May 3, 2014 by The Nation

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2 NEWS

THE NATION, SATURDAY, MAY 3, 2014

Security agents cleaning bomb blast scene

NEWS

THE NATION, SATURDAY, MAY 3, 2014

Other scenes of the blast... yesterday

4News

THE NATION, SATURDAY, MAY 3, 2014

Nyanya blast: 19 killed, 60 injured —Police

•Security agencies begin probe •Forensic experts retrieve IEDs parts •US condemns blast

HE Police yesterday confirmed that 19 people were killed in Thursday’s blast at Nyanya, near Abuja. Sixty were injured, it said in an update on the blast, the second in the town in as many weeks. The probe of the blast by security agencies commenced immediately with forensic experts retrieving some IED components from the car used for the attack suspected to have been carried out by the Islamist sect, Boko Haram. The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Frank Mba, in a statement said that soon after the blasts at 7.15pm, the police and other law enforcement agents and emergency response officers rushed to the scene and evacuated the injured victims to hospitals for medical attention. He said: ”The blast left 19 persons dead and 66 others with varying degrees of injuries. Six of the injured however have been treated and discharged.” He advised families seeking information on their

Yusuf ALLI, Managing Editor, Northern Operation, Gbade OGUNWALE and Gbenga OMOKHUNU missing loved ones to visit the following hospitals: Asokoro General Hospital; Maitama General Hospital; Wuse General Hospital; National Hospital; Mararaba General Hospital; Nyanya General Hospital; Customs Hospital, Karu; Gwagwalada Specialist Hospital and PanRaf Hospital, Nyanya. He said the Police had already commenced a full scale investigation into the blast. The police, along with other security agencies, have accordingly cordoned off the scene of the explosion, where the Police Antibomb Squad recovered and defused three Improvised Explosive Devices (IED). He advised the public to keep off all scenes of blast and other related crimes “in order to avoid the contamination of crime scene

S/NO

HOSPITAL

Injured Corpses

Asokoro General Hospital

Maitama General Hospital

Wuse General Hospital

National Hospital

Mararaba General Hospital

Nyanya General Hospital

Customs Hospital, Karu

Gwagwalada Specialist Hospital

Pan-Raf Hospital, Nyanya

Total and protect the public from the risk associated with such crime scenes.” It was gathered that forensic experts have retrieved some components of the Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) used by those behind the bomb blast. “We have started probing the latest explosion. All se-

curity agencies are working round the clock to get clues on the explosion. We have so far retrieved some components of the IED for forensic analysis,” a top security source said. “We hope to get to the roots of the spate of bombings in this axis and other parts of the country.”

Speaking separately, the spokesperson for the State Security Service (SSS), Mrs. Marilyn Oga, said: “We must take our security into our hands; we must be col-

lective. It will be so premature to begin to talk on arrest. As soon as we are done with the investigation, we will make it public.”

Boko Haram: Probe military for saboteurs, Arewa charges FG

HE pan-Northern socio-political organisation, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF),wants the Federal Government to beam its searchlight on military personnel in the effort to end the Boko Haram insurgency. The forum suspects that some elements in the armed forces are lending support to the Islamist sect. The national executive council of the ACF, in a communiqué at the end of a meeting in Kaduna, said “without the support and cooperation from within the military and security circles, the insurgents would not have been succeeding so easily in their dastardly acts.” Government, it said, should therefore carry out an in-house search of its security apparatus and put in place measures that will boost the morale of the troops deployed to fight the insurgents and instil confidence in the people. In the communiqué signed by the forum’s Secretary General, Col. John Paul Ubah (rtd), the ACF asked the military to constantly update Nigerians on efforts to rescue the abducted students of

Tony AKOWE, Kaduna Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok to reduce the fear and concern of parents. Expressing concern over the spate of killings of innocent people and wanton destruction of property by unknown gunmen and Boko Haram insurgents in most parts of the northern region, the ACF pleaded with the authorities to “make concerted efforts to secure the release” of the abducted students. It added: “The security agencies should also open themselves to the intelligence being provided by the community on the alleged movement of the abducted students across our borders and seek support and cooperation of our neighbours to track down the abductors and their victims. It welcomed the concern of all Nigerians “on this unfortunate incident of the abduction of Chibok female students and commends the various women organisations that trooped out in Maiduguri, Abuja and Kaduna and other places to express their anger and displeasure over the abduction of school girls.”

Amnesty asks FG to fish out bombers

T •Security agents clearing the scene of the Nyanya bomb blast yesterday.

PDP charges Nigerians to unite against terrorism

HE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) party has charged Nigerians to jettison parochial interests and join forces with government by exposing terrorist elements. In a statement issued yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, the party noted that it is the ordinary people that have fallen victim to insurgency in the country. The PDP urged Nigerians to realise that ordinary citizens have generally become targets of bomb attacks irrespective of religious and ethnic differences, and as such must stand up and join hands with government in the fight against terrorism. The statement said: “Nigerians must realise that it is no longer about the President or the government. Neither is it about government officials. All

Gbade OGUNWALE, Abuja Nigerians are under attack. Ordinary people and regular citizens have remained general targets of these enemies of our country. “Hundreds of innocent Nigerians, Muslims and Christians alike, have had their lives brutally ended by the wicked acts of these terrorists. “Our people, businessmen and women, professionals, including security men, doctors and nurses, lawyers, artisans, market women, civil servants, farmers, school children, clerics, artistes, old men and women and breadwinners pursuing legitimate endeavours, have been brutalised and slaughtered. “Those behind these devilish acts seek mainly to intimidate, cow, frighten and destroy us, thereby imposing a regime of ter-

ror, anarchy and chaos. They seek to decimate us as a people, destroy our common heritage and bring our nation to its knees, but they will surely fail. “They cannot intimidate us. We shall not be cowed. We refuse to be frightened and we will not be destroyed. Let them know that our common resolve to live as one people under God remains irrevocable.” The PDP called on Nigerians to unite as one people against insurgency, saying that they must come together and resent a common front against terrorism, irrespective of differences in religious and political affiliations. “We must refuse to be slaughtered by our enemies. We must show bravery, go beyond shedding tears at each carnage and forcefully support our government and our security men and women by exposing terrorist elements and their back-

ers among us. That is the only way to put the enemy under check and ensure that the blood of the slain was not shed in vain.” Stating that it will never compromise its belief in Nigerians and the Nigerian project, the party urged Nigerians not to be forlorn, adding that a brighter future awaits the nation in no distant time. “As a party entrusted with the sacred mandate of leadership, the PDP will never compromise or jettison its belief and commitment to the national interest. We remain steadfast in our belief in Nigerians and the Nigerian project. “We reiterate that working together, our nation will come out of these challenges a stronger, more united and more peaceful nation where all will live in peace and unity irrespective of ethnic, religious and political differences,” the statement said.

HE Amnesty International (AI) yesterday asked the Federal Government to fish out the perpetrators of Thursday’s bombing in Nyanya near Abuja. It also described the bomb explosion as callous. It however asked the Federal Government to do more to protect Nigerians from further attacks by insurgents. The AI gave the charge in a statement in Abuja against the backdrop of the killing of 19 people and the injuring of 60. The statement reads: “Thursday’s night deadly car bombing in a suburb of the Nigerian capital, Abuja displays a callous disregard for human life and highlights the urgency of bringing an end to the campaign of violence against civilians being waged by Islamist armed groups in Nigeria. “No group has yet claimed responsibility for the latest attack, which killed 19 people and injured more than 60 in the Abuja suburb of Nyanya. “It comes less than three weeks after the armed group, Boko Haram, killed more than 70 people in a similar attack on the same area. “Besides showing a callous disregard for human life, violent attacks targeting civilians, like the one carried out in Nyanya last night (Thursday) are unlawful and must end

Yusuf ALLI, Managing Editor, Northern Operation immediately,” said Susanna Flood, Director of Media at Amnesty International.” The AI asked the government to protect Nigerians from further attacks by the insurgents. It also appealed to Boko Haram and other insurgency groups to stop recourse to attacks. It added: “The Nigerian authorities, for their part, must do more to protect civilians and bring the perpetrators of all such attacks to justice – but it is crucial that they do so without carrying out further human rights violations.” “Boko Haram and other armed groups must renounce their unlawful and counterproductive campaign of violence against civilians. “More than 1,500 people have been killed since the beginning of 2014 amid fighting between Nigerian security forces and Islamist armed groups, which are based mainly in the north-east of the country but occasionally launch attacks in the capital and elsewhere. Last night’s attack comes just days before the World Economic Forum on Africa opens in Abuja on 7 May.”

News 5

THE NATION, SATURDAY, MAY 3, 2014

HE United States of America (USA) is prepared to help Nigeria in searching for the more than 200 girls abducted by the Islamist sect, Boko Haram, from Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State. “We have been engaged with the Nigerian government in discussions on what we might do to help support their efforts to find and free these young women,” State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf told reporters on Thursday. “We will continue to have those discussions and help in any way we can.” The terrorists stormed the

US to help Nigeria rescue abducted girls

school on April 14, packed the teenagers onto trucks and motorcycles before disappearing into a remote area along the border with Cameroon. The kidnapping occurred the same day a bomb blast, also blamed on Boko Haram, killed 75 people on the edge of the capital, Abuja, and it marked the first attack on the capital in two years. The brutality of the abduction has shocked Nigerians long accustomed to hearing about atrocities in an increasingly bloody five-year-old insurgency especially in the

•American senators condemn abduction

Northeast. Boko Haram is now seen as the main security threat to Africa’s leading energy producer. Harf did not elaborate on the kind of assistance Washington is offering, but said: “We know Boko Haram is active in the area and we have worked very closely with the Nigerian government to build their capacity to fight this threat.” Separately, a group of U.S. senators introduced a resolution condemning the abduc-

tion and urging U.S. government assistance in the rescue effort. “The U.S. and the international community must work with the Nigerian government to ensure these girls are reunited with their families and deepen efforts to combat the growing threat posed by Boko Haram,” said Senator Chris Coons of Delaware, the chairman of the Senate’s African Affairs subcommittee, and one of the resolution’s six sponsors.

In fiscal year 2012, the United States provided over $20 million in security assistance to Nigeria, part of that to build the country’s military, boost its capacity to investigate terrorist attacks and enhance the government’s forensic capabilities, she said. The US Embassy yesterday condemned Thursday’s explosion in Nyanya near Abuja. Death toll in the blasts rose to 19 yesterday, according to the Police.

Sixteen were injured. The embassy, in a statement in Abuja, said the attack was “ not only on innocent people but on a democratic nation itself.” Lawless violence and intimidation, it declared, have no place in a democracy. It said its thoughts “are with the families and loved ones of those who were killed or injured in this heinous act.” It pledged its continued support for the government and Nigerians “as they face the threat of violent extremism.”

Abducted girls: APC Women urge FG to seek help from UN Security Council

HE All Progressive Congress (APC) Women yesterday urged the Federal Government (FG) to seek help from member nations of the UN Security Council to rescue the 234 abducted girls from Chibok, Borno state. A statement issued yesterday in Abuja by the Interim National Women Leader of the party, Sharon Ikeazor, said the fact that the girls are yet to be rescued means that the Nigeria security agents are either overwhelmed or limited in their rescue operations. She said the Nigerian army is operating under very difficult situation, but urged them to double up efforts to rescue the girls. “To the Nigerian Army, we know you are operating under a very difficult situation and are demoralised, but you must rise to the challenge. “You have won commendations and laurels in UN peace keeping missions outside of Nigeria; we believe you can do the same in your home country,” she said. “To our abducted daughters, please remember Malala, the 16-year-old Pakistani girl who stood up to the Taliban and defended her right to education. “You all have courage despite the security situation in your area, to continue with your education” “You will come home and complete your education. We will not rest till every single one of you is returned home. Malala has put education at the top of the global development agenda and so have you,”she said. The statement condemned the tactics by Boko Haram, describing the act

Bukola AMUSAN, Abuja and Leke SALAUDEEN as barbaric and inhuman. In a related development, the Lagos State chapter of the party’s women wing has also called on President Goodluck Jonathan to ensure that the over 200 school girls abducted by the insurgents in Borno State are rescued. The party’s women leader in the state, Mrs Kemi Nelson, said at a press conference in Lagos yesterday that as mothers, the women were unhappy that more than two weeks after the girls were snatched from their school they were yet to be found and returned to their parents. Nelson said the women were even more saddened by the slow response of the government to the kidnapping in the first few days the girls were captured and the ambivalence of the current leadership in arresting the situation. She said the “slow and lethargic” response of the Jonathan administration and the security apparatus in handling the abduction of the girls as well as the security situation in the North East has led many Nigerians to lose confidence in the Federal Government’s competence in protecting lives and property. She declared: “We the APC women join our voices with those of all other mothers and women across the country to demand that this government finds and brings back our daughters. With the resources and security machinery at its disposal, this government has run out of excuses on this particular matter. “We as mothers and women will not stop at just street protests to demand for action.”

From left: Hon. Jumoke Okoya Thomas; APC Lagos State Women Leader, Chief Mrs Kemi Nelson; Hon Funmi Tejuosho and Hon. Abike Dabiri Erewa during a press briefing on over 200 abducted female students of Goverment Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State in Ikeja, Lagos. PHOTO: Dayo ADEWUNMI

CAN describes Nyanyan blast as evil

HE Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) yesterday condemned Thursday’s Nyanya bomb blast, which claimed 19 lives and left 60 injured. Last night’s attack in Nyanya, the second in 15 days, CAN said, is a clear indication of the terrorists motive, which is to demoralise and destabilise the Nigerian work force by putting fear in their minds, saying “we must not allow this to happen.” In a statement signed by the Secretary General of CAN, Rev. Musa Asake, CAN President, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor said it is an act that must be condemned by all, adding: “No sane person will seek to destroy the lives of fellow compatriot in the name of an `ungodly ideology’ of a so called `religious belief’.” It reads in part: “It is with shock and dismay that I received the news of last night bomb attack at the Nyanya motor park barely 15 days af-

•Says security operatives should do more Gbenga OMOKHUNU, Abuja ter the first attack on April 14. The news of the second attack is not only devastating but a sad day for our nation. “Like I have reiterated in recent times, terrorists or their sponsors must not be given the opportunity to prevail, and I state categorically again, evil cannot overwhelm good and darkness cannot prevail over light. This is a known fact that I want all Nigerians to take to heart in these trying times. “The forces of evil may have made inroads in one or two places, but the collective good of the majority of Nigerians must and will always rise above the goal of the terrorists. “At this moment, I want to commiserate with the families of those who lost their lives and pray for speedy recovery for those injured in the attack.

This calls for more vigilance and caution by all citizens. Let us not allow these acts of inhumanity to dampen our spirit of patriotism for our country. Let us all rise against this monster. “I once again call on those in charge of security to work harder to contain the situation

Obi sympathises with blast victims

ORMER Anambra State governor, Mr. Peter Obi, has described the Nyanya bomb blast of Thursday as mindless war against innocent Nigerians. In a statement made available to the press, Mr. Obi, wondering what the perpetrators of the act stand to gain, said it was worrisome that innocent Nigerians were confronted by barbarians who did not have re-

Abduction: Court asked to compel FG to provide security for schools

HE Federal High Court in Abuja has been asked to compel the Federal Government to provide adequate security for students of its colleges across the country. The request is contained in a suit by a group of concerned Nigerians instituted yesterday before the court by an Abuja-based lawyer, Sunday Essienekak. The plaintiffs, in an exparte for “judicial review - an order of mandamus, are seeking among others, leave to apply

for an order of mandamus mandating the Federal Government and its relevant agencies to “provide security to the students of all Federal Government Secondary Schools in Nigeria.” They are seeking to mandate the government and its agencies to “take preventive steps to secure the lives and property of all vulnerable students” in Federal Government schools in the Northeastern part of the country in view of the worsening security situation in the area.

Eric IKHILAE, Abuja The lawyer, in his supporting affidavit to the suit marked:FHC/ABJ/CS/344/ 2014, stated that the suit was informed by the increasing kidnap cases in government schools in the Northeast. He stated that it was the duty of the Federal Governent to provide security services to Nigerians and by implication the week, defenceless, vulnerable children in these Federal Government owned schools. “There is a security situation in Nigeria, mostly in the

Northern states, that has occasioned the kidnaping, killing, abduction of vulnerable children in Federal Government Secondary schools. “Recently, at the Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok in Borno State, about 234 girls were abducted by insurgents. “It is necessary that this duty be performed to abate, avert or forestall the inherent danger associated with it and to protect and save the lives of these vulnerable, weak children,” Essienekak stated.

while I call on relief organizations to see to the welfare of the victims. “CAN on its part, will commit the country in the hands of God through prayers, to ensure that the situation is put under control, ours is to take this petition to God, we cannot carry guns and bombs to fight this battle but through prayers we shall win this battle.”

The plaintiffs urged the court to grant their prayers in the interest of justice. Sued in the case are the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Education Minister, Chief of Defence Staff, Director of State Security Service and Inspector General of Police. Among the plaintiffs are Sunday Omekedo, Tsadu Mohammed, Engr. Pius Udihirinwa and Iyama Lawrence. A date is yet to be set for hearing.

spect for the sacredness of human lives. “The strange culture of people killing fellow humans without compunction can at best be described as atavistic throwback to the old and superseded ways. To observe those traits of barbarism creeping back to our country calls for concerted efforts to check,” Obi said. He commended President Goodluck Jonathan for being responsive to the suffering of the people and urged him not to relent or be dampened in his efforts to bring the situation under check. He also commended security agencies for their prompt response and urged them to do everything possible to fish out the perpetrators of the evil act. Obi called on Nigerians to offer helping hands to the victims as much as they could and prayed to God to strengthen the families of all those affected by the act, especially those that lost their loved ones.

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THE NATION SATURDAY, MAY 3, 2014

Uduaghan, Aliyu reaffirm faith in PDP

HE governors of Delta and Niger states, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan and Dr Babangida Aliyu, have reaffirmed their faith in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), saying that the dark days of the party were over. Speaking in Asaba Thursday evening, the governors said there was crisis in the party which had been resolved and that the PDP had re-positioned itself to win in the 2015 general elections. According to Governor Uduaghan who played host to Governor Aliyu and members of his team, “our party is now stabilised; people are happier and we are more united in the PDP,” observing that Governor Aliyu took a wise decision by not abandoning the party during the crisis. “You kept saying and reassuring us that you are a PDP man for life. Some people do not believe in running away from challenges and you are one of them,” Dr Uduaghan told his Niger State counterpart stressing that the answer to challenges was not to run away, but to “remain inside, tackle the challenges and effect the changes you desire.” The governor used the occasion to call on leaders to always take politics at the grassroots very important, asserting that lives of the people at the grassroots must be transformed. “Politics is about getting to the people at the grassroots; we must transform their lives because the little things we take for granted like provision of water means a lot to the ordinary Nigerian in the rural communities,” Uduaghan said. He described Governor Aliyu as a man who is playing strategic roles in uniting the country as the Chairman of the Northern Governors’ Forum (NGF), assuring that Nigeria would remain one

indivisible entity. In his remark, Governor Aliyu said Nigeria would witness a peaceful election in 2015 and the PDP would remain strong and victorious in the elections. According to him, “2015 will come and pass peacefully, and it will be to the success of the PDP,” adding that the PDP is at the grassroots and the people at the grassroots are fully in support of the party. He expressed satisfaction with the roles Governor Uduaghan is playing in the PDP, stating that his stand on issues has saved the PDP from crises and his wisdom is an asset to the party.

•Chairman, Dangote Cement Plc, Alhaji Aliko Dangote (middle), flanked by GMD/CEO, Mr. Devakumar Victor Edwin, and Acting Company Secratary, Mr. Ityoyila Ukpi, during the company's 5th Annual General Meeting held at Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos... yesterday.

Abducted schoolgirls: Presidency raises panel

fresh effort by the Fed eral Government to rescue the 223 students of the Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State,abducted by Boko Haram,got underway yesterday. President Goodluck Jonathan raised a 26-man team to mobilize efforts for the rescue operation,24 hours after the Police and the State Security Service (SSS) revealed that a total of 276 girls were actually abducted by the terrorists during the April 15 raid . The security agencies said 53 of the students have fled from their abductors,leaving 223 in their den. Heading the panel is a former boss of the Directorate of Military Intelligence,Brigadier General Ibrahim A.Sabo. Also on the panel are Lagos lawyer,Mr.Femi Falana (SAN), Hajia Hawa Ibrahim; Hajia Fatima Kwaku; two representatives of the ational Council of Women Societies (NCWS);

FROM: Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation/Austine Ehikioya two representatives of the All Nigeria Conference of Principal of Secondary Schools(ANCOPPS)-one of whom shall be a female; two representatives of the National Parents Teachers Association; two representatives of the Nigeria Police; two representatives of the State Security Service; two representatives of the Nigerian Army; two representatives of the Nigeria Union Journalists(NUJ); one representative of the Federal Ministry of. Information (who shall be the Committee's spokesperson); one representative of the Ministry of Justice; three representatives of Borno State Government two of whom preferably shall be women; one representative of the UN; one representative of ECOWAS (who shall be a woman) and the Permanent Secretary (Special Services Office) OSGF who shall be the Secretary.

