Sunday Sun - August 5, 2012

N200

AUGUST 5, 2012

•VOL. 6 NO. 485

•Say ‘when rape season is over, we’ll go into kidnapping’ •Rape widows again

PAGES 7, 8

PAGE 58

Rapist dare Enugu governor Serena wins Tennis gold

STRANGE CHURCH

...where prayer is stored in containers PAGES 2, 4

•’There’s no heaven or hell’ •Jesus delivered their Bible in 1958

The installation of His Grace, Most Reverend Alfred Adewale Martins as the Archbishop of Lagos took place at the Holy Cross Cathedral Lagos yesterday.

Photo shows His Grace, leading the procession to the church during the ceremony.

PAGES 9, 10

–Ex-IGP, Okiro

PAGE 61

I never collected LAGOS PDP BOMBS ACN bribe as a cop •Stop taking our money to Oyo, Edo, Osun, Ogun

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AUGUST 5, 2012 SUNDAY SUN

Top stories Strange church where prayers are stored in containers •No heaven, no hell •Members don’t read Bible •Pray through UFOs

By BOLATITO ADEBAYO

T

he Aetherius Church is not well known in this part of the world according to Engineer Celestine Nwaruh who is a leader in the church . The church is a worldwide spiritual organization comprising people who are dedicated to help heal and uplift humanity. It was founded by the late Western Yoga Master , Dr. George King and is believed to bring a sort of balance back to humanity. In this interview with Sunday Sun, Nwaruh sheds more light on the teachings of the church and many more issues.

What is the Aetherius church all about?

The church is an unorthodox church founded in 1954 by a western master of yoga known as George King. Before the founding of this church we have been into the practice of yoga for years. This church was based on the command that he heard from the thin air. He was told to prepare himself that he would be the voice of the inter-parliamentary bridge .

Before then, the word was unknown to him or to any other person in the world . That was the beginning of the church, and today that’s why we have the Aetherius church all over the world.

You are the head of the church here?

Yes, I am the organizer here. We have our headquarters in London, that is the European headquarters, then the American headquarters is in Los Angeles. We have other branches around the world. In Nigeria, we have the Western Nigerian branch at Ojodu, Lagos and Eastern Nigeria branch in Aba. Under that we have various groups too.

I did some research on your church and found out you people believe in Unidentified Flying Object(UFO). Can you elaborate?

Yes, we believe in UFO and we work hand in hand with them because that instruction that came to our founder then came from extra terrestrial intelligence and this extra terrestrial intelligence is what people call UFO. But are the UFOs real?

Yes, they are real because we have identified them. It’s people who don’t know them that call them unidentified .

You said you have identified them, so what are they?

They are beings that live in another planet, they are like you and I, but more advanced than us. All our teachings are delivered by these beings. We don’t refer to them as UFO anymore in our church because we have identified them and they have been making contact with us for the good of all mankind. They have been channeling information to us. For instance all our prayers, teachings, instructions are from them and we call these transmissions.

Is it like electronic transmission, I mean do you hear this UFOs clearly?

They are recorded voice transmissions. They are more real in their physical forms but relative to us they exist in different vibratory framework that make them not be physical to us. They don’t appear very physical to us because they’re living in different realms of existence. You understand?.

Are they like angels?

You won’t call them angels per se but when someone is being referred to, as being angelic it’s a function of spiritualization, but if you consider their levels of spirituality then you can refer to them as angels but we know they are not angels.

Are you Christians?

Yes, we are Christians. We are what we call practical Christians.

You believe in Jesus Christ?

We believe in Jesus Christ, you can see the picture of the master Jesus on the wall. We believe in the master Jesus and our main prayer is called the 12 blessings.

Like in the bible?

Yes, it is like the bible and it was delivered by the master Jesus himself in 1958. Jesus the Christ channeled this information using our master as a contact and it is recorded. So this is our tool for prayers and spirituality. We have done and we are still performing miracles at the global level.

So you perform miracles too like the Pentecostal churches?

I used the word miracle but not at the level of miraRight now, we are working cle alone as we do spiritual towards getting more prayer batwork at the teries here and when such prayer global level.

We hardly batteries arrive here it now means bother ourselves with that at least one day in a week the issues of person- charging sessions will take place . al purposes but it’s not that we This means that the period of don’t bother about personal issues. We praying to store in this batdo healing, we train teries have to take people here to do that place. because our master device methods are anchored on the

“

premise that anybody can practice to heal.

You mean like going to a medical school?

No, it’s just like the laying of hands people do. It’s just that we teach people what they don’t know. For us the act of healing is not a special gift meant for only a few people, you understand?. Healing is general knowledge that anybody can train for and practice. In our churches, healing is one among 13 aims and objectives of the Aetherius society.

You said you believe in Jesus Christ but do you use the bible?

I will say yes, but we don’t read the bible per se, but for you to be an effective member of this church you are a practical Christian. What is a practical Christian? It’s someone who is living Genesis to Revelation.

But since you don’t read it, how do you practice what is in it?

Yes, by the time you practice and study what is here in the twelve blessings which is an extension of the beatitude on the mount, you will see that you are practicing all that is there … that are good in the holy bible. It’s like when you see somebody who is doing a PhD programme and you ask have you done your master thesis. Of course such a person will tell you I have done it and that is why I am a PhD candidate.

You see the Aetherius church is the only church that I know on earth that has the capacity to pray and store prayer in physical containers that we call prayer batteries.

So I can pray and store it somewhere, how do I do that?

We do it and release this energy to the world or to areas that need these prayers at anytime, for instance in situations of earthquake, tsunamis, hurricane and all natural disasters with recorded impact.

But why can’t you release this prayer energy for Nigeria, especially with this Boko Haram phenomenon?

For Boko Haram, we can release energy but we have not made such request. Right now, we are working towards getting more prayer batteries here and when such prayer batteries arrive it means that at least one day in a week the charging sessions will take place .

This means that the period of praying to store in this batteries have to take place. People ask us why do we pray and store instead of us to pray for peace straight away. I tell you we are closing the gap between science and religion.

But it is not all prayers that are answered?

We have proofs and I can show you in our writeups. There are situations where these prayers are released and it baffles the greatest of meteorologists. When we are told that a hurricane or storm is approaching the land and when we get the information in good time, which we often do, energies are released to such situation. There are times when the destructive storm gets to land mass but most times we get it to acceptable speed that will reduce the disaster. We are not saying that we have bridged the gap totally between man and disaster because there are certain things we cannot do and achieve alone. That is why we are creating awareness and telling people to join us in this crusade, let us spiritualize ourselves so that the spiritual energy that is lacking on this planet can be made available so that the troubles of disasters on earth can be eliminated.

When will the prayers batteries come to Nigeria?

As soon as we are ready but such equipment are sen•Nwaruh sitive equipment. They are radionic equipment and they have the power of healing from a distance. We are healing at a global level, for instance we have a hurricane that consumes a million people and so on.

But we don’t have such disasters in the country?

Well, we don’t but the man that dies from another country from such is your brother no matter the distance. As far as spirituality is concerned we are all brothers. So when you heal at that level everybody benefits.

But how did you discover this?

Our master said that a wise man is a man who changes his decisions in the light of a better reasoning.

So is this your belief a better reasoning compared to where you are coming from?

Yes, it is. If it were not, I wouldn’t be here, this one satisfies my spiritual yearning more than where I was before.

In my research, I also found out that your church is here to protect the earth?

If you say that, that means that we are kind of macho men. We are creating awareness for man to spiritualize himself and one of the problems humanity is creating today is destroying mother earth. I don’t think 1% of humanity knows that but by the time we all know it our spirituality will soar. What we are trying to do through terrestrial intelligence is that if we can treat the earth with more respect things will be much more easier for us. Like the atomic bombs being planted in the desert, drilling of oil and so on. All these destroy the earth. There are issues of global warming, melting ice, ocean surge, aridity on one side and flooding on the opposite side , and hurricanes. These things are results of activ-

•Continued on page 4

Okunoren twins set to take over men’s wear

By CHRISTY ANYANWU

O

NE of Nigeria’s most successful fashion brands, Okunoren Twins, are set to open their first store after 10 years of bespoke tailoring services.

Their designs are the epitome of sophistication and style.

For 10 years, the Okunoren twins have been injecting glamour into the world of Nigerian fashion, winning them respect within the industry along with a host of A-list devotees and followers.

Their flagship store which is scheduled to open in September, 2012 will carry the twin’s full product range which includes their retail collection, the bespoke services and their new shoe line. The 72 square feet retail space which is situated in Dolphin Estate, Ikoyi Lagos, will by far be one of the finest fashion spaces in Africa.

With this, the label is bound to up the menswear segment to new supreme stylistic heights and this is just a first step in a career that is bound to change the face of menswear in N i g e r i a through sheer chic innovation.

The store will be opened by the minister of trade and investm e n t , Olusegun Aganga.

Okunoren Twins

SUNG GIRL

AUGUST 5, 2012 SUNDAY SUN

Sunday, August 5, Weather Report CITY

Aba

Max Temp

28ºC T’Showers

Min Temp

24ºC

Abuja 26ºC Heavy Rain Shower 30ºC Benin 26ºC Heavy Rain Shower 26ºC Birnin-Kebbi 34ºC T’Showers

28ºC

Calabar 26ºC Thundery Shower 22ºC Enugu 28ºC Thundery Shower

28ºC

Ibadan 28ºC Thundery Shower

24ºC

Ilorin 29ºC Thundery Shower

26ºC

Jos

20ºC

26ºC Heavy Rain Shower

Kaduna 28ºC Heavy Rain Shower 25ºC Kano 34ºC Heavy Rain Shower

25ºC

Lagos 27ºC Heavy Rain Shower

28ºC

Maiduguri 33ºC Heavy Rain Shower26ºC Onitsha 28ºC Heavy Rain Shower 24ºC P/H 24ºC Thundery Shower 18ºC Sokoto 34ºC Light Rain Shower

27ºC

Zaria 28ºC Heavy Rain Shower

22ºC

CMYK

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AUGUST 5, 2012 SUNDAY SUN

Top stories Motorists beware: Roads that lead to jail in Lagos G

overnor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State on Thursday, signed the controversial traffic bill that stipulates threeyear jail term for one-way traffic violators in the State, into law.

Consequently, it is important that residents and visitors alike know some of the roads in Lagos that can take defaulting motorists directly to jail henceforth.

Since the Shopping Mall that accommodates Shoprite was launched in Alausa, Ikeja, the road that passes directly behind it became a one-way street.

Policemen have been feeding fat on those who had used that road for ages but are unaware of this development. With the passage of the bill into law, heading in the wrong direction on that road could send a motorist to jail for three years.

To new motorists and those visiting Lagos, Somolu area is filled with booby-traps that can send them to jail because of its numerous one-way streets.

According to John Awe Online, one of such roads that quickly come to mind is Oyebajo Street.

If you’re going to Ikorodu Road from Morocco Road, Oyebajo Street is to the right.

With no visible signs, the street is a one-way ticket to prison.

Also, if you are driving from Ikorodu Road, heading toward Igbobi College, there is a one-way traffic street by Fadeyi Bus Stop via Kalejaiye Street. It is on the right turning before the National Orthopaedic Hospital.

Officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority usually don’t stay at the entry point to warn motorists, but in the middle to apprehend them. You risk loosing your freedom for three years!

Similarly, the popular bridge linking Dopemu to Egbeda is one-way traffic at a designated time of each day. From 5am to 11.59am, you can cross from Dopemu to the Egbeda side and vice versa without trouble.

But by noon, if you cross from Egbeda side to Dopemu, you may kiss your freedom goodbye because LASTMA officials and the police are likely to be waiting to escort you into a Black Maria truck.

On the Yaba/Akoka section, there are few booby-traps, apart from the clear one-way traffic roads with concrete medians. The one that leaps to mind is the major road from University Junction that leads directly to the UNILAG gate.

The road is 95 per cent two-way traffic but there is a five per cent one-way traffic where one has to detour inside the community and burst out a little further down the road. There is a fading ‘No Entry’ sign to warn motorists,

but many first- timers miss it. They are toying with three years behind bars.

The service lane at Oshodi, for motorists coming from Mile Two, is presumably twoway traffic up to a little after NAFDAC. The road forks into two with the right linking CAPPA/Mushin, while the left links Oshodi Oke. Motorists who want to drop passengers at Oshodi, but are too law-abiding to do it on the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, usually enter the service lane, drop their passengers and drive past NAFDAC. At the fork, they bear left to link Oshodi Oke, onward to Oworonsoki or Maryland, as the case maybe. But any day LASTMA officials are broke, they usually stay on Oshodi Oke bridge to monitor those climbing the bridge at the fork and pounce on them, for one-way traffic violation.

Those who are unlucky to pass that route on such days, may be writing a prison memoir soon, or be ready to pay the school fees of the children of the ‘hardworking’ LASTMA officials on duty.

In the past few months, motorists coming from Toll Gate by 7Up, to link Oregun, no longer drive straight into Ikosi Road by Union Bank because entry has been barred even though there is no single sign to that effect. In lieu of that, there are traffic cones placed there to guide motorists.

‘There’s no heaven or hell’ •Continued from page 2 ities of man. The awareness we are trying to create is that this not a physical issue but with spiritual dimensions.

So you got all these messages from the UFOs? Yes. We are now trying to gather people to solve these.

What is the solution to these phenomena?

The only solution is for man to spiritualize himself. The greatest energy crisis that we are having here on this earth today is the spiritual energy crisis. The way we think, the way we act is impacting on mother earth. When we treat this on the spiritual level then the material level will manifest on its own.

Don’t you think you are tilting towards science and it’s sort of academic and not relevant to the average man on the streets?

It’s so spiritual that to the ordinary man it looks too academic. We are the only church that bridges the gap between science and religion because most things that science is pursuing the church is ahead of it. He gave us the reasons why terrestrial intelligent beings remained invisible. He told us how they made themselves invisible. That is why you see flying saucer moving.

You have seen one before?

Yes, even you must have seen one and you don’t know that is it. But more often when you see any light in the air that changes direction then you know it’s no longer nature because nature doesn’t have capacity to change direction.

How often do you see them?

It depends on when they the have necessity to come around.

Do you have to get into any spiritual exercise to see them?

No, you don’t have to.

But can you receive messages from them?

No, our master did.

Now that your master is no more, how do you still communicate with them?

Even the one he released can last us for years to come because the master Jesus is no more here but what he released is still in use till today.

But Christians believe that the Holy Spirit continued from where Jesus stopped, so since it is just your master that had interactions with the UFOs who is guiding you now?

I am telling you that all he left behind are intact and it is supposed to guide humanity for long.

So it cannot be obsolete?

No , it can’t. If you go into our teachings you will know it can never be obsolete.

The average Nigerian who goes to church goes because they want solutions to their problems but all these look abstract .

Don’t they?

Yes, that’s true. They are looking for where their problems will be solved, the worship of God is here. For instance somebody introduced a product that cures many diseases and I felt God used that person to invent that drug to solve some problems. I know

that many people who go to church go because of health miracles, another percentage go for financial miracles and a small portion go there for God. But here, if don’t have that burning desire for God, you will find it very difficult to stay here. Remember that the word of God says that “the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom” and another says “seek ye first the kingdom of God and every other thing will be added unto you”.

Here we teach belief in the karma doctrines. So whatever people call their problems today somehow in the past they must have contributed to them.

Do you believe in hell fire?

We believe in re-incarnation.

What I meant is will the world come to an end at some point?

The world will come to an end but not the way the orthodox church preaches it, because we know that there is no such thing as hell where some people will burn forever for living just one life. I don’t think God designed things to be that way, what we know is that you as an individual will live your life experiencing various things at a particular life time. One lifetime is too short. You are a press person and all your life is about the press. If you are to go to God now what will you tell God about engineering, about agriculture? So you need to go and then return. You need to spiritualize yourself and be of selfless service. We don’t agree with the biblical heaven and hell.

•Fashola

Sometimes, there are honest LASTMA guys at the intersection to guide confused motorists to access Ikosi via Unilever. But often, those on duty are the corrupt ones who exploit the opportunity to make money.

When the State Waste Management Authority truck or other government vehicles exempted from traffic laws blow these cones away, motorists inadvertently drive into Ikosi at the intersection and are slammed by LASTMA and gun-toting policemen. Those caught in the web choose between bribing their way out and playing the unwilling guests of the Prisons.

To enjoy jail-free motoring in the state, motorists in doubt of the designation of any road are advised to check it out before they enter the road or steer clear.

...A warning to Okada riders

By VICTOR EBIMOMI

H

enceforth, one’s commercial motorcycle, otherwise known as ‘Okada’ can easily land one in jail or alternatively drain one’s lean pocket through heavy fines. This is because the new Lagos Road Traffic Law signed on Thursday by the state governor, Raji Babatunde Fashola, does not spare anybody.

The state government has promised a strict implementation of every letter of the law and the implication is that anybody who violates it would face the music. And unlike in the past, both the rider and the passenger now have a price to pay.

The new law which came into effect on Thursday has spelt out the requirements as follows: Any motorcyclist, who carries a pregnant woman, a child below the age of 12 or an adult carrying load on her head now risks three years imprisonment with community service and forfeiture of the bike, while such passengers will also be prosecuted.

It is now a crime for Lagos motorists to make or receive phone calls while they are on motion. The offence attracts a three year jail term or a fine of N20,000 for first offenders and N30, 000 for subsequent offences or both for any other breaches subject to the discretion of the presiding magistrate.

Also, driving against traffic now attracts one-year imprisonment for a first offender and three years for subsequent cases while riding without crash helmet for both rider and passenger will attract N20,000 or three years imprisonment or both.

The law also prohibits motorcyclists from plying some major routes.

The restricted areas include Lagos–Ibadan Expressway, Apapa–Oshodi Expressway, Ikorodu Road, Agege Motor Road and Funsho Williams Avenue.

Other routes are Eko Bridge, Third Mainland Bridge, Carter Bridge, LagosBadagry Expressway, Victoria IslandLekki-Epe Expressway and all bridges in

the state.

In the law, there is also a change in the operational time of motorcyclists. The time has been abridged to between 6.00 a.m. and 8.00 p.m unlike what obtained before when the time was 10.00 p.m.

However, motorcycles of courier companies are exempted though they must have engine capacity of 200cc, bear the prescribed number plates and identification fitted with proper mail cabin and without any passenger.

But the law continues to generate mixed reactions from the riders as well as passengers.

For a cyclist, Emetus Amade, he wants the state government to review some aspects of the law especially the areas that deal with carrying of children and pregnant woman.

He maintained that carrying the two categories of people goes beyond monetary gain but something like service to the society.

Another cyclist, Abdulmalik Zaikri supported the law but also called for the review of the aspect that concern pregnant women in particular saying, “sometimes their cases are emergency and something has to be done”.

One of the cyclists who claimed anonymity faulted the law insisting that it is a way of making money for the state agencies and the police.

Similarly, a pregnant woman who gave her name simply as Rose also criticised the law maintaining that people like her can hardly do without Okada because of the location of where her business is situated. She said vehicles are not allowed in the area and only get there using motorcycle.

On its part, the Motorcycle Operators Association of Lagos State (MOALS) said it would try its best to ensure that its members key into the new law.

The state Financial Secretary, Alhaji Ibrahim Abiodun, stated that the association was planning to organize seminars to educate the members and would invite VIO, LASTMA and FRSC to come and deliver speeches.

AUGUST 5, 2012 SUNDAY SUN

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Top stories

God voted for Jonathan

By VICTOR EBIMOMI

R

everend David Ikhielea, founder of Winners’Assembly, Lagos, was 50 years on July 4. The Edo-born cleric, who is also the chairman of Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Alimosho Province, has spent almost half of his life in the vineyard of God. Ikhielea was converted as a student at the Institute of Management and Technology, Enugu, where he was a member of a cult group known as Bourkina Faso. The cleric who is also the chairman of Equalisation, Strategy, Intercession Global Nexus (ESIGN) spoke with Sunday Sun on a various issues ranging from religion, security, politics and even opened up on some secrets about his personal life.

Excerpts…

Sir, how did it start and how long have you been into this ministry?

It started quite a long time ago but it was finally registered in 2006. The registered name is Gospel Flame Revival Outreach Ministries (aka Winners’Assembly). I stated the ministry when I became convinced of the call of God upon my life. At that time I was working with Nigeria Reinsurance Corporation. When the call to go into full time ministry came, I had to withdraw my service. So I retired voluntarily.

By then I had been with Nigeria Re for about 12 years and I was as a senior staff.

What challenges did you face?

The interesting thing is that the grace of God is sufficient because you can imagine me getting all I wanted at Reinsurance and yet I resigned voluntarily. But the good thing is that even though there are challenges, you don’t really feel it. I have never woken up one day and regretted going into full time ministry. God has given me members that are very cooperative and want to go to heaven by the grace of God. How did your wife react to the decision to retire from Nigeria Re? Oh my wife! You know even when I was there and kept on feeling the leading of God to leave and go into full time ministry, each time I told her she would tell me that I should know that my satisfaction was not Nigeria Re. Rather, she said that God is my satisfaction. I can remember very well she used to quote the scripture, “In Him we live, in him we move and in Him we have our being.” She told me that God would back me up given that I was being called into evangelism. So she has been supporting me fully – 100 per cent. As a matter of fact she is also into full time ministry. We went into ministry together.

There is a trend whereby new generation churches preach more about miracles and prosperity rather than salvation.

What is your take on that?

Well there is nothing you can do to stop that because it is part of the fulfillment of the scripture because the Bible says there are people that will preach for their bellies.

Yes, there are people that are not for Christ.

Apostle Paul said I don’t have people that are like-minded except Timothy; others are for themselves. That is the problem we have today. Many people are in ministry for their personal benefits. Prosperity is part of the message but not total, but some people have taken it as their own message, and it is not possible for God to give anybody prosperity message and take away Christ. If you have God first, then you have prosperity. So what we should really give to people is God.

–Rev. David Ikhielea will be no corruption. When the hands of the leader himself are clean, he will clean the system with political will and if he finds that there is nothing he can do he resigns. That is a righteous man. If you say the people surrounding you are corrupt what are you doing there?

Another thing is that some people say that they are not corrupt, but due to their love for power they allow corrupt individuals to be around them. That is part of the problem. If we are going to have Nigeria transformed, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan must be ready to remove anyone around him that is corrupt and he must do that and let God back him up. The truth of the matter is that God voted for Jonathan. I say it without •Ikhielea mincing words. People like us spoke for him. Without minding That is not to say that we don’t talk about money because we can’t do without money. whether he has money or not people just We must talk about it but not at the expense voted for him and that is why I said God voted for him and these are the people he of Christ, not at the expense of salvation or should listen to and rely on. If he clears the the gospel. And we have miracles because system, as people are demanding, he will you cannot be talking about Christ without still come back. Nigeria needs a righteous miracles but it shouldn’t be the focus. That leader who will courageously carry out a is the problem of the Church today. They have made miracle the focus. So when peo- transformation and say if I will perish in the process let me perish. ple go to church they go to look for miracle; they don’t look for Christ again. That is Yesterday, you were a boy, but today why you see people trying by all means to a man of 50. Please recall your ugliest make ‘miracles’ happen. You see people taking diabolical steps because they want to and most painful experience.

I was a very rough young man. Back then acquire power by all means. The Lord will I was a disc jockey and the talk of the town. help us and the church.

Of course I drank a lot. I preferred drinking and smoking to women. I would tell my Currently Christians are facing serious challenges, especially in the North. Some girlfriend then that I would rather lose you instead of giving up my cigarette.

Christian leaders say they should fight Even when I was still working in Nigeria back while others say they would rather Re that was still my life but I was also very let the Lord fight for them. What’s your committed to my job. advice to both Christians and the govI will give you two incidents that occurred ernment? when I was growing up so that Christians For those that are saying we should fight will know how to pray for young people back, I want to let them know that such a that are engaged in criminal activities. And stance is unscriptural. So there is no way also to make the government really think of we can fight back. We leave the fight for God because He told us in his word that the what it can do to help these people. The first: one day I just sat down and thought of battle is his. Ours is to pray, we can’t fight this young man that usually came to my vilfor God. What is happening today did not lage to take our girls. He was popular. One start today; it is part of the persecution of night it just entered into my head that we the church. It is very painful; we are all should go and take his life. I just arranged worried about it even though we know it is part of the persecution of the church but we with three persons and we said that we pray that God will give those that are affect- would go and hide somewhere close to where he normally passed so that by the ed the grace to bear the loss and we also time he would be driving past we would get pray that the Lord will touch the hearts of him down. That came to our mind and we these people that are doing this so that they agreed and got ready to go and execute it. will repent. Apostle Paul who wrote the But to our surprise, God who saw ahead major part of the New Testament was a where he would take me in life did not murderer. He was on his way to carry out allow it to happen. How did he intervene? some killings when God arrested him and From nowhere somebody to tell me the changed his life. very same man was looking for me and As for government, our responsibility is wanted us to go out and drink. I mean, the not to condemn them. The problem is man was not from my village. I come from beyond the government but God can give Ilia-Ekpoma and he hailed from Irua, also them direction and help them out. He can intervene by giving ideas to the government in Isan. Promptly we forgot about what we wanted to do to him and went to drink with or by touching the Boko Haram people him. He did know what we were up to or themselves. That is what can happen. maybe he had a charm I don’t know. But Apart from insecurity, another menace that was why we did not carry out that kind of crime. Now if I had carried out that plot, confronting the country is corruption.

I would have become a murderer. Maybe I What do you think is the way out?

I know it can’t be eliminated but it can be will have graduated from there to other crimes. And that was because of idleness reduced drastically, but it needs a god-fearbecause I had already finished secondary ing leader to initiate and sustain the camschool and was just drinking, smoking and paign. When a leader is not corrupt, there

doing all those stuffs. So that is one moment in my life that I can never forget. The second incident: I remember one day somebody printed money. It wasn’t even machine print but it was just on paper and it really looked like real money. We took it to a hotel, the problem we had was that the hotel had no change; they didn’t tell us it was fake. We later went to a party somewhere that night.

We used the money to buy a packet of St. Morris cigarette from a small girl. You know who these small girls are; she looked at the money closely checking for maybe lines and others. We asked her to give us change because she had already given us the packet of cigarette; she said we should wait. Before you know she started calling her people that they should come that the robbers that came to one man’s room (she mentioned the name) had come back. What! that was how we started running for our lives. We saw a motor coming; we entered the bush. We actually later went for the party but we were restless. We had to even go and change our clothes. What am I saying? For over a year the three us involved lived with that thing. If I continued like that I would have been a criminal. You can see that many people that are called criminals today just found that the circumstances of their lives overwhelmed them. When I remember that and many other incidents including my days in a secret cult I still feel somehow.

And what about the most exciting moment?

I think for everybody, the day you experience salvation will be the best day of your life because it is total turn-around, which brings joy and satisfaction to your life. So for me the day I gave my life to Christ is my greatest day.

Having gone this far in life, you must have at least one regret. What is it?

Okay, if there is anything that I regret today it is about a girl that I will say was my first girlfriend. Right from when we were in primary six up till when I finished secondary school, we were together. She also finished secondary school. And our parents already knew that I was going to marry the young lady but I knew that I wasn’t yet ready and she at the time was ready. And they were doing well by the grace of God. At the end of the day we did not marry because she felt I was going to marry another person as soon as I started working with my school certificate. What I am saying is that she eventually married a banker. Somehow I did not know what happened to her, she fell sick. There was a time they were in Lagos. One time, I visited home for evangelism because I have a branch of our church in our place. My uncle and I were driving one day together and he mentioned it to me that the lady was around in a specialist hospital. I wanted to go and visit her there to minister to her but my uncle discouraged me from going because even up to that period he was not happy that we did not marry; that the girl didn’t wait for me. In short he didn’t allow me to go and I didn’t go. May be he also thought that he did not want us to meet and begin to feel the old good days. I now said okay what I will do is maybe when she gets back from the hospital I will look for her.

But do you know what happened, she passed on. I am still living with the pain that I did not go to minister to her before she died.

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AUGUST 5, 2012 SUNDAY SUN

The aircraft age limit plan

COMMENT HE Federal Government, according to Aviation Minister, Princess Stella Odua, is planning to set a 15-year age ceiling for aircraft used in domestic flight operations. For now, the age limit is 22 years which some airlines observe in breach! This proposal came up at the just-concluded African Aviation Stakeholders’ Conference held in Abuja.

This latest idea on reduction of aircraft life span in Nigeria is obviously a reaction to the Dana Airline tragedy which occurred on June 3, 2012. It is strange that we have to wait for a fatality of this magnitude to take place before tinkering with aviation policies as they affect aircraft used in Nigeria. In other countries, this is a routine exercise by regulatory and supervisory agencies charged with such responsibilities.

We do not know the parameters that informed both the current 22 years and the 15-year suggestion. The adjustment from 22 to 15 is not very significant. We are of the thinking that a benchmark of 10 years should be ideal especially against the background of our nonchalance to fleet management and other tangential matters.

Beyond the issue of aircraft age, there is a greater challenge of maintenance of the planes used locally. Most times in the past accidents had been attributed to illmaintained aircraft thrown up in the air to chance as a way of cutting operational corners at the risk of innocent people’s lives. There is a callous culture of poor maintenance not just in the airline business but all other segments of our life that has become institutionalized.

Other pertinent aspects of our aviation sector, which transcend aircraft age, are the history (which of course includes pattern of usage), make/model of aircraft, pilot certification and the qualification of the engineering crew at all operational

T

levels. All these dimensions determine, one way or another, the safety profile of aircraft and air space.

At the basic level, we take it for granted that directional facilities and ground personnel cannot be found wanting. Once this foundational element of flight business is fiddled with, even if a brand new aircraft is deployed there would be no guarantee of an accident-free aviation record.

In other words, human factor/error counts so much in airline business.

We do not understand why an airline would set out to endanger the lives of its clientele by flying aircraft that they know full well is not in good condition or whose lifespan has exceeded the official limit . What profit is there to be made that would catalyse such a preposterous decision? In any case, when a mishap eventually occurs, avoidable human losses are recorded, gargantuan compensations by way of insurance and other allied payments are made, airline reputational damage and poor public perception that may never be redeemed hallmark such misadventures! So, what is the benefit of such fatalistic decisions that border on callousness, greed and unprofessionalism?

Apart from the aircraft age review on the drawing board, the government should evolve stringent safety measures and strengthen existing operational guidelines for the aviation sector in order to curtail accidents in this mode of transport that is touted as the safest and fastest means of movement of people and goods from one point to another.

We commend the Aviation Minister for nurturing the notion of updating the chronology of aircraft used locally on our shores from 22 to 15 years. This would at least reduce the incidence of some avoidable crashes involving our local airlines.

All hands must be on deck to ensure overall safety of all stakeholders, which include patrons who are more endangered in the event of any accident.

Let the planned age regime come to reality—and not crash under ministerial bureaucracy which is typical of administrations in Nigeria or coercive pressure from selfish airline operators who prefer to cut corners! The Ministry of Aviation in conjunction with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) must sit up and enforce flight safety stipulations as obtains in other parts of the world.

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AUGUST 5, 2012 SUNDAY SUN

7

INSIGHT . . . T H E S U N S P E C I A L I N V E S T I G AT I V E S E R I E S EDITED BY HENRY UMAHI

ENUGU WIDOWS RAPE UPDATE:

Rapists dare Sullivan, Ekweremadu

•Abonyi Janet

•Hoodlums rape victims again •Women finger sponsors within, decry govt’s silence

By SUNDAY ANI (nichsunny@yahoo.com)

F •Nkiruka Ugwuanyi

•Nnadi Christiana

our months ago, Opi community in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State made news when some youth in the sleepy community and university town of Nsukka raped helpless widows old enough to be their grandmothers and great-grandmothers.

The abominable act recorded particularly in Ogbozalla and Ibeku areas of the community, was exclusively reported by Sunday Sun in its edition of March 18, this year, and attracted condemnation from across the society.

However, apparently, neither the Federal nor the Enugu State government did enough to fish out the perpetrators of the heinous crime and ensure that they face the wrath of the law.

Thus emboldened by the official inaction, the rapists, according to women in Ogbozalla community, went back and raped their victims all over again as if daring Governor Sullivan Chime, the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremmadu; as well as Senator Ayogu Eze and other political heavy-weights from the state.

Expectedly, the rape of the first set of victims again by the same hoodlums raises some nagging questions. Were the rapists angered by the widows’ courage to speak to the media or did the old widows or their children offend these hoodlums or their friends? Are the raped widows hapless victims of a powerful cult group on the prowl or just victims of a weak State security apparatus?

Also begging for explanation is the seeming icy silence on the part of the authorities.

Checks by Sunday Sun revealed that before the second incident, the victims had received gifts that they were told, came from Governor Sullivan. The items included foams, bedsheets, bags of rice, salt, seasonings, pots, plates, and clothings. Each of the raped widows was also given a carton of milk, a carton of detergent and N5000. But surprisingly, exactly two weeks after the items were distributed to them, the women were roundly raped again.

Now, the women want to know where the gift items came from. They said they were curious because there are rumours that the gifts did not come from the governor. They are also worried that all the raped women in

Ogbozalla got the gift, a disturbing indication that somebody somewhere might be financing those engaged in the evil act. Moreover, how come the yet-to-be-identified donor knew all the raped women?

Yet another source of the women’s worry is the fact that it was a fellow woman who told the victims to remain indoors, hinting that the governor would send people to them with some gift items.

They accused Ogbozalla leaders and elders of shielding the bad boys from facing prosecution adding that their sorrow started when some of the suspected rapists who were picked up and detained at the State Police Headquarters, Enugu, regained their freedom in November, 2011.

“For seven months that these boys were in detention at the Police Criminal Investigation Department, Enugu, there was absolute peace in this community. But since November, last year, when some powerful men in our community bailed them out of detention, we have not known peace in this community.

“Apart from raping old women, they also steal whatever they could lay their hands on, ranging from fowls, goats, clothes, jewelleries to money. They equally extort money by force in broad daylight from people,” the women said.

Some of the victims of the second rape spoke to Sunday Sun, narrating their sordid experience in the hands of the rapists.

Victims’ tales of sorrow Abonyi Janet: is one of the victims of the first incident in Ogbozalla Opi. A poor widow with five children, she confirmed that two weeks after the rape, she received gifts purported to be from the state governor, but she was raped again. This time, her grown up son, apparently unable to bear the trauma, died in his sleep.

Narrating her ordeal, she said: “They came back again to rape me. This time, it was more terrible and devastating because the wall of my house fell on my head. People only came when the hoodlums had run away. They used concrete blocks to hit me on the head. They wanted to kill me. I don’t know what I have done but I am calling on God to save my life.

My son who lives in Abuja came home and took me back to the city for treatment and to

avoid future occurrence since the community can no longer protect us but he died in his sleep. The shame and trauma killed him.

“He just couldn’t come to terms with the cruelty being visited on his mother. He died; all my hope of survival just went like that.

Even after his death, he visited me in a dream and said: “Mama, I don’t know why they want to kill you but I have decided to die instead of you so that you can live.

“He was planning to marry this year, since all his mates are married but he died for my sake. It shall never be well with the people that have caused me so much pains. God must surely visit them and pay them in their own coins. Since I came back from Abuja after my son’s death, I have not slept in my house; I have been sleeping in neighbours’ houses.

Iruka Ugwuanyi is another victim who was visited twice by the evil boys. Unlike the other women, she looks younger, probably in her 30s as she didn’t know her actual age. Her case was worse because her husband is still alive and she was recuperating from an undisclosed sickness when they struck. She corroborated the story that they were raped the second time, two weeks after they received the gift items purported to have come from Governor Chime. “It was the same person who came the first time and this second time and I know him very well. His name is Nnanna from Ibeku Opi. The first time he came was around 1am but this second time, he came around 4am. He kicked the door with his leg and the door just like he did the first time.

“My husband is still alive but we don’t live in the same place. He lives at Opi-Agu while I stay at Opi-Uno in his family compound because I am sick. I have been sick for some time now. He visits me from time to time to know how I am faring with our two children.

The first time the rapist came, I was with two little children but this second time, I was with a woman who has four children.

“He didn’t touch the other woman. It was even the woman who alerted me that he noticed flashes of torchlight. It was as if he cast a spell on the woman because I begged her to assist me so that we could hold him back after he had raped me but she didn’t do anything. As soon as he came in, I started shout-

•Continued on page 8

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AUGUST 5, 2012 SUNDAY SUN

INSIGHT Rapists dare Sullivan, Ekweremadu •Continued from page 7 ing, “robber, robber,” and he brought out a knife and gave me a deep cut on the head. But I kept on shouting until he subdued me. As I speak now, my throat still hurts. “Even while he held my throat, I tried to hold the collar of his shirt but it was late. I fell on the ground and before help could come, he was through with me; he raped me and ran away. I have five children but I don’t live with all of them; some are staying with their father.”

The story of Nnadi Christiana, another widow, was pathetic. In a bid to avoid a repeat of the ugly experience, she relocated from her husband’s compound after the first attack because the place was lonely. But the bad boys still traced the old woman to her new abode to defile her the second time.

She also confirmed that her tormentors visited exactly two weeks after she collected the purported donation from the governor. She explained how it all happened starting from the first experience.

“The first time they came, I was with a small child. They broke my window and came in around midnight. The man dived on top of me and pointed his torchlight directly into my eyes. He held my throat, pinned me to the bed and immediately forced his way into me.

“I shouted and even started preaching the word of God to him but he was not moved. He had me to his satisfaction before he stood up asked if I knew him. He ordered me to bring my purse and took N5000 inside it and left only N30. He said he was leaving the N30 because it is not good for a woman’s purse to be empty. Thereafter, he went outside, sat down and started moulding marijuana.

“After smoking, he came back for me but luckily, I had escaped when he went outside, so he did not see me again and he left. After the incident, my husband’s relations moved me to a place in their neighbourhood to ensure my protection. So, I have been living with them since last year, until two weeks ago, when the son-of-the-devil visited again. As soon as I noticed that somebody was at the door trying to break in, I sat on my bed but before I could think of what to do, flashes of light from their torchlight blinded me and I couldn’t see.

“The next thing I saw was when about three men swooped on me and threw me on the floor. I shouted and shouted but before help came, one of them had raped me and they all fled. If not for the timely intervention of neighbours, three of them could have raped me and that would have been disastrous. Two weeks after I got the items, they came to rape me again.”

Esther Ezema, an old widow had a different

story. She was raped once but she is very bitter. She said: “They came around 5am. It was only one person that attacked and raped me.

He pulled my door down with a digger before he came into my house. He didn’t beat me. I had pain in my legs and that kept me awake all through the night. So, it was just that early morning when I wanted to sleep that I noticed that somebody was pulling my wrapper. I thought it was the small boy lying beside me whom I had scolded for lying carelessly. I didn’t know it was the rapist who had come into my room and was already getting to work.

Before, I knew what was happening, his flashlight was on my face and when I said, ‘who is that?’ he ordered me to shut up and immediately went for my throat. His hands remained there until he finished defiling me. Nobody came because he didn’t allow me to shout and even when I asked the small boy with me to go and inform our neighbour, he gave the small boy a very hot slap when he stood up to go out.”

Ogbozalla women speak Meanwhile, some women in Ogbozalla, Opi who had been organising other women on how to stamp out rape and other evil acts from the community have complained that their lives were in danger. They resolved that only the removal of the president of the town union and immediate disbandment of the Neighbourhood Watch in the area would restore peace in the community. The women alleged that some community leaders work with the boys.

“They are working with some leaders in our community who sponsor them and there is a woman that cooks for them. They pay the woman monthly for her services. They meet every Sunday. It was one of these leaders who bailed them from the police net when they were arrested last year. The boys who are terrorising us are well known to us”, they said.

The women identified the alleged sponsors whose surnames have been withheld by Sunday Sun, as one Ezeugwu from Ogbozalla, one Asogwa from Ibeku and Lampard from Idi, all in Opi. They condemned the arrogance with which, “the suspects boast that when the season of rape is over, they would go into kidnapping.

The embattled women also lamented their present plight.

“We go out through the bush and come back through the bush. They even wear masks to haunt us. The boys have the support of some powerful men in our community. If you ask any of the leaders in Ogbozalla about what is happening, he would deny that there are rapists in our community. They would rather say that the women bring in the men that rape

them and all that. We are not safe if those leaders are not removed.

“We need government’s urgent assistance.

Our leaders are working with the criminals.

The criminals provide their security. They snatch motorcycles in broad daylight. For peace to return, we want the town union president and the secretary to step down. We also want the Neighbourhood Watch to be dissolved,” they pleaded.

Parish priest confirms women’s plight Reacting to the ugly tales in the community, the Parish Priest, St Charles Catholic Church, Opi; Rev. Fr. Martin Emeka Ozioko said that the latest incident proved that past stories about rape cases in Opi town were true.

“It is a perfect confirmation that what the media and the women fighting for their freedom and protection have been saying is all true,” he said.

Fr Ozioko disagreed with the notion that cultists were on the prowl in the area. Instead, he saw the bad boys in the community as people who want to be famous in a notorious way.

“I still firmly hold the opinion that the boys involved in this crime are all well known.

Even though we suspect that some of them belong to the new generation cults like the Viking, Black Axe and the rest of them, if you go deep into the profile of these cults, you will understand that rape is not part of their modus operandi. Therefore, I cannot link what is happening to any kind of cult or cultism”, he said.

On the accusation that some leaders were sponsoring the boys, the priest said it was still within the threshold of mere allegation.

“What I know is that the boys have become so tough that even the police cannot arrest them and that has sent fears down the spines of some leaders. So, they are afraid of the bad boys. They think that the only way to survive the boys is to give them the impression that they are not their enemies and I think it is within that level of association that the women suspect that they are conniving with them,” he stated.

On the controversial donations to the rape victims before the second attack, the priest said: “The activities of those who gave the gifts are very insulting. Commonsense should have told whoever brought the gifts that if it was given to assuage or compensate the women who were raped, they should have passed through the women who have been suffering and organising others. So, I suspect that it was a Greek gift aimed at silencing the victims of this rape so that they wouldn’t continue giving information about the incident.”

The priest also spoke on the approach of the Catholic Church to the development in the community.

•Esther Ezema

“The Catholic Church is doing marvellously well. I have laid down my life for this particular cause. I cannot fold my arms but I cannot do it in a violent way. I will use the gospel to find out how I can change the boys.

“I have been inviting people here, conducting seminars, telling them the implication of what they are doing. I don’t know the boys one-on-one. If I knew them, I would have gone to warn them directly. But most importantly, I have been trying to help them change through moral instructions and teaching. This is what I am doing as a person.

“But in Nsukka Diocese as a whole, the Catholic Church has been condemning the evil act. And just recently, the Justice and Peace Commission was briefed about it and very soon, it will join other Non-Governmental Organisations that have been working for the enthronement of peace and protection of women in Opi. “The church belongs to all of us. If you go through the Bible, ‘go and pray’ is mentioned not more than 200 times. But ‘give them something to eat; feed them as Jesus fed the crowd,’ is recorded about 1,000 times in the Bible.

“We should not just take care of the spiritual part of man alone, ignoring the physical; because the Igbo adage says, “Onye agu na agu, anaghi anu otiti dili Jesu (the hungry cannot listen to, ‘praise Jesus”).

“So, if you want a hungry man to respond to ‘praise the lord,’ give him a cup of rice, a cup of garri; give him money for condiments and when you say, ‘praise God,’ he will hear and understand you better”, the priest reasoned.

Soldiers raid baby factory in Aba From: OKEY SAMPSON, Aba

O

ne year after a child trafficking outfit was discovered in the area, the Umungasi axis of the commercial city of Aba in Abia State, is in the news again and for the same reason.

This time, another child welfare home in the area, the Seat of Comfort Motherless Babies Home, belonging to one Deborah, has been raided for alleged involvement in child trafficking.

It was gathered that the raid of the home located at No 7, Amaefula Street, by soldiers from the 144 Battalion, followed a failed deal between Deborah and a young mother, Chidinma, who had her baby out of wedlock.

Desperate to raise funds for the treatment of her sick mother and only brother, Chidinma, a native of Mgbo in Ebonyi State, was said to have confided in a friend that she was ready to sell her three-month-old boy.

Consequently, her friend took her to the Seat of Comfort Motherless Babies Home where she struck a deal with Deborah who allegedly assured her that she was free to visit her baby whenever she wished.

Thereafter, Chidinma was given N300, 000 while her friend received N200, 000 for con-

… Recover 6 babies, arrest 3 pregnant girls necting the business. But barely one week later, Chidinma’s mother died and shortly after the burial, she called the home to notify them that she was coming to see her son.

To her utter dismay, the orphanage’s management told her that the planned visit was not necessary, as she would no longer see the child.

Sensing that her baby might have been sold, she went to the Forward Operation Base (FOB) of the Nigerian Army in Aba, and complained to the officer-in-charge, Captain Chris Nwogu, who immediately sent soldiers to the home.

During the raid, the soldiers arrested three pregnant girls and recovered six babies.

Confirming the raid, Captain Nwogu said the girl reported that she and her friend received N300, 000 and N200, 000 respectively and that she gave out the child in the hope that she would have access to him as agreed.

Nwogu said that the owner of the home escaped before his men gained access into the orphanage because the workers refused to open the gate.

The army officer alleged that the three pregnant girls arrested at the orphanage had been contracted by fleeing Deborah to deliver their babies for her. Also arrested, were two girls who identified themselves as employees of the orphanage.

Captain Nwogu said that six children including a three-day-old baby, and three others said to be from Akwa Ibom and Cross River States, were rescued.

He advised the founder of the home to make herself available for interrogation adding that those arrested were handed over to the State Security Service (SSS) for further investigation and the children given to the Department of Social Welfare till their rightful parents are found.

Some of the arrested girls who spoke to Sunday Sun said that the men who impregnated them denied responsibility and their friends introduced them to the proprietress of the home who offered to take care of them and pay them off when they are delivered of their babies.

Chidinma told Sunday Sun: “I sold the baby last week Monday, for N300, 000 and

on Friday, my mother died, so I used part of the amount I was paid to bury her and when I came back to see my boy as we agreed, they refused.”

Another girl identified as MaryAnn, from Item in Bende Local Government Area of Abia State, was said to have delivered a baby girl a day before the soldiers struck.

However, the baby was taken away immediately after delivery and the mother had not been paid.

It was gathered that Deborah had been in the business for many years, and was arrested by the police last year, but was later released.

In May, 2011, the police in Aba swooped on Cross Foundation Investment ‘Heda Clinic’ located in the same area, and arrested the owner who was later described as an unrepentant child trafficker.

The medical doctor was accused of luring girls of school age who got pregnant and were paid off after delivery in his clinic.

During the raid, 32 pregnant girls from 18 to 22 years of age were arrested.

AUGUST 5, 2012 SUNDAY SUN

9

The Sunday Interview I never collected bribe as a cop

•Okiro

From AIDOGHIE PAULINUS, Abuja

I

t was a Sunday evening. The quest to unravel Okiro’s intention in writing a book on security titled Overcoming Security Challenges led Sunday Sun to request for an interview with the 13th Nigeria’s Inspector General of Police.

He was very excited to hear that Sunday Sun reporter wanted to interview him on his new book, and directed right away that this reporter should call him the following Tuesday. The appointment was fixed for 2 p.m. But his tight schedule did not allow Okiro to keep the appointment. He apologized and said he was travelling, promising that the interview would hold as soon as he returned. The appointment was fixed again for another Tuesday at 2 p.m. But still, the interview did not hold until about 6 p.m. When he finally arrived with his orderly and a handful of policemen, I knew he could no longer escape from the interview.

The outcome of that encounter is that Okiro spoke about his 32 years of policing Nigeria. The book is an anthology of the former IGP’s 32 years in the Nigeria Police Force (NPF). He spoke of probing several high profile cases of social vices and violent crimes.

According to Okiro, “the book is a collection of true life stories of cases I investigated and unraveled, including the who, how, what, and when; also the intrigues, subterfuge and lessons to be drawn from each case.”

He laid bare the two most difficult cases he handled, how he survived his turbulent career, revealing to Sunday Sun that he never compromised his duty as a police officer by taking bribe, even when he was offered. It is a thrilling and revealing story. Excerpt…

How do you view the security challenges in the country?

The security challenges are enormous. Every Nigerian is at his wits end. But that doesn’t mean we have lost hope. We are hoping that at the end of the day solutions would be found. And if you look at history, you find that what is happening to Nigeria happened to some of these developed countries before they reached where they are now. It appears you have to go through them before you become great.

Nigeria would pass through it and become great as well.

What prompted you to write the book, ‘Overcoming Security Challenges’?

The book is a compendium of my experiences from when I served as a junior officer till I retired as Inspector General of Police. I wrote the book so that people will tap from my knowledge concerning security, because security is not the responsibility of the police and security agencies alone. One cannot sit at home and say, Oh, because I have police and

security agencies I am secured. You must play a role yourself because your security is other’s responsibility. We have 160 million Nigerians. You don’t expect the police and security agencies to decide the security of 160 million Nigerians.

So, every individual has his or her responsibility to provide whole security; to have security awareness. Security awareness is very important. You should know the things you can do that would expose you to criminals. So, that is the essence of the book: to make people aware of the security challenges around them and how to prevent and protect themselves.

How was your 32 years in service?

It was worth it, as you will see in the book.

Were they tough?

Of course! They were tough, very, very tough. My 32 years of policing Nigeria was 32 years of headache.

So, how was it like probing several high profile cases of social vices and violent crimes?

Yeah! You see, in investigating cases, I found that anticrime operations are mainly directed to highbrow areas of the cities, but that doesn’t mean other people are neglected, even those living outside the cities! Those living in rural areas have a right to security because sometimes they fall victims.

But the people who cry loudest are the high-placed in the society. So, providing security for them was tough.

I discovered this in Lagos, and I told myself that if the dog belonging to the American Ambassador strayed and got shot in Victoria Island that is news. The Cable News Network (CNN) would carry it. But if people are killed in Ipaja, nobody hears of it. So, I knew I had to concentrate more on the highbrow areas and still protect the suburbs.

Did you ever compromise your duties?

There was no room for compromise. The police have guidelines; rules and regulations to perform very well, unless you have other ulterior motives. But, if your intention is to do the job, you must keep the rules and guidelines on how to protect people and do your job as police officer.

Were you at anytime induced in the course of probing high profile cases?

Yeah, in many cases.

How were you able to pass through those moments?

Somebody came to my office with a briefcase, and when he was going he left it. I asked, what is in this briefcase? He said it contained money. I said, take it, I don’t need your money.

Was it that you were not interested in acquiring money?

I didn’t need it.

Does that mean you were satisfied?

I didn’t need the money. What did I need it for? I said I didn’t need it. On very many cases and occasions, I refused offers, gifts from people. I didn’t need them. What did I need them for? God has blessed me…

How were you able to sustain yourself before you rose to the peak of your profession?

Yes. I came in as an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), from the middle cadre.

But even as an ASP, you would still be interested in money…

I would say what obtains now was not so in my time. When I was ASP, my salary was N284 per month. But that was enough for me. From that money, at the end of the month I had enough to pay my children’s school fees, medical care and take care of myself. I had to budget my salary because it was enough, until in the late 80s when the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) came in and everything went haywire. First of all, I didn’t need all those extra things. I didn’t need them at all.

Considering the challenges of insecurity posed by the Boko Haram, is it still possible for Nigerians to live a well-secured life?

Definitely! Like I told you earlier, what is happening in Nigeria would be part of our history. We shall go through it and emerge stronger. So, we are being tested as a nation and we shall overcome.

For some who may not be fortunate to read your book, can you take them through the high profile cases you handled while in service?

In fact, I didn’t put all the cases I handled in the book, because, one, if I put all, the book will be too voluminous for people to carry. I want the people to be able to put it in their pockets, bags while going about their businesses.

There were so many high profile cases I handled. I don’t know where to start. But let me give you an example. The Nigeria Police didn’t have the e-technology to investigate cases. We depended on our brains and I had to use my brain

–Ex-IGP, Okiro to unravel cases on two occasions. Talking about kidnapping, which has become a scourge now, kidnapping had been in Nigeria since 1994 when I was Deputy Commissioner of Police in Abeokuta, Ogun State. One little boy was kidnapped in a school at Ijebu-Ode. He was a twin. That particular day, his twin sister was sick, so she didn’t go to school, the driver took only the boy to school; when the school closed for the day, the driver went to carry the boy, but he was nowhere to be found. He had been kidnapped. The kidnappers called the father to demand N5 million ransom. In 1994, that was a lot of money. Incidentally, the boy’s mother was a relation to the governor of Ogun State at the time. My commissioner was on leave, and I was acting on his behalf. The governor told me to take up the matter. They (kidnappers) were calling regularly, using the 090 at that time. The man said they were calling him to bring the money, and I asked what number they were using? He didn’t know the number.

He said they were calling from the Nigerian Telecommunications Limited (NITEL). I said ok. I called NITEL (there are certain things I can’t disclose here), I discussed with them, used the 090 and NITEL number, and was able to trace the phone to a business centre they were calling from. From there we went to a popular hotel (I wouldn’t mention the hotel) and got them arrested. And the boy, a fiveyear-old, was released. That was in 1994. It was a celebrated case.

Also, when I became Commissioner of Police in Lagos, I used technology again. Architect Lai Balogun, a presidential aspirant, was killed. I visited the scene personally. I didn’t need my men to know certain things. I used to do things myself. When the Divisional Police Officer of Sabo called me at 9 p.m. and said Lai Balogun had been killed in his house, I said no problem. I visited the place and interviewed people there. The brother of Lai Balogun told me that after the killing the assailants phoned somebody and said, “We have killed him, can we now come for our money?” By then, Intercellular had been operating in Lagos. Intercellular and Interlink. The cost was N150,000 in 2001, and I knew the robbers could not afford that phone, it was either the sponsors gave them the phone or they used Lai Balogun’s phone to make the call. I asked Lai Balogun’s brother if Lai Balogun owned a phone? He said yes. And I demanded for his number. I went back to search everywhere, but I couldn’t discover the phone. I knew they must have used the phone to make the call. I then went to Interlink. It was an Interlink number.

I got the phone number. I called the number and nobody picked it. I got a print out of all the calls made with that number and that was where I used my brain.

Two were Nigerian numbers: Ikeja and Abuja. I said let’s forget about foreign numbers and start from here. I called the local number, a man picked it, I asked for his address and he told us. We went there and arrested him. I asked him if anybody called him with this number in the night and he said no, and I said I want to know who called you on this number, and if you refuse to tell me I will detain you. I sent my men to Abuja. You know that Abuja is full of very important people, very highly placed people in government.

I called the Inspector-General of Police and told him about the case: two people were called from Nigeria, one from Lagos, we have arrested him, and I am coming to arrest the one in Abuja, but I don’t know who he is. I am informing you in advance because I am coming to arrest the person, whoever he is. He said go ahead. And I sent my men to arrest a senator.

Can you tell us who the senator is?

