The Nation-June-25-2011

Nigeria’s truly national newspaper

Corps member’s alleged rape

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Page 2

Osun monarch placed under house arrest

JAMB releases UTME results

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28,000 withheld

...after dramatic appearance in court

VOL.05 N0. 1801

Bello

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

Diezani

SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 2011

Bala

Akunyili

N150.00

Rufai

Cabinet: Senators plot against Haliru Bello, Diezani, 2 Akunyili, others Page

Jonathan consults Mark on nominees Alleged $35m laundering:

Ibori’s trial begins in UK amid tight security Page 2

‘Guys who are close to their mothers are the right choice’Page 23

2 NEWS

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 2011

Alleged $35m laundering: Ibori’s trial begins amid tight security

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From left: British Secretary of State for International Development, Mr Andrew Mitchell; President Goodluck Jonathan and Vice President Namadi Sambo... yesterday PHOTO: AFP

HE trial of ex-Governor James Ibori of Delta State, Chief James Onanefe Ibori, in the United Kingdom for money laundering began yesterday. Ibori, who is standing trial for allegedly laundering about $35 milion, was said to look ‘trim’, according to a statement by his media aide in Abuja.

But it was gathered that security agents had a hectic time controlling some supporters of the ex-governor who had stormed the court.

It was learnt that at a point, security agents threatened to use force to check Ibori’s supporters

Cabinet: Senators plot against Haliru Bello, Diezani, Akunyili, others

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S the Senate awaits the list of new cabinet members, some senators have started plotting against some ministerial nominees who have been screened by security agencies.

Some of the ministerial nominees, who might face challenge during the screening are: Mohammed Haliru Bello; Diezani Allison-Madueke; Prof. Ruqayyat Rufai; Bala Mohammed; Barth Nnaji; Nuhu Zagbayi; Dora Akunyili; Dr. Samuel Ortom; Ms Jumoke Akinjide; Fidelia Njeze; According to findings, the affected nominees are likely to face political and security hurdles.

But such controversial nominees are also not taking things for granted as they are already lobbying senators for soft-landing.

The presidency may, however, submit the list on Monday ahead of senators’ resumption on Tuesday.

Investigation by The Nation showed that some aggrieved senators are ganging up to stop some nominees chosen outside the list submitted either by their governors or state chapters of the PDP. For a ministerial nominee to be cleared by the Senate, at least two out of three senators from a state must concur.

Other senators are uncomfortable that some nominees with weighty allegations and poor security reports against them have been included in the cabinet list based on pressure on President Goodluck Jonathan.

It was learnt that the battle for some of the nominees has shifted to the Senate where aggrieved members are waiting in the wing for a “thorough screening.”

A returning senator said: “Some of us have been meeting and we are determined to do a thorough screening this time around.

“The fact is that petitions and security reports on some of these nominees are damning and it will be a ridicule of our commitment to probity to clear such nominees.

“Some of us are also aggrieved that in some states, nominees were chosen by the President outside the list submitted by state governors and state chapters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

“We believe that the opinions or suggestions of members should count. We will want to take issues with the President on why some nominations cannot stand.

“The Federal Character Principle in the Constitution is ap-

•Jonathan consults Mark over nominees

Yusuf ALLI, Managing Editor, Northern Operation plicable at all levels. Why will some zones be producing ministers over the years from a state and others will be left out?”

Another senator, who spoke in confidence, said: “Intense lobbying of senators by ministerial nominees has started ahead of the resumption of the senate on Tuesday.

“These nominees are disturbed by the disagreement which their choice had caused within the party and they are not taking things for granted.

“Some of those affected have been the butt of attacks and criticisms in the media by some stakeholders and sponsored parties.

And there is no doubt that senators have taken judicious notice of issues raised in the media against nominees.

“We are really under pressure from controversial nominees, especially some ex-ministers, who have petitions against them.”

A top source said about the nominees : “Take the case of the National Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Mohammed Haliru Bello, he might be taken up on the issue of the Siemens bribery scandal which he was questioned about by the EFCC. Although Bello has repeatedly said he was not involved in the scam, the scandal is a burden he needs to clarify during screening.

“As for Diezani, despite her modest achievements in the oil sector, some stakeholders including oil major are plotting against her. She knows herself that she is facing a battle from an oil cartel which has made some documents available to senators who will screen her.

“Those who did not benefit from oil block allocation during her tenure are ready to fight her to the finish. The petitions against this nominee are many.

But she is up to the task, going by her defence in the last two weeks in the media.

“Concern Prof. Rufai, the mass failure in Secondary School Certificate Examinations, especially the last NECO papers and the establishment of new universities in the midst of the neglect of old ones do not make senators happy. Her alleged overbearing attitude on parastatals under her was said to be one of the issues raised against her by security agencies.

“Also, some forces that brought her into the cabinet have not been happy with her for abandoning them. In fact, a

former Secretary to the Government of the Federation was said to be instrumental to her initial appointment with the consent of Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa but she had allegedly ditched the ex-SGF. So, the case against her is about loyalty.

“Concerning ex-Deputy Governor Nuhu Zagbayi of Niger State , the opposition is mainly from his state including Governor Babangida Aliyu. The state has been under tension since Zagbayi’s name cropped up. The governor is from Zone B and the ministerial nominee (Zagbayi) from Niger State is also from the same zone contrary to the existing power sharing formula in the state.

“The governor had recommended four candidates from Zone A. They are a former chairman of the party in the state, Dr. Abdurrahman Enagi; the immediate past Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, Hon. Umar Maali; the immediate past Deputy Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Baba Shehu Agaie, and a former Minister of Sports, Sani Ndanusa.”

“On Akunyili, most PDP leaders do not want her back because she abandoned the PDP for APGA. Although she is rated high as a professional, the manner in which she derided PDP while joining APGA is counting against her among senators.”

The source added that the immediate past Minister of FCT, Senator Bala Mohammed, is facing opposition from top politicians from Bauchi State, who see him as a likely governorship candidate in 2015. The source said: “For Bala, the political bigwigs in Bauchi do not want him back at all. They are ready to do anything to stop him. Some returnee senators also have what one may term as ‘personal grudges’ against him.

“But going by precedent, the Senate may ignore all these sentiments and ask Bala to take a bow being one of them. Regarding Ortom, his closeness to the incoming Minority Leader in the Senate, ex-Governor George Akume, might be his undoing. Some party stalwarts see his emergence as a minister as empowering Akume. His nomination may rekindle the aged Tiv-Idoma rivalry irrespective of the fact that he is morally upright.”

On Njeze, the source said Jonathan was impressed by her achievements in the Aviation Sector but her appointment may distort power sharing formula in Enugu State . “I think there is a disagreement between the

Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu and Governor Sullivan Chime. Ekweremadu is saying that Njeze is from the same zone with the governor which will not augur well for the unity of the state.

“The same argument goes for Jumoke Akinjide, who is from Ibadan which has produced the governor of the state. Jumoke’s appointment has left Ogbomosoland sidelined in the scheme of things. Those who are proformer Senate Leader, Teslim Folarin and apostles of zoning are up in arms against Jumoke.

“For Nnaji who might manage the power sector, senators want practical and measurable indices that will stabilise supply nationwide. The fact that he had been part of the solution to the nation’s power crisis will make his screening challenging.”

As at press time, it was gathered that President Goodluck Jonathan, the Chairman of the National Assembly, Chief David Mark, and select PDP leaders held a marathon meeting on Thursday to finalise consultations on the list. There were indications that security agencies may conclude the screening of nominees by weekend.

A presidency source said: “I am aware that the President’s consultations with vital stakeholders, including the President of the Senate, Chief David Mark, on the nominees were closed on Thursday. The screening of the last set of nominees might be done this weekend to pave the way for a neat copy of the list which will be sent to the Senate on or before Monday.”

Responding to a question, the source added: “The Senate may get the list on Monday to prevent leakage of those on the list.”

Section 147 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), empowers the President to constitute his cabinet to reflect the Federal Character Principle.

The Section says: “There shall be such offices of Ministers of the Government of the Federation as may be established by the President. Any appointment to the office of Minister of the Government of the Federation shall, if the nomination of any person to such office is confirmed by the Senate, be made by the President.

“Any appointment under subsection(2) of this section by the President shall be in conformity with the provisions of Section14(3) of this Constitution provided that in giving effect to the provisions aforesaid the President shall appoint at least one Minister from each state, who shall be an indigene of such state.”

Yusuf ALLI, Managing Editor, Northern Operation. from the court room.

A source said: “The appearance of Ibori before the court signaled the commencement of his trial.

“Nigerians and the global audience will now have the opportunity to monitor the trial.”

A statement by the Special Assistant (Media) to the ex-governor, Mr. Tony Eluemunor, however gave details on what transpired at the court.

The statement said the prosecution counsel, MS Wass, wanted the conclusion of Ibori’s trial on or before December.

The statement reads: “The court security had problem with the sheer number of Ibori’s supporters, as they were asked several times to leave, as the public gallery was too small for such a large crowd.

“Even when the court security asked all the standing supporters who could not be seated to leave, they refused to leave until the security personnel threatened to use force to eject them.

“Attending Friday’s preliminary hearing, which started by midday, Ibori sported a dark blue suit and white shirt as he appeared before Judge Rivlin QC. Ibori only spoke to confirm his name.

“Looking trim and clean shaven, Ibori waved to his supporters at the end of the hearing.

The crowd waved back as shouts of Ogidigborigbo rent the air.

“Opening the hearing, the lead prosecuting counsel, MS Wass explained that there are two trials to be conducted against Ibori.

“She asked the court for the trials to be joined.

“Stating that ‘this is a fairly straightforward case’, she argued that there was no reason why the matter could not be concluded before Christmas.

“She asked the court to schedudle the first matter for July and the second hearing in November. After going for a short recess, the court set the next hearing date for 22 July, 2011, at 10 am.”

The statement described the appearance of Ibori’s supporters at the court as “unusual.”

It added: “It was an unusual sight Friday afternoon when hundreds of Nigerians evoking their support for Chief James Onanefe Ibori stormed a London court where his trial began yesterday. Sporting “Free Ibori”

and “Deltans wants Ibori back home” T-shirts, some of such supporters claimed to have travelled all the way from Nigeria to the UK to demonstrate their support for the politician. But most of them were Londonbased.

“One of the supporters, a Nigerian-British citizen resident in the UK, Ms Elizabeth Ogunsanya, said: “Whatever crime Ibori may have committed should be heard in Nigeria and not in British Courts.”

Ibori had appeared at the City of Westminster Magistrate Court on 22 April 2011 and next appeared at Southwark Crown Court on 28 April, 2011 through video link. The Judge adjourned the matter and ordered that Ibori should appear in person yesterday. The ongoing trial of Ibori ended almost four years litigation over the matter.

On August 2, 2007 an Application of Restraint was heard at Southwark Crown Court on Ibori’s assets worth $35 million.

The application was successful and made under the Proceeds of Crime Act. It related to business and private finances. On 1 October, 2007 the application was reviewed at a further hearing at Southwark Crown Court and the Restraint was discharged.

On 8 October, 2007 leave to appeal the discharge was granted at the High Court and pending a full appeal by the Crown, the Application of Restraint was reinstated.”

The EFCC had on April 13 declared Ibori wanted in connection with alleged diversion of the Delta State’s shares in Oceanic Bank to guarantee over N44 billion facility granted Ascot Offshore Nigeria Limited

by Intercontinental Bank.

Although Ibori had gone to court to seek redress, he had refused to surrender to the EFCC. The development forced the Acting President to order the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Ogbonnaya Onovo, to launch a manhunt for him.

An attempt in April by the police to arrest Ibori at his country home in Oghara, Delta State failed following resistance by some militants. But the ex-governor later escaped to Dubai where he was arrested by INTERPOL and taken to Dubai Court of First Instance.

Ibori was granted bail by Dubai Court and placed on restriction pending the determination of the application for his extradition.

JAMB releases UTME results •28,000 withheld

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HE management of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) yesterday released the results of the 2011 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) held in Nigeria and six other foreign countries owing to the introduction of the biometric technology.

However, about 28,069 results are withheld for investigation.

A total of 1,493,604 candidates sat for the examination last Saturday.

Dibu Ojerinde, Registrar and Chief Executive of JAMB, who announced the release of the results in Abuja, said despite the merger of the entrance examinations to become the UTME in 2010, studies showed a general prefer-

ence for university education.

Ojerinde said the University of Lagos had 99,195 applications, but it could only admit 9,507 candidates, adding that the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria had 89,760 applications.

He gave a breakdown of this year’s UTME scores, saying, 102,069 candidates scored above 250, while 2,892 candidates scored 300 and above.

485,426 candidates scored between 200 and 249, while 31,444 scored between 270 and 299.

The JAMB boss, who said the board would improve on the use of the biometric data capturing technology in future, debunked insinuations by the media that the biometric concept was unsuccessful.

NEWS 3

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 2011

Fuel subsidy: Don’t arm-twist Jonathan, NLC warns governors

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HE Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) yesterday accused governors of the 36 states under the auspices of the Nigerian Governors Forum of trying to arm-twist President Goodluck Jonathan into removing subsidy on petroleum products, saying such a move was capable of plunging the nation into another round of industrial disharmony.

The Vice President of the Congress, Comrade Issah Aremu, said in a statement made available to The Nation in Kaduna yesterday, that the governors were trying to take the nation back to the dictatorial days of the military by arm-twisting the President into taking unpopular decisions.

The union wondered why the governors, who are complaining about N680 billion subsidy on petroleum products, had not seen anything wrong in paying about N1.3 trillion to public office holders as salaries and allowances.

He regretted that the governors were insensitive to the welfare of their workers and were working against implementing the new minimum wage of N18,000.

The statement reads: “The call by the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) for immediate removal of so-called subsidy on petroleum products as another belated precondition for the implementation of the legally permissible Minimum Wage Act has sadly taken us back to the discredited era of dictatorship of the military.

“This policy dictatorship by the governors is undemocratic, unacceptable and condemnable. The governors, under the aegis of

TonyAKOWE, Kaduna NGF, should face the challenge of governance which the new minimum wage poses in their respective states instead of armtwisting a newly elected President to pursue unpopular policies capable of promoting instant mass disaffection.

“Nigeria is operating a Presidential/Federal system of government. The Governors who are demanding for true federalism should stop ganging up in Abuja, pushing for top-down unitarist self-serving policies.

They are reportedly dictating ministerial list to the President.

To read that the governors are dictating immediate removal of subsidy on petroleum products to the President is one dictatorship too intolerable.

“Nigerians only hear the voices of few governors about the plight of their citizens with respect to scandalous shortage of basic products like kerosene.

The NGF has not commented on mass leakages of public funds through self enrichment in the National Assembly (now the subject of EFCC trials).

“The N680 billion allegedly on fuel subsidies is certainly nothing compared to N1.3 trillion spent on few political office holders as ‘remuneration’.

What is the position of the governors on these mass leakages of public funds through political office holders?

“It is sad that the governors have become hyper active in an attempt to undermine the implementation of minimum wage. Governors must stop giving excuses and simply put necessary measures in place to im-

plement the Minimum wage Act in their respective states to avoid unnecessary industrial mass crisis. ‘’It was triple problems of dictatorship, mass unemployment and poor wages that led to mass revolts in Tunisia and Egypt recently. Happily, Nigeria practices democracy (with all the challenges associated with recent elections). We also have a vibrant system of collective bargaining (as a member of ILO), which has produced the recent minimum wage.

“The unilateral posturing of the governors through unhelpful and unthinking policy dictatorship amounts to arrogance and intensity that may push Nigeria into the North African option we have long not found attractive.

“The governors should be on duty and device creative means of growing the economy of their respective states rather than relying on monthly oil revenue that is clearly unsustainable regardless of arbitrarly determination of the sharing formula.

They must also engage their respective workforce to respect labour market laws such as minimum wage instead of pushing for ill thought out polices from Abuja.

“Nigeria needs production (not sharing) formulae; the bedrock of which is well paid, motivated working men and women with good minimum pay. ‘’We remind President Goodluck Jonathan that there is a subsisting agreement between Labour and Federal Government on petroleum pricing after the mass strikes of 2007 under the leadership of the late President Yar Adua.’’

Boko Haram: Trial of seven cops stir anger in Police

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HE ongoing trial of seven police officers for allegedly killing the leader of the radical Boko Haram Islamic sect, Mohammed Yusuf, his father-in-law, Baa Fugu Mohammed, and an alleged financier of the group, Buji Foi, is causing ripples in the Nigeria Police Force, it was learnt yesterday.

Yusuf was shot dead in July 2009 during one of the crises masterminded by the Boko Haram. Since then, the sect has allegedly engaged in a series of bombings and killing of policemen which culminated in the bombing of the Police Force Headquarters last week Thursday in Abuja.

A senior police officer, who spoke under condition of anonymity ,told our correspondent that most officers and men of the force are angry over the issue.

The source said officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force were not happy over the terrorism charges preferred against them because four of the accused officers had already been suspended with three others dismissed.

He contended that though Mohammed Yusuf died in “questionable circumstances” during the Boko Haram’s uprising in Maiduguri,there were many police officers and members of their families who also lost their lives.”

“How can the officers be facing terrorism charges for what they allegedly did while fighting terrorists? Yusuf, the leader of the group, died in questionable circumstances after his arrest during the sect’s uprising, but many police stations and patrol vehicles were also burnt. Many of our officers and members of

Sanni OLOGUN, Abuja their families were also murdered then and up till now they are still being killed by members of the sect.

“To be candid with you, the development has not gone down well with most officers who feel the accused persons are being unjustly persecuted to please people in certain quarters.

But one thing is clear, the trial is not good for the morale of officers and members of the rank and file,” the source said.

Another source said: “What do they expect the police to do when they are being killed and attacked by the Boko Haram? Do they expect them to fold their hands until all of them are wiped out? This is rather unfortunate?

“If they are trying them for terrorism, who will try those who killed our officers and members of their families during the crisis and thereafter?”

Investigations by The Nation revealed that four of the accused officers were suspended from the force with effect from July 7, 2010 while three others were dismissed.

While those suspended included Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) John Abang, ACP Muhammed Akeera Yoonus, Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Mohammed Ahmadu and Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Mada Babu; those dismissed from the force were Sergeant Adamu Gado, Corporal Anthony Samuel and Corporal Linus Luka.

According to a copy of a brief on the charge number FHC/ ABS/KD/10C/2011 which was sighted by our correspondent in

Abuja, the investigating team said: “Sequel to wide outcry after the airing in Aljazeera Cable Network which depicted extra judicial killings of the leader of the Boko Haram sect, Muhammadu Yusuf, and his followers on July 30, 2009 by some members of the NPF, apparently in response to the sect’s sustained attacks on police properties and other government buildings and facilities and killing of members of the force, the IGP directed a discreet investigation aimed at fishing out the police officers involved.

“Police action: Many police officers and other members of the public were interrogated on the matter. On completion of investigation, the following officers and members of rank and file were indicted.

“Accordingly, the SIU initiated letters to the FORSEC (Force Secretary) and Force Provost Marshal for disciplinary measures to be taken against them.

As a result, they were punished as follows: ACP John Abang, suspended , ACP Muhammad Akeera Yoonus, suspended, CSP Mohammed Ahmadu, suspended, ASP Mada Babu, suspended, SGT Adamu Gado, dismissed, PC Anthony Samuel, dismissed, and PC Linus Luka, dismissed.

“The case file was subsequently sent to the Ministry of Justice for legal advice and prosecution.

The Attorney General of the Federation commenced prosecution of the matter through Private Prosecutor, Ralph N. Ojobo, at Kaduna Federal High Court in February 2010, but the case was later transferred to Federal High Court 7 Abuja before Hon. Justice Donatus Okorowa.”

“So far, two witnesses have given evidence while five others will give evidence on July 13 and 14. A fresh charge no. Cr/ 101/11 has been filed at the high court of the FCT against SGT Adamu Gado who initially jumped bail but was rearrested.

4 NEWS

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 2011

Police begin probe of Onitsha ‘death tunnel’

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HE Anambra State government and the Police have begun an investigation into the alleged discovery of corpses at a tunnel in the Upper Iweka area of the commercial city of Onitsha to find out the circumstances leading to the discovery and the actual number of corpses.

The Chief Press Secretary to Governor Peter Obi, Mr. Mike Udah, said during the week that the investigation would be a thorough one.

Udah, who did not mention the nature of the investigation being carried out , said in a text message that reports on the matter by national dailies were sensationalized.

According to him, “It is so unfortunate that the reporters did not confirm the story from the police, otherwise they would have discovered that the present administration has so addressed security problems in the state that it is difficult to believe the gory picture painted in the report published by some national dailies”.

He further said, “Such sensationalization scares away investors. Crimes are committed in several places across the globe, but in some places, they are reported with restraint because of obvious reasons”.

The state Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mr. Austin Evbakhavbokun, who spoke to newsmen in his office at Awka, Wednesday, said the command had raised an investigation team to investigate the matter and report back.

Adimike GEORGE, Onitsha Evbakhavbokun said the Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) within the area confirmed that it was only a corpse that was found near the tunnel.

He appealed to journalists to assist the command with any proof of the discoverey of up to 20 corpses inside the tunnel.

The Area Commander for Onitsha, Larry Osita, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, confirmed that the police investigation team is working round the clock to unravel the circumstances surrounding the allegations, adding that although that part of Onitsha did not fall within the jurisdiction of Onitsha Area Command, he would not sit back and watch criminals operating in the area.

The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Emeka Chukwuemeka (ASP),

said all the reports coming from the DPOs had it that the corpse found near the tunnel was the body of a mad man who died under a bridge, adding that it was some policemen on duty in the vicinity that moved the corpse to that spot and then contacted the local government authority to remove it.

But a member of the state Task Force on Security and Crime Control, popularly known as Ndi-Mpiawa-Azu (the back breakers), who pleaded anonymity told reporters that they actually saw three corpses in a bush surrounding the tunnel.

According to the task force member, “Apart from the three corpses, we also discovered three benches, a crate of soft drink, loaves of bread and some personal belongings like clothes.”

He said a gallon of acid was also found inside the bush, adding that some arms and

ammunition wrapped in a polythene bag were recovered and handed over to Okpoko Police Division.

Explaining why and how they raided the hideout, he said on many occasions, armed robbers had attacked passers-by around the area and whenever they were pursued, they would enter the bush and disappear.

He said that even after cordoning off the area, their search still produced nothing, adding that the recent robbery attack on passers-by made them resolve that the bush should be cleared the following morning.

The source continued, “when we started clearing the bush the following morning, we heard some movements inside the tunnel and discovered that some hoodlums were there. We succeeded in arresting a suspect and handed him over to the police”.

A vote for Onyali-Omagbemi •Continued from Back Page Nigeria and South Africa in Johannesburg since SAFA’s chiefs don’t know which of the two bodies they should deal with.

Football is the biggest public relations tool that the Goodluck Jonathan administration can use to unite the country, take the youth off crime and change people’s

SUDOKU Welcome to SUDOKU, the captivating and engrossing numbers logic puzzle popularised by the Japanese.

The idea of the puzzle is to fill the grid of 81 cells divided into nine 3 x 3 boxes, such that every box, every row, and every column contains the numbers 1-9, each number appearing only once in each box, row and column.

1ST STEP IN SOLVING PUZZLE 311 : Look at the 3 right vertical (ghi) 3X3 boxes.The bottom has 7 in cellGh. while middle box has its 7 in cell Ei. The top box must, therefore, have its own 7 in column g, where there are 2 vacant spaces-cells Ag and Cg. But since row C already has a 7 -in cell Cf, the only vacant spaces available to accommodate 7 in the box is cell Ag. Readsoning along these lines, try and fill in all the other vacant cells.

SOLUTION TOMORROW. HAPPY PUZZLING!

untoward perception of the country and its citizenry.

Probity should be the basis for running sports in order to convince the corporate world to identify its programmes.

Sport is a money-spinner.

Competitions offer big bussineses the platform to showcase their products and ideals.

Hitherto, companies struggled to bankroll sporting activities, knowing the immense audience involved.

The spiral effect of sponsored competitions led to the emergence of rookies in the grassroots who rose to stardom, wearing the country’s colours.

It won’t be out of place for Onyali-Omagbemi, if selected, to propose that NFF should come under the office of the Vice President, where it can get a take-off N20 billion grant to be refunded over 10 years.

This grant should jumpstart the process of making the NFF solvent to run its operations. It will also make the body prudent in their dealings since the grant is refundable.

There are Nigerians, who, given the opportunity, can rebrand the NFF to compete with bigger football nations such as England, Italy, Spain, Germany etc. What one can deduce from the NSC/NFF controversy is the fight for power.

Didn’t NSC chiefs use Aminu Maigari to oust the Sani Lulu-led board, even though others returned except Amanze Uchegbulam and Taiwo Ogunjobi? So, where and when did Maigari hurt the NSC men? Did they not also say tacitly during the elections that Maigari was the government’s preferred candidate for the NFF President position? I digress.

My biggest happiness is that Onyali-Omagbemi’s choice will reinvent athletics.

She will ensure that Mobil returns to support the sport having been a beneficiary of the oil company’s sponsorship of the track and field events.

Her focus should be on other sports. She should seek audience with the blue-chip companies that bankrolled sports in the past and persuade them to return. She should also assure them that sponsorship fees will be accounted for.

These firms still want to identify with sports. They are scared of the sharp practices and would not want to subject their brands to controversies arising from misappropriating cash meant for the athletes and officials.

Interestingly, OnyaliOmagbemi’s first assignment may be the All Africa Games in Maputo. It should give her the opportunity to assess the rot in our sports.

She must thereafter ensure that coaches who fail to deliver medals are asked to go.

There must be a deliberate policy to reward excellence and that should include the re-training the good coaches.

She must ensure the upgrading of facilities such that our athletes are kept in camp here instead of the tardy option of going overseas for training. Nigeria can afford to build modern facilities.

Onyali-Omagbemi needs to visit Rivers State to see how the Rotimi Amaechi administration has changed the concept of the National Sports Festival with the topnotch facilities.

The National Sports Festival should benchmark the need to have a sports calendar, which must be followed religiously-if we want the corporate world to support sports.

A sport calendar gives these firms an opportunity to pick the sport that they want to support and provide cash for it in their annual budgets.

It will also stop the tendency to rely on government cash to fund sports. We need to run sports professionally.

And it can only happen, if those who have been exposed to what operates elsewhere are chosen to run the industry.

Onyali-Omagbemi has seen it all in sports. Her name will open doors for Nigeria anywhere in the world. We need such international icons to give our sports the fillip of growth. The era of mediocres running our sports should be halted now.

If Onyali-Omagbemi is eventually picked as minister, it would be the first time an internationally acclaimed athlete will be managing Nigeria’s sports. It will boost the image of the Jonathan administration as one that responds to the yearnings of the people.

Alleged rape of corps member: Osun monarch placed under house arrest after dramatic appearance in court Adesoji ADENIYI, Osogbo

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HE appearance in court yesterday of the Alowa of IlowaIjesha, Oba Adebukola Alli, ended with Magistrate Adewunmi Makanjuola placing him under house arrest.

The judge also ruled that the travelling documents of the accused, who was supported to step into the court room by his wife and driver, be submitted to the court with immediate effect.

The court at its sitting two Fridays ago ordered that the accused, who had failed to come to court for four consecutive sittings, be arrested or in the alternative his surety be brought to court on Friday June 24, 2011.

The Alowa of Ilowa-Ijesha in Obokun Local Government Area, Osun State, accompanied by his wife and pastor, was yesterday brought into court in his green RAV 4 Toyota SUV car.

Claiming not to be strong enough because of his poor health, the monarch lay on a sofa in the court room while his wife fanned him with a scarf.

The monarch also came to court with a blood pressure machine to convince the judge of his health condition.

At a stage, the judge stepped out of his seat to where Oba Alli lay and asked the wife where the accused was brought to court from. In tears, the wife replied that he was brought to court from a private hospital in Ibadan, Oyo State, saying the Oba was removed from the hospital because of the arrest order placed on him.

Counsel to the accused monarch, Victor Okpara, presented a medical report signed by one Dr. A.A. Adeyanju from Gold Cross Medical Clinic, a private hospital located at 36, Adeoyo, Oje Road, Ibadan, Oyo State to the court.

Okpara, who said the monarch had been receiving medical treatment from the hospital shortly after he was discharged from the University College Hospital, Ibadan on June 10, told the court that Alli’s previous absence from court was not delibrate but due to his health codition.

But the prosecutor, a senior state counsel, Olufemi Adedokun, urged the court to disregard the medical report presented by the defence counsel because it conflicted with the previous report, which showed that the traditional ruler was discharged from the UCH in sound health.

NEWS 5

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 2011

I inherited N500m debt - LAUTECH VC

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ICE-Chancellor, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Professor Lanre Nassar, has described as “laughable” and “untrue” claims by his predecessor that he left the sum of one billion naira in the institution’s coffers while leaving office.

Addressing reporters yesterday in Ogbomoso, Prof Nassar said on assumption of office, he met a debt of over N500million adding that the amount was loans from a bank.

Bode DUROJAIYE, Ogbomoso.

He stated that the sum of N250million has so far been paid out of the debt, while another N20million is being deducted monthly by the bank to service the debt.

The VC also disclosed that in line with the new salary structure, payment of salary has risen to N120 million from N70million.

According to him, “the former VC refused to address

let alone implemented the new salary structure but cleverly approved for himself, and collected the sum of N20million as arrears. Besides, he is still on the payroll of the university because he is on sabbatical.”

It would be recalled that a group in Osogbo, Osun State capital, in a recent press statement, accused Prof. Nassar of mismanaging the sum of one billion naira left behind by his predecessor, and gross misconduct in office.

Oyedepo, Onosode for AES conference

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ISHOP David Oyedepo of Winners’ Chapel; Chairman, Committee of ProChancellors of Nigerian Universities, Deacon Gamaliel Onosode and Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, chairman, Nigeria Economic Summit Group are among Nigerians who will address the third annual conference of the Academy of Entrepreneurial Studies, Nigeria (AES) on Tuesday, June 28 at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Victoria Island, Lagos.

According to a statement issued by Sir Godwin Omene, chairman of the conference committee and Dr Ausbeth Ajagu, president of AES, the theme of the conference, to be chaired by Chief Emeka Anyaoku, former secretary-general of the

Commonwealth, is ‘Infrastructure, Education and Health: Panacea to realising Nigeria ’s Vision 20:2020.’ Other speakers expected at the conference are Joseph Stafford, consul-general of the United States Embassy in Nigeria. While Onosode will address the conference on ‘Vision 20:2020: The Role of Education’, Ohuabunwa will speak on ‘Health: Panacea for realising Vision 20:2020’. Oyedepo will speak on the ‘Role of Private Universities. in Realising Vision 20:2020’. Both Ajagu and Stafford will dwell on ‘Infrastructure: Panacea for realising Nigeria’s Vision 20:2020’ and ‘Nigeria’s Vision 20:2020: The American Experience’ respectively.The statement said a conference report would be compiled for submission to the Federal Government.

College of Education matriculates 43

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OPMOST College of Education, Ipaja, Lagos, will matriculate its first set of students today at the institution’s premises.

The Director, Topmost College Education, Dr Wale Odunayo said yesterday recalled how the journey started.

“We will be matriculating 43 students but the journey started in 2004. In our bid to secure licence, we visited some colleges of educations for a survey. We had a number of challenges; we started in affiliation with Adeniran Ogunsanya College of

Seun OLALUDE Education (AOCOED) Otto/ Ijanikin in 2005. Later, five division campuses were approved to run AOCOED’s programmes, Topmost was given one, to cover Alimosho Federal Constituency.

He continued: “We came first out of the five centers; though we had setbacks in 2004, we wrote a letter to National Council for Colleges of Education (NCCE) in 2008-2009 sessions. NCCE raised a team of 15- members to inspect the college between May 22nd to 25th

last year. At the end of their inspection it was a successful programme. We got full approval to commence Topmost College of Education, five institutions were approved on that day but only Topmost came from the South-West. In the last Unified Tertiary Matriculation Exam (UTME), the school appeared in the brochure and the courses are accredited.”

The Acting Provost, Mrs Olufunmilayo Odunayo, said the college was conceived out of passion for higher education.

Rivers REC begs kidnappers to free daughter •Abductors insist on N100m ransom

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ORRIED by the continuous stay of his daughter, Utibeabasi Ikotiwak, in the den of the kidnappers, the Rivers State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Aniedi Ikoiwak, yesterday begged Utibeabasi’s abductors for freedom.

