Sun News - Explore -September 30, 2012

SEPTEMBER 30, 2012 EXPLORE

I’M ADDICTED TO –Banke Oniru HIGH HEELS PAGES 20/21

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SEPTEMBER 30, 2012 EXPLORE

Adam &Eve

Just cuddle me!

By ENYERIBE EJIOGU and OLUWATOYIN AKINOLA

Q

uickly let’s look at two scenarios that often play out in marital situations.

Couple A By the time Catherine eventually sunk into bed a few minutes to midnight, her whole body ached. She hugged her pillow for relief. Her eyelids could barely open as she tried to push back the images of the past rough day. Catherine struggled to say a few lines of prayer, earnestly wishing that the new day would be much better and a breather. She had barely settled into sleep mode when she felt her husband drawing her closer.

“Hmm, I’m sorry, but not tonight”, she pleaded.

“Baby, but I’ve missed you”, he muttered as he nuzzled her in his arms.

“Oh…I’m sorry, but I just can’t go all the way…” her sentence trailed off, signaling she had switched off.

Sulking like a child, he disengaged and turned his back, muttering to himself, ‘This is not fair o!’

Couple B Now zoom to the home of Teni’s husband, Yomi, whose client had failed to make the payment again and now his account was almost dried up. More agonizing for him was the fact that other prospective jobs had also been put on hold. And to add to his troubles, the traffic homeward was terrible. On reaching home, Yomi could barely respond to her, “Hi, honey, how was your day’ greeting”. All he could do was just hold her as he entered, like his life depended on it. After his meal, he barely spent 30 minutes before retiring to bed.

Wondering what was wrong with her man, after closing

for the day from her second office, the kitchen, she showered and hit the bed. Though asleep, he sleepily begged her to come closer as he held her close to him.

“Baby, I just need to hold you. Feel the warmth of your body”, he muttered as he drifted off to sleep.

Curious to know why he just wouldn’t allow ‘Mr. John’ to trafficate and roam as usual, Teni decided to tease him about it the next morning.

“Dear, after a hard day and the terrible headache I got home with, all I needed was just to feel the softness of your body, and its warmth. That was all the paracetamol I needed. But “Mr. John” is rearing to go if you are game and not late”, he confessed with a mischievous smile as he drew her close just to let her know that the “Mr. John” was fully awake.

William F. Harley, a psychologist, marriage counselor and author of the bestseller, His Needs Her Needs: How to Build an Affair Proof Marriage , notes that affection which can be demonstrated through hugs is one thing a woman can’t do without in a marriage.

“When a husband shows his wife affection, he is saying, I’ll take care of you and protect you; I’m concerned about the problems you face and I’m with you; I think you’ve done a good job and I’m so proud of you…A hug can say any and all of the above. Men need to understand how strongly women want these affirmations. For the typical wife, there can hardly be enough of them.”

To the list Harley adds the following: holding hands (which he calls a time honoured and effective sign of affection), walks after dinner, back rubs etc.

But aside the fact that hugs and cuddles could strengthen the bond of a relationship (especially marriage) emotionally, researchers have found that there are obvious and immediate health benefits to that hug or cuddle.

Dr. Madeleine Castellanos, a sex therapist, psychiatrist and contributor to www.goodinbed.com says, “touching regularly has wonderful physical benefits. People who have a good amount of non-sexual touching have lower blood pressure and lower cortisol. This is especially found to be true for men. It has also been found that touching, especially massage, can strengthen your immune system, leading to less infections, colds, and better over-all health.”

According to her, the receiver of the touch is not just the beneficiary of the good that a touch or a hug can do.

“One of the more interesting aspects of touch is that the benefits are not only for the person being touched, but also for the one doing the touching. This is why calm, regular physical contact with a pet will lower a person’s blood pressure and help them live longer. This is also why you can achieve great benefits from touching whether you are the one touching or the one being touched.”

Amazing things a hug can do!

•Continues on Page 19

SEPTEMBER 30 2012 EXPLORE

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Adam &Eve

10 Ways to dump someone

LIGIBLE London bachelor, Dan Juan, has been through escapades with ladies. He is one person who has gotten quite good in the fine art of breaking off a relationship nicely. Below he lays bare the ways of telling a flame that a relationship is over.

E

But now it seems slightly more classy and respectful. At least you’re paying for a stamp.

Pros: Old-fashioned and somehow romantic. Your jilted lover can keep it forever as a memento of how much of a tosser you are.

Cons: You have to pay for a stamp.

Face to face Firstly, I should make clear that in a serious relationship, I would always conduct this nasty business in person. And maybe in a casual relationship too, if forced...

Pros: Instant right to reply for the dumpee.

Cons: You are vulnerable to the threat of tears and possible violence.

Facebook The ‘relationship status’ option on Facebook is the best way of keeping up-to-date with your friends’ love lives... so why not your own too? Just change your status and your newly-dumped ex will receive the news straight to their Wall.

Pros: For you, it’s painless. Just the simple click of a button.

Cons: Your ex will be furious and may retaliate by announcing to Facebook that you have a small willy.

Ignoring This very common tactic involves blanking your lover until they work out that it’s over. At first, they will send lots of texts and mails. Eventually, they will give up.

Pros: You never have to officially dump them.

Cons: They will never know for sure why you stopped contacting them; they may even think you are dead.

Text/email The fastest, simplest and by far most popular method of ending a casual fling is to fire off a carefully-worded message. Almost everyone has received - or dished out - some form of electronic dumping. But killjoys deem it impolite.

Pros: Fits in perfectly with a fast-paced modern lifestyle.

Cons: The victim could receive the message at an unfortunate moment, such as during an important business meeting or while they’re having a really good time at Alton Towers.

Letter I suppose this was considered the text dumping of its day.

Note This is similar to the letter but less comprehensive. It could be piece of paper through the letterbox or a Post-it note stuck to their box of Alpen. The key is the brevity.

Pros: Everyone likes receiving little notes, it’s fun.

Cons: You’d have to pick a strategic time to leave the note, otherwise you could get caught and end up in a face-to-face situation.

Via someone else This only generally happens when you are under the age of 15. It happened to me once in my school lunch break while I was queuing up in Dixy Fried Chicken and it was brutal.

Pros: If they cry, you don’t have to see it.

Cons: Not acceptable behaviour if you are an adult.

In public

At a Birmingham City football match last weekend, a fan proposed to his girlfriend on the pitch. So why not do the opposite and announce to the world your decision to end it?

Maybe the announcer could do it when they read out the birthdays. Or you could request a shout-out on your lover’s favourite radio station.

Pros: This could be her 15 seconds of fame.

Cons: Live broadcasting is unpredictable and they may omit your dedication.

Don’t tell them Tell your friends and family you’ve split up, chat people up in bars, go online dating, stop having sex - essentially, become single. Just don’t tell your partner about it.

Pros: Awkward dumping conversation avoided.

Cons: There’s a high chance they will eventually find out you have stopped going out with them and then bad things will happen.

Phone call As for me, I opted against all these methods and called her.

I semi-rehearsed what I was going to say; my main aim was to avoid clichés such as “it’s not you, it’s me” and not to panic and tell her I was gay. I bumbled through it awkwardly, using the phrase “I really like you but…” more than once (it was true though). And although she went a bit quiet, the conversation ended on fairly amicable terms. I didn’t feel great, but I felt like slightly less of an arsehole than if I’d used the methods above.

Pros: Makes you feel like an adult.

Cons: Scary.

Source: Yahoo Lifestyle

‘Snuggery not about having sex’ Continued from page 18 The power of touch A study at the University of Virginia showed that holding a spouse’s hand can diminish stress set off by a mild electric shock. A total of 16 couples took part. First the wives received the shocks while their brains were monitored via functional magnetic resonance imaging (FMRI).

Next, each woman held the hand of a stranger during the shock—this dampened the stress response seen in their brains. Finally, the women held their husbands’ hands during the shock and the FMRIs showed that the reduction in stress was even greater.

Lower your BP with a cuddle Women who get the most hugs from their partners have the highest levels of oxytocin, a hormone sometimes called the “cuddle hormone,” University of North Carolina researchers reported.

Oxytocin is believed to play a role in social bonding and has a powerful effect on the cardiovascular systems.

In the study, the frequent huggers had lower blood pressure.

Cuddling now mints money And if you think a cuddle here, a hug there is too much to give or too little to be bothered about, then wake up, because it’s now business!

With the economy going downhill, many Americans are seeking strange ways to make a little extra cash on the side. One New York woman has really thought outside the box, creating her own business and is offering snuggling or cuddling to customers who pay for the service.

Jackie Samuel, 29, charges $60 an hour to nestle in bed, but she has also made it clear that her business entitled The Snuggery is not about having sex.

Instead Samuel’s business plan relies on the relaxation, and physical comfort that comes from snuggling

with another person, which studies say can reduce anxiety and blood pressure.

A graduate of the University of Rochester with a degree in brain and cognitive science, Samuel hopes that The Snuggery will aid in reducing stress for her clients, US broadcast network, CBS-Local reported.

Before starting off, Samuel had initially sought for a license, but there just wasn’t one that her line of work fell under.

“I thought, I need to kind of validate my position,” Samuel told ABC News. “I need some kind of certification or license to show I’m a qualified cuddler , but I couldn’t find anybody else who was doing what I am doing.”

After this story hits the streets, don’t be surprised that a smart Nigerian girl could open for business doing the same thing here. Do be sure, she would get patronage in Abuja by the ton! Another good thing about the global village.

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EXPLORE SEPTEMBER 30, 2012

Explore Interview

I’m addicted to high heels –Banke Oniru

By CHRISTY ANYANWU

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ANKE Oniru, recently launched her fashion label Semiloge Couture with an exciting fashion show where she showcased about 63 designs. The petite mother of three who believes so much in the chiffon fabric due to its softness and flexibility believes a woman needs not be almost nude in order to be appealing or psychedelic. In this interview, she revealed how she ventured into fashion designing, her dreams and aspirations for her fashion line and her marriage to the Prince Demola Oniru.

Can you tell us about your journey into fashion?

It’s quite amazing. I read fine and applied arts in school. I have always been interested in fashion design though I never studied it.

I didn’t formally learn how to sew. I come from a family of gifted people – we are all creative. Even my brother who is a medical doctor can handle a sewing machine.

In my childhood , my mum had a machine – that’s how I learnt to run the machine. My mother sews but not for outsiders.

Semiloge used to be a boutique somewhere around Ligali Ayorinde at Victoria Island. When I got married in 2006, my husband wanted me to be around him all the time. For one’s bou-

‘

Not being able to travel to get what I wanted for the shop really gave me a lot of stress.

Then a thought came to my mind that I could utilize my creativity and diversify. This would mean working and still be available for my family since I could sketch and sew as well. I got tailors and started working

’

•Continues on Page 21

EXPLORE SEPTEMBER 30, 2012

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Explore Interview •Continued from Page 20

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I got two offers of admission from University of Lagos and Yaba College of Technology. Initially, I was studying business administration at Unilag, but I could not cope, so I changed to Arts at Yaba College of Technology.

My father was not pleased that I left business administration for arts. He called me a lazy girl and all that but I knew what I was targeting. From Yaba College of Technology, I went to London College of Fashion, but I didn’t study fashion. Rather, I studied arts. Fashion is one thing I did not learn

‘Soon Semiloge will have exquisite offices in Lagos, Abuja’

What can’t you do without in fashion?

I love my high heels. I want everything to be perfect. The only thing I don’t joke with is make-up.

What’s your own fashion sense?

I want everything to be perfect. Leave my make up for me. I love dramatic shoes, shoes you can see the shape but now everybody goes for Christian Lamboutin. I wear heels, tiny heels, not the big ones. If I’m not wearing heels it’s like I’m barefooted. My mother would ask ‘Ah Banke for a whole day?’

I’ll tell her, what of these old women around. The sweet thing is that my husband loves heels too.

’

tique to be successful, you have to travel a lot , maybe once a month or every two months. In my own case, I could only travel out trice in a year: for summer and twice because of my boutique.

I told my husband that the arrangement was not ideal for the growth of the shop and he asked me if I was hungry or if he had ever asked me for money.

Not being able to travel often to get what I wanted for the shop really gave me a lot of stress. Then a thought came to my mind that I could utilize my creativeness and diversify. This would mean working and still be available for my family since I could sketch and sew as well. I hired tailors and I started working. First, I hired someone to get me sample materials.

I am particular about the fabrics I use I don’t want my fabrics seen everywhere or in the local market. Moreover, I don’t want to make something for my clients and see the same material at Oshodi. I started using soft stuff like crystals, and creative beads.

If you have any problem with beads, you come back to us as we always give our customers extra units of the accessories but there is no cause for that because the work is very well done.

What’s the inspiration behind your designs?

Sometimes when I’m alone, I get more creative. Ideas just come to my mind.

Once I sketch one design, another one would just pop up. I’m always with my tailors; we work as a team.

I watch Fashion-TV, and draw inspiration from there too, but I don’t watch TV a lot. I am not a television freak and it all started since I was a child. As an artist, the way I see things is quite different from the way other people do.

water bodies and can’t even go near water. Years ago, the old Oniru palace was located near the Barbeach. I thought he wanted me to come to the Barbeach and I bluntly refused. I have always been the girl next door, one naïve girl. I didn’t even know who Oniru was.

After about three months courting, I decided to pay him a visit but with the condition that he should wait for me at his gates . He complied.

That was how I got to know that he was a prince. I told myself I wouldn’t go there again because he liked Yoruba music a lot. I hated Yoruba music. I like Nigerian music but I still prefer my American musicians. I can only listen to such music at parties but not in my car or when I’m alone. My friends would say “Banke even now that we have nice musicians in Nigeria” But I love American artistes like Aaliyah, Timberland, 50 Cents, Easy E, Freddie Potado.

Do you have a beauty routine?

I love jogging. I’m trying seriously to be disciplined in the area of eating. I don’t eat after 7pm. It’s well known that eating after 7 pm makes you fat because it might not digest before going to bed.

Jogging has helped me shape-up though I’m naturally a slim person.

What’s your dream for Semiloge?

I want to build an exquisite site for Semiloge at Victoria Island and then I’ll build another one in Abuja.

•Oniru

What’s your experience being married to a prince?

That’s one question I don’t like to

answer. For me, I think a throne is wood covered with velvet. I met my husband at a wedding. After the wedding, he invited me to the Barbeach. I told him I hate

What’s your childhood like?

I was born into a family of four boys and four girls. You could say my parents had a balanced equation. I am the fifth born. I was born at Ilupeju. Then we moved to Ikeja, where I grew up. I went to Flora Nursery and Primary School; moved on to Supreme Education Foundation at Magodo. I got two offers of admissions from University of Lagos and Yaba College of Technology.

Initially, I was studying business administration at UNILAG, but I could not cope, so I changed to fine arts at Yaba College of Technology.

My father was not pleased that I left business administration for fine arts. He called me a lazy girl and all that but I knew what I was targeting. From Yaba College of Technology, I went to London College of Fashion, but I didn’t study fashion. Rather, I studied fine arts.

Fashion is one thing I did not learn.

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EXPLORE SEPTEMBER 30, 2012

Explore Business

Good salespersons have integrity, show empathy –Arthur Ozoigbo

By ENYERIBE EJIOGU (enyeribee@yahoo.com)

A

RTHUR Ozoigbo, President of Institute of Chartered Selling Professionals and chairman of Procell Consulting, earned his stripes in selling at Seven-Up Bottling Company Plc, where he became the General Manager (Western operations). Prior to that he had been marketing manager and worked in the six geopolitical zones of the country, chalking up several victories on the soft drink battlefield against the competing brand, which his company was able to wrest dominance from in key markets by deploying Total Selling, a concept he pioneered.

Most remarkably, it was in his time as Brand Manager that Pepsi laid the foundation for glamourizing the round leather game with the establishment of the Pepsi Football Academy. It was also at that time that the razzmatazz brought into Nigeria’s soccer programming on television happened.

After leaving Seven-Up and establishing Procell Consulting, he primed the ‘hard disk’ within his skull and put it into overdrive as chief marketing consultant to Danico Foods West Africa Limited.

With a first degree in business administration from University of Lagos and an MBA in marketing from ESUT Business School tucked under his belt, Ozoigbo is today giving his full attention to nurturing the Institute of Chartered Selling Professionals and leading the crusade for Nigerians to recognize that most individuals who claim to be in marketing activities are actually engaged in selling. In this interview, he makes the revelation that in marital relationships where proper selling doesn’t happen are doomed to crash.

Excerpts…

Iain Nelson was my direct superior. In fact, he was the founding vice-chairman of Prosell Consulting. You could say that we all set up Prosell Consulting.

In the book, Nigeria’s Marketing Memoirs by Mike Awoyinfa and Dimgba Igwe, Nelson was quoted as saying that “a marketer is someone whose head is the clouds but his feet are on the ground.” How does that apply to what you are doing now?

What he actually meant is that whatever you do must come from a good vision. And of course you must be realistic in your vision. You must also work with people. Vision is in the head, but you must also work with people, because you need foot soldiers, to translate your vision into reality. That’s actually what happens in selling. The field commanders are at the back and the people who really do the selling and conduct the exchanges are the salesmen of foot soldiers. For those of us who consider ourselves as professional salespeople we don’t have any categorization. In the field everyone is a salesman. That is why I introduce myself as a salesman.

Give a snapshot of your background.

I am currently the chairman of Procell Consulting, but I was once the chief executive. But I relinquished that position three years ago.

Before then I think I had done my bit of selling and marketing. I started out in marketing, because I got an MBAin marketing from ESUT Business School, Enugu.

I have worked in all the six geopolitical zones of the country as marketing manager of Seven-Up Bottling Company Plc. I belonged to the premier set of the company’s Nigerian marketing managers.

I was the first and perhaps the only African brand manager of Pepsi. While managing the brand, we brought in a lot of innovations into the business, including all the razzmatazz about football.

We popularized football programmes in the media. Team Pepsi was our baby; we raised the profile of the Falcons; Pepsi Academy was established when I was the brand manager. What we did with Pepsi revolutionized football publicity and programming in Nigeria. Most of the people you hear about today, who have done very well, whether TV, radio or print media sports, cut their teeth when I was the Pepsi brand manager.

Eventually, when I went out to set up Procell Consulting, the firm was actually supposed to focus only on sales and marketing.

That’s why the name is pro-sell, (pro-selling). We had our sight clearly set on selling. What we do today in Procell Consulting, which has gone into management and leadership programmes has been as a result of clients’demand. You can’t manage a salesforce if you are not a good leader.

I might also add that I was recently inducted as president of the Institute of Chartered Selling Professionals.

When you were talking about Pepsi and football, I remembered Iain Nelson.

•Ozoigbo

While ago, you said that you went to ESUT. What happened before that?

I am from Anambra State, the place where the sun never sets.

I come from a trading family. So selling is normal. Even when I was a student at the University of Lagos (where I studied business administration), we used to buy T-shirts, brand them and then sell to students for a good price. In those days, every first semester I sustained myself with the money I made from selling clothes; and during the vacations, instead of seeking white-collar jobs, I simply engaged in selling different items to raise money.

So I have always been involved in selling.

Selling is a very interesting; it will help somebody do well in any profession. In selling, the first thing you sell is your personality rather than the products/service you promoting. There is a concept called Total Selling, which we pioneered in Prosell, where we teach people how to first package and sell themselves as a product before they can sell the actual product/service they are offering.

How can a person ‘sell’ himself?

It starts with your packaging; your attitude, mentality and care.

If you do not care enough about you are trying to sell to, then you will not be able to consistently sell to the person. So how communicate and what you communicate matter a lot. You must be able to communicate care, integrity, empathy and concern.

Let me illustrate with an incident that happened in a family: a senior son complained to the to the father that whenever the younger one came to him to ask for something, the father that whenever the younger one came to him to ask for something, the father would grant the request. But whenever he made a similar request himself, the father would tell him stories. The father responded that the younger son showed more care and empathy.

When I was still engaged in active selling, I was able to break the monopoly held by a competing brand in certain markets by simply going to prospective major distributors and just displaying empathy and never for once pushing my product. I remember one particular incident I was taken by a salesman to a place in Ibadan. I was the General Manager (Western Operations) at the time. We went on a trade to see a distributor who they claimed that everybody from our company (Whites, Asians, Africans) had visited to talk her into buying our product without success.

She was a major distributor for the competing brand. Actually we were in the area to supply the little dealer we had beside her. On that day, there was a young girl the woman apparently doted on beside her. I asked my people who she was and learnt she was the woman’s first daughter.

As my people went about their discussion with our customer, I called the little girl and found out that she was preparing for university matriculation examination. She wanted to study medicine at the University of Ibadan, but was doubtful of securing admission into the course. For that reason, she had resolved to settle for pharmacy. I challenged her to stick to her desire to study medicine. I told her she had the capability to go in for the exam, pass and get into prelim medicine. I assured her that I would be praying for her to pass the exam. Shortly before the exam, I sent her a success card (which was the practice then). Two days later, her mother sent somebody to her office to say that she wanted us to supply our products to her. This was what we had long desired to achieve with success. Even people from our headquarters had visited her, but she refused. The funny thing was that I didn’t even talk to her directly, but I knew that when I was talking to the little girls, I was selling my product to the mother indirectly. What I actually did is what we call seductive selling – selling in indirectly.

In effect, if one can concentrate on care, concern, integrity, say-

•Continues on Page 55

D’banj, Don Jazzy divide musicians

Sadness, joy at Lagos screening of GUS contestants SEPTEMBER 30, 2012

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ENTERTAINER Edited by Tosin Ajirire 08056008696 (sms only)

Omosexy:

Me , myself and fame

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SEPTEMBER 30, 2012

ENTERTAINER

By DERINSOLA AJAO

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here are few actors with the ability to show a wide range of emotions. Omotola JaladeEkeinde’s continued relevance in the Nigerian film industry is proof of her skill in her chosen craft.

Shortly before the premiere of Obi Emelonye’s latest movie, Last Flight to Abuja, Omotola spoke about acting, music, relationships and her charity work.

Excerpts:

Last Flight to Abuja Omotola plays Suzie in the movie, Last Flight to Abuja, which is loosely based on the Sosoliso Air tragedy of 2006. On a whim, Suzie boards a flight to Lagos from Abuja to visit her sick lover. Getting to Lagos, things are not as she expects and her return flight to Abuja might very well be her last. In Omotola’s words, the film project is itself “more risky” than many others she has worked on because it deals with a tragedy and not the usual drama that Nollywood offers.

It warranted a comparison to Mortal Inheritance, the award-winning movie that brought Omotola national acclaim and prominence. “When I got (the script), I was like ‘I think this is going to work.’ I felt it’s anoth-

er film that will change things. Nobody else has ever done this kind of film. If Obi (Emelonye) succeeds with this one, I think it will influence others to do not just drama. These stories must be told; we must look at ourselves and look at these stories that affect our lives as a people,” she stated passionately.

Being married to a pilot had nothing to do with her accepting the script though. “We wanted people to see that it was really about the aviation sector and with a story that has affected our lives.” Refusing to address the issues the film raises has yielded no solutions and preventive measures against future disasters.

Omotola also drew some similarities between herself and Suzie the character she plays in the movie.

“I think I’m just as dangerous. I think a lot about things before I do them but once my mind is made up, there is no looking back. I can be very dedicated to things. It’s the strong-headedness that Obi was trying to get out of me (in a way) that it didn’t look forced. He wanted it to be the woman in me who was coming forth. He wanted me to be very maternal, so you had to give a lot in just a few hours for it to resonate with the audience.”

The actress jokingly revealed that she would have preferred to be part of the cabin crew though. This is one reason why she does not consider her role as a very challenging one and also because hers is just one in a milieu of the film’s other characters, who would be united by one tragedy.

“We all have different lives and lifestyles.

We are all human and we never see the future, only God sees the future,” she said of the film’s plot. “Can we all sit back and

think ‘if I had this time would I do things differently?’

That’s what I want to take away from the movie personally.” Referencing the Dana air crash of June 3 this year, Omotola added, “When the crash happened, it’s not the poor people that were on that flight, it’s not the people that were stealing your money it could have been anybody. You might not have forever, so live right.”

Me, Myself and Eyes Beyond Last Flight to Abuja, the actress said work on her upcoming album was in advanced stages. The album entitled Me, Myself and Eyes would express more her preference for inspirational and rock music than her first album. “I’m hoping to release it before the end of the year,” she said, adding that she does not sing commercial music, a reason why she believed the previous album failed. “I’m not really interested in singing about body parts. I already made up my mind that I am not the Naija kind of artiste. The people who would love my music, will love my music. You really have to be mature to love my music. Your mind has to be at a certain level for you to enjoy my music.”

