The Nation November 05, 2011

Alleged convoy infraction: Page Sambo’s 5 security team arrests Rep Tinubu’s son-in-law: I was rough-handled

Chelsea Club’s owner, Abramovich’s road to riches Pages 16-17

Page

23

My moments with Eedris Abdulkareem

—Nollywood actress

Chika Chukwu

Robbers attack bullion van Page

...kill six 7 policemen, three others Police recover N5.6m

Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

VOL.05 N0. 1935

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2011

N150.00

Ahead of Sallah

Explosions rock 5 Maiduguri, Damaturu Page

Bombers target military base, Police hqtrs Two suicide bombers killed Church burnt My ordeal in NDLEA’s custody 4 -Baba Suwe Page

Baba Suwe (arrowed) after gaining his freedom yesterday. PHOTO: Isaac Jimoh AYODELE

They inserted something in my mouth and pumped water inside. Another thing was inserted in my anus and water was also pumped inside. I then began to stool. I visited the toilet six times that day. Since then, I have been visiting the toilet frequently

2NEWS

THE NATION, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2011

Nigerian-born nurse sacked in

•Divine intervention: Nurse Omolayo Abayomi asked Jesus for help as a baby in her care suffered a heart attack

A

Nigerian-born nurse who threw her hands into the air and begged Jesus to help as a baby suffered a heart attack has been thrown out of the profession.

Omolayo Abayomi ‘panicked’ when the child, who suffered from a chronic lung disease, turned blue and stopped breathing in his cot at home.

The 51-year-old called for divine intervention more than 20 times before the vulnerable boy’s mother told her to ‘shut up’.

‘The nurse was constantly saying “Jesus help him” and waving her arms around,’ a hearing was told.

The nurse ‘provided wholly inadequate care’ by leaving the frantic mother to resuscitate her lifeless son, while the father dialled 999.

Abayomi was found guilty of a string of charges by the Nursing and Midwifery Council at a hearing in central London.

Sydney Topping, for Abayomi, insisted his client’s behaviour

•Premature birth: The panel heard that the baby was born three months early at Homerton University Hospital in Hackney, London, and had a number of serious health problems which meant he needed round-the-clock care

had represented no more than a ‘bad day at the office’ and urged the panel to let her off with a caution.

‘Once in a while you have a bad day at the office,’ he said.

‘I would suggest that on April 8, the registrant had a bad day at the office. It was no worse than that. She has bounced back since then.’

The hearing heard that the child, referred to as Patient A, and his twin sister were born three months premature at

Homerton University Hospital in Hackney, east London, and as a result suffered from a number of serious illnesses and so required round-the-clock care.

Joanna Dirmikis, for the NMC, said Abayomi had been employed by private nursing firm Paediatric Nursing Link to look after the infant, who required 22 hours of nursing care every day.

The parents were woken by a knock on their bedroom door at 5am on April 8, 2007, to find their

son lying lifeless after suffering respiratory cardiac arrest, the panel was told.

‘While Mrs A was trying to resuscitate the child, Mr A called 999,’ said Miss Dirmikis.

‘The twin sister of the little boy was also present during the incident and can be heard crying in the background during the call.’

‘She panicked and at one stage even summoned divine intervention, calling for Jesus,’

Fuel subsidy: Tambuwal, others vow to resist pressure

S

TRONG indications emerged yesterday that the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, and other principal officers of the House are under pressure to reject plan by the presidency to withdraw fuel subsidy.

Members of the House are insisting that the nation can sustain N300billion -N500billion subsidy per annum.

But the presidency may ignore any opposition from the National Assembly by invoking Section 16 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

Investigation by our correspondent showed that most caucuses in the House seem to have favoured the popular decision of Nigerians to reject the withdrawal of the subsidy.

It was learnt that preliminary research by some members has shown that the nation can sustain fuel subsidy at N300billion

•FG can sustain subsidy at N500b yearly, say Reps Yusuf ALLI, Managing Editor, Northern Operation

to N500billion per annum.

A top officer of the House, who spoke in confidence, said: “We have been consulting in the past two weeks and most members do not want the fuel subsidy withdrawn.

“As a government, the President and his cabinet members are trying to sell the withdrawal of subsidy but we don’t agree.

“In fact, some members of the House have done their homework and they have figures confirming that Nigeria can afford fuel subsidy at about N300 to N500billion every year.

“Members are suspecting that the subsidy figures being bandied about are actually inflated.

“The fuel subsidy this year may hit about N1.2trillion when

in actual fact what they spent in 2010 was less than that.

“None of the caucuses in the House has supported the government’s plan so far. It is not popular.

“Many members are mounting pressure on the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, and others to stick to the House legislative agenda to defend the interest of the masses.

“We will reject the withdrawal of fuel subsidy, it is unpopular so far.”

The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Alhaji Zakari Mohammed, said: “Our probe is ongoing; we are still interacting with government officials and relevant parastatals.

“By the time we end that sit-

ting, we will be able to know what to do on fuel subsidy. The only assurance I will give you is that we will put the interest of the masses above any other thing.

“But some of the issues we want to address border on the determination of the actual amount we are spending on fuel subsidy.

We have conflicting figures on fuel subsidy; members want to get to the root of the matter.”

•Tambuwal

NEWS 3

THE NATION, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2011

London for calling Jesus to save baby

•The boy was taken to Great Ormond Street Hospital for treatment after being moved from Whipps Cross Hospital in Leytonstone in London

she added.

Paramedics rushed the boy to Whipps Cross Hospital in Leytonstone, east London, before he was taken to Great Ormond Street Hospital on the same day for further treatment.

Giving evidence, a tearful Mrs A said Abayomi had effectively ‘abandoned’ her during the incident.

‘The nurse was constantly saying “Jesus help him” and waving her arms around,’ she

said.

‘She said it more than 20 times.

I felt I had to do everything - at that point she was doing nothing to help my son.

‘She never offered to take the lead at any point and at no point did she suggest calling 999.

‘I can’t change what’s happened to my son, I know I did the best for him but the nurse just completely abandoned her duty.

‘If I can save just one other person from having to go through

what we have been through, then that’s what I want to do’.

The panel heard Patient A, now aged five, made a full recovery from the incident but is still totally dependent on others for his care.

Abaymo claimed the mother had pushed her away and refused to let her help.

She denied calling out for Jesus, panicking and failing to provide care or basic life support.

The nurse further denied

failing to properly hand over the case to paramedics and making inaccurate and false notes about the incident.

She was cleared of specific charges that she suctioned the child’s tracheostomy tube or that she failed to record observations taken but was found guilty of misconduct and ruled unfit to continue working without restrictions.

Striking Abayomi off, panel chair John Williams said: ‘This

was a failure to accept responsibility for her role in the events by the registrant.

‘She has shown a lack of empathy with the parents of the child and there has been no admission or apology, and therefore no insight.

‘This failure is incompatible with her continuing to be a registered nurse.’

Source: Daily Mail

SALLAH MESSAGES

Reps Speaker calls for sober reflection, sacrifice

T

HE Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal has felicitated with Muslims on the occasion of this year’s Eid-el Kabir celebrations.

The Speaker, in a goodwill message, enjoined the Muslim faithful and Nigerians in general to use the sacred occasion to reflect on the need for sacrifice and total submission to the will of Allah as exemplified by Prophet Ibrahim and practised by Prophet Muhammed.

He called for religious tolerance and harmony among Nigerians, noting that the nation’s unity is more advanced in her diversity.

“This occasion calls for sober reflection. We must continue to reflect on the ideals of unity, cohesion and mutual understanding, as well as be graceful to the less privileged members of the society. ‘’We must be ready to sacrifice for one another, as well as for our dear nation and humanity in general,”

Tambuwal stressed.

He also urged Muslims to use the period to pray for unity, peace and the desired positive changes in the collective quest to tackle the challenges of nation building.

The Speaker, however, assured of the House’s commitment to peopleoriented legislations, which would

help in promoting peaceful coexistence, good governance and development of democracy as well as economic advancement of Nigeria.

“On behalf of the House of Representatives, I wish the Muslim ummah happy Eid-el-Kabir celebrations,” the Speaker concluded.

Imoke tasks Muslims on peace, unity

M

USLIMS in the country have been enjoined to use the opportunity offered by the El-del-Kabir to commit themselves to the ideals and principles on which the unity and strength of Nigeria thrives.

Cross River State Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke gave the charge in Calabar in a message to Muslims as they celebrate the El-del-Kabir.

The message signed by Governor Imoke’s Special Assistant on Media and Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Omini Oden, said the democratic gains recorded

by the nation should be consolidated.

This, the statement notes, would be achieved in an environment of unity and peaceful resolution of conflicts.

Islam, the message maintained, is a religion of peace and its adherents have an obligation to be the architects of a peaceful and unified Nigeria.

It urged Muslims to use the period to pray for sustainable development that will enhance the living standards of Nigerians as well as make the country a great and egalitarian society.

K

WARA State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed has appealed to religious groups in the country to continue to live together in peace and harmony and display love towards one another, saying that only these attributes would make Nigeria to progress and regain her lost glory.

Governor Ahmed, who made the appeal in his Eid-el-Kabir message to Muslims in the country, urged them to emulate the good teachings of Prophet Mohammed, which harped on good neighbourliness, sacrifice, love, righteousness, humility and total submission to the injunctions of Almighty Allah.

He called on Muslim faithful nationwide to reflect on the import of the Sallah celebration as a mark of God’s love for mankind.

Alhaji Ahmed also advised Nigerians, irrespective of religious affiliation, to show love to one another and move away from negative perception about the country, urging them to always feel proud and portray Nigeria in good light before the outside world.

“All of us should continue to live in peace irrespective of our religious differences and ethnic orientation.

We must cement the bond of unity that binds us together in the spirit

Ahmed preaches love of nationhood by reaching out to one another in love,”the governor said.

The Governor urged Muslims to see the Sallah celebration beyond mere festivity but that which symbolises great spiritual devotion and rededicate themselves to the spirit of love and perseverance as exhibited by Prophet Ibrahim through the sacrifice made.

Ahmed expressed appreciation to the people of the state for their continuous support for his administration and assured them that his administration would continue to live up to expectations in the bid to turn around the economic fortunes of the state.

He reminded the Muslim faithful to continue to pray for the country and the safe return of their brothers and sisters who went on holy pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia.

While congratulating the entire Muslim Ummah in the State for witnessing yet another Eid-el-Kabir, the governor appealed for caution and orderliness so as not to disturb the public peace during the festive period.

4 NEWS

THE NATION, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2011

My ordeal in NDLEA’s custody— Baba Suwe T

HE ordeal of the Nollywood actor and comedian,Babatunde Omidina, alias Baba Suwe, in the custody of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) came to an end yesterday after Justice Yetunde Idowu of the Lagos High Court granted him bail.

But that was after a 12-hour excruciating string of medical tests conducted on him at an unnamed hospital in Ikoyi, Lagos by the agency.

The tests ran from 9am last Wednesday to 9pm, according to Omidina’s counsel, Mr. Bamidele Aturu.

“All his systems were flushed, other than his lungs and intestines, but nothing was found,”Aturu told the court as he advanced reasons why his client should be freed after 24 days in custory.

He said the tests were conducted without Omidina’s consent.

The comedian was then asked by Justice Idowu to personally relate his experience.

He said: ”On Wednesday, they came and said we were going to the hospital. When we got there, they inserted something in my mouth and pumped water inside. Another thing was inserted in my anus and water was also pumped inside. I then began to stool. I visited the toilet six times that day. Since then, I have been visiting the toilet frequently.”

His testimony was corroborated by an official of the NDLEA said to be part of the team that took him to the hospital.

The official, who was called out by Justice Idowu, said the tests were ordered by an assistant commander in the agency and were conducted in

•Ace comedian regains freedom Bisi ONANUGA, Joseph JIBUEZE and Bolanle ADEWUNMI one of NDLEA’s hospitals.

Asked for the result of the tests, the official said only the doctor who conducted them could say what he found on Omidina.

Mr. Aturu wondered what the agency wanted to gain by the new tests, saying: “This is the 24th day that my client has been in their detention. They have been conducting all sorts of tests on him and found nothing. It is also noteworthy that my client did not eat on Tuesday night, apparently

they were preparing him for the test”.

Aturu urged the court to refuse the request of the counsel to the NDLEA, Mr. Femi Oloruntoba, for an order to enable the agency to continue to keep Omidina in custody until November 11, 2011 when he is expected to appear at the agency‘s office at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja.

Oloruntoba, who said that he was not aware of the latest round of tests conducted on Omidina and that no report had been given to him as at the time the court was sitting yesterday, pleaded with Justice Idowu not to be agitated over

the development.

He said that his request for the continued detention of Omidina was to enable the agency conclude its investigation at the MMIA, Ikeja on the narcotic substance he was alleged to have ingested.

The judge expressed shock at the level of degradation to which the Nollywood actor was subjected to by NDLEA officials in the last three days despite the order of the court.

“I don`t feel comfortable about that. I feel the agency should not treat him (Omidina) anyhow,” she said.

Turning to Omidina, Justice Idowu said: ”Mr. Omidina, I hereby grant you bail. You are

free to go home. Go and enjoy Sallah with your family and take good care of yourself.”

She then adjourned judgment in the matter to November 24.

Baba Suwe was driven to the court in a Toyota Hiace bus marked FG 220 T02 followed by an escort, a Toyota Hilux wagon marked FG380 T02 at about 8.50a.m. He wore a cream coloured embroided jalamiah over sky blue native trousers and was without a cap.

Unlike what happened at the last trial, Omidina, whose head was clean shaved and looked tired, was whisked into the court immediately on arrival to prevent the crowd that was already building up from

Build more refineries, Lagos Speaker tells FG Oziegbe OKOEKI

S •The Governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun (second right), presenting a cheque of N500m to the Managing Director, Bank of Industry, Ms. Evelyn Oputu. With them are the state Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Otunba Bimbo Ashiru; an Executive Director of the bank, Mr. Toni Philo; and the General Manager, Mr. Waheed Olagunju.

No room for mediocrity in my govt, says Ajimobi

G

OVERNOR Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has declared that his administration would have zero-tolerance for mediocrity in its task at repositioning the state.

The governor, who said this while inaugurating the boards of some parastatals in the state, pointed out that he was determined to attract the best brains to the state, wherever they were located, towards ensuring that the vision of his administration was fulfilled.

The boards inaugurated by the governor included State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), State Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM), Local Government Service Commission and the State Pension Board.

“The vision of restoration that we have for our state can only be accomplished when we put round pegs in round holes, rather than dwell on base considerations.

“We are poised to attracting the best brains to our state, wherever they are located, towards ensuring that the vision of this administration is fulfilled.

“We have very low tolerance for mediocrity and we will work relentlessly towards ensuring that those who would not add value to this government do not constitute a burden on its shoulders,’’ he said.

According to the governor, if the state must move forward, the best brains must man all sectors of the economy

seeing him.

Throughout about one hour that the proceedings lasted, Omidina was only able to nod his head, while acknowledging greetings from colleagues and fans who managed to gain access to the courtroom.

Security was tight as armed policemen and court security officials had mounted guard at the entrance of the court building as early as 7.00a.m. to prevent a crowd in the courtroom.

Journalists and lawyers going inside were searched with the aid of hand scanners, while those the security men thought should not be inside, including hundreds of Nollywood actors and actresses, were politely turned back.

Immediately he stepped out of the court following the restoration of his freedom by the court, his fans swarmed round him and carried him shoulderhigh, while shouting “o ya`gbe ti”.

They carried him at 10.53 am into a waiting car that sped out of the court premises immediately.

so that there would be a clean break from the drudgery of the past.

He also warned that board appointments or any position of government for that matter, was not an avenue for self-enrichment.

“As we have said at every forum that we have opportunity to attend and verbalise the vision of this administration, we have zero-tolerance for corruption, and we will not hesitate to make a public example of anyone who seeks to tarnish this administration and its runners’ hard-earned reputation,’’ Sen. Ajimobi said.

While congratulating the appointees, he noted that their choices were strictly in recognition of their past contributions to the uplift of the state, their competence and records of integrity.

“In seeking out the best for the boards, we arrived at your names because of the respect that your names accord. We hope that you will not relapse in this rating of integrity while being members of the boards,’’ he stated.

The governor also enjoined them to demonstrate that the act and task of repositioning a moribund institution, though difficult, was not unachievable.

“You are coming on board as one of the marines of this administration. If you consider the massive and yeoman role of the marines in the course of placing America at the height of global reckoning, you will realise that,

placed side by side the level of dilapidation of socio-infrastructure that we inherited in Oyo State, your appointment is not an enviable task.

“As our marines, we charge you to go and demonstrate the

power of the human can-do spirit and capability, make a success of your different boards and show the world that man is the only inhibition on the way of his determination,’’ he said.

Gov. Ajimobi also assured those who had worked assiduously for the ruling party, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and his candidacy that their sweats would not be in vain.

Kosofe councillors sworn in

T

HE swearing-in-cumproclamation of the elected councillors for Kosofe Local Government Area of Lagos State was held at the Legislative Chambers last Wednesday.

The well-attended event was graced by party stalwarts and followers among whom were: Pa S.A Sunmola (Deputy State

Chairman, ACN, Lagos State), Chief Adeola Oyedele (ACN Leader, Agboyi-Ketu LCDA), Hon. Tunde Braimoh – former Chairman, Kosofe Local Government.

The Chairman, Hon. Babatunde Afolabi Sofola, in his address, congratulated the legislators on the successful

•The Executive Chairman, Kosofe Local Government, Hon. Babatunde Afolabi Sofola, signing the proclamation of the legislative session while the clerk of the House, Mr. Isola Abiodun Dada, guides him.

conduct of the election and their re-election into office. He urged them to see their election as a call to service and an opportunity to work together for the development of Kosofe.

He further stated that his administration was committed to providing the citizens with the dividends of democracy such as good and qualitative education, good roads, prompt primary health care delivery services, poverty alleviation programmes etc. He, however, said that these could only be achieved if all hands are committed to the achievement of common goals.

After the swearing-in, the first session of the House was held during which the election of key officers was conducted.

Hon. Adams M. Emmanuel was unanimously elected as the Leader of the House, Hon. Saka Taiwo (Deputy Leader), Hon. Omotayo Okuneye (Majority Leader), Hon. Olu Ajayi Ibrahim (Deputy Majority Leader) and Hon. Adekola Azeez (Chief Whip).

The other two legistators are Hon. Ogunsanwo and Hon. Awotubo.

PEAKER of the Lagos state House of Assembly, Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji, has called on the Federal Government to make urgent efforts to build modern refineries in Nigeria instead of the removal of petroleum subsidy.

Ikuforiji, who made this call in his sallah message yesterday, said that the removal of petroleum subsidy would automatically hike pump prices of products, thus rendering the people worse off.

According to him, building refineries would remove Nigeria from the club of petroleum importing countries, “as we, therefore, celebrate this season, it has become imperative for the political leadership to be more patriotic and take the necessary steps to make Nigeria self-sustaining in food production and also ensure that we refine our God-given petroleum locally.

“This will definitely bring to an end, the present largescale unemployment and poverty that has continued to make life unbearable for all Nigerians. Efforts must also be made by the political leadership to comfort all our citizens that are finding life rather unbearable.

“As a nation that is so endowed by God with both human and natural resources, there is no tenable reason why Nigeria should continue to remain a crawling giant,” Ikuforiji said.

He advised the political leadership to always put the overall interest of the people first, “since it is their votes that actually made it possible for all political office holders in the land to occupy their enviable positions. Every necessary step must, therefore, be taken by the political leadership in our country to make life more meaningful for our people henceforth”, the speaker said.

NEWS 5

THE NATION, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2011

Ahead of Sallah: Bombers target military base, Police hqtrs as explosions

P

REPARATION for the Eid -ElKabir turned awry in Maiduguri, Borno State and neigbouring Damaturu, Yobe State yesterday after suspected members of the Boko Haram launched bloody bomb attacks on the two state capitals.

The Eid -El-Kabir, the biggest festival in the Islamic calendar will be celebrated throughout the world tomorrow, the second day of Arafat.

The targets of yesterday’s attacks included the headquarters of the Joint Military Task Force (JTF) Operation Restore Hope, Maiduguri, which was set up to contain the activities of the Boko Haram; the El-Kanemi Theological College, Maiduguri; the headquarters of the Police AntiTerrorism Squad and that of the Yobe State Police Command, both in Damaturu.

The first of the bombs went off at about noon at the theological college when parents gathered in front of the school and others were in the campus mosque for the Jumat prayers.

The attack close to the JTF headquarters was carried out by suspected suicide bombers whose target appeared to be the military base on Bombari Bye-pass. The suicide bombers who were driving a jeep were indeed heading into the base but were denied access by soldiers on guard duty. The vehicle exploded as they moved away.

The other explosions occurred in Old Maiduguri, Bulukutu area and in Gomari Area on Jos Road. Though nobody has claimed responsibility it is strongly suspected that the bomb attacks were carried out by the Boko Haram sect.

The Commissioner of Police, Borno State Police Command, Mr. Simeon Midenda said one of the bombs went off around noon outside the El-Kanemi Theological College where parents had gathered. Midenda said others had gone inside the college for the Jumat at a mosque there.

The casualty figure was not

rock Maiduguri, Damaturu •Two suicide bombers killed •Church burnt Augustine AVWODE, Assistant Editor Joseph ABIODUN, Maiduguri Joel DUKU, Damaturu

immediately known, but an unconfirmed report said about six people were injured while those who targeted the military base were killed as the bomb went off.

The JTF spokesman, Lt Col Hassan Mohammed in a telephone interview with our correspondent confirmed the incident. He explained that some suicide bombers driving in a Jeep attempted to gain entry into the base but were prevented by the soldiers at

the gate who ensured that they moved away to about 15 metres from the gate and in apparent frustration, detonated the bombs killing themselves in the process.

He said no soldier was killed and also confirmed the other explosions in the town.

The Damaturu siege began at about 5.30 pm yesterday. Six bombs went off in different parts of the town the main targets being the 360 Housing Estate, the Anti-Terrorism Squad office and the Police headquarters.

At least, one church- St Mary’s Catholic Church- was burnt by the rampaging men. The parish priest

was reportedly taking refuge at a police station. Gun shots shook the town for much of last night forcing residents to stay indoors.

Only on Thursday, a day before the blasts, the military announced that its men had, in a house to house search, seized about 5,000 assorted arms and ammunition in Maiduguri.

Most of the arms and ammunition were recovered from members of the public who gave them up voluntarily in view of the October 31, deadline set by the JTF for the public to surrender any weapon in their custody.

Apart from those seized, there were

G T

Sambo’s security team arrests Rep

Yusuf ALLI, Managing Editor, Northern Operation

A

•Rams on display in Lagos yesterday ahead of the Eid-el-Kabir

died at Stadtisches Kliniku Karlsruhe Stuttgart Germany yesterday morning.

Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo declared a seven day period of mourning in the state with effect from Friday 4th November 2011.

The government said Eid- El-Kabir celebrations during the mourning period should be low keyed.

It added that the funeral arrangements for the late Deputy Governor would be announced shortly.

Late David Albashi on the 28 August sustained serious injuries in his head when his vehicle collided with another vehicle on the Gombe-Yola road on his way from his village, Cham.

His orderly, Corporal Thomas Nifwa, died on the spot. Abashi was later flown to Germany for treatment on the 13th September 2011 from the National Hospital Abuja.

Albashi was born on the 15 January 1959 in Tiksir, Kindiyo Cham in Balanga Local Government area of Gombe state.

Late Albashi served as Deputy Chairman of Balanga local government council in 1990 and Board Member Bauchi state Investment and Property Development Company from 1993- 1997, member Governing council Nnamdi Azikwe University Teaching Hospital Nnewi Anambra state and commissioner for 8 years under Danjuma Goje led administration.

He is survived by wife and children.

Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan has commiserated with Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe State on the death of Mr. Albashi.

President Jonathan described the death as “shocking”, adding, “I am deeply and personally touched by the sudden loss of this vibrant and young politician”.

The President also extended his sincere condolences to Mr. Albashi’s family, the Government of Gombe State, and the entire people of the state.

He prayed that God Almighty will grant eternal repose to the soul of the late Deputy Governor, and comfort Mr. Albashi’s family.

Medical lab scientists condemn attack on FMC’s medical director HE Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Niger ia (AMLSN)has condemned the attack on the Medical Director of the Federal Medical Center [FMC], Umuahia, Dr. Abali Chuku by some yet to beidentified gun men, describing the shooting as barbaric and uncalled for.

Speaking with newsmen after a rally in Aba , Abia state in connection with the nationwide strike embarked upon by the association, the chairman of the state chapter of AMLSN, CyprianNwachukwu said those who shot Dr. Chuku did not mean well for Nigeria and the health sector in particular.

Nwachukwu described Dr Chuku as a humane medical practitioner, who is doing all within his reach to improve the services at the FMC, unlike those who had served in that capacity before him.

Alleged convoy infraction:

•Tinubu’s son-in-law: I was rough-handled

Gombe Deputy Governor dies in Germany

•Late Albashi OMBE State Deputy Gover nor, Mr. David Miyims Albashi yesterday (Friday) died in a German Hospital. He was aged 52.

The Secretary to the state Government Alhaji Abubakar Sule Bage who broke the new in Gombe, said Albashi

others allegedly dropped at refuse dumps at some locations in the Maiduguri metropolis by unknown people. Some of the arms, in particular, AK47 rifles were said to have been recovered from refuse dumps along Baga Road and Abaganaram Housing Estate and Jajeri ward.

Lt Col. Mohammed said the house-to-house search would continue in Maiduguri, and appealed to members of the public to support the task force to bring peace to the weary state. He also revealed that Boko Haram had on Thursday shot and killed a soldier guarding a market.

Ugochukwu EKE, Umuahia

The association also used the rally to restate that its members embarked on the nationwide industrial action due to the continuous disregard by health institutions for government laws, rules and regulations as they affect the practice of medical laboratory science profession in the country.

The AMLSN boss said that despite the fact that Act 11 of 2003 for medical lab scientists provides that no person who is not licensed by medical lab science council of Nigeria should practice or work as a medical lab scientist in hospitals in the country, some hospitals employ such persons.

Dr. Chuku was shot by unknown gunmen at his residence in Umuahia after hosting a meeting with a delegation from Abuja on the way the resolve the faceoff between the

management of the hospital and the AMLSN. While Nwachukwu said the association sympathized with the FMC medical director over the shooting and thanked God for sparing his life, he also wished him quick recovery to enable him continue with his good works in the hospital.

He equally condemned the alleged arrest and detention of all the medical laboratory scientists that came to work on the day of the incident, stressing the need for thorough investigation in order not to punish the innocent.

Nwachukwu said that labour in the Nigeria has not been known to employ violence in its agitation and said that medical laboratory scientists would not in any way go in that direction for anything.

“While we condemn in its entirety

the unfortunate and barbaric shooting of the medical director of FMC, Umuahia, we equally condemn the mass arrest of the medical lab scientists who came to work on the day of the incident.

He said, “The shooting was uncalled for. Labor in Nigeria is not noted for using violence to fight for her rights and Medical lab scientists will not start that. It is on this note that we therefore call on the police to show restraint in the arrest of our members over this unfortunate incident and do proper investigations to fish out the perpetrators of this dastardly act”.

The police in the state have arrested two people in connection with the shooting of the MD of the FMC in Umuahia, as the investigation into the shooting of the medical practitioner continues.

member of the House of Rep resentatives, Mr. Oladimeji Ojo, was yesterday arrested and detained at the Presidential Villa over alleged infraction on the convoy of the Vice-President, Arc. Namadi Sambo.

Ojo, who is a son-in-law to ex-Governor Bola Tinubu of Lagos State, was not released by security agents attached to the VP until after an hour of molestation.

But the Vice-President was not in the picture of the maltreatment of the lawmaker.

According to Ojo, who spoke with The Nation, he was assaulted along Shehu Shagari Way in Abuja.

He said: “As I was coming out of NANET Suite, I wanted to turn right to the kerb along the highway in deference to the convoy of the VicePresident that was coming from the Jumat Service at the National Mosque.

“The incident happened at about 2.30pm. But shortly after the VP’s convoy passed by, some policemen, led by an ASP, pounced on me. I tried to explain to them that I deferred to the authority of the VP by neatly parking my car but they were not ready to listen.

“I decided to show them my identity card to let them appreciate that I know the importance of protocol and I did the right thing. They also rebuffed my explanation.

“Instead, they decided to molest me, tear-gassed me and attempted to bundle me into a van but following my resilience, I had to be taken to the Vice- President’s Lodge at the Presidential Villa.

“They called the place Unit 6 at the VP’s Lodge where I was detained for about an hour. The Vice-Chairman of the House Committee on Communications, Hon. Shehu Bawa, later came around to intervene but they rebuffed him.

“A man described as the PSS later invited me and asked who I am. It was after this that I was released.”

Responding to a question, Ojo said: “My experience was horrible, I am psychologically devastated and I am just getting out of it.

“If this is the way we want to run our democracy, it is just unfortunate.”

The Special Adviser to the VP on Media, Alhaji Umar Sani, said: “According to a Senior Security Officer attached to the VP, the incident happened around NANET Suite junction when the VP was returning from the mosque.

“The car of Ojo was flagged down to park for the VP to pass but there were issues with the security personnel and he was arrested.

“The issues have been resolved and he was released accordingly. At that point, no one knew he is a member of the House.”

6 NEWS

THE NATION, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2011

Court restrains NSA, IG from arresting Waku, Unongo, others Uja EMMANUEL, Makurdi

A

•A lorry loading passengers who were travelling for Sallah celebration at Ijora Motor Park in Lagos... yesterday.

Bayelsa guber race: South South governors meet Jonathan over Sylva Vincent IKUOMOLA, Abuja

G

OVERNORS of the South South states yesterday met with PresidentGoodluck Jonathan in an effort to secure the participation of the Bayelsa State Governor, Timipre Sylva in the governorship primaries of the People’s Democratic Party scheduled for November 19.

Governor Sylva had been in a battle to secure his participation in the primary election since he was tactically edged out by the PDP appeal panel after he was initially cleared by the Gubernatorial Screening Committee of the party last week.

But yesterday, Governors Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom); Liyel Imoke (Cross River) and Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers) were at the State House to meet with the President along with the embattled governor.

After a long meeting with Jonathan, the governors came out looking serious and were unwilling to speak with curious State House correspondents who had waited patiently for the outcome of the meeting.

Realising that reporters were determined to get something out of them, Sylva, who was going to his car with re-

MAKURDI High Court presided over by Justice Ada Onum has granted an order of interim injunction restraining the National Security Adviser, the Inspector General of Police and the Benue State Commissioner of Police from arresting, detaining or intimidating Senator Joseph Waku and 40 other elder statesmen from Benue State.

Ruling on an exparte motion brought before the court by Barrister Terna Agboh on behalf of the 41 elder statesmen, including Paul Unongo, Hon. Shima Ayati, Hon. Abua Yaji and the the state chairman of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Comrade Abba Yaro, Justice Onum noted that the supporting affidavit showed that the personalities sought to be restrained had in the past invited the applicants to Abuja where they were requested to make “routine statements“, after which they were kept waiting in the office for upwards of six hours and thereafter asked to report back on another day.

The Judge said he did not see any harm in granting the application made exparte, as no law enforcement agency in the country is entitled to intimidate, harass, threaten, detain anybody without unjustifiable cause. “ The motion is accordingly granted as prayed, and the NSA, IGP, Benue Police Commissioner are hereby restrained in the interim from arrest and detention of the Applicant, pending the determination of the substantive matter,’’ the judge said.

The substantive matter has been fixed for hearing on November 18, 2011.

Gov Aliyu hails Jonathan’s appointment of Primary Health Care boss

T

•From left: Akwa Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio; Bayelsa State Governor, Timipre Sylva; Rivers State Governor, Chubike Rotimi Amaechi and Delta State Governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan, after the close door meeting with President GoodLuck Jonathan at the State House, Abuja ... yesterday.

PHOTO: Akin OLADOKUN

•Governor keeps mum porters on his trail, turned round and asked why he was being trailed with microphones. ”Why are you following me with microphones now? I don’t want to talk,” he said.

However, a close aide of Governor Sylva told The Nation that the meeting went

•Meeting went well, says aide

well. He said an agreement might have been struck at the meeting, adding, however, that he could not tell what the agreement was.

The aide did not give any further detail, but he said President Jonathan requested the governor to wait behind in Abuja so they could

fly together to Bayelsa today.

Yesterday’s was the second time such a meeting would be held with the President.

Only on Thursday night, PDP governors and legislators met with President Jonathan to register their support for Governor Sylva.

HE Governor of Niger State, Dr. Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu has commended President Goodluck Jonathan over the appointment of Dr Ado J.G. Muhammad as the Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NHPCDA).

In a statement signed by Governor Aliyu’s Chief Press Secretary, Malam Danladi Ndayebo, the Governor described Muhammad’s appointment as a square peg in a square hole, adding that the people of Niger State were excited that an indigene of the state had been appointed to head an all-important agency that is dear to the heart of the President.

Governor Aliyu said Muhammad is well suited for the job, having had a distinguished medical carrier spanning almost two decades.

"With almost 20 years experience in public health delivery, immunization services, health institutional reforms and management of complex and challenging health programmes, the new

Protest in Kaduna as gunmen attack village

F

OR the sixth time since post-election violence broke out in Kaduna and other parts of the north, unknown gunmen yesterday attacked a southern Kaduna village, killing two and leaving many others injured.

Women and youths from the area who protested the attack were said to have held the Governor Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa hostage for about one hour, refusing to listen to his appeal and denying him access to the victims of the attack; a claim denied by the governor's spokesman, Reuben Buhari.

The residents wondered why their villages are continuously attacked by gunmen in spite of heavy presence of securitymen, which they said had subjected them to various forms of harassment.

The Nation gathered that the gunmen attacked St. Joseph Catholic Church, Tabak village in Zango Kataf Local Government at about 11.45 pm when the worshipers were observing a vigil inside the church.

Available information re-

•Two killed, 14 injured Tony AKOWE, Kaduna vealed that some of the gunmen, who came through the internationaly recognised cattle grazing route close to the village, surrounded the village while others headed for the Catholic church.

They were said to have opened fire on the worshipers, killing two women in the process and leaving many others with various degree of injuries.

An eyewitness told The Nation that there were blood stains on the altar of the church, while bullets from the attack penetrated the iron doors, an indication that the attackers came with sophisticated weapons.

While details of the attack were still sketchy at press time, 14 people were said to have been admitted in the hospital while others who had minor injuries were undergoing treatment at home.

Although the community was said to be calm at the time of this report, there were fears of reprisal attack as the youths of the area accused Fulani herdsmen of being responsible for the attack, vowing to attack any Fulani man they come across.

The youths were said to be blaming the state government and security agents for the series of attack on southern Kaduna villages since the last post-election violence in the state, wondering how the gunmen always gained access into the villages with the heavy security presence.

The situation has created tension in the area, while security operatives embarked on patrol to forestall possible break down of law and order as the youths of Zonkwa, the headquarters of Zango Kataf Local Government, took to the streets to protest the attack.

When the state governor visited the area at about 11.30

am yesterday, the youths and protesting women held him hostage for about one hour, telling him that they had lost confidence in his ability to protect them.

A statement from the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Reuben Buhari, however denied that the governor was held hostage, saying "the governor went into the midst of the protesting youths to talk to them. He was not held hostage.

"It is natural for people who experienced such incidents to want to expend such feelings and pain. As such, the governor, understanding their pains, patiently went into their midst and listened to all their complaints.

"The governor took time to interact with them, assuring them that security agencies would get to the roots of the incident. He later went into the hospital, accompanied by the youth, to sympathise with those who sustained injuries.

He was not held hostage at

all.’’

He quoted the governor as saying that the attack was unnecessary and reprehensible, adding that the governor interacted with the youths of the area, asking them not to take the law into their hands.

The statement said: "His Excellency views with dismay that some criminally minded people are bent on creating unnecessary tension within the state. His Excellency further appeals to all resident of Zonkwa in particular and Kaduna State in general to shun any act capable of shattering the peace that the state is currently enjoying, while security agencies continue their investigation into the incident.

"People of the state are further enjoined to remain security-conscious and report any suspicious movement to security agencies. Furthermore, His Excellency has stated that the medical bills of those currently in hospital will be taken care of by the state government.".

NPHCDA boss comes well groomed for the task of transforming the agency," the statement said.

The Governor said from Muhammad's days as management consultant with AfriProjects Consortium, where he worked closely with the World Bank, Africa Development Bank, UNICEF, WHO and the defunct Petroleum Trust Fund(PTF), to his engagement with the Millennium Development Goals, there is no doubt that the new NPHCDA Chief is at home with Primary Health issues.

Aliyu expressed confidence in the ability of Dr Muhammad to deliver in his new assignment and to contribute to the actualisation of the current administration's transformation agenda.

We’ll shoot down proposed fuel subsidy removal, says Rep Yusufu Aminu IDEGU, Jos, THE House of Representatives member representing Barkin Ladi/Riyom Federal Constituency, Hon. Simon Mwadkwon, has vowed to vote against the plan to remove fuel subsidy if given the opportunity.

The lawmaker, who spoke in an interview in Jos, also said he was speaking the mind of the majority in the lower chamber of the National Assembly.

He said: “If Mr. President should ask for the support of the members of the House of Representatives, he will not get my consent because I will make sure I vote against the idea. As a matter of fact, I am speaking the minds of the majority of National Assembly members. ‘’It is not only me who will vote against the idea; majority of us will vote against it because the impact of the removal of oil subsidy will fall directly on the head of members of our various constituencies.

“In fact, if we are to debate the issue, it will require us going back to consult our constituents respectively. It is not an issue for us to just sit down on the floor of the House and conclude.

NEWS 7

THE NATION, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2011

Six policemen, three others killed ... as robbers attack bullion van in P/Harcourt Bisi OLANIYI, Port Harcourt

A

RMED robbers killed six policemen and three civilian bystanders yesterday, in an attack on a bullion van at Elikpokwuodu-Rukpokwu, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, with the huge cash being conveyed stolen and many persons injured.

Men of the Rivers State Police Command later recovered N5.6 million from the scene of the robbery. Also recovered were two police rifles, seven loaded AK-47 magazines and one of the cars used by the armed robbers for the operation.

It was learnt that the civilian casualities were hit by stray bullets from both the armed robbers and policemen, who made spirited efforts to overpower the hoodlums, but to no avail.

Rukpokwu, in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers state, is on the outskirts of Port Harcourt, between Rumuokoro and Igwuruta, on the dual carriage way to the Port Harcourt International Airport.

An eyewitness said the armed robbers laid an ambush for the bullion van, which belongs to Oceanic Bank, and the escort vans the policemen occupied. The bandits were said to have suddenly opened fire on the security personnel, making the casualty figure to be high.

It was learnt that the incident took place in front of Governor Rotimi Amaechi’s newly-built Model Primary School, near Rukpokwu Market, with the armed robbers shooting sporadically into the bullion van, police vehicles and into the air to scare passersby and motorists.

One of the civilian casualties was a man who came to buy bread and was waiting to collect his balance from the trader, only to be hit by stray bullets. He died on the spot.

The armed robbers were said to have made away with the cash in the bullion van, but the exact amount could not be confirmed.

It was gathered that when the robbers opened fire on the bullion van and police vehicles, there was confusion, as many motorists had to abandon their vehicles in the middle of the road and scampered to safety, while many passersby also took to their heels to avoid being hit by stray bullets.

Shortly after the robbers escaped and normalcy was restored, many persons were discovered to have been injured, with blood soaking their bodies and clothes, while numerous vehicles were also damaged.

A source, who would not want to be named, said one of the armed robbers was killed during the exchange of gunfire with policemen, while the remaining hoodlums escaped before the arrival of security personnel at the scene.

A local radio station in Port Harcourt, yesterday evening, reported the death of six policemen and three civilians in the incident.

When contacted at 5:39 pm yesterday, the Rivers Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Ben Ugwuegbulam, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), requested to be given time to get the details.

When contacted again on his mobile phone at 6:49 pm, Ugwuegbulam said the robbery took place, but he was still expecting the details of the casualty figure from police formations, since some of the injured persons were rushed to hospitals across the state.

The State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Suleiman Abba, in a telephone interview at 7:07 pm, said two policemen died in the robbery attack.

The Rivers PPRO, in a text message at 7:31 pm, said: “Incident Report Rivers: Armed robbery today, November 4, 2011 at 16:25hrs, one Amadi Eze reported that he was leading a special escort from Oceanic Bank, Trans-Amadi (Industrial estate, Port Harcourt).”That the team left the bank for airport to pick cash. Amount not mentioned yet. On their way back, along Airport/Rukpokwu Road, one of the escort vans developed fault at Market Junction. Armed men took advantage and attacked them from the back.

