Police, Students Clash by Vanguard Media Limited

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SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 2, 2012 — 5

Police, UNILAG students clash again BY DAYO ADESULU

HE five-day old protest by students of the University of Lagos, UNILAG, over the change of its name to Moshood Abiola University, Lagos, MAUL, yesterday nearly degenerated into violence as the police and students clashed, leading to a first year female student being nearly choked to death by smoke from canisters of tear gas thrown into the instititution by policemen. This is even as the suit challenging the change of name comes up before the Federal High Court on June 17. According to sources, some miscreants had capitalised on the protest along Yaba road and started to forcefully collect money from motorists, a situation that drew the attention of the policemen posted to the area to quell the situation before it escalated. The situation however degenerated to a level where the policemen pursued the protesters to UNILAG where they threw tear gas at them to disperse them, just as the students threw stones at the police operatives. One Tolulope, a fisrt year, Sciences student who was at the scene said: “As we were planning to go out for protest this morning, our leader told us to converge at the school gate and not to cause trouble. Suddenly, the policemen that had been following us since Tuesday when we started the peaceful protest divided into two groups. “One of the groups that left suddenly came back with canisters of tear gas and fired them into the air. That was how one of the female students fell unconscious. While we were trying to revive her, the police kept shooting the gas into the air with tear gas launchers but we managed to take her to the school clinic.” The Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations in Lagos State, Mr Tunde Sobulo, however denied any wrong doing by the police saying the female student slumped on her own. He explained: “We have been here since midnight, but all of a sudden, some students started leaving the campus to Herbert Marcauley road, blocking the road and started collecting money from motorists and forcing

them to put green leaves on their cars as sign of solidarity with them. These were the people we pursued to the university gate. On sighting us, the students thought we were after them, hence, they started throwing stones at us. ”If we had not used force to push them backwards, by now, all of them would have been all over the places. “The lady they alleged we beat was coming behind when she s l u m p e d . “Do not forget that we have a responsibility to protect lives and properties of the people in the community. I am telling you, take a roll call of the students and you will discover that many of them are not genuine students of this institution. ’’Some are not even students at all, but capitalised on the protest to do evil. We cannot be watching them like that.If anything goes wrong, it is you journalists who will turn back and say, but the Police were there when it happened.” However, Sobulo said that he will not allow the students to provoke them

to do any uncivilised thing. Meanwhile, Oluyinka has taken President Jonathan and the Attorney-General of the Federation to court over the renaming of UNILAG. He asked the court to determine that the action of the President by declaring in his broadcast that the name of the University be changed ultra-vires the provisions of the Act establishing the University and therefore null and void and of no effect; *Whether the action of the President by declaring in his broadcast that the name of the University be changed is a breach of the doctrine of separation of powers which Nigeria practices under its Presidential System of Government; and Whether the Honourable Court should, in the circumstances reverse the name of the University to its original state being the name with which the Act establishing it provided for in its long title, short title, interpretation section and the entire body of the Act.

Commissioning of first locally made Seaward Defence Boat and Keel by President Goodluck Jonathan in Lagos (R) with Minister of State for Defence, Erelu Olushola Obada, Vice Admiral Ola Ibrahim, Chief of Naval Staff and Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Ihejirika. Photo: State House

New UNN Deputy VC makes case for true moral re-armament BY EMEKA MAMAH

EWLY appointed Deputy Vice C h a n c e l l o r (Administration) for the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, UNN, Prof. Malachy Okwueze, yesterday said that only

Five die as gunmen invade Maiduguri BY NDAHI MARAMA, Maiduguri

IVE people have been killed in three separate attacks in the Maiduguri metropolis, Borno State yesterday, by some unidentified gunmen. Two of those killed people included a classroom teacher at Zuwa Da Wuri Hotel in Gwange ward, after suspected gunmen attacked a residendential quarters and beer hotel at about 1pm. The classroom teacher was shot dead before his wife and children even as the police said the attacks took place at Abaganaram Market, Kofa Biyu area and a hotel in Gwange ward of Maiduguri. Police Spokesman in the state, Mr Gideon Jibrin said: “there were attacks at the Abaganaram Market and Kofa Biyu where two people were killed on Thursday afternoon, but the police Area Commanders in two of the affected areas, are yet to send in their official reports on the killings to us.’’ Jibrin further said however, that no arrests

had been made over the fresh killings. Residents living near the Zuwa Da Wuri Hotel in Gwange ward; said they scampered for their lives, as suspected gunmen attacked the hotel where two people were killed. Ibrahim Isa, a resident, told newsmen that: “as we were preparing for the Jumat prayers (today) yesterday, we started hearing gunshots at the hotel and people started running, while others

shut their shops and market stalls hurriedly to run for cover. ’’Five minutes later, men of the Joint Task Force, JTF, rushed to the hotel and cordoned off the area and started shooting for 15 minutes.” It was also gathered from hospital authorities at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, UMTH, that two bodies were brought into the Emergency and Accident Unit, EAU, at about 2pm yesterday.

recourse to true moral rearmament on the part of leaders and the people of Nigeria would reverse the present myriads of crises threatening the corporate existence of the nation. He said it was erroneous for some persons in certain quarters to believe that religion brainwashes adherents but that rather, it purges the citizenry of the tendency and longing to do evils that violate the sanctity of societal wellbeing. Okwueze, a professor of religion, spoke while speaking to a capacity crowd in the Princess Alexandria Auditorium of UNN as he delivered the 67th Inaugural Lecture of the institution on the theme, “Religion: Indeed, the ‘Opium’ of Life”, during which the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Bartho Okolo, called on

Abiola’s wife hails renaming of UNILAG

S controversies continue to trail the renaming of the University of Lagos to Moshood Abiola University, wife of the acclaimed winner of the June 12 presidential elections, Mrs. Akasoba Zainab Duke-Abiola has expressed gratitude to President Goodluck Jonathan for immortalising her husband. The late politician’s wife who hailed the courage of President Jonathan noted with nostalgia that there comes a time in the history of a nation when

justice must rise like a Phoenix to redirect the affairs of men. “That my brother, President Jonathan, in a fisherman’s hat, sitting in Aso Rock as Commanderin-Chief, can listen to his sister, Queen Akasoba of Kalabari and pick up his pen to re-name a university in the “Centre of Excellence” Moshood Abiola University calls for sober reflection,” she said. While lamenting that some Nigerians misinterpreted the President’s gesture as political maneuver, she

described the move as a good act from one good man to another”. It was a post-humous handshake from one victim to another, a recognition that a goodman made the supreme sacrifice to an ungrateful nation,” she added. The Queen of Kalabari described MKO Abiola as encapsulation of our collective struggle towards the enthronement of true democracy, adding that as a symbol of real democracy, any honour accorded him would not be too much.

stakeholders of the premier university to pool resources together to make it a premier university in Africa. Okwueze, who was the best graduating student of the university in the 1986/ 87 session said it was absurd to think that society would be better off without religion as is the preaching of Karl Marx in his saying that religion is the opium of the masses and should be abolished, adding that in reality, citizens who are good religious adherents are wont to become desirable elements of any given society, even as he was quick to point out the grave danger inherent in the activities of the current predating and violent Islamic sect, saying it was a case of wrong application of the ideals of a religion.

CKCC Odolewu-Ijebu PTA meeting holds today

HE parents Teachers Association meeting of Christ the King Catholic College (CKCC), holds today at the school auditorium at 10am. A release by the Publicity Secretary, Mr Tunde Thani, said that important issues of concern, to the welfare and progress of the students will be discussed at the meeting and students will be released to proceed home for the mid term break.

6 — SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 2, 2012

Why budget is delayed — FRA A BY OMOH GABRIEL, Business Editor

HE Fiscal Responsi bility Commission has disclosed that the delays in the submission and approval of the Medium Term Expenditure Framework [MTEF] by the Ministry of Finance have led to late budget implementation and ill-execution of development plans. It gave the total revenues remitted to the treasury by the MDAs in 2011as N11.017 billion as against N2.583 billion remitted in 2010. The report however, said the processes monitored by the Commission were characterised by delays in time and activities; wide variances in revenue returns; delays in submission/publication of reports; low response to communication and; low capital expenditure utilization. These facts are contained in a report presented by the Commissioner, Monitoring and Evaluation, Alhaji Shuaibu Abdullahi Kore, at a Management retreat of the Commission held at Lafia, Nasarawa State. The retreat was chaired by Chairman of the Commission, Alh. (Dr) Aliyu Jibril Yelwa The Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA) 2007 provides that the Federal Government, after Consultation with states, shall not later than four months before the commencement of the next financial year; cause to be prepared a Medium Term Framework for the next three years. The Fiscal Responsibility Commission is empowered to ensure that the Framework is produced. While admitting that the Minister of Fi-

nance has been producing the document since 2009, its late production had always resulted in late passage of annual budgets. The report also frowned at non-compliance with the preparation of Disbursement Schedule by the Ministry of Finance, a situation it attributed to delays in the passage of the appropriation Acts and poor attitude of officers charged with the responsibilities. The report further said that while the 2011 budget was largely in line with the 2011-2013 MTEF, the MTEF 2012 – 2015 covered four years contrary to the provision of FRA, 2007 which stipulates that MTEF should be prepared for the next three years. It further added that the MTEF 2012 -2015 as presented was deficient in content and details suggesting non-compliance with FRA, 2007. The report said despite concerted efforts by the Commission, it is yet to obtain any record of transactions for the sale of federal government houses from the Presidential Implementation Committee. The Commission is however meeting with the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) over the privatisation proceeds of a number of government companies. On revenue monitoring, the report said revenue monitoring peaked during the year as more MDAS contacted by the Commission made increased revenue returns to government coffers. The report spoke of the Commission’s preparedness to generate more civil society interest in FRA compliance and stressed the need to utilize the FRA as a tool to institutionalise

better public expenditure management nationwide. While stating that compliance by MDAs has improved in recent time, it stressed the need for relevant MDAs to be involved in target setting and should reflect level of activities. Compliance with time lined activities, according to the report, needed to be improved as delays invariably affects the entire budget planning and implementation process. It finally stated that while performance has not been spectacular given that the Commission is barely 3 years old, there have been improvements in the budget process.

HEAD of the 2015 general elections, the national leadership of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, has promised to embark on comprehensive and total restructuring of the party, with a view to making it strong enough to effectively vie for all elective positions in the country. National Secretary of the party, Alhaji Sani Shinkafi, who made the promise at an interactive session with newsmen yesterday in Abuja, said the restructuring will strengthen and reposition the party to enable it compete favourably with other political parties in the next dispensation. Noting that the party will file a presidential candidate in the next general election, Alhaji Shinkafi said, “unlike in the last April presidential

2015:APGA plans restructuring, to field presidential candidate BY CHRIS OCHAYI, Abuja election when the party supported President Goodluck Jonathan ‘s candidacy, we have decided that APGA will field a presidential candidate in 2015. Assuring that the party will come out stronger of the current crisis; the national secretary said the crisis which the party is going through was the handiwork of some people who are not comfortable with the progress of the party.

According to him, “they are attacking the party because of its bright future. It is the sign of having a good future. In 2015, we will field a presidential candidate. We will restructure the party to make it stronger ahead of the 2015 polls”, he said. Apparently reacting to the statement by the leader of MASSOB, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike that the APGA National Chairman, Chief Victor Umeh should stop using him (Shinkafi) to insult Ojukwu’s family, the National Secretary said he is too big to be used by anyone.

Truth Commission wounds up proceedings BY INNOCENT ANABA

HE Truth Commis sion set up by the Ogun State Government to inquire into cases of

killings, kidnap, arson, violence, torture and threat to lives perpetrated in the state between 2003 and May 29, 2011 has wound up its sittings in Abeokuta.

The Commission which had its inaugural public sitting on November 30, last year treated 64 petitions and memoranda submitted to it during the six month period of

FAAN’s MD contempt not committed in the face of court on the contempt proceedBY INNOCENT ANABA

Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, yesterday, referred the contempt proceedings initiated against the Managing Director of Federal Airport Authority of Nigeri, FAAN, Mr George Uriesi, by Maevis Limited,to the Chief Judge of the court for re-assignment to another judge. Trail judge, Justice Binta Murtala-Nyako, rejected the objection by Mae-

vis to an appeal by FAAN, challenging the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the suit. The court held that FAAN was free to pursue the appeal. Maevis in the contempt proceedings had alleged that FAAN disregarded an order of the court made on September 24, 2010, for the maintenance of “res” on the airports concession contract between it and FAAN. The court in its ruling

ings, said that the alleged contempt is committed, “ex-facie justicea” that is “Not in the face of the court.” The court added, “I hereby order that contempt proceedings be and same is hereby refer to the Chief Judge of this Court to assign same to another judge for hearing so that all parties are given fair hearing.” The court, meanwhile, adjourned the hearing of the substantive case till July 5.

its sitting. In his closing remarks, the Commission’s Chairman, Justice Pius Aderemi, rtd,charged members of the public to continue living together peacefully, as no meaningful development could be recorded in an atmosphere of rancour. He also thanked members of the Bar, the media and other stakeholders for the support and cooperation given to the Commission while its public sittings lasted and urged all to pray for members for God’s guidance as it begins to write its reports on its findings. Responding on behalf of the Bar, Counsel to the Commission, Mr. Olubunmi Koleowo expressed appreciation for the professional way members conducted their activities from inception.

SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 2, 2012 — 7

S-Cour CN’s bid tto o sac k Go S-Courtt dashes A ACN’s sack Govvernor Akpabio …refuses to reverse self on controversial 180 days guber appeal deadline …dismisses Akpanudoedeghe’s petition BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI, Abuja

HE Supreme Court, yesterday, quashed moves by the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, to sack Governor Goodswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State through the election petition tribunal. ACN, alongside its candidate during the last governorship election, Senator James John Akpanudoedehe, challenged the decision of the Court of Appeal in Calabar which affirmed the judgement of the Election Petition Tribunal that dismissed their petition on the premise that it was not heard and determined within 180 days as stipulated in Section 285 (6) of the 1999 Constitutionin at the apex court . The appellants also asked the Supreme Court to reverse itself on the decision it took in the Borno State governorship election appeal where it dismissed the petition of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Governorship candidate, Alhaji Mohammed Goni on the basis of the same issue of 180 days deadline, pointing out that the decision was reached per-incuriam as the court failed to consider the effect of its interpretation of section of the constitution vis-a-vis the tenets of justice and fair hearing which they said the constitution upholds. The Supreme Court, presided by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Dahiru Musdapher, had on November 14, 2011, ordered the constitution of a new tribunal to conduct de-novo (fresh) hearing on the substantive petition of the ACN. The apex court gave the directive after voiding the dismissal of the petition by the initial panel of justices that presided over the Akwa Ibom State governorship election petition tribunal sitting at Uyo. While ordering re-trial of the petition on its merit, the apex court at that time, nullified the judgment of the appellate court that affirmed the election of Akpabio. A three-man panel of justices of the appellate C M Y K

court had in its unanimous judgment, read by Justice M.A Oredola, upheld the decision of the tribunal, maintaining that the ACN, failed to comply with the provisions of the 2010 Electoral Act (as amended), particularly paragraph 47 (1). “The trial tribunal cannot be faulted for invoking the provisions of the Electoral Act,” the Appeal Court said, pointing out that the petition of the ACN candidate was incurably defective as it equally failed to meet the provisions set out in paragraph 18 (4) of the First Schedule to the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended). But the Supreme Court then faulted both the tribunal and the appellate court for relying on technicalities to dismiss the petition, however, barely few days after the case was re-opened, the 180-days deadline provided in sec-

tion 285(6) of the 1999 constitution, as amended, for determination of such disputes, elapsed, thereby resulting in the second dismissal of the petition. Delivering the lead judgment on the ACN’s appeal yesterday, Justice Mary Odili, stressed that the Supreme Court lacked the powers to order the tribunal to sit beyond the time frame that was specifically provided for in the Constitution. She said that the issue of fair hearing could only be applied when the matter is still alive, saying the instant case was already dead. The court said it could not do what the appellant sought especially as there was no foundation to review its earlier decision in Goni’s case as far as the 180 days which the Electoral Act provided for the determination of election petition is concerned.

Rivers State Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and his wife Judith during an interactive forum with Rivers women in Port Harcourt, Thurdsay

Provost of UNIZIK medical school kidnapped also a Senior Consultant teaching hospital into BY VINCENT UJUMADU, Awka

HE Provost of Col lege of Medicine of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus was yesterday kidnapped at his home town, Ogidi in Anambra State. The Provost, who is

Recalled Lagos doct or s demand doctor ors for official letters He, however, exBY CHIOMA OBINNA

HE 788 doctors whose sack were reversed by the Lagos State governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola Thursday, yesterday said they would not resume duties until their official letters backing their reinstatement were received from the state government. The doctors demanding for improved conditions of service were summerily dismissed last month for allegedly embarking on an illegal strike. The Chairman of the Medical Guild, Dr.Olumuyiwa Odusote who spoke at a news

briefing organised by the Nigerian Medical Association in Lagos said although the government had announced that they had been recalled, the guild was yet to receive any official letter from the government. This was even as the strike continued in the Federal Governmentowned hospitals. Odusote said,”We are asking government to communicate to us as they did with the sack. ”We are happy that they recalled us, but we need an official letter before we can call off the strike or resume work in the hospitals.”

. . . AGPMPN lauds their recall

AGOS State Chapter Association of General and Private Medical Practitioners of Nigeria, AGPMPN yesterday commended the Lagos Sate Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola for recalling the 788 sacked doctors.Chairman of the association, Dr Olayinka Oladosu who made this

known expressed his appreciation to members of the AGPMPN in Lagos State for their patriotism and support by providing over 1200 hospitals to offer free treatment and emergency services to patients to cushion the effects of the strike describing the recall as a welcome development.

plained that the guild had written an official letter to the State Health Service Commission, HSC, requesting for the official letters of reinstatement. ”Many doctors have called the Chief Medical Directors of their hospitals to know if they have received letters backing their recallbut government is yet to communicate with them”. Also,the Chairman, Lagos State NMA, Dr.Edamisan Temiye said that until letters of recall were given to the sacked doctors,the guild would not call off the indefinite strike. Temiye said,” The doctors are ready to resume immediately but as of now, what they have are their letters of dismissal. ”How could government have made such a momentous statement without contacting the key players. As of now,it is illegal for the doctors to go into these hospitals.We do not even know the conditions attached to this recall or suspension of dismissal.”

on Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH), Nnewi was abducted while he was returning from Onitsha to his home town. A source close to the family said the abductors had established contact with the victim’s relations, adding that they were demanding payment of N50 million ransom. Immediate past chairman of Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN), Dr Gerald Udigwe said yesterday that the abduction of the provost had thrown the

confusion. Condemning the incident, Ndigwe said: “ We plead with the security agencies, the Governor of the state and all stakeholders to ensure that he is released as soon as possible, unconditionally and unharmed. “These kidnappings have instilled fear in us and we cannot go out at odd hours more so now that the police checkpoints have been removed. While we are not calling for a restoration of the road blocks, we call for adequate security measures to be taken by the police to protect those who work at odd hours”.

Navy offers free medical treatment in K ogi, Delt a Kogi, Delta BY ISIAKA OYIBO & SIMON ADEWALE

S part of activities marking its 56th anniversary, the Nigeria Navy , Kogi, Delta and CrossRiver States command of Nigeria Navy have commenced the free medical treatment and counseling to the host communities, just as the Nigeria Naval Engineering College, Ogorode, Sapele, distributed drugs and immunized over 500 children against polio disease. The Sapele Naval College through its medical team at the weekend administered treatment to people of its host communities and also distributed mosquito insecticide treated nets to pregnant women and widows.

The Sapele Naval Commandant, Rear Admiral OE. Ekwe said the gesture was meant to reciprocate the harmonious relationship existing between it and the host community since it started operation in 1985 in Sapele. Similarly, the Kogi State Commandant, Navy Commodore Innocent Kofi Yinfaowei said the free medical exercise was part of the command’s social responsibility to the host community. He disclosed that the command choice of Karara-Otube was predicated on the dearth of medical facilities in the village health centre, adding that no fewer than 2,500 persons suffering from various ailments would benefit from the week-long programme.

8 — SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 2, 2012

NDLEA seizes 2,476Kg of hard drugs in Kogi BY ISIAKA OYIBO, Lokoja

HE National Drug law Enforcement Agency, (ND LEA) seized 2476.204 kilogrammes of hard drugs, including Indian hemp, cocaine and heroine in Kogi State between January and June this year. State commander of NDLEA, Alhaji Idris Bello who gave the figure, disclosed that 30 suspects were arrested within the same period,adding that seven of them eventually were charged to court

and convicted. ”The agency also seized over 2.3 psychotropic substances in the period under review,“ he said. He however regretted that delays in the court process have not enabled the agency to arraign some of the convicts. The NDLEA boss spoke while briefing newsmen at the Lokoja office yesterday. He solicited support for the NDLEA to enable it carry its assignment and commended Governor Idris Wada for the assistance to the agency including donation of utility vehicles

which has helped to enhance the movement of staff. Alhaji Bello who spoke of the need for collective efforts in the fight against drug abuse, noted that the agency was extending the battle to schools through the establishments of drug free clubs to protect them from the dangers of drugs and the consequences of using them. He observed that drug abuse was responsible for all forms of crime confronting the society today, adding that its control would help eliminate crime.

FCDA demolishes Kubwa market BY FAVOUR NNABUGWU

HE Federal Capital Development Administration, FCDA yesterday carried out demolition of shanty and detached kiosks in Kubwa Market. The demolition team from Development Control department of the FCDA led by Mr Ibrahim Bala Saliu told Saturday Vanguard that the extension of illegal kiosks and shanty shops of the market were responsible for the terrible traffic around the market area. He explained, “the space the illegal structures occupied was for parking and because they occupy the

space meant for parking vehicles,drivers were left with no other choice than to park on the road and this made traffic flow cumbersome for motorists” He said the Saturday demolition was the third time that parts of the market would be pulled down. Asked if goods were destroyed in the process, he said, “there were no goods destroyed because we had informed them three months ago and upon our arrival, the traders were asked to clear their goods before we commenced operation”. Earlier, Secretary of the market, Mr Ifeanyi Ugwu confirmed that there were no goods destroyed in the

demolition exercise. Ugwu admitted that it was indeed the third time the shanties would be destroyed but because there were no provision for relocation of the traders, they kept rebuilding to make a living. He however doubted the possibility of rebuilding the illegal kiosks this time as Ugwu said that the demolition was a ministerial order. Saturday Vanguard investigations revealed that congestion caused by traders transacting business along the road leading to Kubwa main market became a source of concern to residents of the area and vehicle owners plying that route.

Cyprian Imobhio, Minister of State for Agriculture: Bukar and Onolememen in Uromi during the commissioning of Uni-globe farms

NUPENG calls off solidarty strike BY VICTOR AHIUMAYOUNG

IGERIA Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, has called off its solidarity strike for sacked Lagos Doctors following their reinstatement by Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State. The union however implored the doctors to reciprocate government gesture and resume work immediately in the interest of the patients and be prepared to work extra hours to cover lost

Four robbers killed for attempting to rob Police in Ogun marked car when they opened fire on the rob- cartridges and one expended cartridges. After combBY DAUD OLATUNJI, Abeokuta

O fewer than four suspected armed robbers yesterday were killed for allegedly attempting to rob some policemen in Ogere along Lagos/Ibadan express in Ogun state. The state Police Public Relations Officer,PPRO, Muyiwa Adejobi in a press statement sent to newsmen in Abeokuta yesterday said , some policemen escaped from being robbed by a-7 man gang of armed robbers who waylaid them in Ogere during the routine patrol. According to Adejobi, luck ran out on the robbers who drove in an unC M Y K

suddenly appeared from the bush with some dangerous weapons, blocked the policemen and wanted to rob. “Immediately the men

bers, one was killed on the spot, others ran into the bush with bullets wounds. “Items recovered are one dummy gun rapped with black cellotape, two live

ing the bush, three of them were found dead, totaling four suspected armed robbers gunned down” Ademuyiwa said .

grounds. According to its General Secretary, Comrade Elijah Okuogbo, the strike was called off Thursday immediately the union got the information that the workers’ friendly governor Fashola after the intervention the workers’ friendly former governor of the State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. The union apologized to both the governor and former governor for the action and insisted that NUPENG and Lagos state government were partners in progress. It pledged for support for the government in its efforts to ensure a better Lagos. It will be recalled that NUPENG had on May 29, began a solidarity industrial action in Lagos and its environs in support of the striking doctors who were sacked by the state govern-

Mimiko disburses N83m loan to Ondo farmers

HE Ondo Gov ernment has disbursed the sum of N83, 683,120.00 as loans to farmers in the state under the National Programme for Food Security (NPFS) for the execution of various agricultural activities. The State Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko made the disbursement during the inauguration of Growth Enhancement Support (GES) and the annual flagoff of planting season in Ile-Oluji yesterday.

The governor who was represented by his deputy, Alhaji Ali Olanusi at the event said the occasion was unique as it marked the inauguration of the state committee on the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA). Mimiko said agriculture being the major activity of the people and another source of internal revenue generation for the state, has remained the centre piece of his administration’s strategy towards

wealth creation, employment generation, economic prosperity and sustainable development. He stressed that his administration has within the last three years committed over N5.5billion to the development of agriculture in the state. He further stated that the government has established four Agro-Business Cities at Ore, Epe, Isuada and Auga purposely to train young

graduates in agricultural business. The programme is centered on the development of “participant-ownership scheme” targeted at employing over 15,000 graduates within the next five years, stressing that the state has a total of 76 tractors while efforts are on to train youths in handling and maintenance of the tractors, he said.

ment. Before this development, an official of NUPENG who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the union actually stopped loading products from the depots since last Tuesday.

More female permanent secretaries for Rivers — Amaechi

IVERS State Gover nor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has pledged to appoint more women as permanent secretaries in the State Civil Service . Governor Amaechi stated this on Thursday during an interactive session with Rivers women at the Banquet Hall of Government House, Port Harcourt . He said the decision was in line with his determination to promote gender equity. Governor Amaechi added that the state executive council during it’s last meeting resolved to appoint more female permanent secretaries. “We have in three or four cabinet meetings ago, decided that we must increase the number of women permanent secretaries and two or three days ago, I approved and directed the Head of Service to prepare the swearing-in of a woman in Tai and we are still thinking that one more woman be appointed as permanent secretary “

SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 2, 2012 — 9

Ogun go vt declines comment on fuel ttank ank er e xplosion govt anker explosion BY EMEKA MAMAH

FFICIALS of the Ogun State government yesterday declined comments on the allegation by the Bi-Courtney Highway Services Limited, BHSL, blaming the government over the death of 10 persons in a multiple accident involving nine fuel tankers and seven other trailers Thursday. Bi-Courtney which is the concessionaire on the road said, it had ‘’created eight temporary trailer parks along the expressway to take care of heavy trucks off the road shoulders,’’ and offered to build permanent trailer parks on the road, but stressed that the government thwarted the move ‘’through the acquisition of land.’’The officials said that the Southwest governors had taken up the issue of the road with President Goodluck Jonathan, pointing out that there were no comments to make at this time. This is even as it was revealed that the Federal Government said that it needed about N600 billion yearly

to increase the total road network from current 193,000 to over 300,000km by 2020. The Minister of Works, Mike Onolememen however, promised that ‘’the Federal Government will stop at nothing to establish a Federal Road Authority and a National Road Fund, FRANARF, should these be the exclusive requirements to transforming the Nigerian road sector to meet with global standards in road development.’’ But, in its reaction to multiple accidents Thursday, Bi-Courtney in a statement signed by its Head of Communications, Mr Dipo Kehinde, said that the Ogun State government frustrated the company ’s attempt to build parks along the road to avoid accidents. Kehinde in the statement entitled, ‘’Lagos-Ibadan expressway accident: Situation report,’’ stated in part, ‘’The Lagos-Ibadan expressway was blocked for several hours yesterday following an accident that claimed four lives. The accident occurred at about 2.30am, near Danco filling station, when a

truck loaded with iron rods stroked a parked petrol tanker and sparked a fire that also injured nine persons. ‘’You will recollect that the concessionaire offered to build permanent trailer parks on the road...You will also recollect that at the swearing-in ceremony of Senator Ibikunle Amosun as the governor of Ogun State he promised to build some parks within 90 days and actually took possession, although unlawfully, of BiCourtney’s land, meant for the asphalt plant, ostensibly to build a trailer park. The signposts of the trailer park are to be found at the location but nothing more seems to have happened.’’

Jonathan commissions first locally- built defence boat BY EVELYN USMAN

RESIDENT Good luck Jonathan yesterday in Lagos, commissioned the first locally built Seaward Defense Boat (SDB) by the Nigerian Navy, declaring that it was sign of better things to come in the Nigerian Armed Forces and the

Uni-globe adds value to govt’s plan in Uromi geria one of the greatest

ISTORY was made in Uromi recently when an Agro industrial estate spanning 90 hectares of land was commissioned by the Honourable Minister of Agriculture who was represented by the Minister of State; Mallam Bukar Tijani. While expressing his delight over the capacity of the private sector to invest in agriculture, the Minister commended Uniglobe Farms for adding value to President Goodluck Jonathan’s transformation agenda in Uromi, Edo State, saying the farm would help to actualize

government’s vision 20:20:20. In his words; ‘this initiative is putting a lot more into Mr. President’s transformation agenda and we support that and would like government to replicate such in other parts of the country.’ He further said; “today, I am happy that a farm of this magnitude, which you don’t normally find around here is being inaugurated and this is even more commendable in the light of the present administration’s agriculture and food security programme. ‘As we seek to make Ni-

L-R:- Claire Alexander, Oracle PR Manager for Africa ; Layo Ajayi, Oracle Country Manager, Nigeria and Gbemisola Aruwayo-Obe, Oracle Applications Manager for Nigeria at the Oracle Event to announce the Research report on the Challenges of Corporate Financial Reporting in Lagos recently

developed countries by 2020, this is the kind of stuff we need to encourage as government. Uniglobe is taking strides to make sure that Nigeria’s GDP is among the first 20 in the world. We are talking of a farm not only in Uromi, but one that can stand its own in Nigeria and meet its food needs,” said the Minister of Agriculture. The Chairman of Uniglobe Farms; Prince Cyprian Imobhio, had also revealed that the farm was the result of government’s call for Nigerians in diaspora to return home and invest in the country.

country at large. This is just as he also flagged off the construction of another warship by the Nigerian Navy, which is expected to be commissioned next year. Declaring that the time had come for Nigerians to start being creative, the president, expressed joy that such creativity had begun with the Armed Forces, revealing that recently in Kaduna, the Nigerian Airforce during its anniversary, displayed a rare creativity. “Now, the Navy has shown another area of creativity and I am told that the Army has something in the offing. This is the beginning of transformation and I believe that in another 10-15 years, we will be thinking of starting a project of taking Nigeria to the air. We have just started and we will continue” Expressing satisfaction over the success of the SDB named NNS ANDONI, the president however observed that the indigenous platforms on ground in different sectors during the country’s independence were grounded due to what he described as lack of in-

UNILAG to MAULAG: Senator faults unilateral decision ency on his stewardship versity BY OLASUNKANMI. AKONI A FEDERAL lawmaker representing Lagos East Senatorial District, Senator Gbenga Ashafa has joined other prominent Nigerians to condemn the sudden renaming of the C M Y K

University of Lagos by the federal Government, saying President Goodluck Jonathan has breached due process by taking a u n i l a s t e r a l decision.Ashafa made the remark yesterday while briefing journalists and residents of the constitu-

in the last one year as a lawmaker. He described the decision to immortalise the late matriarch, Chief Moshood Abiola as commendable, though belated, stressing that the presidency breached the rule of law in doing so without consulting the stakeholders in the uni-

and the state.Ashafa said that since the university was established by an Act, President Goodluck Jonathan ought to bring the matter to the National Assembly for proper deliberation and consideration to avoid uproar and criticisms as witnessed since the declaration.

digenous touch. He therefore, disclosed that in line with his administration’s agenda of transformation, scholarships would be given to first class students of ter-

tiary institutions to study in one of the best universities in the world, with a view to bringing such knowledge back and exploring it in the country.

BRIEFS Edo 2012 guber race: Osunbor’s ex COS joins Oshiomhole By SIMON EBEGBULEM, Benin

HEAD the July 14 governorship election in Edo state, the former Chief of Staff to Prof.Osarhiemen Osunbor led administration in the state, Mr Isaiah Osifo, yesterday, defected to the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) with his supporters. He said after assessing the three governorship candidates in the race, Oshiomhole, Gen.Charles Airhiavbere (PDP) and Chief Solomon Edebiri (ANPP), he found out that Oshiomhole had in a very short period shocked the people of the state with his developmental strides “and he listens like a true democrat more than others”.

NCC halts clampdown on illegal SIM card sale in Warri By EMMA ARUBI & AKPOKONA OMAFUAIRE

ARRI — EFFORTS yesterday by the National Communications Commission, NCC, to rid the country of improperly and illegally acquired SIM cards of the various GSM service providers in the country hit brick wall in Warri, Delta State.The failure,Saturday Vanguard learnt was the inability by the relevant unit of regulatory body to obtain the necessary permission for the arrested of those who allegedly go against the NCC guidelines on the sale and registration of SIM cards by mobile phone owners in Nigeria.

Ogun govt raises alarm on heavy rainfall By DAUD OLATUNJI, Abeokuta

GUN state government has raised alarm over of possibility of consistent heavy rainfall this year , urging the people in the state to take preventive proactive measures of planting of trees.The State Commissioner for forestry, Falilu Sabitu who gave the warning at the flagoff of the free distribution of 1.5 million tree seedlings reportedly raised under the national afforestation programme, said the drop of hailstones in the state signalled the arrival of climate change and heavy rainfall.