The name is immaterial. So, we went to NITEL and got the telephone number and the address of the person. We got the senator and detained him. Like I said before, I normally have my doubts and fears. The senator called the IG that he was wanted in Lagos and the IG asked him what for? He said he doesn’t know. And the IG said well, Okiro? I have no problem. He is a sound officer. If he wants you, he has reason for wanting you. Go and answer their call. He left Abuja by 2 p.m. with his wife and drove all through the night to arrive Lagos at 9 a.m. When he came into my office, I said, why did you have to come? I hate night journey. Before he came, the case had already been unraveled because the man arrested in Ikeja had a car company. He deals on used cars. After detaining him for some time, one day he came to me and said,

•Continued on page 10

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AUGUST 5, 2012 SUNDAY SUN

The Sunday Interview ‘My 32 years of headache’ •Continued from page 9 “Oga, I am thinking of something.” I said what is it? He said there was somebody, a brother-in-law, who was living with him and whose ways were criminal and he asked the boy to leave his house. He said it appeared that it was the boy that called him. I said how did you know? He said let’s go back to my office. So, I sent my men away. His secretary was a very duty-conscious girl. A little girl! She kept record of every call: the date, the number of the person, time and even the period. This girl said somebody called and the person was the in-law to her oga. She said the person called with a cellular number and she asked where the person got the cellular phone because cellular was not easy to come by. She asked: how did you get this cellular? Who gave it to you? He said forget that, I will tell you later. He wanted to speak to oga, his in-law, and the secretary told him his in-law was not available and he dropped the call. So, we went for the boy and luckily, he was just about stepping out, and we picked him up. We asked him if he made a call to somebody, and he said yes. How did you get the cellular? He said they were somewhere they smoked Indian hemp and one of his colleagues’ friends came and dropped the cellular on a table. And they shouted ah! Who gave you cellular? And he was the first to pick it up. Who owns this cellular? Can I make a call? And he said yes. He called his in-law in Ikeja, and the senator, who was his in-law, married to his sister. He said he lived with the senator for nine years. He called him and was told the senator was not in; he wanted to go abroad and needed money. The senator was not in and he spoke with his sister before he dropped the phone. I asked him: who was the person that came with the cellular, and he gave us the name. He followed us as we went to arrest the boy. The boy said yes, they went to Lai Balogun’s house and after killing him, he had nothing. He said they stole his Rolex wristwatch, N20,000 in his briefcase and the cellular. His own share was the cellular.

He took us to the person he gave the wristwatch and we arrested him. The boy said he sold the wristwatch to an Igbo man at Balogun Market. We went there and arrested the man, we also recovered the wristwatch. So, all these things had been done before this senator came from Abuja. When he entered my office, I said senator, how are you? He said there was no problem. I sent for the Investigative Police Officer (IPO). I said this is Senator blah, blah, blah, tell him the story. The senator said he had late session that day and didn’t come back home; that even his personal assistant said nobody made or received a call. I said, but the phone shows you had this call for six minutes, you are sure nobody called? The calls are there, the phone can’t generate calls.

My people say book no dey lie, book talk am, e no go lie. I said ok, go and sort things out with the IPO. They went with the IPO, the senator and his wife. The man and his wife still denied making or receiving any call. I said, call Segun.

Segun was the name of that boy. The moment Segun opened the door; the wife saw him and fainted.

She fainted?

That was how I used my intelligence in the midst of lack of equipment. I used my brain to solve that case. I got all of them arrested and prosecuted. There were so many high profile cases, but when you mention high profile cases, Architect Balogun’s was one: very wealthy, a good promotional person, who was presidential candidate of the SDP or whatever party. You know what it means to be a presidential candidate in this country.

As commissioner of police in Lagos State, there was the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) challenge that you dealt with. People believe with the method you used in dealing with the OPC, you could also advise government on how to deal with the Boko Haram sect, using the same method. What do you think?

The OPC was an ethnic militia group. They were out to destabilize government, fight against every government policy, and make sure there was no peace and so on. The OPC was one of the reasons that brought me to Lagos, because my predecessor in Lagos had this OPC challenge and could not curtail it. And because he could not, he was fighting both crime and the OPC. He gave so much attention to OPC at the expense of crime. In fact, within one week, Tony Ikazoboh was killed in Lagos.

Who? Air Commodore Tony Ikazoboh!

Ok. Air Commodore Tony Ikhazoboh from Agenebode.

Yes. You know how to pronounce the name. But I call it Ikazoboh. It is your language.

Yes. He was killed. The Seriki Asawa in Ketu was killed, too.

Eze Ndigbo in Badia was also killed, one white man, an American, was killed also; Chris Ogunbanjo…

What of Tony Anegbode from Uromi? Was it the same period?

No! That one was later. Tony Anegbode is in my book.

Read it in my book. Then, Chris Ogunbanjo was shot and almost killed. So, Lagos was not safe. They told me to come to Lagos. They felt Okiro could do the magic. I was sent to Lagos on a rescue mission.

So, the OPC were behind the killings?

I wouldn’t say they were behind them, but it was during that period that Lagos was…

Scattered?

Yes. Scattered!

So, when I came, I had to curtail crime and OPC’s trouble.

I felt I could not leave one at the expense of the other. I had the two horns together.

And it was tough?

It was really tough, but one thing that helped me was that I was straight and firm. I faced my job without fear or favour. I led operations myself. Sometimes, when OPC was operating, I would lead my men and be at the front. And I was able, by the grace of God, to overcome. Before I left Lagos, the OPC was no more. They had been obliterated from the face of Lagos, though I lost many police officers.

One of them suffered acid bath.

By who?

By Gani Adams.

Gani Adams poured acid on him?

I looked for him, but he ran away. I declared him...

Ok, was that the time he ran away?

I declared him wanted. It took me 11 months to trail him. I was following him, and when I needed to arrest him in a camp, I knew if I did I was going to lose policemen, and I didn’t want any more bloodshed. So, I took my time and was able to pick him up without bloodshed, no loss of life and without firing a shot.

But the Boko Haram is quite a different cup of tea, in the sense that it is faceless.

Talking about the OPC, we knew who the leaders were, like Gani Adams and Dr. Frederick Fasehun. They never hid themselves. They used to make statements and I would make counter-statements. I used to say, come, let us meet face to face. But in the case of Boko Haram, you don’t know who they are. Maybe government knows. I am not in government. Maybe they know. But, as a private individual like you, I know you don’t know them. But if you do, tell me. I don’t know, maybe you do.

What is your assessment of the present IG? My assessment is that he is doing very well. He is standing on a very good footing and I have no doubt in my mind about him.

Do you think he can tackle the security challenges?

He is equal to the task.

Can you throw more light on the personality of the IG, because he must have worked under you in different police commands?

I will tell you about Lagos. I didn’t know M.D. Abubakar before, because when I joined the police as an ASP, that cuts off many years. As an ASP, you are in the middle level cadre of the police. I didn’t go through the lower level. I didn’t know a lot of people on the ground. I started from the management level. So, I didn’t know him until I came to Lagos as Commissioner of Police in Lagos. He was a Deputy Commissioner (DC) even before I was posted to Lagos as Commissioner of Police.

So, you met him in Lagos?

I met him in Lagos as DC, Administration.

Was he a fine officer?

He was a fine officer. That is what I am talking about. He was a fine officer and was so good. You see, in the police, we have three important departments in a command. We have the administration, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) investigation and the operations. He was in charge of administration, but I was still using him for operation. I was using him for investigation also because if I needed an officer to give any responsibility and go to sleep, I would give it to M.D. Abubakar, because I knew he would do the job and give me a good feedback. I won’t call him for the feedback; he would just come to the house and give it to me.

Why were you unable to stop police checkpoints the way the present IG has done?

Yes! I tried to stop police checkpoints, but at a point I found that if you stop police checkpoints, it’s like throwing away the baby with the bath water. The bath water may be dirty, but the baby is not.

The problem with police checkpoints is that people were collecting money at police roadblocks, but police roadblocks are important. If you go to advanced countries, and you are driving on a highway similar to that of Abuja-

•Okiro

Kaduna, you see that nearby there are places to pack your car and ease yourself. There are places you can buy fuel and restaurants to eat. You even have a place you can sleep for two hours before you continue your journey. We don’t have such things in Nigeria.

If you are driving on the highway and want to ease yourself, when you drive to a roadblock and see policemen, you can park your car, ease yourself and continue your journey.

If you are hearing some noise in your car, when you see policemen at roadblocks you can park and check it. So, you have major security in those places, but when you don’t have policemen, are you going to park in the middle of the bush? Like I said, roadblocks were aiding travelers security, giving them confidence on the road that they were secured.

If a vehicle is following you, and I have noticed this before, a vehicle following me, but when I drove to a police post, I parked and the vehicle passed, and after about 30 minutes I continued my journey. So, roadblocks are useful, but because of the way policemen abuse it, and not only policemen, even the people, because if you have not committed an offence, why must you give money to policemen? If you have committed an offence, just face the music! Don’t give money to anybody. Face the music!

From what you have just said, is it better we revert to roadblocks?

No, no, no. I don’t think it is better. If the IG has other ways of giving people assurance on the road without roadblocks, then it’s okay.

How is life after retirement? Are you enjoying it?

It is half past five now. I am talking freely with you. When I was in service, I couldn’t do this. At this time people would be coming and going; I would be receiving phone calls, messages here and there, and I won’t have time for you. But I can talk to you now and when you go I will go and take my late launch and sleep, and I will wake up anytime I like tomorrow.

So, you don’t wish to be in service at this time?

At 63, I have done my best for this country. So, I should rest myself, too.

Are you hopeful that your aim of writing ‘Overcoming Security Challenges’ will be achieved?

Yes. The aims are already being achieved not just in Nigeria, but outside Nigeria.

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Don’t take military for granted –Major Umar (Rtd) From NOAH RBIJE, Kaduna

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ADUNA- based political analyst, Major Abubakar Umar (rtd) , has rubbished a public statement made recently by former military President , General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, that a military coup is no longer feasible in the country.

Umar who is often mistaken for the former Military Governor of Kaduna State, retired Col Abubakar Dangiwa Umar because of the similarity in their names, warned that the nation’s military should not be taken for granted.

General Baabangida had said that military takeover of government was no longer possible in the country.

But in an exclusive chat with Sunday Sun, Major Umar said Nigerians should not be deceived, warning that a military putsch was very possible in the country.

He said that given the nature of political power in Africa, military

•Replies IBB, OBJ on state of the nation intervention is unpredictable.

The retired Army officer pointed out that factors that could easily induce coup plotting were already on ground.

According to him, there has been no serious threat to the political leadership because the military is comfortable for now.

Hear him: “I think IBB’s comment on the impossibility of military coup in the country was an over statement. The position of the military in the context of Africa is something that is very unpredictable. The involvement of the military in politics is as a result of bad governance and failure of the political system, and we have seen light, right now, that there are these tendencies that can bring about a military revolt in the country. “ One, there is total insecurity in the country. Two, there is

absolute poverty in this country.

Three, there is inconsistency in governance, and four,there is a disconnect between government and the people. So these are the bases for military overthrow of a political system.

“These bases are there, and there is every tendency that the military can come to power.

Now, IBB can be very right, saying that the military coup is out of fashion and Army will not come to power. The fact is that the present government is funding the military. In the last budget, they gave the military about N1 trillion. So, the military is very comfortable that they are getting from government what they are not going to get from themselves.

So they don’t have any basis for removing the government. But the very moment Jonathan’s government stops giving them what

they want, I assure you that with the security problem we have in this country, the economic crisis we are seeing now, the military will certainly come to power again.

‘IBB is only trying to gain relevance with the present administration by making such comment that the military cannot strike again. Of recent, his son said he is coming out to contest for political power, so if the military is coming to power, his son will not have any chance to come to political arena again. Secondly, age has caught up with IBB, and I think even the PDP has disowned him. So for him to say that military takeover is no longer possible in the country is only trying to bridge the gap between him and the PDP. Major Umar also tonguelashed former President

L-R: Dr.(Mrs) M. Y. Jinadu,Medical Director, Federal Medical Centre,Ebute-Metta; Dr. Paul Orhi, DG, NAFDAC; Award Recipient,Prof. C. O. Chukwu,Minister of Health; Mr. Emeka UgwuOju, President,South-East S o u t h - S o u t h Professionals of Nigeria during the UNILAG Alumni award and dinner in Lagos.

Ogun PDP: Obj’s faction defies court order

By MOSHOOD ADEBAYO, Abeokuta

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ESPITE a court order against it , the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun state conducted its congress yesterday with a Second Republic Senator, Chief Oladipo Odujinrin emerging as its new chairman.

It will be recalled that an Ogun State High Court in Ilaro, Yewa South Local Government Area of the state on Friday while nullifying the victory of eight newly elected councilors of a faction of the party during the last local government polls in the state also said that the Bayo Dayo-led faction remained the authentic

faction of the party.

The Presiding Judge, Mosun Dipeolu while delivering her ruling also ordered that the Dayo-led executive remained the only recognized executive of the party in the state.

The heavy presence of security operatives, both the police and the State Security Services(SSS) suggested that all was not well with the party in the state.

The three-man congress committee of the party from the national headquarters that conducted the congress consisted of Alhaji Umaru Mohammed Tambuwal , Ibrahim Sidi Bala and Samaila Dankaisai who were drawn from Sokoto, Kaduna and Kebi

states respectively.

Reacting to allegation of contempt of court by the party for conducting the election, the national auditor of the party, Chief Bode Mustapha said the ruling had nothing to do with the congress. Mustapha who represented Chief Olusegun Obasanjo at the congress told journalists that although the party would appeal the judgment,he added that the judgment did not bar the party from conducting congress.

“As much as I respect our judiciary let me tell you that the court will not run our party for us. There are several landmark judgments to this effect that says clearly that

Al -Mustapha’s absence at late mum’s 3-day prayer angers sympathizers From DESMOND MGBOH, Kano

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YMPATHIZERS, friends and relations of Major Hamza Al –Mustapha, Saturday, in Kano, expressed bitterness over the failure of the incarcerated ex-military officer to be allowed to participate in a 3-day Fidau prayer for his late mum, Hajia Fatima AlMustapha.

The 3-day prayer, which took place at the home of the late Hajiya Fatima Al Mustapha, located on Lamido Crescent, Nasarawa GRA, Kano, was attended by Nigerians from all walks of life.

CMYK

Hajiya Fatima, the matriarch of Al -Mustapha family, died on Wednesday at the aged of 70 at the Mallam Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, following protracted illness.

The religious rites featured fervent prayers for the deceased.

Concerned relations lamented the ordeal of Al –Mustapha, the eldest son of the deceased. The atmosphere at the family home was emotional as many of the sympathizers could not understand why the authorities could not temper justice with mercy and permit the former chief security officer to pay his last respect to his late mother.

One of the sympathizers who

could not hold back his emotion wrote in the condolence register, “Free Al- Mustapha, he has paid enough sacrifice. The failure to allow this illustrious son join other members of his family to mourn the death of his mum is unfair. President Jonathan should temper justice with mercy and win our hearts”.

The spokesperson of the family, Alhaji Hadi Al –Mustapha, urged the throng of sympathizers to join the family in prayers to the Lord, stressing that “as a Muslim, we sincerely believe that Allah is a Merciful Lord and He would certainly listen to us”.

party matters should be handled by the party.

He added : “From the handover notes that we received when we assumed duties it was evident that there were no congresses in Ogun State.Therefore, what we have done was in line with our party’s constitution.

According to him: ‘’ because we have respect for the rule of law, we waited patiently when Justice Charles Archibong gave his ruling, till we got that order vacated by the Court of Appeal which ordered that status-quo-ante should be maintained.”

“There was a stay of execution of that order which allows us to do what we have done which to us is legally done as well as transparent, fair and all exclusive and this is a new dawn for our party’’ In his valedictory speech, the immediate past Caretaker Committee Chairman of the PDP in the state, Ireti Oniyide, declared the congress marked the end of factionalization in the party.

His words: “No more Ireti group; Salako group but one PDP. Enough of balkanization of the party, there are no factions anymore. If anyone outside wants to join our party, he or she is welcome. There should be no more disunity.

And when they come we don’t want them to come and destabilize our party.

Olusegun Obasanjo and IBB for their recent comments on insecurity in the country, saying that they were the architects of the mess the country found itself.

“For the two former Nigerian Presidents, Olusegun Obasanjo (OBJ) and Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (OBJ) to come out and voice their opinions about insecurity in the country, it is because this is a democratic system, everybody has the right to say his opinion.

“One thing I know is that the two former leaders are very correct in their opinions about insecurity and insurgency in the country. But then, we should also

look at it this way, that Obasanjo and Babangida are the primary causes of what is happening today in the country because if you remember very well, the economic problem of this country was caused by IBB during his regime, and also we should not forget that IBB conducted one of the best elections in this country, but he annulled it and it almost caused the disintegration of the country. It brought about so many problems particularly in the western part of the country, and he was forced to leave power as consequence of what he did.”

Kaduna raid: Security men mistook me for bomber –Journalist From NOAH EBIJE, Kaduna

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ADUNA correspondent of the Hausa Service of Hamada Radio International, Mallam Suleiman Yakubu said for daring to rush to a bomb factory during a raid conducted by soldiers in Kaduna, he was detained by security men for almost an hour.

The Nigerian Army had at the weekend discovered and demolished a factory manufacturing explosive devices killing two as suspected terrorists detonated some of the devices in the process at Taro-Taro, along Abuja Street, Rigasa area of Kaduna metropolis.

Narrating his ordeal to Sunday Sun, Yakubu said the security men, comprising the Army, State Security Service (SSS), Police, among others that raided the factory descended on him, ordering him to frog- jump for coming nearer the place.

He said he stood his ground and refused to obey the security men, and that he incurred their anger the more when his cell phone incidentally rang on the spot. He added that they immediately regarded him as a spy among the bombers.

He also said that the security men obtained the last caller on his phone and confirmed that it was the Kaduna Correspondent of the Hausa service of British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Nura Ringim that called him to ascertain his whereabouts.

The Hamada Radio Correspondent disclosed that it was his press identity card and the BBC Reporter’s call that saved him from being brutalized by the security men, stressing that his effort to further tell BBC on phone his ordeal elicited the anger of the soldiers who stopped him from communicating with the BBC Reporter.

According to him, “Few minutes before the Army, SSS and the Police raided and demolished the bomb factory, there was sporadic shooting by unidentified gunmen in different directions at Rigasa, particularly along Abuja, Lokoja and Makera streets of the area.

Said he “I personally live along Abuja street in the area, but as soon as the shooting started at about 9 pm, everybody in Rigasa took cover and ran inside their houses.”

“When I got to the bomb factory the following morning which from my own assessment

is a residential house with about four tenants, I saw the Army, SSS, Police removing bombs and I witnessed about 10 bombs being removed.”

“I was asked by the security men why I came to the scene, and I told them that I am a journalist, but they told me that it was not yet time to talk to journalists on the matter. They said they will not listen to any excuse from me , and ordered me to frog-jump, but I refused, while I further showed my identity card.”

“While I was still talking with them my phone rang and they became more suspicious of me, saying that probably I am an agent of the bombers, and they insisted that they must see the last caller on my phone, but luckily for me, it was Nura Ringim of BBC that called me to know my whereabouts .

“The place the bombs were kept was a residential building where three young men of about 28 years of age and an old woman were staying. They were all taken away by the soldiers, and the said factory was demolished to its very foundation. The owner of the house, I learnt is out of town at the time of the incident.” Yakubu narrated.

Jang has the solution to Plateau crisis –NOPPA From MARIAM ALESHINLOYE AGBOOLA, Jos

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HE Northern Plateau Peoples Assembly (NOPPA), has said that recent happenings in Plateau state clearly showed that Governor Jonah Jang has the solution to the crisis in the state.

In its reasoning, the governor could end the crisis if he was determined to do so.

The secretary of the association, Jon Adaji, said in Jos that when the governor visited the victims of the flood disaster in Jos, he told them that the crisis has come to an end, which showed that he knew that as chief executive of the state, he could end the crises.

Jon, who explained that the NOPPA was formed to bring minority tribes from the zone together, said the association was determined to ensure that future leaders of the state are people who have integrity, and are accepted by the people as the voice of the region.

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Bomb blasts: Tambuwal, NSA visit Sokoto According to him “We are From TUNDE OMOLEHIN, here to commiserate with the Sokoto people of Sokoto through your PEAKER of the House Excellency over the recent of Representatives, Hon. attack in the state. The incident Aminu Waziri is unfortunate because it has Tambuwal and the National disrupted the long record of Security Adviser to President serene peace known with the Goodluck Jonathan, Colonel state. The incident was indeed a Sambo Dansuki (rtd) yester- very unfortunate one. But let day visited Sokoto to commis- me assure that the National erate with the state govern- Assembly and other stakeholdment over the recent bomb ers are working round the clock to put an end to this security attacks in the state.

Tambuwal who also came challenge”.

In his remarks, the state govwith other members of the Alhaji Aliyu National Assembly from ernor, Wamakko, Sokoto state said both the Magatakarda Federal Government and the described the suicide bomb National Assembly were work- attack on the state as ‘criminal ing round the clock to address and unnecessary’. He thanked the current security challenges the delegates for the visit, adding that the attack on the in the country.

He described the attack on state would not deter the people the state as unfortunate and from living in peace.

His words: “We are not called on the people not to be intimidated with the develop- intimidated by the attacks on ment. Tambuwal also enjoined our state because as a Muslim, Nigerians to cooperate with every soul must return to security agencies in order to Almighty Allah to give achieve lasting solution to the accounts of his or her deeds. We threatening security situation in are determined to continue to live in peace and harmony.” the country.

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The governor, however, assured that his government would do everything humanly possible to maintain the peaceful nature that the state has been known for. “When the incident happened, I was in the holy land. Right there, I prayed and requested that Sokoto will remain the most peaceful state which it has been known for.” he said.

In a related development, the state Chairman of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Alhaji Sidi Aliyu, urged President Goodluck Jonathan

to take decisive measures that would protect the lives of Nigerians.

Speaking to newsmen in Sokoto, Aliyu said the call had become necessary in order to bring an end to recurring bloodshed in the country. He lamented failure of the federal government to protect the lives of citizens.

He maintained that Jonathan had not shown enough courage in addressing the security challenges bedeviling the country. “But if all these problems cannot be addressed,

I think President Goodluck Jonathan should resign his position”, he fumed.

Sidi, however, stressed the need for concerted efforts by all and sundry in order to tackle the security challenge. He disclosed that his party recently distributed grains to the less privileged and other party officials in this month of Ramadan.

He urged other political parties in the state to embark on programmes that would cushion the less privileged against suffering .

Ondo: Opposition leaders defect to LP EADERS of opposition parties namely Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the ANPP in Akure North Local Government Council of Ondo state have defected to the Labour Party. Among the leaders who dumped their

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former parties in Akure yesterday were Mr. Akinlolu Dada of ACN Ward 9 Akure North Local Government Area and Kolawole Issac, Vice Chairman of PDP in the same ward. Others are Sunday Otor, Sunday Amodu, Lucky Urobo and Chief Fagoroye Adesuye.

The decampees said they took the decision because of impressive performance of the Labour Party in the state in last 40 months.

Dada who spoke on behalf of others described Mimiko as a wonderful Governor, adding that his group would work to ensure the success of his re-election bid for another term of four

years.

He said Mimiko had fulfilled his electoral promises to the people of the state, citing impressive development of Oba- Ile town as an evidence of the good work of his administration.

On his part, the leader of ANPP, Chief Amubioya, said his people had been in darkness but have now decided to join LP as a leading light.

The Chief of Staff to Mimiko, Dr. Kola Ademujimi, addressing the party supporters at the occasion, commended the decampees for taking a bold step, assuring that they would not regret their action.

Oyerinde’s murder: Family demands release of ANEEJ chief From TONY OSAUZO, Benin AMILY of the detained human rights activist, Rev. David Ugolor detained over the killing of the Principal Private Secretary to the Edo State Governor, late Olaitan Oyerinde has called on the Inspector General of Police and other relevant authorities to release their son immediately.

The family also alleged that some persons were playing politics with the death of the Private Secretary to Governor Adams Oshiomhole who was gruesomely murdered on May 12, 2012 by unknown gunmen.

Leader of the family, Mr. Solomon Ugolor while briefing newsmen at the NUJ Press Centre in Benin yesterday, said that the suspects paraded by the State Security Service (SSS), on Wednesday in Abuja who claimed responsibility for the death of the Principal Private Secretary were different from the suspects in police custody that allegedly accused their son.

Mr. Earnest Edosomwan a member of the Ugolor family said the family was shocked with the way some political parties are trying to play politics with the killing and humiliate the human rights activist over a crime he was innocent of and wondered why two different groups will claim

F L-R: Deputy Controller of Prisons, Ogun State, Mr. Noel Alewon, wife of the state Governor, Mrs. Olufunso Amosun, wife of Deputy Chief of Staff to Governor, Mrs. Rasheedat Salisu and Deputy state Controller, Administration, Mr. Adebisi Adewale during Mrs. Amosun’s vist to Ibara Prison in Abeokuta, Friday

Three-storey building collapses in Rivers …Family escapes unhurt From TONY JOHN, Port Harcourt RAGEDY was yesterday averted for the family of Mr. Cliff Ejims of No 4 Ekere Street, Rumuobiakni, in Obio/Akpor local government of Rivers State.

In what seemed a rare favour from God, the family was saved from an imminent death in a three-storey building which collapsed yesterday.

The incident occurred at the wee hours when members of the family and other occupants of the compound were asleep.

Although no casualty was recorded in the incident, the building was in rubbles and other apartments within the premises also destroyed.

Narrating his experience, Mr. Ejims, who works off-

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shore, said his wife, Antonia called him exactly at 12:15am that she heard strange sounds from the building.

Ejims said he instructed his wife to evacuate their three children from the house immediately, before removing his Honda car which was parked inside the compound.

Shortly, his wife informed him that the building had collapsed, and she was able to bring out the children and the vehicle.

“It’s a miraculous work of God. You cannot believe that my family came out in this incident. Even, my elder brother’s building, Mr. Anebon Ejims was destroyed.

However, he has reported the matter to the Police and he had also arrived at a consensus with the owner of the building.

Meanwhile, the Ghanaian engineer handling the job has

disappeared.

According to Cliff, several attempts to get him on phone, failed.

Narrating, her story, Mrs. Anthonia Ejims told Sunday Sun that initially when she heard the noise, she thought it was from armed robbers.

“I was sleeping and I was hearing sounds outside. I thought somebody was stealing.”

She said later, her neighbor drew her attention again to the sound, and when she looked at the building a block, fell down.

“I was able to bring out my children who are ages seven, five and a year and nine months old. Immediately I drove the car out, the building went down completely.”

What God did is too awesome. I don’t deserve it. It was as if God was holding the building waiting for me to bring everybody out.

Everything went down the same time.

responsibility for the death of the same Olaitan.

“We can’t fathom the idea that the SSS had paraded a group that confessed that they killed Olaitan and another group is claiming that they also killed the same person,” the family said.

He spoke further: “We have seen him and it is a political issue. Our son should not be killed for political matter. He should be immediately released to us.”

It would be recalled that the State Security Service on Monday in Abuja paraded six suspects namely Mohammed Abdullahi, Chikezie Edeh, Raymond Origbo, Saidu Yakubu, Sani Abubakar and Hassan Bashiru who reportedly claimed responsibility for the death of the governor’s Principal Private Secretary and denied ever knowing Rev. David Ugolor.

Groups raise alarm over Igbo language DAVID ONWUCHEKWA, Nnewi ONCERNED groups have expressed worry over the gradual extinction of Igbo language. In a bid to arrest the situation, some traditional medical practitioners in Anambra State under the aegis of Odinana Anaedo Traditional and Cultural Association in collaboration with the National Orientation Agency (NOA) have organized a one-day workshop on the role of traditional institutions in the promotion of Igbo values among the youths. The event was held at Anaedo Social Club Nnewi. The groups said the main thrust of the workshop was to sensitize the youths on the need to preserve Igbo language and culture.

Speaking on the occasion, Director of NOA in Anambra State, Sir Obi Enemuo, called on traditional rulers to use their positions as custodians of the people’s customs and tradition to rise up to the challenge of the dwindling use of Igbo language among the Igbo speaking areas.

In the same vein, the Director of NOA advised the youths to imbibe the ethics, principles and norms of society and shun all acts capable of creating social imbalance, describing tradition as a medium Igbo forefathers used in contributing to the development of Igbo society.

Similarly, the former President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Dr Dozie Ikedife, condemned the attitude of some Igbo who took delight in foreign names. He, therefore, urged the people to be proud of their language as a way of preserving it.

The traditional ruler of Nri community, Eze Nri II, His Royal Majesty Eze Obidiegwu Onyeso, used the occasion to appeal to Ndigbo to come together for the unity, peace and progress of the Igbo nation.

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King in Christ Ministry hosts community N order to preach oneness among humanity in the society, King in Christ Ministry International a.k.a.

Solution Ground will host its immediate community to a special three-day programme.

Senior Pastor and host, Rev. Chidi Anthony, summed up the programme as “Woe unto my enemies”.

It is an annual event where various tribes with diverse

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languages and cultural backgrounds meet, he said, adding that it’s a way of carrying the community along.

According to him, it is a two-day programme, adding that it also includes a one-day cultural praise.

The event will begin on Monday, August 16, at 8 a.m. and will end on Sunday, August 22, 2012.

Venue is 18/20, Osolo Way, Ajao Estate, Lagos.

AUGUST 5, 2012,

SUNDAY SUN

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NEWS

Bakassi natives free to leave Nigeria –Rep .Lament killing of Nigerians by gendarmes that no meaningful solution OKORO, was possible without the participation of the Aborigines of Bakassi in all HE member repre- negotiations. senting Calabar “If Bakassi is no longer M u n i c i p a l i t y - part of Nigeria, let the peoOdukpani Federal ple go and decide their desConstituency in the House tiny. Why should Nigeria of Representatives, Mrs continue to negotiate on its Nkoyo Toyo, advised behalf?

Bakassi natives to go “But if Nigeria must ahead and negotiate their negotiate, then the people destiny if they no longer of Bakassi must be on the want to be part of Nigeria. table of negotiation,” she Nkoyo, who made the call said. in Calabar while delivering Nkoyo further stated that a lecture at the first for the sun will not to set on International symposium on Bakassi, there was need for Save Bakassi organized by continued negotiations, Save Bakassi Group (SBG), with the active participation faulted the agitation for re- of the people. settlement saying that it “Negotiation is the only could deny the people their answer but we have to be inalienable rights. part of all the negotiations She stated in her paper that are taking place. entitled, Bakassi Beyond “I hear some people talk 10-10-12; Before Sunset, of resettlement; when you From JUDEX Calabar

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ask us to resettle, what happens to our oil and the negotiations going on in Bakassi?

“With the ICJ judgment, majority of the people living in Bakassi cannot even proclaim their identity particularly now that, there are lots of changes taking place including changing the names of their villages.”

The former Nigerian Envoy to Ethiopia, said there was urgent need for synergy between different stakeholders in the fight to reclaim the Bakassi peninsula.

“If you listen and read the papers, everybody is talking about Bakassi, but we are talking in different texts; everybody is talking in different directions.

“There is nothing wrong in talking, but we need to talk in common texts

because the world needs to hear our voice and understand what our message is.

“We will continue to push, push and push until we get there because we have lost too much,” she stated.

According to her, the ICJ judgment that was based on the 1913 Anglo-Saxon Treaty, was wrong because the conditions contained in the judgment are negotiable.

Urging the people to rise up and continue to agitate for their rights, she observed that the judgment was on boundary adjustment alone, “while the case of the inhabitants was overlooked.”

On the incessant killing of Bakassi people by Cameroun gendarmes, the former envoy said the plight of Bakassi natives worsened with the daily killing and maiming at the disputed territory without

the intervention of the United Nations.

She said: “Now is the time for the appropriate authorities and the United Nations to show concern at what the Cameroun army and the gendarmes are meting out to Nigerians who are still there and eking out a living from the waters.”

Earlier, Coordinator of SBG, Mr Morris Ekong, said the symposium was organized to remind the people that by October 10, 2012, ICJ judgment will be ten years.

“And by then, some of our brothers, sisters, friends, uncles, aunties, mothers, fathers, grandfathers and grandmothers will cease to be with us. If nothing is done now, they will cease to be Nigerians,” he said.

Morris stated that the people of Bakassi were entitled to the right to choose where to belong, adding “as human beings, we have

right to human hood; we have right to exist wherever we want; so we have decided as a group to seek these rights.”

He said that the group was seeking collaboration with other well-meaning stakeholders within and abroad to redress the injustice meted to them.

“We were not given any fair hearing; we were denied inputs in what concerns our living; nobody sought our contribution. As a result, we are daily molested, harassed and killed and nobody listens to our plight,” he said.

He told the gathering that the group was planning another series of seminars on how to save Bakassi before the sunset.

It would be recalled that the International Court of Justice (ICJ) at The Hague, on October 10, 2002, ceded the disputed Bakassi peninsula to the Republic of Cameroun.

My Kingdom is peaceful –Obong of Calabar From JUDEX OKORO, State, Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi-Otu, has stated that Calabar there is peace in his bong of Calabar domain despite moves by and Grand some people to destabilize Patriarch of Efik it.

The Efik monarch saw the Kingdom in Cross River disagreement that arose from the selection process, as an interesting aspect of the peoL-R: Assistant Country ple’s tradition and harped on Director, British Council the urgent need for all Efiks Nigeria, Mrs. Ojoma Ochai; at home and in the Diaspora Senior Manager, Segment to unite and achieve great Marketing, MTN, Cherry things for the kingdom.

Eromosele; Creative Director, Abasi Otu, who spoke in Style House and Founder of his palace shortly after his Lagos Fashion and Design return from Maryland in the Week, Mrs. Omeyemi United States of America, Akerele and High Value where he presided over a Segment Manager, MTN, Mr. convention of the Efik Kelvin Orifa at the MTN Kingdom, said its traditional Lagos Fashion and Design institutions, described as one Week 2012 press conference of the oldest in Nigeria, held at Didi Museum. should be given adequate recognition.

He commended those who

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Uduaghan closes Warri market From EMMANUEL OGOIGBE, Warri O V E R N O R E m m a n u e l Uduaghan of Delta State at the weekend ordered the closure of the popular Igbudu market in Warri over poor sanitation.

He said the action was to stem persistent flooding and looming epidemic in the area.

According to him, the market rated as the biggest in the state, has become a menace and dumpsite in Warri metropolis.

The governor who ordered the closure through the State Commissioner for Environment, Chief Frank Omare, said that the market would not be opened until the mountainous heap of filth is cleared.

He disclosed that the State Environmental Protection bill would soon be sent to the State House of Assembly.

Addressing thousands of

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traders, the Commissioner for Environment, Chief Omare, decried the filthy nature of the market and warned that anyone found dumping refuse in an unauthorized place would be prosecuted.

Omare who read the riot act during a clean-up exercise in the market said that similar exercise would be carried out in other markets across the state.

“I am not carrying out this exercise to please anybody.

My major concern is to ensure that every part of the

state is free from dirt. I appeal to the people of the state to imbibe the spirit of, cleanliness is next to godliness”, he said.

The commissioner warned that caravans would not be spared, adding that anybody who failed to comply with government’s directive would be dealt with.

Commending the government’s effort, the President –General of Igbudu Market Traders Association, Comrade Peter Oluku, urged for greater efforts to make the market a better business place.

Pray for the good of Nigeria –Prophet Fufeyin tells Nigerians From EMMANUEL OGOIGBE, Warri eneral Overseer of Christ Mercyland Deliverance Ministry, Effurun, Warri in Delta State, Prophet Jeremiah Omoto Fufeyin, has called for three days of prayer and fasting for the good of the nation.

Prophet Fufeyin who made

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Edo guber election: PDP petition uncalled for –Gen Abbe From TONY OSAUZO, Benin candidate in the July 14, 2012 election, Charles Airhiavbere, CHIEFTAIN of the to work with Comrade Adams Peoples Democratic Oshiomhole in the delivery of Party (PDP) in Edo basic dividends of democracy State and former Minister of for the people of Edo State.

Defence, Major General Abbey who spoke in a live Godwin Abbey {Rtd}, has telephone interview with described the party’s petition to Independent Television in the state governorship election Benin City, said that the July 14, petition tribunal as uncalled for. 2012 governorship election in Instead, he advised the party Edo was adjudged all over the supporters and governorship

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contributed to the restoration of kingdom’s lost glory.

The Obong who addressed the kingmakers and the people of the kingdom in Efik, urged them to come together to move the kingdom forward.

“Our forebears of the Efiks had kept the kingdom intact and wondered why members of their generation should not continue in that light.”

He commended Governor Liyel Imoke for attending the convention describing the gesture as a mark of honour to the Efik kingdom, adding that the Efik are proud of his stewardship and “efforts to place the throne in proper national perspective.”

Meanwhile, the kingdom was said to have set up a peace committee to reconcile all the parties in the dispute.

world as the fairest and freest poll in recent time in Nigeria.

His words, “I am calling from United States of America; where I have gone for a medical checkup. And I was told my party had gone to court to challenge the governorship election.

You see, I just want to advise that my brother, Charles Airhiavbere, should join hands with Comrade Adams Oshiomhole to build our state.

the call during a deliverance service organized by the church at the weekend, also announced that God has cancelled a plane crash in the country.

He said the prayers became necessary to deliver the country from further pains.

He urged the clergy to come together and organize three days fasting and prayers, insisting that Nigeria must be rescued from various forms of affliction.

According to him, the managers of the Aviation industry should put their acts together to avoid unpleasant situations.

However, he said that God has cancelled any plane crash in the country and advised Nigerians to pray always for the good of the country.

The cleric noted that God loves Nigeria, adding that what remained was for the people to serve God in truth

and spirit.

“God is not partial, He remains the Almighty Creator of the universe. I believe strongly that He will always save his people no matter the situation they find themselves”, he said.

Prophet Fufeyin appealed to the Northern elements who are bombing churches and killing innocent persons to sheath their swords and embrace peace, adding all Nigerians are one and indivisible body.

“God dwells in peaceful environment and he is never happy that we are killing ourselves. We should endeavour to preach and practice peace being the only way to achieve salvation”, Fufeyin said.

He spoke of the need for Nigerians to love themselves.

He assured that Nigeria would not disintegrate and appealed to Nigerians to support President Goodluck Jonathan’s efforts to take the country to the next level.

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Top Stories

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Sokoto’s date with death Okonjo-Iweala denies •Attack sacrilegious –Residents influencing siting of N1.3b dam From TUNDE OMOLEHIN, Sokoto

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HE Minister of Finance, Mrs Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has denied ever influencing the siting of a N1.3billion project in her hometown. Earlier in the week, The Sun published a story in which Hon Zakari Mohd, spokesperson for the House was quoted as having alleged that Dr Okonjo-Iweala influenced the sitting of the

project in her hometown.

During her appearance before the Senate on Thursday the minister reacted to the allegation thus: “The honorable member of the House is advised to crosscheck his facts before rushing to make public statements.

The project in question, a dam, was not brought to Ogwashi Uku by me but by a former colleague

of the honorable member who was representing the community in the House.

For the record, I am pleased with the project because it will impact positively on Ogwashi Uku people who are part and parcel of Nigeria. In fact I have played a role in ensuring that some deficiencies of the project are corrected so that it can achieve the objectives for which it was designed. But it’s not right to distort facts just to make a point. The National Assembly and the executive are partners in progress and as the leadership of both houses have said, the focus should be on improving the welfare of Nigerians not on peddling invented facts and controversies.”.

Grant women 6 months maternity leave –MWAN tells govt R-L: Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Pinnacle Oil and Gas Limited, Peter Mbah and Managing Director, Lekki Free Zone Development Company [LFZDC], Mr. Chem Xiaoxing, at the opening of Eko Expo 2012 Investment Forum and Business Trade Exhibition, at Akodo Lekki, Lagos.

Osun goes tough on rapists From BAMIGBOLA GBOLAGUNTE, Osogbo

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ORRIED by the high rate of rape in Osun state, the state government has disclosed that it would convey a stakeholders meeting to discuss the way out of the menace.

The State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Mrs. Mofolake Adegboyega made this known at a press conference she addressed on the high incidence of rape in the state.

She explained that the stakeholders meeting which would involve traditional rulers, parents, guardians, school heads, relevant government agencies and non-governmental organizations would brainstorm on the way out to enable the government take a definite position on the matter.

The Commissioner who lamented the high rate of reported cases of rape involving young girls in the state that the trend is giving the state government serious concern.

Adegboyega disclosed that within the last two weeks, three cases of alleged rape were reported to the police and her ministry, while five other cases are still pending in various courts in the state.

According to her, “the state government is worried about the alarming cases of rape in view of the importance the government attaches to the issues that affect children and women. Permit me to state that in the last two weeks, three cases of rape were reported to the police and this ministry.

One of the cases is from Ile-Ife where a 16-year- old girl was gang-raped by three persons while the remaining two occurred at Ilesa involving two persons who raped a girl as known rapist, Tunde Ebenezer in the town raped another girl.”

She said that the state government has come to the aid of the victims by ensuring treatment of the children involved, adding that “we have started by providing psycho-social needs for the children and different tests are being conducted for them to see to the health of the victims.

By ONYEKACHI JET

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HE Medical Women Association of Nigeria (MWAN) has urged for extension of the maternity leave period for women from four to six months.

This is to enable nursing mothers exclusively breastfeed their babies for the medically stipulated six months.

This call was made during a breastfeeding seminar organized by the Lagos State chapter of MWAN for mothers at the Island Maternity in Lagos. The programme was part of activities to mark the World Breastfeeding day.

Fielding questions from reporters, the chapter Chairman, Dr. Dumebi Owa, hinted that plans are underway to send a Bill to the National Assembly to canvass for a six-month maternity leave.

“Right now, the federal government has granted four months. If they give us the extra two months, mothers will have more time with their children”.

She appealed to organizations to be child-friendly and advised companies to establish crèches where working mothers can, “dash in” and breastfeed their babies. She said that such arrangement would enhance women’s productivity because they will no longer abandon work to go home to breastfeed their children.

Enugu police nab kidnap suspect From CHIDI NNADI, Enugu

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HE police in Enugu State, has apprehended a suspect, Mr Emmanuel Okoro, who participated in the kidnap of the Provost of the College of Education, Ehamufu in Enugu State, Prof Ben Mbah, on June 28 this year.

The kidnappers who abducted the provost had in the process shot dead his orderly, Corporal Ikpi Arikpo.

The Enugu State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr Ebere Amaraizu, a

DSP, who disclosed this in a statement described the apprehended Okoro as a notorious kidnapper and serial killer who has been on the wanted list of the police over allegations of crimes such as car snatching, serial killings and kidnappings.

He said that operatives of the Anti-kidnap Squad of the state police command have been on the trail of the suspect since last year. “The suspect who gave his name as Emmanuel Okoro from Obeokwu Umunkiri in Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State and popular-

ly known as J-boy was trailed and arrested at Eleme junction axis of Rivers State on Augus 3,2012,” he said.

Amaraizu disclosed that Okoro confessed that he actually took part in the kidnap of the provost and was the one that shot and killed his orderly during the incident.

According to him, the suspect pointed out that one of the gang members that brought them to Ehamufu alerted that the orderly had identified him and that there was need to kill him to avoid being identified.

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he policemen assigned for a mini guard parade to welcome the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) Mukhtar Ibrahim, who was on a routine visit, and as a mark of honor had just finished their task at about 10:45 am on the fateful Monday.

Sand bags and heavy wooden barricades dotted every road and other strategic locations that led to the Police Zonal Headquarters at Marina area of Sokoto metropolis, which could remind any security conscious person of an imminent attack on the police formation someday.

Barely few minutes after the police boss settled down at the upstairs office for the day task, there was a huge bang that caused panic and stampede.

It didn’t stop there. A part of the building has been reduced to rumbles. It was a suicide bomb attack on the Force’ Zonal Headquarters.

According to Corporal Musa Adamu, a member of the 12- man guard of honor mounted for the AIG before the deadly attack, he was in a room undressing with other colleagues. The rumble from the walls had fallen on them after a reverberation from a huge bang at the main gate.

Said the hapless Adamu “It all started on the fateful day when we were discharged from our parade mounted for AIG. Then, few of us were in a particular office undressing our parade outfits when we just heard a huge bang and before we could realize what had happened, rumbles from the walls had covered us. Alot of us sustained varying degrees of injuries.” Adamu was speaking to Sunday Sun from his hospital bed.

Sunday Sun investigation revealed that the other five offices within the one-storey building, the main gate and the nearby divisional police station and some neighboring houses were seriously damaged.

The suicide bomber was said to have driven a Honda Accord car and attempted to force his way into the premises through the main gate but was denied entry by stern looking armed mobile police on guard.

Apparently running out of time, the suicide bomber made a quick u-turn and in the process ran over a motorcyclist before finally hitting the second gate which was locked.

Minutes later, another blast was recorded at Urguwar Rogo Police Station about three kilometers from the first blast. This time around, the attacker could not gain access into the police station, but a block of Police Officers’ Wives Association (POWA) commercial shops were struck instead. At the scene, eyewitness informed Sunday Sun that the lone bomber approached the station in a Volkswagen Golf packed with explosives but got stuck mid-way near the targeted station where the vehicle then blew up.

The victims Official reports from police authorities said apart from the two suicide bombers that died in the attack, a corporal, identified as Samaila was killed at the AIG’s Zone 10 office blast, while the attack on Urguwar Rogo Police Station left a woman dead. The victim was later identified as a hair dresser, who operates in one of the Police Officers’ Wives Association (POWA) commercial shops.

Few hours after, as the dust of the twin attack on the police headquarters was settling, another report filtered in of a shooting spree by yet to be apprehended gunmen who attacked a police station at Arikila area of Sokoto metropolis. At the end of their mission, three persons were feared dead.

Reports said, among them were two policemen attached to the station while no fewer than three policemen sustained injuries.

Three gunmen were said to have arrived the scene at about 6:00 pm on a motorcycle with two AK-47 riffles, shooting sporadically and killing the three men who were sitting in the frontage of the station.

Unconfirmed reports said that the assailants setfree some inmates at the station’s cells and carted away some available ammunitions before a reinforcement of men of the Mopol ‘7’ squadron unit

arrived the area. Though, the police spokesman in the state, DSP Sani Salihu confirmed the attack on the police station but he declined to give further details on the number of casualties.

Investigation by Sunday Sun at the emergency unit of State Specialist Hospital where the victims were moved to for medical attention revealed that only twelve people sustained minor injuries and were treated according to Dr. Efe Rihiano and now discharged.

Fore warning Before the Monday attack in Sokoto, members of Ahlis Sunnati Lidda’awati Wal Jihad, otherwise known as Boko Haram had on 29th January 2012 through the media announced their readiness to attack the seat of the Caliphate unless their members allegedly incarcerated by security agencies in the state were released immediately.

The Islamic militants claimed that an open letter was sent to the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Aminu Waziri Tambuwal and the then Acting Governor of the State, Honourable Muhammadu Zaiyanu to intervene in the matter in order to save the state from possible deadly attacks its members have inflicted on Kano, Maduiguri, among other states in the past.

But the then state commissioner for Justice, Alhaji Inuwa Abdulkardir in an interview with Sunday Sun denied any knowledge of the arrest or detention of the sect members in the state. “To the very best of my knowledge, no Boko Haram members were incarcerated in our prison yards”, he averred.

In the ominous warning the sect stated “Before we visited Kano, we had written an open letter to senior citizens there on the imperative of releasing our members but nobody cared to talk.

Indeed, we sent three warnings to Kano before we struck. What happened in Kano will be inevitable in Sokoto unless you (Sultan and others) intervene and ensure the immediate and unconditional release of our members who were specifically arrested in the city of Sokoto.”

“There is gross inconsistency in all the proclamations of the Nigerian leader. Our members are being trailed and killed on one hand, and on the other hand, some people are telling us to surrender our arms and come out. This is impossible.”

The shock and disbelief Residents were gripped in disbelief when the news of attacks filtered through the city of Sokoto.

Long before now, Sokoto state had prided itself as one of the peaceful states in Northern Nigeria. It’s serenity was anchored on the peaceful co-existence of residents irrespective of their religious and tribal affiliations .

The city, aside being the seat of the famous caliphate; is also home to Alhaji Muhammudu Sa’ad Abubakar, the spiritual leader and head of all Muslim Ummah in the country who many described as a bridge builder, especially amongst other religious faithful in Nigeria.

Some residents who spoke with Sunday Sun described the attacks on the city as “unfortunate” especially in the holy month of Ramadan. “We are so surprised to see what has happened in Sokoto. But we also prayed that God Almighty will bring permanent peace to the state and Nigeria at large. Amen”, Kassim Adeola, a resident of Augwar Rogo area said.

Residents have called on security agencies in the state to adopt a holistic approach in restoring the serenity of the state and the state governor, Alhaji Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko has said all efforts were being made to protect lives and property in the state. Wamakko , in a statement through the state Commissioner of Information, Malam Nasir Danladi Bako while commiserating with the victims expressed shock and dismay over the attacks and promised that security operatives are in control of the situation and advised all and sundry to go about their normal businesses.

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AUGUST 5, 2012

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Vista

PIB & Alison-Madueke’s midas touch Francis OTTAH AGBO

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HE first time I came across Mrs Diezani Alison- Madueke, the first female to be appointed Minister of Petroleum in Nigeria and in the entire African continent was in 2007 on the Lagos- Ibadon Express Way. I was with TheNews magazine at the time and was traveling from Lagos to Akure, Ondo State capital to do a story on the governorship tussle in the election tribunal between Governor Olusegun Mimiko and his predecessor, Dr. Olusegun Agagu.

And suddenly, I saw Madueke, who was Minister of Transport at the time cry profusely.

She had taken time out of the comfort zone of her office to do on the spot assessment of major roads in the country and the Lagos Ibadon road which had become a death trap was one of her points of call.

She saw Nigerians suffer and she wondered why the ordinary people on whose palms sovereignty lies die like rodents on the road which ordinarily should have been on nylon tiles considering the enormous resources allegedly spent on it by the previous administration.

For me, the tears flowing from her eyes down her maxilla showed her connect with the ordinary Nigerians who are common victims of road accidents which regrettably have killed more Nigerians than all killer diseases put together.

This encounter endeared me to this Amazon who had carved a niche for herself in the oil and gas sector in Nigeria and in the international community. Little wonder that she is the first woman ever to lead a Nigeria delegation to the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in Vienna, Austria in 2010 and the first Nigerian woman to be conferred with an honorary doctorate degree by the Nigeria Defence Academy (NDA) for

excelling in a field that is strictly a man’s world.

So I was not surprised that President Goodluck Jonathan retained Madueke as Petroleum Minister in the face of unfounded calls for her head. With the recent presentation of the water-proof Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) to the National Assembly for passage by the Executive Arm of government, the Bayelsa- born technocrat has added another feather to her cap. It’s true that she is not the first to moot PIB, but Madueke is clearly the architect of this new-versioned PIB and she mid-wifed it to maturity, in spite of the distraction by enemies of reforms. She achieved this by rallying round all the stakeholders in oil and gas industry including the malignant Oil Producing Companies (OICs) through dialogue, wide consultations with Nigerians across board and the engagements of the media and civil society, the result of which is a brand new PIB that in the words of the minister addresses the concerns of OICs and engenders a win-win situation for Nigeria, Nigerians and the IOCs alike. This new PIB which is adjudged to be pro-Nigeria because of its rich local content is divided into eight broad parts and four schedules couched in 226 pages with 365 sections to make interesting reading.

The Minister must be praised for securing the buy-in of the IOCs in the new PIB. It will be recalled that IOCs had surreptitiously frustrated the passage of the earlier bill in the defunct sixth National Assembly on grounds that it was insensitive to their strategic interest. They, for example claimed that the old PIB amongst other things, compelled them to pay mind-boggling and unrealistic royalties and taxes to the federal government through the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and feared that if passed into law, it would freeze them from business. Some of them like Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), Chevron, Mobil etc even threatened to vacate the shores of Nigeria for neighboring countries

like Ghana, Niger, Angola and so on that now have oil in commercial quantity.

No responsible government would allow them to leave as that would cripple oil exploration, exploitation, refining, and revenue profile of Nigeria. So government was in dire need of solution to keep the IOCs in the country and a Diezani had to come to judgment by deploring her sterling leadership qualities and persuasive skills. The Minister quickly addressed the issues of royalties, taxes and licenses in such a manner that the interests of the IOCs are protected in the new PIB. And before the skeptics and cynics could say Nigeria, the minister talked the IOCs into it and they flew with it!

If the bi-cameral Nigerian legislature as expected by Nigerians passes the PIB into law as quickly as possible as promised by Senate President David Mark, the administration of oil and gas sector will be transparent and accountable to the public and the pricing of petroleum products in the downstream sector will be completely deregulated with more indigenous participation. Deregulation will amongst other things create fair market value for petroleum products in the Nigerian economy, make enough products available by removing artificial scarcity and ultimately remove economic distortions.

If critics thought the new PIB would be insensitive to the Niger Delta, the region that produces the golden eggs, then they were dead wrong. The Minister ensured that the PIB provides for the setting up of a Petroleum Host Community Fund which compels oil companies to surrender 10 percent of their profits from upstream activities for the development of the oil producing communities as more and more Niger Deltans especially the youths will be gainfully employed. This I believe will complement the activities of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and quell youth restiveness in the area. The PIB further

protects the environment, terminates oil flaring and makes it punishable by law! Rather the hitherto flared gas will now be exported to developed nations in dire need of the product hence creating another window for the inflow of revenue into the economy and hence signaling the implementation of the gas master plan.

The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) which had become the butt of many jokes in pepper soup joints are to be scrapped if the new PIB sails through. They are to be replaced with Petroleum Technical Bureau and the Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Agency with in-built measures to curb malfeasance and waste.

Equally interesting is the fact that NNPC is to be unbundled into three companies – National Oil Company, National Petroleum Assets Management Corporation and National Gas Company. To further give the public a say in the oil and gas sector, Nigerian investors are to have 30 percent equity in the National Oil Company and 40 percent in the National Gas Company within six years from the date of incorporation.

Parts of sections 150-152 of the PIB Bill reads: ‘‘The Minister of Petroleum shall, not later than three months after the effective date, take such steps as are necessary under the Companies and Allied Matters Act to incorporate the National Oil Company as a public company limited by shares, which shall be vested with certain assets and liabilities of the NNPC. At the time of its incorporation, the initial shares of the National Oil Company shall be held by a nominee of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources and Ministry of Finance incorporated on behalf of the government … ’’ The PIB insulates the National Oil Company from the hammer of the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007 and the provisions of the Public Procurement Act 2007.

We really ought to pray

By ADENIRAN ADEDOKUN

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HE Nigerian intelligentsia, well, at least a sizeable number of them are nauseated by the penchant for the religious Nigerians to pray about everything concerning the country. I have also noticed that they have easy allies in a large chunk of our compatriots in the diaspora .