Utibeabasi, a Junior Secondary School student with Imperial Secondary School, Eket, Akwa Ibom State , was kidnapped when unknown gunmen invaded Abundant Life Ministry in an attempt to kidnap the Rivers State REC who is from Akwa Ibom State.

The kidnappers had established contact with the family members and demanded the sum of N100m as ransom before releasing Utibeabasi’s from their hideout.

As at Thursday’s night, the kidnappers were still insisting that if the payment of the N100m ransom was not paid, they would continue to imprison Utibeabasi, thus depriving the family members’ access to her.

Speaking with The Nation yesterday, Ikoiwak expressed worry over the psychological trauma his daughter would have gone through in the hands of her abductors.

The Rivers State REC stated that his daugh-

ter’s abductors had not changed their mind on receiving N100m ransom from the family members. Ikoiwak had on Wednesday raised the alarm that there was no way he could raise such an amount being a civil servant.

His words: “Well, up till now the position of the kidnappers has not changed on the payment of N100m ransom. They are not really saying anything, but we are looking up to God. “We keep sending messages to them and they keep telling us that we should provide the money. They say without it, they will not release my innocent daughter and a minor for that matter. I am begging them in Jesus name to release my daughter because the mother can’t eat since Sunday when the event happened. The continuous stay of Utibeabasi in the kidnappers den is telling on the family members.”

When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Onyeka Orji, said the command was doing all within its power to rescue Utibeabasi unharmed by the hoodlums.

No strong legislature, no development --Lagos Speaker

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PEAKER of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon Adeyemi Ikuforiji has said that without a strong and patriotic legislature, dividend of democracy and socioeconomic development cannot be realized.

He stated this when the Moslem community of the Assembly paid him a courtesy visit in his office at the Assembly complex on Friday. He was also given a present by the group.

According to him, “I believe

Oziegbe OKOEKI seriously that dividends of democracy or socio-economic development of our society cannot be realized without an effective and efficient legislature.

“It is only when we have a virile, strong and forward looking legislature that is ready to serve the larger society with all that God gives them that we can develop because when we talk of democracy it is the legislature”.

Ikuforiji, however, said that

the legislature as an institution is not made up only of elected members but also members of staff of the legislature.

This he said is because the staffs are the custodians of the history of the House because they are permanent while elected members come and go.

“The staffs are supposed to know the institution in and out and to direct, educate and assist the legislators in realizing their mission. This is why there is continuous training and retraining of staff, “ he said.

6

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 2011

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 2011

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8 COMMENTARY

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 2011

Before another President emerges from Boko Haram ET me begin by solemnly declaring that I am not an educated man. I attended the University of Lagos all right, but I swear I did not go there for education but enlightenment. There are thousands of people on the campus of the university who have been going there for years without entering the classroom.

In these perilous times when the forces that are increasingly gaining the control of the country have declared education an abominable venture, I am not prepared for the consequences that come with being identified as an educated man. That is why the lawyers among us would not stop amazing me. In spite of the clear and present danger constituted by Boko Haram, the militant Islamic sect that declared education a heresy and has literally seized the control of national security, they still go about parading themselves not only educated but learned.

The other day, a guy I used to see on the campus of UNILAG sighted me on the street and yelled Great Akokite! I almost responded before I saw a lanky bearded man in white kaftan beside him. I looked away immediately, increased my pace and pretended I was not the one hailed as an Akokite, the nickname for UNILAG students and alumni. By the lanky man’s appearance, I could swear that he was a ranking member of the militant arm of the dreaded sect to which President Goodluck Jonathan has already conceded the North East and may yet concede the Federal Capital Territory!

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The rise of the sect, as admitted by the Inspector General of Police, Hafiz Ringim, constitutes the greatest threat ever to national security and the biggest challenge our security agents have had to grapple with since the end of the civil war. Their strength is real and their style is novel, making them to appear more dangerous than a combination of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) and other militant groups that have threatened the peace at one time or the other.

Penultimate Thursday, the Islamic sect struck at the most unlikely place—the headquarters of the Nigeria Police Force in Abuja, the seat of the Nigerian government. A bearded man dressed in a white kaftan was said to have infiltrated Ringim’s convoy after presenting himself as a concerned citizen with information for the IG on the dreaded sect. The IG’s convoy had barely arrived at the police headquarters when a bomb exploded from the vehicle the stranger drove, killing yet to be ascertained number of people, including policemen, and destroying scores of vehicles within the premises.

As would be expected, the incident has sent jitters down the spines of every well-meaning citizen, including President Jonathan, who was quoted as saying that every Nigerian is a potential victim of the now ubiquitous sect that began its uprising in Bauchi, the capital of Bauchi State on July 26, 2009.

Within three days, the uprising spread to other states like Kano, Yobe and Borno. The late President Umaru Yar’Adua wasted no time in directing the army to quell the uprising and, in the process, no fewer than a thousand lives were believed to have been lost, including those of innocent civilians. And

rather than arrest the leaders of the sect and interrogate them for useful information on their motives, style and backers, they chose to summarily execute them. Thus, they drove the members of the sect underground only for them to resurface in a more ferocious form.

At the belly of this explosive movement is the frustration that confronts the average Nigerian on a daily basis. Positions of power are occupied by supposedly educated people who unfortunately operate upon the principle that appointment into a public office is an opportunity to enrich their private pockets and further the interests of their friends and family members. Hence, the majority of the populace live in abject poverty while these selfish and rapacious leaders wallow in affluence.

We live in a country that produces oil in profuse abundance, yet we buy petroleum products at rates that are higher than obtainable in many non-oil producing countries.

Upon this, we are confronted daily with threats to remove the so-called government subsidy on fuel. In spite of the electoral promises of President Jonathan, the electricity condition worsens by the day. In the area where I live, for instance, we have had light three times in the past one week. Each time was for 30 minutes and the light would come between 1 am and 2am when innocent souls are supposed to be sleeping. It has been so bad and so consistent that I had to personally visit the PHCN office and asked if they had received a report that it is witches who live in my area.

We used to complain that our roads were bad in the days when it was possible to avoid the potholes. These days, you cannot even avoid them. Almost at every point, you are

The way the cookie crumbles I

S the present administration in an incomprehensible state of flux? I really cannot say. Nevertheless, everything seems to suggest that the government is yet to roll up its sleeves and get kicking. However, on the starting block, this regime is slowly and steadily shuffling on. It is, comfortably so, groping in the dark; trying to find its bearings. Truth is, no one expects a President that promised to hit the ground running to be having a running battle with a matter as simple as picking those that would work with him. As I write this, no one is sure when President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan will put an end to the embarrassing news that two of his trusted aides are sitting tight in Aso Rock, positioning themselves as Chief of Staff in-waiting. Ordinarily, one would have thought that he would have, with a stroke of his pen, arrested the development and instilled discipline by picking the one he would like to work with between the two. It is a pity that he has allowed the farce to go on for too long. Some may think this is a trivial matter but that is not how most Nigerians perceive it. The other day at my favourite joint (by the way, that was before the bombs missed the Inspector General of Police by the whiskers), someone made a joke about how Mr. President has not been able to resolve a ‘domestic issue’ like who should be his Chief of Staff between Messrs Mike Ogiadhome and Godknows Igali. Only God knows how many of such cases are waiting for the President’s intervention as I write this.

Too bad.

In his inaugural speech, this President minced no words about his determination to wrestle corruption to a devastating pin fall. He said meaningful development could not be achieved if corruption continues to have a life of its own.

Interestingly, one of the privileged Nigerians that sat on the high table on that day was former President Olusegun Obasanjo. Being a staunch supporter of Jonathan, no one would have thought that Obasanjo would be the one to pooh-pooh the President’s vow to launch a full-scale war against corruption. Three weeks into a four-year journey, the retired Army General and Nigeria’s longest serving leader told the world that the man he helped to install as President lacked the capacity to walk his talk on corruption.

It was vintage Obasanjo at his wily best. For Obasanjo, it was a convenient moment to hit his successors below the belt. His words: “If you want to fight corruption, it is not a one night or a one day war. You have to be consistent and persistent with it. I haven’t seen that will of persistency and consistency in Nigeria because the people that are involved in corruption are entrenched and unless you are ready to confront them at the point of even giving your life for it, then you will give in and when you give in, that is the end of it.”

Hmnnn, I do not know whether the same principles can be adduced to justify why the former president failed, woefully so, to confront corruption headlong during his tenure. Of course, that is aside the sideshows put up by Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, then czar of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. I give it to him that he was consistent in reminding

the rest of us about his determination to fight corruption but I doubt if he ever got close to sacrifing his toe in a bid to confront the so-called entrenched interests. We all know that a President’s life is too costly to be sacrificed on the altar of ‘fighting corruption.’ So, what was that grandstanding at the Geneva conference for? Was it an attempt to portray Obasanjo as the only incorruptible Nigerian leader, the man that stands out in the crowd? Or, was he trying to tell the international community that he has consulted his crystal ball and it has been revealed to him that President Jonathan is incapable of confronting the unknown entrenched interests that have held the country down for over 50 years? Or does Obasanjo know something that the rest of us don’t know about our President?

Whatever it is, it is intriguing that the Presidency has chosen to keep mum on the matter. Perhaps, those that ought to speak are awed by the larger-than-life image of the Obasanjo personae. They are too sacred to talk about how investigations into the Halliburton bribery scam and the Siemens scandal have suddenly hit the brickwall because of the involvement of some untouchables. I am sure that hell would have been let loose if the statement credited to Obasanjo had been made by any member of the leading opposition parties. However, because the Chair of the ruling party’s Board of Trustees was involved, mum was the word. Yet, silence is not golden unless, of course, the Presidency wants us to believe that that was a fair assessment of Mr. President’s agenda as it concerns the war against corruption. Is that the shape of things to come? Or is Aso Rock keeping quiet because it is yet to appoint an official spokesperson to respond to such denigrating statement after close to a month on the seat?

Talking about the state of flux, we must give it to this administration for its persistency in sustaining the most talked about cabinet list in the history of this country. If media reports were anything to go by, the list keeps changing at the whim of anyone that has access to the President. It is as if some external forces have been saddled with the responsibility of helping the President to make up his mind on those that should or should not be in his cabinet. I thought Mr. President once wrote on his daily menu on Facebook that his government would take off in less than two weeks after being sworn in! Today, that is far from being the case. The much-talked cabinet list has undergone countless surgeries. Now, all it takes to be on that list is to spread the news at any beer joint close to the earshot of journalists and the name gets published! Of course, it could be dropped the next day and another one finds its way into it. This long-running drama has been on for many weeks now. The confusion has reached a peak level yet there is no authentic list in sight. What a way to hit the ground running!

As if that was not enough heartache for the Number One Citizen, the Senate added its own drama to the show when its leader, Senator David Bonaventure Mark, came out with a benumbing doublespeak earlier in the week. After making a song and dance of the legislative body’s preference for the submission of the ministerial nominees’ list with likely portfolios to

confronted with a variety of potholes and you choose which one to enter.

But should we give up on education because of these? Never. We have heard and seen enough from some of our half- educated public office holders to know that a nation led by illiterates would have its days numbered. A former military governor of Lagos State once threatened to work “on Friday, Saturday and weekend” to evacuate Maroko residents. A civilian governor in the Second Republic was asked about the mineral resources available in his state and he named them as “Cocacola, Fanta and Mirinda.” Upon assuming office, a sitting governor in one of the North Central states vowed to “elevate (alleviate) poverty and job unemployment.” A prominent woman, whose husband was hale and hearty, recently addressed a gathering of widows as “fellow widows.” A top musician introduced himself to an audience and added that he was of blessed memory.

If these half-baked men and women can constitute so much threat with words, one can imagine how much damage they can do with action. And then you can begin to visualise the cost to the nation if completely uneducated men and women occupy such sensitive positions. That is why we would need to engage the brains behind the philosophy that education is a sacrilege, but by dialogue and not by force. Some people have suggested that the governments of the states affected should be saddled with this responsibility. But will that also take care of the smouldering problems involving other militant groups around the country? A national conference is an imperative that clings to us like a cloak. We have the choice of recognising it and dealing with it or ignoring it and living in bondage to it.

Knucklehead With

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

ease screening, Mr. Mark recanted by lecturing Nigerians that his colleagues would go ahead to screen the nominees since the President was not bound by the Constitution to attach portfolios to the names. “The Constitution wants the President to forward the names to us and once he does that, he has fulfilled the constitutional requirement”, Mark said. If the Senators knew this simple rule, why were they kicking the earth, insisting on getting a list with spelt out portfolios? Or is that their way of adding to the confusion?

Lest this writer is misunderstood, I am not saying that this government is rudderless. Far from it. However, the President has to do something to convince us that some nebulous entrenched interests have not hijacked the agenda for transformation. We know it is his responsibility to tackle the issue of insecurity that appears to worsen by the day. And that is not just because bombs are going off in havens once considered safe and impenetrable. It is not even because some areas have been turned into killings fields by those who once lived peacefully as neighbours neither is it because those that are paid to protect lives and property have become targets of attacks by the agents of terror. It is because of a seeming ineptitude by government to display the needed will to rein in the perpetrators of evil. It is because this government appears to wring its hands in dejection as anarchy burrows its fangs deeper. Definitely, someone has to be seen to be in control amidst the chaos.

For now, it should be obvious to Mr. President that hitting the ground running does not involve wasting precious time in picking domestic and cabinet members. What is required is decisive action as contained in the transformation blueprint.

Sadly, the missing link is the inability to put those fine words of his into action. Should this continue to be the norm, then it will not take long before the cookies start crumbling like a pack of cards! Will someone tell Mr. President to roll up his sleeves, put his hands on the plough and get to work so that he can, through his actions, shame those who think he lacked the required assertiveness to change the rot bequeathed to him by the same persons that now sit in judgment over him? Or will he continue with the slow and steady movement to nowhere?

Either way, whatever he does has deep implications for this country and citizens’ perceptions about what the history books should say about his presidency. Is Mr. President listening?

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 2011

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T is difficult not to focus on security in Nigerian and global terms given the red carpet recognition accorded the menace of Boko Haram by the Nigerian security authorities as well as the President after the bombing of the Police Headquarters in Abuja recently. Boko Haram also reportedly struck soon after while a meeting of Police chiefs was going on on Wednesday in Abuja but this time in far away Katsina state . It surely beats one’s imagination that an outfit that used motorcycles to attack its victim and run away has metamorphosed so suddenly into a modern fighting outfit now credited with spontaineous planned attacks like the one that hit a bank and a police post at the same time in a town in Katsina state last Tuesday.

Terrorists need publicity to be relevant and seeing Boko Haram at every corner and attributing suicide bombing to them prematurely only serves to boost their ego and make them a force to reckon with on national security-a situation which they too will find not only amusing but very satisfactory for their notoriety status as well as their nefarious and murderous activities. In any democracy the security of the state is in the hands of the government of the day.

In a parliamentary democracy that is the cabinet headed by the Prime Minister who is primus inter pares as in Britain. In the Presidential system like the USA and Nigeria, the buck for security stops on the president’s table.

In politics and democracy a government is defined as any government that can consistently uphold its rule with the use of force in maintaining its control in a given territorial area. It is the use and misuse of the concepts of politics and democracy in guaranteeing the security of the state in contemporary terms that is our concern here today; and we shall illustrate with examples of global events that happened this week in three countries namely Nigeria, Sudan and Greece.

In Nigeria the news media quoted the President of the republic as saying that the bomb that exploded in the convoy of the Police IG at the Police headquarters was not meant for the police boss alone; but could have been meant for anybody and that terrorists could have targeted anyone including the president too . What the president said was plain home truth but it lacks assurance on national security already in his hands.

The statement is also a good example of playing politics with security in a democracy.

If the president who is supposed to protect us says that he could be the target of terrorists then we are all real sitting ducks for home run attacks from terrorists . The president’s utterances on security should give us confidence that we are safe no matter the odds. Not the other way round. An example will suffice.

During the last royal wedding in Britain some journalists expressed doubts on security during the wedding celebrations. The PM

Playing politics with democracy and security

David Cameron replied that Britain was going to have a merry wedding and that people should come out to celebrate and have parties and that was what happened without any terrorist attack.

The Police Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police in charge of security for the royal wedding, a lady, when asked of any terrorist threat at a press interview said that was the job of the police and they were not aware of any threat and people should just enjoy the wedding . Which was what happened and we saw the spectacle of even a fully dressed clergy man in white collar celebrating in front of his church and somersaulting like Green Eagles scorer Obafemi Martins does after scoring goals.

That was vintage security expected to make people safe in any democracy.

In Sudan the President is using security to put a gun to the head of the fragile democracy in that nation. He knows that the Southern Sudan is becoming independent next month but he has threatened to block the oil pipes that transport oil to Sudan’s port unless the south gives 50 % of oil proceeds to the north or pays rent for the oil infrastructure located in the north .Yet Omar Bashir, Sudan’s president and strongman promised to abide by the results of the referendum in the south that saw over 90% southern Sudanese voting to have independence from the north in July thereby creating two

states from the present Sudan. Now it appears Bashir wants to throw a spanner in the works and create pandemonium so that the new Southern Sudan, Africa’s newest state, will not take off as expected by the international community this July.

The Northern Sudan president should be called to order and told that he lacks the legitimacy to call the shots for the two Sudans since the south is now an independent nation-with which he would at best have to negotiate-not dictate terms of the distribution of the proceeds of oil from the oil fields located in Southern Sudan now a sovereign nation.

I suspect anyway that the N. Sudan President was just trying to remind the international community of the fact that it has not consummated the promise that the warrant for his arrest by the Internnational Criminal Court at the Hague, on charges of war crimes and pogrom in the Darfur region of Sudan should be suspended once he supports the independence referendum going through.

If this is the case, then the N Sudan president should be told in clear terms that such an arrangement can come into fruition subject to good behavior on his part in respecting the independence of S Sudan and not derailing the transition of the present Sudan into a two state structure as agreed by all parties and as witnessed and corroborated by the comity of

‘

Terrorists need publicity to be relevant and seeing Boko Haram at every corner and attributing suicide bombing to them prematurely only serves to boost their ego and make them a force to reckon with on national security-a situation which they too will find not only amusing but very satisfactory for their notoriety status as well as their nefarious and murderous activities

,

nations.

Omar Bashir can not eat his cake and still have it. He must respect the independence of S Sudan before he can expect any immunity which still has to be negotiated for the huge crimes he committed in Darfur.

In Greece the government of PM George Papandreou is weathering the storm of eco-

nomic austerity which has created riots and unrests in Greek cities especially the capital Athens .

The government of the ruling Panhellenic Social Movement [PASOK ] has survived a vote of no confidence but has had to replace its finance minister with the former defence minister Evangelos Venizelos. Now the government is trying hard to make MPs pass and approve budget costs, tax and fiscal reforms and privatization plans amounting to 28 bn euros (25 bn pounds ). Such legislation according to the Eurozone Ministers must be passed by the Greek Parliament for Greece to receive additional loan of 12bn euros it is asking for.

There is additional Eurozone threat to withhold long term 110bn euro loan package to Greece if the present austerity measures are not carried out by the government urgently. In all these negotiations the objective of the Greek government, the IMF, and the EU is to reduce Greek government’s borrowing needs and make its debts sustainable.

Those who said that the Greek debt crisis should not be turned into a crisis of democracy surely know what they are saying because that is what is happening in Greece and will predictably happen sooner than later in Spain, and Portugal in the Eurozone and even Nigeria outside that zone.

This is because elected officials in power in a democracy are expected to be prudent economic planners and managers whose major objective is to keep the economy afloat and make ends meet so that the nation maintains its economic and financial strength and subsequently its sovereignty.

Successive democratically elected leaders in Greece have mismanaged the economy such that the nation is to be thrown out of the euro zone and this has led to riots by voters who feel righ-

teously indignant and badly let down and are now calling their leaders thieves on the streets of Greece.

Judging from the warnings from two sources this week Nigeria’s huge cost of governance in our presidential system will surely lead us in the direction of Greece sooner than later. The labor unions have already warned this week that the nation will burn if the minimum wage of 18000 naira is not paid by state governors as demanded by the law.

The governors through their forum have said they cannot afford to pay and the unions have retorted that they should cut the cost of governance and recoup money to pay it . As a solution for governors’ inability to pay the minimum wage they are proposing a removal of the oil subsidy of 693 bn naira that the Federal government claims it spends annually to keep the price of fuel [which is still unaffordable ] low . The governors want this to be distributed to them to pay the minimum wage.

The reaction of the labor unions to this governors’ proposal is that this will lead to anarchy meaning riots and strikes which they say will be similar to the on going uprising in the Arab world.

Similarly the DG in the budget office of the Federal Government Dr. Bright Okogu recently lamented at a conference that expenditure added to the 2011 budget sent by the presidency to the National Assembly as required by law were expenditure included by the legislators for their constituency projects and they asked the government to borrow money-about 1.33 trillion naira to finance the deficit of 1.6 trillion naira. Surely Nigeria’s democratically elected leaders are treading the path that led Greece to a black hole of debts and should retrace their steps urgently before the fate of Greece befalls us all , with all the attendant dire consequences.

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 2011

The social setting is now so charged, the only thing people expect from you is money — Ex-Niger SSG, now Chief of Staff, Mohammed Yahaya Dr. Mohammed Kuta Yahaya was for four years, until three weeks ago, the T Secretary to the State Government HE governor has just been sworn in for a second term. What really can the government showcase as its achievements in the last four years that could be the justification for a second term?

As a Nigerlite, I can confidently tell you where we were in 2007, and, where we are now. One must start by saying that all glory be to God for all that He has enabled us to achieve. If you recall, nobody gave the governor, who we call the Chief Servant, a chance. He was under-estimated, people said he was not a politician. And by their interpretation, a politician is somebody who does not say things the way they are but simply play around the issues at stake.

But the governor was straightforward, a technocrat of repute and indeed a master politician. You can say, after all, what is politics? Is it not about the people? And it is the man who is able to relate better with them who enjoys their goodwill. And he knows how to do that. Check it out, from being a union leader up to when he was in the civil service till now, people have testified that all along, those who met with him have always left him happier and better than they were. And so with this strategy, he has been able to win the people’s affection and that has really helped him.

When we came in 2007, the Chief Servant assembled his team and read out his plan of action, what we called the Government Plan of Action. And emphasis was on key sectors that will propel the state to greater heights. His vision was to make the state one of the three top economies in the country by the year 2020. It is called Vision 3, 2020. Based on that, he focused on educational development which, according to him, is the foundation of all developments and that is true, anyway.

But he did not just stop with education, he also focused on infrastructure, agriculture, social security, tourism and other aspects of governance and he has been able to raise the bar of performance in all the sectors of governance. If we begin to look at the details of the activities of the government one by one, I am sure we wouldn’t leave here today. But one thing I can tell you, which is verifiable, is the fact that in the last four years, the Chief Servant has led Niger State into taking some developmental strides.

Let us take for instance the increase in the enrolment of children into schools. It has increased by almost 40% because education is now free, many parents who had hitherto given poverty as an excuse for not allowing their children to go to school, could no longer hide behind that. And with the increase in enrolment also came pressure for infrastructure to be expanded to be able to cope with the new development. And to add to the challenges, the Chief Servant went to visit a school one day and he discovered that some parents were withdrawing their children from school because of

(SSG), Niger State. He is now the Chief of Staff to the governor, Dr. Mua’zu Babangida Aliyu. In this interview with our Assistant Editor, AUGUSTINE AVWODE, after the inauguration of the governor for a second term in Minna, Yahaya explained what the administration has been able to do in the last four years and why the people of the state gave the governor, popularly known as the Chief Servant, another opportunity to serve them. Yahaya advocated value re-orientation as a sure way of sanitising the social scene in the country. He also asserted that there is hope for Nigeria irrespective of the challenges before her.

Excerpts:

WAEC and NECO fees which they could not afford. So he had to pay for them. As we speak, you have a government that pays a bill of about N500 million for WAEC, NECO and all sorts of examinations in the state every year.

So all the student needs is to study, work hard and pass the examinations. As a result of this, today, the incidence of withdrawal of children from school has drastically reduced and many parents are the better for it.

In the health sector, there has been a remarkable improvement. Hitherto, the General Hospital in the state capital here had no single incubator. Today, there are almost 15 of such now. Ambulances that were not there before have been provided and essentially, more general hospitals have been built in the hinterland in places like Lapai.

The General Hospital in Nasko for instance is superb; then the one at Subu-Wuse along Kaduna Expressway. In fact that hospital

has become more like a federal facility now because all the accident victims along that way are rushed there.

It has already been over stretched. Then you talk of the National Insurance Healthcare Scheme, equipment worth billions of naira that have been bought and above all, the medical personnel are happy and contented.

Take the agricultural sector, we have the land and our local government councils have taken advantage of that in yam and rice production and as a result of government intervention, it has been confirmed that we have the potential of being the leading yam and rice producers in Nigeria.

Look at other sectors like rural development. We have a programme called Ward Development Projects across the 274 wards in the 24 local government areas. The governor started by approving N500,000 for them every month and these wards were allowed to choose the projects they want

‘ are unable to give They don’t care, if you ( money), they say you are a bad man...

Then there is the fact that people are used to being lazy. Laziness has been part of their life style and they do not want to work ,

•Yahaya

and it is executed and by so doing, they were able to meet their developmental needs. It was like a revolution.

The people therefore ensured that the House of Assembly made this into law and it was also increased to N1million every month. This means N274 million to all the wards in the state every month and no local council has received less than N600 million since they came into office in 2008. It has never happened in the history of Niger State and it is all in a bid to see the grassroots developed in a way that everybody would be happy and proud of. And the council chairmen have all been instructed to execute projects that directly meet the needs of the people, because the Chief Servant’s consuming passion, I must tell you, is to positively touch the lives of Nigerlites by meeting their most basic needs.

And the council chairmen are performing.

There was a day during our campaign that we commissioned so many projects in Edate Local Government Area and the whole day, no other campaign took place but just commissioning projects and why not? All the council areas have heavy duty equipment with which they are opening up the rural areas.

During the primaries of the ruling party here, which is the Peoples Democratic Party, nobody challenged the governor.

He was the sole candidate from day one and this happened, I think only in Niger State. What was responsible for this? Was it lack of interest or fear to confront the governor?

11

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 2011 It is a measure of the level of confidence and trust party members and the people of the state have in him. It is not because he is a dictator, no! There is a popular saying that you don’t change a wining team. The governor in the last four years has moved the state to a level where when you look at the northern region, Niger State is clearly the pacesetter here. The Chief Servant has kept faith with his electoral promises and the people. The people of the state still want more from his leadership; they still want more from his vision for the state which has established due diligence and zero tolerance for corruption. These are attributes cherished by all and sundry. He has brought candour and dignity into governance and the people know it.

It is interesting listening to you reel out what the Chief Servant has been able to do in the last four years that have made his re-election possible. But then, your office has been the engine room, the clearing house of sorts. Tell us, how have you managed to cope and what have been the challenges theses past four years?

I would say I am a lucky person and had the opportunity of working with somebody I would say is an encyclopedia of service.

His pedigree is such that he is a man that had worked in many places. From being a teacher to an intellectual and then joining the Federal Civil Service, rising from the position of a director to working with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation in the Presidency to being a Permanent Secretary in the FCT, at National Planning Commission and so on.

So, he came home with a rich background such that if you are a very smart and good student, all you need was just to download, which was what I did; because at this point in time, he will be giving examples, lessons and advice. It reminded me so much of my days at the University of Ibadan during my research days. I had people like Prof.

Adegboye, Prof.

Falusi, P r o f .

Jennings Ola and the one t h a t touched m y heart most is my late

•Yahaya

‘ on the Nigeria is path to greatness.

Many great nations of today never had our potential and experience. You can see for yourself that in spite of all the challenges, Nigeria is still one big united family. We still love one another and still continue striving to do more to unite the nation

,

Prof. Terry Olowu. All these were fantastic people who mentored me. And when I had the chance to consult for the World Bank and do other jobs through the McArthur Foundation, it was easy because I fell on the background provided by people who had demonstrated knowledge and experience in these areas, so I had no problem.

When I came to resume duties, I was not a civil servant. I did not know the tricks of civil servants but each time an issue arose, the Chief Servant would draw my attention to it and caution me and let me know what is happening and what the implication would be, I would pick it up. Then when he read a signal, he would tell you it can’t be done this way; this is how to do it.

And so within a short period, I learnt so fast that the civil servants had to run away from me because I already got the tricks.

Within a year, I was already a master of the game using the same principles in the university during my research days. So anything, in terms of governance, fast tracking, coordinating, policy implementation, innovation and what have you, I benefited a great deal from his wealth of experience. For me, therefore, it was like a fast learner that had to become a very dependable ally of a person who is ready to help the state. So I thank God that I had that chance and I am ready at each point in time to maximise it.

That is why I could say without hesitation that on this assignment, the Chief Servant provided a veritable platform for mentorship which I have also done to many civil servants and political appointees who are ready to learn. And many of them have assumed different responsibilities in different parts of the state.

As for challenges, I would say, like every other person knows, that paucity of funds was a big challenge. This is because of competition demands. We had so many ideas to execute but funding limitation has always been a problem. In fact, the Chief Servant would tell you that if the funds available to some states were to be available to Niger State, this place would have changed so dramatically, that it would be the first place of choice for Nigerians and Nigelites.

And I would say one of the greatest challenges was changing peoples’ mind set. It was one of the challenges we had to grapple with. People who had been used to a certain style of doing things like don’t say it the way it is, you have to pretend and be diplomatic, and in the process you have to tell lies. Well, I don’t know how to tell lies and do not know how to pretend.

So those are some of the issues. And, again the social setting is so charged that the only thing people expect from you is money.

They don’t care, if you are unable to give, they say you are a bad man and I don’t think that it is the mandate of any government official or that of mine to dash money to people. Then there is the fact that people are used to being lazy around. Laziness has been part of their life style and they do not want to work. When you want to set up a project, people look at the immediate benefits instead of the result. By my training, I talk about input-output relationship. If I give you this, how much do I get out of it?

So you must show me indications of success. So by the time you tell me what you want to do, I am also counting what I am going to get out of it and how realistic it is.

Some people don’t want that. They just want you to give them the money let them go. What they can do with N100 they will tell you it will cost N1000. And so, if you tell him that this thing, I will give you just N100 and you stick to it, you will get the same result.

These are some of the challenges you have to grapple with in a bid to do it right. It is a tall order because the social system is not prepared for it. But thank God, the Chief Servant’s fight against corruption, institutionalising integrity and his business unusual have helped Niger State a lot. So many people are now following and those who can’t follow are finding the exit door quietly and I am happy that is happening.

In the last four years, the cabinet or state executive council has been stable. Would you say this has contributed in a way to the success of the administration?

I think it is more than a stable cabinet. The Chief Servant, for instance, will tell you that a cabinet meeting could be held in a market square. What that means is that there is nothing to hide, everything is in the open.

It is only in Niger State that you have the novelty of even permanent secretaries attending cabinet meeting with their commissioners. All the 46 permanent secretaries sit with their commissioners who are about 18 or 19. So anything that is affecting any ministry, department or agency, and which is related to others, they must all join hands together to solve it. You must offer comments or air your observations.

If you were to set an agenda for the next four years for this administration, which areas would you urge the governor to look critically at?

Well, I am sure you listened to the inauguration speech by the governor. He had outlined them there. He said attention would be paid to areas that have become naughty like water, education, infrastructure and rural development and all these will be pursued without compromise.

Security has become a major problem in Niger State. What is government doing about it?

Security problem is a national problem.

It is not peculiar to Niger State alone. If you look at it, the areas affected are those that are close to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) like Suleja. If Abuja catches cold, Suleja sneezes. All the negative sides of Abuja are domiciled in Suleja. I tell you the larger population of Suleja are those who streamed in from the FCT who could not find a place to hide but have come to Suleja to perpetrate their criminal activities.

It is unfortunate. Some of these things are the residual effects of capital city creation.

But I must say that security issue is a challenging one but it is a national problem not just of Niger State. And I must also say that the Federal Government is not leaving any stone unturned in collaboration with other states in Nigeria.

It has been 12 years now since democracy returned to Nigeria. Many people are of the opinion that there is hope for Nigeria, after all. Do you agree?

