolute power to remove judicial officers

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OR three years, Justice Raliat Elelu-Habeeb contested her removal as Kwara State Chief Judge by estwhile Governor Bukola Saraki.

Yesterday, she got justice with the Supreme Court overturning the action of the former governor and Justice Elelu-Habeeb asked to return to her duty post.

State governors, according to the panel of seven Justices, lack absolute power to remove appointed judicial officers.

It was a unanimous judgment delivered by Justice Mahmud Mohammed.

It upheld the decision of the Federal High Court, Ilorin, which had granted all the reliefs sought by Elelu-Habeeb and said the former governor and “the House of Assembly cannot remove the CJ from office without recourse to and input or participation of the National Judicial Council (NJC).”

It also overruled the decision of the Court of Appeal, Ilorin, which said the Federal High Court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the suit.

The apex court held that since the case involved the interpretation of the provisions of the 1999 Constitution, the Federal High Court has jurisdiction.

Citing Section 271(1) of the 1999 Constitution, the apex court said: “Although the governor of a state has been vested with the power to appoint the chief judge of his own state, that power is not absolute.”

Justice Mohammed said : “That is to say for the purpose of emphasis, the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 does not give the Governor of Kwara State, acting in conjunction with the House of Assembly of Kwara State, absolute power to remove the Chief Judge of the state from his/her office before the age of retirement without the recommendation of the National Judicial Council (NJC).

“The National Judicial Council is the body that has been assigned the duty and responsibility of recommending to the governors of the states of the federation suitable persons for appointments to the offices of chief judges of the states and other Judicial officers in the states.

“The same National Judicial Council is also empowered under Sub-paragraph (d0 of paragraph 21 to recommend to the governors of the states the removal from office of the

Kamarudeen OGUNDELE, Abuja chief judges of the states and other judicial officers of the states. and also to exercise disciplinary control over such chief judges of the states and other judicial officers of the states.

“Therefore, from these very clear provisions of the Constitution, which are very far from being ambiguous, the governors of the states and the houses of assembly of the states cannot exercise disciplinary control touching the removal of chief judges of states or other judicial officers in the states”.

Other members of the panel are Justices Walter Onnoghen, Christopher Chukwumah-Eneh, Muhammad MuntakaCoomassie, Olufunmilola Adekeye, Mary Peter-Odili and Olukayode Ariwoola.

Elelu-Habeeb was replaced by Saraki in May 2009 for alleged corruption and misconduct.

Dissatisfied, she filed a suit at the Federal High Court, Ilorin, Kwara State, challenging her purported removal from office.

In the suit filed through her counsel, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), she contested that only the National Judicial Council (NJC) has the power to initiate disciplinary action against her. She prayed the court to restrain the Kwara State House of Assembly and the Attorney General of the State from relying on a letter inviting her to come and show why disciplinary actions should not be taken against her on the basis of the allegations.

She also asked the court to restrain the state government from interfering with her job as the chief judge of the state.

In an affidavit accompanying her statement of claims, EleluHabeeb said all the allegations contained in a letter written

by Saraki to the state’s House of Assembly related to the exercise of her duties and powers as a judicial officer and that neither the House nor the Governor has the power to inquire into such allegations.

Neither the governor nor the House of Assembly, she said, sent her a copy of the letter which she claimed was widely published in newspapers.

6 NEWS

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N attempt by a four-man rob bery gang to steal a brand new car from the Ogun State Government Secretariat complex, Abeokuta yesterday ended as a disaster for them.

Not only did they fail in getting their target,a Toyota Camry,they also lost their operational car, a Nissan Quest marked Abuja BR 944RSH,after crashing it into the complex’s gate while trying to escape, while a member of the gang was shot dead by security men.

They had driven into the complex which also houses the Governor’s

THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2012

Robbery foiled at Ogun Governor’s Office •It’s part of the things we inherited, says Amosun •Police boss:it’s embarrassing “thief,thief,thief.”

Ernest NWOKOLO, Abeokuta Office at 9.50am,about two hours after Governor Ibikunle Amosun’s arrival.

They then moved to where the Toyota Camry was parked at the Ministry of Education, Science and

Technology,opposite the Governor’s Office.

As they set about forcing the car open, preparatory to driving it away,its security alarm went off.The owner, a woman, quickly recognised where the sound was coming from.

She began shouting

•Senator representing Ondo North Senatorial District, Prof. Robert Ajayi Boroffice (middle), declaring his intention to contest the governorship election of Ondo State on the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Akure on Thursday

‘How Amaechi brought NLNG back to Rivers’

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ANAGING Director of the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG), Mr. Babs Omotowa, has explained how the Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, created the enabling environment in the state which facilitated the relocation of the NLNG corporate headquarters back to Port Harcourt.

Speaking during a courtesy call on Governor Amaechi in Government House, Port Harcourt, yesterday, the NLNG Managing Director said: “We are very grateful for the work you have done over the years which has created the enabling environment allowing us to bring back our headquarters here (Port Harcourt) and we are finding Rivers State very conducive for our head office. We thank you very much.

“I have come on a courtesy call, having just assumed position as the Managing Director of the NLNG on February 1. I also want to mention that the NLNG did relocate to Port Harcourt about three months ago, and I am pleased to say that we have had no incident since our arrival in Port Harcourt. More than 70 per cent of our staff live in the Port Harcourt city and we have had no incident”.

Omotowa also commended Governor Amaechi’s development efforts in the state.

“We also like to appreciate all your efforts in the infrastructural development that we are all witnessing in roads, schools and health care. “ I wanted to thank you personally for many other things that you have been doing for the NLNG. We want

to appreciate the effort of your administration in terms of the support you provided in allowing us to get a few nurses. This has helped us in our drive to improve on health care support to the Bonny people. We appreciate your efforts in helping us to get land for the model secondary school in Bonny. Work is now ongoing,” Omotowa said.

Governor Amaechi congratulated Omotowa on his appointment and expressed the hope that the warm relationship his predecessor had with the Rivers State Government would continue.

Anambra becomes oil-producing state

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LL is ready for Anambra State to join the league of oil pro ducing states in Nigeria as the Orient Petroleum Resources Plc is to commence the production of crude any moment from now.

The chairman, Board of Directors and former Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, announced this while inspecting the company’s facilities at Aguleri Otu with Governor Peter Obi, Dr Alex Ekwueme, Managing Director of Orient Petroleum, Engr Emeka Nwoawka, Igwe Peter Anukwu of Mbaukwu and other stakeholders yesterday.

Anyaoku said the company was ready to start production of crude in a couple of weeks which would mark the first time crude was produced in the inland basin in the country.

He disclosed that the company’s service contractor had made significant progress in the acquisition of

Gov Orji’s aide for knighthood investiture

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OVERNOR Theodore Orji’s former Chief Press Secretary and now Special Adviser on Special Duties, Kingsley Emereuwa, will today be admitted into Knighthood Order of Anglican Communion by the Diocese of Umuahia, Anglican Communion.

Emereuwa, alongside his wife, Mercy Amarachi, will be inducted into the Knight of Good Shepherd ((KGS) by the Bishop of Umuahia Diocese and Archbishop of Aba

Amaechi said there were promises the NLNG made to the state which “they are struggling to keep”.

“I say struggle because it is more than two years since those promises were made. One of them is the secondary school you talked about. We are in dire need of that school so that we can begin to train our children with the facilities. We have completed one and about three of such schools are almost ready. We will be glad if the NLNG can complete the one it is building quickly. We will also be glad to partner the NLNG in the area of health,” Amaechi said.

Province, His Grace, The Most Revd.

Ikechi Nwachukwu Nwosu. The event is slated for 9:00a.m. at St. Stephen’ s Cathedral Umuahia will be Archbishop Nwosu’s first investiture which has already commenced with a residential retreat for all Knights-Designates. Governor Theodore Orji will be the Special Guest of Honour while Bishop Emeritus of then Diocese of Aba, The Rt. Revd. Augustine Iwuagwu will be the Investiture Preacher.

high resolution 3D seismic data over 640 square kilometres of Orient’s oil blocks OPL 915 & 916 to delineate the full extent of the hydrocarbon discoveries and prospects.

The team also inspected the 20kilometre access road to the oil wells and the 10-kilometre flow line for evacuating crude to a spot at Anambra River Basin from where evacuation of crude will be undertaken by barges to Brass in Bayelsa State.

Her fellow civil servants joined in the shouting match and the robbers promptly abandoned their mission,rushed into their operational car and sped off.

By then, the governor had been alerted about the situation.He directed that the gates leading to the complex be shut and that his security operatives and those attached to the Speaker of the state Assembly should go after them.

In the desperation to escape, they rammed their car into the gate which had been firmly shut against them.They got down from the vehicle and ran into the bush. But there was one more obstacle for them: the fence.

The unlucky one was felled by a bullet from the security operatives as he made to scale the fence.He died on the spot while the others managed to escape in spite of the canisters of teargas fired into the bush with a view to smoking them out.

Meanwhile, panic-stricken civil servants and visitors were scampering for their lives.

Their abandoned vehicle was evacuated by the Police while a locally made short gun and ATM cards were also recovered from the vehicle.

Amosun later inspected the scene of the robbery attempt and the gate.

He vowed that the fleeing suspects would be arrested and made to face justice.He commended the police for foiling the robbery.

The Governor ascribed the incident to the culture of easy gun procurement and wielding that characterized the immediate past era, stressing that it was one of the ugly things his administration met on ground.

His words: “Let me reiterate again that this administration is a product of the masses, and it is the wish of God Almighty.We know what we met on ground; this is part of the things we inherited. I told you before that to buy guns in Ogun State is easier than to buy water or a bottle of Coca-Cola, and that is the example of what we are seeing.

“Imagine if people now have the effrontery to say they want to come into the secretariat; it is unheard of.

But we are ready for them, not just at the secretariat, but everywhere in the state. So whosoever is sending them; they should tell them that their days are numbered.

The Commissioner of Police, Ogun State Police Command, Mr. Nicholas Nkemdeme, described the incident as embarrassing, but expressed joy that his men successfully stopped the robbers.

“This is one of the most embarrassing situations I have ever met. I don’t know what they wanted, and I am very happy that my boys gave them what they wanted. We are trying to find out the cause. Investigation is going on,” Nkemdeme said.

‘Petition against Suswam different from Borno PDP case’ The Supreme Court judgment on the petition of the Borno State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has no bearing whatsoever on the Benue State Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) petition against Governor Gabriel Suswam.

The former Attorney General of the state in the administration of ex-Governor George Akume, Mr. Joe Abaagu, stated this Tuesday in an interview with The Nation.

Abaagu said the clarification became necessary in the light of what he called the misinterpretation of the judgment by PDP officials on Benue State radio.

“There is no relationship at all between the Borno State PDP petition and the ACN case against Suswam,” he said, adding that “it is mischievous for anybody to insinuate that the ACN case will be similarly

treated.”

Abaagu said the courts treat cases on their merit and that external interpretations like what the PDP and Suswam’s associates are doing on Radio Benue are never taken into consideration.

He urged ACN supporters not to be swayed by the misinterpretation but be hopeful of victory.

Abaagu, who is one of the senior lawyers arguing the ACN petitions against Suswam, accused the PDP of trying to influence the decision of the Election Petitions Tribunals.

“They are chasing shadows and will fail like they did at the Supreme Court which last year ruled that the ACN petition be retried by a new tribunal after they had equally boasted that victory will go their way,” he said.

SNC: Jonathan wrong — Tinubu Continued from Page 2 Ijesaland, His Prime Minister Obanla Ogedengbe; Alhaji Arisekola Alao; Ijesa leaders and clerics, and well-meaning people in Osun State for the honour bestowed on him.

He also thanked Dr. Banire, who he described as a worthy ACN chieftain and lawyer who played a prominent role in the liberation battle in Osun State, which culminated in the restoration of Aregbesola’s stolen mandate.

Tinubu thanked the members of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) at the ceremony, especially Pastor Enock Familusi, saying that their presence signified religious unity in Ijesaland. He said he would contribute to the successful implementation of the projects embarked upon by the Ijesa Muslim Community for the benefit of the people.

Praising Arisekola Alao for his gestures, he said: “I stand on what Alhaji Arisekola has said. I am a politician. I was born in Islam. But since I became a politician, I kept my religion in my room. As a politician, I accommodate all religions. In Yorubaland, we must make religion to develop our society and employ wisdom to move towards progress.”

The ACN leader said he was also guided by the Bible, from which the party derived the inspiration to make broom its symbol. Quoting Isaiah 14:23 and 24, he said: “The broom of destruction will be used for those that are dishonest.”

Tinubu congratulated the people of Osun State, saying that God has given them a good and responsible government that has started combating unemployment through various intervention programmes.

He hailed the new dawn in the state, which he said had taken off, following the ouster of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from power.

Flaying the PDP leaders, Tinubu said: “PDP consumes resources. In fact, they park all the resources into their pockets to the detriment of the masses. PDP has no mercy. May God deliver Nigeria from them.”

Tinubu spoke on the negative media report about his health, saying that his enemies peddled falsehood.

He said: “They have paralysis of the mind. They do not want anything good for the country. You have done well by sweeping them out of Osun State. We should sweep them out of Nigeria.”

The former governor chided President Jonathan for attempting to divide the country, using the antics of ethnicity and religion.

He said: “The President should stop dividing Christians and Muslims. The country has never been so divided like this. We must promote unity in diversity for economic prosperity and not for economic adversity.

“The nation is divided. It is not good to yield to the agents of destruction. PDP has no programme for the people. They want to divide the country. We must not let them do that. We must reject the idea that one religion is greater than the other. Those exploiting our differences to make money and build a master-servant relationship should stop it. No ethnic or religious group is greater than the other.”

Tinubu maintained that the clammour for a Sovereign National Conference is in order, objecting to the remarks by the President that the agitation is not necessary, following the setting up of the constitution review panel.

Praising Tinubu, Aregbesola said he is a credible leader grooming the younger generation for leadership. He added: Asiwaju does not ask for any favour from those of us he brought to eminent positions. Rather, he keeps telling us to work for the progress of the people, and not for the benefit of ourselves.

“I am happy that the Muslims in Ijesaland have recognised these virtues and that is why they conferred on him the title: Agbaakin Adinni, which means ‘the leader of the valiant’. He is committed to the restoration of the rule of law and good governance in the country.

The progress should spread to Ondo, Kogi, Kwara and Benue soon.”

THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2012

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2012

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listened to the program of the 60th anniversary of the ascension to the throne of the British monarch Queen Elizabeth 11 on the death of her father King George V1 in 1952 and I was impressed by the speech of the British Prime Minister at the time Winston Churchill. After paying tribute to the dignity and humility of the deceased monarch Churchill at the end said ‘the king saw death , walked with death and at the end death claimed him as a friend.

That was Churchill’s simple way of saying that the King had battled bravely with the cancer that eventually claimed his life.

That was vintage Churchillian oratory at the end of the second world war, 1939 – 1945, when both Churchill and the King led the British people in their darkest hour of war against the fury of Nazi Germany .As a perennial student of history, let me confess in spite of my loathing of colonialism, to a grudging admiration of Winston Churchill’s leadership style and inspiring oratory which mobilized his people to overcome an opponent’s overwhelming military might through sheer courage, determination and perseverance.

It is of such leaders that I want to dwell on today in their various fields of endeavor .Whether in global politics, in the management of men and resources or the field of sports where the spirit of competition and sportsmanship dominate, such leaders and their leadership styles by acts of omission or commission determine the fate, mood and health of their followers and detractors alike.

In brief then I want to ponder today on the personalities of world leaders and what makes them tick in the way they live up to the expectations of those around them, for good or bad.

As 15 ECOWAS leaders converged for a meeting in Abuja for a meeting this week dominated by security concerns along the Sahel and the creeping menace of militant terrorism, I want to compare their gathering with my impressions at the just concluded CAF African Cup of Nations jointly hosted by Equitorial Guinea and Gabon and won by highly underrated Zambia.

I will then round up with the visit of European leaders to China for purely economic and financial reasons .But first let me draw some leadership inspiration from Winston Churchill again.

In praising the British airforce which outperformed the bigger fleet of the German air force, the Luftwaffe, during the second world war, Churchill said that ‘never in the history of human conflict have so many, owed so much, to so few.‘ However British oratory in times of war and insecurity such as we have in the ECOWAS region, in the Straits of Homuz, and the Middle East today, predate Churchill.

Leadership, politics and sportsmanship

In Shakespeare’s Henry V at the battle of Agincourt against an overwhelming French army led by the Dauphin, the young King Harry rallied his outnumbered forces by telling them that – ‘In peace there is nothing so befits a man as modest stillness and humility. But when the blast of war blows in our ears, then imitate the action of the tiger.’ ‘…Dishonor not your mothers, he said– ‘now attest that those whom ye called fathers did beget you. Be copy now to men of lesser blood and teach them how to war‘ At the finals of the just concluded African Cup of nations I cannot precisely say what inspired the Zambian national team but I am certain words like those of King Harry were ringing in the ears and minds of the Zambian soccer players as they took the highly rated Drogba led team of Ivory Coast to pieces to win the cup for the first time.

Really I had my initial grouse against the Ivorians and my sympathy for the Zambians as underdogs. My grouse against the Ivorians is pure envy of their galaxy of Premiership stars so committed to playing for their nation which is some thing so lacking at this point in time with our own national team.

In addition, the Ivorian had beaten the Eagles at the Cup of Nations final before, when we were coached by either Onigbinde or Westerhof which is poor sportsmanship on my part. As for Zambia I know they lost to us in Lagos in 1994 at the final they played after the disaster they had on refueling at Libreville, the scene of this year’s final so near the ocean of the tragedy of the departed 18 soccer heroes.

For that alone I wanted the Zambians to win and they did, to me, to propitiate the spirit of their dead at sea football idols whose souls I pray will now rest in peace. That Zambian victory is now a legend of African soccer which has been greatly boosted by the standard and quality of play at the just concluded championships co hosted by Equitorial Guinea and Gabon.

However it is the winning and never say fail spirit of the Zambian national team that I urge Ecowas leaders to adopt in taking on the issue of terrorism in the Sahel region of the sub region.

The Sahel region itself is a hostile region spreading the Sahara desert along the northern part of Ecowas region, dehydrating the envi-

ronment and creating problems of water availability and the attendant problems of violent clashes between farmers protecting their farms and nomads driving cattle looking for forage in the hostile environment.

It has been compounded by the war that overthrew Muammar Gaddafi and has made the Sahel a haven for fleeing armed former Gaddafi loyalists with means and connections in the area.

Gaddafi’s son in exile in Niger was reported to have threatened to attack the new Libyan leadership that ousted his father from his Sahel base.

Which is no surprise given the fact that his late father regarded the Sahel as Libya’s back yard and the contiguous states of Chad and Niger as vassals of Libya to meddle with impunity in their internal affairs. In addition Amnesty International raised an alarm this week that armed gangs in the New Libya are rounding up and killing randomly former Gaddafi loyalists who if they are lucky flee into the Sahara and take shelter in the Sahel.

How to control, disarm or overcome this new migrant armed gangs before they become converted to religious

and militant terrorists is the grim duty facing ECOWAS leaders even after they return to their different bases from Abuja.

It is a duty not to be taken with kid gloves in the overall security interest of the entire sub region. Definitely it is a duty not to be taken in the spirit in which Nigeria has allowed the Boko Haram contagion to spread and cripple economic activities in the northern part of the country.

It is not for nothing that Boko Haram has inflicted the greatest damage to life and property in the north east of the nation especially Maiduguri which marks the beginning of the Sahel and the contagion has spread like wildfire, unlike the creeping Sahel harboring it, to the hinterlands of the north like Kano and Kaduna and has the north west in its sights.

The Boko Haram menace should be confronted with the combined might of the national armies and intelligence services of ECOWAS states. Care however should be taken to ensure that valuable intelligence does not fall into the wrong hands as the President himself has said that his administration has been penetrated by the terrorist group and the same could be true of nations in the Sahel facing threats from Al Qada in the Maghreb which are also members of the ECOWAS sub region.

Next to China where this week Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao met two leaders of the Euro zone for a reason that is an open agenda which is how China can literally bail out the Euro zone that is in great financial distress. The two European leaders are EU President Herman Van Rompuy and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barosso. This is un-

doubtedly an uncomfortable trip down a wrong but helpful ally for the two leading European leaders whose economies combined are the largest in the world.

This is because till today, Chinese and financial gurus world wide flock to Europe’s business schools to learn or refresh their knowledge on money management and finance to make their financial institutions and economies work and deliver profits for their stake holders. Now European leaders are taking a return trip, cap in hand to beg for money from the same communist Chinese leaders they love to chastise for human rights violation.

Of course Chinese leaders have been reported to be willing and ready to be magnanimous and generous with the surprise and unusual beggars at their doorsteps. This is not surprising given that China has three trillion [$3tn] dollars nesting in foreign reserves in US treasuries. However you can trust the usually taciturn Chinese not to miss an opportunity to put their visitors in their place no matter the status of Europe as the center of global business and learning. It was left to Chinese Foreign Ministry’s Spokesman Liu Weimin to deliver the financial homily. He reportedly said on the visit – ‘Heavily indebted countries should according to their national condition adopt appropriate fiscal policies . ‘To the visitors to the Chinese Premier I congratulate their sportsmanship in realizing before it is too late that even for nations , in life’s steeple chase one must cross the hurdle as they arrive . As for the Chinese I can see them chuckling quietly and inscrutably as ever , over the Chinese saying that says – ‘ count no man lucky until his death ‘

10 COMMENTARY

THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2012

As poverty walks on two legs…

Knucklehead

The new figures released by the National Bureau of Statistics on the increasingly pauperized state of the Nigerian citizenry should be a cause for concern in a country where the gulf between the stupendously rich and the abjectly poor deepens by the day. According to the Bureau, Nigeria’s 1996 figure of 67.1 million citizens living in “absolute poverty” with less than $1 a day has now risen to over 100 million. In 2004 when the number of Nigerian citizens wallowing in abject poverty was put at 68.7 million, the sitting President at the time, Olusegun Obasanjo insensitively declared that he knew no poor people of such description in Nigeria. Lamentably, the Bureau of Statistics’ announcement of our newly attained deplorable ‘height’ in citizens’ impoverishment coincides with news about our elites’ peculiarly pachydermatous penchant for luxuries. How about the undenied report of some N1.8 billion to buy the latest jeep models for our distinguished Senators?

Sometimes, you cannot help but wonder how a country that is so blessed in human and material resources continues to breed a community of the poorest of the poor.

Well, that is one of the mixed paradoxes that have led to the stunted growth of an economy that once had (and still has) the potential of being Africa’s best. Today, Nigeria is a study in stupefaction. We need not ask the question: how did we get to this sorry pass? However, if we insist on asking, then we must be prepared to face the crying truth that we are the architects of this seemingly doomed fate. For as long as our crumbs of bread is being buttered by those whose major occupation is crass looting of the public treasury in whatever hue, we close our eyes to the long-term deleterious effect our inaction would have on the fortunes of millions other Nigerians who may never have access to the bigger thieves. It is that circle of deceit, more than any other thing, that has brought Nigeria to where it is today—on its wobbled knees!

In the recent past, former President Olusegun Obasanjo made it a point of duty to pooh-pooh and dispute any poverty index estimates that dare put 70 per cent of Nigerians as living below a dollar (about N160) per day.

To him, the figures could not have been true as they do not reflect what he called “the present realities.” Trust OBJ: he was always quick to read an imperialist’s agenda to such estimates, especially if the figures were provided by any of the multilateral agencies in the United Nations.

Even at that, experts had always cautioned against the needless shadow- chasing, noting that something should be done to halt the dwindling fortunes of the poor and vulnerable in our society. Nevertheless, the Obasanjo administration appeared to be entrapped in its fits of shouting brawl with the messenger rather than the message. He was too far gone in his majestic fancies that it was impossible for him to retrace his steps.

Five years after Obasanjo left office, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is being faced with the same challenge.

Regardless of what the economic juggernauts in the corridors of power may say about the textbook growth in Nigeria’s economy under the Jonathan administration, the NBS report indicates that the growth, no matter how minimal, is not impacting the lives of the majority as more

than 70 per cent live within the crushing limits of poverty .

The question is: why has the figure not changed for the better in spite of the various interventions by the federal, state and local government administrations to address the poverty question? The answer is very simple. Beyond the peripheral gestures where government after government scratch the surface, there has never been any concerted effort to truly address the poverty cancer in the country. In fact, in most cases, the rich have further mastered the art of stealing from the poor in grand style and with impunity. It is apparent that sizeable proportions of our budgets as well as huge potential national incomes end up in the hands of our kleptocratic elites.

Therefore,, today, we are being told by the NBS that our leopard is yet to change its skin. As at 2011, the NBS puts the figure of Nigerians living below a dollar per day at 115 million, an estimated 71 per cent of the total population. It is sad that, in spite of all the self-adulatory efforts by governments over the years, not even a minimal decrease in the poverty index could be said to have been recorded.

Let us peep through the figures to understand how low we have sunk in our failure to tackle this clear and present danger to our collective wellbeing. In his breakdown, the Statistician-General of Nigeria, Yemi Kale, said the percentage of Nigerians living in absolute poverty – meaning those who can afford only the bare essentials of food, shelter and clothing - rose to 60.9 per cent in 2010, compared with 54.7 per cent in 2004’. Noting that the situation may get worse, Kale declared: “It remains a paradox that, despite the fact that the Nigerian economy is growing, the proportion of Nigerians living in poverty is increasing every year.”

It is not necessary here to delve into the geo-political analysis of the shapes and shades of poverty in the country as revealed by the NBS. Poverty, we must know, has no ethnic, religious or geographical coloration. The way it affects the man in Birnin-Kebbi is the same way it affects the man living in the heart of Lagos.

This, I dare say, is not the time to live in self-denial, hoping

those that ‘ Unfortunately, are saddled with the responsibility of putting government on the sanity lane have become part of the problem. That is why it is very easy today for the executive to ferry out billions of naira from the public treasury without seeking legislative authority

’

With

Yomi Odunuga E-mail:yomi.odunuga @thenationonlineng.net SMS only: 07028006913

that the poverty problem will soon be a thing of the past.

The rich, no matter how much they appropriate on their personal security, can never be safe in a society where many are deprived of the basic things of life. In other climes, these things are taken as the acceptable minimum. Here, there is a dearth of infrastructural development. The ones in existence are decaying by the day, no thanks to a system with an abysmal maintenance culture. Nearly all the sectors of the economy bear the brunt of an excess luggage called institutional corruption.

Unfortunately, those that are saddled with the responsibility of putting government on the sanity lane have become part of the problem. That is why it is very easy today for the executive to ferry out billions of naira from the public treasury without seeking legislative authority. That is why graft pervades our landscape. That is why many of the probe reports on systemic corruption and grand larceny in high places are sharing spaces with cockroaches and other rodents in dark closets.