Their posture is that the preponderance of Nigeria’s problems is a direct result of bad leadership. And so, rather than sleep in churches and mosques seeking divine intervention in our affairs, Nigerians should roll up their sleeves ready to get our government working by some more “practical” means I have heard a lot of those who preach this position cite attractive examples of how the Obamas and Camerons of this world are making impact, even when most of their citizens do not know where churches are mosques are located. I have heard suggestions about how, even when we must pray about Nigeria, we should restrict our prayers to the worship sessions on Fridays and Sundays and spend some of the productive moments spent praying to do something “progressive”.

From what I have also come to realise over the years, the “progressive” would mean stuff like launching criticisms (constrictive or otherwise) against the government, engaging in public protests against the ineffectiveness of government and on very rare occasions, daring to join the political game with the aim of effecting a change from the inside out.

Assuming, without agreeing that Nigeria has always had bad, ineffective leaders, assuming also without conceding that Nigeria is currently plagued with the most inept (and clueless as a lot of analysts say) of all administrations, so what do we do to change a government (with so much handicap) with which we are stuck with for another 30 months or so?

If ineptitude were a medical condition, we would gladly have sent our president and all other government officials suffering from it to a five-star medical facility in the United States of America, or Germany or even in Saudi Arabia for a quick procedure that could turn the inept into the highly skilled and performing leader. But no way, medicine has not given us such luxuries yet.

Oh, may be the best option would be to vote for better people next time? Yea, true, that would be a very good choice, worth the try, but there would be no general elections for at least another 25 months in Nigeria. The implication of this is that we are stuck with this government for close to three years coming and not even the impeachment of the President, (were we to ever contemplate that) would make our lots better.

More than that however, where are the better politicians?

When Nigerians stop deceiving themselves, we will agree that not one of the political parties in Nigeria currently gives the people any fairer deal. If you find any governor who stands out, I am convinced that he stands out of a personal conviction to make impact, and not because any political party shows interest in our welfare.

I am not saying that we do not have good people in politics; my point is that the Nigerian political climate makes it almost impossible for the good ones to have access to public office. It negates the interest of the operators of the political system, the godfathers who sit in their homes to administer our parties, those who play on the emotions of the Nigerian selling dummies of the piety which they do not possess. So when they are not inept, our political gladiators are selfish, inconsiderate and mostly brutal.

If we would take our focus away from leadership for just a bit, an objective appraisal of the Nigerian situation would show that we have far more to worry about than the myriad of incapacities of our leaders. For instance, what has the family unit become?

What has become of the communal values we used to know?

What has happened to the sanctity of lives which we once held in esteem?

It’s in the same country that gangsters will march into a place of worship, kill people in cold blood and still brag about it. Mind you, these people include women and children, an abomination that is even forbidden in the mad state of war!

It’s in this same country that people who are charged with ensuring that aircrafts are in a safe condition would sacrifice the lives of hundreds for some gratification. We live in a country where a father would surrender his child to ritualists for pecuniary gains. A country where a mother, entrusted with a divine responsibility of child rearing, would sell her baby without minding if the buyer would, in the next minute slaughter the infant. A country where you serve the government for a number of years and become a communal disgrace if you didn’t amass wealth, enough to last generations after you! A country where the lives no longer mean anything! Imagine if one or all of the characters listed above emerged in government at once. And they do! This is why we have found ourselves where we are.

Each of us is just a jot in the composition of those who make it to government. They get into government and escalate those tendencies and before we know what is happening, we are on the brink of a mighty plunge into the dark.

So where do we go from here? I believe we should continue to speak to God. I have read in my Bible that He interferes in the affairs of men. I also read somewhere in the Bible that God owns the hearts of kings and He turns them around like a water course (the way He wants). I remember that I read of how God hum-

bled King Nebuchadnezzar for his pride, how he lost his sanity and lived like an animal for seven years! I remember how God dealt with King Pharaoh when he would not let the people of God go in peace. And I remember how King Herod was eaten alive by worms because “he did not give honour to God”, which is the same thing every wicked leader would be guilty of.

And if a leader is inept or clueless, however we choose to describe it, the God who gave wisdom to Solomon, wisdom beyond the imagination of man is still God. He is the only one capable of performing a surgical operation that may change the nature of the unwise. That is for as much as we attribute most or even all of our problems to leadership. However, I think that the average Nigerian actually, really needs some deliverance from the spirit of self. We need a revival in our minds, such that I believe only sincere prayers could avail us. It’s God who can affect the minds of those who have turned killing innocent souls into sport. Only God can affect the minds of hundreds of thousands of Nigerians, who are waiting for the day they will get into government for no other reason than to get their hands on the national cake. And do not be deceived, God does such things!

I read the following story from the newsletter of a prayer group recently: “In the 19th century, Korea was an isolated and primitive land riddled with fear and superstition. But in 1907, a small band of missionaries decided to redirect its course.

Following news of the Welsh revival, they decided to come together and pray for Korea. They agreed to meet together to pray, daily, at noon. But at the end of one month, “nothing happened.” One brother suggested the prayer meetings be discontinued. “Let us each pray at home as we find it convenient,” he said. The others insisted they increased the time spent in prayer instead. So prayers continued, fervently, for another four months. Then a revival broke out. Church services here and there were interrupted by people weeping and confessing their sins. Multitudes flocked to the churches out of curiosity. Some came to mock, but fear laid hold of them, and they stayed to pray. Amongst the “curious” was a brigand chief, the leader of a band of robbers. He was convicted and converted. He went straight off to the magistrate and gave himself up. ‘You have no accuser’ said the astonished official, ‘yet you accuse yourself!

We have no law in Korea to meet your case.’ So he dismissed him.

By 1912 there were approximately 300,000 Korean church members in a total population of twelve million. A small band of praying Christians had changed a once primitive land for good. Korea rode on the crest of this revival, surviving Japanese domination, and civil war, to become one of the most orderly and prosperous places on earth”.

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SUNDAY Sun

AUGUST 5, 2012

Opinion

Crime prevention and fuel HEN would Nigeria ever learn what every other country knows? That perhaps, the most potent force that can stop a citizen from breaking the law of the land is the fear of being caught, not the fear of being stopped? The reason why nations line up arrays of law enforcement officers or security agencies is not because the authorities believe any number of policemen can actually, physically spread out enough to prevent a crime from being committed. The ‘A’part of crime prevention is the hope that security operatives could block a crime from taking place. Crime fighters rely on this principle to a mere 30 per cent. The real weapon is in the ‘B’ component of crime-fighting - detection.

Those spending huge efforts and logistics to detect crime do not so for fun, but to exact punishment; the punishment itself gives the injured citizen a sense of psychological repair, not vengeance; also a sense of reparation to enable the victim bear the injury or loss.

Lying deep beneath all these concepts for the society or government is an effort to send out a message that an injury to one is injury to all, that no one can injure a citizen and get away with it.

This message is the real ‘B’ factor in crime prevention. It is this message that the authorities rely on to fight crime in the minds of potential offenders.

Two concepts work in the mind of a potential offender or law breaker before he sets out to commit an offence; the first is reward, the second is assurance of escape. Most criminologists, who have worked to help Dr Cesare Beccaria and Jeremy Bentham to find out why citizens still choose to break the law, have found that apart from few instances when ignorance is the case, many actually do so because of the reward of crime. This theory operates more in civil crimes (fraud, corruption, etc). Except a man is a sadist, it can only be reward that would propel him to break the law. In weighing the effort, the citizen would definitely consider the consequences of being caught. Every criminal is a strong economist because he must work out the profit and loss account of an intended crime.

ety. The entire society is harmed when one person is harmed.

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BY EMMA OKAH emmaokah@yahoo.com, 08033211999

Most advanced societies therefore, consider these concepts in forming their crime-prevention structures. They pay heavy attention to deterring offenders. This derives from the Principle of Deterrence or what may be called the Deterrence Factor in crime prevention methodologies.

When the British government allowed the Scotland Yard to spend as high as 295 million pounds sterling just to unravel the mystery of the floating body in the Thames, in the case now celebrated as ‘Boy Adams’, it was not because they loved the Black boy so much. By the way, the victim happened to be a Nigerian, after all. The British government was only trying to prove the Deterrence Factor point to the world, that no matter what it would take, no one would kill a person in Britain and sleep with two eyes closed.

The law must howl after you forever until you are apprehended. The potential offender would better decide early that he must be caught and punished. This is what makes people to think twice, not because the police would definitely always stop him.

Truth is, deterrence, a theory from behavioural psychology about preventing or controlling actions or behaviour through fear of punishment or retribution, is what shapes the criminal justice system of civilized societies, but this seems to have no meaning in Nigeria. The formulators of this theory did not just discover it for explaining crime, but for solving it and protecting society. They never viewed crime as being against the individual victim, but the entire soci-

The meaning is that punishment would not just be retributive, but must be public so that the society would get to be healed. Simply put, deterrence therefore, required a restraining action to discourage somebody from taking action or prevent something from happening, especially by making somebody feel afraid or anxious. It is this fear component that civilized societies rely upon to protect their citizens, failure of which a state of anarchy would set in, as is gradually the case in our country today.

The truth is that while violent criminals do not fear anyone any more, mass destroyers are carrying on with glee, and worse is that public sector robbers/thieves are fearlessly looting the common treasure.

If Nigeria had been interested in protecting its society through these time-tested principles, the government of the day would have rested every other matter just to take the battle from the House of Reps in the matter of Fuel Subsidy and made war to those suspected and later accused of stealing from the Subsidy Vault. Instead, it appears as if the House was now fighting the FG instead of he subsidy thieves. This is a tragedy of impression. If the FG truly hated the fraud and the waste of funds on this subhead, it would have applied the same ferocity with which it attacked the vault to also attack those found to be steal from it. The FG, knowingly or not, set itself up to appear as if what really pained the government was the funds spent to subsidize fuel, but not the one lost to Subsidy fraudsters. The one that went to the masses seemed to pain the FG more than the one looted on the same subhead by the sons of party lords.

At every turn, the FG of the day misses wonderful opportunities to revive the Deterrence Factor in our clime. There usually turns up an opportunity for the FG and its machineries to fight on the side of the masses, on the side of the law, but government is always found dithering, floundering, etc. This has built an impregnable impression in the minds of the masses that government was the real enemy.

Many have argued that the political system in Nigeria has made it impossible for any man to win an election as President or Governor without some middle men arranging it as those who deliver regions or sections during elections. It is impossible for any man to get his nomination from the masses the way it was done in the days of Option A-4. Now, one would have to pass through vote contractors in the political parties, who would decide who emerges as candidate. In genuine democratic climes, it would be good method so as to aggregate interests and screen charlatans out, but in our situation, it is an arrangement to throw out genuine democrats and plant surrogates all the time so as to continue to maintain a stranglehold on the treasury through the winners (with one or two exceptions, anyway). Agood man who passes through this muddy method (spectrum) would never be clean anymore, and would never stand his foot on any matter let alone when corruption is involved. This is why it looks like a president no longer comes out smoking against fraud, corruption, etc. because in sin was he begotten.

As if to prove Nigerians right, the courts are beginning to throw out the cases against those who allegedly shared billions of naira. If the four persons recently discharged by the court on the fuel subsidy scam did not do anything, why did the FG spend all the time and money to investigate the suspects? Why would an AttorneyGeneral whose office approved the result of investigations and the framing of charges suddenly turn around early in the prosecution to withdraw the charges, saying the accused persons were innocent, even when a seasoned banker handled a review of the case file? This is amazing to the common man. The truth is that the sitting president needs all manner of rogues and corrupt people to win a re-election in a wide country such as Nigeria. These people are also the same people who make money disappear.

Fighting them sincerely as Nigerians ask for may not be possible. This must be why there is some sense in single-term system so that a president or governor would come in with his own campaign funds and leave without seeking reelection with public funds. More, if he does not seek re-election, it would be easy for him to fight anyone he wants to fight without fear of payback time after four years.

Social media: In defence of David Mark

By KOLA OLOGBONDIYAN ECENTLY, Senate President, Senator David Mark, delivered a keynote address at the Senate press corps retreat in Umuahia, Abia Sate. Theme of the retreat was “Role of the Media in Promoting Good Governance”. The event had in audience GovernorTheodore A. Orji, Senators Ayogu Eze, Eyinnaya Abaribe, Nkechi Nwaogwu, and a host of media practitioners and activists, as well as other eminent Nigerians.

When Senator Mark was invited to deliver his address, he recalled his interaction with members of the Senate Press Corps, who came to invite him to the occasion. According to him, members of the corps gave him the liberty to speak his mind on the workings of the media, adding that the power conferred on him by the corps also granted him the authority to criticize the media.

He, however, noted that he would thread with caution “because a goat will not visit a lion’s den on the pretext that the lion is sick and return home in one piece.” As his observation sent the audience reeling with laughter, Senator Mark quickly added that he was wise enough to know that the liberty given him by the Senate Press Corps was a Greek gift.

He also informed the audience that since he was quoted out of context on the “telephone is not for the poor” myth, he had learnt to read a prepared text wherever he was delivering an address. “I have challenged anybody to show me a quote in my own words where I said telephone is not for the poor. Nobody has been able to produce it, yet I have to defend this everyday that what I said was if you must use a phone, then you have to pay for the service.”

Noting that he always loved to speak from the heart, Mark said he hoped and prayed that whatever he would present in his address to the Senate Press Corps at the event would not be misconstrued and misrepresented to Nigerians who were not present at the event.

It was as if Senator Mark saw tomorrow, or had a premonition of how his innocuous remark on the social media would be misinterpreted and misrepresented by mischief makers, who have been eager to attack him.

Senator Mark had asserted that, “The emergence of the social media like facebook, twitter, blackberry messenger, YouTube, etc. have changed the face of media practice by making information sharing easier, faster and quicker. But this is not without its demerits. Social media has become a threat to the ethics of media practice and good governance because of its accessibility and absolute

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freedom. Every freedom carries a responsibility. Even in advanced democracies, where we all agree that good governance is practiced, there is no absolute freedom.”

According to him, “there must be a measure to check the negative tendencies of the social media in our country. I say this because media practice, particularly journalism, process news gathering and dissemination. It also operates a feedback mechanism and where the practitioners erred there is room for rebuttal.

But in the social media, a faceless character can post any information that is absolutely false and misleading, but will never retract it. At the end of the day one is bombarded with questions over what one has no business with.

“I suggest that schools of mass communication and journalism should review their curricular to include the operations of social media,” Senator Mark said.

But hardly had he returned to his seat after the address when mischief makers began to work on their blogs in the social media.

The message he delivered in a simple language has not only been misconstrued, it has been misrepresented and had begun to spread like a wildfire. Mark had become a victim of the fear he expressed before his address.

The wildest among the reactions said Senator Mark had called for censorship of the social media. There were those who said he stated that the social media was being used to insult leaders of the nation like him, while others became as mundane as alleging that he wanted the social media to stop criticizing those in authority and to write only their good sides. All these are absolutely false.

From excerpts of the speech quoted above, it is clear that the Senate president neither called for censorship of the social media nor alleged that the medium was being used to insult Nigerian leaders like him. He also did not ask the social media to stop criticizing the Federal Government, and to write only on its good sides. Rather, he called for measures that would check the negative tendencies inherent in the use of social media. That, I believe, is a genuine call that would help refocus the medium.

One would therefore, have expected online publishers to join the clarion call by Senator Mark that the assault to news gathering and dissemination being perpetrated on the social media be checked. There are several instances when social media activists have posted absolute falsehood and readers believed them, only to discover later that the post was bogus. How does this help the credibility of the social media as a medium? For instance, few days after members of the National Youth Service Corps, (NYSC) posted to Bauchi State went to camp a section of the social media posted that the Boko Haram sect had attacked the Bauchi camp

and killed about 50 people.

It was soon discovered that the information was false and totally mischievous. How can this be justified? Yet, Senator Mark did not call for sanctions against those who made such posts, but called for a check against such negative tendencies.

For the avoidance of doubt, the Senate president’s interest in the media has never been hidden and he demonstrated this in his several interfaces with stakeholders of the industry before passage of the Freedom of Information Bill by the 6th National Assembly.

Even at the Umuahia event, he expressed kind words for the media and its conscientious operators by saluting “the courage, doggedness and steadfastness of the Nigerian media.” Senator Mark also acknowledged the fact that “the press has been in the vanguard for the promotion and sustenance of the democracy we now enjoy. Even the struggle for independence was pioneered and fought for by the Nigerian media.

“Sometimes I do disagree with you, but the media generally has fared well. They can still do more by deliberately planning and sustaining efforts to bridge the information gap between leaders and the led. The press can achieve this if it applies the basic principles of patriotism, accountability, transparency, and objectivity in the discharge of its duty,” he said.

Is it not curious that some social media activists turned the table against Senator Mark by concocting lies and ascribing them to him? Was it for nothing that they ignored the details of his printed speech? Was there an agenda to deliberately denigrate his personage and cast a slur on his hard-earned reputation? How else can one rationalize the insistence of some social media activists that Senator Mark called for censorship of the medium even when his speech showed clearly that he never made such call?

Perhaps, one would have ignored some of the ridiculous posts but for the successive analysis that followed. It is suspect that in most analyses of this hoax, there are subtle attempts to foist a label of “social media must be censored” on the Senate President. This is mischievous, irresponsible, wicked and unjust agenda that would not stick.

Senator Mark did not make any gaffes in his keynote address to the Senate Press Corps on the role of the media in promoting good governance. Rather, his critics, who have continually ignored the text of his address, which he read in the public, are mischief makers.

Ologbondiyan is Special Adviser to President of the Senate (Media & Publicity)

AUGUST 5, 2012 EXPLORE

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Radio Girls PAGES 20-22

ADAM & EVE

WARDROUND

Make him better, tonight!

PAGES 18/19

Before cancer ‘takes’ your bladder PAGES 49/54

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AUGUST 5, 2012 EXPLORE

Adam &Eve Make him better in bed tonight!

E know you love your man, but let’s be honest — aren’t there a few things you wish he’d do differently between the sheets? If sex has become a little predictable here’s the good news: You can make your guy a better lover without damaging his ego (after all, he really does want to flip your pancake).

Here’s how to turn things around –tonight!

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positive reinforcement is key,” says Wyatt, “because no one likes to feel like they’re doing a bad job in bed.” So while you’re gently guiding his hand, murmur “That feels great, can you do it a little faster?” “Women often expect their husbands to instinctively know what they like, but men aren’t mind readers,” says Wyatt, “so give the poor guy a hint now and then.”

Talk to him about it — just not in the sack Trying bringing up the issue — what you’d love to change — just make sure it’s outside the bedroom. Gail Wyatt, Ph.D., a licensed sex therapist, Professor of Psychiatry at the University of California Los Angeles and co-author of No More Clueless Sex recommends taking the convo out of the bedroom. “These types of talks are better had outside of a sexual situation,” she says, “and be sure to lead from a positive place.” Wyatt suggests asking your partner to share what he likes the best and the least about your sex life. “Then you’ll have the forum to share your own thoughts.”

Deal with an eager beaver Do you laugh at song lyrics that boast about making love all night long? If your man can’t last very long in the sack, have a quickie first then get busy with a longer round two. He’ll still be recovering from the first round that it will take him longer to climax (while you enjoy the ride.) Or, masturbate together first — the thrill of watching each other will also put you in the mood for round two. You won’t be with a two-minute man much longer.

Get out of your sex-on-a-schedule routine Feel like sex always happens at the exact same time every week? If 9 a.m. Saturday romps don’t mesh with your schedule, reset his clock with a simple game. Tell him playfully that you’re not having sex in the morning, but you’ll be ready and willing at any other time of the day. Men are competitive by nature, so he’ll be dying to prove that he can wait and get creative. “It’s also important not to reject your partner outright,” says Wyatt. So instead of simply saying no, offer some steamy coming attractions. “Say something like, ‘I’m not feeling particularly sexy right now, but how about we put the kids to bed earlier tomorrow and shower together?’” says Wyatt, “the key is to reschedule, not reject.”

Slow down, cowboy Has a quickie before shut-eye become the norm?

“We’re all hyper-scheduled these days, which isn’t conducive to slowing down and enjoying life’s greatest pleasures,” says Wyatt. If your guy tends to be a speed demon, resist the urge to tell him to slow down and instead show him: If, he’s flying through foreplay, Wyatt suggests pulling away playfully for a few seconds — if he speeds up, again, pull away again — do it as many times as you have to — he’ll get the hint! And as unsexy as it sounds, scheduling time for sex can also help your man relax and stop racing for the finish line. “Plan an hour of alone time in the morning before the kids wake up,” says Wyatt, “shower together and let nature take its course.”

Don’t like what he’s doing? Take control If he’s not touching you in exactly the right place, or doing exactly the right thing once he’s there take his hand and place it right where you want it. A little encouragement goes a long way, too. “This is another area where

Break out of the missionary rut Man-On-Top can get boring pretty quick. Spice up sex by taking turns choosing positions and locations. As soon as you say, “Reverse cowgirl, dining room table” he’ll be weak in the knees. Not enough? Check out naughty games like sex dice which pair an action (kiss) with a body part (neck) or download a daily sex position app to your iPhone (be sure to send him the daily do).

Encourage him to have sex more often Some men think about sex every 60 seconds, but what about us? For frisky ladies who can’t wait to jump our guys any chance we get, then this game’s for you. Place a set number of panties in a special place like a bathroom counter, nightstand, shared closet, his briefcase — wherever. Want to have sex three times a week? Then place three flirty pairs of underwear there. At the beginning of the week, tell him he can get a peep show for each pair.

Add sexily, “By Sunday night I don’t want anything to wear.” He’ll be up for the challenge.

Make him a southern gentleman A little role playing goes a long way here. You’re the teacher, he’s the student. Put him to the test as he heads south and give him one-word directions for how to please you “faster,” “slower,” “left,” “right.” Make sure to let him know you’re lovin’ his moves with a few moans.

He’ll get an A+ for effort.

Is he too tired? Get him motivated!

After a long day at work, it’s no surprise that you’re left staring at the ceiling listening to him sweetly snore instead of heating up the sheets. If your attempts at nighttime lovin’ are met with “I’m too tired,” then try giving your guy more time to relax when he comes home. Turn on the TV and let him unwind. Or suggest just kissing and cuddling for five minutes before bedtime. We guarantee he won’t want to pull away.

AUGUST 5, 2012 EXPLORE

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Adam &Eve ‘She’s emotionally erratic’ Dear Njigirl, REETINGS. I have a girl I want to marry. I’ve known her for one and half years and we have done the traditional introduction. Over the time we been together, we haven’t slept together. Though she wanted us to make love, but I said we should wait until we get married. Few days after she called me and said that we should break up the relationship. I asked her why, and after one or two days she told me she was pregnant for another person and was already in the process of removing it. I told her I was still ready to marry her, but she said could no longer marry me because her heart was already set on the other guy. What should I do? I am confused because I love the girl and she is my first love. If she decides to marry me should I continue with the relationship or allow her to go?

• AARON Dear Aaron, My heart goes out to you. You must be feeling devastated about this awful news from your girlfriend. I am sorry that your trust in this girl has to be compromised in this manner.

Still my dear Aaron, look at the bright side of things (if at all there could be a bright side). You discovered her disloyalty before tying the knot! Can you imagine what would happen if you were already married and she tells you that she is carrying somebody else’s baby? I know that the situation hurts but please you need to move on with your life. I doubt that this girl is right for you. Yes, you say that you love her but believe me that love will soon fade when you discover that she has done you a huge favor by initiating your separation. Toughen up big boy, pick up the pieces and move on.

Dr. Nj Hello Njigirl, I’m an ardent reader of your column. I need your advice.

I’m 32 now and had a girlfriend who I met three years ago (May 2009) when she was 28 and in final year. I was 29 and had just graduated from school and was waiting for my national youth service. We were very good friends. One day, 13 months into the relationship (June, 2010), I received a text message from her that said: “I really appreciate all you’ve done for me but I wish to have a break from you.” She broke up with me thereafter. When I called to ask her why she decided to do what she did, she said she wanted to know how I would react and if I really loved her but I didn’t bother and ever since took a break from dating. Now, she is 31 and we are both working. Recently, she called and we got talking. She said, “What if you should ask me out again? Do you think I should go back to her? Is this a sign that she wants me back?

• CHRISKENNY Hello Chris, I do not like playing games because if the two parties are not on the same page it is likely that the rules of the game may become twisted and someone might lose big time. In your case, you are losing all around because your girl keeps changing the rules of the game. First she sent you a text to break up though she did not really mean it. Secondly, she calls to indulge you into asking her out. Who knows what she is really thinking about this time? Are you ready to have your heart sent on an emotional roller coaster every time that she gets a rush? Do you really want this type of relationship? Would you rather not be in charge of your relationship? What is she trying to prove? Chris, let me tell you something. This girl cannot

G

make up her mind about you.

She wants you but does not really want you. You represent a “piece of furniture” that she can always rely on. If another suitor comes knocking, she will go and try that out but if it does not work out, then she will come back to you, Mr. Old Faithful!

I am sorry I have to be so harsh but I am merely driving njigirl@hotmail.com the point home so that you can understand. Your girl is immature and unserious about even cause unwanted pregnancy. There is no gain in this type maintaining a relationship with you. I think that you need to let of behavior, only losses. You can control your urges and focus her know that you moved on when she first called it quits. on building your relationship and getting it to a solid ground Dr. Nj where you can then begin to talk about marriage. Slow down Dear Njigirl, and smell the coffee.

I’m a 24-year-old undergraduate. I have a girl that just finDr. Nj ished secondary school. We love each other but the problem is Njigirl, that whenever we have a little misunderstanding she will tell I have been dating a girl. She once took me to her house and me that it’s over. So because of that I don’t trust her anymore. I we discussed several issues. Later we started kissing and want to have another girl outside her. Is this advisable? Thanks caressing each other but didn’t have sex. After that day, she •KENNY never called me again. When I call, she won’t pick, not even to Hi Kenny, reply my text messages. What do you think could be cause?

I think that you need to re-examine your measurements on Please I’m confused. “trust”. I do not understand why you will stop trusting simply • WORRIED GUY because she gets frustrated after an argument and has an outHello Worried Guy, burst where she threatens to end the relationship. It is not her There is no need to be confused; she tried out something but “trust ability” that should be in question but her impatience, did not go through with it because of one of several reasons. hot-temperedness and abrupt nature. These are characteristics For one, she might have been shy or disappointed that you did that you need to work on if your relationship can be sustained. not follow through. This type of feeling may be borne out of a Why do you want to have another person outside? Can you fear of rejection or a feeling of unworthiness. In her mind, she really handle the pressure of having two separate relationmay be wondering - why did he not continue all the way? Was ships? This is not easy, Kenny. What you also need to do is to I not worthy? Did I not meet up to his standards? These feelre-evaluate your feelings for your girl. Do you still care ings may then make her feel very ashamed so that she would enough for her to remain in the relationship? These are the not wish to communicate with you at all. That notwithstanding major issues that you ought to be investigating. Ask yourself: she may still harbor some feelings for you! What you may aside from her temper, do I still love her? Do I want to be with want to do is to try to persuade her to have a second date with her? Can I deal with her for the next five years, 10 years, 20 you. Tell her that you enjoyed your time together but that you years, and 25 years and so on? Kenny, find truthful answers did not want to offend her by being presumptuous about sex. and then decide what you want to do.

Let her know that you cherish her and would do anything for a Dr. Nj chance to be with her again. Send her flowers and then wait Dear Njigirl, for her to reciprocate. If she does not respond to you positively, I am a 27-year-old undergraduate in Enugu. I have a girlthen it is likely that there are some other issues going on. Then, friend. But all I think of every minute is sex. Even when she is leave her alone. not around I look for an alternative way to ease my sexual Dr. Nj pressure. Sometimes I almost come close masturbating, but I Dear Njideka, restrain myself. Please advise me on how to stop this act. I Are you married? I like you because you look matured. I think am becoming a sex addict. I like having sex as long as prefer mature ladies. my girlfriend is around me. But I want to forget this sex thing Regards totally till I get married.

• OTTO BEN • KINGSTON Dear Otto, Hello Kingston, Thanks for your vote of confidence. Indeed I have been marIndeed you are treading a dangerous path of sex and more ried for nearly 20 years and have four lovely children. Yes, I sex. I think that you need to understand that there are conseam quite mature. I hope that you will find your life partner so quences that might arise from your intense sexual activity and that you can also enjoy what my husband tells me that he this is a risky behavior. If your sexual appetite is insatiable, it enjoysJ might lead you to engage in unscrupulous behaviour, which might make you to contract sexually transmitted diseases or Dr. Nj

Heart

Clinic

with Njideka Nwapa-Ibuaka (Njigirl, your problem solver)

‘Break out of the missionary rut’ Increase his passion On the libido lowdown? Help him turn things around with some amorous adventure. Watching a scary movie together or riding the tallest, fastest roller coaster — anything that gets you clutching on him — will get your guy in the mood. Things will start looking up.

Make him want you to rev up a limp noodle If you want him to be a tiger in the bedroom then give him an eyeful. We’re not suggesting you prepare dinner in a G-string, but something as simple as sleeping in the buff on weekends or buying some lacy lingerie to debut on Saturday night can turn your man into a sex machine. “Plus when you look sexy, you feel more confident and less inhibited and your husband will definitely pick up on your newfound boldness,” says Ian Kerner, Ph.D, a sex therapist and author of She Comes First.

Relive the past to get your mojo back

Every couple has memories of mindblowing sex at a special vacation spot.

Sometimes just being reminded of what can be (‘cause it once was) is enough to get a

lackluster lover back on track. “Take out your honeymoon album and reminisce about the great sex you had before jobs, bills and kids came along,” says Kerner.

“You can also point out photos of yourself in that teeny bikini and remind your husband how lucky he is. I’ve never seen it fail.” If your budget allows, why not return to the passionate scene? “I’ve seen couples take third and fourth honeymoons to reignite their passion for each other,” says Kerner.

Whatever you do, just focus on one thing at a time Don’t attempt a sexual-180 in one night, which will probably leave him suspicious that you’re unhappy with his performance.

“Instead, focus on introducing something new into your sex lives that will jump start passion, like bringing home an erotic video or surprising your partner with a sexy getaway to a local hotel,” says Kerner. We’re sure he’ll be thrilled to get with the program.

Culled from iVillage.com

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AUGUST 5, 2012 SUNDAY SUN

Explore Interview RADIO GIRLS

Life in Ajegunle prepared me for Wazobia FM

By KEMI YESUFU

T

he name Stella Nwosu might not ring a bell. But thousands of radio listeners can attest to the fame of Stella’s later ego Wil-Wili. They hardly miss her programme on Wazobia FM Abuja. In this interview Abuja’s hottest radio presenter speaks on her childhood, career and the search for Mr. Right.

How did you get into broadcasting?

I have always loved broadcasting. As a kid, I always looked forward to the evening news on Nigerian Television Authority (NTA). Each time I finished watching the news, I would say to myself, ‘this is what I want to do when I grow up’. When it was time for me to get into university, I had courses like Law and Economics in mind.

But a close friend advised me to study Mass Communication. He said my bubbly personality is well suited for a career in the media. That was the first time I heard about the course. I took the advice and had a good time studying Mass Communication at Nnamdi Azikiwe University. But at some point I lost interest in pursuing a career in the media. Rather than look for a job in the media I looked at other sectors. But all I got were contract jobs, not the kind of jobs that a graduate would be happy staying in for a long while. That was until a friend of mine, Jude Otigbo, told me to submit my curriculum vitae (CV) at Wazobia FM. I gave him the same reasons why I lost interest in working in the media. I didn’t like the celebrity lifestyle. For me, the life of a celebrity is restrictive. You have to be care-

— Stella Nwosu, aka Wili-Wili

ful about even simple things like where you eat. But he still insisted that I drop my CV at Wazobia FM. He said a media job was much better than me idling away at home. Jude submitted my CV, after which I went for auditions twice. After a long wait with no response, Jude told Wazobia FM presenter, Yaw, about my application. Yaw and Jude took up the matter and this resulted in two more auditions. The difference was that this time around I put in my very best because Yaw and Jude strongly advised me to give the auditions my best shot. I thank God I didn’t disappoint both guys. I started out as a sidekick to Yaw. I also worked with Motunde, OPJ and Expensive. I was later transferred to Abuja as one of the founding staff of Wazobia FM Abuja.

Have your views about the media changed now that you’re into broadcasting full time?

I told myself that there must be a reason for my having a career in the media despite avoiding the sector. For me it is like I was guided into the profession by the hand of God. I say this because with what I do on radio, you can call me a counselor, a teacher and I am also fulfilling a prophecy I received many times. When I was still looking for a job, each time I went to church to pray, pastors would tell me “You will work for God.” I have realized that they were actually talking about the work I do on radio. It is not only when you preach from the pulpit that you can touch lives or inspire people, because I have been doing something similar since I started

work on radio. Now I can say that I enjoy what I do. It is not only when you give people money that you help them. Words of encouragement go a long way and if people pick up the pieces, it is similar to healing the sick or broken-hearted.

So are you always in the mood to counsel people. Don’t you have diva moments?

I am a regular person. I do things girls my age do. I hang out with friends. I go clubbing because I love dancing. I converse with friends. I am not going to sit here and pretend that I am pious every moment of the day.

What I can say is that I put God first in anything I do. He is my all in all. I have been through situations in life that made me careful about what I do. I take my time before doing or saying anything.

You just talked about how important God is to you. But in describing your character, you didn’t say anything about going to church?

Who no dey go church? In Nigeria the percentage of Christians who go to church is much higher than those who don’t. But I won’t sit here and claim to be holier or more born-again than the next person. There are some people who don’t go to church but they are more holy than those who frequent the church. What matters for me is my being sincere. But to answer your question, I do go to church and I am serious about worshiping God because He got me where I am today.

You’re the toast of listeners in Abuja, a good number of them want you at their events. You must be smiling to the bank,

are you not?

You know that broadcasting gives its practitioners a high level of exposure. So it is commonplace for people to invite you to events. I believe that each day I go on-air I have to put in my best. I am not out to advertise myself but I guess when you do your job well people will come looking for you. I am doing just fine financially. I am not this rich girl with so much money. I live a decent life. I can afford life’s little luxuries. I never buy motor but e no mean say you go fit use am judge whether I rich or not.

How did you come about your on-air nickname, Wili-Wili?

My full name is Stella Anwuli Nwosu.

When I was growing up in Ajegunle my friends used to call me “Nwuli” which is the short form of my name. Some of them used to mention “Nwuli” twice just like Wili-Wili. I played around with different ideas when it was time for me to pick a stage name. At some point, I started having flashbacks to my childhood so I settled for Wili-Wili.

Is there a difference between Stella Nwosu and the character, Wili-Wili?

Stella and Wili-Wili have a lot in common. For example, the way I talk on radio is similar to how I talk with the people around me. But most people are surprised when they see me. They often say I don’t look the way they expected. Some say they expected to see a middle-aged woman and those who think I should be young have the image of a rugged girl in mind. People often find it hard to believe I am the same person they listen to on radio.

Wazobia FM presenters do a lot of talking with listeners. What is the craziest thing a caller ever said to you?

I cannot think of any really crazy thing a

Continued on page 21

AUGUST 5, 2012 SUNDAY SUN

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Explore Interview RADIO GIRLS

SECURITY &POLICE

‘Dad never complained about not having a son’ Continued from page 20 caller has said to me. But people often argue about my gender. They keep asking if I am a guy or a babe.

How do you prepare before going on air?

Aside from the basic formalities in broadcasting, when it comes to presenting programmes in Nigerian Pidgin, it is largely freestyle. We also look for interesting topics to dissect with listeners. Sometimes, I have a number of topics which I choose from because we often bring up topical issues. Sometimes, I have to think hard to pick an interesting topic. Other times I exchange ideas with colleagues. The whole idea is to go on-air well prepared.

When some people become celebrities, they play down the fact that they grew up in the ghetto. But you are different; you say where you come from without being asked.

Why? I grew up around friends and family members who don’t like fake people.

Secondly, people who go about hiding their background end up embarrassing themselves. After lying about your background and people find out that you lied, it turns into a big disgrace.

But if you had kept things real from the onset, you will not have any problems in future and people will accept you for who you are. Gone are the days when people were ashamed of saying they grew up in Ajegunle. We have way too many success stories coming out from Ajegunle for anyone to be ashamed of it now.

How was it like growing up in Ajegunle?

It was fun. I love Ajegunle. Those days in Ajegunle there was hardly a family that didn’t have a child that had talent. It was that you were either into sports or music. But my parents were strict with us. They were very clear about us not keeping the wrong friends. We didn’t pick up bad habits.

This is why when I tell people that I grew up in Ajegunle they find it hard to believe. To me, it shows that what matters most is your upbringing not how rough or peaceful your neighborhood was. In fact, my background as someone who grew up in Ajegunle has helped me a great deal because listeners can relate with what you say. If I grew up in one posh area, went to a big private school and did all the aje butter stuff, the listeners will see through me when I talk. But because I have seen the rugged life in the ghetto and I spoke Ajegunle pidgin while growing up, people connect with me when I go on-air.

What kind of people did your parents stop you from hanging out with?

My parents didn’t follow us around handpicking our friends but they instilled in us certain values. We knew when to stop playing so we could go back home. We weren’t allowed to have friends outside school. So there was no reason for anyone to visit us or for us to go visiting any friend. Even when we left home we behaved as if

our parents were still around. This is why my sisters are my best friends.

From what you said, your family must be closely knitted. Is that the case?

Yes, we are very close. It’s me, my parents and my two sisters. My sisters are my best friends. I don’t move around with friends, though I make friends so easily. I don’t think I have to pick one or two people and stick to them alone. Maybe because when I get into a place I quickly mix up and it would be like I have known the people I just met for years.

Did your father ever worry about not having a male child?

You know as it is often said with men you can never tell. But I don’t think my father has any other child aside from my sisters and me. Most men that marry a second wife in search of a son do so to please their relations. My dad is the kind of person that would tell his relations that he would prefer to first train the children he has before thinking of burdening himself with another set of children. My dad never complained about not having a son.

Which of your parents influenced you the most?

My parents are unique. If my mum is not around, my dad will play both her role and his. It is the same thing with my mum. If my father isn’t around, she will act as father and mother. It is hard for me to say who influenced me the most. My parents are the best. I really appreciate the way they raised my sisters and I. Are you single or married?

I still single o.

Are you searching or fully occupied?

I dey search o. I no go siddon here dey pretend say na career I dey chase for now. Most of the women who say they are more concerned about their careers are only pretending. For me, when a woman is of age, one thing stays on the back of her mind and that is, the need to get married. And such a person won’t be happy until she gets married.

Are you of the view that a woman cannot be happy unless she is married?

We are all human beings so we hurt when there is reason to. I am not saying a woman cannot be happy unless she is married. But if a girl desires to get married and she remains single, she will feel the pain. But as a human being, she can also look at other things that make her happy so she doesn’t spend all her days unhappy because she is single. There are women who have been through a lot of heartbreak and they decide to stay alone. I can understand their situation. But there are people who are still open to marriage and they should be encouraged to find a good man. Again, girls have to accept certain situations because they cannot

...with Ben Okezie 08056180088 (SMS only) okezieben@gmail.com

Misuse of police personnel

T hold a gun to a man’s head to force him to marry them. So the issue of marriage is personal and people deal with it the best way they understand.

For you what kind of man fits the bill?

Like most girls I want a God-fearing man. I also like quiet guys. I don’t like men who love to show off. I don’t like men who seek for attention. Even before I started working at Wazobia FM I asked my mum if it was possible to do traditional wedding by simply paying the dowry with no ceremony.

That is how quiet I want my life to be.

The kind of guy I like is the man who goes to work, he could hang out with friends but when it’s time to come home, he gets in quietly. I don’t want to be with the neighborhood big boy everybody hails when he walks in. I really like the lifestyle of civil servants.

Are you saying civil servants can apply?

(Laughing) Yes, they can.

How about the looks?

Let me honestly admit that I like a guy that is good looking. But life experiences – both personal and that of others – have taught me that character is more important than looks. It takes a lot for two people to get along.

You seem to be a simple dresser.

The fact is, I am not a fashionista.

Sometimes I make up other times I don’t. I am a T-shirt-and-jeans-kind of person. I only dress up when I have to go for events. I am a tomboy but not the extreme kind that acts or looks like a guy.

What are the things that make you happy?

I am just like my father, once people around me are happy, I am happy. I am not the kind of person that will say I need this or that thing to be happy. I can’t be smiling when the next person has a problem. So I really like it when things are going on well around me and people are happy.

he Nigeria Police attracted the odium it is facing currently. It is like a lady dressed for a wedding ceremony, who stubbornly walked close to a pothole filled with dirty water. As she stood there waiting, a cab trying to avoid another car ran into the pothole and splashed dirty water on her dress. She had no option but to return home and change the dress.

Frankly speaking, it is the way you carry yourself that attracts respect to you. The question one should ask is: at what stage did the police become a laughing stock and tool in the hands of the people? I have travelled out of the country like many other Nigerians and even our leaders. I have travelled to Britain, which first established our police force during the colonial days. I watched their television stations for a month. Not once did I see a policeman standing behind any government functionary; neither did I see any policeman at any wedding ceremonies nor at house opening ceremonies.

I never saw armed policemen in any chauffer-driven car belonging to a parliamentarian or minister. I was in the rented house of one minister and there was no armed policeman converted into a guard. The women police were not seen on the streets of London escorting the wife of a politician and carrying their handbags. I never saw armed policemen escorting the children of ministers and ruling politicians to school. I never saw any policeman guarding the homes of senior police officers. In the United States of America, I never saw any policeman escorting any politician about. I then ask myself when did this rot enter the Nigeria police system? When did this disgraceful outing start? Such an outing has brought a shameful splash on the face of the Force. In the past, once an Inspector General of Police is appointed one of the first statements issued has always been the withdrawal of police guards signed out by his predecessor. This is to enable him assess the number of police guards signed out and also to help him get familiar with the elite that have been patronizing the police so that he can also have his own cut of the cake that comes from. Thank God all these shameful actions have been stopped by M.D. Abubakar, the Inspector General Police. For a policeman to be standing behind a man speaking to an audience at a public forum is an abuse. Such abuses and any other closely connected to such misuse of the police should not only be condemned but should be stopped and policemen found doing this should be sanctioned. The dignity of the police must be restored and Nigerian elite should be advised to patronize private guards for protection.

Years back, I was with the former Inspector General of Police, Mr Tafa Balogun and as we started talking, behold a local government chairman was at a function and standing behind him was this young police sergeant looking ferociously at the participants as if the chairman was about to be kidnapped. Immediately, Mr Balogun said in anger, “Ben, see what these politicians have turned our policemen into.” I could feel the anger in his bowels over the degrading misuse of the police, which could not have been better hated by me – a civilian. Truly, our politicians and government officials have seen the misuse of the police as a class thing because in this country, every thing is about class.

Tomorrow even journalist and teachers would apply to have policemen standing behind them in the court and in the classrooms. What else need I say on the misuse of our policemen?

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AUGUST 5, 2012 SUNDAY SUN

Explore Interview RADIO GIRLS

I get paid to enjoy myself on air

By CHRISTY ANYANWU

R

achel Ebere Izuogu Onah is a popular voice on Radio Nigeria Treasure FM, based in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. A darling of radio listeners in the Garden City, Onah is currently working on her PhD (Doctor of Philosophy degree) in communication at the Department of Linguistics and Communications Studies, University of Port Harcourt, Choba. Just before General Ibrahim Babangida precipitated the June 12 crisis, Onah graduated from Abia State University, Uturu in the 1992/93 session.

While the battle to revalidate the annulled election raged, she quietly served out her national youth service at the Government House, Enugu. In 2005 she chalked up a Master’s degree in linguistics from University of Port Harcourt.

Recently, Rachel, an indigene of Aggah in Ogba Egbema Ndoni of Rivers State, was in Lagos for a sevenweek course in intermediate presentation at the Radio Nigeria Training School, Oshodi, Lagos, and took out time to chat with Sunday Sun about her passion for broadcasting, which she reveals was stirred by former Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) national news anchor, Sienne Allwell Brown, who she considers as her broadcasting role model. Excerpts…

Please go down memory lane and recall your journey into broadcasting.

My journey into broadcasting started in 1996 at Enugu State Broadcasting Service, ESBS Enugu, when I attended an audition and was offered a job as an English announcer. In 1997, I moved to Port Harcourt as a freelance news reporter for Radio Rivers FM and one of the presenters of information desk, which is a news programme that features correspondents’ reports. Later that year, I moved to the Rivers State Television, where I was given a programme to present as a guest presenter. The programme on TV brought me to limelight. I continued presenting it until I was told to start producing it as an independent producer in 1999. I continued with this programme, paying for the airtime until 2010, when I took a break. Being on television was an exciting experience.

While still producing the independent programme on Rivers TV, I got a job in 2003 as presenter, producer and news reader with CTL Cable TV Port Harcourt. I left CTL in 2005, when I got a job with Radio Nigeria Treasure FM as a radio presenter, where I am still working till date as an on air personality.

Looking at your industry, who do you regard as your role model?

My role model is the delectable lady of the tube, Sienne Allwell-Brown. During her active broadcasting days, she always presented delivered the news with so much

–Rachel Onah, Port Harcourt FM radio girl authority and I loved her carriage too.

Before going into broadcasting, did you work anywhere else?

Yes, I taught briefly at Modern Ideal College, Enugu. That was my first job after the NYSC. What are your core duties?

I am a presenter and a newsreader too.

Looking at life, what is it like in the world of broadcasters?

Life as a broadcaster is full of excitement because when you go to work, you actually go to play music and dance and educate your listener. You are being paid for enjoying yourself on air. There’s no other profession on earth that allows you to dance while on duty, and get paid for it. The only downside is that there is no money in the profession.

People hear your name on air and expect so much from you but you have nothing to show for the big name. Another problem is that you are expected to work on public holidays while others are resting. Let me also mention that one very annoying thing about this job is that people feel they have a licence to invade your privacy.

Recall your first experience on air.

No one ever gets it right the first day. I was very nervous but as you continue on the job, you become more confident.

Are you married?

Talking about marriage, I have had it very rough. I got married to Mr Chukwudi Onah from Nsukka in Enugu state. The marriage lasted for just five years 1994 to 1999. It was a devastating experience because he was the first man in my life. You know what that means. When a marriage packs up, it is the woman that really feels the pain. But God who comforts those that are cast down is always there and he has been my help all these years.

How did you meet your husband?

I met my husband in Deeper Life Bible Church and we wedded in that church on 30th April 1994. The marriage ended on August 19, 1999.

Were you separated because of the demands of your job?

Not at all! In fact my husband got me my first media job with ESBS Enugu.

How are you coping being single after marriage?

Life as a single Christian woman is very demanding because you have to overcome the temptations of the flesh, but the grace of God is always sufficient.

Are you thinking of giving marriage another chance?

I am not thinking of getting married again; am happy serving God. For you as a media woman, what is like in Port Harcourt?

Port Harcourt is not media friendly like Lagos. Everything in Port Harcourt is oil.

If you are not in the oil sector forget it but we are still coping all the same.

What is your dress code as a presenter?

As a presenter, you are expected to look nice; so I dress corporate when am on morning duty, but when on afternoon or night duty, I wear casuals. I like moderate hairdo. I wear good shoes. I can’t start mentioning designers now but I like good Italian shoes.

Big bash to mark KSA’s 35th crowning anniversary

Anastasia Bullock storms Nigeria as FreedomHall clocks 2

AUGUST 5, 2012

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ENTERTAINER

EDITED BY TOSIN AJIRIRE O8056008696

I gave up searching for my British dad –Shan George

By TONY OGAGA ERHARIEFE

S

he’s dressed in a black body hugging short gown with a plunging neckline.

Her gown terminates just above her knees, revealing a pair of hot long legs and ample cleavage. She throws you that charming smile that has endeared her to millions of fans and you can’t help but notice that engaging glint in her eyes as you take a seat next to her.

The story of Shan George in Nollywood began as early as 1996. She made her acting debut when the late Jenifer Ossai gave her a script that landed her a sub-lead role and N20, 000 reward.

Today, Shan George, who has starred in over 100

flicks and still counting, has emerged as one of the most prominent faces that dominated the movie scene for most of the late 1990s and 2000s. But controversy seems to be her middle name. From allegedly describing actresses as prostitutes to staging an all girl bikini parties, and to serial marriages, the actress it would seem just can’t avoid controversies.

Beyond that, light-complexioned Shan is also a hard working mother of two boys, and with over 20 movies to her production credits, Shan has surely come a long way. And now she is poised to premier her new movie entitled, Finding Goodluck.

In a no-holds-barred chat with The Entertainer, Shan opens up on the scandals that have rocked her career and disclosed that these days, she no longer

gives a hoot when negative stories are published about her.

“I concentrate on my passion and don’t bother about what people say. If you are a TV personality and you don’t have people trying to scandalize your name then you haven’t even started. When they come after you, it means you’ve gone far so these days I have stopped worrying, I laugh with them,” she declares.

Commenting on her half nude pictures that became the talk-of-the-town, she said: “It was my birthday in April. I didn’t have enough money to do a real party because I had put so much into Finding Goodluck. At that time I was already planning the premier, which would cost me like N3 million. So, I called about five or six of my girlfriends and we had

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ENTERTAINER a pool party. It was just an all-girl affair. We were at the pool swimming and naturally we took pictures on our phones.

“Some people used the pictures on their DP and before I knew what was happening, the pictures were all over the place and everybody was saying ‘why is Shan George wearing a bikini?’ Oh, she’s too old and so on and so forth. I couldn’t be bothered because I never knew I should wear agbada to swim.

People go to the beach in their bikinis with their families so why should my case be different? You see, in this life, when things happen, there are those who will see the negative side and those who will see the positive side.”

Also, one issue that continues to trail Shan is her marital status. Many a time, pictures of her getting married to a younger man have been published and splashed on the covers of soft sell magazines. The indigene of Cross River States, however, laughs as she laments: “Those pictures were from a movie entitled, Heart Break. In the movie, there was a marriage scene where I married a younger man. Before I knew it, stories were flying around that Shan had divorced her husband and married a younger man.

What pained me most was that a top journalist called me to confirm and I said ‘no, I did not remarry. I explained to him that the pictures were from a movie I just shot. To my shock, he ran the story with the pictures on his magazine cover that weekend!”

Childhood Shan’s life’s story began decades ago when she was born at Ediba, Cross River State, to an English father from Manchester, England, and a Nigerian mother from the Niger Delta. Today, she has become a Nollywood icon radiating glitz and glamour with a fan base stretching beyond the shores of Nigeria.

But once upon a time, the actress was just a village belle who spent most of her time on the farm, fetching water from the village stream or running errands for elders.

“I grew up in Ediba, Abi Local Government Area of Cross River State, a very wonderful village,” she says going d o w n memory lane. “I had my entire primary

and secondary education in that village. We had no electricity or pipe borne water but I’ll tell you what, it was so much fun; those who did not grow up in the village definitely missed a lot. It was exciting, I was a bit of a tomboy; climbing mango trees, going to the farm, fishing and swimming; it was a great experience.”

However, at just age five, when most kids begin to develop retentive memories, her British dad who was an expatriate working in Nigeria died and so Shan, an only daughter, was raised single handedly by her mum who did all she could so that her little daughter could get the best out of life.

Recalling her years in Ediba, Shan says laughing softly: “When I was a kid, I wanted to be a lawyer because I thought that would help me correct the ills in the society. In my childish mind, I saw things that I felt were wrong and I felt that if I read a lot of books and became a lawyer, I would be able to correct the wrong things going on around me when I grew up. However, I ended up behind the camera.”

As a child growing up, Shan had her own fair share of pranks. Her favourite was plucking mangoes from a tree that had a charm or juju tied around it. She laughs gaily as she recounts the experience: “I and my friends used to pluck mangoes from a tree that had a talisman tied around it to scare away people. We were not supposed to go near the tree or even pick the mangoes that fell on the ground. However, we believed that we could neutralize the effect of the talisman by packing a lot of sand and telling the tree, ‘if you can count this sand we are pouring on you grain by grain, then you can do to us the harm you were sent to do.’ And then we took off the talisman, climbed the tree and plucked our mangoes. When we came down we tied it back and fled; that was very daring.”

But like the popular saying goes, every day for the thief, one day for the owner.

Judgment day finally came and Shan was caught while her friends escaped! However, for Shan, life in the village was sheer bliss and peaceful. Despite losing her dad at age five, she never felt his absence because in the typical African setting where she grew up, she had many uncles and aunties who stood in for her father.

“This is Africa, no matter how bad it is, you always had a father figure around,” she volunteers.

What was it like growing up under a protective mum?

“My mum thought me humility and never to believe that I am too much and get carried away. She taught me to always be down to earth. Those years were funfilled. We went to school in the morning and headed to the farm after school to work and only came back home in the evening to listen to folk tales before going to sleep.

Sometimes, we would go to nearby villages on Sundays to watch TV at the homes of those who could afford vehicle batteries to run their television sets. That was when the desire to act began to grow in me,” the actress recalls.

Acting Shan hit Nollywood in 1996 after she got admission to study at University of Lagos. Confronted with the dilemma of paying her fees, Shan had to look for a way of earning descent money, as she was not about to start sleeping around. Luck finally smiled on her when she met a lady who took her to the late Jenifer Ossai who gave her her first script and N20, 000 for her debut movie role.

“Jenifer Ossai was a great woman, may her soul rest in peace. She practically made me what I am today,” says Shan whose first movie won her rave reviews and established her as an emerging face on the movie circuit. “I gained admission to study at UNILAG and I was looking for a way to pay my school fees so I met a lady called Blessing Eremi now Mrs. Blessing Stevens who introduced me to the industry. She said, ‘Shan, listen, I do not have money to give you but I will introduce you to a few people and they will give you roles in movies so you could pay your school fees’.

The woman practically made me what I am today. She took me to the l a t e Jenifer Okere Ossai, who was planning to do a

movie, Thorns of Rose and she gave me a sub-lead role and paid me N20, 000, which was a lot of money back then. I felt awesome and great earning my first money.”

With

16

years under her belt, Shan has seen and done it all, and remains very passionate about her career. According to the actress, some of the greatest challenges confronting Nollywood are the issues of financing, marketing and distribution.

My children and I Shan’s husband and kids have been in the UK in the last 10 years while she is based in Nigeria. How is she finding time for her family? She states: “I won’t say that they are complaining. Like my mum would say, ‘when you say you love somebody, it means you love them the way they are and not because they will come and change you to what they want you to be.’ My family members have known me all their lives and no one is complaining yet.”

What about her children? “My children have always stayed with us; me and their dad. They’ve been in the UK for over 10 years. They miss me but we try to create time for each other. We are all grownups now. My family knows what I do for a living and they are used to it.

“My kids just love their mother. Like the saying goes, ‘don’t judge a book by its cover. You are dressed in a suit and wearing glasses and looking like a professor. But you could be a naughty boy so

AUGUST 5, 2012

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ENTERTAINER honestly; I don’t judge people by looks because they could be very deceptive. But my kids love me just the way I am.