Yes, I agree because if you look at what happened in the 2011 general elections, you would agree that there is hope for Nigeria because Nigerians are becoming courageous to do the things right. The truth is that some mistakes have been made but they are not substantial as to invalidate the good things that are coming out of Nigeria. And given the credit from the international community, that simply lends credence to the ability of Nigeria to organise herself.

I also believe that as a sovereign and independent nation, it is better for us to stumble or fall but rise to continue with the arduous task of nation building. A child that must walk should not be afraid of stumbling and falling, but the child must be prepared to rise up from that position and go on to walk as that is the ultimate goal. And that is what has happened. But the doubting Thomases would not give.

Nigeria is on the path to greatness. Many great nations of today never had our potential and experience. You can see for yourself that in spite of all the challenges, Nigeria is still one big united family. We still love one another and still continue striving to do more to unite the nation. Notwithstanding some strains here and there, I believe that once we have a good orientation, we are sure to get it right and very soon. In this state, we have the ministry for religious affairs and orientation.

Part of the problems we have is that our value system has been badly damaged because it has been so lopsided in favour of material gains and the time has come for us to begin to think of a generation that will love their fatherland more than they love material acquisition. You must have noticed that some of the greatest people in the world in terms of money, they often than not declare a large chunk of it for humanity.

Look at the Bill Gates of this world, the Fords the MacArthurs and so on. All this people after making so much money, they will go and declare a foundation for the service of humanity. But here we are yet to come to terms with that reality even when our religion preaches zakat and giving tithes and all that, many still leave very little to God and humanity such that when they die, in two three years, their children have squandered the wealth and that would be the end of the empire. There must be moral education and value re-orientation beyond religiosity.

12

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 2011

14

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 2011

Jungle justice: Tipper driver hacked to death for the sin of another man •His vehicle set ablaze

•The burnt truck

•Onyebuchi

•The late Wasiu

T

HE Police at Zone 2 headquarters, Onikan, Lagos, are trying to unravel the circumstances surrounding the death of a lorry driver allegedly lynched by some hoodlums at Idele, a community in Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area, Ogun State.

The incident was said to have occurred on Sokoto Road in the village on Thursday, April 17, 2011 after a truck allegedly knocked down a five-year-old boy and he died instantly while the driver escaped with the vehicle.

Unfortunately for the victim, identified simply as Wasiu, sympathisers were still gathered at the spot when he arrived the scene in the lorry popularly called tipper with registration number XJ 175 KTU. Some hoodlums among the sympathisers then accosted him and accused him of being responsible for the five-yearold boy’s death.

They ordered him to alight from the tipper and asked him why he killed the little boy.

Surprised at the question, he told them he was not the one who hit the boy. Then one man, who was

Ebele BONIFACE

alleged to be the leader of the hoodlums, and his assistant (names withheld) allegedly ordered the mob to kill the tipper driver to serve as a lesson to other reckless drivers in the area.

After hacking the innocent driver to death, the hoodlums were said to have set the tipper ablaze before they retired into their hideout in a nearby bush, where they normally hid themselves after committing such atrocities.

Informed on the phone that the driver of his vehicle had been killed and the vehicle had been set ablaze for allegedly killing a fiveyear-old boy, the owner of the tipper, Chief Ephraim Oyebuchi, drove to Atan Police Station, from where he went to the scene in company with the investigating police officer and some other policemen from the division.

He said he saw two of the principal suspects at the scene and one of them boasted that he was the one who ordered his boys to force

the tipper driver to alight from the vehicle before he was killed with a machete. He was also said to have claimed responsibility for the burning of the tipper.

Onyebuchi said: “On that day, somebody called me on the phone and told me that a vehicle had killed a small boy and escaped, and that when the mob could not locate the errant driver, they transferred their anger to an innocent tipper driver and killed him with a machete.

“They slashed his body till he died and came back from their hideout in a danfo bus some hours later to set the tipper ablaze.

“Even when I got there, their leader boasted that he was the one who ordered his boys to kill the driver and set the tipper ablaze. He even threatened to set my jeep ablaze before I managed to leave the scene.

“We could not even tow the burnt tipper to the police station that day for fear of the hoodlums who had taken advantage of the ugly situation to cause mayhem on Sokoto Road, and even the hoodlums later entered the town, wounding some people and destroying their properties.

“I later heard that the Public Relations Officer of the Tippers Own-

ers Association petitioned the Inspector General of Police who ordered the police zonal headquarters (Zone II) Onikan Lagos to investigate the matter.

“While I was earlier told that 14 people had been arrested over the matter, I was surprised to hear later that 11 of them had been released, including Owoeye and One Hour. I wonder why, as the owner of the tipper set ablaze by the hoodlum, I was side tracked. Up till now, I do not know who and who were charged to court or what the charges against them are. I also wonder why the principal suspects were not charged to court.

“When I got to the Federal SARS office at Adeniji Adele, Lagos, I was allowed to see the Commissioner of Police in charge of Federal Anti Robbery Squad, Mr. Mark A, Idakwo, and he told me that it is not all cases there that are handled by Federal SARS and that he was not aware of any such case being taken to court by his office.

“I went to Zone 2, Onikan, Lagos to continue my fact finding mission. When I met the Police Public Relations Officer of the Zonal Command, Mr. Ken Odigwe, an Assistant Superin-

tendent of Police, he called the Public Relations Officer of the Tippers Association, Atan, Ogun State, and he promised to come to Onikan Lagos the following day, which was Tuesday, to explain how the matter was going and to know which police command investigated and charged the case to court as well as the court where it was taken to.”

Asked what he wanted about the case, Onyebuchi said: “First, I don’t know why I was sidetracked. As the owner of the burnt tipper, I am supposed to know which police is investigating the matter, when it was charged to court, who and who were charged to court, why 11 suspects were not charged to court. Which money are they sharing? Who brought money and who and who were sharing money?

“Are their fake complainants trying to hijack the case? Why were the family members of Wasiu, the deceased driver, and myself, the owner of the tipper, not carried along? Why is somebody telling me that there is a powerful chairman or president in Atan who can make life uncomfortable for me if I report anybody to the police? That amounts to a threat to my life.

“I want the police to investigate the hijackers of this case, if it is true that the case has gone to court without the complaints, to explain why the main complainants are not carried along; it is also interesting to know whether it was a calculated plan to frustrate the case, as it may be struck out if the court finds that those in court were not the genuine complainants. I want to see that an autopsy is carried out on the murdered tipper driver.

“I want to know also why the two principal suspects were not charged to court.”

However, on Wednesday the association’s Public Relations Officer in Atan town (name withheld) was with the Zonal Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Odigwe, and told him that the petition they wrote was with the zone (as revealed by the zonal PPRO on phone), thereby ending the search to locate where the case is being handled.

15

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 2011

Help, this burden is too much for me

— 80-yr-old cries out over non-payment of son’s gratuity nine years after his death

•Children of the deceased

‘

•Mother of the deceased

B

EFORE he died about nine years ago, Adetunji Olufumnmilayo Bamgbose was a civil servant. He had hoped to retire to enjoy his entitlements.

Sadly, he died on the eve of Christmas in 2001 while on an official assignment to a riverine community near Koko, Delta State, leaving behind an aged mother and five children.

Bamgbose was a Senior Superintendent of Fisheries at the time of his untimely death.

But even in death, he shares the fate of many Nigerian civil servants who retire and wait endlessly for their retirement benefits.

His entitlements till date cannot be accessed by his family even though they have submitted all the necessary documents to the Ministry of Agriculture where he served until his death.

The agony which the family of the deceased has had to bear since concerned authorities are yet to pay his entitlements nine years down the lane became evinced in the week, when the family played host to the reporter at their Atitebi Compound, Ebute Metta,Lagos State.

The distraught 80-year-old

Kunle AKINRINADE mother of the deceased, Madam Elizabeth Bamgbose explained the trauma she had gone through raising the children left behind by her son, whom she described as the breadwinner of the family.

She said: “My son was returning from an official assignment to a coastal community in Koko, Delta State on December 24, 2001when he died in a boat accident. During his burial at the Hoares Memorial Methodist Church, Yaba, Lagos in January, 2002, all the top officials of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture were present. In fact, the then Deputy Director of Fisheries, Mr. Wande Adebiyi, read the condolence letter from the ministry.”

Speaking further on the matter, she said: “After his death, we were asked to submit his death certificate and the name of his next of kin among other documents in order to receive his entitlements, and we obliged. But it was a surprise that after some months, the story changed. First, we learnt upon enquiry that his file was misplaced. After much pressure, we were told that the file was later

•The deceased found but without documents relating to the deceased’s employment.

“We were later asked to re-submit all the documents, which we did. But to our surprise, we reliably gathered that the authorities concerned are not doing anything concerning the matter. I am also a former staff of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, and it was with my influence that Tunji was employed in 1983. I retired from the service in November 1996 and got my entitlements eight months later. I wonder why my son has to be treated this way.

“He left five children behind and it has been very difficult raising them. His first child is a graduate.

The second child will soon finish from the Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH). I am now 80 years old and no more financially buoyant to sponsor the education of his other children.”

Throwing further insight into the matter, the eldest child of the deceased, Adekumbi Bamgbose, said it was a sad tale that many years after her father died on active duty, his entitlements were

He left five children behind and it has been very difficult raising them.

His first child is a graduate. The second child will soon finish from the Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH). I am now 80 years old and no more financially buoyant to sponsor the education of his other children.

,

yet to be paid.

“It is an injustice of the highest order for a civil servant of my father’s status to be denied his rights when he actually died in active service to Nigeria.

“Since my father died, my grandmother who should ordinarily be reaping from her toil on my father has been taking care of us. She actually sponsored my education in the university.”

The 28-year-old graduate of Mass Communication from the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ogun State, and her younger brother, who wore a sullen look throughout the interview, demanded that their father’s entitlements be paid without further delay.

“Our father served this country as a Senior Superintendent of Fisheries until his death. He served for 18 years and we want all his gratuity, including the two months salaries owed him before his death. His entitlements must be paid without hesitation, because it is a clear case of injustice to deny dependents of a man who died on duty the en-

titlements of their breadwinner. “ Reacting to the story in a telephone chat with our correspondent, a senior official of the ministry, who pleaded anonymity, said the deceased was not the only employee affected by the delay, adding that necessary steps were being taken to determine the cause of the delay.

He said: “Yes, it is true that the late Mr.Adetunji Bamgbose was a staff of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture. Our records showed that he died while returning from an official engagement in Koko, Delta State in 2001. But he was not the only one involved. I cannot say exactly why his entitlements are being delayed. Perhaps the family is yet to submit all the necessary documents relating to his employment and death.”

When Momoh was told by our correspondent that the family had submitted all the documents required by the ministry, he said: “Well, I shall get back to you, because the only department that can offer an explanation on this matter is the Human Resources Department. Let me try to find out from the department first, and I will give you a thorough explanation on this matter later.”

Meanwhile, a source who asked not to be mentioned, said the matter had gone beyond the Federal Ministry of Agriculture.

He said: “I don’t know what the problem is really about. I am one of Adetunji’s colleagues, and I was touched when his aged mother told me that his gratuity was yet to be paid by government.Therefore, I stepped into the matter and found his file after it was earlier misplaced. I actually monitored the file till it reached the Office of the Head of Service (HOS). “ I had hoped that the matter would have been laid to rest by now. Unfortunately, since the file was submitted to the Coordinating Unit (CU) at the HOS Office over a year ago, nothing has been done about it. The then HOS, Mr.Stephen Oronsaye, actually redeployed all the staff of the unit, while Adetunji’s file is not treated till date.

“Adetunji was not married when he joined us in the ministry in 1983, and he was such a humble and warm colleague. His story and the plight of his dependants is a sad commentary on government’s approach to workers’ welfare in Nigeria.”

The late civil servant was a Higher National Diploma holder in General Fisheries from the Lagos State College of Science and Technology (now LASPOTECH). He joined the Federal Department of Fisheries on August 22, 1983 as an Assistant Fisheries Superintendent and he was transferred to Koko, Delta State on October 10, 1983.

He rose to the rank of Senior Superintendent of Fisheries in 1999 and was in that position until his untimely death in 2001. The boat he was travelling in capsized in Koko.

14

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 2011

Jungle justice: Tipper driver hacked to death for the sin of another man •His vehicle set ablaze

•The burnt truck

•Onyebuchi

•The late Wasiu

T

HE Police at Zone 2 headquarters, Onikan, Lagos, are trying to unravel the circumstances surrounding the death of a lorry driver allegedly lynched by some hoodlums at Idele, a community in Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area, Ogun State.

The incident was said to have occurred on Sokoto Road in the village on Thursday, April 17, 2011 after a truck allegedly knocked down a five-year-old boy and he died instantly while the driver escaped with the vehicle.

Unfortunately for the victim, identified simply as Wasiu, sympathisers were still gathered at the spot when he arrived the scene in the lorry popularly called tipper with registration number XJ 175 KTU. Some hoodlums among the sympathisers then accosted him and accused him of being responsible for the five-yearold boy’s death.

They ordered him to alight from the tipper and asked him why he killed the little boy.

Surprised at the question, he told them he was not the one who hit the boy. Then one man, who was

Ebele BONIFACE

alleged to be the leader of the hoodlums, and his assistant (names withheld) allegedly ordered the mob to kill the tipper driver to serve as a lesson to other reckless drivers in the area.

After hacking the innocent driver to death, the hoodlums were said to have set the tipper ablaze before they retired into their hideout in a nearby bush, where they normally hid themselves after committing such atrocities.

Informed on the phone that the driver of his vehicle had been killed and the vehicle had been set ablaze for allegedly killing a fiveyear-old boy, the owner of the tipper, Chief Ephraim Oyebuchi, drove to Atan Police Station, from where he went to the scene in company with the investigating police officer and some other policemen from the division.

He said he saw two of the principal suspects at the scene and one of them boasted that he was the one who ordered his boys to force

the tipper driver to alight from the vehicle before he was killed with a machete. He was also said to have claimed responsibility for the burning of the tipper.

Onyebuchi said: “On that day, somebody called me on the phone and told me that a vehicle had killed a small boy and escaped, and that when the mob could not locate the errant driver, they transferred their anger to an innocent tipper driver and killed him with a machete.

“They slashed his body till he died and came back from their hideout in a danfo bus some hours later to set the tipper ablaze.

“Even when I got there, their leader boasted that he was the one who ordered his boys to kill the driver and set the tipper ablaze. He even threatened to set my jeep ablaze before I managed to leave the scene.

“We could not even tow the burnt tipper to the police station that day for fear of the hoodlums who had taken advantage of the ugly situation to cause mayhem on Sokoto Road, and even the hoodlums later entered the town, wounding some people and destroying their properties.

“I later heard that the Public Relations Officer of the Tippers Own-

ers Association petitioned the Inspector General of Police who ordered the police zonal headquarters (Zone II) Onikan Lagos to investigate the matter.

“While I was earlier told that 14 people had been arrested over the matter, I was surprised to hear later that 11 of them had been released, including Owoeye and One Hour. I wonder why, as the owner of the tipper set ablaze by the hoodlum, I was side tracked. Up till now, I do not know who and who were charged to court or what the charges against them are. I also wonder why the principal suspects were not charged to court.

“When I got to the Federal SARS office at Adeniji Adele, Lagos, I was allowed to see the Commissioner of Police in charge of Federal Anti Robbery Squad, Mr. Mark A, Idakwo, and he told me that it is not all cases there that are handled by Federal SARS and that he was not aware of any such case being taken to court by his office.

“I went to Zone 2, Onikan, Lagos to continue my fact finding mission. When I met the Police Public Relations Officer of the Zonal Command, Mr. Ken Odigwe, an Assistant Superin-

tendent of Police, he called the Public Relations Officer of the Tippers Association, Atan, Ogun State, and he promised to come to Onikan Lagos the following day, which was Tuesday, to explain how the matter was going and to know which police command investigated and charged the case to court as well as the court where it was taken to.”

Asked what he wanted about the case, Onyebuchi said: “First, I don’t know why I was sidetracked. As the owner of the burnt tipper, I am supposed to know which police is investigating the matter, when it was charged to court, who and who were charged to court, why 11 suspects were not charged to court. Which money are they sharing? Who brought money and who and who were sharing money?

“Are their fake complainants trying to hijack the case? Why were the family members of Wasiu, the deceased driver, and myself, the owner of the tipper, not carried along? Why is somebody telling me that there is a powerful chairman or president in Atan who can make life uncomfortable for me if I report anybody to the police? That amounts to a threat to my life.

“I want the police to investigate the hijackers of this case, if it is true that the case has gone to court without the complaints, to explain why the main complainants are not carried along; it is also interesting to know whether it was a calculated plan to frustrate the case, as it may be struck out if the court finds that those in court were not the genuine complainants. I want to see that an autopsy is carried out on the murdered tipper driver.

“I want to know also why the two principal suspects were not charged to court.”

However, on Wednesday the association’s Public Relations Officer in Atan town (name withheld) was with the Zonal Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Odigwe, and told him that the petition they wrote was with the zone (as revealed by the zonal PPRO on phone), thereby ending the search to locate where the case is being handled.

16

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 2011

Controversy trails mysterious death of two children under a pile of rugs in a shop The‘ big question I am asking is, since you didn’t allow people to remove the rugs on the day of the incident, after opening the shop the next day, you went to the police to report that you found two bodies in your shop. How did the bodies get there?

•The bodies of the kids

‘

TUESDAY June 7, 2011 is a day Mr. Chizoba Theophilus Izundu and his wife will not forget in a hurry. Their joy of parenthood was cut short following the death of their two children, three-year-old Ogochukwu Izundu and two-year-old Chibundu.

Before her untimely death, Ogochukwu was a Nursery 1 pupil at Redeemed Nursery and Primary School, Uyo while Chibundu was yet to commence schooling.

The father of the two kids, 37-year-old Chizoba Theophilus Izundu and his wife, 29-year-old Njideke both hail from Aguluzigbo village in Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State. But they reside in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital.

Izundu is a business man, dealing in electronics at No 11, Nepa Line, Uyo. His wife operates a small shop in front of his shop. A visit by The Nation correspondent to the oneroom apartment of the couple in Uyo revealed how out of their meagre income from the proceeds of their electronics business, they still struggle to cater for the children, who until their untimely death, were full of life.

For the Izundus, May 22, 2011 would pass for the family’s best days. It was the day Chibundu celebrated his birthday, which attracted a lot of well wishers. His parents must have quietly hoped that the child would one day procreate the way he was given birth to. But all the hope was cut short.

Narrating how the tragedy occurred on June 7, Njideke said: “At about 3 pm, my daughter, Ogochukwu, came back from school. I changed her uniform, trimmed her nails and attended to her along with my son, Chibundu. Our shop at Nepa Line is located between two traders who sell rug and paints. My two children started playing in front of the shop. Later, my husband came to tell me he was going to the market to buy some things because my mother-in-law wanted to travel back to the village the next day.

“It was not up to five minutes after my husband left that one of our neighbours who sells paints at No 13, Nepa Line came with one man to my shop. I do not know the man in person, but he wore a shirt that had the inscription ‘Idems Ultimate’ on it. So, I saw both of them standing in front of my shop.

The neigbour said the man was his very good friend and that I should sell to him.

I asked the man what he wanted and he told me MP3. I removed the first one, but he said he didn’t like it. I removed the second one and after testing it, he said it wasn’t playing back. He then said I should remove the third one. After testing the third one, he

•The kids when they marked their birthdays

Kazeem IBRAHYM started pricing below the cost price and I told him I could not sell below the cost price.

He then asked me to bring the one that cost higher and I told him I would not bring any one again.

“I told him the last price was N4,000, but he was pricing it for N3,300. At that point, I

didn’t feel like continuing. But my neighbour told me I should sell to him, saying they were friends. I told him his friend was not pricing well. The moment the man left and the neighbour entered his shop, I asked my sales girl (Itoro) to bring my children, because her father had bought beans cake for them and I wanted to feed the younger one. But my sales girl told me that he couldn’t find them. I shouted their names, because shortly before

that time, they were packing sand with toothpick cover. I asked my sales girl to check in the rug shop where one Samuel was the attendant, but she could not find them.

“I asked Samuel what happened to my children who were playing here just now.

He told me they went towards the other compound. I ran to the other compound where they used to play with a little boy called Victor, but they were not there. I told myself that even if the children were flying, they shouldn’t have reached the nearby Itiam Street. But I ran to the street to look for them to no avail. We later reported the case at the Area C Police Station.”

She explained that when her husband returned, they both continued the search for the two children but all to no avail. Njideke said she turned to Samuel later and asked about the whereabouts of the man that bought rug while she was attending to our neighbour’s friend who wanted to buy MP3.

The mother of the deceased children further asked Samuel if the man went with her children, but he said the man left alone on a bike.

Her words: “I asked Samuel if he didn’t put the rugs on top of the children, and he told me he was the one who arranged the rug and that nothing like that happened.

When other neighbours came, they told him (Samuel) to let them rearrange the rugs, but Samuel said no. It was at that point that I asked him about Ndifreke (his colleague), and Samuel told me he went to the Plaza. I asked him to call Ndifreke in order to know if he went to the Plaza with my children, but Samuel said no, that Ndifreke was repairing his phone at the Plaza.

“That was how I started running around to look for my children. I became mad, running around to look for my children, only for me to return to the shop to find that Samuel and our neighbour had closed their shops before 5:30 pm. I was surprised be-

17

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 2011 cause their normal closing time is 6 pm. We didn’t see the children throughout the night. That night, I could not sleep.

“As early as 5 am, my husband left the house for the shop. At exactly 7:15 am, I came to the shop and I saw Ndifreke. I asked him where he was the previous day. He told me he went to fix his phone. I didn’t ask him any question further. I told my husband that we should go back to Samuel, the rug seller’s shop, because whatever happened to my children must have happened within his shop. I said at the time I started looking for my children, they could not have gone far.”

According to Njideke, when she got to Samuel’s shop, the shop was left open with no one inside.

The distraught mother of two said: “I asked my brother to call Samuel to come and attend to a customer, but he didn’t come out. He hid himself in the neighbour’s shop. I shouted at him that he was here and I was looking for my children. I begged him to look for the phone number and the address of the man who bought rug from him the previous day. He said he

•The parents of the kids

didn’t have the phone number of the man; that he was just a customer.

“We later went to the Area C Police Station. The policeman asked me if I suspected anyone and I told him I suspected Samuel

‘

because he was in the shop throughout the time I was looking for my children and that the children didn’t go beyond his shop. When we got to the shop to arrest Samuel, we didn’t see anyone.

They tied my children’s hands with nylon. Their heads were broken and the boy’s face was wounded.

This was how my children died and they took them to the mortuary. I have no problem with anybody

,

The next thing we saw was that Ndifreke, Samuel’s colleague, was coming with Barracks Road policemen. Ndifreke entered the shop with two of the policemen and pointed to a particular location. The police called the IPO that I reported the case to. It was at that point I started shouting. They saw my dead children under the rug after removing about eight loads inside Samuel’s shop.”

Corroborating the wife’s stance, Chizoba alleged that the duo of Samuel and Ndifreke went to the police

when they found that there was no way they could remove the bodies.

He said: “They are used to opening their shop around 9 am. Why did they come around 5 am to open the shop in order to remove the bodies of my two children? The big question I am asking is, since you didn’t allow people to remove the rugs on the day of the incident, after opening the shop the next day, you went to the police to report that you found two bodies in your shop. How did the bodies get there? Was it the rug that tied the hands of my children with nylon? They tied my children’s hands with nylon. Their heads were broken and the boy’s face was wounded. This was how my children died and they took them to the mortuary. I have no problem with anybody.”

The Izundus want justice to be done by bringing the killers of their children to book. They explained that so far, the police had shown cooperation in arresting those suspected to be be-

hind the dastardly act. But to the family, the work of the security agencies would be meaningless if the owner of the rug shop is not arrested.

When contacted, the Public Relations Officer of the Akwa Ibom State Police Command, Onyeka Orji, said the command had arrested suspects in connection with the case. Orji explained that the case had raised a lot of controversy and the command would do everything possible to get to the roots of the matter in order to bring anyone connected with the murder of the children to book.

The suspects could not be reached for comments, as the police said they were being shielded from exposure in order not to jeopardise their investigation.

“The suspects are at the state Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and we are still investigating. We don’t want to jeopardise our investigation by telling you the number of suspects we have arrested,” Orji said.

18

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 2011

CITY PULSE •A popular roundabout in Enugu

W

ITH the transformation that is going on in Enugu State, the state capital, which used to be the capital of the former Eastern Region, may soon regain its lost glory. Many, however, do not know how Enugu came about, how it derived its name or how it rose to its present position.

The city derived its name from one of the 10 villages that make up the Ngwo community. It was at Ngwo, Enugwu village that the colonial masters first settled on their arrival in the area. Enugwu Ngwo, which atill remains a part of the Ngwo community, is, interestingly, the only village of the 10 that belongs to another local government area, namely Enugu North Local Government. The rest are with the Udi Local Government. Udi town is another colonial settlement. The hilly stretch from Okigwe in Imo State to Nsukka in Enugu State is known to be part of what is known today as Edi Hills.

The discovery of coal in Enugwu Ngwo was the beginning of the concept of the city we know today as Enugu. Enugu is the corrupt form of Enu Ugwu, which in English means hilltop. So, Enugu settlement began on a hilltop.

Somewhere on the top of Udi Hill is a cluster of dwellings, now modernised, established for the Europeans who had settled to tap coal in Enugwu Ngwo. Those building formed the first European settlements in Enugu. But the city later grew on the plains down the hill rather than on the hill station.

The hill top is a gateway to Ninth Mile Corner, then to Awka the capital of Anambra State, then to Onitsha the commercial nerve centre of the East.

The discovery of coal in Enugwu Ngwo was accidental. In 1908, a British expedition on its way from Awka to the Middle Belt, sighted

Enugu: The coal city on the hills of Udi Chris OJI, Enugu

the hill at Enugwu Ngwo and reported back to Lagos. Interest in the hill compelled the government to send a team of mining engineers to the place in 1909 to search for silver. But the team, led by Engr.

Kitson, struck coal instead.

Another team of mining engineers, led by W. J. Leck, arrived Enugwu Ngwo in 1914 to open up a coal mine. They arrived with a team of African labourers under the headship of one Alfred Inoma of Onitsha.

The Europeans settled at on top of the hill at Ngwo, now called Hilltop. At the slope to the south, they set up another settlement for African labourers. The settlement is known as Alfred Camp or Ugwu Alfred.

Both settlements have expanded. The hilltop settlement has been modernised and it extends to the place where the Enugu State Broadcasting Service has its transmitting station. The Alfred settlement, a cluster of mud house, quaint to behold, can be sighted on a walk along Murtala Mohammed Way (Kingsway Road) as one nears the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital.

With an eye to the plains of the Udi Hills, the government in 1915 constructed a road linking the hill station to the plains. Called the

Milliken Hill Road after the name of the head of roads engineer, a ride through the 4.8km road at the maximum speed of 8km per hour

‘

Enugu is blessed with enough land for continued expansion... The only natural impediment against uninterrupted expansion at the western flank is the Udi Hills.

Can the Chime administration surmount the impediment which has existed for decades?

,

is laborious.

The road is bounded in the south by continuous gigantic rocks of the hill, with a rich vegetation of wild trees and shrubs watered by glittering springs. On the opposite side is a hellish belly of the earth, the Iva Valley, as wide and as deep as the eyes can strain.

Government has planted trees in addition to nature’s growth in the whole expanse of the valley. This is to ensure that a slip from the road to the valley does not cause great harm. But indeed, riding through the Milliken Hill Road for the first time is an experience of curiousity, fear and wonder.

Construction of rail line for the evacuation of coal for export began in 1914. It was completed in 1916. The line passes through Umuahia, the capital of Abia State, and terminates in Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State.

The first coal mine was opened in 1915. Coal export started in 1916. The journey was through the rail line, from Enugu to the Port Harcourt terminus. From there, the coal was conveyed to the Port Harcourt wharf and carried by ship to Lagos for export to Britain.

Sir Frederick Luggard, the Governor-General of Nigeria, visited Enugu in 1915 and inspected the coal mine. He deplored the scattered and unplanned develop-

ment in the plains. He, therefore, issued a policy guideline for the general layout of the settlement growing up around the coal mine.

Following the policy guideline, formal acquisition of Enugu was embarked upon. The first government acquisition occurred in 1915, while the second took place in 1917. An extension was made to the acquisition in 1924.

The first planned layout on the plains now known as Enugu was the Udi Siding, which started in 1915. The same year, the district prisons at Udi was relocated to Enugu and it became the nucleus of the present Prisons Department and Training School in Enugu.

A new settlement was found for the Europeans in the plains. It was called the European Quarters, and it formed the nucleus of the present Government Reserved Area (GRA).

Those who could not gain employment from the mine started trading near the Udi Siding and the Prisons. Within a short time, a market developed there. That was how the ‘Ogbete’, Enugu main market, started.

Other settlements developed during the 1915 and 1917 acquisitions include the present day Coal Camp (Ogbete), Iva Valley, the Secretariat, Railway Quarters, Clerke Quarters, Artisan Quarters, Asata, Ogui Township and the •Continued on Page 22

19

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 2011

Saturday

Top: Billboard at the ‘University of Thought’ where they sell ‘404’ (dog meat) Bottom: Roasted plantain and chicken

THRILLER

In Akwa Ibom, good food is serious business

20

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 2011

•Saviour preparing roasted plantain and chicken

In Akwa Ibom, good F you are a visitor to Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, whether for holiday, honeymoon or other activities, the rich delicacies that abound in the state will thrill your appetite.

There is a vast list of such delicacies for a first-time visitor to the Land of Promise. They include Edikang Ikong, otherwise known as vegetable soup; Atama soup; Afang soup; Afia Efere otherwise known as white soup; melon and Editan soup. Another interesting meal in Akwa Ibom is roast plantain and chicken, popularly known as Ukon and Unen.

Also, dog meat, otherwise known as “404” and Ekpang-Nkukwo, are included in the endless delicacies in Akwa Ibom.

Any of Edikang Ikong, Atama, Afang and Editan soups can go with pounded yam, Garri or Fufu. Most consumers prefer Afia Efere, otherwise known as white soup, with pounded yam. If you are an Ijesha or Ekiti man from the South West visiting Akwa Ibom State for the first time, your budget would determine how best to enjoy Afia Efere with pounded yam.

You might not get the kind of smooth pounded yam obtainable in those parts, as the pounded yam found in restaurants is often mixed with garri because the yam used in preparing it is not seller-friendly in terms of profit. But you can still get undiluted pounded yam in some of the big restaurants in town, depending on your spending power.

At De Sure Cool Spot and Restaurant along Udo Street, Uyo, Ms. Hope Udom says Atama, Editan and melon soups attract customers

I

•Another restaurant

Kazeem IBRAHYM, Uyo

to her shop. To Udom, cooking and dishing out good meals is serious business. She explained that a plate of garri or fufu with Atama soup goes for N350.

Her words: “We cater for close to 100 customers daily because of our serene environment and our delicious meals.”

At Sparkle’s Restaurant, a plate of Garri and Afang soup costs N300.

Pounded yam and Afia Efere cost N350; garri and melon soup with goat meat or beef is N300; Garri and

Afang with fresh or dry fish costs N500, while Garri and melon with snail sells for N400.

Madam Joy, the owner of Sparkle’s Restaurant, says she receives an average of 40 customers per day.

For a visitor who wishes to stay late in town, Mama Lagos’ shop along Barracks Road, provides a platform for good meal at reduced rate.

Saviour Saviour, an Ibibio man from Nsit Ubiun Local Government Area, who has been in the business of roasting Ukon and Unen for more than five years, says with N10,000, an interested person could start the

business.

Saviour’s customers include the rich as well as low income earners.

For him, roasting Ukon and Unen was the best business option since his father died shortly after he sat for his Senior Secondary Examination. He explained that the only challenge in the job is the radiation from the fire place while preparing the delicacy on a daily basis.

Asked what he makes as profit on a daily basis, Saviour said after buying Unen (chicken) for N850, he would realise about N1,450 after •Continued on Page 21

21

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 2011

•A typical restaurant in Akwa Ibom

food is serious business

‘

Raymond Okon, a manager at the centre, says most of his customers prefer “404” to goat or cow meat. He explained that on a daily basis, the shop normally slaughters about two or three dogs. According to Okon, at the ‘University of Thought’, a plate of “404” goes for N200, while a bottle of palm wine costs N100.

