The Nation February 16, 2013

How Goldie died

Jonathan moves against pension boss Maina

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BBA soulmate Prezzo pays touching tribute PAGE 57

Risks dismissal from civil service INTERPOL steps in to prevent escape abroad Court rejects bid to stop arrest

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PDP sacks Obasanjo’s men as party’s crisis deepens PAGE 8

Prominent members affected: Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola

Sacked National Secretary

Engr. Olusegun Oni •Governor Rabi'u Musa Kwankwaso of Kano State with the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero in London to monitor the state of health of the royal father after his convoy was attacked by unknown gunmen...yesterday

National Vice Chairman

Chief Bode Mustapha National Auditor

APC stirs fresh fears in PDP Wife sets ex-FRCN reporter ablaze Says he spent too much time with senior wife

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Sambo begs estranged leaders

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HE ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) launched a frantic action on Thursday to check the threats of the newly formed All Progressive Congress (APC).

Vice-President Namadi Sambo met with the warring leaders of the party for about one and a half hours at the Presidential Villa,Abuja, to close ranks.

The second leg of the initiative is a planned reconciliation with estranged party leaders.

The PDP G-84 (state chairmen and secretaries, ex-officio, and deputy members of the National Working Committee) is to mediate in the crisis between PDP governors

THE NATION SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2013 Yusuf ALLI, Managing Editor, Northern Operation and the National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur.

Vice President Sambo, who heads the reunification committee ahead of the 2015 polls, met with the G-84 members at the Presidential Villa for about one and a half hours on Thursday night.

The G-84 members had petitioned President Goodluck Jonathan, alleging that they were being marginalised in the scheme of things by Tukur and NWC members.

Their complaints sparked tension in the party and made it impossible for the National Executive Committtee (NEC)

APC stirs fresh fears in PDP

•Sambo begs leaders to close ranks

•G-84 members to meet governors, NWC members over crisis •Members raise dust over SURE-P, ministers’ conduct to meet since July 2012.

The emergence of the APC (a merger of the ACN, CPC, ANPP and APGA) however forced the PDP leaders into a review of the political situation and the exigencies of resolving the party’s internal differences.

It was learnt that Sambo used the meeting to appeal to members of the G-84 and lead-

ers of the party to “bury their differences and move the party forward.”

A stalwart of the PDP at the session, who spoke in confidence, said: “Though the merger of three or four parties was not on the agenda, some members raised issues about it at the meeting.

“Their fears were borne out of the fact that if the crisis in

•Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo (right) welcoming the Sudanese Ambassador to Nigeria, Dr. Tageisir Mohgovb, during the latter’s courtesy call at the State House Abuja… yesterday PHOTO: AKIN Oladokun

Oyerinde: Ugolor alleges threat to life XECUTIVE Director of the African Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), Rev. David Ugolor, who was recently detained in connection with the murder of the Principal Secretary to the Edo State governor, Mr. Olaitan Oyerinde, yesterday alleged threat to his life.

He has already gone into hiding.

Ugolor said he was being trailed by unknown cars and getting feelers that he is a target for assassination.

Rev. Ugolor told newsmen that policemen investigating Oyerinde's murder should be held responsible if he was harmed in any way.

He said: "I am going into hiding for the main time.

There is a subtle threat that I should stop over this issue.

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Osagie OTABOR, Benin That I should not move forward. The unusual trailing of cars behind me is giving me cause for alarm.

"Since I was released by the court and freed and acquitted from the allegation that I was involved in the murder of my good comrade friend, I have continuously said that the po-

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He also challenged the police to make public the alleged call logs between him and the suspect that named one 'David' as the sponsor of Olaitan murder.

Ugolor was awarded N5 million damages by the court against the police for illegal detention after spending 41 days in custody.

Power: DISCOs to face prosecution for sabotaging revenue collection •Minister threatens to sack TCN managers over system collapse

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HE new Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo yesterday warned the Electricity Distribution Companies (DISCOs) that any officer caught sabo-

Aero Airlines’ drivers protest transfer of service

RIVERS of the Aero Airlines yesterday staged a protest at the premises of the airlines at the domestic wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos over the transfer of their service to a firm, Remlord Tours and Car Hire Service, under outsourcing arrangement.

Speaking with newsmen during the protest at the airline's office in Ikeja, Mr Olayinka Abioye, Acting General Secretary of Air Transport Service Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), said the situation was “terrible”.

He said that what the airline was doing amounted to a

lice framed me up.

"The whole aim of the police investigation was to create uncertainty in the minds of Nigerians. People felt uncomfortable with the work we do as NGO and the police played into their hands."

Ugolor urged Nigerians to attend the public hearing by the House of Representative for them to know the truth.

breach of the fundamental human rights of the drivers.

He said the drivers ought to have been carried and denied the involvement of the unions in the matter.

"Some members of the management sat down and gave 41 drivers letters, that they have been transferred without involving the unions.

"The drivers should be told and agree if they want their services to be contracted out.

We told the drivers to return the letters of transfer, which was given to them since Jan. 14. The transfer was to take effect in Feb. 1. If any driver is going to be sacked, we the unions must know why.”

John OFIKHENUA, Abuja taging revenue collection would be made to face the law.

Speaking in Abuja during the technical retreat of the Presidential Task Force on Power (PTFP) on the review of the power sector roadmap, he urged the DISCOs to be serious in their operation in the next few months before they are handed over to the preferred bidders.

His words: "Any of the officers in the distribution companies found to be sabotaging the revenue collection targets of the market will be made to face the full wrath of the law."

Nebo emphasised that government would not tolerate complacency and ineptitude of companies that constitute additional liabilities through the misconduct of these companies.

The managers of the Transmission Company of Nigeria

(TCN) also got a harsh warning from the new minister, who ordered them to either stop the frequent system collapse in the grid or face the sack.

He pointed out that the ministry was concerned about delay in project delivery in the sector and vowed to sort it out.

"I have observed with grave concern the increasing frequency in system collapse of our grid and hereby encourage the operatives of this segment in the TCN to be extra diligent and vigilant.

“I shall not entertain frivolous reasons for continued system collapse. Owners of this process must sit up or be prepared to ship out," he said According to the minister, in the absence of "a major shift towards improved efficiency in project delivery across the value chain, especially in the transmission segment," development of a sustainable private sector-driven power market in Nigeria would be frustrated.

the party was not addressed, the merging parties could take advantage of it.

“The Vice-President and other leaders at the session asked members to be united and focused to prevent the APC from infiltrating PDP.” Another source said: “The meeting agreed that those leaders who have become estranged should be reconciled as part of steps to address the crisis in our party. The 2011 polls divided PDP but we will take stock and make amends where necessary.

“We resolved to rebuild the PDP towards the 2015 poll. So, as the opposition parties are strategising, the ruling party is not taking things for granted at all. We will reunite to put our party on sound footing.”

Responding to a question, the source said: “The G-84 members will soon meet with PDP governors and NWC members to resolve all pending issues. This is part of the reconciliation agenda adopted at the meeting with Sambo.”

A third source claimed that the G-84 members made some observations on some programmes of the government.

He said: “We expressed dissatisfaction that we are not benefitting from the empowerment programmes or schemes of the government at all levels. Yet, we are the foot-soldiers and points of contact with the grassroots.

“We faulted the way the SURE-P scheme is being man-

aged. We begged the VicePresident to prevail on President Goodluck Jonathan to make the scheme more open for many Nigerians to benefit.

“Another important issue we raised was about ministers. We told the VP that they are personalising the offices or the positions they are occupying.

The ministers are inaccessible, even if we want to give advice.

They believe they became ministers on their own merits without the input of the party.

“I think we are moving forward. We will reconcile ahead of 2015.”

The G-84 members, in their memo to the President, joined issues with Tukur and the NWC on the following allegations: •Arbitrary attitude of NWC members on issues and programmes of the party.

•Exclusion of elected party officers by NWC •Need for equity, fairness and justice before the party •A case for reconciliation of all aggrieved party members to move forward •Breach of PDP constitution by not holding National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting •Wrongful and consistent misinterpretation of PDP constitution.

•Management of the party in a cultish nature •Wasting of party resources on personal events, functions, and chartering of aircraft .Stoppage of arbitrary sharing of honorarium in cash and kind.

Kudirat: Court to hear Al-Mustapha's appeal April 29

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HE Court of Appeal, Lagos will on April 29, hear an appeal filed by former Chief Security Officer to the late Gen. Sani Abacha, Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, over his conviction and death sentence.

He and Lateef Shofolahan, a former personal assistant to the late Alhaja Kudirat Abiola, are challenging the sentence handed them by a Lagos High Court on January 30 last year.

They were said to have killed the late Kudirat Abiola, wife of the late politician and business mogul, Moshood Abiola.

The court, presided over by Justice Chima Nweze, fixed the date after the counsel representing both convicts applied for leave to regularise their briefs of argument.

Al-Mustapha's lawyer, former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President, Joseph Daudu (SAN), applied for leave to file their appellants brief of arguments and to serve the respondents.

Shofolahan's lawyer, Mr Olalekan Ojo, also moved a similar application for his client, aligning himself with Daudu.

The respondent, Lagos State, represented by the Solicitor-General, Mr Lawal Pedro (SAN), did not oppose the applications.

Justice Nweze granted the applications and adjourned.

The convicts were arraigned on a four-count charge of conspiracy and murder of Alhaja

Joseph JIBUEZE Abiola on June 4, 1996 along the Lagos/Ibadan Expressway.

The trial judge, Justice Mojisola Dada, had found them guilty of the offence and sentenced them to death by hanging.

The two appealed, challenging the death sentence.

In the notice of appeal filed

by Ojo, the appellants are contending that the death sentence handed by the lower court was unwarranted, unreasonable and a manifest miscarriage of justice.

According to them, the trial judge erred in law by arriving at the conclusion that they conspired to kill Alhaja Kudirat on June 4, 1996.

They are urging the court to set aside the judgment and discharge them of the charges of conspiracy and murder.

Al-Mustapha's appeal was premised on four grounds, while that of Shofolahan was hinged on five grounds.

They faulted the judge’s treatment of the contradictory statements of Barnabas Jabila a.k.a. Sgt. Rogers and Mohmamed Abdul, as well as the reliance on the testimony of Dr. Ore Falomo on the bullet extracted from the body of the late Kudirat.

The appellants also faulted the rejection of portions of Jabila's testimony which they felt favoured them, while applying only claims that did not favour them.

THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2013

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legislative aide in the National Assembly, Mohammed Ibrahim Matazu, has died of burns, following alleged attack on him by his second wife.

Matazu, a former reporter in the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), Kaduna, was accused by the suspect of spending more time with her senior.

He passed on at the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, on Wednesday, eight days after the woman allegedly poured petrol on him and set him ablaze at their Gwarimpa, Abuja residence.

The deceased was an aide to Senator Mohammed Sale (Kaduna Central).

He was first rushed to the National Hospital, then the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada and later the Ahmadu Bello Universith Teaching Hospital (ABUTH).

Matazu's younger brother, Engr. Magaji Ibrahim, said the suspect was upset that the deceased was spending more time with the senior wife in Kaduna and less time with her (second wife) in Abuja.

Matazu and the suspect got married about a year ago.

Magaji said: "On Wednesday, last week, my elder brother called me that he was coming to Kaduna from Abuja to represent Senator Mohammed Saleh at a meeting with the NNPC in Kaduna, and that the senator was travelling to Imo State for another engagement.

"So, on Thursday morning, I saw missed calls on my phone, and I called the number, only for the voice at the

THE NATION SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2013

Wife sets ex-FRCN reporter ablaze •Says he spent too much time with senior wife other end to ask me if I was Matazu's brother, and I said yes.

"He narrated to me what happened to my brother, saying that my brother rushed out of his room with fire all over his body, shouting that the fire was killing him.

"Neighbours rescued him, only for his wife to come out of the house, saying. 'Where is Matazu?' By the time she caught up with him, she asked him, 'What can you do now?' That was at about 9 am on Thursday.

"When the neighbours asked my brother what happened, he told them that it was his wife that poured petrol on his body and set fire to him. At this point, the neighbours now grabbed her and called the police to arrest her, and she was taken to the police station.

"Although he was in pain, my brother followed them to the police station.

“The incident happened in Gwarimpa, Abuja, when he was preparing to come to Kaduna for the meeting.

"He was later rushed to a hospital in Wuse where he was briefly treated and his body bandaged.

“According to the doctor's report, 77 per cent of his body was severely burnt. But inspite of that, he was speaking and discussing with people.

"Then Senator Sale came and advised that we should take him to the National

Hospital, Abuja for better treatment. By the time we arrived the National Hospital, they said there was no more bed for admission. We headed to the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital in Gwagwalada only to be told that they were on strike.

"It was at this point that we begged for an ambulance to enable us to take him to 44 Army Reference Hospital, Kaduna. We arrived 44 Hospital at about 10 pm and immediately, they started treating him.

“We later moved him to Giwa Specialist Hospital and from there, we took him to Ahmadu Bello Teaching Hospital (ABUTH), Shika, Zaria, based on the advice of

doctors at 44 Hospital.

"About seven doctors at Shika tried their best and treated him, and my brother was actually responding to treatment. He was passing stool normally and even told me that he would survive, that I should not be disturbed.

"But at about 4 pm on Wednesday, one of my younger brothers called me and said we should take heart and pray to God, that Matazu had given up. He was buried on Thursday at the Kudenda cemetery.

"The suspect said she poured petrol on him because he was spending more time with the first wife in Kaduna. But my brother was

always in Kaduna because of the assignments the senator gave him to supervise the digging of boreholes in his constituency. So, he used to spend 10 days in Kaduna going round the seven local government areas that make up the constituency before going back to Abuja.

"He would spend almost five days in Abuja before coming back to Kaduna again to continue with the work. But the wife continued to complain that he was not spending enough days in Abuja.

"She was his second wife.

He married her about a year ago and she had no child for him while the first wife has six children.

•Matazu "She is being detained at Wuse police station in Abuja."

Senator Mohammed Sale described the late Matazu as "a very pleasant and friendly personality. He contributed a lot to the development of our party, the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and my legislative duty.

"He was actually the pillar of my office."

How Nigerian singer Goldie Harvey died

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HE sudden death of sensational singer and Nigeria’s representative at the last edition of Big Brother Africa (BBA) Star Game show, Goldie Harvey, on St. Valentine’s Day has continued to generate shocking reactions from music buffs and the entertainment industry in general.

Reports say the singer, who had just returned from the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, United States, died at the Reddington Hospital, Victoria Island, few hours after she arrived Lagos.

“She was full of life upon her return, but suddenly, something went tragically wrong,”

Victor AKANDE, Entertainment Editor said a source, who added that the artiste died in the arms of her friend and colleague, Denrele Edun, a crazy-styled entertainer and former presenter with Sound City music channel.

Kenny Ogungbe, her label boss, could not be reached on the telephone initially, as he was said to be in very bad mood. But Ellam A. Abass, Artiste and Repertoire Manager at Kennis Music, confirmed that the artiste was indeed, dead.

Details of the circumstances surrounding her death remain sketchy, as some attributed her demise to severe headache, while others say it was as a result of acute pneumonia.

Another account said the artiste had suffered deep vein thrombosis, a blood clot resulting from being seated in one place during long hours flight from the US. Reports say such incident is dangerous if it hits the heart As a musician, Goldie started her career in London, with a pop rock group. Her impact in the last BBA House was remarkable, in view of her betrayal by Kenyan Housemate, Prezzo, with whom she had an intimate moment.

“I can’t define my relationship with Prezzo, but I do know that in the house I came to care for him very much. He was the closest person to me in the house. I never saw any of these things that people outside saw. I am almost not believing it somewhat, but I hold no grudge against him. I still think he’s a great individual and at the end of the day, such is life,” the singer had said in an interview after her eviction from the competition.

One of Goldie’s strong wishes was to raise her late mum from death, this, she told The Nation in a recent interview.

However, Kennis Music, the deceased’s label, has officially confirmed the shocking and untimely passage of the pop star. A terse statement issued by the president of the music outfit, Keke Ogungbe, reads: “With a deep sense of loss, we announce the shocking death of our darling music star, Goldie Harvey. Goldie, 31, died on Thursday after she complained of severe headache shortly after her arrival from the United States where she went to witness the

•Ekiti governor mourns her

•Goldie Grammy Award. She was rushed from her Park View, Ikoyi, Lagos residence to her official hospital, Reddington, Victoria Island, Lagos, where doctors pronounced her dead on arrival at exactly 7:30 pm in the evening.

“We consider this period a gloomy moment for us and the entire Nigerian music industry in view of the circumstance in which she passed away, the abundance of talent she exhibited in her short but eventful music career and the various opportunities her trip to the United States of America would have availed her.

“She is survived by her father, step- mother, brothers and sisters. We deeply sympathise with her family and fans all over the world and very grateful to all and sundry, especially, the vibrant Nigerian media for their concern and prompt reportage.

We shall keep everybody informed as events unfold as we are devastated by the sudden loss.”

Meanwhile, the remains of Goldie, who hails from Ekiti State, has been deposited at the mortuary of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, Lagos. Goldie represented Nigeria at the Big Brother Star Game in 2012. Her latest effort, she described as “three nawti singles” from her forthcoming African Invasion album are “Skibo”. “Miliki” and “ Got To Have It,” are currently enjoying heavy rotations on radio and TV stations across the continent.

There had been rumour that the late singer was engaged to Prezzo, who had come to Nigeria shortly after the Big

Brother competition, to apologise for his wrongdoings. Everyone was looking forward to their wedding in 2013.

Born Susan Filani, Goldie, as she is fondly called, change her name to Susan Harvey on arrival from England.

Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, expressed shock on the death of the multiple award winning pop music star.

The Governor in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Olayinka Oyebode, described the death of the artiste as a “big blow to the global entertainment industry.”

He praised Goldie for representing Nigeria well in last year’s edition of Big Brother Africa competition where she won millions of admirers.

Fayemi also described Goldie’s death as a great loss to Ekiti State as the late star hailed from Ikole-Ekiti, headquarters of Ikole Local Government Area of the state.

With Goldie’s death, Fayemi said a bright star from Ekiti, whose impact in the entertainment industry reverberated across the nation and the world stage, has been eclipsed.

He noted that the works of the artiste brought joy to her fans all over the world, saying that he derived consolation from the fact that although Goldie is dead, her music will remain in the hearts of her fans and admirers all over the world.

The Governor urged the family of the deceased to be consoled that their daughter lived a fulfilled life and carved a niche for herself in her chosen career.

In her short but eventful life, Goldie was an ambassador of Project Alert, a world renowned non-profit making organisation. She was the president of the organisation aimed at advocating zero tolerance for all forms of violence against women and young girls. She won more than 10 awards, including Exquisite Lady of the year (ELOY), Best Female Artiste Award and City People Best Female Artiste of the year.

“This great daughter of Ekiti recorded so many feats in her short but eventful life. Our prayer is that God will grant the family and fans the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss,” the statement added.

BBA soulmate pays touching tribute —page 57

COMMENTARY 5

THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2013

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UR climate is changing. What is meant to be the chilly season of harmattan apparently feels more like a scorching heat-wave. Nigeria is supposed to have a wet and dry season, with the wet season starting at different times in the north and south. The harmattan season, the West African winter, is a season of gusty, dry winds, relatively cool at night but warm by day. Presently it is the season of harmattan, but in contrast to the norm of the climate, the weather is hot throughout the night and day. Like the weather, most Nigerians should agree that our climate is changing all the time. Because of global climatic cycles, some of the changes are natural while others are caused by human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels and gas emissions. In the past when I heard scientists talking about protecting the environment and reducing emissions of greenhouse gases, I put it down to the fact that they did not have better things to talk about.

With millions of men, women and children being abused and starving the world over why would a scientist solely be concerned with how many vehicles we drive? Besides, any talk about the ozone layer sounded more like the title of a Sci-Fi adventure movie for children to me back then.

But upon doing some research and coming across numerous meteorological accounts that climate change is one of the most pervasive threats to the web of human life, I realized the supreme importance of considering the devastation of weather change. What prompted me to do research in this field was as a result of the countless, recurring natural disasters that have been occurring and reported all over the world in the last couple of years. Every time one turns on the news there seems to be a report of a hurricane, earthquake, typhoon, snow storm, drought or cyclone and I wanted to understand whether these unfortunate events had any connection with the talk of the greenhouse effect.

The truth is that much of our lives depend on our climate because we rely on water stored underground, in lakes and reservoirs for our personal use and crop irrigation. If the climate changes and warms up, the ability of the land to store moisture or the rain to fall changes. Evidence of the effects of climate change is presently being felt throughout the world. All over the globe glaciers are melting, avalanches are threatening, soil is eroding, water is flooding, snow is receding and oceans are warming; posing a risk to many marine creatures. The warm climate is upsetting seasonal cycles, harming ecosystems, affecting agriculture, food production and causing sealevels to rise. In addition landslides, drought and famine are experienced. On top of this imminent threat, hotter heat waves create an ideal breeding ground for disease infested insects and rodents to expand their range while species are pushed to extinction. In Nigeria the effects could include an increase in epidemics of water-borne diseases such as malaria, typhoid, hepatitis and cholera.

Statistics show overwhelming evidence that the planet has warmed by about 1 degree Fahrenheit over the course of the past century with the final 2 decades of the 20th century being the hottest on record. This is due to rise even more rapidly in the coming decades. The cause of this hybrid is because of the thickening layer of carbon dioxide pollution mostly from power plants and automobiles that traps heat in the atmosphere. Evidence shows that carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels used in vehicles and dirty power plants has formed a blanket around the earth and is warming it. The gasses act like the gas of a greenhouse, trapping heat that would other-

Global warning wise radiate off into space. The heat then rebounds onto the earth’s surface and the planet’s temperature rises, creating the greenhouse effect. Its harmful impact on the worlds’ climate is now so overwhelming especially given the fact that we have been pumping it into the world atmosphere for more than 2 centuries. Although a certain level of global warming is natural and essential to sustain life, the excessive emission of greenhouse gases accelerates this process by trapping too much heat and resulting in devastating effects on the world. Meteorologists argue that the recent change of weather is the natural consequence of this green house effect. Whether we subscribe to this argument or not, we can’t deny that the recent behaviour of the weather and atmosphere has been irregular to what we are normally used to.

If our behaviour as a people has had anything to do with the freak trend of the climate, it is imperative for us to study natural events and strive to correct the continuing damage on the world at this stage. While it is impossible to completely stop global warming we do have the ability to lessen the process, allowing nature time to adjust to this man made problem. Since we know that the majority of heat trapping gases comes from vehicles and power plants, we have the capability to curb their emissions by perfecting modern technologies and passing stronger laws regarding vehicle use and power plant management. Typically, it is quite common to see cars and trucks in this country travelling the motorways with an unbelievable amount of exhaust fume, as if in an exhaust fume competition. Regulations need to be passed prohibiting vehicle owners from operating such hazardous machines because apart from damaging the ozone layer, they further pose threats to other motorists. Since we are a heavily populated country with a vast number of vehicles, the Nigerian authorities should educate the nation on the ill effects of climate change to our environment and the importance of adapting to it. Government and industries should adopt initiatives to take the immediate action that will lead to more efficient public transport, cleaner energy production, increasing the efficiency of buildings and better responsible industrial and agricultural practices.

In a country like Nigeria, there is a requirement for far more effective waste management and disposal. Everywhere we go in this country; there are dumps of rubbish and pollution on drive ways and road sides that it has almost become a trade mark of our towns and cities. The environmental sector in Nigeria needs to introduce more strategies for waste disposal. Previously, past governments had a sanitation eradication program on Saturdays where people were not allowed to roam the streets until 10, after

a general clean up operation. The streets back then were much cleaner than they are now. Maybe the government needs to consider revisiting this practice in order to facilitate the clean up of the environment. The Nigerian government must consider adopting these or other alternative strategies and policies so that it can encourage industries to adapt to climate change. Furthermore, the initiative could include a sensitisation exercise on the benefits of recycling products such as aluminium, glass, plastic, cardboard and paper. This would help because it would allow industries to save a lot of energy needed to make new products. In addition the use of energy efficient technologies and renewable energy resources like wind and solar power could be integrated by the industries that have the means.

On an individual and community level, we can each help cool the earth by small actions such as turning computers off overnight because of the energy it uses, planting trees and plants in order to combat erosion and integrating agricultural lands. The use of better water storage systems such as underground tanks and improved water treatment plants, improved rainwater harvesting strategies and creating community water resources to meet human or livestock needs can also be effective. Even though resources are limited, people engaged in the transportation business should try and service cars regularly and not send them out onto the streets with an unreasonable amount of exhaust seeping out. This is very common with molue buses and trucks.

All Nigerians should get involved in curbing the climate change that is fast becoming a threat to our existence. The whole process of environmental awareness is a difficult feat because as humans we tend to be nonchalant about the effect of gas emissions and water misuse on our environment. It is so easy for us to take the air we breathe for granted and not give a thought about the numerous ways we are polluting it. Unless a stance is taken, the cumulative impact of climate change is bound to affect our air and water quality even worse than it is now, resulting in inestimable consequences on every body living on this planet. If not in our lifetime, the fall back of the damage will affect the occupation, property and lives of our descendants.

Since the root cause of climate change is thought by scientists to lie primarily in the phenomena of huge emissions of gas, we effectively have the power to mitigate its damaging impact on our planet. To protect the health and economic well being of current and future generations, we honestly must reduce our emissions of heat trapping gases by using the practical solutions already at our disposal. Solutions to global warming are available and everyone has a role to play in implementing them at all levels of society.

Since embarking on my research and recovering from the ignorance of climate change that plagued me, I now consider global warming as one of the most serious challenges facing our species today. And since we were the original cause of the problem we can always take solace in the fact that we can also create a solution for it. So even though Nigerians are in the middle of a harmattan heat wave, we should strive to consider our role in keeping our environment clean and eventually saving our world.

I hope that the cumulative negative effect on natural resources and the balance of nature created by our over smoking exhaust pipes and rubbish laden streets serves as a global warning for global warming!

NEWS Federal Government commences dualisaion of Benin-Abuja highway

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HE much awaited commencement of the dualisation of the Benin end (Section 4, Phase 1) of the Benin-LokojaAbuja Expressway was flagged off yesterday by the Minister of Works, Arc. Mike Onolemenmen.

The minister urged the contractors and the supervising team led by the Director Federal Highways (SouthSouth Zone) to do everything within their professional competence to actualise the project.

The project, he said, would be divided into four sections, namely Benin-Ehor, Ehor–Irrua, Irrua–Auchi, and Auchi–Lokoja.

According to him, the multibillion naira project is expected to be completed in 30 months, adding that when completed, President Goodluck Jonathan would have delivered on his promise to link the six geo-political zones in the country with dual carriage ways.

“You will recall that in 2006, the Federal Executive Council awarded four sections of the dualization of

Osemwengie Ben OGBEMUDIA, Benin Abuja-Lokoja Road to Messrs Dantata and Sawoe Construction Company Nig. Ltd, RCC Nig. Ltd, Bulletine Construction Nig. Ltd and Gitto Construzoioni Genralli Nig. Ltd respectively.

“Initially, these projects were constrained by inadequate budgetary provision,

which made the projects to linger until the establishment of SURE-P by Mr. President in January 2012.

“This action has injected the much needed funds required for the completion of the projects, and I am optimistic that the four projects will be fully realised by March 2014,” he said.

The minister explained that the Federal Ministry of Works followed a rigorous

competitive tender that saw the emergence of the contractors now saddled with the responsibility of actualising the dream of completing the projects.

He called on the traditional rulers in Edo and Kogi states and the people to give the contractors all the needed support for the full realization of the projects.

It will be recalled that the construction of the express-

way, which commenced from Algiers in Algeria, through Niger Republic down to Lagos, Nigeria in the Gulf of Guinea, was conceived by African leaders in the seventies as part of the economic and social integration of African countries south of the Sahara.

“The road is a very important road. It is a part of the Trans-Sahara Highway which starts in Algiers, Al-

geria in the Mediterranean Sea Port through Niger Republic to Lagos, Nigeria in the Gulf of Guinea. So, it is a major highway for regional economic and social integration of many African states.

It is an expressway with control of sssets, dualised, and it will just be like the Ibadan-Lagos Expressway and Benin-Shagamu Express way”, he said.

NDLEA takes over notorious drug spot in Aba

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HE National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on Friday raided and took over the notorious hard drugs retail market, York, in Aba, Abia State, in an effort to curb the activities of hard drug marketers in the state.

Mrs Florence Ezeonye, the agency’s State Commander, told reporters after the raiding operation that the notorious hard drugs spot had become its newest beat in the state.

Sunny NWANKWO, Aba “I am saying that the purpose of this operation today is to wipe out that particular name called York, a retail market for hard drugs.

“York is now our beat, which has never happened in the history of Abia NDLEA Command.

York is now a beat for our officers, Instead of saying York for hard drug dealers, it is York for NDLEA officers,’’ she said.

According to the NDLEA boss, “the agency was collaborating with other sister security agencies, state government and some concerned citizens who offered to pay for office spaces in York so that our officers can stay there as a beat.”

She expressed optimism that with the presence of security operatives at the drug market now that the area has been raided, drug dealers would not come near the spot again.

“I think for now, people should watch out and see whether there will be York after today’s operation or business as usual. It is always better seen than heard.

“I am saying whatever is within our power to do so that we don’t see York in existence; a retail market for hard drug.

Ezeonye said the challenge the agency would face was to provide a rehabilitation home for drug addicts who were caught.

Hinting that building a

rehab home for addicts arrested by NDELA officers would go a long way to keep them off drugs.

“When you go again, you can catch a handful or nobody, or those who are only the users, which is of no use to us.

“The only way they can be useful is if there is a rehab centre where we can put them and through rehabilitation process get them back into good use.

“But where there is no rehab centre, catching them is like a useless venture.”

6 NEWS

THE NATION, SATURDAY FEBRUARY 16, 2013

Jonathan moves against pension boss Maina •Risks dismissal from civil service T •INTERPOL steps in to prevent escape abroad

HE embattled Chair man of the Pension Re form Task Force, Mr. Abdulrasheed Maina, runs the risk of dismissal from the Federal Civil Service, if he remains in hiding and fails to defend the allegations against him.

Alternatively,he could be retired.

Maina is currently in hiding ostensibly for fear of being killed by the “pension cabal”.

Already, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Alhaji Isa Bello Sali, yesterday directed the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior to initiate disciplinary proceedings against Maina who is a Deputy Director in the ministry.

The HoS’s move stemmed from a President Goodluck Jonathan’s directive also yesterday that disciplinary proceedings be initiated against Maina for absenting himself from work without leave.

President Jonathan said the PRTF Chairman has violated the civil service rules by absenting himself from work without leave and should be sanctioned accordingly.

He spoke while receiving a status report from the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, on the police failed efforts to execute the warrant issued by the Senate for the arrest of Maina.

The Presidency had first said on Wednesday that Maina’s fate could only be determined by laid down civil service rules.

“Maina is a civil servant.If he has done something that amounts to a breach of the civil service rule,the appropriate office to do the right thing and ensure that due process is followed is the office of the Head of Service of the Federation,” the Presidency said and denied backing him.

And yesterday, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, said Section 030402 of the Federal Government’s Public Service Rules lists Absence from Duty without Leave as an act of Serious Misconduct punishable by dismissal.

Abati,in a statement,said: “The Inspector-General of Police, Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar, stated in his report to President Jonathan that after receiving the Senate’s warrant for the arrest of Alhaji Maina, he had constituted a team of detectives under the leadership of a Deputy Inspector-General of Police to find and arrest him in compliance with the Senate’s directive.

“The Inspector-General said that the police has since mounted surveillance at Alhaji Maina’s home and office, but has been unable to arrest him because he has gone into hiding and stayed away from both locations since the warrant was issued, leading to his publicly being declared wanted by the police.

“Alhaji Abubakar assured the President that ‘intensive search’ operations were still ongoing for the arrest of Alhaji Maina and that the police will not relent until he is apprehended and produced before the Senate.

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Federal High Court, Abuja yesterday re jected a request by the Chairman of the Pension Reform Task Force (PRTF), Mr. Abdul-Rasheed Maina.

Justice Adamu Bello dismissed his motion exparte seeking interim orders of injunction against the Senate President, David Mark; the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Muhammed Abubakar; and others for issuing a bench warrant against him.

The exparte application was brought pursuant to Sections 46(3) and 6(6) of the 1999 Constitution, and Order 4 Rule 4(c) of the Fundamental Human Right Enforcement Act. It was supported by a nine-paragraph affidavit of urgency.

Moving the motion, Maina's counsel, Mogaji Mahmud (SAN), recalled that a duly filed motion on notice for the enforcement of his client's human rights had been served on parties, but noted that the defendants are acting in breach of the suit.

According to him, once a suit has been filed, all parties must maintain that nothing is done to destroy the subject matter of the case.

Mahmud submitted that the conduct of the defendants, through constant threats and steps taken, had injected fear into Maina's mind which led to the application.

Dismissing it, Justice Bello said the application was belated and offended the rules of the court.

The judge noted that the senior advocate had commented on the exparte application in a television interview on Thursday and even mentioned his (Justice Bello) name as the judge hearing it when it was not supposed to be in the public domain.

The judge said: "I must say that the conduct of the learned senior counsel in the circumstance is inappropriate. By leaking the hearing of the exparte application to the general public, he has wittingly or unwittingly converted the motion exparte to a motion in notice, therefore depriving this court the discretion to grant the interim orders of injuncYusuf ALLI, Managing Editor, Northern Operation, and Augustine EHIKIOYA, Abuja “In his directive to the Head of Service, Alhaji Isa Sali, President Jonathan noted that the InspectorGeneral’s report clearly indicated that Alhaji Maina had absconded from his official duties.

“President Jonathan directed the Head of Service to act expeditiously on the disciplinary proceedings against Alhaji Maina and report back to him on actions taken.”

It was also gathered that INTERPOL has placed him on its watch-list to prevent him from relocating or escaping abroad.

The Nigeria Police declared him wanted last week on the strength of a warrant of arrest issued by the Senate President,Chief David

Court rejects bid to stop arrest Kamarudeen OGUNDELE, Abuja tion.

"On this whole alone, the application cannot be granted.”

"Any exparte motion for interim reliefs under the Fundamental Rights of Enforcement especially under Order 4 must be filed before the service of the main application for the enforcement of the Applicant's Fundamental Rights and not after service.

"It is too late in the day to approach the court under Order 4. If there was any urgency in the matter, that urgency was lost when the applicant filed and served his motion on notice on the respondents without filing the exparte application to seek the interim reliefs.

It is trite law that self-induced urgency is not a basis upon which interim orders of injunction are granted.

"Consequently, in view of all the reasons stated, I decline to grant the interim orders sought by the applicant. Let him await the hearing of the motion on notice which is fixed for Monday 18th so that other parties could be heard on merit", Justice Bello added.

Maina was recently declared wanted by the Police Headquarters following an arrest warrant personally signed by Mark because he refused to honour the Senate's invitation to defend himself over alleged pension fraud.

In the substantive suit to be heard on Monday, Maina is seeking an order setting aside the warrant of arrest issued by the IG against him on Febraury 2, following a resolution by the Senate.

He wants the court to quash the purported report of the Senate Committee's resolutions that led to the bench warrant.

According to him, the action violated his fundamental right as guaranteed under Section 35(1) of the 1999 Constitution.

Maina is praying the court to restrain the Senate from interfering with his official duties and from inviting him having completed and submitted their report without giving him fair hearing.

He is also asking for N100 billion as exemplary damages and N500,000 as general damages.

•A DECLARATION that the Decision of the Senate through

its Joint Committee on Establishment and Public Service; and the Committee on State and Local Government administration directing the immediate arrest and detention of the applicant by the 5thRespondent without any legal justification is unconstitutional illegal ultra vires null and void and of effect what so ever as same violates section 36(1) and section 6 (6) B of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).

•AN ORDER restraining the respondents especially the 3rd , 4th and 5th respondents, their agents, servants and privies howsoever called, and either jointly and/or severally from interfering with management and administration of Pension Reform Task Team or initiating the arrest of the applicant as Chairman, Pension Reform Task Team as same is unconstitutional, illegal, null and void as same violate the provisions of section 36 (1) and 6 (6) B of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

•AN ORDER restraining the 3rd & 4th respondents jointly and severally from further issuance of any letter of invitation to the applicant as respondents having completed and submitted their report without giving fair hearing to the applicant is a violation of the applicant's right as guaranteed under the Constitution.

The 3rd and 4th respondents are hereby put on notice to produce the said report before this honourable court to ascertain whether the applicant was actually giving fair hearing before the said report was made.

•AN ORDER quashing the purported report of the 3rd and 4th respondents (Senate Committee on Establishment and Public Service; and Senate Committee on State and Local Government Administration) as it affects the applicant his court.

•AN ORDER OF CERTIORARI mandating the respondents either by themselves, their agents, servants, privies however so called before this court on any wrong alleged to

have been committed by the applicant in the exercise of his duties as Chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team and / or setting aside the resolution of the 1st respondent mandating the 5th respondent to arrest the applicant.

•A DECLARATION that the threat and intimidation and attempts to arrest the applicant by the respondent on the basis of the applicant exercise of his lawful and legitimate duties as chairman, Pension Reform Task Team is unconstitutional, illegal, null and void and of no effect whatsoever.

•AN ORDER of injunction, restraining the respondents their agents, servants and privies however so called, either jointly and/or severally from arresting or threatening to arrest the applicant who is exercising his lawful duties a Chairman, Pension Reform Task Team.

•AN ORDER of this honourable court setting aside or quashing the purported warrant of arrest issued by the respondents jointly and or severally by themselves or their agents , privies, servants however so called for the arrest of the applicant in the exercise of his duties as Chairman, Pension Reform Task Team.

•AN ORDER of perpetual injunction restraining the respondents jointly and/or severally by themselves and or their agents, privies servants, however so called from further unlawful harassment, intimidation and attempt to arrest the applicant, the Chairman, Pension Reform Task Team and quashing the resolution of the 1st respondent mandating the 5th respondent mandating the respondent to arrest the applicant.

•AN ORDER directing the respondents to pay the applicant 1,000,000,000:00 (One Billion Naira) on the footing of the aggravated and exemplary damages for unlawful interference with applicant’s right to perform his lawful duties and sum of N500,000,000:00 (Five Hundred Million Naira) as general and exemplary damages.

tor of Press and Publications, Mr. Tope Ajakaiye, said the police report confirmed that Maina could not be located.

Ajakaiye said: “The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Alhaji Isa Bello Sali, has directed the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior to initiate disciplinary proceedings against Mr. Abdulrasheed Maina, a Deputy Director in the Customs, Immigration, and Prisons Pensions Office (CIPPO), an agency under the ministry.

“In his directive to the Permanent Secretary, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation said that following the submission of a report from the Inspector-General of Police to Mr. President of the inability of the Nigeria Police to locate the officer, it has become apparent that he has absconded from duty without leave, an action which, he said, carries severe

penalty in line with Public Service Rules No. 030301 to 030304.”

A government officer threw light on what awaits Maina if the current stalemate is not resolved on time.

He said: “With the disciplinary proceedings in place now, Maina is likely to be dismissed or retired from service.

“These two disciplinary measures are in Rule 030301.

So, it is left to the Head of Service to make recommendations based on available facts and Mina’s defence.

“Rule 030301 reads: ‘Misconduct is defined as an act if wrongdoing or improper behaviour which is inimical to the image of the service and which can be investigated or proved. It can also lead to termination and retirement.

“These include scandalous conduct, immoral behaviour, unruly behaviour, drunken-

ness, foul language, assault and battering. (b) rejection to proceed on transfer or accept posting, habitual lateness to work and deliberate delay of files.

“Rule 00304 says: ‘It shall be the duty of every officer to report any case of misconduct that comes to his or her notice to an officer superior to the officer involved...it shall be the duty of that officer to report to the Permanent Secretary or Head of an extraministerial office without delay, if he or she considers it necessary that the officer should be interdicted”.

INTERPOL was said to have watch-listed Maina as part of the manhunt for him.

A security source said: “Maina has been watch-listed, and he can be arrested in any part of the world.

“Maina should come out of his hideout in his own interest. We know he is hiding in Abuja; we will fish him out.”

•Maina Mark.

Government decided to initiate disciplinary action, against Maina after President Jonathan was briefed by the Senate leadership,sources said.

