World Exclusive: Chibok girls fingered as Suicide bombers

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SUNDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 3, 2014, PAGE 3

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PAGE 4—SUNDAY VANGUARD, AUGUST 3, 2014

WEDDING OF OLU OF WARRI’S DAUGHTER The wedding of the Olu of Warri ‘s daughter, was held at Warri , yesterday, with dignitaries from different walks of life gracing the ceremony.

HRM, Ogiame Atuwatse II, Olu of Warri The couple, Mr & Mrs Olumuyiwa Teriba

l-r; CAN President, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, Olori Atuwatse II, HRM, Olu of Warri, Chief Mene Brown, HRM, Orhue I, Orodje of Okpe, HRM, Ovie R.L. Ogbon, Ogoni-Oghoro I. Ohworode of Olomu Kingdom and others.

R-L; Olori Atuwatse II, HRM, Olu of Warri, Chief Mene Brown, HRM, Orhue I, Orodje of Okpe, and HRM, Ovie R.L. Ogbon, Ogoni Oghoro I. Ohworode of Olomu Kingdom.

HRM and Olori Oba Samuel Olufisan Ajayi, the Alayetoro of Ayetoro-Ekiti

Igba of Warri, Chief Rita Lori-Ogbebor (left) and a fellow Chief paying homage to the Olu of Warri CAN President, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor in handshake with Ohworode of Olomu as Orodje of Okpe looks on

Warri Council of Chiefs paying homage to the Olu of Warri

Dr. Joseph Otumara, Commissioner for Health, Delta State and Dr. Rukevwe Ugwumba, Special Adviser to the Governor on Health

SUNDAY VANGUARD, AUGUST 3, 2014 — PAGE 5

NIGHT VIGIL TRAGEDY

Gov Orji’s succour for generator fumes victims *Survivor relives ordeal

BY ERIC UGBOR Aba BIA State governor, Sir A Theodore Ahamefule Orji, has offset the medical

Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun (2nd left), his wife,Olufunso (right), bride's father and Group Managing Director, First Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Bisi Onasanya (left),groom, Olusola Oladunjoye (middle) and bride, former Miss Omolola Aribike Onasanya (2nd right) during Olusola and Omolola's wedding held in Lagos yesterday.

Chibok girls fingered as suicide bombers Continued from page 1

clear from the outset that the girls would not come out the same, after being kept with their unwanted hosts for a long time".“Although the Federal Government said, last Wednesday, that the Chibok girls were not among the female bombers, its spokesman did not provide any evidence to prove his claim.“At a media briefing in Abuja, Coordinator of the National Information Centre, Mr. Mike Omeri, tried to ward off the suggestion that the 219 school girls currently in the captivity of Boko Haram insurgents could have turned suicide bombers.“It will be recalled that few days after the abduction of the girls, a human rights activist, who had taken part in failed

girls had been indoctrinated by the terrorists in the last three months of their captivity, hynotised and sent into various parts of Nigeria and beyond with a view to carrying out deadly missions.

Serial attacks carried out by female bombers in Kano, last week, lent credence to the claim.“The source, who has contacts with the Boko Haram leadership, pointed out that it may be difficult to change radical orientation of the girls, who may now see their malevolent disposition as an act of righteousness.“"It may shock you to know that some of the girls being used for suicide bombings in parts of the North are among those taken from Chibok in April this year," the source said.“Continuing, the source insisted that "it is rather unfortunate that government wasted precious time in rescuing the girls either through negotiation with Boko Haram or other means possible.“"It was T

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Benin based legal practitioner, Chief Osaheni Uzamere, has

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BY SIMON EBEGBULEM, B/City

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washed by the insurgents.“" If we are not careful, the Chibok girls that would come out of captivity would not be the same girls that went into captivity. They would be indoctrinated, they would be hypnotised and brainwashed to the point that they would be transformed into insurgents themselves. And of what use would they be? “"These are very young girls in their teens with very open and vulnerable minds but open to dangerous ideas. You can see how a man would abduct a girl whose parents don’t like him and, by the time the girl comes back she is ready to fight her parents. “"So, the danger is that as the clocks ticks, it is ticking for us , for the girls and for our reputation and integrity as a country".

Nigerian lawyer ahead of his counterpart abroad — Uzamere

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bids to broker a truce between the Federal Government and Boko Haram leadership, Shehu Sani, had raised the alarm that the girls could be indoctrinated if not urgently freed.“Sani told Sunday Vanguard, in an exclusive interview in May, that the prolonged detention of the girls by the terrorists could dramatically alter their fate a n d orientation.“According to Sani, the longer the girls were being kept by their captors, the higher the potential of their being brainwashed to accept radicalism and terrorism.“He said:"But the danger of keeping these girls, without either using negotiation or force to free them is that, everyday these girls are being brain-

bills of last week’s generator fumes victims in Aba. Orji, represented by his deputy, Sir Emeka Ananaba, during a visit to Austin Grace Hospital at Okigwe Road, yesterday, said it was in fulfilment of the promise of the state government to offset the medical bills of the victims.

Ananaba, accompanied by his wife, Nene, and some government officials, said the governor was touched by the incident and decided to assist the victims.

The deputy governor, who thanked the medical team, police and others who ensured the victims were evacuated and taken to hospitals for treatment, noted that it could have been a more devastating situation if not for the prompt intervention.

Though Ananaba could not disclose the amount, it was gathered that the medical bills of the victims were over N7million.

Narrating how the incident happened, the coordinator of Ututu Young Peoples Christian Fellowship, Abia State University, Uturu Miss Blessing Best Okeke, said, “The night vigil is national. The meeting took place with members from all over Nigeria.

Around 1:45am, we spoke with the National President.

After that, we commenced the warfare prayer. I was the third person that took over the microphone . This happened between 2:10 and 2:15am that Saturday. The last thing I could remember was that after saying a

word of prayer, my head was so heavy that I could not carry myself. Everywhere became so dark. I was not seeing the person standing behind me, but I kept praying.

“We were doing a long haul prayer. My legs could not carry me. I tried to stand, I couldn’t. All I could do was to go to a nearby pillar to lean on it but my legs were shaking. I knelt down.

I was still having the microphone with me praying.

“After the last prayer point that we said, I handed over the microphone to another person. I didn’t know what happened thereafter.

“Where I was still kneeling, my knee could not carry me. I had to lie down.

I was lying on the floor. All I knew was that I heard people’s voices but I was not seeing them around me. At a point, I was giving a sign with my hands, telling them to come and pray for me.

I knew they were not hearing what I was saying because my mouth was not opening. We were 17 in number (16 adults and a boy of two years.”

Mr. Ben Miracle Kalu, the convener and coordinator of the group in Aba, responding on behalf of other members of the group, attributed their survival to the mercy of God. Kalu thanked Orji, his deputy and Abians who were in prayers for their survival.

The Medical Director of Austin Grace Hospital Dr. Mark Iwuagwu, said that, apart from the child that was dead before help could come, the patients were going to be discharged tomorrow even as he assured that they were all medically fit and had regained consciousness.

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lamented that despite criticisms of the Nigerian legal system, the legal practitioner in Nigeria shows more responsibility to his society than his counterpart in the developed countries.

“The Nigerian legal practitioner has to face not only the problems of the developing society but also many of those of the developed one into which Nigeria is moving at a hectic rate, the present rate of change in every facet of life could not have been foreseen”, Uzamere said. He spoke while delivering a lecture entitled: Modelling the Law and Practice in Ni-

geria: A Centenary Benchmark One Hundred Years of Legal Practice in Nigeria, at the Nigeria Bar Association, NBA Benin Law Week.

While insisting that that the legal practice in Nigeria has flourished in the past one hundred years, he regretted that the legal practitioner in Nigeria “is one among the very few privileged people in an environment where the vast majority are not only illiterate but also ignorant, superstitious and poor; his social and traditional environment clogs him and he is required to make a great effort not only to break through but to play his proper role of social

catalyst”.

He went on: “Tn the circumstance, Nigerian legal practitioners must be able not only to perform their traditional functions of catering for the professional needs of the citizens, of administering justice and manning the various legal institutions of the state, but they must also be involved in social change: they must be committed to law reform to ensure the harmonization of law with the culture of the people and they must strive to ensure a strict adherence to the rule of law and among other things, ensure that the newly acquired political power is carefully watched and controlled

so that it is not used to protect or perpetuate the status quo or class domination.

Uzamere, who has practiced law for over 34 years, noted however that it would be difficult for the nation’s legal system to be extricated from that of the British, adding: “This is made more so by the fact that all legal and judicial instructions in this country are either derived from or influenced by English law and the British legal system. It will therefore be appreciated that there had to be constant reference to these English legal institutions in building our own system”.

PAGE 6—SUNDAY VANGUARD, AUGUST 3, 2014

From left: Mrs Queen Philomena Akinlaja, Jumoke Akinlaja-Ajibulu and Hon Joseph Akinlaja of the House of Representatives (Ondo East-West) during the naming ceremony of baby Victoria Onoseghuhan Akinlaja at Iponri Estate … last Sunday.

The new NNPC MD, Dr. Joseph Thlama Dawha (lef) in a handshake with Minister of Petroleum, Alison-Madueke in Abuja

FG adds 370m gas supply to generate 5,000MW by December

NASARAWA IMPEACHMENT PLOT Gov. Almakura rejected our offer to help —Kwankwaso

BY ABDULSALAM MUHAMMAD

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ano State governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has faulted his Nasarawa State counterpart, Umaru Muktar Almakura’s type of politics, saying it was responsible for his predicament.

According to Kwankwaso, Almakura, currently facing impeachment launched by Nasarawa lawmakers, is too soft to be governor under President Goodluck Jonathan.

Kwankwaso told journalists in his office, yesterday, that “you cannot be a gentleman and hope to survive as governor under the present dispensation”.

He added, “A gentleman cannot be a good governor, you need to have so many faces because the game is rough and can’t accommodate a gentleman”.

The Kano governor said Almakura rebuffed intervention and exper-

tise to assist him navigate troubled waters, adding: “He is too soft for my liking.

“On our volition, we suggested to him to allow us mobilise our foot soldiers. He refused. We also appealed to him to allow us come in physically. He refused; always distancing himself from such expertise that

would assist him”.

The APC presidential hopeful lamented how Adamawa State fell like a pack of cards under impeached Governor Nyako, saying the gale of impeachment across APC controlled states was being instigated by the Presidency.

Kwankwaso opined that “the whole madness is a wicked calculations ahead of 2015”, pointing

Pastor Ighodalo denies Ebola story

BY OLAYINKA AJAYI

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astor Ituah Ighoda lo has denied a media report, crediting him as saying Ebola victims should not seek medical attention. A statement by him, yesterday, said: “It has come to our attention a story published by the Punch newspaper written by one Temitayo Famutimi in response to a post on our official Facebook page. The original story was a message of hope and faith reminding us of the ever living words of our Lord

and Saviour Jesus Christ and reaffirming our belief that ‘ with God all things are possible’ , using the John Lake testimony and written to encourage us never to cease praying no matter what we or the world may be going through .

Nowhere in the said story did Pastor Ighodalo make claims that he had found a solution or that “only God’s anointing and the living words of Jesus” were all that were needed for the Ebola disease or that people should not seek medical help and attention. In no

PITAN, friends commence medical mission

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ormer Commission er for Health, Lagos State, Dr. Leke Pitan, and his riends, under the aegis of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Association of General and Private Medical Practitioners of Nigeria (AGPMPN) and Medical Women Association of Nigeria (MWAN) Lagos State Chapters,

out: “It is not going to assist the PDP Federal Government retain power. We have had enough of this impunity, ruthlessness and we are closing ranks to chase them out of power by 2015; it would be too late for them to hoodwink anyone again”.

The Kano governor declared that President Jonathan was qualified for impeachment.

will, tomorrow, commence a free Medical Outreach to all 20 Local Government Areas and 37 Local Council Development Areas of the State.

The programme will be run by qualified, experienced and specialist doctors from the three medical professional bodies.

They shall attend to var-

ious health challenges of the general public and dispense drugs to them free of charge at each location. The team shall also include experienced eye specialists who will conduct on-thespot eye screening, dispense drugs and give glasses free of charge to residents in the various communities.

way did the story suggest for people to act irresponsibly with regards to any medical emergency including the Ebola virus. The headline of the story and its contents were clearly written with sensationalism in mind.

In the spirit of good journalism the reporter should have made attempts to contact the church to verify his story. This negates the practice of professional journalism, which we would have expected from a leading newspaper such as Punch. We sympathise with those who have lost loved ones to the disease and indeed most other diseases ravaging our world including AIDs, Cancer and Malaria and our prayer is that as the medical world continues to look for a solution to the disease and that our God will provide succour and encouragement to all the innocent people going through this trauma and do that, which only He can do”.

BY CHRIS OCHAYI

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n a bid to address the shortfall of electricity supply being experienced in the country, the Federal Government has developed short term intervention strategy to add 370mmcf/d gas supply that will push up power generation capacity to 5,000 megawatts within the next five months.

This step is under a new cross sectoral approach conceived by the Ministries of Petroleum Resources, Power, National Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, and other stakeholders to address inadequate electricity supply.

The new target of 5,000 MW is however a shortfall from the earlier projected 6000MW which Federal Government targets to achieve by December.

Addressing a joint press conference, yesterday, in Abuja, to unveil the new development, the Minister of Petroleum and Natural Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alision-Madueke, said the CBN would pay off N25 billion legacy debt owed to gas suppliers in order to restore confidence to stakeholders.

The minister said the government had resolved to find a lasting solution to abysmal power supply in the country.

Diezani was assisted by the Minister of Power, Professor Chinedu Nebo, Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, Managing Director of PPMC, Mr. David Ige, Chairman of NERC, Dr. Sam Amadi and the new Group Managing Director of NNPC, Joseph Dawha, as well as other stakeholders.

Courts to re-open as JUSUN suspends strike

BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU, Abuja

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udiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, JUSUN, has agreed to suspend the strike it embarked on Monday,August 4.

JUSUN embarked on the strike following the failure of state governments to implement the judgment of the Federal High Court of January 13, 2014, regarding sections 81(3), 121(3), and 162(9) of the 1999 Constitution as amended from tomorrow.

The decision to suspend the strike was contained in a communiqué issued after a meeting the union had with the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu, the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, led by its President Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar and other relevant stakeholders.

The union with the stakeholders also agreed that a period of 45 days would be used to address all the grey areas starting from tomorrow, while no member of the union should be victimized for participating in the strike.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, AUGUST 3, 2014 — PAGE 7

EBOLA: Bauchi residents shun meat; fish patronage soars •Edo, Ondo, FCT allay fears •Fashola counsels Customs

Adeyanju also said that health facilities across the state would be strengthened with equipment to prevent the spread of the disease into the state.

Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) , Sam Amadi during a Joint Press Conference on Inter-Agency Collaboration on Gas-Power in Abuja yesterday. Photo by Gbemiga Olamikan

BY DAYO JOHNSON, TONY NWANKWO, SIMON EBEGBULEM, LAWANI MIKAIRU AND SUSAN EDEH,

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OLLOWING the red alert over Ebola killer virus across the country, fish sellers are being heavily patronised in Bauchi, the Bauchi State capital, as residents shun meat in the light of the claim that the virus could be contracted through the eating of bush meat.

In Lagos, Governor Babatunde Fashola called for professionalism in Customs and Immigration Service at the borders to stop the virus from entering Nigeria.

Edo State government, preemptorily, called for vigilance in the state.

Also, yesterday, ASKY Airlines, which conveyed the Ebola victim who died in Lagos from Liberia, was cleared by the NCAA to resume flying into Nigeria.

In the meantime, an American doctor infected with the Ebola virus became the first to be flown to the U.S. for treatment and arrived, yesterday, in Atlanta, a missionary group said.

BAUCHI Reports from Bauchi, yesterday, said fish sellers at Wunti, Muda Lawal and Central markets, as well as those along the Maiduguri Road confirmed high patronage over the last few days.

High patronage is also being recorded by business owners who have fish ponds in the state.

Mrs. Bolaji Olorunwaju, a fish seller, said the Ebola alert scared people away from consuming bush meat, adding that they now patronize fish.

“Since last week, I have made great profit from the sale of fish. I now make between five to ten thousand

naira a day unlike the former situation when I made five thousand a day.”

Another seller opposite the Bauchi stadium, Sani Maigari, said his fish business had blossomed in the last two weeks because of the fear by residents that the Ebola virus could be contacted through the consumption of meat.

Reacting to the development, the Director of the State Primary Health Care Development Agency, PHCDA, Umar Gamawa, said the state government had put in place measures to forestall the outbreak of the virus.

LAGOS In Lagos, Governor Fashola called for professionalism in Customs and Immigration Service at the borders to check Ebola.

Fashola, who spoke to journalists at the Lagos House, Ikeja, charged the men and women at the nation’s border posts; airports, seaports and land borders, especially men of the Customs and Immigration Service, to be conscious of their added responsibility as the first line of defence for the country against the deadly disease.

“Quite aside from localizing the spread, the men and women at our border posts, especially the Customs and the Immigration Services must now know that they are our first line of defence.

What happens going forward depends on how professionally they act. It is prevention rather than just calling health workers to come and quarantine people that are really the strongest defence now against the migration of the virus”, the governor said.

Fashola said the disease could be contained if it is localized than to allow free

entry of people at the nation’s numerous borders adding, “This is no longer a local problem; it is an international problem because it is being transmitted across the borders”.

EDO Edo State government, yesterday, announced that there was no trace of Ebola in the state. The government, however, advised the people to remain vigilant and report any suspicious case to the nearest health facility.

The State Commissioner for Health, Dr Aihanuwa Eregie, who addressed journalists, said his ministry, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and other health partners had carried out disease surveillance activities in all parts of the state to ensure early detection of any outbreak and the timely containment and control of same.

ONDO In Ondo, the state government commenced moves to contain Ebola.

Health Commissioner, Dr. Dayo Adeyanju, organised a one-day sensitisation meeting with public and private health practitioners in the state on Ebola.

According to him, the state had designated three hospitals with facilities to quarantine any suspected case in the state.

The centres are Federal Medical Centre, Owo for the northern senatorial district, State Specialist Hospital, Akure for the central senatorial district and the State Specialist Hospital, Okitipupa to take care of the south.

The commissioner also said that the state would train 30 barrier nurses to operate the three centres.

ABUJA In Abuja, residents were urged to be vigilant and report any suspicious case to a health facility nearest to t h e m .

According to the FCT Administration, in the face of the Ebola hemorrhagic fever threat, it was stepping up implementation of key outbreak containment strategies including community engagement and involvement, tracing of contacts, sensitization of health workers at all levels both public and private, provision of personal protective equipment, distribution of information leaflets as well as ensure that was effective coordination of all response a c t i v i t i e s .

The Secretary, FCTA Health and Human Services Secretariat, Dr Demola Onakomaiya, explained that the virus has an incubation period of 2- 21days before the onset of symptoms.

ASKY AIRLINE ASKY Airline yesterday resumed flight operations to Nigeria after Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, lifted the suspension placed on the airline on Friday.

This is coming after a series of meetings between top management of the airlines, health experts and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority - NCAA, and a satisfactory report had been submitted with documentary evidence indicating a clear road map on all measures taken to prevent the spread of Ebola.

AMERICAN DOCTOR An American doctor infected with the Ebola virus was the first to be flown to the U.S. for treatment and arrived, yesterday, in Atlanta, a missionary group said.

Two seriously ill American aid workers will be treated at Atlanta’s Emory University Hospital. Samaritan’s Purse missionary group spokesman Todd Shearer told newsmen that a plane carrying Dr. Kent Brantly had left West Africa. Brantly works for the group that is paying for the trip.

The private jet outfitted with a special, portable tent designed for transporting patients with highly infectious diseases arrived at Dobbins Air Force Base in Marietta, Georgia, just outside Atlanta.

BRIEFS NYSC launches mobile app, kicks off online mobilization November CALEB AYANSINA HE National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), weekend, disclosed that it would commence on line registration for mobilization of prospective corps members in November, just as it launched a mobile application to ensure unhindered access to its online content and services.

The Director General of NYSC, Brig-General Johnson Olawumi, who stated this at the official launching of ‘NYSC Mobile Application/ ICT Desk Officers’ Workshop’, in Abuja, noted that the online mobilisation will take effect with the 2014 Batch ‘C’ orientation exercise.

“We will commence online registration that could lead to printing of call up letter by students without going back to their schools; this will be effective from batch ‘C’ this year.

“Though the prospective corps members will get all information regarding the posting on this app, for the on line registration and printing of call up letter, that is going to take the use of a different platform,” he said.

The DG disclosed that the mobile app, to be upgraded periodically to sustain its relevance, would kick off with over two hundred thousand corps users. He said it was imperative for the scheme to leverage on the advantages of mobile technology as a tool for information dissemination to fast track easy link between the scheme and its publics.

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Swansea University holds pre-departure briefings

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WANSEA University held pre-departure briefings from July 3-10, 2014 for students coming on board this 2014 session.

A Swansea team visited Abuja, Port Harcourt and Lagos for one–on-one sessions with confirmed candidates scheduled to resume in the next academic session. The team was led by Emma Frearson Emmanuel, Head of International Development at Swansea University.

Speaking in Lagos during a lull in a tightly packed schedule, Ms Frearson said “Nigeria and Ghana account for the bulk of our African student population and they provide us with a pool of exceptional talent.”

Speaking further she added that her trip was “to meet with prospective students and offer them advice on choices of accommodation, how they can open bank accounts, the very important information they need about visa applications and anything that they might require.” Students preparing to depart for the UK this fall should contact the Swansea offices in Lagos for help with their visas and phone or email. other incidentals via +2347059833881,+2348085693300,+23412805577,nigeria@swansea.ac.uk .

Group commends Oshiomhole

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ATIONAL President of Uneme National Development Association (UNDA), Mr. Earnest Adeji, has commended Edo State governor, Adams Oshomhole, on his developmental programmes stressing that the governor was doing everything humanly possible to develop the state.

The shipping magnate noted that all Uneme ethnic communities had benefited from the infrastructure and educational programmes of the state government.

Adeji, who was with other executives of UNDA, at a meeting with heads of traditional title holders of Uneme in Lagos, said the association would be organizing Uneme Day, with the objective of bringing the ethnic peoples under one umbrella.

He noted that the association was looking into the unemployment issue among Uneme youths, urging the secretary, Mr Ralp Seriki, to establish an employment registrar for the purpose.

OSOPADEC footbridges

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NDO State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC), yesterday, launched the construction of footbridges worth N300 million in its mandate oil-rich communities in the state.

The bridges would be constructed across the two council areas of Ilaje and Ese-Odo and would cover a distance of over 10 kilometres in 157 communit i e s .

Chairman of OSOPADEC, Mr Wole Johnson Ogunyemi, said this during the launch held at Ayetoro c o m m u n i t y .

Ogunyemi said the project is a demonstration of the government’s commitment to improve the lives of the people in the riverine areas.

According to him, the project is just the beginning of good things to come to the area.

He added that the second phase of the pedestrian bridges would soon start, noting that the first phase would be completed within 12 weeks.

PAGE 8—SUNDAY VANGUARD, AUGUST 3, 2014

OSUN POLL:

APC alleges PDP rigging plan GBENGA OLARINOYE & DAPO AKINREFON

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he All Progressives Congress (APC) has alerted Nigerians to what it described as a plan involving an official of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stalwarts to rig Saturday’s gubernatorial election in Osun State.

INEC immediately dismissed the allegation.

The allegation came on a day the APC also said United States Aid Agency (USAID) had contradicted the claim by the PDP that a poll conducted by USAID favoured it to win the Osun poll.

RIGGING PLAN In a statement in Lagos, yesterday, by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the APC said under the alleged plan, an INEC IT staff handed over the electoral register for the state to a special assistant to a top PDP national official, with a view to manipulating it to disenfranchise many voters in the Osun election. ’’For those who may see this as outlandish, they should recall that an INEC official tampered with the voters register used during the last gubernatorial election in Anambra State to remove the names of many voters,’’ the party said.

APC said the plan to tamper with the electoral register for Osun, coupled with INEC’s delay in issuing Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC) to registered voters, especially those who are APC members in the state, highlight

*INEC dismisses it

the desperation of the PDP to win the governorship election at all cost. ’’The truth is that the PDP knows it cannot win a free and fair election in Osun State. Everything so far points to the fact that our party will win by a landslide if the election is free, fair, credible and transparent. In fact, a highly-credible opinion poll carried out by the globally-recognized TNSRMS shows that the APC leads among voters in the state by 73%, compared to a paltry 19% for the PDP”, it stated. ’’Apparently stunned by the reality on the ground, as against the propaganda by the PDP, the party’s candidate, Iyiola Omisore, quickly conjured his own opinion poll, purportedly carried out by USAID, showing that he is leading the APC candidate and incumbent Governor Rauf Aregbesola. ’’Fortunately, USAID has denied carrying out any opinion poll in Osun State, thus putting a lie to the PDP’s claim. There is no better indication of desperation than this.’’

It called on all the people of Osun and APC members and supporters to be very vigilant in other to thwart the evil machinations of those who are averse to credible and violence-free e l e c t i o n s . ’’As we have said repeatedly, we ask for nothing beyond a level-playing field for all the candidates in the Aug. 9 election in Osun State.

Also, we want all registered voters to be able to exercise their franchise without hindrance, since popular participation is the bedrock of

democracy. ’’If the voting is done in the best tradition of free, fair and credible elections, whoever wins or loses will have no problem accepting the outcome.’’

‘It’s a lie’ When contacted, yesterday, Kayode Idowu, chief press secretary to INEC chairman, Prof Attahiru Jega, pointed out that the register is a public document that had been issued to all parties and is even on INEC website.

“One doesn’t know what to make of the allegation”, Kayode Idowu stated.

Also reacting to the rigging plan allegation, the Resident Electoral Commissioner of INEC in Osun State, Mr. Olusegun Agbaje, yesterday, faulted it, saying “it does not mean anything to me.”

“Anybody can just say anything and, to me, it doesn’t mean anything. If they say INEC wants to rig the election, you as a journalist should ask them how and where would they carryout the rigging, not just to make allegations”, Agbaje said. ”I have said it times without number that we (INEC) are committed to conducting a free, fair, credible and acceptable election come August 9. So, if anybody says INEC wants to rig the election, such person should let us know the means of doing so in order to know how to confront it.

“To me, such person is on his own because we are presently training staff and ad-hoc staff of INEC that will, work during the election and we are going to conduct an acceptable election.”

USAID poll controversy In another statement, yesterday, APC said USAID disowned a poll in which PDP’s candidate in the Osun election, Dr Iyiola Omisore, is tipped to win.

The statement by Osun APC Director of Publicity, Research and Strategy, Barr. Kunle Oyatomi, said: “In a desperate bid to create the impression that its candidate is popular, the PDP told a terrible lie, a couple of days ago that the United States agency had tipped its candidate, Iyiola Omisore, to win the election in a poll that the country’s international agency conducted.

“But the PDP’s lie has been refuted by the Acting Public Affairs Officer of the US Consulate General, Lagos, Rhonda Watson, who said that ‘No USAID poll was taken in Osun”.

Reacting, yesterday, the Director of Media and Strategy of the Omisore Campaign Organisation, Prince Diran Odeyemi, ?accused the APC of an attempt to use the opinion poll as a propaganda.

Odeyemi said?: “An opinion poll is an opinion poll. It is the opinion of some people. The fact on ground is the vote of the people and that is what we rely on. We don’t even want to talk about opinion at all because the whole thing is messed up. It is becoming another propaganda by the APC and we do not want to get involved in it. We are no longer concerned about? any opinion poll because the election is just seven days away.”

He added: The election will be the deciding factor and that is what we are concerned about.”

PDP RALLY FOR OMISORE President Goodluck Jonathan and leaders of the PDP stormed Oshogbo, Osun State capital, yesterday, to campaign for its candidate in next Saturday’s gubernatorial election, Dr Iyiola Omisore.

BRIEFS Asagba demands fairness for old Mid West Region

BY HUGO ODIOGOR

Prof. Chike Edozien, the Asagba of Asaba and President of Anioma Congress, has commended the National Conference on its far reaching decision on restructuring of the Federation to ensure equity, justice and fairness.

The paramount traditional rule, who marked his 89th birthday this week “said his wish is to see an Anioma State in his life time and urged the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan to expedite action on implementing the recommendations of the National Conference Committee on Re-structuring to diffuse areas of tension and acrimony inflicted on the federation by lopsided administrative and political structures left behind by the previous administrations.

The Asagba, who spoke through Hon. Dan Okenyi, the Secretary General of Anioma Congress, said: “we are happy that the National Conference listened to the yearnings of Anioma State as reflected in the proposed 18 new states, because we have continued to insist that we have not been treated fairly by the previous administrations on the issue of restructuring of the federation”.

The professor emeritus of medicine said: “there is no disputing the fact that all the old regional structure in the country have gained in term of the number of states, thereby growing and expanding exponentially, especially in opportunities for the development of those new administrative units and power centres, which we know as states”.

New Telegraph MD bags IPMD Fellowship award The Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of New Telegraph, Mr. Gabriel Akinadewo, was among 20 other eminent Nigerians conferred with the Fellowship of Institute of Policy Management Development.

Speaking at the induction ceremony, the Executive Vice President of the Institute Engr. Alicho K. Emmanuel (FIPMD) lauded the sterling Managerial qualities of the awardees.

He added that “the institute’s core value is to create a world class forum for sustainable best policy management practices that would ensure consistency, efficiency and proper policy implementation management by policy executors,” pointing out that the awardees met the standards maxim set by the institute.

On the criteria for the nomination of the awardees, he said: “We nominated these personalities on the account of excellence of their stewardship in their respective areas of endeavours.”

Akinadewo was represented at the ceremony by Deputy Editor of New Telegraph newspaper, Mr. Louis Achi. In his Induction Lecture titled: “Challenges of Public Policy Implementation in Nigeria: The way forward”, Chief (DR). Johnson Ebokpo succinctly explained that Policy Implementation is the process of turning policies into practices. He attributed the failure of Policies’ implementation in Nigeria to the following factors: inadequacy of committed and skillful officials,Tribal sentiments, changes in socio-economic conditions, acceptability, awareness, constant management changes and Media challenges. Dr. Ebokpo therefore recommended amongst other things that “leaders and ordinary citizens must always strive to subordinate their personal interest to the broader interest of the institutions, states or nation, there lies the realization of the Nigeria of our dream.”

NSB commends Fashola’s N50m donation to equip centre President Jonathan and PDP top members

President Jonathan, Omisore and Alhaji Bello

VP, Sambo, President Jonathan and Omisore

PDP faithful

BY OLAYINKA AJAYI As the Nigerian Society for the Blind, NSB Vocational training centre, Oshodi, is set to mark it’s 9th white cane day in Lagos, the society has commended Gov.Raji Fashola on his kind-gesture of the donation of N50 million and his supports towards empowering the visually impaired citizens in Nigeria through effective vocational training acquisition. Addressing news men recently, the committee chairman on white cane walk, Chief Olu Falomo, however stated that the coming NSB white cane day fitness walk in Lagos is billed to take place on the 9th of August, 2014, at the main bowl of the National Stadium, Surulere, down to Custain round about and back into the stadium. Chief Falomo, further urged Nigerians not to relent in assisting visually impaired persons with white cane crossing high ways. In the same vein, Bar. Lanre Adebayo enjoined other promising states governors to rally round the non tribal vocation centre in order to empower more visually impaired persons to be useful to themselves and the nation as well. email:+2347059833881,+2348085693300,+23412805577,nigeria@swansea.ac.uk .

SUNDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 3, 2014, PAGE 9

All letters bearing writers' names and full addresses should be typed and forwarded to: The Editor, Sunday Vanguard, Kirikiri Canal, P. M. B. 1007, Apapa, Lagos. E-mail: sunvanguardmail@yahoo.com

Generator & diesel importation – cause of power reforms failure Dear Sir,

I

N this day and age, what is the big deal about electric power generation and distribution to every part of Nigeria? Exactly what is our excuse for this perpetual state of electricity insufficiency for all segments of the Nigerian society?

