Sun News- October 20, 2012

Saturday People OCTOBER 20, 2012

17

CHARLES OPUTA

Don’t ask me whether I’m bisexual or not.

It’s nobody’s business

•Turn to pg 18

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SATURDAY SUN

October 20, 2012

Saturday People

‘I thought my father didn’t like me’

By EMERSON GOBERT, JR.

concerned on my behalf; so that was the reservation initially, but when he saw how things were moving; how I was making a success out of what I was doing, it won his respect.

A

ce musician, Charles Oputa, aka Charly Boy, is seen from different perspectives. Some see him as a maverick. Others see him as an activist. Yet others see him as a crusader. However, nobody will deny the fact that he has become a phenomenon in the country.

In this interview, Oputa talked about his life, why he will remain youthful and a boy.

What inspired you into music?

I won’t really call myself a musician. I’m not a musician. I don’t know anything about music. I always say that, but as a young person, I was a prank star. I liked to mess different gaps. I’ve always been a mind person.

I like to mess with people’s brains and minds because even as young as I was in those days, I realised that some people were much ignorant; very backwards and it always tickled me to smell people’s ignorance, so I wanted to be in a profession where I could express my craziness and weirdness. The entertainment sector was just what suited me, so I used that as a medium.

At first, it was because of my father’s looming shadow; because I wanted to run away from that; I wanted to carve my own niche. I wanted to be more famous than my father. I wanted to have my own identity and I just figured that the entertainment thing would be the quickest and the fastest way and it worked out just the way I thought of it.

Tell us about your childhood I had an interesting childhood, funfilled. I remember there was always a lot of love around between me and my siblings and I also remember I was the odd person out because while my other siblings wanted to do everything mummy and daddy said we should do, I was the one who wanted to try something different. As I was growing up, I figured quickly that everybody wanted to please my father, not that I didn’t want to please my father, but I wanted to discover things for myself. I wanted to find other ways and then there is a lot in my background that prepared me for the person I’ve become because we were encouraged to be ourselves. We were encouraged to sit with elders, even though we didn’t know what the heck the conversation or the talk was all about so that gave me my confidence quite early in life. So my fond memory of my childhood is that it was very pleasant; it was very playful. I was given some kind of allowance to express myself. I was always getting into trouble but I guess that’s normal for healthy-growing children.

What would you say was the greatest parental influence on you?

The values I picked up from my parents?

In the beginning, I always heard, like a chorus, like a famous song that was sung in our house in those days: “Remember who you are”,” Remember who you are”,” Don’t let anybody down, you must know who you are”, “Man know yourself.” So that was constantly a sing-song in the house and I guess that was what made my other siblings very cautious – tip toeing around my parents, especially my father, who, like the Sergeant Major in the house and those words didn’t mean a damn thing to me at that time. It was like wondering, okay, what’s the big deal about who I am? And as I’ve always said, if you trace your history, it’s either there is something you want to run away from that is in your background, that is in your early life or something you want to run towards. I’ve found out that all my rebellion against my father, especially in those days, was because I had an overdose of morality principles, character – all those hard values. My father used to be a principal. He was a teacher, a great disciplinarian.

At the time, I thought he really didn’t like me. He singled me out because I was such a naughty kid, but I’ve later come to realise that he was giving us all the ingredients we needed for our adult life and as I’ll always say, an apple does not fall too far from the tree.

Which schools did you attend?

I went to many schools. I can’t remember all of them now, but mostly, my nursery, elementary, secondary education were all in Nigeria and then of course, I travelled abroad. I went to Suffoulk University in Boston, Massachusetts. I did a diploma in Harvard University. I went to Emerson College. I thank my father for putting me through the best schools in the world and

What’s your assessment of the music industry in Nigeria?

Like everything, like governance, like leadership, everything has crumbled, collapsed, deteriorated. The rot stinks, it’s all over.

As PMAN president, you fought piracy seriously. How successful would you say those fights were?

Success is a continuous thing and I’m not Jesus Christ, so if you’ve done your best and there is nobody to take up the fight… because as soon as people start getting old, the young people come to replace them with bright ideas, with new ways so if you start a thing and there is nobody to follow through, then it dies and that’s what has happened.

•Charly Boy and wife that took some doing on his meager salary as a Supreme Court judge. As you know, he didn’t have any other business and he was never a fraudulent person. He didn’t take bribe, so his salary was so meager. I don’t know how he trained all of us in school. For to that, I am very grateful.

What pulled you back to Nigeria?

I couldn’t just take the racism in America.

I experienced it. I was beaten black and blue on three occasions. I should have been dead really. I don’t know why God has left me alive. One of the assaults on my person at that time, my offence was that I was sandwiched between two white girls. One was the mother of my son, Sylvester and the sister and then a bunch of white people just stopped. This was, I think, in 1979. I was in downtown Boston when this happened. We were just taking an evening stroll with my baby’s mother and the sister and then out of nowhere, a convertible pulled up with about 10 kids in the car and they all jumped out with baseball bats. It was Nigger this, Nigger that; spitting on me; poking me with the baseball bats. Of course, the girls ran away, I think to get help; to call the police. It was like a rehearsal thing and they could have had a gun they could have shot me or they could have hit me on the head with the baseball bats and that could have been lights out and I was actually waiting for that and the thought that was running in my head was “okay, so I’m going to come to America and die on the street.” I don’t like all the racial undertones that were going on there.

In school, they used to ask me where I learnt how to speak English. It was like I was half human and meanwhile in Nigeria, a lot of white people used to come to my father’s house, so it didn’t make sense that just because I’m in America, I’m a lesser person because I’m black. So I only spent five years in America and I came back and I’ve been in Nigeria ever since then; so my time away from Nigeria actually was just five years. I went to just get my education and my university degree. That’s all I took from America and my independence because it was in America that I felt liberated, I felt my own person and my confidence was reinforced but the racism, I didn’t like.

What informed your punk status?

I was just looking for something to shock timid, myopic, Mongo Parkish, backward Nigerians out of their very myopic way of thinking. That’s what informed that. I was looking for something crazy; something out of the ordinary.

Apparently, your father wasn’t happy with that. What did you do to change his mind?

Consistency. Tenacity. Focus. Hard work got his respect. He knew I wasn’t going to change. I’ve never changed, but he was a little bit unsettled, just because, as parents, parents always want to see their children settled in life, do well, have a good job, be able to take care of themselves and he didn’t think that the entertainment world could offer me that; so like dutiful parents, he was

Talking about copyright matters, you seem to have a grouse with COSON. Why? Because in Nigeria, negative things become the norm. In Nigeria, negative ideas take the hold as the norm. In Nigeria, even people who have impoverished the masses; people who have so much wronged, grossly robbed the youths of their future, I see them roaming around. Those are the people who are being hailed. Those are the people who are doing well. Our priority has been misplaced. We are living in a system of anything goes and lawlessness; so when I see things that ought not to be and people are making a big deal out of it, then we have serious issues. I’ve never recognised COSON as a collecting body, but here it is not about whether I do recognise them or I don’t recognise them. I know that in Nigeria today, it is only negativism that is thriving and all the good and exceptional people are docking for cover because they cannot deal with the intrigues and the shenanigans of the fraudsters. It is not possible.

How’s your magazine doing?

It is not doing well. I’ve folded up. I’ve moved on to other things – better things.

Which better things have you moved on to?

In my house, I have a nickname. They call me Mr. Tranquility; so I’ve been able to resolve myself with my environment and

•Continued on Page 19

SATURDAY SUN

October 20, 2012

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Saturday People •Continued from Page 18 I’m in a place where I’m unshakable, I’m untouchable, I’m calm, I’m peaceful. I will forever remain youthful because I’ve discovered things that give me the greatest pleasure and have convinced me that I’m now living my life on purpose; what God has really meant for me to do and that is to mentor, liberate and to give hope to young people who are frustrated and have come to a crossroad in their lives because of the harsh brutality of their environment, the lack of leadership, the lack of role model and I’m substituting that role. So that is what keeps me fulfilled now and that is what I’ve been doing.

‘I’m an inspiriation to youth’

You move from one project another.

What has happened to Zoom Time, which brought you so much fame?

That’s the bane of pioneers. You start something, people follow, they copy. As a pacesetter, a trendsetter, you need to find something else that is unique for you to come up with so other people can follow. So I’m at a stage where I’m perfecting, finalizing, as I did Charly Boy Show for 13 years, did Zoom Time for 10 years, I think I’ve had enough so I got to re-invent or discover other things.

You just talked about God. Who is God to you?

God is the reason we are all here. God is the reason the sun comes out and the moon comes out at night – why you have night and day; why you have evolution and all of that and all of that, but before God and because we are all made in the image and likeness of God, before God, there is man that we know, that we see and it is for man to have dominion over himself; over his strength and weaknesses and for man to be disciplined in a way because God has put everything that we need on earth and really, there is no need for man to be acting like scavengers because, as he says in the Bible, the bird that is flying around, they don’t know how the next food comes, but they feed and so it is for us to discover ourselves and our purpose and the gift that God has given each and everyone of us and until we do that, we cannot live our lives purposefully and calmly like I’ve discovered.

You live in Abuja while your wife lives in Lagos. How do you handle that?

My wife does not live in Lagos. My wife lives in Abuja over the past two years or even three years. We live in Abuja. I have a home in Lagos, even though I choose to stay here in a hotel. I have a home in the village, so in Nigeria, anywhere I crash, anywhere that light leads me is my home really. So all these you live in Abuja, you live in Lagos, you live in the village, it doesn’t make sense to me. It’s like you are saying that I should not live in the North because I’m not from the North. I should not live in Lagos because I’m not from Lagos. May be, I should go and live in Cameroun.

People say you like pulling stunts to draw attention to yourself. How true is this?

Well, I said the image was created to shock myopic, timid, Mungo Parkish people out of their way of thinking so maybe those people are myopic, timid and ignorant but a masquerade cannot reveal the source of his power. Check out all the people I started with. Do you hear about them again?

They’ve all fizzled out, but I’m still around, as old as I am. I’m still relevant in the scheme of things and I ain’t going nowhere in the next 40 years. If you say I’m an attention seeker, okay-o! I’m just living my life and I’m excitedly happy. Somebody asked me, what is the biggest most profound thing you’ve done for yourself? I said, just being myself and a lot of you people out there cannot be yourself. Ninety-five percent of Nigerians are fake people. I’m the real McCoy so like it or not, I’m in your face. If you don’t like it, look elsewhere. If you

•Charly Boy and wife don’t want to hear it, close your ears.

How’s your book, My Private Part doing in the market so far?

That book is 10 years old now. I no dey think about the book again. I don do that one, e don pass. Talk about the future.

People say you are weird and controversial. How do you feel about such perception?

I don’t care. People can say anything.

They can think anything. What I know is that I’m having the greatest fun of my life and it is only a tree, which bears fruit that people hit on. If there was nothing to write home about, then people should stop talking about Charly Boy, but there is a whole lot of write-ups about Charly Boy because I’ve become an inspiration to many Nigerian youths to show them that even in the face of this rot, there used to be a character called Charly Boy, who from nowhere came and was able, by dint of his hard work, his tremendous focus, his consistency, his tenacity was able to carve a niche for himself when nobody believed in what he had to sell. That’s an inspiration to a lot of young people, that as long as they look inwards, they will find and be connected to that gift from God and they should not play with it.

You once engaged in nudity. Don’t you think that was grossly immoral?

One man’s meat is another man’s poison, they say. One man’s ceiling is another man’s mirror. I’m not in your all time frame. You call it nudity, I call it discipline and for a 61year-old man to look like that takes a lot of hard work; so if you ask an artist what he thinks about the so-called nude picture, he will tell you it is artistic. He sees arts in it. If you ask Deeper Life person (are you one?) what do they see? They will say immorality. If you ask fetish people what they see?

They will say, kai, this guy is possessed by the devil, so what I do was left for people’s interpretation. That’s their business. My own is to keep doing what makes me happy. I

don’t drink. I’ve stopped smoking. I don’t womanise. I don’t screw around. You think it’s easy. I’ve been married to one wife for 36 years. Some pastors cannot last two years. You think it’s easy to live with one woman for 36 years? You’ve heard all the stars, everybody, they are having problems with their marriages. Have you heard me and my wife have problem? You think it’s easy? No, it is not easy, so where you see nudity, I see discipline.

Do you have any regrets about your lifestyle?

God forbid! God has given me the confidence. God has given me the artistic expression. God has given me the future. There is nothing I regret. At worst, I say okay, well, I have a few unpleasant experiences that have emboldened me to become the person that I am. My lifestyle is so perfect and to a lot of people, it’s fantasy. It’s for Hollywood. They can’t even come close. They would like to live that kind of lifestyle and that’s why I look the way I look. Even when I’m seventy something, I’ll still be like this because my lifestyle is that of a little kid and that is why “Boy” cannot be removed from my name because all what I do is youthful; it’s fun, it’s laid-back,; it’s from the heart and it’s God’s gift.

Recently, there was a rumour of you heading a cult in Nigeria and of course, you refuted it. Why would people say that if you are not?

People say a lot of things that are not.

Whoever sees anything, it is from where they stand. I’ve explained this before. If you are a fetish person, if you look at me, you think I’m a juju man. If you are a Deeper Life, if you look at me, you say I’m a personification of immorality or I’ve come to corrupt young people. I still say that we have a whole lot of ignorant people. They say I’m the head of Illuminati in Africa.

What is Illuminati? Nobody even knows.

The people who are asking me the question cannot define what Illuminati is. They say

they don’t know, but yet they say it is a cult that gives money. Then why are they writing application to me that they want to join the cult? The same people who will come and ask me question, say God forbid, are you this?

They have also said that you are bisexual. What’s the truth in this?

I leave it open-ended. Think what you like. I can be, I cannot be. I look like, I don’t like. It’s subject to where your mind is, that’s where you should go, but I think my sexuality is my personal business. It is nobody’s business.

What’s your relationship with hard drugs?

No, you can’t look like this if you are doing drugs. If you are an advocate of hard drugs, you can’t look like me. Even cigarette, I’ve given up. Even booze I have stopped. I don’t touch alcohol. I never did.

That one was something I never picked up anywhere. I don’t fornicate. I don’t chase women. That one, I don’t do. It is a question of principle and those who know me will tell you so and not to talk about hard drugs when I don’t even drink. I don’t smoke cigarette. So hard drug is hard and it is not for a soft person like me. It will kill me. I’m too smart for that.

If you should have a second chance at life, would you like to adopt a different lifestyle?