“I was created to entertain. I give God every minute of my life. There’s a stark difference between how much time you give to God and how much time you spend in church. Going to church is a totally different ball game and being with God is totally different. You could be going to church because you want to see the new trends in fashion or that chick you want to pin down. Being with God is different from being in church. I put God first in whatever I do.”

Movie production Today, Shan remains one of the few successful women moviemakers in Nollywood. What are the challenges she faces as a female film producer? Hear her: “The first challenge is that I am a woman. Being a woman doing a man’s job is a big challenge. Most times you find out that you’re just one of the two or three women among 40 men. But the men are more liberal and supportive. The industry is male dominated but they are very cooperative and take it easy with us women. They don’t try to intimidate us because of the gender thing.

“It’s interesting to note that there is no discrimination. I have never experienced that in the industry.

It’s not about your sex or looks but the input you make so it’s not about whether you’ve got two very flat boobs or two very round boobs.”

In a career spanning 15 years, what would Shan say has been her highest point? She smiles as she responds: “When I do movies that people really appreciate like Made in Heaven, and when I win awards; these are experiences that get me very excited and happy.”

Shan insists that after 15 years, she has had no experience that she could describe as her saddest.

However, she has a ton of advice for young girls who would want to pursue a career in acting.

“The first advice is for them to get an education because it will give them an edge. They should believe in themselves and have some patience. When I wanted to do Finding Goodluck, a couple of youngsters came to me saying, ‘Aunty Shan, can we have a role?’ I gave roles to them because I sincerely wanted to encourage them but guess what, one of them just said ‘Aunty Shan, this role is too small, I need a role that will make me a star overnight!’

“These youngsters

•Shan George (right) with friends at her birthday party

should know that you don’t become a star overnight. Only God makes you a star. You can be a very popular actor and not be a star. It is only God that makes one a star, God bestows it on you. You could have done 100 movies and not be known but somebody just does one movie and is all over the place. It’s a lot of hard work and patience.”

On her music Unknown to many, Shan also has a singing talent.

A couple of years ago, she kick-started a music career when she dropped her debut album.

However, nothing much has been heard about her singing. What is happening?

“For me, music is just a passion,” she says. “It is not a career. The free time I have on my hands when I am not working on a movie set is what I dedicate to doing music. Sometimes, it’s just to while away the time. Music is a hobby while movie is business. I have done two albums already and they are in my native language. It’s not a career.”

Looking for late dad If there was one challenge the actress has learnt to live with, it’s the fact that she might never find her father or his family members. Four years she has traveled to the UK and all attempts to trace his dad or family members have failed. Recounting the experience, Shan says: “I tried looking for my dad to be sincere. I went to MNI, the company

where he worked. I tried to look for his file but there were no records. Don’t forget that there was a war. The total sum of it is that I searched and searched but couldn’t get enough data to locate his family but I got enough to know that dad was from Manchester and he came to Nigeria as an expatriate. At a point, I just gave up. But I know who my father was. I remember him with my five year-old eyes and mind. He died, he didn’t abandon my mum and I.” Any regret about acting?

“Not at all,” Shan says conclusively.

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ENTERTAINER

Big bash to mark th KSA’s 35 crowning anniversary –Akogun Lekan Alabi heads planning committee

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•KSA, (inset) Lekan Alabi

ow time flies. It’s 35 years that juju icon, Otunba Sunday Adeniyi Adegeye aka King Sunny Ade emerged as the king of juju music. Now, a big concert is being planned to celebrate the crowing anniversary. To this end, a seven-member committee has been set up to oversee the activation of the big bash, which comes up later in the year.

At a meeting of the organizers held at Ajorosun Club, Ibadan last Sunday, Akogun Lekan Alabi, former Corporate Affairs Manager, O’odua Group of Companies was made the chairman of the committee. Following Alabi’s successful packaging of Evangelist Ebenezer Obey’s 70th birthday party in Lagos two months ago, it was unanimously agreed that he be made the head of the committee so his experience could bear on the organisation of the anniversary.

In a letter confirming Akogun’s appointment as chairman and signed by Olutade Makinde, who incidentally was the Editor of The Entertainer, a publication of the defunct Daily Sketch Publishing Company that crowned KSA as the king of juju, Akogun was appointed as chairman “with

Invitation to Thunder for lovers of Superstory

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classic edition of Superstory entitled, Invitation To Thunder is on the way for lovers of good television drama series.

Invitation to Thunder portrays the life of a wealthy businesswoman, Susan whose spirit is crushed when she suspects that her younger lover, Henry is having an affair with one of her supermarket’s attendants. She devises a plan to get rid of Sonia but something goes horribly wrong. Written by astute Lamson Yesuf, Invitation to Thunder reflects the extremities of jealousy, envy

and vengeance.

According to Wale Adenuga Jnr, Series Producer, Invitation to Thunder is “being transmitted due to popular demand by fans. Superstory remains a mirror to reflect and correct the ills of the society.”

Invitation to Thunder features top acts like Chinyere Winifred, Jibola Oredola, Perez Egbi and others. Wale Adenuga Productions produces many award-wining programmes including Papa Ajasco and Company, Thislife, and Nnena & Friends.

full powers and authority to direct the affairs leading to the successful implementation of the crowning anniversary this year”.

Reacting, Akogun said it was an honour and privilege to chair the planning committees of the landmark events of the two music icons. He says: “I remember my write-ups in my weekly column, “What’s Happening” in December, 1974 in the Sunday Sketch, where I described Obey and Sunny as champions of their trade. How prophetic! I derive great pleasure in celebrating creativity and excellence. Obey and KSA are models and one cannot but be proud to be associated with them. My appointment, in a lighter mood, can be regarded as payback. May God enable my committee to achieve equal success for KSA as we did for Obey last April.”

Other members of the committee are Mr. Clement Ige, a close associate of KSA (Vice Chairman), Chief Bunmi Adesanya, Asewa Iyalode of Ibadanland (member); Aare M.A Latosa; Mr. Akin Olaiya (Director of Operations) and Barr. Gbenga Makinde of Olujimi & Akeredolu Law Hub (Secretary).

•Aity

Aity across America

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ivacious gospel songbird, Aity Dennis has exported her Afrocentric gospel rhythms to God’s own country on a tour tagged, “Aity Across America (3A Tour).

The tour kicked off on July 29 with the citywide Glorious Praise Concert hosted

by Grace International Church, Houston. Aity’s fans in the United States who have been longing to watch her live warmly received her to the city.

The artiste, who has just completed the first phase of the videos of her new CD, Unstoppable, says: “I’ve toured other countries but this is going to be my first time in that axis.”

Other cities on the itinerary of the Barasuene singer include Portland, Chicago, Connecticut and New York.

The Akwa Ibom music ambassador will expectedly do a stopover in Orlando, Florida for the AKISAN congress.

If Aity’s soul rending tunes and captivating dance steps are anything to go by, then Americans are in for a swell time.

All is set for Festival of Nigerian Choirs

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reparations towards this year’s edition of Festival of Nigerian Choirs (AFNC) have reached the advanced stage with the lead judge for the singing competition, highly revered musicologist Professor Laz Ekwueme, promising a monumental show come September.

While giving the press an overview of this year’s AFNC, Ekwueme said the guests at the grand finale of the festival would be treated to the best of the different genres of gospel music.

He disclosed that choirmasters of finalist choirs were in Abuja penultimate Friday where they were acquainted with the music syllabus for this year’s event. “Two of the best choirs were selected from a grouping of blocks of various modes of worship such as the Pentecostal, evangelical and the orthodox Christian music. We have organised a workshop to present the music syllabus to the choirmasters whose choirs will be competing this year. We are working towards good musicianship, good vocals in the worship of God. So, guests should expect a monumental musical get-together this September,” he said.

P r o f e s s o r Ekwueme’s promise of a good show follows an earlier endorsement •Prof. Ekwueme

from President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejaifor, who described the event as an avenue for churches in Nigeria to bond together in the spirit of worship. Aside from CAN, former Head of State and organizer of Nigeria Prays, General Yakubu Gowon (rtd) and one time Minister of Information, Professor Jerry Gana both pledged their support for Evangelist Ify Ebosie, the lady behind AFNC. On her part, Ebiose, who is also the founder of Royal Life Ministries, expressed optimism that the AFNC will help promote the message of peace even as the country continues to witness a rise in violent crime.

“The Annual Festival of Nigerian Choirs is a platform that in collaboration with CAN annually brings together choirs of all categories of denominations in Nigeria to contribute to the unity and peace of the nation. Differences in our culture, political ideology and ethnic diversities shall disappear when we sing together. We all shall literarily be merged as one voice to become a national family”, Ebosie declared.

AUGUST 5, 2012 27

ENTERTAINER

Feast of Worship heats up with Obey, Ayefele, others •X-Factor with Davido (middle)

X-Factor’s singles make waves

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hings are really looking up for the duo of Blair and Clinton Roberts. The twins of ace broadcast journalist, Robert Opara have released two singles that are making waves on music download websites.

Simply known as X-Factor, the twins have received rave reviews from music lovers who have downloaded their songs, Lady and That Girl. The youngsters who recently finished from Maddona Secondary School, Owerri, Imo State have hooked up with topnotch music video director, Patrick Elis to shoot videos for their songs.

The twins, who started singing in the choir at the tender age of six, revealed to The Entertainer that they have commenced •The Effect work on recording their debut album which is likely to have appearances from big his year’s edition of gospel names such as Davido, Wizkid and music festival tagged, “Feast Kurukere singer, Iyanya. of Worship Live” will hold at “We got our stage name from the American the ultra modern auditorium of talent show, X-Factor because on the show Christ Apostolic Church the judges look for what makes an artiste (CAC), Agbala Itura, Agege, Lagos on stand out. We intend to do music in a way Friday, August 10 starting by 9pm. that will stand us out from others. Though, According to the chairman of the our style is pop music with Naija flavor, our Planning Committee, Alayande goal is to do music in such a way that we will Stephen, this year’s edition will be make a difference. The response we have hyped on social networking platforms. received since we released our singles shows “It is the sixth edition, hence we are that music lovers will buy into our kind of conscious of the need to raise the bar music,” said Blair who is named after and ultimately create a live concert England’s former Prime Minister Tony Blair. where people of different classes, reliThe twins are also keen on making their gions, and denominations will gather performances unique through well-choreounder one roof to give the Almighty graphed dance routines and want fans to God praises and worship like never look out for their videos currently being before,” he said. shot in Lagos.

Headlining this year’s event is music Clinton, however, pledged that their video legend, Evangelist Ebenezer Obey would excite music fans. “We are known for incorporating dance into our performances. Fabiyi to be supported by Yinka Our video will introduce us to music lovers Ayefele, Bukola Akinade (Sewele Jesu), on a national and international level, so we Kenny Kore of the Olori-Oko fame, will surely have dance scenes that will leave Israel Abiara and Lady Evangelist Taye an impression.”

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Biyi Samuel re-enacts Papa’s Promise today

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gospel concert featuring as main act, B i y i Samuel and the June 20 Crew holds today at the Troy Lounge, Ogba, Lagos.

According to the Igi Aruwe singer, the concert is put •Biyi together to promote his album video entitled, Kabioosi, (Unquestionable God). Released a couple of years back; the album was a product of a determination to succeed.

Following the initial frustration that trailed his foray into music after graduating from Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Samuel, who saw music as a calling, rallied resources to produce Papa’s Promise, which metamorphosed to Kabioosi.

The eight-tracker contains the album

title, Kabioosi, Papa’s Promise, and Igi Ti Ruwe (flourishing Tree) among others.

The album and video version are enjoying airplay on radio and TV stations.

Biyi once told The Sun what inspired the album: “Papa’s Promise is the story of my life; my rise from grass to grace. It was a testimony of God’s plan for me. On a particular Sunday, shortly after I arrived in Lagos from national youth service, I could not even afford transport fare to church, so, I started worshipping God in songs. All of sudden, lyrics started coming, the songs struck me and immediately I concluded it was my Papa’s Promise.”

Jejere’s premiere: Laide Bakare on summer trip with 9ice

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ctress-cum-producer, Laide BakareOkunfulire, has completed the shooting of her much-talked-about Yoruba box office hit, Jejere (Tumour), and is billed for a world premiere tour during the summer.

But Laide will not be on the tour alone as Abolore Akande a.k.a. 9ice, who plays the lead character in the N35 million flick, would be accompanying the beautiful mother of two on the summer business trip.

The choice of summer, according to sources close to the actress, is informed by the fact that it is the period fun-seekers in Europe set aside for leisure. Beginning in the UK, the movie will premier in American states including New York, Maryland, California, Texas and New Jersey to mention a few.

Other members of the cast including Fathia Balogun, Akin Lewis, Ireti Osayemi, Tola Oladokun, Afeez Eniola, Toyin Adegbola, and Segun Ogungbe will also be on the tour.

Zeb Ejiro set to launch Hot Nigerian Women

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Ojo among others. Prophet Dr. S.K Abiara, General Evangelist, CAC World-Wide, will host the concert.

Feast of Worship, which is an initiative of the church’s youth fellowship, is endorsed by Mutual Benefit Assurance Plc, Moses Adebayo Nigeria Ltd, Obokun Freight Forwarders, Bablolly Ventures, Totaltelecom Solutions, Multizee Limited, and Haulage and Green Star Line Limited.

eteran filmmaker, Zeb Ejiro and Sweden-based Nigerian actor, musician, author and blogger, Lawrence Lurrenz Onuzulike have teamed up to showcase the beauties of Africa in form of a book entitled, Hot Nigerian Women.

The book, according to the duo, will feature beautiful photos and short biographies of Nigerian women worldwide.

Explaining further, Ejiro said: “The women who appear in the publication will be instant stars because the book will be promoted all over the world. And you know what happens when people are exposed to too many opportunities; fortune, fame and wealth start coming from every angle.”

Asugha solicits support for Nkiru Sylvanus

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onourable Lisa Asugha has called on the people of Imo State to extend their support to her successor, star actress, Nkiru Sylvanus, who succeeds her as the Special Assistant on Public Affairs.

Asugha, who was the Special Assistant on Public Affairs before the portfolio swap with the actress made this known at a public function recently.

She stated that the level of encouragement her successor receives while in the service of the people of the state will

impact on her performance hence the importance for feed back from the people could not be overemphasized as it would be a pointer to how government policy is affecting them. She assured that Sylvanus, being a tested and trusted hand, would no doubt excel in her new job.

Meanwhile, Honourable Lisa Asugha, has already commenced work in Lagos as she paid a courtesy visit to the Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola.

•L-R: Groom and Bride’s parents, Mr. Stanley Nkwocha of Leadership Newspaper, Mrs. Helen Nkwocha, Mr. & Mrs. Henry Nkwocha, and Mr. & Mrs. Danladi Kifasi

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ENTERTAINER

Anastasia Bullock storms Nigeria as FreedomHall clocks 2 Music lovers are in for a swell time as American rapper, Anastasia storms the country and will entertain at four FreedomHall venues across the Lagos Metropolis as the platform marks its second anniversary.

“We are celebrating our two years in style and American rap sensation, Anastacia will be on ground to entertain music lovers. Rodizzio is the place to be on August 5,” the organizers say.

Born in 1986 in Brooklyn, New York, Anastasia attended Sheepshead Bay H.S where she received her diploma in Performing Arts and later graduated from Suny Oldwestbury College, receiving her B.A in American Studies. Although, her goal throughout many years of school was to become an Early Childhood Educator, her passion to become an artiste

took precedence.

FreedomHall is a platform where people who would never have had an opportunity to express their God-given talents are allowed to do so in music, drama, poetry, dance and comedy. It is a movement of African artistes and poets who meet at various locations around Lagos. Paul Play I.K Dairo, Ade Bantu, Bez, Dede, Nneka, Nikki Laoye, Jodi, Nene Diva, Alariwo of Africa, Show Dem Camp, Weird MC, Bouqui, Jedi, Koffi, Kunle Ayo, Jeffrey Daniels, and Seun Kuti among a host of others have graced FreedomHall.

FreedomHall has a couple of events planned for the rest of the year with the climax being the Hallway of Freedom concert which comes up on September 30 at Muson Centre and •Anastasia The Festival of Music in December.

Cash, car for grabs as More Than Song beckons

A Muri Thunder celebrates birthday in Dubai

re you a talented singer? Do you work in the gospel genre? An opportunity is calling as More Than Song, a platform dedicated to discovering the next gospel music icon berths.

Up for grabs are a brand new Toyota Corolla car and millions of naira, while judges for the event include K-Sticks, Wole

Oni, Hope Davies, and Soji Israel.

According to an official of Cedartones Concept, organizers of the event, auditions for More Than Song will hold in yet to be disclosed centers in FESTAC Town, Egbeda, Victoria Island, and Maryland all in Lagos. Application forms are available at all branches of GTBank.

•Muri

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uji star, Muri Thunder, is set to paint Dubai red when he marks his birthday in grand style. Sources reveal that the fuji star is checking into Dubai’s Burj Al Arab, the only 7-star Hotel in the world for his birthday bash which comes up today.

“It’s going to be a great celebration.

Actually it’s a family affair. My wife and kids will be joining me in Dubai to mark this birthday and I thank God for making me add one more year. I have been working so hard touring and recording, I guess, it’s time to take a break,” the Kasakasa singer disclosed.

A friend of the musician corroborates him thus: “It’s going to be a big affair.

A number of close pals including Remi Aluko will be joining him to celebrate.

You know, they both go back a long way to their years in Ajegunle where they started playing fuji music together.”

However, the birthday will be a week of fun and excitement with musician’s family and friends after a grueling tour that left him sapped. But once the celebration is over, the fuji star will head to By NKECHI CHIMA-ONYELE Saudi Arabia for the lesser Hajj.

Muri’s story is one of grass to grace. nugu-based Nollywood twin stars, Popularly known as Mr. Music, he kickChidiebere and Chidinma Aneke started his career in Africa’s largest ghetarrived Lagos few days ago in to, Ajegunle and dropped his first album preparation for their birthday scheduled in 1998. He is poised to drop a new track for tomorrow. and video in a couple of weeks.

In a way of giving back to the society, the twins plan to celebrate their birthday with the physically challenged as well as visit

ENTERTAINER E D I TO R I A L T E A M

Entertainment Editor: Tosin Ajirire Deputy Entertainment Editor: Sam Olatunji Correspondents: Sam Anokam and Braide Damiete Contributor: Tony Ogaga Ehrariefe Layout & Design: Paul Nnayereugo THE SUN ENTERTAINER is a weekly publication of THE SUN Publishing Ltd. 2 Coscharis Street, Kirikiri Industrial Layout, Apapa. PMB 21776, Ikeja, Lagos. 01-8980932, 6211239 Email: entertainer@sunnewsonline.com Website: www.sunnewsonline.com

Nollywood twins, Chidiebere, Chidinma add one more year tomorrow

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the motherless babies’ home to give donation and spend some time with them.

Meanwhile, the actresses have released another blockbuster entitled, The Eye and The Light. The movie is about what is happening in the society. It tells the story of how kidnappers have laid siege on the country. It’s an eye opener for transport owners to checkmate their drivers all the time.

So Wrong So Wright bags another award

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opular TV drama series, So Wrong So Right as bagged yet another award at this year’s edition of The Audio Visual Awards (TAVA).

It beat other drama series to clinch the award for The Most Outstanding Television Soap Opera edging out Cross Road, Secret and Scandals, Family Ties, Yours faithfully, and Sababi. The Award ceremony, which was held at the National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos, witnessed a host of Nollywood faces

and television top shots.

Currently in its fifth season, So Wrong So Wright is an insightful, yet deeply entertaining 30-minutes drama series that chronicles the changing events of the Wright family, an upper-middle class family of six. The drama provides an indepth look at the daily life of the respectable Wright family as they try to find happiness in both their individual and collective lives.

The big rush for new states Exclusive reports on Page 36

YOUR SUNDAY MAGAZINE

AUGUST 5, 2012

Editor: SHOLA OSHUNKEYE

UMAR ABUBAKAR MANKO Lagos State Commissioner of Police

No money can buy my conscience

By SHOLA OSHUNKEYE and CHRISTOPHER OJI

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s the number one law officer in metropolitan Lagos, a state sophisticated in a number of ways, including crime, whoever bears the cross of being its Commissioner of Police automatically enters into a covenant with insomnia. Even when he sleeps, it is with one eye. If you think this is an exaggeration, ask Sir Mike Okiro, a former police commissioner in the state who later became Inspector General of Police, IGP. Ask Mohammed Dairu Abubakar, the incumbent IGP who once served as the chief crime fighter in Lagos. See if the duo would not sing the same tune.

So, why would Umar Abubakar Manko, the current Lagos State Commissioner of Police be differ-

ent? Though Lagos has not experienced any surge in violent crimes lately, the police chief, like his boss, IGPAbubakar, in Abuja, does not sleep. A sociology graduate from the University of Sokoto, Manko hit the ground running when he assumed duties four months ago. He took the battle to criminals in their hellholes. And he is not about relenting.

Last week, Manko took time out of his hectic schedule to field questions from ICON. One of the most experienced commissioners in the current dispensation, and obviously, not a new comer to Lagos, the Bida prince appraised the security situation in the state and sent this eight-word message to criminals and sponsors of crime in the state: steer clear of Lagos or meet your waterloo.

In this no-holds-barred interview, Manko took a cue from the ongoing efforts by the IGP to transform the force, and promised not only to make Lagos too hot for career criminals but also decapitate corruption wherever it wants to rare its ugly head within the force.

Continued on page 32

AUGUST 5, 2012 SUNDAY SUN

30

ICON PROF. VICTOR EFOSA UWAIFO

By CHIKA ABANOBI

Mysteries and Mystique of a Music Maestro Continued from last week

W

‘’

‘ Even while I was in secondary school...

I was earning money playing with bands and I had enough money to take care of myself’

hen you were younger, you were obviously handsome, how were you able to overcome the temptation of women?

I have said it. It is a matter of principle.

But you were tempted, weren’t you?

Temptation is part of life. Yes, I was tempted but I was able to overcome based on the principles I told you about.

Do you have a native Bini or Edo name?

Yes, Efosa, you saw it written there on my door. That’s “God’s Gift.” You see, sometimes these names our parents give us work.

Take, for instance, my English name, Victor. It means a conqueror.

That takes me to the next question. How about your parentage?

I come from Edo, from a family that is well-known in Benin – the Uwaifo family. My father was a disciplinarian, my mother from a royal family – Edosogie. My elder brother, probably you will know, Honourable Justice S. Uwaifo, formerly of the Supreme Court. My brothers are in different professions – we have lawyers, engineers, doctors, directors, teachers and so on. I am the last but one.

How many are you in the family?

We are 13. And I am the 12th.

It’s only one left behind me – Douglas Uwaifo–and he is in Lagos.

How many girls?

One is late. Now there are five women and seven men. Music runs in our blood and everybody plays one instrument or the other, including some of my children.

Does this explain why your music has this traditional flavour to it? I mean the rhythm and the lyrics.

Though I composed, too, my music is based mostly on folklores. All these Joromi and the rest of them are folklores. But what I did was to give them new renditions in a way that makes them more melodious or melodic and musical than they were in their original forms. Even when I compose, it sounds like folk.

But it seems you started with

highlife before you branched into what you call Akwete music?

Yes, because music has forms just like you see buildings. You have different structures – bungalows, high sky risers, duplexes, skyscrapers; that’s how music is.

Otherwise, music would have just been one. You have highlife, jazz, calypso, fox trot –you know, chachacha, classical, etc. Those of us who are creative, we see things in forms and shapes. That’s how I was able to carve out Ekassa, Akwete, Ititibiti, Sasakosa – different structures.

Music is like sculptures, artworks: they talk; they have language. If you are an artist, you will hear them talk. A piece of wood is somewhere there but it is crying for you to bring something artistically marvelous out of it and before you know it, it is alive.

And so, we pride ourselves as God’s assistants because God created man in his own image, sculptured him in clay and breathed life into him and he became man whereas other creations, He created them by fiat – “let there..., and there was.” But when it came to

Uwaifo

man, he took his time and used clay and we use clay to create, too. We pride ourselves so much in sculpture and sculpture is the mother of all arts.

When I was being conducted round the Revelation Tourist Centre, I saw many sculptural artworks on many subjects and personalities…

Those are my works. I did all of them.

Yes, I know, but the ones on 16th, 17th and 18th century historical personalities, both whites and blacks, that played some roles in the conquest and destruction of ancient Benin Kingdom, how did you get the ideas for their looks, shapes and all that?

I am an intellectual. I am an academic staff of this university (University of Benin) and a researcher. So, we don’t just do anything for doing sake. We research.

Did you get the ideas of the sculptural works from the past photographs of the dramatis personas or what?

Some of them are from the archives.

Sometimes from

descriptions, you can develop the story of past lives because if you don’t know your past, you can’t situate your present and if you don’t know your present, you can’t forecast your future. So, that Revelation Tourist Centre is a life-time project. I have done it so as to leave a legacy and also educate the masses, tell the story of the past in the present. There are so many things there, not just on the old Benin Kingdom. This is just the first phase. By the time I move into the second phase, it will be something else. It is going to develop across the road, and I will take it through the whole net of the whole street.

Talking about the music aspect of your life, you said before the age of 12, you’d started playing music. Was it guitar?

Guitar, yes. But now, I play almost every instrument – flute, saxophone, xylophone, keyboard, clarinet, etc.

I saw the first acoustic guitar you used displayed at the Revelation Tourist Centre.

Yes, you know I am an inventor.

I invented the double-neck guitar.

Again, I am the only one who has a revolving guitar in the whole world, the one that spins round.

That’s my invention.

But since then why haven’t you produced more of that?

The Wright Brothers who invented airplane didn’t produce more than one of that. You create something and people take it up.

But in your own case, nobody has ever done that…

It may not be immediately, but with time I believe they will come to do so. Time will tell.

Was Joromi your first record?

It’s not. I started recording on vinyl since 1960. But Joromi came up in 1965. Before then I played with some other bands like E C. Arinze. He is still alive and we communicate every day. Even while I was in secondary school, I was already playing music. At Yaba College of Technology, I was the best student in Arts and I won the Lintas scholarship. Apart from the scholarship, I was earning money playing with bands and I had enough money to take care of myself. I had a friend of mine, Umenyiora, he is the king of Ogbunike in Enugu State. As students, we used to call ourselves: ‘Money dey.’And when he says, ‘Money dey’, I would reply,

AUGUST 5, 2012 SUNDAY SUN ‘Money dey yafu yafu.’ It was fun.

Eventually after you made a hit with Joromi, what happened?

I was working for NTA then. I resigned my appointment because my one show could pay my annual salary. I was doing well. From there, I just continued to explore the music world.

Some people claim you play guitar with your teeth, is it true?

Not only my teeth, but with every part of my body. Just name it. I wanted to show that I have dominion over guitar. So, I can use any part of my body to play it.

This is interesting. At the Revelation Tourist Centre, I saw posted on the wall, a Weekend Concord story done by Mike Awoyinfa and Aliu Mohammed on Guitar Boy. What is it all about?

It was a military coup that took place in Ghana. They code-named that coup, “Operation Guitar Boy” just like staccato kind of sound you hear in my Guitar Boy song. They said that was the way their machine gunfire was sounding when the shooting started.

Which military coup was that?

The one in which Katoka was killed.

That means before then they must have had some knowledge of your Guitar Boy song?

Guitar Boy was a hit all over the world and is still a hit till tomorrow. I mean for more than 42 years, it has been ruling the airwaves. It is the shortest lyrics in the world I have ever come across, you know; it was an esoteric experience. Guitar Boy, if you see Mamiwota, never, never run away, Victor Uwaifo…it is as short as that.

Personally, I know the story behind the Guitar Boy of a song. But could you recount the experience for the benefit of our readers who may never have heard the story behind the song they all love so much.

What happened is that I used to stay late at night at the Bar Beach, strumming away my guitar. I used to go there, spread my camp bed, lie on it and be strumming away.

On one occasion like that, everybody had gone, I was there midnight around 1 a.m. and the waves were becoming uneasy. It was as if there was something special about that night. Suddenly the mermaid came in the waves and stood listening to my strumming. And she cried out, “Guitar Boy.” I unconsciously answered. The way I answered is what I later transposed into my guitar play. She saw I was frightened and was going to run away and she said, “If you see Mamiwota, never, never run away.”

And she called my name, “Victor Uwaifo.”

Even that one shocked me the more. This thing I am telling happened within two minutes or so and suddenly, she floated away with the waves. I immediately got up, packed my camp bed and left. That same week, I rehearsed the song the way she said it because it was still fresh in my memory and put in the beat of it I could put in the guitar, and it was a hit.

Does she have the tail of a fish like we see in some drawings of her?

Yes, something like that. And she has some long lock of hair. Half of her body was in the water. If I go there today, I can still trace the spot where the incident took place. It is opposite Ahmadu Bello Way, in Victoria Island, Lagos. NTA was just somewhere there and whenever I finished working, I had to stay behind to do the graphics for the television. In those days, television was an evening business. So, that’s the story. I have told it so many times.

Apart from the double-neck guitar, you have various other inventions from what I can see...

You were in that aircraft that you saw at the Revelation Tourist Centre, that is the largest piece of sculpture in Africa. How did I do it? I wanted to prove that you could build a sculpture that is functional.

What year did you do that?

That should be over twenty-something years ago. But that house is 36 years old. It was built 1973. Actually, I started building it around 1972 and finished it in 1973.

Tell us more about your career. How would you describe yourself?

I am a pace-setter, an inventor. I am the first African to win a gold disc. I am a mul-

Truly, a mermaid called me ‘Guitar Boy’

Uwaifo

‘Temptation is part of life. Yes, I was tempted (by girls) but I was able to overcome based on ... principles’

tifarious artist, a university don and a professor of Fine and Applied Arts. I am a firstclass honours graduate of the University of Benin and first alumnus and academic staff to be honoured with a doctorate degree by the university, November 2008. I am a celebrity of over 50 years on stage as a performer. I am the first maestro emeritus and intellectual in Africa. I am an inventor in tourism. I am the president and founder of the Revelation Tourist Centre and the pioneering Honourable Commissioner for Arts and Culture Tourism in Nigeria. Victor Uwaifo is the only African living legend gifted with multifarious talents and diverse in scope. He is an institution in music, a genius in sculpture, an academic, inventor, poet and philosopher. He was decorated by the President of Nigeria, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, with the prestigious national honour of Member of the Order of the Niger (MON) in 1983, that’s twenty-six years ago. He is also the 20th century Justice of Peace (JP). Victor Uwaifo has conquered

31 the music world. Victor Uwaifo has conquered the world of arts. Victor Uwaifo has conquered the world of culture and tourism.

Victor Uwaifo and music are one. Victor Uwaifo and entertainment are one. Victor Uwaifo, arts, culture and tourism are one.

Victor Uwaifo and inventions are one.

You were said to have propounded the theory of sound and colours. What is it all about?

By it, I was able to represent colours with musical notes. I can play a piece of cloth and transpose it to music. That was how I got the Akwete rhythm from the Akwete cloth in Akwete town in the East.

Really?

Black is “doh”, it is the strongest colour and the strongest note in musical notes. Red is “reh”, blue is “mi.” In fact, the colours of the rainbow can give you the musical notes.

So, if you have a beautifully-designed cloth that looks good, the music formed from it will also sound good. Just represent the musical notes with different colours and play around with them. It is like A,B,C,D to Z. It is the way you re-arrange the 26 letters of the alphabet that gives you the grammar, the vocabularies that are used to write the constitution and even the newspapers you read every day. You can mix the colours to give you different kinds of music sounds.

Only seven notes plus six half-notes, a total of 13 notes, make all the music in the world – from classical to jazz, to highlife and so on. And, in Mathematics, all the figures are just 0 to 9. After 0-9, you begin to add something to them until you reach thousand or million. So, that’s how the music evolves from colours to sounds and sounds to colours. I don’t know how to explain it to a lay reader. It is like Graham Bell who invented the telephone. That metamorphosed into Morse code and the GSM we are using today. Without the basics, there would have been no GSM. In those days, it was telegraph, then from telegraph to fax and from fax to e-mail.

Let’s talk about your relationship with people. Could you tell us some of the lessons that you have learnt in life, with regard to relationship?

I have learnt that you have different people. In the beginning, I used to let go. But later I discovered that life is not like that.

Loving your neighbour as yourself is not as simple as it sounds. It’s a good idea, but the truth is that some people don’t even love themselves. So, how could they love others as themselves? I found out that somebody could be laughing and playing with you but he has something else in mind.

Some musicians have problem managing money…

I am not just a musician, I am a maestro.

Agreed, but how have you been managing money?

Discipline is the key word. That’s why I created those laws I called the 10 extra commandments for myself. If you are disciplined in the way you spend money, you will not want to mismanage money.

You’ve met many Nigerian presidents, over the years – Shagari, Buhari, Babangida, Obasanjo…

I’ve dined with all of them.

Could you share your impressions of them with our readers?

Though they are different people, they all love music and that’s the only thing that brought us together.

What do they say about your music?

Buhari personally wrote me a letter expressing his appreciation of my music when I went to entertain the children at the government house, in commemoration of Children’s Day. Babangida invited me to a private dinner and he told me how he used to like my music and dance to my music in the 60s, my songs like Joromi and Guitar Boy. Obasanjo invited me to Aso Rock to perform when he was there and I did.

Shagari honoured me with national honours. That was 24 or 25 years before other musicians started getting national honours.

So, I set the pace. On the same day, I received the national award with Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Chief Mike Enahoro. Imagine me receiving this award with those great personages. It is something to appreciate. And the man who made it happen is President Shehu Shagari.

32

AUGUST 5, 2012 SUNDAY SUN

Encounter

I’ve never taken bribe from anybody. It has never happened been in the service for almost 28 years.

Of course, going to a new place one needs to study what is on ground there.

Especially coming from a relatively peaceful state like Edo? Well, Edo is relatively ‘peaceful’, but they have their own challenges. You have rampant kidnappings there. You have armed robbers, highway robbers and all these things there. That is not in Lagos.

So, if you compare the two sides, you would find a place where these kidnappings is a daily affair. Sometimes, highway robberies too are daily affairs. We were able to contain that over there as well. The records are there to speak for us.

There is a growing concern among Lagosians as we speak, now and it has to do with the growing population of non-Nigerians, especially Nigeriens, operating commercial motorcycles.

Most of them have been connected to terrible crimes. Does it bother you and what are you doing about it?

Yes, that should bother me because by the special grace of God, I am the number one policeman in Lagos State. But, I also want to mention that myself with other security agencies are working hand-in-hand to see how best we can tackle the issue of these foreigners operating commercial motorcycle here and there.

I also want to say, with a high sense of responsibility, because I am in position of knowledge to know, that most of these crimes being committed by these people on motorcycles are committed by people in this category. It is becoming something of concern to me and my colleagues in other security services. But we have agreed that we would continue to raid their hideouts, and flush out those involved in criminal activities. Only last month (June), we had one (a raid). We were able to identify about 191 of the foreigners that we instantly handed over to the Immigration Department to see how best they can handle the situation because that is within their mandate.

Even if they are deported, is there any iron-cast guarantee that they would not come back, considering our porous borders?

Well, there is none actually for now.

But the more we make them uncomfortable, the better for us. And we have agreed among ourselves that we are going to sustain that type of raid. I think the major problem we have is with the immigration because it costs the man in charge a lot of money to get these people out of the country. I am also aware that the state government is working out certain facilities to make the job easier for him. So, I think by and large, while we cannot say outrightly that they cannot come back, we have resolved that we are going to make them very uncomfortable.

We will make Lagos hot for them, as much as possible.

How about landlords hiring Nigeriens as guards? What must such landlords do to protect themselves and their households?

We have told them clearly that if you get these people, run security check on them. Because there is this general notion here that once you see anybody in baban-

riga and cap, it automatically means Hausa, and he’s a mallam that you can trust. I think that era has gone. I have tried, when I have the opportunity, to let them know that most of these people don’t even speak Hausa; many of them are not Nigerians. Therefore, we have been saying that if you must employ any of these people as domestic guards, or whatever, you must make sure that you dig deep into their backgrounds before giving them appointment. This is because we have had instances where these same people organised criminals to come and meet their employers. So, I am using this opportunity to let Lagosians know that they must be very careful in employing most of these people.

So, if I have to employ a ‘mallam’, what do I do?

Well, first of all, somebody might have brought that person into Lagos but if he came on his own, then, it is incumbent on him to prove that this is where I come from. That can easily be crosschecked by going to the nearest police station. Now, we are establishing a database where people can easily be identified by their fingerprints. I would urge people to make use of these facilities.

Is the database on ground yet or you are just about launching it?

No, no, no, the database has always been there. It is there at the Central Criminal Registry. It has not been closed down. The facilities have been upgraded.

If a DPO wants somebody’s fingerprint

Manko

now, all he needs to do is to take it there and within 24 to 48 hours, he would get the result. If the man has been involved in any crime before, it would show.

What people don’t know about this thing is that even if you have identical twins, there is no way fingerprint impressions can be the same. So, I think people should be more careful with people they employ as security guards, drivers and even nannies. I have seen a situation in Lagos here where the husband serves as a driver and the wife would go and look for work as a nanny and the two of them have the same mission of kidnapping children. Whichever one comes first, the two of them would disappear and go to Ghana, Senegal and all these places.

There is a particular man they have been trailing for about four years; luckily we got them when I arrived here. We rearrested that man in the house of a Brigadier-General in Abuja where he went to look for an appointment as a driver. He confessed that it was only when he saw the man’s uniform that he got scared that this one is a bad business. So, I would urge people to try to dig into the background of these domestic staff.

If I want to employ forinstance, can I take my potential domestic guard to a police station and say help me run a check on him?

Yeah, yeah, you can. Even at the Police Headquarters here, we have the Criminal Intelligence Bureau.

How much do we pay?

It is free of charge.

I don’t know whether you are also aware of this type of robbery; it has happened in an area I know very well at Yaba. It’s a predominantly Christian area so the place is usually quiet during those church hours. The two robbers came on motorbike, stayed by the gate, watching people going out and coming in. Then, another set came in a car, parked in another part of the street. Later on, they saw somebody entering a house and they went to the man, pretending to be preachers and the guy listened patiently to them. Suddenly, they opened theirbibles and brought out a gun and walked him into the house. They raided two blocks within that compound.

I have been told. But you see, this is the more reason why I have been saying that if you are driving a car and you watch your side mirror and discover somebody is trying to follow you, if you suspect anything, the best option is to alert the security agencies around you. Those people you are talking about, people living on the street might have seen them while they were still surveying the area. That should fire the curiosity of somebody: These people are not members of our community, what are they doing there?

Somebody should have raised an alarm and asked questions. We should begin to know who our neighbours are and what can our neighbours do?

While we who have the mandate of

PHOTOS BY SHOLA OSHUNKEYE

You came to Lagos at a unique time. Compared to your previous postings, how would you describe your stay so far?

Well, I don’t know what you mean by ‘unique’but I know Lagos is a very challenging place And because of its complex nature, there is nowhere that you go to work that you can compare to what you find on ground in Lagos. The challenges are there though, but we are trying to do everything we can to meet up with some of these challenges. So far, I have not seen anything that has overwhelmed me since my arrival here.

What are the major challenges that you met on ground?

Nothing extraordinary, it’s the normal challenges of a society that is developed economically. The economic activities here in Lagos are very high. As you know, anywhere you have the level of economic activities as high also has some level of crime. So, with the economic activities in Lagos, one should expect that, sometimes, you have most of these crimes that are associated with economic activities. We have those challenges.

Particularly, I think the major issue in Lagos State for now is attack on people while on the road at traffic points.

Occasionally, attack on ATM machines in the banks.

Is attack on ATM machines rampant?

It is not rampant. But even if it is not, that is bad enough anyway.

What about bike robbers?

Well, it’s unfortunate that some of these things still happen. But there is no day since I arrived here that we don’t arrest these armed robbers with motorcycles. Some people have even been asking me if that is what has been happening why don’t I stop commercial motorcyclists. But I usually tell them, that is not my responsibility. I don’t have the power to say motorcyclists should not operate in Lagos.

Of course, that is the governor’s prerogative...

Oh yes. But I am a member of the state’s security council, and I am aware that government is doing all it could to ensure that even if it’s not outright ban, at least, their activities are regulated. That is a very good idea because we would now have a law. By the time the State House of Assembly finishes with it, we would have a new law.

By the nature of our job as police, our own is to implement the law, to ensure people comply with the law. That is what we are expecting. Maybe by the time we get that law, things would be much easier for us to handle.

Edo State, your last duty post is a relatively low-density area compared to Lagos. Does the population of Lagos intimidate you in terms of crime control and effective policing?

There is no way that can intimidate me. I was here before. I was in Lagos State for about six to seven years and I worked in some of these police stations as DPO (Divisional Police Officer). I was here in the headquarters as the OC (officer-in-charge), General Investigations Department. I think I have a fair knowledge of what Lagos looks like and I have

AUGUST 5, 2012 SUNDAY SUN

33

Encounter ensuring peace, security of lives and properties will continue to do our work, we also urge citizens to be more conscious of their immediate environment. If you notice any suspicious movement, please let the police know. Luckily in Lagos, the telephone line 767112 works. We also made it compulsory for all DPOs to have their numbers pasted on the wall at their stations. There is no police station you go to now since I came into office that you can’t find the DPO or DOC’s number written boldly on the wall.

My own is all over the place. I have given it out more than 100 times. People should get information and tell us. Some people have been doing that and we thank them. People should make use of these facilities and let us know.

The fearin the past about coming to police stations with information was that the same police you go to give information is the same police that will ‘deliver you’to the criminal.

That has been the archaic way of thinking.

Anybody who thinks that the Nigerian policeman of today would go and tell a criminal that ‘this is the man who brought the information’, that person must be living in the Stone Age. I don’t see any policeman, today, that will risk his job, his everything to go and tell a criminal that this is the man who gave me the information. I don’t see that possibility under this particular Inspector General of Police (Alhaji Mohammed Dahiru Abubakar). The man (IGP) has told everybody, he has demonstrated it that this police must undergo transformation and those of us who are on the field have no reason to say ‘no’. It’s either you key into the system or you get kicked out.

Every day, we tell our officers here, ‘this is the new thinking and everybody must key into it. If you don’t want to, pack your things and leave here.’It is as simple as that.

What specific areas of transformation is the IG thinking about?

The man is creating a new image for the service.

Of course, one singular act is ordering roadblocks to go and they went finally. Before now, every week, people will say police killed somebody because he wanted to take N20.

Accidental discharge?

That thing is gone and gone forever. Some previous IGs had given that type of directive in the past and along the line, the thing came back. This time around, no policeman wants to go to roadblocks any longer. Now, if you go to our training institutions, the place has changed. If you remember, in his first speech, the IG said that the police training institutions had become so bad to the point a state of emergency needed to be declared on them. But go to police training institutions now, you will see renovations going on, and other things being put in place.

In the past, if you were going on course, you would start thinking of how to feed yourself. Today, no policeman goes on course and starts thinking of how to feed himself. In those days, people, including senior officers, went on course and they had no bed to sleep on. Now, these things have changed. Things have transformed. And I am very optimistic that by the time the IGP leaves, the police would have changed for the better.

From the reports coming to your table, would you confidently say that there is a reduction in crime rate attributable to the cancellation of roadblocks? And what is the correlation?

Simple. The roadblocks have been replaced with motorized patrols. And where you don’t have enough vehicles to meet up, you device other means.

If we talk about logistics, Lagos State is in a better position compared to other states where I have worked before.

Including communication?

Yes, including communication. The State Security Trust Fund, everybody is working hard to improve on what we have on ground now. The marine, the waterways, the Police bus; including the one donated by the State Security Trust Fund, are all working. That has given us some joy.

We have seen IGs come and go, we have seen Commissioners of Police in Lagos come and go, and each of them had specific slogans. For instance, some would say ours is ‘Zero Corruption’. For another, it was ‘Fire for fire’.

What is your own slogan?

Well, I don’t have any slogan but I know that the IG said no policeman should be corrupt.

Is that possible?

It’s possible.

How possible is it in present day Nigeria, for a policeman not to be corrupt?

Yes, it’s very possible.

Even when it is agreed that virtually every one of us is corrupt?

Well, I don’t know about that. But what I do know of a fact is that it is possible, very possible, to make our policemen not to be corrupt.

Including the Commissioner that faces enormous temptations here and there everyday?

Yes, Commissioners may face temptations, to use your words, but I challenge you, as an investigative journalist to go and do your research, your investiga-

Manko

We’ll make Lagos hot for robbers tion since I joined the police on December 31, 1984.

And I am saying it publicly that I have never asked anybody to go and get me money from anybody or do anything that could tarnish the image of this great institution, the Nigeria Police.

Nobody has brought money to you and you accepted?

Nobody. It has never happened, and will never happen.

I mean, somebody bringing money, saying ‘Oga, please help…’

(Cuts in…) Capital ‘No’. Absolute ‘No’.

Ok, may be not necessarily for you; maybe they would say ‘this is for the children’…

No. Not at all. I won’t take. I have never done anything, and will never do anything to twist my conscience. Nobody can use money to influence my conscience. It’s not possible. It has never happened, and by the mercy of God, it will never happy.

Maybe not necessarily to influence you, but maybe…something for the children…

(Cuts in…) But my children are not policemen.

My children do not work for the police. Therefore, the issue of ‘take this and give to your children’does not arise. I am the only policeman in my family at the moment and I value my name. I’m from a royal family in Bida and I can never do anything that will bring the family’s name to disrepute. God helping me, I’m trying my best to take the name to a higher level. So, here in Lagos, and where I have worked before, there

‘I am saying it publicly that I have never asked anybody to go and get me money from anybody or do anything that could tarnish the image of this great institution, the Nigeria Police’

is no room for corruption. I do not allow room for it.

It has no space in my environment. If you encourage corruption, you will get it. If you don’t encourage it, it doesn’t come near you. There is no DPO in Lagos State that will say he will go and collect money from the rank and file to give to a Commissioner of Police.

No. In the days of checkpoints, we even heard from authoritative sources that DPOs and even Commissioners were encouraging their men to go on the road on special duties with the aim of bringing returns?

No, that was a terrible misconception. I don’t see how a Commissioner of Police would sit in his office and tell his men to go to roadblocks and take money.

How many N20 will somebody collect that would satisfy me, a Commissioner of Police? Whichever Commissioner did that must be a useless Commissioner.

On your honour sir, can you swear that no subordinate has ever brought anything to you by way of saying…?

(Cuts in…) No. Go and find out.

I think with people like you around, there is hope for this country.

Thanks for your compliment. There has always been hope. Don’t you see the IG? He started from somewhere and it is a new phase for a new Police Force in Nigeria today. It is a brand new day for the Nigeria Police under this IG. This IG is for service.

He is for sound processes. He is committed to making the Nigeria Police a great institution. And many of us have been following his footsteps because he is out for service.

Sir, let’s go personal a bit. How did you find the police, or how did the police discover you?

Like I said, I come from a royal family in Bida. I am a direct descendant of King Masafa. Unlike what is happening nowadays, upon graduation, you had jobs waiting for you all over the place.

Although you didn’t need to work as a prince…

Of course, I needed to work because I must eat. In my place then you hardly find people going to join the Police. The then monarch, the Etsu Nupe of Bida, may his soul rest in peace, His Royal Highness, Alhaji M. Danago said, ‘in this town we don’t have people in some of these services, particularly the Police. So, he encouraged us to join so that other people would see us as a symbol, saying if somebody

like this can be there, then, it is something that people need to think about. Because in those days, people didn’t take Police as anything in my town, Bida.

They didn’t respect the police?

No, they didn’t. In fact, they didn’t want to have anything to do with the Police.

Why? Well, I don’t know. In those days, they say even if your father commits an offence, you would be told to go and arrest him. But the King (at the time) encouraged me particularly. When I told him, ‘sir, I want to go and work in the civil service like other people, he said ‘no, go and work in a different place’.

I thank God that I took to that advice. I am here now even though he is no more. And after me, true to predictions, people started having some positive attitude towards the Nigeria Police. Today, we have enough of our people today in the Nigeria Police.

Would you allow your any of your own children to take after you?

Of course. Why not? In fact, one of them is already in Police Academy. Yes, my first child is in the academy.

Aman or a woman?

A man. He has the same name with me. He is there.

But not many people would like to influence the choice of career of their children…

No, I didn’t influence him. He just chose it himself. I didn’t influence him at all. In fact, I never spoke to anybody about him. Sometimes, when he goes for interview, they would ask him why he is bearing that name. And he would tell them that I am his father.

What are the lessons of life that the police have taught you? I know perseverance must be one of them…

Yes. Life has taught me to be compassionate.

Whatever power you have, as a policeman, you are supposed to be servant of the society. Secondly, probably if I had not joined the police, I wouldn’t have known much of this country. But the police have taken me round the entire country. It has also shown me the fact that there is no way you can be an island onto yourself. In terms of management, the police are a great institution. It has taught me how to organize, manage and deploy men and materials, how to be a team player, how to organize your team to achieve corporate goals in the interest of the country.

It has taught me effective time management, delegation of responsibilities, that every member of the team must complement one another because there is no ‘Mr. Know It All’. Sitting on this chair, in this office as Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, ordinarily, I will say I have enough powers. But if I can do it alone, there is no way they (Police High Command) could have sent the deputy commissioner of police in charge of administration, in charge of operations, in charge of CID. We have the PRO there. They are all complementing. Therefore, I think that if I have an opportunity, if there is anything called another life, and I have an opportunity, I would still like to be a police officer.

If you were not a police officer, what other job would you have loved to do?

I told you where I come from. So, I, probably, would have been a teacher. I read sociology in the University of Sokoto. I was among the first set of graduates there.

What is the turning point in your life; what is that point where you have had to make a 360 degrees turn?

There was a time when, because of one reason or the other, I completely lost faith in the Police. This was because of problems that were not mine. But then I stood and I told God that people are creating all these problems for me simply because I didn’t want to do the wrong thing. I said, God, if you are the living one, prove yourself.

And He did?

Yeah.

How? I was attending a police conference, and the present Chairman, Police Service Commission, just asked: ‘if you have problems indicate’. I told him that I had problems. He said I should narrate it and I told him what happened. He asked if I had appealed, I said I wrote. He said I should bring it. The next thing I saw was my promotion. It was even backdated to meet up with that of my colleagues.

What surprised me was that they didn’t even know whom they did it for. It was when they came to Katsina, when I was the Commissioner of Police, that they saw me. They didn’t know, initially. It was when they came to the Emir’s palace and stated their mission, that the Emir told them. The Emir and myself are very close. So, when we finished, I now told the Emir that there was something I had not discussed with him before, that this board was the one that redressed all the problems that I had. I had to do that because the Emir had also been part of the people trying to see how the problem could be solved for me. So, the day that thing happened, I told myself that if anybody says there is no God, I will be the first person to confront him and testify that there is a living God. That was a turning point in my life.

34

AUGUST 5, 2012 SUNDAY SUN

The Big Question

State Police: To be or not to be?

By OLUWASANMI FALOBI

I

n the last few weeks, the debate for state police have taken a front row in the country.

This is quite understandable given the high level of insecurity in the land.While a section of Nigerian says it is long overdue, another claim that even though it is necessary, the Nigerian-state is not ready for such.

Rising from a meeting on Monday,June 25,2012 in Abuja,the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) led by Governor Rotimi Amaechi,called on the Federal Government to create a special intervention fund for states to tackle their security problems. Their position was contained in a communiqué.“We the governors of the 36 states of the Federal Republic of Nigeria at our meeting deliberated on a number of issues.The following resolutions were reached:“Forum strongly condemn the current spate of insecurity and violence which has been drifting the nation towards anarchy and called for a multi-dimensional approach to security issues including enhanced coordination and collaboration among security forces, effective use of technology and intelligence, value re-orientation, employment generation and sincerity of purpose.Finally,the forum identified the increasing need for state police as a strategy for combating the rising insecurity in the country.”

But two days later, governors from the Northern part of the country under the umbrella of the Northern Governors’Forum (NGF),came out with a completely different position.In their own communiqué read by Niger State Governor, Babangida Aliyu, the 19 governors noted that instead of state police,the constitution should be modified for governors to control commissioners of police in their separate entities.

Interestingly,there have been several reactions to the position of northern governors.

Senate President,David Mark and his deputy,Ike Ekweremadu have also cast the ballot in

favour of state police.Mark said before now,he was a staunch antagonist of state police.But given the state of insecurity,he has changed his opinion,he said.

On his part, Ekweremadu noted that “Nigeria is the only federal country in the world where we have central police. Even countries without this system of government like the United Kingdom, have a decentralized police arrangement. If Nigerians agree on state police,what will happen is that we are going to address the fears of Nigerians regarding the abuse. Security is a local issue and with our security challenges, we need a decentralized police arrangement.”

At the moment,the police’s strength is estimated at 371,800.Going by our estimated 167 million population,the figure is a far-cry to the United Nations recommended 400 persons to one police.But many people believe that with a state policing system in place,each state would be able to take care of its security challenges.The fact that there is no uniform picture in terms of problems related to security makes it even the more imperative for each unit to devise measures to meet its peculiar needs.

With a land space of around 923,768 square kilometers,one of the largest in the world,the entity known as Nigeria is a conglomeration of more than 250 ethno-linguistic groups scattered across 36 states. This alone, makes security of lives and valuables Herculion for the Nigerian Police Force under the leadership of Mohammed Abubarkar, Inspector General.

The growth of armed robbery, kidnappings and other illicit crimes has exposed the weaknesses of a unitory police system.It is in tackling these anomalies that more voices are aligning with the campaign for a decentralised police system.Though, at the moment proponents of this argument seems to be taking the lead in pushing through their point of view, it might take a while for their opponents to bulge and give in to their demands.But while that debate rages on, we went to town to ask Nigerians, the most important party in this entire episode,what they feel about the whole issue.

DIG CHRIS OMEBEN (Retd) We’re over-ripe for state police. All these talks that the state police would be misused are rubbish. Why do we keep on deceiving ourselves? When we were a smaller body, a unitary police was okay. Now that we’re very big, and the bills have become large, we should decentralise and let the state governments take 60 per cent of the bill. The Federal Government should only provide control, monitor and establish standards. Not when they steal a fowl, federal police would go there.

Ghana, our next-door neighbours, has a local government police.

RICHARD AKINNOLA Journalist, Public Affairs Analyst I used to be in support of state police few years ago but l have changed my mind. I don’t support it again. We don’t have the political maturity to handle it. Look at the abuse of various state’s radio and TV stations. I am against state police for now.

LAW MEFOR Transform Nigeria Movement,Abuja When some Nigerians say Nigeria is not ripe for state police, they are invariably saying Nigeria is not ripe for federalism. But the truth is that, like the US envoy also told us recently, Nigeria urgently needs state police. When people say Nigeria is not ripe for state police, they are also saying the vigilante services and other forms of self-help organized by Nigerians in all the places have served no purpose. This line of thinking is a military legacy – imposing a unitary system in a clearly federal environment. The reason we hear is that governors will abuse state police. But pray, tell me which governor in Nigeria that does not have a private army? Are these illegal armies of governors not worse than having a constitutional body (state police) that can be subject to the laws of the country and rules of engagement and made people-based?