•Continued from Page 20

roasting and dividing the chicken into different parts. At Saviour’s shop, one Ukon (plantain) costs about N100. He believes that waiting on government for employment is not the best practice in a society where a lot of desperate unemployed youths engage in kidnapping, armed robbery and other vices.

His words: “When the business is good, we prepare at least 15 chickens and roast 50 plantains on a daily basis. From that, I realise about N20,000. With N200, a customer could eat one plantain and the wing of a chicken to his satisfaction.”

Apart from Ukon and Unen, Akwa Ibom people also derive satisfaction from dog meat, popularly called “404”. At a popular joint called the ‘University of Thought’, along Akpan Essien Street, Uyo, “404” is a special delicacy for people of all ages.

The people enjoy the meat with palm

’

wine, bear or mineral.

Raymond Okon, a manager at the centre, says most of his customers prefer “404” to goat or cow meat. He explained that on a daily basis, the shop normally slaughters about two or three dogs. According to Okon, at the ‘University of Thought’, a plate of “404” goes for N200, while a bottle of palm wine costs N100.

He explained that during the rainy season, there is usually a rise in the price of dogs. Asked why, Okon said the reason was best known to the seller.

He said: “We sometimes buy a dog between N10,000 and N11,000 and we kill at least three per day. A plate of dog is N200 and consumers can take palm wine, beer, or mineral with it. We have been in the business for more than 10 years and it has been a wonderful experience. Although the profit is not much, we are managing.”

•‘University of Thought’, a dog meat joint

When asked the number of customers that usually visit the ‘University of Thought’ per day, Okon says the centre caters for at least 70 customers on a daily basis, stressing that his daily sales range between N20,000 and N25,000.

Take it or leave it, in Akwa Ibom, good meals are a serious business as far as the indigenes are concerned, and the people spend a lot of money on the ingredients with which they prepare the meals.

The delicious nature of the meals could have been responsible for the fabled love potion believed to abound in the land, particularly among the young women. Emeka, a serving corps member in Uyo, said his parents warned him never to allow any Akwa Ibom girl to prepare him food for fear that he could be

charmed with love potion.

Emeka, who will be passing out in a couple of months, explained that although he keeps Akwa Ibom girls as friends, he would always want to visit the state if the need arises, adding that his one-year NYSC programme had been a wonderful experience. Asked which of the Akwa Ibom delicacies he favoured most, he said it was Atama soup.

John, another serving corps member, does not believe in Kobnomi (love potion). He explained that the idea of Kobnomi arose because Akwa Ibom people are reputed for good food.

His words: “No man will want to leave a lady that can prepare good meals and still take care of other responsibilities. For me, there is nothing like Kobnomi, and I will want to stay back after my NYSC year.”

22

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 2011

•Continued fom Page 18 area of the Abakpa Military Cantonment first set up around 1933.

The 1924 acquisitions consist of the present location of Queens School, the former Women Training College and part of the Enugu Campus of the University of Nigeria.

Apparently for development purposes and in public interest, successive governments have acquired more lands on the plains at the foot of the Udi Hills, better called Ngwo Hills.

The post-independence civilian government under Dr. Michael Okpara expanded Enugu with further acquisitions for physical development. The areas acquired and developed include the present Independence Layout, Uwani North, Uwani South and Uwani Central P and T; BridgeHead Layout, Emene Industrial Layout, Housing Estate (Abakpa area) and Trans Ekulu Layout.

There are also several native layouts approved by government, most of which have been built up.

These include Ogui New Layout, New Haven, Awkunanaw, Achara Layout, Maryland, Idaw River Layout, Thinkers Corner, Owo River Layout, Republic Layout and others. Parts of the Owo River Layout and the Republic Layout were later acquired by government and renamed Independence Layout Phase II. Under the Nnamani administration, some areas, which had distorted the beauty of the city with

The city of coal on the hills of Udi

•Enugu State House of Assembly complex

bushes and dirt, were reclaimed and given tremendous uplift with state-of-the-art buildings. They are the Independence Avenue Pocket Layout, popularly called Ebeano Estate and the Golf Course Layout. Other layouts in the city include Riverside Layout, Oma

Land Layout and Federal Housing City Layout, Abakpa, among others.

There are several farm locations which have yielded to city sprawl. Those locations have been built up and occupied by families of the original farmers,

workers and traders. These areas include Ugbo Aaron, Ugbo Odogwu, Agu Owa, Mkpologwu and others.

Enugu is blessed with enough land for continued expansion. It has taken up lands belonging to four clans, namely Abor, Awkunanaw, Nike and Ngwo.

The whole Ogui in the Nike Clan has been completely swallowed by the city. The only natural impediment against uninterrupted expansion at the western flank is the Udi Hills. Can the Chime administration surmount the impediment which has existed for decades?

Widow down with cancer, needs N900,000

•Dupe now on her sick bed

•Dupe when the going was good

D

O you remember Mrs Dupe Olowoyo? For those who might not have heard about the plight of this mother of two, Mrs Olowoyo, three months ago was reported to be suffering from cervical cancer and needed N2million to undergo treatment in India. Due to her inability to raise the money, she has now been abandoned in her house at Ikotun, Lagos, hoping that one day, help will come from ‘above’.

Immediately the news broke, sympathisers and some wellmeaning Nigerians started donating money towards her treatment.

A total of N1.1million has so far been realised. She needs N900,000 more.

While thanking Nigerians for their generous contributions towards her condition, the woman is soliciting for more money to help her cure the deadly illness.

According to her medical reports, doctors told her that until the total sum of N2million is realised, her proposed trip to India for treatment will not be possible. She is therefore calling on well-meaning Nigerians to come to her aid.

“I am appealing to all Nigerians to help me. I thank them for what

they have done so far, but I still need more money,” she said.

At present, Dupe spends N50, 000 monthly on drugs to keep her alive pending when the treatment will be carried out.

Her travails started immediately after she lost her husband, Olawale, three years ago. Left with the sole responsibility of taking care of the two children of the marriage, Olowoyo’s present health condition is now hampering her from providing adequate care for them. The situation is so bad that the children have now turned into beggars on the street and have dropped out of school over a year ago.

In the previous interview she granted, Dupe had narrated what led to the death of her husband.

“We were together in bed one night

when suddenly he started coughing. We took him to the hospital and the doctor prescribed some drugs for him and the intensity of the cough reduced. But the next day, he was back in the hospital for the same reason, the cough relapsed. After two months of treatment, he lost the battle and died.

“The doctor had said it was a normal cough resulting from cold and that it would be treated. So we relied on the doctor’s prescriptions and he continued taking his drugs. On the morning he was going to die, he left for the hospital for his treatment and came back to the house for a rest. When I came back from my shop, he was asleep and I tried waking him up, despite my prompting he did not respond.

I soon realised that the light of my

life had burnt out.”

She further said: “Immediately after his death, his family members emerged and took away some of his properties, claiming that if I had told them earlier about his sickness, he wouldn’t have died.

Some of my friends advised me to fight them for taking away my husband’s properties, but I did not budge. Since then, I have been taking care of my children alone,” Dupe moans in pain.

The family can be located at 99/ 101 Abaranje Road, Ikotun, Alimosho Local Government Area, Lagos, telephone number 07041867566; 08027647056. Donations can be made to account named Mrs. Dupe Olowoyo, 2093010216913, First Bank, Allen Avenue, Ikeja, Lagos.

LOCATION

BACKSTAGE

SNAPSHOT

REEL NEWS

MUSIC

SCREEN

Edited by: VICTOR AKANDE

Tel: 08077408676

E-mail: victor_akande@yahoo.com

ntertainment

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 2011

23

The problem with Nollywood movies

—Jimmy Jean Louis, Hollywood actor

24

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 2011

STANDh BY! Wit

VICTOR AKANDE

Afro Hollywood Best Entertainment Writer 2009

E-mail: victor_akande@yahoo.com Tel: 08077408676 (SMS only)

THINK

SNAPSHOTS

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

Ini Edo debunks rift with Oge Okoye

A consolation for High Life!

I

think we worry unnecessarily, or perhaps, we don't give our worries deeper thoughts each time we raise concern over the seeming dominance of the music atmosphere by hip hop genre.

More often, we fear with so much exaggeration that High Life, Juju, Apala, Fuji and other local genres are gradually facing extinction because of the overwhelming impact of the Hip hop and Rhythm and Blues on the youth.

A careful examination of the current trend only shows that like old times, demographic factor in terms of population is always in favour of the youths. And so, it is not surprising that the major population that will go for contemporary genres would be found among the youths. As a result, every brand finds greater promotional values by identifying with this sect, except something is wrong with their market survey. The segmentation is a normal thing, except that unlike in the 70s, there is a closer gap between the youth and the young at heart such that the disparity in the type of music and excitement they both catch is not wide.

When and how did the gap between the young man and the adult become widen? Evidences abound that the austerity measure that pushed an average Nigerian youth to seek greener pasture abroad became pronounced in the early 80s.

About this time, an unconscious blend of the local and foreign talents began to be incubated, the maturity of which is found in the type of music that excites the youths today.

But perhaps beyond the migration phenomenon is the media revolution that is also pushing the local content on TV and radio to the background, especially in the 80s. At that time, the disco jump became more dominant at local parties with Jamaican reggae (save for the New Edition group), Michael Jackson's pop, and rhythm and Blues that took turns of Michael Bolton, Lionel Richie, to mention just a few.

But apart from the likes of Sir Shina Peters, Felix Liberty, Chris Okotie, Majek Fashek, Ras Kimono, Orit Wilikis and perhaps Chief Kollington Ayinla with Ijo Yoyo , who made remarkable impression among the youths, Sade Adu was about the only Nigerian act whose music could be said to contain ingredients of westernization.

Apart from the likes of Sir Shina Peters, Felix Liberty, Chris Okotie, Majek Fashek, Ras Kimono, Orit Wilikis and perhaps Chief Kollington Ayinla with Ijo Yoyo, who made remarkable impression among the youths, Sade Adu was about the only Nigerian act whose music could be said to contain ingredients of westernization But as the country's musical exploit plunged into the late 90s, there appeared to be a breathe of air that signalled a motion for independence from dominant foreign music and the trend not only hit the young man, it took even the adult by storm when the group Remedies came on board.

From that time, a gradual takeover of power has culminated in a situation whereby Nigerian music at night clubs and other forms of partying is 100 percent today. Just as we were beginning to thank God for taking our pride back, critics of the new generation type of music found a loophole in the genre of music that the Nigerian youths of today play, owing to its American Hip hop origin. The youths have even worsened the case for themselves through dress sense, haircuts, tattoos and heavy chains that an average moralist sees as an erosion of our cultural and moral values. Worse still are some unimaginable lyrics that leave the beauty of this brand of music to mere instrumentals.

But I have good news for you, and unless you lend an open mind to what is obtainable today, unless you employ a progressive rather than a conservative mind, you are still not likely to see anything good coming out of this 'Nazareth'.

Our culture appears to me like something already built in the gene of our parents such that no matter where we go, and what we do, the 'Nigerianess' and by extension, the 'Africaness' in us reflects either voluntarily or involuntarily.

In the first instance, what we discover is that the Nigerian hip hop artiste began to use the local language for his rap lyrics. The adulteration of which became

more celebrated such that today, the late Olaitan Olaonipekun, aka Dagrin, remains an icon of that brand of transformation. Before this time, choruses, slangs, codes and code switching in Yoruba language was the order of the day such that it appeared as thus, unless your song had element of the Yoruba phrase, you are not sure of having given your fans the best. To this end, even singers from the North, East and the Niger Delta areas of Nigeria have surprisingly made hit songs, with interjections of the Yoruba language. That is a consolation in that we are able to still regard and value our own.

With time, evidences of the beauty of the local language also reflected in the songs by Easter Nigerian singers like, Nigger Raw, to mention but one.

However, the most appealing is the fact that High Life has been used to sweeten the taste of rap music in a way that even teenagers in Nigeria have savoured, let alone the young adult. And I take my inferences from the songs of Flavour, an Eastern Nigerian singer with the song, Asawo, and M.I in his song African Rapper Number One, also featuring Flavour. I can bet you that these two songs are the hottest at the moment for the two singers, and this is more so for one reason: the Highlife element in their tunes and beat. You may wish to ask me who the consumers of these songs are; you are socked stiff to know that even my 10 year old son finds some addiction to the rhythm of Highlife in the music, giving justification to my claim that our culture could have been passed to us through our parents' gene.

Suffice to say that Flavour's hit song; Asawo is a remix of Osadebe's song under the same title. What about the new Osondi Owendi, by MC Loph? It is indeed one of the hit songs by late Oliver de Coque. I need not stress the fact that Paul Play Dairo also climbed on his father's hit song by doing Mosorire which became an instant hit that the youths identified with.

The question is, are the youths averse to the music of old? The question you will get going through this analysis is no! Then what could be the dividing factor, and I think this is not short of the fact that the new generation simply want to do the old things in the new way. They aren't wrong anyway, because after all, the only thing that is constant about life is change.

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

F

OLLOWING an online story of a fight between two Nollywood major players, Ini Edo and Oge Okoye, ebony skin actress Ini has come out to refute the story making the rounds on her twitter page.

In her words, the actress who was said to have acquired a multi million naira mansion recently, said, 'I wish to tell everyone that the online story about Oge Okoye and I having a fight is a load of lies. I was told”.

However, the story reported states thus “Ini Edo and Oge Okoye engaged in fisticuffs at a location in Festac Town, Lagos”.

The source claimed, “the fight started after Ini allegedly accused her erstwhile best friend, Oge of “eyeing” her husband, an allegation we learnt, did not go down well with Oge following which the girls went physical, leading to the cancellation of shoot at the Festac Town”.

Asiegbu, Monalisa shine in Australian Cinemas

F

ORMER president of Actors'Guild, Ejike Asiegbu and Glo star actress, Monalisa Chinda are the next big acts for Nigerians living in Australia following their sterling performances in Gossip Nation a new movie directed by Australianbased movie director Daniel Okoduwa.

An observer described their exploit as shining like a million stars in the face of the black community, especially Nigerians living in far away Australia who can hold their heads high and walk tall.

Reports say the movie which first premiered at Australia's biggest cinema Hoyts, in Sydney on Saturday, the 14th of May attracted the movers and shakers of the Australian community some of whom were the leaders of the opposition of the state of New South Wales parliament, John Robertson, the Nigerian Ambassador J.C Ezema and several AfroAustralian actors, musicians and a host of main stream Australian entertainment and media personalities.

The movie, Gossip Nation is set in Blacktown, a small but steadily growing African community which faced its greatest challenge Gossip, destroyed friendships, family hoods even interracial relations with other Australians as the people strived through the difficult road of multi-cultural realism. Gossip Nation takes

multiple characters each on his / her journey through the strained community of Blacktown. Each character touches another through the destructive power of Gossip.

The premiere was described as the most heterogeneous event in recent Australian history as different races from Chinese, Asians, to Africans, Whites to Aboriginal Australians to Indians and pacific islanders were all represented at the event.

According to the film director, Daniel Okoduwa, Monalisa Chinda and Ejike Asiegbu “have written their names in the Australian history as the first Nollywood actors to film in Australia”. And in the words of the Nigerian Ambassador, Mr. Ezema, “they are the true ambassadors of Nigeria”.

•Monalisa

ALL AFRICA GAMES QUALIFIERS

Oseni promises Ghana hell in Benin

Pg. 34

WHO IS GREATER?(2)

Pg. 32,33

Kanu or Okocha

Nation FREE COPY

Saturday, June 25, 2011

PAGE 29

EGUAVOEN TO DREAM TEAM

Beat Ghana silly

T

HE Dream Team has been given a tall order by their coach, Augustine Eguavoen to make sure they record a wide margin victory against the Meteors of Ghana in today's All African Games qualifier at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin.

Today's game is the first of a two-legged affair that will determine whose dream of joining the many athletes that will grace the Mozambique party will be kept alive and the former Nigerian defender, NationSport gathered has told his men to go all out for the

By Innocent Amomoh and Olusoji Olukayode

kill in today's game in order to make the return match in Ghana a mere tourists' exercise.

According to the team's media officer, Aliu Arafat, who spoke to NationSport: “(the coach) charged them (players) to go all out on Saturday, knowing that Ghana is our arch and perennial rival at any category. He also charged them to ensure that the second leg should be only a formality. So, they should

go out and score as many goals as possible.

He reminded them also that this is a one-off, the winner takes all (and) that we should also know that we need to be at the All African Games.”

Nigeria and Ghana met during the qualifiers for the last All African Games held in Algeria in 2007.

Ghana ousted the Nigerian side tutored by Samson Siasia although the Nigerians later got even with their West African rivals by knocking them out of the race for the 2008 Olympic tickets.

•Eguavoen

FIXTURES Guinea vs Senegal Senegal vs Guinea Nigeria vs Ghana Ghana vs Nigeria Cameroon vs RD Congo Kenya vs Uganda Uganda vs Kenya •Dream Team line-up

Zimbabwe vs South Africa

AHEAD OF AAG QUALIERS

Ghana confident of victory, says Ayew

Pg. 34

SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 2011

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35

NATION SPORT

NATION SPORT

AKINLOYE AT LARGE

SEBASTIAN BRODERICKS-IMASUEN

•Brodericks- Imasuen

I

T’s evergreen in my mind because it was the greatest of all my achievements in life (in) my career in football so I will always remember it.

What have you been doing since?

At a time I was taking (handling) club, when I started ageing, and the idea in this country is that the younger the better not the older the better. I had the opportunity to take Bendel Insurance as a Technical Adviser in 2006 and right now there’s a programme in the state here, Edo State Football Development Programme (of) which Shuaibu Amodu happens to be the adviser to the governor. And we have the ages 13, 16 and 20. Some of us who are veterans have been saddled with the task of trying to get the younger coaches to put them through for us to get the boys off the grounds. We have to go to the grass root, so I ‘m in charge of the Under-13, Godwin Izillien is in charge of the Under-20 and the veteran also, Alabi Aisien is in charge of the Under-16. We‘ve been on it for about two or three the past six months now, so that has kept us busy.

How are you enjoying the job?

Well, it’s my childhood assignment, I have been in football for over 60 something years and going back to it is just like a captain or a general in the army that had retired being called to take up his gun and go back to work, it’s a terrain he knows well so he‘ll be happy to help at least if for anything to keep him still strong enough, to last longer.

I just want to take you to the senior national team at the moment.

There’s a little problem so to say between Samson Siasia and Osaze Odemwingie. What will be your comment?

Football is my life and I read football everyday, I eat football so there’s no way I won’t know anything happening, it’s unfortunate, I made some comments (in the media) I think you beat a child with the left hand and bring him back with the right hand and I don’t think it’s good to use a sledge hammer to kill a fly, so I think they will come to sort themselves out, I believe that Siasia (needs) Peter Odemwingie and Odemwingie (needs) Siasia and the country needs the two of them too.

I think they will come to a compromise, I ‘m very sure of that.

You are sure there will be a solution?

I believe so. I believe there will be solution If you are to advice both parties how would you do so?

Well, I will ask Odemwingie to apologise and Siasia to be ready to accept him.

Would you say Odemwingie apologising through the media or come down physically to (Nigeria), see his coach and talk things out with

China ’85, my most memorable as coach

08050246155 atlarge84@yahoo.com

Our football and age cheats

Sebastian Brodericks-Imasuen aka Sabara became the first Nigerian and African coach to win a FIFA World Cup when he led the Eaglets of Nigeria to clinch the first ever Under-16 FIFA World Cup in China in 1985. Last weekend, OLUSOJI OLUKAYODE spoke with the former national coach at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin about the China 1985 feat and the impasse between Super Eagles coach, Samson Siasia and striker, Osaze Odemwingie. He also spoke about the Eagles’ chance of making the 2012 Nations Cup and his most memorable moment as a footballer.

Being here today many years after China how do you remember that time?

•Akpoborie

•Sebastian Brodricks-Imasuen, Chief coach of the China gang (first from left back row) and assistant coach, Christian Chukwu ( sixth from left back row) after with the entire victorious debutant Eaglets that won the Inaurgural Under 16 FIFA World Cup in 1985 after defeating Germany 2-0 in the final

him?

There’s nothing too big for anybody to do for his country, so I believe that Odemwingie, we know he’s doing very well but let it not get into his head that (anyone) is above discipline.

Without him the country will either lose or win. But I think we need to do the right things, we need to dot the I and cross the T, I think they (need) to show maturity among themselves, Odemwingie, it’s not too hard for him to apologise and I‘m quite sure Siasia will accept it.

How do you see our chances for the Nations Cup considering the situation we are in now? We are three points behind Guinea and it means we must win our next two games.

And if we win our next two games we also have to be ahead of Guinea on goal (difference)?

I think our chances are bright. We have bright chance to win and I have

“

no doubt in my mind that we are going to qualify. I think we‘ll be able to win. We cannot win all our matches to qualify, we‘ll lose some that’s what the football is all about.

NFF/NFA problem, one is recognised by the law, which is NFA the other is recognised by FIFA, which is NFF. The situation is not the best for Nigerian football, knowing that the people are like your children, as a father, what advice would you give these two bodies for the sake of Nigerian football and for their own individual image also?

It’s a very long story but I don’t want to enter politics. I know that politics is in football, it’s eating the core of the game. There are people who are there because of money, there are people who are there because they love the game, and they want it to go the way it should go. Somewhere along the line these things also will be sorted out, I

The few things I did in life, I don’t need to be the best player or the best coach in the world but I have some satisfaction. I had a good time, I enjoyed myself and I had a good name that’s important thing about life.

don’t want to go into it because that’s not my area. I ‘m not a politician and I don’t believe I will be (a) politician.

Tell me about the thing you regret most, perhaps one you regret not achieving or a match you regret losing?

Well, I don’t know. The few things I did in life, I don’t need to be the best player or the best coach in the world but I have some satisfaction. I had a good time, I enjoyed myself and I had a good name that’s important thing about life.

Tell me about your most memorable moment in football as a coach, as a player?

Well, as a coach, the memorable moment was when we won the World Cup in China against Germany, 2-0 in the final and as a player, well, when we won the Challenge (Federation) Cup (with) ECN in 1965.

Was coach (Peter) Amaechina there?

He was a coach then but he was with Stationery Stores.

Can you remember some of your colleagues then?

So many, some of them are alive. I remember Paul Hamilton, I remember Sunday Ikunwe, I remember late Okoye, I remember world 2, John Igwe, I remember the header of the ball, Peter Anieke, and I remember late (Inua) Rigogo, a host of them.

Which team did you play against

in that final?

We beat Stationery Stores in Lagos Can you remember some of their players?

Peter Fregene, I remember late (Sam) Opone, Olumodeji, I remember (Muyiwa) Osode, late (Augustine) Ofoukwu and so many of them (laughs).

TEAM LIST Lucky AGBONSEVAFE Tenworimi DUERE Nduka UGBADE Fatai ATERE Binabei NUMA Kingsley AIKHIONBORE Salisu NAKADE Sani ADAMU Jonathan AKPOBORIE Victor IGBINOBA Billa MOMOH Imama AMAPAKABOR Baudwin BAZUAYE Joseph BABATUNDE Chukwuma NWOHA Mohamed YAHAYA Hilary ADIKI Dele ABUBAKAR Coach: Sebastian BRODERICKSIMASUEN (NGA)

NIGERIA breezed into the last round of qualifiers for the U-23 Olympic soccer event early in the week.

The dream team, her representative in the competition, demolish Tanzania 3-0 to qualify on 3-1 goal aggregate. The East Africans’s coach labeled the Nigerian lads cheats, claiming that the Austin Eguavoen-led squad paraded over-aged players. For Jamhari Kihwelo, the coach to accuse Nigeria of parading over-aged players is like pot calling kettle black. At least, three of the Vijana players are beyond the age limit for the competition and having three players above 23 years of age takes effect in the Olympic Games. I am not defending the dream team and I am not making an excuse either. The problem of African football has been cheating in age group competitions since their inception. Only few countries do not cheat and they are very few. The leading countries cheat to remain in the saddle and, of course win the age group competitions while the less endowed do so to attempt to catch up with them.

Nigeria taught Africa to cheat and Europe made Nigeria to field over aged players for youth competitions. Nigerian coaches who led teams abroad for age group competitions on returning to the country complained that they played against cheats. From then, they go for FIFA- organized competitions with over aged teams.

There is the case of Austin Eguavoen, the coach of the current U-23 team. He was invited to the U-20 team when he was 24 years old. He blew the whistle because his conscience did not accept it. He left camp when the story broke and was subsequently invited to the senior team. Nowadays, the consciences of our players and their parents are seared with a hot iron. The players obtain passports which reduce their age to 20 to enable them play in FIFA U-20 competition. That of the U-17 is worse. And there is little that can be done when a player invited turns up with a passport giving twenty as his age. They obtain passports lowering their age on watching their age mates play in an age group competition claiming to be twenty. They see them move to Europe to sign for a club and become millionaires. They see those built palatial houses and drive state of the art cars. They conclude that it is good to cheat for in cheating lies prosperity.

The age group competitions have been a curse to Nigeria than a blessing though the country has won the U-17 World Cup three times. The successes have not reflected in the fortunes of the senior national team. The country has not won the U-20 Cup since 1983 when she debut in the event. It does not prove that the country is a power house in youth football though the world would like to make us believe to the contrary. Super Eagles have not gone beyond the second round at the World Cup which makes one to wonder where the retinues of stars produced by the U16 and U-20 teams are.

The age group competitions were given birth to for the sake of developing countries. The European and South American countries have the structure.

They have competitions for their youths. Their clubs have junior teams from where exceptional ones get promoted to the senior teams. The players move from U17 to U-20 and then the senior team in international football. It has worked perfectly for Spain, the current World Champions. African and Asian countries did not have the structure. It was developed for them by FIFA through the age group competitions. Except for Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria (YSFON) that organizes youth competitions around the country, there was not such organized structure in place. They have a way of flushing out cheats from their competitions. It was crude but it worked for them. They use the pubic hair to disqualify players who are over the age limit in their U-16 competitions! Teams have had to withdraw from competitions because they could not muster eleven players to play. I am not advocating that the technique should be used by Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) and Confederation of African Football (CAF) in their competitions, but both bodies must do something fast to rid the game of age cheats. They must show more seriousness in their fight to cage the over aged monster which has swallowed their age-group competitions. For FIFA not to have lifted a hand when the true age of Nigeria’s U-17 captain was disclosed during the 2009 World Cup for the U17, it shows that the world controlling body does not care about our fears for the competitions.

International passport should not be enough to ascertain the true age of a player. We would like to know how far the MRI test which FIFA toyed with during the 2009 World Cup for the U-17 has gone. It was touted as messiah.

Has it outlived its usefulness? Have they found a way of beating the test? Is impression being given that it is working?

I watched the last CAF U-20 Championship which Nigeria won. I came to the realization that most of the players that played in the matches that I watched were beyond the age limit. It is an eye assessment alright but they often say photo no dey lie.

Fielding of over age players has done a great damage to Nigerian football.

It may not be noticeable at the moment, but in the next five years the damage will be there for all to see. Where are the players that played for Nigeria in the age group competition, U16 to be precise? They are supposed to be within 26 year of age. Why are they not playing for the senior team? Why are they not attracting regular places in their clubs?

NIGERIA NEEDS OSAZE Coach Samson Siasia has decided to extend the suspension of Osaze Odemwingie from the national team until he apologises to him and the team.

Indirectly, Siasia is asking the striker to purge himself of anti-team activities be before he could return to the team. As it is, he will miss the NigeriaMadagascar match and could miss Guinea tie if he chooses to stick to its guns.

Well, Siasia has the knife and the yam. If Osaze wishes to continue playing for Nigeria let him apologise on his twitter. There is no harm in apologising for doing wrong, but Siasia is carrying the disciplinary fight too far. Nigeria need every good weapon in her disposal. The remaining two matches are a must win for the Super Eagles. We should not be seen to be bickering when all hands must be on deck to turn around the tide which is against the Super Eagles and the country.

Osaze did wrong by disobeying Siasia’s instruction that the players should remain in camp for the friendly against Kenya. It is still my opinion that there are other ways of penalising an indiscipline act. I still stick to that. If Nigeria fail to qualify for the Nations Cup, the blame will not be mine but Siasia’s.

Nigeria need Osaze more than Osaze needs the Super Eagles.

“

THE NATION SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 2011

31

NATION SPORT

Tips for a Profitable Premier League in Nigeria T

HERE is so much incompetence in the administration of the league in Nigeria and those involved seem to prefer to function in denial. It is not possible that the league will get anywhere near the European benchmarks in terms of quality, attraction, packaging and followership if we continue running the clubs in the unprofessional manner that obtains presently.

I am happy with the development at Heartland FC as recently revealed by the General Manager, Chief Fan Ndubuoke in widely circulated interviews in some newspapers last weekend. At Heartland, there appears to be a conscious effort to foist a semblance of professionalism in the running of the club. It is not coming as a surprise because Ndubuoke cannot afford to fail having reached the pinnacle of Sports Journalism and serving on the board of the Nigeria Football Association (NFA). Today, the Owerri out-fit has made history as the first to own a club house with offices. That has given a corporate face to the activities of the club as against the prevailing trend of dingy store-rooms that serve other clubs as offices.

But it is not sufficient to have a fitted office as offices alone cannot run clubs. Departments need to be created with qualified personnel recruited to handle the affairs of various arms of the club business.

Today, most of the clubs prefer to focus on match day activities and how to win matches than planning and implementing revenue yielding activities.

Oyuki Obaseki, the former Chairman of NPL elevated the operations of the league secretariat by securing a befitting office complex.

However, the staffing of the

By Harry Iwuala

secretariat left a yawning gap in the administration of the league as no deliberate effort was made to attract high-flying professionals to run the various departments such as Marketing, Public Relations and Finance. It may not go down well with the officers in place today but the truth is that thorough bred professionals would have had the clout to dissuade Obaseki from embarking on some of the projects and disbursement of funds as the board did. It was equally strange that a rapidly growing body like the NPL had only the Head of Marketing as the only personnel with a background in Marketing Communications but little experience in product development.

It therefore follows that the NPL had no moral authority to regulate the administration of the clubs having not set good example. Some have even argued that the NPL could not have offered what it never had citing the make-up of the NPL Board as grossly lacking in the intellectual capacity to effect the kind of administration being advocated. Truth was that the board members were more interested in serving as match assessors and collecting the allowance that went with such role than evolving policies that will deepen the value of the league.

Turning to the clubs, the time is ripe for the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to have a round table with the clubs and the NPL to review the operations of the league. On the agenda must be the designing of a template for the club structure. Beyond setting out the minimum departmental structures, the

•Sunday Mba of Wolves FC against Fasheun Fayoshe of Crown FC

clubs must enforce the recruitment of qualified personnel, if possible through recruitment agencies to ensure that only the best gets the job.

The engine room of football business today is the marketing work force but interestingly, this is not the case in Nigeria as no club has ever hired a trained professional to take charge of marketing drive.

Marketing here does not start and end with securing sponsors as most people perceive it. Marketing will supervise ticketing, secure barter arrangements with local organizations for promo activations and also explore other below the line activities to shore up the club revenue base. Most clubs will easily claim they have in times past engaged professional marketing consultants to manage their business, it however should be noted that such outside consultants can only perform well if they have a say in the general policy direction of the club business.

Most successful corporate businesses have functional marketing departments that liaise with external agencies in designing products and services as well as in the communication of those offerings. This recognizes the fact that agencies are organizations that micro-focus on aspects of the business they specialized in.

Value-adding activities also come by way of the functions of the Media/ Public Relations department which ensure amongst other things that only positive information about the club and its business gets to the public. Public relations unfortunately, have most of the club Media Officers been limited to the issuance of press releases and occasional outings on radio. This constitutes just an aspect of football PR. How about organizing pre-match and post-match briefings? The dearth of useful and positive information on players reflects poorly on the match commentaries broadcast every

weekend on satellite television.

This in itself has added in small measure to the aversion (contrived and real) most Nigerians have for the domestic league. It is very important that the commentators should up their game as such poor commentary that offers no insight into the personae of the players, coaches and even referees is ebbing away the little equity attached to the league. It also unbelievable that in this cyber age, most of the clubs do not have a website and those that have set up websites hardly update their pages.