On charity Omotola also spoke enthusiastically about her charity work in issues affecting children, youth and women. She has received much publicity for her collaboration with the Amnesty International on maternal mortality and the Niger Delta. She also discussed the Omotola Youth Empowerment Programme, which she initiated to educate youths on their constitutional rights and inculcate them with the right ideas and ideologies. The programme, she said, was borne out of a need “to change the idea that young Nigerians and Africans are jobless people. They are not. They are actually hardworking and very confident people, who believe they can achieve anything that they want.”

In the same way, Last Flight was for her more than a personal project.

Omotola described it as a very bold movie that discusses an issue like aviation safety, which many would rather sweep under the carpet.

According to the screen diva, “This kind of people should have a voice.”

Fame, love and trust For the muchloved actor, being in the limelight is “a humbling experience” that money cannot buy. “There’s no strategy for it. I just thank God,” she said, adding that her family remains the most important people in her life.

On the issue of love and trust, Omotola says: “It’s very important for your partner to know who you are. Above love, the most important thing is trust. You might fall out on other issues but you should fight for trust to be there.”

SEPTEMBER 30, 2012

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ENTERTAINER

Sadne ss, joy at L ag o s s c re e n i n g of GUS conte stants

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here were moments of exhilaration, moments when the screams rang out in rapturous joy. But there were also moments of sadness, moments when the tears of anguish flowed freely.

Then there were the heart-rending moments. Moments strong enough to soften even the stone hearted.

Welcome to Lagos, a city that emerged as one of the screening centres of this year’s edition of Gulder Ultimate Search. Since the reality TV show was introduced nine years ago, Lagos always seems to attract the fittest, funniest and the most stunning moments in the screening exercise. The 2012 edition was not any different. Unlike last year when 30 individuals slugged it out for the ultimate prize, this year, there would only be 12 slots for grabs. No wonder the struggle for a place in this year’s competition was really stiff.

As early as 6am, a motley crowd slowly began to build up at the National Stadium Complex, Surulere, Lagos. An hour later, the queue had grown into an unimaginable size. And still, it grew larger as the day wore on.

Tension The tension on the morning was palpable. For some individuals, it was another opportunity to stake a claim to the nation’s most exciting reality television show after several failed attempts. For the others, it was their first time to be involved in Gulder Ultimate Search. One thing was common with both groups: they were certainly going to give their all to be a part of this year’s edition.

As it has become the tradition in the reality show, aspiring contestants were required to come along with 10 empty cans. Not to be found wanting, most of the wannabes came prepared with their empty Gulder cans. However, a significant number of the aspiring contestants either did not have the required number of empty cans nor any Gulder can at all.

Trust business savvy Nigerians who are ever ready to cash in on any opportunity.

In no time, empty cans of Gulder flooded the vicinity. They were offered to desperate contestants for N50 per can. The aspirants were only too glad to purchase them all in a bid to meet up with the screening requirements.

For those who could not purchase empty cans, they had no choice but to buy canned Gulder beer. Then another drama played out. In an instant, an army of young men emerged, all armed with bottles and cans. No, they weren’t on a violent mission. Rather they were there to ensure that not a drop of Gulder was wasted. The men promptly sought all of the Gulder purchasing aspirants and “helped” them dispose of the content.

“Why should I stand here and watch people throw away precious Gulder beer? I will rather collect as many as I can and drink them later,” Kayode Ope, who claims to work in the stadium, said.

Kayode was not alone. It was certainly a windfall for him and others.

Moment of reckoning Finally, the moment of reckoning arrived for the hopefuls. It was time for the screen-

•Mercy

ing exercise. Months of preparation would finally culminate in the strenuous series of test that will determine who makes it through. While the aspirants were slugging it out on the pitch, a vociferous crowd had gathered outside to watch proceedings of the screening. Though, their view was largely obstructed by a fence of steel mesh, the “supporters club” appeared intent on catching their fun as they cheered and jeered the efforts of the contestants in equal measures. “Please, don’t disgrace your family”. “Run faster, N9.5m is at stake”. “Remember us when you win the money”. Those were some of the words that rang out from the crowd. The contestants also turned out to be pretty vociferous supporters. While some of them waited for their turn on the pitch, they amused themselves by cheering on the contestants.

Dashed hopes On the first day of the screening, some dreams were truncated. Chigozie Onyema’s fifth try at participating in GUS was not successful. “This is really painful. I will be 30 years-old next year so I won’t be eligible to participate again,” the native of Abia State said as he held back the tears.

For Onyema and many others like him, participating in Gulder Ultimate Search is a dream that will never come to pass again. As for other hopefuls, their dream of participating in the competition was deferred for another year. 23 yearold Adenike Fatai, did not make it. Though obviously disappointed, she already had eyes on next year’s screening. “I will go back and work on myself. Next year will surely not pass me by,” she stated.

For the lucky others, it was one step to their dream of qualifying for Gulder Ultimate Search.

Amongst the qualifiers, Ify Azubuko’s story •GUS winner

stands out. During the race, she crashed on the floor and other runners left her in a heap on the sandy ground. But not one to be discouraged, Ify picked herself up and in a stunning display of courage and resilience, she completed the race ahead of six others. She not only made herself proud, she made her mother, who was in the stadium to cheer her up, proud also.

Swimming time Day two. It’s swimming time. Just before stepping into the pool, the contestants were given the opportunity to save themselves from the embarrassment of performing badly in water.

“Can you swim?” they were asked.

Most of them said they could. But it turned out that a sizeable number of them could not. Still, they would rather try their luck. After flapping their “wings” in the large swimming pool, they were eventually rescued by the eagle-eyed lifeguards.

But the most hilarious moment was when Johnson Ogabi, one of the contestants suffered a damning wardrobe malfunction during the swimming task.

The 25 year-old started well, leaving the other swimmers in a trail of water only to discover that he had lost his swimming trunk in the process. Caught between continuing the race and going back for his swimming trunk, he chose the latter. And so his Gulder Ultimate Search dream ended. Luckily for him, his modesty was preserved when a towel was handed over to him.

However, there were also brilliant swimmers who impressed the judges enough to qualify for the next stage. All in all, it was a mixed bag of emotions for the participants. Joy for the successful swimmers and despair for the failed ones.

Final leg The final leg of the screening was the oral interview. The contestants had to field question before a panel. In deed, it was painful for some of the hopefuls who scaled through all of the rigorous physical screening only to lose out in the oral interview.

Now, other qualifiers from Owerri, Makurdi and Benin will join the qualifiers from Lagos. In all, 60 qualifiers will be picked from the four regions.

Then they will be pruned down to the final 12 that will go to the Usaka forest in Akwa Ibom State to battle for the N9 million cash prize, brand new SUV and N500, 000 wardrobe allowance. The best performing female in the competition will also get N1milliopn cash for being the Last Woman Standing.

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SEPTEMBER 30, 2012

ENTERTAINER WALL GECKO with Gbenga Bada 08028599392

D’banj, Don Jazzy divide musicians

U

• D’banj

Julius Agwu storms Abuja with Crack Ya Ribs

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ith Iyanya, Timaya, I Go Dye, Funny Bone, Senator, Dan D’Humorous, Osama and Tripple White billed for this year’s edition of Crack Ya Ribs in Abuja, top comedian, Julius Agwu is set to rock down the Federal Capital Territory.

After staging spectacular concerts in Glasgow, London, New York, Houston and Dallas, Julius Agwu will be storming Transcorp Hilton, Abuja today.

Going by the turnouts of the show in America and Europe this year, residents of the Federal Capital Territory and environs are in for great surprises as the entertainer celebrates his 12th anniversary. As always, Julius Agwu will play his role as the host of the show with his rib cracking jokes.

Speaking on the preparations, Agwu said: “The Abuja edition of this year’s Crack Ya Ribs is my Independence Day gift to Nigerians as we return after the summer tour. Not forgetting the fact that this year marks 12 years of Crack Ya Ribs and it has been repackaged with some fresh ideas to keep the brand going. We have made it bigger by turning it to a PanAfrican event and that informed why there were performances from Ghanaian leading music and comedy stars at the London show.”

nknown to many music lovers, the breakup of one of the most loved singing duo, D’banj and Don Jazzy, owners of Mo’Hits, which has in its control, Mo’Hits Records and Koko Holdings, has sprang up two different music caucuses in the industry.

While this has not been noticed by some music enthusiasts, investigation conducted by Wall Gecko has revealed that the two caucuses became apparent after colleagues of D’banj and Don Jazzy started affiliating and aligning with the preferred half of the pair after the split.

Wall Gecko further learnt that some artistes, who were in the know of the crack in the Mo’Hits wall before its eventual collapse, have pitched tent with their favourite half, and encouraged each half with words of support and loyalty.

Inside sources disclosed that while famous music youngster and HKN singer, Davido, decided to align with D’banj, who has berthed with his DB Records, Empire Mates

Entertainment star, Wizkid seems to have pledged his loyalty to the Mavin Records boss, Don Jazzy.

Further investigation showed that other artistes, who seem to have aligned with Don Jazzy include Banky W, Iceprince, M.I, D’Prince, Dr. Sid, Wande Coal and Tiwa Savage.

Sources informed that the closeness between Don Jazzy and the EME boss, Banky W, was further reinstated when the duo had cameo appearances in few videos including Skales’ Mukulu.

Meanwhile, artistes like Naeto C, Ikechukwu, P-Square, Kayswitch, Sina Rambo, May D and Flowsick have shown their loyalty to D’banj even though they haven’t spoken about it publicly.

D’banj’s presence at Naeto C’ wedding as well as his presentation of the controversial, Porsche cayenne car, is said to have gone unnoticed by many but when the pair showed up at Davido’s OBO concert after the latter was rumoured to have been signed on D’banj’s records company, the caucuses • Don Jazzy became noticeable.

Annie Macaulay surprises Tuface with birthday bash

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n Tuesday September 18, the tranquil ambience of Oduduwa crescent, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos was disturbed as several celebrities besieged popular hangout, Rumors, to celebrate one of Nigeria’s best, Innocent Ujah Idibia, who is well known as Tuface.

The day, which was the Tuface’s birthday, saw several celebrities trooping in and out of the hotspot, which is coincidentally owned by the musician. Those who should know hinted that the surprise birthday bash was the idea of Tuface’s heartthrob, Annie Macaulay with help from his manager, Efe Omorogbe and

Dotun, manager of Rumors.

Some of those present included P-Square, DJ Jimmy Jatt, Gbenga Adeyinka 1st aka CFR, Abisoye Fagade, Howie T, Kaha, Capital F.E.M.I, Wande Coal, Basketmouth, Iyanya, Dr. Fresh, Bovi, Segun Arinze, Dammy Krane, Charles Novia, Adekunle Ayeni, and DJ Spinall.

Others were Senator Florence Ita-Giwa, Abbah Folwaiyo, Halima Abubakar, Karen Igho, Iceprince, Omawumi, Kaycee, Waje, Patrick Doyle, Baba Dee, Rugedman, Terry G, Elvina Ibru, Gloria Ibru, Genevieve Nnaji, Chidi Mokeme, Rita Dominic, Chima Anyaso, and Flavour.

Femi Sowoolu repositions City FM Trybe Records’ K9

F

oremost On-air-Personality, Femi Sowoolu, is one of the few unassuming broadcasters that would not attract much attention to his work, success or achieve-

ments.

However, Wall Gecko’s attention was recently drawn to the man’s giant strides after his exit from Continental Broadcasting Corporation, owners of Television and Radio Continental. The brilliant broadcaster, whose exit from CBC shocked not a few, is said to have gotten himself the position of

Administrator of City FM. While the man is said to have effected changes that have left many wondering if he was trained a broadcaster or administrator, those who should know claimed that Femi has repositioned the radio station and is working towards putting it ahead its contemporaries.

Further investigation shows that aside hiring new, quality and effective hands to work with him in the radio station, advertisers seem to be looking in the station’s direction.

Sammie Okposo’s The Statement set to conquer Africa

F •Julius Agwu

• Tuface

ew weeks after the release of his fifth studio album, the management of multiple award-winning singer and Globacom ambassador, Sammie Okposo, has finalized plans to distribute the album across African countries.

This is aside the international deal, which the artiste has signed with Oklahoma-based TMG Records to distribute his album across America, Europe and Asia.

Okposo’s album, which is being distributed in Nigeria by Tjoe, is moving units and we

scooped the singer has been smiling to the bank ever since its release.

The management of Zamar Entertainment, Okposo’s record label, is however partnering with Vineyard Productions for distribution in Ghana while other distributors from Kenya, South-Africa, Cameroon and few other African countries are on the queue.

In his words: “So many efforts went into this new album to ensure we come out with a perfect work. We invested lots of energy and money into it to make it an outstanding success.

debuts with Kokoma

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ne of Nigeria’s leading record labels, Trybe Records has announced that it will release the debut single of a fresh act on the label, K9.

Discovered in the 2011Trybe Records’ music talent search tagged, ‘Top Talent’ with a very rigorous talent development boot camp since they were signed up, K9 is debuting with Kokoma.

Though, the official single is expected for released in October and it promises to be a smash hit, a taste of K9 was released on September 20 with Kokoma.

CEO of Trybe Records, Lanre Dabiri popularly known as eLDee during a recent interview said: “We are not interested in developing artistes that are half-baked, we are here to create superstars, and that is why we are yet to release any music from our new artistes.”

SEPTEMBER 30, 2012

27

ENTERTAINER

Actress Ijeoma Agwu now Sunflower Cosmetics’ ambassador

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ast rising actress, Ijeoma Agwu, has inked an endorsement deal with Sunflower Cosmetics as its brand ambassador.

The Entertainer recently caught up with the actress and she opened up on the deal: “I’m excited! It’s a big one for me. I have an endorsement deal with Sunflower Cosmetics. I am

the face of two of their products, Higha and Lever soaps. I don’t want to state figures but it’s a good one,” Ijeoma crooned sexily.

And for the first time, she will be on the red carpet when Hoodrush, a musical in which she acts the lead alongside Gabriel Afolayan hits cinemas come October 12.

“Hoodrush is a movie where I act the role of Kelechi, a young girl victimized by her aunt and sexually molested by her landlord.

However, Kelechi rises above all of these prejudices and triumphs in the end,” she says.

Commenting on how she was able to interpret her role she said: “It was challeng-

ing because I haven’t experienced rape before so it was a bit difficult relating with what Kelechi had to go through. The only way I could interpret it was to become Kelechi. From the time I entered set to the time I left, I insisted that everybody called me Kelechi; I wanted to get into her world.

“Before then a couple of friends who had been raped had shared their experiences with me and I realized they had this faraway look in their eyes as they related their gory tales, so I had this faraway look in my eyes. They actually cried and I cried with them,” Ijeoma stated.

Tenstrings unleashes artistes

I •Agwu

At last, A Tale of 2 African Cities hits Lagos

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t will be an explosion of music, arts and culture as A Tale of 2 African Cities aptly tagged: Nigeria/South Africa Week kicks-off simultaneously at the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos and Freedom Park, Lagos Island on October 3.

The initiative is as a result of the synergy between Inspiro Productions and the South African High Commission in Lagos. Commenting on the development, CEO of Inspiro Productions, Ayoola Sadare says it as an event whose time has come: “The objective is to enhance people-to-people relations between the two largest economies on the continent. It’s going to be four days of business, music, arts, wine tasting, fashion and film. As two leading African cities, Lagos and Johannesburg interact in a unique cultural exchange at The Federal Palace Hotel and Freedom Park, Lagos.”

Among others it will feature the Soweto Quartet who will share the stage with some of Nigeria’s best jazz artistes including US-based Ayoola Sadare, Bright Gain, Imole Africa and Dapo Dina.

Expected at the event are South African fashion designers including Sister Bucks and Jozimental. The visual arts community in Johannesburg will also have an opportunity to interact with the visual art society in Lagos. Also expected is Palesa letlaka, South African filmmaker.

Meanwhile, Nigerian films, Tango with Me, Phone Swap and Maami will be screened during the four-day event and a film discourse and workshop session will be co-ordinated by foremost movie critic, Shuaib Hussein Sponsors include MTN, Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos State Government, South African High Commission, Diamond Bank and South African Airways to mention a few.

n line with its mission to raise future professional musicians that will rule and reshape the Nigerian entertainment landscape, a music platform, Tenstrings Music School has unleashed three artistes on the music scene.

Commenting during the unveiling ceremony of the artistes in Lagos recently, Chairman of the Board of Tenstrings Music School, Akpako Emmanuel said: “In the last five years, Tenstrings has trained a good number of students and has singled out SO Jegs, 9T9 and Franky and inked management deals with them. They are young, energetic, charismatic and blessed with great voices.”

He added that for now, the focus would be on grooming the artistes on stagecraft and the business of music preparatory to the release of their albums. “The industry is ours and we shall continue to set standards and raise

the bar. We believe in talent and its transformative power. The vision is to raise role models who will become giants in music and entrepreneurship and make music the cash cow that it is supposed to be in the country. We are not only training them in music, we are also equipping them to be good business men who can make successful careers out of music,” he said.

Akpako stated that over 2000 students have graduated from Tenstrings M u s i c School in the last five years and still counting. • Tenstrings’ artistes

“We are registered with the federal government as a foundation with the mandate to promote music education and creativity among young people. We train in voice, sound engineering and music production.”

Tenstrings Music School was founded in 2007. Today, it runs six study centres in Lagos.

Danceathon Meg dreams big

B •Meg

oss of Stepryders, a dancing outfit founded by danceathon girl, Margaret Madu otherwise known as Meg is planning big for the dance industry.

Right now, Meg, who danced her way to fame on the platform of Danceathon, has wrapped up plans for a dance competition.

“I can’t let the cat out of the bag yet,” said Meg, who also runs a dance school located in Ikeja, Lagos, “but it is something big and it’s going to be exciting. It’s a whole new approach to the business of dancing. I am putting together a dance reality TV show.

Dance gave me a name and a career and I know that there are a lot of youngsters out

there who want to make a career out of dancing. I want to give them direction; that’s my own way of giving back.”

On what inspired the vision, she said: “I have seen different dance shows on TV but I feel there is still a lot of work to be done because dance is dynamic. I want to bring a new dimension to it. It’s different from whatever you have seen on TV. It’s something Nigerians will have to look out for.

We are still looking for sponsorship right now.”

Among others, the 300 level student of Mass Communication has choreographed videos for the likes of Tuface and Zdon and has worked with the First Lady of Cross River State, Mrs. Obioma Imoke.

Adas features Flavour in Ule Na

I

n 2006, he dropped his debut album. Now, the act known as Adas who is also a Zane Pro records sign-on is back and set to make a statement as he features singer and multi-instrumentalist, Flavour in his new single entitled, Ule Na. “I have a new song entitled, Ule Na

meaning ‘The Song.’ It’s taken a while in coming but we shall hit the airwaves any time soon. I am featuring flavor on the track because he knows what he is doing. He is an instrumentalist, a good composer and a good songwriter. I respect him a lot. What attracted me to him was his creativity and originality. I like people who work hard to be

unique.”

According to Adas, Ule Na is about peace. In 2006, he released his debut album entitled Front The Inside. But when is this single going to drop? His response: “It’s the decision of my new record label, Zane Pro. But I am currently on Take Me by Makoholic, a fellow label mate.”

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SEPTEMBER 30, 2012

ENTERTAINER

Excitement as Face of Peace Africa pageant berths

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or models who think beauty pageants in this part of the world have become overrated and cheapened, the Face of Peace Africa Pageant promises more for females aspiring to hit it big.

The Face of Peace Africa Pageant is coming from the stable of Blu-Moon Imaginationz, an Abuja-based media and film production outfit founded by Ify Concepta, the current Miss Peace Nigeria and one-time runner-up for Miss Imo and Miss Tourism. However, auditions for the pageant will hold in Abuja, Port Harcourt and Lagos, and right now forms are on sale.

Unlike most beauty pageants, every contestant at the Face of Peace Africa Pageant will get to walk away with amazing prizes; with the winner going home with $10,000, brand new car, 1 year movie contract with Blu-moon Imaginationz, 1 year beauty routine, and a trip to Gambia.

1st runner-up (Blu-moon model) will get $5,000, 42 inches Plasma TV, oneyear movie contract, one-year beauty routine, a trip to Ghana. And the 2nd runner-up (Blu-moon Image) would smile home with prizes worth $2000, 27 inches Plasma TV, one year movie contract

with Blu-moon Imaginationz, one year beauty routine with, and trip to Obudu Cattle Ranch. Consolation prizes will also be available for other contestants in the pageant.

On what the organizers are looking for in the contestants, Emmanuel Eyaba, co-founder and MD, Blu-Moon Imaginationz stated thus: “Basically, the Face of Peace Africa Pageant is looking at empowering the African girl child. We are not just looking for ladies who are 6ft tall and elegant, we are looking for ladies who have brains, who are very intelligent and can stand in front of governors, we intend to package them in that light.”

He also spoke about life after the pageant: “The winner will also get a movie contract because we also want to empower them through movies. The winner of this pageant will be given a lead role in a movie, that is also why we need ladies who are versatile and very intelligent too because we intend to also invest time in them for this phase after the pageant.”

WAPTV goes on air Oct 1

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ale Adenuga and his team have been working round the clock to fulfill their promise of providing top quality family entertainment as the launch date of WAPTV draws closer.

The renowned television production company recently announced that it has been granted a Direct to Satellite (DTS) Broadcast License by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) and full transmission will commence on October 1, 2012.

In a statement, the company expressed its intention to continue raising the bar with WapTV, a 24-hour family entertainment channel featuring new in-house productions, exclusive content and award-winning local and international shows.

WapTV will be available on StarTimes Channel 222 as well as StarTimes Mobile TV. Meanwhile, the crew of Nnena & Friends, a production of Wale Adenuga, is ready to dazzle its fans with mind blowing

•Oluchi Onweagba

N

J

ennifer Joe-–Alegieuno, the makeup artiste behind the highly anticipated movie, The Meeting, has opened up on how she was able to achieve the spectacular feat of making up an actress like Rita Dominic, who played the role of Clara Ikemba to look like a 50 year-old woman.

The South Africa trained make up artiste said: “Turning Rita Dominic into Clara was really exciting because unlike most makeup artistes in Nigeria, who love all the beauty parts of the job, I really love creating weird! I actually love creating effects that at first sight you say ‘wow’. The process of aging Rita involved a lot; backaches, early wake up calls, and above all, a detailed understanding of the character which I related to my matron from secondary school.”

Speaking on the challenges, Jennifer stated thus: “Due to the humid atmosphere here in Nigeria, I had to deal with heat causing the skin to sweat and lifting the products used off her face. Also, I had to deal with the fact that special effect supplies are unavailable for purchase here so we were a bit limited and cou`ldn’t really do the build up of character we really wanted.

Ago Igbo we of “Make Me” who worked on the hair said he had to read the script for proper understanding in order to realize the goals of the producer. “Rita’s character in the film, Clara, is a woman in her ‘50s; she is not well informed about fashion and style, but likes to dress very fashionably in her own way, thinking she is a high fashion woman in her early thirties. I worked on her look and those of others by reading the script and understanding the characters well before I got to work.”

The Movie will premiere at an elaborate event on Friday, October 19, 2012 with a cross section of celebrities in attendance and will be in cinema •Dominic the same day.

‘Expect surprises at Top 10 Mics’

K •Adenuga live shows slated to take place at two separate venues, today at Blue Roof Hall, LTV 8, Agidingbi, Ikeja, Lagos and tomorrow at National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos.

Expected to perform are Jaywon, DJZeez, Oshadipe Twins, Papa Ajasco & Company, Sheyi Law, Apkororo and M.C Prince. The shows, being a celebration of children, will also feature performances by child stars including N-Stars, Kamsee, Whitney Wonder and Lolly kid.

Nigerian Futures for Independence anniversary igerian Futures, a 30-minute film on education sector reform in six Nigerian states will be broadcast on Monday, October 1, 2012. Produced by the UKaid Education Sector Support Programme in Nigeria (ESSPIN), the documentary will air on African Independent

‘How we transformed Rita Dominic’

Television (AIT) and Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) as part of celebrations of Nigeria’s 52nd Independence anniversary.