“The escort men engaged the robbers in a shoot-out. As a result, two policemen and two others, one of whom is confirmed to be a member of the gang, were also fatally injured (died). Two police rifles and the sum of N5.6 million were recovered.

“Several patrol teams chasing the fleeing hoodlums and investigation continues.”

As at press time, no arrest had been made.

It will be recalled that on October 31, armed robbers struck in Port Harcourt, robbing a team that was moving cash from Everyday Emporium, Rumuola and killed a police corporal on escort duty and an employee of the highbrow supermarket.

The robbery took place at about 9:30 am, when some members of staff of the supermarket were conveying an undisclosed sum of money from the emporium to Everyday Supermarket at the Government Reservation Area (GRA), also in Port Harcourt.

G

•From left: The wife of the host, Mrs. Bianca Ojukwu; the Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi; the Anglican Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Bishop Emmanuel Chukwu and Chief Ralph Uwazuruike at the ceremony…yesterday

Ojukwu homesick, says wife at his A 78th birthday

ILING former leader of still born Republic of Biafra, Dim Chukwuemeka Ojukwu is eager to return to Nigeria, his wife disclosed yesterday.

Ojukwu’s wife, Bianca, told a large crowd that stormed the Casabianca Lodge home of Ojukwu to celebrate the 78th birthday of the Ikemba Nnewi that he was concerned and disturbed at the trends back home.

At the birthday celebration, which witnessed the presence of clergymen from different Christian denominations, who conducted the church service, were the Governors Peter Obi and Rochas Okorocha of Anambra and Imo states respectively.

Also in attendance was the former governor of Imo state, Chief Ikedi Ohakim, while Monsignor Obiora Ike of the Catholic Diocese delivered the homily.

Others who attended the ceremony included Senators Uche Chukwumerije and Chris Ngige; the publisher of Champion Newspaper, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu; former Central Bank governor, Prof. Charles Soludo; National Chairman of the All

From Chris OJI, Enugu

Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Sir Victor Umeh; the leader of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, who was the sole organiser and sponsor of the ceremony, and many others including prominent traditional rulers.

Ojukwu’s wife told the cheering crowd that “Ezeigbo (Ojukwu) is home sick. He is eager to come back home because he loves Nigeria and his people. It is a miracle that after almost one year, Ezeigbo fought and said no to death.

“He has shown that he is a true general by his determination to live. Even the hospital staff in London refer to him as general whenever he visits for routine checkup.”

Bianca gave thanks to God for keeping her husband alive, noting that it was through the prayers of the people that God mercifully sustained his life.

She said: “If my husband were to be here and see this crowd, he will definitely jump

Preparations for council polls begin in Anambra

T

HE Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC) has begun, in earnest, preparations for local government election, which has eluded the state for nine years.

The non-conduct of council polls in the state for such a long period has pitted the Peter Obiled All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) government against some of the leading political parties in the state.

The council polls were ini-

•Voter register to be displayed in 4,627 centres Nwanosike ONU, Awka

tially scheduled for December 4, 2010; a date then described by the sacked Chairman of the Commission, Prof Titus Ezeh, as sacrosanct before the elections were cancelled in spite of serious preparations by parties.

Ezeh, who was sacked by the State House of Assembly a few weeks ago on allegations of

Abia’s finances healthy, says Orji

overnor Theodore Orji of Abia State has debunked speculations that the state is heavily indebted to banks, saying that the loans the government has taken are being serviced as and when due.

Orji described those who are in the habit of saying that the state is down financially or owing banks as detractors who want to distract the attention of his administration, which he said is determined to move the state to another level in terms of infrastruc-

Ugochukwu EKE, Umuahia

ture and economic development.

Speaking with journalists during an interaction session in Umuahia, Orji said a recent report from the National Assembly that Abia State is one of the states that are financially healthy in the country was the outcome of prudent financial management.

Orji said: “The financial certificate of good health passed on the state by the National

out of his sick bed. He would have been totally healed.”

She thanked President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife for their concern over the health of Ojukwu by keeping in constant touch with them in London.

More of the thanks went to Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State, who Bianca said sponsored the trip to London and was in London every month to see the APGA leader.

She also poured encomiums on Obi, Soludo, Okorocha, Iwuanyanwu, Ohakim, Bishop Emmanuel Chukwuma, APGA National Chairman and many others who personally visited them in London.

Bianca paid special tribute to Uwazuruike, who she referred to as Okenwa, meaning great son for single handedly organizsing and arranging the birthday ceremony.

In his speech at the occasion, Governor Obi described Ojukwu is a great son of Nigeria. According to him, it is Ojukwu who knew the threat

of extinction facing Ndigbo and he rose to the occasion to halt it.

He recalled the position of Ndigbo in the past and asked the place of Ndigbo in Nigeria today. He insisted that Nigeria stands on the past achievements of the Ndigbo, adding that it was the Igbo who spearheaded the independence of Nigeria.

He recalled that in academics, the Igbo excelled, saying that the first Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Prof. Kenneth Dike and University of Lagos, Prof. Eni Njoku were Igbo.

Obi also recalled that the first President, Vice-President, and Senate President as well as the first Army general and military Head of State were all Igbo.

He added that the first Nigerian graduate soldier was an Igbo “and that is the man we are celebrating today.”

Obi further posited that the first man to live in Ikoyi was an Igbo, who was the father of Emeka Ojukwu, adding that it was his Rolls Royce that was used in driving Queen Elizabeth of England when she visited Nigeria in the 50s.

Assembly is a sign that our administration is doing well financially, and people should judge us by the amount of funds we receive and not by what happens in other states.”

He pleaded with residents of Aba, the commercial nerve centre of the state, to bear the ongoing demolition exercise in the city with the state government, stressing that what the government is doing in Aba will soon be noticed positively.

The governor said: “What

we are doing in Aba as regards the demolition exercise is for the benefit of the people of that city. Those who live in that city will soon realise that what we are doing will make them know that cleanliness is really next to Godliness.”

He said as the dry season sets in, heavy construction work will start in Aba, adding that all the blocked drainages in the city will be opened for free flow of waste water during the rainy season.

misappropriation of funds and incompetence, was replaced with Hon. Sylvester Okonkwo.

However, Okonkwo, who spoke with The Nation in Awka yesterday, described election as a process and not an event, adding that there are processes before, during and after elections.

He said that ANSIEC intended to embark on what he called process before the election, adding that since the inception of the commission, there had not been any proper training for the staff.

This, he said, led to the commission holding what he called a management meeting on Thursday where a decision was taken to train the chairman, members of the commission and the entire staff for the forthcoming local government elections in the state.

Alhough Okonkwo did not disclose the date set for the exercise, he said the commission had concluded arrangement to invite the Director of Training, Independent Na-

tional Electoral Commission (INEC) from Abuja.

Besides, he said, the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Anambra State, Prof.

Chukwuemeka Onukogu; INEC Administrative Officer and Director in Benin, Edo State, Mr Gilbert Okolocha and the Technical Adviser to (INEC) National Chairman on electoral matters, Prof Okey Ibeanu, had all been contacted.

He said the Anambra State Commissioner of Police, Muhtari Ibrahim, and the Director of State Security Service in the state, Alex Okehi, had all been informed.

The three day training exercise, according to Okonkwo, will be a prelude to other things, while the CD run containing the voters register had been received by ANSIEC. “We have made contacts with INEC for the down loading, printing and binding of the materials’ We intend to display it in all the polling centres numbering about 4,627 in the state,’’ he said.

8

THE NATION SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2011

9

THE NATION, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2011

W

HEN Greek PM G e o r g e Papandrou called for a referendum on the EU bail out plan for his country , he sent shock waves throughout the Euro zone, especially in France and Germany, which thought they had sealed a workable plan to ensure that Greece cannot default on its debts and ruin the euro zone in the process. But then, in my view, the Greek PM has done the right thing in that he has returned democracy to its roots and at the right time and occasion, albeit in the midst of a financial crisis, because after all said and done Greece is the home and origin of the political ideology called democracy.

Ancient Athenian history and democracy remind one of political philosophers like Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. But the recent riots on the streets of Athens over austerity measures, arising from Greece’s efforts to pay its debts , makes it difficult to believe that this city was the home of great political philosophers whose thinking created democracy as the government of the people by the people and for the people.

But then, the Greek PM did not act in a vacuum and we shall talk about that later.

At UNESCO, the UN education and culture institution, the general house voted to admit Palestine as its newest member over the objection of Israel and the US and the two nations moved in a hostile manner towards the UNESCO admission. In Syria where the government is suppressing the people and asking for political reforms and more accountability and transparency in governance, the Assad government warned foreign nations especially those of Europe from giving aid to the insurgents ranged against its dictatorship.

In S. Africa the leader of the Communist Party and a Minister warned that party leaders are using funds garnered from bribes and corrupt deals from their official position to buy the leadership of the ruling party– the ANC - at its next conference and he is poised to expose and prevent such political buyout by all means.

I intend to say some home and bitter truths on the events I have highlighted today for the sake of democracy which is the in thing in terms of government and the ascendant political ideology in the world today. From Athens to New York, Damascus to Johannesburg and eventually to Abuja, democracy faces its sternest test in recent times from not only its beneficiaries and adherents but also from those who have no iota of respect for its basic principles and rights but use it as the front for their governments and purposes all the same.

Let us start with Greece where I stated earlier that the Greek PM did not act in a vacuum in calling for a referendum. I recall that after the announcement about the bailout agreement by Euro zone members on Greece, the French President

Democracy and arm twisting

Nikolas Sarkozy shocked many when he announced at a press conference that Greece should not have been admitted into the EU as its budget and financial figures as at admission were cooked or at best false. I wondered then at the objective of the French President in making such an extravagant statement after spending a long time with other European nations to work out a bail out deal on Greece.

Sarkozy may be trying to put a financially prostrate Greece in its place but he shot in the leg not only himself and French banks who stand to lose millions in case of a Greece default, but he also shot down Greek pride and the price of that national ego is Greek resort to a referendum on a deal that the Euro zone has already regarded as a done deal. Which is back to square one, as the Greek public and electorate are not expected to ratify a deal that they are already prepared to die on the streets of Athens for.

So what is French or Gallic gain or pride in shooting down Greek pride and arousing the Greek leaders to remember their democracy pedigree and ancestry at great cost to European economic and political stability? That is an answer that only Mr ‘Wiseman‘ Sarkozy can provide.

The latest news filtering in that the Greek PM has been asked to resign by some key members of his cabinet and that he has offered to negotiate with the opposition will not deter our discussion of the matter. This is because the lessons from the Greek financial imbroglio which has given rise to a democracy debacle are many and are there to be learnt by all democracies alike.

The first stems from the fact that the Greek government has assured its Eurozone members that the referendum is not to determine whether Greece will remain a member of the EU but to make the electorate determine whether the Greek government should accept the bailout package.

Which puts the electorate in the driving seat and absolves the government of responsibility for any further austerity riots. It also firmly deflects any EU suspicion away from any accusation that Greece is smarting from the Sarkozy insult and the government is trying to upset the EU financial roller coaster. In addition the government is preempting the military which seized political power for some seven years till 1974, from plotting a coup that could have popular support given the present austerity measures, by removing the heads of the army, navy and air force and replac-

ing them with generals they can trust.

Which shows that any reasonable democracy once it knows that its policies are creating economic hardship that foment hostility and violence must insure itself against insurgency and plan for its containment through its military or security institutions or be prepared for institutional disloyalty culminating in insurrection which is a coup.

So in effect the Papandreou government is not cutting its nose to spite its face. While taking on Europe to salvage whatever is left of Greek pride it is not prepared to commit political suicide by playing into the hands of an overzealous and disloyal army waiting to exploit the public unrest in Greece over the debt crisis to seize power from the democratically elected government of the day.

Similarly the reactions of the US and Israel to the admission of Palestine is a lesson in authoritarianism and dictatorship yet both nations are leading lights of democracy in their domestic politics.

The US has cut funds to UNESCO by suspending its annual subscription which is substantial and the aim is to cripple UNESCO’s globally beneficial activities because that organization used the democratic process in admitting Palestine, which the US is against for no justifiable rea-

son other than that it does not want to annoy its ally Israel.

Worse still Israel has asked the Palestinians to focus on the peace process but because of the UNESCO admission it has seized revenue it collected on behalf of the Palestinian Authority and had accelerated the building on occupied territories-which is a source of anger and anguish for Palestinians and Arabs generally and is really the source of the militant terrorism rampant in the Middle East and beyond nowadays.

When leading democratic states punish global institutions that extol and practice democracy they tarnish the reputation of a welfare and justice oriented ideology and make a mockery of its principles and processes. They provide unwittingly ready weapons for charlatans and false prophets of democracy who pervert its principles on the altar of expediency on the excuse that democracy is ‘work in progress’ and cannot be achieved even in a lifetime and that is a real tragedy for democratic institutions and governments globally.

Nevertheless it was nice to hear towards the end of this week that the Blood thirsty Assad regime has agreed to a road map for political reforms in Syria at a meeting in Cairo Egypt attended by his representatives.

Which means that he will forgo his threat to deal with European nations for now. But then he is acquiescing after the death of over 3000 protesters since the revolt against his regime started. What is to happen to the families of the lost ones?

Assad should be negotiating his exit like his sit tight colleague and blood brother in Yemen. Some readers have berated me for not commenting on Yemen and Bharain but this is due to lack of time

and space and is not to be taken as a sign of approval of events in those places similar to those in Syria and N. Africa. To me there can be no meaningful reform in Syria till Assad is brought to book for the violence he unleashed on his people in the name of political reforms and to silence their legitimate right to choose their leaders as they have seen others do in the Middle East quite successfully , albeit bloodily in recent times.

Lastly we end with the hydra monster corruption which from time immemorial has been the bane of democracy and justice . Indeed no social malaise twists the arms of democracy more than corruption. That was what the Communist party leader was blowing the whistle on in S. Africa over the forthcoming party convention of the ruling ANC. But the Communist Party in that nation is part of the ‘trinity of power’ in S Africa which includes the ruling party the ANC and COSATU the umbrella organization of the trade unions in S Africa .The three were instrumental in cutting short the full term of former S African President Thabo Mbeki because he dared to prosecute his Vice President Jacob Zuma for corruption. The ANC went on to elect the corruption-accused Jacob Zuma as President of ANC at the party conference at which the accused became bona fide party leader and the incumbent president was asked to resign subsequently before the end of his term and Zuma became ANC Presidential candidate and the rest is history . The Communist Party leader Mr Blade Nzimande was a beneficiary as a Minister of this defeat of democracy and the accountability process that should fight corruption . So crying wolf when the horses have bolted from the stable is the best example of a dog barking at the moon . It is hypocritical certainly unbecoming and does not serve the purpose of good governance and democracy .

10 COMMENTARY

THE NATION, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2011

As greedy leaders turn our nation into rehabilitation centre

With

Vincent Akanmode 08077536312

vincentakanmode@yahoo.com

A

former Lagos Sector Commander of the Federal Roads Safety Commission (FRSC) had hinted at it, but the message did not sink until I became a regular driver on Lagos roads. In a chat at his office in Ojodu, Lagos, Mr. Kayode Olagunju had told me about the phenomenon he called defensive driving. It was his response to my question on why there were so many accidents on our roads.

Accidents had been many, he said, because a lot of Nigerian motorists had not embraced the philosophy of driving defensively. The sensible thing every Nigerian driver should do, he said, was to drive with the belief that the man or woman behind the wheels of every other vehicle is mad. By so doing, a motorist, who is not sure of what string of madness the driver ahead, behind or beside him could pull, would drive with utmost caution and avoid whatever accident could have occurred.

Perhaps because I had not become a car owner at that time, I had taken Olagunju’s counsel as a piece of sublime exaggeration. How could there be more insane drivers than sane ones on our roads? Of course, I knew better by the time I became a regular driver in Lagos and also became a regular guest of the panel beater. No matter how hard you try, it is as if some drivers have made up their minds to hit your car. The more cautious you become, the more reckless they get. Many of them drive as if their lives have duplicates they can fall back on when they lose it.

In Lagos, for instance, not even the threat of N50,000 fine has discouraged impatient motorists from driving on the wrong side of the road, a phenomenon popularly referred to as “one way”. So many lives have been dispatched into early graves by one-way drivers. The innocent souls, after looking in

the direction where vehicles are supposed to be coming from, would jump into the road only to be knocked down by a mad driver who had decided to drive on the wrong side of the road.

In other instances of traffic madness, you finsd motorists taking one way on both ends of the road, with the result that the mad one- way drivers on both ends would end up facing one another. A stalemate ensues and traffic is at a standstill. Without a thoroughfare on either side, every vehicle is stranded and everyone remains on the same spot sometimes for hours.

So, it did not come as a shock when the United Nations Organisation (UN) released a report in 2009, suggesting that at least one out of every five Nigerians has mental illness. Some people have argued against the figure, describing it as exaggerated. The truth, however, is that poverty has inflicted the people with so much madness that the nation has become one huge rehabilitation centre. Sadly, those who should mind the centre are so inebriated with ill-gotten wealth that they too have lost control of their faculties.

In the last couple of weeks, there have been reports of Nigerians suddenly going berserk, destroying cars and other valuable things they could lay their hands on. In Ekiti State, for instance, there was the report, penultimate week, of a 30-year-old woman who suddenly went berserk and destroyed 30 cars in one fell swoop. Indeed, in spite of the protestations against the UN figure, I am tempted to think there could be one insane Nigerian in every three. A cursory assessment of the attitude of the average Nigerian driver, the police and the nation’s leadership in general would convince any objective assessor that the nation is indeed in the throes of madness.

A certain Prof. D.K. Lee was once quoted as saying that Africans cannot develop because their brains are cemented by excessive heat.

But I don’t think the madness that pervades the land is attributable to weather. Rather, it is something borne out of an arrangement in which the leaders are inebriated by the stupendous wealth they corner from state resources while the led are driven crazy by the poverty their thieving leaders inflict on them.

How, for instance, would one explain a situation where public office holders steal sums of money they and generations of their children cannot exhaust, even if they decide not to work or

‘

The truth, however, is that poverty has inflicted the people with so much madness that the nation has become one huge rehabilitation centre.

Sadly, those who should mind the centre are so inebriated with ill-gotten wealth that they too have lost control of their faculties

’

engage in any business activity, yet they continue to steal more and more money, even after they have sent their children to the best schools and have set up businesses for them?

Then you wonder what they intend to do with all the money they steal at the expense of the public.

It matters little to them that the roads are not in good shapes for the exotic cars they ship in.

Rather than tar the roads and make them comfortable for the public, the average leader diverts the money into buying exotic cars he cannot ride on the rough roads. Rather than create jobs that would engage the army of unemployed youths, the average Nigerian leader would rather take the funds abroad or divert them into building mansions in which they cannot sleep with both eyes closed for fear that they might be attacked by youths who have been pushed into armed robbery by years of frustration.

But perhaps the best evidence of the pervasive madness in the land is the attitude of our policemen who experts say are always a product of the society. A couple of weeks ago, I wrote a piece concerning a baker some policemen at the Ipaja Police Station, Lagos

This farce called fuel subsidy

L

IKE many other Nigerians, I still wonder whether there will ever be an end to the confusion in governance under the presidency of Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. Since May 29, 2011 when the nation started witnessing a ‘breath of fresh air’ and a ‘Transformation Agenda’ premised on the need to do things differently, the government has not left anyone in doubt about its capacity to, first, set aglow the fire of controversy before thinking about how to extinguish it. Nothing exemplifies this than the satanic cake of 7-year single tenure which is currently under intense heat in the oven of Aso Rock’s Chief Chef, Jonathan. Considering the plethora of problems facing the country today, it is very obvious that these times may not be the kind of fresh vista that some persons would have loved to see. Nevertheless, that does not in any way preclude the fact that, somehow, this administration is unrelenting in its determination to inculcate a new spirit of ‘doing things differently’, in reverse order!

That, exactly, is the fate that has befallen the tenure elongation carrot being dangled by Jonathan. Bruised and battered by the hot pummeling that the queer presidential proposal received in the court of public opinion, including the ruling People’s Democratic Party, which fell short of describing it as Jonathan’s private thoughts, the proponent has recoiled into his shell and the latest news on the matter is quite foggy. Well, that is what happens when an ill-thought and poorly crafted agenda is smuggled through the backdoor and foisted on the people. It may be difficult to accept but this thing called 7-year single tenure is dead on arrival and may never see the light of the day. In any case, there are too many issues demanding the urgent attention of the President than a bill seeking to perpetuate the lethargic spasms in governance.

To show that no lesson has been learnt in the administration’s spasmodic approach to matters of urgent national importance, the Presidency woke up one day and decided to, as they put in my part of the world, do something crazy, by intimating the National Assembly of its firm resolve to withdraw the honey pot called fuel subsidy on petroleum products. To ward off any shade of doubt about government’s seriousness, Jonathan, in the 2012-2015 Medium Term Fiscal Framework and the Medium Term Expenditure Framework, stated that: “A major component of the policy of fiscal consolidation is the government’s intent to phase out the fuel subsidy beginning from the 2012 fiscal year. This will free up about N1.2 trillion in savings, part of which can be deployed into providing safety nets for poor segments of the society to ameliorate the effects of subsidy removal.”

Now, this vexatious phantom of subsidy has been in existence for ages. What is cloaked in the informal but Official Secrecy Act is how much had gone into the private pockets of the powerful cabal that manages this fund, which has failed to

achieve its objective of etching a simple plastic laughter on the faces of the poorest of the poor in the society. Instead, we were told by those who ordinarily should rein in the economic saboteurs that these elements are too hot for anyone to handle. Therefore, under the Jonathan Presidency, over N1tr was being creamed off annually by these ghostly forces. In order to halt the drift and rekindle a flicker of hope in the tragic trajectory that has become the lot of the forgotten poor, the wise men and women converged on Aso Rock, went into a frenzied brain wave and decided to save us from eternal misery. Thus came the wackiest idea of total withdrawal of subsidy from petroleum products. “Save the money and deploy it for the general wellbeing of the masses,” they say.

What a wonderful idea?

But then, that is just one part of the story. Those who know one or two things about the body language of the bureaucrats in government will tell you that there is more to that flowery façade of the urge to help the poor than meets the eye. For one, you do not help the poor who presumably voted you into power without consulting them. In a democracy, decision-making may be at the discretion of the President, it is definitely not a one-way traffic.

That is the first mistake Jonathan made when he took the solitary, dangerous dive without checking whether the concrete pool had been refilled with water. In that haste, he gives himself off as someone who is more interested in ‘fiscal consolidation’ than the more important matter of addressing the crying poverty in the land. Why give a definitive date of implementation to a matter that requires the support of varied interests and stakeholders?

If the opposition against the move has been overwhelmingly anti-government, it is not because some Nigerians would not like to see an end to the farcical drama that has lasted for an eternity.

The growing discontent in the land is borne out of the general feeling that, on this matter, the government’s insincerity smells to high heavens. We, the people know them more than they will ever assume. People have asked simple questions that the government seems not to have answers to. What is so sacrosanct about the January date such that the government had to put the wheel before the cart? Moreover, who exactly are the leeches of the presumed subsidy that Jonathan and his men are scared of naming? Why can’t the government itemize what the savings would be spent on; set up the committee of wise men to manage the funds; reach an agreement with organized Labour; sensitize the populace that it would be beneficial to them before withdrawing the questionable subsidy? Is this not one other reason to conclude that this government is adept at pushing out ill-conceived, ill-thought policies that set the nation light years back?

As if the government does not have enough headaches on its hand to deal with, the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Deziani Allison-Madueke, told a perfunctory lie in Perth, Australia, when she contradicted Jonathan that the government was yet to fix a date on the removal of subsidy. Ha! I shouted. Okay, maybe some-

arrested from his bakery for no just reason, after which they beat him until they broke his spinal cord, ribs and skull. The hapless man later died in the hospital. In the said piece, I recalled some instances of madness displayed by some policemen who shot a three-year-old girl dead at a checkpoint and detained her father for protesting against the act. There was also the case of a commercial bus driver who some policemen forced to take them in his bus on night patrol in spite of his pleas that his wife was heavily pregnant and could go into labour at any time. In the end, they forced the poor bus driver to take them to the scene of a robbery and he was killed in the ensuing crossfire between the policemen and the armed robbers.

In the last one week or so, there have been no fewer than three similar cases of malevolence by the police, including the seven youngsters on whom some policemen in Ekiti State rained bullets on their father’s farm and a poor student who was shot dead at a police checkpoint in Bayelsa State. Of course, I am certain that there are good policemen and officers. My only concern is that they appear to be so few and far between that I am yet to come across them. If that is a reflection of the society that produces our policemen, then there is no disputing the fact that there are probably more insane Nigerians now than there are sane ones.

No thanks to our corrupt and inept leaders.

How old is our mother?

I was oblivious of the great transformation in the status of the office of the First Lady until I saw last week’s birthday congratulatory adverts portraying the wife of President Goodluck Jonathan not just as the First Lady, but as the Mother of the Nation. The new title is nothing more than the President’s wife deserves. A nation blessed with a president as avuncular as ours must necessarily have a mother.

My only concern is that none of the congratulatory messages I saw told us the age of our mother. Was it a deliberate act or an oversight on the part of the advertisers? Some of us need to know in order to determine how many more years we could wish our dear mother without sounding unrealistic.

Knucklehead With

Yomi Odunuga E-mail:yomi.odunuga @thenationonlineng.net SMS only: 07028006913 one tampered with the President’s letter to the lawmakers by inserting “government’s intent to phase out the fuel subsidy beginning from the 2012 fiscal year.”

In these days where cases of forgery and scam abound in high places, I would not be surprised if some funny wag appears from the blues laying claim to have forged the proposed Fiscal Framework that was eventually read on the floor of the Senate by Senator David Mark to his colleagues. It will not come as a rude shock either if he takes the words off Madueke’s mouth or insist that the original words should have read thus: “We are still in the discussions with labour and other stakeholders. Until that is finished, I don’t think it is right to give any definite date for the roll-out of the implementation of subsidy removal”. That was the new twist to the fuel subsidy brouhaha from Perth, Australia, when Madueke addressed the press.

Nevertheless, it was not all lies without substance. At least, there was that reference to how government after government had been wringing its hands in frustration as the cabal ran away with trillions of the taxpayers’ sweat. However, we understand that this can no longer be tolerated and something needs to be done to cut the leeches off. But, in belling the cat, it will be appreciated if the government can, for once, be open and transparent.

And they can start treading the transparency lane by coming out plain on the truth behind the alleged overdrawing of the subsidy projection for 2011 by N1.79 trillion. Now that they are courting our support so badly, we deserve to know which of the agencies is telling the truth on this matter. Was the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Allocation Commission (RMFAC) playing to the gallery or was there a conspiracy between the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency to inflate figures and rip us off? Big question!

In all this, one thing is sure: Trust, like respect, is earned, not bought. It is not an item on display in Onigbongbo market. For now, this government has simply failed to earn that trust by playing hide and seek with a matter that touches on the life of every Nigerian. Pity!

The prostitution ring

Pages 16-17

19

—Chika Chukwu

Chelsea Club’s owner, Abramovich’s road to riches

r/ Thrille

Screen/ 34

My moments with Eedris Abdulkareem

Weekend

PEOPLE

Relat io

nship

THE NATION, Saturday, NOVEMBER 5, 2011

Showdown!

UK-based Nigerian medical doctor in verbal war with Police over his son’s mysterious death in hotel’s swimming pool

Continued on Pages 14-15 The late Adeniyi

11

12

THE NATION, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2011

UK-based Nigerian medical doctor in verbal war with Police over his son’s mysterious death in hotel’s swimming pool The question now is: Why is Sergeant Lawrence and his boss holding on to the death certificate and autopsy report when I was actually the one who requested for the documents?

— Dr. Ajewole

The family wants to blame the Police for their own mistakes, because I don’t know why they are disturbing us for the documents. Is it the family that took the body of the man to the hospital? Or do they expect us to release our own copy to them? —Police

T

HERE appears to be no end in sight yet in the controversy generated by the death of a 26-year-old bar

attendant, Moses Adeniyi Ajewole, who was found dead in a swimming pool on September 16, 2011 at Motun International Hotel located on Bamidele Abolaji Street, Dalemo, Agbado , Ogun State. He was said to have sat for his West African School Certificate Examination and was looking forward to gaining admission into the university before his tragic death.

He was said to have resumed for night duty only for his body to be found in the swimming pool the following morning. An autopsy was carried out on his body on September 26, 2011 before he was buried.

The autopsy report has, however, pitted the family against the police, as the UKbased father of the deceased, Dr. Mike Ajewole, accused the police of complicity in the matter.

Speaking with our correspondent from his base in the United Kingdom (UK) where he works as a medical doctor, Dr. Ajewole insisted there was more to his son’s than met the eye.

He said: “I want to believe that my son was murdered while on duty, going by what I saw of his body when he was brought out of the pool. For example, when he was taken out of the water naked, he was frothing and oozing blood from his mouth, with his two hands stiffly stretched out in a perpendicular position, in the manner of a person struggling with an assailant before his death.”

He further accused the Police of complicity in their handling of the matter, adding that they (the Police) deliberately withheld the outcome of the autopsy to shield the masterminds.

He said: “I want to categorically say that there are lots of questions that are yet to be answered concerning the role played by the Police in the case. On Monday September 26, 2011, a post-mortem was hurriedly and shoddily carried out at Ifo General Hospital by one Dr. Olutunde.

“He started the test at 4.25 pm, using a small torch. The procedure was completed at 6 pm and he refused to allow me to observe the test, contrary to our initial agreement. The result of the autopsy was collected by the Investigating Police Officer (IPO) called Sergeant Lawrence, from the Agbado Police Station on Thursday October 6, 2011.

•The swimming pool where Adeniyi was found dead

Kunle AKINRINADE “All efforts I made to get a copy of the autopsy report and death certificate, which are in the custody of Sergeant Lawrence and the Divisional Police Officer of the station failed. The question now is: why is Sergeant Lawrence and his boss holding on to the death certificate and autopsy report when I was actually the one who requested for the documents?

“It is, indeed, very painful that the numerous calls I have made to Sergeant

Lawrence on his mobile telephone to ask him to release the documents were ignored.

It confirms our suspicion that there was a grand conspiracy to sweep the case under the carpet.

“The Police even claimed that they had sealed the hotel for proper investigation.

But I can tell you that the place was never shut even for a second.

“The game being played by the Police and their accomplices at the hospital is to frustrate all efforts to unravel the mystery behind the death of my son, knowing full well that I am also a medical doctor of

international status. But their plan will fail because I won’t relent until justice is done on this case.”

Findings at Ifo General Hospital revealed that the body of the late Ajewole was taken to the hospital by some policemen from the Agbado Police Station at about 4.45 pm on the day of the incident.

A highly placed source at the hospital, who asked not to be named, said: “It is true that the body of the late bar man was brought here for autopsy at about 4.45 pm

13

THE NATION, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2011

Please, tell them I’m a common thief •Says security guard arrested for allegedly selling off his father’s house

•Dr. Ajewole

A

•The late Adeniyi

on September 16, 2011. One Dr. Olutunde, a pathologist from the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Abeokuta, performed the post-mortem, and he has since given the report to the police officer in charge of the case.

“We don’t have a resident pathologist in our hospital. That is why he comes around whenever there is a need for his services. I want to advise the family to collect the copy of the autopsy report from the IPO in charge of the case.”

Efforts made by our correspondent to get Dr. Olutunde’s comment on the matter yielded no result. After rebuffing our correspondent on the telephone, he also ignored a test message that was sent to his mobile phone. “Please, I don’t have time for this kind of talk; I am a very busy person,” he had said earlier.

At the Agbado Police Station, Sergeant Lawrence declined comment on the matter. Instead, he took our correspondent to a senior police officer at the station, who berated the family of the deceased for making an issue of the matter.

The officer said: “The family wants to blame the police for their own mistakes, because I don’t know why they are

disturbing us for the documents. Is it the family that took the body of the man to the hospital? Or do they expect us to release our own copy to them?”

The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Ogun State Police Command, Mr. Muyiwa Odejobi, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, advised the family to seek legal redress to retrieve a copy of the death certificate from the hospital.

He said:”The copy of the document collected by the IPO of the case is meant for the police file, and it may not be possible for the Police to release it to the family. But ordinarily, the family too should have access to the documents.

“If it is true that they have been denied the documents, the best thing they could do is to seek a legal option to compel the hospital or whoever is in charge to release their own copies to them. Both the Police and family have every right to obtain the documents without any hindrance.”

On whether the hotel was shut for investigation or not, Odejobi said: “The Police may not totally shut the hotel. They can only cordon off its entrances or scene of the crime in order to give room for proper investigation.”

theft suspect arrested by operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Lagos State Police Command, has confessed that he sold his late father’s house in Auchi, Edo State, to survive the hard economic situation in the country.

Usman Momoh Sani (42) was arrested in Ikeja, Lagos following a tip-off to the Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Yakubu Alkali, from a resident of GRA, Ikeja who had seen him going about in the area.

Following the tip-off, Alkali directed Abba Kyari, the Superintendent of Police in charge of SARS, to go after Sani. Kyari then mobilised his squad, led by a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Itigise Udo, and the suspect was arrested in GRA, Ikeja, after which he made a confessional statement.

Narrating his story, the suspect, who claimed to have sold his father’s house for N1.2 million in 2006, said: “I am from Auchi, Etsako Local Government Area, Edo State. I work as a security man at Big Sam Security Company located at No. 12, Fakunle Street, off Fola Agoro, Shomolu, Lagos.

“I am a Muslim. I have not been to Mecca. I worship in any mosque nearest to me at any time. I am married with a child; a boy aged five. My wife, Awawu, is aged between 35 and 36.

“I reside at Federal Highway Barrack, Block Y, Ikeja. My father was an Assistant Superintendent of Police and served last at Agbor before he died of brief illness.

“Poverty and frustration made me to sell his house in the village for N1.2 million. I bought a bus from the money but the bus later got burnt and I spent the remaining money trying to survive until it got finished. It is frustration that made me to start stealing.”

Asked how he was arrested, he said: “I was arrested at GRA Ikeja by operatives of SARS for stealing some holy books worth about N10,000, which I wanted to sell for N2,000.

Ebele BONIFACE “When I came back penultimate Sunday, I went to GRA Ikeja the following day, where I used to get buyers for the holy books quickly. Even the people that alerted SARS knew me.

Whenever they saw me on the road, they used to ask me whether I had an holy book to sell.”

Asked whether those who bought the holy books from him knew that they were stolen, “That is what I can not tell. I am surprised that they exposed me to SARS. They had been my customers. The first one was bought by one Baba Gana. The second one was bought by one Ali at the same GRA, Ikeja.

“I knew it was a crime to steal clothes and the holy books. After stealing, I used to sit down and asked myself why I was stealing the holy books. But I could not resist the temptation due to pressing financial problems, particularly the need to raise the money with which I would travel to the village.

“Now that my eyes are open, I am no more under any spell or frustration. I will never steal the holy books again. May God forgive me and cure me of this madness of stealing the holy books.

Asked what he did with the proceeds of his loot, he said: “Sometimes, I used the proceeds to feed, clothe myself and save some when I could. Please, tell them that I am a common thief.”

The Public Relations Officer of the Lagos State Police Command, DSP Samuel Jinadu, said Sani would soon be charged to court for stealing.

‘

Poverty and frustration made me to sell his house in the village for N1.2 million. I bought a bus from the money but the bus later got burnt and I spent the remaining money trying to survive until it got finished.

It is frustration that made me to start stealing

’

•Sani

14

THE NATION, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2011

A year after, pains of devastating flood linger in Sokoto, Kebbi

•A site of the flooding

A

HMADU Galadima Aske, a barber in Danwaru village, Goronyo Local Government Area, Sokoto State, can be described as a successful man. He combines farming with his barbing job.

From his savings, he was able to build an 11-room bungalow which housed his two wives and 16 children. Many in the village looked up to him for assistance until September 7, 2010 when tragedy struck and his entire house was washed away by flood.

Although he did not lose any of his family members to the flood, his entire property vanished. A year after, he is yet to recover from the loss, just like thousands of others in Sokoto and Kebbi states affected by the flood.

Goronyo Dam in Sokoto State is unique for many reasons. It supplies water to Sokoto and Kebbi states.

The dam is also used for irrigation and fishing by the two states. Its tourism potential in the lake area is also very high. Therefore, when its spillway collapsed last year, the economic life of many in the affected communities of the two states also collapsed with it.

The collapse of the dam led to loss of lives in both states as the spillway broke due to flooding. In Sokoto State alone, 13 local government areas were affected with many villages and farmlands completely washed away. The worst affected local governments are Goronyo, Gada and Silame.

The story is the same in Kebbi State where 14 out of the 21 local government areas were affected. Like it happened in Sokoto State, many bridges were washed away in Kebbi. Many lost their lives, houses and farmlands. Other belongings were also washed away in the disaster. The value of the property lost in Kebbi State was put at N28 billion.

More than a year after the unfortunate incident, the people affected in the two states are still counting their losses as well as the pains of the untimely death of their loved

•Members of the Reps Committee inspecting the sites

Sunday OYINLOYE ones on account of the ravaging flood. Although the three tiers of government donated money and relief materials to the victims, their pains appear not to have been significantly assuaged a year after.

Many of the victims are yet to have decent accommodation or recover from the loss of their property.

Perhaps it was for this reason that the House of Representatives mandated its Committee on Water Resources to visit the two states and see how the affected communities could still be assisted, and the extent of work on the reconstruction

of Goronyo Dam’s spillway.

The committee, chaired by Hon. Aliyu Bahago Ahman-Pategi, who himself comes from a riverine area, has just concluded a three-day working visit to Sokoto and Kebbi states as part of their oversight function. The committee members were conducted round Goronyo Dam and the affected communities by officials of the Sokoto River Rima Basin Development Authority (SRRBDA) led by its Managing Director, Engr. Halidu Yusuf, as well as officials of the Ministry of Water Resources and council officials.

At the Goronyo Dam, the committee members were conducted round

by the MD of SRRBDA, Engr.

Yusuf, who told them that one of the problems the dam had been facing was lack of adequate funding for its maintenance.

According to him, another problem had to do with inadequate personnel, especially professionals to man the dam. He told the National Assembly members that the dam had a total of 40 workers out of which only three were professionals.

Yusuf explained that, because of the social and economic importance of the dam, there is the need for adequate maintenance and recruitment of more professionals, adding

that by the time he and other experienced hands handling the dam retired, there might be a big problem of how to run the dam.

The Chairman, House Committee on Water Resources, Hon. Aliyu Bahago Ahman-Pategi, expressed surprise that there were no enough professionals to man such an important dam. He promised that the National Assembly would do something about it.

At the collapsed part of the dam, the committee members were conducted round by the Project Man. •Oyinloye is the editor of Newspeg, an Abuja-based newspaper

15

THE NATION, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2011

How luck ran out on us after we robbed a woman

O

PERATIVES of the Special AntiRobbery Squad (SARS) of the Lagos State Police Command have arrested six suspected members of a robbery gang after the suspects had lost control of a car they allegedly snatched from a woman along with her four phones.

The suspects allegedly invaded No 14A, Ibedeyanka Street, Okeagbe Estate, Ojodu, Ogun State side, home of Mrs. Ogunjumi Olatayo and escaped with her car and four phones to Badagry, Lagos State, but could not get a buyer for the stolen items.

According to police sources, the officer in charge of SARS, Abba Kyari, a Superintendent of Police (SP), mobilised his men in a manhunt for the suspects, following which one of them was arrested at Allen Avenue, Ikeja, Lagos. The arrested suspect was then used to track down three other members of the gang.

Narrating his role in the robbery incident, the leader of the gang, Paul Iyar, 24, said: “I am from Makurdi, Benue State. I am an artist by profession. I am a rap artist and, for now, I am still working on my music. It is yet to be released. It is a hip hop music about total freedom for Nigerian citizens.

“I reside at House No. 14A, Gbadeyanka Okeagbe Street, in an estate in OjoduBerger. The woman we robbed is my neigbour. We planned the robbery operation for about two weeks. Paul Njoku, Godwin Obi and I were together before Obi brought his friend, Seyi Daramola, to join us.

“The car, a 2005 model Toyora Corolla with registration number GF 743 LSR, was packed in the woman’s compound. I stayed back while Godwin and Daramola took okada from Berger to the scene.”