The executive arm was said to have concluded that it would be in its best interest to avoid a fresh crisis with the l egislature.

Maina has not been attending to official matters,neither has he physically responded to issues raised by the Senate.

The abrupt closure of the PRTF Office at the Federal Secretariat, Abuja without deference to any authority is seen in government circle as misconduct while the police report on the matter submitted to the President yesterday seems to have compounded his woes.

The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation ,in a statement through his Direc-

NEWS 7

THE NATION, SATURDAY FEBRUARY 16, 2013

NDLEA vs Baba Suwe: Wrong listing of suit stalls appeal HE Court of Appeal,

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•From left: Vice President Namadi Sambo; Senator Kabiru Gaya; Deputy Corps Marshal (Motor Vehicle Administration), Danjuma Garba; and Deputy Corps Public Education Officer, Bisi Kazeem, during the Jumat prayer to mark the Federal Road Safety Corps’ 25th anniversary at the Abuja Central Mosque...yesterday.

Lagos yesterday failed to hear an appeal filed by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) against the N25million awarded popular actor, Babatunde Omidina (alias Baba Suwe), by a Lagos High Court, Ikeja.

This is the second time parties would come for the case without it being heard.

The case was scheduled for parties to argue their briefs, but its hearing could not go on.

The court, presided over by Justice Chima Nweze, said the suit was wrongly listed under matters for motion instead of for argument of briefs.

This led to an adjournment of further proceedings till April 8 when the error would have been rectified and hearing notices issued.

The NDLEA is challenging the Justice Yetunde Idowu’s judgment delivered on November 24 last year in which she held that the agency’s detention of Omidina and inducing him to excrete suspected banned substances violated his rights.

The agency, in the Notice of Appeal, described the N25million award as “excessive”, adding that it was arbitrary, and that its detention of Omidina on suspicion of drug ingestion was within the bound of law.

“The award of N25 million as compensation is excessive in the circumstances of this case. There was reasonable ground for detention of the applicant (Omidina) as well as documentary evidence placed before the court to justify the period of detention.

ACN’s merger with other parties inevitable — Ajimobi

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OVERNOR Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has described the merger of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) with other opposition parties in the country as inevitable.

He stated this yesterday while briefing newsmen at the end of the state ACN Elders’ Forum held at the Government House, Agodi, Ibadan.

Governor Ajimobi observed that the people of Ni-

geria were tired of the misrule of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) since the return of democracy in 1999.

He expressed the concern that Nigerians had continued to suffer under the administration of the PDP, stressing that it had been deceiving people and inflicting pains and poverty on them.

According to the governor, the coming together of the opposition parties will un-

doubtedly wrestle power from the ruling PDP and correct the imbalances in the administration of the country.

“The coming together will undoubtedly wrestle power from the PDP; it is not only about power really; it is about changes, eliminating poverty; it is about helping our people to have better life,’’ he said.

Governor Ajimobi said that the success of the meeting of the Elders’ Forum was a re-

flection of the support of the party for the government and also the willingness of the people to eliminate fractionalization and encourage unity within the party.

He said that the meeting was called as a follow-up to the reconciliation efforts during which aggrieved members were reconciled in order to ensure unity within the party.

“There is no human organi-

zation where you will not have misunderstanding and differences, but it is our duty as leaders to reconcile the differences for the benefit of our party and by extension, the citizenry of Oyo State,’’ the governor said.

He described the outcome of the meeting as overwhelming, stressing that it was attended by all party elders from Ibadan, Oyo, Oke Ogun, Ogbomoso, Ibarapa and other zones across the state.

“The applicant did not make out a case in the claim to justify the award of N25 million by the trial judge.”

It appealed “the whole decision” of Justice Idowu, saying she erred in law in several respects.

The agency said the judge was wrong to hold that it was not justified to detain Omidina from the day of his arrest on October 12 to October 21 on the orders of a Federal High Court.

NDLEA said it has the statutory power to detain a person suspected of having committed a drug-related offence or suspected of drug ingestion for purpose of investigation.

It said the judge did not reject or discountenance the scans which showed that there were banned substances in Omidina’s body.

The agency added that the judge “misdirected herself on the facts” when she held that the acts of the NDLEA in keeping Omidina for nine days were a flagrant abuse and infringement of his fundamental rights.

“The award was arbitrary as the principle upon which it was made was not reflected in the judgment. The principles relating to aggravated and exemplary damages adumbrated by the trial judge were not applied to the facts of the case,” the agency said.

Unspent budgets: Court rejects Energy Commission’s objection Federal High Court,

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Abuja yesterday re jected the bid by the Nigerian Atomic Energy Commission (NAEC) to frustrate a suit demanding account of the unspent budgets of 2010 and 2011.

Ruling in a suit brought under the Freedom of Information (FoI) Act by a public interest lawyer, Bob Olukoya, Justice Adeniyi Ademola dismissed the preliminary objection of the commission and its Chairman, Dr. Franklin Osaisai.

The judge said the plaintiff/applicant's leave as granted was in substantial compliance with the rules of the court.

He also rejected the defendants’ argument that the refusal of the applicant to particularize the facts contained in his statement was fatal to his case.

Justice Ademola held that the plaintiff's "motion on notice is clear and unambiguous" and therefore "competent".

"I'm yet to see where they (defendants) can be prejudiced. Secondly, they have not be taken by surprise.

"The era of using technicali-

Kamarudeen OGUNDELE, Abuja ties as against to substantial justice is gone. The issue of technicalities like this will not be entertained by the court. From the foregoing, the motion filed by the two defendant is frivolous and is hereby dismissed. The court shall bear the cost".

The matter was adjourned till February 22 for hearing of motion on notice.

In the suit, the plaintiff is seeking an order of mandamus compelling the defendants to disclose the total amount returned to the treasury as unspent budgets for 2010 and 2011.

The motion was filed by his counsel, Yetunde Atanda, pursuant to Section 7 and 20 of the Freedom of Information Act 2011 and Order 34 Rules 1, 3 (1), (2) and 6(b) of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules 2009 and under the inherent jurisdiction of the court.

The plaintiff is demanding the total amount allocated to the Centre for Nuclear Energy Research and Training

Nordica Fertility Centre celebrates at 10

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ORDICA Fertility Cen tre, Lagos, an assisted conception provider, is organising an open-day programme for the general public today . This is done in the spirit of the 10th anniversary of the centre which comes up on April 14.

This open day will afford the public the opportunities to tour the the centre, where visitors will enjoy firsthand knowledge of facility available, the equipment and the conception possibilities; and

medical consultation where they will get unrestricted consultation with specialists on various fertility related challenges at no cost.

Also they will receive expert advice and counselling on medical or emotional issues pertaining to fertility and family health.

In a press release signed by the centre’s business development manager, Dayo Fowe, the centre will make the event memorable for all the visitors.

(CNERT), University of Maiduguri and Centre for Nuclear Energy Studies (CNES), University of PortHarcourt for 2010 and 2011; copies of its annual report and amount payable to a named contractor for the provision of services in 2011.

He is also demanding details of the recruitment of additional staff upon which interview was conducted on September 25, 2012 and details of the competitive bids from companies interested in the provision of security services to the commission.

According to the plaintiff, by virtue of Section 4(a) of the FOI Act, when a person requests for information from a public official, institution or agency, they are "under a binding legal obligation to provide the applicant with the information requested for except as otherwise provided by the Act, within seven days after the application is received".

•The information requested for, apart from not being exempted from disclosure under the FOI Act, bothers on issues of national interest, public concern, social justice, good governance, transparency and accountability".

In an affidavit, KarikAntyak Cynthia averred that since November 6, 2012 that Olukoya requested for the information through a letter, the defendants have "failed, refused and or neglected to provide the details".

•By virtue of Section 1(1) of the FOI Act 2011, the plaintiff/applicant is entitled as of right to request for or gain access to information which is in the custody or possession of any public official, agency or institution.

•Mrs. Amosun distributing food items to the beneficiaries of her programme …yesterday

Amosun’s wife gives succour to the needy

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ORE than 2,000 needy pregnant women and aged people yesterday benefited from the UPLIFTing the Needy, Food Outreach programme, a project by the wife of the governor of Ogun State, Mrs. Olufunso Amosun, to reduce poverty and better the lot of the aged and pregnant women across the state.

Speaking at the official flagoff ceremony of the programme at the Ijebu-Ode Local Government Secretariat, Ijebu-Ode, Mrs Amosun said: “The programme intends to create a food bank for the lessprivileged in the state with the aim of feeding them within their locality and save them from the stress of travelling to Abeokuta, the state capital. By this act, we are giving our needy people a good sense of belonging. We are also assuring them not to lose hope.”

Mrs. Amosun added that the aged and pregnant women deserved to be cared for and revered in the society, saying the UPLIFTing the Needy, Food Outreach programme would support families in Ogun State by ensuring that they eat balanced diet meals which would protect them from nutritional related diseases as well as help them maintain a good healthy living.

Various food items like rice, beverages, groundnut oil, maternity kits and cash, among others were distributed to all the needy people in attendance.

The wife of the Governor thanked all her partners, especially Mimee Noodles and May & Baker for their unflinching support and solidarity, calling on other corporate bodies and individuals to join hands with government to support the cause of the needy in the state

as part of their social corporate responsibilities.

In his remarks, the Chairman, Ijebu–Ode Local Government, Mr. Oluwakemi Dada, commended the efforts and initiative of Mrs. Amosun for her continuous efforts to boost the living standard of the less privileged, saying this would go a long way to alleviate poverty across the state.

He said the programme would reduce the gap between the poor and the rich and urged other well-meaning Nigerians to donate to the cause of humanity by emulating the good work of the wife of the governor to better the lots of the needy.

Speaking on behalf of the pregnant women, Mrs. Sadiat Adewale thanked the wife of the governor for her kind gesture, noting that the maternity kits and food items would support their expenses during and after delivery.

8 NEWS

THE NATION, Saturday, February 16, 2013

PDP sacks Obasanjo’s men, replaces Ogun State Exco L OYALISTS of former President Olusegun Obasanjo in the National Executive Committee of the PDP and the Ogun State chapter ,yesterday, came under a fresh assault from the party leadership.

The Bamanga Tukur led National Working Committee (NWC) sacked the Southwest Zonal officers, the notable ones being Engineer Segun Oni, national vice-chairman, and Chief Bode Mustapha, national auditor. The national secretary, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, had earlier been sacked by a court.

Mustapha’s office was immediately locked up and all the staff attached to him sent packing. He was replaced with Alhaji Fatai Adewola Adeyanju.

Besides, the PDP leadership recognised the the Dayo Soremi –led executive committee which is loyal to Chief Buruji Kashamu as against the Dipo Odujirin faction which enjoys Obasanjo ‘s support.

The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, said:"The Peoples Democratic Party is to rectify its records by deleting the name of Chief Bode Mustapha as National Auditor and replacing the same with Alhaji Fatai Adewole Adeyanju."

The party, he added, will " organize a fresh Southwest zonal congress at which access is to be given to delegates elected at congresses conducted by or under the

n Gbade OGUNWALE, Assistant Editor, Abuja n

supervision of the Soremi-led Ogun State Executive and accept the candidacy, for offices zoned to Ogun State, of only the persons nominated at the said congresses for the said offices."

It set up a 17-member caretaker committee to run the zonal affairs of the party in Ogun State pending the conduct of the state congresses.

The committee is headed by an aide to the national chairman, Chief Ishola Filani as zonal chairman.

Other members of the committee are:• Chief Pegba Otemolu - Zonal Secretary • Adedeji Doherty - Organizing Secretary • Rasak Adekonla Akanni - Auditor • Bolaji Jeje - Youth Leader • Orimolade Olanrewaju - Treasurer • Olawunmi Oshinmoluke Yuba - Woman Leader • Banji Obasanmi - Financial Secretary • Barrister Shola Oludipe - Legal Adviser • Lawal Waheed Olatunde - Publicity Secretary • Emmanuel Oladejo - Ex-Officio • Olalekan Abubakar - Ex-Officio • Seun Adesanya - Ex-Officio

Four remanded in prison over motor parks violence

The PDP said its decisions were informed by the three separate judgments of a Federal High Court nullifying the elections of the affected officers way back in 2012.

It said: "Following protracted dispute on the Ogun State and South West Zonal Exco of the Party, a series of suits were filed on the matter, amongst which include FHC/L/CS/1248/2011, FHC/L/CS/282/2012 and FHC/L/CS/347/2012.

"The National Working Committee of the party met on 14th February 2013 and gave careful consideration to the issues and decided that, in line with respect to the rule of law which is a cardinal principle of the present administration, the PDP as a law abiding party, will immediately comply with the said judgment. This is all the more so that same has not been set aside or reversed by any superior court", the party emphasised.

Oyinlola's office was also locked during the week on the instruction of the party's national chairman. His portraits were removed from the party's secretariat and all the staff attached to his office sent packing.

The leaders of the party from the Southwest had, on Wednesday, met at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja with members of the NWC in attendance.

I

Firm laments counterfeiting of product •Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi (R) with a cross-section of newly-appointed caretaker chairmen in Ekiti State, during the swearing-in ceremony, in Ado-Ekiti... yesterday.

Okene women threaten to go naked over alleged extra-judicial killings S reactions continue to mount over the brutal murder of 30-year-old Grace Abata Ejeogu, women associations in Kogi State have threatened to go naked on the street if justice is not done over the spate of extra-judicial killings in Ebira land.

It will be recalled that Miss Grace Abata, a holder of a Masters Degree in Sociology, was allegedly murdered by masked men wearing army uniform.

A statement, signed by the leader of the group, Hajiya Laruba Abdulsalam, alleged that the spate of killing in Okene has reached a dangerous level, which it claimed may wipe out the people of the area if not curtailed.

She called on the Federal Government and the National Council of Women Society (NCWS) to investigate the killings and bring the killers to face the law.

The association alleged the complicity of the Special Task Force (STF) in extra-judicial killings in the area, vowing to strip naked if

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n Muhammad BASHIR, Lokoja n justice is not done.

"We don't don't know what we have done to the government that they want to eliminate us from the face of the earth. We are issuing a seven-day ultimatum to the government to investigate the killings and call off their soldiers from our land or we would have no choice than to stage a naked protest against both the state and the Federal Government," the statement added.

In similar vein, a socio-political group, under the umbrella of Kaneri Movement, has urged the military to investigate the continuous spate of extra-judicial killings in Ebira land of Kogi State. The group alleged that the Special Tax Force (STF) drafted to maintain peace in the area has lost focus.

But the commander of the STF, Lt Col. Gabriel Olorunyomi, denied the involvement of his men in the killings, insisting that the mandate of his men is to maintain peace in the area.

Group calls for national conference

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Ex-Officio Ex-Officio Ex-Officio Ex-Officio

T was a day of praise and worship at the recent dedication ceremony of the Restoration Parish of Motailatu Church, a family of the Cherubim and Seraphim worldwide.

The event, which was described as the preparation of soul’s salvation by many, attracted dignitaries from different walks of life who thronged the venue to witness the dedication.

In his sermon, the missioner of the church, His Eminence Archbishop Isaiah Akinadewo, Primate, Founder and Supreme Head, Motailatu Missions worldwide, said the dedication of the church is part of man’s contributions to the service of God. The Superintendent and Shepherd-in-charge, Gabriel Akinadewo, urged religious leaders to remain steadfast in the service of God and shun earthly desires like acquisition of property, miracles and fanfare, even as he lamented the lack of commitment on the part of men of God. “We have to commit and rededicate ourselves to matters of the Lord. It is the only sure path to eternal life. We should encourage our leaders to be righteous and fear God. If we do this, the rate of corruption, other crimes and kidnappings will stop.”

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HE National chairman of National Summit Group, Alhaji Tanko Yakassai has said it will convoke a people’s national conference to deliberate on the myriad of challenging facing the country.

Rising from its expanded National Working Committee meeting, held in Asaba on Thursday, Yakassai expressed the belief that the conference would strengthen the unity of the country and resolve the difference that is putting the people apart.

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‘Rededicate yourselves to work of God’

n Ernest NWOKOLO, Abeokuta n

OUR persons were yesterday remanded in prison custody on the order of Magistrate Mathew Akinyemi of Abeokuta Magistrate Court III for participating in Thursday’s disturbance at the Kuto Motor Park, Abeokuta, Ogun State, leaving no fewer than seven persons injured.

The four are Abiodun Sotomiwa; Morufu Alao; Adebayo Taiwo and Tosin Sayanolu.

The four accused persons were arraigned before Magistrate Akinyemi on a four-count charge, touching on felony, breach of peace and intimidation in a suit number MA/99c/13.

When the case was mentioned, the prosecuting Police Officer, Inspector Sunday Eigbejiale, told the court that the accused persons committed an offence punishable under sections 516, 81,84 and 86 of the criminal code law of Ogun State cap 29.

According to the prosecution, the accused persons conspired to commit felony and an act likely to cause breach of peace in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

The four were also accused of challenging the constituted authorised users of Kuto Motor Park to a fight.

They, however, pleaded not guilty to the four counts.

Counsel to the accused persons, Mr T.O. Idris, applied for their bail.

But the Magistrate reserved hearing on the bail application till 21st of February, 2013.

• Samiu Babatunde • Prince Tope Ademiluyi • Tunde Olowofoyeku • Prince Omoniyi Alo

It agreed that holding a National Conference before celebration of the country’s centenary as a national was very important. “A National Dialogue before the centenary anniversary of Nigeria’s creation is an imperative task as it remains the most fundamental strategy to protecting the unity and stability of the Nigerian nation”.

The body appealed to all stakeholders in the Nigeria project, particularly the elected political office

holders, to support the proposed National Dialogue as this was germane to improving the existing social, economic and political institutions in Nigerian federation.

He remarked that the dialogue was capable of removing the dangers that had threatened the fabric of the country in all ramifications.

They equally paid courtesy call on the Governor of Delta State Emmanual Uduaghan where

they reassured him of the imperative of the conference and appealed to him and the other governors in who would make huge contribution to the success of the dialogue to show dedication to the project.

The group expressed deep appreciation to government and people of the state for their hospitality and support, and stated that the National Summit Group, anticipates similar hospitality and support nationwide from Nigerians.

S part of its efforts to protect and sustain its brand from the activities of infringers, the management of House of Stewart Limited Nigeria, manufacturer of Roll Bond cigarette paper in Nigeria, has cried out against what it termed as the increasing rate of counterfeit paper used in packaging the cigarette in the country.

According to the company, counterfeit papers endanger the health of the users, noting that in the last three years, the brand has dominated the Nigerian market.

A statement by the Sale and Marketing Director of FMCG distribution Limited, Gandhi Anandan, said there are two major problems facing the brand.

According to it, “Along with the loss in legitimate sales, other cheap copy-cat products came on to the market which adopted a very similar appearance to that of Roll Bond. Names such as Eby Roll and Rizz Bond appeared on the market, having a striking resemblance in design to Roll Bond. These are being imported unlawfully and are not registered with the Nigerian authorities.”

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ACN chieftain hails Tinubu, others over merger chieftain of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Oyo State, Alhaji Abass Oloko, has commended the National Leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other facilitators of the merger plan for setting aside all primordial sentiments and interests for the common good of the nation.

He described the merger of the four opposition parties as a viable option for the political development of the country.

In a release issued yesterday, Oloko stated that the merger was a positive development in the polity and that it is an initiative that should be embraced by well-meaning Nigerians because its success will hinge on the genuine desire to enthrone good governance, anchored on accountability and justice.

"The resolution to form a political party is committed to the principles of internal democracy, focused on serious issues of concern to our people, determined to bring corruption and insecurity to an end, and to grow our economy and create jobs in their millions through education, housing, agriculture and industrial growth.”

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Madam Ogunseye for burial Feb 22 HE final funeral ceremony for late Madam Christiana Oluremi Ogunseye will hold on Friday, February 22, 2013, at the Cathedral Church of St. Peter, Ake, Abeokuta, Ogun State.

According to a statement by the family, the remains of Madam Ogunseye, who died earlier this year at the age of 83, would be laid to rest at Kobape Cemetery in Ogun State after the service.

Guests will be hosted after the internment at the Rev. Kuti Memorial Grammar School, Isabo, Abeokuta, Ogun State.

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2013

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Resignations, mandates and security

however and Joseph Ratzinger was elected Pope by the Cardinals in Rome in 2005. This made me to believe a claim in the book that the Cardinals had been schooled to believe that when the time comes to elect a Pope, the potential pope will exhibit exceptional and unusual spiritual qualities that will stand him out from other candidates; and I believe that Ratzinger’s actions at the funeral of his predecessor clinched his election as pope by his fellow cardinals eight years ago.

However this also created problems for Benedict XVI as some American Catholic bishops who fled the US at the beginning of the shameful pedophilia crisis on which the Catholic Church paid a huge amount to placate victims in the US, were seen playing crucial roles at Pope John Paul ll ’s funeral at the Vatican . Indeed I had thought a fall out of this had led to Benedict XVI’s resignation before I learnt with great relief of the real reason, which was his failing health. Please help me wish my favorite Pope a happy retirement.

In Stephen Keshi’s case his resignation was a shock because he had just won the highest football trophythe AFCON Cup - for Nigeria and made history in the process as the first Nigerian player to captain his nation to win the coveted trophy as he did in 1994; and to do so again as a coach as he just did in S Africa, in 2013. Although Keshi has been persuaded to withdraw his resignation his reason for this was apparently a standing threat by his employers to engage foreign technical advisers for the team he had just guided most unexpectedly and most professionally to a fantastic victory in S Africa. I think Keshi used the adage that an actor quits while the ovation is largest to get the better of his bosses and this has worked well for him and I think the nation and the Super

Eagles.

I also think Keshi’s fears and anxiety were apparent earlier at a press conference after the Mali Match in S Africa when he seized the microphone literally and spoke in French to say he did not hate white coaches but that they should be qualified before coming to Africa. In addition Keshi had been fired before by Togo after leading that nation to qualify for the last world cup and that experience must have emboldened the Nigerian coach not to be a sitting duck this time around and once bitten quite shy became a good strategy to show his concern and get not only official redress and recant on his fears, but overdue national approbation and commendation .I wish Stephen Keshi and the Super Eagles the same success they have earned in S Africa, in spite of the doubts of all of us, at the coming Continental competition and the World Cup and assure them that their victory in AFCON has earned them the respect of all Nigerians willy-nilly for these important events.

I listened to Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni this week on BBC saying that it was a shame that African nations could not help Mali till France came to do so. Museveni wondered what the armies in the region ECOWAS were in uniform for and why they could not perform . This to me was a genuine African indignation with which I associate myself.

Museveni definitely knows what he was saying. He was a history teacher who came to power as guerrilla who went to the bush to fight after he had been rigged out of elections in Uganda . He has kept a tight rein ever since on the Ugandan army which is well trained.

Museveni also knows his onions as he and his friend President Paul Kigame of Rwanda are the regional guarantors of stability in their part of Africa, notorious for incessant re-

bellion and they have maintained order and stability in spite of frequent violent military assaults and disruptions in the area. His indignation on the non performance of ECOWAS leaders and army is a righteous one and is an indictment of those responsible for national and regional stability and security in the ECOWAS sub region.

It is in that light that I see the challenge of the 10 governors who have formed a mega party -APC - ostensibly to prevent the decline or castration of Nigeria into a one-state under the ruling PDP. The fact that some of the governors are from the ruling party, shows that all hope is not lost in fighting the slide to corruption and infamy that has characterized the present political dispensation which has eroded the integrity, respect and leadership of Nigeria at regional level resulting in the Museveni outburst.

Without saying it, the Ugandan leader was wondering what Nigeria was doing on Mali. But then no one or nation can leave the fire on its thatched roof to be putting out that of his neighbor. That is why the challenge of the 10 governors is a step in the right direction to retrace Nigeria’s steps both at home and abroad and restore her to her rightful position, hopefully after winning the 2015 presidential election, for which I wish them God’s speed and goodluck . I mean the genuine and real one, this time around Lastly at his state of the nation address President Obama whipped up

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I wish Stephen Keshi and the Super Eagles the same success they have earned in S Africa, in spite of the doubts of all of us, at the coming Continental competition and the World Cup and assure them that their victory in AFCON has earned them the respect of all Nigerians willynilly for these important events

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take what I call a triple-two ap proach in analyzing the topic of today and you don’t need to wonder much before seeing what I mean.

On resignations I take on the recent one of a Pope and a successful Nigerian soccer coach and show that each actor has performed contextually brilliantly in spite of the abrupt and negative connotation of resignation.

This is despite the withdrawal of the resignation of the soccer coach moments after and the fact that the Pope’s departure from the Vatican is not immediate but till month’s end. On mandates I examine the lamentation of an African leader on the inability of ECOWAS leaders and their armies to bail out Mali, leading it to former colonial master France to be the avenging angel for the African state in its hour of need.

I contrast this with the political merger of opposition parties involving 10 governors in Nigeria to form a mega party - All Progressives Congress - APC - to counter the dominance of the ruling PDP in Nigeria.

Thirdly I look at the issue of security from the perspective of the emotional appeal on gun control by US President Barak Obama in the US Congress this week, in his first State of the Nation address and compare that with the comments of BBC journalists who covered a train journey from Lagos to Kano in Northern Nigeria and the implications of their comments and jokes for the security of the newly introduced train services linking the north and south of Nigeria.

Back to resignations again . The resignations of Pope Benedict XVI and Super Eagles Coach Stephen Keshi caught the world by surprise for different reasons. Firstly the Pope has been one of the most respected Popes and someone who has been in the Vatican for over three decades .He was the anchor man throughout the papacy of his predecessor Pope John Paul ll for -23 years - and it was difficult to imagine him being any where else till his death. Now that has changed and we have been told he will spend his last days in a monastery studying and meditating as the first Pope to resign in 600 years!

Let me say that the outgoing pope will be remembered for his strong views on birth control and homosexuality as he insisted in all his writings on theology as a professor that the church should not bow to the fashion of the times but must maintain the faith always. He was no friend of the former Archbishop of Canterbury and accommodated Anglican priests and their families that left the Anglican Church after gay bishops were ordained in the US. He was no friend of the Obama White House either with its promotion of gay rights.

Before hearing the reason for the Pontiff’s resignation, which turned out to be his failing health, I had indulged in some speculations of my own. Let me confess that although I am not a Catholic, I am an admirer of this Pope who had just resigned because I listened in 2005 to his sermon as Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger then aged 78, at the funeral of Pope John Paul ll and thought then that he spoke like a saint and his sermon was like a modern beatitude. I was later pleasantly surprised when he was elected Pope by the Conclave of Cardinals and chose the name Benedict XVI immediately. I later bought a biography of him written by an author who featured prominently this week on CNN on the coverage of Benedict XVI’s most unexpected resignation.

That book featured six reasons why Ratzinger could not be elected Pope and included reasons like he was a disciplinarian Cardinals in the Vatican and had stepped on toes and the Cardinals would not vote for him; he was an academician and not a priest; the myth that a fat pope had never succeeded a fat one; his being a German and not an Italian and his that his predecessor was from Poland and there was need for an Italian Pope. All these came to nought

emotion in support of security measures aimed at curtailing the violence and senseless killings with guns in the US. To a long and standing ovation the American president harangued his audience that the victims of poor gun control deserve a vote and mentioned the various locations of the gory killings. This was made more moving and poignant by the presence of the slain victims’ relatives at the occasion. The emotional appeal nevertheless brought home vividly the insecurity inherent in the inadequate gun control measures in the US right now. Which means that the National Rifles Association-NRA, the main opposition lobby to gun control has an uphill task in countering the high pitch Obama salesmanship for better gun control in the US at his last state of the nation address this week.

To round up l want to compare Obama’s use of emotion to secure better security on guns in his country, with the BBC crew coverage last Wednesday of the newly introduced Kano – Lagos train line, a journey which took 31 hours according to the BBC traveler. Which is an improvement as one of those interviewed said he had spent three days before to get to Kano. The programme was a fine travelogue but for the fact that it gave the impression that the service was an easy prey for a potential Boko Haram attack. Yet, I admire the spirit of Nigerians interviewed, who showed such danger never crossed their mind especially the policeman who said the presence of the police was to secure the service at all cost.

To me that program was marred by the insinuation in the BBC programme that Boko Haram could sabotage a link between the north and south, a fear the Nigerians interviewed never exhibited from their cheerful response to leading questions from the traveler. In addition the presenter at the end of the program jokingly called the traveler a ‘coward‘ for returning by air from Kano which to me was coarse humor at the expense of the gravity of the Boko Haram menace in Nigeria. Definitely I do not think it is part of the BBC mandate to alert Boko Haram to potential waiting targets in Nigeria.

I had goose pimples listening to that program with its utter disregard for the security implications of the comments of the BBC journalists. Definitely more care needs to be taken in the future on such extravagant comments as life has no duplicate.

10 COMMENTARY

THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2013

A lunch date Jonathan should have granted with caution

vincentakanmode@yahoo.com

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EALTH experts believe that people eat for two reasons: for pleasure and to as suage hunger. In African setting, eating together is a symbol of truce where warring parties are involved. That is why supporters and admirers of President Goodluck Jonathan and former President Olusegun Obasanjo must have rejoiced when the two statesmen had lunch together at the presidential villa penultimate Friday, after bouts of verbal exchange.

Jonathan would most probably not be anywhere near his present position without Obasanjo’s influence. His fortuitous emergence as the Bayelsa State governor, vice president and president were all made possible by Obasanjo’s political influence. He was minding his business as the deputy governor of Bayelsa State before the former governor of the state, Diepriye Alamieyeseigha, jumped bail in the UK after he was arrested by the Metropolitan Police for money laundering. The then President Obasanjo, who was in the heat of his anti-corruption campaign, piled pressure on the Bayelsa State House of Assembly to impeach Alamieyeseigha, paving way for Jonathan to step in as governor.

It was also Obasanjo who nominated Jonathan as the late President Umaru Yar’Adua’s running mate. As fate would have it, Yar’Adua died midway into his first term, and Jonathan fortuitously became the president. And while Jonathan dillydallied on declaring his interest in vying for the presidency after serving out Yar’Adua’s tenure,

Obasanjo came out and publicly urged him to throw his hat in the ring, in spite of the zoning arrangement in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). In the ensuing battle for the presidential ticket of the party, Jonathan defeated the consensus candidate of the North, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, before going on to win the election.

In a clear instance of the instability of human relationships, Obasanjo and Jonathan fell apart after the former publicly criticised Jonathan’s handling of the destructive activities of the Boko Haram sect in the northern part of the country.

At the 40th anniversary of Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor’s call to ministry at the Word of Life Bible Church, Warri, Delta State in November last year, Obasanjo had carpeted Jonathan for not deploying soldiers to invade the towns that harboured members of the sect and crush them like he (Obasanjo) did in Odi and Zaki Biam in Bayelsa and Benue states respectively after some militant youths in the communities allegedly killed policemen and soldiers deployed there to keep the peace.

A few days later, Jonathan seized the opportunity of an interview he had on national television to dismiss Obasanjo’s invasion of Odi as nothing, but a monumental failure because the soldiers who invaded Odi only succeeded in killing and maiming innocent souls, while the real culprits escaped. From then on, both parties seized every available opportunity to throw words at each other before the surprise lunch they had together at the Presidential Villa.

As would be expected, many supporters of Obasanjo and Jonathan hailed the development as an end to the feud between them. But the more discerning of Jonathan’s supporters, who are familiar with the antecedents of Obasanjo in such matters, have reasons to panic. A reputation for which the former president would never be found wanting is his ability to turn a lunch date with his political foe into regrettable moment. So recurrent is this aspect of his political

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A reputation for which the former president would never be found wanting is his ability to turn a lunch date with his political foe into regrettable moment. So recurrent is this aspect of his political life that observers now say he who Obasanjo wants to punish he first gives dinner

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life that observers now say he who Obasanjo wants to punish he first gives dinner.

And instances of this abound. In January 2005, a lunch date supposedly designed to reconcile Obasanjo and the then PDP Chairman, Audu Ogbeh, became the latter’s albatross. Obasanjo had fallen out with Ogbeh over a letter Ogbeh wrote, accusing the presidency of worsening the political crisis in Anambra State. After several meetings were convened by party chieftains to reconcile the two, Obasanjo rode in the same vehicle with Ogbeh to the latter’s house where they feasted on pounded yam and egusi soup.

Thereafter, Ogbeh went on national television and announced that whatever misunderstanding he had with Obasanjo had been settled. Less than a week later, Obasanjo struck. He went to Ogbeh’s house and told him to resign as party Chairman.

Before then, there had been the celebrated quarrel between Obasanjo and the late former Senate president, Dr. Chuba Okadigbo. A politician of immense political clout, Okadigbo had carried on his leadership of the Senate with little or no deference to Obasanjo, a situation that provoked a kind of personality clash between the

two statesmen. After a series of quiet but bruising confrontations, a truce was brokered between them, following which Obasanjo was on hand to commission a new residence that was built for Okadigbo. At the commissioning ceremony, they had dinner together and Obasanjo even danced with Okadigbo’s wife. A few days later, Obasanjo brought his training as an engineer to bear by engineering Okadigbo’s impeachment and the then Senate president was removed.

Other politicians who have suffered the similar fate in Obasanjo’s hand include the immediate past governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, and former vice president, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. After a serious disagreement between Obasanjo and Daniel over the latter’s successor, some Yoruba elders decided to intervene as Jonathan prepared to take his campaign train to the South West in the build-up to the 2011 presidential election. Consequently, the Yoruba elders, including Chief Afe Babalola; Chief Kessington Adebutu; Chief Kenny Martins; the Olubara of Ibara, Oba Jacob Omolade; and former governorship aspirant of the party, Dr. Femi Majekodunmi, stormed Obasanjo’s residence with Daniel and supposedly worked out a truce.

Daniel was said to have prostrated for Obasanjo who, in response, declared that his sins were forgiven. And to demonstrate the fact that he had truly forgiven Daniel, Obasanjo reached for his pocket and brought out a kolanut which they shared and ate. Today, Daniel is like a fly caught in the spider’s web as he fights the battle of his life with forces that owe their existence to the former head of state.

The emergence of the presidential campaign posters of the Jigawa State governor, Sule Lamido, and his Rivers State counterpart, Rotimi Amaechi, days after Jonathan and Obasanjo had lunch in Aso Rock, is seen by many as a concomitant of the incident. Any need for more proofs?

Still on FCT’s whimsical appropriations Knucklehead

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OME lead at various levels, with a view to leaving indel ible footprints on the sands of time. Many others, with limited perceptions of what leadership truly means, occupy public office and leave like handwritings on the sand – leaving memories that are easily washed away by coming waves. Whether leaders put down our action or inaction down in diary form or not, it matters less; yesterday’s men and those occupying the hallways of power today are all bound to become part of history in due course. We are all but slaves to history and the passage of time.

And we do all have a story to tell, don’t we?

Just last week, my very good friend, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, made public his own story in a book titled ‘The Accidental Public Servant.’ If el-Rufai’s book has not berthed with the kind of controversy trailing it, I would have been shocked for the pint-sized former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory is controversy personified. I’ll explain.

There is more to the el-Rufai personae than all that he has recorded as his story in public service. Well, some have accused him of sexing-up the book with half-truths, pure lies and warped illogic. They may be right. Personally, it is my belief that some things could have been left unsaid by the author. But, as someone wrote, we can expand the scope of intellectualism and avail history of more materials by writing our own books instead of baying at a man who sees himself as an accident in the public service sector.

If his book is an accident, then it is our responsibility to heal it and dress the injuries by setting the records straight with another book!

And I guess those mentioned in the book will take up that challenge and stop whining.

Somehow, el-Rufai’s book has reawakened my desire to put my experiences on this job in black and white. When I eventually settle down to doing that, maybe I will summon the courage to reveal one or two things about this “yesterday’s man” (apologies to Dr. Reuben Abati) and how we struck a friendship that has confounded many. It was a friendship that cost me a job and truncated a blossoming career all because some persons misinterpreted my affinity to the man former President Olusegun Obasanjo would rather call “short man!” Whenever I get around to writing that book, maybe, just maybe, I will expose the deceit, intrigues, backbiting and the deadly power game that go on in that corridor. One thing is clear: pettiness is an essential commodity in the corridors of power here. If in doubt, take a peep into el-Rufai’s book.

It illustrates the unfortunate reality that pettiness and prebendal politicking have become veritable tools being exploited by many to hang on to power. Even the national budget is ‘doctored’ to meet this queer arrangement in which otherwise principled men pander to the whim of a powerful few. Many examples abound but let us stick to the most recent revelations on the floor of the National Assembly when the budget of the FCT was unveiled for thorough scrutiny. If you thought the FCT management would have learnt its lesson with the dust raised over the plan to spend close to N15bn on the remodelled official residence for the Vice President, then you are yet to come to grips with the template of shenanigans that pass as governance process here. It is as if some persons delight in swimming in the ocean of multi-billion naira scandals.

Without any intent of giving credence to the beer parlour rumour that a select group of ministers derives their staying power from a complete subjugation of their authorities under that of the goddess of Aso Rock, I strongly want to believe that the FCT Minister, Sen. Mohammed Bala, understands that it takes a lot more than satisfying the narrow bourgeoisie tastes of the hawks in power to succeed

on his present seat. Does he appear to be one who wants history to be kind to him at all? At least, he should be wise enough to make a clear distinction between the FCT budget and that of the Presidency. Sadly, with the frenetic pace his men have been quoting extant laws to justify every profligate appropriation for The Presidency, including an unknown Office of the First Lady, it is doubtful if Bala can escape the charge of being guilty of running a budget that was tailor-made for the clearly humongous (that word again!) taste of Aso Rock denizens while the real people come a distant second!

For a capital city that is buffeted with loads of developmental and security challenges in the face of inadequate funding, many had expected the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) to adopt cost effective measures in its budgeting process. But if the details of the 2013 appropriations were anything to go by, one is tempted to assume that voyeurism consideration must have taken precedence over prudence in the compilation of the figures. It was so bad that the yamheads under Bala’s watch allocated a princely sum of N5bn to “rehabilitate prostitutes and destitute” in the city.

Now, don’t ask me if the authorities have any accurate data of prostitutes and the destitute in the city. That will be asking for too much in a society where prostitution and destitution have many faces. For example, how do you rate the corporate sex-for-contract ‘business tycoons’ hanging around the corridors of power in Abuja, including Bala’s FCDA? What do you make of the corporate beggars in suits and ties that ply their trade in the Central Business District? How about the young graduates who hawk items in offices and make no bones about their readiness to do “other stuffs” if the price is right? Are these persons captured in the FCT”s N5bn rehabilitation programme and what is the modus operandi? Besides, what informs Bala’s fixation to an eternal battle with prostitutes when any resident would gladly tell you that that is the least of the city’s problem?

Mallam el-Rufai might be an accidental public servant but he was clearly not a mistake in the FCDA as a Minister in the Presidency. He revived the belief that Abuja can work if primordial sentiments are thrown overboard and key elements of the masterplan are strictly implemented. In his four-year stay, he injected life back into a dying dream. At least, he deserves a genuine bragging right for this even if I disagree with some of the things he said in his book. We may quarrel with the way he allegedly gifted land and government houses to some lackeys of former President Obasanjo and his friends. What we cannot deny him is his commitment to seeing that the capital city regains its sanity. It was also to his credit that, despite his endless face-off with the National Assembly over bribery allegation before his appointment could be confirmed, the FCT’s budgets were never subjected to the kind of outlandish ridicule that one witnesses today. Allocating billions for the First Lady’s office is only a recent achievement for the history books under Bala’s watch.

And there lies my beef with Mr. Bala and his team. It is, to say the least, outrageous that his administration could bold justify the proposed N4bn African First Ladies’ Peace Mission building on its “statutory duty to build for the good of the public” including the smart excuse that the construction of the AFLPM building would not only save cost but also “ serve multiple roles in providing office accommodation as well as housing not just African First Ladies’ Peace Mission but other international bodies as well.” Now, if I may ask, wouldn’t it have been more cost-effective to rehabilitate the dilapidated Women Centre to satisfy the desires of the

With

Yomi Odunuga E-mail:yomi.odunuga @thenationonlineng.net SMS only: 07028006913 First Lady instead of embarking on another white elephant under the pretext of fulfilling a statutory duty? And if Dame Patience Jonathan must get her wish from her ‘son’ by all means, wouldn’t it have been more cost-effective to include the AFPLM office in the architecture of the proposed new Banquet Hall that would befit the high taste of her husband’s guests? Or do African First Ladies have higher cravings than those of the men they marry?