God forbid! I love this lifestyle. This is who I am. This is who I’ll always be and there’s no difference between me and my father, except that my father did his own on the bench with his judgment. He brought in history, religion. It wasn’t just all about law.

His judgments were like poetry. I’m doing my own with my lifestyle. My lifestyle is like fantasy. It’s a lot of people’s fantasy.

They would love to live my life because my life is glamorous. I’ve lived a charmed life and a lot of frustrated… even those ones who feel that they have money all envy my lifestyle.

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SATURDAY SUN

October 20, 2012

Saturday People I was handed over to Ayo Babalola just Towards a as Samuel was handed to Eli in the Bible Peaceful

By DURO ADESEKO

S

tories about the life and times of the founder and first General Evangelist of the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Apostle Joseph Ayo Babalola, are still unfolding. In the past, many books were written about how he got the call and how he started the church together with other eminent Nigerians.

In this interview, leader of the “houseboys” in Babalola’s large house in Efon Alaaye at that time, Mr. Joel Aladesoun, gives a first hand account of the daily routine of a man who is today regarded as a legend of Pentecostal movement in Nigeria.

Aladesoun, 75, said his mother handed him over to Babalola, just as Samuel in the Bible was handed over to Eli. He disclosed that Babalola was uncle to former governor of Ogun State, Aremo Olusegun Osoba, adding that he personally sponsored Osoba and himself to school.

Aladesoun also spoke on how the pastor died and was buried three days later in 1959.

–Aladesoun, Babalola’s houseboy

What was your experience with •Aladesoun Apostle Ayo Babalola, the founder of Christ Apostolic Church (CAC)?

It was wonderful. He was humane and I lived with him as his son. I was born and humble. Members of the church wanted to brought up in CAC. My father died 14 days buy him a car, but he refused because he said after I started school in 1945 at St Peters, Owo. So, when Apostle Joseph Ayo Babalola he wanted only the kit car. visited Owo not long after, my mother told What is kit car? him that my father died on a Sunday in a These are lorries used to carry load. That wonderful way. We came to the church and was what he wanted. That was what he used on our way home he died. My mother had until his death. There were pastors under him lost four children after birth. She decided to using cars, but he said he wanted the kit car join CAC so that I can survive as her only that can take some of us who were students. son. That was why my mother informed Students of religion at the time were called Apostle Babalola that my father was dead and that I was unable to continue my educa- Tule. That was how he used to convey us around and about. I should also say that tion.

Apostle Babalola also trained Segun Osoba, the former governor of Ogun State. He was What did Apostle Babalola do?

He directed the elders to allow me to go to Osoba’s uncle. Osoba’s mother is the immeschool free of charge. This directive was car- diate younger sister to Babalola. ried out. But on getting to Standard Three, What was his day like? What time do you the elders of the church said they would not wake up in the morning? allow people to go to schools owned by the We used to wake up at 5 am. Most of the church, for free any more. They insisted that time, he would have travelled. But when he everybody must pay. Somehow, God interwas at home, he would conduct the early vened for me. My mother was able to pay Morning Prayer. because we found money on the road while on our way home. I was driven away from How many of you lived with him? school because I could not pay my school We were many. We were up to 10 or 15 fees and my mother did not have any money living with him. The last President of CAC, to pay. She asked my uncle’s wife to sell Elijah who has just retired also lived with some chickens to raise money, but she refused. The following morning, my mother him. I was the leader of all the houseboys.

There were people older than me but there and I were going to the farm to fetch some was nothing anybody could do about it cocoa yam and food to take back home. I then saw a parcel on the ground and I pushed because Mama appointed me. it. My mother picked it up and while I was Do you mean his wife? looking for 10shillings, there was 10 pounds Yes, his wife. in the parcel. That was how God sent me back to school.

Can you remember her name?

When I finished my Standard Six in 1954, No. I can’t.

Apostle Babalola came to Owo again and my mother gave me to him, as Samuel was What was his day like? given to Eli in the Bible. Apostle Babalola He travelled a lot. And if he wanted any of took me home. He then lived at Efon Alaaye, us or some of us to go with him, we went in present day Ekiti State. When we got with him. there, other schools had taken students for fresh academic year, but I was fortunate that What did the houseboys do?

by February 1, 1955, Secondary Modern We had to cook and prepare food for all School had started all over Western Region. other visitors. People of different status used At Efon Alaaye, there was a secondary to visit Apostle Babalola. We clean the house school and I was offered admission and Apostle Babalola paid my school fees until I too. graduated on December 3,1957. That was You supervised all houseboys? how he paid my fees.

Yes. I supervise all, including those that cooked the food we ate. That was how I got What was it like to live with Apostle my own discipline.

Babalola?

How did you separate from Apostle Babalola?

That was immediately after I finished my education. When I passed out, Apostle Babalola directed me to meet Pastor Majaiyegbe in Akure.

There was a CAC office in Pastor Majaiyebe’s place. He controlled the regional pastors. Then, I ran away after sometimes.

Why did you run away?

I wanted a job in which I would be paid salary.

Are you saying that the CAC did not pay salary?

I did not earn a kobo at the church.

For how long were you there?

I think I was there for about six months.

So, how did you feed yourself?

They prepared food. Pastor Majaiyegbe gave me food, as it was done at Apostle Babalola’s place.

What job did you do after running away?

I got a teaching job at Owo. I was posted out to Isuada, a town near Owo. I was there for more than a year.

What was Babalola’s reaction when he learnt you ran away?

He didn’t quarrel with me. That was in 1959.

Is that not the year he died?

That was the year he died.

How did you hear about his death?

It was announced on radio. I wept bitterly that it was the end of my life.

How did Babalola die?

He left for Ede near Osogbo, where women were doing their convention. He preached the morning sermon and he went to bed in the afternoon and he didn’t wake up.

He was running temperature and he didn’t wake up. You know members of CAC don’t go to hospital and they did not invite doctors to examine him.

Was he buried immediately?

I think he was buried three days later and he was still running temperature. Mama (Babalola’s mother) told them not to bury him and that he would wake up again. They didn’t believe her. That was how Baba was buried.

Is it true that he used to cure people with prayers?

Those who wanted him to pray for them and those who wanted one favour or another used to surround him all the time. That was how CAC started. It was the refusal to use medicine that separated us from the Apostolic Church in 1942. Our practice was not to use medicine or go for medical treatment.

How many children did he leave behind?

He had three daughters. One was born before Baba was called to service.

So all his children are not from one woman?

No. They are not from one woman. Baba had that child before he got married to his wife from Ilesa. His wife was an Ijesa woman.

Living (Vol. 3)

By Josiah Bonire 07055822097 jjbonire@yahoo.com

Critical thoughts on Behaviour (Section Five): Chapter Five

Expectations 2367. Where there is freedom, a man does what makes him happy. That is why freedom may continue to allow all sorts of behaviours, civilization notwithstanding.

2368. Applause of the audience makes happy and bold. That is why there can be joy and contentment even in gatherings of fools over foolishness.

2369. A man’s ambitions decide his disappointments.

2370. The force that drives a man towards good behaviour is the fear of consequences.

2371. To hope to please man is futile. He knows not exactly what he wants.

2372. So long as there is ambition, there can’t be stability in man’s behaviour.

Ambition is a thing of the invisible future, whose path is therefore unclear.

2373. Antarctic or near the equator, where a man lives is his domicile. There he exhibits his basic self which little respects geography.

Causes of unrest 2374. Speculations and warnings don’t make the enemy visible. They therefore create fear and worry more than the real combats with real and visible enemies.

2375. Often, its what the day brings that decide and direct a man’s thoughts.

2376. Since no man sees or knows exactly what is to come, people keep quarreling with themselves over the events they did not foresee.

2377. When not in anger, only few actually mean to behave to hurt others. Problem lies often in the inability of many to know what would hurt others.

2378. Poor knowledge or poor concern for what is to come is why people use the present carelessly.

2379. Classes exist only where there are alternatives. The man that knows no alternative does not get sad on what he has.

2380. Some people forget that a mountain at a distance can be small looking. So they ignore problems that can kill them until they are too close and large to handle.

2381. Foolish pride desires to live at the level of its imaginations and therefore finds reality unacceptable.

2382. Pride begets audacity, which sees caution as stupidity and foolishness.

2383. Pride expects no opposition. All forces, weak or strong, must bow to it.

2384. The proud man thinks he is all-capable and therefore needs no god.

2385. People so often quarrel because of ignorance of what the one has in his mind for the other, since language is sometimes insufficient to express the mind.

2386. Don’t expect two people not to quarrel occasionally. Each mind is absorbed in trying to solve its own problems. When two minds emerge from different states to meet, they do so as strangers and therefore disagree.

2387. Most angers of a man arise from his comparison of himself with other people.

2388. A man whose joy lies in the size and newness of what he has will be greedy and covetous.

SATURDAY SUN

EW My encounter

October 20, 2012

21

EVERY WOMAN

with robbers

- Ruth Ituha Kadiri, actress, producer

By NKECHI CHIMA-ONYELE nk4caleb@yahoo.com

E

do State-born actress, Ruth Ituha Kadiri recently joined the league of producers with the production of her new flick, Matters Arising, which is yet to be released into the market. Recently, Saturday Sun engaged her in an interview during the shooting of a movie on location in Lagos where she spoke on her career, growing up experiences and other interesting issues.

Could you tell us about your background?

I was born in Benin, Edo State, but bred at Ogbenwankwo Street, Ajegunle in Ajeromi Ifelodun Local Government Area, Lagos State. I attended Word of Faith College, founded by the late Bishop Idahosa.When we relocated to Lagos, I enrolled at First Foundation College. I also studied Business Administration at Yaba College of Technology and later bagged a degree in Mass Communication from University of Lagos.

Would you recount your childhood days?

I grew up in a normal family way. We

Continued on Page 22

FASHION POLITICS ENTERTAINMENT SOCIETY &LIFESTYLE

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SATURDAY SUN

October 20, 2012

EW

EVERY WOMAN

‘Growing up in Ajegunle never affected my life’ Continued from Page 21 are two female children. I am the eldest and we were loved by our parents. In fact, they gave us love and pampered us as children.

Did you ever wish you had a brother?

I don’t know what it feels like having a brother, since my mother didn’t give birth to a male child. But I appreciate my male friends, who properly make up the space of a brother in my life, with the brotherly love they always showered on me.

How did your father choose the name, Kadiri?

I don’t have any knowledge how my surname originated. But we are not from a Muslim background. I am from a Christian home but he bears Kadiri.

Why didn’t you work as a journalist, since you are a mass communication graduate?

My passion for entertainment drove me into the movie industry. I have been acting even as an undergraduate. So, I will humbly say that I started my acting career right from school. I did not abandon my journalism profession. I practise journalism as a script writer.

Which movie would you say brought you to limelight?

The movie, Sincerity, in which I played the role of a pregnant teenage girl, is actually the one that brought me to limelight. In the movie, I was denied by the man who impregnated me, and because I was abandoned by my father in that movie, I was left with the decision of either aborting the baby and regain my father’s love, or having the baby and then pass through life the hard way.

There are so many lessons to learn from the movie, especially for our teenage girls who engage themselves in early relationship without caring about the danger that surrounds it.

was just taking my time to study the production aspect, before I could invest. It was not easy. I used to sit in my car on locations, while shooting, waiting to be called for my scene. I had to stand throughout the production period. Normally, as a producer, you are the strength of the production. So, I needed that strength even when I had so much challenges, in order not to break down. However, I appreciate all the casts for their supports and I thank God for the success of the production.

Would you say you have made success?

I am an award-winning script writer. One of the movies I wrote, Heart of a Fighter, won an award last year. I also got acceptance from people as one of the recognised actresses in Nollywood, which indeed is an achievement in my career.

What lessons did you learn from the movie, Face Book Babes?

It is a story about two sisters who were living in a ghetto, struggling to survive and later had the opportunity to make money.

Thereafter, greed took over them and it got to a point where you have seen poverty so much and you don’t want to go back to it.

So, I don’t believe that people change because they have made money, but I think the character traits are already in them. I also think that money changes people, though there are part of them that you just refuse to see. The movie also states that love is not all about money. If you want someone to be part of your life, you have to take that person for who he is, and love him for who he is.

You wrote the script, Face Book Babes, how did you get your inspiration?

I got inspired by my mood, feelings and everything in writing scripts. The story was supposed to be about greedy friends who were trying to get rich. But the Ajegunle part was missing in the movie. So, after reading the script, I rewrote the story to enable people to know the cause of their greed.

Would you recount the movies you have featured in?

They are Wild and Dirty, Battle for Pride, Face Book Babies, Black Berry Babies Season 2 and Heart of a Fighter, among others.

What is your take on the murder of Cynthia Okogwu who was killed through facebook connection?

Frankly, I don’t know the details of Cynthia’s story. But my character in that movie didn’t even know the white man that she was going to meet. What if he had killed Which movie would you say is most chal- her? You saw what I did to the white man in lenging? the movie, where I stole his money. Though, It is Face Book Babes where I played the I wouldn’t sit down here to judge anyone, role of a local bus conductor and a razz girl. because I don’t know how it started, but it’s It was challenging to make people believe in so sad that she lost her life in the process. I my ability as an actress, and as well interam also using this medium to send my conprete the role during casting process. It was a dolence to her family. May God give them bit difficult because people were afraid of my the fortitude to bear the loss. I also underlook, they believed that I am an aje butter stood she was a very hardworking lady, not and I can’t act as a ghetto girl because of my minding her rich background. It is a very sad baby face. But it was an opportunity to prove story. that I am a very versatile actress. In fact, I also love that movie because of ghetto life What would you tell young ladies that style which reminds me of my days in indulge in facebook activities that could be Ajegunle though we had the best upbringing. harmful?

That we have distinguished ourselves in our They should be individual careers doesn’t mean that we very careful should forget our background. So, I actually because it is speak pidgin English like every other person. sometimes risky. The Were you born with silver spoon as peoworld is ple think? getting No! Though people mistake me to be aje more danbutter because of my look. Rather, I was gerous, born like every other person. Growing up in though Ajegunle doesn’t mean all the people living it there are hooligans or low life individuals.

My parents didn’t allow the lifestyle of the community to influence us, rather they gave us quality training like every responsible children should have. And I appreciate God for the level I have attained in the movie industry as a script writer, actress and a producer. In fact, it is worth celebrating.

Is Matters Arising the first movie you have produced?

I have always nurtured the idea from the beginning as an actress to produce a movie. I

Kadiri

Kadiri

depends on what you are doing on facebook.