The second suspect, Godwin Obi, 18, a native of Udi, Enugu State, and an auto mechanic based in Alausa, Ikeja, said his workshop was demolished by the Lagos State Government’s task force on environment, following which he became a mobile auto mechanic.

He said: “Daramola and I took an okada (commercial motorcycle) to the estate and we paid the rider N100. We entered the estate through the main gate. The security men did not check people who entered the estate. So, we entered uninterrupted and headed straight for Paul’s home, which is the same compound as the woman’s. We knocked at the door and she came out. She asked how she could help us and we ordered her to lie down. We brandished a kitchen knife, threatening to cut her throat if she failed to cooperate.

“We told her the only thing we needed was her car key and her phones. She got up, went in and brought the key and the four phones. We then ordered her to go inside her house and lock herself up, warning that if she called the police, we would come back and kill her.

“As she went into her house, we zoomed off with the car. When we got to Berger, we called Paul Iyar.”

According to Obi, when Iyar surfaced, he took over the car while Daramola stayed with him at the front seat. From Berger, Iyar drove to Gbagada where Njoku works.

On getting there, I called Njoku and told him that I had brought the car. Njoku came and said he would go and bring a buyer.

Within 45 minutes, he came with two buyers, namely Kayode Alao and Moses Kular.

“Obi and Daramola then came out of the car and left only Paul, Njoku, Kayode and Moses. Kayode took the car key from me and said that contrary to what Njoku told us, they were not buyers but would themselves look for buyers. Njoku, Moses and Ientered the car and Kayode drove off to Badagry.”

Continuing the story, Kayode Alao, 26, a native of Emure in Ekiti Local Government Area, Ekiti State, said: “Four of us got to

—Self-professed hip-hop artiste accused of leading six-man robbery gang

•Left to right: Njoku, Kular and Moses

•Godwin Obi and Kayode Alao

‘

We told her the only thing we needed was her car key and her phones. She got up, went in and brought the key and the four phones. We then ordered her to go inside her house and lock herself up, warning that if she called the police, we would come back and kill her

,

•Paul Iyar

Ebele BONIFACE Badagry at about 11 pm and started looking for buyers. Later, we started quarrelling when we noticed that the car’s bumper had

fallen off due to reckless driving. We tied the bumper and it fell off again. So, we abandoned the bumper.

“We stayed till the following day but could not get a buyer. That was when I realised that the car did not belong to Iyar’s sister as we were told earlier, but that it was snatched. I became angry with the gang.”

Kayode and Kular left Iyar and Njoku at Badagry and went back to Lagos. Moses and I later entered the car and I drove off to Lagos. That was around 11:00pm. On our way to Gbagada, Lagos, we were stopped by policemen from Area E, Festac town. I tried to speed off, but they pursued us with their bus, overtook and blocked our car before taking us to their divisional police officer.

“They (police) called the GSM number on the particulars of the car and the agent that processed the particulars of the car for the woman answered. After he had contacted the owner, he told the police that the car was snatched. We were arrested and transferred to SARS. It was through SARS’s investigation that the remaining four suspects were arrested.

All the suspects, however, claimed that the operation was their first, pleading for leniency and promising not to venture into crime again.

The command’s Police Public Relations Officer, Samuel Jinadu, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, said the case would be transferred to the Ogun State Police Command for further investigation.

16

THE NATION, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2011

•Abramovich

R

OMAN Abramovich was annoyed. It was March, 1995. The young businessman had already waited for six hours in a private Moscow club to be shown in to see Boris Berezovsky. Now he was being told he would have to stump up $8 million to cover the costs of Mr Berezovsky’s television station if he wanted political favours from the wellconnected businessman.

It was a lot of money even for a fast-rising oil trader, yet Mr Abramovich felt he had little choice. Only 28, the quietly spoken former mechanic had already sprung from obscurity to control one of Russia’s most prosperous oil trading networks. But if he was to take his business ambitions to the next level, he needed Mr Berezovsky’s help.

Mr Berezovsky was one of the most powerful of the new breed of businessmen referred to as the oligarchs — a group of sharp and often ruthless individuals who took advantage of the chaos of the early days of post-communist Russia to amass vast fortunes. The former mathematician had made his money through a Moscow-based car dealership but was expanding into oil, airlines and media. He was also one of the best-connected people in the country, with close ties to Boris Yeltsin’s regime.

He was, Mr Abramovich believed, the powerbroker he needed to help him gain control of the various loss-making state assets he wanted to join together to create a vast oil company. The alleged $8 million payment was merely the price of entry to this high-stakes game.

“It was not possible to achieve success in Russia at that time without the help of a person who had the appropriate political connections,” Mr Abramovich has said of the payment, which would be the first of many to Mr Berezovsky over the next six years.This, at least, is Mr Abramovich’s account of his

Chelsea Club’s owner, Abramovich’s road to riches dealings with Mr Berezovsky, described in a witness statement filed in defence against a $6 billion blackmail and breach of trust claim which is being heard in the Commercial Court.

His story is fiercely disputed. Mr Berezovsky denies that the money he received from Mr Abramovich was for protection and asserts instead that it was his entitlement to profits generated by oil and aluminium interests in which he was a hidden partner. He claims that, after he fled Russia in 2000, having fallen out with the Kremlin, Mr Abramovich bullied him into selling his undocumented shareholdings cheaply. Now he is suing for what he believes he is owed by Mr Abramovich.

Mr Abramovich’s 98-page witness statement, which was referred to in open court at a preliminary hearing in June and has been obtained by The Times, provides a preview of the robust defence he is likely to mount against Mr Berezovsky’s claims that Mr Abramovich took advantage of his former partner’s political downfall to seize control of their assets for himself.

Moreover, it provides a rare and detailed account of the publicity-shy billionaire’s extraordinary rise to become one of the world’s richest men — in his own words.

The “uniquely Russian story” begins in relative poverty in Saratov, in southern Russia.

Mr Abramovich lost both parents at a young age and was raised by his relatives, first in Moscow and then in the Komi Republic to the north. He still considers Moscow his home, he says, noting with irritation claims that he resides in London.

After graduating from high school, Mr Abramovich started studying at the Ukhta Industrial Institute, a Soviet engineering college in northern Russia. He was drafted into the army shortly after and although he returned to his studies after being discharged at the age of 20, he did not graduate. Instead, in 1987, he went into business.

He began as a mechanic but soon started running a co-operative that manufactured plastic toys, taking advantage of Mikhail Gorbachev’s perestroika, which eased restrictions on private enterprise. In 1991, he moved into trading, establishing a series of

companies that sold and transported oil, petroleum products, fertilisers and cement. These included Petroltrans and Runicom, a Swiss-based entity. By 1995, he presided over a vast trading network with dealings in Europe and the Middle East.

Mr Abramovich formed the idea of gaining control of the refining and production facilities that he traded with and integrating them to create Sibneft. The problem was, the companies he needed to acquire were owned by the state — and he had no political connections.

“To achieve the creation of this new combined company, it was critical not only to be in good relations with the management of enterprises and the government of regions, but also to have connections with someone with high-level political influence to push the necessary legislative steps through and to provide krysha,” he says. Krysha is a Russian word meaning roof, or protection. Mr Berezovsky denies the payments were Krysha.

It was at this time that Mr Abramovich first met Mr Berezovsky, after both were invited to a Caribbean cruise on the private yacht of Pyotr Aven, one of the early oligarchs.

Mr Abramovich says: “At that time, Mr Berezovsky was already known to me as somebody who had big political influence in Moscow. I realised that he could provide me with important contacts. Moreover, I was aware that Mr Berezovsky was believed to have strong

THE NATION, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2011

•Abramovich

connections to the Chechen elements which exerted a powerful influence in Moscow at that time. Mr Berezovsky seemed to me capable of providing me with both political and physical support and protection.” Mr Berezovsky denies links to organised crime.

They came to an understanding that Mr Abramovich would provide funding for Mr Berezovsky’s television station and his living expenses in return for lobbying the Kremlin to create Sibneft, Mr Abramovich argues. “I recall that Mr Berezovsky indicated that he would require approximately $30 million per year for ORT [the television station] and his personal expenses.” Mr Abramovich would meet the payments from his trading companies, which generated about $40 million a year in revenue at the time, he says.

“That was how krysha worked,” he adds.

“So long as one’s protector provided the services necessary to maintain the particular business being protected, you were expected to pay him whatever he asked, whenever he asked.” Nothing about the agreement was written down, Mr Abramovich says. And, he argues, there was certainly no agreement, as Mr Berezovsky contends, that Mr Berezovsky would be a shareholder in Sibneft once it was acquired.

The sums that Mr Abramovich claims he paid to Mr Berezovsky in krysha amounted to as much as $80 million a year through the 1990s. He helped to pay for Mr Berezovsky’s palatial home in Cap d’Antibes, on the French Riviera, chartering of yachts and private jets and even, occasionally, Mr Berezovsky’s girlfriend’s credit card bills. For this, he says, Mr Berezovsky helped him acquire Sibneft in one of several rigged government auctions.

These privatisations under the “loans for

shares” scheme allowed a group of oligarchs to gain control of vast state assets relatively cheaply, in return for supporting Boris Yeltsin’s reelection campaign.

Mr Abramovich adds: “Mr Berezovsky has greatly exaggerated the role he played [in Sibneft] and gives the impression that his business role was more significant.” Mr Abramovich claims that he handled many of the key negotiations and alone put up the $100.3 million it took to gain management control of Sibneft. This is denied by Mr Berezovsky, who says that his involvement was vital to secure financing.

At the end of the 1990s, Mr Abramovich began diversifying into the aluminium business.

Initially he viewed the industry with scepticism.

“Prior to 2000, the Russian aluminium industry was disorganised, its assets were split between a number of different owners, and some of the players in the industry resorted to forceful methods and violence to protect their interests.”

By 1999, he knew many of the key players, some of whom were keen to sell their holdings.

“Notwithstanding that I could see the potential for bringing the business together, I still was not keen to get involved in the industry, given its violent and unstable history. Criminal groups were fighting fierce battles for control of the profits generated ... and dozens of businessmen had been killed in this struggle for control. Whilst the level of violence in the industry had diminished somewhat by the late 1990s, it was still a potentially dangerous business and there was a real need for anyone wishing to get involved in it to have physical krysha to ensure control and stability.”

Mr Abramovich says he was finally convinced to enter the business by Badri Patarkatsishvili, a Georgian billionaire who was

closely associated with Mr Berezovsky. Mr Patarkatsishvili, who died at his home in Surrey in 2008, acted as an intermediary to acquire various aluminium assets and helped “put out fires”, Mr Abramovich says. Mr Berezovsky, he adds, was not part of it: “There was absolutely no discussion or mention of a joint ownership and no mention at all to me of Mr Berezovsky being involved.”

In 2000, Mr Abramovich recalls, he had a chance meeting in Moscow with another fastrising young oligarch: Oleg Deripaska. The two began talks to pool their aluminium interests to create Rusal, one of the world’s biggest metals companies. “I felt that, with the merger, I had significantly increased the chances that my investment in the aluminium industry would be a success,” Mr Abramovich says.

Mr Abramovich admits there was a meeting with Mr Berezovsky, Mr Patarkatsishvili and Mr Deripaska at the Dorchester Hotel in London in March 2000, but he denies Mr Berezovsky’s claim that the men struck an agreement to divide Rusal between them. The deal had been thrashed out days earlier, Mr Abramovich says, and had nothing to do with Mr Berezovsky.

Mr Berezovsky argues that it was his idea to move into the aluminium business and that he was a partner in Rusal. He contends that they agreed Mr Abramovich would hold his shares on trust for him but that Mr Abramovich later sold out to Mr Deripaska without telling him, in breach of their deal.

By this time, Mr Abramovich says, he and Mr Berezovsky had begun growing apart. The relationship became particularly strained, he says, after Mr Berezovsky had a huge row with Vladimir Putin, the new President, over his television station’s coverage of the Kursk submarine disaster. Enraged by criticism of his handling of the tragedy, Mr Putin allegedly told Mr Berezovsky that he must surrender control of his media holdings. Mr Berezovsky fled to France, never to return to Russia.

Mr Abramovich, a supporter of Mr Putin, says he was worried about Mr Berezovsky’s row with the new President. “Mr Berezovsky had assumed he would be able to maintain the same political clout and influence as in the Yeltsin times, but soon learned that President Putin was very much ‘his own man’,” he says. “The power balance was changing.”

He recalls that he and Mr Patarkatsishvili tried to persuade Mr Berezovsky to tone down his criticism of the Kremlin. “I remember telling Mr Patarkatsishvili that Mr Berezovsky behaved like a child and would say the first thing that came to his mind. He would quite often convince himself that something was true only to later convince himself of the opposite, although he was intellectually brilliant in certain matters.

He was easily distracted and very inconsistent in his views.” Mr Berezovsky’s value to him as a political godfather was diminished now that he was in exile, Mr Abramovich says.

“I became quite conflicted at this time,” he adds. “I felt a strong personal loyalty and sense of duty to Mr Berezovsky but it was also apparent that he had not performed any services for me for a long time and there was no prospect of him being able to do so in future.

His time had passed. His period in Russia’s post-communist history was over. Russia had moved on.”

Mr Berezovsky continued making demands for money, Mr Abramovich claims, treating him as his “cash cow”. “Although frustrated by Mr Berezovsky’s irrational behaviour, I still felt a sense of moral responsibility towards him.

He still inspired in me a powerful sense of personal loyalty and respect because I owed so much of what I had to him.

If he needed those funds, I felt honour-bound to provide for him as if he were a member of my family.” He was also afraid of what Mr Berezovsky would do if he stopped paying.

“Throughout 2000, I preferred to continue to accede to Mr •Berezovsky Berezovsky’s demands for money, rather than risk finding out what the consequences of refusing would be. Mr Berezovsky still had some powerful friends and I no longer trusted him or could be sure how he would react.”

Mr Berezovsky maintains that the payments by Mr Abramovich were his share of profits from undocumented shareholdings in companies that he helped to establish. He describes Mr

17

Abramovich’s claim that he would face retaliation if he stopped paying as “completely false”.

Mr Abramovich flatly denies Mr Berezovsky’s claim that he visited Mr Berezvosky’s home in Cap d’Antibes in December 2000 and threatened him that he would face reprisals from the Kremlin if he did not sign over his Russian holdings cheaply. Mr Berezovsky’s account is a “fantasy”, he argues. He was not even in France at the time, he claims.

Mr Abramovich adds that he could not have followed through on such threats even if he had made them, as he did not have that much influence over the Kremlin. “I was not close enough to President Putin to influence him and Mr Berezovsky knew better than anyone that President Putin is not the kind of person that could be ‘managed’,” he says.

Moreover, he helped Mr Berezovsky rather than betrayed him, he claims. Mr Abramovich says that he bought Mr Berezovsky’s television station as a favour, even though it was not profitable. “It’s ludicrous to suggest that . . . I had threatened or intimidated him.”

Mr Abramovich agreed to make a final payment of $1.3 billion to Mr Berezovsky in 2001. He denies that this was to buy Mr Berezovsky out of his share in Sibneft, as he claims he never owned an interest. It was rather, Mr Abramovich says, a final krysha payment intended to set Mr Berezovsky up in exile and to terminate their relationship.

They met at a heliport in Megève, the French ski resort, to discuss the payment, Mr Abramovich says. Mr Patarkatsishvili was there. Mr Berezovsky did not speak. After haggling over the size of the payment, they parted amicably, then Mr Abramovich flew away in his helicopter. Mr Berezovsky denies that the meeting took place.

The pair would meet again a few times after that, Mr Abramovich says, although they did not speak to each other. (Mr Berezovsky’s account differs: he claims the first time he saw Mr Abramovich after the alleged Cap d’Antibes meeting was in 2007, when he served a writ on Mr Abramovich in a Hermès boutique in Knightsbridge.) During his time in exile, Mr Berezovsky’s wealth and influence have diminished. He has, as he admitted during the trial, taken to borrowing money from another oligarch, Michael Chernoy, to fund his living expenses. Mr Abramovich, on the other hand, has seen his fortune continue to grow. He sold his share of Rusal to Mr Deripaska for $2.2 billion in 2003 and Sibneft to Gazprom for $13 billion two years later.

He is now a “portfolio investor”, he says, whose holdings include about 37 per cent of Evraz, a steel company expected to enter Britain’s FTSE 100 index this year, and about 40 per cent of Highland, a London-listed mining group. He has spent millions of pounds on Chelsea Football Club and on supporting Russian football.

For all the huge sums involved, though, this is at heart a deeply personal dispute. And as he prepares to take the witness stand next week, it is clear that Mr Abramovich nurses his own hurt feelings in regard to Mr Berezovsky, a man to whom he was once so close that their families holidayed together.

“Mr Berezovsky has already received from me more than $2.5 billion for his services, and still this is not enough for him,” Mr Abramovich says. “I am disappointed and surprised.”

•Source: onlinesport.ro

18

THE NATION, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2011

How I emerged UI’s first female deputy V-C in 48 years — Prof. Odejide The story of Prof. (Mrs) Abiola Odejide, first and only female Deputy Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan and a professor in that university’s Department of Communication and Language Arts, was a simple one: she was retiring and one of her old students, OLAKUNLE ABIMBOLA, thought it fit to give her a valedictory interview. Incidentally, Dele Adeosun, editor of The Nation on Saturday, was one of her students too! But as the interview has revealed, Prof. Odejide’s story is like a book with riveting chapters on core developmental challenges confronting a developing country: the reading health of children, the woman as wife, mother and career person, university administration and the state of the Nigerian university today with the premier university as window.

The Fellow of the Nigeria Academy of Letters (2011), who entered the University of Ibadan as a student in 1965, joined the university’s staff as an assistant lecturer in 1974 and became professor in 1991, also offered a bird’s eye view over the years; and interesting personal and collective revelations that suggest that the worst may well be over for the beleaguered Nigerian university system, even if a lot still needs to be done to bring back the golden age. Abimbola paired with The Nation duo of EVELYN OSAGIE and ADEMOLA ADESOLA, two younger journalists earning their pips with hard work and sheer brilliance in academic and media circuits, to conduct this interview. Enjoy it!

Y

OU have a B.A in English, a Diploma in the Teaching of English as a Second Language, an M.A in Linguistics and English Language, and a Ph.D in English Children’s Literature.

What did you project was going to be your career progression while undergoing those studies?

When we did English degrees here in UI [University of Ibadan], there wasn’t just that straight distinction between Language emphasis and Literature emphasis. We did English, both Language and Literature. We couldn’t escape from either. So, we had to do literary studies, but you also learnt how to deal with language. You would be at home with stylistics and was well grounded in language use. That was the emphasis; they didn’t make any distinction.

Well, later they began to emphasise it, which I think led to some problem. This is because some people are good at literary studies, but they are not so good at analysing the tools of the language.

They do literary studies, know all the theories, structures, genres and all that. But when you ask them to analyse language use, they have a problem.

I actually taught secondary school English for three years, between 1968 and 1971. My husband and I later went to Scotland. He was going to do his graduate studies in Psychiatry, and then I was going to find something to do. But then I knew that I didn’t want to continue teaching in secondary school. I wanted to do something better than that.

So, I went to Moray House College of Education, which is affiliated to the University of Edinburg.

There they had a diploma in Teaching of English as a Second Language. I liked it because it was a tool to getting into what I wanted to do. It was a one-year diploma which I found very challenging because the language part – phonetics and phonology – was really well taken care of. By the time I finished that diploma, I applied to University of Leeds to do something like a follow-up programme, which is the Master’s in Linguistics and English Language Teaching. That was why I went there.

I was going to teach, probably at a tertiary institution, but I wasn’t

sure whether it was a university. But the way it turned out, at that same time there was the Reading Centre [which later became the Department of Language Arts from 1975, but is now called the Department of Communication and Language Arts, CLA]. It advertised for staff and they wanted people who could teach language skills. And there was no way you do English as a Second Language without learning such skills as reading and writing; speaking and listening. We did all that at the Diploma and Master’s levels. It was just like good fate. So, I applied. The late Prof. Solomon O. Unoh, who I didn’t know, and had studied in the United States, was very fascinated after he checked my profile. I was actually employed from the United Kingdom. They paid my fare and everything. In those days, they didn’t have differential contracts for male and female. That was how I came back to the University of Ibadan, which suited me, just fine.

In deciding what to do for my Ph.D, the natural place to go was English. We were still the Department of Language Arts. In any case, who was going to supervise me? The other thing was that the initial crop of people who came into the department came from different disciplines. I decided to go back to my department. And I thought over what I was going to do. If you want to do a Ph.D, it has to be in something new. You must contribute to knowledge. By then we were even looking at courses for the new Department of Language Arts. And the late Prof.

Unoh said: “Biola, why don’t you mount a course in Children’s Literature and teach it?”

I told him I had never looked into that before. He encouraged me to take up the challenge, and I did. I started teaching the course, reading up, and finding it very fascinating. And then when I wanted to do my Ph.D, I thought about doing it in this area which I had found so fascinating.

But there was no material here. I then had one-year sabbatical. Then UI had a link with the University of Pennsylvania. So, I went there and used their library. It was just a mine of resources; oh it was so, so good! They even allowed me to sit in some of their graduate courses for free because of the linkage we had with the university. That was how I got to choose Children’s Literature. But I am comfortable in lit-

erary studies and also in language studies.

You are also involved in gender matters. What was the basis for the introduction of Gender Studies in the university? Is this feminism in disguise?

It’s a development and a human right issue. It comes out of the recognition that you can’t harness the best resources in your country or community if you ignore a substantial percentage of a particular gender. That’s the bottom line. And if you do that, you are shooting yourself in the foot. So, you had better harness all available resources. And if there are systemic issues that you

•Prof. Odejide

PHOTO: Olakunle ABIMBOLA

need to deal with to make all of these people, whether male or female, contribute maximally, then you had better do that. There are home issues, flexible work hours, working from home, etc. All those are important. But if you think that you must continue in the old mode, then you will lose a sizeable part of people who can contribute to your economy, culture, education, and health.

Gender issues are very important because we think that by the time people get into the university, they learn to accommodate different ideas. The university is supposed to be a liberating space where all of

the potentials in you are brought out. And you must not let anything, whether cultural stereotype or whatever, stand in the way of realising your potentials. If you do that, you won’t get the best. That is the whole issue about Gender Studies. Let people realise their full potentials. And I often say to the female students: “Don’t think that anybody is going to make excuses for you. Don’t say because you are a female you will take the soft option. Don’t take the soft option; take risks. Do the best that you can and don’t let anybody put you down.

Don’t think that any man is going •Continued on Page 22

19

THE NATION, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2011

Saturday

THRILLER

A picture taken by Al Jazeera of Nigerian girls allegedly prostituting in Italy

Some are forced into the trade. Others find their way into it. Statistics made public by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic in Persons and other Related Matters (NAPTIP) indicate that 60 per cent of the prostitutes in Turin, Italy and Belgium are Nigerian girls. At home, it is a booming trade, despite its ever increasing dangers. OLUKOREDE YISHAU, JUDE ISIGUZO, SULAIMON SALAWUDEEN, AMINU IDEGU, MARIE-THERESE PETER, CLARICE AZUATALAM, AIWERE OKUGBERE and FRIDAY OTABOR report .

The prostitution ring Continued on Pages 20-21

20

THE NATION, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2011

‘60 per cent of prostitutes in

•A suspected prostitute and her expatriate client haggling on a street in Victoria Island

T

HE scene: Bamako, the Malian capital. Girls, in their

teens, advertised their wares.

Dressed in skimpy wears, they haggled for clients who would take them home for the night or have them for a quick session.

Deal sealed, they either followed the men home or disappeared behind closed doors in their dingy rooms in ramshackle brothels.

Within minutes, the act, devoid of emotion or affection, was over.

Money exchanged hands and both parties moved on.

The Executive Secretary of the National Agency for the prohibition of Traffic in Persons and other Related Matters (NAPTIP), Beatrice Jedy-Agba, was shocked to discover that many of the ‘girls on sale’ in Bamako were Nigerians. She was to discover that many brothels in other parts of the country, such as Mopti, Kayes, Sikasso and Goo, are also populated by Nigerian girls, many of them in their teens and tricked into hawking their womanhood.

Jedy-Agba spoke before the Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa-led House Committee on Diaspora at the National Assembly.

“Available statistics indicate that 60 percent of the prostitutes in Turin, Italy and Antwerp in Belgium are Nigerian girls,” she said.

Jedy-Agba went on: “This record, as generated by TAMPEP, an Italian NGO working on antitrafficking reports that about five of these girls die every quarter under inexplicable circumstances, traceable but not limited to tavern brawls, mafia terrorist groups, extortionist madams, serial killers and location fights, race quarrels, HIV/AIDS and drug abuse, among others.”

According to her, the catalyst for taking to prostitution abroad is mainly poverty. “UNODC reports indicate that Nigeria, with a population of over 140 million,

•Suspected prostitutes deported from Italy

Married at 16, a prostitute at 20, this girl now roams the street Miriam NDIKANWU

•Blessing

L

IKE any other child, Blessing Edwin had an ambitious dream when she was five. Her dream was to acquire education and attain an enviable career that could improve her life and lift the immediate family.

But her dream died too soon at 16, when, against her wish, she was forcefully married off to a man twice her father’s age by her beloved mother.

In her determination to fulfill destiny, she fled home and her bus stop was Kano, where she had ear-

has approximately 54.4 percent or 76 million living below poverty line,” she said.

At home, many of the girls who are into the trade also blame it largely on poverty. In Lagos and Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, some prostitutes operate from tertiary institutions and brothels. Some hang around big hotels and on the streets.

Isaac John Street, Oduduwa Way and Joel Ogunike Street in Ikeja GRA, Allen Avenue and Opebi Street, also in Ikeja, host nite clubs and hotels, which attract sex workers. They are seen in their tens struggling to catch customer’s attention.

AS early as 6:30pm, women of easy virtue line up the streets and some can even be seen

lier lived with an aunt, who trained her in the primary school prior to the forced marriage.

After escaping to Kano, Blessing was full of hopes that she can now enroll in a secondary school with the assistance of her aunt who was still eager and willing to assist her.

But unfortunately, her hope was short-circuited as she constantly took ill and got admitted in the hospital over one ailment or the other.

For fear that she might be held liable if anything happened to Blessing, her aunty advised that she returned to her mother in Akwa Ibom to resolve their animosity.

By the time she returned, her mother was no longer interested in her case.

Blessing recounted her experience when she returned home. She said her home-coming gave her mother an opportunity to hit back at her.

Blessing said: “She was furious when she saw me, and mocked me that I rejected a wealthy suitor for what I consider a better life and ended up a big loser.”

changing into their work clothes under the trees.

Words such as “Oga, come now, I go do you well”, are the kind a prospective customer will hear from these merchants of the flesh.

They offer both short and overnight services to willing customers. If you are interested in short service, all a willing customer needs to do is to take his catch to a nearby guest house after a prize has been agreed.

For short service, a customer is expected to pay between N1, 500 and N3,000 depending on the person’s barging power. If a customer is taking the prostitute home or to a hotel for the night, the person will pay between N5,

Since then, her life deteriorated as her mother allegedly subjected her to sleep with different kinds of men in order to make money and sustain the family. She was 20 then.

The climax came when officials of the Lagos State Government raided where Blessing worked as a sex worker and was taken to Kirikiri Prisons.

She relived her experience: “I was at the Kirikiri Prisons with other girls for some weeks before we were released. When we got out of prison, I had no place to go, but there was a boy I had known as a friend while working in the hotel.

“I called him and he asked me to come over to his house where he offered me accommodation. Unfortunately I got pregnant for him and to my surprise, he denied responsibility for the pregnancy, reminding me that I was a prostitute and could have been pregnant before the arrest.”

At 24, Blessing had seen it all; the good, the bad and the ugly.

She roams streets of Lagos with nowhere in particular to lay her head.

000 and N20, 000, and will also take care of their foods and drinks. Their major customers in these areas are the ‘big boys’ and they include bankers, expatriate oil workers, government officials, police officers, military officers, journalists and big time fraudsters.

Also in Ikeja, there is a place called Ipodo, opposite the computer village where prostitutes display their wares for sell. But unlike the GRA, or Akin Adesola in Victoria Island, sex is considered cheap in this area.

Most of the sex workers here live in their rooms in small brothels within the neighborhood and interested parties go there to meet them. In this place, a round of sex is N500 on a good day and when

business is dull, it is as low as N300. Overnight service here is between N2,000 and N3,000.

Those who patronise prostitutes in Ipodo are bus conductors and drivers and area boys.

In a place like Ijora Badia, a prospective customer will find prostitutes in Niger Hotel, White House, Dele International Hotel, and Chico Hotel. It was gathered that because of how good business is in the area, some landlords have converted their houses to lodgers for the prostitutes for quick money. Prostitutes can also be located along the railway line; they will stand on the rail line with their skimpy dresses and ordinary pants, attempting to lure their prospective customers.

A landlord in Ijora/Badia, who pleaded anonymity, told The Nation that it is more lucrative to convert houses to lodgers for prostitutes than to tenants who will not pay rent at the end of the month.

Other places such as Adetokunbo Ademola Street in Victoria Island where Eko Hotel and Oceanview are located, Kuramo and Bar Beach along Ahmadu Bello Way, FESTAC Town, Obalende, Ojuelegba, Yaba and Akoka areas where most higher institutions in the state are located are also hot spots for patrons of prostitutes.

Investigation revealed that in almost all the higher institutions, there are pimps whose job is to arrange women for ‘executive patrons’.

In Abuja, the environs of popular hotels, parks and pubs offer sex workers and their patrons good prospects. Though the spate of bombings in the city has affected night life, the prostitutes and their patrons stiil find a way to groove, even inside cars parked on quiet streets.

A trip to Benin city, Edo State, renowned globally for its contribution to international prostitution, shows that the business is

21

THE NATION, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2011

Italy, others are Nigerians’ The merchants of flesh in Sabon Gari No thanks to the Sharia Islamic legal code, prostitution in many northern states are relegated to Sabon Gari, where non-indigenes mostly live, report KOLADE ADEYEMI (Kano) and TONY AKOWE (Kaduna)

U

NTIL some state governments in the North introduced the Sharia Islamic legal code, alcohol consumption, prostitution and other vices had no specific homes. People were free to have their beers and patronise call girls. Sharia criminalised these vices. But, since many of the affected states have a large population of non-indigenes who reside in areas known as Sabon Gari, the governments chose to exempt these areas from the jurisdiction of the Islamic law.

With the restriction of the sale and consumption of alcoholic drinks to Sabon Gari, beer parlours of all shapes and sizes sprang up overnight in all nooks and crannies, a situation which attracted women of easy virtue.

Thereafter, night clubs became the order of the day in Sabon Gari, a development which further attracted sex workers.

In Kano, for instance, some notorious joints have emerged in

•Mrs. Jonathan

•Dabiri-Erewa

still thriving. Ugbague Street is the den where prostitutes do their business. Repairing and sale of bicycles on the street is dwindling following Nigerians’ preference for riding motor-cycles and flashy cars but prostitution is thriving by the day.

There are no sign posts to tell a first time visitor to the street that there are hotels around but the visitor will be surprised to hear ladies’ voice calling for attention from behind curtains that are old and dirty.

A first time visitor will be surprised at night after close of businesses as sex workers usually flood the street urging clients to come and buy their wares.

There are over five ‘hotels’ housing the prostitutes on the street. The rooms are partitioned by cartons to accommodate as many girls as possible. Except for a storey building, others are houses built with mud, an indication of how old the buildings are and how long prostitution has thrived on the street.

An inscription on one of the buildings reads: “No Sex without Condom”. Aside Ugbague Street, there are over 100 brothels in the Edo State capital, where prostitutes ply their trade.

The charge per round of sex at Ugbague and other brothels depends on the bargaining power of the customers. They start with N1000 per round and usually end with between N400 and N500. To spend the night at the brothel, one girl told The Nation that she collects from N2000 and above and then the man can have as many rounds of sex as he wants.

Some other action spots are: Reservation Road, First East Circular Road, Dawson Road, Iyaro, St Saviour (known as Plank joint) and Ihama junction where a popular night club, Time Out, is located.

Port Harcourt, the River State capital, also offers the merchants

Abadie and other areas, where half-nude under-aged girls converge on a daily basis at night.

From Igbo Road to Sarki Yaki into Zungeru, connecting Burma and Festing, up to France Road, the heat of fun reverberates into the heart of the Kano free-community—Sabon Gari. Day in, day out, many Kano residents and visitors troop into the enclave in search of leisure and fun, ranging from the lust for women and the love for alcohol.

Other streets, such as Enugu Road, Onitsha Road, Abeokuta Road, Aitken Road, Ballat Hughes, Church Road, Zungeru Road, Weather Head, Emir Road, Aba Road, Free Town and Yoruba Road are the hottest streets in Sabon Gari, where prostitution thrives in full gloom.

Sex workers can also be seen in front of big hotels or taverns in Sabon Gari, wearing sexually assaulting dress to woo clients, while some advertently beckon

Fury of women of easy virtue BISI OLANIYI recounts a scary encounter with some sex workers in Port Harcourt as well as testimonies from some of them: OTEL Presidential, Port Harcourt’s environ is a major point where sex workers ply their trade. There are also houses around where these prostitutes have access to their balconies, a fact unknown to this reporter until he attempted to take the photographs of some of these scantily-dressed girls. Other girls who were hiding in the balcony of a nearby building pounced on the reporter and ended up destroying his camera.

But elsewhere in the oil-rich city, another of their colleague, who identified herself simply as Rita, collected N2,000 and spoke about the trade.

The middle-aged Rita, who hails from one of the states in the Southeast and plies her trade in a hotel at Mile Two, near a popular fast food joint/eatery along Ikwerre Road in Port Harcourt, said: “I am a school certificate holder. I would

H

have preferred to further my education, but there was nobody to sponsor me. I am an orphan. I am into prostitution to make ends meet.

“On a good day, I can make up to N10,000 or more, especially with VIP clients, who will still give me extra money, after paying the normal charges between N1,000 and N8,000, depending on what the customers want.

“I know that going home with customers is very risky because of ritual killers, but what can I do? It is just to survive. Prostitution is better than getting involved in armed robbery. We also spend so much money on buying skimpy dresses, creams and perfume in order to look good and attractive.

“My colleagues and I in the hotel have condoms in our rooms, to prevent HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases, but some customers will insist on sex

without ‘raincoats’ and we will agree, since they will pay higher.

We will later go and treat ourselves and regularly take antibiotics.”

In another hotel on Udi Street, Mile One, Diobu, Port Harcourt, a prostitute, who declined to give her name, said policemen usually raid the hotel, but they would be released after “settling” them.

At one of the hotels on Aggrey Road, Town, Port Harcourt, a prostitute, who simply identified herself as Chinyere, from Ebonyi State, said unemployment made her to opt for the illicit business, disclosing that her people back home do not know what she does in the Garden City. Chinyere charges between N500 and N5,000.

But the high class prostitutes, who always line the streets of Port Harcourt at night, charge as much as N20,000 for home or room service.

of flesh good opportunities.

There are three universities and other tertiary institutions in the state. Faced with high schools fees and intent to “meet up”, some of the female students of these schools resort to prostitution.

Young ladies in skimpy and spaghetti-sleeved dresses are regular sights every evening around the Casablanca Night Club, Hotel Presidential and Tombia Street, where they hawk nothing but sex to willing buyers.

Aside the big hotels and night club vicinities, another area where commercial sex thrives in Port Harcourt is the Cool Breeze joint on Azikiwe Street, Mile 3 area. Here, the girls are daring, almost naked always. Commer-

cial sex also thrives on Ngwa Road in Rumuolumeni.

Back to the Southwest, prostitution in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital does not have the sophistication of Lagos, Benin or Port Harcourt. The hotels where the girls ply their trades are usually tucked in remote corners of the state capital. They go with names such as: Sharp Sharp Hotel, Destiny Hotel, Easy Life Hotels, Channel 4 and Top Class.

During the day, clients’ movements around the areas are scarce. The darker it gets, the denser the thronging into the red light abodes.

The trade thrives better in Asaba, the Delta State capital. Some years back, Cable Point used to be the place to be for sex workers and their patrons. It has lost its

place as the hub of commercial sex work to the plethora of outdoor pubs that now litter the city, where prostitutes hang around.

A major hang-out for call girls is the many joints around Grand Hotels and Resorts. A carnival atmosphere of sorts is recreated every night around these pubs, with girls adding colour and panache to it.

As early as 8.00pm, scantily dressed girls in clusters of twos and threes chat idly in dark corners, awaiting prospective clients. Others sit idly on plastic chairs arranged to serve drinks and food at the various pubs.

There is no fixed price; customers are often charged on individual basis. Depending on the call girl’s assessment of her cli-

on men to patronise them.

The Kano scenario also has a lot in common with what obtains in Kaduna. Until the introduction of the Islamic legal code, sex workers hanged out in large numbers in the dark corners of Waff Road, now Mohammadu Buhari Way, Coronation Crescent, Independence Way, Maiduguri Road (popularly known as Obalende), Television Garage/ Gwari Avenue, now Stephen Shekari Avenue.

Now, they have relocated to beer parlours across the metropolis. The recent ban on the operation of motorcycles after 9.00pm has also reduced their presence in the high brow red light districts in the metropolis. But there are some who are still bold enough to carry out their activities in the open glare and still hang out in brothels across the cities.

But Sabon Gari is their favourite location now.

ent’ worth, a full night’s romp may be anything from N5000 to N10, 000, which in local parlance is known as TDB, the short form of Till Day Break. As a rule, call girls here do not go with clients to their houses. The rendezvous is usually at a hotel.

The prostitution business in Jos has suffered a setback as a result of the crises in the Plateau State capital. One thing that makes Jos unique in prostitution is the localisation of beer parlours or drinking joints. In one particular location, one can find as many as five, seven, ten or more beer parlours and they are like a beer and women market of a sort. Such can be found in West of Mines, Kabong, Angwa Rukuba, Rayfield Road, Bukuru Express, old Airport junction, Wholshe, Tina, Abattior, Zaramaganda and parts of Tudunwada.

There are famous brothels in Jos city such as Green Park Hotel, Popular Hotel, Mid-west Hotel, Hilton Hotel and Plateau Central Hotel, where the girls also ply their trade.

For those who are ‘freelancers’, they are seen around streets known as “Ojuelegba of Jos”, ‘Obalande of Jos, Polo, Rayfield, Tudun wada, Angwuan Rukuba and Kabong.

But no matter what sex workers and their patrons gain, the wife of President Goodluck Jonathan, Patience; Director of Communication, Catholic Diocese of Lagos, Gabriel Osu, and a Chrubim and Seraphim cleric, Tunde Adebayo, said the act is condemnable. Mrs. Jonathan recently urged men to stop patronising the girls as a way of stopping the trade.

Osu said: “Prostitution is not something that should be glamorised. Scripturally, it is condemnable and we say no to it.”

22 •Continued from Page 18 to take care of you. He may want to, but what if he is unable to?”

Times are changing. Take a look at the world economy, and you will see that many men are losing their jobs. Many women are now taking over as the bread winners for their homes. That is why men must not discourage their wives from realising their potentials. If your wife can bring home good money, let her do so. As I like to say, two good salaries are better than one.

We are doing Gender Studies to show that it is possible for women to realise their potentials. We don’t want people to give up their careers because they got married. You can make adjustments within the family setting, in the workplace, and even in the community to make it possible for both genders to realise their full potentials. For young women, their career may be slower when they are having children, but it will pick up after their children grow up. But if you drop out at that stage, it will be more difficult to get back into the work. This is not just in Nigeria; it is everywhere.

Tell us more about your own personal story of how you weathered the storm that women in academics face. What were the challenges?

I have told you part of the stories about my studies. If I had been a man at the time I graduated in 1968, maybe my career would have been faster. I had children but I didn’t stop working. I realised that I wasn’t moving as fast apace as my colleagues. It wasn’t because I was fundamentally inferior to them, but because I had to make adjustments.

That’s what we call the “life cycle issues” in Gender Studies. If you know that you want to have a career and a home, there are life cycle issues that your career may not pick up as fast initially, but you don’t give up. You keep on working at it, doing your best.

You have to make sacrifices about money and time. Issues like trying to economise on people to help with work in the family. I know it is not cost-effective for me to do laundry when I could be writing a paper which could boost my career. So, I am prepared to pay for somebody to do my laundry so that I can also be left free. If I need to travel for a conference, I can’t say no. All that I need to do is to provide good support, knowing that nothing will go wrong. And of course your partner has to be supportive too, just as we support them.

In the course of your career, was there any particular time that you encountered opposition, particularly as the first and only female Deputy Vice-Chancellor UI has had?