Like one of the senators puts it, the Bala administration is simply wearing its magnifying glass wrongly. It is cuddling shadows instead of doing something about the grim realities of daily living in Abuja. Who needs a white elephant when basic infrastructures are begging for attention in Nigeria’s political capital? Access to basic healthcare remains poor; water supply to urban districts like Maitama, Asokoro and Wuse is perennially inadequate; pupils still take lessons under trees in some council areas; housing problem persists; the transportation system is in chaos due to ill-thought policy and power supply is epileptic. But how can they care when they are sold to an ideology of misplaced priorities? That is what Oby Ezekwesili called tragic choices!

Listen to Senator Babajide Omoworare: “I’m worried about the provision of bogus figures (and) there’s a lot of disconnect. This (FCT) budget hasn’t shown the reality of what’s happening in and around Abuja. We have not set our priorities right. I’m of the view that the committee should look into this. Again, I remember that in this chamber last year, we voted N1bn only for new federal universities yet, we are being asked to appropriate N4 billion for an office (of the First Lady) that is alien to the .Constitution.”

Another Senator, Babafemi Ojudu, was said to have expressed fears about the consequences of allowing the news of the curious, outright mundane and profligate appropriation to get to the public, especially to the youth who are being taken for granted. Does it really matter anymore? Budgeting at the whim will continue to thrive until such a time when the National Assembly takes its responsibility seriously and curtail its prurient dalliances with the executive. After all, has the persistent umbrage by the lawmakers halted the ratifications of such questionable appropriations in the past? Even this one, bad as it looks, may get the nod of the lawmakers having passed the crucial Second Reading! One thing is sure though: as long as otherwise principled men continue to shirk their responsibilities and allow those who accidentally find themselves in power to rule by the whim, Nigeria will continue to be haunted by its tragic choices! For a capital city that has had the misfortune of being headed by a successive gang of underachievers, Bala cannot afford to fall under that categorisation. Unfortunately, nothing tells us that he is set to be the kind of accident that el-Rufai turned out to be. Or would his story be told differently by history?

THE NATION, Saturday, February 16, 2013

‘I’m lucky my children are all girls’

•Pages 44&45

–Seme border residents

•Pages 16&17

We’re now a laughing stock to Beninoise

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Woman who picks mentally ill people on the street declares: NO JOB OFFER WILL MAKE ME QUIT

THE NATION, Saturday, Februay 16, 2013

12

HAT could make a young married woman, with a happy home and a good future prospect of being a lawyer, leave her home and go into the street to pick up mentally ill people and take care of them?

That is the story of Concern Felicia Martins. Prior to her ‘day of decision’, Felicia was a 300 level Law student at Lagos State University (LASU). “I had it all going for me,” began Felicia. “I was married early in life at the age of 15 to a businessman. I had a well furnished home with children. I actually had my school certificate result in my husband’s house and I also attended other schools there before I started the law degree.”

But that wasn’t all, Mrs. Felicia Martins also had a good job as a General Manager at Kafan Services Limited and attended LASU on part time basis. But in year 2000, she threw all that luxury away. Felicia had found a new calling, a new ministry that was more compelling and compulsory!

“I wanted to study law to help people who had no help but were passing through difficulties. However, on my 300 level, God called me to come and take care of people on the street that are mentally ill. This is my present line of calling. It is a calling, an inspiration from God. I started this work in 2000,’’ said Felicia.

We met her at ‘So Said Charity Home’ an offspring of a larger caring home she started in year 2000, but today has a spread outside Lagos to some major cities. Over 10 years of living with people from the street had changed her general outlook. She had no makeup, no ear ring and was just passably decent enough to represent the organisation as the National Co-ordinator. She even told us that she had taken time to look decent in order to receive us. Her cloth was made in national colours of green and white. This, she said, is always worn to meet friends of the charity home and also to cheer her up.

But how did she receive this unusual call to go to the street and live with the mentally ill and destitute persons.

Felicia continued with her story: “The inspiration kept coming to me, so much so that I had to defer my course. Many times in my dreams, I heard God calling me showing me revelations, saying to me, ‘Go and help them.’ I was actually hearing their cries in my dreams. God even gave me a song in my dreams about them. (Felicia went ahead and sang in much laden emotional tone): At a time like this, who cares? Nobody cares to know, People pass, they •Front view of So Said Charity Home. Inset: Mrs Martins look; some spat on me. Some look and pass, No one stopped. No one cares to know. Who can save my soul? Who will save my life? Even my friends, they look and pass; nobody cares to help; nobody cares to know; who will save? Who will save?

“And after giving me this song, God told me, ‘Do you now see how their spirit is crying on the street?’ God said to me, ‘If only you can start, I’ll call men to join you’. I replied God, ‘Start what? I cannot start it o,’ I told God to call on pastors to do the work. I told Him that deliverance pastors are good at such things, and that there are some pastors that do miracles who even appear on television. I told Him that this sort of thing has never been done in my family.

“Little did I know that it was something that I could never argue about with God. One day, I was sleeping when the Holy I was beaten like a •John Doe... before Spirit woke me up and said, ‘Go and read John 15 verse 16’. I did and saw that it thief. Many things says, ‘…you did not choose me, I am the happened. I was told one that has chosen you…and anything you ask my father in my name shall be that I was trying to given unto you…love one another.’

“When I saw this, I screamed, ‘wow!’ to bring shame to the myself and ran to the person who is family. Many things today assisting me with the administration of this place. I showed her happened and I was the quotation and she told me, ‘It must be God talking to you.’ She advised me to do driven away from my what God has sent me to do. The year home. So I built a 2000, I started serving the mentally ill people on the street after gathering them camp for the mentally one after another.”

But of course, for Felicia, it was not that ill people that I had easy and rosy to do. She was a married met on the street. I woman and thus had the challenges of the home front to face. “With my lived with them there husband, it was not easy. He just said outright that no, it cannot be! Then I was at Ajegunle. We were working and doing the law course on part-time basis at LASU. I was the actually sleeping on General Manager at Kafan Services Ltd. the street before I He was very worried and upset. He is a businessman. constructed a shack around us then were even thinking that “He told me outright that I cannot enter n Paul UKPABIO n we would fail. Some of the churches even our house again, once I go out to cater for where I lived told us that it wasn’t of God. They these kinds of people. I was beaten like a around gathering in the markets. Some thief. Many things happened. I was told people allowed us to pack such fish head, resented our environment; except for the that I was trying to bring shame to the while others gave us real fish. It was from Catholic Church that came to our aid at some point. family. Many things happened and I was these that we used to cook for them However, in 2005, First City Monument driven away from my home. because we didn’t have money to buy Bank came to our aid. That was when “So I built a camp for the mentally ill anything.

We had to beg.

We were gave us a land space where we they heard about us and came around. people that I had met on the street. I lived constructed a place. begging right from 2000 till 2006. People They started giving us some incentives. It with them there at Ajegunle. We were were giving us according to how they ‘’Initially, feeding them was very was from this that I started getting staff.” actually sleeping on the street before I were led.” difficult. So we used to feed by taking Through her efforts, the mentally ill constructed a shack where I lived. It was “Did churches help you?” We asked their pictures to the market places. You inmates also got the attention of Chief Dada Onijomo, a retired naval Felicia, but she simply shook her head in know that some people do not eat the government. “Dr Leke Pitan, the former officer, who saw us lying on the street and head of a fish. It was this that we went dismay, “No, not at all, the churches

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‘I was beaten like a thief, had to sleep on the street ,

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THE NATION, Saturday, Februay 16, 2013

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•Some of the street and abandoned kids

driven from home and to fulfil this calling ’ ,

•John Doe... now

Lagos State Commissioner for Health who later became Commissioner for Education, came to our aid. He visited us at 64 James Igbe Street in Ajeromi Local Government Area in Ajegunle, our old home, and told me that I was doing too much, that he was going to take over from me. He invited us to his house at Ikoyi. I took the inmates there. He treated us well. After that, we visited him at his office where he gave us financial assistance. He gave me a letter to the Ajeromi General hospital that they should treat us free. We enjoyed that until he left

‘’We don’t call the children there handicap though they are in that sense, but we call them special children. There Initially, feeding them are about 100 people there now. For education, the was very difficult. So special children have white people who come there from we used to feed by time to time to teach them. taking their pictures to You know, the ‘whites’ understand what charity is the market places. You about. They come there twice know that some people or thrice every week. two of them do not eat the head of a Sometimes come, sometimes three of them. Some of them are fish. It was this that we medical people, Germans, went around gathering Americans, some from other nationals. in the markets. Some ‘’They are mixed up and come round to help by people allowed us to teaching the kids or giving pack such fish head, them medical care. They do not have any particular set while others gave us out routine for going there.

But they go there regularly. real fish. It was from Some have their team and are these that we used to based in Nigeria, while some just stop by. I think that the cook for them...We had whites connect themselves to beg. We were one way or another and offer assistance one way or office.” begging right from another too. Mondays are For very special days for them; 2000 till 2006 Felicia, the sometimes they are there on journey all Fridays. started at “The age of the men there Ajegunle, range from 20 to old age. from a They are taught skills; even at shack to a our home at Ago, Isolo area in Lagos, well constructed storey building. “We where we have the women and children, have a beautiful structure in Ajegunle now, which is now home to men from the skills are also taught.”

We asked Felicia to tell us about life on street, and special children. The land was the street. She answered with bustling donated to us and friends built it for us energy and passion for her work. ‘’There two years ago within six months. are people with different challenges from

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the street with us. When I started this, I thought that the people on the street are just the mentally ill people. But as time went by, we found out that there are a lot of diverse situations and cases out there on the street. We found handicapped men, men with no accommodation but who deteriorated until they were almost gone with no assistance whatsoever: Men who had failed in business and no one to help. We found women with issues of marriage, broken homes, house girls that were laid off from their masters’ houses. ‘’We found teenage girls with unwanted pregnancies and we found women with other challenges like failure of business and nowhere to go to. These people fall under the vulnerable persons list which is catered for by so said Charity Home; though the umbrella organisation is The Society for the Mentally Challenged. It was when we saw how broad the challenges on the street is that we registered another, to accommodate the vulnerable ones too. That brings in everybody on the street. So now we have homes for different categories. People with mental illness have their place; special children have their place; vulnerable people have their place and so on.

What were her challenges in building a home for these people? She said: ‘’The Ajegunle home was a miracle. The building was rushed for us by the different people that God sent to us. It is even the one at Ago that we are finding difficult to build. Our getting to Ago was also miraculous. What happened was that where we were, we had a challenge of flood. We were rescued and taken to an uncompleted building at Amuwo Odofin open hall, first gate area. We saw an open hall and we went into it. We are government children! And that was a government vacant house, so we had to push them into their father’s house. ‘’When we were there, people came from the local government and started asking questions. We told them that we too are government people. So the former chairman, the one before Comrade Ayodele, saw our terrible state and started supplying us water and other necessities. That was how we became their candidates there. But after some time, because there were no doors or windows there, somebody saw us and Continued on page 14

THE NATION, Saturday, Februay 16, 2013

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•New Charity Home under construction

‘I speak the language of love to the mentally ill on the street’ said that such a place was not the best place for us. That person is Mr. Osime, he rented a big apartment for us for N1.6 million naira at Ago. We were there in a whole building till we became larger in number. People were coming. It is easier coming than going. As we overgrew our size, the landlord started raising alarm.

The Lagos State Government through Governor Babatunde Fashola gave us N1million; other people gave us donations too. With that, we bought the Ago place. ‘’When the heat of the landlord became too much, we ran into the Ago place, which was without windows. But since we have been at Ago, our friends have been coming, dropping one thing or the other and that is how we have been moving on with the project and the home. ‘’The place remains an uncompleted building. We have only decked one wing and the other part is still left undone. So we are still looking unto God to send people to assist. This is worth sowing into. People who are alive are not alive by their power but by the grace of God. A human being is the most important creation that God loves very much. So we should be able to help our brothers and sisters who have fallen into the street.

How about your family?

We reconciled after about eight months that they sent me out of my home into the streets. Perhaps God made me to sleep on the street too so that I would appreciate what it is to be on the street homeless, since I was going to care for people on the street. I am not feeling offended right now.

How did the reconciliation with your family come about?

The reconciliation came about when this organisation rescued Baba Achappo in Ajegunle. He had been there mentallyill in Ajegunle for years. He was well known on the street. When we rescued him, people from all over Ajegunle came out to see us. That made us popular and my husband was like, ‘This woman must have courage to do this kind of thing.’ He also said, ‘So this woman has this kind of thing and I didn’t know who I was living with.’ People started advising him.

What was wrong with Baba Achappo?

He had a mental issue; he was formally a police officer, went to Britain to study marketing. When he returned, right there in his hotel room, he became insane and went into the street. We actually saw his

school mate who gave us his history. We money, I see work. I also see the result of were taken to his village, where we saw the work, that this person was like this, his family. This was how my husband but now he or she is like this. That is my became afraid and said that he didn’t joy. And I also appreciate my colleagues know he was living with an because they all share the same vision extraordinary woman in the house. So with me. If they don’t have the same that was how the reconciliation came vision with me, we won’t achieve. But about. It has not been easy working on because they do, we are achieving. this charity project. I reconciled with my What initially gave you the courage to children too. I saw all the challenges that stop and talk to mentally ill people I passed through then with my family as fearlessly? challenges of the ministry. That is what It is God who entered me to do the keeps my testimony going today. It made work. If you look at me, I am doing it them to realise that I did not call myself extraordinarily. They attack us, tear our to this work, that it was God who called dresses. Last week, one of them hit one of me to it because I have passed through my staff in the eye at Ajegunle. They do more hardship than they gave me. Yet, things to us, but we too are careful not to the hand of God still kept me going to get into harm’s way or endanger continue with the work. ourselves. We monitor what we do to How do you go about rescuing the them. They throw the food we suffer to mentally ill? cook for them away, by just turning it When we were new, we used to go down. But because we know that they do about rescuing them, we called it a job. not understand what they are doing, we But now that we are forgive them and care known, people bring for them. It is because them to us. Some we have forgiveness concerned churches and continue to care, bring too. However, that we are still in it. It We (My family and I) when people call us is not as if it is easy. reconciled after about now, we ask them, But what will you participate in educational eight months that they caring for that person? experience did you sent me out of my This is because we all have that gave you home into the street... must do it together. the courage that you We do not have any could take care of a The reconciliation government or any mentally ill person? came about when this foreign donor I did nursing organisation rescued organisation initially. That was my sponsoring us. We are first course. After Baba Achappo in just committed to abandoning the study Ajegunle. He had serve our nation. This of Law, I took on been there mentallyis another way of social management serving our nation. course at Pan African ill in Ajegunle for Look at the attire I am University, so that I years... That made us wearing today, it is could add to the out of my suffering. knowledge of doing popular and my When I was mocked this work. husband was like, by all and sundry, I Do you get ‘This woman must was encouraged by corporate support? the awards that I Our partners from have courage to do received, which Dangote Company this kind of thing.’

He assured me that I was employ nurses for us, also said, ‘So this being appreciated. they bring in doctors There is one award for us once in a while, woman has this kind that calls me ‘Another and we also have of thing and I didn’t Mother Theresa of our doctors from Rotary time’. I have been so Club that come. know who I was faithful to this job and Unfortunately, living with.’

People proud of it that Nigerians don’t know started advising him nothing that you call how to do voluntary me to do, that is out of services. The Catholic this job that I will Church comes to derespond to. I don’t see worm and treat them.

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Continued from page 13

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We have a medical team that comes on psychiatric issues. We have friends in these people. When God makes a way, He also makes the provision. These are part of the provisions we have.

So where do you live?

I live with the people I care for. That is my home. I have no other home.

Do you go to your matrimonial home?

I live with the people I care for. I don’t have another home.

How do you get them back to their normal lives once they are healed?

We rehabilitate them. The success stories that we have are so many: Some have passed through us and later got married and called to tell me or invite me for the wedding, both male and female. It’s so joyful when we are reconciling some people. The family will be crying; we too we will be crying. To us it is important to reconcile them. We research them to know where they are coming from. Most of the time, these people do not know where they came from. We carry out such research so that when they are healed, we return them home. Some people are here now who are okay and ready for marriage. As a matter of fact, I have a female doctor who is ready for marriage, an exnewscaster and other such people who have been successful before.

What language do you speak to them that makes you succeed in taking care of them?

The language we speak to them is the language of love. We ask them how they are. We tell them, I like your dress. Eat this food, it is good for you. Sometimes you will think that they do not hear, but they do. We all eat from the same pot of food. We have to show them that we are all one. The moment you feel that you cannot eat the same food with them, it means that you see yourself different from them, and that becomes a problem.

It means the person cannot take care of them. We treat them the way we treat ourselves.

Do you feel like giving up sometimes?

Even just this last July, I was telling God in my dream that He should please come and kill me and let me go. That was when we couldn’t pack into the Ago place because we didn’t have doors or windows, and the landlord was on my neck. When I woke up, I started crying. I decided that since God did not take me, I had to continue. But we later moved here and life continues.

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2013

the first session of the peace meeting was deadlocked with a decision to hold further consultations with the warring factions.

In attendance at the peace meeting, The Nation learnt, included the Commissioner for Local Government Affairs; Commissioner of Police; the s t a t e Director of S t a t e Security Service (SSS); a representative of the state AttorneyGeneral; palace chiefs; the chairman of the council area and the community elders (Ogene).

Meanwhile, a Human Rights group has added another dimension to the dispute by threatening to challenge the action of the community in court.

The National Co-ordinator of the Forum for Justice and Human Rights Defence (FJHD), Mr. Oghenejabor Ikimi, who condemned the action, said his group “is seriously considering filing a public interest fundamental rights suit in the Delta State High Court of Justice for a declaration that the above Igbodo custom is repugnant to natural law, equity and good conscience”.

But the embattled monarch is not without his supporters as a group, Concerned Igbodo Citizens Forum (C.IC.F), has rallied support for him.

Victor Christopher, Chairman Idunozei quarters, Igbodo Community, debunks the notion that the community is in crisis, stressing in a statement made available to The Nation: “In order to put the records straight , we wish to state that the community has never been in crisis. The call •Dr. Unomah by the indigenes for the monarch to marry an indigene does not amount to a crisis situation. People are busy socialising with one another.HRM is the custodian of the custom and tradition of our people; he will never indulge in anything that will disparage the culture and tradition of our people.”

He added: ”Therefore, we find it difficult and sad to hear the Prime Minister, Dr. Joseph Unomah, a knight in the church, making inimical press obligation statements.” to produce an acceptable heir to Mr Christopher further the throne. accuses the Iyase of breaching The resolution of the dispute customs by spearheading a appears not to be in sight soon boycott of palace activities. as a meeting convened by the “We urge him to respect the Deputy Governor of Delta State, tradition of the people by Prof. Amos Utuama whose quickly acceding to perform the office oversees chieftaincy traditional ceremony of Ichi Miri matters, failed to resolve the in order to appease our ancestors festering crisis. who are presently angry.“ According to inside sources,

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•The Igbodo palace

His people insis monarch must tat their Igbodo woman ke an a so the heir appares wife the Igbodo thron nt to not be ‘a mixede would But the monarch blood’. , who is a christian, also in that not only wo sists continue to respeuld he marital vows to h ct his is indigene-wife w nonalready has a chil ho him, he would n d for ot more than one wmarry ife

Delta community battles monarch over his love life •The embattled monarch

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GBODO in Ika North-East Local Government Area of Delta State is a sleepy, rustic, agrarian community with a rich cultural heritage. It lies west of Asaba, the Delta State capital, straddling the ever busy BeninOnitsha Expressway.

But the relative peace pervading Igbodo community has given way to mutual suspicion, disharmony, and turmoil, pitching a divided community against itself and their monarch.

But what would move a people to battle their king, Obi Ikechukwu Osedume 1? What would move a king to disregard the cultural practices of the land the wishes of his subjects?

The impasse has resulted in an open rebellion against the king with the Prime Minister, Dr Joseph Unomah, leading chiefs in the community to boycott palace activities, while the monarch has temporarily vacated his kingdom.

The community is at a standstill. It has been since the last two years when the community became split into two camps over their monarch’s love life. The monarch already

Okungbowa AIWERIE,Asaba has a wife who is a non-indigene and whom he married through the courts.

His subjects demur because it is against tradition. His people insist their monarch must take an Igbodo woman as wife so the heir apparent to the Igbodo throne would not be “a mixed blood”.

But the monarch, who is a christian, also insists that not only would he continue to respect his marital vows to his non-indigene-wife, who already has a child for him, he would not marry more than one wife. That is exactly the crux of the matter.

While majority of the people are insisting that tradition must have its way, a section of the community are, however, backing the monarch.

The Nation gathered that the crisis came to a head when the Obi decided to bring in his wife, who is from Ebonyi State, into the palace to celebrate the last Christmas and New Year festivities with him only for the women and youths of the community to threaten to chase the estranged queen away from

the palace.

The king, it was gathered, had to invite security operatives, who smuggled the queen away from the palace after irate youths stormed the palace demanding that the monarch’s wife leave the kingdom.

Despite assurances to the contrary by some stakeholders that all is well, the situation in the community has degenerated, with a faction, led by Dr. Joseph Unomah, the Iyase of Igbodo firing a petition to the Delta State government.

Part of the petition reads: “At the root of this dispute is the subtle move by the Obi to disregard and subvert the cherished custom and tradition of the people. The custom and tradition of our people is that the Obi must marry a woman from Igbodo Kingdom who will give birth to the heir apparent to the throne of Igbodo Kingdom”.

The implication of this impasse, according to Dr. Unomah, is that the Igbodo monarchy is threatened, as the king has failed in his traditional

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THE NATION, Saturday, Februay 16, 2013

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WE’RE NOW A LAUGHING •Seme border residents lament five-year •Top & bottom: Scenes at the border community

OR Nigerians living in the border town of Seme, the n Innocent DURU n boundary between Nigeria and neighbouring Benin asking for additional money from us was that they wanted to Republic, this is obviously not the best of time. The buy engine oil for the transformer. They claimed that all the residents are currently plagued by a myriad of engine oil in the transformer had gone bad, hence the need problems that make life totally unbearable for them. for them to be replaced. We have remained in total darkness Apart from the deplorable state of the international road that connects them to Lagos, the residents have been living in total since then till today but the feeling out there is that there is constant power supply in Seme. PHCN assured us that we darkness for over five years following the damage of most of would have power supply during the Yuletide season but that the electric poles tthrough which power is supposed to be never happened. supplied to the area. As a result, they claimed that they have "If you cross to Benin Republic right in front of us, you will been living at the mercy of illegal immigrants and armed see that they have uninterrupted power supply everyday. robbers who unleash terror on them on a regular basis.

They do not experience power outage but for us in Seme, the Some of the residents, especially community leaders who reverse is the case; we have been in total darkness for good spoke with The Nation, berated the Federal Government for five years. We use generator all the time. I spend roughly being callous to their plight. In spite of the fact that the N120, 000 on petrol every month to power my generator.

Federal Government generates huge revenue from the He recalled that "the problem of power supply started from community, the crest fallen residents lamented that nothing is the beginning because the contractors that they gave the job done by the central government to either develop the area or did a shoddy work from the outset. Then, it was the military provide basic amenities for the people as most corporate that was in power and nobody could challenge them. The organisations would do for their host communities under contractors placed the poles on the expressway and each time their corporate social responsibility programmes. drivers had brake problems, they would aim at the poles to They have on their finger tips the rough estimate of what stop their vehicles. That was how they damaged and the Federal Government generates through its agencies at the condemned the poles one after the other. Then NEPA border everyday but unfortunately, they are not considered changed some of the damaged poles for some time but at a good enough to benefit from the huge revenue as far as point, they got tired and stopped." provision of infrastructure is Lamenting the effect of darkness on concerned. They live in darkness and the community, Chief Ibidun said: " painfully travel on the dilapidated road Darkness makes it possible for armed that has continued to maim and claim robbers to strike at will. I have the lives of their relations. While they I don't know if the experienced it before when they grope around in darkness every night, Federal Government is robbed my hotel. They injured one of their immediate neighbours in smaller my staff and made away with a huge Benin Republic enjoy uninterrupted aware that people are sum of money. Other members of the power supply and deride them for living here at the border community have also experienced being citizens of a 'big for nothing' similar problems at various times. where they make so country. Their plight aptly fits into the Apart from robbery attacks, the proverbial story of people living under much money everyday. problem of power has killed an orange tree but do not get the fruit Beninoise are always businesses in Seme. There is no to munch. business in Seme anymore. You can't Chief Ibidun Joshua, one of the laughing at us. They do any business here and succeed; community leaders told The Nation that always say that Nigeria even the banks are complaining too. the absence of power supply has Most of them have folded up because is big for nothing. If you aggravated criminal activities in the area. He said: "The last time we had cross the border to Benin light was about five years ago. When Republic you will see we went to the PHCN office in Badagry, they said we should go and how their government bring N1million but we pleaded to give organised the country. them N500,000. We contributed to that Their government effect. I personally contributed N100, 000. At the end, we gave them provides everything for N500,000 but nothing was done at the them but ours is not like end of the day. They only replaced a few poles that were damaged by that. Beninoise get petrol reckless drivers. Thereafter, they asked at cheaper prices than we us to bring additional N200,000 but we do here in Seme could not afford such an amount of money to give them any more. Nobody was ready to contribute any additional money. The excuse that PHCN gave for

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of the same problem. Another problem that is facing us is the roads. The roads are bad. My driver narrowly escaped death on the road recently when he entered a pothole.

"This is an international border where the Federal Government makes a lot of money everyday but we are not feeling their presence. We gain nothing from the Federal Government here in Seme where every tribe in Nigeria is represented. The Nigeria Customs collects N2.5 million from one trailer and hundreds of them pass here everyday. They collect N1.7million for short trucks. For custom duties, on small cars, they would collect N120,000 but would only write N60,000. If they collect N300,000 from you they can write N150,000 on your receipt. In spite of all this money they are making from here, they have never deemed it fit to take care of our needs."

Chief Leo Ndubuisi Ijekwe, an Igbo community deputy leader, also blamed the PHCN for their predicament. He said: " When we found out that the power problem was a serious challenge, the various ethnic groups came together and marched to the governor's office at Alausa, Ikeja. The governor gave us a new transformer. It was at the point of installing it that PHCN started asking us for money. The transformer is still wasting away there."

He alleged that the illegal imigrants have continued to invade the country and regretted that the government has not been policing the border as it should be. "I don't know if the Federal Government is aware that people are living here at the border where they make so much money everyday.

Beninoise are always laughing at us. They always say that Nigeria is big for nothing. If you cross the border to Benin Republic, you will see how their government organised the country. Their government provides everything for them but ours is not like that. Beninoise get petrol at cheaper prices than we do here in Seme.

"The border is not well policed by the government. Illegal aliens troop in everyday. The immigration officers do not check anybody. All they do is to extort money from people.

These illegal immigrants enter Nigeria through the border everyday and I keep asking myself where and what the young men are going to Nigeria to do. They come from Mali, Niger and other neighbouring countries at night and early in the morning, they would board vehicles going to Lagos. They have people who use to bring them in and I think the Nigeria

THE NATION, Saturday, Februay 16, 2013

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STOCK TO BENINOISE power outage, robbers’ harassment ‘’It is not hidden to those of at the border because we work with them and know their secrets. Our concern is that these sharp practices encourage touting and criminal activities at the border. Worse still, they do not use part of the money they rake in daily to develop the community and the border at large."

The various Federal Government agencies have, however, denied the allegations levelled against them by the residents.

The PHCN manager, Olaniyan Olabode, denied taking any money from the community leaders. "I did not take any money from them; neither did I ask them for additional money, " he said. He blamed the problem of power supply in the area on the activities of vandals and reckless drivers.

Similarly, the Public Relations Officer of the Nigerian Immigration Service, Sowumi Olaniyi, debunked the allegation levelled against the organisation. He stated: " It is an unfounded allegation that illegal immigrants troop into the country from the border. Our officers are doing their job and if anybody does not have the required documents, he would be refused entry or departure. If they notice anything like that, they should let us know.

"I don't understand what you mean when you said that they are using ‘camp boys’ to extort money from people. We have many people at the border constituting a nuisance even to the officials. Many of the touts pretend to be officers, lure people to pass through the bush and extort money from them. As a result of this, we raid the border with the Beninoise security men with the aim of flushing I don't understand out the touts. When we arrest these touts, they are what you mean either handed over to the when you said that Nigerian policemen or Beninoise police they are using depending on their ‘camp boys’ to nationalities. extort money from "One thing you should know is that this land people. We have belongs to some people many people at the and you cannot stop them border constituting from walking freely on their land, but if anybody a nuisance even to is found to have the officials. Many questionable character, he be apprehended.’’ He of the touts pretend will added that "nobody asked to be officers, lure anybody to extort money from people. Immigration people to pass authorities have warned through the bush officers never to extort and extort money money from anybody.

Whoever is found guilty of from them. As a that will surely face the result of this, we music. If anybody is raid the border with extorted, he should feel free to complain to the the Beninoise senior officers. If you security men with complain, it would be addressed immediately. the aim of flushing The Comptroller is out the touts seriously against this. He has zero tolerance for any form of corruption."

In his own reaction, Uche Ejesieme of the Customs Federal Operations Unit Zone A said: " The allegations are a cheap blackmail and absolutely far from the truth. It is just a calculated attempt by some mischief makers to create a wrong impression of the service. It might interest you to know that the service and the unit have zero tolerance for any act that is at variance with the acceptable standard. At the FOU Zone A, the Customs Area Controller, Dan Ugo, will not spare any officer who engages in unwholesome practice irrespective of his rank. ‘’The allegations are figments of their imaginations which have no factual basis. How could somebody vaguely allege that he received a receipt with a lower sum than he paid to the service? Why did he not complain or report such to the office? Again, why did he not back his allegation with the said receipt? From all indications, it is evident that these people fabricated their allegations. In most cases, it is those that have had their illegal business interests affected by our patriotic service that cook up these allegations. It is simply an attempt to give a dog a bad name in order to hang it. But we would remain resolute in the discharge of our duties and not be deterred by their malicious utterances against the service.

"ETLS simply means ‘ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme’. It is a policy that ensures and enhances seamless transactions and trade facilitation in a sub region. It allows for free movement of the goods produced within the countries in the sub region. Customs as key players in the economy cannot afford to renege on our statutory obligations."

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Nigerian again. They have spoilt the border and there is nothing we are benefiting here again as citizens of Nigeria. This is the 5th year we have not had electricity. We contributed N500, 000 and gave it to the PHCN people. The money was given to them in my presence. They later came and fixed some poles and leftt others. After some time, PHCN said we should bring an additional N200,000 to buy engine oil for the transformer but nobody could raise a dime again. " It is a shame that we always have to run to Benin Republic before we can get good medical attention. Would it be out of place for the Federal Government to build a good hospital for the community where it generates so much •Sabo revenue every day? If corporate bodies can, under their Corporate Social Responsibility, do projects that touch the lives of the people in the communities where they live, why would the Federal Government turn a blind eye to us?

"It is not as if we don't have access to medical facilities. We have a dispensary provided by the local council but it is inadequate for our medical needs. Most often, we cross the border to receive medical attention in Benin Republic. You have to do it if you don't want to die Immigration should be turning them or lose your beloved ones. I do it back. They should be made to go and whenever I am sick; same with obtain the necessary papers before others in the community. Can you coming in but unfortunately, that is not imagine that and does it not sound done here. strange? This is the more reason we "Even the customs' men engage in have remained objects of scorn to the smuggling. They bring in contraband goods Beninoise. into the country. If you watch, the people ‘’Badagry would have been a good place •Ibidun previously doing the illegal business are now out to go for medical attention but the road is bad. of it, it is the customs that engage in contraband If you have an emergency, the pains of business now. These trailers you are seeing are travelling on the horrible road would have carrying contraband goods cleared by the killed the sick person before you get to customs. I am telling you the truth and you Badagry. Instead of taking the risk of can investigate it if you like. I am tired of compounding the health of any sick this kind of government that cares less member by travelling to Badagry about security. through the death trap called "The Federal Government should expressway, it is better and safer to provide schools for our children. The swallow your pride as a citizen of only primary school we have was built the ‘giant of Africa’ and simply go

by Jakande in 1980. The only secondary to Benin Republic for treatment.’’ school we have is about six to seven Sabo Katilafia, the chief security kilometeres away. Most of our children officer of the Hausa community, travel to Badagry everyday on this bad was also aggrieved by the sheer road and it is quite risky. One of my abandonment of the residents. He children was once involved in an said that most of the pregnant women accident on the horrible road. often travel to Benin Republic for "Before, armed robbers moved from medical attention and pleaded with the house to house to rob people, but it has Federal Government to make its presence reduced now. The presence of MOPOL and felt at the border by giving back a little to •Emmanuel police station in the area has reduced all that.’’ the community from the huge sum of money He added that they were able to checkmate the that it realises every day. menace of armed robbers by forming vigilance A resident who simply identified herself as groups that watched the border and its Bisi alleged that there is serious corruption environs every night. all over the border. She said: "There is "I am a member of vigilance group of serious corruption all over the border.

Nigeria. We started the vigilance group Illegal immigrants keep flooding the when armed robbers terrorised us on a country without the relevant daily basis. Like I said earlier, they used government agencies doing the right to move from house to house robbing thing. The Immigration extorts people. We work hand in hand with the money from the people in stead of SSS and the police. We have been doing the work given to them. They arresting criminals and handing them use some guys called ‘camp boys’ as over to the police. That is why you their messengers. They send them cannot see anybody snatch bag here in out to harass people, search them Seme. Criminal activities have and take money from them. Look at drastically reduced since our vigilance that one (pointing at him) team, the police and MOPOL guard the interrogating a traveller beside an community and the border by extention. officer, is he an immigration officer? He Equally disconcerted by the neglect of the is not but he works for them. He is one of residents is Chief Emmanuel Adeyemo, the the ‘camp boys’ used by them to extort •Leo leader of Yoruba ethnic group in Seme. Aside money. If you have a passport, they would from the problem of power supply, he regretted extort money from you. If you don't have, they that the Federal Government does not see any reason would milk you dry. to cater for the health needs of the community from where it "The Customs on their part have been aiding and abetting generates so much revenue everyday. smuggling with impunity. They have some containers that Though the local government built a clinic for them, Chief they would never disturb on the road even if they are Ibidun said most of the residents still travel to Benin Republic carrying arms and ammunition. They have a particular day for medical attention because the clinic cannot take care of the that they move and it is an order from the above that they health needs of the teeming population at the border. must not be tampered with. They could be as many as 50 "What is going on in this place makes me feel I am not a containers marked as ‘ETLS’.

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2013

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HE Lagos State Police Command has smashed a suspected robbery gang made up of panel beaters, drivers, car dealers, native doctors, private security men, auto mechanics, landlords, fake pastors and businessmen without fixed business addresses.

Suspected members of the gang arrested by the police include Seyi Oyewale, Saheed Adebayo, Isa Adegbenro, Kayode Quadri, Afeez Ibrahim and Femi Ashiru. Others, including one Kazeem a.k.a. Naira and Alaba, were said to be at large.

Narrating his role in the series of robbery operations they allegedly carried out before their arrest, one of the suspects, Afeez Ibrahim a.k.a. Sharpman, a 35year-old indigene of Odogbolu town, Ogun State, said: “I am a panel beater. I was doing well in my job before I met Femi Ashiru (one of the suspects in police net).

“I made so much money that I built a house of my own. I was contented with the money I made on a daily basis. I worked seven days in a week. The moment Femi came into my life, my character changed. I started lying to my customers. At times, I deliberately destroyed a part of a car and collected money from the owner to buy a tokunbo (fairly used) part to replace it.

“At times, some customers would give me their cars to work on but Femi would advise me to sell it. He later started supplying me cars and jeeps snatched by his gang to sell. I became a receiver of stolen vehicles.

“Unfortunately, the new business I found myself doing dragged me into a lot of police cases. This affected my job as a panel beater. Hence, I abandoned the job and sold my house and other belongings in order to survive. When life became too difficult for me, I joined the gang and started going to robbery operations with them.”

Asked how many vehicles he received from Femi before joining the gang, he said: “It was the devil w h o made me an armed robber and receiver of stolen c a r s .

Somebody in our village made the charm against me to become a criminal.

What happened to me was not ordinary.

I was doing well but suddenly, I became a liar, cheating my customers. I became a receiver of stolen goods and eventually joined the gang.

“In fact, I joined two gangs. The vehicles I received included Toyota Camry, which I sold for N200,000, and Toyota Muscle,

•Top and Bottom: The suspects

We operated with master keys and fake guns s r e b b o r d te c e p s u S — Ebele BONIFACE

which I sold for N600,000. I also received a 4-Runner Jeep from Kazeem and resold it for

N450,000. My gain here was N 5 0 , 0 0 0 .

K a z e e m , known also as Baba Ope or Naira, is still at large.

“I also sold a Toyota Highlander f o r N500,000 and gave the money to Kazeem, but till date, he did not give me a dime. He promised to give me the balance when I brought another car. I later brought a Hyundai and he gave me N30,000 only. I gave him a Rav4 which was sold for N350,000, but I was given only N20,000.

Asked how he was arrested, he said: “Femi was first arrested by operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Lagos State Police Command. He led them to my house and they saw me and ar-

‘BuIshastodpmaryeaw,orveksryhoclop seat toPleaIlesu-Erepo

market before the owners of the land demolished our workshop and built a residential building and shops there. When I was chased away from there, I had no alternative but to join this gang in order to survive

,

rested me.”

The second suspect, Seye Oyewale a.k.a. Sheyi Campus (27), who hails from Osogbo, Osun State, said: “I am happily married with a set of twins. I was a member of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) before I became an armed robber. But we don’t use real guns. We operated with fake guns and master keys.”

Explaining how he joined a robbery gang, he said: “I was called by one guy called Alaba to follow him to Ifako Ijaiye area (Lagos) to rob in November last year. We were three in number, namely myself, Isa Adegbenro from Ogun State and Alaba. I reside at No. 5, Adara Martin Street, Agbelekale area, OkeOdo. “When we reached Ifako at about 9 pm, we collected a

Toyota Camry car parked by the road side. When the owner saw us and came to stop us, I used the fake gun to scare him away and zoomed off with his car. The man was forced out of the car and Isa drove it. We took the car to Afeez Ibrahim and he paid N150,000. I was given only N30,000 when the money was shared.

“The second operation occurred at Oko-Oba Road. We snatched a Toyota Muscle car.

The owner left the key at the ignition and went to buy something nearby. We took it to Afeez and collected N400,000, but I was not given a dime for my efforts. Isa gave the whole N400,000 to Afeez.

“When I confronted Isa, he told me that Alaba collected my money for me. Alaba is still at

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2013 long to Alaba’s gang, though the police has not arrested Alaba. He is still our great gang leader.

“Other members of our gang are Seye and Isa. We are a three-man gang and we operate around the Oko-Oba axis. There was a time we snatched a Toyota Camry and sold it for N150,000 to Afeez. I got only N35,000. We also snatched an Orobo Toyota Camry, the one they call Toyota Muscle, and sold it for N400,000. I got N100,000.

“I had my workshop at Pleasure Bus stop area, very close to Ile-Epo market before the owners of the land demolished our workshop and built a residential building and shops there. When I was chased away from there, I had no alternative but to join this gang in order to survive.

“I vow that I will never operate with real gun because I had no intention of killing my victims. We used to use master keys and fake guns. Alaba is the gang leader and he does not use a gun. He uses master keys.”

The fifth suspect, 27-year-old Saidi Adebayo, who hails from Itamaga village, Ikorodu Lagos State, is married with a nine-month old baby. He said: “I am a plumber. I also dig borehole. I was on a playground in Itamaga area one evening when Kazeem came to meet me. He asked why I had decided to suffer like my father who did security work, because I was doing a security job at Mowonla.

“It was there that I knew Kazeem, Afeez and Quadri, a wonderful native doctor.

They asked me to follow them to do one job. I asked them what job but they said they would tell me the next day. They only said it was a job that would give me quick and big money. The next day, he told me that the job was about collecting vehicles from people. I left in anger. He later called me on the phone but I refused to pick his call.

“He came later and asked why I refused to pick his calls and I told him that he said I should join them to collect people’s cars and I could not do such a thing as a security man who was well known in the area. The Police later arrested me and I told them that I had resigned from armed robbery but I could still lead them to those who were still doing the job.