The documentary focuses on schools at the heart of the education system as children, parents and teachers share their experiences and hope for a better tomorrow.

oga Entertainment has promised that this year’s Top 10 Mics music concert will shock many as all hands are on deck to make the concert as memorable as ever.

Last year’s concert, which held at Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos, was a success as it featured top entertainers in their respective genres of music such as Tuface Idibia, Trybesmen Honcho, Eldee Tha Don, EME artiste, Wizkid, MI, •Psquare

P-Square, Mocheedah, Femi Kuti, Duncan Mighty, Sir Shina Peters and Abass Akande Obesere.

This year’s concert has been scheduled to hold at the upscale Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos on Friday, November 30, 2012. Regular concert tickets will be sold at designated stores and tables would also be sold for the concert.

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

Still a crawling

giant

–Balarabe,Fawehinmi,Sheikh Ahmad, Meduoye,Ayodele and others on Nigeria @ 52 Page 34

YOUR SUNDAY MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER 30, 2012

‘CHAIRMAN’CHRISTIAN CHUKWU,M.F.R Former Eagles’captain/coach

I’ll never allow my kids to swap education with soccer

–Pg 30

Editor: SHOLA OSHUNKEYE

SEPTEMBER 30, 2012 SUNDAY SUN

30

ICON ‘CHAIRMAN’ CHRISTIAN CHUKWU, Former Eagles’ captain/coach MFR Yes, people use juju in football, but there is nothing like juju in football

By JOE APU, Owerri

e captained Nigeria to her first African Cup of Nations way back in 1980 bringing the country’s long and tortuous campaign for the trophy to a glorious end.And there was a rapture of joy in the land.And an appreciative nation showered cash,cars and national honours on them.It was the muchawaited glorious dawn for Nigerian football.

Indeed,when the then President,Alhaji Shehu Shagari was rewarding the victorious squad with cars,cash and the national honour of the Member of the Federal Republic,MFR,he described the moment as turning point for his life.

It was also the turning point for Christian Okoro Chukwu,widely known by fans and friends as the Field Marshal of the then Green Eagles, a sobriquet the late quintessential broadcaster,Ernest Okonkwo slapped on him for his superlative performances as Nigeria’s last line of defence.

Yet,it was dawn on creation day for ‘Chairman’Chukwu as the media dubbed him,for that victory galvanized him to more club,national and

H

‘’

‘It was strange for us when we come to the national camp and we’re told to submit our match boots and that we would not see them until match day. And that the boots will not touch the ground’

What was life for you as a young schoolboy?

I will tell you that as a young schoolboy, I had lofty dreams, which hinged around engineering. In fact, I had thought and believed I would end up an engineer and was determined to attain that.

At first, I realized that I was good at putting things back in order even when they are in pieces. I found myself repairing toys and other household items and I knew I was good in that area, and as such, I had made up my mind to follow in that line.

But suddenly, I found myself drifting into sports. Maybe it was God’s design but my aim in life was to practice engineering.

Things began to change for me during our recreation games. It happened that my class was playing against another class and after the game, the school’s Games Master called me out to say that I had the talent to be a good football player, and that he would want me to play for the school’s junior team. Then, school sports were the hub of Nigerian sports and the real reason Nigeria excelled. Though, I did not change my mind from my dream of being an engineer, even while I was in Christ Church Primary School, Uwani, sports began to occupy more of my time and mind because of the competition then between my school and St. Mary’s, St. Bridget’s, and many others. The competition, then, was so intense that we gave our best all the time to remain on top.

How did you combine education with sports without it affecting your academics adversely?

Well, in those days, the in-thing about schools was most students were boarders, unlike what obtains today that where majority of students come from home everyday. Back in those days, at

international glories,ending up as a successful national coach.

Yet,for Christian Chukwu,the road to glory was not paved in gold.

When he fielded questions from ICON in Owerri,the Imo State capital, early last week,he spoke of how he had to abandon school for the lure of football,with his dream of becoming an engineer evaporating and vanishing like a mirage.

In the no-holds-barred interview,held in Owerri where he is the technical adviser of Challenge Cup back-to-back champions,Chukwu reminisced with smiles glorious days in football.

Relaxed in his hotel suite at the Legend hotel in Owerri,Imo State, Coach Chukwu said though he was happy he chose soccer,he would never allow any of his children to play soccer at the expense of education.He spoke on several other issues of life,Nigerian football and the Nations Cup. Excerpts:

Chukwu the National Grammar School, Nike, everything had its time.

There was time for prep, time for classes, time for siesta, time for games and all that. So, nothing suffered for the other.

After secondary school, why did you not head to the university?

Let me say that after secondary school, I was knowingly or unknowing conscripted by the East Central State Sports Council

that owned Rangers Football Club of Enugu. It was the first time that we were going out and nobody gave us a chance. But to the shock of all, we took everyone by surprise and won the Cup. The euphoria and celebration that followed was, perhaps, what propelled Rangers to also win the Amachree Cup the same year; and in celebration of both victories, a friendly match was organized between the two teams. At

the end of the match, I was offered immediate appointment to join Rangers alongside Dominic Ezeani and Godwin Ogbueze. Incidentally, my parents never wanted me to play football or do anything related to sports; and I had to start just like that straight out of secondary school without asking for it and with a good civil service grade to go with it.

First, let me say that aside the trio of us who joined Rangers, the rest of my teammates in the state’s Academicals went into Vasco da Gama Football Club but my own interest and that of the other two who joined Rangers was that we were going to join the big name, Rangers. I could not imagine that I was going to be in the same team with the likes of Godwin Achebe, Ernest Ufere, Chukwuma Agwuonwu, Dominic Nwobodo and such heavyweights whose names I had been hearing since I was in school. That was the attraction. But then, the actual incentive was that we had jobs and the pay was okay for us.

Though Vasco da Gama was where everyone wanted to be but we didn’t bother because those of them that went to Vasco eventually came over to Rangers.

How did your parents react to you having to start working and not furthering your education as they wanted?

My parents couldn’t understand what was going on but unfortunately for them, as I would put it, we were seven kids (two boys and five girls) in the house, and as it turned out I’m the first son who incidentally had gotten a job. It meant that I could help with the training of my other siblings.

My younger brother had no time for sports and wanted to travel to America to study and I contributed three quarters of the money that he used to travel. The girls were all in the school and I

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‘After several refusals (to use juju), I remember that the great football administrator, the late Chief Lekan Salami of IICC travelled with Rangers for one whole year just to know the secret of our success’ had to assist from what I got from my salary, match bonuses and other allowances through my travels. Things got easy for me because at that time, my team, Rangers, were always in continental football championships and the little money I made went a long way to solving a lot of problems at home.

Even at that, my dad did not understand why I had to take the option of working instead of going back to school. It was my mum that had a change of heart; and the moment your mother is on your side you can be sure your dad would make him see reasons.

What were your initial reactions when you started playing for Rangers and had to travel outside Nigeria for the first time?

I must say that things happened so fast for me that I was taken aback. Imagine that I didn’t have a passport and I was given one without having to struggle for it and for the first time I entered an aircraft. It was fun for me all the way, and in actual fact it was the biggest distraction I had in going back to school.

My first trip was to Ivory Coast and I was full of excitement that I was going to places I had read about in books and I was going to see them in real life. I had thought those places were painted in gold but later learnt that they were no different from where I was coming from.

As a young kid, I had thought that Israel and Jerusalem were not in this world but in heaven. But through sports I got to know all these places, and I must say I’m most grateful to God for giving me the opportunity.

My experiences through travels only go to give credence to a proverb in my place, which says: “A journeyman knows more than the gray-haired old man in the village who has not moved out.”

Rangers had a good team that was solid in all departments but for me to break into the Rangers team took me two years because I had to learn from the likes of Luke Okpalla (Jazz Buccana) and Godwin Achebe.

Rangers, back then, was a school of its own, that one had to undergo internship before breaking into the team. This is contrary to what happens these days with most teams where a player joins a team today and tomorrow, he’s already playing.

I recall that one big factor back in those days when you played football was the rivalry between Rangers and IICC Shooting Stars of Ibadan. Why was it so fierce?

To be frank with you, the rivalry issue did not start with IICC Shooting Stars of Ibadan but at the home front with Vasco da Gama of Enugu. The rivalry between these two teams was so intense that when Rangers was meeting Vasco, you can be sure that you would get to see the best of soccer because Rangers would not have it easy at all, because majority of the supporters were for Vasco.

That team put together by Jonathan Ogufere was tough and I respect him for making the team one that was highly revered. He mobilized the team so much so that they were ready to die on the pitch for the club.

The real incentives and money were in Vasco, and they were such that any time we played and beat Vasco to represent the East Central State, we were sure that we would

make a great impact against the rest of Nigeria because they always gave us the fight of their lives.

As for the rivalry between Rangers and IICC Shooting Stars of Ibadan, it’s simply because back in those days, these were the teams that had the majority of players in the national team, the Green Eagles. There are also other rivalries for clubs like Racca Rovers, Bendel Insurance, Stationery Stores and the likes but that between Rangers and IICC was so heightened because of the prestige of the clubs.

What really brought about the rivalry was that there was a lot of prestige attached to it as neither of us wanted to be taunted whenever we returned to the national camp.

However, that did not affect our friendship and relationship. That is why when the fans fight, we begin to imagine what for and we’re always surprised.

Before matches, you would see me, the late Ojebode and the late Muda Lawal, together eating and drinking, and you just can’t fathom what the fans are up to. The real issue is with the fans that conjure all sorts of beliefs and incite others into believing that there is enmity between the clubs, and this was because they were very committed to the teams and would go to any length to justify their support for their teams.

There have been times when both teams are in the final and their supporters sleep in the stadium over night because one is suspecting that the other would bury one object or the other on the pitch of play. On our part as players, when we see all the effort and sacrifice the supporters have made, we just can’t afford to disappoint them because they pay their way to matches, feed and transport themselves to match venues.

When we win, it’s the supporters that would await you at the border and carry you shoulder high home.

There’s this myth about juju in football. How much do you believe in this?

For those of us in Rangers, I want to say we brought an end to the talks about juju in the national team because, to us, it was strange for us when we come to the national camp and we’re told to submit our match boots and that we would not see them until match day. And that the boots will not touch the ground and I began to wonder if the ball we would play is not on the ground but in the air? My colleagues from Rangers would refuse but as captain of the team, I did what was best and in the national interest by calling them aside and asking that they submit their training boots, just for peace to reign and not to create any tension or disaffection.

I remember that in the early 1970s, there was a match we were playing against Ghana, and some supporters came into the dressing room with a big padlock and locked it in our presence, saying that they had locked up Owusu Mensah (meaning they had metaphysically tied his legs to prevent him from scoring goals).

Unfortunately, the only goal that was scored in that game was by Owusu. After the

‘There were times that some supporters would come and say that they want to do lacerations on our legs or bury something on the pitch before a particular game and we would refuse because such things don’t work’

Chukwu game, and we were analyzing how it went, and the supporters blamed the defenders for the goal, I told them it was best for us all to forget about the match or they should tell me why Owusu should be marked when he had been locked. How do you worry about someone who had been locked? I asked them. That killed the argument. That was because those involved were top management members of the Nigeria Football Association, NFA. It did not stop there as there were times that some supporters would come and say that they want to do lacerations on our legs or bury something on the pitch before a particular game and

we would refuse because such things don’t work.

After several refusals (to use juju), I remember that the great football administrator, the late Chief Lekan Salami of IICC travelled with Rangers for one whole year just to know the secret of our success, and nobody batted an eyelid. This cannot happen in our football of today and I wonder what our football administrators are doing today when they suspect each other at the slightest sight of an opposing administrator or player in their mist. These days, when you see two players from opposing teams together and one team loses a game, the next thing is that one of them sold the match. It’s rather unfortunate. At that time, we played to the best of our abilities. What we had going for us then was hard work, prayers and singing to motivate ourselves.

By the time Chief Salami had completed his journeys with us, he realized that there was no such thing as juju in football, and he tried to reorganize IICC. That was why they were able to win the Cup Winners Cup in 1976 and in 1977, Rangers won it. The rivalry in the semi-final against IICC in 1977 was friendly because we had understood ourselves. By 12: 00 noon, the stadium was filled to capacity, and just coming out of the underground tunnel at the Liberty Stadium was a huge motivation because as one steps out, you see the crowd cheering.

In the name of warming up, you can run from one goal post to the other faster than Usain Bolt just to boost your morale before the match and let your fans know you are ready to make them proud. It’s a pity that, today, when our clubs play, you see just one person sitting all alone in the covered stands.

(To be continued next week)

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OTUNBA SEGUN RUNSEWE DG,Nigerian Tourism Development Commission,NTDC

Do I have any fear?

Oh yes, I dread failure

By SHOLA OSHUNKEYE (Continued from last week) n the first stanza of his encounter with us,last week,Otunba Segun Runsewe,the multiple-award-winning director general of the Nigerian Tourism Development Commission,NTDC,relayed his experiences while trying to sell Brand Nigeria on the continent of Africa and the outside world.In this final tranche,he moves the game up to reveal what you never knew about him,especially the events,both pleasant and bitter,that shaped his life.And much more…

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How many children are you in your family?

We are five.

Did your dad’s job as a printer rub off on you? Did it determine your choice of career, which is journalism?

To be honest, it did. In fact, he took me from the day I finished in school to go and resume at New Nigeria Newspaper in Kaduna (NNN). I joined New Nigeria Newspaper in 1976.

What was the attraction for choosing New Nigeria Newspaper for you?

His friend was then the editor-in-chief. He spoke with him. And then, I went and picked up a career. And I thank God that I got to the apex of my career when I rose to become the general manger of New Nigeria (Newspaper).

What were some of those obstacles you had to cope with?

The obstacles are the normal ones. When you are making progress, people are bound to ask questions. I met all those obstacles. Even in my days, people were asking: whose son is this? And we overcame them as it helped to bring the future that we have today.

What would you say impacted you most, or that that singular element that shaped your career?

It’s honesty. I was honest with every one I worked or interacted with or came across in the course of my official and private life. I tried to live clean and I was lucky with the kind of society I was. The people are honest, and very straight. They appreciated me. They liked me.

They were not from my region but because I was fair to all, they accepted me and we enjoyed our working together. They saw me as a promising man who had a promising future.

As a reporter, what was the greatest story that you ever broke?

The greatest story I ever broke was the story of an expatriate, a foreign man who was sleeping with young children of 6, 7, 8 years of age. And he got married to a Nigerian, took them back to his country and abandoned them. I met the lady in London and did the story. Dr. Tony Iredia was then the DG (Director General) of the NTA (Nigerian Television Authority). I called him, and told about it. He asked me to go for it. I did, brought it, and it was aired on NTA. People were shocked to hear and see about what happened. The story infuriated the public, and they were serious reactions. I was in the print media but that story needed to go on air for bigger impact.

While preparing for the story, I had gone to a neighbourhood shop in London, bought a video camera and did the recording. When the late Sele Eradiri saw it, she was excited. They didn’t

‘…When people say I fought battles and I won, I tell them ‘No, I never fought any battles. The one who owns the battle (God) fought the battle’

Runsewe

waste time in putting it on Newsline. I never knew I was going to get much appreciation. It gives me joy that I could use my experience and knowledge to impact on people. And then, so many Nigerians who had similar issues now started coming out after the story. That really helped a lot of them because most of the foreigners who married our girls, many of them were not happy then. So, my coming out with that story was a bang.

What would you describe as the turning point of your career?

I remember when the then President Olusegun Obasanjo was preparing for CHOGOM (Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting) in Abuja in 2003. Three names came out for a particular job. One of them was Dr. Babangida Aliyu, Chief Servant (Governor) of Niger State now, who said he was very busy. God, I have tremendous respect for that man. He is one of those who like the younger ones to grow. He said they should allow the younger ones to face the challenge. Then, they called one ambassador who was then the permanent secretary in the Foreign Affairs ministry. He, too, said he was doing something.

Then, as fate would have it, the lot fell on me.

Of course, you were excited…

Of course, yes. I just felt it was a great opportunity for the president of the nation to call you out of the millions of men in this country, and ask you to do something for your nation. I felt it was a great privilege. So, I just jumped on it. And by the grace of God, we had a successful CHOGOM. The Queen of England, who last came to Nigeria in 1965, now came to Nigeria in

2003 and described Nigeria as the authentic cultural face of Africa. And I was so happy.

During the programme, we didn’t have any challenge or crises. Everything went well. In fact, the Commonwealth people said one of the best CHOGOM they ever had was the one held in Nigeria. Everything worked well. That was the day I knew that there is nothing you put before God that fails. It was one of the best events Nigeria ever had. Honestly, at the end of the day, the issue was still recurring and when President Yar’Adua came in, he gave me a national honour. This national honour got me more committed to Project Nigeria. It made me feel more indebted to Nigeria. My father did so much, he had so much, but they never gave him a national honour. But I, in my forties, I got a national honour. So, I felt really fulfilled in life.

Do you regret that your dad did not live to witness that glorious occasion in your life?

No. I know he always wished me well and he always said that I would make a difference. It was, in a way, an answer to his own prayers over me. So, to me, I thank God that I could live among my peers to have been able to be recognized by my country. Some people don’t know what is burning in my heart. What is burning in my heart is that there are people who are older than me that have not been able to get the opportunity that I have. So, I am committed to Nigeria.

I feel indebted to my country. They gave me the Abuja carnival, it was wonderful. They gave me CHOGOM, it was a huge success. My Hausa brothers gave me a non-traditional title Ajai Allah meaning, the man God has kept. They said they had followed me all along and they saw that God has kept me all through.

What were the adversities that you suffered that made people to come to that conclusion?

First, you must know this: you cannot achieve success without struggle. You cannot become a champion without challenges. So many people believe that in life the day I became a national figure, there came with it a lot of envy and so on. So, to me, when people say I fought battles and I won, I tell them ‘No, I never fought any battles. The one who owns the battle (God) fought the battle.

The former MD of (Nigerian Ports Authority) NPA, Alhaji Gwandu, asked me a question one day. He said: who makes my medicine for me?

He said that because he could not believe that I was going through all that I was going through and still come out alive, as if nothing was happening. It was that easy. Some of the experiences were so life-threatening that I thought the end had come. But at such point, God would just spring a surprise. So, I told him, ‘I don’t have any Mallam. The Mallam that I have is the Mallam that is above all Mallams. The one who is the biggest in the world. And that is the truth. You see if you don’t go through all these trials, you cannot appreciate success.

In all of these, what are the practical lessons of life that you learnt?

I learnt not to ever think that any situation is bad enough to give up. There are situations that God permitted to happen for you to move to the next level. So, you must keep pressing on. If you think that your situation is the worst, you check, somebody’s own is just starting. To me, I live a life of whatever happened is meant to happen.

Is that not fatalistic?

It is not.

Okay, what are the lessons that your parContinued on page 40

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Crime

Car-jackers on the prowl Car-jackers and thieves torment vehicle owners inside the University of Lagos campus, ransacking and stealing several automobiles in the process. Though, school authorities claim to be on top of the situation, more victims of this sad trend are emerging by the day.

By ERIC DUMO lumide Ogunlade, 24, still has sad memories of that fateful day. The wound and scars have refused to heal more than a year after that painful experience. On July 21, 2011, he parked his Nissan Sunny salon car in front of his hostel – King Jaja Hall – within the premises of the University of Lagos, UNILAG, and went home to spend the weekend with his family at their Ibafo residence. But he returned to campus the following Monday morning with a rude shock awaiting him. His car had been moved from where he parked it three days earlier. It had been stolen.

At first, the entire situation seemed like joke, he told the paper. But as minutes turned to hours, and hours to days, he had to accept the reality – painful though. “I was so devastated that I had to report the matter at the school’s security unit on my mum’s advice,” he begins, with a tinge of regret. “After I made the report, the security officers told me to drive round the whole school and that I should search properly maybe I could still find the car. I did that for over an hour and didn’t find anything. So, I reported back to the security unit. They asked me to write a statement which I did, and they transferred the case to the nearby Sabo police station.”

With the matter now in the hands of the police, Ogunlade would have thought his fears would be doused very quickly. But events that soon followed saddened him the more. “On getting to the police station at Sabo, they asked me all sorts of questions,” he continues. “They asked me who owned the car, and I told them it initially belonged to my mum but was later passed to me.

I was requested to write a statement after which I presented them the particulars of the car. But I was shocked to see the policemen say that I am a suspect in the theft as well. They said why should I park a car I didn’t buy with my money and go away.

“Later, they said I should give them little money so that they could use it to make contact and that it is the policy. I gave them N2, 500 after which they told me to be calling them everyday.

The next time I went there, they were demanding more money from me. I gave them N1, 500 but when I noticed they were tossing me around, I decided to let go. Till today, the car has not been recovered. It is gone.”

Officers at Sabo police station were not willing to speak on the matter when the reporter checked during the past week. They were simply not interested in the matter.

Sad as it is, Ogunlade’s experience is not peculiar. It is only one among a growing list of car thefts and burglary cases within UNILAG campus. Two weeks ago, Benjamin Dideolu had his graduation celebration cut short when his Honda Civic car was ransacked while he was writing his last paper. The day meant a lot for Ben and dozens of his final year colleagues. They had lined out a whole lot of activities to end the evening and celebrate, in grand style, the climax of their four-year stay on campus as undergraduates. But everything soon went blank for Dideolu minutes after he came out of the exam hall. Some unknown persons had forcefully opened the boot

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Jaja Car Park of his car. Two blackberry Bold-5 phones, one iPad, an iPhone-4 and a wallet stuffed with more than N45, 000 were among the missing items.

Emeka Anekwe, a close friend of Benjamin, lost two phones during that incident as well.

Close to tears, Anekwe recalls the events leading to that terrible situation. “We were about three that kept our things inside the boot of Ben’s car that day,” he says. “As it is forbidden to bring any item into examination hall, we thought it would be safe to drop our phones and cash in the car.

The paper, which was our last, went well and we were all ready to go and enjoy ourselves at a nearby joint as we had already planned everything.

But when we came out of the exam hall, all the joy we felt earlier turned to sadness because all the items we kept in the car had been stolen. We were all left with nothing and even our mood had been seriously affected. There was no way we could think of going to any joint because everything we had on us had been stolen.”

Distraught beyond measure, Dideolu could not muster enough strength to talk about the issue in details. He is still haunted by the memories of that horrible evening. “Whoever did that, took away all my gadgets, all my contacts,” he says, agonising. “All my contacts were on those phones and this is the most painful aspect for me. Though I am happy they didn’t steal the car itself, I cannot still come to terms with the fact that I lost all those important gadgets. Does it mean we cannot even park cars on this campus again? It is getting too

much for these criminals who destroy and steal peoples’ cars almost every week. Something should be done about this quickly.”

Kingsley Aikpokpo’s ordeal is not too different from Dideolu’s. He parked his car inside the compound of his hostel one night earlier this year and before dawn, it had been vandalized and several items stolen. He was left dumbfounded when security men at the gate of the hostel could not explain things. “I stayed at Biobaku Hall at the time that incident happened. Every night we do park our cars inside the compound, and that day I parked my car and went to bed around 11:00p.m. But I was surprised the next morning to see the door of my car vandalized and everything emptied. I raised an alarm and also reported the matter to the porters on duty.

“But I was disappointed because they could not give me a good reason why my car had to be bugled when we had security men at the gate of the hostel working round the clock. If I had parked outside, that would have been a different case but I parked inside the compound. So, how did they get the chance to enter and vandalize the car?

“After I reported the matter, security men didn’t find any solution to it, all they did was to tell me to continue writing statements. So, I decided to abandon the case and go repair the car myself.

A lot of cases like this have been happening on this campus and nothing concrete has been done about it. There was a day one guy was shouting

and crying all over the place. When we asked what happened, he said his car had been stolen where he parked it. This was a few days after my own car was vandalized. I just hope the school authorities can do something about this disturbing situation.”

Also, a senior lecturer at the Department of Sociology had a dose of this dangerous trend in crime on campus two weeks ago. He had driven straight into school that hot Friday afternoon of September 14, this year, for the Jumat prayers at the school’s expansive central mosque. He parked his car in front of the chapel, metres away, and made his way into the prayer ground. Thirty minutes later, after the service, he was greeted by an unpleasant surprise. Criminals had forcefully gained access into his car, carting away a bag full of important documents and spare keys to his office and car, cash and a new specially made Quaran that he bought for N35, 000. He reported the matter at the security unit promptly hoping for a quick result. Several days have passed and he hasn’t heard anything. He is worried at the increasing rate at which such incidents occur within the university’s premises lately.