Why have we for so long been unable to get this electricity ‘thing’ right? What is wrong with us?

We have natural gas, much of which we waste by flaring it off. In addition, we have enough hydro resources to get electricity from river dams. Added to this, we have enough solar radiation by virtue of our geographical location to source a significant portion of our electrical needs from the solar power.

Again I ask, Nigerians, what is our problem? Is it the know-how? We have Nigerians, at home and abroad, who have knowledge and expertise in all man-made technologies, to create, produce, procure, install and commission everything we need to generate and distribute electricity to every Nigerian, present and future.

So, what is our problem with electricity generation and distribution? I know you’re probably going to say our problem is money. But that is a lie. We have more money than we have had the sense to correctly manage. Money is not our problem.

In fact, as any honest Nigerian can testify, we have thrown too much money at this ‘problem’; so much money that by now we should have had surplus electricity for all our needs.

With all the above, I dare say that we are without any excuse when it comes to electricity supply. We cannot continue to blame

the unavailability of gas and pipeline vandals for this problem.

So, if it is not gas, money or know-how, Nigeria, what is our problem? Why are we so incapable of producing and supplying electricity for our domestic needs?

Every Nigerian must ask and keep asking these questions until correct answers emerge from the stake holders.

All the incidents of so-called pipeline vandalism and theft of power line resources need to be investigated to locate the sponsors of such sabotage. It’s been suggested that the perpetual blackouts in most areas may be tied to the need for diesel fuel merchants to meet their sales quota of imported diesel fuel. A forensic review and analysis of the status quo with regard to Nigeria’s electricity power sup-

ply needs to be undertaken now to come up with holistic solutions to this issue.

In addition to the debilitating economic impact of lack of reliable electricity supply, incidents of criminal activity, which occur mainly in the night time will be greatly reduced with the provision of lights in our cities and villages.

To check this ugly trend, the federal government should ban all Importation of generators and diesel.In terms of the power sector, attention needs to be paid to importers of generators and the diesel that fuels them. The importers and distributors of these generators have highly placed Nigerians as their directors and politically exposed persons and government officials as interventionists so they can continue to import and sell big and expensive

generators. These generator and diesel importers and distributors have and are killing Nigerians with darkness and all the economic and social costs associated with absence of adequate electricity supply. They are unpatriotic Nigerians!!

If we are serious about having any success with regard to electric power generation and distribution, we need, as a matter of urgency, put a total ban on all classes of generators.

Please let us give Nigerians some hope that we are not as stupid and clueless as the lack of solutions of this problem makes us.

Pastor Matthew Royal Foundation Mission (RFM) 4 Bimkol Crescent, GRA II, Port Harcourt. PastorMatthew43in1@yahoo.com

DPR deserves our commendation Dear Sir, The terpsichorean fits, furore and palpable agony which recurrent fuel scarcity continues to plunge the vast majority of Nigerians remain a platitudinous truism.

The reasons for the undying fuel scarcity are often ascribed to Pipelines and products Marketing Company Limited’s (PPMC) corruption, equipment breakdown, diversion by tanker drivers, hoarding by marketers, Nigerian National Petroleum Company’s (NNPC) technocratic policies laced with histrionic rhetoric, insufficient importations and Directorate of Petroleum Resources Administrative lapses etc.

But the last petroleum outage which

lasted from April to May 2014 was checkmated by the stout, resolute and administrative guts of DPR’s officials. According to our investigations, their officials monitored movement of loaded trucks right from the PPMC Depot to Filling Stations to ensure that the Mephistopheles and horrendous ghost of fuel scarcity meets its waterloo. They ensured that marketers who manipulated their fuel dispensing pumps calculated to fleece members of the unsuspecting public were penalized and the off – pump price of N 97 per litre was maintained.

DPR’s stunning and courageously disarming commitment resonated the inaugural address of John Fitzgerald Kennedy in January 20, 1961 that, “let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill,

that we shall face any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to ensure the survival and the success of liberty” and so also did DPR declare for the success of product availability for the month of April and May 2014. We say THANK You DPR and hope they will keep it up and heighten their credibility and sustainability index. The essayist Longfellow posited “that the heights reached and attained by great men were not attained by sudden flight they toiled al

CHIEF BOBSON GBINIJE MANDATE AGAINST POVERTY (MAP) WARRI. 08023250378

PAGE 10—SUNDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 3, 2014

The promise of death in Akwa Ibom --2

C

RIMES have been committed in Akwa Ibom State – murders, kidnappings, arson, abduction, extortion – most of which had not been solved by the Nigeria Police or the SSS till today. By 2009, according to the Annual Report of the Nigeria Police, Akwa Ibom, hitherto low on the league table of states for crimes had risen to the number one position. It was definitely not the sort of “trophy” any state governor would like to keep on his shelf. In that fateful year, 2009 that is, 177 murders were committed

in a state which never recorded up to sixty a few years back. By 2010 the crime rate had exploded such as to erase the record of 2009. Some would recall that on February 14, 2010, the Governor was reported by the DAILY INDEPENDENT as asking his supporters to “crush all opposition to government.” A few days after that declaration, one Engineer who had relocated from the Far East in 2011, barely escaped assassination. He was hastily flown out of Nigeria for treatment to save his life. His aged mother was not so fortunate. After being kidnapped, and a ransom paid, the poor old woman, about 80 years old, was still murdered and the body dumped on the road. Several cases of murder and kidnapping were recorded in quick

succession and Akwa Ibom State which up to 2007, was one of the safest states in Nigeria, leapt to the first position for crime nationwide.

Until the 2011 elections were conducted the state

,

“History is little more than the register of the crimes, follies and misfortunes of mankind.”

Edward Gibbon, 17341794.

(VANGUARD BOOK OF QUOTATIONS p 92).

Guilty or not, Akpabio needs to understand that there has been a significant change in his situation with respect to power. In 2009, he still had six more years to spend in the Government House – more than sufficient time to deal with the opposition. Now, he has ten months left in power

was gripped by fear; few people could be seen out after 7 o clock at night and even home was not safe.

While the opposition pointed accusing fingers at the state government, the Police and the SSS

Ebola: No need for panic, understand the facts

T

es a potentially lethal illness called hemorrhagic fever. It renders the body's blood vessels porous and they start to leak, causing catastrophic internal bleeding. It is said that up to nine out of ten people who contract the virus will die without immediate medical attention. It is actually pretty hard to catch Ebola. It is not airborne and contrary to the rumour mill, unless if bodily fluids was. The major outbreak of Ebola disease has killed at least 672 people so far in West Africa and British airports and airlines are on high alert to stop passenger ’s disease, Passengers thought to have virus are being barred from taking flights to UK as Ebola can spread through sweat and saliva and there is no vaccine or cure yet.

This is so close to home and it has become a worldwide concern as people from Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia have not been infected and two cases reported in Lagos has got the world in a head spin. Here in the UK, experts warned deadly Ebola virus could spread to Britain through

MEAT: it is concerned that contaminated meats illegally smuggled into UK could carry killer bug and

,

"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."-Benjamin Franklin HE first time that I heard Ebola was from a Reader's Digest that I read many years ago. The depiction of its virulence, rampant potency of the disease was that of horrific movies. So I thought it was consigned to the past.

Was I wrong? The virus emerged in 1976 in an isolated village near the Ebola River in the Democratic Republic of Congo and that is where it got its name - Ebola; Ebola is real and so far, has claimed hundreds of lives in West Africa and rest of the world is anxiously waiting that it does not visit its shores. The latest outbreak in West Africa is the worst on record - killing more than 670 people - and is also the first to affect people in cities and not just remote villages. In Guinea, the epidemic has reached the capital, Conakry. "The scientific world agreed that it is a major concern that might spread to the rest of the world. We all need to take personal responsibility and ensure that we do not help to spread the disease.

Ebola is a virus that caus-

failed to solve a single one of these crimes. Akpabio was stoutly defended by his appointees – some of them have since turned coat. The truth might never be known until one of the murderers and kidnappers choose to confess and provide evidence.

However, guilty or not, Akpabio needs to understand that there has been a significant change in his situation with respect to power. In 2009, he still had six more years to spend in the Government House – more than sufficient time to deal with the opposition. Now, he has ten months left in power and must hand over the

,

levers of power to a successor. A lame duck governor, seeking to go to the Senate and deliver his state to the President embarking on a quest for the second term, is so distracted as not to constitute such a formidable clude fever, headache and lethargy. This progresses to severe diarrhea and vomiting.' The incubation period for the virus varies from two days to three weeks.

Despite the seriousness of the disease, which causes bleeding from the mouth, ears and eyes, preventing it spreading is relatively simple. A sudden temperature, muscle aches, vomiting or a rash might indicate that someone may have contracted the disease. It is highly recommended that infected person is isolated from others to avoid and limit spreading, According to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention they have advised people to wash hands

Ebola is a virus that causes a potentially lethal illness called hemorrhagic fever. It renders the body's blood vessels porous and they start to leak, causing catastrophic internal bleeding

may be 'on a market stall in London' This Tuesday, the UK Foreign Secretary, Philip Hammond chaired an emergency Cobra meeting on the growing fears that the virus could enter Britain from Africa. Unlike the West African countries, health authorities have the infrastructure to cope.

UK Prime Minister David Cameron said of the outbreak, was a "very serious threat" to the UK. What are the symptoms of Ebola? Here lies the problem; it can be confused with other lesser illnesses as the initial symptoms are quite non-specific and similar to a flu-like illness. They in-

,

thoroughly with warm water and soap or, if that is not available, a hand sanitizer can be used.

Due to proximity of Nigeria to the Ebola-affected countries, it is not surprising that Patrick Sawyer, a passenger from Liberia en route to America, was allowed to board multiple international flights. It was reported that he was vomiting and suffering from diarrhea, he flew from Liberia, stopped over in Ghana, changed planes in Togo and died in Nigeria. So Nigeria is on the alert and all Nigerian passengers travelling abroad may notice that stringent monitoring will be applied when they trav-

foe. And, from May 29, 2015, he will be on his own….Creating mortal foes should not be one of his most pressing problems.

One obvious unintended consequence of his utterances, quoted in PUNCH, July 17, 2014, needs to be pointed out to the governor before we turn the page, for now, on this matter. From now until the 2015 election for governor in Akwa Ibom State, Akpabio has opened himself up to unintended consequences of his statement on how to deal with opposition in the state – whether or not he was responsible.

His immunity from prosecution ends on May 29, 2015. He will be welladvised to remember the fate of former Governor Mbadiniju of Anambra State….

“WHERE ARE THE CHIBOK FATHERS?” – Lisk-Carew

Captain Abiodun LiskCarew, retired Air Force officer, and a former Chairman of the Lagos Island Local Government Council, last week exploded in anger when he read another story about the Chibok girls and their mothers in the papers. In a call to our columnist el to other countries abroad. The international authorities considered that they may even halt air travel from Nigeria in order to curtail the spread of the disease.

Unfortunately, some callous Nigerians see this as an opportunity to cash in on the tragedy. It has been reported that Nigerian fraudsters are deceptively claiming that they can cure Ebola if it breaks out there.

Lagos State Government also has warned the Nigerian public to be wary of some pastors who claim to have cure for the dreaded Ebola virus. It is sad that some people see opportunities in such tragic circumstances.

The Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Aderemi Ibirogba, specifically warned people not to fall for the fraudsters who were reportedly making spurious claims about their ability to provide cure for the deadly virus. He called on those who wanted to rip off members of the public to desist from such claims of cure or risk arrest and prosecution.

And concluded that "Only medical solutions are known to be appropriate for the disease" At present there is no known cure but severely ill patients would require intensive supportive care and intravenous fluids to rehydrate them. Some patients will recover with the appropriate care one in nine will recover from the disease

Aregbesola,Omisore Clash that never was

Despite the promise that Omisore and Aregbesola will have an American like

Dele Sobowale, the former Council Chief and a father to several kids voiced his disappointment at the passive role the fathers and brothers of the Chibok girls are playing in the entire episode.

“Where are the fathers and brothers of these girls? he asked, visibly angry. “Are we expected to believe that some Nigerian men are so irresponsible or gutless as to leave the search for their daughters and sisters to the women alone?” He went on to say that, “Everybody in Nigeria should hold these men, without “balls”, responsible for not doing enough to bring their own girls back instead of leaving the task to the Federal Government alone as if it does not concern them”, he concluded.

P.S. I was informed that some of the fathers had been actively involved in the struggle to return the girls. But, the print media had made it appear as if it was an all-female affair.

V i s i t : www.delesobowale.com or Visit: www.facebook.com/biolasobowale

Live debate. The usually ebullient Omisore failed to turn up. He was back tracking and giving spurious excuses for not participating. He does not seem big after all. When it came time to deliver, only Rauf Aregbesola, was there on his own to answer questions about his administration. The lackluster effort of the opposition was very telling as one opposition candidate, Mr. Akinbade, sent his running mate to stand in for him. The organizers disallowed him from participating, sticking to the rules that candidates would not be represented by proxies. The candidate of the Unity Party of Nigeria [UPN], Ibrahim Adeoti, who was not invited to the debate, however walked into the studio towards the end of the programme, insisting to be allowed to participate. He was allowed time to speak. Organizers said they were shocked that Omisore and Akinbade failed to attend the debate.

The organizers said that: "We wrote to them and up to 20 minutes to the beginning of the programme, they were still giving us the impression they would be attending, Apparently, Omisore said he was not properly invited to the debate! This debate has been written about for a long time. Omisore through his spin doctor said that he (Omisore) did not receive any formal letter inviting him. Well, the flip flopping has already started and I think it will get murkier from here on.

Whatever the case, I am sure that Aregbesola's achievements speaks for itself and the people of Osun will do the right thing and vote with their conscience. One can only hope for a free and fair election.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, AUGUST 3, 2014, PAGE 11

Good Policy, Little Scope Committee (PAC) when he openly opined that government was not only unduly top-heavy but also unnecessarily bloated thereby urging government to rationalize its public service. We can therefore assume that he could be trusted to handle any assignment with due diligence.

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J

OE, my friend was greatly agitated some two weeks back over the appointment of General Theophilus Danjuma as chairman of a new committee to help government cater for victims of the current wave of insurgency in Nigeria. Joe thought that the Danjumas of this world have had more than enough of public assignments insisting that recycling such individuals in a nation overflowing with dynamic and bubbling human resources suggested the failure of government to ponder outside the box. Although I agreed that we have many persons of proven integrity for such assignments, I couldn’t disapprove of Danjuma’s inclusion. To start with, the man has never been found wanting in any previous assignment.

Second, not being a sycophant like most other government appointees, he would not fight shy of telling the President the truth as he did as Chairman of the Presidential Advisory

public funds in Nigeria who ingeniously expropriate what is in their care. Joe and I then concurred that President Jonathan did well in setting-up the committee whose major advantage would be to put a halt to the old practice whereby victims of insurgency are hardly remembered after the original visits of our leaders to their homes and hospital beds immediately after terrorists’ attacks. We also agreed that enlisting a credible Danjuma to head

Considering that supporting insurgency victims is an issue that is acceptable to many Nigerians, its fund raising event concerns us all-not just the high and the mighty. Throwing it open is not just about how much we can collect, it can also unite all

Again, if the rumour that Danjuma is stupendously rich is true and that his problem has become what to do with his money; he is not likely to follow the common path of trustees of

,

the committee was likely to attract virtually all patriots especially public spirited individuals to support the noble cause of rehabilitating our fellow citizens who had become victims of

PhD, Department of Philosophy, University of Lagos,

Understanding the role of emotional intelligence in corporate success (3)

A

t the personal lev el, self-knowledge, attitude and behaviour are crucial. Knowledge or self-awareness in this context involves accurate understanding of our own feelings, preferences, goals and values, grasping how others feel about us and applying that information in our daily transactions. A positive attitude for success grows by cultivating a "cando" or winning mentality and believing in ourselves, overcoming self-doubt and taking reasonable risks, being assertive and not aggressive, being goal-motivated, admitting mistakes, and moving on after each setback. With respect to behaviour, the focus is on how to act appropriately in stressful situations, putting our emotions under reasonable control, adaptability and balancing rational and emotional considerations.

The social dimension of EI stands on the tripod of knowledge, attitude and behaviour also. Here, knowledge involves the ability to understand others, having empathy, listening attentively and reading non-verbal cues. With regard to attitude, the emphasis is on having a positive outlook, creativity, being a source of inspiration to others, acting with conviction and commitment. Socially competent behaviour demands that one should find com-

mon ground and endeavour to establish rapport with others, cultivate skills for persuading and influencing people, integrity, likeability and building positive, mutually beneficial, relationships.

Recent researches on the nexus between leadership, management and performance indicate that EI skills are indispensable for effective performance and leadership in a corporate setting. For instance, studies of "think tanks" dominated by highly intelligent individuals show that some people outperform others. Such high performers are more adaptable, more prepared to take on responsibility, and tend to establish rapport more easily with co-workers. These EI qualities do not depend on high IQ or technical expertise. In addition, sales managers unable to handle stress are usually in charge of departments that perform poorly, whereas those managers that perform better under stress have high sales volume. Moreover, CEOs adjudged most successful by their colleagues were those who scored highest in the ability to establish relationships with and inspire others, rather than those rated highest in technical competency. EI qualities of empathy, optimism, assertiveness, and self-awareness were highly predictive of success.

As was suggested earlier,

minimising the pain of misfortune is the soul of insurance business. Therefore, while interacting with customers employees of insurance companies should display appropriate personal and social aspects of EI enunciated above. Consider a situation in which a policyholder (Mrs. P) is involved in a car accident and expects her insurance company to come to her assistance by either repairing the car or replacing it with a new one, given that the car was comprehensively insured and her premium payment is up to date.

Shortly after the accident was reported the insurance company sends one of its claims staff, Mr. A, to handle the case. However, instead of showing empathy and accelerating the processing of Mrs. P's claims, Mr. A uses subtle delay tactics in order to be "settled" by the client to do his job. Clearly, Mr A's unprofessional conduct is unacceptable: it is an aspect of the frustrating "Nigerian factor" epitomised in the "come-today-come-tomorrow" syndrome and expectation of bribe, which discourages Nigerians from patronising insurance companies in Nigeria. The situation is better at the corporate level because companies have legal departments that handle issues arising from claims.

General apathy towards

who accidentally heard of it? Even at that, whose donation did government not want at the dinner when the President said that no amount was too little to be contributed by anyone? In addition, why was the event an elitist dinner and not a rallying point for us all? Put differently, why would government restrict a fund raising event for the common good to only those who get formal invitation cards?

Will the explanation that more opportunities and indeed other venues would arise and that donations can come in different forms change the opinions of the uninvited?

We just hope that some queer aides did not concoct a theory of likely security breaches if the event was thrown open. If they did, they have once more unwittingly robbed the President of a golden opportunity to mobilize the masses to stand by him on this common source of unity. Considering that supporting insurgency victims is an issue that is acceptable to many Nigerians, its fund raising event concerns us all-not just the high and the mighty. Throwing it open is not just about how much we can collect, it can also unite all. The stadium, International Conference Centre or the Eagle Square would at any point be a better rallying point for all. Of course, we are not imputing that some evil minded persons may not find their way to such places for mischief but

it is obviously ridiculous for public events to be moved to the President’s bedroom for security reasons.

Our premise is that public events should still hold in public places even in these hard times but amidst tight security. That is why we have what we hear daily-a robust security outfit.

The contrary is for critics to hold the view that our security framework is suspect. Again, if by any chance such reasoning accounts for the trend of holding within the villa, public events like our independence anniversary meant for every citizen, those behind the thought are President Jonathan’s friends that well-meaning people need to save him from. This is because their perception would always render nugatory, the benefits of many of Jonathan’s public policies.

Indeed, a perception that keeps a popularly elected President from the ordinary citizen is unwise and ought to be discarded. The meeting of the President with the Chibok community for instance was quite reassuring but it would have been more valuable if “loyalists” did not dissuade him from meeting the community in Chibok. It is worse that the same loyalists have turned the ‘gift’ meant to alleviate the suffering of the people pending the release of their girls into an avoidable and scandalous controversy.

Our plea today is to the handlers of our President to let him flow

insurance in the country is reversible through public enlightenment based on pragmatic, well-structured, human resource development and capacity-building programmes by insurance companies, with special emphasis on improving the EI of their workers. If a policyholder suffers some loss, the claims officer in charge must be sympathetic, attentive and willing to help. He must be creative in dealing with the situation and display professionalism to boost confidence in the insured that her interest is top priority for the insurance company handling her portfolio.

Aside from staff involved in all aspects of claims handling, employees in the marketing department need to bolster their EI to win new

In the high-tension competitive world of insurance, some CEOs and managers are condescending and insolent to staff under their supervision. This is a big mistake, for although most employees are keenly interested in the progress of the firm they also want their superiors to treat them with respect and dignity. Bossy, temperamental and overbearing CEOs and managers tend to alienate subordinates, thereby generating a frosty and up-tight working environment that engenders declining productivity. In the corporate world, leaders who actively inspire and motivate others, who encourage teamwork and lead by example, are usually successful. A CEO with high EQ harnesses wisely the diversity of skills and talents at

irrespective of the person's position in the company.

Conflict is inevitable wherever people work together.

Instead of seeing conflict negatively, managers should recognise it as an opportunity to take a fresh look at habitual ways of thinking and acting in the company. The very process of working through a conflict to the resolution stage strengthens the team and promotes cohesiveness.

Corporate leaders need to assess critically the issues that bring about conflict and endeavour to direct human energies so that the entire team moves forward in the same direction. They can apply EI skills to harmonise conflicting perspectives to enhance the probability of getting the best results from subordinates and preserve team spirit in the workplace.

Corporate success, in terms of top quality service delivery and profitability on a long-term basis, is the ultimate goal of every corporate organisation, especially for insurance companies with responsibility to manage risks and ameliorate the pains of clients who suffered loss in one form or another. Excellent service delivery is the key to sustainable good customer relationship in the highly professionalised world of insurance, as in other areas of human endeavour. From the foregoing, EI, which simply is the harnessing of emotional resources to achieve a particular purpose, is indispensable in the quest to remain ahead of competitors. All employees of insurance companies, from the CEOs down to security officers at the gate, need highly developed EI skills to function optimally for the overall success of these firms.

CONCLUDED.

,

Support for Insurgency Victims:

insurgency. This encouraged both Joe and i to look forward to donating our widow’s mite at the appropriate time.

However, it did not immediately occur to us that the fund raising event could take the pattern of a dinner for the privileged class. We didn’t imagine that such a good policy would serve to narrow the scope of participation of Nigerians in the event. It was in earnest frustrating to learn, that the fund raising event was scheduled for last Thursday at the highbrow Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja. For God’s sake how would the average citizen get into such a venue which on a normal day has more security operatives than laymen? This reminded me that the last time I had an event at the Broadcasting Commission which is only a neighbour of the villa; I had cause to promise myself to avoid that part of the city which is good only for the board room politics of the ruling party and not a public event.

The most intriguing part of it all was the announcement that attendance at the event would be “strictly on invitation”. If we were to assume for a moment that a restricted audience was expedient, why was the event publicised in the media for the rest of us that government did not intend to welcome? Would it not have been sufficient to disallow entry at the gate to the few uninvited guests

Conflict is inevitable wherever people work together. Instead of seeing conflict negatively, managers should recognise it as an opportunity to take a fresh look at habitual ways of thinking and acting in the company

clients for their company and retain old ones. This is where deployment of social intelligence skills such as the capacity to interpret nonverbal cues accurately, taking initiative, having a positive outlook, likability and persuasive skills is crucial, because a combination of these skills are needed to overcome apathy and resistance by the general public towards insurance. Insurance personnel assigned to customers must learn to control their emotions; they must be firm but not too aggressive to avoid discouraging potential clients.

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her disposal to achieve corporate goals set by the company. Hence, during brainstorming sessions, intense emotions sometimes flare up, but a thoughtful manager with appropriate EI skills will quickly deploy her sense of care and genuine sympathy to allow employees express their emotions in a manner that solves the problem at hand without rancour. Of course, solving problems as a group helps people to channel their emotions productively; this approach usually leads to better results than anyone could have achieved alone

PAGE 12—SUNDAY VANGUARD, AUGUST 3, 2014

‘E-learning equips graduates with Breaking Strongholds (2) 21st century skills'

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T’S absolutely amazing to me to find that deep inside ourselves is the one place we will never look for answers. Quite a lot of people are terrified to look within for answers, they find it easier to blame the environment, their parents, bad luck or even their situations, and anybody but them is the source of all discontent and failure. We like to follow the path of least resistance, taking on suggestions and established truths of others so we don’t have to dig for our own inner truths! Once upon a time, it was an established truth that the earth was flat; the man who thought it round was considered a heretic; so founding our lives on established truths is tricky as truth changes ground once new information is available! There is much talk of the five proven senses; almost everyone is sold on the senses of taste, touch, sight, smell etc. I am a firm believer in multisensory perception and believe strongly in the continuum of the senses; I appreciate the things I see, touch taste etc but I don’t dismiss those that I can’t. A continuum is something that doesn’t have an end or beginning; that’s what knowledge is. A good example is the television; the waves that transmit the pictures may not be visible to the naked eye

repeatedly that they can’t; that they themselves have accepted that they can’t! It’s almost like being programmed for failure by auto suggestions (fear induced suggestions} and heterosuggestions (derogatory name calling and suggestions by others; mostly loved ones!)I came across the terms as a teenager( a story for another day) when I started acquiring books on hypnotherapy and Telekinesis a long time ago so I know for certain how pliable the human mind is. The mind is like a very fertile garden; the seeds you plant will grow! If parents affirm that their children will grow up to be vagabonds, it is almost certain that they will be! If the adult doesn’t counter with powerful and positive suggestions to uproot the evil seeds the damage is most times irreparable! The beauty however is the pliable nature of the mind, it can be reprogrammed to turn fear into faith and negativity into optimism, and it all depends on the individual! A simple set of questions is key.

Do you want more?

Do you truly believe that you deserve more?

Are you willing to look within for the answers?

The first step is to start believing that you can and answering a re-

There are certainly challenges that have nothing to do with our minds that we face in this perilous times

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but they are there as evidenced by pictures we see; they are still in the room when you turn off the television; pretending they are not there doesn’t not invalidate their existence.

Strongholds are the end products of fear, of suggestions that have been planted into our minds that we are less than we can be. Simply put if you believe you can’t, you can’t!! So many people have been told

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sounding YES to all three questions! There are certainly challenges that have nothing to do with our minds that we face in this perilous times. The dangers of terrorism and Ebola are not strongholds my mind has made up, they are very clear and present dangers that we all face. My mind is however in control of how I let those things affect me and it will certainly navigate the way I balance the real danger against the natural fear we all feel.

I attended the birthday of a friend, brother, pastor a while back and I marvelled at a mind that had broken free of strongholds and all vain limitations and vanities. Pastor Kunle Ajayi is a gift of God not only to Pastor Enoch Adeboye, who calls him son and minstrel, he is a gift of beautiful, soul lifting music to the rest of the world and long before I became his sister and friend I was a fan! At a small and intimate celebration with friends over lunch last sunday to celebrate his 50th, he gave a thank you speech that was a message and a rhema to all that were present. He told a story of a life that was almost truncated by ill health and gave God the glory for a career in music that has defied medical explanations. "If I die now, I have lived well" he said and he brushed all our protestations aside. He could say that because there were no more strongholds left. His mind was not limited by fear, rather he had no fear, even of the ultimate end, whenever and however that was! His focus was on the prize that awaits all of those who live for Christ.

Whatever may come, I am personally persuaded that fear is not the answer, I refuse to demonise any tribe,religion or region of Nigeria, I remain a Nigerian who loves Nigeria and Nigerians and I will not let fear erect strongholds in my mind. Truth is that I will live the best life possible and leave all else to God who is the ultimate decider of my fate. I want more, I believe I deserve more and I am willing to look inside of me for more. I started tearing down strongholds built in my mind by negativity of others a long time ago and I am actively working hard to rid my mind of fears that are a result of the dangers now so present all around.

Like Pastor Kunle I want to build my mind up to a level where even death holds no fear for me and I will take no thought for tomorrow, that's God's responsibility. I can only encourage others to not give in to hate and reprisals; hate is not defeated by hate, love and moderation should be our objective to rescue our beloved country!

had very explanatory examples and illustrations to drive home a concept. I especially appreciate the way she taught us the need to tie whatever work we did to the academic concepts that we were taught. She also challenged us to be ready to critique hypotheses and theorems and also to analyze various concepts in the light of our own experience and ascertain

BY EMEKA AGINAM

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ODAY, information and communications technologies (ICTs) infiltrate classrooms around the world at an exceedingly rapid pace. With the gradual shift to online learning, an ICT entrepreneur and graduate student of Roehampton University’s online MBA programme, Chikelue Oji, in this interview with Sunday Vanguard shares his experience on the institution’s online MBA programme . According to him, the program has become a means of equipping graduates with leadership skills and strategic analysis. He explained how e-learning has equipped graduates with 21st century skills to face the challenges ahead.

Excerpt: Enrollment at the University of Roehampton Online I signed up for the University ’s Masters in Business Administration programme in September, 2013. I chose the MBA programme because I had become interested in business, prior to, and after having founded my own ICT consulting company in 2008. After the recession years back, I became increasingly interested in ethical business leadership and realized that the recession and various business failures were as a result of a lack of sound business knowledge. This has prompted my enrollment for the university’s Masters of Business Administration (MBA) programme to invest in getting the requisite knowledge.

Why Roehampton University I chose the University of Roehampton because the institution has proven itself as one that caters expertly to the needs of busy professionals who cannot leave their jobs and home countries to travel to the UK for the conventional programme.

I enrolled at the university because I had been looking for an opportunity to study for a MBA degree in an internationally-recognized University, without the hassle of leaving my job, business, family, and country to travel to the UK for about two to three years.

Fortunately, when I came across a colleague that was doing an online MSc programme at the same university, I decided to check it out. After running my checks on the suitability of Roehampton to my requirements, I made the decision and enrolled.

Experience in online study

What I enjoy most about studying online with Roehampton include the flexibility of learning, easy access to information and learning materials and the global diversity of students.

I am able to go to school on my laptop without the commute associated with the traditional brick and mortar educational institutions; this suits my busy schedule very much.

What has surprised me the most about my online learning experience is the fact that we learn for ourselves. It is a shared experience between the students and the instructors.

Collaboration with students I collaborate with fellow students through the shared activities. This means of learning from the vast and diverse experiences of my fellow students is invaluable.

Facility at the school I really enjoyed learning under the instruction and moderation of Dr. Cynthia Phillips in the module Learning and Leading in a Dynamic Era. She always

whether they hold true.

Student services I have found the institution’s student support service, enrolment support service and the library to be very useful in my learning process.Yes, I have been able to apply what I am learning to my current career. For example, my concept of leadership has changed significantly. I have also learned how to communicate my expectations effectively and influence people whilst applying different leadership styles and the Pygmalion effect, a phenomenon whereby the greater the expectation I place upon myself and others, the better we perform.

Career goals The Programme has equipped me with the knowledge I need to properly carry out my responsibilities in the management role that I currently occupy.I am inspired by the numerous successful Silicon Valley entrepreneurs that have created value and a business out of their passion.

Vacant Boards wins IBM SmartCamps tech startups contest

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FTER six tech startups had pitched recently in Lagos during Nigeria’s edition of IBM’s SmartCamps, Vacant Boards, a Lagosbased tech startup, that provides an online platform that intermediates information between customers and advertising agencies emerged the winner.

SmartCamps is part of IBM’s global entrepreneur initiative designed to stimulate innovation and build skills for a Smarter Planet.