It,will,according to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation,Chief Pius Anyim, mobilize communities in Chibok and the general public on citizen support for a rescue strategy and operation; The fact finding committee will also liaise with the Borno State Government and establish the circumstances leading to the School remaining open for boarding students when other schools were closed; liaise with relevant authorities and the parents of the missing girls to establish the actual number and identities of the girls abducted; interface with the Security Services and Borno State Government to ascertain how many of the missing girls have returned; and articulate a framework for a multi-stakeholder action for the rescue of the missing girls. It is also expected to advise Government on any matter incidental to its terms of reference. The decision to set up the

FG orders ministries, schools in Abuja to shut down for World Economic Forum

LL government offices and schools in the Fed eral Capital Territory (FCT) are to be shut down on Wednesday and Thursday when Nigeria will be hosting the World Economic Forum Africa. The shutdown is at the instance of the Federal Government in response to the recent bomb blasts at Nyanya, near Abuja. It pleaded with the delegates for the summit "not to let terror win" by staying away. The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Pius Anyim, in a statement asked private organizations with large staff to also shut down business during the two days. He said the move “is to ease the flow of traffic within the city and enable participants carry out their assigned roles and participate actively at the World Economic Forum Africa." A suspected car bomb killed 19 people and wounded 60

Augustine EHIKIOYA, Abuja and Agency Reports on Thursday night at Nyanya next to the bus stop where a rush-hour bomb attack killed 75 people on April 14. The bombs, along with the abduction of 200 girls from the Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, threaten to overshadow the WEF conference's emphasis on Africa's positive growth story. The girls, who were taking examnations, were taken away on trucks on the same day as the bus station bombing. The Federal Government is expected to mount a huge security operation to protect the WEF scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday. A regional replica of the Davos, Switzerland, event, it will bring together international leaders, policy-makers, entrepreneurs and philanthropists. "We want to state categorically that the President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan ad-

ministration will not be diverted nor will it give in to these nefarious acts of terrorism," Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said in a statement yesterday. "The government has taken the strongest measures to ensure a safe forum. We ask participants not to let terror win," she said. Despite the repeated assurances on security, there were signs that not all the delegates were convinced that Nigerian authorities could keep the capital safe during the event. Fernando de Sousa, General Manager of Microsoft Africa Initiatives, cancelled his trip "for security reasons following the bombings in Abuja", a PR company representing the firm said. Interior Minister Abba Moro told Reuters that security in Abuja city centre would make it very difficult for any insurgents to find their way in. He also said security forces were close to rescuing the missing girls. "Defence High Command is

doing everything to secure the release of these girls. We are closing in on their location. Hopefully in the next couple of days, they will be rescued," Moro said in a telephone interview. But he added: "The government has to be careful. Any allout forceful rescue of these kids could undermine their safety."

panel was one of the highlights of a high-level meeting of security chiefs in the country with President Jonathan yesterday at the State House. The meeting evaluated the security situation in the country . Information Minister Labaran Maku,told reporters that the security chiefs briefed the meeting on efforts so far made to locate and rescue the girls, and bring the perpetrators to justice. Maku,with whom were the Military spokesman, Major General Chris Olukolade, police spokesman, Frank Mba, State Security Service (SSS) spokesperson, Marilyn Ogar and the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Doyin Okupe,said extensive and intensive aerial surveillance by the Air Force has been carried out on all the routes leading into and out of Chibok up to the Chad and Cameroun borders. Other parts of Borno and Adamawa states are also under the searchlight,he said. He added:"Every information relayed to security agencies has so far been investigated, including the search of all places suspected as a possible hide-away of the kidnapped girls. “The police, backed up by the military and DSS, have combed and are still combing all reported places that the girls might have been taken to.” He said much of the information was inconsistent and contradictory,prompting the setting up of the panel. He said that President

Jonathan shares in the pain and anguish of the parents and guardians of the abducted girls. His words: "The President's heart goes out to these our unfortunate daughters who have had to endure the trauma of abduction and separation from their loved ones. The government and people of Nigeria stand solidly by them. "Government also appreciates the public outpouring of support and the sentiment expressed so far by all Nigerians, including civil society groups who have come out to condemn the abduction of the girls and terrorism in the country. Government strongly believes that the people of Nigeria, standing together, will overcome the current security challenges. "The President has directed that the security agencies should intensify efforts to rescue the Chibok girls. The President assures Nigerians that "wherever the girls are in the world, we will get them back, apprehend and punish the culprits". He stated On the latest Nyanya bomb blast he said: "The meeting received updates on the second Nyanya bombing, the ongoing search for the Chibok girls, and efforts made so far to deal with related incidents of insecurity and terrorism in the country." "The President directed security chiefs to increase surveillance and expedite investigation into the explosion to ensure that those behind the heinous act are arrested and brought to justice."

Traditional healers seek separate hospital for practice EMBERS of the Nige

rian Union of Medi cal Herbal Practitioners (NUMHP) Lagos State chapter have called on the Lagos State government to support their members towards building separate hospitals for the practice of traditional medicine in the state. The herbal practitioners stated that their clamour for having separate governmentbacked general hospital and maternity centres for the full practice of traditional medicine would offer government the opportunity of having access

to regulate their practice more properly and confirm the efficacy of their medicine, and which will as well complement the practice of orthodox medicine in the state. In a formal request for an audience presented to Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, jointly signed by their leaders, Dr. Ayoka Ogunpeju Oguntokun, Iyalode-General; Dr. Sabir Adeokin, Lagos State Chairman; and Dr. Funmilayo Salami, State secretary, they ask the governor to allocate

land to their members for the purpose of building the traditional hospital as in India and China. The herbal medicine practitioners argued that millions of Nigerians resident in Lagos State patronize their clinics and centres as their practice cuts across all ailments, including traditional surgeries. The traditional healers urged Governor Fashola to view their request as a parting legacy his administration will bestow on health care delivery in Lagos State.

THE NATION, SATURDAY, MAY 3, 2014

COMMENTARY

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All the same, the horror all right thinking Nigerians, including Muslims have over gay marriages pales into insignificance when one appraises the forced marriage that Boko Haram has inflicted on the captured Nigerian girls

HE news in the international media this week that the 230 Nigerian school girls abducted by Boko Haram in Chibok in North East Nigeria have been married off after being converted by their captors, cannot but raise serious concern, consternation and utter outrage, in a world audience including millions of Nigerians watching this suspenseful and horrible drama that has soured Nigeria’s sovereign reputation dastardly in the global comity of nations. Yet, as we were still hoping against hope that the girls will be returned alive and safe to us, another bomb blast killed 19 people last Thursday in Abuja the venue of the World Economic Forum in Africa due to start very soon. These two incidents both steeped in high insecurity garments, with one terminally bloody for the hapless victims in Abuja and the other leaving us on a wicked tenterhook of daily, withering hope, provide food for thought on the issues in the topic of the day, especially with the politics enveloping their handling by the Nigerian authorities. Let me state clearly that I am not prepared to trade blames with our security agencies as long as they are able to perform the much needed magical and Houdini act of producing the lost girls alive and well, like magicians produce rabbits from their hats to the applause of an impressed audience. Aside from the contemptuous and audacious marrying off of our girls marriage as an idea was in the news from several cultural perspectives this last week. By marriage I include gay ones and their rights which the US and Western Europe are using as the flagship of their human rights policy in a world largely un amused by the development. In fact from Kenya came a befitting response to the gay marriage issue. The Kenyan Parliament has passed the Marriage Act 2014 which virtually legalises polygamy and allows a man to marry as many wives as he wants without consulting his first wife which the women parliamentarians in Kenya wanted included before. The Kenyan Marriage Act which also recognises monogamy amongst man and woman in Islam, Christianity and Hindu communities in Kenya puts into law a way of life rampant in Africa but put into limbo and opprobrium by colonialism and imperialism, which made monogamy the official matrimony of colonial states and their subjects before independence. Now Kenya has boldly broken the shackles of monogamy and the western type of marriage no doubt as a protest against the western attitude on gay rights and marriages. To buttress this cultural dichotomy a court judgement this week in France on adoption of a child by a lesbian couple showed the cultural divergence and gulf between western nations, Afro Asian

‘ ‘ Marriage, security and politics nations and Russia. The court ruled that a lesbian couple could not adopt a child born by artificial insemination of one of the couple. This has outraged gay rights activists in France because the French parliament has already passed a law recognising gay rights and marriages. Which means that the judge is insisting that gay rights or not, human offspring should be from copulation and procreation by people of opposite sex, namely man and wife. All the same, the horror all right thinking Nigerians, including Muslims have over gay marriages pales into insignificance when one appraises the forced marriage that Boko Haram has inflicted on the captured Nigerian girls. Since Boko Haram is against western education I presume this must be their way of discouraging Nigerian girls from the north from going to school. But it is a strategy that is as barbaric as it is crude in that it lacks any moral basis to seize young innocent girls and impose such a wicked destiny for life on them. Boko Haram by the false and forced marriage may have boxed itself into a corner of self destruction and annihilation by this singularly odious act. This is because whatever its grouse with the Nigerian state, killing of innocent Nigerians and capturing Nigerian girls to a slavery of marriage makes nonsense of that grouse and provokes a civilised world against Boko Haram asa collection of wicked savages rather than people fighting on a religious or cultural basis. In this regard former British PM Gordon Brown this week offered Nigeria British help in terms of providing aerial surveillance with military planes to track down the girls and their captors. Actually the capture and forced marriages showed that Boko Haram is no more than a pack of desert marauders who in ancient times attacked caravans to pillage, loot goods and merchandise and killed and murdered their unfortunate victims. But then this is 2014 and the Nigerian state, people and government must draw a line in the sand for this horrible sect to make it know that with this kidnap of full blooded Nigerian girls, it has bitten more that it can chew, no matter how bloodthirsty its record has been in recent times. For now I can only wish our security forces the best of luck as they track down the captors of our girls and bring them safely home while they make mincemeat of their heartless captors in whatever way they can. It is with this in mind however that I look at the statement credited to US Secretary of State John Kerry recently on the failure of Israel and Palestinians to reach a

peace deal by the deadline of April 29 which has passed. Kerry lamented that the failure to reach an agreement on a two state solution meant that Israel would become an apartheid state which to me is true and correct. This is because Israel has a minority of Arab Israelis who will become second hand citizens in a Jewish state that Israel’s PM Benjamin Netanyahu is trying to turn Israel into by law in parliament. Yet John Kerry has demurred on saying the obvious by later acknowledging he used the wrong word. Really if you take diplomatic relations as marriage you can safely say that the one between the US administration of President Barak Obama and Israeli PM Netanyahu has broken down irretrievably in the peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians. Yet, this ancient feud between the Palestinians and Israell is the root cause of global militant Islam from which Al Qada sprung over the US deliberate policy of siding Israel against the Arab world in the Arab Israeli dispute at every step of negotiations. The US is sworn ideologically to the security of Israel and that was consolidated when former Egyptian President Anwar Sadat visited Israel in the seventies and made peace with Israeli PM Menachem Begin then. Now that peace is in shambles and even Egypt has broken its marriage of peace by going to Russia to shop for arms in recent times while the US was punishing the Egyptian army for seizing power by withholding the delivery of agreed military war planes. Also in Egypt the army chief is set to take power democratically in elections soon while the democratically elected former President Mohammed Morsi is facing treason trial punishable with a death penalty while a court in Egypt has sentenced 468 people from the Islamic Brotherhood including their leader to death. Really I wonder what type of court or judge would give such a judgement. Meanwhile I am waiting to see what the US, which encouraged the Arab Spring revolution of 2011 would do, as about half a million human beings face the axe man in Egypt over a peoples‘ revolution propelled initially by the US and hijacked by the Islamic Brotherhood all in the name of securing democracy in the land of the Pharaohs. Surely diplomatic relations like marriages , gay or polygamous are not cast in stone or made as they say in heaven, and require human understanding, indeed, of their various environments, clime or creed.

THE NATION, SATURDAY, MAY 3, 2014

COMMENTARY

The failure of a people t is with great anguish and heavyheartedness I’m penning down this article on the yet to be rescued abducted teenage Chibok girls. As a parent and a Nigerian, a human, it is difficult for one not to feel a profound sense of responsibility in voicing out ones melancholy and distress over the thus far unconvincing developments at all levels in the country, pertaining to the rescue or freedom for the kidnapped Chibok girls. About a fortnight ago, Nigeria was yet again hit with the dreadful news of the abduction of teenage girls from their secondary school in Chibok, Borno State, less than 24-hours after the massive dastardly Nyanya bombing that took the lives of over 75 innocent Nigerians who were going about their daily activities in the early hours of the morning. The girls; about 230 of them and mostly young teenagers were rounded up at gunpoint after alleged militants overpowered a military guard assigned to a boarding school in Chibok. They were preparing for their final school exams. This has got to be a completely new low for a nation fiercely battling to get one breath of air. Of course, there is no one that has not been deeply disturbed and tortured by this tragic affair. Of course, there have been mumbles here, and mumbles there; the odd statement from this corner, another one from that corner. Private discussions and lamentations at the highest level as to what can and should be done has taken place. There seems to be a great bewilderment and confusion as to what can be done. But the truth is there is not one Nigerian who has not profusely failed in this instance! We have failed as a people in the most disgusting and pathetic manner. At this point, when I remember the faces of the parents of those little girls and as I sit here writing this piece, haunted by the faces of those girls, there is not one bone in my body that is not ashamed to call myself a Nigerian today! Why should I sit here in Nigeria and be bombarded by the American disgust with the racist views of an American bigot via the world media because it is important to the history and evolution of America, and not tell America that my own children have just been kidnaped; allegedly violated in the most deplorable manner via the same media. If there is one incidence that should have united us with a single voice, it is the tragedy of the Chibok girls. What have we done so far to tell the world in the most critical manner that the Chibok tragedy is not acceptable? We speak about this being the government’s responsibility. There is no doubt that it is the responsibility of our government. But for me, as a Nigerian, it goes beyond that, it is my responsibility too. In saner climes, which has not abandoned its conscience, all hands would be on deck, regardless of government inefficiency and security agencies ineptitude, for a concerted effort in ensuring that there is the required amount of pressure on those at the helm of affairs who are responsible for bringing back our girls safely. Was that not what we did when the issue of the fuel subsidy reared its head? We stood as one and told the government what we were willing to accept and what we would not accept. Is the increase of fuel subsidy more important than the safety of our children now? During the 2011 “occupy Nigeria protest”, irrespective of party affiliation, and religious and ethnic differences, the government was practically shut down and was forced to review the demands of Nigerians. We all stood with one voice, simultaneously replicating such protests nationwide. Why haven’t we, as a people, demonstrated and replicated such unity, cohesiveness, patriotism or just humanity in this instance? There is a saying in the Hausa language that goes, “the pain of one person’s daughter is the same as the pain of another person’s daughter”. This is true. We may not all be the parents and children in this

Knucklehead With

Yomi Odunuga E-mail:yomi.odunuga @thenationonlineng.net SMS only: 07028006913 URYING my thoughts in the cadenced candour of poetry would only have produced an elegy. But, truly, words fail me. Rhythm means nothing in Nigeria’s atmosphere of organised cacophony. How I wished someone would tell me it was all a dream and that what we have been reading in the newspapers about the traumatising experience of the abducted school girls in Chibok, Borno State, were the fictional exertions of Nigeria's growing tribe of newsmen in the new media. That there was no abduction, heroic escape, phony 'release' of 80 of the girls to our ever-vigilant security forces, the principal's denial, the parents' brave efforts in the dead zone called Sambisa Forest, the empty promises and that the yet-to-be-accounted for 234 girls were all part of the crafted twists and turns in a work of fiction. Sadly, these ugly stories and more are part of the horrible reality that haunt us daily as terrorists luxuriate in the widespread attention they attract as well as the benumbing incompetence in high places. Just when you thought you had seen it all, something more grotesquely stupefying happens and jolts you to the reality that this might just be the beginning of yet another cycle of confounding happenstances. We really don't need to ask how we got here, do we? Never mind how we got to this stage of paralysis and collective amnesia. What is important is how and when we are going to get out of it - if we ever do. Abuja may continue to delude itself with its dud promissory notes of ‘ensuring that terrorists are made to pay’ for their odious monstrosities. Even when such empty promises are being repeated ad infinitum, it does not obliterate the fact that this country is sick – so sick that it requires the best expertise in the Intensive Care Unit for it to wobble through this harvest of doom after gloom. Nigeria bleeds and its leadership parties sums up the story of a country in dire straits. Blood flows on our streets and we belie this humongous horror in plastic laughter. Where others see laughter as catharsis, we have mastered the art of laughing out our impotence. As bombs after bombs boomed, we offer the most tendentious excuse ever: Terrorism is a new reality in the country and it is our share of the global crisis but we will overcome it someday. Churches, mosques, entertainments spots and workplaces were violently attacked with lives cut short and properties wrecked, yet we

particular incident, but the truth is that this incident has a direct effect and a very dangerous implication on each and every one of us. There is not one of us out there; not one, that is not someone’s parent or someone’s child. So, whether we like it or not, this tragedy is each of us and each of us is this tragedy. While we go about our normal daily activities, lamenting about this issue privately, we are setting an extremely dangerous precedent. If we allow this incident to fade away, we continue to break down our inhibitions and just like kidnapping and robbery; we are breathing life into another abomination that has no place in any society. If we turn a blind eye, we are giving this depraved transgression an identity. There has just not been enough public outcries over the tragedy of the Chibok girls. Where are the voices of Muslim rights groups? We call ourselves righteous, but where is our voice when it really needs to be heard? Is it only when we are wrongly stereotyped that we lend our voices? Why the silence and pretense that there is not an issue that needs to urgently be addressed amongst us? Where is the voice of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN)? One would expect that they should ordinarily be vociferous in this instance as they have always retrospectively been during other terrorist acts. Where are the women rights groups? Is it only when top female public officials are to be probed for corrupt practices that they lend their voices in crying foul and playing the gender card? Where are the voices of women groups in the North? Is it only in cases such as the banning of Hijab’s in public schools in Lagos that they muster or elicit public outcry? Where is the voice of the National Association of Nigerian Students? Are our girls in Chibok not also Nigerian students? Where are the voice of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and its sister body ASUP, should they be only concerned with “saving the University system” and increments of their remunerations? Where are the myriad of Civil Society/Pressure Groups across the length and breadth of the country? Are they not supposed to be engaging and compelling the government on a regular basis in ensuring that they resolutely bring back our girls safely? Where is the voice of our regional elders? Is it only on matters concerning resource control that they are interested in? Where is the voice of the National Assembly? A special round-theclock-committee should have been set-up solely for our missing girls, liaising with the executive and security outfits, vociferously championing and canvassing for the safe return of our missing girls. Where is the voice of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC)? Is it only when it involves the increment in P.M.S or subsidy removal that they become more active and activists? Where is the voice of columnist of the various media houses we have in the country? As I write this, I feel like a hypocrite because it has taken me over two weeks to speak out, despite the fact that I am a mother myself. I have the audacity to spew my venom and criticize others in my weekly column, but I didn’t have the courage or the benevolence to speak out loudly before now. Other columnists and bloggers can write as if there was no tomorrow but have failed to bring enough moving and arousing articles and op-eds capable of enkindling emotions amongst Nigerians, demanding for the safe rescue of our girls. Where is the voice of our traditional rulers? Where are the voices of the plethora of NGOs scattered across the country? Where are the

voices of Nigerians in the Diaspora? Where is the voice of the Nigerian? These are voices needed now more than ever before. There must be a consorted and unending effort to safely bring back our girls. Point blank and period! Rather than snippets of protests, there needs to be a synchronized and simultaneous peaceful protest nationwide, demanding for prompt action in bringing back our girls safely. As we continue to exist, we must all remember that these abducted girls could be any of our daughters. She could be your sister, your niece, your cousin or your grand-daughter. She could be a distant relative of yours or a friend of your child. Anyone of us could be undergoing the pains and sorrow actual parents and guardians of the Chibok girls are going through right now. If you have done nothing, look to your conscience and earnestly ask yourself, why you have not attempted to or be involved in a collective cohesive nationwide effort and public outcry for the safe rescue and return of these girls in even the smallest way. We should all be ashamed and disgusted with ourselves. And as for the media; for the past 2-weeks after the abductions, the media has not been able to whip-up enough public sentiments and vociferation against the abduction and government’s incompetence in ensuring or assuring us that our girls would be rescued and brought back safely. From print and visual, the media should concentrate on major developments pertaining to rescue efforts the government has failed to carry-out so far. What should be on our screens, papers and websites consistently should be the call to rescue our girls from the hands of these dastardly vagabonds. Round-the-clock programmes and forums should be organized and designed, solely discussing and sensitizing the populace on possible peaceful steps and measures to take as a people, so as to ensure that the government is compelled to bring our girls back safely. It’s obvious that the lackluster response from all of the above comes down to fear. The action of this rabid collective is something that we have never seen before. Nobody is willing to be identified as the loudest and leading voice. While it is understandable, it is also unacceptable. There must be a voice. And that voice must be one voice; the voice of humanity, the voice of unity and the voice that will again speak out to say “enough is enough!” The voice should find its courage and involve a committed citizenry — every man, woman, and child, every religious and traditional ruler, political parties and politicians, civil servants, professionals and entrepreneurs, religious institutions, civil society groups, nongovernmental organizations, elder statesmen and former leaders — in a vociferous concerted effort, regardless of religious or ethnic differences and political party affiliation, compelling and demanding that the government and our security apparatus should do all it takes to bring safely back home our girls. As I pray for the return of our girls and I offer my voice, my pen and myself for this cause, I bow my head in utter self-disgust and shame and admit that I have failed those little girls and their parents… And so have YOU!

