The Nation September 24, 2011

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‘Acting nude not part of my culture’

‘We killed Lagos cleric because he obstructed our bid to rape his daughter’

Ibadan flood

on rescue mission against

Senators back Ajimobi on N100bn plan Page

Osaze

Fulham

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Nigeria’s truly national newspaper

VOL.05 N0. 1893

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

29

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2011

N150.00

Heads to roll over Boko Haram leader’s escape ... at Defence Agency I-G: Why we released him

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’ Tishau

Ringim

IN THE NEWS

40-ft container of explosives intercepted at Lagos port Governor’s name on carton Story & photo on Page 5

Mass Page failure 6 as NECO releases results

2NEWS

THE NATION, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2011

Abuja: Living in the shadow of bomb scare

• A typical traffic snarl on an Abuja road occasioned by security checks PHOTO: Abayomi FAYESE

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IME was 4:48pm this particular day, workers scrambled to board the few available commuter buses to their various destinations after the close of work. The ever busy bus stop overlooking the Federal Secretariat Complex recorded lower patronage.

Obviously, the scary images of the previous United Nations’ office bombing had shattered the peace of the otherwise tranquil city. The forlorn looking workers, mostly public servants were waiting anxiously to be ferried away from the bus stop to their various destinations. Suddenly, their reverie, accentuated by ominous silence of the awkward kind, was ruptured by a minor ‘explosion’ that was left off within the vicinity of the bus stop.

The reaction of the crowd was both instantaneous and rapidly infectious. The commuters scrambled for safety, pushing and shoving one another as they scurried in different directions.

Instant relief came to the agitated commuters when the ‘explosion’ turned out to have been ‘detonated’ by a street urchin by stamping a foot on an empty sachet of pure water he had just gulped down his perched throat! The fearful reaction to this harmless past time of the ubiquitous street urchin underscores the perpetual anxiety of the average Abuja resident after the unfortunate blast.

Incidentally, the anxiety has permeated every aspect of official and personal life of the generality of the residents. But the residents’ fear of possible bomb attack appears to be limited to daytime as night life continues on the upward swing. They have learnt to take with a pinch of salt repeated assurances by the government and the security agencies of safety of their lives and property. So they seem to be taking their security in their own hands by employing various survival strategies to avoid being caught in the web of blasts.

For instance, many private motorists are now wary of giving unknown persons a lift in their cars, particularly if such persons are seen car-

stated the United va de at th t as bl b m The August 25 bo buja in which over 23 persons were Nations’ building in A rs injured has continued to haunt killed and many othel city. The gory incident has thrown residents of the capitaral capital city into perpetual fear. residents of the fede ent and layback residents now live The otherwise complace unknown. They have now learnt in perpetual fear of thopen while they go about their daily to sleep with one eye en their own shadows. Assistant activities suspecting ev NWALE reports.

Editor, GBADE OGU rying black cellophane bags with unknown contents. It has also become a habit among civil servants who desert their various offices and scurry home whenever rumours of impending blast filter in. The very moment such rumours get to them, the workers scramble out of their various offices, littering the adjourning streets as they raced in different directions for the homeward journey. They have also learnt to avoid buildings that are perceived to be possible targets of bomb blasts.

But the rumour mill has continued to thrive, as unknown persons, apparently out of mischief, now send messages across raising false alarms about impending bomb blasts whenever it catches their fancy. Expectedly, major public buildings are usually the targets of the alarms. Two weeks ago, the panic message enveloped the entire capital city that the notorious Boko Haram fundamentalists were about to bomb the magnificent Transcorp Hilton Hotel which is a rendezvous of the high and mighty in the society. The warning alert, which was circulated through text messages, stated that the Boko Haram sect had perfected plans to bomb the hotel and warned members of the

public to stay away from the building. The message spread like wildfire but the management of the hotel was quick to dispel the rumour as quickly as it came.

The Public Relations Manager of Transcorp, Mr. Shola Adeyemo, described the text messages as a hoax saying that authors of the messages might only be playing pranks at the expense of members of the public. Adeyemo however admitted that one of the messages was forwarded to him by a friend who received it and urged the scare mongers to desist from playing such pranks with the emotions of members of the public. The spokesman assured members of the public and the hotel’s numerous customers that the building is safe and secured, stressing that the management of Transcorp has never at any time taken the security of staff and customers for granted, bomb scare or no bomb scare.

Our correspondent, who visited the hotel while the message was still circulating, observed that the situation within and around the building was normal as guests, visitors and •Continued on Page 60

ASUU to Nigerians: Hold Fed Govt responsible for strike Bisi OLADELE, Ibadan

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HE Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has asked Nigerians to hold the Federal Government responsible for the disruptions in the academic calendars of universities due to the strike declared by the union.

The one week warning strike would start on Monday. It is aimed at forcing the government to implement the agreements reached with the union in 2009.

The notice of the warning strike was given two weeks ago by the union after its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Ibadan.

Addressing reporters in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital yesterday, the Zonal Coordinator of the union, Akin Ajisegiri, said the Federal Government has refused to keep faith with its own side of the agreement in spite of all entreaties as well as compromise made by the union in some areas just to save the country’s education sector from falling totally. He was joined by other officers in the zone.

Accusing the government of being insensitive to the problems in the sector, Ajisegiri at the press briefing to sensitise the public yesterday, Ajisegiri said ASUU would not compromise on the need to salvage Nigeria’s ailing education sector.

He said: “The 2009 FGN-ASUU Agreement was meant to be a benchmark from where a state of hopelessness would be gradually reversed, but, with its refusal to implement the agreement, the FGN has made a choice in under serving its people and subjecting its citizens to perpetual servitude in the global exchange of knowledge”.

Recalling that the goal of enhancing the educational system to meet national developmental challenges requires that national governments peg their educational budgets at not lower than 26 percent and already ratified by United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation(UNESCO), he regretted that Nigerian government has failed to show interest in moving towards achieving the stated goal.

“While other emerging nations have striven to meet this target, the Nigerian government has chosen the priority of not fulfilling this simple, global developmental obligation and this is in spite of the fact that ASUU has conceded to the fact that government could adopt a gradual approach to meet the 26 percent benchmark.

“The question could be asked, what really is the aspiration of the Nigerian government and its power elite? Does the government see the connection between an uneducated citizenry and social insecurity and our collective vulnerability? While an entire continent and its diaspora look up to Nigeria in the hope of being pulled out of the trough, our government continues to show total lack of awareness of this historical role that rests, primarily, on tying education to development.

“As it is, Nigeria is fast becoming an embarrassment to itself and a disgrace to the African continent and this has profound implication for us all as Nigerians and Africans in reversing the historical injustices perpetuated against this continent and its people.” the Ibadan Zonal ASUU coordinator said.

Ajisegiri lamented that the Nigerian government does not act until the weapon of strike is employed.

NEWS 3

THE NATION, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2011

Heads to roll in Defence Agency over Boko Haram leader’s escape A CRISIS of confidence has erupted between the Nigeria Police and the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) over the escape of a leader of the Boko Haram sect, Ali Tishau, from detention.

There were indications yesterday that heads would roll in the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) over the escape.

A new Chief of Defence, Gen. S.Y. Audu, has been posted to the DIA to reorganise the place, which was earlier headed by a Major-Gen. from the Engineering Corps.

Also, the presidency may streamline operations against Boko Haram to prevent leakage of sensitive information from security agencies to the sect.

Tishau had during the week spoken with AIT over the demands and modus operandi of the Boko Haram sect.

Investigation by our correspondent showed that Tishau was in police custody until the DIA formally requested for his release on June 27 for interrogation as part of intelligence gathering on Boko Haram.

Although Tishau was released to the DIA on July 7, the police later discovered that he had been released.

The said leader was allegedly released on the order of an army officer in DIA (names withheld).

The said army officer has been redeployed to the Army Headquarters.

It was learnt that all attempts to locate the whereabouts of Tishau had failed in the last two months until he opened up on AIT. A highly-placed source said: “Some security agencies have been shifting blame in the last two months over the

•Police, DIA clash over release of sect leader

Why we released him to sister organisation –IG NSPECTOR General of Police, Mr. Hafiz Ringim, yesterday explained the circumstances in which the police authorities released one of the leaders of the dreaded Boko Haram sect, Mallam Aliyu Tishau from its custody.

According to the IG, Tishau had been in police custody until a sister security organisation requested that he be released to them for further investigation.

The IG stated that the request was made on June 27, 2011 and Tishau was released to the sister security organisation on July 7, 2011 “in the spirit of information and intelligence sharing”.

Ringim, who spoke at the Force Headquarters through the Force spokesman, Mr. Olusola Amore (DCP), stated further that the sister organisation, which he refused to name, failed to return the suspect to the police.

Curiously, Tishau had appeared in an interview programme on the African Independent Television (AIT) on Tuesday where he relived his alleged encounter with IG Ringim and the running battle between members of the sect and the State Security Service (SSS).

Tishau had stated in the interview that he had warned the IG of plans by a faction of the Boko Haram members to bomb the Force Headquarters, Abuja. Apparently to convince the IG of the authenticity of his story, Tishau added that he called the mastermind of the Force Headquarters bombing on telephone and spoke to him right in the presence of the Inspector General of Police.

The Boko Haram leader further stated in the interview that he gave the police video recordings of how some of the sect members were being given military training in Mauritania but that instead of the police to investigate his claims, the IG ordered his detention where he was kept for 10 months.

But at yesterday’s briefing, the IG denied the said interaction between him and Tishau, saying there was no iota of truth in his claim. The police authorities also denied a newspaper report that the police hid bomb warnings from the presidency.

Said the IG: “There is no iota of truth in the claim that the selfacclaimed Boko Haram member has given useful information to the police on the spate of bombings that occurred recently”.

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Yusuf ALLI, Managing Editor, Northern Operation escape of the Boko Haram leader. The police and DIA have been at loggerheads.

“The poor coordination of intelligence on Boko Haram accounted for recent changes in DIA where a former Director of the Directorate of Military Intelligence (DMI),

Gbade OGUNWALE, Abuja “Furthermore, the suspect, Mr. Ali Tishau, was requested for on the 27th June 2011 and was released on 7th July 2011 to a sister organisation for investigation in the spirit of information and intelligence sharing. To date, he has not been returned to the police”.

But there seems to be a gaping hole in the IG’s version of the report. For instance, the police admitted having detained Tishau but failed to state how the suspect got into their custody. The police did not state whether he willingly reported to the police or he was arrested during operation.

Amore parried questions along these lines.

Outlining security measures taken by the police against the festering insecurity in the land, the police stated: “The alleged panic mood among security chiefs is the figment of imagination of the writer of the story, as more than ever before, the security agencies are building synergy to contain the present security challenges facing the nation; a lot are being achieved in this direction.

“In continuation of the efforts of the Nigeria Police Force to combat illegal movement of arms, ammunition, and illegal movement of immigrants along our borders with Niger and other countries, the Inspector General of Police held a meeting on Thursday 22nd September, 2011 at the Force Headquarters, which comprised the Customs, Immigration, State Security Services and our sister security agencies from Niger Republic.

“This is in order to fashion out a workable strategy and feasible ways to address combat trans-border crimes, criminal elements and unlawful possession of prohibited firearms within the region, while taking cognisance of the current terrorism as well as political upheavals within and outside some of our neighbouring states.

“The Inspector General of Police, Hafiz Ringim, wishes to seize this opportunity to debunk all the lies as churned out by Mr. Tishau in his organised and orchestrated interview and assure the nation that the police are now more than ever before rededicated to the service of the nation within the means available to it”.

Gen. Audu was redeployed to Why will an engineer inthe DIA. stead of an intelligence offic“One of the challenges seer head DIA? curity agencies had faced in “Again, a former Minister the past was the posting of of Defence from the North square pegs in round holes. actually influenced some

postings that were not in line with the norm in the military.

“But the new DIA chief is certainly going to carry out a surgical reorganisation in the agency. I can assure you that heads may roll.

“The emergence of Tishau from hiding has further aggravated the crisis of confidence between the police and the DIA. All those involved in the escape of Tishau may be dealt with.”

Another security source however added: “I think the army officer concerned in DIA was redeployed to Logistics Directorate because he is an engineer. I don’t think it has to do with Boko Haram.

“Postings in the Army are now being done by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Ihejirika, based on professionalism, not on sentiments.”

As at pres time, there were indications that the Federal Government may streamline the operations of security agencies on Boko Haram.

A top source said: “There is no synergy among security agencies, they work at cross-purposes. President Goodluck Jonathan had at a recent meeting of the National Security Council ordered security chiefs to work in harmony.

“The government is also worried about alleged leakage of sensitive security information to Boko Haram sect. This suggested some internal collaborators. That is why the operations against Boko Haram might be streamlined.

“The Joint Task Force in Borno State might also review its tactics following the adamant posture of the Boko Haram members.”

... injustice, corruption, poverty responsible for sect’s revolt -Aliyu

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•Traffic grilock along Local-International access road of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos...yesterday

OVERNOR of Niger State, Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu, has identified injustice, poverty and corruption as responsible for the terrorist activities of the Boko Haram.

Speaking with journalists in Osogbo, Osun State capital, Dr. Aliyu, yesterday maintained that injustice in many forms is the bane of peaceful co-existence among different parts of Nigeria.

He advised Nigerians not to see Boko Haram Islamic sect as an agent of Islam, saying a situation where a few who are opportune to have access to the nation’s wealth and lavishing it in the face of those who are not opportune could lead to the crises like Boko Haram, Niger Delta Militancy and so many others.

Passengers miss flights as traffic snarl grounds Lagos Airport road

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HERE was anxiety among motorists driving through the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Road, Ikeja, Lagos, yesterday as vehicular traffic built up to unimaginable proportion.

The development was linked to security concerns of a bomb scare which commenced since Thursday, as security operatives continue their screening of cars that drive through the busy road.

This led to traffic snarl, occasioning delays. Many pas-

Kelvin Osa- OKUNBOR sengers consequently missed their flights.

Many motorists, who lamented the unusual development, explained that the security scare had altered their schedule, as many of them wasted man hours on the road for a trip that should have been a few minutes.

The attendant traffic snarl affected business around the airport, with many ancillary

service providers complaining of poor patronage.

Scores of passengers alighted from the vehicles conveying them and hopped on motorbikes, popularly called okada, to get to the airport.

Some others, who could not get okada trekked a long distance with their luggage to ensure they make their flights.

It was learnt that security operatives received an intelligence report that the Islamic Sect, Boko Haram terrorising

the country might want to carry out attacks in high brow areas of Lagos; Lagos Airport and 3rd Mainland bridge inclusive.

Those who spoke with reporters expressed worry over the horrendous traffic situation around the airport.

Wale Olowo said: “Is this how we’ll be suffering everyday because some people say they want to bomb Lagos?

When will this tension stop? I implore security agencies to

rise up to this. How can we be moving about the airport in fear? The traffic situation on its own can kill hundreds of people if there is stampede. This should stop”, he said.

When journalists visited domestic terminals of the airport, some passengers who missed their flights gathered in small pockets, thinking of what next to do.

Some were also seen rebooking their flights to travel on a future date.

Adesoji ADENIYI, Osogbo Dr. Aliyu, speaking on the lecture titled: “Leadership and Governance: Emerging Issues for Genuine Transformation of Nigeria,” maintained that some of the major problems facing the country are corruption, poverty and ignorance urging nation’s leaders to sincerely work at saving the country.

He urged government at all levels to fight poverty by placing high premium on agriculture, which, he said, is another mainstay of the economy.

“For Nigeria to be transformed to a better country, there is a need for the emergence of leaders with openness of heart to the people. Leaders must be approachable and accessible to the governed. And we must be prepared to adopt federal character that would not salvage competence.

“We must ensure equity in economic relations, openness in governance and equal opportunities in employment that recognises federal character without compromising quality and standard.

“Our political processes and elections must continue to produce legitimate leaders who will have the courage, character and temperament to take the hard and difficult decisions when occasions demand so that Nigeria will be put on the path of genuine transformation.”

4 NEWS

THE NATION, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2011

Abuja bombing: UN Sec-Gen. thanks Nigeria Vincent IKUOMOLA, Abuja

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HE Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. Ban Kimoon, has expressed appreciation to President Goodluck Jonathan and Nigeria for the hospitality, political, material and security support provided to the UN staff in the aftermath of the bomb blast at the UN building in Abuja .

Mr. Ban Ki-moon spoke when he received President Jonathan at the UN Headquarters.

In a statement from the office of the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, both men also discussed other issues, including piracy in the Gulf of Guinea, for which Mr. Ki-moon pledged to send an assessment team to the region, the situation in Sudan and Nigeria ’s health bill.

Commending the role played by Nigeria in the aftermath of the bomb blast, he stated; “You provided full political, material and security support to our staff after the unfortunate incident, and this is very much appreciated by the whole UN family”.

Mr. Ki-moon also expressed appreciation for President Jonathan’s leadership in the Economic Community of West African States, and in resolving the crisis in Cote d’Ivoire , the sustained help and support to Liberia and Guinea Bissau.

The UN Secretary General said: “Your sustained support for Liberia has been invaluable, and is essential for peaceful and transparent elections in that country”.

Responding, President Jonathan condoled with the UN family for the terrorist attack on the UN building in Abuja , saying that progress had been made in the hunt for the perpetrators of the dastardly act.

“Terrorism is new to our security architecture, but our personnel are doing their best, and the perpetrators will be brought to book”, he stated, adding that some of the suspects had already been apprehended.

On the efforts to ensure peaceful elections in Liberia , the President told Mr. Ki-moon that ECOWAS would support the UN with police and para-military personnel in the run-up and immediately after the elections, to ensure that the small arms and weapons being controlled by non-state actors are not used to mar the exercise.

Time to move forward —Labaran Maku Osagie OTABOR, Benin

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INISTER for Information and Orientation, Mr. Labaran Maku, has said for Nigeria to work as a nation, the political elite must stop making excuses about the past that defines Nigerians as tribesmen and religious people.

Mr. Maku, who explained that Nigeria was a mere geographical expression like any other nation in the world, noted that Nigerians are not thinking as a people who are running a nation which is diverse and have different religious groups.

The minister, who stated this at the seventh Nigeria Guild of Editors’ conference in Benin City, the Edo State capital, said the lack of trust and national policy that led to the collapse of the First Republic must be avoided.

According to him, “We cannot be making excuses about the past. Nigeria was created just like any country in the world. We need a lot of retrospection. We want leaders who will bring civility to governance and demystify power, not people who will come and say things must be done overnight.

“We are now taking a step where leadership will now be predictable, where people will not rule beyond their prescribed tenure. This democracy is 12 years old. A lot of progress has been made and there are a lot of challenges ahead. We have seen people leave power through elections. That is a mark of progress.”

Maku opined that Nigerians are either thinking as tribesmen or religious people and that “if we as a nation will move forward, we at the level of political elite should rethink our past and have a new future. Our past that defines us as tribemen and religious people has not helped Nigeria.”

The minister said democracy was working in Nigeria as it manifested in incumbent governors and party leaders losing elections in their states.

Minister promises to transform sea school Gbenga ADERANTI

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HE Minister of Youth Development, Mallam Abdullahi Bolaji, has vowed to transform the Sea School Unit of the Citizenship and Leadership Training Centre, Lagos.

The minister, who was visiting the island for the first time, was surprised to see that a place like that exists in Nigeria.

The minister, who was excited about the place, vowed to make it a world class retreat centre. “I’m excited about this place. I think so much can be done with this place and I’m also impressed about what I heard about the things they do in spite of the limitations of the infrastructure. I believe that we can overhaul this place and repackage it, and do more than what they are currently doing,” the minister promised.

He said with the collaboration with the private sector, the island would generate revenue for the government. “It is very important this place has probably gone the way it is probably because we’ve not been able to open up and there are so many people who are doing the kind of things we’re doing. We are competing with people who are running with business enterprise in mind.

“With an amazing location, I don’t know of any other place where they have this kind of location. There is so much we could do. Our plan now is we are going to partner with individuals and corporate organisations to invest in the infrastructure and reposition it.

•A Customs officer displaying one of the suspected explosives intercepted at the Lagos port... yesterday. See story and another picture on Page 5 PHOTO: Oluwakemi DAUDA

Why Salami was removed, by Sagay

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ONSTITUTIONAL lawyer, Prof. Itse Sagay, yesterday attributed what he called “the reckless” removal of President of the Court of Appeal Justice Isa Ayo Salami to the excessive powers granted the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) under Item One of the Third Schedule of the 1999 Constitution.

He also blamed Salami’s suspension and what he called in-breeding at the top hierarchy of the judiciary as being responsible for the “grave crises presently wracking the judicial system.”

Sagay spoke at the Stakeholders Summit, entitled: “Repositioning the Administration of Justice System: Bar and Bench”, which was part of the new legal year programmes of the Lagos State Judiciary.

He said the powers of a CJN are enormous and that only an angel could wield them and not lose balance. He said Nigeria, regrettably, has a culture of power abuse.

Sagay said: “On the first issue of excessive powers of the CJN, out of the 23 members of the Council, apart from himself, he is responsible for the appointment of 14 members. So the NJC is really the CJC, i.e., the Chief Justice’s Council.

“Under no circumstances can such a body be objective or independent on any matter in which the Chief Justice has an interest.”

He called for an amendment of the powers of the CJN in the Constitution, saying: “The time has now come to re-constitute the NJC by eliminating all serving judicial officers from it.

“Its Chairman and members should be constituted by retired Supreme Court and Court of Appeal Justices, retired Chief Judges of states and the Federal Capital Territory and at least 10 members of the Nigerian Bar Association who must participate at all meetings of the Council, including those concerning the disciplining of

Joseph JIBUEZE judges.

“Apart from the NBA members, the other members should be elected by the Body of Benchers. We should no longer tolerate a situation in which serving judicial officers will sit over their own disciplinary proceedings, forming cliques and cabals to promote their interests and the improper political interests of their friends and counterparts in politics.”

On the composition of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal, he said that in-breeding has resulted in unhealthy law and practices, which are bringing the Judiciary down.

“Presently, we can know in advance who the next six Chief Justices will be. Appointment and promotion is based on civil service seniority – turn by turn. They move up step by step like the Mogajis of Ibadan .

“Law professors, senior and experienced lawyers in legal practice should now be appointed straight to the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal. Indeed, jurists outside the Supreme Court should now be considered for appointment as Chief Justice of Nigeria.

“A senior law professor, a serving President of the Court of Appeal, a serving Chief Judge of a State or a senior legal practitioner including a good Attorney-General, should now all be eligible for appointment not only into the Supreme Court Bench, but to the position of Chief Justice of Nigeria.

“It is clear that the top hierarchy of the Judiciary needs new blood, fresh ideas and a new culture. The present conclave must be disbanded, to allow an inflow of fresh air into the system,” Sagay said.

Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Inumidun Akande, warned that the filing fees for cases in the High Court may soon be upwardly reviewed “to make them consistent with the current economic realities.”

She said rising cost of overheads, stationeries, administrative and related costs, maintenance of court premises, fueling and generator maintenance have forced the court to run at a loss having had to subsidise. She sought the cooperation of lawyers and litigants.

“Therefore, if we are truly serious about our desire for a well-funded, more functional and effective judiciary, it is my considered view that your support, understanding and cooperation as members of the NBA has become imperative in amicably working out appropriate court fees, acceptable to both parties and reflective of the current economic situation, as a matter of urgen-

cy,” Justice Akande said.

A Life Bencher, Hon. Hairat Ade-Balogun, said the press have a role to play in repositioning the administration of justice and can check excesses in the judiciary.

According to her, the Bench must treat the press with some courtesy and not brand pressmen as enemies of the court.

“The cases reported about the magistrates/judges having altercation with pressmen to the extent of locking them up or committing them for contempt must never occur again as this merely lowers the esteem of the judge and portrays him as one who has lost the control of the court over which he presides,” AdeBalogun said.

Shell Nigeria oil sales run to a hitch

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HELL’S Nigerian oil block sales are heading for a messy conclusion due to a tussle over who operates the fields, sources close to the deals said, highlighting the complex nature of doing business in Africa’s largest energy industry.

Shell, according to Reuters, along with foreign oil major partners, Total and Eni, have agreed to sell their share in four onshore oil blocks which Shell operates in the Niger Delta wetlands but they need ministerial approval.

Deals for the blocks, one of which attracted a bid of over $1 billion, have already been agreed and a 10 per cent deposit paid. These payments triggered a 180-day window for the deals to be completed, the first of which expires at the end of this month, according to sources involved.

The Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), which owns the majority stake in the blocks, is at loggerheads with the buyers because it says its subsidiary will take over from Shell as operator of the fields once the deals are completed.

But some buyers of the blocks are not willing to complete the deals if NNPC is the operator.

A consortium led by Poland’s Kulczk Oil Ventures agreed a deal for Shell’s block OML 42, while independent energy firm Eland Oil, in partnership with Nigeria’s Starcrest, has agreed to buy OML 40. Niger Delta E&P and Petrolin won OML 34 and Conoil, owned by Nigerian billionaire Mike Adenugu, picked up the biggest block OML 30.

Financial backers will not want to lose their initial funding, in one case topping $100 million, while NNPC and Shell will want deals to go through to realise financial returns, so a compromise should be found.

The likely scenario is that NNPC becomes the “operator” of the blocks and then farms out the development of the fields to another firm. This could be the buyer of Shell’s share or another contractor and potentially a host of other companies in between, sources close to the deals told Reuters.

NEWS 5 NAFDAC sanctions supermarkets in Ibadan

THE NATION, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2011

Court frees Benue ACN guber candidate over criminal charges

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CTION Congress of Nigeria (ACN) gov ernorship candidate in the April 26 election, Prof. Stephen Ugbah, standing trial for alleged criminal conspiracy, inciting public disturbance and causing mischief by fire, has been freed by a Magistrate’s Court in Makurdi for want of diligent prosecution.

Some of his supporters, including Wantaregh Paul Unongo, former Minister of Power and Steel in the Second Republic and Adaa Maagbe, a retired director with NITEL and former Gboko council boss, Simon Abua as well as a 14 year old boy charged along with him, were also freed by the court.

Briefing reporters in Makurdi Friday about the development, which he described as pleasant, Ugbah said Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam had in last May written and personally signed a petition to the Inspector -General of Police alleging the offences which caused his arrest and detention in Abuja and his transfer to Benue State. He said the case was assigned to Magistrate Court I, North Bank in Makurdi.

Ugbah said after about three adjournments and having listened to the submissions of his lawyers on the case, presiding Magistrate, Mrs. Cecilia Bakare, dismissed all the charges proffered against him and his supporters, for want of diligent prosecution.

Asked whether he would institute legal proceedings against Governor Suswam to claim damages for wrongful arrest and detention, Ugbah, who reiterated his inalienable rights under the constitution of Nigeria, said he would contact his lawyers. He said if they advise him to institute a case against Suswam after studying the judgment, he would not hesitate to do so and make it public.

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•One of the suspected explosives intercepted yesterday

Customs intercepts 40-ft container of explosives at Lagos port O FFICERS of the Niger ia Customs Service, Tin-can Island Command yesterday impounded a 40-ft container suspected to be loaded with explosives.

The container was seized by Customs officers at Five Star Logistic Terminal, Tin-Can Island port, Lagos.

The container with serial number KK FU7662007 was said to have been shipped into the country by an importer who was at large with his clearing agents.

The items in the container, were said to have been declared by the importer as children toys, rechargeable lamps and lanterns.

The name of a governor in the South-East was written on some of the cartons containing the items.

An intelligence source told The Nation that some senior officials of the command swooped on the terminal after a tip off to the effect that

•Soldiers arrest another man with bomb items in Port Harcourt

Oluwakemi DAUDA and Clarice AZUATALAM, Port Harcourt a suspicious cargo had been brought into the country from China.

The discovery was made a few weeks after the command intercepted a sack loaded with United States of America (USA) dollars.

Speaking with reporters at the scene of the incident yesterday, the Area Controller of the command, Comptroller Ekpowei Edike said the shipment was successfully tracked by his officers and men after a re-invigoration exercise embarked upon by the Comptroller General of Customs, Alhaji Abdullahi Dikko.

North pushes for creation of eight new states

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S moves are being made to amend the 1999 Constitution, the

North may push for state creation with a demand for eight states from the region.

Also, northern senators will meet next week on the issue of state creation and other agenda of the North.

But there is a split among northern members of the National Assembly on the issue of tenure for the President and governors.

Investigation by our correspondent indicated that some northern leaders, senators and members of the House of Representatives have been meeting on the agenda of the region before the Constitution Review Committees of the Senate and the House of Representatives.

The Senate may inaugurate its Committee on Constitution Review next Thursday.

Apart from other proposed amendments, the tenure bill and state creation appear to top the agenda of the North.

A top source, who spoke in confidence, said: “We have initiated discussion among northern leaders, intelligent-

Yusuf ALLI, Managing Editor, Northern Operation

sia and members of the National Assembly on the agenda of our region.

“We are concerned about tenure bill, state creation, power rotation and revenue formula. We want to avoid a situation where we may lose out in 2015 through constitution amendment.

“We are trying to be proactive because we went into the April poll divided because of ambition for power by some northern stakeholders, especially our governors.

“Based on our preliminary consultations, we may lead the agitation for the creation of more states. We are looking at eight states in the interim.

“But any state that will be created in the North must take into cognizance our diversity.

We are not going to support a mono state.

“I can assure you that the northern region will speak with one voice this time around, because we believe that 2015 is the year for the restoration of the North to power.

“We are also interested in the new revenue allocation formula because of the high unemployment and poverty rates in the North.”

Asked to name the affected eight states, the source said: “We are still discussing. But we will speak out very soon on our demands.

Another highly-placed source said: “One of the issues we may address is the crisis in Plateau State through the creation of new local governments in line with the recommendations of the 28-man Presidential Advisory Committee, which was raised on February 1, 2010 by President Goodluck Jonathan and headed by ex-Governor Solomon Lar. “We believe more states and new local governments in the North could assist to check the spate of violence in the region.’’

The Lar Panel had recommended creation of more local governments in Plateau State In the Executive Summary (Volume II) of the report, especially in Jos North.

Intense surveillance of the Customs High Command, he said, had paid off in form of the physical examination his officers conducted on the container, which led to the discovery and seizure of the explosive items.

He said investigation had revealed that a large quantity of dangerous items suspected to be explosives were found inside the container. ‘’The quantity is frightening and the methods adopted in its concealment paints a horrendous picture of how dangerous the items could be if they found their ways into the public,’’ Edike said.

The Customs chief assured that investigations were ongoing and that those who were involved in the illegal importation of the dangerous items would not go scot free.

Edike also commended customs officers and men of the command who spent days and nights on the field in making

the seizure a success.

The affected governor could not be reached for comments at press time, as he was said to have travelled abroad. Efforts made to get his media aides for comment also yielded no result.

In a related development, Eagle-eyed soldiers keeping sentry at the gate of the 2 Amphibious Brigade, Bori Camp, Port Harcourt yesterday arrested a middle-aged man with materials suspected to be explosives.

The man, whose identity had not been disclosed at press time, was trying to drive into Bori Camp through its Aba road main gate at about 1 pm when the soldiers who were on duty fished him out.

The Army Public Relations Officer, Lt-Col Aminu Iliayasu, who confirmed the arrest, also said that the “man was arrested with items suspected could be used to do something harmful.”

Iliayasu also said the man was in the custody of the army while investigation continued.

OR stocking unregistered and expired products, the National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Oyo State office has ordered the immediate closure of a popular supermarket in Ibadan.

It also imposed administrative charges on others in the city for violating its regulations.

This was the fallout of the routine inspection and screening of supermarkets and departmental stores in Ibadan and other parts of the state by the agency in furtherance of its determination to rid the country of unregisterd, fake and expired regulated products.

The exercise, according to the Assistant Director, Zonal Office of the agency in Ibadan, Mrs Esther Amuta, who led the operation, was aimed at ascertaining the level of compliance of owners of the stores with the approved operational procedure.

During the raid, the team visited Danax Stores, Adamasingba and Foodco, Zooma, Trolley and Favours at Bodija where it ordered its immediate closure for failing to comply with its guidelines.

She pointed out NAFDAC, which has the mandate to regulate and control the manufacture, importation, exportation, distribution, sales and use of food and drugs would stop at nothing to ensure that manufacturers and distributors of fake products and their accomplices were apprehened and dealt with.

She added that the offending products from these stores had also been mopped up for destruction.

“We discovered during our raid that some of these stores were stockpiling expired products. Such products were seized and evacuated for destruction.”

She stressed that the exercise was ongoing as NAFDAC would continue to monitor the activities of owners of these stores in the state.

She then solicited for the support of members of the public in its drive to phase out unwholesome products from circulation in the country.

Ajimobi challenges senators to raise help for Oyo over Ibadan flood

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YO State Governor, Senator Abiola AJimobi, has challenged senators to raise the issue of the devastating flood in Ibadan as a matter of urgent national attention in order to secure Federal Government’s help on the disaster.

He threw the challenge to senators when members of the minority caucus in the Senate paid him a visit in his office in Ibadan yesterday.

The senators were in the city to assess the extent of damage done by the flood as well as commiserate with the governor and the people of the state.

The visit came after the senators had backed the governor on the call for assistance from the Federal Government over the August 26 flood in Ibadan.

The caucus, led by Senator

Bisi OLADELE, Ibadan Ganiyu Solomon, visited the city on Friday to have an onthe-spot assessment of the extent of the damage caused by the flood.

Other members of the caucus included Senators Oluremi Tinubu, Gbenga Kaka, Babafemi Ojudu, Abu Ibrahim, Femi Lanlehin, Gbenga Ashafa, Ayoade Adeseun, Gbenga Obadara, Ifeanyi Ararume, Olubunmi Adetunmbi and Prof. Segun Adeyeye.

After visiting some parts of the city affected by the flood, the senators said they agreed with Ajimobi that the state alone cannot address flooding problems in the city. They also agreed that the state would need up to N100 billion to tackle the problem in view of

the huge damage to infrastructure and the need to channel rivers.

The senators inspected Oke Ayo in Ibadan South West Local Government area; Babanla in Ona-Ara Local government and the collapsed dam in Eleyele Waterworks.

Solomon commended Ajimobi for his quick resp nse and manageme t of the tragic incident by providing relief materials nd reconstructing some collapsed bridges as well as initiating plans to avert a reoccurrence.

The senator promised to assist the state government in accessing financial assistance from the Ecological Fund, which was put in place for such purpose, adding that the notes taken by the senators would be considered at committee level.

NEWS 6

THE NATION, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2011

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MILD drama played out at an Onitsha Chief Magistrate Court on Thursday as the presiding Chief Magistrate Ngozi Okoye ordered the Anambra State Police Command to comb isolated bushes in the state to dislodge kidnappers.

Okoye gave the order during the trial of one of the suspected kidnappers of a foremost transporter in the state, Chief Godwin Okeke alias GUO. Before the order, the kidnap suspect, Alexander Onyinanya (42), was arraigned on a fourcount charge, which included committing felony by kidnapping Chief Okeke; possession of dangerous weapons; using personal violence and unlawful demand of the ransom of N30 million.

Earlier, the police prosecutor, Mr. Samuel Agbo had assured that the case would be bonded over within the next seven days to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).

Counsel to the complainant (Chief Okeke), Mr. Chris Ajugwe, noted that there was a need for the police to expedite action for speedy trial so the accused would know his fate.

In her ruling, Okoye chided the police for not doing enough to checkmate the spate of kidnapping in the state, which she said had been growing, particularly in remote and isolated areas and communities.

She commended Okeke for following up the matter, noting that some other

Court orders police to comb Glo zone opens at Ozoro T bushes for kidnappers Adimike GEORGE, Onitsha people would have dropped the case because of lack of fund.

She disclosed: “Some weeks ago, three women and a man were kidnapped and those riff raffs had marathon sex with those married women for two weeks, apart from collecting ransom. ‘’Recently, an 85-year-old

mother was kidnapped, possibly raped, ransom collected and she was killed in the end.

“I hereby order the police to comb all isolated and bushy areas just as had been done in Delta and Edo States,“ Okoye ordered before adjourning the case to October 12, 2011.

She urged the police to fasttrack the case by making sure that all the cases were duly bonded over at the DPP. Speaking after the ruling,

Okeke decried the attitude of the police in handling the matter, which he said had lingered for about two years without any meaningful thing done by the police.

According to him, “the police are already frustrating the case and have kept it pending for over two years now. With this attitude of the police, are we making a headway in our struggle to rid our place of crime? The answer is no.’’

Chief Omuabor (centre) and other high chiefs at the launch... Wednesday

Sanusi launches cross-border initiative for African central banks

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HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, has called on African central banks to coalesce to develop strategies to enhance their regulatory functions to meet the challenges of intervention in financial and economic crises on the continent.

The governor made this call at the ongoing 2011 annual World Bank/International Monetary Fund (IMF) meetings holding in Washington D.C., United States of America, where he hosted a high profile roundtable for African Central Bank Governors, aimed at sharing views and experiences relating to the challenges of the ongoing global financial/economic crisis.

Sanusi said the collaboration becomes more imperative given the fact that trade between African countries, which currently stands at only 10 per cent of total trade, must improve in order for Africa to achieve significant economic growth.

He, however, acknowl-

edged that the integration of cross border payment systems must be addressed in order to facilitate greater trade across nations.

The governor tasked the forum to focus on discussions that do not detract from the fundamental role of Central Banks, which is to protect the banking consumer. “Banks are first of all institutions of safety before anything else,” he declared. “Consumers suffer when banking institutions are run primarily in the interest of management and shareholders.”

The event, which was hosted in association with the Commonwealth Business Council, received strong endorsements from many African Central Bank governors in attendance as well as policy makers from countries in Africa and Europe.

Echoing the sentiments of many other speakers, the Governor of the Central Bank of Mauritius, Rundheersing Bheenick, commended Sanusi for the initiative and recom-

mended that it should become a regular agenda at the annual World Bank/IMF meetings where Africa-specific issues will be discussed.

This recommendation was further endorsed by the Governor of the Central Bank of Uganda, Mr. Emmanuel Tumusiime Mutebile.

As more and more African countries are discovering oil, African economies are becoming more interlinked.

Factors such as oil price movements would have similar impact across different countries, hence the need for thinking beyond national borders.

Governor Bheenick stated that stronger cross-border cooperation in Africa was crucial, particularly in developing solutions to the difficulties facing the financial sectors, arising from the linkages and systemic risks within the global crisis. “Such a forum,” he said, “provides valuable access to shared experiences in solving the problems of a small Regu-

lator grappling with big issues in a small far away country.”

Meanwhile, Sir Andrew Large, former Deputy Governor of the Bank of England, who was guest speaker at the event, raised the issue of Macro-prudential policy and supervision.

This drew divergent views from participants as to how exactly such a role will be structured within the existing supervisory framework.

There was unanimous agreement that the global financial crisis was far from over. The forum considered that Africa’s economies will remain vulnerable as long as the dire states of the economy in many European countries persist. Thus African Central Banks must be better prepared to carry out their fundamental responsibilities in averting or effectively dealing with any future crisis. There was also a consensus that the entrenchment of the political independence of Central Banks was critical in order to be effective in their role as Regulators.

Mass failure as NECO releases results

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T was another sad day for many parents and students yesterday as mass failure characterised the results of the 2011 June/July Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) announced by the National Examination Council (NECO).

And while a total of 1,190,393 candidates registered for the examination, 1,160561 actually sat for it.

However, Registrar/Chief Executive of the Council, Prof.

Promise M. Okpala, exonerated the examination body from the poor showing by students.

Giving a breakdown of the

Augustine AVWODE Assistant Editor results yesterday, Okpala revealed that out of the 1,190,393 who registered for English Language, 1,160,049 actually sat for the examination. While only 2,119 or 0.18% came out with distinction, 263,777 or 22.16% came out with credit pass, 76,224 or 6.40% failed while there were 51,312 incidents of malpractice.

In Mathematics, 1,190,365 registered for the subject while 1,156,561 sat for it, with only 3,356 or 0.28% passed with distinction and 295,961 or 24.86% got credit; 7, 7,395 or 60.27%

passed, 89,023 or 7.48% failed while 50,826 or 4.27% malpractices were recorded. Other core science subjects like Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Further Mathematics also recorded mass failure with high degrees of malpractices also recorded.

Prof. Okpala said while the Federal Government and some states have already taken bold steps to improve on the educational standard, all stakeholders will have to be patient before reaping the good results, adding that “the high expectations cannot be achieved immediately because change in the behavioral pattern of children takes time”.

On whether the Council has an approved syllabus for its candidates and whether schools are being monitored in strict compliance with the approved syllabus, the Registrar said: “In as much as NECO has an approved and standard syllabus, strict compliance with it rests sorely in the hands of each school to ensure that the syllabus is covered in terms of teaching.”

In his words: “It cannot be proper for any external examiner to go into schools to analyse how they are teaching their students and for the same examiner to oversee the marking of answer sheets of such students.”

HE excitement in the sleepy town of Ozoro, headquarters of Isoko North Local Government Area of Delta State, was palpable on Wednesday as Africa’s fastest growing network, Globacom, opened a mini customer care shop, Glo Zone, in the town.

Residents who had heard of similar developments in other towns, including neighboring Abraka, where the telecoms giant had berthed only last Friday, trooped out in their hundreds to witness the ceremony, which will end the stress of travelling all the way to Warri to resolve issues concerning their phones. The Ozoro Glo Zone is the fifth such opened by the National Operator in the last three weeks.

Three others were opened in Okada, Ekpoma and Sabongida Ora. Glo Zones are designed to bring world class customer care services closer to its subscribers anywhere in the country. Besides bringing customer care services to the doorsteps of subscribers, Globacom is also using Glo Zone to empower Nigerians, as all the shops will be operated by local individuals who are not employees of the company.

At the commissioning of the Ozoro Glo zone, the palace of the Ovie of Ozoro underscored the importance the community attached to the opening of the shop by sending three high-ranking chiefs led by Chief W. C. Omuabor, the town’s prime minister, to witness the commissioning ceremony.

He was accompanied by Chiefs A. A. Ogune and Asemo Solomon, just as the Isoko North Local Government Area, the host council, also sent a four-man delegation.

Chief Omuabor, who performed the traditional cutting of the tape to commission the shop, said that the people of Ozoro and its environs were relieved that Globacom had brought its customer care services to the doorsteps of the people through the development.

“We are happy to hear that anything that can be done in the Gloworld at Warri can also be done here in this Glo Zone’’, Chief Omuabor noted. He said that Globacom had again proved that it is a friendly company, determined to enrich the lives of the people. ‘’We are very happy at this development as you can see the number of our people that have come to witness the ceremony… Ozoro is home to Glo and we assure you of our full cooperation with the operator of the shop, who is also our daughter,’’ he added.

Commending the shop to the people of Ozoro and its environs, Pastor Samuel Ibrahim, Globacom Head of Territory for Midwest, said the company would continue to make telephony a delight for Nigerians through consistent delivery of world-class services. Pastor Ibrahim explained that the Glo Zone concept was initiated by Globacom to ensure that rural dwellers “do not suffer before they are attended to on any issue that has to do with their phones and other telecommunications services they may require from time to time.”

Highlights of the ceremony were the presentation of certificate of franchise to Mrs. Evelyn Ekperi, the operator of the shop and the registration of the Glo SIMs of Chief Omuabor and other invited guests.

Over 300 Glo Zone Shops have been earmarked for opening across the country in the next couple of weeks. The project is envisioned to avail all Glo subscribers easy, quick and correct solutions to all issues relating to their telephones.

36 charged to court over fake drivers’ licences HIRTY-six persons have been charged to court over various traffic offences by the Federal Road Safety Commission in Lagos.

Disclosing this in his office on Monday, the Sector Commander, Mr. Jonas S. Agwu, said the 36 persons were arrested and charged to Isheri Magistrate Court for violating various traffic rules including invalid driver’s licence, adding, “More people will be charged to court, including those with fake (invalid) driver’s licence.

The FRSC commander revealed that many people were carrying fake drivers’ licences because they did not spare time to follow due process of obtaining and renewing licences. Rather, they chose to go through some persons, claiming they had no time to go and do it by themselves thereby falling victims to touts.