People meet friends as well as find love on facebook, but you have to be careful because pictures are deceitful. You must be in company of someone, when meeting someone you don’t know for the first time for security purpose. This is important, because you can never predict what would be the outcome of your meeting.

ing for a new apartment where our security will be guaranteed.

What would you do for money?

I cannot have sex for money. Why will I have sex for money? Nevertheless, I don’t blame people who do it. I have a job even though my business crashes. I have knowledge for script writing. So, I can never indulge in that.

So, who is Ruth Kadiri?

I am what you see. I am not someone who wants to suppress my emotions and feelings except I am acting. When I realize that I have offended someone, I don’t relent in tendering apologies, just as I have done some minutes ago with my director on set.

Meanwhile, I have an adviser who I take all my issues to for advice. Of course, anybody can look at me from a distance and give whatever assessment they feel about me.

Have you had close shave with death?

I was robbed two months ago at gun point in my house. It wasn’t funny at all. It was a terrible experience which I don’t ever wish my enemy to undergo. However, I thank God that nobody was raped or wounded but they collected the N150,000 which I was paid for a job I did on location that very day.

They also made away with my jewellery and lap top. It really broke my heart because all the scripts I wrote for my clients were on it. They also collected my phone which I just replaced and as a result, I lost some contacts.

My parents also lost their valuables to the robbers.

How were you able to recover from the shock?

I have not recovered from the shock. I hardly sleep at home these days, because of fear of the unknown. But I have plans of relocating, after my movie production. I thank God it is over. I am now look-

People say you are very rude, arrogant and proud. What can you say about it?

You might see life differently from my own point of view, but it doesn’t define who I am. So, people are free to make their opinions.

Who is your ideal man?

I want a man whom God has made for me. I have never tested marriage, so I wouldn’t be in any position to tell you about it. But I think he should be someone whom I should be compatible with. He must be my friend and understand me too.

Have you ever been in love?

I have been in love. I don’t want to talk about it, because it is my personal life.

Were you heartbroken?

I don’t want to believe it was heartbreak, because when a relationship doesn’t work out, it is good you understand it at an early stage.

Who is your boyfriend?

I know it is the next question you will ask me. The day I bring wedding invitation to you, you are free to announce it to the world.

SATURDAY SUN

EW

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EVERY WOMAN

Rock the coloured denim style

By VIVIAN ONYEBUKWA vvnchinyere@yahoo.com

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lue jeans may be the most famous and traditional kind, but denim can be interesting if you mix it up with colour. Whether it’s a statement red, sandy neutrals, clays and rust tones or an earthy, autumnal tone, coloured jeans are a worthwhile investment for your casual wardrobe.

Colour is everywhere! Dare to go bold and amp up your fashion this season. Coloured denim is flattering and as versatile as blue jeans.

Eva Longoria

October 20, 2012

Mitchelle Obama

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SATURDAY SUN October 20, 2012

EW

EVERY WOMAN

RADIANT LIFE with

Nigeria’s fashion industry has long way to go

Evang. FEMI OLAOLUWA

08056158736, 08022556887 radiantlife40@yahoo.com

w.w.w. radiantencounterfemi.blogspot.com

Marriage partner as great influence Text: 1 Corinthians 15:33 he above scripture reveals that bad company corrupt good manners. And since Iruobe marriage is the closest of all human relationships, you certainly have to be careful about whom you get yoked with. King Ahab went down in history as one of the worst kings in Israel because of his wife, Jezebel (1Kings21: 25. Another example is King Solomon. His 1000 women turned his heart away from the LORD whom he had so personally experienced. (1 Kings 11:3-6).

If you decide to make a wrong choice of a life partner, it will become more difficult for you to stay in His will after wedding because you will be influenced by your partner. Marital influence is so strong and pervading that it impacts on your eternal destiny.

Your partner will make it easier or harder for you to get to heaven or hell!

Note: Every couple tends to look like one another, speak in the same way and like the same things with the passage of time.

Therefore, you must marry the person who will exert godly influence over your life. Marriage is for life. God designed marriage to last a lifetime. (Matthew 19 5-6).

For prayer and counselling, call him on 0703418 3333, 08080929292 Dr James Iruobe is the General Overseer of El-Shaddai Covenant Ministries Social Club Road, Off Charity Road, New Oko-Oba, Abule-Egba, Lagos. E-mail: elshaddaicov@yahoo.com.

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–Naomi, fashion designer

Robbers of destiny Text: Deuteronomy 1: 6-7 omfort zone and procrastinations are two major robbers of destiny. Comfort zone is a state where one feels comfortable in whatever situation due to a measure of success. It could also be as a result of when one enjoys some level of influence within his geographical location. Comfort zone may make one to return to the status quo.

And so whenever you see someone in the comfort zone, they always have one excuse or other to back up their failures. There was an initial steady journey toward Canaan land until they came to Horeb.

The same Lord God who spoke to the children of Israel

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to move on is asking me to tell you to refuse every limitation and local championship mentality.

Procrastination has

Jimmy robbed many of noble

ideas, great inventions and landmark, achievements. For others, procrastination has led to much irreparable los, even death. The world and mankind in general have been denied numerous blessings by the singular act of this thief.

For prayer and counselling, call Bishop Prophet Jimmy Ebolo on 0805 315 8186, 08033052639. He is the General Overseer of Elohim Evangelical Church, Ebolo Street, off Atatunroi Bus stop, lba New Site, Lagos. E-mail: elohimchurch2000@yahoo.com

100 Must-watch Christian films series movies, Once Dramatic music interesting Upon a Time and Destiny for Sale video from Another heart-touching and popular soundtrack from My EVOM movies

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his is compilation of dramatic video performance of selected sound tracts opens with one of EVOM Yoruba popular movies, Oto Gee (It is Enough) where the host of darkness that causes misfortunes in believers’ lives is warned to keep off. This is followed by sound tracts from

Conclusion where the principal actor in the movie in spite of all trials, positive conclusion of the principal character about God which of course leads to uncommon miracles.

It is compiled

by Evang Mike Shoola Agboola (08035812330) and produced

by EVOM Singers (Music Arm of EVOM World Network).

Call or SMS Evang Femi Olaoluwa (08056158736) for RADIANT prayeroutreach supports,Christian films,Drama Tracts and information to publish your Christian message in The SUN

By VERA WISDOM-BASSEY (veraokezie@yahoo.com

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aomi Kofoworola Keshinro is a Londonbased fashion consultant and the Creative Director of KonaSignature who visited the country to organise a model/desgining show for University of Lagos tagged, UNILAG Fashion Week as a fashion designer. Keshinro studied at Newham College Fashion School in England and London College of Fashion, which qualified her to be a fashion consultant.

Keshinro discovered her passion for fashion during her days at the university where she studied Business Administration. She was a style icon during her days in school as she was known for her style, colour combination and good appearance.

In her quest to stand out from the crowd, she began designing her own garments by working with local tailors to create styles missing from her wardrobe as an undergraduate. She knew what she wanted, what was missing in her wardrobe and could bring her ideas to life.

Her desires for fashion and creativity grew by the day but Naomi couldn’t cut a fabric, neither could she sew and was an awful illustrator. This propelled her to study fashion to learn the basics and nitty-gritty of the industry to become a better designer.

Naomi while doing her consultancy work discovered the gap in cutting edge work wear.

What really inspired you to organise the catwalk show?

I really want to bring my brand down here to Nigeria and launch it as a fashion designer, and we really want to come in doing fashion shows. I don’t want a fashion show that will be I alone, but wanted to bring in other designers in the country into it. So, we decided to talk to designers. We spoke to the authorities of University of Lagos, who allowed us to collaborate with their students.

Lagos State is a big state, and moreso, we want it centred in the state, and want to work with a credible brand.

We don’t just want anybody in the fashion week,

because we are very passionate about the finishing job.

We also want something they could do and at the end of the day, the contestants will have a law book which they could sell to the international market, and to be able to achieve this, you need to really give what is acceptable in the international markets. When we talk about the finishing as to be better, a lot of our tailors and designers still work on free hand. They just get the fabric, put the papers and start cutting. They feel it is easier to do, but there is no way you can get perfect designs. That is why when you see some dresses, the tip is not folded the way it should because they didn’t work with patterns. They just get on papers and that cannot sell anywhere in the world, but only here in Nigeria. If you really want to make money out of it, it is not “my friend is calling me, I want to make a design for her, please, could you make me a dress”. That is not where the money is. Rather, the money is when you have a global name, where collection is, spend money on advertising, put them on the streets where buyers have ordered for the collections, which go into the stores and people pick them up. By so doing, they might end up selling 1,000 pieces of that cloth, which means being able to sell in bulk and to outside world is where the money is.

Why did you decide to pick on the youth for this fashion show?

I didn’t pick on the youth; it is because of the theme, Unilag Fashion Week and the number of people that we need were found among them. After going through their profile, we found out that a lot of them have been doing this for several years, even some of them have been to fashion school, graduated, even taught others.

Some of them are fashion designers and teachers, yet the clothes they make are nothing to write home about.

Actually, I don’t know how such a person graduated from fashion school not to talk of being a teacher of fashion and still have that quality of works. These are the things they need to know, and we can’t really blame them because it is not what they know, but what they have been taught and the custom they have used. That is why we want to do something different. We don’t want to go with the crowd.

What awaits these designers after the competition?

SATURDAY SUN

EW

October 20, 2012

25

EVERY WOMAN

familytonic with Osondu Anyalechi oanyaalechi@yahoo.co.uk

Re: Couple decides to remarry 50 years after divorce

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Naomi

The winners will go to London for the London Fashion Week next year. They will win a prize of up to two million. It will not be given to them all in cash, but will be invested in their business, in building their website, all marketing posters that they need, in building a client base, and we trying to develop their business. Next time is going to be bigger and better.

Do you think that our designers, who have made names, have been doing it right?

Honestly speaking, some of them that I’ve seen some of their works are doing well, but with what I’ve seen today, it is not too good.

We have problem of finishing. When you see a good job, the finishing is impeccable just like what is made abroad. With what fashion has brought to us today, there is a long way to go in Nigeria.

What will the law book contain?

It will contain finished products, professionals foreign sheets that have been done, descriptions of the designs with spread sheet that have

been used so that the buyers may not see the designs but have every information they want about the designs, such as the cuts and the details. All these will be captured on pictures and we send it to them.

The law book is the professional quality sheet done with quality fabric sketches and send to buyers to make a decision of the designs of clothes they want.

Why did you decide to promote African wears?

I actually want to do something that will benefit others from where I am coming from.

We see a lot of creativity in African fabrics now. For me, you need to know what to work with, not just doing the same thing as before, something different must be done in our fashion/designing. If you cut clothes at the wrong place, it doesn’t come out right. There are people who are doing contemporary fabrics.

You need to think on what you are doing before you put your hands on paper before cutting to make these dresses.

hen the late Chief Justice of Lagos State, Justice Adefarasin, who was also a Director of Youths For Christ International, would tell divorced couples in his court that though, by the Law of Lagos State, they had been divorced but before God they were still husband and wife, he meant his words concerning the immutability of marriage. A divorced couple in New York is just proving that.

Lena Henderson and Roland Davis were joined as a couple when they were in their teens. The marriage produced four children before they were estranged, leading to divorce in 1964. Now at 85 years, they are set to remarry. They have a testimony that during the 48 years of separation, none of them ever said anything offensive concerning the other. That relationship without sniping at each other was not broken even when Davis remarried. At the death of his wife, the new relationship developed.

My attitude about life changed much after the Nigerian Civil War. A few months after, on my way from Enugu, where I had gone to fill the Federal Government University Scholarship form, I met Ozurumba, my schoolmate at Uzuakoli Teacher Training College. We trekked from Okigwe to Isuikwuato.

Hunger drove us to one of the batchers belonging to the Nigerian soldiers, where we requested for food. We were obliged. Could I have imagined a few weeks before that day that I would ever do that? Imagine a war I lost my two nephews living with me and also my three cousins! I doubt if there is any marriage crisis greater than the loss various individuals suffered because of that war. But the good news is that one day, it ended and soldiers from both sides hugged themselves. In the same manner, should we encourage all crisis, especially marriage, to end even where the couples have divorced.

Lena and Davis will not sit down now going into the memory lane, apportioning blames. They will forget the past and start on a clean slate. They will rather key-in to General Gowan’s No victor, no vanquished declaration. Two Thousand years before that declaration, Dr. Luke had, in his Epistle, recorded the story the Lord Jesus told about The Prodigal son. He ‘divorced’ his family and went to a far country. Thinking that he was matured to manage his life and the huge amount of money he collected from his dad, he realized his error when he faced the reality of life. Shoving pride aside, he returned home to the waiting arm of his dad! Initiating reconciliation may not be all that easy because of pride, but it has to be made by a partner, not really the guilty one, but the one who loves peace. It is necessary to point out that his or her partner, who may seem to be nonchalant concerning it, secretly needs it.

In one of my books, My Prodigal Husband Returns, it was after 20 years Uncle had abandoned his wife and children. His false equation was that his wife’s Chief Bridesmaid, he had preferred to his wife, would give him his expected comfort. What he received was unexpected wahala. Replacing his new mistress with his sister-in-law was no reprieve, especially when the young lady was born-again. Uncle hung on the air uncomfortably for long. It was pain, through his car accident, that opened a door at the end of the day for his return home to the waiting embrace of his wife and children. Unknown to him, his doctor-friend and father-in-the Lord was no other person than his son, who was a toddler when he decided to follow his shadow.

The beauty of God is that there is always a room to reconcile, no matter the gravity of the offence. Adam failed God, disobeyed Him flagrantly but He, the God of mercy, had always been there, pouring love to him, providing the best for him. When He noticed Adam’s loneliness, He gave him Eve as wife. He made Adam, who was the last in His creation, the lord of His creatures in order to make him comfortable. It was Satan, the one that comes to steal from him and to kill and destroy, that Adam gave his loyalty. That was how man was ‘divorced’ from God. One day, God made reconciliation with him and it cost Him much - the life of His only Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.

It can only be appropriated by people who accept Him as Lord and Saviour.

When Davis proposed to Lena for a remarriage, had Lena turned down the offer or maintained a neutral stance, it would be of no use. Praise God that she accepted it with gladness. This is what God expects us, on individual basis, to do and accept His Son as Lord and personal Saviour. This is the only way we will benefit from that sacrifice. Any other thing is a neutral stance!

Lena and Davis have thrown a challenge to all estranged couples, friends, family members, colleagues, et cetera. It is doubtful if we have outstanding cases as long as theirs – 48 years! If, after goofing to the right and to the left and they still see the need to come together again, whatever confessions of love they expressed to each other during their first marriage must certainly be real.