10 — SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 2, 2012

New tariff or stable electricity:

Which one comes first? BY EMMANUEL EDUKUGHO

C M Y K

he Nigerian people, accus tomed to life with frequent in terrupted power supply at homes and business places, except those few having private generators, are suddenly to pay more for electricity as a new tariff regime comes into effect on June 1, 2012. Newly established Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), an independent statutory body charged with the “responsibility of ensuring the provision of safe, adequate, reliable and affordable electricity,” is introducing a Multi-Year-Tariff-Order (MYTO) in addition to energy conservation strategies to reduce financial burden on electricity consumers. Also a Power Consumer Assistance Fund aimed at protecting the low income earners – something like subsidy will be put in place. NERC is to monitor the electricity industry, ensure steady power supply, efficiency, no longer dependence on generating sets, meters will be provided free but with minimum costs to consumers. Dr. Sam Amadi, Chairman, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, has insisted that the situation can’t be the same again as it was in the past when people were virtually living in darkness. Now for the NERC, it is “keeping the lights on.” But how far can this new dispensation go, considering the huge challenges and constraints to be contained in the realisation of this new project. Amadi appeared recently on a Ray Power Radio programme called “Political Platform” to explain this latest de-

Both the tariff and light go hand in hand. If you cook a good soup which costs money to prepare, the price can be fixed already because you’re sure the soup will be sweet and the person paying will have value for his money

velopment in the electricity industry to listeners across the country in a session with seasoned journalists anchoring the programme. Saturday Vanguard monitored the interaction and the NERC chairman’s response to the questions raised about the new order. On why there is need to raise tariff It’s about tariff that will cover costs, ensure private sector investment in the generation, distribution and transmission of electric power to Nigerians. It’s about providing light to Nigerians in the heart of darkness. No darkness anymore. Should we first have tariff before light or have light before tariff – which one should come first? Put it like this: Do you go to a restaurant, pay the cost of food already fixed without seeing the food itself whether it will be

palatable or not? Both the tariff and light go hand in hand. If you cook a good soup which costs money to prepare, the price can be fixed already because you’re sure the soup will be sweet and the person paying will have value for his money. It takes time to make a good soup. Also electricity takes time to generate. Investment will be made. The cost today is less than what ever in future and services. N50 billion is provided as subsidy in this year. But it’s unlike fuel subsidy that is shared by oil marketers. For instance, if the consumer is to pay N10 per kilowatt hour, will now pay N4. Instead of paying about N21 per kilowatt hour, will pay N11. There are different classes of consumers paying different rates of tariffs for their electricity. What about providing free meters? Free meters won’t be provided before June 1st. About 18 months needed to have the meters. It’s free because no upfront tariff has captured payment of meters. Payment has been factored into the cost. Some consumers who went to PHCN and the company demanded for N30,000 for new meters. Can this be correct? If they (PHCN) asked for money from consumers for the new meters, I cannot say. But before June 1st, we will publish the connection fee. After that, consumers can call NERC for enquiries. It is a criminal offence to charge what was not approved. Industrialists will be paying more. Let there be more light. If supply is boosted, it will drive down the cost of energy. How can energy cost be saved?

Cost can be saved by proper metering, energy efficient bulb, putting off your light when not needed, open your windows for energy (light) to come in. Metering will solve this aspect of cost. About those people who have paid already for the new meters? It’s a new dawn, that has passed away. Let’s forgive. The past is gone. (Nothing can be done about that). His last message For many years, it had not been good, consumers of electricity were in darkness. But things can be better. Let us oppose corruption, and fight to make the system work. I won’t tell lies to the people. Meanwhile, from all indications, Dr. Sam Amadi wants the co-operation of all Nigerians to make the new tariff regime work and liberate the nation from perpetual darkness which inadequate, ineffective, inefficient electric power system has caused. There is need for more private investment in building more power stations for consumers to have choices. The common people will pay less for electricity while the rich and big companies pay more. Let us wait and see. Smooth and uninterrupted power supply has been identified as key to successful industrialisation of the country. The cost of doing business and manufacturing is becoming increasingly prohibitive and unbearable. Many small and even medium scale enterprises cannot thrive in a nation plagued by persistent power failure. Generating sets are constantly on in several business premises with billions of naira expended on diesel fuel to run them. Public power system is turned into “standby,” while generators are running almost permanently. With the new order in which electric power supply can be guaranteed, unemployment will be curtailed significantly as artisans, vulcanizers, battery charging, beauty/hair saloons, dry cleaning, tailoring, bakeries, shoe making, fish processing and other small businesses will get the much needed boost.

SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 2, 2012—11

Pre-paid meter system:

PHCN operates out of decency — Consumers By AYO ONIKOYI

HEN the government of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo came with the readiness of combating the problem of energy in the nation, it generated loud ovation and the enthusiasm that descended on the country was that the problem of energy would soon be a thing of the past. The will of the government to get things done paved the way for the enactment of Electric Power Sector Reform Act, 2005. Seven years after, the country could only celebrate the transformation of then National Electric Power Authority (NEPA) to Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN). The status of the Reformed Act unbundled PHCN into one transmission company, seven generation companies and eleven distribution companies. To an average Nigerian what this supposed to mean is more energy supply for everyday living and for business but this has not been the case. Instead of improved power supply, what has been the order of the day is perennial darkness occasioned by incessant power outages. As a result of this, the business of generating sets has become a bludgeoning industry. Many World Bank and UNIDO studies have repeatedly indicated that Nigeria is a nation where rising and prohibitive energy costs pose a serious threat to industrialisation. With about 10 per cent dependence on PHCN, many firms have collapsed under the unbearable burden of the rising cost of energy. Cement manufacturers in Nigeria, for instance, pay $7 for the same unit of energy that costs just $1 in Egypt. It is estimated that 15 per cent of manufacturing output is lost to power surges and outages. Experts reckon that the 4,000MW which PHCN now generates at the peak of production is only sufficient to power three or four states. With an estimated rationing rate of 1,500MW to Lagos state alone, the other 35 states and the federal capital territory is left with just 2,500MW. With a population of less than 30 million, Egypt generates 35000MW. Nigerians pay for electricity without enjoying it. Yet, PHCN keeps sending bills to its hapless customers. It is bad enough that people hardly enjoy electricity but most dehumanising when they have to pay for energy they did not consume. This issue of over-billing and sometimes “”crazy bills” has been a battle Nigeria

Electricity Regulatory Commission has been fighting since its creation by provision of Electric Power Sector Reform Act, 2005. The age-old arbitrariness, extortionate charges and poor service delivery through the use of billed meters by the Power Holding Company of Nigeria and its successor distribution companies has been condemned severally by NERC Chairman, Sam Amadi. One of the primary functions of the commission, as contained in the Electric Power Sector Reform Act, 2005, is to “ensure that the prices charged by licensees are fair to customers and sufficient to allow the licensees to finance their activities and to allow for reasonable earnings for efficient operation.” But, certainly, current electricity tariffs are patently unfair to

•Sam Amadi

consumers who are forced to pay for services not rendered. Though Dr. Amadi has demanded an end to such exploitative operation but agreed that until the actual enforcement of regulations and standards are pursued the practice cannot be a thing of the past. He said the metering system which has been employed is designed to guide against charges for energy not used. It is also the much-awaited mechanism for the elimination of waste in electricity consumption. Distribution of Pre-paid meters igerians have welcome the introduction of the pre-paid meters with open arms but have had to gasp and groan when they could only see it and could not have it. The

•Prof Barth Nnanji

management of PHCN made various announcements that the equipment is available but yet many consumers have cried out that they still could not procure them after having paid the statutory connection fee of N25,000 for single phase and N55,000 for threephase as the case may be. A consumer who lives in Surulere has this to say: “ the so called prepaid meters are nowhere to be seen around here. Take a walk from this Itire down to Ijesha, I tell you there is hardly a house that can boast of a pre-paid meter. We have heard with it you can actually monitor how much you spend on electricity but here, there is no such luxury. Look at the situation now, in the last five 5 months we have been having electricity for just about threefour hours per day and some days there would be no power supply at all but our bills have been almost constant. PHCN brings a bill of not less than N5,000 per month. There was a month our transformer was out for 16 days, meaning there was no electricity for two weeks but when it came to the bills nothing reflected on it. The amount was as constant as ever. PHCN still brought a bill of over N4,000” Even the NERC boss has accused the management of PHCN of willfully thwarting its own meter deployment scheme in a bid to exploit electricity consumers through its practice of “crazy billing.” That tendency, he noted, accounts for “cases of people in residential areas who pay more than companies….” According to him, “Even though they have meters, the distribution companies don’t go and read these meters.” Other consumers, residential and industrial, who had paid sums as high as between N23,000 and N40,000 per unit of prepaid meters since 2009 have yet to be provided with the meters, while PHCN has chosen to operate in total disregard for decency and statutes. Those who are lucky to have the prepaid meters have been singing songs of praise for the scheme. A consumer, Mr. Adeolubodun who lives in Mushin said “the PHCN prepaid meter is a blessing to me. Apart from the fact that it allows you to budget your money well it also cut off having to deal with unscrupulous PHCN staff who ask for money for all sorts of services. Before I acquire this meter I was paying between 3,000 to 7, 000 every month but now with a card of 7,000 I can enjoy power supply for more than 6 months” But if the recent pronouncement of PHCN through its Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company, penultimate Thursday is anything to be believed the pre-paid meters may soon reach the homes. Principal Manager, Public Affairs of the company, Pekun Adeyanju, has said prepaid metres are available for electricity customers who desire to have them. While reacting to allegations by some customers that the organisation is deliberately hoarding the meter to perpetuate estimated billing, Adeyanju said that the PPM is a priority of the management and that 7,000 are being deployed to customers all over the network of the company monthly. “In fact, the CEO, Engr. O.C. Akamnonu, has directed the Customer Service Department to increase deployment to 10,000 on a monthly basis.

12— SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 2, 2012

Why distribution of pre-paid meter is slow — Adeyanju

... As supplier faces probe By EBUN SESSOU

N 2005, a new phase of meter was introduced in the country as a way of addressing issues pertaining to electricity billing system in the country. While the deployment of the new prepaid meter introduced in 2005 was still on in the Lagos district, further distribution had been suspended in the Ikeja distribution zone since July last year. But, Pekun Adeyanju, Principal Manager, Public Affairs, Ikeja Distribution Zone of PHCN said the project had not been suspended in his zone ”but deployment has been slowed down.” However, he disclosed that, the installation of the pre-paid meter is ongoing but not as expected. “We are still installing the pre-paid meter but not at the rate expected of us. The issue is that there is a little problem on the part of the contractor that is handling the pre-paid meter. By the time the issue is resolved, we will go back to the massive installation of the prepaid meter. ”I can confirm to you authoritatively that there is no official directive to stop the pre-paid meter. From the feedback I am getting from my department, it is something that people want and the management is trying to do everything possible to resume massive deployment of it”, he said. We are restoring over 7000 pre-paid meters every month and the target is to get it to 10,000 in the next one months. We are not giving out other meter again. I don’t know why people find it difficult to get, we have told the people to be informed on the process. All they need to do is to go to the right place. Pay N25,000 for a single face, N5,000 for three faces . The process is not difficult at all. I have helped some people in getting the meter. But, people will not even make attempt of getting the meter before giving all sorts of complaints. And for issues surrounding electricity including crazy bills, he said, “I believe the prepaid meter will solve that problem. I don’t know why people keep saying that they are billed for what they didn’t consume. But, now that the pre-paid meter is out there is no point talking about crazy bills. EFCC investigates contract on prepaid meter supply Undoubtedly, the new pre-paid meter project of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria in Lagos State has run into a hitch. This follow allegation of fraud in a N4.3billion loan granted

of the Ziklagsis to react to the allegations proved abortive as at press time. Investigations also revealed that the former Chief Executive Officer of the company, Mr. Dehinde Oguntoyinbo, resigned over six months ago. An August 18, 2009 posting on the CBN website listed Ziklagis as number 15 on the roll call of debtors of Union Bank of Nigeria with a non-performing loan of N4, 339,343,543.00 as at May 31, 2009. But Babafemi insisted that it was Intercontinental bank that the company was owing and not UBN. A source at the PHCN who, however, pleaded not to be named told our correspondent that it was the bank that invited the EFCC. The source narrated, ”That Company (Ziklagsis) was not meeting its contractual obligation to PHCN in Ikeja Zone. Unlike the Eko Distribution Zone where more than 50 per cent of PHCN customers have the pre-paid meter, the rate of deployment and installation of the meter in Ikeja is less than 10 per

Currently, we are investigating allegations of fraud and that is why we sealed the company. That is the much I can say for now because I don‘t want to say anything that will jeopardise the investigation

•Pekun Adeyanju the contractor producing the metering device, Saturday Vanguard investigation has learnt. Already, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has sealed off the 70, Adeniran Ogunsanya, Surulere, Lagos business premises of Ziklagsis Networks, the company contracted to procure the new pre-paid meter for deployment to PHCN customers in the Ikeja distribution zone.

arlier it was reported in one of the dailies that the office of Ziklagsis Networks was under lock and key with the EFCC seal on the doors. Spokesman for the EFCC, Femi Babafemi was also said to have confirmed that the company was under investigation over a N4.3 billion debts it owed Intercontinental Bank.

”Currently, we are investigating allegations of fraud and that is why we sealed the company. That is the much I can say for now because I don‘t want to say anything that will jeopardise the investigation,” Babafemi said. When asked why the premises of Ziklagsis should be singled out to be sealed and investigated when several other companies owing the banks had not suffered the same fate, Babafemi said, ”We take such action when we suspect that there is a criminal element in the process of the grant of the loan. Ordinarily, we don‘t criminalise the normal process of banks granting loans. But if we suspect a criminal flavour in the award, approval and disbursement of the loan, we carry out investigation.” Efforts made to get the management

cent. This did not please PHCN management which now withheld some payments to the contractor. ”But it is the bank that invited EFCC because I guess the contractor was not meeting up with its loan repayment schedule.” The source further revealed that the bank had threatened to seize several containers of the new pre-paid meters imported by the contractor and sell them to mitigate its loss. The pre-paid meters, introduced in 2005 to replace the old post-payment meters, is popular among PHCN consumers in several cities across the country. It has been generally hailed as the solution to the twin challenge of controlling power consumption and the infamous “crazy bill” through which the PHCN forces consumers to pay more than they consume in terms of electricity supply. Before now, there had been speculations that the PHCN officials had sabotaged the new scheme as it does not give them room to continue to extort electricity consumers since the new meter clearly erases the threat of physical disconnection of debtors. Since customers will pay their bills upfront, the era of collecting bribe to connect defaulting customers has passed by the new meter which has the capability of automatically disconnecting consumers once they run out of energy credit.

SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 2, 2012—13

I think it is a welcomed development

— Jonhpaul Ejiogu

The new per-paid meter will be better — Pat Udeze

think the per-paid meter will be the best for Nigerians, simply because, you will pay for what you C M Y K

•Jonhpaul Ejiogu

•Pat Udeze

•Ebuka Izuegbunem

Pre- paid meter will halt ‘crazy bills’ — Nigerians By ANOZIE EGOLE

Most Nigerians have congratulated the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) over the recent introduction of perpaid meter as the new way of the payment of power bills. They are also pleading with the government to maintain the statusquo on the new billing policy which was introduced recently. Even as the per-paid meter is much sought after, Nigerians expressed dissatisfaction in the way on PHCN handles billing system. These are some of the reactions from Nigerians who spoke to Saturday Vanguard. •A per-paid meter consumed. Unlike the previous method whereby they will estimate an amount and force you to pay, else, you will face disconnection. The amount I spend in buying diesel for my business every day as a drycleaner is high. After spending such amount on diesel, you will still be made to pay for bills which you didn’t consume. Where then do we make our profit? And you know my business requires light so much for ironing of cloths and operating other machines else, we lose our customers.

It’s durable

—Ebuka Izuegbunem

think this new per-paid meter is better compared with the old way of payment. It is also more advanced and it serves for a very long time depending on how you use the light.

n my own view, I think it is a welcomed development only if the statusquo for its innovation is maintained. Right now, I have not started using it in my house at Ijegun, but in my office at Apapa, we have started using it. I work as a sales representative with Pet- Rock Ltd. It is good in the sense that you pay for what you consumed because we have really suffered enough from the Power Holding Company. They will just walk in to your house and give you an estimated bill. They do not read the meter, they will just give you bill based on what they feel like giving you. Even when you try to give them what the meter read, they will just give you what they feel like and they will force you to pay else, you will be disconnected. Sometimes, after disconnecting you, they will go with the wires and when you want to connect back, you have to pay for the re-connection and for the wire too. But in my office now, with the new pre-paid meter, it reduces cost. At the end of the daily work, when we want to leave the office, we turn off all the lights and electrical appliances and go. When we come back the next day for the day’s normal daily activities, we find out that the meter continues reading from where it stopped the previous day I think it is good. I plead with PHCN to keep on with the good work that they have started by introducing the per-paid meter method. Before the introduction of this perpaid meter, I have encountered several problems with the PHCN in the quest of trying to pay for my bills. There was a time my meter got burnt, I complained to PHCN, I even missed work for two days just because of that, they took about N15, 000 from me only to give me a fairly used meter. In the process of waiting for the meter, they gave me a huge sum of N13, 000 just for two months. Though I have not still started using this per-paid meter in my house, I am considering doing so seeing how good it has been ever since we started using it in my office. In my office now, with the new per-paid meter, N2, 000 can last for a month with us. Because we pay for what we used though the light do not come regularly. They should please try as much as possible not to increase the subscription price. They should make it affordable to the common man. I therefore encourage every Nigerian to give them the support let us see how it goes from there.

The amount I spend in buying diesel for my business every day as a drycleaner is high. After spending such amount on diesel, you will still be made to pay for bills which you didn’t consume.

I have found out that when you recharge your per-paid meter, it last longer than the previous method of payment. In my office, we have not started using the method, but where I live, we have started using the

method for a long time now and it lasts. When we are about leaving the house for office, I will bring remove the card to stop the reading, and fix it back when I return.. Infact, it is wonderful, I like it. You know here in Lagos, and some other places, there is a way they build houses whereby one or two flats will be using the same meter, and some people will be taking advantage of that by not paying their bills. And when PHCN come,they will disconnect the whole building not minding who has paid or not. But with this per-paid meter, it will not be like that again. If you pay, you will use the light and if you don’t, you won’t see light. Nothing like somebody paying for another man’s bill again. Like now in my house, I recharge about N2,000 and it last for me. It even goes beyond a month unlike before. I therefore advise fellow Nigerians to join the train because, it is good.

14—SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 2, 2012

By ISHOLA BALOGUN and EBUN SESSOU

STHER Oluwafunmilayo Ololade, a 300 level student in Lagos State University in Epe area of Lagos, might not be able to recount the ordeal she has been going through since she gained admission into the school three years ago. Although, she was full of enthusiasm when she received the news of her admission into the University and so it was expected of her that everything would go as planed. Unfortunately, her expectation was cut short as the new area she relocated to has been posing different challenges into her life. A visit to Epe area of Lagos revealed that Esther is not the only one yearning for electricity in this area, but the entire people in that community are also not singing a better song. Indeed they have lost count of the last day they saw electricity in their homes. Most residents solely depend on generating sets. At Ayetoro, the commercial hub of the town, the atmosphere is enough to tell the unpleasant scenarios told by everyone in the community. Stephen Banwo, a motorist who lives in Epe Central area, told Saturday Vanguard that, one major problem in the community is the issue of electricity. According to him, “there hadn’t been electricity in the whole of Epe community for a long time and this problem has been the same for the past few years. “We don’t know why we have been subjected to such hardship. We have been living all our lives on energy derived from generating set. We have been shying away from saying the truth on the issue of electricity but now, believe it is better to face the reality so that our problems can be lifted, he lamented. “As much as it is important for a community to have electricity, Epe hasn’t a better place when it comes to electricity. As one of the localities in the state, electricity has been the major problem but we want the federal government to help us. We want the government to come to our aid”, he pleaded.

ecounting her ordeal, Esther told Saturday Vanguard that since she has been in Epe, there is no light in this community. Adding that it has been affecting her studies especially during examination. We use rays from torch and our phones to read. Asked how she charges her mobile phone, she said, “We bring our phones to the school. And that has been repeating itself since my admission to this school, she added. And whenever the owners of the shops decided not to switch on their generating set, we will be left in darkness until we can be able to speak with our parents. We don’t do our tutorials in the evening because of the issue, she lamented. But, personal reading and studying at night is now the order especially at night, she continued. “Despite the fact that we don’t have light, we still pay bills. When I was admitted into this school, I never knew it will be as bad as this in this community. A business woman, who sells foods in the school also buttressed that, their businesses are now run on our business on generator. “For us to continue serving our customers, it is expected of us that C M Y K

Epe, a community where electricity is a mirage *Residents groan in darkness

we give out our best but it is a pity that our best has been jeopardised by lack of electricity, she said. All our electronics have been damaged. An okada man who also lamented on the issue said, “It is an understatement to say, the last time we had light was one year again but the fact that is there are people who have been deprived of their fundamental right. Talking about bill, he said, “we cannot pay for what we are not consuming. Since people have refused to pay this outrageous bills, PHCN officials themselves have stopped giving people bills to pay for what they didn’t consume. A man who claimed anonymity also contributed saying: “Inspite of the darkness the PHCN has plunged the area to, they still come up with bills of what we did not consume. The entire community now live on generating set,” he said.

hen asked to mention some of the activities in Epe, he said, “people who use electricity for their day-today activities are yet to get it. There is no how, we can make use of electricity, not even icing our sachet water. We go to

neighbouring villages to buy ice block so as to preserve our foods. So, all our businesses have been deprived of better conditions and we cannot do much on them. “Due to the poor outage, it is difficult for us to drink portable water. We only drink water from boreholes which is not healthy. Our children have been dying of cholera and this is a big shame for us as a nation. In the past, there was an agency called Water-Works but now, it is not functioning anymore. Even the community development water project by the local government chairmen have stopped working a longtime ago as a result of power”, he lamented. A motorcyclist noted that since he was born in Epe, electricity problem has never improved. It has remained next to nothing in the town. “It is difficult having electricity for three hours at a stretch in a year.” Mr Godwin Ezeobi, a business man said, “I have been living here since 2005 and since then, I have been running both my business and house on generator. For Awonusi Sunday, running a business constantly on generator is not

only challenging but it is also financially difficult. He disclosed that the management of the school where his business is situated had been supportive in terms of generating electricity but could no longer carry the burden, hence “we have been disconnected”, he added. “We had to increase the prices of our goods and services. If there had been better electricity, things would be lots easier for everybody. Epe is generally in darkness, there is no light. We only generate power through generating set and if we don’t money to purchase fuel, then, there is no electricity. Whenever there is light, it is only for a period of five minutes. They only bring it because they want to share bills. The truth is that since, the past seven years, that I have been living in Epe, there is no day we had two hours of electricity. So, by my last count in the last seven years, it is about the tenth time we had electricity.” he added.

eanwhile, Chairman House committee on Information, Lagos State House of Assembly who is also representing Epe constituency 1, Hon Segun Olulade said, people in Epe community are part of Nigeria and it is expected that they are not deprived of their right when it comes to the issue of light. “Presently, the unfortunate situation in Epe is worrisome and that is why we are calling on people to come to our aids. “There has been total blackout in Epe, as if it is not part of Nigeria, so we are calling on all well meaning Nigerians and people who are in the position to influence the management of PHCN, to intervene in Epe. “More so that the level of consumption is not as what is obtainable in other parts of the state. Asked if he would use his position to fasten the intervention, he said, we have been agitation on that and we will continue to do that to ensure that people in Epe feel the essence of democracy.

SA TURD A Y Vanguard SATURD TURDA anguard,,

JUNE 2, 2012—15

Why PDP will win Edo guber — General Airhavbere

GENERAL CHARLES EHIGIE AIRHAVBERE (RTD) is the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic party in the July 14, gubernatorial election in Edo State. Airhivbere who spoke with select correspondents in Edo state in an interview, accepted the challenge from the ACN governorship candidate, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole for a public debate with a proviso that it must take place in the prison yards. He also denied the allegation that he was detained for some months over an alleged involvement in Army Pension scam even as he said that the PDP will defeat the incumbent governor in the election. Excerpts

How prepared are you for the July 14, 2012 governorship election? INEC invited us recently to a meeting and that was the first time I knew there are seven of us vying for the gubernatorial election for the Edo State Government come July 14, 2012. It was a beautiful interaction with INEC in Abuja. Few days ago,our credentials were also submitted; the forms we filled have been displayed at INEC office in Benin to enable all the people of Edo State have the opportunity to see our credentials; to have opportunity to look at our documents; professional qualifications and academic backgrounds; to make comments before the clearance by INEC. I think it is a very good development in our democratic process. For me, I am very prepared. When I retired from the Army, I decided to come to the PDP to challenge the incumbent Governor. I knew what I was in for and I have since been prepared. What do you think are your chances? For every step and every direction, there are several options. For me, failure is not an option in this particular election because my people, the people of Edo State are yearning for a change. I want to really emphasis that having had the opportunity to visit the 18 Local Government Councils in Edo State, I have also been privileged to visit over 95% of the wards (192 wards) in Edo States; I have come to the conclusion that Edo State needs a change because we need to touch the people who are the voters in Edo State; that is, the people who are in the rural areas where there are farmers, where our food basket is located. They need to be touched and they need to know what have eluded them since 1999. And I believe this is the time for a change, a transformational change and that is why when I have come into politics. I decided to come to the PDP, because it is only in PDP that Edo C M Y K

State will have a rapid transformational development that will touch the people at the grass roots. What are the things that have not been done, that you will do, if you are voted i n ? Let me quickly say this that the government in power in Edo State today led by Adams Oshiomhole has paraded itself on the pages of the newspapers that Edo State has become a construction site. I want to tell you that this is not true. Most of the renovations he is even doing, the renovation of schools are UBEC- assisted because it is partly funded by the Federal Government. The hospitals are not equipped; there is no modern equipment to meet with the present medical situation in the state. Having said that, what is basically absent in the various wards or rural areas are modern educational facilities. Some of pupils don’t even come to school because the teachers are not available to teach them. The teachers are not paid; the teachers are not trained. There is no training the trainer programmes. It is important that our children must be given the opportunity to go to school. So, for that reason, I will make education free and compulsory from primary to secondary school levels. That will be one of the first ways to attack the area of the school. I will also give you this statistical model, that a child who was 5 or 6 year old in 1999 is today about 19 years old and this child has come of age. They already of voting age and most of them have not been trained. There are no skill acquisition centres, and most of them have been abandoned and that is why you find most of the people who come to Edo State are skilled labours and from neighbouring countries or states. I believe this has to change, it not acceptable. So, for that reason, all the various headquarters of Local Government Councils will have a refurbished skill acquisition centres so that we can teach those children.

Also, we will follow it up with structures to enable them employ themselves. Now,lets talk health. I want to assure you that this will be addressed critically. Elders of 70 years and above will be given free medical services. Women who are pregnant and who are supposed to have medical attention need to be given attention. There will be free delivery for them; there will be free heath care services for children in the hospitals; government will be responsible for their medical bills and so on and so forth. Now, let me draw your attention to the level of insecurity that is in our state. The various security organisations will be brought into the full knowledge of the situation we have found ourselves in Edo state. The roll call today has shown that kidnapping is at an average of four every month,armed robbery has gone into its highest level in Edo state and the public is aware. This cannot attract investors into Edo state. The investors will only come to put their money in a state where they know they will have high level of returns for their investment. I want to assure you that if we

face security in Edo State,

75% of the economic problem in

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE, Benin

AIRHAVBERE the executive governor of a state is the head of the security apparatus of his own state.

These organisations you have mentioned are members of the state security council and the Chief Executive is the head. It is their duty to assist the governor by ensuring that the lives and property of the citizens of a particular state are guaranteed. But in a state where the governor budgets N4.2 billion every year for security, it is the duty of the State Governor to properly equip these organizations and ensure that those federal agencies that are posted to him are properly deployed. A situation where in a state, because one in a hundred of the people that have been assassinated and robbed is your

The government in power in Edo State today led by Adams Oshiomhole has paraded itself on the pages of the newspapers that Edo State has become a construction site

Edo State would have been resolved and the rest will be history. I want to also tell you that most of the state companies are moribund. You have Edo Line that employed well over 5,000 people and it has not been working; Bendel breweries no longer functions. The products of Bendel breweries are off the shelf and it has been destroyed and so automatically, the workers are at their homes. How do you then bring down the security situation in the state? The Chief Executive, that is

personal secretary, then you take the law into your hand, then you now have to lead a demonstration to the Oba’s Palace and to the Police headquarters; it means that the state has failed in terms of security, because people who are from Edo State have lost their lives to kidnappers, to robbers. I even have a brother-in-law who was called Bayo Ade, a popular musician in Edo State who was killed; I didn’t take to the streets. But where the governor of the state has decided to take to the streets, then we have problems in Edo State, and we have to consider the state as a

failed state, when it comes to provision of security . ACN government under Adams Oshiomhole has severally challenge you to a public debate.Are you r e a d y ? Well, my background is that of a military man and one of my cardinal guiding principles is to prepare for any challenges. Don’t forget that I started my carrier from the Nigeria Military School and I also want to let you know that I know what it takes to challenge an incumbent that has the treasury at its disposal. I'm just reminded of the allegation that you were once detained for 3 months for involvement in army pension scam. No, I don’t have any case with the army. If you don’t have information, you throw in different propaganda so that you will generate reaction but thank God the Electoral Act has given everybody the opportunity to know who we are. I want to challenge Adams Oshiomhole to go to INEC Ikpoba Hill Benin City and read the lines and read my retirement letter. Since, I joined the Nigeria Army in 1969 as a boy soldier, I have never been charged for any misdemeanour. I won 3 medals; the Forces Service Star, the Meritorious Service Star, and the Distinguished Service Star during my carrier. I also won 2 honours; the best all round cadet of my set and I went to the Nigeria Defence Academy in 1981, I won the corps medal of Honour. A corps medal of Honour in the Nigerian Army Finance Corps. This honour is for a man who is unblemished. I was never detained for a scam.

16—SATURDAY Vanguard , JUNE 2, 2012

The truth is that I had always taken a dim view of his occupation of it, in the first place. That was not because I thought he was unfit to be president. In fact, on the face of it, he had all the requisite qualifications as specified in the Constitution and more. Rather, I thought the time was unsuitable, and that his success depended on too many factors over which he might not have enough control. I even stated these misgivings on this page. Chief of these was the effect it would have on the fabric of the nation’s unity, since it was clear that election into office would be resented fiercely by those who adhered to the zoning principle of his party, the Peoples Democratic Party. I was certain the PDP would have to struggle to ever be the same again if he ran for the office and won. Well, he ran and he won. Someone who has a big say in the security development of the nation has publicly characterized some of the violent unrest in the country as an aftermath of that election.

hen Andrew Owoeye Azazi, the National Security Adviser, made that chilling pronouncement about the rise of violence as almost a sequence to the stance of some PDP, and other elements of a Northern stripe, on the election of Goodluck, some people thought he had gone

*a first year of pains

•President Jonathan predictable, but was being apparently denied and glossed over. The upshot is that this country has seldom been as divided as it now stands, even during the Civil War. Make that one of the pains of the first Jonathan year.

here are other pains, some of them gratuitously self-inflicted. They hinge mostly on statements that are laden

What many people did not seem to immediately grasp was that he hardly would have made that well-prepared presentation without the knowledge and consent of his principle

too far and should be relieved of his post; others felt he would anyway be removed by some entrenched powers. He is still there. What many people did not seem to immediately grasp was that he hardly would have made that well-prepared presentation without the knowledge and consent of his principle. But that is really not the point here. The import of his statement was that it confirmed what was so C M Y K

here are times when I start saying something about Dr. Goodluck Jonathan and stop mid-sentence. It would suddenly occur to me that, no matter what, he is still the President of the country in which resides the most populous conglomeration of black people on this planet. At such times, I remind myself that he therefore occupies a position of respect, even if I disagree with the way he occupies it some of the time. He still occupies it.

with controversy. The elongation of the presidential tenure was one. Some people are still at a loss about what provoked the speculation, or recommendation, of a one-term elongated term for the president - and that from a president who had hardly been in office enough to even warm his seat at that time. We asked then about what

necessitated the hurry to push such an agenda on to the front burner ahead, and in spite, of so many important questions crying for answers in the country. That subject is yet a source of anguish within the body politic. The removal of the socalled petrol subsidy was a source of palpable distress to a host of individuals, but it has been slammed down on the nation in the face of a country-wide resentment expressed by demonstrations of an almost unprecedented magnitude. Before the tension subsided, it almost became a confrontation of the people with armed policemen and elements of the militia. Many of us were praying that it would not attain the scale at which weapons would be used against civilians, the way we saw them used in places like Egypt and Libya.

he embers of the resentment are still smouldering, but Jonathan would not let them expire peacefully. The President is said to be considering the total removal of a subsidy, the existence of which has been dipped neck-deep in disbelief by the subsequent enquiry which highlighted the mismanagement and misappropriation of the assets that would have filled the gap it might have created. Many of us are going to resume praying. And what about the

Sovereign Fund? State Governors are at daggers drawn with the President, all the way to the law courts. This has degenerated to the scenario of a farce, right before our eyes. And now in the final analysis, we have to appreciate that it is no longer a case of who is right, but what is right. A disagreement between administrations of government at different levels should never, ever be allowed to deteriorate to the point at which the Federal AttorneyGeneral and State Attorney-Generals could wag their wigs at one another over such an issue. It is a slap on the face of decent administration; it demeans the dignity of governance; and it erodes the regard which the people should have for authority. In plain terms, it is simply disgraceful. The citizens of this country have had to bear a lot of agony this past year. Let us shelve the myriads of problems besetting the nation today. The President, of course, would go defensive these days when they are mentioned, and attempt to disown any responsibility for them on the grounds that they existed before he came into office. Precisely. However, that was why he was voted into office. He accepted them as his own when he made those alluring promises about how he would tackle them, and we believed him.

he people are beginning to hesitate, or are downright unwilling, to believe him any more. Some would even believe Henry Okah in preference to the stylized accounts of Aso Rock. And many of them are from his own Niger Delta area. Many Nigerians were led, for instance, to expect a change in the composition of the cabinet by a series of undisputed reports, all the way to the wire. And then a bland denial surfaced as to how there was never any idea to reshuffle the cabinet. But the people are not impressed. That is why there are slings of disillusionment, disapproval and displeasure aimed at Aso Rock from so many directions now at the end of his first—or second?— term of office. (The President, by himself through his penchant for rousing unnecessary controversy, has created a debate even over his tenure already, three

Someone opined that President Goodluck Jonathan has achieved nothing in his first full year in office

years before any election is due.)

omeone opined that President Goodluck Jonathan has achieved nothing in his first full year in office. If the pains on the psyche of the populace count for nothing, he may be right. Time out

Echoes: The incandescent luminosity of Nigeria has been brought to an irreducible minimum in terms of development, because the laodicean disposition of President Jonathan has led to a groundswell of exploitative oligarchs, horrendous corruption, total insecurity, eerie fiscal policies, no roads, no houses, no light, no food, no Medicare, no peace, etc. It’s one year of stupendous skulduggery and unthinkable schmaltzy. He has no moral authority to contest the 2015 election. The vast majority of our Governors should also follow suit. We admonish Nigerians to be politically sagacious in 2015 ... (Chief Bobson Gbinije. Mandate Against Poverty (MAP) WARRI 080582316690) ... Chief Bobson always says these things the way they are, doesn’t he? And you can understand what he’s saying with a little help from a mighty dictionary! Well, it would appear that the problems that people are facing are indeed so many that they won’t be “shelved” anyway. Echoes: Re-”Monkeys and baboons, the spoken statement form Buhari is not in anyway inciting, nor does it connote violence. “Kare Jini, Biri Jini” in Hausa is nothing more than a “Clash of Titans” (In other words), when a dog and a monkey are fighting, it is not easy to predict the winner. (Aminu, Benin City – 08125275741).