Our girls, our shame, our failings offer the same excuse. We said we were on top of the game and even offered a definite timeline when the insurgents would be kicked out of our lives. Each time we boasted about our competence, the insurgents jeered back with deadly bombs and more audacious killings. We were still talking, wondering and wandering about, seeking the best strategy to keep the enemies at bay when the terrorists brought horror to the backyard of the holders of state power. By the time the inferno of the bomb blast was quelled, 75 lives had been lost while about 200 ordinary Nigerians were injured. No one had thought the terrorists were that close but the Nyanya motor park bombing on April 14 suggested that the agents of terror could be nearer than we could ever imagine. In fact, these blood-sucking terrorists did not wait for us to count our losses before hitting us again. Precisely on April 15, they were at the Girls Senior Secondary School in Chibok, Borno State. In what was reported to be a six-hour operation, they hauled over 200 young school girls into trucks and carted them away. They ruthlessly crushed the sole resistance on their way - a soldier - and went away with the bounty of a senseless attack. Of course, when the news broke, many Nigerians thought it was one of those fake ‘news’ items on the social media. Some said it was a bad joke. But it was not. It turned out that, as I write this, about 234 of those abducted school girls are still missing. No one is sure of the fate that has befallen any of them. It is to our collective shame that no definitive action has been taken to free the girls from their captors. It is not just about the shame of the abduction but the mindless lethargy that followed it. While the girls were still in transit in the bushes trying to understand what hit them, the nation’s Number One Citizen and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces was singing, dancing and vibrating at a political rally in Kano. While parents and relatives of the abducted girls besieged the burnt school, ceaselessly praying against the outright abuse of the rights and privileges of these unlucky children, the nation’s security forces popped up a lie that over 80 of the children had been rescued. It turned out to be a national embarrassment. Not a single abducted child was rescued in a country where billions of Naira is routinely voted for ‘security’! It was an expensive joke that puts a big question mark on the veracity of the tales being told by the military hierarchy on the war against terror. Again, it is a shame that some persons are still sitting pretty even after that horrendous tale of a rescue that never was! But for a terribly shaken populace that has not wavered in relentlessly drawing the attention of the authorities to the missing girls, it could have ended up like many other tragic stories before it. Parents and relatives of the 234 girls would have been left to their fate as that wouldn’t be the first time the state would abdicate its responsibility without any iota of shame. We shiver to think about what the girls have been facing in the last 18 days or more in the hands of their hardened abduc-

tors. Could it be true that they have become sex slaves to be tossed around by men who have no value for human dignity? Do we believe the rumour that some of the young girls have been violently married off to some of the insurgents on N2,000 bride price? Was their virginity callously desecrated? Have they been dehumanised, murdered or used as human shield while those saddled with the task of ensuring the security and safety of each and every one of us fidget? At this point, it is hard not to talk about our failings as a people and as leaders. Sometimes, you wonder if there is any marked difference between the insurgents in Sambisa Forest and their counterparts in the corridors of power. A leadership that has lost its humanity or one that attends to issues on the whim of political expediency is not any better than governance that has gone rudderless. Part of those failings would naturally include the Presidency’s seeming inaction in all this. If it was doing anything, then it can be said that it is obviously not doing enough. President Goodluck Jonathan clearly missed the point when he described the death of Capt. Yusuf Sabo Sambo, Vice President Namadi Sambo’s younger brother, as one of the ‘saddest’ days in the country’s history! By every stretch of imagination, that statement does not even qualify as a hyperbole. It was a gruesome abuse of literary licence. Inasmuch as we mourn with Sambo on the tragic loss of his brother, we do not see how that qualifies as a national calamity at a time when hundreds of lives were being needlessly wasted by the insurgents while over 200 girls are being held captive! It is also an abysmal failure that a government that sees nothing wrong in switching into the party mood few hours after the deadly blast in Nyanya and dreadful abduction in Chibok would cancel the Federal Executive Council meeting as a mark of respect for the VP’s late brother. What have we done to honour the thousands of lives lost to this endless harvest of blood across the land? What has the state done to raise a flicker of hope for the missing school girls? Did we declare a day of mourning for those who met their untimely deaths in the Nyanya blast or any other blast for that matter? Has any top official in government met with the grieving parents of the Chibok 234? Do they feel their pains and anguish as they try to live with the upsetting situation confronting them? Where equity and justice reign, there wouldn’t be any need for this shenanigan. The girls of Chibok deserve no less. Somehow, this national calamity would have to come to an end one way or the other. How can we rest when our girls remain in captivity, enslaved and violently abused by evil-minded men? Question is: would the state live with the shame of this national tragedy or would it summon the courage to bring them to the warm embrace of their parents and return whatever is left of their dignity?

THE NATION, SATURDAY, MAY 3, 2014

MISSING GIRLS: Drama laces anger

•Ezekwezili

•Amina Omoti

•Tsambido Hosea

•Yemi Adamolekun

• Binta Musa

•We are in pains –Parents •Women: how soon will govt rescue these girls? n Gbenga OMOKHUNU, Faith YAHAYA, Grace OBIKE, Frank IKPEFAN, Abuja n

mand that government should rescue the girls by all means. Concerned women drawn from all works of life led a procession to the National Assembly where they called on the lawmakers to persuade the Jonathan government to do something to rescue the abducted girls. The procession, which began at the Unity Fountain, witnessed the presence of security officials who were there to maintain law and order.

HE pressure on the Jonathan administration to set free the 234 girls abducted by the Boko Haram sect from Government Girls Secondary School (GGSS), Chibok, Borno State, assumed a frenetic dimension during the week with series of protests across the country. Since the militant sect abducted the girls on April 15, efforts, according to security operatives, have been intensified to rescue them, but reports said that some of them had been ferried to Cameroun and Lake Chad. In spite of repeated assurances by security operatives that efforts were being made to reunite the hapless girls with their parents, there have been doubts among many of the parents about the sincerity of the operatives. The widespread belief that government is not doing enough to rescue the girls triggered a protest on Wednesday in Abuja where hundreds of women defied a heavy downpour and marched to the seat of government to drive home their de-

The women marched to the National Assembly singing: “All we are saying is bring back our girls alive!” At intervals, a former Minister of Education, Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili, who was one of the women’s leaders, observed the change in weather and asked the women: “Is anyone here salt? Are you ready to stop the protest?’’ To these, the women chorused an emphatic no. They marched in the rain to the gates of the National Assembly where a drama ensued between them and the security per-

There are no words to describe this unfortunate incident. We are all feeling pains. I am a mother. When I look at my daughter and I think of what those parents are going through, my heart bleeds. And to think that the authority is doing nothing to get these girls back is sad. We pray that there will be a positive development

sonnel of the hallowed chambers. The security operatives asked who was the leader of the women was, and the question provoked Ezekwesili into a serious anger. “How can you ask who our leader is?” Ezekwesili queried the security agents. “We are all leaders. Why are you blocking us? We want to see the leaders of the National Assembly and we have the right to do so as citizens of this country!” With the security operatives still in their way, the women sat on the floor in the rain, holding their heads in their hands and singing, “All we are saying is bring back our girls!” A mother of one of the missing girls, Mrs. Sarah Ishaya, who wept uncontrollably, said: “I feel pain and I need the government to rescue our girls.” A father of one of the girls, Mr. Hosea Tsambido, said of his missing daughter: “She is just 18 years. I don’t want to mention her name. She was hoping that after the exam, she would go to a higher institution and many among them who did not pass their examination the previous

THE NATION, SATURDAY, MAY 3, 2014

as Ezekwesili’s train hits Abuja

•Sarah Ishaya, mother of one of the kidnapped girls

I think my daughter, along with other girls, is praying because they grew up in the knowledge and the teachings of the Bible and even the Quran. We practise religion in Chibok very well, so I am sure they are praying if the opportunity warrants

“We want the Federal Government to do something about these girls, but they seem to be giving more attention to the World Economic Forum, which will hold next week, and they have focused all their assurance about security on foreigners. They are busy assuring the foreign delegates that they are safe whereas we don’t know where our own girls are and they are not providing any information about them. ‘’As Nigerians, we cannot afford to continue to watch evil take over our country. We deserve a peaceful nation, but the big issue is that despite all that has happened, the government seems to be moving on. “It happened in the past and we kept quiet about it and nothing happened. If we keep quiet about this one, 234 girls will go and the government will move on again. If this protest will help bring our girls back, then we are ready to continually carry it out.” Also speaking, the National Amirah of the Federation of Muslim Women’s Association in Nigeria, (FOMWAN), Amina Omoti, said: “The government should please do whatever is in their power to release these girls because we believe they have the power. We as women don’t have the power. All we have to do is to plead and pray that they do whatever they have in their means to release these girls, because we know that if it is in America that just one citizen is missing, they will do whatever they can to rescue that citizen. “Security and welfare are the primary responsibilities of government. So, they

year came back to rewrite so that they can go for higher education. “You know what it means for over 200 girls of the same age out of a relatively small community to be missing. We fear what will happen when the working age of these girls comes. It means that we are going to be almost not represented. “In Chibok now, we are waiting on what government will do. If the government cannot do anything, then it will indicate that we are irrelevant and our community is irrelevant. If that is so, we will go into the bush. If they spare us and we become relevant there, we will be okay. And if they don’t spare us, it will become history to the whole world that an entire community was wiped out while searching for their girls.” He added: “Well, I don’t know when the girls will come back. But I hope they come back soon because about 39 of them have escaped by their personal efforts, and we cannot limit God’s power. So, I hope they will come back. I have that hope and that is why I am under this rain. If I don’t have hope, I would have stayed at home. “I think my daughter, along with other girls, is praying because they grew up in the knowledge and the teachings of the Bible and even the Quran. We practise religion in Chibok very well, so I am sure they are praying if the opportunity warrants. “I have four children and one is missing. My family is in agony and we are not coping well with the news at all.” Most of the sympathisers, who joined in the protest, appeared in red dresses and insisted that the activities of Boko Haram must be stopped by the government before they spread to other regions. Fatima Kingibe said: “This is a shame because a whole generation has been wiped out and it is continuing like that. These girls have the right to go to school. The region is the poorest in the country and now you are telling us to take our children out of school. What is the answer to this? We want to know what is happening. We are going to regroup if nothing is done.” Another protester, Mrs. Binta Musa Mohammed, said: “The essence of this protest is to appeal to the Federal Government to intensify efforts so that the abducted girls will be released; and to appeal to the abductors to have mercy and release them to come home.” She added: “We are here to avoid future abduction because today it happened in Chibok, who knows where else it will happen? It will also jeopardise the education of girls. All our cries and plea for girl child education will not work because mothers and even the girls will be afraid to go to school. “Also, the level of poverty now that people are going to school is high, not to talk of when they are stopped from going to school. The poverty level will be very high. And we know that girls are the ones that take care of their families. So, we are appealing to government to come to our aid and get the girls released. Also, we want them to secure the schools so that there won’t be a reoccurrence. “We cannot give the government an ultimatum, but we wish they work fast. If the girls are rescued, this incident will not happen again. If you do something today and gets away with it, tomorrow, it will be repeated because you know that nothing will happen to you. If the government gets these girls back, it will earn a good recognition from us and the international community because over 200 girls is not a small number.” The protests were also joined by some members of non-governmental organisations. A member of Enough is Enough Nigeria, Yemi Adamolekun, said: “The challenge is that the days are counting and these girls are still not found, and we have heard little from the government about what they are doing.

should be up and doing. To the abductors of these girls, if they are listening, I am pleading with them to lay down their weapons. They should listen to us. We are mothers. They should release these girls to their parents and then come to the Federal Government. “They should have a change of mind. Whatever grievances or issues they have, they should bring them to the negotiation table with the government, because there is no issue under the sun that cannot be resolved.” Some other women protesters, who spoke with The Nation on the sad development, said the assurances given by the Senate President, Senator David Mark, who addressed the protesting women when they matched to the National Assembly, that the government would work 24 hours a day to rescue the abducted girls should be matched with action. Mrs. Amina Ibrahim, a Borno State indigene, said: “I cannot imagine as a mother what their parents are going through. Psychologically, the parents are down, knowing that nothing is being done. When something happens and you know that something is being done, it reduces the pain you are going through. But when you know that nothing is being done, it is bad. “It is more than two weeks now and what we are hearing actually and fortunately is that a member of the legislature has been informing the military about the different locations where the girls are being moved to. Local authorities are

phoning and they are giving updates. But on the part of the authorities, nothing was done until they were transported to Cameroun and Chad. “My fear now is not just for these girls but for all the children in the country. Today it has happened to these children. Tomorrow it can happen to us. The present state of security is terrible. My children are not under protection. “The security agencies have to continue to do whatever they have to do, even if they have to seek assistance from western powers. Let them call on France, the United Kingdom (UK) and the United States (US) to help. It is not anything to be ashamed of. They should seek foreign assistance. “How possible is it to transport over 200 girls across the border without anybody seeing them? This is a very tragic development in the country.” Another mother, Mrs. Zainab Jubrila, who said she was short of words, said: “There are no words to describe this unfortunate incident. We are all feeling pains. I am a mother. When I look at my daughter and I think of what those parents are going through, my heart bleeds. And to think that the authority is doing nothing to get these girls back is sad. We pray that there will be a positive development.” Chiyere Nwoye, one of the protesters, said: “We should not fold our hands and ignore what is going on around us. It is very sad and shameful. We will not relent until we have our sisters and friends back home. The government should do more. For now, their efforts are almost zero.” A heavily pregnant woman, Anne Ejiofor, who is also physically challenged, kept pushing on in the rain among the protesters. Asked to comment, she said: “I am here because of our kidnapped children. You can see how I am walking, but I am still here because I want them back home.” A man, Bako Hosea, said he had come to add his voice to the calls for the release of the abducted girls. He said: “We want the government to show concern and rescue the girls. From my personal observation, sincerely, the government is doing nothing. So we want them to buckle up and do something reasonable.” Binta Ahmed Rufai, another protester, said: “I am a concerned mother, grandmother and sister. We want the government to really sit up and fight this scourge. Right now, what the parents of these girls are going through is beyond description. “The government needs to sit up and address these border issues because I believe that the government has been too relaxed about them. The security problems are being complicated by outsiders.” The Country Director, Action Aid Nigeria, Dr. Hussaini Abdu, who also joined the procession, said: “We are happy that women are leading this walk, but the men are also here to show solidarity because it is not just a woman issue but one that concerns all Nigerians. Where you have over 200 children in the hands of terrorists, it is a national security issue and I believe that every Nigerian should be involved in the struggle. “The government is not doing enough because even if they are, we don’t know what they are doing. The challenge is that even if they are doing it, they are not sharing information and we are not seeing results. We are proposing that they share information, because it is not possible that you hold 200 females for over two weeks without results. “The rumour about them being married off could be another diversionary tactics of the terrorist groups. We are not sure how true that is. To me, it is so that instead of looking for the collective, you start looking for individuals.”

THE NATION SATURDAY, MAY 3, 2014

•File photo of a scene in the recent Ibadan Soka Forest tragedy

•Gbenga Aliu •Chibuzor

•Alh Gawat •Nnamezie

Continued from Page 13

•Chibuzor

•Gbenga Aliu

•Nnamezie

•An unidentified missing person

•Alh Gawat

â&#x20AC;˘Another scene in the Soka Forest tragedy

THE NATION, SATURDAY, MAY 3, 2014

CRIME

Mystery death of 34-yr-old graduate in church •Prophetess, landlord arrested •Property allegedly damaged by hoodlums. Inset: Chief Owoola’s family member said to have been manhandled

Villagers cry out over alleged invasion ARELY three months after they were allegedly displaced from their homes, residents of Jagundeyi village, Ayobo, a Lagos suburb, have called on the Lagos State government and Inspector General of Police (IGP) to save them from the invasion of their community allegedly by a group of hoodlums. The villagers are asking for the urgent intervention of government and law enforcement agents to rescue them from the jaws of hoodlums who have taken over their community. The spokesman of the villagers, Prophet Jacob Alade, said: “The hoodlums sacked us from our village on February 7, 2014 and they have since been occupying our community despite our appeal to police authorities for help. We have not been able to move back to our ancestral community because of the presence of the hoodlums who continue to humiliate and harass villagers. They have destroyed properties such as farmland, trees and buildings, including my church, Temple of God. Many of the distraught villagers are now squatting with relations and friends having been sacked from their homestead. “As indigene, of the community, we have made fruitless appeal to the Baale of Ipaja, Chief Moruf Owoola, who brought the hoodlums to our village to harass us. We have even taken the matter to the IGP Monitoring Office at Kam Salem House, Lagos Island and several meetings set up to broker truce did not yield any result because the chief refused to attend the meetings. Surprisingly, men of the IGP Monitoring Office on Saturday April 25 picked up our Baale, Chief Aminu Wasiu, over some frivolous allegations levelled against him by the said chief. However, describing the allegations against him as a tissue of lies, Chief Owoola said: “The allegations are baseless and blatant lies. I know that there are some people who are trying to spoil my name for no just reason. I am a respected traditional ruler and I don’t know anything about the invasion of their community by hoodlums. Our family had sent our representatives to collect

n Kunle AKINRINADE n decking fees on a building under construction but the Baale of the community and some of his loyalists stopped them from collecting the fee. ‘’The Baale could not offer any explanation when I asked him to justify his action. I reported the matter to the police and he was invited to the Force Headquarters in Abuja for questioning on his right to the property which he could not also justify. He was warned to desist further from any act capable of causing breach of public peace.” Speaking further, Chief Owoola said:” They have been spreading false stories about me on sundry offences I know nothing about. They once claimed that my boys have been killing innocent people in their community; the police came to my house, school and hotel to search for arms but found nothing.”

HAT could have led to the death of Victor Oguntibeju in a house of God? Is there any linkage between his death and a concoction allegedly given to him by a prophetess in charge of the church? Was it a mere coincidence or deliberate murder at dusk? The answer to these posers on the lips of bereaved family members, friends and neighbours would definitely suffice by the time police conclude investigations on the incident. The late Oguntibeju had left his home at No 1, Ifelodun Street, Oke-Ijebu, Akure on Tuesday April 8, 2014 for a spiritual consultation at Christ Evangelical Power C&S Church on Saka Ibrahim Street, Oke-Ukere in Akure. The prophetess identified as Abiodun was said to have given him a particular concoction known as agbo in local parlance to treat an undisclosed ailment. He allegedly developed complications after he took the concoction and died shortly later. One of the close associates of the deceased, who spoke in confidence, told our reporter that Oguntibeju’s death was a rude shock. “His death came as a rude shock and I have not recovered from the shock to date. His relations had been looking for him until the lid was blown on his whereabouts by a man who claimed he took him on his motorbike to the church where he allegedly died. ‘’I learned that he actually spoke on phone with his wife, who was delivered of a baby that very day, when he arrived at the church. He was said to have died shortly

n Kunle AKINRINADE n after drinking a concoction given to him by one Prophetess Abiodun. “The commercial motorcycle operator actually insisted that the prophetess must know something about Victor’s disappearance because he was the one who brought him to her church the previous day. It was then that the woman confessed to the motorcyclist called Oke that Victor had actually died and that his body has been deposited in the morgue of a public hospital in Akure. “Victor did not live to see his new child and had barely enjoyed the bliss of his marriage which took place six months ago. He is also survived by aged parents. His mother is currently staying with his wife in Badagry, Lagos State. He never complained of battling with any ailment and I find it difficult to believe that he went to the church to take the concoction that could cure the undisclosed ailment. The prophetess should be held responsible and subsequently prosecuted for her complicity in the death of my good friend.” The story took another turn when the said Prophetess Abiodun led police detectives to the morgue where she deposited Victor’s body where it was discovered that she registered his body as ‘Oluwaposi Mathew’ in the wee hours of April 9. A community leader, Akin Akinnayajo, said: ‘’Victor stayed alone in the house because his wife called Toyin lives in Lagos.

We did not know that something had gone wrong with Victor until his father, who travelled all the way from Okitipupa to check on his son, raised the alarm about his sudden disappearance. “When the pressure was becoming unbearable for the prophetess, she confessed that Victor died in her church and that his body was deposited in the mortuary. The woman and Victor’s landlord have since been arrested by police. The church in question is a shack and many fetish objects stored •Victor’s widow in sacks were removed by policemen when they visited the scene.” Although, the deceased had trained as a welder when he was unable to secure admission into tertiary institution and practised the profession till death but he was also said to have finished his degree programme at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Ogbomosho, Oyo State. He had planned to attend the convocation ceremony of the university penultimate Wednesday before he met his untimely death. Confirming the story in a telephone conversation with our reporter, the Police Pub-

•The shallow grave •The suspect

n Bisi OLANIYI, Port Harcourt n Kingsley, a First School Leaving Certificate holder, who was driving a bus in Port Harcourt, in spite of his gentle appearance, sent promising Ekerete, born in 2007, to her early grave. The bus driver, on April 12 this year, returned home around 7 pm, very hungry and moved to where the pot of rice he prepared before leaving for work was kept, only to discover that his equally-hungry daughter had helped herself to the meal, which he reserved for himself. Kingsley descended on the innocent child and beat her to stupor. Favour, who earlier took ill, crying till he fell asleep, but died some hours later. Favour’s father then decided to place her body in a corner of his one room apartment in Obeama, Oyigbo LGA of Rivers State. The apartment, where the body was kept also housed the bus driver’s two other children, aged two and three, but he did not mind the implications of keeping the dead child with her frightened siblings. Having made sure his neighbours were fast asleep, Kingsley wrapped the body in his clothing, picked a shovel and dug a shallow grave behind his room, where he interred his daughter’s body. The caretaker of the building, simply identified as Ugwu, noticed the disappearance of Favour, described as the darling of neighbours and quizzed the

Missing persons Christian Ojara ‘m’ 16 years old, about 4ft tall, dark in complexion, speaks Igbo and English languages fluently. If seen contact Nwali Ifeanyi of No. 60, Otunba Bamidele Street, Igando or Igando Police Station. Sopulu Nwanji ‘f’ aged 13 years of age, 4ft tall, fair in complexion, speaks Igbo and English languages fluently. If seen contact one Chinelo Iloabuchi of No. 58, Clegg Street, Surulere, Lagos or Surulere Police Station. Angela Iyame Abang ‘f’ aged 14 years, about 4ft tall, fair in complexion, speaks Ogoja and English languages fluently. If seen contact one Kenneth Chukwu of No. 58, Clegg Street, Surulere, Lagos or Surulere Police Station. Vivian Etumudo ‘f’ aged 35 years, dark in complexion, speaks Yoruba and English languages fluently. If seen contact Etumudo Andrew of No. 25, Onibude Street, Sango Ogun State or Alagbado Police Station.