The six talented tech startups which include Gidi Farm, Asuqu, Mobile OES, 500 Shops, IQube and Vacant Boards had showcased their vari-

ous innovative applications that could help transform the way citizens conduct commercial, agronomical, academic and marketing communications activities. IBM SmartCamps offers a variety of ways for entrepreneurs to grow their business, get access to leading experts and technology, and ultimately get their products to market faster.

SmartCamps judge the best startups around the globe, rewarding the winners with mentoring, services, access to industry experts and deeper partnership opportunities from IBM, industry partners and venture capital firms.

SUNDAY VANGUARD,AUGUST 3, 2014, PAGE 13

I have no reason to fight Oshiomhole – Odubu, Edo Dep Gov

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM The Deputy Governor of Edo State, Dr Pius Odubu, marked his 57th birthday recently in BeninCity, but it was low keyed. Odubu said he decided to mark it that way due to the kidnapped Chibok girls. In this interview, he speaks about his life, the crisis in Edo Assembly, his loyalty to Governor Adams Oshiomhole among other issues.

Excerpts: ow are you feeling at 57 As always, we have reasons to thank God almighty for the gift of life, for the gift of good health, for the gift of a happy family. Let me inform you that this birthday marks a substantial milestone in my life. Friday last week, I became the father of a graduate. My first son graduated from the university last Friday at the age of 22 and I give God the glory. And one is gradually aging and assuming more responsibilities. God has been kind; last year, we celebrated big time because it coincided with our 25th wedding anniversary.

This time we just decided to mark it quietly because I don’t think I need to celebrate when our children are still in the forest somewhere in Borno state. It is sad.

Lessons of life Life has taught me to be me.

Life has taught me, most importantly to believe in God. Life has taught me that one with God is a majority. I am from a traditional Benin home setting. I grew up in the Urhomemehe village in Orhionmwon local government area. My both parents are still alive. In fact my father is the traditional head of that community.

Let me say that, against popular belief here in our usual joking manner in Government House, I was introduced to Christianity very early in life. I attended St. Pius Catholic Primary School in my village as it was then. I was baptized and was confirmed in 1966 and 1967 respectively. So I got introduced to Christianity and to be specific Catholicism very early in life and I have always remained a strong Catholic. But my advent into politics brought the other side of me, that is, I am a proud Benin man, versed in Benin language and tradition and also grew up in a family of politicians both from my father ’s side and mother ’s side. I met my father as a topmost politician and we admired politicians and all those who came to visit him then. And politics in traditional Edo setting is all about communicating your message directly and sometimes through songs and dancing and I copied this from my father and those who campaigned with him then. But while doing so, a lot of persons misconstrued that to mean this man must is very traditional and to read other meaning to it jokingly to say he is a native doctor. But people tend to forget my background of a devoted Catholic and a devoted Christian. In fact all the institutions I attended from primary to university are religious institutions. I have never veered off from Christendom. But of course there were

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Dr Pius Odubu challenges and I must thank Fr. Obiyan and others for resolving them for me. You know they say love conquers it all, I am a devoted Catholic, but my wife is a Winner and you must be married in the Catholic Church to continue to be a communicant. That became a challenge. That was what people noticed when I was not taking the holy communion each time I went to church. They said may be I am not a genuine Catholic. But Fr. Obiyan resolved that and I was now given a waiver by the Pope and that is why you now saw me back now becoming a communicant.

As a Catholic, and your wife is a Deaconess in Winners Chapel, any attempt to convert her?

No. That is not an issue at all.

Firstly, I am free spirited person; I believe in the freedom of worship, secondly, I have American orientation. I went to school in America. I met my wife as a Pentecostal and there was no attempt to deceive me or try changing her faith and no pressure was put on me to change mine either.

And I watching my children carefully, they all seem to have taken after her. They go with her to church; I am not interested in forcing anybody to change. But I noticed one of them, every now and then comes home with a chaplet and I am like I don’t want to force him and I am thinking that very soon some of them will take to Catholicism. But it is all about one God. Being versed in Benin culture and tradition It was a matter of interest. I love mastering my environment. Even now I believe I am still not where I want to be by way of mastering the Bini language and indeed the Benin tradition..Yes a lot of people have asked me, how, given that you have never really stayed in the village and you went overseas for your education, how did you master the Benin tradition?

Even when I was in America I used to ask my parents to send me Bini records and music. In our time, music was didactic, it was entertaining and also taught lessons. I listened to those music that tell stories, folklore about Benin.

But is it true that before you become a successful politician in Benin Kingdom, you must be a cult member?

I can tell you equivocally that,

that is not true. I have been politically relevant since 1980 and I can put my hand on the Bible today and swear that I don’t belong to any secret cult. When people say that maybe it was like that in the days of the old, but now, nobody really cares. I am a friend to all. I mingle with everybody but I don’t belong to any one of those societies.

Don’t you think the defection from your party, the APC, will affect the fortunes of the party in 2015?

I am saddened by what has played out after the registration and the subsequent congresses. It pained me because in it all I have lost some very good friends. It is

erything that I do. If we subscribe to a cause, I go all the way to ensure that we succeed. Also it is my style. I am not the type that is very loud and I don’t go running, seeking for publicity. Let me ask this, do you fight for fighting sake? I don’t believe you fight for the purpose of fighting. In a situation where you have a man or a woman doing all that you expect him to do or perhaps more, do you just fight because you want to assert yourself? I have been fortunate to work with a governor that believes in collective responsibility. For whatever policy decisions that were made, for whatever policy that we are implementing, it is the collective effort of key stakeholders of this government. The governor often will sit down with everybody, discuss the idea, and analyze it to the extent that sometimes we are caught on the paralysis of analysis. Then come away with consensus here and there and agree on a position and it is that position that Mr. Governor goes out to implement and execute. So why will I now go to criticize a decision I partook from the formative stage to the execution stage? So I don’t just believe in fighting for fighting sake and it is also not my nature. Loyalty, yes, is my middle name. I believe in being loyal to my superiors, and also particularly when that person is performing beyond your wildest imagination. So I have no regret being loyal to the governor and I will continue to be loyal to him. I wanted to make life better for my people and here

I don’t see Comrade Adams Oshiomhole as a dictator; in fact everyone accuses him of overconsulting. Before he comes away with a decision, he consults, even those he ought not to consult. So anybody calling Mr. Governor a dictator is standing the truth on its head sad that they left, because we are going to lose the vote of one or two of them, but it does not mean that it will affect our chances.

APC is solidly on ground in Edo due to the developmental strides of the Comrade Governor. In so many areas now, people see it as a taboo to mention PDP, so they stand no chance. Yes we lost quite a few of them, the good ones, some the bad ones to the extent that they are leaving with their supporters and they will not vote for us. Yes, we will be affected, but not to the extent that it will affect our victory train in Edo. By the special grace of God, what the governor has done and what he is still doing and what he will do for the good people of Edo, APC here is on a very sound footing.

Some people in the APC accused you of being too loyal to the governor I am very loyal and I have no apologies for that. I am a very loyal person, not just now, in ev-

am I now in a government that is doing exactly that. I can say today that I am a fulfilled man thanks to the developmental initiatives of Governor Adams Oshiomhole. I have no reason to fight him and I will not fight him.

But why do you think people call him a dictator?

Whatever decision we take is a collective effort of everybody and perhaps people, when they don’t get what they want, give the dog a bad name in order to conveniently hang it. I don’t see Comrade Adams Oshiomhole as a dictator; in fact everyone accuses him of over-consulting. Before he comes away with a decision, he consults, even those he ought not to consult. So anybody calling Mr. Governor a dictator is standing the truth on the head.

Edo Assembly crisis My candid advice to my colleagues at the Edo Assembly is to let the rule of law prevail. But now I will not want to dabble into the internal affairs of the Assem-

bly because they are a different arm of government. What is happening is in the public domain, we watch on television and we read on the pages of newspapers that some members, due to what the other members alleged as unbecoming behavior, were suspended and those members, before their suspension, had gone to the Federal High Court to restrain the House from declaring their seats vacant. They attempted to also restrain the House from suspending them, the judge refused and said that was the internal working of the House into which the judiciary couldn’t dabble into.

Haven gone through the House rules, those four members were suspended and the Speaker and the House of Assembly also went to court restraining those members from coming to the House or doing anything that will interfere with the sitting of the House of Assembly. From what we see constitutionally, those members have refused to obey court order.

To me as a former legislator, the way out of this is two ways. One, if a legislator is suspended, the legislator stops attending the sitting of the House, the House proceeds to set up a committee or refer the case to the appropriate committee of the House to hear or investigate the matter and come away with findings which will now be reported to the plenary and discussed. During the process of that investigation, issues are sorted out and even they are found guilty, the House can decide to pardon them and lift the suspension. But these four legislators have refused to avail themselves of that opportunity; neither have they also obeyed court orders to stay away and then contest the court order with a view to reversing that. My candid advice to them is to avail themselves of any one of these option and let sanity prevail.

One of the suspended lawmakers is from your area and it was learnt that you sponsored him, where did you part ways?

We are not God. Nobody can predict what another human being will do tomorrow. We did what we did; if we made mistake, we apologize to the good people of Orhionmwon to forgive us. We will continue to try to improve on our interrogatory and observatory capacities such that when we come to look at people next time, it will be an accurate and correct impression. So I don’t think that has to do with what is happening.

We can’t really predict what human beings can do.

How optimistic are you ahead of 2015 for APC I am very optimistic, but you see, I am one of those who believe that no matter how mad the situation is, you must draw some lessons from it. I believe my party at the national level is investigating what happened in Ekiti with a view to analysing it and coming out with what to do in order to avoid similar situation in future. Quite frankly, I am still at sea as to what happened in Ekiti, everybody knows that Governor Fayemi performed, he did well. For him to be so roundly defeated even in his ward and local government calls for serious concern. I know the leadership of my party will investigate thoroughly what happened and I want to believe that something happened that we are yet to put our fingers on. But we have learnt our lessons and I think we will take steps to correct observable lapses so we can unravel the mystery.

I am not the least troubled but I am sad that we lost.

PAGE 14—SUNDAY VANGUARD, AUGUST 3, 2014

How to address minorities’ fears in Nigeria, by Okotie-Eboh

BY DANIEL GUMM R. Emmanuel Okotie-Eboh, an activist and a politician, M is the chairman of Itsekiri Devel-

opment Congress (IDC), Warri Progressive Union (WPU) and Itsekiri Cultural Renaissance (ICR), a social-cultural group out to promote the Itsekiri culture. He is also the chairman of the publicity subcommittee of the Olu of Warri coronation anniversary committee.

He speaks on resource control, the National Confab and representation in parliament.

Your view concerning National Conference?

The conference is well conceived.

However, I do not agree that we should not discuss whether we want to stay together or not.

I think we must first decide if we desire to stay together or not before deciding on the condition and modalities of staying together.

Having said that, I believe that we have a golden opportunity to discuss the shape and mode of our federalism. What is it we do not want to concede and what can we concede to the federal centre?

Is it desired to make the centre as strong as it is now or does it make more sense to have stronger state and local government administration?

Do you agree to resource control?

How do we encourage the federating units to be self-dependent?

What is the tolerable cost of governance that could be cost effective in running the government?

These are pertinent questions I expect the conference to address and

conclude once and for all, for it to command absolute legitimacy. I suggest that the result of the conference be subjected to a national referendum, What is your view about 18% derivation as approved by the conference?

We have succeeded in putting in place a system that encourages indolence and laziness. A single rich man in a big family will ultimately be poor if all the demands of the family is directed at him. I have always canvassed the idea of resource control because it is closely related to resource development.

I remember in the first republic where the federating units were allowed 50 per cent of resources from their areas. We had the groundnut pyramid in the North which was used mostly for the developmental needs of the area, cocoa from the Western Region which made it possible for the West to create an educational advantage which they are still enjoying till date and the East had coal mines which took care of most of their needs. Midwest had rubber.

However and unfortunately, the discovery of oil and the attempt by the military to centralize administration in Nigeria resulted in the centre taking control of the resources of the regions. This is actually the beginning of the appropriation of the resources of the region by the central government. I believe strongly that if the regions are allowed to control their resources and pay equitable tax to the centre, the talk of 13 per cent or 18 per cent or other funny figures being canvassed would be unnecessary. Even look at the ridicu-

•Emmanuel Okotie-Eboh lous suggestion that 5% of the national resources be saved for the victims of insurgency as if insurgency should be part of our lives as a country.

In any case, there is the National Emergency Management Agency which I think is saddled with the responsibility of taking care of such situations. We do not want a situation where insurgency is engineered simply to collect 5% allocation.

Do you support the creation of a new Delta State??

I have always insisted that the cost of governance in Nigeria is not in sync with the resource available to the country. Therefore there is a big disjoint as regards what we pay for governance and what is available for development in the country.

The more states created the greater this problem is magnified.

Having to depend on the few states that are economically viable to sustain plethoric of bogus states is definitely counter-productive and detrimental to Nigeria.

Mid-West State was created after the agitation of Chief Festus

Okotie-Eboh, my father; Chief Dennis Osadebe, who became the premier; Chief Omo-Osagie and others to address the minority fears of the people of the region. This did not stop agitation for states.

The creation of Edo and Delta States did not and I am sure that the creation of a new Delta State will not stop the agitation.

Therefore I recommend that the fears of the minorities be addressed by having minority clause to assuage the minorities. The inferno caused by ordinary creation of local government in Warri South-West for example is indicative of how state creation could be counterproductive.

What is your assessment of the representation of lawmakers both at the National Assembly and the State Assembly?

Government is a big elephant and good representation should be able to bring a fair share of the good things of government to the area of representation by the representative be it in the federal or state level. Speaking good grammar in the floor of the House or being seen on television regularly does not amount to good representation; if it does not translate to benefit for the community represented.

Therefore, good representation is judged by how much development one can influence to his constituency. Besides the above a good representation should afford his constituent the benefit of good laws and the oversight functions should ensure that the executive is held accountable for their actions and inactions. The level of representation is still evolving and there are a lot more to be done to

achieve perfection.

However, I will like to single out our member in the House of Representatives because that is where the federal might is felt in the Warri Constituency. I am very pleased with his level of performance, recognizing that he is a lone voice in a house of 360 people. I am convinced beyond any doubt that he will do much more if he goes back to the House as I know that your age in the house enhances your clout and your performance.

Besides he is focused and articulate and is clear in mind about what he wants to achieve for his people going by what he has done in his stay as member of the House of Representatives. Besides the constituency in a transition out of power and so cannot afford to experiment with untested hand. His contribution as acknowledged by the Governor in influencing the EPZ to remain in his constituency is laudable.

The Koko-Ogheye road is another big project that he has influenced.

In politics, it is said that there is no permanent friend or foes but only permanent interest. However, some people’s interest does not coincide with the interest of the people. It is a good thing if you have a politician whose interest coincides with that of the constituent. My late father Chief Festus Okotie-Eboh is generally acclaimed to be a champion of his constituency and the works he did for his people is all there for everyone to see. I see in Hon. Daniel Reyenieju the zeal to surpass my father and I am seeing him working hard to achieve this.

2015: The place of Ajah in Ebonyi political equation

BY IKEM NWAFOR

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HEAD of the 2015 general elections, the three political blocs in Ebonyi State have commenced alignments and realignments so as to emerge victorious at the polls.

This is happening at a time when the state governor, Chief Martin Elechi has said the slot should go to the southern bloc.

Expectedly, the Southern and Northern blocs, Izzi and Ezza clans are already arguing as to whether the position should just be left to the South as proposed by the governor.

For Elechi, the bane of Nigerian politics remains disparity in power sharing. It is against this backdrop that he noted that to avert that in Ebonyi the governorship slot should move to the southern bloc of the state.

He explained that the Northern and Central blocs of the state had held the governorship position, insisting that it was fair that it shifted to the south to avoid heating up the polity and throwing up distractions. He however noted that some other blocs in the state might dispute the arrangement, but volunteered a way out that dialogue and persuasion could be engaged to convince any disput-

ing elements on the reasons for the rotation of power to the southern bloc.

However notable aspirants have indicated interests in the plum job.

With the large number of people who seek to contest for the job, it becomes imperative that whoever would govern state, should be a man of unquestionable pedigree, who would carry every one along in the Ebonyi project.

To achieve that, most stakeholders have been pushing for Dr. Marcel Ajah.

Their suggestion is hinged on the argument, that Ajah posseses the pedigree expected of the next governor of the state.

As Ajah is being rooted for by concerned Ebonyi indigenes, many want to know who Ajah is.

A relatively known name in Nigeria, his case is just like the case of Isaac who prospered in a foreign land, he has taken the bull by the horn, reaching for enviable heights and carving a niche for himself. He has devoted his life to giving back to his people. He is a philanthropist per excellence – saving hundreds of thousands of lives in Nigeria yearly through the provision of free medical care through his international nonprofit organization, Uplift Help International Inc.

The achievement of Marcel A. Ajah (Ph.D.), M.D, FACOG, is one which has inspired many.

His qualities and demeanor of tranquility that he has brought to his office have made him an example to many younger men and he stands strong as a pillar in his profession in far away United States of America (USA) where he plies his trade.

Having graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor degree in chemistry, from the Morgan State University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA Dr.Ajah proceeded to the university’s school of medicine for a Ph.D. in pharmacology and experimental therapeutics.

Having proved himself astute at his duties and shown some eagerness to learn, Dr. Ajah was appointed associate scientist of immune-biochemistry and enzymology at the Becton & Dickinson Corp and University of Maryland School of Medicine Baltimore, Maryland, respectively, where he gained a combined five-year experience.

After his award of doctorate in medicine from the University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, Missouri, he began to spread himself and to touch the life of others.

D r. Ajah is Fellow of the American College of Obstetrics Gynecology, was appointed a consultant at the Saint Vincent

Catholic Medical Centre, in Brooklyn and Queens. Here, he trained medical students, physician assistants, midwives, nurse practitioners and resident doctors.

Shortly after, He joined the National Health Service Corp and gave several years of medical service to poor Americans who do not have insurance coverage.

Dr. Ajah, to his credit, is a certified obstetrician and gynecologist, as well as the president and CEO of the Women Medical Healthcare & Diagnostics P.C, in Brooklyn and Queens New York.

Having spent some time affecting the lives of the people in his immediate surroundings, Dr. Ajah felt it was time to reach out to his kinsmen in his native land – Ishiagu in Ebonyi State, Nigeria, where he has through Uplift Help International Inc established in 2005, a non-profit charitable organization armed with the mission for the empowerment of Nigerians by improving their health, education and leadership.

Since the establishment of the NGO, Dr. Ajah makes numerous mission trips to Nigeria, in order to give free medical services and free medications to thousands of patients in his hometown, especially. Under his lead-

ership, the organization has almost completed a community hospital in Ishiagu, Ebonyi State.

The goal of this hospital the provision of free primary care to all and sundry, as far as its resources can carry and permit.

It doesn’t insult common sense to acknowledge that Dr.Ajah means a lot of things to many; he is a member and financial contributor to Amnesty International, as a result of his deeprooted interest in the protection of women and children; so far, Dr. Ajah has granted scholarships to 30 undergraduate students in Nigeria; he has built 16 4-bedroom unit houses for some indigent people in Ishiagu, Ebonyi State; made substantial financial contributions to the building of local churches in Ishiagu; financial supporter of the Centre for Vesico-vaginal Fistula Repair in Abakaliki, still in Ebonyi State; financial supporter to many aspiring young businessmen and women in Ishiagu, as well as many other contributions which he has made to the life the people Dr. Ajah is also a mentor and financial supporter of many newly-arrived doctors from Nigeria seeking residency positions in the United States.

•Nwafor, a public affairs analyst, writes from Abakaliki

SUNDAY VANGUARD, AUGUST 3, 2014 PAGE —15

2015: No credible alternative to Jonathan — Omosule F

UNMILAYO David Omo sule, National Coordinator, Goodluck Jonathan Leadership Centre, in this interview, speaks on the security challenge facing the country and the 2015 presidential election.

Many Nigerians remain at a loss as to why the bombings have continued. What is your perspective?

The bombings will continue to be incessant as long as animals in men’s clothes are in our midst. Little can be achieved to stop the bombings because the bombers have collaborators who live with us, sleep with us and eat with us.

The President, a world class leader, is passionate about Nigeria developing fastest ever to rank among the best 20 economies in the world by 2020, but we have people in our midst with one agenda, disrupt governance. It is unfortunate that northern leaders, all former presidents and heads of state, former and present governors, former and present ministers, members of the National Assembly and traditional rulers from the North cannot form a strong coalition to take charge of happenings

in their communities and initiate operation No To Terrorism, so that no one terrorist can feel safe in any part of the North. This can never happen in any part of the South. Sambisa forest is the same as the creek in the Niger Delta; southern leaders went into the creek to talk to the boys, all Northern leaders should storm Sambisa forest and call their sons to order or else they will all live to see what becomes of the North-east when the economy of the area collapses in the face of present insecurity in the area.

The failure of institutions have been blamed for the bulk of our problems as a nation.

What do you think?

Our institutions will never work until we have corporate governance code. Since 1960, this is the first time we have a President who is interested in the enforcement of corporate governance through his transformation agenda, but it can never work until all public officials and operators in the private sector key into the agenda.

In three years, I received doses of the weakness of the Nigeria Police, the judiciary, the ICPC, Federal Ministry of

•David Omosule Trade and Investment, Public Complaint Commission and Office of Secretary to the Government of the Federation as institutions of government in Nigeria and I concluded that we need a corporate governance code to move the country forward. I know too well that we have high level of poverty and illiteracy in the land, but the moment we have uninterrupted power supply 24 hours a day and 4g Internet in the 774 local government councils in Nigeria, we will be on our way to strengthening our institutions because whistle-blowers can through the Internet and the Freedom of Information Act to feed Nigerians with full disclosures on corrupt practices. Presently,

only few, about less than five percent, corrupt practices are in the public domain because of no power and Internet for flow of information.

Should President Jonathan, in your honest opinion seek re-election in 2015?

Of course, the President must run. The reason is because there is no credible alternative to his candidacy for now. Of all the names coming up as likely candidates in next year’s election, none has been in office continuously for 15 years, none has demonstrated selfless will to transform Nigeria, none has advocated for one man, one-woman, oneyouth, one-vote like President Goodluck Jonathan and, lastly, none has faced the challenges he has faced without giving in. The sponsors of Boko Haram thought wrongly that, by now, we will be experiencing a shutdown of government to declare him incapable, but he has brought big shame on all of them by moving on in spite of all the challenges, that is a world class leader. He is very lucky that he is a well brought up Christian or else he would have made a big mistake if he had given them back by just exer-

The making of Osun as food basket

BY OLAYINKA AJAYI

O

SUN State governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has stated the resolve of his government to evoke unprecedented agricultural programmes such as would transform Osun into a veritable breadbasket,while revolutionizing the status and rank of farmers in the state in the immediacy.

The governor also pointedly remarked that plans have been finalized to help each farmer in the state with farm inputs for farming to the tune of one N150,000 annually.

Aregbesola stated this in Ede during the official launch of the Farmers Input and Credit Support Programme.

He remarked that the process of transforming the agricultural sector started with identification of farmers and evaluation of the farmland through the Geographic Information System (GIS), an arrangement which carefully enumerated 50,000 farmers in the state and carefully detailed their form of farming and what their requirements would be.

According to the governor, after the identification, evaluation and registration processes, each of the farmers would be given a

Wema Bank Credit Card, which would enable them go to any Farmers’ Input Supply and Service Company (FISCO) centre, which are available at every farm settlement in the state and collect their inputs without paying a dime.

He charged the farmers to be prudent in the management of farm inputs collected, as they will not be able to collect more than their farmland size, adding that at the end of each farming year, the farmers would either sell their farm produce to designated buyers or if they so choose,dispense with their farm produce by themselves.It is after this has been done,the governor noted,that the farmers will pay the cost of the inputs,without any interest charged.The governor predicted that with cooperation of farmers,the Programme which is purely voluntary, will boost the earnings and economic status of farmers,while enabling the state to become a gross producer of agricultural benefits in double quick time.

Speaking earlier, Director, Office of the Economic Planning and Partnership, Dr Charles Akinola, said the programme is an indication that the present administration in the state is conscious of every sector of the economy.

In their separate goodwill messages, Chairman, Farmers Asso-

ciation in the state, Chief Raimi Adeniji, represented by Dr. Sangolade and Dr Arigbede, appreciated the government for

the gesture, saying it was an indication that the government appreciates the farmers and pledged their unalloyed support

cising 50 percent of his executive powers. The system will take care of them in due course. Terrorism will disappear sooner than later now that all Nigerians including enemies of government and members of the opposition are condemning terrorism.

What is Goodluck Jonathan Leadership Centre all about?

We have Diaspora Chapters of Goodluck Jonathan Leadership Centre in USA, UK and Canada. All the Diaspora members are professionals in their rights and are all interested in coming back home to contribute to the development of the country. The only complaint they have is infrastructure, power and Internet. Also, rural development because in advanced developed economies, there is visible consistent development of the rural areas. They are of the opinion that local government autonomy is main key to rural development unlike what obtains now. The Centre is presently working on organising town hall meetings in USA, UK and Canada to create a robust interface between the Presidency and Diaspora members in those countries.

for the present administration in the state.

The governor, at the ceremony, distributed some ready credit cards to registered farmers, among whom were: Mr Adediran Abiodun, Mrs Limota Shittu, Mr Emmanuel Adewumi and Mr Alagbe Kareem.

Community expresses fear over alleged military invasion

BY EGUFE YAFUGBORHI

R

ESIDENTS in Letugbene, a community in Bayelsa State have decried alleged malicious invasion, assault and arrest of residents by men of the Joint Task Force, JTF. In a petition to the National Security Adviser through their counsel, Akporiaye, Umuze, Umuko and Co, and made available to Vanguard in Warri, the community claimed that soldiers from Tunu Oil Flow Station in Ekeremor Local Government Area have been invading the community indiscriminately at the prompting of community leaders following a leadership strife set off in April this year.

The petition signed by Eseoghene Epete (Mrs) read, “These military invasions into our client community have caused women, children and other members of the community to flee into nearby forests to take refuge.

“Our client has been patient while expecting the Police in Bayelsa to curtail the situation but it only gets worse and may lead to bloodshed and uncontrollable chaos. We therefore urge you to curtail this mayhem.”

Spokesperson to the petitioners,

Wilfred Ikiere indicated, over their ordeal, that five persons taken away by the army have been released while six persons were still reportedly missing. When contacted, Lt Col. Mustapha Anka, JTF Spokesman said he was on leave and not on ground

to get details on the matter, A senior officer who spoke on anonymity said, “It does not make sense to accuse the military over a communal crisis. If at all JTF intervened in any such situation it would be to broker peace’.

L-r: The National Publicity Secretary, All Progressives Congress, APC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed with media consultant, Bro. Aramide Tola Noibi, at Mr Tunji Adebayo’s 70th Birthday celebrations and reception at the All Seasons Plaza, Ikeja, Lagos.

PAGE 16 —SUNDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 3, 2014

SUNDAY TRIBUTE

Celebrating Anenih’s inspirational life @ 81

By Sufuyan Ojeifo

I

t was not until August 4, last year, when he turned 80 that many Nigerians got to know, through publications in the print media, about the humble beginning, indeed, the grass-to-grace narrative of the Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Anthony Akhakon Anenih, Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) and the Iyasele (Prime Minister) of Esanland.

The crux of the narrative, which touched the sensibilities of readers, was how, following his successful sojourn at Government School, Uromi, he could not proceed to Saint Thomas’ Teacher Training College, Ibusa, after passing the qualifying examination due to the inability of his parents to afford the six pounds required for scholarship; and, he had to, among other things, take to rubber tapping to raise fund for his education.

That story quickly dismantled the fixation in some quarters that Anenih is from an aristocratic background. Not at all! He had later lived up to his middle name, Akhakon, meaning “Endurance” when he headed for Benin City to stay with and serve, for one year, Lance Corporal Omeben, the father of retired Deputy Inspector General of Police, Christopher Omeben, who was then in Edo College, Benin City. It was the late Lance Corporal Omeben who advised and encouraged Anenih to enlist in the Nigeria Police Force in 1951 (from where he voluntarily retired in 1976 as Commissioner of Police to venture into private business.)

His enlistment in the Police was how Anenih began to overcome the vicissitudes of life, and succeeded to define a trajectory of accomplishments in life in the face of sociological temper that had threatened to irredeemably weigh him down. He endured the pains and the strains of the struggle to breakthrough. As he celebrates his 81st birthday tomorrow, August 4, 2014, this humble beginning of this great politician of our time must come under focus as he engages in obligatory introspec-

Chief Anthony Anenih tion.

It is not that he has not, before now, given a deep thought to how the Almighty God has been kind to him; otherwise, he would not have passionately devoted himself to the service of God and humanity; which brings me to a silent chapter of his life which is hardly celebrated, namely: his philanthropy. Among countless individuals and institutions, both academic and religious, which have benefited from his large-heartedness are: Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma; the University of Benin; Igbinedion University, Okada; and Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta. In 2012, he endowed a multi-million naira Geriatric Centre at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, the first Geriatric Centre in Africa, to bolster the care of the aged and senior citizens.

Anenih is reputed for his legendary generosity and catholic conviviality. These represent the core of the humanity component of his persona. With these, he has effectively played the role of a Dependable Leader, a fact to which his numerous followers can attest. Without doubt, it is all about his humanity: here is a leader who is always touched by the feelings of the infirmity of his associates and

followers and provides them succor. Yet, this inimitable benefactor does not make noise about his good gestures or interventions whether in the political or private lives of the beneficiaries.

His reactions to political issues since 1979 when he made a foray into partisan politics have been measured,

Anenih typifies. He revels in impenetrability.

Newspaper libraries cannot thrust at you any interview that he granted any journalist, at least, in the last fifteen years: since the inception of the current Fourth Republic.

He does not grant press interviews; not because he loathes the press. Far from it!

He only engages with issues in the media either through press statements personally signed by him; or through publication of papers and speeches delivered at events; or occasionally when accosted by journalists at the end of political meetings; but then, his response(s) would be short and sharp like the Angel’s visit.

It is curious that in a society where politicians clamour for recognition, and advantageously position themselves in the media to gain mileages, Anenih would rather restrain himself and choose, instead, to dance to the quiet rhythm of his soul.

This is a disposition that has helped to define his persona as a taciturn and decorous politician, whose maturity, experience and patriotism cannot be faulted.

Anenih is a purposeful and quintessential politician, a politician who has earned his place in the nation’s politics as a Leader of his people and his numerous followers within and outside his political sphere of influence. But his tenacity of purpose and legerdemain had actually crystallized in the defunct Second Republic when, as Chairman of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) in the old Bendel State, he plotted and

Anenih is reputed for his legendary generosity and catholic conviviality. These represent the core of the humanity component of his persona if not sphinx-like. Some would simply see him as an enigma. They would be very correct if they situate their assessment within the political context.

This is, because, politics is the preoccupation that has forcefully launched him into the limelight. But he does not love the limelight; he does not crave it; he does not enjoy photo opportunities. This further deepens the aura of inscrutability around him.

This is the puzzle that

led the political/electoral onslaught that saw his party’s candidate, Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia, defeat the then sitting governor, the late Professor Ambrose Alli of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN).

The strategist had replicated similar feat in the ill-fated Third Republic as Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and in the current Fourth Republic when, during Obasanjo’s re-election gambit in 2002/2003, he had taken charge of the machinery that

fashioned out strategies that ensured the defeat of opposition to Obasanjo within and outside the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). In 2007 and 2011 general elections, he played a front line strategic role in the electoral success of the PDP. Anenih’s ability to consistently, at every turn, resolve knotty political puzzles would later earn him yet another sobriquet- “Mr. Fix It”, which the opposition elements have tried to twist negatively to demonise him.

But as I wrote before and I repeat: the deprecating aura that the ‘Mr Fix It’ tag exudes in the nation’s political arena does not aptly convey the essential content of the Anenih persona. Yet, the other camps have always played it up in their deliberate schema to demonize him within and outside the cosmos of political sphere where he hit the limelight. It is, indeed, paradoxical that politics, which brought him fame, has also earned him scorn in the camps of the opposition elements.