Today, poverty walks on two legs. It is no longer hidden behind the plastic laughter of its victims. You do not need to go to the innermost parts of the country to see how it debases humanity. It can be seen from our rooftop mansions, if we truly want to see it. You can feel it from the way Nigerians suffer daily to eke out a living as the privileged few pillage billions upon billions of ill-gotten wealth on fanciful toys.

You can see it etched on the faces of qualified job seekers who forever slap the streets, waiting on fortune to smile on them. It is visibly written on the faces of those little urchins that graduate into political thugs, terrorists, suicide bombers, hired killers and even, university campus prostitutes. It is almost certain that, if the system had offered them a better option, they would not cuddle that path of violence and doom. Poverty, in a nutshell, is not just about the absence of food, clothing or accommodation. It is about the little things we do to push the majority to the edge of insanity and turn them into demons of destruction. Out of that desperation, many have turned into enemies of the state. That, I believe, should bother us.

One thing is clear: If this despoliation continues unabated, those shoving off the NBS figures as just another data may have themselves to blame in the nearest future. Nigeria’ political godfathers have sown the wind and as Prophet Isaiah once stated in the Bible, the guilty elites’ offsprings shall reap the whirlwind. Each day slowly brings Nigeria closer to the reality of such observation as poverty sows deadly seeds whose harvests may make the Arab Spring so tame in contrast. And so, we ask: When poverty fights back, can the State contain the inflamed rage of the poor?

Zambia’s turning point ZAMBIA’s victory at the Orange Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Libreville has heralded a unique phase in the history of the country, bringing together people of diverse political, social, and cultural backgrounds.

The exaltation reached a crescendo when the victorious team, Government officials, and soccer fans emerged from the plane as the crowd burst into deafening applause.

Soccer fans and citizens alike started celebrations in the early hours of yesterday after that decisive spot-kick from defender Stopilla Sunzu, which effectively consigned the Elephants into second best position in the 2012 AFCON edition.

Zambians came together and broke barriers, reminiscent of the ‘Unity in Diversity’ as espoused by the World’s ‘Mother of Democracy’ India where people of varying backgrounds co-exist.

It was pleasing that Zambians had to put aside their party regalia and donned the ‘Chipolopolo’ flag and lined up the Great East Road while others thronged the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport to give the team a heroes welcome.

First Republican President Kenneth Kaunda, retired MMD president Rupiah Banda, Vice-President Guy Scott, and ministers mingled and responded in unison to the chanting crowd.

This scenario has two dimensions to it.

Firstly, the country is celebrating the victory for the first time and secondly individuals and groups of people of varying beliefs and social standing are sharing the happiness and enjoying companionship.

Yes, as President Michael Sata has said, the achievement has galvanised the country which has experienced renewed hope in the last few months.

This is the moment for the citizens to unite and fight challenges affecting the country together.

People of different political opinions and beliefs should share ideas on how best the country can overcome certain challenges such as disease and poverty.

The victory in the soccer extravaganza should offer new hope and opportunity for political arch-rivals and other people to cast aside their differences and dine together.

While this may be a one off event, it has offered an opportunity for strengthened and continued co-existence of people with opposing beliefs.

The ‘boys’ have demonstrated that with strong team work and determination, it is possible to achieve a feat that has been difficult to attain in many years.

In Zambia, therefore, we should work as a team in confronting various challenges

affecting this nation.

Afterall, many of the challenges in the country require a political solution to a large extent.

In the political arena, we have the ruling and opposition parties which should coexist for effective management of national affairs.

The collective effort can assist this country achieve that which has eluded the citizens for the past 47 years. Development, for instance, can be attained easily if all citizens moved in tandem despite their affiliations.

The Chipolopolo boys demonstrated this in Equatorial Guinea and in Gabon when they played as a unit despite coming from different teams with varied style of play.

In approaching every game, they did not play names nor did anyone of them try to selfishly stand out in order to gain fame over others.

We therefore appeal to the corporate world and other sectors of society to invest in sport and also contribute to the development of football in the country.

Stakeholders should seize this opportunity to help develop soccer and appreciate the efforts of the national soccer team by contributing through the bank accounts which have been opened for the purpose.

The victory in the ‘soccer extravaganza should offer new hope and opportunity for political arch-rivals and other people to cast aside their differences and dine together

’

The Government alone cannot successfully run football without the help of stakeholders.

Football is big business and can only run successfully if there is sufficient investment right from the nursery to professional levels.

That Zambia has emerged victorious should mark the turning point for the country is all spheres.

Source: Times of Zambia

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2012

‘My daughter can swim but she died trying to save her younger brother’ Early Monday morning, a raging storm unexpectedly hit Lagos. The impact was so hard that many lost their lives, a number of properties were destroyed. Many houses and shops had their roofs blown away. One of the most horrendous effects of the storm, however, was the loss of 10 pupils. Their boat capsized on their way to school across the Igbede Lagoon in Ojota Village, a waterside in Ojo area of Lagos near Badagry local government. JOKE KUJENYA met some of the grieving parents, who recounted their ordeal:

Divers in search of the body of the last victim

L

IFE in Ojota Village, a riverrine community in Igbede side of Ojo Local Government, near Badagry, on the outskirt of Lagos State, is like living in an Eskimo land. The enclave, housing a population of about 2, 000 Nigerians, is bereft of good life. The residents have no clean water and they are deprived of modern supply of electricity. For them, Monday, February 6, will forever be a ‘black day’.

On that Monday morning, Mrs. Nike Muyibi dressed for her young son, Muniru Muyibi, 7, a primary one pupil, without knowing it was the last time she would do so.

Her daughter, Temitope James, 17, who was in primary six, now late, bathed herself and got dressed. The mother served the little children the paltry meal she had for them. As her wont, like other women, she even walked them to the Ojota Village shore where they joined the canoe that was to take them to Igbede town for the day’s learning. It was the last time she would do that.

Neither of her two children made it to the school. And neither of them returned to their mother’s loving home.

Now, looking forlorn and lost for words, she responded to The Nation’s questions with utmost difficulty. She was surrounded by many women who had come to sympathise with her. She sat on a low stool and looked straight into the air. She recalled ruefully: “Two of my children were in the canoe that drowned on that Monday morning. They

were my daughter, Temitope and son, Muniru.

I feel so bad at the moment. In the morning, I bathed Muniru. Tope took care of herself. Then, I gave them money to set off for school. I went with them to where they took the canoe. I even greeted the canoe man. It was not his first time of picking them. The cloud was clear at the time they were leaving for their school. The weather was not windy and there was no sign of any ill in the air.

“Then, we started hearing that their canoe had been turned over by the rain. There was panic in the village. We were just crying because no one could even find his or her way to go near the sea. You can see that the pathway to the stream itself is narrow and within the weeds. One could be going there in that dark atmosphere and another thing could happen.

So, we all kept together here waiting for the weather to clear off. As a matter of fact, my daughter, Temitope, could swim but I learnt she died in the process of trying to save her younger brother. That was how she drowned.

We were told that some of the children swam their way to safety. Unfortunately, my own two children died.”

A fair-complexioned woman, who sat on a mat and was said to have also lost a child in the tragic incident, just snapped at the reporter: “What else do you want from me? The worst has happened!”

Rasaki and Alice Hassan are a young couple. They lost three of their children to the mishap. They were two boys and three girls –

‘

Our family is in a very sad mood because of my mother’s demise. She was a fish trader at Igbede town. In fact, she could swim. But the way the weather turned dark that sad Monday made things difficult for her. She was in the same boat with the children

Hafiz, 13; the eldest, Koyum, and Hayisat Hassan. She also said that there was no rain at the time her children left for school. Like the other woman, she was with her children at the shore to bid them farewell. “It is now like a dream for me to know that I will never be able to wish them ‘bye’ again. We were told that they were near the shore when the wind began.

The canoe man lived on the other side of the sea.”

Aged Alhaj Asimotu sat alone in her room when the reporter got to her. Her husband was by the seaside in search of the body of their drowned son. The due lost two of their children -a son and a daughter.

Mr. Hassan, also told The Nation that the driver of the affected canoe, who comes from another nearby village, is yet to regain his composure. “We learnt he has not been himself since the incident happened. In fact till now, his canoe is still deep down under the water. It cannot even be located because most people

’

here had left the environment when suddenly the sky turned ‘black’ on Monday. The sad thing is that the children even drowned near the shore(Pointing). They were so close to the coast when the thing occurred. And that is why it is so painful,” he said as he wiped tears from his eyes.

“Lagos State government officials came here yesterday (Tuesday), and promised to build a bridge across the water, get us life boats and life jackets and I just pray they would live up to their promise,” Hassan added.

On Monday morning, a heavy rain storm which blew strong winds and turned the weather black, upturned and capsized the canoe conveying about 18 pupils and two adult women from Ojota Village to Igbede town. Another report had it that one of the older women got panicky, rose up from the canoe on seeing the turbulent weather and made the canoe to lose balance; and then, they lost the balance.

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2012

•Alhaja Asimotu Hassan ... lost two children

•Mrs. Basirat HassanAtiku

•Mrs. Muyibi

•Rasaki

•Obanla

•Musibau

•A church felled by the storm in the village

•The bodies of two of the victims covered with palm fronds

One of the women, the late Madam Hassan, 60, is said to be the wife of the fourth Baale of Ojota Village, Baale Hassan. She was on her way to Igbede town to trade. The pupils were on their way to school. The other woman usually came from Ileba to Ojota to buy fish which she resold in her own neighbouring community.

On getting to Igbede village about 2.20pm on Wednesday, The Nation reporter was told that there were no canoes travelling to Ojota Village at that time of the day. “Canoes operate at high peak in the mornings and evenings.

That is the time of the day people get out to work or school and then, they return home,” a paddler offered.

He had by then tied his canoe to a tree and was standing with other men discussing the incident that had bound them all together in grief. When asked how one could get to speak with some of the parents, he showed the reporter two men who had just finished discussing with the divers about to set out in search of the remains of the last body to be retrieved.

Mr. Dauda Hassan, 60, paced up and down issuing instructions to the divers. He looked worked up and unsettled begging for a few minutes to be with the reporter. Wearing a crème coloured T-shirt with a while cap, Hassan old The Nation that he was yet to find the remains of his son, Abdulfawaz Hassan, 8, a primary 3 pupil.

“We found two bodies this morning and we are looking for the very last child. Eight of them

have been buried already. And that is why I am working with the divers. We have no school around the waterside area in Ojota Village.

This village, as we were told, is about 200years or more. We have had series of leaders emanate from this community to serve in various capacities in Nigeria.

“The only school we have for our children is in Igbede town. That is where they go every day. Then, the nearest town to our own, Esofin, has a school. But it is very dangerous for our children to get to that place to school because the road to the school is hilly and rocky. It would also take the children about two hours because of the distance. That is why our children come to school in Igbede here, which is considered a town. We got the body of my daughter, Ramat Hassan, 12, a primary six pupil, who was also in the same canoe, and could swim, but died in the bid to rescue her brother.”

“Are you saying that there are people living beyond this wide range of leaves?” Dauda was asked.

“Yes, we even have a Baale and chiefs,” he affirmed. “We have called for help from the government several times. When this happened on Monday, Governor Babatunde Fashola sent some of his officials here to pledge and assure us that we would soon get a fleet of flying boats and life jackets so that there would be no such occurrence in our enclave here.”

Where is your wife now? “She’s in the village, still mourning. I just pray to God to help me console her. It is not easy for her to lose two

children at once. She’s not a young woman and how can those children be replaced? By now, we have seen 11 of the bodies; but yet to get the twelfth body?”

Next to speak was a young man called Mr. Musibau Aminu, 30. “My son was Michael Aminu, 8. He was a primary one pupil. The other school is in Esofin Village and most of our children are too young to be sent to such a place. Even if adults were to go there, it would take a trip of about two to three hours. There is no assessable road. And the mountains along the way were ever seated in the waters. And the place is also bushy. The school our children attend is a public school whereas private schools in this area are very expensive.”

Several people sat inside the palace of the Baale of Ojota village, Baale Hassan, to condone with him on the demise of his wife, Madam Hassan, who got drowned in the Monday incident. Among the lot was the daughter, Mrs. Basirat Hassan-Atiku, 40, who spoke for the family. She narrated the incident as she too said she was told.

“Our family is in a very sad mood because of my mother’s demise. She was a fish trader at Igbede town. In fact, she could swim. But the way the weather turned dark that sad Monday made things difficult for her. She was

PHOTOS: Joke KUJENYA

in the same boat with the children. They had all left about 7.00am before the clouds even formed let alone the rain starting. The students were usually beaten when they get to school late. There was also another woman from a nearby village called Ilegba, who came to this town to buy her wares to be sold elsewhere”.

“Our tears will know no end,” chipped in a community leader, Mr. Obanla, who spoke for the fathers in the community. “With this incident, it is obvious that we now need a school in this village as a matter of urgency.

And we will be happy if the government can now begin to consider us in the scheme of things. I was born in this village but now live with my husband elsewhere, where I teach.

But this village cannot be left like this. We also need good drinking water, health centre. Also, our younger ones have no jobs and means of livelihood. We need these things to be corrected. Losing 10 children at once in a community is as worse as shutting down all the mechanisms of existence. We are sad. We are so very sad,” he repeated.

Obanla, a school proprietor in Ojo, who hailed from Egan Community, Ojota Village, called on the sons and daughters of the town, who are now in positions of leadership both by appointment and in elective offices to remember their roots and build the community.

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2012

N

ATURE swept furiously through the sprawling metropolitan city of Lagos on Monday morning leaving in its wake deaths, destruction, tears, sorrows and pains. It came exactly seven months and five days after the state was dealt a hard blow, precisely July, last year when a torrential rain brought to the fore the vulnerability of man in the face of nature.

Then, a downpour that started at about 5.00am on Sunday, July 10, 2011 and which lasted throughout the day, left most of the major roads and streets flooded. The floods brought all economic, social and religious activities to a standstill as motorists had to ‘sail or swim’ through flooded roads while pedestrians waded through shoulder-high rain water.

But in this particular case on Monday, it was in the form of a gusty windstorm. For Lagosians, accustomed to waking up and hitting the roads as early a 5.00 am daily, it was a day not to be forgotten in a hurry. Those who were already on the roads had it rough as the blistering wind made driving impossible, while some not so lucky had their vehicles damaged by flying objects whipped into uncontrollable flight by the windstorm.

Eye witness account described it as a ‘mighty whirlwind’. Mr. Olumiyiwa Olukunle, an insurance executive who lives in Magboro, an outskirt of the metropolis along Lagos /Ibadan Expressway in Ogun State, said “it came rather too quickly for anyone to anticipate. There was no forewarning, not even the slightest sign of a cloudy sky. As I came out and joined the expressway, I drove as far as Ogudu before joining the Third Mainland Bridge, yet there was no sign that anything was going to happen.

“But all of a sudden, it came like a big whirlwind; all of us in different cars, hurrying to get to the Island, as usual to avoid the morning traffic gridlock, were all held down. Suddenly we saw those electric poles smashing to the ground.

So we all stopped, praying that the world would not end this way, because it was like the world was going to end as it were. I can say the whole thing lasted for just about 40 to 50 minutes. It was terrible.

“The aftermath was a terrible traffic snarl and we later heard that it had removed many roofs and wreaked so much havoc in the Mainland. I just pray I don’t experience another type of such a terrible wind again”, was the way he described it.

The areas worst hit included Alagomeji area of Yaba in the Mainland, Obalende and Ikoyi axis, Ijeshatedo, Ago Okota, Jakande and Bucknor Estate in Ejigbo, and the riverine community of Ojota in the Otto Awori Local Council Development Area.

In the Mainland area where the windstorm wreaked untold havoc, particularly in the Alagomeji axis, those affected were still frantically trying to come to terms with their plight on Wednesday. Residents of Tokunbo Street and other adjoining streets had a rough and terrible experience that Monday morning. Here, roofs of sundry buildings were blown off, electric poles went tumbling down and fence walls crumbled like packs of cards.

On Wednesday, when The Nation visited the area, it was obvious that those affected had been contending with a serious situation. From one house to the other, and from one street to another, frantic efforts were on to re-roof the houses affected, and importantly fix their lives that were badly jolted that Monday morning as their belongings lay scattered here and there.

At No 9, Adebiyi Street, Off

•A mast falls on electricity poles

•Another mast uprooted by the storm

•A victim killed by a fallen mast

‘Suddenly we saw those electric poles smashing to the ground’ •Lagos residents relive horrors of Monday’s windstorm Augustine AVWODE and Gbenga KUTELU Tokunbo Street in Alagomeji, Yaba, the situation of the occupants of the first storey building was pathetic.

With about five artisans working on the roof, one wonders how the occupants had managed to live, exposed directly to the elements for two days.

Even though none of the occupants agreed to oblige us with his or her names, they all had tales of woes to

tell.

With the man of the house already out, a young lady who spoke to us described the experience simply as “nasty”. She said it would be the last thing she would wish her enemy. In her words: “I can’t tell you my name, it is not important, the person who should have spoken to you has already gone out. But you can see things for yourself. All of us have been cramming ourselves here since Monday. If you were here yesterday you wouldn’t probably be able to

stand here because everywhere was smelling. You know the rain that followed the windstorm just soaked everything here and here we are, you can see.

“You just imagine being in the bathroom there, taking your bath and all of a sudden, you feel like the house was going to collapse and before you know it, the roof above you has been removed and heavy wind smashing against you, right there in the bathroom. You manage to come out only to see the sitting room, bed room and

kitchen all exposed to the sky and a gusty wind. Everybody running helter-skelter, it was terrible.

“It removed, for instance, the air conditioner and threw it away from the wall. We were all just perplexed, just ensuring that we were not hurt and after everything, we started sorting things out. It just turned the house upside down but we thank God we are all alive”, was her version.

An elderly woman, simply referred to as Alhaja, said they were just two or three minutes into the morning

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2012

•Electricity poles felled by the storm

•A roof caves in

•A giant billboard falls on a car

•A roof blown off

prayer when the windstorm started.

She spoke in Yoruba and one can feel the anguish in her tone. She explained that she had never experienced anything of this type before and that it was very shocking to her as she could not describe what actually happened.

According to her, “We were praying here and all we heard was a bang.

Something smashing unto the roof, everywhere and before we knew it, all the roofing sheets were flying in different directions and the rain

drops petted us hard. It was terrible!

Imagine going to bed with a roof over your head and waking up only to see that there is no more roof.”

Alhaja explained that the house, new by all standards with sparkling tiles and painted walls, was finished last year. She revealed that about N300,000.00 had been spent as at the time The Nation visited the place and that by the time the work is completed, about N500,000.00 would have been spent.

Back to Tokunbo Street, artisans were also at a two-storey building affected by the storm, trying to fix things up. The owner and occupants of Plot 15, Tokunbo Street, have God to thank for sparing their lives. The roofing sheets of the two-storey building, which according to the owner, an elderly man from Onitsha, Anambra State, could have done more damage to cars, buses and even people on the ground floor. The roofing sheets flew off and smashed

against the next building, a bungalow said to belong to the same gentleman.

Chief, as he was addressed but who would not oblige us with his name, said the damage he suffered on account of the windstorm would not be anything less than N2.5 million.

“My boy, it was a very bad experience o, it was very terrible. But I give God the glory that no life was lost here. You can see the whole area turned upside down. I was in there

with my children, that is, my grand children when it started.

“All I could do was to gather them and hold them together to ensure that they do not become too panicky which could lead to something else.

You know, they were screaming and crying, but thank God. I have never seen such a thing before. It is like one suddenly waking up to find himself in the middle of unbudgeted expenses that would be at least N2,5 million.

“These long spans (roofing sheets) are imported. Come and touch them and see for yourself, not to talk of other things up there. I have asked them to bring the camera so that you can see the extent of damage as captured immediately after it happened.

We have been working since that Monday but I want to be able to fully appreciate the trauma we have gone through here.

“Mercifully, none of the about five cars was destroyed except that one there. We had to move them out immediately as it was raging and they are expensive cars, if anything had happened to them with this damage already done, then the cost could have been terrible”, he explained.

The fate that befell the occupants of No 13, Tokunbo Street, another twostorey building, is even more pathetic. The front wall serving as a fence was completely pulled down exposing the compound to the public. Curiously, none of the occupants was ready to talk to the press. An elderly man said to have suffered much of the devastating fate, parried questions thrown at him and directed us to other occupants who also were not in the mood to speak to The Nation.

Residents of Ayinde/ McEwen streets by Home Economic Centre, Alagomeji, Yaba, have very harsh words for the authorities of the Power Holden Company of Nigeria (PHCN) over their refusal to attend to the about four electric poles that were felled by the windstorm. With all the cables sprawling on the ground and the inherent danger in it, residents berated the establishment for not being alive to its duties.

They lambasted PHCN for caring very little about the safety of their customers.

Mr Adio Oderinde, an auto mechanic, who spoke in Yoruba, rebuked the authorities for not showing concern for “our safety and that of our children”. He accused them of only being particular about collecting money. In his words: “This NEPA (PHCN) people are not interested in what happens to us. See their cables lying down here since Monday. What is today’s date? Is today not Wednesday? Now if one mad man should go and switch on the light now, don’t you know what will happen? May God not let us see any evil, but the fact is that they are not concerned about our safety. If it were to be their money, they will know how to collect”.

A food vendor, Kemi Omoboriowo, called for the sacking of the supervisor of the area. She labelled whoever was in charge and who should have the authority to get the cables cleared as a ‘murderer”. Speaking in a combination of Yoruba and smattering English, Mrs Omoboriowo went philosophical, wondering how the nation can move forward when officials paid to do certain jobs refuse to do them.

“The man that is supposed to do this work must be a murderer, if not, how can somebody allow these (cables) to be on the ground up till now? Can’t they come and remove the cables first? Please, help us to appeal to them to come and fix this thing; we have children, we also work in this place. This is our home here and even if we cannot enjoy light, shouldn’t we enjoy our life?

“Please, they should not send any one to sudden death. Today is the third day and we are yet to see any •Continued on Page 51

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2012

that the energy ew kn ji na N rth Ba . of Pr , 11 20 in er of Power Before he took over as the Minist be solved within a short time. In an interactive session with crisis in Nigeria was not going to in Abuja, the minister spoke on the various measures being journalists at a leadership forum e the problem. Our Managing Editor, Northern Operations, taken by the government to tackl Chief, YOMI ODUNUGA, were there. Excerpts: YUSUF ALLI, and Abuja Bureau

t u b s r e k r o w N C H P We did not dislocate s n o ti ta s e v ti c a to s r e k r o w only sent idle ji a n N th r a B f. o r P r e w —Minister of Po C

AN you tell us exactly what the government is doing to make electricity affordable?

What I need to point out is that it is a twopronged approach that the government took in addressing the power sector reform; one is to have short term measure which has led to an improvement in what we met on the ground.

The other is for medium and long term. In terms of the short term, you can do emergency power by some other which means somebody brings the equivalent of generators and you use diesel to run them or you use some other fuel to run them and then when it comes to tariff, they will charge you about three or four times the tariff.

So, who is going to pay? That is why we have not gone that route. But if you want to build a sustainable power plant, it takes usually about minimum of two years. What we are trying to do is to see what we can do within the period before we begin to get the benefit of the new plants that are being built.

The short term measure includes recovering capacities in already existing power plants that are just there probably because one thing went wrong with the turbine or something in the power station. So we want to recover the capacities and that is what we have actually done in the last year or so. You will find that when we came on board, we had about 2800 megawatts. Now we are talking about 4400 megawatts, even though I don’t want us to be talking about numbers. But that is tremendous growth in power just within the short period and it comes from focusing on recovery of installed capacities that are just lying dormant.

Secondly, I believe that most Nigerians would have seen this; there is greater stability and people may have forgotten that it used to be epileptic power supply before now. But it is not so anymore. We are not saying that we don’t lose power but we are saying that we have greatly stabilised power on the national grid.

Thirdly, the whole system collapse that we used to have, at times three to four system collapse every month, no longer happens. In fact, I am happy to announce this year that we have not had any system collapse at all up till this moment. There was a partial system collapse once in December 2011. But it is no longer frequent because of the measures we have taken. So there is a lot going on, but what we have to say is that Nigeria is a country of 167 million people and to be talking about 400, 5000 megawatts is nothing because you really need to do this leapfrogging am talking about which is why the long term measures are important to have an appropriate investment. It is not about putting so much cash by government in it but about how the

Prof. Nnaji

system is structured to deliver power with the appropriate investment. So, we are doing all those things.

A few days ago, a national newspaper reported that the electricity tariff would be increased by over 80%. How true is this and is this a sign of what we should expect from the investors that would take over the power sector?

In terms of tariff increase, you may be surprised that it is just like paying for nothing.

In Nigeria today, the tariff for electricity is the second lowest in Africa other than Zambia which pays the lowest tariff in sub-Saharan Africa and we are not the poorest country. We can even say that we are perhaps the richest in West Africa may not by per capita. What we want is for Nigeria to be, at least, in the middle tariff-wise and what we are talking about tariffwise is for the upper income people. The urban poor and rural dwellers will not see this tariff increase because there is subsidy in place to make sure that this doesn’t happen and that even whenever subsidy goes out in some years to come, there are some cross-subsidy, that lifeline, consumers will continue to receive electricity at the rate they can afford to pay.

So it is not the same as when you had fuel subsidy issue. There is what we call C1 tariff consumers like the local welders and those that have small scale businesses will pay low tariff because they are subsidized in the regime that is in place. So, this is all properly structured and worked out as it is done everywhere in the world.

It looks as if some staff of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria have been left in the cold judging from the way they were sent to the distribution companies. The members of staff are saying that if you do so without giving them their entitlements, these distribution companies will not accept them as their liabilities. So why don’t you give them their entitlements before you distribute them?

Are the distribution companies not part and parcel of the government? The electricity that you receive wherever you are is coming from government today. The Abuja Electricity Distribution Company and Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company, Kaduna, Yola, Kano, Ibadan, Enugu, Porthacourt and Benin are all government-owned. So we are redeploying headquarters staff who are doing nothing at the headquarters to the government-owned companies and transferring their salaries and benefits to same. So how can anybody quarrel with that? Will it be better for Nigerians to be paying for somebody who is sitting in the headquarters doing nothing? I thought that the labour union should be the first to go to fight against that. That it is not good for Nigerians because, in this country, we have to do things according to the correct way it is supposed to be done according to the law.

The Act was enacted in 2005, whatever it is we are doing, we are doing according to law. So the workers in PHCN headquarters are being redeployed to various successor companies.

We are not sacking anybody, so why would we have to pay them their benefits?

When the privatisation comes on stream and it is completed, then that severance will come and at that time, it is not about transfer or redeployment to any successor company, it is about change of ownership. There will be severance from the Federal Government to terminate agreement between the government and the workers while the new agreement will

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2012

Prof. Nnaji

‘

We are redeploying headquarters staff who are doing nothing at the headquarters to the government-owned companies and transferring their salaries and benefits to same. So how can anybody quarrel with that? Will it be better for Nigerians to be paying for somebody who is sitting in the headquarters doing nothing? I thought that the labour union should be the first to go to fight against that.

come from the private-led companies to now take the same workers in as their workers.