He advised those who want to get or renew their licences to find time and go to the nearest centre (licensing office) where he or she would be given a form to fill and how much to pay, stressing that the FRSC office is the last stage of the process.

Mr. Agwu revealed that there are six centres in Lagos namely: Ojodu, Ikorodu, Ikeja, Bariga, Suraya and

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Okokomaiko areas, and advised prospective applicants to go by himself or herself as the process requires the presence of the applicant to do the right processing.

Some drivers who pleaded anonymity revealed that over 60 per cent of people who drive in Lagos are in possession of fake drivers’ licenses, stressing that most law enforcement agents cannot differentiate between fake and genuine driver’s licence while some who go through tout and others said it is cheaper and time-saving.

LOSS OF DOCUMENT This is to inform the general public of the loss of original document of property situated at 44, Alhaja Ramota Street, Egbeda, Akowonjo area in Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State belonging to Mr Oluwole Sowole and Mrs Olubunmi Showole which is covered by certificate of occupancy No. 3/ 3/1997/U and registered as No 3 at page 3 in volume 1997U at the Land Registry at Lagos. All efforts to trace same proved abortive. General public please take note.

THE NATION SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2011

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8 COMMENTARY

THE NATION, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24 2011

Still on the emerging dynasty in Kogi

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S I pounded the keyboard of my computer last week, writing the piece on the plan by Governor Ibrahim Idris of Kogi State to turn the governorship of the state into a chieftaincy title exclusive to his family, I did not know that mind-boggling developments concerning the contest for the governorship ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party would compel me to revisit the issue today.

Indeed, my comment on the subject last Saturday had come as the breaking of a long-standing vow not to comment on political occurrences in the state, for obvious reasons.

To begin with, Kogi is one of the most heterogeneous states of the federation, next, perhaps, only to Delta. It is Nigeria in microcosm, hosting no fewer than 10 ethnic groups, including Igala, Igbira, Okun (Yoruba), Nupe, Bassa, Hausa and Kakanda, among others. But as it is with Nigeria, there are three major ethnic groups in the state, namely Igala, igbira and Okun (Yoruba). As a Kogi indigene of the Okun (Yoruba) stock, therefore, I had felt that commenting on the goings on in the politics of the state, particularly in the face of the gruesome marginalisation of my ethnic group, could be interpreted to mean taking undue advantage of my access to the media.

Besides, I have close relations who are deeply involved at the highest level of politics in the state. And Since the pendulum of ideal journalism would always swing in favour of the underdog, it would be difficult to comment on political activities in the state where the Igala has lorded it over the remaining ethnic

groups since the state was carved from Kwara and Benue on August 27, 1991, without being labelled an ethnic jingoist or even a selfish commentator advancing the political ambition of his kinsmen and relations.

Yet, since last year, I have come under serious pressure from readers within and outside the state, imploring me through e-mail and text messages to comment on the prevailing brand of politics in the state, which Dr. Olatunji Dare, one of Nigeria’s finest flowers of journalism, defined in a recent piece as government of the Igala by the Igala and for the Igala. Why? some readers asked, would I concentrate on the threat of Boko Haram in Maiduguri and Abuja, the sit-tight mentality of Senator Joy Emordi in Anambra State and the rascally act of the deposed monarch of Akure to the neglect of the sickening mediocrity and ethnic chauvinism that had seized my own state by the jugular?

While there are three major ethnic groups in the state, the Igala has produced the governor for the entire period the state has practised democratic governance. Of course, since politics is a game of number and the Igala constitute about half the population of the multi-ethnic state, it would be wrong for anyone to begrudge them for taking advantage of their numerical strength, particularly when the constitution has not deemed it necessary to recognise the ethnic heterogeneity of the country in setting the criteria for contesting the sensitive office of a governor.

During their sojourn in Benue before Kogi State was carved, the Igala had experienced marginalisation in its raw form in the hands of majority ethnic groups in Benue. Hence, it would seem that the creation of Kogi State and the numerical advantage the Igala have over other ethnic groups in the state has turned the table in their favour. As one who advocates merit over other mundane considerations for an office as critical as that of a governor, it matters not if the Okun (Yoruba), Igbira, Nupe, Bassa and other ethnic groups in Kogi S tate have to suffer

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I would not know if the outgoing carpenter is plotting to replace himself with a barber.

But it is certain he wants a malleable individual he can continue to manipulate even when he is no longer in office. A man who spent nine years without a noticeable impact, what manner of advice will he be giving his son-in-law if he becomes the governor?

This assault on the intelligent people of Kogi State must stop

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dysentry for the excess sugar consumed by the Tiv and the Idoma. In a situation where greed and selfish interests of the political actors in other ethnic groups, particularly the Igbira and the Okun (Yoruba) would not allow them to work together to produce a candidate, no one would justifiably blame the Igala if they decide to cling to power till the end of age. That much was reportedly stated by Governor Idris in a meeting he held with some politicians in the state during the week. He reportedly declared at the meeting that while he had a lot of respect for the Bassa candidate, Alhaji Abdulrazak Kutepa, he could not help

supporting another Igalaman and his sonin-law, Captain Idris Wada who eventually picked the PDP ticket for the governorship contest scheduled for December 3, because Igala people were not yet ready to relinquish power in the state.

But while the Igala have the right to rule the state for as long as greed would prevent other ethnic groups in the state from working together, they have an obligation to favour the state with individuals endowed with sufficient intelligence and exposure to drive the development of the state. It is a matter serious regret that after nine years of Idris in the saddle, the noticeable structures in Kogi State today were those constructed by the current governorship candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Prince Abubakar Audu during his short spell between 1992 and 1993 and his four-year-tenure between 1999 and 2003.

The complacency with which Idris has flaunted power and the selfish use he has resolved to make of it after his uneventful nine years in office would naturally offend the sensibilities of well-meaning indigenes of the state. He reportedly explained that he had to withdraw his support for his earlier candidate, Isah Jibrin Echocho in favour of Wada because Echocho appeared to be too independent-minded for his comfort. The governor was said to have expressed fears that if Echocho who had not become the governor would not come to him for advice and would take decisions concerning his political ambition without differing to him, he wondered what would happen if he is sworn in as governor.

I would not know if the outgoing carpenter is plotting to replace himself with a barber.

But it is certain he wants a malleable individual he can continue to manipulate even when he is no longer in office. A man who spent nine years without a noticeable impact, what manner of advice will he be giving his son-in-law if he becomes the governor? This assault on the intelligent people of Kogi State must stop.

Wande Coal’s lyrics resonate again Knucklehead

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T is more than a year when I first wrote on the evergreen words of Mo’ Hits’ recording artist, Wande Coal, and his song titled “Shey na like dis we go dey live?” Today, as I sit down to write this piece, Coal’s lyrical evocation of quotidian living in our Lugardian contraption was all I could think of. It may not have been his motive, but the Mushin-born, streetwise lyricist came up with a perfect-fit painting of modern day Nigeria—in living colours. It is not just the heavy percussions or the free-flowing rhythm that captures but also the rhythmic flow of the biting words, even though they were rendered in pidgin English. His barrage of questions should haunt those who seat in judgment on the rest of us. But that is if they find the time to listen to that kind of music. At least, we know that most of them would embrace jazz and the classics not because they understand those genres of music but because they want to belong to the class of refined gentlemen and ladies that listen to such music. It is part of the vanity that has rendered a nation impotent!

Listen to Coal’s posers: “Once upon a time, they tell us say one dollar is equal to one naira/Once upon a time, you travel from Lagos to London and you need no visa/Once upon a time, you go graduate from school and government go dash you car/ …Now, everything don dabaru/corruption seems don storm people/the hardship is unbearable/shey na like dis we go dey live?”

In the earlier writing, I had railed at a system that tended to embrace grand deceit with open arms. I had questioned the sanctimonious preachment of those who delude us with stories about how President Goodluck Jonathan would cut off from the old order. They said he was coming to change the way we run our politics; be dynamic in policy formulation and be proactive in his engagement with the polity. In short, they said Wande Coal’s lamentation about this cursed anguish would stop under the leadership of a once shoeless schoolboy from Otuoke village in the creeks of Bayelsa State. They said this man with a bounty of good luck would not squeeze our delicate balls and laugh as we burst into painful tears.

They said he was the chosen one that would dry the moans of many years and bring succour to the table. They said our despair would soon be turned into joy for our helper has come. And did we believe them?

Well, it does not matter anymore. Nothing has changed

to convince us that we have not been fooled again.

Government may have changed hand; the system is yet to purge itself of the odious past going by the recent happenings in the polity. We are a rolling skate that moves without direction. We now know that our story is not about to change soon. Unless we want to delude ourselves, how can our story change when the government is finding it difficult to pay what it willingly agreed to pay its workers?

How can we feel the breath of fresh air promised by this administration when our wives get horse-whipped daily before they can buy a litre of kerosene at governmentdesignated centres? Where is that silver lining in the sky when we have been told to brace up for another hike in fuel price so that the monster called subsidy can be finally tamed?

Where is that hope for a brighter tomorrow when we have been told, in plain language, that we must cough out more for enjoying megawatts of darkness? Is ASUU not on warning strike today? Has the naira not sunk to an all-time low compared to where it was against the dollar in the last

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How can we feel the breath of fresh air promised by this administration when our wives get horse-whipped daily before they can buy a litre of kerosene at government-designated centres? Where is that silver lining in the sky when we have been told to brace up for another hike in fuel price so that the monster called subsidy can be finally tamed? Where is that hope for a brighter tomorrow when we have been told, in plain language, that we must cough out more for enjoying megawatts of darkness?

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With

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

two years? What is the state of education in the country today? And can we say Nigerians are safer today than they were few years back?

How come we are seeing less when the government says it is doing more? Are the simplest things of life within the reach of the poor? Are the rich and mighty not trampling on the laws of the land with impunity? Are there no sacred cows hovering around the power house while presumed political enemies are being slapped with the flimsiest of charges? Is this democracy not all noise without rhythm?

These questions came thundering down as I listened to Wande Coal’s song once again.

“Once upon a time, They tell us say one dollar is equal to one naira, Once upon a time, you travel from Lagos to London and you need no visa Once upon a time, you go graduate from school and government go dash you car /…now, everything don dabaru/corruption seems don storm people/the hardship is unbearable… shey na like dis we go dey dey?”

These are timeless words that should concern all of us.

Another Nigerian musician, Idris Abdulkareem, the selfstyled Mr. Lecturer, once chorused the lyric “Nigeria jagajaga, everything scatter-scatter.” Why won’t everything dabaru when scallywags and scatterbrains are the ones controlling the levers of government? I asked. Why should our story always be told in parenthesis of pain and anguish in the midst of plenty? Is someone thinking about these things before another musician comes up with a song that depresses the soul and sinks the morale to an all-time low?

THE NATION, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2011

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2011

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listened on Thursday this week to an interview of Didier Drogba the soccer captain of the Ivory Coast national team and Chelsea Football of London famous striker on his appointment as a member of his country’s Truth Reconciliation and Dialogue Committee and I was impressed by the sentiments and highly responsible sense of judgement and commitment of the Ivorian soccer star in helping to bring peace to his nation.

Drogba admitted that since the announcement of his new political appointment some of his countrymen have besieged him with requests for material support which he may not be able to fulfill.

What concerns him however especially as he comes from the same area as the deposed president of Ivory Coast Laurent Gbagbo is that sooner than later Ivorians can have peace and resume resume visits to their neighbors as they used to do before the post election violence that followed the last presidential elections which left thousands dead and more displaced in the Ivory Coast.

It was no coincidence that Drogba’s new role was being announced at the same time that US President Barak Obama was telling the UN General Assembly in New York that there is no short road to peace and that Palestinians and Israeli must sit down and talk peace to end their ancient feud which is behind the fragile peace in the world today.

The Palestinians have vowed to ask for a resolution to be passed at the General Assembly to create an independent Palestinian state and the US too has promised to veto that. Which makes it the second time that the word veto is echoing ominously in US politics this week as the US president in domestic politics promised unequivocally to veto any bill that puts the burden of economic recovery on the poor people and workers of the US. Already Republican Presidential candidate Rick Perry has condemned Obama’s foreign policy on the Middle East as arrogant and one of appeasement to the Palestinians.

This is in spite of the fact that although it is the US policy to veto Palestinian request for an independent state in the Middle East, President Obama did not mention that in his address. Instead he called on both Palestinians and Israelis to follow the lead of the street revolutions in the N Africa and the Middle East which have dethroned repressive regimes steeped in tyranny and corruption and settle their own quarrels peacefully too.

Nevertheless it is apparent that while the US president is on his normal beat both in domestic politics and diplomacy Didier Drogba is charting a new course as a pioneer peace maker . Being a pioneer is not a new challenge to Drogba who was brought to Chelsea by Chelsea‘s former Coach for about 24m pounds.

The likes of Essien, Kalou and Mikel Obi soon followed and African soccer has not been the same since. Right now Jose Torres has been bought by Chelsea billionaire owner Abramovic for 50m pounds to jolt Drogba when everyone knows that a half fit Drogba is better than a fully fit Torres.

Abramovic’s grouse with Drogba is not direct. It stems from Mourinho’s past arro-

“I don’t like what i see... but the RESEMBLANCE IS STRIKING.”

Economies , Sports and Security

gance in playing Drogba and benching both former AC Milan captain Sherchenko brought to Chelsea with 30m pounds of Abramovic’s money and German captain Michael Ballack bought with the same amount. Abramovic had his pound of flesh whenMourinho could not win the Champions League for Chelsea and he was fired.

NowTorres purchase is pay back time from Chelsea’s owner for Mourinho’s favorite and protégé Drogba. But is it working out?

Earlier on Drogba’s team mateMikel Obi the Nigerian soccer star had the harrowing experience of having his father kidnapped and later released on Presidential intervention and massive outcry of Nigerians. The grateful and elated Mikel later captained the Green Eagles in their next international engagement in which he played his heart out as if in recompense to a loving nation that rallied round his family to save the life of his father from the hands of callous and mindless kidnappers who have been nabbed and are facing trial.

The successful handling of the kidnapping of Mikel Obi’s father sent a clear signal to criminals that they would not have a field day kidnapping relatives of soccer stars who bring joy to millions through their God given talents and rescue their families and dependants from the cycle of poverty in their economy.

The extra –soccer experience ofthese two African soccer stars prompted my choice of topic for today and raises a lot of questions on the real and potential role of sports especially soccer in the security and economic development of nations. Let me first acknowledge the fact that satellite TV has made the world a global village such that our youths know more about EUFA

Champions league, La Liga, Serie A and the Premiership more than our local football league.

Let me also state that I have no quarrel with that, as it is a global reality, albeit a phenomenon that has affected the youths of the world positively in the Middle East, Asia and indeed the rest of the world. Let me also add that I believe that interest in sports and the expectations of fabulous salaries and returns for budding sportsmen, footballers and their families have contributed immensely in keeping our youths out mischief and crime and in helping a lot in keeping our present level of pervading insecurity to a tolerable level.

In addition, when youths play for their national teams they experience a sort of patriotism which their political leaders seem immune to. The duration of a soccer match is just 90 minutes plus injury time. Yet in that short time a simulated war situation emerges in which the coaches’ strategies compete for superiority and victory in terms of goals scored regardless of possession or entertainment. The correct strategy for the match at the end of the day is the one that puts in more goals in the duration of the game.

It is a scenario that should be recommended to our politicians who never deliver on their promises during their constitutional tenure but still seek reelection thereafter. In soccer, national and club coaches are judged by results and are axed or rewarded by the results their teams get on the pitch in terms of goals. Inter Milan just sacked it coach after 3 months in which he won one game in 6 matches at a time when Inter are the defending champions of the European Champions League.

All managers face this litmus test except Arsenal’s

Arsene Wenger whose team is not winning because it is not scoring goals or letting in too many at the end of the match.

Wenger has the backing of his board because he is raising and selling young players and the balance sheet and profit of Arsenal FC are good. But that has to be weighted against the fury and passion of Arsenal fans in London and else where whose blood pressure rise wildly each time Wenger shoot less strategy backfires, and he, as usual rationalizes failure so eloquently at post match interviews in which he analyses his teams non performance in an above the fray manner. As if it was not his strategy that the team executed for the match.

But football clubs can still make profit and win laurels as Manchester’s United Manager Sir Alex Ferguson has done so successfully in making the club the richest club in the world and one of the most respected in terms of laurels globally.

In addition in times of economic distress sports provide a diversion for people especially the old and young to focus their attention and not turn to violence to express their grievances. In Enland during the last looting in some cities, including London, although some matches were cancelled including the Nigeria/Ghana match, the Authorities were relieved that the football season was starting and people would not want their club fixtures disrupted.

In Spain where the two most expensive players Ronaldo and Kaka play for Brazil , 40% of Spanish youths are unemployed and they have roamed the streets of Madrid in recent times in peaceful protests at austerity measures caused by Spain’s budget deficits and debts - but they have never disrupted soccer matches.

Similarly Greek teams like Olympiakos and

Panathanaikos have not had their UEFA Champions League matches disrupted in spite of the wild street protests in Athens the Greek capital against cuts in welfare expenditure by a government trying not to default on Greek debts in the Eurozone in spite of massive bailout by the EU member states.

It is my candid opinion that political systems and corporate bodies can benefit from the strategies of football managers that make them fight for their jobs and clubs in just 90 minutes. One could scoff that the time cannot be compared with a financial year or the term of office of elected officials but the modalities are the same as the objectives are to please the shareholders the fans and the electorate. A comparison of the strategies of some English soccer clubs owned privately will suffice.

Arsenal’s Wenger strategy is to catch players young and train them in the Arsenal way of fine passes even in the penalty area and walking as it were into the net. Man U‘s Ferguson approach is to shoot sight of goal and massive attack and defence. At age 31 Arsenal gives its stars the golden handshake whereas Ferguson believes in binding experience with youthful vigor and still keeps players like Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes who are over 35 and are still delivering as expected with the younger players on the field.

In addition other clubs have copied and replicated Wenger’s initially innovative brilliant passing and Arsenal has lost the initial competitive advantage it had on this. This is especially true of Barcelona of Spain which has added brilliant finishing whilst Wenger’s Arsenal has been left in hand wringing, headholding frustration, bereft of goals which are the hall mark of success in any soccer match.

So, if soccer makes people happy and football stars are good examples of patriotism how come politicians don’t learn from soccer strategies and carry their electorate along as successful soccer teams and managers carry their fans? Even in ancient times the Emperors of Rome organized games at Roman arena so that the masses could watch and forget their economic travails and not threaten the security of the state.

In the fifties and at Ghana’s

independence in 1956 Kwame Nkrumah made Ghana’s national team the Black Stars the pride of Africa and the Uhuru Dance Band the leading entertainment band and Nkrumah made Ghanaians and Africans proud till he was overthrown by the military and he fled to Guinea. It is my contention that sports is a more potent way of mobilizing our youths for economic development and securing the safety of all of us. It is infinitely better than religion which is the opium of the masses and which in the way the recent bombings by Boko Haram are being handled may well be the death knell of our polity. As the leader of Boko Haram Aliyu Tishau has said Mauretania imported Boko Haram into Nigeria and if care is not taken Nigeria will become like Somalia, a failed state.

But by the grace of God Nigeria will not become a failed state like Somalia and the way out is so clear in the Arsenal example I mentioned earlier which is a good analogy.

Arsenal’s board and the Manager Arsene Wenger have not seen anything wrong in a strategy that has not won anything for the club in the last five years. Key players have been sold who have been lucky to escape from a sinking boat as it were given their immediate success in scoring goals in their new clubs. A good example is Cisc Fabregas former Arsenal skipper, playing a new striking role and scoring at Barcelona.

Obviously the Arsenal strategy does not see the signs of decay at its doorstep. It is myopic in terms of adapting to change and securing the safety of both its players and officials at its stadium, the Emirates, where fans’ anger and passion are boiling over absence of victories and a dearth of goals that boost the human spirit and create a sense of belonging and achievement. I am confident that the Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan watches soccer matches and knows what I am saying.

At least his body language shows that in the happy pose he struck in the pictures he took with Mikel Obi when he rescued his father from the heartless kidnappers of Jos. He should replicate that strategy in dealing with Boko Haram and Nigeria will not suffer the fate of decay at Arsenal or become a failed state like Somalia.

in Nigeria's hottest strip clubs

‘I kneel down to beg my wife if I do her wrong’

THE NATION, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2011

Saturday

11

SPECIAL

Who’ll take care of our seven children?

Laments widow of baker allegedly beaten to death by policemen

‘

He said by the time his hands were let loose from the motorbike, he could not stand up again. The situation forced the policemen around to take him to about three different hospitals but they all rejected him on the grounds that his spinal cord had been damaged

Social Scene 41

- Changing face of the 'lap dance'

19

Strip tease

r/ Thrille

Screen/ 23

‘Acting nude not part of my culture’

The late Quadri

12

THE NATION, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2011

52-year-old bakery owner dies in hospital after his spinal cord, ribs and skull were allegedly broken by policemen

•Late Quadri on hospital bed

T

HE atmosphere at 39, Andrew Kalu Crescent, Baruwa, Ipaja, Lagos State was charged on Tuesday. It was as if a contest was in progress to determine who would shed the most tears among bereaved widows and family members.

Invectives poured from sympathisers and family members rained curses on errant policemen who allegedly beat their 52-year-old breadwinner, Mr. Ismail Quadri, to death.

For hours, Mariam, the eldest widow of the deceased, tried unsuccessfully to narrate the circumstances that led to the tragic death of her husband.

And when she eventually mustered sufficient courage to explain how her husband allegedly met his untimely death in the hands of policemen from the Ipaja Police Station, the conversation was intermittently punctuated with tears.

According to the 42-year-old widow of Quadri, a native of Igbemo-Ekiti, Ekiti State, the event that culminated in Quadri’s death on Monday occurred around 8 pm on September 8, 2011 as the deceased prepared for the production of the loaves of bread he would supply to his agents the

Kunle AKINRINADE

following morning. He was said to have given his workers a break to have their dinner in the hope that by the time they returned, the production proper would begin around 10 pm.

Trouble, however, began when some men from the Ipaja Police Station, led by two police officers identified simply as Mayor and Waheed, allegedly stormed the area in a commercial vehicle to arrest some residents in front of their houses. The policemen then went for the deceased who lay on a couch inside the bakery, a stone’s throw from his 29, Andrew Kalu Crescent residence, and beat him mercilessly before they dragged him into their van.

She said: “Although policemen from Ipaja Police Station had been harassing innocent residents in the neighborhood for some time now, the officer called Mayor, who masterminded my husband’s death, proved the most notorious of them.

“On September 8, 2011, my husband had told me that he would be on night duty with his workers in order to produce enough bread to meet up

•Widows of the deceased with the demand made for the next day. I never knew that those brutal fellows they call policemen would turn me into a widow.

“At about 8.30 pm, there was a pandemonium in the neighbourhood .

When I asked what was happening, they said some policemen had stormed my husband’s bakery and were about taking him away. I rushed to the scene

only to find Mayor beating my husband and kicking him on the floor.

“All the pleas I and other residents made fell on Mayor and Waheed’s deaf ears. He even threatened to deal with anyone who pleaded on behalf of my husband. The policemen dragged my husband alongside two other innocent residents who were taking fresh air in front of their homes

13

THE NATION, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2011

•Children of the deceased and pushed him into their vehicle.”

The 52-year-old deceased was then taken to the police station where he was allegedly tortured for no just cause. In the process, he fell into a coma. He was rushed to the hospital but he died 11 days later.

“He told us on his death bed that when he got to the police station, he was subjected to another round of beating with his hands tied to a stationary motorcycle parked within the station’s premises.

“He said by the time his hands were let loose from the motorbike, he could not stand up again. The situation forced the policemen around to take him to about three different hospitals but they all rejected him on the grounds that his spinal cord had been damaged.

“He was later admitted at a private hospital from where he was transferred to the Lagos State Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) where doctors again confirmed that his spinal cord as well as his ribs and skull had been damaged.

“He told us that the notorious police officer called Mayor hit him many times at the station and that there was an instance Mayor kicked him mercilessly for daring to ask him for the reason behind his arrest and he crumbled on the floor.

“Initially, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of the station said he knew nothing about my husband’s arrest by his men. But he has since recanted, saying it was a mistake.

“But he is still reluctant to apprehend the said policeman who cruelly beat my husband to death without any offence. The police claimed there was a warrant signed for his arrest, but they could not provide it when we confronted them.

“Now, those policemen, who are supposed to protect innocent citizens have killed my husband. Who will take care of his seven children and dependants? He has an aged father and siblings in his care.”

The deceased was said to be based in Sagamu, Ogun State before he relocation to Lagos some years ago because of the tribal crisis between the indigenes and Hausa settlers which rocked the Ogun community in 1999.

He then built a house and established Olusola Bakery which had been doing well since then. Neighbours described as a peaceful, unassuming man.

Funmi, the youngest wife of the deceased, could not hold back tears while lamenting the tragic loss of her husband.

She said: “ I have two children for him and the youngest of his children, Quayum, is one and a half years old.

How do I explain to his children when they grow up that heartless policemen killed their father for nothing sake?

“This kind of tragic killing by those who ordinarily should protect the lives of citizens portends huge danger for our country and should be discouraged if truly we want to build a society that everyone can be proud of.”

An eyewitness, who asked not to be named, explained that the policemen had become a pain in the neck for the residents.

She said: “At about 8.35 pm on that day, was at home that day attending to my children inside my shop when people started running helter-skelter.

I later saw some policemen led by an officer called Mayor arresting some neighbours in front of their homes.

Moments later, they went into the bakery to arrest the deceased and they were dragging him into their vehicle.

“The situation attracted neighbours who quickly alerted influential residents who even offered to give the policemen money for the release of the deceased, but their pleas were turned down by Mayor.

“He was beating the deceased and kicking him with his boot as if he was beating a child. By the time he visited at the station to secure his release, he had been badly beaten to the extent that they had to rush him to some private hospital which declined to admit him on the excuse that his spinal cord and skull had been damaged.

“He was subsequently transferred to LASUTH where he later died.

“But while at the hospital, the same police officer who beat and tortured him even brought a herbalist to check on his health but the deceased’s family members turned him back.”

Another resident, who pleaded anonymity, berated the police for their

•Residence of the deceased

•The deceased’s bakery

incessant raid on innocent residents without justification.

“It is disgusting that officers of the law are the one breaking it. Or how do you explain a situation where policemen would turn law abiding residents into cash cows by constantly embarking on raids that cannot be justified?

“Each time they stormed this area, their victims would be made to cough out huge sums of money to secure their freedom.

“Ever since they killed the gentle bakery owner and the hoopla it has generated, they have stopped coming because they have realised that people are poised for a showdown with them.

The Lagos State Commissioner of Police (IGP) must, as matter of fact,

He was beating the deceased and kicking him with his boot as if he was beating a child. By the time we visited him at the station to secure his release, he had been badly beaten to the extent that they had to rush him to some private hospitals which declined to admit him on the excuse that his spinal cord and skull had been damaged

‘

’

caution his men to stop harassing harmless residents so that we can have sanity in the society.”

At LASUTH, the police officers from Ipaja Division who went there to secure the release of the remains of the deceased from the mortuary were turned back for what officials described as the absence of Magistrate signature on the inquest note. Angry family members who had besieged the hospital were fuming over what they described as the perfunctory attitude of the police over the matter.

The angry relations of the deceased then moved to the Ipaja Police Station to demand from the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Mr.Chikezie Okezie, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), the reason for the delay, but he was said to be away on patrol. Other policemen on duty, however, pleaded with the family members of the deceased to exercise patience, adding that the matter would be sorted out.

The eldest child of the deceased, Tajudeen, according to findings, has just secured admission to study Economics at the Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti. He was in Ado Ekiti to formalise his admission when the news of his father’s death was broken to him. He was said to have fainted immediately he learnt of his father’s death.

The Public Relations Officer of the Lagos State Police Command, Mr. Samuel Jinadu, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) was yet to fulfill his pledge to comment on the matter at press time.

14

THE NATION, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2011

How bank official recruited us to kill the guard on duty and cart away N10m — Robbery suspect

•Sunday

F

RESH facts have emerged over the circumstances in which a robbery gang carted away about N10 million from the Akowonjo, Lagos branch of a first generation bank on April 4, 2011. The revelations followed the arrest of a security guard with the bank, who was accused of conniving with suspected armed robbers to kill his colleague before carrying out the robbery operation.

Freeman Gambo had gone into hiding after the gang tied his colleague and killed him before carrying out the operation. But following his arrest by operatives of the Special Anti-robbery Squad (SARS) of the Lagos State Police Command, he has alleged that one Atoki, a marketing officer with the bank, had told the robbers that they would have to kill Ogundipe Sunday to avoid being arrested by SARS operatives.

Narrating his role in the robbery operation which occurred around 3 am on the fateful day, the 33-year-old indigene of Sanga Local Government Area, Kaduna State, said: “I am single but I have three girlfriends. I reside at No. 11 Gbadamasi Street, Igando, Lagos. I worked as a security operative at the bank that was robbed on April 4, 2011 at Akowonjo, Egbeda area of Lagos.

“We were six in the gang, namely Atoki (29); the bank’s retail marketer; Sgt. Onyeka Eboma attached to Mobile Squadron 20, Oduduwa, GRA, Ikeja; Corporal Victor Folorunsho also of MOPOL 20 (35); 38-year-old welder, Gabriel Sunday; commercial driver, Ezekiel Omoloye (32) and my-

‘ When he suggested that Ogundipe Sunday, the security man on duty, should be killed by strangling him to death, we decided to use a rope to strangle him to death.

They advised that I should not come to work to avoid having to explain how Ogundipe was killed

‘

Ebele BONIFACE self.

“It took us two weeks to plan the operation. It was Atoki who

mooted the idea that we should rob the bank, because he was one of the marketing officers of the bank and he knew that there was was more than N10 million cash in the bank’s vault.

“He assigned the welding aspect of the job to Victor because he could melt any iron with his instrument to enable us get to where the money was. He is also very experienced in breaking padlocks. His instrument can melt even security doors.

“He assigned the driving job to Ezekiel because of his expertise in handling the steering of any vehicle and his ability to escape fast when there is opposition from the police or vigilance groups who at times poke nose into our business.

“Atoki himself took charge of the bank’s environment, like knowing where the CCTV and the alarm system were installed and how to put them off. He also knew the right time to strike successfully.

“When he suggested that Ogundipe Sunday, the security man on duty, should be killed by strangling him to death, we decided to use a rope to strangle him to death. They advised that I should not come to work to avoid having to explain how Ogundipe was killed.

“Therefore, the week we decided to carry out the operation, I stayed at home and was communicating with them on the phone. I helped them to load the gas cylinder and secure the sledge hammers, cutter and other instruments used in the operation.

“A police corporal attached to Mobile Force Squadron 20, Ikeja,

•Gambo

Corporal Folorunsho, was assigned the duty of being on guard in the bank to ward off intruders and disarm the security man in the bank.

“MOPOL 20 Sergeant Onyeka Eboma was in charge of the operation. He held an AK 47 riffle because he is quite experienced in shooting and could withstand the police if they came to attack them. He was also assigned the duty of ascertaining how battleready the police were by visiting their station beside the bank and the police squad on patrol to know how to face them if they came to attack them.

“On that very day, I stayed in my house, waiting for them to come back. Already, they had told me that my own share would be N400,000, no matter how much they got from the bank.

“When they got to the bank, they tied Ogundipe’s hands, legs

and mouth and covered his eyes with a cloth. They then used a tape to tie his neck until he died.

“Unfortunately, they did not come to see me at my house where we agreed to share the loot. The following day, I was at Extra Global Securities Ltd, Ikeja to report what happened at the bank and that I did go to work that day.

“As I was explaining to them, I was called to come to the bank.

It was Fountain Guards that posted me to the bank we robbed last year. I told them that I had left Fountain Guards and that I did not want to work at the bank again because of how my colleague was killed. But they said I should come for a little discussion after which I could go back.

“As soon as I came, I was arrested and taken to the State Criminal Investigation Depart•Continued on Page 18

15

THE NATION, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2011

‘We shot cleric dead because he obstructed our bid to rape his daughter’ That‘day, I

A

stood guard while my members were ransacking the house and holding its occupants, including the cleric, hostage.

I peeped in and saw the cleric pouncing on Sunday and trying to overpower him for attempting to rape his daughter. I warned him to leave Sunday or I would shoot him. Before I knew it, I pulled the trigger and the man fell down

‘

member of an alleged nine-man robbery gang, which terrorised residents of Bariga, a Lagos suburb, 21-year-old Alex Azubuike, has confessed that he shot a muslim cleric dead when the gang carried out an operation at OgoOluwa Street. This, he said, the gang had to do because the cleric attempted to overpower one of the gang members named Sunday while the latter was trying to rape the cleric’s daughter.

Five members of the gang have been arrested by the operatives of the Lagos State Command of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, led by Abba Kyari, a Superintendent of Police. They are: Alex Azubuike (21), Yusuf Mabolaje (22), Akeem Akintoye (20), Ramoni Ganiyu (23) and Sanya Adetunji (22).

Explaining their individual roles in the robbery operation, Azubuike, the leader of the gang and an indigene of Obiaroko Village, Kwale Local Government Area, Delta State, said: “I am an Okada (commercial motorcycle) rider. We used to operate at Kpokpola, Oluwasogo, Onojimmy and other streets around Bariga where residents are assumed to be rich or averagely rich. There, we can operate and get reasonable amounts of cash and assorted handsets (phones) and laptops.

“That day, I stood guard while my members were ransacking the house and holding its occupants, including the a cleric, hostage.

“I peeped in and saw the cleric pouncing on Sunday and trying to overpower him for attempting to rape his daughter. I warned him to leave Sunday or I would shoot him. Before I knew it, I pulled the trigger and the man fell down.

“We left and later learnt that he was rushed to the hospital but could not make it. I did not intend to kill him. I only wanted to scare him so that he would leave Sunday alone. I would have been happy if it was Sunday that the bullet got. Now, he is at large. God will catch him one day.”

Asked what they took away from the house, he said: “We collected only N100,000 and six phones from the cleric’s place.

The remaining phones were taken from people we met on the street. It was a smooth operation.

“It was my ninth operation in Bariga. From the last operation, I got N15,000 while others got N10,000 each. They include Tunji, Sheyi, Kehinde, Yusuf, Sunday and others who are at large. Tunji got more money than every other person except

•Alex... pulled the trigger

Ebele BONIFACE me.”

Explaining his own role in the gang, the second suspect, Yusuf Mabolaje, said:”I am from Ibadan, Oyo State. I am a thief,

not an armed robber. I don’t carry guns. It is Azubuike and others who carry gun. They can confirm that I don’t carry gun. I collect handsets, laptops, cash, wrist watches, necklace, clothes, shoes and belt.

“I live at No. 7, Remimo Street,

‘

Bariga. The only operation I accompanied them to was the one at Anojimmy area, Bariga. It was in the night.

“We did not kill anybody. I did not follow them to the cleric’s place on that day. They did not even tell me or call me. I was happy when I heard that they killed the cleric because government does not take lightly to any armed robbery operation in which people are shot, not to talk of killing a cleric.

“I was arrested for participating in previous robbery operations. I have participated in more than six operations, but I did not follow them to the one

in which they killed the cleric.

“I participated in operations that were carried out thrice on Kpopola Street, twice on Oluwasogo Street and twice on Onojimmy Street. But I did not follow them to the one on OgoOluwa Street.”

The third suspect, Akeem Akintoye, said: “I am from Sango Otta, Ogun State. I am a barber, which I combined with Omo-Onile work. I kept guns for the gang. I got some of the guns from the late notorious armed robber at Ikorodu popularly called Lili One. He died in a robbery operation.

“His death made me afraid, so I switched over to Omo-Onile work, selling family land and using gun or matchet to frighten away buyers or family members who want to collect money back from me. Once I collect money from you, the rest is story. But I have never killed anyone either as an Omo-Onile or an armourer.

They only give me little money from their loot after an operation. I don’t follow them to operations.

“I barb their heads, drink with them and supply guns to them.

I don’t follow them to operations I sell land in Otta at a rate between N250,00 and N300,000 and disappear with the money.

The buyer and the family will then continue to quarrel until the matter is resolved in favour of the family or the buyer negotiates with the family and pays extra money. It is a deal that involves no loss of life. We only use machete and gun to intimidate people.

“Please, help me beg them to leave me. I promise not to supply guns to armed robbers again and to stop my Omo-Oile work.”

The fourth suspect, Ramoni Ganiyu, says he hails from Ibadan, Oyo State. He also says he repairs generator and lives at No. 48, Onojimmy Street, Bariga, Lagos.

“My role is to source jobs for the gang and they reward me handsomely in return. I also monitor the movements of would be victims and give the gang the information. That is why they like me and give me reasonable sums and good phones after operations.

“I don’t know why I followed them to that operation. It is the only one I have participated in.

I was not happy when Alex shot the cleric dead. My father, Ganiyu Kasali, is a furniture maker. My mother, Hanatu, is a road cleaner with the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Authority.

•Continued on Page 18

16

THE NATION, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2011

•Some of the children at the Christian Compassionate Motherless Babies’ Home before they were ‘detained’

We fear for our children’s lives —Parents whose kids were seized by NAPTIP •Ministry: They were rescued from illegal orphanages

T

HERE is confusion in Anambra State following raids by the National Agency for Prohibition of Traffic in Persons (NAPTIP) on some orphanages in the state. The owners of the homes alleged that officials of NAPTIP and the Ministry of Women Affairs demanded bribes from them and that

Adimike GEORGE, Onitsha the raids were carried out because they refused to pay the bribes demanded.

Three motherless babies’ homes, Nise, Christian Compassionate and Divine Mercy, were shut down by

NAPTIP and the Anambra State Ministry of Youths Development in a space of three months, with about 33 kids taken away from the homes.

But some of the owners of the homes accused NAPTIP officials of collaborating with policemen to extort money from proprietors of orphanages in the state, adding that

it was only the homes that refused to pay the bribes demanded that were raided with heavily armed policemen who labelled the inmates and workers as traffickers.

Before the latest accusation by some owners of orphanages in the state, there was an incident at Christian Compassionate Motherless Babies’ Home, Obosi, Idemili North Local Government Area of the state involving NAPTIP. A report published by a news magazine had accused the home of child trafficking, including selling babies and harbouring pregnant teenagers who produced children for the home. A few days after the report, NAPTIP officials stormed the home and seized about 19 kids, including the children of the owners and workers at the home.

Upon enquiry, the South-East office of NAPTIP said they acted on the basis of a petition they received from the Ministry of Women Affairs and Youths Development. The ministry on their part said the motherless babies home was not properly registered.

Thecommissioner in the ministry, Ego Uzoezie, said she was not aware of the allegation that babies were being sold in the home, adding that what the ministry was after was for the home to be registered

as a charity home and not as a nongovernmental organisation (NGO).

But the Chairman Board of Trustees (BOT) of the home, Maxwell Ogazi, in an interview with reporters, said the home was duly registered with all the relevant authorities, including the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and the Ministry of Women Affairs and Youths Development in Anambra State. He expressed shock that the home was raided and the kids were whisked away. The home, he said, had been operating since 2006.

Ogazi said: “The home, as you can see, has met all the requirements necessary for registration. After fulfilling all the legal requirements, the Corporate Affairs Commission gave us our certificate of incorporation which authorised us to operate as a legal home for motherless children.”

He said the home was established after seeing motherless children suffer without help. He also recalled that most of the children who were not wanted by their mothers or whose parents had died were neglected, resulting in their deaths or stigmatisation, adding that the home had saved such children.

He said apart from the fact that the home was duly registered, it had been working with the ministry, which had been visiting and supervising the home.

He also decried the prevalence of teenage pregnancy, which he said necessitated the founding of the home to provide abode for the children who were rejected by their parents. He blamed the various state governments for not passing

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2011 the Child Rights Act into law.

On how they came about the babies in the home, Ogazi said the home started with some abandoned babies in the community, adding that there are also some legal procedures which must be fulfilled before they take in any baby. But he pointed out that the procedure for adopting babies was a matter for the ministry.

The matron of the home and wife of the founder, Mrs. Goodness Chika, said the home was like a calling for her, as she could not bear the sight of children who were daily abused and sometimes completely abandoned to fate. He said with such experiences, she could not sleep. Hence, the need to bring the destitute children together under one big family to give them love and training and reintegrate them into the society.

But the peace of the home was shattered penultimate Wednesday when officials of NAPTIP and Ministry of Women Affairs raided it and arrested the workers and took away 19 children who were playing inside the compound.

A mild drama played out at the home when aggrieved mothers, whose kids were arrested by the officials of NAPTIP, protested the continued ‘detention’ of the 19 children.

Some of the mothers tore their blouses as they marched round the premises of the Christian Compassionate and Motherless Babies Home, Obosi.

The Nation had last week reported the arrest of about 19 children aged between one and four years by NAPTIP officials. But the Anambra State Ministry for Women Affair, in a swift reaction, said the ministry only rescued 30 children from child traffickers in the state, which probably triggered off the protest.

Addressing newsmen in Obosi during their protest against continuous detention of the minors, a 25year-old widow, Mrs. Patience Jacob, whose two children were arrested, lamented that the children were detained under horrible conditions for two weeks, adding that the adult workers who were arrested at the motherless babies’ home had all been released.

Narrating her ordeal, Patience, who works in the home as a cleaner, said even her own children were arrested by officials of NAPTIP when they stormed the home and whisked away 19 children, seven of whom were said to belong to some workers at the centre.

She said that efforts made to secure the release of the children had been unsuccesful as NAPTIP continued to play hide-and-seek.

She said: “Since they made away with our children, they have denied us access to them, even when we have showed all evidence to prove that we are their mothers. I am a widow and my kids are very tender. The eldest, Emmanuel, is about three years, while the last is a year plus. My appeal is that they should release my children to me. I have been working here since last year. I never noticed any illegal activity in the home as alleged by NAPTIP. But if they have facts, let them investigate and make them open. But they should release our children before they start dying,” she said amidst tears.

The protesters, who carried placards with inscriptions like, ‘NAPTIP don’t let our children die’; ‘Release our children, they are innocent’; ‘Enough of this intimidation and harassment’; ‘We are poor mothers’, among others, maintained that the detention of their children was unwarranted and illegal. The children, they said, were innocent minors who had nothing to do with the allegations or investigations being done by NAPTIP. The matron of the home, whose two children were also detained, Mrs Chika Goodness, decried the

•A view of one of the homes

‘ My children are too tender to be left without attention. I want them to release my innocent children and investigate any allegation they have against the home. The continued detention of my children will affect their health. If anything happens to them, I will be ruined

‘

•Mr. Ogazi ordeal which the mothers of the children had been going through, stating that as mothers, being denied access to their children was heartbreaking.

She expressed worry about the health of the children who she said were under close monitoring, especially those under immunisation vaccines and vaccines for preventable diseases. “The children are in serious danger as their health is already deteriorating. If they are not released immediately, some of them may not survive,” she said.

One of the mothers and an employee of the home, Oluchi Ikegwu, who broke into tears intermittently as she spoke with newsmen, said she came to work with her little baby of one year and two months, adding: “It was like every other day at work. I left my baby in the office

to run a short errand, but before I came back, my child along with other children had been whisked away to Awka by NAPTIP officials on frivolous allegations.”

Oluchi said she and her husband had been through a great ordeal in the last two weeks as the thought of their only child remaining in detention without proper care had been unbearable.”If NAPTIP has any issue with the home based on any allegation, it should properly check and investigate the facts before clamping our children into detention for no just cause,” she argued.

Another mother, whose two children were among those detained, Nkiru Ikpegbu, said they (mothers) had been reporting at the office of NAPTIP in Awka for two weeks to take their children, but each time they went, they were denied access to them.

Nkiru, also an employee of the home, said for four years, the home has been running in strict compliance with the laws and the rules of

the supervising ministry in the state.

She alleged that certain individuals who never wanted the home to succeed had resorted to blackmailing the home.