Why do communities and neighbourhoods spend so much money on vigilante services, which as a matter of fact, is state policing at incipient and local scales? Nigeria must become a true federalism if the nation will progress; and one of the inescapable features/conditions of a true federation is state police. I also challenge those who want true federalism in Nigeria but do not want state police to point to one federal nation anywhere in the world without a state police. Rejecting state police and desiring true federalism, is like saying you want a baby and your virginity at the same time or omelets without eggs.

SENATOR ANNIE OKONKWO To be honest, people are always afraid that a state governor will use the state police to harass, intimidate and generally abuse it. I don’t think so. What we need is the courage to tell ourselves the truth. If it will take the creation of state police to address the security problems facing the country, why can’t we do that? Why should we continue to live with the present security challenge in the country when things are certain to change for the better if we have state police? There are lapses here and there because the governors are not really in charge of the security apparatus in the states. If there’s a state police, the security challenge of every state will be the primary concern of the governor. For me, state police is answer to the security challenges we are facing. So, the issue should be, what can we do to strengthen security? And if there’s any debate about the creation of state police, I think I will go for it.

35

AUGUST 5, 2012 SUNDAY SUN

The Big Question

Men – O – Pulse

DAYO EMMANUEL Editor, newsscreenngr.com Nigeria will not be ripe for state police until there is true federalism and resource control. If there is state policing, the governors will hijack and use the police against their opponents.

OLOLADE HECTOR-FOWOBAJE ED/Psychologist,O5 Centre for Children I definitely support state police if it can be managed well like in the USA. The advantages far outweigh the disadvantages. Firstly, it will be less cumbersome in terms of administration and funding.

Secondly, policing will be more effective as information gathering will be easier. Indigenes would be very much involved and it would be like a neighbourhood watch scenario. Also, psychological wise, it would create a new sense of hope for police officers who have always complained of poor working conditions.

Finally, I believe it would afford the people an opportunity to establish a cordial relationship with the new state police, which I believe would do their very best in proving to the people that they can be depended on. The various state police would strive to outdo themselves in performance. At the moment, there is so much distrust and lack of respect for the police.

TONY IWUOMA

toniegoodlaw@yahoo.co.uk

Point and kill Kolawole

Afolaranmi

Jenifer

Ololade

Adeniran

Chukwuma

BUSOLA BABALOLA Journalist.Warri,Delta State State police is a good idea just as it occurs in developed countries, but my worry is if Nigeria is ripe for it. If allowed at all, there should be a regulatory body to check and balance their activities to avoid being misused by the political leaders.

new and progressive ideology and psychology.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo tinkered with such an idea in absorbing NSCDC (Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps), but couldn’t do much more. If we have state police with a new mentality, maybe it will encourage our federal police to get better. Besides, community policing is it. All over the world right now, you make the people responsible for their own security and safety.

With the present arrangements, the governor, the honorary chief security officer of the state has no much control over the police in his state, particularly if he has differences with the Federal Government. The argument that governors would abuse it isn’t tenable. Would anyone refuse to have children because the children could be abused? If the FG isn’t’abusing the federal police why would anyone expect that from the governors? Anything can be abused and that means such abuses would only have to be prepared against. It will also solve serious unemployment problems. I will say YES to state police.

IBUCHUKWU EZIKE Civil Liberties Organization It is not a bad idea but with what we have now, you can see how the government is already using it to oppress the opposition. So giving the character of politicians, Nigeria is not yet ripe for state police.

For us to have state police, we must first have a people’s constitution where the rights and interest of the people are assured. We also need to have a just and incorruptible judiciary system and also strong institutions that can check the abuse of human rights.

TUNDE AKANNI Lecturer,Lagos State University If we have state police, what I believe is that the grassroots will be better secured as opposed to controlling the security personnel from Abuja and the police headquarters. The suspicion that the governors will use it to persecute the opposition can easily be mitigated by having adequate legislation. The important thing is to let us begin to put the relevant statutory structures on ground. Why are we saying no! State police is possible and necessary. The world cannot be moving forward and we say we want to remain stagnant and backward.

INNOCENT CHUKWUMA Executive Director,CLEEN Foundation I have no problem with the establishment of state or municipal police services as long as the following conditions are fulfilled in law and practice: (1) Reflection of the diversity of the communities they will be deployed to police in their composition; (2) Insulation of the leadership from partisan political control through competitive recruitment processes and security of tenure for the head; (3) establishment of functional and effective internal and external accountability mechanisms (4) Proper professional training, adequate logistic provisioning and fair condition of service including the right to unionize for fair bargaining.

FRANK ABANG Devt.Consultant No to state police. Nigeria is not matured yet for that kind of adventure. Politicians will misuse them.

TUNDE AREMU ActionAid Nigeria,Abuja The relevance of state police is more pronounced now than ever. The situation where the states have no control over the police and law enforcement agencies have to wait for instructions from a centre far removed from realities on the ground has not helped our situation. Fear expressed on likelihood of abuse of state police structure actually raises a different concern. It shows that the Nigeria ruling class is incapable of guaranteeing us discipline even among their own. They are even cynical of their own ability to moderate their own excesses. This speaks to the need for a truly participatory democracy where people are the centre of governance and are able to curtail excesses of leadership.

DEBO ADENIRAN Head Consultant,First Faculty Ventures My answer is that it should be.

IBRAHIM OLAYINKA Network of NGOs,Osun State I don’t think Nigeria is ripe for state police now, considering several factors. Political immaturity is one, as the ruling class wants to hold on to power at all costs. Politics of do or die is another. Funding is another issue, as several of the state cannot effectively manage public school any longer and several other social amenities presently in their purview now. Why then want to add additional burden?

BAYO AFOLARANMI Cleric,Ibadan State police or not, let there be security of life and property in the country. We desire a country without corruption.

JENNIFER ONYEJEKWE Development worker I think it would work, my only problem is the level of maturity of our leaders. If we talk of abuse of power, it is already happening with the central police outfit. If it is now put in the hands of the states, I wonder what would happen.

TOKUNBO EMMANUEL Christian Leadership Research and Development Institute The present constitution, psychology and principle guarding our police system are still colonial at best. If we must move forward, there must be reforms part of which is to create alternatives with

AMUSAT KOLAWOLE Centre for Disaster Risk & Crisis Reduction, Ibadan It is quite unfortunate that Nigerian federalism does not allow the chief security officers in states that power to control the police. How can a governor be chief security officer in a state and all his security operatives are under the control of someone else? There have been issues of clashes of interests in the control of security operatives in the country when a governor will think right but the security will go left and claim order from above-Abuja. I would support the establishment of state police, which will be built around community policing.

Catfish is in vogue. It is well favoured for fish pepper soup and many fish farmers have learned to display their catch and all a patron needs to do is point and kill, a slang that has come to stay with lovers of that delicacy.

Our world is surfeit with women, overflowing our landscape. Different shapes, hues and sizes, they are all over the place, boldly advertising their deadly cargo to whom it may concern. Cheap, free and unsolicited.

And so, the slang has extended to embrace our ‘catfish’sisters.

By this I am not putting down women but just stating the obvious. After all, if not for the fact that there is a glut in women supply, what would turn our women into husband bandits, poaching fellow women’s husbands in brazen, unlovely manner like a script out of follywood, sorry, Nollywood.

Women. They never cease to amuse me. They try too hard to impress, to lure me away from the noble lessons my mother taught me. Actually, they have succeeded a few times in stealing my innocence but I have always smartened up in time to extricate myself from the clutches of modern day Delilah.

One thing amuses me though. They never give up.

The more I run; the harder they are in pursuit but my God will not grant them access. Everywhere I turn, I see nudity splashed in my face. They are on every page of newspapers or magazines. On the Internet and on every television channels. They swish swish, sashaying across my street, casting snares but I have learned hard to look away.

It is befuddling to imagine the kind of demon that has enveloped our nation. What used to be honourable are no more valuable. Now some of the Delilahs are saying they will act nude in Follywood (sorry,Nollywood) if the price is right. I find that laughable and wonder which dimwit would invest his money to pay a woman to act nude. Whatever for?

Has the bloke so much money to throw away?

Because nudity has almost become the culture of these desperate women, trying so hard to impress. So, what would a man pay for what has been on display for a long while? They have been acting nude on streetwood for long.

The only thing I don’t find amusing is the kind of body being flaunted in these sickening public movies.

Swabs of rotten flesh, ravaged by corrosive whiteners; and they want to be paid for the exposure? Rotund.

Stretch marked. Fleshy Michelin tyres, squashed into abused dresses five times undersized and swaddling obscenely along the road like rain-soaked ducks.

I don’t quite blame them. In their lazy reasoning, they have come to realise that in a society like ours, the way up is to throw morals to the dogs. I blame our queer society that rewards stupidity; that celebrates immorality and puts down decency. I blame a society that throws its arms wild in wilder celebration of the return or conquest of mediocres, quarantined in the house of sin for weeks of belittling African virtues. I blame a society that makes celebrities of mental indolent creeps, who trust in the power of their lower abdomen and spreadeagled thighs to ethos of hard work and striving. I blame the society that gives accolades and jobs to these jerks at the expense of sons and daughters, who have laboured hard for job placements but shamefully lose out to these morons-turned celebrities of vice.

Did I hear you hiss, the old preacher man is at it again? Did I hear you say ‘crucify the bushman?’That is your business. I agree that I am a bushman but it may interest youthat we belong to the same generation but on different pages.You want to point me out for the kill? I bet you can’t. Because I am on the page that upholds goodness over evil, light over darkness. How sweet it would be if you turned over to this page.

PS: I have nothing but pity for the hoodlums, who shot and robbed our editor, Steve Nwosu, on Wednesday, July 25. They are mere victims of an unjust system but who chose to vent their frustration on innocent citizens. Steve survived and the bullet lodged in his head, successfully removed; praise the Lord.

However, just a word for these deviants: Doomsday looms large on your horizon if you don’t repent. May the lord grant you the grace to do so or lead you into the hands mightier than you.

Editors, sir, God will never leave you alone and may your enemies not triumph over you. Welcome back to life, another life, to His glory, IJN.

Page 36

August 5, 2012

The State of Our States

Special Report

The rush for new states •58, still counting Stories by ADETUTU FOLASADE-KOYI, Abuja

N

igeria currently has 36 states. Right? Yes. But if some Nigerians have their way, that figure would rise steeply. As at last July 31, feelers from the Senate Constitution Review Committee (CRC) showed that demand for creation of new states have jumped to a whopping 58. Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, who chairs the CRC, announced at a retreat convened by the committee in Asaba, Delta State last month that requests for more states have increased from 48 received in the sixth National Assembly to 56 requests for new states. The CRC has received requests for another two new states. And more requests are still being expected.

A breakdown of the requests showed that the South-South geopolitical leads with demand for 15 new states. These are Ahoada State to be created out of the present Rivers State, Toru-Ebe State to be created out of the present Delta, Edo and Ondo states, Ogoja State to be created out of the present Cross River State, Urhobo State to be created out of the present Delta State and Minji-Se State to be created out of the present Rivers State Others requests are Ado State to be created out of the present Delta State, Confluence State to be created out of the present Kogi, Edo and Nasarawa states, Bori State to be created out of the present Rivers State, Anioma State to be created out of the present Delta State.

The agitators in the SouthSouth zones would also want to see Oil Rivers State created out of the present Akwa Ibom and Rivers states, Warri State and New Niger State, Ethiope State and Coast State carved out of the present Delta State and Sombreiro State created out of the present Rivers State Next is South-West, which wants to take it tally to 19 with creation of additional 13 states.

These are Toru-Ebe State to be created out of the present Delta, Edo and Ondo states, New Oyo State to be created as part of the states of the federation of Nigeria, Remo-Ijebu State and Yewa State to be created out of the present Ogun State and well as Ijebu State with Ijebu Ode as the capital.

Others include Ijesha State, Oluwa State and Ose State to be created out of the present Ondo State, Oduduwa State to be created out of the present Osun State, Ibadan State and Oke-Ogun to be created out of the present Oyo and Lagoon State to be created out of the present Lagos State and Igbomina State to be carved out of present Osun and Kwara.

Agitators from North-Central are demanding for 11 new states in addition to the six states in existence. These include Apa State,

Ekweremadu Gboko State and Binder State to be created out of the present

Benue State, Kainji State from the present Niger State, Edu State to

be created out of the present Niger and Kwara states, Confluence State out of the present Kogi, Edo and Nasarawa states, Okura State from the present Kogi State, Borgu State to be created out of the present Kebbi, Kwara and Niger States, Okun State to be created out of the present Ekiti, Ondo, Kwara and Kogi states, and two new states from Plateau namely Lowland State and South Plateau State.

The South-East is fourth with requests for at least nine more states. They are Aba State to be created out of the present Abia State, Adana State to be created out of the present Enugu State, Orashi State to be created out of the present Imo and Anambra states, Ugwuaku State to be created out of the present Imo, Abia, Anambra and Enugu states, Etiti State-to be created out of the present Enugu, Anambra, Imo and Abia States, Equity State to be created out of the present Abia, Anambra, Enugu, Imo and Ebonyi states, Njaba State to be created out of the present Imo State Orimoli State to be created out of the present Anambra State, as well as Anim State (merger of Njaba and Orashi States) to be created out of the present Imo and Anambra states.

The North-West zone, which leads in the country with seven

states is asking for seven more states. These are Gurara State and New Kaduna State to be created out of the present Kaduna State, Tiga State and Ghari State from present Kano State, Bayajida State and Karaduwa State to be created out of the present Katsina State while the present Jigawa is to be split into two with the other half called Hadejia State.

In addition to asking for more states, the North-West region also wants the geo-political zone further divided into two. The argument is that the zone, based on its land mass is too big to be categorized as just one. Bringing up the rear is the North-East with requests for only three more states namely Katagum State to be created out of the present Bauchi State, Amana State out of the present Adamawa State and New Borno State to be excised from the present Borno State.

Investigations, however, showed that agitators have paid scant regards, if at all, to the economic downturn in the country to ask for more states to be created out of the extant 36.

Meanwhile, some senators, speaking separately to ICON have listed conditions for creation of more states against the backdrop of looming bankruptcy of some of the 36 states of the federation.

New states ‘ll never be viable –Dahiru Awaisu Kuta Can you assess the viability of creation of states at a time like this?

Frankly speaking, I want to say that this is a period of reflection. We have seen exactly how the economy of this country is going and the way it is, with little hope of improvement. I think for the mean time, creation of states should be discouraged. I can’t see the viability of new states coming on board or else, we would end up paying only salaries and you can’t do any capital projects. There may be the thought that aggressive drive for Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) would assist the states. But with corruption all over the place, most of the monies collected are either mismanaged or end up in private pockets. So, in the end, the IGR in most of the states are nothing to write home about.

They all depend on federal allocations; and as long as we depend on that, there would be problem. We should look at the population of the people agitating for new states. We should also look at the land mass of these areas, which are also critical indices for creation of states. I think many people just believe that because a particular geopolitical zone has these number of states and they want a number of states, they must have that number of states. I don’t think that is actually going to be a viable option. It is actually unthinkable. All the same, I am a member of this committee on Constitution review; we’ll look at the requests critically and because the requests would go round the states, let’s see if they can get two-thirds of the Houses of Assembly. But I definitely think it would be difficult for any of these items, particularly creation of new state to get two thirds of the Assemblies for us to effect changes in the Constitution.

Do you support the argument that the South-East needs one more state to make it equal with other geo-political zones in the south?

You see, that is the problem. The North-West is asking for a split of the geo-political zone into two. They ask this because they say they are too large to be left alone as a geo-political zone. So, there would be no end to these requests if we don’t put our foot down and say: Yes, we will also look at the way we are created, we will look at the population of a particular area and then realize that, yes, we must look at Nigeria as an

entity.

Look, whatever we do, development would get to the doorsteps of the people if there are enough funds; and funds that would be spread thinly would not assist a viable state take-off. So, I as a person, because this is my personal opinion, I would advise that for the mean time, let’s see how our economy goes before we talk of creation of states. But you also know that whatever we do here in the committee, the country, everybody has had the opportunity, through section 9 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to say exactly what he/she feels about creation of states because the governor has a say through their houses of Assembly. Even the local governments, one way or the other, have a say in what is going o happen. But be that as it may, strictly speaking and sentiments apart, we still need to allow things to improve before the creation of more states.

Can this administration really create more states?

Well, as for me, I don’t agree with that because we go by the Constitution. We had the issue of state Houses of Assembly getting financial independence at about the same time the National Assembly got its own. Going by section 9 of the Constitution, we realized that the state Houses of Assembly were not ready for that independence and that was why they couldn’t get two-thirds to pull it through. So, this is the same scenario too; it is not us, the National Assembly, it is the general public, particularly the stakeholders, and those looking for states. If they can put in enough pressure on the respective states, there is nothing bad in doing that. My only caution to the people is that we also have to look at the viability as critical indices for creation of states.

Page 37

August 5, 2012

The State of Our States

Special Report

Oil money is the crux of the matter –Magnus Abe What’s your take on the increasing demand for creation of new states?

Well, the chairman of the Senate Constitution Review Committee, Senator Ike Ekweremadu has said clearly that there is nothing like a no-go area in the Constitution review process and this has been echoed by not only the Senate President but by other leaders in the country and the National Assembly as well. State creation is a process that involves everybody, just like the process of amending the Constitution. And I think that Nigerians are free and at liberty to advocate for whatever they want to be reviewed in the Constitution.

State creation is definitely one of those areas people would advocate for. What I always say to people is that we need to actually look at what is driving some of these requests for states. I think that at the end of the day, what Nigerians want is a better life; they want better opportunities. They want better education for their children. They want a better, higher quality of life.

They want to live longer. They want to enjoy their lives. That is what everybody is looking for. They

believe that what would bring these about is a faster rate of development; and people have now come to attach the concept of creation of more states with the concept of development. But the critical question that I think needs to be asked is in real terms: what is development. I say this because if you look at some of the new states, what they have actually delivered is that, yes, you have a few more dual carriage ways in the state capitals, government houses, Houses of Assembly building, a federal secretariat, a branch of the Central Bank of Nigeria and so on. You know, all the institutional facilities that come from the national resources would be brought or may be brought. It’s not even automatic anymore that those things would turn up as you would expect. I always tell people that in 1974, when Nigeria had 12 states, I think we had a poverty level in the country below 40 percent. Today, we have 36 states and the poverty level has risen to 70 percent and it is still climbing.

So, clearly, the new government houses and the new federal secretariats are no longer translating to a better

... They ’ll stimulate grassroots development -Abdul’Aziz Usman

How viable is creation of Hadejia State at this time?

First, state creation means that development would come close to the people. They will feel it.

In the past, Jigawa was in the old Kano State; the development we have now, as a state cannot be compared to when we were in Kano. Let me also use another example; when we were in Kano, Dutse, as a town or local government area, was the most backward, if I can say that, in comparison to most local governments in Kano then, in terms of development. But now, as a state capital, go to Dutse and see the complete transformation, compared to when it was just a local government. When we were in Kano, Hadejia was second to Kano before the creation of Jigawa State and we have all the potentials of making it a viable state.

All our local governments are still there, very viable and ready to transform into Hadejia State.

So, I see state creation as a process that would bring development very close to the people.

What is the possibility of present NASS creating Hadejia State?

If we will be just, Hadejia should be among the first to be created. Why I say that is because I know how many constituencies that are vying for creation of states. Definitely, some are more viable than others but if we say we are considering 56 requests, well, I cannot see such quantum being created. But as I said earlier, I see the possibility of Hadejia State coming to fruition. It’s more viable than other requests presently before the committee.

But North-West presently has seven states while the South-East has only five. For equity sake, should North-West demand for more states?

Bayelsa as a state has only eight local government areas. I represent Jigawa North-East in the Senate with eight local government areas. I believe that in the eight local government areas I represent in the Senate, one has two members in the state Assembly. The population, the size is more than people are thinking of. As a zone, North-West, if compared in terms of size or landmass, should even be divided into two or three zones.

Can Nigeria afford to create more states at this time?

Look, let me put it to you straight, we have the resources to do it. Let us just stop corruption. It’s as simple as that. We had our retreat in Asaba, Delta State just last month. In a month, Delta receives several times more than what my state receives but please, go and compare the level of development of both states...It’s even incomparable. Jigawa that receives less is better developed.

So, yes, it’s in the heart; it is my wholehearted belief that Hadejia State must be created.

quality of life for the average citizen of this country.

Now, if you are currently sharing N100 billion among 36 states plus the Federal Capital Territory, so, I would call it 37, for every addition that you bring, it would of course, reduce to the remaining 36 states. So, that may not be an incentive for them to support the creation of more states because automatically, especially for those states that are not meeting their bills, anything that would bring a reduction in what they get, would create a bigger challenge. It would not help them. So, what I think we need to focus on at this point is not how we share the N100 billion. It is how we can increase the N100 billion to N500 billion. If you are now sharing N500 billion among 36 states, then, of course, everybody would get more.

But proponents of new states would tell you that more states mean accelerated development...

If that’s the case, then why haven’t all the other states we have created add or translate to development? Please, get me right, I am not against creation of states; I’m just saying that anybody that is asking for creation of states now has an obligation to convince the Nigerian federation, not just the committee or the National Assembly because the state creation process is going to affect other states. All the state Houses of Assembly; at least two-thirds, would have to concur before one single state would be created. So, you need to convince not just yourself but others how this proposed state would now bring this N500 billion to them.

So, I don’t know how you would explain to people that this particular state is going to bring money. Why can’t they bring it now and spend it on themselves. Why

Latest requests at a glance South-South 1. Ahoada State to be created out of the present Rivers State.

2. Toru-Ebe State to be created out of the present Delta, Edo and Ondo states.

3. Ogoja State to be created out of the present Cross River State 4. Urhobo State to be created out of the present Delta State 5. Minji-Se State to be created out of the present Rivers State 6. Ado State-to be created out of the present Delta State 7. Confluence State to be created out of the present Kogi, Edo and Nasarawa states 8. Bori State to be created out of the present Rivers State 9. Anima State to be created out of the present Delta State 10. Oil Rivers State-to be created out of the present Akwa Ibom and Rivers states 11. Warri State to be created out of the present Delta State 12. New Delta State to be created out of the present Delta State 13. Ethiope State to be created out of the present Delta State 14. Sombreiro State to be created out of the present Rivers State 15. Coast State-to be created out of the present Delta State.

South-West 1. Toru-Ebe State; to be created out of the present Delta, Edo and Ondo states 2. New Oyo State to be created as part of the states of the federation of Nigeria 3. Remo-Ijebu State to be created out of the present Ogun State 4. Ijesha State to be created out of the present Ondo State 5. Oduduwa State to be created out of the present Osun State 6. Ijebu State with Ijebu Ode as the capital 7. Ibadan State to be created out of the present Oyo State 8. Yewa State to be created out of the present Ogun State 9. Ose State; to be created out of the present Ondo State 10. Lagoon State; to be created out of the present Lagos State 11. Oluwa State-to be created out of the present Ondo State 12. Oke-Ogun State; to be created out of the present Oyo State 13. Igbomina State; to be created out of the present Osun and Kwara South-East 1. Aba State to be created out of the present Abia State 2. Adana State to be created out of the present Enugu State

3. Orashi State to be created out of the present Imo and Anambra states 4. Ugwuaku State to be created out of the present Imo, Abia, Anambra and Enugu states 5. Etiti State-to be created out of the present Enugu, Anambra, Imo and Abia States 6. Equity State to be created out of the present Abia, Anambra, Enugu, Imo and Ebonyi states 7. Njaba State to be created out of the present Imo State 8. Orimoli State to be created out of the present Anambra State 9. Anim State (merger of Njaba and Orashi States); to be created out of the present Imo and Anambra states.

North-West 1. Gurara State to be created out of the present Kaduna State 2. New Kaduna State; to be created out of the present Kaduna State 3. Tiga State; to be created out of the present Kano State 4. Ghari State; to be created out of the present Kano State 5. Bayajida State; to be created out of the present Katsina State 6. Karaduwa State-to be created out of the present Katsina State 7.Hadejia State-to be created out of the present Jigawa State

North-Central 1. Apa State-to be created out of the present Benue State 2. Kainji State-to be created out of the present Niger State 3. Edu State-to be created out of the present Niger and Kwara states 4. Confluence State-to be created out of the present Kogi, Edo and Nasarawa states 5. Okura State; to be created out of the present Kogi State 6. Borgu State; to be created out of the present Kebbi, Kwara and Niger States 7. Okun State; to be created out of the present Ekiti, Ondo, Kwara and Kogi states 8. Lowland State; to be created out of the present Plateau State 9. South Plateau State; to be created out of the present Plateau State 10. Gboko State; to be created out of the present Benue State 11. Binder State-to be created out of the present Benue State North-East 1. Katagum State; to be created out of the present Bauchi State 2. Amana State-to be created out of the present Adamawa State 3. New Borno State-to be created out of the present Borno State.

must they wait until they are a state? Do you understand what I mean? Look, if you are now part of Yobe State and you can generate N500 billion, why are you waiting until you become a state? You should bring the money now; we need the money yesterday! I think that may be a tough sell but as I said, the issue is on the table and people need to convince the country that these states are viable and that they would not just be another drain on the meagre resources of this country because currently, these states just represent recurrent expenditure. That is what they represent. Any new state you bring means more recurrent and more recurrent actually means less development, which has been our experience in Nigeria.

But South-East is saying that otherregions in the south have six while the North-West even has seven. All they are asking for is just one more state for equity sake.

I think that if you are sharing things, definitely, people will ask for equity and fairness in what you share.

I like to be objective; if there is equity and fairness in a request somebody makes, why won’t I accede to the request? If other regions have six states and you have five, what it means is that the some of your spoon that you are using to scoop the national cake is not the same as others are using. Why should others use a bigger spoon than our own? That is the theme of the argument. So, if you want to be fair really, they have a case!

But, sincerely speaking, if ultimately, what it’s about is getting a share of the national cake, then, you have to focus on what is real. If currently, we have N100 billion and it is not enough, everybody is arguing: ‘My spoon is smaller, no your own spoon is bigger, let’s use the same size of spoon to share. Good!’But if we have a way of changing the conversation and moving away from sharing this N100 billion, try to create maybe another N400 billion somewhere else, then, maybe the size of the spoons would really not take so much of our time anymore. We would be focused on a whole lot of other things.

As I used to tell people, look at the United Arab Emirates. They started out with oil as the only thing they had, today, oil, I hear, constitutes less than 20 percent of what they are making. Now, if they were busy quarreling over, let’s say that 20 percent that was then their 100 percent, will this other 80 percent come in now from other sources, such as tourism, trade, commerce? Will this revenue be on the table? So, where there is production and wealth is spreading, you don’t have time to focus on every little distraction because there is so much to go around. I would agree that yes, the South east has not been treated fairly but I would also say that at this point, maybe if we can look for a way to increase the production capacity of the federation, maybe some of the things Nigeria is not giving you, you can give it to yourself and give it to yourself better and more abundantly. That’s how I understand this federation business.

Do you believe that only the military could dare to create states?

The reason civilians find it difficult to create a state is the same reason the military find it easy to create one.

How do you mean?

The whole purpose of state creation in Nigeria is just to get more money from the federal purse. So, if you are a dictator and you want to help somebody or you want to help a people, you simply give them a state to get more money. That is what makes it easy for the military to create states. Now, when you bring that same thing into a civilian government, every state you create takes something from the existing state. So, when you now ask other people to make input into what you get, of course, they are not going to give you something except they are getting something in return.

So, the thing that makes it easy for the military to create states also makes it difficult for the civilians to create states. If on the other hand, we were creating states that were self-sustaining, why would it be the business of Zamfara State if Rivers State wants 10 more states?

They wouldn’t worry about it. But the reason Zamfara would worry is that when you create a state in Rivers State, it would affect their bottomline, and if you create one in Kano, it would affect the bottomline of Oyo State. So, that is why it is difficult, because now, when you now ask the people of Oyo what they think, of course, they would look at this thing; if you create this state, it’s now one out of 36, it would affect what we get and currently, we are not able to pay and with this new state, can we even pay salaries? It becomes something that they have to look at critically.

But under the military, nobody is asking the people of Oyo State what they think. They want to help their friends and that is just that; they just create the state. It’s actually a reflection of the fact that the civilian system actually works better because it aggregates the decision of everybody in the decision-making process, which the military system does not take into consideration. I think that if we have a system where the states are self-funding, no state would have any objection to any state wanting to divide themselves or increase their states. Nobody would have a problem with that.

Page 38

August 5, 2012

The State of Our States

Special Report

The Mbanefo Report at a glance Yesterday, we served you the first part of what the States Creation,Local Government and Boundary Adjustment Committee set up by the late General Sani Abacha in 1996 recommended on creation of more local government areas in Edo State.Today,we continue with that aspect of the committee’s assignment.

Continued from yesterday ENUGU STATE POPULATION: 3,161,295

EXISTING LGAs: 19

RECOMMENDED LGAs: 39

REQUESTED: 65 S/N

PRESENT LGA

PRESENT HQ

S/N

PROPOSED LGA

PROPOSED HQ

COMPOSITION

1.

ABAKALIKII

ABAKALIKI

1.

ABAKALIKI

ABAKALIKI

ABAKALIKI, URBAN, ABKPA, NEW LAYOUT, NDI AGU I, NDI AGU II, KPIRIKPIRI, AZUGWU, IYI UDELE, AZU IYIOKWU TIMBERSHED LAYOUT

2.

EBONYI

UGBODO

ISHIEKE, NKALEKE ECHARA, UNUHU, NKALEKE ACHARA

3.

AWGU

AWGU

AWGU, MGBOWO, MMAKU, MGBIDI, UGWUWME, NENWENTA, OGBEGU, NKWE EZERE, AWGUNTA

4.

ANINRI

NNEWE

MPU, NNENWE, NDIABO, ODUMA AND OKPANKU

5.

MBANABO

IHE

AGBOGUGU, AGBUDU, AMOLI, IHE, ISUAWA, ITUKU, AGBAKU, OGUGU, OWELLI, UGBO

6.

ENUGU EAST

NKWO NIKE

7.

ENUGU NORTH

ENUGU

EMENE, EMENE URBAN, UGWUOMU, NKWUBOR, ONUOGBA, EZI OBODO, AKPOGA, OBINAGU UGO, NCHATANCHA, AGBA OGAZI, AKO AGBEKE, NEKE, UMONONU, NIKEUNO, UNUNAMEZIE, UNUNAGBO, UMUNKPATA, OBINNAGU, UGWUOGO, ABAKPA NIKE, TRANS EKULU, ARMY BARRACKS. BALANCE REMAINS ENUGU NORTH

2.

3.

AWGU

ENUGU NORTH

AWGU

ENUGU

4.

ENUGU SOUTH

UWANI

8.

ENUGU SOUTH

UWANI

NO CHANGE EXISTING LGA

5.

EZEAGU

EZEAGU

9.

KALAWA

OGODEME

10

EZEAGU

EZEAGU

OLO, AMAGU UMULOKPA, AKAMA OGHE, AMANKWO OGHE, IWOLLO, NEKE OGHE, OYOFO OGHE, AMANSIUDU OGHE, OKPOGHO, AWHA, NDUIMO, AWHA NDIAGU BALANCE REMAINS EZEAGU

11.

EZZA NORTH

EBIAJI

AMAEWULU, AMUDA, EKKA, INYERE, NKOMORO, OGBOJI, ORIUZON, UMUEZEOKO, UMUEZEOKOHA UMUOGHARA

12.

EZZA SOUTH

ONUEKE

AMAEGU, AMAEZE OKWE, AMANA, AMAKA, AMUZO, AMUDA, ECHERA, EZZAMA, IDEMBIA, NSOKARO, OKOFFIA, UMU NWAGU.

13.

IGBO EZE NORTH

UGBAIKE

UGBAIKE, UMUACHI/INYI/AMUBE-.

OGBODU, OWERREZE, IKPAMUDO/EZZILO, IGOGORO, AMUFIE, IGBELLE, UDA, UROSHI, AMA ACHALA, IKPUIGA, UMUOGBA, OLIDO

14.

OGBONO IYONG IYONG

ETTE CENTRE

ETTE, ALEBE, AISHI, ODIGIDE, AINEBE OGODO, IJEKPE, ACHANYA, OBIDA, ONODABA, ADOKPE, EFFECHE, UMUOKPU, ESSODO, AJI, UMUAGAMA, UMUOGBOAGU, UFUDU, UMUOGBOULO, IMUFU, ISI UGU, AMAJA, OKPO, ELEJE UMUOPU

15.

IGBO EZE NORTH

OGURETE

THE BALANCE REMAINS IGBO-EZE NORTH IKPAI CLAN – 18 VILLAGES

16.

IGBOEZE SOUTH

IBAGWA AKA

NO CHANGE, EXISTING LGA

6.

7.

8.

EZZA

IGBO EZE NORTH

IGBO EZE SOUTH

ONUEKE

OGURUTE

IBAGWA AKA

Page 39

August 5, 2012

The State of Our States 9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

17.

18.

19.

IGBO ETITI

IKWO

ISHIELU

ISI UZO

IZZI

NKANU

NSUKKA

OHAUKWO

UDI

UZO UWANI

OJI RIVER

OGBEDE

NKWO

EZZILO

IKEM

IBOKO

AGBANI

NSUKKA

EZZAMGBO

UDI

UMULOKPA

011 RIVER

Special Report

17.

AKU

AKU

AMABOKWU, AMOGWU, MGBOKO, NNA, OBIE, OFFIENYI, OHEMOJE, ORDA, OSHIGO, UDUEME, UGWUEGEDE, UGWUNANI, UMUEKZIKE, USE AND AKU, DIEWA CLAN,

18.

IGBO ETITI

OGBEDE

THE BALANCE REMAINS IGBO ETITI

19.

IKWO

ECHARA

ALIKE, ECHARA, NDIAGU, INYIMAGU, NFISHU IGBUDU, NDIAGU, EKPANWADELE

20.

NDUFU IKWO

AGUBIA

EKPELU, EKA AWOKE, NDUFU INYAMAGU, NDUFU IGBUDU, AMA INYIMA, OKPUETUE, ETTAM, OKUITUME

21.

ISHIELU NORTH

EZZILO OGIEGBE

AGBA, OHAFIA, NTUZI, OKPOTO, EZZILO, UMUHUALI, NKALAGU, OGBONGU, NKALAHA, AMAZU

22

ISHIELU SOUTH

ONUNWEKE

EZZAGU, ONUNWEKWE, AGUOBODO I & II, UGBOANYIM I & II, OGBOJI, OGBAGU, ONUOJI, AZUINYIBA, AGUEGEDE, ENYIM, ISOHUMMIRI, OGBOGWUM

23.

UDENU

OBOLO AFOR

ORBA, IMILIKE, EZIMO, IGUGU, UMUNDU, AMALLA, OBOLLO AFOR, OBOLLO EKE, OBOLLO ETITI, OGBODO ABA, UDENEDEM

24.

ISI-UZO

IKEM

THE BALANCE REMAINS ISI-UZO

25.

NNODO

OFEREKPE

EZZA INYMEGU CLAN AND AGBAJA CLAN

26.

IZZI

IBOKO

BALANCE REMAINS IZZI

27.

AMANKANU

AMAGUNZE

AMANKANU, UGBOHO, OWO, AMENCHIDODO, ORUKU, AKPAWFU, OBUNO-AKPAUGO, OGONOGO EJI, NDIAGU, ISIENU, AMAGUNZE, ONICHA, AGUNAMAGUNZE, OHUANI AMAGUNZE

28.

NKANU

AGBANI

THE BALANCE REMAINS NKANU

29

OVOGOVO

OVOGOVO

EDEM, LEJJA. OBIMO. IKWORKA. IBAGWA ANI. ALOR UNO. IBAGWA AGU. OKPU1E. OKUTU, ANUKA. OKALIGBO

30

IGBO ENO

IGBO ENO

EHA ALUMONA, OPI, EDE OBALLA, EHA NOIAGU, AGBAMERE, UMABO, EHA, IDI. IBEKU, OGBO OZALLA, EDE UKWU, EDE NTA, BREME. AZUEBO ETITI AGU, OPI AGU

31

NSUKKA

NSUKKA

BALANCE REMAINS NSUKKA

32

EFFIUM

KELA UMUEZE

IZILELU, AKPARATA. UGOEZE. EFFIUM. UMUEZEOKA. AZUOWUCHELE. OKPORO. UMUEZOKOHA. IBENDO. IYIAFOR. IGBUDOKE. OKPOBA. EKKA. OKPODUMA. EKEBELIGWE

33

OHAUKWU

EZZAMGBO

THE BALANCE REMAINS OHAUKWU

34

ODOZO

AFFA

EBE. ABOR. UKANA. AWHUM. OKPATU. UMULUMGBE. UMUOKA. EGEDE. AFF A. AKPAKWUME. NZE. OGHU

35

UDI

UOI

THE BALANCE REMAINS UOI

36

OGBOLI

ADANI

ADANI. AS ABA. IGGA. UZO UWANI FARM SETTLEMENT. OJJOR, UGBAMA1A. OGURUGU

37

IGBO ODA

NIMBO

ABBI. NIMBO. NROBO. UGBENE AJIMA. AKPUGO EZEOIKE. NPKOLOGU. UVURU

38

MBANANO

UMULOKPA

ADABA. NKUME. UMULOKPA, UKPATA. AMAOGBO. UMUHU. UMUEZEIKE. OBINAGU. AMUKWE

UZO-UWANI

UMULOKPA

UZO UWANI LGA. NOW DISSOLVED.

011 RIVER

011 RIVER

EXISTING LGA. NO CHANGE.

39

To be continued tomorrow

40

ICON

AUGUST 5, 2012

Photo-Scene-T Thesis

DELE ONATADE 08023441526

Ernest Nwapa celebrates 25th year of marital bliss The Executive Secretary of Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Mr Ernest Nwapa and his wife, Adaobi celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary on Sunday, July 15th, with a thanksgiving service at Church of Assumption, Ikoyi. A reception followed at Habour Point, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The Nwapas cutting the anniversary cake

L-R: Mr Alex Otti, Mr Collins Chikeluba and Mr Dan Ngerem

Mr Anthony Egbuna and his wife, Maureen with Mr and Mrs Emeka Ugwu-Oju

Ambassador Greg Mbadiwe (left) and Mr Gbenga Shokefun

Chief Mike Inegbese and Mrs Adaobi Nwapa

Catholic Archdiocese Admission Ceremony The Archdiocese of Lagos Association of Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary, held her 2012 solemn admission ceremony at Command Secondary School, Ipaja, on Sunday, 29th July.

Dr. Philip Hoteyin National Spiritual Director (middle) with Rev. Father Vincent Vitalis (left) and Rev Fr. Gabriel Ekpeyong

Dr. Philip Hoteyin (right) and John Ebiye.

The choir ministering during the event.

L-R: Mr Jacob Zannu, Lady Regina Agoha and Mrs Angela Amamalu

C.R.E Okekeze, publicity secretary (left) and the association’s President, C.C Arinze

ICON

ICON

AUGUST 5, 2012

41

Photo-Scene-T Thesis Ita-Giwa’s daughter graduates, celebrates 21st birthday Senator Florence Ita Giwa last Saturday held a well-attended dinner party at the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island to mark the 21st birthday and graduation of her daughter, KoKo Ita-Giwa.

Chief Mike Umeh, Senator Florence Ita Giwa and Dr. Chidi Anyaegbu

Senator Florence Ita Giwa, Koko, Princess Abbah Folawiyo and Chief Mrs Opral Benson

Senator Florence Ita Giwa and her Bakassi children

Koko Giwa cutting her birthday cake and surrounded by her friends

Abies Agbonlaitor, Eniola Adekunle and Omotade Alalade

Princess Latifat Lamolliatte and Remi Diagbare

Ogbonna Ugochi, Koko Giwa and Chineye Ezeonu

AUGUST 5, 2012 SUNDAY SUN

42

Human Interest Paralysed by road crash, abandoned by hubby, this mother of one cries out:

I see death,but I don’t want to die

By MOSHOOD ADEBAYO, ABEOKUTA or the past 18 months, Temitope Emidun, 34, who holds an Ordinary National Diploma (OND) in Marketing from the Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, Ondo State, has been bed-ridden. Her world literally collapsed following a fatal automobile accident on June 15, 2007, which has put her on the throes of death and in pains.

The accident, which occurred on AkureIlesha road claimed the life of her husband’s friend and left her paralyzed.

Even though death stares at her every minute, Temitope, mother of one, does not want to die. “I am physically useless to myself, family and others,” she laments,” tears cascading down her face. “I rely on people to do everything for me since the unfortunate accident left me paralyzed. I see death everyday but I don’t want to die.

I need help particularly medical care. I have been abandoned by people that I never thought could do so. I have been in this condition, bedridden, in pains and anguish for months. I don’t know why fate has been this cruel to me. I don’t know why I should be in this condition.’’

According to her, she was travelling with her husband and another family friend in a car along Akure-Ilesha when the driver of a truck rammed into their vehicle while trying to overtake them.

“That was what I could tell you about that fateful day until I found myself at the hospital, Wesley Hospital, Ilesha, where I was told later that although my husband sustained injuries, his friend died on the spot,” she continues in pain. ‘’I was in the hospital for many months where I was treated for fractured leg and neck. After a while, when there was no improvement, I was moved to the State Hospital, Akure, from where I was eventually transferred to the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi, Lagos.

She told Aspire that before she left the Akure Hospital for the National Hospital, Abuja, she was told that she needed surgery to correct the fracture of her left leg and neck.

“But because I did not have money, I was compelled to visit a traditional bonesetter in Oka-Akoko who, after four weeks of respite, came as my family and I had expected.

“Before I left the hospital, I was told that as a result of the fatal accident, my hands’ nerves had been seriously affected and I needed the urgent surgical operation to correct it.”

She added that although she was noticing dramatic changes in her health conditions, the distance between Oka-Akoko in Ondo State and where her family lives in Abeokuta forced them to relocate her. ‘’As a result of this, I was moved to a herbal home in Oba, Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State,

F

Temitope where, unfortunately for me, things went worse after the herbalist incised me.”

“Before I was taken to the herbal home where I spent nine months, I was moving my hands, using them to eat. But after the incision, and after consuming many concoctions at the herbalist’s home, my health conditions deteriorated.

‘Fate has been very cruel to me. I should not have been in this condition because of my poor parentage.

I struggled with the help of people to go to school and Polytechnic, but see what fate has done on me’

Temitope further told Aspire that because of complaints from her family members and unfavourable insinuations, she said that her husband abandoned her because of some unsavoury allegations.

“This can’t be true,” she says. “My husband loves me. Not only that, our love has been waxing stronger and stronger since we met several years back. It got stronger after we had our first son. He has not only been loving, he is also caring, and has been doing everything humanly possible for me and our only child.”

“He was the one that was feeding me, bathing me and cleaning all my sores. He was also responsible for drugs prescribed for me during my physiotherapy in Akure for a year and nine months. We were together facing the challenges of my health. As much as I appreciate my husband’s efforts, I must tell you that I never imagined that he would abandon me at home.

“It is very unfortunate that he was accused of using me for money-making rituals. This is not true, because he was not that rich. We were only managing; praying and hoping that future would be better than today. He is a caring and loving husband that he would never have thought of anything like that.”

Temitope, who currently lives with a member of the Celestial Church of Christ, in Obafemi Owode area of Ogun State, appealed to Nigerians to assist her with money and medical care.

“I don’t want to die,” she says, “but I see death if I am left in this condition without being attended to. The Shepherd that used to take care of me here has been transferred outside the state. I defecate here. I do everything on the same spot. I need serious medical attention so that I could overcome my current state of illhealth. I appeal to Nigerians not to let me die.”

“I wish to walk again, but this would not be possible if I don’t get medical care from people or organization because I have been lying on bed here without any assistance since about one-and-a- half months ago.

There is nobody to carry me on the wheel chair as the Shepherd that used to do so has travelled. My matter is even worse here as a man attempted to rape me here last May. In an emotion-laden voice, Temitope declares: “Fate has been very cruel to me.

I should not have been in this condition because of my poor parentage. I struggled with the help of people to go to school and Polytechnic for education, but see what fate has done on me!”

While she hints that her father died few months back, Temitope says: ‘’I am a pauper, that’s why it is my wish that I walk again, because if I can walk, I will not depend on people to take care of me all the time. Please tell Nigerians to assist me medically so that I can walk again. I am tired of lying here useless to myself and others.”

AUGUST 5, 2012 SUNDAY SUN

43

10 Questions

12 remarkable Welsh singer and Olympic Games opening act,Tom Jones,on longevity, summer Sinatra and nixing the underwear toss olympians of all time

Y

ou’re 72 and still performing. To what do you attribute your longevity?

Good health, first of all.

So I’m lucky there. And my voice is still as powerful as ever, so there’s luck there as well. And the love of it.

it’s not as exciting in Vegas as it used to be.

You knew Frank Sinatra and Elvis pretty well. What do we not know about them?

Frank Sinatra was pretty much what you see is what

you get. Frank liked to drink, and so do I, so we had that in common. A lot of people have said that he could be a little awkward, but we can all be awkward at times. Elvis Presley did not particularly like alcohol. Whatever he did, I

Yours is, even now, a very sexy act. Did you have to tone it down when you performed for the Queen?

Not really.

wasn’t part of. But the common denominator was music. Frank Sinatra was very passionate about his music, and so was Elvis Presley, and so was Sammy Davis. I realized the bigger the people I was meeting, the more passionate they were about what they were doing.

Do you think that certain times produce more great music than others?

I think there are more really, really good singers around now than there used to be, but then there are more people around, and a lot of these younger singers have had so many people to listen to. There’s more history.

Do people still throw knickers at you?

No, thank God, no.

How did you stop them?

Well, you take less notice of it. I used to encourage it. I thought it was rather fun. But if you ignore it, it goes away like anything else would.

Tell me something about your recent album and the directions you’re moving in.

These last two albums, Praise & Blame and Spirit in the Room, are very natural.

People have said that they can hear something that they’ve been waiting for. I’m getting more chance to express myself vocally. My producer said, “You’ve been so used to performing onstage. Try not to do it.”

Home for you is California. Where is your heart?

My heart is in Wales, where I was born and bred. Most of my memories are of Wales. I went to America because I became successful in America because of my recordings. And then the Labour government got in in Britain in the ’70s, and that nudged me.

I like America very much. I don’t feel as though I’m in a foreign country.

Is Las Vegas a home too?

Jones Vegas is not what it used to be. It’s changed now. There are more “shows” shows, not so much individual entertainers, so the shine went off it for me. I met Elvis Presley (there) in 1965, when I first went to America. All of a sudden, “It’s Not Unusual” went to but then there are more people around, and a No. 1, and I was meeting lot of these younger singers have had all these very famous people very quickly. For me so many people to listen to.

I think there are more really, really good singers around now than there used to be,

Would I be right that you have no plans to retire?

Immortality would be a wonderful thing for me. I’m enjoying myself. But old age will finally catch up. I know it has to. Another 50 years–I would be all right with that.

–CATHERINE MAYER Culled from TIME Magazine

Carl Lewis: Athletics,United States He competed in every Olympic Games from 1984 to 1996, winning nine gold medals and one silver in the 100 meters, 200 meters, long jump, and 400-meter relays.

Carl Osburn:Shooting,United States This United States Navy officer and sports shooter won a total of 11 Olympic medals: five gold, four silver, and two bronze. He was the alltime leading male Olympic medal winner for the United States prior to Michael Phelps.

Daley Thompson:Decathlon,Great Britain Daley Thompson competed for Great Britain in the 1980 and 1984 Olympics, winning the gold medal in the decathlon both times and making him the best all-around track and field athlete at both Olympics.

Jackie Joyner-Kersee: Track and Field, United States Jackie Joyner-Kersee took women’s track and field to the next level by winning three gold, one silver, and two bronze medals from 1984 to 1996. At 7,291 points, her performance in the 1988 heptathlon set a world record that has yet to be broken.

Jenny Thompson:Swimming,United States Jenny Thompson won eight gold, three silver, and one bronze for a total of 12 medals from 1992 to 2004, making her one of the most decorated Olympians of all time. She also held the world record for the women’s 100 butterfly from 1999 to 2000, the women’s 100 butterfly (25 m) from 1997 to 2002, and the women’s 100 individual medley (25 m) from 1999 to 2002.

Jesse Owens:Track and Field,United States Owens fought hard to win four gold medals during the 1936 Berlin Olympics, which was no easy feat in Nazi Germany. Conveniently, Hitler had to leave before the victory ceremony of the 100 meters, but he couldn’t change the fact that the whole nation witnessed Owens’ victory over the “pure-blooded” Germans.

Jim Thorpe:Athletics,United States This Olympian won two gold medals for his performance in the pentathlon and decathlon during the 1912 Sweden Olympics only to have them taken away a year later.

Karnam Malleswari:Weightlifting,India The first woman to win an Olympic medal for weightlifting.

Larisa Latynina:Gymnastics,Soviet Union She earned nine gold, five silver, and four bronze medals, adding up to 18 medals in all. In addition to this tremendous accomplishment, she also holds the record for most individual medals (14 outside of team events) in Olympic history.

Mark Spitz:Swimming,United States During the 1972 Munich Olympics, this swimmer won seven gold medals, breaking the record for most gold medals in a single Olympics. He held onto this title for 36 years until Michael Phelps burst onto the scene.

Michael Phelps:Swimming,United States Michael Phelps’ incredible swimming skills have earned him monikers such as “Flying Fish” and “The Baltimore Bullet.” He holds the record for most gold medals won in a single Olympics as well as the all-time record for most gold Olympic records. He has won 16 medals in all, 14 of them gold.

Usain Bolt:Athletics,Jamaica This Jamaican runner won three gold medals in the 100 meters, 200 meters, and 4?100 meters relay at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. He is the reigning champion in all three events.

44

Bruce Malogo

AUGUST 5, 2012 SUNDAY SUN

THE SOUND OF JUBILEE Rev. Kunat Amos Achi Pastor, New Estate Baptist Church, Surulere, Lagos.

Phone: 0802 307 0157.

Email: revakunat@yahoo.com

Notes of a Wayfarer

08033325888 Banmalogo@yahoo.com

Breakthrough at last

A Impeachment: Perhaps they should all go

I

n the circumstance, their intention sounds appropriate. No mistakes about it. When the lower chamber of the National Assembly handed the president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, impeachment promise the other day, it sounded most politically enlightened, if expedient. Even now, the threat stands, gathering stature and getting complicated but interesting. However, very responsible and patriotic as the threat appears, problem is, the set of people serving this notice is not qualified to execute it.

Members of the National Assembly (it doesn’t matter now from which chamber) that we know too well are too morally encumbered for such sacred purpose. The House of Representatives is telling the president that if he fails to implement this year’s budget up to 100 percent by September, it would start impeachment process against him.

Few days after this broke, the House’s spokesman, Zakari Mohammed, reinforced the threat. He told a newspaper that “the resolution on impeachment proceedings against Mr. President by September 18 if budget implementation is not up to 100 percent, stands,” adding: “There is nothing that can be done to change that resolution before September 18… We cannot continue to respond to the same old issues.” By “the same old issues,” I want to believe that what he was referring to is the cycle of poor budget implementation, something the country now wears like a badge of honour.

Budget implementation is at the core of national development. If we take the pains to walk the line back, we’d discover that our level of poverty has so mush to do with the poor implementation of our annual budgets. After all, what is the purpose of these appropriations if it is not to deliver the good life; the good life, not just to the greater number, but to all the number?

So, if the executive that is charged with this responsibility begins to prove irredeemably delinquent, we might as well relieve it of the responsibility. This is what members of the House are saying. They are saying, if Jonathan and his band of ministers, together with his legion of aides, have not learnt to deal with what has become a generational affliction, there is, therefore, no use tolerating them. The country can no longer afford this ritual of deceit and systematic impoverishment of the people. To think that at the end of the day, these unutilised appropriations never get back to the common till.

They disappear, devolve into private pockets.

And those are the resources that should have worked for the people; make the Nigerian people better human beings. It tells, partly, why this country makes so much money but dispenses so much misery. It partly explains why the Nigerian condition is getting critical, getting abject.

So, if Jonathan, who, by default, has inherited the bad manners of not implementing annual budget, and only has to pass it off as a glorious bequest, then, by all means, he should get out of the way. That is the point the lawmakers are making. And I agree with them. But only to that extent. They have a good case, but they are not the right set of people to prosecute it. Why? Because they are not any better than the president. They are as delinquent in matters of state charge as the person they are accusing – if not more so. We know that budget implementation has remained a big issue in this country, especially since the return of democracy thirteen years ago. Each year, we go through the ritual of budgeting and at the end of the year, we return to the refrain, “poor implementation.” It was only President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua that had tried to do something about this ill manner.

Given the blatant way ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) paid scant regard to the integrity of the yearly appropriations, the man, in

2007, instructed that all unspent funds must be returned to the treasury at the end of every fiscal year. But before its full implementation in the 2008 budget, two ministers in the federal ministry of health, Prof. Adenike Grange and Gabriel Aduku, substantive minister and minister of state, respectively, had lost their jobs for allegedly benefiting from such unspent funds.

From all indications, that order died with the man. Even at that, both Yar’Adua and his predecessor, President Olusegun Obasanjo were also threatened with impeachment on the account of poor husbandry of national budget. There was a time in this country when, the day the national budget would be read, would be akin to a day of ceremony; a ceremony of great national importance. It would be a day everybody looked forward to with such religious expectancy.

Nigerians would glue to their television sets – and I mean all Nigerians across socio-economic class – and woe unto that child that would as much as mutter ha, while the budget was being read. It was like a sacred exercise and Nigerians followed it with the concentration of the monk.

It had that level of veneration because it was held as a harbinger of great impact on the lives of Nigerians and the health of the country.

And how now the cookies crumble! The budget started by losing its mystique and its relevance, all because those who were to husband it, began to be flippant about it. Before long, it became an “oil well” for people in authority; for every level of authority involved in the process – from conception to execution. This rot in our national budget and budgeting then added its stench to the thing around our neck: corruption.

Our national budget, therefore, became a cesspit of corruption. It became a caldron of sleaze; of mindless fraud. The profile of our budgets is fraud incorporated – from heads of MDAs, factoring in their own interests and the one that would go to National Assembly committee members for their “oversight functions” and to making provision for their budget defence before the Senate. And at the other end, the Chambers, padding and stuffing in their own provision. It is all so paganistic. That’s how they have viciously violated our annual budgets, such that today, the document that bears it does not worth more than the paper the woman down the road uses to wrap her akara or groundnuts.

In the face of all this damnation, it begs the question that some desperate measures have to be taken, if we must redeem the integrity of our national budgets. Well, the House of Reps, in its

wisdom, is resorting to a desperate end by asking the president to make sure this year’s appropriation serves its purpose by implementing it, to the last kobo – that is, with all the sludge, dross and whatever other dubious details in it.