“I met Kazeem, Alfa, Sharpman and Afeez about one and a half years ago. I had once followed them to snatch a car, but the car had an accident, which led to their arrest. They were charged to court and sent to Ikoyi Prison. I ran to Ugheli in Delta State and stayed with a tailor friend named Tony for

It was the devil who made me an armed robber and receiver of stolen cars.

Somebody in our village made the charm against me to become a criminal.

What happened to me was not ordinary. I was doing well but suddenly, I became a liar, cheating my customers. I became a receiver of stolen goods and eventually joined the gang

‘

‘

large. Alaba is the gang leader and we operate at the Oko-Oba axis in Lagos.

“I was the one who sold a Samsung handset to Sunday for N3,000. He was our regular handset buyer and receiver, but he did not follow us to operations. We heard that he had been charged to court because he was using the handset he bought from me and SARS operatives tracked him down.”

The third suspect, Kayode Quadri (37), an indigene of Ilorin, Kwara State and resident of Oke Otaona, Ikorodu, said he was a driver at a secondary school in Otaona on a monthly salary of N25,000 before he joined the robbery gang.

He said: “I joined the robbery gang because my salary was too poor. How can I manage N25,000? If I were a commercial bus driver or trailer driver, I would be getting more than N50,000 every month. If you see the insult I receive from teachers as a school driver, you would pity me.

“When I joined the gang, my role was to drive them to points of operation and bring them back. I still go to school to drive, depending on the time we fixed our robbery operation.”

On how he joined the suspects, he said: “I know Saidi, Naira and Sharpman. We used to smoke Indian hemp at the same joint. One Sunday, I followed Sharpman and Naira to do one job (armed robbery) at Adama side, Ikorodu. I was their driver.

“After robbing some people we had met on the road, we saw one man in a Toyota Highlander and stopped him, dragged him out and zoomed off with his car. I was not paid a dime until I was arrested by operatives of SARS. That happened this January.

“We drove a Honda Civic car to the robbery scene and snatched the Highlander.

Afeez was both the receiver and one of the strikers. I was not given a dime because they told me that the Highlander jeep had not been sold. I was told that they were going to snatch a vehicle before I joined them. So, I was not forced to become a part of the action.”

The fourth suspect, Isa Adegbenro a (27) from Abeokuta, Ogun State, who resides at 25, Musiliu Street, Agege, said he was an auto mechanic and driver. He said: “I am happily married with two children. I live in Oko Oba. SARS operatives arrested Seye and they u s e d him to arrest me. I don’t know these people.

They belong to another gang entirely. I be-

some time. I came back when my wife gave birth to a baby boy. I resigned from armed robbery job and faced private security work at Mowanla land.

“So, tell them that I am innocent because I did not participate in this case. The Police declared me wanted when they charged my colleagues then. How can I be arrested because I was once an armed robber? I have repented. Let them release me.”

The sixth suspect, Femi Ashiru (36), said he was a car dealer with his stand, FM Motors, in Ikorodu, Lagos State.

He said: “I have an auto stand at Ikorodu. It is called FM Motors. I reside at Igbogbo Bayoku Road, Ikorodu.”

Asked how he got his supplies, he said: “I do go to Cotonou to buy ve-

hicles and resell in Nigeria. My sister, Mrs Dupe Fakua, who is based in France, also sends cars to me to sell.”

On when he started patronising car snatchers and armed robbers, he said: “I met Sharpman, Afeez and Ibrahim through a guy called Wale Polo, who is in detention right now for selling and receiving stolen cars from Sharpman. I knew Sharpman as a panel beater also.

One day, he told me that a customer for whom he normally repaired cars used to bring cars for sale and they were very cheap. I told him that if it was the kind I liked, I would buy. He later brought one RAV4 jeep and I looked at the vehicle, tested it and found it okay. I paid him N450,000.

“There were documents in the vehicle.

The particulars were pasted on the windscreen. The insurance and road worthiness papers were all originals while other documents were in photocopies. He promised to bring the original copies of those ones later.

“He also brought a 4Runner and I paid him N700,000, though it had no registration number or vehicle particulars. But he said it was not snatched. Another one he brought was a Toyota Camry car and I paid him N450,000. He later brought a Hyundai Santate jeep and I paid him N650,000.

“He also brought a Toyota Camry 2010 model and I paid him N950,000. Although that one had no particulars, he assured me that it was genuine. He later confessed to me that the Camry 2010 model was snatched. Therefore, when he brought a Highlander Jeep, I refused to buy it. I told him to take it away, but instead of taking it away, he went and parked it at my house and said he would remove it later. He covered it with tarpaulin.

“When policemen arrested me in my office, I told them on our way to the police station that there was one jeep that was parked in my house, which I had told them to come and take away but they refused, and I could not report them to the police because they are dangerous with guns.”

He said he later took the police to Sharpman, the supplier of the vehicles’ house and he was arrested in his house at Agufoye area, a new site in Ikorodu. He was the only member of the gang he claimed to know.

•The suspects

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2013

Corruption, sad as it may sound, is the only thing that works in Nigeria

Mathew Hassan Kukah is the Bishop of Sokoto Diocese of the ly Ca th oli c Ch ur ch . Va rio us k, regarded as an activist in cassoc he has been for ages, at the t vanguard of a crusade for a jus of and an equitable society devoid en prejudices. He has severally be l a me mb er of ma ny fed era initiatives such as the Oputa m Pa ne l, the Ele cto ral Re for i Panel, the Shell and Ogon g reconciliation process, amon others. n In a chat with Channels Televisio by Sunrise crew and monitored O, Assistant Editor, LINUS OBOG 's Ku ka h sp ok e on Ni ge ria e de bil ita tin g co rru pt ion , th he leadership question and why an cannot venture into partis politics. Excerpts:

•Bishop Kukah

G

of recognition and I am extremely grateful to IVEN your commentaries over the God. In fact, I consider myself as an exyears on national political issues, a ordinarily privileged Nigerian. I have served lot of Nigerians would expect that you in about three or five national initiatives such should have long gone into active politics as the Oputa Panel, the Electoral Reform Panel. because you are likely to attract votes and I am still part of the Shell and Ogoni followership from all sections and segments reconciliation process. I am also involved in of the country. Why have you not thought the initiative by the Northern governors on along this line? how to come to terms with the problems or First of all, I am a Catholic priest and my aftermath of the Boko Haram. discipline makes it very clear that I cannot These are extraordinary opportunities and I participate in active politics. I cannot do not think I have had these opportunities participate in partisan politics and still remain because I was or I am the best. I am definitely a Catholic priest. Our training does not allow not. You know, governance is not all about us to be priests and politicians at the same logic. When you are dealing with a time. If you have to be a politician, then you dysfunctional environment which is what we must resign as a priest. have in Nigeria, a few things just need to be For me, my position is quite simple. There is fixed. And it is not like a brain surgery. nothing that I will say or that I have said that The case has so often been eloquently made will not be better said by other people. What by many people that we have not had many makes people curious is the fact that I am a heads of state or presidents with enough grey priest and that comes with trust. It is a trust that I take quite seriously and I will not betray that trust by exchanging it with something else that was not meant to be.

I have studied politics long enough and I have also studied human behaviour long enough to know that those who are making the pledge or call for me to go into politics will not go out in the street for me for free or queue behind me for free. I am quite discerning enough to know that that is not where I belong.

At my age, I should be old enough to know the game which I have a competitive advantage.

On the issue of electoral politics, I do not think I have competitive advantage.

Every single time that you have spoken on an issue, you have captured the essence of the message, and brought some form of logic which some people have said has affected the majority of our leaders. When you have the ability to do it that way and capture the essence successfully, one would expect that you should have a role to play in governance. Why are you shy in playing that role in governance?

I am not shy to play a role. But I think I have been playing my own little role. I am not in public life in the way and manner that could be seen to be as a result of politics. I have said it every time I have been asked by journalists and I try to explain that each time I have been appointed by the government to be part of an initiative, it has always come to me as a shock. Some people had thought that it has been as a result of politicking, scheming and manoeuvring. I can say that I have had •Bishop Kukah my own fair share

You have tribal clubs, all kinds of associations, alternative godfathers. In Nigeria today, how you get into the university, how you get a job, is no longer by just filing the forms. Everybody knows that how you get promoted in the office is no longer as a result of hard work.

We are no longer in a regime of hard work and compensation or reward

matters. It is important that they should have and it is also important that they earn a university degree or attend a university.

But at the end of the day, if you are a graduate of the university of the heart, it is far more important. You will recall that the late President Julius Nyerere was, of course, an evidently an educated man, but beyond his education, he was an extraordinary good man.

That is why if you go to Zambia today, you will not find a bunch of rich people going about, but you will find a very contented people who are happy.

The problem with our situation is that we have ended up with a scenario where those who are governed are better and thoroughly equipped than those who govern. Our situation can be likened to being in a class where many of the kids or students are brighter than their teacher. And this can be embarrassing. In a situation like that, you will find that there will always be a constant feeling of inadequacy. Of course, this feeling of inadequacy is compensated for by being brutal and harsh and ultimately stopping the students from talking.

The point I am making is that we have gone past the stage where we should be looking for leaders. The Mandelas of this world have had their time and that is not what we are looking for now in Africa. We are not looking for the Sardaunas, the Azikiwes and the Awolowos.

Even if they were to come today, I do not think we will be able to recognise them. This moment we are in presently calls for a clear appreciation of the severe limitations of institutional leadership.

The fact that Nigerians continue to talk about President Goodluck Jonathan in relation to insecurity is largely a function of the over 30 years of the trauma of military rule. Nigerians are still expecting that era where if the 'big man' in Abuja coughs, somebody collapses in Sokoto and loses power or when the head of state sneezes, the governor in Akwa Ibom begins to panic.

Unfortunately, presidents no longer have those kinds of power anymore. It is important we appreciate the fact that we are in a democratic environment, but definitely not perfect. The president has severe constraints.

And it is not as if he is a military president.

Even if the governors are more powerful today and are called dictators, it is as a result of the inability of the constituent parts to appreciate what their roles are in a democracy. The point I am trying to make is that we need a more diverse approach and appreciation of what leadership is all about.

Speaking of leadership, some of us who have been privileged to listen to you over the last 20 years can say that you have met

—Bishop Mathew Kukah

practically with all the nation's heads of state, from Shehu Shagari, Buhari, Babangida, Abacha, Obasanjo and to the late Yar'Adua.

So looking at these leaders vis-viz the situations that haunt us as a nation, what is it about them that has made it impossible for Nigeria to achieve its potential as a nation during their era?

First of all, I appreciate what you have just said. But let me say that I have met a lot of these leaders who are extraordinarily good people. I have not met any single Nigerian head of state or president who planned, as a matter of deliberate policy, to destroy this country.

You met Abacha and you insist he was also an extraordinary good man?

Unfortunately, Abacha is now late. And unfortunately too, those who stood for him are now in the background. But were we to have a much more robust national debate about the legacy of General Abacha, history will be completely different from what people knew of him. But that is a completely different matter altogether. Permit me to also say this that without Abacha, there will be no Jonathan as President today. If there hadn't been a Bayelsa, nobody will think of the Ijaws today.

Without Abacha, my friend, Kayode Fayemi, will not be presiding today as Ekiti governor.

We can go on and on.

Nigerians talk about leaders, but let me be a bit philosophical here. I do not call most of these people leaders. I call them office holders.

They hold office. That is the truth and I do not mean disrespect. When you are thinking of a leader, try reading Obafemi Awolowo or Aminu Kano. You will see evidence of people who spent endless days and nights thinking about life and how to bring about the good of the society. They were not in office, but they had clarity of mind to understand the environment within which the country was going to operate. They had an idea of what they were going to do and what kind of country they wanted if they became president.

As I said two weeks ago, I have done a timeline for ideas from Tafawa Balewa to President Jonathan, and I found out that we have ended up with a situation in Nigeria where you will understand that the reason why a single Nigerian president has come to occupy that office is simply and slowly by “good luck”.

And quite sadly, their “good luck” has been our “bad luck” because we have not been so lucky.

The point I am making is that when you have this kind of people tumbling and fumbling their way into public office, bear in mind that they may have all the good intentions in the world, but plotting a coup is not the same as plotting to be a leader. The situation in Nigeria is one in which, as soon as you become president, you will find traditional rulers, retired generals and all

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2013 kinds of people who are pushing for their children, sons, daughters, nephews and wards to come and hold public office.

Our approach to power and how it is distributed or a situation where people get into office believing that they are presiding over a distribution agency is not my own idea of public office. You cannot be a leader without a philosophy. The only reason why there are Moslems in Nigeria today is because the Holy prophet of Islam left a Quran and the only reason why we are Christians today is because what Jesus said in the Bible.

What you call the manifestos of political parties in Nigeria, I can tell you that most of the people who are in power have no idea of what the manifestos are because it was never meant to be followed. So, if you have to be a leader, you have to have a script, you have to have a vision which people can key into. What we currently have in Nigeria are office holders.

Would you say that the office holders that we have had for the last 50 years of existence as a country, there has not been a single one of them who would have moved Nigeria to the next level and that is why we are where we are?

Let me tell you what I perceive. The biggest problem we have is that to be a president of Nigeria is to preside over a huge distribution agency. I say it over and over again that the Nigerian president is perhaps the most powerful human being in the whole world.

Please do not ask me what about President Obama? President Obama cannot give you the kind of thing that a Nigerian president, if he wants to, will give you as a gift. If a Nigerian president wants you to own the Channel Television tomorrow, it is absolutely possible.

Ours is not a function of good or bad people.

It is about an environment which makes it impossible for good people to operate functionally. It is okay to blame the president, but the president does not own the judiciary.

Also, it is okay to blame the president, but the president does not own the media. I am not trying to say that these sectors have not done well, but the issue is that we as a people lack the capacity to sequence the achievement of our presidents.

As I often say, we are the only country that progresses backward. We progress in reverse gear. The best Nigerian president is the one that has already gone. Underline what I am about to say here and that is that if President Jonathan leaves office today, the next day, you will hear the same people who castigated him saying 'In fact, this Jonathan was not too bad after all.'

The other day, I saw a cartoon in The Nation newspaper and the cartoonist seemed to be saying that the last governor of Bayelsa left five thousand four hundred and something naira in the account and the cartoonist said 'ah, you are lucky o'. That is the mentality we have found ourselves with.

That is why we are quick to praise a governor for tarring a five-kilometre road in eight years. So, at the end of the day, you will agree with me that it is really not the fault of those who govern Nigeria.

My question has been why is it that a country that is so well endowed with human resources, with all the technology and all the opportunities open to us, do we still look like people who need to be led in any direction?

The essence of leadership is to create the enabling environment that allows different people in different parts of Nigeria to do what they know how to do best, be it farming, fishing or banking.

Again, owing to our experience with the military, each time we talk about leadership, everything heads to the table of the big man.

The other day, one of the aides of the President was saying that the President has got so much power, that he is not even using 10 per cent of the power.

Recall the Connecticut school killing in the United States of America and the interesting thing President Obama had to say about the power he has. He said: 'I want to use every power that is available to me as the president to make sure that this doesn't happen again.'

That tells you the enormous power that a president has at his disposal and how he uses it.

Having said this, it is, however, instructive to note that in the end, it is only God that can stop certain things from happening. But the point here is that power is meant to be used wisely. I do not think that we should at this time be talking about the fact that our President has so much power, but rather that mercifully, he is not using the power. To get

•Bishop Kukah

this great country called Nigeria in place, it is like a man who is driving a trailer and finds it difficult to turn at a roundabout. Of course, you cannot drive a trailer and turn at a roundabout the way you want.

For me really, the critical point is for us to take our eyes away and stop asking what our President can and should do for us and focus more on what we can do best for ourselves. Of course, we may want to tie it up to the fact that we do not have the infrastructural architecture to support individual initiative, but that is a different thing altogether.

Corruption has been a big issue with Nigeria and from day to day, our sensibilities are shocked more and more by varying degrees of corruption going on in the country and which the government is making a huge noise about. What are your thoughts about the fight against corruption and the fact that the government is not doing enough in that regard? Also what would you be saying to President Goodluck Jonathan, if you had just one opportunity to speak to him about corruption?

Without sounding immodest, I want to say that I really do not lack the opportunities to speak with presidents. With that being said, there are people who are paid to do that job.

However, let me try and answer your question this way, I studied Philosophy and I am worried that even the language that we use is not correct. People talk about fighting corruption. I do not believe that corruption is something that can be fought. Let me tell you something that Maya Angelou once said: 'If your hand is in the mouth of a lion, and you know that the lion can chop off one of your hands, why don't you use the other hand and stroke the lion? The lion itself, may say if this guy had two hands, he actually may be stroking me with the other hand. And once you begin to scratch the lion and it begins to shake, you then gradually pull out the hand that is in the lion's mouth.'

It then comes to a point that the lion realises that it is in its interest that since you have two, you can actually stroke its neck with your two hands if it lets go of your hand from its mouth. The truth of the matter today is that people no longer fight lion, they tame the lion. And there are also people who tame snakes.

I am not talking about

taming or containing corruption here, but what exactly we are doing? Clearly, in this country, corruption, sad as it may sound, is the only thing that works. It is what gets you into the university, it is what gets you into elective office. It is what gets you to pass examinations and it is what gets you a job.

So, if we at least agree on that point, we can now decide the rules of engagement. But to continue to pretend and behave as if we have a bunch of politicians who are inherently corrupt and we have to get rid of them, we will not have laid the background for the rule of engagement because certain environment such as we have, lends itself to certain contradictions.

If you live in an environment of severe scarcity where there is no water and no light, you find yourself a victim of what is called in political science as the instrumentalisation of failure. It operates in such a way that when things are not working, failure becomes so instrumental that it becomes the tool of empowerment so that if people who are living in a particular location have no water, for instance, they will turn to the man who is selling water and making a lot money. If a man who is selling generating sets is making a lot of money from the business of selling generating sets, he sees himself as an empire and it is, therefore, not in his interest that Nigeria's electricity sector works.

Naively, you can draw a conclusion from this analogy to say that that is also corruption. But the critical question you have to address is what kind of incentive are you going to bring to the man who is selling water and making a lot of money?

Whether you negotiate with him or not, you have to find a way out.

Take the case in Chicago, for example, when Al Capone was running what was regarded then as an empire, he was seen somewhat as an alternative government.

Even when people were being killed on the streets, nobody could charge him to court. But when somebody decided that Al Capone must go on trial, he was arraigned for tax evasion and not for a series of killings he had perpetrated.

Sadly, the problem with Nigeria has assumed a dimension needing the question like, 'who will bell the cat?' Will you go to the judiciary when you know quite well that you

Sadly, the problem with Nigeria has assumed a dimension needing the question like, 'who will bell the cat?' Will you go to the judiciary when you know quite well that you are not going to get justice? The recent Pension Fund trial verdict is a classical example.

Unfortunately, all the institutions set up to fight corruption including the judiciary have become arthritic and lacking the moral authority to fight corruption

are not going to get justice? The recent pension fund trial verdict is a classical example.

Unfortunately, all the institutions set up to fight corruption, including the judiciary, have become arthritic and lacking the moral authority to fight corruption. If we think that it is these institutions that are going to fight corruption, I am sorry to say that it is not just going to work.

On what I will say to the President if I have the opportunity, I will say to him let us first of all understand what corruption is doing successfully that he, Mr. President, is not doing. There must be something that corruption is doing successfully.

It is like in Christianity where people talk about the devil and sin. If the devil were such a bad man, you will not have so many people following him. The devil must be somebody extraordinarily handsome if he is a man and extraordinarily beautiful if she is a woman for many people to be attracted to him or her.

If you are going to win people away from the devil, you must find out what the devil is offering that you are not offering. In all honesty, let me tell you what is basically and philosophically wrong with Nigeria. It is that the President, governors, politicians have come to understand that the country has an alternative parent. By that, I mean that as a wife, if your husband comes home from work and he says to you: ‘Love, don't worry, I am not going to have dinner today.’ The first thing that should come to your mind is not the economy of not eating and saving food. It does not make economic sense if you are a wife and your husband is not eating your food. You should be discerning enough to know that you are in trouble by his refusal to eat. It means that someone somewhere is helping you with your role as a wife. You have a duty to find out where he is eating.

What I can say here is that there are other contending and competing institutions that have taken away the loyalty of Nigerians. You have tribal clubs, all kinds of associations, alternative godfathers. In Nigeria today, how you get into the university, how you get a job, is no longer by just filing the forms. Everybody knows that how you get promoted in the office is no longer as a result of hard work. We are no longer in a regime of hard work and compensation or reward.

The problem of Nigeria is that the leadership is presiding over people who may be hearing them, but they are not listening.

That is the danger.

Take for instance, if you are driving on a road built by those regarded as corrupt, drinking water not provided by your government, but by those you call corrupt. If the government calls upon you, who are you going to listen to first? The government or those who came to your rescue by providing you road and water? That explains why Nigeria appears headed in completely different directions.

If I were the President of Nigeria, the first and primary thing I will do is to secure the loyalty of my children. I will secure that loyalty by making myself believable. Today, if the Minister of Information or any other minister says he is going to do this or that, people just turn to the next page. They are not interested in reading or knowing what the minister is promising to do.

Every day, Nigerians are becoming so fatalistic and cynical. To build a democratic culture, you have to design a mechanism to cure the followers of fatalism and cynicism so that you can have the kind of citizens who trust and believe.

Our situation is whether the President of Nigeria can be so discerning enough to appreciate the fact that if you are looking for people to deliver services, they must not necessarily be PDP card-carrying members.

Today, we are confronted by terrorism, yet we cannot agree with the definition, and secondly, we are appealing to all kinds of deity to intervene. There are witchcraft, medicine men, prophets and prayer warriors involved in what is clearly and simply scientific. Even people in high offices believe we can pray away Boko Haram.

Two of the greatest leaders in the world today are Nelson Mandela and President Barrak Obama. If I ask you which churches they attend, you will not be able to tell me because you do not know. We have gotten ourselves involved in the dubious belief that all we are looking for are God-fearing people.

We cannot pray away our problems just like that. How do you measure God-fearing people? Is it just the size of the church or mosque? Is it the congregation?

THE NATION, Saturday, February 16, 2013

22 The Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Uwajimogu, speaks with OKODILI IDIDI on the alleged plan to impeach Governor Rochas Okorocha and the House’s involvement in the probe of the finances of the previous administration in the state.

HERE is this widespread opinion that legislators are mere rubber stamps to state governors. What is your take on that?

The truth is that we practise a presidential system of government, which makes us have separation of powers between the executive, the legislature and the judiciary. Of course, our experience in Nigeria is that of the three arms of government, even though the legislature is the first arm of government, the arm that suffers most is the legislature because of repeated coups over time.

Whenever there is a coup, the legislature suffers the most because once they suspend the constitution, the legislature is out of place.

So, you have the executive which has developed over the years. You have the judiciary which has also developed over the years.

There is a legislature today in the current republic. It is only about 13 years. It is emasculated all over the country. All of us had witnessed in the days of President Olusegun Obasanjo that there was so much instability in the House. Obasanjo could change the Senate President at will. He could change the Speaker at will. So, what we have in Nigeria today is anomalous. It is not the right thing. But having said that, I want to commend the members of various Houses of Assembly because governors wield enormous powers and you should really remember like it is said that he who pays the piper dictates the tune.

But as the Speaker of a House of Assembly, you should be able to draw a line. First thing, they elected you as a Speaker or as a member to go into office to serve the people and not to bring deadlock into governance. Everything that comes to you, see if they can benefit the people of the state. The solution is to grant the Houses of Assembly financial autonomy.

That will help Houses of Assembly to grow.

But I also want to say that it is wrong to expect that the House of Assembly will control the government. It is wrong.

Government proposed free education, we passed the bill and appropriated for that. But there are things the governor wants and we say we cannot do that. But again, as the Speaker, like anywhere in the world, it is the Speaker of that House, as well as you come from that party, that markets the policy of the governor and the executive like it is done in America. If I have a disagreement with my governor, it is not for the pages of newspapers.

You said the current administration inherited a system that was corrupt and had lost the confidence of the people. Is the House in support of the plan by the state government to probe the immediate past administration?

Currently, we have a committee in the House of Assembly, headed by the Deputy Speaker, that is probing the former administration. We also have another committee in the House, headed by Dr. Victor Mere, probing the local government administration. These committees have various court actions against them. Let me say that we are to move forward and not to go back because we have been looking in the past and what we have been able to achieve.

But based on the level of trust we have in the preliminary reports, it becomes necessary to probe the people behind the fraud to discourage others. We are talking about N70 billion missing from the state’s coffers. And if you effectively look through the achievements of the previous administration before now, you cannot tie it to three or more projects. Yet it spent more than N480 billion.

So, the question we asked ourselves is: if you do not probe, how can you correct this? How do you explain to the people how their money was used?

That is exactly why this probe is going on.

The House of Assembly has already commenced this. The official copy of our findings will be presented to the Judicial

We’ve no plan to impeach Okorocha

T

–Imo Speaker

•Rt. Hon. Uwajimogu Commission. I think it is important that we look at what happened in the past.

How about the issue of arrest of government officials by the EFCC over alleged cases of fraud?

I issued a statement where I said that every transaction involving the Imo State Government has been with the consent of the Imo State House of Assembly. I don’t know why it has become the job of the EFCC to classify borrowing legal or illegal. The Imo State Government, because of the debt being owed by the former administration of Ikedi Ohakim, borrowed money from the local governments instead of borrowing from the bank, and the House of Assembly supported it. And that money is been paid up. Instead of saying what is being said today, we have made tremendous effort to support the Imo State Government to pay from its state local government’s idle fund.

Today, there is a bill called Imo State Local Government and State Joint Projects Law, which states that projects belonging to local governments be funded by a joint project of the state and local government with contribution of 70 per cent from the local government and 30 per cent from the state, and a committee to administer it. The House of Assembly has appropriated funds for the works of that committee. Hospital projects are ongoing as well as road projects. I can assure you that before the middle of February, a lot of them would have been asphalted.

How much has the state government borrowed from the Local Government Account?

The state government borrowed N15 billion from the Local Government Idle Fund, and as at last week, they had repaid over N13 billion to Local Government. So, the balance will be paid up within one month.

Let me add that the Imo State House of Assembly is of the view that the state government has been working for the people of the state. If any administration should suffer, it should not be the current administration that has been working for the people of the state. We believe that this is political; EFCC which used to take place

during the days of Obasanjo, we want to ask the Federal Government not go that way anymore.

Recently, the law establishing town unions was proscribed by the state government and replaced with the Community Government Council (CGC).

Will this not create crisis in the communities, given the stabilising role and history of town unions in this part of the country?

Town Union was a creation of the law.

There is a law called Town Union Law in Imo State. When we created the Community Government Council, that law repealed the autonomous communities, and the Town Union Law. We are transforming town unions into county councils. What we are trying to do is to bring the two to function together. We have the traditional rulers and we have the town unions. The traditional ruler is there as the chairman of the county while the town union president will now be the Secretary General of the Community Government Council. The same way, you have the woman leader, the youth leader and all that are also included in the Community Government Council.

We have what is called the Community Liaison Officer (CLO), who is the governor’s representative in this community. He liaises between the community and the state government. Government went further by giving it teeth by deploying civil servants to serve in the Community Government Council. If these communities will create the department of agriculture, we will have in every community a head of agriculture, head of works and so on. With what we are doing now, if we have health problem in our communities, we don’t need to call the Commissioner for Health to come from the Ministry of Health when the Community Government can do it. If you need a borehole of say N50, 000.00, you can buy water pumping machine without much protocol.

But by the time you require the services of the permanent secretary and director, it is a long time.

So, we are removing these entire quagmires by making communities more

responsible. Why should the state government be responsible for the running of fertiliser in the community? Why should the state government be responsible for the sweeping of culverts? Let me also say that it is not only in Nigeria or Imo State that you have a community government. If you go to Niger State, they have adopted what they call ward governing body. If you go to Tanzania, they have it at that level. Even in the U.S. and previously in Nigeria, there were county councils.

Recently the State Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) raised the alarm over the alleged plot to impeach the governor. Was there any such move in the House?

I want to tell you that all the rumour you have heard about impeachment and counterimpeachment are all imaginations of those people who have been peddling the rumour.

Impeachment is not an easy project to embark on. Imo is a state with over 22 newspapers and there isn’t much news to be generated in the state. So, when they don’t find information to write about, they look for what to generate. Maybe my face and that of the governor sells the newspapers. So, I urge the people to ignore that. There is no plan to impeach the governor who has achieved the much he has done.

What would you say are some of the achievements recorded by the House under your leadership?

We believe that this is one of the best sessions in the history of Imo House of Assembly. Most of the bills we have passed now are people-oriented—free education, community development, appropriation and so on. Today our budget in the House of Assembly is about 40 per cent of the budget of the previous administrations. But we have achieved so much in terms of infrastructure in the House of Assembly. We are digitalising all the laws of Imo State by creating a website. We have started what we called participatory budgeting, which means that in everything we do, before we make the budget, we will consult the communities and find out what the communities require. If somebody wants bore hole, you don’t build culverts. It does not make any sense. We believe in participatory legislation.

We have also written to the National Assembly to participate in the areas that concern Imo State. We have written to the NDCC that they should not just site projects.

Rather, they should come to Imo and consult with the people. Not that we will be working on some projects and the NDCC will come tomorrow and say they have already given a contract for that. They go and start on those roads. When they are budgeting for NDCC in Imo State, you should let the people who are running the government of the state to know that these projects are coming to your place, so that we will tell you where they need it.

We will tell you exactly what we need.

For a long time, the executive at the federal level has treated Nigerians as if they don’t belong to this federation. We have reached the stage where we ask the Federal Ministry of Works to leave the state because we don’t see their impact. We don’t feel their impact.

All the projects they started in the state have not been completed. If you go to the NDCC, they tell you that in their many years of existence, N40 billion have been spent in Imo State. Where has the money been going to?

These are the things that have brought about lack of development in our various communities.

LOCATION

BACKSTAGE

SNAPSHOT

REEL NEWS

MUSIC

SCREEN

Edited by: VICTOR AKANDE

Tel: 07029013958

E-mail: victor_akande@yahoo.com

ntertainment

THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2013

•SEE PAGE 28 & 37

I am open to

mar r ia g e

—Actress Marian Kekurah

23

24

THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2013

STAND BY! h

Wit

VICTOR AKANDE E-mail: victor_akande@yahoo.com Tel: 07029013958 (SMS only)

I

THINK

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

Rough-and-ready guide to a blockbuster movie!

Writes Ben Morris

F a Hollywood studio has spent a lot of money on a movie, say from the script page to the premiere. $200m, then you will probably find out about it. Talk of vast budgets is A producer can be thought of as good for business. From the the chief executive of the film. They audience's point of view, it might be are the financial controllers and will worth the price of the ticket just to make hiring-and-firing decisions. see what justified that expense. But They will also bring investors into finding out exactly how the money the project and negotiate deals with is spent is more difficult. On rare distributors. At the high end of the occasions production budgets have industry they will receive millions leaked out, but up-to-date of dollars. While rarely getting paid information is hard to come by. And more than the lead actor, they can that's hardly surprising, as there is a make up to $5m for a film. lot at stake. Exposing a movie's •Cast financial details could upset a lot of A big name actor can expect an powerful people. A film's director, up-front payment, $10-$20m would actors and producers will be some not be unusual. The biggest names of the most significant costs in the can demand a percentage of a budget, and they will not be happy movie's box office return. to have their pay open to public While studios are generally scrutiny. But it is possible to get an reluctant to offer such deals it can be idea of where the money goes. So, if a way of managing financial risk. If you have always wanted to direct a the film is more successful than blockbuster movie, here's a roughexpected, everyone is happy. But if and-ready guide to how much it is it fails, at least the payments to going to cost you. And, lower down, actors will be limited. find out how you might get some of that money back.

For the Hollywood elite, vast sums can be made. It is reported •Budget that Johnny Depp has made So what qualifies these days at a hundreds of millions of dollars out big budget? According to Nikki of the Pirates of the Caribbean Finke, founder and Editor-in-Chief movies. at the respected Hollywood news •Production Costs website Deadline.com, $200m is the starting price. "$200m is when they Again, this can vary wildly. If you (studio executives) really start want to film in Manhattan, you will thinking hard about it." Approving have to pay for filming permits, (or green-lighting) a project of that insurance, security - the list goes on. size might be beyond the remit of And if you want to film at night, even a studio chairman. It might elaborate lighting will be needed. have to go to top executives at the You can save money by filming in parent company. cheaper locations. Many countries will offer tax breaks. The Lord of the •Story Rights Rings trilogy received substantial You are going to need a story for tax breaks from New Zealand. your movie. More often than not Producers will have day-by-day that will come from a book, a play, breakdowns of how much filming or in some cases a video game. The will cost. Something relatively rights to a best-selling book can cost straightforward like a courtroom anything between $500,000 and drama could cost $500,000 a day. $2m.

For a 40-day shoot, that is $20m. But •Screenplay if you want car chases or So you have permission to use the pyrotechnics, then you can expect to story, now it needs to be converted pay a lot more. into a script. Top scriptwriters will •Visual Effects command hefty fees and you could Keep plenty of money in reserve spend as much as $2m. That's the for this. Computer generated elite end of the market; most imagery (CGI) is expensive, and bigHollywood writers toil away for name directors like long movies. For much, much less. some films that rely on visual •Director effects, it will almost double the cost This varies wildly form director to of the movie. You could end up director. Some like Steven Spielberg spending $100m. may take a producer role, •Music e which means extra , hom S U A relative bargain. e t h payment. The In t rtainmen For an original song, most successful h e t c i n h e well-known pop directors will ask d astar ing, w may charge up spend s DVDs an for as much as e s to $1m. a d h u l $10m for a movie, inc ntals, •Marketing and may also want ilm re lling since f a a cut of the film's So you have f n i been g a peak s it made the movie, profits. n s i hitt everthele the director is •Producers N . happy and you n 4 a 0 0 s The title "producer" 2 remaitnpart of a have kept to the can mean a lot of budget. Surely tan different things in impor 's revenue the worst is over.

Hollywood. Typically film Wrong. "Actual it is the person who filming, unless the will shepherd the movie

WRITE TO US!

director goes off the rails, that is often the easiest part of it all. These days it is extremely rare that a production will be a month or two late. In this business, one or two days is a big deal," says Nikki Finke at Deadline.com. You are now entering the world of marketing, which is very expensive. Big films will need a global advertising campaign. This can often amount to 50% or more of the original budget.

Reports say that Disney's flop movie, John Carter, cost $250m to make and another $100m to market.

•Revenue So the film has been made and the advertising campaign has been rolling for months, now it is time to make some money.

•Box Office The rule of thumb is that a movie studio can expect to receive about half of the box office sales. But in reality, the deals struck will be complicated. Studios often negotiate a high percentage for the opening week, which will then tail off, so the cinema chain gets a greater share as the film gets older.

•DVD sales In the US, home entertainment spending, which includes DVDs and film rentals, has been falling since hitting a peak in 2004. Nevertheless it remains an important part of a film's revenue. Bruce Nash, the founder and president of Nash information services, which provides movie industry research and support, says: "The death of that market is somewhat overblown.

"The DVD market peaked much earlier than studios would have liked, but the overall viewing of video at home continues at the same rate as ever. It's a much more mixed market between DVD, Blu-ray, video streaming and rental services like Red Box." A studio will typically take 40% of DVD and rental sales, and that can generate some healthy sums. DVD sales of the movie Avatar totalled $600m in the US alone. Another $57m was spent on renting the movie.

•Merchandising In the business this is known as ancillary revenue. It includes licensing for toys, games, posters and other items. This area is particularly important for animated family films like Pixar's Toy Story series. In-flight entertainment is also included in this bracket. Ancillary revenue can amount to about 10% of box office take.

•TV releases Generally a film will be offered on some kind of video-on-demand service first, then a premium cable package, and finally it will make its way on to regular television.

The fees will be based on the film's box office performance. A studio can expect to make about 11% of its box office total from TV releases.

—Ben Morris, Business Reporter writes on 7 May, 2012 in BBC News Business

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 07029013958

SNAPSHOTS

Funke Akindele for Yaw's The Bar

I

N its fifth edition, Yaw Live on Stage comedy show titled The Bar is billed to hold on Sunday, March 3 at Muson Center, Onikan, Lagos. This year's play features one of Nollywood' finest, Funke Akindele Oloyede popularly known as Jenifa, according to reports.

According to the comedian, “The Bar is a satire that deals with the happenings in the country. All these experiences are presented in a humorous pattern to educate Nigerians without being offensive to anyone, group of people or government of the day.”

Hosts of the day are Alibaba and Bovi while live performance s will come from M.I, Iyanya, Brymo, African China, Olamide, Phyno, and Nosa.

Supporti ng Yaw are his colleagues Akpororo, Klint D Drunk, Funnybone, Senator and MC Abbey. The Bar, written

by Obi Martins and directed by Bunmi Davies will be shown twice on the day by 3pm and

F

Regina Chukwu hits location again

OLLOWING what she considers a successful release and positive reviews of her last movie, pretty actress, Regina Chukwu is set to hit location for the shooting of her fifth movie.

Entitled 'Oge', the movie under works, is said, will be shot at choice locations in the urban areas of Lagos, with plans to cast some of Nollywood`s finest actors and crew with the latest `camera •Regina chain`.

Coming on the stable of Triple `R` Productions, the movie, is said to be an intriguing story of prostitution. It chronicles the escapades of a young lady enveloped with the lustful determination to engage in prostitution.

Chukwu says `Oge` captures a dramatic illustration of the various intricacies, power play, pressure and maneuvering embedded in our family institutions that directly or indirectly reflects in the children; especially the correctional roles expected of parents.”

Continuing, the producer stated that `Oge' is set to actually illuminate Nigerians` thoughts on the genesis and nemesis that comes with prostitution.

Directed by Okiki Afolayan, the film parades Nollywood stars including: Yinka Quadri, Aina Gold, Sola Kosoko, Taiwo Aromokun, Kunle Afod, Damola Olatunji, Remi Surutu, Dele Fagboyo and Regina Chukwu.

Previous works by the producer include: 'Oguso', 'Idaro', 'Akun' and 'Ebolo'.

25

THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2013

RE ELNEW S

S

TYLE and standard pushed the Nigerian social circle a step higher, last year when WED, a foremost wedding magazine in Nigeria, brought the best and brightest brains in the wedding industry together in what it called WED Expo.

Managed by InnovoEdge Exhibitions, an international exhibition firm, the wedding exhibition was the first of its kind. Thus, riding on the success of the previous experience, organizers say, this year's edition promises to be the largest in West Africa. The event holds from March 21 to 24, 2013 at the popular Landmark Event Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Spoiling for the best nuptial fair, organizers say the event has been enriched with contents that will not only make wedding plans classy and creative, but also bring the seriousness of conjugal union to the fore.

Beyond glamour, the project thrives on the strength of educational sessions by the industry's bests - among them: Tosan Jemide of Cakes by Tosan, Bank e Meshida Lawal of BM-Pro, Tso ule and a host of others who have been scheduled to impact on the next generation in the wedding business.

The exhibition is expected to feature WED Awards, a scheme designed to appreciate creative talents in the Nigerian wedding industry, Best of Cakes Competition for those staking claims in cake baking and decorations, and Wedding Fashion Show, to showcase different wedding designs. There are also going to be honeymoon giveaways from Starwood Hotels for married couples who are exhibitors and visitors, as well as an opportunity to win I Pads, Blackberry phones, gowns and suits among other items.

There are indications that •Akin

•Orits Wiliki

F

A festival of wedding lots the organisers of the wedding exhibition are leaving no stone unturned, as vital ingredients to put together, a memorable event is in the offing.

According to the organiser, Mr. Akin Eso, publisher of WED Magazine, a wedding planning magazine which also focuses on relationships and the family: “WED Expo is poised to make exhibitors and visitors comfortable this year, the organizers has provided an ultra modern exhibition Dome built by Balmoral, to accommodate over 200 exhibitors expected to book for the exhibition.”

Eso, is also a Life and Business coach, who made an inroad into the Nigerian wedding industry few years ago. He says his publication, WED Expo: “is a wedding planning magazine which also focuses on relationships and family. It is a magazine with Nigerian and global roots to make readers get a one stop shop on all their planning needs while still giving as much education needed.”