So, it is not actually that they are being sacked from service. Where will the new owners get workers? It will have to come from these people? Secondly, if you look at that, you will find out that we don’t even have enough workers. We are going to need more. But we need competent people. So if

’

anybody is saying that we should keep anybody who is not working, I don’t think you will like that. I think what Nigerians will want to see is that we are up and doing so that we have people who are prepared to work like any other place in the world. The reason why people go to Korea and different places is because people want to work and to work hard; they don’t go to office to sit and want to be

paid.

Still on the power roadmap, is there any assurance that the Act has been reformed in such a way that somebody can generate power and sell it by himself?

This question is very important. Anybody who wants to generate electricity today can generate electricity and sell the electricity to the national grid or sell the electricity to the distribution company. There was a discussion on the River State electricity project which prompted the National Economic Council to set up a committee under the Vice-President.

They came to an agreement on how things should move forward in terms of state participation and the agreement is basically as follows: that states should be able to generate power, invest in power, domicile that power within their states if they so chose because what any governor wants is to be able to provide this service to their people. So if this state government can build a power plant, they should be able to domicile that power coming from that plant for the state. If they have excess, they can sell the excess to the grid, either local grid or national grid. So, that is agreed. Secondly, that the governments that fall within the distribution zones, out of the eleven distribution companies, can now take equity position in the new entity. Now, how will that work? Each governor says that they invested in rural electrification, they will choose a valuer between the state government and the regulatory commission.

Now, this valuer will go to value their investment and whatever that value is becomes carried interest in the successor company, so they get equity as such. If a state government wants to invest more than that carried interest, they are free to do it provided that, at the end, the joint equity position of state governments, federal government and workers will not exceed 49 per cent. So it is a business structure that makes sense. They all agreed and that is what we are following now. I want to also say that this is the first time that workers will have right to have shares in the business where they work. Right now, all the 100% shares is owned by the Federal Government. In the future, you will have workers, state, federal government and new investor having some shares.

You mentioned some sort of subsidy for the poor in the power sector. Can you tell is how much is involved and is there any guarantee that this subsidy would not end up in the prepaid meters of the rich and powerful?

Approximately N60 billion will be available this year to ensure that the urban poor and rural dwellers will not experience significant increase in tariff. Right now, they are all rated.

The distribution companies have rated all the consumers of electricity as at now. So we have R1, R2 and R3 which are the classes for the residential and you have C1, C2 and C3 for commercial and you have the industrial classification. For those that are rated, if they are using meters, they buy meters, if not in the interim and they using estimated billing system, which we want to wipe out as quickly as possible; if they are using meters, they buy credit and it is according to consumption in that area that determines the rate which they pay. So really, the consumers are known and we want all of you to monitor how it is going to work. What happens is that at the end of the month, the volume of power that went to R1 consumers and R2 would be recorded and that is where the distribution companies get their subsidy. So the market operator only pays for power consumed? There is a bulk meter that measures the amount of power transferred on per second basis to the distribution companies.

Before your appointment, you were an active player in the power sector as your company was on the verge of completing a power distribution plant in Aba, Abia State. What has happened to that project?

I keep hearing about their progress. What I heard is that, by this third quarter, they will commission. When they commission, they will become the first indigenously-owned private power company to have commissioned such a big power project because that city will now be able to have absolute reliable electricity.

We hope other cities will begin to, through the effort we are making, match what Aba will have.

The power that currently goes to Aba will now be displaced to other parts of the federation through the national grid.

In the past, other big government companies like NITEL and Nigeria Airways toed the path the PHCN is toeing now and that experiment did not succeed. Are you not setting trap for investors who might not want to accept the staff of PHCN? And if they say they are not

accepting them, what happens?

It is a different business altogether when you look at NITEL versus power. But we have learnt a lot from the inadequacies of the process they followed and this is why we are very careful not to make such mistakes. If you decide to transfer staff just like that to a new buyer, it won’t work a lot of times which is why we are talking of severance. When the time comes, all the workers that will be transferred will be severed from the system but the severance doesn’t mean sack but it means they are free either to decide to leave the service entirely because the service would have been bought out or that the new owners decide to take them in if they like some particular workers. It is likely that they will first retain all of them and see if they will perform. But now, they would be working under private sector management. So this is a very different arrangement that will happen.

So the workers cannot be really thought of being liabilities to the Federal Government or to the new owners because of this method. It is only if government is not able to pay severance that you will have that situation.

When I talk about institution set up by government to ensure that the reform works, you have the Nigerian Electricity Liability Management Company (NELMCO) set up to manage just the liabilities including the pension funds so that the pension of the workers will be paid every month because the workers want to be paid for life, they don’t want to be paid out. So these are the things that are being put in place to see that every aspect of what should happen to the workers will be taken care of, that the transition is clean and people are comfortable. So I do not see the similarity. You can rest assured that the workers will be taken care of, just that they are severed from service is what scares people and we understand it. There will also be abundance of business opportunities.

You told us here that it takes a minimum of two years to build a power plant and we can recall that since the time of the administration of the former president Olusegun Obasanjo, we have been hearing of power plants being built in this country. At some time, we were told that there were about 14 in the offing. If it takes a minimum of two years to build one, how come none has been completed at this time?

I told you that, for a period, the process was stalled for two and a half years. It is part of why the projects have not been completed, I don’t want to stand for what people did in the past, but I would want to say that at least, the stalling of the process contributed to why they have not been completed and if you look at it, if you have a contract – EPC (Engineering Procurement and Construction) contractor, you have what we call an end to end contract to build a power plant and suddenly, you have mobilised to site but there is no money released to you to continue to do anything, so you have to demobilise and you have to abandon the equipment in various places and go which is what happened here. When you come back, you now have to be paid a remobilisation money which will cost more money and you have to be paid to test the equipment purchased before to see if they are still in good condition. So, a lot of those things have to be done by the operators of what you call National Integrated Power Projects (NIPP).

But many of those projects are now accelerating to completion, we have about 10 power plants of that nature and then you have transmission, distribution project and you have 100s of different projects under the NIPP which are being managed by Niger Delta Power Holding Company. So the reason why is partly that. But truly, when you start a power plant, it means you have broken ground, the period of design which could be about a year is not included in the two years, the conception period, design, procurement period are not included. So really when you have done all these and you start the construction that you have between 18 months to two years. You have to go to a site where power plant is being built, the civil works, the mechanical, the electrical, the controls, the miles and miles of wires that would have to be laid, it is not a simple matter.

So it is only those who are being mischievous that will say that they can build a power plant in six months or eight months. They are just being mischievous, they need to go and see what it looks like. That is what I am saying, it takes a while. This year alone, we should be able to commission four power plants which should be about 1000 megawatts of power.

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2012

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•The Suspects

‘I was subjected to terrifying ordeal on Ijebu-Ode/Sagamu highway by robbers’

•The recovered cars

‘

I stopped the car and before I knew it, I had been dispossessed of the vehicle and other valuables, including four mobile phones and a sum of N50, 000

‘

ATHEW Ogbee, 36, had every reason not only to thank his creator for being alive, but for regaining his lost property. He thanked God profusely at the Ogun State Police Command, Eleweran, Abeokuta when robbers who allegedly robbed him of his new car were paraded a few days ago.

The Edo-born transporter had just taken delivery of a Honda Accord car from the port in Apapa, Lagos and he was heading towards Benin when some sons from hell robbed him of his vehicle along Ijebu-Ode-Sagamu Road.

The three-man robbery gang who were armed with guns and other dangerous weapons also dispossessed Ogbee who was travelling with one of his sister of their personal effects such as mobile phones, money and other valuables.

Luck, however, was against the robbers when a team of anti- robbery policemen intercepted them before they could escape.

Explaining the incident to our correspondent, Ogbee said the robbers manhandled him and his sister before dispossessing him of his car, including other valuables.

“On February 3, 2012, I had just taken delivery of the car from the port in Lagos State, and I was taking it to Benin in company with one of my sisters when I ran into a road block mounted by the robbers at a spot on Ijebu-OdeSagamu Road.

Then,they shouted at me saying, ‘stop the car or we would waste your life’.

“So, I stopped the car and before I knew it, I had been dispossessed of the vehicle and other valuables, including four mobile phones and a sum of N50, 000.

They even beat me to the extent that my eyes became bloodshot and if you look at my eyes and brow very well, you will see that there are scars there. The robbers indeed caused me a lot of pains.”

“As soon as they sped away in my car, I immediately reported the case to police in Odogbolu Police Division and I was promptly escorted to the spot where I was robbed. We later saw four men on a motorbike emerge from a nearby bush and they were interrogated by the police.

“In the course of the interrogation, a search was conducted on some of the bags they were carrying and some of my valuables were found on them. For example, one of my shirts in the car was found in one of their bags, including a pair of glasses I was wearing before the robbery incident.

Then, my phones were also found in their bags. The police arrested them and I was told the car was recovered a few days later,”Ogbee said.

Those arrested for the crime are Mukaila Adekoya (32), Oluwaseun Durojaiye (27) and Kareem Olowolayemo (28).

Speaking with our correspondent, the suspects claimed that they were ad hoc staff of the Odogbolu Local Government and that their presence in the area on the day of the incident was merely coincidental.

Adekoya said:” I used to be a fashion designer, but my business nosedived a few years ago.

I later got a job as an ad hoc revenue employee of theOdogbolu Local Government. We are actually towing officers attached to the council area and we look out for broken down vehicles along the highway.

“On the day of the incident, we were on patrol in the area on motorbike when I suddenly became pressed. I entered into the nearby bush to defecate when I

Kunle AKINRINADE saw the T-shirts, glasses and other valuable of the man found in my bag. I picked them from the bush because I thought that they were thrown away by someone. I never knew those items could put me into trouble.”

His explanation was echoed both by Durojaiye and Olowolayemo who claimed to be the leader of the team ,saying that they were not robbers but council staff.

Olowolaiyemo said:”Please, save us from this problem, sir. We are not robbers, and we have a legitimate job. We are revenue collectors for the Odogbolu Local Government on the ad hoc basis.

I am the leader of the team, and we were

actually on patrol on that fateful day on a motorbike when we were apprehended by some policemen.

“Unfortunately, one of us (Adekoya) had picked some items from the bush where he went to defecate without the inkling that those items were stolen items dumped in the bush by robbers.

We did not know anything about the stolen car, and it was not recovered from us at all. If you ask from people in the council area or from Odogbolu where we come from, they would confirm the veracity of our explanation to you.”

The Ogun State Police Commissioner, Mr. Nicholas Nkemdeme, said his command had been able to contain criminal activities in the state in recent times, adding that the suspects would be charged to court soon.

•Ogbee, the victim

THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2012

Saturday

THRILLER

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2012

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ENEATH the haze of alcohol and knowing glances, there was a faint stir, as of a beast in the shadow; but the handsome couple barely moved. Over half-downed shots of tequila and malted whisky, their lips kept moving. They seemed to be saying words that were very important. Hushed niceties, drawn sips, crushing imagery; they simply displaced the banality of anything happening. But that was before they leant towards each other and kissed. It was a fullcontact, no-holds-barred man on man kiss. And few seconds on, they were sucking on each other’s lips like their lives depended on it. And this was nothing strange in the club.

Three cushions away from the loving couple, a pretty boy smiled coyly as he was fondled by an older man. The latter plastered multiple kisses on his lips and neck region until he giggled out aloud and fled gleefully from the exclusive section of the club. Excitedly, his lover went after him. Few minutes later, they were checking into the club’s “Dreamland” section.

“Aren’t they a beauty to watch? Tell me, what could be wrong about all this? What differentiates us from anybody else?” said Eghabor , a selfconfessed gay rights activist and in-law to the owner of the club. Belligerently, Eghabor reeled out reasons why the Nigerian society would have to accept their “harmless and very honest lifestyle.”

According to him, more advanced societies in the world are beginning to understand why same-sex love is never an aberration. “That is why you see elite societies in America and Europe legalizing same-sex marriage. But in the face of all these human advancements, the Nigerian society chooses to remain hypocritical and uptight. I wasn’t surprised when our leaders outlawed same-sex love and marriage. Their action constituted the height of insensitivity. It’s a great shame but it’s only a temporary setback to our march for freedom and our fundamental human rights.”

At this juncture, Egbabor dismounted his soapbox to eyeball a towering hunk with a chest like punching bags. The latter must have been the date he had been waiting for all night long.

“And here comes my top,” he cooed, cocking his chin to the left and squinting his right brow. In response, the statuesque piece of manhood strolled towards us donning a smug smile. The minute he got to us, his nimble frame repelled the gyratory flicker of the club’s neon-light. And there was a clear-cut distinction between light and shadow as the animated couple melted together into one. They kissed passionately and whispered their love animatedly, like a couple capable of love in any kind of weather.

Such is the temperament at Whispers, an underground club and home to an assortment of working girls in tight nylon hot pants and shiny plastic bag weaves. However, the attraction is hardly the scantily clad girls particularly to patrons with interesting sexual preferences. To the latter, the increasing array of young, upwardly mobile men and young adults constitute a source of infinite attraction.

“There is always enough love for everyone,” enthused Eghabor, looking up casually from his date to survey the club. He seemed immeasurably pleased with the groups of bisexual and gay patrons sitting comfortably to share a drink, lusting for the chase, winding, grinding and stroking themselves in careless abandon.

But lest anyone thinks gay prostitution thrives at his club, the club owner who simply described himself as ‘Mayor’, argued that there is no gay hooker in his club. “Everybody you see here is gainfully employed. We have doctors, lawyers, accountants, journalists all coming here to unwind and have a nice time. Nobody here is a pimp. And nobody here engages in prostitution of any sort. If you are in this section of the club, you are probably gay, bisexual, transsexual or experimenting. These people here are very responsible citizens. They do honest work, vote and pay their taxes. Agreed, some are married but they may have been staying for too long in the closet and they usually like to keep it that way. We have captains of industry coming here too. So we have to be discreet. So you see, nobody here engages in commercial sex or illicit sex of any kind,” he said.

But the sex is usually the attraction as proceedings in the club revealed. Almost every patron in the exclusive section of the club was engaged in a mating dance of sort. The architectural design of the section, particularly the Men’s Room, was probably built with ulterior motives. Internally, the section was nothing but a rabbit warren of booths with doors that locked. Each of the three walls in each stall had a glory hole pierced through it. Would be users or occupants of the booths would have to crouch in its four feet square section to relieve themselves and turn from one anonymous organ to another if need be. It was no mean sight to see revelers or couples in the club’s V.I.P. section make for the booths; goings-on in the booths or toilets if you like, were hardly spoken about but there was hardly any pretence about it. There was hardly any defecating or romance going on

•A gay rights activist protests the passage of Nigeria’s anti-gay law abroad

f o s e r u s a e l p The painful s w a l t u o l a u x e Nigeria’s s Olatunji OLOLADE, Assistant Editor in the booths. Most of the visitors to the section emerged with a more shiny flush on their faces and their eyes glazed over. There weren’t any games going on there, just sex.

Mayor was actually more economical with the truth than he let on. And his reasons were probably not far-fetched. The 14-yearimprisonment prescribed by the anti-gay bill recently passed by the Nigerian Senate probably counsels him to employ tact.

But despite the club owner’s desperate attempt to protect his image and his club, some of his patrons believe that the passage of the anti-gay bill into law was an exercise in futility. According to Raphael, an architect, the move by the National Assembly may have even helped the cause of homosexual groups. “They cannot silence us. The Nigerian government ought to know that. Many see it as a spanner in the works but I see it as a necessary stumbling block meant to be a stepping stone to us,” he said.

Perhaps he is not too far from the truth. Prior to the passage of the bill, people with homosexual tendencies were hardly seen cavorting or engaged in public display of affection towards equally gay persons. But since, the lawmakers “draconian action” noted ‘Made, “brothers seemed to have rediscovered their voice with new vigour. They are no longer scared to explore the sexuality and express their individuality. It’s a very great and positive development for us all.”

If that newly discovered sexuality and expression of individuality involves more brazen and fearless display of love then so be it.

A characteristic trait of this newly found freedom is the average gay male’s expression of his right to sexual pleasure. The perceived psychological and social benefits of multiple forms of sexual pleasure with multiple, often unknown, partners as indicated by the glory hole booths in Mayor’s club as well as the rapid increase in commercial gay sex hawking has assumed more interesting dimensions.

“Brothers are not happy with the government’s anti-gay bill. That is why we are out in open rebellion over the way our sexuality is being repressed. We have decided to come out,” said Damsel, a self-confessed homosexual and gay rights activist.

Indeed, recent development within the Nigerian gay community substantiates Damsel’s claim. Several clubs and makeshift bars within and outside Lagos are fast becoming Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) hotspots.

However, a more recent trend manifests in the use of gay groups’ use of social networking sites to convene orgies and other gatherings usually of a sexual nature. A typical message on such sites is illustrated by a fair-complexioned gay adult from the nation’s southeast (names withheld), who celebrated his 31st birthday last April. His message reads: “Gay Sex SinParty Tomorrow In Lagos! on: April 07, 2011, 10:07 PM » hello mi name is …, tommorow is mi 31 birthday & i want have gay sex SinParty to celebate! all are welcum! precipitate to mi house in lagos around 8:00 pm. 14 Bailey Street, Off Ogunbekun Street, By Moshalasi B/ stop, Lagos. direction email moviescript2005@yahoo.com or call 08062780146. see u all tommorow!”

Another striking message reads: Horny sexy bottom Hi there sexy blokes, I m a horny bottom looking for a man or boy with a hung pole, my hole needs some sexual healing, it’s itching for a hot fuck. I m a rider and I will ride your cock to paradise. Interested studs can reach me at hotstud85@rocketmail.com. U won’t be disappointed.

Apparently, a prominent feature of local gay relationships is a predisposition for wild, wanton sex. This validates Edmund White’s “The farewell symphony,” an autobiographical account of his sexual dalliances. White provides illuminating insight into the way in which gay men thought about sex and sexual practices during the swinging 70s and 80s. ‘We now had a slogan’, he writes, ‘that said Gay is good and we’d stopped seeing shrinks…We thought we had a right to express ourselves sexually wherever, whenever and with whomever we chose…We thought having sex was a positive good, the more the better. We were intent on dismantling all the old marital values and the worst thing one could be accused of by one of our own was aping the heterosexual model; we were free. We didn’t fall for any of that morality bullshit.”

It’s a long way from White’s coming out era and the gay predilection for wanton sexual liaisons hasn’t abated a bit; if feelers from Nigeria are worth considering.

Further findings revealed that most gay, lesbian and bisexual persons equate sexual freedom with freedom itself. Popularly called “Cruising,” this wanton predilection for sex

manifests as a prominent and justifiable ideal for many uninhibited gay persons; it is oftentimes idealised as the true essence of the Nigerian society’s ongoing sexual revolution.

Bare-backing and the limits of sexual liberation The reality of such sexual liberation may have been a little different, both physically and psychologically. Physically, for instance, the repercussive visits and perennial trips to the clap (gonorrhea) clinic is a standard trope in fictional and factual accounts of both local and urban gay life.

There is however no shame felt or expressed by gay mates who contract gonorrhea or syphilis among other Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) as a direct consequence of random and unprotected sex. “Promiscuity” is however, a word that many gay men would object to. “It’s too subjective and judgmental to call us promiscuous. We would rather call sexual experimentation of whatever nature, adventuring,” argued Daniel a.k.a Dannyboy, a 57-year-old closeted “gay but married man.”

Despite the vigorous campaign by local health authorities and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), many gay persons would ditch the rubber and indulge in bare-backing meaning: they prefer to engage in unprotected sex.

As a cautionary measure against contraction of STDs, many have been found to maintain a diet of heavy-acting antibiotics to serve as prophylactic. “The only thing to be feared is the deadly HIV,” said wiry gay bar tender.

Equally problematic, is the latent psychological and social problems associated with gay men’s so-called sexual ‘liberation.’

These relate to what Michele Crossley, a gay psychologist, describes as the ‘masculinisation of promiscuity.’ Basically, what this means is that the whole culture fosters the brittle sexual machismo exuded by the alpha gay male which imbues him with the cultural image of the aggressive, promiscuous stud who aspires to sexual dominance by shunning the ‘feminine’ desire for intimacy, reciprocity or vulnerability.

This, for instance, is manifest in the distinction between ‘tops’ and ‘bottoms’, and the gay male stud’s contempt for the ‘bottom’ who is penetrated. And as numerous gay males admitted, Playing aggressor or top to someone else’s bottom is the role cherished by most of them.

True, in the old Mediterranean epoch, the active partner wasn’t even considered to be gay.

Related to the reproduction of traditional images of masculinity, is the disturbing element of objectification often found in

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2012

•Gay power: more LGBT persons are learning to express their sexuality

•Another Nigerian antigay law activist express his grievances abroad

•Romantic gay scenes like this have become a recurrent feature in many Lagos clubs depictions of sexual acts and encounters within gay male fiction and autobiography.

It was in relation to images such as these that the infamous Larry Kramer, a gay writer critical of the gay community’s ‘promiscuity’ since the 1970s, criticised gay men for making sleeping around “their be-all and end-all.” In his first influential novel, Faggots (1978), Kramer posed some very important and critical questions for gay culture. For instance, in this novel, one of the central characters, Fred, voices Kramer’s concerns as he despairs against ‘using my body as a faceless thing to lure another faceless thing, I want to love a Person!’ – why do ‘faggots have to f*** so f***ing much?’ As Kramer made clear in his various writings, his concern was that the ethos of promiscuous sex was “emotionally unhealthy” because “having so much sex made finding love impossible.”

But is the average gay male truly capable of love? What connotes love to the Nigerian gay male? Egbabor defines it as pure, selfless and unrestrained affection but a good many of his “brothers” simply equate it with sex.

Conforming to ‘the look’ Although some participants indicated that the gay scene gave the freedom to be, and to appear like, who they really are (and achieve a fit between their inner and outer selves, this freedom is in fact highly constrained. Not a few gay persons suffer negative experiences via discriminatory tendencies on the gay scene. For instance, the elite gay scene constituted by Lagos’ high profile nightclubs and outreach groups place a particular premium on dress, appearance, style and fashion.

The gay culture condones making judgments about people on the basis of their clothes and appearance. Steven, a 28-year-old gay male and bottom, described the gay scene as “too bitchy” in terms of its fetishes about dress sense, and corroborating him, Solape, a 24-year-old lesbian and undergraduate of a Lagos-based university, lamented that “in the gay community there is a crazy fetish about image. You have to look your best at all times. If you don’t you would hardly get propositioned. And you will never gain entry into the most elite circles within the gay community.”

The respondents narrated earlier negative experiences in which they suffered “bitchy” comments, disapproving looks and they were totally ignored because they failed to conform to appearance norms. Hence within the

regimens of acceptable looks on the gay scene, not a few gay males, lesbians and bisexuals have been forced to actively reconstruct their appearance either permanently or temporarily (in the case of those still hiding in the closet) to enjoy the right kind of look – a pleasurable, “cruising” look.

Resisting the stereotype There is no doubt a tension around conforming to appearance norms as some LGB people indicated a competing pressure to have a distinctive look, to stand out and avoid attracting undue attention at home and at work.

This category of LGBT people constitute those who are identified as “too scared to leave the closet.” They comprise married men and women, teenagers and young adults whose only avenues to express their sexuality are the exclusively rare elite and high profile clubs and cheap brothels, occasional sex parties or orgies.

Making sense of the gay code It’s impossible to belong to the LGB community without a working knowledge of their operative idioms. Terms like masculine, feminine, top, bottom, butch, athletic, soft among others are used to indicate a variety of physical and sexual characteristics.

Arguments against homosexuality “It’s simply evil and highly immoral. Every participant in such immorality is inviting the wrath of God…you see, some people, like most of our so-called leaders are involved in it. And most of them do it as part of a fetish ritual.

Their partners and victims usually die mysteriously or suffer other grievous consequences in the aftermath,” argued Timothy Olorunisola, a Pentecostal church pastor. Corroborating him, Ustaz Ibrahim Mustapha, a teacher and Muslim cleric, noted that the Quran also frowns at same-sex relationships. According to him, a true Moslem would never indulge in such acts. “If homosexual people truly believe that they are right, they will display their love for all to see but they can’t. They know that what they are doing is unacceptable in the eyes of Allah,” he said.

Seyi Awosanmi, a lawyer and proprietor of an international escort service, stated that homosexuality thrives because many prominent politicians and drivers of industry are engaged in it. “The roll call of military men,

•A gay couple pose for a memorable shot at the beach serving or retired, business men and politicians and even people in the entertainment industry involved in the act is quite interesting.

Everybody frowns at it but in private, they relish it,” argued Awosanmi.

The pains and miseries of ‘coming out’ Extortion and blackmail are fundamental realities of homosexual life in Nigeria. While both men and women are victimised under the oppressive, patriarchal systems that reign in Nigeria, they are targeted in distinct ways, according to Unoma Azuah. Azuah highlights various cases emphasizing the particular vulnerability of lesbian and bisexual women in Nigeria. For instance, Efe, a lesbian who got caught pants down with her lover by her mother, was persistently extorted by her mother. The latter demanded that her daughter buys her an expensive house not minding the setback it would cause her daughter. According to her, Efe had to compensate her for depriving her of one of the joys of motherhood, and indicated that a house in one of the best neighborhoods in town would be an appropriate gift. Eventually, Efe took out a loan and bought her the house.

In another incident, Chief Asonye, a bisexual male, was repeatedly extorted by his lover, an undergraduate, who threatened to “out” him by showing videos of their love-making including a threesome they had with his driver’s teenage son to his friends and family. The 61year-old business man and school proprietor, could not live with the shame of being “outed” therefore, he repeatedly complied with the request of his lover and blackmailer. He is still complying even as you read.

These rampant abuses, according to many LGBTs, inform the need for every gay rights activist and association to unite in a conscious bid to protect the interests of every LGBT person.

Currently, very few of us are aware of the existence of such groups. Most of them maintain undignified silence every time they suffer assault or abuse of any kind, lamented Jasmine Edah, a bisexual and single mother of two.

Thus it has become imperative according to Azuah for LGBT groups to consider the needs of LGBT persons and make themselves available to them. Azuah said: “Some lesbians and bisexual women rebuff patriarchal expectations – for instance, the pressure to marry a man – and live with their lovers, but they

have not yet formed groups which would be a visible resource for those in crisis. Instead, the networks that do exist for lesbian and bisexual women are usually informal.”

Local LGBT communities hold underground meetings weekly or monthly to discuss their problems and weigh their priorities even as most gay persons fight their fights as individuals.

Alliance Rights Nigeria (ARN), House of Rainbow, Metropolitan Community Church, and Sexual Minorities Against AIDS in Nigeria (SMAAN) all cater to the needs of the LGBT community in Nigeria and address the persecution and violence they face.