I can’t recall any formal opposition. But there were a lot of informal ones, posing as friendly, private concerns. Sometimes it would be things like, “Why are you working so hard?” “What’s your problem?” At another instance, now not so much from my colleagues, it would be, “So, when you are doing all of these, who is looking after your children?” “Don’t you think that you should be more at home with your children?” But I would say to them: “It is not quantity time; it is quality time that matters. It’s the kind of rapport, the time you can create that matters.”

And sometimes when it comes to election, you will be surprised that sometimes the female will even vote against you. It’s difficult to understand. But the way I look at it is, well, men also do it to men! So, the fact that we are all females doesn’t mean that our values are monolithic.

How did you become DVC? How did I become DVC? It’s a learning experience. In all careers, you suddenly get catapulted to the top. But before that, there are things that people observe in you over time, without even you yourself noticing: you don’t shirk your responsibility; they see what quality you put into whatever assignment you are given, how effective you are, and what your relationship skills

THE NATION, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2011

‘I always tell my female students: don’t take the soft option, take risks’

•Different postures of Prof. Odejide during the interview. PHOTOS: Olakunle ABIMBOLA

‘

Take a look at the world economy, and you will see that many men are losing their jobs. Many women are now taking over as the bread winners for their homes... If your wife can bring home good money, let her do so. As I like to say, two good salaries are better than one...

,

are. That’s also one thing that they blame women for – that sometimes our relationship skills are not as good as those of the men.

For me, I had been in the system.

I had done various things, coordinated this and that, and worked with mainly men, in those days.

And they saw things that I could contribute. I think this department was also empowering. Then we had some female lecturers and some other female mentors like Profs (Bolanle) Awe, (Toun) Ogunseye, (Bimpe) Aboyade, etc. All of them were in the system, and we looked at them and saw how they were doing things. And some of them like Prof. Awe were good mentors.

It didn’t matter whether you were in her field or not, she rallied people round and was especially interested in women.

So, I learnt to do certain things.

And I was the General Studies Coordinator for the whole campus. If you do that, you are dealing with the whole university. I met many people across different faculties and we organised things. That was, for me, I think, a break into the larger world of the university. From there, I was Director of the Distance Learning Centre. When the university wanted to expand the

programme to reach many more people, I was invited. The time I became DVC wasn’t, therefore, my first outing.

But I think it also takes commitment on the part of the leadership of the university. If you want to have gender equity, there must be commitment in the leadership, even at the national level too. The university is such that if you are elected VC (Vice Chancellor), you can pick your two DVCs, academics and administration. You will then nominate two professors for the positions. You present them to the Senate of the university to elect one of them. If you put two men for both positions, there is no way you will get a female for the post.

In my own situation, when we had a new VC, Prof. Ayodele Falase, he decided that maybe it was time to have a female DVC. Of course, there had been female deans, and directors. He nominated me to run against a man. Many people knew me, but in the end I lost – not for want of trying; it was a close margin. But at least it sensitised people to the possibility of a female DVC. When the tenures of the two DVCs ran out, he nominated me again. But this time I think people in the Gender Studies told

him that if really he wanted a female DVC, he should run two competent females against each other.

He then nominated two of us to run against each other. The other person was Prof. Yombo Bolarinwa.

We were friends too. The university then knew that they would end up with a female DVC. That was why I talked about commitment.

We both campaigned vigorously, but I was elected.

As DVC, I must say that I had a lot of goodwill. UI was 48 years old then before it got a female DVC. And it took getting used to little things like chairing meetings. A DVC is a chair of so many committees, university-wide committees.

The DVC has to take decisions as Chair of Committees of Provosts and Deans, which is like a clearing house of things that go to the Senate. There I was chairing those committees. People were very kind to me. I think it is also a question of your style. Your personal style also matters. My own style was consultative. I like to carry people along and to reach a consensus. I didn’t have any major issues of discrimination while I was DVC. People may have felt uncomfortable, but it’s no longer politically correct to express that discomfort.

Let’s look at the issue of academic conferences. How alive and well in Nigeria today is this worldentrenched culture of travelling to conferences to discuss with peers and see where you are in the global scheme of things?

It’s a function of each university.

There was a time in the 80s and early 90s when nobody could go out. That was in the heydays of the military government. Even if you had your money and you wanted to go out, you would be routinely turned down. It was also a way of dealing with Nigeria as a nation. I even recall one international conference that we used to have which was supposed to hold here. Some people overseas were invited. By that time the military government, I can’t remember which it was, had done something very horrible.

Some of those who were supposed to come for the conference wrote to us to say they were not coming because they heard that the head of state did something which was against all norms of human rights.

People are watching. The climate in the nation also dictates how the world receives you and your academics.

Then there was the issue of funding, which was a major issue. There were times when people couldn’t even go out. When I first came in as an academic, you could get staff development fund and they could send you abroad for three years.

You could go for conferences. There was conference grant. Once your paper was accepted, they would pay your fare, conference fees, and would even give you some money for other things. But when funding became a major problem, even to pay salaries, the universities had to borrow money to augment what the government was giving them, that became a luxury. Apart from the fight by the unions to improve things, each university began to look for ways of changing things.

One of the things that I know UI did was to say, “Now that we have a civilian government, let us make use of the foreign agencies out there that are interested in what we are doing”.

The Falase administration decided to prepare proposal for funding. We weren’t asking for cash.

What we wanted was to do our IT facilities, and we needed to see to our libraries. At the end we got the McArthur Fund, which has really sustained us. In fact, they first gave us for three years. Because they saw that it was well managed, they gave us for another three years. They

said it’s unprecedented, and they gave us yet another three years.

McArthur used to give individual grants, but they began to give institutional grants. So, when we got ours in UI, we spent it on our libraries, IT facilities, on Distance Learning Centre, and on staff development because we found that there were lecturers who were becoming senior lecturers, and some Readers (associate professors), without having gone to an overseas conference, or without having had a fellowship.

And you know that the academic world is about global partnership and so on.

The university then set aside a substantial amount for people to go abroad. You write your proposal and apply. We would find a university that is willing to take you, and out of that McArthur’s fund you can go for three months. You can even go for six months and come back – short and medium.

And they all came back. They worked with different people all over the world. And anywhere they went, people were so amazed. I was then the DVC, and the reports that we got were so amazing. That was because of the dedication that they showed. Over the last 10 years now, this has been going on. The way UI has solved the problem is by what I have just explained to you. Also, the conference fund arrangement was resuscitated. And the Senate research grant, which was being given by the Federal Government, wasn’t accessed as much because there were bottlenecks. The ETF has also been restored. Right now in UI our staff don’t have that problem again.

But how would you respond to the claim that the golden age of public universities in Nigeria is gone?

As an insider, when I see what is happening and the quality of works that people are turning in at the local level, I think we are doing well.

This is in spite of the constraints being encountered here. We’ve been lucky we have electricity now, but that does not happen all of the time.

The universities here are also providing municipal services – providing their own water, their own light, clearing their own refuse. We are doing all the things that the Oyo State Government is supposed to be doing for us here. Whereas if you go to let’s say Cape Town University, in South Africa, power and water supply is not their problem.

Those are constants. So you get on with your business of being an academic. But here, the VCs have to be involved in almost everything. It’s even a wonder that they are even able to do any work. That reminds me of some of our McArthur awardees who went abroad. People were so amazed at their commitment to work and said: “If you were working like this back home, how come that your presence is not visible at the global level?” That’s why each university had to decide what it wants to do for itself. If you prioritise as we are prioritising, it means that once your staff get into the global network they have some kind of leverage. There is some kind of cushioning. So, it doesn’t matter if there is no electricity here.

When they go for two months, they can do all the work that they need to do, collaborate with their colleagues in their fields. They will get invited, and they will present papers. People are doing good quality work. Let me just say that I cannot speak for all the universities because we are at different levels.

Each has to choose the level it wants. And that is why even students when they want to choose universities, they look round. They are looking for programmes. They are asking for where they have the best Law, Medicine, Education, etc., •Continued on Page 51

LOCATION

BACKSTAGE

SNAPSHOT

REEL NEWS

MUSIC

SCREEN

Edited by: VICTOR AKANDE

Tel: 08077408676

E-mail: victor_akande@yahoo.com

ntertainment

THE NATION, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2011

23

—Chika Chukwu

My moments with Eedris Abdulkareem -Page 28-37

24

STANDh BY! Wit

VICTOR AKANDE

Afro Hollywood Best Entertainment Writer 2009

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

THE NATION, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2011

THINK

SNAPSHOTS

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

Nollywood’s flesh craze

T

HE newly found flesh craze is on; where flesh, wrinkled and unwrinkled boobs, buttocks and all plague our screens.

Embarrassingly, out of every 10 Nollywood posters, 7are fleshy, by fleshy I believe you know what I mean.

The call for more global content by viewers has been mistaken by Nollywood directors and producers to mean Sharon-Stoning and nudity. Perhaps this is why they have unleashed the flesh revolution on unsuspecting viewers. Unfortunately this has risen to a crises level, where it is pitching the conservatives against the progressives.

Whichever extreme you believe in, the fundamental principle in film making is function and aesthetics.

This means that if nudity in the marketers market for Ini a story does not have a Edo's bums - the flesh circle fulcrum role, then it is not necessary, except in the porno goes on.

No! Not complete, you and I genre. If nudity is necessary now watch out for these fleshthen it must be presented with filled flicks. some measure of aesthetics.

Sadly, against this practice, I But in our own sorry case, it is evident that the flesh business has assumed a character trait by our artist. It is no longer a form of characterization necessary for story-telling and believability.

This flesh thing is now a personal signature in and off the screens.

Perhaps this is why Tonto Dike, Mercy Johnson and Ini Edo are championing the cause not to be outdone by their Ghollywood counterparts.

So like it is in the Nigerian nature, the script writers now write for Mercy Johnson's breasts, the director directs for Tonto Dike's waistline, while •Dickson

So like it is in the Nigerian nature, the script writers now write for Mercy Johnson's breasts, the director directs for Tonto Dikeh’s waistline, while the marketers market for Ini Edo's bums - the flesh circle goes on

make a plea. Please Nollywood; core and un-core, note that our society at present is a complex matrix of both orthodox and unorthodox issues, unparallel in its root cause, dynamic it its motive and direction.

Therefore film making at this point in Nigeria calls for a new order, a less fleshy Nollywood.

Some have argued that the role of Nollywood is to interpret the society and interpretation goes beyond mirroring the society.

In mirroring a society, a filmmaker just “reflects” like a mirror - two dimensionally, without depth.

But when a film maker interprets, he or she brings the past, present and future and weaves it into a journey of mistakes, lessons, dreams, illusions, pains, gains, failures, successes, and leaves the audience thinking of possibilities.

So, this means that a good film maker stimulates your curiosity, enlarges your perception and incites your adventurism and without pointing you to a direction, makes you realize that there are possibilities and the option to follow any path is yours.

This means that our Nollywood must be intelligent, smart, reflective, deep in thought and expression, avant-garde, and enzymatic and also perfect the catalyst role to which is their moral burden.

This flesh evolution will not help us, especially at this precarious time in Nigeria.

—Victor Dickson writes from Jos, Plateau State.

FEEDBACK

I

have been an ardent fan of Nollywood from when it gave us '' Living In Bondage'' till date. The industry has gone through many challenges which have stunted its growth and development.

Some of these include; Lack of effective movie distribution structure, nepotism, poor scripting, costuming and set design, location, duplication of roles, sound and special effects.

Also effective funding from banks that are not literate enough to know the potentials

Living In Bondage till date of our movie industry as the best export to the world.

Nollywood is worth over $1 billion, so why are the various stakeholders playing politics with the development of Nollywood? A seminar should be convened for the music and the movie industries in conjuction with Business Day and Alder Consulting on how we can grow Nollywood to world class standards. A revolution usually starts with

one man. Bollywood was initially having issues on how to compete with Hollywood, until Ronnie Screwala, a Bollywood Director, decided to take the bull by the horn. His company raised money from the Indian Stock Exchange to finance its movie productions.

Now even the major box office competitors he was fighting against are now copying his model.

—Nnamdi Lionel

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

What is it with Tonto Dikeh and tattoos?

T

HIS might not look weird to some people who believe in such life and material things. But what keeps baffling snapshots is why on earth will an actress travel as far as the United States to get a large tattoo on her back when such money could be used to feed lots of hungry kids on the streets or less-privileged homes?

We know that Tonto Dikeh has a thing for tattoos, but this one is just too much. How true this is, we do not know. But she is said to have stated that she has 57 tattoos.

Does that mean that all her body is covered with tattoos? Well, the new one which makes her tattoo collections 58 is of an enigmatic long-haired woman with a flower in her hair, who seems to be holding a bruised and battered heart.

Omosexy prepares second album

N

OLLYWOOD actress Omotola JaladeEkeinde is said to be putting finishing touches to her third album due for release some time in December.

In 2005, when she announced to the media, fans and friends that she will be venturing into the world of music, it took many by surprise as she had no music antecedent; her debut album entitled Gba was well accepted but did not fly as much as expected.

The mother of four further is now ready to show her teeming fans that her sojourn into the world of music was not a misadventure afterall as she prepares for the release of her sophomore album entitled Me, Myself and Eyes.

Eniola Badmus looking different!

L

OTS of people refer to her as being a rascal, because of her roles in movies and her manner of speech. But cross-over actress Eniola Badmus, popularly known as Gbogbo bigz girls, was spotted recently at Headies Awards held at the Eko Hotel and Suites looking chic in her red knee-length gown.

Snapshots' guess is that bigz girls is trying to make a statement here that she is not only good in acting, but can also be good at making herself beautiful when she feels like it.

25

THE NATION, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2011

RE ELNEW S All set for BON Awards

W

ITH about 167 entering for the ceremony this year, the stage is set for the Best of Nollywood Awards.

According to the executive producer of BON Awards, Seun Oloketuyi, “this year's awards will be special as three special categories, best kiss in a Nigerian movie, best movie with social message and best crossover artiste have been added to spice up the event. In its 3rd year running, BON gave

Ronke Odusanya’s trip to US

Aisha Ibrahim back!

A

ISHA Ibrahim, who had to take time out of the movies because of motherhood, is back on the scene.

In a telephone chat with snapshots, the actress confirmed that she is back and that she has done some couple of films for her fans to enjoy.

Also her movie project, which she has put on hold, is part of what is keeping her hands busy at the moment.

out a whopping $10,000 with a trip to Dubai for emerging the scandal-free actress at the last edition. The awards hold November 11.

The Awards has this year broken the Lifestyle Awards into two, the Yoruba sector and the English sector in the search for the fresh and scandal-free actress of the year.

Vote for your favourite actress to win a weekend trip to Doha, USD 2,500 and other prizes.

W

ITH the January 25 revolution releasing Egypt from the stranglehold of repression thus placing the country on a strategic African depth on all levels - cultural, economic and social, the stage is set to hold an •Oloketuyi annual African festival of films, the Luxor African Film Festival, aimed at establishing the African cultural links.

The brainchild of script writer Sayed Fouad, the Independent Shabab Foundation (I-Shabab), an Egyptian non-governmental S the third Sunday of “Others activities are music, and non-profit organization, the month of drama, comedy, fashion, and was selected to run the festival November is observed road walk, involving all the worldwide as World celebrity marshal and induction due to its belief in the importance of "Luxor African Remembrance Day for victims of new members”. He added Film Festival" in linking up and of road accidents, the Federal Celebrities expected at the networking with others in Road Safety Corps with event are RMD, Alibaba, Ay, general and with Africa in Celebrity special Marshal Unit Stella Damasus, Segun Arinze, th particular.

Okey Bakassi, Jimmy Jatt, J have fix the 20 of November, The festival has given itself Martins, Koffi, Tee A, Julius 2011, at the Thisday Dome, the mission to support and Agwu, Gbenga Adeyinka, Yaw, Abuja for this year's event. encourage African film Owen G, Charles Okafor, According to Jonas Agwu, Corps Commander, “The event Bukky Wright, Ann Njemanze, productions and partnerships is set to raise fund in support of Stephanie Okereke, Dan Foster, between the countries of the Adewale Ayuba, and those are continent through road safety campaigns and induction include Sunny Nneji, strengthening the humanitarian activities in the country. And and political ties between the Flavour, Gordons, Kenny St we will be having seminars, people of Africa in general and Brown, Goldie, Alariwo, and workshops, symposiums, and African artists and filmmakers others. lectures among others. in particular.

AfricAvenir International, Arterial Network, Independent Shabab Foundation, the and beauty of Africa through Egyptian Ministry of Culture, film. Started December 2010, it Ministry of Tourism, Ministry holds yearly, hosting both local of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of and international filmmakers, Information, Ministry of Civil celebrities, actors, directors, film Aviation, the Luxor Governate, buyers, distributors, visual the Syndicate of Egyptian artists, film students, amateurs, Filmmakers, and Nile Thematic film lovers and the press.

TV Channels have been won as With 'Africa Unites' as its official partners and sponsors. theme, organizers say that the Conveners of the festival say festival draws on the principle that the team thought of Luxor that being an African is a bond to encourage decentralization that goes beyond geography, of cultural events to move a bit birth or lineage; as people of away from Cairo and African origin are spread across Alexandria, which are piling up the globe and Africa is also a with different festivals, and proud home to many nonfinally, to contribute to the Africans. The vision is to reflect promotion of tourism to the a common true African identity city of Luxor at this critical time and re-establish Africa as an that Egypt's experiencing after original home to all. the revolution.

•Mahen

Celebrity Marshals to raise funds for traffic victims

A

B

USTY actress, Ronke Odusanya a.k.a Flaky Idi Dowo, has just returned from a short vacation in the US, where she also attended her th uncle's 50 birthday party which held in Houston Texas.

Back on set, Ronke who jetted out of the country last month, said the vacation was inevitable as she had been busy in recent past shuttling from one location to another.

Before leaving the country, Ronke whose acting career is on the rise, worked back-to back for two consecutive months in Ghana and Ife. The actress spent one month in Ghana working with the likes of Dayo Amusa, Toyin Aimakhu, and others on Arinzo, a film produced by Iyabo Ojo. In Ife, she had worked on the set of Adebayo Salami.

Currently shooting a film by popular marketer; 'Lawlah His Grace', she reveals that her experience is a very challenging one.

A Best of Nollywood (BON) Award nominee, Ronke says she's hopeful that the plaque might come her way this year as she's always earned the nominees list of the reputable award.

Egypt for Luxor African Film Festival

•Stella Damasus

AFRIFF releases jury list

T

HE Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) has announced members of the jury awarding prizes at the forthcoming Festival, which will run from November 30 to December 4, 2011. Comprising six individuals, organizers of the festival say that they are well-grounded in the global arts community.

Among the jury list include Eriq Ebouaney (Feature/Animation Jury), British playwright, Oladipo Agboluaje, Heidi Lobato, Femi Odugbemi (Documentary Jury), Mahen Bonetti and Mbye Cham.Organisers say that AFRIFF is a platform for the world to zoom in on the talent

HiTV offers free viewing for TVC, Dove TV

R

UNNING till December, HITV subscribers will enjoy free viewing of two of its top channels, Dove TV and Television Continental (TVC). This is according to a statement signed by the Nigeria Pay TV Company's Marketing

•Toyin Subair

/Brand Manager, Mrs. Kemi Fashina.

According to Fashina, from this weekend, Nigerians would watch and listen (free) to words of exhortation from the General Overseer of the Redee med Chr

istian Church of God, RCCG, Enoch Adeboye, at the November edition of the Holy Ghost Congress. Also, all the exciting programmes on TVC will be served on a free platter.

“We value our subscribers and that is why we ensure that we do everything for them to get more value for staying with the HiTV platform. Dove TV and TVC will remain free from now till December pending when you renew your subscription,” she said.

A terrestrial station, TVC shows Nollywood movies, talk shows as well as hair-raising

political programmes. “This is what subscribers will be seeing free of charge before they can go and renew their subscriptions at any of our dealer outlets,” Fashina added.

Fashina said that more channels will be offered free for some time after this offer lapses.

“It is a bonus for all our subscribers and that is why staying with the HiTV platform is always a rewarding experience,” she concludes.

HiTV airs live all the Redeemed Christian Church of God programmes held at the camp periodically.

26

THE NATION, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2011

Ever since he left Soundcity in his bid to become an independent producer, Deji Falope's fame has continued to soar as he now has his fingers in so many pies.

He recently parted ways with his long-term fiancé, Devine Logico, a half- caste who has a Philippino father and a Nigerian mother.

His ex claims the reason they are no longer together is because she suspects he is having an affair. In this interview with AHMED BOULOR, the multi-talented entertainer reveals more about his affair with his estranged fiancée and London-based songstress May 7, among other issues.

There was this girl who once told me to marry her instead of a certain girl and she even went further to mention the girl's name. She was dead serious and the whole situation was kind of scary and not just crazy.

My affair with Devine and May 7 —Deji Falope W HAT have you been up to in recent times?

We heard it is because of your relationship with may7 Nope. It has nothing to do with her…

I have been focusing more on the Did you really date May 7? business side of entertainment and No! I never dated May 7.

What kind of a man have you media, of course the MTN top ten countdown is easily the biggest show on evolved into from your days at radio world wide (smiles); but my focus Soundcity and now that you are doing now is more on business than the show. your own thing?

More focused and result-driven. I I have been travelling quite a bit, have drawn closer to God and I have securing materials for various clients.

That is what I have been up to in recent realised that family and close friends are more important than anything else. You times. can lose money and get it back, even an Can you tell us the true story about entire business empire, but family; that you and Devine? you only get once in a lifetime.

Well, that's one story I would rather Is it true that you once toyed with want to forget about. Let's just say I quitting the entertainment scene have learnt a lesson that I didn't even because of the fate befalling some of know life had a class for. So now, I am your colleagues in the industry? very careful about everything and That was just a way of saying the lives everyone. of my colleagues are more important So what are you doing about the than anyone's career. I meant that if I whole issue? had to give up anything to save the life I do what I always do… When there of a colleague in the entertainment are issues such as this, I draw closer to God and ask for the lesson so that I don't industry, I would gladly do it. As they say, if you are alive then you can do and go through it again. I also share advice undo, and since God gives you life, I am from the experience. As they say, if something should cut your head off but a product of life and life has no manual.

God manufactured me and you, so it is only takes off your cap, quietly and calmly thank God. Pick up your cap and easy to get guidance from Him. Do you still ride power bikes? walk towards home and family.

Well, that's one story I would rather want to forget about. Let's just say I have learnt a lesson that I didn't even know life had a class for. So now, I am very careful about everything and everyone.

Yes I still do… Like the wind, I guess am still a biker at heart, old habits die hard, come to think of it.

You once survived a bike accident; how careful has that incident made you now?

It has made me more cautious; but I still find time to ride my power bike .This will definitely be the last bike I will have. I have cancelled the other purchase I earlier requested; I guess am bored with bikes these days, and the roads would help if they were safer.

What are your greatest fears?

That would be losing my mum, family and friends; and of course, going to Hell.

What are your impressions about the growing dance culture among Nigerian youths?

It's awesome, not just dance, but entertainment and entrepreneurship in general. Youths have already taken over.

They form the bulk of decision makers today; Na youths they hire and fire people nowadays. Young people have taken the economy into their own hands and gotten the education that is required at all costs.

What about your romance with Nollywood as an equipment-leasing agent? How well are you getting along in that sphere?

I am not doing badly in that sphere but I would rather stick to shooting various productions and get the job done. That means more fun, more money and more opportunities to watch young people grow in passion and knowledge.

As a businessman and an entertainer, how would you rate the quality of programmes being aired on Nigerian TV? It could be a lot better; Tajudeen Adepetu has something up his sleeves.

Just when you think it's safe to come out, he drops a bomb that changes the industry. Just like he did with

Soundcity, SMVA and Blast among others, he's going to do something again soon. The content of most TV stations could also be a lot better too, that's why DSTV, HITV and the rest don't pay producers as much as they should. But looking at the business of TV in detail, it is really booming and if you consider content conferences, Nigeria is among the top 10 across the world. Wale Adenuga Productions has also contributed to that immensely too and in summation, I think TV productions in Nigeria can only get better.

How did your ex fiancé cope knowing fully well that you are always on the road with Malta Guinness Street Dance Africa?

It's sometimes not easy to accept, but my spouse knows the nature of my job and she respected that. Afterall, I needed to put food on the table and I also have bills to take care of. Life is like that, you have to do what you have to do. Besides Malta Guinness Street Dance, there are other things I am involved in.

Could you tell us the craziest comment or request you have gotten from a fan?

There was this girl who once told me to marry her instead of a certain girl and she even went further to mention the girl's name. She was dead serious and the whole situation was kind of scary and not just crazy.

What's happening to your proposed plunge into the world of music?

I have looked into the future and realised that I would rather own an entertainment outfit. So I am working now in line with future plans; it is better to nurture young talents and I support music and entertainment. Thanks to MTN and Malta Guinness for the opportunity to give back. It truly is an honour to serve the youth with such great brands across the world.

27

THE NATION, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2011

9ice, Obesere, Osupa, others for Ajise-bi-Oyo Carnival 2011

Asa for Smooth FM’s Luxury Concert

L

OVERS of classic music and fun seekers are eagerly awaiting the much anticipated Love Music Love Life Luxury Concert being put together by Smooth 98.1FM. The watching audience will be treated to funky musical performances in a luxurious atmosphere fashioned specially by the organizers.

Expectations are on the high much so as singer/songwriter Asa is billed to perform alongside other established artistes at the Eko Hotel and Suites th this Saturday, 5 November, 2011.

Other artiste that will perform on the night include Pamela “the Saxtress” Williams and famed jazz guitarist Jimmy Dludlu.

The event is sponsored by Guarantee Trust Bank with M-Net standing in as media partners. Other partners include Linetrale, Caverton and Dangote while Ayala Champagne, Thomas Barton Wines, SKYY Vodka, Porsche, UNIC, Critical Rescue International and Sixth Sense Interiors are also throwing their weight behind the event.

T

HE maiden edition of Ajise-bi-oyo Carnival and Awards tagged Our Culture-Our Heritage slated for nd rd December 22 and 23 , 2011 at the ancient city of Ibadan will have the likes of Gongo Aso crooner, 9ice, Abass Akande Obesere, Saheed Osupa, Sound Sultan, Maxim, J-Pryce, Tigu, The EFFECT, Yemmy, and many others to grace the event.

According to the initiator of the project, MD/CEO of SLOBOT Supply Services Limited, “The choice of the word Ajise-bi-Oyo simply represents the term Pace-Setter which the Yoruba race stands for in the history of Nigeria, irrespective of their towns and/or states.

So, the effort is to reposition the Yoruba culture, we are bringing to Oyo State one of the biggest cultural carnivals in the South-West.”

“We are still waiting for the ratification of the new Honourable Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Oyo State, and other logistics,” he added.

Okposo’s Out of Africa UK Tour lights up London

B

•9ice

•Obesere

ARELY three weeks after commencing his annual Out of Africa UK tour, reports say that Sammie Okposo, one of Nigeria's foremost gospel acts, is giving Londoners a swell time.

Speaking from London, Okposo said that the tour has been going on well. “So far, we have done half of the tour. Aside performing at Black History Festival in Birmingham and Festival of Life at Excel Center, some of the venues of the shows we have done are Croydon Terbanacle, KICC Romford, KICC Wathamstow, Trinity

Chapel Discovery Center Barking, RCCG Pathfinder Parish in Manchester, Gate Academy Grays and few others.

We hope to find time to rest when we return to Nigeria.”

Before leaving for the tour on October 14 with his full band, DX Generation, Okposo released two new singles off his international album to be released by American based TMG Records anytime from now.

Before embarking on the tour, the artiste had said that Out of Africa UK is an annual tour and he won't be fair to his fans in UK

if he fails to take Out of Africa tour to UK this year. “We already have a loyal fan base in the UK as a result of our commitment to playing good

music and they look forward to Out of Africa tour every year to interact with us and have a feel of the music live.”

Goldie notches ELOY Award

All set for D’banj’s Koko Concert '11

CCENTRIC artiste and pe trend setter, Oluwabim ly lar pu po Susan Harvey, ly known as Goldie, recent artiste of the in er nn wi ed erg em just the year category at the s. ard Aw OY EL d de conclu that she The pop singer reveals ement iev ach her at py is very hap means ard aw and her winning the . do to •Goldie rk wo re she has mo d that gla and py hap I'm ell, "W awards." y. I was r older the award came my wa Goldie, who turned a yea gle sin p t po all s wa also nominated for bes 23, er tob Oc ay, on Sund just the ut abo and also best video at the rnt what this smiles when she lea ver we ho concluded Headies and s rce sou se working victory. Clo e been means is that I would be noted that she would hav n all need to uld wo I al. wo had more than usu she if that I keep over the moon minated work harder to ensure the awards she was no out good rn chu up the pace and for. re music as well as get mo

E

A

FTER a successful London show held at the Hammersith Apollo, awardwinning Nigerian hip hop star, Dapo Oyebanjo, popularly known as D'banj, says that he is putting finishing touches to what perhaps may turn out to be the biggest concert in Nigeria this year, Koko Concert Lagos '11.

The London edition featured members of Mo' Hits Crew including Dr Sid, D' Prince, Wande Coal and K Switch and Kanye West's surprise performance.

The American superstar who recently signed D'banj and Don Jazzy to his G.O.O.D Music label flew into London unannounced and stormed the stage to the surprise of everyone.

No date has been fixed for the Koko Concert Lagos '11 according to a statement by

•Okposo

Mo' Hits media Company, Media Image Managers, M.I.M, but the show has been fixed for a day in December.

Meanwhile, D'banj has added a new wonder on wheels to his already saturated fleet of cars; an Aston Martins vintage.

28

THE NATION, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2011

RE ELNEW S

THE NATION, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2011

COVER COVER

COVER COVER When the lyric of this popular old hit comes to mind - “Mummy, mummy, e wa wo Laide ati Becky, won lawon fe ma ja, nitori….” a lot of folks think only about the artiste, yet the female whose sonorous voice serenaded us all has actually also been in our faces for quite a while.

Popularly known as Chika Chukwu fondly called Jumoke Fuji by some this actress, singer, song-writer is one dynamic diva that has stood the test of time in the Nigerian entertainment industry. In this chat with COLLINS TADENIAWO MICHAEL, she goes down memory lane as she discloses how it all started for her, her experiences so far, among other things.

Is the ‘Royal Arts’ falling apart?

T

HERE is an enviable production family within the movie industry; the Royal Art Academy which has Emem Isong at the helms of affairs. However, gist from rumour mills has it that this family which includes Monalisa Chinda, Nse Ikpe Etim, Desmond Elliot, Ini Edo, Uche Jumbo and others may be fast falling apart.

Though, they've managed to avoid watching their dirty linen outside, gist has it that the newest Nollywood sweetheart in this clique, Nse Ikpe-Etim's relationship with fellow actress and friend Monalisa Chinda is not what it used to be.

According to sources, until recent past, Nse lived with Monalisa. But the circumstances that led to Nse moving out of Monalisa's Lekki apartment happened overnight, and Nse had to leave the house to pass the night somewhere else. She later moved out and eventually got her own apartment.

Again, when Uche Jombo came out with her Damage series recently, many within the industry were shocked to know that it wasn't produced by the Royal Art, but under Uche Jumbo's Studio. While tongues continued to waggle about whether or not Uche has decided to go her separate way, a source said that Uche's decision to produce her own movie may not be unconnected to the fact that the actress wanted to be in charge of her own production, rather than relying on Emem Isong to do everything for the group.

With the Damage success, Uche is encouraged to do more in the area of production in years to come. The question now on the lips of many is that if others borrow a leave from her what will become of the 'Royal Arts Academy'?

Nnena dazzles at DSF gala nite

Y

INKA Olukunga, the darling star of Nnena & Friends TV Show, dazzled guests who came together to celebrate with people living with Down syndrome.

The Gala Night unplugged, held to mark the 10th anniversary of the Down Syndrome Foundation Nigeria, took place at the Lagoon Restaurant, Ozumba Mbadiwe, Victoria Island, Lagos.

With the slogan, One Extra Chromosome: One Extra Reason To Love, the gala nite was a gathering of lovers of humanity who trooped out to felicitate with people living with Down syndrome, especially children.

The high profile gala evening of entertainment, comedy, music and dance featured top performers like the Freeborn and the hilarious Odogwu.

The climax of the event was the cutting of the anniversary cake, followed by award presentations and special recognitions.

Earlier, the Down Syndrome Foundation adopted Nnena as the organization's ambassador, a gesture that reinforces her reputation as a role model.

‘My mum thought I would outgrow my passion for entertainment’ C

OULD you give us a brief introduction about yourself? I have quite a lot of names, but generally, I go by Andre Chika Chukwu. But, a lot of people in the industry know me as Chika Chukwu.

How did you get into entertainment?

Well, I'm the first child in my family, and growing up, my best friend was the television, asides from my family and siblings. The first time I knew I could sing was back when I was watching Mary Poppins, Sound of Music, and watching Michael Jackson dance. I remember my mum would come home then from work and say, “where's my own Michael Jackson?” and I would come out and do some moves for her. So yeah, I think it started first from liking that and watching artistes generally, and also some specific kind of movies. And then I realized that, as an actor, I could be whatever I wanted to be. I didn't have to be a doctor, a lawyer, or a student; I could be a painter today in this film, a lawyer in the next one, so it was a branch where I couldn't be limited. That was my first attraction towards entertainment.

Then, the more I watched stuffs like Colbys, Dynasty, Days of our Lives; I knew more and more that this is who I want to be. My first foray into the field was way back in primary school when I did a TV commercial for Becks Cabin Biscuits then. And I was doing a lot of singing and acting then in my primary school, mostly during our general Parents' Day. Were your parents supportive of you doing all that back then?

My mum actually thought that I would outgrow my passion for the arts, but little did she know.

I remember then when I got into high school and she would come for our prize-giving ceremonies, there was a particular girl then who would cart home all the prizes in the science subjects, and when they

37

My first moment of recognition was when I started singing with Eedris because then I had my own identity. People saw me and knew who I was; some either called me Aunty Becky, or the girl in Player Meji were giving anything for the arts or the choir was to sing and I'd always be there, I remember my mum would say, “This girl does not have two heads. I did not send you here to come and sing or act drama,” and I would just say yes. But I never did stop doing all that throughout my high school days anyway; then I was always miming Mariah Carey's songs. By the time I was doing my A-Levels, I had already landed one or two roles in the movie industry, but then I was doing more of soundtracks. The first soundtrack contract I got was from a producer named Austin Eromole and I did a lot of soundtracks with him. I did a lot of singing back then. I started singing in a band with the late Sammy Nido and I had a blast. After that, I sang with Eedris Abdulkareem for a while too after he went solo back then and my last concert with him

was in 2004 in London. I did the female voice on his Player Meji hit, and most of the songs on that album were actually dedicated to someone very special in his life then that had passed on, so it had a lot of female parts which I did. After that, I also did Mr. Lecturer and Live in Yankee on his next album; I had a lot of fun with him.

How did you meet Eedris Abdulkareem?

Well, I was shooting a movie called Tears of a woman then with my friend Jeta Amata, and Jeta asked me to do a soundtrack for the movie but he wanted it in Igbo language.

Now, I'm Igbo but I'm not good at writing it and I'm not really proud about that; it's the exam I never used to write back in school. So, it was quite a struggle for me. I tried to talk Jetta out of doing it in Igbo but he insisted on having it that way. I eventually got it done and it was cool; I have a chorus on one of my songs on my forth-coming album that was actually taken from that soundtrack. I remember that we were just trying to put the song together then when Eedris walked into the studio. He was just about to do Player Meji too and he wanted Jeta to shoot the video. Jeta introduced me to him and asked him to listen to me because he was looking for a female vocalist, so Eedris asked me to come in for his auditions and gave me a tape to score before coming. I remember playing that tape so much at home then that my siblings almost revolted (chuckles). I went in for the auditions and Eedris asked me what role I could see myself playing for him. Most of the songs on the tape he gave to me were in Yoruba language

which was another challenge for me but I just pulled myself together and belted out the chorus “Mummy, mummy, e wa wo Laide, ati Becky, won lawon fe ma ja, nitori remedy, Eedris remedy, player meji, represente!” Needless to say, I got the role and we recorded the song, shot the video which was amazing and that was how my journey with him started. And I must add, Eedris was a lot different in person from the version of him a lot of people saw on TV. He was a very cultured man who had the utmost respect for women. I never once felt disrespected or harassed working with him, he was always ready to teach, willing to listen, a very hard worker who was also very disciplined; if you didn't show up for his rehearsals, you didn't get to do the show. And the pay was quite good for me back then, so I really had a wonderful time.

So, between music and acting, which would you say gave you your first big break?

Hmmm…I don't really know what you mean by that, but I believe that whenever you go into whatever you do and you put in a 100%, the appreciation you get is the big break. So, in terms of singing; I used to sing at places where most of the artistes used to hang out back then Woodhouse, Ecowas, before we moved on to Winnie's, then the proper AGN office, and then we now started having artiste nights in places like O'Jez and all. I had a lot of

I remember my mum would say, “This girl does not have two heads. I did not send you here to come and sing or act drama,” and I would just say yes

encourage ment coming from people like Uncle Olu Jacobs, Uncle Enebeli Elebuwa, Emmanuel Francis, because they would either do a duet with me, or just listen and applaud me and for me, that meant a lot more. I seemed to have a lot of friends then even before I got into the industry. And the fact that I even did a soundtrack for a movie that was sold was really big for me then. I just believe that if you're good at what you do no matter what it is and people get to see you and commend your works, you're a star. So essentially, it's about giving your all in whatever you do, and not necessarily about how many people notice you on the streets or how much you make. Of course, you want to get paid because it's a job, but back then for me it was more about laying a good foundation for myself in the industry. I didn't have any financial needs to cater to then, but it's not the same for most youths nowadays.

But which would you regard as the biggest platform you've had to express yourself?

(Laughs) Ok I would say this; I think the three opportunities I had were as big as the next one, and I had a swell time in each. As a musician, the moment you start performing on stage, you generally get the feeling that you have arrived at a particular level. So, my first 'wow moment' in music was when I was singing with Sammie Nido. My first moment of recognition was when I started singing with Eedris because then I had my own identity. People saw me and knew who I was; some either called me Aunty Becky, or the girl in Player Meji. When it comes to movies; people always looked at me like one good, calm girl who had to be pitied, because the first few roles I played in movies were 'good girl' roles. I can't really say which one was or has been the biggest for me though.

Could you tell us the names of the first movies you did then?

Well, the first movie wasn't a lead role for me.

It was called Sad Christmas, and you don't want to hear about it; I still haven't been paid for it till now. But it was kind of fun anyway. The movie had Jim Iyke, Barbara Udoh, Zack Orji, Clem Ohameze, and a host of others. After that, I did Hell Ride, and my first two lead movies were Liquid Love and Liberation, both directed by Moses Ebere. After that, I went to Ghana to shoot a movie about Liberian refugees crossing the border into Ghana to escape the war in their country; the movie was called War Victims. It

was really emotional for me back then because up until then I had never really seen what the Liberian war did to certain people, and I had the opportunity of going to the Liberian camp in Ghana and it was really intense. I also shot like three to four movies with Jeta Amata, but the ones I can remember their names right now are Tears of a woman which was about female genital mutilation, The Amazing Grace; my part was shot in London because I was living there at that time.

How did you get involved with Fuji House of Commotion?

Although my first show on TV was a musical programme on Superscreen called Soul to Soul, which I ended up producing myself then, my first break on TV would have to be Fuji House of Commotion. I remember going in for the auditions which was not like the regular auditions we used to have and they said the director was not around, and I was busy mimicking almost every other person who had walked in. After about one hour, I was shocked to discover that Amaka Igwe who had been sitting at the back of the room giggling and laughing to all I had been doing was actually the director; I'd heard her name around the industry before but I didn't know what she looked like facially.

At that point, I thought there was no way I could ever get the role again because of all I'd been doing. So, I went in for the audition, did my thing, and I was told to go that they would get in touch with me. I was scheduled to shoot a movie with Jeta Amata in Calabar then, so I just got home and started packing my bags to leave for the location when my phone rang and I was told I had been picked. That was how I got the role of Jumoke Fuji on the sitcom.

And how was it like being on that set?

My first day on set as Jumoke Fuji was scary and challenging at the same time, because I remember I had come on set and we were all supposed to rush into our father's room for protection because armed robbers had invaded our house, and I saw all these children. It was supposed to be acting or so I thought but I have to let you know; a lot of what happened in Fuji House was not acting (giggles). Because, the moment the director said “action”, the way everyone took off was so mind blowing. I remember the director would call me and tell me not to worry about making mistakes because she would let me know if I wasn't doing anything right. She would ask me to just go in there and be Jumoke the rebel leader in the house. So that's what I did. And honestly, before Fuji House I hadn't been a teenager because, growing up as the first child in my family, I couldn't afford to be irresponsible or naughty. I always had to be on call, on point, and all that.