As we appreciate these ‘young’ lovers, we have every reason to thank God Who has kept them alive till this ripe age of 85. How many people ever celebrate their 85th birthday? I strongly suspect that it is not only for their mutual benefit that God has made them come together once again but to serve as an encouragement to any estranged couple. If you are in that shoe, do not ignore this great stride coming from an estranged couple. God has kept this exemplary couple so that you will do likewise!

For further comment, please contact Osondu Anyalechi on 0802 3002471;anyalechiosondu@yahoo.com

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SATURDAY SUN

October 20, 2012

Natural medicine, my experience (12)

BY PAUL TORTY

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am so grateful to God for His mercies and love. His inspiration for the things we do cannot be quantified. At the beginning of last year, we decided that we were going to advance by installing medical laboratory testing machines. Recently, we have just opened a medical laboratory office in Ikeja, Lagos State which has started functioning. We will carry out full medical diagnoses and treatment of health disorders. It was not an easy task considering the limited financial strength, but God helped us, when in April last year we started by opening the same medical diagnoses in Idimu, Ikotun area of Lagos State.Our vision is speaking and coming to pass daily to the glory of God. We decided to open different offices functioning as medical diagnoses centres as this is helping us in our work. And today, we have started our journey, a giant stride in our practice of natural medicine to the glory of God. Early this year, we started by informing our readers and patients that we are going to redefine natural medicine practice by installing standard acceptable laboratory testing machines so that we can practise natural medicine like the way it is done in the developed world like the U.S, England, and Canada and I am happy that we are achieving that feat. Natural medicine is not a practice for mediocrities. It is a practice where nature meets science. Today, I am happy to say and to the glory of God that we have installed in our Lagos offices, an E.C.G machine for investigation of heart conditions, we have installed ultrasound machines for investigation of the state of the womb whether there is fibroid, ovarian masss or cysts. Ultrasound also helps us to check if a woman is fertilile and ovulating properly.

Ultrasound also helps us to check the state of the prostate, kidney, liver, spleen, bladder, etc. Ultrasound machine is very essential to know how the baby is developing in the womb. Ultrasound machine is, therefore, essesential and useful for the man and woman.

Other laboratory machines now available in our medical laboratory are microscope, spectrophotoemeter, laboratory incubator machines, Genotype machines, etc. These machines help us to investigate whether a patient is suffering from any STDs, such as staphylococcus, streptecoccus, ecoli and other bacteria which may later lead to infer-

tility.The spectrophotometer machine also helps us to check for the kidney and liver functions. We have set a pace in natural medicine. To the glory of God, we have these machines in our Lagos idimu ikotun and Ikeja branches. And hope to introduce same in Port Harcourt, Abuja and Enugu branches soonest by the grace of God. But for now one can access our herbal remedies for diverse diseases and infections from any of our branches in Port Harcourt, Abuja, Enugu and Lagos. We have just opened an office in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. But if you are outside Lagos and have already conducted these tests, then you can place order for our herbal remedies as well. Of course, we have had several testimonies of men and women having long term fertility problems who took our herbs and eventually had children.

PROSTATE PROBLEMS: In the recent time, men battling with urination problems,such as inability to urinate, excess urination in the night hours are signs of prostate problems. In the U.S, research by Prostate Society of the United State of America says Prostate is the second cancer killer problem. And therefore we have had tremendous result in prostate treatment. I advocate that men in their 40s and above should come for prostate scan. Prostate condition which is not discovered on time can eventually lead to prostate cancer. We have a foundation called the The Saints Medical Foundation which is presently advancing a course for healthy prostate because all over the world, men in their 40s and above are dying from this problem.

STAPHYLOCCOCUS, INFERTILITY AND STDs: I have noted severally that there are three major specie of staphylococcus as follows:Staphylococcus epidermidis which attacks the skin). Staphylococcus saprophyticus which attacks the urinary tract leading to biting and painful sensation in the urinary tract.) While staph aureus is the immune crasher or immune destroyer which attacks every tissue of the body such as the lung, thereby leading to pulmonary and respiratory condition the result being difficult breathing and cough condition. Staphylococcus attacks the brain leading to menigitis (a brain infection) and most times result to brain acess leading to occasional forgetfulness. I also noted that staphylococcus attacks the muscles leading to joints and muscular pains. Staph attacks the sperm thereby leading to azospermia and oligospermia a condition of low sperm count or no sperm cells at all. Staphylococcus causes homonal changes in women as it leads to suppressed menses, irregular menstruation or no menses at all (amenorhea). Call Dr Torty on 08037140368, 08051625888, 08083860575.

OFFICE: 41 Awolowo Way, Afariogun Junction, Ikeja, Lagos.We also have offices in Abuja, Port Harcourt and Enugu and Uyo. Dr. Torty is the publisher of Maximum Health Link magazine in lagos and the CEO of The Saints Herbals and The Saints Medical Foundation, Lagos.

Our offices are: Lagos office: Ariket Plaza , Alake Bus Stop, Suite 12, last floor, Idimu; Aishetu Emeowa Plaza, off Lonlo Bus Stop, Iju; 41, Awolowo Way by Ecobank, Opp. Ipodo Market, Ikeja.

Abuja: 268, Ado Bayero Block, Garki 2, Ultramodern New Market, Abuja.

Enugu: Shop B2, Ifesinachi Plaza, by Ogbete Main Market, close to Holy Ghost, Enugu.

Port Harcourt: 2 Awkwuzu Street, off Ikwere Street, Mile 1, Diobu, Port Harcourt.

Uyo: 10, Ikot Abasi Street, Off Oron Road by Udotung Ubo traffic light, Uyo

Frequently asked sexual questions, answers and testimonies (166)

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ood evening. Please, do you have medications for STD infections? It is affecting my erections—IK IK go to the hospital and get treatment.

We are not medical so we do not diagnose diseases — Uche I am engaged to a really nice woman and I love her so much. Just as we were busy planning our wedding, a school mate of mine who didnít know we were engaged, mentioned that my fiancee and some other girls were into prostitution some years ago. He said that he lived close to her and that people around used to see a lot of men who drive big cars come to sleep over at her place. I am so shocked that I don’t even know what to do — Ikenna Dear Ikenna, prostitution is very common and you have every right to be shocked. One of the most common types is the case of university girls who get invited to parties to have sex with men after which they get paid. That is prostitution but these girls don’t think they are prostitutes. They see themselves as students hustling hard to survive in a difficult country. Some of these girls eventually settle down, get legal jobs, get married and start a family. Girls like these are everywhere. They are people’s wives, mothers, sisters, aunts, cousins, etc.

The issue now is how to respond to this matter. Many people have done things that they are not proud of in the past. Today, some of them have changed their ways and are living different lives. How should society treat such people? Do we believe that people who have done bad things and turned their lives around deserve a second chance? Or should such people be condemned even though they have changed?

There is no right or wrong answer to this question because whatever we decide has consequences. So, it is up to you. If you choose to be compassionate and forgive her, I can understand why. If you choose to break up with her, I won’t blame you either.

Who wants to marry an ex prostitute? — Uche I want to buy a vibrator. I have been to www.zeevirtualmedia.com and seen so many types. Please, advise me on what to buy. I like the realistic vibrators but are they the best? — Lucy Dear Lucy, vibrators are like cars. Most brand new cars are good enough to take you where you want to go.

But some cars are made with higher quality materials and have more capabilities than others. So, they give you more pleasure and serve you better. Realistic vibrators are good and work just fine. But rabbit vibrators are the best. Rabbits have more functions and therefore give more pleasure.

They are capable of shaft rotation, G Spot massage, thrusting, pulsation and dedicated clitoral stimulation. If you want the best, get the Daffy Deep Stroker Rabbit Vibrator — Uche I follow your column and I really like it. Of late, I lose my erection half way into intercourse. Getting an erection is not difficult. Keeping it hard is my problem — Yusuf Dear Yusuf, there is a device known as a Cockring. It is worn at the base of the penis to prevent erection loss. Look for the Support Plus Cockring or Fantasy Love Cockring.

They will help — Uche What do you advice for erection? Viagra or Sex Voltz? I have heard so much about the two — Chidi Chidi, they are both good

but Viagra is a drug and can only be prescribed by a medical doctor after check-up.

Sex Voltz is what you call a natural herbal supplement because it is not made with synthetic chemicals like Viagra, so I recommend that. Natural supplements are safer and you do not need a doctor’s prescription to take them, for as long as you are not hypertensive—Uche I experience really embarrassing premature ejaculation. My solution has been to give my girl oral sex till she climaxes before I start. But she doesn’t want that all the time, neither do I feel like oral sex all the time. I need another solutionThomas Thomas, you can wear a penis sleeve like the Stud Extension to last longer. You can also use an ejaculation delay lubricant to last longer such as the Stay Hard Delay Cream —Uche That Mega Me Penis Enlarger is working. My penis is getting bigger and heavier.

Sorry for saying it is 419. I have had bad experiences before and that is why I doubted it at first — Jubril You are welcome. We only talk about products that work. Why sell things that donít work when you can sell those that work? I have used Mega Me and it works.

That’s why I recommend it — Uche I rarely feel like having sex and my husband is getting older, so he even has no erection — Mrs Nnoli Mrs Nnoli, you need Max Desire supplement for women while he needs Sex Voltz for Men. They are both very good libido boosting supplements that will solve your respective problems — Uche That is it for today. The names of the people featured here have been changed for their privacy. Adults in need of these treatments/novelties can call 08191978308 or 08027901621 or any other number here to order or they can order online at www.zeevirtualmedia.com. Zee Virtual Media delivers to you wherever you are in Nigeria. For enquiries, send your emails to custserv@zeevirtualmedia.com - Uche Edochie, MD, Zee Virtual Media.

SATURDAY SUN

October 20, 2012

27

KISS &TELL Anthony

Uche

Audu

Robinson

Olivia

Would you have a bisexual as spouse?

By RACHAEL AGUNTA, CHISOM OGUBUNKA and CHISOM IKEJEMBA

S

exual intercourse, according to God’s ordination, should exist between a man and a woman. That is to say that when a man desires a man or a woman desires a woman, it is against His will. However, bisexuality cannot be denied all over the world, as it is no longer a hidden thing. Some men sleep with men as well as women and some ladies, do same. They sleep with their fellow women and men. To some people, it is a taboo while to others, it is nothing to worry about. Saturday Sun went to town to ask people the above question. We came back with these views West Odilibe If I know before getting into a relationship with her, I will prove to her that I care and love her. I think that I can marry such a person to give her a chance for a better living and change of attitude. Marriage, for me, is about trust, it is not friendship. I also believe that girls make up their minds to change when they really want to. I am convinced that if I marry such a woman, she will change because she may not have believed that someone would marry her knowing she is bisexual. So, my answer is yes.

Daniel Audu No, I cannot even think of it. How can I get myself involved in that kind of marriage? It is an abominable thing in the sight of my God. She is sleeping with another person, and not a male but her fellow woman. I cannot take it. She has to choose one, either her female lover or me. To be honest, I cannot stand such scenario.

Amaka Igwe Actually, there is nothing bad about dating or marrying such a person. Love supercedes everything in marriage. So, if I truly love him, I will marry him and pray earnestly for him until he changes. So, my answer is yes, I can have a bisexual as a spouse.

James George What sort of question is this? My God will not allow it to happen. I detest bisexuals so much, to the extent that I shun anyone that comes to me as one. Honestly speaking, it is not a good thing for someone that is normal to marry a bisexual.

Therefore, I cannot marry such a woman.

Austin Inyama My God! No! I cannot marry such a lady. She is not even good to be mentioned for marriage.

Marrying such a woman means that we cannot satisfy each other in bed. I cannot stand the fact that she will be sneaking around looking for a fellow lady to sleep with. Even when I am far away, I will know that my woman is making love to her fellow woman. That will be the worst

decision a woman will take.

I want it. So, in order to prevent regrets, I will shine my eyes before getting involved.

band and wife.

Ejike Barnabas My answer is no, in capital letters. I will not like to have such a lady. We are not of the same faith, because anyone involved in such an act is not a Christian and I am a true follower of Christ.

I cannot have such a person as a friend let alone of marriage.

Queeneth Gbenga Yes, I can have a bisexual as my spouse. I will love him and give him the best of sex that he will need, so that he will soon forget his male partner.

I cannot discriminate against them because they are humans and not animals.

Anselem Bayo I can marry her. If as a bisexual, she is able to make up her mind for marriage, then there is nothing God cannot do. She might one day wake up in the middle of the night and change her attitude. Based on my explanation, my answer is yes.

Ibrahim Latifa My answer to your question is yes. I can marry any type of woman, since the love is there.

Maybe she started the behaviour not knowing how it feels like to really have sex with a man.

Therefore, I will be there to change her. It does not matter how long it will take, but I strongly believe that once I love my wife, she will stop whatever bad behaviour she was into before our marriage.

Kunle Akinbayo If I find out that a girl I am dating is bisexual, I will encourage her to explore her feelings and have fun. Life is all about personal growth and who am I to deny that to someone I love.

Also, if I deny her the ability to explore that side of her personality, she may end up resenting me and I don’t want resentment such as this in a healthy relationship.

Sulaimon Taiwo Yes, I would have such a lady as my wife.

Since she chooses to be my wife, I hopefully believe that the thing that made her to go into marriage will also change her mindset. I will just wait for the appropriate time.

Taju Mohamed I think being a bisexual is not a bad thing. It is just something that one cannot control. I do not hate them and if I happen to fall in love with one, I will go ahead and marry her. It is not a bad thing since we are in a civilized world.

Olivia Jonathan I cannot have a bisexual as my spouse. He might give me an infection. Moreover, it is very disgusting to sleep with him after he might have met with another man for sex. I cannot try it. It is against my faith.

Kingsley Innocent No, I cannot marry such a person. She cannot be my spouse. I will not be satisfying her in bed.

And one thing with such a person is that they are too addicted to the act. It takes only the grace of God for such a person to be delivered. So, I cannot take such a risk. I just pray that my-would-be spouse will be a normal person and not a bisexual.

Promise Okolie God forbid! I will not marry such a woman.

My reason is that we cannot satisfy ourselves and I may be exposed to STDs. Moreover, how can I explain to my children that their mummy is a bisexual? She might even try to teach my children how to become one. I will not accept such a person as a spouse at all.

Grace Chidera God forbid! I will not try such a thing. My God will not allow it to happen. And if I find out that my husband is one, I will try to pray him out of the situation because to me it is cultism. Any man sleeping with another man is an idolater. As a Christian, I cannot marry someone that worships idol.