“The loss of that Quaran is the most painful for me,” the lecturer laments. “I bought it N35, 000 and it is a special edition. The documents I lost in that bag, too, are very important. The spare keys to my car and office were in that bag as well. The Continued on page 43

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Nigeria @ 52

The story of a crawling giant With an abundance of human and natural wealth and the propensity to grow at an unprecedented rate, Nigeria’s maturity is taking too long to come, according to experts. More than five decades after independence, the country is still struggling to gain appreciable balance.

By ERIC DUMO, CHRISTIAN AGADIBE and ADAEZE ATUEYI-OJUKWU ver the last few days, advertorials and goodwill messages have flooded the mass media in Nigeria. It would most likely remain so in the coming days and weeks as well. At this time of the year, such relentless splash of cash by individuals and groups is a known ritual. It is time, yet again, to celebrate the country’s independence as a sovereign state. After decades under British rule, the nation earned the right to rule itself on October 1, 1960. Since that time, the date has become important in the country’s history.

Until about a few years ago, majority of Nigerians anticipated the annual ‘festival’ with great expectation. During such periods, significant monuments were given facelift while certain parts of the country wore new moods. A whole lot of activities were always lined up for the once-in-a-year event.

But in recent times, October 1 appears to have lost its spark across the country. The aura, the excitement, expectations and prospects that used to come with this date

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Jonathan

Fawehinmi

have all waned. The reasons are obvious: fifty-two years after securing freedom from British Colonialists, Nigeria and Nigerians are still enmeshed in series of crises that threaten the continued existence of the

nation state. Large sections of the country have remained underdeveloped while ordinary citizens – many of who live below the poverty line – battle to scale untold hardship to keep their breaths. For millions s in

this category, October 1 and all that it represents, does not make much meaning anymore.

“There is nothing significant about October 1 again as far as I am concerned,” Rasheed Balogun, an Islamic cleric, told the paper. “I remember as a school boy, we used to line up major roads in Lagos and also marched at the stadium and Tafawa Balewa Square during such days. We all wanted to be a part of all the activities because it was so much fun. At that time, life was better for average Nigerians. I am talking around the late 1960s to the mid1980s. That was the period when we were all happy to be citizens of this country no matter what. But now, there are too many problems in the country and that is why nobody is interested in celebrating anything. The suffering is too much.”

Balogun is not the only one feeling this way; it is the prevailing mood in many parts of the country according to checks by the newspaper. Basic infrastructures and social amenities are almost non-existent in many communities across Nigeria and in the few places they appear to be, they are grossly inadequate to address the demands on ground. Successive administrations, though have tried to make things work, millions of ordinary citizens have had to live under terrible conditions – a situation that betrays the nation’s enormous wealth – human and material.

The journey to Nigeria’s present state did not begin today. It started decades ago, shortly after independence, when corruption and political instability crept into the picture. The first few administrations after 1960 were characterized by reckless abuse of power and financial misappropriation.

Politics and governance took ethnic lines, polarizing the nation along a dangerous North and South divide. At the height of those dark days, the military took over the reins of governance. Between January 15, 1966, when the first coup took place, and 1999, when the men in ‘khaki’ returned to the barracks, Nigeria witnessed about 33 years of military rule. It was a period that set the nation back hundreds of steps and further weakened any prospect of drawing closer to its potentials. Thirteen years after the return of civil rule, the country is still far from reaping the full benefits of democracy.

Fiery Lagos lawyer and human right crusader, Barrister Monday Ubani, say at five scores and two, Nigeria still shows signs of ‘deformity’. “The only problem with Nigeria 52 years after independence is that growth is not visible,” says Ubani. “Nigeria still exhibits some form of deformities. In terms of providing the basic things of life for its citizens at age 52, those things are not there. As I speak to right now, the wife of the president is in Germany for medical treatment. It is not supposed to be that way.

Schools are opened for the new session and a lot of us now have to send our children to

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Nigeria @ 52 private schools and we spend so much. Some pay as high as N2.8 million for two or three kids because the public schools are not functional and that’s why we are sending our kids to private institutions. And then you have the issue of power or electricity system.

“In terms of security, there is not much going for Nigeria at age 52 especially with what is going on in the north like the Boko Haram issue and militancy in the south.

Militants are still threatening Nigeria despite the amnesty granted militants by the late President Umaru Musa Ya’Adua. Asari Dokubo, a few days ago, threatened that they would go back to the creeks if President Jonathan is not allowed to continue as president after 2015. In other words, he is threatening Nigeria.

“The Igbos are also issuing out their own threat that it is their own turn; so also are the Northerners.

Nigeria is manifesting all manner of symptoms of sickness. At the age of 52, I cannot really completely say that we have achieved much in terms of nationhood, in terms of unity and in terms of the visions of our forefathers.

“The citizens are still living in penury in poverty, rate of unemployment is still so high, and the issue of having affordable medical treatment is not there. Our education system has almost collapsed totally, and as a result, Ghana is now benefiting financially from what we pay as school fees in their universities. There is nothing I can really pinpoint that should make us proud at 52.”

Mohammed Fawehinmi, Lagos lawyer and son of the late of late legend, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, agrees with Ubani that there has been no concrete achievements since the country stood on its own more than half a century ago. He fingers naked use of power and widespread corruption especially in the corridors of power, as among the major crises rocking the nation’s boat.

“Indiscipline is the major cause of all our problems as a nation,” he says. “We have become so indisciplined that it has led to corruption and greed. One man wants to have money that would fend for a million persons. There is no more pride and dignity. What we have now are people aspiring to become politicians so that they can quickly embezzle money.

That is why, unfortunately, we can be labelled, as a nation of killers because officials have made it a mandatory prerequisite that whoever constitutes a treat to the position they are aspiring for, must be removed so that they can win by all means.

“The stealing and looting of our treasury is what have made Nigeria remain underdeveloped. It is not that we don’t have the money or the brains, or that the atmosphere or the condition is not agreeable to the government but some people don’t want the growth of this country. If we are to move as a nation, we must be seen as a very serious country. I just see a couple of executives who just sit round the table and say what they want. This is a political system where godfathers are still in existence. People pick whom they want and make them our leaders.

“The economy is in shambles, I am afraid that we would get to a point where the masses would revolt; an angry man would not look at anything when he has been

Ubani pushed to the wall. When it gets to that point, only God can help us. I can feel the tempo of people when I go out, when I go to some rural areas; I make sure I spend time there. What I hear scares me. I hope what happened when the French revolted and killed their king would not happen here.”

In January, this year, Nigerians, irked by a shocking New Year Day increase in pump price of petrol, from N65 to N140, before it was eventually trimmed down to N97 per litre by President Jonathan, abandoned fear and took to the streets. Drawing inspiration from the Arab Spring, perhaps, the people-young and oldcame out in their full elements, roaring with one voice, with fire blazing on their faces. From East to West, North to South, the people staged anti-government rallies to announce their frustrations. For several days, the economy laid prostrate with social life almost crumbling at the time. It was a strong message by the Nigerian masses to their government – a sneak preview of an impending revolution that awaits the country if the stings of poverty and hardship bite harder, observers have said.

Since he came into power as substantive president following his victory at the 2011 general elections, Goodluck Jonathan has embarked on a series of reforms in key sectors in an attempt to drive the nation through a glorious and prosperous path. Previous administrations before his’, like the Olusegun Obasanjo regime and Umar Musa Yar’Adua’s administration, have pumped millions of dollars into reviving key areas of the economy.

During the time of Obasanjo, more than $20 billion (overN1 trillion was invested to tackle the nation’s perennial electricity problem. Under Yar’Adua’s 7-point agenda, more of those dollars were splashed to ensure power gets to every community and neighbourhood. But in spite of those huge investments, ‘darkness’ still prevails over ‘light’ in many parts of the country.

Though, the present administration has made bold inroads in tackling this scourge by increasing power generation to around 4, 203 mega watts, the nation is still a long way from the amount it needs to function perfectly.

“Now, in the northern parts,

Prof. Rufa communication power has been threatened, because of insecurity,” Jonathan told a large gathering early September at a summit organized by the Nigeria Labour Congress. “There is no way that will not impact on the economy.

For us to move with the modern society, there must be peace. We need peace if we must develop this country.

“Nigeria will not divide. We have security problem, because most of the people involved are ignorant. For us to move forward, government and citizens must work together. We can now talk about those calling for the balkanization of Nigeria, so anyone that says they want their own nation, which is Igbo nation, Yoruba nation, etc. are people who want to be kings in a tiny island, and they will not get it, because Nigeria will not divide.”

Apart from the power situation that has given the present administration sleepless nights, the escalating level of insecurity of lives and valuables across the country has also posed serious challenge for the government. Armed gangs, like the deadly Islamist group, Boko Haram, have unleashed terror and inflicted pains on innocent citizens in many parts of the country over the last three years.

Though the group has been on ground long before then, its nefarious activities took a deadlier twist since Jonathan came on the saddle. Besides tearing towns and cities apart by heavy machine

‘If we are to move as a nation, we must be seen as a very serious country.

I just see a couple of executives who just sit round the table and say what they want. This is a political system where godfathers are still in existence’

guns, properties, worship centres and hundreds of innocent lives have fallen to their bombs.

Security operatives have had their hands full trying to curb their menace.

Power and security are not the only issues on Jonathan’s list of worries, they merely add up to an ever-swelling roll. Standards in education have dropped significantly in recent times with many public schools turning into an eyesore. From primary to tertiary institutions, things have gone from bad to worse. The situation leaves strong doubts if the country would meet up with United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) target of education for all by 2015.

Minister of Education, Prof.

Ruqayyatu Rufa’I fears it’s a serious problem already. “Nigeria is at risk of being unable to meet the Education for All (EFA) goal especially goal 4 of halving literacy by 2015 unless urgent and augmented action is taken,” she said.

Even though the literacy rate has gone up by 3% from its previous 57%, according to the minister, the journey is still a long way ahead.

The amount pegged for the sector in the 2012 budget, representing about 8.43% of the total budget, is miles behind the 26% recommendation for education by UNESCO. This has contributed immensely to the decline in education standards in most public academic institutions in the country, a situation that is pushing thousands of aspiring individuals in search of knowledge elsewhere.

According to emerging statistics, over 71,000 Nigerians study in Ghana alone, splashing more than N160 million on tuition fees all together. Experts say this is not good for the country’s future.

“Neighbouring nations like Benin and Ghana are taking advantage of our poor education sector to improve their sector and economy,” Harees Oyelami, a social researcher told the paper.

“A few years ago, they were the ones that were coming here to study in our schools. This is to show you how terrible things have become over here. Jonathan should ensure he addresses some of these problems very quickly if not we could all be doing everything we need to do abroad.”

Government’s intervention in

health, transportation, oil and gas, agriculture, sports, arts and culture have been commendable over the years. Reforms have been initiated across these and other important sectors of national life but like a curse, the gains have fallen short of the expectations.

Infrastructures in some of these areas have continued to crumble, leaving the economy and system weaker year after year.

“There is no infrastructure,” Fawehinmi declares, matter-offactly. The leaders are the problem. They don’t know the needs of the people. The president has selected the worst set of ministers and they have all performed below forty percent. The only minister who seems to be doing averagely well is the Minister of Agriculture. Though, he is now over dependent on cassava as if it is the only thing Nigeria has. If we map out the number of crops we have in Nigeria, about 38 cash crops, every year we can generate about 5 billion, just from agriculture alone. The manpower is there, the lands are there. We have enough fertile soil everywhere but we are not utilizing any of those potentials. This is not good for the nation.”

There have been suggestions on how to move the nation forward by stakeholders across the country. While some have called for the convocation of a Sovereign National Conference, SNC, as the way out, others have insisted that leaders in elected positions must work hard to trim down the gap between the rich and poor. They say the massive inequality in the country have contributed to the crises the society presently faces.

Ubani is among those thinking along this line.

“All the sectors were functioning well in the early days after our independence, even the police,” Ubani continues. “Everything was functional-the roads, power, water system, but now you have to dig borehole to drink water in this country. Go to Britain today, you see old buildings with everything still functioning well in them.

Why can’t we do the same thing here? If we don’t have the money it would have been a different ball game. There is so much resource we have as a nation but nobody is enjoying anything, only the elites are enjoying everything, including security. They are enjoying interrupted power supply because they have four to five generators and they have diesel that is also free for them. This should not be so in a country where many people cannot even afford two decent meals per day.”

Indeed, there would only be little to celebrate for many Nigerians as the nation turns 52 tomorrow.

Besides the high cost of living and the unavailability of basic social infrastructures in several communities, the growing wave of crime and disturbing level of insecurity would all combine to form strong worries for many families and individuals. Though, on paper, the economy appears to be growing, it is a different story in reality.

Millions of citizens battle to stay alive everyday in a society where prospects and promises are fast fading. Experts say except government shows enough commitment and take some of the issues troubling the nation head-on, Nigeria and Nigerians could be left in a worse state by the time another October 1 arrives next year.

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Nigeria @ 52

BALARABE’S INDEPENDENCE BOMB:

These mindless stealing, corruption, will lead Nigeria to anarchy, civil war

By SHOLA OSHUNKEYE and TEMITOPE DAVID-ADEGBOYE econd Republic Governor of Kaduna State, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, has appraised the state of the nation in the past 52 years, x-rayed the various acts of lawlessness and mind-boggling corruption by elected officials, and dropped this bombshell: they will lead Nigeria to a second civil war if not checked!

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Excerpts: Nigeria will be 52 on Monday. Looking back at the numerous policies rolled out for this country at independence, how far and fair do you think we have gone as a nation?

We have not gone far enough. Judging by these 52 years, it’s a period of repeated failures than achievements. We have failed to

do what we were meant to do.

During the regime of Gen. Yakubu Gowon, Nigeria used to have a five-year development plan, which helped this country to move forward a lot. But something happened along the line and that disappeared. Since then, this country has been ruled by trial and error.

How do we rectify this?

Actually, we can go on and on having memorable plans, but we’re not implementing them because of corruption. And if we are not implementing we continue to crawl where we should be flying.

How do you mean?

Over the years, we’ve had great plans.

But these great plans were not articulated.

Where they were articulated, they were not implemented because of corruption.

Still talking about national development plans, there was a time the slogan was Vision 2010. Later, Vision 2010 metamorphosed into Vision 202200. Do

you see the goalpost shifting as we approach 2020?

That is political fraud. This Vision 202020 is a fraud and the leadership would not allow achievements to take off.

There seems to be a paradox in this country where government after government would assemble a huge population of experts in various fields, but the result does not justify the status of all these people…

(Cuts in) It’s because of corruption!

Corruption has incapacitated government and there seems to be no leadership that can correct it.

So, what do we do to fix Nigeria?

The political leadership produced by the system is based on self-interest as opposed to public interest. Today, we now have mega corruption, stealing of the most mind-boggling type and criminal waste.

In our 52 years of existence as a nation, we have been rolling from one crisis to another, starting from coup and countercoup in the First Republic, which eventually culminated into a bitter civil war.

There were other forms of instability.

More recently, we have been suffering under the Boko Haram insurgency. Are all these a product of corruption too?

Of course, they are a product of corruption. They are a product of the system and the leadership produced by the system, which has now made the state of the nation like this and there is no way there is going to be peace and stability without changing the system and the leadership from one based on self-interest as it is today to one based on public interest like we used to have even during the colonial times and the First Republic, to some extent. That was how we were able to register some achievements, even during the military regime. But since the Second Republic, things degenerated and we had this survival of the fittest.

People say it is stupid for us to adopt the principle of rotation of power; that the emphasis for a nation that is trying to evolve like Nigeria should be evolution of the best, irrespective of where that best comes from. What do you think?

Well, merit is good. Essentially, things would be best when things are done on merit, but there are situations that have to be corrected. If we rely on merit alone, the leadership would always rely on two sections to the detriment of others and this would not be good in uniting this country.

Whether we like it or not, we have to use merit and other considerations, so that every section of Nigeria would have a sense of belonging so we can all put our heads together for a national cause. If we use merit alone, there are sections of the country that would never be able to rule the country no matter what happens. And this should not happen.

As a farmer, are you worried that agriculture has been totally relegated to the background in our economy?

Exactly! It has been so relegated that agriculture is not even able to sustain us in this country.

How can we then turn Nigeria from a mono-economy nation to a plural-economy nation?

By changing the system and the leadership.

How do we change the leadership?

We can achieve that by serious and special reconstruction of Nigeria, by striking a balance in the roles of the state in the economy to ensure peace, stability and progressive human development of the country.

What we can say is the legal role of the state in the economy like we had in the colonial and the First Republic, which was abandoned starting from the Second Republic when Shagari came up with his austerity measures. That is the whole mess, which has now led to all these mindless privatisation and destruction of the structure.

‘Whether we like it or not, we have to use merit and other considerations, so that every section of Nigeria would have a sense of belonging so we can all put our heads together for a national cause’ Where do you think Nigeria would be in 10 to 20 years’ time?

If the present system and the political leadership continue, then we will have the worst situation on our hands, which is anarchy and disintegration of Nigeria; and after a long run of anarchy, civil war. All positive projects in the country will have been destroyed; there will be nothing left for anybody in Nigeria to hope for, and even fight for.

Anarchy and disintegration are words people have so heard so often that they have become clichés. Now, you are introducing the element of civil war, which scary. What are the factors that can induce civil war? And are they on ground as we speak?

Well, with this level of poverty, disagreement and insecurity and this level of corruption, mindless stealing and criminal waste on the surface, sooner or later, they will lead to anarchy and if not checked, civil war. Quote me.

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Nigeria @ 52 SHEIKH ABDUL-RAHMAN AHMAD National Missioner,Ansar-Ur-Deen Society of Nigeria

We have reasons to thank God but not sufficient for celebration

By SHOLA OSHUNKEYE and TEMITOPE DAVID-ADEGBOYE t’s just as well that this year’s independence anniversary, which falls due tomorrow, is low-key. In the estimation of the National Missioner, Ansar-Ur-Deen Society of Nigeria, Sheikh AbdulRahman Ahmad, even though Nigeria and Nigerians have every cause to thank God for his mercies on the country so far, there isn’t much to sheer about in its pilgrim’s progress. Sheikh Ahmad weighed Nigeria’s enormous potentials against its achievements, and described what he saw as dismal.

Here are excerpts from the interview:

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From your perspective as a religious leader, do you think we have made substantial progress as a nation to warrant any celebrations?

I think we have so many reasons to be thankful to God but I don’t think we have sufficient reasons to celebrate. God has been good to this country with the kind of people that we have, we are richly endowed in human and material resources. Going by that alone, Nigeria and Nigerians should have no business with poverty whatsoever.

Unfortunately however, exploitation and appropriation of these material and human resources have left so much undesired. We could do better as a country. By now we should be on the verge of being truly a nation but we are far from that. And the country is torn apart even within and I think at 52, we are yet to start behaving like an adult.

The economy is in bad shape, the political arena is in disarray, so much disharmony, discontent and even at 52, we are yet to be able to answer certain national questions.

Then, we have not fared well. If we are still asking ‘do we want to be together? Should we stay together?

What do we benefit as Nigerians from Nigeria? And so on, then we have not done well.

What are those factors that have constituted themselves to burdens that have pulled us down over the years?

Many subsequent leaders after the first republic have displayed incompetence and there is so much corruption and bad leadership and followership. And we have not been able to grow our own system. Like someone said, Nigeria exports what it doesn’t have and imports what it has in abundance. I think one of our problems is the presidential system, which is unnecessarily expensive. A situation where

‘I think at 52,we are yet to start behaving like an adult’ about 25 percent of her national income go into service or otherwise indolent leaders and the people wallow in abject poverty. This does not call for any celebration at all.

How do we get to that point when we can say ‘Hurray!’?

First, we must and take the first step understand and accept the basis of nationhood. This is very fundamental. Everyone must have a sense of belonging. Everybody from all parts of the country must be able to aspire to get to the highest office in the land. We must also

settle the indigene dichotomy.

This is part of our national question. We must fight corruption. We will never attain greatness with the level of corruption that is evident in the country today. We must adopt a system that we can comfortably refund and a system that is compactable with the Nigerian situation if it is possible. I believe we must be ready to integrate properly, national integration is very important.

We can develop along the lines in the creation of states, local government has not formulated more

progress. In the first republic when we had regions, we achieved more than what we have with the creation of states and local governments. Many of them are not viable. Except a few that have justified their existence, majority are centers where they just share money.

Majority of Nigerians are deeply religious and this is evident in the number of Churches, Mosques all over the country.

Yet, there is so much evil in the land. How do you explain this?

There is a fundamental differ-

ence between religious experience and religious expression.

Religious expression is the manifestation of the deep-rooted poverty. Nigerians are incurable optimists. Religion has become a tranquilizer that take them away from their everyday strive and stress. They want prosperity through the back doors and they believe worship centers are a shortcut to prosperity. These are the content of what these worship hoses preach. It’s not so much about faith, discarding human characters and praise worthy ones.

It’s all about come and ….with God and God would make you rich. In fact, there are special services for those who want to go and apply for American or British visas. This is what religion has become.

Contrarily, a true religious experience is, and I want to tell you and you know that some of these religious houses and their leaders are some of the richest individuals in this country. So, I do not as far as I am concerned regard this as a true religious experience. I regard it as hiding under the canopy of religion to tranquilize them so that they forget about their worries. It is the same thing that alcohol does to those who want to forget their worries. That’s the way I see it. And that is why a member of these worship houses does not translate honesty and integrity because the proliferation of these worship place is not even to serve God. Lastly, do you think for us to move as a nation, we could toy with the possibility of scrapping religion from our national life?

No! That would be irrational and that would be chaotic. There has never been that history.

Nobody can scrap his or her own conviction. People are entitled to believe whatever they want to believe and you can’t compel them. On the contrary, I believe that these worship centers are also a part of the society. And the genetic contradictions that they’ve embedded into the society would also catch up, not only in worship centers but also in every strata and layer of the society. I think rather than scrap religion, let governance be better. People who are effectively engaged would not have time for a lot of these things.

Even if they do, it would not be in such a way that it will be a major pre-occupation. The way to create a change is to address the underlining problems, unemployment, good governance, fair distribution of wealth resources and fight corruption, most of these problems would disappear. It is a free world, anybody can start a worship center, the constitution allows it, and so long as the person gets patronage, it goes on. But scrapping religion is the answer.

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Nigeria @ 52 REV.FELIX MEDUOYE General Overseer,Foursquare Gospel Church in Nigeria

Nigeria is complex, our leaders lawless

By BEIFOH OSEWELE and SEYE OJO everend Felix Meduoye,General Overseer,Foursquare Gospel Church in Nigeria,was 12 years old when Nigeria got her independence in 1960.In this interview,he x-rays the problems of the country and offers pragmatic solutions to the myriad socio-political and economic problems besetting the nation.

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Taking a cursory look at the journey of Nigeria in the past 52 years, what are the things we have either got wrong or right?

At independence in 1960, I was 12 years old. I was then in a village somewhere in Delta State. The village has two different names because the Itsekiri and the Ijaw lived there. The Ijaw would refer to the village as Sokebolo and the Itsekiri would call it Yokiri. The village is very close to Warri. What we have now are completely different from what we had then. They are different in the sense that we never heard of armed robbery. Though there were thieves that would steal chicken or knock at the window side and say, “Who’s there?” and he would run away. We never heard of thieves who would come around and when you say, “Who are you?” he will say, “Keep quiet, I have come.” At that time, I was in a public primary school in the village and the education was free. In those days, we didn’t know so much about the issue of corruption– people wanting to get everything into their pockets.

In 1958, I relocated to Warri till the independence in 1960. Then, you could walk any time of the night, nobody would molest you. Major changes began to come in around 1966 when there was a military coup and the civil war that started in 1967. I was in Sapele/Warri during the civil war. To some extent, I saw soldiers for the first time with guns shooting people. I remember when General J.T.U AguiyiIronsi, the military Head of State, travelled to the Delta area in 1966 before the civil war started. Even then, things were pretty quiet.

But the civil war brought about some dramatic changes in the sense that the issue of killing became a common phenomenon. Those of us in the Delta area then had a huge chunk of the problem because Delta State was in-between the East and the rest of Nigeria. I know that both the Federal and Biafra soldiers had it tough in a number of places from Ore before they came to other places.

I was in secondary school during the civil war. At a time, we had to move to our villages. Since then, things have changed in Nigeria. It’s like peace has been eroded from the country. It’s like security has become another thing altogether. Now, armed robbery is no news. But those were news in those days.