SATURDAY

C M Y K

Vanguard Vanguard,,

JUNE 2, 2012—17

18 —

SATURDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 2, 2012

My kid and our neighbour’s kid show each other their private parts Aunty Julie,

I’m very lonely Dear Julie,

y relationship with my girlfriend and family is getting more and more stressful and I don’t know what to do. My girlfriend and I have been dating for about two years now and we have not had the best relationship. She is very jealous and all of my friends were female and she got rid of all of them. So I’m left with no friends. She also doesn’t like my sister who used to be my best friend and I have turned rather cold towards her because of it. I am an angry and bitter person because of her jealousy and although I have never cheated on her, her constant accusations have made me feel like one. But lately, she has started hanging out with friends and being a little more free with how I spend my time. However, I feel like I’m having separation anxiety from this. I’m used to spending every moment with her and now I have no one to hang out with but my mum because I have no friends. I’m very lonely and would love to make friends but I have always had a hard time approaching people or becoming friends with people. I’ve especially found it hard to make guy

Dear Julie, My husband had an affair for the past three months. We have three children and have been married for eight years. He admits to the affair and said that he has stopped it and wants to rebuild our relationship. I feel so disappointed and shaken that I am afraid to put any trust in his actions. What do I do? Tara, Ilorin

friends and those are the only ones my girlfriend will allow. I’m just confused as what I should do. I feel lonely that nothing seems to be working right in my life. Desmond, Warri Dear Desmond, I am glad you found the courage to speak up about your girlfriend and your anxiety. It sounds like there are a few things going on that have to do with your relationships with people and having difficulty making, expanding, limiting or keeping connections. I would suggest that since it is affecting you with your girlfriend, your family and your friends,the best approach could be to talk things over with all these people. You can also confide in your mum as she could give you some useful advice. Your girlfriend may find it hard to believe that you’re not having affairs with your several female friends and that is understandable. What I really cannot understand is why you don’t have a single male friend. But it is not late. Hang out the more. If you socialise often, I’m sure you would make friends within a short period.

y six year old son and my neighbour ’s five year old daughter play ‘daddy and mummy’ so often and show each other their private parts. These are innocent acts but I know I have to talk to them before it becomes something else. They don’t see anything wrong in what they do and I think it’s a bit odd to start telling them about the wrong in their act when they don’t seem to think about it that way. Patty, Lagos

Dear Patty, Kids between three to six years old are most likely to play ‘daddy and mummy’. Many parents over-react when they witness or hear of such behaviour but heavyhanded scolding is not the way to deal with it. Nor should parents feel this will lead to promiscuous behaviour. Often, the presence of a parent is enough to interrupt the play. You may wish to direct your child’s attention to another activity without making a lot of fuss. Later, sit down with your child for a talk. Explain that although you understand the interest in his or her friend’s body, people are generally expected to keep their bodies covered in public. This way, you have set limits without having made your child feel guilty. This is also an appropriate age to begin to talk about good

and bad touch. Tell kids that their bodies are their own and that they have the right to privacy. No one, not even a friend or family member, has the right to touch a child’s private areas. However, an exception to this rule is when a parent is trying to find the source of pain or discomfort in the genital area, or when a

I want to get pregnant Dear Aunty Julie,

have been married for 15 years. I got married as a virgin but since marriage, I have never conceived for my husband. You know how it is in traditional African societies about such issues. The family of my husband got another woman for him whom he impregnated and she gave birth to twins. To make matters worse, this woman is older than my husband and I and she didn’t want to stay. The truth of the matter is that I am still with my husband because the other woman left my husband and left the kids with us. She travelled out of the country eight years ago and remarried when she got to Canada. My husband doesn’t stress me about having babies for him but I feel odd about my situation because there is a kind of difference in the way his family treats me. They have more regards for the woman who gave the family a

My husband had an affair Dear Tara, I can understand that you feel disappointed and possibly angry for the behaviour of your cheating spouse. Affairs are usually a sign of a relationship that has been in trouble for a while. Usually, at least one member of the couple feels non related to, not appreciated and

possibly physically and emotionally abandoned. You may not know how to rebuild trust. Once you have had time to vent your anger and dismay, it is important for you and your husband to take an inventory of your relationship and determine your mutual needs. You can work out how

doctor or nurse is performing a physical exam. Kids should know that if anyone ever touches them in a way that feels strange or bad, they should tell that person to stop it and then tell you about it. Explain that you want to know about anything that makes your kids feel bad or uncomfortable.

you as individuals, and a couple, can take responsibility to nurture yourselves and each other. In this way, the relationship can sustain differences. You can work through problems rather than one or both of you repeating the role of a cheating spouse. An affair may leave a couple shaken but they can recover.

set of twins even though she has remarried and has no regards for them. I want to get pregant. What do I do? I am 37 years. Rachel, Jos Dear Rachel, Many women spend much of their life trying not to get pregnant, and then find that when they actually try to have a baby, it takes longer than they had hoped. If you are trying for a baby and don’t get pregnant , it is important not to panic. Many perfectly healthy women can take up to a year or more to become pregnant. I don’t know what efforts you have made outside just having sex. Although there is a possibility a woman will become pregnant any time they have unprotected sex, the best chance of getting pregnant will be by having frequent sex around the time of ovulation. For women with a regular 28-day menstrual cycle, this will be approximately 14 days after the start of their last period, although it can vary from woman to woman. In civilised countries, it may be possible to buy an ovulation testing kit from a chemist to help you work out when you’re most fertile. If you continue to have problems, you should contact your doctor for advice. They will be able to refer you for tests to ensure that there are no physical problems that are preventing you from conceiving.

C O C K - TA L E S Kinds of sex

here are four kinds of sex : HOUSE SEX - When you are newly married and have sex all over the house in every room. BEDROOM SEX - After you have been married for a while, you only have sex in the bedroom. HALL SEX - After you’ve been married for many, many years you just pass each other in the hall and say “F*** YOU” COURTROOM SEX - When your wife and her lawyer **** you in the divorce court in front of many people for every penny you’ve got. A day at the fair Every year, Fred and Ethel would spend a C M Y K

day at the State Fair. Every year, Fred would say, “Ethel, I’d like to ride in that airplane.” And every year, Ethel would say, “I know, Fred, but that airplane ride cost ten dollars, and ten dollars is ten dollars.” One year, while they were at the fair, Fred said, “Ethel, I’m 74 years old. If I don’t have a ride in that airplane this year, I may never get another chance.” ”Fred, that airplane ride cost ten dollars, and ten dollars is ten dollars,” Ethel replied. The pilot happened to overhear them and said, “Listen folks, I’ll make you a deal. I’ll take you both up for a ride. If you can stay quiet for the entire ride and not say a word, I won’t charge you anything. But, if you say one word, then you’ll have to pay the ten dollars.” Fred and Ethel agreed, so up they went. The pilot

did all kinds of rolls and dives, twists and turns, but not a word was heard. He did all his fancy maneuvers again, but still not a word. When they finally landed, the pilot turned to Fred and said, “Gosh, I did everything I could think of to get you to yell out, and yet you never said a word.” ”Well,” Fred replied, “I was going to say something when Ethel fell out, but ten dollars is ten dollars.” Grass eater A man and a woman started to make love in the middle of a dark forest. After about 15 minutes of it, the man finally gets up and says, “Damn, I wish I had a flashlight!”. The woman says, “Me too, you’ve been eating grass for the past ten minutes!”

SATURDAY

Vanguard JUNE 2, 2012—19

s newlyweds become more enlightened with ‘sophisticated’ mothers-inlaw, one would have thought that the dragon image of the old mum-in-Law would disappear. It hasn’t, unfortunately—not to a significant extent. It seems the never ending effort of the mother-in-law, to up-stage her son’s wife by proving that the poor man will always be a mama’s boy, will not just go away. Right from the day of the wedding, she’s all over the place with her array of friends in ridiculously expensive ‘asoebi’ showing the bride’s family the stuff she’s made of.

C M Y K

was all over the place — his smile melted my heart, his cries made me anxious: “Are you all right, darling. Do you want another sweet, chocolate? You don’t like that toy? Which one should

him! Being the mother of such a clever boy is wonderful, handsome to boot. He told me he loved me and called me the beautifulest mother in the

One whimper from him and I was all over the place — his smile melted my heart, his cries made me anxious

mummy fetch? “My daughters were clearly exasperated by this careful manipulation even from his cradle. They were right of course,but I just couldn’t stop myself, I mean, just look at

world. When he started dating and discarding girlfriends like used tissues,I was secretly pleased when he admitted what the problem was, ‘I’ll never find any woman as great as my

mother,’ he bragged. “And where would he find such a woman? My eyes were finally opened the day I went to my sister’s for a wedding in another state; she is a mother of daughters and two sons. Her daughters were away in colleges but the ‘boys’ stayed home ‘awaiting admission’. I hadn’t seen her for a while and was shocked when she opened the door. She’d aged considerably and I soon discovered why. Her boys, whom I’d seen some years ago, had changed. Gone was their well-groomed image of happy and well-behaved kids.

n their place were two lanky, lazy, sulky brutes who lolled on chairs and sprawled in front of the T.Y.

It is healthy to gossip! also help when the pressure mounts at work. It can be a kind of therapy - a safety valve if work is stressing you out. Gossip can also prove surprisingly helpful if you have problems. For instance, confiding in a workmate about how your boyfriend sulked for days when you chatted to his friend can trigger a helpful response, along the line of: “That happened to me and this is how I sorted it out”. Gossip can also give you useful information —you might hear of a job vacancy, or get some useful tips on handling particular people, such as:

“You have to watch James in accounts. He goes ballistic if people are back late from lunch”.

ut there is a difference between mischievous gossip and bitchy gossip. Bitchy gossip can be quite intriguing, but try not to get sucked in. If you know that someone is creating a bad atmosphere with gossip, make excuses not to listen to them. You could say: “I’d love to chat but I don’t have time at the moment”. What’s more, bitchy gossip that is consistently focused on one

person can amount to bullying. How to beat nasty gossip: Talk to sympathetic work-mates who

here’s nothing like gossip to liven up the work place, according to a survey. More than 2,000 workers questioned thought that gossip was the best thing at work, with women rating it twice as highly as men. The survey found that for those bored by their jobs, a giggle and a gossip made the day. Psychologist Mark Griffiths explains: “We aren’t robots. We need things to break up our day, people who work for an hour and have a five or ten minutes break are actually more productive. Being let into the gossip helps people feel they belong and brings individuals closer together, while being excluded can make people feel they’ve been sent to Coventry. Gossip can

Mothers-in-law who stoke their sons’ ego ...

And in the next few months after the wedding — if the frustrated bride should stick it out that long —she shall be arriving on the new couple’s doorstep unannounced and uninvited to remind the new wife how lucky she is to land a ‘perfect’ husband like this lovely boy she has nurtured. She’s not alone unfortunately. According to a recent survey, more than a third of wives blame mothers like her for passing on bad habits to their sons such as laziness, selfishness and poor hygiene. In a poll of four hundred wives, nine out of ten believed that their husbands had been ruined by their mother. As a result, 15 per cent felt only one emotion to their mothers-in-law:hatred. And it doesn’t matter how educated or otherwise the mother-in-law is, the fact that she has a son to wreak the havoc she’s had to condone in her marriage, makes her intoxicated with power. As one potential mum-in-law puts it, “I’d had two daughters, with my husband anxiously anticipating the gift of a son during my third pregnancy when God answered our prayers. I was relieved and elated, pleased that now my husband’s family name would be carried on. From then on, I was potty in my son’s hands. One whimper from him and I

They’d grown up alright, but my poor sister hadn’t noticed. She still treated them the same way she always had. Every now and then, she’d flit into the living room like a mother hen to the brats cuckoons on the sofa. ‘Are you alright boys? Have you eaten? Do you have any laundry? ..” All through my stay, these over pampered idiots, didn’t lift a finger to help their mum, in spite of the fact they saw her all over the place frazzled from too much work. “Her husband has clearly given up on having a say about the children’s discipline. ‘Whatever laws I laid down were quickly overturned as soon as I turned my back,’ he said sadly, ‘They ’ve never done anything for themselves and they never will. I feel sorry for any woman who ends up with them.’ The poor man had inadvertently hit the nail squarely on the head. The problem with idolizing someone is that they get used to it. And being worshipped and adored is a hard habit to break. “As I left my sister’s, I knew I was as bad as she was. But I had a choice. Do I want to send that son of mine into the world as a selfish, demanding demigod or do I want him to grow up knowing how to treat all the women in his life with respect? I grudgingly admitted my mother-in-law did a better job raising his four sons. My husband is a good cook, thinks nothing of ironing a shirt when he needs to and tries to whip our son into shape, but I’d always been resentful of that. Hopefully, all that will change. My fear is that I might be too late so I’ve cleverly solicited the help of our mutual ‘enemy’, his dad. What he says now is law and there are changes in our ‘only son’ as he arrogantly called himself. Hopefully, he’ll turn out to be the husband any mother would be proud to raise and a future mother-in-law from heaven —instead of from hell!”

of them, confront the person responsible when they ’re alone. Calmly explain that you find their gossip about you offensive because it is untrue or hurtful, and ask them to stop. If they are hostile or

But there is a difference between mischievous gossip and bitchy gossip

mighty also have found themselves victims of this kind of malicious gossip. Check your facts and if you are sure

continue to spread malicious rumours about you, get in touch with your personnel officer or supervisor.

20â&#x20AC;&#x201D; SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 2, 2012 SMS (ONLY)

Would you suffer so much over his/ her betrayal?

ARY had been married t o Jim for 12 years when she discovered a necklace in his jacket pocket. She was surprised at first, but put it away and forgot about it. Several months later, Jim asked if she had found a necklace and described the one she had stumbled upon months earlier. Jim told Mary that he had found it at work the day before and needed to return it to office security. Now Mary became alarmed. Not only was Jim carrying around a woman's necklace, but he was lying to her as well. She then remembered seeing an odd telephone number appearing repeatedly on his cell phone. She also noted that their usual pattern of intimacy had ceased around the time she found the necklace. Jim said he was tired from working overtime at the office. Mary became hostile toward Jim, but never addressed his lying, nor did she approach him with her suspicions about an affair. Instead, she showed her disapproval through her behaviour, alternating between emotional distance and irritability. As Mary's anger grew, Jim began to justify the affair in his own mind. He reasoned that he was entitled to the affair, since Mary had been treating him in a cold, hostile manner. Mary has been shutting me out,â&#x20AC;? he explained and indeed, she had. This pattern continued for several more months until, one day, Mary received a phone call from the distraught husband of the woman with whom Jim was having an affair. By that time, Mary and Jim were barely speaking to one another. Their emotional hostility was apparent to their two young daughters, who had become disruptive at home. Indeed, the discovery of an affair is often a traumatic, stressful experience, and Mary's response is fairly typical. Initially, she denied the problem, overlooking obvious clues that something was wrong in her marriage. Spouses in denial, like Mary, often remain aware of the indiscretion on another level and, in response, may behave in a cold, angry manner. Some by-pass the denial stage and become enraged or depressed upon discovering the affair. Others enter a state of shock, finding it difficult to follow a daily routine. Their concentration may become poor, and they often forget what they are doing in the C M Y K

middle of a task. Sleep and appetite changes are common. Some people become ravenous and others lose the desire to eat much of anything. As the shock wears off, obsessive ruminating about the details of the affair may begin. The betraying partner and others may find listening to this repeated recitation of facts and conjectures gruelling. Suspicions are heightened and the betrayed partner often demands a full itinerary of their spouse's daily activities. There may also be bouts of crying as the full weight of the betrayal is experienced. Of course, the marital partners are not the only ones to suffer. As can be seen in the case of Jim and Mary, affairs affect every member of the family, including the children. What to do During this phase, the betrayed partner should treat him/herself with the same degree of care and understanding (s)he would extend to a person who is seriously ill. Major life

changes or decisions should not be made at this time. The use of alcohol and nonprescription drugs should be avoided. The betrayed should also avoid experiences (for example, popular books and films) that may trigger unresolved issues surrounding the affair. About 30 percent of those who experience a marital crisis of this type become clinically depressed. Symptoms of depression include loss of interest and pleasure in life along with several of the following symptoms: irritability, sadness, bouts of crying, as well as changes in appetite, sleep patterns, and activity levels. Problems with concentration are frequently reported, along with feelings of guilt and worthlessness. Decision-making can become impaired. Suicidal ideas or thoughts can arise,and are reasons to seek professional help at once. The severity of the depression and its duration must also be considered. If the depression does not begin to lift in two to four weeks, professional consultation is in order.

We are friends but he wants us to become lovers

OR more than five

years I have been going through a period of changes: weight loss, new career, new home, and personal growth. I have made these changes through self-help theories and a close male friend. During this period, he has become the closest person in my life. In the last year, his attitude towards me has become even more supportive and caring. I am beginning to feel that he is looking at me in a different way. Despite the fact that we have travelled alone together, he has never made any physical advances toward me. I can see him as the man in my life, but I have second thoughts about friendships turning into love affairs. Often they turn sour and the friendship is lost as well. Should I put all of the cards on the table or should I sit back and wait for things to happen? Geraldine, Asaba Ans: I understand your concern. Given how people are about romance and sexuality, you are concerned that you may ruin a wonderful friendship if the romance doesn't work out. On the other hand, what is the better basis for romance than an intimate friendship? If the friendship is as solid as you suggest, would it be able to sustain an unsuccessful attempt at adding romance to the mix? One of the problems with people seems to be that

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when romance enters the picture, people change. They have different expectations of one another when they are romantically involved and they play different roles, often defining their respective roles by gender. Rather than relate openly and honestly, people in the throes of romance begin to hold secrets, and play the game of love. It is often the case that romance itself is an illusion. People relate more to the fantasy than the reality of their relationship.

ust the mere thought of having a romance with your friend has already changed your way of thinking about him. You are already plotting and thinking about ways to be less honest. Prior to thinking about romance, you would disclose just about anything to this closest person in your life. Now you are beginning to hold back. If openness, selfdisclosure and candor were the basis of your friendship, why not continue along that path with these newly developing feelings and use the occasion to explore that aspect of your friendship as well? You can discuss your trepidation, as well as your affection. If your feelings are mutual, then you can proceed with same honesty that you have enjoyed in the past and allow the relationship to blossom. If the feelings are not mutual, you can share your disappointment, and move on with the friendship; the disappointment will fade and you will still have the friendship.

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Do you have reactions to our stories or have you any experience you want to share with our readers? Please e-mail,anyagafu2@gmail.com Do you want to be linked? Neither Chioma Gabriel nor Saturday Vanguard has any relationship with anybody wanting to be linked. We have no agents anywhere and charge no fees. We have no personal information of people who have been linked or want to be linked and therefore, are not answerable for disappointments or embarrassments some people may encounter in the process.

SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 2, 2012—21

here are different reasons why one would go out and purchase a vehicle of some sort; it could be through recommendation by someone who has used a particular brand or seeing an advert which promises one that the car in question will deliver what is expected and more. One thing is for sure, buying a brand new one beats getting a “tokunbo”. Do not get me wrong, I know that not everyone can afford to buy a brand new car. Moreover,the

The Locust: By Mabel WHEN your energy levels begin to fall, when you don’t sleep deep enough, when you’re easily excitable, then it’s time for you to devise ways and means of bucking up. To build up physical and mental stamina, the surprising thing is not to get less active. The fact is, the more the body does, the more it can do — within reasonable limits, of course. It doesn’t help much to eat all the healthy stuff and have a lazy disposition. The body was built to be moved. If your livelihood doesn’t allow you enough physical exertion, then what you have to do is introduce an exercise regimen to buck you up. The exercise factor is very crucial in the maintenance of good health and vitality. I do not in the least wish to encourage smoking but, the fact is that smokers who exercise have been found to be healthier than those who don’t smoke but who also don’t exercise. The best means of safeguarding the body from unnecessarily falling ill is to make it a point to stretch and C M Y K

info@katehenshaw.com

Women and their vehicles options are plenteous in the “tokunbo” range and most are not bad looking at all but it is always the luck of the draw.

en and women have dif ferent reasons for buying a certain car. For a man, it is more of a status symbol. It is eye candy to have

wning a car in Nigeria is a necessity, as it is the most reliable form of transportation. It is not about how many one has in his or her garage (that is if you have a garage), but how useful they are. Should you decide to own more than one car, it is your prerogative and obviously the reasons will vary from household to household, and also from business to business. One also has to take into consideration the maintenance costs that are part and parcel of the deal. The bigger the car, the bigger the costs involved especially if you are driving within Lagos alongside the thousands of Okadas , Keke Napeps, Danfos and inept drivers that ply the road. It is no secret that the average Nigerian household back then would have at least two cars (I do not know if this is still the case since the removal of the supposed subsidy or it could be that the numbers have increased per household); one car would be for the parents, the other for the kids for school.

to be seen driving a big truck around (when I say truck, I do not mean the type used in construction sites please). Some women these days like to drive around in large cars. I laugh inwardly sometimes when I see a sports utility vehicle (SUV) with a small framed lady behind the wheel

Some women these days like to drive around in large cars. I laugh inwardly sometimes when I see a sports utility vehicle (SUV) with a small framed lady behind the wheel

friends come to visit your home and see different machines parked in your home or to see you every now and then behind the wheel of different cars from the very exotic to the average car but for a woman it is for practical reasons though I suspect that that has changed over time. It is a power trip for some women

whose head can barely come up the window. I say to myself “if something goes wrong with that car, I wonder if she will be able to sort herself out”. Speaking as a woman, I know some women who do not even know where the fire extinguisher is located, let alone the wheel spanner or what to even do with the jack! I believe that if you are a

woman and you are a driver worth your salt, you should at least know the performance of the engine of the car you are driving. You should be able to check your radiator and your engine oil for water and oil shortage respectively; gauge your tyres regularly and yes, fill up the tank with petrol.

he reason for this analysis is not farfetched. I hate to see women being fleeced and taken advantage of by kangaroo mechanics just because they know that women are more gullible so to speak. My driver is always full of admiration when I tell him of a problem I have noticed in the car which he had not taken note of. My car had just been serviced and brought back home. I decided to take it for a drive to visit a friend and by the next day I told him there was something wrong with the bearing on one of the tyres, he looked at me with that look that said, “this woman don come again o”,but by the time he took it back to the mechanic, he

Buck up with exercise strengthen all the muscles of the body and to practise deep rhythmic breathing to purify the blood and improve the vital organs. Exercise, judiciously practiced, is not only enjoyable, but a practical way of understanding your body better. If you have not exercised in a long while, you can start-off with a tenminute programme and gradually increase the time to about half-hour. In the beginning, do not get too tough with the body or you’ll be too sore too soon, and that might put you off. Success will come from regularity. The following are some gentle Yoga exercises to help you tone up. The Chair T echnique: Stand up straight with the feet abut two feet apart. Raise both hands to shoulder level, and begin to lower the body by gradually bending the

knees. You say flat footed till you can’t maintain the flatfootedness anymore, and then immediately, tip-toe and continue your way downwards till your buttocks are resting on your heels. Keep the arms still at shoulder level. Now, start your way upwards. Be sure to remain tip-toed all the way up till you are completely straight. Remain on your toes for a slow count to ten and then drop unto your heels with the hands by your “sides. Rest briefly and repeat. Benefits: The Chair Pose toughens the muscles of the legs and buttocks. People with fallen arches will benefit from the practise of the chair. The Locust Technique: Lie flat on your belly, and with the hands formed into

confirmed my diagnosis. I have sometimes gone underneath the car to check what is going on there. I know when my brake pads need changing because there is that grinding sound while driving. It is also very important to know the difference between a 4X4, and a saloon car. Why you must think? I take the supposed alternate route in Oniru estate when am driving from my home to Victoria Island, it is bumper -tobumper traffic most times, no surprise there but there is also another route through the sands on the waterfront parallel to the road. I decided to try it out one day with a bit of trepidation though. I was driving a 4X4 and changed the gear to the appropriate mode for driving on sand. As I went by, I could see the boys that had gathered by the side, watching me with beady eyes to see if my car would get stuck so they could “rescue” me. They were waiting with bated breath more so because this prey was a woman. It was with glee on my face that I drove out to the hard surface of the main road on the other side and I could not help but look back to see the disappointment on their faces that I had made it across! The reverse would have been the case if I decided to take a vehicle that was not suited for that terrain. Lord knows they would have collected a huge sum of money from me to help me out. Thanks to my ONGA branded 4X4.

The Locust fists, tuck them underneath you as shown in the illustration. Breathe in, and with the knees l o c k e d , raise both legs up as high as you can. Benefits: This pose strengthens the muscles of the back, the buttocks, legs and hands. At the initial stages, it’s enough if you can raise just one leg up and then the other. The Cobra This is basically an exercise that helps to expand the chest. Technique: Lie flat on your belly and arrange the hands by the shoulders. Inhale deeply and raise the trunk up with the head thrown back. Do not straighten the elbows completely. Breathe normally in this posture for 5

The Cobra: By Abu

The Chair to 7 seconds. Rest briefly and repeat. Benefits: The cobra helps to expand the chest, that means we can take in greater volume of air. And deep breathing improves the blooc which in turn improves the immune system helping thf asthmatic successfully fight bad the allergens that bring on tht attacks.

22—SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 2, 2012

A simple good morning kiss can add five years to your life

many as 300 calories while making love to your significant other? Affection never looked so good. Gives you flat abs? But you can feel slightly less guilty about having another glass of wine or ordering post-date d e s s e r t . You can also get in shape

Helps prevent illness

hey say you will always remember your first kiss and since kissing is an activity most individuals enjoy, imagine kissing your way to better health. From improving your teeth to burnings calories, there are many joys of kissing. So grab that special someone and smooch your way to improved health. Beyond the good, passionate, loving and the bad face-consuming,sloppy, what’s truly in a kiss? Turns out, there’s an entire branch of science called philematology that’s devoted to kissing and it’s super fascinating. Kissing your partner has some major health benefits.

It boosts immunity

Anytime you lock lips, you’re not just swapping spit, you’re also swapping germs. A majority of the bacteria in your saliva is common to everyone, but around 20 percent are unique to the individual. So, the process of kissing triggers your body to produce antibodies to fight the foreign bacteria. It’s like a vaccination, minus the hour in the waiting room and sore arm. Of course, this positive side effect is only relevant if you’re smooching a healthy person.You wouldn’t want a “vaccination” from, say, the dude at the bar with a mysterious blister and runny nose.

It busts stress

A brief kissing session with your significant other will reduce stress, tension, and prove you with a sense of well-being. The stress inducing hormone, cortical, is actually lowered during a passionate kissing session. If it has been a long day at the office or where ever for that matter, kiss it off. A recent Lafayette College study found that when you’re kissing someone, your body releases oxytocin, a calming chemical; endorphins, which are the feel-good chemicals and dopamine, which promotes bonding. Aim for a C M Y K

•Kiss your way to a longer life...

While kissing, you produce an increased amount of saliva. There are natural antibiotics secreted in saliva. Production of saliva can help the immune system fight off disease and

Health benefits of kissing

various infections. A quick kissing session can help keep you and the one you love safe from any unwanted illnesses.

Kiss your way to a longer life

20-second smooch to get mood-boosting benefits. Looking for more ways to destress? Some studies show that regular meditation reduces the recurrence of depression as effectively as medication. Start with baby steps by focusing on your breath. If your mind wanders, let your thoughts go and refocus on inhaling and exhaling. Aim to do this for a couple of minutes a few times a day.

It may ease allergies

A study in Japan found that 30 minutes of kissing (time to revert back to middle school make-out days!) can slow histamine production, providing some relief from sneezing and running nose symptoms associated with h a y f e v e r . If allegries make you miserable, there’s also a tasty snack that can ease a stuffy nose and watery eyes with no pills, drops or inhalers involved: yogurt! One study found that the bacteria in yogurt help desensitize the immune system to pollen. Patients who ate yogurt daily had 90 percent fewer allergy symptoms. Remember, though, that frozen doesn’t count; fro-yo is often missing those powerful cultures.

It’s good for your teeth Even during non-sloppy exchanges, kissing produces bonus saliva. This helps neutralize acids which can cause decay, and washes away food particles and cavity-inducing plaque that’s beginning to form. Some experts even think that the mineral salts in saliva may help bolster enamel, giving you stronger chompers.

To be even more kissable, try these easy at-home remedies for whiter teeth. Looking for something a little more professional? “The lightest cosmetically created hues for teeth are up to 15 shades whiter than they were five years ago,” says Jeff GolubEvans, D.D.S., a cosmetic dentist in New York City.

It counts as a light workout

A simple, gentle kiss can burn six to twelve calories. The steamier things get, the more calories you will burn. Imagine burning as

Individuals who kiss more live longer. Research states that kissing your significant other every morning can add years to your life. A simple good morning kiss can add five years to your life.

It is great for your heart Kissing is an adrenaline producing activity. Adrenaline causes the heart to get pumping and increases blood circulation. The effects kissing has on your heart is essentially very similar to getting your heart going by aerobic exercise like running or bicycling.

Keeps you good

looking

Kissing is a workout for your

face. Kissing requires use of thirty different facial muscles. A kissing session will tone your face and keep the blood circulating. Good circulation in your face is one of the easiest, most inexpensive ways to stay young-looking and eliminate the appearance of lines and wrinkles. In fact, many women pay for facial massages to help circulate the blood. You can keep your significant other satisfied and look great all at the same time.

Kissing control

pain

Kissing can help fight off the aches and pains. In addition, the euphoric exhilaration brought on by kissing, saliva once again can help your health. Saliva produces a natural anesthetic. For anyone who has been on a powerful pain reliever such as morphine, the endorphins generated during this enjoyable act are 200 times more powerful than high intensity pain killers.

Boosts esteem

your

self-

Kissing causes individuals to feel more loved and more appreciated. Who doesn’t want to feel loved and appreciated? Kissing results in confidence and selfesteem, imagine the added bonus of being told you are a great kisser! In general, having a higher self-esteem makes you healthier. Those who fight depression or have low self-esteem tend to also fight off more sickness because their bodies lack the endorphins and natural antibiotics to fight diseases.

Most common bad eating habits

ad eating habits are common. It is easy to operate on automatic when it comes to food. Living in a fastpaced society often makes it so you have to eat on the run, skip meals, eat whatever is fast and easy or use food to relieve stress. There is no doubt that bad eating habits can cause you to gain weight! If you want to lose weight successfully, it’s a good idea to change questionable practices that are contributing to the extra pounds! The simple truth is that most people get into eating routines that can span over a lifetime. Some new habits will be easy to implement while older habits may be harder to •Eat to live...some eating change. The good news is that once bad habits are broken, new habits have grave health habits are formed. You will be able do them automatically, without thinking about them. implications.

The whole point of food is to nourish your body. It simply can’t function without food. However, your body doesn’t function well with a full gut either! You eat to live. You don’t live to eat.

SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 2, 2012—23

The intimacy questions in marriage Intimacy is an important aspect of any healthy, romantic, marital relationship. So when there’s trouble in the bedroom, it could signal trouble in the marital relationship, sex experts say.

t is important that women vocalize what they want to their significant other so he can please her properly. Husbands want to be better lovers but many wives keep the information to themselves. Sex is a key part of most relationships, yet it is a conversation topic some of us shy away from with partners. Raised not to discuss intimacy because it is an adult topic, we may find love and sex embarrassing and difficult to talk about when we reach adulthood. Sex problems can have a long term impact on relationships and because it is a difficult topic to discuss, they often go unresolved. It is estimated that roughly 40% of men and women have some form of sexual dysfunction, whether that be a hang up about their body, an inability to make love or a deeper rooted problem with love. Only those who are idealistic and have high standards when it comes to relationships are the ones who believe that there really is a perfect guy for every woman.Perfect relationships only exist in fairy tales and they rarely happen in the real world. In any romantic relationship, it is normal and natural to have one or two things uncommon between two people, for these add to the effort of adapting to each other ’s personalities. No matter how good and smooth things are in a relationship, a flaw, one way or another, eventually arises.

Poor bonding

perfect scenario for this problem is when you are going out with someone who is totally into you. He or she treats you well, gets along fine with your relatives and friends, and both of you have a lot of things in common. Your relationship is perfect, except for one thing: he or she is terrible in bed or is not trying hard to please you sexually. In fact, this issue is very common among romantic relationships. The women C M Y K

Lack of sexual intimacy can contribute to other problems.