As I said in the beginning, there is sense in the threat. But I have a problem with the House, doing the war dance or, if you like, playing the knight in shining armour. Nigerian situation is woeful and it is woeful not by the acts of the man on the street. It is so, through the imaginations and machinations of those in power and their collaborators outside power. True, the cause of our woes is far beyond poor implementation of the budget. The country is in tatters and everybody knows that the executive branch is far from being solely responsible. I don’t know any Nigerian who does not know that the National Assembly is a major part of our problem. If this country has remained hobbled, even degenerate – which is what it is – the National Assembly is a major contributor. It wouldn’t take a professor to know. Any fool – adult or child – knows that our elected representatives at the national level are a greater part of our headache in this country.

Every recognized national ill finds confluence in those chambers. Corruption, the biggest problem of Nigeria, sits deep and pretty in those otherwise hallow chambers. To be sure, since the return of the present democracy, corruption has been on the rise. As we talk, it is racing dizzyingly skyward. Of course, everybody agrees that corruption is the ogre holding this country down, and asphyxiating the country in the process. But that is not to say that the other arms of governments, besides the executive, are minor stakeholders in this rape incorporated.

No. In the same way the National Assembly cannot now begin to play the Pharisee with his holier-than-thou gospel. Instance. None of the numerous allegations of sleaze in the hollow chambers has been conclusively proved to be false – and to think that all the amounts involved can bail us from this woeful state.

What all this points to is, instead of plotting the removal of the president in the circumstance, the House should be asking that all elected leaders in this country, without exception, should just as well park their stuff and leave the stage. None of the arms – legislature, executive and all – can claim higher moral quotient or ethical stature than the others. They are all confederates in the despoiling of Nigeria. You would want to ask, to be sure: Whose interest have these legislators been serving since they were elected? The people’s or theirs? Of course, they know whom they are serving and the people of this country know, too. Consider why they have to fight to chair “juicy” committees; why their salaries, benefits and general welfare must be the first item in their legislative duties. You also want to consider how a good number of them who, before they got in there, were scarcely able to give their wives decent feeding allowance – if at all – turn out few months later stupendously rich, spending money like the prodigal.

These are not the sorts of people who would be threatening the president, on the account of what they measure equally – ineptitude, underscored by self-serving ends. In their responsibilities to the nation, the House cannot claim superior performance over the executive. In rectitude, the House is as ungainly as the executive branch, if not more. So, whatever threat members of the House are serving the president, in these regards, they should as well be serving themselves.

It is not so much about what they say, concerning the man who goes to equity. Important, though, that is. It has much to do with the fact that everyone in government – executive, legislature and the judiciary – has lent a hand in the things that undermine the life the Nigerian and reduce the stature and worth of this country.

look at the religious landscape of Nigeria reveals a people deeply religious, with so much prayer going on from north to south, east to west, in churches, homes, schools, mosques and even in corporate environments. Several organizations now have what they call Lunch Hour Fellowship, where Christians gather during lunch break to pray. Listening to the prayer points from church to church, gathering to gathering a common feature is breakthrough. By this, they are asking God for divine access to good health, long life, more money, promotion, children in marriage, spouses to marry, visas to travel, land to build new houses etc.

Some take their prayers to higher levels by going to special prayer services at designated places for greater and faster effect. Some add fasting to their prayer, depending on the seriousness of the matter.

In fact, some even make financial or material sacrifices (seed sowing) to attract divine attention to their prayers. These seeds are either sown on mission work, men of God, the poor, the sick or on other humanitarian ends. However, I see a big irony here, in the sense that, many of these people end up either frustrated or disillusioned when their so many prayers seem not to produce the much-desired result. Some of these people wonder what the problem could be.

While prayers in themselves and all that go with them are good, it is however most crucial to examine the state of the life of the one praying and asking God for a breakthrough. Isaiah chapter 59:1-3 gives a very important revelation which I would like to call your attention to. The prophet, speaking to the devotees of his day, reprimanded them: “Look, the Lord’s hand is not too weak to deliver you; His ears are not deaf to hear you. But your sinful acts have alienated you from your God; your sins have caused Him to reject you and not listen to your prayers. For your hands are stained with blood and your fingers with sin; your lips speak lies, and your tongue utters malicious words.”

This revelation could be summarized by saying that, when your prayers are not answered the way you expect, the fault is never with God but with you.

You may not have given attention to what is most important to the heart of God, namely, the quality of your life. From that revelation, it is obvious that the quality of your life has a lot to do with the way God positions Himself when you pray. He is a holy God who hates sin; He does not condone it at all. The prayer of one who continues to sin is an abomination to God and He does not respect it. The one who continues in sin continues to displease God and so positions himself as an enemy of God. No wonder God would not commit Himself to such a person nor give him access to the treasury of heaven from where all good things flow. In Isaiah’s message, God even named some of the evil things that the people were doing at that time which became a barrier to their prayers. They killed innocent people and shed their blood with their hands, their lips were full of deceit and lies (living a false life); their tongues uttered malicious and impure words, etc. They were generally disgusting to God and He could not turn His face in their direction, and because of that, their prayers were hindered.

Beloved reader, have you been wondering what the problem could be that your many prayers are not answered? Have you considered this revelation of God? Have you given attention to the very important matter of sin in your life and the quality of life that you live? Could your hands have been stained with the blood of innocent people one way or another? Is your life false, full of deceit and lies? Is your tongue filled with malicious and filthy talk? Do you instigate quarrels and fight among neighbours?

Could your life have been generally offensive to God? David said in Ps 66:18 that if he had harbored sin in his heart, the Lord would not have listened to him. That is a major issue in the place of prayer. You would need to settle that with God right NOW in order to experience the breakthrough you desire.

Please don’t waste more time going here and there and praying for one thing or the other. First, seek the forgiveness of your sins by asking Jesus Christ to come into your heart and to cleans you of all your sin and reconcile you to God. As soon as that happens, I assure you that the Heavens will be open to you and your long desired breakthrough will come. Say this prayer seriously from the depth of your heart: “My father and my God, help me now as I accept your son, Jesus Christ into my life. I repent of my sin and open my heart to receive your gift of salvation. Forgive me and make me your child today.

In Jesus name I pray. Amen”

AUGUST 5, 2012 EXPLORE

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SUNDAY SUNR REVUE

EDITED BY TONI KAN tkeditorsun@ymail.com

INSIDE

Quotes on writing from the masters

Introduction: The literary community the world over is mourning the death, at 87, of American man of letters, Gore Vidal who wrote plays, essays, novels and screenplays. He passed on August 1, 2012.

He has been described as a liberal American author, playwright, essayist, screenwriter, and political activist. His third novel, The City and the Pillar (1948), outraged conservative critics as one of the first major American novels to feature unambiguous homosexuality. He also ran for political office twice and was a long time political critic.”

We dedicate our cover page to him. Rest in peace Gore Vidal.

We have a short story from regular contributor and award winning fiction writer, Henry Chukwuemeka Onyema. His short story, “The Call of Death” is a bloody tale set in the Biafran war.

We have two poetry tributes; from bon Azubuike who mourns a late Uncle in “The Meteor Is Gone; Adieu Ezennia” and another from Uzo Dibia, Brisbane based medical doctor who has penned a quick tribute to Gore Vidal.

Osang Abang, new to the SSR pages gives us a well realised review of the Ridley Scott movie, Prometheus while the award winning and now UK based short story writer, David Njoku conducts a literary Olympic of sorts in our Critical Intervention pages.

Enjoy.

Only Amateurs Say They Write for Their Own Amusement: Only amateurs say that they write for their own amusement. Writing is not an amusing occupation. It is a combination of ditch-digging, mountain-climbing, treadmill and childbirth. Writing may be interesting, absorbing, exhilarating, racking, relieving. But amusing? Never.

–EDNA FERBER Writing is a Form of Therapy: Writing is a form of therapy; sometimes I wonder how all those, who do not write, compose, or paint can manage to escape the madness, the melancholia, the panic fear, which is inherent in the human condition.

BOOK REVIEW

–GRAHAM GREENE We Believe In Immaculate Syntax:

Cover Image: GORE VIDAL (1925 – 2012) BY JUAN BASTON

Amid chaos of images, we value coherence. We believe in the printed word. And we believe in clarity.

And we believe in immaculate syntax. And in the beauty of the English language.

–WILLIAM SHAWN

Two poems for the road TRIBUTE TO GORE VIDAL

ii

(RIP Gore Vidal 1926-2012)

It does not rain It pours If you listen in whispers You will hear the sigh

tendrils of those tender moments when words, gravid birthed subliminal joys few could know that was the awakening, this movement your dervishes created in the leaves of time’s pages a gift for the ages. (by Uzo Dibia) THE METEOR IS GONE; ADIEU EZENNIA (Tribute to Late Odi Umolu (Ezennia))

i Too soon at noon With you as earl We buried a pearl That was close to our hearts

iii The meteor is gone Without a word Like the dart That pierces a heart In the heights Unable to stop Inspite of its weight It went its way Leaving us in tears With eyes to the sky That will take time to dry Like the blind Behind the stick

At its tail Blazing its trail

V Ezennia, is gone To rest And may not return Because it is night But thank God Like the meteor with its light At night He was there for all when it mattered most

vi

iv

Adieu Ezennia Adieu my brother of a different mother Adieu for it may be night In your sleep But when it is dawn We shall meet in the lawn In blossom like lilies With no fear of death

As we grope in the dark in search of its path I can see the light

© BON aZUBUIKE

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AUGUST 5, 2012 EXPLORE

SSR R

CRITICAL INTERVENTIONS

Africa’s leading literary powerhouse –South Africa or Nigeria?

By DAVID NJOKU

S

UMMER 2012 and the eyes of the world turn to the city of London, England. People across the globe sit in beer parlours, shebeens, pubs, washing unhealthy snacks down with tankards of beer and cheering as the healthiest specimens of our nations run, jump and swim faster, higher, stronger.

But why stop at sportsmen? Why not pitch our countries’ plumbers against the world’s, our street-corner hookers, our brain surgeons? Why don’t Liberians sneer at Sierra Leoneans: “The barefoot kids hawking peanuts in your Kroo Bay slums are nothing compared to the former child soldiers weaving through traffic selling groundnuts in the misery of our West Point”? And why not stand our writing ‘athletes’ up against each other in a sort of literary Olympic Games and see which nation ends up on the podium?

And the last was just what we did. The rules: We sourced our data by analysing the winners of major international literary prizes, filleting out all African winners and noting their country of origin.

We limited our scope – and therefore our result set – to awards for English language literature, with a deliberate bias towards prose fiction. Where a writer has dual nationality, as in the case of Zimbabwean-British author Doris Lessing, we favoured the African nation; with Mauritian-South African novelist, Lindsay Collen, we plumped for Mauritius, as this is the country she identifies with.

The following awards were prestigious enough to make it onto our list: the Nobel Prize for Literature, the Booker Prize, the International Booker Prize, the Pulitzer Prize and the Costa/Whitbread Prize (neither of which has had any African winners), the Caine Prize, the Orange Prize, and the various flavours of the Commonwealth Prize.

Divvying up the spoils of these awards by nation certain facts became immediately obvious. South Africa and Nigeria are the 800 pound gorillas of the English-speaking African literary world.

Between them they account for twothirds of the prizes won by Africa. South Africa, though, clearly takes the gold medal, leading Nigeria by 5 awards (including double the number of Nobel prizes). Zimbabwe takes the bronze medal, limping in a distant third.

There may be a conversation to be had about the racial split of southern Africa’s

winners. (They are disproportionally white.) Or maybe not: an African is an African is an African.

Analysing the awards by date throws new light on the health of literature in the various countries. Nigeria is currently enjoying a rich renaissance, kicked off by Helon Habila’s triumph at the 2001 Caine Prize. Its near neighbour, Ghana, on the other hand, is caught in the jaws of a terrible slump; the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize Benjamin Kwakye’s The Sun by Night won in 2006 is the nation’s only showing in close to 15 years. And if Ghana is in a bad way, Egypt is even worse; Nobel Laureate Naguib Mahfouz is their

“Where are those grandees of Nigerian literature, Wole Soyinka and Chinua Achebe? Between them, they have a Nobel Prize and an International Booker respectively, but authors such as Karen King-Aribisala loom larger than them with her clutch of Commonwealth Prizes. Ms KingAribisala is undoubtedly a gifted author, but few would argue that she should eclipse Soyinka and Achebe so easily. Perhaps our analysis would have benefited from weighting being assigned to awards, showing that the Nobel is worth more than the Caine? “

only international prize winner. And Naguib Mahfouz died in 2006. Mahfouz isn’t Africa’s only Nobel laureate; Nigeria’s Wole Soyinka preceded him in 1986, Zimbabwe’s Doris Lessing won it in 2007, and in between it was won by South Africa’s literary giants, Nadine Gordimer and JM Coetzee.

JM Coetzee is, to borrow an ugly American phrase, Africa’s “most winningest” writer, our Usain Bolt: Booker Prize followed by Commonwealth Prize followed by Booker again and followed

by Commonwealth again. Oh, and of course there’s that Nobel Prize.

Dicing the data by author throws a different hue on our leading countries: JM Coetzee and Nadine Gordimer cast huge shadows over the South African scene; Nigeria is a little more democratic – Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Helon Habila are undoubtedly the leaders of the new Nigerian pack, but the pack is not far behind.

Viewing the data in this way also reveals the huge flaw in our experiment: where are those grandees of Nigerian literature, Wole Soyinka and Chinua Achebe? Between them, they have a Nobel Prize and an International Booker respectively, but authors such as Karen King-Aribisala loom larger than them with her clutch of Commonwealth Prizes. Ms King-Aribisala is undoubtedly a gifted author, but few would argue that she should eclipse Soyinka and Achebe so easily. Perhaps our analysis

would have benefited from weighting being assigned to awards, showing that the Nobel is worth more than the Caine?

Everyone knows Usain Bolt won the 200m at the Beijing Olympics – but who remembers who won gold in the 20km walking race? (It was Russia’s Valeriy Borchin. No, I’ve never heard of him either.)

Despite this flaw, we should not throw our results away; they give us a good picture of the health of African literature and of the way literature fits into the larger political and historical jigsaw puzzle. South Africa leads the way and has done so since the end of Apartheid.

And the revival of Nigerian literature coincides almost exactly with the rebirth of democracy in that country. Zimbabwe is also experiencing a second wind, despite (or because of?) its financial and political problems.

And the future? Nigeria seems to be on course to overtake South Africa as Africa’s literary powerhouse. And perhaps Kenyan literature will experience a “Binyavanga bounce” the same way Nigeria had a “Helon boost” a decade ago. And maybe – hopefully – Ghana will rescue itself from the quagmire it has been trapped in for so long.

We will look at the data again in five or 10 years and let you know •(courtesy:http://missojikutu. wordpress.com/)

AUGUST 5, 2012 EXPLORE

SSR R

IN THE NEWS

EVENTS

PROFESSOR AKACHI EZEIGBO OTHERS FOR NAL INVESTITURE

RICHARD ALI, OTHERS AT ALS BOOKJAM Richard Ali, poet, novelist, editor and publisher was among the featured guest writers at the Abuja Literary Society Bookjam reading session which held at the Silverbird Lifestyle Shop in Abuja on Friday the 27th of July.

Other writers on the bill were Emmanuel Iduma and Kudo Eresia Eke. Ali read from his novel, ‘City of Memories,’ Iduma read from his short story collection, ‘Farad,’ while Eresia Eke, read from his non-fiction book, ‘How to be a Student.’

Pictures.

• L=R: Oris Aigbokhaevbolo, Chinelo Chikelu, Abubakar Ibrahim, Richard Ali, Kelechi Udeogu, Onyeka Nwelue and Emmanuel Iduma

• Members of the audience.

•L-R: Emmanuel Iduma, Richard Ali, Kudo Eresia, Jide Atah anda guest

S S R MOVIE REVIEW REVIEWER: OSANG ABANG DIRECTOR: RIDLEY SCOTT MOVIE TITLE: PROMETHEUS

WRITTEN BY: Jon Spaihts & Damon Lindelof

IN

ROMETHEUS, in addition to the agony of having his liver feasted on, eternally, by an eagle, would be dismayed that the ‘engineers’ in Prometheus, the film, were not as benevolent as he was to mankind.

But we must clarify the Prometheus we speak of.

In the movie, Prometheus is the name of the magnificent vessel in which the adventurers, in two years of cryogenic slumber, set out into the furthest reaches of space in search of...

That last bit is left for the audience.

But the vessel plays such a minor role in this film, it could very well have been called the Alien Prequeler. The men and women aboard hardly acknowledge it but then it is 2093 and such feats must surely be common place. The only person who revels in it is David, a robot of sorts played by Michael Fassbender, who watches over the crew until they arrive their destination and who may not be bound by the Asimovinian laws of robotics.

In Prometheus, the world as we know it eschews the Biblical earth as dark and void. The landscape in the opening sequence is one of feral majesty and expansive vistas, unspoiled by any organism, let alone man, until it arrives.

It is humanoid, with a musculature that is extremely masculine, pale to the point of translucence, and in an act of sacrifice destroys itself and from its

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STARRING: Noomi Rapace. Michael Fassbender, Charlize Theron, Idris Elba, Logan Marshal-Green and Guy Pearce.

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The Nigerian Academy of Letters will hold its 14th Convocation Lecture and Investiture of new Fellows at the Main Auditorium of University of Lagos, on Thursday, August 9, 2012 at 11 a.m.??Professor Abiola Irele will deliver the convocation lecture which is entitled “Between Desert and Ocean: Thoughts on Literature and History in the West African Sub-Region.”

The new Fellows are Professor Sola Akinrinade, Professor Francis Egbokhare, Professor Akachi Ezeigbo and Professor Oladele O. Layiwola. The Overseas Fellow expected at the event is Professor Antonia Yetunde Folarin-Schleicher LIFEHOUSE AND ZEBRALIVING PRESENT FASHION AND ART Zebra Living Limited with the support of Nicolas Feuillatte Champagne, Rosalita’s Desserts and The Life House proudly present “NABILLA: Fashion in the Gallery” on Sunday 12th August 2012.

“NABILLA: Fashion in the Gallery” is Zebra Living’s presentation of a capsule collection of soft, sultry and sublime fashion pieces, lovingly crafted from the global apparel industry’s most fluid and loveable fabric blends – jersey Astatement from the organizers noted that “We are jointly producing an unforgettably unique event which will celebrate the Zebra Living brand, unveil NABILLA, an inspired capsule collection, treat customers to premium music, food, drink and social networks and expose a select audience to the versatility and integration of fashion, fine art and luxury as key lifestyle components and in some of Lagos’s most eclectic and exciting spaces. This is the first in a series of such events.”

DEADLINE FOR KWANI MANUSCRIPT PROJECT EXTENDED The deadline for the Kwani? Manuscript Project; Kwani Trust’s new literary prize for African writing, has been extended.

Interested entrants now have until 17th September 2012 to submit their unpublished fiction manuscripts and stand a chance of winning both cash prizes and international publication for their novel.

In addition to this, the Kwani Trust will launch a series of essays by leading African writers on writing, including contributions from Aminatta Forna, Leila Aboulela, Ellen Banda-Aaku and Helon Habila. These essays will offer advice, support and inspiration for developing a novel manuscript over the next 2 months.

According to a news release, manuscripts between 45,000 and 120,000 words are now eligible for the Kwani? Manuscript Project. The release stated that the organisers decided to lower the eligible word count of the new prize for unpublished manuscripts to 45,000 words because they realize that too many great novels have been published that are below 60,000 words - from F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby to Albert Camus’s L’Etranger to Mariama Bâ’s So Long a Letter.

Binyavanga Wainaina, says ‘there is a new kind of writing talent emerging in Africa, but the most exciting work I have seen is coming from those of the information age. Original in style, these writers do not see themselves as being distant from anywhere. They speak to the world. This competition speaks to their confidence, and the confidence of a new generation of African writers, wherever they are.’

PORTHARCOURT IS WORLD BOOK CAPITAL 2014 The city of Port Harcourt (NIGERIA) has been nominated as World Book Capital 2014 on account of the quality of its programmes, in particular its focus on the youths and the impact it will have on improving Nigeria’s culture of books, reading, writing and publishing to improve literacy.

This was announced by the selection committee of the world book capital 2014 made up of the representatives of the International Publishers Association (IPA), the International Book Sellers Federation (IBF), the International Federation of Library Associations(IFLA) and UNESCO.

ruins is born the DNA that will eventually lead to us humans. But that doesn’t happen immediately and the movie brilliantly sidesteps exposition on how we came into being, leaving enough room for both creationists and evolutionists to convince themselves that they were right all along.

From there on Prometheus, in true Ridley Scott fashion, unfolds slowly.

Much of science is observation and this is exactly what Master Scott achieves here: he introduces a premise, he lets us observe and inadvertently makes a scientist out of us as we try to theorize what happens next by guessing and reframing our hypothesis the few times it doesn’t match up. This is a true ode to the genre of science fiction.

If you followed the build up to Prometheus, you probably know that it is supposed to be a prequel to Ridley Scott’s infamous Alien (1979) that made Sigourney Weaver—as Warrant Officer Ripely—the queen of badass. Rapace’s Shaw is adequate where Weaver’s Ripely was riveting.

Prometheus treads this path slightly then ventures out on its own. The horror elements that made Alien a treat are still here but minimally, maybe in an attempt for a more cerebral bent, but the execution is a thing of such spine-tingling monstrous beauty.

Charlize Theron is brilliant as the icy Mission Director, Meredith Vickers, and in what must the funniest moment in the film has an exchange

with the ship’s (pardon my use of the inferior term) Captain Janek (Idris Elba) who, like all men in charge of a vessel is bound to it by honour.

Guy Pearce is Peter Weyland, the ancient owner of the corporation sponsoring the voyage and who is on a last ditch move to cheat death before death cheats him.

And then there is David the android/robot. Much has been said of the character’s similarities to Stanley Kubrick’s HAL in 2001: A Space Odyssey but David embodies a different kind of artificial intelligence.

Where HAL’s voice was intrusive because of its omnipresence, David is more menacing not because he has a body but because he evaluates the people he interacts with, toys with them and most of all does things when no one is looking.

Prometheus wobbles slightly in the sense that it wanted to say something but left the dash to fill in the answer themselves.

That said, Prometheus is executed to perfection. See for yourself on account of this review but see it also because this may be the smartest and the most thought provoking movie regarding the origin of our species you will see his year.

•(Osang Abang, a Cinephile and Physiologist writes from Abuja. osangjabang@gmail.com.)

Continues on Page 48

Next week we bring you fresh new writings from poetry to prose to critical essays

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FICTION

The call of death

By HENR Y CHUKWUEMEKA ONYEMA

D

EATH threw his door wide open to receive them that glorious azure morning. His bony claws were outstretched to hook into their hearts and pluck out their lives. His cavernous mouth was determined to drink their blood to the last drop.

But Captain John O’Brien and his men would not back down.

Even for the Biafran Commandos whose second names were unorthodoxy, daredevilry and gung-hoism, their mission was straight into Ekwensu’s belly. The Irish mercenary’s face contorted as he recollected the exchange back at the headquarters. ‘‘Pure suicide, Captain,’’ declared Lieutenant-Colonel Obika Kanu of the Fourth Battalion. His English accent, gained from his years at Sandhurst, dripped with disapproval towards the young red-haired rough diamond who said the rosary with the same ease with which he handled a CETME assault rifle. ‘‘Besides, sending in reinforcements is impossible.’’

That was Colonel Henecker, the German mercenary who had recently been promoted by the Head of State to the chagrin of many Biafran officers who were yet to come to terms with his leadership of the Commandos. ‘‘So we should let those missionaries die?’’ John’s quiet voice was a time bomb.

Henecker explicitly forbade any heroic operation to rescue the small Catholic missionary complex tucked away in the godforsaken village of Mbaramkpaka on the outskirts of Ihiala. ‘‘Anyone who disobeys this order will face a summary court-martial,’’ he declared, his seagreen eyes chips of granite.

‘‘Son,’’ McSweeny said soberly. ‘‘What do you suggest?’’ ‘‘Don’t ask us to leave.’’ That was Reverend Sister Angela Nwaulu, the trained nurse whose beauty could have made her a Hollywood star.

John took a deep breath. ‘‘But you can’t serve your people as corpses.’’

From a military point of view, his stance made sense. The Nigerian army was deeply entrenched in that sector and had seized the major roads linking Ihiala with Owerri and other parts of the fast shrinking Biafran territory still in Biafran hands. Relentless bombing and strafing by Nigerian MIG fighters had turned the roads into Golgotha as fleeing refugees were reduced to kindling.

There had been no time to evacuate the complex. The Biafrans were far too outmanned and outgunned to deviate for a second from their main objective: keeping the Federals from taking Owerri.

The Commandos were the point unit in the blood-soaked debacle.

Catechist Obi’s eyes burrowed into his. ‘‘So we abandon them to starve? You know what hunger is doing to Biafrans.

Perhaps the Nigerians will show mercy if they see we are harmless.’’

But it went against the grain for John to abandon a group of missionaries to the loving care of the enemy. He had toured the small but highly efficient complex before things went crazy. The jolly priest in charge, Father Peter McSweeny, had worked miracles in his efforts to give life to the endless sea of war-ravaged folk who fled to Mbaramkpaka with the ultimately forlorn hope that the Nigerian armada would pass them by. On his last visit, after Confession, John called the priest and his team aside and explained the situation to them.

‘‘God bless you,’’ said McSweeny.

‘‘Don’t fool yourself. This is war and wars are fought by beasts.’’

There was more futile talk, and then John did something totally out of character with his professional inclinations. ‘‘I will do what I can to get you out. But don’t count on it.’’ Even as he spoke his heart ached for their eyes told him they were hanging onto his words.

As soon as Henecker finished his threat John’s steely blue eyes bored into his as he spoke conversationally. ‘‘Sir, I am going to Mba…whatever with my personal squad now. Prepare a firing-squad for me if I come back.’’

Everyone was stunned. This was a man answering death’s summons with alacrity.

‘‘Gott im Himmel,’’ muttered the Colonel.

Everyone stood aside as John, Second Lieutenant James Chika, Sergeant Prospero Armani, Corporals Effiong, Sunday, Oti, Eze and Privates Thomas, Oko, Emeka and Nwanze left for Mbaramkpaka at 0100 hours. Nwanze and Oti were from hamlets adjoining the village and knew all the paths and byways unknown to the Nigerian army.

0738 hours As John watched his blood-soaked night-black fatigues with detachment he accepted that he would never make it out of the bushes of Ihiala.

The team had noiselessly infiltrated Mbaramkpaka. The complex was now in the vice-like grip of a small Nigerian detachment. The place was totally wrecked; staff and refugees were shot; food and medicine looted; buildings bombed. Only Angela survived because the Nigerian commander could not keep snatch himself away from between her legs. The Commandos had arrived as he was about to eat his supper; and the appetizer, main course and dessert was Angela.

John and his men promptly killed every soldier in sight and saved the half-dead Sister. But the enemy had heard the blazing firefight and as if that was not bad enough, the Nigerian radio operator had managed to get off one panicky message before the burly Armani, a fullblooded Igbo despite his name, nearly cut him into two with bursts of CETME fire at point blank range.

The Irish mercenary took a swift decision. Nwanze and Oti had indicated two safe routes into the hellhole which were known to locals but the team had used the least known and more difficult one on their way in. Now the Nigerians would come snarling and scour even Lucifer’s loo to get them. Their chance of escape would be easier if they split up.

So, while Nwanze led Thomas, Emeka, Chika and Angela along the circuitous maze they had not used, Oti steered the others along the trail they had followed on their way in. Armani was left behind with half of his head shot off.

Oti’s group ran into a heavily armed Nigerian platoon. The unequal contest was over in a matter of minutes.

Now as he propped himself up against the bark of a gnarled tree to where he had managed to crawl, his side leaking blood like a burst pipe, John smiled grimly. Minutes before the Federals swooped on them Nwanze had radioed him to say that his group was in Biafranheld territory. At least the game was worth the candle, he thought.

He knew he was a trigger pull away from death. The shouts of the Nigerians who killed his men were Satan’s sirens.

Or perhaps God’s welcoming trumpets.

Let it not be a bayonet or worse, capture, he beseeched heaven.

He closed his eyes and though blood sprayed out each time he tried to move his lips, the words rang clearly in his head. ‘‘Father, into your hands I …’’

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WardR Round Before cancer ‘takes’ your bladder…

C

ANCER is the growth of abnormal cells in the body.

Bladder cancer typically begins in the inner lining of the bladder, the organ that stores urine after it passes from the kidneys. Most bladder cancers are caught early, when treatments are highly successful and the disease has not spread beyond the bladder. But bladder cancer tends to come back, so regular check-ups are important.

Warning Signs Blood in urine – Blood in the urine can be a sign of bladder cancer, either visible to the eye or picked up by routine testing. The urine may look darker than usual, brownish, or (rarely) bright red. Most commonly, blood in the urine is not caused by cancer, but by other causes.

These include exercise, trauma, infections, blood or kidney disorders, or drugs, such as blood thinners.

Bladder changes – Bladder symptoms are more likely to come from conditions other than cancer. But bladder cancer can sometimes cause changes to bladder habits, including: Needing to go, with little or no results Having to go more often than usual Painful urination Difficulty urinating Urinary tract infections or bladder stones can cause similar symptoms, but require different treatments.

Risk Factors Smoking – Although the exact causes of bladder cancer remain unknown, smoking is the leading risk factor. Smokers are about four times more likely to get bladder cancer than people who have never smoked. Chemicals in tobacco smoke are carried from the lungs to the bloodstream and then filtered by the kidneys into urine. This concentrates harmful chemicals in the bladder, where they damage cells that can give rise to cancer.

Chemical exposure – Research suggests that certain jobs may increase your risk for bladder cancer. Metal workers, mechanics, and hairdressers are among those who may be

exposed to cancer-causing chemicals. If you work with dyes, or in the making of rubber, textiles, leather, or paints, be sure to follow safety procedures to reduce contact with dangerous chemicals. Smoking further increases risk from chemical exposure.

Other risk factors: Anyone can get bladder cancer, but these factors put you at greater risk: Gender: Men are three times more likely to get bladder cancer.

Age: Nine out of 10 cases occur over age 55.

Race: Whites have twice the risk of AfricanAmericans.

Other factors at play include a family history of bladder cancer, previous cancer treatment, certain birth defects of the bladder, and chronic bladder irritation.

Diagnosis of bladder cancer Laboratory Testing – There’s no routine test for bladder cancer. But if you’re at high risk or have symptoms, your doctor may first order a urine test. If needed, a procedure called cystoscopy lets your doctor see inside the bladder with a slender lighted tube with a camera on the end. The cystoscope can be used to remove small tissue samples (a biopsy) to be examined under a microscope. A biopsy is the best way to diagnose cancer.

Imaging – If cancer is found, imaging tests can show whether it has spread beyond the bladder. An intravenous pyelogram uses dye to outline the kidneys, bladder, and ureters, the tubes that carry urine to the bladder. CT and MRI scans give more detailed images of these, and can show the lymph nodes nearby.

An ultrasound uses sound waves, instead of radiation, to produce images. Additional imaging tests look for cancer in the lungs and bone.

Types of bladder cancer The main types of bladder cancer are named for the type of cells that become cancerous.

The most common is transitional cell carcinoma, which begins in the cells that line the inside of the bladder. Squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma are much less common.

Bicycle as alternative transport mode (2) Continued from last week N Amsterdam and Netherlands, 40 per cent of all traffic movement is by bicycle as biking has remained a strategic improvement in transportation infrastructure. For Copenhagen and Denmark, about $20 million is spent annually on bike infrastructure additions as 32 per cent of workers go to work places with bicycles.

This translates to a common global trend where legislations and policies are initiated to adopt bicycle transportation as best mode of urban movement in the developed and most developing nations due to its unmatchable advantages.

With 95 per cent of total trips in Nigeria made by roads without any infrastructural improvement to contain the influx of vehicles especially in view of the projected 98 million urban population by 2020, the World Health

I

ROAD SAFETY

By JONAS AGWU,

Corps Public Education Officer

08077690055 (SMS only) jonasagwu@yahoo.com

Accident Emergency Numbers: FRSC, Lagos State: 08077690201, FRSC Emergency No: 070022553772

Life after cancer treatment Stages of bladder cancer Stage 0: Cancer stays in the inner lining.

Stage I: Cancer has spread to the bladder wall.

Stage II: Cancer has reached the muscle of the bladder wall.

Stage III: Cancer has spread to fatty tissue around the bladder.

Stage IV: Cancer has spread to the pelvic or abdominal wall, lymph nodes, or distant sites such as bone, liver, or lungs.

Organization estimated 80 per cent increase in road crashes in developing nations (Nigeria inclusive), can be described as a disaster in the works.

The United Nations General Assembly had in 2004 recommended the need for a lead agency in government to be identified to guide national road traffic efforts, assess problems, policies and institutional settings relating to road traffic injuries, and the capacity for prevention in each country, prepare a national road strategy and plan of actions to prevent road crashes, minimize injuries and other related health issues and their consequences an d evaluate the impact of these actions and support the development of national capacity and global cooperation.

In response, the Federal Road Safety Corps as lead agency in the nation’s road traffic administration has in addition to initiating intensive global advocacy on bicycle as alternate mode of transportation, carried out researches in some Nigerian cities to underscore the socioeconomic and health impli-

Surgical treatment Transurethral surgery is most often done for early-stage cancers. If cancer has invaded more of the bladder, the surgeon will most likely perform either a partial cystectomy, removing a portion of the bladder, or a radical cystectomy, to remove the entire bladder. For men, the prostate and urethra may also be removed. For women, the uterus, fallopian

Continued on Page 54

cations of air pollution from vehicle emissions with the startling revelation that Nigeria contributes about 95.3 metric million of Co2 to the global environmental pollution, annually and road transportation accounting for 25.3 metric million from a total of 52.4 metric million Co2 emission from fuel combustion.

Beyond this, the FRSC has created a stakeholders’ forum on bicycle transportation in addition to developing a template for robust public awareness and targeted public education to states and corporate organizations in addition to making presentations at global conferences such as the 4th Australian Cycling Conference in January, 2012 with a paper titled “Bicycle as an Urban Transport Solution: the Nigerian Perspective” while participating member nations were admonished to take a case study from Nigeria when the system commences.

Going forward, the FRSC should design a bicycle master plan for Nigeria and recommend necessary works including a push for a legislative framework in this direc-

tion, review of the Nigerian Highway Code to incorporate dynamics associated with bicycle riding and the National Road Traffic Regulations of 2004.

However, the Federal Government should adopt this transport solution and grant political will for its success, create enabling environment for the sustenance of cycling revolution, make budgetary allocation of 15 per cent from all budgets on road infrastructure, transportation and the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) to cycling and related infrastructure, in addition to the implementation of the designed master plan with public participation through advocacy and job creation. Funding can be sought from the African Green Fund, the World Bank’s Clear Technology Fund and other agencies.

The time to join the league of 20 nations with safest road by 2020 starts now.

•Ohaeri Osondu Joseph is Media Officer with the Federal Road Safety Corps, Abuja Hdqrs

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Fashion Court ...with ‘Justice’ BOLATITO ADEBAYO (beetito2@yahoo.co.uk)

Prosecuting Counsel: DELE ONATADE

Volcanic eruption...

Why? Must you squeeze yourself into this dress when you knew it didn’t fit? Do you know what will happen if another volcanic eruption takes place in certain wrong places? With all authority vested in this court of law, we hereby mandate you to eat only fruits, fibers and water until you achieve size 14. Also you will be expected to jog on the Third Mainland Bridge Lagos during hours when there are no vehicular movements.

WAITING TO EXPLODE

S

ometimes in life you just have to Paraga style get to a point that you Honestly, if you were 18 or much realize you younger we could have overlooked your can’t do everydressing. But wearing this to a formal thing trending, gathering and on a red carpet is so disthat some things heartening. Well, if you don’t know , we are not meant for have options of glamorous places you your shape, size can wear this to. Places like Mile 12 or age. You have market, Ojuwoye-Mushin, Ijora Badia to learn that up and so on. Trust me, all eyes will be on there or down you as you strut your stuff among the pepper sellers, meat sellers, the paraga there things can hawkers and agberos. never be the same Pay N3million fine. forever. Only if you are at this point will you know what is best for you and stop torturing others with flimsy and ridiculous wears. You should also realize that what you wear says a lot about you and who raised you. Although there is a saying do not judge a book by its cover but really there is no way we can German torture chamber run from the fact that where we come We all know how painful beauty can from, you are be. Right? But not this painful. Your judged by what body is as if it is in a German torture you are clad in chamber in this dress. How on earth because it tells a would you allow your bakassi to live story about you. under conditions injurious to your What kind of total well-being. Moreover, despite the story are you hard work of Governor Fashola on our telling with your roads, the bumps and potholes on your dressing? thighs are a great headache for both BRF & GEJ. This isn’t sexy, but rather repulsive, next time keep your thunder thighs in wraps. You have been fined N7million.

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Fashion Court

NAFDAC Please!

During the pre-trial hearing, your lawyer wanted to settle out of court but the prosecuting counsel insisted otherwise.

So went ahead with the trial because the evidence was just overwhelming. First, you caused the heart of the male members of jury to beat fast upon seeing this visual evidence. Momentarily confused they spoke gibberish, losing track of their thoughts. For this aggravated visual even on the jury, using a ‘weapon’ with questionable NAFDAC number on, pay N5 million fine.

Mount Kilimanjaro The court ordered habeas corpus so that the prosecuting counsel will be able to bring you physically to court in order to test the legality of your detention. But with all the evidence popping out of your cleavage, my jury reached a conclusion that you were not denied liberty without due process of law. Madam, can’t you see it is so apparent that your mount kilimanjaro is a great height that will take world mountaineers to climb? And for those pretty slippers on your feet, we agree they are nice but not good on a red carpet. For crying out loud ma’am, there was no justification for your SAN to apply for a habeas corpus with all these incriminating style offense, in fact you should still remain in our custody until you’re able to pay the bail bond of N5million.

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Sunday fashion

Smartly

By BOLATITO ADEBAYO

G

uys, if shaving bumps are your biggest nightmare, you need to change the morning routine. Why? It is because morning is when your skin is most susceptible to razor bumps and razor rash. This happens because when you are asleep your body fluids puff-up to the surface of your skin and when this happens your hair is harder to see and shave. Here, are the techniques you should try that to fight razor bumps and if you adhere strictly to these rules your face will thank you for it.

•Always make sure you wait for about 30 minutes after you wake up before shaving.

•This might be a little clumsy, but it is always better shaving after a shower than before.

It’s because the steam will soften your skin, thus making shaving much easier. It also reduces the risk of razor rash.

•Use a new, clean sharp blade every time. Avoid using a blade twice or more. Invest in a top-quality shaving cream or gel.

•Make sure you find the products made for your skin type.

Always

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Sunday fashion

shaved use moisturizing shaving creams and also invest in a high quality lotion that can help with razor bumps •Never fight your hair growth pattern, just shave the way your hair grows and not against it.

•However, not all ingrown hairs will be prevented, so always keep a pair of needlepoint tweezers handy as an essential part of your shaving tool kit.

If you have tried every trick and still have the bumps, then try these; •Dab apple-cider vinegar onto your skin using a cotton ball or clean cloth.

•Dissolve aspirin tablets in warm water to create a sticky paste. Lather on the irritated skin to soothe, anesthetize, and heal the bumps.

•Apply a cold compress to razor bumps then pat gently as you dry — do not rub or scratch.

•Use a small amount of over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream. Spread on a thin layer of petroleum jelly.

•Avoid perfumes, colognes, or scented lotions when you have razor bumps.

•Do not pick at your bumps! They will only get worse. You should stop shaving for three days to give skin the opportunity to heal.

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EXPLORE

WardR Round By DR OLUBIYI ADESINA Consultant Diabetologist e-mail: fbadesina@yahoo.com 08034712568

Diabetes and depression Stages of cancer

‘Survival rate tied to stage at diagnosis’ Continued from Page 49 tubes, ovaries, and part of the vagina may also be removed.

Post-surgery treatment – If your entire bladder must be removed, your surgeon will construct another means of storing and passing urine. A piece of your intestine may be used to create a tube that allows urine to flow into an external urostomy bag. In some cases, an internal reservoir — drained via a catheter — can be constructed. Newer surgeries offer the possibility of normal urination through the creation of an artificial bladder.

Chemotherapy – Chemotherapy involves drugs designed to kill cancer cells. These drugs may be given before surgery to shrink tumors, making them easier to remove. Chemotherapy is also used to destroy any cancer cells left after surgery and to lower the chances that the cancer will return. Hair loss, nausea, loss of appetite, and fatigue are common side effects. The drugs can be given by vein or directly into the bladder.

Immunotherapy – This type of treatment is delivered directly to your bladder, so it doesn’t treat cancer that has spread beyond it. One treatment, Bacillus Calmette-Guerin therapy, sends in helpful bacteria through a catheter. It triggers your immune system to attack the cancer. Flu-like symptoms are a common side effect of the once-a-week treatment.

Immunotherapy may be used after surgery to reduce the risk of recurrence.

Radiation – Radiation uses invisible, high-energy beams, like X-rays, to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. It’s most often given from outside the body by machine. Radiation is often used in tandem with other treatments, such as chemotherapy and surgery. For people who can’t undergo surgery, it may be the main treatment. Side effects can include nausea, fatigue, skin irritation, diarrhea, and pain when urinating.

Complementary Approaches Currently, no complementary treatments are known to treat or prevent bladder cancer, but research is ongoing. Studies are looking at whether extracts of green tea or broccoli sprouts may help in treating people with bladder cancer.

Bladder cancer survival rates Survival rates are closely tied to the stage at diagnosis. About half of bladder cancers are caught when the disease is confined to the inner lining of the bladder. Nearly 100% of these people will live at least five years, compared to people without bladder cancer. The more advanced the cancer, the lower this figure becomes. But keep in mind that these rates are based on people diagnosed from 1988 to 2001. The treatments and outlook may be better for cancers diagnosed today. And each person’s case is different.

Sex after bladder cancer treatment Surgery can damage sensitive nerves, making sex more difficult. Some men may have trouble having an erection, though for younger patients, this often improves over time. When the prostate gland and seminal vesicles are removed, semen can no longer be made. Women may also have trouble with orgasm, and may find sex less comfortable. Be sure to discuss treatment options with your doctor.

Living with bladder cancer Cancer is a life-changing experience. And although there’s no surefire way of preventing a recurrence, you can take steps to feel and stay healthy. Eating plenty of fruits, veggies, whole grains, and keeping to modest portions of lean meat is a great start. If you smoke, stop. Limit alcohol to one or two drinks a day, if you drink. Daily exercise and regular checkups will also support your health and give you peace of mind.

New and experimental treatments Several new treatments may prove useful in treating bladder cancer. Photodynamic therapy, used in early stage cancers, uses a laser light to activate a chemical that kills cancer cells.

Some gene therapies use lab-created viruses to fight cancer.

And targeted therapies aim to control the growth of cancer cells. You may be eligible to participate in a clinical trial of these or other cutting-edge treatments.

•Culled from WebMD.com

Health News Almonds, healthy substitute for dieters –Study UBSTITUTING almonds for less healthy foods could help dieters stick to a calorie-controlled diet, and lower their cholesterol at the same time, says a new study.

“Nuts, and in this case almonds, shouldn’t be on the ‘do not eat’ list, they can be effectively incorporated in a weight loss plan, with the caveat that they have to be portion controlled,” said Dr. Gary Foster, who led the study at Temple University in Philadelphia.

The new study, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition and supported by the Almond Board of California, involved 123 generally healthy but obese people who followed a calorie-controlled diet for 18 months.

Women ate 1,200-1,500 calories per day, while men ate 1,500-1,800.

Half the people, assigned at random by researchers, were given two 28-gram packages of almonds (about 24 almonds per package) to eat each day. That works out to about 350 calories’ worth. The other half agreed to avoid nuts altogeth-

S

er.

When researchers checked in with dieters after six months, they found that the nut-free dieters had lost slightly more weight than the almond eaters: 16 pounds compared to 12 pounds, on average.

A year later, both groups had gained some of their weight back, and there was no longer a clear difference in total weight loss between participants who did and didn’t eat almonds.

Past research also suggests that nuts like almonds might play a role in reducing risk factors for heart disease, so Foster and his team expected to see some improvement in cholesterol and levels of blood fats known as triglycerides among the almond-eating dieters.

Six months into the study, cholesterol in the almond group had fallen 8.7 milligrams (mg) per deciliter (dL), on average, compared to 0.1 mg/dL in the nutfree group - keeping both groups under the 200 mg/dL limit for total cholesterol recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

After 18 months, cholesterol levels had risen in both groups but were still lower, on average, in the almond group although the difference could have been due to chance.

“This shows you can include almonds in the context of a weight control program, lose a significant amount of weight and get nice additional benefits in terms of cholesterol and triglycerides,” said Foster.

Still, he urges caution. “Almonds don’t make you lose weight; they’re not free calories,” he said.

It can be difficult for dieters to stay on track for as long as 18 months, and healthy people have fewer incentives to lose weight than those with health problems, said Dr. Michelle Wien, a nutrition researcher at Loma Linda University in California, who wasn’t involved in the study.

In their report, researchers point to a lack of difference in blood fats at the end of the study as evidence that participants stopped following the diet over time.

PART from its physical consequences on the human body, diabetes can also exact an enormous toll on the psyche of people living with the condition. It has been clearly demonstrated that there is a relationship between depression and diabetes and that people with diabetes are especially at risk of mental distress, particularly depression. Those with diabetes have a greater risk of developing depression than those without. About one in every four persons with diabetes will suffer from depression. It has been found to be commoner in women and those with longer duration of diabetes. What makes people with diabetes more prone to developing depression is unclear at present but it is thought to be due to the stressful effect of the ailment on the body and the likely effects of high blood sugar on the brain.

Depression is a serious chronic medical condition that affects thoughts, feelings, and the ability to function in everyday life. Apart from affecting the quality of life, it is known that depression in people with diabetes is associated with poor blood sugar control, poor self management and untimely death. It is said that one plus one equals more than two when you have diabetes and depression. Depression leads to poor physical and mental functioning. The combined presence of diabetes and depression in an individual portends grave danger indeed. Depression is thought to impact negatively on diabetes majorly through its negative effects on self care which is the core of diabetes management. Hence, such people develop diabetes complications more than those who face their situation with more zest. Similarly, as the duration of diabetes increases and diabetes complications develop, the risk of becoming depressed also increases.

One’s genetic predisposition and life events determine one’s risk of developing depression. The diagnosis of diabetes is a major life stress. The development of depression in people with diabetes is thought to be due to stress and a high level of the stress hormone called cortisol.

How then do you know as a person living with diabetes if you are depressed? The symptoms, that when present nearly everyday for two weeks signal depression in a person with diabetes include the following; depressed mood, diminished interest in daily activities, significant weight loss or gain, decreased appetite, loss of energy, feelings of worthlessness and guilt, sadness that is worse in the mornings, reduced ability to concentrate and make decisions, and recurrent thoughts of death or suicide. Some may also experience inability to sleep or early awakening, restlessness and irritability. The earlier treatment is started for depression, the better it is for the person.

Depression in the person with or without diabetes is easily treatable. Visits to a clinical psychologist for psychotherapy, to a psychiatrist, and the use of antidepressant medications are very necessary in this instance. Antidepressant medications may take some weeks before their beneficial effects become visible.

The combination of these two modes of treatment has been found to improve the wellbeing of people with depression. One recent scientific finding that relates the type of diet consumed by those with or without diabetes shows that eating a diet rich in fruits, nuts, vegetables, olive oil, legumes and fish is not only healthy for the heart but is also very good for one’s mental wellbeing. Exercise is also known to improve one’s outlook on life and is greatly recommended for people with depression.

Effectively managing depression is known to also help in bringing the blood sugar under control. People with diabetes should visit their health care giver who will be able to screen them for depression.

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EXPLORE AUGUST 5, 2012

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Explore Business

No regrets dumping banking for fashion –Uche Obiora, Actress/Nollywood costumier

By CHRISTIAN AGADIBE (nnamchris@yahoo.com)

F

EAR of the unknown, particularly when it concerns making a career change, has always kept some individuals bound to certain jobs.

When Mrs. Uche Obiora, popularly known as Uche Nancy was confronted with a suggestion by her husband to switch from banking to fashion design, it was not an easy decision. But today Obiora is happy that she followed her husband’s advice.

The Anambra-born costumier, actress and mother of four lovely children believes that “young ladies should leave banking or white collar jobs for men in order to nurture children with good moral upbringing rather to leave them in hands of unknown housemaids.”

Following her instincts she set up Gocint Creations, a fashion outfit which is making waves as a highly regarded Nollywood costumier, which also adept at adapting African prints to Western designs. In this interview, she recalls the difficulties she overcame to achieve success.

Excerpts…

Let’s go back to how it all started.

I started as a costumier during the production of the 1999 movie End Time. I also worked as a location manager. Four years, I worked behind the camera until an opportunity came for me act in a movie alongside Chioma Chukwuka-Akpota. It was not easy at the first though but I tried my best and I did very well. Since then anytime I had a contract as a costumier and the person playing a character was not around, and the role suited me, the producer would ask me to take up the role.

Because those roles very well, I have been getting more opportunities to act while still servicing as costumier. But I have been engaged in fashion designing for about 20 years. I started designing in 1991.

Do you lean towards indigenous designs?

I do both Western and African designs though I work more with Ankara African print. Our people have really fallen in love with our African prints and so proud to wear them. They are using them everything – gowns, skirts, separates, shoes, bags and even nightgowns. Even suits are being made with African prints. I just love working with African print.

Have you been featuring in fashion shows?

For five years, I have been showcasing my designs. My shows are attended by a lot of dignitaries. During my last event I showcased seven different signatures native, nightgown, Western, and special design – the attachment dress which was made with Amigo product. Altogether, I showcased 50 African designs. I also held a mini-show for children. You know that children are angels – I can’t do without them. They have good heart.

What kind of educational did you make for what you are doing now?

I went to Yaba College of Technology to study fashion. When I graduated in 1991, I got married and then opened a fashion house.

While in school, did you imagine that you would succeed?

I never really believed that I would go

into it fulltime, though I love fashion. I was into sport but I met my husband who encouraged me to go into fashion. I wondered how I could drop my bank job to go into fashion. But my husband said I would be good at it. He said that I usually dress fine and stressed that I can do better in fashion design. So it was so difficult for me to drop my job as a basketball player and a staff in First Bank. Working as a staff of First Bank and also playing basketball for the bank afforded me the opportunity travel around the country and overseas. And I was also making money too. I had a basic love for basketball One day, we were about to travel to South Africa and I called my team manager, Mrs. Amayo and told about that one man who wants to marry me said I should quit playing basketball and start doing something else. I said that the man wanted me to go back to school to study fashion designing. She said that I should choose one, either to marry the man or marry basketball. But she advised me to get married because I am woman. If had been a man, she would have advised me to continue playing basketball and marry later. But as woman I could not play basketball with a pregnancy. But it was not easy for me quit. One day we went for a competition and we were playing for Nigeria Airways because they used come to hire our team. We played against Customs. I scored three points. My man used to drop me at the basketball court.

When I scored and looked back, I saw that he was jumping with joy and telling people, ‘that’s my woman. Because he was happy that I scored I thought he would allow me continue, but he insisted but he insisted that fashion is still the best. When he dropped me at home, I decided to discuss the issue with my father. When I raised the issue, he advised that I should stop playing basketball and concentrate on office work alone. But I told him that my fiancé would not permit that – he insisted that I must drop the two (banking and basketball) and take up a job that would keep me close to him. Now when I look back I feel so grateful to God that I obeyed him.

Today I am the happiest human being in fashion design.

Really how do you feel today about dumping banking for fashion?

I am happy because it gives me time for my family, myself, and especially have time for my husband because when you don’t have time for your family you will lose it. You cannot buy family in the market. If you lose your husband, you cannot buy one in the market. If you lose your children you can never ever get them in the market no matter how rich you are. I pity those who are going to work in the morning and come back in the night because something terrible could happen to your children in your absence. And because you are not there they might hide it from you even at the hands of house help. How do such women cope with the maid? I just thank God for listening to my husband at the beginning because I grew up with my children from beginning to the end. I can tell you about my children one after the other. Those women that in paid employment cannot tell you anything about their children because they come back at night very tired. If you ask me I think they should leave the white-collar job for our husbands. Let the men work while the women take care of the home and do a lit-

tle business.

What challenges have you experienced in the course of your foray into fashion designing?

As should be expected, we have had some challenges. The major one is that sometimes customers do not always find our designs affordable – they think they are expensive. And at such times, they patronize the roadside tailors to make their clothes. It is a big challenge but those that really know what they want have remained loyal to us.

How did you feel when you got your first payment?

I felt very happy because initially I wasn’t really paid. I am basically passionate about seeing people dress fine. When I started, I used to give out whatever movie producers wanted such as costumes and help out wiyth locations. At the end of shooting, they would give credit or attribution to my company Gocint Creation.

As a designer, do you have any favourite colours?

Red and Black Why do you like red and black?

I chose red and black because they are very strong colours. In terms of message it depicts you can never change the destiny God has given a person. I decided to choose black because you can never stain black or black would stain you. If God has said this is it nobody can say no. For any door God has opened no one can close it. Red depicts danger; it is a colour that shows how God loves all his children and I love my handwork, my designs because they make me happy. Because red and black are very powerful colours it gives me courage to be strong in my designs even though the work can be stressful and tedious. You have customers who nag about their clothes you have not finished.

But because of the passion I have for the job I still put smiles on my face and then talk to them. You see them calm down and come back the next day because for you to keep your customer is to make them come back again.

What is your advice to young women considering a career in fashion design?

They have to determine what they want to become and get serious about pursuing it. Try not to be someone else because God has made you different and has given you talent to make wealth. If we all want to be doctors we will all go hungry. Be focused and find out the things you know how to do best. Stand firm and face it and you will prosper.

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EXPLORE AUGUST 5, 2012

NOVELLA SERIES

...with Joe Dudun

08072131727 (sms only) email: writersworkplace@yahoo.com

Wifey (6) DAZEDLY looked on as Ufuoma once again struggled to restrain herself from speaking.

She closed her eyes, her lips deliberately clamped. But there was a sudden jolt as she jerked forward, as if vigorously pushed from behind.

Her eyes opened, glazed. I had a strong feeling the force beyond our eyes had once more enforced compliance.

‘Answer the question, daughter-in-law of Ovwor,’ the priestess urged. ‘What happened with the money from the supposedly stolen car?’

‘We shared it.’ The voice was damningly lifeless and impersonal, not my favourite Ufuoma. But reality stung with a billion needles.

‘How did you share it?’ The probing priestess.

‘I took half, gave them the other half.’

‘What did you with your own half?’

‘I can’t remember.’