Stolen vehicles

•The late Victor lic Relations Officer (PPRO) of Ondo State Command, Mr Wole Ogodo, explained that investigation was still ongoing. “The case was first reported to the police as that of ‘missing person’. The woman (prophetess Abiodun) initially claimed that the deceased was in Ibadan, Oyo State. But when she was accompanied there by our detectives, it was discovered that Victor did not travel to Ibadan. She later took our men to Akure General Hospital where she deposited the decomposing body of the deceased.

“Although, we are still investigating the matter, but another thing that we found strange was that she actually registered the body as ‘Oluwaposi Mathew’, while she gave her own name as ‘Oluwaposi Michael at the hospital. We shall soon carry out an autopsy to determine the actual cause of Victor’s death and if the woman is found culpable, we shall press charges against her. The matter is currently being handled by the Homicide Unit of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) and I can assure you that justice would be done on this case.”

Father beats daughter to death over plate of rice COMMERCIAL bus driver in Rivers State, Kingsley Ekerete, 29, who hails from Nto Osung in Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, has allegedly murdered his seven-year-old daughter, Favour Ekerete, over a plate of rice.

IN BRIEF

bus driver, but he lied that his child took ill and he took her to a hospital in neighbouring Umuebulu community, where she later died. Ugwu, however, insisted on seeing the body of the little girl, but Kingsley refused, making her to threaten to report the incident to the police. She also informed a neighbour, Pastor Emeka Onuoha of the Jesus Reigneth Ministry, of the ugly development. Policemen from the Afam Division in Oyigbo LGA, who were on routine patrol, were flagged down by the Pastor, who briefed them of what they observed, leading to the arrest of Kingsley. After interrogation, he was transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), in Port Harcourt. The bus driver, in his desperation to exonerate himself from the death of his daughter, told the police that the mother of his children abandoned him, making him to be taking care of their ailing child alone, claiming that the child died in view of lack of attention, while looking for money to treat her. He also claimed that being so poor, he had to deposit his mobile telephone handset with a Hausa rice seller in order to get the rice that he prepared to feed the children with, not knowing the rice had been poisoned. Kingsley was also reluctant to lead policemen to the location where he interred Favour’s body. He initially claimed that his child died on the way to the hospital and he had to bury her along the way and

could not remember the exact location. He also stated that the body was at the mortuary of a neighbouring village. The truth was revealed when the bus driver’s parents visited the SCID and opened up on their son’s strange behaviour, even towards the mother of his children, who they said ran away to avoid Kingsley’s excesses. The father of the bus driver also disclosed that his son called him immediately after the murder. Kingsley eventually took the policemen to the shallow grave, where the body of Favour, wrapped in blue clothing, was visible, even without exhumation. The Rivers Commissioner of Police, Tunde Ogunsakin, while confirming the incident, stated that his men, on receiving the case file from the Afam Police Station, observed that Kingsley’s explanation on the missing daughter was suspicious, while the efforts made to reach the mother of the deceased were rebuffed when policemen commenced their investigation. Ogunsakin also noted that it was a case of homicide. Considering the nature of the crime, he said Kingsley needed to go through a psychiatric test before preparing him for court. The police boss, while referring to Sections 4 and 14 of the Child Rights Act, stated that the crime was a violation of the child’s rights to survival and development as well as parental care and protection.

Type: Reg. Colour: Chasis No: Engine No: Contant:

Nissan Premira S/Car No: EZ 766 LND Green Nill Nill Any nearest police station or Dopemu Police Station

Type: Reg. No: Colour: Chasis No: Engine No: Contant:

Mazda 323 S/car SMK 907 CM Green Nill Nill Any nearest police station or Owutu Police Station

Type: Reg. No: Colour: Chasis No: Engine No: Contant:

Carina E S/car LSD 962 BS Blue SB164ABK00E063658 4AU518289 Any nearest police station or Owutu Police Station

Type: Reg. No: Colour: Chasis No: Engine No: Contant:

Toyota Camry S/car 1998 KRD 545 CN Gold Nill Nill Any nearest police station or Dopemu Police Station

Recovered vehicles S/N 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

MAKES OF VEHICLE V/WAGEN SHARON TOYOTA COROLLA V/WAGON TOUEREG NISSAN SUNNY TOYOTA CAMRY V/WAGEN GOLD 3 V/WAGEN PASSAT V/WAGEN TOUEREG HONDA ACCORD TOYOTA STARLET HONDA CIVIC S/CAR

REG. NO COLOUR LOCATION GGE 534 BU D/BLUE ISHASHI DIV BDG 287 AU BLACK AREA ‘H’ COMM LSR 293 AU GREEN ALAUSA DIV KTU 963 CU WHITE ALAUSA DIV LSR 701 BT GOLD AKINPELU DIV GGE 154 AU BLACK SHAGAMU ROAD AAA 514 CL BLUE AREA ‘J’ COMM KJA 738 CD ASH ONIREKE DIV BD 934 EPE ASH OWODE DIV AW 637 RSH RED ALAGBADO DIV FE 65 EKY GREY KETU DIV

THE NATION, SATURDAY, MAY 3, 2014

Olatunji OLOLADE, Assistant Editor

Continued on Page 18

THE NATION SATURDAY, MAY 3, 2014

Continued from Page 17

A little boy leading his blind relatives across the village; scenes like this become a familiar sight in regions afflicted by river blindness

Continued on Page 48

THE NATION, SATURDAY, MAY 3, 2014

‘I live a double life — angel by day, hustler by night!’ (6)

My mother is coming this weekend. You know what that means. You have to behave- no drinking and smoking in the house while she's here. And tone down your dressing and make-up as well. Those your false eye lashes look like caterpillar legs. Get rid of them!

THE NATION SATURDAY, MAY 3, 2014

VERY Nigerian citizen has reasons to aspire to know Jos, the Plateau State capital. So also are politicians, civil servants and other categories of Nigerians. Indeed, corporate organisations have good reason to choose Jos as venue for their workshops, seminars, trainings and conferences. It is no accident that movie producers have had to shoot some of their films in the Plateua State capital because of the free social life that now characterises the city. Jos is one Nigerian city where all classes of people can identify with a place befitting their social status. It is not unusual to find a bottle of beer selling for N200 at a fun spot, while the same brand costs as much as N500.00 at another. There are night clubs, lounges, casinos and all manner of fun spots meant to create an ideal atmosphere for fun and relaxation. Not even the military is left out in the scramble for a share of the good life that Jos offers. There are such institutions as the Police Staff College, the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) Camp Jos and the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) Kuru, Jos, where senior executive Nigerians go to bag the prestigious 'mni' title. The Citizenship and Leadership Training Centre (CLTC), located in Shere Hills and also known as the Mountain School, provides a platform for people from different sectors of the Nigerian economy to undergo some training in the city. The truth is that most of the people • A busy business street, involved in the aforementioned training Ahmadu Bello Way Jos programmes are not only there for the official business but also to have a feel of the boisterous life of the city. An outstanding character of the city, according to a tourist, Mr Charles Benson, is that "it symbolises two phases of humanity—business and leisure. If you go round the town at mid-day to see how people hustle on a daily basis, you would think that the residents of the city would have no time for fun at night. They look so serious and committed to their means of livelihood in the day that you would think they would exhaust their energy and would have no strength to do any other thing than to go home and sleep once they close business. Yet, if you go out at night to see the kind of social life that goes on, you would wonder if these people had anything serious to do the next day. “Many would spend the night buzzing and socialising at the clubs. But you would find them early the next morning at their duty posts. And when I asked how it is possible for a people to do this, I was told that the cool weather of the city is a stabiliser or a regulator, which enables one to regain lost energy faster and remain agile day and night. Jos is the city to be." n Yusufu Aminu IDEGU and Emmanuel KWAPYEL n True to Benson’s observation, as soon as most of the people conclude the day’s business, they head straight to fun spots of their choice. Only a few of them close to let the governor realise that he cannot deprive them of the fun they derive from and go home straightaway; the majority end up at fun spots like Avis, K-Rocks, drinking. Of course, the law died on arrival, as the people went about enjoying West of Mine, Uptown Garden and Civil Service Club, among others, to keep themselves any time they feel like. The government later realised the futility of appointments with loved ones. trying to enforce the law and gave up on its implementation. But a senior civil servant, Mr Luka Bawa, noted that in many cases, the people Thus, the character of Jos consists in the residents combining business with who choose to converge at such fun spots after work are there to discuss business leisure most of the time. And travellers, visitors and tourists never lack the in a relaxed and blissful atmosphere. He said: “Some businesses are better disdesired comfort and hospitality. In spite of the security challenges that confronted cussed at beer joints. So, if you see some of us close from office and head straight the state in the recent past, private investors have continued to explore the vast to a relaxation centre in the city, don't think we are drunkards. The drinking spot potentials in the hospitality sector of the city. High-class hotels like City Rock, is another avenue to discuss real business. Any family man who remains at home Lamonde, Crest, Elim, HBC, Three Angels, K-Rocks, New Era, Novel Suite, most of the time is either foolish or he has no serious business doing." Sharna, Steffans and Treasure Inn are a few of them. Most fun centres in the city come alive after the day’s work. They include such Realising that the future of the state lies in its tourism and hospitality potentials, places as K-Rocks in Tudunwada; West of Mine[ Rayfield Resort; Avis on Yakubu Governor Jang decided to make the city more beautiful and accessible with roads. Gowon Way; La Pink at Zaramaganda; Uptown Garden at Hwolshe; Solomon The details of roads constructed by Governor Jang, as released by the Ministry of Lar Amusement Park along Lowcost Road and the Civil Service Club. There are Works and that of Urban Development recently, revealed that since 2007, more also several gardens located around the forest reserves of the Jos Museum and than 32 roads have been constructed across the state, while 25 other road projects Zoo. are ongoing. In Jos City, three flyovers have been constructed, while seven singleIn recent times, wine shops have been springing up on the streets of Jos, and a lane roads have been dualised to make vehicular movement easier in the state lot of people are going for exotic wines, whisky, brandy, vodka, rum and the likes. One of the most popular wine shops is Exclusive Wine Centre on DB Zang Road by Hill Station Hotel Junction. The place gets very busy at dusk and is highly patronised at festive periods like Valentine, Easter and Christmas. But because of the high patronage enjoyed by proprietors of wine shops, there has been a proliferation of the shops and they are now available at almost all the streets of Jos. For the locals, the home-made liquour, burukutu, is never in short supply. So also is palm wine, which is now the focus of many shops in the city. Jos city boasts gulf clubs, namely the Rayfield Gulf Club, Laminga Gulf Club and the military-owned Rhino Gulf Club at Rukuba Barracks. The gulf clubs are mostly patronised by retired generals, administrators and civil servants, as well as top politicians who would not want to mix with people whose status they believe are lower. After going round all the holes and obstacles on the lush field of the gulf club, they end up at the bar where all brands of beer and wines are readily available. Interestingly, the administration of Governor Jonah Jang made efforts to regulate the consumption of alcohol in the city when it took off in 2007. A law was made stipulating when to drink and when not to. But the people did not hesitate

THE NATION SATURDAY, MAY 3, 2014

• A pedestrian bridge at the park

Jos: City where hard work ‘ mingles with pleasure

‘

Many would spend the night buzzing and socialising at the clubs. But you would find them early the next morning at their duty posts. And when I asked how it is possible for a people to do this, I was told that the cool weather of the city is a stabiliser or a regulator, which enables one to regain lost energy faster and remain agile day and night. Jos is the city to be

‘

• A party going at one of the sections at Solomon Lar Amusement Park Jos. Canopies are not required under such flower-Coconut shades

Some businesses are better discussed at beer joints. So, if you see some of us close from office and head straight to a relaxation centre in the city, don't think we are drunkards. The drinking spot is another avenue to discuss real business. Any family man who remains at home most of the time is either foolish or he has no serious business doing

capital. This followed the city renewal policy of the Jang administration, which is encapsulated in the new Greater Jos Master Plan. All the roads (single and dualised) are adorned with streetlights, most of which are run with solar-powered electricity. Residents can drive through the DB Zang Road, JD Gomwalk Road, Yakubu Gowon Way and Tudunwada/Hill Station Hotel Road without their head lamps on, because they are all well lit. The streetlights make the city to look beautiful at night, and because they are run with solar power, the lights come up automatically as soon as the sun sets. The lights also go off as soon as the sun appears in the morning. A resident of the city, Musa Saidu, said: "The state tourism potential has been under lock due to lack of necessary infrastructure. But with the road network and flyovers provided by the present administration, the state tourism has been unlocked. Traffic jam, which made the residents to hate going out at night has disappeared with the numerous road networks. Many private investors are now seizing the opportunity to invest in the state. Social life in the state capital has also grown and hospitality business is taking the lead." Arguably the most patronised fun centre in Jos today is the state government-

owned park known as Solomon Lar Amusement Park. It is located on Domkat Bali-Ratya Road. The layout of the park is such that any passerby would be attracted to it. The place is alive 24 hours per day. Passersby are often thrilled with the hip-hop music that comes from a beer parlour situated at the center of the park. The park has lately assumed the status of a reception ground for high-profile weddings, picnics, birthdays and end-of-year parties. It is beautifully partitioned into various segments to suit all kinds of celebration. Those who want to have their picnics on the beach can go to the artificial beach created there. Those who want to party by the pool side can also go there, as there are various standard swimming pools at the place. Those who prefer an open field can also have their way. Even celebrants who delight in holding their social functions under the shades of trees can have enough of them. Those who want their functions held indoor are also assured of one at the amusement park. A very unique feature of the amusement park is the availability of shades that offer a visitor the natural feeling of being in the forest. Jos is a city filled with rocky terrains. There is hardly room for large trees in Jos, but at the park, trees that have extended branches are grown, and once you are under them, you feel as if you are in the forest. There is a sandy artificial beach that makes one to feel that one is at the Bar Beach in Lagos. The park offers both outdoor and indoor party facilities as well as other attractive features that encourage one to go there again and again. It is not, therefore, unusual to find six or seven different events going on at Solomon Lar Amusement Park at the same time. This has made the site a beehive of social activities, particularly on the weekends. A commercial photographer reputed to have made a fortune from the park said: "The park has developed into a major social market in the city. It has provided jobs for a number of photographers. All the photographers in the city assemble at the park at weekends and all of them will have enough work to do." There is a semblance of localisation of business around the amusement park due to the crowd of people who troop there for one occasion or the other. Beer parlours and wine shops have been established around the park. Several canteens have also sprung up and women who specialise in roast fish have erected their tents

Cityscape

‘

there as well. The Plateau State Government, which would not want to be left out in making fortune from the social markets of in city, has begun to advertise the renovation of Plateau Hotels and Rock Garden. The current state of the state-owned hotel can no longer compete with the standard of private hotels in the city. Hence to compete favourably in the market, the state government needs to upgrade the hotel. But it is not only Nigerians who are fascinated by the social nature of Jos and chose to make Jos their second home. Many expatriates and foreign missionaries prefer to operate from Jos. Even with the insecurity that tends to destabilise the beauty of the city in the recent past, most foreigners in the country would still make Jos their number one destination, particularly because it has a cool kind of weather that is not found in most parts of West Africa. It is the only city in West Africa that has a semblance of temperate climate. The weather in the city is often compared to that of Switzerland. A Chinese expatriate, who works with a construction company in Jos, Mr Chung Young, said of Jos: "Apart from its attractive weather, Jos, popularly called the Tin City, is a social haven, a fun hub. To me, Jos is one of the best places to spend a night in Nigeria. I have been to almost all the fun spots in Jos. As a visitor, you will always have reasons to go out in the evening." There are Chinese restaurants in Jos city run by the Chinese themselves. They include Elistor Restaurant located at the Hill Station Hotel Complex; Cedar Tree Restaurant on Yakubu Gowon Way and Garden Chinese. However, the Chinese themselves have reasons to patronise indigenous canteens where they enjoy local delicacies like gwete, edinkan-ikong, isiewu and skewed meat known as sere. There is no doubt that social life in Jos has become big business. Not a few people believe that if a research is conducted on business activities in Jos, the volume of business from night transactions would likely surpass that of the day time. It is a belief that may not be far from reality. • A relaxation spot at the Rayfield Gulf Club Jos

27 THE NATION, SATURDAY, MAY 3, 2014

Why I've slowed down on social activities 窶的yalode Adunni

THE NATION, SATURDAY, MAY 3, 2014

Iyalode Adunni, one of Nigeria's topmost socialites has been a fixture on the Lagos social scene for decades. At most high profile, glamorous parties and events, she was often there, gorgeously turned out and looking radiant. Then, a few years ago, she went low profile and was missing from the city's vibrant social radar, giving room to all kinds of speculations by observers concerning her whereabouts and what she was up to. Recently, The Nation's PATIENCE SADUWA and PAUL UPKABIO caught up with the socialite at her country home in Ikorodu, Lagos, where she had relocated to a few years back. She attributed her break from social circles and the limelight to 'slowing down on her activities'. "I see myself gradually reducing on some things," she noted. She also spoke on her passion for helping people, love for decorating, downsides of celebrity life, why she relocated to Ikorodu, life in the countryside compared to city life, among other issues.

•A section showing her laurels

These days, I eat more of natural foods. I eat from my environment now. I have fresh vegetables, farm foods around me now to eat. In the last few years, my looks represent my inner feelings. I am at peace with myself, that is why I am looking peaceful and beautiful...