She said: “My children are too tender to be left without attention. I want them to release my innocent children and investigate any allegation they have against the home. The continued detention of my children will affect their health. If anything happens to them, I will be ruined.”

Ogazi, however, told reporters that the ministry had released about six of the 19 children,, insisting that the home had never contravened the provisions of the Anambra State Ministry of Women Affairs, which is the supervising ministry.

He described as false and malicious the allegation that the home is running a racket of illegal sale of babies, adding: “We have been operating this home for the past four years and we are duly registered. It is our enemies who are fighting to bring down the reputation we have fought hard to build.”

When contacted, a Director in the Ministry of Women Affairs, who preferred anonymity, said the allegations levelled against the home were unfounded. The Anambra State Commissioner of Women Affairs, Ego Uzoezie, said she had issued a statement to the effect that the home was one of those shut down by her ministry for non-compliance.

In a related development, another owner of an orphanage, the Divine Mercy Motherless Babies Home, Obosi has expressed anxiety over the whereabouts of two children who were taken from his home by the ministry. He accused a director in the ministry of masterminding the raids in motherless babies’ homes within the state because they did not succumb to blackmail and the bribes being demanded.

The owner of the home, Mrs. Ifeoma Okolo, particularly accused a director in the ministry of invading the home some time last year, where he allegedly took away the two children whose whereabouts she said had remained unknown Okolo, who gave the names of the children as Uchechukwu and Ogechukwu, also said the director had vowed to pull the motherless babies’ home down.

She said: “The director said he will never live and see this motherless babies’ home progress unless I give him returns, but I said I would never do such a thing. You should ask him about the whereabouts of two babies, Uchechukwu and Ogechukwu, male and female, he came to my home and took away,

because up till now, I have not seen them.

“He said I ran away when they came to my home. But as you can see, I have been on admission in this hospital. So, all these things were cooked up because I refused to dance to his tune that I should give him money,” she said.

The embattled owner of Divine Mercy Motherless Babies Home, which was raided by detectives from the Anambra State Police Command in collaboration with staff of the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, also debunked the allegation that she sold a child named Miracle for N400, 000.

“They said I sold Miracle for N400, 000, but let me ask you, how can one sell her own son? Miracle is my only surviving child after I gave birth to three sets of twins. So, you can see him. He is my son and there is no sane person who could have sold her only son for money after giving birth to three sets of twins, all boys, five of them died and Miracle survived. That was why I gave him the name, Miracle,” she said.

The Director for Child Development, Anambra State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Mr. Emeka Ejide, however, denied the briberyallegation, saying the ministry raided the home because of its illegal activities.

Ejide also said he did not take the two children he was alleged by Okolo to have taken, stressing that the ministry was in custody of all the children recovered from illegal orphanages across the state.

He said: “I am happy that this is coming from the media. Incidentally, there is no home with the name Divine Mercy Motherless Babies Home. Detectives from the Nigeria Police went there and rescued children hidden under the bed in a warehouse, and I can tell you that the children are in the custody of the ministry.”

Ejide also said the allegation was aimed at tarnishing the image of the ministry by those he described as illegal owners of orphanage homes in the state. He said it was cheap blackmail, which he said was targeted at undermining the resolve of the ministry to rid the state of illegal operators of motherless babies’ homes.

“It is just a simple blackmail. But we shall not succumb to it, because the homes we raided were all illegal homes and the woman is talking about taking two children away.

I have never met her in person. All I can tell you is that the children rescued from homes like hers are in the custody of the ministry,” he said.

18

THE NATION, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2011

‘We shot cleric dead because he obstructed our bid to rape his daughter’

•From left: Akeem, Ramoni, Sanya

•Continued from Page 14 ment where I wrote a statement and was later detained. I told the police that I did not know anything about the bank robbery and that I was down with typhoid fever and could not go to work.

“I was detained at the SCID Panti for more than one month before my people contacted a lawyer and I was granted bail.

“When I was granted bail, I started going to the Redeemed Christian Church of God at Igando, Lagos, where I became ‘born again’. The pastor asked me to give my life to Christ and ask God for forgiveness for all my sins, no matter how dirty they were and the Lord would wash them away.

“When I started praying, I asked God to forgive me for being part of the bank robbery in which Ogundipe was killed. At a point, I started suspecting that people might have known that I was involved.

“I was troubled because I could not contact any of our members for my own share of the money.

Before Eboma stopped answering my calls, he gave me N5,000 to travel to Kaduna where he promised to see me and give me my N400,000.

“Atoki threatened to kill me when I called him on the phone to give me my own share of the money or I would expose them

know when he shot the cleric but I heard the gun shot and was scared. I was outside. My role

was to keep watch and prevent intruders from disrupting the operation.

‘

They have been advising me to leave the company of bad boys but I did not heed their advice.

If God saves me from this, I will not have anything to do with bad boys on my street again. It is bad company that put me in this trouble

“I did not shoot anybody. I always pray before going on robbery operations for God not to allow anything that would make me to shoot or be shot at.”

Confirming the incident, the Public Relations Officer of the Lagos State Police Command, Samuel Jinadu, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, said SARS operatives would leave nothing undone to see that the members of the gang at large were arrested.

‘How bank official recruited us to kill the guard on duty and cart away N10m’ When I was granted‘bail, I started going to

to the police. For fear of being arrested again, I started staying indoors. I stopped working and life became horrible as I had no money to feed.

“It was when SARS took over the matter following the arrest of Sergeant Eboma at Ipaja that I knew that I was no longer safe.

I tried to relocate to Ogun State but Commander SP Abba Kyari had cordoned off every route I intended to escape through. Before I knew it, I saw him ordering his men to handcuff me.

“When I asked them about Atoki, Eboma, Ezekiel, Gabriel and Victor, they said the first four were cooling their heels at the Kirikiri Maximum prison. I thought they had been killed. I then knew that I would not be killed.

“They obtained a statement from me again and detained me together with confirmed armed robbers. They told me that I would soon be charged to court if I did not do anything funny, like trying to escape. There, I saw other armed robbery suspects who were waiting to be taken to court, some of whose charges had been prepared.

“One day, an evangelist came

the Redeemed Christian Church of God at Igando, Lagos, where I became ‘born again’.

The pastor asked me to give my life to Christ and ask God for forgiveness for all my sins, no matter how dirty they were and the Lord would wash them away

‘

“They have been advising me to leave the company of bad boys but I did not heed their advice. If God saves me from this, I will not have anything to do with bad boys on my street again. It is bad company that put me in this trouble.

“Sunday is a sex maniac. I told them that he should not follow us, but I could not have my way as the majority said he was important to the operation.”

The fifth suspect, Sanya

Adetunji, said: “I am a cobbler at Bariga. I reside at No. 5 Ajenipa Street, Bariga. I did not

‘

•Continued on Page 15

•Yusuf

•Atoki

to our cell and ministered to us.

He gave each of us a Holy Bible for daily prayers.

“The investigating police officer also showed me the rob-

bery instruments they recovered, including the Sergeant’s AK47 riffle, and that the sum looted was over N10 million.

They recovered a pistol also.

They said Victor was still at large and that he sent a text message to his squadron to tell them where he kept his own riffle. But I told SARS that I did not know where Victor ran to.

“My prayer now is that God should come and save me. I am happy that I am alive and the other people arrested before me were charged with conspiracy, armed robbery and murder. My freedom now depends on God, whom I have asked for forgiveness.”

Gambo also revealed what

some of the gang members did with their shares of the money: “Sergeant Eboma built a fish pond in Ikorodu. Ezekiel bought a bus. Gabriel bought a Jeep.

Victor bought a BMW car, while the bank official went into property investment.”

He also revealed that the gang had planned to rob three banks in Lagos before December 2011.

The Public Relations Officer of the Lagos State Police Command, Mr. Samuel Jinadu, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, said the arrest of the suspects was made possible by the fact that the Commissioner of Police, Yakubu Alkali, is “a practical crime fighter and a resultoriented officer.”

19

THE NATION, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2011

Saturday

THRILLER

Strip tease

-Changing face of the 'lap dance' in Nigeria's hottest strip clubs Olatunji OLOLADE, Assistant Editor and Kayode ALFRED

Continued on Pages 20-21

20 •Continued from page 19 She turned her rear to the lady with the strapon who promptly knelt behind her to ram it into her continuously from behind. As if on cue, many patrons leapt from their seats to assume vantage spots around the stage. Within the racket, it became impossible to tell what actually drove almost everyone to the edge; was it the wild, sensual sex enacted by the pair or the silkiness with which they contorted their faces into carnal masks of uninhibited pleasure?

Four minutes later, the sexy duo lost their bragging rights to the patrons’ undivided attention. No thanks to a buxomly dark and very pretty girl who spread her partner, an equally very attractive but fair girl, on a table about 10 metres from the stage. Subsequently, she knelt before her partner and parted her thighs to lick between her genitals.

Both girls growled passionately as if they intended to impersonate the autumnal sex-hoot of a polar bear. But they didn’t. Their intention was to present a scene so shocking and extraordinarily sensual to drive the entire club clientele nuts. And they succeeded in their ploy.

Drunk, merry old men and youths gathered around the twosome to cheer and hoot away in wild abandon. Others simply craned their necks from their seats to catch glimpses of the ongoing sex romp while surreptitiously stealing glances at fellow patrons lost in the steamy nexus of their first, second and umpteenth lap dance; the latter constituted the very few suffering their first culture shock at The Cave, Nigeria’s first totally open strip bar.

At The Cave, reticence is a sin. Every patron is allowed uninhibited platform to reach inwards and display their best hidden perversions. The beauty of the joint lies as much in its aesthetics as its capacities to cater to and satisfy the wildest fantasies of both its male and female patrons and fun seekers.

Located within a highbrow area in Ikeja, Lagos, the club parades an astonishingly breathtaking array of waitresses and strip dancers. While the waitresses, as a rule, appear in see-through gowns designed with very large holes to display their sexy bras and pants, the strippers are bound with fewer rules.

Unlike the norm in most other strip bars, strippers at The Cave are free to yank off their thongs, hooters, cami-knickers or whatever eye-popping brief they deem suitable for their tricks; to the pleasure of their easy and excitable patrons.

Asides their inclinations to perform the wildest sex acts – ranging from lesbianism to sodomy – on one another, the strippers indisputably give the wildest lap dances to both male and female patrons. They are open to any form of naked and erotic dance routine according to the preferences or initiative of the clientele.

During a strip dance session, the stripper cooes: “Tip me. Tip me now. My coordinator is watching.” In response, the patron parts with N1, 000, N2, 000 or more according to his spending power and the surge of his libido.

At The Cave, it is impossible for patrons to have sex with strippers in the open bar. “They will throw that customer out. And the stripper that dares to attempt such will be disengaged and barred indefinitely from entering the club,” crooned Comfort, an undergraduate at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) and a stripper in the club. Yeah; most strippers in the club are university and polytechnic undergraduates or graduates. And they flaunt an impeccable command of English language save in exceptional circumstances when they coo in pidgin or their native dialect to heighten the ecstasy of their patrons.

When a patron gets extremely aroused and wishes to have sex, he or she is eagerly offered an opportunity to advance into the “Cabin,” a section reserved for private lap dances and sex.

An adventure inside the “Cabin” attracts a fee of N25, 000 of which 60 per cent goes to the club and the remaining 40 per cent, to the stripper.

The same principle applies at the Ocean Blue, another popular but dingy strip bar in Opebi.

When The Nation visited the VIP section of the club, no single stripper was on the floor. The room was deliberately denied light save the desultory glow casted by the single television hanging on the wall of the section. While the television showed mainly hardcore pornographic flicks, the strippers in the club quietly turned their own tricks by skillfully performing various manners of sexual acts with patrons and VIP members of the club for various fees ranging from N3, 000 (for a mouth job or blow job) to N5, 000 (for actual sex).

Psychology of a strip dancer Jasmine, 24, who claimed to be an undergraduate at the University of Calabar (UNICAL), stated that she is into the business for the kicks. According to her, “Although every girl you see here would adduce one reason or the other for venturing into this job; I am here just for the kicks. I had always wanted

THE NATION, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2011

Changing face of the ‘lap dance’ to understand what it means to be a stripper. I enjoy it a lot… (Chuckles) what the hell do you think I need the money for? I receive more than enough from my dad and boyfriend my dear.”

“And there is the upside too; I get to be too good for my current boyfriend (a Port Harcourt, Rivers State-based engineer) and my future husband, that it becomes basically impossible for him to cheat on me or be ensnared by another woman,” she added.

Jasmine is indeed, a fun seeker’s delight; perhaps a smidgen more than most of her colleagues at the club. And she is opinionated too, within the club and outside it. For instance, while on a date with the reporter last week, she unequivocally lashed out at feminists and women’s rights advocates claiming they are too uptight and ‘basically need to get laid.”

According to her, Feminists are not openminded. Dancing makes me feel like I am a star. Strip dancing is only degrading if you let it be. What you do is either good or not- there is no in between. For instance, if you have to get drunk or high on drugs to strip and dance, then you have a problem. But if you are truly a performer, working hard out there in the club for the money and the love of it, then you have got everything right and you can never be on the receiving end.”

The recruitment Both women and girls find out about stripping vacancies from a variety of sources. Upscale strip club franchises recruit in new cities by having managers and imported dancers scout in nightclubs. Most women find out about stripping from girlfriends already in stripping, male associates, the media, and some from prior involvement in prostitution. Pat, a stripper at the Ocean Blue for instance, told of how she loitered in and around open bars in Agege and mainstream clubs in Ikeja to pick up customers since she turned fifteen and how her pimp eventually drove her to small town strip bars because those bars admitted her and hired her. Milda, at The Cave, got involved in stripping through an escort service for bachelor parties. Another young woman who went to a gentlemen’s club to pick up her friend recounted her recruitment as an eighteen-yearold. She waited at the bar, was served alcohol, and the owner propositioned her promising that she would make at least N20, 000 per week if she was indeed as smart as she looked,

‘

Not a few patrons of strip clubs attempt a justification of their obsessions with the joints as a result of their wives’ inability to titillate them anymore. “You marry a woman, and the next thing you discover is that after one kid or two in some cases, she totally loses shape. She gets fat, develops a tummy and a very terrible bedroom attitude

dancing at his strip bar. Of course she agreed.

At an audition the club manager asks the applicants to perform on amateur night or bikini night, both of which are particularly popular with customers who hope to see girlnext-door types rather than seasoned strippers.

The manager will make a job offer based on physical attributes and number of women already on the schedule. Clubs portray the job requirements as very flexible. Women are told that they will not be forced to do anything they do not want to do, but clubs overbook women so they are forced to compete with each other, often gradually engaging in more explicit activities in order to earn tips.

Doing the strip Dancers in normal strip clubs perform topless but not bottomless; law requires them to wear underwear, bikinis, or similar garments to cover the pubis. However, the norm is serially flouted in Lagos strip clubs as most dancers in obeisance to their employers’ demands perform in the nude.

Oftentimes, menstruating dancers can wear tampons (with strings clipped short or tucked up) and change them often during heavy-flow days, without revealing any visual signs of menstruation. Dancers typically wear very little perfume, but they often have breast implants, dye their head hair, trim their pubic hair, shave their legs and underarms, and adopt a “stage name” different from their real first name. They typically do regular aerobic and resistance exercise to maintain a fit, lean body

’

shape.

During work, each dancer performs one to three “stage dances” on an elevated central stage about every 90 min to advertise her presence, attractiveness, and availability for lap dances. These result in only modest tip earnings – typically N1, 000 to N5, 000 tips from the patrons seated closest to the stage or demanding a lap dance. The rest of the dancer’s time is spent walking around the club asking patrons if they want a “lap dance.”

A lap dance typically attracts no less than N2, 000 per 3-min song in the main club area and as much as N10, 000 or more in the more private VIP lounge. Dancers typically make about two thirds of their income from the main club area and one third from the VIP area. Lap dances require informal “tips” rather than having explicit “prices” (to avoid police charges of illegal “solicitation”), but the economic norms of tipping are vigorously enforced by bouncers.

Dancers thus maximize their earnings by providing as many lap dances as possible per shift.

During a typical lap dance, the male patron, in line with international practice ought to sit on a chair or couch, fully clothed, with his hands at his sides as he is typically not allowed to touch the dancer but in many strip bars in Lagos, the patron is allowed to caress the stripper. Some strippers even allow their clients to insert their fingers into their genitals.

The topless female dancer sits on the man’s lap, either facing away from him to display her buttocks, back, and hair or faces him either leaning back to display her breasts and

21

THE NATION, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2011 a fee.

Why strip?

Not a few strippers claimed they resorted to strip dancing in clubs in order to cope with the country’s harsh economic clime. According to Genevieve, a graduate of a Lagos based college of education; she decided to become a stripper in order to raise money for her fees just before she got into her final year. But even after she settled her bills, the mother of one could not stop stripping at the club.

“There are times I make as much as N45, 000 in a night. I service mainly the VIP members so I get to make a lot of money. Three weekends ago, I made N105, 000 in three nights (Friday to Sunday). Tell me, if I were working the 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. shift, can I make that much?” argued Genevieve.

And she is “right on point” argued Gloria Eborka, a women’s rights activist and Social Psychologist. But even as she agreed with the stripper on the profitability of doing the strip, she argued that the consequences of taking up such employ far outweigh its presumed benefits.

in Nigeria’s hottest strip bars genitals, while making conversation and eye contact, or leaning forward to whisper seductively in his ear. Lap dances typically entail intense rhythmic contact between the female pelvis and the clothed male penis.

Thus, lap dances are more intimate form of sex work than the stage dances and table dances that characterize most strip clubs. The average dancer can make a fortune performing on a very rich, attentive and generous patron in a VIP lounge. According to Evelyn, a stripper, she makes as much as N100, 000 performing “strictly lap dances for politicians and company directors.”

The clientele Most club patrons are foreigners and Nigerian men aged 20 to 60 and in very rare cases they could be older. Their occupations range from semiskilled laborers to professionals and they typically start the evening by stuffing their pockets with cash and having a couple of drinks to get into a party mood.

Club patrons will often “sample” several different dancers with one lap dance each before picking one for a more expensive multisong bout of dancing. Thus, patrons can assess the relative attractiveness of different women through intimate verbal, visual, tactile, and olfactory interaction, and those attractiveness judgments can directly influence women’s tip earnings, through the number of 3-min dances that patrons request from each dancer.

And not a few patrons of strip clubs attempt a justification of their obsessions with the joints as a result of their wives’ inability to titillate them anymore. “You marry a woman, and the next thing you discover is that after one kid or two in some cases, she totally loses shape. She gets fat, develops a tummy and a very terrible bedroom attitude. Then you need to see them wander about the house in a wrapper. It’s so off-putting and scary. Helpless men like me have no choice but to seek solace in strip clubs,” lamented a patron who simply identified himself as D-One. Corroborating him, another patron complained of his wife’s disinterestedness in sex games of any kind. “And when we do have sex, she simply stays on her back and grunts. I have tried everything. I tried going down on her once but she sprung up and hit her knee on my lip giving me a gash and painful swelling on the lip. She said such foreplay and sex games

of any kind are wrong in the eyes of God. The only way I can retain my sanity and sustain that marriage is to catch my groove at bars like this,” he said.

On another note, a female patron who preferred to remain anonymous said she visits the strip bars because her husband is too “prim and proper.” “He isn’t into anything,” she lamented. According to her, while most men would jump at a suggestion or request by their wives for a threesome, particularly one involving another woman, her husband responded to such suggestion with contempt on the two occasions that she summoned enough courage to bring it up.

Working conditions Strippers are denied legal protection relating to the terms and conditions under which they earn their living. Most strippers are hired to work as independent contractors rather than employees and they are not entitled to a wage hence their income is totally dependent on their compliance with customer demands in order to earn tips. More often than not, the strippers have to pay for the privilege of working at a club. The majority of clubs demand that women turn over 40 to 50 percent of their income for stage or couch rental and enforce a mandatory tip out to bouncers and disc jockeys.

Usually a minimum shift quota is set and the women must turn over at least that quota amount. If a woman does not earn the quota and wants to continue working at the establishment, she owes the club and must pay off that shift’s quota by adding it to the quota for the next shift she will work. The strip clubs may also derive income from promotional novelty items, kickbacks, door cover charges, beverage sales, prostitution, and capricious fines imposed on the women.

Although strippers are classified as independent contractors, the reality of their relationship to their supervisors is an employee-employer relationship. Regardless of the agreements claiming independent contractor status, clubs maintain enormous control over the women. The club controls the schedule and hours, requires strippers to pay rental fees, tip support staff large amounts, and even sets the price of table dances and private dances. Clubs have specific rules about costuming and even dictate the sequence of stripping and nudity.

For example, by the middle of the first song the woman must remove her top, she must be entirely nude by the end of the second song, and must perform a nude floorshow; all these regardless of whether customers are tipping her or not. A club may further influence dancers’ appearances by pressuring them to shave off all their pubic hair, maintain a yearlong tan, or undergo surgery for breast augmentation. At nude clubs, it is common for the performers to be shaved clean, giving them an adolescent and even childlike appearance.

Clubs also exert significant control over the strippers’ behavior during their shifts by regulating when women may use the bathroom and how many of them can be in the dressing room at one time. Some clubs do not provide seating in the dressing room and forbid smoking in that room, thus preventing strippers from taking a break. When a woman wants to sit down or smoke a cigarette, she must do so on the main floor with a customer.

Clubs enforce these rules through fines.

Women are fined heavily by club management: N5, 000 or more per minute for being late, as much as N10, 000 for calling in sick, and other arbitrary amounts for “talking back” to customers or staff, using the telephone without permission, and touching stage mirrors to mention a few.

Despite the strip club’s representation of a dancing job as flexible, strippers attest that their relationship with the club becomes all consuming and everything associated with being a stripper interferes with living a normal life. And despite the common perception that a woman can dance her way through school, many strippers report that their jobs take over their lives. Long and late hours, fatigue, drug and alcohol problems, and out of town bookings make it difficult to switch gears. Not only do the women spend a significant amount of their time in strip clubs, the activities and influences from the club environment permeate their personal lives and detrimentally affect their well being. Although strip clubs are considered titillating forms of entertainment, people unassociated with the industry are unaware of the emotional, verbal, physical and sexual abuse inherent in the industry. Despite claims from management that customers are prohibited from touching the women, this rule is consistently violated as not a few strippers allow patrons to stick their fingers into their genitals, bite their nipples and caress them for

Cost of the strip Stripping exacts a high cost from those who engage in it, taxing a woman’s energy and her self-respect, both at the club and in her daily life. Stripping distorts the dancers’ perceptions of money and sexuality; it encourages them to blur their personal boundaries about previously unacceptable sexual acts and teaches them to develop contempt for men. Then it reduces their sex drives and causes problems in their intimate partnerships, claimed Eborka.

In the same vein, Adebimpe Sholaja, a psychologist and “life coach”, acknowledged the likely dangers of working as a stripper.

“Strip dancers have to combat with social stigma daily. They often do not easily form or keep friendships or intimate relationships with those who are not dancers or in the sex industry and they avoid discussing their work with others because the reaction is usually a mixture of shock, disgust, and perverse curiosity.

Research has shown that, over time, stripping takes a tremendous toll on practically every woman involved, negatively affecting her selfimage and overall quality of life,” noted Sholaja.

True. The Nation findings revealed that several late-career dancers believe that stripping itself became literally toxic to them at some point and that just the idea of going into work made them feel sick. Additionally, many dancers feel tremendous pressure to conform to a particular body image—the “Barbie doll” image of an extremely thin woman with large breasts or the buxomly tart with drop-dead curves – that garners the most attention from customers.

This pressure becomes so intense that many dancers reconstruct their appearance through various body technologies, using methods such as expensive and painful plastic surgery to enlarge breasts and reform faces, bleaching and developing eating disorders and turning to drugs to stay excessively thin or fit. Those dancers who cannot afford these methods tend to compensate for their “flawed” body image by taking off more clothing and performing more graphic moves on the stage and floor, stretching their own boundaries to appeal to customers’ personal tastes. As one dancer stated, “The men just see you as an object, not a person, and whether you are equally engaged in their desire is irrelevant. Increasingly, you learn to despise the men because of the way they perceive you. Lap-dancing is about creating a situation whereby the men feel they are doing you a favor—that’s the way the game is set up, so all the power lies with the customer.”

Despite the stripper’s representation of her survival as dependent on the whims of their patrons, the power actually lies with the stripper. The Nation findings revealed realworld emotional and economic evidence of strip bar patrons’ vulnerability to nimble and wholly mischievous manipulations of attractive strip dancers.

The modus operandi (MO) of the average stripper and professional lap dancer in earning tips reveal a highly motivated and clever plot to maximise tip earnings during every shift.

The strippers do the emotional labor of counterfeiting intimacy with male club patrons.

They seek to appear more sexually attractive by promising to explore lengths no other dancer would attempt. Some simply choose to break the rules, venturing into erotic terrains even their managers would rather not encourage.

For instance, a stripper managed to surreptitiously unzip the trouser of a male patron and give him a hand-job while giving him a full frontal lap dance. Her audacity and overt inclination to break the rules under the intimidating watch of the club’s hefty bouncers drove the patron to the brink. He ended up giving her N12,000 for N2,000 worth lap dance session. But who cares, “all the power lies with the customer.”

THE NATION, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2011

22 ‘‘’

Why inter-ethnic conflicts persist — Nigerian Institute of Mgt boss, Adukwu- Bolujoko Dr. (Mrs.) Sally Adukwu-Bolujoko is renowned for advocating the return of the public school system to its glorious days. It is an activity that was partly responsible for her appointment by President Goodluck Jonathan as a member of the Presidential Advisory Council (PAC) as well as that of the Presidential Task Team on Education.

The 17th President and Chairman of Council of the Nigerian Institute of Management bares her mind on crucial national issues, including the spate of bombings around the country, and the contributions of the institute to national development, in an interview with ADEGUNLE OLUGBAMILA.

H

OW has the NIM fared managerially since it was established a year after Nigeria’s independence?

The NIM started in 1961through the initiative of Mr. Clayton of the then Federal Office of Commerce and Industry. He felt there was a need to train managers that would take charge of the young economy at independence. He called a meeting of managers and some white administrators such as some Nigerian managers in the UAC, Unilever, Mandilas and the like, conferred with them and decided to come up with the Nigerian Institute of Management in 1961, modelled after the British Institute of Management. From then on, they (managers) began to network and build synergies among themselves, cutting knowledge from the developed world.

I will like to see the NIM as a foremost and pioneer management professional body that indeed began early to develop professionals in this field for Nigeria. And since then., we have not rested. We have kept developing and rising. We have since had our Capacity Building Directorate expanded to have presence in all the geo-political zones of the country, including Lagos and Abuja. On a daily basis, the centre trains people in various aspects of management.

And wherever we see a gap in knowledge in this nation, we try to fill the gap.

Can you mention some gaps you saw in the past and tried to bridge?

For instance, when we began to fear that the quality of Nigerian graduates was deteriorating, we instantly went to the NYSC (National Youth Service Corps), had an MoU with it to train Nigerian graduates in their service year for six months, free of charge. We give them examinations twice each for three months that make up a semester and we passed on entrepreneurship and leadership and marketing skills, because we try to make each corps member know he or she represents a product that must sell first. During the training, the trainees begin writing their feasibility studies on what they can do, and eventually end up being self reliant rather than looking for jobs.

One area that has also gladdened my heart as a mother is that three years into this strategic partnership,

which started in 2005, the NYSC told us that the death rate of NYSC members in road accidents reduced by 50 per cent. Today, seven years after we commenced the initiative, the death rate has reduced by about 75 per cent. Now we are expecting that in the next three years, the quality of Nigerian graduates out there in the labour market will be different, because as at today, we have trained more than 300.000 of them. However, 165,000 passed the Management Proficiency Examination, and this proficiency certificate has been accredited by the Federal Ministry of Education (FME).

We also have noticed gaps in the knowledge of our leaders and in leadership. This made us develop what we call Top Executive Leadership Programme (TELP). We went further to sign MoUs (memorandum of understanding) with universities in almost all the continents of the world. We take our leaders there so they can interact with the managers of those countries and states to see how others manage their states and economies. Some of the institutions NIM has ties with include the Manchester University Business School, England; Georgetown University Business School, Washington, USA; University of Stellenbosch Business, Cape Town, South Africa; Sun Yat-zen University, Guangzhou, China; Queen’s School of Business, Queen’s University, Canada and, most recently, the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA).

Lately, we have just established an enough time and many of our memAcademy of Corporate Management bers are trying. But we are going into and Governance because we want to research to give them enough inforgo into research now and document mation to work with. those studies of what is happening The primary role of NIM in Nigein our own environment. We have ria is to standardise management in seven faculties that now undertake all areas, including governance. But surveys and research, making blue- it appears that despite your five deprints in every area of governance cades of existence, Nigeria remains and passing same to governments at corrupt in every sector. Why is this all levels. We have built capacity for

‘

•Dr. Adukwu-Bolujoko

so?

As Nigerians, we all know that our problem is leadership. The leader is expected to think ahead of the led.

So, the momentum to launch into action comes from leadership. And because the leader has a vision, passion comes from him, because every vision is backed up by the passion and energy that will drive it. So, if

Foreigners also describe Nigerians as fraudsters, people who cut corners, poor managers who love shortcuts, who don’t even value lives and all that. The youth don’t respect elders anymore. So, if we are so disoriented as a nation, why will we not be fighting?

Because we don’t agree on anything that is Nigeria

,

‘,

you don’t have the right leadership, it will be difficult to sustain your goals. The people are distracted because the leadership lacks compelling passion to achieve the vision.

So, our leaders find it difficult to keep their eyes on the goals. They are easily distracted by friends and relatives, wrong advisers, primordial loyalty and religious sentiments.

They eventually end up veering into another cause.

Was it easy for anybody to sway the late Obafemi Awolowo from his policy of free education in the Western Region? And because Awolowo had courage and determination, he was not distracted. All we need is courageous leaders that will come up with policies and implement them to the letter so that we will have continuity in governance; so that we will no longer have a project discarded •Continued on Page 48

LOCATION

BACKSTAGE

SNAPSHOT

REEL NEWS

MUSIC

SCREEN

Edited by: VICTOR AKANDE

Tel: 08077408676

E-mail: victor_akande@yahoo.com

ntertainment

THE NATION, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2011

23

--Page 28 & 37

Acting nude not part of my culture

— Nollywood actress, Susan Peters

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, SEPTEMBER 24, 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

Lull in Nollywood?

A

: My concern is the lull in the Nollywood sector of entertainment industry.

For me it's not as vibrant as it used to be? I am worried.

B: Lull in Nollywood dates back to the global meltdown. And of course the reluctance of government agencies saddled with the responsibility of overseeing Nollywood. The internal rancour among practitioners too was a major issue that has torn d sector apart. AGN was almost torn apart by a protracted power tussle, the producer and director's guild too had a fair share of their crisis.

A: Though I have not been a fan of Nollywood, but for the fact that it was creating jobs for a lot of people is the reason I am worried.

Would funding from Jonathan government lift the sector from the present doldrums?

C: That will be interesting!

B: Government has never been sincere with Nollywood or the arts. It's been lip service all these years. The supposed USD200 million soft loan or fund Jonathan claimed he has made available to the arts, where is it? Who has benefited from it? What are the conditions before getting a loan?

Minister after Minister leaves without achieving anything for the sector. MOPPICON (Motion Picture Practitioners Council of Nigeria) dream has been on since 11 years now, what has happened to it?

D: I really do not think that there is a lull in the sector. Just like B said, global meltdown which has left many people struggling with how to meet up with the three basic requirements of life has eaten deep on people's budget for entertainment items like film. As for the crisis, Nollywood is not an exception. Can anyone tell me any union, association or sector that has not gone through or is also not going through what Nollywood is experiencing? Even Nigeria is neck-deep in leadership wahala.

And even in the face of all of these, good films were released between last year and now. So, it is not as bad as A would want us to believe.

B: I hear activities have peaked in Asaba, actors in the forum can either confirm or debunk this claim. I hear film shooting is on a daily basis in Asaba.

E: B is as correct as his name is.

Asaba is the biggest movie

Even at the present shylock rate, a good film is capable of recovering its production cost at the cinema before it is thrown at the mercy of pirates

•From the chat room of some top Arts/Entertainment writers in Nigeria producing hub in Africa today.

D: No wonder Asaba is full of hotels.

B: That said, Nollywood cannot claim to be operating at full capacity like it used to. The before-now vibrancy is no longer there. The power tussle seems to be more of the focus of the players on the turf. I was surprised that the last DGN elections did not degenerate into another protracted internal strife, for that, I commend the maturity of the contestants.

A: I wish the sector like any other Quick Recovery.

B: Me too D: Just wish Nigeria quick recovery because except perhaps the telecom sector, no other sector of Nigeria's economy including the media is healthy.

B: @D, Nigeria truly needs a quick recovery from bad governance et al F: I believe Nollywood is just experiencing a turning point. With the challenges brought in by Nigerians in the Diaspora, including student filmmakers who were able to meet the cinema demand to an extent, there is no telling the accidental filmmakers that their time is up. Now that every body is now queuing up for cinema release, it means better budget for films, better format and better production rating. You and I know that only a few could achieve these. Those who could not meet up have been depending on association politics of late.

Another reason there would be rancour in the guilds B: @F, granted, but I see a situation where the cinema would be over used soon as these cinemas are not after the quality but the purse of the producer.

Cinemas charge crazy fees to premiere movies and the sharing ratio is shylock like. Most films, no matter the quality depend on the hype to draw people to the hall, they make their money, the cinema houses make theirs and the patron is left to moan the time and money he spent going to watch the said movie. When these so called accidental movie makers realise they can get their films to the cinema at a cost, it will be business as usual.

D: Good submission @F but the purchasing power of Nigerians whose minimum pay that is not up to a mere USD200 has a big role to play in the success of the new found cinema going culture.

And hey! Who are these people queuing at the cinemas to watch Nollywood film and how many do the owners of these elite cinema houses show? It is mostly the children of the few wealthy

Just wish Nigeria quick recovery because except perhaps the telecom sector, no other sector of Nigeria's economy including the media is healthy Nigerians who can afford the box office fee and how many are they?

How many of these cinemas are in the densely populated areas like Ajegunle, Mushin and similar areas across the country?

B: Few people from the Mainland who want to feel belong join the queue at the Victoria Island cinemas. Some cheap girls who see a cinema treat as a big deal harass men endlessly just to be at the cinema. As big as Surulere is, there is not single cinema house there.

F: If we all agree that the cinema culture has a big role to play in what a normal industry is supposed to be, then the next thing to talk about should be how to break the monopoly of the existing ones and make patronage relatively affordable B: Now, I read somewhere that Kene Mkparu has got some loans to build cinema houses on the Mainland. Perhaps this will break the perceived monopoly.

F: Even at the present shylock rate, a good film is capable of recovering its production cost at the cinema before it is thrown at the mercy of pirates.

B: A good film? I was privileged working closely with F's definition of a good film last year, and I can tell you that as commendable and loudly hyped as that film was, after taking the cost of cinema runs out of it, the producer was mourning.

F: That's sad. But one reason they will continue to go to Silverbird Cinemas and Co is for the fact that nothing compares to cinema runs before DVD and VCD releases. Let's hope that someone will find an investment opportunity in nationwide cinemas. Don Pedro Obaseki made a hell of noise about acquiring old cinema houses and some properties for such project, but like his Keke Marwa strategy of door-to-door distribution of Nollywood films which Diamond Band (or is it Ecobank) loudly supported, it did not see the light of the day B: Don Pedro made a huge joke of that project, sadly. Only he can explain what went wrong.

•Dakore

…And this actress boos her fan

S

EX symbol or controversial actress…, whichever one you call her sure suites her persona.

Reacting to her fans advice on her smoking habit, she shocked one of the fans who thought he could reprimand her like a toddler.

“I appreciate the fact that people are getting worried about that but why? I don't think that should affect you, so far you're not my brother or my sister. We are not from the same family. My smoking habit doesn't affect your

life in any way. If I die tomorrow, you're not going to bury me. My father has the money to bury me…” says this controversial actress.

Miss anonymous' fan replied saying, “this girl is stupid!!! Does she really think her father prays to use his money to bury his child? She needs to learn how to speak in public….”

But fan ooo which one be your own self? And you “Miss controversial actress” Snapshots wishes you luck in your new found status.

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

•Ronke

THE NATION, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2011

SNAPSHOTS Coincidence or Mercy Johnson’s story?

25

RE ELNEW S

Foreign Demons rocks Nigerian cinemas

NANTAP names Baba Sala Living Legend

•Mercy

Benita Nzeribe takes solace on Facebook

FIAF 2011: Experts open talks on indigenous language films

•Dr. Duro Adeleke exchanging pleasantries with Dele Odule, while Alagba Adebayo Faleti and Balogun look on

•Benita

•Baba Sala

26

THE NATION, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2011

Kingsley Elikpo, popularly known as DJ Zeez, came into the limelight in 2009 when he dropped a massive hit track Ori e o Fokasibe, which generated a lot of controversy because of the literal meaning of the song. While the controversy was still ongoing, he didn't waste time in dropping another single, Boobie e, which was also wellreceived by music buffs. The Fokasibe crooner has dropped a new single recently titled, Take It Easy, which is currently rocking the airwaves. In this interview with MERCY MICHAEL, DJ Zeez opened up on why he decided to take a break from what has become his norm. He talked about his upcoming album and why he's single

Y

OU'VE just released a new single Take It Easy. We've seen Fokasibe, Boobie e; it's been one single after the other since you came into limelight. When are you going to release your album?

Fokasibe had an album. Fokasibe's album was released January 13, 2009. This is 2011 already and I'm just coming out with a new single. A lot of things caused the delay but we thank God, we've been able to put things back together. I released a new single titled Take it Easy on September 1, 2011 which was about two weeks ago.

Are you working on a new album at the moment?

Yes definitely. The album is almost ready but it is not coming out this year anymore because the year is almost over. What we want to do is concentrate on the single for this period till the end of the year. We are looking at bringing out the album in February 2012.

What is the story behind the new single Take it Easy?

Well, it's a very funny song in the sense that, it's difficult for you to take it easy when you're listening to that song called Take It Easy. That is just the whole idea. It's quite ironic because it's an up tempo song, with serious club beat and all. It's not a very serious or conscious song. It's just a party song basically. If you listen to the lyrical concept, you will see that I was messing around with the beat.

Like with Fokasibe and Boobie e, is there any street slang in Take it Easy?

Take it easy is the slang in Take it Easy.

Unlike the usual ones, you know sometimes when you do things repeatedly you bore people. So let's just say I'm taking a chill-pill on slangs for now.

There were so many controversies behind the meaning of Ori e o Fokasibe. Are you trying to avoid controversy this time around?

It was actually the controversies behind the meaning of the song that took it to the level it went to because, while certain pastor's were standing behind their pulpit, preaching against the song, saying oh, we don't know the kind of songs our children are listening to nowadays, the whole congregation, the youths who hadn't heard the song then wanted to hear it and parents, when they get home, ask their children ngbo e wo lo n tun je Fokasibe. At the end of the day, it is publicity. And at the same time in concerts and big events you hear Fokasibe too, so whether people are talking good about a particular thing or talking bad about it, the fact is that they are talking about it.

And that was what actually made the song a hit. Even outside the country, especially in non-English speaking countries, you see people rocking the song even when they don't know the meaning. So, I wasn't trying to avoid controversy.

Most Nigerian artistes, after one or two hits, become contented and tend to relax…

I will speak for myself. My own case wasn't a case of relaxing. Everybody that knows me as DJ Zeez will know that I was formally under a record label called Edlyne

When MC Loph passed away few days ago, I wrote a BB broadcast that I sent to people. I said, for all the artistes that have passed away, it seems like people tend to give them attention in death. Do we have to wait for a talent to die before we appreciate him?

Relationship is not my priority for now…—DJ Zeez Records. The same record label had Dagrin at a point in time. After my album came out we signed up Dagrin. And we started pushing Dagrin. It was just few months to the time I was supposed to come back with another song of mine that the tragedy happened. Being someone that was very close to him, it affected me psychologically.

For music, especially as a producer, I produce my own songs myself. I mix and master them myself. It takes a lot of mental relaxation to achieve those things and for a very long time I wasn't mentally ready, so I had to just chill. I had to wait. And when I was ready, I started having one or two disagreements with my formal label. We had no beef or whatsoever. But it comes to a point that a man knows he's just got to move on and do your thing yourself. I decided to just chill and work on my own record label.

And I had to lay the foundation right and everything. That was the major reason I took so much time before coming out with my new single.

You were in the same record label with Dagrin. If you were that close to him as you said, how come you didn't record a song

with him?

I did. It's going to come out in this album.

Yeah, I did. Prior to his death (May his soul rest in peace) we did a song. We were supposed to release the song. After he passed away, if you noticed, I wasn't in any of the tribute songs, because those tribute songs were recorded 2, 3 days after he passed away. And I wasn't mentally ready for it. I cannot lose somebody so close to me and just start going to the studio to sing.

What do I want to talk about? I also found out that a lot of people, were releasing songs that he did with them and the airwaves was congested with Dagrin features so I decided that I will give mine some special kind of attention, by chilling and having it in my next album. I have it right now. Nobody has heard it before. I'm still working on it. I'm trying to perfect it. It is definitely going to be in my upcoming album.

Dagrin became greater in death. Was he really that great or is it the Nigerian sentiment that when an artiste dies he suddenly becomes a hero?

Well, he was actually that great. He just needed more time for people to really

discover him in a better way than through death. But what happened after he died was that death now made everybody out of empathy to start bombarding his songs and everything. They knew he was good but the problem… When MC Loph (May his gentle soul rest in peace too) passed away few days ago, I wrote a BB broadcast that I sent to people. I remember in the message I said, for all the artistes that have passed away since the past one year, it seems like people tend to now give them attention in death. Do we have to wait for a talent to die before we appreciate him? Does an artiste have to die before he gets major airplay on radio? It is sad. And we all know that these people are good. It is just that there is politics everywhere. In Dagrin's case he was a great man and he is still great even in death.

Who is the lucky woman in your life?

I'm not in any relationship at the moment.

I'm single.

Why? Maybe that's not just my priority at the moment. I'm not seeing anyone at the moment. If I was seeing someone, I would not say I'm not saying anyone because she will come across the papers and she will go like oh! You're denying me. I'm single but I'm not searching.

Some artistes get into music to make money and fame. What is your own motive?

Both! Both of them now, (laughs). I want it all. Fame, money, but seriously I'm doing it for the love of music. But of course, I have to get paid. If I was doing it only for the love of music then I will be doing free shows up and down. If somebody offers me money, I will say, no, no, I'm just doing it for the love of music, haba! Let's not deceive ourselves now.

What does music mean to you?

Music is the best form of advertisement.

It's the best form of expression. And it's the best form of getting in touch with people you might never even meet in your life time.

Artistes just release music, you never know where you have a fan and you might never even meet with that fan until both of you leave this earth. Music is the best Bluetooth ever. That is what music means to me.

You seem quite thorough when it comes to your physical appearance. What inspires your style?

I'm very particular about how I look especially when I'm going out. If I don't have any good cloths to wear to where I'm going to, I will not go. I will just stay back before someone will now say, ko la sho ni (laughs), tabi se Jacket ni kan lo ni ni? That is the more reason an artiste has to get paid for an event because part of that money is what we use to look good. Sometimes it's not just about your music alone. Whether you like it or not, some people are not crazy about your music. Some are just crazy about your looks. So you just have to try to strike a balance between the two.

Honestly, how many of those jackets do you have?

I can't count because I keep 'dashing' them out. Recently I just developed a new addiction; I keep 'dashing' out stuffs during performances because you cannot have yourself repeat stuff as an artiste.

How long do you plan to keep doing music?

Until I cannot sing anymore. Until I cannot get up and say a word on the microphone anymore.

Where do you see yourself in the next five years?