But then, he has chosen to bear the cross philosophically: politics is in his blood and he plays it with the passion and devotion of a religious aficionado. He accepts the compliments that come with it as well as the bashing. He relishes the victories, the accomplishments and the bravura performances of his party and candidates during electoral contests. He has also learned to live with the pains of defeat whenever he suffers any.

This is his inspirational disposition to politics, which is far flung from the myth of invincibility that has been created around him by his traducers who have tried to create the erroneous impression in the minds of those who do not know him (Anenih) that he behaves as a god in human flesh as far as politics and electoral contests are concerned.

But here is the true portrait of the man: a grand and archetypal politician who is consistently and persistently loyal to his leadership and followership; an ardent mobiliser of human resources; a political strategist with the can-do spirit, who believes in positive thinking as well as the force of great and reasonable expectations. All these represent the sum of his inspirational life. Happy birthday to the real Leader of leaders!

• Mr Ojeifo, publisher and journalist, sent in this Tribute from Abuja via ojwonderngr@yahoo.com

SUNDAY VANGUARD, AUGUST 3, 2014, PAGE 17

bb pin: 20C37A25

Christable Egbenya lists tips for love B

eautiful and sexy Edo State-born actress, Christabel Egbenya isn’t the showy or loud type but she is such a ravishing beauty that doesn’t need to say much because she has so much about her that speaks for her.

She wouldn’t pick a subject on her sexuality because she feels there are some things a lady should not talk about. Yet she would be quick to tell you she isn’t exactly a greenhorn when it comes to the matter of the heart. Chatting with Potpourri last week, the high-in-demand actress revealed another side of her quiet self by making available some vital tips on how to make a relationship work. While conceding she is not a relationship counselor she maintained that she has been around long enough to know a thing or two about it. “ Communication is paramount in a relationship and you must ensure that your fantasies are realistic. The desires which led you into the relationship are what you actually want” she advised.

Continuing, she also stated that “ you must understand the need of your partner and be there for him/her. “ Be willing to take resposibility for the problems and diffifulties that might arise between you and your partner; A woman should do everything for her partner. Men don’t work; Develop self-awareness and understand things that affect your mood; and you should respect each other’s feelings” she stated. Christabel has done so many films.

Some of her films include Face of Sorrow, The King’s Offer, Royal Wives’, Sister Rebecca, Star Girl, Aziza, Dera the Beloved, among many others.

•Christabel Egbenya •Blessing Patrick

I am going through spiritual rebir th rebirth

— Blessing Patrick

Sex is a gift from God – Adesua Etomi

W

A

desua Etomi doesn’t have a name that will start a stampede – not yet. She’s an upcoming star who is rising fast with plenty of aces up her sleeve. Her most notable film is 2014 Knocking On Heaven’s Door directed by Desmond Elliot.

Adesua was cast alongside top names like Ini Edo and Majid Michel but she was able to make her mark as the principal character around whom the whole storyline revolves. But Adesua is no stranger to acting. She came in contact with the trade at the age of seven. But according to her, she had to suppress the desire until 2004 when she decided to do something about it. “I suppressed my desire to act until 2004 when I went to study Physical Theatre, Musical Theatre and Performing Arts at the City College, Coventry, United Kingdom. After completing these courses in 2006 with triple distinctions and being part of numerous productions, I went on to study Drama and Performance at the University of Wolverhampton, graduating in 2009 with First Class Honours.

My first feature film titled ‘Knocking on Heavens Door’ was released on the 18th of April 2014” she told Potpourri recently in a chat. But as enigmatic as she seems, Adesua didn’t mince words when she was asked her opinion concerning sex and money. “Sex is a gift from God to married couples and it is extremely important” she said. “It helps a husband and his wife to connect on a different level. The Bible says, Money answereth all things and it’s God’s desire to see us all prosper.

Let’s be honest, peace will be lacking in a home of poverty and a connection might be lost, in a home without sex.Who am I to place more importance on one than the other?”.

C M Y K

•Adesua Etomi

hen Blessing Patrick came into Nollywood in 2011, she had the kind of hunger that seemed insatiable. While her peers were still struggling to get past auditions, the fair-skinned Cross River Stateborn actress was already winning laurels. In a space of two years she had won the City People Best New Actress of the Year award (2013); Best New Actress of the Year at the Nigeria Media Nite Out Award 2013 and Gbedu Recognition Award. In fact the sky was looking like a footstool for Blessing to walk upon. Then, all of a sudden she faded from the scene. And when Potpourri talked to her recently she was more than eager to open up. “ I took a break to go for my spiritual empowerment, in the headquarters of my church. I just finished my foundation class and heading for the maturity class, in Abuja.

I am laying some spiritual foundation in the Lord and proceeding to pastoral class” she said. When asked if she is planning to become a pastor she said : “ Going to bible school doesn’t mean you will end up a pastor. Knowledge is power. I want to operate in that realm of the truth where I will always be sure of the power of God. I have not left acting, I have a film I am working on. I am only putting my spiritual life in place before embarking on my mission fully in Nollywood. For the Bible says and like I said, as a dynamite, I operate with the word of God, seek first the kingdom of God before anything and that is exactly what I am doing”.

PAGE 18 — SUNDAY VANGUARD, AUGUST 3, 2014

There’s no secret to success of my marriage — Kafui Danku G

•Kafui Danku

hanaian actress Kafui Danku is hot in demand, not only in Ghana but across the African continent, including Nigeria.

The ebony beauty is mutlitalented and ever ready to take on any role regardless of how demanding or damning the role is.

She has taken on more bad girl roles than she cares to remember and this has made some of her fans raise questions over the health of her marriage. But Kafui who got married two years ago told an online magazine that they need not fear, that her marriage is in good shape. “I am aware that lots of people are worried and some have been complaining on social media about the kind of roles I play. They feel my marriage will not last due to the bad girl role I play but I say that, they should not worry at all, my marriage is intact and will continue to be till Thy Kingdom come,” she said. Taking up her challenge, Potpourri sought the actress out and asked her why she is so confident her career could never come in the way of her marriage and whether there is a secret to the success of her marriage. “There is no secret. I believe we are meant to be together. We also communicate a lot.

Though we keep busy schedules, they don’t come between us. I try to make time for both my career and the home. Kafui has featured in several movies including Devil in a Dress and 4 Play Reloaded. She has won the Best Supporting Actress of the Year (Ghana) at this year’s City People Entertainment Awards and the ‘Entertainment Person of the Year award at the All Africa Media Networks Awards in Accra.

I can play any role

•Joe Phils

I can never expose my body for money — Joe Phils N

– Sylvia Ukaatu

S

ylvia Ukaatu, known as Sylvia Sugar is a rising Nollywood star who is currently in Ghana shooting a movie titled Our Community School in Suhum village. Before she took acting by the horns, Sylvia did a lot of modelling. She has done billboard jobs for Scanfrost, Grand beer, Printing jobs for MTN, and outdoor jobs for Bank Heritage and Mouka Foam.

Since deciding to make Nollywood her permanent home, she has featured in films like College Girls, Azonto Babes, Feed Me More Men, Gamble of Love and many others. When she came under the radar of Potpourri, the captivating, sexy actress revealed that there is no role she cannot take on. “ As an actress being versatile is my key. Because as an actress you are supposed to carry out every role given to you as though your life depended on it” she said. When asked if she could do a sex scene, the Anambra State-born starlet said it is okay by her as long as the role is make-believe. “ No real sex on set for me but if it is makebelieve like it usually is, I can handle it. Going nude must have a purpose it intends to achieve. If I am directed to act nude as a mad woman for an instance, I am okay with that. But just going nude for amoral reasons don’t go well with me” she stated boldly.

C M Y K

•Sylvia Ukaatu

igeria-loving Ghanaian actor, Joe Phils has been in Nigeria for a while because he loves Nollywood and intends to make a name for himself in the Africa’s leading movie industry. He came into the industry in 2008 on the wings of a soap opera titled ‘Stigma’ and since then he has not looked back. He now has a long list of films to his credit.

Double Assassinations, Blue Babes, Drug and Romance, A Long Way Home, BK Suicide Missions, Royal Bastard, Royal Bomber are among the films that brought the fair-skinned actor fame.

Cut along the same lines as Majid Michel, Frank Artus and Van Vicker, Joe is sure a teaser for the ladies but the actor told Potpourri he isn’t taken in by entreaties from ladies as he is already taken by a woman. “In fact I am getting married soon. I wanted to make it a surprise for my fans but now that you have brought it up, I must own up. My heart belongs to a lady and I am getting married soon. Just watch out” he said.

While conceding that he interpretes his romantic scenes to perfection, he said he cannot imagine himself going nude in a movie. “It is totally against our African culture. I can do the romantic scenes because they are basically make-believe but for nudity? Count me out” he thundered.

Further revelations from the actor show that he respects Yvonne Okoro above any other Ghanaian actress. And he also said Tuface Idibia is his number one African music artiste.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, AUGUST 3, 2014, PAGE 19

Damilola Adegbite, Chris Attoh yet to tie the nuptial N

ollywood beautiful couple, Damilola Adegbite and heart-throb, Ghanaian Chris Attoh have been going around town doing things together, appearing in functions and oftentimes hooking up together as man and wife but a recent revelation from a close associate of the couple has pointed out the lovebirds are still a long way from solemnising their union.

The source hinted Potpourri that Chris hasn’t been to Damilola’s Surulere family house to do the needful even when the actress seems to be more than six months pregnant. All the talks and reports about the couple having a secret marriage, according to the source, were so much water under the bridge. Hope Damilola isn’t letting herself off too cheaply?

•Damilola and Chris

2Face’s Ascension become s th 12 world’s best selling albu m

BY KAYODE BADMUS

N

igerian superstar Inno 2Face Idibia is a happ cent y man at the moment as album has been listed his 6th solo selling albums in the as one of the top to Billboard Magazineworld. According old album which curre , the two weeks online platform sits at ntly sell on the world album categ number 12, in is compiled based on ory. The category across the globe with top selling albums data. According to thea focus on sales influential magazine, highly are usually determine“Chart positions d based on key fan interactions with mu album sales and down sic, including loads, track

downloads, radio airpla as well as streaming an y and tours, interactions on Facebo d social Vevo, YouTube, Spotifyok, Twitter, popular online destina and other tions for music.

An excited wife of the couldn’t hide her excitcrooner took to her Instagram ement as she page to share the news.

“I Am Screaming thank JESUS!!!! This is the YOU In the world any Nige1st time EvER achieved this!!! Recordrian artiste 2Face Idibia? ?The As -Breaking!

Album Is Currently Thcension?

Selling Album In The e 12th Top Macaulay Idibia posteWorld”, Annie d.

I

Helen Paul dares baby bump to bubble

t may be a stale news to say popular baby-voice comedienne, Helen Paul (aka Tatafo) is very much pregnant. At least, a good look at her is enough to tell. But the wife of Femi Bamisile isn’t a pregnant woman you would expect to stay back home, romancing antinatal schedules or even listening too obediently to the doctors. Tatafo, as energetic as ever was spotted on Thursday at the UNILAG Sports Centre where she was the anchor person at the launching of new Pepsodent toothpaste organised by Unilever. Though looking slightly bloated, but there was nothing to tell she is attending to a new life inside her as she danced and played with the invited school-children, measure for measure, like playmates looking to win something off one another.

Mercy Aigbe spends 8million on new movie

By KAYODE BADMUS

T

Angel Christopher dazzles in new photo shoot S

exy Nollywood actress once told Potpourri that people, men and women, always stop to stare when she walks by because she is blessed with a captivating figure. No doubt Angel, also a model and scriptwriter knows her onions when it comes to making people stare. She had a photo shoot recently and sent some to us.

C M Y K

•Mercy Aigbe

op Nollywood actress Mercy Aigbe Gentry is presently on set of her new movie Life After Marriage which has been discovered to have gulped a whooping 8million naira. The Nigerian movie which is presently being shot in Lagos according to inside sources would storm the country and beyond with its unique storyline and professional production. Leyin Igbeyawo (Life After Marriage) is being directed by respected Nollywood movie-maker Lancelot Imasuen and it features top thespians like Saheed Balogun, Seun Akindele and Mercy Aigbe herself. Confirming to Potpourri Mercy Aigbe’s manager disclosed that the movie would soon finish shooting and would go to post production stage.

PAGE 20 — SUNDAY VANGUARD, AUGUST 3, 2014

Why I disappeared from music scene — Awilo Longomba

•Says Fela Kuti inspired him BENJAMIN NJOKU

H

e ruled the airwaves in the late 80s with his songs which cut across cultural boundaries. But suddenly, he disappeared into thin air, leaving millions of his fans yearning for more of his stimulating music.

Awilo Longomba, the Congolese superstar who won the hearts of millions of music lovers across the world, especially in Nigeria with his monotonous but infectious songs and sexy dance steps has resurfaced again.

He disappeared from the music scene after releasing his hit album, and since then, nothing much has been heard of him.

Interestingly, the Congelese superstar reappeared in Lagos, last week where he graced the hosting of 2Face’s new album, “Ascension”, by MTV and the organisers of Industry Nite.” Indeed, it was a homecoming affair for the “Moto Pamba” crooner who performed alongside 2Face at the event.

Elated Awilo told PotPourri that he was in Nigeria where he performed at the opening gala of MTN Project West Africa, as well as to promote his latest single, “Bundele.” He described 2Face as “a legend of our time”, adding that “After listening to all of his songs, it has been very difficult for me to separate one single from the other because they are all good. It was indeed a difficult choice to make.

Tuface is good.”

“I was actually invited to come and perform at the gala night of the popular reality TV show, MTN Project Fame. I was due to return to London where I’m currently residing, but I decided to stay back and honour Tuface as they host him tonight. 2Face is a legend of our time. I love Nigeria and all the Englishspeaking countries. I relocated to London because I needed to improve on my Englih speaking art,” Awilo said.

Also, on why he disappeared from the music scene, the Congolese superstar said, it was based on global demand for his music. “My disappearance has to do with promotional issues. After releasing my hit album, I was wanted all over the world. I didn’t disappear, rather, I was busy touring the whole world and entertaining my fans.

Honestly, I think you should inquire from the DJs about me. Yes, I went underground for some years now.

But now, I’m back with a new song C M Y K

which is currently making waves in Brazil and other parts of the world.

Let me add that I am also in Nigeria to promote my single titled “Bundele.” It is currently rated as one of the best songs in the world.”

Awilo’s popularity during his reign spread to USA/ Canada while on tour then with Nabtry International Cultural Dancers, an African dance group founded in 2007 by Grace Haukwa. The Super-Man tour was successful throughout 2008 and 2009. By popular votes and a historic win at the International Reggae and World Music Awards with over 120 countries voting in, Awilo’s Super-Man won the Best Soukous Entertainer Award 2009.

According to him, Afro-beat king, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti inspired him into music. “ The Afro-beat legend, Fela Kuti inspired my going into music. He was the biggest musician Nigeria ever produced and he popularised the

Fela Kuti was the biggest musician Nigeria ever produced and he popularised the Nigerian music all over the world.

Nigerian music all over the world. As a kid, I enjoyed one of his songs, ‘Shakara’. That song inspired one of my hit songs which you all know and sing till date. Afro-beat is the best music genre in the world,”Awilo said.

His songs appealed not only to English-speaking countries but also, European countries and other parts of the world. His songs particularly inspired most Nigerian musicians such as Funmi Adams’ ‘Yaro,’ which she sang in Hausa in the late 80’s. Also Julius Agwu’s songs, “Okombo, Chop Bisikit, Bendown Sellect and I Buy Kwilikwili” were all inspired by Awilo’s creativity.

It would be recalled that after Awilo’s hit songs in his Coupe Bilamba album, a lot of other French singing Africans began to outwit each other in releasing songs which then had a large market in Nigeria. Its influence grew to the extent that comic actor, Julius Agwu, made a comic remix of Awilo’s songs and made a massive impact. Decribed as “a huge success”, most musicians including gospel artistes made their own versions and

•Awilo Longomba

also began to play that brand of music though it has waned at the moment. It was another unforgettable experience when Awilo stormed Nigeria for a concert. Millions of music lovers in Nigeria described that experience as “ unprecedented in the history of shows in the country.”

What probably could equate the crowd that attended the epochmaking music show is the Paul Adefarasin’s Experience, where Christians of all denominations gathered at the Tafawa Balewa Square

for a once in a year live concert featuring both foreign and local acts.

Awilo was in his best element, setting the venue on fire, with his captivating dance steps.

Unfortunately, the Congolese superstar disappeared into thin air, leaving no traces until last week when he reappeared in Lagos. Recently, his fans were shocked when they saw him in a music video of a wavemaking Nigerian artiste, Praize. Indeed, Awilo is back to reclaim his place in the music scene. But can he pull the same weight as he did during his reign?

SUNDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 3, 2014, PAGE 21

Dealing with life's disappointments

By Yetunde Arebi “Don’t let today’s disappointments cast a shadow on tomorrow’s dreams.” ~Unknown

D

ISAPPOINTMENT is one of life’s most un comfortable and complex feelings. It unleashes in us a lot of negative feelings such as sadness, anger, doubt, hurt, sense of betrayal, frustration, anxiety and even desperation. We are disappointed when we expect something to happen and they do not. We feel hurt because we have attached ourselves to these expectations, beliefs or ideas, and when things don't go the way we want, we are disappointed. We must however, realise that life comes with many challenges; peaks and valleys, joy and pain, sunshine and rain, the good and the bad.

Even the Bible tells us in Eccl 3:1-8 of the different seasons of life. In the midst of all these, it is important that we do our best to achieve our goals and dreams. However, disappointment can sometimes hover at the front of our minds and niggle at the back, bringing us a grey perspective on life, even if we are trying hard to forget about it, especially if we are constantly confronted with memories of those things. The answer to dealing with disappointments lies in learning constructive ways to acknowledge them. Learning to deal with our disappointments can help us build up character, patience and resilience, that will make one a stronger person. The few tips outlined below should come in useful if you are going through this phase right now.

Admit how you feel It is important that you identify how you feel about what has happened to you. When you do this, you are able to assess the situation from a more constructive perspective.

Allow yourself to feel your emotions, never deny yourself that. If you feel like crying, please do, it is your right as a person. Denial may be the most treacherous way of harming yourself. To deny your feelings is the first ingredient in a recipe for disaster and will only

dition/situation is permanent?" Besides, there is always a silver lining, no matter how cloudy the skies might be. One of the most important lessons of life is to know your worth as an individual and not let your disappointments defeat you or determine who you are or your limitations.

Put and keep things in perspective The tiniest of disappointments can seem monumental at first. But once you have

When disappointments come your way, it is instructive to always remember that contrary to popular belief, you cannot have your way all the time. make you feel worse. Do not allow life to make you bitter and angry. Articulate your feelings about the situation and try not to attack or blame other people. When you are hurt, you will send negative vibes to those around you and they might begin to pull away. So, you must stay positive. Know that this too will pass as all things. If you feel it is important or will make a difference, you may let your feelings out by confiding in a trusted friend. This is however a tricky one as you can never know how another person truly feels about you. Beware of those who might seize the opportunity for personal gains too. Remember the saying, "no con-

expressed your feelings, take a step back and look at the larger picture. In putting things in perspective, try to take a second look at what has happened to you. You may need to ask yourself how much of an effect this disappointment will have on you tomorrow, next week, or next year? Have you really even lost anything? What lessons can you learn from this experience? Remember that disappointments might actually be opportunities for better and greater things to come. If it is possible, create some space between you and the object or situation of your disappointment, such as going for a walk or taking a vacation. This

will help you calm your nerves and help keep things in perspective to handle the disappointment. As you do, you will find that you are better able to deal with the important issues at hand, rather than dwell on your disappointment.

There is always a way When disappointments come your way, it is instructive to always remember that contrary to popular belief, you cannot have your way all the time. However, never forget also that there will always be a way. This is why it is important to always plan ahead if possible. Disappointments may also be a sign that you need to re-examine your priorities. There will always be options, back up plans and new goals. For this to work for you, you must be able to define your core values as a person. What are your ideals and how far will you go to get what you want. How much can you bear or sacrifice to get your desire. Do you really need or deserve to that thing? This will help in assessing how much you really think you have lost with your disappointment. If you find that your values will be undermined or compromised by your supposed disappointment, then you really may not have lost anything. Learn to be flexible. Refocusing your attention on your new/other options and goals will help you work through your disappointment better.

Do not doubt yourself Sometimes disappointment can make you feel like a total failure or succumb to negative thoughts about yourself and ability. Remember that disappointment is not unique to you, everyone will experience it at some point in their lives. It is how we handle our disappoint-

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ment that matters. Instead of beating yourself up, think about what you could have been done differently and always, always, always learn from the experience. Remember that your trust should be earned not given freely because people are not always who they present themselves to be. Maximize your talents and abilities by intentionally making the most of your strengths.

Remember to count your blessings If you look around, your life abounds with blessings, things taken for granted in happier times. You have relationships with family, friends, admirers secret and known, You have a job, roof over your head, good health, freedom and in fact, the blessing of waking up to a brand new day every morning. All these are trappings of an ordinary life that we often forget are very important. Then, there are intangibles you have built or received from others over your lifetime. Whenever disappointments comes your way, counting your blessings will remind you of what is going right when everything feels wrong. Your blessings will help you view problems as temporary so that you are assured of a better tomorrow.

While you don't need to live in the future, recalling that disappointments hurt less with time keeps your outlook positive. Surround yourself with people and things that make you happy and leave everything in the hands of the unseeing God, the author and finisher of our lives. Do have a lovely Sunday!

This piece is specially dedicated to a very dear friend.

Kiss kiss!!

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PAGE 22—SUNDAY VANGUARD, AUGUST 3, 2014

ADVERTISING AND SOCIAL MEDIA M

media spend. We constantly chased after effectiveness, reach and penetration. Add to that, a little push of some volume discount at the client and the story is told in totality.

Today, so much innovation has been brought to bear in the practice of media planning and buying. With the turn of the new millennium, the market of media vehicle(s) appreciation and application witnessed tremendous innovative thinking.

There was so much of experimentation with new learning; the local environment was literarily struggling to keep pace. Change drivers then could only manage to drag managers of international brands and local brands with international affiliation into the new understanding on the basis of aspiration. Even at that, majority of media buyers at the start of the new media era were only taking chance with their advertising budget. Because the appreciation was very low, not much was considered in terms of relevance, effectiveness and Return-On-Investment (ROI).

The ‘big brands’ managed to add to their brand equity in terms of image perception, because those daring moves they made with blind experimentation portrayed them as sophisticated, trendy. Not much was gained in Naira (and such other currency their international offices calculated their financial support).

The new trend ushered in the digital media age. All kinds of production technique found their way into the Nigerian advertising practice. South Africa became Mecca to innovative media experts. To the local industry leaders, the mere knowledge of the appropriate production house in SA to produce the new TV Commercial was enough to demonstrate ‘expert’ professional knowledge to win a good account. In fact, Advertising Agencies started parading all sorts of Oyibo

practitioners as in-house consultants. Most of them came in through technical assistance from affiliate agencies abroad.

Agency affiliation became a new craze, because it was either the serious agency puts forward an expatriate at pitches, it is likely to lose. We appreciate all of these changes, because they introduce color/glamour into the traditional way we did our thing.

But over time we started noticing the power of raw knowledge.

Those who were opportune to be properly trained in areas such as marketing, sales and creative art represented themselves adequately. There was nothing any Oyibo from any agency abroad will tell a Unilevertrained marketing person in the area of brands management to cause panic. Yeah, it was all

,

C&A Digest team do hope it will not amount to over simplicity to the extent of offending some of our readers if we state as a matter of fact, that it is important to establish the marked difference between brands management and advertising. But we know that even among some practitioners today, it is common-place to find a mix-up of these two. It is all so important we establish this difference because it forms the basis of our today’s topic.

So, here we go!

Advertising is only an integral part of INTEGRATED BRANDS MANAGEMENT. Functionally, therefore, a given brand support strategy may totally exclude advertising. I guess that explains the new brand identity of some industry practitioners, deliberately disconnecting with the traditional common reference of ADVERTISING AGENCY. Gone are those days of advertising agency; it is time for holistic involvement (the banks will say “ wholesale banking”).

For the purpose of our nonprofessional readers, advertising is all about marketing communication; it is the process of creating and disseminating advert messages for the purposes of enabling brand’s marketing opportunities.

To the extent where advertising is only an integral part of integrated brands management though, it has remained the most crucial single unit impute in advertising over the years. It has been the center- point for success measure, analysis and appreciation for both the client and agency over the years. Over 87% of Agency earning comes from media buying, the client or brand’s marketing communication success also depends on media. Over the years, therefore, practitioners have had to pay critical attention to the business of media engagement.

The power of media in advertising is based on the impact of its contribution to the advertising process.

In advertising, the media vehicles are the executioners. No matter how beautiful and convincing campaign materials are, there will always depend on media vehicles to be effective.

Traditionally, media is expressed in the use of radio, newspaper/ magazine and outdoor. Until about 1999/2000, creativity in media planning and buying started and ended with how well these traditional media vehicles are engaged/deployed.

Plenty of arithmetic and financial accounting went into creating rationale for the choice practitioners made of the media vehicle options then, with the objectives of reach and effectiveness. In those days we commonly heard words like ‘cost per thousand’, too often to not have it guide our everyday thinking when considering media planning. The client must be made to appreciate our professional competence by the way we conjure figures to justify

with the introduction of ‘expatriate’ ideas without proper consideration. No matter the extent and nature of innovation or change, the basic function and objective remain effective reach and impact.

I always asked the question why media independents? Every of the so-called independent media shops are only as independent to the extent that they now exist independent of the traditional advertising agency structure.

They do the same thing (even with lesser diligence) compared to the traditional media departments of a standard advertising agency.

That is my opinion, and I am open to superior argument. This will form a topical issue for discussion for the future.

However, the kernel of this whole position is that such were the

The power of media in advertising is based on the impact of its contribution to the advertising process. In advertising, the media vehicles are the executioners

about difference in system.

It only took time for this emptiness to reflect in other areas of advertising. Today, the story is changing. Most of those local agencies that went for foreign practitioners under all sorts of guise started sacking them, as fast as they came.

Conflict in internal workings and between the so-called expatriates and the local practitioners started impacting negatively on the over-all effectiveness.

It is this same system pollution that attended our local media

,

questionable changes that filtered into our local advertising industry at the turn of the century.

Nobody asked questions. Now we are into another change era, the era of social media in advertising. Social media is peculiar in the area of technological innovativeness.

Yes, it is a flexible platform for person-to-person inter-relativity that gives the individual the power to decide when, where and how he or she can be sent information for mass communication. It clearly

individualizes the target audience. No more can any media planner/buyer can just reel out spurious rationale for media engagement proposal without very careful consideration. More and more, the buyer or advertiser can take part in the consideration of media platform and vehicle effectiveness. It is now truly such a global village, space constraint make no sense.

It is the effectiveness of social media that supported the evolution of Target Marketing in media engagement. With the social media, it is easier to appropriately define the target audience for a given advertising message, with a proper understanding of prevalent social trend and habit, among age brackets and social cultural environments. Therefore, it was easy for the Senior Brands Manager for Magnum Ice-cream in the US, Mike Hanley, to report 89 million impressions, 83 clicks on posted links and more than 270 replies mention all on April 29, 2011, as a result of the promoted trend he/his brand bought into.

In same vein, Zuji Australia, an Australian travels and leisure company, invested in the promotion of online travel reservation, using long-term approach to building awareness, engaged Tweets (specifically, promoted tweets), in May 2011.

The results are said to be still coming in, but the company has already more than doubled its follower base in the two months since it started using tweets.

These two reports represent many other relatively successful uses of social media as a consumer or target audience engaging media platform, for purposes of advertising. However, the danger inherent in the application of the new media is in the area of efficiency in the face of compatibility and appropriateness. The same brands that posted relative success in the use of social media quickly reported doubt in the impact of recorded success in value terms. In other words, the social media is only effective in awareness and not actual sales.

Now, the concern concerning social media ineffectiveness on sales actualization is a joke compared to the many failures social media will face in our environment characterized by high illiteracy rate, negative rating on technology appreciation necessary for emedia, lack of infrastructures for internet social interaction, etc.

So, our contribution at MC&A Digest is, unlike we have had to accept changes in the past, practitioners and clients must take time to study the use and implication of social media for advertising to guide against wastage of media spend and blindly shooting in the dark.

Whether we talk of old or new media platforms, the abovementioned remain the overriding consideration for effective and profitable media engagement, across market segment.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, AUGUST 3, 2014, PAGE 23

08112662589

When you date a rat, you put your emotions on hold!

M

URI certainly put a new twist on the sugar daddy saga. Well in his fifties, he was an independent participant in the advanced IT we once ran. Tali and debonair, debonair, he looked too sure of himself for my liking. Always wanting the most expensive aftershave, his clothes were just so; not too showy for the lecture room, and not too casual either. Within days, the girls, married and single, were eating out of his palms leaving the younger men green with envy and having nasty jabs at him behind his back.

Out of all his female ‘fans’, Ibi stood out like a sickpuppy. The poor girl was simply smitten. She’d just been employed by a big corporation and the course was to prepare her for her new designation after the official confirmation of her job. Muri singled her out from the start and flirted outrageously with her in front of everyone, Ibi loved the attention. Pretty, tall and ebony-skinned, she simply lit up any time Muri entered the room. If there was any disaster waiting to happen, it was the two of them. The fact that he was in his 50s and she is in her late 20s was not the issue. She was ripe for a fling with a married man.

What woman wouldn’t, with a cad like

Muri around? I subtly warned her to be careful she just got, married with lovely twins. If she wanted to play away, she should make sure she didn’t get burnt.

“Half way through the four week course, Ibi became moody and listless.

Muri wasn’t as flirty with her as before and I wondered what could have gone wrong. I didn’t have to wait long. After the close of day a few days after my observation, Ibi was practically tearing at the hair of another participant.

When I heard the commotion, f rushed to the lecture room from my office. Ibi was attacking Dora, a rather brash divorcee who gave as much as she got. It took an effort to price Ibi away from the object of her frustrated anger and I took her to my office. What did she think she was doing?

Was she mad? And what sort of report did she expect me to make to her employers after the course with her current show of shame?

She simply burst into tears. “I had a relationship with Muri” she sobbed, “and he made me believe he was in love with me.

That he loved his wife but wanted a younger sophisticated girl he could brainstorm with”. Here we go again, I thought, rolling my eyes. Would these young

things ever learn?

Muri obviously knew where he was going and he pulled out all the stops in making Ibi fall for him like a ton of bricks - expensive lunches in discreet hotels that boasted room service, lavish presents and cash gifts. He even took her ram-shackled car to his mechanics for a very impressive make-over! Ibi was so impressed by her good fortunes that she told Dora, the girl she was having the cat-fight with all about it. “She warned I should be wary of Muri” Ibi continued/That he looked like a cheating rat to her.

That a man like him with his wobbly bits might not be much in the sack. Well,

in my foolishness, I confessed that his chest and stomach might be saggy and crinkly, he was definitely no candidate for the geriatric ward yet!

“It was after this that Dora started her subtle flirting and Muri lapped it up. I waited for him to arrange our usual tryst, but nothing happened.

When one of the participants jokingly said he saw Dora in Muri’s car, 1 was really shocked. I first thought he’d made a mistake, but when I waited for him after the close of the day, he said he had an urgent meeting to attend. This morning, the same fellow told me he’d seen both of them kissing as they drove off together. That was why

I tackled Dora and she sneered that I should go and take care of my husband instead of running after a man old enough to be my father.

“That was what really enraged me - a friend I told about a new relationship going behind my back to sleep with my man...” I had to tell her Muri was someone else’s man, that her man was her husband. All she was doing was having a fling and reminding her that as a recently married woman, she had no excuse conducting an affair in public glare.

But she was inconsolable.