So long as there is stigma against homosexuality, LGBT people of all kinds will be at risk for extortion and blackmail argued Azuah, while stressing that the needs and concerns of lesbian and bisexual women are similar and in most cases indistinguishable from those of homosexual men and transgender people. “All of these groups will be easily victimized as long as their behaviors and identities are policed and punished by the wider society,” she said.

But even in the face of such daunting challenges and threat of statutorily imposed punitive actions like Nigeria’s antigay bill, an elderly gay male like Dannyboy sometimes shudder with immeasurable yearning “every time” he sees men as old as he is living their lives as he had always dreamed to live his’. The 57-year-old still lives as he must, taming his wildest compulsions to suit the norms of the unforgiving world; unlike Eghabor, the quintessential poster-hunk for the gay pride march. Eghabor had been called bad, evil and both oftentimes in the same breath by his “very nosy neighbours and relatives” because of the paradox his sexuality exemplifies. But the maritime executive and platinum-card member of the “hottest gay club in town” simply catches his groove oblivious to the scathing and often venomous condemnations that his lifestyle attracts.

Many LGBTs would die to know how he does it. There is no trick to it. He does not wear a Halloween face. He does not pray for strength to face his “detractors” and conquer them. He simply wishes to survive as a “young, promising and upwardly mobile Nigerian” despite his peculiar and heartfelt predilection to play as the “bottom” to someone else’s “top.”

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SOCIETY

THE NATION SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18 , 2012

Bankers' glamorous outing in Kwara The 2011 Ilorin Bankers' Committee's annual dinner and award night with the theme, 'Cashless Economy', which was postponed from last year December, was held recently at the Kingstone Grand Suite in Ilorin.

Speaking on the occasion, the Branch Coordinator, Nigeria Interbank Settlement System, Owoeye Oluwaseun, said the Central Bank of Nigeria, in conjunction with the committee, put up the initiative aimed at reducing, not eliminating, the amount of physical cash circulating in the economy to encourage more electronic-based transactions.

He said the benefits of the cashless economy included convenience of

Gbenga KUTELU

transaction possibilities, reduction in robberies and other cash-related crimes, reduced revenue leakages, thus eradicating corruption, reduction in bank operational costs, thereby reducing bank charges passed onto the customers and enhancing effectiveness of monetary policy measures to curb inflation and stabilise the economy.

The Executive Governor of Kwara State, Abdulfatah Ahmed, who was represented by the Commissioner for Finance, Demola Banu, was given an award.

Guests at the event were Mr Ishaq Oloyede, Vice Chancellor, University of Ilorin; Mr Monday Olotawo, Ilorin

Branch Controller, (CBN); Dr Abubakar Kannike, Kwara State Commissioner for Works; Mr Mas'ud Elelu, Rector, Kwara Polytechnic; Dr Bode Ogunyemilo of the Department of Family Medicine, Federal Medical Centre, Bida; Otunba Yomi Adeola, CEO, Options Trading Group, United Kingdom; Mr Joseph Oyinbo Atteh, Osogbo Branch Controller,CBN; Mr Bashiru Adebayo, Ibadan Branch Controller, CBN; Mr Muyiwa Joawo, Abeokuta Branch Controller, CBN; Mr Victor Oligbo, Benin City Branch Controller,CBN; Mrs F. Faworaja, Head Banking, CBN; Mr Lekan Adeshina, Business Development Manager, Union Bank of Nigeria and Mr Kassim Adekambi, Sterling Bank, Ilorin.

•Mr Ishaq Oloyede, VC, University of Ilorin (left) and Mr Monday Olotawo, Branch Controller, Central Bank of Nigeria, Ilorin

•Hon Kayode Abdulwahad Omotose, former Majority Leader, Kwara State House of Assembly and wife, Alhaja Olatundun

•From left: Mr Muyiwa Joawo, Abeokuta Branch Controller; Mr Victor Oligbo, Benin city Branch Controller and Mrs F. Faworaja, Head Banking, Central Bank of Nigeria

•Mr Joseph Oyinbo Atteh, Osogbo Branch Contrller, Central Bank on Nigeria (left) and Mr Bashiru Adebayo, Ibadan Branch Controller, Central Bank of Nigeria

• His Royal Highness Oba (Arc). Joshua Tunde Olutade, Oniwo of Iwo and wife, Olori Caroline Mojirola. JPG

•Mrs Racheal Ogungbayi, Business Manager, Retail, First Bank of Nigeria and Mr Samuel Ogungbayi, Ado-Ekiti Branch Controller, Central Bank of Nigeria

•Bishop Essien Inyang Effiong, former Ilorin Branch Controller, Central Bank of Nigeria and wife

•Mr Victor Inyang, Manager, Oceanic Bank, Ilorin (left) and Mr Mojeed Alimi, Service Manager, Keystone Bank

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2012

STANDh BY! Wit

VICTOR AKANDE E-mail: victor_akande@yahoo.com Tel: 08077408676 (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 th factors ther success of o Eric s.— civilisation rt Reine

SNAPSHOTS Bisi Komolafe sets to wed

Celebrities and merchandising Grace Amah plans big for son’s birthday

The irony of wanting to match fantasy is the same as wanting to reach the sky where the real stars domicile.

This has plagued many actors and singers with motive for dishonest living at the instance of drug trafficking, prostitution, robbery and other unthinkable means of wealth

WRITE TO US! Do you watch Nollywood movies? What do you think of the Nigerian motion picture industry? Send your review of any movie or short essay on any topic of your choice about the film industry in not more than 200 words. Send entries by e-mail to: victor_akande@yahoo.com or SMS your short comments to 08077408676

RMD exposes hacker

•RMD

25

THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2012

RE ELNEW S Unhinged brings Joburg to Lagos

A

DRIAN Loveland's 52 min documentary film; Unhinged: Surviving Jo'Bourg, is expected to be screened in Lagos as part of iREP Documentarry Film Forum and the Goethe Institute, Lagos's enlightenment initiative through the film medium.

The film, which aims to give the audience a small taste of Johannesburg,using the city itself as the principle characterm will be shown along several other short films dotting on the theme of Democracy and the People's Power.

Written/directed by Adrian Loveland, Unhinged will be screened from 2pm on Saturday February 25 at the Nigerian Film Corporation Lagos Liaison Office, Obalende, Ikoyi Lagos (by Radio Nigeria).

Unhinged: Surviving Jo'burg is an honest, quirky and sometimes frenzied documentary about Johannesburg, South Africa's biggest city and the world's gateway to Southern Africa. With rapid narrative, dry humour, trivial factoids, insightful observations and a highly enjoyable soundtrack, the film tells a slice-ofcity-life story.

Adrian Loveland, an entrepreneur who was born and raised in Jo'burg, is the slightly eccentric tour guide. Insights are provided through a selection of conversations with an engaging group of Jo'burgers, including Robbie Brozin (CEO of Nandos), Ferial Haffajee (editor of the City Press), Justice Malala (political analyst) and Victor Kgomoeswana (MoneyBiz founder).

Johannesburg has often been portrayed in the world's media as a death trap, or marketed as the ultimate place of gold and opportunity. In reality the city lies somewhere in between and, although Unhinged doesn't dish up all the answers, it gives a representation that enables viewers to get closer to the truth of what Johannesburg really is.

Y

OU could tell that the last show by the 12 finalists of this year's edition of Nigerian Idol reality show was a tip of the iceberg. The contestants, clothed by Nigeria's popular designers, were paired in six songs that not only brought out their potentials to collaborate, but also added dynamism to the songs being performed.

The event which brought up music diva, Waje as guest judge, got the 12 contestants; Sly1, Diwari, Chinedu, Nikki, Honey, Joe Blue, Ibinabo Romeo, Linda Giami, Mercy, Stephen Onochie and Najite to celebrate its Valentine edition with some of the greatest love songs over the years.

“It is clear at this point that Nigerian Idol has reached its most competitive and entertaining stage with the top 12 finals,” stated Project Manager Tiwa Medubi. “Everything is bigger and better this season; the contestants, the stage, the audience and the fans. It will keep getting better until our grand gala when a new winner will be crowned,” she promised.

Before the duets, kicking off the show was Stephen Onochie, who in his husky voice, gave his version of 'When a man loves a woman' . Next was A.Y.O, who, in characteristic style gave an animated version of James Blunt's 'You are Beautiful', earning him several whoops from the females in the audience. The ladies performances started with the bold and beautiful Diwari who gave a powerful rendition of Celine Dion's 'My Heart Will Go On' that earned her kudos from

Nigerian Idol unveils 12 in duet show the audience and guest judge, Waje. Sly 1 was up next with Lionel Richie's 'Hello', playing with the song in different scales and singing directly to Yinka Davies at a point. He was rewarded by Waje who sang one line of Michael Jackson's 'speechless' dedicated to his flawless performance. Nikki came next in a stunning blue dress,

singing Berlin's 'Take my Breath Away'.

Comeback kid Joe Blue set the stage on fire with his rendition of Seal's 'Kiss from a Rose'; armed with three roses, it was obvious he wowed Yinka Davies and other females in the audience with every note he sang and every rose he gave away. The self acclaimed introvert linda Giami

Gabriel Afolayan for Osezuah’s flick

A

CTOR of Ghetto Dreamz, Gabriel Afolayan is being targeted by TV Producer, Writer and Director, Elimihe Osezuah, who is set to make a grand entry into Nigeria movie scene with a new movie entitled; First Cause. Gabriel, one of the

sons of late filmmaker, Ade Love, is an actor with an unassuming disposition to different movie roles.

The movie which according to Osezuah, the Secretary General of the Independent Television Producers Association of Nigeria

(ITPAN), will transform the Nigerian movie industry is currently being shot on locations in Lagos.

Osezuah said the film is borne out of the need to take movie production to another level, using more sophisticated technologies to convey messages of social relevance. He explained that the movie will be produced on the cinematic format of 4K, using Red One with prime film lenses.

“Long before I considered the technology to use in the production of First Cause, I made sure that the story had a socially relevant message which will add value to the lives of viewers as well as entertain them. It tells a story about love, optimism, courage and inner strength.”

Osezuah said.

made it out of her shell as she sang and swayed to Stevie Wonder's 'I Just Called To Say I Love You'. While the judges commended her performance, they warned that she needed to up her game to compete favourably with others at this stage.

19-year-old Chinedu performed the Boys 2 Men's hit, 'On Bended Knee'. His dapper looks in a suit with pocket square only made Chinedu look every inch the part as he concluded his performance on bended knee.

Next was Mercy with an energetic performance of Beyonce's 'Best I Never Had'.

Ibinabo Romeo did Foreigner's 'I Wanna Know What Love Is', while Honey performed Bryan Adam's 'Everything I do'.

Perhaps the most remarkable was Najite's emotional performance Whitney Houston classic, 'I Will Always Love You', which left many in tears. Waje could not contain her emotions as she burst into tears while giving her comments. Yinka Davies praised Najite for her deft combination of Dolly Parton and Whitney Houston in the same song. It came as a shock that Whitney Houston was announced dead a few hours later.

Nigeria, four others make AFRIMA's host right list

F

OLLOWING a meticulously review and screened presentations from the 14 countries bidding for hosting right of All African Music Award (AFRIMA), the list of the final five countries to host the event for the next four years, emerged in far away Windhoek, Namibia last weekend.

Announcing the final five countries in Namibia, Mrs. Emmanuelle Namun-Biko, director of media and communications, AFRIMA said. “After a painstaking review and screening of presentation, and bidding

documentation by the international committee and academy of AFRIMA, the final five countries emerged from the 14 countries that bided for the hosting right of AFRIMA. They are Gabon, Kenya, Namibia, South Africa and Nigeria”.

The inclusion of Nigeria was met with opposition from delegates from South Africa, Ghana, DR Congo and Egypt on the basis of increasing security challenges in Nigeria.

Egypt's delegates felt they were in the same security position with Nigeria, owing to the current Boko

Haram terrorism in the country.

But while reacting to the opposition of Nigeria's inclusion in the final five, Mrs. Namun- BIko, director of communications, AFRIMA, “Nigeria's bid and interpretation of the theme was considered strongest followed by South Africa's, in terms of documentation, presentation and project management analysis.

There was even an offer of sponsorship from a government in one of the countries from Southern Africa to the academy, this is good for the project, but not an end in itself”. She concluded.

The production and technical subcommittee is expected to visit the final five countries to obtain first hand background information on their presentation and documentation presented to the academy.

The committee have a month to visit all the final five countries and revert to the international committee to determine and select the final host. The criteria considered are availability of infrastructure, ICT and media, Venue, aviation and land transportation system, security, tourist sites and sponsorship availability.

•Femi Kuti

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2012

Popularly called Dr Pat, Anambra State born rap singer, Patrick Chizoba Nwakolo is back on the music scene after his hit single Hotter Than Fire whch he did with Sheyman in 2009. The artiste who has been working in New York as Model and fire fighter is set to pick up music again. In this interview with MERCY MICHAEL, he speaks on his next album; Return of the Kondomaster, his fall out with Sheyman, and life in New York.

I’m crazy on stage but I’ve never tasted alcohol —Dr Pat I don't drink.

I have never tasted alcohol; I don't know what it tastes like. I don't smoke, I don't do weed. I don't do these stuffs but and when you see me on stage, I'm one of the craziest •Dr Pat

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2012

Serial proposal trails Tuface Idibia

•Tuface with Annie

J Martins prepares 3rd album

J'odie returns with Under the Mango Tree

Capital FEMI drops Get Low •FEMI

Julius Agwu's Festival of Love Mercy MICHAEL

•Jmartins

Mo’Cheddah h t i w y a w t r a p managers

•Mo’Cheddah

•Julius Agwu with wife

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2012

COVER COVER

CO

R E V O C

Fast rising Yoruba actress Seyi Ashekun is one actress to look out for this year. The foray of the Mass Communication graduate from Babcock University dates back to 2006 when she first featured in a Soap Opera; Life Secrets. In this interview with MERCY MICHAEL, Seyi speaks on acting, sexual harassments, caucus in the industry, and relationship.

‘At this stage of my career, I don’t have time for relationship’

Time is of the essence in a relationship. I don't have time so there is a no way I can keep a boyfriend now. He will come later.

The truth is guys like girls that can stand on their feet.

Right now I don't have the time to put into a relationship

COVERCOVERVER

THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2012

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CO COVER

A government’s believe on the GUS initiative

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REDEMPTION

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Mikel

Taiwo

FOR

Ranieri

Van Persie

Silvertre

Carragher

REDEMPTION

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2012

Lil Wayne slips girlfriend a ring on Val's Day

Whitney Houston wanted to see Jesus Christ

L

W

HITNEY Houston feared "the end was near" in the days before her death, it has been claimed. The pop megastar, who died in a hotel bath on Saturday, also told pals she "really wanted to see Jesus".

According to reports, Whitney was "very spiritual" in her final days, quoting the bible, singing hymns and speaking about the afterlife with friends and family.

On Friday, a day after she sang Jesus Loves Me in her final public performance at Tru nightclub in Hollywood, she told one of her friends: "I'm gonna go see Jesus; I want to see Jesus." The following morning, hours before her death, Whitney was discussing a bible passage involving John the Baptist and Jesus. She reportedly said: "You know, he's so cool, I really want to see that Jesus."

Meanwhile, Whitney's ex Bobby Brown has been told not to attend her funeral. R&B singer Bobby is said to be "extremely disappointed" after hearing from people closely

•Whitney

connected with her family. He is the father of Whitney's 18-yearold daughter Bobbi Kristina, who was comforted by her mum's mentor Clive Davis on Saturday.

Davis decided to proceed with his planned pre-Grammy party at the same hotel where Whitney died apparently causing outrage among the star's family.

Aniston debunks pregnancy tales

A

CTRESS, Jennifer Aniston, 43, has dominated the tabloid covers, as the subject of weekly pregnancy rumors, but she set the record straight during an interview. "I'm not having triplets," she said. "Not having twins. Nor am I having one baby. (Lifts up sweater and gestures to belly) It appears flat; I did not elope."

She attributes the "baby bump" rumors to her decision to quit smoking last year, which caused her to put on a few pounds, and joked that she'll be the actress who cried "baby" one day.

"The one time I do say, 'Yes! I'm pregnant!' they'll be like, 'Pfft.

Right,'" she said.

Her romance with her "Wanderlust" co-star Justin Theroux likely ped fuel the "Baby for Jen!" headlines, and Aniston dished on her lowkey relation -ship.

hel

IL Wayne pulled off the ultimate romantic gesture on Val's Day at a swanky Miami restaurant -- slipping his girlfriend a fat ring hidden inside a dessert and then shouting to the restaurant, "She said yes!"

Sources at Barton G restaurant revealed that Weezy secretly handed wait staff a ring with a giant yellow rock on it during his meal -- and asked them to slip it inside the restaurant's signature sundae.

Moments later, after the dessert was delivered to his table, we're told Lil Wayne jumped up and shouted to the entire restaurant -- "she said yes!''.

me! I "Omg what just happened to me que Lo ! lion sea a by d cke was atta ha o rin ma n leo ha sucedido hoy! Un So starts intentado atacarme. Shak." from ate upd out a Facebook status wing dra , day Sun on a kir pop star Sha n bee had some concern that she Cape injured while vacationing in ica.

Afr th Sou n, Tow The 34-year-old "Whenever, e.

Wherever" singer is just fin a got According to her post, Shakir in to ned lea she en wh scratched up ing a "do s lion sea ng ngi lou the pet es" with baby talk while taking pictur ne thought ryo eve t No . erry ckB Bla her denly, this was cute, however: Sud of the out up ped jum m the one of , roared eye the in water, "looked me ." me bite to d trie in fury and a rock Shakira scraped her palm on s call she om wh -r when her brothe her to in ged bar -y" Ton "Super also rescue. It appears the sea lion . ters wa e saf into retreated

•Aniston

Seal finally takes off wedding ring

S

EAL has finally surrendered to the reality that his wife is leaving him because for the first time since the split, the singer was spotted without his wedding ring.

Right after the split, Seal appeared on "Ellen" and said he had "no intention" of removing the wedding band because "It's a token of how I feel about this woman" adding, "It feels really comfortable on my hand."

But the singer clearly wanted to send a message when he arrived in Australia this morning as he had bright yellow nail polish on his fingers, which drew even more attention.

Shakira attacked by sea lion

Crane over Ghollywood

Chemphe escapes death

R

&B musician Chemphe survived a near fatal accident recently when the car he was travelling in smashed into another vehicle that had stopped in the middle of the road.

The accident occurred at the Airport traffic light near the Airport Police Station in Accra after the artiste had left the studios of Joy FM and Hitz FM. Chemphe, who was with his manager, James Korsah Brown in his Ford car, revealed they were on their way back from an interview on both Joy FM with Nii Ayi Tagoe and Hits FM with Bola

Ray on Saturday.

“It happened at the Airport traffic light,” around 5:00pm, he added.

According to Chemphe, the car he ran into “was being driven by ladies who stopped in the middle of the highway. It was a sudden stop; I couldn't tell if she was a learner and got frightened by a bus driver who crossed her.”

He said although his manager escaped unhurt, he got some cuts on his face.

“Our wind screen was totally smashed and I got blown by the air bag and some particles of broken glass in my face.”

Yvonne Nelson supports boy with Glaucoma

S

TAR actress Yvonne Nelson is on a rescue mission to restore the ailing eye of 22-year-old Richard Amoako, who is gradually losing his sight to Glaucoma.

Richard, a former student of NIIT and Akosombo Senior High School, has been living with Glaucoma for over eight years and is almost losing his sight. Doctors say unless he is operated on, he may lose his sight.

“I feel bad. I wish to be in good condition but we still trying our best to

get my sight back. I do hope and believe in God that things will be well. I can't see clearly. It's always blur. When someone is coming it is hard to identify who the person is. I hardly read too,” Richard said. “I was young when it started but it wasn't like how it is now.

At times my eye becomes red and it itches me. I have been using drops but later, somewhere 2008, it started getting serious,” he added.

The leggy actress and her Glaucoma Foundation management team met with the boy and his family to discuss how to support Richard. The actress has been supporting Richard in getting drugs but it appears she needs outside support at this stage.

“What my family is thinking about now is for Richard to gain his sight,” Richard's dad said.

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2012

Go on Whitney, may your soul continue to sing!

LIFE is very funny and it has never failed to amaze me. Last week, some colleagues and I worked tirelessly to produce a magazine for a client who is facing the polls for his second term in office this Saturday. The magazine, The Illuminate, is a freely distributed journal I do for my clients whenever the occasion arises.

Anyway, the title for the editor’s page was ‘The People’s Hero’. In it I wrote: ‘The beautiful musician, Whitney Houston in her song, ‘Greatest Love of All’ , said, “Everybody is searching for a hero. People need someone to look up to. I never found anyone to fulfill my needs. A lonely place to be….” Oh, how I love Whitney Houston and how I love that song too, but how

divergent we are in our philosophies about heroes. Like her, I believe that people need someone to look up to… People need heroes.

But unlike her, I have found people who have fulfilled my needs. I have found heroes who are not only superheroes…’

Little did I know that two days after doing that piece, Whitney Houston would change form and become a higher soul.

Hmmm… It’s sad to lose such a beautiful woman. The consolation is that she’s now beyond emotional pains and any pain whatsoever. I pray that her soul continues to sing all those sonorous songs I can never live without. Even in death Whitney, you remain my musical hero.

Is it possible to love again after a broken heart?

This is my first time here and I like the answers you give to questions. Is it possible to love again after a broken heart?

J from Abeokuta.

Hello J, I smiled after reading your question. Ask most people you know, they’ll tell you that they have been heartbroken at least once in their lifetime or they know someone who is close who had been heart-broken. Being heart-broken

does not necessarily mean a partner walking away or jilting us. It could be that they keep doing things that hurt us and as a result, we don’t want them anymore. That is also a heart break.

Now, I don’t know how old you are and I must say that age does matter when heart break is what we’re talking about. If you’re still in your 20s, even before the heart break, you may have a long queue of people wanting to come into your life, so before long the heart is healed and mended

without any mark. In your 30s, 40s, 50s and 60s, your fears begin to mount as you age because you may feel that the older you get, the less your chances of getting and finding love again. Who says? At whatever age you find yourself heartbroken, there are a million people out there who are either widowed, separated or also heart-broken looking and searching for someone like you.

So, don’t have any fear, just look good, smell nice, be of good cheer and love will find you. Wishing you the best.

I’m 15 years old; am I too young to have a boyfriend?

Hi Aunty, I’m 15 years old; am I too young to have a boyfriend?.

Please I need your advice.

Hello Girl, I won’t try to play Madam Goody-Goody here, so I’ll say the truth.

At 15, I had a lot of admirers and guys with promises et all. At 15, I was already aware of my great figure and good posture. Also at 15, I had already written my GCE and I had two ‘A’s and some credits and I was looking forward to a life in the university. But at 15 I still didn’t have a boyfriend and I didn’t think I needed one. I was way too immature and rather too ambitious for that and I knew right from that period that I couldn’t deal with emotional problems and academics at the same time.

Luckily too, I had older relatives who were going through pains and anguish in the name of love and I didn’t want to start that kind of life too early. As an adult, I have had moments of terrible emotional let-downs but I’m able to rise through it all and face the future. I sometimes wonder if I’d have been able to tackle such problems if I had started playing love early in life. Maybe it would have shattered me so much that the future I’m living now would not have been possible.

I always say to young people (girls especially) that a relationship at ages below adult age is for terrible experiments.

A boyfriend at this age may want to play adult games with you. Adult games involve touching and ultimately sex. A boyfriend would want to do things ordinary friends cannot do, so he wants you to do with him that special thing that sets him aside from the rest. Mind you, a boyfriend could be your age mate or slightly older, so marriage is not in his plans. If you go on to have unprotected sex you will face the consequences, which may be worse than unwanted pregnancies.

Think about venereal diseases you may be too ashamed to go to a doctor to treat properly, which may cause some dam-

ages to your future happiness in experiencing motherhood.

To cut a long story short, if you must have a boyfriend; it MUST be a platonic relationship. You must never be alone with him and his friends (friends are sometimes the bad influence telling young guys to try all those crazy things with girls).

You’re however permitted to call each other, send text messages if possible and exchange books as gifts. Limit all personal contacts and be a good girl. Be in touch and let’s have an open line of communication about this.

Winning text of the week Dear Ms. Agoro, I’m Akin Adekunle, I live in Port Harcourt. I read the heart rending story of late Mrs. Tobi Taiwo-Aina on your Hearts page of Sat. Jan. 28, 2012. May God Almighty grant the gentle soul of Tobi eternal paradise where there is no sorrow or death. Of course, no amount of remonstration or recriminations can bring Tobi back to us, but let us the living draw commensurate lessons from this sad event. As Christian believers , we are not offending any known Biblical precepts when we take advantage of modern healthcare facilities which are products of God-endowed intellect freely given to man. Seeking and receiving medical from the government hospital where Tobi registered, I wager, is not against the Bible, which is our ONLY standard in Christianity. My heart goes out to the twins. I’m a father of twins too and I want to sow into these children’s lives. Please send bank details. Thanks.

(08038896140).

P.S: God bless you Mr. Akin Adekunle. I have passed your message on to Taiwo and he’s grateful. He’s going to call you. You’re a winner any time.

L-R: Marketing Coordinator V. Connect, Ogunmolu Albert; CEO Dainty Event & Services Limited, Damilola Banire and Territary Manager, Sales V. Connect, Olawale Onibudo at the VConnet Business Forum in Lagos on Thursday.

PHOTO: BOLA OMILABU

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

Can I put my trust in her despite the distance?

Hi Ms Adeola, I really appreciate your column. Please help me out of my distress. I’m into a relationship that is getting to 3 years now. I love my girl and she loves me too but suddenly distance separated us.

Although the relationship continues but will I know that she still loves me as she used to and can I put my trust in her? How will I express my love to her this Valentine seeing that she’s far away?

R from Kogi State.

The first thing to work on when in a long distance relationship is the mind.

The mind suggests crazy things to you especially when you hear a male voice in the background when you call your partner or when she goes off on a social activity and you know she’s going to meet new people. Trusting her and being able to love unconditionally will help you survive the evil thoughts that may come to your mind. Tell yourself you will trust her no matter what. And if at the end of the day you find out that the trust was misplaced, be assured that she will suffer for it. I’m sure you know about the Law of Karma. She’s the one losing a good guy and you’re losing a bad girl. Period.

Well, Valentine has come and gone and I’m sure you did send her some love poems and told her some beautiful things when you called her. For people like me, everyday is Valentine. So, I urge you to copy me and tell her at every opportunity that you love her. Saying things like that will empower the relationship and keep you as one until you’re together again.

Re: Some girls prefer to be beaten; how can one know such girls?

Immediately after the publication of last week came out, a lot of people called in and sent text messages to give rejoinders on the above topic.

I have also heard about women who beat up their men. Although it has never happened to me, I find the thought of it happening to me as a great turn-on especially since I know I’m going to make love to the woman later on. Is something wrong with me?