Hmmm, let me put it this way, in the last five years, I did not see myself here. I wasn't seeing myself here. I just ventured into music because I wanted to do music. I didn't know God had a bigger plan for me, like taking me to this level. So in the next five years, as much as I have my dreams, I always tend to leave everything to God to decide where he's taking me to.

THE NATION, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2011

D'BANJ

27

Dr. Pat drops Enemies amid controversy

P

ATRICK Nwokolo who is known in music circles as Dr. Pat recently released a new music video entitled 'Enemies' which has sparked up controversy with his once upon a time friend and fellow artiste, Sheyman.

'Enemies' is the lead single from Dr. Pat's forthcoming album entitled 'I don Hammer'. The video which was variously shot in America and China was directed by a top black American.

And sources say the release of the single and its video was prompted by a misunderstanding

N

between Dr. Pat and his one-time friend, Sheyman. It was also further revealed that it was Sheyman who initially fired the first salvo when he discreetly took his former friend to the cleaners in his latest single entitled 'My Money' which features eLDee. The rapper was recently contacted concerning the issue but he seems not to be ready to dwell much on the controversy. “I have just released a video for the song entitled 'Enemies' for my fans to enjoy; the video is a piece of hard work. That is all that I know,” he said.

• Dr. Pat

TRACE TV makes a debut in Anglophone Africa

IGERIAN music is about to take another leap into global reckoning with the official launch of the global TRACE brand in Nigeria. TRACE Urban, the company's number 1 international urban music channel music TV channel in South Africa with a commanding popularity has officially set up its offices in and it is also to further transform Nigeria to reach to reach Nigeria the fixture in the African and Anglophone Africa with a mission to drive the music beyond entertainment industry, with a focus on Nigeria, Ghana and borders.

South Africa. Managed in Nigeria According to an elated Sam Oyemelukwe, Head of TRACE Urban Anglophone Operations, the latest move by TRACE TV to set up offices in Nigeria would surely bring the brand closer to Nigerians.

“We are very excited to be on ground. With this move, which brings the brand closer to the Nigerian and African audience, TRACE is set to increase the playlist of home-grown music videos, but that's just the beginning. As a Nigerian, I am proud that this recognises the huge strides that the local music industry has made, and the expanded space that is able to now absorb buy-in and opportunities for artistes, NOWN for his gyration advertisers and viewers.” He said. emerge, the top five videos are style of music, Uyammdu TRACE Urban channel is expected to walk away with cash Austin Charles says he is acknowledged as the most out with another single titled Sugar prizes; $2, 500, $2, 000, $1, 500, watched in public places all over in my tea from his forth coming $1, 000 and $500, respectively.

Africa. It is already the number on From stories making rounds, the NBC allegedly placed a ban on the song because it contained what they termed vulgar lyrics.

The commission was reported to FTER surfing the entire Lagos by the Top 24 winners who have issued a circular to all radio country, the top 10 emerged earlier from the regional and television stations to stop contestants who will finals held in Port Harcourt, playing the song. compete at the final stage of the Ibadan, Benin, Enugu, Abuja, However, in a twist of event, third season of popular musical Kaduna and Lagos. the NBC has come out to openly reality TV show, Glo/Naija Sings After a two-stage performance refute allegations of placing any have emerged. Sponsored by by the contestants, who the judges such ban on the video.

Globacom and produced by TV say have raised the standard of the Explaining the true position of content provider, M-Net Africa, competition much higher than last the commission on the ban the contestants were picked after year, Tee Songz, Christian, AM issue, spokesperson for the keenly contested performances in Ok, Mattade, Oni, and Vickiola NBC, Mrs. Bunmi Cole, said that it is not the place of the commission to place an outright ban on broadcast content. The role of the NBC, she said, is to advise broadcasters on what materials to broadcast and the code they use is NTBD. What the NBC also does, Cole explains further, is to advice content producers to amend the packaged content. However, she further said, the NBC will soon come out with an official statement as soon as possible.

That way, she said, when the time comes, people will get to know the stand of the NBC on the Oliver Twist music video.

•Top 10 in the 2010 edition of Glo Naija Sings

by Entertainment Management Company (EMC), TRACE Urban Anglophone was officially unveiled at an intimate media and VIP launch at the Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos on Thursday, September 22nd.

Milado returns with Sugar in my Tea

Oliver Twist: NBC’s rumoured ban,, a ruse ban

W

HERE success in music is concerned, videos represent a very important part of the industry. In recent times, artistes have emerged who owe the success of their careers to their music videos. Music videos have become a venue where the artiste is given a chance to impress the public not just with their vocal talent but also with their looks or moves.

For top-rated artiste D'banj, one can say this is not the best of times. With conflicting tales rending the air concerning the purported ban of the video of his new single Oliver Twist by the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to rumours making rounds that the Nigerian superstar entertainer and other members of Mo'Hits record label including producer Don Jazzy are now members of the secret cult, Illuminati, the multi-award winning artiste seems to have his plate full.

The song first began to attract attention as a result of the Oliver Twist music video cum dance competition organized by Mo'Hits headed by the duo of Don Jazzy and D'banj. To participate in the competition, fans were asked to send in videos of dance choreographies.

Although, a winner is yet to

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A

album scheduled for release soon.

He started music professionally in 1998 with a band in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, before going ahead to form his own band was first introduced into the music scene with his first work entitled Super Eagles Carry Go which was released in 2002.

According to the singer, “I had a message for people on sports and that left me with a choice on the type of music that will best express that message. That informed the style or genre I came out with gyration. But this new single is different. It is what people will love to listen to, over and over again,” he said

Glo Naija Sings finalists emerge emerged as the first to qualify as they displayed their talents to viewers.

Others that qualified for the finals are Oluwakemi, who described her selection as “the best birthday gift ever”, Vicky, Lynn and Precious, who somehow impressed the judges with his performance of Seal's “Kiss from a Rose”. He described his surprise selection for the finals as the “best news” in his life.

Following their victory, the 10 contestants will now have their singing talents challenged as they perform weekly and follow the elimination process until the overall winner emerges at the end of the show. From this weekend, viewers will also have the opportunity to vote to keep their favourite contestants on the show.

Viewers should tune in to watch the first performances at the finals of Glo Naija Sings this Sunday on M-Net at 7pm with repeat transmission on Mondays and Tuesdays at 9.30pm and 4.10pm respectively.

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2011

THE NATION, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2011

Since her emergence on the movie scene in 2002, delectable actress Susan Peters has gone on to dazzle in several Nollywood movies.

Born and raised in Kano, but from Benue State, the business woman- turnedactress has continued to impress many with her talent Asides acting, the slimbuilt thespian is equally a scriptwriter and an interior decorator with several high profile jobs to her credit. In this interview with AHMED BOULOR, Susan reveals how an encounter with a movie crew accelerated her entry into the world of make-belief.

She also talked about Nollywood, growing up, her family and many more.

I

‘How an encounter with a movie crew made me take to acting’

The fact is that I never had any plan of becoming an actress or going into the entertainment industry, my dream was to become an air hostess. I have a salon and boutique shops in Kaduna.

One day, a group of moviemakers came to my shop; they were looking for a suitable location and they wanted a place to act

•Susan

T will be nice to begin with your background.

My name is Susan Peters; I'm from Ado Local Government Area of Benue State. I am a Nollywood actress, model, interior decorator and rising scriptwriter. I was born in Kano and grew up in the north. I speak Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba, Idoma and English fluently. I did a course in Computer Engineering and also a product of Video Wave institute, in Kaduna State.

Your decision to join the movie industry, was it by volition or accident?

The fact is that I never had any plan of becoming an actress or going into the entertainment industry, my dream was to become an air hostess. I have a salon and boutique shops in Kaduna. One day, a group of moviemakers came to my shop; they were looking for a suitable location and they wanted a place to act. In the course of the shooting, the director asked me to fill in a gap where I was just asked to mime. They didn't even pay me but gave credit to my shop. The movie director later told me that I should pursue a career in acting. I later went to an acting school known as Video Wave in Kaduna.

There, I did a course in stage and film and I came out the overall best female student with a distinction. The rest is now history as they usually say.

For how long have you been acting?

I have been in the entertainment

RE ELNEW S

COVER COVER

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industry since 2002 and have over 50 films to my credit. I featured in Andy Amenechi's movie entitled Wasted Effort, Sound of Poverty, Nollywood Hustler, Bursting Out, Mortal Attraction and Dominoes Disclosure, among others. The most challenging movie I've had to feature is Sound of Poverty; it's about a group of people facing the challenges of poverty.

The moral lesson there is that no one

knows tomorrow.

Are you happy with the state of affairs in Nollywood?

I must confess that we are really getting better with our movies and our pictures. The costumes are no longer what they used to be; we now we have good story lines, good production companies, good directors and producers and even world class premieres. I also see how the marketers are working hard to break into the international markets. I'm looking forward to a day when we'll conquer Hollywood.

How have you been coping with the transformation of being an ordinary business woman in northern Nigeria, to an emerging Nollywood actress?

Well, it's not easy being a celebrity; you have a lot of challenges facing you. I don't brag about fame. I know those who are higher than me, I respect those ahead of me in the showbiz industry. But I'm still praying that God should take me to the greatest height; I don't want to fizzle out like others, and that's why I'm working very hard everyday.

What are the other things you do aside

acting and business?

I am a model-cum-entrepreneur; I have a salon and a couple of boutique shops in Kaduna, as I said earlier. I do interior decorations; I weave hair, do make-ups for weddings and special occasions.

Why are you still single?

I know I'm not yet married and I am also not searching either.

Who are the people you look up to as role models in the industry?

I have a lot of role models in the industry; I admire great names such as Alex Usifo Omiagbo, Eucharia Anunobi, Joke Sylva and Olu Jacobs because they are the veterans in the industry. They have been there for a very long time, I admire the way they carry their fame. They are the type of people that would advice you when you encounter them on set. Even when you don't know what to do on set, they would put you through. I love their courage and support.

What was it like growing up in northern Nigeria, any fond memories?

My growing up was quite quiet; we hardly go out, after returning from school we'll either read our books or sleep. My dad retired from the Air Force and mum was just a housewife. Maybe, that was why everything about him was so strict.

I'm from a family of eight. We were actually eleven, but we lost three and I'm the third child with five younger siblings.

In your own view, what do you see as the biggest threat confronting Nollywood?

We've not yet been able to address the issue of togetherness in the industry, like helping someone that is going down. As long as we cannot address that issue; I think there is a big problem facing the industry. If we can't come together, we can't move forward. It's painful that we are too individualistic in Nollywood; everybody is always on his or her own.

You are from the state where stars like 2face, Blackface and a host of others equally hail from, how do you relate with them?

I think I've met with 2face twice, he knows that I'm from his place, but for Terry G, Blackface and others, I've not met them. I'm looking forward to meeting them because they are from my town, since we are all in the entertainment industry its good we meet and know one another better.

Have you ever had a terrible encounter with your colleagues, especially producers in Nollywood?

Well, I've never had any of such experiences or encounters in the industry before; it depends on the way you also present yourself. I'm a honourable person, I go for my auditions and I get some jobs on recommendations, I've never

been harassed sexually either, but if there are people doing that, I wish them luck!

Above all, I really have regard for my senior colleagues in the industry, especially those who were there before me.

What are your future projections as an emerging star in Nollywood?

I want to see myself higher than where I am today; I'm yet to attain my peak in Nollywood, but I'm working towards that.

I'm still striving hard to climb that ladder,

by God's grace I'll get there soon. I love people that are straightforward, hardworking and I also love my kind of job.

Any regret so far being in Nollywood?

I'm not regretting going into the entertainment industry, because since I joined the industry God has just been on my side and with the support of my good friends in the industry, we are gradually getting there. When I feel like relaxing I go to the cinemas. I also relax by sleeping, watching movies and cooking.

How close are you to most of your female colleagues?

I'm very close to some of them, I meet some of them on set always and we maintain good cordial relationship, I respect them a lot, especially those ahead of me.

How has it been working with The E4 PR? It has been wonderful. I met Egoh Efiok through Monalisa Chinda, after then I got signed onto her organization and since then we've been working together. She's a hardworking woman, she's wonderful to work with. I respect her a lot because she knows her job very well. Also, my fans should keep praying for me, it's not easy doing this job. I promise that I won't let them down, because my best is yet to come.

With the right financial reward and clime, can you act nude?

No way, I can't act nude because my culture doesn't allow that. I'm from a humble background where nudity is not supported or practic ed.

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•Alex Lopez

•Keppy Ekpenyong

December date for Changing Faces

T

HE Christmas and New Year holiday season may be a time for great celebrations, it is also marked with deep reflections on the activities of the passing year, through which the phenomenon of New Year Resolutions have become fashionable. Thus, a thought-provoking movie has been carefully chosen among the packs that promise to excite cinema buffs this year.

Entitled Changing Faces, this Silverbird Cinemas Nigerian movie for the Christmas and New Year holidays is arguably the first Nigerian movie on the supernatural experience of the transference of evil spirits through sex.

Also dubbed in French for commercial distribution in France and francophone Countries, this 92-minute metaphysical romantic thriller on the transference of evil spirits through sex will open to the public at the Silverbird Cinemas and other cinemas in Nigeria and Ghana from December 23, 2011.

Produced and directed by Faruk Lasaki, an international award winning director and one of the best graduates of the famous New York Film Academy (NYFA) where his short film Six Feet Below won the best short film prize for graduating students, Changing Faces tells the story of a young reporter, Lola and Architecture whiz kid Dale, who are the antithesis of each other; Lola is fun loving, free spirited and lively while Dale is a conservative workaholic.

However, their paths still manage to cross at an Architectural conference in a beautiful hill top hotel.

From the minute the bored Lola sets her eyes on him, she decides she's going to have him, and she goes to all lengths to get him into her bed. Dale doesn't make this easy for her at all, as he is not only married but a born again Christian who holds a high premium on fidelity.

But Lola is determined and after a lot of scheming and manipulations, she finally gets Dale into her bed on the last night of the conference. The next morning they both return to their normal lives, only to discover that things have changed and they have exchanged personalities.

Lola finds herself saddled with scruples and morals.

Written by Becky Muikia, this gripping romantic thriller has an international cast of Nigerian and British stars led by Marc Baylis, Keppy Ekpenyong-Bassey, Alex Lopez, Rachael Young, Ayo Mogaji and Adebowale Adesanya.

Changing Faces was premiered at the Pavilion les Cinema Du Sud of the 61st Cannes Film Festival, Black Diaspora International Film Festival of New York in 2008, featured in competition at the Panafrican Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou (FESPACO) in 2009, Cairo International Film Festival in 2009, and a Special Official Selection and opening film of the 2011 Eko International Film Festival in Lagos, Nigeria.

Mikel targets starting Ameobi battles shirt against Swansea Aiyegbeni for points Pg. 34

Pg. 34

Nation Saturday, September 24, 2011

Osaze in rescue mission against Fulham W

EST BROM striker, Osaze Odemwingie, will be gunning to rescue his English Premier League side, from another defeat today as they confront Fulham.

With both teams desperately in need of a win, football fans will be thrilled to some exciting football.

Though the Nigerian international has not been able to pin down a consistent rise in form in the new season,the technical crew have continuosly expressed confidence in the potential of the former Lomotive Moscow forward.

It has, however, been a disastrous start to the season for Roy Hodgson's West Brom, who sit bottom of the table with just one win from their opening five matches.

After tough fixtures against Manchester United and Chelsea, the Baggies looked like they were getting back on track following a 1-0 win away at Norwich, only to be hammered 3-0 at newly promoted Swansea a week later.

It got worse on Wednesday as a secondstring West Brom side let a 1-0 lead slip in their 2-1 extra-time defeat to Everton in the Carling Cup, with Hodgson admitting it was not ideal to a have played 120 minutes.

"Our priority is the league and we made that pretty obvious with the team selection," Hodgson had said.

Whether West Brom will bounce back to reckoning in the EPL will depend dependent on how far Osaze is ready to go in registering the second win for the Baggies.

On the other hand, Fulham, a team that also has another Nigerian in its fold, Dickson Etuhu, have had a not -too impressive run in the five-week old season.

Since taking over at Fulham in June, coach Martin Jol is yet to enjoy a domestic victory, with three draws and two losses in the Premier League and a penalty shootout defeat at Chelsea in the Carling Cup all the Cottagers have to show for their efforts.

Fulham played with an extra man for more than 70 minutes in their Carling Cup tie after Alex was sent off for Chelsea, but as has been their problem all season, Jol's side were unable to find the back of the net.

Fulham have scored just four goals this season, worse only than West Brom, Stoke and Swansea, and Jol will welcome back a host of firstteam regulars on Saturday as they search for their first victory.

"We’ve got players like (Brede) Hangeland, (Damien) Duff and (Clint) Dempsey and possibly Aaron Hughes to come back this weekend for our game against West Brom," Jol said.

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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2011

NATION SPORT

NATION SPORT

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THE WBC FINAL ELIMINATION BOUT

I want to present Nigeria withabirthdaygift—Ajose its not going to be easy for him. But if it is going to be difficult, its better that way, I want to win, and by God’s grace I am going to win. He is a good boxer no doubt, but I won’t spend my time thinking too much about him, I won’t worry about him, but I will let him worry about me. I am good enough for him to worry about me. Whatever he wants to do he better bring his hey game, because I am going to bring my hey game too.

Sparing sessions I have had 20 sparing sessions here in Nigeria. Most parts of my training have been in Nigeria. I have done some abroad in New York, in Los Angeles and even in the United Kingdom as well. I have always believed in training here at home.

The way we run, spar, and punch the bag is different. I am a Nigerian and I want to train like a Nigerian than training abroad. So because I go abroad and see facilities does not

On September 30 he will be engaging Algerian’s Alli Chebah in the final elimination bout for the world boxing title in the World Boxing Council (WBC) Light Welter -Weight category. In this interview with NationSport Journalist at the Teslim Balogun Stadium during the week, the current Commonwealth champion, Olusegun Ajose spoke of his dreams and aspirations, his resolve to present Nigeria with a birthday gift by winning his fight, and the N1.6m lifeline from Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) to help him prosecute this historic bout, and many more. INNOCENT AMOMOH reports. mean I should forget my country.

So that is the reason why I have always come back home to train in Nigeria. I have trained in Nigeria now for like two months none stop.

Dreams and aspirations Segun Ajose is gunning for the

world title, by God’s grace I will win this fight and will be gunning for the World Title in the three months, or maximum four months. That is my target. My target is to win the world title and bring it to Nigeria. I want to bring the world title to

Nigeria. It’s been a long time since Nigeria got hold of a Light WelterWeight world title. Samuel Peter won the world title and lost it. It is time we had another world title that is going to last for a along time.

The Nigerian factor

That is because I am a Nigerian, ‘abi naija boy’ Nigerian blood flows in my veins. I was born in Nigeria, went to school, grew up, and learnt boxing in Nigeria, so nothing that they will offer over there that will make me forget Nigeria.

Training and facilities We’ve got our own facilities too.

There some I brought home. But the truth is that there are facilities that they don’t have over there. For example the weather, then the people, and good food. Before the fight I am going to make sure I get some pounded yam before my fight.

We should be proud of our country, I am proud of my country that is why anytime I have a fight I come down to Nigeria as well to train.

The Nigerian Boxing Board of Control (NBB of C) They have been very supportive. I have to give kudos to them. They have given me all the support I need.

Fashola’s N1.6m lifeline The Governor of Lagos State Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) has shown serious interest in this fight by supporting me immensely. We have been spending a lot of money preparing for this fight, we got stuck, and since support was not forthcoming from any quarter, we decided to approach the Governor, who has been very helpful by giving us over a million naira to prepare for this fight. His support is unbelievable, it is unquantifiable.

Promise to fans I am promising Nigerians and my fans who are mostly Nigerians a good birthday gift with this fight.

My fight is on the 30 early hours of

October. I will win to make them proud of me and to give a birthday gift to Nigerians.

Assessment of African boxing African boxing is on the rise.

Recently Albert Eromosele fought for a world title, though unfortunately he lost, we have a lot of African boxers doing well too.

African boxers are strong, but we’ve not been getting opportunities.

What will take an American four years to achieve; will take an African ten years to achieve, even though we are better. But now we are getting our opportunities, and we will make sure we take them. Now I am going to fight against an African. I don’t give a hoot about that, at the end of the day I am a Nigerian, and I want to win.

Major challenges Boxing promotion that is the problem we’ve got in Africa. We lack boxing promotion in Nigeria, to give boxers fight, and the more you fight, the more you’ll improve, and the better your chances of performing. If you don’t have fights regularly, you can’t compete with the best in the world.

All Africa Games boxing team Based on their preparation, they did well. At least we got four medals on the whole. You have to remember that these guys did not get to attend any international competition before the All Africa Games for like a year, and they had four medals.

That means if they had had better preparation, they would have come back with at least six medals, three of which would have been gold medals. It is very difficult, because other countries prepared better and these guys still came back with a medal. We have to give them kudos for that.

Boxing in Nigeria In the amateur boxing and the professional boxing, we’ve got talents. Now the problem has been lack of promotion because the television stations are not ready to pay for it. They want the promoter to pay them money to show the fight on television. The way it is done everywhere in the world is that the television stations pay the promoters to show the fights on television. That is the way it is done in Germany, United Kingdom and the United States, all over the world.

But in Nigeria they want the promoters to pay for the telecast, for giving them content. It is like going to the market to buy yam, and I ask the seller to give me N20 to take her yam, no! I am supposed to pay her for her yam. If I expect her to pay me, it is not going to work. That is exactly what we’ve got in Nigeria.

Drive in life I have always wanted to succeed.

For me it is not about money, but leaving a legacy that when I am dead and gone, hopefully my great grand children will be known for what I have done and they will be proud to identify with the name Segun Ajose. That is exactly what I want to achieve. Where they will be proud of me without having met me.

The new hair style

“

•Ajose

•Ajose

Yes that is a good observation. I want him to be scared a little bit that is why I am wearing the dreads. He will be so scared that he will not remember what he supposed to do.

Best and worst moments You know I am a very young man and I cannot really put a tag on that now. I think my best moment will be when I won the All African Games gold medal in 1999 in Johannesburg, South Africa. I was fortunate to be the only Nigerian boxer to win a gold medal in that competition, actually the only West African boxer to win a gold medal in that edition. And my worst moment will be when my father died. He brought me into this game, he made me start boxing, and he was my best fan and my worst critic.

Toughest opponent He happens to be an African. He is from the Republic of Benin, Victor Okpadenu, when I fought for the African title in Calabar. I won unanimously, but it was a tough fight. That was in 2002.

Samuel Peter He still has what it takes to be a champion, but as I have always told him because I was with him in Las Vegas earlier this year, and I said to him, if you still want to box, come to Nigeria. If you want to stop, stop now. There was a way we used to do it in Nigeria that made us excel around the world. That made the rest of the world respect us and made us win abroad. If you stay too long abroad, you forget it. So he has to come back to Nigeria and learn how we do it again, and that is what I have been doing.

Sustaining the world title Absolutely i have what it takes to not only win the world title, but to keep it. I hope to hold that title for a long long time after winning it, until I feel I have had enough.

Coach Joe Mensah speaks As you can see it has not been easy.

You that this fight has been postponed more that six times. This is the sixth time. But what I normally tell Ajose is ‘don’t be discouraged.’

We have learnt from the lessons of the past. Boxers like David Izoritie, when he was in full force in the United States, he was faced with an opponent whom he defeated in the amateur category to win the silver medal at the Barcelona Olympics.

Now what they did then was to deny him and postponed the fight many times, while they told his opponent not to train. The will tell him to continue training, so he got exhausted and was discouraged anytime the fight was postponed.

And by the time the fight is made up you have missed it, and will not bother to train. This is where the technical advice comes in, and that is what I have been telling Ajose.

Before any fight is postponed we take a break, and come back in full force. I can tell you that Ajose is ready.

Alli Chebah will do his utmost best but Ajose will come out great.

He is very focused and determined and looking forward to this fight.

He is very courageous and he can give and take. Anybody with such record can easily win a fight.

I have had like 20 sparing sessions here in Nigeria. Most parts of my training have been in Nigeria. I have done some abroad in New York, in Los Angeles and even in the United Kingdom as well. I have always believed in training here at home. The way we run, spar, and punch the bag is different.

I am a Nigerian and I want to train like a Nigerian than training abroad. So because I go abroad and see facilities does not mean I should forget my country.

“

REPARATION for the bout I have had a lot of preparations for this fight. I have had training for three months so I have no problem about preparation. I have trained in the United Kingdom; I went to Germany, California, and New York for sparing. I also came home to add some Nigerian touches to my training. I have been training with my coach Joe Mensah for quite some time; I think I am prepared for this fight. I expect nothing but victory.

About opponent Alli Chebah He is a very good boxer with good record; he got 36 fights, and lost just one which was a controversial loss. But I think I am better than him.

I have had 29 fights, and I have never lost and hopefully I am not going to lose. What ever quality he’s got, I am better.

Incessant postponements The possible postponement for this fight is almost zero. The fight has been postponed because it was supposed to be held in Algeria. So I had to do what I am not supposed to do by going to the United States to find a promoter. It is like I am going to fight this guy for free just to make sure the fight happens. So that’s why we are having it in California now, no more in France or Algeria. Califonia is a neutral venue, it’s not Nigeria neither is it Algeria, it is Canada or the United Kingdom, so for me to eventually achieve that I have to make a lot of sacrifices and compromises, and thank God the fight is going to take place.

Chance against Alli Chebah Listen, no fight is easy at this level.

We are talking about world class fight, its not going to be easy for me

AKINLOYE AT LARGE 08050246155 atlarge84@yahoo.com

Obuh got it all wrong COACH John Obuh early in the week asked the egg-heads at the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to keep the team he took to Colombia as standby for the U-23 squad. He was so sure of the ability of his boys that he also advised that they should be collapsed into the U-23 for eventual fusion into the Super Eagles. Obuh claimed that his boys have great understanding of how football should be played.

“If we allow them return to their various places, the continuity, understanding and compatibility that the team has enjoyed will be wasted,” he said in an interview.

“But the difference between my team and other teams is the understanding that exists…”

I agree with Obuh on the need for the players to be kept busy but disagree that they should be collapsed into the U-23 and then fused with the Super Eagles. The team may look very good in the eye of its maker, but I disagree that the players have great understanding of the game. If they have great understating of how the game should be played, they would not have lost in the quarterfinals. They should have won the trophy. That they did not get to the final shows that they still have a lot to learn in football. To those who know the game and watched the Flying Eagles played, even in the African Youth Championship, they must have seen that one of the few things the team does not have is understanding of the game. The team lacked team work. The ingredient that makes team great is team work and the Flying Eagles did not have it in Colombia. Its absence in the Flying Eagles was responsible for the exit of the squad in the quarterfinals of the World Cup. The players hardly put together five passes at a go as they attacked and that ensured that they crashed out early.

One would expect the team to be the best in the eye of its maker. That is understood. The team got to the quarterfinals through individual brilliance.

The goals testified to that fact as only few came through team work. Is Obuh’s advice a case of monkey no fine but his mama like am? Is it an issue of the coach singing his own praises since no other would sing it? Is Obuh suffering from delusion? Who would not, considering the type of reception accorded the team on their return? He thought the country showed appreciation for a job well done by welcoming them home like heroes. That is an assumption and assumption often leads to delusion.

How do we handle the eggs Obuh laid in Colombia? I advised that we pick the good ones and let the bad go to their places. The good ones should be added to the soup that Austin Eguavoen is cooking in the Dream Team V if they qualify for the London 2012 Olympics. If the Eguavoen’s men fail to pick one of the four tickets to the Olympic Games, then the Obuh boys can therefore form the foundation for the new Dream Team. They should not be collapsed en mass to form a new U-23 squad. The good ones should make the team. The Ahmed MUsas and the Egbedis are ripe for the Super Eagles They should be allowed to rest in the senior team without delay.

•Igali Musa has proved himself in the national teams he has played for while Egbedi is a star in the making. Musa has shown great discipline and love for the country. He has sold himself totally to the cause of the country and not once did he complain of how he is being used. But he should not be over-used or abused in an attempt to win by national team coaches.

I want to believe that the monetary gifts that were given to the team on returning from Colombia are not because they made it to the quarterfinal of the U-20 World Cup. I want to believe that it came as a result of the fact that they won the African Youth Championship. If not, I should ask how much the Sand Eagles were given for crashing out in the quarterfinals of the Beach Soccer World Cup in Italy. I also would like to know whether they were received with pomp on their return.

A CASE FOR AYEGBENI I wish to join Kanu Nwankwo in asking Samson Siasia to recall Yakubu Ayegbeni to the Super Eagles.

It is not only because he scored two goals for Blackburn against Arsenal in the English Premiership last weekend. IT is more because he has been the most consistent Nigerian player in Europe since the World Cup. He was sifted from the wheat after South Africa 2010 when he could not score with the goalkeepers off the sticks. That is his crime. He was tried in people’s court and was found guilty of shooting Nigeria out of the World Cup. The wound should have healed by now and Yakubu should be forgiven for his horror miss.

I had written about Ayegbeni prior to the World Cup where I described him as the best striker in the national team and should be given the starter’s shirt. I still believe in Yakubu despite the horror miss, even with age gradually creeping in.

Everton loaned him to Leicester last season and the Nigerian would not stop scoring. He is now with Blackburn, a move which was crystallized on the last day of the transfer market. I hope Everton would not regret showing him the exit and pray that Nigeria does not feel the same way at the end of the day.

Nigeria play Guinea on October 8, a week after the independent anniversary of the country. All weapons that we have at home and abroad should be thrown at the Syli Nationale. These weapons include Yakubu.

Siasia should be growing gray hairs on the players he intends to use against Guinea. Ayegbeni should be one of the players he should invite and use to prosecute the African Cup of Nations qualifier. He is sharper and stronger. He does not run aimlessly on the pitch. He waits for the right time to make his runs.

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THE NATION SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2011

NATION SPORT

Bringing back Federations Cup glamour F

IRST organised in 1945 and called the Challenge Cup, the glamorous national football clubs’ knock-out competition survived attempts by some Sports Journalists and analysts smitten by British football to rename it the FA Cup. What the media failed to achieve was effected by the immediate past board of Nigeria Football which also renamed itself the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and consequently, created the Federation’s Cup. At the time of the re-christening, they claimed the equity of the Challenge Cup had become so diluted that it required an outright rebranding to attract sponsors and recapture the glamour of the competition.

It was a solution offered without researching the real reason the fortunes of the competition suffered a decline. One of the biggest problems of football administration in the country is the rule of hunch rather than science and perhaps empiricism. It will not cost a fortune to commission the research agencies in the country to interrogate patterns of events, to determine the cause, effect and possible solutions. Research is the bedrock of global administrative successes in the arts, science, business or sports performance. In Nigeria, research departments exist for the fulfillment of all righteousness but not for constructive engagement of challenges. It is still not too late in the day to carry out a dip stick on the dwindled fortunes of the Challenge Cup. From my point of view, the Media will be found culpable in this slide in stature of one of the oldest football competitions in the history of the game in Nigeria. The reason for this is not far-fetched. The finals of the 2011 Federations Cup as the Challenge Cup is now known and addressed, holds tomorrow between Enyimba International FC and Heartland FC, but the buzz in the media is about the Manchester United versus Chelsea league match in England. The media is still reviewing that game and other European league fixtures with colour photos and quotable quotes taking up big space while the Federations Cup suffers a relegation to brief mentions.

In the years past, reporters would have embedded with the two finalists and filing bit by bit reports of the activities in the camps. That was how the Atuegbus’, Ali Jejes’, Baba Otu Mohammed, etc who played for teams in the northern parts of the country got popular with fans in Lagos and other parts of the country. It was the splashing of big portraits of the Odegbamis’, Muda Lawal, Chukwus’ Ilerikas’ Andrew Uwe, Henry Nwosu, Stephen Keshi, Etim Esim etc that heightened the lure of foot-

By Harry Iwuala

ball in some of us young lads in years past.

We have so much lost the domestic initiative that media houses don’t fancy asking their local correspondents to cover training sessions of teams engaged in domestic and international tournaments. Yet, in my student years at the University of Calabar, we come to the pitch clutching sports pages of newspapers to identify some of the Calabar Rovers players whose photos and names featured in the news. Arrival of new coaches and players was tracked and celebrated much the same way as the reluctance of Arsene Wenger to sign players for Arsenal FC has been dominating columns if not making it to the Editorials of some media.

The Heartland and Enyimba squads stormed Lagos on Wednesday but their photos on arrival (by road or air) are yet to be seen in our major papers. No radio or television station have devoted broadcast time to have the players have phone chats with the fans but the media will always lament the lack of commercial value in domestic competitions. These values cannot be built by the organizsers of the competition alone because the marketing mix of football relies heavily on the engagement with the public. An enriched domestic event will attract impressive audience and the audience is the honey pot that corporate sponsors perch on.

The presence of corporate sponsors is the joy of the media as it remains the veritable leveraging platform for most products and services the sponsors sell. I don’t know who is enjoying the ongoing Gulder, Guinness and Samsung football campaigns better than the media.

It is naïve for the media to expect and ask organisers to fund their work as has always been the case when you hear such refrains as ‘they are not carrying us along’. Any good medium that executes a creative coverage of an event lends their pages to corporate patronage and other long term benefits associated with equity building activities. However and sadly, the quest for immediate returns on effort has beclouded the senses of most practitioners to the fact that survival is best based on long term plans than short term shots in the arm. Palliatives only relieve but never heal.

If tomorrow, a scanty attendance is recorded at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, the media will report that the match was played in front of empty stands but no effort has been made to collaborate with the organisers to whip up the frenzy for Lagosians to throng the venue. This is the media side of the blame.

The organisers and the

clubs equally have a responsibility to work out an endto-end project mechanics with the media and other stake-holders including the sponsors. This has not been the case with no one developing a plans board on which schemes are spelt out with time lines and responsibilities. This is the reason the call for a business approach in the football house has become more imperative. Project planning and management has become a cliché but it is a reality that every modern organization must embrace for efficient and profitable service delivery.

The event management aspect of our football matches has suffered most under all the dispensations and without an expert commercial thinking event manager, the situation will not change.

Football matches are like musical concerts that require deliberate promotion to attract the fee paying audience and even if Lady Gaga comes to Nigeria without the right hue of promotional activities, she will entertain herself, the organizers and a few diehard fans. We are all witnesses to the publicity blitz that heralds the annual musical concerts of the leading alcoholic beverage brewers despite the popularity of the headline pop acts invited for the shows. Same must be done for football as it goes beyond relying on the snippets of reports published in the media. Advertising Creative experts and Copy Writers must have to be engaged in planning matches so they can always find an angle to promote the games. This is a free

tip for our Premier League managers who think the property lends itself to mega million Naira sponsorships.

The sponsors will be happier when they find that the organizers are adding value to the property rather than the lamentation that some sponsors are not spending to leverage ‘dead’ assets.

The clubs involved in the competition also have a responsibility to entice their fans to the venue in support of their aspiration to win the trophy. It will not be out of place for the clubs to provide the media with the right kind of information to charge the atmosphere and heighten expectations. The clubs lack functional marketing units that could have provided club merchandise for fans including give-away ticket offers for fans who patronize their merchandise. Clubs are entitled to a number of free tickets as well as tickets they can buy and it is from this chest that they can reward their fans and grow loyalty. Now, do we see why clubs should engage marketing consultants to relieve them of this load while they focus on match day preparations?

Beloved Heartland of my darling Imo State, this is hoping that the trophy drought ends at Teslim Balogun tomorrow afternoon and for my business partners, Enyimba International, winning this trophy will make the business sell better.

Let victory go to the luckier side.

Contact me if you’re interested in beautiful premium quality Enyimba jerseys (iykeharris@yahoo.com) Harry Iwuala is a renowned Journalist based in Lagos, Nigeria

•Chijoke Ejiogu

VOICE OF SPORTS

With Clement Nwankpa Jnr. sportswar@yahoo.com

A thought for Enyeama I was one of those that celebrated Vincent Enyeama’s move to Lille. Moving from the Israeli league to the French champions was no doubt a career lift. We all believe in Enyeama’s qualities. Arguably the best keeper in Africa, not a few opine that he should be showcasing his talents in a bigger league.

His rating soared even higher after his five-star performance against Argentina at the World Cup. My excitement over Enyeama’s Lille move has given way to fears. His current bench warming status is a cause for worry.

I had deemed his Lille move a good one because there were speculations that he was arriving as a replacement for first choice Michael Landreau who was believed to be on his way to Manchester United to take Edwin Van der Saar’s place. I smelt difficult times for Enyeama when United signed David de Gea instead. As it became obvious that Landreau was not leaving last summer, I knew it was going to take some doing for Enyeama to taste action this season. At best, he would be a ‘solid’ back-up for Landreau, something that should gladden any coach’s heart. But it would be near impossible upstaging the French international who was largely responsible for Lille’s success last season.

So far, Enyeama has not manned the posts for Lille. From his days at Enyimba to his stint in Israel, he was always his clubs’ first choice. At Hapoel Tel Aviv, he was designated to take the penalty kicks and could notch as many as seven goals a season. He grew in confidence and with the club regularly on the continent, he got better with each game. The fact is that Enyeama’s form at the last World Cup was down to his regular action at club level. I don’t think he would be in a similar form if the World Cup takes place this weekend.

That Enyeama doesn’t come off Lille’s bench is bad news for the national team. If I was sure Landreau wasn’t leaving, I wouldn’t have supported his Lille move. The implication is that Nigeria’s first choice is second choice at club level. A keeper’s career is different from that of an outfield player. For instance, instead of Gianluca Zambrota’s presence to limit Taye Taiwo’s playing time at AC Milan, the coach could push Zambrota to the right back creating room for Taiwo down the left. But there is only one place for a keeper, that is between the sticks, wearing gloves. Once a club has a formidable keeper, the rest should wait till he either loses form, gets injured or quits. This has become Enyeama’s dilemma. Waiting for any of these three to happen could be such a long wait.

So for how long will he remain second choice at Lille? If the situation persists, would it be morally right for him to be Eagles’ first choice ahead of a Dele Aiyenugba who is a regular at Bnei Yehuda? I even think there could be more to Samson Siasia’s preference for Aiyenugba in the team’s last two matches than meets the eyes. Honestly, I think being dropped from the team on the premise of that ‘mutiny’ was an overkill. But I have a feeling that his form must have dropped so much that it was not a difficult decision for Siasia to take. In fact, Enyeama’s action could have provided a ready-made excuse for Siasia to take a decision he could have toyed with.

Going into a crucial match against Madagascar in Antananarivo, the coach could have been worried by his number one’s lack of match action.

Some are of the opinion that Enyeama could have stopped one of those three Argentine goals but I’m sure they must be referring to the Enyeama of summer 2010. He was in such a good form at the last World Cup that he could stop even a fly from going past him. But can the Enyeama of today do better than Aiyenugba did in Dhaka? In all fairness, I am not aware of what his current form looks like because I have not seen him in action for Lille. I didn’t even watch the last training sessions in Abuja. But Siasia know better.

I know many would argue that an Enyeama standing on one leg is preferable to Aiyenugba in his best form. I understand what could be the crux of such an argument because I agree that in goalkeeping, old wines taste better as experience is of essence. But one of Nigeria’s best keepers of all time, Peter Rufai had a nightmarish outing at 1998 World Cup because he was inactive at club level all season. The situation was worsened by the fact that he was forced to cut short his summer holidays and join the World Cup camp. An inactive keeper could be a disaster of gargantuan proportion. Enyeama has the potential to be the world’s best but can’t achieve that by being a second choice, even in Barcelona.

We have to save his career for the national team. It is better for him to be a first choice at Enyimba than second choice at the French champions. Before his form dips any further, his agent should negotiate a loan deal away from Lille next winter. He should move to a less illustrious club where he is guaranteed regular action and return to Lille when he is sure of his place as number one. He is too good to be Lille’s back-up keeper. Even the club management knows this.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2011

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NATION SPORT

NATION SPORT ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE

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UNDERLAND boss Steve Bruce is backing deposed captain Lee Cattermole to bounce back from the disappointment of being dropped from the team.

The 23-year-old midfielder was left sitting on the bench last Sunday as Bruce took drastic action following a disappointing start to the season and was rewarded with a thumping 4-0 Barclays Premier League victory over Stoke.

But the manager revealed his enforcer has already started the fightback, saying: “Typical of Lee, he has rolled up his sleeves and got on with it, and he has trained like a beast this week. I think he

no mistake, he will be doing as much as he can to get himself back into the team.”

Bruce started with seven of his 11 summer signings at the weekend after a run of five games in all competitions without a win. And he was vindicated as his side produced their best and most sustained display of the campaign to date to end their drought.

He said: “On Sunday, I might have got it right. Before the game, there would be people questioning me, saying ‘Why is he playing him?’ and ‘Why is he not playing him?’.

“That’s football management.

You are paid to make big decisions, sometimes difficult ones. It was difficult to leave the captain out, it was difficult to leave Jack Colback out, but I just thought the balance of the team wasn’t quite right.

“On Sunday, thankfully the result

• Bruce

Player

Team

Rooney Man Utd Aguero Man City Dzeko Manr City Adebayor Tottenham Agbonlahor Aston Villa Best Newcastle Di Santo Wigan Klasnic Bolton Arteta Arsenal Defoe Tottenham Hernandez Man Utd Larsson Sunderland Long WBA Nani Man Utd Silva Man City Suarez Liverpool Welbeck Man Utd Yakubu Blackburn Young Man Utd Zamora Fulham Adam Liverpool Anderson Man Utd Anelka Chelsea

Goals

9 8 6 3 3 3 3 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1

FIXTURES Sat ManCity Arsenal Chelsea Liverpool Newcastle West Brom Wigan Stoke City

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Everton Bolton Wanderers Swansea City Wolves Blackburn Rovers Fulham Tottenham Man United

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VERTON defender Leighton Baines believes the momentum they have gained from a fivematch unbeaten run sets them up well for their biggest test of the season so far at Manchester City this weekend.

The Toffees left it late to come from behind last night to clinch a 2-1 extratime victory over West Brom in the third round of the Carling Cup. Their only blemish so far is the opening-day home defeat to newcomers QPR, but even that has been forgotten after four wins and a draw in all competitions.

Gerrard wants Wolves role

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TEVEN Gerrard is targeting a return to Premier League action against Wolves this weekend after returning to action in the Carling Cup. The Liverpool skipper played out the final 15 minutes of Liverpool’s 2-1 win at Brighton on Wednesday night, his first appearance in six months following a groin injury.

Gerrard is remaining level-headed as Kenny Dalglish prepares to ease him back into regular first-team football, with the 31-year-old hoping to make the bench for the visit of Mick McCarthy’s Wolves to Anfield this weekend.

“It’s nice to come through the first test and now I’ll train tomorrow and hopefully I’ll be selected in the first 18 against Wolves and get some game time,” Gerrard told Sky Sports.

“If we were two or three up at halftime, I might have got a few more minutes but it wasn’t about me, it was about progressing to the next round of the cup and getting that Tottenham performance out of our systems.

“I think we’ve done that tonight.”

Gerrard added on Liverpool’s official website: “It was good to be back with the lads.

English Premier League Table as at September 18 Team P Man United 5 Man City 5 Chelsea 5 Newcastle 5 Stoke City 5 Aston Villa 5 Everton 4 Liverpool 5 Rangers 5 Wolves 5 Tottenham 4 Sunderland 5 Norwich 5 Swansea 5 Wigan 5 Blackburn 5 Arsenal 5 Fulham 5 Bolton 5 West Brom 5

W 5 4 3 2 2 1 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 1

D 0 1 1 3 2 4 1 1 1 1 0 2 2 2 2 1 1 3 0 0

L 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 2 4 4

F 21 17 8 4 3 6 6 6 4 4 7 6 5 3 4 7 6 4 8 3

A 4 5 6 2 5 4 4 7 6 6 8 4 7 5 7 10 14 7 13 8

GD 17 12 2 2 -2 2 2 -1 -2 -2 -1 2 -2 -2 -3 -3 -8 -3 -5 -5

Pt 15 13 9 8 7 7 7 7 7 6 5 5 5 5 4 4 3 3 3

I

goes your way and for me, the balance was better than it had been in the previous couple of weeks.”