So, I saw this as my opportunity to be downright mischievous and rude but civil at the same time, because in the house there was a limit to how rude or uncanny you could be. So yeah, I had a ball and, seven years later, looking back, I have to say that Fuji House is like another family I've had. And, we still refer to each other as siblings when we meet outside presently; no matter how old or young the person is.

So, have you put your music on hold for acting?

Well, I would say I'm running it both ways kind of. Going by history, I'm not the first actor to be an artiste too at the same time and I wouldn't be the last. So what happens is that, for every job I get, I give it a 100% - whether as a singer or an actor. I do my best and I leave the rest. I don't give any special preference to any one of my talents. I've been opportune to work with a lot of special people either way; like Amaka Igwe, Moses Ebere, Chris Ehindero, Pat the female director of Tinsel, Kingsley Omoefe on Family Affair, PMO Global Productions' G.R.A Women also gave me the pleasure of working with Peter Amos Igwe, and recently; Ego Boyo, Kunle Afolayan. And I am really grateful for these opportunities.

Ourfootball woesfundamental, notpersonal窶認ataiAmoo

Pg. 30

Pg. 32

Pg. 33

Nation PAGE 29

Saturday, November 5, 2011

s e r a d e z a s O t a l a Arsen s e t a r i Em

窶｢ Osaze

Pg. 34

30

35

NATION SPORT SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2011

NATION SPORT

NATION SPORT

B

Y all standards, will it be right to address your stint with 3SC this season as the most difficult for you as a coach?

I must admit that fact that this season has been my most troubled season in my coaching career. If you really followed my track record you would agree with me that I have never had it this difficult. Even during the professional rank it was never like this. In short there is no need to waste time on this issue this season has been my most trying period as a coach. I am really experiencing the most difficult stint in my coaching career. That is life for you.

What combined to make this season a difficult experience for you as a coach?

The players are humans and that I have realized. But to be honest with you the players also have some blame to take in the plethora of problems that have made this season to be quite forgettable one for me as a coach and probably for 3SC as among the elite clubs in the country before now. The players may hate to read this and may not like what I am saying but I am not castigating them at all. I realized that though the players have families no doubt but what I am saying is that if you marry a woman or a woman marries a man not for one month and one year but for two, three years it means that both parties have made up their minds to stay with each other no matter the problem they face. It means that they have to tolerate whatever that transpires in their marriage. Let me bring that into the reason why I said that the players also have their share of the blame. The players have allowed the issue of finance to affect their psyche and it has m a d e t h e i r performance to drop.

They cannot bring out the best in them because o f t h e financial difficul ties

Man City eyes another win over Wolves which they have allowed to take the lead in their thinking.

What have you done to make the players united and stay focused to ensure that the achieve another top flight safety at the end of the season despite the problems?

Besides my coaching duties, I have also been doing a lot of counseling. I take a lot of time preaching to them and to be honest with you I have been engaging in a lot of preaching beckoning on them not to allow the present predic amen

• Fatai Amoo

t to affect their performance. I also do tell them that it is part of life’s challenges and that when there is life there is still hope. Unfortunately this has fallen on deaf ears. I cannot really blame the players. But whenever I talk to them, I always tell them that the solution is ‘for you to work for your money and everything goes well’. I think there is no one I can divorce, the two go together. The players and the financial constraint both are the brain behind the 3SC tough time in the league this season.

But sir talking about the players and their responsibilities as bread winners of their families, it was reported that the players were paid ridiculously low even after they have not been paid most part of the season’s sign-on fees?

(He cuts in)You are right. But what I am saying is that when your debtor says he or she has no money and you take him or her to court, they will not put him or her in jail but they will ask him or her how are you going to settle your debt? Now the management does not have money. I know it will be difficult to say that outrightly but they said we should hold on for them that they would work something out soon. By the time they now look at their monthly subvention when it comes and after the analysis about the payment of salaries and other running costs and every other thing, it is what remains that would be shared to the players. It may look ordinary but they said that is what they could do.

That is why I said it is difficult to blame the players but it is not a good development at all. Like I told you, I have been doing more counseling even though I am only their coach.

Moving away briefly from the 3SC issues sir will you say the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) was justified sacking Super Eagles’ coach, Samson Siasia?

Recently I said in the press that if you bring (Jose) Mourinho to come and manage Nigerian football he will not be successful but I was not too surprised when I read your recent publication too which was credited to Adokie Amesiamaka where he attested to what I said and also stressed that combination of problems are behind the country’s football woes. To be frank with you I have not spoken with Amesiamaka for the last 5 years to say that we both planned same responses.

What then are the problems with Nigerian football if you say it goes beyond the sack of Siasia?

To be candid, our problem is much more fundamental than mere individuals. Our problem is not (Aminu) Maigari and it is not (Chris) Green neither is it (Samson) Siasia. It is one that requires everybody’s attention by way of stakeholders including you. What are my talking about? During the time leading to the 80s and early part of the 90s we still picked players from secondary schools for the senior national team.

But what is happening now? So many things have been discarded which we have to really go back to it.

I am not saying that the NFF has done anything illegal (firing Siasia) but all what they have done has to do with what has been written down as a document but count how

many coaches the country had hired in the last 5 to 6 years and from there you will now begin to think about what the real problem is. What is that real problem? You and I know it. It is until we are ready to tackle it that there can be solution in sight.

Tackling it means that we must be honest with ourselves and have the fear of God and we must be ready to do things correctly and normally. It is not for us to be shouting bring this, bring that. We may bring another coach but what about the enabling environment. Has the NFF done their possible best and have supported coach Siasia in all ramifications and there was no results? It goes beyond the sacking of the technical crew.

What are you suggesting as the way forward for Nigerian football?

It is now time to do a scrutiny of our developmental programme now. Why will our league players not be in the national team? I have been harping on this for quite some time now. It is not for any personal aims. Why must you have a national team comprising only the foreign based? Tell me where it is done. Is it in Spain, in Brazil, and even in England that you will not have your league players brought in into the national team set up? For goodness sake! Is it that there are no good players in the Nigeria league? If we say we do not have good players, have we taken time to ask ourselves why are we not having good players?

Are we saying they are all dead? So we have to do something about the league to get to that standard where national team selectors will be willing to pick players just like it was before.

Do you think the present composition of the NPL could give

“Well with time and well structured programme I can say there is nothing impossible. But some of the problems currently bedeviling the league must be ironed out especially the match fixing allegations here and there.”

the desired results?

Well with time and well structured programme I can say there is nothing impossible. But some of the problems currently bedeviling the league must be ironed out especially the match fixing allegations here and there. Part of the problems has started again. How will Plateau United started winning 7-0. Tell me how will such a league grow? Check now how will Plateau suddenly beat Kwara United 7-0? and they were saying it was not a sellout. If that happened in a well organized league by now so many people would have been invited and questioned.

How could the problems be tacked headlong then?

Let’s really look inward and let’s make our league to be very attractive like the league that produced the like of Stephen Keshi, Samson Siasia, Fatai Amoo, Henry Nwosu and others who were active members of the national team despite playing in the domestic league. When professionals abroad were invited then, they were only two or three to complement the home based and not like the present norm. You can play your game anywhere and that is not

• Ike Uche

what we are saying now. What we are saying is that you and I all have contributions to make to correct the present rot in the country’s football and the contribution is that we must make this league to be attractive and interesting for all. Honesty and just

ice are t h e other t w o that we m u s t imbibe in the league and then other things will follow.

Are the

clubs in the NPL setting good precedent?

No is my honest hearted answer.

Look at all the teams in the NPL they are owing here and there. How will the league be good and how will it grow? during our time, no clubs owed any player. Even if it is one naira they have that is what they give you but today, clubs would promise 5million and they cannot even pay 500,000 naira. Why are you promising that kind of money? They don’t owe anybody then, but now everybody wants his father’s name to be heard and you want to be known. It is not done that way. It is that bad that some players don’t even have money to transport themselves to training and it is funny enough that these same players are being owed millions of naira by their clubs.

If we can really look inward and look into these gray areas, we will see t h a t the

• Raheem Owolabi of 3sc

nat ional team will be what it used to be again.

S

UPER Eagles will be back and beter. You can call it a prophecy if you like. Eagles will be back and stronger.

Now, they are down and out, but like the Eagle which is weak and featherless during hibernation, Super Eagles are weak and featherless.

They are hibeernating and it is winter time. The Eagle could be on the mountain top for years waiting for its wings to grow back. The Eagles always have its way. It is a bird you do not see all the time because it flies very far off into the clouds.

Some issues must be addressed before Super Eagles can bounce back into reckoning in world football. We must find out why the three players are not committed to the country. The players do not care what happend to their fatherland. They are like mercenaries hired to fight a cause and you don't blame the players for being lethargic. They have not forgotten how their predecessors were treated though promise and fail. Some members of the 1994 Super Eagles have yet to be given houses promised them and there is no hope in sight that they will be given. They were members of the squad that won the Nations Cup in Tunisia and had looked forward to owning properties of their own.

That dream has not come to pass 17years after. This is why you should not blame Osaze Odemwingie for turning his back on the national team the other day and Vincent Enyeama for rebelling against the constituted authority. If the denied players place a curse on the country, it would stick for the Holy Bible says a causeless curse shall not alight. The curse would alight because itr is justified and it may be responsible for the spate of losses the country has suffered in the past few years.

We must indentify the role of the domestic players in the national team. We should not forget that the team be founded on the local players. About five of the eleven shirts should be given to the local lads.

They will show more commitment. It is great opportunity they are being given to prove themselves. We should notr continue to say that the domestic players are not good enough for the national team. We have not tried enough. Let the new coach watch the domestic league.

Let him traverse the length and breadth of the copuntry in search of talents and he will be amazed the calibre of talents he will come up with.

The domestic players must be treated equally with the foreignbased. If it was the Europe-based players that won the WAFU Cup, they would have been treated like kings, but the triumph came through the home-based players and they were sent home unsung.

I hope the expected rebuilding of the Super Eagles will be the last one on the long run. As the new coach rebuilds, Nigerians must be patient with him. He is no magician and cannot do the job under too much pressure. It is said that a patient dog eats the fattest bone. We must give the coach our hand of fellowship and forget about the past.

We must look forward to a new beginning with confidence that our dear Super Eagles would bounce back.

Playing culture is another area which must be given its proper place in the scheme of things. We do not have a playing culture We need to establish one in the interest of our football.Spain which is number one soccer playing nation at the moment are able to play beautiful football because they have playing culture. So itis not difficult for them to blend when playing for their country. Brazil are on top of world football because they have a playing culture. Their playing culture is based on music and dance and that is what it is called samba.

You know a Brazilian team with its style of play which is akin to dancing. We have imbibed the slow style of movement with the ball. It came from Holland. The Dutchmen have left and we have had coaches that came in after them going towards another direction. The world knows us for our slow build up and they have countered with fast paced football. They close in on our players before they start building up. That is exactly what Ghana did in the friendly in London and nearly won.

We pick our players from foreign clubs. They failed to blend because they are brought in from different football cultures. Our players have imbibed the beliefs of those countries. Therefore, what we should do is to hire a foreign coach to puit the team in proper perspective. I have nothing against Stephen Keshi, but I do not think he is the right choice for the Supeer Eagles. If he is goo enough, he should be coaching a team in any part of the world. We should be begging him to come back home to rescue our football. Since qualifyingTogo for the World Cup, he has not done anything extra-ordinary. He went to Mali afterwards, but the Malian Eagles crashed out on the Nations Cup in the group stage. As with other indigenous coaches who have made their intention known to coach the national team, the Super Eagles is bigger than Keshi Super Eagles need an accomplished coach who is experienced and has a fat history. The coach must be thorough-bred.

He must be able t4o carry the Super Eagles on his shoyulders to the Promised Land.

INBOX Thanks for your column of 29th October. You have said it all, tyhe Super Eagles job is too big for Oliseh. What we need now is a tested foreign technical adviser to be assisted by Nigeerian coaches. If advanced football playing nations go for tested foreign coaches, we should not be ashamed to do likewise. On a final note, we should stop our dependence on players abroad.

Barrister Ayo Olalere, Ibadan The players should go. It was not Samson Siasia's fault Anonymous

THE NATION SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2011

31

NATION SPORT

Stop crying over Nations Cup,faceOlympicGames L

AST week, my confession was that our souls have been sold to football and it will be stretching the catapult too thin for me to again labour on the path of that game which everyone of us have come to assume expert opinion. The truth though is that it is the trending game in Nigeria given the recent upheavals in that sector of sports.

But is it possible to ignore football in the face of Nigeria’s failure in 25 years to qualify for the Nations Cup? Is it possible to shy away from football in the face of the division that attended the sacking of Samson Siasia in the aftermath of his failure to lead the Super Eagles to Nations Cup 2012? Is it possible to ignore football in the face of the ouster of the Falcons from the Olympic 2012 Women football event?

Add to this the serial ouster of Kaduna United, Enyimba International and Sunshine Stars from the continental club competitions in a space of three weeks. It may amount to insensitivity on the path of a columnist, especially one who attempts to examine the issues in the game from a perspective that sifts all the emotions and infantile addiction that has been infused in the business of critical analysis of sports events, issues and persons.

Unfortunately for us in this country, we revel in distraction in preparing for future failures. The tragedy of football is the mass hysteria it induces in the entire nation such that every other thing fades into oblivion. When we chase a matter in football just like is the case presently, we are like a drunk who is left

By Harry Iwuala

sucked and mentally weak from the inebriating power of the brew that lured him to a mindless consumption.

Today, like the Zombie, which our late musical icon, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, sang in his rendition of the behavior of the Nigerian military and Para-military force, we have all zoomed on the Glass House in Abuja, fixated on the activities of Alhaji Aminu Maigari and other members of the Executive Board of the Nigeria Football Association (NFF) as though nothing else is wrong with sports in the country. In so doing, we give voice to some fellows who otherwise would be a footnote in the chronicle of sports in the country. We confer certain relevance to persons and offices that in other lands don’t get to be heard of. Who of all the allknowing football gurus in Nigeria will tell the name of the Technical Director of Ghana Football, England, Germany or Brazil? But you can Google the name of Chris Green and it will turn out thousands of entries all because some have chosen to crucify him all in the name of protecting their vested agenda.

Others have promoted him out of proportion just to be heard as contributors to the national discuss.

The media has turned to pigeon hole journalism that successfully screened out the piece-meal deaths of our Tennis, Table Tennis, Wrestling, Boxing and Weight-lifting etc because there is more to be gained from fighting those in football, especially those

•Obasi Ogbuke

whose names don’t add up to our preferred candidates for the Glass House. But the Olympic Games are but a few months nigh. It is no longer a matter of years and we are not asking those saddled with the running of Olympic events how they are minding their wards and Nigeria’s representation.

Whereas there used to be Sports Journalists who were experts in other sports and were always consulted on matters concerning those games by officials and colleagues, the newsroom presently don’t seem to have space for such other sports reporting. Or am I wrong? I remember the likes Femi Solaja (Chess), Tony Nezianya (Handball), Ranti Lajide (Table Tennis), Tijani Ahmed Shuaibu and Banji Ola (Tennis) Simon Ekpe, Joseph Okujeni, Dare Esan, Olukayode Thomas, Ben Efe and Duro Ikhazuagbe (Track and Field), Eniwoke Ibagere, Joe Apu (Basketball) just to list a few who mastered their beats to the extent that they had international accreditations. You can always count on any of these and others not listed to raise issues bothering their respective sports to national consciousness. Not anymore as all manner of academy reporters lounge on the internet and feed the public with junks on European football that is available for all to download. Blogging comes cheap and is the easiest route to write without training. The proliferation of radio stations has made every Chike, Bayo and Shehu a sports broadcast genius hence all they require is internet downloads and open phone lines to launch verbal assaults on listeners.

This is not about the media but about the Olympic Games coming up in London in less than seven months.

What are our Sports Minister and his team at the National Sports Commission (NSC) doing to ensure that we are not left with the kind of sour test that football has fed us?

Are the athletes that qualified from the All Africa Games training and if yes, what technical, material and supervisory support are they getting from the country they will be representing? When will the NSC meet with the concerned Federations to streamline the preparations and if such coordination is going on, should it not be in the public domain? What is the Sports Minister’s agenda through the Sports Federations to re-position other games to make them attractive to our children, the public (fans) and the business community? There have been and are many committees but no visible progress on ground amounting to efforts without results.

We have had situations in the past when former

international athletes with experience in coaching are drafted in for just one or two months to help the athletes only for the world to hear that they didn’t have sufficient time to prepare the wards.

Are we correcting such past mistakes by planning to engage these experts much earlier than we did previously? It is profitable to individual pockets for teams to proceed on training tour abroad but should we after all these years not have developed our own facilities in line with the looking inwards sermon of successive regimes? Now that President Goodluck Jonathan is planning to transform Nigeria with his agenda, it is hoped that sports will be part of this transformation. Any transformation in sports that will not stop the foreign exchange flight in the name of training tours is not people-based.

Any transformation that will in the next four years not attract other countries to come and train in Nigeria and yield foreign exchange for us is self serving. Sports can become a foreign exchange source for the economy not only from the remittances of our players abroad but through the establishment of world class facilities that can be marketed through the respective diplomatic missions abroad.

The National Assembly is one big enemy of sports in the democratic dispensation with members who only hanker for foreign trips and privileged tickets to match arenas. How many of the Honourable members take time out to watch Handball, tennis, volleyball etc at their local stadium? How many of them, especially those in the Sports Committee of the Senate and House of Representatives have gone incognito to have first-hand experience of life at the various sports centers in their localities and at the various National Stadiums in Abuja, Lagos, Kaduna, Kano, Port Harcourt etc? Do they even know where the stadiums are situated? How then do these Honourables legislate about the well being of sports and sports practitioners?

We must begin to ask pertinent questions through our desks in the media and rise above mediocrity and pedestrian practice. Sport does not start and end with football and the administration of football does not start and end with the NFF. For God’ sake, we have State Football Associations, Local Council Football Associations etc and these are the grassroots that we have ignored over the years leading to the present pass. We are trying to solve the problem top-down rather than bottom-up and it has not worked. It is time to switch formula.

Harry Iwuala is a renowned Journalist based in Lagos, Nigeria

VOICE OF SPORTS

With Clement Nwankpa Jnr. sportswar@yahoo.com

Big Boss and the Big Boys HANGING out with a friend the other day, he had said; “I still can’t believe that Samson (Siasia) is no longer the national team coach”. But the fact is that the Siasia era is confined to the dust bin of history. Step in, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi, the one nicknamed ‘Big Boss’. As we would say in our popular parlance, “soldier come, soldier go”.

But all of you knew how much I loved Siasia (I hope my wife doesn’t get jealous here). He is one guy who knows how to make the game really ‘beautiful’. He throws everything into attack even if sometimes it is at the expense of his defence. It hurts to see him pay dearly for being adventurous. I lampooned Amodu Shuaibu for always fielding three defensive midfielders but we also saw a Siasia who stuck to an offensive two-man midfield without a defensive midfielder. The former met his target of qualifying for the World Cup playing dirty while the latter, whose team created chances upon chances, couldn’t even qualify for the Nations Cup. What an irony.

I warned Siasia about the consequences of not shielding his back four with a midfield enforcer. How couldn’t he note the limit of offensiveness? Why did he place so much premium on how to score the goals and less on how to stop them? How did such a talented coach end up as one of the worst to ever handle the national team? Yes, the last time I checked the dictionary, the meaning of failure had not changed.

So what’s my take on the hiring of Keshi? Frankly, he is eminently qualified to assume that position. It would have been a great idea to retain Siasia because having gotten his fingers burnt, I had no doubt he would have been a more successful Super Eagles’ coach.

Moreover, since the team would be involved in the Nations Cup 2013 qualifiers right away in January, it would have been safer to allow him carry on. But if the likes of Amodu, Christian Chukwu and Austin Eguavoen had been eased out in the past after achieving more, would it be morally right to keep a Siasia who grossly underachieved? If Siasia should leave, the best man to land the job in so short a time is Keshi.

A journalist, who was sympathetic to Siasia had predicted that in the next six months, the NFF would gather everybody again to announce Keshi’s sack. I will disagree with him. Keshi simply needs to fuse the Amodu and Siasia football cultures to succeed.

A blend of Amodu’s defensive ruggedness and Siasia’s attacking flare would do the magic. If Siasia always had a place in his midfield for one of Sani Kaita, Fengor Ogude, Dickson Etuhu and Yusuf Ayila, the Guineans wouldn’t have scored twice. In the same vein, if Amodu had a silky offensive midfielder like Joel Obi to complement his army of combative midfielders, his team would have played a brand of football more pleasing to the eyes.

But Keshi doesn’t have the luxury of time. Siasia had been about four months on the saddle before filing out the team in a competitive game. In January, Nigeria will be involved in a knockout Nations Cup play-off against Rwanda. If Keshi gets off the starting block late, Eagles could crash out of the 2013 Nations Cup even before the 2012 edition ends. This is not the time for Keshi to carry out an overhaul of the team. Agreed, Siasia failed to pick a Nations Cup ticket but he had a team in progression. Under him, the team was gradually playing the way Nigerians craved, more fluid in the middle of the pack and greater incision from the flanks.

What Keshi needs to do is to attend to the little defensive details Siasia ignored.

Keshi should study tapes of the Siasia era. The bulk of his team should still be the gladiators of the Siasia reign. If there are one or two new players who could bring the missing ingredients, that’s okay. Perhaps, he could extend an invitation to Lukman Haruna, who had surprisingly not made any of Siasia’s lists just as the likes of Kaita and Etuhu may get international lifelines but this is not the time to rehabilitate older players like Yakubu Aiyegbeni, Seyi Olofinjana and John Utaka. It is widely believed that the old brigade was at the forefront of Siasia’s sack because they knew they stood little or no chance of wearing the green and white colours again with him in charge. In fact, there are rumours that Keshi has a verbal agreement to return these guys to the national team fold when he assumes office. I hope this does not leave the realm of rumour.

The modern game is faster and national teams are reducing their average ages. The likes of Brown Ideye and Emmanuel Emenike are younger options to Yakubu, while Obiora Nwankwo and Ogude are more preferable to Olofinjana. It will be interesting to also see how Keshi handles the big boys in the team. We saw Siasia’s hammer descending on the likes of Osaze Odemwingie, Vincent Enyeama and Mikel Obi. Would Keshi toe a similar line or would he deploy the carrot and stick measure? Keshi’s antecedents as a player should be a deterrent for any big boy daring the ‘big boss’ but the scenarios are poles apart. The Keshi/ Emmanuel Adebayor episode, when the former was in charge of Togo, is still fresh in our memories. The first hurdle he would have to scale, as Siasia later learnt, would be that provided by the team’s big boys but, good enough, he is the ‘Big Boss’. Would this guy that commanded the respect of his team mates as a player be unable to control his dressing room as a coach? That would be the mother of all ironies.

32

NATION SPORT SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2011

33

THE NATION SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2011

34

NATION SPORT

Inside The Glass House WITH AMINU MAIGARI

Nigeria’s football will bounce back (2)

D

ATELINE: London.

July 30, 1966. At the final blast of Swiss referee Gottfried Dienst’s whistle, the England players were ecstatic. It was the FIFA World Cup final, and scoreline stood at ENGLAND 4 WEST GERMANY 2. Geoff Hurst’s hat-trick had done the trick and the English were the world champions for the first time.

In front of more than 93,000 spectators, the Three Lions had come good on their big day. Jack Charlton knelt, his face in his hands, and Nobby Stiles jumped on the back of George Cohen. Goalkeeper Gordon Banks had a big grin on his face, as did Ray Wilson, Alan Ball, Jimmy Greaves, Bobby Charlton, Roger Hunt and John Connelly.

And Coach Alf Ramsey? He just sat there in total satisfaction.

Before the World Cup finals, press-shy Ramsey had told the media that “most certainly, England will win the World Cup”. The sceptics and the optimists alike held him to his words at every turn. Now was his own time to scowl at them.

It was a spectacle. Amidst the euphoria and the endless celebration, Captain Bobby Moore, stepping majestically, climbed old Wembley’s 39 steps to receive the FIFA World Cup from the Queen. An unforgetable moment.

Yet, it could all have come to nought. It was 2-1 with few minutes remaining but the Germans found an incredible equalizer with one minute left in regulation time, and the World Cup final went to extra time for the first time since 1934 – when Italy and Czechoslovakia finished 1-1 after 90 minutes in Rome.

Geoff Hurst’s shot that crashed underside of the bar,

which was ruled a goal by Dienst after he consulted with Azerbaijani assistant Tofik Bakhramov, is still debated till today.

Four years earlier, England had been torn to shreds in the quarter finals by Brazil, who were inspired by Garrincha, Vava and the precocious Pele.

In 1958 in Sweden, the Three Lions did not even make it to the quarter finals, after losing a play-off to USSR following three draws against the Brazil, Austria and the Soviets.

In 1950, one of the biggest upsets of the FIFA World Cup history was recorded when the United States of America (hardly a known name in football then), defeated England 1-0 in a group phase match in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. To the whole world, it was unbelievable. But 16 years later, England would lift the World Cup trophy.

As I mentioned last week, England failed to qualify for the 1994 even after a masterclass performance in Italy in 1990, when it lost to Germany 3-4 on penalties in an enthralling semi final match in Turin.

In Italy in 1990, Cameroon became the first –ever African team in the quarter finals. but the Indomitable Lions have failed to qualify for the 2012 African Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.

Certainly, the disappointment of the Super Eagles’ failure to qualify for the 2012 African Cup of Nations finals, and the ouster of the Super Falcons from the race to London 2012 Olympics’ Women’s Football Tournament continue to bite hard. But surely, the Nigeria Football Federation is taking measures, some of them drastic, to ensure we do not witness this

•Emenike in action against Guinea in Abuja.

kind of turn of events ever again.

Personally, and like all other members of the NFF Executive Committee, I believe Stephen Keshi has something to offer.

He started quite early in his own playing career, right from the secondary school at Saint Finbarr’s in Lagos, and remains the longest-serving captain of the Super Eagles in history.

Someone sent me a text message asking whether we had dwelt on past performance to make a choice of the man to replace Samson Siasia. I told the chap that there was no way you would wish away past performance when considering persons for positions of responsibility.

When an adult slips, he looks behind him at what has caused the fall, and learns to dig his feet firmer into the ground.

More than that, however, is the fact that at the last interview exercise for the Head Coach’s job, Mr. Stephen Keshi came second. And it is natural that he be considered for this position now that the man who came first had been relieved of the job.

Stephen Keshi captained Nigeria for 11 years, and played for the senior team for 13 years.

He had a tremendous presence everywhere in those years and after, and even now, people still refer to him as ‘Big Boss’. He is no stranger to the Nigeria game.

As we seek to re-position our football, Keshi comes with impressive credentials. As someone who started from the schools, he will not be averse to catching them young from the schools. There are a number of talent-hunt programmes in the countries aside the youth competitions and academies.

Keshi was a member of the National Greater Tomorrow squad brought together in 1976.

And though he missed the cut for the 1980 African Cup of Nations, Keshi would immediately become part of the team the following year. Yet, he played in the qualifying series of the 1981 FIFA World Youth Championship, tough Nigeria lost home and away to Cameroon.

As a senior player, he won his first cap against Burkina Faso (then known as Upper Volta, before the coming of Thomas Sankara) in a friendly match on July 18, 1981. Nigeria won that match 1-0. His last cap was against Greece at the FIFA World Cup finals, on June 30, 1994, which the Super Eagles won 2-0 to overhaul Argentina and top group D of the finals.

After being surprisingly kept on the bench for the crucial Espana 1982 World Cup final

qualifying fixture against Algeria (Nigeria lost the first leg 2-0 in Lagos), Keshi would not look back again. He was in the squad to the 1982 African Cup of Nations in Libya, and played in four more Nations Cup finals: 1984, 1988, 1992 and 1994.

In all these four editions, he won medals. The Green Eagles, captained by youthful Keshi, lost the final of the 1984 Cup of Nations to more experienced Cameroon, despite taking the lead in Abidjan through Mudashiru Babatunde Lawal.

That gave him silver.

Nigeria failed to qualify for the 1986 African Cup of Nations (hosted by Egypt) after disciplinary measures that kept Keshi and some of the big stars out of the squad. In 1988, Keshi flew in and out of Morocco to represent his country and it was unfortunate that we again lost in the final, again to Cameroon. He got another silver there.

In 1992, Keshi showed from the opening match of the tournament what leadership meant. Nigeria had shot ahead early through Samson Siasia but a mistake by Keshi allowed the host nation to level with minutes remaining in the first half. He roused his team-mates and in the second half, scored the winning goal through a scorcher from outside the box.

The Super Eagles lost to Abedi Pele-led Black Stars of Ghana in the semi finals but overpowered Cameroon 2-1 in the third place match to give Keshi and team-mates the bronze medal.

Two years later, it was party time in Tunisia. On 10 April, 1994, the Super Eagles defeated Zambia 2-1 at the Stade el Menzah in Tunis and even though he was injured and did not play many matches, Keshi was the leader and the rallying point. Fittingly, stand-in skipper Augustine Eguavoen handed the trophy to Keshi after receiving it from CAF President Issa Hayatou. Gold medal for Stephen Keshi.

Keshi led the Senior National Team to qualify for the FIFA World Cup finals for the first time. Smarting from being left out of the game against the same Algerians in a similar final qualifier 12 years earlier, Keshi played through the pain barrier to ensure the Eagles secured the draw in Algiers needed to earn a ticket to USA 1994.

I have dwelt on Keshi’s achievements as a player to show why we believe the man is not ‘a stranger’ as some people are insinuating. He played with his heart and soul and left no one in doubt about his patriotism. He rallied the group each time and made them realize what it meant to wear the green and white.

Keshi sparked off the so-called Belgium Trek by our footballers in the mid-1980s, and as a Coach, he qualified minnows (we are told there is no team that goes by that tag again!) Togo to their first ever FIFA World Cup finals. He has also coached Togo and Mali at the African Cup of Nations.

We have confidence in Stephen Keshi to steer our senior team football back to winning ways and the Nigeria Football Federation will give him all the support he requires to succeed in the job.

NEXT WEEK: Nigeria football will bounce back (3)

Osaze dares Arsenal at Emirates •As Aiyegbeni tackles Mikel •Ameobi, Moses eye victory

L

AST season, Osaze Odemwingie scored for West Brom in both matches against Arsenal and today at Emirates the Nigeria international will be aiming to hit the net again.

The Baggies proved to be somewhat of a bogey side for Arsenal last season with the Gunners suffering a 3-2 loss at the Emirates following a 2-2 draw between the sides earlier in the campaign.

Osaze who last scored in Baggies 2-0 defeat of Wolves on October 16 will be striving to achieve same target if cleared by West Brom medical team to play today. He suffered a blow to his knee in training on Tuesday and has not trained since.

West Brom will also be without two key players as knee injuries have ruled out striker Shane Long and defender Paul Scharner.

Long looks set to miss six weeks with a knee injury he sustained following a robust Alan Hutton challenge against Aston Villa almost a fortnight ago.

Arsenal will be looking to extend their winning streak in the Premier League to four matches. Following their win at Stamford Bridge in an eight-goal thriller, Arsenal were less impressive in their goalless Champions League draw with Marseille on Tuesday.

At the Ewood Park, Yakubu Aiyegbeni will tackle Mikel Obi as Blackburn play host to Chelsea.

With Chelsea appear to be stumbling after back-to-back losses in the league to Arsenal and Queens Park Rangers were followed by an uninspiring 1-1

By Bimbo Adesina draw in the Champions League to Belgian club Racing Genk on Tuesday.

Blackburn's 3-3 draw at Norwich on Saturday proved difficult to take for under-fire manager Steve Kean.

Rovers looked certain to pick up three crucial points before Bradley Johnson's deflected shot and Grant Holt's controversial stoppage-time penalty stole a point for the Canaries.

Kean remained bullish during the week and insisted the performance at Norwich proved his side are 'very tight as a group', denying the club is scared of relegation.

Sammy Ameobi will look to keep Newcastle strong start to the season going on today when they visit struggling Everton.

Alan Pardew's men sit in third position after 10 games of the 2011/12 season as one of only two unbeaten sides left in the competition, the other being leaders Manchester City.

In their most recent league outing a hat-trick from Senegal international Demba Ba helped them to a 3-1 win over Stoke at Britannia Stadium on Monday.

Everton have struggled for consistency this term, and were on the receiving end of a 1-0 loss at home to Manchester United on Saturday.

With Victor Moses yet to hit back of the net, the Nigerian international has had more shots without scoring than any other player in the Premier League this season will be hopeful to break the deadlock against Wolverhampton Wanderers.

•Mikel

Utaka in top form for Montpellier

N

IGERIA international John Utaka is in top for Montpellier who looks to keep up its surprisingly strong challenge in the French league when they visits SaintEtienne on Sunday at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard Montpellier is second in the standings after 12 rounds, just three points after leader Paris Saint-Germain.

PSG, Marseille, Lyon and defending champion Lille were seen as title contenders at the start of the season, but hardly anybody thought Montpellier could get in the mix.

Yet, the club’s results have not been a fluke, as Montpellier features the most potent offense in the league with 27 goals scored.

“When I see that we’re able to challenge the big teams, I am convinced that we have the means to stay in the top part of the standings,” Montpellier striker Olivier Giroud told RTL radio.

Montpellier’s surprising run can be explained by a smart recruitment policy and by the blossoming of a new generation of players that came through the club’s youth academy.

Olubanwo Fagbemi

On Sport Sport On SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2011

36

S

OME people's ego comes from things... bucks, new cars, expensive homes. All thsse could be hollow. The Senate President, David Mark, must have sensed this before building all his own ego and passion around the game of golf.

David Mark yearns for quiet, solidity and thruth and he believes he can only find this on the golf course. Hence, this man generally referred to as 'Bulldozer' by his people perpetually lives on golf.

There was a moment he had a patch with the government of the late Sani Abacha and he had to go on self exile. All the places he was going to, golf was always in tow. There was even mention of a private course in Northern Ireland solely owned by him. Ask the erudite Senator to confirm this and all you get is this sugarcane smile that tells you nothing. But that is David Mark. You won't see him roaring like a forest fire or come out charging out like a dynamo on overdrive. All you see is the sugarcane smile that keeps you guessing if the man is up to the 'bulldozer' name pasted on his back.

At the end of the Abacha regime, David Mark moved home. Naturally, politics was the in-thing at the time and you would guess the Senator should roll in immediately.

Not so. Golf came to his mind before anything. He moved to his ranch at Akpegede, a village that is some 10 kilometres from Oturkpo as new site of a new private golf course which he richly named St Marks Golf Course.

There is a rich story to the Akpegede ranch. At the point Abacha was desperately looking for David Mark, soldiers loyal to the late Head of State believed Mark was cooling off in Akpegede farm.

The soldiesrs bombarded the ranch and lo, there was no sign of Mark anywhere. In frustration, the

GOLFLINE

NTDC brings for WITH

Tony Akhigbe golflineintl@yahoo.com 08094863638

David Mark backs Oturkpo dream •Splashes N10m on Professional Golfers

• Mark

soldiers, in their hundreds bombarded the ranch and burnt it to the ground. Sad thing was that some 200,000 grass-cutters being reared at the ranch, and which indeed made Mark the biggest grasscutter farmer in West Africa at the time, were equally burnt down.

The first time the Senate President was recalling the razing of the ranch, he presented a picture of a man

moving through life, shoulders bowed, carrying a burden he could not define.

Such incident could not go away in a hurry. To forever place this at heart gave way to the golf course, the size of the one at the IBB course in Abuja.

Even though David Mark will never be seen coming with a little fear in his socks, many believe the man operates like a colonial power. Yes, many more

believe he does things at slow pace, showcasing a certain peasant shrewdness.

It's att this slow pace he toiled to build the Akpegede course. When the course came into fruition,Mark was more than prepare to showcase his native Oturkpo through the game of golf. At the early stage of the St. Marks course, David Mark was sponsoring an average five tournaments yearly so golfers across the nation could troop to Oturkpo and wake up the place commercially. It worked. In no time, hotels were springing up to cater for tourist golfers and caterers were making a boom.

Still, David Mark was not satisfied. He planned to make the Oturkpo course an international one but this could not happen because the putting surface was sand rather than Green which is the hallmark of a real course. It's never that the Senator could not afford a Green surface at his course but the terrain of Oturkpo makes it a herculean task to get sufficient water through the course. Without water, any Green is doomed.

Five years on, Mark worked hard to solve the water problem and make his Green dream come true. He made it.

At the moment, the full blown 18-hole Oturkpo course is adorned with lush Greens. It's indeed time to roll out the big drums and celebration.

To ensure nothing is missed while celebrating, the Senate President has put together a N10 million Oturkpo Open that will involve some 150 professionals and 300 amateur golfers from across the nation.

The huge event will hold between November 18 and 21.

The Oturkpo event is indeed handy, especially for the pros who have gone through a bad spell in a year that has produced just three tournaments for them. If nothing, this game will prove that the pros could still reach light after the dark tunnel.

Uduaghan, Mayuku tee-off West African golf

A

SABA, Delta State capital, comes alive with some 13 West African Nations gunning for honor at the West African amateur golf challenge.

The event which was last hosted at the Igosun, Kwara State course of retired Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Adekeye, is indeed a sanctioned world golf programme of the Royal and Ancient golf, the world body governing the game of golf. This could be real reason the Delta governor, Eweta Uduaghan, threw the full might of the Delta government in the event. And the Governor has a great golf Ambassador in Honorable Mayuku, a former two-time Captain of the Ibori Golf club and indeed a member of the Delta House of Assembly.

Wednesday proved a sort of eye-opener to the 13 West African nations that stormed the Ibori golf facility for the golf challenge. Most of the participants never believed the nation could host West Africa

in such serene and great course in Asaba. The West African participants numbering some 60 golfers were dazed with the unbelievable length of the Ibori course.

"We decided to host this event in Asaba just to showcase Delta State", Mayuku said. "I am amazed at the manner our West African brothers easily take to our course.They love what they saw on ground and they want to come again... and we shall

always welcome them".

The West African golf Challenge goes beyond golf game. It brings forth the best youths in West Africa, especially a 12-year old from Gabon who plays an amazing 7-handicap. This could be reason youths from major schools in Delta state were selected to be part of a special Golf Clinic meant to sell the game of golf to youths all over West Africa.

"The idea from R&A is clear from beginning", says the convener of the event, Abel Edinomo. "the whole idea is to sell the game to West African youths and we are suceeding.

The Delta version is even more interesting because honorable Mayuku placed on ground N1.5 million for selected golf professionals in Nigeria to be part of the event. We are moving. Next year, the show will go to Liberia".

Ekiti ready to present Ikogosi to golf tourists

S

OMETHING huge is brewing is Ekiti State, precisely at Ikogosi, the historical place where a spring pours forth hot and cold water at the same time.

At the moment, the State is moving beyond days of old where tourists besiege Ikogosi just to have a feel of the Spring. These days, the Ekiti Government is putting in place an interesting thing that will keep tourists for days after they must have seen the Spring. This is a full blown

18-hole golf course that is about to come alive in Ikogosi.

"We know from our research that tourists can hardly stay without playing golf", Dr. Segun Ologunleko, Special Adviser to Governor Fayemi on Tourism said. "We do see a lot of tourists flooding Ikogosi to see the Spring and then depart. We feel this is not good enough. We want them to see the Spring and still stay around. This is why we have put in place chalets and hotels in that place. We want people to stay and

we want to keep them busy. This is reason we picked on the game of golf.

"The site for the course is ready.

It's a pretty place that gives a good view of the Spring. We can't just wait toget this project realized. I want us to do it in a record time and this is why we are calling on investors to come and assist in building the course. It will surely be a Tourist attraction, not just to Nigerians but foreigners who can't do without visiting the Spring at least once a year".

e-mail: deewalebf@yahoo.com

Day of the No. 9

N

EARLY a decade and a half since Rashidi Yekini’s exit, the Super Eagles lack a fitting replacement – evidence of the striker’s rare ability. With a lean, powerful frame providing thrust for scorching strikes and memorable wins for the national team, he remains a tough act to follow.

At 6 ft 3 in, the dark-skinned ‘assassin’ stood out among the most intimidating group of national team players the country ever paraded, but his on-field charm transcended physical attributes. He was something special, as national team colleague and former Super Eagles captain Sunday Oliseh rhetorically alluded to of recent.