Adeola, you’re a wonderful woman and a good counselor. My girl likes it when I beat or scream at her. She tells me that it makes her know that I’m a man.

I refer: Some girls prefer to be beaten. Ma, it is TRUE! I was involved in a relationship once and she insisted that the only way I

could have sex with her was to beat or rape her. That ended the relationship because I couldn’t do that. - M.J. My Views: While I’m not oldschool I honestly don’t think sex should get to the stage where physical pains should be wrested before human beings can have the urge for sex. That’s called kinky sex and it is weird and sick! I know of a club in England where grown men and women dress up like babies and allow others to tie them up and whip them silly before they can have either an erection or get wet. I don’t think it’s something those who engage in it are proud to talk about freely and I think whatever makes you ashamed to let others know about is not worth doing at all.

From you to me on Valentine’s Day I can’t possibly publish all the text messages I got last Tuesday on Valentine’s Day. The most touching came from my vet assistant and one of my fans who is on a wheelchair. I love you all for making my eyes misty with joy. Here, I’m publishing a few of them: Wishing you happiness not just because it’s Valentine but because you’re such a sweet and wonderful person today and forever. Happy Val’s Day. (Tayo from USA (+16787680419).

Happy Val’s Day to you Angel Adeola. – Kalio from Port-Harcourt.

(08185645491).

Madam, I’m using this opportunity to wish you all the best this season because you’re simply SPECIAL for the lives you have positively touched. Mike (Stock-broker, 08056281196).

Wishing you a happy Valentine.

Don’t forget that you will have to organize something for us too in Lagos maybe during Easter. It’s your day. Enjoy your life to the fullest. – Biodun from Ijebu ( ).

Loving you this day is keeping hope alive and hope into reality. True love starts from true friendship and true friendship takes time to build.

Loving you gives me joy and I’m thanking God for you. – Mrs. Kehinde Vincent.

From you to me Hi Aunty, I derive a lot of pleasure in reading The Nation newspapers, especially your column as it’s very educative. I graduated last year and awaiting NYSC by July. I don’t want to be idle so please publish this in your column ma. Any parent(s) that

may need the service of a private/ home tutor should call Odafe on: 08186398234 and 07037635400.

N.B: Odafe, you failed to mention the subjects you would want to coach on.

I’m glad you’re living your dream and fulfilling your destiny. Your column is what I look forward to every weekend. You have helped me a lot as a single pastor. Please link me up with Ayomipo Sodipo a.k.a Tabitha of AOU, Law Faculty (200 level). 08033155803 is my line. Can I invite you when I’m getting married?

– Pastor Tim Nissi.

P.S: Dear Pastor Tim, thanks a lot for your text message. I’d be delighted to be at your wedding if it’s taking place at a location I can be at the time. I wish you a happy life as you embark on your marital journey.

Adeola, you told a lady whose cousin defiled not to tell it to her fiancé. You know that secrets kill relationships. Ask her to open up with her man because if he finds out when in the marriage, the marriage is over.

Please do the right thing. People are looking up to you for advice and they trust your judgements too. Truth and honesty. (08035656174).

Hi Aunty Deola, how’s life with you? I like the way you answer people’s questions. You’re a very realistic person unlike agony aunties who tell people what they want to hear. Keep it up Aunty D! – Kiki Morris from Owerri (08128609065).

Dear Adeola, sweet day. I’ve just finished reading your column and I love the way it is amplified and romantic. I’m Chris (08164012300).

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2012

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parasitic relation ship is a relation ship in which one partner (the parasite) is helped, at the expense of another partner (the host) being hurt.[1] A parasitic relationship must be distinguished from the other two forms of symbiotic relationship[2]: mutualistic,[3] where both partners benefit, and commensal,[4] where one partner benefits, but the other partner is unaffected. A parasitic relationship is a harmful relationship for the host. Therefore, it is important to identify it early on, so further damage can be forestalled.

In a healthy relationship, one should seek to give more and receive less, loving one another as oneself.

It should be mutually loving, caring, respecting, and well-balanced. A parasitic relationship is an imbalance that must be identified and corrected promptly.

1. Identify the relationship.

In order to know whether you are in a parasitic relationship, you must first identify the relationship.

Identify the person or living thing with whom you

How to know if you are in a parasitic relationship have a relationship.

2. Determine what benefits, if any, you have derived from this relationship. For example: Are you receiving love?

Are you getting/saving more money? Are you living more healthily physically? Are you finding food more easily? Are you finding shelter more easily? Are you able to go shopping more easily? Are you able to perform daily routines more effectively? Is your life more meaningful as a result of the relationship?

N.B.: this list is only an example, and may not apply to you. You must make your own list of things that are important to you.

3. Determine what harms, if any, you have derived from this relationship. For example: Are you hurting emotionally? Are you losing money? Are you living more unhealthily physically?

Are you finding food more

difficult to obtain? Are you finding shelter more difficult to secure? Are you having more difficulty shopping? Are you finding your daily routines more difficult to perform? Is your life less meaningful as a result of the relationship?

N.B.: this list is only an example, and may not apply to you. You must make your own list of things that are important to you.

4. Compare the two lists (benefits and harms you obtained from the relationship) to see whether overall you are benefiting or being harmed from the relationship. For example, you can do this systematically as follows: Assign a weight of how important each item is to you. For example, you can use a scale of 0-5, where 0 is not at all important, and 5 is extremely important. Assign a score to each item, rating the extent to which you have been affected. For

example, you can use a score of 1-10, where 1 is minimally affected, and 10 is maximally affected. Multiply the score you assign to each item by the weight you assigned for that item. For example, suppose shelter is more difficult for you as a result of the relationship, shelter should be an item on your list of harms. If shelter is very important to you, but not the most important, you could assign it a weight of 4. And if, because of the relationship, you are experiencing moderate difficulty with affording shelter, you could give it a score of 5, so multiply to get a score of 20 for that item. Do this for each item on the list of benefits, then add up all the results.

Do the same for the list of harms. Now compare the two composite scores, to see which score is bigger. If the list of benefits has a bigger score than the list of harms, you are benefiting from the relationship overall. If the list of harms has a bigger

How to bring a shy guy out of his shell 1. See him when he is in his element.

If he plays sports, go and watch the game too. Be there as he finishes a marathon. If he is giving a talk, try to arrange to be in the audience. When a shy guy is in his element, he will be at the height of his charisma and at a high point of self-confidence; he will be “in the zone” and less nervous, feeling very good about himself. And this means he will feel empowered to make a move on you if he is really interested.

2. Compliment him.

Notice something about him or what he is doing that you really like and praise it with a specific and sincere compliment.

For example, “That blog you wrote about going to Sicily was hysterically funny and made me want to go too!” This helps to build his self-esteem in relation to you and will tend to get him to talk more about the topic. And it may even get him to show off a bit for you. It will certainly help him to stop obsessing about your attractiveness making him to nervous to talk to you!

If you choose his very favorite subject, be sure you want to hear all about it.

Even if you don’t, be genuine and listen. You’ll have your turn soon enough.Be sure you make it clear that you’re not only interested in him for his expertise.

3. Say his name a lot.

Give him a complimentary nickname. This indicates that you’re noticing him and that he is important to you. He will be likely to bond more quickly with

you when you use his name. Also, choose a complimentary nickname based on one of his qualities that you admire. For example, if he is into cycling, call him “Lance A.” This will get him to laugh and open up with you about his cycling experiences.

Make sure he’s comfortable with anything you decide to call him. The best way to do this is to ask, simply saying something like: “Is it OK with you if I call you Lance A?” 4 .Ask open-ended questions.

These kinds of questions will help a shy guy open up and talk about himself.

And this will lead to him feeling known and being comfortable with you.

Good examples include” “How did you get interested in (your job)?””What brought you to live in the city?” “How do you manage to train for a triathlon when you work full-time?”

5.Ask for help with something.

Men love to help women.

They’re wired that way, to find solutions. Ask him to fix your computer, your car, your bike, your door— you name it. He will enjoy coming through for you and feel much more connected to you as a result.

Ask him questions about what he is doing. This will get him talking more.

When he is in the “helper” role, he is much more likely to share with you and be less self-conscious in the process.

Ask him about something he’s comfortable doing. Not all guys are Mr.

Fix-It. Yours may well fix his own car by taking it to a mechanic. If he doesn’t know, don’t embarrass him by expecting him to know.

6Ask about his interests.

Ask what he likes to eat or what sports, hobbies, or movies he enjoys. Once you find something in common, ask him if he’d like to get together some time to pursue it. Shy guys can be very interested in you, but petrified to make the first move.

It is very easy to open the door to a common interest by asking about food, hobbies or other fun activities.

When you hit on something you both love, you will instantly become more bonded as similarities are a key way of cementing connection between people.

It is easy, then to make the first move and ask about doing the activity together.

This is a good litmus test that will show if he is interested or not. When you’re opening the door that much, if he does not respond and make the date, chances are he is not into you. Again, take interest in him, too, not just his role or activities. Hobbies and interests are good, neutral places to start, but when you’re both ready, be sure to look deeper.

7. When leaving, say you’d like to see him again.

This is an easy, non-threatening way to show that you are interested in him. If he responds positively, by smiling, nodding or saying “yes” he may be feeling some attraction to you. At that point, make sure he has your contact information.

8. Try writing notes.

If either of you love to read and write, exchange notes or meet online and chat with text. It moves a little more slowly, so it gives you both time to compose your thoughts and it gives you both a chance to throw out anything that seems to come out wrong.

9.Touch him gently or even give him a mini massage.

Making physical contact actually releases oxytocin, the bonding hormone, so he may feel closer and start responding to you immediately through the power of touch. Gently grasp his arm or relax him by giving him a mini neck or shoulder massage.

This relaxes him so that he is less up-tight and fearful. In addition, making physical contact often opens the door to him making an affectionate gesture towards you later on—where he holds your hand, puts his arm around you or kisses you.

Ask permission first, and make sure he’s open to that sort of attention. A mini massage might be considered too forward or intimate in some circles.Choose a neutral spot for that first massage.

Learn, for example, to give a hand massage.

10. Make the first move yourself.

It’s not illegal or even off limits, and it may come as a great relief to a guy who’s a bit reserved if you ask him out. You don’t have to call it a date if you don’t want to. You can also be the one to broach the subject of romance, or

score than the list of benefits, you are being harmed by relationship overall.

5. Create a list of benefits and a list of harms derived from the relationship by your partner.

This is a more difficult step, as you may not be fully aware of all the benefits and harms derived by your partner, and the extent to which each benefit or harm is important. Just try your best to make up the lists, knowing that they are estimations at best.

6. Do the same analysis you did for yourself to see whether, overall, your partner is benefiting, or is being harmed, by the relationship.

7. Interpret the results, as follows: If you are benefiting and your partner is benefiting, you are not in a parasitic relationship (you are in a mutualistic relationship).If you are benefiting and your partner is being harmed, you are

to give (or at least offer) that first kiss or hug. Spell it out when you’re ready. Some guys don’t catch hints, no matter how many you drop, but don’t give up.

11. Be patient, and don’t rush things.

He’s not going to change overnight, and there will likely be vestiges of his shyness for some time to come.

Hurrying may only intimidate him, so as your rela-

in a parasitic relationship (you are the parasite and your partner is the host).If you are being harmed and your partner is benefiting, you are in a parasitic relationship (your partner is the parasite and you are the host).If you are being harmed and your partner is being harmed, you are not in a parasitic relationship (you are in a mutually destructive, or abusive, relationship).8Have a genuine, heart-to-heart conversation with your partner. One of the most common causes of conflicts in relationships is misunderstanding. Perhaps you have misinterpreted the facts. Perhaps some things have eluded your thinking about the relationship. Perhaps your partner is well-intentioned, but made mistakes unaware.9If you are in a parasitic relationship, take action to correct this.

After talking with your partner, resolve any misunderstanding, forgive, and discuss ways you can both improve the relationship, so that neither partner is harmed anymore. Seek counselling and support from others if needed. If the relationship cannot be repaired, look for a way out respectfully and peacefully. tionship grows, suggest the next move, but try to take his pace. Work to build a trust that will make you both confident with yourselves and with each other when you’re together.

Be aware that he may seem awkward around you at first. Be persistent and compassionate.

Source: wikkihow.com

Melchizedek Ayomikun Olatunji cutting his 7th birthday cake

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LIFE

Society Profile

THE NATION, Saturday, FEBRUARY 18, 2012

STYLE Gossip Interviews

Nigeria doesn’t encourage family life; it’s sad -Reps Minority Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2012

Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, who is known for his down-to-earth views, is currently promoting a new initiative for the people of his constituency, Surulere Lagos. The initiative, which is tagged the Surulere Job Fair, is the brainchild of the Femi Gbajabimila Foundation. In this interview with MERCY MICHAEL, the legislator speaks extensively about the vision behind the Job Fair. He also speaks on why he rejected the National Honour Awards and his family life, among other things.

‘Why I rejected National D Honours award’ O you ever get the time to relax?

I never have time. This country does not allow you time to relax.

But when you get the chance, what do you do?

I spend the time with my family. Anytime I get, I spend with my family. Nigeria is tedious; forget my own work, even for you. Nigeria does not encourage family life which is sad, because by the time you go to work in the morning, by the time you come back with the terrific traffic and all that, it’s night and everybody goes to sleep. These are things we need to work on because they also have their social effects but when I do have time, I spend time with my family.

How? Where is your favourite holiday spot?

For me, anywhere I can relax with my family, my wife and kids, whether it’s Ghana, London, American, somewhere I can isolate myself for a few days.

There is the talk about you wanting to organise a job fair for the people of your constituency. What is the idea behind the job fair?

The job fair is a novel idea that I’m experimenting with and I believe it will work.

It is born out of the need and desire to assist people from my constituency who are in the job market and are frustrated out of not being able to find work. I realised during my campaigns in April, everywhere I went to make a campaign or to rally support for people to vote for me, there was one common request, both from the youths, from parents, everybody had one common request and that was employment. And that put me in a very difficult situation because I’m not an employer of labour, I’m a legislator, I don’t employ people.

It is not my responsibility.

It’s a difficult task for me, but I made promises that I will do my best. I have CVs in my office that are close to a thousand. So I sat down, I thought about it. I know that this concept has worked in other countries all over the world and I didn’t see any reason why it wouldn’t work in Nigeria, whereby you get a forum, it will cost you a lot of money but you organise it properly, professionally, get a forum where employers will meet prospective employees. They come together and right there on the spot, you look at there CVs, you interview them right there and if you find a candidate who meets your requirement, you employ right there on the spot.

•Aiyeola

It’s a fair and I hope it will work.

I’m trying to get as many companies as possible both public and private, between 250 to 500 companies to register and have their different stores where they can have people interviewed. The demand is that each company employs at least one person that day.

Is the job fair open only to Lagosian?

I am not born to discriminate, if you take one person from the job market, you will at the long run affect a lot of people. As long as you reside in Lagos irrespective of where you hail from, be it Calabar, Kano, Anambra etc, you are part of the Lagos population, so it is open to everybody.

What is the awareness like?

By the end of two weeks from now, we will know how many people have registered but there has been a lot of interest, a lot of companies have registered.

Registration is free on both sides.

I’m not taking anything from anybody. Even though we have not gone on our full publicity blitz which we will be doing from next week, even with just putting it on our website that came up, responses have been unbelievable.

Starting from next week or two we are going to have a total publicity blitz on radio, TV, newspapers, billboard, and flyers all over the places. And it’s something we want to do on a yearly basis because of the rate of youth employment which leads to other things. So, that’s my own little contribution in that area.

Is their any incentive for companies which employ more job seekers than the other?

Yes, we have promised a tax

•Gbajabiamila

UK-based Nigerian activist Funmi Aiyeola

Ms Funmi Olawunmi Aiyeola, 45, is the founder of Advancement of African Women, a UK-based nongovernmental organisation which caters for the girlchild, particularly those of Nigerian descent in the UK. In an online interview with VINCENT AKANMODE, the graduate of Criminology from the University of Bedford shire and dual citizen of Nigeria and Britain, relives her experience with Nigerian immigrants in the UK. She also speaks about her childhood, marriage, family life and her plan to become the chair of Ijebu North East Local Government.

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2012

•Gbajabiamila

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The bar (of the National Honours award) has to be set so high. The requirement is supposed to be, ‘It is not just that you’re good at what you do, it is that you are exceptional. It is not even that you’re brilliant or have distinguished yourself but that you’re exceptional’

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rebate for companies that partake actively at the Surulere Job Fair. The fair is a platform that will bring job owners and job seekers under one roof and companies desirous of more competent staff. Job applicants are enjoined to register at the website www.surulerejobfair.com. The companies that partake actively at the fair by way of employing job seekers will get tax rebates from the government. President Goodluck

Jonathan in his budget presentation said that there will be tax rebates based on employment, which means that companies that help in bringing down the level of unemployment among job seekers in the nation will enjoy several tax incentives.

The Ministry of Finance and the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) will work out the modalities for these rebates so that companies that employ some of these job

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Are you a British citizen?

I am a British citizen by birth. My parents studied and got married in the UK. I have a British passport. My daughter’s name was in my passport and my husband was told to apply after marriage, but he turned the suggestion down on his mother’s advice. I travelled back to the UK with my British passport.

How was it eventually discovered that someone was impersonating you?

The person who was claiming the benefit in my name might have been a close relation or a family friend, because the person knew that I had arrived in the UK and stopped claiming it.

When I stated that I had just arrived in Britain, I was confronted with the fact that benefits were being paid to me.

My father was still alive at that time, so he was asked to send some details to prove my identity. This took several months to be investigated. Before then, I was not treated right. I lived in a place where the public toilet I shared was not maintained, and I had no money. My daughter was taken away from me because I couldn’t provide for her while I was pregnant with my son.

But after the investigation, all the money due was back-dated and paid to me fully, and I was given a nice and clean hotel with private toilet and bathroom. My daughter was also returned to me.

How did you come about the idea of an NGO to cater for the girl child?

The late Mariam Babangida inspired me. I appreciate all the good works she did for Nigerian women through programmes on adult education, primary health care,

T what point did you decide to travel to the UK? I decided to travel to the UK after the

death of my second daughter. I noticed that I was three months pregnant with my son. I believed there were external forces intruding into my marriage and I became a stranger to the man I thought I was in love with.

Why didn’t you invite him to join you in the UK? I applied and paid for resettlement visa for him on seven separate occasions before I divorced him. I even appealed, but something always went wrong. After my appeal in the UK, my ex-husband was asked to go back to the embassy in Nigeria within seven days for visa, but he refused to go. His father also got him a German visa, but he went and returned to Nigeria after two weeks.

Was he the first born?

No. He was the third born of eight children and second of seven sons.

Will you return to him now if you have the opportunity?

I have no plans of going back to him.

How easy was it to settle down when you got to the UK? When I got to the UK, life was very difficult because I was a victim of identity fraud. My British citizenship and personal details were being used by someone else, which included the social benefits being claimed in my name by someone who pretended to be me. This made it very difficult for me to prove that I was just arriving from Nigeria to the UK, and that denied me council house, social security, and so on.

seekers can enjoy these rebates. The Surulere Job Fair will take place at the famous National Arts Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos on Friday March 9 and Saturday March 10, 2012. Job seekers are free to get information on the website, it’s a site where they can also upload their CVs and learn more about the job fair.

Unemployment is a Nigerian problem, if it’s as easy or simple as you’ve made it seem, how come over the years government has not been able to tackle the problem?

When you have an idea, you try and toy with that idea, you try to see how you can execute it in your little way. At that point if it works it becomes one good successful idea.

And that point you can now blow it up and say, hey Federal Government, this is what I did, this was the result, I think if you do the same thing, on a much bigger scale, I think you can achieve something. It will get to that.

I’m doing this in the name of my foundation, Femi Gbajabiamila Foundation, and I do believe and I hope that it will work, then not only will I sell it to the Federal Government, I will sell it to my colleagues so that they can do the same thing, extend it to there states and local governments or constituencies and that way, you know, a little bit of employment here, employment there, you begin to take people off the streets.

You have always been in government and one tends to wonder why you’re just coming out with this idea. What is the motive?

Like you’ve rightly said, that is the problem with Nigerians, there must always have to be a motive, you always have to look for something sinister when somebody is trying to do something. And the problem is that you can win to lose, if he doesn’t do anything, you say he’s not doing anything. If he does something, you say oh there is a reason behind it so it’s a lose, lose situation but one has to continue to plod ahead and not allow those things to bother you.

Now, why now? Is there ever a time when something is too late? The unemployment rate now was not what it was last four years, my second term or my first term. And like I’ve explained this time around, this is the one thing that everybody is asking for, even beyond my constituency and I found out that it was even a Nigerian problem and we’ve never known it like this before and so it’s a better time than ever. And like I said, it’s going to be a yearly thing. And it’s costing me a lot of money and I’m not getting any finance or contribution from any company. It’s something that I feel if it achieves its purpose, it will be money well spent.

It’s public knowledge that you turned down National Honours for the second time. What point are you trying to make?

Hmmm, well I see it differently. I rejected the honours award because first of all, I think the National Honours award, for me, is not what it was intended to be when the law was made. We see National Honours all over the world. Take for instance, in the United States, every year they honour the best of the best, maybe about 15 people in all and actually in the last two years, they have not honoured anybody maybe because they have not met anybody to meet the standard.

The bar has to be set so high. The requirement

is supposed to be, ‘It is not just that you’re good at what you do, it is that you are exceptional. It is not even that you’re brilliant or have distinguished yourself but that you’re exceptional’.

And you know ‘exceptional’ means you are apart, you have set yourself apart and then the nation now comes together, it is not the president that is giving the award, the country comes together and say that this person, we honour you as a country, you have done us so proud. I don’t think I’ve done that. I don’t think anybody has done that quite honestly. I don’t think the president deserves National Honours because he is the president; it is not given to the office. It is given because of what you have accomplished and what you’ve done.

I think I was vindicated. For instance, the Inspector General (Hafiz Ringim) was given an award in November, a National Honours Award in November and two months later, he was fired (laughs). So what does that tell you about your National Honours? I think it is not what is supposed to be. I have a bill I’m proposing right now on the floor to re-gig the language, to tighten it, to raise the bar, to limit the number of people that you give the awards to. And it will come up on the floor very soon in the next couple of weeks.

So, for me, I didn’t think I deserve it. I have no regret whatsoever. A couple of days ago, in Addis Abba, at the United Nations meeting, they honoured a Nigerian, Mr. Makinde. They presented him an award, President Jonathan was there. They honoured him for his contribution to science and the development of science in the world. That is a Nigerian, who is a professor somewhere. That is a man that deserves National Honours because he has made Nigerian proud. He has done so much to set himself apart from his peers. That is what the National Honours is all about.

What were your thoughts about the recent fuel hike and the reaction of Nigerians?

Nigerians have come of age, they may have come late but better late than never. Nigerians are ready to take their own destiny into their hands. Nigerians are ready to make their government accountable to nobody but to them. Those were my thoughts. I thought this is the beauty of democracy. This wouldn’t happen in a military or totalitarian regime so I supported it. I supported it for as long as it was peaceful. It wasn’t violent. It was just a peaceful demonstration of Nigerians saying, you know what? We deserve explanations. We demand accountability, transparency; we demand to be carried along. We demand to be heard.

I think the president should have seized the moment, make a national broadcast and say, ‘Nigerians, I’ve heard your complaints and I feel your pains; you have spoken loud and clear and I’ve listened to you, but I still believe in the removal of subsidy, but because I’m a listening president, because this is a listening government, we’ll suspend it and continue with consultation’. Simple! He would have won the hearts of Nigerians. Everybody would have been happy and maybe after the consultations, if he was able to convince people, he would have done what he needed to do but to maintain a stoic position, he took a major risk.

‘

The reality, however, is that people are engaged in it (prostitution) for economic survival. I would suggest there should be a tougher law targeted at men who patronise prostitutes, not the women. If the women are given better financial support and men are deterred from patronising them

agriculture, arts and crafts, and food processing.

From her, I derived the inspiration to form an NGO. My degree in Criminology also led me into thinking of how to protect vulnerable women.

I started by fighting for foreign women who were coming into the UK in my district (north east of Cambridgeshire). I helped them to understand the UK laws on housing, how to claim benefits and other problems they might face. If I was unable to help I would look for an appropriate agency in a position to do so.

Anyone who desires a list of some of the people I have assisted can visit www.1damestrade.com/funmiaiyeola.

I believe that people take advantage of individuals who are in vulnerable situations.

A woman without money and roof over her head has 80 per cent chance of being targeted

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for prostitution and other indecent crimes.

What is your reaction to a recent suggestion by the Deputy Senate President that prostitution should be legalised in Nigeria so that our young women would stop travelling abroad for that purpose?

I am not unaware of the cultural sentiments regarding prostitution in Nigeria. The reality, however, is that people are engaged in it for economic survival. I would suggest there should be a tougher law targeted at men who patronise prostitutes, not the women. If the women are given better financial support and men are deterred from patronising them, the problem will soon be reduced.

How serious is the issue of Nigerian girls engaging in prostitution in Britain?

The majority of the girls work for gang-

•Continued on Page 48

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2012

y k n u h c f o e The rag

s e c a l k c e nC HUNKY and sometimes multicoloured necklaces have become incredibly popular in today’s society with women of all ages and races, sporting these fashion accessories.

From jewellery designers around the world comes a line of unique multicoloured neck jewellery.

Multicoloured necklaces are strung with carved bone, stones, wood , other chunky mixed-colour bead for an eclectic appeal.

The mixture of various amazing colours and different beads gives it absolute unique appearance. It makes a perfect addition to any collection with its unique design.

Tips Most chunky jewels consist of natural beads that are made from vegetable ivory.

If you want them in stones, there are lapis lazuli beads and agate beads that are just as fabulous. However, there is one tip that you should keep in mind: accessorizing ’40s-style or ’80s-influenced clothes that are much in fad these days would match organic beads in sculptural forms. Same goes for beaded jewellery with structured and geometric designs

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2012

Leather loosens

up

J

UST as the skinny jean paved the way for the popularity of the boyfriend silhouette, the leather legging has led to the slouchy leather trouser. It is like the intellectual cousin to the legging’s edgy rocker.

Fashionistas are rocking multiple iterations of the pants in different hues. So, for the shimmering effect for your next party ,just squeeze into leggings and just zip and go.

Christian Louboutin sends Blake Lively spring collection Renowned designer Christian Louboutin sent American actress and model Blake Lively his entire spring collection.

Waris Ahluwalia’s Fashion Week diet is as strict as a model’s Every season, we hear about how editors, designers and models prepare for Fashion Week. But what about the weary party-hoppers?

At last night’s MADE/LEXUS party with Wu-Tang, jewellery designer Waris Ahluwalia who complained about his pre-Fashion Week fatigue last season said he started prepping by “pre-sleeping” ten to eleven hours a night for as many days are there are shows.

He also loads up on vitamins and has a strict diet plan he intends to maintain for a month.