Bruce could effectively have another new face available to him before very long following David Meyler’s return from his latest lengthy injury lay-off, with the 22-year-old Irishman playing 45 minutes for the reserves against Gateshead on Wednesday, his first run-out in more than eight months.

However, Bruce will take no chances with a man whose career on Wearside to date has been blighted by fitness problems, saying: “We have got to be really careful with him. It’s the first step again to a comeback which we hope will be successful. But if anybody is going to get it done, then he will. He’s got the mentality to see it through.

Everton’s confidence improving after unbeaten run

TOP SCORERS

Ranieri ready to ‘wake up’ Inter

Bruce: Cattermole will bounce back understood that the fight with injuries and all the rest of it, that he wasn’t quite there at the moment.”

He added: “He understood it and took it like the man he is and make

ITALIA LEAGUE...ITALIA LEAGUE...ITALIA LEAGUE

SPANISH LA LIGA...SPANISH LA LIGA...SPANISH LA LIGA.

Everton have become City’s bogey team over the last few years, winning seven of the last eight encounters and the last four in succession.

But, while confidence is growing within David Moyes’ squad, the match at the Etihad Stadium marks the start of arguably their toughest month with fixtures against Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United to follow in October.

“It is a big game for us at the weekend because City have been doing well but we will take confidence from the results we have had against them in the past,” said Baines.

“We will draw on that. We have a tough run of games over the next few weeks so it was important we kept our momentum going (with the win over West Brom).

“We are fully aware that we treat every game individually so we won’t take anything for granted.

“We will use those past games against City for confidence but we have to go there and get whatever we get.”

Everton sit seventh in the table, three points off third having played one match fewer.

The loss to QPR was a huge missed opportunity but Baines said it had to be confined to history.

“We still look at the QPR defeat and think ‘What if?’ but we don’t want to torture ourselves too much by doing that,” added the left-back.

“We just want to have a good few weeks with a tough run of games and come out the back end of it in a good position.”

Playing 120 minutes in a midweek Carling Cup tie prior to an early kickoff away on Saturday would not have been the choice of Moyes, although he did rest a number of his big-name players until well into the second half.

But Baines insisted they could not use it as an excuse.

“Extra time is probably not the ideal preparation but, once you get your recovery done and your mentality for the game right, it is surprising how quickly you can recover,” said the England international.

• Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo reacts during the La Liga soccer match against Racing Santander at the Sardinero stadium in Santander, Wednesday Sept. 21, 2011

Real looks for home S comforts TUTTERING Real Madrid will hope the comforts of home can help get their Primera Division campaign back on track this weekend when they host promoted neighbours Rayo Vallecano, while at the Nou Camp Barcelona meet Atletico Madrid and their red-hot striker Radamel Falcao.

Real Madrid started their season in impressive fashion, netting 10 goals in victories over Real Zaragoza and Getafe, but in the last two rounds Jose Mourinho’s men have lost their way, losing 1-0 at Levante on Sunday and then drawing 0-0 at Racing Santander on Wednesday night.

That is the first time Madrid have dropped points in back-to-back league games under Mourinho, and the first time they have failed to score in successive fixtures in all competitions since the Portuguese took charge.

However, the last time Madrid were held 0-0 was at Deportivo La Coruna last February and they responded with a 7-0 mauling of Malaga at the Bernabeu in their next match, and the nine-time European champions will be hoping for something similar this time.

Midfielder Xabi Alonso is not expecting it to be easy against Rayo, though.

“We’re not having the best of runs, but we’ve got time to change it. The first thing we must do is win on Saturday,” he said.

“Our matches against Racing and Levante were different, but both opponents did well and we didn’t.

We found it hard to create chances to score.

“Rayo are a tough opponent and we can’t afford more mistakes. We mustn’t lose faith; this is a longdistance run and there is still a lot to be played.”

While Mourinho’s men seek a change of fortune this weekend, Atletico will be looking for more of the same when they travel to Barca.

After a slow start, new-look Atletico have begun to click in their last three home matches, netting 10 goals and conceding none in seeing off Celtic, Racing and Sporting Gijon at the Vicente Calderon.

The man at the centre of those triumphs has been summer signing Falcao, who netted six of the 10 goals and also proved a constant menace for opposing defences.

Coach Gregorio Manzano said of

Spanish La Liga table as at September 21 Team P Valencia 4 Malaga 4 Real Betis 3 Barcelona 4 Sevilla 4 Levante 4 Real Madrid 4 A/ Madrid 4 Real Sociedad 4 R/ Vallecano 4 Osasuna 4 Villarreal 4 Zaragoza 3 Espanyol 3 Real Mallorca 4 Granada 4 Santander 4 A/Bilbao 4 Getafe 3 Sporting Gijon4

W 3 3 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0

D 1 0 0 2 2 2 1 1 1 2 2 1 1 0 0 0 2 1 1 0

L 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 2 3 3 2 3 2 4

F 8 7 5 17 5 4 10 8 5 3 2 4 2 3 1 1 3 4 3 2

A 5 2 2 4 3 2 3 1 4 3 9 8 7 4 4 6 8 7 6 9

GD 3 5 3 13 2 2 7 7 1 0 -7 -4 -5 -1 -3 -5 -5 -3 -3 -7

Pt 10 9 9 8 8 8 7 7 7 5 5 4 4 3 3 3 2 1 1 0

the club-record 40million euro striker: “You would have to go back into Atletico Madrid’s history to be able to find a player who, in seven days, has created so many chances, hit the woodwork or had so many goals ruled out, and who has been so effective in such a short period of time as he’s had.

“I’m sure that he’s going to be rubbing shoulders with the great goalscorers of our league like (Lionel) Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.”

Manzano now wants his side to continue their good form on the road, adding: “The three home games have gone off without a hitch and we must now try to transfer that same form away from home.”

Barca won their last home game 80 against Osasuna but had to twice battle back from a goal down to draw 2-2 at Valencia in midweek.

TOP SCORERS Player R. Falcao L. Messi Soldado Cazorla Ronaldo Fàbregas Agirretxe N. Fedor Negredo Benzema Castro García

Team Goals A/ Madrid 5 Barcelona 5 Valencia 5 Málaga 4 Real Madrid 4 Barcelona 4 R/ Sociedad 3 Getafe 3 Sevilla 3 Real Madrid 2 Real Betis 2 Espanyol 2

FIXTURES Sat Sevilla v Athletic Club v Real Madrid v Barcelona v Sun Mallorca v Levante v Granada v S/Gijón v Zaragoza v

Valencia Villarreal Rayo Vallecano Atlético Madrid Real Sociedad Espanyol Osasuna R/Santander Málaga

NTER Milan on Thursday confirmed the appointment of Claudio Ranieri as coach on a deal until June 2013.

Former Valencia, Chelsea and Roma boss Ranieri succeeds Gian Piero Gasperini, who was sacked on Wednesday after a short, unsuccessful spell in charge.

Ranieri’s first game will be on Saturday at Bologna.

Inter sacked Gasperini after Tuesday’s shocking 3-1 defeat at newly-promoted Novara — the team’s fourth loss in five games this season. Ranieri, 59, becomes Inter’s fifth coach in the past 15 months.

Gasperini was appointed in June after Leonardo elected to leave the Nerazzurri and become the sporting director at Paris St Germain.

Leonardo had replaced Rafael Benitez in December. Spaniard Benitez had been brought in six months earlier following the departure of Jose Mourinho to Real Madrid. Ranieri had been out of a job since leaving Roma earlier

this year.

News of Ranieri’s appointment had been widely expected after he gave an interview vowing to “wake up the team”. Ranieri told Domenica Sportiva: “Inter are a great team.

“They have had a bad start to the season and I will have to talk to the team to understand why that was. I will have to bring enthusiasm and a change of gear in order to wake up the team.

“I cannot promise that we will win this or that but I believe this team has a lot to give and we must prove it.”

Ranieri praised Gasperini’s efforts despite his short tenure at the club.

“Gasperini wanted to bring his ideas and make them work at all costs but he didn’t manage to do it,” the 59-year-old said. “I will try to make this team play as it knows how, with all of its strength.

“Gasperini didn’t make a mistake and we have to say well done because he tried everything to make his ideas work.”

• Ranieri

Pato blow for Jovetic: Players will protect struggling S Montolivo AC Milan

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C Milan’s Brazilian striker Alexandre Pato is to be sidelined for about four weeks with a muscular injury suffered during a mid-week round of the Italian Serie A. Rome – AC Milan striker Alexandre Pato is to be sidelined for about four weeks with a muscular injury suffered during a mid-week round of the Italian Serie A, the Devils’ website reported Thursday.

Pato, 22, pulled a muscle in his right leg 20 minutes into a home game that the Italian champions drew 1-1 against Udinese on Wednesday.

Similar muscular troubles forced the international to miss several games in the past two seasons.

“This morning (Thursday) I organized a meeting among the coach (Massimiliano Allegri), the athletic trainer and the medical staff,” vice president Adriano Galliani said.

“We want to understand why this boy, who had no problems in 2008 and 2009, is now sidelined with yet another muscular trouble.”

Milan, who have notched only two points from three Serie A games, are also without Sweden star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Brazilian Robinho, plus several absentees in midfield and defence.

“When we get back the injured players we will start winning again,” Galliani said. “We have 1012 players who cannot play.”

TOP SCORERS Player Cavani Denis Di Natale Giovinco Miccoli Palacio Cerci Conti Jovetic' Klose Milito

Team Goals Napoli 3 Atalanta 3 Udinese 3 Parma 3 Palermo 3 Genoa 3 Fiorentina 2 Cagliari 2 Fiorentina 2 Lazio 2 Internazionale 2

TEVAN Jovetic revealed his delight in scoring his first Fiorentina goals for over 18 months, and that his teammates intend to protect Riccardo Montolivo.

Jovetic has returned to first team action this season after missing the entire 2010-11 campaign with a serious knee injury that required a double operation a year ago.

Wednesday night saw him score his first goals for the club since March 2010, and he reflected postmatch on their significance.

“The dark period has ended. I dedicate one goal to [Alberto] Gilardino, the other to my family, and I now want to score against

Napoli.”

Jovetic also took the opportunity to reaffirm his desire to stay at Fiorentina and sign a new contract.

The declaration is in sharp contrast both to reports from earlier this month, and to teammate Montolivo’s decision that has drawn fierce criticism from the fans.

The No 8 revealed however, how the dressing room intend to support Montolivo regardless.

“I have always thought about Fiorentina, and renewing my contract.

“We will try to help [Montolivo] because he is a big player. We will protect him for as long as he is here, because he has always been the best.”

FIXTURES Sat Bologna Milan Napoli Sun Chievo Atalanta Cagliari Catania Lazio Siena Parma

• Jovetic

v v v

Internazionale Cesena Fiorentina

v v v v v v v

Genoa Novara Udinese Juventus Palermo Lecce Roma

Italy Serie A Table as at September 21 Team Genoa Juventus Udinese Napoli Fiorentina Palermo Cagliari Novara Lazio Chievo Catania Lecce Parma AC Milan Atalanta Roma Siena Inter Milan Bologna Cesena

P 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 2 2 3 3 3

W 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0

D 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 2 1 1 1 1 1 0

L 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 1 0 1 1 2 2 3

F 7 6 5 6 5 7 6 6 5 4 1 3 3 4 5 1 0 4 1 2

A 3 2 1 3 2 6 5 5 5 4 3 4 8 6 3 2 1 7 5 6

GD 4 4 4 3 3 1 1 1 0 0 -2 -1 -5 -2 2 -1 -1 -3 -4 -4

Pt 7 7 7 6 6 6 6 4 4 4 4 3 3 2 1 1 1 1 1 0

THE NATION SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2011

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NATION SPORT

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N a private chat with Nigeria’s FIFA Technical Advisor, Chief Adegboye Onigbinde some months ago, it was revealed that NO Nigerian Coach presently working as one, has a CAF License.

To me, that is unacceptable.

However, I urged Chief Onigbinde to use his contacts in CAF, FIFA and elsewhere and work hard on this to ensure that we redress the situation. A lot of work has been done and I am very pleased that the first-ever CAF License ‘C’ coaching seminar, a two-week programme, organised by the Nigeria Football Federation, will start in Abuja on Monday, 26th September.

There is no doubt that coaching is the beginning of everything. A toddler that is learning to walk need to be coached. Coaching, according to the Oxord Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, is ‘the process of training somebody in a sport, to do a job better or to improve a skill’. Coaching is, therefore, the be-all and know-all of every endeavour, and without it, there can be no improvement.

Over the past few weeks, I have had a number of chats with the Director of Technical, Dr. Emmanuel Ikpeme on the modalities being used for registration, the general response to the programme and the module. It has been quite enlightening.

There have been close to 200 persons queuing to be part of the programme. And that goes to show that despite all, and contrary to what cynics might say, Nigerians always want to improve themselves and their station.

I am shocked that 56 years after Dan Anyiam became the first indigenous Coach to handle the Senior National Team of Nigeria (1955, on interim basis), no Nigerian coach has a CAF License. Yet, so many of them proudly flaunt UEFA Licenses every now and again!

I look at the list of former Coaches of the Senior National Team of Nigeria in front of me as I write and I am delighted that there have been so many Nigerians.

After Dan Anyiam’s experience in 1955, he was again put in temporary charge in 1959 and 1962, before coaching the team on substantive basis for the period 1964-1965. Dan Anyiam was also a huge player for the Senior National Team.

After him, there was Peter Amaechina, nicknamed ‘Baba Eto’, who was a big favourite with the fans, and assisted Brazilian Otto Gloria to lead the Green Eagles to African Cup of Nations glory in 1980.

Chief Onigbinde became the first indigenous Coach to lead the Senior National Team to the final of the African Cup of Nations, in 1984, and then took the team to the FIFA World Cup finals in 2002.

After Onigbinde in 1984 came the strict disciplinarian, Christopher Udemezue, who also packed so much energy and enthusiasm. Udemezue had coached the U-20 team that qualified for the FIFA World Youth Championship in Mexico in 1983 – the first FIFA tournament that Nigeria attended.

Then, there was Patrick Ekeji, today the Director General of the Nigeria Football

Inside The Glass House WITH AMINU MAIGARI

Coaches and Coaching (1) Federation and a man who has traversed the different centres of playing, coaching and administering with excellence.

There was also Paul Hamilton, one of the persons who will be teaching the teachers at the upcoming seminar. The man called ‘Wonderboy’ (remember his exploits with the Senior National Team, including those wonderful shuffles at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City) managed the team well and was on the verge of qualifying for the FIFA World Cup finals before the man Clemens Westerhorf arrived.

(Just pointing out time issues, not that I am in any way suggesting that Westerhorf’s arrival tumbled anything).Amodu Shuaibu, another of those who will be teaching the teachers from Monday, did a great job over several stints, including qualifying the Senior National Team for the FIFA World Cup finals on two occasions. He never went to the finals though, but in 2010, the past NFF administration took him to South Africa as an Ambassador. Do people also remember that Amodu Shuaibu qualified the National Beach Soccer team for the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in Brazil in 2006?

Monday Sinclair, the one we call ‘Professor’ was also there at the top, at the Senior National Team, sometime in 1997. And there is also ‘Chairman’, Christian Chukwuemeka Chukwu, the man who captained the Green Eagles to glory on home soil in 1980, and would assist Westerhorf to lead the team to another African Nations Cup glory (this time on away soil) in Tunisia in 1994.

Chukwu took full charge in 2002 and was there for three years. Chairman took the team to bronze medal in the same Tunisia in 2004.

Today, we have Samson Siasia, a young man whom we firmly believe is doing a great job and should be encouraged.

Siasia is insisting on discipline being the hallmark of the senior team as players serve as role models not only on the pitch, but even more outside it.

There are challenges here and there as regards the profession of coaching in Nigeria, but together, with determination and focus and sincerity of purpose, we can tackle those areas and improve things a lot better.

Chief Onigbinde will be the FIFA man instructing the over 80 coaches who will be doing the CAF License ‘B’ programme between 26 September – 9 October, while Paul Hamilton, Kashimawo Laloko, James Peters and Amodu Shuaibu will be the

CAF Instructors.

Dr. Akin Amao, a dignified gentleman who has traversed several levels, the Medical Instructor, and we also have Mr. Linus Mba, FIFA Referees Advisor and Dr. Bolaji OjoOba, the immediate past Secretary General of the NFF and a CAF Match Commissioner.

NFF’s Director of Technical, Dr. Emmanuel Ikpeme will take the coaches on psychology.

Certainly, there would be much to learn, and the decision of the facilitators to have 40 per cent of theory and 60 per cent of practicals is commendable. The last three days would be for revision and examinations.

I have gathered that the CAF ‘B’ License programme will take place in a few weeks.

THE FEDERATION CUP: BRINGING BACK THE GLAMOUR...

I was listening to a lot of reviews and previews on radio and television, and also read a lot in the newspapers during the week about the need to bring back the glamour of the Federation Cup. Otherwise known as the FA (Football Association) Cup, this is the most prestigeous football competition in the land, but I admit that it has suffered a bit in the past few years and it would take conscious and concerted efforts to return the old glitz and panache.

This is why the Nigeria Football Federation has partnered the Lagos State Government for this year’s grand finale. And we are doing a number of things that would ensure this year’s event is even more glamorous than last year, and that eventually, we can all beat our chests that we have returned the old glory and glamour.

While the gains of tomorrow’s activities and gloss items may not be immediate, this is to assure all that the NFF is planning for a much better and more rewarding 2012 Federation Cup competition.

While being certain that there would be a full house at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos for the grand finale tomorrow afternoon, I wish Enyimba FC of Aba and Heartland FC of Owerri the best of football on an inviting turf. It is also important for the players to play according to the rules and show absolute discipline. This also goes for the two teams playing in the third place match – Ocean Boys FC and Bayelsa United FC.

HAIL ENYIMBA AND SUNSHINE...

LAST weekend was a frenetic

one on the continent, but at the end of hostilities, Nigeria still retained two of her flagbearers, namely Enyimba FC in the CAF Champions League and Sunshine Stars FC in the CAF Confederation Cup. I am somewhat disappointed that Kaduna United FC, with all the chances stacked in their favour and two penalties awarded to them, still tumbled out of the CAF Confederation Cup. Needing only the minimum win to ensure a place in the semi finals, the team suffered immense stage fright and collapsed inexplicably.

There have been stories of injuries and playerwithdrawals on the eve of the game, but I am sure the team did not lack motivation. I must also say here that one of our objectives remain getting our teams to be wellprepared for important matches and tournaments, and the NFF kept pointing out to Kaduna United FC the need to be ready for the big day. But the club was not.

It is disappointing that a Club Africain that Kaduna United held to a 0-0 in Tunis, in a match played in the cold of the night, would come to Kaduna and run away with victory. Yet, we cannot continue to cry over spilt milk.

Inevitably, we are left to continue to support and assist Enyimba FC and Sunshine Stars FC in their charge for the big honours. I have faith in the ability of the two clubs to shine all the way to the trophies.

Enyimba FC is a huge name in Africa and would be lifting the CAF Champions League trophy for the third time (following wins in 2003 and 2004) if it comes good in the last two stages. I know the People’s Elephant will, and would then have earned a ticket to be the first Nigerian club at the year-ending FIFA Club World Cup in Japan.

But Sunshine Stars are rookies and the more reason why all hands must be on deck to see they conquer in the Confederation Cup. In the semi finals, Sunshine Stars have a chance to avenge for compatriots when they take on Club Africain, while Enyimba confront a Wydad Casablanca that only stole into the group phase following CAF’s disqualification of last year’s winners TP Mazembe of Democratic Republic of Congo.

Surely, the two clubs have ample time to prepare for their semi final clashes, with Enyimba FC warming up with tomorrow’s Federation Cup final against 2009 CAF Champions League finalists Heartland FC.

•Ameobi

Ameobi battles Aiyegbeni for points

I

T will be a batlle between two Nigerians at St' James Park today,as Shola Ameobi leads his team mates at Newcastle against Blackburn Rovers , a club that pays the bills of Yakubu Aiyegbeni, in the English Premier League.

As the rejuvenated Blackburn Rovers outfit travel to St James' Park still basking in the euphoria of their 4-3 win over Arsenal last week, the three points at stake is important to better their ambition for the season.

Though Ameobi has flatuated since the commencement of the season, the match against an improved Blackburn will a long way to determine his current form.

Aiyegbeni on the other hand, trying to pick up the pieces of his career at Blackburn will be set to prove that his performance against the Gunners was no fluke.

Although they the Steve Kean's side have recorded two wins in a row and have lost just one of their last five matches, the will do more to outwhith the Toons at their own backyard.

Aiyegbeni is expected to bring his experience to bear aainst a

more determined Newcastle side after he helped his side to another 3-2 win, this time in the Carling Cup against leyton Orient on Tuesday.

Australian midfielder Vince Grella made his first appearance after seven months on the sidelines in Tuesday's win, with the Socceroo showing no sign of the Achilles injury that has dogged him throughout 2011.

Grella completed a full 90 minutes and his bite in midfield will be crucial for Blackburn as they battle for survival this season.

Despite the recent upturn in form, Kean's men still sit 16th in the English Premier League and will have their work cut out against a Newcastle United side who are yet to lose a league match this season.

Newcastle currently sit fourth with two wins and three draws from their five games and they are showing that despite being without Andy Carroll and Kevin Nolan - the club's two top scorers last season - they are still more than capable of gaining results.

Key to Newcastle's success has been the miserly defence, which

Mikel targets starting shirt against Swansea

H

AVING been left out of the crucial league match against Manchester United at Old Trafford last weekend, Nigerian midfield star, John Mikel Obi will be looking forward to getting a starting shirt against Swansea today at the Stamford Bridge.

Mikel started the seaon on a bright note, despite reports of his missing father making the rounds, but to the amazement of all, he featured for the Blues last weekend from the bench.

But Swansea will have a lot to do on their trip to Stamford Bridge today, with the squad hit by an injury crisis in defence, with the squad hit by an injury crisis in defence.

A week after posting their first ever English Premier League with a 3-0 triumph against West Brom, Brendan Rodgers' men will have the imposing task of holding Chelsea at bay in London.

The injury crisis is so bad at the newly promoted outfit that captain Garry Monk, who is still bothered by a foot injury suffered late last season, will have to play through the pain barrier to take part in the game.

To compound Rodgers' worries, he will be taking on a Chelsea squad in good form and at almost full strength.

Despite suffering a 3-1 loss against Manchester United at Old Trafford in their most recent game, Chelsea are in third place in the English Premier League table.

But manager Andre Villas-Boas will be concerned that they trail United by five points just five games into the campaign In team news, midfielder Michael Essien remains unavailable for Chelsea due to a severe knee injury.

Olubanwo Fagbemi

On Sport Sport On SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2011

36

Great coaches do not come by chance

LESSON FROM MAPUTO VIA DAEGU

Team Nigeria may crash at London 2012 Olympic Games

F

B

EFORE Nigerian sport officials, especially those of the track and field family start assuring us that our national anthem will be the main song at the London Olympic Stadium, Olukayode Thomas here paints a picture of what will happen in London in ten months, don’t bet against it.

DAEGU, not Maputo paints track and field true picture As usual with Team Nigeria, we have recorded yet another ’successful’ outing in a games or championship that the world elites do not participate.

For all the noise we make about the All Africa Games here, it was boycotted by Africa’s elite athletes, especially those from Kenya, Ethiopia and even South Africa. Save Botswana Amantle Montsho, the world champion in 400m, most of the African elite athletes that won medal in Daegu were not in Maputo.

It’s just like the FIFA underage football championships.

Most countries of the world consider it a developmental competition, but we see them as the ultimate.

Our success in the FIFA under age championships have not translated into success at African Nations Cup and the FIFA football World Cup, we have failed to do what successful nations do, which is the reason for our consistant failure and we will continue to fail until we do what successful nations are doing.

Winning Medals in London We need not go London 2012 Games with a truck load of athletes, any athletes, who has no prospect of winning medal, must be dropped from the London train.

Given all the encouragement and resources, both financial and otherwise she needs, Doreen Amata has all it takes to get to the finals of the of the women High Jump in London, and if she gets to the final, anything could happen.

Remember Chioma Ajunwa beating Fiona May Jackie Joyner-Kersee with one good jump at Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games.

Blessing Okagbare too has a very good chance of winning medal, but not in the 100m, but the Long Jump. But for Okagbare to win a medal in Long Jump, she must stop doing the 100m. This is where the National Sports Commission

•Damola Osayomi

(NSC) comes in.

Okagbare loves doing the 100m because that is where the money is, for her to stop doing the 100m, the Commission must calculate the money she stands to make from running the 100m between now and the Olympic Games and pay her all, or a substantial part of it. That way, the commission can tell her to concentrate on the Long Jump.

As it is now, Okagbare is an adult who has bills to pay and dependants. So any advice to her to concentrate on the Long Jump will be like the good gospel that is not yielding the fruit of signs and wonders, because it, backed with fervent prayers and fasting.

If this not done, Okagbare who stands an outright chance of winning medal in the 100m because of form of Jamaicans and Americans, will also lose out in the Long Jump.

Already Russian Lyudmila Kolchanova, Brienna Gleen, Oksana Zhukovskava, and Bianca Stuart, are ahead of her in the women, but since she is a consistent over six meters jumper, she has the potential to jump seven meters and above, but if only she concentrates on the Long Jump between now and the London Games.

Damola Osayomi and the women 4x100 m equally stand a good chance if given the same incentives and encouragement.

Amaju, your facts are wrong Amaju Melvin Pinnick, Executive Chairman Delta States Sports Commission gave journalists some information in Maputo which is false. Listen to Amaju: “Great credit must go to Chief Solomon Ogba (President Athletics Federation of Nigeria) on the achievements of Track and Field here. I have seen his personal commitment make impact. We have US based athletes here and sometimes they want to eat things like pizza to feel good and compete well. Ogba personally goes to buy them Pizza and other things. He is a great motivator and I’m proud of what he has done here. I’m also proud that

e-mail: deewalebf@yahoo.com

•Okagbare

Delta athletes are doing well and have won many medals.

The 4X100m relay team that won the gold comprised of Delta athletes throughout. I’m happy.”

One Amaju, it is not true that all the athletes that won the 4x100m women gold medals are from Delta State, it is false.

Of the quartet, only Okagbare is remotely connected to Delta, and that is because, she is Delta by birth. Credit for Okagbare praise must go to Tony Osheku and Coach Bob Kittens of University of Texas, El-Paso (UTEP). When Osheku spotted the talented athlete and recommended her to Kittens, the American was reluctant initially, but Osheku persisted and told Kittens that Okagbare had the potentials to do all that Marion Jones was doing then.

Kittens agreed to recruit the unknown athlete then, the rest as they say is now history.

Okagbare got full scholarship from UTEP, and Amaju should be reminded it is illegal for athletes on scholarship to get external funding, if they do, their scholarship will be withdrawn, so if Delta was giving her any assistance while in school, it was illegal or a private a arrangement.

Gloria Asumnu another member of the 4x100m winning team before now had no contact with Nigeria, talk less of Delta. Gloria is an American of Nigerian parents, she recruited to come to Nigeria by Pat Itanyi, a Nigerian coach based in the United States. This is the first time she will be presenting Nigeria, so how does she become a Delta athlete.

Damola Osayomi we all now is an Ekiti athlete, based in the United States, but she runs for the Civil Defence, while Agnes Osasuwa is an Edo athlete who most times train in Ogun State, so Amaju needs to retract his words and apologise, or tell us he was misquoted.

Secondly, nobody doubts Ogba’s passion for sports and the fact that he spends his

money. But our sports does need men and women who spend their money on sports, because what happens if they wake up one day and decide to stop spending, the sports will go down like Abiola Babes, Nkoyo Ibori Athletics Championship, Folawiyo Athletics Championship, Dan Ngerem U-18, Odogwu Athletics Championship and many others, what athletics need is men and women that will harness the resources available to the nation with population of 150 million and build institutions that will outlive all us, just as IAAF will function with or without Lamine Diack, just the way Guaranty Trust Bank is working after Fola Adeola and Tayo Adenirokun. While we welcome moneybags, what we really need are moneybags, that will build institutions.

Ekeji and the gang-up against Egbunike Nigerian ex-athletes who are national team coaches will never fail to amaze. These guys were given opportunity to coach the national team despite not having the experience or the academic qualification to do the job.

Elsewhere, those who get such opportunities grab it with both hands, and start brushing up their credentials with education in the classroom and on the field.

But coaches here just sit back and do routine. When they fail to achieve results, it is normal to clamour for those have who proven they have the ability to do the job, thus the clamour for Innocent Egbunike, now that he is here, there is campaign against his employment, and I believe the Director General of the NSC Dr. Patrick Ekeji will not listen to them. For us sports to move forward, we need to jettison sentiments and be pragmatic. Egbunike can do for track and field today what Jorge Diaz; a Cuban did in the 1990’s.

Innocent welcome, but you need more than innocence to succeed here.

IRST published in this column on May 23, 2010, the following piece reproduced with minimal editing evokes comparison – in method and record – between the world’s greatest coaches. It also mirrors the volatility of coaching appointments on account of the contrasting career turns subsequently experienced by some of the personalities considered. To say then that a coach is as good as his last result is a counsel that none but the most foolhardy of them would ignore.

THE Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA) thought late Dutch Rinus Michels was the greatest of the twentieth century and named him Coach of the Century in 1999 to prove it. The originator of Total Football won the European Cup with Ajax, the Spanish League with Barcelona, Euro ’88 with Holland and narrowly missed the 1974 World Cup trophy.

Older football fans might consider their favourites more deserving. Think Brazilians Tele Santana and Mario Zagalo, Englishmen Sir Alf Ramsey, Brian Clough and Bill Shankly, Dutch Johan Cruyff, Germans Otmar Hitzfield and Franz Beckenbauer, Spaniard Vicente Del Bosque, French Arsene Wenger, and Italian masters Marcello Lippi, Fabio Capello, Arrigo Sacci and Giovanni Trapatonni.

But who would you, the contemporary football fan, consider worthy of ultimate praise as best coach in the world? Alex Ferguson for his two European Cup triumphs and amazing chase of Manchester United’s 19th English Premier League title?

Carlo Ancelotti for his memorable AC Milan run that yielded the Scudetto and two European titles – which he also won as a player with the Rossoneri – as well as immediate success in England with current champions Chelsea?

Or should it be Otto Rehhagel, the former Warder Bremen coach who turned an average Greece to a functional side that stifled opposition en route to the 2004 European Championship crown?

Maybe Guus Hiddink, hailed as ‘The Magician’ for turning innocuous sides like PSV Eindhoven, Australia and South Korea into champions and giant-killers.

Louis Van Gaal, some might claim. Famous for self-belief and faith in his own methods, the Dutch master got the Ajax Amsterdam players to follow his orders, a feat he replicates with great success at Bayern Munich.

His Bayern side made this year’s UEFA Champions League with great team work and tactical discipline. But many more would probably side with Van Gaal’s European final foe, Jose Mourinho – an ambitious motivator of men.

Hmmn, Mourinho, the self-styled ‘Special One’. The Portuguese tactician is on a mother-of-all-mission to annex every major trophy available in modern football.

He is well on the way too, after a humble beginning as late Bobby Robson’s interpreter at Barcelona. Mourinho applied tutelage at the feet of the great Englishman to sweep club titles, usually at first try, from Portugal to England and Italy.

In quick succession, UEFA Cup, UEFA Champions League and Portuguese league prizes have been followed by English league and domestic cup honours with Chelsea as well as Serie A and Italian Cup victories with Inter Milan. As we speak, he readies to conquer Spanish football from the most hallowed of European football grounds: Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, home ground of the famous Real Madrid.

In common with other legendary coaches, Mourinho shares the decisive ability to get players to play for him and for the squad. Yet, he is happy to play the role of the victim in relationship with formidable coaches and the football establishment, managing to draw support for his team as widespread rooting for Inter ahead of yesterday’s Champions League final signified.

Mourinho cultivates a near-equal relationship with his players, while using psychological tools to sustain drive and make them play regularly at high-octane levels. After shaping a once inconsistent squad into a fearsome army to be unleashed at will, he may have become a metaphor for modern coaching success.

Sadly, Africa has yet to produce a coach of similar status. The nearest candidate is perhaps Egypt’s Hassan Shehata. The walrus-mustached tactician led the Pharaohs to consecutive conquests of Africa, raising his standing to such level that he was, at some point, seriously considered a more qualified replacement for the tactically-handicapped former Super Eagles chief coach Shuaibu Amodu.

No other Nigerian coach is as rated as Shehata. Former international and youth team coach Samson Siasia was expected to break the mould until he committed tactical suicide with the Flying Eagles’ disappointing 2009 World Youth Championship second-round crash.

Ominously, Siasia remains •Siasia sidelined by football authorities, his impetuosity and uncompromising vibes considered dangerous for the fragile facade of the Glasshouse.

38

THE NATION, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2011

RE ELNEW S The Story of Gold targets financial literacy

T

HE full potential of a movie to entertain, educate and inform is about to be put to use through a Nigerian film that aims at enhancing access to credit facilities.

Powered by Credit Awareness Nigeria, a financial Non Governmental Organisation based in Lagos, the movie which is a motivational story of a set of twins who made use of their gold inheritances in two different ways, is thoughtprovoking indices of equal opportunity in the hands of people whose dispositions, awareness and level of understanding to life differ.

The movie which has cast the likes of Doris Simeon, Kate Adepegba, Toyin Adewale, Kayode Odumosu, Rykado Agbor, and Ijeoma Imoh for the various roles will be produced by Nifemi Nifemi Richard-Bruce and directed by Austin Awulonu.

Richard-Bruce explained that although the film is an educative material, it will be presented in an entertainment form and language that would be understood by all without losing the essence of literacy campaign as a way of getting the various financial institutions principally established to provide accessible credit facilities to owners of micro, small and medium enterprises in Nigeria.

Mr. Ladi Smith who announced this in Lagos at an interactive session said that the film would be aired free of charge at various Nigerian cities during a pan-Nigeria town storming programme.

He added that his organization hopes to use this platform and many other catchy grassroots platforms as means of eradicating poverty in the country.

Mr. Smith noted that of the over 185 million Nigerians, only about 21 percent of the population were literate on the workings of banks saying “our main challenge now is to reach out to the remaining 79 percent and in simple terms and methods, teach them how they can richly benefit from the various services being offered by microfinance and other grassroots banks in the country”.

Backed by the World Bank and with strong alliance with the financial regulatory agencies in Nigeria, Credit Awareness Nigeria according to the Executive Director has set up a working group to facilitate the achievement of its mandate.

The organization will be working with the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Nigeria (MSMENigeria), which is a pilot programme of the World Bank and the Government of Nigeria.

The MSME programme is being implemented by the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) through a Project Management Unit managed by Nathan Associates London Limited and Development Associates (DA).

•L-R: Dr. Thomas Tinberg, Senior Adviser Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) Nigeria, Mr. Ladi Smith, Executive Director Credit Awareness Nigeria, Mr. Robert Odiachi, Director, Credit Awareness Nigeria and Mr. Funmi Onabolu, GMD BatesCosse at the credit awareness forum recently.

BACK STAGE The wave of sex and nudity seems to be on the rise as Nigerian celebrities are gradually being caught up in the web of obscenity. Citing the first recorded case of such on the entertainment scene, AHMED BOULOR reels out a collection of celebrities that have fallen prey of this disturbing trend in recent times, more so as there are no laws enabling privacy and personality rights in Nigeria.

•Wizkid

•Tonto Dikeh

•Empress

•Wande Coal

•Anita Hogan

…And the celebrity sex and nude tales continue

39

THE NATION, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2011

W

ants differ from one individual to the other. Women are unique species.

Everywoman has needs.

What makes one woman happy may not be a priority to the woman next door.

Money? Oh sure; it answers all things. But, what happens when a woman already has the money? Do you think giving more money to the woman in that category would make her fall for the man? Hmm. Your guess is as good as mine.

Intelligence? Well, I can boldly say that this works for majority of women. A woman adores an intelligent man. A man that can peak their curiosity. A man that can discuss with them intellectually. In fact, this secret is important for men to know. Women adore men that can make them laugh.

No; you do not have to be a comedian to make a woman laugh. If it is just the little things you say and the way you say them that is important.

Sex? Now that’s my favourite. Sex differs; it is like snow, you never know how many inches you are going to get or how long it is going to last. It is dirty only if is done right. We have just sex.

And we have good sex.

Have you not seen couples that appear incompatible, yet they stick together for so Dear Vera, Thanks a whole lot for this piece. It is incisive and educating. It is so amazing how people reason when it comes to white wedding.

Money, intelligence or sex; which do women want? long. Way back, when I was in higher institution, I had a course mate who dated one ‘normal’ guy. I decided to describe him as normal because ‘Kate’ (not real name) was the flashy type in school. She came from a wealthy background. Believe it or not, she was chauffeure-driven to lectures throughout, no undergraduate years. So, yes, she had affluence. ‘Born with silver spoon’. Can aptly describe Kate. So, naturally, the big boys in my school all desired her and made passes at her with her with all the tricks in the book.

It did not work. So, just before they were about to reach the logical conclusion that Kate may be a lesbian, she began to date Femi. EvFrom where I come from, as a Yoruba man, what we know as wedding is the ‘Idana’ i.e traditional wedding and the groom is mandated to buy a basket

eryone thought; Femi of all the guys in school. It was laughable. How could it be’?

Everyone thought out loud.

Kate and femi were as different as night and day. Kate must be using him to ward off would-be suitors.” “They will not last” others thought.

Femi was, to many a very unlikely suitor for Kate. But, to the disappointment of many, they dated throughout their undergraduate years.

Rumour had it that after school, they went ahead to tie the knots just before their youth service. Kate’s confidant and very good friend in school later told a few of us; the secret of their union.

Sex. Yes o. Good sex. We have told that Femi had the technical know-how of how

to make Kate reach orgasm at least three times before one encounter. This is a rare ability from men; especially these days when most men are too concerned and bothered about the economic situation of the country; and this is the long run affects their sexual drive. What we have these days are just men that will be done a few minutes after the encounter.

Hmmm, worrisome indeed. ‘Why wouldn’t they be worried; with the impending fuel increase; impending NLC strike action; Boko Haram and the kidnap scare; even women are worried! As I was writing this piece, a friend of mine, added his opinion by saying "some want money others prefer their men to be wise and in-

telligent but the family can not eat intelligence. Without money, there will be quarrels most of the time. Most women will prefer above all things that their men he strong in bed and satisfy them. Ideally women feel blessed if their men have the three things under consideration, but there are women anyway who can not sexually satisfy their men, that will spell disaster in the house because the man will be tempted to go outside to satisfy himself at great cost of friendship.

It will breed jealousy, quarrel, suspicion, abandoned and even polygamy in the house" I will conclude this piece by stating here; that it is key to identify what your woman wants and then make efforts to meet up her needs.

Intelligence? Well, I can boldly say that this works for majority of women. A woman adores an intelligent man. A man that can peak their curiosity. A man that can discuss with them intellectually. In fact, this secret is important for men to know. Women adore men that can make them laugh. No; you do not have to be a comedian to make a woman laugh. If it is just the little things you say and the way you say them that is important

should be your husband and not your boyfriend.

Thanks for bringing this to light.

Moses Efe

families. This can even be a sign of mutual agreement between them (both families).

Segun Adewale

*It is amazing that parents hardly take brideprice these days yet they make the groom sweat it out funding a wedding. The blame is with most grooms who do not allow the brides’ families to see their capacity and strength to the extent that some borrow costly cars to the in-law’s for introduction. As a matter of fact, when ‘two’ have agreed to be ‘one’ they should be ready to share assets and liabilities in the most economically reasonable manner. As regards funding a wedding, a bride, a groom and both families should be should be supportive. Abi whose embarrassment is it when a wedding flops?

Everyone.

Seun Osinkolu, Ogbomosho

*How can I sit and discuss who will pay for what with my in-laws at my daughter’s wedding?

Wherever gift I have for my daughter and her man should come to them as a surprise. May be we will start discussing on how I will pay part of my daughter’s pride price soonest. God forbid!

Sunny Ogbonnaya, Port Harcourt.

Text messages Re-Whose responsibility is it to fund a wedding? full of cloth for the wouldbe wife, that is our culture.

But if a woman insists on

having a white wedding, then her father should know he has to buy the wedding gown. But today, it is expected of the groom to fund the whole thing; and that to me, is very unpleasant.

Steve, Okota, Lagos. *The answer to the topic above will be a function of real love, wealth, tradition and future. Who loves who, for love’s sake – groom or the bride or both? Who actually pushed for the wedding? On wealth, who is wealthier, bride or groom’s family? Who belongs to the working class among the couple? What is our societal belief on who should fund? It is better that birds of the same feathers flock together.

Lanre Oseni *A man should endeavour to fund the expenses of his wedding within the limits of his pockets.

Engr. Chidi

Mr. & Mrs. Frederick Obodozie during their Engagemant Ceremony held on 10th of September at Events Centre (Nana’s Arena), Hakeem Balogun rd, opp. African Shrine, Ikeja, Lagos.

Mr. & Mrs. Frederick Obodozie during their Engagemant Ceremony held on 10th of September at Events Centre (Nana’s Arena), Hakeem Balogun rd, opp. African

*God bless you for today’s spectacular piece which I believe is timely. The truth is that some ladies don’t even know they are to support their fiancé. They think the man should be the one to bear all the wedding cost. In fact, most guys are scared of getting married because of this. Some prefer ‘co0habiting’ (Paper bag marriage) Instead, and at the end give birth to illegitimate children. Ladies be wise, your husband

*Thanks for the write-up, very interesting. I quite agree that funding of wedding should be a joint responsibility of both parents, and not to be left to one party especially in some cultures that demand much fortune, it is scaring.

Aliyu, Kano *For a couple and family members (especially the bride’s) to be established with dignity and respect, the planning should be harmonized between both

I am sure of the fact that contribution writers of this columns are declined. By this appeal, don’t allow this to be continue details.

Please tackled the issue of division of an interest. I humbly said.

Jide *You must do a part two on your column of yesterday. I just read the piece this morning and I want to tell you that you just touched an issue that has become a social problem in Nigeria today because it’s a major reason why eligible bachelors are not ready to walk down the aisle. I know this for a fact because at 30, when I take a look at my list of 1m plus wedding expenses, I just put it back in my drawer. Vera, believe me I’ve been looking at that list for the past 2 years!

Barrister Sam Irabor, Makurdi, Benue State

40

I

THE NATION, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2011

My coat of many colors

read an interview some days ago and it has since left me discomfited. The in terviewee had kept me interested until she said she had over 3,000 pairs of shoes.

3,000 pairs of shoes in a world where so many have to patch the only pair of shoes they have before going to work or even school!!! It is heartbreaking to read that some actually can open two to three shoe shops with all they have. My consolation is in knowing that there are so many of you dear people out there who can give out of their many extra shoes to charity. Please go about doing that now and make others happy by getting some of those extra shoes off the shoe room and give to the many around you who are praying for only one pair. For those of you who have only one pair of shoes today, there’s hope. There was hope for Dolly Parton many years ago when she wore her coat of many colors. If like her, you have only one coat to keep the cold away this rainy season, don’t say you’re poor.

Sing that beautiful song, ‘My Coat of Many Colors’ with me today and be convinced that you’re poor only if you choose to be.

‘Back through the years, I go wandering once again, back to the seasons of my youth.

I recall a box of rags that someone gave us and how my momma put the rags to use.

There were rags of many colors, every piece was small and I didn’t have a coat and it was way down in fall. Momma sewed the rags together sewing every piece with love; she made my coat of many colors that I was so proud of.

And she told me a story from the Bible she had read about a coat of many colors Joseph wore and she said, ‘Perhaps, this coat will bring you good luck and happiness and I couldn’t wait to wear it and momma blessed it with a kiss. My coat of many colors that my momma made for me, made with only rags but I wore it so proudly. Although we had no money, I was rich as I could be in my coat of many colors my momma made for me. So with patches on my britches I hurried off to school, just to find the others laughing and making fun of me in my coat of many colors my momma made for me. And I couldn’t understand it for I felt I was rich. And I told them of the love my momma sewed in every stitch. And I told them the story momma told me while she sewed, and how my coat of many colors was worth more than all their clothes. I tried to make them see that one is only poor only if they choose to be…’ I love you whether you have only one decent cloth or even one pair of shoes. Belive and enjoy your weekend!