On the challenges of putting the expo together, the wedding expert says: “Organizing wedding exhibition

OLLOWING the signing of a copyright licence agreement between Globe Broadcasting & Communications Limited, owners of Cool FM, WAZOBIA and Naija Info FM and Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) last year, demand by the former at a Federal High Court in Lagos seeking for a perpetual injunction restraining Musical Copyright Society Nigeria (MCSN) from further demand for the payment of royalties, appears to have been refused.

The radio stations owners had asked for a restraining judgment in Suit No. FHC/L/CS/734/2012 against MCSN. They asked that the society be stopped from any

is an enormous task that requires heavy investment of time, money, human resources and efforts to make a successful and profitable venture. Not taking away the place of promotion which serves as the cardinal avenue to attract exhibitors and visitors from far and near. In this regard, WED has generously and consciously done enough to provide a level playing ground for all intending exhibitors to partake of the goodies of WED Expo. WED did the fantastic “Power of 52 promotion offer” to celebrate the 52nd anniversary of Nigeria's independence.”

He noted that the success of WED Expo last year and the high level of preparedness for this year's edition have shown that WED Expo is an established and popular brand among wedding enthusiast, and one which will remain a benchmark for other exhibitions to follow in terms preparation, execution and success.

In the last edition, exhibitors were drawn from the makeup industry, bridal accessory retailers, photography and video studios, dress makers, cake makers, decorators, planners, Aso-Oke makers and many others who are directly and indirectly involved with weddings. The exhibition featured about 135 exhibitors and had over 10,000 visitors in attendance.

The exhibition, which held at The Haven in Ikeja Lagos, has been described as the biggest wedding exhibition in the West African sub-region.

Court favours MCSN on royalty rights legal action against them for the non-payment of copyright royalties on the broadcast of music in MCSN's repertoire.

In reaction to the originating summons, MCSN's counsel, Dada Awosikia was said to have pleaded that his client cannot be prevented or restrained from protecting or administering its property, in the case, presided over by Hon. Justice M. B. Idris.

On the strength of Awosika's arguments, the court went further to consider the merit of the suit and ruled that there is no way a

For Nigerian Idol top 12, it's the beginning of the end

W

ITH the official unveiling of the top 12 contestants in the Nigerian Idol music competition tonight, the race for the biggest prize of N7.5 million in cash, a recording contract worth of N7.5 million and a brand new Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) has really just begun.

In its third edition, Nigerian Idol has had a fantastic run so far, from dramatic splits to disastrous onstage melt-downs; it has been one of the most exciting seasons of the show. The last exercises that led to the present selection were perhaps more tension-filled - tears, disappointment and hope all boiled down to one moment for the seven contestants hoping to make it to take up those final three spots to round out the top 12. It was a tough moment for the seven (Moses, Dan, Oweck, Modele, Abasiakan, Micheal and Okey Jazz) who had been had been eliminated and then given the chance to redeem themselves in

the Wild Card round.

It was a nail-biter episode and the fates of these contestants were handed out in typical dramatic fashion, as the Nigerian voting audience chose one of the seven they want to see in the top twelve, leaving the judges to pick their two favourite contestants from the remaining six.

As the show host, Ill Rhymz asked for the lights to be dimmed, seven contestants stood on the stage knowing the next few minutes would decide either to see their dreams come true, or their hopes crushed. And with what was probably the biggest surprise of the evening, Abasiakan proved himself to be a quiet stunner as he won the voters pick.

“I feel so big right now…I'm not going to let you down,” Abasiakan said excitedly. And from the judges' picks, Danny Angus and Moses became the 11th and 12th singers to make it to the top twelve, vowing to give the show their all.

Tonight, a spectacular ceremony will

push the competition to the next level, as the Civic Center, Victoria Island plays host to the official unveiling of the 12.

Organisers say they will be accompanied by 'Golden Love Songs' sung by the contestants as well as music from celebrity guest artistes including Tiwa Savage and Naeto C. In the competition, the top prize for this season is worth a superb $100,000. And apart from the top prize, runner-ups are expected to get prizes to the tune of 10 million naira. The competition is being sponsored by Etisalat, in association with Pepsi

property owner can be prevented from administering or protecting its property. Thus the suit of Globe Broadcasting and Communications Limited was dismissed.

But in a counter reaction, a lawyer to Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON), Mr Justin Ige, said the judgement does not translate to a right by MCSN to collect royalties: “My information is that the Honourable Judge simply struck out an originating application filed by Globe Broadcasting on a technical ground. Indeed, I am reliably informed that the originating summons has been refilled.”

•The final 3, Moses, Dani and Abasian

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2013

Years after leaving urban music channel, NIGEZIE, Adekunle Adejuyigbe better known as Nodash has gone on to establish himself as one of the most promising music video directors on the scene. He speaks about his experience with music artistes and how he is able to make his productions one of the most exciting to watch on screen in this interview with AHMED BOULOR.

A

T what point in your career did you leave NIGEZIE and what exactly was your brief while you were still with the outfit?

I was directing and editing for a certain period before I began to supervise things on the beat.

What was the experience like?

It was wounderful and mind broadening; I always knew I was going to end up on TV. That was one of the reasons I went to NIGEZIE to get the needed experience before I ventured into full time directing.

It seems you knew where you were going from day 1?

If you say so…Before I was employed at NIGEZIE I had a stint at NTA where I also sharpened my production skills.

What's your ultimate target?

Doing major movies is my ultimate target and I wanted to contribute my own quota towards the development of the movie industry by doing movies that tell stories.

What major movie productions have you been part of?

Quite a number of them… I have been part of movie productions such as Journey to Self and The Young Smoker.

Did you have kind of qualification in the area of directing?

I studied as a director and the easiest way to answer such as question is by borrowing the lines of Quentin Tarantino who says “I didn't go to film school but I went to the movies”. We live in a world where all the information you need is just at the touch of a button. Information is always available for those who seek it; but while I may not have any kind of qualification in directing I have studied harder that most people who went to school to study direct

How I get viewers hooked to my music videos —Nodash ing.

Are you just restricted to shooting movies?

That's the beauty of what I do; I do shoot music videos too and I shoot them like I am shooting a movie.

Whenever I shoot a music video I have it at the back of my mind that the lyrics written by artistes are mostly borne out of personal experiences and I try to capture that experience with the videos that I shoot. There is a

story behind every song and I always ensure that I interpret music video like movies.

How do you switch between doing music and movie productions?

I don't see a difference from my perspective and I ensure that I always try to tell a story through what I do. I see both activities as telling stories. Once there is a story to tell, the cameras will keep rolling.

What informs your visual productions?

The basic thing for me is that people are usually bored sometimes and my aim is that any visuals churned out by me should be able to entertain the viewer for the time it is been aired. I try to engage and entertain the viewer for the time my works are on air and telling visual stories is really one way to capture the attention of anyone who watches your works. They key is getting on the emotional side of the viewer; I try to make them cry, laugh and sometimes scare them.

How difficult is it working with music artistes on location?

I have not really had any issues with artistes; I think the reason is that, I try to prepare the mind of the artiste by sending him or her a script before-hand. I try to be as organised as possible and that involves me doing my home work so I don't overburden myself when it is time for me to shoot the

I have discovered that a lot of artistes lack that basic ingredient; they don't know how to project their brands, that's if they have any in the first place. Whatever video I shoot for an artiste must interprete the brand of the artiste; then it must be entertaining

video. Generally, artistes are not as crazy as most people term them to be.

They paid for the job to be done and no artiste would want to be unruly or not be at his best behavior when shooting a video.

While interpreting your script what do you look out for?

The first thing I try to determine when shooting a video for an artiste is to try to determine the brand of the artiste. I have discovered that a lot of artistes lack that basic ingredient; they don't know how to project their brands, that's if they have any in the first place.

Whatever video I shoot for an artiste must interprete the brand of the artiste; then it must be entertaining. People must be able to see and identify with the artiste through his or her brand.

That's the problems of most music videos we have now; they seem not to be a connection with artiste in question.

You see 10 different artistes from 10 different backgrounds shooting videos that are similar. That' the trend nowadays and I think it is unfair to the viewer. For each video, each individual has to come out distinctly.

Is that fact not because most artistes are crazy about the commercial aspect of their works rather than the artistic aspect?

I completely agree with that assertion; people run after what has already worked for the other artistes. We also like following the bandwagon in this part of the world too; but I try to do something different. I try to create something new…

Which is more tasking: shooting music videos or movies?

Movies take a longer period of time and it is more involving and engaging to get it done. It takes a lot of time from pre-production to the production stage itself and post-production. Music videos are quite shorter but they are both tasking depending on the angle that you look at it.

Which pays better?

It depends on the budget; there are movies that have crazy budgets and there are also music videos that have crazy budgets too.

What would make you reject a production job?

I've had cause to reject some jobs and what would make me reject a client's job is when the material is not encouraging. That's when an artiste doesn't have any message to interprete or to pass across; most acts do not make anything out of their lyrics and it will be very hard to interprete whatever they are singing through a music video.

What home work should an average artiste do to ensure he gets the best out of his or her music video?

First the artiste must have good music to push out there; the artiste must also have a brand to project. I consider shooting music videos and movies as an integral part of the society because whatever we put out there influences the society. The artiste must have something tangible to put out there.

What are you working on at the moment?

I am working on a whole lot of stuff and I also handle jobs for corporate bodies. I have a lot of movie scripts to develop and music videos to shoot and I wouldn't like to give the names of the artiste for confidentiality reasons.

What do you consider your best production?

The next one…

What places your works apart from other competitors in the industry?

Most directors don't direct because I

27

THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2013

Dr Sid finds new love

s e g a t s u w g A s u li Ju

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AVE making artiste, Dr Sid has found a new love in the launch of his own quadruple chocolate cookie called Indulge. The latest addition to the list of chocolates was unveiled on Saturday February 9, 2013 at POP, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Revealing the concept behind Indulge, the artiste stated that it is a luxury chocolate cookie made with the finest Kenyan Cocoa powder, chocolate dough and Belgian chocolate, with a half coat of melted chocolate and a sprinkle of Belgian chocolate chips.

At the unveiling, Dr Sid' stated; “why send flowers this season when you

I

Festival of Love

one of the most-anticipated T is another season of love, and l of Love, will hold today, love concert in Abuja, Festiva 3.

Saturday, February 16, 201 will hold at the Congress As earlier reported, the event tel.

Hall of Transcorp Hilton Ho iative of ace comedian, Julius init the is ich wh nt, The eve sic acts like Wizkid, Burna Agwu, will feature popular mu slated to perform are ans Boy and Chidinma. Comedi Bovi and Chigul. s, Akpororo, Dan 'D' Humorou g of romantic nin eve an is e Festival of Lov couples' ers, lov serenade for couples and Agwu ers. lov for edy com at gre games and to ed add n bee has e revealed that Karaok nt will eve the t tha and nt eve r's this yea also kick-off with a cocktail. edition Julius Agwu revealed that thisd edition, thir its in is ich wh l, iva fest the of event will will the best ever. “This year'st should not tha g nin be an electrifying eve ples games be missed by anyone. The coual. As usual, ion ept exc be and karaoke will those that will we leave other surprises for lovers definitely e uin Gen nt. eve make it to the to celebrate this year's can't get a better place to be e.” valentine than Festival of Lov

by Osmoserve This year's event is powered , the official tors trac Con o Global LTD and Aer ured entertainers career. Last year's edition feat n, Timi Dakolo, hop hip ch, Do Da RACING up for its laun ee eLD ia, like 2face Idib us Bose among artiste, Eminiic has dropped a Osama, Akpororo and Lepacio m. albu ng second single off his forth comi others. ertainer released a The new song titled Girliez hit the Meanwhile, the frontline ent e on February 14, 21. ary Janu nat uve internet and the airwaves Rej d brand new single title •Julius Agwu gift to all his fans all Real name Emanuel Adiele, the 2013. He said it is his valentine the se, relea its upon that artiste says song was associated with heavy downloads on the first day of release and even trended heavily on twitter, following massive radio airplays.

Only recently Eminiic dropped his first ever official single titled Ugly Temptation. The song, he said, recorded a huge success as it became the anthem of the year because of the announced plans for Valentine's Day sing along hook "I wanna touch your headlined by Grammy award-winning body".

American R&B, funk and neo soul singer Maxwell.

To his credit, Eminiic is fast becoming a household name in the Tagged, “Valentine's with Maxwell”, minds of Nigerians as regards to good the event is slated for Saturday, has e artist and funky house music. The February 16, 2013 at the Ocean View promised not to bore the ears of his grounds, Eko Hotel and Suites. The a •Eminiic growing fan base but assures event will also feature the best of melodious sing along funky songs.

Nigerian acts like Yinka Davis, Bez, •Maxwell Omawunmi and Black Magic alongside with Maxwell.

ALENTINE'S Day is here It will be recalled that in 2011 Classic grow to bid its in ING ONTINU again, and in the spirit of the fm 97.3, the radio station that brought young and talented artistes, Now season of love, the Radio Station of sax sensation, Kenny G to the country Musik, is set to release the much awaited the year, Classic fm 97.3 in its (in association with Sax Appeal). Multialbum of the teen pop sensations, tradition of being at the forefront talented vocalist and musician, Crystals, at the prestigious Industry Nite of classy events and Maxwell, will also be visiting the on February 20 at Get Arena, Lekki, bringing exciting country for the first time ever, and will Lagos. international acts to thrill and serenade music lovers A11 track album, the work, titled Nigeria, has with his hit singles, which include 'Elevated', is the first from the Crystal Ascension (don't ever wonder), This band which won the 2012 edition of the popular Nigerian Breweries Plc woman's work and Pretty wings. band competition called Star Speaking on the concert, Classic Quest. fm's Programme Director, Chico The young exciting band spoke on the joys of the radio station good of tite appe the whet had bringing another act of platinum music lovers with the release status to the country. ”We are of two singles from off the delighted to bring to our listeners this album; 'Gbe Sun Mo Mi' and fabulous Valentine's gift. It's going to pop afro s diou the melo be a fantastic night Maxwell enough 'Ringtone' which had being said!” receiving massive airplay since last year.

The General Manager, Megalectrics Crystals is a Nigerian boy Limited (operators of Classic fm) Mr. and girl band, consisting of Deji Awokoya, also promised the fans (Ro six members; rapper of a fun-filled show. “Like our previous li voca meo), two female lead events, “Valentine's with Maxwell” will mer drum sts (Slimberry, Apholyzty), be talked about months after! That's my (Dam ist oard keyb ), Blow a (Emm our promise!” ).

Base (G rist guita Keys) and bass Tickets for the event can be Since signing up with Now Muzik, s show purchased online at www. us vario at rmed perfo Crystals have Afritickets.com to the admiration of music lovers thus e in Meanwhile, following the Social gradually becoming a prominent figur mainstream popular music and youth Media Week slated to run from 18 22 culture with an increasing number of February, 2013 in Lagos. The Beat 99.9

Eminiic out with new single, Girliez

B

Beat FM plans ‘Valentine with Maxwell’

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Star Quest band, Crystals, releases album

V

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2013

ntertainment Hugely influenced by watching Nollywood films, sexy actress, Marian Kekurah started acting at the age of 19. The Sierra Leonean beauty who spent most of her life in the UK has also successfully found her way onto the Nigerian movies scene dubbed Nollywood. Having featured in a handful of flicks, Marian seems fired up as she seeks to carve a desired niche for herself as an actress.

She reveals more about her desires, her family and her kind of man in this interview with AHMED BOULOR.

THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2013

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My burning desires spur me on L

Getting married is definitely in my plans; definitely I have to get married some day. I am thinking about that seriously too

ET'S met you? My name is Marian Kekurah; I am from Sierra Leone and I am an actress.

How long have you been acting?

My first movie was done way back in Sierra Leone and I was 19 years old at the time. I just recently moved to Nigeria but I am based in London. I just also recently started featuring in Nollywood movies.

At what stage in your life did you discover you could actually be an actress?

That started when I was younger; I am Nurse by profession and while I was studying to become a Nurse I was acting by the side too. It got to a stage when I had to stop being a Nurse and fully concentrate on acting.

What really influenced you into acting?

I was mainly inspired into acting by watching Nigerian and African movies generally. I started getting the influenced when I was young too because my mum and dad always watch at least four hours of Nollywood movies. I really got inspired by watching the likes of Genevieve Nnaji and Halima Abubakar and she is one of the reasons I ventured into Nollywood. She has been a great source of influence in my career.

Tell us a little bit about how you grew up in Sierra Leone?

I left Sierra Leone for London when I was 12 years old and my parents are quite comfortable. My parents are still both married and they live in London.

How has your stay in the UK influenced your career as an actress?

Well it has influenced me a lot

and I have also learnt a lot while shooting a couple of movie there too. I have also gotten better because of the cultural experience I had there. My first movie in London was handled by a producer from Sierra Leon and the stress of production is not that much over there as it is here. But a whole lot of movie productions are being churned out from here. It is easier for me to work over there but I am getting used to the system here.

Could you mention the movies that you have been part of in recent times?

I have done quite a lot; I have featured in Mistresses, Human Hair Hustlers 1&2, Human Hair Runs and House of Demons. I have quite a number of other movies to be part of this year and I have already featured in a handful of other Nollywood movies. I hope to be more visible on the scene in 2013 as I have done a lot of movies and I am actually hoping for the best.

What are your projections for 2013?

My projection for 2013 is to keep getting better; this is going to be my year by God's grace and my prayers are going to be answered this year. I've been through thick and thin shuttling between Lagos and London in my bid to make the best out of my career in acting.

My efforts are going to work out hopefully and I am leaving no stone unturned to ensure that I get things going career wise.

What are you made off as an actress?

(Laughs uncontrollably) That's a tough one but I think I am made of steel; that's because I try as much as possible not to allow negative situations get to me. I am always try to do what I know best whenever I am on set. I am also bringing in the Sierra Leonean touch to my craft and I am going to try to do my best to ensure that I am the next best thespian on the scene. My burning desires to become one of the best on the movie scene and to be a role model spurs me on.

What are your weaknesses and strengths as an actress?

I learn everyday as time goes on; I am not really going to specify what my strengths and weaknesses are at this moment because I am still learning. I am still also trying to discover others things in me; no one is perfect and as humans we learn and get better in what we do every day.

How much will it cost to get you on set?

Not too much at the moment. I am not receiving that much yet; that's because I am relatively new on the scene but I am okay with that because I know I will get there pretty soon based on the quality of jobs I have done thus far. I am not in the league of Genevieve or Omotola; I am not at that level yet but I know that I'll get there soon.

What your unique selling point?

That's a tough one too; I think I will like the public to decide that. I just think that I'll bring in

That depends too because there was a script I was given and I was asked to act with just a bra and pant and I initially refused the role

ntertainment

the Sierra Leonean touch to what I do and that makes me different to an extent. I know I have something that is different from what we have now on the movie scene and if you watch the movies that I have featured in, you'll have a better understanding of what I am trying to say.

How popular are you in Sierra Leon?

I am quite popular and I have been acting since I was 19 and I do have an appreciable followership back home in Sierra Leone. I am known back home and my fans are quite upset that I am always on set here in Nigeria. I'll go back home very soon; I have a movie to shoot there sometime this year. I'll be doing more Sierra Leonean movies this year and I am really looking forward to been part of some movie shoots in time soon to come.

What's the craziest thing done to you by a male fan?

I have not really had any crazy experience with a male fan anyway because I hardly go out. The craziest I have come by was on social media; I had a guy stalking me on facebook and I had to close the page down. I am hardly on social media these days but it's no problem because as celebrities we get to go through situations like that.

What kind of man will make you go weak in the knees?

He should have a sense of humour; I am not going to say I usually go weak in the knees for men with a good sense of humour but that is one of the qualities I desire in a man. I like a funny man; somebody that can engage me in an intelligent discussion.

Thus far, have you gotten any advances from producers and actors alike?

The funniest thing is that I have not experienced anything like sexual harassment like most people complain about.

But on the other hand, we are all humans and it is only natural that maybe one or some of my colleagues may be interested in me but it is up to me decide whether to get involved or not. I have not been coerced to sleep with anyone to get a role; I have been lucky to escape sexual harassment so far.

What brings out the best in you?

I always try to give my best whenever I am on a movie set and I really don't need anything to bring out the best in me. I am self inspired and every movie set that I am part of is an opportunity to showcase my talents and a platform to project my image. But each day, I say a short prayer before I go on set. I guess that's where I get my inspiration from.

Can you act nude?

I have never done it and I don't think I will.

What about acting sexy?

That depends too because there was a script I was given and I was asked to act with just a bra and pant and I initially refused the role. But the producer had a compromise with me and I was allowed to wear shorts and a short top. I would not want to do a movie that my parents cannot watch because I will feel embarrassed. I don't think I would try that yet and

37

ntertainment that's one of the reasons I hate to be a typecast.

What would make you reject a movie role?

I would reject a movie role that will make my parents not to be proud of me. If I sense that my parents will not be able to watch the movie, I will not take part in it. I have limits and I would say not to nudity. No way!

You seem to hold your parents in high regard; tell us about them?

They are a lovely couple; my dad is just like me, we are both stubborn headed. My parents love me and they both support me; they respect my views and ambition and they never fail to give me maximum support. Though they are scared I am here in Nigeria trying to make headway for my career but I get to see them every now and then when I travel to London.

What's your fashion signature?

I've got varies because I don't just dress anyhow; it depends on the event I am going to. If I am going for a wedding, I dress for that. That also applies to when I am on the red carpet; I just go with the flow.

Is getting married in your plans or you are one of those that do not believe in marriage?

Getting married is definitely in my plans; definitely I have to get married some day. I am thinking about that seriously too.

How soon do you see yourself getting married?

(Laughs) I can't say when for now; I will just leave that for now. I don't have a definite answer for that now. But I am open to marriage at the moment.

What do you do when you are not on set?

I love reading and watching Hollywood and Nollywood movies; I watch movies so I can get inspired. I love swimming once in a while and hanging out with friends too. I don't like clubbing; I can't stand it.

What habit would you like to drop?

That should be the fact that I love arguing a lot; I love to drive my point home. I got that from my dad because he is a lawyer and we do have times when we argue too.

Are you an aggressive person?

No! Just because I am argumentative does not mean I am aggressive. I just like to put myself across and I don't get aggressive about it.

What do you look forward to in the coming months?

A whole lot; I hope to feature in more

AKINLOYE

AT LARGE

08050246155 atlarge84@yahoo.com

FA Cup is Important — Walcott

Inside The

Glass House WITH AMINU MAIGARI

GOLFLINE

with

Tony Akhigbe golflineintl@yahoo.com 08094863638 Saturday, February 16, 2013

38

THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2013

HO LLYWOOD GIST

Actor Steve Lady Gaga Martin is unable to first-time dad at age 67 walk,

A

CTOR, writer and comedian Steve Martin has become a dad for the first time at age 67 - and managed to keep it secret from the media for more than a month.

Martin and his second wife, Anne Stringfield, 41, "are new parents and recently welcomed a child," a spokeswoman for the actor said on Wednesday.

The spokeswoman gave no details, including the sex of the child or the date of birth. But the New York Post cited unidentified sources as saying the baby arrived in December.

The multi-talented Martin, whose career as a writer and performer dates back more than 45 years, has played a father in movies such as "Parenthood," Cheaper by the Dozen," and "Father of the Bride."

Martin, who has hosted the Oscars ceremony three times, married Stringfield, a former writer at the New Yorker magazine, in 2007. His eightyear marriage to British actress Victoria Tennant

Film/Art school opens in South Africa

postpones 4 shows

L

L

ADY Gaga says she's "heartsick" to postpone four shows after sustaining an injury that's left her unable to walk.

A Tuesday news release says performances set for Feb. 13-14 in Chicago, Feb. 16 in Detroit and Feb. 17 in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, have been postponed due to a case of synovitis, a severe joint inflammation.

Gaga took to Twitter to explain, saying she injured herself during a performance some time ago and her condition has worsened, leaving her immobile following Monday's concert in Montreal.

She's been hiding the injury from her staff, but can no longer perform.

"I've been hiding a show injury and chronic pain for sometime now, over the last month it has worsened," she wrote. "I've been praying it would heal".

Willow Smith rocks ‘Fresh Prince’

T

HE ever changing hair chameleon Willow Smith is at it again! The 12-year-old fashionista is rocking a new 'do that looks a lot like the one sported by her famous dad, Will Smith, during his days on “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.” The “Whip My Hair” singer was spotted at the Michael Kors fashion show in New York on Wednesday with actress mom Jada Pinkett Smith, and let's just say that •Steve Martin Willow looked

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•Willow Smith with mum

AST week, 63 promising young filmmakers and live theatre practitioners gathered in a formal assembly with academic staff, industry guests, media and dignitaries as Mayor of eThekwini, James Nxumalo officially opened AFDA (The South African School of Motion Picture Medium and Live Performance), in Glen Anil, Durban.

This is the third AFDA School to open in South Africa.

The first school opened in Johannesburg in 1994, followed by the Cape Town School in 2003, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. Founded and run by Bata Passchier (CEO), Garth Holmes (Chairman) and Deon Opperman, who has since left the school to work independently as a theatre producer.

Speaking at the opening Chairman and Co-Founder, Garth Holmes said “We have learnt that the youth have an inexplicable capacity and intuition to see far further into the future than we as an older generation are able to; particularly in a world that is experiencing rapid and exponential change; a world in which it is no longer the most intelligent person who is most likely to succeed, but rather the person who is most capable of dealing with change.”

Bata Passchier addressed the students about the role of art in society as they embark on their careers in what is globally considered to be the fastest growing industry. “In South Africa art is a vital part of us coming together as a nation as it allows us to see who we are and what we can be. Art enables us to ask the question “Who am I?” and our challenge is to confront that question, deeply, consistently and profoundly. The challenge of a meaningful life is to seek that meaning and give that introspection form, and through that humankind is able to move forward.”

Toni Monty, of the Durban Film Office, was upbeat about the impact the school will have on the industry. “We are pleased that AFDA's management has seen the potential for growth of the film and live performance industry in Durban. They have a track record of producing entrepreneurs who are hungry to create work, and it is this kind of pioneering spirit that helps to develop the industry.”

The Dean of the Durban Campus is experienced producer and film-maker Franco Human, who was, until recently, head of the producing department of AFDA Cape Town and the undergraduate course director. “We have all been working long hours to ensure that the building is ready for the first year intake and to ensure that the course work and curriculum are all in line with the school's objectives.” said Human. “We are all ready to begin this exciting journey with the founding students and judging by last week's orientation, we are in for a fabulously creative and stimulating ride.”

Heading up the Film School is award-winning, film director and producer Richard Green, with respected, multi-talented award-winning playwright, director and actor Rajesh Gopie heading up the Live Performance School and Janet van Eeden, an award-winning scriptwriter and educator is production course administrator and script writing lecturer.

Final winner emerges in DStv mega promo

OMING on the heels of the formal presentation of a Renault Duster SUV to Mr. Ayo Osunbunmi, a banker, in the fifth and final draws of the DStv mega promo, MultiChoice Nigeria has reiterated its desire to always reward the loyalty of its customers.

At the presentation ceremony, General Manager, DSTV, Mayo Okunola noted that DStv will continually seek ways to thank and reward customers for their loyalty and will in a short while announce a bigger promotional package to celebrate its customers.

“Our subscribers are the bedrock of our business and we therefore continue to inspire them through quality programs as well as consistency to show gratitude all year round,” Okunola said.

Receiving his prize an overwhelmed Osunbunmi explained that he was initially

in doubt when he received the notification that he had won the prize; as he had never believed nor participated in promos.

“I never knew I had qualified and entered for the DStv mega promo draws as my paying upfront was simply for convenience.

With my experience, I can attest to the credibility of all the winnings”, said Osunbunmi. He further advised subscribers to take advantage of subsequent opportunities DStv will bring the way of its subscribers,” he said.

In keeping faith with the mega promo commitment, DStv earlier presented four Renault Duster SUVs to Alloysius Onuoha, who emerged in the first draws of the promo as well as Garba Ahmed; Most Reverend Charles Oderinde of the Anglican Communion and Esther Omotogunja winners that emerged in the second, third and forth draws, respectively.

•Mayo Okunola presenting the keys to Ayo Osunbunmi

&

LIFE

Society Profile

STYLE Gossip Interviews

THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2013

39

y m y k c u l ‘I'm

children are all girls’

40

THE NATION SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2013

With KAYODE ALFRED

On the trail of Louise Priddy

I

t would seem that the new trend on the social scene is for socialites to go off the radar, rebrand and resurface a few months later to look better than they were. But while some pull it off astoundingly, others, for one reason or the other, simply vanish without a trace.

Louise Priddy, the fashion-forward lady who shut down her father's Bacchus Night Club a few months ago, has lately become scarce on the social scene. Since her father, Olu Priddy, died and she closed down Bacchus, she has taken things slowly. She seems to have changed her lifestyle as she now attends only very important events involving family and close friends.

A few years back, she was one of the princesses of high society. She was one beautiful lady who took her time before settling into the warm hands of a man; a move many thought to be expedient, considering her failed relationships. Since she has found love in the arms of her hunky heartthrob, Mario Bouhard, the pretty lady seems to have shunned the social space.

Some believe the death of her loving father must have touched her to the marrow, so much so that she decided to step back from the social scene to find solace in the arms of her husband. The mixed-race lady was at a time one of the few night club owners who knew how to give fun lovers their money's worth.

E-mail:kayflex2@yahoo.com

Society Profile

Gossip Interviews

TEL:08035733605

Bola Shagaya's son set to marry

B

arring any last minute hitch, the federal capital, Abuja, will host dignitaries across the globe next weekend. It is not that any international exhibition will be holding in the Nigerian capital city. Rather, the wedding bells will be ringing for Hakeem, son of billionaire businesswoman, Hajia Bola Shagaya.

The young man will eventually put to rest all the speculations about his bachelorhood. The easy going dude will be taking a stroll into holy matrimony with his sweetheart of many years, Ameena Rasheed, daughter of Alhaji Mahey Rafindadi Rasheed.

Happenstances gathered that Hajia Shagaya will be pulling all the stops to honour her beloved son with an elaborate wedding ceremony. The close friend of Dame Patience Jonathan has decided to treat the couple to an unforgettable wedding ceremony.

It no doubt promises to be a showcase as political bigwigs and other eminent persons from around the world will converge to give the young love birds a befitting wedding. The ceremony was started yesterday at the residence of Alhaji Rasheed on Kangiwa Road, Kastsina, while the Shagayas will host the grand finale at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, on February 23.

The First Lady, Mrs Patience Jonathan, and other Hajia Shagaya's friends are warming up for the D-day. Hakeem, a graduate of one of the Ivy League universities in the UK, is a director with Unity Bank. His beautiful

Sade Okoya bags chieftaincy title

I

&STYLE

LIFE

t is a moment of celebration for the household of Alhaji Rasaq Akanni Okoya, the Aare of Lagos and Bobajiro of Oke-Ona Egbaland. On Tuesday Febuary 19, his youngest wife and Managing Director of Eleganza Group, Folasade, will be honoured with a chieftaincy title at Oke-Ona Egba.

Already, family members and friends are warming up to support one of their own. Shade is sure not to play a second fiddle when it comes to fashion and style. You would have to be endowed with a good spirit and understand life deeper not to envy her. Her wardrobe turns collectors of the best fineries green with envy. It is an array of the most coveted pieces by leading designers from all the corners of the globe.

She is adored by many in the Lagos social space. With a smile never far from her lips, she is endowed with a pretty face that has only improved with age.

Olusegun Obasanjo, Niyi Adegbenro sheathe swords

F

ormer President Olusegun Obasanjo and Chief Niyi Adegbenro, the Baaloro of Egbaland are finally sheathing their swords after 10 years of cold war. As the story goes, the two prominent Egba sons, who had disagreed on so many family and political issues concerning Ogun State, came back together after Obasanjo paid Adegbenro a courtesy visit on the death of his first son, Diran.

Happenstances gathered that Obasanjo decided to take advantage of the opportunity to bury the hatchet and commiserate with Chief Adegbenro at his Abeokuta home. Insiders disclosed that the gesture readily wormed Obasanjo back into Chief Adegbenro's heart and they started relating like brothers. The two friends are said to have been holding conversations on the telephone.

Ikedi Ohakim's son in quiet wedding

U

nknown to many, Obia Ohakim, the dark and handsome son of former Imo State Governor, Ikedi Ohakim, and his girlfriend of many years, Oby Anunobi, have tied the nuptial knot. The two lovebirds signed the dotted lines at a popular registry in Abuja on Saturday February 9.

The quiet wedding attracted the presence of a few friends and family members.

Happenstances gathered that the couple had their traditional wedding in December, last year. The bride's father was said to have served as a special adviser to Ohakim while he held sway as the Imo State governor. Oby is an Abuja-based lawyer.

We gathered that an elaborate ceremony will come up later in the year.

42

THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2013

with KEHINDE OLULEYE E-mail: kehindefalode@thenationonlineng.net Tel: 08023689894

•Stephanie Okereke-Linus

Bangles: Evergreen accessories

•Genevieve Nnaji

•Becky Enyioma

B

ANGLES of all kinds and shapes are making waves all over the world. Over the years, trendy bangles have suddenly become popular on campuses and at parties.

Bangles are evergreen accessories that just never seem to leave the season. They change from season to season. Before, thin and small-sized bangles were the rave, but bold, oversized and ornamented bangles now make the day. They are must-have. They have swept away all other brands of wrist ornaments.

There are varieties of sizes, colours and shapes. Their names also reflect their character. Apart from strand-cuff bangles which are sassy at the moment, there are wooden bangles, painted wooden bangles, embellished wooden bangles and plastic bangles.

Strand-cuff bangles, which are mostly studded with gemstones, are good for casual and day-time and other social events.

•Lilian Unachukwu

•Belindah Effah

•Halima Abubakar

•Kelly Thomson

44

THE NATION SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2013

Professor of Agriculture Extension and Provost of Oyo State College of Agriculture, Igboora, Jacob Gbemiga Adewale, believes there is an intrinsic advantage in his all-female four children because he does not have to bother his head about what to wear. He also told GBENGA ADERANTI why Nigeria should have no business complaining about food shortage, among other issues. Excerpts:

‘I'm a typically rural man’ W

hat informed your decision to leave the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso for the rural area where you are now?

Besides Agricultural Extension and Rural Development being my area of specialization, I was brought up at a village called Lagumo Opeki, close to Onidajo or Alata in the Oluyole Local Government Area, more or less, I am a rural boy. I am used to that kind of rural life. When I wanted to start my primary education, I was taken to town. The first time I went there, they said I could not be admitted because my hand could not touch my ear. Each time I failed the exercise, I was returned to the village. So, I was sent back to the village twice before I was offered the opportunity to start primary education the third time.

Once I can get food and accommodation, there is no place I cannot live. Initially when I came here as associate lecturer, there was no electricity in the whole of Ibarapa land. It was just a peasant society. There is still the problem of accommodation for staff and students, but with time, I think we will be able to overcome that.

You are here as Acting Provost. Are you thinking of becoming a Vice Chancellor one day?

My life is controlled by God. When I was incorporated into the pre-establishment committee of this college, I never knew I would become the Acting Provost. I had two senior professors in the committee. I had another one, a doctor who later became a professor, in that committee. They were my seniors. My future is in God's hand.

Whatever He has designed for me, that I'm ready for.

You look sharp, particularly with your colour combination. What determines what you wear?

I thank God, all my children are females.

My first daughter is at the University of Ilorin. She used to select my dress for me.

When she left for school, I gave the

assignment to her sister. She has been doing that. Girls know how to choose. It is my daughter who normally chooses for me.

Is any of your children taking after you to become an agriculturist?

No. I only have one in the university. The other three, by next year, one of them will be going for her SSCE. I wanted my first daughter to do something on agric. I encouraged her to read sciences with the intention that she would read agriculture. But she has a flair for arts subjects and I believe that I should not influence the career choice of any of my children. So, I left her. The second one, I don't know what she will choose.

In our culture, it is believed that you must have a male child. Has there been pressure on you to have at least one?

No. I believe that men are responsible for the sex of their children. If I cannot give my wife a male child, I am responsible. So, who am I to blame? If they want to blame anybody, they should blame me. I am responsible if that is what God has given me. When we had the four of them, my wife was saying I could go for the fifth one. I said no more; I'm okay like this.

I'm the one who should complain that I don't have a male child, but I'm not complaining.

Her health and survival are more important to me than having another baby, because I know what she went through during the birth of the fourth child.

Many lecturers complain about being sexually harassed. Have you had such an experience?

They know that I'm religious, and you know people always find information about their lecturers. They could call LAUTECH and ask, 'How do you know this person? Who is he?

What are his interests?' They must have told them the type of person I was at LAUTECH. What I do is to face my work, go for religious activities and take care of my family. Simple.

Are you fulfilled?

I'm fulfilled and I still hope to be more fulfilled in the future. I was thinking this morning.

Some of our colleagues that we went to the

I believe that men are responsible for the sex of their children. If I cannot give my wife a male child, I am responsible.

So, who am I to blame? If they want to blame anybody, they should blame me.

I am responsible if that is what God has given me primary together, when you see them, you are not happy. It is the grace of God that sustains me till today. Some of us, even when we joined LAUTECH, we never taught we would become senior lecturers, not to talk of becoming professors. I think I should be grateful to God. If that is the end of attainment in life, we should be grateful to God. So, we thank God for the opportunity, because it is not by power or might. He was just gracious to us. Some of us would have

become touts just like some others.

Believe you me, from experience, there are people who are more intelligent than some of us but are in the villages.

They did not have formal education.

Sincerely speaking, some of them are more intelligent. They were capable of improving themselves, but they did not have the opportunity to do so. For God to have given us the opportunity, we should feel fulfilled and give all the glory and adoration to Him. If you were not teaching what would you be doing?

I don't know what I would have been doing because initially, I was in the civil service and I had no satisfaction. I was just accumulating knowledge. I thought I should join the academics. I was in the civil service as an agric officer, but there was no job satisfaction. I decided I would go into a system where my knowledge could be relevant in development of manpower.

Could it be that you studied Agric because you grew up in the rural area?

It was God's design. I wanted to read Medicine when I was in secondary school, but because of a teacher, I didn't. That is why any opportunity I have, I teach my students. The teacher would come to teach us Physics and would be reading from textbooks. Out of ignorance, some of us deserted his class.

At the University of Nigeria Nsukka, I also wanted to change from Agric to vocational agricultural education in those days, but there was a blockage, God did not allow me to transfer. So, I settle to read Agriculture. I don't have any regret at all for studying Agriculture.

When did you assume office?

Precisely, I'm one year and two months old in office as the Acting Provost of the Oyo State College of Agriculture. I assumed office on

45

THE NATION SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2013 December 1, 2011. My predecessor's tenure ended in a way, there was a vacuum and the government told me to fill the vacuum first in acting capacity.

Where were you before you came here?

I was a professor of Agriculture Extension at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Ogbomoso.

Some would say it does not make sense to leave a university environment for a polytechnic, especially when the polytechnic is located in a rural area‌ It is a state assignment. I'm still on leave of absence at the Ladoke Akintola University. I'm still a fullfledged staff of LAUTECH. When you were appointed, what was the situation you met on ground?

Let me digress a bit. When the government wanted to establish this college, there was a pre-establishment committee headed by Prof. A.M Salawu, the former V.C. of LAUTECH. So, I was part of the preestablishment committee with people like Prof. Fari and the foundation provost, Dr. Togun.

Some of those people contributed to my appointment as the acting provost.

When I came on board, we had only five national diploma programmes and the status of the programme was interim accreditations.

The programmes were due for accreditation on October 1, 2010. So, the first assignment I got was how to get the programmes accredited and also how to get the institution accredited. Apart from that, there were backlog of promotions and there were inadequate academic staff, equipment and materials for full accreditation of the college. But with the experiences I had garnered while serving on the pre-establishment committee between 2004 and 2006, I already knew some of those things that were required for full accreditation. We studied what was on ground, we knew the differences and we filled the differences.

First and foremost, we must thank Almighty God for the support we received from the executive governor of Oyo State, Governor Abiola Ajimobi. With his support and that of the governing council and the supervising ministry, we were able to recruit additional hands for the school for the accreditation exercise. We were able to accreditation personnel, equipments

I am used to that kind of rural life.