His motivation- “Staying healthy and focused.”

But is Fashion Week part of the incentive, we asked. “It helps.”

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2012

'There should be tough laws against men who patronise prostitutes' What do you think can be done to stem the tide of our young women engaging in prostitution?

Our young women who engage in prostitution do so because of poverty, lack of education or family problems.

Completely free education, at least up to secondary school level, with free school meals, is recommended. I also believe there should be a law against underage children working as house-helps.

Children who work as housemaids are vulnerable because they are deprived of normal upbringing. Sadly, many of them are sexually abused by their employers, and this leads them to advance into prostitution.

What do you think Nigeria can learn from Britain in terms of policies that would discourage prostitution?

There have been various legislations in England and Wales to protect the welfare of children after the first awareness of child trafficking in 1904. “Every child matters 2003” legislation supports children to stay healthy by enjoying their childhood. It also encourages young people to make positive impact on the economy.

Child trafficking is a crime, and the punishment is very severe. According to international legislation, forcing a child into prostitution in the form of child pornography or any sexual activity is a criminal offence. For Nigeria, I would recommend tougher laws against anyone caught patronising prostitutes. Engaging underage girls as housemaids should be banned. CCTV cameras should be placed in areas where prostitutes are usually picked up by clients and images of such clients should be posted on TV or online.

How come you have not considered the possibility of working with government at state or federal level towards arresting the phenomenon of prostitution?

We live in a world where the most important thing is not what you know but who you know. I have tried in the past to seek support from various governments for my NGO but I had no positive response from them. Since then, I have been using my personal funds. In 2010, I was in Nigeria with my NGO, Advancement of African Women (www.advancementofafricanwomen.org) to do a project in which we met and discussed with some prostitutes in Lagos and its environs.

We sought to know their problems and the kind of assistance they needed. We were able to provide some assistance towards resettling some of them.

But this requires a lot of money, and we still look forward to assistance from government, corporate organisations and well-meaning individuals in this regard.

I believe it is better to start the campaign from the grassroots.

That is one of the things that led me to declare my interest in the position of the Chair of Ijebu North East Local Government under the umbrella of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

Will you be willing to return to Nigeria if you are offered a political appointment in this regard?

I am always willing to return to my fatherland if I am fortunate to be offered a political appointment. Since I was a little girl, I had developed a strong interest in Nigerian politics. As a child, prominent politicians like the late Akintunde Asalu always visited our house. I could remember him sleeping over.

My dad cared a lot about his interest.

But the incident that made me to promise myself that I would be one of the people that will improve Nigerian politics was the death of Mr Amuwo in Oke Ado, Ibadan. The caring and generous family man was burnt to death in front of his house by political thugs on •Aiyeola

•Continued from Page 45 masters. The gang-masters take the vulnerable girls out of Nigeria with the false impression that they are going abroad to become actresses, singers, models or students. These innocent girls cannot call the police because the gang masters put fear in them that they will be deported, jailed or killed if they alert the police.

But that is not true.

My advice to anyone who has a relation working for a gang master abroad is to alert the security agencies in that country. For the girl’s safety, you don’t have to mention your name. Just give the name and address of the

gang master. In fact, the girl may be considered for indefinite leave to remain while the gang master goes to jail for a very long time.

You still have not told us how seriously Nigerian girls are involved in prostitution in Britain.

I can assure you that it is not as bad as Italy, because the government of the United Kingdom is on top of the game. There are lots of undercover policemen and the UK has one of the best judiciaries in the world. The police are paid well and on time, so the system is not corrupt. Also, it is a big-brother nation. There are CCTV cameras everywhere you turn.

election day in 1983. I believe that politics should be about winning and losing and working for the interest of the people. It hurts me to still see violence in this political era. Our fathers who introduced it are either dead or retired. We should avoid passing it to the new generation.

I want to be a politician that will make history in a positive way and I have been preparing myself for it. My interest is in the Ijebu North East Local Government chairmanship position.

I believe it is another way of offering good service to the community. I intend to engage in community development programmes like keeping our community safe and secured; provision of potable water; liaising with businesses for youths’ apprenticeship,

internship and jobs; building a state-of-the-art library, well equipped health centre and maintaining schools to high standard.

There will also be youth clubs and activities centre. Local buses will be introduced in the area with free bus pass to the aged and physically challenged people. There will also be provision of agricultural extension services and simple farm tools to farmers. It will be an entirely new vision and direction for Ijebu North East.

Have you ever been harassed sexually?

Yes. But I did not succumb to it. I ensued that the person involved apologised to me.

As the mother of a 22-year-old girl, you look rather too young and too radiant for your age.

What is the secret?

I use natural skin products, drink lots of water, and look after my body. I love farming.

I work out three times per week and don’t compromise my sleep. I understand my body.

How old are you now?

I am 45 years old.

How much of a fashion freak are you?

I love myself, but I am not a fashion freak. I would say I am moderate.

How would you describe your family life?

I am blessed with two kids who are now adults studying in the university. Although I brought them up single-handedly, they have the fear of God in them. We still pray and worship together as a family. I believe in marriage as an institution, but I will not encourage slavery, which some women are going through in the name of marriage.

What is your opinion of the average Nigeria man?

The average Nigerian man is too much on the fast lane.

Which part of Nigeria did you hail from?

I hail from Isonyin in Ijebu, Ogun State. I am the daughter of Very Reverend Babatunde Aiyeola, the son of James Aiyeola of Olorunsogo Ishoyin; son of the first Erelu of Ishoyin.

What was your childhood like?

I was raised in a Christian home. My dad, known as Very Reverend Babs Aiyeola, was unique, he did an amazing job filling the role of being my mum as well as my dad. I couldn’t have asked for more. He raised us as a single parent after my mother left him with six children in 1973 for another man. He never remarried.

As a family, we were brought up with prayer and fasting being the solution to any problem.

Dad always told us: “Keep praying until the prayer is answered”. I attended Trinity Home Nursery and Primary School, Orogun Ojoo and St Anne’s School, Molete, Ibadan.

What kind of upbringing did you enjoy with your parents?

I had a positive upbringing like every normal child. Growing up in Ibadan was fun and I loved every bit of it. Daddy never finished his food; he always left something for my baby brother and I to eat. It was something both of us always looked forward to. Whenever I was going to a party, I would smuggle out my elder brother’s trousers and change into it outside. When he found out, he got really angry. My late Uncle Seni’s children were the closest cousins I had.

Along with them, every December 23, all my granny’s children and grandchildren met at Mama’s house in Oke Ade, Molete, Ibadan to celebrate her birthday. It was an opportunity to meet with everyone.

I was also close to my granny’s elder sister, Mama Desalu. I could tell her anything. And when I moved to Lagos, she turned out to be the shoulder to cry on. As a little girl my siblings and I agreed to disagree with daddy and with one another. My brothers always looked out for me because I was a very outspoken tom boy and too independent. We are all very close. Daddy told my baby brother to call me “Auntie” but I rejected it, because I didn’t want guys to think that I was too old to date. But now that we have grown up, I’ve changed my mind and regret it. Now, I want him to call me Auntie Funmi!

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2012

I

N Sokoto State, today is sure to be a climax of old political rivalries. It will be a test of political relevance, political might and above all, simple popularity.

It will, in more ways than one, be a fight between two former allies who fell apart for whatever reason.

Alhaji Aliyu Wamakko, former governor who was forced out of Government House recently along with four other governors by the Supreme Court, will be staking all to return to office as governor of the state. His main challenger is Yusha’u Muhammad Ahmad of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP).

But all eyes will be on Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa, former Sokoto State governor for eight years, who will be staking his popularity, political relevance and might as he leads the charge for his party’s (ANPP) candidate against Wamakko who was his former deputy, but stepped out of his shadow in 2007 to be governor and has since been flying the flag of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The questions that today’s election will answer are: Has the four years of Wamakko on the platform of the PDP erased the eight years of Bafarawa who ruled on the platform of the ANPP? Does Bafarawa still command enough political clout among the people of the state after his defection from the ANPP to the formation of the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) which he dumped for the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and from where he has now moved back to the ANPP? What is the impression of the people about his ‘political tour’ that has taken a complete 360 degrees of political tour.

Will Wamakko make capital of the support of the Federal Government? Will those opposed to his return within the PDP abide by the truce brokered by the party and allow him a smooth sail?

These are the questions that would have been answered one way or another by the end of the voting exercise today.

However, all indications point to the fact that Wamakko is not likely to encounter any serious opposition for the day. It would be a thing of surprise if it happens.

As at about two weeks before now, it was obvious that he had been able to rein in the huge internal opposition against his second term. And many pundits have declared this a major victory for him.

Apart from enjoying the support of the ruling party and all its national apparatchiks, and from the Presidency down to the National Assembly, those who made the opposition tick are now on his side. More also, the opposition seems not to have been able to find the necessity of being on the same page for effective coordination and operation.

Behind the Wamakko second term quest just now are such heavyweights as President Goodluck Jonathan, Vice President Namadi Sambo, Senate President, David Mark, Speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwal and some others, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Governors Sai’du Dakingari, Sule Lamido and Patrick Yakowa, as well as serving ministers.

The three major opposition parties, the ANPP, the DPP and the ACN have a peculiar challenge

•Wamakko

•Bafarawa

Sokoto: Renewed rivalry, test of might and popularity The three major opposition parties, the ANPP, the DPP and the ACN have a peculiar challenge to contend with. The return of Bafarawa to the ANPP did not enjoy the support of all his followers who expressed worry at the fluidity of his movement from one party to another...

Augustine AVWODE Assistant Editor to contend with. The return of Bafarawa to the ANPP did not enjoy the support of all his followers who expressed worry at the fluidity of his movement from one party to another, “political harlotry”. This is the image that may turn out to be Bafarawa’s Achilles’ heels.

As for the DPP which he cofounded with others, the party is seen as a shadow of itself in the state, while the ACN is trudging along. Aside all this, it is instructive to note that the PDP is still tacitly in power as the Speaker who is the Acting Governor has made it clear that it is Wamakko or nothing.

If the April 2011 election in the state is anything to go by, then it could be considered a done deal for Wamakko. His party, the PDP, garnered all the seats in the state and national legislative elections. And it could be said that nothing significant has change since then.

What many people would want to see is whether Bafarawa would be able to do what he couldn’t do in the last 12 months in the state now that he is back in ANPP. Within the ANPP, there is discord as the candidate Yusha’u Ahmad is being challenged by Bello Gazobi at the Federal High Court, claiming that he is the authentic candidate of the party.

Already, the electoral umpire is

•Jega

set and the security agencies are set for today’s election.

It announced a few days ago that it had recruited 11,000 ad hoc staff members for the election. Alhaji Mohammed Musa, INEC’s Public Affairs Officer in Sokoto State who announced it, also confirmed that they had all been given adequate training and

would be evenly deployed in all the 244 electoral wards in the 23 local government areas of the state.

If Bafarawa and his ANPP make a substantial impact in today’s election to the extent of winning it, it could be the beginning of a rebound for a party that was once the major opposition

in the country before it lost the enviable status. Importantly, it would also establish him as the true grand master of Sokoto politics.

But if for any reason the PDP and Wamakko should defeat the ANPP, it would further compound the party’s woes. More supporters are then sure to defect and it would certainly be a big blow to the political relevance of the former presidential candidate. Here in lies the significance of today’s election in Sokoto State.

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2012

Boko Haram militants should be exposed because they are no spirits — Anambra Bishop, Rt. Rev. Ikeako Anglican Bishop of Amichi DioW cese, Anambra State, Rt. Rev. Ephraim Ikeakor, is today making waves in the state sequel to his evangelism on radio. He is a vocal clergyman on any issue, he believes in. Bishop Ikeakor spoke to our correspondent in Nnewi, ODOGWU EMEKA ODOGWU, on the solution to the Boko Haram menace and societal ills, among others.

Excerpts:

•Bishop Ikeako is corrupt. We should team up and fight corruption so that this country can move forward.

Is this N97 per litre justified?

The indices concerning the prizes of petroleum outside the country show that the N97 per litre is justified. Then, the protests by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) that

‘

They live in houses and wear clothes. They are known people. Let the northern politicians and leaders be sincere for once to say we know where they are...The first step is let the northern leaders fight Boko Haram and it will stop immediately

‘

HAT do you have to say regarding the recent fuel subsidy protests?

I want to tell Nigerians to cultivate the culture of patience. We are always in haste. President Goodluck Jonathan came on board precisely May 2011, so barely nine months in office. We want him to do magic and change everything over night. Let us be patient with President Jonathan. I can see a very high level of transparency and sincerity in that man.

Nigerians should also learn on how to adjust when change is necessary. I wonder why we should always be in a static position. By God’s grace, we have been privileged to travel and see how things are done elsewhere. Whether you like it or not, this country is where you have the cheapest prize for petroleum per litre. How would you want that to bring in development?

First consideration in business is the profit margin.If somebody takes his fuel to Cotonu, Republic of Benin and sells N180 per litre, why can’t he go there and establish? You want him to establish where he would be selling N65 per litre or even N97.00 per litre. We should learn to make sacrifices.

Some years ago, in a mockery form, we were chasing Ghana people back to their country.

We said Ghana must go but today, Ghana is a destination point.

They went home and saw the challenges, made the sacrifices and today Nigerians are running to Ghana for education and other things. The best education is in Ghana. Last year, Ghana celebrated one year of uninterrupted power supply. It was a shocker even to the giant of Africa with its epileptic power supply. It is because they were prepared to make sacrifices and reason with the government. So, Nigerians should learn to imbibe the culture of hardwork and shun cheap money without working.

I encourage Nigerians to travel abroad because when you travel, you see Nigerians working in three places a day so that he can meet up his financial needs, but here in Nigeria, a civil servant may not come to work till 9am. But when the salaries don’t come, he would be the first person to go on strike.

We want money, but we don’t want to work.

No diligence. The elite should learn to be patriotic in this country. We are not. Everybody is looking for what would benefit him.

Patriotism is lacking in our country. Look at what every senator takes home at the end of the month. Publish it and do same for the members of the House of Representatives and the ministers. Publish the number of aides each of them has. When this is done, Nigerians would be able to know the wages of their elected and appointed political office holders and their aides.

These anomalies brought about the protests by the masses. They would be corrected because you can’t be paying a minimum wage of N18, 000 to a Nigerian worker per month when an individual is going home with N10 to N25 million a month in the same country. For doing what? For sitting in an air-conditioned room and make arguments!

So, we really need to be patriotic in this country. Look at our attitude to our work. Look at our attitude to our educational system.

Our lecturers are not patriotic. Civil servants are not patriotic. Politicians are not. Importers are not and nobody is.

Our people would go to China and order for the manufacturing of substandard goods for consumption in Nigeria. If people should be content with what they have, corruption should be dealt with. Living within your income is just the answer to our numerous problems in life. The government should intensify action to fight corruption. Everybody

led to the downward review from N141 to N97 were also justified. I don’t mean other political protests because I am aware that the protesst were hijacked by opposition political parties.

Labour did a different protest, carrying their placards and mildly asking for a reversal in the prize of fuel, but at a place like Ojota where you had over 10,000 people, converging every day, things were different. If they were protesting hardship, who was paying those musicians they were bringing to play at that arena. Who was paying those comedians? What were you celebrating when you were complaining of hardship?

That’s why I said some people hijacked the peaceful rally for their selfish interests. It was a shame. The labour was saying things were difficult in our country, and they were bringing musicians to play. What message were they sending to the outside world? Are we not foolish?

Jonathan’s administration is transparent, according to you. Why didn’t he expose the cabal that is behind the fuel subsidy mess?

I suspect he doesn’t know. At the same time I think he knows. But listen, governance is more of a science than an act. You should put two and two together before you strike.

Otherwise, it would backfire when the cabal will fight back. This cabal has people in his cabinet. He must be very meticulous about that. He must have his facts before he can expose anybody. But we are telling him that the timing for the subsidy removal was very wrong.

The opposition has not relaxed that he won. They have been looking for an avenue to strike. And if they get an avenue, they would deal with him. May be those who were closer thought we weren’t talking sense.

Look at what happened. This country would have collapsed completely. Thank God for the understanding of labour. So what I am saying in essence is that President Jonathan, to me, is transparent, but he needs to be very careful in fighting the cabal.

This cabal is made up of big men. They are not small boys you can deal with any how.

They are the big men who can do anything to bring down this nation, if you tamper with their sources of income. So, you must garner enough support from Nigerians before you expose them. If not, they will create more problems for you. That’s why I think he has not mentioned anybody. But the drama is unfolding. Very soon, you will see what will happen.

Is President Jonathan on course?

I want the President to be cautious with those who are advising him. And the traditional rulers, especially from the Igbo race, should go back to the tradition of living in their domains, so that they can give responsible leadership. This country is a great one.

We are heading for greatness. Let us support Mr. President to actualise his dreams.

Let us give him a chance. And by God’s grace, this country is going to be one of the greatest countries in a few years to come, if only we will support this man, not minding where he comes from. Minority or majority is not what we are looking for. We are looking for a man that will take us to the Promised Land, and I think Jonathan is moving in that direction. Let us support him.

The Boko Haram menace has caused a lot of destruction to the extent that non-indigenes are fleeing to their respective regions.

What can you say about this?

Let me start with the northerners themselves. Boko Haram members are not spirits. They are human beings. They live in houses and wear clothes. They are known people. Let the northern politicians and lead-

THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2012

‘ Why teachers are opposed to return of schools to missions’ of life as the Holy Bible says. As Christians, we can never at anytime advise them to go and take up arms to defend themselves. But now that Jesus is reminding us that He sends us as sheep among wolves, what does that mean?

They have to be careful. In their worship areas, let them be security-conscious. There should be enough security. They should create car parks far away from where they are worshipping. So if anything happens, it would not affect many of them. The church now should be locked up after every programme, so that people would not penetrate and cause sorrow to them. They don’t know what heaven is all about. They are just there to kill us.

The Bible says that the effectual fervent prayers of the righteous availeth much. With prayers, we would overcome Boko Haram and its sponsors.

Same-sex marriage is still an issue in Nigeria, but what do you think is the solution to it, National Assembly or church leadership?

Remember that you don’t make laws to control tendencies. You make laws to control behaviour.

Tendencies are different from behaviour. And when you make laws, you control people’s ways of life. The National Assembly has done their beat with the issue of same-sex marriage. The battle should be taken up by church and traditional leaders.

Today, we are losing our cultural

•Bishop Ikeako values in hours and nothing is done about that. If I hear our leaders talk at cultural revivals, I laugh. They no longer know what our culture

is. In the National Assembly, if you see a man from Niger Delta, you will know by his dress, and if you see a northerner you will know.

But if you see an Igbo man, you won’t know because he would be the first to wear the northern dress.

These are things people don’t value, but dressing is part of our culture.

The church leaders should have a rethink about these emotional preachings. Law cannot stop a homosexual from being a homosexual, but the word of God is the only answer. If we don’t go back to the preaching of Christian virtues, we are nowhere. There is a law prohibiting armed robbery for years, but has it stopped? But when an armed robber hears the word of God and repents, it stops.

I am worried about our traditional rulers, especially those from the Southeast. I think we should have a real cultural conference organised for our traditional rulers. It will serve as an opportunity to talk to our traditional rulers about their attitude because they have abandoned their domains to live in big towns. How can you be a traditional ruler in Igboland and you are living in England, America, Abuja, Lagos? Who is deceiving who? How then would you know when something is going wrong in your community? It is only when you are around that you can stop the excesses among youths today. For example, you see a young

‘

What is their problem? People don’t want to work. In government schools, they can come to school once in a week, even once in two weeks and no one is interested, but once the schools get back to the missions, you must do the work. This is what they are fighting

‘

ers be sincere for once to say we know where they are. There was a time a particular part of Anambra State was well known for this kidnapping. Once somebody was kidnapped, he would be taken to a particular part of Anambra State. But the governor, Mr. Peter Obi, rose to the challenge. He called the traditional rulers of the area and warned them that if the kidnap didn’t stop in their domains, he would deal with them. And within weeks, that stopped.

The northerners know what is happening about Boko Haram. Let us stop painting this matter. When they say that Boko Haram is not an Islamic sect, what is it? The first step is let the northern leaders fight Boko Haram and it will stop immediately. Let the government be decisive in dealing with those already found guilty of engaging in destruction. The government must be very strong in dealing with them, and others will learn their lessons.

These almajeri schools we are trying to establish in this country will be dangerous because no other group will interact with the students there. Their curriculum is known to them. They are trained in their own way and they are given their own education with people’s money. Why can’t they mix up with other people and be educated? Why should we train them with our national money?

Why would a group be gathered and the Nigerian government would give them a special education called almajeri education?

The government should be decisive on the Boko Haram issue. Let the Federal Government look into the security agencies. Those who are no longer fit to be in the Police should be shown the way out. Let the Federal Government look into it, even if it warrants bringing in foreigners to retrain our policemen. I think it will help us.

What do you think the Christians can do now that they are being pushed to the wall by these extremists?

Our holy book has said it all. Thou shall not kill. And that’s why these people are doing what they like.

Christians believe in the sanctity

51

man dressed like a woman by putting earrings.You should call his attention to that because it is alien to our culture.

A community can ban that. Not encouraging masquerade is not our culture. They were security agents used when policeman were not in existence. Now that the police are in existence, masquerades should retire. Let us go back to sound preaching of the scriptures because the church is not created to make anybody a millionaire. It was created to make people lead good lives, life of contentment and true love for one another and above all, preparing for the coming of the Master. But today, every young boy will come and say that he is senior apostle this or that.

What is your opinion on the return of schools to missions with the earlier threat of the NUT to make the state ungovernable?

The government handed mission schools back with the promise to still pay salaries. They are not complaining that the government will not pay them salaries or that their salaries were tampered with. What is their problem? People don’t want to work.

In government schools, they can come to school once in a week, even once in two weeks and no one is interested, but once the schools get back to the missions, you must do the work. This is what they are fighting. The church is to monitor administration and restore morality. It is that commitment to teaching and learning that is the problem. They don’t want to work, but they want to take salaries.You can quote me anywhere.

Are you calling for state police?

I have not said that. What I am saying is that churches should be liaising with security agencies. But for state police that is being agitated in some quarters, if it is properly put in place, I think it will be more effective. Most of these people don’t know how to solve problems at the grassroots.

‘Suddenly we saw those electric poles smashing to the ground’ •Continued fromPage 15 •A room

damaged

steadily since the early morning Monday incident. Initially the figure was put at two. A man was

‘

said to have been killed by a falling telecommunications mast around Dodan Barracks in Ikoyi,

But all of a sudden, it came like a big whirlwind; all of us in different cars, hurrying to get to the Island, as usual to avoid the morning traffic gridlock, were all held down... So we all stopped, praying that the world would not end this way, because it was like the world was going to end as it were...

‘

body. Kindly help us appeal to them”, were her words.

Further inland at Ejigbo LCDA, about 200 families were rendered homeless as their roof tops and ceilings were completely pulled off by the wind which blew for close to an hour in some areas. Several buildings were partly damaged with some fences collapsed. Some vehicles’ windscreens were shattered by hard objects which fell on them.

Residents spoke of noticing a relatively dark cloud in the area followed by the raging wind which blew off their roofs, a situation that caused panic, as some of the residents rushed out of their apartments, for fear of them collapsing.

Chairman of the Ejigbo Local Council Development Area, Mr. Kehinde Bamigbetan, who visited the estate to assess the level of damage, said that repair works on the affected buildings would begin in earnest. Bamigbetan told newsmen: “We are here to assess the damage and respond to the damage by restoring as much as we can within the shortest time. Our carpenters are already on ground and we are going to assess the situation, based on which we will look at the cost and try to respond to it”.

A total of 100 blocks, he said, were affected.

The casuality figures have risen

while a motorcyclist operator popularly known as Okada was said to have been killed by a branch of a fallen tree at the Low Cost Housing Estate, Jakande.

But more pathetic was the news of 10 pupils of a nursery primary school of a hitherto unknown Ojota village in the riverine area of Otto Awori Local Council Development Area (LCDA). The wooden canoe in which they were travelling drowned in a boat mishap occasioned by the gusty wind as they were heading for Igbede Village, also a riverine community on the fateful morning.

As at the time of filling this report on Wednesday night, the casualty figure was put at about 16, with Ojota village recording the highest figure of 12.

In terms of monetary cost, no one can say for sure just how much it would be. On Wednesday, the Ejigbo LCDA chair, Kehinde Bamgbetan, put the cost of the total destruction inflicted by the storm in his area

at about N15.6 million. He revealed that he might have to approach the state emergency agency for assistance.

According to experts, the windstorm whose speed was put at about 120 km/h or 74 miles an hour, is the beginning of the formation for hurricane wind speeds and was accompanied by about two-thirds of an inch (about 1.7 centimeters) of rain fall and that it actually lasted about 15 minutes, described as “erratic weather”.

But as residents of Lagos count their losses after the storm ravaged different parts of the state, some of those who lost their property but are alive to tell the story, said they were thankful to be alive. Among them, Mrs Ibiyemi Olusola, whose car was damaged by the storm in Adekunle area of Yaba, said although she suffered much loss, she was happy to be alive.

Mrs Olusola said: “Around 7am, when the wind began blowing fiercely, the biggest branch of the tree in the compound just tore and fell on the Jeta Volkswagen car compressing it and smashing the front and rear windscreens”.

For her and indeed many others in Lagos and even the world over, learning to cope with the fury of nature is a task that can’t be avoided.

FAMIL Y HEAL TH AMILY HEALTH

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THE NATION, SATURDAY,FEBRUARY 18, 2012

God's design for a successful family life (3)

D

EAR Reader, Oftentimes, readers have written to me, asking me to pray that they have a successful marriage and family life. My response to everyone today, is that you are the builder and the architect of your family.

If your family life turns out to be successful, you have played a part in its success, even though God is the ultimate builder (Hebrews 3:4). If your family life is not successful, God is not to blame either, because He always keeps His own side of the covenant. Before your family can be built successfully, you have responsibilities to accept and fulfill.

It is a well known fact that the quality of any establishment is largely dependent on the quality of its leadership. This is also true of any family. That is why, this

week, we shall be looking at, A True Family Man & Woman, in our quest for a successful family.

A True Family Man is a man of many parts. He is a good leader that takes decisions, guarantees the welfare of the home, and makes provisions for his family members physically and financially. Besides, he is a spiritual beacon, interceding for each member of the family regularly.

However, in this piece, we shall be looking at one secret upon which all others hinge, which is Love. The secret of the love he has for his family is a major motivation that moves him to fulfill all of his other responsibilities.

Apostle Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost said: Husbands love your wives, even as Christ loved the church, and gave himself for it (Ephesians

.5:25). The instruction to love, which a true family discovers, is a commandment from the Almighty God. Wherever love is present, it can be seen, read, heard and be felt. It cannot be hidden.

There can't be effective leadership without love. As a man, loving as much as Jesus loves the church is the standard. Jesus loved the church when it had no comeliness. While we were yet sinners, Christ laid down his life for us (His Church) (I John.3:16).