She left me when I was broke but I want her back I’m a guy in his early 30s. I once dated a girl whom I wished to marry and we dated for 8 years.

She’s now in her early 30s too. 3 years ago, she told me someone living in the US had paid her dowry and was coming to marry her. But the marriage never took place. I guess she left me because I was broke. We have remained friends since then. Now I want to go back to her; what do you advice? Thanks.

Hello! Something tells me that your girl is not really interested. It doesn’t seem the reason why she

left you in the first place has changed; or have you moved from the status of a broke man to a rich man?

You know why I suspect that she might still not be interested?

Most women in their early 30s begin to think about settling down because of such factors as the biological clock etc, etc. It is at this stage in their lives that they start talking about marriage to the men in their lives (whether those men are listening or not). And if fate provides an ex who is still single (like you), oh God! They’ll so bombard him with love and attention

that he may either run away or quickly fix a wedding date fast. At this stage, it may not take you much effort to get them to marry you if they like you enough.

In your own case, you’re still chasing a woman you once chased, one who later dumped you and despite being disappointed in the relationship she tried after yours still doesn’t look like she’s interested in you. If she were kin for you, I’m sure you wouldn’t even be asking me if you should try your luck with her this second time. She would have beamed her green lights for you long before now.

I beg, leave this young woman and pray for the one who won’t dump you even if/when you’re broke. Someone who could dump you during your mo st delicate period will dump you in sickness, in crisis and in anything and look for greener pastures in the UK, Japan and China. Be wise.

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

I need a woman to call my mother Dear Aunty Adeola, my name is Stephen; I’m 22 years old and from Edo State living in Imo State . I thank you for allowing God use you to solve people’s problems. Your own problems will never remain unsolved. I need a woman to call mother.

My won mother abandoned me when I was just 6 months old to an old woman who is now dead.

Please help me; I can’t live with the stigma anymore. I don’t mind even if it will cost me anything, help me to beg Nigerian women out there to help me.

Money and wealth shouldn’t be the problem, I will accept whoever comes my way. I have this in mind that you will not fail me – 08032650946.

Dear Stephen, I know exactly how you feel. I felt lost when my grandmother, Fanny-Jane Oyefeso died a few years ago. I started living with her when I was three years old and even

He left me after I had an abortion Aunty, please help me. I’m a girl of 18 years old. I had an abortion of 6 months pregnancy and my boyfriend just ran away.

Now I don’t know what to do.

Please help me to ask God to forgive me. Please Aunty, what am I going to do now?

My dear, I’ve already asked for forgiveness on your behalf. I’m sure God sees your heart that you’re truly sorry. He will be kind to you and give you children when you desire them. From now on, if you cannot keep body, protect yourself – demand for the use of condom or go for contraceptives.

Memorable Mails Kudos! May the Lord continue to increase your wisdom as you depend more on Him in leading souls to the right path through good counseling. I read the advice given to the woman intending to leave her drunkard husband (page 40 of The Nation of Sept. 17). May the Lord help the man to change, amen. Shalom! – 08126928759.

Hi Adeola, you’re so wonderful for the kind of advice you render to people, most importantly the one you gave to the man whose girlfriend is carrying his baby and he didn’t know how to tell his wife. I just say you’re so excellent. Please keep it up- Douglas (08035820006).

Lost Contacts Hi Adeola. Please link me with these contacts: Charles Oriaku, Cosmos Okorocha and Sylvanus Ezuruike. I lived with them in Kaduna years ago. I’m Christogonus Nwachukwu.

Kim Kardashian-steps out with her husband Kris-Humphries

I’m Basil. Please link me up with

when I started a family and grew to be a woman, her presence in my life gave me certain warmth and I didn’t want to lose her. The songs we sang together, the long talks and the friendship are things I miss daily. I’m happy to say that apart from my own biological mother, God has blessed me with many other mothers. I’m also mother to Aanu from Ekiti who is about your age and also fatherless, Osagie and Osaro and of course my own wonderful biological children. I would have added you to the list but I cannot because my lean purse won’t allow that for now.

Growing up without a mother’s love is like walking in the dark, but it is not a stigma, so, stop seeing it as that.

May God put it in the hearts of all good mothers reading this to show a little kindness to you.

After all, what you need is just love. You’ll get it. I’ll be here for you till you find a woman to call a mother.

Aunty Bommy. I need her. I was her student when she was serving as a youth copper in Taraba State , Bali Local Government.

P.S: For your protection from fraudsters who may call to say you should send recharge cards for them to help locate your lost contacts, telephone numbers would no longer be published except you otherwise say so.

HELP LINEI’m crying as I write this, please help me. I finished secondary school with an outstanding result but there’s no one to help me look for admission into a university.

P.S: Anybody with the heart to help should call: 08130707476.

Fan’s Wise Talk Ladies, remember, honorable men are protectors. They will guard your heart, protect your emotions and defend your honor. Choose wisely! – 08133999792.

It’s natural for your boy to run away after the whole scary show of aborting a growing baby. I’m sure it was as traumatic for him as it must have been for you.

There might have been days of running around for money to pay the abortion doctor. There might have been issues of distrust of whether you wanted to use it to tie him down and so on. So, when the business of getting rid of it was over, he must have decided to do Ben Johnson on you.

It’s not the end of the world my dear. It means the beginning of growing up and learning from your mistakes. Face your future because that’s what is more important than love now. Make today so beautiful that it will become a beautiful yesterday when you look back in the nearest future.

I don’t know how to convince girls that I’m ready for marriage Dear Aunty, I’m old enough to get married but I don’t know how to convince girls that I’m ready. Please I need your advice- CH. Dear CH, if a man is grown enough, has a good job, is serious-minded and organized, he needs not talk too much before ladies of like-minds begin to give him the green light that they’re available. I have the gut feeling that you do not have some of these qualities that’s why it’s a bit difficult for ladies to think you’re not serious about marriage yet. Work hard at some of your deficiencies and watch how many options you will have.

Good luck.

Saturday

SPECIAL

THE NATION SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2011

41

SOCIAL SCENE

I kneel down to beg my wife if I do her wrong

Profile Partying Happenstances Style

-Hon.

Eyiboh Eseme

SEE PAGES 44-45

Saturday

42

SPECIAL

THE NATION SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2011

With KAYODE ALFRED E-mail:kayflex2@yahoo.com TEL:08035733605

u r b I a i r o l G e g a k c a p e r o t band

Benny Obaze, Rita Am

ene's romance crumble

s finally

Moshood Mustapha ups the ante

TEL:08035733605

Taiwo Afolabi's quest for greener pastures

FolakeOdutola's newlook

Gboyega Isia ka fizzles out

Saturday

THE NATION SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2011

SPECIAL

43

Mariya Rufai still missing in action

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER24, 2011

•Hon. Eyiboh

C

ONGRATULATIONS on your reelection into the House of Representatives.

Thanks.

How did the challenges of yester years prepare you for the position you occupy today?

My father is a retired primary school teacher. My mother is a seamstress. I Am a Christian. On the eve of Christmas, you would not ask her for the dress you would wear, because she would be busy preparing someone else’s clothes. The person would come, and if the clothe was not ready, would abuse her and every other person in the house. At the end of the day, all of us would beg, and when the clothe was ready, the person would go away with it.

Our house was open. It was only the bedroom that had a mat which we used to cover the window. One thing I know and too well too, is that birth circumstance is not by any individual’s choice. Nature has a way of doing it. When it creates a swamp, it must create water, so that when you come out of the swamp, you will wash your legs.

In whatever circumstance you find yourself, there is always a bright light at the end of the tunnel.

What I am trying to say is that I grew up to learn too early in life that I need to remind myself that I’m not going to live here forever.

And because of that, I have to do all that is needful and diligently too. My greatest inspiration is the graveyard. Each time I recall that there is a place called the graveyard, which ultimately everyman must go. So, each moment you breathe, you pray and give thanks and do what you ought to do, because the next moment, you might move in there.

I do everything in the consideration that I have a waiting place called the graveyard.

This inspires me to do whatever I want to do and do it right. For this reason, if I have a problem, I try to solve it.

Beyond it, I also realise that any man who puts on two wrist watches will never be certain of the time. I believe only in God and

‘The graveyard is my greatest source of inspiration’ I don’t add anything to it, so that I will be certain of where my faith is. I have an abiding faith in God. Were your parents strict?

My father still scolds me till today. I remember when I left my job in 2006 and told him I wanted to go into politics, he said I should not. When he heard three days later that I had declared, I went to the house to give him a drink and he threatened to flog me in the presence of my wife.

After I had left, he came to express his anger that I refused to listen to him. I went on my knees and begged him to forgive me. He lifted me up with his own hands and told me to go in peace. But he warned that the day I bought a gun or give it to somebody with an intention to do something that I would not wish to be done to me, I should know that I am finished.

Since that day, I have lived by that principle.

That is one of the reasons I am very successful.

What other experience has moulded you?

When I read in the Bible, it says “blessed are they.” In my own ignorant way of

thinking, it should have been “blessed is he”, because I think I’m the only person God loves for giving me the family or the wife he gave to me; a woman I will love to marry in another life, if there is anything like that.

There are a couple of things that she does or represents, which influence me a lot. She is not only a wife but a sister and a mother.

To some extent too, she is also my councillor.

All these are reflected in the quality of children I have. I am so pleased with my children in terms of their conduct, attainments and attitude to life.

Can you recall anything you did as a child to draw tears from your mother’s eyes?

Nobody would naturally expect that with that kind of background I would be able to go to anywhere. When I got home, I told my parents that I had won the election and had been sworn in as a member of the House of Representatives, to them it was the issue of whether it was possible in a society of affluence and identity where you need to be the child or son of this or that. My father held me and said for this to have happened in his life time, he was grateful to God. But naturally, he shed tears of joy. My mother held me and

told me I had to do anything possible to promote humanity and by extension promote God in every material particular. I am not shifting ground on that.

How were your days as a bachelor?

As a young man, I never wasted any opportunity in high school. I was the director of socials in my student union government and also the editor-in-chief of the campus magazine. I had very rough moments where I would cartoon the big boys and girls on campus and they would corner me and beat me. But I was not bothered. I never had money to stay in the hostel, so I was always squatting. Each time I did a cartoon, they would go and report me at the student affairs department, saying I was a squatter. At midnight, they would come to look for me and throw my things outside.

The same night, I would move to another hostel. When I cartooned another person, he or she would go and report me again and by midnight I would move to another hostel.

So, I kept running from one hostel to the other. But interestingly too, I did most of the things every other young person would love to do; the fun and all that. I must tell you that

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER24, 2011 I never missed my youthfulness and I also thank God that I never lost it.

What were those things you did?

I don’t know what you want me to say. I had a girlfriend when I was on campus and I used to dance a lot and play a lot of football. I went to parties and was a great dancer. The only mistake I made or I did not have the opportunity to do, was joining a club. I did not join any. It was only the palmwine drinkards club I was familiar with, because I used to like their ‘gyration’. I got used to their language but I was not a member.

I mixed with them so much that at a point I was taken to be a member. One day, they were doing ‘world gyration’, I also participated but they found out that I was not a member. I was beaten and I ran away.

When did you meet your wife?

I met my wife in 1985 and we got married in 1990. I married her on my 30th birthday.

I met her when I was 25. We got our first son, who is going for his post-graduate.

How was your courtship like?

The two of us came from a very modest background. On campus, I joined those who smoked cigarette and I did it once in a while. My parents did not know. I smoked it either for excitement or social status. One day, I visited my wife and she prepared a very delicious meal. After eating, I brought out a stick of cigarette and smoked. And then she said, ‘I understand that cigarette is usually taken when you are in a filthy place or when you take something with bad taste. Are you saying that my food is filthy?’ I felt very guilty and apologised, saying I only felt like smoking. Then I asked if she did not like it and she said she would be grateful If I stopped. Right there, I made a promise to her that as long as the relationship survived, I would not smoke again. I had only smoked two sticks of cigarette in a whole packet, but I threw the rest away. Since then, I have not tasted cigarette again. This is to tell you how well she has influenced me.

What attracted her to you when you first saw her?

I told you when we started this interview that I want to believe that I’m the only person God loves. Providence intervenes in my case every now and then. Whatever I want at any given time, even before I start wanting it or looking for it or thinking about it, God will bring it to me. God knew that in future, I would need a wife, a mother, a sister, a companion and lover, and He brought her out early enough. If I attribute it to anything, it will look as if I’m a man who saw tomorrow. It was a very difficult circumstance. You married a woman and you live in one-room apartment with her. We bought a six-inch mattress and put it on the floor even with our first son. But here we are today. I don’t know how many other women would cope with that situation.

My first car was a Volkswagen bus, which we used for commercial purposes from Monday to Saturday and used as a private vehicle on Sunday. Where I worked then, the vehicle would drop me and load passengers at my office. We lived like that quietly as if nothing happened.

And indeed, nothing happened, because we were both contented. I think God must have set a path, knowing full well that she also needed a friend, brother, husband and father just like me.

At what point did you make up your mind to marry her?

It was not by my prompting. One, we belonged to different denominations. I was a Pentecostal while she was a Jehovah Witness. With this difference, one would have thought that it was going to be impossible for the two of us to get married, When it was time for us to get married, nobody even thought about it.

And the marriage gives us more happiness and harmony than people who were born and bred in the same church.

Which of your children is taking after you?

My children are all great; exceptionally great. These are children who are all grown up. I’m not saying I don’t quarrel with my wife. If we have a misunderstanding, you will still see the two of us coming out of the same room.

I’m not sure that any of my children has grown up to see us quarrel.

The other interesting thing is that I stoop

•Hon. Eyiboh

‘

If I know I have done something wrong to her, I’ll go and apologise, saying I’m sorry. I come down from the high horse.

It is not meant for you to be permanently there. You as the man who claims to be the head of the house, and indeed you are, and you are behaving as if you are invaluable. All this is all about communication

low to conquer. If I know I have done something wrong and I’m confronted with it or I feel guilty, I go on my knees to apologise.

It is not the issue that I am the head of the house; it is the issue of the head and the neck. If you cut the head, the neck is useless and vice versa. If I know I have done something wrong to her, I’ll go and apologise, saying I’m sorry. I come down from the high horse. It is not meant for you to be permanently there. You as the man who claims to be the head of the house, and indeed you are, and you are behaving as if you are invaluable. All this is all about communication.

The trust we have in each other is generating mutual respect. For instance, you came to my house now for this interview, and I’ve already told them you are coming.

Some other ladies would have started asking questions before you came, and before the interview started, all hell must have been let loose. Communication, understanding and fear of God are very important. I am not saying that I’m a saint. What I’m saying is that the fear of God is the most important thing in whatever anybody does.

Most of your colleagues in the House are new. Do you think it will affect the House negatively or positively?

’

One thing you need to know is that election is a process of constitutional democracy. It starts somewhere and ends somewhere.

What you have right now in the National Assembly and indeed any other elected position is the outcome of the electoral process. I can also tell you that there has been value addition in the electoral process. There is also value addition in the outcome. What we have is a reflection of the value addition.

It is not all about INEC or the political parties.

You have all these including the individual, civil societies and, of course, the judiciary. It is a combination of all the stakeholders and players. The electoral process has actually added value.

Should we expect a drastic change?

I cannot tell you the standard of expectation or change. I believe generally that individuals, communities and institutions should be able to create the change they expect to see in others in themselves first. I expect that members of the societies, who of course, are collaborative partners in governance, will come out and do those things within the purview of their responsibilities. That will help in creating and strengthening the process of constitutional democracy.

How can we get the right people into the right places?

We need to first and foremost start from the basics. As a society, we are no longer producing role models. We need to put back into society the issue of attitude. We need to look at the issue of parenting and mine power among others. We have to look back again into value reorientation.

Let me give you typical examples: we no longer have role models in our society because of lack of parenting. I grew up at the time we wore T-shirts with names of real Nigerian heros likes Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Clement Isong, Ahmadu Bello and Tafawa Balewa.

These are some of the great names of yesterday. You see young people growing up to put on T-shirts with those names.

Where is the new generation of Obafemi Awolowo, Azikiwe and so on? In economics, politics, engineering, medicine, they are no longer there. These days, you see young children putting on T-shirts with trademarks of guns, Robbinhood and other persons who of course cannot be considered to be models. When you see them wearing T-shirts with role models, they are role models from other lands, like Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King and Obama.

Are they saying we don’t have a Nelson Mandela here? If we don’t, when are we going to have our own? When do we produce our own Obama? All this means that we have not been able to create the leverage that will throw up opportunities for leadership that can contest.

As far as I am concerned, it is the issue of responsibility, and every responsibility has to be accounted for. Because we have not able to do this, we now see our children deviating.

We are planning vision 20:2020. In the last four years, NECO and WASCE have consistently shown 70 to 80 per cent failure in their examinations. And these are entry qualifications to enter the universities. These are the people who in the next nine to ten years will become the drivers of our economy, which is expected to blossom in Year 20:20. Yet, nobody is feeling concerned about it.

You see a lot of children getting themselves involved in crimes. You see a JSS 1 student carrying a Black Berry phone, sending BB messages and all that. Who bought this for them? As far as all these are concerned, parenting has gone into the bin.

Children, these days, are brought up by nannies. The teacher does not know the parent of the students and parents do not know who their children teachers are. When are we going to have value re-orientation and relevance? I see this very far away.

Our society now celebrates affluence without merit. Somebody will have a First Class degree in Computer Science but does not even know how to operate a computer.

This took place during the last registration of voters exercise. The man, a youth corps member who registered me in my village, is a graduate of Computer Science, and it took him 30 minutes to be able to register me. He had to go through the excise book he used during the orientation programme to operate the computer. And this was a computer graduate. The question this leaves us with is where are we heading to?

We find ourselves in the society of manpower. Is it the manpower that we are all craving for that we need? We need manpower first and foremost in the foundation, just like the Chinese do. We are also talking about the issue of power. People are bringing generators into this country and all that. Most of them are coming from China and the manuals are written in Chinese language. The intention of the Chinese is to export their manpower into this country because it pays them. What strategic steps have we taken to reposition and to engage in the knowledge age we find ourselves? We still have a kind of long race to do.

Most people are of the opinion that the grammar, drama and excitement they saw in the Sixth National Assembly is no longer in the House. Would you say that the House is boring?

The Seventh assembly has just begun.

Majority of the people there are new members, so you don’t expect some kind of rapid lift in the cause of doing that naturally.

But beyond that, I think a lot of events are unfolding, and in the cause of these, you will come across situations which will be like the drama and excitement that you are talking about.

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2011

Bling-bling all the way B

LING-BLING fashion items are the hottest pick in the fashion circuit these days. The stone studded attire, clutch bags and shoes look extremely glamorous as they instantly increase the style measure of the user. Besides being a highly stylized fashion accessory, bling-bling fashion items are perfect for informal and formal occasions. It all depends on the cut.

Elegance is what this trend aims at, and this season,there is no exception.

•Ono Bello

Bling bag

•Ugonna Omeruo

Silver bow bling headband

Bangles that dazzle

Christian Louboutin peep-toe-shoes

Tips for wearing ties

Bling belt

The necktie is the ultimate men’s accessory. It can energize, complete or augment any outfit. There are some rules to follow when it comes to tying ties. It can take an outfit from satisfactory to spectacular with a flip of the wrist. The quality of a man’s tie shows how much he cares about his clothes and how he looks because a fashionable man always wears great looking ties.

Swarovski clutch bags are the hottest pick in the fashion circuit these days

-Never let the tip of your tie fall below your waistline.

-The size of the knot depends on the shirt collar (the bigger the gap, the bigger the knot).

-And the four-in-hand knot is the best and most basic knot, which can be worn with all collar types.

Black-onblack blingbling ring

•Tiwa Savage

Source: menshealth.com

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2011

Highlighting your eyes B

EAUTIFY your eyes by choosing colours that complement your eye colour by using eye shadow and eye liner. If you have green eyes, choose lavender and purple eye shadow.

Highlight blue eyes with shimmery brown and deep blue.

Those with brown eyes should choose emerald green. Use the lightest eye shadow colour on the lids and the darker colour for the eyelid crease. Adding the right type of make-up to your face is what will make you look amazing. Using eye liners and lip liners is essential. You want these areas of your face to stand out to help enhance the look that they offer.

Don’t fight it. Even it out and apply beautiful, enhancing colour to make it natural for a clean look that will provide a striking elegance to it.

Primer & foundation pack

Michelle Obama rocks Duro Olowu dress once again

M

ICHELLE Obama has been spotting some fab looks from Nigerian designer, Duro Olowu. She was recently spotted in one of Duro Olowu’s fab colourful print pieces previously worn on Oprah’s show a few months back on her way to New York for the United Nations General Assembly.

Since arriving on the London fashion scene in 2004, Nigerian-born Duro Olowu has impressed the right people with his vibrant mix of African prints, seventies tailoring and unlikely colour combos. A high-waisted patchwork boho dress known as the “Duro”put the brand on the fashion map, and became a cult item in 2005 after being discovered by American Vogue editor Sally Singer and Julie Gilhart of Barneys.

Nigerian girl wins Best Child Model of the World – Africa

•Dumebi Funnanya Obuaya

N

•Dumebi Funnanya Obuaya

IGERIA scored another spectacular success on the international modelling/beauty scene when 10year-old Dumebi Funnanya Obuaya recently won the “Best Child Model of the World – Africa” crown. Dumebi achieved the feat in far-away Sofia, Bulgaria at a keenly contested event that drew participants from different countries of the world. She was also crowned the African Queen at the event, an achievement which placed her as the African continent’s first runner-up to the global crown.

The week-long event was a global child modelling/pageant show with participants from virtually all the continents. It covered age range from five to 15 years with three groupings, namely ages five-seven, eight-12 and 1315. The participants were scored on their ability to interact and network during the event and how they wore their swim suits, casuals, national costumes, dinner dresses and performed their various traditional dances. The judges were drawn from several other international pageant competition organizers.

Following her success at the world event, she has been invited to participate in two global events holding in October 2011 and 2012 in Istanbul,Turkey and Caracas, Venezuela respectively.

A junior secondary school student of Infant Jesus Academy, Asaba, Dumebi last year emerged as the first runner-up of Little Miss Delta crown, a pageant talent hunt show organized by Event With Terezze at the Grand Hotel, Asaba, the Delta State capital. Her success at the event triggered an invitation for her to participate in an international child modelling show in Europe. Dumebi was invited to enter for the fifth Best Child Model of the World from which she emerged as the African Queen.

Dumebi, who hails from OnichaOlona in Aniocha North of Delta State, is the sixth child of Chief Tony and Prinye Obuaya.

•Duro and Iman

SKIN • A new line of skincare products, Radical Skincare, contain trylacel, an ingredient which “maintains the integrity of antioxidants so they can effectively do their job,” which is apparently, not only to reverse the signs of aging, but also to have integrity.

• Kate and Pippa Middleton were sent advance samples of Lancôme’s new Visionnaire serum to say thanks for being loyal customers of the skincare brand’s products.

• Miranda Kerr says she was misquoted when discussing her recent usage of coconut oil. She only takes four teaspoons a day to keep her skin in top condition, not tablespoons.

• Jessica Simpson will launch a beauty-themed website next month as a new part of the BeachMint.com family. The site’s focus will be anti-aging skincare.

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2011

‘Nigeria won’t make progress until we have leaders who can take decisions without looking at people’s faces’ •Continued from Page 22 by a new government simply because its predecessor did not complete it. Our problem is that we look at people’s faces. We also don’t play politics of principles but politics of personality, which will not build institutions because we won’t follow rules. So, you come to the civil service and public sector organisations and individuals will begin to say: ‘this is my own department; that is my schedule; I don’t care what happens to your schedule; don’t just come to my own.’ So, we fail to build the nation but our individual selves. And we won’t go too far because we have a nation to build and no outsider will come and do it for us.

I remember the Ghanians and Indians were once in this country doing all sort of jobs. Indians taught me while I was in school, but they have all gone back to develop their countries. It is about time Nigerians realised it is not going to be business as usual. Both the leaders and the led must rise up and determine our destiny.

You keep mentioning vision, which is part of the NIM motto. To what extent have you been able to sustain this motto over the years?

We have sustained our motto: One Vision, One Mission and One Value because we are an organisation driven by solid and time-tested values. Our core values include selfless service, professionalism and achieving target through best practices and without leaving corpses on ground. Our council is our heartbeat. Whatever it says is final. The Council gives direction, shows us the light, unites us and gives us the strength to keep going. No member is allowed to stay in the shadows. We have a structure at the headquarters here. In the six geopolitical zones, we have zonal chairmen who work with the committee representing the Council. At the state level, we have branches that are answerable to the zones, while the zones oversee the state branches. The state branches oversee chapters in strategic cities and districts in the states. The chapter chairmen of all those strategic chapters in the states make up the executives of the state branch, and the state branches make up the EXCO of the zones.

We have 170, 000 members and yet the Council is in touch with every member of the institute.

We give every member the institute’s journal four times every year and ensure members attend chapter meeting once a month and listen to management talk which runs for 30 minutes on issues that border on management.

The states also hold seminars, luncheons and dinners. The zones hold a summit once a year on very strategic management issues. At the headquarters here, I hold Distinguished Management Lecture every July. At the last edition, we had Chief Emeka Anyaoku, the former Commonwealth helmsman, as our guest speaker.

Today, there seems to be a proliferation of professional bodies, with many of them claiming to be in management training and several others even claiming to be chartered. How has NIM dealt with these?

You see it as a proliferation because our economy is not developed enough. If Nigeria had sustained the momentum of industrialisation the way we began in the 1960s, by now we would have been more industrialised than Japan. They (professional bodies) would just be meeting the needs. For instance, the Act that established NIM gave us additional mandates, one of which is to license consultants. This year, we have licensed 57 of them, both individual and corporate consultants; and we would license more because the profession is so large that we have areas of specialisation.

We are licensing people to go and train. Some of the people we are licensing are into procurement, some are in management audit; some are in management of security, some in crime management. All we do is make sure they specialise so they won’t be jack of all trade.

Even in the NIM too, we are specializing. We are trying to stay on top of leadership so that we can empower the managers to live up to expectation as managers and leaders. Because in this knowledge-worker age, the managerleader will be the sought after in the industry.

The one who will manage resources but does not manage human beings but inspire men; one who can form teams across sectors and functions and divisions will be the man we need now.

Recently, the CBN nationalised some banks

•Dr. Adukwu-Bolujoko

‘

Our problem is that we look at people’s faces. We also don’t play politics of principles but politics of personality, which will not build institutions because we won’t follow rules...

,

on the basis of poor management of the banks vis-à-vis their inability to recapitalise in line with CBN’s directive. But last year, it was the same CBN that removed the management of some of these banks and installed an interim which has again failed. Where do you think the management deficiency lies?

The problem transcends the banks. This problem you are talking about is in every organisation in this country. But the NIM is coming up with a solution that will be far reaching. We are now going to the Corporate Affairs Commission and the National Assembly with an amendment to our Act. We are saying that management audit should be a statutory requirement for every organization, especially quoted organisations in Nigeria, either yearly or at best bi-annually. Every organisation should conduct management audit, because it is through such audit that management issues that hold organisations down are discovered and not through the accountant’s audit report.

The auditor’s report zeroes in on figures and, once in a while, gives you the management query, which is not far reaching because they are not trained to understand structure, pro-

cess and best practices in managing organisations. But a management audit studies the policies, follow through the application of the said process in the management up to the last person that took action on that track of policy. And if they find that something is happening, they make moves to stop it.

The process of mismanagement in the affected banks didn’t happen overnight; it has been happening gradually over 10 years ago until it finally ate up the banks. That is not to say that every year they didn’t have audit report and also declared profit. See, we use audit in this nation as if it concerns only accounting, but you do auditing in almost all professions because it is like a checklist that you can feel its pulse. So, management audit would say this area of this organisation is ailing or lacks best practices. They beam their lights there and correct it. But some of the time, it would have been a habit. But we teach and train them on how to come out of it and transform that area.

It shows them how to also align their system.

That is, putting the right peg in the right hole.

That’s the work of audit. Sometimes, when they are too many, audit will say they are too many

and there is a need to engage them properly or you shed some. Sometimes, they help you to rework the schedule or refocus the organisation.

The issue of the banks has brought into the fore the question of management audit more than ever before and the National Assembly must pass a bill that will make it compulsory for organizations to submit management audit to the Corporate Affairs Commission. This practice will help build corporate governance, bring about organisations that will build integrity and protect investors so that we can also attract more foreign investors into Nigeria.

And this merger and acquisition measure that the CBN has adopted, do you also see this as a panacea to healing the banks?

Yea! Acquisition and merger must be embarked on to develop the economy. When other banks are not doing very well, it will be good that those doing very well can acquire and manage the banks properly. It is a tool for sustaining the momentum of the industry. Rather than allow one organisation die, let a functioning one acquire it. Americans use it a lot to develop their own economy. Why should Nigeria be an exception? Merger is also wonderful, especially for organisations with good plans.

Sectarian crises and bombings by some unidentified forces have also been a regular feature in Nigeria. But it seems the concept of management always hides somewhere in the background whereas, the development is as a result of failure to manage our multi-ethnic and multi-religious nature well.

NIM has been making inputs in this regard.

We the managers of this country have failed to develop a number of values agreeable to all of us as a nation to manage our country and determine our corporate destiny as a group. We have lost our values and the masses are disoriented. I remember sometime ago, somebody out there went on the television to find out who a typical Nigerian is. He didn’t find one.

But those people who came close to him described Nigeria in a negative manner.

Foreigners also describe Nigerians as fraudsters, people who cut corners, poor managers who love shortcuts, who don’t even value lives and all that. The youth don’t respect elders anymore. So, if we are so disoriented as a nation, why will we not be fighting? Because we don’t agree on anything that is Nigeria. I’m concerned about agreement. I’m concerned about my religion and anything that is outside that religion, I don’t care…

(Cuts in) Is that why the proposed Islamic Bank has also become a contentious issue?

Yes. We became altogether selfish. Since we didn’t agree to be a nation together, there is nothing in the middle for us to be careful about losing. But let me refer to it this way: I’ve bothered so much about Nigeria that I said this constitution that we want to amend, what is the need behind the amendment? Chapter 2 Clause 23 of the Nigerian constitution contains the ethical values that will rule our nation. The people who drafted the constitution knew that there must be values a nation must agree upon, and they began with integrity and then religious tolerance, self reliance, dignity of labour, patriotism, discipline. But has any leader of the country ever stood up to say ‘these are the values of my fatherland?’ Has anyone preached religious tolerance as enshrined in the same clause?

Well, I don’t know the grouse about Islamic banking, but we can call it Non-Interest Bank (NTB) just because in our constitution, we have vowed that there will be religious tolerance.

That alone says there won’t be any semblance of anything that will hurt our constitution. We will take this thing (Islamic Bank), but this is what we will call it in this country. It can also be called National Non-Interest Bank (NNIB), just because we have agreed on tolerance. How far have we gone on other values? China came up with socialism because the country indoctrinates her citizens with the values of socialism. Let these values be preached everywhere.

Let’s carry the values on our shoulders and preach them to one another regardless of our religious affiliations. Let’s interpret these values in various vernaculars, and let them be found everywhere cheap or better still, free.

Let everybody from top to bottom have access to it; I mean from the President to the vulcaniser on the street. If it requires a plebiscite, let us all agree on what we want Nigeria to be tomorrow.

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2011

•Arinta Waterfall

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HEN I got the information that the famous Ikogosi Warm and Cold Spring in Ekiti State has taken a new hue under the administration of Dr. Kayode Fayemi, I travelled down to see things for myself. Of course, it is true. The place would soon be officially reopened and Nigerians would see a world-class destination.

It was not the Ikogosi project that left me dumbstruck, it was its less glamorous neigbour less than 15 kilometres from the spring-the Arinta Waterfall in Ipole Oro. The waterfall nestles inside the rocky hill that cocoons the Ipole Oro community.

The road leading to the waterfall terminates at the foot of the imposing hills. At this point, there is a black metal gate that signals the beginning of the waterfall complex. There are about five sheds with red metal roofs for relaxation and refreshment. From this point, one could hear the sound of water splashing down from a high point.

But there was no sign of the waterfall. The entourage, which was made up of another journalist and a driver, decided to explore and get to the waterfall following the point where the sound of the waterfall was coming from.

Where we found ourselves was a pristine forest with tall trees. One

Feel the pristine ambience of Arinta Waterfall

could remember the forest of the dinosaurs in Hollywood’s Jurrasic Park. From my experience of visiting waterfalls in this kind of setting like the Erin Ijesha in Osun State, trees that are shielded from the sun by the rocks thrive to make it to the top of the hills with heights that are between 40 and 50 feet.

The forest is thick making movement difficult. We saw a path that meanders its way up towards the hills. It is shielded by the huge trees forming a complete canopy above.

Occasionally, the sun entered through the tree canopy above. It was a journey of discovery led along the compelling sound of the waterfall, a sound that was evocative coupled with the surreal setting that was compelling . We walked fast towards the waterfall, unmindful of the rocky terrain deadening the feeling of tiredness as we subjected our bodies to torture of the unaccustomed exercise.

As we moved forward, by our right, we saw a tiny stream of clear cold water running down from the hills.

It reassured us that we were on the right track.

After climbing the rock for about Continued on Page 50

•Sheds near the waterfall

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THE NATION, SATURDAY,SEPTEMBER 24, 2011

Feel the pristine ambience of Arinta Waterfall Continued from Page 49

15 to 20 minutes, we saw the majestic waterfall by our right. The feeling at the sight of Arinta Waterfall as it gushes down from the heights splashing its white foam all about is majestic.

As a travel journalist, I had had the privilege of visiting some of the best waterfalls in Nigeria-Awhum Waterfall in Udi, Enugu State; Farin Ruwa in Wamba,

Nassarawa State; Agbokim in Cross River; Gurara Waterfall in Niger State and Olumirin Waterfall, Erin Ijesa, Osun State. Arinta may not have the height of Farin Ruwa, ferocity of Gurara, the celestial hue of Awhum, but it has the aura of totally being lost back in time. It makes it surreal and, therefore, captivating. Once inside the waterfall, you are in a different world in which the “civi-

lised world” becomes a distant memory. That is the allure of Arinta Waterfall.

There is always something about water cascading that engenders deep thoughts about the Maker of the earth and all its beauty. The splendour of Arinta Waterfall as it gushes from the high rocks within the pristine virgin forest and hills of Ipole-Oro is something

The road to Arinta Waterfall

millions of words cannot truly capture, a totally new experience for me.

According to one of the community leaders of Ipole, Arinta Waterfall ,apart from serving as a source of water for the people, it has curative powers. On the forest surrounding the waterfall, he said it was a former military administrator, Colonel Bawa, that advised them to leave the forest as a reserved area and the community had stuck to the advice In the current dispensation, Arinta Waterfall would be part of the tourism offerings in Destination Ekiti.

According to the Special Adviser to the Ekiti State Governor on Tourism, Mr. Segun Ologunleko, there would be a shuttle service to take tourists from Ikogosi to Ipole Oro where the fall is. He said it was part of the tourism circuit of the state.

He said structures that would be added to Arinta would in no way interfere with the pristine ambience of the waterfall environment. He said the structures would be traditional huts and tourists to the place would have the opportunity to have a feel of the local set-

ting. According to him, there would also be restaurants that would serve local cuisines.

The key thing about the waterfall is that while the

government should work on making the fall easily accessible to tourists , it should not be at the expense of its natural state, that is sustainability.

•Thick forest surrounding the Waterfall

Kehinde FALODE: 08023689894

Carrot cake

Nutrition and healthy value of egg

•1/2 cups chopped pecans

Foluke ADEMOLA

Carrot cake is a cake which consists of grated carrots mixed with butter.

The carrot softens in the cooking process, and the cake usually has a soft, dense texture. The beauty of this cake is that you can enjoy it with or without icing.

Cake Ingredients: •4 eggs •1 1/4 cups vegetable oil •2 cups sugar •2 cps flour •2 tsp. baking soda •1 tsp. salt •2 tsp. cinnamon •Few drops vanilla (optional) •3 cups grated carrots

Method •Beat eggs together and mix with oil, then sugar.

•Combine dry ingredients then mix all together.

Add grated carrots and pecans.

•Bake in three greased 8" cake pans or 9" tube pan at 350°F for about 25-30 minutes (depends on pan used) or until a toothpick inserted in center of cake comes out nearly clean.

•Frost with cream cheese Frosting.

•Cream cheese Frosting: •1 lb. confectioners' sugar, sifted •1/4 lb. butter, softened •1 8-oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened •2 tsps. vanilla •1/2 cup chopped pecans Combine butter and cream cheese. Stir in sugar, add vanilla extract. Add icing sugar to taste.

Eggs are a nutritional powerhouse providing 11 different vitamins and minerals, high quality protein, healthy fats (including omega-3) and important antioxidants. Along with their nutritional value, eggs are tasty, convenient, versatile and good value for money making them an excellent inclusion in a well balanced, healthy eating pattern. Below are few tips: • Its contain most of the recognized vitamins with the exception of vitamin C. The egg is a source of all the B vitamins. It is a particularly rich source of vitamins B12 and riboflavin (vitamin B2) and a useful source of folate. The egg is also a good source of the fat-soluble vitamins A and D and provides some vitamin E. • People with a risk factor for heart disease often remove eggs from their diet, but cholesterol is necessary for life, and it is not a toxic substance. Cholesterol is divided into two types. Good cholesterol is High-density Lipoproteins (HDL), and bad cholesterol is Low-density Lipoproteins (LDL).

Eating eggs enriched with omega-3 might actually help to lower LDL levels.

• Eggs contain many of the minerals that the human body requires for health. In particular eggs are an excellent source of iodine, required to make the thyroid hormone, and phos-

phorus, required for bone health.

The egg is a significant source of selenium, an important antioxidant and provides some zinc, important for wound healing, growth and fighting infection. Eggs also contain iron, the vital ingredient of red blood cells, although the availability of this iron to the body is still being investigated.

• Eggs are the perfect food for dietiers. The protein factor makes you feel full after eating them. As a matter of fact, eating just two eggs in the morning has been known to reduce caloric intake by up to 400 calories according to the Rochester Center for Obesity in Michigan.

• While eggs are a great source of protein, they also provide other health benefits. Because egg yolks contain the antioxidant lutein, you get a built-in safeguard against damage to your retina. Lutein in eggs stops any inflammation of the macular pigment, which is what protects your retina from harmful light rays.

• Many reports about eggs contradict each other, but saturated fat is what contributes to excessive cholesterol, and eggs only contain 1.5 grams of saturated fat and 5 grams of the right kind of fat you want to ingest. For healthy hair and nails, eggs provide sulpher, vitamins, and minerals. There’s no doubt that eggs are a dietary staple if you want.

THE NATION, SATURDAY,SEPTEMBER 24, 2011

NTDC holds pre-independence day concert

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N a strategic move to in culcate the spirit of patrio tism in Nigerians and assure them of their security in the country, the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) has concluded plans to hold a preindependence concert in Abuja.

The concert, the first of its kind by any organization, will boost the nation’s quest for unity among the citizenry.

According to the Director General of the NTDC, Otunba Segun Runsewe, the concert may enter the

nation’s calendar of pre-independence activities and, therefore, become a yearly affair.

Runsewe said top musicians like Sunny Nneji, Ayefele, D’banj and Lagbaja would play at the concert, while some Nollywood stars would be in attendance.

Already, preparations are in top gear for the successful hosting of the concert while participants have been assured of adequate security during the event.

Other highlights of the concert include a condition which provides that only

people who wear local fabrics printed in national colours of green and white would be allowed into the arena.

In addition Runsewe said the NTDC had also produced thousands of Nigeria’s flags that would be distributed at the venue.

The 51 persons to arrive at the venue would be entitled to a prize and there will also be dancing competitions.

At the event, 36 different dishes, representing the best of each state of the federation and the Federation Capital Territory (FCT)

would be available for consumption. It is an avenue to see Nigerisn dishes on display which may be new to some.

He said: “The idea is for Nigerians to taste foods other than from their states.

It is another way of knowing one another better to foster unity.”

Runsewe said there would be visits to motherless babies homes in Abuja and visit to some hospitals would precede the concert earlier in the day to identify with the children and the sick.

•L-R: Feyi Smith, Executive Secretary Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria, Otunba Runsewe and Mr. Akin Onipede, Director of Communications, NTDC...at the press conference

Aero commences Abuja to Enugu flights

A

ERO, the leading ef ficiency carrier, has announced new flights between Abuja and Enugu to satisfy the yearnings of customers who ply the two destinations.

The airline has also announced additional frequencies between Lagos and three other destinations: Abuja, Kano and Enugu with effect from October 1. This brings to eight the number of daily flights by Aero into Abuja from Lagos and two flights each into Kano and Enugu from Lagos .

Meanwhile, the airline

has introduced a special independence promotional fare of N10,000 for economy cabin, and N26,000 for business class cabin to all major Nigerian destinations. Business and leisure travellers can take advantage of this offer to celebrate the independence anniversary.

Customers can enjoy these offers by booking their flights online, by SMS or through the airline’s customer care centre.

According to the MD of Aero, Capt. Akin George, “We are pleased to announce the launch of a new

service from Enugu to Abuja ; and additional frequencies from Lagos into Abuja , Kano and Enugu.

“We are offering fares that cut across families, students, the business community and leisure travellers to celebrate Nigeria ‘s independence.

“Booking and paying for flights have never been easier with different electronic platforms: online, SMS, ATMs, banks and through our ticket sales centres.”

Capt George also added, “We just acquired an additional Boeing 737 air-

craft to boost our capacity in the Nigerian market.

This investment shows our confidence in the Nigerian market, and we are committed to continue to strengthen and improve our products and ensure a great customer experience”.

Aero is the first domestic carrier in Nigeria to introduce online booking and payment, SMS booking with mobile phone payments, online check in, automated customer care centre, thereby making travel easier and convenient for the customer.

WTTC condemns new 25 bn dollar US raid on air travel

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HE World Travel&Tourism Council has condemned a US$25 billion raid on airline passengers in the United States as “confused and counter-productive” and called on the US administration to think again about taxing an industry that is a driver of the US economic recovery.

The US administration is proposing to raise US$25 billion over 10 years through changes to the Aviation Passenger Security (APS) fee. APS is currently levied at between

US$2.50 and US$5.00. Under the proposals, the current range will be replaced with a statutory fee minimum of US$5.00, with annual incremental increases of 50 cents from 2013 to 2017, to reach US$7.50 in 2017.

Of the US$25 billion additional revenue raised over 10 years, at least US$15 billion will be used for general taxation purposes, rather than passenger security.

Speaking after meetings today on Capitol Hill, Washington, David Scowsill, WTTC President&CEO, said:

“We fully support the US administration’s efforts to reduce its debt burden, but do not believe it is good economics to raid US$25 billion from an industry that is a driver of growth and recovery at a time when President Obama is keen to create millions of jobs through the US$450 billion American Jobs Act. “Tourism currently contributes more than US$1,300 billion or 9% of total US GDP, generates 9% of its total exports and supports 15 million jobs. Taxes on travel and tourism tend to do more

harm than good economically – as higher charges discourage high-spending visitors. Indeed, the US administration recognizes that each and every visitor contributes US$4,000 to the economy.

“WTTC believes that this plan has a laudable objective, but it is confused and likely to be counter-productive. We urge the Obama administration to send this plan back to the drawing board with instructions to promote an industry which will drive economic recovery and job creation – not damage it.”

51 Spain signs Global Code of Ethics for Tourism

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OURTEEN of Spain’s most prominent tourism businesses have signed their commitment to the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism at the first International Congress on Ethics and Tourism which was officially closed by their Royal Highnesses Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia of Asturias.