More disheartening is the quality of information on those existing sites. Beyond results, we should be having players’ interviews, coaches’ analysis of their team and individual players, milestones such as players’ birthday, child birth, marriage, acquisition of cars etc. Even the hair-do should be uploaded with the bio-data of all players. With such loads of information sent to the media, the newspapers will no longer clog their pages with internet downloaded stories as is the case today.

Someone needs to let the clubs know that the Public Relations portfolio goes beyond press releases and press interviews.

It includes planning community based activities for the players, mobilizing the local populace to support the club and also wooing fans in Diaspora. Imagine how support for Rangers will be rekindled if on a given day, the players undertake to clean up a dirty spot in Abakpa Nike or Asata, visit a hospital and present gifts etc?

Until club officials come to accord due respect to the Marketing and Public Affairs departments, our clubs will remain the glorified amateur contraptions that they represent. No amount of sponsorship money will change the impish nature of the league and neither does the solution lie in chanting football mantras.

Congratulations Amiesimaka, Kudos to Governor Amaechi Honours came in droves for one of Nigeria’s finest football star, Adokie Amiesimaka (MON) in the last two weeks. First, he was inaugurated as the Chairman of the Sports Arbitration Panel by the President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) in Lagos. In this position, he will not only bring to bear, his wealth of erudite knowledge at the bar but will also compliment it with his hands-on experience as sports administrator.

On the heels of that appointment was the naming of the brand new National Sports Festival Stadium after this illustrious son of Rivers State, hosts to the 2011 National Sports Festival. What a befitting honour conferred on a living Nigerian who is not a politician. I do not know of any other sportsman or woman that has enjoyed such a reverence in his or her lifetime. It is also noteworthy here to commend Governor Rotimi Amaechi.

Amechi has shown that not all our politicians are what we think they are. He is a special breed not just because of this singular act but even by his pronouncements on affairs of governance. Amaechi’s gesture is adequate motivation for Nigerians in all walks of life to give their best in service of the country knowing that a just reward via recognition awaits them. This gesture will also reduce the emphasis on expectations of monetary reward (which is good anyway) by our sportsmen and women knowing that lifetime recognition could be theirs.

What more can a Nigerian ask for?

Harry Iwuala is a renowned Journalist based in Lagos, Nigeria

VOICE OF SPORTS

With Clement Nwankpa Jnr. sportswar@yahoo.com

If I was Joel’s manager ONE of the biggest gains of Samson Siasia’s reign as Super Eagles chief coach is the bursting unto the scene of a mercurial Joel Obi. At last, it seems we have a solution to the problematic playmaking position vacated by Austin Okocha. I must hail Siasia for not deeming the boy too small to earn a starting shirt in the national team. We owe Joel’s flourish on the international scene to a Siasia who doesn’t believe size and age has anything to do with football artistry. Come to think of it, the boy even saw more action in Inter’s colours during the reign of Shuaibu Amodu. Yet despite an apparent lack of creativity in the middle of the pack, Amodu never deemed him worthy of a national team invitation. That’s by the way. What counts now is that the boy is a regular in the national team.

He is an awesome talent and in his innocent-looking face, I see the future of Nigerian football. But we need to protect this future.

It is not enough for him to be a mainstay in Siasia’s team. He also needs regular action at club level. Not just any club, Joel has the talent to play for the big clubs in Europe. I have nicknamed him African Wilshere and fittingly so. But there is need for him to play more regularly in a big club like Arsenal’s Jack Wilshere. The English national team is currently benefitting from Wlshere’s progress at Arsenal.

The onus to take Joel to the pinnacle of footballing success lies on his manager. His manager should not just be seen on the days the boy signs the dotted lines. It behoves on him to manage the boy’s career. The kid needs some guidance, some form of superior counseling that should act as fillips to his career. Now that he doesn’t feature regularly at Inter, he should take advantage of the national team to earn more respect at San Siro. He should take a cue from Dede Ayew.

Two seasons back, Dede was not deemed ripe enough for Marseille in the Championat so he was loaned to Troyes in the lower division. During this period, he fell back on his relevance in the Ghanaian national teams. He captained the U-20s to win the AYC and WYC in 2009 before putting up a sterling performance at the World Cup in 2010. At the Mundial, he started all Black Stars matches and was nominated for the Young Player of the Tournament award. He had done enough to earn more respect at Marseille so when the big clubs swarmed around him last summer, Marseille had a message, ‘Dede was not for sale’. He returned from his loan spell at Troyes to become a regular at Marseille in the 2010/2011 season.

He grabbed the opportunity and after a great season in the Championat, he is one of the most sought-after young talents across the globe and AC Milan is particularly on his case. Dede’s involvement with the U-20s was key to his current club success.

Captaining the Satellites to become the first African team to win the WYC boosted his rating and ensured he was preferred to the likes of Sulley Muntari in the Stars starting 11 at the Mundial.

I will also cite some instance from the on-going UEFA U-21 Championships in Denmark. The Spanish team parades a certain Thiago Alcantara, son of Brazil’s 1994 World Cup winning midfielder, Mazinho. Thiago has just been promoted to the Barcelona main team where he will be in direct competition with Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta for places in Barca midfield.

His problems will be compounded if Cesc Fabregas comes to Nou Camp this summer. But after some eye-catching displays in Denmark, many top clubs in Europe are on his trail. Real Madrid has just joined the likes of Arsenal in inquiring about the boy’s availability. If Barca don’t sell him, he will surely earn more respect from Pep Guardiola.

In the same Spanish squad, there is a World Cup winner in Valencia’s Juan Mata. Mata should feel too big for that tournament but he is there titillating all with his sweet left foot. Talking about sweet left feet, does it come any better than that of Switzerland’s Shaqiri? The Basel wonderkid is already established in the Swiss senior team but has lit up Denmark in his number 10 jersey. I doubt if Basel can keep hold of him this summer.

So if I was Joel’s manager, I would have advised him to feature at the WYC in Colombia with the Flying Eagles. Having won the AYC earlier this year, that team is one of the favourites for the WYC. The team is brimming with talents even as the likes of Kenneth Omeruoh and Sani Emmanuel are set to boost its fire power.

Joel will only complement an already star-studded team. I’m very sure he will excel joining the duo of Ramon Azeez and Abduljelil Ajagun in a midfield triangle. While this tournament lasts, the attention of the whole world will be in Colombia. If Joel catches the eye in Colombia, other big clubs will come after him.

He will subsequently earn more respect at Inter.

I even learnt they want to send him out on loan to Serie B side, Torino. That makes his case similar to Dede’s. He should just toe the line of Dede and give his club career the desired lift falling back on the green and white colours. If I was his manager, I would advise him to take a cue from Ahmed Musa and feature not just for the U-20s, but the U-23s. If I may ask, what would he be doing while his fellow U-20s showcase their stuff in Colombia? Warming some bench at San Siro, of course. Frankly, turning down U-20 Coach John Obuh’s overtures is not the best for his career at this moment.

SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 2011

32

NATION SPORT

33

NATION SPORT

COACHES’ PERSPECTIVE

PERSONAL INFORMATION

PERSONAL INFORMATION Full name: Date of birth: Place of birth: Height: Playing position:

WHO IS GREATER ?(2)

Nwankwo Nwosu Kanu 1 August 1976 (1976-08-01) (age 34) Owerri, Nigeria 1.97 m (6 ft 5 1/2 in) Second striker

Kanu or Okocha

CLUB INFORMATION Current club: Portsmouth Number: 27 SENIOR CAREER Years 1991–1992 1992–1993 1993–1996 1996–1999 1999–2004 2004–2006 2006–

Team Fed Works Iwuanyanwu Ajax Inter Arsenal West Brom Portsmouth

Apps 35 25 54 11 119 53 131

NATIONAL TEAM 1993 Nigeria U-17 6 1996 Nigeria U-23 6 1994–2010 Nigeria 86

(Gls) (20) (15) (25) (1) (30) (7) (19)

A

UGUSTINE Okocha and Nwankwo Kanu rank among Africa’s all-time best footballers. Both men no doubt are two of the greatest players to ever grace the football fields in Nigeria’s colours. Last week, some Nigerian football fans were asked their opinion of who they think is the greater between these two superstars. However, TUNDE LIADI and OLUSOJI OLUKAYODE put the same question to a number of top Nigerian football coaches and former internationals and their answer was…

(5) (3) (13)

•ADEGBOYE ONIGBINDE FIFA and CAF instructor and Super Eagles coach to 2002 World Cup

Honours African Cup of Nations : 1994 (Nigeria) Barclays Premier League : 2002, 2004 (Arsenal) Community Shield : 1999, 2000, 2003 (Arsenal) Eredivisie : 1994, 1995, 1996 (Ajax) European Super Cup : 1996 (Ajax) FA Cup : 2002, 2003 (Arsenal), 2008 (Portsmouth) FIFA Club World Cup : 1996 (Ajax) UEFA Champions League : 1995 (Ajax) UEFA Europa League : 1998 (Internazionale)

SEBASTIAN BRODRICKS, 1985 FIFA Under-17 World Cup winning coach Well because Kanu has played much longer in football in the country I think he has the (edge), I think so. They are two great players and you don’t compare one with the other because they have their own different styles of play. But I think if I will say the greater; I think I will say Kanu.

ALABI AISIEN, Former Bendel Insurance coach The exploits of both are well defined.

I want to refer you to their exploits: those who won more laurels in their respective clubs, those who played higher quality matches, those who were in the World Cup, and those who won at club level, the European Championship. I have looked into them and I just found out that Kanu has an edge. It is not to say that Okocha is inferior but I’m only saying that by the standard so set, the man who has an edge is still Kanu.

BALDWIN BAZUAYE, 1985 FIFA Under-17 World Cup winner There are different categories of players and position they play so when you try to compare between Okocha and Kanu, two of them are great. And being great is in different categories too. Kanu is exceptional in the sense that he makes things happen. When the team needs something to happen, suddenly he‘ll just come out and do the right thing. Okocha is a genius because he’s somebody that when he’s with the ball he does everything with the ball, even though you don’t want to laugh or clap you will clap. So I think from my own opinion Jay-jay is the greater because he entertains and he makes the team to win, the same thing with Kanu

Full name: Date of birth: Place of birth: Height: Playing position:

ADOKIYE AMIESIEMAKA, 1980 African Cup of Nations winner My number one reaction is to say I do not think it is a healthy debate.

Now, each of them contributed to the best of his ability I believe to the service of this country and I want us to acknowledge that. (If) in terms of who played more exciting football, I will say that itself depends on who you ask.

You are asking me now, I can tell you that Nwankwo Kanu in his own way was as exciting as Okocha. Each of them has his own style. Kanu has a unique style, Okocha has a unique style, in their respective ways they excited us all. I want to leave it at that.

I will just want to add though that Pele, the great Pele listed Okocha among the greatest 100 football players ever.

Kanu on his own part is probably the most decorated football player from Africa. There’s hardly any trophy he has not won in the game probably apart from the World Cup (and Nations Cup) itself so that kind of comparison will not be a healthy one. We acknowledge the role played by the each of them and we congratulate them heartily for what they tried to do for the country and leave it at that.

FATAI AMOO, Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) and former Super Eagles Assistant coach I will rather say both of them are good in their own ways. If you look at achievement, Kanu is ahead but when you look at the skills of the two then you can compare. They both have different styles and are both talented.

It depends on who you are and it also depends on human differences but I am not going to go into which is the better but the information I (have) just given will guide to give a fitting assessment.

BETWEEN Jay-Jay and Kanu who is greater?

Well, really I don’t indulge in such exercise because no player can be 100 percent good, where one is weak the other one may be strong and it’s like in modern times you don’t judge work of art because while you are looking at the colour combination I may be looking at proportional representation, so basically I have always not believed in it You don’t want to give us your own assessment?

Don’t say I don’t want to; I have given you my mind on it. It’s not a situation of not wanting to, I ‘m telling you the truth.

What’s your assessment of the two of them if you were to access them?

In what respect? You are asking the same question in a different way and I‘ll continue to give you the same answer Okay sir When you are talking about speed, one player may be very good, very fast with the ball, the other one may be very crafty (in the way he uses the ball), another one may be strong, he may not be fast, so everybody has his own qualities.

Okay sir I will want to leave it at that?

Pardon?

I will want to leave it at that That is the truth; if you ask me one million times I will give you that answer.

I would have loved if you will feel free to give us your assessment?

You think somebody is holding my hands as I‘m talking to you?

May be you don’t want to cause any controversy by going into such analysis?

Ah, well maybe you know more football than I know?

No, no sir Listen, when you talk about the fitness of a player you are talking about six, seven different aspects. A player is skillful (but) may psychologically not be sound for game. A player who is very good in techniques may not be good when it comes to physiological fitness. I‘m trying to analyze football for you and you are saying somebody was holding my hand, I was not feeling free.

No sir I don’t do it, that is what I‘ve told you, I don’t do it. To me every player is good depending on what the coach asks him to do.

Okay Let me give you an example, in 2002 when Okocha had to play under me for the World Cup I knew what I told him. There’s no doubt that he’s an artist (with the ball) but when it comes to positive football, I said he has to change his attitude and he did and that was what

brought him to Bolton and when Kanu too was in my group. But that is what I‘m talking about, when it comes to mesmerizing and all the rest of it. When it comes to strength, can you compare the two of them?

But you cannot say because one has not got enough strength he’s a bad player or that the other one is better?

Because where he is weak the other one is better and vice versa. What I‘m saying is that it is not right. You know I‘m supposed to vote for the best player in Africa, I rarely do it both for FIFA and for CAF. Okay sir when was the last time you did?

I can’t remember So it’s been long?

That’s what I‘m telling you. I don’t ever believe in it. When I have a group of players, I have respect for all of them because I know that what one can do, the other one may not be able to do it. That’s what I‘m saying, so it will be wrong. It’s like you have two children. And you give them different assignments, the one who is good at making ridges on the farm may not be good as the one plucking cocoa pod but you don’t say because he cannot make ridges he is a bad child. The other one who can make ridges may not be able to handle cocoa pod very well, so it doesn’t go like that. And it’s not a question (of being afraid), who would I be afraid of (between) the two of them? So what could be holding me down?

I understand you now?

Ehen, look at you are a media man.

Media men are good at writing feature articles but when it comes to reporting it’s a problem. Another man may be very good at analyzing news, he may not be good at feature writing, and do you condemn him and say he is useless that he is not good?

No Everybody has his own way, has his specialty, and that is how God has created all of us. I‘m giving you my candid opinion and that is what I believe it should be.

But for the two of them just on a final note sir, what memory do you have of the two of them?

The two of them are good players, they are disciplined players, we are not talking about technical matters, we are talking about general behavior, and the two of them are gentlemen. They are disciplined, they are dedicated, and they are dedicated to the game.

You have worked with many players, great players as I would say, how do you feel that you had the opportunity to have worked with them (Okocha and Kanu)?

I felt great about it but you remember I told you earlier on, I respect all players in my camp. You see, football is a team game. When you select a player as the best player in a match, could he have done it alone without the support of the other players?

No That’s what I‘m saying and let me remind you of something now, Rashidi Yekini probably would

•Adegboye Onigbinde

have played for a longer time but because people were singing his praises, there was a suspicion that his team mates decided not to give him good balls anymore, does that illustrate what I‘m saying?

I understand sir Then he becomes an ordinary player or even a useless player. And in assessing players, if you have a technical background, a player who does not touch the ball at all throughout the 90 minutes may become the best player in the team because he keeps carrying opponents away from vital positions and he’s creating space for his team mates and his team mates will be scoring. If you want me to illustrate further, in 1984, I was with Shooting Stars we were playing against Tonne Calala in Ibadan. On the morning of that match, Segun Odegbami was asking me who was going to play in his position, his two knees were bad. And when I told him he was going to play, he was asking me if I wanted to kill him Laughter I told him no, if you can’t touch the ball throughout the 90 minutes please don’t touch it but I want you to keep running across the opponents goal mouth because I knew the opponents will come for him and that was what he did. We scored four goals in that game.

Within 15 minutes of the kickoff the supporters were almost stoning me (that) ‘can’t you see, Odegbami is running around like a crazy man, is that football? Won’t you remove him? But he was doing what (I told him to do). At the end of the match, the television man was asking him, ‘Segun, why did you play the way you played?’ You know his answer?

He said ‘I did what coach asked me to do and we won,’ full stop.

Ordinary people looking at him wrote him off that he was not good in that game but he was the man who was doing the job for me. Now, if you have a panel of assessors to select the best player in that match they wouldn’t have picked Odegbami.

Yes Aah, but he was the man doing the havoc against the opponents. So football is not the way people look at it. When people go into this kind of exercise I just laugh.

Aah, (laughter) Have you ever found a player collecting the ball from his goalkeeper in his goal area and race up to go and score a goal without the support of other players. I would rather want to assess players from their attitude. All the areas of fitness I quote are important.

Would I say that we have assessed them in terms of their attitude?

I told you that the two of them were dedicated, committed players.

I‘ve said that, the two of them. And you will agree with me that the two of them are unassuming. Okay.

Augustine Azuka Okocha 14 August 1973 Enugu, Nigeria 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) Attacking midfielder

SENIOR CAREER Years Team Apps 1990–1992 B. Neunkirchen 35 1992–1996 Eintracht Frankfurt 90 1996–1998 Fenerbahçe 63 1998–2002 Paris Saint-Germain 84 2002–2006 Bolton Wanderers 124 2006–2007 Qatar SC 31 2007–2008 Hull City 18

(Gls) (7) (16) (30) (13) (14) (6) (0)

NATIONAL TEAM 1993–2006 Nigeria

(14)

73

HONOURS Oberliga Südwest: 1991 Saarland Cup: 1990, 1992 Fuji-Cup: 1992 Chancellor Cup: 1998 Atatürk Cup: 1998 Trophée des Champions: 1998 UEFA Intertoto Cup: 2001 Football League Cup: Runner-Up: 2004 Premier League Asia Trophy: 2005 Football League Championship play-off: 2008

KELECHI EMETEOLE, Former Heartland’s Coach and former Green Eagles player Both of them are very good players and I don’t know the reason why we should compare them. Okocha is a skillful player and an entertainer. So many things Okocha does with the ball, Kanu cannot try it but Kanu in his own sense is gifted in some ways too.

Kanu is very cunning and crafty, and achievement in life is not (a matter of how) good you are, it is something that comes from God. At times you can see somebody who works very hard, achieving little and while we have some that works so very little and achieve much. In that sense Kanu won more laurels than Okocha. He won the Best African Player of the Year for about two times but both of them won the Olympics Gold medal. I don’t think Kanu ever won the Nations Cup. Both of them have attended the World Cup. Like I told you whatever one acquired comes from God that is why I told you Kanu won more laurels and it is always the talking point after your retirement as what you won as a legend. They are both gifted in their own sphere. Talent is God’s gift but Kanu has a slight advantage because of the medals won.

OLADUNNI OYEKALE Assistant Coach, Crown FC and 1989 Under 20 World Cup Silver winner I will say both of them have different role while Jay Jay is a playmaker Kanu is a supporting striker. Both of them are not comparable. Okocha is a playmaker. Okocha does what he likes to do with the ball while Kanu is a supporting striker and he scored a lot of goals.

INTERNATIONAL HONOURS African Cup of Nations: Afro-Asian Cup of Nations: Olympic Games:

1994 1995 1996

EDET EGAN, Under-20 female national Coach to Germany 2010 World Cup and current Pelican Stars’ chief coach, Both of them are good in their different levels but if you assess them in their achievement and on the laurel they have won I think in all, Jay Jay Okocha has an upper hand by my assessment.

THOMPSON OLIHA, 1994 African Cup of Nations winner I think Jay Jay Okocha is the better. I chose him because he is a good player and crowd pleaser at any point in time

PAUL AIGBOGUN, Warri Wolves’ Technical Adviser I think Kanu is the better of the two.

I chose Kanu because success is only measured by what you have achieved and looking at Kanu what he has achieved in football will take a long time to be rivaled by a Nigerian. He is an exceptional player and a delight to watch. Okocha is also good but I will prefer Kanu Nwankwo based on the reasons I gave.

TUNDE ABDULRAHMAN Former JUTH FC coach For me Kanu is the greater of the two.

In everything one does, the track record is the most important thing and how long you stay playing for your country.

I think Kanu started playing ball before Okocha (they started almost at the same time). I will pick Okocha if it is the award for the most talented player, but in terms of achievement both national and at club level, for me, I think Kanu has an edge.

•Watch out for Part 3 on player perpective

THE NATION SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 2011

34

NATION SPORT FOUR WISE MEN AND ONE WOMAN

Ladies’ party begins in Germany

Inside The Glass House

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WITH AMINU MAIGARI

EAR readers, I have to confess that women’s football has come a very long way. In a recent research on women’s football, I stumbled on a write-up in fifa.com about the origin of the women’s game, at least internationally.

We are informed that the first official women’s international took place on 17 April, 1971, between the French national women’s team and their counterparts from The Netherlands, at the northern French town of Hazebrouck.

The French team was made up of Louise Butzig (goalkeeper), Regine Pourveux, Marie-Bernadette Thomas, Nicole Mangas, Colette Guyard, Betty Goret, MarieChristine Tschopp, Jocelyne Ratignier, Michele Monier, Jocelyne Henry, Claudine Die, Maryse Lesieur, Nadine Juillard, Marie-Claire Harant and Ghislaine Royer.

“The Federal Council of the French Football Association had officially recognized women’s football just over one year earlier, on March 29, 1970, in what was the firts major step towards recognition for women’s football following a long period of resistance by the men in charge of the game”, stated the write-up. “Indeed, just five years earlier, France Football Magazine had demonstrated a level of skepticism common to many European countries at the time when it suggested that ‘all organized attempts can only be doomed to failure...in our opinion, football is only for men”.

Four decades down the line, it is fully agreed that football is NOT only for men. Women’s football is fully entrenched after FIVE FIFA World Cup finals, several continental championships, FIVE FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup and two FIFA U-17 World Cup tournaments. When in October 1991, the inaugural FIFA Women’s World Cup took place in China, it became clear to all that women’s football had come to stay.

Four years later, the party made home in Sweden, and some scintillating football was on display, including a 22 draw between the Nigerian Falcons and the women’s team of England.

In 1999, the United States of America, in its unique way, provided what many still believe to be the birth of the women’s game. The publicity was intense, and the commercial exploitation gargantuan. Five years after staging the men’s finals, USA made the women’s game look like the REAL thing. The final was staged in Pasadena, where the men’s final held between Italy and Brazil (ended in a penalty shoot-out) and the spectator attendance was competitive. To make things more attractive, the women’s final also ended in penalties, between USA and China (the world powers then), and the picture of American Brandi Chastain flinging her top to celebrate the title-scooping penalty went round the world.

“We heard a lot of unpleasant comments back then”, recalled Louise Butzig of that pioneer French women’s team. “Where I worked, some people said I should stick to darning socks instead of going off to play football. But things then started to change slightly. I even saw a women’s game attract a crowd of 1,000 people in my hometown of Vrigne-aux-Bois, whereas the men’s club back then never drew crowds of more than 150 people”.

Women’s football has come up in leaps and bounds.

While China in 1991 provided the platform, the event in USA eight years later confirmed that it was no longer a novelty. The Rose Bowl in Pasadena was loaded to the hilt and the match was a great advertisement of the womens’ resolve to compete at similar level with the men.

It was a long time from 1971, when one of the players in the first official international between France and The Netherlands said: “I initially tagged along with my brothers when they went outside to kick a ball about on a pitch next to our house. I was their ball girl before I finally started playing. It wasn’t easy to play football if you were a girl.

We all heard the jeers, but we showed our intelligence by just getting on with it anyway. We were following our passion, and that was the most important thing”, said Ghislaine Royer-Souef, who came on as a substitute in the first official women’s international.

Things have indeed moved swiftly. Perhaps, it was just as well that the 2003 finals, earlier billed for China, had to be moved to USA as a result of some happenstance.

The USA hosted for the second time and gave women’s football the fillip it needed to be up there.

Four years ago, China took its turn again to host, and the venues, the commercial exploitation and the stage was bigger. Though, there was that all-too-forgetable attitude of our Super Falcons, who insisted on being paid a certain amount of money before playing their final group phase game against USA in Shanghai.

Back to the present, our Super Falcons have no doubt received the best preparation of any Nigerian women’s team for a FIFA tournament. Before heading to Austria for a final training camp, the team had the opportunity of highly competitive 2012 Olympics and 2011 All-Africa Games qualifying action in action. In Saalfelden, Austria, the team was comfortable, and there were enough friendly matches – which the present NFF administration always harp on.

In their first friendly, the Falcons defeated the Czech

Republic National Women’s team 1-0, before drawing with the Austrian National Women’s team. They have beaten an U-17 boys’ team twice and then drew 2-2 with the Slovakian National Women’s team.

The girls are presently at the NH Hotel Heidelberg for the 6th FIFA Women’s World Cup starting on Sunday.

To further emphasize that women’s football has come into its own in the past 20 years, the venue for the Super Falcons’ first match of the campaign is the massive Rhein Neckar Arena in Sinsheim, which was opened in January 2009 after 22 months of construction. The stadium can seat 25,475 people, and will host three (3) group phase matches as well as the tournament’s Third Place Match.

It was the venue for the famous Germany-Netherlands friendly in July, 2009, which the Germans won comprehensively, 6-0.

The Final match of the 6th FIFA Women’s World Cup will come up at the FIFA Women’s World Cup Stadium in Frankfurt on 17th July. The venue was the site of the famous Waldstadion, and can seat 48,817 spectators and hosted five (5) matches during the 2006 FIFA World Cup finals. It has also hosted matches in the UEFA Euro Championship (1988) and was venue for some important matches during the 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup. When Germany played Brazil in a women’s international on April 22, 2009, there were 45,000 spectators inside the Frankfurt Stadium.

All the above goes to show that women’s football is no longer recreation, or novelty. And when our girls turn out on Sunday against the French, it would be no picnic.

And our big concern at the Nigeria Football Federation is for the team to do well and bring glory to Nigeria.

That is why we have invested in a four-week training camp for the team in a neighbouring country and ensured a lot of friendly matches were arranged for the team.

I am already in Germany, and I am with our Super Falcons, to motivate the team ahead of tomorrow’s opener against France, and present to them the message of Mr. President. They are inspired for a better performance at this competition that the marker of a quarter final berth achieved at the 1999 finals in USA. On Thursday, we group against the hosts and favourites, Germany at the Frankfurt World Cup Stadium, where we could also be up against 48,000 spectators hollering and hammering and gingering the Germans.

Then on Tuesday, 5th July, we round up the group phase against the Canadians, whom we played creditably in 1995 in Sweden, in Dresden.

We have strong faith that our girls will be there not just to make up the number, but to compete and bring glory to our dear nation. So help us God.

Ghana Must Go! This is surely, a term that many Nigerians are used to.

But this is being used in a different way today, as the National U-23 team, Dream Team, takes on the U-23 team of Ghana in the first leg of final qualifying fixture for the 10th All-Africa Games coming up in Maputo, Mozambique in December.

Today’s game at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City is one that we must approach with all seriousness and sense of purpose. Matches against Ghana are always steeped in the same stew of rivalry that have existed between both countries since 1951. And no match between Nigeria and Ghana is small, whether at the senior level or even at secondary school level.

I remember that decades ago, there used to be matches of the Academicals between both nations. And a few years ago, we launched an annual contest of the All-Stars between both nations. In one of those matches in Accra, I was a member of the team that stood up to the host team.

From their brilliant result against the U-23 team of Tanzania last weekend, the Dream Team have a lot of confidence going into this match. Aside the issue of rivalry between both countries, we have read several articles in the newspapers of how Ghana Football Association have gone to ferry their very best U-23 players from everywhere for this particular match.

Of course, they are out of the race for the 2012 Olympic Games Men’s Football Tournament, and have to grab this one, or so they believe. With a ticket into the eight-team final tournament for the Olympics in hand, the Dream Team will prove too hard and too motivated to be browbeat in this fixture.

Once more, we commend the Executive Governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole for the support he has been giving to the U-23 team and the support of the good people of Edo State.

NSC begs NFF to contact FIFA •Wants GlassHouse to secure entry visas for fiveman group to Zurich •Dudu Orumen, Chiwe Ugandu, Jubril Adeniji, Robert Onyeami, Musa Amadu listed •Maigari, other board members excluded

T

HE last has not been heard in the impasse that has dogged the development of football in Nigeria following the constitution of a five-man delegation comprising Barrister Godwin Dudu Orumen, Dr. Robert Onyeami, jubril Adeniji, Mrs Philomena Chinwe Uwandu and the General Secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Barrister Musa Amadu.

NationSport scooped exclusively from those who should know at the National Sports Commission (NSC) in Abuja on Wednesday night that a letter was dispatched to the NFF General Secretary on Wednesday morning requesting him to facilitate a trip to Zurich, FIFA’s headquarters at the shortest possible time.

The letter informed the NFF General Secretary that it was part of NSC’s chiefs’

By Ade Ojeikere initiative towards finding a lasting solution to the problems in Nigeria football.

The five-man delegation was said to have been constituted by the NSC Director General Dr. Patrick Ekeji has been challenged to open discussion with FIFA eggheads on the problems in Nigeria football and to seek advice on the way forward.

Conspicuously missing from the list is the name of the NFF president Aminu Maigari and other board members.

It remains to be seen if FIFA eggheads would take the government delegation’s initiative seriously, when it is common knowledge that the world soccer ruling body frowns at any form of government interference among its affiliates.

ALL AFRICA GAMES QUALIFIERS

Oseni promises Ghana hell in Benin

A

S the Dream Team V gets set for the qualification match for the All African Games (AAG) against the Black Meteors of Ghana today, forward Ganiyu Useni has assured that the West African neightbours will be humiliated.

Speaking exclusively to NationSport on Thursday, the Kieng Giang of Vietnam striker said the Dream Team must win with a wide margin so as to make the away tie a mere formality.

“We are looking forward to winning them by the grace of God. We have been working hard and prepared for this match. I always think of scoring goals, and by the grace of God I will get another against Ghana,” Oseni said.

On whether they are scared of the Ghanaians especially considering the fact that they eliminated Nigeria in the last AAG qualifiers, Oseni said there’s nothing to be scared

By Olukayode Olusoji and Innocent Amomoh about, as the Dream Team have quality players that can match the Black Meteors, strength for strength.

“I am not scared, neither are my teammates. The coach also believes in us and he told us that the Ghanaians are good is to prepare us so that we will not underrate them. We are not scared at all because we also have good players,” he declared.

Asked if he expects any upset from the Ghanaians, the former U-17 star said: “Na Nigeria ground nothing dey happen. Dem go chop am” meaning that the Black Meteors cannot escape defeat in Nigeria’s home soil.

He said he is targeting at least two goals in the match because his job is to score goals. He added that the Dream Team needs to win convincingly with at least three to four goals.

AHEAD OF AAG QUALIERS

Ghana confident of victory, says Ayew

Y

OUNGSTER Jordan Ayew expects Ghana to receive a hostile reception in Nigeria but says the Under-23 team has enough confidence to win the crucial first leg All Africa Games qualifier.

The Black Meteors are in an image redemption exercise against the Dream Team V in Benin City on 26 June after failing to advance in the 2012 London Olympic Games

eliminators.

The third son of Ghana legend Abedi Pele, who trained with the team for two days before leaving for the tie, has promised victory.

“This is a big game for us and we know what we have to do to win and qualify for the game. It going to be difficult and the fans will be there to support them, but we’ll ride above that and do the job,” Ayew said.

Olubanwo Fagbemi

On Sport Sport On SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 2011

36

NIGERIA PREMIER LEAGUE...NIGERIA PREMIER LEAGUE

‘Heartland plays good football but…’

“W

E always play very good game most times when we play, but we’ve been finding it hard to score goals and sometimes goals we score are goals that are unexpected of a team. We just pray to have luck”.

These were the words of Heartland media Officer, Cajetan Nkwopara in a chat with NationSport.

Heartland has been struggling in front of goal this season and unable to find the net in their last two Premier League games, but Cajetan believes the team plays better even in away games but luck has not been on the team’s side.