‘You should… you don’t do such a thing except the money is important to you.’

‘It wasn’t the money... I had enough to take care of whatever I needed.’

‘So, why did you do it?’

‘Because I wanted to do it, catch fun.’

More pricking needles on my spine.

My companion of countless years actually confess to defrauding me just for the fun of it? I sought reaction from

I

Ogheneobukome and Gideon. Same sense of utter puzzlement on their faces.

‘What else did you do after that?’

‘I planned for the new car to be stolen.’

‘By the same set of guys?’

‘Yes…’ ‘And you did this for the fun of it too?’

‘Yes… also for the other car he bought to replace that one.’

‘What you’re saying is that you planned with those boys to steal three cars your husband bought for you?’

‘Yes… all correct jeeps.’

‘And you did it for fun?’

‘I said that before!’

She suddenly stopped and turned her gaze from the priestess towards my friends and I. Our eyes locked. She smiled and I felt the needles even more.

‘Just three cars and you think I have done something? That is nothing!’

‘Tell me what else you did!’

She turned from us to the priestess.

‘I stopped him from fulfilling his wish.’

‘What wish?’

‘To marry a second wife.’

‘Why?’ ‘Many reasons…’

‘Name one.’

‘No woman likes sharing her husband with another…’

That was the cue that started the argu-

ment years ago. Our children were in secondary school at the time: the boys, Ovie and Tega – sixteen and fourteen years-old, in SS3 and SS1 respectively – and Evelyn, our only daughter, in JSS2 at the age of twelve; in the best private schools in the Warri area.

‘My dad married three wives,’ I had responded that evening, ‘my case is not going to be any different.’

‘Sure it will,’ she retorted, adamant.

‘I’m not going to share you with another woman!’

‘Try and understand, Ufuoma,’ I pleaded. ‘I’ll give you twice of whatever it is you presently benefit from me… just let us… I mean, just let me go ahead with this affair with Esse.’

‘I’ll give you four times whatever it is you have benefitted from me… love, children… anything… but please don’t talk about her again.’

The ding-dong continued. I tried to no avail to make her understand the feelings I had for Esse, a young friend I had become very fond of. But she would hear nothing else and I had no choice than do her bidding – let go Esse.

‘There is another reason,’ the priestess pursued, ‘tell us.’

‘I needed to hide my secret.’

‘What secret?’

‘About our children?’

‘What about them?’

‘A lot.’

‘How do you mean?’

‘A lot… that’s what I mean, there is a lot to be said about my children… our children.’

‘Tell us…’

‘I didn’t want my husband to get mar-

ried to Esse so that he would not find out that he is incapable of getting a woman pregnant.’

That struck like a thunderbolt. How could she say such a thing?

‘You don’t know what you’re saying, Ufuoma!’ I thundered.

‘Not a word, young man!’ The priestess roared.

‘But hear what she said…’

‘Not a word!’

The vigorous clanging of her bells instilled a subtle silence. Gideon held onto my trembling right hand, assuring.

I became half-dead, present and yet not quite present – like a man attending his own funeral.

‘Speak on, woman,’ the priestess urged. ‘Did you say your husband is incapable of getting a woman pregnant?’

‘Yes.’ ‘Are you then saying he is not the father of your children?’

‘Yes.’ ‘Nonsense!’ I heard my voice, from the deep recesses of the chamber of affinal incongruity. ‘This is nonsense!’

‘Not another word, young man!’

To be continued Watch Out ‘I know I’ve been here before even though I seem to be convinced I’ve never been here.’ The confounding story of youthful Temisan, ambitious and community-minded, comes up shortly in BACKFLASH, next on the novella menu…

August 5, 2012

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Boxing: Ogoke is battle ready - Egbunine

Sports

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jeoma Egbunine, coach of Nigeria's sole flag bearer in women's boxing event, Edith Ogoke, has declared that the Nigerian female pugilist would spring the mother of all surprises at the ongoing London Olympics.

Egbunine, in an exclusive chat with Sunday Sunsports at the Games Village yesterday, said that Edith wouldn't go the

way of her male counterparts, who fell like packs of cards in the round one of their events.

“Edith is in high spirit ahead of her first bout against an opponent from Azerbaijan. I am really working on her and as we speak, I can tell you that she stands about 80 per cent chance of not only winning today, but also fighting her way into the medals zone.”

Back with Bolt!

All eyes on Jamaican sensation as 100m final holds tonight

T

oday, the whole world will focus attention to the 100m men's semi-final and final races because of one man, Usain Bolt, when the events get underway at the ongoing Olympic Games in London.

Bolt

After winning gold at the last Games in Beijing four years ago, the Jamaican sprinter has not looked back in returning phenomenal times in all the races he had taken part in. But some doubts were raised on his ability to defend the gold he won in 2008 in Beijing after coming second behind his compatriot, Yohan Blake in his country's qualifiers to the 2012 London Olympics.

Just yesterday, Bolt strolled into the semi-finals of the 100m that would be run today, as an Olympic history was made on a lightning fast track in London with the Jamaican doing just enough to win in 10.09 seconds.

But that time looked positively pedestrian after first, Justin Gatlin and fellow American, Ryan Bailey, broke 10 seconds for the first time in the heats of the Olympics. Gatlin clocked 9.97secs in Heat 2, only for Bailey to, thereafter, equal his personal best of 9.88secs in the next heat to raise hope that Bolt's world record of 9.58secs could be under threat in today's semi-finals and final.

Bolt's often-stated hopes of becoming a 'legend' of the sport by defending his 100m and 200m titles, is in doubt after he lost twice to his compatriot, Yohan Blake at the Jamaican trials and needed treatment on a stiff back, which was causing hamstring problems.

The 25-year-old insisted last week that he was fit and ready to compete against the like of training partner and world 100m champion, Blake, who eased to victory in 10.00 in his heat.

Bolt said: “I am feeling good, my legs are feeling good, so I am happy. I am training well, so I feel like I'm back. My start was good, I am only focused on the semi-finals (today).”

Football: Egypt, Senegal crash out of Olympics

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gypt was dumped out of the 2012 London Olympics after a 3-0 loss to Japan in their quarterfinal encounter yesterday.

The game at Old Trafford was a one-sided affair and a disappointing end for the Egyptians, who many had expected to play better than their Asian opponents.

Kensuke Nagai put Japan

ahead in the first half, before Maya Yoshida and Yuki Otsu made the game safe for the Asians. Before then, Egypt had Saad Saadeldin sent off in the 41st minute.

The Japanese netted their second in the 79th minute when defender Yoshida connected with a Kiyotake free kick to head home. It was 3-0 four minutes later, as Otsu scored again to take Japan into the semi-final

stage to face Mexico.

In another quarterfinal match, Senegal fought back bravely to send her game with Mexico into the extra time, but ended up losing 4-2 to bow out of the competition.

Mexico looked to be cruising at 2-0 up midway through the second half, but Senegal drew level at 2-2, before the Central American side finished the job in the extra time.

St Kitts' sprinter axed from Olympics after sex with wife

F

ormer world champion, Kim Collins, has been dropped from his country's team on the eve of the 100m heats for spending the night with his wife at a London hotel.

Collins told his twitter followers that he would not run in the 100m yesterday.

It was believed that he fell out with his nation's Olympic committee from St Kitts & Nevis for an unauthorized trip from the Olympic site.

St. Kitts and Nevis team spokesman, Lester Hanley, later confirmed that Collins would not run in his heat after breaking the team's discipline rules by leaving the Athletes Village. He first tweeted the message: “For those who saw me run in Mexico, that's the last time I'll represent

my country.”

The men's 100m competition began yesterday.

“My fans, I won't lie. I won't be running later tonight @LON2012,” he tweeted early yesterday.

In response to his punishment for seeing his love one, he then tweeted angrily: “Even men in prison get their wives to visit.”

The row has understandably angered the runner, who then seemed to suggest he was retiring from international competition.

“For those who saw me run in Mexico, that's the last time I'll represent my country.”

Brazil escapes Honduras scare to qualify for semis

B

razil remains on course for a first Olympic football gold medal, but that was only after a nervy 3-2 win over a Honduras side that was reduced to nine men in a crunch encounter that saw Brazil limping into the semifinals.

Leandro Damiao equalised for Brazil after Mario Martinez had put Honduras ahead. Roger Espinoza, thereafter, restored the Central Americans' lead, but Neymar brought Brazil level

again from the penalty spot before Internacional striker, Damiao, scored his second at Newcastle's St James' Park.

Honduras gave the five times world champion - without an Olympic football gold medal - a huge scare despite having her midfielder, Wilmer Cristiano, sent off for a second card offence, with just 32 minutes into the match.

Meanwhile, Espinoza collected his second yellow card few minutes before the final whistle.

Pistorius makes history in London

S Collins

outh Africa's Oscar Pistorius, made history yesterday in London when he became the first double amputee to compete in an athletics event at the Olympics.

The 25-year-old qualified for the semi-finals of 400m by running a season's best of 45.44secs and finishing second. Pistorius, who had both legs amputated

below the knee before he was aged one, because of a congenital condition, runs on carbon fibre blades. He is also due to run in the 4x400m relay at the Games.

Pistorius said the occasion had almost overwhelmed him, as he, at last, realised his dream after battling to convince the authorities to let him make it happen for several years.

Egbunine disclosed that Edith would face the world champion from Russia on Monday should she get past the lady from Azerbaijan.

“She got a very tough pairing.

If she wins (today), her next fight would be against the world champion. But that is nothing to worry about.

“To win an Olympic medal, you just have to be on top of your game. This is what I have told her and all she needs is to be in the right frame of mind and remain confident in the ring,” Egbunine, who is based in the US, said.

She recalled that Edith gave a good account of herself during the Olympic qualifiers in China, noting that she was the only African lady that picked a ticket to the Olympics.

“She fought very well in China and I want to believe she would carry that fine form to the Games proper.”

Egbunine stressed that the performance of the male pugilists at the London Olympics should not be used to measure how far Edith would go.

“It's a different ballgame in the female category. That our men didn't do well has nothing to do with how far Edith will go. She is ready and she is set to do the country proud,” the coach assured.

Weightlifting

I'll deliver - Usman assures

M

iriam Usman, Nigeria's medal hope in the women's weightlifting event, looked very radiant after yesterday's walk out.

Beaming with smiles at the Olympic Games Village, the Edo State-born athlete, who before now has refused to speak to the press, was forced to cough out some words by Sunday Sunsports ahead of her today's battle, which will start at 3.30 p.m. at the ExCel Centre, Stratford.

“Tell Nigerians that I will not disappoint them. I know that back home, they want to see us win medals. By His grace, (today), we will celebrate and we will talk thereafter.” These were her words.

The very prayerful lady urged Nigerians to also remember her in prayers, insisting that every good thing comes from God. Her handlers looked upbeat as well, disclosing that Miriam has improved a great deal following the closed camping they had in Germany from where Team Nigeria hit London for the Games.

Assistant Coach, Luke Ibe, said that Miriam did very well in training. He declared that if things go her way today, Nigeria would be in for a medal.

“Miriam is doing well and one thing that is going for her is her level of discipline and focus.

She does not allow anything to distract her.

Miriam

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August 5, 2012

SundaySUN Sports Serena wins Olympic tennis gold

S

erena Williams won her first Olympic tennis women's singles gold yesterday with a 6-0, 61 demolition of Russia's Maria Sharapova on Wimbledon's Centre Court.

The unstoppable American, who dropped just 16 games in her five singles matches en route to the final, has now completed the "golden slam" - winning all four majors as well as an

Olympic singles gold. She took just 62 minutes to wrap up her win over world's No. 3 seed, Sharapova, securing her victory with an ace.

The 30-year-old had won the last seven matches she played against Sharapova.

Serena has lost just five games in the three Olympic finals she has won: 2000 Sydney doubles, 2008 Beijing doubles and 2012 London singles. She is the first person to win the golden slam in

Aneke eyes Russian topside, Amkar

H Serena

ighest goal scorer in the Nigerian Premier League during the 2010/11 season, Jude Aneke, has told Goal.com that he would soon join a top Russian side, Amkar Prem.

Aneke noted that although he had offers from two Russian

clubs and also from Turkey and Germany, he preferred the Russian side because its officials approached him first and their teams of contract looked better.

"I like the club and what they are bringing to the table. I like everything about them and I want to make sure that I am in good shape before I travel to Russia.

CAF Champions League

Bombard ASO Chlef with goals

By ONYEWUCHI NWACHUKWU

- Ogunbote charges Sunshine

S

“It is going to be a tough game.

We know how important the game is to our ambition and we will play to win,” Ogunbote told MTNFootball.com “I pray that our strikers get it right this time around and not to be wasteful. The outcome of (today's) game will determine a lot about our future in the competition. But I am sure that God will crown our efforts.

“We are aware of what is at stake. We know that we must

unshine Stars FC is condemned to secure victory against Algerian side, ASO Chlef today if it wants to make progress in this year's CAF Champions League.

The Akure side, which is third in Group A after a 2-0 home defeat to Esperance and an away 0-0 draw with Etoile du Sahel, must win to stand a chance of finishing second in the group.

The Algerians are bottom on the table, having not won any point after two round of matches, while Tunisian clubs, Esperance and Etoile du Sahel are occupying the top positions in the group x-Nigerian Under-17 star, with six and four points respecMacaulay Chrisantus, has tively. sensationally terminated The game will hold at the Dipo his contract with German Dino Stadium in Ijebu-Ode, and victory for the Akure club will Bundesliga side, Hamburg, take it to four points from three matches.

In a bid to actualise his ambition to lead the Nigerian flag bearer to a convincing victory today, Coach Gbenga Ogunbote has ordered his players to shoot down ASO Chlef with as many goals as possible.

Ogunbote is worried that his team has not scored a goal in the group stage of the Africa's foremost club competition after two round of matches and has, therefore, read a riot act to his boys to score at every chance that would come their way against the Algerians when the match gets Chrisantus underway this afternoon.

win to remain in contention for the trophy," Ogunbote further stated.

“The spirit in camp is high and the boys now understand that they need to pick the three points at stake because that's the only way we can get out of the group."

Meanwhile, Zakaria Haddouche, who rejoined ASO Chlef after playing for the country's team in the Arab Cup, has insisted that Sunshine Stars would be under pressure even

though it plays at home.

“I am happy to be back in the team after playing in the Arab Cup where I gathered more experience. I cannot wait to play again with the team in the Champions League,” Haddouche told his club's official website.

“I want to play and help my team. I will do my best if the coach gives me a chance to play.

“Everybody is focused and we have been working with a great purpose. We have a collective desire to redeem ourselves after the two defeats.”

both singles and doubles, and the first person to do it in singles since Steffi Graf won all five titles in 1988.

If she and her sister, Venus,

Absence of police in Team Nigeria worries IG

By ROMANUS UGWU, Abuja

T

he Inspector General of Police (IGP), MD Abubarkar, has raised the alarm over the missing of his personnel in the Team Nigeria contingent to the ongoing London 2012 Olympic Games, admitting that the Force has never had a zero representation of sportsmen and women in the history of Nigeria’s participation in major tournaments.

“It is unheard of that a major international sports competition like the Olympics would be going on and there is no strong representation of the Nigeria Police in the Nigerian contingent to the Games. We must revive the sporting unit of the Nigeria Police Force with the needed urgency,” the Police IG stated.

Speaking at the Force Headquarters in Abuja recently, police deputy image-maker, CSP Frank Mbah, stated that the IG, being hunted by the development, has put some measures in place to turn sporting activities in the Force around. He revealed that the IG has not only constituted a Police Sports Committee, but has also given the committee a marching order to deliver within a record time.

Asked if there were plans to revive the glamorous biennial Police Games, CPS Mbah replied: “Obviously, I don’t think we need a soothsayer to tell Nigerians that IGP Abubarkar is going to revive that Games. Few days ago, the police sports team was constituted and he has already held series of meetings with the committee. He has laid down a programme for the Police Sports Department.

“Taking cognizance of IG’s background, it is obvious that Nigerians would see a highly rejuvenated Police Sports

Chrisantus cancels Hamburg contract

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and relocated to Spain where he joined Las Palmas in the Spanish second division on a fresh four-year deal.

A source informed MTNFootball.com that the for-

mer schoolboy international still has a year left in his contract at Hamburg, which was keen to sign a new deal with the 21-yearold striker when the current contract ends next summer.

“It's rather a surprised move, especially as Hamburg was willing to extend his contract,” the source disclosed.

Now, with Chrisantus walking out of the German Bundesliga club for Spain, his dream of getting a residence permit in Germany might be in jeopardy, as he has yet to complete the legally required five years needed for such an application to be submitted.

The striker, who was the goal king at the 2007 FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Korea with seven goals, joined Hamburg on a fouryear contract soon after the tournament. But he failed to make

win the doubles competition, they will both have four gold medals, which no one else has achieved before.

any appearance for the club in a competitive game and was instead, sent on loan to FSV Frankfurt and Karlsruhe in the German second-tier league.

Last year, his contract was extended till the summer of 2013. He fired eight goals for FSV Frankfurt last season and was linked with a move to city rival, Eintracht Frankfurt, which has returned to the German top flight.

The player featured in Hamburg's pre-season build-up and even enjoyed a cameo role in the friendly against the mighty Barcelona.

Las Palmas, which finished ninth in the Spanish Segunda Division and is based in the Canary Islands, has already unveiled the striker to the public now known as 'Macky'. He was handed the No.9 shirt.

LONDON OLYMPICS Department. We also believe that our records at the sporting arena, both nationally and internationally, must be revived and sustained.

“There is an effort to bring in some of our celebrated sportsmen and women to our various sports departments so that we can tap from their experiences. I’m talking about the Chioma Ajunwas of this world, who is still alive. We equally have a lot of talents in football, squash, swimming, polo and many other games.

•IGP Abubakar

Ehiosun promises goals for new club

N

ew Genclerbirligi recruit, Ekigho Ehiosun, has vowed to score goals for his new Turkish club.

Last season, Ehiosun scored nine goals, but those goals were not enough to keep Samsunspor in the Turkish top-flight.

The former Warri Wolves striker told MTNFootball.com soon after he signed for Genclerbirligi that he was thrilled to have finally sorted out his future.

"I'm happy to be here at last.

There were a lot of offers for me, but after a thorough study and consultations, I settled for Genclerbirligi,” he said.

“I'm here to do my best; to contribute to the success of the team with my goals.

“I thank my agent, Cem Onuk and I promise not to disappoint.

I'm looking forward to a great season ahead,” he said.

The Nigeria international had offers from Antalyaspor, Gotzepe, Germany and Israel before he settled for Genclerbirligi, which once paid the wages of Promise Isaac and Patrick Pascal.

Ehiosun

August 5 , 2012

SundaySUN Sports

INCREDIBLE! Nigerian players spend N160,000 in Norway on pot of soup

By ROMANUS UGWU, Abuja

I

n a country where many people live below the poverty line and most families regard spending about N100 on daily mails as ostentatious living, it would be strange to hear that Nigerian players in most parts of the globe are spending fortunes to prepare just a pot of soup to quench their understandable appetite for Nigerian foods.

From Israel to Norway, Nigerian professional players, who spoke to Sunday Sunsports, were bold enough to admit that a man, most times, is a product of his diet orientation. They confessed that to avoid missing Nigerian dishes, they sacrifice so much to satisfy their traditional dietetic roots.

The duo of Dele Aiyenugba and Austin Ejide were in unison in admitting that they not only surmount the Herculean task of sourcing for raw Nigerian foodstuffs, but also spend staggering amounts of money in buying them. They confessed that depending on the availability, it could take from $200 (about N32,000:00) to $500 (about

…N32.000 in Israel N80,000:00) to prepare a sumptuous pot of soup in Israel.

Speaking on the subject with Aiyenugba during his last international assignment in Nigeria, the goalkeeper said: “You cannot but miss Nigerian food. But we always find shortcuts to eating them by either buying or cooking our local delicacies by ourselves.

Sometimes we hire people to do the cooking for us.

“The cost of preparing a pot of soup varies in Israel, but it is always within the range of $200 to $500.”

Similarly, Ejide, while enumerating the challenges he is facing in his professional career in Europe, said: “Honestly, I'm facing a lot of challenges in Europe; language barrier, missing Nigerian diet and many more. But as a professional, I do everything possible to adapt to the situation. Good enough, we can source Nigerian food in Israel.

I'm not really complaining because I knew the risk factor before signing the contract to play abroad.”

Norwegian-based Nigerian midfielder, Fengur Ogude, has every reason to part with a staggering sum of $500 to keep in touch

with his traditional diet orientation while his family was still in Nigeria. But the expenses to make a pot of soup increased to $1000 (about N160,000) when his family arrived in Norway.

Responding to the problems confronting him since he left Nigeria for Norway, Ogude said: “My ordeal was the language problem. I had to depend on those who could speak English to get on.

“I'm aware that as a player, one must face some challenges in terms of language, weather and many others. But to be honest, I mostly miss Nigerian food.

“Although we can buy raw African or Nigerian foodstuffs like Garri and soup condiments, they are, however, very expensive. We usually buy raw stuffs and prepare them at home.

“Before my family joined me, I spend less in buying foodstuffs.

But since their arrival, we spend close to $1000 or more for preparing just a pot of soup. We are used to our local food and so, have to quench the hunger,” Fengur confessed.

German-based Nigerian attacker, Chinedu Obasi Ogbuke, also

Agriculture will reduce poverty

ANIMAL FARMING

By Arinze Onebunne www.jovanafarm.com 08033262808, 08029373076

N

OWADAYS a lot of Nigerians go to higher institutions for the sole aim of getting paper qualification that make them eligible “to get white-collar jobs” after graduation.

This kind of dream is like one learning to become a well-paid slave forever. Even, the socalled jobs being prepared for are in short supply and many times not available. The government, which had traditionally provided jobs, can no longer cater for the increasing number of job seekers as it has even on occasions even retrenched many without recourse to due process.

A credible alternative is to start your own animal farming business and be your own boss.

We need to produce students who are not looking for jobs, but who would rather create jobs.

Our educational system produces followers.

Most people learn to become employees not business owners. Our schools teach students to get jobs and work for someone else; our graduates learn to be good employees. Even parents tell their children “get a good education so that you can get a good job”. Most parents encourage this, without realizing that they are handicapping their children’s potentials. Why can’t they say get a good education so that you can own a business or become an employer? Teach a man how to fish and he would be able to catch enough fish than depending on charity or tokenism in the guise of poverty alleviation or while-collar jobs.

Agriculture remains an untapped potential of the nation, which successive governments have not fully invested in. It is necessary to focus on agriculture since the nation has comparative advantage. Nigeria needs to invest more in agribusiness. All hands must be on deck to return Nigeria to the path of sustainable agriculture. The federal, state and local government areas should embrace agriculture, which holds greater promise for our future generation than oil. Agriculture is the way forward if Nigeria must join the league of industrialized nations. It is a known fact that our people are suffering in the midst of plenty. We have such a rich agricultural endowment in our huge arable land and massive manpower, yet our people are ravished by hunger and poverty. If we invest in agriculture, we can easily eradicate poverty in the country. It is perhaps for this reason that Jovana Farms is organizing nationwide training campaign to reach Nigerians interested in animal farming.

We offer training services, farm set-up and consultancy on fish, snail, antelope and grasscutter farming. We have decided to spread our practical seminars across major cities in Nigeria. The primary objective is to bring this golden opportunity to the doorstep of every Nigerian and see how we can lift as many Nigerians from poverty. Participants learn about farm construction, cages designs, handling, packaging and maintenance. They realize at the end how supplementing feed, productivity and improved specie breeds are critical for business success. The goal is to enrich livelihoods by helping smallholder farmers, processors, and other market players to raise farm animals for food and income. Jovana Farms has grown in size and services to meet the needs of Nigerians and also become a valuable partner in the government’s efforts to build a competitive and profitable livestock economy.

Jovana Farms organizes nationwide sensitization training seminars on the practical ways of making it through small-scale farming.

Attend our nationwide seminars nearest to you to know more opportunities in grasscutter farming.

•Visit www.jovanafarm.com for more details. Choose also the nearest venue from the advert box in this page.

admitted that he's a product of his childhood diet orientation. But as the

mummy's boy, he gets unquantifiable supply of Nigerian f o o d condiments whenever his mother pays him a visit in

Obasi

Germany.

Pose the same question of whether he is missing Nigerian food and the amiable Obasi would reply: “In fact,

59

Asked what he is missing I'm missing everything about Nigeria. I'm a full-blooded most outside Nigeria, the Nigerian, born and bred in Dynamo Kiev FC deputy skipNigeria. Therefore, I will always per replied: l o v e Nigerian food, especially the special ones my mum prepares.

“It is natural sometimes to miss home, especially when we Ogude (l) in action don't have a n y choice than to eat the food that is available to us.

But good enough, there are shops in Germany where we can easily buy Nigerian foodstuffs. It is not usually Ukah a big deal to see them, even though they are expensive.

“I'm, however, lucky that my mum usually brings Nigerian foodstuffs whenever she visits me in Germany and I have started to work on my cooking skill,” he quipped. It is the same scenario in Ukraine, where erstwhile Super Eagles' utility player, Yusuf Aiyenugba Ayila, revealed that he usually go the extra mile in stocking Nigerian food, adding that he normally takes along a large quantity of those stuffs whenever he visits Nigeria either during the end of the season's break or when he is on international Ejide assignment.

60

SUNDAY SUN AUGUST 5, 2012

POWER GAME SERIES Budget face off:

Senate’s soft landing for Jonathan From ADETUTU FOLASADE-KOYI, Abuja

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OTHING in the ambience of the tastefully designed Senate committee room on Tuesday, July 31, betrayed the angst of members over an alleged poor implementation of the 2012 Appropriation Act by the Executive.

Pointers to a frosty relationship between the National Assembly and the Executive showed when more than half an hour after the scheduled meeting between the Senate Committees on Appropriation, Finance, Public Accounts, National Planning, Economic Affairs and Poverty Alleviation and the Coordinating Minister on the Economy, Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, no official from the Ministry of Finance was seated.

In fact, on the other side of the expansive committee room, no senator was seated either; only anxious reporters and committee staff waited for the gladiators to appear and herald what promised to be a huge face-off.

Since the President Goodluck Jonathan administration was inaugurated on May 29, 2011, the relationship between the two arms of government has never been this frosty. In fact, until last month, the National Assembly had tacitly avoided anything that would be interpreted by the public as being up in arms against the Executive.

More often than not, most bills or requests forwarded to the National Assembly enjoyed accelerated hearing and expeditious passage. That was in the Sixth National Assembly.

The game, however, changed in the Seventh National Assembly. The road to that frosty relationship started soon after the passage of the new budget in March. It was gathered that series of meetings were convened between the National Assembly and the Presidency before the N4.8 trillion budget was approved in the White House.

One of the deals was that the budget should not be tinkered with and both parties would get what they wanted in the Appropriation Act. Any tinkering, it was learnt, would make it impossible for the budget to be implemented as it were.

Based upon that gentleman’s agreement, the National Assembly reportedly told its sub-committees of the Appropriation Committees in both chambers to be guided by the envelops present-

•Mark

ed by the ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs). But relations soured almost immediately after. Promises reportedly made to the National Assembly were soon dashed. While the Senate held its peace, the House of Representatives could not stomach the ‘habitual failed promises of the Executive arm of government’ and bidded its time. The House soon showed its displeasure through a motion last month, shortly before its annual recess on July 19.

The original motion had only two prayers and after deliberations and an amendment by Hon. Ogbuefi Ozomgbachi, only one prayer was carried by the House.

Quite significantly though, that motion had nothing to do with impeachment threats on President Jonathan but soon gained currency with the public when other members, outside the House resolution, keyed into the idea.

The impeachment threat, however, drew the ire of Presidential Adviser on National Assembly Matters, Senator Joy Emodi who asked that the issues shouldn’t be muddled up.

Emodi equally reiterated that only Minority Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila made a passing mention of the impeachment process in his contributions to the debate. “What actually happened during the debate on budget implementation was that the minority leader, in his contribution, mentioned impeachment which was not even put to vote. At no time did the House resolve to impeach the President.

Moving on from there, Senate joined the fray

•Tambuwal

when its Appropriation Committee reportedly invited the Finance Ministry to an informal session on the 2012 budget implementation.

Some members told Sunday Sun that it was a heated session and that the meeting between the minister and the lawmakers became imperative after it was apparent that funds were not being released to ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to execute certain projects.

Drawing a nexus between release of funds to MDAs for capital projects and the National Assembly, a reliable source noted that constituency projects of lawmakers are closely tied and if the MDAs don’t get sufficient funds, no project can be done.

After the meeting which was led by Appropriation Committee Chairman, Ahmed Mohammed Maccido, the committee briefed the Senate on the outcome of the parley.

A reportedly furious Senate leadership mandated the committee to schedule another meeting with the minister and this time around, expanded the scope and drafted in three more committees, including Finance, National Planning and Public Accounts.

Raising the ante, the leadership demanded that the meeting be held in the open as against the first one which was held behind closed doors.

Thus, the tone was set for the Tuesday, July 31 meeting which unfortunately never held. In fact, the presence of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) did not sway angry lawmakers.

Sunday Sun gathered that having seen first-

hand the disposition of senators to the 2012 budget implementation at the previous meeting, the minister designated her deputy, Dr. Yerima Ngama, to appear in her stead.

Senators heard of that plan and planned a counter-move which unfolded last Tuesday.

Having learnt that the minister would be a noshow on that Tuesday, the leadership gave strict instructions to the Deputy Senate President, who was asked to open the session, not to entertain any junior minister.

Some senators who spoke to Sunday Sun but declined to be named because they were not authorized to speak, said that “the National Assembly feels betrayed by the attitude of the Presidency concerning this budget.

“For the 2012 budget, we even agreed that funds for constituency projects could be reduced so that when they fail to implement the project, they won’t point fingers at the National Assembly. We know the threshold that subsists but for ease of implementation, we agreed to a cut; only for the Executive to now come up with excuses.’ Another major reason the National Assembly has been upset with the Executive is because for two consecutive years, lawmakers have not increased their allocations, even though they are now on a First Line charge.

Quickly, the combative House of Representatives, which had been up in arms with impeachment threats, supported Senate’s move to grill Okonjo-Iweala in public glare.

The minister’s appearance on Thursday was, however, a game-changer. Sunday Sun reliably gathered that having gauged the mood of the Senate, emissaries went round on Wednesday evening with calm, soothing words and with assurances that the minister never meant to disregard an institution she holds in high esteem.

Emodi was central to this fence-mending mission, it was learnt.

The deal cut with senators was that upon her appearance at the committee meeting, OkonjoIweala would be allowed to apologise first to the Senate before senators get to fire their questions.

More importantly, her non-appearance would be blamed on ‘mis-communication’ between the two offices. But a senator privy to the arrangement told Sunday Sun that, “we agreed to allow her apologies so as to let sleeping dogs lie but we know and she knows, too, that there was no miscommunication at all. Her previous non-appearance was a deliberate snub.”

Budget implementation: impeachment drums and Reps’motives

By IHEANACHO NWOSU, Abuja

T

HE leadership of the House of Representatives did an unusual thing penultimate Sunday. For the first time since the commencement of the seventh Assembly, it ordered members of the committee on media and public affairs to call off their recess and return to their offices.

Reason for the directive: they should respond to the claim by the minister of finance, Dr Okonjo -Iweala that the slow pace of implementation of the 2012 budget was caused by the constituency projects inserted into the Appropriation by the National Assembly.

They were also asked to counter OkonjoIweala’s submission that the implementation has so far reached 56 contrary to the 34 percent figure given by the House in the July 19 plenary.

Interestingly, while the chairman of the media committee, Hon Zakari Mohammed led his committee to a meeting with newsmen in the premises of the National Assembly, the Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur and some chieftains of the party were holding a meeting with the House

Speaker, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal and some principal officers in his residence.

The PDPchairman and his men were reaching out to the Speaker to convince him to call his colleagues to order in the move to initiate impeachment against President Goodluck Jonathan over the alleged poor implementation of the budget.

Zakari did not skirt around the issue when he kicked off the media parley. He went straight for the jugular of Okonjo-Iweala. He flayed her submissions on constituency projects and stage of budget implementation.

His words: “First of all, it is not true that the executive arm has implemented as at today 56 percent of the 2012 budget as widely reported. In truth, about 34 percent of the budget has been implemented. What the minister admitted to as can be confirmed from her own words is that, at best Government has implemented 56 percent of the N404 billion released to MDAs. “The Minister was clear in saying that, of this amount (N404 billion) only N324 billion has so far been cash-backed. In order words, it is only N324 billion that is available to the MDAs for implementation of capital projects and programmes of government out of about N1.5 trillion appropriated for all capital expenditure. The House of Representatives also does not agree

with the Honourable Minister that the slow pace of implementation of the 2012 budget is as a result of the constituency projects introduced into the budget by the National Assembly.”

He came to the real reason for the news conference. “For the avoidance of doubt, constituency projects represent less than 10 percent of the 2012 capital budget. How can this be the reason for the slow implementation of the budget? This excuse for non-implementation falls flat on its face when a review of the performance of the Executive on even its own preferred projects is made.

“More evidential is the fact that releases so far made to the MDAs are not enough to pay for on–going projects or projects chosen by the executive. For instance, out of a total appropriation of N145 billion for the ministry of works in the budget, only N47 billion has so far been released to the ministry. In the first quarter, N38 billion was released and in the second quarter only N9 billion was released, with a shortfall of about N30 billion for the second quarter.

“The projects that need these appropriations are core road projects scattered all over the country. Or are these inter-state highways and other strategic road projects also constituency Projects? Playing to the gallery by the executive

arm will not change the facts of the situation.

“It is also important to restate that these constituency projects are managed by the Executive arm of government. Members of the National Assembly are not involved in the advertising of these projects, nor are they involved in the shortlisting of contractors for the projects neither are they part of the process of the actual award of the contracts. It has been their exclusive preserve.”

The House was happy that it took on the minister of finance on the issue. But it was particularly buoyed in the fight against the minister when the senate joined the fray. Zakari said “, we believe senate has done the right thing. The whole thing is about putting the record straight.”

He did not stop there. He explained that it was wrong and misleading for some people especially some members of the executive to hinge the House’s moves on the budget implementation on selfish motives. “It is hogwash to link our position on the implementation of the budget to our personal desires. There is no truth in the claims, all of us belong to this country and we know what is happening. We are here to defend and protect Nigerians who may not be in a position to talk even when things are going wrong, they voted for us to do that”.

AUGUST 5, 2012 SUNDAY SUN

61

POWERGAME SERIES

By OMONIYI SALAUDEEN

O

f all the six states in the South West region, only Lagos State has remained an impregnable fortress for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

In this interview, the new Chairman, Mr. Olatunji Shelle, accused the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) of planting moles in the party. He also revealed how ACN siphoned money from the state to prosecute elections in other states. Excerpts…

Given the victory of the ACN in the recent Edo State governorship election, do you think the PDP can still regain its strength in the South West?

The loss of states under the PDP control in the South West apart from Lagos and Ondo has a history behind it. There are tremendous resources at the disposal of Lagos State government. The government of Lagos State controls enormous resources from federation account allocation and Internally Generated Revenue (IGR). This has been used to a great extent to carry out expansionist tendencies in the rest of the South West. So, they have only succeeded in annexing Edo State into the whole arrangement. You will recall that the present governor of Osun State was once a Commissioner of Works in Lagos State. This means that while he was Commissioner for Works in Lagos State, he was just repatriating money to Osun State. Similarly, money was taken from this state to prosecute election in Ogun and Ekiti states. The only state that seems to have distanced itself from the trend is Ondo State where Mimiko of the Labour Party is in charge. In addition, with the enormous resources available to the state government, they were able to infiltrate the press. Some of the media houses even belong to their leadership. Apart from this, they also have an enormous influence on the judiciary.

In Lagos State, we agree we lost marginally during the first attempt.

But subsequently, a lot of things happened. I don’t want to go much into the details because they are issues that touch lives, soul and spirits. At the appropriate time, God will judge. Also, they infiltrated PDP in Lagos State, planting moles to destabilize the party in the state.

Already, we have identified some of them. Some of them have also left on their own because the heat was already on them.

Is that also why your party suffered a crushing defeat in the last local government election?

The Local Government election in the state was supposed to be a gradual reincarnation of PDP in the state. And, of course, we won in some local government areas where we had strength. But unfortunately, the results were not declared at the various collation centres. They were taken to the LASIEC office where the Chairman shamefully declared results without figures. We went to the tribunal and some of the cases are clear-cut. But up till now, we have not gotten justice. However, I believe justice from God weighs better than justice from man. And we shall get that justice very soon.

How do you then hope to bounce back in the South West region?

We would leave the strategy to our chest. We are working hard and we are repositioning. Now, we have

Lagos PDP bombshell

ACN develops other states with Lagos funds –Shelle

•Shelle competent hands who are better managers of our party in Lagos State. Ogun State is not settled yet; it is not a good story to tell. Before the next general election, we would have stabilised. The national leadership would have given the roadmap and definitely, we would bounce back.

Why is your party so susceptible to the antics of the opposition?

Most of the people causing crises in PDP are defectors from AD and AC which eventually became ACN. Of course, some of them are good people, but some of them were deliberately sent to come and play a role that is not beneficial to the progress of the PDP in Lagos State. But we have identified them.

It is now becoming very hot for the few ones that are still left to stand our new approach of running the party. Very soon, we shall show them the way out because they are doing more damage than what anybody can comprehend.

The issue of siphoning Lagos money could have been used as a means of public engagement during the electioneering. But the two prominent leaders of your party were busy working at cross purposes.

Who are the people working at cross purposes? The issue of carrying Lagos money to other states is open. What could have made Lagos State to go and buy land in Osun State for purpose of Agriculture?

Are you not aware that Aregbesola was the Commissioner of Works in Lagos State before he became the governor? Are you not aware that Opeyemi Bamidele was a

Commissioner in Lagos and he is now a member of the House of Representatives representing Ekiti State? Are you not aware that their spokesperson in ACN today, Lai Muhammed, was a Chief of Staff in Lagos State? After two or three years in office with Governor Tinubu, he went to Kwara State to go and contest election and lost.

Where did he get the money? It’s Lagos money. It is not in the interest of the state for people to come here, loot and then go to another state to settle down. That dual citizenship should not be allowed in law. They should be arrested and tried for looting the state. And God will not forgive them.

Has the face-off between two prominent members of your party been finally settled?

That is why I said there are moles in our party. I don’t want to go into the history of what happened to the leader you had in mind. I don’t want to mention names because I will expose a lot of things. How the man went to jail is questionable. He was tried in a Lagos court. But now, the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon Adeyemi Ikuforiji, is saying that a federal court cannot try him. You can see the irony of life. What goes around comes around. Thank God that the man is a very strong character. He went to jail and bounced back and he will continue to be a courageous person. Time will tell when people will openly confess their sins.

Some of the people fighting him are stooges and errand boys of the opposition party. They are moles in the PDP. Even when people decamped to join the PDP, they said

it was a rented crowd. Whenever we are going for election, they will be the ones who would say we cannot win. We were to have an election in his home base in Ikorodu; he said we could not win. But we won the election. I have said I am not going to mention names but I will be tempted to make inferences which would help people to make a guess of those we are talking about.

Are you saying PDP can dislodge ACN in Lagos State?

We shall capitalize on all the ills of the ACN ranging from illegal sand filling, illegal displacement of people to illegal use of resources and abuse of power. We shall capitalize on promises unfulfilled.

Where are the promises to build Fourth Mainland Bridge, coastal roads, and water transportation?

Where is the promise to build Badagray express road? Where are the water transportation facilities?

They built jetty at a very exorbitant cost and there are no boats to service these jetties. The Yatch they bought is lying fallow at Marina. Is that the kind of boat for transportation? Is that the kind of things we need at this point in time to develop Lagos? In terms of beautification, a lot of things have been done. But is that all? Are they maintaining the roads in the inter-land like Somolu, Bariga, Alimosho, Mushin and others? Lekki is sinking and somebody is sand filling the Atlantic Ocean. It is unheard of. Lagos will eventually sink because Lagos by topography and by geography is below sea level. Now, they are compounding the problem. The effect is now being felt along Alpha beach, Oke Mapo up till Ibeju Lekki. Many houses have been washed away, many businesses have been destroyed, roads have been completely washed off. Go to Alpha beach, the roads are all gone. They even want to take sand filling as far as Oniru. When you enter Oniru now, you will see them putting stone and cornering the Atlantic.

It’s madness. Unless these excesses are checked, Lagos will be no more in the next 10 or 20 years. Certain part of Lagos would have come under water. The question is: where are they spending the ecological funds? They provide roads on concession but they fail to provide drainages. Where they were forced to provide drainages, the drainages are not connected. Water is standing in all the drainages they provided in Lekki. And they feel they are providing services to the people.

Lagos has been turned to a huge business where a few people come together to corner all the resources.

So, the rest can go to hell. It is rather unfortunate.

You mean it is an error of judgment for the people who are saying Lagos is working?

It is because they have not gone round to see exactly what is happening. Lagos is cleaner on the surface when you move through the major roads. But go to all the villages in Lekki, you will be shocked with the state of the roads. Even go

to Ikoyi which is supposed to be the best GRA in Lagos, you will not find any good roads there. Go to Alimosho, go to Agbado Oke-Odo, go to Eleko, go to Jakande, what you will find are the same stories.

Once they see a waterfront, they displace whosoever is there, sand fill it and share it. This will not help Lagos at the end of the day. A few people will benefit, the poor will continue to be poorer. The language now is ‘go back to your state’.

Nigeria belongs to all of us. If you are here to find a means of livelihood, you should be able to do so as long as you are a Nigerian. But for people to be threatening is unbecoming of an administrator. A good administrator will not do that. He would find a way around to make everybody happy. Lagosians are not happy. They are being oppressed, dispossessed and intimidated. But when election is coming, they know how to threaten them. If you don’t vote, you will lose your market stalls. For fears of the unknown, many people will succumb; they will get their votes and later descend on them. They didn’t collect toll on the Lekki expressway until after the election.

Even Okada riders now pay toll.

What is the value of Okada they are riding? Many things are wrong.

Taxation is heavy. And where does the money go to? I leave the rest to posterity.

You talked about judicial rascality. Can you say with confidence that the PDP will win the coming election in Ondo State?

Ondo State has a different picture entirely. The leadership of Ondo State happens to be part and parcel of PDP. Mimiko was a bonafide member of PDP. It was the disagreement between him and the incumbent governor then that made him to change party. We have left Ondo State the way it is for peace to reign. We know our son will eventually come back. One of us in Labour Party today will eventually return.

There are insinuations here and there that the power at the centre is backing him (Mimiko).

But the man still remains in the LP. Is this just a smoke screen?

It is better to be in a good party and show good example than being in a bad party. If we are supporting him at all or we have sympathy for him, it is because he is part of us.

Supporting him at the expense of your party?

It is a mere show of inter personal relationship. He too shows concern for our party. There is a meeting point between Mimiko and PDP. I don’t want to say more than that.

Perhaps, what you mean is that LP is an appendage of PDP. After the election, we will review the relationship. All I can assure you is that Ondo State is not going to ACN in this election, period.

ACN cannot win in Ondo State no matter how they try. They even imposed a candidate which is already working against them.

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SUNDAY SUN AUGUST 5, 2012

POWER GAME SERIES We’re near point of no return – Sebastine Hon

By HENRY CHUKWURAH

A

S a secondary school student decades ago, he nursed the ambition of becoming either a lawyer or journalist. Today, Sebastine Hon, lawyer and self-confessed lover of ”deep research and practical demonstration of knowledge”, is an accomplished author of many law books and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).

In this interview, Hon who had turned down appointments including overtures to be a High Court judge, blames the nation’s whittling fortunes on “clueless” leadership and proffers ‘’dialogue, intermixed with a resolute stand to punish constitutional and security breaches’ as solution to the crises besetting the nation.

Excerpts: Why Nigeria is in crises I would say that the fractious political history of Nigeria has provided the foundation for the crises we have today. In law, this is called the fon et origo, meaning the source.

The fierce struggle for Africa by the colonial powers, the fratricidal wars of conquest, the violent exploitation of our human and capital resources, the brutal suppression of revolt and the divide-and- rule tactics used by the rampaging colonialists was transposed to the neo-colonial period, resulting in the pulsating turbulence that liquidated the first Republic and laid foundation for the 30-month bloodletting called the civil war, are all remote factors for the conflagrations we see today in many parts of the country.

Corrupt leaders manipulate Nigerians Corruption, which is as old as mankind, exacerbated this fragile situation and has taken all the blame for the unfortunate situation we now find ourselves in.

Due to spiralling and unchecked corruption, social integration has eluded us; social amenities

have broken down to an all-time low, and hawkish rulers of Nigeria, shameless as they have been from 1960, have greedily collected all the good things of life in Nigeria.

In order to perpetuate themselves in the power class, they set one Nigerian against the other, using either religion or ethnicity. And because of the vicious circle of poverty, the unprincipled ordinary folks prance at such opportunities and willingly embark on a killing spree at the behest of their wicked godfathers. What a national shame! Look, I weep almost uncontrollably inside of me. Sometimes I recoil into my closet, to cry to my God to save us from this apparent dash into the abyss. What else do I have to say?

We are almost at a point of no return. Oh my God, urgently come to the aid of my beloved

country.

Government clueless on crisis Speaking as an ordinary person without any tutoring in or knowledge of military training, I would say unapologetically that I think government ought to have done better. I may be wrong; but I feel highly petrified and embarrassed that government seems clueless up to this moment!

Now National Assembly members are also victims. The other day in Jalingo, the suicide bomber targeted the convoy of the Commissioner of Police.

If the airspace is not safe, no thanks to the recent Dana fiasco and high ranking government officials are becoming victims, the fate of ordinary Nigerians is hanging precariously on the cliff. Honestly, I am far from being satisfied with Government’s handling of the crises. The way out is for our leaders to be more responsive to our individual and collective aspirations.

No respect for human life This is one of the few countries where human life is reckoned lower than the life of even a wild predator. We must, in the long run, get our electoral process right; otherwise the problem of leadership will become perennial with its destructive tendencies. In the short run, dialogue, intermixed with a resolute stand to punish constitutional and security breaches, should be urgently deployed.

Democracy yet to pay off We have generated more money within these 13 years of pseudo democracy than the rest of the years of our independence. Yet we are poorer now than when we were 13 years ago. Above all, 13 years of so-called democracy are nothing to write home about. But make no mistake; I prefer we keep experimenting to sliding back to totalitarianism or military rule. How I wish things were better so that the politically ambitious soldiers will forever bury their heads in shame.

Democratic system that respects all interests How are we going to achieve that, especially

given our rapaciously acrimonious co-existence? Only a miracle will achieve that. I do not support the idea, which in any case is not practicable now.

Corruption in Judiciary exaggerated That there is corruption in the judiciary is something hard to dispute; but my quarrel is the magnitude. I think it is always exaggerated. We have fine, well-heeled and incorruptible Judges in this country; and this reflects in their judgments. I can vouch for the Supreme Court of Nigeria. Virtually all the Justices there are well knowledgeable and they are men and women of integrity. I would not subscribe to the notion that the Nigerian Judiciary is corrupt; rather I would assume some members of the Judiciary are corrupt. Even then, I have not caught anybody redhanded, so I at best assume, with near certainty, that allegations of corruption amongst some members of the Judiciary and the Bar are true. If unchecked, the corporate entity called Nigeria stands the risk of free-flowing turbulence because the alternative to injustice is chaos. Let nobody be deceived into thinking otherwise.

Punish erring lawyers, judges Yes, appropriate punishment should, where corrupt practices are proved against anybody, be levied. Nobody is above the law and besides this will not only act as deterrence but will also reinspire public confidence in the dispensation of justice.

High filing fees impede justice, oppressive Yes high filing fees are impeding the wheel of justice. For instance, we strongly protested against the hike of filing fees in the Federal High Court some years ago. How can you expect a peasant farmer who wants to file a claim against the government or an oil company which has wronged him to cough out N50,000? This is outrageous. This is oppressive. This is unduly exploitative!

How Nigeria can achieve true greatness It is through godliness, honesty, hard work and exemplary living. God bless Nigeria!

What the people of Ogun do not need

By LUQMON ADEWUNMI

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ET me state at the very onset that the good people of Ogun State would rather have their government focus on development than be burdened by the current ebb and tide of bad blood between the present government under Senator Ibikunle Amosun and that of former governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel. The state deserves better. At a time when other parts of the world strive to better the lots of their people, the least our government in Ogun State should do and be seen to be doing is invest very scarce resources in endless vendetta, which, at the end of the day, will draw the hand of the clock backwards rather than engender development.

In the last two weeks, the national media has been awash with paid advertorials, the first wave of which were sponsored by the Ogun State Government, where details of the report of a Land Probe Panel, set up by the Senator Ibikunle Amosun-led administration were published. The said advertorial, totaling 10 pages gave blow by blow details of purported ills committed by Otunba Gbenga Daniel while he was in charge of the state between 2003 and 2011. In response, Daniel also went to the media pointing out in detail why he is not guilty of all the purported findings of the Land Panel.

For those who have been witnesses to the acrimonious politicking in Ogun State in the past six years, it is clear what and who the target of the government action was. But that is not as important as the cost of this acrimony to the suffering masses of Ogun State, who would rather have access to good, decent and functional infrastructure, employment, good education, security of life and property and access to quality health care than be fed with tones of government gazettes

and paid advertorials all directed to show and prove how a previous administration did not deliver on democracy dividends to use the wellworn cliché.

This, I must state, is not making excuses for any failures that may have been recorded by the Gbenga Daniel administration in the state. The fact is that it is the responsibility of the state to bring to justice, all those who must have one way or the other, committed one offence or the other.

But we must also be mindful, when doing this, to avoid creating the impression that what is being sought is not justice for the people but political witch-hunt.

Why do I have this suspicion? I am aware that governments normally publish reports such as the Justice Adeyemi Land Probe Panel in Ogun State in official gazettes. This gives it the stamp of authority and once this has been done, it is adjudged to have been published. But in this case, the state government went the extra mile to purchase on the aggregate, 20 pages in national dailies (those I have been able to see) just to tell, not just the people of Ogun State but the entire world, how bad the Gbenga Daniel government was.

Today, media rates, I am told, have hit the rooftops. One full page of advert in the average Nigerian newspaper costs close to N600,000 for colour pages and N500,000 for black/white pages. What this means is that for the two national dailies where my humble self was able to see these advertorials, the state would have spent close to N10 million. This is with the exclusion of intermediation costs that could possibly have been a part of the execution process for this campaign.

In a state where the governor has been complaining of paucity of funds, I think this investment was rather misdirected. And I have not factored the cost that would have been incurred by the panel in all its sittings, public hearings and

sundry other activities that led to the report that have been published.

I am aware that in other states, especially those that have become shining examples for change and development in the eyes of their people, governors are not wasting such funds in pursuit of their predecessors. In Rivers State, Governor Chibuike Amaechi did not waste time in chasing the ghosts of either Celestine Omehia or Peter Odili. He hit the ground running and today, Rivers people are the better for it. The schools are functioning better, hospitals are being built and the verdict is that government is working.

In Akwa Ibom State, Governor Godwill Akpabio, as far as I know, did not constitute any panel to dig up dirt on the tenure of Obong Victor Attah. But everywhere one turns in the country, the story of the massive transformation taking place in Akwa Ibom State is spreading so virally that the governor does not need to blow any accomplishment trumpet to prove he is doing well for his people.

My point is that history will judge those in leadership, not on how much they are able to find out what others did not do right but rather on the quantum of their contributions to changing the lives of their people. All the great men we have in the world today could not have become great by striving to erase the contributions of those before them. Rather, they found their own space and wrote their names in gold.

This life is about energy. And no matter how good you are at multitasking, there is no way it would be possible to invest equal energy and concentration in doing many things at the same time, especially if those things are opposites.

Even in athletics, sprinters are thought not to look behind at other competitors while running because in doing this they lose momentum, thereby risking being overtaken. That is just how every other thing works.

In the country today, there are a number of

institutions whose jobs are to hunt for and bring to justice those who mismanaged public trust.

When a state government duplicates this job and hurriedly passes judgment, people then begin to suspect the real intent. I have taken time to read both the advertorials published by the Ogun State Government and the response of Gbenga Daniel and thinks that if it was true that a number of the conclusions of this Land Panel are issues being dealt with in the ongoing trial of the former governor by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), that Gbenga Daniel is right in claiming that the government released the report and caused same to be published so as to preempt the case already being handled by the EFCC. As I write this, the people of Ogun State are already making comparisons between the two administrations. Senator Ibikunle Amosun had spent over a year in office already and on the street of the state, people are beginning to worry over the slow pace of development. They are looking over at Lagos and thinking that if Babatunde Fashola had taken such a long time to settle-in, he never would have been able to record the kind of achievements that have singled him out as case study for a responsive and responsible government in Nigeria and beyond.

The people of Ogun State do need the great news from these panels. It neither puts food on their table, pays school fees for their children nor gets them the jobs they need. Let the machineries of state take care of the jobs for which they have been created while the government sits properly to concentrate on impacting on the people. If Amosun succeeds in generating against the past administration, a pile of damning panel reports as long as the cap on his head but fail to leave Ogun better that Gbenga Daniel left it, I am sure history would judge him very harshly.

•Adewunmi, a social commentator, lives in Akute, Ogun State

AUGUST 5, 2012 SUNDAY SUN 63

THE POWERG GAME SERIES We’ll reclaim Ondo from Mimiko –Alabi, state PDP chair

By OMONIYI SALAUDEEN

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S in Edo State, the tenure of the incumbent governor of Ondo State, Olusegun Mimiko is gradually running its complete circle.

Preparatory to October 20 governorship election in the state, political campaigns are already gathering momentum. In readiness for the D-Day, the two major rival contending parties to the ruling Labour party (LP) have successfully crossed the hurdles of primaries, though not without some bickering. While the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has picked former President of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Olurotimi Akeredolu as its flag bearer amidst controversy, the PDP leadership eventually zeroed in on its National Legal Adviser, Chief Olusola Oke. Thus, the stage is set for the epic battle. In this interview, Mr. Ebenezer Omotayo Alabi, the state Chairman of the PDP, says they have everything in place to reclaim their mandate from Mimiko.

Excerpts…

Litigation battle between the LP and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over the conduct of local government election has been lingering since the coming of this present administration. What has been the effect of this on grassroots development?

There is no justification for the delay in the conduct of local government election in Ondo State. We were elected in 2007 and we had served our tenure by one year. But when the incumbent governor came on board, he unilaterally dissolved the local government structure. We then challenged his action in court because we knew he had no right to do so without the resolution of the state assembly. He ignored that provision of the law and went ahead to unilaterally dissolve the local government councils, claiming that the election that brought us to office was not conducted in accordance with the provision of electoral Act 2010. We lost the case at the first court and also at the Court of Appeal. As I am speaking to you, we have launched another appeal at the Supreme Court. Our grouse is that the Electoral Act 2010 permits any aggrieved party to challenge the validity of an election within 30 days. So, coming to challenge the conduct of the election after one year remains a puzzle to us until the Supreme Court resolves it finally. Even at that, there is no enough ground for him not to hold the election. If he held the local government election and we won the case, the only thing that would have happened is for those elected to vacate the office for us.