It was rare to hear that somebody killed somebody in those days, even to see dead bodies.

In those days, young people were always afraid to see dead bodies. It was not usual to see dead bodies.

But today, you hear of mass killing of people. You hear of kidnapping and strange types of things all over.

When you look back to 1960, what readily comes to your mind? What is the feeling? Is it anger, sadness or so? How does the new “normal” make you feel?

When I look back and consider the present, my feelings are highly impacted upon by my religious and spiritual background. It may not be like any other person’s own. I tend to be receiving things from the perspective of the fact that I knew that the world was not going to get better.

Towards the end of the 19th century, people were thinking that we were going to have a utopia at the turn of that century, only to come into World War I and World War II. People were shocked to see that things went that way. I never have thought for many years now that this world would get better. When I see these things coming up, it just gives me the

impression that confirms my feeling that things were not going to get better.

It is strange to me that they are happening, but it is strange in the sense that one never would have expected them. But for me, they are expected because I know spiritually that is what it should be.

So, you are not shocked, angered or surprised about the strange occurrences …?

I feel very bad about them, but they are not without expectation. You may be shocked to see some things happening but you know they would come to pass. Because you know they would come to pass, when you see them happening, you are not surprised. Most of the time when I read newspapers, I say, “What is all this?” I feel bad about them; that these things are happening. But when I sit back, I know they are things that should come to pass.

Do you sometimes sit down in your quiet moment and feel like shedding tears forNigeria?

If I say yes, it would be the normal answer anybody would give. But the way I analyse Nigeria might be different from the way most people do. I do not necessarily analyse Nigeria in the context of what is happening in the world as a person. This is my personal opinion. I analyse Nigeria in the context of colonised nations in Africa coming from the colonial masters.

What I see each time I analyse Nigeria is that we feel bad about Nigeria but the country is not the worst-case scenario of colonised countries in Africa coming out of their colonial masters. When we are assessing and appraising a situation, many times it depends on the perspective from which we are looking at it. Some people may come out to say that there is so much corruption, there is so much evil and so on. In the past, when the colonial masters were still leading us, there were so many things people far down there would be very happy about, which they are not seeing today.

If we now look at Nigeria today and say Nigeria is so bad, there is so much corruption, there are so many atrocities, killings and lives don’t mean so much to people... Look at the way we drive on the streets, if you are outside of the country and you step on the road, the cars will stop for you. But in Nigeria, if many drivers see people trying to cross the road, they would hoot for them, warning that they should get out of the road. I see that coming out of us as Africans who have been colonised, who are just starting life, so to say. If we compare ourselves with the Western world like America, Europe and so on, we should be crying. It’s so bad. But let us look back inside and say Nigeria is a country in a continent called Africa and many of the countries in Africa were colonised nations. Look at all the countries that were colonised and have gained independence, how fair are they doing compared to Nigeria?

It might be that the drivers who are not giving preference to pedestrians to cross the roads have fears that the people sometimes may turn out to be armed robbers.

The problem of Nigeria is complex. Our people are not too different from other people in other countries. Our leaders are people who bring laws for the people but many of them do not obey those laws themselves. When our leaders are coming from a place, the whole of the road could be closed and people could suffer from morning till night and the leader is still far away. He has not come out and he doesn’t feel a qualm. When you have such leaders, all the next rung of people to him will be doing likewise and their attitudes will be impacting on the people below. The former military Head of State, General Murtala Mohammed, was the only man who came and said he was not going to do that but they just killed him.

We think independence is to show that we have come to maturity. That is what the meaning of inde-

pendence should be. As a matter of fact, we have not learnt our lessons. We have not learnt how to lead people. Instead of learning, all we are doing is to satisfy ourselves. So, in the process you will find out that it is from one rung to the other; the leader is somebody who doesn’t care about the feeling of the people by his actions. Some of the things are inadvertent, they didn’t know it would happen like that but it began to happen and those in the next rung would take advantage of it.

You won’t find this elsewhere, especially in some of the Western countries. In fact, the president may pass through a place and you won’t know that the president is around. But if he changed that system, the people will react just like we react. One day, I was travelling to the airport in one of these Western countries. We passed through a particular road, it was raining. There was a slight congestion. I noticed that both the whites and the blacks started taking “one way” because there was congestion. I said to myself, “That is exactly what we do in Nigeria all the time because our roads are few.”

Our leaders see these problems and instead of using our money to construct extra roads for us, what they are doing is using the money on frivolous things. So, the whole thing is leadership. When there is problem with leadership, you don’t expect it to be well with that country.

The reason a driver will hoot at pedestrians trying to cross a road, rather than wait for the person to cross, is because the man can end up being an armed robber. The truth is that the difference in human beings is very minimal. We are all alike. Over there in the West, there are people who have atrocious wicked hearts. What they have got in their setting is that they can make laws and people will enforce them. If you fail to enforce the law there, the people will act like we act here. If there is any one thing that I know is the problem in Africa, not just Nigeria, one major problem in Africa, which is also in Nigeria, is bad leadership.

Are we too hard on our country?

I think so. I think we are not looking at our country from the perspective to which our country belongs. We look at our country by looking at the West. Many of the things we are suffering today, many countries in the West have suffered the same problem and some of them, worse.

Looking at the following and leadership equation, what is our greatest problem? Is it the following or leadership?

On the average, the followers in Africa and in Nigeria are doing what the normal person should do. But we have a problem of leadership.

Are there some truths in saying that the people get the kind of leaders they deserve?

When you are looking at Nigeria, look at the country in the context of a colonised nation that has come out of being a colony into independence.

America was colonised too?

But you know how long it took America before the country settled. You know how many years’ wars were fought in America. America was completely divided between the South and the North like we have it today-South and North in Nigeria. It is all the same. But one thing that was good about America is that the people who led them for years, that brought them out of the woods, were godly people. Go through their history, look at those names and their motto: In God We Trust. God gave them people who began to think godly. So, leadership is not the issue for them and that is what we are lacking in Nigeria.

If there is anything I will say every church should pray for, and my church will pray for, is the leadership of this country. Human beings in this nation are the same as human beings elsewhere. Even the corruption we are talking about is pervading everywhere. We always blame people at the top. Even on the street, don’t we see corruption? It is everywhere.

It is because of leadership.

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Nigeria @ 52 If the leader should say today, corruption should stop, and that they themselves will pay the price, it will be curbed. If you are a president and you realise that you are in the position as a representative of God and you must govern with the fear of God, that day, we will be on our way to what we want to be.

The problem in Nigeria in the past 52 years is not our people, the problem is our leaders.

So, it is not right to say we deserve the type of leaders we have? But the leaders come from among the people.

Yes, the leaders flow from among the people; but the structure that has been set in place. When our leaders get there, it takes a leader with strength of mind to consider what it will take for the country to progress and he does it with godly fear. It is not that some leaders do not have good intention before getting to the office, they do. But they need strength of mind.

What is leadership?

Leadership is going before by example and others following. A leader is somebody who is in front for others to follow. A leader does not come from behind. Leadership may be positive and it may be negative. If a wicked man stays in the front doing wickedness, some people will follow him.

Is a good leader born or made?

Agood leader is a leader who takes his directions from God. A leader who doesn’t take his direction from God, no matter how saint-like he may appear, things will still go wrong.

When some of these leaders are aspiring to offices, they come to people like you for prayers.

What do you tell them? When they are not doing what you expect, do you have the courage to call them to order?

I was in a meeting not very long ago and one of the governors said people don’t tell them what is wrong, that he got to a place and the women came and were hailing him, that he’s doing well. He got to a primary school, and a pupil told him that the roof of the school was leaking. He said, “these young people are telling us something.” But one man of God was there and he said the governor was not saying the truth; that he has been told many things but he did not change.

The truth is that so many of them are told so many things but they don’t change. Some of them who are governors today are members of local churches. If you call some of them many times, they won’t answer you again.

It is not that our leaders are not told the truth and I will not wholesomely blame those who are in positions. We are still going through learning. I believe God will raise for us a man who will be able to stand. It takes a man to stand first. We must break the jinx of what is happening now. That is why we need to pray, not just for the president alone, but pray that God should give us somebody who will help us out.

What will you advise our leader to do within the next five years?

I will tell Mr. President to trichotomise the problems of this country; the spiritual, economic and political paths. One, Mr. President should put a lot into making sure that he has people to pray with him. It takes God to be in any of those positions. As a matter of fact, man is not created to rule over man, it is God who rules over man. So, if you want to rule man correctly, ask God to lead you.

Two, the Federal Government should not try to do so many things at a time. My advice for him on the economy is that he should do few things. The power issue in this country is something that Mr. President should put himself on the scale over it. Everything that it would take for the power sector to work, he must do.

It is so much of a shame to know that a country like Nigeria does not have regular power supply; there is power cut almost every hour. There is no country that will develop with that kind of situation.

It is frustrating. Economically, Mr. President should look at the issue of power, don’t take two many things, let other people do other things. The issues of power and road in this country should be Mr. President’s concern.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo did too many things. At least, he achieved on the GSM revolution. Before the revolution, NITEL at that time was charging a few kobo per minutes and it was about 100, 000 people in this country that had the lines. In those days, if you had a line today, tomorrow it would be cut. The day after tomorrow, they would come and fix it, the other day it would cut again.

When GSM came, it was N50 per minute. People were complaining that “what the government was giving to us for N2, the GSM companies are now saying N50.” Today, even the poorest woman in the market has a handset. In other words, it was a need.

Government must know the need of the people.

Today, power is the need of this country. I urge Mr. President to do everything within his power to let Nigeria have 24/7 light in this country; people

We must kill corruption, build strong institutions’ will hail him forever. If he can add road construction and rehabilitation to it, it is very good. Socially, Mr. President should stand up and show that he is in a war against corruption. He should do it by starting with himself.

Where do you see Nigeria in another10 years?

One, I will like to see Nigeria economically not being a mono-product economy country. I want to see Nigeria harnessing as much as possible, all our resources in the various regions. Let’s harness what we have in the soil. I want to see Nigeria becoming a huge agricultural country. Food is vital to man. I want to see our money invested in agriculture. I want to see that in the next few years, Nigeria is running 24/7 power.

All that notwithstanding, we thank God for all He has given to us. I want to see Nigeria as a country where there is real freedom of individual fellowship and freedom of expression. Of course, people should be free to worship their God. I want to see a Nigeria of tomorrow where it is not easy for anybody to commit crime and not be detected.

You were 12 years old when Nigeria got her independence on October 1, 1960. What were you doing on the day?

I remember very well where I was playing with some friends in an open space and we were all shouting independence. In the school, we marched.

At that age, you must have had your dreams and aspirations for Nigeria at 52? What were those dreams and aspirations?

I was not thinking of Nigeria as a nation at that time, because to think of Nigeria was to think of government.

But you knew that a change was coming, the colonial masters were going, we were going to rule ourselves, were you aware of that? What were the activities before the independence?

Today, children at 12 have the opportunity to see what is happening all over the world through technology. Achild at 12 in my own village did not have access to the radio. In fact, when the civil war was over in 1970 and the government announced that the war has ended, “children go back to school,” we did not hear on time.

You have grown to become a man, did you ever imagine that we would be where we are today in our country?

I never thought Nigeria would become such a corrupt nation. But I had always believed that it would come to pass, that the world was not going to get better. The truth is that Nigeria could be a place where corruption will be so endemic. In 1972, General Yakubu Gowon (rtd) was the military Head of State. In the days of Gowon, things were pretty sweet too. There were a lot of nice things. Gowon would declare bonus. There was a time people went to the market and bought everything. That was the kind of thing we began to have after the war.

But I started to think strongly when Chief Obafemi Awolowo began to give us analysis that Nigeria was not buoyant and that the country was dead. You will recall that the Minister of Finance then was saying Nigeria was buoyant, but Awolowo said Nigeria was hollow.

That was the time some of us started waking up.

‘We must break the jinx of what is happening now. That is why we need to pray, not just for the president alone, but pray that God should give us somebody who will help us out’

For me, that was the time I started waking up. It was a moment of decision for me. Thank God I worked in place that entailed getting involved in the things that were happening; currency changing, naira devaluation and all these things began to come one after the other.

In advanced countries, they have strong institutions biggerthan any individual, but in Nigeria it is all about personalities. In realising the Nigeria of our dreams, don’t you think building strong institutions will play a major role in getting the country there?

That is exactly what it means to me when I say leaders are not showing the right example. In advanced countries, if you are a president and the court says this, you have to bow to that institution.

The court is an institution. We don’t have strong institutions in Nigeria basically because of corruption. The whole thing is complex. If you take this, you will discover that it is interwoven with the other and so on.

What is your take on the high cost of getting to political offices in Nigeria and what will you suggest should be done to remedy the situation?

I think political offices are too many in our system. There are countries where local government work is not full-time job. Of course, a lot of people have complained about the huge cost of maintaining the National Assembly. I think it is too heavy.

Anybody who gets into the National Assembly, or a state House of Assembly is out of Nigeria. It is because political offices are too attractive that people can sell their houses or any property or borrow money to get to any political office. If it is not too attractive in terms of what you will get when you get there, they won’t be selling their houses to do that.

The system has put so much there, they will fight to get there.

I know that it is difficult to cut down the cost of political rallies and campaigns. The thing that should be cut is what they are going to get there. If you don’t cut that, they will be willing to spend anything here to get there. Supposing you know that when you get there, you are going to do public service, which is the meaning of politics – the true meaning of politics is to serve the public. If that is what you are going to do, it is not going to be a matter of do or die.

The point is that you cannot stop people from spending money on campaigns. The only thing you can stop is what you are going to get when you get to the office. If what you are going to get is N1, you won’t spend N2 to get N1. Political offices should be made less attractive. This will give opportunities to people with genuine intention to come on board.

This set of people will be able to say they are coming to serve the people. If the people like, they should chose them and if they do not, they should not vote for them.

Looking back at the number of churches in Nigeria in 1960 and what we have now, as a Christian leader, are you not sometimes bothered that churches are proliferating yet evil is becoming viral?

One, in 1960, what was the population of Nigeria? Although we do not have the right statistics, we know that Nigeria has grown these 52 years.

It was said that Nigeria had a population of 60 million then and now we are more than 150 million people in Nigeria.

It is not only the Church that has grown, the people also have grown. Somebody rolled out the statistics sometime ago; he said at independence, the Christian body in this country was about 14 per cent of the total populace. By 2000, Christians were about 45 per cent. Currently it is between 55 and 60 per cent of the total populace of this country. One of the things that has meant indeed is that the Church has grown and people talk about proliferation.

I don’t regard it as proliferation. I see it again as one of the expected. I see it that Nigeria especially is playing out a prophecy; that Nigeria is to be a target for Christ movement. Apart from the number of churches we have in Nigeria, almost all over the world, you have Nigerian churches; people who have left the shores of Nigeria to plant churches all over the world.

But people talk of the many churches and yet evil.

The question I always ask people is, “Supposing the churches were fewer, how much evil do you think would have been on ground?” I know of so many places in Nigeria where you couldn’t move at certain times of the day in the past, which the light of Christ has made to become light.

But some of the shrines are still there?

But a lot has given way to the gospel. Many times, people don’t want to realise that. I have seen areas not far from Lagos here, where killing of human beings for sacrifices has stopped.

There is scarcely anywhere you are discussing anything that has to do with the Church that this question does not come. It’s one of the questions all the time: “why are there so many churches and yet so many evils?” The truth is that you do not have the measurement to be able to say that supposing that these churches were not here, things wouldn’t have been worse.

It could be because of the number of churches that we have that things are like this. But we also know that in Church history, when the Church is more and the people are few, control is more, leaders are able to say “we must not do this, we must not do that.”

But as is normal in every human endeavour, when it spreads out like that, you will imagine that there will be mixed multitudes.

At one time in this country, it was not the best thing to say: “I am a Christian.” But today, it is the best thing to say: “I am a Christian.” At one time, to say that you are a pastor, what kind of introduction are you giving to yourself? The Church is doing this country good, not evil.

Are you now saying that in spite of all these challenges, Nigeria is not a hopeless case?

Yes, it is not. That has been my stand. Nigeria in comparison with all other countries that came out of the colonial masters, she’s not been the worst. But I must say that in any country where the poor is neglected, the rich can never be at peace.

SEPTEMBER 30, 2012 SUNDAY SUN

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Nigeria @ 52 PRIMATE BABATUNDE AYODELE Head,INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church,Lagos

I see danger in the air

By OLAJIIRE ISHOLA rimate Babatunde Elijah Ayodele,head,INRI Spiritual Church,is known for his predictions on national and international issues.As Nigeria turns 52 on Monday,he was cornered in his office to look at the life of the nation in the last 52 years of independence.He took time out to bare his mind on his disappointments.

For him,only two things can take the nation away from the political and economic wilderness – prayer and dialogue.

P

Here are his assessments in his own words: That Nigeria is marking its 52nd independence anniversary should naturally call for celebration, but if you look at it properly, there isn’t much to celebrate. When Nigeria

was 50 and it was being celebrated at Eagle Square, there was heavy bomb blast that claimed innocent souls. Better put, out of the 52 years of Nigeria’s existence, the last 10 years were terrible.

At the beginning of this democracy, we had Niger Delta militancy, in which many innocent souls were lost. As the militancy subsided, kidnapping and armed robbery followed, and now, Boko Haram. If you look inward seriously, you will discover that innocent blood was and is still being spilt. Let me tell you, God doesn’t joke with this blood and this blood is crying seriously to God. The problem with Nigeria is leadership, and our inability to listen to the prophets. The last time we had it right last was during the time of Awolowo and the time of Bola Ige/Jakande, which I believe was still the brainchild of Awolowo.

After that, this country has not been

having it right.

In the olden days, if the independence anniversary was coming, we the children used to be happy, we usually celebrated with fanfare, but the opposite is the case (now).

I remember that I warned our leaders. In the 2002/2003 edition of our book of prediction, “Warning to the Nation,” page105 to be specific, I said terrorism was coming then.

What did our leaders do? They did nothing. In the 2010/2011 edition, I predicted the coming of kidnapping and a new dimension to armed robbery. Our leaders did not listen.

Things are not being done as they ought to be done. I said Boko Haram would come and it came.

Danger is coming. Unless our leaders call for genuine prayer session that will cleanse the land, we are in serious problem. Let me tell you, another terrorist group is coming that will be deadlier than Boko Haram because Boko Haram will soon die.

In this government dialogue with Boko Haram, government will be disgraced. Look at the issue of N5, 000 new note. I once said that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) would introduce higher denomination. Let me tell you, it is not only N5,000 note, N10,000 notes are still coming.

Our government is deaf; that is why it cannot win the war against

destroyed many institutions.

Like the kind that breaks marriages, destroy homes?

That is why I fear God

Why do you fear God? You see, if you see any human being that does not fear God, run away from him or her. If you fear God, there is a lot you can do in this world. It’s because we don’t all fear God today that we are all where we are. If we fear God, a lot of things would be in place. I give you an example. Look at when Dana airline crashed, some of the relatives of the victims said the aircraft was not good. If we have the fear of God, there are so many things we will not do. Look at the small boys who killed Cynthia Osikogu; it’s because they don’t have the fear of It made me feel more God. Those who have the fear of indebted to Nigeria. My God would have a mind of tolerating each other. The fear of God is father did so much, he very crucial. had so much, but they Actually, there seems to be no correlation between fear of God never gave him a and being religious. Despite the proliferation of churches, there is national honour. But I, increase in crime rates… in my forties, I got a When I say fear of God, if you look at it as we have in the society national honour’ today, most preachers are preaching on wealth, prosperity as against years ago. holiness. That’s why you find someWhat happened that necessitated body killing a fellow human being that recommitment? and he is being celebrated. If the fear I found out that life itself is tender of God is there, that won’t happen. and God gives it to whomever he That is why I emphasize the fear of chooses and the day he wants. So, God. why am I giving myself unnecessary Any regret in your life? stress? So, these are some of the Well, probably before I knew things that gave me some insight and God… I have stood by them over the years.

How many years ago was that?

Because in most cases, people will tell A couple of years ago, say like five you they believe in God but they don’t to six years ago. act the way of God at all. For instance, Was it that you became born a man will tell you he just left church again or what? or mosque now, but if you see what he I became stronger in the Lord. is tying under his step or car, it’s Why are you shying away from almost unbelievable. That is why the that phrase ‘born-again’? best thing is to believe in your own I don’t believe anything is re-born God and do your own thing the way it as such. But I started to see is right. If we do things right, life will life from a different perspective six be better for us.

Continued from page 32 ents taught you that helped shape your life?

My dad taught me the principle of sharing with others. My mother taught me the principle of being patient in life.

Papa said no matter how much the food is, we should always try to share with somebody, that sharing would bring us more joy. And these two principles helped me to appreciate the realities of life.

Are there moments you’d rather forget in your life?

Since I’ve come to know God, I find it difficult for anything to bother me. In fact, when you really know God in life, you see every trial as a process. If I go outside there now and my car is stolen, you would be surprised at what I would do.

What would you do?

Nothing. I would just get a taxi and go home. I may not even report at the police station because if that thing is meant for me, it would come back to me. It’s better to believe that whatever would be would be. And I said why not death? I said death comes with finality. Every human being has a departure time. That is where God is supreme because none of us knows our departure date and time. That’s why it’s like the most stupid thing to do is to go and receive power from a human being like you. I can’t see why.

Do you have any fears?

Do I have any fear? Oh yes, I dread failure. Yes. I fear failure But many people see failure as a stepping-stone to success. Why do you fear failure?

I fear failure because it has no relations. Failure is an orphan. Your own perception of failure is different. There is no amount of success that can and should excuse failure. That’s my opinion. No human being loves to fail.

terrorism. This government will still increase the price of petroleum products.

Dana plane crash was a sacrifice in the spiritual world.

To round off, (there is need for) cleansing national prayer and dialogue that will solve this nation’s problem, though the country will break up before we can have absolute peace.

‘The national honour got me more committed to Project Nigeria.

Runsewe I think what they are referring to is temporary setbacks. Failure is the most difficult thing a human being should ever think of. Failures have

ICON ICON

SEPTEMBER 30, 2012

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Photo-Scene-T Thesis Isa Yuguda’s son weds

The wedding between Idris ( Isa Yuguda’s son) and Bilikisu, daughter of ex-PDP scribe, Musa Babayo, was recently held in Abuja with pomp and pageantry.

Dignitaries from all walks of life trooped out to celebrate with the Yugudas and Babayos for both the wedding Fatia and The couple, Idris and Bilikisu the reception.

Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State and Edo State governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole .

Alhaji Bamanga Tukur and wife

Hajiya Abiodun Isa Yuguda, Hajiya Nafisa Isa Yuguda (wives of the Bauchi state governor) & Hajiya Babayo (bride’s mother)

Engr. Tele Ikuru (Deputy governor of River State) and Senator Liyel Imoke (Gov of Cross River State)

Alhaji Aliko Dangote(MFR) with the couple

Hon. Farouk Lawan and Senator Sanusi Dagash

Alhaji Muhreed Maiyeri and Alhaji Tijjani Abubakar ( the Tafida of Kano)

Barrister Irene Obiekwe and Nicole Obiekwe (daughter)

Capt. Idris Wada (Governor of Kogi State) and Chief Ikedi Ohakim( ex- governor of Imo State)

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SEPTEMBER 30, 2012 SUNDAY SUN

Snaparazzi The wedding ceremony between former Miss.Kofoworola Ajakaye and Prince Adegboyega Aromolaran,son of His Majesty Oba (Dr) Gabriel Adekunle Aromolaran II,the Owa Obokun Adimula,paramount ruler of Ijesaland recently at Bola Memorial Anglican Church,Ikeja Lagos.

Photos by OMONIYI AYEDUN

Oba (Dr.) Gabriel Adekunle Aromolaran and Olori Adenike,groom’s parents The couple,Prince and Princes Adegboyega Aromolaran

Mr.& Mrs.Festus Ajakaye,bride’s parents

The cross-section of Royal Fathers led by HRM Oba Adedokun Abolarin,the Orangun of Oke-Ila

Her Excellency Mrs.Titi Laoye Tomori,Deputy Governor Osun State,Chief and Mrs.Rafiu Jafojo,former Deputy Governor Lagos State.

Primate Adeniran Aluko,the couple and Chief Michael Ade Ojo,chairman,Elizade Motors Ltd.