However, if you and your partner barely even have time for regular intimacy, aiming to have more heated bedroom sessions is indeed difficult

are usually the ones who often complain about this problem. Even though love-makingsex with your hubby is not as fulfilling as your relationship, ditching your partner is not always the best solution. Often in these kinds of relationships, sex issues are worth fixing to make the relationship work. Less-thrilling love-making is not a good enough reason to give up a good relationship with your partner, but a so-so love life is also an alarming issue that should never be taken for granted. Remember that a fulfilling sexual relationship is vital to the strength and foundation of any relationship.

The love makeover

t is generally common in new or fresh relationships that both parties are still in the process of getting to know each other. This means that it is only typical that the love-making part in the relationship is still a bit edgy. While some couples are lucky to have instant physical rapport, there are some unfortunate lovers who still need to get used to each other ’s sexual habits and preferences. If you and your partner are among the unfortunate couples, do not panic. You will eventually get used to your partner, especially if both of you are serious on making things work in your relationship. Communicating well with your partner is also another way to solve the sex issues within your relationship. Although pointing out one’s shortcomings and inabilities in the bedroom is really hard to do, it is still advisable for couples to talk about the problems they encounter in their

relationship. Honestly admitting to your partner that you are not fully satisfied with his or her lovemaking may eventually lead you to discover that he or she is also not happy with you as a lover. In talking about love issues with your partner, explain your views in a calm and subtle way. Never criticize or say outright bad things about how terrible he or she is as a lover. You can try phrasing your

o you have differing levels of sexual desire? This is incredibly common.One partner wants to make love more often than the other and it can lead to arguments and resentments. The partner who wants more sex feels rejected and the partner who wants less feels pressured. Is there enough intimacy and romance in your relationship? Romance and intimacy play an important part in providing the reassurance and trust that underpins most successful relationships. Where there is a lack of intimacy and romance, one or both partners may feel unfulfilled and dissatisfied with the relationship. Do you or your partner have physical problems such as reaching climax or maintaining an erection? There can be many reasons for physical sexual problems in a relationship from distressing sexual experiences, sexual abuse, body image problems and low self esteem to underlying medical conditions and mental health issues. Some problems can be overcome by working together; others may require the intervention of a gynaecologist. Has your sex life become so routine or uninspiring that one or both of you have lost interest? It is important that you maintain intimacy even if you

issues in a compliment form. This way, you have clearly pointed out the problem without directly judging or criticizing him or her as a lover. Meanwhile, showing how you wanted to be pleased in bed is also an effective way to solve the boring and monotonous sexual relationship you have with your partner. If you know the parts of your body where you want to be touched and kissed, try to do it first on your partner. Men, for instance, are likely to adapt well in this treatment, for they prefer to be shown what to do instead of being told. If your partner still fails to respond to this treatment, you can then show him or her how you want to be touched and pleasured in bed. If your partner is doing something that is painful or uncomfortable to you, tell him or her to immediately stop. When your partner shows improvement, do not forget to give praises and make sure that he or she knows that you appreciate the effort. You can do this by showing pleasure with body language or by simply moaning and sighing every time your partner does something pleasurable.

Frequency does matter

n the other hand, one of the best solutions to improve your sexual bond with your partner is to simply have more sex. You see, the more sex you have, the more you tend to get addicted to it. Also, the more frequent you and your partner make

love, the better you’ll get to know and discover each other ’s turn-ons and dislikes in bed. However, if you and your partner barely even have time for regular love-making, aiming to have more heated bedroom sessions is indeed difficult. With this problem, the best solution is to schedule it. When you have scheduled your intimate bond with your lover, you will be able to ready yourself for the moment, both physically and mentally. Furthermore, you can also try assessing the reasons why your near-perfect partner is such a disappointment inside the bedroom. As medical experts explain, less energy and vigor in participating in any sexual act can be attributed to stress, fatigue, and hormonal fluctuations. To deal with the problem, you can advise your partner to get enough sleep, eat a healthy diet, as well as exercising daily. If there is still no improvement, you can also recommend therapy sessions with a counsellor for you and your partner. You should also assess if you too have issues that consequently contribute to the downturn of your sexual relationship with your beloved partner. As mentioned earlier, communication is an important aspect in a relationship, so it is best to also keep an open mind to what your partner wants you to know and understand. If both of you are honest and open enough to discuss the distressing issues in your relationship, things will work out eventually and improvements will surely follow.

Most common sexual problems in marriage are not having sex and try to talk about the situation. Are you off sex because your partner doesn’t do things as you would like? Lack of communication is one of the key reasons for problems in the bedroom. Do you wish he or she would do something different or stop doing something that irritates you? How does your partner know what you like or if you are in the mood for lovemaking if you never have a conversation about it? You may not be ready for dirty talk in the bedroom but a complete lack of conversation will lead to unfulfilling sex for both parties. Talking is a key component in building trust and intimacy. Has your sex life stopped? There may be periods during your relationship when the sexual element of your relationship tails off - during pregnancy, after childbirth, during times of illness or stress. However, a long term lack of sexual contact can be very damaging. You need to get to the root of why sex with your partner has stopped. It may be that one partner has an

underlying physical issue or it may be indicative of a deeper relationship problem, such as infidelity. Can a relationship function without sex? It is possible to have a relationship without sex if both parties agree. There are many reasons why sex may not be a necessary or feasible part of your relationship including ill health and disability. The important thing to establish is if both parties are happy not to have sex. Ask yourselves these questions to see if this can work for you. Talking about sex can be difficult, even for partners that have been together for a long period of time. A love life that incorporates romance, openness and honesty is an enjoyable part of a relationship. All too often, we forget that sex is about more than a physical act of intercourse, it is a way to express our feelings for our spouses, reaching a level of intimacy we experience with very few people in our lives.

24—SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 2, 2012

Scammers impersonate actress Stella Damascus! S

ultry actress cum singer Stella Damasus has screamed out loud concerning how she has been impersonated her through the social network -facebook. According to the actress, some unknown persons have set up a facebook account using the name “Stella Damasus Aboderin Nollywood Actress” to solicit financial aid from fans of the actress towards the growth of her Heart Foundation. Alerting her fans via her facebook wall during the week, Damasus disowned the new account. She advised her fans against sending money to anybody under any guise. "Please! I need to inform my

Veteran actor, Dento down with stroke ...Needs N250,000 to stay alive

members have resorted to traditional healing, none of his two wives are living with him at the moment. Except his 13 year old son, Moshood, a child from his second wife. “This is Dento . It is sad that he is dying and in order to pay for his mediacl bills, he needs N250,000,00. It seems the actor will give up as his hope of raising the money dims per each passing day. “ a concerned fan lamented. Dento, born about 60 years ago, is a native of Agbongbon area of Ibadan, Oyo State. He became popular when he joined Chief Lere Paimo Theatre Group in the late 1970s. C M Y K

Dento

Star act or er actor or,, Ogogo’s daught daughter set to wed

he wedding keeps jingling in the Nigerian movie industry as famous Yoruba actor, Al-Hassan Babatunde Taiwo a.k.a Ogogo has concluded plans to give his daughter's hand in marriage in a couple of days. His daughter, Rasheedat Ololade Taiwo will be exchanging marital vows with her heartthrob, Al-Hassan Oluwatoyin Yusuff in June. HVP reliably gathered that the engagement and Nikkai ceremony which is slated for 16 and 17 of June willhold at

the multi-purpose hall of the Federal Polytechnic Ilaro, Ogun State. While this has laid to rest the speculation surrounding the love life of Ogogo’s daughter,families of the bride and groom had an elaborate introduction ceremony a couple of months ago. Although, Ogogo kept the ceremony from teh privy eyes of the media, it was not a secret as many people may think. The introduction had friends, fans and close associates of Ogogo, including Abbey Lanre and Yinka Quadriwho came late for the ceremony.

Stella Damasus, Fans of Stella Damasus (For Fans by Fans), SDA Productions, Lupus Healthcare Foundation and The Stella Damasus Show.” Please beware, I have stated my real accounts above. Any account in my name is fake."she said. I have never asked anyone at any point in time via Facebook or any social media to donate cash to my foundation. So please people, do not give money to this person thinking that you are helping my foundation. Please beware, I have stated my real accounts above. Any other account in my name is fake” he cried out.

Funke Akindele and beau, off to UK for honeymoon

ust as actor Enebeli Elebuwa battles to free himself from the grip of stroke, a popular Ibadan-based actor-cum-comedian, Hammed Oduola a.k.a. Dento has been knocked down by the bug. The actor was said to be hale and hearty until March, this year when he was struck by stroke. Dento is currently seeking financial help from well-meaning Nigerians to come to his rescue. Those who visited him at his Ibadan, Oyo State residence, disclosed that the ailing actor needs the sum of N250,000,00 to stay alive. The ailing actor is said to have been off the acting scene for the past five years. He uses his late father’s building, where he lives, for his tailoring business. He was a trained tailor before he ventured into full time acting. HVP gathered that even though his family

fans that an unknown person has set up a facebook account with the name “Stella Damasus Aboderin Nollywood Actress”. Whoever this is, he/she is a fraudster. I do not have a Heart Foundation that this person is using to raise money. I have the Stella Damasus Arts Foundation. Please make sure you do not have any dealings with these fraudsters. I have ordered them to shut down this account and stop using my name to defraud people.” “This is the real Stella Damasus account and I have some other accounts which are : Stella Obiageli Damasus, Stella O Damasus, Friends of

ewly wedded Nollywood actress Funke Akindele

and her Lagos socialite beau, K e n n y Almaroof Oloyede have jetted out of the country for t h e i r honeymoon. The couple left Nigeria for the UK, during the week after tying the nuptial knot last Saturday, May 26, 2012. While in the UK, HVP gathered that Mrs. Oloyede will make an appearance at the upcoming W i z k i d ’ s concert at the HMV Apollo theatre on Monday, June 4. Kenny and Funke staged a three-part w e d d i n g combo at The Haven event centre, Ikeja, Lagos, last weekend. The

ceremony was well attended by who-is-who in the Nigerian entertainment industry.

Akindele and beau

SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 2, 2012—25

ward winning film critic and founder of Nollywood and African Film Critics’ Awards (NAFCA), DR Victor Olatoye has won the hearts of many stakeholders in the Nigerian film industry when he unveiled plans to make this year ’s edition a huge success. Addressing a selected movie journalists, marketers and actors alike at the Artiste Village, National Theatre, complex, Lagos, ahead of the event slated for September 15 and 16, 2012, in North Carolina, US, Olatoye decked in a bluish designers’ suite, explained that “NAFCA is the African Oscar Awards in the United States and Europe.” This president/CEO of Nollywood Film Critics listed poor quality of movie-script as one of the most difficult challenges facing Nollywood. He said the aim of the interactive session with the stakeholders was to see how he could help them market their films abroad through his novel initiative called merchandizing Nollywood Shops-a concept which will eventually make the

Stars shine as Shange George Finds Goodluck

Van Vicker

NAFCA 2012 unveiled in Lagos … Van Vicker, Angela Okorie name co-hosts producers make more money in America. The film critic disclosed that the duo of Van Vicker and Nollywood actress Angela Okorie will be the host of the event. According to him, NAFCA ‘is an award ceremony in North America for the African Movie industry

worldwide and it serves as an award of merit for distinctive achievement’. Also the essence of the award is to boost movies and film makers from across Africa. The two-day event which holds every second week in September will begin with a

Nollywood summit, movie premiere and an after party on Saturday, September 15 at the Carolina Museum of Art, US. The awards proper will hold on Sunday, September, 16, 2012 at the Carolina Theatre Durham, North Carolina, US.

Inside Big Brother Stargame:

Another voluntary exit from BBA

t’s been one of the biggest, most dramatic seasons of Big Brother ever but the twists and turns on the 91 day reality series just keep on coming. After dilly-dallying for weeks, the Angolan duo made an emotional exit from the house after Esperanca asked Big Brother for a voluntary

Prezzo calls Goldie a true woman’ C M Y K

exit. This was the third time that Esperanca made such a request though on the two previous occasions she has changed her mind and decided to stay in the house. have exited from the show. Her partner, Seydou was not keen on leaving, Esperanca was adamant that she wanted to leave as soon as possible. “I feel sorry for my partner and I wish things would be different. I’m stressed out, depressed and I am not going to put my health in danger,” Esperanca explained.

t’s no doubt that the ever blazing screen queen, Shan George, is not letting go her rein in the Nigerian movie industry anytime soon. While the star actress keeps pushing for good luck in all her endeavours, fans and friends would definitely have no choice than wishing Shan George good luck as her much talked about movie ‘Finding Goodluck’ was finally premiered last Friday at Terra Kulture, Victoria Island, Lagos. Indeed, it was a goodluck for Shan George as society and showbiz big-wigs defied the heavy down pour to be part of the premiere that rocked the Lagos Island. Famous actors in attendance were Ini Edo, Kate Henshaw, Senator Daisy Danjuma, Inspector Oshodi Glover who represent IG, The Ibru Sisters, Desmond Elliot, Emem Isong, Monalisa Chinda, Chidi Mokeme, Rachel Oniga, Chico and Joy Ejiro. Others were Lillian Bach, Lepacious Bose, Chioma Chukwuka, Mr. Kool, Tonto Dike, Mr. Raw Nwanne, Steph Nora Okere, Anita Hogan, Yemi Sax, Darlene Benson among others Leading all to the memorable night was a beautiful rendition of national anthem by Darlene Benson. The atmosphere was charged with fashion parade and the electrifying performance by a couple of up and coming artistes from Enugu State and Republic of Benin. Ace comedian, Lepacious Bose was not left out of the fun. The thick humour merchant stole the night with ribcracking jokes that got all reeling on the floor with laughter.

enyan rapper and Goldie‘s ‘boyfriend’ Prezzo has lauded her attributes, calling her a ‘true woman’. He said this during his conversation with fellow house-mate DKB, in which he confessed his distaste for Zainab,

who he describes as ‘dumb’. Criticizing her provocative dress sense and flirty manner, he said there was no way he would start a relationship with Zainab because he prefers a more conservative woman. ‘I can’t make this shorty my woman because her boobs are always displayed‘, he said. As far as Goldie was concerned, the Kenyan rapper was full of praises, adding that even if he were to leave the Nigerian singer, he still wouldn’t hook up with Zainab. ‘I don’t mind Goldie not kissing or touching because she respects Prezzo and Goldie herself‘, said Prezzo.

Shan George

26— Vanguard, SARTURDAY, JUNE 2, 2012

Edited by Ogbonna Amadi amadi_o@yahoo.com

Eva Joins Trybe Records

Etisalat lights up DELSU with Cliqfest

tisalat last week ignit ed the spirit of compe tition among students of the Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka in Delta State with its youth empowerment and entertainment programme, Cliqfest. The Cliqfest train which hit the campus on Thursday, May 24 and rounded off on Friday May 25, featured several activities aimed at empowering and entertaining the students. These included a life changing seminar by celebrated motivational speaker, Niyi Adesanya, a novelty football match, raffle draw, dance competition and performances by DELSU students and top Nigerian music acts. Adesanya, who spoke on Individual competitiveness among the students, stressed the need for the youths to equip themselves with knowledge and skills that would set them apart from the crowd to increase their career chances. He also highlighted the importance of developing their entrepreneurial skills and urged the students to maximize the advantage of the seminar designed to help them identify their unique selling points in order to succeed in life. Speaking at the occasion, Head of Etisalat’s Youth Segment, Elvis Ogiemwanye said Cliqfest was designed to connect with users of the brand’s youth package, ‘EasyCliq. He described Easysliq as a product that stands out from the rest because of its features which are fun, friendship and youthfulness. He encouraged the students to see themselves as brands that must not die, but ones that will remain relevant in the minds of the public. “Cliqfest represents a mix of fun, education and festivity riding on our innovative Easycliq package. Our desire is to motivate all-round development in our students. We want our youths to be balanced, connected and in touch with the ever-changing career turns, social trends and lifestyles. Cliqfest connects with our core values of care and optimism expressed in an innovative, yet simple manner,” the Director Marketing Segment and Strategy, Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Oluwole Rawa urged the students said. The Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Eric Arubayi commended Etisalat Nigeria for bringing such an initiative to the university, and urged other corporate organizations to emulate its initiative in empowering and improving the lives of students.

C M Y K

Shotz and Beverly

2shotz scams Leads City Uni.students of N100 000 BY OPEOLUWANI AKINTAYO opular singer, 2shotz is currently having is sues with the students of Leads City University as they have vowed to pay him back in his own coin. The students recently were said to have had a deal with 2shotz which teh latter did not honour. According to our sources, the students had paid the sum of N100, 000 ,to the artiste geared towards headlining a fashion show at their school. But they were disappointed when 2shotz did not showed up for the show. Showtime gathered that in a bid to pay him back, the aggrieved students have resorted to pasting all over the campus posters, capturing 2shotz as he was planting hot kisses on the lips of his former fiancé , Ada Beverly Osu. Not only that, the students have also sent out a broadcast on BBM as well as issued a press statement to notable bloggers, including an official address to a website which they have dedicated to 2shotz for swindling them of their meagre allowances. On the website, the students posted a statement titled, Am 2shotz: This is my story... How 2shotz Scammed Leads Uni. Students...Nigerian artiste 2 shotz Scams students of Leads University of N100,000 (hundred thousand naira). They also uploaded a picture of the car which the organisers of the show initially despatched to pick up the artiste. According to the press sttae-

ment, the incident happened on the 21th of May. One of the students was said to have contacted the artiste on Twitter to be part of a fashion show called FashionMIX at their school. 2shotz was said to have charged the organisers the sum of N100 000 which was paid into his Zenith Bank account on the 22nd of May. However, on the day of the show,2hortz,together with his crew members and manager, Ruffcoin, were picked up at his Maryland home, Lagos. Upon arriving Ibadan, he was checked into an hotel room together with his crew members including six girls. Assorted

drinks were provided to them. But when it was time to hit the stage, 2shotz didn’t show up. At his hotel room, the organisers alleged that they found 2shotz, his crew members and the girls fast asleep as they were under the influence of alcohol. They were said to have returned to Lagos tyhe following day without performing at the show. The students are therefore requesting for a refund of their money. But reacting to this development, 2Shotz said he was in Ibadan for the event. And that it was the organizers who failed to pick him up for the show.

ounder of Trybe Records, Lanre Dabiri popularly known as eLDee Da Don, has announced fast rising female rapper, Eva as the new signing to the record label. In an official statement, eLDee said “Trybe Records is proud to have added Eva to the team. Eva is easily the best female rapper in Africa and we believe this union is only going to further showcase that fact. We’ve been in talks with Eva and her management 3UD for a few months. The signing took place this week and we are currently finalizing paperwork regarding publishing and management details”. eLDee said further that “we pride ourselves in being a record label that values diversity and we wish to give every single artiste we sign an equal opportunity to succeed without altering their style/ sound”. Eva will be joining artistes like Sheyman, Sarz, Sojay, K9, Aramide and eLDee himself who are all currently signed on to the label. He further reaffirmed that there will be more signings before the end of the year and that there are no plans for a Da Trybe 2.o album but a compilation album is not out of the question. Eva, who is obviously elated about the deal said “I’m really just very excited right now. It’s been a lot of hard work, dedication and now about 13 record deal offers after. I finally say yes and it’s with eLDee’s Trybe Records. I’m itching to get to work fully and can’t wait for all the many great things that are about to unfold.”

Eva

Yes, I am a dad—Ice Prince BY OPEOLUWANI AKINTAYO

ew months after it was reported that Oleku crooner and one of Chocolate City’s rapper, Ice Prince, fathered a love child with 20 year old former Houdegbe North American University undergraduate, Bimbo Babatunde, he has finally come public to accept the paternity of the baby boy. The Superstar master made this known through an interview he recently granted Vanessa Offiong of the Weekly Trust’s weekend magazine. There in the chat, he was asked by the reporter how he felt about being a ‘new dad’

and how it fits into his new schedule as an artiste. And responding to the question, the rapper didn’t deny his boy but hit the nail on the head, admitting he’s now a dad. He also said his baby boy doesn’t affect his schedule negatively as he has a capable team who helps him plan his time well. Yes I am. I have a strong team around me and we are able to schedule our events properly. This gives me time to take care of all the things that I need to take care of, he said. However, his recent admittance to fathering the child is contrary to his past denials of ever having a son with Bimbo.

It would be recalled that about two months ago, the news of Ice Prince being the newest dad in the music industry hit the air. The boy was born on March 1 this year.

iceprince

Vanguard, SARTURDAY, JUNE 2, 2012—27

Edited by Ogbonna Amadi amadi_o@yahoo.com

Munachi, Modenine settle rift at Industry Nite A t last, two renowned rappers, Munachi and Modenine have eventually agreed to embrace the olive branch after staying apart for several months. The two resolved their differences at the Industry Nite which held during the week. Muna who was this week’s celebrated act had performed a number of her songs before announcing Modenine on stage.‘Now, I want to do something I should have done a couple of weeks ago, ladies

and gentlemen please can I call my friend, my brother, my hommie Modenine!‘, the RMG signee said. Modenine who had been chatting with RMG boss Ayo Shonaiya however mounted the stage and hugged Muna .In his short speech, Modenine said ’It’s all good, I don’t take anything personal, this is the industry.” DJ Spinall then threw Notorious B.I.G’s ‘Juicy ’ soundtrack which Modenine and Muna performed togeth-

er . Muna had been under heavy criticism, following a verbal exchange she had with Modenine few weeks ago. The event was attended by DJ Jimmy JAT T, Ayo Animashaun, DJ Abass, DJ Tee, and Clarence Peters.

P-square signs business pact with South African music group BENJAMIN NJOKU

s the battle against piracy con tinue to be elusive, Nigerian pop duo, Peter and Pual Okoye, otherwise known as P-square have concluded plans to enter into a business pact with one of the biggest record labels , Universal Music Group based in South Africa. .The deal was sealed last Thursday in Johannesburg, South Africa. Already the music label has perfected plans to release past and future projects of the pop singers. Under the new arrangement, the firm would be Pssquare and the buiness partners handling all their digital and CD sales of P-Square works all over the world. The company founded in as at the time of writing, the This is an amazing and big 1934, is an American multina- specific particulars of the step up for the pop singers. The brothers who have tional music company and one Psquare contract, and whethbeen linked with Akon an- of the ‘big four ’ recording er the brothers are also in talks nounced last December that companies in the world. But, with Universal in Europe and they had signed a pact with as is the norm in music busi- the US. Konvict Music label as Afri- ness, Universal Music SA is The deal with Psqure, we’re can representatives. Univer- a ‘South African’ company dis- told, is a South Africa distrisal Music Group is the par- tributing in that country and bution deal covering past and ent company of Akon’s Kon- environs. We can not confirm current Psquare catalogues. vict Musik and Kon Live Distribution labels.

Introducing Patience Olumese, budding gospel singer

•Olumese

budding gospel sen sation, Patience Ol umese has stepped out in grand style. C M Y K

Her debut album titled , “My Destiny ” which is being played in various radio and television stations speaks voume of her creativity. Gospel music, teh faircomplexioned singer said is an appropriate medium to spread the word of God and preach salvation to mankind. Olumese expressed her preparedness to reach out to both Christains and nonChristian alike with her gospel music. Her music is not only inspirational, but soulstirring and structive. “ My music is inspirational and it gives hope to people who were discouraged in life.

When people listen to my music, their soul is lifted up, refreshed and are touched by God win a mighty way” Apart from singing, Olumese is also a resource person at the Nigeria French Language Village, Badagry, Lagos. S Interestingly, Olumese’s 10 tracks album are beautifully rendered in French, English as well as Esan language. The budding artiste said “I like to sing for God and when you sing secular music, you are singing it for the world. It is a wonderful thing for me to be a gospel singer. My destiny has something to do with singing for God. I had a revelation to sing for God.”

•Modenine and Muna

Naeto C, Dami Krane, others @ The Club with Remy Martin

he first edition of Fine Champagne Cognac Remy Martin’s monthly club parties tagged “At The Club With Remy Martin went down in grand style on Friday, May 25, at the prestigious Auto Lounge VIP, Victoria Island, Lagos. In attendance were entertainers,socialites and captains of industry. Guests rocked from dawn to dusk with the irrepressible Shody on the hype, and a host of Naija’s finest acts like Naeto C, Shank, Dami Krane, NPZ, among others all live in the house. The night which started rather slow due to the rain ended on a really high note as everyone in the house had enough reasons to be glad they didn’t stay back at home instead. DJ Snatch of Beat 99.9 FM kept the music blasting all through as the premium brand made good its promise to deliver a remarkable night of entertainment, fun and enjoyment for all in attendance. Official media partners of the brand TRACE Urban TV and Beat 99.9 FM – were

also in the house to make sure the excitement was duly captured. And just in case you missed the event, you can catch clips of the event on TRACE Urban TV through the month of June before the next party slated for 29th June, 2012 which promises to be even much more exciting. Also in attendance at the event were entertainment stars like Sauce Kid, 2 Shots, Ikechukwu, Eldee D’ Don, DJ Jimmy Jatt, as well as industry moguls like Chris Ubosi (C.E.O, Beat 99.9 FM), among others.

Dami Krane doing his thing at The Club With Remy Martin

28—SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 2, 2012

BY IYABO AINA

Winehouse’s family to sell singer’s London home BY IYABO AINA

he family of Amy Winehouse has put the late singer ’s London home up for sale for 2.7 million pounds ($4.2 million). The three-bedroom property in the Camden neighborhood of northwest London had become a shrine of sorts for mourning fans who left flowers and tributes following Winehouse’s death last July from alcohol poisoning. Chris Goodman, a spokesman for the Winehouse family, said Thursday that the singer had loved the house and her family put it on the market because they felt it would be inappropriate for any of them to live there. “It was not practical to keep it empty while paying the costs of its upkeep,” he said in a statement, adding that the family had reached the decision with “great regret.” The 2,500 square-foot home features three bedrooms including an “impressive master suite with vaulted ceiling” three living rooms and private front and rear gardens overlooking the tony Camden Square, according to online listing agent Housenetwork.co.uk. Graham Lock, spokesman for

Lady Gaga

Gaga canceled her biggest concert in Asia Amy Winehouse House network.co.uk, confirmed that the listing has generated “a lot of interest” but would not go into detail about how many inquiries had come in given that the Winehouse family had asked for discre-

tion. “There’s a lot of fans getting in touch about it so we’re trying to weed out the genuine interest from people who are just being nosy,” he told the Associated Press.

Folk musician,Doc Watson dies in NC hospital

Doc-watson

ccording to a hospital spokeswoman and Doc Watson manager, the 89years blind Grammy award winning folk musician, whose mountain rooted sound was embraced by generations and whose lightning fast style of flat picking influenced guitarists around the world, died Tuesday at a North Carolina hospital.

Watson died at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston Salem, where he was hospitalized recently after falling at his home in Deep Gap, in the Blue Ridge Mountains. He underwent abdominal surgery while in the hospital and had been in critical condition for several days. Arthel “Doc” Watson’s mastery of flat picking helped make the case for the guitar as a lead instrument in the 1950s and 1960s, when it was often considered a backup for the mandolin, fiddle or banjo. His fast playing could intimidate other musicians, even his own grandson, who performed with him. Richard Watson said in a 2000 interview with The Associated Press that his grandfather’s playing had a humbling effect on other musicians. “Everybody that’s picked with you says you intimidate them, and that includes some of the best,” Richard Watson told him.

Country and bluegrass singer Ricky Skaggs said Tuesday evening, “An old ancient warrior has gone home.” “He prepared all of us to carry this on,” Skaggs added. “He knew he wouldn’t last forever, He did his best to carry the old mountain sounds to this generation.” Doc Watson was born March 3, 1923 in Deep Gap, about 100 miles northwest of Charlotte. He lost his eyesight by the age of 1 when he developed an eye infection that was worsened by a congenital vascular disorder, according to a website for Merlefest, the annual musical gathering named for his late son Merle.

Teresa Giudice

“Little monsters lost to big monsters”, wrote an Indonesian television anchor on his Twitter account shortly after Lady Gaga cancelled her biggest concert in Asia, a sold-out event scheduled to take place in Jakarta on June 3. The pop star’s fans, which she affectionately calls her “little monsters”, now have to accept that the woman they saw on Indonesian television, or discovered in DVD shops, cannot visit their country because of safety concerns. Although a small group of Islamic hardliners rejoiced over the news of Gaga’s concert cancellation, many Indonesians started to wonder who really has gone gaga here. In fact, this incident does not have much to do with the American singer. Instead, it illustrates a far deeper conflict that is dividing Indonesia.

The Lady Gaga saga started a few weeks ago, after some Indonesians opposed her visit, citing her exposed body parts and “devilish” lyrics. The pop star soon became the centre of a debate between those who see her as a symbol of freedom, and those who see her as a symbol of evil. The fact that the Islamic Defenders Front (IDF) was successful in repelling her from Indonesia shows that threats of violence can pay off. “The fact that police can’t guarantee security of the concert shows that our state is weak towards groups that promote intolerance,” said Hendardi, head of the Setara Institute for Democracy and Peace. ”It’s up to the authority of the state to guarantee freedom of expression and security as outlined in our constitution.”

I ‘will get divorced’ if Joe cheats —Teresa Giudice “The Real Housewives of New Jersey” star Teresa Giudice is standing by her man amid rampant rumors he has cheated on her unless they’re proven true. In a new interview with ‘’Life& style’’ , the mom of four professes that she does not believe the stories that her husband Joe has strayed. “No woman has come forward and said, ‘Oh, I’ve been with Joe,’” she says. “That hasn’t happened.” But if it does, Giudice claims she won’t stand for it and is prepared to leave him. “We would get divorced,” she adds. “I could never be with a cheater. That’s disgusting. And I’m sure it would be the same for him

with me.” Fans of the Bravo reality show know all too well about the tension that has existed between Teresa, 40, and Joe, 42, . In a recent episode, both Joe’s wife and his eldest daughter Gia, 11, confronted him during a family car ride to the Jersey Shore after he had been out late the night before with a bunch of women. Although Teresa seemed too stunned to say much, Gia gave her father a piece of her mind for acting like a bachelor to which he yelled at her to stay out of his business and “shut up.” Still, despite the growing suspicion, Teresa needs more than rumors and innuendo to convince her that Joe is two-timing her. “Give me proof!” she tells Life & Style. “I would want to see a sex video.

C M Y K

SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 2, 2012—29

EBUN SESSOU

I learnt cooking during my service year — Gbenga Adebija

benga Adebija is the Managing Director and CEO of Ashton & Layton Business Communication. He’s our guest on this edition of Celebrity Tummy Talk as he speaks on how his wife teaches him how to eat good food. He says, although he doesn’t know how to cook yet he likes good food. Hear him How would you describe your eating habit? Although, I’m the worst ever when it comes to cooking but I like good food. As a child, I didn’t have the chance to cook until my NYSC days. Even at that, I had a limit and so I didn’t go beyond that boundary. I could cook yam, beans, boiled rice and egg. And the first stew I ever prepared was also during my Youth Service year, so I had to take picture of that pot of stew and sent it to my family. They were surprise to know that, at least I could cook stew.

How did you managed to know all the ingredients for stew? Well, that was my secret. It wasn’t as if I didn’t know what to use but as a man, it wasn’t easy for me to cook when the women are there. But, at least I know what to use when it comes to cooking a pot of stew. And that was all I could do. But interestingly God blessed me with a lovely woman who is a great cook. My wife, Yetunde is a fantastic cook. She is my teacher when it comes choosing good food and so, I take my time to listen to her. That means, you weren’t familiar with kitchen environment? I didn’t learn how to cook at all. My only visit to the kitchen was perhaps to see if I could get extra food or a steal a piece of meat from the pot. But, my siblings (both brothers and sisters) learnt how to cook. Do you both have the same preference in terms

of food? Unfortunately, she likes to experiment. She does all sorts of Continental and Western dishes but, as a Yoruba man, my menu is quite simple much to the annoyance of my wife because she likes to cook all kinds of food. I love to eat my rice, beans, yam, eba and moi-moi which is an occasional thing. And your kind of exercise. I promised myself that whenever I clock 40, I would start exercising, but I couldn’t. But, I decided to take it very seriously now. I’m more mindful of my diet. I’ve cut down on a lot of sugar. I have a gym at home. I also walk and jog whenever I have enough energy. Your fruit I take mango, oranges, guava, pineapple, watermelon; I try to eat them as much as possible. There was a time I traveled and had problem with foreign foods, and there wasn’t African foods and so, I fed on only fruits until I got back to Nigeria.

Today’s Menu Otong soup with Tuo shincafa(rice tuwo)

his is food that is common amongst the southern and the northern parts of Nigeria. It is a special delicacy that is prepared especially during the festive period and traditional occasion. Otong soup Ingredient Chopped ugu leaves (substitute spinach) Chopped okra Seasoning Palm oil Uziza leaves (optional) Dried blended crayfish Salt Dried chilli Meat ( Ponmo, shaki, beef) (pre-cooked) Shrimps or turkey Preparations In a medium pot, add in three cups of water. Set the water on medium heat. In a mortal, pound half of the chopped okra (you can also use a blender). Once the water starts to boil, add in the crayfish, maggi, pepper and salt. Simmer for three minutes. Add in the

C M Y K

precooked meat Add in the okra (pounded and chopped), stir. Add in the ugu(spinach) and the uziza. Simmer for 10mins. Add in the palm oil, simmer for another 10 mins.

Tasty Foods that are best for your health

Lots of fruits and vegetables, beans, and whole grains All are good sources of minerals and vitamins (especially hearthealthy antioxidants), as well as low in fat and sodium and high in fiber. Getting five servings a day of fruits and vegetables reduces your risk of heart disease by 18.4 percent, and more servings are even better for you, according to a recent analysis of several studies involving more than 200,000 men and women.