When I wanted to start my primary education, I was taken to town. The first time I went there, they said I could not be admitted because my hand could not touch my ear. Each time I failed the exercise, I was returned to the village

procure the necessary equipments and facilities. And you know that there are three things that are involved in accreditation personnel, equipments and the curricula. So, we had good curricula in place and we filled in the other differences.

We invited the national board for technical education. They came in May 2012 and we got full accreditation for the school and the five programmes. That was the first thing we were able to do with the help of God and the support of the state government, the governing council and the management. After that, the college, though the youngest of the colleges of agriculture and related disciplines in Nigeria, was adjudged best out of all the 37 colleges of agriculture and related disciplines when the NBTC went round in May last year.

The encouragement also came that we could go ahead with our higher national diploma programme, which we keyed into and started.

We invited the NBTA for assessment and evaluation for high national diploma programmes and we were given approval to commence HND programmes in the area of Soil Science, Animal Health, Animal Production, Crop Production, Fishery and farm power and machinery in engineering.

Before now, we used to get fingerlings from outside. We used to get feeds from outside.

There was a time we used to mix our feeds manually, but now we get our own equipments whereby you can fertilize fish eggs

into fryers and fingerlings to stock our fish ponds. We were also able to produce our feeds. We have a good feed mill which has a carrying capacity of two tonnes of feed mills. And we also started raising oil palm seedlings and cashew seedlings in commercial quantity.

You know this is South West Nigeria. We are known for oil palm production and some people will go as far as Delta or Edo state to collect oil palm seedlings. We feel it is part of our responsibility to the South West region of the country to be able to raise some of the seedlings. We have been able to do that in commercial quantity.

You made it look as if food production is very easy. Why is it that this has never translated into food sufficiency?

Like I said, we have about 37 colleges of agric. I want to still support your point that in spite of the number of schools of agric, we are not yet there in terms of food sufficiency.

From my experience before coming here, and from my experience here, it is not the number of graduates that will translate into food sufficiency. There are necessary structures and infrastructure that will have to be put in place. If we want to ensure food sufficiency, first and foremost, our agricultural graduates have to be grounded in agricultural training. If care is not taken, some of these colleges of agriculture will emphasise theoretical training because of funds.

It takes a lot of funds to get the necessary equipment, workshops and other learning facilities in place, if no. Students would only be hearing about fingerlings or the production of fingerlings without going through the process. That is what we have de-emphasised here. The emphasis is on practical training. What I'm saying is that for our students, there should be practical training. Two, we have low technology. The governments at all levels should put the necessary infrastructure and technology in place.

Let me come down to layman's language. Because the farmer tills the land year in year out, the land gets exhausted. There will be need for fertilisation and they could go to the market for fertilizer. But because it is not that affordable to the farmers, the Oyo State Government did something last year, which they will still do this year.

And if they can do that for some years, it would have impact on the level of food sufficiency. The Oyo State Government subsidised fertilizer for individual farmers.

They were given opportunity of 50 per cent subsidy. If you bought two bags of fertilizer, you would pay for only one bag. But for corporate institutions, it was 25 per cent.

You know Rome was not built in a day.

We have to go gradually. If this year we continue like that, it will improve the inputs of farmers, because the problem we have is that for the agricultural productivity to be improved, let us not focus on the areas of the land cultivated. Rather, it should be what you can get from the same size of land cultivated by the farmers. You can have 30 bags of maize from a hectare. Another farmer can have 60 bags.

What I'm saying is that they should get to that level of getting maximum yield from the potential yield of various crops. And that is how to do it. We should have improved technology. Like I said the other time, there should be practical training for our students.

We should still go to extensive subsidy. We should also encourage younger ones to stay on the farm. Some of them want to stay on the farm, but they don't have access to land and the Federal Government is already doing a review of the Land Use Decree. That will also enhance the participation of these youths in agricultural production.

In addition to that, loan and credit facilities should be given to these farmers. They should not be given to the civil servants; they should be given to practising farmers.

With that, we will get there. We should also have this kind of continuity. The problem we

have in this country is that of inconsistency in policy, which has made us not to have food sufficiency.

Why is that most of the people who are farmers today are not agric graduates?

Well, we have some of our own graduates who are self employed in agric. Like you said, there are people who have money who are not trained agriculturists but get engaged in agricultural production. It is because they have the funds. There should be a scheme for youths whereby they can be settled on the farm. I have said it at a forum before and let me repeat it: it is a kind of farm estate; what people used to call farm settlement. They should modernise it.

In that kind of estate, light should be available to the residents. Farm implements, including tractors should be available. Electricity, potable water and internet services should be available. Things that will attract the youths should be provided in that estate. If we have that in 33 local government areas in Oyo State and in each of the 36 states, you will find that you will be able to attract these people to the farm. They are given supervised loan that will not be seen as national cake. If supervised loan is provided, they have land and all the facilities, you would find that these graduates will be gainfully employed in agriculture. It is because other people I mentioned have the money to put these facilities in place that they went into agriculture. People like our retired generals.

Is there a way out of the HND/university degree dichotomy?

Frankly speaking, I don't see the end of the dichotomy in sight. If the nation still pursues this vocational and federal education, we must still have middle level manpower. That is the truth. It is in this country we emphasise paper qualification. In other places, the emphasis is on skill acquisition. I've heard some students say: 'My dad just forced me to come to the university. I would have preferred a situation where I can learn what I can do with my hands.'

You know, the person was not even doing well. She said it was her parents that forced her to go to the university. She would have loved to be involved in vocational technical studies.

You know vocational technical education has its own contribution to national development.

When people acquire necessary skills, they will be gainfully employed. You know in those days, you will recall that if you wanted a farm manager, there were people who would go for HND holders instead of the degree holders. In terms of practical skills, people believe those with the HND must have acquired better skill because of their training. So long as we still want to pursue our vocational education, we will continue to have that dichotomy.

Former farm settlements are now being turned into prayer mountains. What does this portend for agric development in the state?

You are talking about the old Oyo State.

Even in the present Oyo State, we still have a couple of these farm settlements. We have them at Eruwa, Akufo, Ilora, Ogbomosho and Ile Shadu. You know that in the 1950s, the initial settlers had practical training in agriculture before they were settled in farms.

One of the problems we have in agricultural development currently is ageing farming population.

Some of those people who were settlers in the 1960s, you know their ages now. And some of them had trained their children to read Medicine, Law, Information Technology, Journalism, or Accountancy. So, their children are not taking over from them and the place is deserted. There were some of these farm settlements that had poultry units, cages and the rest. If you get there now, they are not in good conditions. I have said we should revive them, modernise them and encourage the youth to go back there. I have enumerated some of the way we can do that. You know what the youth want. Let's put them on these farms and see whether they would go there or not.

If you want your productivity to be good, there must be adoption of innovations. And the youths, with their level of education, will be more receptive to innovation. They will adopt innovation more than these aged people.

So, we need the youth.

I just pray that we have continuity in governance.

46

THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2013

It was four years ago that Esther Amonja's story was first told; that love story between mother and child that stole the hearts of many; that story that changed the status of her daughter who became The Nation girl by chance and the goodwill of Nigerians. But four years after, her mother's case has remained the same. Perhaps bemused by this fact, feeling that the season of Valentine is beyond empty 'kisses' and 'hugs', this reporter has taken another bold step.

I

T was another market day in a rustic community at Wamba Local Government Area, Nasarawa State.

Under the baking July sun, sellers and buyers from near and far scampered about. Sellers called out to prospective buyers with raised voices, trying hard to

Evelyn OSAGIE

gain their attention. Buyers haggled the prices of goods with sellers, hoping to get a good deal.

Amid much trading activities and tick

crowd, one woman stood out with her wares. But hers was not the regular wares.

It's a unique one, consisting of worn out and torn clothes, empty bottles, nylon bags and more! What you may readily discard as trash were her priced 'possession'. And an open shed in that market was her

Indian Ayuba's mother’s case revisited Her lookalike invokes emotion

home.

That was a typical scene four years ago when this reporter first met the woman, Esther Amonja Ayuba, who, holds dear to heart her most treasured possession, her daughter, Indian. And that was the life she had lived for years with her child (who was staying with her father) and had kept an eagle eye on her, “because I do not want her to stray beyond my reach”, the little girl had said.

And so for years, their love story became a 'wonder' to some and a 'secret inspiration' to others. That love caught the spotlight when The Nation on Saturday published their story on August 22, 2009.

It stole the hearts of many, impacted positively on her daughter's education and bettered the girl's life - a feat that affected her mental state but only for a while.

Mama Indian then returned to the family's house from the market that served as her home for years, insisting that she would stay there, as she put it, “to make sure Indian is not sent into marriage before her time”.

Her statement came about because Indian had been away from home in school after her change of fortune. Esther, missing her daughter's absence, kept going home to inquire about her whereabouts. Perhaps, in a bid to pacify her, she was told that the girl had been given out in marriage.

However, when Indian returned from school, she went lto her mother at the market. The woman literally detained her, querying her why she allowed herself to be given out in marriage. And so she followed her daughter home, saying she would stay there.

That was in 2010, a year after their story was first published.

Evidently, her mental wellbeing seems to be connected to that of her child. And as such psychiatrists and psychologists noted that a quick medical

•From left: Indian’s mother, Indian and our reporter...four years ago. Inset: Her lookalike, Jumai

47

THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2013

•Indian’s mother sleeping in the market... three years ago before she returned to the family house. Inset: Mother and child in a world of their own

PHOTOS: Evelyn OSAGIE

treatment is necessary to restore her mentally. They were of the view that her case is not hopeless.

However, many, who had followed the story then had thought that it was only a matter of time before she returned to the streets because, according to them, a myth holds that a mad person who has left home and lived in the market place is a somewhat hopeless case.

Some others asked then: “What if the reverse was the case as that of Esther, what becomes of the person?”

Psychiatrists had waved such thoughts away as “nonsensical”, saying “Esther's case is not peculiar but needs urgent medical attention”.

According to a Consultant Psychiatrist with the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja, Dr. Bola Ola, Esther is fortunate to have a child with such an enduring love, noting that although presumptuously moved by her child's new found fortune, she had returned home, her mental state is still the same.

He raised the fear that if a quick medical intervention was not done, her case might grow worse. Many observed that her daughter's success story would not be complete without impacting on her health.

“All that she needs is one experienced psychiatrist to examine her for at least a week: morning, afternoon, evening and night as the case may be,” it was said.

Hence, Dr. Ola, an experienced and internationally-acclaimed psychiatrist, said he was willing to examine and diagnose her state so as to commence treatment - all for free. He advised that treating her at the community where she had probably been stigmatised would play a vital role in her recovery. If she eventually recovers, he said, it would go a long way to affect people's negative perception of the illness.

Dr. Ola said he would subsequently train a health worker in the local health centre on how to administer treatment.

On that account, The Nation went in search of a health worker and found John Umar, who was at the time the Chief Nurse at the Primary Health Care Centre, Chessu. To show he was acquainted with Esther's case, he said: “She is like a sister to me. We all know about her sickness and what your paper has done for her daughter. Both of them are inseparable: seeing Indian seems to make her happy.

As far as I know, medically, her sickness was seasonal before it got out of control and has been like this for a very long time.

In those days, you would find her sitting alone; and she used to pack her clothes in my premises. Unlike most sick people, she is not aggressive or troublesome; she is

respectful.”

And on the request of caring for Esther, he had said then: “I can help administer the drugs and monitor her if I am taught what to do and if the drugs are made available. And if I am not here, I will brief my colleague on it.”

Umar has since left and Mrs Esther Usman Muzha, who worked with him for years before he left, has now taken over from him. On one of such reconciliation journeys to the place, this reporter met Mrs Muzha and raised the issue with her. “I am here because of Esther, Indian’s mother…” the reporter said.

“I am aware of her case. I was rightly briefed by Mr. Umah and we have been waiting to receive the visitors and give our service, that is why we are here,” Mrs Muzha said.

At that time, three years ago, when Dr. Ola had signified interest to observe and diagnose her case for possible treatment, what it would take to bring the psychiatrist to the place alone was to cost about N300,000.

This includes the cost of transportation, accommodation, drugs, series of tests and sundry expenses.

A clarion call was made concerning her case, yet nothing happened. The help of some people was sought, but they responded, thus: “There are a thousand and one Esthers scattered all over the place. Why concentrate on one person?”

Such statements were condemned by some observers, naming it

“insensibility”.

“What about the government or corporate bodies or groups, clubs and so on, why don't they take the case up as their CSR?” Many had asked.

Three years after Mama Indian's dramatic return to her family abode, her mental state has still not changed. It has become exactly as the doctor had predicted. Although the family has taken her to local homes where such ailments are treated, still no improvement has been recorded. And even though her family members often say ‘she is improving’, she now wanders between her home and the places known to only her. She sometimes goes far from home to the village of the late father of her child, Indian.

At other times, she goes further away, only to return the day.

That has been her routine.

Meeting Mama Indian again brought tears to the eyes. On a self-imposed journey of reconciliation , the reporter was reminded that it is not yet Uhuru for the woman. What further increased the spark of compassion was the meeting of Mama Indian's “lookalike”, as she is often called. Jumai, Mama Indian’s younger sister, who is happily married with kids, depicts how Esther would have looked like if she were not sick or has fully recovered. “Before her sickness, they say we resembled. People used to call us twins. They

•The woman...now

sometimes mistook me for her and her for me and we wore the same clothes. But she is my elder sister o. I know she will become well again. She sometimes comes to visit me in my place,” her younger sister said in Hausa.

Her statement brought tears to the eyes of those listening, including the interpreter, who quickly gathered herself together winked his back for fear of being labelled a weakling.

That coincidental meeting made this reporter more determined than ever to bring Mama Indian's case to the public space again with hope that good-spirited individuals or organisations will look her way.

And what better time to do so than now, the season and month of love. Beyond just telling her story, this reporter made up her mind to put her money where her mouth is, ever so determined to revive and spearhead the campaign of Mama Indian's treatment and rehabilitation again. She is donating her February salary, hoping that perhaps someone who will have compassion and take up the challenge. Will it be you, she asks?

48

THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2013

T

HIS month is exactly 179 years since the death of Richard Lander, a British maverick traveller and explorer. He was killed on February 6, 1834 during his third exploratory trip on the lower Niger. Ironically, Richard Lander was also born in February.

In 2004, the Lander brothers marked 200 years of the death of the patriarch of their family, as part of the activities to celebrate the epoch. An expedition trip was organized to follow the same route that Richard Lander took. Richard Lander’s trip took off from Bussa where he presented a medal to the king of Bussa and in return he got the boat he needed to embark on his expedition.

After the trip, the team decided to donate the boat to the Asaba people. A museum was later built in memory of Richard Lander.

The museum chronicles the voyage and activities of Lander. The boat formed the fulcrum of artifact museum.

The museum is located off the busy Nnebisi Road beside the colonial grave yard. In front of the museum is the imposing sculpted work anchorage.

The Richard Lander Museum is appeal is the huge information on display, not just about the Richard Lander, but an insight into the complexion of the area in the 19 century when Europeans became unsatisfied with trading at the coast and became interested in hinterland. These are mostly in form of pictures and text materials.

The six members of the Lander expedition trip

•The expedition boat

made thier way from Bussa to Asaba just like their forebear. The boat used for the trip was called Goo- will.

The team decided to donate the boat to the people

of Asaba. This boat and other artifacts that have to do with the expedition and Europeans’ contacts with the people of Asaba are the artifacts one sees, while

visiting the Richard Lander Museum.

Richard Lemon Lander (1804-1834) was an English explorer who made three trips to West Africa.

He and his brother, John, were the first Europeans to canoe down the lower Niger River to its delta (where it meets the sea).

Richard Lander was born

in Truro, Cornwall, England on February 8, 1804.

He had no formal education, but went on an extended trip to the West Indies as a child.

Tourism News

S

OUTH African Air ways (SAA) has been awarded the four-star airline ranking for 2013 by Skytrax, the independent, global airline rating organisation. The four-star airline ranking recognises continued quality improvement in South African Airways onboard product and service, together with a number of changes to the home base airport customer experience in terms of product and service levels.

Edward Plaisted, CEO of Skytrax, said: “South African Airways has managed to maintain quality levels throughout the past year, and is delivering a solid product and service standard to their customers, making their four-star ranking well deserved. The Skytrax star ranking audit examines more than 800 areas of product and service delivery, across all

South African Airways ranked four-star airline

areas of the airport operations and the cabin experience, and demonstrates that South African Airways passengers can look forward to a high quality of product and service.

“Skytrax star ranking provides an accurate and independent guide for travellers around the

world, and four-star is a most respected category for an airline. South African Airways has been ranked the four-star airline status for a number of years, and we are delighted to see that they retain this status for 2013.”

These views were echoed

by SAA’s Customer Service

Executive, Suretha Cruse, who said: “Accolades and rankings such as this one from Skytrax reconfirms that our dedication and focus on strategic objectives to improve our customer value proposition will ensure that we eventually become a fully-sustainable business that can compete successfully in the global airline market in the near future.

“This ranking together with a number of awards from other foremost institutions as well as the prestigious Skytrax Best Airline in Africa Award, for 10 years in a row and the Skytrax Service Excellence Africa Award, for the third consecutive year, further exemplifies our customer focused efforts. We humbly accept this honour which certainly serves as encouragement, but we are also

cognisant of the fact that there is an opportunity for improvement.”

Skytrax is known worldwide as the leading, independent authority on airline quality and assessment, and has been completing flight checks with South African Airways during 2012, examining in detail all product and service delivery areas across both international and domestic routes.

South African Airways four-star airline ranking signifies that the airline has achieved a good standard of product across all travel categories, with standards of staff service delivery in both the onboard and airport environments also being well ranked.

S

PAIN’S attempts to give bullfighting a “special cultural status” is a disastrous move for the Spanish economy, Spanish tourist industry and animal welfare, says Care for the Wild.

This week, Spanish members of parliament voted to potentially protect bullfighting and have it recognised by the UN as part of Spain’s cultural heritage.

This could lead to an increase in the 2000 fights held every year, and potentially a reversal of last year’s ban on the blood sport in Catalonia.

But Philip Mansbridge, CEO of Wildlife Charity Care for the Wild International, said: “This is a horrendously misjudged backwards step.

Inside Spain, there might be a feeling among some people that bullfighting is part of the culture, but outside Spain, the rest of the world is looking on and wondering how such an appalling, cruel spectacle can be allowed to continue.

“The Spanish economy is in dire straits, so tourism is vital to

49

THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2013 As a young man, Lander worked for the Scottish explorer, Hugh Clapperton, and went with him on a trip to West Africa. The expedition (1825-1828) was designed to travel down the Niger River, but it was unsuccessful due to illness and many deaths.

Clapperton and Lander’s European companions all died early on the trip. Lander and Clapperton both had bouts of illness, and Clapperton died on April 18,1827. African tribesmen later accused Lander of witchcraft, forcing him to drink poison to determine whether or not he was indeed a wizard.

Since he survived, the charges of witchcraft were rescinded, and Lander eventually returned to England in July 1828.

In England, Lander published “Journal of Richard Lander from Kano to the Sea Coast” in 1829 and “Records of Captain Clapperton’s Last Expedition to Africa, with the Subsequent Adventures of the Author”.

Lander returned to West Africa with his brother, John Lander, in 1830. They followed the lower Niger River from Bussa to the sea, travelling in leaky ca-

NCPC begins Easter pilgrimage exercise February 25

T

•Colonial cemetery

noes. Along the way they were kidnapped by some natives,rescued by another king, from Brass, and were reluctantly helped by a British ship. Lander later published “Journal of an Expedition to Explore the Course and Termination of the Niger” in 1832.

For those who want to know a little more about the period of the scramble and partitioning of West Africa, Asaba and some other places, the Lander Museum is not a bad idea.

•Richard Lander

‘Sustainability, basis of ITB Berlin success’

N

IGERIA will be part of this year’s ITB Ber lin tourism fair where social and ecological responsibility in tourism is a key subject. Numerous events will be used to address various aspects of sustainability and socially responsible travel.

The programme in the Adventure and Responsible Tourism includes discussions and papers dealing with human rights, travel for the deaf and developments on the Caribbean island of Haiti three years after the disastrous earthquake. This year’s environmental protection and social responsibility have also

been taken into consideration in the production of the ITB Berlin catalogue and ITB Quickfinder which have been printed using a climate-neutral process with the aim of supporting a geothermal project in this year’s partner country, Indonesia.

Dr. Martin Buck, Director, Competence Centre Travel and Logistics, Messe, Berlin, said: “For many years, ITB Berlin has recognized the importance of corporate social responsibility. As a result of a growing awareness among travellers, the next few years will see increased demand in this sector. This is a development that we, as the world’s largest travel trade show, re-

flect and actively promote through our events by featuring various aspects of the subject on our agenda.”

The compensation derived from the climate-neutral printing of the ITB Berlin catalogues is being used by ITB Berlin in some innovative ways this year which include the support that it is providing for a geothermal project on the Indonesian island of Java. By supporting this climate protection project valuable jobs are created there, local people are being trained in new technologies, the availability of electrical power is being improved and support is also being provided for a school for the benefit of girls

‘Move to protect bullfighting, disastrous for tourism industry’

the nation. But we know through our work on animals in tourism that people are already saying that they won’t go to a country that supports this kind of animal abuse.”

Care for the Wild’s Campaign offers the public advice on how to be animal-friendly tourists. Cultural traditions

are one area that tourists must particularly be careful about, says Philip.

“It’s not good enough to say that ‘this is our culture so we’re sticking to it’. In the UK, bearbaiting was part of our culture, but we ditched it because it’s cruel. Bullfighting isn’t the only example: Canada claims that seal-culling is cultural, Iceland says the same for whale hunting,”Philip said.

E

in particular.

On Friday, 8 March, this year’s partner country is presenting some other ecological and sustainable projects on the small stage in Hall 4.1.b. In addition the ITB Berlin Convention is offering some fascinating insights into the innovative “STREAM project”.

A number of parks from different parts of the world will be presenting their own eco-friendly concepts. Another of the topics will be the protection of animals living in the wild. This year’s Convention and Culture Partner of ITB Berlin, Azerbaijan will be providing details about its own sustainable tourism concept.

TIHAD Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, will upgrade its Lagos service to a daily one to meet the growing demand from passengers travelling to and from Nigeria.

The airline initially launched its service between Lagos, West Africa’s most populous city, and Abu Dhabi on July 1, 2012 with six flights a week, enhancing the links between Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates.

The new daily service will be introduced on March 31, coinciding with the start of the airline’s new summer schedule, and will significantly improve connections between Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates, and beyond to key destinations across the airline’s network in Saudi Arabia, the Middle East, India, Malaysia and China.

Maurice Phohleli, Etihad Airways’ General Manager, Nigeria and West Africa, said: “We have received a very

HE Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission, Mr. John Kennedy Opara, has said that 2013 Easter pilgrimage exercise would kick off on February 25.

Mr. Opara disclosed this in his office recently while addressing newsmen during a press briefing.

He stated that one of the setbacks witnessed by the commission was the flood incident that prevented 10 states from taking part in the 2012 pilgrimage exercise, adding that arrangement •Opara has been put in place to airlift them during the Easter exercise.

He said about 2,650 pilgrims are expected to take part in the exercise and provision has been made for other selfsponsored pilgrims to join in the exercise.

The NCPC boss also affirmed that 2012 Christian pilgrimage was a huge success as the commission recorded zero abscondment. He stressed that the success recorded was possible because of the thorough screening procedure the commission introduced.

He further stated that the aim of the exercise was to enable Christians who go on pilgrimage to encounter God personally which should in turn transform their lives morally and spiritually. In his words: “We want people to go and they will come back spiritually and morally transformed which they will in turn impact on the lives of the people for a better society.”

The NCPC helmsman equally stressed that pilgrimage is not for leisure where comfort is assured, but a spiritual exercise where pilgrims are given the essentials and are allowed to experience life as Christ did as much as possible.

According to him, “our pilgrimage is not tourism. It is not a journey for comfort, but a spiritual journey to remind us of whom we are , where we were coming from and where we are going to.It is a journey of a life time.”

The Executive Secretary regretted the death of a pilgrim from Adamawa which he said was most unfortunate. He further stated that but for the loss of one pilgrim, the commission would have recorded a zero-mortality rate during the last pilgrimage exercise. However, he assured that the medical team would always do their best to ensure that zero mortality of our pilgrims is maintained and sustained.

While fielding questions from newsmen in the course of the press conference, Mr Opara spoke on the need for Christians to understand that luxury and comfort are not the basis for pilgrimage exercises, but rather an opportunity to encounter Christ. He was reacting to issues raised regarding a dissatisfied self-sponsored pilgrim during the last exercise.

He stated that the issues raised by the complainant were being looked into. He added that looking at the nitty- gritty of pilgrimage package, minimal comfort is all that is needed as the exercise is a spiritual journey and not tourism.

The NCPC boss assured intending pilgrims that the government of Nigeria and Israel would do all within their powers to ensure the safety of pilgrims during the Easter exercise and would not put them in any situation that would endanger their lives.

He called on journalists to partner with the Commission in creating awareness on the importance of embarking on pilgrimage exercise and the positive impact on the people.

Etihad to upgrade Lagos service positive response from the Nigerian market since launching our service six months ago. Clearly, the people of Nigeria appreciate the superior product and service of the world’s leading airline and we are proud to serve them.

“Our passenger loads are strong, and we are confident that this route will continue to support the growing flow of business and leisure travellers who fly from Nigeria to the United Arab Emirates •James Hogan CEO Etihad and onwards over the airline’s hub in Abu markets in the Indian sub-continent.”

Dhabi to key commerThe service, comprising a mix of morning and cial and tourism evening departures, is operated by an Airbus destinations in the A330-200 aircraft configured to carry 22 Pearl GCC, North and Business class and 240 Coral Economy class pasSoutheast Asia and sengers.

THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2013

50

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

I

My Valentine’s Day treat I’m not the full and happy Nigerian that I say I am.

We must have done all the romantic stuff under the sun that when this year’s Valentines’ Day came, we were at a loss on what to do to make it different. For us, everyday is a celebration of love. We were so undecided about what to do express our love. We often spread some of the love we have with those less fortunate than us. We all have them in neighbourhood and in our religious assemblies.

So, what we did to celebrate this year was to give even more to those who may not be able to express love the way we do. I fried and baked and cooked, and we took it to whose smiles at receiving such goodies drew us even closer. It was a very big treat from us to them and the smiles from them just gave us the best Valentine’s Day, yet.

Mama Saro never gave me a Valentine’s Day present, but the love she taught me has lived with me ever since.

I pray we all learn to show love to those around us. For you all, I’m bringing these fabulous tips for spreading around a little love to those you care about.

Food is always a good choice when it comes to spreading your Valentine love. How about cooking food and taking to charity homes this weekend.

Clothes and shoes are always appreciated, whether they are your new clothes/shoes or old (but not torn ones). Make those less fortunate than you look gorgeous too. Your sweetheart is sure to be impressed with the love you both share with others.

There may be childless people around you. Give them the opportunity to be called daddy and mummy by arranging for children to

and monitor their progress.

Looking for date ideas? Visit somebody who is more of a recluse and draw the person out. Most people who keep indoors are lonely and some are suicidal. Save a life but don’t visit alone.

Volunteer with your partner and your neighbours for a cause.

It is a great way to spend time together on something that you are passionate about. You can think of visiting a hospital and making someone’s day a little brighter.

Perform a small act of kindness. You can truly show someone the power of love just through a simple act of kindness.

Don’t ignore that man or woman on your street who doesn’t have a car and has to trek to the bus-stop with all those children in tow.

All in all, celebrate the power of love. Though, this is belated, but love is still very much around, Happy Valentine’s Day!

have fond memories of my days with Granny Fanny-Jane (aka Mama Saro). I was the only grandchild who lived with her from infancy till mid teenage years, and later sometimes during adulthood. We used to sit together baking or cooking during the day time and you could bet that all the hours were spent gisting.

Towards early evenings, we would retire to the balcony or the living room to talk some more. Many times, she would help cut my nails, clean my ears and generally groom me to How to Get Closer with Your Partner or become a lady. As I grew older and she weaker, I started helping her dye her hair, cut her nails and I was (and still bad with Spouse by Jasmine Starr weaving of hair), I would just comb her hair for her and part it Being intimate with your partner or spouse sometimes needs in the middle. We had so much laughter and fun. to be worked out. The intimacy that once was very available And with all those books and novels, my mum used to buy during the start of the relationship becomes hard to find after for me, I always found time away from Granny to read and several years of being together. Raising a family, maintaining enrich my mind. I was the best Government student in my set a home and career moves usually overwhelms you with too at St. Teresa’s College, which was a shame because with so much stress that you tend to forget to get closer or intimate much creativity packed into my head, I should have been the even with your partner or spouse. best in Literature. I got by in Literature too, at least I never This intimacy is very much needed in order to keep the marfailed to make my As up to GCE and WAEC. I tried. riage working. You must take time and give extra effort in I used to fantasize a lot too and I put all my thoughts into getting closer with your partner or spouse. The following are drawing. some of the tips that you can use in order to maintain the All my mates in school would remember all the carbond between you and your partner or spouse.

‘Guess who?’” toons I used to draw. I could remember how some •Take time to listen to your spouse or partner. Be of them brought exercise books for me to create A woman walks into a post office and notices a middle-aged, well-dressed man keen about the non-verbal signal that your partner stories for them in graphic details, which they standing at the counter methodically placing “Love” stamps on bright pink is showing you. If you think that he has become would take home to read. envelopes with hearts all over them. As he seals each envelop he sprays it with a distant from you, entice him to a talk and discuss What all that did was creating in me a very puff of perfume. your issues. soft and romantic person.

The woman’s curiosity gets the better of her, so she goes up to the man and asks •Make sure that you keep a cool head and you As an adult now, I enjoy evening strolls with listen to his ideas and vice versa. what he is doing. The man replies, “I’m sending out 1,000 Valentine my partner as much as I enjoy soaking his feet •Be honest always. Keeping secrets from your cards signed, ‘Guess who?’” “But why?” she asks. regularly in the foot tub I got especially for him. I spouse will make you worry which will affect your “Because I’m a divorce lawyer,” the man replies. make cooking and serving of it such a delight that behaviour towards him. It is always advisable people just love eating my meals. I wake the household and healthy in a relationship that both of you do not keep with soft music most days and make sure there is enough frat h e m any secret from each other. And open line communication is grance in the atmosphere to kick-start the day. And oh good- v i s i t and help them with small chores. Give them the opportunity to the key to this and an honest attitude should guide you. ness… we can talk and talk and talk!

•Let your spouse feel that he is important. Showing your With us, there’s no limit to gisting. Even when we’re having tell stories to these children and encourage them to be hugged partner that he is important to you will keep you close to each and kissed.

It is still a part of spreading love and making other our usual misunderstandings, we always make up by talking other because you can only show the importance of a person in people happy. some more. Hmm… Mama Saro’s style!

Looking for something to do this weekend into style and your life when you always take time to spend quality time Saturdays are spent either at any of the parks with us playing with him. It does not need to be long but a simple greeting as games or visiting our favourite fura-de-nunu joint or just driv- waoh people?

Why not arrange for you and your amiable neighbours to soon as you see him walk in the room will surely make him ing around town to see and admire the best architectural designs in the hope that one day, we would have one of them talk to those miscreants in your neighbourhood and let them feel important because you noticed him.

Never forget to make contact a physical one with your spouse. know the dangers of smoking weed or living dangerous lives. someday soon.

We often have fights over eating out because I love oriental Showing a little love and lending a hand of support (without Even when you are walking to the grocery store hold his hand meals while he loves local dishes. He almost always wins bringing them into your homes until you’re sure about them) or when you are watching TV lean you head on his shoulder. though because he blackmails me with the question of whether can save our youths and the society. Get them jobs if you can These are just simple gestures but it is important to keep the intimacy between the two of you.

Valentine’s Day j okes

Interpreting dreams

After she woke up, a woman told her husband, “I just dreamed that you gave me a pearl necklace for Valentine’s Day. What do you think it means?”

“You’ll know tonight.” he said.

That evening, the man came home with a small package and gave it to his wife.

Delighted, she opened it - to find a book entitled “The meaning of dreams”

Men and Sex

A recent study was made to find out what days men prefer to have sex?

It was found that men preferred to engage in sexual activity on the days that started with “T”:

Tuesday Thursday Thanksgiving Today Tomorrow Thaturday and Thunday.

Stop Bugging About

Getting Married Old aunts used to come up to me at weddings, poking me in the ribs and cackling, telling me, “You’re next.” They stopped after I started doing the same thing to them at funerals.

How do I handle men Deola, a young lady I met recently with whom I became very friendly asked me, “How do I handle men that keep running after me everywhere?”

- Yinka, Minna.

Dear Yinka, please tell that young girl that women in their sixties who look good are still being chased everywhere they go by men, so it is normal for the attention

of a young girl to be sought by men of all ages. Tell her to bask in the euphoria of being admired and asked out, but never to get carried away. Also tell her that if she wants to choose, she should choose wisely and let her know that a girl is entitled to only one man. She should be nice to people generally and should know when a man is becoming a nuisance enough to ignore him.

My pastor boyfriend talks to me only when he wants to kiss me Good afternoon madam.

I’m 16 years old. I met this man; he’s 23 years and he’s a pastor and we’re dating. Each time I visit him he doesn’t talk to me, but he will rather drop recharge cards on the bed for me to load in my phone and exchange SMS with him while we’re in the same rum.

But when I leave, he will call and talk to me telling me how much he enjoyed my company. And when I’m around, he will never talk to me, the only time he looked at my face and talked was when he asked me to kiss him. Please madam, I am confused; what should Ii do? I need your advice. Reply me please. J. Dear J, shy people find it hard to express themselves when they’re around the people they love but I doubt if your pastor boyfriend plays dumb when you’re around due to shyness. Shy people don’t play dumb, they talk, but you could tend to be un-

easy when they’re around the people they love and they may not be able to lock eyes with you for a long time. They may get busy doing something to hide their uneasiness.

But not talking at all means something else. I suspect that Mr. Pastor is just playing games with you and he’s enjoying the fun the suspense is generating.

The world is full of pastors these days o! Who made him a pastor at 23? Why would he make a small girl of 23 his girlfriend? Why would he be in the same room with you and not utter a word to you and why would he drop recharge cards on the bed for you?

Watch how you go visiting this queer guy alone. The Ibos (I think) have a saying that one day, monkey go go market, e no go return. I pray he won’t make a monkey out of you. He has started by dropping recharge cards for you on

the bed and asking you to kiss him. It will progress from there as you encourage him in this deaf and dumb game.

He will ask you to touch something one day and from there others things may set in.

J, your age mates these days are discovering their talents and making good use of it.

There are so many of your age mates in the university now going after course work and all other important things. A lot of your age mates who are not so lucky to be in schools are learning vocations that will make them better people.

Face what’s important and let Pastor go and face church work. His own pastor is one of the bad ones that will ask a small girl to meet him in the bedroom. Please give me his full names and the name of his church; I will help you find out if their church doctrines allow unmarried people of different sexes to stay together in a room.

What do I do to make him know I love him?

•A cross section of farmers during a meeting in Lagos where they expressed their support for Federal Government’s cell phone project for farmers

I’m 19 years old, I am in love with someone but he does not know that I love him. I’ve tried to forget about him but I can’t, please help me; tell me what to do to make him know I love him. Thanks. Hussaina.

Dear Hussaina, in as much as I don’t have much fears about people of your age falling in love, I like letting them know that 18 to 20 are still vulnerable ages when men can work on your innocence and take you for granted.

Talking about a girl coming out to tell a guy

who hasn’t noticed her that she’s in love with him could spell trouble if the guy is not matured enough. It might be interpreted to mean free invitation to sex.

It might be interpreted to mean desperation and it could be used against her. So before walking up to a guy to say you like him, be very sure he’s exposed and matured and has good friends who won’t tell him to use the opportunity as an awoof to devour easily.

51

THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2013

“Y

OU’ve not answered my question. Are you and James Abbey dating?” Alex asked.

“I’ve told you it’s not true.

It’s all lies, a figment of the writer’s imagination,” Muna explained.

“Are you sure about that? “ he stated sceptically.

“What do you mean by that? Am I a child that I don’t know whom I’m dating again? Besides, we shouldn’t even be having this conversation. Afterall, it’s not as if you are my boyfriend!” she said, becoming pissed off by his attitude.

“Is that all you can say?” he queried. “So, what am I then?” he added.

“Look, Alex, I told you to wait and with time, we might be together. So...”

But he cut in stating: “For how long? And while I’m waiting, I see you running all over town with that actor and you expect me to be happy about it?” he noted.

“Whether you like it or not is not my problem.

Infact, you are beginning to stress me with all this nagging. If you don’t like the situation, you can leave,” Muna said.

“Muna, are you telling me to leave your house?” he asked her in an incredulous voice.

“Yes. I’m getting sick and tired of your complaints about James. Anyway, I need to rest as I have to be on location early tomorrow morning. So...” and picking up her phone from the centre table, she went to her bedroom.

Alex sat alone in the living-room for a few minutes, thinking she would come back. After a while, with no sign of her, he went home.

The following day when he called her, she was busy on set and could not speak with him.

“She’s shooting some scenes right now. I’ll tell her you called,” stated an assistant on set who had her phone.

It was nearly a week later when he was able to speak with her.

“It’s like one needs a visa before one can see or even speak with you these days,” he stated.

“I’ve been busy. I’ve just finished with one production and will be starting on another soon,” she explained coolly.

“So, when can I see you?

Should I come and pick you up this Saturday so we can go out?” he asked.

“I’ll be busy with rehearsals. Maybe some other time,” she said. Actually, she had been invited to the birthday party of a popular actress whom she had worked together in a few movies and had become friendly with. She was going with Debi and James, who had offered to be her date for the evening.

She enjoyed the party but it was Debi who seemed to have the most fun.

“I can’t believe my eyes!

So many of my favorite actors under one roof! This is

‘

She believed him until she began to hear rumours about him with other ladies including some in their industry. But whenever she confronted him about it, he would deny it.

‘Will you rather believe in rumours or me? There’s no need for you to be jealous.You should learn to trust me, ok?’

Star of destiny (3)

,

paradise! My colleagues at work will be so jealous when I tell them what I’ve seen today!” she declared.

Muna laughed at her high spirits. Taking her by the hand, she led her to the celebrant and did the introductions.

Later, she left with James for another bash on the Island. They were there till the early hours of the morning before leaving for James’ residence.

Later that morning, Debi called to find out where she was.

“I’m at James’ house,” she said.

“What? What are you doing there? Aren’t you coming home?” she enquired.

“I will. See you later,” she stated quickly, before hanging up.

It was two days later before Muna returned home.

James had dropped her off and after he had gone, Debi said: “Muna, what’s going on?

Where have you been?”

“Are you that daft? Can’t you see that I’ve been with James?” she countered, stretching on the couch in the parlor.

“I know. But why? Don’t tell me you two...” she stated.

“Yes. We are dating. So what?”

“Muna! What has come over you? Just some months ago, you hated the guy and couldn’t stand him. Now, you are going out with him. What will Alex say?” she said.

“How’s that my problem? Alex is a big boy. He will get over it,” Muna said.

Debi shook her head.

“I don’t know what has come over you but this doesn’t seem right. Anyway, I hope you know what you are doing. You know that James Abbey has a bad boy reputation. I don’t want to see you get hurt,” Debi said, sitting at an armchair nearby.

“He’s not as bad as people think. He got that image because of some of the roles he plays. He’s quite nice and I think I love him,” she stated firmly.

“Love ke! Hmm. Just take it easy with this your new found love o!” Debi said, picking up the remote to put on the TV.

New love While they tried to keep their affair secret because of their status as popular artistes, it wasn’t long before the press got wind of it. Soon their pictures with stories were all over the

magazines and papers.

‘Their on-screen ‘romance’ goes off-screen!

Has playboy James Abbey been hooked at last?’ was one of the screaming headlines, with the accompanying story stating how ‘screen bad boy James had ‘fallen madly’ in love with sexy actress Muna...

“At least, they used the right words to describe you,” James stated, taking the magazine from Muna’s hand and flinging it on the floor. They were at her house where he had come visiting some hours earlier.

They had been rehearsing their roles for a new movie they were doing together in a week’s time when Kel, Muna’s younger sister who lived with her had brought the magazine and showed the story to them.

“What are you talking about?” she asked, going over to sit on his lap.