To add salt to her festering wound, Muri refused to discuss anything with her and had stopped coming for classes. As an independent participant, he could please himself. Ail he had to lose was the fees for the course and he has pots of money, so that would be nothing but a drop in the bucket of his financial wealth.

When I saw Muri again, it was at a pre-cocktail dinner for a business associate. He was impeccably dressed as usual and charming the pants off a couple of women. His eyes lit up mischievously when he saw me and he promptly came over, dragging a wine waiter with him and plunking a glass in my hand. I felt like kicking him in the groin. In the end, I had to ask him why he did what he did. “What did I

do?” he asked, a bit hurt.

“What does a married woman want with an equally married man? The love of a life-time?” Didn’t he care that his wife could one day catch him red handed?*’ 1 asked. He roared as if I’d just asked a silly question.

“My wife? What has she got to do with it”, he wanted to know. “I have a very understanding wife if you must know. Other wives might feel jealous and suspicious of their husbands, but my wife’s not like that. She doesn’t mind me having the odd fling as long as it makes me happy.

She knows it is just sex which doesn’t bother her as long as she gets her own ration”. How conceited can you get?

On the other hand, what sort of woman would give a passionate man like Muri permission to openly frolics with other women?

It certainly takes all sorts to make the world.

Muri is all technique and no heart - a flash smooth talker who seems to sense what the average woman wants to hear and needs and his wife of almost 30 years encourages his decadence all the way! She obviously realised a long time ago that the best way to hold on to her man was look the other way - no rocking of boat here!

08052201867(Text Only)

F

OR most people over thirty the abdominal region gets to be the least toned set of muscles of the body. We work with our hands and walk with our feet, therefore, somehow, those parts are almost always in better shape than the abdominal wall.

A trim waistline doesn’t only look impressive aesthetically, it also speaks volumes of the state of health of the individual.

Reduce the girth and presto! You instantly look youthful. You will begin to digest your food and absorb it more efficiently.

Once the belly is shrunk appreciably, we can then learn to perform certain exercises which can help the system achieve better bowel action - a veritable way f eliminating toxins.

As regards exercise, there are countless ways to deal with the bulge of the belly. Some get results from practising dit-ups, others from legraises and so on.

But there are some less familiar practices that C M Y K

Tightening the abdominals deal with flabby stomach a lot more thoroughly.

Besides strengthening the muscles of the abdomen, some of these practices can be used for purification purposes along with drinking large quantities of salt water. The following exercise will help trim the waist and keep it so, forever. I have had the same waistline since the past thirty years and I am fifty two now. If yours truly can do it, so can you! All it takes is diligence. Lets consider the Rocking.

Technique: Sit with the knees drawn and the hands placed at the back of the knees. Now, lunge both legs forwards and quickly draw them back and thrust them forth again. Keep this to and fro movement of the feet going continually. If you break the rhythm by hesitating you rill immediately fail to keep going. You may

do as few as 5 thrusts and withdrawals of the feet initially and then increase the number of times as you improve.

Benefits: The Rocking toughens the upper thigh and abdominal muscles.

The exercise is reputed to also improve the

soundness of sleep.

The Abdominal Lift Technique: Standing with the feet about a foot apart, breathe in deeply and exhale forcefully.

Now, with the breath out, draw in the muscles of the abdomen until you have a hollow forming

*The Rocking

beneath the ribs. The hands should be placed on the thighs and the knees bent a little. Keep the trunk a bit tipped forward but don’t lower it. Maintain the retraction of the diaphragm by keeping both hands firmly pressed against the thighs as you lean on them.

Keep the position for as long as can be without breathing.

Then, ease up, stand erect and begin to breathe normally. Repeat only once more if you’re just stating this exercise. As regards this very exercise, Indra Devi advises gradually bringing it up to seven times adding one time each week.

Warning: People with a weak heart or serious abdominal or circulatory problems should refrain from this exercise.

*The Abdominal Lift

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P AGE 24—SUNDAY Vanguard , AUGUST 3 , 2014

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Are you better off not marrying that lost love of your life?

W

HO would you call the love of your life? Is it the person you still think of with a bit of nostalgia regardless of whether the relationship lasted or not? Many of us believe that our first grand passion, rather than the dependable type we end up marrying, should be revered. According to a recent survey one in seven admit they didn’t end up with their ‘true’ love and opted for ‘second best’ instead. Some 40 years ago, Chika dumped the so called ‘love of my life’ and was lucky enough to go on to be happily married to her late husband whom she lost to a heart attack last year.

“Despite my good fortune in settling down with a decent husband, my mind fluttered from time to time when i recalled Taofic, my first love.

“When we met all those years ago, Taofic and I had the odds stacked against us - he coming from a very wealthy Muslim family and me from a modest Christian home.

There’d already been an ‘understanding’ he would get married to the daughter of his dad’s close friend who happened to be a respected Muslim cleric; and I’d been forbidden - at the risk of being disowned by my very religious father who was desperate for me to marry within the faith - from ever seeing him. We’d both met at the university where we’d both been studying in the seventies. Tall, athletic and devastatingly handsome, he was also clever and sophisticated beyond his years - thanks to a privileged education and years spent travelling with his family.

“Taofic thought nothing of wining and dining with me at chic restaurants ail over Lagos or dancing the night away

at night clubs. Everything he did was excessive, extravagant, pleasurable in the extreme and all new to me. I was like a lamb led to the slaughter. When we weren’t making love and vowing devotion, we listened to mushy music and videos.

And when he wasn’t teaching me to eat properly with the right cutlery and what wine went with what exotic meal, we were taking trips to neighbouring countries in his brand new sports car.

“All these wining and dining didn’t blind me to the rows we had throughout the affair - the slammed doors, the hysterics at his home, threats from my parents, the terrible scenes, the promises he never kept and the pain I felt every time I heard he was with yet another ‘hot chic’. These ‘replacement’ chics were always waiting in the wings during our frequent splits, which our crowd followed as if we were the Ajala and Alhaja Shade love birds of those years.

“After almost three years of on and off, it ail came crashing down when I realised he would never grow up and I sadly ended the relationship. Despite his charm, Taofic had one fatal flaw - he did not believe in fidelity. Or rather, he could not tolerate any vacuum - it would be instantly filled by one of the many women who seemed to swirl around him. Not only could he not resist a pretty face, but the face often belonged to one of my socalled friends. I’ve no idea how many times he cheated on me - and he didn’t seem to regard it as important as I was ‘the one’. Normally, if I found out, he’d simpiy say: ‘Come on darling, you know you’re the one I love’. And that intoxi-

Y

OUR column to express your loving thoughts in words to your sweetheart. Don’t be shy. Let it flow and let him or her know how dearly you feel.

Write now in not more than 75 words to: The Editor, Sunday Vanguard, P.M.B. 1007, Apapa, Lagos. E.mail: sunlovenotes@yahoo.com Please mark your envelope: “LOVE NOTES"

Some Truths Ladies Should Know

1 – The way to a man’s heart is no longer his stomach but the quality of your brain.

2 – If your man must be Tall, Dark and Handsome

from regret, we should congratulate ourselves for choosing enduring love over short-lived, jagged passion.”

cating subtle musk of his aftershave and his sheer charisma would convince me to forgive him. I would be back in his arms, ready to end the war with a most passionate love-making. That’s how all our arguments ended - in bed.

“Sadly, all the lovemaking in the world wasn’t going to resolve them for good. The final straw came when one of his relatives ‘confided’ in me that his dad had already earmarked an apartment for him to move into with the fiancee he told me he’d ditched long before. And soon after he graduated, he went on to marry his Muslim wife. After that he made a spectacular political career for himself - thanks to his dad’s muscles. Sadly he had his own share of reversal of fortune. As for me, I went straight to work for a huge manufacturing firm where I met one of their executive directors over 10 years my senior and still single and we got married.

“We were married nearly 24 years before he died last year. During this time, I’d occasionally

heard news of Taofic.

He’d been out of touch for a very long time when, a few years ago, I received an affectionate e-mail begging me to meet him. He obviously seemed to be fantasising about those loved-up days. I agreed to see him and he revealed he was being treated for prostate non-life-threatening cancer. Had this prompted his desire to meet me? I felt puzzled and curious rather than excited. I had no illusions. But there was, in spite of myself a slight flutter in my heart as I waited for him at a restaurant near my office.

When he finally showed up, I had to look twice.

The man advancing towards me was tall, whitehaired and bearded. His old features were still there but his face was fuller, slightly jowly and his eyes unfathomable. It was him, yet not him.

“Too many years had elapsed and I felt nothing as we embraced and exchanged greetings. He might just as well have been a statue. I was vindicated when I discovered he’d divorced a few years after moving into the fancy

then be ready to be the 2nd best because what you desire, others seek too.

3 – If you allow your parents’ pressure push you into marriage, you may end up a single-mom.

4 – A man that slaps you before marriage will build a boxing ring after marriage. Guess who his opponent will be – YOU! 5 – If you are yet to know any member of his family after 6 – 12 months of courting him, then, is either he wants you as his baby-mama or a back-up plan.

6 – If what attracted him to you are your bosoms and the sexy legs you flaunted, the contents of your brain had better keep him, else, there are too many well-rounded and bigger bosoms waiting to snatch him away.

7 – Men love sex, at least 95% that I’m aware of. To him, if you can’t continue, don’t start! If you start, don’t stop! Be careful!

8 – If he doesn’t discuss future plans with you in the picture, he just wants a fling.

9 – Even when you trust each other, a little jeal-

apartment his dad got him.

Worse, he went on to have three more wives! Each marriage ended in heartbreak – for the women. I’d had a lucky escaped! We made conversation but I felt no connection. Even the cossy atmosphere of my favourite restaurant failed to do the trick. I felt flat, irritated, even bored. Conversation revolved around him - his high-flying career, his divorces and his finances. He seemed to have little interest in my own life, apart from telling me I ‘ work too hard 1 and ‘looked tired’.

“I felt both relieved and let down that I wouldn’t feel obliged to see him again. I’d been wise to end things ail those years ago.

Far from being ‘second best’ my husband was very much the right choice. He brought out the best in me - allowed me to develop my potentials, while I, hopefully, helped nurture his creativity. Together we’d created a family - three sons and a daughter - the most precious thing of all.

“So if you hark back to the ‘one who got away’ take note. The end of the relationship was probably the making of you. Far

A Rose By Any Other Name... (Humour) For three weeks, a woman had been the main contestant on a national TV quiz show. Time after time, she had defeated every other contender and was only one question away from winning N5 million. Came the eve of her big day, nerves were beginning to make her ill, so her husband sneaked into the TV studio and found the jackpot question and answer. “Doris” he said, “tomorrow’s question is about the male anatomy and the answer is head, heart and penis.”

For the rest of the evening and during the night, he asked her the same question every 5 minutes. Alas, her nerves were so bad, she kept forgetting the answer. Ten minutes before the show, he was still instructing her.

“Come on Doris, don’t forget, it’s the head, the heart, and penis.” “Head, heart, penis” she kept muttering to herself, as the programme got closer.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” announced the quiz master, “please welcome back Mrs. Doris Smith who is one question away from N5 million. Doris can you name the three main parts of the male anatomy? You have 12 seconds.” There wasn’t a sound to be heard as the seconds started ticking away.

“The head,” said Doris.

“That’s right, nine seconds left.” “Er... the heart,” said Doris. “Yes!” said the quiz master, “five seconds left.”

“And...um,..er...oh dear, my husband kept driving it into me last night ...er...

I had it on the tip of my tongue this morning.”

The bell went for the end of time. “Well, that’s good enough for me,” said the quiz master. “You’ve just won N5 million!”

ousy reminds him that you care.

10 – Men love a listener. No matter how much you want your opinion to push through, listen to his details and don’t counter it.

11 – When you are already living with him before marriage, he won’t propose quickly.

12 – Don’t waste your years waiting for an unserious man to propose just because his parents loves you, you’re going to be married and living with the man, not his parents.

13 – When you seek his advice, you make him feel more of a man than he is.

14 – Your encouragement or concern about his career or job works faster than listening to a motivational tape.

15 - An engagement ring isn’t an assurance for marriage, it could possibly make you his regular sexmate..........

BE WARNED! BE WISE! DON'T FALL A VICTIM. Chris Onunaku dekris4real@gmail.com 08032988826/08184844015.

SUNDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 3, 2014, PAGE 25

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SCARRED FOR LIFE BY EBOLA

Our kids will grow up not knowing their father – Victim’s widow *Says they were expecting him in the US for daughters’ birthdays

P

atrick Sawyer, 40, lived in Minnesota for a decade and was set to return to the U.S. to see his family in August.

Sawyer died (penultimate) Friday after becoming ill on a flight to Nigeria from Liberia, leading to fears of the virus spreading through

air travel.

Ebola victim Patrick Sawyer, 40, died of the deadly virus in Lagos, Nigeria, on July 25. His wife and children lived in Coon Rapids, Minn.

A Liberian government official who succumbed to the Ebola virus had family

•Sawyer with his daughter

C M Y K

•Bereaved mother and daughter living in Minnesota and was wife, Decontee Sawyer, said set to return to the U.S. next her husband had planned to month, his grieving kin return to their Coon Rapids said. home in August to attend Patrick Sawyer died Friday two of his three daughters’ after suffering extreme bouts birthdays, Minnesota’s of vomiting and diarrhea on KSTP-TV reported. a flight from Liberia to Decontee Sawyer, holding Nigeria, leading to fears he 1-year-old daughter Bella, may have spread the virus said her husband was to to fellow passengers. return to the U.S. in a few Health workers were weeks for two of their scrambling to track down daughters’ birthdays. any passengers or flight The grieving widow said crew who may have been in she hoped her husband’s contact with the 40-year-old death as he flew from Liberia to served Ghana to Togo before arriving in Lagos, where he was quarantined and eventually died.

His

•Mr. and Mrs. Sawyer

as a wake-up call about the global threat of the virus, which has already killed more than 670 people in West Africa.

“It’s a global problem because Patrick could’ve easily come home with Ebola,” Decontee Sawyer told the station.

“It’s close, it’s at our front door. It knocked down my front door.”

Health experts said it was unlikely Sawyer infected others because Ebola spreads through body fluids such as urine, blood or saliva. Unlike the flu, it does not travel through the air.

So far, Nigerian authorities identified 59 people who came into contact with him, including airline employees and health Continues on page 27

PAGE 26 — SUNDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 3, 2014

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Ebola: The Enemy at Your door (2)

BY SOLA OGUNDIPE

E

BOLA Virus Disease, EVD, is a contagious illness that has been reported in several African countries, including Uganda, Gabon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea and Nigeria. It is caused by an infection with the Ebola virus, and is often lethal in humans and non-human primates (such as monkeys and gorillas). Since 1970, there have been at least 25 confirmed outbreaks of EVD. In the latest outbreak in West Africa, around 1,200 infections and 730 deaths have been reported.

Causes Three of four identified subtypes of the Ebola virus are known to cause Ebola in humans. Although researchers do not know exactly how an outbreak of Ebola starts, it has been hypothesised that the first patient becomes infected with Ebola virus through contact with an infected animal.

While the specific cause of the first case in an Ebola outbreak is unknown, researchers do know that Ebola is transmitted from human to human.

Outbreaks Since 1976, when the Ebola virus was first recognised, there have been at least 25 confirmed outbreaks of the illness.

To date the only confirmed case of EVD in Nigeria is that of the late Patrick Sawyer, the Liberian who died on July 25, 2014, at First Consultants Hospital, Lagos. Although there are a number of other reported cases, they are still considered suspected cases and are subject to confirmation.

Common Symptoms Symptoms of Ebola can appear as soon as two days, or as long as 21 days, after infection with the Ebola virus. When a person becomes infected with Ebola virus, the virus begins to multiply within the body.

After four to six days on average, Ebola symptoms can begin. The period between infection with the virus and the start of Ebola symptoms is called the incubation period. The Ebola incubation period can be as short as 2 days or as long as 21 days.

The start of Ebola symptoms is usually abrupt. Common symptoms can include: Fever, sore throat, weakness, severe headache, joint and muscle aches, diarrhoea, vomiting, dehydration, hacking cough and stomach pain.

A rash, red eyes, hiccups, and internal and external bleeding may be seen in some patients. When the rash develops on dark skin, it is often not recognised until the rash beC M Y K

gins to peel. In pregnant women, abortion (miscarriage) and heavy vaginal bleeding are common Ebola symptoms.

Death usually occurs during the second week of Ebola symptoms. Death in Ebola victims is usually from massive blood loss.

Ebola prevention When it comes to Ebola, prevention involves avoiding direct contact with the body fluid of infected people. Also, it's important to avoid direct contact with the body of an Ebola victim who has died. For healthcare workers and the general public in Nigeria and other affected countries in Africa, who are most likely to encounter cases of EVD, prevention focuses on being able to recognise cases of the disease when they appear, as well as using barrier isolation techniques to avoid direct contact with infected people.

Once an Ebola outbreak begins, the effects of the virus can be devastating. There is no Ebola cure, and once a person develops an Ebola virus infection, the chance of death can be as high as 90 percent.

Because there is no Ebola

vaccine that is currently licensed, EVD prevention focuses on preventing direct contact with body fluids of those infected with the virus.

Another aspect of EVD pre-

vention involves avoiding direct contact with the body of an Ebola victim who has died as a result of the virus.

Challenges

Health workers managing Ebola infection

EVD prevention presents many challenges. Because the identity and location of the animal host of the Ebola virus are unknown, there are few established primary Ebola prevention measures.

The rule, generally is that if cases of Ebola do appear, current social and economic conditions often favour the spread of an epidemic within healthcare facilities; therefore, healthcare providers must be able to recognise a case of Ebola should one appear.

They must also have the capability to perform Ebola diagnostic tests and be ready to employ practical Ebola isolation precautions or barrier nursing techniques.

These techniques include the following: • Complete sterilisation of equipment • Isolation of patients with Ebola Virus disease from contact with unprotected people • Wearing of protective clothing, such as masks, gloves, gowns, and goggles.

• Proper and strict hygiene measures including handwashing with soap and water.

• Avoid consumption of wild animals particularly bush meat, bats Time as an Ebola "cure" There are persons who have been infected with Ebola and survived over time. It is not known for certain if they are "cured" in the real sense.

When Ebola first strikes, a person will not feel sick for several days to a few weeks after being infected with the Ebola virus. When symptoms do develop, healthcare providers can only offer supportive care that involves treating symptoms and complications of Ebola while the body fights the infection. Supportive care for Ebola can include: Good nursing care, oxygen and devices that help with breathing, intravenous (IV) fluids to maintain fluids and electro-

Continues on page 27

SUNDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 3, 2014, PAGE 27

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The Enemy at Your door (2)

a rapid response

Once infected with the virus, there is no treatment that will cure the infection once it begins; therefore, preventing the spread of the virus is crucial to containing outbreaks Handwashing Continued from page 26 lytes, Medications to control fever, help the blood clot, and maintain blood pressure And antibiotics to prevent secondary infections. Despite supportive care, 50 to 90 percent of Ebola patients do not survive the infection.

Ebola vaccine in humans Some Ebola research scientists have focused their efforts

on developing a new Ebola vaccine. Since 2003, a research study began that is evaluating the safety of an experimental vaccine for Ebola in humans.

The trial vaccine, which is a type of DNA vaccine, is similar to other investigational vaccines that hold promise for controlling such diseases as AIDS, influenza, malaria, and hepatitis.

This vaccine may prevent Ebola Virus disease from de-

veloping, but will not be a cure for Ebola. Once infected with the virus, there is no treatment that will cure the infection once it begins; therefore, preventing the spread of the virus is crucial to containing outbreaks. This is one reason why research scientists are actively studying a possible Ebola vaccine. At this point, there is not a licensed vaccine for humans; however, an Ebola vaccine has shown to be effective in mon-

keys.

This research has enormous public health implications, not only because it might be used to limit the spread of Ebola virus, which continues to emerge in West Africa, but also because this vaccine strategy may be applied to other highly lethal viruses - such as the Marburg and Lassa fever viruses, and the SARS coronavirus - that cause acute disease outbreaks and require

Importance of hand washing Handwashing is like a "doit-yourself" vaccine—it involves five simple and effective steps (wet, lather, scrub, rinse, dry) you can take to reduce the spread of illness such as EVD. Regular hand-washing is one of the best ways to remove germs, avoid getting sick, and prevent the spread of germs to others. ?Knowing when and how to wash your hands, the importance of using soap and water, and what you can do if soap and clean, running water are not available is crucial.

Hands being washedHow to wash your hands •Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), turn off the tap, and apply soap.

•Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Be sure to lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.

•Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the "Happy Birthday" song from beginning to end twice.

•Rinse your hands well under clean, running water.

•Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them.?

‘Our kids will grow up not knowing their father’ Continued from page 25 workers, and tested 20 of them. None of them was positive, The Associated Press reported.

Still, the fact that he was able to board a plane while ill — coupled with the fact his sister recently died from Ebola — raised questions about passenger screening and the risk of the disease spreading through air travel, officials said.

‘It’s a global problem because Patrick could’ve easily come home with Ebola,’ Decontee Sawyer told

local KSTP-TV. Two other American aid workers in Liberia have fallen ill with the disease and were being cared for by doctors there.

Dr. Kent Brantly, 33, and his colleague Nancy Writebol spent months fighting Ebola in that country before becoming sick themselves.

Brantly’s wife and two young children lived with him in Liberia until recently, when they left to attend a wedding in the U.S. They are now in Abilene, Tex., and were being monitored for signs of the

•Health officials in anti-Ebola operation

•Father and daughter....separated forever by Ebola C M Y K

disease, officials said.

Sawyer lived in Minnesota for about a decade before returning to Liberia in 2008 to work as a finance minister, KSTP-TV reported.

His wife said he was beloved in their local Liberian community. They planned to honor him with a

memorial in September.

Brantly, a 33-year-old American doctor, has tested positive for the disease.

Decontee Sawyer said she was left cold by the thought of another family losing their loved one to the disease and hoped African health officials were doing all they can to

fight the outbreak.

“I have three girls who will never get to know their father,” she told KSTP-TV. “This can’t happen anymore,” she added. “I don’t want any more families going through”. *Culled from Daily News

PAGE 28 — SUNDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 3, 2014

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How Katsina First Lady is lifting women!

BY OLAYINKA AJAYI

M

r Lawal Charanchi is the coordinator of the Service to Humanity Foundation, a nongovernmental organization set up by the First Lady of Katsina State, Dr. Fatima Ibrahim Shema, to empower women and the vulnerable. In this interview, he explains how foundation has done so far in complementing the state government efforts to reduce poverty in the state.

What is your assessment of the empowerment programme so far?

This programme is a continuous exercise since the present administration came into power with her excellency, the wife of Katsina State Governor as the initiator. There have been many of this kind of activities that cut across all the 34 local government areas and what you witnessed recently was just one of the activities, which as you rightly mentioned, attracted a mammoth crowd. The state government views women empowerment as something very important because the contributions of women in community development cannot be underestimated, and that is why the women here in Katsina are continuously being empowered so that they can give their maximum contributions to the economic development of this state. Let it be stated however that this empowerment programme was actually in conjunction with the state government as represented by the Ministry of Women Affairs. The foundation

Charanchi empowerment programme is in many stages. There is the area of capacity building, that is giving them training in their chosen skills acquisition and in the area of supporting them after graduating. Apart from acquiring the skills, the First Lady through the foundation, supports them by giving them all the necessary equipment and tools needed in their chosen skills and then add N50,000 so that they can begin new lives. So what you saw recently is a clear indication that the foundation and the state government are ready to continue to keep this empowerment programme for women.

Apart from the occasional assistance by the state government, what other sources does the foundation generate revenue from to carry out its programmes?

The state government has been very supportive, particularly in

relation to the recent empowerment programe, greatly supported by the state government through the ministry of Women Affairs. The foundation here as a non-governmental organization working with international donor agencies as well as local ones, so it is from there we leverage a lot of support in terms of material, financial and technical support and that is why the foundation is under the leadership of her Excellency Dr Fatimah Ibrahim Shema who is able to harness so much resources with which to conduct this empowerment. Perhaps, I should say that the empowerment programme for the women came into being in 2008 and since then the center has been impacting vocational skills to women and men alike. We started with the traditional one, that is soap making, shoe making, foam making, catering.

We have now expanded the center. Just recently, in collaboration with NAPEF national, we sponsored some women here to South Africa where they went to acquire skills in cream making, shearbutter production even moringa production and we are now bringing down that training to as many women as we can.

What is the criteria used is selecting the beneficiaries of the programme?

That center has been graduating because of the people that are acquiring these skills and we make sure that after graduation these women have the kind of support they required to put those skills into practice. The criteria really, when we started,

Our problem with Chevron, by Gbaramatu leader

BY ADELEKE ADESERI

C

omrade Timi Oluba is a youth leader in Okoyitoru community and Okerenkoko, Gbaramatu Kingdom in Warri South West local government area. In this interview, Oluba says Chevron has not been sincere in dealing with host communities in Gbaramatu, as most of the communities lack basic amenities.

Do have any disagreement with Chevron?

Actually, I do not have any personal disagreement with Chevron Nigeria Limited. The only problem I have with Chevron has been its insincerity in dealing with our leaders and oil producing communities.

I know Chevron is doing business in Gbaramatu to make profit. Nobody is against that, but certainly not to the detriment of the people who have the resources from which Chevron is making the profit.

It is unacceptable; let them make all their profit, but the host communities should be properly taken care of. Such profit must also reflect in our communities because we have the oil.

Chevron’s insincerity to our people and communities is so obvious that all the projects said to have been sponsored

by Chevron in our communities since it started operations is less than 2% of Chevron’s profit annually. Chevron started operations in Gbaramatu in 1973, yet there is no meaningful development in our communities.

My reason for saying this is clear. I have been to host communities to Agip, SPDC, Mobile; these companies have good relationships with their host communities. They invest and do more for the people.

The needs of the host communities are provided.

Agip, SPDC, Mobile, in their host communities, embark on massive infrastruc-

Oluba tural development.

No host community to Agip, SPDC or Mobile is without potable water. This is because they know the importance of good drinking water to human health.

It will surprise you to know that Chevron has been drilling for oil in my community, Okoyitoru (Makaraba field), producing 29,000 bpd since 1973, but till this moment there is no potable water system or borehole in the community.

So, how do your people get drinking water?

That question should be answered by Chevron.

Though Chevron has execut-

we were targeting widows, female orphans and children, these were our area ofv support.

So instead of just giving them nutrition support food clothing and other things; we decided to develop the vocational skills for those women so that they would be able to take care of themselves and their orphan children.

So the issue of having some educational qualification does not arise ,no matter the level of education, as a matter of fact, education is not considered at all, I think vulnerability is the most important criteria here. We are after empowering the vulnerable because once they are taken care of economically, they will spread the empowerment to others, and once that is done, it reduces crime and increases economic activities and we are all better for it. It is a win win situation here. Once the hands are doing something, it cant be workshop for any evil.

How many of the beneficiaries have graduated so far from the various acquisition centres across the state?

By early this year, we have so far trained over 6,800 of these women.

The figure is what we collated as at February this year. Between then and now, we have graduated a large number of them which we are just collating now. We have a monitoring unit here which goes from time to time to assess the work of our trainees as well as to give additional support because sometimes you go and there and there would be problems and challenges faced by these people and then you try to know

the challenges so you can advise them on how to move forward.

Generally, most of the women trainees here are doing very well ,Most but not all are actually doing extremely well.

And for those who are yet to catch up, we try to find out what challenges they are facing and we discovered that their challenges are traditional issues. For example, a lady trainee or a widow trainee who eventually marry or remarry, some abandon the project because of the new marriage, but more importantly because of the new comfort derived from the new marriage or husbands.

While the trainees may be facing one challenge or the other, the foundation too has its own, and that is the area of recovery of loan to the trainees. This is one area that we are concerned about. While some of them are judiciously using the loan facility, I must say that recovery same is very low, But that is expected anyway. Our joy in all this is that we are impacting lives, that is the bottom line for which the foundation was set up.

The relationship between the foundation and the state government and ministry of women affairs is very strong and cordial, mutual beneficial working relationship. The ministry of women affairs is empowered to look after the affairs of women.

We want to complement Government efforts and to work with the women ministry and even our programmes are determined by the area of priority of the ministry of women . so we are partners in progress.

ed some projects in the community through the Egbema Gbaramatu Development Foundation EGCDF, what is has done for my people cannot be compared to what Agip, SPDC or Mobile are doing for their host communities.

Okoyitoru community (hosting the Makaraba field) lack potable water, health facilities, electricity, and good learning centre.

While the Chevron staff (non indigenes) who are working in the Makaraba field platform eat good food and drink good water, the people of Okoyitoru eat malnutrition and drink bad water; that is the highest oppression and marginalization.

My people have been subjected to hunger and poverty and their poor living standard is worrisome because most of them live in makeshift houses, while Chevron officials live in modern houses.

What is actually the cause?

I want to appeal to the federal government to set up a panel to visit Okoyitoru and Makaraba communities for proper investigation to ascertain what I am saying now.

For instance, if you go to some swampy communities where SPDC is operating, those communities have been sand filled, but Chevron has

refused to sand-fill my community and it has become a major challenge to our people. Even our youths and graduates are not considered for employments.

But you people have the EGCDF. What is exactly the mandate of the body?

The EGCDF is almost irrelevant. I say so because if Chevron is dealing directly with the executives of host communities, much would have been achieved. As it is now, the desires of the host communities are being denied them. What Chevron is giving to EGCDF annually is too meager to meet the demands of the host communities.

What exactly you think is the solution?

The solution is simple.Chevron should deal directly with the host communities just as Agip, SPDC, Mobile are doing.

We learnt that the EGCDF has executed some projects, is it true?

Yes, but not priority projects.

We want a situation where the executives of each host communities would write directly to Chevron on priority projects just as it is done by Agip, SPDC and Mobile, even other multinational companies are emulating the same system. So, Chevron must wake up to its responsibility and start dealing directly with the host communities.

SUNDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 3, 2014, PAGE 29

From left: Saratu Isa, Comfort Ayuba, Rahab Yaya and Rejoice Yabia.... saw hell while trying to escape from Sambisa

ESCAPE FROM BOKO HARAM

We went through hell to survive - Chibok School Girls

By SAM EYOBOKA

I

F you have watched American epic film, ‘The hard way, the only way,’ you will most likely appreciate the deadly attempt by four young girls to foil a plot by Abubakar Shekau’s Boko Haram to intimidate a multi-religious nation into submission to its desire to implement the Abuja Declaration.

What is referred to as Abuja Declaration is the communique of a meeting of Islam in Africa Conference which was hosted in Nigeria on November 28, 1989 and it reads: “To eradicate in all its forms and ramifications all non-Muslim religions in member-nations (such religions shall include Christianity, Ahmadiyya and other tribal modes of worship unacceptable to Muslims”. The said meeting also resolved that the permanent headquarters of the Islam in Africa Organisation shall be inAbuja.

Boko Harâm (usually translated as “Western education is a sin”), a militant Islamist organization based in north eastern Nigeria and influenced by the Wahhabi movement, was established by Mohammed Yusuf in 2002 essentially to promote the ideals of Islam in Africa, i.e. to establish an Islamic state in Nigeria.

‘The hard way’ Protected by his band of mercenaries, Pinheiro, Bolivia’s toughest drug dealer, rules the ‘golden triangle’ between Brazil and Columbia by terror and torture. Fear C M Y K

They came in and told us they had come to protect us from an impending danger since there was no security in the school; and, immediately, they started assembling us in a single file marching us to the bush

of the deadly consequences make his extradition to the U.S. impossible. But the Washington Narcotics Bureau is determined to make him pay for his crimes.