“Today’s show of private sector commitment to the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism from some of Spain’s most important tourism companies is an important step towards a more ethical tourism sector and one other businesses will surely follow,” said His Royal Highness Prince Felipe of Asturias, closing the congress.

In signing their commitment, the companies pledged to uphold, promote and implement the values of responsible and sustainable tourism development championed by the Code of Ethics. The code, adopted in 1999 by the UNWTO General Assembly and endorsed by the United Nations General Assembly in 2001, is a set of principles designed to guide the development of tourism in a way that maximizes the socio-economic benefits of the sector, while minimizing any negative impacts.

“If responsible tourism is to become a tangible reality in our world, it is essential that the private sector, like their counterparts in public institutions, embrace the principles of ethical, sustainable and universally-accessible tourism,”said UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai.

“Today, these companies have underscored their dedication to corporate social responsibility to support the protection and empowerment of vulnerable groups, consumers and humanity’s heritage; to champion gender equality, poverty reduction, accessibility, cultural and environmental sustainability; and to facilitate access to decent employment across the globe,” he added.

The majority of the companies also signed the Code of Conduct for the Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation in Travel and Tourism, committing themselves to concrete measures to protect children. The code was founded by ECPAT International, a global network for the elimination of child prostitution, child pornography and the trafficking of children for sexual purposes. It is funded by the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) and supported by UNWTO. The first International Congress on Ethics and Tourism brought together experts and high-profile public and private tourism stakeholders in panels on: the role of ethical frameworks in responsible tourism development, the promotion of equality and the fight against exploitation, poverty reduction, sustainable development and corporate social responsibility.

SUDOKU 1ST STEP IN SOLVING PUZZLE 337: Look at the 3 middle horizontal (DEF) 3x3 boxes.

The right box has 1 in cell Eg, while the middle box has its 1 in cell Fd. The left box must, therefore, have its own 1 in row D, where there is only 1 vacant space - cell Dc. Thinking along these lines, try and fill in the other vacant cells.

SOLUTION TOMORROW. HAPPY PUZZLING!

52

THE NATION, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2011

Don’t just talk, communicate (4)

D

Dear Reader, I count it a great privilege to share few thoughts with you today. All along, I’ve talked extensively on communication, its components and ways to enhance it.

This week, even as we round off the teaching for this month, I shall be speaking on, Benefits Of Effective Communication!

The place of understanding is very crucial to establishing a successful family. That is why God’s Word says: Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard (Proverbs 13:15). This truth was, again, emphasized in Proverbs 24:3: Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it

Learn how to reduce your risk of having a stroke.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, stroke is the number one cause of serious, long-term disability in the United States.

Over the course of a lifetime, stroke affects an estimated four out of five families. Although these statistics sound dire, with these strategies, you can help yourself and loved ones reduce the risk .

Control blood pressure.

High blood pressure means a high risk of stroke. If one has been diagnosed with prehypertension (120/80 to 139/89) or hypertension (140/90 mm Hg or higher), his blood pressure should be treated.

The doctor will prescribe the appropriate medications, but your blood pressure needs regular monitoring. Although it can be a bit tricky to use, an inexpensive manual cuff is a great way to monitor blood pressure at home. But if you can’t get the hang of using it, you may want to consider investing in a blood pressure machine, which is a bit more expensive.

Manage stress and depression.

One’s emotional and psychological state can have a very real effect on his physical health.

is established.

This means that peace, joy, love, and favour can be set up on a permanent basis in your family. It also means you can secure or make your relationship with your household permanent by possessing good understanding.

When you possess good understanding, you will correctly interpret what your spouse or family members say, rather than read negative meanings to every statement and action. Understanding helps you to read between the lines.

There are benefits of effective communication. These include, but are not limited to, the following: Intimacy is never lacking in any home, where there is effective com-

This helps you to discover and correct certain flaws in your life and character, which their existence may not be obvious to you before.

One other benefit of effective communication is that it triggers love and submission. When communication between husband and wife is effective, it provokes love from the husband and submission from the wife. Some times when a woman does not obey the instruction of her husband, it may not necessarily be rebellion or trying to be difficult, but could be because she lacks understanding.

When the communication strategy is constantly improved upon, it stirs up love. If a man finds it difficult to love his wife, it is a sign that he has difficulty communicating with her. But when the communication lines are open, rather than holding grudges, both of them can freely discuss issues and arrive at favourable conclusions.

Personally, I can testify that it is a thing of joy for me to submit to my husband in everything! He doesn’t have to coerce me to; I do so willingly and with ease. It is not because of his titles, but because the communication lines are open. Effective communica-

Ways to prevent stroke Minimizing stress, anger, and depression is an important aspect of maintaining good cardiovascular health and avoiding a stroke. If you live by yourself, you may feel disconnected and alone. Sitting around the house can lead to boredom and unhappiness. Help yourself bygoing out of the house, make new friends, or simply engage in stimulating activities.

Local worship or community center is an excellent place to connect with other people.

Perhaps you are already a social butterfly but still seems to be having difficulty with moods. Try these stress-busting strategies: •Cut back on caffeinated beverages and alcohol.

•Try meditation.

•Play relaxing music.

•Go for a walk outdoors.

If you’ve tried everything and still feel concerned about your mood, talk to your doctor. Depression is a serious but treatable illness.

Reduce the risk of blood clots.

Ask your doctor about medications that can reduce your risk of

General tips for stroke recovery Stroke recovery can be stressful for both the caregiver and the survivor. Here are some things to think about as you and your loved one face the challenges of recovery.

•Take stroke recovery and caregiving one day at a time and be hopeful.

•Remember that adjusting to the effects of stroke takes time.

Appreciate each small gain as your loved one discovers better ways of doing things.

•Caregiving is learned. Expect your knowledge and skills to grow with experience.

•Experiment. Until you find what works for your loved one, try new ways of doing activities of daily living, communicating, scheduling the day, and organizing your social life.

•Plan for “breaks” so that you’re not together all the time.

This is a good way for family and friends to help on occasion. You can also plan activities that get

munication. Intimacy, here, is likened to closeness. This is because the more you learn to communicate, the closer you become, and the closer you are, the more difficult it is for the devil to find access into your relationship. It is a clear assertion that when husband and wife stick together, they stay together.

Friendship is another benefit of effective communication. Friendship is based on familiarity and emotional attachment. The more you communicate, the more familiar you become with each other.

This, in turn, gets you attached emotionally to each other. Emotional attachment is what makes you start feeling for each other. My husband has said that when a husband and wife stop feeling for each other, danger is at the door.

Another benefit of effective communication is Self Awareness.

This helps you to know yourself better. Your spouse and family members serve as human mirrors that help you locate the “saints on your back”, so a better you can emerge. You are able to discover yourself through your spouse and/or children only when the communication lines are opened.

both of you out of the house.

•Ask family members and friends to help in specific ways and commit to certain times to help.

•Read about the experiences of other people in similar situations.

Read about life stories of people who have had strokes, as well as books for caregivers.

•Join or start a support group for stroke survivors or caregivers.

You can work on problems together and develop new friendships.

•Be kind to each other. If you sometimes feel irritated, this is natural and you don’t need to blame yourself. But don’t “take it out” on your loved one. It often helps to talk about these feelings with a friend, rehabilitation professional, or support group.

•Plan and enjoy new experiences and don’t look back.

Avoid comparing life as it is now with how it was before the stroke.

Adapted from Recovering After a Stroke

•The best way to reduce the chances of stroke is by having a regular blood pressure check

developing blood clots. The most commonly recommended medication is aspirin, which is inexpensive and can be taken at a low dose (81 milligrams is the usual recommended dose). If you have other medical issues, the doctor may prescribe a more potent drug.

Control other medical conditions.

If you have atrial fibrillation (an abnormal rhythm involving the upper two chambers of the heart), diabetes, heart valve disease, or vascular disease,you have a much greater risk of stroke. These medical conditions require careful management. Make sure your doctor knows about any such conditions and is treating them appropriately.

Talk to the doctor about medications that might increase your risk.

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT), rosiglitazone (for diabetes), and COX-2 inhibitors (for controlling arthritis pain) are all examples of medications that may increase your risk of stroke. Review your medications with the doctor and ask if there are less risky alternatives.

Know the early warning signs and seek treatment to prevent a stroke.

According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, one out of three people who

have a transient ischemic attack (TIA) will suffer an acute stroke.

Signs of a TIA, or ministroke, include: •Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg — especially on one side of the body •Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding •Sudden trouble seeing out of one or both eyes •Sudden difficulty walking, loss of balance or coordination, dizziness.

Keep “bad” cholesterol levels low.

One of the major risk factors for stroke is a high bloodstream level of LDL, or “bad” cholesterol. Ideally, your total cholesterol should be no more than 200 mg/dL (milligrams per deciliter) and no more than five times the level of HDL or “good” cholesterol; the LDL levels should be below 70 mg/dL. Make sure your cholesterol levels are checked regularly and treated if necessary. Following a low-fat diet and exercising regularly may help, but it might not be enough. If your cholesterol levels don’t respond to lifestyle changes, your doctor may prescribe medication.

Follow a heart-healthy diet.

The best diet for preventing stroke is the one recommended by your physician.

Choose a diet rich in whole grains, vegetables, fruits, fish, poultry, lean meats, and low-fat or

tion keeps compelling his love in my direction and my submission in his. So then, he confidently looks at me and says: “I just love you.”

Without, first, enjoying a sweet communication with Jesus, it will be impossible to effectively communicate with your spouse and children. That is, effective communication is triggered by a life in Christ. A life in Christ necessitates confessing your sins and accepting Jesus as your Lord and personal Saviour. To do this, please say this prayer of faith: Dear Lord, I come to You today. I am a sinner.

Forgive me my sins. Cleanse me with Your precious Blood. I accept You as my Lord and Saviour.

Now I know I am born again!

Congratulations! Call or write, and share your testimonies with me through: E-mail: faithdavid@yahoo.com Tel. No: 234-1-7747546-8; 07026385437, 07094254102.

For more insight, these books authored by me are available at the Dominion Bookstores in all the Living Faith Churches and other leading Christian bookstores: Making Marriage Work and Building A Successful Family. fat-free dairy products.You should limit intake of fat (total fat between 25 and 35 percent of daily calories, saturated fat less than 7 percent, and trans fat less than 1 percent), cholesterol (less than 200 milligrams per day if LDL levels are high, less than 300 milligrams per day if they aren’t), and sodium (less than 1,500 milligrams per day for high blood pressure, less than 2,300 milligrams per day otherwise).

You should consume no more than one alcoholic beverage per day or at most, two. And try to eat 25 to 30 grams of dietary fiber every day.

Engage in regular exercise.

Exercise is essential for general cardiovascular health and is key to preventing a stroke. But how much exercise is enough?

The Centers for Disease Control and the American Heart Association recommend accumulating at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity at least five days a week on most days.

This doesn’t mean you need to do half an hour of aerobics five days a week; instead, you can engage in short bursts of activity throughout the day. Just parking farther away from where you are going and walking the extra distance, or taking the stairs instead of the elevator, can quickly add up. But before you begin any exercise program, talk to the doctor about any restrictions you might have.

Stop smoking.

Smoking is one of the biggest risk factors for stroke. If you or anyone who lives in your home smokes, quitting is essential to good health. Just living with a smoker increases the risk of stroke by almost 30 percent. But recognize that stopping smoking isn’t easy.

Here are a few ways you can help yourself: •Avoid situations that trigger the desire for a smoke. If you’re used to enjoying a cigarette after meals, try going for a short walk outside instead.

•Quit smoking. Quit it not because of yourself but for those who can be affected by secondhand smoke which will increase their risk of heart attack.

•Talk to your doctor if you find it difficult to stop. Nicotine replacement therapy, support groups, and counseling may all be helpful.

53 Coping with diseases

THE NATION, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2011

Drugs and happiness: Marijuana and co

A

reader of this column called me a short while ago asking if I could advice on how a person can withdraw from marijuana. In our short conversation, he told me how many people in Lagos use marijuana and that it is being sold along the railway lines of Lagos.

He said he knew many young men who would like to stop taking marijuana but do not know what to do or are unable to stop it. These marijuana addicts are our sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, husbands, wives, relatives and neighbors. Their habits may affect other persons in their lives especially those that they are emotionally and financially responsible for. It’s a jungle out there and being hooked on drugs can happen to you or yours if you are naïve and unprotected.

Every normal human being likes to feel happy. The knowledge and experience of happiness, in the courses of our lives, become future determining factors in many aspects of life. Desire for happiness (to reach happiness or to maintain happiness) often drives are choices. These choices we make to obtain happiness or to maintain happiness may be delu-

sive or wise.

We all live in reality and have a unity with reality through our body, mind, and spirit. The body touches reality through our physical parts and this is sensation. Sensations include sight, hearing, tasting, feeling the temperature or wetness or dryness or pressure or chemical components of our environments, etc. All these sensations can be altered by drugs acting on the various sensory cells of our bodies. The mind touches reality through the process of thought and this is called perception. The mind which functions through the brain can easily be affected by drugs that act on the brain.

Thus a person’s capacity for thinking and manner of thinking: grasp of tangible and non-tangible realities, awareness, association of realities and ideas, and value of realities can be enhanced or diminished or distorted by certain drugs that act on brain cells. These drugs are called stimulants, depressants, and h a l l u c i n o g e n s (psychedelics). Marijuana, in low or high doses taken short term or long term, uniquely appears to be able to pro-

with Prof. Dayo Oyekole

Herbal immuno-modulators

T duce all three effects: stimulant, depressant, and hallucination depending on how it is used. The spirit also reaches reality through the gift of discernment which drugs do not alter because drugs are physical entities. This comprehensiveness makes humans stand apart from other animals: we connect with reality on three levels.

Marijuana is from the plant Cannabis sativa. The leaves, seeds, stems, and roots are used. The fresh leaves can be chewed.

Marijuana is brewed as a tea with milk or mixed with food. It is prepared as dried leaves and flowers or as a resin (residue pressed into cakes or slabs) from the flowers which is stronger than the fresh or dried plant and is called hashish. It is also produced as an oil (hash oil) which is potent. Apart from the smoked paper-wrapped “joints”, it is taken in vaporized forms with the use of pipes and special glassware (vaporizers) in socialization environments.

With this pomp and cer-

emony surrounding its use, it is an attractive past-time for the rich who have extra money in their pockets. The cheaper products such as fresh or dried leaves and “joints” are accessible to the poor. Thus rich and poor alike can become addicts. Some people grow the plant in their backyard.

Commercial plantations now grow special species and strains of easy-to-grow marijuana (hydroponic marijuana) that have a greater content of the active chemicals. Marijuana dispensaries sell seeds of hydroponic marijuana which can be grown in a nutrient solution even without soil.

Colloquial names of the drug include hemp, Green Dragon (alcoholic extract of marijuana), ganja (Indian), kaya (Jamaican), pot, weed, grass, reefer, etc.

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

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)?

S

EXUALLY transmitted diseases (STDs) are diseases that are mainly passed from one person to another (that is transmitted) during sex.

There are at least 25 different sexually transmitted diseases with a range of different symptoms. These diseases may be spread through vaginal, anal and oral sex.

What are sexually transmitted infections (STIs)?

Most sexually transmitted diseases will only affect

you if you have sexual contact with someone who has an STD. However there are some infections, for example scabies, which are referred to as STDs because they are most commonly transmitted sexually, but which can also be passed on in other ways.

Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) is another name for Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD). The name STI is sometimes preferred because there

are a few STDs, such as chlamydia, that can infect a person without causing any actual disease (i.e. unpleasant symptoms). Someone without symptoms may not think of themselves as having a disease, but they may still have an infection that needs treating.

How can you tell if you have a sexually transmitted disease?

You may become aware that you have an STD because of symptoms, or it may be that a sexual partner tells you they have an STD which they might have passed on to you. Some sexually transmitted diseases can be transmitted by an infected person even if they don’t have any symptoms.

If you think you might have been exposed to an STD then you should go to see a doctor. Many sexually transmitted diseases can be easily cured, but if left untreated, they may cause unpleasant symptoms and could lead to long-term damage such as infertility.

Some STDs can be transmitted from a pregnant woman to her unborn child. It is important that anyone diagnosed with an STD informs everyone they have had sex with within the past year (or everyone following the partner they believe may have infected them).

What are common STD symptoms?

STD symptoms vary, but the most common are •soreness, •unusual lumps •sores, •itching, •pain when urinating, •an unusual discharge from the genitals.

Which are the most common sexually transmitted diseases?

Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) is not strictly an STD as it is not transmitted via sexual intercourse. However, it can be exacerbated by sex and is more frequently found in sexually active women than those who have never had intercourse. It is caused by an imbalance in the normal healthy bacteria found in the vagina and although it is relatively harmless and may pass unnoticed, it can sometimes produce an abundance of unpleasant fishy smelling discharge.

Whilst there is no clear explanation as to why BV occurs, there have been suggestions that the alkaline nature of semen could be one cause, as it may upset the acidic nature of the vaginal bacteria.

To be continued •Dr B. Filani is the Chief Consultant of Sound Health Centre, Lagos. You can contact him on 08023422010 or on facebook or email soundhealthcentre@yahoo.com.

HE body’s ability to protect itself from the onslaught of offending virus, bacteria, fungi, cancer, etc can be enhanced or weakened by a number of factors. We each have experienced that sudden attack of cold that sets in after an extraordinary stressful cycle, such as many days of celebration or of more serious event such as the death of a loved one, divorce, loss of a job etc. All such events can weaken our immune system and make us susceptible to various intractable diseases like Malaria, Cancer, Hepatitis, Tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS, etc.

Poor diet, inadequate nutrition, continual stress, negative emotions, environmental poisons, abuse of drugs, alcoholism, excessive smoking, lack of exercise can all contribute to the inability of our immune system to properly defend and protect us.

Herbal support of immune activity is an example of where traditional medicine is being confirmed by modern research, with many remedies showing complementary immunological effects in both laboratory and clinical trials.

These herbs are described as ‘immuno-modulators’ because they support natural responses to be more flexible in the face of disease. They provide a potential alternative to conventional chemotherapy of infections, especially with people having an impaired immune response. As they support the body’s own immune mechanisms there is also the possibility of preventing opportunistic infections. The treatment of cancer may also benefit from their use as it is well known that tumor growth can be inhibited by stimulating components of the immune system, such as Tkiller cells. Similarly, in cases of Tuberculosis, Hepatitis and HIV/AIDS, it has been shown that the natural defence mechanisms of the individual sufferer can be augmented with herbal therapy, not only to destroy the causative agent, but also to prevent opportunistic infections.

Immunity Immunity may be defined as the ability or power of the body to resist infection by micro-organisms or the harmful effects of their toxins. The process by which immunity (natural or acquired, active or passive) is conferred on an individual, is called immunization. That system in our body, which is made up of an intricate network of organs, molecules and specialized cells that work in close cooperation to fight off infection and to develop immunity against future attack is called the immune system.

The Immune System The immune system has become a crucial issue in our society in recent years. We are faced with the limitations of modern medical science as it struggles to respond to the diseases of weakened immunity. A potential part of the solution is offered by the most ancient of medical approaches, namely, herbal medicine.

To see the possibilities offered by herbal remedies, it is important to have a grasp of the biological basis of immunity, but at least as importantly is a comprehension of the role it plays in human life.

We rely upon our immune system, which can be compared to an army of sentinels, helping to defend us from foreign invaders, such as bacteria, virus, fungi, cancer cells, etc. Our immune system comprises the tonsils, the adrenals, the thymus gland, the spleen, the lymph nodes scattered throughout the body, the lymphatic system, the bone marrow, white blood cells, Peyer’s patches in the intestinal tract, the appendix, etc.

The essential task of this immensely intricate and sensitive system of internal army of immune cells which can be compared to a highly specialized frontline of defense and attack, can identify, remember and destroy diseasecausing invaders and also abnormal or infected cells. When the internal army is functioning optimally, few viruses, bacteria, fungi, etc or even cancer cells are allowed to set up residence or even begin to wreak havoc.

54

THE NATION, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2011

N

IGERIANS who were adults in 1993, during the electioneering campaign for the annulled June 12 presidential election ,still remember “Nigeria on the march again!”, the most popular part of the slogan of Hope 93, the campaign organization of the presumed winner of the election, the late Chief MKO Abiola. It was a wake- up call for Nigerians to make the best of the opportunity of that moment in what they were about to do – electing a new president. Nigerians were urged to do it right and avoid the mistake of the past.

Today, the philosophy behind that electioneering slogan holds true for members of the national and state assemblies across the country even as the machinery for the amendment of the second phase of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria moves into critical stage. Indeed, Nigeria is on the march again!

Senate President, David Mark, set the tone for the amendment to come on Tuesday, September 13.

While welcoming senators back to a plenary session after about a month and a half’s break, Mark declared that constitution amendment remained one of the top priorities of the Seventh Senate.

To quote him: “Distinguished colleagues, let me note that constitution amendment remains one of the top priorities of the Seventh Senate. Our success in the electoral reforms is now obvious and has been widely acknowledged after the 2011 general election,”. He added that “I congratulate members of the Sixth National Assembly, once again, for breaking the jinx of constitution amendment in Nigeria. The onus is, therefore, on us to build on this success. We shall endeavour to produce a workable constitution that will stand the test of time,” he declared.

He took time to spell out the areas that would be their focal point.

He listed such areas to include such fundamental issues of state creation, local government system, devolution of powers, revenue allocation, state police,state Independent and National Electoral Commission, uniform minimum wage, joint account and other contentious but important issues.

Mark, for effect, adopted a rather new but effective style of asking rhetorical questions. His words: “Should we allow state police? Will it enhance policing duties and reduce criminality in the country? Is the current revenue formula equitable? Will a change in favour of the states enhance deliverables to the people? Should power distribution be on the Exclusive Legislative List?

Shouldn’t states that invest in power generation be allowed to distribute? Is it necessary to create new states? Will it bring government nearer to the people and address cries of marginalisation? How effective are local governments? Should they be made to function independent of the states? Is the joint state/local overnments account still necessary?” he asked.

Mark hurried forward to help his colleagues by assuring them that they would not be daunted by the seemingly Herculean task at hand.

“We will not run away from any of these issues. I, therefore, expect that in this session, we will not only deal

•Tanbuwal

•Mark

The constitution amendment this time Augustine AVWODE Assistant Editor with them, but also with other issues that will guarantee good governance, peace, justice and development in our country,” he assured.

He extended the horizon to include even the area that had already been amended before. In essence, Mark indicated that the Electoral Act 2010 still needs some refining and reshaping to arrive at a desirable point.

“While the 2010 Act laid the foundation for possibly the best election in our democratic history, like any other human product, it is still not

perfect. In our quest to continue to improve our electoral processes, we will work with the Independent National Electoral Commission,

‘

Barely a day after the resumption from their vacation, both the Senate and the House of Representatives made good their plan to amend the 1999 Constitution by constituting separate committees for the exercise.

,

political parties and other stakeholders to revisit the 2010 Electoral Act to address the issues arising from its operation ahead of the forthcoming gubernatorial elections in some states and the 2015 general election,” he added.

The last amendment effort It is common knowledge that the military fashioned and decreed the 1999 Constitution which the country has been applying since its return to the path of democratic governance. But then it had always

‘

55

THE NATION, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2011

The constitution amendment this time been a subject of debate and calls for amendment had been on since year 2000. However, after several false starts, the sixth legislative assembly was able to break what Mark succinctly captured as the “jinx”. Even at that, most of the work done was in the area of the Electoral Act considering the significance of the then impending elections of 2011.

It was not as if all the issues raised by the senate president are entirely new. The issue of state creation for instance has always been a running one. During the last sixth legislative assembly, people from different parts of the country organized high power delegations to visit the leadership of the National Assembly with the aim of soliciting for their support in their efforts to realize the creation of their desired states. In turn, the leadership of both the Senate and the House of Representatives gave the assurance that their requests would be considered based on the provisions of the constitution which spells out the criteria for such an exercise to be carried out.

There were more than 40 of such requests and some members of the last constitution review committees in both chambers of the National Assembly actually expressed worry and concern over the method that would be used in creating any of them.

But before the success story of the “breaking of jinx”, the exercise was almost derailed when at inception, a sharp disagreement broke out between members of the two chambers over an issue considered by many Nigerians as trite and, perhaps, a non-issue. The House of Representatives delegation to the National Assembly Joint Constitution Review Committee (JCCR) staged a walk-out from the committee’s retreat that was to commence in Minna, Niger State in mid-January, 2009.

The 44-member House delegation gave as their reason, the designation of the former Deputy Speaker of the House, Alhaji Usman Nafada, as the Vice-Chairman of the committee instead of “cochairman” as the reason for their action. The House members protested the treatment which they claimed was an attempt to demean their status. They left the retreat ground after a press conference and returned to Abuja. They made it clear that they would like to work independently on the amendment of the constitution.

The Senate flayed the action of their House of Representatives counterparts. At a news conference, after the opening ceremony, the Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba (SAN) as he then was, maintained that the Constitution and tradition buttressed the designation of the Deputy Speaker as Vice-Chairman of the JCCR. He produced reports of previous constitution reviews to buttress the designation of the Deputy Speaker as Vice-Chairman.

But many Nigerians were not deceived by the claim that the designation was the cause of the rift. Beneath the development were allegations that some forces were working assiduously to ensure that the planned amendment of the constitution then never saw the light of day. It was alleged that some prominent members of the society had infiltrated the House members with their agenda and that what the members were doing then was merely acting the script of such prominent figures who were determined not to change the status quo as pertaining to some contentious

,

of their people the contents of the constitution.

“A critical examination of the history of constitution making in Nigeria reveals that the Nigerian people have never been afforded the opportunity to exercise their sovereign power of producing a constitution. Both chambers of the National Assembly have constituted a members of the committee, they should be able to reach their people to allow their views form the bedrock of the constitution”.

Search for stable polity

•Ihedioha

•Ekweremadu

clauses in the constitution, notably, the immunity clause for governors.

Giving reasons for their walk out before they left Minna, Hon. Bala Ibn Na’Allah alleged an attempt to bend democratic procedures as their reason for the boycott. “We expect that normal processes are followed and acceptable democratic procedures should be put in place in this process. We, therefore, decided that we are not going to participate except on the condition that acceptable democratic process is put in place.”

The Senate’s position on the issue was given by Ndoma Egba after the opening ceremony thus: “The implication here when we are talking about this committee, the Deputy Senate President presides and in his absence, the Deputy Speaker of the House presides. Apart from the constitutional provisions, this position is also rooted in the tradition of this National Assembly.

“This is a matter of constitutional provision and it is surprising that it is being made an issue here. We want to believe that our colleagues in the House of Representatives would later reflect on this and see matters within the constitutional framework and return so that we can debate on the issues which is of paramount interest to all.

“The Constitution is very, very clear that at every joint sitting of both Houses the President of the Senate shall preside. It is mandatory; it is not discretional and in his absence the Speaker of the House shall preside,” he explained.

Such was the level of initial distraction and cross purpose that bedeviled the exercise before the “jinx” was broken. Little wonder not much could be done except the Electoral Act.

‘ Expectations are high; there is no doubt about that. In many quarters, it is believed that many of the ills plaguing Nigeria can actually be addressed if the path of constitutionalism is followed meticulously

,

Back on the starting block Barely a day after the resumption from their vacation, both the Senate and the House of Representatives made good their plan to amend the 1999 Constitution by constituting separate committees for the exercise. In the Senate, a 47member constitution review committee headed by the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, was constituted. The House of Representatives also named a 44- member committee headed by Deputy Speaker, Emeka

Ihedioha.

It is Ekweremadu’s second coming and political pundits are of the view that the process will gain a lot from his experience of holding a similar position in the not too distant past. Instructively, the Senate list is made up of a senator from each of the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and a representative from each of the six geo political zones of the country and three others representing what was described as special interests. The composition of the committee was announced by Mark.

Among the members of the committee are Senators Uche Chukwumerije, Bello Mohammed Tukur, Chris Ngige, Ita Enang, Abdul Ningi, Heineken Lokpobiri, Barnabas Gemade, Ahmed Zannah, Victor Ndoma Egba (SAN), James Manager, Christopher Nwankwo, Odion Ugbesia, Anthony Adeniyi, Ayogu Eze, Joshua Lidani, Chris Anyanwu, Abdulaziz Usman, Datti BabaAhmed, Bello Gwarzo, Abu Ibrahim, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, Smart Adeyemi, Mohammed Shaaba Lafiagi, Ganiyu Solomon, Suleiman Adokwe, Dahiru Awaisu Kuta and Adegbenga Kaka.

But the concern of Nigerians is how the senators and House of Representatives members under the leadership of Ekweremadu would be able to fashion out a peoples’ constitution, that is, one that will truly reflect the wishes and aspirations of Nigerians.

The Senior Special Assistant to Abia State Governor, Chief T A Orji, on Public Relations, Barrister James Kwubiri Okpara, while speaking to The Nation on Thursday, urged the lawmakers to put Nigerians first.

And that as the representatives of the people, they should fashion out a way that would make the views

The areas listed by the Senate president as like focal points for amendment have been described as aspect that would likely bring lasting stability to the polity. Speaking on the planned amendment to The Nation on Thursday, another legal practitioner based in Warri, Akpovire Shadrack, lauded the leadership of the senate and urged the joint committee to avoid the ‘shameful’ behaviour of the previous JCRC and concentrate on ensuring that all the items already in the public domain are dealt with for the good of the people and the nation.

“We have heard the plan of the senators and their counterparts in the House. If you look at the items that were listed, you will discover that they are at the heart of the polity and can actually make for a stable polity. Is it the issue of state police? If Bauchi had its own police, or Maiduguri had its own police, tendency is that it would not be overwhelmed by Boko Haram because the state will recruit people from the state who know the state inside out. I actually commended David mark, but I will not clap for him now until they have seen through all that they promised. But I will advise them to be very sure that only viable states are created if at all they are inclined to creating any. As for me, we have enough states, let efforts be made to develop them.

“What about the issue of revenue formula. In fact, as an individual, I am waiting for the National Assembly to see what they are going to do. They must free this country from the clutches of backwardness.

It is time for all state to develop depending on what they can generate for themselves. In the first republic, that was the case and we are all still living with the good legacies of those years. Now that we all run to Abuja every month, we all know where that has left us. We need to go back to the right ways that we left many years ago”, he counselled.

Great expectations Expectations are high; there is no doubt about that. In many quarters, it is believed that many of the ills plaguing Nigeria can actually be addressed if the path of constitutionalism is followed meticulously.

During the last Sixth Legislative Assembly, the overwhelming majority of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was not fully harnessed for the good of the country.

The present Seventhth Legislative Assembly does not enjoy that rare luxury of absolute majority. With an opposition party wielding more influence this time around, only exhibiting greater understanding and doing everything in the interest of Nigeria and Nigerians that will make the realization of the lofty dream of another successful amendment of the constitution possible. And given the high level of expectation on the part of Nigerians, failure by their lawmakers may not be acceptable.

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2011

Borno: Cutting the ‘Gordian knots’ in 100 days DIALOGUE “T HERE are some occasions in one’s life,“ one French Philosopher once posited, “which neither time nor circumstances can change or obliterate from one’s memory”. The 100 days in office of Kashim Shettima as governor of Borno State constitute one of such occasions. The period marked a watershed in the history of the state.

During this period, the unity of Borno as a corporate entity was seriously challenged or threatened. The status of Borno as an entity this time was “to be or not to be” as things went haywire.

Borno suddenly assumed the status of Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart. The centre was drifting and anarchy was on the brink.

Though before now, the security of the state was threatened due to the sectarian revolt of February 18, 2006 and Boko Haram sect’s insurgency of July 2009, but from the inception of Governor Kashim’s administration on May 29, 2011, the security situation was further aggravated as a result of intensified bombings, killings and assassinations by the sect and others unknown mostly in the state capital. Besides, the assault on the people and the state, the sect re-emphasised its earlier demands during Governor Ali Modu Sherriff’s administration to Kashim’s government.

The sect demanded, among others, the resignation of the state governor; the deposition of the present Shehu of Borno; islamisation of the state; the trial of politicians and policemen responsible for the death of Alhaji Mohammed Yusuf in Maiduguri; (Yusuf was allegedly killed by the police after his arrest); compensation to the families of the sect members killed by the police as well as the release of its members still in detention.

Apart from the mayhem visited on the state by Boko Haram sect, political murders and assassinations were part of the heritage bequeathed to Kashim’s administration by his predecessor, Senator Ali Modu Sherriff. This bane continued in Kashim’s 100 days in office and beyond. Within this period, the elders of Borno met President Goodluck Jonathan and appealed to him to withdraw from the state members of the Joint Task Force (JTF) sent to maintain peace in the troubled Borno on the allegation of rape and extra-judicial killings of the people by the soldiers on revenge mission anytime they are attacked by members of the Boko Haram sect. The leadership of JTF, however, denied vehemently the murder and rape charges, just as some citizens of Borno cautioned against the hasty withdrawal of the troops.

The worst came in his 100 days in office when there was an unprecedented mass movement of people both citizens and non-citizens in hundreds of thousands out of Borno, especially Maiduguri, the state capital, for safety both from the ceaseless bombings and attacks of members of the Boko Haram sect as well from the indiscriminate shooting and killing of innocent ones by members of the JTF. Before the shout of ‘Jack Robinson’, Governor Kashim got what he never bargained for. The people moved out from the nooks and crannies of Maiduguri and its environs in trailers, buses, cars, donkeys, horses and any available means of transportation. The fear of the people was reinforced when they saw the governors of various

•Governor Shettima

‘

Victor IZEKOR states in the federation sending vehicles and buses to convey their citizens, including students of tertiary institutions, out of Maiduguri. And when the Governors’ Forum met this time and directed Governor Shettima to go and solve his problem, it became obvious that he has to bear the CROSS (emphasis mine).

Though 100 days in office is certainly not enough a period to assess adequately the performance of any administration, but for an administration holed between survival and disintegration, the happenings within this period can predict the road map of such administration.

The immediate resultant effects of the mass movement out of the state capital include the closure of markets, shops, restaurants, and other commercial activities. Even government ministries and parastatals were grinding to a halt. The situation became more tense and fearful with the strong rumour that a large scale confrontation between members of the Boko Haram sect and members of the JTF was imminent in the state capital. At this point, all appeals from Governor Kashim and some elders to the fleeing masses fell on deaf ears as the falcon could no longer hear the falcona.

While Kashim was battling to secure the state, he was at the same time fighting to secure his seat as the state Chief Executive, as his election has been challenged at the Borno State Election Tribunal

by Alhaji Mohammed Goni, the defeated gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Besides, Kashim had made pledges to the people during his electioneering campaign and this was the time for him to honour them, challenges notwithstand-

The worst came in his 100 days in office when there was an unprecedented mass movement of people both citizens and non-citizens in hundreds of thousands out of Borno, especially Maiduguri, the state capital, for safety both from the ceaseless bombings and attacks of members of the Boko Haram sect...

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ing.

Like Alexander the Great, he was confronted with the frustrating task of untying the web of knots. Like the famous gallant warrior of the ancient world, he picked the sword and delivered a deadly blow to cut the knots. The nation and the people became better and happier for it.

Realising that he did not assume the governorship of Borno State to preside over its demise or liquidation, Kashim confronted the monsters with vigour and tenacity. He responded to the urgency

of the situation squarely with honesty of purpose. In doing this, he called a spade a spade. He rebuked and apportioned blame appropriately, while at the same time appealing to the people’s sense of reasoning. He told the people the home truth and what to do and not if Borno is to survive. In his speeches, he was inspiring and convincing. His disposition gave hope to the hopeless, solace to the aggrieved, inspiration to many and a future to the troubled Borno.

Kashim Shettima, in an unambiguous tone, admitted that he knows the insurgents (Boko Haram members) as they are his neighbours and called on them to sheathe their swords and embrace peace. In his words: “I am personally, deeply pained by the trend of events. I am a native of Maiduguri, born, bred and buttered right in the heart of Yerwa, from Nimeri Korongoso. Most of the insurgents are from the wellknown neighbourhood of Shehuri North, Shehuri South, Limanti, Lamisula, Gamboru, Fezzan and Hausari wards of the metropolis.

I say unto you, my brothers, what Hamid Karzai, the Afghan President said at the burial of his brother, Wali Ahmed Karzai some few days ago. … my message for them (Taliban) is that my countrymen, my brothers, should stop killing their own people. It is easy to kill and everyone can do it, but the real man is the one who can save people’s lives. “… Going by the present spate of things, how can a true Muslim explain, let alone profoundly justify, the current unfortunate cold blood murders and bombings in the name of Islam? Islam means PEACE and submission to the will of God and thus, it should remain so in both theory and practice.

This was the understanding of our forefathers; theirs is the true meaning of Islam in both letter and spirit.”

He added: “We are Muslims and Muslims do not harm innocent souls, much less fellow Muslims; any interpretation or understanding of Islam which justifies killing of innocent people is condemnable and should be rebuked intoto.”

With the hindsight of churches burnt earlier in sectarian riots and killing of non-muslims in the state, Governor Kashim reminded his fellow Muslim brothers that this was a misnomer and unacceptable. According to him, “Islam never sanctions the killing of non-Muslims and the destruction of their places of worship.”

He went on: “In the early phase of Islam, when Muslims were persecuted by the Makkan pagans, they sought refuge in present day Ethiopia, under a Christian king, Negus. The Muslims stayed in Ethiopia for 15 years and all entreaties by the Makkan leaders for Negus to deport them were rebuffed by the just, Christian king.” Kashim went further: “Let there be no compulsion in religion (Qur’an ch. 2. 256)”.

Apart from facing security challenges, Kashim similarly addressed other areas in the state administration within this period with his people-oriented programmes and participatory democracy that endeared him to the people. All the grey areas of conflict between the state government and the civil servants are being resolved speedily.

For example, the unpaid salaries and allowances of the workers of the state-owned International Hotel for 14 months have been cleared by the Kashim administration. Similarly, the long standing issue with regard to the harmonisation of the salaries of state tertiary institutions in line with their counterparts elsewhere in the country has been resolved.

The state government has set up a committee on the implementation of the new minimum wage of N18,000, while a separate committee each has been set up to update all the needs of the health and education sectors.

The pledge by the Kashim administration to pay compensation to all victims of the recent crisis is being implemented. Also, procurement and distribution of 5,000 Keke-Napep tricycles and 100 buses to ease intra-city transportation within Maiduguri metropolis has taken off with about 2,000 tricycles given out at highly subsidised cost. Also, purchase of food stuffs worth N2billion for distribution to the people to ease inflation has been implemented.

Already, the state government is putting in place an economic stimulus package for the business community in the state through the establishment or support for micro-finance bank in every senatorial zone towards providing soft loans to traders/marketers and cooperatives to boost and position entrepreneurship .

Apart from short-term or interim measures stated above, the government has also put in place long-term measures all aimed at facing the socio-economic challenges in the state.

So far, the practical demonstration of some aspects of his administration’s policy thrust is indicative of a politician to be trusted. Hundreds of thousands of people who left Maiduguri and its environs in the height of confusion and conflict are gradually returning, while stalled commercial activities have resumed.

Closed schools and tertiary institutions have re-opened. The hitherto cat and dog game between the security operatives (JTF inclusive) and the civil populace is gradually fading away. Though, incidents of bombing and killings have been reduced but the odour and feeling of Boko Haram sect and other anti-socials persists and the fear of the unknown is yet to go.

Though, Kashim, in spite of the multi-dimensional problems he inherited has made a mark, he has more rivers to cross if indeed he is to lead Borno on the path of the oasis that he envisaged. For example, the imbalance in the political structure of the state must be addressed. There is need to revisit the issue of compensation to the victims of February 18, 2006 sectarian riot and Boko Haram insurgency of July, 2009, all in Maiduguri.

For Kashim, the 100 days in office were indeed a trying, tempting, testy and tasking period. It was indeed a watershed in which the existence of Borno as a corporate existence was seriously challenged.

Within this period, Kashim has been able to clarify the past and chart a path for the future. For him, the 100 days as Borno State governor and his experience therein have become another past which success must inform the future.

•Mr. Izekor, a journalist, writes in from Maiduguri.

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Living in the shadow of bomb scare

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•Continued from Page 2 staff went about their business unfazed. As part of the security measures, armed soldiers were observed around the main entrance as back up to the hotel’s security personnel.

Vehicles going into the building were being searched by the hotel’s security men while the soldiers took positions at vantage points.

Movement of vehicles was restricted to the main entrance, as the eastern gate leading to the federal secretariat was heavily iron-barred with a blue Volkswagen car stationed behind the bar as back up to the blockade. Our correspondent also gathered that as part of the security measures, the management of the hotel is contemplating barring unregistered vehicles from entering the hotel premises.

At the National Assembly, for instance, the management has also caught the bug. Extra security measures have been put in place with very unpleasant effects. Every car entering the National Assembly complex now undergoes screening as the trunk is frisked by a combined horde of black uniformed policemen and security men attached to the Assembly. The checks are carried out at an annoying snail pace and motorists now spend about an hour or more driving from the main entrance into the complex, a journey that should normally take about three minutes.

Ahead of last week’s re-

• A view of the National Assembly dome

sumption of the federal legislators from recess, security at the complex was tightened.

Vehicles are no longer allowed to enter the complex. Visitors and staff now park their cars outside the gate and only lawmakers and top management staff are allowed to bring their cars inside the expansive complex. A vast land outside the gate has been graded to serve as car park for visitors and staff of the National Assembly.

Deputy Clerk of the National Assembly, Olumuyiwa Adejokun announced the new security measures recently. According to him, top management staff have continued to receive threat messages of bomb blasts on their mobile telephones and that the fre-

quency at which the messages continued to pour in could no longer be ignored. In addition to security checks of vehicles, all the shuttle buses plying the outside gate and the complex have been barred from entering the building. Similarly, the scare has also forced the management of the National Assembly to shut the south gate.

The gate used to provide alternative entry and exit point for motorists coming from Asokoro-Kubwa-DutseBwari axis and others coming from the Suleja-MinnaKaduna axis.

To compound the chaotic traffic situation, the southern gate of the Presidential Villa that provides alternative entry point to the National Assem-

bly has also been shut by security agencies. As a result, motorists and workers who used to access the Supreme Court through that gate have been shut out. If the agony of motorists going into and coming out of the Assembly is unbearable, the plight of visitors who don’t have cars is rather pathetic. They now have to trek the distance, rain or shine.

In spite of the heavy security arrangement, there was still stampede at the National Assembly on Tuesday owing to a bomb scare alarm. Activities at the complex were paralysed as a result of rumours that members of Boko Haram had succeeded in planting a bomb device at the White House wing of the complex.

The scary rumour caused a stampede in which senators, administrative and supporting staff as well as visitors all ran for dear life and out of the complex. However, the Chief Security Officer (CSO) of the National Assembly, Col. Emeka Okere, was quick to dismiss the rumour. He described the rumour as the “the handiwork of idle minds looking for any excuse to close early.”

The rumour allegedly

Perhaps, the major beneficiaries of the panic in Abuja city are the mobile telephone operators and recharge card dealers.

Since the incident, the volume of phone calls, text messages and recharge card sales have tripled. Friends and relations far and near, now call or send text messages to their loved ones either at home or at work to inquire about their wellbeing at frequent intervals

’

started at about 3.00pm after the sitting for the day had been concluded in the two chambers. This led to a hurried closure of other businesses operating with the complex as banks, business centres and restaurant operators closed shop and freed their staff to equally run to safety.

The rumour was said to have begun as a ploy to discourage people from going into the complex by the sergeants-at-arm at the main gate who was merely trying to check visitors who were bent on forcing their way into the complex.

The incident immediately caused the management of the National Assembly to sum-

mon an emergency meeting of the security services in the complex to review the situation.

Meanwhile, it is a frustrating experience for motorists and pedestrians these days whenever President Goodluck Jonathan or other top government officials are billed to attend functions at any location within the city. The main road and adjourning ones to the venue of such functions are usually barricaded with police and military personnel mounting guards everywhere.

Motorists are forced to make agonising detours thereby compounding traffic congestion which has now become part of the lives of the residents.