Anthony Ikenna I cannot marry such a woman. My reason is this; anyone that is into it is abnormal. Think of it, how can a woman go after a woman for sex?

It is not good. If my woman goes after a fellow woman for sex, it means that I can’t satisfy her.

In that case, my marriage will not be as sweet as

Simon Onyeka I think it would be okay by me while dating, but will end as soon as we get more serious. I don’t think my mind would accept that idea very well after a certain point. I can date but not marry such a person. Marrying such a lady is not actually good because there will not be satisfaction in the marriage. The only way such marriage would work is only if I am also a bisexual.

Fayose Funke It depends on how well we know each other and what kind of bisexual he is. If he is the type of bisexual that people stereotype that just like sleeping around with lots of men and women or both at the same time, no I would not marry him.

If he is a bisexual in the true sense of the word meaning being attracted to men and women, but still believing in a monogamous relationship then, I’d marry him, if we get to that point in the relationship.

Emma Ahaoma Anyway, to some extent, it doesn’t matter; but to me, I cannot try it. I have seen such a marriage and I kept asking myself the benefit of marriage, since the man always goes after men. I hate it with passion. I will never marry such a woman.

Tonia Onwuhafua I will not marry a bisexual because I cannot satisfy him. Moreover, I see anyone doing such a thing as a dirty person who is capable of transferring STD to another person. If I marry such a man, I will end up contracting one STD or the other. Therefore, I will not try it.

Nzenwata Alozie No, I cannot marry her. She is not of the Lord, while I am of the Lord; her mission is not a good one, while mine is good. My spirit will not accept her. So, we cannot live together as hus-

Xavier Iyke No I can’t and it is dirty. It is awkward. In fact, anyone caught in that act should be condemned, because the Bible condemns it. It’s a man and a woman, not a man and a man.

Chidi Nnaji Hell no! I can’t. It is irritating and disgusting.

Why will I ever think of doing that? Why will I ever have a bisexual as a spouse, when there are lots of ladies out there I can have fun with?

Ogo Okafor Never! Do you want God to punish me? If I ever think of doing it, then know that I do not know what I am doing. It will definitely be a curse that I must fight to break.

Chuka Okonkwo I cannot keep a bisexual person as a spouse.

By the virtue of my religion as a Christian, the Bible makes it clear that a man and a woman will leave their families to become one as a family and not the other way round.

Ify Ikeh No! I won’t have a bisexual as anything. I can’t have someone who enjoys both a man and a woman as a sexual friend. It is bad.

Uche Nancy God forbid! I can never have a faggot as a friend. Sometimes, you discover that most homosexuals are not man enough. They are weak in bed. They cannot make their wives pregnant. They don’t have what it takes to be a man. More so, they are always behaving like girls which is irritating to me. Please, I cannot share my man with any woman not to talk of sharing him with his fellow man. It is a sacrilege.

•NEXT WEEK’S QUESTION: For men, do you cook for your family?

Send your comments and photo to vvnchinyere@yahoo.com Next week’s question: For men, do you cook for your family?

28

SATURDAY SUN

October 20, 2012

saturdaypanorama with Adaobi Nneka Ifebi 08037050065 kaibonns@yahoo.com

More honour for HRM Eze

E

ze Ndi Igbo, Alimosho LGA, Lagos State, His Royal Majesty Eze (Dr) Lawrence Nnamdi Eze is truly a man of many parts. Check out his recent itinerary – a visit to ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo in his homestead in Ota and acquisition of a doctorate award.

Indeed, it was on a day of joy, celebration of culture and thanksgiving to God that African College of Entrepreneurs (ACE) conferred a Honorary Doctorate Award in Enterprise Management and Development on the number1 Igbo citizen, Eze. Present to share Eze’s joy were his ‘Lolo,’ Udoamaka Eze and some prominent Igbo personalities.

The Eze Igbo thanked ACE for recognising his entrepreneurial achievement and contribution to enterprise and industrial revolution in Africa. “I am very happy and thank God that ACE discovered me and gave me the award. I believe in education, equity and discipline. If anybody or group stands for high quality of education, I will stand for them. If an Igbo man in this locality has problem, by the time, help comes from his king in his village, lot of damage will be done. Do you know because of N1,000, somebody can be in problem?

Where will the person go?”

(L-R): Otum, Ochi Ora, Eze Dr. C.N. Eze, Lolo Udoamaka and DSP Maria Onyekwelu

Remember Rhumba man?

He dazzled at Niteshift

“P

eople call me the Rhumba Dance man; some call me the Omoge Man.” You should have been at the prestigious Niteshift Coliseum in Ikeja on Legend Night when Mike Okri performed on stage after many years of absence from Nigeria. He has been in America ever since.

Audience was simply ecstatic. “I was in the states for precisely 10 years and a couple of months. I must be honest, it was good at one point and at another point, I was really kind of bored and hungry for home. That’s what happens sometimes when you are away for too long. It was a good thing that I had to go back to school as well; while playing music, I was schooling. I read Psychology; I had my Master’s degree in Psychology at Bakers College, Florida.”

“Now, I’m doing a remake of Rhumba Dance.” The Omoge man gushed. “I hope to also do collaboration with a number of artistes. I’m recording so I can truly and fully reinvent myself. I feel good about evergreen songs. When you are a creative person, you look beyond your time, even when you are gone; your work will make a whole lot out of things so tonight was just the beginning of beautiful things to come.

It means my hard work is not in vain.”

How true is the story that Nigerian stars go to America, unable to become star because of bigger fishes in the ocean, they resort to hard drugs? The Rhumba Dance man clarifies.

“That’s not true, though music in America is not a plaything.

Back in Nigeria, everything we played was about ‘Cool and the Gang’ and the like. We were only making the money and there is no way Americans will let us get into their society like that. We realise that and that’s why we always play the second fiddle whether we like it or not.” There is light on the horizon though. “Mike is back; I’m going to set up a label to help youths and contribute to music and entertainment industry.”

Wine, weed not for J. Martin… hear?

I

s there any smoke without fire?

Perhaps, there is. Rave among youths’ star, J.Martin has made fallacy of the idea that musicians drink and smoke in order to get ‘high,’ courage to face crowd, so to say. His words: “It’s my decision not to take alcohol, not to drink. Two things are important in life – career and private life. When it gets to career, which includes everyone when you talk about fans - elderly people, father, mother, young people, middle aged, children, you have to give them love. You should be able to reciprocate the love or care that they have shown you. The fact that they love you does not mean you have to abuse them but once you are off the career, you are back home, you are a different person.

Career does not transit. Career and private life have their own time with you.”

“The masses are my fans; they are my people. It is not always easy for me trying to side with the masses. You don’t expect everybody to like it. I

J Martin, Ada and Mike Okri choose to identify with the masses because I feel their pain. I have been there before. I empathise with the truck-pusher. That does not mean I pushed truck before, but you know what life is when you can identify with one in orthopaedic hospital. You see people suffering things at different

times. I like to identify myself with such people. That’s what my music talks about. Also love, encouragement and inspiration.”

Martin maintains that drug intake and addiction is personal decision.

“For some people, they believe getting ‘high’ will help them write good song, perform well, get energy to do all that. For me, it’s not like that; it has not been like that and can never be like that. In the world of today, alcohol is not the best thing; you can get ‘high’ and die on the road. I think a word is enough for the wise.”

American, Indian investors give Nollywood bounce

“O

h!!! I’m an alien, I’m a legal alien. I’m an Englishman in New York.” People travel and become aliens. The Business Head and Vice President of Whistling Woods International, an institute for film, television, animation and media arts based in Mumbai, India, Chaitanya Chinchilikar, was in Nigeria recently. Also in town was the Managing Director of Los Angeles, US-based Vnesto Capital, Ricardo Tejada. Both men were here on common ground – to look possibilities of setting up WWI campus in the universities of Port Harcourt and Lagos, in partnership with Trend TV. President and CEO of Trend TV, Mr Uzo Udemba explained at the welcome party in Protea Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos. “My belief in Nigerians as very good product (very gifted) in anything they put mind on is

what is pushing us into this investment. All he needs is opportunity to get exposure. I

want to see Nigerian boys go abroad, get six digit figure jobs, come back home and

(L-R): Udemba, Chinchilikar, Ogunpitan and Tejada

invest.”

The ‘aliens’ showered praise on Nigeria ‘beautiful country, nice people, land of opportunity.’ Chinchilikar sees no reason Nigeria, the third largest film industry in the world, should not have access to some of the best film education in the world. “We are expanding into territories that are still missing to film and also countries that could use a boost in their filmmaking abilities. We are looking at setting up campus of WWI in these countries primarily so that we can shape the industry.” Co-investor Ricardo Tejada concurs. “We were attracted to see how we can assist in developing Nollywood since our mission is to help communities move forward.” Producer of hit soap opera Doctors’ Quarters, Aderemi Ogunpitan’s food for thought echoes though. “Passion keeps one in the business.”

SATURDAY SUN

October 20, 2012

45

POLITICS ThisWeek ONDO GUBER 2012

‘How youths will decide election’ D

irector of the National Youth Coordinated Campaign, Idris Usman has outlined the role youths would play in the outcome of today’s governorship election in Ondo State.

He said that youths would critically assess the candidates and decide, with their large number, who will serve their purpose better. He spoke of this and others.

How does your group influence the youths on the issue of politics?

As a matter of fact, the organisation has really affected the lives of the youths of this country. What we are into is that we are bringing young Nigerian youths into the mainstream politics, making them know that if they don’t put their minds and voice or pay attention to the running of government, there is no how they can be key players to the running of the economy of the country. We make them realise that whatever affects them today will affect them more tomorrow. So we are making them to be conscious of the fact that they have to be part and parcel of the running of government.

What is the mode of operation of your organisation?

So far so good. We have structures in not less than 22 states in the country and we are still going further. What we have done is that wherever we go, we establish structures from the ward level and we build it to the senatorial level and then appoint one state coordinator to oversee the affair. We hold seminars. We hold rallies in different states. We have held one million march rally in Kogi State. We went round the whole senatorial zones and local government after the one we held in the state capital.

We have been able to close ranks because we know that when this gets to the politicians they are going to mess it up. That’s why whenever we go close to a politician and we discovered he wants his own selfish agenda, we pull back immediately because the actual sense of this thing is not political jobbing. The actual sense of it is to really get the Nigerian youths involved in mainstream politics and get them to understand that their votes is their power, that if they keep their votes, they don’t have a say, but if they vote for the right candidate and when that candidate is messing up you can call that vote back; until then, what we are making them know is that their vote is their power and they should preserve it and come together under the Coordinated Campaign Organisation, then they will have a say and have a better future.

Now that your programme is coming up when election is approaching in Ondo, what happens after the election?

The youths coordinated campaign has not been like that; it is fortunate that I’m in Ondo State, which is my home and we have been working outside Ondo State. Throughout this year we have been busy; we have gone round the country; we had been Bayelsa, Enugu, Akwa Ibom and Taraba states, where there are no election; so we are not about elections; it is our duty to be here to ensure that the youths are mobilised and involved in the election and also not to be cajoled by the sweet words of these

politicians; we are here to sensitised them to open their eyes, open their ears and assess the candidates. The one that is in government now, you have seen what he has done and you can tell what he can do in another four years. The one that is promising you that when he gets to government house, assess him; so that is what we are doing now. Ondo State is one of the states where we started this campaign a long time ago, but one thing about us is that we don’t make noise because those that make noise do so to get attention of politician. We do more underground work than making noise in the surface.

to make the right choice.

Who should be blamed for social vices of the youths during elections, politicians of youths themselves?

When talking about youths being involved in social vices, can we also talk about what the involvement of the youths is? What role are they playing? What role are the politicians giving them to perform? In many instances, is it thuggery and violence that the youths will participate in? These politicians engage the youths.

The politicians are to blame for many of these vices the youth are involved in. Another probHow far have you been able to reorientate lem is unemployment. When you don’t engage youths over the illegal activities of politicians, the youth properly they think about other ways they can engage themselves with Ondo election here at last?

We have been around for sometime and we How will you rate the involvement of youths have really gone deep; why we are coming out now is because we want politicians to finish in governance?

There has been a tremendous improvement making their noise and finish up with their rallies, so we are coming now after the youths in the involvement of youths in governance in must have attended their rallies and analyse the many of the South West states, like in Lagos, promises they made; we want them to know also I was in Ekiti State recently and I saw that they should not make up their minds based young people in key posts, not as advisers on on the N1, 000 or N2, 000 they will give them; youth affairs. I saw young people in real govthey should make up their minds based on the ernment activities in Ekiti State and I was antecedents of the candidates. They should ask: impressed because that is what we are looking are the candidates going to perform? Are they towards to. We want to see young people in key going to create more good jobs? Not just creat- offices; people between the age of 29 and 35 as ing shamble jobs, but create jobs that is going to advisers on finance and other key sectors. benefit the people in the next 20 to 30 years Nigerian youths can perform if put in the right from now; we also want to sensitise the youths places.

How were you able to gather one million youths in Kogi?

When we say one million march, it does not necessarily mean one million youths will gather at one point; its means that we are recruiting one million youths to march for something; we had done that in Kaduna; we had done that in Benue; we had done that in over 10 northern states and we are replicating the same thing in Ondo State. We had started the one million march in Akure and by the grace of God we want this to continue at the two other senatorial zones and also go down to the local level.

What has been the response of the youths for whom your oraganisation packaged the programme in the states you have visited?

The response has been marvellous because the youths have never seen an organisation like this before. The organisation is not one that is L-R: Professor Mike Faborode, Kazim Afegbua, Toyin only active when election is around; it is not Aledegbami, Senator Boluwaji Kunlere and Ademola when election comes that you start calling the Olorunfemi, commissioner for Agriculture, Ondo State. youths together; it has been a continual thing, so the youths are beginning to see themselves as part of governance; they are beginning to feel that they need to be part of day-to-day running of government; they need to be part of politics; they are beginning to see that being part of politics is something that can really change their or several weeks now, campaign for the goodness of the Mimiko administration in the future, knowing who and who are performing occupation of the Ondo State Government state. and those that are not performing and how to Stressing the need for a peaceful election and House has been intense for the 13 qualified kick them out of office in the next election. parties. While the concern of the Labour Party the necessity of Mimiko return, Toyin (LP) is to retain the seat, other parties are trying Aladegbami, a lawyer and the Abuja liaison What is the source of your funding? officer (the host), in her opening remarks, urged Funding has been very tight. We have a com- hard to dislodge the ruling party. every indigene, resident at home and in the In their efforts to make their voices heard by mittee that goes round to talk to like minds, Diaspora, to play their roles in line with their the voting masses of the state, all manner of youths that are doing well and if you cannot civic rights. spend your time going from one place to the claims had been made. While LP, being repre“Our gathering is to sensitise Ondo indigenes sented by Olusegun Mimiko, is relying on the other, you can give us your resources. So far so in the Diaspora and to draw attention to the administration’s performance in the nearly four good; we have been getting favourable Saturday election; and the need for us to play response from various youth organisations. years to win the election, other contending par- our roles as indigenes of the state, to go home, ties are selling promises of a better future if Also, we want to start something now and that support our people and perform our civic rights. is that every youth that knows that his future voted into power.