“Which other striker do we have in the history of Nigeria, who strikes 30-metre shots?” he said. “If Yekini can count the number of goals at the highest level, it will be over a hundred … of all the strikers we talk about in Nigeria, which other striker?”

Oliseh didn’t state anything new to be sure, only revalidating a worn assertion. The emergence of Victor Agali, Julius Aghahowa, Yakubu Aiyegbeni, Obafemi Martins, Osaze Odemwingie and Ikechukwu Uche in turn as team talisman did no more than whet public appetite.

The latter two established reputation with lethal finishes mainly from midfield positions, but also emphasised the diminishing body frame of accomplished strikers available for selection – a disadvantage given the massive proposition of modern defenders. Compared to the great man, Yekini’s successors also share a penchant for erratic performance.

A less stable culture than cultivated by Dutch technical adviser Clemens Westerhof may be to blame as even Yekini took some time to get going early in his international career that launched in 1984 and terminated with Nigeria’s second FIFA World Cup appearance at France ‘98. It was not until Westerhof implemented regular service from midfield and the wings in the late 80s that Yekini’s strike rate really improved.

The records support Oliseh’s claim. In a career that wound through local clubs UNTL of Kaduna, Shooting Stars and Abiola Babes as well as Ivory Coast’s Africa Sports and Vitoria Setubal in Portugal, Yekini sustained an impressive goal tally. But it was during his four-year spell in Southern Europe that he was most lethal, notching a frightful total of 90 goals in 108 games.

He fiercely led the line for the Eagles during the same period, top scoring at the 1992 and 1994 Africa Nations Cup finals en route to emerging team totem. The loyalty and commitment of Nigeria’s first African Footballer of the Year (1993) were hardly questioned, with many differing to his skills with the monikers ‘Ye-king’ and ‘Goals Father’.

Fed regularly by Sunday Oliseh, Daniel Amokachi and later Austin Okocha from midfield or Finidi George, Tijani Babangida and Emmanuel Amuneke from the wings, Yekini honed his goal-poaching instincts. But the scoring-made-easy approach depended in no small measure on the vision, speed, control, and above all, killer touch that Yekini possessed.

They were qualities similarly displayed by distinguished predecessors Teslim ‘Thunder’ Balogun, Sunny Oyarekhua and Thompson Usiyen. From the1949 origin of the national team – as the Red Devils – through the stormy 50s, 60s and 70s rivalry with West Coast neighbours Ghana and the more successful 80s and 90s period in which transition in nomenclature to Green and then Super Eagles was defined by All Africa Games and Africa Nations Cup success, the strikers helped establish the fearsome reputation that heralded Nigeria marksmen.

Then came Yekini, and by the time he was through, a national team record of 37 goals in 58 matches was established. It may pale beside the mark of 56 goals in 78 games for Argentina by Gabriel Batistuta, Pele’s amazing 77 in 92 matches for Brazil, or the mind-boggling 83 in 84 strikes by Ferenc Puskas for Hungary, but it appears bound to stand for some time.

With European club football hype and a blistering start to his international career, Martins seemed likely to smash Yekini’s record until undisciplined antics and a worrisome spate of injuries – antecedents shared in varying degrees by fellow international strikers Yakubu Aiyegbeni and Osaze Odemwingie – overtook the cause.

Considering the administratively skewed set-up of Nigerian football, national team strikers appear at any time inhibited by personal demons as much as the quality of opposition. Some of it may not be personally induced, though, as Oliseh noted of the team to the USA ‘94 FIFA World Cup finals. Confirming widespread belief, the ex-international disclosed that a lack of unity in the Eagles ensured Yekini did not attain potential at the USA ‘94 FIFA World Cup finals with the solitary goal celebration of Nigeria’s first ever World Cup goal clear evidence.

“I feel that honour has not been given to Yekini like it should … some players had scores to settle with Yekini and all that,” rued Oliseh. “Some of our players were madly, sickly, mentally jealous the moment Yekini was honoured.

He was leaving for Panathinaikos, and there was some jealousy there.”

Oliseh held Yekini’s failure to counter ill-feelings with diplomacy as a crushing weakness, but team officials probably should have done more to mitigate rancour. In any successful group, team objectives always supercede individual egos.

Yekini’s weakness was therefore the country’s loss. It can only be hoped that the eventual successor is better handled.

That is a situation emergent stars Emmanuel Emenike and Ekigho Ehiosun could someday benefit from.

38

THE NATION, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2011

BACK STAGE Amstel Malta Showtime 3

GUS 8: Three male contestants make the cut

M.I, Banky W, Wizkid, thrill fans

F

UN-SEEKERS and music lovers had a swell time-out at the Amstel Malta Showtime 3 held recently in Abuja at the ThisDay Dome.

The event was anchored by Darey 'Art' Alade, while rib-cracking jokes were rendered by Buchi.

Also dance group, Dance Na the Main Thing, were on hand to entertain the audience with their ecstatic dance routine.

The show also featured special talent hunt where wannabe superstars slugged it out in singing, dance and comedy competitions.

The winners in each category were given shopping vouchers worth N100, 000, a laptop and a special trip for two in Lagos as first place prize. In addition to their prizes, the winners were also given the opportunity to perform with the stars that night. The first runner up got shopping vouchers worth N50, 000, while second runner up were awarded shopping vouchers worth N25, 000 during the show.

Mrs. Adedoyin Owotomo, Brand Manager, Amstel Malta, stated that “I think this has been a successful event. The members of the audience have had a nice time and I am impressed with the performance of M.I and others. The event would serve as a platform for future superstars. Beyond the entertainment and glitz, let's not forget that was a platform for future superstars. For some of them it is probably the biggest experience they have ever had and for others it's their first time before such an audience. So if Amstel Malta has been able to motivate them to chase their dreams then we have achieved our mission,” she said.

...as Bob Manuel makes surprise re-appearance

T

HIS year's Gulder Ultimate Search, currently being aired on selected TV stations in Nigeria, has entered its third phase. The third and final group of contestants, 'Batch C', will today enter the Ososo jungle.

Comprising five young men and women, they do not know the challenges that lay ahead of them.

•M.I thrills the audience Of the 10 that will enter the jungle, only three will qualify, while seven will be eliminated. However, one lucky contestant will be voted back in by viewers to join Geraldine Obi, from Batch A, and the lucky contestant that will be voted back in, in Batch B. The male contestants of Gulder Ultimate Search's Batch B cemented their winning streak, as three of them qualified for the 'Contest of Champions'. Sadly, Sandra Iwu, the last surviving female in the batch, lost out to Tony Horsfall, Christopher Okagbue and Anthony Igwe in the group's last task.

Prior to Sandra's eviction, two other HE excitement in the ongoing GLO NAIJA female contestants, Chigozie and SINGS reality TV show assumed feverish Theodora, joined the eviction list after dimensions with the eviction of 20-year-old they failed in the task before them.

Oni, as she became the sixth contestant to be With this development, the men seem eliminated by viewers on Sunday night in a show

Glo Naija Sings: Oni takes her leave!

T

screened on M-Net. While she became a part of the audience last night, the Top 4 did not only go on to tackle “International R & B” theme, but also a second performance, “Nigeria Contemporary” which had the studio audience screaming and applauding on their feet while Oni thanked Nigerians and Africa as she took her seat with the audience.

With the drama of elimination out of the way, Dare welcomed guest judge, rapper Naeto C, aka 'Super C'', famous for some big hits such as 'Kini Big Deal' and 'Ten Over Ten'; and the show's resident judges, Onyeka Onwenu and Olisa Adibua, all of whom will be casting a professional eye over the Top 4's performances.

The judges may have their say, but the power to choose Africa's favourite singer is in the hands of the viewers!

One talented contestant will walk away with the US$100 000 grand prize from M-Net, a fabulous Toyota Rav 4 from Glo and the opportunity to be a Glo Ambassador.

•Oni

to be bouncing back from the setback experienced by their peers in Batch A. Just before the task was set before them, the contestants were surprised with the appearance of Bob Manuel Udokwu. Bob was taking over from Darey who hitherto had supervised the contenders during their previous tasks. The task in question required the contenders to pick up two bundles of slates from a basket; scale over a pyramid; cross a beam; go over a wall and then form the picture of Thor, the Norse god of thunder, by arranging wooden slates on a box. It turned out to be the most difficult for them Christopher Okagbue was the first to solve the riddle followed by Anthony Igwe while Tony Horsfall finished in third place. For the males, it was a well deserved victory even after a slow start to the competition.

Not a few observers felt the females would dominate proceedings just as it happened in batch A where only one male advanced to the next stage, the gale of eviction having swept the others away. For his victory, Christopher was handed the Unicorn's Horn. He will certainly be

hoping that his hope holds out in the Contest of Champions.

For Sandra Iwu, it was a sad end of the road in the Gulder Ultimate Search. The Imo State born model had polarized opinion among her fellow contenders who were torn between liking her and completing alienating her.

Her eviction evokes memories of Geraldine Obi of batch A, another model in the competition. Geraldine, like Sandra, was the last to be evicted from her Batch. However, all is not lost for Sandra. She stands a chance of being voted back in to compete for the last slot in the Contest Of Champions like Geraldine. She will, however, have to contend with Iheme Kenneth Kelechi, Theodora Egbu, Ibitoye Kikelomo Adewunmi, Ohio Goodluck Sunday, Ohwonda Mary Wealth and Amamgbo Chigozie, the other evictees from her batch. If she is voted back in, she will face Geraldine Obi and the last contestant to be voted back by the audience from Batch C, for the final remaining slot in the Contest of Champions.

39

THE NATION, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2011

E

VER wondered why Prince Charles left his beautiful late wife, Princess Diana for an older, less attractive mistress, Camilla?

Ever wondered why some very handome men would settle for less attractive women? No, the answer is not blowing in the wind. It is right under our noses. Men fall for women because of how they make them feel when they are around them. Yes, yes I am not forgetting the fact that men are wired by sight, and that is why they can not help but turn their heads and stare when a very pretty lady passes by. So, it is also imperative for women to invest in their looks. Be physically fit, fix their nails, pedicure their toes, foundation their faces, fix their hairs, all these will grab their attention.

Question is, for how long?

You must not hold a man liable for loving and leaving you almost immediately the relationship kicks off. Or scream blue murder that a man has used and dumped you. No. A lot lies on us. Sequel to my write up last week, on "You will know in two months" I did mention that women have intuitions, and you can tell if a man is into you and why you should dump him as fast as you can if you are not "shacking" him enough for him to begin to initiate taking the relationship to another level.

SO, we must know that it takes more than a beautiful face to land "a man for keeps.

There are beautiful women everywhere. Every age. These days, you will see middle aged women and women in their sixties having better packaging than even ladies in their twenties.

Yes o, that's the way it is, there are no ugly ladies.

Not any more. So, if beauty can not pin down a man, what can? What are those things that men want from women that will make them opt for that particular catch? I am glad you asked.

Now read on; First, it is very key that you make a man fall for your intelligence; and not your body. Remember that respect from others comes from

•Vera, I disagree with you on two months. In the olden days before 1990s yes, 8 weeks could be sufficient to know.

Since 1990, 8 weeks could no longer hold! Livelihood was then manageable in the olden days defined above. Livelihood had been worse since 1990 in Nigeria. Till today, vera, when

Beauty attracts…but does not hold self respect. While men are wired by sight, women are wired by what they hear, but hear what the late Marilyn Monroe says concerning ladies: "A wise girl kisses but doesn't love; listens but doesn't believe and leaves before she is left…" Hello?

Beyond beauty, a man wants a woman who inspires him to want to be with her, spend time with her, respect her, possibly have her for keeps. She does this with a feminine grace that is hard for a man to resist. She is fun, playful, has boundaries and does not badge or nag to get what she needs out of a relationship.

She knows her value and therefore the man acts accordingly. How do you become this kind of woman?

What is it that men really want from women and what is it about, one woman that has him pinning away while he hardly notices other women? What makes one a woman men adore? And never want to leave?

Here are some posers for us. Are you the perfect girlfriend? Do you do everything within your power to please him and gain his affection?

You want to make his life easy because you love him.

You may cook for him clean, and do everything you can to please him and make him happy. Did it ever occur to you that this is why he has not offered you the ring yet?

an economy is doing well, citizens including love birdsmale and female will reason, reasonably well. Same for infrastructural needs. If opposite is the economy and infrastructural availability, suspicion is it between two love birds. Depending on situations, 2 months are too unre-

He has it all already and he knows you aren't going anywhere. Why should he marry you., You have nothing new to offer.

Will he ever marry you?

Ironically, a lot of women use this approach to 'catch a husband. They are the nice girls that put everyone else need before her own. She would put her man's need before her own any day because she loves him so much. It is the woman that loves herself, first that men adore. They respect a woman who will not compromise her own values and life for that of a man. A man's respect is the glue that holds it together.

Earn his respect and you will win his heart. It's the key to whether he will ever marry you. The women that men marry are usually the ones that don't work overtime to catch a husband. They are strong, spirited women who stand up for themselves. She won't compromise herself.

This makes a man classify her as a woman with a mind of her own that he can't walk all over. This is the woman that a man will marry. A woman that does not appear desperate.

Believe it or not, for the most part, you can't just act however you feel and be successful. For example, you many feel so in love and want to call your man forty times a day, but just because it feels good to talk to him doesn't

mean you aren't crowding him or pushing him away.

You have to be conscious of your behaviour and of how you are portraying yourself.

It is a constant work in progress but the pay off will be worth it.

Men like confident women… Note that confidence is not the same thing as arrogance. They are two completely different things.

Merriam Webster defines confidence as "the quality or state of being certain". A confident woman is certain of who she is on the inside. She does not need anyone to tell her for her to feel good about herself.

Most women think they have to be skinny to be beautiful. No doubt, you could appeal to his eyes but for how long? It is not your size that determines whether a man sticks with you or not. As long as you are confident with who you are, you are on your way, girl.

Do not show a man that you are insecure. This is a major turn off for men.

They like a woman who feels sexy and stunning in her pyjamas.

They admire a woman that does not feel threatened when he doesn't call the next day. A woman who has a social life and isn't completely absorbed in him, and a woman who has her own interests.

The goals is for a man and woman to complement each

other not complete each other. When you complement someone you are still yourself, but your good stuff together with others makes both of you shine.

Men don't want women who is clingy. A lady has to have her own ideas and stand by them. Of course, this does not mean she is not open to suggestions or ideas, but she won't sway from her own belief just to fit in or to be liked.

Often times, women believe that aggressiveness is an independent quality when in fact, it is a turn off to men.

You see, men are used to being or are actually wired to be the aggressosr. Men want a woman who is soft and nurturing. Men also love women that are soft spoken.

A woman will never be able to get through to a man by raising her voice. Men are wired for competition. As soon as they sense a challenge, it's all over. Women are not made to compete with a man relationship wise. Our men hear us loud and clear when we are being soft and approachable.

In conclusion, a little femininity goes a long way and hear what one man has to say: "As a man I have sought into middle age, this perfect woman for me". It isn't a fear of commitment. It is wanting the perfect woman for me and for her I would pull down the moon and stars and never

Text messages Re: You will know in two months… alistic to determine true love between love birds. Imagine two rich love birds from rich families. Imagine love birds from 2 senator-fathers. Imagine loverbirds from 2 CEOs of

banks, the question won’t be any suspicion till they get married if that’s the focus in the first instance.

8 weeks will hold between an unequal status love birds – Birds poor-poor and rich-poor as well as in rotten economy such as Nigeria’s situation such as one with and the other without a job will further determine whether or not two months will be sufficient in determining genuiness of love.

Lanre Oseni, Lagos •Vera, I read your article, I don’t believe you this time you seem not to understand the essence of we “feeling empathy and tolerance in relationship.

Aliyu

•L-r: Former Minister of Industries, Chief Mrs Nike Akande, with a business tycoon Olori Moji Abass during a funeral ceremony in honour of the late Sabaina Faleyimu in Ondo.

•t is a fact that many factors can interfere with a woman’s intuition when it comes to love matters. I am sure every few guy will show this article to his ‘babe’ because it might be an eye-opener for the ‘chic’. Na true’ – “guys are great at creating a disconnect between what they say and what they

actually do”, but how about those who can take gestures and kinesis for more than a quarter of a year, whose nonverbal attitudes are nothing but ‘cat-acting’ a script of lust story? May our ladies be filled with discernment and patience while walking on such path.

Seun Osinkolu Ogbomoso •Eeeh! What is it about “boobs as the great assets of women? What can the breasts do in the face of all the crisis plaguing humanity in recent times? Hey Vera, the worth of a woman is not in her boobs etc but a humanness that is in SYNC with Divine intent.

•Hi Vera, the converse is always the case these days we men now falls prey of women love after furnishing and larvishing them with cash care and love all men gets as compensation is nothing but heartbreak.

Ugwu Greg, Obudu •I was reading your article

look at another woman. I would spend my days thinking of ways to be romantic to her and make her feel loved and appreciated.

"I was beginning to think she didn't exist…and then I found her!

If you were to line her up with beautiful women, you might not pick her out of the line up as the most beautiful, but I would. To me, no woman on earth is as beautiful as she or as desirable or as wonderful to be with." I didn't recognize her beauty until I got to know her. And yes, I do spend time everyday thinking of ways to make her life heaven on earth. Even the most stunning woman is met with a complete lack of interest for I am fulfilled with the love of my life."

My submission is this; beauty gets the attention, but personality gets the heart.

‘

My submission is this: beauty gets the attention, but personality gets the heart

’

last Saturday 29th October on The Nation newspaper and I really think that your ideas are not that true. You really took side with women as if men are monsters and that is some trash, I think you should talk about women too, unless, you are just being specific on what happened to you or your friend.

•There are no kept secrets to keep harmony in marriages.

Rather whenever secrets come into the open (life and death). Hatred comes in on main reason for divorce and unfaithfulness is discovered of ‘kept secret’. Keeping any secret in marriage is lack of ‘genuine love’ as against fake love’ •I read your article today, many ladies use men for their material needs. Please write on this.

Lawal, Abuja.

Some secrets are better kept secret among partners while some are worth discussing.

However, the partners reaction to stimulus will determine what he or she should be told.

Ugwu Greg.

40

THE NATION, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2011

I’ve got friends

T

HIS past week looked like it was going to come crashing down on me, yet I remained calm as if I was sitting by the sea enjoying the caress of the wind. That’s me. When everybody around me is getting ruffled by the slightest issues, I would not as much as display an emotion yet I may be dying inside of me.

Thank God for giving me friends who know me very well, are able to decode me and always

there to offer their hands of love. It’s a pity that these friends are so private they wouldn’t want to be mentioned, but luckily, I know they read Hearts every week so I’m using part of the lyrics of ‘I’ve Got Friends’ by Tim Mcgraw to thank them for being there for me last week and for being there always: ‘…And I may not know how it feels to hang there on the cross to prove that love is real, but I’ve got friends that do’. Thank you JF, KB and SUD.

My man is not only stingy, he has another woman Pleases help me out. I’m in a mess in the relationship I’m into because the man in question is giving me a lot of headache particularly about money. Whenever I raise the issue of money, he always gets angry and starts saying I’m too fond of money and that he has told me never to ask him for anything.

He always takes it so serious that everything about him will change instantly. Please enlighten me on what to do. There is a woman his age that texts him love messages and he sends same to her. Whenever I complain, he lifts the messages. Please Deola, I’m 33 years old and he is 54 years old. I have two kids while he has five kids.

(08122911669).

Dear sister, while I won’t subscribe to anybody going to a relationship basically for monetary gains, I will quickly say that a man in a relationship with a woman who has kids from another relationship should be kind enough to support her every now and then.

I wouldn’t know how financially comfortable the man is, so it’s hard to hurl stones at him for not doing duties expected of him. However, if you think he has a few extra cash to help you with and he’s not doing that, then, you’re right to start grumbling.

Five children! That’s a large fam-

ily the man has there; I tell you.

What does he do for a living? If two or three of the children are in higher institutions and the rest are also in school, I bet that this man may not have much to send your way. Don’t forget that if he’s a civil servant, no matter how high his level is, he will still be heaving under the weight of expenses for his immediate family. So, have a heart-to-heart talk with him to know why he frowns when you talk about money. You may even be the one borrowing him to pay some of his bills after hearing him out.

This relationship looks like it’s a goner with the existence of another woman. I have this hunch that you’re right about it. Text messages are actually some of the tell-tale signs that there’s a rival somewhere. If indeed he has this other woman, you don’t even need to say bye-bye to him before leaving. I don’t understand what you mean by he lifts the messages though.

You’re still very young and you have your whole world ahead of you. Let no man play games with you. If he’s involved with a woman his age, be sure that she might have reached that stage in life where she’s settled and doesn’t make the kind of demands you make. That way, she might appear miles bet-

SUDOKU 1ST STEP IN SOLVING PUZZLE 349: Look at the 3 middle vertical (def) 3 x 3 boxes. The top box has 4 in cell Cd, while the bottom box has its 4 in cell Gf. The middle box must, therefore, have its own 4 in column e, where all 3 cells are vacant. But, since row D already has 4 in cell Dc, and row E a 4 in cell Eg, the only space available to accommodate 4 in the middle box is cell Fe. Reasoning along these lines, try and fill in all the other vacant cells.

SOLUTION TOMORROW. HAPPY PUZZLING!

ter than you are as far as he’s concerned, so you’re like an irritant.

Leave the man to enjoy the full attention of this other woman.

Send your profile; I should be able to get you a man who would be there for you and your children.

Smile!

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

I can’t marry him because we’re sexually incompatible Hi Deola, I’m 20 years old and I’ve been in relationship with this guy for almost 2 years. He really loves me and I love him too and he always makes me understand that he’ll want to marry me, but I

The woman I love is older and already has 2 kids Hi Deola, I’m 27 and single. I met a girl on the phone and I love her so much but she’s 2 years older than me. Whenever I want to visit her, something will tie me down.

She has two kids and I’m always thinking of what if I ran into the father of her kids. Don’t you think I’m too small to carry this load? – BAK. Dear BAK, all you actually need for this relationship to work is letter N. As you name is already BAK, just put N before the K and what you have is BANK. That sounds so good. Yes, I’m kidding, but really cash may be an issue in this kind of relationship.

That this lady is 29 and you’re 27 means nothing to me. You could be five years older than a woman and it still wouldn’t mean anything if she carries herself very well. But she has two kids. That in itself is an

I caught him in bed with another girl as usual and he’s pleading Aunty, good morning. A heavy axe is on my neck, bail me out. I’ve been in love with a guy for 2 years now and he has been hurting my feelings by sharing my love with another girl.

I just caught him in bed with another girl as usual and after that he started pleading and his friends too have joined to plead. What should I do; continue or quit?

If my understanding of the English language is as good as I want to believe, then your reference to ‘as usual’ means your boyfriend has the habit of doing it with other girls often and you have caught many times. This your guy has a high libido and you seem not to be able to satisfy him.

I beg, leave him for those who are able to satisfy him and go purge yourself of the sadness he keeps bringing to your life. That you think an axe is on your neck is enough indication that you’re not happy in this relationship. Leave the guy before the axe cuts you into two.

God will give you a man who will love you so much he won’t be sleeping with all the girls he sees in sight. AIDS is real. Always bear that in mind before you share your man with different girls.

From You to Me •Adeola, you were just so brilliant on Sat. Oct. 15, 2011 . Your understanding of relationship matters is ‘alarming’. Please keep up the good work. – Mayowa Pitan from Ikotun, Lagos .

(08186395007).

•I really value what you did for me. I will be informing you on how things are going. God

Matchmaking Special Widows in their 30s and 40s with children, a widower in his late 60s who is very cultured and comfortable, women in their late 30s, early 40s and 50s, men in their late 40s, mid 40s and 50s desire life partners.

Mail: heartsmatchmakers@yahoo.co.uk with your pictures, profile and all necessary information.

issue if she’s not in a good job. She will certainly need your support if her income does not match her liabilities.

Let me tell you what will happen over time. If for instance she can’t pay the school fees of her children and you’re known as her boyfriend, those who would normally help would hesitate to assist because they’ll say she has you, and you should be able to sort her out.

She’s 29 so I expect that her children are still at that stage where they’d accept you either as their uncle or second daddy (that is if they know their real daddy). So if you bond well with them, you won’t have any problem.

I doubt if there’s the presence of the father of the children in her life, because she would have hinted you of that. Even if there is, there’s nothing wrong in relocating her to a place of your choice to avoid clashing with a fighting ex (if any).

That means you need CASH .

At 27, you’re not too small to carry any load if you’re comfortable with her and your pocket fits into the whole picture.

This is not the time to let anything tie you down before seeing her. See her, get to know her and if you think you can take the relationship further after six months, see your family about it if you’re thinking of marriage. Don’t forget that we’re Africans and family plays an important role in our choices of life partners. What would your people say to you getting serious with a mother of two?

Jokingly bring it up with those in your family who matter most. I bet, it won’t be a lively joke. If at the end of the day it would amount to you dumping the lady if family pressure gets too hot, then you may have to drop her now. If you think you can stick to her through thick and thin, go ahead. That she has children is not a disease. Good luck!

I have sleepless nights because I can’t talk to her When I was in school, I met a girl who I love but anytime I want to express my feelings for her, I find it difficult to say and now we have left school and I haven’t seen her till then. I still love her and I have sleepless nights thinking about her. I have her mobile number, please help me o.

I don’t understand you o. You say you have this girl’s number and you can’t call her? Save yourself the sleepless nights and call her. Bear in mind that her response could be either positive or negative. If negative don’t push it, simply start sleeping.

She may just appear in your dream giving you the green lights.

don’t like the way he kisses and touches me. I feel that the chemistry is not there and I don’t think I can marry someone I’m not sexually attracted to. Please what can I do? – J. I have a friend who is married with three children. The funny thing is that she and the husband have sex regularly because he thinks she’s great in bed. Other than love-making, they don’t have any other thing they talk about.

Any effort at talking used to end up in big fights until they devised a method. I found out about this method when I mentioned to her recently that I noticed that they hardly fight these days and she said, ‘That’s because we talk through notes and text messages!’.

Hmm, so much about sexual chemistry without love.

What stops you from telling this guy about what you want in the bedroom? There’s no harm in talking about sex before doing it.

Most couples I know love different things in the bedroom and they get along all the same. It’s about having a balance. If for instance you like it high tempo and he likes it slow, try to see if he can make you come first and then you mellow to his temp after that for him to come or vice versa.

Hold him and kiss him the way you like and tell him that is the way you like it. You may find yourself experimenting and changing boyfriends before you meet the one who meets your exact needs. You may have lost the love of your life in that process.

Nothing in life is truly perfect; we just learn to love them that way. Okay?

I feel like beating my silly girlfriend silly Ma, I don’t know what is wrong with me. I hate the habit of beating women but I’ve found myself always shouting at my girlfriend who is not well behaved. I’m afraid I might lay my hands on her one day. Please how do I avoid beating her?

Men must stop the violence they perpetrate against women.

Stop it! Don’t touch that girl. Men who start beating women eventually graduate to hurting them and inflicting injuries on them. There are so many stories now of women being killed by their partners. It all starts with beating – physical abuse. Each year, millions of women all over the world are rendered emotionally bankrupt by either their husbands or boyfriends; please don’t join the group of the mad men.

The worst that should happen to this relationship is for you to walk away. So, if you think you’re shouting too much in this relationship, just pack your ego in a bag and send her a good-bye flower. Love is not by force if you’re not happy in it.

&

LIFE

Society Profile

THE NATION, Saturday, NOVEMBER 5, 2011

STYLE Gossip Interviews

41

SEE PAGES 44 & 45

It's inferiority complex that pushes many ladies to offer their bodies for favours

-Dr. Oluwatoyinbo, Provost of 90-yr-old Fed College of Agric

‘

When you distinguish yourself, no man will make any offer to mess you up. I don't see any man coming to offer me something for my body at this level. No man can do that even before I got to this level. So, let them(ladies) know that they have their integrity to protect and that they need to work hard...

Saturday

42

SPECIAL

THE NATION SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2011

With KAYODE OLANSHILE-ALFRED E-mail:kayflex2@yahoo.com TEL:08035733605

About Oba Fredrick Akinruntan’s new project

Mudi ups the ante P opular designer, Mudi, knows just the right time to kick it up a notch and keep others on their toes. This unique ability is something that has kept him going in one of the most competitive industries.

After many years in the business, many would think the time has come for the lanky designer to take the back seat. But whoever is nursing such a thought must be sorely mistaken.

Rather than slow down, Mudi has upped the ante. Last Sunday, the Ughelli-born upwardly mobile dude stunned detractors when he unveiled another branch of his outfit on Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.

To celebrate his apparent success in his line of business, socialites, celebrities, fashion icons and other society bigwigs were on hand to celebrate him.

Mudi entered the fashion industry many years ago, and while many of the people he met there have quit, he has remained steadfast and true to his calling. Little wonder he ranks high in the list of top fashion gurus of our time.

O

ba Fredrick Obateru Akinruntan, the Olugbo of Ugboland, Ondo State, is no doubt one of Nigeria's wealthiest monarchs. That the chairman of Obat oil and gas has an exquisite taste would also amount to stating the obvious.

The news in town now is that the monarch, who staged a high-octane coronation anniversary yesterday, has started the construction of his new Febson Waterside International Hotel in Ode-Ugbo, Ilaje, Ondo State.

According to those who should know, the new hotel, when completed, will compete keenly for tourists' attention. The huge project is said to have cost the monarch a fortune already.

Work started at the site a few months ago, and it has been a beehive of activities since then.

Prof. Grange on the rebound

W

isdom, the bible says, is profitable. The wise thing to do when one suffers a setback is to relax, rethink and retrace one's steps to know the point at which things went wrong.

This way, you learn from your mistakes, make amends and carry on with life.

For Adenike Grange, an accomplished professor of pediatrics, president of the International Pediatrics Association and former Minister of Health, life is nothing but a theatre of lessons.

Going down memory lane, many will remember the controversy that surrounded her and her ministry a while back when she spent some time in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). At the time, she was charged with siphoning unspent funds allotted to the ministry. Even though she pleaded not guilty, many said she erred by not giving her ministry's activities the necessary scrutiny, thus allowing corruption to thrive under her watch. She has since been given a clean bill of health by the court.

Be it as it may, she has forged ahead with her life. Now she has set for herself the new goal of curbing the social vices that are prevalent among Nigerian youths. She is also planning the launch of her new movie titled, 1920, an initiative of her youth empowerment scheme, called Project CRAZY (Creating Real Avenues for Zealous Youths).

Already, top socialites, politicians and society bigwigs are preparing for the launch of her movie slated for Thursday, November 24,2011, at De Prime Hall, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State.

No wedding bells still for Gbemi Saraki, Omosede Igbinedion, Gloria Ibru, others

T

he year is 10 months gone, but the wedding bells expected in respect of some society ladies are yet to ring. They are endowed with features that would make otherwise principled men knuckle under. They are blessed with head-turning looks. They have good jobs and promising careers, and their pedigrees are inviting. They are ripe for marriage in every sense, but somehow, they are still single.

Some of them are separated. Some prefer life as single mothers because they really don't like the stress that comes with marriage.

Some are divorcees. Others are seriously searching for Mr. Right.

They don't only live in expensive apartments and drive exotic cars, they are usually found in influential circles. For those who still do not know them, we are talking about the likes of Jennifer Obayuwana, Lola Omotayo, Funke Kuti, Tosin Dekalu, Gbemi Saraki, Linda Priddy, Omosede Igbinedion, Eunice Efole, Toyin Lawani, Vivian Chioloji, Toni Payne, Adaobi Nwakuche, Nona Adimora, Gloria Ibru, Ure Okezie and many others.

The question on every lip currently is wether or not wedding will be on the cards of these eligible damsels even in Year 2012.

Nana Otedola celebrates husband at 47

Y

esterday, Femi Otedola, the oil magnate, who obviously loves white apparels, clocked 47 years.

The mood in the household of the Otedolas at the moment is that of joy.

The pleasantly beautiful wife of the billionaire businessman and boss of Garment Care, one of the leading drycleaning outfits in Nigeria, Nana Otedola, used the occasion to register her neverchanging affection for her husband, who has been with her through thick and thin.

Femi Otedola, the chairman of Forte Oil and Gas, among other concerns, would rank among the most quiet members of the billionaire club in the country. Still, each time he ventures out, you can easily tell that he commands enormous resources and respect on account of the number of people who go to him to exchange pleasantries or pay homage.

Saturday

SPECIAL

THE NATION SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2011 TEL:08035733605

Mohammed Abacha's new wife rocks family

About Marifa Whyte T

M

ohammed Abacha might have floundered in his first journey into politics, an experience that saw his governorship ambition in Kano State end up in tatters.

But the eldest surviving scion of the late military ruler, Gen. Sani Abacha, recently made another bold move that suggests that he is far gone in putting the bitter lesson from politics behind.

This much he conveyed a few months ago when he made a new addition to his immediate family. The addition to the family came in form of a new wife.

Mohammed, who is better known for his aristocratic lifestyle and occasional philanthropic gestures, tied the nuptial knot with pretty Samiral, a widow said to be in her 20s and endowed with beauty and intelligence.

The union was reportedly shunned by the members of Mohammed's family because most of them, including the Matriarch of the family, Hajiya Mariam Abacha, did not approve of the relationship.

Those who should know informed Happenstances that Mohammed only made good a vow he had made many years back to take a second wife.

here is a saying that the patient dog eats the fattest bone. This strategy appears to have worked well for Marifa Whyte, who is currently enjoying the fruits of her perseverance.

Many would remember that she ran into troubled waters a while back when she was alleged to be carrying her married lover's baby. This posed a major problem for her, as she was treated like a pariah by many of her friends and associates.

But since she joined the ranks of proud mothers, luck seems to have smiled on her. The news about town now is that she has just acquired a new Range Rover SUV and there are speculations that it is a gift from her baby's father.

She has since been painting the town red with her new acquisition and she no longer has ears for detractors and rumour mongers who are bent on making her unhappy.

Oyo Speaker marks Sallah with children

Kafilat Ogbara rewarded

G

iven the rate at which high society is losing its movers and shakers, one would fear that inertia could soon take over and lethargy could become the order.

For every cloud, however, there is always a silver lining. For the cloud on the social scene, the silver lining would seem to be the resilience of some of its supposed extinct members.

Among those who have risen from the ashes of travails is Kafilat Ogbara. Not a few thought it was all over for her after her bid for the governorship seat of Ogun State on the platform of the PDP in the last general election.

But she soon resurfaced on the list of ministerial nominees. Although she was not appointed a minister eventually, she came quite close.

And now she has been appointed as the Special Assistant to the Minister of Agriculture.

And while some are of the opinion that her move up the ladder was aided by her closeness to ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, others say it is only a reward for hardwork.

The return of Lanre Ojora

E

legant Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon. Monsurat Sunmonu, will this weekend spice her brilliant political career with a unique show of social responsibility. She will gather 1,000 children for entertainment in celebration of the Ed'el Kabir festival in Oyo, her home town.

The children are drawn from public primary schools across her Oyo West and Oyo East Constituency, including those from remote villages and communities.

The lawmaker told Happenstances that she organised the programme as a way of reaching out to families during the period, stressing that children should benefit more from such festivals than adults in terms of activities that would make them happy.

The programme, which is slated for the township stadium at Durbar, will see 10 children from each school join their colleagues from across the two local government areas to share a play time with the Speaker. The children were drawn with the help of the Oyo Zone of the state's Basic Education Board.

Aside the tight security that has been arranged to prevent intrusion by unwanted guests and criminals, Hon. Sunmonu said the children would enjoy plenty of food and drinks as well as go home with gifts.

They will also have an opportunity to dance with the lawmaker, ask her questions and have snapshots with her.

She said: "If we are still doing the same thing as our predecessors, then nothing is changing. We are here to bring about a positive change in different ways we can.�

Tony Elumelu, wife dazzle at Fowler/ Kuku's wedding

Top celebrities gather for Toba Oke

W

hen a leader fulfils the yearnings of his community, he naturally becomes a hero. It is, therefore, no surprise that on Saturday, October 29, 2011, Toba Oke was the subject of celebration by friends and well-wishers at the Ifako/Ijaiye playing field. At the ceremony, Oke was all smiles, greeting guests with the same cheerful disposition that has endeared him to many over the years.

On hand to man the bandstand was Afro Juju exponent, Sir Shina Peters, who sang the new

chairman's praises to high heavens.

The boss of Advic motors, Adegbenro Adelakun a.k.a Ade-lexus, was among his close friends who gathered with other eminent persons and top celebrities to celebrate one of their own.

Oke has served on the boards of many companies. He had also served as the marketing manager of AIT and Senior Special Assistant to Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State. Hence, it was for him an icing on the cake to get a chance to serve the people of his constituency.

43

44

THE NATION, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2011

Dr. Mrs Foluke Oluwatoyinbo, a soil scientist, sits atop the 90year-old Federal College of Agriculture, Ibadan, Oyo State, as provost. Since assuming her new position in January, 2009, the female agriculturist, who found herself in a male-dominated industry, has proved the axiom, ‘What a man can do, a woman can do better’ beyond measure. In this interview with BISI OLADELE and TAYO JOHNSON, the 55-year-old manager of men explains how what her father taught her about equality in intellect and hard work with men keeps her shoulder to shoulder with men. She also offers advice for young women aspiring to succeed in life. Excerpts:

C

AN you share your education background with us?

I had my first degree in Chemistry from the University of Ibadan. Thereafter, I veered into agriculture because I found myself working in an agricultural institution and I wanted to be relevant. I also had my PhD in Soil Sciences from the Obafemi Awolowo University, IleIfe. I actually started my working career here in 1978 after my youth service but it was then School of Agriculture before it now came under the Board for Technical Education and it was named Federal College of Agriculture.

The agriculture sector is a male-dominated industry, particularly in the education aspect where more men are in the helms of affairs. How did you make it to the top?

I have always believed, possibly by virtue of my background, that when you talk about hard work and intellect, there is no gender differentiation. A woman can work as hard as a man but the bone of a woman is what is inferior to that of a man. That is what my father has always taught me right from childhood. And it became part of me and that has always been my driving force all along. So, whether I am contesting with any male or female, I don’t see any difference but I believe in

•Oluwatoyinbo

‘Secrets of my success leading a male-dominated team ’

putting my best in all I do.

Do you like agriculture and do you work on the farm?

Yes I do and I have passion for it. I was already doing that before I became the provost because when you are leading people, you have to lead by example.

Do you have a female child and do you instil the same kind of orientation your parent gave to you in them?

I have three female children and I have done that to the best of my ability and I am so glad my children have always proved their worth in all the settings they find themselves going by the remarks that I get from people they work with.

With your position over here, you are possibly leading more men than women. Will you say it has been easy?

I am finding it very palatable. I feel very comfortable with all the men around here. I have been asked this question several times and I feel normal because I take them as my brothers. Many of them are younger than me while a few of them are older. I take them as my brothers, so I don’t feel strange and I don’t feel odd among them. I don’t feel any how leading them.

They comply with my methods and they cooporate with me.

Leading intellectuals (mostly men) at work and being under another man at home, how do you balance the two?

It is only by the grace of God. I believe in God and I know it is God that has been taking me from one level to another. I knew that at a point in time I will come to a level like this but I did not know what it was but I know God had beautiful plans for me. So right from then, I started practising how to perfect the balance between having a husband whom you are expected to submit to and respect and then exercising authority over other people who are also husbands. But I thank God, it has not been difficult at all. My home has been a peaceful one and that has been the secret of my success at work. You know when there is peace at home, you can have your way in the office.

Ladies of this generation are found in different vices such as using their bodies for money, doing all sorts to get money and position because they believe the economy is not favourable to them. But you have distinguished yourself as a female. What greatest thing do you think any woman in Nigeria should learn to succeed in life?

Like I said, when you talk about intellect, there is no gender. Females should subject themselves to that factor where they make themselves to understand and believe that what a man can do they can do. As a woman you don’t have the physical strength and muscles of a man but when it comes to using your brain, using all the talents that God has given to everybody, women are not inferior. It is only when they see that they are inferior to men that they give their bodies to men in order to get what they can get and also many of them are lazy and do not want to work. Some of them are also greedy. Rome was not built in a day. You grow gradually.

You should be satisfied with the level that you attain while you aspire for a higher level.

There is a commensurate benefit that you

45

THE NATION, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2011 expect from every level that you rise to in life. So women should believe that they can make it and believe that they can achieve their goal with the destiny that God has set out for them. Let them believe that they can aspire like any other man can aspire. When you distinguish yourself, no man will make any offer to mess you up. I don’t see any man coming to offer me something for my body at this level.