Then, what has been the impact of leaving grassroots development in the hands of caretaker committee?

It is quite unfortunate because if he had conducted the election and we have democratically elected people at the local government, they would be accountable to the people who elected them. But now what we have is a caretaker committee appointed by the governor and so their loyalty is to the governor rather than to the electorate. That is why the governor finds it easy to direct the affairs of local governments as to how they spend their allocation. Today, we cannot see any physical project executed by local govern-

ments in the state.

Today, the state government has taken over the role of local governments: constructing motor parks, market stalls and so on. That is why it is convenient for the governor to spend the allocation of local governments through the proxy of the caretaker committee.

Would you say PDP has a history of performance?

We have intimidating achievements to showcase to the people of Ondo state in terms of road construction, in terms of what we did in the health sector, in terms of what we did in the education sector. We constructed model classrooms (a block of six classrooms) in 600 schools. And we had 213 ongoing before the judgment of the court of Appeal nullified the election of Governor Olusegun Agagu.

But the present Government abandoned the projects and opted for mega schools. As I speak with you, he is yet to complete one after almost four years in office. He said he has completed one in Oke-ijebu. Up till today, not a single pupil is there. The present governor probably thought that chief Obafemi Awolowo was stupid when he was building schools in each of the communities in western region. It was because of those schools that the western region was ahead of other regions in terms of education. If he had restricted himself to mega schools like our governor is going about it, probably very scanty people will have the opportunity of schooling. This is where we surpassed the present governor.

Why do you think only a few people would have access to Education with the option of mega Schools?

Primary pupils are children between the ages of five to seven. In my local council, we have one community called Igbatoro Familogba. It is about 150 miles to the local government headquarters. If the governor should build a mega school in each headquarter of local government, it means pupils of ages five and seven will be coming everyday to a distance of 150 miles. And according to the UNESCO recommendation, a pupil should not walk more than i5 minutes before he or she has access to school. So, mega school is a negation of the position of UNESCO. It can only make sense in places like Lagos or Ibadan, which are thickly populated. In Ondo State, there is no justification for it. It is a policy summersault. It is not in the interest of our people at all.

In health sector, our policy was to have basic health centres in 203 political wards in Ondo state and one comprehensive health centre in each local government, one general hospital and a specialist hospital per local government.

The specialist hospital has been in existence, some local councils also have general hospitals. During our tenure, we were able to com-

a Special Assistant in the state .

Agagu is a grassroots man to the core .

Today, we move about in the streets with our heads raised high because of our achievements. We touched all the 18 local governments in the state. We can point to credible projects started and completed.

When we came on board, we constructed 1200 kilometres of roads. This present government has not commissioned 10 kilometres of roads for four years. Most of the road projects they embarked upon are still ongoing . He conceptualized the dualisation of Arakale road in Akure. Go and take the picture of the place, it is still ongoing . He said he wanted to dualise from Fiwasaye to the Airport, as at today, the completion stage of that project is not more than 25 percent. It is almost abandoned. He is dualizing his home town.

So, it is just mere sloganeering to say he is a grassroots man.

But his grassroots strength was so formidable that he was able to unseat an incumbent governor. Isn’t it so?

The truth is that he did not unseat our governor. His victory came via the judiciary . And you know what later happened through the revelation of Justice Ayo salami saga . It is now clear that the judiciary was compromised in all the judgment they gave . He didn’t get his victory through the ballot .

It was the rot in our judiciary that gave him victory . At the end of the day , votes were cancelled in 11 local governments and they upheld seven local governments where he won. Are we saying angels conducted election in those seven local governments and devils conducted elections in other 11 local governments? We have left everything to God to judge.

plete for others. As I speak with you, there is no local government in Ondo today without a general hospital. There is no local government without a comprehensive health centre. There is no political ward without basic health centre, courtesy of PDP administration. But when this present government came in, it decided to go for Mother and Child Hospital. And so far, he has built only one in Oke-Aro, which is functional. It is just like the mega School project. Are you now saying that a pregnant woman will have to travel a distance of 150 miles because he wants to deliver? Yet, today he is flaunting around the project in CNN, African Magic and others. Yet, only one is functioning. He said he is building in other local governments but he is yet to complete one. The only one that is completed today and which is operational is the Mother and Child Hospital he built in Oke-Aro. Four years down the drain, when are we going to have access to health care delivery? If every government comes and builds one Mother and Care hospital, how many years will it take us to have access to health care? Funny enough, mother and care is not different from maternity centres we used to have from time immemorial. It is a white elephant project. How do you justify investing N436 million in building one mega school? Certainly, the cost of maintaining these buildings in the future will be telling. In any case, it is not just the building that can improve the standard of education.

You still have to give attention to other things like training and retraining of teachers. In those days, people learnt under trees and they performed very well because of the quality of education they got from their teachers. Today, teachers are denied their allowances. They had to go on strike before the government paid them 27 percent increase in their salaries.

Mimiko is a grassroots person. How do you think the PDP can confront him in the coming election and send his government packing?

The point is that Mimiko is not the only grassroots person. I am also a grassroots man. I have been councilor two times, I have been a chairman of a local government and also

How well are you prepared for the election?

We are well prepared. PDP in Ondo State is solid . We have our structures on ground and we have the numerical strength . We have done it before by reclaiming power from the AD government led by late Chief Adebayo Adefarati. We won again in 2007 . But unfortunately, the judiciary came and annulled the election and declared the incumbent governor the winner. Since then, we have been in the process of winning again Formerly, the contention was between the PDP and the Labour party. But now you have three main contenders. How easy will that be?

That is the beauty of democracy. Now, any party that can get 30 percent of the votes and maintains the spread in 12 Local governments as specified by the electoral act will win. So, it makes the job easier than before.

If you do analysis of the last election properly, Labour party won with 53 percent, PDP had 33 percent and ACN had about 12 percent. But a lot of this had happened between then and now. The Labour party has lost substantial senior members of the party. The chairman has resigned and left the party. The vice Chairman from the central senatorial has left the party. A lot of the commissioners in the government have left the party. Special Assistants, Special Advisers are resigning on daily basis to join the opposition party. As at today, the rank of LP has depleted sharply. Of course, PDP too lost some but not much while the ACN gains. So, the percentage of strength of each party should be around 30:30 percent.

Whoever that can mobilise, whoever has the antecedent and very good programme will easily win. What we know today in Ondo state is that people are yearning for change. They are disappointed in the government of the day. The present government promised so many things during the electioneering, but when he got to office, he did not fulfill five percent of the promises he made. So, people want a change. And the change can either come through PDP or ACN.

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AUGUST 5, 2012 SUNDAY SUN

THE POWER GAMESSSeries

Chief E.K. Clark and his moral icons

By FEMI FANI-KAYODE

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HEN I challenged Chief E.K. Clark’s assertion that there was ‘’nothing wrong with placing soldiers on the streets of Lagos’’ last January during the oil subsidy crisis at a conference of the Political Summit Group in Lagos I knew that I was heading for trouble. I was given the floor to speak a just few minutes after the elderstatesman had wowed the audience with his words and to say that he was infuriated by not only what I said but also the thunderous applause that I received for daring to say it would be an understatement.

The old man screamed at me at the top of his voice from his chair even as I had the floor and spoke and he accused me of all manner of unspeakable things there and then simply for daring to disagree with him to his face.

Naturally I continued with my speech and acted as if he wasn’t even there but I knew that he would take his time and eventually hit back at me and claim his pound of flesh. Yet even with that expectation nothing prepared me for the virulence and sheer ferociousness of his counterattack.

And that counter-attack was launched during a public lecture on August 1st 2012, when the elderstatesman, during the course of his lecture, passionately proclaimed that I was holding myself out as a ‘’moral icon’’ after ‘’embezzling funds’’ that were entrusted to me when I was Minister of Aviation and that were meant to be used to ‘’stop planes from crashing and to reform the aviation sector’’.

This was on live television and it was being watched by millions of Nigerians all over the world. And of course the gathering loved it and cheered him on even though the organisersof the event went to the podium as he spoke and advised him to stop mentioning names and saying such things about people that were deemed innocent until proven guilty.

Yet Chief Clark, in his characteristically brazen manner, brushed their concerns aside and boldy proclaimed that he would continue his epistle regardless of all because he was ‘’already in the waiting room before leaving this life’’and he didn’t care about the consequencesof what he was saying. It was all very dramatic but, needless to say, his assertions were false.

Though I know that the man hates me with the biblical ‘’perfect hatred’’I still found it extraordinary that someone of his sheer standing, magnitude and gravitas would seek to pronounce guilt

on me on a matter in which he clearly knows nothing about. It is a sad testimony to his exciteable nature and his penchant for making unsustainable and irrascible assertions that he should, on this occassion, have turned himself into a prosecutor, a judge and a jury in a matter that is before a duly constituted court of law.

Let it be on record that not only did I not embezzle any public funds but also that I was cleared of doing so by the Senate Aviation Commitee who conducted a public hearing into the whole matter in 2008. Even the EFCC, after initially charging me in july of that same year, dropped those charges one month later for want of evidence. Contrary to Clark’s assertions, I was the one that actually investigated and exposed the embezellment of 6.5 billion naira from the 19.5 billion Aviation Intervention Fund which had taken place just before I became Minister in 2006.

I was the whisteblower in that matter and I was the one that wrote to President Obasanjo and reported it. Yet in a manner that is so typical of Nigeria when it comes to such matters, I was punished for doing so and I was later accused of commiting the very crime that I had exposed. Is that not absurd?

In thier zeal to effect the orders of the late President Umaru Yar’adua and to get me at all costs the Farida Waziri-led EFCC, without any prior investigation into the matter, detatined me for 10 days in their custody and proceeded to charge me in an Abuja magistrate’s court for the supposed misappropiation of the said 6.5 billion naira. Yet one month later, after realising the futility of their cause and after establishing all the relevant facts, they withdrew those charges against me and instead prosecuted my predeccesor in office for that same offence at the Abuja Federal High Court.

HIEF Clark claimed that I ‘’embezzeled the money’’ that I was given ‘’to use to stop the plane crashes’’ yet the truth is that not only did I not embezzle one kobo but also that not one plane crash took place under my watch. This is despite the fact that 5 crashes had taken place the year before I became Minister.

The fact of the matter is that by God’s grace my team and I put an end to those crashes and saved lives.

It was as a consequence of our hard work, our prayers, our dedication to duty and the solid reforms that we put in place that those crashes stopped and did not occur again for at least one year after we left office. Yet without knowing these facts, Chief Clark got up in a public forum on live television and not only made the most scurrilous, slanderous and outrageous allegations against me but he also pronounced me guilty of a

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From FEMI FOLARANMI, Yenagoa EW days after former deputy- speaker, Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Hon. Fini Terah Angaye nearly exchanged blows with the Speaker, Rt Hon Konbowei Friday Benson over his outstanding allowances, a fresh scandal of N78 million South Africa trip is currently rocking the House.

Already, a petition has been lodged with the Inspector General of Police to investigate the allegations against some of the lawmakers.

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CMYK

crime that I did not commit.

IS it a surprise that we are in such a mess in this nation when an elderstatesman behaves in this indecorous way. It is common knowledge that he is the Godfather-In-Chief of this administration but the question is whether he is making more friends or enemies for his son, President Goodluck Jonathan, when he behaves in this way and when he throws all caution to the wind and pontificates about issues that he knows nothing about?

Perhaps I should point out the fact that the charges that were proferred against me by the EFCC in a Lagos High Court on Decembrer 2008, 6 months after the first set of charges had been withdrawn, had nothing to do with the 19.5 billion naira Aviation Intervention Fund. It was obvious from the outset that all those charges were malicious and politically-motivated yet for the last four years I have kept my cool, honoured the conditions of my bail and avoided discussing the issue publically for obvious reasons.

I have resisted and fought those charges vigorously for all those years and the likes of Chief E.K Clark and all the others that have sworn to see my end can be rest assured that I will continue to do so as long as I have breath in me. In God’s time and in God’s way He will vindicate me. It is however most unfair for Chief Clark to pronounce me guilty in this matter and to label me as a criminal when a court of law has not done so. This is especially so when our constitution confers on me the presumption of innocence unless and until I am proven guilty.

N a final note let me end this write-up with a word about political persecution and the usage of politically-motivated charges to intimidate those that are perceived by the government of the day as being vocal and dangerous enemies that must be silenced at all costs. This is nothing new. And regardless of it’s success or otherwise it changes nothing when it comes to God’s purpose.

When God’s hand is on a man for leadership or greatness you can lock him up in the deepest and darkest dungeon below the sea and throw the keys away but when the time is right God will spring him out again in order for him to fulfill destiny. The problem with people like Chief Clark and those that do not understand the power of God and the pull of destiny is that they refuse to learn from history. Let me give you some examples.

The three greatest leaders that Nigeria ever had, namely Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Sir Ahmadu Bello and President Olusegun Obasanjo all suffered persecution at one point or the other in their lives and every single one of them was convicted by a court of law and spent

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a t least three years in jail. Awolowo was wrongly accused of treasonable felony, Obasanjo was wrongly accused of plotting a coup and Ahmadu Bello was wrongly accused of stealing public funds. All three were targetted by the powers that were at that time who thought that they had successfully silenced and discredited them forever by jailing them. Yet when the time was right circumstances suddenly changed and God’s purpose spoke for all three of them.

Awolowo was brought out of jail to become the de facto Prime Minister of Nigeria, Obasanjo was brought out of jail to become the President and Bello went on appeal, won his case (Chief Bode Thomas of ‘’Thomas, Williams and Kayode’’ the first indigenous law firm in Nigeria who was the law partner of my late father Chief Remi Fani-Kayode and Chief Rotimi Williams represented him in court) was acquited and freed and went on to join politics and become the greatest leader that northern Nigeria has ever known.

DESTINY and the power of God spoke. As relevant is the bitter end terrible sorrows that engulfed those that persecuted them and that orchestrated their terrible ordeals. My point is simple and clear- regardless of what the powers that be decide to subject us lesser mortals to, God alone rules in the affairs of men and determines the destiny of nations.

Even though some that stalk the corridors of power today believe that they have the power over life, liberty and death, in reality they control and they have nothing. This is because the God of Heaven alone controls all that is in the universe. Any man that has been so intoxicated by power or by his access to the President to the extent that he is ready to play God at every given point in time ought to be pitied for his naivity.

Chief E.K.Clark, the great leader and elder of the Ijaw nation and the political and spiritual father of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, in my view ought to be viewed in such a light.

N78m scandal rocks Bayelsa Assembly According to investigations, the lawmakers had obtained the money from Governor Henry Seriake Dickson to attend 43rd Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Africa Region Conference in Gauteng, Johannesburg, South Africa between June 29 and July 8, but majority of them did not arrive South Africa until July 8 when the event was scheduled to close.

From documents made available to Sunday Sun, the House in a letter with reference number BYSHA/A/121/ 2,243 dated May 2, 2012 and signed by the Clerk of the House, Aaron Nicodemus Timiye with the subject: 43rd Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), Africa Region Conference Gauteng, Johannesburg, South Africa, June 29 - July 8, 2012, the House requested for the sum of N100, 036,400.00(One hundred million, thirty-six thousand, four hundred naira) to cover the trip.

A breakdown of the money revealed that it was to cover registration fees, transportation/ Air ticket, from Port Harcourt to Lagos and Johannesburg, Estacode, visa application, warm clothing allowance for the Speaker, his deputy and the other members of the House of Assembly as well as the S.A Media and Publicity to the Speaker, Head of Protocol, one protocol officer and a camera man. The document further revealed that the office of the Accountant- General received the letter from the office of the governor on June 21 with instructions that N78 million has been approved for the trip.

Checks indicated that while the former acting-governor, Hon Nestor Binabo refused to collect his own share of the money, Hon Angaye and Hon. Omekwe Azibola who collected the money for the trip but could not make it returned to Yenagoa and refunded the money. Hon Kemelayefa Omonibeke was said to have been the only lawmaker that attended the conference.

Rather than attend the conference, the lawmakers were said to have remained in Nigeria until July 7 when they were said to have boarded the South African air line to Johannesburg arriving in the

morning of July 8th, the date the conference was supposed to end.

In South Africa, the lawmakers did not proceed to Gauteng, venue of the conference but allegedly headed for Courtyard Sandton Hotel, Sandown.

Sources said on arrival back in Nigeria, Dickson was said to have pointedly asked them if they attended the conference and Benson on behalf of the lawmakers said they all attended the conference. The petition by the Transparency and Good Governance Coalition, signed by U. F Mohammed dated July 30 and addressed to the IGP asked for investigation into what it called “alleged fraudulent misappropriation and conversion of public funds”.

Mohammed who stated that their partners in Bayelsa have furnished them the information said the allegation if thoroughly investigated could define his tenure as IGP. The petition which pointed out that the conduct of some of the members could be likened to the case of House of Representatives member, Herman Hembe who is being tried for collecting estacode for a conference he did not attend, urged the IGP as a staunch supporter of President Goodluck Jonathan’s anti-corruption stance to investigate the allegations.

However, the Special Adviser on Media to the Speaker, Mr Pirye Kiryamo in an interview said though there were visa problems, the Speaker and the lawmakers attended the conference.

According to him, he personally had a one on one with the head of the Conference secretariat and he raised the issue of the stringent policy with South African authorities, who he said apologized.

While admitting that they went late, he said he was not aware of any lawmaker who did not attend the conference and returned his money.

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Obodoukwu catches them young

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HE new yam yestival in the Igbo land ( Iwa ji) is an annual harvest celebrated by various communities that make up igbo land at different dates begining in most cases in early August. The Iwa ji festival (literally “newyam eating”) marks the begining of harvesting of farm produce. The celebration is a very rich culturally event. The day is symbolic of enjoyment after the cultivation season, and yam prepared in various ways is shared with friends and wellwishers.

A variety of festivities including folk dances, masquerades, parades, and parties are used to mark the season. Obodoukwu a vibrant and culturally rich community in Ideato North Local Government Area in Imo State has over the years been celeberating its new yam festival with pomp and peagentry. The 2012 series of Iwa Ji begins Tuesday August 7. Like previous ones, this year’s will be characterized by the celebration of young people and that is why it is tagged “Catch Them Young”. This will entail their special recognition by way of awards to Obodoukwu students in primary, secondary and tertiary institutions that have distinguished themselves creditably in their studies .

“We have a prize for every child that has excelled in his/her academic pursuit in the last one year. Through this, we want to encourage hard work and success as well as stimulate other young people that there are always rewards and consequences, on the other hand, for any action they take. We also want to encourage our youths to imbibe the culture of reading and hard work and of course to encourage them to look at success as something that comes through hard work and not by any other means”, the President General, Obodoukwu Town Union, Chief Chiedozie Ejieji explained in a telephone conversation adding “Incidentally, my community is such that most prominent people in the past were traders who made so much money from trading and this has had so much influence on the psyche of our young people, especially the male children who would normally want to go into trade rather than go to school.

So we want to gradually change this trend not only in my community but also in the whole Southeast, encouraging boys to begin to go to school and acquire formal education”.

This year’s festival, he said would be sponsored by the Lagos State branch of the Obodoukwu Town Union. The previous two were sponsored by Benin and Abuja branches respectively. Besides providing the entertainment for the day, the Lagos branch will be providing teaching and learning materials for all primary and secondary schools in Obodoukwu. To further make learning a delight for the indigenes of Obodoukwu, the Lagos Union will go further to provide exercise books that would last for one year for all students of the community. The branch is committing over N10,000,000 to provide these facilities. Speaking on the significance of the new yam festival celebration, the Chairman, Obodoukwu Town Union, Lagos branch and the host of this year’s Iwa JI, Mr. Okey Uba explained that yam is a chief crop in Ibo land and that the festival marks the beginning of harvest in the land. “The festival symbolizes that every indigene of Obodoukwu is free to eat the new yam wherever he is. It’s a declaration that the harvest period has started and that every one is free to eat the new yam”, Uba said. The festival, he added “also offers the indigenes the opportunity to thank God for sparing their lives and also to reap the bountiful fruits of their labor.

The highlight of the occasion, the President General said, “will be the traditional cutting of the old and new yam to the delight of everybody present at the festival by HRH, Eze Edmund Alisiobi Dim. Besides that, there would be a lot of entertainment featuring cultural displays involving the famous Nkpokiti cultutal dance troupe from Umunze. We want to ensure that our culture is not eroded by western culture, because we have noticed that these days there have been a lot of western influence on our youths.”

Speaking further on the rewards for the youths, Ejieji said, “We expect that during their own time, they would also give back to the society. We also want to instill in their psyches that whatever they do in their small classrooms is actually being observed by the public and can be rewarded and celebrated by people. So as they receive these prizes, they should not relent in their efforts but should continue to work hard and keep their flags flying.”

Among those expected to grace the occasion is the Deputy Speaker of Imo State House of Assemble, Chief Donatus Ozoemena, a member of the Federal House of Representatives, Chief (Mrs.) Eudora Igwe Okwesilieze as well as the governor of Imo State, His Excellency Owelle Rochas Okorocha who will be the special guest of honour.

Others are Eze Obodoukwu, Eze Agbakwuruibe Mbachu II and HRH, Eze Edmond Alisiobi Dim who will be host the Chief Host.Chief Simoen Uche Umeugo a prominent son of Obodoukwu will chair the ceremony.

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T

HE term AIDS is an acronym that stands for “Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome”.

It is acquired because the victims do not inherit the condition, but contract it. Immune deficiency means that the victim’s natural bodily defense mechanisms are unable to function properly, and “syndrome” refers to the combination of different abnormalities or diseases making up this condition.

AIDs is a complex of diseases and symptoms resulting from unexplained immune deficiency; caused by a retrovirus, culminating in a “mixed-bag” of life-threatening opportunistic infections, which invariably results in death.

The retrovirus that causes AIDS is known as Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) with types I, II, and III already isolated.

Although there have been wide speculations and insinuations as to the origin of the virus (HIV), the fact still remains that the first cases of AIDS were diagnosed in North America,

A

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PROF. DAYO OYEKOLE PH.D 0803-330-3897 or visit: Website: www.holisticlifecare.com.

Europe and Central Africa about the same time in 1981. Since then, cases are being reported all over the world and most countries now have people with “fullblown” AIDS as well as carriers infected with the virus. It occurs in about 1 to 10% of the population and the incubation period is 4 to 10 years.

The major characteristic feature of AIDS is weight loss of about 10kg within 1 month without a known cause. Other symptoms include chronic diarrhoea, persistent cough, skin infections, oro-pharyngeal candidiasis, swollen lymph glands and night sweating.

Prevention Prevention of AIDS is achieved through avoidance of casual sex, and other factors that

human lives. The devil has nothing good to offer than sickness, pain, and all sorts of troubles that make mortals weep.

Many worked tirelessly and served their boss’ yet their appointments were terminated all of a sudden. What about those that got married for years and no child. Uncountable are those that

Communities demand government’s intervention over bad roads

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ESIDENTS of Oko-Afo and the adjoining communities in Olorunda Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Lagos State have called on the governments, both at the state and local government levels, to come to their aid by repairing the roads in the area.

The roads, they lamented are no more passable for vehicles, motorcycles and even for pedestrians. One of the worst hit roads is Iyesi, which serves as a linking route to many other roads.

“The road is too bad. It is not at all motorable. We members of the communities are seriously suffering. During this rainy season it has become worse because no drainage, no electricity and other necessities” they said.

They added that the alternative road at Ilogbo was also in deplorable situation thereby compounding their problem.

Besides roads, the residents are also complaining bitterly about lack of potable water, say-

ing they only live on boreholes.

They equally bemoaned lack of adequate schools in the communities noting that only one secondary school at Oko-Afo and one primary school at Ilogbo existed to cater to the educational needs of the entire population. The residents therefore called on the council chairman and the state governor to quickly intervene and alleviate their suffering. A member of the Community Development Association (CDA), Alhaji Ibrahim Abiodun, noted that the residents were really deprived of most of the necessities of life and therefore required urgent government assistance.

“We need good roads, schools, water and electricity.

We need government presence urgently so that we can enjoy the dividends of democracy like other areas. We are still hoping that the government can do something for us. We should not be remembered only during election; we need to also be remembered after election”, he advised.

RCCG parish set for annual convention

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HE Redeemed Christian Church of God, Rock of Ages Parish, Magodo GRA in Ikosi/ Isheri Local Council Development Area of Lagos State, has lent its support to the 60th annual convention of the church beginning from Monday, August 6.

The theme is Come Up Higher The pastor in charge of the parish, Pastor Titus Osawe in a brief remark encouraged all and

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HIV / AIDS

may predispose to HIV infection; as well as sterile procedures in clinico-surgical practices.

Treatment and Control Before recommending our treatment and control packages for HIV/ AIDS, it is pertinent to ask the following questions: 1. Why do outbreaks of serious infectious diseases leave some people devastated and others free?

2. If some people are known to be carriers and could go around with the virus for up to 15 years before they physically breakdown, couldn’t there be ways of helping to cleanse the virus from the system before it manifests?

3. Are the sufferer’s thoughts, aspirations and living habits not affecting the disease cycle as

This mess must stop devil is also striving to achieve in

ND when you read Exodus 15:9, it reads: “ The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; my lust shall be satisfied upon them, I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them.’ Above Bible verses are for us to know the plan of God for us and what the

AUGUST 5, 2012

sundry to get fully involved in this special invitation “from God Almighty” to come up higher adding that there is always enough room for all at the top.

The seven-day programme will feature ordination of deacons, deaconesses, assistant pastors and full pastors. There will also be special seminars, and deliverance service. The highpoint is the Holy Ghost Service on Friday August 10th 2012.

are sick and doctors could not diagnose their ailment. Many were living in affluence before but suddenly have nothing to show for their labour again, the devil rendered them irrelevant.

If anyone suffers all these, he or she needs no prophet to tell that something is wrong spiritually. You can stop weeping if you so desire and God will give you a new beginning, all you need is deliverance in Jesus name then your joy will emerge.

If what you experience right away is not all you planned your life to be, then you are in a mess that needs to stop! Do you help others and when you need help you find none to help? Married to a man or woman that Godly means. Work but have nothing to show for it?

Most often, people think the devil has all the power to do and undo in their lives because they believe the devil is insurmountable. That is why you still wallow in the mess you find yourself. “You can never stop the bird from flying,” they say, “but you can disallow it to perch on you”.

Though the devil must fulfill his ministry, but It is not necessary you should be the one to suffer his wicked acts.

Why don’t you look deeply into your life to see that you ought to have gone far beyond the level you are today? If the devil is happy God is still God and He is mighty to deliver. You are the one to wake up so you can bail yourself from the imprisonment of the enemies of your destiny.

Pr 6:5 says “ Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand of the hunter, and as a bird from the hand of the fowler.” Yes you don’t need to continue living in bondage as if there is no way out, there is deliverance awaiting you and as you step out to stop the mess, you can be sure of divine backup.

Bolaniran Omokorede is the Senior Pastor of Agape Believer’ Church, Abaranje rd, Ikotun, Lagos. You can get through to him on 08028070065,08052030517 for assistance. E mail: bolakorede005@yahoo.com or join him

well as response to treatment?

If yes, then in Holistic Lifecare, we are committed to total cure of HIV/AIDS sufferers when they have just been tested and diagnosed positive, when they are still able to eat, drink and move around on their own, but not when they are expecting their funeral the next day!

The Holistic Natural Remedy being suggested for restoring good health, vitality, and total cure in HIV/AIDS sufferers; is a combination of herbal, nutritional and psycho-social therapies at the appropriate time and in the right proportion. Notable among the useful herbs for HIV/AIDS are Aloe vera, Allium sativum, Harpagophytum zeyheri, Echinacea augustifolia and Zingiber officinale.

Please call on: 0803-3303897 or visit: Mosebolatan Holistic Lifecare Centre, Adeyalo Layout, Ogbere-Tioya, Off Olorunsogo Express Bridge, Ibadan. Website: www.holisticlifecare.com. Distance is no barrier, we can send remedies by courier if need be. We also have facilities for accommodation, admission and hospitalization in a serene and homely environment.

Foundation doles out N1m scholarship to students

By WILLY EYA

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HE Nguru Development Foundation, a non-profit organization has doled out over one million naira in scholarships to indigenes of Nguru, Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State. The beneficiaries are those who got admissions into various institutions of higher learning across the country. The scholarship programme, initiated in year 2010 by professionals of Nguru origin was to encourage young people in the community to channel their energy towards acquiring sound education as a means of reducing prevalent poverty and directing the youths away from crimes and other vices.

Speaking during the awards ceremony, Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Foundation, Chief Godwin Onah, harped on the importance of education in the alleviation of poverty and the overall development of any community of people.

Chief Onah drew the attention of the beneficiaries to the challenges of the modern society where technology has become the magic carpet that can transform lives in an instant, saying without the benefits of good education, no one in today’s world would be able to make any impact on society.

“As I look at all of you today, I recall that the founder of Facebook that I am sure all of you are using today to connect with friends and loved ones, Mark Zukerberg, was just a university undergraduate when he and his friend created this platform that has changed the way we relate and communicate with one another. Today, he is a billionaire. I am sure you know that Facebook would never have been possible if Mark had not gone to school and patiently made the necessary sacrifices needed for him to change the world,” he said.

Chief Onah called on the beneficiaries to be good ambassadors of the community because

as students, they have become opinion moulders among the young people of the community that will motivate those coming after them to toe the path of education as well as be the planks for the sustenance of further penetration of education among future generations of Nguru people. In his goodwill message, initiator of the Foundation, Mr Nick Onyishi pledged the commitment of the project to support the educational, cultural and social emancipation of Nguru.

He also called on other wellmeaning indigenes of Nguru to

embrace the underlying objectives of the foundation by making contributions that will enable a sustained transformation of the community.

Over 47 indigenes of the community have so far benefitted from the scholarship programme since it was initiated in 2011. Last year, 15 fresh graduates benefitted from the programme, while this year, the number increased by over 100 percent, a testimony that the programme has been encouraging more people to follow the path of education.

Sokoto bombing: CNPP

expresses concern on terrorism

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HE Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) has urged the Sokoto State Governor, Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko not to be distracted by recent terror attacks by the Boko Haram sect on the state.

Ezugwu said the suicide bombing of the zonal headquarters of the Nigeria Police, Marina in Sokoto metropolis, the office of Police officers’ Wives Association, near Unguwar Rogo Divisional station and Arkilla Divisional Police station were uncalled for and have increased concerns about the spread of terrorism in the country. Speaking to Sunday Sun, CNPP’s Secretary General, Chief Willy Ezugwu called on the governor to intensify the developmental programme of his administration to ensure security of lives and property in the state. The conference scribe said “Beyond the show of force, creative concepts like targeting poverty and unemployment should be given priority since it would seem the state government’s efforts at addressing poverty contributed to the measure of peace the state enjoyed prior to this dastardly attacks.”

Ezugwu commended Wamakko for the laudable progress he has made in the state pointing out that the Sokoto state

governor is now a role model that other governors in the country particularly those in the North should emulate as he has proven that it is possible to “perform” to the satisfaction of the people. He said every project embarked upon by Wamakko’s government has the hallmark of the people’s yearning and the potentials to meet their demands such that terror attacks are not used to distract him from the developmental projects.

He said that Wamakko has committed huge state resources to educational sector like the State University which has recorded tremendous development of critical infrastructure, the School of Developmental Studies as well as boarding facility in primary and secondary schools.

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SERMON The curse on a family (3) Continued from last week

WORLD MISSIONS

with Evang. FEMI OLAOLUWA E-mail: radiantlife40@yahoo.com

08056158736, 07063485261

Steve Nwosu , Pa Michael: Testimonies of God’s saving grace

M

Y initial plan before I left my home last Friday was to go The Sun corporate office at Kirikiri and later join other mission team members of Light and Life Global Mission at the General Hospital, Lagos Island for the July outreach to Ibeju Lekki.

Also, I wanted to visit my beloved brother and Editor of Daily Sun newspaper, Mr. Steve Nwosu at the hospital. He miraculously survived gunshot wounds to the head which was inflicted by daredevil armed robbers.

I got to the first mission departure point only to discover that Pastor Oluwagbemi, who is popularly called ‘Father’ was not around and it was quite unusual of the old man. One member quickly called his number and to our surprise, a strange voice answered the call saying, the owner of the phone had just been hit by a vehicle.

We rushed down to the venue of the accident and saw some of his personal belongings like the mission’s public announcement, tracts and other Christian literature. Subsequently we quickly entered our bus and went to Ikeja General Hospital.

Although Pastor Oluwagbemi was soaked in blood and was groaning in pains, it was through divine intervention that he was saved from being crushed by the front tyres . I had witnessed another individual, who had walked in the shadow of death.

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OWADAYS some family friends go beyond boundaries to have affairs with the spouses of their friends. When you return evil for good done you automatically qualify for a curse.

Tithe defaulters are under a curse which God himself supervises. Mal. 3:8-9 “will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed me. But ye say, wherein have we robbed thee?

In tithe and in offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse; for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.”

Those who preach false gospel are under a curse. Gal. 1:8-9 “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that you have received, let him be accursed.”

INSPIRATION FROM THE PULPIT PATRICK ENILAMA p.enilama@sunnewsonline.com 08033445148

Repent and make amend if you fall into any of these categories.

It is possible to place a curse on yourself without realising it. For example when the Jews brought the Lord Jesus to Pilate for trial and crucifixion the latter found the Lord Jesus innocent.

Pilate found no fault with him and was determined to set him free.

But the Jews were insistent that he be delivered to them to be crucified. In Matthew 27:25 “Then answered all the people and said:

His blood be upon us and our children”. This means they have cursed themselves and their children and future generations.

The curse is still on today in Israel. Jesus the King of the Jews was presented to them and they refused Him. The Jews for a long time continue to suffer under different rulers. Any ruler that meant well for them dies prematurely.

In Proverb 18:20 – the bible says a man’s belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth and with increase of his lips shall he be filled.

We ought to be careful of what we say as parents and leaders under very trying circumstances.

For example some parents would out of anger say to their ward, “It will never be well with you.

“Oh you child, you will kill me. Oh this my headache has come again”. Stop using your mouth to bring damnation to yourself in a bid to make a strong point.

Take the case of Rebecca, wife of Isaac, and mother to Esau and Jacob one day she heard her husband asked Esau to bring him his favourite bush meat so that he can bless him. You know the story. Rebecca asked Jacob to pose as Esau to steal his brother’s blessing, but when Jacob asked what if my father discovers and turns the blessing into a curse for me, in verse 13 (Gen 27:11-13). She said she will take the curse that comes out

of the deal. Unknown to Rebecca she has placed a curse on herself.

The punishment reserved for Jacob because of the tricks went to the mother instead. Jacob later went into exile and in his absence the mother died.

He never got to see the mother again. Have you cursed yourself in an effort to prove a point?

Beware! Repent before it is too late. Resolve never to speak ill of yourself.

Generational curse This is a curse pronounced on an individual/city that goes on and on from generation to generation. Elisha pronounced a curse on Gehazi and it stuck.

The leprosy of Naaman went over to him and his generation.

David pronounced a curse on Jacob and his family for killing Abner for nothing and in a most wicked manner. Joab and his family came under generational curse.

The curse on Reuben lingered on for 450 years. It went beyond four generations.

Moses had to reverse the curse in Deut. 33:5. Elisha had to reverse the curse on river Jericho.

When you hear some persons say “so & so sickness runs in the family or that in that family no male son lives beyond 40 years or that female children don’t get married until they have attained 40yrs. You know a generation curse is at work.

To be continued

20 mistakes ministers make about money in ministry

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OTS of ministers today have wrong, negative and destructive attitudes toward money.

Either because of wrong teachings in the past; nobody taught them properly about money in the Bible School and Seminary or because they see it as a worldly issue. Majority of gospel ministers are displaying wrong attitudes to money in life with Pastor DR BOLA AKIN-JOHN and ministry. Prophet Baalam www.akingrow@yahoo.com was a classic example. He was called of God; (Numbers 22:508023000714 20). Gifted to prophesy; very popular and sought after by the Money ignorance has led many ministers to noble and mighty. But he was avaricious and believe some lies about money such as; greedy of gain and therefore sought to alter ‘money is evil’; ‘if you are rich you will forthe divine plan of God. His wrong attitude of get God’; ‘rich people are sinners’; ‘Money avarice led him to t7ake side with the enemy will come when we pray enough’. And these of God and he died shamefully. (Numbers lies have made us to see money only in neg31:16; II Pet. 2:14-16) It is an all truism that ative light and teach our people so. And the once your attitude about money is wrong, little knowledge we have is supplied by secuyour life and ministry will never be right. lar speakers, motivational and prosperity A.Money Mistakes of Ministers – II Cor. preachers, which oftentimes, are extreme and 5:18-20; Isaiah 56:10,11. imbalanced.

Ministers are God’s men and women, rep2.Receiving Mentality resenting Him in the world. Their compeMajority of ministers believe that they are tence and incompetence will always affect in the ministry to receive from people and not the church and work of Christ in the world to give. Therefore, they cook up every reason positively or negatively. The mistakes, errors and trick to get from people. They have of judgment, faults and wrong attitudes that receiving mentality because they are minisministers have about money are what have ters. They never give nor pay tithes regularly. led the body of Christ into where we are Ministers are the worst givers. The more reatoday. Let’s look at some of them:son they and their ministries are financially poor.

1.Profound Ignorance 3.Becoming Full Time Too Soon Ignorance is like a black man, who puts on Penury and squalor are starring some mina black dress and searching for a black object, isters in the face, simply because they inside a black nylon in a very very dark room! resigned their job and focused on ministry

GROWTH BOOSTERS

CMYK

work when the work was too small to cater for them. Wrong counseling and misplaced passion have led to these error of judgments.

They therefore become beggars and suffer lots of avoidable pain, shame and anguish.

4.Personal Empire – Phil. 3:18,19.

Very many ministers make the mistake of personalizing church monies. They pocket it and fail to give account to anybody. Actually, they started the church because of their stomach. They believe that the money of God is for the man of God, and nobody should ask questions. They fleece rather than feed the sheep.

5.Poor Management Church and ministry monies are being poorly managed today. It’s either someone is keeping it in his or her house; or a committee is sitting over it. There is no transparent record of income and expenditure. Expenses are deducted from source and some of them are going into private pockets. All these are unknown to the ministers, simply because they believe that God has called them to preach and not to touch money!

6.Extreme Emphasis Another mistake is when there is too much emphasis on money, giving and tithes until every service, meeting and event is turned into money-making and fund raising ventures. The success of any meeting is measured by the amount of money raised. In fact, the underlying motive of every programme of events is fund raising!

7.Poverty Mindset Believing that poverty is a virtue and money is evil. Glorifying poverty, penury and squalor. Being contented to beg, live poorly and believing that you are suffering for God, inspite of all the wonderful opportunities to be financially free all around you.

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Dangling dangerously on the brink are? If it is about hunger, why are they bloodthirsty? Why are leaders from the section of the country, where this evil is coming from, not stringent in their effort to put a stop to this nonsense? John Mason spoke my mind when he said in his book, “Believe You Can” that: “The person who really wants to do something finds a way; the others find an excuse.” Who are those finding excuses and tactfully avoiding strong measures to end this carnage? I also egburalph@yahoo.com believe President Goodluck Jonathan and his team are part 08186958958 (SMS only) of them. Why? The Present leadership ought by now to recThe ultimate measure of a man is not ognize what is happening as a where he stands in moments of comfort political problem and go ahead and convenience, but where he stands to use constructive engagement at times of challenge and controversy to find immediate answers.

I know 2015/constitutional –Martin Luther King Jnr. amendment could be the fear.

But then, the man who controls n this week’s outing, I desire to make power, the Presiding officer, one thing clear; and that is that I am not happy with the state of this nation. who has the power to authoritatively allocate values per time, We have gone from good to bad and still has the joker. There is also possibly on the path to worse. We are this other aspect, if there is experiencing the pain and trauma assonegotiation and those involved ciated with a dislocated state. We have leave issues of amnesty, possible been tormented, and various kinds of rehabilitation, Ministry for lamentation forced out of us. There has Northern Affairs, which, for me, been also this expectation that things, has been their least options, to somehow, would get better; but this discuss 2015 elections, then optimism appears to hang around mere their selfish motives would have hope. What we see so far is progress in been exposed for what it is, and reverse. We take one step forward and Nigerians would be put on the nine disturbing steps backwards. It has ready for what may follow. brought us, against our wish, to a level •Jonathan What I am saying is that time where we are dangling dangerously on the brink. Crisis everywhere; nobody is has indeed come when Jonathan should confront the matter headlong. If he the leadership of a people is tainted, it talking seriously about real issues of does, head or tail, he would be the benefi- translates to a people without dignity. development. In many hearts (forget When a nation and its people have no digciary; if he wins the peace; that alone is their outward posturing), many want nity, they can’t attract respect. This is a enough to restore the sagging portion of this nation dissolved. I am not happy natural law. We want respect and recognihis legitimacy and give him free cruise with what I see. I am dehumanized by tion from the international community, yet the retrogression to backwardness that I into another term. In fact, I will be one of we lack wisdom in the thoughts we harthose to insist he must rule again.

If there see and deeply traumatized by the fact bour and the practical things we do. We is failure, it would have been very clear that human life has become so cheap muddle things up and elevate “kleptomanthat he sincerely gave his all.

Let me that some persons in our midst treat ism”. The issue of oil subsidy ought not to warn that the alternative to winning peace human beings as chickens during the at all cost could be grave. It is quite a dif- arise in the first place if ours was a nation many orchestrated conflicts that has of honourable people. We are not; so we ficult task to ask a man whose life is become our lot. I am truly saddened by make a mess of even the ordinary things. under severe threat to fold his arms and all these.

Why should a nation, blessed the way we watch. By now, it ought to be very clear At some points I had thought the are, with natural and human resources, that no one person has monopoly of vioinsanity level has become such that we lence. What is more, the Christian faith is behave the way we do? Why should a would soon experience a reversion in nation blessed with crude oil be an not a docile one, as many have wrongly fortunes, but I was wrong. The mad importer of its finished product? Why construed, otherwise the recapture of ones in our midst chose to once again would street urchins refine crude into Jerusalem from Moslems would not have put on display many ugly sides of barpetrol and diesel and our governments say been possible.

What we need now is good barism in Kaduna city, Zaria, Damaturu the technology is still alien? Why would sense; increase in love and for the good and other places. They opted to elevate we continue to borrow when we receive ones among us to ensure that our voices bestiality by again bombing churches daily returns in huge figures from oil drown those of evil tendencies.

I insist and blocking the roads just to hunt and sales, when natural wisdom has since that Nigeria is better off as one united kill innocent citizens, who themselves, established that he who goes a-borrowing entity; our diversity is our strength.

This is for a long time, have been at the receivalso goes a-sorrowing? Why? Making a the truth! ing end of dubious elite conspiracies mess of oil subsidy confirms that all we On the oil subsidy controversy; I am and betrayals. By the time the orgies of have had are thieves masquerading as very ashamed of what is happening.

When insanity provoked limited reprisals in some places, a good number of citizens whose crime is that they are Nigerians, doing business where they found suitable, had been dispatched to the great what to do with the Information sector, beyond against their wish. Countless ike Awoyinfa is a great man by with one of the biggest national honours others were inflicted with wounds that any yardstick. From a backin the kitty. If this is not the case, many may never return to the shape ground that would have provided Awoyinfa should be satisfied that many they had before the satanic entangleexcuses, he courageously picked himself in Nigeria and the world acclaim and celments. I have heard some Nigerians up. That alone is a story on its own. I blame the whole development on pover- have not had close dealings with him, but ebrate his ingenuity. I remember the late Dr. Stanley Macebuh, my cousin, talking ty. And my position has been that what our paths have crossed a few times. On to me about Mike Awoyinfa during the we have been seeing and will continue those occasions while serving as Concord days. He said, “That guy is very to see as we approach 2015, or even the Commissioner for Information, Culture good and will leave a mark.” Awoyinfa constitutional amendment, is a clear war and Tourism in Abia State, I found him a has not disappointed. Congratulations, called by another name. nice soul, who more than knew what a sir. Mike, from what I know, is a good What manner of the poor would find it decent human species should be. If most man and his blessings shall be in accordifficult to procure food, but easily can Nigerians carried his make-up, this dance with Psalm 92 vs 12-14. Congrats, purchase materials to make bombs and nation, with the kind of resources at our my big brother. other explosives? How come they can disposal, would have been one of the buy expensive vehicles? How come best places to live and do business. At or Steve Nwosu, Editor, Daily Sun, I their cells are widespread; who sustains 60, Mike has proved big points. With find him a young man (relatively them? How come they know how to what he did with Weekend Concord and speaking) with plenty of enthusiasm speak good English, how to use new The Sun, he ought by now to be master for his profession, and this amazing faith technology, but are incapable of clearly in directing the central government on that this nation would overcome its curstating what their interest or demands

RALPH EGBU

I

leaders. Why is it difficult to have leaders that would determine outlines and follow them through?

What is the big deal in determining how much fuel we need and who should bring it in and at what cost? If we can’t excel in simple things, what is the guarantee that we would do well in major things? If this nation can’t bring in petrol without controversy, how possible is it that we can transform the nation to be like what we see abroad (an exercise that is more tasking to the brain than importing fuel) On Lawangate, Farouk is the most confused person that ever emerged from this nation. He was dealing a man a fatal blow and yet felt comfortable discussing issues concerning funds with him, to the extent of visiting his house and collecting money. Can you see how brainless our own deviants are? Why was Otedola in constant touch with him? I did believe that a clear mind fears no accusation.

Why didn’t they arrest Farouk at the gate of hell?

Why did the parties keep quiet for a long time? I discovered another thing from the whole development, that the company (of friends) you keep tells who you are. Is this not true?

These and other familiar faces we have always seen around in the economy, in government, everywhere. Does this tell any story? Does it say something concerning our style, attitude and behaviours? Do we see any relationship between our general character and leadership? Do you now see that anytime Baba Obasanjo talks, what follows, naturally, are big “conspiracies”. Would Tambuwal and Ihedioha survive this?

Would Tambuwal not go so that constitutional conference can follow “party” dictates? Shouldn’t the oil subsidy report be thrown out? It should not, because there are enough clues to the raping of an innocent nation. What shall we do to save this nation? Does all this not suggest that time has come when we should have laws that clearly stipulate that only those who have traversed some other level of power can seek to become local government chairmen, state governors and president of Nigeria? Is it not time we pull ourselves back from the path of total destruction?

To Mike Awoyinfa and Steve Nwosu

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rent obstacles and grow to become a great nation. He is one Nigerian who believes in the place of excellence. I have met him a few times and I love his deep humanism. His column on Wednesdays in the Daily Sun is something else, especially his use of wits to uncover difficult situations. When I heard news of the attack on him, I exclaimed, “Evil men have come again!” One of the troubles of our nation is not just in the alienation of good men, the repulsive aspect is found in their elimination.

Thank God, Steve survived. Steve will live long. God will continue to preserve and grow Steve, if for no other thing, his lovely family and sacrificial contributions to our collective well-being. For Steve, to God be the glory. We love you.

Let your spirit not be dampened, for the Lord your God is with thee.

SUNDAY SUN

AUGUST 5, 2012

71

EMMA OKAH ON

Crime prevention and fuel subsidy scam N200 AUGUST 5, 2012

VOL. 6 NO. 485

PAGE 16

This Fashola sef FUNKE EGBEMODE egbemode_funke@yahoo.com 08100993984 (SMS only) oko: I do not understand Governor KKaka: Fashola any longer.

What is there to understand apart from the fact that he is the good governor of Lagos state or are you writing a thesis on him?

Koko: I’m no longer sure the man is a Lagosian.

Kaka: Where the heck is that blasphemy coming from? Are you doubting His Excellency’s state of origin?

Koko: You can’t blame me, can you?

Kaka: No, I can’t and won’t blame you. I will only recommend you for psychiatric evaluation. You are gradually taking leave of your senses or your senses are gradually taking leave of you or both.

Koko: In other words, I am mad?

Haven’t you heard of the new Lagos traffic laws?

Kaka: Aaah, so you are one of those lawless people who are allergic to law and order? Sorry o, you are stuck with those laws and Fashola.

Koko: What was he thinking signing those laws?

Kaka: He was thinking of finally dealing the final blow on the perennial, life-threatening Lagos traffic jam.

Koko: And what is Lagos without traffic jam? The governor is trying to take the essence of Lagos away.

Kaka: To be lawless is the essence of Lagos?

Koko: Don’t you miss Lagos when you go to UK and America?

Kaka: And don’t you wish Lagos is like London?

Koko: Yes, sometimes. But what is Lagos without being able to buy ‘Gala’ in a traffic jam? The governor actually is banning hawking in traffic. Some of us do our shopping in traffic jam.

Kaka: Then you will have to find the nearest shopping mall to your house or office.

Koko: And I am suspicious of that restriction of ‘okada’ from all the bridges. I think Fashola wants to send us all back to our villages. Why won’t he let us be? We’ll wear helmets but it’s our lives and he should let us live it on Third Mainland Bridge if we so desire. Fashola is infringing on our fundamental human rights.

Kaka: All you unruly people are infringing on the fundamental human right of the governor too. The guy is tired of funding amputation surgeries. He needs money to

deal with other health issues in the state. But if you don’t want to obey the new laws, it is also your fundamental human right to return to your village. We’ll gladly let your governors worry about your lawlessness.

Koko: So we can no longer enjoy the fresh breeze that comes with riding okada on a bridge. Motorists will no longer have okada riders to swear at. Tell me where is the fun driving in Lagos? Fashola is un-Lagosing our Lagos. If we are not careful, he will ban Eyo festival o.

Kaka: Stop exaggerating and start getting used to the idea of a new Lagos.

Koko: Is it true he banned the sale of alcohol at motor parks?

Kaka: Yes. You don’t think drunken drivers are dangerous drivers?

Koko: What’s a motor park without paraga, Kaka? The place is gonna be so boring without all those bottles of ‘orisirisi’. Where will all those women with bleached skin and shaved eye brows go now?

Kaka: They can relocate back to their villages or do they have a pact to kill Lagosians through drunken drivers?

Koko: You see, I said it. You want to decongest Lagos. I have this sneaky feeling that Fashola is going to make a crime out of that special voice you hear only in Lagos.

Kaka: What voice?

Koko: The guttural voice bus conductors and agberos use after taking a couple of shots of paraga? It is a distinct voice, strictly Lagos voice.

Kaka: And he banned NURTW from ‘tearing tickets’ at motor parks. This governor wants us to die of boredom and poverty o.

Does he know the essence of NURTW at all; the park chairmen who get rich on those tickets, the many wives they marry.

Koko: Is a governor supposed to overlook the number of deaths caused by motor park politics because of a few fat cats? Oh pleeeease.

Kaka: And if all the means of transportation I have is a motorcycle, why can’t I use it

to take my pregnant wife to the church or the market? How dare the governor interfere in my domestic affairs?

Koko: I know it suits you to twist everything but even if the governor has given up on you and your lawless wife, he took an oath to protect your innocent unborn child. This state will not allow you to kill our future leaders with your okada craze?

Kaka: And everything now carries huge fines and as many as three years in prison.

Well, those laws won’t work, I assure you.

Koko: A dey laugh o. Wait until the laws are gazetted, then dare BRF. I swear I will not visit you in jail.

Kaka: Look, those traffic laws will only enrich LASTMA officials, traffic wardens and policemen who are itching to return to the roads since the new IGP took away their ‘ATM cards’. If a LASTMA officer stops me for eating ‘gala’ while driving, I’ll buy him one with a can of soft drink. If a cop stops me

for carrying my pregnant wife on a bike, I’ll give him N100. That’s all.

Koko: You are a lost cause.

Kaka: We are holding a meeting on these new laws tomorrow and we’ll make sure they don’t work.

Koko: I can already picture you in prison uniform, eating Kirikiri watery beans. You think Fashola is exercising his jaws? Before you ride on that your rickety okada to prison, ask yourself if this same governor didn’t clean up Oshodi. Ask yourself if Lekki residents are not paying their toll gate fees after smoking tear gas. Ask yourself if the BRT buses have not displaced molue . Finally, ask the army officer BRF caught desecrating a BRT lane how it feels to salute a civilian on the front page of virtually all Nigerian newspapers.

Kaka: Are you trying to frighten me?

Koko: No, I’m trying to prepare you for prison life.

Re: That Edo victory

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hanks for reminding us of our past. In the old Bendel state, for instance, where the present Edo and Delta states were carved out, the late Professor Ambrose Ali of the UPN was also a victim of the second term problem. He was rigged out for Dr Osaigbovo Ogbemudia of the NPN to come in in 1983. The NPN which at different times came under different names like NPN,NRC and now PDP has never won any free and fair election apart from the one that brought President Jonathan to office. For this reason, Jonathan must deliver the entire dividends of democracy to all Nigerians. If he fails, there won’t be any political party called PDP in this country after the 2015 election. Since records have it that from its genealogy, its failures are not only in service delivery. Its members also have instinctive sadism and approach issues venomously. To argue this is like committing the fallacies of ‘petito principii’ and argumentum ad baculum’. In early 2011, for example, Jonathan promised to give Nigerian workers a living wage by July 2010. At the end of the day, it was a mere N18,000 per month when as far back as 1986, Nigerian workers were already receiving N38, 400 monthly by current exchange rate of naira to the dollar. By 2015, the masses will revolt with their votes to bring in a president that will give human face to governance. -08052854372 If GEJ had the mind of the fixer from Uromi, the vindictiveness of Aremu and the wickedness of the expired goggled one from Kano, Oshio Baba’s dance steps now would have been different and we would all have gone home sulking. I think we need to appre-

ciate the decency of Mr President.

-celeuwa@yahoo.com You made my day with your piece on Oshio Baba’s victory in Edo State. By diving into our history, the impact of performance in governance and the disposition of GEJ to ensure that peoples’ votes count is a good lesson to our politicians. May they shed the culture of impunity for enduring democratic culture. We need peace for development. But are our politicians ready? -TONY ENYINTA, ISUIKWUATO. anthonyenyinta@yahoo.com Your piece on ‘that Edo victory came at time I was on my wayback to Lagos having attended a ceremonial party in honour of the late mother of Chief Omochere who hosted us including Governor Oshiomhole, Chief Tom Ikimi, Senator Ugbesia among others. When the Comrade Governor arrived, the whole place was thrown into jubilation with women and children singing and praising God for the victory. Oshio Baba in his usual humility walked down and practically shook hands with everyone even when the security aides were trying to caution him. I went around Auchi, Uromi and other towns within and outside Esan and I came to understand why people love Oshio Baba the way they do. Only God that knows why He brought Oshiomhole at such a time as this! The Edo people have made their choice and I am glad they did. Congrats Oshio Baba, the peoples governor.

Emmanuel Nwode – 08168085105. nwodecollins@yahoo.co.uk

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