Kidnap is the only answer. And Washington’s Colonel Bacall knows there are only three men alive with the courage to tackle such a dangerous mission! Bull, a special agent with the Narcotics Bureau, Karl and Pablo set out for the Amazon jungle with a plan to lure the wolf from his lair. But betrayal by one of their own number turns a kidnapping plot into a bitter and bloody battle for survival! Trapped in the steaming rainforest governed only by the law of the jungle. Hunted on the ground by ruthless mercenaries and killer dogs. And from the air by Pinheiro’s henchman, Wesson. The only way out is the hard way! Will the three government men outwit their pursuers and reach the ‘Mission de la Serra’? To take Pinheiro captive and unmask the traitors. Follow the trail of death and destruction in a world where only the strong survive! The film directed by Michael E. Lemick features Miles O’Keefe and Henry Silva.

The Chibok affair

B

efore Monday, April 14 and Tuesday, April 15, 2014,

when about 300 female students were kidnapped from their Government Secondary School hostel in the town of Chibok, Borno State, very little was known about the Christian community.

The kidnappings were claimed by Boko Haram. Although some of the girls escaped, more than 200 female students are still missing. The Islamic group said it wants to sell the girls. The Nigerian government has been heavily criticised for failing to protect the population and end Boko Haram terrorist actions.

In the absence of a coordinated official figures, reports indicate that out of the initial number of girls in the hostel on fateful night, eight girls escaped from the kidnappers and have since been reconciled with their parents. Sunday Vanguard met with four of the escapee girls whose heroic accounts are recorded below.

First is Saratu Isa, 19, who wants to become a teacher some day. Narrating her story, she told Sunday Vanguard that after their SSCE papers on the fateful day, they retired to their hostel to rest and prepare for the next day’s papers.

In the night, they slept. She woke sometime later. She also woke up her friend, Comfort Ayuba (born on March 28, 1997), and asked her if she heard the rumour that Boko Haram was about to invade the school. The friend said it was a lie, yet they attempted to locate a safe corner within the hostel to use as hideout if the Islamic terrorists eventually entered the school.

But before they could secure a hideout, they started hearing barking orders to other girls in the hostel. “The claim of people saying that the jihadists came to the school with so many vehicles is not

Continues on page 30

PAGE 30 — SUNDAY Vanguard,

AUGUST 3, 2014

were there, they would kill us. He directed us where to follow, warning that if we saw any motorcycle or vehicle, we should enter the bush.

“He insisted that we should avoid being noticed by anybody. The man told us that when we hear a call to prayers, we should stop wherever we are until the prayer is finished. We saw a man and asked him direction to our village and he told us. We continued until we arrived Chibok where we met the army personnel.

After narrating our story, they took us to the barracks where we took our bath and were given food to eat”.

Altogether, they spent five days between the time they were captured and the time they returned home.

Continued from page 29 true. No! Their vehicles were packed far away inside the bush. They came in and told us they had come to protect us from an impending danger, since there was no security in the school and immediately they started assembling us in a single file and marching us to the bush.”

It was at that point that some of the girls started having hunches but it was too late to do anything because the invaders, armed to the teeth and dressed in army uniform, were barking orders that any girl who attempted to play games would be killed and it was obvious that they were not joking.

Three girls were saved by divine intervention.

According to Saratu, two Christians and one Muslim who arrived the park late and wanted to play a fast one. The insurgents asked them their religion and one of the Christians said she was a Muslim. The Muslim identified herself but the third girl didn’t deny her religion. She said she was a Christian. They asked her to change her religion or be killed; she said she would rather die than change her religion.

This dialogue ensued: Boko Haram: Didn’t we ask you not to go to English School?

Christian Girl: I was born here in Chibok and have never been to any Taboc School. I was born into a Christian home and will remain a Christian.

So the three girls were asked to lie down and that they were going to kill them, beginning with the unrepentant Christian.

Without displaying any emotion, the Christian girl was the first to lie down saying they should go ahead and kill her.

And a debate among the Boko Haram men, with some of them saying they should kill the kafir (infidel) while others argued against it. So she was asked to get up. We were all still in the bush where the vehicles were. The Boko Haram men continued their argument as to whether to kill or not to kill the Christian. Soon the vehicles the men brought were full and there was no space for the three girls. So they were asked to go. So the three of them left and started heading home.

“We trekked the long distance into the bush where they had parked their lorries and other vehicles. Soon after, the vehicles began a C M Y K

Rahab Yaya: No food, water for days

R

ahab Yaya was born on August 8, 1998 in Chibok. Her escape story: “Like Saratu and Comfort, we also decided that there was no way the night would meet us in that thick forest. So, we followed the example of our two colleagues, pretending we needed to ease ourselves and, after much pleading, they allowed us thinking that we would be afraid and return in no time because of the fearful nature of the forest. We walked

*Comfort Ayuba

‘We went through hell to survive!’ voyage into the forest. We were five that were locked up in the booth of a car and we had no means of knowing how long; the journey took. We were just there until God knows how long; then they came to a

that looked like the camp of militants. As soon as we arrived, Comfort came up with an idea that we look for a convenient place to ease ourselves. We told the men that we needed to ease ourselves and they allowed

We entered and slept in his house. The man woke us up at about 3:00 a.m. and told us that the village people were wicked and if they found out we were there, they would kill us final stop. While we were moving, the five of us were praying and hoping that people or the army would pursue and catch up with them. Eventually we entered Sambisa. When we entered Sambisa, we were given bread and water and told to eat. Of course, the girls were too angry to accept the offer of food. So, they refused to eat. The men attempted to persuade them to eat.

“On arrival, we discovered that an earlier batch had arrived the same destination

the three of us to go. After we walked some distance from the camp, Comfort said we should make haste and run away.

“The third girl, a Muslim, with fear written all over her, said we should not run away when we had not eaten and weak; but Comfort insisted that that was the only chance we had to escape. She added that she would not die in this forest”.

Saratu followed her while the third girl returned to the camp.

“We kept walking away

from Sambisa forest. As we progressed in the escape bid, we met one man. He didn’t say anything to us. We didn’t know what he was doing inside the forest but we were too afraid to find out. Later, we met another woman who also didn’t talk to us.

“Eventually, we came to one village and met one Fulani man who gave us water and food. We were too hungry and thirsty and so we ate. He directed us where to follow to our village and so we continued the journey until we met two men . The men were kind; gave us water and clothes to change the ones we wore. Initially, we refused because we were afraid. We kept going, but one of the men followed us, saying they were only trying to help.

“As we went on, we met another man who told us to come and sleep in his house because it was night already and we entered the house, believing God had planted angels on our path to freedom. We entered and slept in his house. The man woke us up at about 3:00 a.m. and told us that the village people were wicked and if they found out we

a long distance and always making sure none of the men was trailing us.

“All through the night, we continued our journey to freedom. We went without food and water for several days, hoping we would see persons who would be sympathetic to our plight.

“But no help came until dawn, the next day, when a Good Samaritan who heard our story, out of pity, gave us bread and water. He told us to be careful because the insurgents were operating in the neighborhood, seeking who to kidnap. With renewed strength, we continued even when we didn’t know where we were going.

According to her, after several days of a seemingly unending trauma, without clean up and any change of clothes, they eventually arrived Chibok to the warm embrace of their parents who had searched everywhere for them and immediately people recommended that they go to hospitals for necessary treatment.

I want to be Nigeria’s Malala, says Comfort Ayuba

C

omfort Ayuba was born on March 28, 1997. She told Sunday Vanguard that if

Continues on page 32

SUNDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 3, 2014, PAGE 31

By SAM EYOBOKA

M

RS Monica Stover is about 50 years old.

Her husband, Maita Stover, is an indigene of Chibok, the headquarters of Chibok Local Government Area located in the southern part of Borno State. . Chibok, a Christian community, occupies an area of 1,350 square kilometres and a population of 66,105 by 2006 population census. Most indegenes of the village speak the Kibaku language.

Since the night of April 14 when the Islamist group, Boko Haram, murdered sleep in Chibok and wrote the name of the village in the world map for a wrong reason by kidnapping almost 300 schoolgirls there, residents, some Christian leaders, and thousands of concerned Nigerians have vowed not to rest until the schoolgirls are released.

Some of the kidnapped girls apparently escaped from their captors. But the mother of one of the remaining 215 girls still in captivity, Mrs. Stover, was in Lagos, last week, and, tearfully, narrated how her people in Chibok now live in the forest for fear of terror attacks which have reduced one of the 16 local government headquarters to a ghost town. Her story is representative of those at hundreds of mothers in the community, some of them giving birth to babies in the forest without any form of medical attention.

Mrs Stover, mother of nine children, has a unique case.

Her husband underwent a surgical operation for prostrate cancer. While still in hospital, Boko Harâm struck and took away about 300 girls from Government Secondary School, Chibok hostels on April 14. Her daughter, Saraya, is among the victims. In order not to worsen her husband’s case, the family tried to keep the news away from him. But, a few days later, the Islamists returned and looted everything they had, and torched their house alongside several other houses in the town. As if that was not enough, her first daughter, Nancy, who couldn’t stand the trauma, relapsed and now needs urgent psychiatrist attention.

Over 100 days of her daughter in captivity, Mrs Stover, now seeking N3.5 million from public spirited Nigerians to relocate her family from the war zone, denied receiving a dime from the alleged presidential largesse to the C M Y K

No trace of escapee schoolgirl from Boko Haram … more than 100 days after — Horrified mother ‘We buried 73 men killed by terrorists, delivered pregnant women of babies in the bush’

Rev. Ladi Thompson (middle), making a point during Sunday Vanguard’s encounter with the Chibok girls (behind). He is flanked by some members of his team Chibok abducted girls’ parents..

Her story: “My daughter, Saraya, came home on April 14 morning to collect some food items and went back to school that day because they had examination the next morning. Apparently disturbed by the father’s condition, she told me she would return home after her examination the next day.

And since then, we have been waiting for her to come back. Later that night, we received calls that Boko Haram had entered Chibok.

My sons confirmed that Boko Haram was truly in town and they were on their way to the Government Girls College.

“My sons went there and helplessly watched, all night, Boko Haram taking away the girls before reducing the school to rubbles. The next morning, I took a bike to the girls’ school. On my way, I saw shattered men and women crying and, when I asked what happened, I was told that all the schoolgirls were kidnapped. I went blank. I didn’t know what to do.

I told them that the girl I met on the way also said she jumped out of the truck. So I took another bike that early morning and began to search the bush and all the villages “So we went to the school.

All the children’s luggages were scattered outside. I sat down on the floor and was soliloquising, wondering within myself how, as brave as my daughter is, she allowed herself to be kidnapped? Then I went to the storekeeper who also expressed shock that my daughter was kidnapped. I took a bike to the forest in search of my daughter. On the way, I met a girl who told me that Saraya, my daughter, was the first to escape. Then I went back home but didn’t meet my daughter and didn’t see her that night.

“The next day, I went to the house I was told Saraya went to and asked if they saw my daughter escaping. The

occupants confirmed that she was the first person to jump out of the terrorists’ truck. I told them that the girl I met on the way also said she jumped out of the truck. So I took another bike that early morning and began to search the bush and all the villages.

Some people said they saw some girls that passed not quite long and I followed the lead till about 7:00 p.m. when I may have covered over 20 kilometres from Chibok to no avail. I was shown another road where some persons claimed to have seen females’ wearing apparels like shoes, hair ribbons, heard ties left along the road presumably as leads for people looking for their missing girls. “So I followed

that path. On the way, I saw a heap of spent teargas cannisters, boxes and collapsible beds belonging to the Nigerian Army. I saw belts and spent magazines. I went to another location where I saw a heap of burnt items belonging to the army.

In another location, there were bottles of drinks on the floor as if those who consumed them were jubilating. I was in panic. I went to another village, asking every person I saw if they saw any girl that escaped from Boko Haram; even of it was her corpse.”

The search, she added, continued for three days that looked like three decades, until she encountered on the fourth day some of the girls that escaped.

“I asked one of the girls if they knew my daughter, and they said they knew her.

One of them said she escaped but the Boko Haram men picked her up and put her back in the truck but she still came out. I was told that some parents were there and they caught one of the Boko Haram members. So I went to the people that caught the Boko Haram member that they should help us because our daughter had not returned home. The people told us Boko Haram people are traditional people. I was told to go to the council chairman and principal of the school so that they could give the permission to search for Saraya and in three days she will be found.

“I told them to forget about permission and just go in search of the girls and we will give them any amount of money they wanted. So they asked me and some parents also looking for their kidnapped daughters to write their names which we did. We waited for two weeks after which we were called to Abuja. Till now, no step has been taken to locate the girls. We hear in the media that the girls’ whereabouts have been discovered and the girls are being treated and I keep asking myself

Continues on page 32

PAGE 32— SUNDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 3, 2014

Continued from page 31 what are they treating?

“Apart from the eight girls that escaped, no other one did. Nobody went to Chibok to console the mothers of the girls. There was a time the parents were invited to Abuja to meet the President..

And now they say in newspapers that they gave us money. It is all lies.

Those who have their children at home with them are the ones eating fat. They are using our names and our daughters’ names to collect money which they share amongst themselves and push us away.

“My husband had surgery one month before our daughter was kidnapped.

Our house was also burnt and I came out of the house without anything. The dress I’m putting on now was given to me by the president of Gabasawa, a nongovernmental organisation specializing in the welfare of hurting women and children, Mrs Doris Yaro.

“In my community, door to door, neighbour to neighbour, 73 men were killed by Boko Harâm. I was among the people that buried those 73 men. Now it’s women that are burying men. We put them in wheel barrows, dig holes and buried these men.

Sometimes during funeral, we would hear that Boko Haram terrorists are coming

Continued from page 30 she had an opportunity to continue her education, she would like to be a lawyer just like her counterpart, Rejoice Yabia, who will be 18 on October 20. Comfort was the heroine of the Saratu Isa’s narration above.

Without displaying any revolutionary mien, Comfort explained why she decided to opt for a life of championing the cause of female members of the society.

“I have decided that, just like the Pakistani Malala Yousafzai, I am 17 years, and will devote the rest of my life to help my fellow womenfolk because the other girls and I were inside the forest together but I just had the opportunity to come out.

Others didn’t have the opportunity; only a few of us did.

“So I have made up my mind to speak out against practices against the women and the silent girls who are still languishing in the forest C M Y K

No trace of escapee schoolgirl from Boko Haram … more than 1 00 da ys af 100 days aftter — Horrified mother My husband had surgery one month before our daughter was kidnapped.

Our house was also burnt and I came out of the house without anything and we would abandon the dead bodies and run for our dear lives.

“Women run into the bush with babies. Once you see the headlight of a vehicle coming, you hide so that you will not be seen. It is always cold at night in the bush. If you cough and anybody hears it, they will run and leave you there.”

Continuing, the mother of nine children noted that whenever the men hear any sound, no matter how remote, they will run and leave the women with the children.

Mrs Monica Stover: Still searching for her daughter “We sleep in the bush.

There was a girl that has gone blank because of the insurgence. Boko Haram went to her and asked her to come out of the house. She was asked if she was sick and she said yes. She was asked if it was AIDS and she told them yes. She was asked to leave the house and

they burnt the house. They packed all the motorcycles and burnt them. When she was asked to come out, she refused so they pushed her away and removed her mattress and blanket and burnt them.

That is the situation. We are suffering,” she stated.

Overwhelmed by the burden, Mrs. Stover narrated how she decided to involve Gabasawa, a nongovernmental organisation

specialising in the welfare of hurting women and children as well as Macedonia Initiative, both of whom asked her to come to Lagos.

“I told them I was in the bush and we sleep in the bush. We use nylon to shield ourselves from the rain. I have sustained several injuries in the bush. Women

‘We went through hell to survive!’

to convert to Islam.

“Majority of the girls in our school are Christians. Only a few of us are Muslims. They took us there with the aim of converting us to Islam after which they would marry out”.

Asked if she had heard anything from her friends still in the forest; her answer was in the negative, pointing out that nobody has been able to contact them.

Does she know if the girls remaining in the forest are being molested? on behalf of the girls so that She was not in a position to people will hear and bring know. “There are so many the girls out.” stories going around but I What does she think was cannot tell since I have no the aim of the Boko Haram communication with them. for abducting the girls?

And none of them has Her reply: “The Boko escaped since then besides Haram said education is not the eight of us who managed good for girls. They should to escape”. go and get married. They told During the journey to the us there in the forest that it forest, were they being fed? was an error for us to go to She disclosed that the school instead of matrimonial insurgents gave them bread, homes. They also wanted us

There are so many stories going around but I cannot tell since I have no communication with them. And none of them has escaped since then besides the eight of us who managed to escape at the mercy of a militant group, so that people will hear and come out like I did.

Malala also had a similar experience and she came out,” Comfort boasted, vowing that she hopes to proceed to read law.

She maintained that the only way for the several imbalances in this country would reduced is for people to come out to speak against them, noting “I want to talk

give birth even in the bush without medicare. There was a woman that had twins and she called me; I didn’t have a blade or any sharp instrument so how do I cut the placenta. Then I saw a blunt object on the floor which I used. Before I did that, I told her that if I use this object to cut the placenta and if anything happens, I won’t be held responsible.

And she said if we leave them, they’ll die so let’s do it. I used the rope from the bag of rice to tie the placenta and I prayed that God should help me.

“I also told the mother that if after using this object to cut the placenta tetanus affects the baby that I am not to be blamed and she agreed. I cut the placenta.

This is what we have been going through. I am traumatized. I have been with so many women like that in the bush. The twins died anyway. The place we were is called Kotikori, but we call it Jerusalem. People are being killed for calling that place Jerusalem. Women and children are displaced.

There’s another village called Cucurigu and Shawa.

All the inhabitants of these places are now in the bush,” Mrs. Stover narrated, appealing to Nigerians to come to their aid so they can start life again. milk and malt once but they refused to eat because they were crying.

“The men were calling us idols and all sorts of names.

They said their aim was to stop us from going to school”, she stated.

Comfort also confirmed that there were no less than 350 girls in the school that night, saying, however, that some of them ran away when the men entered the school.

Were there no teachers living in the school compound, our correspondent asked.

“There are teachers living in the school but they all ran away. So there was no form of protection at all. They burnt the school completely,” she said.

Do they still want to go to school? The four girls chorused their desire to return to school as soon as possible. Rejoice Yabia and Rahab Yaya would like to read medicine; Comfort is interested in the legal profession while Saratu Isa would settle for teaching.

SUND AY SUNDA

Vanguard, AUGUST 3, 2014, PAGE 33

How Boko Haram became an octopus – Ogbeha •Says Nigeria not prepared for terror, suicide bombings •‘Why retired military officers can’t be deployed against insurgents’ •His perspectives on Kogi politics; life as a soldier, a politician

B

rigadier General Tunde Ogbeha (rtd) was a two-term member of the Senate, representing Kogi West Senatorial District (1999-2007); and a former military governor of the defunct Bendel State. Ogbeha bares his mind on topical issues. Excerpts:

BY BOLUWAJI OBAHOPO, Lokoja

W

hat informed your decision to join the military?

I got interested in the army when I was in Jos with my parents living in police barracks. My dad was a police officer. Soldiers came for their usual exercise in the barracks. They stay directly opposite our house. I liked their uniform, their Land Rover and the smart way they did their things: It was then I said to myself that I will like to join the military. I joined the military through the Military School in Zaria in 1962. Of course, the Military School runs secondary school programme side by side with military training. After that, I gained admission into Nigerian Defense Academy, NDA. I passed out of NDA as a second lieutenant.

Can you share with us the high points of your successful military career and dignified political profile?

It’s very difficult, but the high points of my life include the day I got into military school as a young boy; the day I got admission as a cadet into NDA; the day I

graduated from NDA and commissioned in 1970 as a second lieutenant. My progression in the military was very exciting. Before my retirement I got to the level I thought was enviable, I became the Chief of Administration of the Nigerian Army. I got retired as Brigadier General and got into politics and did the best I could in politics. I also run by the side some humanitarian services to the people.

When you were active in the military, Nigeria went through civil war. It was a turbulent period for the country like we are going through right now. What role did you play then?

What happened during the civil war is different from what is happening now.

During the civil war, there were obviously marked enemies; we knew who the enemies were. We had obvious objective, we knew who we were looking for, we knew who we were fighting and where they were located. Enemies then were not anonymous or unseen. The situation on ground now is quite different. We are fighting enemies that are mobile and liv-

It’s very difficult, but the high points of my life include the day I got into military school as a young boy; the day I got admission as a cadet into NDA; the day I graduated from NDA and commissioned in 1970 as a second lieutenant ing within the community. It is an irregular warfare, so to say. What we had in the civil war was a conventional war. Presently, we are fighting enemies that you

neither know what they want nor their philosophy. When you are going through this kind of war, your greatest support must come from the people. I mean the citizenry. The people must be willing to provide you with information to operate. It is a real difficult situation for Nigeria. The challenge we are facing now to me is greater than what we had during the civil war.

Given your rich background as a retired senior military officer, what do you think relevant security agencies have done right or ought to do in order to win this war against insurgency in the country?

Surely we must win this war and we need to win it as quickly as possible. The military to me has done well within available resources. The challenge we have now was not taught in the training institutions. In the training institutions, majorly, we were taught the act of conventional warfare; in addition, we were trained how to handle civil unrest, riots and stuff like that. What we are going through now is something we have to teach and we must teach it.

Continues on page 34

PAGE 34 — SUND AY SUNDA

Vanguard, AUGUST 3, 2014,

Continued from page 33 What I am saying in effect is that the military doesn’t have adequate training to handle what is happening. In essence, we are not appropriately equipped to deal with this kind of situation.

When I say inappropriately equipped, I mean we don’t have sufficient arms and ammunition, we don’t have sufficient equipment that is relevant to the situation on ground. The government got to do more to acquire relevant equipment to deal with the challenge. I think the president has taken the right step by going to the National Assembly to request to take loan to get the appropriate equipment for the military.

What do you think we need to do now, I mean proactive measure to be on top of the situation?

I think that is being done, the army is not waiting for Boko Haram to overwhelm it. So within their limited resources, the army is having the upper hand in confronting the insurgence. I think the army is winning already. But the best situation is to bring the challenge absolutely under control as quickly as possible so that Nigerians can sleep with their two eyes closed.

The situation we are going through now, does it mean the military didn’t foresee it?

I don’t think we foresaw it. I personally never thought that Nigeria will be in a situation we are today. If somebody had told me, I would have argued vehemently. I never thought Nigerians could be suicide bombers but today we are. I never thought Nigerians could dare confront security agencies but today they are doing it. So many things are happening that we never thought about. I think, if you are talking about preparation for this kind of situation; sure we are not prepared. But now that it has come on us; I think government allowed it to take too long, the situation was allowed to manifest into an cctopus. But I believe we have to pay the price by facing the challenge. I see the military prevailing and the Boko Haram becoming history.

This war is not only Jonathan’s war. Why do you think Nigerians are not patient with him?

You are right; it’s not Jonathan’s war. This is Nigerians’ war but the citizens have the right to be impatient because that is the basic responsibility of government - to provide security for lives and property. If government, therefore, is not doing this, then the citizens become nervous and expectant. I do not blame the citizens; because everybody is unhappy and upset about the situation. I think the question should be what Nigerians are contributing to win the fight against this insurgency. I think the citizens could provide information to government and the security agencies if we have any. We must support government.

The international community came in to support the efforts of our government to win this war , buts its like we not seeing the effect of the support?

Yes, you might be right but don’t forget that Rome was not built in a day. This kind of situation does not end in a day. The insurgency we are talking about

‘How Boko Haram became an octopus’

•Ogbeha has developed very strong roots even across our borders. Terrorism today has become a worldwide thing. When you talk of terrorism, you can trace it to countries like Libya, Mali, Chad, down to Nigeria. We need to contain it on time and I believe that is why the international community is interested. They are coming to help because they are equally vulnerable. Before now it was Al-Qaeda, now it is Boko Haram. Boko Haram is extending its territory everywhere and that is why Nigeria and the subregion should collaborate to put the situation under control.

Information gathering and information sharing is very important in winning a war like this. I do hope the security agencies are sharing information effectively for a common objective. This information sharing should not just be among the security agencies but the citizenry should be free to share information with government and the security agencies.

Some people are of the opinion that the media is over celebrating Boko Haram ...

I think the role of the media is to inform and educate the citizenry, but they should try to be patriotic. I am of the belief that in your reports, you should be patriotic; information you know will cause the nation trouble should be done away with. When the media start reporting propaganda that tend to rubbish the effort of government or that of the security agencies, without even considering the hazardous environment in which they are operating; that calls for concern.

I think our media people should be more patriotic. I think we should all take the nation first, then every other thing follows.

With the situation now, don’t you think we need the experience and service of our retired military officers?

I don’t think so. Our military presently is up to the task, their morale is high. They are engaged in operation that is not in any textbook. They are dealing with enemies they don’t know.

The enemies are so mobile that

you can’t track them. So, I do not think that those of us that have retired have any role to play now but we can give advice if calls upon. I am sure if the military wants advice from us, we will oblige them. .

Let’s talk about your political career. Why politics after your retirement from the army despite your vast business empire?

I don’t know what the motivation is but I saw a platform where I could help my people; my constituency. I wanted to help contribute to the political progress of Nigeria and that is what I tried to do when I was in the Senate. I think I am happy with myself, I did what I ought to do, I think I represented my people very well, I represented the Senate very well and I represented Nigeria very well.

You are right; it’s not Jonathan’s war.

This is Nigerians’ war but the citizens have the right to be impatient because that is the basic responsibility of government - to provide security for lives and property In case of call to service...

Well, I will react to them positively. Positively in the way that whatever I can do within my competence I will do. I am not going to do something that I cannot progress on either because of age or other conditions. Whatever I want to do I must be able to do it competently. If they beckon on

me and it is within the conditions I lay down for myself, I will not let them down. The important thing is that I will always want to seek and protect their interest.

Presently, there are controversial issues in Kogi politics especially your constituency.

There is the claim that there was a gentleman’s agreement between the Okuns and the Lokoja/KotoKarfe axis about sharing of elective offices. As a major stakeholder, what is the true position?

I don’t know what is happening, but, in 1999, the late Chief Sunday Awoniyi, the then leader of West Senatorial District, being a man of fair conscience and justice, thought that the governorship of Kogi should go to the Okuns in Kogi-West and that is how Olorunfemi came in. It was arranged that the Senate should go to Lokoja and that was how I came in. It was agreed that the senatorial seat should oscillate between the Lokoja/Kotokarfe people and the Okuns. That is why after I finished my second term, I did not struggle to get third term. I respected that arrangement and said it should go to the Okuns. I am expecting that such arrangement should be respected and the senatorial seat should be brought back to Lokoja/Kotokarfe axis. But, as you said, this is a gentleman’s agreement and nobody cares to respect it, this is where tensions come into politics - These are the things that bring tensions. Right now, I know there is tension, I decided to be quiet to see what happens. Where there is no fairness, it brings anti-party activities. I hope when the time of nomination comes, good reasoning and common sense will prevail. People from the constituency will respect that agreement bequeathed to us by our highly respected elder statesman, the late Chief Awoniyi.

As an elder statesman and stakeholders, what are you doing about the issue that has now become controversial?

To me, politics is not a do-or-die affair. When you are in politics for the sake of peaceful co-existence,

you have to develop the spirit of give and take, what I call consensus building. Sometimes it is not 100%, it could be 50/50. I believe in the fairness of the governor; because he has shown that he is ready and prepared to be fair to all.

We think we will go through primary elections with fairness and equity so that there will be no imposition of candidates and the will of the people will prevail.

Now that you have mentioned the governor, what exactly is your assessment of the governor since his assumption of office?

Within the limited financial resources at his disposal, he is putting it into good use in the sense that he is trying to change the face of Kogi, bring development to Kogi and giving people a sense of belonging. I think he has done well.

I think he will do more if he is given the opportunity and co-operation.

I have seen him doing a lot in education, agriculture, in the health sector and also doing a lot in provision of critical infrastructure. Our governor is on the right track and we need to support him.

Do you think Wada deserves second term?

This first mandate is not over, I think it’s too early to start talking about second term. Second term will take care of itself. You know they said; ‘by your work we shall know you’. When the good works are there, re-election will become automatic. He is on the right track and if he finishes this tenure on the right track, I don’t see why he cannot get the second term.

What is happening to the reconciliatory move of the state PDP? Truly, the reconciliation is still on.

Currently, the governor is on local governments ‘thank you visit’ and I think that is still part of the reconciliation. A lot of night and midnight meetings are going on among stakeholders and party faithful. If you watch, Alhaji Jibril Isah Echocho has been attending government functions. That shows that the reconciliation efforts put in place by our indefatigable governor is working. Even, aggrieved members are coming back to the PDP, we are one big family before and other people will come back.

Talking about the opposition party in Kogi State, especially the APC, what is your assessment of them?

Yes, the opposition is on ground.

We cannot underrate the opposition. The APC is on ground, we must work hard to make sure they don’t occupy the comfort zone. We must work hard to justify the support of the people and, above all, we must not take the people’s support for granted.

Let us talk about the National Conference. Are you impressed with issues that cropped up there?

The National Conference has both good and bad points. There were some good things they did and some bad ones. But my own problem is that how do you implement whatever decision they have made?

As far as I am concerned, there is no substitute for the National Assembly because the lawmakers are elected by the people. The National Conference members are not elected; so they have no business to make decision for Nigerians.

They don’t have that right, they don’t have the mandate. I believe that whatever decisions they have made should be turned over to the National Assembly to handle.

SUND AY SUNDA

Vanguard, AUGUST 3, 2014, PPA AGE 35

Prologue

AREGBESOLA Vs OMISORE

Osun State as Sambisa Forest

BY JIDE AJANI

T

hey were 35 pick up trucks in all - 35. The vehicles had no number plates; there fore, there was no way on earth you could identify the owners in the event of a road mishap – even for the good of the occupants.

In each of the trucks were at least eight fierce-looking, heavily armed men. They brandished what someone called General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMGs). Some of them wore masks – what that could also mean is that if one of them did anything untoward, no one would identify him. And the men were dressed in black – black T-shirt, black trousers, some in black masks; a few wearing face-caps. The only form of commonality is that there was ‘DSS’ inscribed on the back of their T-shirts. This could be a very good move; good if the men were heading to Sambisa Forest to rescue the abducted girls of Chibok. But no! They were not in the North-East, nor were they in Borno State, Maiduguri or even Chibok.

They were in Oshogbo, the Osun State capital, on Wednesday, July 30, 2014. Worse, still the men in black shot in the air that Wednesday!

Whatever that was intended to achieve was not immediately understood. Some issues need clearing here. Why would officers of the state who are not in a war zone be in masks? Why would officers of the state who are paid by tax payers drive in unmarked cars? Why would officers of the state shoot indiscriminately into the air like drunk Hamas or Hezbollah fighters? Why? Why??

Why???

The danger that is gradually creeping into the polity is yet unknown.

This is not about the All Progressive Congress, APC, or about the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. It is about decorum, national security and good sense. Because Nigeria is a sophisticated nation where criminals easily ape security operatives, let us bring the danger home.

Imagine you are driving late in the evening on Benin/Ore Road, or Ilesha/Akure Road, or Enugu/Awka Road or Kaduna/Abuja Road.

Then imagine you see a group of men, 10 in number, wearing black T-shirts, with the DSS inscription on them, gun-wielding, and stopping vehicles at will for a supposedly stopand-search operations. With the excuse of keeping national security, who would dare challenge this group of 10 men? Who would dare ask them for their ID cards?

Who would dare want to know the purpose of their action? To complicate matters, if these men were C M Y K

armed robbers, how would anyone know?

Even if officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force, NPF, were driving along the same road, their warped form of comradeship or camaraderie would just be a hollering sound of ‘ALL CORRECT SIR’, or ‘OFFICERS ON DUTY’, or some other such slogans. Still imagine some Boko Haram members dressed in black T-shirt and wielding guns in a convoy invading any of the presumably safe states of South-East, South-South and South-West and unleashing terror.

How would the DSS be absolved? Add the angle of the masks! So, who do we arrest? Who would carry out the arrests? Just imagine men in black with the DSS inscription attempting to arrest another group of men in black with the same DSS inscription!