God's Word says: Love thinketh no evil. (1 Corinthians 13:5).

Therefore, always resist any evil thought in you, concerning your wife or other family members in the mighty name of Jesus. A true family man, therefore, speaks good and godly words to his wife and children. When he calls his wife a virtuous woman, she longs to live up to that title. As he calls his children gifted and intelligent, they work hard not to disappoint his expectation. Anyone who draws people to himself, who is touched by their feelings, and shows concern for them is always an effective leader.

A True Family Woman is one who brings rest to the people around her. After the creation of woman, God rested. He was so satisfied and He was so convinced with the creation of woman that He had put a seal of

perfection on all His creation, after she was made.

Comfort is a major characteristic of a true family woman. Even God in His Word reveals this when He said, "As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you" (Isaiah 66:13). You can imagine the Almighty God comparing His comfort to that of a mother. That goes to tell you that a woman's soothing touch and presence are meant to bring comfort, encouragement, relief, joy, rest, help and love to her family.

A true family woman is a solution provider. At the wedding of Cana in John 2:5, Mary, the mother of Jesus, pointed the servants who lacked enough wine for the wedding to the solution. She said: Whatsoever he (Christ) saith unto you, do it.

A true family woman is also a child's first teacher. There is a special link between a woman and the child she carried in her womb and breast fed at birth.

This link gives her a unique position and tie with the child, which fathers don't have and can be used as a point of contact to pray for the proper development of the child.

No investment made over your child's life is wasted. Abraham Lincoln, one time President of the USA said, "All that I am, I owe to

my angel mother." Wouldn't you desire to hear that being said of you? Today, I see grace being imparted to both you the man and the woman by all the knowledge you have acquired from this article. Your home shall never be the same again in Jesus' precious name.

Until Christ becomes the Lord of your life, He cannot in anyway, give you all the grace it takes to be a true family man and woman.

Therefore, if Jesus is not yet your Lord, why don't you say this prayer with faith in your heart: 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, call or write, and share your testimonies with me through: E-mail: faithdavid@yahoo.com Tel. No: 234-1-7747546-8; 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.

Tips for a longer life

Obesity linked to lower sperm count in young men How your food and lifestyle choices can add years to life.

N

O matter what your age, you have the power to change many of the variables that influence how long you live, and how active and vital you feel in your later years. Actions you can take to increase your odds of a longer and more satisfying life span are really quite simple.

Diet and aging: Gaining a nutritional edge Plenty of research suggests that eating healthy foods can help extend your life and improve your health.

Studies reveal that a healthy diet can help you sidestep ailments that plague people more as they age, including heart disease, hypertension, cancer, and cataracts.

There is no shortage of new and conflicting advice on diet and nutrition. Stick to the basics with more broad-based changes, such as cutting back on meat; eating more vegetables, fruits, and whole grains; and striking a healthy balance between calories in and calories out.

Choose fruits and vegetables wisely Get at least five servings of fruits and vegetables a day. When filling your plate with fruits and vegetables, choose from a full color palette. For even more health benefits, aim for nine servings a day. To get there, choose vegetable soups and vegetable or fruit salads. Sprinkle fruit on fruit, and select it for snacks or as a sweet end note after meals.

Choose fats wisely Whenever possible, use monounsaturated and polyunsaturated oils. Avoid trans fats entirely. Limit saturated fats to less than 7 percent of daily calories and total fat to 20 percent to 30 percent of daily calories.

If you don’t have coronary artery disease, the American Heart Association recommends eating foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon, trout, or mackerel, twice weekly. If you have documented coronary artery disease, consume roughly 1 gram a day of EPA or DHA from oily fish and supplements if your doctor advises this.

Choose carbohydrates wisely Choose whole-grain foods over those made with refined grains, such as white bread. Look beyond popular choices like whole oats and brown rice to lesser-known whole grains. Limit your intake of white potatoes.

Choosing protein wisely Emphasize plant sources of protein, such as beans, nuts, and

grains, to help you bypass unhealthy fats predominant in animal sources. Enjoying a wide variety of vegetables and eating beans and grains helps you get a full complement of amino acids over the course of a week. Shy away from protein sources high in saturated fat. Favor fish and well-trimmed poultry.

If you do eat beef, pick lean cuts.

Don’t char or overcook meat, poultry, or fish — it causes a buildup of carcinogens. Cutting off fat, which causes flames to flare on the grill, can help avoid charring; try steaming, or braising these foods in liquid instead. Grilling vegetables is safe, however.

Tip the calorie balance in your favor Taking in more calories than you burn off adds extra pounds. Burning off more calories than you take in shaves pounds. A moderately active person who gets about 30 minutes of exercise a day needs 15 calories of food for each pound of body weight.

To lose a pound a week, you need to lop off about 500 calories a day by becoming more active and eating less.

Turning the tide to lose weight—or just holding the line at your current weight—can be difficult.

Aim for a small change. Trimming 5 to 10 percent of your starting weight is a realistic goal with excellent health benefits, including reducing blood pressure and cholesterol levels and lowering the risk for diabetes.

Source: Harvard Health Publications •Regular intake of assorted fruits goes a long way to add years to your life

Y

OUNG men who are obese may have a lower sperm count than their normal-weight counterparts, a new study suggests.

The findings, reported in the journal Fertility and Sterility, add to evidence tying obesity to relatively poorer quality sperm.

A number of recent studies have found that compared with leaner men, obese men tend to have lower sperm counts, fewer rapidly mobile sperm and fewer progressively motile sperm, which refers to sperm that swim forward in a straight line rather than moving about aimlessly.

But age is a “confounding” factor in examining the relationship between obesity and sperm quality. Older men tend to have lower sperm quality than younger men, and they also tend to have more body fat.

However, among the more than 2,000 men in the current study, obese men between the ages of 20 and 30 generally had a lower sperm count than normal-weight men in the same age group.

What all of this might mean for an obese younger man’s chances of becoming a father is unclear. Studies have so far come to conflicting conclusions as to whether obesity actually impairs a man’s fertility.

And these latest findings do not reveal whether the difference in sperm count between obese and normal-weight men would be enough to also make a difference in their fertility, according to lead researcher Dr. Uwe Paasch, of the University of Leipzig in Germany.

For their study, Paasch and his colleagues used information from a database on men who had come to their fertility clinic for a semen analysis between 1999 and 2005. The 2,157 men included in the study were 30 years old, on average, and had no known infertility problems.

Overall, obese men had a relatively lower average sperm count than normal-weight men, but were still within what’s considered the normal range. That range is between 20 and 150 million per milliliter of semen, according to the National Institutes of Health.

In an email, Paasch told Reuters Health that “we do not know in detail” whether the difference in sperm count between obese and lean men would affect their fertility. But, he added that the relationship between weight and sperm count offers young men another reason to try to maintain a normal weight.

It is not entirely clear why obesity is related to sperm quality. Some studies have found that obese men tend to have altered levels of testosterone and other reproductive hormones compared with thinner men.

In this study, though, hormone levels correlated with age, but not with body weight.

In other research, Paasch noted, he and his colleagues have found that high levels of body fat are associated with changes in the collection of proteins that allow sperm to survive and function.

The current study had a number of limitations, including the fact that the men were patients at a fertility clinic rather than a sample from the general population.

The researchers also point out that weight categories were based on body mass index, or BMI, a measure of weight in relation to height.

The problem is that BMI does not precisely reflect a person’s level of body fat.

Other studies have suggested that body fat, and abdominal fat in particular, is more closely related to sex-hormone levels than is BMI. The best solution is to reduce weight bu all means possible not just for fertility but for general well-being.

THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2012

FAMIL Y HEAL TH AMILY HEALTH

Recurrent malaria

Hello Dr, I read your article in Nation Newspaper. Please I am a victim of malaria. Every two or three weeks, I find myself coming down with the ailment. And it renders me very ineffective at work. I have taken practically all anti malaria drugs but within two to three weeks, I feel sick again. At a point, my doctor asked that I do HIV test because it is one of the causes of stubborn malaria. I did and it was negative. Someone recommended artemether injection which I took and that has kept me malaria-free for like a month now. My own case is that just one mosquito bite is enough to bring me down. Some people say it is so because my genotype is AA. Please what advise can you offer me?

Onyeka Oha Dear Onyeka, Thank you for your question and your concern is heartfelt. This is a pharmacogenomics riddle.

Pharmacogenomics is the study of the effect of individual genetic make-ups (genotypes) and gene expressions (phenotypes) on drug action. Individual genetic make-up influences drug metabolism (how your body treats a drug), drug responses (how a drug treats the disease in you), and drug toxicity (unwanted other effects of the drug apart from its desired effect in treating a disease). Knowing patients' genetic make-ups can enable us to give more precise therapeutics on individual basis. I cannot naively give you a solution but I can open your mind to the kind of problem you and your health care givers may deal with. You seem to lack immunity to malaria. Most Africans have a certain kind or certain level of immunity that makes it possible for them to stay healthy with repeated mosquito bites. Your pattern of illness does indeed point to your genetic makeup but you need to confirm what kind of genetic variation makes you unable to resist the malaria parasite (plasmodium) that mosquitoes inject into your body when they bite and suck your blood. Our individual genetic make-up can determine what diseases we get and how those diseases manifest in us. Our individual genetic make-up can also determine which drugs will work for us comfortably and which drugs will give us trouble even if they cure a disease.

When a doctor understands a patient's genetic make-up, We have been treating issues regarding PID for the past three weeks and today we want to see the causes.

Pelvic inflammatory disease is caused by germs that are transmitted through sexual contact and other bodily secretions. Bacteria that cause gonorrhea and chlamydia cause more than half of cases. Other organisms found in the vagina can also cause PID but are much less common.

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease Symptoms.

If you have PID, you may have any of these symptoms:

the doctor can give the patient the right drug in the right amount without wasting time and money and taking risks with trial and error using various drugs. The science of genomics (the study of genes and their expressions in life) is still new, difficult, and tasking. Scientists are working hard to develop genomic tests but, apart from the fact that this work is difficult, the new tests developed have to undergo years of carefully designed clinical trials and have to surmount regulatory, legal, and corporate hurdles before they become widely available and cheap enough for routine utilization by patients. Presently, genomic tests are being used in AIDS and cancer therapeutics in some parts of the world.

Artermether is newer than many antimalarial drugs and it is used for the treatment of multi-drug resistant strains of Plasmodium falciparum malaria. It is also effective against Plasmodium vivax. Genetic mutations occur in nature and can lead to offspring that are stronger or weaker in certain respects that are defined by the mutated gene. The plasmodium parasites have been producing strains that are resistant to long-standing malarial drugs. It is known that artemether is effective against resistant strains of plasmodium.

A person who suffers from repeated episodes of a disease may have compounding factors. State of health, diet, and environmental factors are important in addition to genetic make-up. Africans may tend to have parasite burdens which may increase or decrease a person's general immunity. Various kinds of microscopic parasites may weaken a person's immunity to plasmodium and fortunately, artemether clears some other parasites apart from plasmodium. It is good to know that one drug works for you and you can use this to help you live a normal life and be able to perform well at work.

Check your blood group by the ABO classification. The claim that AA genotype confers a susceptibility to malaria needs more scientific substantiation but discuss this with your doctor to gain their clinical experience on this.

For a long term solution to your problem, you need to know what kind of malaria parasite affects you. If it is Plasmodium vivax, perhaps you have the duffy receptor on your blood cells that facilitates the entry of Plasmodium vivax into your cells to destroy them. Plasmodium vivax causes about 80 million cases of malaria per year worldwide but it is rare in West Africa. West Africans generally have altered genes that confer a Duffy-negative phenotype and resistance to Plasmodium vivax invasion. However, as much as 5 percent of West Africans may have the duffy receptor and suffer from Plasmodium vivax. Most of the drugs available in West Africa are effective for Plasmodium falciparum which is the strain that produces malaria in West Africa.

Talk with your doctors and I wish you a trouble-free life.

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

Sound Health with Banji Filani 07089729930, 07034809006

Pelvic inflammatory disease causes

Abdominal pain (especially lower abdominal pain) or tenderness •Back pain ?•Abnormal uterine bleeding. •Unusual or heavy vaginal discharge ?Painful urination •Painful sexual intercourse.

Symptoms not related to

the female reproductive organs include fever, nausea, and vomiting.

Your symptoms may be worse at the end of your menstrual period and during the first several days following a period.

If you are experiencing the following symptoms, you should see your health care provider: •Abdominal pain that does not go away • Irregular vaginal bleeding •Foul-smelling vaginal discharge •Unusual vaginal discharge •Fever, nausea, vomiting Given the long-term complications PID can cause, such as infertility and ectopic pregnancy, it is recommended that you seek immediate medical attention if you have any of these symptoms: •Lower abdominal pain or tenderness •Fever greater than 101°F (38.3°C) •Abnormal or foul-smelling vaginal discharge Adult women with PID are either closely monitored or admitted to the hospital.

More aggressive treatment

may take place in the hospital for adolescents, who are at a much higher risk of not following treatment plans and of having complications.

You may be admitted to the hospital if any of the following are true: •The diagnosis is unclear.

•Ectopic pregnancy or appendicitis cannot be ruled out. •You are pregnant.

•An abscess (an infection) is suspected.

•You are acutely ill or cannot manage your illness at home.

Exams and Tests •Physical exam findings include the following: •A temperature greater than 101°F (38.3°C) •Abnormal vaginal discharge •Lower abdominal tenderness when felt •Tenderness when your cervix is moved •Tenderness in your female organs •Imaging: A pelvic ultrasound, although not routinely done, can be an important tool in diagnosing complications such as tubo-ovarian abscesses, ovarian cysts, and ectopic pregnancy. Although unlikely to occur in pregnancy, PID is the most commonly missed diagnosis in ectopic pregnancies and can occur during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.

Dr. Banji Filani is the Chief Consultant Phylarny Global Healthcare,Lagos. For further information or discussion,call him on 07034809006, 08023422010.

53 Coping with diseases with Prof. Dayo Oyekole

HIV/AIDS

T

HE term AIDS is an acronym that stands for "Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome". It is acquired because the victims do not inherit the condition, but contract it. Immune deficiency means that the victim's natural bodily defense mechanisms are unable to function properly, and "syndrome" refers to the combination of different abnormalities or diseases making up this condition.

AIDS is a complex of diseases and symptoms resulting from unexplained immune deficiency; caused by a retrovirus, culminating in a "mixed-bag" of life-threatening opportunistic infections, which invariably results in death. The retrovirus that causes AIDS is known as Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) with types I, II, and III already isolated.

Although there have been wide speculations and insinuations as to the origin of the virus (HIV), the fact still remains that the first cases of AIDS were diagnosed in North America, Europe and Central Africa about the same time in 1981. Since then, cases are being reported all over the world and most countries now have people with "full-blown" AIDS as well as carriers infected with the virus. It occurs in about 1 to 10% of the population and the incubation period is 4 to 10 years.

The virus has been isolated mostly from semen, vaginal secretion and blood. It is generally believed to be contracted through sexual intercourse, transfusion of contaminated blood, use of un-sterile instruments such as needles, blades and catheters, transplacental infection, organ transplant, tattooing and circumcision as well as breast-feeding.

The major characteristic feature of AIDS is weight loss of about 10kg within 1 month without a known cause. Other symptoms include chronic diarrhoea, persistent cough, skin infections, oropharyngeal candidiasis, swollen lymph glands and night sweating.

Prevention Prevention of AIDS is achieved through avoidance of casual sex, and other factors that may predispose to HIV infection; as well as sterile procedures in clinico-surgical practices.

Treatment and Control Before recommending our treatment and control packages for HIV/ AIDS, it is pertinent to ask the following questions: 1. Why do outbreaks of serious infectious diseases leave some people devastated and others free?

2. If some people are known to be carriers and could go around with the virus for up to 15 years before they physically breakdown, couldn't there be ways of helping to cleanse the virus from the system before it manifests?

3. Are the sufferer's thoughts, aspirations and living habits not affecting the disease cycle as well as response to treatment?

If yes, then in Holistic Lifecare, we are committed to total cure of HIV/AIDS sufferers when they have just been tested and diagnosed positive, when they are still able to eat, drink and move around on their own, but not when they are expecting their funeral the next day!

The Holistic Natural Remedy being suggested for restoring good health, vitality, and total cure in HIV/AIDS sufferers; is a combination of herbal, nutritional and psycho-social therapies at the appropriate time and in the right proportion. Notable among the useful herbs for HIV/AIDS are Aloe vera, Allium sativum, Harpagophytum zeyheri, Echinacea augustifolia and Zingiber officinale.

For further information and consultation on Holistic Lifecare research and services, especially on Blood Infections, Infertility, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Chronic Debilitating Conditions as well as mental and social problems, please call on: 0803-330-3897 or visit: Mosebolatan Holistic Lifecare Centre, Adeyalo Layout, Ogbere-Tioya, Off Olorunsogo Express Bridge, Ibadan. Website: www.holisticlifecare.com. Distance is no barrier, we can send remedies by courier if need be. We also have facilities for accommodation, admission and hospitalization in a serene and homely environment.

54

THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2012

When Lagos journalists activated HURP tourism project F

OR the weary, stressed and overworked dwellers of Lagos, taking time out to La Campagne Tropicana is like a spiritually weary pilgrim heading for a monastery on spiritual voyage to rediscover his inner self.

It is idyllic getaway where life is in rather sophisticated, but yet naturally and culturally friendly environment. It also has the ocean, vast beachfront and pure unpolluted air.

That was what the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) was looking for when they decided to retreat to the getaway to relax and brainstorm, and that was what they got and even more. They not only relaxed, brainstormed and came to plan, they came back ready to 'HURP. ' The chief executive of the resort and the World Conference of Mayors Tourism Ambassador to Africa, Otunba Wanle Akinboboye, shared his vision of transforming the nation from a mono-economy to diversify into tourism and agriculture, using his pet project- Hope, Unity, Rebirth and Prosperity (HURP)- as a pedestal.

He said:"HURP is a movement on how we can begin to hop forward by creating hope, fostering

Dupe OLAOYE-OSINKOLU

unity and jump-starting a rebirth process that will lead to prosperity.

"What we focus on is positiveness. We, as a country, are focusing on only one item which is petroleum. We pump the same quantity of oil that Brazil pumps per day and this represents only four per cent of the Brazilian gross domestic product (GDP), while in our case, more than 90 per cent. We need to re-engineer this through tourism, entertainment, agriculture and other sectors.

“We have focused for too long on negativity. We have lived for too long as Niger area, as conceptualized by Flora Lugard, the wife of Lord Lugard . There must be a concerted effort to jump-start Nigeria through us creating hope, fostering unity, jumpstarting a rebirth process that will ultimately lead to prosperity.

"I am the ambassador for Tourism for the World Conference of Mayors made up of 22,000 members. About 670 are African- Americans. Our position is very simple.

From the angle of the African-Americans ,if Nigeria disintegrates, it will cause problems for the whole con-

HURP is a movement on how we can begin to hop forward by creating hope, fostering unity and jump-starting a rebirth process that will lead to prosperity tinent of Africa because what you have is that one out of every four Africans, anywhere in the world, is a Nigerian and Nigeria is very significant. So, the Black Caucus of the World Conference of Mayors decided that a concerted effort must be made to put us together.

“We must be mindful of the im-

portance of jump-starting a rebirth process. There must be new thinking process. There must be new focus on different dimensions. It might be late for some of us, but we must begin to lay that foundation so that we can have a prosperous nation moving forward.

“Recently, the government of Antigua and Barbuda, through the Ambassador for Tourism, wanted to create the concept of a West African theme resort because so many of our brothers and sisters in the Diaspora actually came from West Africa and they absolutely have no clue where their forefathers came from.

“What we are doing now in Antigua is to replicate that, so that those of them that have not had the opportunity of coming to Africa will have the opportunity of seeing the continent of Africa in the Caribbean, and that the Europeans and people from all over the world can go and taste Africa in the Caribbean. We must learn to now start exporting our culture. African culture to, a large extent, is not well known because we have not taken it there. “ When we go out there, we go out there like British people. We wear their clothes, we act like them, we speak their language. We

present ourselves in what they refer to as the civilized manner, but we can go with our culture.We polish it to make it highly cosmopolitan. There are about 700 million people of African descent in the Diaspora. There are about two billion people that are lovers of Africa, but we are not presenting Africa to them when we go out there.

“What we are now doing is to use our international connection to help Nigeria realize her potential to HURP. Most of the things we hear about Nigeria today is negative."

Otunba Akinboboye told the NUJ executives to hop, 'leap into greatness.'

Nigeria, according to him, has 25 out of the 26 existing natural resources in the world in commercial quantity, and wondered why too much emphasis is being placed on oil.

He said the country would benefit more if the government endeavours to pay more attention to the tourism industry.

He added that the bane of Nigeria is being trained to get jobs and not to create jobs and empower others.

Towards achieving the desired Continued on Page 55

55

THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2012 Continued from Page 54

greatness in tourism, he introduced 'Motherland Beckons', an initiative for promoting the African culture.

Motherland Beckon is a portal, a spiritual calling to people of African descent and lovers of Africa from all over the world to come and be part of the African experience through travelling and indirectly impacting on the economic development of the continent and thereby empowering themselves economically by taking advantage of the vast opportunities embedded in Africa.

He said the African culture and creative arts should be made to hop to the greatest heights. The hopping has started, as he asked his guests to hop, hop, hop, saying as they hop, they take African tourism to a new and glorious height.

Leader of the delegation, Mr Deji Gbolahan Elumoye, appreciated the visible progress African tourism has made through Akinboboye, and urged him not to relent in his effort to internationalise Nigerian and indeed African tourism.

He said journalists would continue to complement his effort through continued projection of his numerous activities in his chosen economic field.

When Lagos journalists activated HURP tourism project We have focused for too long on negativity. We have lived for too long as Niger area, as conceptualized by Flora Lugard, the wife of Lord Lugard. There must be a concerted effort to jump-start Nigeria through us creating hope, fostering unity, jumpstarting a rebirth process that will ultimately lead to prosperity •Lagos NUJ executive with Otunba Akinboboye (in cap)

Talking about the 200 acres of land given to him by the government of Antiga and Barbuda to replicate his resort- La Campaigne Tropicana ResortAkinboboye said the industry is creating thousands of entrepreneurs soon as Nigeria's creative artistes would be taken to the country to teach the people cre-

ative arts like drums making, tie and dye, batik designs and sculpture, among others.

He said government alone cannot provide jobs, and so it should be training the trainers.

On the nation's unemployment problem, Akinboboye said when dignity is added to labour, people would want to do the job, hence univer-

Kehinde FALODE: 08023689894

Cassava cake

sity graduates work as drivers, security guards when the jobs are re-branded and made classy. No job, he said, should be reserved for a particular qualification.

He said charity for him begins at home as everything about his resort is African creative arts. Even all the doorbells at his expansive resort are small talking drums hanged at doorsteps.

Health and nutritional benefits of banana Bananas are the fruit of a plant of the genus Musa (family Musaceae) cultivated primarily for food, and secondarily for the production of fibres that are used, for example, in the textile industry.

They are also cultivated for ornamental purposes. Banana also gives a lot of benefit to the entire body and is known for its sweet taste, good nutritional with their high content in potassium and fibres (and vitamins such as B6, C and A), and best of all their ease of use. Below are a few tips •It helps keep bones healthy - Eating bananas frequently can increase our body’s ability to absorb calcium. In addition, green bananas contain indigestible short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) that are very nutrient to the cells that make up the linings of the intestines. When these cells are wellnourished and healthy, the body’s ability to absorb calcium becomes much more efficient.

•Vitamins - It also contains some essential vitamins .

Peanut butter-banana smoothie Foluke ADEMOLA This lovely cake is easy to prepare and very nutritious.

Ingredients Cassava cake mix: •2 lbs grated cassava •1 14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk (reserve 1/3 cup for topping) •1 12 oz. can evaporated milk •1 14 oz. can coconut ilk (reserve 1/3 cup for topping) •1 13 oz. can coconut cream (reserve 1/3 cup for topping) •2/3 cup sugar •3 eggs plus 3 egg whites •1 cup grated coconut Topping: 3 egg yokes •1/3 cup reserved sweetened condensed milk •1/3 cup reserved coconut milk

•1/3 cup reserved coconut cream Preparation •Preheat oven to 350° f.

In large mixing bowl combine cake ingredients.

•Mix well. Pour equally into two large greased rectangular pans. Bake until top is no longer liquid (approximately 40 minutes to 1 hour).

•Mix topping ingredients well and spread evenly on the two cakes.

Bake an additional 20 to 30 minutes. Cool cakes completely.

•Slice each cake into 24 equal squares or anyway you preferred it. Leave to cool and serve.

Enjoy!

A visitor only needs to beat the drum to announce his or her presence. He said the maker of the talking drums is wealthy today because he is being patronised.

For his efforts in projecting Africa in the world of tourism, he clinched the overall leadership role in tourism in Africa.

President of the World Conference of Mayors, Mayor

James L. Wallis, Mayor of the City of District Heights, USA, confirming his appointment said Akinboboye was appointed to serve 55 African countries.

"This is in furtherance to our commitment and focus to develop tourism by encouraging people of African descent and lovers of Africa to travel to Africa, and by so doing, enhance the development and growth of the entire African continent through tourism." he said.

Bananas are also great for smoothies because of their creamy texture and sweet flavour. After having your pudding, you should try and top it with a banana drink to balance your diet.

Try this peanut butter banana smoothie, and I am sure, you will ask for more.

Ingredients • 1 cup of milk • Frozen banana, sliced into chunks • 1 tbsp natural peanut butter • 1 scoop protein powder (optional) • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract • ¼ cup old-fashioned oats • 3 to 4 ice cubes Method • Toss the first five ingredients in a blender

and blend until smooth.

• Add the oats and beat for a few times until the oats are broken down. Add your ice cube and blend until smooth.

• Pour into a large glass or travel mug and enjoy.

Vitamin B6, also known as pyridoxine, helps with brain function, your body’s ability to use energy conversion, and along with folate and B12, lower homocysteine levels which are connected with heart attack because of high levels of the amino acid. The vitamin C, which is found i n bananas, helps the body fight against and heal infections. Its potassium content also has many other benefits.

•Bananas can help you stop smoking - Bananas can also help people trying t o give up smoking.

Banana nutrients such as vitamins B6 and B12, as well as potassium and magnesium help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.

•The nutrition in bananas protects and keeps healthy your most important organ - your heart. Research has shown that a high fibre diet significantly reduces the risk of heart disease which is the number one cause of death.

•It helps constipation and diarrhoea - Due to their content in fibre, they help restore a normal bowel function. In addition, diarrhoea usually depletes your body of important electrolytes, the most important of which is potassium contained in high amounts in bananas. They also contain pectin, a soluble fiber (hydrocolloid) that can help normalize movement through the digestive tract.