Alhaja Feyisetan Olakanjudu,Deaconess Olufunmilayo Ibironke and mother of the groom,Olori Adenike

Mrs. S. O. Shasanya, Mrs. Bolanle Ogundele and Mrs. Christiana Afolahan

Mr. Tunde Akinrogun, Otunbe Felix Obada and Hon. Rotimi Adagunodo

Council of Ijesa Society led by Chief Tunde Aluko after presenting a gift to Oba Gabriel Aromolaran

SEPTEMBER 30, 2012 SUNDAY SUN

43

Milestones JUSTICE OVIE-WISKEY:

The whistle sounds for the umpire

whatever he did. At the time he served at FEDECO, Nigeria was a different country – certainly not what it is has become today.

Defending the role his father played as chief electoral officer of FEDECO, Anthony noted that his father did his best to conduct a free and fair election to the best of his ability.?? On speculations that the suddenness of his father’s

exit from FEDECO affected him adversely, Anthony argued that his father was a hardworking man and so could not cope without doing anything.

“It was not that he wasn’t the same. He was the same person. After FEDECO, he was thrown into sudden retirement. Being a hardworking man, all of a sudden, there was no work. ??“He could not go back to the judiciary because as a judge, you are not allowed to combine judiciary with private practice. So he could not go back to private practice. All of a sudden, at 60 years he did not have anything to do other than to go to his farm and he was not much of a sportsman in his older days. So maybe he was too idle, he had too much free time. Maybe that is what you should have said affected him in his later days. He was treading through unemployment.” ??He insisted that his father was a hardworking and erudite judge whose discipline as a judicial officer would not allow him to indulge in corrupt practices. ??Said he: “As at 1979 when he was leaving the judiciary, he was still a very private person. Then there was not as much bribery and corruption as there is today; it was not that open. There were still upright and forthright people who believed in training their children with their salaries. ??“This house you see was built by the children. The old house used to be in the front here, a small one. So, we knocked it down and we built this about four or five years ago; a simple modest house. He lived in the house he built for his mother after he left FEDECO.”

their gate pass in their vehicles once they are stepping out. It is when a criminal sights it inside your car that he or she would attempt to try something funny. But if you have it with you, the chances of vandals wanting to steal it would be reduced if not completely eliminated. The school authority is working hard to put things right so there is no need for people to panic.”

An encounter with the Chief Security Officer, CSO, of the school during the past week didn’t yield much. Traced to his office on the eight floor of the Senate Building, he hid under the banner of

being a public servant to stay mute. He, instead, referred the reporter to another top ranking official for further discussion.

Investigations by the paper found a number of dark spots considered the most dangerous within the institution’s premises by many car owners. Apart from the King Jaja Hall car park, the Faculty of Social Sciences, FSS, and Faculty of Education also fall in that category. “Jaja car park is the most dangerous place inside this UNILAG to leave your car,” Ogunlade tells the paper. “I heard that a car was stolen there recently in broad day light. Also, the Faculty of Education and the road leading to FSS are terrible places. If you leave your car in any of those places overnight, it will be seriously damaged.

We don’t understand the way things are going in this school.”

There have been growing calls among students and staff for improved security within the school’s premises. While some have suggested an increase in the number of personnel to cover every nook and cranny of the campus, others favour proper and adequate training of the men and women saddled with such responsibilities as key to arrest this troubling situation. Many of the students and staff spoken to told the paper that they are also adopting personal strategies to protect their cars. But to truly tackle this problem would require more than just individual efforts. Scores of criminals, well dressed and innocent looking, enter the institution’s premises daily without the security officials noticing them. They lurk around freely, pretend to be students, and wait patiently for their moment to strike. The university’s authorities would have to work hard to isolate criminals operating this way if they truly hope to restore sanity within the premises. But for now, the vandals are rocking their show while victims count their loses, groaning silently in pain.

By ADAEZE ATUEYI- OJUKWU

U

ntil his death on Wednesday, July 18, not many knew legal icon, Justice Victor Erereko Ovie-Whiskey (rtd), chairman of the defunct Federal Electoral Commission (FEDECO), had battled with age-related disease for many years before finally succumbing at the age of 88. Sources say he had been bed-ridden due to protracted illness.

Since living office as chairman of FEDECO in the President Shehu Shagari era 29 years ago, the erstwhile chief judge of the defunct Bendel State had lived a quiet life. A very private person despite his exposure to public glare by his appointment in 1980 as FEDECO chairman, the late Ovie-Whiskey retired to a quiet life at his Ikweghwu-Agharho community in Ughelli North local government area of Delta State, where he took to farming.

Ovie-Whiskey was a symbol of humility, and as a jurist, he had a reputation for being incorruptible and fiercely independent.

However, his reputation suffered a significant dent after he oversaw the general elections in 1983 that were allegedly massively rigged by the ruling National Party of Nigeria (NPN).

There were allegations that he had fiddled the polls in order to hand victory to the NPN.?

Speaking about the life and times of his father, Anthony Ovie-Whiskey, a legal practitioner, described the former FEDECO boss as a devout Christian who was very committed to the work of God.?? “He was a soldier of God. He was a knight of St. Mulumba, St. Christopher and St. George. He was very seri-

ous about his Christian faith and he brought us up to know God and serve Him as proper Catholics,” he said.?? Though a disciplinarian, Anthony said, the late judge was always close to his family, adding that they would miss his tenacity.

In the pursuit of truth, the late judge was renowned for his uprightness and simplicity in

Continued from page 33 money inside wasn’t much but it is those documents and Quaran that I wish I could find again.

“I know how hard the security men on campus are working to make sure the entire place is safe.

But I think they really have to do more to arrest this growing wave of car-jacking within the school’s premises. We cannot have all these men here and this kind of criminal activities still go on.

It is a serious matter that requires urgent measures.”

Hundreds of cars of different sizes, shapes and sophistication are parked all across the premises of the university each day with most, if not all, being at the risk of owners. Though, security personnel are strategically positioned in vital spots and also patrol round the campus to ensure sanity, criminals haven’t stopped striking. As part of measures to enhance security of cars inside the school, every vehicle going out is expected to tender a silver metal as pass. A 300 level student of the Faculty of Social Sciences told the reporter that her friend’s car was stolen from where it was parked even without the silver disk inside it, suggesting that smart criminals could have been carrying duplicate pieces of the gate pass.

But a senior official of the information unit of the institution who spoke with the paper off record, disagreed that individuals including criminals could be in possession of duplicate gate passes other than the ones given at any of the two exit and entry points of the school. “I do not believe that anybody could manufacture his or her own piece of the silver disk,” he says confidently. “Nobody goes out of the campus with it, so, it’s impossible for anyone to have it to himself.

Only the Vice Chancellor has the power to order the production of that thing and only he knows the exact number in circulation.

“Yes, we know there have been cases of cars

A car park on the campus bugled but I do not think any can be stolen away from the campus. We have well-trained securitymen stationed at both exit points and this people can easily detect anyone trying to act smart. We have had several arrests in the past when people trying to smuggle cars out of the campus have been caught by our security men. We are not saying some of these things do not exist, all we are saying is that a criminal cannot just walk into this campus and steal another person’s car without being caught.

“However, we advise car owners not to leave

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SEPTEMBER 30, 2012 SUNDAY SUN

Bruce Malogo

Notes of a Wayfarer

08033325888 Banmalogo@yahoo.com

Rev. Kunat Amos Achi Pastor, New Estate Baptist Church, Surulere, Lagos.

Phone: 0802 307 0157.

Email: revakunat@yahoo.com

You are not abandoned

Beware the sons of anarchy have a good mind to discuss politics today. I do have a lot to say actually – like how it is dangerous to take the National Assembly serious when they threaten the president with impeachment. It is all elite squabble. We ought not to put our mouth in it because, somewhere down the line, their interests meet and they know how to shake hands and smile away whatever the rest of us think is a problem amongst them. I also should be talking about the current reconciliation going on in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). I should have been asking the party not to waste its time, asking those who tore ranks to come back to the fold. That all it needs do is to reinforce its winning machine and once these prodigals get tired of playing the second fiddle – or no fiddle at all – in their adopted parties, they’d come back on their own. After all, who needs principle in Nigerian politics?

However, I am not going to talk about any of those. Rather, my concern is a more urgent issue. It is obviously more compelling than a lament on our incorrigible and incurable politicians … and their sinful ways.

Today, I am moaning over a report I stumbled on the other day. The report is as distressing as it is instructive. It was a news report that in this age and time, Nigeria is harbouring a preponderance of 10 million children, who are not in school. In other words, the report said so many Nigerian children do not go to school; they are not registered in any school, whatsoever. Simply put, the condition is stark, in the sense that these children cannot be said to be even in any of those mournful, dilapidated shacks they call schools in most parts of the south. Nor are they herded together under trees among other distracted and disheveled kids to be ‘taught’by some ignorant ‘teachers’as we see in parts of the north.

If these 10 million children were to be amongst these other less-fortunate kids, sharing in their equally less-fortunate learning conditions, we might not be as scandalised as we are presently; after all, sights like these are not new with us. Many Nigerian children learn under the worst conditions imaginable. And to have so many not engaged in any formal education, whether under a tree or in an air-conditioned environment, is definitely the height of it.

This revelation came by a way of public lecture delivered by the United Nations Children Fund’s (UNICEF) Assistant Country Representative in Nigeria, Mr. Karim Akadiri.

It was a lecture put together by the students of College of Medicine, University of Ibadan.

Akadiri said 4.7 million children, who were supposed to be in primary school are currently staying at home with their parents. And another 5.7 million others, who ordinarily should be in secondary school, he said, were also keeping time at home. That is not all that this sobering statistics disclosed. Akadiri’s paper said also that 62 per cent of these 10 million children were girls. And in the northern states, according to him, only 49 per cent of boys, who were of primary school age and 34 per cent of the girls attend school. To further jerk up our worry, we are told that majority of these drop out of school by the end of primary four. That would mean that transition rate to secondary school is low, very low.

But I would not want to agree with the UNICEF chief that most of these spin-off children and young adults are indeed at home with their parents. They are not. Of course, we know where they are – on the streets. They are on the streets, doing various things, though. Among them are those who have taken up the responsibility of feeding their families, meaning that they are breadwinners of their individual families. These ones are kids and urchins you see on highways and traffic hold-ups, hawking anything – from needles to pure water to fish to toy

I

THE SOUND OF JUBILEE

to vegetable and every other thing in-between.

Among these children are also the almajiris, those freebies and dispensable that politicians and religious bigots usually unleash on the public whenever the blood comes to their eyes.

Still, there is the third set. This is made up of those that have been sacrificed to homes, aptly called housegirls and houseboys.

To be sure, these are sobering statistics and reports, just as the issues around them are terrifying. I don’t know how UNICEF got that figure, but if you ask me, I’d say that it is far lower than the actual. Nigeria is not particularly a country in love with records, whether in the gathering or in the keeping of it – and to think that there are still some towns and villages that the outside world cannot access because there are no access routes to them. So, the figure may have been generated from major towns and cities alone. Therefore, I want to believe that it is lower than what we’ll possibly have of Nigerian children who do not go to school.

But there’s yet a greater worry. We may be talking about 10 million children today, but the fact is that, that number, rather than reduce, will increase tomorrow – and that is a fact. Why? Because there is nothing on ground today to suggest that things will turn out better or that there is anything, any plan that gives the slightest clue that we are seriously thinking about such issues. Nothing.

Having a preponderance of children and young adults who are not in school today, and who are not likely to be in school tomorrow, would mean that we are incubating more than a million Furies. We are nurturing a beehive of ire – rearing a bunch of angry and frustrated citizens.

Let’s face it. How much help will a man or woman who did not go to school in this age and time give to himself or herself? Education, you see, is the key that unlocks the fortunes of this civilization.

So, that Nigeria has so many of its young not in any formal education today, and most probably not even tomorrow, would suggest that the future of this country has already been determined, sort of. The prognosis, as even an idiot will readily tell, is grim. Scary. But come to think of it, all of this is not even a potential.

They are no longer in the future. They are already here with us. We see them in the countless incidents of armed robbery in our neighourhood and institutions; they are there in the violent burst of tantrums on our streets and inner cities. We behold them in several other anti-social engagements and behaviours that menace us daily. Probe deeper, you’ll see them in the hands that have been playing and throwing bombs all over the place. Now add those riches to the devious possibilities of the educated-but-misfit young adults. What you get is a nation in a spin, and of course, Nigeria is already in a spin – and dangerously so.

It is quite easy to blame today’s youth, but question is: How much did the nation prepare them and what options do they actually have? Such preparations start from how many of today’s children are attracted or compelled to go to school. Education is not just for meal ticket, important as that is, though. Education does much more than that. It makes the total person. In the age of knowledge, education has a lot to do with the quality of the human person. It has a lot to do with his thought, his words, his actions and, in fact, his appreciation of and response to the world around him.

However, that we have a staggering number of spin-off children shows how important the Nigerian society appraises education as a socialising and empowering tool. All we have had over the years are leaders, who spread bad manners, putting aside what they should be doing and doing the things they should put aside. This can explain the desperation with which our young men and women have been running out of the country to face uncertain destinies, mostly adverse. A society that does not take care of or plan for its children, should be ready for certain ugly rebounds because the most dangerous person in the world is the man, who has nothing to lose. You reap what you sow – even much more.

Regrettably, all we have been sowing in this country are evil seeds. It explains why our national development index and matrix are as pathetic as they are. I’ve said it somewhere and let me say it here that, the greatness of a nation is not determined by the number of its millionaires or how wealthy it is. No. What proves a nation’s greatness is how it treats the weak, the poor and the vulnerable.

Those 10 million (plus) children are among the vulnerable. They are not just statistics. They are human beings and bonafide members and inheritors of the Nigerian commonwealth.

They are also in that generation of Nigerians whom we hope will hold the fortresses of this country tomorrow. And the real worry here is that, that tomorrow might have been determined by what we have made of today. Life, you see, works in some funny but JUST ways – Don’t be surprised to see the bread you cast in the water today come back to you tomorrow, poisoned.

‘A society that does not plan for her children,

should be ready for certain ugly rebounds because the most dangerous person in the world is the man who has nothing to lose’ And then you begin to wonder what sort of people we have turned out to be; that in this stage of human civilisation and given all that God has blessed us with, we’re where we are – at the base of human development. It is not because we do not know better. We do. As I often say, problem is that, we have always had the misfortune of being burdened by wicked, irresponsible and self-serving leadership. For, if it were otherwise, what sort of a country would be comfortable to have such a number of its young trapped in the centre of the arc? “You ask why I cry?” says a character in Isaac Bashevis Singer’s The Slave, “I cry because I hate to see tomorrow.”

Of course, we should be worried not just about the tomorrow of these millions of Nigerians who could end up in the house that Satan built. We should worry about the future of Nigeria, as well. We should be worried about Nigeria’s peace and sanity. A country cannot afford to harbour such number of sleeping terrors, such potential cataclysm and hopes to have peace tomorrow. No. Things don’t work that way. What a man sows, he reaps.

The same principle goes for a society. And the unfortunate thing though, is that a man does not reap exactly the same quantity as he sowed. He reaps much more. “Don’t be surprised to see the bread you cast in the water today come back to you tomorrow, poisoned,” writes James Baldwin.

So, what is the sum of this? This: That we are sitting on landmines; riding on a tiger, actually.

One of the challenges that every man is made to face at one time or another in the course of life is adversity. It is defined as a stroke of ill fortune, a state of misfortune or an affliction. It is something that no one prays to meet, especially since one cannot tell how terrible it would be when it comes, or how long it would last. Man began to be exposed to different forms of adversity when he fell short of the standards of God through disobedience to His command as is recorded in Gen 3. Adversity is unpalatable and so undesirable. It leaves one in some form of pain, either physical, emotional, mental or spiritual. Depending on the severity of the adversity, people respond differently to such situations.

For very many people there is a common tendency to begin to question whether God is aware of what they are going through or not, if He is aware, they question what He is doing about it. Some even wonder why a good God would even allow such misfortune to befall them. Even those who consider themselves as children of God sometimes also begin to think that God has hidden His face away from them and kept away His favor and love from them when they are faced with diverse afflictions. The family of Jacob got to that point in their lives when, due to calamities that befell them, they felt that God had glossed over their petitions and abandoned them in their predicaments.

In Isaiah 40:28-31, the Lord called their attention to the fact that as their everlasting God, the creator of the ends of the earth, He neither faints nor is weary or unaware. He told them that His understanding is unsearchable and His ways are beyond all human understanding. He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might, He increases strength. Even the youths do faint and get weary, and the young men do utterly fall, but those who put their trust in the Lord shall be renewed again no matter what affliction they go through.

In Mathew 6:25-34, He encourages as follows: “Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on……..for it is after these things that the heathen do seek. But your heavenly father knows that you need all these things…”

The Apostle Paul testified in 2 Cor 4:8 saying, “We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair, persecuted, but not forsaken, struck down, but not destroyed……..”.

By reason of what Paul went through, it would appear on the surface of things that God had abandoned him, but Paul knew God enough to know that He would not do that. He therefore did not equate the adversity he was going through with an abandonment by God. He held strongly to the fact that God was with him and knew what he was passing through and would sustain him to the very end. He therefore did not give up his hope in God; no wonder, he ended up very triumphantly.

My dear reader, I don’t know what troubles you have gone through or are currently suffering in your life, business, marriage or even health. I can’t tell the severity of what you are suffering but I want to assure you that if you could but penetrate the depths of the heart of God, you would see a good purpose being worked out that would eventually compensate for your feeling of abandonment and pain. Are you a child of God and it looks as if He has left you all alone in the deep blue sea to drown without a way of escape? I encourage you to see it with His eyes, and you will see that His everlasting arms are right underneath you to ensure that you do not drown.

His love endures forever for those who trust Him. Though your weeping may have lasted the whole night, but with God, your joy will come in the morning, and your tears will soon be dried up. So do not give up on your love for, and commitment to Him. And if you have not come under His divine reign, you need to do so NOW in order to enjoy His companionship and His miraculous power to turn your many sorrows into joy. I encourage you to take the step of accepting the gift of salvation, which He offers through His son Jesus Christ. Accept Him and surrender to Him, and enjoy the peace and assurance of His love from henceforth. If you want to do that, please pray with me as I round off this message.

“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”

SEPTEMBER 30, 2012 EXPLORE

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SUNDAY SUNR REVUE

EDITED BY TONI KAN tkeditorsun@ymail.com

INSIDE

Quotes on writing from the masters

SSR is here again and we have pages bursting with great things.

Sefi Atta, who brought us the delightful, “Everything Good Will Come”, is out with a new book, which has taken Australia by storm. The novel, A Bit of Difference’ will be published in Nigeria later this year.

The rains are wreaking havoc in Lokoja, Kogi state. Our cover image tells the story while new comer to SSR, Norbert Uzo Odonwodo, seeks refuge from the watery carnage in poetry. His poem,“Look O Jah” is heartfelt and evocative.

On our fiction page, we have an excerpt from Andrew Eseimokumo Oki’s well received debut novel “Bonfires of the gods” which makes it kindle debut on October 1.

We continue our NLNG series with a review of EE Sule’s debut novel, ‘Sterile Sky’, the first novel to appear on the newly revived African Writers Series.

The review is by Awaal Gaata. Enjoy.

You Can’t Learn to Write in College: You can’t learn to write in college. It’s a very bad place for writers because the teachers always think they know more than you do – and they don’t. They have prejudices. They may like Henry James, but what if you don’t want to write like Henry James? They may like John Irving, for instance, who’s the bore of all time. A lot of the people whose work they’ve taught in the schools for the last thirty years, I can’t understand why people read them and why they are taught –RAY BRADBURY With Maturity the Writer Becomes More Secure: At the beginning of their careers many writers have a need to overwrite. They choose carefully turned-out phrases; they want to impress their readers with their large vocabularies. By the excesses of their language, these young men and women try to hide their sense of inexperience. With maturity the writer becomes more secure in his ideas. He finds his real tone and develops a simple and effective style –JORGE LUIS BORGES

BOOK REVIEW

What Lasts in the Reader’s Mind:

Cover Image: LOKOJA UNDER WATER(source-httpwww.nannewsngr.com)

What lasts in the reader’s mind is not the phrase but the effect the phrase created: laughter, tears, pain, joy. If the phrase is not affecting the reader, what’s it doing there? Make it do its job or cut it without mercy or remorse –ISAAC ASIMOV

One poem for the road LOOK, O JAH

And just in front, a bus crushes a man’s skull!

“Look o Jah, the suffering of your people.”

i.

Perhaps to protest Sanusi’s insanity, The sun in the nude The water, coming in through the roofs Of nearby shocked and shaking buildings, Makes herself at home Cars, lazy millipedes, cough out their essence And in the darkness, the huddled masses cry for help: “Look o Jah, the suffering of your people.”

ii.

Terrible traffic, like death, is a leveller.

Behind the tricycle, a Hummer.

Ah see, canoe on the coal-tar! ’Pure waters’ are blood diamonds now!

And for lack of what to do, The old old woman by my side faints.

Outside,a maddening crowd: A frantic mother in search of an only son!

iii.

Wicked water waltzes and waits, Mouth open, for the slip!

The sleep was no relief The relief was in the dream The dream was land!

Hard land that runs for the horizon And when I wake, The Niger is still a femme fatale That has burst her banks, Bidding her time!

iv.

The confluence is as cursed as the nation; And Lokoja is a bucket of water! © Norbert Uzo Odonwodo

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SEPTEMBER 30, 2012 EXPLORE

SSR R CRITICAL INTERVENTIONS

Sterile Sky:

The biography of war

By AWAAL GAATA Title: Sterile Sky, Author: E.E. Sule, Publisher: Pearson Education Ltd; Pages: 286;Year: 2012 . E. Sule, the poet was long ago established, and in 2009, with the publication of What the Sea Told Me, his last collection of poetry which clinched the ANA/Cadbury Prize for Poetry, the establishment was further solidified. Each line in that slim collection is stewed in striking images, balanced metaphors, seismic and delicious lingoes which forkedly lacerate what the sea (which never thinned out since the creation of the world) told him about Africa, a continent that has no gonad, and yet never moves out of its infancy; and at times the whole world which is enmeshed in identity crisis.

However, Dream and Shame and Impotent Heaven- each, a collection of short stories- did not unveil Sule as a prose writer in spite of his apt and fiery criticism of Nigerian writers, big Nigerian writers. In the collections, Sule’s use of too much humour as the thrust of his stories was the reason behind the lack of critical reception. Art is the representation of life. Life is not perpetually humorous. How then can homour always represent life? In Dream and Shame and Impotent Heaven serious issues are addressed with an overdose of humour.

But the trend is no longer the same with the publication of Sterile Sky, Sule’s first novel, which resurrects the African Writers Series; a publishing outfit that has been in extinction in Nigeria since the demise of the book industry in Nigeria.

The story of Sterile Sky is told by Murtala, 15. As he comes of age in Kano, violent riots and his family’s own woes threaten to erase all he holds dear. Stalked by monsters real and imagined, desperate to preserve a sense of self and future, Murtala hunts for answers in the wreckage of the city and gives us a unique insight into modern life in northern Nigeria.

Mould breaking in its tackling of religious conflicts, this novel offers a powerful portrait of an African community in shock and transition.

It is important to note that Murtala and his family’s abject poverty is not the only thrust of Sterile Sky. The ethno-religious crisis which heightens his family’s poverty inspires many a fact about the world which is but aflame with wars. This time around, the author, mostly through the versatile but degree-holding and jobless Omodiale, with whom Murtala and his family members share a fly-infested and over populated house (whose toilet cannot accommodate its deluge of occupants)offers us fresh and realistic perspective.

“We are all children of violence, at least by the religions we practice,”

E

Omodiale says reminding one of Bantu in Maik Nwosu’s magical Alpha Song.

He is also a victim of the crisis because he flees to the police barrack where Christian faithfuls hide during the crisis that Killed Ukpo; Murtala’s younger brother, but the war doesn’t bothers him like the other because he believes that “violence and killing was not new, it was bound to happen because it has been happening since the beginning of the world.” The biblical story of Cain and Abel is an apt corroboration. Christianity and Islam are rooted in violence”.

This novel which swings between the past, present and a symbolic future, however, masterfully encapsulates a vitality of the novel, as it lacerates the proverbial economic policy of General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida’s regime; thenStructural adjustment Programme (SAP), which rather sapped the livelihood of the poor to buttress that of the rich, the elites.