Why is this inquisition necessary? This call to attention is necessary because the job of national security requires decorum and good sense. Granted, the Department of State Services, DSS, needs the support of all Nigerians to succeed in keeping everyone safe. Granted, there should be no interference in the activities of the men of the DSS. Yes, granted, Nigerians should support and be seen to be supporting all security measures being put in place for their safety. However, when the selfsame Nigerians meant to be protected become victims of psychological terror by the institution they fund, there is need for introspection. The stories are well known of how members of the Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad,

Now, if 35 pick up trucks can be sighted in Oshogbo, why can’t the same number of trucks with the mean men be deployed to Sambisa Forest? That is a question for the DSS to answer

which in English translates to, “People Committed to the Propagation of the Prophet’s Teachings and Jihad”, and otherwise known as Boko Haram, invade villages and towns wearing military uniforms, driving in a convoy of 10, 12 or 15 Hilux pick up trucks; and, thereafter, disappearing into Sambisa Forest.

Now, if 35 pick up trucks can be sighted in Oshogbo, why can’t the same number of trucks with the mean men be deployed to Sambisa Forest?

That is a question for the DSS to answer. Perhaps his attention has not been drawn to it, so by this very piece he is being informed.

Ekpeyong Ita, the Director General of the DSS, is known to be a man of peace. He is credited with reforming and transforming the department. A knack operative in his days, Ita has done more good to the DSS than most of his predecessors. Unassuming, always wearing a calm look, it is time for this gentleman operative to ensure that his department and all he has worked for all these years are not made a mockery of on account of the actions of some overzealous men in black.

God forbid that day. But it is already

happening in Borno State, where some men wear military uniforms and kill innocent Nigerians. The DSS should not open itself to the collateral damage of Nigerians seeing it as an Enemy of the State because of the conduct of a few, very few, unscrupulous elements.

For President Goodluck Jonathn and his PDP, there is nothing in the camp of the APC that can shake his return next year as President and Commander-in-Chief. Yes, the APC may still poke fun with its episodic flashes of relevance in the polity. But with its refusal to wash itself clean of a possible Muslim/Muslim presidential ticket till date, it would require something of cataclysmic error on the part of Mr. President to lose that election. Therefore, allowing some officers of state to overheat another part of the country, is unnecessary.

Osun State, which holds a governorship election on Saturday, is not Sambisa Forest, where this show of force is needed. Let the person the electorate want win in an atmosphere free of the excesses of some servants of the tax payers dressed in black.

PAGE 36—SUND AY 36—SUNDA

Vanguard, AUGUST 3, 2014

By DAPO AKINREFON

O

n Saturday, the people of Osun State will head to the polls to elect a new governor for their state.

The race for the next occupant of the Abere Government House, Osogbo, has thrown up many candidates.

Indeed, the recent governorship election in Ekiti State, in which the incumbent governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi of the All Progressives Congress (APC), conceded defeat to Mr Ayodele Fayose of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has made the Osun election very interesting.

However, there is optimism that the hitch-free and peaceful conduct of the Ekiti election will be replicated in Osun.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has repeatedly assured that the Osun election and the 2015 general elections will be free and fair.

Campaigns

INEC has earmarked 332 registration areas, 3,010 polling units and 3379 voting points for the election.

The electioneering campaigns have been characterised by allegations of attacks, plans to manipulate the electoral process; mudslinging; and claims of introduction of belly infrastructure to induce the electorate.

The two rival parties-the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and All Progressive Party, APC - have been at each other ’s throats over alleged moves to tinker with the electoral process in their favour or cause chaos in the state.

Their spokespersons have, however, made attempts to absolve their principals of any wrong doing.

Though as many as 19 political parties are presenting candidates in the election, the race is mainly between the PDP’s Iyinola Omisore, a senator, and the APC’s Rauf Aregbesola, the incumbent governor.

Aregbesola and Omisore are from the same senatorial district, Osun East, which the PDP candidate represented at the Senate until 2014.

The candidates

A

regbesola’s runing mate in the election is Grace Titi Laoye Tomori.

Omisore is pairing with Senator Rafiu Adejare Bello.

Other candidates are Babatunde Oralusi (governor) and Hon. Adekunle Rufai (deputy) for Action Alliance; Niyi Owolade (governor) and Opawuyi Bolaji Abdulganiyu (deputy) for Accord Party; Olufemi C M Y K

Akinlabi

Adeleke Hammed (governor) and Famiran Lawrence Olusola (deputy) for ACPN; Senator Sunday Olawale Fajimi (governor) and Ogundele Kamarudeen Adeyemi (deputy) for AD; Comrade Ojo Gbenga Gabriel (governor) and Comrade Adebiyi Adedayo Segun (deputy) for ADC; Agboola Azeez Obasanjo (governor) and Oseni Kazeem Adebisi (deputy) for APA; Akintunde Adebimpe Adetunji (governor) and Oladitan Olabode Joseph (deputy) for APGA. Also running are Alhaji Rafio Shehu Anifowose (governor) and Raji Sofiyat Bodemi (deputy) for CPP; Akinbade Fatai Akinade (governor) and Adenipekun Michael Isola Tunde (deputy) for LP; Chief Babatunde Adetoro (governor) and Faremi Raphael (deputy) for MPPP; Afolayanka Olanrewaju Jimoh (governor) and Akinlabi Babatope Sunday (deputy) for NCP; Prince Adefare Segun Adegoke (governor) and Mrs. Adebowale A. Mujidat (deputy) for NNPP; Oludare Timothy Akinola (governor) and Wayilat Titilade Adeleye (deputy) for PDM; Ganiyu Abiodun Lawal (governor) and Mrs. Grace Mabayoje

Babatunde Oralusi

Fatai Akinbade Niyi Owolade

The two rival parties-the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and All Progressive Party, APC - have been at each other’s throats over alleged moves to tinker with the electoral process in their favour or cause chaos in the state Ojofakuade (deputy) for PPA; Funso Toyin Bunmi (governor), Phillip Samuel (deputy) for UDP; Adeoti Ibrahim Abiodun (governor) and Salokun Folasade Bukola (deputy) for UPN; Prince Victor Olusegun Adeniyi (governor) and Mrs. Christiana Oluwatoyin (deputy) for UPP while Akinwusi Olusegun (governor) and Alhaja Rashidat Taiwo Olaigbe

(deputy) are for SDP.

Observers

INEC has accredited 29 local and foreign observers for the election that would stretch through the 30 local government areas.

The Ekiti episode

T

he outcome of the June 21 governorship election in Ekiti State took many by

surprise.

The APC didn’t see defeat coming, but the PDP believed it was the better outcome.

The Ekiti experience was a wake-up call for both the APC and PDP in the Osun election as neither wants to be caught unawares.

With the introduction of the belly infrastructure, both parties (APC and PDP) made attempts to deploy this ‘new strategy’ in their favour.

Whether this strategy will fly or not will be known on Saturday.

Meanwhile, the candidates have outlined their action plans, vision and mission for the people of the state.

Omisore

T

he PDP has vowed to replicate its victory in the Ekiti election in Osun.

Its candidate, Omisore, has been selling his vision to the electorate.

Apart from representing Osun East Senatorial District in the Senate, he was also a deputy governor under the

SUND AY SUNDA

Sunday Fajimi

Akande administration.

The PDP candidate has been involved in the emergence of some former governors of the state.

In 1999, Omisore was actively involved in the election that saw Chief Bisi Akande come on board as governor, and he deputy governor.

After falling out with his former boss and party, the Alliance for Democracy, the Ife-born senator pitched his tent with the PDP, where he was involved in the campaigns and eventual victory of Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola in 2003 and 2007 respectively.

He picked holes in the achievements of the incumbent governor, outlining the fresh ideas he has for the people.

His words: “The truth is that the so -called O’Yes participants have not been paid for the past eight months; in that regard he has failed. Opon Imo has been withdrawn. I join other wellmeaning people to demand for its withdrawal all over the state because Opon Imo has 17 subjects and 87.7 errors, that’s the reality. On Opon Imo, the governor spent N8.4bn. He gave the contract C M Y K

to one of his sons. Doing this is not the problem, but the reality is that a dangerous work, capable of destroying our students, was done. It has 17 subjects, and 84.7 per cent errors.

For example, in mathematics, algebra to be specific, there is no single graph inside Opon Imo, no single diagram and so on. I am a mathematician, you cannot teach mathematics without illustrating figures.

It’s not possible. No single table, when you go to physics, same story. And in chemistry, nothing. The idea was driven by profit, Opon Imo, in chapter 4 (history), says history of the Songai Empire, what you will read in the body is the history of Mali. That’s the character of Opon Imo, I have written to the British government, that they should withdraw the recognition of Opon Imo: I have gone to the UNESCO. It’s an embarrassment. They ’re being withdrawn from schools now. In O’Yes, he’s owing them salary.

“A good and effective governor must focus on developmental issues. You must be driven by developmental issues, developing human capacity, the people’s capacity and not by misapplying people’s money. Can you image a governor sewing school uniform for N14bn, depriving the small traders, the clothes sellers on the street, depriving tailors on the streets? He’s taken food from one million Osun indigenous, men and women. These are people who voted for him. All because you wanted to siphon money. All these things have made him to fail. He came to Lagos Airport Hotel to showcase Osun Airport, spending about N4bn, but nothing on the ground to show for it.”

Commenting on his plans for the people, he said in an interview with Vanguard: “Unlike Aregbesola’s government that everything is Lagos arrangement, even carpenter, bricklayers, welders are brought from Lagos, I have two principles -equity and accountabilityand four strands of development: develop viable human capital, arrest technology for commission and leadership, partnerships, promote regional operation and national integration.”

Points Agenda

“The PDP candidate continued: “Then you now go to my eight cardinal programmes. The first is education. Education in Osun State is in comatose. There is confusion following the merger of schools. Now, children have to walk four or five kilometers going to school. UNESCO said you

encourage student to school within one kilometer distance of where they live.

“I have a pact with the people. I don’t want to take you through the whole story.

But I have progammes that cover education, health sector, gender development, human capacity development, youth evolution, agriculture, infrastructure, commence, transparency and accountability in governance as well as traditional rulers involvement in governance. I have it all in what I call eight points agenda”.

Aregbesola

I

n his inaugural speech, Governor Aregbesola said he would run an ‘unusual government’.

Vanguard, AUGUST 3, 2014, PPA AGE 37

As such, to engender the development promise of ‘freedom for all, life more abundant’, Aregbesola explained: “Our people must be able to easily feed themselves so as to banish hunger, sustain a dignifying lifestyle so as to banish poverty, have a job to be engaged with so as to banish unemployment, easily access health care services so as to promote healthy living, acquire market relevant skills so as to promote functional education.”

In addition, he noted that there should be peace and harmony for the benefit of “our people, our visitors and businesses in our state so as to promote communal peace and harmony.”

INEC and the security agencies are boasting that the Osun poll will be better than the Ekiti election. Perhaps they would need to clarify what they mean: Will the PDP repeat the Ekiti magic or will the APC retain its strong hold?

Initially, many did not understand what he meant.

He was misunderstood from all sides when he, among other things, changed the name of Osun State to the State of Osun, introduced a new education policy and state anthem, and declared October 23 as a day for traditionalists.

Mixed reactions greeted initiatives.

W

hile his opponents attacked the initiatives, his admirers applauded them.

But for Aregbesola, the sixpoint integral action plan derives from the cardinal development action points defined by his administration to realize the development agenda for Osun.

Since his assumption of office in November 2010, the action plan has been the foundation of the programs of the state government.

The plan seeks to banish hunger, banish poverty, banish unemployment, promote healthy living, promote functional education, promote communal peace and progress.

These six points are defined as integral because the delivery of the development vision requires a combined implementation of each of the points.

The first three points at a glance will appear “absolutist” in character. This character, according to the governor, defines the “absolute optimism” required to inspire his administration and people to salvage the society from the abysmal and non-dignifying status our land has found itself in recent times.

“This tone does not underestimate the challenges ahead rather it seeks to set as ambitious as possible a vision for our leaders and people to restore our dignity as a virtuous, independent and prosperous people,”the governor said.

Just like Omisore, Aregbesola has also been involved in the enthroning of a governor.

He was involved in grassroots mobilisation for the emergence of former Lagos state governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, in 1999.

He was the coordinator of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Campaign Organisation, BATCO, with base in Alimosho local government area of Lagos State.

This earned him the juicy position of Commissioner for Works, a position he held onto for eight years.

Being Tinubu’s staunch loyalist, Aregbesola was also involved in the electioneering campaigns and eventual

victory of the current governor of Lagos State, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN).

As a matter of fact, Aregbesola still holds sway as far as Lagos politics is concerned and his loyalists still go to him for advice and guidance.

Akinbade

A

kinbade, the governorship candidate of the Labour Party (LP), was erstwhile Secretary to the State Government, SSG, during the Oyinlola administration.

He fell out with his party, the PDP, when the signals were clear to him that his ambition of getting the PDP ticket was not achievable.

Finding solace in LP, he felt it was time for him to bid his first love farewell.

In the course of his campaign, Akinbade has pledged to provide free health care for pregnant women in the state if voted into power.

The former SSG said that the focus of his qualitative free health programme, if he became governor, would be on pregnant women so as to reduce maternal mortality rate and ensure safe childbirths in the state.

In a recent interview, the LP candidate dismissed the speculation that his party was entering into an alliance with one of the major parties.

Setting the records straight, he said: “That is another falsehood. I am not joining them and I will never join them for the coming election.

I have nothing to do with them. I have no pact with anybody and I will never have pact with anybody.

“I will stand this election on my own because I cannot afford to destroy the destiny of the people who God has commissioned me to raise”.

INEC and security agencies

T

he a gitation by the opposition parties in Osun for the removal or redeployment of the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Ambassador Oloruntoyin Akeju, in the build-up to the election yielded fruit. The grouse of the PDP in the state is Akeju’s alleged closeness to the national leader of APC, Tinubu.

Akeju’s redeployment and replacement with Mr Olusegun Agbaje was greeted with cheers by the PDP camp.

The INEC chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega, on his part, has assured of a free, fair and credible election. So also have the security agencies.

They boast that the Osun poll will be better than the Ekiti election.

Will the PDP repeat the Ekiti feat or will the APC retain its strong hold? Saturday will tell.

PAGE 38—SUND AY 38—SUNDA

Vanguard, AUGUST 3, 2014

G

overnor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State is beating his chest that his administration has performed creditably in all sectors of the state to justify re-election in the August 9 poll.

Aregbesola, in this interview, also speaks on the militarisation of the state ahead of the election, saying the people will not be conquered by what he described as antidemocratic forces.

The governorship election in Osun State is few days away. How prepared are you to ensure that there won’t be a repeat of what happened in Ekiti?

The real issue is not about you as a candidate but the quality of the electoral process. Once the quality is good and high, whatever the people say, they are the ultimate decider of who represents or governs them. A democratic choice is expected to be correct, good and right but it is not always that the choice is good, correct and right.

But to answer your question properly, I have prepared so well for the office in a way that going by the normal run, I should not be working as hard as I am now for re-election. Why we are different from them is that we have always been with the people from day one of our administration.

How many governors walk the streets with their citizens? I have been doing that since the first month in office. How many governors create interactive forum in Nigeria before me? None. I was the first governor that devoted close to ten hours of continuous engagement on quarterly basis with the citizens. The people ask any question in no barred hold atmosphere.

The Ogbeni Till Day Break is a worldwide engagement because we take feedback from the social media. The Gbangba Dekun is a monthly community interactive forum where the governor sits with all stakeholders in the community to ask or make inquiries on any issue. This is the picture of direct engagements that we are doing with the people that no government in Nigeria has ever attempted to do.

We also have a carnival-like procession in Walk to Live where we just walk round the communities and it is too engaging and popular because everybody wants to be with the governor. Hardly is there any community in this state that I have not touched personally.

In terms of physical and social services, this is the first government that will say that there is no household, be it PDP, APC and others, that our programme has not reached. I feed 300,000 pupils every school day at the cost of N3.6 billion a year, I have been doing it since 2012 and I have spent N7.2 billion on that.

Long before we commenced the feeding arrangement, we empowered poultry farmers to produce poultry products so that the chicken and eggs the children consume are sourced from them. We gave close to N600 million to the poultry farmers and also fish farmers. The only people we buy from now are the cattle rearers.

We have the second batch of O’Yes cadets, the first batch of 20,000 has gone, the second batch of 20,000 is on. They work two or three days a week and they have the entire days of week left for them to see what they can do with their hands and earn a living because they are taught entrepreneurial training but they earn N10,000 monthly as cadets. On this scheme alone, this administration has spent N9 billion.

We are one of the few governments that develop a meaningful programme for elderly citizen’s care. We are not into a blanket social welfare scheme for the elderly, we have a package that did an extensive survey of citizens that are 65 years and above, we have them in our database. We now identified those among them that are without any support.

We identified 1,800 of such people. The selection was purely based on their con-

OSUN 2014

We will not be cowed bbyy ces orrce atiicc ffor anti-democrrat —Aregbesola

nts of society will play zSpeaks on the role critical segme zWhy Ekiti election is different’

I have prepared so well for the office in a way that going by the normal run, I should not be working as hard as I am now for re-election

ditions, no primordial sentiment. We didn’t do the selection anyway, Professor Ogunbameru of OAU administered everything, gave us the list and the addresses.

We have been giving them N10, 000 monthly since 2012.

We have ambulance points everywhere in the state now working 24 hours. We just launched debit card with cash between N100, 000 and N150, 000 with which farmers buy farm inputs at their doorsteps. They will buy on guaranteed credit and pay back with either their commodity or they sell and pay back.

How prepared are you to combat the heavy security presence in the state?

It is not just voting that is democracy.

Everything pertaining to the capacity of the people to vote or not to vote and to freely decide what they want must be of interest to all of us. Whenever that right is abrogated, it is a total assault on democracy. And we cannot call that democracy.

The fact that they disallow air of freedom greatly affected the quality of the democracy we are talking about. The militarisation of the state is not one man’s job.

We owe it a duty to let the whole world know what is happening here. This is against the right of the Nigerian people.

We’ve all forgotten that we pay the salaries of the security agencies. We don’t pay for them to wear mask in our towns. They should only wear masks when they engage terrorists and if they have to operate in a region where seeing them might compromise their own safety and security. What would they say is the reason for what they are doing now other than threat, shock

and awe? So, what this means is that they want to conquer and cow our people, which is a direct assault on democracy. I won’t take gun against them but I will not be quiet.

I believe that your supporting us to highlight this horrendous bent of the Nigerian federal authority to use all means at its disposal to cow our people must be condemned. We should all talk and condemn it because this is not about Aregbesola alone. You people may not have any press office to work with if this continues.

Don’t think it will stop there. By the time they finish with the press, they can say you should not even go and buy yam to eat somewhere. Everything will be affected.

Is your administration in good terms with the four critical sectors, namely teachers, civil servants, Okada riders and students who will vote?

Most people don’t even know how to assess relationships. They assess it from the complaint they get from dissatisfied section of a critical lot. It cannot be. It is impossible for human to exist without conflict. The Yoruba has an idiomatic way of expressing it, they say teeth and tongue fight but they are always still together. A sociologist in human relationships would not therefore base his assessment of any sector on when there is disagreement. Let us look at what we have done and then situate our relationship within it, though some people, for whatever reason, do not just like you.

I was telling someone that what should concern you is not those who are opposed to you especially as it gets to the run-up to election. When you are still far from it, you may be bothered so that you can make it up. But when no matter what you do, that is their attitude, you just stay put.

From the newspapers, there are not less than 20 parties seeking power, democratically. If you have 60 per cent, it does not mean you don’t have opposition. The 40 per cent who doesn’t want to see you and may cut your head if you are careless not only voted against you. If you have 60 per cent, you are home and dry. In a struggle

Continues on page 39

SUND AY SUNDA

Vanguard, AUGUST 3, 2014, PPA AGE 39

‘Why Ekiti election is different’ Continuef from page 38 with other stakeholders, six is a good number. What we are doing is to ensure that each of these critical sectors doesn’t have any basis at all to be opposed to us.

Let us start with the students: we met a condition when we came in that students were given a bursary of N3, 000 and they won’t even get the bursary on time and it was full of scam. They brought it to me to sign and I said why do I have to sign N3, 000 for anybody? It’s best if we don’t give this bursary or we give it meaningfully.

We raised the bursary to N10, 000 flat.

For medical and law students N20, 000 while our indigenes in Law School get N100, 000. The school authorities give the money to students in their system.

I don’t see how such students will hate us in the majority. Whoever now hates us has something else against us not for the fact that we have not done the needful.

How about Okada riders?

They have no problem with us. They may want us to do things for them as we have done to some other groups, but it is not as if they said compared to others, these are the problems. The roads here are appreciated even by those who walk. Has any government succeeded in constructing 200 kilometres of road in all nooks and crannies of the state? There is no part of this state that we have not constructed a new road and it’s not just any road but roads with concrete drainage, with stone base and kick asphaltic cover and, above all, when I get to campaign grounds, I say our roads have tribal marks. In all general roads, we have roads with marks.

We now have special roads, when we complete some of them, they will be tourism attraction and centres on their own.

Before our advent, the civil servants never knew that salary could be paid before the end of the month. We changed that.

Before the year ended when I assumed office, I paid 10 per cent of their basic as 13th month salary and paid December salary before the end of the year, the civil servants were dazed. Since that day up until December 2013, I paid salary on or before the 25th of every month. But as from January 2014, we ran into trouble which we explained to everybody six months before then. In July 2013, the Federal Government began a squeeze that they themselves know that nobody believed them.

They said 400,000 barrel of crude oil is being stolen every day.

We didn’t know problem was coming.

Instead of collecting N4.6 billion, they gave this government N2.6 billion, 40 per cent slashed. We thought it will be temporary because after that month, they said the stolen crude has reduced to 200,000 barrel per day. When the oil being lost reduced, would you still expect a 40 per cent cut? From that July to now, the maximum allocation this state has ever received is N3.2 billion which was in November 2013.

Now ask me how was I able to pay up until December 2013? My people are called Osomalo- they are very adept in the management of money and I took this from them. I had been saving through the Omoluwabi Conservation Fund in which 10 per cent of all allocation must just go and rest. So, I had money in reserve, which was a build-up for my refusal to form cabinet for 10 months. Whereas my income fell to N2.6billion at the lowest and N3.4billion at the highest for a month, my statutory expenditures I have no control on. For instance salary, pension and they are N3.6 billion every month. Between July and December, I

augmented my income with N5.4billion.

All in the hope that this thing will go, it didn’t go. It has not gone as we speak, it is even worse.

I told you earlier that I gave 10 per cent of basic salary as 13th month salary; the second year I gave 25 per cent; the third year I gave 50 per cent; the fourth year, I gave 100 per cent. So, why should any worker say I am not friendly with them?

Before, workers here were given leave allowances en bloc at the end of the year.

I told them this is unreasonable because we don’t go to leave at the same time, so choose when you want your leave allowance to be paid. Is it at your birthday or the anniversary of your employment into the service?

I am happy to tell you that majority of our civil servants see and appreciate what we are doing. We increased their car loan by 400 per cent; we increased housing loan by 100 per cent. For 36 out of 43 months, we have been paying regularly, let’s even assume that there is a problem of delayed payment now, I cannot believe all the workers will be against us because I have done my best. If the demonstration of interest of workers in their remuneration and allowances counts, with what we have done, I don’t think they will be against us.

I read the advert they published and I laughed because it indicted them. They wrote that my income was N2.8 billion and this is what I have to pay, N3.4billion, and pegged it with state and local governments. There is no way I can touch local government account because it is separate and distinct.

Teachers Our teachers are now very well motivated such that you cannot distinguished between them and bank workers. When you see a teacher in Osun before, you knew. They were so depressed, unmotivated and had no facilities. Our teachers

The militarisation of the state is not one man’s job.

We owe it a duty to let the whole world know what is happening here. This is against the right of the Nigerian people

*Aregbesola now appear corporate. It is not that there won’t be some of them who, for whatever reason, don’t like us but they are in the minority.

There is no household in this state that does not feel our impact. We are talking about how to make education the central focus of our administration because I am no longer thinking of now but we want to create a new set of Nigerians on which a new society would be born and we can’t do it on what is there now. Mine is the first government in Nigeria to give free uniform to students.

The first government that will say that you don’t need to buy textbooks for your children in the high school, Opon Imo targeted 150,000 students. One of the attractions is that it reduces the cost of book. It cost us to procure the e-book N200m; 53 books. If you divide N200 million by 53, you will get the cost per book.

If you now divide the outcome with 150,000, the cost of the book is N2? Opon Imo should be celebrated because it reduces the capital outlay on books. Tell me any government anywhere in the world that can provide eight textbooks free of charge to students. How many parents can buy all books required by their children? We have changed this by putting into the hands of all our students in high school a library of 53 textbooks.

Our students keep it with them, go home with them, and sleep with them for as long as they are in school. That was why I said that we had saved our state N8 billion to procure books for students. Immediately they heard that, they said Aregbesola has stolen N8 billion. That was the genesis of the money they said my son took from Opon Imo. What is your perception about the term, Stomach Infrastructure?

To those who people who are elite and

are therefore separated from the people, this term may make a new meaning to them. I am a product of the popular forces, the people and I am part and parcel of them. I emanated from them and a product of their struggles. What is now known as stomach infrastructure is what we know as interaction, engagement, living with the people and meeting their aspirations and needs.

That is what we have been doing from the very beginning of this administration; I feed the children. The Akara seller knows that I feed her child every day. I identify with them on daily basis in their struggle to live and they understand that everything we do is to make life easy for them.

My administration does not suffer alienation from the people, it is one and same with the people and that is the basis of our confidence in their ever ready support at all times.

Is there any aspect of the state that you think you have not touched?

There is no trade, commercial or social group in the state of Osun that we have not impacted. There is no aspect. Apart from Lagos, we are the only state government that has an emergency call centre but has been made dysfunctional because the Federal Government just refused to give us short code to make it work.

I am telling you how totally insensitive some of us are to the critical issues of our people. Whether you are APC or PDP, is it your commitment not to improve the lot of your people? And when you get to these offices, you must shun partisanship because you have sworn to an oath of allegiance to the Constitution and service to the people.

I challenge anybody to say that my programmes are discriminatory? Why should it be anyway, are they not our citizens?

We have a nation to build and a people to serve.

PAGE 40—SUND AY 40—SUNDA

Vanguard, AUGUST 3, 2014

‘The Omisore edge over Aregbesola’ Prince Bola Ajao, a former chairman of Ifelodun local government, between 2004 and 2007, is the current publicity secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State. He reveals why his party’s standard-bearer in the August 9 governorship election, Senator Iyiola Omisore, will defeat the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Rauf Aregbesola, who is also the incumbent governor, the lapses of the APC government in the state, among other issues.

BY OLAYINKA AJAYI oday, you are rounding off the houseT to-house and community-to-com munity campaign of your standard bearer in the August 9 governorship poll, Senator Iyiola Omisore. How do you assess the reception of the people to your party in communities visited so far First and foremost, we would like to put on record our gratitude to God, Almighty for his kindness, mercies and benevolence. The reception has been something else. It is huge, wonderful, tumultuous, encouraging and it is pointing to no other thing than victory that is waiting for Otunba Christopher Iyiola Omisore and the Peoples Democratic Party come August 9, 2014 gubernatorial election in Osun State.

What do you think are the marketability features of your candidate to the electorate in the poll I challenge anybody to prove any contrary assertion that Senator Iyiola Omisore remains the most visible, the most talked about and the most prominent political figure in Osun State in the last 20 years. This is a very high point. He has been there for the people of Osun State. He was there as a deputy governor to former Governor Bisi Akande and he performed creditably well. As a senator representing Osun East in the National Assembly, Abuja for two terms, he represented us excellently, distributing democratic largesse to the people of his constituency and beyond. In terms of democratic dividends to the people, he has always been there as a philanthropist, humanist, realist and somebody that can be relied upon. He is very assessible, but very difficult to manipulate.

What do you think Omisore would do differently if he emerges the winner of the election from what Osun people are witnessing under the Governor Rauf Aregbesola One crystal thing that he would do eminently different is that there would no be any capital flight anywhere. This is a homeboy and son of the soil. Omisore is a practical politician and somebody whose peoples’ yearnings and aspirations have been his topmost priority and major concern. His goal has always been driven by the need to make life abundantly comfortable for the generality of Osun State. There would be immediate halt of capital flight to Lagos and this would pave way for prosperity and economic empowerment of our hardworking people, who have subjected to debilitating effects of poverty and frustration by Aregbesola’s callous administration.

The APC is kicking against the planned deployment of heavy security for the conduct of Osun governorship election, saying doing so would amount to the militarisation of the nation’s democracy. What is you take on this Almost everywhere in the world, particularly in the third world countries, the conduct of

election has always brought the its modicum of some disturbances, violence, worrisome threats to peace and tranquility. The only antidote to ensure a free, fair, credible and rancour free election is to have adequate security to ensure that peoples’ precious lives and properties are effectively protected. Anybody that is saying something contrary or hold different position on this matter is planning to benefit from some mayhem and hoping to achieve some sinister objectives through violence. We must give the credit to PDP-led federal government, currently under the able leadership of President Goodluck Jonathan, which has been protecting and sustaining our hard earned and uninterrupted democracy in the last 15 years.

In this regard, adequate and effective security are germane to the survival of our democarcy.

Not quite long ago, the ruling APC government in Osun allegedly said your party was collaborating with INEC to perpetrate electoral fraud through the NYSC members, who would serve as adhoc officials during the election. How do you react to this Was it not the same NYSC members that were used in Anambra governorship poll? Why did the PDP not collude with INEC there? Was is not the corpers that were used in Ondo election and the PDP did connive with INEC to rig the poll, which was won by Governor Olusegun Mimiko of the Labour Party, ditto for number of places the PDP lost. There is no connivance. You can see for yourself wherever the PDP and Senator Omisore went for campaign the magnitude of people and intimidating crowd trooping out to show love and sincere acceptance for our party. This is amazing. There is no doubting the fact that our people are seriously yearning for a change from this misrule, misgovernance of these aliens and interlopers in the corridors of power, holding our innocent people by the jugular through harsh economic policies and other programmes, which have no direct bearing or impact on the entire citizenry. They have grossly mismanaged our economy and succeeded in wantonly and recklessly demolished our properties, without paying compensation and also taken away our source of livelihood. But, Osun people have collectively resolved to send them packing on August 9. There is no need for any connivance or rigging. We are looking forward to a free and fair election, where there would be one man, one vote. From the temperature of Osun people, it is clear and evident that PDP would coast home to victory, while Aregbesola would return to where he came from.

Despite the credentials and what you claimed as the fascinating political profile and achievements of Omisore, coupled with the goodies he has to offer, the APC had insisted that he has nothing for the people of the state against the provision of durable infrastructural facilities and enviable projects of Aregbesola. What’s your take?

What is the basis of comparison between Omisore and Rauf Aregbesola? Where was Aregbesola when Omisore was the deputy governor here? He was just a mere appointee of Bola Tinubu in Lagos. Where was Aregbesola when Omisore was contributing meaningfully to try

Prince Bola Ajao

Omisore is a practical politician and somebody whose peoples’ yearnings and aspirations have been his topmost priority and major concern

development of this state?. It was in the hotel suite of Omisore, in Abuja, where the Alliance for Democracy (AD), the political platform upon which Aregbesola’s mentor, Tinubu became what he is today politically.

So, there is no ground for comparison between Omisore and Aregbesola. Comparing Omisore with Aregbesola is like comparing Cosmos with chaos . Omisore is a known name. Aregbesola is not a content in the political vocabulary of Osun, not until 2007 political brouhaha. He never schooled here. He never worked here nor pay tax here to contribute to the commonwealth of Osun State. So, he was just transferred by what we used to have in the days of colonialists by the self-styled Asiwaju of the Yorubas. Omisore has got the discipline, pedigree, human faced programmes and most importantly the backing of the people. Hence, there is no basis for comparing him with Aregbesola.