“What we are trying to see how we will confirm our place in the league. We don’t like this position and we are praying hard, you know we can’t do

TOP SCORERS 12 GOALS Ajani Ibrahim - Sunshine 10 GOALS Victor Barnabas- Enyimba Kabiru Sanusi - Kwara 9 GOALS Sibi Gwar-Tornadoes Gambo Moh’mdPillars George Akpabio- Plateau Utd Brendan Ogbu - Rangers Ehiosun Ekigho- Wolves 8 GOALS Jude Aneke- Kaduna Utd A’rahman Bashir- Bukola 7 GOALS Atanda Sakibu- Sunshine Efe YarhereWolves Akombo Ukeyima- Sunshine ChristopherDolphins 6 GOALS James Amankwei -JUTHFC Victor Michael-Dolphins Victor EzejiSharks

By Akeem Lawal without prayers. Though people will ask if others don’t pray, but I know we are doing everything humanly possible to make sure we improve and start getting results.

“Heartland is very good and has lots of fans across the country and that is one thing that keeps me going in this job.

Everywhere we go for our matches, no matter the level of hostility, we always see fans who love us even when we lose, people still swell our camp. We have very large followers in Nigeria football, people love the way we play but the results are not coming and people are not happy, we pray that the results will keep coming”.

Heartland beat BRC FC of Bauchi 1-0 at the Ape Aku Stadium, Makurdi on Wednesday to advance to the round of 16 in the Federation Cup. Julius Ubido scored from the spot in the 84th minute after the Bauchi side’s goalkeeper Ibrahim Majinyawa fouled goalbound Stanley Ohawuchi in the box.

Speaking on the match decider, Cajeta said “It was a goal bound move and without that foul, it would have been a goal.

The play showed that we dominated them as our goalkeeper was on holiday all through. We even had a penalty appeal in the first half which the

T

Nigeria Premier League table Team P Sunshine 27 Dolphins 27 Wolves 28 Pillars 28 Enyimba 27 Sharks 28 Rangers 27 Lobi Stars 27 Kaduna Utd 2 6 Kwara Utd 2 8 Bukola Babes2 8 Tornadoes 28 3SC 28 Heartland 27 Gombe Utd 2 7 Ocean Boys 2 8 Crown FC 28 Plateau Utd 2 8 Zamfara Utd 2 8 JUTH FC 27

W 17 17 14 14 14 11 13 13 12 13 10 9 10 10 10 10 8 7 7 5

D 3 3 7 5 2 11 4 4 6 3 6 9 5 4 4 4 3 6 6 7

very bad and didn’t help the free flow of the game, the grass was not cut and it was bumpy.

In fact the grasses was 6 feet tall. You know Lobi doesn’t play there and we were wondering why the NPL or NFF allow us to play in that kind of pitch. A lot of thing but we just accepted the result.

L 7 7 7 9 11 6 10 10 8 12 12 10 13 13 13 14 17 15 15 15

GF 35 33 34 34 32 29 31 23 26 30 27 25 26 24 32 28 23 26 20 18

GA 18 20 20 23 18 28 20 26 19 25 28 31 28 25 29 35 34 42 42 37

GD 17 13 14 11 14 1 11 -3 7 5 -1 -5 -2 -1 -7 -7 -11 -16 -22 -19

Pts 54 54 49 47 44 44 43 43 42 42 36 36 35 34 34 34 27 27 27 22

Unpatriotic games

B

Y ignoring or contriving to avoid invites, Nigeria players consistently miss the point of national team representation. Compare Osaze Odemwingie’s recent face-off with Super Eagles coach Samson Siasia or similar conduct by fellow striker Obafemi Martins and notable predecessors with the patriotic, passion-filled attachment of players to national teams across the continents and you are stumped in analysing the anomaly.

Players are naturally filled with chest-pumping pride in their countries’ jerseys, but not in Nigeria, at least with the more established stars. What, indeed, is there in our culture that transforms gifted players from humble patriotic individuals to arrogant personalities in record time?

Is it the well-documented pampering by officials or heroworship by fans? Perhaps the million-naira effect of dollar- or euro-denominated professional contracts on onceimpoverished players is to blame. Or maybe the knowledge of being a special breed that selection from nearly a 100 million able-bodied youths brings is responsible.

Whether one or a combination of the factors is fingered, the phenomenon remains. And it is partly accountable for the rut Nigeria finds itself in at the moment.

With talent available from a prodigious catchment area, the Super Eagles, as indeed any of the Nigeria national teams, deserve better reckoning. Yet, it is often a luxury to muster the best at any time, or have the players in the right frame of mind for international competition.

Discipline, as some of the country’s more successful youth teams often demonstrate, spurs triumph. But team discipline begins with individuals and their approach to the game.

It also raises the question of motivation. Does Mikel Obi need to meet a two-thirds percentage of national team appearances to fulfil work-permit requirements in England and maintain his professional status with Premier League club Chelsea, for instance?

Or is the desire to swiftly qualify for a work permit on the pending move to Holland that home-based prodigy’s stimulus?

But self-preservation hardly fuels consistently committed displays, or patriotic response to crucial qualifiers on Spartan pitches in remote African venues. Until players begin to chase goals or appearance records and enduring mention in the annals of international football, national duty may be nothing more than secondary function for coveted players.

And until the establishment begins to put much store by player achievements and vital statistics, few players would want to follow the green and white strip to the ends of the earth.

The shape of football to go •Okechukwu Nwadike struggles for possession of ball with T.P. Mazembe's Kasongo Ngandu

Olawale’s return boost Kwara United

HE return of Africa Beach Soccer Championship most valuable player, Isiaka Olawale has further boosted SATURDAY, 25TH, JUNE 2011 Kwara United squad as they Plateau Utd vs Rangers face Ocean Boys in one of this Bkuola Babes vs Tornadoes weekend’s Premier League Dolphins vs Crown FC match at the Samson Siasia Pillars vs JUTH FC Stadium in Bayelsa.

SUNDAY, 26TH JUNE, 2011 Olawale who captained the 3SC VS Gombe Utd Super Sand Eagles to a second Ocean Boys vs Kwara Utd place finish at the Beach Lobi Stars vs Heartland Championship returned to Zamfara Utd vs Wolves the Afonja Warriors’ camp on Sunshines vs Kaduna Utd Thursday and had morning Enyimba vs Sharks and evening training with the team before traveling to

FIXTURES

referee ignored apparently they believe we are in the Premiership and they are underdogs. We also had a goal because their goalkeeper went behind the line to catch the ball.

Though the referee blew a goal, his second assistant raise flag and over ruled the goal. Also the Apa Aku Stadium pitch was

e-mail: deewalebf@yahoo.com

By Akeem Lawal Bayelsa on Friday.

In a chat with NationSport, Olawale who scored 8 goals at the tournament expressed confident of getting a favourable result against the Brass team.

“Since we got back from Casablanca on Monday, I took some days off to rest in order to be fresh for United’s next league game. So I joined them on Thursday morning and had training with the team before we travel to Bayelsa for this weekend’s game. I hope my arrival will be to our advantage as I’m ready to do my best to make sure we get something from the match”.

The Afonja Warriors played

a 1-1 draw at home to Dolphins last weekend and presently occupies the 10th position on the league table with 42 points.

•Olawale

THE evolution of football across the world in the last few years appears to vindicate Pele’s position on football tactics and formation. The legendary Brazil maestro thought all sytems basically adopted variations of the Four-Four-Two system which allow two strikers ahead of a four-man midfield in turn in front of the four-man defence with the goalkeeper behind.

Indeed, whether 4-2-4, 4-2-3-1, 4-3-3, 4-5-1, 3-5-2, or 3-5-1-1, every team tends to throw more men forward in assault and more backwards in recovery. It is, essentially, 4-2-4 in attack and 4-4-2 or 4-5-1 in defence as football buffs would note.

Recently, teams, particularly from Spain and the Netherlands, have found ways to cope with the physical demands of modern football while playing a fluid passing game. They are thus able to match the Samba-playing Brazlians and robust Argentines while retaining the physical aspect of the European game.

It is really no surprise that clubs from Spain dominate. Witness the masterclass demolition of English champions Manchester United by Barcelona in last month’s UEFA Champions League final held at England’s mercurial Wembley stadium for effect.

The 3-1 result flattered the English and underscored a fact discounted for too long. Modern football needs players comfortable with the ball enough to turn in tight spaces and exchange mostly one-touch passes in midfield with goal-mouth progression always the objective.

By starving opposition of the ball for long periods, Barca, for example, managed to psychologically wear down opponents throughout last season, culminating in the Wembley showpiece.

Such great football is, of course, dependent on effective academy programmes that instill required smooth-playing qualities in youngsters and invite foreign players signed on to emulate.

The hard-tackling, long-ball and high-crossing model favoured by the English and the tactical, defensive version touted by the Italians are clearly outdated. As the Spanish – and the Dutch to a meaningful extent – consistently show, elite modern teams parade players able to interchange quick passes and alternate gradual build-up, quick play, and rapid counterattacks.

The players must be able to press high up the field, utilise space and attempt goals with less interplay of passes. They must also know when to switch play from one side of the field to the other so as to create width and stretch the opposing defence to exploit weaknesses.

But by far the most important means of penetration is having players skillfully bring low balls from the wings to the penalty area. The chances of finding well-placed team mates at the edge increase when the ball is not flying through the air and allowing tall defenders to nod away from danger with elbows flying.

These and more are elements of play successful sides from Spain deploy to devastating effect. The rest of the world would do well to take immediate note, or risk playing catch-up for some time to come.

40

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 2011

Asma Nana Kusherki is a fashion designer but of a different breed. The graduate of Advertising and Visual Communications from Dubai American University, who hails from Niger State, specialises in designing Abayas also known as Kaftan but with a classic touch that makes it look sexy, elegant and trendy.

The second daughter of the late Justice Usman Kusherki, in this interview with KEHINDE FALODE, speaks about her sense of fashion and the qualities she desires in her dream man.

Excerpts:

‘My dream man must be smart, intelligent’

W

HAT informed your decision to toe this line of design?I lived in Dubai for six years and I normally go back and forth to Nigeria because my family is in Nigeria. I wanted to do something different for myself. So I made some and came back home with them and people will actually ask me to remove it off my body to buy it. I saw the reception I got wearing my Abaya design and how people were fascinated by my stuffs. Close friends began to tell me that I needed to look into this and all this inspired me. I started five years ago but officially, I registered my company, Kana N Designs, this year and starting all over to put it that way.

How challenging has it been?

It’s very challenging. I don’t have a store and a place where people could go and purchase it. So I have to do a lot of travelling, a lot of going around. In my car back at home, I have a lot of suitcases in my trunk because you can never know who might call you and where you might end up. Since I started, I have not really had time for myself but then again, I am not complaining since that is what I have been praying for. Part of the challenge is that I don’t get to sleep properly. Sometimes, I get home past 12 at midnight because people are asking to see me and when you go, you do fittings and help out. At present, I don’t have an assistant working for me yet because I want to get a brand out there. I want to make it work. I try to be as modest and humble as possible. Once, I’m true with this stage which I consider the most difficult one but I still enjoy it though because I’m a very restless person naturally, I’ll get to the next phase.

How would you describe the Nigerian fashion industry?

Oh my God! That is one the fastest growing industries in Nigeria. By the way, every nook and cranny in the cities, you see a tailor with her machine getting all the work done. It is amazing how everything grew over night. There was always top designers in Nigeria way back

•Nana

in the 80s and 70s, but now the market has grown very big to cater for different fashion houses to cater for different needs.

It’s a big and quick growing industry.

Who are your role models?

My mother is definitely my role model.

In terms of fashion, my father is, though he is not a fashionista like a fashion

designer but he is one of those men that would wear anything and look good. May be I got that from him as well. If I wear a Yoruba attire, I look very nice and elegant.

Likewise, if I wear my jeans or t-shirt or short dress or my Hausa attire, I look great in it. I don’t even try so hard to look good.

Once I know this is what I feel like wearing

today, it is what I’m going to wear and then I just complement it. So, it’s always how you accessorise what you have on.

Tell us more about you?

I have Fulani blood but I’m more Hausa than Fulani. My collection is called K Nan Design. I make the long flowing Arabian wear, naturally worn by Arabian women but mine is coloured, the reason being that

‘

41

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 2011

Have you always wanted to be a designer?

No, even though I loved to dress up and look good. I didn’t go to school for it but I had an idea. It’s just something I have been passionate since I was a kid. I’ve always wanted to be that kid that loves to match my stuffs. As a kid, I loved to wear my watches. I was busy collecting my watches and drawing my Barbie dolls. I would sew stuffs for them. I never went to a sewing school. May be my educational background would help out. I got a degree in Advertising and Visual communication at an American university in Dubai. They helped me develop the creativity when it comes to colours and textures.

Concerning standing out in the midst of other designers, that is not a threat to me.

Personally, I have more than 20 designers who are my friends and when I mean 20 I mean top designers. Nothing they do is the same as mine. Nothing I do is the same as theirs. We might have one or two similarities because when it comes to fashion, there is always something similar.

It’s just like banking but what makes it different for me is the fact that it’s away from home. It’s away from what people expect. I want to have an empire. That is what I want. I just don’t want to own a store where it is one person and a fitting room.

No! What I mean by an empire is that I

I have always been attracted to friendly, honest and a strong man.

Someone who knows my worth as a woman, who appreciates me and would tell me when I am wrong or give me credit when I am right.

He has to be ‘very’ smart and intelligent

’

I just want to bedifferent. People have always worn black but they are boring. It is not something you would always want to wear on occasions like a red carpet event. So I will like to bring something different, which is what distinguishes me from what other Abaya designers are doing. I use Swarovski crystals as well as embroidery or sequence to embellish it.

About my family I come from a family of nine children and I am the second; I have five brothers and three sisters. My dad had two wives. My father passed on in 2004. He was the late Justice Usman Kusherki from Kusherki, Niger State. My mum was in politics before, precisely in the House of Representatives. She got back to her normal day to day businesses. She works in the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) in Abuja. In her village, she is a kingmaker and loves to help people.

Is there any of your siblings into fashion design like you?

No. I grew up in a house where there is nothing like casual dressing. I don’t think a word like that exists in my house. We’re just inclined to be fashionable people. Everybody loves to look good, both traditionally and even in western outfits.

Are u married?

No, I am not married but hoping to someday and have kids too.

Then what kind of man do you hope to have?

Wow! You really want to put me on the spot now. hhmmm... that is a very vast question, but I’ll narrow it a bit. I have always been attracted to friendly, honest and a strong man. Someone who knows my worth as a woman, who appreciates me and would tell me when I am wrong or give me credit when I am right. He has to be ‘very’ smart and intelligent too. He should be somebody who totally understands and trusts me, someone who is always there even when the world is not. In a nut shell, someone I will respect and look up to.

Someone who sticks to his words, God fearing, someone who is not afraid to let me be me because he trusts himself and has a lot of confidence. To be honest, I feel guys that are close to their mothers to some extent are definitely the right ones to have, that will make him have very good relationship with me as his woman. Well, that is how I see it but everyone is entitled to their opinions.

When are you planning to marry?

What ever time God chooses for me.

•Nana

want to have my office, workers, showroom, and factory under one roof. I want to have a proper structure.

How has the market been?The patronage is amazing. People have bought a lot. The first week I came to Nigeria with my collections, I was so happy to see that more than 80 percent of my collections was bought. My designs are made from abroad and not in Nigeria. I hope to some day but I’m being advised professionally not to bring my tailors to Nigeria. My tailors are not Nigerians. I am very confident. I try to be different and keep it very exclusive.

How have your designs been since?

So far so good, it’s very interesting how people have accepted my design. It’s not just folks from the North or Muslims alone that have accepted it, even women from other parts of the country. I have clients from all over the world, Alhamdulilah! I’m happy to see everybody accept my collections. It’s not just about covering or whatever.

Some people choose not to cover, some people wear them but they let their hair open. So I give it to you, I show how you do it but it is up to you at the end of the day to add your own one or two styles to it.

What is unique about your designs?

The fact that they are coloured and trendy. My designs are very sexy as well. It’s not the usual frumpy looking Abayas. They are quite fitted to your body and even if they are not fitted, there is just something different about it. May be the way it complements your body and the way it accentuates everything. So the uniqueness in my designs is that they are sexy, trendy and elegant. Abayas are kaftans and they are long, flowy gowns worn by women in some parts of the Middle East, particularly Saudi Arabia and the Gulf, which usually comes in black. But my collections, Kana N, is basically trendy, exquisite and are coloured fabrics of all sorts from around the world instead of just black. They are embellished with swarovski crystals, embroidery as well as sequence. At Kana N, we target females from the age of three to 100 because of the comfort and style. It is also worn by all religions depending on how you like to dress it up. Some wear the sheila (scarves), and some without it.

Since your designs are suited for a particular tribe, how have you been able to get the market all around?

I am happy that you are asking me this question. Like I said, my designs are not just for the Northerners or for the Arabs or Muslims.

It’s for everybody. You will be surprised that most of my clienteles in Nigeria, from the survey carried out, showed that 60 percent of my clients are not even Muslims. You know what I mean? You just want something different always. It doesn’t matter how it is. It is how you wear it and how you complement it.

Which occasions are they for?

There are different types and different styles. I have Abayas for lunch wears that are just comfortable on you. I even have something that you could wear for either a beach party or for luxury when you go to a place like Monaco. I also have what you can wear for red carpet events or weddings like dinners and stuffs. So, it’s just up to you how you accessorise with brooches.

44

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 2011

Celebrities honour Oshiomhole as daughter finds love

T

HE recent wedding between Winnie Oshiomhole, daughter of Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, and Solomon Uvie Owumi, son of Chief Benson Owumi, the Adanne of Okpe Kingdom, Sapele, Delta State was celebrated with great pomp and ceremony.

Celebrities from all walks of life graced the occasion which was held at Iyamho in Edo State and Abuja, the federal capital.

The wedding started with a minutesilence in honour of the wife of the governor, Clara , who died in December, last year.

Among those who advised the couple were the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, and the mother of the day, Mrs. Roli Uduaghan, wife of Delta State governor.

Among the dignitaries who honoured the governor with their presence were: Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha; Deputy Governor of Imo State, Jude Agbaso; Mrs. Judith Amaechi, wife of Rivers State governor; Prof. Dora Akunyili, former Minister of Information; Senator Domingo Obende; Chief John Odigie Oyegun, former Governor of Edo State; Rev. Peter Obadan, former Deputy Governor of Edo State; Senator Tunde

Ogbeha; Deputy Governor of Edo State, Dr Pius Odubu, and his wife, Deaconess Endurance; Hon .Peter Akpatasson, Member, House of Representatives; Hon. Jim Adun, Member, House of Representatives; Speaker, Edo State House of Assembly, Hon. Uyi Igbe; and his predecessor, Hon. Bright Omokhodion; members of the state House of Assembly; Edo State Commissioner of Police, David Omojola; Hon. Ovuozorie Macaulay, Secretary to the Government of Delta State; delegation from the Oba of Benin led by Chief David Edebiri, Esogban of Benin Kingdom; Otaru of Auchi, Alhaji Haliru Momoh, Ikelebe II. Comrade Oshiomhole, in a chat with newsmen, said although he was happy to give his daughter away, he had mixed feelings as Winnie meant so much to him.

He, however, said he was confident she would continue to play the motherly role she played with her younger siblings after the death of their mother.

Dignitaries who spoke to reporters at the wedding described it as modest and advised the couple to always put God first in their affairs.

The church service, which took place at the Holy Trinity Cathedral, Maitama, Abuja, was attended by the Chief of Staff to the President, Chief Mike Ogiadhomhe, who represented President Goodluck

Jonathan. General Yakubu Gowon, fomer Head of State, was also in attendance.

Federal and state lawmakers were led by the Senate President, Chief David Mark, and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu.

Governors, including Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State; Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State; Chief Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State; Dr. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State; Owelle Rochas Okorocha of Imo State; Governor Ibrahim Idris of Kogi State and Liyel Imoke of Cross River State were also in attendance.

High ranking officials of the banking industry were led by Governor of the Cen-

tral Bank, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi.

Captains of industry were led by Alhaji Aliko Dangote and Mr. Femi Otedola.

Others in attendance were Mr. Ben Murray-Bruce of Silverbird, Mr. Nosa Igiebor of Tell Magazine, Prince Egheneden Erediauwa, Austin JayJay Okocha, Shuaibu Amodu and Fanny Amun.

The reception could be likened to a state function with the arrangement of the hall and the calibre of guests in attendance.

Wife of former Vice President, Titi Abubakar, presided over the cutting of the cake.

From left: General Owoeye Azazi, National Security Adviser; Hajia Aishetu Oshiomhole, grandmother of the bride and Governor Adams Oshiomhole.

Where?

•From left: Mrs Eki Igbinedion, Mrs Titi Abubakar, the couple, Solomon and Winnie, at the wedding reception at Thisday Dome, Abuja.

Madam Onojeghwo dies at 74

What

and

•Mr. Felix Boni and Mr. O. Akpata

Madam Grace Orode Onojeghwo, aged 74, has passed on . She was, until her death, a community leader. She was buried at Ukpokiti Agbarha, Delta State.

Thanksgiving service in her honour was held at God’s Kingdom Society (GKS) Service Hall, Salem City, Warri, Delta State.

She is survived

by Joshua Tidi , Chairman, GKS, Okokomiako, Lagos.

M

•Governor Oshiomhole exchanging pleasantries with Asiwaju Bola Tinubu (middle), Governor Ibrahim Idris (right) and Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State.

ATTHEW Amatoritsero Otubu, son of the late Primate of Cherubim and Seraphim Church, Dr Godfrey Otubu, was the focus of attention during the graduation of Atlantic Hall, Epe ,Lagos, as he clinched many awards.

In a gathering that had distinguished and erudite Nigerians, including the retired Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Mohammed Uwais; the Chairman of the Labour Party of Nigeria, Comrade Dan Nwanyanwu; Senator Olorunibe Mamora; and renowned pharmacist, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, in attendance, Matthew was commended for his leadership qualities and academic excellence.

15- year- old Matthew was also honoured by the principal of the school, Mr. Andrew Jedras, with a special award for exemplary leadership.

Part of his citation read that

Otubu’s son shines at Atlantic

Matthew and Mr Jimi Agbaje, member, Board of Governors, Atlantic Hall.

Matthew and mum, Lady Celia Otubu, wi Mrs. Andrew Jedras.

Matthew was a courageous student who expressed himself without fear or favour.

It also read that he was an active member of over

eight clubs in the schoo school’s prayer warrior who close to God.

45

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 2011

•From left: Senator Tunde Ogbeha, Governor Ibikunle Amosun, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi and Senator David Mark.

•Chief and Mrs. Benson Owumi, parents of the groom.

•From left: Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, Senator Ken Nnamani and Chief Lucky Igbinedion.

•From left: Chief Tom Ikimi, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan and Senator Chris Ngige.

•From left: General Yakubu Gowon (rtd), Mr. Achi Adukwu, Chief Tom Ikimi and Pastor Ize-Iyamu.

•Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River State congratulating Governor Oshiomhole.

at Atlantic Hall’s graduation

Lady Celia Otubu, with Mr. and

.

clubs in the school and the ’s prayer warrior who was very to God.

That was not all. The young man made a yearly suggestion on how the school could be improved. The most interesting thing, according to the citation, was that Otubu did all these without affecting his academic excellence.

Speaking during the reception , Mr. Jedras described Matthew as a gifted boy..

He advised him and other graduands to continuously strive for excellence, assuring them of great achievements in future. He said Matthew touched the lives of every student, teacher and management member.

Mr. Jerome, his drama teacher, said Matthew was a prodigious lad who made his mark wherever he went just like his contributions improved the drama club in no small way.

Matthew’s mother,Lady Celia, said, “I feel happy and thank God for guiding Matthew throughout his stay at Atlantic Hall. “ The entire family is very proud of his achievements and I thank the school for moulding and supporting him. We plan a thanksgiving service for this great achievement.”

•Representatives of the Oba of Benin, HRM, Omo N’Oba n’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Erediauwa.

•Mr. Ben Murray-Bruce congratulates Governor Oshiomhole.

46

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 2011

“T

HE power to make a difference” was the theme of a congress I recently attended. The congress which was organized by the Business and Professional Women (BPW), was graced by women from all over the world. Membership of BPW cuts across women from all strata of the economy. It was enlightening for me, it was worth my while.

At the congress, I saw commitment and passion in the way each presenter of each day delivered their speeches. One could see eagerness to encourage fellow women to reach for the peak of their careers and potentials.

Women were encouraged to get involved in activities that would better their lot and that of their families at large. Women were encouraged to be total. To be there for their homes, their country and themselves.

The congress theme, “Power to make a difference”, focuses on the women strong international network and the delegates are stakeholders.

Women were encouraged to aspire for leadership roles in the critical framework towards finally achieving equality in the economy and decision making roles for women through collective efforts.

Truth is, majority of women do not know it is possible to eat our proverbial cake and still have it.

Vera, Among the lettered, it is not uncommon for the wife to call the husband by his first name. The duo might simply refuse to consider such “a big deal.” That a woman decides to address her husband by name doesn’t make her conceited and disrespectful. It is however

The women have it…

Some believe that if you must be successful in your career, then your home must fail. No, this is so far from the truth. Some of us that were privileged to grow in our country homes; must agree that our grandmothers back home were and are still very hardworking. They rise early, leave for the farm in time to fetch woods, cassava, yam, etc for their home front.

They come back in time to prepare the meals; they have time to serve the meals. Keep the home clean, take care of their husbands in bed without complain, of course. And the one that blows my mind the most, is the fact that they still manage to raise good children. The women of today have not bothered to borrow a leaf from our grandmothers.

Some of us these days are filled with excuses.

I still have friends that will not move a muscle un-

til their husbands provides for them and their kids.

Hear them: “Oh, I will pay for that stuff when my husband gets home. My husband is yet to pay for the children’s school fees. The most popular ones I get to hear is: “My money is for me, while my husband’s money is for us.” How selfish. Anyway, this column is not about criticizing my fellow women. It is not about celebrating our shortcomings either. It is what I will call a wake-up or clarion call for all women.

We are so endowed. We can be up there; and still have a good home. It is all about balancing our acts. It is about having a focus.

The logo of the 27th BPW International Congress, 2011 is the portraits of women in profile. It is interpreted as an image of “mother nature” since women have the gift of bringing new life to the

world.

In the congress, outstanding women leaders shared their messages with us in person and by video contact. The congress session was designed to increase knowledge and personal competence and to raise awareness on the importance and value of women broadening their knowledge. It was about renewing friendships, taking pride in your contributions to your world, it was a celebration of a global sisterhood.

The empowerment of women is a topic that is gaining increasing attention on the global stage, through the media, governments and corporate publicity. The question that came up were: Is equality for women truly achievable? What key areas are women still struggling to achieve equality? What has to change before women can consider themselves

empowered?

There is a general misconception that women empowerments translate to gross insubordination to men.

How wrong we are. As a matter of fact, it is the exact opposite of that. When a woman is empowered, she goes extra mile to add value to herself. She complements her man’s effort. She covers her man when he is naked. She supports and encourages her man.

She is her children’s greatest cheer leader. And my favourite part is the bedroom. A friend of mine, once said to me, “Vera, it does not take strength for a person to be good in bed; it takes skills. I do not see why a woman that is empowered, enrolls in seminars to better her career, should not learn new ways to improve her skills in bed.

Believe me, they are all part of the empowerment process. I use this platform to

Text messages Re: Our husbands and their first names advisable that the wife adopts a pet name for her husband at public functions so people (especially her in-laws) do not cut of her a picture of arrogance and disrespectfulness.

Remi Adesina, Ibadan

•From left: The Commissioner representing Ondo State on the Governing Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr. Benson Enikuomehin, Master Bolu Enikuomehin and Mrs. Bose Mabel Enikuomehin during the 10th year birthday celebration of Bolu their son at Akure, Ondo State recently

Vera, I know you may not like this but when people like the tout who went out of the way to pour invectives on revered columnist like you one can not but join issues with. Who is more of an olodo and oloshi? That person who goes about the discharge of her duties in the most professional way or that man who does not understand simple grammar? I beg no mind am, grammar no be im language.

Remi Adesina

my friends call me that way. But I think the important thing is that whatever one is called should connect and connote love and respect among the couple.

Aboky Suleiman, Umaisha, Nasarawa State.

Dear Vera, Thanks for your write up that the reason I buy weekend papers please I have a question for you.

Why is it that our women that are 45 years and above do not show interest in sexual intimacy with their husbands? Because this is what causes most unfaithfulness on the part of many husband when you are allow to do it, its like you are forcing them and so they just lie down like a log of wood what do we do?

Please I don’t want to be unfaithful to my wife.

Anonymous

Vera, Thanks for printing my text, but I want you to use the question “What is the role/duty of a man in the house,” as topic to be treated.

Anonymous.

Vera, In our own case, I call my wife mommy, being what her parents used to address her, while she calls me Mallam because most of

Vera, I missed your June 11 article titled “Every man has a mumu button” and from the responses I saw, it’s like I missed a lot.

Vera, Are you married? It is unAfrica for wives to disrespect their husbands by calling them names.

It is cultural imperialism of the West.

Vera, ‘Olowo ori mi’ means ‘The payer of my bride price’ Anonymous Vera, On a serious note, I must admit that your tales are usually fascinating.

Remain blessed pretty one.

Anonymous

Please is it possible to get it from you through e-mail?

Would greatly appreciate it.

Ben. Dear Vera, Our tradition is so beautiful no doubt. Calling a spouse Baba or mama lagbaja is fair; calling one’s hubby or wife by the first name is much fairer but in all fairness; I have seen men and or women who looked older than their ages because their spouses called them ‘daddy wa’ (our daddy) or ‘mummy wa’ (our mummy), no science please, I think the best romance practice, alluring and enduring is to call a spouse by a pet name.

Seun Osinkolu, Ogbomoso, Oyo State.

Good day Vera, I read your paper on pressing mumu button on our man. Do you know that some men no matter how you try to please them they will not even value it, those kind of men how will you go about it?

Anonymous Vera, Thanks for giving women tips on how to make men happy and do their bidding. But please tell those overbearing types not to take advantage of it to plant seed of discord

double-dare every woman to rise up to the challenge.

If you are in favour say ‘ayes’ if you are against, say nay…

‘

Some of us that were privileged to grow in our country homes; must agree that our grandmothers back home were and are still very hardworking. They rise early, leave for the farm in time to fetch woods, cassava, yam, etc for their home front

’

between man’s brothers and his extended family.

Some women today are a pain in the neck of some families.

May God bless those women who’s activities project epitome of peace.

Don Ezeala, PH Vera, I totally agree with you; my mumu button is simply a humble but stylish ‘banquet’. I also don’t mind my woman trying a new thing in a fresh way. These are my ‘bluetooth sensors’, which are sensual in their specificities Seun, Osinkolu Vera, It is a well known fact that a man, no matter how highly placed, harsh, or rigid he could be, has a mumu button or weak point. It’s left for the wife to be smart enough to discover and utilize it in gaining her man’s consent.

Above all, every woman should know what turns her husband on or off.

Ugwu Gregory Emeka Vera, Are you or better put can you do all the things you are writing in your paper and please there is nothing you can do to satisfy a greedy man.

Also, let the men folk know what they need to do to bring out the best in their women.

Funke, Lagos.

47

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 2011

•Millennium Park

Abuja Millennium Park: A fading gem

M

ILLENNIUM Park, Abuja sprawls on a large parcel of land on the highbrow Maitama area of the city.

It was built about eight years ago. The park from conception was gargantuan and in delivery it has succeeded in offering Abuja residents and tourists a wonderful oasis for relaxation and leisure.

On weekends, there is normally a large turnout of people to the park as it could conveniently take quite a sizeable number of visitors without one feeling really choked up by the crowd.

On an ordinary day, one finds many children playing, lovers on the lawns and men and women strolling.

Many people make a lot of money by putting together games which vistors can play. A popular game called the bottle ring tossing is played at the entrance to the park and it attracts many .

One of the alluring features of the park is the landscape. From the Transcorp Hilton side of the park, one could have a bird-eye view of the park as it unfolds as far as the eyes could take. The lush grass, trees,shrubs, river that cuts the park into two and different leisure facilities for children keep drawing people.

Recently, I had the opportunity of promenading through the park.

Right from the entrance from the Transcorp Hilton end, there were some ice cream hawkers on bicycles.

There were also the ubiquitous itinerant photophers looking for brisk business. From the gate, the beauty of the park began to unfold.

On the grass were individuals, couples, families occupying different sections of the grass relaxing.

I walked on the paved walkway towards the bridge to the other side of the park. I crossed the bridge, on my right was the children section with swings, wooden houses and other kinds of toys to play with.