•Bananas can help avoid morning sickness - Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood-sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness. It also helps to prevent anaemia - Bananas are relatively high in iron which helps the body’s hemoglobin function. The most common cost of anaemia is iron deficiency.

•Helps reduce the risk of kidney cancer - Research studies published in the International Journal of Cancer show that frequent consumption of fruits and vegetables, especially bananas, cabbage and root vegetables, may reduce risk of kidney cancer. This is because bananas and many root vegetables contain especially high amounts of antioxidant phenolic compounds.

56

THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBUARY 18, 2012

T

HE Nigerian Tourism Development Corpora tion (NTDC) has given an ultimatum of 30 days to owners of hotels, motels, guest houses, night clubs, eateries and others to register with the corporation or be shut down.

In addition, they should also give details of the profiles of their staff, including their nationalities for necessary checks by the security agencies.

In a statement in Abuja , the Director-General of the Corporation, Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, said the directive had a nationwide application, stressing that it was a punishable offence to run a hotel or other hospitality enterprises without a signboard.

The statement added that the identity of every person in the industry was required, stating that there are reasons to suspect that many illegal aliens are engaged in the hospitality business in Nigeria at the detriment of qualified and ablebodied Nigerians.

Runsewe noted that because of the importance of the tourism industry, there was the need for security agencies to have an inventory of all tourism enterprises in the country for effective monitoring in the interest of security and stability, adding that: “We cannot afford to allow our hospitality enterprises to be used as homes of crime.”

NTDC gives hoteliers registration ultimatum He said the corporation was empowered by law to register all hotels and other hospitality enterprises to provide a comprehensive database for effecting the necessary regulations in the industry.

Meanwhile, the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mohammad D. Abubakar, has directed all proprietors and operators of hospitality centres to duly register with the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation else they would be deemed to be operating illegally and liable to prosecution.

Handing down this warning at a joint news conference in Abuja, the IG said all commissioners of police had been directed to enforce the order.

The IG further stated at the joint news conference with Otunba Runsewe that his directive was in line with the act that established the NTDC. In his words, “Let me state that the Nigeria Police Force is committed to the enforcement of all laws and will work with the NTDC to ensure the enforcement of this regulation at the federal, state and local government levels” Alhaji Mohammad’s directive followed the need by the NTDC to develop a reliable database of all hotels operating in Nigeria through which the relevant security agencies

•Otunba Runsewe

could effect the necessary surveillance on hotels and other tourist destinations in the effort at ridding them of criminals.

According to him, “The tourism industry is highly sensitive and cannot be developed or promoted in an environment where security is not guaranteed. On the other hand, however, tourism facilities such as hotels, guest houses, parks and recreational centres have, of late,, become sources of secu-

rity concerns as they have become targets of attacks with the possibility of also being misused by unscrupulous elements and hostile interests of espionage, subversive terrorism and other unwholesome activities” When asked what would happen to one or two states that have refused registration exercise in their domain, the I.G said the news conference was meant to address the issue, adding that the law would take its course on such recalcitrant states.

Responding, Otunba Runsewe specially thanked the IG for the new wind blowing in the country, saying Nigerians were becoming confident in the force. He said with the new IG, a new chapter was being opened in the drive towards national security and tourism development He solicited the support of all in the quest to rid the society of crime, advising hotels to always employ the services of trained security personnel as staff in their outfits while enjoining people to always furnish the police with relevant information.

The news conference was attended by about 40 topranking officers including 20 commissioners of police.

Radisson Blu Anchorage Hotel forges ahead

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ESS than a year ago when the Radisson Blu An chorage Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos threw its doors into the hospitality market, the hotel has succeeded in carving out its own share of the market.

The initial skepticism was a result of the large number of top quality hotels within the Victoria Island and its environs. But, according to the General Manager of the hotel, Mr. Jean Grieg, the hotel has performed far beyond expectations.

One of the biggest selling point for the hotel is its dual ambience of hotel and leisure. The front view of the hotel gives one the feeling of being in a classic business hotelaustere with kittle or nothing for relaxation outside the cosy facilities at the relationship area that also dovetails into the restaurant facility.

However, the picture immediately changes as one trolls to the back. Here the hotel transforms to a leisure resort.

There is a swimming pool overlooking the lagoon.

Poolside couches for relaxation and sun bathing which together leaves a good feeling. These are some of the unique features of Radisson Blu Hotel.

“So far, my head office is satisfied with the progress we have made in the Nigerian market. We have something in Abuja; there is a project coming up in Abeokuta and there might be more in Lagos.This is a business hotel; it is not a leisure one.

“My biggest problem today is the small ball room. I can’t take weddings, we can’t take big parties and all these go to our competitors.I know in the future we might have a ball room “I will like to have more rooms , and demands will grow.If the government behaves well , there are lots of foreign and local investment coming in.

“We have 400 staff. We have less than 1% foreign staff.

What we try to do is to train. We don’t bring staff from abroad. We try to train our people and you know they are more expensive than locals. You know it takes time to train the locals,”said Mr. Grieg.

NCPC completes successful pilgrimage year

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HE Nigeria Christain Pil grim Commission (NCPC) on Sunday held a thanksgiving service at All Saint Anglican Church ,Wuse, Abuja for a successful 2011 Christian pilgrimage exercise to the holy land.

The church service, which was attended by who is who in the pilgrimage sub-sector and friends of the commission, was colourful and memorable.

The Executive Secretary of the NCPC, Mr John Kennedy Opara, read the first lesson at the thanksgiving service taken from the book of numbers chapter 21 verse 4-9.

The NCPC boss, in his remark at the thanksgiving service, thanked God for divine providence for the privileged to have a successful pilgrimage despite all the challenges the commission faced.

According to him: “With your prayers, the Lord Almighty was able to see us through”.

He explained that the journey for the 2011 Christian pilgrimage began on 5th November, 2011, but came to a successful denouement on January 31, 2012.

Mr. Opara further hinted that a lot of people looked up to the commission to be able to show good moral leadership and he said that the board would strive to lead by example.

He equally affirmed that the commission under his leadership had been able to extend the scope of pilgrimage to Rome and Greece.

According to him, “by the Grace of God, we will continue to expand. I have seen that the only way you can reward Christians is to send them on holy pilgrimage”.

He called on churches and

•Radisson Blu Anchorage Hotel

British Airways ready to welcome the world to London 2012

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•L-R: Dr Solomon Ibenye, Mr John Kennedy Opara and Rev. Nicholas Okoh during the service Mr Opara cashed in on the well- laced Christians to spon- opportunity offered by the Lord who heals,” taken from sor people on pilgrimage, espe- thanksgiving to express his Exodus 15 verse 26.

He explained that “our nacially “ those who may be mate- gratitude to all who supported tion is very sick”, and thus rially poor, but spiritually rich”. the commission. needs the mighty hand of God In his words: “There are many Earlier, the Primate of the amongst us who dearly want to Church of Nigeria (Anglican to be revived. He urged all always pray have an opportunity to go on Communion), The Most Rever- Christians to pilgrimage, even if only once in end Nicholas D. Okoh, pre- for the healing of Nigeria, their life time, but cannot afford sided over the thanksgiving while stressing that it should to do so because of their finan- service.He is also the Chairman not be the business of the people in government alone. cial state. It would make a whole of the NCPC Board.

He called on government to lot of difference, if the church and According to the primate, expose all the agents of darkwell-placed people in it can help NCPC decided to thank God for sponsor fellow Christians to two reasons: to give thanks to ness in the country.

The NCPC thanksgiving achieve this desire”.

God for what he has done for The NCPC boss further said the commission for a success- service served as a veritable that the commission looked for- ful 2011 pilgrimage and to con- platform to pray for peace , Dr. ward to a time when it would tinue to pray that the commis- Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, send N50,000 Nigerian Chris- sion would continue to improve NCPC and the church as a whole. tians on holy pilgrimage. in leaps and bounds.

All the six federal commisThe NCPC helmsman also inThe NCPC Chairman , who timated the congregation that took time to introduce all sioners on the NCPC Board the commission had decided to NCPC federal commissioners were physically present at the have two pilgrimages in one and management staff before thanksgiving service, as well year - March to April and Octo- the congregation, later deliv- as all the management and entire headquarters’ staff of the ber to December. ered his sermon entitled: “The commission.

RITISH Airways is demonstrating its preparation for one of the busiest summers London has had in recent times by unveiling some of the more astonishing facts the carrier will accomplish.

Underpinning the importance of 2012 for British Airways is a set of facts the carrier has released. In 2012 British Airways cabin crew will serve three Olympic size swimming pools worth of tea and BA’s baggage handlers will lift more than 1.1 million Russian weightlifters.

The scale of British Airways challenge really comes to light when it is emphasised that in 2012 British Airways will welcome on board enough customers to fill the Abuja National Stadium 517 times (31,293,783 persons).

British Airways Country Commercial Manager for Nigeria, Kola Olayinka, said: “This Summer London will host the Olympic games, the Queens Diamond Jubilee, the London 2012 festival, Wimbledon, Taste of London and Ascot as well as a host of other sporting and cultural events. As a destination, London looks more attractive than ever, and with the addition of great shopping and food, British Airways believes summer 2012 is the time to visit.”

British Airways planes

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Bariga LCDA budgets N1.8b for 2012

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HE Bariga Local Council Development Area (LCDA) has presented a proposed Appropriation Bill of N1,859,666,407 to the legislative chambers of the council for consideration, for its recurrent and capital expenditure for 2012.

Presenting the budget tagged: “Budget of Fulfilment”, the Executive Chairman of the council, Hon. Omoyele Sulaimon, said the recurrent expenditure of N336,758,342 would be expended on civil servants and political office holders as salaries and allowances, while the sum of N493,241,658 would be deducted at source from the federation account to pay salaries of teaching and non-teaching staff in all the 34 primary schools within the local government area.

In the same vain, he stated that a total sum of N545,831,280 had been earmarked for capital expenditure in the current budget to cover various sectors whose breakdown include: Agriculture, Rural & Social Development N34,000,000; Works, Housing and Infrastructure N451,331,280; Education N38,500,000; Health N17,000,000; Planning and Budget N5,000,000.

Giving further breakdown of the budget, Hon. Sulaimon said a sum of N483,834,127.49 had been earmarked for overhead cost to cater for the dayto-day running of the various departments and arms of the local government with much emphasis on staff training and development that would involve all cadres of employees of the council.

According to the chairman, other priority areas of the budget include the issue of secu-

rity, which he said, is paramount and will be critically looked at to ensure that the local council get rid of hoodlums and made safe for the entire citizenry; provision of economic empowerment materials to women and youths; sporting activities to keep the youths busy through the organization of various tournaments, health programmes such as eradication of communicable and noncommunicable diseases, immunization, diabetes, hypertension as well as child survival strategy programme.

The chairman said the 2012 budget proposal had taken into cognizance the general submission and request of every group within the local government as recorded at a stakeholders prebudget meeting, adding that the various requests are being merged together within the Millennium Development Goals and the Lagos State 10point Agenda which he said were non-negotiable.

Other critical areas the budget intends to address he further stated include: procurement of security van to be used in curbing activities of hoodlums, procurement of a compactor and tipper for carting away of refuse; the education sector where the administration intends to build a modern Hi-tech ICT centre to provide internet and computer services for the public; and the health sector where more Public Health Centres would be made to operate on twenty-four hour basis and the upgrading of other PHCs. The chairman solicited for the support of legislators, supervisors, special advisers, community leaders, market women, citizens and other key stakeholders within the community to help in generating all the revenue due to the council to enable them improve on provision of social services as envisaged in the proposed budget.

PDP secretaryship: Youths root for Salis

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EMBERS of the Youth Vanguard of the Lagos State PDP have described a chieftain of the party, Barrister Owolabi Salis, as a detribalized patriot, with pan-Nigerian world view, who parades the most salutary qualities that place him on more solid pedestal over others competing for the national secretaryship position of the PDP. In a statement, signed by its state coordinator, Mr. Sheriff Adepoju, the group described the two-time gubernatorial contender as the most competent candidate for the job, add-

ing that he stands out as the bridge between the rich and the poor, Muslims and Christians, the young and the old, and the north and the south.

“And for those who care to know, it becomes necessary to emphasise here that all candidates who contested the last PDP gubernatorial primaries belonged to one caucus or the other. It was only Salis who did not contest under the platform of any caucus because he belonged to no group or caucus, and indeed, did not see any need to belong to one.

“What better quality could

Thank God for Zambia Continued from Back Page Those who criticised Bwalya sheathed their swords in national interest. They had their say by condemning his decision to recall a coach who dumped them. But results such as the one on Sunday explain why Bwalya is one of the icons in Africa football, having been voted the Africa Footballer of the Year n his playing days.

This is what Coach Renard said about Bwalya on Sunday night: “He is the best Zambian player of the last century and he escaped the plane crash. He was criticised for giving me the second chance. I dedicate the victory to him because he gave me the opportunity to coach. I also thank Claude Le Roy for giving me my first experience in Africa as assistant coach in 2008 with Ghana.”

Those who think that Zambians’ victory had nothing to do with the mystic but with their dint of hard work must read Coach Renard’s postmatch comments: “It was unrealisable before the start of the tournament and we realised we had to believe in ourselves. We were not the best team but have the strength to fight on. We wanted to honour the dead players and that strengthened us. Our first game was against Senegal and the team was on its way to Senegal for a match when the plane crashed. The plane crashed in Gabon and we won the final in Gabon. It is a sign of destiny.”

Things don’t happen this way always. Zambians’ juju was the love among the players. They enjoyed playing together. Even when they lost a defender to injury, it was writ-

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LANS have been con cluded to commence beautification of nine major towns of Osun State with effect from June.

Coordinator of Osun State Renewal Initiative otherwise referred to as O-Renewal, Prof.

Babatunde Agbola, made the disclosure in Osogbo at a training workshop for volunteers of the Osun State Youths Empowerment Scheme (OYES) that would participate in the project.

He listed Osogbo, Iwo, Ikire, Ife, Ejigbo, Ilesa, Ikirun, Ila-Orangun and Ede among the nine towns across the 30 local government councils of the state to benefit from the programme.

Agboola, who is a professor of Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Ibadan, said O-Renewal initiative will change the face of Osun towns.

He maintained that there was an urgent need for rebuilding and redesigning of major towns in the state.

He said: “Urban renewal entails provision of roads, con-

ten on their faces that a pillar had fallen. But they stuck on with one another and resolved that this injured lad wouldn’t work in vain. Bonding is the key in team sports and that was what the Ivoriens lacked because their team was an assemblage of the best African stars in Europe. Sadly, names don’t win matches. The Zambians enjoyed every moment of the game unlike the Ivoriens who became frustrated by the opponent’s resilience. Were they expecting to roll over the Zambians in a cup final? It showed because they became confused during the sudden death stage of the penalty shoot-out where they quarrelled among themselves over who should take the kick that Kolo Toure eventually lost.

For Nigeria, there is the urgent need for our exinternationals to emulate Bwalya by abiding by the dictates of the FIFA statutes. They must subject their popularity to an election like Bwalya, starting from their state of origin.

Zambians didn’t withdraw from FIFA competitions to rebuild their team. They grew their squad through the soccer competitions on FIFA calendar. Not even the death of a generation of players 19 years ago could force them to take the cruel decision of withdrawing from FIFA competitions like some Nigerians are advocating for selfish reasons.

Those stakeholders who lied that Ghana withdrew from FIFA competitions must tell us the year it happened? Can they now say that the strategy worked with what happened in Gabon and Equatorial

Guinea?

A country’s soccer team, they say, is as good as its domestic league. The Zambians play in their domestic league.

Those of them who are not playing in the Zambian league are in South Africa playing, which is almost like theirs in character and style.

The National Sports Commission (NSC) must allow the NFF to learn from their mistakes. I always laugh each time NSC eggheads tag some people as stakeholders.

Ninety per cent of the clubs in Nigeria are governmentowned. Those parading themselves as stakeholders are sacked members of state government-owned teams. Most of them have nothing to do with the teams and cannot take any decisions for these clubs.

The real stakeholders are the state governors, maybe their sports commissioners. That is the gospel truth.

Did anyone ask if the Eagles would have acted the Zambia script? Perish that thought.

Samuel Sochukwuma Okwaraji died playing for Nigeria on August 12, 1989. Less than two weeks after Okwaraji’s death, Eagles stars chose the return trip to Angola to protest over unpaid allowances, not minding that one of them lost his life during the first leg in Lagos. The players wanted to be paid upfront.

They stayed back in their hotel in FESTAC, Lagos, until the late S.B Williams provided the cash. Again, has anything changed? Yes, if you ask me about the Aminu Maigari-led board and the one before it,

by Sani Lulu. Such hostage packages no longer exist.

one demand of one, aspiring to be the national secretary of the largest party in Africa than the demonstration of exemplary large heartedness and broader world-view, devoid of parochial sectionalism or any hue or colour.

They further described Salis as a seasoned mobiliser, organizer, philanthropist and grassroots man who remains the foremost asset to the PDP, and whose sterling qualities, the PDP cannot afford to ignore, without being harnessed to optimal advantage of the part.

Beautification of Osun starts in June struction of new buildings, provision of water, electricity and recreational facilities. Our urban areas are nothing to write home about and we want

to change this.

“We are beginning with nine model towns and we shall move on to have more towns included”.

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Tomorrow in THE NATION PUNCHLINE

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2012 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM VOL.7, NO. 2039

This is dangerous, not only for democracy but for the entire country. The judiciary might not have smelt entirely like roses in this democratic dispensation, the fact remains that it is still somewhat sane in spite of attempts by the PDP to tarnish its image —Tunji Adegboyega

“…if the law of justice goes out in darkness, how great is the darkness” —Lord James Bryce

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HIS pithy saying of Lord James Bryce re minds us of the significance of law in showing the light for collective entities to safely chart the course of safety and stability through the dark jungle of oppression, exploitation, injustice and sheer barbarism that has constituted much of the history of the human race across time and space. Without vision, it is said, a people perish. But without a credible legal system that guarantees justice to all, society degenerates into anarchy making the meaningful pursuit of any sublime vision impossible.

When he assumed office as Chief Justice of Nigeria after the rather turbulent tenure of his immediate predecessor, Justice Aloysius Katsina Alu, many Nigerians did not believe that Justice Dahiru Musdapher could engineer any positive change in the country’s embattled judiciary. For one, he was believed to have been a close confidante of Justice Katsina-Alu and hence complicit in the aberrations of the latter’s tenure. Again, some were of the view that the new CJN had been a part of the judicial decadence all along and that only a CJN appointed from outside the Supreme Court could effectively tackle the rot.

But I had taken a contrary view in this space.

I reasoned then to the annoyance of some my readers that the new CJN could be motivated to do as much as possible to make an indelible imprint on the sands of history during his short tenure. The complexity of organizational dynamics is such that it may be difficult to properly judge a man until he is in full control of a given institution. Musdapher was obviously constrained by the power configuration within the judiciary when he was number two to Katsina-Alu. Now that he is in effective charge, we are beginning to see his true colours of character, courage and a historic sense of mission.

The CJN has not only spoken out boldly and firmly against corruption, he has acted to help contain the menace. For instance, he has directed that all corruption cases must be concluded within six months. This will hopefully help to check the prevalent situation in which cases drag on for years until they are virtually forgotten in the public consciousness.

On plea bargain deals that give predators of our common wealth a mere slap on the wrist, Justice Dahiru Musdapher, thundered with commendable indignation: “This is a novel concept of dubious origin. It has no place in our law. It was invented to provide soft landing to high profile criminals who loot the treasury entrusted to them. It is an obstacle to the fight against corruption”.

Justice Dahiru Musdapher could hardly conceal his anger when he led a Supreme Court panel that berated the Appeal Court election tribunals which dismissed the governorship election petitions in Akwa-Ibom and Benue states on technical grounds and directed that the cases be heard afresh.

Perhaps the most outstanding initiative of

CJN, conscience and courage ‘

CJN Dahiru Musdapher has conducted himself with admirable character and courage on this issue.

He is clearly a man of conscience. The ball is now in Mr. President’s court. He says he acted on judicial advice in suspending Justice Salami. There is now another judicial advice before him by some of the country’s most eminent jurists. We earnestly await his decision

• Musdapher Justice Dahiru Musdapher so far was the constitution of the 29-member Justice Mohammed Uwais-led committee to look into various challenges confronting the judiciary and come up with recommendations to effectively address them. Of course, the CJN could easily have turned a blind eye to the evils of the judiciary pretending that all was well.

But thank God, Dahiru Musdapher at least has moral integrity. The Justice Uwais Mohammed led-committee comprised men of the highest intellectual calibre, professional pedigree and moral fibre. Its members included all former Chief Justices of the federation, all former Presidents of the Court of Appeal, all former Presidents of the Nigerian Bar Association and other highly eminent jurists and legal minds.

Given its quality, it is not surprising that the committee came up with wide ranging recommendations that can help President Jonathan actualize his administration’s trans-

’

formation agenda in the judicial sector. One of its key recommendations was the restoration of the suspended President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Salami, to his position since there was no basis for the punitive action meted against him.

Most remarkably, rather than sit on the report and allow it gather dust in an obscure office shelf until it is forgotten, Justice Musdapher forwarded it with despatch to the presidency for consideration and implementation. Apparently fearing that President Goodluck Jonathan might be disposed to follow the path of adherence to the rule of law and due process on the issue, the PDP machinery swung into action.

Former Ekiti State Governor, Engineer Segun Oni, approached a Federal High Court in Bwari within the Federal Capital Territory seeking an order of mandamus to compel the Attorney General of the Federation to commence criminal proceedings against Justice Salami for alleged perjury. In the alternative,

Oni sought seek leave of the court to institute such proceedings against Salami himself.

Astonishingly, the presiding judge, Justice Peter Affen, granted Oni’s request even after he had noted that leave for Mandamus was not normally “granted merely for the sake of it”. Justice Affen predicated his decision on what he described as the “public interest nature of the case”. We will recall that Engineer Segun Oni had levelled serious allegations against the Appeal Court justices that threw him out of the Ekiti Government House, which he was occupying illegally through stolen elections. Among his allegations was that the Appeal court judges collected a bribe of N3 billion to deliver judgement against him.

It is surprising that rather than prove his allegations as regards the Ekiti state Election Petitions Tribunal and seeking legal redress of any perceived injustice, Oni has abandoned his own case and is seeking Justice Salami’s prosecution on an affidavit the latter swore to with regard to the Sokoto State Gubernatorial Election Appeal Tribunal!

In a similar vein, Senator Iyiola Omisore, painfully watching his aspiration to govern Osun State fading away like smoke, made the most ridiculous and reckless allegations against the Appeal Court judges. Among Omisore’s allegations was that the judges were paid N5 billion to unseat the PDP from the State House in Osogbo. Rather than seek the relevant avenues to empirically and logically demonstrate the veracity of their allegations so that the culprits can be brought to book, Omisore and Oni in particular have been waging a ceaseless war of attrition in the media to impugn the integrity of the judiciary.

In making the recommendation for Salami’s reinstatement as PCA, the Justice Mohammed Uwais committee took into consideration the reports of all previous committees that looked into the matter. These included two committees by the NJC and the one by the NBA. None of them found Salami guilty of any misconduct. All of these committees had access to and also considered the same affidavits that Oni is predicating his case on.

Oni claims Salami lied on oath when he accused the former CJN of interfering with the Sokoto Election Appeal Panel and trying to undermine the court of Appeal. Yet, despite his protestations of innocence, Justice Katsina Alu admitted on oath that he actually wrote to the Sokoto Election Tribunal putting its judgement on hold! Is it not logical to assume that Katsina- Alu had to resort to such overt interference because Salami refused to play ball?

Pray, what is the definition of interference?

The Sokoto judgement remains ambushed till date. So, as I once asked on this page who really lied?

CJN Dahiru Musdapher has conducted himself with admirable character and courage on this issue. He is clearly a man of conscience.

The ball is now in Mr. President’s court. He says he acted on judicial advice in suspending Justice Salami. There is now another judicial advice before him by some of the country’s most eminent jurists. We earnestly await his decision.

Ade Ojeikere on Saturday talk2adeojeikere@yahoo.com

Thank God for Zambia

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HE Zambians were an ordinary team. But they had players who knew the mood of their nation and its people - lift the Africa Nations Cup diadem in Libreville for the sake of departed heroes who died on April 27, 1993.

They had no identity but knew what they set out to achieve. They stuck together listening to their coach Renard, whose confidence on the bench was infectious. Zambian coach Herve Renard was calm. Renard winked when he should, gesticulated when he ought to and surged forward with a sign language that the players understood perfectly. They were determined, disciplined and resilient in their approach to the 120 minutes encounter.

The Zambians were not flamboyant. They had no outstanding performer. Even if they did, it was the goalkeeper. A few may add their

captain. But placed against the Ivoriens, it was unthinkable for anyone except the Zambians to expect any upset. They knew those to mark, unlike the Ivoriens. This turned out to be the deciding feature of the thrilling show-piece.

The build-up to the final game for the Zambians was anchored on the unfortunate incident of April 1993. They visited the crash venue and threw flowers into the high sea. Their gesture attracted the attention of people at the beachside but many ignored the significance of that visit in the eventual outcome of the final tie.

The lesson to be taken away from the final game is that the gods played a part in the game.

The Ivoriens dominated the play, did what they should do, yet, Didier Drogba missed a penalty kick. Looking back, it is clear that the mystical ways of our creator will forever confound mankind. Otherwise, who would have taught that the 1993 incident would be the turning point

for the Zambians in their epoch feat of lifting the Africa Cup of Nations’ diadem?

About 20 minutes to the start of the game, I walked up to the computer where we were planning the cover of SportingLife and instructed the planner to cast this headline- Zambians are champions.

The newsroom roared with laughter but I stuck to my guns, insisting that the only change to that headline would be the eventual result. I told my stunned audience that something told me that the Zambians would not cry in Libreville, Gabon, after what happened almost 19 years ago.

I told them that our God is always fair. I was sure that Libreville would offer the succour that the Zambians needed, not because they relied on that factor, but because they had worked for it through the qualification matches. Many in the newsroom sneered but waited for the Ivoriens to teach me a lesson.

So, when Drogba lost the penalty kick, coupled with the unbelievable misses in front of the goalpost by the Ivoriens, people watching the game started sharing my mystical optimism.

Like they say, the rest is history. But the lessons shouldn’t be lost on Nigeria. We have seen a Zambian side assembled from the dead rise to become the best in Africa. The Zambian government neither wrestled with the FA chiefs nor struggled for power shift in a sadistic like we do here.

Nowhere in the last three weeks did we read media reports where those who lost in the Zambia FA politics wished the team failure like we do here. Nobody took credit for every stage of the team’s qualification. We saw Kalusha Bwalya as the face of the team even though government officials were with them. There was no in-fighting in the camp and the language was the same- win the trophy in a country where our heroes died in the high seas. With such sincere wishes coupled with hard work, what happened last Sunday shouldn’t come as a surprise.

•Continued on Page 59

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