“Sexy actress. You are one sexy lady, you know.

Any time I see you, I feel warm all over as if I have taken some sweet wine,” he said.

“Like now?” she asked, playfully pinching his nose.

“Yes, sweetheart,” he said, his eyes fixed on her bosom.

Just then, Kel came into the room and whispered something in Muna’s ears.

Shortly after, the front door opened and Alex entered the room. He stared transfixed at the scene before him, at Muna sitting cosily on James’ lap acting as if

they were in a scene in one of the movies they had done together. But this was no film but reality!

Muna looked at him warily, not saying anything.

“So, it’s true then. All the rumors and stories which you kept denying. I never knew you were such a liar!”

Alex said with some bitterness.

“Hey, look here, man. You don’t talk to my babe like that!” James stated, getting up from the chair.

“I’m not talking to you so stay out of this,” Alex retorted.

“Alex, take it easy. Let me explain,” Muna stated.

“Explain what? That while I was waiting for you to make up your mind about me, this guy here comes and takes over? I’m really disappointed in you,” he noted.

“Dude, better accept the fact that she’s mine now.

So, keep off!” James said.

Muna spoke up then.

“Please just go, Alex. We will talk later.”

He glared at her before stating: “I’ve nothing more to say to you. You’ve made your choice. Hope you won’t regret it.”

Then he left. Though Muna felt bad about the way things had turned out between her and Alex, there was nothing she could do about. She was in love with James and he was the one she wanted to be with. She hoped he would understand and they could re-

main good friends as before.

As time went on, her relationship with James waxed stronger. He treated her well and she was quite happy. The only problem was his relationship with other women especially his numerous fans. Because of his fame, they were always hanging around him wherever he went. This was besides all the calls and text messages they kept sending. He tried to make her understand that it was part of being a star.

“You shouldn’t bother your head about them.

They keep calling, begging to be with me. Do you know some even offer to pay money so they can spend time with me? There are some crazy women out there!” he stated, laughing.

“But it’s you I want to be with. So, don’t worry your pretty head about them,” he added, hugging her close.

She believed him until she began to hear rumours about him with other ladies including some in their industry. But whenever she confronted him about, he would deny it.

“Will you rather believe in rumours or me? There’s no need for you to be jealous.You should learn to trust me, ok?” he said.

Despite his reassuring words, she still had her doubts.

Perhaps that informed her reaction when she visited him two weeks later at his home and found a group of ladies there. They were about six young la-

dies, all gorgeously dressed. They were sitting in the small visitors’ room downstairs, waiting to see James.

“What are they doing here?” she asked Michael, his P.A. He explained that they were some of his fans from town who had come to invite him for a youth programme they were organizing.

“Then why are they here?

Why didn’t they go to his manager’s office? This is his house not his office!” she said angrily.

Michael shrugged and left.

“Oh, Muna, you are here,” James said when he came downstairs.

He kissed her lightly on the cheek but she responded to him in a cold way.

“I need to attend to some visitors. Just give me a few minutes and I will be with you,” he stated as he made for the visitors’ room.

“James I need to see you,” she said, holding his hand.

“Not now, honey. Later,” he said and left.

• To be continued •Join us next Saturday for the concluding part of Muna’s story and how her jealousy causes problems in her relationship with James.

•Names have been changed to protect the characters’ identities •Send comments/suggestions to psaduwa@yahoo.com or 08023201831.

FAMIL Y HEAL TH AMILY HEALTH

52

THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2013

God’s master plan for the family(2)

D

DEAR Reader, Last week, we saw the fundamental nature of the family. This week, I will be teaching on, AllRound Blessings as part of God’s plan for the

family.

There is no limit to the pleasure and blessings God can bring to you in all areas of your life, through a successful family life. There is joy that comes along with family success, which simply spills over into every area of life.

These blessings include the following: Divine Dominion To have dominion is to have control or to exercise control. God has established the family, therefore, to have dominion; that is to have and exercise control. The family is to be in control of circumstances and situations of life. …And have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth (Genesis 1:28). God designed the

family as an unbeatable team on the earth, but because Adam failed in the family government, he lost control and was sent out of the Garden of Eden.

Divine Favour Once divine favour is present in your home and family, it is irreversible. Even men are compelled to favour you, because when a man’s ways pleases the Lord, He causes even his enemies to be at peace with him. The favour of God elevates you to such great heights that men begin to envy you. You become a reference point for a good marriage.

God’s favour also secures for you a lifting and promotion in status, often occurring in an increase in material possessions, finances, etc.

Taking a look at the first family (Adam and Eve), one discovers that even after the fall, Adam’s family still enjoyed God’s favour. They had sewed fig leaves together and made aprons to cover their nakedness. But because of the special favour God reserved for the family, God overlooked their betrayal and clothed them with animal skin. He clothed their nakedness and thus removed shame from them.

Divine Security God, the husband and wife form a three-fold cord that is not easily broken. As man co-operates with God and establishes God’s purpose for marriage in the home, God honours that family by ensuring that nothing prevails against it. They (the man and his wife) are equipped to withstand, with the help of the Lord, all demonic forces

and the pressures of the secular world. God’s Word says: ...If one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken. (Ecclesiastes 4:12).

Divine Presence The enemy is walking to and fro looking for “cold” homes to infiltrate. When there’s fighting, discord, selfishness, quarrelling, and unforgiveness, the home can be said to be “cold.” But when there is love, understanding and harmony in a home, God rewards it with the warmth of His presence and peace that burns off the attacks of the devil which could cause tension. In His presence are fullness of joy and pleasures (Psalm 16:11).

To enjoy all-round blessings is to become a born again child of God. If you want to become a child of God, please say this prayer of faith with me: Dear Lord, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me my sins. Cleanse me with Your precious Blood. I accept You as my Lord and Saviour. Now I know I am born again!

Congratulations! Till I come your way again next week, please call or write, and share your testimonies with me through: E-mail: faithdavid@yahoo.com Tel. No: 2341-7747546-8; 07026385437, 07094254102 For more insight, these books authored by me are available at the Dominion Bookstores in all the Living Faith Churches, and other leading Christian bookstores: Marriage Covenant, Making Marriage Work and Building a Successful Family.

Health equipment for exercise: The bicycle Sometime is 2006, I was in Amsterdam for a scientific conference. I marvelled at the Dutch culture of cycling. Bicycles were everywhere. Streets were clean, calm, and beautiful and people, cars, and bicycles moved here and there with harmony.I imagine everybody in that country has a bicycle and uses it. In developing countries, perhaps new cities, towns, or villages will be planned with bike lanes. People can take short trips on a bicycle from home to their neighbourhood post office, bank, supermarket, clinic, etc., and not necessarily go driving in a car.

We have all wasted time in traffic jams caused by cars that cannot advance. The health effect of traffic jams is difficult to assess but can be imagined. If you spend 1-2 h in a traffic jam with your car windows open, you spend 1-2h breathing exhaust fumes. If you are there with your car windows closed and the inside of your car is not exactly clean and your air conditioning filters have not been changed for a long time, you can spend 1-2h breathing bad air. This plus the effect

of frustration on our psyche is certainly not holistic health. Examine how often you develop a headache after a long traffic jam. Biking is an alternative easy and healthymeans of transport for short distances where there are convenient paths for cycling.

For some time in 2004 when I did not have a car in the US, I was cycling to work every day until I could afford the better alternative for a long distance. If you are able to cycle to work, then you would be incorporating a daily exercise into your schedule. If you do not use a bicycle as a means of

•ProForm Le Tour De France indoor bike costs about N243,000 at eBay

transportation, you could have one at home as an instrument for exercising.

Cycling can be used to keep fit and to lose weight.

If you cycle outdoors at a steady speed, you can burn about 300 calories in one hour and if you are more vigorous you can burn about 600 calories in half an hour.

The calories lost are not as much as when you run for exercise but cycling is milder than running on your joints particularly if you have over-weight difficulties. Cycling allows most of your muscle masses to get toned and strong. It also allows your hip and knee joints to improve in mobility without much strain.

Overall, your heart and lungs are stimulated too and your body transports oxygen more efficiently.

There are different kinds of bikes such as mountain bikes, road racing bikes, touring bikes, and hybrid bikes. Whatever the kind of bike, you may need to take it easy at first before you become daring with it. In my childhood, I once watched a boy eagerly doing a stunt by racing down a slope on a bike but he was catapulted headlong into a bushy hedge. He never became a world cycling champion.

There can be casualties thereforeyou need to take care of a few basics such as having a head gear (helmet), and knee and elbow pads; doing maintenance work on

•Schwinn Airdyne cardio exercise bike with computer costs about N20,000 online at eBay your bike; carrying basic tools and spares; and wearing bright clothes so that you are visible to motorists.

Bicycles are needed in populous places. They are easier to manufacture than cars and bike industry can easily add to the economy of a country, including pro-

viding manufacturing jobs.

Dr. ’Bola John is a biomedical scientist based in Nigeria and in the USA. For any comments or questions on this column, please E m a i l bolajohnwritings@yahoo.com or call 07028338910

A simple bike may be bought for the equivalent of N10,000 at a seasonal sale

How Vitamin E benefits skin

It’s common knowledge that vitamin E is good for your skin, but not many people could tell you exactly what this nutrient does — vitamin E is an antioxidant that protects and repairs your skin.

Antioxidants are agents that neutralize the oxidant effect of free radicals, which are molecules that damage collagen and cause skin dryness, fine lines and wrinkles.

A simple chemistry lesson can explain how vitamin E does this. The atoms that comprise your body try to maintain an even number of electrons — that’s what makes them stable. If an atom has an uneven number of electrons, it will steal an electron from another atom to become stable. When your skin takes a beating from outside factors, such as the sun’s ultraviolet rays, your body can produce free radicals. Free radicals are atoms with an uneven number of electrons, and when they form inside your body, they steal electrons from healthy cells like the ones that make up your skin. This can cause a damaging chain reaction, and that’s where antioxidants like vitamin E come in.

Antioxidants neutralize free radicals and prevent cellular damage from occurring. Vitamin E is one of the most powerful antioxidants, but your body can’t produce it, which means you have to make sure you’re getting enough of this valuable nutrient in your diet. Eating foods high in vitamin E and taking vitamin E supplements if you can’t get enough through your food intake can can help prevent premature aging of your skin and damage to your DNA. Studies show that taking vitamin E long term can even reduce sunburns from exposure to UVB radiation.

Health Matters With DR MIKE OYAKHIRE 08170268670 email: drmikeoyakhire@yahoo.com Concluding part

Recommendations It is quite instructive to know that the fact that a home based player gave Nigeria the winning goal of AFCON.2013 . He is about to leave for Europe . It is also very unfortunate that in this same country , graduate applicants with Masters and PhD degrees are either being employed as lorry drivers or are sending in applications seeking to be employed as such. It removes the lid off the lip service given to employment generation and at the same time throws a challenge for leaders and policy makers to do all that is necessary to fully utilize local human resources, provide opportunities for self actualization for individuals and groups, and so we can honestly talk about human development It is commendable that a single individual could give out over 100 million naira to footballers for winning a regional tournament. Encouraging such a person to invest in biomedical research is not too much , especially when even one half or one third of that money will be sufficient .If individuals want to partner with universities and teaching hospitals to explore new frontiers in health care and biomedical research, they should be guided and reassured of the safety of their investments .We really need to create awareness about new technologies in Medicine, what they all about and how the public stand to benefit.

But of utmost importance is a strong political backing to help sensitize the people and ensure sustainability. Enabling laws will allow use of embryonic stem cells for research, and the establishment of blood banks for cord blood, which can be used for research. Two major problems with research involving human subjects, whether directly or indirectly have to do with getting enough sample size for studies and surmounting ethical hurdles. Governments at different levels can assist by way of funding and using their machinery to gently encourage their citizens to participate in health related scholarly investigations. If you put out posters asking patients with low back pain to come to an outfit for free X-rays, you will be lucky to find one volunteer in two months, in the same way , it is not too easy getting placenta tissue for research without your intentions being misunderstood Relevant agencies of Government should open up channels of communication with universities and existing research institutions. For the department of agriculture, no reason why we should have maize only at certain seasons of the year. Re establishment of the very successful Oyakhilomen's School to Land Program in Rivers state ,this time with a unit set up to genetically modify farm produce will provide employment for young men and women, reduce poverty and hunger in accordance with the MDGS. It is important to inform that Anatomical sciences cut across nearly all fields of Human endeavour including Agriculture. Much of the research being carried out in Anatomy, Physiology, Pharmacology, Animal and environmental Biology , Medical Microbiology and Biotechnology to mention but a few, is directed at creating an atmosphere of good health and happiness for man in his environment.

For the secondary and tertiary health institutions, we can Start with small but fully equipped research units attached to specific departments as -Heamatology /Immunology For Departments of Basic Medicine, and Colleges of Health Sciences, there should be multipurpose built facilities designed and equipped to international standard with active involvement and participation of stake holders from start to finish..

Better understanding and new knowledge of the physiology of steroidogenesis and the biochemistry of steroid hormones have enabled the provision of better and safer family planning services, what was needed was multidisciplinary approach involving clinical pharmacologists, pharmacists, drug manufacturing companies, clinical Anatomists and funding agencies .A woman whose husband has been away and returns to find her in red(menstruating) can now go to her Gynecologist and ask for him to have that period shifted for a few days to enable her Husby passionately fulfill his matrimonial obligations ; this made possible by advanced methods in reproductive endocrinology. We also require similar approaches in stem cell research and genetic engineering to fully tap into the numerous benefits; the present atmosphere of intrigues versus intrigues involving professionals in our health care delivery system is a problem peculiar to Nigeria, and the main problem there is that medical people have found themselves at the lower rungs of the social ladder; hungry and suffering. Definitely we must put our differences aside; when people of different backgrounds and ideological commitments come together, there will be storming, this according to the theory of group dynamics is normal, but when after several decades, the stage of norming fails to materialize, then those fuelling discord need to re examine themselves. The human resources as stated earlier are wasting away as graduate lorry drivers , fuel pump eperators and store keepers .

We can begin by getting real facts and figures; an idea about the number of graduates in various disciplines currently without gainful employment, and projections from the various universities , about the number expected to be cleared for the Youth Service scheme This can be strengthened by an executive declaration to begin a National program of getting placement for them any where in the world and institutions of their choice and in accordance with their academic competence

FAMIL Y HEAL TH AMILY HEALTH

53 New frontiers in anatomy and the millenium development goals

THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2012

In focus: Stem cell research and genetic engineering Agreements made with Universities and other institutions of higher learning should be reviewed and signed, and pledges made to universities, redeemed as a way of demonstrating our seriousness. Rather than wait for emergency situations to declare themselves, Universities should be encouraged by way of special funds and grants so they can direct interested faculties and departments to source for experts in various fields of enquiries.

A medical professor once lamented to me how low he felt when he had to play host to a visiting professor from America who a few years before was a GA when he was L1. Coming from a more affluent background, he was able to leave this land of opportunitis minimus and had become a superstar. We understand that in South Africa for example, Professors may not supervise Doctoral research unless they can pay the cost of the PhD work. Government through their representatives and institutional heads can do the least task of seeking out these professors most of whom left this country because of the whiplash of the economy to become international scholars overseas. They can be encouraged and induced to come empower our own students, who pay their tuition fees and bear the cost of their thesis . The banks and these very wealthy individuals can sponsor individuals and groups to learn some of these new techniques come back home and form technical teams; China did it that way, Malaysia used the same method and India used the same formula such that today in the Medical arena, Indian Medical Professionals are in the best Health centers outside that

country and every one goes to India for the best Medical treatment.

We need also to sensitize the public by letting them know what they stand to benefit. Because most people perish from lack of knowledge A family battling to save the lives of as many of their children from death due to Sickle cell disease could walk into a unit in a Hospital where stem cell transfusion services are available, and have their lives transformed for good permanently; the children are sure of living on to 90 years or more, can go to university and contribute to National development, The same goes for some children with the problem of deafness due to damage to the hair cells in the Spiral organ of Corti; These cells just like cells in the Nigrostriatal pathways( in Parkison's disease) behave like paraneurones and can now be replaced by stem cell transplant Another area ,Male pattern infertility due to absent or low sperm count is not being adequately addressed at the moment , more attention being on assisted reproductive technology(ART) available understandably to the rich, because these facilities are private and Governments are not interested in setting up fertility centers. However, it will be cheaper and more gratifying if more attention is given to male Gonadal sperm cell research.

54 NEWS

THE NATION, Saturday, Februay 16, 2013

We don't know the meaning of Valentine's Day but we rocked it –Fun seekers

•Angela

ED and white colours took the centre stage last Thursday when Nigerians joined the rest of the world to mark this year's celebration of Saint Valentine's day popularly referred to as lovers' day.

Individuals, business outfits and corporate bodies added a touch of the colours to either their dressing or premises to identify with the celebration.

The 'fever' did not only catch the youths, it also arrested many adults who did not want to be left out of the frenzy that is associated with the annual celebration.

In spite of the fact that the celebration fell on a week day, many lovers and fun seekers took out time to storm clubs, drinking joints, eateries and other relaxation spots to mark the day.Adults and teenagers of secondary school age brackets organised special parties in different areas to mark the day. They unrestrainedly consumed alcholic drinks and danced provocatively to music blasted from loud speakers positioned at strategic positions.

Most of the teenagers, females in particular, tucked their red and white party dresses in their school bags and dressed up at the party venues. Some of them who did not have clothes bearing the colours rushed to road side boutiques to get theirs. Gift item sellers and boutique owners experienced an unusual boom in their businesses as fun seekers trooped out to either get gift items for their lovers or buy clothings, shoes and caps with red and white colours. Most of the traders strategically put aside all wares with other colours and displayed those with red and white to attract the attention of shoppers.

Ironically, some of fun seekers who spoke with our correspondent, expressed ignorance about what the day stands for.

Some of them simply said they dressed in red and white because they saw many people wearing the colours. For some of the respondents, the knowledge of the

R

n Innocent DURU n

•Many parents are equally ignorant of it –Rev Father

celebration's history is irrelevant. What mattered as far as they were concerned was simply to know if their lovers would give them gifts or take them out to show whether they truly loved them or not.

The show of love as far as they were concerned was all about exchanging gift items and taking trips to fun spots.

Dominic Omale, a student dressed in all red and white as he merrily cruised around in the spirit of the celebration interestingly told The Nation that he was oblivious of what the celebration was all about but dressed in the colours of the day because he saw many people wearing the colours.

"I don't understand the meaning of Valentine. I saw people wearing red and white and decided to do the same. I tried to ask one lady that I carried on my motorbike what the whole thing was all about but she did not know it even though she wore the colours. I really want to know the meaning if you can explain to me," he said, adding that he marked the day by attending a •Rev Fr Cletus party organised by his friends.

He was not alone in his ignorance about what the celebration stands fun so early. Initially, I did not for. Bola Ajao, a trader also said she did understand what they meant but when I not know what the celebration connotes, later saw so many people wearing red although she wore a top with red and and white colours discussing how they white colours. would catch fun with their lovers, I got a She told our correspondent that her fair idea of what it meant. I later bought dressing had nothing to do with the these gifts for my boyfriend when I saw celebration. She said: " I didn't know people around me doing so. I didn't anything about Valentine before now. It know about it before like I said earlier, is concidental that I am wearing a clothe with red and white colours. I learnt of the but now I am in the mood. " For Angela, an undergraduate, the significance of the colours when I came celebration is about exchanging gift items out and people started asking if I was with her boyfriend and going to a fun already going to catch Valentine's day

•Dominics spot to have good time. The history is immaterial.

She told our correspondent that she started going out to catch fun on Valentine's day celebration just two years ago after her mind was disabused about the feast.

She said: "My understanding of the celebration is that it is a special day for boyfriends and girlfriends to have a good time together. They can go out for shopping and swimming to make the day memorable. I have just attended a

NEWS 55

THE NATION, Saturday, Februay 16, 2013

•Fun seekers buying gifts •Elizabeth people, females in particular, came out in their numbers to buy clothes. My volume of sales this time was far above what I recorded even during the Yuletide season.

I wish it can be celebrated every month so that I will not experience lull in my business again and can always be making cool money. " To me, it is a colourful celebration and it is about sharing love with others like one’s girlfriend or boyfriend, wife or husband and the kids. It is also a day you exchange gift items with those that you love. It has advantages and disadvantages like every human activity.

The advantage lies in showing love and caring for one another, while the disadvantage is inherent in the sexual harrasment of the opposite sex under the influence of alcohol.’’

Commercial sex workers also had a boom in their businesses as most brothels visited by our correspondent were crowded. Road side and mobile whores also had a swell time attending to their customers.

One of the whores, who simply identified herself as Blessing, said the celebration was good for them because they had more than enough customers to attend to.

"My brother, this is a wonderful celebration. Before now, we had been experiencing poor patronage because of the economic situation in the country. I can tell you that the story is not the same today. Many of the guys who wanted to have fun but could not buy gifts or take their babes out came to spend their time with us and we are the better for it. It is unfortunate that the celebration is just once in a year," she submitted despondently.

Explaining the origin of the celebration,Reverend Father Cletus Chibuzor Ayanwu, the parish priest of St John Catholic Church, Igando, Lagos, said: ‘’We would be wrong to say that the celebration started in the Catholic Church. If you look at the origin of the celebration, you will find that it is more of a pagan celebration. If you look at it from

,

friend's birthday party and waiting for my boyfriend to join me. I am having a nice time here with my friend and her boyfriend. I expect him to join us immeditely he closed from work. I started hanging out on Valentine's day celebration two years ago. I was not bothered about it before because I did not believe in anything like lovers' day. ‘’Now my mind has been disabused and I think it is worth celebrating. It is good for lovers to have a day like this to spend time together. I will actually not be happy if my boyfriend failed to either take me out or buy gifts for me. The price of the gift is not important. What is important here is the spirit of giving and recieving from a loved one."

Elizabeth also toes the same path with Angela. She posited that the celebration will be robbed of its shine if exchange of gifts is left out by lovers. She said: "Valentine's day in my understanding is all about lovers having good time together.The truth of the matter is that there must be exhange of gift between them for the celebration to be impactful. I have bought gifts like perfume, singlet, greeting card among other gifts for my boyfriend. I equally expect him to buy gifts for me apart from taking me out to fun spots.

"It is actually not only on Valentine's day that one is supposed to buy gifts and show love to his or her partner but today's own is a special one. It is special because it is only once in a whole year. If your lover fails to give you a nice treat on a day like this, you will be an odd one out among your friends. I can't afford to miss out of the fun."

Uche Chukwudi, a boutique owner, wished the celebration would be monthly.

He said that the celebration brought about a great turn around in his business which according to him had previously experienced low patronage.

"I must say that the celebration boosted my sales. I must confess that my sales rose very high today and the days preceding the celebration as many

I don't understand the meaning of Valentine. I saw people wearing red and white and decided to do the same. I tried to ask one lady that I carried on my motorbike what the whole thing was all about but she did not know it even though she wore the colours. I really want to know the meaning if you can explain to me

,

the perspective of St. Valentine, you can say that it started from the church. ‘’Looking at it from its proper origin, it has to do with the pagan feast of fertility.

This origin can be traced to the Romans where it was believed that it is through love making that females get pregnant.

On one of the occasions of this feast where they did all manners of immoral things in the name of love, St. Valentine who was also a Roman, came in to give it all a Christian interpretation. He vehemently asserted that the immoral

way they were carrying out the celebration was wrong. From all indications, he was either killed or tortured in the process of correcting this bad attitude of seeing love from the angle of emotional and immoral living. This made the church to use that name to identify the feast in a kind of baptising it.

"I see it as a feast that is good for human beings because God Himself identified Himself as God of love. The celebration should be seen from the level of sacrifice, sharing with one another, and not on the level of immorality and indecent behaviour that modern society has taken it. The St. Valentine in question fought immorality and gave the feast a moral outlook. It teaches that the festival is meant to show love to people and value them for what they are from godly ways and not living and acting like animals."

Asked what parents should do to enlighten their children about what the feast truly stands for, he replied: " Do parents actually know what the feast is all about? Because if one is ignorant of a thing, he by himself might even be causing the problem. If the parents understand what Valentine and the feast are all about, from the tutelage of their children, they are supposed to communicate to them that this is the proper meaning of the feast so that as the children continue to grow, they would be able to remember what their parents taught them and would not allow themselves to be misled, misguided or be drawn into what is not the true colour of what the feast represents. If parents teach their children what is proper, it would be very difficult for them to derail from this understanding of the feast.

"The church does not even emphasise this issue of Valentine because everyday, we are living out love. This is what the Christian life implies. There is no day that is designated as a day of sharing because our calling as Christians everyday is to live out love because that is what Christ died for. Talking about it is like giving it an outlook that what we are celebrating is not supposed to have."

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2013

THE NATION

NEWS

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2013

57

Prezzo pays touching tribute to

E

VER since the announcement of the death of pop singer, Goldie Harvey (born Susan Olawabimpe Harvey on October 23, 1983), became public knowledge, fans and colleagues around the continent have continued to express shock and grief at the demise of the vibrant performer.

Kenyan rapper, Prezzo, who was romantically linked with Goldie following their love affair as housemates on the Big Brother Stargame TV show, has responded to the shocking loss of Goldie to the cold hands of death.

Prezzo paid a touching tribute to Goldie via his Facebook page expressing his grief and shock at the passing away of a valuable talent and a woman that was close to his heart. He wrote: “God saw you were getting tired, and a cure was not meant to be. So He put His arms around you, and whispered ‘come with me.’ With tearful eyes, we watched you, as we saw you pass away. Although we love you deeply, we could not make you stay. Your golden heart stopped beating, hard working hand at rest, God broke our hearts to prove to us. He only knows the best.”

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EAST, an ambitious and visually striking play that celebrates West Africa's Yoruba culture and its impact in the Americas and Europe, is showing at the Young Vic theatre in London.

The piece, a co-production with the Royal Court theatre, centres on the journey of four Yoruba deities - through their reincarnations in different black women and men - to Brazil, Cuba, the United States and the United Kingdom, during 300 years, from the times of slavery to the present.

It begins at a crossroads in Nigeria where, on their way to a feast, three sisters - the goddesses or orishas Oshun, Oya and Yemoja - meet a trickster - the ubiquitous Eshu or Elegbara who warns them that they will be taken away as slaves and indicates that he too is going on the journey.

We next see Yemoja in Brazil, at the time of the abolition of slavery, and in present-day Cuba where she has become, as she calls herself, "a Communist whore".

Oya and Oshun take part in the 1960s civil rights sit-ins in the US and are later at the centre of discussions on race and identity issues in Barack Obama's America and in contemporary London.

The stories are the work of five playwrights: Nigeria's Rotimi Babatunde, Brazil's Marcos Barbosa, Cuba's Yunior Garcia Aguilera, American Tanya Barfield and British Gbolahan Obisesan, who was born in Nigeria but moved to the UK as a child.

"It's been pretty crazy having five writers.

One of them lives in London but the rest have not been here through the rehearsal period," the play's director, Rufus Norris, told the BBC. "We all got together on two occasions and I went out to Cuba and to Brazil but, in a way, I'm the sixth writer; they've had to trust me to pull it together, to edit, to cut, to move things around," he added.

Mr Norris says that the idea for the play started in 2007, while the Royal Court's Elyse Dodgson was running playwriting workshops in Nigeria and Cuba, and she noticed the

Ahmed BOULOR Rumours of a marriage between Goldie and Prezzo had been making the rounds with the Kenyan reported to be ready to pay her bride price, while wedding arrangements were said to be a top gear.

Sources close to Prezzo also revealed that Prezzo was also getting set to head to Nigeria to be part of the shooting of a reality TV show that was set to be staged by Goldie and Denrele Edun when the news of her unfortunate death came to him.

Meanwhile, Kennis Music released an official statement, signed by Kenny Ogungbe in the early hours of Friday concerning the untimely death of the pop star. The statement read thus: “On behalf of Kennis Music, I'm sad to officially confirm the shocking and untimely passage of Nigeria's pop star, Goldie Harvey. With a deep sense of loss, we announce the shocking death of our darling music star.

“She died on Thursday after she complained of a severe headache at her Park View residence shortly after her arrival from the United States where she went to witness the Grammy Awards. She was rushed to her

A feast to celebrate Yoruba culture in UK

mutual curiosity that writers had for contemporary practices related to Yoruba beliefs. Something similar had happened to her in Brazil.

Later, when the Royal Court was asked to present a project for last year's World Stages London festival - organised to coincide with the Olympic Games - playwrights from the UK and the US were invited to join in.

A 'remarkable journey' Millions of Africans were forcibly taken from the continent during the transatlantic slave trade, and many of them were Yoruba, one of the largest ethnic groups in West Africa, particularly from present-day southern Nigeria and neighbouring Benin.

"It was great to try to recreate the anxieties, the tensions and the concerns of that era because that was the genesis of a remarkable journey of Yoruba culture from Africa to the Diaspora," Rotimi Babatunde said.

Mr Babatunde, who last year won the Caine Prize for African Writing, regarded as the continent's leading literary award, told the BBC that although the play is a memorial to the pains that different generations have passed through, it is also a "celebration of the survival of people from Africa, of a culture which was threatened with extinction not only in Africa but across several countries in the world, so it's a feast, a festival."

The Yoruba belief system, Ifa, which has Olodumare or Olorun, the creator of the

universe, as its supreme god - assisted by a large number of lesser deities, variously stated as 201 or 401 - had a special impact in places like Brazil and Cuba where it syncretised with Catholicism and flourished, becoming Candomble and Santeria, respectively.

"In Cuba it is difficult to find statistics on Santeria but I think that it is the religion with the most followers," writer Yunior Garcia Aguilera told BBC Africa.

"My friends and I are not believers but every time we open a bottle of rum we pour a few drops on the ground as an offering to the orishas; my family and I are not believers but, just in case, we keep an image of Elegbara behind the door," he added.

Elegbara, the holder of the keys to the gates of fate, and his counterpart Eshu are the main manifestations in Cuba of Elegbara, the trickster, who has also become Legba in Haiti and the Dominican Republic, Eshu in Trinidad and Tobago, and Exu in Brazil.

Yemonja - who, like Oshun and Oya, is a river deity in Nigeria - is considered the queen of the ocean in Brazil, where she is known as Yemanja, and in Cuba where she is called Yemaya and is the mother of the orishas and of all living beings. So was it not disrespectful to name a Havana prostitute after her?

"No," the Cuban playwright replies, "in the Yoruba religion, the deities and human beings have a very close relationship. They resemble each other a lot, and sometimes you don't know who serves whom.

"In Cuba, people who think that they have been waiting for far too long for the orishas to grant them favours threaten them with the withdrawal of their food offerings. 'You're going to live on bread and water alone until you do this for me', they tell the orishas," Mr Garcia explained.

African connections World Stages London was meant to be a "once-in-a-lifetime celebration through theatre of the exhilarating diversity of London's people

official hospital, Reddington on Victoria Island, Lagos, where doctors pronounced her dead on arrival.

“We consider this period a gloomy moment for us and the entire Nigerian music industry in view of the circumstances Goldie passed away, the abundance of talent she exhibited in her and the various opportunities her trip to the United States of America would have availed her. She is survived by her father, step-mother, brothers and sisters.”

The remains of Goldie, who hails from Ekiti State, have been deposited in the mortuary of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, Lagos.

Goldie represented Nigeria at the Big Brother Stargame reality TV show in 2012.

She had her early education at the First Green Springs Montessori Primary School and then St. John's College, Palm Groove, Lagos before studying Business Management (B.Arts) at the University of Sunderland, UK. She began her career in 2006, releasing her debut album titled Spin Me which had four major tracks 'Komole', 'Nothing has Changed', 'Shift' and the self-titled song 'Spin

and culture" and Feast, the final play resulting from the festival, certainly helps it to meet this goal.

It does not only celebrate Yoruba culture; it also offers a glimpse of the many extraordinary artists working in the British capital who are of African descent or have close links to the continent.

Naana Agyei-Ampadu (Oshun), Michelle Asante (Oya) and Kobna Holdbrook-Smith (Elegba) have their roots in Ghana, the family of Noma Dumezweni (Yemaya) hails from South Africa and Louis Mahoney (Papa Legba) is from The Gambia.

African blood also runs in the veins of the main dancers - the UK's Ira Mandela Siobhan and Coral Messam, and Cuba's Yanet Fuentes Torres and Alexander Varona - as well as of singer and musical director Michael Henry whose parents are from Jamaica.

Other Feast musicians also have intimate connections with the continent, including Jamiroquai's percussionist Sola Akingbola, born in the UK to Yoruba parents from Nigeria, and British guitarist Laurence Corns who has worked extensively with Zimbabwean stars Stella Chiweshe, The Bundu Boys and Chartwell Dutiro.

Their efforts are supported and enhanced by Katrina Lindsay's design, Lysander Ashton's video work and Havana-based George Cespedes' powerful choreography, which knit the different stories together.

Towards the end, the piece also pays homage - through the White Man, played by Daniel Cerqueira - to the many non-Africans who have been transformed by their contact with Yoruba religion and have contributed to its understanding, including the likes of Austria's Susanne Wenger, France's Pierre Verger, and Cuba's Lydia Cabrera.

Mr Babatunde told the BBC that he hopes the play will travel to Nigeria soon because although people there have "some awareness" about the importance of Yoruba culture abroad "maybe they don't understand the magnitude of it".

•Source: BBC

News 58

THE NATION, SATURDAY FEBRUARY 16, 2013

Delta govt, Attorney-General, others dragged to court over SSG’s function

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HE Delta State Executive Council, the governor of Delta State and the Attorney-General of the state have been dragged to a High Court at Orerokpe, Okpe Local Government Area of Delta State over the function of the Secretary to the Delta Government and to determine the validity of the Road Traffic (Amendment) Regulations, 2012 where the use of motorcycles in Delta State were regulated.

In a suit No: HOR/66/2012 filed by the counsel to the

Polycarp OROSEVWOTU, Warri claimant, Adekanmi Abayomi (Esq), against the governor of Delta State, Delta State Attorney-General and the Delta State Executive Council (1st, 2nd and 3rd defendants), the counsel to the claimant, Michael Ukusare (Esq) had challenged the defendants whether the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) is a statutory/constitutional member of the Delta State Executive Council in re-

gard to provisions of Chapter VI, Part II of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999.

In the suit, the claimant, through his counsel, had sought and urged the court to determine as follows; a declaration that the Secretary to the Delta State Government is not a statutory and constitutional member of the Delta State Executive Council or one of those permitted by any law to exercise the statutory functions of the Delta State Governor (1st defendant).

“A declaration that the Secretary to the Delta State Government is not competent to

sign the Road Traffic (Amendment) Regulations, 2012 made by the Delta State Executive Council (3rd defendant) pursuant to section 43 of the Road Traffic Law (CAP. R9), Laws of Delta State and that the Road Traffic (Amendment) Regulations, 2012, made by the 3rd defendant and signed by the Secretary to the Delta State Government is invalid, null and void.”

The counsel to the claimant Mike Ukusare (Esq), said that the Secretary to the State Government is merely an appointee of the government like every other, but not a member of the State Executive Council.

He explained that being the head of the state executive council, documents relating to decision taken by the executive council should be signed by the governor, “but now, what happened under the road traffic regulation which affects plying of motor-cycles in some areas was signed by the SSG, but we are positing that by the virtue of the fact that he is not a member of the state executive council, constitutionally he cannot sign such document.”

Counsel to the Delta State Government who is the Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice of Delta State, Mr. Charles Ajuya, said the counsel to the claimant has no locus stand to bring to court for hearing whether the Secretary to the Delta State Government can sign a document that emanated from the State Executive council.

Hope Waddell ex-principal, Ete Aye passes on at 94

•PDP National chairman Alhaji Bamanga Tukur making his speech at the grand reception in his honour. Seated and laughing heartily is Governor Amaechi with his wife, Judith.

JTF arrests suspected kidnap kingpin in Delta

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OINT Military Task Force, JTF has arrested suspected kidnappers kingpin terrorizing Ughelli and its environs in Ughelli North Local Government Area, Delta State.

The suspect who was identified as Kennedy Itoje, 37, a native of Iyede in Isoko North Local Government Area of the Delta State was arrested by men of the JTF on a routine stop and check along the East/ West road at about 6pm in his

Ben OGBEMUDIA, Benin Mazda car on the direction of Yenagoa.

It was learnt that the kidnap kingpin and his group were responsible for most of the kidnap incidents in the area, alleging that the group was said to have been responsible for the kidnap of Mrs Kate Okogu, Mrs Ighoroje, Madam Ovibi, Revd Israel Unutame

and other personalities in the area.

The Commanding Officer of the 222 battalion, Ughelli, Lt Col Attahiru Rasheed who briefed journalists on the arrest said the suspect Kennedy Itoje has been on their wanted list, adding that the JTF was out to wipe out all forms of criminality in the area in collaboration with other security agencies and the local vigilante.

Rasheed said the arrest of Kennedy Itoje would help in the arrest of other members of the notorious group, explaining that he has made some useful information that would help the JTF in the tracking down of hoodlums in the area.

On interview with newsmen, Kennedy Itoje said he was working with Daewoo, an oil servicing company as a welder before he lost his job and that he has a wife and one child.

Dickson swears-in two acting council bosses in Bayelsa

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ESSRS Akoso Napoleon and Ebikeme Okoringa were on Friday sworn in as acting chairmen of Sagbama and Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Areas of Bayelsa State.

The ceremony which was performed by Governor Seriake Dickson under the supervision of the Chief Judge, Justice Kate Abiri, was sequel to the impeachment of the former chairmen of the affected local government areas over alleged

•Warns against personalising of councils

abuse of office.

The Peoples Democratic Party, had in a statement signed by its state chairman, Sam Inokoba, accused the affected chairmen of desperate attempts to undermine the peace of the councils under their authority with the active support and collaboration of some desperate politicians and power seekers.

The statement read in part: ‘Barely two months ago, the PDP in Bayelsa State waded

into the matter concerning the three councils. We took the decision because of several disturbing reports on the refusal of the chairmen of the three local government areas to work with their respective councilors.

“As a responsible party, we at the time, decried the action of the chairmen, particularly their refusal to work with the councillors.

The party advised the chairmen to work harmoniously

with their councillors and not see their reinstatement by the Supreme Court as a call to exact vengeance.

“Sadly, rather than allow reason prevail, the said chairmen have chosen to embrace the path of self-destruction, apparently because they have long ceased to be members and dumped our great party and embraced little known Change Advocacy Party (CAP).

Former principal of the Hope Waddell Training Institute in Calabar, Ete Ukpong Aye, has passed on at 94.

Aye, a strict disciplinarian was an old student, teacher, house master, vice-principal and two-time principal of the 118-year old institution.

He was also an author of many books and a great historian of the Efik Kingdom and the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria.

According to burial arrangements by the family and made available to The Nation, Aye, would be interred on Friday, March in the school premises.

President of the Hope Waddell Old Student Association (HWOSA), Calabar Branch, Barrister Bassey Mensah, said Ete Aye, as he was fondly called, deserved a worthy burial, worthy of his contributions to the educational development of their lives individually and collectively.

Pa Aye who had his last press interview with The Nation had said: “My limbs are getting weaker and weaker. And I know that time is coming. It is coming now. Already I am getting fed up. Most of my friends don’t live again. They are all gone. You see new generations coming up here. But that one is left to God. He dictates.”

Hope Waddell, the third secondary school in Nigeria and the first established in Eastern Nigeria was established in 1895 by missionaries of the United Presbyterian Church of Scotland.

Aye retired as principal of Hope Waddell in 1986 at the age of 68. He started at the institution as a student in 1938.

Proposed ‘Oil Rivers State’: Six Akwa Ibom councils reject inclusion

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IX coastal local government areas in Akwa Ibom State have rejected their inclusion in the proposed “Oil Rivers State”.

The local government areas are Eket, Esit Eket, Onna, Mkpat Enin, Ikot Abasi and Nsit Ubium. The six councils took the position when the chiefs, accompanied by senators, House of Representatives members from the state and other major stakeholders visited the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike

Ekweremadu at the National Assembly in Abuja.

According to the leader of the delegation, His Royal Majesty, Obong E.C.D. Abia, in an executive brief presented to the Ekweremadu who also doubles as Chairman, Constitution Review Committee, “the people of the affected areas have gone through a memorandum for the creation of ‘Oil Rivers State’ out of the present Rivers, Bayelsa and Akwa Ibom States submitted to the Na-

tional Assembly dated June 2012 and we hereby declare the document as not representing the wishes of the people who make up the local governments.”