•A view of her new home

‘I’ve found peace in my new quiet setting’

too active, too involved. I have been too much around. I have been into too many things; I have seen life from too young an age. So when you have been around, and consistently relevant in society for that length of time, you feel old. When the love of socialising started It was from when I was little. As a child, I was very friendly. From there it became so many other things till I became Iyalode the socialite. But I will rather not be addressed as Iyalode the socialite but Iyalode the humanitarian. I have come to see it as a gift. I didn’t set out to become a socialite. Right from when I was in school, writing regional essays, my popularity started. I was a school prefect and leader of one club or the other. I have over 80 awards. Most of them were brought to me. The day I was made the United Nations Ambassador of Peace, I was thrilled. I have been receiving awards for over 25 years now. Business interests I am not as active in business again as I used to be. In the past, I was a known traveller. I travelled so much in the name of buying and selling. I was mostly on the road 24/7. But I have simmered down. I could be in London today, the following day I am in China. The next day again in Brussels and next Dubai. But all of that has stopped gradually. I am now looking at more of service business. I have started some kind of consultancy business some time ago, so that is what I’m doing more this day, not buying and selling. Though I am still being pressured by my customers, but I have to listen to my health, my age and my responsibilities and stop honourably when it is important to. Coping with admirers Yes, there were. I had very many admirers. But by nature, I am a very strict person. I always know what I want and I always know how to go after what I want. I am not a frivolous person but very resolute. I am different from a lot of people. My face may be flamboyant but deep down, I am very deep. People say a lot of things about me that are untrue. That’s because they do not know me. It is only people who are fortunate to come close to me that truly know me. From when I was young, I knew what I wanted. Although along the line, I burnt my fingers but even at that, I spent 30 years

Disappearance from the social scene f you are someone that is known, vocal, and a celebrity, when you are quiet for some time, people start asking to know why you are quiet. But the truth is that as you are advancing in age, you also advance in other areas too. Some things you used to do, you no longer want to do them anymore, and sometimes you decide to take on newer interests. But not being in every party does not mean that I am cut off. But now, I see myself as gradually reducing on some things. Sometimes I actually feel over celebrated, too known. Though sometimes it is when I am even trying to hide from public glare, that people start asking questions again. Celebrating 55th birthday I started with prayers. I had an interdenominational service, then a party for a few friends. Some officials and matrons of clubs that I belong to were here for the party too. You moved into Ikorodu about two years ago with Chief Olusegun Obasanjo cutting the tape at the house warming party... Yes, he did. He had to do that because he is a father figure to me. Reason for moving to Ikorodu I do not see here as Ikorodu, Lagos or Abeokuta. I just wanted serenity, I wanted somewhere that could match my mood, which I noticed has been changing as I grew older. I realised that, some of the things I used to like so much were not making much meaning to me anymore. So, I needed to go somewhere quiet, a place where I could be next to nature, a country place where I would be free from hustle and bustle. I was lucky to get a place that met such a need in Ikorodu. Being far away from the social scene in the city I do not feel far away at all because my friends come here to see me. When they come, they say they do not want to go back because this place is nice and peaceful. I wake up every morning to the sounds of birds chirping in the trees. There is no carbon monoxide for me to inhale. Of course, I still go to parties but I am slowing down deliberately and calculatedly. When you are so much known, it is a problem in itself. I have just turned 55 but I feel like I am a 70-year-old woman because I have been

in marriage, married to the same man with four children. Many of my friends couldn’t do that. There are quite a lot of women who have had children for two or three different men. But I knew what I wanted. Even when I knew that I had made a mistake, I still remained and persevered, pulled through for 30 years. If you say I still look attractive, the reasons are not what some people would say should be the reasons for looking good. When you look good, it is made from your inside. When you look good inside, it comes out to show in your outward outlook. And then my looking good has nothing to do with having it real good or being spoilt or being rich or having everything the way I wanted it. No, instead it has been more out of hardship. Having to go through life the hard way and still being able to maintain self-esteem and dignity in the face of hard times. Beauty, diet and fitness regime Well if I say that I don’t have one, I won’t be totally truthful. But I am not totally strict with any routine. However, these days I eat more of natural foods. I eat from my environment now. I have fresh vegetables, farm foods around me now to eat. In the last few years, my looks represent my inner feelings. I am at peace with myself, that is why I am looking peaceful and beautiful. I have been struggling with life in the sense that there was a time in my life when I ought to have made a decision, but somehow I couldn’t because I was floating. It was hard. I was fighting for survival, for relevance, I was struggling to cope. My idea of life was different from what I met in marriage. I was struggling from holding unto my ideals and still being a perfect person to my husband then. I was facing challenges, not physical challenges as in what to eat and drink, it was about me struggling with myself. I asked repeatedly, ‘Is this how life should be lived?’ I am a very benevolent person in spirit. I see whatever I have as belonging to everybody. In the last two years, I have been able to stay focused and I have also found out that I had always been right

When you are so much known, it is a problem in itself. I have just turned 55 but I feel like I am a 70-year-old woman because I have been too active, too involved. I have been too much around. I have been into too many things; I have seen life from too young an age. So when you have been around, and consistently relevant in society for that length of time, you feel old...

about how life should be lived, that it is right to be benevolent. You have to be extremely humane and you have to just be good. I started waking up every day and at the end of the day, I take a pen and paper and write out how I have been good for that day. I started doing it every day. So now I do a great deal of affecting people’s lives, being able to put smiles on people’s faces. Being able to do much for people without harbouring fear. On generous attitude I see life as a bonus. Every new day is a bonus. It is not free. Being in good health is not free. You pay for everything through your benevolence and charity. You have to give to be able to get from life. I think it has

•The Iyalode got to do with the genes. I must have got it from my parents. At home where I grew up, giving was the fuel of life. It was the oil that lubricates. Like I said, life is a bonus. My Pastor at the Bible School told me that, 'you do not pray for success, you give yourself to success'. You keep giving. It is like arithmetic. You give in a proportion and you get it back in that proportion. Ambition in life growing up It was to excel in everything I do and be a person of repute. I wanted to be known as a responsible person. And that is what I became. I grew up in Ibadan, Lagos and Abeokuta. Children and family They are grown up now. I am actually a

grandmother now. Life as a grandmother is very gratifying, very nice. The children come around, my grandson just stepped out to attend to something, and he will be here throughout the holidays. Love for interior decoration I did most of the decorations in my home by myself. I am a very good decorator and I love colours. I put up the interior decoration and design together. If you call it cosy and posh, that is nice, though I am surprised because I knew what I wanted in my mind and I went after it. When the house was nearly finished and it was time for the decoration, I went for it my own way. My friends come here, they take pictures, they want to go and build something cosy like this and for me to come and decorate it for them. Even my Kabiyesi loves it. He said he must replicate my bathroom. It is simple decoration but nice. Recently, you went to Bible School… Yes. I did general course and later did the advanced course. I just needed the knowledge of the Bible. And I needed to know the ideals of life as ordained by God and I also needed to be as spiritual as possible, even though I am not a pastor. I acquired the knowledge because I love to serve God. When I pray, people marvel, they call me pastor. But going to Bible School was just a part of fulfilment. I hold fellowship in my house here; there is a group that meets here. We hold revival and sometimes full service here. Favourite holiday destination Ghana, Dubai, London; I can actually go anywhere. But the truth is that, I find serenity here. I find my peace here. Life in a rural setting To God be the glory, my friends too have expressed your thought too and asked me this same question. But since I came here, all my neighbours are my friends. Since I moved down here, I have interacted deeply. My neighbours come to my house with their problems, I try to solve those that I can. I do counselling, I go to their houses, they eat with me, and I eat with them in their houses. They come here, we fellowship together and the Baale, the Ijoyes, all tribes as well come here. I am like a member of one big family. My nature does not discriminate, no class, no status in heaven,

no barrier whatsoever. My neighbours come to me, they help me out, and they listen to me too. Fashion sense and religious beliefs That doesn’t really matter. Changing one’s lifestyle, dressing down and becoming dull is not what God asks from anybody. I am still always well dressed, choosy with my dressing and very particular with the way I look. That is how I will always be because that is the real me. It has nothing to do with serving or not serving God. I even love dressing my best when I go to church. I don’t go to church in casual wears. Going to church for me means the whole fashion works on display; from my headgear to my shoes, I have to look good in the presence of God. God has to look at me and say yes, that is my daughter! Thoughts on the present fashion trends I am not too happy with some of them. They are sometimes too explosive in terms of body exposure. I try to reach some young people; a lot of them look up to me as a mother, they come around me and I try to influence their dress sense. Though it has more to do with the trend across the world. But then, I will still advise that ladies dress more sensibly. They don’t have to be naked or expose everything before people will know that you are stylish. Looking at the numerous award plaques all around your home, do you feel fulfilled? I wish I could accept that I am, but I do not have money. But will people believe that you do not have? I have not been lucky to be rich. I am a contented person. I have lived my life the way I have found it. But I have friends who are very rich. I am looking unto God to bless me with real cash and good things of life. The wealthy people I know have not been blessing me with wealth because to them they feel I am rich too. But the truth is that, I am simply a contented person. I am a struggling woman, a hard working struggling woman. I have trudged on, worked to put the good things of life in place. What does success mean to you? It means not just you being happy but making others happy too. Success is not about how much you have in the bank, not how much you are known but the way you

have been able to affect people positively, and the satisfaction you get from it. I eat good food; that is what billionaires eat too. I dress to please myself. I think my good looks also have to do with genes. People say that I have a good style sense. That is okay by me. Leisure time I really don’t relax. My day starts at 6am. By 7am, I have people waiting for me in the main sitting room. So at the end of the day, even though I did not go out to official work away from the house, I end up being tired because there are people and things to be attended to at home and in the environment. I am hyperactive by nature. On legacy I do not think that I should be the one to tell people what I want them to remember me for. That is because in a way, people see me as an institution, as a legacy. I think that different people will remember me differently. I try to touch people's life positively. I have been living my life for people. Something for the African woman We are getting there. I am not a woman liber but at the same time I do not like male chauvinism. I concede supremacy to men. He is the man, the head, he is the authority, he has the final word. But what is happening in the Philippines and other places where there are women in top government positions is a pointer to the fact that it is a woman who has the solution to the problems of the country. My advice to women in the land is that we must contribute our quota and lend our voices, which must be heard. Gone are the days that we must limit ourselves to the kitchen. I am a fantastic cook. I can cook all day and won’t be tired. I cook good food; I am a perfect hostess and an entertainer. But I am also a good administrator. I know what it takes to have peace in a community and among people. It is about having the wisdom, the mellow approach of a woman and the strength of a woman. Many women have the strength. Not the strength of violence, but of resilience and complacency to move. A successful man is one who listens to his wife. The strength and softness to move forward lies with the woman. Unfortunately, the most intelligent women are not in politics, they are sitting at home.

Inside The

Glass House WITH AMINU MAIGARI

D’ambrosio Simeone Martinez

FIXTURES

D’ambrosio

Saturday Barcelona v Getafe Málaga v Elche La Osasuna v Celta de Real Valladolid v Espanyol Sunday Almería v Real Betis Levante v Atlético Madrid Sevilla v Villarreal Ramón Real Madrid v Valencia CF Monday Real Sociedad v Granada Wednesday R/Valladolid v Real Madrid

GOAL SCORERS

Player Team Ronaldo Diego Costa Messi Sánchez Benzema Griezmann Aduriz Gameiro Ledesma Bacca Vela Bale Real Villa Rodríguez Uche

GOAL SCORERS

Goals

Player Team

Real Madrid 30 A/Madrid 27 Barcelona 27 Barcelona 17 Real Madrid 17 Real Sociedad 16 Athletic Club 16 Sevilla 15 Barcelona 15 Sevilla 14 Real Sociedad 14 Madrid 14 A/Madrid 13 R/Valladolid 13 Villarreal 12

Immobile Tévez Toni Higuaín Llorente Palacio Gilardino Rossi Balotelli Paloschi Cerci Berardi Callejón Destro Betanin

STERLING: van Persie

Barclays Premier League

FIXTURES

Sterling

Saturday West Ham United v Tottenham Aston Villa v Hull City Man United v Sunderland Newcastle United v Cardiff Stoke City v Fulham Swansea City v Southampton Everton v Man City Sunday Arsenal v West Brom Chelsea v Norwich City Monday Crystal Palace v Liverpool Tuesday 06 May 2014 Man United v Hull City Wednesday Man City v Aston Villa Sunderland v West Brom

Team 1 Liverpool 2 Chelsea 3 Manchester City 4 Arsenal 5 Everton 6 Tottenham 7 Man United 8 Southampton 9 Newcastle 10 Stoke City 11 Crystal Palace 12 Swansea City 13 Hull City 14 West Ham 15 West Bromwich 16 Aston Villa 17 Sunderland 18 Norwich City 19 Fulham 20 Cardiff City

P 36 36 35 36 36 36 35 36 36 36 36 36 35 36 35 35 35 36 36 36

W 25 24 24 22 20 20 18 14 14 11 13 10 10 10 7 9 8 8 9 7

D 5 6 5 7 9 6 6 10 4 11 4 9 7 7 15 8 8 8 4 9

L 6 6 6 7 7 10 11 12 18 14 19 17 18 19 13 18 19 20 23 20

GF 96 69 93 65 57 52 60 52 39 39 28 51 36 38 42 36 37 28 37 31

GA 46 26 35 41 36 49 40 45 57 50 43 52 45 49 54 53 57 60 79 69

GD 50 43 58 24 21 3 20 7 -18 -11 -15 -1 -9 -11 -12 -17 -20 -32 -42 -38

Pts 80 78 77 73 69 66 60 52 46 44 43 39 37 37 36 35 32 32 31 30

GOAL SCORERS Player

Team

Goals

Suarez Sturridge Yaya Touré Rooney Agüero Rodriguez Giroud Bony Hazard Remy Lukaku Gerrard Dzeko Lambert an Persie Benteke Adebayor

Liverpool 30 Liverpool 20 ManCity 19 ManUnited 17 Man City 16 Southampton 15 Arsenal 15 Swansea City 15 Chelsea 14 Newcastle 13 Everton 13 Liverpool 13 Man City 12 Southampton 11 Man United 11 Aston Villa 10 Tottenham 10

Goals

Torino Juventus Verona Napoli Juventus Inter Genoa Fiorentina Milan Chievo Torino Sassuolo Napoli Roma Livorno

21 19 19 17 15 15 14 14 14 13 13 13 13 13 13

FIXTURES Sunday Catania v Roma Angelo Chievo v Torino Genoa v Bologna Parma v Sampdoria Udinese v Livorno Milan v Inter Monday Lazio v Verona Juventus v Atalanta Tuesday Fiorentina v Sassuolo Napoli v Cagliari

AKINLOYE

AT LARGE

08050246155 atlarge84@yahoo.com

THE NATION SATURDAY, MAY 3, 2014

with KAYODE ALFRED E-mail:kayflex2@yahoo.com Tel:08116759807

with KEHINDE OLULEYE (e-mail: kehindefolade@thenationonlineng.net) Tel:08023689894

THE NATION, SATURDAY, MAY 3, 2014

HON. SHEHU IDRIS BARDE

Gov Orji

Hon. Barde

PRESIDENT JONATHAN

GOVERNOR AMOSUN We need police station in Ijoko Jonathan

GOVERNOR FASHOLA

JAMB REGISTRAR

Provide speed breakers on our road

Gov Amosun

SUPERVISING MINISTER FOR EDUCATION

Establish entrepreneurial varsities

T Gov Fashola

HE solution to the critical unemployment problem, which is one of the greatest threats to our security, is not only to attract industrial investment and advanced technology in manufacturing, but to establish entrepreneurial and technical universities. These will be equipped with relevant facilities that can produce practical entrepreneurs who will further create employment opportunities by establishing their own ventures. The Ministry of Education should urgently look into this proposal in the interest of our country. John Dega, Lagos.

Hon. Wike

THE NATION, SATURDAY, MAY 3, 2014

Gov. Jang

Hon. Iriase

Gov Fashola

IGP, Muhammed Abubakar

Prof. Dibu Ojerinde, JAMB boss

Continued from Page 47

THE NATION SATURDAY, MAY 3, 2014

‘My road to success as a blogger’ Adaku Abimbola Ufere is an oil and gas lawyer. She also doubles as the Editor-in-Chief of ThirdworldProfashional.com, an on-line publication. She spoke with ADETORERA IDOWU about her love for blog and what it takes to run one successfully. Excerpts: How did you start a blog? started my blog in October 2008 when I moved to the Law School in Abuja. I wanted to chronicle fun things to do in my new city and also keep my friends plugged in on what I was up to. So, I started taking pictures everywhere I went and talked about it, and things kind of just took off from there.

ed. In terms of partnerships, my level of success has been pretty mind-blowing as well. I've worked with major brands both inside and outside the country. What are you doing to promote Nigerian fashion? I wear a lot of Nigerian designers and work with a lot of Nigerian brands who are constantly being showcased on my blog.

What is your blog’s niche? If you have to go into collaboration in future, with I don't really consider my blog as who would that be? having a particular I'd definitely say Lanre niche. Generally, it Da Silva Ajayi. Her clothes I average between 10,000 is considered a are a dream and I'm a and15,000 unique visitors a day, huge fan. Also Iconic fashion and personal style blog, and an average of about 200,000 Invanity, the embellishbut it is much the out of this hits a month. My reader feedback ments, more than that. world over-done grandiosFashion is merely and interaction is also a great ity makes my inner Anna an aspect of what way to measure user statistics, Dello Russo sing. it is about. I'd and those are beyond anything How easy is it to comdescribe it more like a visual diary bine blogging with a day I could have imagined and dispenser of job? when I started unnecessary/necIt is very stressful. I work essary information. 8-5, so I try to make time a few nights during the week to bang out a post. But my What is your source of inspiration? main work night for ThirdWorldProfashional is usually Definitely my mother. I grew up in a Sunday night. I try to answer emails, work through my male-dominated household, so my backlog and write as many draft posts as I can every mum was like the touchstone for all Sunday. things girly. And since I was the only girl at the time, I got the full brunt of How could one start a successful blog? everything she did. She took me to the salon Consistency, originality and passion. Most people who with her, we got manicures, pedicures, masblog have the creative talent which desires an outlet for sages and shopped together. I copied everyexpression. So there's already that love to create something she did. I tried my hardest to morph into thing and dispense information regarding it. But again, a mini Mrs. U when I was growing up. like everything else that starts out of fun, it becomes My cousins were also a big part of it. I have work. So you have to be sure it is really something you very glamorous older cousins and they used to enjoy doing and would like to see grow to long term or send me magazines and clothes. They told me else the tendency to get bored creeps in after a while. what all the latest trends were and wore makeMaintain originality. It is easy for readers to know when up for me when I was like six years old. So I real- someone is not being true to themselves. Carve out your ly had no choice but to love beauty and fashion. own lane and stick to it.

‘

• Abimbola

How successful is your blog? I average between 10,000 and15,000 unique visitors a day, and an average of about 200,000 hits a month. My reader feedback and interaction is also a great way to measure user statistics, and those are beyond anything I could have imagined when I start-

What legacy do you wish to leave? I want to leave a legacy of versatility; one that refuses to be pigeon-holed; one that says you can be a chef/partyplanner/rock musician/nuclear-physicist at the same time if you want to. You have only one lifetime; make the best of it.

Corporate governance for SMEs • Create clear organization charts. • Establish independent internal audit function (or employ an internal auditor based on the size of the organization). • Create job description, which establish clear responsibilities and reporting lines. • Introduce succession plans and rules for conflicts of interest Business Ethics Business ethics is defined as a process for integrating values such as honesty, trust, transparency and fairness into its policies, practices and decision making. Business ethics is inherently limited with corporate governance. The importance of business ethics cannot be denied. A firm which applies ethical practices also expects to be dealt ethically. These expectations and consequent adoption of ethical practices create chain effect in terms of promoting ethical practices. The advantages of adopting business ethics include: 1. Adopting ethics can help to build reputation of business. As customers are becoming increasingly aware of their rights, they

value ethical practices adopt good governance practices particularly through 2. Helps in building customer loyalty and n Tomi OMOJUWA n tax incentives and award of annual trophy. SME chamthereby increasing revenue bers should be strengthened to become advocates to 3. Attracting talented workforce and employees as well as corporate governance and business ethicsamong its members. improved performance of existing employees. The government should facilitate access to financing and equity 4. Complying with regulations e.g.labor laws and environment. markets for firms which implement corporate governance. In order to promote entrepreneurial culture, venture capConclusion and Recommendations ital firms should also be encouraged through SMEs are critical for developing countries as they enabling regulatory environment. facilitate economic activity and provide employMonitoring and compliance with good goverment thus contributing to poverty reduction. However, they face nance practices shall remain a key challenge for all the developing challenges related to access to finance, forging international linkcountries. It is therefore, imperative to strengthen the capacity of the ages and access to technology. Governance of these enterprises has regulator in understanding the needs of SMEs. Corporate goverpeculiar characteristics and issues. Corporate governance enhances nance unit within the regulator should be strengthened so that it competitiveness of SMEs by playing an important role in managecan provide guidance to SMEs on issues related to corporate goverment and mobilization or resources. Corporate governance matters nance. if developing countries are serious about addressing challenges to these enterprises. Incentive based governance framework would • Omojuwa, Managing Consultant, Pathlead Consulting need to be developed in order to encourage these enterprises to info@pathleadconsulting.com or omojuwa@gmail.com

SMEs Corner

THE NATION, SATURDAY, MAY 3, 2014

Continued from Page 39

Health Matters With DR MIKE OYAKHIRE 08170268670

email: drmikeoyakhire@yahoo.com

Email: counselling@faithoyedepo.org

NEWS 57

THE NATION SATURDAY, MAY 3, 2014

Lagos High Court sit ting in Ikeja yesterday dismissed the application filed by the former Managing Director of the defunct Intercontinental Bank Plc, Dr. Erastus Akingbola, challenging its jurisdiction to hear the alleged theft charges preferred against him. The court presided by Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo, in a ruling, declared that the charges preferred against Akingbola and co-defendant are withinn its competence and purview to determine. Akingbola and co-defendant and former financial officer of the bank, Bayo Dada, had filed two separate applications before the court, seeking to quash the N47.1 billion theft charge preferred against them by the Eco-

N47.1bn theft: Court dismisses Akingbola’s application challenging its jurisdiction Adebisi ONANUGA

nomic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Justice Lateef LawalAkapo, in a ruling on the applications, dismissed them for lacking in merit. Akingbola and Dada had challenged the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the 22count charge filed against them by the EFCC. Chief Wole Olanipekun, the lead counsel to Akingbola, while arguing his

application, had told the court that the subject matter of the alleged offences related to banking operations and capital market issues. Olanipekun had submitted that only the Federal High Court had the jurisdiction to entertain such matters according to Section 251 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He had cited a judgment delivered by the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, on November 21, 2013 in a matter filed by a former Manag-

ing Director of Finbank, Okey Nwosu, against the EFCC to back his position. According to him, the Appeal Court had dismissed the theft charge preferred against Nwosu on the grounds that the Lagos High Court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the matter. According to him, Akingbola's case was similar to that of Okey Nwosu and that in view of this, the court should discharge his client. Olanipekun had further argued it would amount to an abuse of court process for the court to open hearing into the matter as the defendants were currently facing a similar charge before the Federal High Court, Lagos. Dada's counsel, Prof. Taiwo Osipitan (SAN), had also argued that the offences allegedly committed by his client related to buying and selling of shares on behalf of Intercontinental Bank. But counsel to the EFCC

counsel, Chief Godwin Obla (SAN), had countered their views. Obla had urged the court to dismiss the two seperate applications and assume jurisdiction over the case. He said the charge against the defendants borders on stealing which was different from that made against Nwosu. Delivering his ruling, Justice Lawal-Akapo said the defendants were charged with stealing, obtaining money by false pretences and receiving stolen property which clearly distinguish it from Nwosu's case which have its roots in capital market transactions. The trial judge pointed out that the trial of the defendants failed at the Federal High court because the defence failed to produce the charges preferred against Akingbola at the Federal High Court. He explained this had robbed the court from com-

paring both charges to determine if it was an abuse of court process or not. Citing constitutional provisions and Advance Fee Fraud Act, Justice LawalAkapo maintained that the Lagos State High Court would continue to exercise same jurisdiction in concurrent with the Federal High Court. He stated also that in line with these laws, the state high court had jurisdiction to try offences charged under the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act. " The offences as charged are within the purview and competence of the state high court. "As a result, I find no merit in the applications and they are hereby dismissed," the judge said. He therefore adjourned the matter till June 23, 2014 for re-arraignment of the defendants.