Before today’s poll, the Abuja liaison office For those that did not register at home, they can starts now should come and support this movepray and call their people at home to vote. We ment; so that is how we have been getting fund- of the state saw the need to, once again, impress also want to emphasise that we need to take upon the indigenes resident in the Federal ing.

Capital Territory (FCT) the need to keep the steps that will enhance our well-being and not the one that can destroy life. Every indigene of How are you ensuring that your organisa- tempo of development by returning Mimiko Ondo State must join the vanguard of those through the ballot. tion’s activities are not hijacked by politicians?

Speaker after speaker spoke in tandem of the who preach peace. Violence would not take us

We won’t only win but also daze our opponents –LP supporters

F

anywhere and people must shun it. Our state will not move forward in the absence of peace.

We must believe in one man, one vote. The Mimiko administration has worked tirelessly to ensure there’s an atmosphere of peace in the state which has encouraged all round development,” Aladegbami said.

The liaison officer, who is also a senior special assistant to the governor of Ondo State, said there was no point making a rehash of all that the government of Mimiko has done, which are verifiable.

She however, said: “There’s no denying the fact that the current administration has taken governance to another level beyond our imagination. Modern infrastructural projects dot every nook and cranny of the state. For his sterling performance in office, our own dear governor is one of the most decorated governors in the country today. For instance, provision of

Continued on page 46

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SATURDAY SUN

October 20, 2012

POLITICS ThisWeek ONDO GUBER 2012

I’ve nothing personal against Mimiko, but we’ll whip him –Aregbesola

P

erhaps, the most antagonistic governor in the South-West towards Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State is Gov Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State. He has been known to openly confront his Ondo counterpart, apparently because Mimiko refused to leave Labour Party, the platform on which he got to office, for the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

In an interview with Saturday Sun, Aregbesola denied that he is an antagonist of Mimiko. He claims that he has nothing personal against his colleague, but vows that the ACN would whip him in today’s election.

The Osun governor spoke in Osogbo with FEMI ADESINA and TOPE ADEBOBOYE. Excerpts from the interview:

You are generally seen as an antagonist of Gov Mimiko. Is it just because he did not join ACN, or there is more to it?

I never antagonised anybody. I never antagonised Governor Mimiko over regional integration. There was none of the statements about confrontation and hostility purportedly between me and the governor of Ondo State, that we did not deny. But you would see that I’m not given to rabid defence of myself. I want circumstances and events to come to my aid. There was a programme organised by the Afenifere Renewal Group to launch their development agenda for Western Nigeria to which they invited all the governors in our region. The governor of Ondo could not come but he sent a representative. And I was there. Governors were called to speak, and when it was my turn to speak, I responded to the speech made by the keynote speaker. The kernel of his submission was that we did not need political unity to advance. His submission was on integration without political affiliation. That was what he said. All my other colleagues avoided that tendentious path. But when I had to speak, I had prepared my speech, which I still made towards the end of the presentation. It was on Methods and Process of Integration. But I believed it was necessary to contribute to the issues made by the lead speaker, and I did to the best of my ability.

I said it is academic to assume that collaboration could be easy and fruitful without political affiliation. In practical life, it is difficult.

Where are you going to start from? How would

Aregbesola you meet without suspicion? Where would the trust lie? I said let us give practical examples. I said was PDP not in place in all our regions for eight years, what progress did we make? That has told you that there must be an ideology to drive anything. And since political parties are supposed to be formed on ideology, parties with different ideologies cannot come together to pursue economic goals. I didn’t stop there. I said if I’m still not understood, let us look at the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. If nothing at all, couldn’t those governments from a particular party that were here for eight years agree to ensure that the death trap that that road has become was eliminated? Then I went to Ondo, not because I don’t like the man there, but the

reality of it was what I was interested in, that if we want to say that parties do not make a difference, why is it that the National Assembly members of the Labour Party have never agreed with our members on any issue? And I was to again now illustrate with an experience we had when we were preparing for the election of Ekiti. But the man that represented the Ondo State governor rose to say that I must be stopped. He interrupted me. And I kept quiet. If there was an exchange between us, I would have said I was wrong. He interrupted me while I was talking. He said I must not be allowed to talk, that I must be stopped unless he was given the right to reply. He raved and ranted, but I kept quiet. The only thing you could say was

‘One man, one vote must prevail’ Continued from page 45 modern housing, recreational facilities, good roads, education facilities are today the hallmarks of the administration which have contributed to make people’s lives more enjoyable.”

In his remarks, the representative of Mimiko, and a senator, representing Ondo South Senatorial district, Boluwaji Kunlere, toed Aladegbami’s path, urging all indigenes to ensure that peace is maintained.

“Most important of all the achievements of the Mimiko government is the peace that he brought to the state. In Ondo State, before Mimiko’s government came on board, brothers were turned against brothers, traditional rulers were turned against traditional rulers and students’ union body was turned against students’ union body. People were being sponsored to foment trouble. There was blood bath everywhere. Today, it is no longer so. Even during campaign rallies, the governor told them point blank that there could never be any meaningful development without peace. That’s why you can’t see anything like “Area boyism” in Ondo State,” the senator said.

He also explained that the quick intervention of the Mimiko administration in the area of environment has saved the state from suffering the fate of others that were recently ravaged by flood. He attributed this to the foresight of a visionary leader.

According to him, the governor heeded the advice of international agencies on impending flood in Nigeria by taking over the channelisation of federal roads in the state. “These are the things only a caring heart can do,” he said.

He also added: “The governor is not tired of commissioning projects. In Ondo State today, commissioning of projects is like ‘pure’ water.

These are activities you need to judge a man. I am appealing to Ondo State people to return the performing governor.”

In his speech, a member of the House of Representatives Dr. I. Akinlaja, said: “Those who have not been to Ondo State in the last three years will miss their way if they should visit home today. When you support Iroko, you are supporting and marketing a good product.

What we are saying now is that you need to return the performer. Those who did not register should go home and encourage their family members to vote. Iroko is working; Ondo State is working. We do not only want to win in Ondo State, we want to daze all oppositions that they will not have the courage next time to challenge us. It is only those who are not making use of their eyes properly that fail to see the development in Ondo. For us and all lovers of truth, we ‘eye-mark’ (not earmark) all that is happening in our beloved state. Within the period of threeand-half years, Iroko has finished 648 projects in towns and villages. His administration has positively affected every indigene of the state.

We in the National Assembly have signed that it is Mimiko or nothing else. For the election, we are looking for over 80percent of the total votes; let others share 10-15percent. We shall do so.”

For Rowland Omowa, a retired Colonel and ambassador, the return of Mimiko is a fait accompli.

“We all have a stake in Ondo State. It is not just about Ondo, but the entire Nigeria, to solve

that when the chairman said I should stop and that I should be going, I said, come, in the first instance, I am a governor. I had the floor, somebody interrupted me, why should you ask me to go? And I said it in the best of manners. Then, when that matter was reported the following day, it was reported against me, whereas I was rudely interrupted. That was what happened. If you can get a clip of the video that is not doctored, please get it. So whatever it is you read, it’s simply the imagination of those who put it together. I’ve told you what happened.

I didn’t even conclude the second part of what I wanted to say, and I will not conclude it here because I wouldn’t want to use your platform to say what I deliberately refused to say.

And I went to the methodology of integration. I said that if integration would be meaningful, I said Lagos should grant to our state a special market for our agricultural produce. And I spoke about how that could be done. I said we should target 10 per cent of the Lagos commodity exchange value. And I went to it and left. I don’t know how this could be interpreted to mean antagonism. Life is about dialogue. The difference between the human and the animal is the ability to talk. I expected the man to say that I was wrong, that Labour members in the National Assembly worked with our people on issues affecting the region. And the position that I canvassed was not a position I just developed.

In 2007, soon after the election, I went to Egbe Omo Oduduwa in the United States to deliver a paper, and the paper was absolutely based on this. In my campaigns here, I had always emphasised that these administrative units called states cannot mobilise our people appropriately for development and progress. And I’ve not ceased to say it.

Two weeks after my inauguration, I went to Ondo in the company of Governor Fayemi.

What did I go there to do? Not to tell him to join our party, but to say that the integration we’ve been talking about is the thing that we must use our time to do. I told him that in pursuance of that, I had set up a Ministry for Regional Integration. He said he would not be able to have such a ministry, but that he had a Ministry of Special Duties. So, if we will be sincere with ourselves, if mischief is not being sought as the basis for the relationship, I have never antagonised anybody. And I’ve told the whole world that I have my party; he has his own party. I will organise, mobilise and seek success for my party in any election in any space in Nigeria where elections are held. That does not translate to personal antagonism or mutual hatred.

But on the issue of regional unity for economic advancement, I believe it is best pursued within a party with clear objectives and programmes and principles, which you call ideology, to so do. If reality does not permit that, we could go along as much as possible with whoever wants to go along with us. But I know it’s easier on the same political platform because there would be no basis for anyone to renege.

That has been my position. And that position is informed by our history as Yoruba. Tell me a Yoruba man that is completely tied to where he is now. Our panegyrics does not even support it.

Your oriki cannot tie you absolutely to where you now manifest. And me too. Every Yoruba man is multi-layered, multi-linked in his ancestry. So how could you, therefore, pigeon-hole a Yoruba man to a state when you know that if you are not tied to Ikoyi, you will be tied to Offa, or you will be tied to one place in Egba.

Are you getting me? So it’s either you understand our history properly and want to use it as the platform or springboard for extraordinary proportions, or we want to pretend as if it is not true, that it is the miniature administrative units that are not even sustainable or self-reliant, that cannot do much on their own, that we want to use as the basis of growth. That is the theoretical reason for my exuberance. But I have nothing personal against Gov Mimiko. I have nothing personal against anybody. But I am committed to saying that as a people, we set the pace for our race.

the problem of leadership. So I urge those outside our state to go back home and vote, but if you can’t make it home, pray for Mimiko. We are no longer talking about the election, Mimiko has already won. But my concern is what happens to Ondo State after Mimiko must have left office.”

In his solidarity message, Tony Aiyejina, Abuja liaison officer, Edo State, said his wish was to see a replication of what happened in Edo in July.

“I am quite sure that the same commitment will be demonstrated by Ondo State people.

The President has said the election would be free and fair; and that is a good assurance,” Aiyejina said.

There were other speakers at the occasion, including Mike Faborode, a professor and former vice chancellor, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife; Kazim Afegbua, IBB spokesperson and Campaign manager for Adams Oshiomhole in the last Edo State gubernatorial election; commissioner for Agriculture; a representative of the Cuban government who led a dancing troupe and other members of the National Assembly who are indigenes of the state.

They all highlighted the blessedness of the Mimiko administration to Ondo people and the need to sustain the tempo of development in the state by returning the incumbent in the Saturday exercise.

Highpoint of the event was the presentation of a book by a retired diplomat from London that chronicles the miracle of performance The election in Ondo State? wrought by Governor Mimiko in less than four Of course my party will win. There are no years. two ways about it. I don’t even need to think

SATURDAY SUN

October 20, 2012

47

POLITICS ThisWeek ONDO GUBER 2012

Ondo central holds the ace in today’s guber poll

Governor Olusegun Mimiko addressing a rally last week

By DURO ADESEKO

T

oday, 1,654,206 registered voters in Ondo State would file out to decide the fate of 13 governorship candidates contesting on the tickets of various political parties. Out of this number, there are 7, 539 voters, made up of those who registered but could not vote last year because of some technical itches and those who transferred their voter’s card.

Statistics released by the Ondo State Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) indicate that female voters constitutes 50.20 per cent, while male voters constitutes 49.80 per cent.

The fate of the 13 governorship aspirants slogging it out today would largely be determined by voters below age 35. The young registered voters in Ondo constitute 65 per cent of those on the INEC register. Most of them are students while a sizeable number are civil servants, artisans and traders. All political parties taking part in the election were last month presented with soft copies of the list of registered voters by INEC. The statistics are in many respects similar to that of Edo State governorship election.

There were accusations and counter-accusations of illegal registration of voters.

Politicians were also said to engage in the acts of buying voter’s cards. Some party stalwarts were allegedly caught with more than a thousand voters card but Ondo INEC said the cards belong to people that registered but were unable to collect the cards. The police waded in and those involved in the malpractice, including members of staff of the INEC were

arrested and charged to court.

Nobody trusts anybody. Political parties and their leaders are convinced that the other party has concluded plans on how to rig the election. The media, both electronic and print are daily inundated with stories of plans to rig by other parties. Last week, the National Broadcasting Corporation warned two electronic media houses based in Ondo to adjust and follow the rules.

The NBC expressed concern that operators of ADABA FM radio in Akure and Ondo State Radiovision Corporation are not abiding by the rules. Director-General of NBC, Mr. Yomi Bolarinwa, was quoted as saying that the two stations have breached the provision of NBC Act and the Nigerian Broadcasting code.

assurance last week that no less than 5, 000 policemen and soldiers would be deployed for the Ondo election.

When the President came to round off the PDP campaign for the election last week, he gave every assurance that the election would be free and fair. He said: “This election would be free and fair. There will be enough security personnel that will man all the various polling units. PDP does not promote thuggery and we are warning some desperate politicians who are planning to cause mayhem during the poll to desist from this.

“I was told that some politicians in the state are mobilising thugs to rig the election in favour of their party, they are only wasting their time because on that election day those hoodlums will not be useful for them.”

Security There is constant fear of likely outbreak of violence as political parties accused one another of massive importation of arms to Ondo for the purpose of the election. When the three aspirants secured the ticket of their political parties, there were cases of deliberate provocation that resulted in skirmishes.

However, security is expected to be tight, as President Goodluck Jonathan, speaking through the Vice President, Namadi Sambo, when campaigning for Olusola Oke, the candidate of his party, the PDP in Ondo gave every assurance that he is committed to free and fair election as it was done in Edo State.