Odunla, Murtala’s father is a policeman who has been in the force for twenty-five years. He has a wife (Mama, Murtala’s mum) and seven children but his salary which is hardly paid cannot keep the family. The children are hardly in school, and the meals, which they can scarcely afford, come once in a blue moon, or when salaries are eventually paid. He blames SAP for his hardship.

The penury in Odunla’s family fuses with the violence that brackets Kano to chase Mama, Odunla’s wife and five of her children out of the city back to the villages. They have to flee back to the city of war and poverty because time does not standstill; so many of her mates fare better than she does, but the poverty in the village is more deadly as her children also become sick.

But Murtala at times takes a flight from poverty when he is in the company of his classmate, Ola, whose father was born by a former minister.

Ola pays his school fee once, to the vexation of his father whose salary was not paid. Ola also buys him books which gives him a pseudo-education on the socio-political stance of the world. However, Millicent, another classmate who shows Murtala a world beyond poverty does hers in parasitic way. She wants him to pay back her gifts to him by helping her in the examination hall, but Murtala rejects her plans and the amorous relationship ends after she obtrudes upon his innocence by giving him liquor.

Murtala’s father runs away from home to eschew the calamity that later befalls his family; he is removed from the Police Force. The introspective aspect of this novel further unravels the spirituality that is in the family’s lineage. The dead Ukpo appears to his brother to tell him where their father who is in the thin air hides “to become an enigma to

confront life.”

Murtala sees him there living an ascetic life, where nothing worries him. And he does not want to go back to the “prison called city.” He is just waiting to “rise with the sun again.”

He will not go back to his family, he is waiting for the triumph of his soul.

(Source: http://blueprintng.com/2012/06/thebiography-of-war/)

SEPTEMBER 30, 2012 EXPLORE

SSR R

IN THE NEWS

EVENTS

INDIAFRICA ANNOUNCES WINNERS INDIAFRICA: A Shared Future, the unique and innovative people-to-people and youth outreach programme which seeks to bring Africans and Indians closer to each other through competition, creative exchanges and collaboration held its awards ceremony in Lagos on Tuesday September 25, 2012.

The winners were Poonam Kumari from India; Zubaida Bai from India and Kennedy Kithake and Kola Bayole of South Africa and Bhiraw Kumar Mandal of India emerged first, second and joint third place winners with cash prizes of $10,000, $7,500 and $5,000 respectively.

Pictures.

INDIAFRICAANNOUNCES BUSINESS VENTURE WINNERS 3 innovative and enterprising young people emerged lucky winners in the inaugural INDIAFRICA business venture competition organized by theideaworks and the Public Diplomacy Division, Ministry of External Affairs Government of India. The INDIAFRICA: A Shared Future is a unique people-to-people and youth outreach programme that is seeking to bring Africans and Indians closer to each other through competition, creative exchanges and collaboration.

At the end of a keenly contested competition with hundreds of entries received from across India and Africa in the ground breaking collaborative initiative, Poonam Kumari from India with her idea of a solar powered harvester; Zubaida Bai from India with her novel health-care venture and Kennedy Kithake and Kola Bayole of South Africa for their interesting education venture and Bhiraw Kumar Mandal of India for his innovative hydrogen based energy solution emerged first, second and joint third place winners with cash prizes of $10,000, $7,500 and $5,000 respectively. Pllonam Kumari and Kennedy Kithake also earned a trip to Davos 2013 as the top ranked Indian and African winners.

In her speech before the presentations, Chair of the Jury, Enase Okonedo, Dean, Lagos Business School said that the competition “is expected to harness entrepreneurship and the opportunities that exist between India and Africa.”

The finals featured presentations by 9 teams from Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, South Africa and India, before a 9 member Grand Jury that included Jahman Anikulapo, Editor of The Guardian on Sunday; Enase Okonedo, Dean, Lagos Business School; Ini Onuk, Sustainability Expert and CEO, Thistlepraxis Consulting amongst others

• The Juros in a group pose

Amit Shahi, CEO & Co-founder, theIdeaWorks, the firm that runs the programme while thanking all stakeholders and partners noted in his welcome address that the INDIAFRICA “journey has been highly satisfying.”

•First place winner, Poonam Kumari (right) receiving her prize

•Winners with Amit Shahi, Enase Okonedo and Riva Das

S S R BOOK REVIEW REVIEWER: Ed O’Loughlin AUTHOR: G.T. Basden PUBLISHER: Nonsuch, Gloucestershire YEAR: 2006

Next Week

IN

47

EFORE Reverend George T. Basden arrived in Onitsha at the turn of the 19th century, the Igbo people of south-eastern Nigeria had long been “discovered”. Thanks to the apocryphal “discovery of the embouchure of the Niger” by the Lander brothers. In fact, the Royal Niger Company had been administering that general area since 1886 before its January 1, 1900 transfer to the control of the British Government, further to it becoming a British protectorate in 1901. But unlike many that sailed to the land from Britain, Basden was neither “a palm-oil trader, colonial functionary,” nor “a soldier on orders.”

He was – to complete the quote from the book’s introduction by Misty L. Bastian of the Franklin & Marshall College Lancaster, Pennsylvania in the United States – driven by the mere wish “to convert pagans to Christianity” albeit on behalf of the Church Missionary Society of the Church of England.

First published in 1921, the modern edition was only released in Nonsuch’s Travellers, Explorers and Pioneers imprint in 2006. The original book sprang from interest generated back home by a magazine article written by the author following his travels.

According to the author, Among the Ibos... was borne out of an attempt “to put in readable English” what he had learned from the natives themselves. A

B

SSR R 127

SEFI ATTA’S NEWBOOK IS A HIT IN AUSTRALIA. Sefi Atta’s new novel, A Bit of Difference’, is all the rave in Australia where it was published in August, 2012. The novel is shot through with “Sefi Atta’s characteristic boldness and vision and limns the complexities of our contemporary world.”

It tells the story of thirty-nine years old Deola Bello, a Nigerian expatriate in London, who is dissatisfied with being single and working overseas. Deola works as a financial reviewer for an international charity, and when her job takes her back to Nigeria in time for her father’s five-year memorial service, she finds herself turning her scrutiny inward. In Nigeria, Deola encounters changes in her family and in the urban landscape of her home, and new acquaintances who offer unexpected possibilities. Deola’s journey is as much about evading others’ expectations to get to the heart of her frustration as it is about exposing the differences between foreign images of Africa and the realities of contemporary Nigerian life. Deola’s urgent, incisive voice captivates and guides us through the intricate layers and vivid scenes of a life lived across continents. The book is described by Chika Unigwe, author of On Black Sisters’Street as “an immensely absorbing book which sizzles with wit and compassion” while Nii Parkes, author of Tail of the Blue Bird describes it as an “up-close portrait of middle-class Nigeria exploring the boundaries of morals and public decorum. Pitched between humor and despair, with stripped-down, evocative prose, ‘A Bit of Difference’ bristles with penknifesharp dialogue, but its truths are more subtle, hiding in the unspoken.”

fact adumbrated in its copious subtitle: An Account of the Curious and Interesting Habits, Customs and Beliefs of a Little-Known African People by One Who Has for Many Years Lived Amongst Them on Close and Intimate Terms. How intimately, indeed!

Complete with thirty-seven collector’s photographs, Rev. Basden took time to comment on virtually all aspects of Igbo life he could muster.

According to him, the Igbo village is very picturesque; “set in the midst of beautiful surroundings and radiant with colour...” But he is equally quick to remind you that it is “not the sweetest of places.” In fact, he ended the chapter with a hint of its alignment to that line in Reginald Heber’s storied hymn From Greenland’s Icy Mountains “where every prospect pleases/And only man is vile.”(p.50) Contrasts like the above pop up through the entire book. He is, at once, able to distinguish between the physical differentials of the Eastern and Western species of the people. The former’s “spare frames, spindle legs and cucumber calves” prompting thoughts of famine, while the latter’s’ “stocky and thick-set” build suggest an “over-abundance supply of rich food.”(p.29) Where contrasts do not suffice, there is also an added drive to take the idiographic for the nomothetic, perhaps to please the home audience. While

admitting the “Ibo’s capacity for work,” for instance, he moves a step further to point out that “he is of an impatient temperament, lacks determination and perseverance, and is more or less untrustworthy.”(p. 115) Here, no effort is made at demarcation.

Rev. Basden also ponders the vexed issue of Igbo similitude to the Semitic.

According to him, aspects of Igbo custom – sacrifice, circumcision and language – accentuate this affinity. It is however as it concerns music that he makes the greatest case. According to him, Igbo music – though “savage”, the instruments “barbaric” – still manages to “pulsate” with the effect that “(E)ven the European, if he has within him the feeblest susceptibility to music, is liable to find the elemental forces of his nature strangely stirred by the passionate fervour of the ‘possessed’ musicians.”(p.160) He categorically maintains that “they must have dated back to Cain’s son Jubal – the ‘Father of Music.’”(p.155) All said and done, the book has its prophetic aspects. Opining that the advent of Christianity has had a stimulating effect on the Igbo, he minced no words in stating that their early effort is “destined to bring forth an abundant harvest...”(p.241) It is a must read for anyone who has wondered why the ancient Igbo walked about naked but clothed their spirits from head to toe.

Next week we bring you more from fresh poetry, book reviews, engaging fiction and a continuation of our focus on books long listed for the NLNG prize.

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FICTION

“On my way to Duwamabou”

By ANDREW ESEIUMOKUMO OKI (Excerpted from “BONFIRES OF THE GODS”) IT RAINED THE DAY I DIED

IT was a kind of rain I had never experienced before in my life.

Every drop that fell on the zinc roofing sheets sounded like pebbles landing on top of my head. I felt a quiver. It almost felt like the building was shaking, or was it my body shuddering?

I

Rain.

I often wondered what the phenomenon behind it was. Perhaps God was crying up in heaven. Who knew? I wondered why He would choose a day like that to cry. I couldn’t say anyway. Sometimes I didn’t even remember He’s up there.

The rain poured on with such ferociousness. It poured on like it would never stop. Perhaps a leak in heaven’s water banks had burst wide open and earth, being down under was suffering the consequences. Whatever it was, I didn’t know. I decided to leave it to the rainmakers to decide.

It never stopped raining the day I died.

I always knew Warri was a no-go area when it rained. I turned to look at the window thinking I would see a bit of the city outside. But instead I saw streaks of rainwater flowing freely on the window pane.

It caught and arrested my attention in totality. They looked just like tears; the streaks of rainwater. Even the windows were crying for me! I smiled inwardly.

My eyes were almost closing now and still I could count the streaks of flowing rainwater on the window glass. It was a funny feeling. I thought I could see myself laughing.

One, two, three, four… I kept counting but they kept on rolling down, and each time a new streak replaced the old one.

I knew it was foolish to account for such things, but somehow it gave me hope. It gave me something to do. It kept my mind busy. It was as if it could take the pain away and I held on to it with more faith than I had in the doses of morphine that had been pumped into my frail body.

The rain poured on. Loud cracking thunderclaps chased after flashes of lightning like children playing catch-a-thief in the hot-and-cold sand banks of the River Niger in Patani.

I remembered when I was a child, my childhood friends and I used to say it rained when God cried; and that thunderclaps were a result of applause in heaven; and that wars happened because the gods of the earth felt a little cold and so stopped watching over us to gather large trees to make a little bonfire around the earth to keep themselves warm. How childish we were! We knew these theories were baseless and sounded stupid but we believed in them anyway.

My eyelids closed and then opened again. It was a slow-motion blink, at least it felt so. I looked around and for the first time I really realized I was in a hospital. I could not move my body but it trembled in pain involuntarily. How I got there was still quite a mystery to me. My memory was still in fragmented pieces locked up somewhere within me. I didn’t remember much but I did remember breathing fresh air the morning I woke up in my own bed at home, looking forward to a great day. I did remember the warm shower I had had since the rains had brought with it the usual cold and chills. I remember hating

the shirt I picked out to wear for work but still going ahead and wearing it anyway since I didn’t have so many of them. I remember having the best breakfast my mother had ever cooked. I also remember the screams, and then there was running, as if we had a particular place to run to.

And then the fire; consuming everything in its path. And then there were sounds of gunshots and then the darkness came.

From my periphery I could see a nurse speak to another nurse. I had no idea what words they spoke to each other but I guessed it was about me because the second nurse soon came over to my bedside.

She had a very pretty face, the nurse oval-faced like an almond pear, darkskinned like a brew of hot chocolate, lips as red as cherry, smooth- skinned like that of a new-born baby’s nyansh, an almostpointed nose like a burnt golden whistle.

Underneath the snow-white crown on her head, her beautiful black hair was in well cultivated African corn-rows. She had little or no make-up on but her face shone like pure black honey. I could hardly notice the tiny beautiful gold pins she had for earrings neither could I notice how kissable her lips were. Her slim neck was bare and smooth like the road to a new world. A world that I might see when I die.

I absorbed all these thoughts in what seemed like forever, as she quickly looked down upon my face. If only I wasn’t so dead on that bed, what all I could do to her…

I could give her pleasure that would send her to heavenly highs.

I could kiss her lips to nothingness, replacing them with that of the goddess Athena’s and she would keep wanting more every minute of every passing day.

I could touch her body and love her like no man had ever loved her before.

I could make sweet love to her and cause her to shiver, and when we would be done she would agree to be my wife.

What I could do to her…

She bent over me to properly examine my frail body, her sumptuous breasts dangling invitingly right in front of my face, as she checked my vitals. I knew I was going to die, but again I realized that there was a part of me that wasn’t so dead and weak after all, and that part cheered and nudged in agreement in between my thighs. I felt it certify its solidification. It was just as eager as I was. I wished I could lay claim to the bounty set before me.

If only I wasn’t so sick, the things I could do.

Her firm breasts hung over me like the certain death that hung over my head. I began to think of what my passing would feel like and where I was going to end up.

Was I going to heaven or hell or was I going to spend some quality time in Duwamabou with my grandmother sitting right beside me to help me think about what my life could have been? I shivered at the thought. As much as I could not feel my legs anymore and as much as I wanted to give pleasure to the beautiful young nurse right in front of me, nothing mattered to me as much as the fear of going to Duwamabou.

Duwamabou! That is what my people called the world of the dead - still passing through the halfway house I would imagine. I remember I was just a little boy when I first heard the word; it must have been about the funniest Ijaw word I’d ever heard. Of course that was before I knew its meaning. I liked the musicality to the pronunciation of the word. We didn’t speak much of our native Ijaw dialect, my siblings and I. Pidgin English was

the order of the day; so like most young learners, the quickest and easiest words we picked up were those of acute vulgarity. Duwamabou was one of them. At first it sounded like ‘drummer boy’.

Duwamabou was neither heaven nor hell, at least according to what we grew up believing anyway. It was a place, an indeterminate state, where the spirits of the dead went to handle their “unfinished” business before passing on to the afterlife, wherever else that was if neither heaven nor hell. As for me, I never really got to understand the whole concept of Duwamabou but as I lay there dying, I thought of Duwamabou for what seemed like hours.

Was my dead grandmother still there? I mean, she’d been dead for ten years.

Surely she must’ve settled her unfinished business by now and moved shop from ‘halfway house’. Could she really still be there? Was I going to see her when or if I get there? And when or if I get there, what would I tell her? ‘What brings you knocking on Duwamabou’s door?’ I imagined her asking me with her ever-so stern voice but with all the love in the world reflecting in her eyes. I suddenly realized that I did not want to die.

Of all the reasons of why I didn’t want to die, surprisingly, I didn’t want to die because of the fear of not having a reasonable explanation to tell my granny if she asked me what I was doing in Duwamabou.

The nurse began to say something to a woman wearing a white coat. I had not seen the white-coated woman there before. I could not decipher what my beautiful nurse was saying but I noticed that the white-coated woman suddenly began to run towards my bed. I could feel nothing at this point; I could only see blurry images before my eyes. I turned to look at the window. It was still raining, I guessed. But I could not hear the rain drops anymore. I looked for my streaks of

flowing rainwater on the window glass but my eyes found it hard to adjust. I began to panic. Thoughts of Duwamabou still raced through my head, and so did thoughts of wild sex with the beautiful nurse.

God, what was I? The white-coated woman suddenly pushed the nurse away from my side and placed her two palms on my chest. She began to push hard. I could not feel anything. Neither could I see, hear nor move any part of my body but I knew I was still alive. I was afraid to close my eyes. I feared if I did they would never open again. I was looking up at the ceiling now but in its place I could see the clouds.

Clear as the day and not a sign of rain. It was a beautiful mixture of blue and white clouds. I smiled. Well, I thought I did. I could not hear the commotion around me but I could see the doctors fight to save my life. Now I could only hear the chirps of birds. I could see a fleet of birds flying in the clouds above my bed. But just when I was beginning to smile at the beauty of nature set before me, the beautiful blue sky began to darken and fade away. It happened so fast that I could not comprehend it. I looked on still as the sky became pitch-black. I panicked even more.

Oh God! I had lost my streaks of rainwater on the window.

I had lost my beautiful nurse with the pair of sumptuous breasts. I had lost my magical white-blue sky. I had lost all hope.

Then I knew: I was dead - dead and on my way to Duwamabou. God! What would I tell grandmother?

•(Excerpted with the kind permission of the author from BONFIRES OF THE GODS by Andrew Eseimokumo Oki published by GRIOTS LOUNGE,ISBN: 978-978-922-4791,Year: 2012)

SEPTEMBER 30, 2012 EXPLORE

49

WardR Round Date Rape!

Guys on the pr owl with r ohypnol T

By OGE OKONKWO

HE drug rohypnol became well known when somebody posted a piece on Facebook advising ladies to beware of the substance, which is now being used by uncrupulous men to lace the drinks of ladies and later rape them.

Considering the recent incident which claimed the life of Cynthia Osukogu, a pretty damsel murdered by two supposed friends she met through Facebook, the global social networking site, one cannot be too careful these days.

According to Wikipedia, a date rape drug is any drug that sometimes can be used to assist sexual assault. Sexual assault is any type of sexual activity that a girl or a woman doesn’t agree to (non-consensual sexual act or intercourse (date rape). Such sexual assault can include touching that is not okay, putting some-

thing into the vagina, sexual intercourse, rape and attempted rape.

Such drugs are powerful and dangerous and can be used to facilitate sexual assault through sedative, hypnotic, dissociative and or amnesiac effects. Most times, the criminal subtly slips the drug into the food or drink without the victim’s knowledge. Since the drugs most often do not have colour, smell or taste, one cannot tell if they are being drugged. The act of adding such substances to drinks is known as “drink spiking”. The reasons for drink spiking include maliciousness, theft, sexual assault and/or rape and can be used on both females and males.

The drugs can make one become weak and confused or even pass out so that the victim are unable to refuse sex or defend oneself. If one is drugged, there is a high tendency to not remember what happened while being raped.

There are three most commonly used drugs for date rape . They’re Rohypnol This is the trade name for flunitrazepam and

How to reduce road crashes (2)

ROAD ROAD SAFETY 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

CMYK

A look at the pillars will show that the Corps is involved mainly in the last two and has indeed put structures in place.

Permit me to recall the words of the chairman Governing Board of Federal Roads Management Agency (FERMA), Engr Ezekiel Adeniji who, during a visit to FRSC Management, said: “FRSC is not in charge of the roads - FERMA is. Neither is FRSC in charge of vehicles. However, the Corps is in charge of changing drivers’behaviour and providing rescue services.

Therefore, both agencies can synergize for better results. These results, the,Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu, maintains FRSC is providing especially through structures such as its ambulance services and newly released three digit toll free numbers.”

Yet, the Corps maintains that much is still needed to achieve its set targets for the current year. This explains why specific interventions such as improved

is known by other names like roofies, forget pill, mind erasers, lunch money and others.

Rohypnol comes as a pill that dissolves in liquids. Some are small, round and white. Newer pills are oval and green-gray in colour. When slipped into a drink, a dye in these new pills makes clear liquids turn bright blue and dark drinks turn cloudy. This colour change might be hard to see in a dark drink, like cola or dark beer or in a dark room. Also the pills with no dye are still available and may be ground into a powder.

GHB This is the acronym for gamma hydroxybutyric acid. It’s also known as easy lay, bedtime scoop, energy drink, gamma 10, great hormones, liquid ecstasy and others. GHB may be a liquid with no odor or color, white powder or pill. It might give one’s drink a slightly salty taste. Mixing it with a sweet drink such as fruit juice can mask the salty taste.

Ketamine

patrols and continuous engagement with the motoring public on the dangers and risks of road traffic crashes have been stepped up.

Staff capacity improvement has equally received a boost. In keeping with strategies to achieve the 5 Pillars of the United Nations Decade of Action and FRSC strategic goal of reducing fatalities by 20 percent, the Corps increased the number of emergency ambulance points from 4 to 12. This was complimented with the public launch of the first national toll free emergency number (122) to improve its response time to road crashes and other emergencies From September 10, FRSC embarked on a weeklong nationwide awareness campaign as part of strategies to tilt the road crash trend. The campaign focused mainly on reinforcing the message of safety through road shows, motor-park rallies, in addition to extensively domesticating campaign strategies that involved visits to schools, corporate organisations among others.

Within the period, enforcement of all

This is also known as bump, jet, black hole, super acid and other names. Ketamine comes as a liquid and a white powder.

These drugs are very powerful and affect victims very quickly without one’s knowledge.

It’s effects last differently. It depends on how much of the drug is taken and if the drug is mixed with other drugs or alcohol. Alcohol makes the drugs even stronger and can cause serious health problems or even death.

Any drug that can affect judgment and behavior can put a person at risk of unwanted or risky sexual activity. Alcohol is one of such drugs and remains the most commonly used date rape drug. It is most commonly used to help commit sexual assault. It is readily available as well as legal and many assailants use alcohol because their victims often willingly imbibe it, and can be encouraged to drink enough to lose inhibitions or consciousness .

When a person drinks too much alcohol, it is

Continued on Page 54

traffic laws was suspended between 10th -14th September, 2011, a move described by one of the stakeholders as relieving. The piece for today is therefore taken from the theme of the campaign.

The question by keen observers was why suspend enforcement for a weeklong awareness campaign. What does the FRSC stand to get. What mileage?

First, let me clearly state that one of the statutory mandates of the Corps is to raise awareness on responsible driving.

The Corps has consistently done this through various means. Besides the platform of motor-park rallies and road shows, the Corps compulsorily compels all traffic offenders to attend public enlightenment campaign lectures as a prerequisite before they are released.

Even applicants for drivers’ licence are equally compelled to attend free lectures in the course of processing drivers’ licence at least in some states.

Despite these and many strategies, the Corps maintains the crash trend can get better through improved responsible

driving.

Responsible driving is therefore the crux of the weeklong campaign, which observers have described as novel. But are there other reasons or justifications for this novelty? One of the justifications is the feeler from the various publics of the Corps such as the National Assembly, the Media and other stakeholders to step up its campaign drive. The second is the identification of public enlightenment as the fourth pillar of the UN Decade of Action, which upholds safety education as a vital component that must be harnessed extensively to achieve set objectives. There is also the increasing trend of crashes, which are avoidable. So what exactly are some of these attitudes that must change? They are legion.

Excessive speed is one. Distracted driving is another. Under-age driving and driving without the use of seat belt are two other bad or irresponsible driving behaviours. Driving under the influence of alcohol is another. So too is what my friend calls executive recklessness.

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EXPLORE SEPTEMBER 30, 2012

Fashion Court ...with ‘Justice’ BOLATITO ADEBAYO (beetito2@yahoo.co.uk)

Prosecuting Counsels: DELE ONATADE & OMONIYI AYEDUN

INDEPENDENCE FELONS Up Manchester!

How we love your pretty face, but hate the fact that you are hawking your ‘Manchesters’ when you don’t need to do this. We understand the burden of carrying such frontal kilograms.

We only wish we knew the best way to help you. But desperate hawking like this wouldn’t make your burden lighter and you know what the new Lagos Traffic Law says about causing gridlock on our roads. We are aware of the agony all the drivers went through when they saw this exhibit. Even male LASTMA officials on patrol got confused when they caught a glimpse of you. But thanks to our vigilante style operatives on patrol duty who picked you up and prevented multiple crashes caused by distracted drivers. Pay N5 million for inducing X-rated thoughts in them.