Gbenga Adebija

Tit Bit NFIA awards food producers

n commemoration with this year ’s World Hunger Day, the Nigerian Food Industry Award, NFIA celebrates the food producers across the country. The programme which was organised during the week took place in Lagos. Speaking with newsmen, Tope Bethel, director, said it is a platform to celebrate the food industry. And instead of mourning the fact that there is so much hunger on the land, we felt it is necessary to recognise that even though hunger exist, there is need to celebrity food industries working to reduce the effect of hunger in Nigeria. We have thirteen categories including the best alcoholic drink, soft drink, best milk, best beverage, best sausage roll, outstanding contributor to the food industry, food state of the year, bank that support the food industry. According to him, “this is the first in Nigeria and Africa in general. It will be an annual event and we intend to push for development in the food industry. Talking about the farmer, he said, the organiser of the event will also get the farmer involved by promoting them. We want to recognise those who are giving back to the society. Asked how the programme will add value to the industry, he said, there will be positive competitive spirit in the industry as companies will be contributing their best to the industry. Adding that in years to come, the competition would have affected food pricing. Also, Ayeni Oluwaseun, award secretary said the programme is created to identify, recognise and appreciate the people that are championing the course of good food in the society. “Food is a basic necessity of life and the people investing so much in food should be appreciated. Asked on what informed the programme, he said, the fact that nobody thought of celebrating the people who are making food available on our time gave the necessity for curiosity. “It is time for us to recoginse the basic things of life which food is part of. The programmme will afford to know how much has been spent in the food industry, which bank is supporting the industry.

30—SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 2, 2012

DUNLADE Adekola has become a household name in Yoruba home videos not only as a result of his sex symbol figure but his versatility in interpretation of different roles has more than anything won him the accolade. He belongs in the generation of next superstars who have taken over from the likes of Yinka Quadri and Taiwo Hassan. His popularity caught the eye of Globacom who selected the gangling actor as one of their ambassadors, making him the only actor from the Yoruba films genre, along with Kunle Afolayan and Funke Akindele. Odun spoke with Ayo Onikoyi on variety of subjects. Excerpts: How did you come into the movie industry I came into the movie industry about 16 years ago. One of my friends, named Tunde, who was in the theatre industry actually showed me the door to the world of acting even if I was already doing some amateur acting in the church. I joined the Association of Nigerian Theatre Practitioners in 1998 and ever since then, I have been in the industry. But I joined Nollywood, acting in Yoruba home videos between 1998 and 1999. Now if you can’t remember your first movie, you should remember the film that gave you your break into stardom Actually, it is not for me to say this is the movie that launched me into limelight but the film people have been saying brought me into their attention and which I agreed to a certain extent is Asiri Gomina wa produced by Ishola Durojaiye, the late Alasari. I guess it was released around 2004 or 2005 or so. You just became a Glo ambassador . You are about the only Yoruba speaking actor apart from Kunle Afolayan and Funke Akindele. How did it happen? Seriously, I can’t say how it happened but I have God to thank for that. I just received a call from Glo one day and they asked me to send my data which I did. Afterward, I did not even put my mind there until a call came from Glo again and a voice told me he was Femi calling from Glo, asking me to come to the Glo office on Monday for an interview and that is how it all started. When you reported,

were you the only person who came? No. When I got there I met Kunle Afolayan. So, like how much is the package of your contract as a Glo ambassador for a year? I can’t say that but you should know. You can find out. All the same, I thank God but it is not the money that matters to me but the recognition and appreciation that comes with it, that Odunlade Adekola has come of age to be a brand ambassador. I am very proud to be an ambassador of such a great brand like Glo

and when I am around,

•Odunlade Adekola

you can’t talk about any other network. Even my friends know that and they dare not bring up the subject of other networks in my presence. Most of them have even changed to Glo. What is the first thing you consider before taking up a role in a movie? The first thing that attracts me to a script is the message the script is trying to pass on

to the society. Then, I look at the role itself and question

how perfectly I can interpret the role to convey the message. I also look to what I can do differently from other roles I have done in the past.

ut there is a notion

you take up just about any role that comes your way. Some of your fans say you don’t even have a standard? I am an actor and I think I can play any role they ask me to play. As an actor, one should be versatile and be able to switch from one role to anoth-

er. I believe this is one of the stuffs that makes a good ac-

tor. For instance, I can play Babalawo, play a banker and even a journalist that you are. W h a t are you working on now? There is even one of my movies that is coming out today ( may 9 th 2012) Pemi si ire and there are others coming out soon. ho are the stars you fea-

tured in this your new

movie Pemi si ire ? There is Antar Laniyan, Jide Kosoko, Kevin Ikeduba, Fausat Balogun, Taiwo Aromokun , Sanyeri Afonja Olaniyi, Kayode Akindinna and many others. As a handsome man and a celebrity ,you must have many female fans. How do you cope with them? They are all my friends. Although I love everybody but ladies are more my friends. If you are doing something and ladies do not have interest in it, then you have not started. You guys don’t have much

time to watch movies. It is the ladies that watch our films more and tell you they have seen a movie and ask you guys to see it too. Would you call yourself a ladies’ man? You journalists are my friends because you do a great job but it is disappointing when some of you write what you know nothing about, either for recognition or so. Ladies are my friends and they would continue to be my friends. I love being around them because their level of thinking is very high but not the way you are thinking. I love women but I don’t go after women. Who are your role models in the industry? I don’t have any role model. Not out of being proud or because I am being pompous. My reason is that I don’t want to limit myself. If you are my role model, you become the defining figure in my life such that whatever you do, I must do and your achievements become a yardstick to measure my own. If I pray to Jesus that I trust, I believe he can raise me higher to anywhere I want to be. Yoruba films are becoming more and more obscene these days. There is so much injection of sensual scenes and vulgar languages which are giving Yoruba culture a negative outlook. Why is this? Take for an instance the CAC church. Naturally the members do not wear earrings, makeups or revealing clothes but when they have a movie group ,they cannot help but indulge in all these things just to pass the message to the people that such things are not good. So when you see such things in movies, the idea behind it is not to promote such behaviours but to show to people that people who indulge in them most often than not do not end up well. You would have seen from such movies that such people always have a bad ending. As for children picking up negative message from the films, parental guidance is there to tell you the age group the film is suitable for. Now, there was a time they said there is a kind of rivalry between you and Femi Adebayo; that both of you being seen as the two biggest Yoruba sex symbols compete for roles. How true is this? Ah Ah ah (laughing profusely) that is absolutely trash. That is what I was saying, the media sometimes peddle some falsehood that is totally untrue and unfounded. Me and Femi are good friends, very good together and very close. We never had a clash over roles or anything for that matter.

SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 2, 2012—31

Nigerians are copying American diets that is why cancer is increasing. Cancer does not like sodium which is salt

second mammogram only confirmed her worst nightmare. Her journey into the cold, dark world of cancerhad indeed begun. But Julia had a resolve. It wasn’t going to be a one-way journey. She would return.From then on it was from one referral to another, from one oncologist to another, and from one evaluation to another. Cancer was no new comer to brilliant and beautiful Julia. An experienced entrepreneur, she already knew of one associate or distant relative who had succumbed. Many of her friends and acquaintances had battled the disorder, so, in more ways than one she was wise to the warnings. She knew about b r e a s t cancer long before it knew her.

ong before her diagnosis, Julia had done her research, visitedwebsites and learned all the essential step-by-step information on performingself-examinations. She kept on top of the cancer statistics, mentally noticing researchers estimated a 3.5 percent increase in breast cancer cases alone. C M Y K

•Julia... I owe my country something.

checked myself for vitamin D deficiency, my bones were weak, my joints were weak and the side effects of chemotherapy would have attacked the bones.”Cancer visited Julia uninvited, so she had to figure out a way to deal with it. her faith played a major role. From day one, she said “Lord,you know I have four children, Adeyinka, who tur ned 31 this year, Adeola, 26, Adedoyin, 25, and Adebola, 18. I said Lord, just hear my prayer. I’m asking for just three things, that is when I will know I will live long. First thing is you will let me see my grandchild, give me that privilege. That has been granted. My grand child is t h r e e years old.“Then I said, Lord,

Cancer visited Julia uninvited, she fought and won She’d kept track of survivor rates and knew that no less than 2.4 million women supposedly won the fight against cancer every year. Regularly and religiously, she did all the right things, performed the breast selfexaminations and always looking for signs of a tumour a n d was almost paranoid. But a survivor she was. She never lost hope.“I know how alone this disease makes you feel. Even if you have a world of supporters, cancer is still a very personal disease; it takes hold of your soul and can make or break you. That choice is yours and yours alone to make, but no matter how bad the situation may seem, no matter how hopeless you may feel, there is always something you can d o about it, even if it is as simple as learning to be at peace with your fate, ” Julia’s exact words.

ulia’s road to recovery didn’t start too well, but she fought gallantly and

ecember 13, 2007 is a day Julia Oyefunke Fortune would live toremember. It was the day she was diagnosed of breast c a n c e r . T h e revelation was like a thunderbolt. Although the sun was shining, itsglare was not enough to illuminate the darkness that enveloped her soul that day. Still in shock, Julia, then 51, tried to decipher the implication of the doctor’s interpretation of “calcifications” in her (Julia’s) right breast from the mammogram result. It was a damning revelation that shook her marrow. Confusion, denial, anger, fear, all set in. Is it all a dream, a terrible nightmare? Her mind in turmoil,she wondered in a daze. It can’t be real, can it? Alas, it was true. It was scary, real and ugly. Although just a preliminary examination, there was a glimmer of hope that a confirmatory test would overturn the initial outcome, but deep down in her heart, Julia knew her life would never be the same again.She didn’t pretend to be too naïve not to admit, at least to herself, that her journey into the terrifying world of cancer had begun. And she couldn’t have been more correct.

Two people can have the same type of cancer but react to it differently

won. “There were diagnostic drugs to take. I asked myself that if I used all those drugs of what benefit would they be to me. Will it benefit by 10 percent, 15, 20 or 80 percent? Will the cancer come back? Will it spread? More questions than answers.”Julia knew there were tools that can detect cancer but doctors in Nigeria are not using them. The typical treatment is radiation and chemotherapy. She says: “These are terrible; they are brother and sister and are killers. I deviated from radiation and chemotherapy because my body was already exhibiting the symptoms and side effects of using them, even without using them, so what would have happened if I now took them? I would have gone real fast. The hospitals here don’t really test the people as thoroughly as required. I

You will let me witness and participate in the white coat ceremony of Adeola, who went to medical school last y e a r . I was a proud mother at the ceremony. Third, I said Lord, you will allow me visit the country I come from. I owe that country something.

said use me as an instrument to remove the covering on my people’s eyes about this disease. I want to make an impact in Nigeria.” Cancer is complex. Two people can have the same type of cancer but react to it differently. For some people, cancer is ready to kill them. Julia wants to plant anticancer foods, let people know what they should eat. She wants to teach people to grow these foods even in their houses. She wants to win them away from the cancer-causing foods that

they are ingesting now. Nigerians are copying American diets that is why cancer is increasing. Cancer does not like sodium which is salt.

ancer does not like sugar, and all these pasta and snacks we eat turn to sugar. So there is need for the education about what to do.Julia has done studies to know that when you change your diet, cancer can regress.Doctors know what to do, but do not do it, except for a very few. When Nigerians go down with cancer, they run down to America, yet there are 7.5 million misdiagnoses due to medical errors in the United States of America alone every year. Yet we take off, pay everything and rush to take the chemotherapy and die. But for Julia, it is more of being an advocate to force the government to do the right thing, which is too improve the infrastructure, spend money on research, embrace, alternative medicine. Instead of condemning, let us embrace them. Cancer has been around for centuries yet there is no cure. Where is the cure going to come from anyway? Today, Julia is a volunteer for cancer and legislative ambassador for the American Cancer Society. Her book “Chronicles of a cancer Survivor ” is a testament of her journey through cancer.

book

about

prevention as much as about healing, the way Julia sees cancer has certainly changed. She shares successful ways of improving health and healing through natural suggestions for improved diet to optimize the natural healing process.Currently attending the University of Maryland ,University College to attain a Masters in Healthcare Administration, she is seeking for N330 million to build a total wellness body centre/Foundation in Lagos. I t would train people on how to better partner with doctors and to see doctors not as God but as a support system that would respect their value and belief systems, and use it to develop an individualised plans for them.

32 — SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 2, 2012

Kelvin Ikeduba is widely known by his fans as the Bad Boy of Nollywood because the graduate of Economics from the University of Benin has natural affinity for the “Bad Boy” roles which he interprets with smugness and ease. Though he started with English movies but his foray into the Yoruba genre of films has been greeted with enormous success. In this interview with Showtime Celebrity, he speaks on why he is a cross-over actor, his kind of women and his career that is seeing the both world of English and Yoruba films. Excerpts: Ayo Onikoyi

The film is due to hit the cinemas very soon. Right now, I am a cross-over actor and it’s paying off well for me. Making more money from Yoruba than English movies! No. The thing I am trying to say is that people have been able to see that through Yoruba films, Kelvin Ikeduba is able to diversify and take up more challenging roles. In English flicks, Kelvin Ikeduba is known only as a bad boy or action figure. But in Yoruba sector now, they know me also as a bad boy. Comparing Yoruba movies with E n g l i s h counterpart I don’t want to segregate, the

My journey into Nollywood started acting professionally in 2000. I started with English movies but at a point, I thought of versatility and diversified into acting in Yoruba films since I never had any problem speaking the language. I wanted a challenge and I saw Yoruba films as a challenge. As a non-Yoruba who decided to act in Yoruba films and still be prominent. Basically, I didn’t go on my own, it was Femi Ogedengbe who introduced me to take part in a movie by Saheed Balogun. The film was Omo Alhaja, and what I got was a bit part, a kind of one-scene shot. My next movie was Ogidan by Kolade Afolabi. There I got a supporting lead role, first time I got a lead role in a Yoruba movie and that’s how it all started. Pitching my tent with the Yoruba movie sector Like I said earlier, I love challenges and it is not true that I have left English movies, I haven’t. Last year, I shot three English movies but they were project movies. I guess I am getting used to doing project movies in English now. I shot a movie for a producer that came from America, A father and a Jewel, it also starred Segun Arinze, Gloria Young, Funsho Adeolu and the rest of them. Another was City of Gangs produced by Nonso Diobi, a project film too.

thing is this: both sides are under Nollywood and if I am going to talk in terms of that, I am going to talk in terms of Nollywood. Nollywood, like every film industry has its ups and downs. Some years ago Nollywood was a baby and a baby before walking must learn how to crawl, how to stand before learning how to walk. Story-wise, technically, Nollywood was a baby but right now it is standing, but more technically than storywise. To tell you the truth, most of the stories are recycled people just change characters. I wouldn’t say it is because we lack scriptwriters, we have wonderful scriptwriters in Nigeria but basically most of the producers are myopic, they don’t want to pay for good

I want to believe there is a woman in my life but this woman does not know she is the woman in my life

writers to write stories that ‘s why they keep recycling stories. Principles guiding my acceptance of movie roles What attracts me to a story is to act. I love acting and I tell you if I stay for two weeks without acting, I feel like something is wrong with me. The passion comes from my heart. What really attracts me to a story is when the story itself is very unique before I now look at the character and later the money. For me, the story must be very good and the character must be challenging. Coping with female fans I am a very appreciative person. If you appreciate what I am doing I will appreciate you back, for real, without anything at the back of my mind. When it comes to the issue of women, I, Kelvin Ikeduba, have never seen myself as a lady’s man. I am just a guy, I don’t carry anything on my mind Not being a lady’s man! No! I do like women. See, the thing is this, if a lady likes me it does not mean I have to feel on top of the world. What am I implying! What I was saying is that I was brought up well, from a Christian home. Forget the ‘ruggedity’ I am known for. After being trained well, I retrained myself. Most times, I don’t like mistaking white for yellow or blue. Relationship I am in a relationship. Even me,

I am confused and I am asking myself: are you in a relationship? But I want to believe I am in a relationship so when people ask me I can say I am in a relationship. I am now! But the relationship does not look like a relationship. Sincerely, I want to believe there is a woman in my life but this woman does not know she is the woman in my life. See, the truth is this: I am a very careful person and from one or two of my friends that are married I have learnt a lot of things about women. I don’t like giving women assurances and it turns out at the end of the day she is not the woman God has destined for me. You understand. When the time is right I will invite you guys. Picture of an ideal woman My ideal woman must be Godfearing, beautiful inside not necessarily outwardly though I like women who are attractive. The most important thing is she must be a mother. Have sex on set And they will still pay me my fee. And the girl fine? I will do it (laughing) Movie that launched the brand ‘Kelvin Ikeduba’ If I have to start with English I will say it is “Went to the Top”, the movie that won the Best Upcoming Actor where I played the role of personal assistant to a movie director. Another one in the English genre is War Game, a campus film that was very bloody and Yoruba, definitely Ogidan and Ibosi Oru.

SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 2, 2012 — 33

After many years of suffering in silence, Nollywood soundtrack producer and gospel artiste, Chimere Emejuobi opens up to Showtime Celebrity on how the marketer of her maiden album, “Cry for Help” worship songs cheated on her by paying her a token sum of N3 per copy of the CD sold in the market. She also laments the choice of using the face of Nkeiru Slyvanus to market the album. Hear her story... BENJAMIN NJOKU As a soundtrack producer have been in the industry shortly after my secondary education in 1996. I’m a soundtrack producer, singer and aspiring movie producer.I have produced many soundtracks. The popular ones were “Cry for Help”, “Warrior ’s Heart”, “Corporate Maid”, “Sleep Walker ”, and others I can’t remember now. I’m a singer, that’s why I decided to go into producing soundtracks instead of acting. I believe I can do better in the production of soundtrack than acting in movies. Venturing into acting Yes, I’m yet to decide. But if I do, I think I will make a good actress. For now, I want to concentrate on one area. Maybe, in the near future, I may go into acting. Why Nkeiru Slyvanus’ face was used to market “Cry for Help” My first album was titled “Cry for Help” worship songs. I derived this title from the film ‘Cry for Help’, which soundtrack was produced by me. I was the one who introduced the worship songs to my marketer, Annex Merchandise and encouraged him to put on CD.

‘How marketer * cheated on me’ But when the album was finally released, the marketer did not deem it necessary to put my face on the CD jacket as the singer. Instead, he used Nkiru Sylvanus’ face and the faces of other cast of the movie. The songs has nothing to do with the movie. He took some clips from the movie and put them on the CD without my consent. The CD in circulation is the promo-copy I did for the television stations prior to the shooting of the music video. I’m planning to shoot the video any moment from now. However, when I confronted the marketer, he denied knowledge of the released music. The marketer who indicted his younger brother over the release msuic, said he travelled to Europe when the album was miraculously released. Later, he decided to put a faded picture of mine on the CD jacket. At a point, I had to arrest those hawking the CD in the streets in Owerri. I was infuriated, and I had to seize a copy of the CD. I later drew the attention of the marketer, and insisted that we must have a written agreement in respect of the distribution of the album. At last, h e agreed to b e paying me N3 per copy

Sorry tale of Chimere Emejuob:

*Chimere Emejuobi

of the CD sold. But as I’m talking to you today, he has reneged from the agreement. The last time he paid me was some years back. In fact, when I lost my father severall yaers ago, I approached him to pay me the backlog, but he instructed his boys to pay me only N60,000. That was the last money I collected money from him. Until now, the CD is still in high demand in the market, yet I’m getting nothing in return. Anywhere you go today, you would see pirated copies of ‘Cry for Help’ CD. People thought I made money from the album. But I didn’t make anything. I’m currently rebranding the music, and when I’m finally through with the project, people will ascertain who the original singer of the songs is. I now owe a record label, and I’m planning to reproduce the music under my record label. Currently, I’m being managed by an American based company. Some people even believe that Chimere Emejuobi is a man. At times, when I introduce myself as Chimere Emejuobi, people tend to doubt me because they have not been familiar with my face. Sometimes, I had to convince people that I’m the voice behind the ‘Cry for Help’ and “Ï have Confidence in You” worship songs. And not Nkiru Sylvanus. People believed Nkiru Sylvanus was the artiste behind the songs. But she is not; the marketer just used her face to sell the CD, at my own detriment. My journey into singing I relocated to Onitsha after my secondary school. Through my uncle, Chibest Investment introduced me into music. He took me to the studio, after he heard me render a song. He later introduced me to one of the biggest Onitsha based gospel

*Chimere Emejuobi

band . I started as a back-up singer. I ‘ve done backed up for some popular gospel artistes, such as Obi Nwankwo and host of others. Later, I did a sound-track of two movies titled “Obiora and “Father without a Child.” I relocated to E n u g u , basically to go into acting. While in Enugu, I realised that once you are not connected, it might be difficult for you to get a role. At most, you would be given what they call “Waka pass” role of which I was not ready to do it. But upon realising that I have once done a movie soundtrack, I started convincing marketers to give me a chance to prove my mantle. But none of them were willing. Eventually, one marketer decided to give me a chance to showcase my talent in the movie titled ‘Anointed’. I did the soundtrack of the movie with Emeka Rollas. Unfortunately, Emeke Rollas failed to give me credit in the movie. I wrote the songs and also produced the soundtrack. Later, when I confronted him, he only told me I was nobody in the industry. I felt bad, I know that one day, God would see me through. It wasn’t long when the marketer produced another movie and I approached him again. He had the impression that it was Emeka Rollas who produced the soundtrack of his previous

m eC rh ie E im u o b :je

Sometimes, I had to convince people that I’m the voice behind the “Cry for Help” and “I have Confidence in You” worship songs.

movie. But when I recited the song for him, he became convinced . He decided to give me another chance. But the films that brought me to limelight were “Cry for Help,” “Warriors Heart” and many others. Did you dream of becoming a singer I had a dream of becoming a newscaster. When I was growing up, I have always envied newscasters, and wished I could one day be like them. But I know I have that gift of singing as well as being a TV personality. Eembarrassing moments I could recall one day, while I was singing along the road, one guy heard me, and complimented me. He asked if I’m a singer and I answered him in the affirmative. Pushing further, he inquired to know if I have an album in the market, and I answered him in teh affirmative. I mentioned one of my songs But when ‘I have Confidence in You,” he argued with me that I was not the artiste behind the song. I tried to convince him but he wouldn’t believe me. There are so many cases like that. I felt embarrassed that day, and when I got to my house, I cried unto God, asking why I’m facing all these embarrassments. That’s why I’m doing everything possible to correct the impression. The problem has affected my second album, and I don’t want it to affect my forthcoming album. than.

34—Vanguard, SATURDAY, JUNE 2, 2012

Eden Hazard

inally, it seems that the transfer saga of Eden Hazard has come to an end. Earlier this week, the Belgian playmaker announced via Twitter that he is signing for Chelsea FC, but neither Chelsea nor Lille have confirmed the deal. Manchester City and Manchester United were also in the running for the player, who is believed to have been signed for £32 million by Chelsea, according to media reports.

WORLD FOOTBALL TRANSFER RUMOURS:

Who’s going where? In this edition, we’ll present the hottest names in football at present, as well as the teams rumoured to be weighing up a move. •Alessandro

Carlos Tevez

Alessandro Del Piero

C Milan’s reported inter est in Carlos Tevez could help in negotiations to bring Thiago Silva to the Etihad Stadium Tevez was the subject of a bid from the Italian side in January, but a fee was never agreed. That being said, Milan could re-address the situation over the summer. The current deal proposed could be dependant on the club also selling Swedish international Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Alessandro Del Piero has called time on his career with Juventus, but has stated that he wishes to continue playing football. After making it clear that he would not sign for another Serie A club, Del Piero has caught the interest of Arsenal, Queens Park Rangers and Tottenham Hotspur.

•Branislav Ivanovic

Branislav Ivanovic

Robin Van Persie

T appears that Robin van Persie’s wife has now weighed in on his contractual situation with Arsenal, following recent input from his mother. Van Persie is out of contract next summer. He has been the subject of interest from a host of top European clubs, according to reports, including Premier League champions, Manchester City.

ANCHESTER City manager Roberto Mancini could look to strengthen his defence by signing AC Milan player Thiago Silva. Silva is believed to be open to the move if Milan wish to sell him, but there is also reported interest from Paris Saint Germain and Barcelona. Silva is a Brazilian international.

HELSEA seem to be busy in the transfer market at present, with defender Branislav Ivanovic believed to be the subject of an enquiry from Spanish champions Real Madrid. Chelsea want £23 million for the Serbia international, according to reports, while Real Madrid value him closer to £15 million. •Carlos Tevez

Nigel De Jong

•Vincent Kompany

ANCHESTER City misfit Nigel De Jong could find himself playing for Arsenal next season. Last season, the Dutch international didn’t start half as many games as he did during the previous campaign, meaning that guaranteed football elsewhere may appeal.

Vincent Kompany

ITH Carles Puyol ad vancing in age, Vincent Kompany has been identified as the player to replace him at Barcelona. The Spanish Cup winners are reported to have offered wages in the region of £160,000 a week, but Kompany is happy to stay at Manchester City.

Alberto Aquilani

WITH no current Liverpool manager to persuade him to stay at the Merseyside club, Alberto Aquilani could end his Premier League nightmare by signing for AC Milan. After the Italian spent the 2011/12 season on loan at the San Siro, the two clubs are believed to be negotiating a price. According to information, Liverpool are understood to be looking for £7 million in exchange. C M Y K

Didier Drogba

•Alberto

inally, Manchester City could be set to irk neighbours Manchester United by signing Inter Milan midfielder Wesley Sneijder in a £30 million deal. United were known to have been chasing the Dutch international, but were put off by his huge wage demands, which is something that is unlikely to phase City. Sneijder is 27 years old.

Papiss Cisse

• Nigel de Jong

AVING confirmed his departure from Chelsea FC, Didier Drogba could see the next stage of his career take him to Spain. Former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho is believed to be interested in signing Drogba for Real Madrid on a two-year-deal, according to recent reports.

Wesley Sneijder

•Pappiss

After signing for Newcastle United for £10 million in January 2012, Papiss Cisse has been a goalscoring machine, notching 13 goals in 14 games for the Geordies. It now appears that Manchester City and Manchester United have taken note of the Senegalese striker ’s potency in front of goal, and are interested in acquiring his services.

•Robin van persie

Thiago Silva

•Eden Hazard

•Thiago

•Drogba

•Rafael

Rafael Van Der Vaart

OTTENHAM Hotspur midfielder Rafael van der Vaart could also find himself playing football in the Bundesliga next season, with Schalke prepared to offer £10 million . The move would be beneficial for Van Der Vaart’s wife, who already works in Germany, and the Dutchman has previously cut a frustrating figure when substituted early on in games for Spurs. Van Der Vaart will be featuring for Holland in the upcoming European Championships.

Vanguard, SATURDAY, JUNE 2, 2012 — 35

EUR O 20 12 EURO 201 COUNTDOWN:

Disappointing Dutchmen bow out early

VERYONE will remem ber the Dutchmen of Euro 2008. After steamrolling Italy and France in the group stage, they bowed out limply to a Russian side that would eventually be whooped 3-0 by Spain in the quarterfinals. Like the Holland of the previous tournament, this team has the talent, creativity and clinical finishing to destroy any side on their day. In qualifying, they scored 37 goals and only dropped points in an enthralling game to a rejuvenated Sweden. And, with Robin van Persie, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, Arjen Robben, Wesley Sneijder and so many more big names in their squad, one would assume they are potential champions.

Euro 2012: Predictions and likely story lines Since the floodlights went out in Vienna as Spain were crowned European champions in 2008, the entire continent has been patiently awaiting the coming of the next Euro. In only one week, that patience will have paid off for 16 nations. All of them will be vying to take the crown back from Spain. So, what exactly will football fans look forward to seeing this summer?

INCE the 2010 World Cup, Spain surely has not been as convincing as they would like to be. In the previous two years, they have conceded four against both Argentina and Portugal and lost to typically powerhouse nations Italy and England in other friendlies. However, they did manage to come through qualifying unscathed, and it would seem that progression through the group stage is a guarantee for La Furia Roja. Although they will be without David Villa and Carles Puyol, it would not be surprising to see Spain make another run to the final as they look to defend their European crown.

ACISM is a hot topic heading into Euro 2012, and Italian striker Mario Balotelli apparently has a solution. Basically, if he’s racially abused, Balotelli says he will kill somebody. “If racism does happen, I would leave the pitch and go home,” said Balotelli. “Racism is unacceptable to me, I cannot bear it. We are in 2012, it can’t happen. If someone throws a banana at me in the street, I will go to prison because I will kill him.”

Sorensen out

Hooligans, racism and safety issues in host nations disrupt tournament

T has been no secret that hooligans have long been the downfall of Polish football. With such a big tournament gracing the nation, it provides exactly the kind of atmosphere for Polish football supporters to either further dampen their reputation around the globe or show that they are finally getting the barbarity in the country’s stadiums under control. Aside from hooligans and stadium safety, with such high-profile English footballers as Sol Campbell and Theo Walcott publicly stating that it might not be the safest decision to attend the

hen international tou make around, everyone loves to will ms tea ich wh their arguments for exactly . It seems like compose the Group of Death y designated ead alr e hav s list most journa dly of this tourGroup B to be the most dea and the Nethany rm Ge ile nament. Yet, wh most imposing erlands were some of the Denmark and h bot teams in qualifying, and sed in Group H, Portugal thoroughly impres l as the tournathis one will be harder to cal ment commences.

Ukraine and Poland into the quarter finals will continue

ure, there has been, and ss justifito be, a lot of negative pre ions throughably aimed at both the host natile the racism wh out the tournament. And, will the goals. and crime may flow, so too and Austria In 2008, both Switzerland ted in the ina elim floundered and were und, it should group stage. This time aro the Ukraine. be different for both Poland C M Y K

ANISH keeper Thomas Sorensen has been ruled out of Euro 2012 after suffering an injury during Denmark’s 3-1 friendly loss to Brazil over the weekend. Sorensen, 36, left the match at halftime and was replaced by Kasper Schmeichel.

•Football fan club

ath really? Group B: Group of derna ments come

Balotelli’s solution to racism

Spanish successes continue

With Euro 2012 just over a week away, all 16 teams are entering the final stages of their preparations. For Italy’s Mario Balotelli, those preparations include his plans to personally deal with any potential racist abuse sent his way. What will he do? Read on to find out, along with news on the Czech Republic’s hotel, England’s historical sight-seeing and an Irish betrayal.

events in either host nations and Ukraine’s racism issues especially becoming harder to bury, it will further tarnish UEFA’s reputation if an incident of racial discrimination does occur at the tournament. Certainly, everyone is hoping that things do keep in order. However, with protests from FEMEN in Ukraine, various footballers in England and even Michel Platini coming out to complain at times about the run-up to Euro 212, the situation does seem daunting.

Match-fixing scandal galvanizes Italy M

OST football lovers have grown out from the league’s lesser clubs). Napoli would be nowhere without somewhat tired of Serie A and Italian footballers for understandable Edinson Cavani (Uruguay), Ezereasons. Aside from the tactical defen- quiel Lavezzi (Argentina) and siveness, fanciful diving and corruption, Marek Hamsik (Slovakia). Similarthere is something monotonous about ly, Milan owe much to their Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and Italians playing with other Italians. Of course, many who disagree will Inter have for years been blessed point to the recent successes of Napoli with an abundance of Argentine taland the usual domination of the three ent from Javier Zanetti and Esteban juggernauts Juventus, AC Milan and Cambiasso to Diego Milito and Internazionale. However, much of their Ricardo Alvarez. achievement has come as a result of foreign im* Italian players ports who have lifted and changed the play of their respective teams (arguably, Juventus has mostly relied on the best Italian players that they have picked

Barry out, Jagielka in

NGLAND also have in jury concerns heading into the tournament, with Manchester City midfielder Gareth Barry ruled out due to an abdomen muscle tear. Barry has been replaced by Everton defender Phil Jagielka, who is backing new manager Roy Hodgson to give England “the missing ingredient” at Euro 2012.

Friendly called off

taly and Luxembourg were set to play an international friendly Tuesday in Parma, Italy. The match was called off, however, after a 5.8 magnitude earthquake struck the region Tuesday morning. Italy’s next match was scheduled for Russia yesterday in Zurich.

Foley feels betrayed

OLVERHAMPTON Wanderers full-back Kevin Foley earned a spot in the Republic of Ireland’s 23man final squad, which was released three weeks ago. This week, however, Foley was dropped by manager Gionvanni Trapattoni and replaced by Paul McShane. Foley, as you might expect, is not happy. “It is hard to take,” he said. “I don’t want to go into too much detail. I just feel betrayed.”

36—SA TURD AY 36—SATURD TURDA

Vanguard, JUNE 2, 2012

YOUNG NIGERIANS MAKING THE DIFFERENCE JOB AUGUSTINE TUBOKEYE LAGOS STATE

Email: youthfulvibes@gmail.com Lagos, where I bagged my BSc in Economics. I’m presently working on some Postgraduate courses, but my work has not given me the liberty to travel out of the country for a long period as Nigerian schools are a no-go area for me.

We can only change institutions first by changing individuals — RONKE KOSOKO

ou are very passionate about youth employment. Could you share this passion, and how it began? Employment is a global issue but the Nigerian case is different because there are many fundamentals that were not being addressed which constitute the major cause of unemployment in Sub Saharan Africa and there was no organization addressing these issues, so I established Employment Clinic to fill the gap. Our ultimate goal is to redefine Africa’s employment profile. With over 40 million unemployed Nigerians, we can no longer wait for the government to be the only answer to our national problems especially with the spate of policy shocks and policy somersaults that continue to aggravate unemployment in the country. People need to help themselves and also recognizing we can C M Y K

Ronke Kosoko is an educator, an employment solutions strategist, motivational speaker, author, a trainer and consultant with a growing list of clientele. With educational exposure traversing economics, accounting and education, she is the Executive Director of Employment Clinic, Africa’s first Employment Solutions Company. Ronke spoke with Youthful Vibes about her passion and how she is translating it into action.