He described the document as “misleading and mischievous”, adding that the “agitators and the architects of the said memorandum employed outright falsehood and distortion to advance their demands.”

The monarch stated further that “the area of land and

wealth thereon which the people of Ibeno and Eastern Obolo Local Government who now wish to belong to the proposed Oil Rivers state, have caused to be drawn or made to form part of the proposed Oil Rivers State does not belong to Ibeno or Eastern Obolo.”

To buttress his submission, Abia chronicled past decided Judicial cases on the controversial lands, which were in favour of the six coastal local government ar-

eas.

In his remark, Senator Ike Ekweremadu assured the Akwa Ibom State delegation that issues of state creation will follow due process which will be supported by a referendum to avoid the errors of the past, emphasizing that no state will be created unless it is supported by all the local government areas involved. He commended the peaceful manner the Akwa Ibom monarch were approaching the issue.

Oshiomhole makes case for more women in politics Ben OGBEMUDIA, Benin

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OVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has advocated the active participation of Women in the democratic process of the country.

Speaking at the first memorial lecture in memory of Dr. Abel Guobadia, organised by the Women Health and Research Centre in Benin City yesterday, Oshiomhole said: “Women are more loyal voters than the men. We must make conscious efforts to encourage our women to participate, not by asking men to give them a chance because nobody gives anyone a chance.

They must struggle to find a place to engage.”

“The challenge is basically for INEC and the Federal Government to create a truly friendly environment where politics would be a battle of ideas, of brains, not of brawns, so that clean intelligent women can afford, on the basis of a well-defined platform, engage the men as to who has the clearer ideas about the developmental options and therefore create a basis for competition,” he noted.

Governor Oshiomhole spoke of the need for girl-child education, saying: “In Edo State, the girl- child has access to education; though there are difficulties. For us to fasten the pace of development and make the right level of investment that will deliver not only on the girl-child education, but also to create opportunities for those who have been so educated, then we do need to revisit the way in which our natural income is being distributed and managed.

‘Beware of who wants to be your leader’

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IEMO Onokpete, younger brother to slain Delta gubernatorial aspirant, Chief Ogbe Onokpete, has alleged that his brother’s blue print for the state and Urhobo people has been hijacked by a group, Urohobo Youth Council (UYC).

Reacting to a paid advertorial by the group, Diemo, the slain politician’s younger brother, said the group copied his brother’s developmental blueprint word for word.

Diemo who lamented that though his late brothers killers were yet to be found, he urged Urhobo people to disregard the group’s claim of fighting their cause. He said that at the appropriate time, the true agenda of his elder brother, who was killed in a mysterious circumstances will be revealed.

Against this backdrop, he implored all well-meaning people of Urhobo extraction not to be deceived by those he referred to as charlatans whose stock in trade was to shortchange the people.

Diemo, however, disclosed that plans have been concluded by family members, friends, associates and admirers of his slain brother to float a foundation, Ogbe Political Change (OPC) in memory of the fallen politician.

According to him, this foundation will among others, address the immediate and peculiar social problems of the Urhobo people and Delta State in general.

NEWS 59

THE NATION, Saturday, February 16, 2013

•A cross section of family members at the funeral service for late Janice on Thursday

•Friends and sympatisers at the Victoria Court cemetery

The Nation reporter Janice laid to rest T was emotional moments for family, friends and sympathizers, as Janice Nkoli Ifeme, Head of The Nation's Shopping Desk, was laid to rest at the Victoria Court Cemetery, Lekki-Epe Express Road, Ajah, Lagos, Thursday afternoon.

People from all walks of life had defied the Valentine's celebration to pay their last respects to 'Nneo', as she was fondly called by friends, who would have been 41 on June 26.

Family members and friends, all

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n Wale ADEPOJU n dressed in black, a reflection of the sad mood which pervaded the cemetery hall, paid glowing tributes to her.

Sympathizers came as far away as Port Harcourt, Abuja and Anambra among other states in Nigeria to pay their last respect to a woman who many said had touched many lives.

For Janice, it was indeed a celebration of life.

Staff of The Nation were at the funeral to say goodbye to their dead colleague.

In his sermon, Pastor Jesse Njoku, who flew in from Port Harcourt to officiate at the funeral, enjoined all to take solace in the almighty God for calling their loved one home.

The pastor said it was worthless to live till very old age without affecting lives positively, describing Janice as somebody who truly and positively affected her generation.

He praised Janice for touching lives, especially those of the youths that she mentored during her sojourn on earth through her nongovernmental organization, Global Winner's Network (GLOWIN).

Quoting from the Bible, he enjoined everybody to be cheerful, stressing that man should give thanks in all things as required by God in the Bible.

Her mother, Reverend Amarachukwu Chukwuemezie,

said Janice lived a selfless life, caring for others.

In his tribute, her elder brother, Kevin Chukwuemezie, said: "Janice was my 'Uncle, aunt, sister and daughter too'. Now, I've to enter this 'new future' without my benefactor."

Another sibling, Obinna said he couldn't really accept the fact that she has left the family, saying: "You lived a purpose-driven life to help people discover their potentials."

Simon Lions Club visits orphanage N 26 January 2013, Simon Lions Club visited Bales of Mercy Orphanage, Gbagada.

The Lions spent quality time with the founder of the Orphanage, Mrs Ngozi Enyi-Igbokwe and took turns carrying the lovely bundles of joy.

The Club President, Lion Lauretta Onyima commended Mrs Igbokwe for her courage and steadfastness in setting up the orphanage and nurturing the babies.

On behalf of Club members, the President presented infant formula, toiletries, diapers, baby cot

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•Continued from Back page

patriot and understood the predicament of his employers? Why did he choose to play the spoil sport?

We must learn to do things with decorum. If the coach had any grouse with his employers in terms of job security, he could have reverted to his contractual agreement and followed what is enshrined in it to the letter.

Come to think of it, is there anyone who has not received the butt of his employer even when he/she thinks he/she is doing the utmost? Is there any employer who doesn’t know his employee is dispensable? Is it strange for an irritant employer to tell his employee during review meetings that he would be sacked?

Review meetings are meant to tell the truth, for things to move smoothly.

and so many other items to the orphanage.

Responding to questions on the adoption process, Mrs Igbokwe said anybody interested in adopting a baby makes an application to the Lagos State government.

On why the babies looked so healthy and well-fed, she explained that she feeds them with quality infant formula as she fed her own biological children, backed up with good medicals and God's love.

She thanked Simon Lions Club for the love showered on the orphanage and looks to a life-long partnership with the members.

•Simon Lions Club members with Mrs Enyi-Igbokwe

Now some home truths Such meetings are done in enclosed places. So, what was the coach trying to prove by divulging what transpired between him and his employers? Immaturity? Did he not scold his players in Rwanda when they played poorly in the first half? Was that not where his brush with Taye Taiwo started? Did he take Taiwo to South Africa?

So, what makes what happened in South Africa any indecent? Or are we saying that we didn’t share some of the employer’s fears with the way the Super Eagles prosecuted its first three matches?

What the coach did in Johannesburg can be likened to this writer publicly abusing his Managing Director and then resign.

Only for my publisher to

intervene and I rescind my decision. Do I expect things to run smoothly when I return to work? No way!

Is it right for the employee to dictate to his employer what he wants? Where in the world does a coach take instructions directly from the President/Prime Minister?

Uninhibited access the president is the fastest route to failure because he has other important national issues. Is this how it is done in England, France, Germany, Spain, Holland etc? Can’t we see that the world is making jest of us?

Today, it is the NFF men that have been ridiculed.

Tomorrow, it could be the turn of the sports minister or the Director of Sports (God forbid).

The reasons why the coach

didn’t get his car, salaries and house until recently are not new to sports lovers. After all, the cash to prosecute the team’s campaign in South Africa got to them three days to the opening of the competition. Why didn’t the coach announce his resignation then?

The coach should have been asked to return to South Africa and rescind his decision. He should also have been asked apologise to the sports minister and NFF eggheads for the blackmail.

Or was it the coach’s uncanny to secure a plea bargain from the president? I dey laugh o!

Jonathan should tell the coach that football is the least of his worries. He should tell the coach to learn how to work with people. After all,

nobody dictated to him the players he took to the Africa Cup of Nations.

Mr. President sir, can the coach of England do what our coach did and be celebrated? The flipside to this question is that the English coach gets all that he needs from the government and the football association.

But the delay in providing the required cash to the NSC and the NFF came from this government’s scrutiny of both bodies’ requests ala due process. In a way, the coach has tacitly indicted the Jonathan administration for failure of leadership.

Suddenly, those who should have provided the cash for the National Sports Commission (NSC) and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) chieftains to ensure that nothing went wrong with the players and coaches were smiling at the presidential reception

organised.

All the problems associated with early preparation, which is the key to success in competitions have been swept under the carpet. The implication is that nothing will change since the disjointed arrangement prior to the Africa Cup of Nations held in South Africa fetched us the coveted trophy. But, must we continue to do the wrong things?

60

THE NATION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2013

THE NATION SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2013

61

SPORT EXTRA

Asaba Stadium named after Keshi

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ELTA State Governor E m m a n u e l Uduaghan has named the Asaba Stadium after Stephen Keshi, who led Nigeria to win a third AFCON title.

At a reception held at the Asaba International Event Centre, Uduaghan also rewarded Keshi with a sum of 8 million Naira as well as a duplex in the state capital.

Keshi’s assistants, Daniel

Amokachi, Sylavnus Okpalla, and Ike Shorunmu got 4m Naira each, while each player got 2.5m naira.

Members of the team who were old and present players of Warri Wolves’ got N5million. They are AFCON final hero Sunday Mba, Chigozie Agbim, Azuibike Egwekwe, and Nosa Igiebor.

More state governments are in line to fete the victorious team.

Osaze sacks agents after transfer fiasco

• L-R: Managing Director/Chief Executive, Guinness Nigeria PLC, Mr, Seni Adetu, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola and Super Eagle Chief Coach, Stephen Keshi during the Reception in Honour of the Super Eagles by Lagos State Government and Guiness Nigeria at Banquet Hall, Lagos House, Ikeja, Lagos. PHOTO: Olusegun Rapheal

Lagos doles out N59m to Super Eagles

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HE Lagos State government yesterday hosted the victorious Super Eagles at the Lagos House, Alausa where the State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola doled out a total of 59 million Naira to the team in appreciation of their winning the Africa Cup of Nations trophy in South Africa.

The chief coach of the team, Stephen Keshi got N2.5m; Daniel Amokachi got N2m; the four assistant coaches got N1.5m while the captain of the

By Okorie Uguru team, Joseph Yobo was rewarded with N1.5m. The other 22 players got one million naira each. The 11 back room staff got the sum of N15m, while the Nigerian Football and other Sports Supporters Club were given N4.5m naira.

Fashola, while addressing the team, congratulated them on their achievement but warned that rather than resting on its oars, the team’s success should spur it to greater heights. He

SUPER EAGLES REWARD

Kanu thanks Jonathan, Adenuga

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ORMER Super Eagles’ captain and Football Ambassador, Nwankwo Kanu, has commended President Goodluck Jonathan and Chairman of Globacom Limited, Dr Mike Adenuga Jnr for the reception and gifts showered on the Super Eagles for winning the 29th Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in South Africa.

Kanu, who was with the team from their camp in Faro, Portugal and all through the tournament, said the award of national honours, cash gifts and plots of land in Abuja to the players by the President, will serve to motivate every young Nigerian to strive to achieve success for the country. “Mr. President has, through the reward to the Super Eagles, sent a message to young Nigerians that their labour for the country will never be in vain”, noted Kanu while adding that “it will motivate others in whatever they do to try and make our country proud. I thank the President on behalf of players in Nigeria who I represent as the Football Ambassador”.

Kanu, whose charity organisation, the Kanu Heart Foundation is preparing to launch the building of a Specialist Cardiac Hospital in the country on March 14, described Dr. Adenuga as one Nigerian who is committed to empowering youths through football and his numerous businesses.

“Dr. Adenuga has consistently demonstrated his passion for youth empowerment especially through sports by always rewarding achievements of Nigerian sportsmen and women beginning with the All Africa Games in Abuja, 2003”,

remarked Kanu, who captained Nigeria to an Olympic Gold medal in football at the Centennial Olympic Games in Atlanta, 1996.

Kanu pledged to continue mentoring members of the national team especially as they prepare for the 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign in the months ahead. “I was with them in camp for the Nations Cup and followed them all through the tournament, visiting their hotel rooms and dressing room during matches to provide moral support and advice. By God’s grace, we will continue to work together and win the ticket to Brazil 2014", declared Kanu.

said: “The question to ask is what next? We have to play Kenya in a few days. Let us remind ourselves that the immediate defending champions of this tournament that we have just won, did not make it to the second round.

So, we have the Confederation Cup in June and I am going to be there with the team. Yes, we have moved from a very abysmal ranking to fourth in Africa which is not good enough, and 30th in the world, but let me remind ourself that in 1994, we used to be sixth in the world. Some people doubted that ranking then but I told anybody who cared to listen that it was a well deserved ranking and Daniel Amokachi will remember, Bulgaria that we beat in the first round played in the semi final.

Italy that eliminated us played in the finals, so it was not a fluke that we were fifth. We beat almost every team that we faced going to the world cup, but the story is now history.

The governor frowned on the interference with the duties of the head coach by some football house officials saying that the head coach of the national team should be allowed to do his job within the time frame given to him to achieve the set goals and nobody should interfere with his job. His words: “Everybody in Nigeria today is a football

expert. Let us respect those people that we have employed to do this job. If we think that they cannot do it, let us set a timeline and then change them.

I think the practice were people (officials) barge into the dressing room at half time uninvited, should stop. That is the chief coach’s domain. The 15 minutes he has with his team must be judiciously used .” he called on those in charge of administering football to come out with a roadmap that would ensure continued state, success of the Super Eagles for a long time. He said: “Some have said we have earned bragging right for two years, is that all we want? I would say we should have the bragging right for African football in the next 10 years.

Among those present at the reception for the Super Eagles were Oba Rilwanu Akiolu1, the Oba of Lagos, the deputy governor of Lagos state, Princess Adejoke Orelope Adefulire, members of the state House of Assembly and other dignitaries.

After the reception at the Lagos State Government House, the Super Eagles were driven in an open motorcade from Alausa to the Teslim Balogun Stadium. Lagosians trooped out in their hundreds to wave and catch a glimpse of the victorious team.

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IGERIA striker Osaze Odemwingie has sacked his agents he said on his Twitter account.

The 31-year-old striker was the centre of attention on transfer deadline day when mixed messages saw him drive to London believing he was due to sign for QPR. West Bromwich Albion denied a deal had been struck and manager Steve Clarke said just two weeks ago that the Nigeria international should seek new representatives.

“I have sacked my agents.

They are at my gate begging for permission to negotiate a comeback. Told them to seek

permission from authorities,” Odemwingie tweeted.

Odemwingie, who was reportedly fined two weeks’ wages for his transfer deadline madness, traveled with the West Brom squad on Monday as they beat Liverpool in an English Premier League fixture, but watched the game from the stands.

• Osaze

Oscar to remain in custody

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SCAR PISTORIUS’ murder case was postponed to February 19 in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court, after a highly charged first appearance on Friday.

He will stay in police custody at the Brooklyn police station until his appearance on Tuesday.

With jaws clenched, Pistorius heard the State intended pursuing a case of premeditated murder against him, following the shooting of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp at his home on Valentine’s Day. “Is the State’s argument premeditated murder?” asked magistrate Desmond Nair.

“Yes,” said prosecutor advocate Gerrie Nel. The postponement was granted to allow the defence time for further preparation, and to properly categorise the charge against him in terms of the Criminal Procedure Act

(CPA).

The celebrity paralympian walked into the packed courtroom wearing a dark suit, and began crying when Nair greeted him. Nair asked him to be calm and he sat down.

He is expected to bring a bail application next week.

There is also expected to be clarity on whether the crime he is charged with falls under Sections five or six of the CPA. In terms of Section five, dealing with “serious” offences, the accused may only be granted bail if he produces evidence to satisfy the court that the interests of justice permit the release.

Section six deals with “extremely serious” crime and requires exceptional circumstances for bail to be granted.

As Pistorius walked out of the dock, his father Henke reached out to him.

Pistorius was just walked on, teary-eyed. -

‘Oriental Derby’ opens new NPL season

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PL runners-up Enugu Rangers will host six-time champions Enyimba in another ‘Oriental Derby’ to open the league on Saturday, March 9.

This followed the NPL draw in Abuja on Friday afternoon.

In other opening week fixtures, defending champions Kano Pillars will start their title defence away at Wikki Tourists, while there is the Ilorin derby involving ABS and kwara United on Sunday.

The league will now be played as a regular season after the clubs rejected an abridged league proposal of the interim management board of the league led by Nduka Irabor.

The chairmen of the clubs turned down the interim committee’s plan to have the 2012/2013 season abridged because of the late kick-off.

The meeting between both parties delayed the draw for about four hours.

One of the club bosses argued that Nigeria is an African country, so the league ought to follow the CAF calendar and not that of Europe.

“We want a full season and regular season, not an abridged league that the board want because I don’t see any reason why we have to follow the European football

calendar and not the CAF calendar,” he said.

NPL WEEK 1 FIXTURES Rangers Vs Enyimba Heartland vs Nembe City Nasarawa Utd vs El Kanemi Akwa United vs Dolphin Sharks vs W/Wolves Wikki vs Kano Pillars Sunshine vs Kaduna United Bayelsa United vs Lobi Stars 3SCvs Gombe United ABS FC vs Kwara United

Uzoenyi seals Rennes deal

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IGERIA international, Ejike Uzoenyi has sealed a deal to join French side, Rennes.

The 24-year-old winger completed the move following an impressive outing with Nigeria at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa.

Uzoenyi who confirmed the news on Thursday, explained that he would be jetting off to

France very shortly.

“Yes, I have sealed the deal to join Rennes. I am very pleased with this because it is the dream of every Nigerian player to move to Europe. I hope to take my career to the next level,” he told supersport.com.

He will now join another Nigerian, Onyekachi Apam at Rennes.

Uzoenyi has made 11 appearances for Nigeria.

• Olympic and Paralympic star Pistorius, with Steenkamp (left) who was shot dead

THE NATION SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2013

62

SPORT EXTRA

Mikel, Moses can lift Chelsea—Benitez

NFF shelves plans for foreign director

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HE return of African Nations Cup heroes, John Obi Mikel and Victor Moses will add an extra input to Chelsea’s squad for the last three months of the season, interim manager Rafael Benitez said on Friday.

The Nigerian pair, who helped their country beat Burkina Faso 1-0 in last weekend’s Nations Cup final in Johannesburg, could be recalled by the European champions for Sunday’s FA Cup fourth-round replay at home to third tier Brentford.

“It’s important to have happy and confident players around... and they have

brought that confidence and belief back with them,” Benitez told the club website (www.chelseafc.com).

“Both of them progressed as individuals through the tournament. Obi has more experience and you could expect good (midfield) performances from him but Victor is just coming through and I could see he has grown and improved.

“To be so influential is a great achievement for Victor,” added Benitez of the winger Chelsea signed from fellow Premier League side Wigan Athletic at the start of the season.

The Londoners also welcome striker Demba Ba and utility player David Luiz back to the squad after they missed Thursday’s 1-0 Europa League win at Sparta Prague.

Chelsea were much the better team in the Czech Republic and the scoreline should have been

more emphatic, said Benitez.

“We have been practising finishing today,” added the Spaniard. “We had three or four counter attacks where we could have done better so we have to watch and practise and hopefully we will improve.”

Brentford came close to

causing an upset in the original tie at Griffin Park and Chelsea needed a late goal from Fernando Torres to escape with a 2-2 draw. The winners will travel to second tier Middlesbrough in the quarterfinals.

Heartland lists 18 new players

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AF Confederation Cup campaigners, Heartland have registered 18 new players for the 2012/13 Nigeria Premier League (NPL) season and continental assignment.

The new recruits will complement 15 old players retained by the Owerri-based side.

Leading the pack of the new players Flying Eagles and Sharks’ forward, Bright Ejike, Lobi Stars’ forward, David Tyavkase, Rangers’ goalkeeper, Ebele Obi, 2012 Federation Cup highest goalscorer and Prime FC striker, Akoh Isah, Divine Warriors’ striker, Andrew Nwordu, among others.

Heartland coach, Nduka Ndubuisi said the new players were carefully selected to meet the target and aspirations of the team in the coming season.

“We have 18 new players to complement the 15 old players we retained for the league and continental assignment and it is our sincere believe they’ll justify their calling.

“We’ve set our agenda for the year and we’ll be relying on the players to achieve the targets.

“Of course, expectations on us are very high to perform

far better than we did previously and we have no reason to fail,” the former Plateau United gaffer said to supersport.com.

Ndubuisi welcomed the new date for the league insisting it will give the teams ample time to prepare adequately.

“The March 9 new date for the kickoff of the league is okay. At least, let everybody get ready for the league,” he said.

Full list of the new intakes Nelson Ogbonnaya - Abia Warriors Onyewuchi Onyechefule Gombe United Andrew Nwordu - Divine Warriors Eddy Ongolo - Divine Warriors Akoh Isah - Prime FC Gideon Julius - PH City Academy Yao Hassan - ABS Amarachi Ukaegbu - Divine Warriors Prince Aggrea - Bendel Insurance Vincent Amakom - Lagos Happy Akuoka - Padoski FC Ebele Obi - Enugu Rangers Ebere Okoro - Zimba FC Odiche Ebere - Pakat FC Longinus Duru - Dolphins Emeka Duru - Divine Warriors David Tyavkase - Lobi Stars Bright Ejike - Sharks

Kenneth Omeruo starts training with Ado Den Haag on Monday

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UPER EAGLES’ central defender Kenneth Omeruo will not play against SC Heerenveen on

• Omeruo

Sunday in the Dutch championship, writes omroepwest.nl.

The teenager, who was part of Nigeria’s African Cup of Nations squad, is still in Abuja celebrating the country’s triumph at the tournament in South Africa. All things being equal, he will practice with his teammates this coming Monday for the first time since January.

In all likelihood, Dion Malone will replace Omeruo at right back.

The Nigeria international has started 16 games for ADO Den Haag this season.

Highly respected Italian journalist Malu ‘Mpasinkatu, writing for Tuttomercatweb, named Kenneth Omeruo in his Afcon Team of the Tournament.

Other Nigerian players that made the list include Vincent Enyeama, Godfrey Oboabona, Obi Mikel and Emmanuel Emenike.

HE Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has announced that it has no plans to contract a foreign technical director for the national teams.

Reports had it that the NFF had on Thursday announced “that there was no going back on its plan to hire a foreign technical director for the national teams.”

The NFF has now denied the reports stating that the federation had no such plans at the moment.

“There is nothing like that. The NFF has no such plans at least not at this moment,” Executive committee member of the NFF, Chris Green told supersport.com on Thursday.

Green said the federation was doing all within its power to see that Nigerian football becomes a global brand.

“The federation is concerned with making the Super Eagles and Nigerian football a big brand in world football.

‘We are champions of Africa and we must build on this success. The Super Eagles and Nigerian football will be put on the window as we try to make it a brand,” he said.

Confed Cup: Winner to earn $4.1m in June

• Ahmed Musa

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Ahmed Musa: I’m not in a hurry to move UPER EAGLES’ player, From Kolade Adeyemi, to England Ahmed Musa has said Kano

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that he is not in a hurry to play professional football in England, insisting that Instead his allegiance is still with CSKA Moscow Football club in Russia.

Musa, who was sighted at the Kano State Government House yesterday in his bid to secure audience with the Kano State Governor, Rabiu Musa

Kwankwaso, could not materialize, as the governor was said to be away in London.

Musa, fondly called speedboat by his numerous fans said: “I have the intention of playing professional football in London but for now, I am waiting for my time and if the

Baloyi: Keshi’s style will bring IGERIA coach success Stephen Keshi

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continues to receive praises from different quarters for leading the Super Eagles, complete with six home-based players and 17 debutants to win a third Africa Cup of Nations trophy in South Africa.

Former Bafana Bafana goalkeeper Brian Baloyi has added his voice saying that local coaches must toe Keshi’s line to succeed in their jobs and to grow the game on the continent.

“Keshi was obviously a big factor in Nigeria’s success in South Africa,” Baloyi revealed on Football411.

Keshi has had stints coaching Togo and Mali and he famously qualified Togo for the 2006 Fifa World Cup. “He proved himself coaching smaller nations in West Africa, so it was only a matter of time before he achieved success with his own country.”

And as Keshi has continued to emphasise that he has nothing against foreign coaches but that those employed should be tested ones, Baloyi added that local coaches definitely hold the edge against their foreign

counterparts because they better understand the terrain better.

“African coaches often have the edge over their European counterparts as they better understand the politics of the country, but more importantly can truly relate to the culture.

“Football is not about the biggest personalities or egos, but rather camaraderie and team work. Keshi rallied his soldiers and got them fighting for each other,” he concluded.

Keshi became the second person to win the Nations Cup, both as a player and now as a coach.

opportunity comes, I will not hesitate to play professional football in England.”

The CSKA striker, who hails from Jos, Plateau State told this Reporter in an exclusive chat in Kano yesterday that any club in England that signifies interest in me; I will not hesitate to grab such an opportunity.

“For now, the season has not ended, all I want is to concentrate on my team, the CSKA in Moscow because since I joined the club, my skills have been improving tremendously and as such, my loyalty still remains with my club.”

Musa said that the lifting of the Nation’s Cup by the Super Eagles in South Africa is basically on the determination of the players, who exhibited one love and hard work, which motivated them in winning the trophy.

According to him, our courage and belief in God and our selves despite earlier criticism inspired us to emerge as the African Champions after 19 years.

OTAL prize money at the FIFA Confederations Cup Brazil 2013 will be up 14 per cent compared to the last edition in South Africa in 2009. In total a prize money of $20m USD will be shared among the eight participating nations.

As well as the considerable standing that comes with winning the Festival of Champions, which features the best sides from each continent, the victorious team in the June 30 final at the Maracana will take home a cool $4.1m. The runners-up, meanwhile, will receive $3.6m.

At the match for third place that same day in Salvador, a podium finish will not be the only thing up for grabs. The winner of that fixture will pick up $3m USD while the team finishing fourth will go home with $2.5m USD. Teams eliminated during the group stage and finishing fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth will each receive $1.7m USD. At the 2009 edition of the FIFA Confederations Cup, the total prize money was $17.6m USD million, with champions Brazil picking up $3.75m USD along with the coveted trophy.

Following Nigeria’s coronation at the 2013 CAF Africa Cup of Nations last weekend, the line-up for this year’s Festival of Champions is now complete. Joining the Africa champions in Brazil this June will be Spain, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Tahiti, Uruguay as well as the hosts.

Martins scores after penalty miss

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IGERIAN striker Obafemi Martins made up for a penalty miss to be among the scorers as Levante beat Olympiacos 3-0 in the UEFA Europa League.

‘Obagoal’, as Martins is called, missed from the penalty spot, but he redeemed himself by hitting the target in the 56th minute, when he latched on to Barkero’s long ball to lob it over Olympiacos goalie Megyeri to make it 3-0 for the

Valencia-based team.Martins denied himself a brace for missing a penalty kick for Levante after Abdoun fouled Pedro Lopez in the box.

Pedro Ríos, José Barkero and Obafemi Martins subdued 10man Olympiacos in Valencia.

Martins hailed his club’s fans after the big home win.

“Buzzing after the victory...thanks everyone... I had to quickly tweet after the game! #EuropaLeague”

Martins tweeted.

“Have got the best fans in the world... U motivate me to do more...I’m grateful to u all...”

• Martins

63

THE NATION SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2013

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE

Equities lose N26b as market closes negative

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 15-02-13

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HE equities market closed last week on the negative with a 0.25 per cent decline in market value of quoted companies. The All Share Index (ASI), the main index at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), slipped from 33,342.02 points to 33,258.45 points, while aggregate market value of all equities dropped from N10.668 trillion to N10.642 trillion.

Dangote Cement led the decliners with a loss of N2 to close at N145. Lafarge Wapco Cement Nigeria followed with a dip of N1.50 to close at N69. Cadbury Nigeria lost N1.29 to close at N37.28. Total Nigeria dropped by N1 to close at N137.01, while Guinness Nigeria lost 90 kobo to close at N290.

On the upside, Nestle Nigeria topped the gainers’ list with a gain of N5.08 to close at N835.23. GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Nigeria gathered N2.62 to close at N55.09.

Unilever Nigeria trailed with addition of N2.50 to close at N49.50. Nigerian Breweries added N1.99 to close at N163.99 while NCR rose by 79 kobo to close at N16.75 per share.

Total turnover stood at 529.52 million shares worth N4.61 billion in 6,541 deals.

Banking subsector was the most active with 228.30 mil-

•Honeywell Flour grows sales by 18%

By Taofik Salako

lion shares valued at N2.79 billion in 2,361 deals. Guaranty Trust Bank was the most active stock with turnover of 62.58 million shares worth N1.56 billion in 361 deals.

Meanwhile, Honeywell Flour Mills Plc grew sales by 18 per cent in the third quarter as the flour-milling company braced tough operating challenges to improve on its performance outlook.

Interim report and accounts of the company for the ninemonth period ended December 31, 2012 showed that turnover increased to N33.04 billion as against N27.95 billion recorded in comparable period of 2011.

Despite significant input cost pressure, Honeywell Flour recorded strong growth in all its product categories.

The company recorded a profit before tax of N2.54 billion as against N2.52 billion in corresponding period of previous year while profit after tax improved from N1.71 billion to N1.72 billion.

Commenting on the performance, executive vice-chairman and chief executive officer, Honeywell Flour Mills Plc, Mr Babatunde Odunayo said the company has continued to invest heavily in mar-

keting to support its brands and this investment has in the short term had an anticipated impact on margins.

According to him, the high wheat prices at the international commodity markets and increased marketing spend impacted the bottomline. He however, said that the company would see the benefit of the current brand marketing initiatives in future sales growth and improved profitability.

“We are increasing the investments in our brands to ensure that we continue to satisfy our customers’ needs in terms of quality, affordability and accessibility of our portfolio of Honeywell branded food products,” Odunayo said.

He noted that the company had in the last quarter completed its capacity expansion project, taking its installed milling capacity from 1,610 metric tonnes per day to 2,600 metric tonnes per day with the installation of state-ofthe-art production facilities at its Tin Can Port, Apapa location.

According to him, with the coming on stream of this additional production capacity for its flour, semolina and wheat meal brands, turnover is expected to increase considerably in the next quarter.

Honeywell Flour’s recent capital investments resulted in a 32 per cent increase in total assets from N45.4 billion as at December 31, 2011 to N60 billion as at December 31, 2012.

NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 15-02-13

TOMORROWPUNCHLINE IN THE NATION

However, now that Keshi has withdrawn his resignation, time and only time will tell whether he acted right by so doing SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2013 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM VOL.7, NO. 2404

—Tunji Adegboyega

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T was the great economist, Joseph Schumpeter, who observed that the indi vidual caught up in a crowd tends to drop to a lower level of mental performance as the herd instinct takes over. Following Nigeria's unexpected victory at the last Orange African Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2013, the country has become one huge crowd of cheering fans of the Super Eagles. It has been quite comic watching members of the Federal Executive Council, Governors, legislators, business moguls, oil subsidy rogues, pensions thieves, armed robbers, kidnappers, jobless victims of the Nigerian system and all sorts of characters all shouting themselves hoarse in applause of the soccer heroes of the moment. All of a sudden, the boys and their handlers are being described in superlative terms. After 19 long years, they are said to have restored Nigeria's glory as kings of African soccer. While I enjoyed the matches I watched during the tournament, I have resolutely refused to join the maddening crowd - and with no apologies. Was this truly a deserved victory; a feat we really planned hard, organized efficiently and worked systematically to achieve? I think the 'gods' have only conspired once again to give us an undeserved short term 'goodluck' triumph, which will have long term negative consequences in sports and other spheres of national endeavour.

Of course, this is to take nothing away from Coach Stephen Keshi, who did the best he could to produce positive results in difficult circumstances. I am sure that not even the one time Captain of the all-conquering 1994 Eagles Squad was confident of attaining this level of success given the level of our preparations compared to other participating countries. For over two decades, we allowed our sports facilities, including major stadia across the country, to deteriorate abysmally.

Virtually all youth and schools competitions, through which new talents were spotted and developed, were abandoned. The once vigorous local football league that supported a vibrant, ever soaring Super Eagles national team became a huge joke. Just as an oil-producing country, we embarrassingly export crude oil only to import the refined commodity thus creating a huge 'fuel subsidy' scam, we export local football talents to better organised foreign leagues and import the refined 'products' to play for an externally dependent national team. Yes, kudos to Keshi for his courage in injecting six players into the victorious 2013 Super Eagles Squad. But there is no doubt that those lucky players will soon be on their way out of bondage to a mediocre local league that offers them little or no future. The system is thoroughly broken. It will take more than the current illusory euphoria to fix it.

During the last London Olympics, Nigeria achieved the superlative feat of not winning a single medal. It was at the Paralympic games that what some perceived as the dented reputation of the country was somewhat salvaged. Of course, I did not join the

Champions Africa needs

‘

Dear Nigerians, wake up from this dream today! Let us strive to be African champions in good governance, transparency, healthcare, education, science, technology, accountability and infrastructure. That is true championship!

•President Jonathan bandwagon of competitors who lamented our barren performance at the Olympics.

Rather, I was miffed that a poverty stricken country like ours could have expended close to $2 billion in participating in an event that is of little practical significance to the living conditions of the vast majority of our people.

What would we have lost if we had simply sat at home and expended our time, energy and resources on issues of more crucial significance to a country in the suffocating grip of pathetic underdevelopment? What the hell does it matter whether or not Nigeria is football champion of Africa? Will that status of dubious value feed millions of our hungry compatriots, create jobs for the teeming unemployed, fix our dilapidated infrastructure or save the lives of those who die from easily curable diseases as a result of a health sector that has practically collapsed?

African champions my foot!

I seriously think that African countries must seriously re-think their sports policies to reflect both the abject living conditions of their people and their own fragile position in the political economy of global sports competitions. I do not want to be mistaken.

Sports and other forms of leisure play a cru-

’

cial role in human life. They help promote physical fitness and emotional wholeness for individuals and groups. Sports can help channel the energies and talents of youths creatively and nurture healthy bonding in communities. But focussing expenditures on thousands of functional sports facilities to serve the recreational needs of communities makes infinitely more sense than erecting difficult to maintain multi-billion dollar structures with the aim of hosting meaningless mega-competitions for the financial benefit of global sports associations like FIFA and their global corporate collaborators.

Commenting on the perhaps unintended consequences of spectator sports like soccer in our contemporary world, Professor Noam Chomsky stresses their tendency "to divert people," to "get them away from things that matter," to "reduce their capacity to think".

From this standpoint, sports is for him an example of the indoctrination system, something to pay attention to that's of no importance, which keeps people from worrying about things that matter to their lives that they might have some chance to do something about".

Just imagine someone describing the Su-

per Eagles AFCON Cup victory as "an achievement of the Jonathan administration!"

This is both diversionary and illusionary. I remember the euphoria that gripped Greece when that country unexpectedly won the European Cup in 2004. The 2004 Athens Olympics also contributed significantly to the country's latter economic meltdown. Today, Greece is one of the fiscal basket cases in Europe. Let no one deceive us. Global Sports supremacy is no path to meaningful national greatness. It is a luxury that can be indulged later when a country has got the vast majority of its citizens out of the horrible pit of poverty. When South Africa was bidding to host the 2010 World Cup, for instance, former President Thabo Mbeki said, "The basis of South Africa's bid was a resolve to ensure that the 21st century unfolds as a century of growth and development in Africa…We want to ensure that one day, historians will reflect upon the 2010 World Cup as a moment when Africa stood tall and resolutely turned the tide on centuries of poverty and conflict…"

Can you imagine such utter nonsense? Reflecting on the 2010 World Cup, Professor Patrick Bond of the University of KwazuluNatal noted that nine host cities across South Africa built 'white elephant' stadiums at a cost of above $400 million. This amount of money, he said would have covered home upgrades for 100,000 homeless people in each of these cities! Yet, none of these stadia can consistently fill their stands at events today. To add insult to injury, FIFA refused to allow the Kwa Zulu-Natal provincial government to use its original World Cup logo, which had 'KwazuluNata'l added to 2010 FIFA World Cup. That right to use the World Cup branding and display their logos was reserved for six FIFA- accredited corporate giants - Adidas, Sony, Visa, Emirates, Coca Cola and HyundaKia Motors- at a cost of $125 million each.

As part of the marketing strategy, the 2010 World Cup in South Africa was dubbed the People's World Cup. Yet, as another study of the event notes "…with an unemployment rate estimated between a low of 27% (including hunting of wild animals and begging as employment) and a high of 40% (including those who have given up looking for a job) and with many in employment earning around $150 or less a month, it is difficult to imagine many celebrating the game by actually going to the stadium". I cite these as examples to show the illusion of global sports as routes to true greatness. Dear Nigerians, wake up from this dream today! Let us strive to be African champions in good governance, transparency, healthcare, education, science, technology, accountability and infrastructure.

That is true championship! The President of France visited Mali the other day and was welcomed by the masses as their saviour because of that country's decisive action against extremists in Northern Mali. Let this illusory celebration of emptiness in Nigeria stop today. Re-colonization of Africa beckons - dangerously.

Ade Ojeikere on Saturday talk2adeojeikere@yahoo.com

Now some home truths

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T’S almost one week since Nigeria clinched the diadem at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations. The nation has been agog with celebrations and - rightly so. The players and the coaches are smiling to the banks.

Now is the time for some home truths.

The praise singers are gone. So are the emergency patriots flashing toothy smiles, fake prophets struggling to be part of the success and erratic officials singing victory songs.

Can’s we see that the world is sneering at us? How could we be celebrating a feat achieved after 19 years, with our players wearing Adidas track suits at a presidential dinner? Will the English, French, Germans, Spaniards and Italians have such lavish ceremonies with their players wearing attires that give visibility to a foreign firm? What happened to our national attires for? Where is our foresight? We knew after the Cote d’Ivoire match that we stood a chance of lift-

ing the trophy, giving what the other three semi-finalists had shown in previous games.

Would it have been out of place for the Super Eagles to enter South Africa in our one of our national attires before the competition began? If they did, it would have been easier for the tailors to cut out the ceremonial dresses for the Tuesday night show.

Would anyone blame those who organised Tuesday’s ceremonies when such events are meant to enrich a few people?

It was quite disgusting watching our heroes arrive in the country in a commercial airline. This can only happen in Nigeria because leaders have refused to copy what they see in other civilised climes. Such pictures are monuments which countries keep in their archives to celebrate events, such as what we have next year, when we will be marking our Centenary.

When the Spaniards retained the European Cup, they returned home in their national carrier. They wore smart fitting suits that

typified the European culture. Not so for us.

Anything goes.

Is anyone, therefore, shocked by the team’s chief coach’s grandstanding, which painted us an unserious country? What was it that he needed that couldn’t wait until he returned to the country? If he didn’t trust his employers’ promises, couldn’t he have trusted one of the continent’s richest men to give him $200,000, provide a car and house for him? Has this man of honour not fulfilled his pledge to him and the players? Did he think he was embarrassing his employers and not the country? Are his employers not representatives of the government? Why do we like to wash our dirty linen in the public?

What the coach did in South Africa was cheap blackmail because the Sports Minister was there. If he was angry, he could have resolved the matter with him without this show-of-shame. It smacks of utter disrespect for constituted authority by the coach to an-

nounce his resignation on a radio show in South Africa. Put simply, it was a slap on our President’s face for dishonouring his representative (the Sports Minister). Was it not the minister who resolved the matter?

This shameful act has been swept under the carpet in the euphoria of celebration. It shouldn’t shock us next time if our sport ambassadors throw punches outside the country to settle domestic matters. Can a minister announce his resignation in that manner and we send emissaries to intervene?

We are jesters; otherwise, how could a high officer in government condescend to the level of begging a coach to rescind a decision he first disclosed to a foreign medium?

It shows that such a person is not busy. Is anyone surprised that Nigeria is a huge joke?

What was it the coach was complaining about, many have asked, that we didn’t know already? Did he not say that he was a

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