Viewing centre During cross examination, the prosecuting counsel asked how you were able to sit down in that skirt. He further asked you to pick up something and when you did, the court was thrown into pandemonium. We all know that the skirt is only appropriate for 10-year old Kishi to wear and not an adult like you. As a deterrent, you are to do 1500 frog jumps from Third Mainland bridge in that skirt. We are sure that the pairs of eyes looking at you would be more than those at all the TV viewing centres in Lagos during foreign premier league matches. Pay N5 million fine.

Our milk Evidence shown during trial revealed that in ‘exhibit A’ you deliberately pulled down the dress yourself. ‘Exhibit C’ showed that you caught in a mini that revealed so much of your skin. You are found guilty and sentenced 365 days community service in Kaura Namoda, Zamfara State at the cattle market, helping milk maids makefura de nunu. After that experience you will appreciate your tits better. Also pay N2 million fine to the family of Mallam Jangagbe, whose arm was amputated years ago.

T

here is a famine of morality in the land; there is drought of decency and values. The flood of nudity is eating us up and there is a volcanic eruption of revealing our sexualized wears everywhere. Who will save us from the plague of micro minis and cleavage-baring dresses, see-through and what have you? We have cautioned, punished and it seems our nightmares have just begun.

Let’s declare 365 days of fasting, cleansing and prayers, maybe it will work. We are pleading with all Fashion Court lovers to join us in this, so that we can bring sanity to our style system. Let somebody shout hallelujah!

SEPTEMBER 30, 2012 EXPLORE

51

Fashion Court Absolutely, this is style terrorism at its worst. What style statement are you trying to make? Even a blind man can ‘see’ your milk factory displayed. We were told that all the men at the function you attended could discern the weight, texture, sloppiness and even the firmness. We are sure that the ladies who model the Victoria’s Secret bra would not descend to this obscene and absurd level. You are to spend 345 months on Koma hills. And will not be eligible parole until 2020.

Atomic Arsenal If not for the timely intervention of our bomb detectors, we all would have been blown up with your atomic bomb back view. But we thank God for our very efficient bomb disposal squad, who easily recognized the suicide bomber dress you were clad in. Even more annoying are those bra ‘signals’ popping out everywhere. The thunder thighs are not so entertaining either. You are found guilty on 789 counts and sentenced to one month imprisonment on each count, in Kuje Maximum Security prison. However, the sentence will run concurrently.

Witness Box ...With CHIMA JUPADIM nkiti2002@yahoo.co.uk

‘

I warned my people not to come to the altar of God indecently dressed. O yes, they must dress well.

‘

Oh-show-free

–Bishop David Oyedepo,

General Overseer, Living Faith Tabernacle (Winners Chapel)

Enter the Witness Box. Let’s hear your comment. Call: 08036581512

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EXPLORE SEPTEMBER 30, 2012

Sunday fashion

Dress code: Green ‘n’

By BOLATITO ADEBAYO

Y

ippeee! It’s Independence day again.

It’s another reason to celebrate and flaunt your stuff. We need to start off by dressing appropriately for the d-day.

You should bear in mind that the appearance you are creating is not only about looking fabulous but also about being patriotic.

You really have to drum it to others that this is October first, and wearing green and white is the only best option. There are lots of options to choose from when it comes to stylish dresses for Independence, but this is the right time to stay classy, sassy and really patriotic, too. Happy Independence Day! Daytime causal beach day We all know the beach will be filled with fun lovers, and if you are thinking of doing the same, then get a super laid back look. To create this outfit, get a green tank and white shorts. Accessorize with simple sandals or flats and a stripped beach bag for a coordinated look. You can go for the kill with green and white bangles, too.

Day time outfit This can be described as a street style and also laid back that is perfect for picnics, family outings and what have you. You can get a T-shirt in either green or white colours, or preferably a stripped

SEPTEMBER 30, 2012 EXPLORE

53

Sunday fashion

white

green and white tee and then pair with jeans. An oversized T-shirt will be perfect for this too, so you can tie it into a knot and pair it with canvas.

Night out modern This trendy outfit is sleek and modern. It is most suitable when you want to paint the town green.

You can start with the off moment green skinny jeans with an embellished white blouse and studded green loafers or pumps. Once you open the door, you will sparkle like fireworks, especially when you add a bold statement silver necklace.

Night out classic You are thinking of a dinner with someone special, or going for a formal event? Then, the classy look will do the trick. You can come out bold in a green dress that reflects the national flag. Bring on a silver or white pumps or stilettos. Or, it can be the other way round, a white dress and green shoes. Finish the look with silver earrings and an adorable but subtle bangle.

Make-up Every day you wake up to the same old routine of looking good and wearing the same old stuffs.

But, for a change, spice up your look with green eyeliner and eye shadow to project your glamorous face. You can add a little sparkle by adding silver glitters on your brow or cheeks. And if you have the guts, go get a green lipstick; it’s the best way to celebrate.

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SEPTEMBER 30, 2012

EXPLORE

WardR Round ‘Avoid becoming a date rape victim’ By

Dr Olubiyi Adesina Consultant Diabetologist e-mail: fbadesina@yahoo.com 08034712568

Your diabetes questions answered (7)

Continued from Page 49 harder to think clearly; set limits and make good choices. Aperson may not be able to tell when a situation could be dangerous; say ‘no’to sexual advances; fight back if a sexual assault occurs and it is possible to blackout and to have memory loss.

Rohypnol can be felt within 30 minutes of being drugged and can last for several hours. If one is drugged with rohypnol, the effect is seen in the form of muscle relaxation or loss of muscle control, difficulty with motor movements (trouble standing), drunken feeling (might look and act like someone drunk), problems talking (slurred speech), nausea, can’t remember what happened while drugged, loss of consciousness (black out), confusion, problem seeing, dizziness, sleepiness, lower blood pressure, and death. In addition, Rohypnol also causes a decrease in blood pressure; stomach and intestinal upset; and urinary retention.

GHB is very potent and takes effect in about 15 minutes and can last 3 or 4 hours. A very small amount can have a big effect and so it is easy to overdose. Most of it is made by people in home or street ‘labs’ so one doesn’t know what is in it or its effects. GHB can cause unusual relaxation, intense drowsiness, dizziness, nausea, respiratory depression, problem seeing, loss of consciousness (black out), seizures, temporary memory loss, difficult breathing, tremors, sweating, vomiting, slow heart rate, dream-like feeling, coma and death.

Ketamine is very fast acting.

The victim might be aware of what is happening but be unable to move. It also causes memory problem. Later, one might not be able to remember what happened when drugged.

Ketamine can also cause distorted perceptions of sight and sound, loss of sense of time and identity, out of body experiences, dream-like feeling, and feeling out of control, impaired motor function, problems breathing, convulsions, vomiting, memory problems, numbness, loss of coordination, aggressive or violent behavior, depression, high blood pressure and slurred speech.

Some of these drugs are legal when lawfully used for medical

purposes but that doesn’t mean that they are safe. For instance, rohypnol where it is legal is prescribed for sleep problems and to assist anesthesia before surgery. Ketamine is used as an anesthetic for humans and animals but mostly animals while GHB is used to treat problems from narcolepsy (a sleep disorder).

Since these drugs are powerful and can hurt, they should be used with a doctor’s order and care.

There’s the Nigeria (factor) system to consider if one is to escape being a victim. In order to protect one’s self from being a victim, the following tips are very helpful: Don’t accept drinks from other people; open containers yourself; keep your drink with you at all times even when you go to the bathroom; don’t share drinks; don’t drink from punch bowls or other common open containers- they may already have drugs in them. If someone offers to get you a drink from a bar or at a party, go with the person to order your drink. Watch the drink being poured and carry it yourself; don’t drink anything that tastes or smell strange(sometimes GHB tastes salty); have a non drinking friend with you to make sure nothing happens; if you realize you left your drink unattended, throw it out. Lastly, if you feel drunk and haven’t drunk any alcohol or if you feel like the effects of drinking alcohol are stronger than usual, get help right away.

Dear Doctor, I wish to know if diabetes has been with mankind from the beginning or it is a recent occurrence. Also, what is the Nigerian story on diabetes? Thank you. – Akin-Lewis The United Nations General Assembly in year 2006 described Diabetes as ‘a chronic, debilitating and costly disease associated with severe complications, which poses severe risk for families, states and the entire world’.

The term Diabetes Mellitus is derived from the Greek word – Diabetes which means siphon, and the Latin word mellitus which means sweet as honey. The term denotes the continuous intake of water and the persistent passage of sweet tasting urine that is classically associated with the disease.

The carnage attributable to Diabetes is clearly demonstrable even in antiquity. Descriptions of the disease were made about 3500 years ago (1500BC) in Egypt in the Ebers papyrus. George Ebers found the Ebers Papyrus in Egypt in 1872. The papyrus is the first known written description of diabetes in which the disease was described as a rare disease that causes the patient to lose weight rapidly and urinate frequently.

About 400 BC, Charak and Susrat, well known Ayurvedic physicians in India noted not only the sweetness of the urine, but also the correlation between obesity and diabetes, and the tendency of the disease to be passed from one generation to another through the “seed”. The Hindus who practiced Ayurveda noted that insects and flies were attracted to the urine of some people whose urine tasted sweet.

The Holy Bible in 1 Kings 15:23 and 2 Chronicles 16:12-13 tells of a king in Israel who had a non healing foot disease between the 39th and 41st years of his reign which is thought today to be due to diabetes. Non healing ulcers on the feet are closely associated with diabetes.

An important milestone in the history of diabetes was the establishment of the role of the liver in glucose production by Claude Bernard in France in 1857 and the concept that diabetes is due to excess glucose production.

In 1921, Frederick Banting, an orthopaedic surgeon and Charles Best a medical student began to investigate the pancreatic islets in Toronto, Canada. They later on made an extract from beef pancreas, which was successful for treating humans with diabetes.

Another development, though less significant than that of insulin, arose from the German observation during World War II that certain sulfonamide derivatives lowered blood glucose. In 1955, the oral sulfonylurea (tolbutamide) began to be generally used as blood glucose lowering therapy.

Diabetes mellitus can be found in almost all populations throughout the world, but the incidence and prevalence of Type 1 Diabetes and Type 2 Diabetes and the relative distribution of these two major types of diabetes show major differences between countries and between different ethnic groups within individual countries.

The worldwide prevalence of Diabetes has risen dramatically over the past two decades and it is projected that the number of individuals with Diabetes will continue to increase in the near future. The number of adults with diabetes in the world is projected to rise from to 333 million in the year 2025, with worldwide prevalence rising from 5.1% to 6.3% during the same period. Similarly, in Sub-Saharan Africa, the number of adults with diabetes is projected to rise to 15 million in 2025. Type 2diabetes is the predominant form of diabetes worldwide, accounting for 90% of cases globally.

The prevalence of diabetes in Nigeria appears to be on the increase. More than four decades ago (1969) in Lagos, Nigeria, Johnson reported a prevalence of 0.5% in a community - based study. This was preceded by a prevalence of 0.38% in a hospital-based study in Ibadan in 1963.

To be continued.

EXPLORE SEPTEMBER 30, 2012

Explore Business ‘Govts, officials disdain Nigerians’ •Continued from Page 22 ing what you mean and meaning what you say, being a man of your words. That’s all you need to sell. If you have that attitude, you can sell anything. In fact you can sell ice to the Eskimos. You can sell coal to Newcastle. Let me give you an illustration. When I was with Seven-Up, there was a time I visited one of our big dealers in the North, who was based in Funtua. He said he wanted to buy a truckload of a particular product. I was with the depot manager and the sales officer. When the man asked for the truckload, my people were very happy because they had been pleading with him to buy more of our products. But I told him that we could not sell a truckload of the particular product to him. He was aghast and said that he thought my people brought me to influence him to buy more of our products.

Incidentally some of our brands were out of stock then and we were rationing the rest. The man said he was ready to pay immediately for a truckload of the available brand.

Again, I refused to approve the sale and he asked why. I said to him: though we need your money, I cannot sell a truckload of the product to you because it is not among the fast-moving products; it is a complimentary product; so I can’t let you buy a truckload.

The man was still dumbfounded and then said, ‘I can’t understand you; I thought you are salesman.’I said to him: ‘Yes, I am a salesman with a different spirit. I can’t dump a truckload of a product I know you will not be able to sell off in over six months. Because of the rains (this was during the rain season), the crowns would begin to rust after sitting in your warehouse for about six months. Then you will become angry with my company for dumping the product on you and going away with your money. I want to prevent this from happening and that’s why I don’t to want you to buy a truckload. The Alhaji said he had been business for 30 years and no salesperson had displayed the kind of honesty I showed in my discussion with him. For that reason he took me to the inner courtyard of his house (in the North there is a door called ba shiga, which no external male person is allowed to pass through) and showed me his wives and children as a mark of respect for me. Incidentally, he had wives from the major ethnic groups in the country.

From that day, he began to regard me as a member of his family.

In essence, a good salesperson should be more concerned about the utmost benefit of the customer rather the financial gain he would make from selling to the customer. That is what we teach people under the Total Selling Concept as a key for ensuring consistent sales to your customers: put their welfare before your financial benefits and you will have their patronage for the long term.

Now let’s change direction a little bit; would you say that the Transformation Agenda is being well sold? What should President Goodluck Jonathan do? How should he communicate to Nigerians?

Let me say this clearly from the beginning that the people we have had in government for some years now, not just with Jonathan administration, fall under two broad groups: it is either that they don’t know anything about selling skills or that they are so disdainful of Nigerians that they don’t even care whether you buy into the Transformation Agenda or not. Because most often, what you see them show is a take or leave it atti-

•Ozoigbo

tude. In other words, they come out with a programme and say that they have already decided on it. And there is a complaint, that’s when they start making an effort to ‘sell’ it.

That is something that is almost blasphemous and anachronistic in selling. How do you sell a product when you have offered it to the market? Sadly this is what the federal and state governments do. They try to sell products they have already taken to the market. And when the product begins to face rejection, that’s when they start making an effort to sell it. And this makes the job more Herculean. It is either they don’t know anything about selling skills or they are completely disdainful of Nigerians. Or a combination of then two: they don’t know and they don’t care whether you like it or not. And this happens everyday in very facet of governance, whether the government or its agencies. The story is the same: complete disdain of Nigerians. Look at the way Central Bank handled the issue of the proposed N5000 currency note.

Some government and its officials try to play God, when even God Himself listens and changes His course for the sake of the people he is managing. I am short of words to describe the attitude of our government towards Nigerians.

Now that the Institute has come into being and we have this situation in the country, is there any plan by the Institute to redress this? Does it intend to re-educate government officials on how to communicate better with the people?

That is part of the global vision of the Institute. Virtually every other profession and sector of the Nigerian economy needs selling skills. And they are actually practicing selling skills way or the other and may not know it. A good politician is supposed to be a successful salesperson. If he cannot sell himself well, he cannot win over the electorate except in a situation of ‘selection’ rather than election.

During Ibrahim Babangida’s time, we had the Structural Adjustment Programmes, SAP. Why did it fail with Nigerians? The reason was that it was sold wrongly. While the government was telling Nigerians to tighten their belts, it’s top officials were loosening theirs and getting fat. One of the key components of Total Selling, integrity, was completely thrown overboard. The government said the people should cut down on waste but its officials were engaging in profligacy. The level of corruption we saw was the highest witnessed before then. How could they expect the people to buy into such a programme? Even if SAP was the best programme, it was bound to fell. No government scheme can work except you observe the fundamentals that make for successful selling.

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SECURITY SECURITY &POLICE &POLICE ...with Ben Okezie 08034959119 (SMS only) okezieben@gmail.com

Nations’ security tragedy

O

FTEN, nations crumble when their political, economics, religion, and communications are either infringed, influenced, manipulated or controlled from outside. With Nigeria just clocking 52 years as an independent nation, the country is gradually being strangled by forces that control its economic lifeblood (oil and energy); the monopoly of its communication while foreign powers interested in its political arrangement structure try to determine who should be in power.

This arrangement explains why our leaders have become stooges in the hands of foreign powers thereby making them look like zombies as the late Fela Anikulapo-Kuti aptly depicted in one of his songs.

According to him, a zombie can only walk, talk or operate his master dictates.

Our leaders have severally shown that every of their actions are still being dictated by the colonial masters. Let us take the issue of communication, which is the life wire of any nation. In this day of technology, when nations steal or imbibe technology and adapt such to their own advantage, it is painful that the first telecommunication company that seized our airspace is from a foreign country. In the area of communication technology, it has been observed that each SIM-card has three codes that are connected to a database. One of the codes is based in the foreign headquarters of the operating company; the second is domiciled in the local headquarters of the company in the country where it is operating and providing service while the third code is embedded in handset phone. This arrangement means that all communication data passed through the handset is stored in the headquarters of the foreign company providing the service, and such information can be intercepted and used by the foreign country against the country being served.

No wonder, at its inception, the foreign communication company ensured that the local telecommunication company was paralyzed before it could take off. The power of communication cannot be underestimated in the life of a country. One can now see why security agencies shouldered with the responsibility of checking foreign investors should be more proactive.

No country in the developed world opens its doors to every Tom, Dick and Harry in the name of foreign investment at its detriment. It is very unfortunate that security lapses have impacted negatively on our democracy. How else can one explain this: security agencies were supposed to check out the records of politicians, yet indicted governors, ministers and private individuals whose names are in the bad book of the nation are today in the hallowed chambers of the National Assembly legislating over the people. How come people with bad records are being appointed into top government offices? Take the recent case of a very senior aide at the Federal level whose company is embroiled in a controversy over contracts awarded by a certain state government? Who cleared him for appointment?

Those in politics are allowed to mingle with foreign organizations that have criminal ideology that are opposed to the country without being monitored. The association of our leaders in whatever level of government should be strictly monitored. It is because such was not done, that we are today encumbered with the issue of Boko Haram. When Mohammed Yusuf the late leader of the sect known as Boko Haram was exhibiting his evil religious traits by associating with al-Qaida and other terrorist groups in the world, none of the security agencies responsible for monitoring and gathering intelligence information were proactive. They all went to sleep and today the country is caught pants down due to their laxity. If men and women with good pedigree and good records were the only ones certified to rule us, our problems would be half solved. That is when good policies would be enunciated for the people, thereby fulfilling the scriptural passage from the Bible that says: “When the righteous (good men) are at the helm of affairs, the people rejoice.”

Today, another challenge facing the country is the economy. The major areas of our economy are power and petroleum. Both are unfortunately being controlled by foreign powers. China, India and Russia, even Ghana and South Africa, none of these countries allow foreigners to completely control their power and oil sectors, especially those blessed with crude oil. A leader once appeared from our shores that saw the evil monopoly of a foreign oil company and their meddling in our politics and economy and it braced up for a confrontation by sacking them from our shores. Today they came back, like the biblical demon cast out of the mad man, in full force to strangle and decimate the country. The examples of Ogoni and Baylesa illustrate how their evil operational encouraged the formation of the local terrorists. It is these foreign oil companies that help in the creation of the oil cabals that are strangling the country today.

Cabals are people of like mind for a common purpose. Whether in crime or religion, their cause is always aimed at destruction. Cabals are mean and can only be torpedoed with hard legislation or through force. They are self-centered and dangerous. They should not be entertained or encouraged. A cabal should not be given the leeway to attain leadership position nor should security agencies permit them to have any link with those in government. Cabals are corrupters and are deadly in any of their operations. The Nigerian government plays and dines with cabals at its own detriment and until our security agencies are alive to their constitutional responsibilities, this country that is about to celebrate its 52 years of independence may not be able to achieve the aspirations of its founding fathers.

56

EXPLORE SEPTEMBER 30, 2012

NOVELLA SERIES

...with Joe Dudun

08072131727 (sms only) email: writersworkplace@yahoo.com

Wifey (9)

I

GAZED at her, the once most adoring wife and mother of my children.

Tears stream down her pitiable eyes.

‘Let me die,’ she wept, turning her gaze to me. ‘Do it, Gideon, kill me… I deserve to die.’

The sap of anger evaporated. Kill her, so what? Would it change the fact of her betrayal? Nothing, nothing can assuage the pain of the sharp knife in my heart. I must leave her to her guilt. And to Igboeze. I felt a light tap on the shoulder.

‘Are you alright?’ Eddy.

I turned and briefly gazed into his eyes, then left. He followed while Ogheneobukome remained. Not a word spoken as I joined Eddy on the front passenger seat of the car.

My place was only around the bend but it was an eternity that day. How do I return to a country home that held the enchanting memory of a loving family? Oh God! ‘Take me somewhere else,’ I sharply instructed Eddy.

‘Somewhere else? How do you mean?’

‘I can’t step into that house!’

‘Why?’ ‘Just get me out of town, okay!?’

‘You’re screaming!’

‘I don’t care!’

Eddy pulled up beside the road, close to my fence; engine running. He was angry. And so was I. ‘What the hell has come over you, Giddy?’

‘Ufuoma…’

That was all I could say and the tears just kept coming, like a burst dam after a devastating hurricane. Exactly what it was, Hurricane Ufuoma! I wept. Eddy simply engaged gear and drove on. And a locket of memory unfolded.

‘I wish you weren’t leaving, dad.’

That was Ovie, then seventeen; his first day at the Igbinedion University, Okada. I had personally driven the considerably distant journey from Warri to the quiet Edo State community to make sure my first son enjoy the benefit of a loving father. I was loving, true, and that was because I was the proud father of a brilliant son. An undergraduate of medicine, yet so young.

‘Want me to stay here with you?’ I smiled at him.

‘Yes… no, no dad,’ he stammered.

‘Could you be specific, young man?’ I smiled at him. ‘Do you wish to say ‘yes’ I should stay? Or ‘no’ I should leave?’

‘I only wished, dad… I only wish I could have your presence with me for always…’

‘For a time, son,’I reached out, tapping him on the shoulder, ‘I’ll physically be with you for time but there is something that will be with you for always – the memories of goodness that I’ve been able to impart in you. I look forward to seven or eight years from today, that’s when I’ll know if I am successful father or not…’

‘You’re the best dad in the world…’

‘Only one way of proving it – come out

tops in your class, make me proud.’

‘You have my word, dad.’

‘You have my word, son.’

I raised my right hand for a high-five, he did same and both hands clasped in a grasp of confidence. We smiled at each other and I felt the urge to pass across the very words my own father told me those many years ago. I was about Ovie’s age at the time, my first day at the Unity School, Agbarho. Tears in my eyes. He stopped at the school gate, regarding me.

‘I may leave you here, my son,’ he said to me, ‘but there is a presence beyond me that will continue to be beside you.’

‘I don’t understand, papa,’ I said to him.

‘You don’t have to understand, son… just know it.’

‘Know what, papa?’

‘That the ancestral father from where I come from,’ he said to me, ‘he is the one you represent here, be a responsible child and you make him happy. Do you wish to make him happy?’

‘Yes, papa…’

The son had become a father and there I was with Ovie the fateful day.

‘There’s a presence beyond me that will continue to be beside you, son. Okay?’

‘Presence?’

‘Yes, son… let whatever decision you have to take in course of your stay here be guided by the understanding that there is a dad somewhere needful of fulfillment in his son. Do you promise?

‘I promise, dad…’

We embraced, father and son, passing the torch from one generation to another. Then I heard Eddy’s concerned voice.

‘Hey Giddy, you with me?’

The voice was far away, intruding on one of the most intimate moments I had shared with my son. Ovie and I execute a firm handshake.

Then I felt the tap on my left knee, from Eddy.

‘Wake up, Giddy!’

I became conscious we were at the ‘reserved’ parking space of my hotel at the University town of Abraka, along the banks of the transparent River Ethiope. Oh dear God! Did I fall asleep? Agony could play a thousand tricks on a man’s sense of sanity.

‘We’re in Abraka?’

‘Yeah, you said I should take you somewhere else… I brought you here.’

I heaved a deep breath, sighing. What was it that could make a man completely unaware of his environment? His woman? I did all I could for a young woman I thought was in love with me. I gave my all. But I got nothing in return; only a betrayal. Life could be unfair!

‘Your phone is ringing,’ Eddy tapped me once again.

‘Yeah…’

I removed the ringing cell phone from my breast-pocket and regarded the caller ID. It was Ovie. I quickly pressed the ‘yes’ button with the mechanical regularity of habit. Then I felt a twisting of Ufuoma’s knife in my heart. Ovie and the others, Peter is their father!

‘Hello, dad?’

Ovie’s excited voice bounced into my consciousness. Could I ever speak with him again? Would things remain the same?

‘Answer me, dad,’ came his excited voice again.

I hesitated. How do you relate with a son who was confessed not be your son?

To be continued