No man can do that even before I got to this level. So let them know that they have their integrity to protect and that they need to work hard.

What state did you meet the college and what stage will you say it is at present?

Without an attempt to indict or degrade the effort of my predecessors in office but all to the glory of God and to be factual, three years ago, this college was very far from what it is today. It was in a terrible state in terms of infrastructure - all our buildings were old, unkempt and dilapidated. Our environment was rough. The infrastructure were inadequate. The situation in the staff offices was very degrading for the calibre of people that were there.

Our students were not well orientated about what they were supposed to go out and do. Our programmes have been stagnated over the years. The social environment was not quite fine.

There was a lot of rancour, bitterness.

The control was not perfect and there was a lot of disharmony socially. That was the state at which I met the college when I came in. In fact, before I came in, we were full of pity for whoever was expected to come and head this college. That was our feeling then but when the advert came out, it was another thing. I did not apply at first, I was scared because I have been here all along and I knew what was on ground, although I was qualified for it. Everybody prays to get to the pinnacle of his or her career. Then people started encouraging me, pushing me forward that I can do it. They were asking me why I did not apply.

I was refusing not only because of the situation on ground but secondly, because for the first time the appointment was going to take a form that it had never taken before. It used to be an internal arrangement with the Governing Board of IAR&T covering the college at that time. What used to happen is that you just wake up in the morning and come to work and just hear that somebody is the new provost of the college; but in 2008, somebody just hinted me about an advert where the position of Provost was declared vacant. I was pleased with it because it means that we are not anybody’s errand boy but we are appointed by the President of Nigeria and we don’t need to bow to anyone and then, I put in my papers and God intervened.

What major thing will you say you have brought into the system as a leader?

It is a very difficult question for me to answer because just before you came in, I had this write up about what I have done here so far and I have been cracking my head on the major achievements that I have recorded, but I don’t know what to pick if I am to pick one. I think the most important factor in any work place is the people.

So if you ask me to say something that is most important, I will say the change in the orientation, the attitude of the workers apart from other improvement in infrastructure.

How did you bring about that change?

It was not easy because the whole place was in disarray, nobody trusted anybody.

The workers didn’t trust the leadership, and the workers even did not trust themselves and they are not ready to submit to anybody’s authority and so on. If I must be truthful with you, it took some spiritual exercise for me to get it done. The moment I got the appointment, I went fasting and praying because if you don’t have the people by your side, you cannot achieve anything physical.

Secondly, I held meetings with different categories of staff apart from general meetings and I let them know that I was here to create a change so that we can come together and bring about a change; so that we can all come together to move the college forward. I appealed to their sense of responsibility and commitment. They

•Oluwatoyinbo

‘

If I must be truthful with you, it took some spiritual exercise for me to get it done. The moment I got the appointment, I went fasting and praying because if you don’t have the people by your side, you cannot achieve anything physical

know me - I am very firm. I wouldn’t because I want to be friendly with you bend the rules but there is a way you maintain the rules and you don’t hurt the personalities involved.

So I demonstrated that over the first few weeks and I was able to enlist their trust and respect. Today, I can tell you I have gained their trust and their respect and I can also tell you that there is absolute peace and friendliness around this place. Everybody is also willing and ready to do his best to transform the college.

What have they been getting in return for that positive attitude and improved contribution?

I ensure that what rightfully belongs to them gets to them in good time. Whenever you delay or deprive people of their financial right, they will be discouraged. I knew that as at that time, we were taking our salaries in the

’

second week of the new month. It was not the making of the head at that time and the government was releasing money, but the bank was very inefficient. So we were taking our salaries, may be 15 days after the Federal Government must have credited the account of the college. You know people have children and personal issues to attend to and when you deprive them of money, every other thing goes wrong.

So the first thing I did was that I studied that situation to know what was causing it and it was then I got to know that it was the bank we were using. So I went straight to the head of the bank in Ibadan here and he started giving different excuses for the delay.

I gave him a month to shape up. Before the end of the month, the man sent a delegation to assure me that they were working very hard to tackle the problem and at the end of

the third month, it did not improve.

So I just investigated some good banks around and banks started coming here with different proposals. I selected a bank which we just moved our money into and up till today, that bank has never disappointed us because they post our money on time. That was the first thing I did. By the time people get their money on time, they will be happy including all other entitlements; and most of them are putting their best to the work.

I was commenting yesterday that it seems I have succeeded in changing the working hours of this place because the earliest I leave this place is 6:00 or 7:00 pm, whereas before 3:00 pm, you won’t meet anybody here again and you will start calling their phone numbers. But I just discovered these days that many of them are still around by the time I am going home without asking them to stay behind.I also introduced this reward system at the end of the year. I have set up a committee to watch the activities of people so that we call them at the end-of-the-year party as workers of the year and it has been on for two years now.

Within the limit of our funds, I ensure that every worker attends a seminar or workshop once in a year. When I started in 2009. I was a bit skeptical because of the funding involved and if I am not able to do it. I will become a liar but thank God, we have been able to do it; even a group of them just came back last week from a conference.

46

THE NATION, SATURDAY NOVEMBER 5, 2011

W

IDE belts appear to be the season’s most sought-after waist accessory. And a bevy of celebrities and fashionistas are sporting it. They come in all kinds of shapes, sizes and hues, and they can put in so much proportion to any outfit.

Most importantly, they show off a woman’s curve. In a world where there is much ado about what one wears, we like trend that gives us a chance to flaunt a little curve here and there. It is a must-have fashion item for those who know their onions when it comes to following the trend. So get one for this season.

•Wear it at the waist, over a trim jacket, tunic tops, and corset dress embellished or spaghetti dress to create a feminine silhouette that sparkles

•Deji Bakare

•Leather suede ties obi belt

This brown belt will dig comfortably into any ribcage to give one a sexy look.

D

EJI Bakare, a graduate of the Lagos State University, emerged the Mr Nigeria 2011 after a well-contested event, involving 17 other guys from different parts of the country.

The event was held last Sunday night at the Silverbird Galleria, Lagos.

He walked away with one million naira and a brand new SUV.

•It is a stunning belt and will really make a fashion statement and make you look sexier.

47

THE NATION, SATURDAY NOVEMBER 5, 2011

Foluke ADEMOLA LACK dress never goes out of fashion, and it is the most versatile of all dresses one can have. It is a must for every wardrobe. It can be worn at any time with the right accessories.

Keep these in mind when buying and wearing your black dress: •Divide your black dresses into two categories: Those with their own focal points like an intricate neckline, sleeves, beadwork and so on and the plain and simple ones.

•Dresses with their own focal points need very little accessorizing like a dash of colour for the daytime or a hint of sparkle with jewellery for the nights are all that you need to get going.

•Always choose a style that fits you perfectly. Black always looks good provided you wear the right cut and fit.

•Select a classic style that will not fade out as fashion trends change.

• Choose the perfect length. Most women agree that a knee-length dress is most versatile for it serves as a multi-occasion garment.

To make the most of your plain little black dresses, team them up with a variety of accessories suitable for different occasions.

Spend more time in deciding which handbags, wraps, shoes and jewellery to choose.

B

•Didier Ludot black dress for Guerlain

•Mosun Dodikko

Bolanle (Koko Mansion)

•Chidi Mokeme

British Fashion Council accused of snubbing Kate Middleton

T

HE British Fashion Council nominated 18 people for this year’s British Style Icon prize. That list includes Victoria Beckham, Florence Welch, last year’s winner, Alexa Chung, and Lara Stone, among others. Write-in candidates are allowed, though, and there’s already a campaign to see Kate win via public support without an official spot on the ballot’s lineup.

Considering the extensive coverage surrounding Kate’s every outfit, this omission is certainly a calculated one. And though it’ll cause them to flare up anew, the arguments surrounding Kate’s style status are hardly going to change — because neither is her status as a new royal. She can wear fashion (and almost always does so quite nicely), but being fashionable, fashion-forward no less, is not yet considered becoming of a future queen, however modern. So it’s not as if Kate could even accept the award if she won it — the Palace would no doubt frown upon such commonality. Let’s just give the win to Daphne Guinness instead.

Kate Middleton needs your style vote.

48

I

T has been six long years, yet it seemed just like yesterday. On October 22, 2005, at the village of Lisa, Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State, an ill-fated Bellview Airline flight, sent all the 117 people on board, both passengers and crew, to their untimely grave.

The Boeing 737 Flight 210, which originated from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, and bound for Abuja, had allegedly vanished from the radar barely six minutes after takeoff at about 7p.m on that fateful Saturday. The twin-engine plane had a capacity of 120 people.

Till date, the nation has lived with the shock of the tragic and abrupt end of the supposed 50minute trip that was never to be.

Painfully, the crash site was not discovered until the following day.

But back in Abuja, the nation's capital where the flight was destined, scores of anxious relatives who had been waiting for their return busied frantically to get news of what had become of the Bellview flight. They had stormed the local wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport the following morning, trying to get some clues to what could had happened. But alas, it was too late.

The damage had been done and distraught relatives were left in the cold to moan their fate and live with the unquantifiable pain of the loss of beloved ones.

But some of the heart-rending tales which trailed the tragic crash have continue to make many tremble at the cruel turn of fate that befell the victims. And they have continued to live with the lingering memories ever since then.

Lisa dreams tourism destination As for the site of the tragic crash, the most that happened was a memorial arcade built by the then government of former President Olusegun Obasanjo. The memorial garden had a plaque on which the names of all the victims are inscribed.

But for the sleepy village and its residents, they are probably dreaming more than just an arcade.

The town has, therefore, urged the Federal Government, particularly, President Goodluck Jonathan and the Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, to immortalise those who died by developing the community into a tourist’s destination.

Speaking with newsmen recently, the Baale of Lisa, High Chief Najeem Odugbemi, alleged total indifference and neglect of the community by the government.

Chief Odugbemi averred that beyond the Lisa Memorial Arcade and Gardens, built in honour of the crash victims, and which has suffered considerable neglect, nothing else is there to point to in the village.

He, however, admitted that when it was initially commissioned, the community witnessed a high influx of tourists from Nigeria and abroad who went to the village to see the scene of the tragedy and perhaps pay their last respect to the victims.

His first appeal was to President Goodluck Jonathan and Governor Ibikunle Amosun to rehabilitate the roads to the arcade to enable tourists find their way to the village with relative ease, saying it is about the only and first thing that can renew people's interest and ensure that the crash victims did not die in vain.

In his words: "The road from Ijoko to Lisa is dilapidated and that occurred immediately after construction in 2007. We want the government to come to our rescue, because if there are no good roads, the community would be starved of any meaningful development.

THE NATION, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2011

Six years after Bellview plane crash

Come and immortalise your loved ones, Lisa’s monarch tells victims’ relations

•Arcade’s walkway

•Plague where names of the victims are inscribed

Nneka NWANERI We appeal to the authorities to rehabilitate the roads so that tourists coming for the Memorial Day celebration will not be discouraged", he stated.

Chief Odugbemi alleged that once Obasanjo left office, his successors appeared to have lost interest in the Memorial Day celebration that comes up on October 22 of every year. According to him, late President Musa Yar'Adua never showed any interest, even as he appealed to Goodluck Jonathan to take after Obasanjo and make sure the victims did not die in vain.

"All of them were notable Nigerians. If tourism is well funded, it could be a veritable source of revenue generation for the state. The government of Ogun State has a lot to do because any administration that does not develop tourism would lose a lot in revenue generation.

"Some countries depend on tourism as source of revenue and Nigeria has a lot of potential as a tourist destination. It is therefore imperative that the state improves and maintain the arcade like former President Obasanjo did, so that families of the victims will be happy".

Odugbemi also urged families of the crash victims to acquire land

in the community so as to build lasting structures in memory of their beloved ones.

"Whenever, I visit the arcade, the guards will always show me the visitor's register and I am able to discover that more than 200 people used to visit on a daily basis. There was an influx of people when the road was in a good, motorable state, but the volume of visitors has thinned out as a result of bad roads.

"The arcade has been transferred to Ogun State Tourism Corporation (OSTC) and I've written to them on the need to upgrade the road. This is the only aviation tourist centre on the African continent, as there is nowhere you will find any other built in memory of plane crash victims.

"It should be built to match international standards so that visitors coming to Nigeria will want to visit the place and enjoy the scenery. Much has not been achieved in terms of improving the infrastructure and that is because of the bad road.

"The road is the first thing government should improve if they really want to maintain the standard of the arcade as a tourist centre," Odugbami added, saying the "community has decided to make the remembrance an annual event."

Nigeria lost some of her illustrious sons and daughters in the crash, among whom are: Mr. John Udeka, who was the Managing Director/CEO of the defunct ACB International Bank Plc. He was a First Class accounting graduate of the University of Lagos, and he went ahead to prove that he was a sound professional with expertise in the restructuring and repositioning of banks.

A fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, Udeka joined the defunct ACB International Bank from Devcom Bank Limited, where he led the turnaround team, having also played a major role in similar assignments in Equatorial Trust Bank Limited as a General Manager and later as Executive Director.

There was also, George Enenmoh, an engineer and then Managing Director of Ascon Oil Limited, one of the leading indigenous fuel marketing companies in the country and Chairman Depot and Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPMA) then.

As at the time of his demise, he was 50 years; he had also commissioned his telecommunications outfit, TOPCON and three more fuel storage tanks. And in consonance with his vision for an increased local participation in the

•The Baale, High Chief Odugbemi

strategic oil sector, he paid $50,000 (N6.5 million) early 2005 to obtain licence to construct a 55,000 bpd oil refinery in Delta State at a time when major oil companies turned their back on such project. He took Ascon Oil to a consortium that won an oil block at the 2005 Bid Round.

Maria Sokenu was the Managing Director of the defunct Peoples Bank of Nigeria, which was established during the Gen. Ibrahim Babangida administration to provide microcredit for the underprivileged persons in the country to enable them initiate small-scale industries.

There was Ayodeji Omotade, who was a Permanent Secretary at the Federal Capital Territory. Before then, he had also served in same capacity at the Federal Ministry of Labour.

Of course, there was also Alhaji Mohammed Waziri who was the Chairman of Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) and also member of Board of Trustees of PDP. He was also Chairman, Presidential Committee of Trade Malpractices.

There was Alhaji Abubakar Argungu who, until his death, was the Postmaster-General of the Federation, and who would be remembered for bringing sanity into the Nigerian postal services.

49

THE NATION, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2011

Qatar wins award

•Olumirin Waterfall

Olokun Festival: A decade of cultural renaissance •Cultural troupe performing at the festival

Olokun Festival: A decade of cultural renaissance

I

T was almost abnormal that the sky looked so clear on this particular day during rainy season. In fact the sun was so hot that one could mistake Suntan Beach for a place close to the Sahara desert, that being just about 10 metres away from the Atlantic Ocean.

The ocean current itself was quite furious forcing the beach keepers to raise the red danger flag, warning visitors not be adventurous on the ocean. The Atlantic Ocean mood was in line with festivity at the beach side as the members of the O’odua People’s Congress (OPC), traditional rulers, visitors from far and near thronged the Suntan for the 2011 edition, the tenth in the series, of the Olokun Festival.

Cacophony of drum beats as different cultural groups struggled to outdo one another in singing and drumming added up to the air of festivity.

The Olokun Festival has come of age. In 2001, the maiden edition of the festival was held at Alpha Beach, Lekki, Lagos. It was like a child’s play. To many, it was kind diversionary activity to channel the energy of the then restive youths that formed the fulcrum of the O’odua People’s Congress (OPC).

There was no traditional ruler at the maiden edition. Neither were there notable government functionaries.

Those at the high table were mostly human rights activists who came more out of loyalty to a comrade in the struggle than conviction as to the appropriateness of such a festival.

Based on the acceptance and followership that the festival received and other logistic reasons, the festival was moved to Badagry.

It has not flourished and got stability. It has also taken an international dimension.

Ten years down the line, the festival has become the most consistent and enduring cultural event

in Lagos State and has given birth to 20 other cultural festivals that the group now marks all over Yorubaland.

Last week, the grand finale was celebrated at the Suntan beach which, for many years now, has lost its lustre and it is only given relevance as a leisure resort by the annual festival held there.

Besides the array of cultural troupes that throng the venue yearly to be part of the festival, the Olokun Festival grand finale has also served as a forum for the distillation of ideas on the way forward for the Yoruba race and its culture.

Otunba Gani Adams set the tone for the festival in his welcome speech. He said the festival had become a platform to continually discuss on the socio-cultural wellbeing of the Yoruba race.

He said: “ The importance

of our constant meets at this seaside is to continually educate one another repeatedly that we make our culture, so veritable, dignifying and benefiting, if we can develop it and

make it part of our life. There is no limit to this improvement and that is why we must keep on Continuedon Page 50

•L-R: Amuwo-Odofin LCDA chairman,Comrade Adewale Ayodeji; SSA to Lagos State Governor on Tourism and Inter-governmental Relations, Mrs. Morounranti Alebiosu; and Otunba Gani Adams

50 Continued from Page 49

meeting to celebrate as we are doing today.

“Our culture has the procedures for law and order, a decent marital process, trade relationship and quality leadership. Mention the system that you cannot find in our culture, and then, I will tell you that such thing never existed in any culture.”

The keynote speaker,

THE NATION, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2011

Olokun Festival: A decade of cultural renaissance Akogun Tola Adeniyi, continued from where Gani Adams stopped. He spoke on the topic: Culture, Identity and Emancipation: Challenge to the Yoruba race.

Adeniyi said the cultural identity of the Yoruba man is summarized in the race’s age-long concept of Omoluabi. He said the

Omoluabi is the quintessential Yoruba that is not lazy, who cherishes industry, and earns respect through hard work and the accomplishments hard work brings his way.

He continued: “An Omoluabi is ever truthful.

An Omoluabi will never tell lies under any circumstance.

He is courageous; and when

Kehinde FALODE: 08023689894

Ingredients •Water yam •Onions •Dried pepper •Salt (pinch)

Preparation • Peel skin off water yam. Cut into large chunks. Grate each chunk using the smallest side.

• Wash onions, clean, dice and also the pepper, clean, dice and remove the seed. Put the

consider their options.”

Lagos State Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola represented by his Senior Special Adviser on Tourism and Inter-governmental Relations, Mrs. Morounranti Alebiosu, praised Gani Adams and the Olokun Foundation for their efforts in promoting tourism and culture in Lagos. She used the opportunity to express the desire of the governor to raise the profile of Lagos in the area of tourism. She said in this second tenure of the governor, tourism would receive a lot of attention.

The festival, with activities that lasted more than a week and climaxed with the grand finale, has other activities like boat regatta, beauty pageant for the selection of Miss Olokun and other events.

The recently crowned Miss Olokun was presented with a car during the festival.

According to many, the festival does not only signify the effort to uplift the Yoruba culture and tradition, it has become an event of immense economic benefit to the residents of Badagry who make brisk business from the thousands that come to the town yearly for the festival.

Nutritional benefits of crayfish

Ojojo

•Seasoning cubes •Crayfish (optional) •1 garlic slice (optional) •1/2 cup flour (optional) •2 large eggs (optional)

called on the race to rediscover who they are “by researching into their authentic history.

They must be re-educated on their cherished value system. They must reclaim and restore their identity and dignity, and they must collectively reclaim their destiny. If submitting slavishly to foreign faiths will forever blind them to their true identity, they should re-

• Fuji musician Sule Alao

•Eyo masquerades performing

Ojojo is made from the grated water yam containing onions and spices.

It is delicious and easy to prepare. It makes a great snack and can also be paired with one or two other sides to create a surprisingly filling meal. This is the original “once you pop, you can’t stop.”

he is on the battlefield, he will defend his rights with his blood if need be, but he is not foolhardy.

“An Omoluabi will not steal because he hates anything that will bring shame to his family or to himself. To the Yoruba man, death is preferable to disgrace.”

He lamented that the Yoruba’s cherished culture has been eroded by the alien western culture. He, therefore, called for a cultural rebirth. He

diced onions, diced pepper and grated water yam into a mixing bowl and mix. If you are using egg and flour, add them together and mix well.

• Add salt and seasoning to taste. Mix the ingredients to a smooth paste and set aside.

• Heat the groundnut oil and add the mixture in balls to the oil and fry for 5-8 minutes. Flip and let other sides cook till golden brown as well.

• Remove and put on paper towel to absorb excess oil. Serve hot.

Crayfish have a super healthy combination of nutrients from its almost pure form of protein to its healthy amount of Omega-3 Fatty Acids which we now know are among the most beneficial fats we can eat. Crayfish protein has large amounts of the amino acids tyrosine that mentally energizes the brain.

You will be amaze with its benefits and values .

There is a healthy supply of vitamins D and A as well as calcium and potassium, copper and zinc in crayfish. Iodine is also often mentioned as an important ingredient.

Crayfish is a very low carbohydrate food, and without ‘carbs’ ,you can safely eat crayfish without putting on unwanted weight.

A single serving of boiled crayfish is three ounces, approximately 85 grams. Three ounces of crayfish meat contains 70 calories, with only nine calories of this coming from fat. Boiled crayfish is a low fat food, having one gram of fat per serving and no saturated fat.

There are 14 grams of protein in a three ounce serving of boiled crayfish and no carbohydrates. Boiled crayfish is considered a high quality protein source because it contains all nine essential amino acids.

Crayfish is a very good source of selenium, manganese, copper, phosphorus and

vitamin B12, providing over 20 per cent of the daily-recommended intake of all of these nutrients. According to the LSU Agricultural Centre, crayfish meat is more easily digested than other types of meat due to its short muscle fibre.

Crayfish, included in the diet, offers the same health benefits ascribed

to seafood in general, including protection against alzheimers, stroke, cancer, asthma and heart disease.

Overall, boiled crayfish are a good source of protein. Its low fat levels make it suitable for dieters and the omega-3 fats and abundant micronutrient it contains provides many potential health benefits.

51

THE NATION, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2011

Olojo : Remembering heroic figures

•A female cultural troupe

•A male cultural troupe

T

O most visitors, the an nual Olojo Festival is all about the Ogun deity, but for the custodians of culture, the celebration is an avenue for remembering the heroic contributions of ancient personalities whose actions have helped to preserve what is today known as the Yoruba nation.

History reveals the heroic actions of the female warrior, Moremi Ajasoro, who allowed herself to be caught by rampaging savages called “Oluyari.” These savages traumatized the Ife people, taking their men as slaves, and their women were raped at all times.

Gradually, the Ifeland was decimated by the action of these savage warlords. Everyone lived in a perpetual fear

of being captured, as many homes were thrown into agony. Women were made widows, and children became orphans.

Seeing the level of sorrow the people were thrown into, Moremi decided to surrender herself as a sacrificial lamb for the salvation of her people.

When she was taken to the monarch in the land of her captivity, he was astonished by her beauty that he decided to make her one of his wives. She proved herself a diligent and hard-working wife till she wormed her way into the king’s heart, from whom she sought the taboo of the soldiers that terrorized her land.

The king told her that as strong as the soldiers were, their weakness was fire because they were usually

dressed in dried giant grass leaves whenever they were on the rampage at Ile-Ife. Hearing this, Moremi on the pretext of going to the stream to wash the king’s clothes ran back to Ile-Ife and informed the elders that the savages be bathed with fire on their next visit.

The savages were defeated and her heroic act brought relief to the troubled people of Ifeland.

Oduduwa was impressed that he announced the entire kingdom celebrate the historic feat achieved by one of the daughters of the land by dedicating the day to the creator which in Yoruba means “fi ojo fun Olojo”, this was later abridged to Olojo.

According to the Akogun of Ifeland, High Chief

Johnson Adesoji Adegboyega, it is similar to the biblical order that the Sabbath day be kept holy, adding that during the finale of the one-week celebration, sons and daughters of Ile- Ife join in the celebration with everyone remaining at home, as there was no going to the farm or anyone involved in buying or selling of any form.

The festival is essentially surrounded around two important personalities, the Akogun and the Ooni. The Akogun presides over the first five days of the festival in company with his wife who, every morning, pays homage to Oranmiyan.

The women continue to chant gbajure which derived its essence during the early

days when Oranmiyan was going on a quest and told his son, Akogun, that whenever a war was waged against Ife, they should summon him by continuously chanting gbajure: “Oranmiyan, akin ni le, akin loko, okunrin kakaki t’ otoju ogun dele gbajure.

Opa ara ido ogba ido, gbajure.” Besides, he built a perimeter fence with a door which only his son can open with his finger, giving the Akogun a name Arikasilekun.

After the fifth day of gbajure at the Akogun’s palace, the sixth day is the day dedicated to paying tribute to the Ogun deity, called Ogun Li la.

On the seventh day, the festivity shifts to the Ooni, who in company with other chiefs in the town, leads the proces-

sion to Oke-Mogun. After two days, the visit to OkeMogun is repeated, signifying the end of the week-long festival. At the sacred place, another significance of the festival is unmasked.

The festival is an opportunity to pray for peace and progress Ifeland. This is specially a duty of both the Ooni and the Akogun who throughout the period of the festival are incommunicado.

It shows the bond of brotherhood among the sons and daughters of Ifeland, wining and dining, exposing the special nature of the festival and its name: Olojo.

In the past, people did not go to farm because the Ogun is also celebrated and you cannot use gun or cutlass during this period.

‘Men should not discourage their wives from realising their potential‘ •Continued from Page 22 programmes. We are going to be moving more and more towards that.

You graduated in 1968 from here. Some would say that was really the ending of the truly golden era in the Nigerian university system. Then you started work in 1974, a period in which there was a sort of liberalisation of university education. People were coming in. That was during the oil boom. Some even argued that those things the government did then led to the present paralysis because they couldn’t sustain it. Now you are leaving. Well, the worse I suppose is over though the best is yet to come. How would you rate your students over the years? What are your joys and pains?

Well, as a student I must say that it was good. The times were good and the classes were small. Remember it was an elite university then. There were only five universities then –UI, UNIFE (University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU), UNILAG (University of Lagos), ABU (Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria), and UNN (University of Nigeria, Nsukka).

We got funding from the Federal Government. The lecturers were respected. They had status in the community. Your status wasn’t a function of the car you had. It was a function of the fact that you were a lecturer. So, even if you wore your adire all over the place, you would open doors.

But the military people came.

Their own culture was a different kind of culture. They didn’t necessarily promote scholarship. It’s good now that many of them have universities. But at that initial stage they didn’t do that. And then came this idea of broadening access to education. Good! But if you

were going to broaden access to education, you must also expand the resources. It means that the same classroom that was used for 50 students was now being used for 200 students. There was no way that standard wouldn’t fall. That also explained the violence that we had on campus since then. And many people who were not even students were on campus. Standard really fell that time.

But I must say that even out of this lowering of standard we still got good students. Those who were good were still good. And we have here a culture of promoting scholarship, which is not limited to only attending lectures but also attending seminars here and there. UI has always had that, and I am happy that we did not lose that even in the most difficult days. There was also the pressure to expand and expand. And the way that funding was tied to the number of students we had was not the best for the universities. It means that even those who didn’t have facilities were expanding so that they could attract more funding as well. And some of the older universities had problem dealing with that. Here, we are used to dealing with smaller classes, interacting more with our students.

We lost that. But we then began to rethink what we should be doing.

One decision that UI had to take in 2000 was to say we would no longer admit more students than we could cope with. It meant that we would lose some money, but we can access fund from other places to make up. If you don’t have to upgrade your facilities from the meager resources provided by the government but you have other agencies providing that, then it leaves you freer to take decisions. So, UI had to take that decision.

The second thing that also

•Prof. Odejide helped us was that we have enough academic personnel to be a postgraduate university. Now, the key to that is this: undergraduate fees are regulated, but postgraduate fees are not regulated.

So, you can charge fairly economic fees from postgraduate students. UI then said that since there are so many of these professors (in some departments there are 18 with the right links and exposures), why don’t we put our resources into training postgraduate (PG) students? It was then we decided to do 60/40 arrangement – 60 for PG and 40 for undergraduates.

How was growing up for you like?

Well, growing up for me was good. My parents had some education. I think my father was unusual for that period because he didn’t have the mentality of fe-

male children not going to school.

He believed in education. He knew that if a child was going to do well, they must have good education. Fortunately for him, he could afford it. My mother too had taught in a school before. That was the old standard six.

My primary school was fee-paying. It was the school founded by Chief Wuraola Esan, Ibadan People’s Girls School, Ibadan. She came from Britain with a diploma in education and started the school. Later on in the old Western Region, education became free. It was okay; we had good teachers. From the People’s Girls School, I was admitted into Yejide Girls’ Grammar School, which was an Anglican all-girl boarding school. We had missionary teachers and Nigerian teachers. But what was good about the teachers was that because they had close links with the University College of Ibadan then, they came and took part in seminars. When I finished from secondary school in 1962, I was admitted into Queens College, Lagos for higher school certificate (HSC). It was popularly called the sixth form. I was there for two years. That too was good; it was a different orientation from a missionary school. I was happy I went there. When I finished there, of course we couldn’t come to the university straight in those days. You had to work for nine months because you would finish in December and the university wouldn’t resume until September.

I taught in a high school. My father was there working in Osogbo.

His firm was GB Olivant. He was there as a General Manager. In 1965, I came into the university.

Now that you are retiring, what do you plan to do?

In academics people don’t just hands off like that. There are stu-

dents that I am supervising. I have some Master’s and Ph.D students.

Fortunately, the Internet is there and so I can supervise by e-mail. I have not asked for a contract.

That’s a possibility. I can retire and take yearly appointment. I haven’t done that. This is because I have been in UI since 1965 as a student.

I went abroad for three years. I came back here again.

Are you tired of the environment?

No, I love it, but I also need a break. I have things I am doing.

You know I write. I am into textbook writing and writing for children. People ask me to consult here and there. It’s just that at this point in time I don’t want to take a desk job again. But I can come in and help teach. And you know that the 70-year thing has not been formalised. As they put it here in UI, they say it’s a policy not a law.

Apart from the fact that the National Assembly has been slow in dealing with it, there is also the issue that it’s tied up with other things. It’s tied up with the pension scheme. There are many changes that have to take place.

That notwithstanding, people should be free to leave voluntarily at 65. I don’t think I would have loved to be here till I am 70. But I would miss my students, especially the very bright ones. I like working with young people too. I think there is so much potential in them, much more than we recognise. That’s why I feel sad when I hear that in the university they are dealing with them in all kinds of ways. They mustn’t talk, they mustn’t do this or that. Let them talk. If you are confident about what you are doing, if you are updating your knowledge constantly too, let them talk. Let them challenge you. I will also miss all the conferences and seminars that take place here.

52

THE NATION, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2011

Marriage in three realms! couple must be ready to detach themselves from parents and relatives.

After marriage, you are not obliged to and don't have to accept every counsel and instruction from parents and relations. Rather, all must be carefully weighed under the light of the Word and in the interest of your new home.

For a marriage to be complete, a couple must not only leave father and mother, but must also cleave to each other (Genesis 2:24). When you cleave to your spouse as the scriptures recommended, nothing will be able to come between both of you.

In God's concept of marriage, two people alone make a home.

"For this cause shall a man leave his father…and cleave to his wife" (Mark 10:7). My darling husband says that when they are more than two, it becomes a house! I believe this is true. This will tell you how important this oneness is. It has a lot of advantages if couples practise it.

Any marriage outside Christ cannot escape difficulties and troubles. No wonder, married unbelievers see themselves as trapped. If you are not born again, you are not entitled to the

fulfilment in marriage that God has reserved for those who love Him. But God's grace is extending towards you right now; that grace is the carrier of salvation. If you respond to it today, you will escape the distress the world is facing in marriage.

If you desire right now to be born again, say this prayer of faith: Dear Lord Jesus, I accept that I am a sinner. But I understand that by inviting You into my life, I will be pardoned of all my sins. Forgive me of my sins and come into my heart right now. Cleanse me with Your precious Blood. I accept You as my Lord and Saviour. Thank You for coming into my heart in Jesus' name. Now I know I am born again!

Congratulations! Call or write, and share your testimonies with me through: E-mail: faithdavid@yahoo.com Tel. No: 2341-7747546-8; 07026385437, 07094254102.

For more insight, these books authored by me are available at the Dominion Bookstores in all the Living Faith Churches and other leading Christian bookstores: Making Marriage Work, Marriage Covenant and Building A Successful Family.

10 medical tests women need every year W

Is there a natural cure for bad breath?

D

EAR Reader, You are welcome to this awesome month of November. It's going to be another great time in God's presence. This month, I will be talking on what I title, "Marriage In Three Realms".

Talking about marriage, there are always two concepts or views to every issue of life - God's and man's. This assertion is true of marriage, too. Man's views and concepts about marriage are numerous.

Some people say "marriage is a necessary evil", some say "every home has its own peculiar problem", while others introduce a state of irony into this holy institution. They contend that the married are looking for a way of escape, while the unmarried

HAT health tests and check-ups do you need this year but are not yet done by you? Many women are yet to identify the basic medical check-ups they need, that is why a team of top doctors and experts were assembled to help figure out what medical exams women really need.

Mammogram A foreign government advisory panel recently gave annual mammos a thumbs-down for women ages 40 to 49 who don’t have an elevated risk of breast cancer. (Scientists are worried about overdiagnosis, false positives, and unnecessary biopsies and radiation exposure.) Now, only low-risk women ages 50 and older are supposed to get a mammo every two years.

But many doctors and cancer organizations disagree. If your breast cancer risk is elevated because of a

are eager to get into it.

God's ways and thoughts are higher than man's; and His perceptions are perfect. It is by accepting and walking by God's own concept that one can find fulfilment in life. Thus, God's concept of marriage is that it is GOOD and it is to be enjoyed, which is contrary to man's claims on marriage.

God instituted marriage. After He finished His work, He "…saw everything that He had made, and, behold it was very good" (Genesis 1:31). God is good, and nothing less than good proceeds from Him. If marriage is evil, according to man's claim, God wouldn't have initiated it.

Buttressing the fact that marriage is good, Paul said, "Marriage is honourable in all…"

personal or family history, yearly mammos starting at age 40 (or younger) are still advised. Talk to your physician during an annual physical check-up about your cancer risks, and call that person right away if you have any breast problems.

Skin check More than 1 million Americans will be diagnosed with skin cancer before the end of this year. As a Nigerian, the best way to catch it early—when it’s highly curable— is by checking yourself once a month for new or suspicious moles and by getting a total-body exam once a year from your doctor or a dermatologist.

Eye exam If you wear glasses or contacts, visit your eye doctor for a vision screening every year; every other year if you don’t. Women are more likely to experience eyesight problems partly because they have higher risks for dry-eye syndrome

(Hebrews 13:4). Marriage cannot at the same time be honourable and evil. Ever before I got married, I already discovered and accepted God's concept of marriage, at the expense of man's concept, which has captured many men, and it is working for me.

A woman once walked into my office for counselling. She said each time any of her husband's relations writes or visits them, the man was always quarrelling with her.

Sometimes, the relationship will degenerate so low that the man would refuse to eat any food prepared by her.

This is a clear proof that the man is still being remotely controlled by his relations. He puts at a premium the interest of his people over and above that of his own family. This is contrary to God's idea of marriage. If a couple can gain parental independence, then it will be easy to be free from the apron strings of relations.

Let me sound this note clearly: there is no way to enjoy fulfilment in marriage, without first leaving father and mother.

This does not mean to abandon parents and have nothing to do with them any longer. But the

and auto-immune diseases that affect eye health.

Hearing test The standard for getting an audiogram, which checks your hearing at a variety of pitches and intensity levels, is once a year starting at age 50, when hearing typically begins to decline. Hence, the older you get, the more you should visit the general hospital to see the ENT (ear, nose and throat) expert.

Periodontal exam Once a year (at one of your twice-annual cleanings) your dentist should perform a periodontal exam, probing the health of your gums and taking X-rays.

He will check for gum inflammation, which can contribute to heart disease and diabetes.

TSH screening Cold, tired, achy, constipated, gaining weight—all of these are

symptoms of hypothyroidism, a deficiency of the thyroid gland that strikes about 10 percent of women. It’s diagnosed with a thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) blood test, given during your annual physical starting at age 50 (earlier if you experience symptoms).

Blood tests After a baseline screening for cholesterol levels in your 20s, get one at least every five years. From age 40 up, get your cholesterol and blood sugar (to check for diabetes) tested every year because heart attack and diabetes risks rise as you age.

Pap smear Starting at age 21, regardless of sexual history, women should have a Pap smear test every other year to look for signs of cervical cancer. Those 30 and older need to get tested once every three years if they’ve had three consecutive normal Pap smears.

Colonoscopy This test, during which a camera scans your colon for cancerous polyps while you’re sedated, is recommended for people 50 and older and should be repeated every 10 years (more often if polyps are found). Get a colonoscopy earlier if you have a family history of colon cancer, or if you have unexplained bleeding or other changes in bowel habits.

•Periodontal or dental check is one important check-up which women need to do often

Depression screening Simple questions from your MD at your annual physical can rule out depression, which affects one in four women in their lives but is often undiagnosed. Your doctor asks a series of questions about sleep troubles, irritability, and loss of interest in your favorite activities. Five or more warning signs could signal a problem. If you’re concerned about your mood, ask your doctor for this screening.

I

T is natural to assume that bad breath - also known as halitosis - is caused by a problem in the mouth. However, for a very significant number of individuals, their bad breath is not caused by a problem with oral hygiene, but is related to their digestion in general.

A common and often undiagnosed cause of bad breath is toxicity in the digestive tract. This is often related to inefficient digestion and elimination of food.

As a general rule, it will help you to eat a diet based around fresh fruits, vegetables, beans and pulses, and wholegrains such as brown rice and wholemeal bread.

Avoid fatty, processed and additive-laden foods, all of which burden the digestive system and increase the likelihood of toxicity there. Drinking plenty of water should also help reduce toxicity. About 1½ litres each day is about right for most people.

From experience, bad breath can be caused by undesirable reactions to certain food, something that we usually refer to as ‘food intolerance’. Problems such as excessive mucus formation and allergic rhinitis are very often connected to intolerance to dairy produce. It may be that you are not digesting foods such as milk well, and is therefore tending to linger in the digestive tract. A potential consequence of this is bad breath. Dairy products can also increase mucus secretion in the sinuses, possibly leading to low level infection there (sinusitis).

Sinus infection is another potential cause of halitosis.

It is recommend that those whose breadth are bad should eliminate all dairy products (except butter which is very rarely a problem) from their diet for three weeks to see if this helps.

Soya and rice milk make good alternatives to cow’s milk. You might also try various supplements especially one based on sunflower, peppermint, spearmint and parsley seed oils. This supplement helps combat bad breath by neutralising odour and toxicity within the digestive tract.

53 Coping with diseases

THE NATION, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5 2011

Making a U-turn from drug abuse: Considerations before withdrawal

S

OME laborers at a building site in Lagos once told me that they take their white powder daily and it helps them to have the stamina they need for their work. They were not thinking of quitting the habit. For various reasons, some people take a substance regularly, for some time, or during special occasions. They seem to know why they use these things and how to use them. Not all cases of drug use require withdrawal. Withdrawal is necessary if the drug use can predictably interfere or is actually interfering with the user's well-being, normal life activities, or important relationships.

The job of expert care of an addict is properly the work of a psychiatrist and psychiatry nurses. The psychiatrist can determine the seriousness of a substance abuse case. Some cases are acute and possibly precipitated by a life event such as an exam failure, financial frustration, being jilted, divorce, bad news, betrayal, loss, disaster, etc. Some cases may be chronic such as those linked with chronic illness, poverty, misery, hopelessness, wrong company, oppressive conditions, rebellion, etc. Other cases may be intermittent, now and then, phasic, op-

O

NE of the many types of fungi that live and grow inside most human bodies. Normally, Candida causes no harm; our bodies are equipped with pro-biotic (or friendly) bacteria and immune cells that keep it under control.

However, some medications, high sugar diets, allergies and other factors can cause the friendly bacteria to die, leaving Candida free to grow unchecked in or all of the body.

The medical name for overgrowth is Candidiacies but most people know the condition as either thrush or

portunistic, seasonal, etc., in a person's life. Certainly, it is best to remove or work against a known cause or precipitating factor such as poverty or frustration and this requires more than psychiatry. Generally, in family life, members should be insightful in providing support for a member that is going through a particular negative experience so that it does not result in another negative experience such as drug addiction.

For successful withdrawal, an addict needs a protected environment, free time, and expert attention before embarking on withdrawal. The addict could stay at home with proper care or in a rehabilitation center. Depending on the drug involved, the addict, at the time of withdrawal, may need to shed normal responsibilities and commitments or hand them over to other persons temporarily. He or she may need to divert his or her interest away from other goals in life, especially demanding goals. These can be resumed later.