What need(s) is your company addressing? We are bridging the gap between the school system and the labour market, between employees and employers, between governments and the citizenry, between corporate/international organizations and Nigerian graduates as it relates to employment issues. To achieve this, we are working with stakeholders across industries, graduates and undergraduates, policy makers, partner organizations, industry stakeholders and the producers of human resources. We educate, inspire and empower the unemployed with knowledge, skills and strategies that will enable them escape unemployment and tap into available economic opportunities having discovered that the Nigerian educational system is the major cause of g r a d u a t e

I would say that Employment Clinic is actually playing the role of the government in this context. Nigeria is becoming an industrialized nation, yet, unemployment still constitutes a major threat to the economy

only change institutions first, by changing individuals. I started as an undergraduate through the annual Employment Summit in tertiary institutions. What is growing up like for you? Well, I’m from an average background, we were not too rich but we were comfortable,and I had all that I needed as a child. My parents had issues which affected us, and we had to start caring for ourselves at a tender age. That made me the responsible person that I am today because I started paying my school fees right from JSS 2. Regarding education, I attended Ansarud-deen Comprehensive College, Ota where the present Olota of Ota was my principal. I finished secondary school in 1999 and proceeded to Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education where I studied Economics/Accounting after which I went to University of

unemployment in Nigeria as our schools are not equipping undergraduates with what employers, industry and the economy need. The system is raising underclass graduates who are incompetitive at the global level. The challenge about this is that foreign-trained students are getting hired, expatriates are also getting the jobs and some of them earn the salary of a hundred Nigerians put together because they have the skills that an average Nigerian graduate does not have. If this trend continues unaddressed, then we are all sitting on gunpowder as youth unemployment will soon lead to an explosion that we may not be able to manage.

hat has been your e x p e r i e n c e working with young people? Hmmm! Working with young people has been interesting and also quite challenging. Interesting in the sense that Nigerians are brilliant people and they are willing to do great things, but like you and I know, the

ugustine (32), a native of Burutu in Delta State has an unwavering passion for youth development and empowerment. He holds a degree in Economics from The Lagos State University. He is the current African President of the International Federation of Catholic Parochial Youth Movement (FIMCAP); an organization that educates young people and children to share and work together, and to nurture their awareness of belonging to a world community. As part of pursuing FIMCAP’s objectives, Augustine has trained several Youths across Nigeria and various countries through various Youth events, programmes, seminars, symposium and conferences since 2001 in Nigeria, Ghana, Uganda, Australia, India, Germany, France, Kenya and Belgium. He is a recipient of numerous awards for his meritorious contributions to Youth development. Augustine’s passion for youth development and empowerment began about twelve years ago. He was a former Lagos Archdiocesan President of the Catholic Youth Organisation of Nigeria (CYON); from there he rose to become the Lagos Ecclesiastical Provincial President of same organization and again became the National President of the Organization. He was a member of the Catholic Bishops’Conference of Nigeria (CBCN). He presently doubles as the Regional Coordinator for North & Western Africa and the International Vice President of FIMCAP. He is also the Secretary of the Diaspora Committee of Youth Wing Christian association of Nigeria (YOWICAN) environment is not encouraging. Government is not playing its role, the private sector are distant from the school as against what you have in advanced country, so the Nigerian graduate is facing a lot of hell and they need help. Challenging on the other side because a lot of them still have misplaced priorities. When you go into a higher institution to do an event, undergraduates don’t see why they should learn about the labour market before graduation. So, they spend more time on entertainment, gallivanting through life, they wait until they graduate, observe NYSC and then hit the labour market to face reality. An average Nigerian graduate today spends about 2836months before getting their life after school together. Remember, they are graduating at an age that the employer does not consider employable say 26, 29 thereabout having faced JAMB, WAEC issues, missing admission opportunities for several years. So, bridging this gap between the school and the labour market was my greatest passion for starting Employment Clinic. e see that you put together W an employment summit for tertiary

institutions. What is your motivation for this, and how do you measure the level of impact? I would say that Employment Clinic is actually playing the role of the government in this context. Nigeria is becoming an industrialized nation, yet, unemployment still constitutes a major threat to the economy. The reason is that government no longer employs and even when they do, 36 states we have in Nigeria can’t possibly employ one million people annually. Unfortunately, to my mind the Civil Service does not have a reputation for management of both human and material resources. Hence, such enterprises go bankrupt and equipment pack up as the government require funds to maintain such public enterprises.. The government then has no choice than to privatize and downsize — Privatization. The private sector meanwhile, does not only want to provide amenities; they also want to maximize profit. For such objectives to be achieved they will

have to employ the best brains; people with high IQ and TECHNICAL skills but our schools are not inculcating these skills. So, you have organizations coming in with huge foreign direct investments but are not having any impact on the people because they don’t have the requisite skills. In Brazil today, a 14-year old goes straight into a technical school to acquire industry specific training, same in China, a country with over 1,100 technical schools. So, you have a 25-year old Asian or Brazilian who is an expatriate ready to be imported to Africa while a 35- year old Nigerian is busy flaunting his certificate with no job. Technical skills are in short supply in virtually all aspects of the economy. The industrial and economic revolution that is taking place around the world is private sector driven and the Nigerian case cannot be an exception. We have seen it work in the telecommunication sector, it is working in the power and energy sector, oil and gas, maritime, aviation, ICT, agriculture but the question remains, how many of our schools are raising people for those industries? Employers will not fold their hands and watch their investments rot away, so many big organizations are going abroad to recruit. So I go into the school to enlighten them about opportunities across industries, teach them how to strategically position for these opportunities. What is your advice to the unemployed youth? The solution is start learning about the labour market and the business world while you are still in school and understand that your BSC is just a paper, it should not define you. Young people should discover their true self. Who are you? What can you do? Develop your skills and personal gifts. Then consciously look out for organizations that may need your services. You can begin by volunteering, if you are able to prove your worth while volunteering, that may be your ticket to your desired job. The jobs are there, and you can get one if you are rightly positioned.

SATURDAY

Child Molestation By DORIS OKOLI,

Barbara Cox College, Lagos

Hello Jets’, It was children’s Day last week and as you know I am a child also! I travelled to see my parents three weeks ago and they send their warm regards. How did you spend your day? Some of us went to see movies or perhaps to the stadium for march past? Why do we celebrate children’s day? In this edition, students from Barbara Cox College right here in Lagos have so much to tell us about child abuse, molestation and trafficking. On the other hand, aunty had some wonderful children who paid her a courtesy visit at her office. So she took snap shots with them. For some weeks now, the website has been going through reconstruction; hence you cannot email your materials until further notice, please email all materials to daise4000@yahoo.com. These and others are on your darling page. Have a wonderful children’s Day celebration.

hild molestation is a situation whereby a child is being attacked or sexually abused or it can also defined as a situation where a child is attacked physically. Child molestation mostly occurs with young children and teenagers. Statistics proven by UNICEF shows that 60% of Nigerian are involved with child molestation in way or the other. Child molestation is done to both sex, but mainly to the females. Most of the children that have relations like uncles, aunties, cousins, nephews and nieces are mainly the victims of child molestation. In the world

DORIS today, people are involving in child molestation so as to satisfy their sexual interests and they use children especially the teenager to achieve this. Presently you would see a man in his forties molesting

And how can I pretend that I don’t know what’s going on? When every second and every minute another soul is gone and I believe that in my life I will see an end to hopelessness or giving up or suffering C M Y K

or sexually abusing a child of 13 years old or below. In the Northern area, this is highly practiced. A situation whereby a child of 14 years of age is asked to marry an old man of 70 years plus and when they get married, the old man would sexually abuse the young girl and this can lead to child bearing at an early age which is not meant to be. It can also cause Vierdical virginal fistula, (VVF) which is a condition caused by premature child bearing. Child molestation has so many consequences or effects on children: These include 1. Early pregnancy 2. An incessant lust for sex due to early exposure to it. 3. Dropping out of school 4. Mental illness

5.Sexual transmitted diseases like STD, and HIV etc. Also, children who are being molested suffer severe bruises or injuries. In the process of molestation especially if the child is the stubborn type, that child would receive lots of beating just to make him or her comply with the molester. In this world, it has been heard and seen that even parents molest their own children. To be continued…

Child trafficking By ADAORA NWANKWO, Barbara Cox College, Lagos

C Osei, Ehis and Ehizojie Omiyi at Vanguard Media Ltd to see Aunty

The Girl Child I

By OLAIDE LAWAL, Abeokuta, Ogun State

n my country home,the girl child is often being deprived of education The girl child is exposed to various vices like hawking instead of being in school. Education of a girl child should be made mandatory

OLAIDE A girl child should be given a chance for a better life

Stand Up 2005 World Children’s Day — Destiny’s Child [Beyonce] There are times I find it hard to sleep at night We are living through such trouble times And every child that reaches out For someone to hold For one moment They become my own

Vanguard, JUNE 2, 2012 — 37

Then we all stand together this one time then no one will get left behind and stand up for life stand up and here me sing stand up for love [Kelly] I’m inspired and hope for each and everyday That’s how I know that things are going to change So how can I pretend that I don’t know what’s going on? When every second and every minute another soul is gone And I believe that in my life I will see an end to hopelessness

Or giving up or suffering If we all stand together this one time then no one will get left behind And stand up for life stand up for love [Michelle] And it all starts right here and it starts right now one person stand up man! And the rest will follow from the forgotten and From the Unloved I’m gonna sing this song and I believe that in my life I will see an end to hopelessness or giving up or suffering If we all stand together this one time Then no one will get left behind and stand up for life stand up and sing Stand up for love

hild trafficking can be said to be the carrying of children without their parents’ awareness to go and do illegal things but mostly they are carried to go for prostitution and it is mostly done from one country to another. Young girls of our nation are now taken and set by their aunties who live outside the country to go and engage in prostitution work or some of them give these young girls cocaine and other hard drugs to smuggle for them, when these girls get there they go and defecate these drugs without knowing that if they are not careful these things can get busted in their system and thy will have less than three hours to die.

ADAORA Also the young girls are taken and used as nannies in their home. They will then be maltreated, not taken good care of, as their parents would have done. Some use these young girls of nowadays to get money when they sell them out to men for a night for a huge amount of money not minding the life or security of the girls. To be continued…

Rape By CHIOMA NWANKWO, Barbara Cox College, Lagos

ccording to Oxford dictionary, rape means to force somebody to have sex with you when they do not want to by threatening them or using violence, presently in Nigeria, rape has been the terror and the most devastating thing that Nigerians are faced with especially the girls because they are the ones suffering this maltreatment from men or boys. Girls are being forced to have sex with boys and after they have been raped, the girls carry children that have no fathers. This will affect the mother; there have been situations of rape around the world. The most popular of the stories is about a girl of the age 9, who was raped by a 54 year old man who got

CHIOMA the young girl pregnant not only that, he infected her with the HIV virus. Rape is one thing that all Nigerians should fight against because rape is not a good thing and also displeasing to the Lord’s. To be continued…

38—SA TURD AY VANGU ARD , JUNE 2, 2012 38—SATURD TURDA VANGUARD

FRSC boss challenges newly promoted officers

HE Corps Marshal and Chief Executive of the Federal Road

•The exotic interior of the new Mercedes-Benz C200 BlueEfficiency

Weststar unveils new MercedesBenz C200 BlueEfficiency W

ESTSTAR Asso ciates Limited, authorised general distributor of MercedesBenz in Nigeria has launched the new Mercedes Benz C200 BlueEfficiency into the Nigerian market. According to a statement from the company, the C200 BlueEfficiency has been tropicalised to meet the Nigerian environment in terms of road condition, fuel quality among others. Now available in all Weststar authorised Mercedes Benz workshop, the Managing Director of the company, Mr. Mirko Plath said a special introductory offer await customers who purchase their C200 BlueEfficiency within the first few months. The C200 is powered by a 1.8 litre four-cylinder supercharged engine which produces 135kw of power. The smooth application of power is complemented with a lusty torque of 250Nm and acceleration is from zero to 100Km/h in 8.6 seconds while electronically limited top speed is a swift 235Km/h. This powerplant is matched with Mercedes-

Benz improved 7G-Tronic Plus automatic transmission and Eco Start and Stop function. espite its power ful engine output the Mercedes-Benz C200 has class leading fuel consumption figure of combined average of 8.1 litre per 100Km. Describing the car as youthful, stylish and dynamic, the Weststar Associate boss stated that the car is in a class of its own with unique features and exceptional comfort. The design of the C200 BlueEfficiency is a beauty to behold. The front and rear sections of this bestselling model have a more striking look. Together with the optional, high-resolution colour display in the instrument cluster, the new dashboard with its elegant, grained surface and prominent decorative trim emphasises the premium character of the interior. A total of more than 2000 new components distinguish the latest generation of the MercedesBenz C200 BlueEfficiency from its predecessor. The comfort of the interior is outstanding, and provides the occupants with ample head and leg

•The new Mercedes-Benz C200 BlueEfficiency room. There is a multifunction steering wheel with a 4.5'' display instrument cluster and leather gearshift lever that provides a multitude of controls, all within the driv-

er’s thumb reach. The new C200 BlueEfficiency has seveb airbags and anti-lock brakes, tyre pressure loss warning system and underbody protection - all

of which come as part of the standard equipment and is available in ELEGANCE line. There are other safety features in the car which has made it a class benchmark.

Safety Corps, Osita Chidoka has identified hardwork and dedication to duties as critical towards the Corps' corporate goals of attaining the status of a world class organization by 2020. Making this declaration at the formal decoration of newly promoted Assistant Corps Marshals and Corps Commanders, the Corps Marshal stated that "the decoration was a culmination of their drive to reward excellence and hardwork, in line with the corps corporate goals to become a world class organization," he said. Speaking further, Chidoka said that the recent promotion was a fallout of a rigorous, transparent and fair process which was undertaken in line with provisions on Federal Character and charged the newly promoted officers to put in their best by adding value to the system through the projection and proclamation of road safety ideals in their respective areas of jurisdiction. In the same vein, he stressed that the corps will remain committed and consistent in its drive towards enthroning safer road use on Nigerian roads. In all, seven Assistant Corps Marshals were decorated while four others also hung their new ranks as Corps Commanders. It should be recalled that the UN in recognition of the performance of FRSC recently admitted the corps as a member of its road safety collaboration.

Lagos to start issuing Drivers’ license, thumbs up for LASTMA

ETERMINED to ensure safe driving culture, the Lagos State Government said it has concluded plans to introduce a unified drivers' license scheme this month. The government also gave a very high mark to the state owned traffic management outfit, LASTMA for its effective handling of the traffic situation in the state. The state commissioner for Transportation, Comrade Kayode Opeifa who disclosed this during this year's ministrial briefing held recently in Alausa, noted that the new licensing regime will

commence June 18 2012. Opeifa reiterated that the National Drivers' License is a tripartite arrangement between the Motor Vehicle Administration Agency (MVAA) the Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO) and the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC). Explaining how it works, he said that the MVAA which is the first contact, is in charge of processing the information of the applicants, while VIO conducts proficiency tests on the applicants and only those who are cleared and certified fit to

drive after the test are referred to the FRSC for physical photo capture and bio-metrics. He added the driver's which is printed by FRSC will be issued to the applicants by the MVAA at the various designated centers in the state, warning that any other process through which drivers' license is obtained is not genuine.

e stated that a total number of 45, 644 applicants have registered with the ministry for the new drivers' license even though the physical captures have been suspended by FRSC.

Reviewing the ministry's scorecard over the last year, the commissioner disclosed that the state has embarked on massive enlightenment of road users in the state. To this end, he said pavement markings have been completed on 44 roads in the state, while work is ongoing in on 21 roads. He added that government has concluded plans to commence pavement marking work on 16 roads within the metropolis, adding that the efforts was meant to educate road users on how best to use the roads.

SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 2, 2012—39

QUICK FACTS: RINGWORM

STUDIO D'MAXSI ANNOUNCES Jasmine c. Green winner of afua foundation's operation prom 2012

ASHINGTON, DC Studio D'Maxsi and Afua Foundation are proud to announce the win ner of this year's 'Operation Prom' Competition - Jasmine C. Green. Jasmine Green, a resident of Baltimore, Maryland wins a custom made prom dress by Studio D'Maxsi with her entry of a compelling and well written essay titled 'Fashion Limited to No defining Standards'. Her personal story is also an inspiration. She is a 17 year old student of Largo Senior High School with a GPA of 3.4. The 'Operation Prom' competition, a foundation program started by STUDIO D'MAXSI's owner, Afua Sam, was established to encourage as many girls as possible to complete high school with a serious attitude towards academic drive and excellence. Afua Sam is giving back by making the prom night of one very special and brilliant high school senior girl a special night to remember with the gift of a custom made elegant prom dress. Ms Afua Sam of Studio D'Maxsi is very proud of Jasmine

G r e e n and believes her entry for OPERATION PROM 2012 was not a coincidence. Through the program, she wants to encoura g e young people not to be afraid of reaching their goals and not being afraid to stick their foot in the door. She also encourages them to read about achievers and be encouraged by their stories. She says "someone like Jasmine Green is the reason why I started this project. I was so impressed with how she found out about the project. She is the perfect example of someone who will go after what she

•Jasmine

wants without thinking about how it is going to turn out, knowing that it can only get better. Not only is Jasmine very smart, she is gifted with so many talents and she is

ingworm of the scalp is due to an attack of the hair and scalp by fungus and primarily occurs in children before the age of puberty. It is not a worm but is characterized by the appearance of bald scaly patches, sometimes covered with brittle broken hair stubs and/ or small pustules. Ringworm of the scalp is different from Ringworm of the body or foot [Athletes Foot]. Hairs on the scalp are weakened as the fungus grows through the Hair Shaft, leaving skin inflamed and Circular bald patches. It is a Highly Communicable Disease, beyond the scope of the Hairdresser and is contagious by direct and indirect contact. Any child with bald patches should see a Doctor [preferably a Dermatologist] immediately so as to prevent a spread to other members of the Family. Not all Ringworm infections cause the hair to fluoresce especially the type transmitted from domestic animals that will have pus present. And the type of Fungus producing the Ringworm determines the type of treatment given, which is why self-medication is a no-no! Discontinue hairdressing procedures until the Ringworm is cleared and have Salon Equipment, gowns, towels, tools and even upholstery seating disinfected if the Salon has handled any client with Ringworm, otherwise it spreads to others, starting off a chain that stretches into every client’s home. Sweep hair clippings from an infected scalp, place in sealed bags and burn outside the Salon.The hair must fall out and if medical treatment is successful, new hair will begin to grow after some weeks, with no sign of infection. For More Information about and Treatment of Ringworm, please see a Medical Doctor. R e s i d e n t Trichologist, An•Ringworm gel’s Studio HAIR CLINIC [By appointment only]

200% going to be successful. I'm very proud of her!!" Jasmine's Winning Essay

Fashion Limited to No defining Standards — Jasmine Green

ccess granted! Many people never grasp how special life is itself. We take things for granted everyday not realizing everyday is an opportunity to love, care, and acknowledge God. When I was eight years old, my father passed away and motionless thoughts passed through my mind. What was I going to do? I always had my mom and dad by my side! My father couldn't leave us, No not like this? The endless notations of questionable answers had driven me to be somber. My father and I were never separated for we were like peanut butter and jelly. After my father's death, my mother began to get very sick and my sister went to college. Since my father passed and my sister was off to pursue a greater education, I had to take care of my mother. I went to the grocery store, paid bills, and took care of the cooking. At that present moment, I had misunderstood what love really was. I didn't like to handle the "grown up stuff." I wanted to go outside and run around until I was tired. Still holding on to the memory of my father, I C M Y K

continuously prayed that God would save my mother and wouldn't take her away. Needless, to say life had just begun for change was yet to come. Four years later, my mother passed and my mindset as a twelve year old girl had been tremendously revolted. I look back at the moments with my mom and wish I could have done it better. No words in the world could ever explain how much I miss my parents; however, I am still blessed. The obstacles in my life seemed like I wouldn't see the break of dawn. I would have never thought I would have made it this far. The gratefulness that has taken over my life of appreciating having those appointed people in my life will be shared. I have no doubt in my mind that becoming responsible, outgoing, and creative will inspire people to be grateful also. I will be graduating from high school with a 3.4 grade point average, and I am determined to become the best I can be in all areas of life. Whether it's developing relationships with people or just giving back. Limitless dreams cross my mind every day. I look at eve-

rything as if there are no limits for I can have anything I put my awe-inspiring mind to with hard work and dedication. This journey allowed me to obtain a different view of the world. I realized even more that there is so much more in the world than this circle of life, that peoples hopes and dreams fail to maintain. Yes, there was plenty of times I wished my mom and dad would come to a cheerleading competitions or a softball game; nevertheless, I cannot dwell on what my past maintains. I can only consider what my future contains. The fact that I had to depend on the people left in my life required me to identify what I really want in this world. Independence! It was then that I realized that I was capable of reaching my goal- earning a college degree and having a career in Business Management while pursuing a minor in Fashion Design or Environmental studies. When I step foot on that special campus, I will not only bring my caring spirit but I will be able to share my story with my fellow students. I want to inspire those who have their parents to be appreciative and

for those who don't, they have to be the strongest they can be. For the time will come, someone in the future generation will need my story to help them through their obstacles in life. Through my experience, I have learned to be strong in order to survive. I want to use my strengths to support others going through the same things that I went through and educate them in substantial ways. Ultimately, I would like to own my own boutique and start a scholarship foundation for children just like me whose parents have passed away. Fashion design creates an escape mechanism for my heart, which allows me to express simple ideas on pieces of fabric. I will be gladly ready to obtain the fashion that will not limit to defining standards. ABOUT OPERATION PROM

peration Prom is a program under the 'Afua Foundation' owned by Afua Sam of Studio D'Maxsi Fashions. The Operation Prom project was designed to create opportunities for deserving and bright female high school students with a re-

ward of a custom made prom gown. The main objective of this project is to boost the confidence of these young Ladies with the aim of encouraging them to strive for better education to ensure a successful career in life. Participants would have to show; punctuality at school, dedication to school activities, be decent and wellmannered and must have an excellent GPA. Interested girls are also expected to write an essay in 500 words as to why they should win the prize of the custom designed prom dress by Studio D'Maxsi. ABOUT STUDIO D'MAXSI

TUDIO D'MAXSI is a fash ion design house owned by Afua Sam. Celebrated as an innovative, sophisticated and edgy women's wear line for the modern woman. STUDIO D'MAXSI makes unique designs for the sexy, classy, funky, chic and confident woman. . Afua Sam founded 'Operation Prom', a 'win a PROM dress' competition open to academically excellent high school female students.

2, 2012 40—SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 2

SATURDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 2 , 2012 —41

C M Y K

42—SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 2, 2012

SA TURD AY V ANGU ARD, JUNE 2, 2012—43 SATURD TURDA VANGU ANGUARD,

he children of Is rael were in captivity for years and suddenly God delivered them from the hands of their enemies. I prophesy that this same God will not only hear your cry and see your afflictions but that He will also deliver you from all your troubles. After the children of Israel crossed the red sea, they sang in Exo. 15:2, “The Lord is my strength and song, and He is become my salvation: He is my God, and I will prepare Him an habitation; my father ’s God, and I will exalt Him”. Moses and the people soon realized that this God that gave them such a victory cannot be overlooked or taken for granted. They so much desired His continued presence that they committed to preparing a habitation for Him through praising Him. The obvious question therefore will be how I prepare a habitation for the Lord. The answer is not farfetched. Ps 22:3, says “But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of His people”. Wherever God finds true praise He will inhabit. Our praise creates a place where God can dwell and manifest His presence. Wherever God inhabits He takes over as

Prepare a habitation for God the Lord of hosts. Therefore, every other host will have to surrender and give way to the Chief Host. This is why I know that every power contending with your destiny will surrender to God as you make Him a habitation through your praise. Whenever the evil spirit came upon King Saul and David began to play the harp, the evil spirit departed from Saul (1Sam 16:14&23). The presence of God causes evil spirit to depart. You and I may not be able to understand this mystery but just obey the word of God.

God’s word works wonders always. The result comes through our faith in action. The Spirit of the Lord desires to manifest His presence with might and great power. He wants to manifest as the mighty man of war and the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. God doesn’t just come to thrill you. He has objectives to accomplish. As you begin to praise Him continually, no matter your challenges or circumstances, every mountain in your life, business, career, academics, marriage, finances and children shall melt away

in His presence. It is so vital that we prepare a habitation for God because it brings tremendous benefits to ourselves. You can’t praise Him and live a life of regrets. Ps 16:11, says, “Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures forevermore”. God’s presence guarantees fullness of joy. Until you are joyful you cannot be fruitful. Also, you are assured of insights or revelation that will cause you to excel in the issues of life. When you carry God’s presence,

For more details, contact us at Christ Reality Church, beside Gossard Hotel, opposite First Bank Sports Ground, Community Road, Satellite Town or P.O.Box, 3196, Yaba Lagos. Tel: 07029235279, 07029235280. E-mail: Johnson_crm@yahoo.com. Website: www.christrealityministries.org. Our account details are Pastor Johnson Omomadia, Guaranty Trust Bank, A/C Nos. 0005171407. Worship with us on Sundays, 1st Service: 745am-9:15am; 2nd Service 9:1511:30am. Wednesdays Word Revelation 6pm. Counseling days Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. 11am-5pm daily or by appointment. Showers of blessing every 2nd - 4th Sat. of each month, 6 a.m - 7.15 am.

More on herbal remedies for swollen prostate organisms may become dormant for years and the patient may have assumed to be completely cured, only to become active and troublesome much more later when the patient least expected it. Also, it is important to note that misdiagnosis, and therefore, inappropriate treatment may be responsible for most recurrent and chronic swollen prostate. In natural medicine, the successful treatment of swollen prostate is dependent on: * Enhancing the purity of the blood through wholesome eating and o c c a s i o n a l l y detoxification fast. * Enhancing the functions of the liver and the immune system with the appropriate foods,

herbs, bitters and supplements. * Enhancing the blood circulation and ease congestion around the pelvic region and the prostate. * Using the following herbs especially those that belong to the following group: Anti-inflammatory to help curb the

ike any other d i s e a s e , prevention of prostatitis is better than its cure, and this requires the knowledge of how to live a wholesome and healthy lifestyle. However, if the disease is already established, chronic prostatitis may warrant prolonged therapies and the effectiveness of such therapy regimen may depends solely on the indept knowledge and the experience of the attending health care practitioner. On the other hand, if left untreated, bacterial prostatitis may spread to the tubes that transport sperms and to the testicles. In severe cases, the prostate gland may become permanently enlarged or may be destroyed or may lead to sterility in men. Furthermore, bacterial prostatitis may result in male impotency (i.e. loss of penile erection), stricture, kidney and bladder problems and other health dysfunctions. As we have noted before, the prostate serves as fertile ground and a hiding place for most of the microorganisms (Gonorrhea, Chlamydia, etc.) that are responsible for sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Oftentimes, these

inflammation naturally. Anti-microbial to fight the infections. Diuretic- to help increase the flow of urine and to flush the bladder and the kidney. Demulcent to help soothe the pains caused by the constant irritation and those associated with inflammatory reactions.

It is important to note that misdiagnosis, and therefore, inappropriate treatment may be responsible for most recurrent and chronic swollen prostate

Let your praise prepare a habitation for the Lord to manifest as the mighty man of war to fight against your enemies

answers follow you around. You see, God wants to destroy your enemies with His presence. Ps 68:1_2, says, “Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered: let them also that hate Him flee before Him. As smoke is driven away: as wax melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God”. The enemy cannot stand the presence of God. God is a consuming fire. Ps 9:3, says, When mine enemies are turned back, they shall fall and perish at thy presence”. God’s presence that manifest through our praise, makes the mountains to melt. Your enemies become confused and losses and defeats becomes their portion. Let your praise prepare a habitation for the Lord to manifest as the mighty man of war to fight against your enemies. While the armies of the children of isreal

and the king were hiding from goliath, David told Goliath, I come against you in the name of the Lord of hosts (1Sam 17:45). He gave God glory and defeated Goliath. You too can destroy every goliath in and around your life. No matter where you are presently, answers are waiting in the presence of God (Dan 2). Praise Him like you have never praised Him before and you will encounter what you have never seen before. The world will see you breaking forth in life. Be blessed by the God that made the heavens and the earth. As you prepare God a habitation He shall turn this present economic hardship to your season of increase and progression. Everyone who has asked where your God is shall have reasons to envy you this year. God bless you and bless our great nation Nigeria.

Tonic for prostate gland. Antioxidants to prevent the cell damaging effects of the so–called free radicals. * The knowledge of the practitioners in Energy Medicine will certainly make the treatment of prostatitis less expensive and non–cumbersome. Before we elaborate on the above mentioned facts, let us first of all start with the things the patients should avoid: a) Unhealthy lifestyles and chronic stress which often exacerbate the painful symptoms of swollen prostate. b) Exposure to cold and chills that often trigger the symptoms of prostatitis, e.g. habitual drinking of cold and chilled things like beer. c) Constipation – poor bowel movements may lead to clogged colon and accumulation of morbid waste fecal matter that can give rise to poor prostate health and may also aggravate the symptoms of swollen prostate. d) Excessive, frequent and prolonged sexual excitement can irritate the prostate cells and tissues. e) Habitual holding of urine for too long–this can damage the prostate gland and its functions. f) Prolonged sitting puts excessive pressure on the prostate and this

can trigger the symptoms of prostatitis, e.g. long distant driving with prolonged sitting down at a place are known to trigger the symptoms of prostate problem. g) Vigorous exercise like horse or bicycle riding may aggravate the symptoms of prostatitis. h) Cigarette smoking, excessive intake of alcoholic and caffeine containing beverages, e.g. coffee, tea, colas, etc, might cause the tightening of the bladder neck and increased urinary symptoms of swollen prostate. i)Inappropriate use of some over–the–counter drugs like cold– m e d i c i n e s , decongestants, antihistamines, etc., is known to trigger the painful symptoms of prostatitis. j)Irregular eating habits, especially late night eating and drinking may increase prostate problems. k) Red meat, cheese, fatty foods, over spiced foods and sweet stimulants may be injurious to prostate health. l) Acid forming foods such as refined sugar, polished rice, white flour, bread, food containing excessive starch, yam, cassava, corn meal, etc., should be minimized.

44—SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 2, 2012

I had thrilling moments as a broadcaster – Ndidi Osaka

Journey into broadcasting I didn’t get into broadcasting by accident. From childhood, I’ve been into drama, dancing and entertainment groups in primary and secondary school days. However, upon completion of my secondary education, I

must have a creative mind. This time, I’ve to employ those dramatic and entertainment skills acquired in my early school days. I have produced a lot of programmes. Gains and pains There was never a dull moment in broadcasting. I’ve this tendency of making people happy. This kept me going on the job.

Ndidi Osaka with Arts Alade

or over thr ee de cades, ace broad caster, Ndidi Osaka of the ‘I Beg Una’ fame bestrode the broadcast industry like a colossus. Her entry into the broadcasting world was by no means coincidental but rather an opportunity that helped to explore her inherent potential. Despite her 35 years stint in the glorious profession, Ndidi still carries humility as a breastplate. This unassuming dispositon provided a leeway for her steady growth in the industry. For most radio listeners, Ndidi Osaka is indeed a jewel to behold. She is a lady who prides herself as the only Nigerian Japanese. As a woman of many parts, Ndidi brought her artistic skills in drama and dancing to bear on her programme, production and presentation. This was demonstrated in her unique style in the presentation of ‘I Beg Una’’ which she anchored for almost two decades. This woman of many parts who passed through the tutelage of renowned broadcasters has also produced many famous radio programmes addressing the social nuisances in our society. Her impeccable scorecard would be difficult to surpass in the near future. This explains the immediate reason behind the elaborate send forth party organised by the management of the FRCN to celebrate her th irty-five years stint in broadcasting. In an emotional laden voice, this grandmother of four ruminates with nostalgia her travails in the media world to CHARLES ADINGUPU.

There was never a dull moment in broadcasting. I’ve this tendency of making people happy. This kept me going on the job

found my way to Lagos, armed with my School Leaving Certificate result. At that time, it wasn’t easy gaining admission into the university. More so, the number of tertiary institutions in Nigeria were grossly inadequate. Well, on arrival in Lagos, I put up with my Aunty somewhere in Surulere. It was my quest for a job that brought me to Radio Nigeria. I was initially employed as a Library Assistant until one year after though as a Li-

brary Assistant, I enjoyed recording. The then Controller of Programmes, Ishola Folasho who doubled as a Sports Commentator after listening to me in the progamme“Join the Band Wagon,” felt that I was wasting as Library Assistant. I was the only female presenter among them. He redeployed me to Production and my appointment was regularised in 1978. It is right to say I was discovered by Ishola Folasho and others. Now as a Producer, you

here were so many pro ducers I was looking up to then. At the end of every programme, I took time to listen to my superiors’ criticisms. There was what we called post-mortem in Federal Radio Corporation (FRCN) where programmes were properly appraised. You will be told where you got it wrong and right. All these were mainly to task your abilities. Besides, I challenged myself that I must get to the apex of this profession. I became inspired by people around me. The programme,“Join the Bandwagon, exposed Ndidi Osemenam which were my real names then. In less than six months, Ndidi became an household name. I played a special role alongside John Chukwu. I was Mama Caro in the programme.I was the only female presenter among them. That singular role brought me joy because our listeners then convinced me with their reactions that I was touching lives. Also, as a junior producer, I produced other programmes. Though, I cannot easily recall all of them because I did some in Radio Nigeria One (RN 1) before I

was transferred to Radio Nigeria Two (RN 2), Martins Street. However, some of the programmes were Yours for the asking; ‘Never Say Die, a one hour light entertainment programme aired every Sunday which I produced for years. I produced Masculine Line for a very long time. Some of the presenters who worked with me then were Ihria Enakhimio, Ohi Alegbe and Femi Sowolu. Ohi and Ihria presented the programme for a very long time, while Sowolu presented it for only a year. Jones Usen who is currently working with one of the private stations in Lagos was a staff then. He too also presented the programme. Other programmes I produced include Just a Chat; Woman to Woman; and at a stage, Martins Street Special presented by Godwin Asuquo. That programme earned series of awards and recognition. Other presenters of Martins Street Special were Paul Obi and Mani Onumonu. Later, I started other programmes as Sunshine Choice and eventually in 1995/96 I started the production and presentation of I Beg Una, a pidgin English specialised programme. There were some other progammes I can’t remember.