How we’ve been fighting visa scams — ICPC boss

HE Independent Cor rupt Practice and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), in collaboration with foreign embassies in Nigeria has helped to reduce the incidence of visa scams through sustained arrests and issuance of advisories. The ICPC Chairman, Mr. Ekpo Nta, made this known on Wednesday when the Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria, •The Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of South-West, Mr. Peter Gana (right), being introduced to the Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi (centre), by the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Mohammed Ndabawa, during the visit of the DIG to the Governor's Office in Ibadan...yesterday.

2015: PDP can’t dislodge APC in Kwara, says Ahmed

WARA State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed yesterday said the major opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), does not have the wherewithal to wrest power from the All Progressives’ Congress (APC) in 2015. The state chairman of the PDP, Otunba Iyiola Oyedepo, had shortly after his election vowed that his party would soon occupy the government in the state. But Governor Ahmed described such utterance as wishful, especially from a party whose politicians of substance had left for the progressive platform. He added that the bloody PDP ward congress in the state bore eloquent testimony to its lack of organisation, purpose and unity. “It has always been enmeshed in one controversy ever since. The PDP is a rudderless party. All the politicians of substance have moved to the APC,” he added. The governor said this in Ilorin during his radio/television programme tagged the “Governor Explains.” Said he: “This is a people’s government and you cannot take a people’s government from the people. When you take a people’s government from the people, what do you

Adekunle JIMOH want to give them. We must recognize that Kwara State has come thus far because of transparency, well articulated and marshalled out government process backed by strong political process engendered by All Progressives Congress (APC), and that is what will continue to sustain the state because we have a strong leadership. That leadership has allowed programmes to be articulated. “It is not enough to just put people togetherl; you need to be organised. What has sustained the state is the structure and the structure was not built by the current leadership. It was built by the late Wazirin of Ilorin, Dr Olusola Saraki. It is that structure that has been sustaining governance in the state and that structure is election winning machinery because it has an all-inclusive platform embedded in it. It has a consultative platform embedded in it. So this allows everybody have a sense of belonging. “Why do you think the APC congresses from the ward to state went on smoothly in Kwara State? It is because of the all-inclusive

platform that has been created and that is what will sustain the state; it has sustained us in the past; it is sustaining us now and it will sustain us in the future. Anything other than that will not be able to sustain Kwara as Kwarans know what they want. On the current insecurity in parts of the country, Governor Ahmed said recently “the United States of America invited the governors of the 19 northern states to know about the security challenge in the north because what they have been reading largely has been the position of the Federal Government. They want to hear from the perspective of the governors of those states. “I’m happy to know that the governors outlined some of the security challenges that are facing their states and how they are interlinked with economic and other social activities. “And the government of America sincerely sympathized with us on the situation we have found ourselves, and they gave their words to do everything humanly possible to help Nigeria overcome it, current security challenges.”

Mr. A.R. Ghanashyam, paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja. Mr. Nta stated that the ICPC had in the last one year arrested 32 persons for Visa related offences pertaining to the Indian High Commission. Thirteen of them have been charged to court in Abuja and Lagos. He further explained that the ICPC commenced investigations of visa scam two years

ago, following an invitation from the United States Embassy. The successful investigations generated similar invitations from other embassies. Mr Nta said the ICPC was also collaborating with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and banks on the issue, adding that some civil servants found to have been involved in the visa scams had been charged to court.

Resource control: South South leaders, youths fume over North’s position

HE Southsouth is angry with the North over the position of Northern delegates to the National Conference calling for the review of sharing of oil proceeds. The North wants all the states of the federation to share proceeds from off-shore oil and a reduction in the current 13 per cent derivation for the oil bearing states. Mr Amorighoye Mene, a Niger Delta leader and member of the Itsekiri Leaders of Thought; Samson Mamamu, the Regent of Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Kingdom, and outspoken activist Chief Ayirimi Emami described the paper as insulting and threat to the peace and unity of the country. Mene, a lawyer, said: “The position of ACF and northern governor is threat to the peace, unity and peaceful coexistence of Nigeria. That is why we are calling for restructuring of Nigeria because until we do, we cannot move forward.” He opined that the current structure of the country encourages some regions to be lazy and unproductive to the detriment of the growth and development of the country. He said:“Some people cannot at one end of the country refuse to be productive, just lay back and enjoy oil resources without contributing anything and at the end of the day turn around to call us (Niger Deltans) fools.” Mene also debunked claims by the ACF that the resources of the North were used to explore oil in the region, explaining that foreign investors and oil

Shola O’Neil, South-south Regional Editor/Tony Akowe,Kaduna/Mike ODIEGWU,Yenagoa multinationals who started oil exploration did so with their funds. “They should realise that they are talking to very educated people in the Niger Delta, who followed the developments of this country, who actively participated in the negotiation of Nigeria independence. “This kind of assertion provokes the Niger Deltans because their position tends to look at us as uninformed, uneducated. “When the ACF claimed that they are the owners of oil or that it is owned by Nigerian without looking at the devastating effect of its exploitation, they seem to call us fools and this is what is really annoying us, as a people who are feeling the impact of the oil exploration while people who have failed to exploit their own resources fail to realise the problem we are passing through and then begin to claim that the resources belong to them. It is provocative to the extreme,” he added. Speaking in the same vein, Mamamu, a former Chairman of the Western Zone of the Ijaw National Congress (INC) said the call for reduction in the sharing formula “is unacceptable by both the dead and living. “The minimum demand of

the Niger Delta people is 50percent or a slight difference.” He cautioned northern leaders and other Nigerians against debating the issue of resource control with greed and the tendency to oppress and cheat their Niger Delta people. In his reaction, Chief Ayirimi Emami, who is the Chairman of the Itsekiri Regional Development Committee, said there is a conspiracy by northern elites to subject the Niger Delta region to perpetual underdevelopment in spite of their resources. “The conspiracy to deprive the Niger Delta benefit of their God-given resources has been on for decades. Anybody who tried to fight the injustice is brought down. Look at what happened to Chief James Ibori; his travails today are a result of his opposition to the rape of the Niger Delta. “People must realise that ultimately they cannot stop us from enjoying the benefits of our resources. At the end of the day, truth and justice will prevail.” He urged the people of the Niger Delta and other parts of the country to rise up in unison to insist on true fiscal federalism and resource control. The IYC, speaking through its spokesperson, Mr Eric Omare said the Northern position is highly provocative, insulting, inciting, unpatriotic and deliberately prepared to instigate Niger-Deltans to take up arms against the Federal Government.

NEWS

THE NATION, SATURDAY, MAY 3, 2014

Ekiti guber poll: Bamidele suspends rally over alleged insecurity n Sulaiman SALAWUDEEN, Ado-Ekiti n HE gubernatorial candidate of Labour Party (LP) in the June 21 governorship election in Ekiti State, Hon Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, has announced the suspension of his campaigns ‘till further notice’ ahead of the election. Bamidele, who made the disclosure yesterday, while speaking with newsmen in his Iyin-Ekiti country home, cited alleged violence by members of a political party as reason. He said recent activities of thugs allegedly sponsored by a candidate of a political party had forced him to put his rally on hold, adding that the rally could only continue until a time when the police give assurances that members of his campaign train would not be attacked. He also vowed that, "in the next few days, we will change our campaign tactics, we will consult and contact stakeholders within and outside the state on the way forward. "It is on record also that during our rallies, my followers have been attacked in Egbe Ekiti, Ilupeju Ekiti, Imesi Ekiti, Ipole Iloro Ekiti, Itaji Ekiti and Ikere Ekiti. But the irony of it is that in all these places, the police, led by their DPOs, have watched helplessly as if nothing happened."

Lagos needs N25bn to remove abandoned ship wrecks from shoreline n Miriam EKENE-OKORO n AGOS State Government has said that it requires about N25 billion to effectively remove abandoned ship wrecks along the state coastline and waterways. The state Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Prince Adesegun Oniru, disclosed this yesterday at a press conference in Alausa. According to Oniru, there are about 200 shipwrecks and abandoned vessels currently lying on the state’s coastline, including lagoons. He stressed that the vessels are responsible for some of the environmental issue, especially degradation of the coastline. He explained that such wrecks, pose a danger to navigation on the water ways, as well as the health of residents due to the toxic nature arising from the decay of the wreckage. “There are also security concerns, as these wrecks can provide miscreants with hideouts for their activities. Removals of shipwrecks and abandoned vessels is not a small task and it will cost nothing less than N25billion to effectively remove the wrecks from the state’s coastline”, the commissioner stressed. He, however, said it was not the responsibility of the state government to cough out the required amount, and lamented that efforts to get the Federal Government to aid the protecting of the coastlines have yielded little result.

Terrorism: Police urge Ibadan residents to cooperate on security n Oseheye OKWUOFU, Ibadan n HE Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of investigation, Peter Gana, yesterday, in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, met various stakeholders in the state, including hoteliers, commercial drivers, chief security officers in higher institutions, school teachers, bankers and members of vigilante groups among others, to sensitize them about the current security challenges in the country, and called for a synergy among all nip the ugly trend in the bud. Speaking, the DIG said, "Although we don't have the problem of insurgents here, but that should not stop us from collaborating and forming a synergy to tackle the problem. If you notice any strange object in your community or a strange car parked suspiciously in your motor park, challenge those who park the vehicle and also draw the attention of security operatives to it. "I am not saying we should take the laws into our hands, but we can always arrest the culprits and hand them over to security operatives. "Let us restore our lost rich values, including the culture of discipline in our various homes. If all of us are collectively disciplined, crime will be minimized in our society. If Mr. A is a victim today, you could be the victim tomorrow. Don't keep quiet. It is better you even give false alarm than not to talk at all.

‘Make FOI Act operational nationwide’ n Innocent DURU n group, the Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL) has charged the National Assembly to make the Freedom of Information Act to be operational in every state of the federation. The group frowned at the current practice where some states insist that they have to domesticate the Act before it can be applicable in their domain. Speaking, the chairman of the group, Comrade Debo Adeniran said: “It is regrettable that rather than enhance access to information and restore popular confidence in governance which were its primary aims, the FOI Act is gradually being violated in the face of wide-spread corruption in all tiers of government and across all Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs) in Nigeria. “We are compelled to cite the case of Nasarawa House of Assembly where public officers at the State House of Assembly have deliberately denied access to information regarding allegation of corruption bordering on breach of public trust and financial misappropriation with regards to the public expenditure at the State House of Assembly.”

•L-R: Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Prof. Modupe Adelabu; Afro juju musician, Sir Shina Peters and Governor Kayode Fayemi, during the Fayemi re-election campaign tour of Ode-Ekiti, Gbonyin LGA... on Wednesday.

Ekiti guber poll: Fayemi assures on peaceful election KITI State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has assured that his administration is working in collaboration with the relevant security agencies to ensure the maintenance of peace before, during and after the June 21 governorship election in the state. Fayemi, who spoke during the Yoruba edition of his monthly media chat on Thursday night, also counseled the people of the state to be wary of opposition politicians, who he said out of desperation for power, have resorted to falsehood instead of running issuebased campaign. He lambasted the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Ayo Fayose, for resorting to falsehood and playing to the

•Governor challenges aspirants to declare assets gallery rather than telling the electorate what he would do better if elected. While admitting that electioneering campaign is already in full swing, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate assured the people of the state that politics would not affect governance, as the machinery of government is still running to meet the needs of the electorate. Fayemi, who thanked God for the relative peace being enjoyed in the state, explained that security of lives and property is paramount to him, as his administration is working round the clock with relevant security agencies to prevent the breakdown of law and order.

Fayemi said, "As the chief security officer of the state, I will do my best to ensure peace and security of lives and property before, during and after the election. "We shall collaborate with relevant security agencies to ensure that our state enjoy peace and I want Ekiti to be a reference point on peaceful conduct of election, and that is why we must not allow the pursuit of our ambition to cause chaos and breakdown of law and order." Reacting to a phone call from a listener, Fayemi said he has no plan to sack government workers if re-elected, stressing that he had not sacked any worker since he came into office three and half

years ago. Meanwhile, in a related development, Fayemi has challenged all candidates in the forthcoming governorship election in the state to declare their assets publicly and also embark on issue-based campaign. The Governor made the challenge in Ado Ekiti at the 2014 May Day celebration, adding that aspirants should come out and publicly declare their assets before Ekiti people like he voluntarily did when he became governor. Dr Fayemi, who stressed that he has not added anything to the assets he declared when he became governor, urged anyone who thinks he has more than what he had declared to come out and present evidence.

CAN leader expresses worries over attacks on Christians HAIRMAN, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the President, South West Zone, Christian Welfare Initiative, Archbishop Magnus Adeyemi Atilade, has expressed fears over the persecution of Christians in Nigeria. According to him, while the persecution is full blown in the north, the south west part of the country is gradually beginning to witness it. “These are trying times for the Church of Jesus Christ in Nigeria, and heaven demands of us leaders to provide sound and credible spiritual leadership for the church. The final outcome of the present crisis confronting the church shall be determined by the decisions that we, as leaders of the church,

n Gbenga ADERANTI n take.” He observed that the church in Nigeria is under intense attack by forces that are clearly opposed to Christ. Atilade is worried that rather than for the attacks to abate, it has continued to escalate. “In the northern parts of this nation, churches are burnt, Christians are killed, and the business locations of our brethren are willfully and ruthlessly destroyed, while all sorts of discrimination and intimidation are unleashed on followers of Christ in the northern zones.” While agreeing that the magnitude of attack on Christians in the south has

not reached that of the north, he said Christians in the south are beginning to “witness subtle, but consistent discrimination by the existing government structures.” The South West ACN president wondered why the premises of the Word of Life Bible Ministry in Victoria Island, Lagos, was de-

•Archbishop Atilade

molished a week after CAN convened a press conference to protest the persecution of Christians in Nigeria.” According to him, if the church of the president of CAN could be demolished, then other churches should be worried. He enjoined Christian leaders to find solutions to the present attack on churches. “The leaders of the church need to agree on a course of responsive action to the present challenges. We should be able to articulate clear steps and directions for the entire body of Christ in Nigeria. The stamp of authority and veracity of these proposals to the church should not be difficult to convey to the Christians in Nigeria.

Woman arrested with Cannabis hidden in Noodles 35-year-old caterer has been arrested in Lagos for attempting to smuggle cannabis hidden inside noodles to her boyfriend in prison. Officials at the Kirikiri Prison, Lagos, discovered the drug during routine examination of food items brought for inmates. The suspect, in her statement, said that her detained boyfriend directed her to a woman to collect two cartons of noodles.

n Kelvin OSA OKUNBOR n The Lagos State Commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Mr Aliyu Sule, said that the suspect, who was transferred to the State command by the prison authority, will soon be charged to court. “A 35-year-old single lady, Oyinyechi Ezirim, was transferred by the Prison authorities for smuggling cannabis to inmates. The compressed dried weeds, concealed inside noo-

dles, tested positive for cannabis and weighed 4.1kg. She will soon be charged to court,” Aliyu noted. According to the suspect, “I used to buy noodles for my boyfriend who has been in prison custody for one year. He promised to get married to me and we have been in courtship. Last week, he told me that a former inmate promised to send him two cartons of noodles. “He asked me to contact the man on phone. When I did,

the man referred me to his wife who gave me the noodles. Unfortunately, when I got to the prison, twenty packs of the noodles were found to contain hemp. That was how I found myself in this case.” Oyinyechi, who hails from Imo State, is a graduate of the Imo School of Catering. The Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade, while commending the Prison authority, said that the case will be thoroughly investigated.

THE NATION, SATURDAY, MAY 3, 2014

NEWS Ijaws insist on resource control

Imoke urges labour to get involved in selection of next governor ROSS River State Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke, has called on the organised labour to brace up and be part of the process of selecting the next governor for the state. Imoke, who made the call during a state banquet to mark the 2014 Workers Day at the Peregrino Hall, Calabar, maintained that, “The governorship of Cross River State, come 2015 is too important for one man to decide, so be bold, be part of that decision in 2015. “This Labour Day reminds us of the role you play in the development of the society, anyone who underrates your role does not understand the fact that the decision makers in any society are the middle class and most of you constitute that class. The sooner you know your powers and rights as a middle class, then you can join us in giving directions to our state. “So be bold to say I want to be part of that decision in 2015. Don’t take it for granted, don’t wait for me to make a pronouncement because I will not make any such." While allaying fears that the governorship may be given to the southern senatorial district, Imoke averred that, “By the grace of God, the next governor of Cross River State will come from the northern senatorial district, the only senatorial district that has not produced a governor since the inception of this state. So why won’t we put our hands together to support our brothers from the north? “The next governor would not be picked by Liyel Imoke; the next governor will be picked by the almighty God with all of you playing your own parts." On the recent improvement recorded in WAEC examinations in the state, the governor said, " When we came we were number 27th in WAEC examination which did not augur well for us but today we are number five in Nigeria. “These are the things we need to partner with you to make it happen. The same goes for healthcare delivery, when we came, we had less than 300 health facilities but today over 800 health facilities have been put in place making health care delivery services available to the remotest part of the state, providing access, which today has reduced infant and maternal mortality rate significantly, making our children healthier and able to go to school.

n Mike ODIEGWU, Yenagoa n

JAW elders and youths from Bayelsa State have insisted that there was no going back on their demands for resource control and true federalism. The Secretary of the Bayelsa Elders Forum (BEF), Chief Thompson Okorotie, said Nigeria would only make progress when different states are allowed to control their resources and pay agreed taxes to the Federal Government. Okorotie, a former Political Adviser to the state governor, maintained that agitation for resource control and true federalism should not be discussed along ethnic lines. "It is the best interest of all. It is not a matter of Ijaw alone. We are talking about national development. It is not good to be parochial," he said. He asked northern delegates at the ongoing National Conference to reconsider their position by putting the future of Nigeria ahead of their personal interest. He said that the north has many resources, and that it is wrong to consider oil and gas as the only resources in Nigeria. He said: "Every state in Nigeria has resources and so when we talk about resource control people look at oil and gas alone, it is wrong. The constitution did not name oil and gas it said natural resources and every state of this country has natural resources. In a related development, a prominent traditional ruler in Bayelsa State, His Royal Majesty, Mozi Agara, has warned Ijaw delegates at the ongoing National Conference against abandoning the agitation for resource control. Agara, who is known as Kala-Okun III, Ibenanaowei of Kolokuma clan, asked the delegates not to be intimidated by their counterparts from other ethnic extractions whose objective is to scuttle the Ijaw's agenda.

•Executive Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano (2nd left) arriving the venue of the election petition tribunal with his aides and legal team...yesterday.

Anambra guber poll: Obiano denies double registration NAMBRA State Governor, Willie Obiano, yesterday, told the state election petitions tribunal in Awka that he is not involved in the alleged double registration. The Governor made the remark when he mounted the witness box at the governorship election tribunal, led by Hon. Justice Ishaq Bello. He was answering questions from the counsel to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Chief Adegboyega Awomolo SAN. The suit was brought by Dr, Chike Obidigbo, challenging Obiano’s candidacy of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) during the November 16, 2013, governorship election in Anambra. The Governor explained that after he returned to Anambra State after winning the primaries of his party to contest for the governorship, he applied to INEC to transfer his voter’s card from Lagos

n Nwanosike ONU, Awka n State, where he said he had been voting during elections, to Anambra to enable him vote. He said: “I registered as a voter in Lagos State. When I returned to Anambra State to contest for the governor, I applied for a transfer of my registration. “I went in the morning of August 19, 2013, to ascertain the process of transferring my registration from Lagos to Anambra State and to make it possible for me to vote in a booth near my house at Aguleri. I applied on August 19, 2013 and submitted it same day. “The electoral officer, Nsofor, asked me to write an application and attach my voter’s card. I did so the same day and when I submitted it to him, he told me to come back in two days time. “I went back on the 21st of August, 2013, hoping to pick up the new voter’s

card. I was told to fill a form and I also did my biometrics. He told me to pick the new card in two weeks time. On September 3, 2013, I went to the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), in Awka to pick up the new card. I did not, at any point in time, have two voter’s cards. The valid one I used in the election was the one given to me in Anambra State.” Obiano stated. Obiano’s application to INEC and the voter’s card he used during the election were admitted in evidence yesterday. He also said that he could not vouch for the picture found against his name in the voters’ register because he was never at Eri primary School for registration. However, he faulted the age in the controversial Eri Primary School voters’ register, saying that he was 58 years then and not 56 as was shown. According to him, he was 55 years old when he registered in Lagos.

Fresh hostility in Delta community WO persons were feared dead and four confirmed arrested, as fresh hostility broke out in the Madangho of Ugborodo community, Warri SouthWest Local Government Area of Delta State on Thursday. The fighting, it was gathered started when one of the warring factions in the bloody crisis, which witnessed some respite a few weeks ago following a Federal Government-brokered peace agreement in Abuja, attacked the Madangho, provoking an armed resistance

•Two killed, four injured n Bolaji OGUNDELE, Warri n by the youths of the community. According to a source, who pleaded anonymity, said two persons were killed in the fracas that broke out after the attack. “The same boys who had invaded Ajudaibo and Oginibo before the Federal Government’s peace accord were mobilized to attack perceived opponents at Madangho. But the community

youths resisted and that was how it got bloody for many hours from the morning of Thursday. However, the Commanding Officer of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Delta, Captain Musa Gemu, denied claims that two people died in the incident. But he confirmed that naval and Joint Task Force (JTF) men in the area had calmed the situation, arresting four suspects in the process. “It is not true that anybody

died. And get it clear that the incident is not related to any communal crisis or the project in the area. What happened was a case of a missing ship. And when those who missed the ship were returning, some persons attacked them. “There were some attacking and others defending, but the Navy and the Army came promptly and the situation has been brought under control and further being monitored. I think about four persons have been arrested,” Gemu explained.