There was a man playing with his two children. He later left and the swing was immediately taken over by a young couple.

Moving a little farther from the children’s playground, there were, on the right, different kinds of ornamental plants blooming this rainy season. The flowers and ornamental plants presented a spectrum of pleasant colours that made one feels very happy.

I walked towards where the fountain . The fountain points were dry and decaying.

Although the keepers of the park are not doing badly in making sure that it is not overgrown with plants, a lot needs to be done to improve the infrastructure there.

Items like water containersand water satchets littered the park, despite the fact that there were

waste bins placed in different parts of the park.

Another major minus for the park is that it is dark at night.

In most cases, once it is dark, people start packing and leaving to avoid being molested by hoodlums.

The park every day has a steady stream of visitors. From the early morning till late at

•Children Section

night, one sees people coming and going. It has finally matured into a true recreational park like many others around the world. This has made it necessary for the park’s infrastructure to be improved.

It has also acquired a certain level of notoriety, as many women of easy virtue come there in search of men.

The grass serves as bed, while their deeds are covered by darkness that

covers the place once it is night.

The Millennium Park was inaugurated by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom on December 4, 2003.

For those in Abuja searching for a place to relax with their families, the Millenium Park is an option, but the only caveat is that it is best to leave the place before it is dark.

48

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 2011

UNWTO to position tourism in global economy

U

NWTO member states attending the 90th session of the UNWTO Executive Council have expressed their support for UNWTO’s activities aimed at positioning tourism higher in the global political and economic agenda. This view was expressed after their meeting in Mombassa, Kenya.

Chaired by the Minister of Tourism of Italy, Michela Brambilla, the 31 council members, representing UNWTO’s full membership worldwide, welcomed the “Global Leaders for Tourism

Campaign” which, together with the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), is promoting the socio-economic importance of tourism to heads of states and governments around the world.

Against this background, Ms. Brambilla stressed her support for “UNWTO’s efforts to improve tourism communications to the wider public,” and underscored “mainstreaming tourism through awareness raising” as an “ongoing challenge” In his report to the Executive Council, UNWTO Secretary-

General, Taleb Rifai, confirmed that while recovery in international tourism is underway, significant challenges remain. “Vigilance is still a must in the face of persisting uncertainties, such as high unemployment and increased public austerity. Today we must add the implications of the political shifts in the Middle East and North Africa and the tragic events in Japan and their impact on tourism,” he said.

UNWTO expects international arrivals to grow by four per cent in 2011, slightly

above the long-term average.

The situation in the Middle East and North Africa, which is temporarily affecting travel flows, as well as the events in Japan, are not expected to significantly affect the global forecast.

The council further more welcomed the UNWTO study “Tourism Towards 2030” which will provide forecasts for international tourism up to 2030, updating the existing long-term study “Tourism Vision 2020”. The main findings

holders.

The President of Indonesia, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, has become the first Asian head of state to join the ongoing World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) Global Leaders for Tourism Campaign.

“Today, tourism plays a significant role not only in the preservation of cultural values, but also in increasing

Continued on Page 49

Delta Air honours travel agents

A

From left: Bobby Bryan, Commercial Manager (East and West Africa)’ Delta Airline; Segun Adewale, MD, Aeroland; Femi Adefope, MD, Skylogistics and Jimmy Eichelgruen, Sales Director, Delta Airline ... at the presentation.

will be presented at the upcoming UNWTO General Assembly (8-14 October, Gyeongju, South Korea), and will constitute the main theme for the general debate at the assembly.

The UNWTO Executive Council also endorsed the progress of the “UNWTO Working Group on the Protection of Tourists/Consumers”, which is focusing on the harmonization of issues directly linked with the rights and obligations of tourists and stake-

total of 44 top travel companies were honoured and rewarded by Delta Airline for their commitment and excellent performance in notching high sales volumes in the airline’s first ever Agency Award since its foray into the Nigerian aviation scene in 2007.

At a colourful award ceremony in Lagos, Aeroland Airline and Travel Management Services bagged the prestigious prize of a diamond plaque and recognised as the leading Delta Air Lines sales agent in Nigeria.

In addition to the award, two business class return tickets and Delta Air Lines goodie bag were presented to Aeroland’s Managing Director, Segun Adewale, by the trio of Jimmy Eichelgruen, the airline’s Sales Director, EMEA and India;

Bobby Bryan, Commercial Manager , West and East Africa and Olufemi Adefope, MD of Skylogistics.

Four leading travel companies - HRG, Touchdown Travels Limited; Rewards Travels and Tours Limited and Peacock Travel and Tours Nigeria Limited received the coveted platinum awards.

The gold awards category was won by Touchdown-elite Travels Limited, Quantum Travels Limited, Silhouette Travels and Tours Limited, American Express Travel Services and God’s Power Travels Agency Limited, while 34 other travel agents went home with the silver award plaques.

At the ceremony, Jimmy Eichelgruen said, “Delta is happy with the good work of its sales partners in Nigeria and I believe that the recognition

and awards will spur them to do more.”

“We are very proud of our top producing agents and partners who have constantly sold Delta in high volumes since 2007 when we entered the Nigerian market and contributed in no small measure in making Delta the preferred and leading airline on the AfricaUS route”, Bobby Bryan said.

Adefope thanked the awardees and other travel companies for their unflinching support and contribution in making the route profitable for Delta Airline to keep flying into the country.

The President of the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA), Dayo Adeola, joined other dignitaries in cutting the Delta celebration cake.

Kehinde FALODE: 08023689894

Nutritional and healthy benefits of beans

Ekuru (steamed savoury bean) enhances the taste and aroma of the final product - the dish.

•Maggi according to individual taste desires •Salt •Warm water •1 Onion big size

Foluke ADEMOLA

Ekuru is a delicious dish made from beans which belongs to the legume family. Beans are either white or brown but ekuru can be prepared with either of these to get a fabulous results.

Ekuru and moin-moin are similar and are prepared almost the same way if not for a slight difference, which is that for ekuru, there is no addition of oil whether vegetable oil or palm oil at all producing a white semi transparent semi solid dish which is equally tantalizing consumption for family, friends or whatever the

occasion measure accordingly Ingredients •3 cups of beans •Ground crayfish •Smoked fish or fresh fish according to individual taste or desire •Liver cooked and diced up •3 medium sized tatashe or bell pepper •4 rodo or chili pepper •Tomatoes is optional as in some cases makes the dish pudgy •Aluminum foil or tin containers or moin-moin leaves which can be found locally sold in the market. It is the most preferable as it

Preparation •First things first, soak the beans in water after removing stones and dirt for some minutes depending on how soon you want to make the dish, remove the skin which has now become soft and wash the beans clean.

•Cook the fresh fish if using it or/ and the liver, if you haven’t cooked and diced it yet.

•Pour the blended beans into a clean bowl; add the remaining ingredients one after the other checking for a good taste to prevent over salting the dish. Once the palate feels the salt content is ok, then it’s cool.

•Mix the mixture properly for an even constituency and scoop paste into the moin-moin leaves or the aluminium containers about two thirds full to allow for the paste rising during the cooking process and cover with the aluminium foil.

•Cook until the dish is done about 45mins to an hour when the food is hardened and no longer semi liquid paste.

•Prepare the ata sauce with palmoil, tomatoes, onions and peppers.

Add the prawns and other ingredient you wish to use.

•Mash the cooked ekuru in a bowl and add the ata sauce. Mix thoroughly and serve on a dish with pap, custard or any other drink or semi liquid food desired

B

EANS have been proven to be a major player in the fight against cancer. Beyond that, they are high in protein, beneficial to those with diabetes, and help lower cholesterol.

It has been said that beans are good for the heart. They provide a major source of soluble fibre, which, when passing through the digestive tract grabs and traps bile that contains cholesterol, removing it from the body before it’s absorbed. According to research it has been concluded that eating a cup of cooked beans a day can lower your total cholesterol by up to 10 per cent in six weeks. Though that may not seem like much, it actually decreases your risk of heart disease by 20 per cent.

Those suffering from diabetes are also benefitted by eating beans. The soluble fiber in beans helps to create more insulin receptor sites.

These sites are like tiny docks for the insulin molecules to connect to, allowing the insulin to get to the cells that need it, instead of floating freely through the bloodstream, which can cause problems. Because of the higher risk of heart disease in diabetes sufferers, beans serve an extra benefit by keeping their cholesterol low, thus reducing their risk.

Beans is also rich in protein, legumes are often considered an ‘incomplete’ protein, because they don’t contain all the essential amino acids that we need in our diet, as opposed to ‘complete’ protein found in foods of animal origin, such as meat, fish, dairy products and eggs, which contain ample amounts of the

essential amino acids.

Although it’s important to get all the amino acids, both essential and non-essential, it’s not necessary to get them from meat. In fact, because of its high fat content - as well as the use of antibiotics and other chemicals in the raising of poultry and cattle - most of the animal protein should be eaten only in moderation.

Diets rich in beans are being used to: lower cholesterol levels, improve diabetics’ blood glucose control, reduce risk of many cancers, lower blood pressure, regulate functions of the colon, prevent and cure constipation, prevent piles and other bowel problems When you eat dried beans, they are not entirely digested, so the undigested material lies around in the colon, where bacteria attack it and start to feed on it.

In the process, lots of chemicals are released, which tell your liver to cut down its production of cholesterol and your blood to speed up clearing out dangerous LDL cholesterol. Plus, fibre can actually mop up cholesterol from the intestine and whisk it out of the system.

Also, chemicals that block formation of cancer cells are released. In fact, beans are concentrated carriers of protease inhibitors, enzymes that can counteract the activation of cancer-causing compounds in the colon.

49

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 2011

NTDC endorses Nupe festival for promotion

T

HE annual Nupe Day festival has of ficially been endorsed by the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation.

The endorsement was made by the Director General of the NTDC, Otunba Olusegun Runsewe.

Announcing the endorsement of the festival, Otunba Runsewe said the festival would be featured among other official festivals in the national calendar and would consequently enjoy the full support of the corporation.

While welcoming members of the Nupe Foundation led by its president, Engr. Yabagi Yusuf Sanni, to the tourism village in Abuja, the DG praised the

initiative, saying, “I grew up among the Nupe in the north and I never knew the Nupe cultural day was so well organized. The festival is a means to promoting unity. I would like to call it the unity festival and it is hereby endorsed.”

Speaking further, the NTDC boss assured of the corporation’s full support by way of selling the festival at the forthcoming World Travel Market to be held in London later this year.

Otunba Runsewe also promised to provide promotional materials, regretting that but for the short notice, NTDC would have ensured the coverage of the festival by its communitybased radio service.He

said future festivals would benefit from the community radio service.

“This will signal the beginning of a new chapter in the history of Nupe cultural festival,”he said.

Earlier in his speech, the chairman eulogized Otunba Runsewe, describing him as “an epitome of cultural development in Nigeria”, while revealing that Nupe had been organizing the cultural day activities for the past 2 years stating that the historical essence of the event was against the background of the rich cultural heritage of Nupe land.

Speaking further, Engr.

Yabagi noted that the visit to solicit NTDC’s support became imperative as

harnessing the cultural prospect of the Nupe Day will help to stem the tide of crime among the youths while imploring the federal government to, as a matter of policy, invest more in culture as it is an enduring legacy of the people.

The 3rd Nupe Day annual festival is expected to feature, among other things, Nupe Day regatta, a lecture on “democracy and development of Nupe land” to be delivered by the chief servant of Niger State, Dr. Mua’zu Babangida Aliyu , conferment of traditional titles on some distinguished persons, Nupe Day merit award and cultural night.

•Celebrating the World Environment Day in Abuja Sheraton.

Demuren, Imoke’s wife for Abuja Bantaba

T

HE Director Genereal of the Ni gerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) ,Dr Harold Demuren, and the wife of the Cross River State governor, Mrs. Obioma Imoke, are among personalities to be honoured at the award ceremony of Abuja Bantaba on July 5.

The Gambia’s Minister of Tourism , Mrs Fatou Mas Jobe,and other leading women in tourism in West Africa will also be honoured at the event.

The award ceremony, according to the organisers of the event, is to honour outstanding individuals in the business of tourism and travel.

The first modern hotel in Abuja,Agura Hotel,the first fast food outlet in Abuja by Sir Chika Chiejiena,the best hotel GM in Nigeria, the best indigenous hotel manager, and other travel personalities will be honoured also.

Dr Demuren will be honoured with the Travel Personality Award, while Otunba Runsewe will bag the Tourism Man of the

Year Award .

This comes as the National Association of Nigerian Travel Agents (NANTA) partners the organizers of Abuja Bantaba to make the event a success.

NANTA is the biggest travel association in Nigeria and the umbrella body of travel agencies will be bringing its members to the event as both sellers and buyers.

According to the National Publicity Secretary of NANTA, Mrs. Tinuke Nwakohu, NANTA will participate in both Bantaba and Akwaaba as the events provide a local opportunity for players in the travel trade to network and work together as travel markets are the lifeblood of travel business globally and cannot be different in Nigeria.

Mr Ikechi Uko, representing the organizers, said “having NANTA as a partner completes the circle as our event has partnership with global associations and having a credible national group like NANTA completes the circle for us and we are ex-

cited to tap on their goodwill and expertise”.

As a prelude to AKWAABA 2011, and because of the absence of a credible face- to- face marketing platform in Abuja and Northern Nigeria for travel business, Akwaaba African Travel Market is organizing a roadshow in Abuja to reach more stakeholders in Abuja and Northern Nigeria.

Aftm brings face- to- face marketing to Africa. This event will be hosted at Abuja Sheraton Hotels.

Abuja Sheraton is a prestigious Starwood brand.

Abuja Bantaba will be a one- day event that will feature a mini exhibition and matching travel buyers with sellers.

It will also reduce the cost of individual marketing in Abuja and the North, draw in more buyers by using the greater power of attraction and by combining the marketing power of all sellers. Already, leading hotel chains in Africa, airlines, and other travel and tourism promoters among them have booked for the event.

Protea Hotels, Intercontinental Hotels, Movenpick, Labadi Beach Hotel, Golden Beach Hotels, Ghana, African Regents Hotel, Accra ,Bolton White Hotel, South African Airways ,Kenya Airways ,British Airways, Egyptair, Qatar Airways, Emirates, Lufthansa, Tour Brokers International, Remlords Tours, Delta State Tourism Board, Nihotour, NCAA, FAAN,the Starwood Group, NAC Hospitality, Hawthorn Suites, Tour Operators Union of Ghana (TOUGHA), among others, have all booked for the event.

Bantaba, a round the clock speed dating event starts with speeches in the morning, lunch in the afternoon and ends with a cocktail and awards in the evening.There will be presentations in between.

This event comes as arrangement for the big event of the year, AKWAABA: African Travel Market, billed for October 21 to 23 in Lagos is in top gear. It is the only international expo in West Africa in partnership with NTDC.

Otunba Runsewe (left) presenting a souvenir to Engr.

Yabaji Yusuf Sanni, President, Nupe Foundation, during the visit.

Sheraton Abuja marks World Environment Day

A

S part of eco-friendliness and community develop ment, the management of Sheraton Abuja Hotel or ganized a hotel environment day to celebrate World Environment Day theme.

60 children from various primary and secondary schools within the FCT converged on the Ladi Kwali Conference Centre to learn about “global sustainability from authorities on environmental issues in Nigeria.”

The aim of the event was to further sensitize young minds on this year’s theme as it relates to the UN International Year of Forests. The theme is : Forests: Nature at Your Service which underscores the intrinsic link between quality of life and the health of forests and forest ecosystems”.

Lessons on sustainability-biodiversity, ecosystems management , green economy, global warming, types of waste and waste management disposal, correct farming methods such as aforestation as well as types of trees were amongst the various subjects delivered by representatives of the Federal Ministry of Environment; the Abuja Environmental Protection Board;President of the Nigerian Environmental Society (Deputy Director), Prince Uche Agbanusi; the Director, Sustainable Development Training Centre,Eng. Ahmed Sanda ( chairman of the event); Nigerian Meteorological Agency; IITA, Abuja; Mr.Segun Odunoye; Professor Hilary Inyang and General Manager, Sheraton Abuja Hotel ,Mr. Morten Ebbesen.

An environmental friendly quiz was drawn from the lessons, while the children delivered relevant presentations of songs, poems and art work around the theme.

Gifts such as environmentally friendly “green planet”, water bottles and school bags, bio degradable exercise books, “ Save Our Planet” literature, tee shirts and face caps were donated to the happy children.

The highlight of the event was the announcement by Professor Inyang to make donations to schools for a yearly “green economy” essay.

The event ended amidst finger- licking refreshments provided by the hotel and memorable photograph sessions.

UNWTO to position tourism Continued from Page 48 people’s welfare,” said President Yudhoyono.

“Tourism has provided job opportunities for millions of people across the globe; is one of leading exports of developing countries; and is a key stimulus in the transformation to a green economy” he said.

As part of the Global Leaders for Tourism Campaign, UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai, presented the Indonesian President with an open letter setting out the economic development and environmental opportunities offered by tourism.

“We are delighted that Indonesia has joined this important campaign to raise international awareness of the relevance of travel and tourism.

“In doing so, Indonesia is sending out a strong message that it recognizes tourism’s potential as a force for development”,Mr Rifai said.

Accepting the letter, President Yudhoyono expressed the willingness of Indonesia – with 7 million international tourists and US$7 billion in receipts in 2010 – to capitalize on the “increasingly important role of tourism”.

“The importance of travel and tourism as a driver of Indonesia’s economy is clear. Over the next ten years, travel & tourism’s contribution to the country’s GDP is expected to grow by nearly 6% per year,” said David Scowsill, President and CEO, WTTC. “The strong message of support for the industry embodied in today’s acceptance of the open letter shows the government’s commitment to realizing travel and tourism’s potential to create jobs, generate exports and stimulate investment”,he said.

Through the Global Leaders for Tourism Campaign, UNWTO and WTTC are jointly presenting heads of state and government around the world an open letter which calls on them to acknowledge tourism’s key role in delivering on sustained and balanced growth and to prioritize the sector high in national policies in order to maximize its potential. The open letter outlines travel and tourism’s value as one of the world’s largest generators of sustainable enterprises and decent jobs, a powerful driver of socio-economic growth and development and a key player in the transformation to the green economy.

The campaign has already received the support of the presidents of Mexico, South Africa, Kazakhstan, and Hungary.

50

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 2011

The home maker III

D

EAR Reader, Welcome back to this exciting column. Last week, we looked at the tool of commitment to the children, in making the home a heaven-onearth. This week, we will be examining a major secret a woman needs to explore, in making her home the best of its kind - Walking in Wisdom!

It is not God's will that anything should put your home asunder, not even your foolishness.

That is why walking in wisdom is the secret

S

LEEP disorders involve any difficulties related to sleeping, including difficulty falling or staying asleep, falling asleep at inappropriate times, excessive total sleep time, or abnormal behaviors associated with sleep.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors More than 100 different disorders of sleeping and waking have been identified.

They can be grouped in four main categories: •Problems with falling and staying asleep (insomnia) •Problems with staying awake (excessive daytime sleepiness) •Problems with sticking to a regular sleep schedule (sleep rhythm problem) •Unusual behavoirs during sleep (sleep-disruptive behaviors) Problems with falling and staying asleep Insomnia includes any combination of difficulty with falling asleep, staying asleep, intermittent wakefulness and early-morning awakening.

Episodes may come and go (be transient), last as long as two to three weeks (be short-term), or be long-lasting (chronic).

Common factors associated with insomnia include: •Physical illness

•Sleeping too much is not good for the health and sleeping less also has its health hazards

for making your home successful, and this comes in three main avenues: Instructions The Bible says: The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness (Proverbs 15:2). This is to say, knowledge is the raw material processed and developed into a finished product called wisdom. It, therefore, means that to get at the best in anything, you need facts. Fact is the father of success. If you don't have the facts of a matter, you cannot arrive at wisdom. What wisdom does is to correctly apply the facts acquired, in

order to get your desired results.

These facts are nothing other than the knowledge of God's Word because by strength (ability) shall no man prevail. How much knowledge of God's Word you lay up in your heart, is what determines how much wisdom you can operate in. This simply shows the futility of seeking after wisdom without a hunger for knowledge.

Knowledge is it; so get it (Proverbs 4:7).

Meditation Meditation is the process of reasoning, pondering or thinking through. So, having collected instructions from the Word of God, meditation is the next process to embark upon. Unfortunately, it is at this point that many Christians fall short. Meanwhile, instructions from the Word can be likened to raw materials, while meditation is the refining process. So, the life in the Word acquired can only be obtained and applied through the process of meditation.

God wants you to be a deep

Sleep disorders •Depression •Anxiety or stress •Poor sleeping environment such as excessive noise or light •Caffeine •Alcohol or other drugs •Use of certain medications •Heavy smoking •Physical discomfort •Daytime napping Counterproductive sleep habits: •Early bedtimes •Excessive time spent awake in bed Disorders include: •Psychophysiological insomnia: a condition in which stress caused by the insomnia makes it even harder to fall asleep •Delayed sleep phase syndrome: your internal clock is constantly out of synch with the “accepted” day / night phases; for example, patients feel best if they can sleep from 4AM to noon •Hypnotic-dependent sleep disorder: insomnia that occurs when you stop or become tolerant to certain types of sleep medications •Stimulant-dependent sleep disorder: insomnia that occurs when you stop or become dependent on certain types of stimulants Problems with staying awake Disorders of excessive sleepiness

are called hypersomnias. These include: •Idiopathic hypersomnia (excessive sleepiness that occurs without an identifiable cause) •Narcolepsy •Obstructive and central · sleep apnea •Periodic limb movement disorder •Restless leg syndrome Problems sticking to a regular sleep schedule Problems may also occur when you do not maintain a consistent sleep and wake schedule. This occurs when traveling between times zones and with shift workers on rotating schedules, particularly nighttime workers.

Sleep disruption disorders include: •Irregular sleep-wake syndrome •Jet lag syndrome •Natural short sleeper (the person sleeps less hours than normal but has no ill effects) •Paradoxical insomnia (the person actually sleeps a different amount than they think they do) •Shift work sleep disorder Sleep-disruptive behaviors Abnormal behaviors during sleep are called parasomnias and

thinker. He expects you to look at issues and rightly divide them. If there is something out of place in your family, you should be able to sit down and find out a solution from the pages of scriptures.

Recognize that a hitch-free home is not a gift from God; it is a function of His grace that is acquired through knowledge (II Pet. 1:2).

Planning God's Word says: Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established: And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches (Proverbs 24:34). That is, the home is a covenant enterprise that is built through wise planning, becomes stronger through common sense, and profits wonderfully by keeping abreast with the facts.

To run a successful home, you need to use your covenant sense and available facts to determine your budget. It is foolishness being dogmatic about putting your children in schools that are beyond

your husband's income? Be a wise planner!

Until you are born again, you cannot effectively walk in wisdom by adhering to instructions from God's Word, meditating on it, and then being a wise planner. You get born again by confessing your sins and accepting Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. If you are set for this, please say this prayer: Dear Lord, I come to You today. I am a sinner.

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

Congratulations! Call or write, and share your testimonies with me through: E-mail: faithdavid@yahoo.com Tel. No: 2341-7747546-8; 07026385437 For more insight, these books authored by Pastor Faith Oyedepo are available at the Dominion Bookstores in all the Living Faith Churches and other leading Christian bookstores: Understanding Motherhood, Raising Godly Children, and Success in Marriage.

are fairly common in children.

They include: •Sleep terrors •Sleep walking •REM sleep-behavior disorder (a type of psychosis in which a person”acts out” dreams so violently that they may injure the person sleeping with them).

Symptoms The symptoms vary and depend on the specific sleep disorder.

Signs and tests Tests vary and depend on the specific sleep disorder. A sleep study (polysomnography) may be done.

Treatment Treatments vary and depend on the specific sleep disorder.

•Insomnia •Hypersomnias •Sleep terrors •Sleep walking

Expectations (prognosis) The outcome varies with the type of disorder. Some disorders may go away without treatment.

•Calling your health care provider.

•Call for an appointment with your health care provider if lack of sleep, too much sleep, or unusual sleep behaviors are interfering with daily living.

•Sleep apnea should be suspected in people who snore loudly, wake frequently to urinate at night, and wake up in the morning unrefreshed.

Prevention The following can help prevent many sleep disorders.

•Regular sleep habits (such as going to bed and waking at the same time every day) •A quiet sleep environment •Regular exercise •Staying generally fit and healthy

Interesting facts about sleep F

OR seven or eight hours per day, we go into a profoundly different state – a system – shutdown, if you will. But how much do you really know about sleep, about why we need it and what happens while we have our nightly shuteye?

See how many of the following facts you knew: •During a normal night’s sleep, there are five different stages of sleep – and each of them is quite different from the other four.

•When we are sleeping deeply, our breathing, our heart rate and blood pressure reach their lowest levels of the day.

•While we are dreaming, we experience REM – rapid eye movement. This is a very active time for both the body and the brain.

•While we are dreaming, our brain patterns are similar to those we experience while being awake.

•Most adults need about eight hours of sleep to function at their best, but studies have shown that most adults don’t get much more than seven.

•We sleep more lightly during the second half of the night than during the first.

•Cats sleep up to 18 hours a day.

•Your body is on a 24-hour body clock, which makes you wind down between 1 am and 6 am and again in the three hours

directly after lunch. We are really made to have siestas.

•It is more difficult to wake a child than an adult from deep sleep – often children will be disorientated and have no recollection of this later.

•Many people who suffer from insomnia suffer from anxiety and depression.

•Our large body muscles are paralysed while we sleep – most probably to stop us from doing what we are dreaming about.

•We go through four to six sleep cycles during a good night’s sleep, moving through the different stages and back again.

•The average person wakes up about six times per night.

•Your body temperature falls in the early morning hours, reaches a low at about 4 a.m. and then rises again just before sunrise.

•Researchers have never been able to agree exactly why the body needs sleep, except that it is restoring to our bodies and our brains.

•Even when we are sleeping very deeply, there is still a part of us that picks up sounds and signals from the world around us. That’s why parents wake up when the baby cries, but they don’t hear the noise from other places.

•Women and older people most often suffer from insomnia.

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 2011

Coping with diseases

Avoiding childlessness: Coping with tubal factor infertili

D

AMAGE to the female fallopian tubes can be caused by pelvic inflammatory disease, pelvic surgeries (abortion included), use of contraceptive intrauterine devices, tubal (ectopic or wrongly situated) pregnancy which ruptures the tube, uterine fibroids, endometriosis, and ruptured appendix which causes infection. Blockade could be near the uterus (proximal,) in the middle of the tube, or near the ovaries (distal). Where surgery is needed, distal blockade requires the most invasive surgery.

The possibility of natural conception after a blocked tube depends on the cause of the blockade, the type of blockade, and the degree of damage to the fallopian tubal function. Sometimes blockade is temporary, possibly caused by excess mucus or excess contraction (spasm) of the tubal wall.

Such blockade is reversible and may recur every now and then.

Other types of blockade may involve inflammation and scarring or irreversible loss of tubal wall function.

Blocked tubes are often symptomless.

The doctor can test if a woman's fallopian tubes are blocked by using a dye. The X-ray picture developed from this process shows if the dye flows through or is pooled because the tube is blocked. The procedure is called a hysterosalpingogram (HSG).

Since some women have only a temporary blockade, a repetition of the test after some time may be needed to determine if it is a permanent blockade.

Instead of a dye, a salt so-

T

HE urine is normally sterile. An infection occurs when bacteria get into the urine and begin to grow. The infection usually starts at the opening of the urethra where the urine leaves the body and moves upward into the urinary tract.

• The culprit in at least 90

lution may be injected into the uterus via the cervix and if there is a blockade there is distention at the diseased region and an ultrasound can be used to study the developments.

Other procedures such as hysteroscopy and laparoscopy by inserting telescopic instruments to view the region of the tubes and ovaries also help to diagnose tubal conditions. To know if chlamydia might have contributed to tubal problems, an antibody test is done. A person who has had chlamydia infection should have developed antibodies against chlamydia in her system.

Infection inside the tubes can cause accumulation of inflammatory fluid and swelling called a hydrosalpynx. It may leak from the tubes into the uterus and it is toxic to the embryo. Hydrosalpynx may cause lower abdominal pain and abnormal vaginal discharge.

Any tubal infection has to be cleared before attempting to achieve conception.

Conception can be achieved naturally in women who have temporarily blocked tubes. Where there is irreversible damage or irreversible loss of tubal function, artificial conception through in vitro fertilization is an option offered by fertility clinics. The female egg and male sperm are brought together in a glass dish in the laboratory and the fertilized egg is implanted in the woman.

Women with recurrent temporary blockade can improve their situation by

with Prof. Dayo Oyekole

Genital herpes

H a number of techniques. A massage (Maya massage) of the lower abdomen and lower back can be done daily.

One's spouse can help with this. Some specialized physical therapists can do a procedure called clear passage. The experts claim: "Clear Passage Physical TherapySM has over twenty years of experience opening fallopian tubes, wherever they are blocked, and returning natural fertility with full term pregnancies to many women - all without surgery or drugs" and according to some statistics: "Doctors using this therapy claim the nonsurgical procedure opened tubes in 61 percent of women treated; 53 percent conceived naturally after finishing the Clear Passage protocols". "The Wurn Technique® [a manual physical therapy ] has been shown to open tubes and return the ability to conceive naturally for women with hydrosalpinx and blocked fallopian tubes regardless of the location of the blockage." When one does not have many choices, massage therapy sounds like worth trying. Indeed, it has been successful for some couples. An acupuncture technique uses low voltage electrical stimulation through acupuncture needles placed around the fallopian tubes.

The foods we eat can increase or decrease mucus secretion. Some women are experimenting with drugs used as nasal decongestants such as guaifenesin (found in

Muconex™) that can loosen phlegm and possibly thin the mucus in blocked tubes. A number of natural or herbal medicines have mucus dissolving properties. Some of them are produced as herbal tampons and douches.

"Felopio™ is the original and only herbal treatment known to unblock the fallopian tubes without the use of any chemicals, medications or invasive surgical procedures" - so say the manufacturers. An enzyme, serrapeptase, may help to dissolve scar tissue caused by inflammation.

A number of surgical procedures involve repairing a damaged tube or removing the tube (salpingectomy).

Laparoscopic or hysteroscopic surgery can be used to open a blocked tube. Abnormal tissue can be removed. It may be especially helpful for distal blockade near the ovaries. Proximal blockade near the uterus may need less complex surgery. Future blockade from scarring after surgery may however develop and some statistics show that up to 81 percent of surgically opened distal tubal blockades may close again within six months. Surgery may increase the risk of ectopic pregnancy. Surgery is often a last resort.

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

Urinary tract infection percent of uncomplicated infections is a type of bacteria called Escherichia coli, better know as E. coli. These bacteria normally live in the bowel (colon) and around the anus.

• These bacteria can move from the area around the anus to the opening of the urethra.

The two most common causes of this are poor hygiene and sexual intercourse.

• Usually, the act of emptying the bladder (urinating) flushes the bacteria out of the urethra. If there are too many bacteria, urinating may not stop their spread.

• The bacteria can travel up the urethra to the bladder, where they can grow and cause an infection.

• The infection can spread further as the bacteria move up from the bladder via the ureters.

• If they reach the kidney, they can cause a kidney infection (pyelonephritis), which can become a very serious condition if not treated promptly.

The following people are at increased risk of urinary tract infection: • People with suppressed immune systems: Examples of situations in which the immune system is suppressed are AIDS and diabetes. People who take immunosuppressant medications also are at increased risk.

• Women who are sexually active: Sexual intercourse can introduce larger numbers of bacteria into the bladder. Infection is more likely in women who have frequent intercourse. Infection attributed to frequent intercourse is

nicknamed “honeymoon cystitis.” Urinating after intercourse seems to decrease the likelihood of developing a urinary tract infection.

• Women who use a diaphragm for birth control • Men with an enlarged prostate: Prostatitis or obstruction of the urethra by an enlarged prostate can lead to incomplete bladder emptying, thus increasing the risk of infection.

This is most common in older men.

• Males are also less likely to develop UTIs because their urethra (tube from the bladder) is longer. There is a drier environment where a man’s urethra meets the outside world, and fluid produced in the prostate can fight bacteria.

• Breastfeeding has been found to decrease the risk for urinary tract infections.