Depending on the particular drug of abuse, the way the drug has been used, and the individual peculiarities of the user, withdrawal symptoms

with Prof. Dayo Oyekole

Genital herpes

H may develop within hours, after some days, or after a longer period. This is one reason why the person should not be involved in any demanding commitments and should have proper professional monitoring during withdrawal.

If the person (abuser) who abnormally depends on a drug to live normally is facing a demanding period in life, such as a student facing critical exams, the expert care giver should judge whether to delay the withdrawal till after the person passes that phase and can set aside free time and be committed to focus on the withdrawal exercise or whether the person should skip the exam (or other interests) and do the withdrawal exercise first. It may mean taking leave off work, going on a vacation or travelling (to rehab), and disconnecting from agents (including persons) that supply and encourage the habit. It may be fatally risky to try to combine withdrawal with normal life or with demanding life events.

Withdrawal exercises may not require total abstinence from the drug of abuse ini-

Candida as a yeast infection. Thrush is marked by soft white patches in the oval cavity around the anus, or on the skin. It most often appears in babies and in elderly, but people with seriously compromised immune systems such as these who have AIDS or who are undergoing Chemotherapy are also vulnerable.

Many conventional doctors do not believe that such condition exists (except in cases of seriously compromised immune system such

as AIDS) our view is different and we find out that many people with chronic fatigue health conditions have problems with yeast overgrowth.

Sometimes the fungi spread throughout the entire body in a condition known as ‘systemic candidacies’. This disorder can produce wide variety of symptoms and is often at the root of a persistent, mysterious illness. If you feel sick but you are told by a doctor that nothing is wrong, there is a chance that you are actually suffering from system candidacies. For people with dramatically weak immune systems, systemic candidiacies is a grave threat, as the fungi can actually poison the (system) blood.

Symptoms: —Vaginal itching (women), pain and burning.

—Thick yellow discharge.

—Burning during urination.

Systemic candida Persistent fatigue, constipation, Diarrhea, Colitis, Abdominal pain, rectal itching, Kidney and bladder infections, musclar pain, arthritis, canker sores, congestion, cough, headaches, numbness and tingling in the limbs, poor memory and concentration, model problem, chronic skin rashes etc.

Root cause •Toilet infection •Prolonged and frequent

tially. The usage of the drug and the dependence on the pleasant effects of the drug have to be tapered off, i.e. rendered less and less effective or less and less needed. The expert care giver may allow the patient to take the drug of abuse in less and less amounts over time. The expert may alternatively substitute the drug of abuse with another drug that has the same pleasant effects but is less problematic. Furthermore, the expert may substitute the drug of abuse with another drug that not only has the same pleasant effects but also works in the same way as the drug of abuse at cellular levels. The latter is because withdrawal symptoms may be partly due to alteration of drug receptor systems at cellular levels and if the substitute drug does not act on the same receptor system as the drug of abuse, craving and fatal withdrawal symptoms may develop.

Dr. 'Bola John is a biomedical scientist based in Nigeria and in the USA. For any comments or questions on this column, please Email bolajohnwritings@yahoo.com or call 07028338910 use of antibiotics (depletion of good bacteria) •Poor digestion and climination.

•A depressed immune system.

•Ahigh sugar diet •Allergies •Stress.

•Hormonal changes and birth control pills •Ageing.

Treatment •Sugar and yeast •Avoid all foods (especially alcohol) containing these substances: •Foods with mold e.g. nuts, and nut butters •Refined foods loaded with sugar •Fruits and fruit juices during the initial phase of treatment.

Recommended foods •For high density nutrition and immune support, your meals should be something around fresh vegetables, whole grains and quality source of lean protein such as beans, lentils, fish and organic poultry.

•Eat unsweetened Yogurt daily to replace friendly bacteria •Add some brewer yeast to salads and other dishes to enhance your immune system.

•Drink 8 glasses of water a day to help flush yeast toxins out.

•Consume garlic and onion for detoxification.

•Dr B. Filani is the Chief Consultant of Sound Health Centre, Lagos. You can contact him on 08023422010 or on facebook or email soundhealthcentre@yahoo.com.

ERPES is a generic name for a group of viruses that cause a variety of diseases. The ailments people generally associate with herpes are those that produce small blisters on the skin, which open and are replaced by a crust before they heal completely. Genital herpes is caused by a virus called herpes simplex (HSV2), which causes crusted sores, commonly around the lips and mouth (“cold sores”) and the genitalia. The infectious condition itself is also known as herpes simplex.

The virus is intermittently present in the mouth of healthy carriers and is spread by personal contact; genital herpes is spread by sexual contact with an infected person and is a venereal disease. Although some forms can be transmitted through the air or by contact with infected articles (especially towels) used by someone with active herpes, infection usually occurs through direct physical contact.

An attack begins with itching of the skin in the affected area, quickly followed by redness and swelling. Within a few hours fragile blisters (vesicles) appear and rupture to exude a sticky serum like fluid which rapidly crusts. Unless secondary infection with bacteria occurs, the lesions heal without scarring within about a week.

Because herpes blisters individually are the size of a pinhead or smaller, they may not be easily visible. Generally, the affected area will be red, tender, and mildly to severely painful. Fever, headache, and general malaise may also be present.

Genital herpes infections may cause a painful cervicitis (inflammation of the cervix) in women, with ulceration and a vaginal discharge. The results of recent research studies have suggested that women who develop herpes cervicitis may have an increased risk of developing cancer of the cervix in later years. The condition is now seen as a reason for regular screening by Pap smears, which can detect early cancerous changes at a stage when treatment is simple and curative.

In men the genital infection is usually less severe. However, those whose immune response is impaired (such as cancer patients, HIV/AIDS sufferers or organ transplant recipients) can be very susceptible to herpes infection.

Genital herpes may be passed from a pregnant woman to her baby during delivery. Babies infected during birth by their mothers’ active genital herpes are very likely to die or suffer severe brain damage because they have little or no resistance to the virus.

Once the virus enters the body, in stays there for the rest of the person’s life, unless a natural remedy is applied. Recurrent attacks may occur, usually during periods when the person is feeling run down, anxious, or depressed, before menstruation, or after sexual intercourse.

In holistic lifecare, the best prospect of prevention and total cure of genital herpes is in going back to nature in terms of personal hygiene, protected sexual contact and use of potent herbal remedies. Also, a body kept healthy by proper nutrition and exercise has the best chance of keeping the virus under control.

The holistic remedy being suggested for total cure of Genital Herpes is a combination of natural extracts of Eugenia caryophylatta, Citrus lemonis, Euphorbia unispina, Hypericum perforatum and Echinacea augustifolia.

For further information and consultation on Holistic Lifecare research and services, especially on Blood Infections, Infertility, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Chronic Debilitating Conditions as well as mental and social problems, please call on: 0803-3303897 or visit: Mosebolatan Holistic Lifecare Centre, Adeyalo Layout, Ogbere-Tioya, Off Olorunsogo Express Bridge, Ibadan.

Website: www.holisticlifecare.com. Distance is no barrier, we can send remedies by courier if need be. We also have facilities for accommodation, admission and hospitalization in a serene and homely environment.

54

THE NATION, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2011

•Kawu Baraje

T

HE ongoing membership registration and revalidation exercise of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may appear to be going on smoothly across the nation. New members are said to be joining the fold nationwide and a number of prominent erstwhile members who left the party as a result of disagreements are said to be itching to be readmitted into the party.

Acting national chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje, had a few weeks ago unveiled what he described as fresh aggressive measures to increase the membership of the party nationwide. The exercise, which started on September 1, is expected to end on December 7. Baraje is expected to visit major registration cities and centres across the six geopolitical zones while the exercise lasts.

The planned visit, which the party said would start any moment from now, is expected to add impetus to efforts by the party’s national vice chairmen in the six zones and national working committee members to ensure the smooth conduct of the membership drive. The national

•Obasanjo

PDP registration exercise:

Plus one, minus one Augustine AVWODE

chairman has expressed satisfaction over what he described as “positive development” and “steady progress” the exercise has recorded so far.

“Having been following the steady progress of the ongoing membership registration and revalidation exercise in our great party, I hereby wish to thank our respected governors, chairmen, stakeholders and the generality of members for their total support toward the success of the exercise so far. Reports reaching the national secretariat of the

party indicate that the exercise has recorded an incredible turnout of people wishing to have their names in the party’s registers in the states with no incidence of violence reported so far”, Baraje enthused.

A directive by the national chairman to chairmen and leaders of the party at all levels nationwide warned against using the exercise as an avenue to exclude the names of certain individuals from existing registers. He enjoined members currently locked in disputes over the composition of state and council executives of the party to participate in the exercise as, according to him, the party would recognise only one

consolidated register per state at the end of the exercise. To ensure fairness to all existing and intending members, the party leadership stated that after the close of registration, some days would be set aside to address possible complaints and observations arising from the exercise.

Apparently to encourage participation, the party announced a downward review of accumulated dues standing against some existing members. Baraje expressed confidence in the ability of the PDP to meet its estimated membership target of over 80 million adult Nigerians in the country and in the

Diaspora at the end of the exercise.

But while the national body of the PDP is trumpeting an open and allinclusive membership drive, reports from the states indicate otherwise.

In many states, a few notable figures, particularly among the army of defectors wishing to come back to the party, are having it rough. The battle for supremacy among prominent members across the states is said to be fierce as the various contending forces are scheming to take control of the party machinery by edging out identified opponents and those perceived to be in the black book of some state governors.

In some of the states, those alleged

55

THE NATION, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2011 to have defected from the party shortly before the April 2011 elections and who contested elections against candidates of the PDP are being tactically excluded from the exercise. Also, members known to have testified against PDP candidates at the various elections petition tribunals may have a hard time having their membership revalidated. These sets of members being classified as having indulged in anti-party activities at one time or the other must not go unpunished.

A few of them that have managed to have their membership revalidated would have to be placed on probation at least for the next six months in line with the party’s constitution. Even after the probation, such members, if at all they succeed in scaling the hurdles, may not be granted waivers to contest elections in the nearest future. As a matter of fact, a few cases of some notable defectors in some states have even been referred to the national secretariat of the party for consideration.

For some undisclosed reasons, the PDP national body appears to be in a dilemma over attempts by the former governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayo Fayose, to return to the party.

A recent statement by the national publicity secretary of the PDP, Professor Rufai Ahmed Alkali, stated that the National Working Committee (NWC) had received an application from Fayose, asking to be readmitted into to the party.

According to Alkali, the NWC met on Wednesday, October 12 and deliberated on Fayose’s application and other related issues and that “the NWC would study the application and shall make public its decision at the appropriate time”. He added with emphasis that the party’s highest decision-making body was yet to take a final decision on Fayose’s fate.

The former Ekiti State governor had dumped the PDP shortly after he was chased out of office in 2005.

Apparently working on a script believed to have been crafted by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, agents of the state had swooped on the Fayose administration and sacked the entire executive and legislative arms ostensibly as a result of disagreements bordering on the finances of Ekiti State. Thereafter, a state of emergency was imposed and a retired army general, Adetunji Olurin, was appointed sole administrator for the state for a period of six months. The development forced Fayose to go on exile.

He joined the Labour Party (LP) on his return from exile and contested a senatorial seat on the platform of the LP in the April 2011 elections.

He lost the contest to a candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

The situation is the same in Ogun State where the door is being shut against former Governor Gbenga Daniel. The Ogun State chapter of the party has vowed not to bend the rules to admit the embattled former governor and his rag army of supporters back into the party.

Like Fayose, Daniel too dumped the PDP in the wake of intractable crisis arising from disagreements between his camp and another camp led by former President Obasanjo over party nominations in the run-up to the April 2011 general elections. Daniel defected to the Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN) with his supporters where his group was roundly defeated in all the elections.

He is now back on the queue with his group seeking re-admission into the PDP. Same goes for the erstwhile presidential adviser and the former Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Mr. Timi Alaibe. Alaibe defected to the LP in the heat of disagreements over the governorship nomination in Bayelsa State for the April 2011 election. The election did not hold after all as the Appeal

•Gov. Sylva

•Gov. Wamakko

•Gov. Idris

•Gov. Imoke

‘

Political event watchers are predicting that at the end of the membership registration and revalidation exercise, the leadership of the PDP would have to face the challenge of updating the records by adding the gains and subtracting the losses

,

Court elongated Governor Timipre Sylva’s tenure alongside four other governors in similar circumstances.

The Bayelsa PDP governorship nomination ticket has continuously been slipping off Alaibe’s hands since 1999. Twice he lost the ticket to former Bayelsa Governor, Depriye Alaiyemeisegha in 1999 and 2003. He again lost the nomination ticket to incumbent Governor Sylva in 2007. He had wanted to contest the governorship election on the platform of the LP in the last election before the Appeal Court’s no-vacancy ruling. Alaibe is said to be knocking the door of the Bayelsa State chapter of the PDP, but no answer is coming yet. His fate appears to be hanging in the balance. He is

perceived to have one leg in the LP and the other in the PDP. Similarly, other members who may encounter difficulty in revalidating their membership are those who have voiced their desires to contest the governorship positions against their incumbent governors.

The friction is more pronounced in PDP- controlled states where governorship elections are billed to hold at different dates between December 2011 and April 2012 as announced by the Independent national Electoral Commission (INEC). The states are: Kogi ( December 3, 2011), Adamawa ( January 14, 2012), Bayelsa ( February 14, 2012),Sokoto ( March 10, 2012) and Cross River (April 14, 2012). Reports

of muffled disagreements have continued to dog the exercise in the five states as accusations are rife that members of the committees in charge of the exercise are alleged to be die-hard loyalists of the sitting governors.

By inference, it may as well be an uphill task for those found in caucuses outside the governors’ groups of loyalists to have their membership revalidated. In Kogi State, it is Governor Ibrahim Idris’ loyalists against a coalition of contending forces within the party. In Sokoto, Governor Aliyu Wamakko’s group is said to be at daggers drawn with loyalists of Senator Umar Gada.

Gada who represented the Sokoto East Senatorial District in the last

Senate has challenged Wamakko in the battle for the governor’s seat in the heart of the caliphate, come March 10, 2012.

Intra-party squabbles appear to be at the minimal in Adamawa and Cross River states where the incumbent governors appear to have only opposition parties to contend with in the coming election. Bayelsa State presents a different kettle of fish with no fewer than three aspirants of the ruling PDP plotting to throw incumbent Governnor Sylva out in the cold.

The methods of mounting barricades against existing and intending members differ from state to state. Our correspondent gathered that in some states, agents of the executive are being accused of either hoarding or buying up the available membership cards (in cahoots with committee members) and giving them out to only trusted loyalists. In some others, it is alleged that committee members who were carefully selected to man the posts had stationed trusted allies at the various wards where intending candidates for registration or revalidation of membership can hardly access the “invisible or disappearing” designated centres or existing registers. This is in the backdrop of an entrenched tradition where members can only register at their wards.

One of the prominent victims of this practice was former Vice President Atiku Abubakar who fought tooth and nail to have his membership of the PDP revalidated in 2006 in the heat of his brush with his erstwhile principal, former President Obasanjo. Atiku was tossed left, right and centre and it took the intervention of some influential chieftains of the party to finally get his name on the reviewed list.

The ongoing exercise comes with high stakes for the reason that the party’s national convention and state congresses are around the corner. Apart from current public office holders, a good number of members would constitute the body of delegates who will determine the fate of the various elective office seekers, including governorship aspirants. So ,for the sitting governors, it’s a classical case of a stitch in time saving nine. In the circumstances, the current membership drive embarked upon by the PDP appears to bear all the imprints of the plus and minus scenario. While the exercise is still in progress, members of the PDP have been defecting to opposition parties in droves, particularly in states where opposition parties are in control of government. Large numbers of PDP defectors have been recorded in theACN-controlled states like Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Ekiti and Edo. The story is the same in Ondo State where the LP is in charge; in Anambra where the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) holds sway; and in Nasarawa State where the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) has been calling the shots since May 29.

The exodus from the PDP is still in progress in the opposition-controlled states where the counting is being recorded in gains and losses as the case may be. Similarly, the PDP appears to have left its exit doors ajar in many states across the nation through observed manipulations of the process by some vested interests. Just as it had happened in the past, a good number of existing and intending members may also take their exit as a result of frustrations encountered in the bid to have their names captured in the membership registers.

Political event watchers are predicting that at the end of the membership registration and revalidation exercise, the leadership of the PDP would have to face the challenge of updating the records by adding the gains and subtracting the losses. It’s a win-some,lose- some game of politics.

56

INTERVIEW

THE NATION, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2011

‘Allowing importation of barites will be 20 steps backward in the oil and gas sector’ Amidst calls for waiver on the banned importation of barites and bentonites by multinationals, the President of the Association of Miners and Processors of Barites (AMAPOB), Chief Stephen Alao, in this interview with JOHN OFIKHENUA, depicts the request as an abuse of the Nigerian Content Act and urges the Federal Government to reject the proposal because Nigerians can produce the quality and quantity of barites and bentonites required for drilling in the domestic oil industry. Excerpts: •Chief Alao

‘

We have barites in our country to drill and prospect for our oil. We say no to barite importation. We say no to the waiver to any company under any guise because those are economic saboteurs. Besides, there is the law in place. We have not exhausted the amount of barites required for drilling, why will you want to import?

‘

P

LEASE give us an update about value addition which has always been an issue in your association.

As an association as you rightly pointed out, thank God we have been able to weather the storm. We look at ourselves as a group that is very critical to the Nigerian economy because of our products barites, betonites and recently, the group producing mud chemicals has joined us. We are very critical to the mainstay of this economy because as you know, Nigeria is dependent right now on oil and gas. So, we produce the materials that we use for this particular production of oil and gas in Nigeria.

We took it as a challenge as an association to organise ourselves properly in terms of proving to our customers and the nation that we have this commodity in abundance in Nigeria. So the estimated reserves of our barites and betonites is known to everybody. Secondly, the issue of quality was addressed by our association. Specifically, we have engaged to standardise barites and bentonites in the country.

We have also gone a step further, through our collaboration with the Nigeria Local Content Division, to engage SGS, a world-class French testing agency. We have been discussing with them. In fact, we brought them through the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCMDB) to come into Nigeria to take samples. And they have told us that our quality of barite is one of the best in the world. So, in terms of the quality of our products, we have been able to do that.

We have got to the next level with our members putting proper business plans together so that we can exploit what God has given to Nigeria.

So as far as we are concerned, we have been able to put these building blocks and we will see a brighter future for not only members of our association but also for us to be able to add value to this mineral found in this country holistically, so that we

can beat our chest and say, yes the way welders were able to do it to supply their talents their services to the oil sector. And we are grateful to NCDMB for partnering with us to actualise this particular mandate.

The administration that is propagating local content is also urged to grant waiver on the importation of barites into the country, what do you say to this?

Well, I will not say that the administration is looking into importing barites into Nigeria. But I will say that there are some multi-nationals that don’t mean well for this nation.

There are some companies that have been operating in Nigeria for the past three decades; they are also involved in barites milling and some of their plants are located at the seaports. And in their three decades of involvement in Nigeria, they have not been able to integrate their programme by exploring barites in the country, by processing barites in the country. Rather, they will take their brief cases to the Federal Government and paint a picture that barite does not exist in Nigeria so that they can be given waiver to import this same commodity into Nigeria from their parent country overseas.

And we as patriotic Nigerians, we say no to this. Capital no.

Mr. President has started a trans-

formation agenda in Nigeria. We as the members of this sector are fully in support of this transformation agenda. How do we create jobs for our teeming Nigerians when the solid minerals sector, that is, the area you can easily create jobs is not being encouraged? Most of time barites have been imported into the country, we lost money and people in the rural areas where we have these mineral deposits could not feed themselves. There is no problem of lack of barites in Nigeria.

There is no rig in Nigeria that has shutdown on the basis of lack of materials to drill. Drilling has been going on in the past few years we have not imported barites.

I thank God that we have a President who has a vision for this country. What was obtainable in the past should not be allowed to happen.

We have barites in our country to drill and prospect for our oil. We say no to barite importation. We say no to the waiver to any company under any guise because those are economic saboteurs. Besides, there is the law in place. We have not exhausted the amount of barites required for drilling, why will you want to import? And the same people that want to import are the same people we are selling to, so if they import, who is going to buy our

products?

Look, we have confidence in the ability of Mr. President and the economic management team of this great nation to save our soul and save our business by disallowing any importation based on the fact that barites is not scarce in Nigeria.

We have barite in Nigeria and we should be able to use our own that we produce.

What challenges will your association face if government grants waiver on importation of barites?

As I said before, why will you listen to a man that does not mean well for your economy? I have just told you that some of these companies looking for waiver have been operatin. If they come to ask for waiver, government should ask them, okay, you have a mill; take us to where you have a mining site within Nigeria; because if you have a processing plant and you want the crude barites and we have deposits in Nigeria, tell us which country are you partnering with to mine? If you don’t have a site, if you cannot invest in this economy to produce what we have, we have deposits of barites in Nigeria, in short, government should chase them away.

They are economic saboteurs as far as I am concerned. They don’t mean well for Nigeria and government should not listen to them.

Which other steps will you take to address this issue?

As we speak, we have written a very strongly worded petition addressed to Mr. President, the coordinator of the Economic Management Team, our humble minister of Mines and Steel Development, our Minister of Petroleum, the IG and the relevant security agencies because these people who don’t mean well for Nigeria should be told once and for all: go and buy your barite within Nigeria. Go and source your crude from Nigeria.

We have also sent a petition to the Senate Committee on Solid Minerals, we are engaging all stakeholders. Let these faceless people come out and tell us why they want to import barites into Nigeria whereas we have barites in Nigeria while we are producing. What happens to those of us who have invested in titles, processing plants, machinery, plants and equipment? If we allow these people to import barites into this country, it will be 20 steps backward. And that does not conform with the transformation agenda of Mr. President.

There was a time you brought SGS to this country over standardisation, please give us the update on their mission.

It has been a battle with these people. First of all, they told us that Nigeria’s barite is not good and for an analyst, chemist or geologist, barite is barite; even the colour barites are not the same as you have different colours of barites. What is important is the specific gravity because it is a weighty agent. We try to bring SGS here because they are world standard; we tried to partner with them so that they can look at the deposit we have. They have gone round selected samples themselves and the result of the test I have it here to show you. It is wonderful and we been involved in a stakeholders meeting anchored by Shell, where we now agree that the barite we produce in Nigeria is more than enough to drill within the country.

So as far as quality is concerned, we have gone beyond that. We are partnering with SGS in a different aspect to take the business to the next level. And if this importation is allowed at this time, all our aspirations and dreams and the dream

we have for the sector will collapse.

Now that we have a President who said yes I want to change this country, all of a sudden, we are hearing people saying they are applying for waiver for this same commodity. The importation that is banned by the Federal Government. We say no to it and we ask every well- meaning Nigerian to help us speak to whoever they can speak to in the government to stop this importation so that we can look in house to invest properly in this sector; because God has given us natural resources. That is an area that the government can really help a lot of Nigerians. This is so because where you have these mineral deposits are in rural areas where government needs to touch people’s lives.

Why do you think they are requesting for a waiver?

Let me just tell you the problem. It is only one company in Nigeria that is looking for waiver. And the reason why this company always asks for a waiver is that it has mines overseas in Morocco and other parts of the world. These same companies are prospecting in other parts of the world but they have refused to prospect and mine in Nigeria. So they prefer to import the crude from their own parent mines.

To me, that is wickedness. If these same companies have shown us that they are ready to invest in Nigeria, and source the crude locally, to get the crude from Nigeria we will not be here talking about waiver today.

We have our members who have the processing facilities more than what they have. Our members processing capability is more than what these same companies have. They happen to have their own plants at the Wharf purely for importation. But we say no, we want to develop our country and if we do not take a stand to develop our nation, who is going to do it for us?

Don’t forget that we have been supplying. Nobody has said that there is no barite to drill in Nigeria. We have been supplying and there is no problem with drilling programme. It is business; whoever is looking for waiver wants to maximise his profit and import what they are producing in other countries and dump it in Nigeria. But we say no; the commodity you are looking for is in our economy. It is not scarce in Nigeria, so let us look inward. That is our stand.

In which other way do you want government to intervene?

I know that government has no business in business. But the government has been able to put enabling laws now. For example, in the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, the Cadastre Office is now world class standard. So we feel with this kind of institutional build up, government will be able to attract investment into our sector. The mining school in Jos can produce the manpower for this administration.

So we are very happy that government is now encouraging us and that is why we find it difficult to believe that when you are building blocks for people to come and invest in this area and you turn around to do a different thing, who will come and invest?

So, we are still encouraging the government; they have done well so far by building this institution for the sector. We are partners with government and whoever wants to invest, this sector is open. But all we are saying is that all our efforts will come to naught if you are the person we sell products to and you are given licence to import it. They determine the price they pay for our products. They dictate the price to us, even though they are not the ones producing it.

THE NATION SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2011

57

58

THE NATION SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2011

THE NATION SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2011

59

THE NATION SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2011

60

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 4-11-11 2ND-TIER SECURITIES

Cadbury Nigeria grows profit by 24%

C

ADBURY Nigeria Plc firmed up on the path of recovery in the third quarter with appreciable growths in sales and profitability.

Interim report and accounts of the food, drinks and confectionery giant for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2011 showed that pre-tax profit rose by 24 per cent while turnover grew by 19 per cent.

Turnover stood at N24.6 billion by September 2011 as against N20.73 billion in corresponding period of 2010.

Gross profit rose by 26 per cent to N7.8 billion compared with N6.33 billion, while profit before tax increased from N1.8 billion to N2.2 billion.

Net earnings distributable to shareholders improved to N1.6 billion compared with N1.3 billion in 2010.

Corporate Affairs Manager, Cadbury Nigeria, Mr. Kufre Ekanem, said the per-

By Taofik Salako and Tonia Osundolire

formance of the company during the period reflected various strategic initiatives being implemented by the management.

He assured that the company would sustain its upwardly performance through the remaining period of 2011.

Meanwhile, the stock market closed this week on a positive but cautious note as equities fluctuated between the two sides of the pricing chart.

Aggregate market capitalisation of all equities inched up to N6.516 trillion yesterday as against its opening value of N6.513 trillion.

The All Share Index (ASI) also increased marginally from 20,521.31 to 20,532.41.

Year-to-date return stood at -17.11 per cent.

Nestle Nigeria led the advancers with a gain of N1 to close at N401 per share.

UACN followed with a gain of 73 kobo to close at N31.

UACN Property Development Company added 45 kobo to close at N12.35. NCR Nigeria gained 41 kobo to close at N8.45 while First Bank of Nigeria gathered 34 kobo to close at N10.25 per share.

On the downside, CAP Plc recorded the highest loss of 65 kobo to close at N15.95 per share. Lafarge Wapco Cement Nigeria lost 50 kobo to close at N38.50. Flour Mills of Nigeria dropped by 46 kobo to N61. Oando lost 29 kobo to close at N25.60 while John Holt fell 26 kobo to close at N5.89.

Total turnover slid to 174.98million valued at N2.34 billion in 3,137 deals as against 306.53 million shares worth N2.62 billion traded in 3,709 deals in previous trading session. Zenith Bank emerged the most active stock with 54.15million shares valued at N691.22 million in 263 deals.

NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 4 -11-11

THE NATION SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2011

61

NATION SPORT

Osaze can do better—Hodgson R

OY Hodgson is confident Peter Odemwingie will recapture his best form after admitting the West Brom striker is not at the same level as last season.

Odemwingie scored 15 goals during his debut

campaign in the Premier League and the Nigerian striker was rewarded with a new three-year contract in August.

However, the 30-year-old has netted just twice in eight appearances this term and has been overshadowed by

Keshi visits Glasshouse • Confirms loyalty calls from players • Says indiscipline will be treated as family matter

N

EW Super Eagles’ coach Stephen Okechukwu Keshi on Friday visited the Glasshouse secretariat of the NFF in Abuja.

Keshi who was accompanied to the Football Secretariat by the team’s coordinator Emmanuel Atah, said that his visit was purely to familiarize himself with activities in the secretariat.

He said that he intends to use the two friendly matches to interact with the players and endeavour to know them better.

The man popularly called the ‘big boss’ by his admirers said “I want to tell you that 50 percent of the players have called me to express their loyalty. Joseph Yobo, Dickson Etuhu, Osaze Odenmwingie, Vincent Enyeama have called and they spoke very well, and their willingness to work with me.

They have shown a lot of zeal to succeed with the Super Eagles, and I am very happy with them, when they come around next weekend, we would meet and know our selves better”.

On whether he is ready to apply the big stick on erring players, the former national team captain said such issues will no doubt occur, but it would be treated as family affairs which would not be allowed to degenerate to such an extent.

Keshi appealed to the NFF to make the green and white jerseys of the national team available in the market to enable Nigerians have them as a way of solidarity “I will want the NFF to make the green white jersey available for people. In other countries where I have served, on match days you would see every where with the national colours, that is exactly what I would want for Nigerians and from Nigerians too. If they are not available, we should discuss

Siasia explains court action

F

ORMER Super Eagles’ coach, Samson Siasia has explained his decision to seek court redress over his dismissal by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) as coach of Nigeria He also reflected on the game that cost him his Job, Nigeria’s 2-2 draw with Guinea in Abuja.

“I did everything that was expected. We played a good game, created so many chances. I’d say luck was against us. If you ask me, I can’t really say this is what went wrong .”

When confronted with the fact that at 2-1, Nigeria would have progressed since the results of the earlier games were already known, he took a swipe at the support structure.

“Why would I want to commit more men forward?

There wasn’t communication that at 2-1, we would qualify.”

From Patrick Ngwaogu and Andrew Abah with sponsors companies to make them available in the market, I am sure Nigerians are willing to buy” he concluded.

Nationsports scooped further that the former Togolese handler has decided to pick Sylvanus Okpala as his second assistant.

the performances of summer signing Shane Long.

With Republic of Ireland international Long currently sidelined by injury, Odemwingie has a chance to cement his place in the team again providing he overcomes a knock to the knee ahead of tonight’s trip to Arsenal.

“Peter knows he can do a lot better, we all do,” said Baggies boss Hodgson. “He’s had a bit of a stop-start season with one or two injuries he picked up.

“We haven’t had that fortunate situation we had last season when for about 10 games in a row he was fully fit, playing and training at the level he wants to be at.

“But we know his qualities, what he can do, and we know what value he has to us.

“It is just a matter of time before we see that again but I’m sure he’d agree he’s not playing to the level he was at the end of last season.”

Hodgson, though, has played down the suggestion that the arrival of Long from Reading has had a negative impact on Odemwingie’s contribution to the team.

He added: “Most players are grateful if they’ve had to shoulder a heavy burden to have it shared.

“I don’t subscribe to it (Odemwingie’s form) is down to Shane coming in and doing well.

“He plays with small margins and, when things aren’t going well, the margins always seem to be against you. Then you try to play catch-up. Then you try to over complicate matters.”

WOGT: Raimi, Tobias win professional category

T

HE Eight in the series of the annual Wuraola Ojo Memorial Golf tournament got off to a good start on Monday with the duo of Chidi Tobias and Tunde Raimi tying for the first position.

While Raimi signed for a 1over par 70, Tobias also carded 70 to tie Raimi for top position, leaving Femi Olagbenro, 72 and former order of merit leader, Lateef Lasisi, 72 in the third position.

Dolphin golf club’s resident professional, Francis Ugbong came fourth, while Jaiyeola Liadi from MicCom Golf and Country club, Ada, ducked in the Sixth position.

Francis Ekpe 78, Liman Mohammed 81, Wale Laniyan 81, were the other professional golfers who competed in the professional category.

The Toyota sponsored

Wuraola Ojo memorial tournament is an annual event staged in memory of the late wife of the Chairman of Toyota Nigeria, Elizabeth Wuraola Ade-Ojo, who in her lifetime was not only a member of Ikeja golf club but used her influence to enhance the growth of the game in the country.

It is in recognition of this and her immeasurable contribution to the success of Toyota automotive brand in Nigeria.

Unlike the previous tournament, this year’s event featured a special kitty to celebrate the brand name of the sponsor, while the Most Amiable Woman; a key aspect of the competition was also retained.

Men, women, guest and invited players are also featuring in the competition that will be rounded off with a gala night tonight.

62

THE NATION SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2011

THE NATION SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2011

63

Tomorrow in THE NATION PUNCHLINE

For the average Yoruba man or woman, you can only write about the Tribune, in its present circumstances, with consummate dexterity, analogous as it now is to the apocryphal tsetse fly that perches on the scrotum SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2011 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM VOL.5, NO. 1935

—Femi Orebe

Ade Ojeikere on Saturday talk2adeojeikere@yahoo.com

Last card ‘

N

OW that Samson Siasia has been eased out, can we critically exam ine the Super Eagles carcass and see if we can resuscitate it?

Where do we start from? The players? The coach or the GlassHouse’s technical committee? Do we really need a technical director at the NFF? Will his template be accepted by the coach, the technical committee or the players? Will he be the one to decide how the country’s teams play?

What this country needs urgently is an eminently qualified technical director to provide the template that will define the way our teams should play. This format will be transferred to the junior teams (male and female) and then to the clubs. This is not alien to Africa. Cameroon’s physical play is seen in both teams; the Ghanaians’ samba style; the fast-paced the North Africans exhibit and the French style that Francophone Africans display. For Nigeria, anything goes.

Hence, the rigmarole that the game has gone through in the last decade.

It is only in this country that the assistant coaches of the U-23 or U-20 are not members of the senior team Super Eagles. The advantage of having both men in the senior team is that they return to their teams to teach what is being taught at the senior level. The spiral effect of this is that if a senior team player is injured, the coach looks towards either of the junior teams for a replacement that will do exactly what the injured star would have done in that particular game.

One of the biggest problems with our national teams is the absence of a unique style of play that is Nigerian, like we see with the Dutch, the English, the Brazilians, the Germans, the Spaniard and the French etc.

This unique playing style can’t be built on nothing, hence we need to revamp the domestic league, rid it of match fixers and get state governments to hands off sponsor-

Moving forward, the NFF must insist that the domestic league is run professionally, such that the clubs are repackaged and structures provided for interested sponsors to buy

’

ing teams.

The domestic league is corrupt, fraught with ills, such as the presence of criminally minded referees who spoil the fun of the fans by their dubious calls to the advantage of the highest bidders, especially the home teams, and total neglect of the players’ wages.

No player can give his best on an empty stomach. Sadly, the administration of the domestic league is in a shambles, such that we are still running the league that began in September 2010.

Moving forward, the NFF must insist that the domestic league is run professionally, such that the clubs are repackaged and structures provided for interested sponsors to buy. The idea of having state governments run clubs will dissuade the business community from pumping money into them in return for profits.

A vibrant future for the beautiful game will come when we begin to see the administration of the game from the prism of making it a business concern where Nigerians can freely contribute to the development of teams as shareholders, like we have in other climes.

Funds from shareholders will ensure that teams are rooted on the nurseries where the products are truly the ages that they claim.

We have cheated to achieve victory at agegrade competition and now our sins have found us out. We paraded adults as kids

and ruled the world to our peril. Those we expected to blossom have deteriorated like ice-cream under the sun. That is the foolishness of the Blackman. Even when they are lying, they don’t consider a long term effects of their lies.

The real youths that should have been exposed were denied the platform to excel, even though they are in abundance in the hinterlands. We are starting afresh when others that we beat in age-grade competitions are kings of the world.

What the Super Eagles need now are young, energetic talents who are hungry for glory. What we have now are men who can no longer be motivated to produce their best.

They struggle during matches and lack the zeal for optimum performance because they sit mostly on the bench for much of the sea-

son in their European clubs.

The new boys must come from the domestic league not the foreign legion of Nigerians who don’t understand how the Nigerian game is played. We must rebuild the team using talented players in the league.

The new coach must shun the agents and club scouts who have corrupted our national teams’ coaches.

It is important to stress here that the major reason why the domestic game is unattractive rests with the fact that no Super Eagles player plies his game here. Recall that period when Daniel Amokachi and Rashidi Yekini played for Nasarawa FC and Gateway FC of Abeokuta, everywhere the teams went, fans throng the stadium not only to watch them but to take photographs which they kept at home.

Attendance at the home venue of both teams increased and the media fed on their post-match comments at a time both men had literally quit the game at the national level.

Why Keshi for Super Eagles I have been asked to justify the appointment of Stephen Keshi as Super Eagles coach by readers of this column and I want to use this medium to address the issue.

Globally, when a coach is eased out of office, his assistant holds the fort, until a new man is recruited. But, in our case, the assistant coach’s contract is tied to the man whose deal was terminated thus creating a lacuna, especially as the former helmsman picked others in the technical crew.

Crucially and because the Super Eagles must honour engagements struck before the new order, a new manager must be recruited to fill the void in order to play the scheduled games, in this instance the two friendlies against Botswana in Benin City on November 12 and against Zambia in Kaduna on November 15. We also have the qualifiers, which begin in mid-January 2012.

With this setting, the wisest thing to do to fast-track the recruitment of any replacement is to return to the process that brought out the former chief coach and see if the man who placed second is available and ready to take the challenge.

Of course, Stephen Keshi showed that

he was ready for the job when his service was sought since he knows the potentials in the Super Eagles.

It must be said here too that our other games towards ensuring that Nigeria’s flag is hoisted among the comity of nations at the Brazil 2014 World Cup competition are against African countries. Therefore, the only person among those interviewed, who has a proper grasp of the African opposition is Keshi, having coached Togo and Mali. Need I talk about his coaching certificates?

Besides, Keshi as a player was Nigeria’s best export to Europe where he captained most of the European clubs that he played for.

Aside the fact that he began the startrek to Europe, he also used his clout to get young Nigerians to storm Belgium. At some point, the Belgian league was the Nigerian players’ Mecca, with most of them winning the coveted title as the best player in that league. With this kind of citation, I honestly feel that Keshi deserves to be given a chance, especially after assisting tested coaches, such as Shuaibu Amodu and Johannes Bonfere. I rest my case.

Beckham celebrates Ferguson D

AVID BECKHAM has heaped praise on Alex Ferguson for having the passion and hunger to drive Manchester United to success for 25 years.

The LA Galaxy star said: “It’s been amazing. But that’s what happens when you have stability, and a man that is so passionate and hungry, who has the love for one club that he has.”

Becks spent a decade at Old Trafford before being sold to Real Madrid for £25million shorty after Fergie accidentally kicked a boot at him, causing a cut that needed two stitches over his eye.

Despite that 2003 incident, Beckham has given his former boss a glowing testimony in the special tribute magazine created by United Review.

The midfielder, 36, said: “That loyalty and respect for one club is unbelievable and it’s not something you see these days. It says a lot about United as a club and the manager.”

Beckham credits his parents for setting him on course to enjoy a glittering career and Ferguson for all his professional successes.

•Ferguson He said: “It’s 50/50 with my parents — that’s how highly I regard the boss. My parents were the ones who brought me up and helped get me to a certain level in my career, and the manager is the one who took me to a whole different level.

•Beckham “He’s the sole reason why I was successful. He gave us everything we needed to become the players and the men that we are today.”

Beckham holds no ill feelings towards Alex Ferguson about the infamous boot in the face incident which tainted the end of

his Manchester United career.

On the eve of Ferguson’s 25th anniversary at the club, Beckham recalled the 2003 runin which left him with a cut above his eye after the Scot kicked the footwear towards him in the Old Trafford changing room.

But the LA Galaxy star, who was sold to Real Madrid shortly after the spat, admits the incident was soon forgotten.

Beckham, 36, said: “He wanted to kill me at times, I’m sure, but he was a father figure to me and he was also the man who gave me the chance of playing for my dream club.

There are no hard feelings from me about the boot in the face thing. It was forgotten straight away, within the club and within the team.

“There were other people who continued to speculate and talk about it but, with me and the boss, it had been forgotten the day after. The fear of getting the hairdryer was the reason why we all played so well. He was a manager you wanted to do well for.”

Former England skipper Becks added: “It was a bit icy the first time I came back with Real Madrid, but that went very quickly.

There is a lot of warmth between us now.”

Published and printed by Vintage Press Limited. Corporate Office: 27B Fatai Atere Way, Matori, Lagos. P.M.B. 1025, Oshodi, Lagos.

Telephone: Switch Board: 01-8168361. Editor-08094000052, Marketing: 01-8155547, Abuja Office: Plot 5, Nanka Close AMAC Commercial Complex, Wuse Zone 3, Abuja, Tel/ 07028105302 `E-mail: saturday@thenationonlineng.com Editor: DELE ADEOSUN