Why I beg Una

I’ve this urge of addressing the near collapse of morality, and the social decadence that pervades our society. Sometimes, it’s irritating when you open the window and you see a man or woman obeying nature’s call. Sometimes, by the road side, you see Lagosians passing urine indiscriminately. No sense of decency in our conduct. But beyond all these is man’s inhumanity to man. The people in government must be held accountable for their actions. When the people complained, the government also have an opportunity to respond. At that time, power failure was rampant as it is now. They were called National Electric Power Authority (NEPA). The Water Corporation was not working. Yet, they were distributing bills. The market places were filthy and the general security of Nigerians were threatened on daily basis. So, I felt there was need for a programme of that magnitude. I thought of how to reach people at the grassroot as well as the government. So, I sought the medium and the language to use. The radio was available to

Continues on page 45

44—SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 2, 2012

I had thrilling moments as a broadcaster – Ndidi Osaka

Ndidi Osaka with Arts Alade

There was never a dull moment in broadcasting. I’ve this tendency of making people happy. This kept me going on the job

Why I beg Una

Continues on page 45

SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 2, 2012—45

Ndidi Osaka’s glorious days at FRCN

y the second week, we increased the airtime to one hour. It was like we started a programme people have been waiting for. The response was overwhelming.People started coming to the station to lodge their complaints. My landlord did this and that. I’ve settled many cases through the programme. At a time, lawyers from the court had to come on air to defend themselves. In a similar way, government officials, local government chairmen have been invited to raise defence over accusation against their administration. I celebrated the programme when it was just one year old. The programme was volatile, my colleagues and superiors were afraid. They

asked if I can sustain it. Tension became pronounced over the programme during the late General Sani Abacha’s regime. People were phoning to criticise the government. People thought the programme would be scrapped. My defence then was that I never generated issues discussed on the programme. People were calling to ventilate their ideas, even secondary school students called to complain of withheld WASC results and so on. The programme kept the authorities on their toes. takes over from you? If I drop dead tomorrow, the programme must continue. But somewhere along the line, each time I want to proceed on my annual vacation, I could not because there was nobody to handle the programme. However, two years after we relocated to Ikoyi, it was decided that somebody should join me in the programme. That was how Fred Onyeka Nwauluene came on board. Well, for sometime, I

here was a place we converged to eat, a popular buka known as Mama Yinka. From management level, there was no disparity between se-

days, we were very thorough and at the same time confronted a lot of challenges. We also had a lot of content at that time. You dare not go on air with just any rubbish. My grouse with the new media is their content. Everything in today’s broadcasting is all about music. Again, are we doing the right thing? What kind of music are we playing? There are a lot of obscene music being played on air and nobody seems to be interested in putting these abnormalities to check. It’s like some of the stations don’t monitor their presenters.

W ho

will still participate in the programme. I think my withdrawal will be gradual. Which other programmes brought you fame? Join the Band Wagon; Never Say Die; Sunshine Choice, Martins Street Special are other programmes I produced. I produced Martins Street for a long time. Our focus then was to highlight the happenings around Balogun Market and its environs in a magazine form. Also, I produced Woman to Woman, which later gave way for Eve. Joyous Moments I can’t quantify my glorious moments. Those of us at Martins Street, Radio Nigeria two (RN 2), now Metro called it the Sun Shine Station. We were like one united big family. Honestly, the stubborn ones were sent to Martins Street. But when we got there, we turned everything around. There was never a dull moment. You will miss Radio Two if you were not there in Martins Street. We do virtually

everything together.

Ndidi Osaka with John Chukwu in join the Band Wagon, a radio drama programme in the 70s

Continued from page 44 me, and pidgin English which virtually every Nigerian understands remains the only option. I considered pidgin English as the best and shortest way to communicate to Nigerians. In broadcasting, there is what we call, planning consent. So, between 1994/95, I made a suggestion for us to introduce a phone-in-programme. Though, the popular GSM was yet to be introduced in Nigeria,the only choice then was to use the phone. However, it’s important to note here that phone-in programme was introduced in Nigeria by the late Ikenna Ndaguba who was the General Manager of Metro FM at that time. Our station was Radio Nigeria (RN 2) at Martins Street. It all started the very year the Under-17 Eaglets won the Coca-Cola World Cup. We spoke to them through the telephone while on air. The I Beg Una was planned in such a way that it will not generate controversy. The practice was for people to call us and relay to us via the telephone their needs or problems in their immediate environment. Everybody was involved. Although, whenever we received calls from people making complaints, we proceed to investigate them before we go on air. I recalled that after the programme was approved, in the maiden edition, we received not less than thirty phone calls in a thirty minutes programme.

If I drop dead tomorrow, the programme must continue. But somewhere along the line, each time I want to proceed on my annual vacation, I could not because there was nobody to handle the programme

nior and junior officers but the respect was there particularly those of us in programme department. We did not compromise standards or discipline but were friendly all the same. You cannot celebrate your birthday alone. It was indeed one big family. The likes of Jacob Johnson Akinyemi of Rhythm FM, Late Ladi Lawal, Frank Oshodi, Godwin Asuquo, Phil Ushie, Alaoma Nwaogbe, Benson Idonije, late Tony Ibegbuna, we called him Uncle Tee, Tony I, Ten Ton Tony. Patrick Oke was a presenter of the programme Pop Round the World and Femi Jarret who produced Time Buy Collection. My immediate boss then

ow can you go on air

was Princess Banke Ademola. She was a real programmer. You can see that Martins Street was a place producers and presenters looked forward to be. We contributed money to eat together. We also have a coffee club. Memories of Martins Street are indeed worthy to behold. It’s obvious that most of the directors in private broadcast stations in Nigeria are all products of Metro FM at Martins Street. Assessment of the broadcasting industry The world is now a global village following the introduction of computers and other electronic gadgets as IPAD, IPOD and others. We cannot rule out things changing. We’ve to move forward. In our

unprepared? When you listen to some stations, it’s only when the presenters get on air that he starts thinking of what to say. But one thing about FRCN is that presenters must be prepared before they go on air and the supervisors are there to guide them. Any attempt to say things contrary to the script attracts penalty. Although, digression is alright because it allows for creativity and enables presenters to talk on current issues. However, content is an important key. Whatever goes on air is packaged. Regrettably, what we listen to on air these days particularly with the new broadcasting stations is outrageous. How can a presenter tell his listeners “I will shoot you?” It’s what we called NTBB, meaning, Not To Be Broadcast. Sometimes when I hear presenters using abusive language, I feel sad. In FRCN, you can’t go free. Such language should not be heard on air. Also, listeners believe that whatever a presenter says is final and correct. Unfortunately, some children listen to the presenter in order to form their opinions over issues. So why must you feed them with thrash? Therefore, managers of broadcast stations must endeavour to vet the content of

their products and the presenters. The earlier we start doing that, the better for us.

46 — Vanguard, SATURDAY, JUNE 2, 2012

By ALBERT AKPOR

OR the past four years they had laid siege to Edo state, feeding fat on unsuspecting and hapless residents through hostage taking. Not a few prominent Edo indigens had sleepless nights and did all they could to assist security operatives to checkmate the menace. The kidnappers most of them, school drop outs and motor-cyclist operators did rake in several millions of naira from their ungodly business and became eventual ‘big boys’ in the city. Whereas, the wise ones among them left the state for other states of the federation and diversified, some remained at their operational base; the heartbeat of the nation still perpetrating the crime. Two members of the notorious gang even left the shores of the country in pursuit of a more dignified endeavour; but the lucrativeness of kidnapping soon brought them back together and they became much more vicious. However, they were not aware that the it was no longer business as usual in the state. The Edo state Police Command under Mr. Olayinka Balogun had intensified efforts against the menace and was all out for these enemies of the state. They had spread their dragnet across the nook and crannies of the state even as motorized patrols by police men became much more regular. As usual, the seven man gang in their recent operation which later backfired had kidnapped a middle-age woman (names withheld), blindfolded and drove her into a camp by Ikpoba hill where she was held hostage. They got her husband telephone number and of course, called him to pay a N10m ransom or have his wife killed. Three days on, the victim’s husband who had reported the matter to the police was instructed to be playing along with the kidnappers’ antics. But something happened while expecting to receive their loot. Three •Gideon Osahai members of the gang detailed to keep watch over their victim had developed likeness for her. They struck a deal to sleep with her and let her go afterwards. Left with no other option, the defenseless woman consented to the ‘deal’ and she had her hands and legs untied while the band used in blindfolding her was equally removed. The men had their turns, became exhausted and slept off. Quickly and smartly too, the mother of four removed a GSM handset from the chest pocket of one of the kidnappers, tiptoed to a corner and called her husband who was at the time with a team of antikidnappers’ squad and described the area she was being held hostage. Before long, the team led by the Officer in Charge, OC, stormed the camp and started combing it. While the search continued, one of the kidnappers had woken up and was coming out of the forest to the expressway ostensibly to buy some loaves of bread and sachet water for the woman as well as for themselves. But he was confronted by two plain-cloth detectives who demanded for his •Guns and mission in the ammunition forest that hour. used by the Initially, he feigned kidnappers ignorance but buckled later and happened, it has took the detectives to happened; so there is no the spot where two need to lie. I was into full time other members and kidnapping since 2009 and I the woman were. made quite a lot of money...about They were promptly N12m. I relocated to Lagos when some arrested and taken to the of my members namely Emmanuel station. This was however, without Chukwu, Instrumental, Isoyen and the knowledge of other gang Agbaje got arrested and it became clear that the police members. It was therefore, the was after me. I was moving from one hotel to another confession the arrested ones that in Benin but I do not know how the police always get led to the arrest of other members wind of the hotel I was hiding, so I resolved to relocate of the syndicate including the to Lagos. In Lagos, I gave my life to God and to leader of the gang who was confirm that, I went to the Synagogue Church of All declared wanted by the police since Nation. For one month I could not see him but one 2009. fateful day, he called me out and screamed ‘hard man’; Individually, they narrated to Crime you have committed so many sins and your sins shall Guard how they got involved in the soon fetch you out. But if you truly want to give your devilish business and their respective •Fred life to Christ, close your eyes and kneel down. I obeyed roles. First to speak was the kingpin Okor...I and did not know when I started confessing. Later, he said to be on the wanted list of the surrender to told me that he has cast out the crime in me and that I police since 2009. He gave his name God was free. I was so happy and told him that I was an as Izegbe Emmanuel. “Sir, it has

•David Osana alias Biggie

Unending war against

zPolice offensive against menace zThe last operation that nailed artiste, that I write and sing good christian songs. He now said I should go ahead and do a promo and that if it is good, he would sign me on for his church. This was how I settled down for my God given talent; which is singing. I do R&B and I have performed at various functions in Lagos. Most popular comedians and musicians in Lagos state are my friends. Any time they want to perform, they would invite me and that was how I became popular in the entertainment industry. From the huge money I made, I opened a musical studio and named it Wosho-free Entertainment. I gave it the name because I felt I was free from all kinds of criminality. But I did not know that casting out of the devil by the man of God did not work.

Oga, even if we are all going to die now, I must tell you the truth because I know by that, God will accept my soul. I was lying initially but something just told me that if I continue to lie, God will not forgive me.

Vanguard, SATURDAY, JUNE 2, 2012 — 47

•Izegbe Emmanuel

•Anthony Enoma

•Charles Okodomi

kidnappers in Edo state the gang

•CP Olayinka Balogun

According to our discussion, I went to the studio and made a song and was about going to deliver it to him on a Sunday when Police men rounded me up in Lagos. I thought the man of God’s prayers had delivered me but I now know that anyone who commits a sin must go to hell fire.” Next to speak was Charles Okodomi, a 30 year-old Irua Edo state born motorcyclist. According to him, “To say the truth, I was a rubber tapper in the village after I lost my parents. I am the only surviving child of my parents. Five of my siblings have died. When tapping rubber was no longer lucrative, I traveled to Lagos to hustle. In Lagos, there was nobody to live with, so I spent three months staying under the Mile 2 bridge. There, I hustled and made

some money but not through robbery; where I traveled back to Benin and bought a motor cycle. That was how I started Okada job. One day one of my friends called Eboo called me and said we should ride towards Ramart Park and there we diverted into a bush path. I demanded to know where we were going, but he said I should not worry. That was how we went into the forest where I met a woman blindfolded. He announced to me that the woman was kidnapped and that I have been detailed to keep watch over her adding that two other men were on their way to join me. He gave me some money and left and soon, I was joined by Babab K and Fedeco. It was Fedeco that suggested that we should sleep with the woman and let her go since after three days no money had been paid. It was me that untied the woman and asked to go only for us to see some men holding torchlight and ordered us not to move. That was how we were arrested.” Another member of the gang who gave his name as Julius Aramefor, an Irua Edo state born professional commercial driver who claimed that he does not actively participate in the kidnap but only sell cartridges to his members also spoke. “Sir, I do not follow the kidnappers into the bush but my responsibility is to procure cartridges for my members and after collecting the ransom, they give me little money; that is just all I know about the whole thing” Whereas, Anthony Enoma, David Osana alias Biggy, Gideon Osahia also claimed they do not actively participate in the kidnap, Fred Okor the man who claimed he traveled to South Africa having made so much money two years ago and who had earlier denied knowledge of Police claims that he was a member of the gang finally opened up to say that they were all actively involved in the business of kidnapping. According

to him, “. Oga, even if we are all going to die now, I must tell you the truth because I know by that, God will accept my soul. I was lying initially but something just told me that if I continue to lie, God will not forgive me. We are all actively involved. We

have been kidnapping for over six years now. I have known Biggy for the past 16 years and all what we have been doing is crime. Anybody that says he has no idea of what kidnapping is all about is deceiving himself. We have all made money through the deal and that is how I could travel to South Africa. Biggy, everybody invested his money in other business. Biggy was even an ex-convict and we met at Ramart park two years ago after he was released before I traveled outside the country. I was dealing on tissue papers and CD Players in far away South Africa but I was among those deported over Yellow fever card palaver and that was how we met and re -converged. Since I came back from South Africa, we have done two ‘shows’ ; one in Auchi and the woman that led us into this present problem. Initially when Biggy told me he was still into the ‘show’ when we met after my deportation, I frowned at it because I had diversified but he convinced me to say that he had even recruited more men and that the ‘show’ is much more lucrative now. That was how I gave in. please now that I have confessed, I need forgiveness for the sake of my children and wife.” But the police through its public relations officer, ASP Etim Bassey said the law would take its course. “Whatever they may claim to be, whatever role they claimed to have played in this heinous crime, at the end of the investigation, they would all be arraigned to face appropriate punishment”.

Anger in Imo State, as criminals continue to terrorize residents …Govt. promises N1m for information BY CHIDI NKWOPARA, Owerri “Armed hoodlums are still holding Imo State and its citizens, hostage. Nobody knows who the next victim will be. Palpable fear and confusion has since taken over. The siege is real. People are angry and uneasy. A lot has already been written about the menace of these rampaging gangsters. People no longer have the boldness to discuss the issue openly because of the dire consequences of such bravery. Imo people are angered because criminals have been operating with ease, killing, maiming, robbing and kidnapping innocent citizens. The list of their victims is getting indeed very long. Several people, including traditional rulers, business men, politicians, public office holders had, at various times and places been kidnapped for ransom. The truth however, is that not all the cases are reported to the police. Movement and night life has since nose-dived in the state. Members of the business community are scared stiff. Some have fled into safety after surviving captivity. Let us take a few incidents of these sordid crimes.” This comment came from a disenchanted resident of the state, Obinna, while analyzing the security situation. Giving a run down of

•Gov. Rochas Okorocha kidnappings and killings that took place in the state in the past three months, other residents lamented that succor seem elusive as no concrete efforts have been made to reassure them of their safety. Continues next week

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political appointee is expected to be a signatory to any council account. “This government, unlike any other before it, has taken tough measures to strengthen its fights against all forms of graft in the system. The anti corruption stance of this administration is beginning to yield fruits,” Dickson declared who was particularly piqued by the state bloated wage bill hovering between N6.5bn and N5.4bn. The administration took concrete steps to address to address the problem partly responsible for the stunted development in the state by evolving measures aimed at drastically cutting down on the bloated wage bill said to be second to that of Lagos State in spite of Bayelsa paltry population.

In Bayelsa: It's from despair to hope

s Bayelsa State joined the rest of the country to celebrate the thirteen anniversary of the nation's return to democratic rule and 100 days of Governor Henry Seriake Dickson, fondly referred to as “countryman or HSD” by his supporters, the main challenges facing the state which the present administration has promised to surmount remains dearth of infrastructural development and widespread poverty. Sadly, its recent history has been a particularly tortured one as the oil and gas rich but backward state languished under corruption perpetuated by the political class and a powerful cabal in the treasury department. It was for this reason that Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson on his assumption of office as the fourth elected civilian governor of the state sounded tough that it will not be business as usual in the predominantly riverine state in which development has remained stifle due to entrench corruption in the public service. Dickson’s background as Ijaw activist, former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice and member of the House of Representatives may have prepared him for the activism he brought into governance. Also, his zero tolerance campaign on corruption has led to the arrest of the hitherto untouchables behind the state bloated wage bill. The prosecution of some of the arrested treasury staff allegedly involved in the state bloated wage scam who are known to have some of the lush properties in Yenagoa in spite of their meager income as civil servants has endeared the administration to the heart of most Bayelsans.

he state Secretary of Civil Liberties Organisation, Comrade Alagoa Morris, one of the most outspoken and respected human rights/ environmentalists in the state has been following with keen interest the administration's C M Y K

resolve to making public the state monthly income and expenditure especially with the passing into law of the Bayelsa State Income and E x p e n d i t u r e Transparency Bill along with the Bayelsa State Fiscal Responsibility (Amendment) Bill. Comrade Morris and other activists had repeatedly voiced their anger against the glaring rot in the governance of the state and the inability of the immediate past administration to muster the political will to entrench transparency in governance which has been the bane of the state for years. “Bayelsa State under Timipre Sylva was preaching BEITI in local, national and international fora but he denied the people the right to know the Income and Expenditure of the state, coupled with the arrest and detention of some top officials of the Ministry of Finance and the Treasury by the EFCC at such a time,” Comrade Morris noted. But critics of the

By SAMUEL OYADONGHA, Yenagoa

Seriake Dickson abandoned project sites are yet to return in spite of the governor ’s assurances that they have agreed to return. Despite the argument of the critics, the events of the last one hundred days have shown that the governor has not only matched his promise with action but a lot have been achieved to prop up the confidence of the people that something great is on the horizon. Though some of the bold progressive decisions and pronouncements of the administration have caused

This government, unlike any other before it, has taken tough measures to strengthen its fights against all forms of graft in the system

administration says that after one hundred days in office, Yenagoa the state capital is yet to witness any meaningful change as against the governor ’s promise of hitting the ground once elected during his electioneering campaign. They are also of the view that workers salaries are unnecessarily delayed and that contractors that

pain to the civil servants such as the delay in the payment of workers salaries which some critics have described as the sore point of the Dickson led administration, but the latter has defended the development saying it has to do with the ongoing cleansing of the pervasive rot in the state treasury department. Some staffers of the treasury who constituted themselves into a powerful cabal have been identified as

the brain behind the bloated wage bill. While some have been arrested and arraigned in court, others are on the run following the revelation of the on going staff verification.

he administration transparency crusade was given further development when the governor assented to the Bayelsa State Income and Expenditure Transparency Bill along with the Bayelsa State Fiscal Responsibility (Amendment) Bill. Dickson had said the bill was intended to entrench transparency and accountability in the business of governance and also place at the doorstep of the people, the right to inquire about any aspect of the government of the day. The governor further directed that with the passage of the Transparency Bill into Law, the eight Council chairmen should, like the executive arm of government, render account of their stewardship, including the state of finance of their local government areas, to the people. Dickson also noted that with Local Government Amendment Law 2012 aimed at streamlining the administration of the local government system, no

T he wage bill has since dropped from the initial N5.4bn to N3.7bn in spite of the fact that the verification exercise has not been concluded. The administration has also institutionalize the culture of savings in government with the opening of two separate strategic bank accounts. The first is the Bayelsa State Strategic Development Project Account which today has a balance of N23bn in less than three months. The second account is the Bayelsa State Strategic Reserve and Savings Account. As the name implies, this account according to the state governor is an interest yielding account dedicated to providing savings for the rainy day, a form of stabilization for the state’s economy in the event of any unforeseen shock. Today, the account has a balance of N2bn. The Bayelsa State Compulsory Savings Bill 2012 (already passed by the State House of Assembly), makes it mandatory for the state to make savings in this account. By the provision of the proposed bill, funds in the account cannot be accessed by anybody, except for specific purposes and only with 2/3rd approval of the State House of Assembly. There is also the proposed State Reserves Funds Management Council to be composed of persons of proven integrity, which will advise government on the utilization of this fund. This development may have informed the position of Chief Alex Ekiotenne who in an interview with Saturday Vanguard in Yengaoa said “with just one hundred days in

office Seriake Dickson/ Gboribiogha Jonah administration has certainly restored hope and confidence in the minds of the generality of the people of Bayelsa State as the people look forward to a true restoration of our lost glory.”

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EDO 2012:

A leader’s last but lost political battle T Chief Tony Anenih is surely not having the best of

hose who understand the politics of Edo State would concede easily that Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has been a fast learner in the political laboratory of leadership recruitment process in the state. Coming from a labour background with bubbling energies and unquantifiable convictions about service delivery, he has learnt the ropes much faster than was expected. With such labour activism, no one expected him to master the theatrics of politics and its addictive properties. The fight to reclaim his mandate from the PDP ab initio was as herculean as it was tortuous. It was a battle of one main godfather in conjunction with several other godfathers against a man whose diminutive size doesn’t portray

o the average Edo man and woman, the July 14 guberna torial election is neither that of the Peoples Democratic Party nor Action Congress of Nigeria, but that of Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole versus Chief Tony Anenih. To the average person also, this is the last political outing of the Uromi Chief who had enjoyed three decades of uninterrupted political sojourn. The irony of it all is that the man does not know when to quit the stage. He has simply danced himself out of tune with the political realities in the State and allowed a David to tame the war chest of a political Golliath. Those political actors who do not understand the rhythms of political panjandrums end up being beaten silly like drums themselves. They combine the warped thoughts of being over-celebrated with the penchant for political domination and end up being consumed in their political inferno. The exit game is often the most delicate part of their delicate drama woven in several contradictions and delivered for the listening pleasure of their contrived political followers. When the realities of over-indulged omniscient and protagonist status is deflated, the tragedy is often double-edged. Chief Tony Anenih is surely not having the best of times in Edo State because he simply cannot understand why the political compass of the State slipped away from his grip in a manner that apparently exposes his weakness. Seen by most Nigerians as unelectable political material judging by the fact that he had never contested any serious election and owing to his unattractive political engagements in the past, he has steadfastly acted out his sobriquet of being Mr. Fix it by virtue of his political undertakings that have seen him being part of a larger plot each time to make a Nigerian president. Even when his role is not distinctively self-defining, he enjoys claiming credit for being the architect of the fortune and misfortune of any political engagement. His Mr. Fix it sobriquet sounds more famous than his baptismal name and he seems to enjoy the sentiments of such misplaced adulation once it was understood that the credit belongs to him.

times in Edo State because he simply cannot understand why the political compass of the State slipped away from his grip in a manner that apparently exposes his weakness

him as a fighter. Having acquired enough nuances of labour protests, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole threw his “feeble” weight in the political ring and stayed the course till he humbled the godfathers. The rest as is often said, is now history. Unashamedly, the PDP is still mustering the vaunted courage to showcase itself this time with a candidate that appears defeated even from day one. Conscious of its own excess luggage, the PDP now gladly touts itself as new PDP, peopled by the same set of political chieftains who bled the party into a state of coma. Short of any selling points to woo the Edo electorates, the PDP has now resorted to personality campaign, raking mud and odium to rubbish the performance profile of a Governor who has literarily turned the State into a huge construction site. They grab at any object within their conjectured sight to make some noise and remind Edo people that they still exist in one obscure corner of the State.

he chieftains of the Party, wait ing patiently on the instructions from the Presidency, have been boasting about a grand design to rig the elections. The exposition from the now suspended voters registration exercise with copious signs of underhand dealings give fillip to the claim that there indeed exists a grand plot somewhere to shortchange Edo people. I am sure from my inner recesses that the godfather must be convulsing deep inside his mind about the Oshiomhole brand that has refused to peter out. He must be wondering why the game has assumed this level to the extent that little kids now mimic the symphonic description of the godfather as an overcooked vegetable ready to be served on the menu list. But those who are vegetable eaters understand the danger in consuming overcooked vegetable soup. It will simply run your stomach mad. The fact that the aged chieftain has not been sighted in any of the PDP public outings in terms of campaigns, says something about his withdrawal tactics. Often adored at political gatherings of the PDP as the leader, the chief has now been reduced to a community chief by no other person than Comrade Adams OShiomhole through populist programmes that appear novel in the eyes of the people and thus distinguished the Comrade Governor as a performing leader who understands the aims and aspirations of the people. The Peoples Democratic Party has

made election into public office unattractive in Edo State. People genuinely express great concern about the desperation of the PDP and the militant nature it has carried out its message to the people. If it is not “ we will recapture” Edo State this time, it is that “Oshiomhole Must Be Defeated at all cost campaign, leaving the substance of what should ordinarily be a platform for gestation of ideas to a platform for throwing mud at Oshiomhole. The PDP godfather as a political planner, knows deep inside his mind that this is a lost battle, little wonder he has not been sighted at the campaigns of the PDP. If he decides to join them later on by no ordinary design of his own, he will be doing that out of the compelling need to provide shelter for his dithering flocks out there on the field. If he does not appear in public, it is because he already knows that to withdraw before election is better than to wait for election to come before withdrawing. Talking seriously, I think there is something fundamentally wrong about our democracy and the struggle for political control in Nigeria. There is too much of ego-worship of certain individuals who are seen to be in control of the levers of power. Rather than champion the ideological content of the political party as easy selling points, people are easily carried away by the self-serving idiosyncrasies of political chieftains who maladminister the collective patrimony of the people on the altar personal aggrandisement. Locked in horn with political opponents, the PDP has since discovered that the Edo scenario has defied all known techniques of rigging and appears more daring to invoke the sentiments of a federal might to add pep to its deflated ego. How far that would drive the PDP campaigns remains a discussion for another day.

as politics gone that bad to the extent that campaigns are no longer defined on the basis of issues that would impact on the wellbeing of the people? Coming from a disadvantaged point of view, the PDP has now deployed its energy on deliberate distraction loaded with blackmail and false alarms to impress on the hapless citizenry that it meant business. Rather than come up with plausible solutions to the challenges of governance in the State, part of which the Governor has been able to seriously address, the PDP has devoted more attention to showcasing the carcasses of Comrade Oshiomhole’s building in the rustic

setting of Iyamho as its campaign blueprint. Such ridiculous idea being bandied about by ridiculous political chess players can only help but further expose the emptiness of a political campaign, parading messengers that harbour no message. I am still wondering aloud how an uncompleted three bedroom duplex affair can score for a N10.8billion worth of property. How possible? If it were to be real, do they think that the Comrade Governor would have embarked on such a project situated along the road, before the very eyes of Edo people, and yet have the effrontery to be preaching accountability in governance? The PDP publicists, at the nadir of their warped intellect, did not remember that the Comrade Governor duly endorsed the asset declaration form and has a moral duty to protect and defend all his actions in office. To state the obvious, a house as expensive and dubiously gargantuan as the one in question exists only in Uromi and Benin City where the PDP political godfathers reside in, but certainly not a house under expansion in Iyamho.

he Edo election of July 14, is a lost battle for the PDP. Instead of embarking on campaigns, the PDP has vacated the turf for the Action Congress of Nigeria to have a field day. Accusations of voters’ cards buying have been on everyone lip in the State, as an inelegant testimony to the fact that rigging will play a role in the entire elections. But Comrade Oshiomhole has travelled this road before. He now understands the mechanics and dynamics of what is dubiously called scientific rigging often displayed by PDP to out-rig smaller parties. It would be interesting to watch the PDP godfather being humbled at the election and being shown the exit door out of a platform that he has dominated for sometime. The signs of the times point in the direction of a younger generation of Nigerians taking their political destinies in their hands and the Oshiomhole example offers very illuminating insight into what is to come if such men are given opportunity to run the affairs of the country. The Oshiomhole revolution also offers illustrative lessons in selfless service to the people. Going by his achievements in the last three years, the people are forever grateful that the Comrade Governor has surpassed the benchmark set for him and are now willing to re-elect him come July 14, 2012. That will mark the beginning of the godfather’s march to political oblivion. Ask the PDP candidate what their vision in government is; they will readily tell you that they want President Jonathan to enjoy full support of PDP dominated SouthSouth. Is that the campaign manifesto that will put food on the table for Edo people?

Prince Kassim Afegbua Director, Media and Publicity, Oshiomhole Campaign Organisation.

SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 2, 2012—55

Child abuse: The stor y of the story Nigerian child By FLORENCE AMAGIYA

HILDREN’S day event is celebrated in many places around the world. It is a day set aside to celebrate childhood. On Children’s Day, tribute is paid to all children in the world. Children are loved by one and all. They win over our hearts with their angelic eyes and innocent smiles. It makes one realize that maybe that’s the way God wanted us to be. The holiday is meant to honour children and minors . Children’s day is not just a day for children to stay at home or visit exciting places. There is more to the day than what is being done. It is a day for sober reflection on what we have done with the gifts given to us by God Almighty? Every child is important, even those living on the streets. Statistics show that about eight million children of school age are out of school in Nigeria. The right of the child is paramount in every society; they are the future of every world. And if the world would remain fruitful, then the

zKid

hawkers

lives of the children should be considered by every government and every individual. The kind of life the child lives today would determine the kind of youth and adult he or she would be tomorrow. In 2003, Nigeria adopted the Child Rights Law. It is to domesticate the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Although this law was passed at the federal level, it is only effective if the State Assembly enacts it. Till date, only 16 out of the country’s 36 States have passed the Act. Intense advo-

cacy continues for the remaining states. This explains that the landmark in achievement of the legislative arm of government has not yet translated into improved legal protection throughout the federation. Children are abused physically, mentally, sexually, psychologically and morally on daily basis. Some who are of school age are on the streets hawking. Most of them live on the streets and

13 year- old girl raped to death

HIS is a sad story told by a

girl who lived on the same street as another until her death. “Shola was subjected into slavery. She started hawking sachet water to support the family. Shola must execute her chores which included washing of the clothes and dishes, cleaning the home and cooking at the end of her day’s sales. Life was miserable as the Ajobi children also tried to make her unhappy, but beyond these painful expe-

riences, Shola was sometimes beaten up for flimsy reasons.

* Hawking, a typical case of child abuse

become hoodlums tomorrow. Others are sent out for prostitution, child labour

even at an early age. Some of these children are even used for rituals nowadays.

Please! Give me a second chance O GHENETEGA is lucky to be alive and to tell his story, because he too would have died if not for the kind gesture of a good Nigerian family. He was born in a fragmented family of five, two boys and three girls. His father passed away in 1990 and his mother followed suit in 2000. His stepmother took care of him for five years but she also died. Oghenetega’s troubles began when he lost his parents. No one was willing to look after him, but eventually one of his elder brothers transferred him to their uncle. The uncle was abusive and would not pay Oghenetega’s school fees. The uncle found a job for him at a local restaurant, even though he was only a child. He worked there for two months before his brother took him to stay with a friend of his step mother. Life

seemed enjoyable at first as he went to school like other children but soon, she stopped him from going to school. Oghenetega returned to the restaurant where he had once worked but the situation was worse than before. In February, 2008, he started living on the streets of Warri, Delta State. He was forced to start distributing marijuana, something he wouldn’t have known and done if he was in a home and school. He started keeping ammunitions for armed robbers and would have been dead if not for the kind intervention of a good man and his wife who witnessed a robbery by the child and his adult gang and noticed he was forced to get into a building to provide access for the gang. Oghenetega was only 11 years old. The family took in Oghenetega

and traced his family, but his paternal relatives refused to take him and he didn’t have any maternal relatives. So, he completed his primary education living with this new family. He continued to secondary level and is now in form two. Despite the sometimes harsh conditions at school, Oghenetega is sailing through and his performance shows hope for a bright future. Every child is important; he or she doesn’t have to be yours to be loved. A little smile, a little patience on your part, a little tolerance, a little respect for them because they are like you but only very young and they would make us all proud in the nearest future if we can say NO to child abuse.

In this edition we share the experience of abuse and death of Nigerian kids.

The man of the house worsened Shola‘s case as he severally raped her. The last straw that broke the camels back was when she returned one evening from another day of sale only to meet the man of the house all alone. As usual, he wanted to have his way with her but this time she fought back. She was beaten to the pulp. The woman of the house who didn’t know what had transpired came into the house and saw her on the floor in tattered clothes crying bitterly and also pounced on her. Shola couldn’t take it any more and so she ran away from the house that night and was waylaid by a gang of hoodlums who raped her to death. She was only thirteen years of age.

Kids working for daily wages

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If everybody actually has in mind that we want to develop this country, we should provide an environment that would promote such technology here.

The country will need less expatriates guiding it technically and otherwise in the industry whereby you must have achieved two things - employment and giving the best of what you need as well as to be compared to what is obtainable from a Briton or American. you can give us the same quality they offer, it saves us from employing many foreigners to do the same job we could handle ourselves. Again the local content is a thing that would make a lot of way in making our economy grow stronger and as well, retaining it because it’s going to be weakening us because the raw materials are being taken over there and they refine and repackage them to us. After all, we have our raw materials which are produced here, using it will enrich our economy also would turn around within our own domain. For instance,A drilling rig you bring in from overseas, when you want to service it you eventually take it back to its home land, America, Italy, Holland etc for servicing or overhauling. If it’s produced here, technical know how is highly on ground here, you would find that you don’t need to go far. All you need do if it develops a fault, you call on the technician right here for repairs. Most of our equipment are grounded because of one or two areas which they needed to fix up when faulty especially you want to send it to overseas for servicing will lead to delay in operation. The local content has come a long way and actualizing and exercising the idea in Nigeria is important to help the industries to the next level. Is it that government has not provided conducive environment or Nigerians are not ready for quality training that ours is not working here? It’s in two parts - presenting yourself for a quality training because you must take it up as a journey you embark on, by giving yourself what you want to be, train and come out to say yes, I wanted to be trained. Again, the Federal Government has actually accepted passing into law as an Act for the local content to come to be, but making it flexible for people to function properly in another area. It should be handled properly because when you put a law in place you make it workable also, if it’s not workable then you have not done anything meaningful. Just like the banking industry has failed to a low level, standing out to encourage people to come out of failure is important.