In the case of Edo election, 3,000,00 policemen and soldiers were deployed to ensure adequate security. The police authority gave

Parties contesting election There are 13 registered political parties contesting today’s election. It is believed in political circles that the election is a straight fight between three leading political parties in the state. The three political parties are: the ruling Labour Party (LP), the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that was recently in charge of affairs in the state. Other political parties contesting the election are: Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), National Conscience Party (NCP), National Solidarity Party (NCP), National Solidarity Democratic Party (NSDP), Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA), All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and Change for Advocacy Party (CAP).

The campaign has been rancorous with Continued on Page 48

crude verbal attacks on opponents, as normal instrument of war. The contestants and their agents campaigned, as if they are at war and that all is fair in war. There were also reported skirmishes among supporters of the three leading governorship candidates.

Chances of the political parties There are three senatorial zones in Ondo State. The three zones are: Ondo South, Ondo Central and Ondo North. At the April, 2011 election, the Labour Party won all the three senatorial seats, nine House of Representative seats and all State House of Assembly seats.

Not much has changed in the political landscape of Ondo State to warrant a surprise result from what was witnessed in the 2011 election.

Candidate of the ACN, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, believes that the electorate believed last year that both the LP and ACN meant the same thing. He said in several newspaper interviews that the people now know the difference and they would prefer to vote for his party, the ACN. Ondo South senatorial district has six local government areas. They are: Ilaje, Okitipupa, Ese Odo, Irele, and Ile Oluji/Oke Igbo. The PDP candidate, Olusola Oke, is from Ilaje Local Council. Former Governor Olusegun Agagu is from Okitipupa with strong influence in Irele. On the surface, this should be the stronghold of the PDP. But the LP has considerable presence in the senatorial district.

Many prominent and influential politicians

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October 20, 2012

POLITICS ThisWeek ONDO GUBER 2012

The claims, counter-claims Continued from Page 47 holding key positions in Ondo State government are from the South and it is expected that they would prove their electoral strength in the election. In practical terms, no party can claim absolute dominance of the district.

Ondo Central senatorial district also has six local government Areas. They are: Ondo West, Ondo East, Akure South, Akure North, Idanre and Ifedore. This is the senatorial district that has always determined who occupies Alagbaka Government House during election.

This is also the terrain of the incumbent governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, who is from Ondo town. Recent electoral results in this area have always favoured whichever party Mimiko pitched his tent with.

When Mimiko was with the Alliance for Democracy (AD), the party won Ondo elections. When Mimiko teamed up with Olusegun Agagu of the PDP, Agagu won and when he decided to contest on the ticket of the relatively unknown Labour Party, four months to the election, the party won convincingly. The senatorial district is so thickly populated that the entire North senatorial district is only 6,000 votes more than a single ward in the Central district. Mimiko has never lost election in the Central district.

Akeredolu has also explained that Akure and people in the area are from all parts of Ondo State and when the time comes those who are indigenes of other senatorial districts will vote for candidates of their choice.

It is also believed that personalities, such as Bayo Alasoadura who has just joined the ACN to contest the governorship election but now a national officer of the party may swing considerable votes in the central district to the candidate of his party. There is also the influence of the Special Adviser to the Osun State governor on the environment, Mr. Bola Ilori, who hails from the senatorial district. It’s alleged that Bayo Ademodi and other influential politicians in the area may cause an upset.

It should be pointed out that the fact that neither ACN nor the PDP have their candidate from the densely populated Central is a tactical error and may turn out to be big advantage to the LP. Voodooism There was accusation of voodooists taking over as live cows were allegedly offered as sacrifice at different locations in the state.

Major newspapers played up the voodoo story and pictures of the objects of sacrifice were prominently displayed on pages of newspapers.

Desperate politicians circulated a statement credited to Pastor Temitope Joshua of the Synagogue Church of All Nations to the effect that he did not see Governor Olusegun Mimiko winning the election because no governor in the past succeeded in winning a second term in Ondo State.

Joshua, who is from Arigidi-Akoko in the northern part of the state swiftly issued a denial through his consultant in an electronic statement in Akure. The statement by Leaviklle Konsul said: “Such could not have emanated from him (Joshua) being a man of God who will never be part of cheap propaganda. Joshua said he had nothing against the second term ambition of the governor and that at no time did he give any prophesy against Mimiko’s second term.”

Peculiar strategies adopted to pick candidates In the spirit of zoning, the bug of zoning elective offices to different senatorial districts took precedence in the choice of candidates by different political parties. Significantly, it is worth noting that the major political parties presented candidates from the three senatorial districts. Olusola Oke of the Peoples

Rotimi Akeredolu with Chief Segun Osoba, Chief Bisi Akande and others at ACN rally last week

President Goodluck Jonathan and Olusola Oke cheering PDP supporters at a rally last week Democratic Party (PDP) is from the South.

Rotimi Akeredolu of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) is from North while Governor Mimiko is from Central.

Although the Central Senatorial District is highly populated, the argument is that thickly populated towns, like Akure and Ondo, have people from all over the state residing in them.

It is reasoned that the people residing in Akure would naturally vote for candidates from their senatorial districts.

Spokesman for the ACN, Alhaji Lai Mohammed once explained to Saturday Sun why the party settled for Rotimi Akeredolu from the north as candidate. According to him, the party discovered that all the senatorial districts had governors in the past. It was decided it should go to the north. In the north, there was Owo and Akoko axis. The Akoko in recent past had leading elected officials and the present senator is from Akoko. It was therefore considered unfair to allow Akoko to present the governorship candidate.

Consequently, it was decided that one of the aspirants from Owo should be candidate of

the party.

Akeredolu told Saturday Sun that he would win the election by 60 or 65 per cent. He anchored his chances on the popularity of his party and his acceptability in the state where he once served as Attorney general. He is proud of being a successful lawyer as he boasts that his law chamber is the best in the country.

Political opponents of Akeredolu said his major problem is that he was never part of the grassroots politics. They express doubt if Akeredolu would be able to make any impression in Owo, his hometown at the polls. He was said to have spent most of his adult life in Ibadan.

Olu Agunloye who contested for the ticket of the party with Akeredolu specifically stated that since 1979, Akeredolu has been voting in Ibadan, Oyo State and that he only transferred his registration to Owo after he was picked as candidate of the party. He stated with emphasis that Akeredolu couldn’t win election in Ondo. But Akeredolu is banking on the popularity of his party to win the election.

Agunloye quoted Akeredolu as saying that his name cannot win election, but his party can win election.

Governor Mimiko is from Ondo town and Ondo is reputed to be one of the largest in the state. The huge population of Ondo is considered to be big advantage because a sizeable percent of the entire citizens of the state resides in Ondo and Akure. Whoever wins the two big towns is considered to be close to Alagbaka government house. The strategic position of the Central senatorial district and its big population is believed to be part of the things that has always favoured Governor Mimiko.

Mimiko is believed by observers to have performed as governor. Even his opponents agree that he did one or two things. The campaign of his opponents is that they can do better than Mimiko. None of his opponents specified what he did wrong, except to make general comment of huge sums of money at his disposal in the last four years.

Continued on Page 49

SATURDAY SUN

October 20, 2012

49

POLITICS ThisWeek ONDO GUBER 2012

Jega

Mimiko

Akeredolu

Oke

Tight security KNOW THE CANDIDATES across the state Mimiko Olusegun (LP) Continued from Page 48 The most serious threat to Mimiko is the huge war machine of the ACN. Leaders of the party are enraged that Mimiko refused to join their party. Ondo is the only state not controlled by the ACN in the Southwest. The ACN Party leaders are determined to wrest power from the ruling Labour Party.

Olusola Oke of the PDP is from Ilaje area in the southern senatorial district. The party reckons that since that part of the state has never produced the governor, giving the ticket to an Ilaje man may win the sympathy of the electorate. To play smart in picking a deputy, Oke settled for a failed governorship aspirants in the ACN who hails from the north. Akredolu, candidate of the ACN from the north snarled: “ If somebody who want to be governor is picked as deputy governor, it means the person never wanted to be governor in the first place.”

Oke who was the recent past legal adviser of the party has of recent energised the Ondo PDP. Leading politicians in the South West such as Olusegun Obasanjo made moves to reconcile the various factions in the state chapter of the party. But the internecine war within Ondo PDP cannot be settled in a jiffy.

The party is today banking on what it regards as the golden era of Olusegun Agagu as governor. Oke is to continue where Agagu stopped if elected as governor. That may not jell with the electorate.

The issues at stake From all indications, the difference between two of the leading political parties is strictly personal. It is a matter of ego. No differences in approach to governance. No differences in belief. No differences in the commitment to serve the people. It is politics of vengeance. It is politics of showing what it means to have the might and technical knowhow to pull down one another.

The leadership of the ACN is not pretending about its anger against Governor Mimiko.

His offence? He refused to join the ACN. For three days last week, the entire war machine of ACN led by the national leader, Bola Tinubu rev into life in Ondo State. Tinubu spoke, as he has never done before and in the process clearly expressed the fact that he is against Mimiko for personal reasons. But of all the speeches made at the three-day rally, Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State made the most revealing comment.

First Tinubu: “Four years ago, Iroko (Mimiko) came to me weeping. He came

along with two of my brothers, complaining that he was being cheated and that we should help him. …I am reporting this to you so that you can judge Mimiko with your vote.

“I took him as my brother. I gave him money and all logistics…. We went to Europe to look for help for him. It was not free. We spent Pound sterling. …When he could not enter town freely, we gave him bulletproof car.

“We assisted him with resources, his mother and the Osemewe (Oba of Ondo) of Ondo Kingdom were praying for us. Someone said he was Akala, we said even if you are a mango we will get you. There is another person in Osun who says he is a General. He kissed the dust.”

All these are personal. But Tinubu was not done. He continued: “He (Mimiko) said one term only and fought Adefarati and Agagu over one term. Now, he wants a second term.

He will do a second term in prison. Don’t be afraid, if it is difficult to remove the ring of power from his finger, the finger will be cut off.”

But Aregbesola was much more forthcoming. Hear the governor of the State of Osun: “There is nothing we have not used to beg him to join us and despite what we did for him when he was in the trenches and during the election, he turns us down.”

See why ACN would stop at nothing to cut down the Iroko?

What has Mimiko got to say to the allegation of not joining ACN that generated so much anger? Hear him: “ In four months, we built it (Labour Party), built the structure and contested elections, eventually, we won. Now, what would be the justification for saying I want to go to ACN? “The question should be: why did I not go to ACN in the first instance when I left Abuja?

I was virtually chased out (of PDP). So, why?

There was nothing like that (agreement to join ACN). They know it wasn’t right, they know there was no such pact.”

Mimiko became philosophical: “If all these efforts are geared towards development, we shouldn’t be fighting. But if it is about ego of the individual, as I said, who wants to exercise hegemonic dominion over the Southwest, it will be minus Ondo State.”

Political scientists should properly examine the above comments and decide if it an ideal political development. But for personal disagreement, from what Aregbesola and Tinubu said, the leadership of ACN would have campaigned for Mimiko.

G

overnor Olusegun Mimiko born on October 5, 1954 in Ondo town. He attended his primary education in Apomu. He attended St Joseph College, Ondo (1966-1970) and Gboluji Grammar School, Ile Oluji for his HSC (1971-1972). He also attended Obafemi Awolowo University and graduated in 1976 with BSc, Health Sciences. He had his CHB in 1980.

Mimiko was an active student unionist and at various times a member of the Student Union Representative Council (Parliament). In 1975/76, he was elected chairman of its Special Honours Committee and in 1976, he was elected chairman (Speaker) of the Students Representative Council. He also served on the University of Ife Union Electoral Commission in 1977-78.

In January 1992, he was appointed Commissioner for Health and Social Services in Ondo State.

He left office in 1993, as a result of the military coup that terminated the third republic. He returned to the same office as commissioner for health in 1999 and resigned his appointment in November 2002. He emerged as secretary of the State Government in 2003 and was appointed Minister of Housing and Urban Development until December 2006 when he resigned to contest election in 2007 on the ticket of the LP. He won the election but had to wait for 20 months before his inauguration as governor in 2009.

The governor did his internship at Ondo Health Management Board at the General Hospital, Ado-Ekiti. He worked in private Hospital in Onne, Rivers State and Lagos. He started his own practice in 1985 and established the Mona clinic, Ondo.

In politics, Mimiko started in the second Republic when he served as Publicity Secretary of the Ondo Local Government chapter of the Chief Obafemi Awolowo led Unity Party of Nigeria in 1983. During the Third Republic, he was elected twice as ex-officio member of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP), executive council in Ondo LGA. He also served as a member of the disciplinary committee.

Rotimi Akeredolu (ACN)

R

otimi Akeredolu was born on July 21, 1956. He attended Government Secondary School, Owo. He also attended Aquinas College, Akure, Loyola College, Ibadan and Comprehensive High School, Aiyetoro for his HSC. He attended University of Ife and graduated in1977.

He was active in student unionism and was elected vice president of the Student Union, 1975-76. He was called to the Bar in 1979. He was the Secretary General of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Ibadan branch (1985-86). He is member of the National Executive Council of the Bar from 1985 to date. He served as the Publicity Secretary (1988-89). He was a member of the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria (1989-91). He became the vice chairman of the Ibadan branch in 1991 and subsequently the chairman in 1992 and 94.

He served as Attorney General, Ondo State between 1997 and 99. He was at the same time a member of the Ondo State Judicial Service Commission.

He became a Senior Advocate of Nigeria in 1998. He was elected unopposed. He became a member of the body of Benchers and at the same time reappointed in 2006. He was a member of the Governing Council, Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (2008-2010). He was a member of the International Bar Association and the Nigerian representative at the National Judicial Council (NJC). He is also a member of the Pan African Lawyers Union.

Olusola Oke (PDP)

T

he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Olusola Oke, was born on April 7, 1956 at Ilowo in Ilaje, Ondo State. He attended UNA Primary School and graduated in 1961. He enrolled at the University of Ife and bagged LLB in 1986. He was called to the Bar in 1987.

Oke was a member, Ondo State Board of Internal Revenue in 1991 and elected to House of Representatives, where he represented Ilaje /Ease Odo constituency on the ticket of the SDP. He was a member of the Board of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) representing Ondo State. He was chairman of Ondo Oil-Producing Area Development Commission (OSOPADEC) and member of the National Political Reform Conference. He was chairman, Boards of the Federal Polytechnic and was the immediate past National Legal Adviser of the PDP.

50

SATURDAY SUN

October 20, 2012

cocktailcircuit

with Omoniyi Ayedun 08027537357

The installation and fund raising ceremony of Lion Olori Bunmi Oderinde as president, the New Festac Lions Club District 404B, Nigeria took place at De Hall, Lagos Printing Corporation Complex, Ikeja, Lagos, recently.