Urinary Tract Infection Symptoms Lower urinary tract infection (cystitis): The lining of the urethra and bladder becomes inflamed and irritated.

• Dysuria: pain or burning during urination To be continued

•Dr B. Filani is the Chief Consultant of Sound Health Centre, Lagos. You can contact him on 08023422010 or on facebook or email soundhealthcentre@yahoo.com.

ERPES is a generic name for a group of viruses that cause a variety of diseases. The ailments people generally associate with herpes are those that produce

small blisters on the skin, which open and are replaced by a crust before they heal completely. Genital herpes is caused by a virus called herpes simplex (hsv2), which causes crusted sores, commonly around the lips and mouth (“cold sores”) and the genitalia. The infectious condition itself is also known as herpes simplex.

The virus is intermittently present in the mouth of healthy carriers and is spread by personal contact; genital herpes is spread by sexual contact with an infected person and is a venereal disease. Although some forms can be transmitted through the air or by contact with infected articles (especially towels) used by someone with active herpes, infection usually occurs through direct physical contact.

An attack begins with itching of the skin in the affected area, quickly followed by redness and swelling. Within a few hours fragile blisters (vesicles) appear and rupture to exude a sticky serum like fluid which rapidly crusts. Unless secondary infection with bacteria occurs, the lesions heal without scarring within about a week.

Because herpes blisters individually are the size of a pinhead or smaller, they may not be easily visible. Generally, the affected area will be red, tender, and mildly to severely painful. Fever, headache, and general malaise may also be present.

Genital herpes infections may cause a painful cervicitis (inflammation of the cervix) in women, with ulceration and a vaginal discharge. The results of recent research studies have suggested that women who develop herpes cervicitis may have an increased risk of developing cancer of the cervix in later years. The condition is now seen as a reason for regular screening by pap smears, which can detect early cancerous changes at a stage when treatment is simple and curative.

In men the genital infection is usually less severe. However, those whose immune response is impaired (such as cancer patients, hiv/aids sufferers or organ transplant recipients) can be very susceptible to herpes infection.

Genital herpes may be passed from a pregnant woman to her baby during delivery. Babies infected during birth by their mothers’ active genital herpes are very likely to die or suffer severe brain damage because they have little or no resistance to the virus.

Once the virus enters the body, in stays there for the rest of the person’s life, unless a natural remedy is applied. Recurrent attacks may occur, usually during periods when the person is feeling run down, anxious, or depressed, before menstruation, or after sexual intercourse.

In holistic lifecare, the best prospect of prevention and total cure of genital herpes is in going back to nature in terms of personal hygiene, protected sexual contact and use of potent herbal remedies. Also, a body kept healthy by proper nutrition and exercise has the best chance of keeping the virus under control.

The holistic remedy being suggested for total cure of genital herpes is a combination of natural extracts of eugenia caryophylatta, citrus lemonis, euphorbia unispina, hypericum perforatum and echinacea augustifolia.

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.

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 2011

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Tie knotting

How to get it right T

HE market is full of various kinds of men’s ties. Some of them are distinguished by their patterns and others by their colours. Men’s ties can be woven or printed, pre-tied or self-tie.

Below are tips on how to knot your tie the right way.

Ties on plain white shirts If you really want to show off your necktie, put it on a clean white shirt and watch the reaction you get. Any colour tie goes with a white shirt. If you are ever in doubt, wear a white shirt.

Solid colour shirts Solid or single colour shirts such like pale blue, pale yellow, pale tan and other colours require a little thought. First, you can match the same colour shirt and tie, this has been done for decades and it is still a valuable option. But if you don’t want to match, well the easiest thing to do is CO-ORDINATE. Co-coordinating does not really require a lot of mastery; it simply means matching two different colours that go well together.

Coordinate: -A pale blue shirt with a yellow, red, burgundy, gold or navy tie.

-A pale pink shirt with a navy blue or burgundy tie -A French blue shirt with a yellow, bright red, deep burgundy or gold tie.

Check shirts Coordinating a tie to a check shirt is the same as coordinating a tie to a striped shirt.

The same rules apply, but in the reverse order. First, take a look at the shirt and decide on what the pronounced colour is. Then coordinate a matching colour for the tie.

Make sure the tie has, in this case, diagonal stripes. This will make the checkered shirt to look wonderful. Additionally, you can still use a pattern of boxes or dots on the tie. But again make sure that the boxes or dots are larger than the check pattern.

•Olumide Akande

•Bow ties

•Polyester jacquard ties

•Mensah

•MI

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 2011

Procter & Gamble, Jewel by Lisa hold fashion show

T

HE collabo phenomenon in the music industry has caught up with the fashion industry too. Last Saturday, at the Clear Essence California Spa in Ikoyi, Lagos, Procter &Gamble in their long standing bid to deliver innovative products to mothers with babies between ages 0-24 months, in partnership with one of Nigeria’s premier fashion designers, Lisa Folawiyo of the Jewel by Lisa label, unveils the ‘best Pampers ever’. The new

product (Pampers Premium Care), according to Procter & Gamble’s Associate Marketing Director, Mrs Jaweira Ali, provides unbeatable feat because of its super stretchy sides, which stretches and expands as the baby’s tummy expands. It is said to be the only pampers in the world that stretches up to 8cm!

The event featured a fashion show by JBL which showcased the designer’s stylish new collection of premium baby wear.

•Kids and Models on the runway at the unveiling of Pampers Premium Care

•Models •Jaweria Ali and Fashion Designer, Lisa Folawiyo of Jewel By Lisa

Fashion News Michelle Obama sports Duro Olowu’s design in South Africa

A

merica’s first family landed in Pretoria, South Africa on Monday evening, with Michelle Obama wearing black pants, blue flats and an orange and black jacket designed by Nigerianborn, London-based designer, Duro Olowu.

Durban July fashion and horseracing event hots up

T

he 2011 edition of the annual Durban July, a blend of unique horseracing and fashion events, hots up in Durban, South Africa. It is usually a crowded event with visitors and tourists from different part of the world. The Vodacom Durban July Fashion Experience will give audiences a sassy glimpse of what to expect at this year’s raceday scheduled for July 2.

And guests attending the showcase will be able to view the full collection of Vodacom Durban July Young Designer Award and Fashion Challenge finalists, as well as the anticipated Invited Designer Showcase, which highlights eight of the country’s highly regarded fashion designers. The designers include Pregasen Govender, Karen Monk-Klijnstra, Terrence Bray, Kathrin Kidger, Sibu Msimang and Jean-Paul Botha from Durban and Gert-Johan Coetzee and David Tlale from Gauteng, presenting a different direction with this year’s raceday theme being “A Right Royal Affair.”

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 2011

•Scene of penultimate Thursday’s bombing of the Police Headquarters, Abuja

Boko Haram: ‘How to arrest the drift to anarchy’ OR any meaningful development to take place in this country, we must give peace a chance. It is when there is peace, not just the peace of the grave yard, that real development can be achieved.

Businesses and investiments thrive better when everybody is able to go about his or her daily activities without let or hindrance.

When prospective businessmen and women are sure of a peaceful operational environment and foreign investors are also sure of the same thing, that their investment is safe and that their objective of coming to the country will not be derailed, we can talk of genuine development. “ Government at all levels, need a peaceful environment to operate, too. It is when we have such a peaceful atmosphere that we can talk of development. In other words, if we are passionate about Vision 20-2020, we must all give peace a chance; we must eschew violence in whatever form or guise”.

These were the submissions of Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, last week Friday, in his reaction to the bomb blast that rocked the Force Headquarters in Abuja. The senator, who represents Delta North senatorial district, told The Nation that the collective implication of the emerging culture of violence in the country, if not quickly arrested now, would be serious stagnation and continued underdevelopment.

Senator Okowa is not the only Nigerian

“F

Augustine AVWODE Assistant Editor thinking in this way. This, certainly, is not what many Nigerians wish for at this period of their national life. If anything, they want a serene environment void of socio-political and economic violence or upheaval, such that both the public and private sectors would be able to grow the economy for the good of all.

And nothing attests more eloquently to this earnest wish than the out pouring of condemnations by prominent Nigerians from all walks of life of the latest act of violence and terror visited on the Louis Edet House, Abuja, last week. But before that brazen show of shame, the country has had to contend with a spate of violent activities.

Harvest of violence In the last 12 months, hardly a week had gone by without one form of violence of another being reported. Ironically, the ugly development is coming at a time when the country was just heaving a sigh of relief following the return of peace to the restive Niger Delta region of the country as a result of the amnesty declared by the late President Umaru Yar’Adua for ex-Niger Delta agitators.

From the Jos crisis to the Boko Haram menace in Maiduguri, Borno State, to other religious crises and then, the post-election riots

across some northern states; the soul of the nation has been so viciously tasked. Of all the acts of violence recorded in the recent past, the most recurrent is the menace of the moment is the extremist Boko Haram sect, which announced its presence in the country about two years ago. The group has claimed responsibility for more violent activities than any other known group in the period under review.

Nigerians are yet to forget what happened on October 1, 2010. It was supposed to be Nigeria’s finest hour. But it was miserably marred by violence as loud explosions of car bombs shook the capital city, with one explosion barely one kilometer away from the parade grounds of the Eagle Square where President Goodluck Jonathan was attending the Independence Day parade.

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) claimed responsibility for the blasts.

The October 1, bomb blast would not be the only time he was rattled on an important occasion. Series of explosions trailed his swearing in ceremony on Sunday, May 29. Three explosions ripped through a crowded beer garden at a military barracks in the northern city of Bauchi on that Sunday night, allegedly killing about five people. Two other blasts occurred late on the same Sunday and early Monday in

Zaria, home to Vice President Namadi Sambo.

On New Year’s eve, a bomb exploded in an open-air beer garden and market popularly called Mammy Market, at an army barracks in Abuja, the capital city. It allegedly killed at least four and wounded at least 21people.

In January, the serial killings in Borno State, which had marked the State House out, reached its peak when the cousin of former Governor Ali Modu Sheriff, who was then the gubernatorial candidate of All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) in the state, Alhaji Modu Fannami Gubio, was assassinated at his father’s residence in Lawan Bukar ward, Maiduguri.

On the same day, six other people also met their death, rather untimely. They included the elder brother of the governor, Alhaji Goni Modu Ngala, two policemen guarding the gubernatorial candidate and four other people, one said to be a kolanut seller and another, a shoe shiner described as a teenage boy.

Just a few days after the presidential election in April, violent reactions broke out in some parts of northern Nigeria. The actual figure of the victims of the post-election riots is not known till today. But the case of 10 youth corps members killed by the rioters instantly became the talking point. There

55

was outrage and many people called for the abolition of the scheme. President Goodluck Jonathan later met with the representatives of the families of the slain corps members where he announced a Federal Government’s compensation of N5 million each for them.

But last week’s attempted bombing of the Police Force Headquarters is seen as striking at the heart of security establishment by the elements responsible for the culture of violence that has forced government, all security agents and security buffs into thinking of what could have gone wrong and what the possible solution could be invented.

The popular view Beside those who strongly feel that peace is sine qua non to the nation’s development, the popular view is that the government needs to do much more to provide adequate security for lives and property in Nigeria.

Those who hold this view point to the increasing rate of violent crimes which include such acts as kidnappings, robberies and assassinations and lately, bombing which make screaming headlines on a daily basis.

Niger Delta activist, Annkio Briggs, agrees that government has not done enough but that it would be wrong to blame the present administration of Goodluck Jonathan as being solely responsible for it. She argued that what obtains currently is the result of many years of paying lips service to security matters by previous administrations in the country.

“First of all, we all must realise and accept the failure of the government, the security agencies and the people generally, that we have failed to do enough in Nigeria. We must accept the responsibility. For a long time, government has failed to secure the lives and property of Nigerians. What I am saying in effect is that, we cannot justifiably put the blame on the head of President Goodluuck Jonathan. It has been there for a long time”, Briggs asserted.

Briggs was vehement in blaming corruption, poverty and lack of jobs for the escalating level of violence in the country. She charged governments at all levels to do the most they can to provide jobs so that there wouldn’t be ‘idle’ hands in the society.

“We cannot talk of the solution without talking about the possible cause. We must admit, once again, that corruption is doing a great harm to us in the country because those who have the opportunity to be in one position or the other and who have abused such positions by corruptly enriching themselves, are invariably sowing seeds of discontent in the society.

“Poverty is a cause and most of all, joblessness. There is a saying that the devil will always find a job for any idle hand. So, as long as there are many idle hands in the

•Gen. Azazi, NSA

•Afiz Ringim, Police IG

researching into it. But we must begin to get serious with Boko Haram after the incident at the Police Headquarters. Boko Haram cannot be a faceless group or individuals. I think their identity is being shielded by people who are afraid of the implication”.

As for the solution, Odita hinted that the Federal Government should consider what it did in the case of the Niger Delta ex-agitators and apply the same principle to those behind Boko haram as soon as they could identify them.

“I think the government should consider the extension of the principle of amnesty that was granted to Niger Delta militants to those behind Boko Haram, if they could be identified. May be, some people felt that if they could do this to those from the Niger Delta, let us do this so that they could also look in our direction? I mean that is a possibility. So amnesty and ultimate settlement, is a good suggestion”.

As a second solution, Odita suggested dialogue to be undertaken by the state governments to be able to identify exactly what they want and how to meet such a demand.

“The Federal Government can also authorise the state governments where they are operating to go into dialogue with them, find out the reasons why they are doing this and make suggestions to the Federal Government.

“Then, the National Security Adviser (NSA) should get all security agencies, that is, the State Security Service (SSS), the Nigerian Intelligence Agency (NIA) and if possible the Directorate of Military Intelligence (DMI), to find out the people behind this, their modus operandi and sponsors so that this set of people can talk with the government.

“This is not a thing to be left to the police because the police are operational in approach to duty. They are dependent on information and the agencies that can provide the information are the SSS, NIA and DMI. “Finally, the citizens have a crucial role to play. These people live among us. And if we can volunteer any bit of information, it could go a very long way in helping the country, not just the individuals”, Odita stated.

Martin Onovo, an oil and gas consultant and the national leader of the Strategic

country, so long will there be all this kind of distractions”.

Many of the elements who have unleashed the current wave of violence on the nation for a while now, are said to be former political thugs and goons employed by corrupt leaders for the purposes of rigging elections and for other illegal activities. Today, like the popular Frankenstein Monster, the creation has grown out of control. Curiously, all this is coming on the heels of an election adjudged to be the fairest since the return to democratic rule in 1999.

Steering away from the brink But the blame game got hard knocks from security experts. They are of the opinion that attention must be focused on finding immediate solution to the current trend and do all that is humanly possible to steer the country from the brink.

Frank Odita, a retired Commisioner of Police who is now a security consultant, told The Nation that it would be wrong to say that what is happening is a nationwide development. He stressed that the recent wave of violence has been largely prominent in the northern part of the country. He described it as a new development because it is seemingly directed at security personnel, especially the police as prime target.

“I don’t want to subscribe to the notion that the new wave of violence is occurring all over the country. We all know that the recent development is a new phenomenon that is mainly in the northern axis of the country. And interestingly, the attacks are directed at Nigerian security agents, especially Police.

“Now, we must ask a few questions: Are we sure the claims by Boko Haram are true?

Are there some people who are doing this with the aim of scaring away foreign investors? Who is Boko Haram? Remember, this group has been confronted once by the police and in the process their leader was allegedly killed. Could what is happening be a revenge mission?And is it enough reason to attack government institutions?

“Must every policeman now pay for the sins of one or other policemen, assuming that they are on a revenge mission? I am still

,

•President Jonathan

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 2011

I think the government should consider the extension of the principle of amnesty that was granted to Niger Delta militants to those behind Boko Haram, if they could be identified. May be, some people felt that if they could do this to those from the Niger Delta, let us do this so that they could also look in our direction? I mean, that is a possibility

,

Union of Professionals for the Advancement of Nigeria (SUPA), was more philosophical in his response to the what he thinks should be done to arrest the ugly situation. He enjoined everyone to return from the path he described as ‘criminocratic impunity’ and embrace integrity. In a short SMS response to our question, Onovo said: “We must return from the path of ‘criminocratic impunity’ to that of integrity. According to Pope John Paul 11, ‘Justice is a precondition for peace, but integrity is a precondition for justice. So it is integrity first, and justice will follow before peace can reign”, Onovo counselled.

Briggs suggested that Nigeria must move quickly to find ways and means to curb the development, even if it means enlisting the services of security agencies of other countries.

“Part of the solution to this problem could be enlisting the services of security agencies of other countries and let them train our own security personnel. Take for instance the Boko Haram issue, many countries like the USA, Britain and Israel have been dealing with similar situations for sometime now and it would really help our security agencies on how to go about the problem at hand if there is cooperation in this regard. In the next two to three years, our security personnel would have mastered how to deal with the situation”, she said.

From all indications, the Federal Government seems to have taken this path even before Briggs’ suggestion. Few days after the blast at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, agents of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) arrived Nigeria from the United States of America to help in the investigation of the bomb attack. The team was joined by men of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) of the Nigerian Police from Alagbon, Lagos State, to conduct the investigation.

Others who do not see the development as a thing to be defined as localised in the northern part of the country alone, are preaching true federalism as a panacea to whatever presently aches Nigeria. They believe that with true federalism, state police will probably be allowed and with that, each state will be able to fully monitor the security situation in its domain and take appropriate steps to control it rather than allow it to get out of hand.

Senator Jide Omoworare recently advocated the establishment of state police as panacea to the nation’s crime rate. The Action Congress of Nigeria (CAN) senator from Ife-Ijesa Senatorial District of Osun State, said Nigeria must return to true federalism.

“Nigeria must return to true federalism. It’s only through adherence to the dictates of federalism that each component of the country can truly develop and check the rising wave of crime”.

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 2011

‘Why Borno Governor Shettima is concentrating on three sectors within 100 days’ ‘

Pursuing everything at the same time sometimes distracts attention.

As such, government in its wisdom chose to concentrate on these ones and put them on the right track. After these, I am sure he will pick up another set of three issues

,

•Inuwa Bwala

Immediate past Commissioner for Home Affairs and Information, Borno State, Mr. Inuwa Bwala, recently spoke to journalists on a variety of issues concerning the state, especially now that a new helms man has emerged. ABIODUN JOSEPH was there.

R

ECENTLY Governor Kashim Shettima approved the setting up of committees to reform the education sector, the rehabilitation and equipping of hospitals and on the drilling of 100 and rehabilitation of 200 boreholes within 100 days. Having served in the immediate past administration and being a strong member of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) in the state, do you see the likelihood of the governor hitting his target in the first 100 days?

A: Well, the formation of these committees coming barely one week after the governor assumed duty, is in line with the pace he promised to move out with and in line with the vision he told the people of Borno State during his inauguration. The committees I know comprise tested hands and professionals in most of these fields and I have no doubt that they will deliver.

What is heart-warming about the formation of these committees is that, the governor looked set not to disappoint the people of Borno State by the time he will be 100 days in office. From all indications, he is working towards meeting some of the pledges he made to the people of Borno State during his inaugural speech, one of which is: he planned to drill a 100 boreholes across the state by the time he will be 100 days in office.

With the committee in place on water, it tells you that he is working in that direction. As you may be aware, there were some rigs that were purchased by the state government for this purpose.

Those that are down, he will rehabilitate them I am sure; and those that are functional, he will put them to full use. From the way things are going in that sector, I am hopeful that he will deliver on that promise.

On education, you know it is a

broad-based subject; the formation of the committee on education, given the state of education in the state, is also very formidable. Already the machinery for the renovation of schools in the state has been put in place; the procurement of learning materials and equipments for laboratory I mean are part of the recommendation, which the committee may have to work out.

Although it may not be possible for us to bring a revolutionary change in this educational sector in 100 days, but I can assure you that change would be seen by the time the governor is 100 days in office because by then, there would be a focused, calculated and a deliberate policy for the educational improvement in the state.

As for the health sector, most of the hospitals are being renovated, some have been renovated and new ones have been built. What he is going to do in

some of them is to put finishing touches, equip them and then purchase sufficient drugs,if possible train hands that would handle some of these equipment.

You know some of the equipment in these hospitals are very sophisticated and they need specialise hands. I understand that some people have gone on training to handle them. But of course we need to have more hands trained on them and I am sure he is working on that, because he is particularly passionate about the issue of health, having been a health commissioner who initiated most of these things that are happening today.

So, that one is in line with his vision even as a commissioner of health that time. As a chief executive today, I think the health sector has everything to smile home about, knowing that he would have to complete what he started even as a commissioner.

The committees are basically focusing on three sectors. Why do you think, the governor is focusing on just these sectors?

You see, the resources available to government at all given times are mostly limited in the face of numerous competing demands and government has do define its priorities in the areas that it wants to develop, because pursuing everything at the same time sometimes distracts attention. As such, government in its wisdom chose to concentrate on these ones and put them on the right track. After these, I am sure he will pick up another set of three issues immediately, after he has put these ones on track and developed them.

So, this is going to be in phases

and steps; it is not as if he is ignoring other sectors but he wants to start with these ones because these are the most urgent ones. These are the priorities as far as this government is concerned and you will agree with me that the way he is pursuing these things tells you that he has focus.

There is no doubt about that, but looking at the time, we are going into the farming season and government knows that most of the people in Borno State are peasant farmers and their yearning at this time is for government to look into the agricultural sector, bearing in mind that the 100 days we are talking about fall within the farming season. Don’t you think that something is left out?

I want you to know that the governor also served as a commissioner in the Ministry of Agriculture and knows what it means for the people of Borno State at this time. I believe the governor is not silent about the agricultural sector. It is just that he has not mentioned it. I believe you are aware that there are grand plans for the farming season and His Excellency, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, has, in addition to the 600 tractors procured for distribution, to all local government in the state, promised to procure more tractors such that, by the time we attained one year in office or may be second year in office, he would have provided at least 50 tractors for each of the local government areas in the state, which will be sufficient for the farmers.

Secondly, he is in the process already of trying to procure fertiliser, and I think the orders may have been made and very soon, he will flood the state with fertiliser, which is one of the basic needs of these farmers.

There are also arrangements to bring chemicals and I am sure the chemicals may have even arrived by now given that farming now has assumed that dimension. So, it is not as if he has ignored farming. Why he is not emphasising on farming for now is because already the machinery is on ground.

Well, talking about youth unemployment, this is also an area the people of Borno State are looking at because the governor during his campaign did promise the people that he will tackle the issue of unemployment. Do you foresee the governor doing something about this?

You see, the first step towards solving a problem is to identify that problem; it is a good thing that he has identified youth unemployment as one of the biggest problems of this state, and I am sure by the time he gets the adequate briefing from each ministry or parastatal or any government agency, he will come up with a blue print as to how many of these youths can be intergrated into the formal sector.

He has promised to develop certain agricultural projects especially around the Lake Chad and Dadin Kowa. These two places I am sure are on his plans, to develop them where youths will be employed in their thousands. Government is actually trying to come out with a blue print generally on how it can assimilate these teeming youths on the streets that are going about jobless. We may not be able to rid the streets of unemployed youths in 100 days but I am sure by the time he attains 100 days in office, something would be seen to have happened in that sector.

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Tomorrow in THE NATION PUNCHLINE

SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 2011 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM VOL.5, NO. 1801

By asking the Federal Government to remove the socalled subsidy on fuel so they could be able to pay the new minimum wage, the governors are merely exhibiting their insensitivity to the pervasive poverty in the land —Tunji Adegboyega

P

ROVING Boko Haram wrong? What ex actly do I mean many readers will wonder? If there is abolutely nothing right about this fanatical Islamic group, then we have no business trying to prove them wrong, many would argue. This is an anarchical group that kills policemen, soldiers and civilians at will across the North but particularly in Borno State. Its latest havoc was the bombing of the Police Headquarters, Louis Edet House, in Abuja reportedly leading to the death of two persons, scores wounded and at least 50 vehicles burnt. The group has claimed responsibility for bomb attacks in Beer parlous as well as Mammy markets within military barracks.

To make matters worse, Boko Haram’s spokespersons have declared that they will soon unleash more destruction throughout the North. However, investigators must not discount the possibility that the spate of bombings, which gained momentum in the run-up to the last elections, may also have subtle political undertones. This is particularly so against the background of the virulent bitterness over the issue of zoning that characterized the PDP primaries and was substantially reflected in the presidential election in which votes were cast basically across North-South lines.

These bombings may thus be simply the continuation by other and more deadly means of the allegedly spontaneous mob violence that erupted in several northern states in the aftermath of the presidential election. I warned severally on this page that the abrupt disavowal by the PDP of its zoning policy to accommodate the ambition of President Goodluck Jonathan was a recipe for disaster.

True, President Jonathan gave INEC a free hand to do its job unlike his imperial predecessor. But it is no less true that the immense powers and resources of incumbency gave him a decisive edge at the polls.

What then do we have on our hands? A President that won a landslide, admittedly Pan-Nigerian mandate but a society that remains as fractious and divided as ever. President Jonathan has won the electoral victory he so passionately desired. The question now is: How will he win the peace without which all his lofty dreams of transforming Nigeria will come to nought? But then, I digress. Let us come back to Boko Haram. According to reports, the underlying philosophy of Boko Haram is that western education is sinful or evil. It is so easy and tempting to laugh this off as the product of abysmal illiteracy and ignorance.

But then this anti-western strand in Islamic thought has a long history. One of its intellectual founding fathers, according to the eminent political scientist, Professor Mahmud Mamdani, was the Egyptian scolar, Sayid Qutb (1906-1966). In Mamdani’s words, “Qutb made a distinction between modernity and Westernization calling for an embrace of modernity but a rejection of Westernization…modernization through the natural sciences was fine but not through the westernizing philosophical sciences.”

As I said earlier, many people, particularly

SMS to

How to prove Boko Haram wrong ’

President Jonathan has won the electoral victory he so passionately desired. The question now is: How will he win the peace without which all his lofty dreams of transforming Nigeria will come to nought?

•Yusuf the Nigerian elite, will dismiss such views as arrant nonsense. Afterall, they enjoy all the gadgets, trappings and comfortable lifestyles that western education and civilization can afford even if their own country remains pathetically underdeveloped. Yes, we have seen the power of western education and civilization to transform entire societies and lift people out of poverty. Through western education and civilization, tremendous progress has been made in diverse spheres including science, technology, communication, medicine, transportation among several others.

But within the Nigerian context, can we truthfully fault Boko Haram’s claim that western education is sinful and evil? In fact, I will go further to say that western education has been relatively useless in affecting and improving the Nigerian condition. One example that immediately comes to mind is the teeming number of unemployed youths, a good number of them graduates of higher institutions. Many of them, despite their high scholastic attainment, live in quiet desperation.

Many take to lives of crime and drugs. Others

‘

seek solace in menial jobs like riding Okada or selling recharge cards. Will such victims of the ineptness of government in creating an environment for business to thrive and create jobs not wonder at the value of their certificates?

Will they not subconsciously identify with Boko Haram’s position that western education is utterly sinful, evil and useless?

Or let us take the astronomical cost of governance in this dispensation as another example. Commenting on this in this newspaper last week, Lonard Karshima Shilgba, Associate Professor of Mathematics at the American University of Nigeria, says, “we can see that a total of 16, 540 Nigerians take from our commonwealth at least N1.102 trillion a year or more than 7 billion US Dollars a year!...Think of what three billion US dollars invested annually in infrastructural development can achieve for our country”. The height of this impunity is demonstrated by the on-going trial of former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Dimeji Bankole, and his Deputy, Usman Nafada, for allegedly obtaining jumbo

loans, not for productive purposes but to pay unauthorized outrageous allowances to their members.

I want to believe that all members of the 6th assembly met the minimum academic qualification to contest for the exalted position. They thus have varying levels of western education.The academic or professional certificates they hold are supposed to be not just for learning but also character. How do you contrast this fact with their immoral and profligate expenditure of public funds on frivolties at a time when millions of Nigerians are forced to live on far less than one US dollar daily? As the shadowy members of Boko Haram follow such news, they will feel vindicated that western education is indeed sinful if it could not elevate the moral standards of its benficiaries at the very apex of law-making in the country.

Despite its strident condemnation of Boko Haram, it is ironical that the Nigerian State seems to subconsciously agree with the fanatical Islamic sect that western education may not be particularly too useful afterall. It is only this that can explain the almost total collapse of the public sector education system at all levels. Yet, it is these dilapidated, derelict and neglected schools in most parts of the country that children of the poor are forced to attend since they cannot afford expensive private education either within or outside the country.

The point is succintly made by the National President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Professor Ukachukwu Awuzie thus: “In 2009, just 13 per cent of the total budget was approved for the education sector and there was an agreement with government that with time, it would gradually progress to 26% before 2020. But subsequently, it reduced drastically from the 13 percent in 2009 to six per cent in 2010 leaving one to wonder if we are indeed serious about taking the sector to another level.”

If succesive Northern leaders after the Sardauna, Sir Ahmadu Bello, had followed in his illustrous footsteps, we would perhaps not have the problem of Boko Haram on our hands today – at least not on this scale. The Sardauna had a passion for education and invested heavily in the sector principally to enable the North to bridge the gap with the South in this respect. It is unfortunate that most northern leaders after him only enriched themselves to the detriment of the collective community. The consequence is the widespread poverty, hunger, disease and deprivation that make the North perhaps the poorest region in Nigeria.

Let me quickly say that the conditions in which shadowy groups like Boko Haram thrive is not limited to the North. But it manifests more virulently in the North as a result of a lethal mix of mass poverty and fractious religious militancy. The best way to prove Boko Haram and other such groups wrong is not only to provide affordable and qualitative mass education for the populace but also revive the growth of the real economy to provide jobs on the largest possible scale. An enlightened and usefully engaged individual who can afford basic minimum comforts for himself and his family will be less vulnerable to being recruited as a suicide bomber.

Ade Ojeikere on Saturday

A vote for Onyali-Omagbemi

I

T all started as a rumour. Nigeria is on the verge of appointing a woman sports minister. A breathe of fresh air I reckoned.

Brilliant, I shouted, given the fact that women are sticklers for truth and don’t tolerate injustice. Who can this woman be?

Mary Onyali-Omagbemi appeared on the ministerial list being touted in the media.

Could it be true? If yes, should she not be taken to sports, given her pedigree as one-time Africa’s fastest female sprinter in the 100 metres?

Why not Onyali-Omagbemi? Who could be better? One thing that we can vouch for is that she won’t be football minister, having excelled

in athletics.

She is the quintessential choice for the sports minister job, but who must be supported with a road map, if we want the industry to thrive as a business, not a bazaar in which government cash is shared or not accounted for.

Even before appointments are made, this writer feels strongly that Onyali-Omagbemi should be taken to sports if we truly want changes that many have clamoured for in the industry.

What are her antecedents in sports administration beyond her unheralded sports projects? What happened to all the brilliant ideas that she came up with? Could this ministerial platform offer her the opportunity to perfect those projects?

Ruminating, Onyali-Omagbemi’s appointment may signal the clearing of the

deck at the National Sports Commission (NSC).

Would those sit-tight NSC eggheads resign their appointments now that a former athlete is likely to be named minister? In the military, when a junior officer is elevated to the highest office, the senior men must quit.

The calibre of men chosen to run sports has ruined its development. They come with mindset targeted at perceived enemies in the system and plunge into controversies.

For Onyali-Omagbemi to excel, if chosen, the old order should go. Younger sports administrators in the NSC should be challenged to do things differently, if we truly desire a new dawn.

Onyali-Omagbemi, if picked, must ensure that her first achievement should be the total democratisation of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), using the universal instrument- the FIFA statutes.

She must ask NSC’s henchmen to produce the document NFA/CHM/CON/03/16 signed by former sports minister Bala Bawa Kaoje dated 26th February 2007 part of which reads: (2) The Federal executive Council by its meeting of Wednesday 5 January 2005, conclusion EC (2005) Ist meeting approved the commission’s prayer for the abrogation of the Decree 101 based on the approval of the Federal Executive Council, for which a bill has been tabled before the National Assembly for the abrogation of the Decree. The bill is currently undergoing the normal legislative procedures at the National Assembly.

This document will resolve the NFF/NFA impasse especially as the process of abrogating Decree 101 has passed through two readings on the two floors of the National Assembly.

She must be reminded too that her portfolio at the NSC needs legal backing.

Already, the NFF/NFA impasse has stopped the August 10 international friendly between •Continued on Page 4

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