Varsity students nabbed for kidnapping, robbery WO students of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO) have been arrested by the Imo State Police Command for alleged armed robbery and kidnapping. The suspects (names withheld) met their waterloo after they threatened to abduct and kill one Miss Joy Oparaugo if she fails to release the sum of N400, 000, being proceeds realized from the wedding ceremony of her girlfriend. The suspects allegedly ordered her to bring the money to a lonely bush path in Nekede, Owerri West Local

n Okodili NDIDI, Owerri n Government Area of the state and threatened to kill her if she failed to comply. The Commissioner of Police, Abdulmajid Ali, who paraded the suspects along with other suspected criminals at the Command headquarters, said that upon the receipt of the information, the command’s Scorpion Squad traced the location of the caller, stormed the area and blocked all exit routes. According to Abdulmajid, the two suspects emerged from their hideout to collect

the bag of money from the victim who had called that she had brought the money. He said the suspects were then rounded up by the police. Also paraded were members of a notorious kidnap syndicate that operated within Orlu, Orsu, Oguta and Isu local government areas. According to the Police boss, the suspected kidnappers were apprehended after the kidnap of one Agara Wilson, aged 30, from AmurieOmanze in the Isu Local Government Area of the state. He disclosed that the vic-

tim was abducted and kept in the kidnappers’ camp for two days before he was rescued by the police. Abdulmajid also disclosed that the Command recovered a one-year-old baby who was stolen from her mother during a church programme at Nnempi, Oru West Local Government Area of the state. He said that the stolen baby was eventually recovered at St. Gregory’s Catholic Church, Amaigbo in Nwangele Local Government Area, where she was abandoned.

Three children abducted in C/River

n Nicholas KALU, Calabar n

HE plague of abducting infants, which has become rife in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, appears to have spread to other parts of the state. The Nation yesterday gathered that two little children were snatched from their parents in Akparavoni in Biase Local Government Area of the state. Another child was also said to have been abducted on Tuesday in Iwuru community. The entire community of Akparavoni was thrown into confusion when armed men broke into homes in the early hours of Wednesday and abducted two children. Though the ages and names of the children could not be ascertained at press time, it was, however, gathered they were both under 10.

NEWS

THE NATION, SATURDAY, MAY 3, 2014

HIV-positive kidnap suspect confesses to raping female victims A

N HIV positive suspected kidnapper, Holy Ighoragbor, has confessed to raping female victims held in captivity by his gang. Ighoragbor, a member of a seven-man kidnap gang, was paraded yesterday with other members of the gang at the premises of the State Security Service (SSS), Delta Command. State Director, Ms Florence Ikakone, said the gang emerged sometimes in January 2014 and have been responsible for many kidnap incidents in Warri and environ. Ikakone said the gang was responsible for kidnap, murder and sale of victim’s vehicles.

n Okungbowa AIWERIE, Asaba n

She identified the kidnappers as Sunday Ogisi, leader of the gang, Kesiena Onwubolu a.k.a (Kes), Holy Ighoragbor, John David, Moses Urhode , Samuel Onyekachi Onyema, and Francis Oshevire. According to Ikakone, the gang kidnapped a female victim (names withheld), sold her Toyota Siena bus and shot her on her leg because her family was slow to come up with the ransom. She also said the gang was responsible for the kidnap of another female victim (names withheld) on January 19th 2014and that of a lawyer, Stephen Olowu, on 25th January.

The gang allegedly dumped the corpse of the lawyer into the Otokutu river. “The gang sold the three vehicles snatched from their victims at give away prices of N50, 000, N100, 000 and N120, 000 respectively,” the SSS said. Holy Ighoragbor, who claimed to be an excavator operator, said he decided to join the kidnap gang to raise money for his treatment because he was unemployed and had no money. Ighoragbor admitted to having sex with their female victims while in captivity. Responding to a question on why he had unprotected sex with female victims, he said he did not know the infection was in-

curable. He expressed sorrow at the crime and asked for forgiveness, adding that he will not return to kidnapping if he was set free. He said: “For the woman, we demanded the sum of N3 million from her family. The woman’s senior daughter had just graduated from the university and was doing her NYSC. She offered N300, 000. I said that we should collect the money, but Kes said he would not collect that amount. “Because I did not want him to kill the woman, I shot her in the leg. I suffer from HIV.AIDS and my mother is a poor farmer. It is true that we rape female victims held by our gang.”

Housewife seeks dissolution of 18-yr-old marriage

Amosun’s wife donates to schools to mark 48th birthday anniversary

n Vivian OKORIE n IGHTEEN years after she was married to her estranged husband, Jimoh Usman, a Lagos based housewife, Mrs Halimat Usman, is seeking divorce at the Mushin Grade ‘A’ customary court. Halimat told the court that her husband subjected her to constant beating and humiliation adding that he had impregnated another woman outside wedlock. She said: “He subjected me to constant beatings before he sent me away with my children and he also impregnated another woman. I want the marriage to be dissolved immediately and I want the custody of the children.He should be compelled to be responsible for the schooling and general welfare of the children.” The marriage which was contracted in 1996 at Kogi State is blessed with four children. However, the respondent denied the accusations saying: “She is lying; no one is pregnant for me.” The case has been adjourned till May 21, 2013.

Ogun APC exco for inauguration on Tuesday HE national secretariat of the All Progresives Congress (APC) will on Tuesday, May 6, inaugurate the newly-elected State Executive Committee of the party in Ogun State. Also to be inaugurated are the executive of the party at the 236 wards and those at the 20 local government areas. Governor Ibikunle Amosun, who disclosed this on Friday at a meeting with APC stakeholders in the state, added that the venue of the event is the MKO Abiola Stadium,Kuto at 10 am. The executives of the APC expected to be inaugurated are Chairman, Alhaji Rokeeb Adeniji; Deputy Chairman, Alhaji Tajudeen Lemboye; Senatorial Chairman (Ogun Central)Hon. Kunle Adesina, Senatorial Chairman (Ogun West): Basiru Fadairo; Senatorial Chairman (Ogun East) Chief Folorunso Elias and State Secretary, Toyin Ayebusiwa. Others include the Asst Secretary,: Karimu Iyanda; Treasurer, Wale Adesiji; Asst Treasurer, Alhaji Daudu Olokun; Legal Adviser, Moshood Taiwo; Asst Organising Secretary, Kayode Olurin; Organising Secretary, Gbenga Adenmosun; Asst Financial Secretary, Prince Folarin Adesemowo; Financial Secretary, Kunle Mudasiru; Welfare Secretary, Timothy Olakanmi; Asst Publicity Secretary, Onifade Musibau and Publicity Secretary, Sola Lawal.

S part of activities to mark her 48th birthday anniversary, wife of Ogun State governor, Mrs. Olufunso Amosun, yesterday, hosted about 1000 pupils and students from rural schools and Borstal Correctional Institute across the state. Mrs. Amosun, through her foundation, the Uplift Development Foundation, donated school bags, sandals, biros, pencils, food items and drinks to the children, who are essentially from less-privileged homes. Speaking at the event, tagged, "Uplifting Schools”, Mrs. Amosun explained that the donation was necessitated by her desire to always spend her birthday putting smiles on the faces of the needy in the society. ”I always find fulfillment in giving helping hands to the less-privileged in the state, especially our children. Today, l feel highly happy to be celebrating my day with you," she said. Mrs. Amosun charged the children to be dedicated to their studies and be obedient to their parents and teachers. In his welcome address, the state Commissioner for Education Science and Technology, Barr Segun Odubela, commended the First Lady for her contributions towards improving the standard of education in the state, noting that her decision to visit rural schools in the state was instructive. He advised the children to reciprocate the kind gesture of the governor’s wife by making good use of all the materials given to them. Also speaking, the Chairmen of Obafemi-Owode and Ifo Local Government Areas, Hon. Sayaolu and Hon. Oluwole Enilolobo respectively, thanked Mrs. Amosun for picking schools from their councils to benefit from her kind gesture. Speaking on behalf of the students, the head teacher of St. Mathew Anglican Nursery and Primary School, Mrs. Soneye Olakunle, thanked the First Lady for deeming it fit to visit and donate to schools in the rural areas on her birthday.

•Governor Godswill Akpabio (left) explaining issues to Chief Chris Ezeh, Chairman, Board of Directors, Fidelity Bank Plc (m) and Mr. Nnamdi Okonkwo (right) during a courtesy call at the Governor's Office, Uyo.

NGE urges stakeholders to save Nigeria from running aground RESIDENT of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Mr. Femi Adesina, has called on all stakeholders to forge a synergy to save the ship of the country from running aground. In a statement marking this year’s World Press Freedom Day, he said: “As we mark World Press Freedom Day today, it affords us an opportunity to reflect once again on the state of the media in our country. As Nigeria goes through very grave trials, threatening the very foundation of its existence, it is imperative that all stakeholders forge a synergy to save the ship of state from running aground. If there is any time government should see the media as ally in national development, rather than adversary, it is now. “Without a free press, good governance cannot be guaranteed, the fight against corruption would at best be tepid, our political development would be stunted and sluggish, while the fundamental rights of the citizenry would be trampled upon with impunity. But a free press will accelerate national development, and engender the country of our dreams, which yet remains in the realm of envisioning” He lamented the infringement of journalists’ fundamental rights saying: “No doubt, the atmosphere in which the press operates today is far

better than what it used to be, but it is not yet Uhuru. We still have very serious assaults against journalists and media workers, bordering on infringement of their fundamental human rights, and attempt to stifle and muzzle them. Only recently, an editor was abducted from his home in Lagos, manacled for 12 hours, and driven to another state, where he was slammed with charges of sedition. “Journalists are still harassed, intimidated, brutalized, and even killed outright. The country is replete with cases of journalists killed in the line of duty in recent years, and not a single one of such cases has been unravelled by our security agencies. When the media is under assault, it is to the detriment of us all. As observed by UN Secretary-

General, Ban Ki-moon, “freedom of expression, independent media and universal access to knowledge will fortify our efforts to achieve lasting results for people and the planet.” He added that: “With 70 journalists killed worldwide last year, 211 held in various prisons, and well over 1,000 killed since 1992, let us use this occasion of World Press Freedom Day to rededicate ourselves as a country to a free press, which can work without intimidation, harassment and interference. Our country will be the better for it. It is in our collective interest. That is the way Nigeria can realize her potentials, attain the vision of our founding fathers, and bequeath a worthy legacy to generations unborn.

Rivers poly gets anti-corruption, transparency unit HE Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) in collaboration with Anti- Corruption Vanguard, Rivers State Polytechnic (RIVPOLY), Bori, yesterday inaugurated an Anti-Corruption Monitoring and Transparency Unit (ACTU)., Students and Staff members of the polytechnic. The inauguration of the group, which was held at the polytechnic’s convocation arena in Bori, the headquarters of Ogoni, Rivers State, was witnessed by members of the ICPC,

n Precious DIKEWOHA, Port Harcourt n students and staff of the polytechnic. Inaugurating the six-man committee, the Rivers State head of ICPC, Prince Ndu Okparaibea, said it has become necessary, not only to inaugurate ACTU, but to also commission ACTU secretariat in the campus. He said the target of the organisation is to fight corruption, adding that the fight against corruption must involve all hands and that the institution must work together to achieve the objective for which ACTU was established.

Man trapped in collapsed two-storey building man was left trapped under the rubbles of a collapsed two-storey building yesterday in the Ologuneru area of Ibadan, Oyo State capital. Eyewitnesses said the man, said to be a tipper driver, was under the rubble of the building, said to be under construction. The building, situated along EleyeleIdo road, behind Geoniks Petrol Sta-

n Oseheye OKWUOFU, Ibadan n tion, collapsed around 3.00pm, few minutes after the Friday Prayers. When our correspondent visited the scene, it was gathered that about 10 construction workers who were working at the site when the building collapsed escaped unhurt. It was learnt that the driver had come to drop a lorry-load of granite when he

decided to relax in the building. One of the site workers who spoke with our correspondent said, “there was a big and loud noise and before we knew what was happening, the building had collapsed.” Officials of the state Fire Service, Emergency Management Agency, the Nigeria Security, Civil Defence Corpse and sympathisers were seen making frantic effort to rescue the trapped man.

THE NATION SATURDAY, MAY 3, 2014

EQUITY NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 02-5-14

Investors snap up 3.43% equity stake in MTI

NVESTORS yesterday snapped up about 3.43 per cent equity stake in Mass Telecommunication Innovations (MTI) Nigeria Plc, the most significant interest shown in the shares of the ailing telecommunication company in recent period. MTI emerged the most active stock at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) yesterday after investors swapped 167.61 million ordinary shares of 50 kobo each. The transfers of shares, valued at N83.81 million, were done in three deals. Market sources said the deals were cross deals, implying that the sale and purchase agreement had been pre-arranged between the investors and the transactions at the NSE were meant to formally close the deals. The deals were done at MTIâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nominal price of 50 kobo each, underlining the declined fortunes of the company. Transactions on MTI boosted overall market turnover. Aggregate market

By Taofik Salako, Capital Market Editor

turnover was above average at 430.1 million shares valued at N3.96 billion in 5,389 deals. Zenith Bank was the second most active stock with a turnover of 40.95 million shares valued at N940.31 million in 350 deals. FBN Holdings placed third with a turnover of 33.06 million shares worth N465.25 million in 1,188 deals. The overall pricing trend was positive with the benchmark index indicating average return of 0.23 per cent. The All Share Index (ASI), the common value-based index at NSE, inched up to 38,578.78 points from its opening index of 38,492.13 points. Aggregate market value of all equities rose from N12.672 trillion to N12.700 trillion. With 20 gainers to 31 losers, the uptrend was orchestrated by gains recorded by some highly capitalised stocks including Guaranty Trust Bank, UAC of Nigeria, Nestle Nigeria and

Nigerian Breweries. Nestle Nigeria led the gainers with a gain of N32 to close at N1,072. SEPLAT Production and Development Company followed with a gain of N3.69 to close at N630. Ashaka Cement added N1.68 to close at N18.18. Nigerian Breweries rose by N1 to close at N151. Guaranty Trust Bank gathered 92 kobo to close at N27.15. Unilever Nigeria rose by 51 kobo to close at N48.01. UACN Property Development Company gained 46 kobo to close at N24.52 while UAC of Nigeria gathered 44 kobo to close at N57. On the downside, Total Nigeria topped the declinersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; list with a drop of N8.06 to close at N153.14. Guinness Nigeria dropped by N5.50 to close at N170.50. Mobil Oil Nigeria declined by N3.22 to close at N115. Cadbury Nigeria slipped by N3.73 to close at N71.32. Presco declined by N1.12 to close at N39 while Julius Berger Nigeria lost N1.48 to close at N69.42 per share.

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 02-5-14

THE NATION SATURDAY, MAY 3, 2014

SPORT EXTRA

Abia Warriors players apologise to fans

LAYERS of Abia Warriors Football Club of Umuahia have apologized to their numerous fans across the country for their lack luster performance in recent times which saw them lose three consecutive matches in seven days. In a letter of apology signed by team captain, Chima Uluocha and addressed to the chairman of the club, Chief Emeka Inyama, the players took responsibility for the losses and regretted the valuable points they lost in the process. While lamenting the agony the losses brought to their fans

and management, the players promised to make up for the lost grounds in their subsequent matches. “We really regret losing those matches knowing that the points and match bonuses we would have gained, would have bettered our lives in one way or the other,” they said. The players commended the management for living up to expectations by ensuring the prompt settlement of their emoluments and promised to reciprocate the gesture henceforth by putting up better performance in their future matches.

2014 ABIA FA CUP

Enyimba beat Arinze FC 2-0 to NYIMBA are through to zoom to final the final of the 2014

Abia FA Cup after a 2-0 trouncing of Arinze FC in the semi-final at the Enyimba International Stadium, Aba. The People’s Elephant struck twice through Sibi Gwar and Bobby Sokari to make it to the Sunday’s final where they will be hoping to avenge their last year’s lost to then National League side, Abia Warriors in the final. It was the first time in a long

AMIESIMAKA’S SHOCKER

Kaduna Utd qualify for FA Cup semis

Eagles are not ready for World Cup K W ITH few weeks left to the commencement of

the 2014 FIFA World Cup, the ex-international Adokiye Amiesimaka has declared that the Super Eagles are not prepared for the global football fiesta. Speaking in an interview with Goal, the 1980 Africa Cup of Nations winner who is now a lawyer, said the Nigeria Football Federation’s eggheads are abandoning pressing issues for irrelevant ones which is a pointer that the country will only be going to make up the numbers in South America. “I have said it over and over again that we are not ready for the 2014 World Cup. Everyone

is talking about the provisional list, no one seems to be asking, ‘what of the technical crew?’,” Amiesimaka told Goal. “It is like wanting to buy the best car but no one to drive the car, then of what use is it? Keshi said he needs an assistant which the NFF has refused. “Why are Nigerians not talking about that? As far as I am concerned our technical crew is not complete,” he added. “That is the area we should focus on and not just debating on players that should make the World Cup list which the coach does not want. “This shows we are going to Brazil for another jamboree. It means we are not firing on all cylinders because how do we

explain not going to World Cup without our full technical capability. The chief coach is good enough which he has proved but the NFF are not ready to give him the assistant he wants.” About the chances of the Super Eagles to do well in the competition where they will face Argentina, Iran and Bosnia-Herzegovina, Amiesimaka candidly stated that it would be a wild goose chase to expect Keshi’s men to get past the preliminary round “This is a country where everyone expects a miracle and not working towards achieving results. We sit back and say God is on our side – it is absolute nonsense. If not, why do we keep talking about

second round and quarter finals? “We have won the agegrade competitions so many times yet we find it very hard to get to the semi final of the FIFA World Cup or is there any country that has won any agegrade competition without winning the World Cup or at least getting to the last four? “I am saying if we are serious about winning the U17 World Cup, then we should be talking about winning the senior World Cup, if we can’t then we are fooling ourselves. “With the present crop of Super Eagles we have now, we are going to be lucky to beat Bosnia and Iran not to talk about qualifying for the next round,” he concluded.

Oduamadi Rejects Varese’s one-year deal

I G E R I A international Nnamdi Oduamadi has disclosed that he turned down a one - year contract proposed by the Varese brass. The winger cum striker has further stated that he will weigh his options after the tournament in Brazil. “I am not remaining at Varese after my loan deal expires. They offered me a one - year contract but AC Milan want me back. “Milan have already told

me to resume pre - season training with them after the World Cup, but I don’t know yet if I am remaining,” says Oduamadi to allnigeriasoccer.com. “To improve my chances of being on the plane to Brazil, I want to keep doing well with Varese and keep my goal scoring form going.” The 23 - year - old has scored 4 goals in his last 7 appearances for Varese in Italy’s second - tier.

•Oduamadi

Prime, Ajiroba through to Osun F.A cup final

RIME Football Club Friday evening at the National Youth Development Centre, Ode Omu, defeated Orolu Football Club of Ifon-Osun 5-0 in the semi-final of the 2014 State of Osun Federation Cup. The Omoluabi Giants got the curtain raiser in the 3rd minute after Chidima Osamene ran pass flat-

footed Orolu defence line to shot pass Orolu goalkeeper, Adeojo Jelili. Orolu came into the game stronger after the early minutes goal and that paved way when they were awarded a 33rd minute penalty which was saved by former Shooting Stars goalkeeper, Jimmy Onyx Bello, in goal for Prime. Ibukun Ojo, made it 2-0 in

the 35th minute with a clinical finish, while Alex Obadase, made it 3-0 in the 40th minute from a goal mouth scramble, before Olagunju Olabisi, scored the fourth goal in the 45th minute via a jabbing from a left flank corner kick to end the first half 4-0. Substitute, Christopher Akpough, completed the bashing 78th minute.

From Tunde Liadi,Owerri time that the Aba Millionaires would be beaten in the grand finale of the competition the club has turned to its birthright. Meanwhile Abia Warriors beat Abia Comets 1-0 in the other semi-final tie played late Friday and will face Enyimba at the Umuahia Township Stadium on Sunday.

Meanwhile, in the first semi-final, Ajiroba Ooni Football Club of Ile-Ife, defeated Ilesha West Football Club of Ilesha 4-2 on penalties after the full time ended 1-1. The final will be staged on Sunday May 4, at the National Youth Development Centre, Ode Omu.

ADUNA United are through to this morning semi-final of the state’s 2014 FA Cup after the Crocodile Boys defeated Boli FC 5-1 at the Kaduna United Stadium. Goals from Ibrahim Sanusi, Anthony Michael and a hattrick from Samuel Agba made a mincemeat of the lesser known opponents as Kaduna United put of their premier league season’s woes to record an emphatic victory. Kaduna United will this morning play against Kaduna

•Trounce Boli FC 5-1 From Tunde Liadi,Owerri Bees in the semi-final. Two teams will represent the state at the national Federation Cup after the final game is decided on Sunday. Kaduna United are the last team from the state to win the Federation Cup after the Crocodile Boys played out a 3-3 draw at regulation time with Enyimba of Aba in 2010 before winning on penalty shootout.