Photos by AYODELE OJO

Lion Olori Bunmi Oderinde being decorated by Lion Evelyn Afejuku and Lion Stella Agbogun Lion Olori Bunmi Oderinde, Oba Kehinde Gbadewole Adeboye Olugbenle, Oba Michael Ayinde Oderinde and Olori Adeboye Olugbenle

Lion T.O.S Adewumi and Lion Fola Onifade

Lion Stella Agbogun, Mr. Sola Yemulusi, Lion Evelyn Afejuku, and Lion Olori Bunmi Oderinde

Oba Solomon Atanda, the Asade Ologba of Ogba and Oba Sanni Asade

Cross section of members of the new Festac Lion Club District 404B Nigeria

Lion Fadekemi Ogunseye, Lion Lynda Odunmbaku and Lion Sola Noibi, all from Esteem Lion Club, Ota Lion Felicia Obilo, Lion Olori Bunmi Oderinde and Lion Ngozi Chuks-Okeke of Simon Lion Club

Lion Evelyn Afejuku, Hon. Fatimo Adamu and Barrister Olumide Jayeola

Lion Olori Bunmi Oderinde with her children

SATURDAY SUN

October 20, 2012

51

cocktailcircuit The dedication of the ultra-modern sanctuary of Foursquare Gospel Church, Omole, Lagos by the General Overseer, Rev Felix Meduoye, as part of its 25th anniversary, held recently.

Photos by OLUFEMI KAYODE

The sanctuary

Rev Ademuyiwa Emmanuel, Secretary, Ikeja District, Pastor Adewumi and Rev Felix Meduoye.

Rev Sam Edijala (right) and Rev Tobi Akinbo

Rev Meduoye cutting the tape to dedicate the sanctuary while Rev (Mrs) Fola Adewumi (left) and Pastor Adewumi look on.

Vice Chairman of the Anniversary Planning Committee, Sis Maureen Okerentie and Deacon Niyi Obasan

Rev Meduoye and his wife, Rev (Mrs) Bisi Meduoye

Chairman, Anniversary Planning Committee, Deacon Femi Adesina (right) and Secretary, Bro Henry Senewo

Rev & Pastor (Mrs) Julius Ajogbeje

Rev and Rev (Mrs) Albert Oshibanjo

Rev (Mrs) Adewumi (left) and Rev (Mrs) E. A. Shobola

52 SATURDAY SUN

October 20, 2012

Kiddies World With Rachael Agunta, rachaelchiegeonu@yahoo.com, 08021055176

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Where do you kin Dosmu Odume.

Who bought it e can A What is your Sh I live at No 15, a.

Why do people dm an gr y e?

M m na s daddy’ t. Keke Street, Ago. •NEXT WEEK’S QUESTION: bathe? go to the marke you come His name is Mr. e th Which state do ey bathe so that e Th sid in r put he Obi rry La gle smelling. ur from? fo be t they will no water. I have na, Anambra Chukwu. es s y’ on e? d I am from Abaga m th re um ba o m u Tw yo ur s. o yo D ging What is State.

Yes, I do school? and adult ones. name? u. kw u? hu C r Do you like yourteacher gives ife nn Je is e Who bathes yo f. m na Her y do? el ys dd m da Yes, because my by ur e yo th ba es I What do at a shopme book.

My daddy works Precious Olumba

P

What does water do to the body?

Event

T

his year’s Charming Kids Festival of Beauty and Talent for kids took place recently at the Best Southern Hotel, Lekki, Lagos.

At the end of the competition, which had more than 30 children compete in different age groups,12-year-old Chineze Ibeagi emerged the overall winner, Charming Princess 2012/13. Chisom Agbarakwe, 14, won the Teen Charming Princess, 2012/13 and Dabiella Okoye, 9, won the Little Miss World Nigeria crown.

The boys were not left out as they also went home with prizes won in different categories. The Most Liked Charming Prince was Nonso Unomah, 12, George Louis 12, won the Most Handsome Charming Prince prize while the Cutest Charming Prince was won by Favour

Winners emerge at Charming kids festival/pageant John 12.

Every year, the pageant presents children between age four and 15 the opportunity to showcase their intellects, talents and beauty. The pageant brings together children from across the country to celebrate talent and beauty, thereby creating a platform for friendship among the future leaders, as well as understanding the culture and tradition of the society.

According to Frances Oho, founder, Charming Kids International,Charming kids was established “to help make children build confidence in themselves in order to stand out and overcome shyness which is common among children.”

“We have also given children opportunities to travel to different countries and share their talents with other children from different parts of the world.”

Oho says that the main reason for charming kids is to touch lives of children especially underprivileged children who cannot afford the cost of education.

“We are proud to say we have given education to a couple of children and with God on our side, we shall continue to help these poor children.”

Send your comments, short stories and poems to the above e-mail address

Bongos Ikwue, Ras Kimono for honour as Headies holds today

Adieu, Mr. Showtime!

OCTOBER 20, 2012

53

ENTERTAINER EDITED BY TOSIN AJIRIRE (tosinajirire2000@yahoo.com)

Muma G weeps!

•As flood wreaks havoc on diva’s home

By CHRISTIAN AGADIBE

W

hen sensational soul singer, Asa, sings in one of her popular tracks that “one day the river will overflow and there will be nowhere for us to go”, little did Afro pop diva, Faith Nwaumo-Eke

aka Muma G know that the song will turn-out prophetic and would capture her current experience.

Only recently, flood wreaked havoc on the entire Ahoada West Local Government Area of River State from where Muma G hails, rendering the inhabitants of about 60 villages homeless. Also, Ahoada East, Abua/Odua, and Ogba/Egbema Local Government Areas made up of Orashi region were not left out of the sad experience. “If you get here,

wild animals from the forest have turned to our villages for safety. It has gone beyond our control.

Right now, there are snakes all over the place.

People are standing in the water and snakes are hovering around them,” she lamented.

Tears With tears streaming down her cheeks, Muma G narrated to The Entertainer how the flood had affected her relatives, turning them into refugees in their own land. “It is a natural disaster. It is in fact an ecological havoc. We just saw that the flood besieged all the communities. It came with force. Over 60 villages are submerged in the flood and people are displaced.

“The situation is so bad. Some people don’t have relations and you know how Nigeria is, most people

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OCTOBER 20, 2012

ENTERTAINER in the village don’t have relations outside the village. For those that don’t have relations outside the village, there is no hope. My people are lucky because they have people like me who have a place at Port Harcourt. My compound now is like a refugee camp filled up with different families from different villages. There are those that don’t have any place to go, they are stranded right now.”

Robbery The musician alleged that miscreants and thieves are seeing the situation as an opportunity to steal valuable things from the villagers. “Bad people are using the opportunity to rob us now. People don’t have conscience; instead of helping the victims they are busy robbing them of their valuables. I always go there everyday to monitor the situation of things. If we can get relief materials, it will go a long way to help the people in this trying time.

Robbers are coming through the Express road to rob the people because my village is accessible through the East-West road, the East-West road as well is broken into two,” she remarked According to Muma G, her Foundation, which will be unveiled on October 26, is an avenue to safe lives in the region. “The state governor visi-

ted the place on the first day of the incident. He promised to set up a committee, which he actually did. He set up the committee with the deputy governor as the chairman. And the next day, the deputy governor also went to see things by himself. It is a very pathetic situation honestly.

“The Ahoada West Local Government chairman is working directly with the Muma G Foundation to ensure that the relief programme which is coming up on October 26 is successful. The relief programme will take place in the affected three Local Government Areas.”

Destabilized Still crying profusely, Muma G lamented that the ugly situation has destabilized her music career.

Hear her: “It has destabilized me emotionally and not just emotionally but also as a musician.

Everyday I get here, I shed tears because it is really painful to see your family, my people, people I sing for and sing about submerged in flood. I do African music and that promotes the culture and heritage of my people. And then we have lost all the values and cultural artifacts that I am talking about. They are in the water and consumed by flood.”

My new album Right now, I am actually working on my latest album, which is titled, Motherland but I have stopped work on it for the past one week. You can see the setback because a lot of lives are in danger here. Look, I cannot speak on... (Sobbing) If the government can provide materials for the Muma G Foundation, we have a lot of voluntary workers.

They should provide sleeping materials like camping beds. People are crying that they need hot water and hot tea because they are cold inside. And honestly, if nothing is done I am afraid disease will spread like wild fire in the whole villages. Right now, we cannot even get first aid for the people.

You can imagine we are using canoe to go inside the villages to save lives. A whole six-storey building is inside the water. The worst of it all is drinking water, they don’t even have water to drink, because the toilet water has mixed up with the drinking water and everything is in a mess. If nothing is done now trust me death will come.

With the ecological disadvantage caused by the flood and the inconvenience on the people, in the next 10 years my people and I cannot recover. You can see the reason why I am crying. It is really sad.

OCTOBER 20, 2012

55

ENTERTAINER

Gov. Rotimi Amaechi speaking at the occasion

Fortune Dezi receiving his cheque from Dr. Nanay Imekuma

Faces at RIVINFO film competition award night held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State last Saturday Photos by OBED MPIEGBULAM

First Lady, Dame Judith Amaechi presenting a cheque to the overall winner, Mr. Sweetman Okujagu (middle), while his wife lookso on

Mrs Cookey Gam presenting prize to Bright Orgwu

Ibifa Umbo receiving his cheque from Mr. Charles Okahe

L-R: The winners; Bright Orgwu, Ibifa Umbo and Sweetman Okujagu

L-R: Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, Commissioner of Information, Adiela Onyedibia and Capt. Elechi Amadi (Rtd.)

Elechi Amadi and Sis Tobi, former deputy Governor

Gov. Rotimi Amaechi and Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, Commissioner of Information

Ushers

Sam Dede and Paulinus Nsirim

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OCTOBER 20, 2012

ENTERTAINER Dr. Bello hits Lagos Nov 25

Bongos Ikwue, Ras Kimono for honour as Headies holds today N

igerian music stars are poised to shine as The Headies hold today at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Nominees include D’banj, PSquare, Sarkodie, Wizkid, Tuface, Davido, Ice Prince, Naeto C, Iyanya and many others who will lurk horns in the race for awards when the event kicks-off this evening.

Commenting on the event, organiser of Headies, Ayo Animashaun said: “For over seven years, The Headies has been widely recognized as an awards platform renowned for breaking uncharted grounds since its emergence in the Nigerian entertainment scene.

The Headies recognizes, appreciates and celebrates outstanding talents.”

Veterans to be honoured today

include Ken Caleb Olumese, Tony Okoroji, Daniel Wilson, Oritz Wiliki and Chris Okotie.

Others are Bongos Ikwue, Daddy Fresh, Stella Monye, Baba Fryo, Edi Lawani, Easy K, Pretty (Junior & Pretty), Fellyx, (Fellyx & Mozzyx), Alex Zitto, Edmund Spice, and Ras Kimono. Majek Fashek, Mandators, Edna Ogoli, Onyeka Onwenu, K1, Mike Okri and Blackky are also among the honourees.

Meanwhile, scheduled to perform are Grammy nominee, Femi Kuti, Bez, Timi Dakolo and Styl Plus. Others are Praiz, Chuddy K, Davido, Eva Alordiah and Brymo. Dammy Krane and Burnaboy, winners of The Headies Rookies Competition 2012 will also be performing.

M

ovie maker, Tony Abulu, is wrapping up plans to storm Nigeria with his new movie entitled, Dr. Bello, which premiers on November 25 at Eko Convention Centre, Eko Hotel & Suites, Lagos.

Expected to grace the premiere are Genevieve Nnaji, Stephanie Okereke-Linus, Isaiah Washington, Vivica A. Fox, Jimmy Jean Louis, Victor Browne, Ebby Bassey and Bern Cohen among others.

According to a member of the project team, Tunde Mark Alabi, plans have been concluded to ensure a successful premiere in Lagos, adding that Doctor Bello would raise the bar in Nigerian movie experience.

Commenting, star actress, Vivica A. Fox, who starred in the movie, described the project as an opportunity for exchange of ideas and knowledge among practitioners.

Dr Bello is the story of an emotionally troubled but brilliant cancer specialist, Dr. Michael Durant who is still in denial after he lost his 10 year-old daughter to cancer. He immerses himself in his work and stays away from his wife who blames him for their child’s death and so he forms an unlikely bond with a sick, loving, but rambunctious seven-year old boy Sam.

Dbanj

Blaqshyne drops another single, Opio

F

inesse Entertainment’s signee, Jibril Olawale Braimoh better known as BlaQShyne, has dropped another single entitled, Opio.

The single was premiered recently and is already a buzz on the social networks. “The secret to this song is Opio, a new dance step,” BlaQShyne said, adding that the new dance track was

inspired by a street football move called, Opio, where a striker is able to score a goal by distracting the defender.

“The Opio dance was inspired by football,” BlaQShyne states, “the mind-blowing song leaves the listener with a lot to imagine. Finesse Entertainment has also released a video teaser for the dance”

Born in Lagos and raised in Kano, BlaQShyne’s musical influences include Usher, Tuface and other R&B greats.

His music has been described as a fresh and irresistible fusin of Afrobeat and R&B. Opio was produced by Finesse’s in-house ace producer, SuperSoniq, and is set to hit the top spots on the airwaves and the dance floor.

Adieu, Mr. Showtime!

Story and photos by TOSIN AJIRIRE

T

Late Amadi

ears flowed like water as the remains of Ogbonnaya Amadi, Entertainment Editor of Vanguard Newspapers, were on Friday October 12 committed to mother earth at his hometown, Okagbue, Ohafia, Abia State.

Born on December 4, 1963, Amadi passed away on August 29, 2012 after a brief illness. For more than two decades, he edited Showtime, the entertainment column of Vanguard.

Amadi’s final journey home began on Monday October 8 with a service of songs conducted by the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Acme Parish, and held at his residence, 7/9, Aganga Willaims Street, off Haruna Road, College Road, IfakoIjaye, Lagos. It was followed by a candlelight procession organized by entertainment journalists and Friends of Amadi.

Amadi’s body had on Thursday arrived Okagbue where a Christian wake was held. Preceding the final burial, however, was a lying-in-state and funeral service conducted by the Redeemed Christian Church of God. Amadi is survived by his mother, Madam Grace I. Amadi, his wife, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Ogbonna Amadi, and sons, Jude Ogbonna Amadi, Onyekachi Samuel and Benedict Ogbonna Amadi.

As the coffin is being lowered to the grave

Amadi’s wife and children at the grave side

•Late Amadi’s mother, Madam Grace Amadi