Training should not be seen as a stressful exercise says Dr.Odhomo

r. Joseph King E. Odho mo, chairman, Pejoe De velopment Co. Ltd., Upstream and Downstream sector; petroleum marketers, transporters, industrial electrical, engineering works, oil field services, projects management and general contractors. In this interview with Saturday Vanguard Business, he reveals the reasons why training should be on-going in the Nigerian oil and gas local content sector. He also agreed that Nigeria can end the habit of importing if we do the necessary things needed to be done in the system. Excerpts: What kind of service does your company render to the economy of Nigeria? I am into the business of Oil and Gas, precisely petroleum marketer and also give services to oil companies, the IOC. IOC are the International Oil Companies like Total Plc, Exxon Mobil, Agip etc. We have been with them since 1999. What type of service is your company rendering them? We are into the up stream. The up stream is the ability of supporting the multinational oil companies operations far in the offshore. We supply pipes, valves, flanges and equipment like tractors and some other requirements which the operations request through us and we bring them from outside the country. We have done series of importation from America, Germany and UK, for Exxon Mobil’s operation etc.

Having travelled far and wide, how can you compare the level of training in the oil and gas sector in Nigeria and technology with the international? Training is a thing which we have not looked into properly, as harnessing someone who is coming up and has grown to service the ideals and knowledge by aligning your potentials to brighten up, brush up because if you are trained today and you don’t exercise it or probably you don’t go for the latest training, virtually you will remain dormant where you are than when you are practising it in order to help you be in tune with latest system so far. But when you compare it to overseas, they can spend more in training you than earning fat salaries unlike Nigeria where we see them paying fat salaries and that is the end and we see training as a stressful exercise. A situation where you feel you are helping to train others also you are training yourself, whoever is trained is trained to give the best. What I’m trying to say is that in Nigeria people see the salary being paid just to get money. The money they want to make today is just to give themselves an instant comfort, what about tomorrow? But you could as well decide to acquire on-going technology abroad and bring it back home to Nigeria. And you start practising, because when you are trained, you are exposed to some knowledge, experience, people, material technology and handling. Nigeria should look up to that even as a small unit. For instance, if you don’t have the capacity to send your workers overseas, you could look for partners in South Africa, even in Ghana or other West African countries. We have

Odhomo:

always been embarking on importation especially in the area of Oil and Gas, is it not possible to get our own plants here even if it involves getting personnel from abroad in order to reduce importation? Just to mention it,I have been encouraged so much about a gentleman called Mr Simeon Moju the owner of Special Piping Materials Nigeria Limited, who manufactures and also supplies gaskets, valves and flanges in Warri by the flyover close to the refinery. I was so impressed and I couldn’t reach him until the latest oil and gas conference in America where we actually met. He actually demonstrated he is into it and has taken the technology that is equally found outside the country back home. Also Mr. Isaac Botosan the MD/CEO of the Esthon Nigeria Limited is doing fine in the oil and gas sector. Not forgetting Mr Billy Mami the chairman of Bila Integrated

Services Limited located in Warri, If everybody actually has in mind that we want to develop this country, we should provide an environment that would promote such technology here. So I encourage bringing that kind of quality and quantity in production of products that we need to service our industries and operations in Nigeria. This is one of the things Nigerian local content has actually done and we need to encourage that to see how that is carried out properly so that in the next ten to twenty years we should not be thinking of importation in a higher proportion. The local content is actually to harness and improve in the area of employment and thereby reducing a whole lot of expatriates coming into the country by the individuals taking over some of the key areas of operation. And probably that is where the issue of training comes in because if you are being trained overseas you would know what is needed.

Airtel strengthens network with new green data centre TO enhance network and billing services to its customers, leading telecommunications services provider Airtel Nigeria Wednesday commissioned a new state of the art data centre in Lagos. According to the chairman, Airtel Networks Limited, Dr. Oba Otudeko, CFR, the Data Centre is the biggest in Africa with 20, 000 square feet of equipment space and goes live with multiple back-ups in terms of power and redundancy for delivering seamless service to the millions of Airtel subscribers in Nigeria”. Otudeko described the Data Centre as “the intelligence nerve centre of our network, which also provides redundancy to ensure that the network performs unhindered even in times of crisis.” He said the investment in the

Data Centre is part of the commitment of Airtel Nigeria to “building a world class network so as to recapture the leadership of the market, and ultimately become the most loved brand in the daily lives H A O S of Nigerians”. Dr.Otudeko cut M A T A the tape to declare A E N the Data Centre open in the presG E R E M ence of Bharti AirE B tel Group CEO for Africa, Mr. Manoj L I L A N Kohli and Airtel O I A Nigeria MD/ CEO, Mr.Rajan M L N Swaroop. Also present were top D I E S E executives of imC O plementation partners includD E A F ing Ericcson, I S A Astera Engineering and ReY O L A sourcery Plc.

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TRIBUTE Life and time of Orosuen

irth before death: HRM Benjamin Okumagba was welcome into planet earth on October 20,1928. His kingship destiny started at Christ African Primary School Warri. He was a pioneer student of Urhobo College Effurun. He also attended the Post and Telecommunication (P&T) Training School in Lafiaji, Lagos before beginning his working career as a clerk in the then P&T Department. He was also in the ministry of health of the defunct Western Region before joining Guthrie Nigeria Limited, a merchandising company. He retired from Guthrie as a senior area manager in 1976 into private business. He died as a king. But that point may not be too significant in his trajectory. Nothing about him changed. Far and near, he cut the same impression: a fearless fighter for freedom, justice and peace. That he was king in the last five years or so of his most eventful life does not strike as such. The larger world knew him more as Chief Benjamin Okumagba, the Otota (prime minister) of Okere-Urhobo kingdom in Warri because it was with that label that he performed all the acts that would surely endear him to even unborn generations of Urhobo land. He was a true born who established his sociological perimeters quite early in the day to clear all doubts. And all through, he never wasted an opportunity to strengthen the point that his own space was the centre of the world. He served and led with passion. Sometimes actually, he became too passionate for easy understanding because he would refuse to appreciate the point that it was not in all circumstances that black would be black and white would be white. If the description called for euphemism, to at least conceal the ugly underbellies, the Chief, would strip the presentation bare and reveal the real thing. With him, evil did not have a second name or a moderate description. At one stakeholder’s forum at the conference hall of the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI) Effurun, former President Olusegun Obasanjo was beating about the bush in a matter that required frontal attack. The matter under review was illegal oil bunkering that had continued unabated in spite of the heavy surveillance of the Joint Military Task Force JTF) in the Niger Delta water ways. Obasanjo was doing his lamentation in front of C M Y K

accepted a price, it was never to mortgage h i s conscience but to further his perspectives on issues. H i s whole life w a s defined by battles of e p i c proportions. As the 17th of the 23 children of C h i e f Okumagba E b o h , Benji as he

HRM Benjamin Okumagba top military officers who was fondly called, might were part of the audience. have fought hard battles to When it was time for the pick through that polygaChief to speak, he went mous snarl to adulthood. straight to the point. “Your He aven fought to assume Excellency, if you are his rightful heritage as part searching for those owner of Warri. That was engaged in illegal because, somewhere along bunkering, search no more the very long line of because the culprits are history, the records were these ones seated here,” criminally recreated to pointing directly at the make tenants look like officers. landlord and vice versa in A hush fell on the hall. his domain. ButtheChiefwas unruffled. The very land from “If you want a solution Mr. which the Okumagbas President, ask them to and others in Okereprovide one because they Urhobo derive sociological know what to do to stop and spiritual expression illegal bunkering even this came under threat. It was moment.” Like a an arrow that was aimed at mechanical medium, he the heart of the three major delivered all messages to families of Olodi, Oki and the target audience without Ighogbadu of Okerequalms and attachment. Urhobo. Benji joined his He would then leave his elder brother, Chief Daniel listeners to worry about the Okumagba to do the epic consequences of his frank legal battle that put the talk. He told all his records straight forever. In listeners that he had a way, this celebrated land conquered the type of fear case which was decided by that would make him stand the Supreme Court in 1976 truth on its head. It was a prepared the basis for most disposition that flowed of his subsequent battles from a fulfilling sense of including the one to contentment because he extricate Okere-Urhobo was never thinking of what from the over-lordship of he would benefit. If the Olu of Warri. Because anything, he was ever he went to battles fully ready to incur personal prepared, he returned loses to promote and singing victory songs. sustain the collective Even at that, he did not do destiny. This probably battles of the guns. The explained why he stuck to courts were just sufficient the Urhobo viewpoint all and in all, he must have through the build-up to made more court the 2007 general elections appearances than busiest even when it was far more Senior Advocate of convenient to capitulate Nigeria(SAN). and make stupendous Like the cobra, he hardly personal wealth from those launched outside his who were ready to buy his territorial jurisdiction even support at all costs. as he remained extremely His did not yield to the protective of the space that economics of Adam Smith. the Almighty had given His needs were limited him. This was why he and the means to satisfy fought with a gladiatorial them were just as adequate. ruthlessness once He told one group in 2005 provoked into the arena of that he had made enough battle. He would fight to provision for what would finish. He was never take him for the rest of his offensive but defended his life 30 years ago. And so, if lines with all his might. the enemy’s strategy-had And he loved to be been to push him off the applauded while fighting track of integrity using forjustice.Hewastheheavy cash and other forms of weight (Iyente) and a inducement, it was a fatally thousandarrows(edadurhi) flawed approach. If he ever that do not miss target.

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SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 2, 2012 — 59

2014 World Cup qualifier: Eagles’ shot-stoppers ready for Namibia – Shorunmu

Eagles are beateable —Namibian Captain BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU, Calabar

APTAIN of the Brave Warriors of Namibia, Ronald Ketyijor has said that the Namibian team are not afraid of the Super Eagles in the Sunday’s World Cup qualifiers, saying that the Super Eagles are beatable. Ketyijor, who was speaking shortly after the team arrived Calabar, the Cross River State capital for the match against the Super Eagles, stated that there are no longer big teams in Africa. The captain who expressed optimism that the Namibian team will not disappoint their country said that they were sure of victory. He said, “Football is not about big or small name. The game is around, we will play on Sunday and wait for result. “Nigeria is beatable. They

have played Botswana and did not get a good result, they went away to Rwanda, the result was also not good, so we wait for Sunday. There is no big team in Africa, Nigeria also did not make it to the (last) Nations Cup, and so their form is not good,” Also speaking, the National Coach of Brave Warriors, Benard Kaanjuka said the team went to Germany to prepare for this encounter against the Super Eagles and that they were ready for the Eagles. When reminded that Nigeria had beaten Namibia in all past encounters, he said, “I don’t talk about history, I’m always feeling about the future. We are going to meet on Sunday.” He said, “I’m going to put eleven players for our victory on Sunday. We are here to play them and the best team will win on Sunday. I’m sure of victory,” he said.

UPER Eagles’ goalkeep ing coach, Ike Shorunmu has said the goalkeepers are in perfect shape for tomorrow’s 2014 World Cup qualifier against the Brave Warriors of Namibia in Calabar, reports supersport.com The Eagles have three goalkeepers in camp to battle the visiting Southern Africans namely captain Vincent Enyeama, Austin Ejide and home lad, Chigozie Agbim. Shorunmu told SuperSport.com that the shotstoppers are waiting for the matchday to show off their stuff. “Competition is very impressive and I’m confident whoever is picked to man the post will do a perfect job. “I must confess to you there is no problem with the goalkeepers, they’re in perfect shape for Sunday’s match and I’m sure they won’t let Nigerians down.” The former Nigerian goalkeeper said Sunday’s match will end positively for Nigeria. “There is no negativity at the moment, we’re positive of a resounding outing on Sunday. “Namibia are good team. Of course, there are no small teams

anymore. Besides, any team coming to play Nigeria usually up their game, we intend to do the same and give Nigerians a decent result,” he said.

The Brazil 2014 World Cup race starter against Namibia comes up from 4pm local time at the UJ Esuene Stadium, Calabar.

WATCH IT....Super Eagles goalkeeper and stand-in captain, Vincent Enyeama shouting instructions during a match. Their trainer, Ike Shorunmu has said all the goalkeepers in the team are in top shape to face Namibia tomorrow.

Keshi keeps starting team-list to chest T Golf: VMOG boss impressed HE Super Eagles under went their final training sessions but fans and players still do not have an idea which of the players will be starting against Namibia tomorrow. After Wednesday’s rest, training started at about 4pm Thursday, and all the players except goalkeeper Austin Ejide were involved. The session was focused on quick breaks, counterattacks and shots before an 11a-side game. With just two days to the World Cup qualifier, onlookers had thought training would be the possibles against the probables but coach Stephen Keshi was not giving anything away with the way he shuffled his players in training. Chigozie Agbim started on one side and later he brought in Vincent Enyeama, but Israel-based goalie, Ejide, did not participate. Home-based defenders, Godfrey Oboabona, Juwon Oshaniwa and Azubuike Egwueke, were thought to have won starting berths, but South Africabased Gege Soriola and Papa Idris, who has just recovered from injury, were introduced on the side that many thought to be the probables. So after Thursday’s training, only Enyeama, is almost sure of a starting berth, as the head coach continues to juggle his team, trying to get the perfect mix to get a good victory over Namibia. Christopher Green, NFF Tech-

nical Committee Chairman, praised the level of fighting spirit exhibited by the players

as he hopefully looked ahead to a good match for the Super Eagles tomorrow.

with Ikoyi turnout BY IME BASSEY

From left, Captain of Port Harcourt Golf Club, Ngeri Abere, Vice Lady Captain, Asaba Golf Club, Igho Ugbegu and Regional Trade Marketing Manager, South South, MTN, Kester Osahenye at the MTN World Golfers Championship Eastern Qualifiers held at the Port Harcourt Golf Club last Saturday.

HE inaugural VMOG Golf Tournament that took place recently at the 18-hole course of the Ikoyi Club 1938 has been described as satisfactory by Eugene Fogli, boss of Vallourec Mannesmann Oil & Gas, sponsor of the one-day tournament. In a chat with Saturday Vanguard Sports after his shots, the handicap 28 golfer noted that the organisation of the tournament was near perfect, he was also happy with the turnout of golfers, friends and business partners to the tournament. “I’m quite happy with the organisation aspect of this tournament. Even though it is our first outing, the standard of or-

Women Basketball: First Deep Water, First Bank in flying start BY EDDIE AKALONU

HE phase three of the women’s basketball league got underway at the National Stadium Indoor Hall, Lagos Thursday with all Lagos based teams having a field day. The defending champion, First Deep Water Basketball club of Lagos outdunked Plateau Rocks 97- 32 to confirm their target of of winning a third

straight title. Similarly, guard Nkechi Akasili also is marrying personal goal with club aspiration as she guns for the league’s Most Valuable Player for a third straight time. The Nigerian international has scored a cummulative 180 points during the first and second phases of action in Kaduna and Ilorin, according to statistics made available by the league board. She is optimistic of scoring more points to in-

crease her haul and amplify chances of winning the award and says it is possible with team work. “I’m looking forward to doing better with the team by scoring more for my team and for my personal aspiration in this last phase. Chances are that I could win it for the second year running,” she said shortly after her team rounded off training a day before court war began Thursday.

ganisation and participation is very high and I am very satisfied. The turnout of players is also high and satisfactory. I am also happy with the condition of the course, the way it is handled and having played in different part of the country, I can conveniently say that Ikoyi club has one of the best courses in the country and it is a delight to play here,” he said. Fogli, who has been playing the game for about 10 years, informed that VMOG Golf Tournament would not be a one off thing. “I can assure you that we are warmly welcome here and this would not be a one off thing because we would be glad to come back again and again,” he added. At the end of the tournament, Tunde Oremule, one of the best players in the club, smiled home with the tournament trophy beating M. Amolegbe on count back. Oremule, handicapper 14, had net score of 74. The gross event trophy went to 10 handicap, S. Majoroh, who shot 84 gross while S. Ogunbiyi was second with 86 gross while t he ladies event was won by M. Swanpoel, a 10 handicap, who shot 72 net and beat E. Anukwuem on count back also.

60 —SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 2, 2012

Week 30 matches to hold today — NPL By IME BASSEY

LL week 30 match es of the Nigerian Premier League will hold today due to the Super Eagles’ World Cup qualifiers billed for tomorrow in Calabar. Confirming this to Inside Out Premier League, acting secretary of the NPL, Tunji Babalola disclosed that the action was for the interest of the nation’s football. He also appealed to the management of the clubs to bear with the board on any inconveniences they may experience. “We have shifted all Week 30 matches to Saturday for the interest of our football. Super Eagles will be playing on Sunday and they de-

serve all football stake holders’ support. We are appealing to all the twenty (20) teams in the

league to bear with us for any inconveniences that will be experienced,” Babalola said.

Chukwu keen on top three finish with Heartland By KATE OBODO

ECHNICAL consultant to Heartland Football Club of Owerri, Christian Chukwu has stated that Heartland are focused on defending the FA Cup title they won last year and also finish amongst the top teams in the league. Chukwu reiterated that the Owerri side have put behind them their early elimination from the CAF Confederation Cup which, he alleged resulted from the poor officiating experienced during the match. “We have put the defeat behind us and are focused on defending last year’s Federation Cup. More so we want to do better in the league so we can return to the continent next season. “It is painful to have lost in the CAF Confederation Cup especially with the fact that we were much more focused than ever before and were eyeing the cup. Unfortunately it did not work out as planned.

Adesola Adeboye of 3SC challenging Okoye of Enyimba (right) during their Week 19 encounter at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan. The game ended 1-0 in favour of the Oluyole Warriors.

Aneke denies any rift with Cooreman By KATE OBODO

ARRI Wolves striker, Jude Aneke has said that there is no rift between him and his manager, Maurice Cooreman as reported by some sections of the media. Aneke who stated that he is in good relationship with his Belgian boss, debunked claims that his trainer criticized him for failing to live up to expectation and wanted him replicate his last season’s goal scoring form. “Cooreman is just like a father to me and every other player in the team. He made me a top player right from our days in Kaduna. I have a perfect

relationship with him and I will always respect his opinion,” he said Continuing he said, “Working with him (Cooreman) makes one to work hard. He wanted me to start scoring which is understandable from a coach who knows what he wants from his player. That doesn’t mean we have any misunderstanding.” The former Kaduna United star forward expressed sadness over his inability to reproduce his last season form with Warri Wolves this term. “Really, it has not been good for me this season but I hope to do better as we proceed. Cooreman has been the best coach I have worked with in my career,” Aneke stressed.

THLETICS Feder ation of Nigeria, AFN president, Chief Solomon Ogba has expressed delight with the rapid improvement of up and coming heptathlete, Ohunoma Osazuwa. Osazuwa who made her debut for Nigeria at last year ’s All Africa Games chalked up 6,049 points last week at the Pan American combined events championships in Ottawa, Canada to improve on the previous 5,992 she did in April to consign Patience Itanyi’s 5,730 12 year-old nation-

Osazuwa can win African championship gold — Ogba

al record to history. Ogba stated that Osazuwa, having acquired the 6k status, was capable of competing with the best in the world. He added that Osazuwa can win the gold at the African Championships later this month in Benin Republic. “She has kept on im-

….SA selects strong team for Port Novo

strong 75-member team has been selected to represent South Africa at the Confederation of African Athletics Senior Championships in Porto Novo, Benin from 27 June to 1 July. It includes some of the country ’s leading Olympic medal hopes. Caster Semenya, the 2009 800 metres world champion and 2011 silver medallist, has already qualified for London 2012, but she needs to compete in the Championships to satisfy the criteria set by the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc). On 5 April, Semenya recorded a time of 1:59.60 in Pretoria, her season’s best, which was also the first sub-two minute 800 metres run in the country since 1991 when Zelda Pretorius ran 1:58.85. Just 21 years of age, Semenya has previously represented South Africa at one African Championship, as a junior athlete in Bambous, Mauritius in 2009. Later that year she clocked a stunning 1:55.45 to capture the World Championship title in Berlin. World Championship 400m hurdles bronze medallist LJ van Zyl is also in the South African team. The 26-year-old from Gauteng North became the first track and field athlete to qualify for the Olympic Games on 5 April. He will be aiming for a fourth straight African title after previously winning in 2006, 2008 and 2010. Beijing Olympic silver medallist, Khotso Mokoena will be defending his title in the long jump. After losing his national title in windy conditions in Port Elizabeth, Mokoena bounced back and

reached the Olympic Qualifying A-standard at the Yellow Pages III meeting in Pretoria on 20 April with a leap of 8.29m.

proving and I have confidence that she will do well at the Africa Championships. I am really happy that she has improved on the points she amassed last April when she became the new national record holder. She is capable of making the ‘A’ of the London Olympic,” said Ogba. However Osazuwa must have to double her efforts, if she is to dethrone Margaret Simpson who is the African record holder with 6, 423 points. The petite Ghanaian this season has done 6,245 points, compared to the best performance of 6,906 achieved by British Jessica Ennis.

•Osazuwa

DIAMOND LEAGUE:

Robles misses hurdles showdown

UBA’s Olympic champion Dayron Robles is likely to miss a much anticipated high hurdles showdown this weekend because of a delay in obtaining a U.S. visa. The Diamond League meeting in Eugene, Oregon, would have been the first race of the 25-year-old’s career in the United States and was expected to be a preview of the 110 metres hurdles final at the London Olympics. The delay in obtaining a visa for Robles and his Cuban team mates, however, was likely to scupper world record holder’s participation, his coach said. “It is unlikely that we can compete in Eugene,” Santiago Antunez said. “Everything is delayed and then he would have to race the top eight (hurdlers) in the world.” Robles had hoped to fly to Oregon on Wednesday so he could be well rested for Saturday’s clash but the visas, while approved, will not be ready for collection until Thursday, Antunez said. That made Antunez cautious about sending Robles out at less than full strength against a field that would include the three fastest high hurdlers of all time. Resurgent 2004 Olympic champion Liu Xiang, who posted the best time of the year in 12.97 seconds earlier this month, and U.S. record holder David Oliver are also set to line up for the race.

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SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 2, 2012 — 63

WORLD CUP QUALIFIER:

Don’t panic, Bassey urges Nigerians By IME BASSEY

Keshi’s rebuilding process in right direction – Omokaro By PHILIPS ADEFIOYE

ORMER Super Eagles defender, Bright Omokaro says Stephen Keshi’s decision to build the new Super Eagles around home based professionals is a right step in the right direction ahead of the World Cup and Nations Cup qualifiers. Omokaro told Saturday Vanguard sports in an exclusive interview that Keshi’s last two international friendly matches against Egypt and Peru would give him an advantage to correct the mistakes identified when the Eagles file out against Namibia on Sunday. The one time player of the defunct New Nigerian Bank of Benin said the new identity of the team has shown that Keshi was towing the steps of former Eagles coach Clemens Wester-

hof who also built the solid 1994 team through local players that later became professionals. He stressed that the international friendly against Egypt and Peru have affirmed Eagles’ readiness to confront all the countries they will be playing in the World Cup and Nations Cup qualifiers, adding that Keshi should only consider foreign-based professionals who are commanding regular shirts at their clubs and shouldn’t allow any body impose players on him. “I see Keshi performing because he started with a better formation, trying to groom home based players. Westerhof did it during his time and it paid off. If you have the local players and they are focused and you add la few foreign-based players, I think it is going to refine the Eagles.

FRICA Nations Cup winner in 1980, Charles Bassey, has urged Nigerians not to panic as the Super Eagles entertain the Brave Warriors of Namibia tomorrow at the U J Esuene Stadium in Calabar. The former Calabar Rovers star stated that the tie would be different from the friendly matches played so far as it commands a special enthusiasm. He noted that the Namibians

are not a football playing nation that would inflict any scare on the Eagles even as he stressed that the composition of the team is more paramount so as to return to their glorious days. “I am very hopeful that we will win the tie. Friendly matches are different from competitive matches. Both matches are played with different zeal, so I am asking Nigerians not to panic. “Nigerians should look at the progress of the team’s formation rather than requesting

a wide score line in the game. Namibia is not a football playing nation, therefore, more attention should be on making the team play well even if they win with a slim margin,” Bassey said. He added that the process of building a formidable team would cost more than winning every match played. “In 1980, we were all home based players picked from various clubs that later became the toast of the nation after almost three years in camp, so let us be futuristic for once,” he pleaded.

Be patient with Keshi, Izagbo begs Nigerians By KATE OBODO

ORMER Hockey Feder ation of Nigeria, HFN, president, Dr. Austin Izagbo has urged Nigerians to be patient with the Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi as his efforts to rebuild the national team continues on Sunday against Namibia in their 2014 World Cup qualification match in Calabar. Dr. Izagbo said the ability of

the team to blend and become formidable enough to compete against any team in Africa and the world depends on the availability of quality players at the coach’s disposal. “Selection of players in the senior national team is not the problem but the availability of players, especially the professional players plying their football trade in Europe. Not all the players are always available when the need arises and not all are putting the type of commitment required from them to the national team as they do for their clubs ,” Dr. Izagbo said. Continuing, he said, ”coming from the local league, the way it is structured and organized does not help the coach. Because for a coach to select any player in the local league

into the national team, he may be denying the local teams the services of their own players . Not every team can afford that especially when players are doing well for the team. That is where the problem lies for the coach (Keshi). But the sooner we groom our players locally and also develop our local team the better for us. This is why Nigerians should continue to supports and also be patient with him because building a formidable and competent team for any competition requires players that are more at home than what we have always seen in the national team . “The Egyptians and the Zambian team are good examples we must emulate and not the fire brigade approach that we have always applied when in a crucial match.”

Nigeria will feel us, Namibia coach vows And referring to the story on BY ONOCHIE ANIBEZE

DONATION... As part of efforts to make sports writers cover sports events creditably, Supersport donated DSTV decoder to the Lagos State chapter of the association. From left, Mr. Bede Nwokoye, Marketing Manager, Supersports, Mr. Felix Awogu, GM, Supersports Nigeria, Mr. Fred Edore, Chairman, Lagos SWAN and Ms Itu Senne, Communications Manager, Supersports Africa during the presentation. Photo by Sylva Eleanya.

U-17 WOMENS WORLD CUP:

Coach Devdebo searches for more players By KATE BODO

HEAD of the 2012 FIFA U-17 Wom ens World Cup in Azerbaijan, the national U-17 Womens team, the Flamingoes have began a search for the best legs that would fly the country’s flag at the forthcoming World Cup which comes up in November this year. A source close to the team disclosed to Saturday Vanguard Sports that though the team is presently on break, their coach, Peter Devdebo is working ceaselessly to ensure he gets the best players ahead of C M Y K

the competition. “ For now, the team is on break, but the coach is out scouting for more players, especially the best legs, that would compete with the world and also make the country proud. This would come from the female league and other female competitions,” the source said. Nigeria has participated in all the editions of the competition which began in 2008. The Flamingoes crashed out in the group stage in New Zealand four years ago while they crashed out in the quarter-finals in an 11goal thriller at the 2010 edition in Trinidad and Tobago to eventual winners, South Korea.

OACH Bernhard Kaanju ka flipped through pages of Vanguard Newspaper, steadied on the sports pages and immediately disagreed with the story attributed to Victor Moses of Wigan Athletics of England, titled “We will overrun Namibia.” The Namibians were at the local wing of the Murtala Mohammed Airport in Lagos on their way to Calabar for the 2014 World Cup qualifier. They arrived from Germany where they trained for 10 days. And with them were their German Technical Director, Klaus Starck who took note of the front page story on the death of a kidnapped German Engineer, Edgar Friz Raupach in Kano. Kaanjuka was friendly and relaxed as they waited to board their flight to Calabar. He has a pretty young team that he says is for the future. “The average age is 23. They are full of youth”, he said of his team. This makes him confident and he hopes that his players will display that confidence in the field on Sunday. ”We have a young team, a team full of young boys who want to play,” kaanjuka said.

Moses he said. “I don’t agree with this,” pointing to the story in Vanguard. “We respect Nigerian players and Nigerian football. Nigeria put Africa on football map. Nobody forgets that team of Jay Jay Okocha, Kanu Nwankwo, Sunday Oliseh etc. That ’96 squad made the whole Africa proud. Up till now, you (Eagles) have big names (pointing at pictures of Ike Uche, Moses and Sone Aluko in Vanguard) and you don’t compare them to what we have. Except two players who play in South Africa, the rest play at home. You have a bigger team but I can tell you one thing, you will feel us on the field. Nigeria will feel us on the field.” Kaanjuka exuded confidence. With German technical director who, naturally, will inject the strong character of German football and the pace and energy that characterise a youthful side, Kaanjuka hopes to enjoy the game on Sunday and possibly get a result. ”We are not afraid of Nigeria. We respect them but will make them feel us on the field,” he repeated, indicating the resilience they plan to show. The players were all relaxed too and looked equally confident.

SATURDAY Vanguard, June 2, 2012

Ezeji confident Eagles can fly over Namibia By EDDIE AKALONU

ormer top scorer in the Nigeria Premier League, Victor Ezeji has said that the Super Eagles appear to be in good stead to get the 2014 World Cup campaign to a flying start with a win over Namibia tomorrow in Calabar. Ezeji, who told Saturday Vanguard sports that he observed that coach Keshi has shown lots of guts with the mix of foreign and local based players, urged the team to see the match as a must win for Nigerians. “I think we will win the game in Calabar because Keshi’s decision to play both local and foreign based players has brought out the fighting spirit in the players and that’s the attitude we need to get back the team we used to have. I urge them to play as a team and win the game, which is what Nigerians are longing for,” he said. The former Sharks FC captain as well as hit-man for both Dolphin FC of Port Harcourt and Enyimba FC of Aba, commended Keshi for his approach, noting that while the foreign based players have the experience and exposure, “they are more committed to club duties than national needs. But the home based are more committed and hungry for action and want to prove themselves. Besides, instilling confidence in local players is a healthy development for club football because of the new awakening injected in players’ attitude.” Meanwhile, the two time FA Cup Most Valuable Player (2006 and 2007), has hailed the choice of goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama as captain, saying “the Enyeama I know has all the qualities you need of a captain and I know him too well, he is one that can carry himself high to lead the team now.”

TACKLE.... A super Eagles player (right) receives a hard tackle from a Peruvian player during their friendly match in Peru last week. The Eagles play Namibia in Calabar tomorrow in a 2014 World Cup qualifier. Victor Ezeji, a former Enyimba of Aba striker believes the Namibians will fall in Calabar.

CALABAR CRACKER:

Show class against Namibia or . . . By KATE OBODO

x international Felix Owolabi knows what it takes when a coach is building a team. It is against this background that he is not expecting finesse on the side of the Eagles now and in the near future. And as the Eagles play Namibia in a 2014 World Cup qualifier tomorrow in Calabar, Owolobi expects the Eagles to win but he said that nobody should expect a classic and smooth victory that would be devoid of errors on the side of Eagles. “This is because they are not yet consistent,” Owolabi said in a telephone interview. He was quitting the Eagles at the time Stephen Keshi was coming in. He knows Keshi well and wants Nigerians to

*Owolabi warns Keshi be patient with him. “When the team is consistent, when Keshi attains a reasonable stage in the process of building a team,

everybody will see the flair in the team. Right now, it cannot be so. Don’t expect any fantastic outing now. He is doing the right thing

but must begin to get it right after about seven matches. Nigerians are not generally patient people. He has to win against Namibia and

convince people that he is on the right track. If he doesn’t win well against Namibia he should expect the worst from Nigerians and even the federation,” Owolabi said.

CROSS WORD PUZZLE Across 1 Vietnamese Currency – (3) 3 Super Falcons Defender, Akudo – (4) 5 Germany National Coach, Joachim – (4) 7 Carpet – (3) 8 Venomous Snake – (3) 9 L.G.A in Ebonyi State – (4) 11 Average – (4) 13 Cameroun “Indomitable Lions” Midfielder, Njitap – (6) 15 Former Nigerian Head of State, Sanni – (6) 19 Swaziland Currency Unit – (9) 23 Former Super Eagles Coach, Lars – (9) 27 Fuel Source – (6) 30 Country in Asia – (6) 33 Unable to Hear – (4) 34 L.G.A in Yobe State – (4) 35 Igbo Word for “Head”? – (3) 37 Adamawa State Capital – (4) 38 L.G.A in Abia State (4) 39 World Boxing Legend, Muhammad – (3) Down 1 Norway Full-back and Fulham Defender, Brede – (9) 2 Nigeria Labour Congress

(NLC) President, Comrade Abdulwaheed – (4) 3 Part of Flower – (4) 4 Oyo State Capital – (6) 5 Hebrew Alphabet – (5) 6 North Korean Currency – (3) 10 L.G.A in Taraba State – (4) 12 Colour – (3) 14 Yoruba Word For “Garri”? – (3) 16 Ethiopian Currency – (4) 17 Country in North America – (4) 18 Ebonyi State Capital – (9) 20 Togolese Capital City – 4) 21 Africa’s Longest River – (4) 22 Protein Source – (3) 24 Traditional Ruler of Oyo Empire – (6) 25 Ethnic Group in Nigeria – (4) 26 Lever – (3) 28 Frozen Water – (3) 29 Bulgarian Capital City – (5) 31 Yemen Capital City – (4) 32 Angola “Palancas Negras” Skipper, Fabrice – (4) 33 Period of Twenty-four Hours – (3)

SOLUTION ON PAGE 56

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