Dike to start light training in source close to the FC three weeks Toronto of Canada’s

Super Eagles’ striker, Bright Dike has told NationSport that the player still nurses hope of a dramatic place in the Brazil 2014 World Cup bound Nigeria’s national team. Dike who has resumed biking and swimming to gain match fitness, NationSport has been told, would start light training of jogging and others in the next three weeks as he strives to make a late push into the Stephen Keshi’s preliminary list to the World Cup. The source hinted that Dike has always been in close touch with Eagles’ boss, Stephen Keshi and his assistant, Daniel Amokachi to feed them the latest about his recovery rate and what remains for him to commence serious training again. “Bright is not ruling out a last ditch attempt to make the Eagles’ squad. This self eagerness to make it to the World Cup is also aiding his recovery. He has started swimming and biking like he did tell you himself and he has also told me that in the next two or three weeks he will start jogging and doing other light training. “He is not pushing for an inclusion at all cost but Bright is doing everything to keep fit for Nigeria and his club, FC Toronto,” his close source told

From Tunde Liadi,Owerri NationSport. He added: ”Bright has also been keeping in touch with Eagles’ head coach, Keshi and his assistant, Amokachi. He has been updating them about the latest in his recovery programme and he told me they were quite happy to hear the positive news that he will soon be fit again.” Dike sustained an injury in February this year and the initial prognosis stated that he would be out of the World Cup but it seemed the Imo born player is recovery fast ahead of schedule.

•Dike

THE NATION SATURDAY, MAY 3, 2014

SPORT EXTRA

Brazil 2014: Don’t interfere with Keshi’s job,Westerhof tells NFF •Says Eagles can reach W/Cup final •Former Eagles boss denied entry into national Stadium By Innocent Amomoh

•Westerhof

ORMER coach of the Super Eagles, Clemence Westerhof, has described as unacceptable the perceived interference by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), with the job of the current coach Stephen Keshi. He said if Keshi is given the needed support, coupled with the caliber of players in his kitty, the possibility of taking Nigeria to the final of the World Cup is very bright. Reacting to questions from the media yesterday in Lagos, the Dutchman, who took Nigeria to the pinnacle of world football with the Eagles, said it is out of place for the officials of any football federation in the world to dictate to the national team coach. “I will see Keshi tomorrow (Today), and we will be discussing the World Cup. I will also tell him not to allow the NFF interfere with his job. Who are they? Keshi played to the highest level and captained the national team

and every club side he played for to glory. I think he should be supported by all and sundry and you will see what he will do,” he said. “This is a critical moment in the life of the country as regards the World Cup. I told him on phone that he is at the same level with me now but that he can surpass my record in Brazil but he must prepare well and ensure the team gel as one family, the players must be thought to play for each other. It is only by so doing that the team can go far.” He said Keshi needs most importantly the backing of top echelons of the government, adding that players in top form for their club side should also be considered preparatory to the Mundial. “I watch Ike Uche play for his club and I think he is a terrific player. If he wants my candid advice he has to build the kind of family I build with the team while he was still a player. It is time for Nigeria to get to the last four of the World Cup and with luck on your side the final is possible.” Meanwhile, the coach, who flew into the country with a television crew from VPRO in Holland, for a documentary on Nigerian football, was earlier

denied entry into the National Stadium, Surulere. According to information gathered by NationSport, reason for the action was in accordance with orders from above. The management of the Stadium gave Westerhof and the crew the option of taking shots outside the Stadium. Westerhof said: “Perhaps they thought that the Stadium is in bad shape and that we are interested in that. We are here

to promote Nigeria in a positive light to the world. They want to know in Holland how I managed Nigeria through to becoming the fifth best country in the world. How I made the players think like me and I understanding how they think.” He will be celebrating his 74 years birthday today with his ex-players like Keshi, Amokachie, and the others in Lagos.

•Keshi

Iheanacho, Yahaya lead Flying Eagles to Benin

HE Nigeria U20 team have named a 20-man squad for Sunday’s warm-up match against their Benin Republic counterparts in Porto Novo. Among those picked were the country’s heroes from last year’s FIFA U17 World Cup-winning team like Kelechi Iheanacho, skipper Musa Muhammed, Chidiebere Nwakali, Musa Yahaya, Taiwo Awoniyi, Abdullahi Alfa and Zaharadeen

Bello. Others on the squad are Alhassan Ibrahim aka Muazam, Wilfred Ndidi, Ifeanyi Matthew and goalkeeper Joshua Enaholo. The test match will be played at Charles de Gaulle Stadium in Porto Novo from 4pm local time, which is the same time with Nigeria. Both teams have clashed at the same level previously. They drew 1-1 in Cotonou in

September 2012 and a rematch in Abuja ended in a goalless draw. Two players will then be dropped from the squad for the 2015 AYC qualifier in Tanzania in the weekend of May 9-11. NFF executive committee member Shehu Adamu will lead the team to both Benin and Tanzania. The full squad: Goalkeepers: Joshua Enaholo, Adamu Abubakar, Abdulazeez

Abubakar Defenders: Musa Muhammed, Mustapha Abdullahi, Ifeanyi Nweke, Wilfred Ndidi, Izu Omego, Zaharadeen Bello Midfielders: Chidiebere Nwakali, Musa Yahaya, Kelechi Iheanacho, Abdullahi Alfa, Akinjide Idowu, Wasiu Jimoh, Ifeanyi Matthew, Ifeanyi Ifeanyi Strikers: Alhassan Ibrahim ‘Mu-azam’, Taiwo Awoniyi, Sulaiman Abdullahi

Keshi, Osaze re-unite in London

IGERIA coach Stephen Keshi and Eagles stars Victor Moses, Elderson Echiejile and Osaze Odemwingie have shot a Pepsi television commercial specially for the World Cup. Eagles assistant coach Daniel ‘The Bull’ Amokachi also featured in the advert, which was shot in London. It was shot against the backdrop of cheering Nigeria fans as the team got set for an Eagles match. Monaco defender Elderson Echiejile told AfricanFootball.com: “It was great and fun day doing the commercial. We all enjoyed it.” Elderson is one of the biggest discoveries from the Pepsi Academy in Nigeria. Could Osaze’s presence mean that all is now forgiven between player and coach and the Stoke City striker would now be on the flight to Brazil in June?

Eagles stars are cashing in on Nigeria’s qualification for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. It is the country’s fifth World Cup appearance. Keshi is the face of official milk of the national team, Peak Milk. He has also done some work with Tom Tom, the official candy of the national teams, as well as Mastercard. Fenerbache striker Emmanuel Emenike has clinched endorsement deals with Guinness and Glo Mobile, while Victor Moses is also a Glo ambassador. Chelsea midfielder Mikel Obi has endorsed Amstel Malta in a commercial that was shot in South Africa. These commercial works will most certainly add to the bank balance of these coaches and players. Prior to previous World Cups, Sunday Oliseh, late Rashidi Yekini, Emmanuel Amuneke and Nwankwo Kanu have also endorsed several top brands.

Pain in Argentina •Continued from back page it happens, it would be one of the biggest miracles. But who believes in miracles in a flawed system as the Eagles’? It will be tragic if the coaches go to the World Cup with Chigozie Agbim. At a time when Austin Ejide is recuperating, one wonders if we would be excited seeing Agbim warm up to replace Vincent Enyeama for any reason. That is the importance of the posers we have raised, even though it is the coaches’ decision to pick or drop players. It is our right as Nigerians to enquire why Ikechukwu Uche isn’t in the team when less qualified players are listed. We get the butt from our European contemporaries during big competitions when things like this happen so brazenly. The coaches can afford to destroy our team on the altar of discipline. We don’t have a glut of experienced players like others. So, our best should be listed since we have our eye on being the best African nation at the Mundial, with atleast a semi-final place. Again, John Mikel showed that he has grown in the game with his sterling outing against Liverpool at Anfield last Sunday. Mikel’s remarkable performance was adjudged by most pundits as an 80 per cent show. Mikel’s contributions to Chelsea’s defensive strategies underscore the reason the Special One, Jose Mourinho, converted him from being an attacking midfielder to one who could be trusted to shield the central defenders. One only hopes that Eagles’ coaches have been following Mikel’s outings with Chelsea. Let them not play Mikel in the Super Eagles attacking role. He is comfortable playing the destructive role just as he marks dangerous players in the opposition with relative ease. Mikel kept Luiz Suarez quiet during the Liverpool. What this means is that Eagles’ coaches can count on him to stop outstanding players in Argentina, for instance, and get the job done. Mourinho has demonstrated how to mark teams to get the desired results. He has used Chelsea to get the job done, not minding how well the team plays. Chelsea’s closelyknit defensive formation against Athletico Madrid last week Tuesday and Liverpool, explain why coaches must have match readers who watch the opponents’ games and come up with counter strategies to unlock them. Simply put, Mourinho doesn’t prosecute matches blindfolded. He doesn’t wait for the owner of Chelsea to get tapes for his next games unlike our coaches who wait to be spoonfed by the federation. I digress! The history of our team under these coaches has been that of starting late. We cannot afford such luxuries at the World Cup. A wobbly start puts a country at the bottom of the table. We cannot afford to chase the pack when we have a seeming weak country as Iran as our first game. The lesson learnt from our Confederations Cup outing in Brazil last year is that we must not be wasteful in front of the goalpost when pitched against weak sides at the group stage. When we whipped Tahiti 6-1 in the first, we celebrated as if Spain and Uruguay won’t score more than we did. Goals count in matches. It is the reason why fans are eager to watch the beautiful game. Match fixing and Nigeria A notorious scammer from Singapore has fouled the airwaves with the cheap talk that he helped Nigeria fix the last qualification game for the 2010 World Cup held in South Africa. When I first saw the story, I knew it lacked substance for the fact that he purportedly bribed Mozambique, the home side, to win the game. The criminal claimed he paid $100,000 to Mozambique. This sounded vague because match fixing offences are committed through players on the pitch. Fixers in their confessional statements don’t say that they gave the federation chief cash without involving the coaches and players. In fact, match fixing cannot take place with only one side knowing about the scam. Such unsportsmanlike acts are done by involving players on both sides. One would have been excited too if the Singaporean had named Nigerian officials involved in the deal. We had no business in what happened in Mozambique versus Tunisia tie other than for us to win ours. We are good in praying for the fall of others for us to qualify. It has been the way of our qualification. So the talk of match fixing is another form of lunacy on the part of the Singaporean scammer. Thank God he has been convicted. He should stew in his mess and leave us alone.

AFCON 2015 QUALIFIER

Eagles to use big stars

•Super Eagles players during the Pepsi advert shooting

IGERIA will have the services of its major foreign based stars during the qualifiers of the 2015 African Cup of Nations qualifiers when it kicks off in September. Fifa has confirmed clubs do not have to release players for the first rounds of 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying. This is because the dates of the four matches fall outside of Fifa’s calendar for international matches. However the group stage

matches featuring the likes of Ghana, Nigeria and Cameroon fall on dates approved by Fifa, meaning clubs around the globe must release players for the qualifiers. There had been fears in some quarters that since the qualifiers will be played within a two-month period early in the European season, the Super Eagles might be left short, as some players may find it difficult securing release from their clubs.

TOMORROWPUNCHLINE IN THE NATION

Not even the Boko Haram knows what Boko Haram wants; so, while we continue to guess, someone has to take responsibility for the state failure to stem this crimson tide

SATURDAY, MAY 3, 2014 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM VOL.9, NO. 2837

—Oyinkan Medubi

VEN the blind can see the imminent dan ger. The nation burns. This Titanic called Nigeria sinks deeper every day. Air Nigeria is in turbulent weather. The need of the hour is a competent and tested pilot as well as co-pilot. This aircraft must not be allowed to crash disastrously out of history. Bombs explode daily. Innocent lives are wasted. For more than two weeks now, over 200 school girls from Chibok in Borno State have been in the custody of savage gangsters somewhere in the bowels of Sambisa forest. The Nigerian state is hobbled, confused and helpless. Inexplicably oblivious of what Martin Luther King famously described as ‘the fierce urgency of now’, an unfazed President dances ‘Azonto’ in Kano a day after the Chibok tragedy. Nero fiddled. Rome burnt. Must Nigeria go the same way? The Jonathan National Conference (JNC) has sought and obtained an extension of six weeks. More talk. More allowances. More squandering of valuable time. Yet the Nigerian state and polity unravel steadily on a daily basis. Even then, 2015 draws inexorably closer. It is election year. It is a year of referendum on the performance of elected officials at national and state levels. We must not allow the JNC to be the grand distraction it is designed to be from the crucial electoral choices to be made next year. What is the dire need of the hour, the crux of the ‘fierce urgency of now’? The answer is leadership. That has been the focus of this column in the last two weeks and remains so today. We now have a tentatively balanced and viable two-party system that can provide the electorate with credible choices in the next election. But what alternatives will the electorate have to choose from? For the PDP the answer is clear. The party is satisfied with its performance in the last 16 years and that of President Jonathan in the last four. As far as the PDP is concerned, Nigeria must continue on its present path. After all, President Jonathan confidently declared on May Day that poverty is not Nigeria’s problem. His very cogent reasons: The country has a GDP of over one trillion Naira with an economy growing at about 7%. Aliko Dangote is ranked among the 25 richest people in the world. Nigeria ranks among the first 10 countries in the ownership of private jets.The problem, Jonathan argued, is not poverty but the redistribution of the country’s wealth. How well has he done that? The outcome of the polls will tell next year. Do the majority of Nigerians agree with the PDP that Jonathan is the Mandela and Obama of our time? The 2015 polls will tell. There has been a flood of reactions to my last two columns. Some have disagreed vehemently with me. Others have concurred with my position and even helped to further reinforce and clarify my thoughts. That is the beauty of democracy and the value of debate. I was quite elated with the following text message from the famous Virologist and in-

Buhari, Tinubu and the fierce urgency of now What the APC needs is the audacity of courage to do that which is necessary to win power at the centre and enable Nigeria respond to the fierce urgency of now

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•Buhari

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•Tinubu

tellectual at the University of Ibadan, Professor Tam David West: “Segun, I congratulate you on your ‘Further Thoughts on MuslimMuslim Ticket’ published in The Nation today. It is the best I’ve read on this unfortunately controversial issue, the very best I have read. For my friend Tinubu, it is the best testimonial on him ever written. So there were so many Christians in Tinubu’s cabinet? That is the way they demonised Buhari but most of his personal aides were Christians. Do you know that Tunde Idiagbon’s wife was a bornagain Christian? Femi Fani-Kayode has unnecessarily politicised the issue. Nigerians want committed statesmen with a track record of performance that can take this country forward. I stubbornly remain an unrepentant Buhari supporter; he has no match in integrity, seriousness, discipline, patriotism and leadership by example. I am also a great admirer of Bola Tinubu and this has been since Moshood Abiola introduced us several years ago. Tinubu is also a hard to beat brand in Nigerian politics”. Upon further careful thought, I want to affirm that a Buhari-Tinubu ticket is the best

bet for the APC to dislodge the PDP from the centre come 2015. First, we consider the merit of the ticket. The country’s number one challenge is security particularly the Boko Haram menace. This is Buhari’s forte. He is a tested soldier who fought during the civil war to keep Nigeria one. He is an experienced former military Head of State. During the second republic, he played a key role in decisively and clinically crushing the Maitatsine Islamic uprising in Kano. When in 1983, Nigeria’s territorial integrity was threatened by rebels from Chad, Buhari commanded the operation that routed the rebels which involved forays into Chad Republic despite the dithering of the Shagari administration. Buhari is from the North. He has the will, ability and courage to take the ruthless action necessary to crush Boko Haram without anybody accusing him of committing genocide against the Hausa-Fulani. The country’s second major challenge is corruption. Buhari’s record, reputation and capacity to decisively tackle this scourge are too well known and I need say no more. The third key challenge confronting Nigeria is the need for radical financial re-engi-

neering and economic rejuvenation. This is the immense value Tinubu brings to the ticket. His financial genius and dexterity in economic management laid the foundation for the Lagos transformation that Fashola has taken to unprecedented heights. Lagos was practically bankrupt when Tinubu assumed office in 1999. The state’s monthly Internally Generated Revenue was about N600 million. By the time he left office in 2007, the IGR was about N8 billion monthly. In 2001, the Tinubu administration invested N4 billion in the then ECONET amidst widespread criticism. By the time the state divested from the venture in 2007, Lagos reaped a profit of over N20 billion. I can go on and on. What Tinubu did for Lagos, he can partner with Buhari to do for Nigeria. Now, what about the electoral dynamics of a Buhari-Tinubu ticket? It has the capacity to reap unprecedented votes from the North-West, North-East and South-West that will tilt the electoral scales in the 2015 election. And with the notable politicians from the South-South, South-East and North-Central in the APC, the party will put up a credible showing against the PDP in those zones further consolidating its electoral performance nationally. Attempting to rig against this combination will be politically suicidal and unsustainable. A Christian National Chairman of the party, a Christian Senate President and even a Christian Speaker of the House of Representatives will provide the requisite religious balance. What the APC needs is the audacity of courage to do that which is necessary to win power at the centre and enable Nigeria respond to the fierce urgency of now.

On BRF’s successor Dapo Thomas, my good friend and brother, was at his thrilling best in his piece in this and some other newspapers last Sunday on the dynamics of choosing Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola’s successor within the APC. My take on some of his submissions from my own observatory are as follows: (1). Tinubu has a track record of identifying competent leaders and backing them with his formidable political structure. But I think he strives to build consensus around his choices and diplomatically navigate around any initial oppositions. (2) Both Tinubu and BRF are too politically astute and wise not to be on the same page on the 2015 succession. It is in their collective interest. (3) It may be an exaggeration to aver that BRF and Akin Ambode ‘loathe’ each other. They are both intelligent technocrats who may naturally have cause to disagree. But I see them as being above pettiness and meanness. (4). BRF has utilised power positively and, like Tinubu, I believe his political influence will far outlive his formal tenure in office and (5) The APC ticket remains wide open until all intra-party constitutional processes have been complied with.

Ade Ojeikere on Saturday talk2adeojeikere@yahoo.com

Pain in Argentina

(My World Cup diary (3))

ID you see Cristiano Ronaldo’s second goal against Bayern Munich on Tues day night at the Allianz Arena in Germany? What of Bayern’s coach Pep Guardiola’s reaction to the goal? Such is the hallmark of the beautiful game. Bitter and sweet, many have said. But the truth is that playing the game rests more on how well the player utilises his brain than brawn. All hail Ronaldo. Ronaldo took the first free-kick and noticed that the Bayern defensive wall blocked the ball’s passage into the net. Apparently, they had studied the way he plays it. So when the second kick came, Ronaldo retained his usual poise of putting his legs apart, hands akimbo. But he had other ideas. As he moved towards the ball, he realised that the defenders were set for a leap; he craftily played the ball on the turf into the left corner of the net. What a beauty it was. A goal made in heaven and scored by a soccer wizard, the world’s best.

Brazil 2014 World Cup is on fire. And the match stick is Ronaldo.Let’s pray Ronaldo doesn’t get injured. It’s about time another Portuguese rules the world like the late Eusebio. The end-to-end but tactical display in Saturday’s Serie A game between Inter Milan and Napoli showed that barren draw matches could be exciting. Napoli held Inter to 0-0 draw, but the tie kept fans at the edge of their seats all through the 90 minutes. The titanic clash was expected following the acrimonious manner in whicoh Inter Milan sacked Napoli’s current coach Rafa Benitez. Benitez had a point to prove. Some of the players he confined to the bench wanted to defeat Napoli as payback for Benitez’s poor judgment of their abilities. Yet, Napoli looked the better side. As the game dragged towards the nail-biting draw, something most players want to

avoid occurred. Gonzalo Higuain, one of Argentina’s strikers, kicked the ball in front of a two-footed defender and fell in pains. While down on the turf, Higuain kept tapping his head and tightening his fist. The picture on his mind was that of a big star missing the 2014 World Cup. The Argentine’s agony peaked when he was wheeled out of the stadium. As the cameras focused on Higuain, his body language was that of regret, knowing what was in stock for him, if the injury was serious. For most pundits in Nigeria, there is cause for celebration. It means one striker is out of the Argentine’s loaded attacking machine that includes Sergio Aguero, Javier Pastore and Lionel Messi, not forgetting Angel Di Maria. The news broke that Higuain copped an ankle injury. Doctors say Higuain would be out for one month. This means he won’t be fully fit for the World Cup. Good news for us because

he is a prolific scorer who can hurt us, if we haven’t bagged the six points at stake for the two group matches. On our part, we can celebrate the recovery of goalkeeper Austin Ejide. We can revel in the fact that Emmanuel Emenike is returning to full fitness, although he hasn’t started scoring yet. If you ask me, I would rather he scores for us at the Mundial than for Fenerbahce in Turkey. Our players are not scoring for their clubs but they have started playing, which is a sign of good omen for the Super Eagles. The Eagles’ list is expected next week. We are waiting for others to release theirs. It makes sense, except that we don’t know if those who will prosecute the three friendly games will be taken to the World Cup. Most countries have at least three friendlies. Yet, those who play them always form the nucleus of their World Cup squads. I have deliberately avoided talking about the team list. It is the coaches’ decision, even as we have the right to ask critical questions to put them on record. The posers raised will form the basis of assessing the team after the Mundial. Winning the World Cup will be a mirage for Nigeria. If

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