They spend long hours trying to access their various destinations before the roads are eventually open to traffic.

Soldiers and policemen now mount road blocks at strategic points day and night as they search every vehicle that comes their way. This has also worsened traffic situation in the city and its environs. Although there are hardly any incidents of relocation by residents, many are believed to be privately nursing the urge to relocate to their various states of origin. And as the leaders and the security agencies continue to get rattled by each blast, residents have been consigned to going about their daily business with pervading fear hanging above their heads.

Perhaps, the major beneficiaries of the panic situation in Abuja city are the mobile telephone operators and recharge card dealers. Since the incident, the volume of phone calls, text messages and recharge card sales have tripled.

Friends and relations far and near, now call or send text messages to their loved ones either at home or at work to inquire about their wellbeing at frequent intervals.

Will the residents of the capital city ever get over this siege mentally? Time will tell.

FOREIGN

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Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas makes UN statehood bid

P

ALESTINIAN leader Mahmoud Abbas has submitted his bid to the UN for recognition of a Palestinian state.

To rapturous applause in the General Assembly, he urged the Security Council to back a state with pre-1967 borders.

He said the Palestinians had entered negotiations with Israel with sincere intentions, but blamed the building of Jewish settlements for their failure.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was reaching out to Palestinians and blamed them for refusing to negotiate.

“I continue to hope that President Abbas will be my partner in peace,” he said in his speech in New York.

“Let’s meet here today in the United Nations. Who’s there to stop us?”

Mr Netanyahu added that the core of the conflict was not settlements but the re-

fusal of the Palestinians to recognise Israel as a Jewish state.

Hours after receiving it, UN Secretary-General Ban Kimoon transmitted the Palestinian request to the Security Council.

Israel and the US say a Palestinian state can only be achieved through talks with Israel - not through UN resolutions.

President Barack Obama told Mr Abbas on Thursday that the US would use its UN Security Council veto to block the move.

Some delegations at the UN in New York gave Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas a standing ovation - they were clapping and even whistling in support.

That is significant because if it comes to a vote in the Security Council - and if the Americans veto it - Palestinians have a Plan B. That Plan B is to go to the

Yemen President Ali Abdullah Saleh returns to Sanaa

•Abdullah Saleh

Y

EMEN’S President Ali Abdullah Saleh has returned to the country from Saudi Arabia three months after surviving an assassination attempt.

Yemen TV said President

Saleh arrived in the capital, Sanaa, by private plane at dawn. Hours after his arrival, a presidential official said Mr Saleh was calling for a “truce and a ceasefire”.

He went to Saudi Arabia in June for treatment following a rocket attack on the grounds of the presidential palace.

President Saleh, who has been in power for more than 30 years, has faced months of protests urging him to quit.

Correspondents say his return raises the risk of all-out civil war.

“The president calls on all political and military parties to achieve a truce,” said the official, quoted by AFP news agency.

“There is no alternative to dialogue and negotiations to end the bloodshed,” he added.

Later, the US urged President Saleh to begin a transfer of power and arrange presidential elections

Zambia election: Michael Sata takes presidential oath

Z

AMBIAN opposition leader Michael Sata has been sworn in as president after beating incumbent Rupiah Banda in a tightly contested election.

Mr Sata, who had run for the presidency four times, was declared the winner with 43 per cent of the vote.

“The people of Zambia have spoken and we must all listen,” Mr Banda told journalists, wiping away tears after finishing his speech.

His Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) had ruled Zambia for 20 years.

Mr Banda was booed by Mr Sata’s supporters at the inauguration ceremony in the capital, Lusaka.

Mr Sata - the candidate of the Patriotic Front (PF) party - was sworn in by the Chief Justice Ernest Sakala and handed the ceremonial presidential flag by Mr

Banda.

He said he would fulfil his electoral promises, including forcing foreign companies to improve working conditions.

“I promise to put Zambia first,” he told thousands of people at the ceremony in Lusaka.

Sata started in politics as municipal councillor and served as governor of Lusaka under Zambia’s first President, Kenneth Kaunda Resigned from Kaunda’s United National Independence Party in 1991 and joined Frederick Chiluba’s newly formed MMD. He served as MMD minister of local government, labour, and health. Was later minister without portfolio, the third-highest post in government.

He formed Patriotic Front in 2001, losing an election that year and in 2006 and 2008.

General Assembly - where there are no vetoes - and get enhanced status, not full membership but something better than they have now.

The Palestinians say they want to negotiate but not in the way they have negotiated before - there has to be clear parameters and a timetable.

The Palestinian point is that since 18 years of negotiation has not worked, let’s try something new.

“I call upon the distinguished members of the Security Council to vote in favour of our full membership,” he told the General

Assembly, in what was for him an unusually impassioned speech.

He added that he hoped for swift backing. Many delegates gave him a standing ovation.

“I also appeal to the states that have not yet recognised the State of Palestine to do so.”

“The time has come for my courageous and proud people, after decades of displacement and colonial occupation and ceaseless suffering, to live like other peoples of the earth, free in a sovereign and independent home-

land,” he said.

He urged Israel to “come to peace”.

And he said the building of Jewish settlements was “the primary cause for the failure of the peace process”.

A spokesman for the Islamist movement Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, criticised the speech.

Salah Bardawil said Mr Abbas had deviated from the aspirations of the Palestinian people by accepting the 1967 borders, which he said left 80% of Palestinian land inside Israel.

•Abbas

Libya conflict: Anti-Gaddafi fighters take Sabha

F

ORCES loyal to Libya’s new government have taken control of the strategic city of Sabha, which controls the main road south to Niger. Fighters have been firing into the air to celebrate its capture, which means antiGaddafi forces now control southern Libya.

The desert town was one of the last strongholds of Col Muammar Gaddafi. It was seen as a possible hiding place for the ousted leader and senior aides, but his whereabouts remain unknown.

Libya’s leader for four de-

cades, Col Gaddafi has been in hiding since opposition forces captured the capital Tripoli late last month.

Two other Gaddafi strongholds - Bani Walid southeast of Tripoli and the fugitive leader’s birthplace Sirte - are still offering strong resistance but are surrounded by troops loyal to the National Transitional Council.

Sabha, a traditional stronghold of Col Gaddafi’s tribe, the Qadhadfa, is the largest Libyan city in the Sahara desert.

Anti-Gaddafi forces have

continued to face resistance from the city of Sirte “Sabha is totally free,” Suleiman Khalifa, head of the Sabha local council was quoted as saying by AFP. “Eighteen (NTC) fighters were killed during the final operation.”

But agency reports said there were still a few pockets in the city where proGaddafi snipers reportedly remained, he added.

With roads to Tunisia, Egypt, Chad and Sudan largely controlled by antiGaddafi forces, Niger has been used as an exit route by

members of the ousted leader’s inner circle fleeing the NTC advance - including his son Saadi.

Meanwhile, NTC forces said they had captured all three main towns in the alJufra oasis in the south of the country - Hun, Waddan and Sokna.

In the capital Tripoli on Thursday, the US raised its flag over its embassy for the first time since the fall of Col Gaddafi. The move came a day after US Ambassador Gene Cretz arrived back in the country.

•Forces loyal to Libya’s new government celebrating after capturing the key town

Al-Shabab returns Somali victims to famine-hit villages

F

OREIGN aid workers are concerned about the fate of thousands of Somalis being taken back to famine-hit villages by Islamist militants.

The al-Shabab group says it is moving people out of camps in the central town of Baidoa ahead of the rainy season so they can prepare to farm.

An al-Shabab official told the BBC that food rations to last a month would be given to the families.

The UN has declared a famine in six regions of Somalia.

There are mostly in southern parts controlled by alShabab, which banned many Western aid agencies from its territory two years ago.

This has prompted tens of thousands of people to seek food aid in the capital, Mogadishu, which is ruled by the weak interim government, or in camps in neighbouring Kenya and Ethiopia.

But some local charities have been able to distribute food in al-Shabab areas like Baidoa, where six displacement camps hold an estimated 50,000 people.

“There are about 6,500 fami-

lies who are ready to move back [to their original area]; we are arranging food that they can use for this month,” al-Shabab’s disaster committee spokesman Suldaan Aala Mohamed told the BBC.

Several water tankers had left with the first lorries full of people from Baidoa, Mr Mohamed said.

He said people needed to be on the farms in time for the rains.

Syria unrest: ‘First woman dies in detention’

A

N 18-year-old whose brother opposed Syria’s regime is believed to be the first woman to die in custody in Syria, Amnesty International says.

Relatives found the mutilated body of Zainab alHosni by chance at a morgue in the city of Homs, the group says.

They had been called to the military hospital to pick up her brother’s body three days after his arrest.

A total of 103 people are reported to have been killed in Syrian custody since the uprising began in March.

According to the Londonbased human rights group,

the 18-year-old’s body had been decapitated, the arms cut off and the skin removed.

“If it is confirmed that Zainab was in custody when she died, this would be one of the most disturbing cases of a death in detention we have seen so far,” said Philip Luther, Amnesty’s deputy director for the Middle East and North Africa.

Ms Hosni was abducted by men suspected of belonging to the security forces in July, apparently to put pressure on her activist brother Mohammad Deeb al-Hosni to turn himself in, according to Amnesty.

The case emerged as the of-

fice of the UN human rights chief warned that the Syrian government’s crackdown also appeared to be targeting activists outside the country.

“Prominent human rights defenders, inside and outside the country, are reported to have been targeted,” spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani said.

She gave no further details of the attacks but said the reports were significant enough to raise alarm.

More than 2,700 people have been killed in Syria’s crackdown, the UN says.

Reports said there was more violence after Friday prayers in Homs.

THE NATION SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2011

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EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 23-09-11 2ND-TIER SECURITIES Company Name PRESCO PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 7 7

Quotation(N) 7.00

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 24,500 174,300.00 24,500 174,300.00

Quotation(N) 1.95 5.68

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 777,950 1,536,667.50 206,068 1,118,120.27 984,018 2,654,787.77

Quotation(N) 1.33

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 92,256 119,991.05 92,256 119,991.05

Quotation(N) 5.21 3.61 2.53 3.95 2.06 9.28 12.00 8.93 0.70 1.15 4.98 1.33 3.59 2.09 0.71 0.68 11.90

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 5,094,862 26,540,693.66 675,802 2,439,647.22 203,899 516,115.87 11,461,961 45,770,681.25 14,764,810 30,185,088.08 13,227,793 125,977,885.96 22,525,476 269,906,196.04 13,784,186 124,137,297.65 3,972,195 2,780,536.50 588,500 676,775.00 999,935 5,007,078.42 2,119,604 2,789,086.87 8,225,665 29,746,983.91 215,161 449,686.49 9,236,913 6,351,258.31 1,012,354 689,024.23 54,124,845 662,734,634.95 162,233,961 1,336,698,670.41

Quotation(N) 221.51 84.50

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 344,563 77,456,087.96 832,718 70,355,958.93 1,177,281 147,812,046.89

Quotation(N) 17.70 7.30 95.00 40.42

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 280,177 4,957,802.68 31,400 217,966.00 4,052,184 384,992,356.00 855,487 34,652,567.43 5,219,248 424,820,692.11

Quotation(N) 9.38 19.76 1.14

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 3,000 27,173.82 266,060 5,260,160.70 38,329 42,495.06 307,389 5,329,829.58

AIR SERVICES Company Name AIRLINE SERVICES AND LOGISTICS PLC NIGERIAN AVIATION HANDLING COMPANY PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 10 28 38

AUTOMOBILE & TYRE Company Name R. T. BRISCOE (NIGERIA) PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 14 14 BANKING

Company Name ACCESS BANK PLC DIAMOND BANK PLC ECOBANK NIGERIA PLC FIRST CITY MONUMENT BANK PLC FIDELITY BANK PLC FIRST BANK OF NIGERIA PLC GTBANK PLC STANBIC IBTC BANK PLC INTERCONTINENTAL BANK PLC. OCEANIC BANK INTERNATIONAL PLC SKYE BANK PLC. STERLING BANK PLC UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC. UNION BANK OF NIGERIA PLC UNITYBANK PLC WEMA BANK PLC ZENITH BANK PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 101 12 11 84 105 500 460 68 27 11 37 24 226 11 62 13 306 2,058 BREWERIES

Company Name GUINNESS NIGERIA PLC NIGERIAN BREWERIES PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 99 79 178 BUILDING MATERIALS

Company Name ASHAKA CEMENT PLC CEMENT CO. OF NORTHERN NIGERIA PLC DANGOTE CEMENT PLC LAFARGE WAPCO PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 44 9 22 60 135 CHEMICAL & PAINTS

Company Name BERGER PAINTS NIGERIA PLC CHEMICAL AND ALLIED PRODUCTS PLC DN MEYER PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 4 30 3 37

COMMERCIAL/SERVICES Company Name RED STAR EXPRESS PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 8 8

Quotation(N) 2.22

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 253,500 566,963.00 253,500 566,963.00

Quotation(N) 30.00 0.82 37.07 28.00

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 809,143 24,276,600.23 11,412,977 8,902,875.17 148,291 5,319,232.37 286,436 7,778,052.85 12,656,847 46,276,760.62

Quotation(N) 49.64 4.43

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 276,833 13,322,746.83 51,000 225,930.00 327,833 13,548,676.83

CONGLOMERATES Company Name PZ CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC UAC OF NIGERIA PLC UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 46 67 39 50 202

SEC inaugurates technical committee on demutualisation

T

HE Securities and Ex change Commission (SEC) has inaugurated a 21-man technical committee on the demutualisation of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).

The chairman of the SEC, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, who inaugurated the committee last week at the commission’s Lagos Zonal Office, said the challenge in improving governance of the Exchange, is ensuring that “the Exchange is demutualised by a process that accords with the best global standards.”

“This must be a process that ensures fairness and openness as well as the protection of the national interest,” he stated.

He said in order for the commission to achieve this, a technical committee is needed to examine the processes for achieving demutualization and make recommendations to the Commission on how it can best discharge its important supervisory role to the exchange.

He said, the committee to be chaired by Asuerinme Ighodalo, would review the current structure and ownership of the Exchange; examine regulatory policies, management, operation, governance and financial issues in demutualisation of exchanges.

Udoma, added that the committee would review various demutualisation models, including valuation model for demutualization.

He stated that the commit-

No of Deals 32 2 34

FOOD/BEVERAGES & TOBACCO Company Name 7-UP BOTTLING CO. PLC CADBURY NIGERIA PLC DANGOTE FLOUR MILLS PLC DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC FLOUR MILLS NIGERIA PLC HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC NATIONAL SALT COMPANY NIGERIA PLC NESTLE NIGERIA PLC TANTALIZERS PLC UTC NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 9 28 177 55 53 5 21 31 1 4 384

Quotation(N) 45.50 15.20 6.67 8.55 72.95 3.16 4.48 401.00 0.50 0.50

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 16,409 746,609.50 310,235 4,720,739.90 5,239,377 35,194,869.97 984,249 8,597,045.91 497,874 35,649,942.97 38,225 115,277.25 125,651 550,361.56 182,298 73,117,417.88 20,000 10,000.00 101,500 50,750.00 7,515,818 158,753,014.94

tee will come out with the best demutualisation model for the Nigerian market and throw up practical timeline for the completion of demutualisation of the Exchange.

Udoma, said the committee has three months to complete its job The current Board of the Commission, at its inauguration, took up the responsibility of making the Nigerian Capital Market more internationally competitive.

A number of measures were put in place by the Commission, including the setting up of two Committees: one, under Dotun Sulaiman, is to review the structure of the market, while the second, is to review the Code of Corporate Governance for public companies. It is chaired by A.B. Mahmoud (SAN).

The recommendations of the two Committees have since been largely implemented.

In particular, a new Code of Corporate Governance for public companies has been issued by the Commission. It became effective in April this year. Also in furtherance of the implementation of the Market Structure Committee’s report, a number of new rules have been issued and existing rules amended.

Other members of the committee are, Enase Okonedo, Dean of Lagos

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 23-09-11 INTERCONTINENTAL WAPIC INSURANCE PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 5 4 10 13 13 4 2 51

No of Deals 6 15 1 22

No of Deals 1 12 13

Quotation(N) 0.86 1.34 27.00 3.25 1.05 3.68 0.50

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 120,972 104,910.29 68,000 91,120.00 439,768 11,878,495.00 230,688 743,490.80 100,000 100,000.00 912,500 3,355,000.00 2,000,000 1,000,000.00 3,871,928 17,273,016.09

Quotation(N) 7.50 1.79 4.32

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 972,050 7,290,375.00 793,060 1,416,103.80 300 1,233.00 1,765,410 8,707,711.80

No of Deals 2 2 4

Quotation(N) 6.90 5.70

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 2,000 13,800.00 2,526,324 15,135,400.60 2,528,324 15,149,200.60

Quotation(N) 0.50 0.50

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 4,122,400 2,061,200.00 426,954 213,477.00 4,549,354 2,274,677.00

INSURANCE Company Name No of Deals AIICO INSURANCE PLC. 28 CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC 31 CORNERSTONE INSURANCE CO. PLC. 1 CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED INSURANCE PLC 15 GOLDLINK INSURANCE PLC 4 GUARANTY TRUST ASSURANCE PLC 30 GUINEA INSURANCE PLC. 1 CONSOLIDATED HALLMARK INSURANCE PLC 1 INTERNATIONAL ENERGY INSURANCE COMPANY PLC 1 LAW UNION AND ROCK INSURANCE PLC. 5 LINKAGE ASSURANCE PLC 2 N.E.M. INSURANCE CO. (NIG.) PLC. 4 NIGER INSURANCE CO. PLC. 2 OASIS INSURANCE PLC 8 PRESTIGE ASSURANCE PLC. 2 REGENCY ALLIANCE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC 2 STACO INSURANCE PLC 1 STANDARD ALLIANCE INSURANCE PLC 3 UNIC INSURANCE PLC. 2

100.00 23,216,885.58

No of Deals 1 1

Quotation(N) 0.94

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 20,000 18,000.00 20,000 18,000.00

Quotation(N) 0.78

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 2,346,277 1,866,977.46 2,346,277 1,866,977.46

MARITIME Company Name JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME SERVICES PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 42 42

Company Name CRUSADER NIGERIA PLC. NPF MICROFINANCE BANK PLC ROYAL EXCHANGE PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 21 2 24

Quotation(N) 0.50 1.08 0.50

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 200 100.00 1,060,443 1,144,778.44 50,200 25,100.00 1,110,843 1,169,978.44

Quotation(N) 1.74

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 1,841,529 3,196,725.13 1,841,529 3,196,725.13

PACKAGING Company Name NIGERIAN BAG MANUFACTURING COMPANY PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 35 35

PETROLEUM(MARKETING)

INFORMATION & COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY Company Name CHAMS PLC STARCOMMS PLC Sector Totals

200 33,277,533

OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS

INDUSTRIAL/DOMESTIC PRODUCTS Company Name B. O. C. GASES NIGERIA PLC VITAFOAM NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

0.50

LEASING

HOTEL & TOURISM Company Name CAPITAL HOTEL PLC IKEJA HOTEL PLC TOURIST COMPANY OF NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

1 144

Company Name C&I LEASING PLC Sector Totals

HEALTHCARE Company Name EVANS MEDICALPLC. FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC GLAXOSMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. NEIMETH INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICALS PLC PHARMA-DEKO PLC UNION DIAGNOSTIC & CLINICAL SERVICES PLC Sector Totals

Business School, Oscar Onyema, CEO, Nigerian Stock Exchange, Abdul Muhtar, Managing Director, Abuja Investment; Chairman, Aso Savings, Yemisi Ayeni Chairperson, Demutualisation Committee, NSE Council and Managing Director, Shell Nigeria CPFA Limited, Tola Mobolurin, Vice Chairman & CEO, Crusader Investments.

Others are, Ahmed Makele Associate Director, Legal Risk Compliance, DTZ, Holdings Plc, Rotimi Oyekanmi CEO, Renaissance Capital, Haruna Jalo-Waziri, Managing Director, UBA Asset Management Company Limited, Dimeji Saludeen, Partner, KPMG, Deji Alli CEO, Asset Resource Management, Chuka Eseka, CEO, Vetiva, Femi Akingbe, CEO, Ventures & Trust, Nsikan Ekure Former MD of First Trustees limited, Ike Chioke MD, Afrinvest Nigeria limited.

Also are Kemi Adewole Vice President, Citibank Nigeria, Chike Obianwu Templars Law Firm, Femi Akinsanya, CEO, Felicity Schemes Limited, Akeem Oyewale, CEO, Stanbic IBTC Stockbrokers, Yinka Edu, Secretary, Capital Markets Solicitors Association, Moses Isiaku Director, Registration and Recognized Investment Exchanges Department, SEC Nigeria and Edosa Aigbekaen, Director, Legal and Secretary to the Commission,

NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE

CONSTRUCTION Company Name JULIUS BERGER NIGERIA PLC ROADS NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

By Taofik Salako and Tonia Osundolire

Quotation(N) 0.67 1.07 0.50 2.41 0.52 0.99 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 1.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 1,084,474 728,720.81 3,756,199 3,768,938.32 200 100.00 1,630,750 4,013,402.50 12,525,000 6,512,575.00 2,120,155 2,108,677.45 200,000 100,000.00 200 100.00 20,000 10,000.00 191,700 95,852.00 400 200.00 41,700 20,850.00 400 200.00 345,000 172,500.00 4,400 6,292.00 400 200.00 1,000 500.00 11,354,155 5,677,077.50 1,200 600.00

Company Name MRS OIL NIGERIA PLC CONOIL PLC ETERNA OIL & GAS PLC. FORTE OIL PLC MOBIL OIL NIGERIA PLC. OANDO PLC TOTAL NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 9 12 59 22 13 151 12 278

Quotation(N) 63.86 33.00 5.38 10.46 148.00 24.40 203.32

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 21,804 1,322,848.68 56,708 1,851,342.00 1,720,025 8,668,729.16 185,091 1,971,520.50 72,868 10,413,584.30 1,743,313 42,485,980.35 9,961 1,958,384.76 3,809,770 68,672,389.75

PRINTING & PUBLISHING Company Name ACADEMY PRESS PLC. LONGMAN NIGERIA PLC UNIVERSITY PRESS PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 2 3 6 11

Quotation(N) 2.60 4.84 3.80

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 3,200 7,904.00 7,867 37,761.60 117,519 446,889.63 128,586 492,555.23

Quotation(N) 14.01

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 834,372 11,689,729.22 834,372 11,689,729.22

REAL ESTATE Company Name UACN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CO. PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 37 37

ROAD TRANSPORTATION Company Name ASSOCIATED BUS COMPANY PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 7 7

Quotation(N) 0.52

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 766,073 384,412.96 766,073 384,412.96

Quotation(N) 0.72

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 52,000 37,440.00 52,000 37,440.00

TEXTILES Company Name UNITED NIGERIAN TEXTILES PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 1

THE FOREIGN LISTINGS Company Name ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED Sector Totals Overall Totals

No of Deals 21 21

Quotation(N) 11.67

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 871,432 10,194,802.43 871,432 10,194,802.43

3,786

248,566,082

2,301,100,234.89

THE NATION SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2011

63

SPORT EXTRA INTERNATIONAL AMATEUR BOXING SHOW

Repton, Lagos honours even •As boxers battle to a 4-4 draw •Edun excited over outcome

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NTERNATIONAL version of the Monthly Saturday Boxing Show got underway on Thursday, with the Lagos amateur boxers proving a hard nut to crack as they battled their Repton Boys Club counterparts to a 4-4 draw at the Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Tagged “International Amateur Boxing Show, Dinner with Cabaret” the competition is an initiative of the Lagos Boxing Hall of Fame (LBHF) in conjunction with the Lagos Amateur Boxing Association (LABA), under the auspices of Lagos State Government.

The show which featured eight bouts, saw amateur boxers thrill fans of the boxing fans, who wined and dined as they watched some breath-taking rounds of boxing.

By Innocent Amomoh During the first edition held at the same venue, the Repton Boys had defeated the Lagos boxers 5-3, and went ahead to seal it at the Mobolaji Johnson Sports Centre, Rowe Park, Yaba.

The outcome of that espisode almost triggered controversy in the fight involving Muri Shango of Lagos and Umar Sadiq of Repton in the 81kg.

The judge had announced a 21 victory in favour of Sadiq but later reversed the scores in favour of Shango, to which Sadiq’s corner profested vehemently.

In 65kg categories, Olaide Fijabi showed the stuff he is made of, when he lighted the hall up with some explosive boxing that had the fans stand on their feet for the duration.

He defeated Sam McNess from Repton, as Christian Abor of Lagos lost to Bret Beardon in the 65kg.

Also in the 81kg, both Simon Lewis and Michael Evans defeated Wasiu Balogun and Azeez Olumengbon respectively, while Shina John also lost to Ryan Pickard in the 73kg.

Sikiru Fatai, Taiwo Oyegunwa also did Lagos proud by defeating their counterparts, Michael Macarthy and Ben Falaja, in the 62kg and 69kg respectively.

In his vote of thanks, Olawale Edun, Chairman of (LBHF), expressed satisfaction on the outcome of the competition, adding that it is an indication of the progress that has been made to revive the sports in the state as mandated by the former Commissioner for Sports, Ademola Adeniji-Adele.

The former Lagos State Commissioner of Finance also

•Repton's Bret Beartdon unleashes a punch on Christian Abor of Lagos. PHOTO: Adejo David

Siasia dismisses FIFA rankings

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IGERIA coach Samson Siasia has said his immediate target is to qualify for the 2012 Nations Cup

LDFA stages age -grade football tourney

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HE Lagos Divisional Football Association, LDFA, has swung into action in organising an age grade football competition tagged Goalz School Event billed for the first of October, 2011, at the Campos Stadium, Lagos Island.

The competition which is being sponsored by the Lagos Channel Management Limited in conjunction with the Lagos Divisional Football Association, will feature 100 pupils from ten private and public primary schools under the LDFA’s jurisdiction. The event will also feature six hundred pupils who are expected to be part of the funfare event, stressing that it is part of activities to mark the country’s independence day with the Nigerian kids.

Its Chairman, Prince Ifalade Oyekan, said the competition which was part of the priority set by the Lagos State Football Association, is in line with One Goal Project which Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola supported.

next month and so will not worry himself with the Eagles slide down the FIFA rankings.

The Eagles battle group leaders Guinea for the top spot on the final day of action on October 8 and at least a 1-0 win for Nigeria in Abuja will see them topple the Syli Stars and advance automatically to the Nations Cup to be hosted by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea in January.

The latest FIFA monthly rankings place Nigeria at a lowly 43rd in the world and sixth in Africa behind the likes of Burkina Faso and Senegal.

But Siasia said he is unfazed by the current rating as his main focus is on defeating Guinea in Abuja to qualify Nigeria to the

Nations Cup. “I’m not bothered by the rankings, my focus is solely on the match on October 8,” he told MTNFootball.com.

The Eagles last failed to qualify for the Nations Cup in 1986.

Observers have equally wondered why a country like Egypt who have already failed to qualify for the 2012 Nations Cup are ahead of a team whose only loss under Siasia since November was against Argentina in Bangladesh earlier this month.

Nigeria achieved the best FIFA ranking ever in April 1994, when they were rated the fifth best team in the world.

NIGERIA POLICE GAMES

Zone 1X set for competition

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HE Nigeria Police Force (NPF) in Zone 1X have successfully rounded off the intra zonal Police Games and will later this week submit the list of sports men and women that will carry the zone’s banner at the elimination competition towards the main Police Games slated for Kaduna next month.

Zone 1X made up of Anambra, Imo, Enugu and Abia States all converged on the Government Secondary School, Owerri and the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri where the trials were held and the selection made after a keen contested race for the

From Tunde Liadi, Owerri available slots.

The sports event which kicked-off its 4th edition this year, was supervised by Felix Kigigha and the Zonal Sports Officer, DSP Kefas Go’ar among other dedicated members of the Police Force who also contributed to its success.

Zone 1X will participate in about five team events namely, Football, Tug of War, Handball, Basket Ball and Volley Ball for both male and female when the elimination for the team events kicks off next month in Kaduna State.

gave kudos to the state government and everyone who supported the programme, and the zeal to develop grassroots sports.

“I am indeed happy that boxing is doing very well in Lagos now and I believe with the sustenance of this programme, boxing would be taken to the next level,” Edun said.

The second phase of the event will take place at the Rowe Park, Yaba.

Okonkwo faces late fitness test

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UPER Eagles’ defender, Chibuzor Okonkwo is likely to make start for Heartland in Sunday’s Federation Cup final against Enyimba at the Teslim Balogun Stadium.

Okonkwo did not travel with the rest of the Heartland team that arrived Lagos on Tuesday night.

The player picked up an injury while on duty for the Super Eagles when they played Argentina in an international friendly on September 6 in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

“Initially, we thought it (the injury) would rule him out of the final but we have now been informed that there is a possibility that he could play (on Sunday),” coach of Heartland, Lodewijk de Kruif told Super Sport.com.

De Kruif also revealed that the defender would be subjected to further medical examination by the Heartland medical team led

by George Iheanacho before he gets the all clear to play.

“If he is fit, he will play but we have to wait for the medical people to assess the situation first,” he said.

The player, who has been undergoing tests at the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri is expected to join the rest of the Heartland team on Friday evening.

Reforms for NSC •Continued from back page ball. How our sports chiefs allowed ping pong to die rests with the fact that no official is made to pay for such dismal showing after every tournament. When we fail, it is business as usual. At best, a panel would be constituted by those who failed, yet we expect such a body to indict them.

It smacks of failure of the leadership at the NSC that ex-international Kasali Lasisi groomed the Congolese to qualify for the 2012 Olympics. Couldn’t we have offered him a job before the games in Maputo?

Lasisi was a ping pong gem in Nigeria. We invested in Lasisi by exposing him to top class training in China when the game was administered by good people.

Such world-beaters ought to have been infused into our system to give the game its fillip. We ignored him. He sought greener pastures in Congo. Now, he has groomed two ping pong players for the Olympics.

We are blaming the All Africa Games chiefs for excluding wrestling and power lifting from the games, as if we didn’t do the same to swimming when we hosted the event in 2003. How are our wrestlers and power-lifters rated in the world?

Athletics covered our shame a bit in Maputo, but we know how poorly our athletes performed at the World Athletics Championship in Daegue.

We may have stolen the show in athletics in the continent, but at the Olympics in London, we would meet our waterloo, if something isn’t done urgently about the quality of training available to our athletes.

Our girls made us proud, but the men fumbled. Yet, the times returned by the girls cannot guarantee any medal at the Olympics. Simply put, we are headed for a jamboree and it is unfortunate, given the potentials at the grassroots. We must recruit coaches from countries with rich history of producing good athletes- perhaps the United States and Jamaica because we don’t lack the talents to excel. It won’t be out of place, if we recruit the coaches who train our Europe-based athletes. Why not; they are the ones who have turned them into world beaters.

Our hope for the Olympics is football, despite the smacks NFF chiefs get from NSC eggheads. We are likely to parade the male and female teams. The boys and girls are world beaters, if not distracted by the insalubrious intrigues between both bodies.

Whereas others know their medal-winning events, we are struggling to correct the mistakes of the past, which stared us, on the face since the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.

Could somebody tell us who the Director of Sports is at the NSC? He should carry the can, if he is truly in charge. What we have at the NSC is a Man Friday, who is all-knowing but fails to admit that he/she is the reason for the sharp decline of our sports. Our Man Friday’s ideas are warp.

Did they not say that ex-internationals have the panacea to move our sports to the zenith? Has there been any change? We are faced with crises of monumental proportions? The roof has fallen on the heads of NSC chiefs. Our sports are gasping for life.

Who can rescue our sports? Who? You tell me.

NNPC/Chevron picks 15 for total of 15 teenagers Junior Masters have been selected at

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the end of the 2011 NNPC/Chevron Tennis Summer camp for a coaching clinic ahead of the 2012 Junior Masters.

The selected teenagers are: Quadre Oyinlomo, Obi Wale, Idoko Emmanuel, Kuku Biola, Alimi Hakeem, Thompson

FINAL OLYMPIC QUALIFYING TOURNAMENT

Dream Team picks U-20 star ENNETH Omeruo will lead at least five Omeruo players from Nigeria’s

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U-20 team to the country’s Olympic squad ahead of a final qualifying tournament in November.

MTNFootball.com has scooped that Omeruo, who will be 18 next month, is high on the list of invitees for the training camp of Dream Team V, which is expected to open early next month.

‘Gentle Giant’ Omeruo shone at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Colombia, where African champions Flying Eagles reached the last eight.

The former U-17 star attracted rave reviews from national team coaches Samson Siasia and Simon Kalika for his commanding performance in the heart of the defence.

The Olympic team has already capped Ahmed Musa, Terna Suswan and Emmanuel Anyanwu.

The team would now give other youth internationals like Omeruo’s defence partner

Gani Ogungbe, strikers Uche Nwofor and Olanrewaju Kayode as well as Abduljaleel Ajagun and skipper Ramon Azeez a chance to also impress as Nigeria gun for a second Olympic Gold.

Dream Team coach, Austin Eguavoen, has already exchanged notes with his Flying Eagles counterpart, John Obuh, on his likely invitees.

Obuh specially asked that Omeruo be called up along with his defence partner Ogungbe, with whom he has formed a combo for the past two years.

The Dream Team central defence partnership of Kingsley Udoh, who is unattached, and Ibok Edet has been severally knocked as one of the team’s missing link.

The Flying Eagles pair therefore has a chance to battle for places in the heart of the back four of the Dream Team.

Bidemi, Monday James, David Biodun, Fatus Olalekan, Benson Azuka, Olatunji Niyi, Olatunji Seun, Michael Osewa, Michael Ayoola and Phillip Samson These kids will be sponsored for further training to pursue a career in tennis by enjoying one year free training and then competing in the next Chevron Junior Masters Championship.

The Junior Masters Tournament is a one week Under-18 age grade National tennis tournament hosted in collaboration with the National Tennis Federation (NTF). It is a wholly Chevron sponsored Tournament which aims at providing a level playing ground for State participants to compete for laurels.

These 15 will be aided by an extra tennis racquet, and 2 ball machines which will be to enhance their physical training whilst their coaches will concentrate on improving technique.

The Lawn Tennis Clinic is a Chevron sponsored event usually held in the third quarter of the year, which is aimed at engaging the youth particularly during the holiday period; to develop their tennis skills and to afford them with the opportunity to participate in Lawn tennis organized events and tournaments.

According to Chevron’s General Manager, Policy, Government and Public Affairs Femi Odumabo,”The long term benefit of this initiative aims at developing skillful tennis players that would be able to

Tomorrow in THE NATION PUNCHLINE

We all suffer when the local government does not do its work. I understand that the only days some local government staff go to work in some states is when pay day is near. What they exist for, I really do not know SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2011 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM VOL.5, NO. 1893

— Oyinka Medubi

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LLUMINATIONS exemplifies journalism per excellence. The only snag in your Sat urday 17th is refering to the entire North as a ticking time bomb. This is hasty generalisation and does not reflect the disposition of majority of Muslims.

Accordingly, the vast majority of Muslims are hospitable and peace loving. It is for this reason that there is a huge population of Christians from South in the North pursuing their dreams in many fields of human endeavours. I agree that the North has some peculiar problems just like other political entities. But it also has potentials for greatness which manifest in vast agricultural land with a corresponding population among others. Certainly, there is no basis for Islamaphobia, let us all walk the talk and live by our religious tenets.

Abubakar Wada, Sango Otta, Ogun State 08030543834

•Your article on presidential thoughts and non-thoughts is brilliant. But you missed out on the issue of greedy leadership that is out to ensure its perpetuation in corridors of power.

We all know the right thing to do. Dogon turenchi cannot solve it, just a small mad man with gun is all that is needed to teach thieving leaders and their accomplices in the civil service a lesson.

Simon, Abuja, 08033326692

Re: Presidential thoughts and non-thoughts

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•Segun you are just a jaundiced parochialtribalist who cannot see anything good about Jonathan, 08097622817 •It is a pity that we have a man of ineffectual approach at the centre of sensitive affairs. If not, why is our president actions and inactions uninspiring? Now that the chord of unity and peace holding us together is being threatened, how has president brilliantly manage the affairs? Why is our president not pensive vis-a vis of what to do? Is our president in the know that the veracity of his administrative competence is being questioned at the instance of any casualty? Why is administrative indignity confronting his presidency with corrosive actions? Our president should by now avast the pursuit of grand illusion. Our president should allow himself to be driven by PIRKEVOTHIAN apothegm which will urge him to be in the know that participatory democracy is a vehicular lever for impeccable delivery. Please be swift my guy.

Dapo Ipoola , Omuo-Ekiti,08024310243 •For Mr President, I’ve followed carefully his responses to the Boko Haram terrorism, Jos killings and other numerous widespread insecurity challenges, the wikileak brouhaha, and his annoyingly unperturbed mien in the face of crunchy national issue . He doesn’t seem to understand the enormity of what we’re into neither does he have an inkling of what to do.

His responses are damn too superficial and lacking in substance. I’ve never heard him give any manner of concrete roadmap for any state challenge, great or small. Does he think problems are wished away?

No, they are solved through conscious efforts that stems from practicable planning meticulously made.

Ralph Aba,08036776586 •It takes more than goodluck and patience

Dr. Jonathan’s sincerity of purpose notwithstaning, it’s obvious he does not have wherewithal to tackle myriad of Nigeria’s problems, most importantly, insecurity •Jonathan

to drive the machinery of governance of a territory like Nigeria. I’m sure Mr. Goodluck Jonathan would be the last president of Nigeria before it breaks into smaller countries.

•Dr. Jonathan’s sincerity of purpose notwithstaning, it’s obvious he does not have wherewithal to tackle myriad of Nigeria’s problems, most importantly, insecurity. So he should honourably resign. But another poser is, can the right person replace Jonathan?

Isaiah Ayugu, Lafia,08036043014 • I read your interesting write-up in Saturday’s edition of The Nation. If people like you are listened to, our problems in Nigeria will be reduced.

Comrade Richard Tersoo Mnenga, former National Organising Secretary, CPC.08035908437 •Re: Presidential thoughts and non-thoughts.

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Your last sentence refers., Drs Jonathan and Fayemi, are both Ph.d holders, but may I state unequivocally that they do not belong to the same thinking caucus Even if GEJ will reason and act well, the family that gave birth to him (PDP), cannot spur good for his Nazareth unless he decides to disown it and go for the progressives which will be a surprise of the decade and probably be recorded in the world history book. Be that as it may, let the progressives keep the good work at the grassroots so as to positively affect the lives of the citizenry. Besides, Mr. President should state without mincing words the rationale behind his seven, six year single term if only he means well for Nigeria. Better still, he should desist from re-presenting the issue, hence, he incurs the wrath of God. Ayodeji, Sunkani, Taraba State, .08132223160 •Any noise about GEJ inability to perform ought to be buried. ACN joined to elect him.

Ribadu was humiliated. Nigerians would vote PDP out.

Edo Osa Don, Benin, 08054753657

•Your piece on Presidential thoughts and non-thoughts is to say the least disgusting. If you have a contract to run down Mr. President and advocate for the disintegration of Nigeria, then it is unfortunate. The South West which you belong to has no solution to these problems, 08182855515 •Mr Segun, can you see why some people wanted Buhari and have you forgotten so soon your support for the President? Outside thePDP, it was not about North or South, zoning or merit, Buhari was clearly better. By the way, you must have been reading the kite being flown by leaders of the South South about making this country ungovernable for the President by the Northerners. The North is certainly a time bomb for the reasons you stated and for this, we blame our own so called leaders over the years. My only consolation is that Buhari or any other Northerner is not our president today. Goodluck to the South South in particular and the South generally. By 2015 and with little support from the Middle-Belt, Jonathan will get another 4 to 7 years, 080378637863937 •I have never thought of this 6/7 year tenure thoughts of the presidency. I’m one person that feels that Obasanjo is not and will never be a right thinking man by bringing Yar’adua and Goodluck together in the first place, as two of them look same as per slow motion kind of rulership. But my views changed when he mentioned the cost of election. We don’t need that kind of spending as a Third World country; I’m on his side this time round for the first time.

Uzo Ikedife, Port Harcourt, 08134370061 Thanks for observing sincerity as an attribute of Mr. President. What is wrong if he holds his opinion on tenure when it will be subjected to debate at NASS and SHAs public hearings?

Who gains if Nigeria disintegrates in 2015 or beyond? Are we not developing because we practice Unitarism as against Federalism? Why do states not utilize funds monthly allocated to them? Do states mismanage LG funds because it is centrally shared for the benefits of all? Let's begin debate on 'Fiscal fFederalism vis-a- vis wage demand and ghost worker syndrome'.

Hon Ihuoma, Abuja, 080600019005

Ade Ojeikere on Saturday

Reforms for NSC

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IKE a thief in the night, they have sneaked into the country. Athletes have quietly gone to their homes. No word about what happened at the All Africa Games in Maputo.

The medalists are at home, awaiting the next signal, which may not come this year, except one of them storms the media to ask for his or her reward for winning a medal.

Nothing has been said about how much was spent on the games nor is anyone disturbed that Nigeria had the largest contingent at the games-no medals for this-yet this couldn’t beat troubled Egypt on the medals table.

Did the government cough out N3.2 billion for the Games? Is the Goodluck Jonathan administration thinking of sending a delegation led by the Sports Minister to ask Supreme Council for Sports in Africa (SCSA) chieftains,

the organisers of the All Africa Games, why Nigeria didn’t win? Remember the NSC, led by the former minister, did this to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) after the Super Eagles’ poor outing at the South Africa 2010 World Cup. Would the minister drag the NSC to EFCC, following the unimpressive performance, without allowing those in charge to explain how they spent money given to them like they did to NFF? Or is there a reforms committee to chart the way forward for sports? Or are we expecting a parallel body that would call itself Sports Ministry not the National Sports Commission (NSC)? Would this ‘rebel’ Sports ministry chiefs emulate their counterparts (NFA) that have crippled Nigeria’s football and take their case for change at the sports commission to the law courts, like we have seen with our soccer?

Are we going to have a Presidential Task Force (PTF) led by the Rivers State Governor Rotimi Chubuike Amaechi to ensure that Nigeria is not disgraced at the 2012 Olympic Games in London?

We need to accept that the NSC is biting more than it can chew. Sadly too, the NSC busies itself with sanitising NFF, leaving undone its primary objective of developing sports.

If we must return to our golden era in sports, the Goodluck Jonathan administration must remove NFF from NSC’s stranglehold and allow the office of the Vice-president to superintend in their activities, using FIFA’s statutes, which is what over 2009 countries are using effectively to run the game.

NSC’s involvement in football administration is a big distraction that has killed the other sports. And it explains why this country couldn’t qualify to participate in all the events, such as the All Africa Games winners South Africa did in Maputo.

Taking stock, Nigeria lost her stronghold of boxing simply because some people refused to listen to the advice of the former Nigeria Boxing Federation’s (NBF’s) boss’ plea to recruit competent Cuban coaches to train our boxers. The rules of the fistic trade have changed. The training methods are becoming more scientific, hence the need to recruit

coaches who routinely attend refresher courses to groom our boxers. Nigerians are naturally endowed in boxing to excel. The missing link is the presence of incompetent coaches to teach them what to do. Athletes give out what they are taught in training during competitions and there is no magic to success at the ring square.

Will they heed the advice now that our boxers’ performance is abysmal? Or would they hinge the boxers’ poor showing on late preparation and allow the graphic artist to train them for the 2012 Olympic Games in London?

If one knows the NSC men, they would recommend that our boxers head for Cuba to train than to ask these experts to come here. What these NSC men don’t know is that the presence of the coaches in our camp in Port Harcourt, for instance, would give other boxing coaches in the states the opportunity to storm the Garden City to learn from them.

But these NSC men will hide under lack of modern equipment to recommend foreign tour for the boxers, if they must do well at the London Olympic Games. You want to take a bet?

In the case of table tennis, one cannot put his finger on where we got it wrong. The game was the next popular sport after foot •Continued on Page 60

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