The APC at the national level called for the postponement of this August 9 election. Do you subscribe to this idea?

How can a student who has worked hard or prepared diligently begin to ask the lecturer or the school authority for postponement of examination? It is a mark of defeat abinitio that they know that terrible failures are pointer to defeat that is imminent. They believed the only way to save themselves from the looming electoral defeat is to call for the postponement of the much awaited governorship election. The call for postponement is unwarranted. The PDP had done its homework and we have paid our dues by waiting at the sidelines when they were holding sway, inflicting sufferings on the people.

Now the entire citizenry have seen that PDP is the better alternative. INEC is not postponing any election and our people cannot take that from the APC. The handwriting is clear on the wall that they are heading towards the exit.

As a result of reported violent clashes between your supporters and members of the APC in Ile-Ife and few other communities, there are fears among the electorate that violence may mar the coming poll. Do you have any assurance to allay the fear of the people?

That is exactly why the federal government is not taking chances or treating the security needs of the election with levity. We want to assure our people that there would be adequate security for them during the election exercise. Nigeria as a country has got what it takes to provide adequate protection for its citizens. That is why we don’t have any fear. We have the confidence in the security agencies to discharge their responsibilities effectively well before, during and after the poll to ensure adequate security and safety for lives and properties.

SUNDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 3, 2014, PAGE 41

Email: vanguardwoman@gmail.com

I go as far as running errands for mentors -Ibifuro Tatua, CEO, Boss Pan Africa

BY JOSEPHINE IGBINOVIA

more.

M

I must say you’re a very enterprising young lady; how did you begin?

When I graduated, the first job I got was with a construction company which built mostly churches, universities and did big projects only. I was their site clerk. My job was to ensure I was the first to arrive site and the last to leave, take record of everyone coming in and out, and most importantly, take stock of every item supplied to the site. An idea dropped and I decided I shouldn’t be counting tippers while those coming with the tippers were counting plenty of money. I asked what the requirement was to supply and was told I needed to just have a registered company, cash at hand and be ready to supply and wait for one month to get paid. I immediately resigned from my job and registered a company.

ultiple awardingwinning entrepreneur Ibifuro Tatua is a genius at identifying and harnessing opportunities, a skill she tapped from her grandmother from childhood and has since horned bravely.

The University of Port Harcourt alumna is CEO, Boss Pan Africa Limited, an oil and gas contracting and servicing firm; Publisher of Boss African Magazine, a general interest magazine; CEO of Zamoor Potential Venture, an event management outfit; CEO of BossDrinks, a chain of stores solely into the sales of wines, liquor, energy drinks and fruit juice and an emerging property manager. Little wonder she was named Young Perfor ming Personality of the Year at the 4th Niger Delta Achievers Merit Awards in 2013. Earlier this year also, the young mother was crowned Africa’s Emerging Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2014. Ibifuro who is co-host of the forthcoming Dubai 2014 Young CEOs Business Summit spoke with Feminista on her journey into the world of enterprise, the forthcoming summit and

How did you deal with the financial cost of setting up a company and delving into that line of trade?

I started small but dreamt big. I was on a N20,000 salary and didn’t readily have the required money. So, I got my mum and brother to join resources with mine. We split profit according to percentage invested, and each time the money increased, so did my independence. That was the beginning of my journey into entrepreneurship. I relocated to lagos and ventured into other lines of businesses. Then I realised there is so much potential in Africa.

Now you’re into publishing, oil & gas and property business; how do you cope?

Well, I would say they all have their motivational factors. For publishing for example, I love to capture events, special moments, historic and special news, information, etc. and I love to write.

How did you develop yourself to attain these business cadre?

I learn from those who have gone through the miles I want to go. I read books, watch documentaries on businesses I am interested in, keep an open mind, take risks, make friends and find mentors or role models in the chosen line of business. I don’t mind running

errands for them just to stay close. I tell them my mission and often, they are happy and willing to put me through. And I always remember to give them due credit.

*Kehinde

You look quite young; how are you able to manage money, human resources and capital?

(Laughs)Money doesn’t know age. Once you have it and people get to know somehow, your responsibility increases and the demand does too.

You just have to set your priorities straight by setting aside money for business, money for pleasure and money for emergencies. You must learn to be financially disciplined or else you end up worse than you started.

Moderation is the key.

What inspires you?

I am inspired by the urge to make a difference. I like to feel secured; I like to just go out there and come back with favourable results or at least make an attempt at it.

Could you tell us how your journey into business started?

It started from an early age without me realising it. I was groomed to be a business woman by my grandmother who was a trader and farmer. Every holiday when we visited the village, she would make me sell her farm

Ibifuro Tatua

Award held in Ghana also, I met more youths across Africa taking giant strides. So, some of us came together and decided on the need to meet, inspire, empower and support next generation of emerging global

You must learn to be financially disciplined or else you end up worse than you started produce as I pleased and would sing my praise to all who cared to listen.

Let us talk about your forthcoming program; what prompted the idea of the CEO meeting in Dubai?

Yes, that’s the Dubai 2014 Young CEOs Business Summit being organised by the Young CEOs Business Forum Limited, United Kingdom. It’s actually holding August 11-13, 2014. When I got an award as the Young Performing Personality of the Year at the Niger Delta Achievers Merit Award in 2012, I was surprised to see many young entrepreneurs like my self at the event. I was really impressed to see that young people have decided to take control of the economic situation around them. At the African Achievers

business leaders who are committed to using the power of business to change some of Africa’s most challenging economic, social and environmental problems. That gave birth to the Young CEOs Business Forum Limited, United Kingdom, designed for pioneering CEOs who aspire to conduct their businesses in tandem with global best practices.

What do you envisage to achieve with the program Our aim is to ensure these CEOs focus more on creating value for all of their stakeholders and then fulfil deeper purpose which is giving back to the society and making it better than they met it. We consciously integrate and cultivate cultures that

support people to learn, grow; develop and flourish.

With collaboration from young CEOs across Africa, specifically from Cameroon, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Gambia, Mali and Malawi, we are set to explore international idea exchange, collaborations and synergies that will guarantee business excellence for our continent.

World-class entrepreneurs have been lined up to give to participants extensive training, while stimulating real life business challenges in the 21st century with pragmatic solutions.

Expected participants range from country presidents CEOs with interest in expanding their business in Africa, Asia, and Europe.

Aspiring entrepreneurs, enterprise development policy makers and government officials with responsibility for supporting new business are also expected. We’re actually covering every sector of the economy, including technology, travel/tourism, agriculture, education, health care, manufacturing, real estate/architecture, energy/ infrastructure, oil and gas, fashion, arts, design, aviation, telecommunication, event management, entertainment, media and communication.

PAGE 42—SUNDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 3, 2014

ROYAL TEARS They killed my son, dismembered his corpse and threw it into river – Kebordih, Edo monarch

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM, BENIN-CITY

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hristopher Ike Kebordih is the traditional ruler of Illushi Kingdom in Esan South East Local Government Council of Edo State.

Meanwhile, the traditional ruler, who is supposed to be at home with his people, has fled his community following alleged threats from the people he accused of the murder of his son last year to kill him. The incident occurred on June 13, 2013 when some armed men allegedly murdered his 37year-old son. The traditional ruler, crying for justice, has sent petitions to the Edo State Police Command and the AIG Zone 5, Benin-City, in which he pointed accusing fingers at some persons he alleged were involved in the killing of his son, lamenting that nothing has been done by the police to fish out the suspects. According to him, the wife of the deceased was five months pregnant when he was killed just as he alleged that his farm produce and property were destroyed by the same people that murdered his son due to his efforts to seek for justice.

He narrated his story: “On June 13, 2013, there was a misunderstanding between two political groups. On the 9th, there was a report in my palace that some ACN boys working in the market were perpetrating illegality. Some PDP boys confronted them, leading to a crisis. When the matter came to me, I told both parties that the market is for the local government, that I am only the king and I have no hand in the affairs of the market. I advised them to meet with the local government authorities to iron out their differences rather than engaging themselves in a fight. On the 13th, after 12pm, I received a phone call from an APC leader that the PDP people had gone back to the market. I asked if the APC leader had gone to the local government chairman to confirm if what the PDP people were doing was illegal or not because they were not revenue staff of the council. I now said I was not around and that they should go to the police and the local govern-

ment chairman to sort out the problem. Within two hours, policemen came in company of the APC boys whom they allotted the market space to.

They said when they reported to the police, the police went to see the leader of the PDP group and others, but when they got there they rounded the policemen up and the APC boys rescued them after a fight. When the APC boys came with the police, I had to follow them to the Area Commander at Irrua. When we got to Irrua, we met about six DPOs because they were having a meeting and I

*The victim...Body parts thrown into river

narrated my ordeal. I told them that my place was on fire. So the Area Commander said I should wait, that after their meeting, the DPO at Ubiaja will follow me with some policemen to reduce the problem. I went back to Ubiaja. At about 1pm, information came to me that the PDP leader and his cohorts had mobilized, shooting guns and hunting for the APC boys.

I went back to the DPO’s office and I was told he had not returned from the meeting.

Then I went to the local government chairman to let him know what was happening. The chairman invited the DPO and he asked them to mobilize to stop the boys. I went back to my palace”.

Narrating further, he said, “ At about 5:30pm, I received a message concerning my son.

My son was not a member of

*Ike Kebordiho..Assailants after me

the market workers, he was not a revenue collector in the market. He was to do his wife’s introduction on the 16th of June. He went to Illushin market to remind some of his friends about the event and buy a few things. When he met the restive PDP youths, he asked them why they were carrying guns, that the issue on ground was not enough to carry guns. As he was talking, one of the boys attacked my other son accompanying his brother and shot him. My son was shocked when his brother fell. The assailant was quoted as saying it was because of my son that he mistakenly shot the brother. When people started shouting, the assailant now shot my son, who was already in pains, dead.

Dismembering body “After the killing, the assailant and his colleagues put the corpse in a wheel barrow, took it to Odegume Road, dismembered the body with cutlass and threw the parts inside the river. When the information came to me, I ran to the DPO and local government chairman to inform them of the situation.

Throughout that day, the police did not make any move, the council chairman also did not do anything.

After some days, one of the PDP men was arrested at Ugboha. He narrated how they killed my son. The police recovered one locally made gun and nine live cartridges from him. He was now transferred to Benin Command. I went there and made a statement. The police said I should bring money for logistics and mobilization, I did all, but nothing was done until I wrote to Abuja and a reply came that the police in Benin should get the people involved arrested. But nothing still was done. I wrote to the AIG Zone 5, nothing was done. I met the Edo Commis-

sioner of Police and the Deputy Commissioner of Police, nothing was done. The case went on until a few months ago when another member of the gang was arrested by the police and they brought him to Benin and the IPO sent for me that I should bring money with which to take the suspect to Ubiaja court where they will arraign him. I came that day, they told me the amount of money to bring, I paid the money. When I got home, at about 8am, I got a phone call that the boy had been re-

planning to kill me because they said as long as I am alive I will prosecute them. So my life and that of my family are in danger. I have petitioned different authorities to no avail. They have destroyed all I have. The farm I had before the incident was yielding about 300kg bags of rice but they burnt it. As we are talking; they are after my life.

Since this thing happened, I have not been to my community; most of the elders with me, they scared them away. It is like a coup executed by the youths. All the elders have

When people started shouting, the assailant now shot my son, who was already in pains, dead leased; that while I was with the IPO, a member of the state House of Assembly visited the Commissioner of Police. He got the suspect released. The lawmaker told me in the presence of the Area Commander that the matter was not a police case. I asked him why the police will not do their work after my son was killed. He said he will settle the matter but nothing happened. Up till now, the suspects are still at Illushi moving freely. The boys who are my loyalists in the ACN have been driven away from Illushi, I am presently in exile at Ubiaja . They are the ones in-charge of revenue and are the custodians of the community now, all efforts I made to get them apprehended yielded no fruit because they have powerful people in the police. Even now they are

fled the community. I am appealing to Comrade Governor Adams Oshiomhole, Director of SSS in Edo State and Inspector General of Police to come to my aid and get the killers of my son arrested so that I can return to my domain”.

When contacted, the Edo State Police Commissioner, Foluso Adebanjo, told Sunday Vanguard: “I will find out who is in-charge of the case because I always treat any petition I receive and my men are aware of that. I have always said that nobody has the right to kill. So, if one has committed murder no matter how highly placed we will deal with the person legally.

May be the incident happened before I came but I will find out and take action appropriately”.

SUNDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 3, 2014, PAGE 43

INTRIGUING EXPERIENCES

AMAZING STORY OF SANDRA

‘I abandoned Switzerland residency for lady mechanic job’ *Advises FG, Oshiomhole on girls upliftment

in Productivity. The award gave me encouragement that my country is recognizing me and what I am doing. Also the centenary book of 100 years of women where I am listed gives me a lot encouragement. I was also a panellist at the opening of the centenary last year. The challenges are just too much but I see them as a stepping stone, I see them as opportunity. I never waited for government. In 2004, outside my own workshop, I started the Lady Mechanic Initiative without going to government to say this is what I wanted.

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM, BENIN-CITY

M

rs Sandra AgueborEkperuoh is founder, Lady Mechanic Initiative. History was made, last week, in Benin City, Edo State, when the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, laid the foundation stone of the Lady Mechanic workshop.

The event followed the graduation ceremony of about 50 lady mechanics. Sunday Vanguard spoke to Mrs Aguebor-Ekperuoh who was, last year, honoured by the Presidency for her doggedness in the fight for the upliftment of women. The Edo-born Sandra has been a mechanic for 30 years. She is also the Chief Executive Officer of Sandex Car Care in Abuja and Lagos. Excerpts:

Background attended Ivbiotor Primary School, Benin-City, before I proceeded to St. Maria Goretti Girls Secondary School and I started my mechanic job from there. When I finished my secondary school education, I went to the Benin Technical College where I studied automobile in the automobile department vocational studies for three years. From there I went to Auchi Polytechnic. When I finished from there, I got employment with Bendel Transport Company, now Edo Line, where I started receiving salary of N950 per month; that was in the 90s. When I left there after two years, I got

I

another employment at the Nigeria Railway Corporation in Lagos where I stayed for another two years, but because of the non-payment of salaries, I decided to pull out.

I wanted to travel abroad for greener pastures. I actually got visa to go to Switzerland. I was about traveling when the dream came to me to buy tools and start up in a virgin land. That is how I found myself being a lady mechanic.

I also attended Pan Atlantic University where I did management studies. I am married with six children. I want to tell every woman out there, especially the married ones, do not think because you are married and have children, life has ended. You can still acquire skills, go to the Lady Mechanic website and talk to us. We have a 49year-old woman that is running her own gas station in Lagos. She is the one who is doing the quick service and servicing the car. We need to start doing a lot of things so that our children as they are growing up will emulate us.

What is the Lady Mechanic Initiative all about?

The Lady Mechanic Initiative is empowering women through free mechanic profession and wealth creation for sustainable livelihood. We empower them to be skilled auto mechanics, female generator repairers, female household water pump machine repairer and installation, female mechanic drivers, as well as female boat engine repairers in the coastal area.I started

what I am doing in 2004, but I have had my own workshop for about 20 years now called Sandex Car Care Garage since 1994. So I am not just starting what I am doing, I started at the age of 13 through dreams. Over the years, since 2004, we have been able to empower close to 700 female mechanics with about 500 alumni members who will be inaugurated into the Association of Lady Automobile Technicians of Nigeria in September when we are celebrating our 10th

Oshiomhole, Edo girls and prostitutes CNN came to us in 2001 and came back in 2010. By 2010, we have had so many girls and we have been on CNN for like four times. We have been on BBC telling the world that Nigeria women are strong and they can do better, but that is not the way they see it especially from where I came from, Benin-City, Edo State. Benin girls are prostitutes, they go abroad, they are in Spain, they are in Italy.

But I say to people, Benin girls are very strong, they need mentorship, they need somebody to counsel them to change their mindset so that they will know that going abroad or crossing the desert to Libya is not the right thing to do. When you acquire a skill, it takes you a long way into progressing in future and your

Benin girls are prostitutes, they go abroad, they are in Spain, they are in Italy. But I say to people, Benin girls are very strong, they need mentorship, they need somebody to counsel them to change their mindset anniversary.

Inspiration It was through dreams. It was ordained that this is what I would do and that is why I started going to the mechanic workshop at the age of 13.

My wish Seeing girls work in different car companies in Nigeria, year-in-year-out; seeing girls setting up their own garages and training other women, people think it is easy, but it was not a bed of roses to break the yoke to become the first female mechanic in Nigeria, and to be honoured by the Federal Government with a National Merit Award

generation will see it. So the Lady Mechanic Initiative is trying to reduce social vices in Nigeria, reducing poverty among women and creating economic independence for women.

I have been able on my own with funding from different organizations to be able to create, empower and graduate about 700 female mechanics for the past 10 years; now is time for government to do their own. I am here to support government; I am here to assist the Comrade Governor’s administration.

As I speak, there is no car company where you do not find an Edo or Esan girl. So, I am appealing to the Edo government that the Lady Mechanic Initiative is here to assist his uncom-

mon transformation; to assist him in creating employment for youths. It is very important that Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole’s administration should call on me now. I have been writing I don’t know if he has been getting my letters but I am from this state and I want to help in his uncommon transformation. Lady mechanic is not only in Edo and I am not just calling on Adams Oshiomhole’s administration. I am calling on the Federal Government to assist us because we need a permanent site. The First Lady has been very helpful on this cause; she invited us to the State House, celebrated us and told me this initiative is close to her heart and wants to be part of it. That is why she was the one that laid the foundation stone in Benin City alongside the graduation ceremony of the second batch of female mechanics in Edo. Lady Mechanics Initiative graduates can work in gas station, lube bay, car company, even parts shop. We are bringing women into this initiative because we know that it will create wealth for them, not struggling with men but supporting men at home.

We are not stopping here, it is a case of the trainee becoming the trainer. We want to move to other parts of the country, but without funding we can’t do that because these girls are paid to learn.

SOS to FG Our youngest CEO is 22 years and in Abuja; she is currently training three girls in her workshop. I am telling the world that if the Female Mechanics Initiative can train over 200 women in Lagos, 100 in Edo, Kaduna and now we are in Kano, we can do more. We recently got funding from McCarthy Foundation in the US, sponsoring 20 female mechanics, 20 generator repairers, 20 female water pump repairers and installation technicians and 20 professional drivers in Kano. I believe that as far as the manufacturers of motor vehicles continue to manufacture vehicles year in, year out,

there must be job for female mechanics. We are appealing to the government that September is the 10th year of the Lady Mechanic Initiative; we are celebrating and also launching for the first time in the world the Lady Automobile Technicians of Nigeria.

I see the FG and the state government buying into the initiative because it is one way that they can reduce poverty, create employment and eradicate insurgency and social vices.

PAGE 44 — SUNDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 3, 2014

INTRIGUING EXPERIENCES

Hephzibah: Punished with blindness for two years

BY YINKA OLATONA

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he General Over seer of Christ Anointed Church Peculiar Ministry, Lagos, Prophet Jeremiah Hephzibah, in this interview, reveals how he was blind for two years for not complying with God’s call.

The Osun State-born prophet also narrates how some prominent pastors wanted him to join a cult.

There is a controversy over your roots. Let’s begin with where you actually came from.

Is there any man without roots? I was born into the family of Tunde Ogunjimi of Ilesa, Osun State. But I was born in Lagos. I left Lagos for Ibadan in 1980

to continue my primary education. I later went to Ilesha to complete my secondary school.

I also attended CYNDICO seminary in Ibadan. I am from a polygamous family but my father was the first man to marry more than one wife in the family and it was for a reason. His first wife gave birth to female children only, about six of them. In his quest for a male child, a prophet in a community, called Olatunbosun village, told my father he will have to marry another woman before he could have a male child. Though the prophecy did not go well with my grandfather and father because they were Christians, they eventually succumbed.

The prophet told my father that he will meet my mother here in Lagos at Mushin market. My father

I have strong belief and faith in God. I do not believe in impossibility; that is why I can speak authoritatively today because I have the backing of the Almighty God came to Lagos from Ibadan searching for my mother and later met her.

They got married without the knowledge of the first wife.

Several years later, my grandfather asked my mother to bring me to Ibadan. I was taken to my

step mother’s house to greet her but I was told she poisoned me to the extent that I was unconscious for three days.

One of the family members insisted that I will not be buried until the arrival of Prophet Olatunbosun, the man who prophesied my

Jeremiah Hephzibah birth. But I regained consciousness few minutes before the arrival of the prophet.

That is why majority of my family members respect the call of God on my life because they all testify to series of attack that I encountered as a teenager and how God miraculously delivered me.

In 1995, I came to Ibadan to start plank business; I was one of Briscoe Company suppliers. Then I lived a free life because I realised good money from the business.

Howdid you get into the ministry?

I went into ministry in year 2002. Before then, God told me He would use me for His work but I declined and God told me that I will be blind if I did not yield to His instructions.

Eventually I got blind and I had to call one of my step sisters to help me out and she did her best. All efforts to region my sight proved abortive until 2002 when God Himself asked me if I was ready to be His prophet and take the gospel to wherever He will send me and I replied I was ready to obey. He then restored my sight.

Around 1:30pm that day, my eyes opened after being blind for two years.

The next day I started preaching the gospel; even though I didn’t know how to preach, I forced myself.

Since then I have strong belief and faith in God. I do not believe in impossibility; that is why I can speak authoritatively today because I have the backing of the Almighty God. Did you undergo ministerial training anywhere before you started the church?

I started in my father’s church, Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), in Ibadan as an evangelist and when God asked me to start my own ministry, I told the

ministers of God and they gave me their blessing.

From there, I went for a nine- month special prayer.

In 2003, I started Christ Anointed Church Peculiar International Ministry.

In 2006, I started coming to Lagos for revival.

You mentioned that Jesus does not care much about miracles but your church advertises miracles. How do you reconcile the two conflicting positions?

Jesus Christ said that signs shall follow those who believe in His name, that they shall cast out demons, heal the sick, raise the dead amongst others but the number one thing we preach here is the kingdom of God and all His righteousness. After sermon, the work healing, restoration and others will begin.

What brought about the name ‘Baba Peculiar’?

It was when people started witnessing what God is doing through me that they gave me that name. I am a young man but they gave me the name Baba Peculiar.

Any regret?

I do not regret coming into the ministry. I was only sad when I did not have anyone to assist me in the ministry; then I questioned God but I did not regret.

Have you come across shocking developments among ministers that saddened you?

Yes, I must be honest.

There was a time some ministers of God asked me to join their occultist group. Many prominent ministers are involved; they even threatened to deal with me. I was ambushed several times but God delivered me from their hands.

Have you ever prayed for someone and the person did not receive healing?

I have experienced such several time because God is the only healer, He only uses me as His vessel for His children.

SUNDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 3, 2014, PAGE 45

PAGE 46 —SUNDAY, Vanguard, AUGUST 3, 2014

Pomp as FForesight oresight Securities MD’s son w eds Lady Ararile buried in weds style

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he traditional w e d d i n g between former Miss Ibitayo Adegunle, daughter of Mr Ignatius Adegunle, CEO, ACTS Auditing Firm and Mrs Bolatito Adegunle and Mr Osas Ogbebor, son of Mr Alex Ogbebor, MD, Foresight Securities and Investment Ltd and Mrs Margaret Ogbebor held at Euphoria Event Centre, Ikeja, Lagos, penultimate Saturday.

Both families were honoured by their respective friends who came in large number to grace the occasion.

Photos by Lamidi

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From left: Mr Ignatius Adegunle; Mrs Bolatito Adegunle, bride's parents; Mr and Mrs Osas Ogbebor; the new couple; Barrister Alex Ogbebor and Mrs Margaret Ogbebor, groom's parents.

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t was indeed celebration of life and royal extravaganza when remains of Lady Obirebo Ararile (Nee Ivwurie) mother of HRM (AVM) Lucky Ochuko Ararile (rtd), Avwaeke 1, Ovie of Umiaghwa-Abraka Kingdom, was laid to rest. Apart from royalties from neighbouring communities attending the grand occasion, government functionaries were also in attendance. Photos by Nath Onojake

Bamidele

Mr.Hilary Adibo Ararile reading the biography of his late mother.

Mr Jimi Agbaje (r) and Mr Omoyele Kushanu .

The wedding made in Benin Kingdom

From left: Otunba Adeoye Tugbobo; Chief Remi Marinho and Mrs Adeyinka Tugbobo.

L-R : Senator Emmanuel Aguariawodo,HRM Matthew Owhawha I1, HRM.[AVM] Lucky Ochuko Ararile (rtd) Awaeke I, Ovie of UmiaghwaAbraka,Queen Ihuoma Ararile Oniemo of Umiaghwa-Abraka and Prof. and Mrs Sam Oyovbaire

Heir-apparent to Benin throne, Crown Prince (Amb.) Eheneden Erediauwa, gave out the hand of his eldest daughter,Princess Ikuoyemwen, in marriage.

Capt. Otemowo Ararile, Prince Glory Ararile and Mrs.Pepertua leading the corpse of late Mrs.Lady Obirebo Ararile .

Engineer Bayo Adeola and his wife , Debo.

The Crown Prince and daughter.

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From left; Chief Ernest Obasuyi; Dr Henry Akpata and Mrs Victoria Aghedo

Ovie of Umiaghwa of Abraka Kingdom,HRM.AVM Lucky Ochuko Ararile and his elegant wife,HRM Queen Ihuoma Opuruiche Ararile

SUNDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 3, 2014, PAGE 47

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Nigeria takes Heritage project to the world

BY ADEKUNLE ADEKOYA Earlier in July, another major effort to reposition Nigeria in terms of image and as a brand destination was made with the unveiling of Nigeria Our Heritage Project (NOHP) in Abuja.

Tomorrow, the 4th of August 2014, during the US-Africa Summit, the NOHP goes offshore and berths at the John F. Kennedy Centre for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. The event is planned as one memorable evening that will capture and display some of the brightest and best of Nigeria’s globally acclaimed culture ambassadors, led by the National Troupe of Nigeria. The NOHP concert will feature many of our award-winning artistes, actors and culture promoters as a bold way to herald the redirection of our collective narrative. President Goodluck Jonathan has approved the handing out of the NOHP bespoke heritage box containing an abridged version of the grand book as well as other exquisite gift items to selected personalities who are crucial to the perception change agenda of the p r o j e c t .

Dignitaries targeted for this special gift from Nigeria include US President Barack Obama, some influential Congressional Caucus leaders, and Black Heritage

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activists who can promote the cause of the project.

The primary objective of this outing is for NOHP to widen and sustain its awareness building campaign and also begin to derive commercial capital from the on-going establishment of the project’s building blocks. To this end, operators of the NOHP project are intensifying the awareness generation effort with a view to creating endearing excitement around the NOHP brand. This will ultimately open doors for sales/partnership/sponsorship calls and attract more partners/sponsors on board. In reinforcing this awareness drive, Nigerian stakeholders like tour operators, hoteliers, airlines, transport firms and other hospitality actors are targeted. Others in focus include the international community, the international and Nigerian mass media, and the general Nigerian public.

Previewing the event, Minister of Culture & Tourism, High Chief Edem Duke noted that after one hundred years of nationhood, the NOHP could not have been conceived at a better time given the challenges, storms, and tempests that the nation has weathered and is still contending with. he noted that this year, 2014, Nigeria as a nation clocked 100 years following amalgamation of the Northern and Southern Protectorate in 1914 by the colonial potentate, Lord Frederick Lugard, and for Nigerians, this

milestone is considered immensely significant, given the fact that as a nation Nigeria has survived and is still surviving despite the seemingly unending trials and tribulations the nation has gone through in the last 100 years.

Though, the 1914 amalgamation of Southern and Northern protectorates was the brainchild of Lord Frederick Lugard, today’s Nigerians were neither part of that decision nor were they consulted in any form. That would also be true for many nations of the world today.

Duke, speaking further on the NOHP project and the survivability of Nigeria as an independent, indivisible entity, quoted late US President John F. Kennedy: “Geography has made us neighbours. History has made us friends. Economics has made us partners, and necessity has made us allies. Those whom God has so joined together, let no man put asunder.” He continued: ”In reference to those who are not happy with the state of affairs of our country today, we counsel that the road to development is often times too hilly to ride on, too steep to walk on, sometimes too frustrating and most times exhaustive. But those who persevere are usually far from failure.

With tenacity of purpose, creativity, loyalty and collective engagement nations and her people overcome. ”Therefore, difficulties on the

*Edem Duke road to progress and development are normal spells. We therefore reinstate our unshakeable belief in the future of this country. ”At the beginning of the past century, most Nigerians living today were neither part of its birth nor part of the plans that shaped its construction. Given this prevailing circumstance, and going by the views of most Nigerians especially with regards to our level of unity, progress and development, we align with those who believe that Nigeria could have done better. “ He then charged: If we are not pleased with the past century what are our desires for Nigeria going forward? If we yearn for a better, prosperous, stronger, united and peaceful new Nigeria what strategies should we apply to realise these

lofty dreams?”

High Chief Duke disclosed that part of the strategies is to recreate and brighten the image of our country whilst encouraging Nigerians to reinvigorate their hope and commitment to the Nigerian project.

He then listed as part of the project’s objectives to include seeking out “proudly Nigerian companies/entities” to be major stakeholders towards stimulating the building of an affluent Nigeria in this new century; and support resourceful enterprises that promote the positive perception of the country among comity of nations as well as document Nigeria’s past, present and promises Other objectives of the project include-To chronicle Nigeria’s past and present whilst projecting progressive initiatives for the f u t u r e .

-Create access for global international interest and investment in potential business opportunities in Nigeria.

-To begin the redefinition of Nigeria as a world leading nation through development of leadership institutions and frontier schemes.

Noting that there had been previous efforts at national image burnishing, Duke implored the international community to buy into the NOHP with reinvigorated positivism, saying that a rebranded Nigeria, collectively supported by all Nigerians, will have immense impact on businesses, the economy and the peoples, in addition to reinforcing the status of the country as the economic powerhouse of the continent.

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SUNDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 3 , 2014, PAGE 49

Bayelsa beckons investors to grow economy

By Daniel Iworiso-Markson

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OR 3 days between the 16th and 19th of July, 2014, the Bayelsa State capital, Yenagoa, hosted an array of policy experts, company executives, business leaders and top government officials, who converged to have a close look at the issues of development in the state. The occasion was the maiden Bayelsa Investment and Economic Forum with the theme: “Unlocking Bayelsa State’s Economic Potentials: Opportunities and Challenges” which drew over 400 participants from across the world. The forum was organized to showcase the state’s investment potentials to investors, who could take advantage of the government’s ambitious drive to diversify its economy via private sector participation.

Declaring the event open, President Goodluck Jonathan, who was represented by the Vice President, Arc. Namadi Sambo, was categorical in his endorsement of the state government’s development initiatives to bolster its economy and recommended the vast economic resources that abound in the state to prospective investors, urging them to see Bayelsa as a haven of investment opportunities.

In his remarks, Governor Seriake Dickson, who was enthusiastic about the large turnout and participation, spelt out the rationale for the inward looking approach by the state government to diversify its economy and the clarion call on serious investors to come into the state and invest. According to him, his conviction on the on-going economic restructuring was informed by his “ observation on first-hand, the acute poverty and huge challenges of unemployment and job creation” adding that, he became further convinced that “building a robust, productive and diversified economy was not just going to be an imperative, but was rather going to be a priority”. Accordingly, on assumption of duty, he said, most of the critical steps he took were aimed at building the cardinal imperative upon which the government’s policy thrust will be delivered. overnor Dickson explained the systematic steps the government has so far taken to arrive at this point of convincing and attracting investors to the state, noting in particular the challenge of security, now overcome, as the state had spent huge resources in providing effective security network across the state, which had consequently ensured the peace and serene atmosphere in the state. “We now have a purpose built command and control centre, which coordinates activities of our security units and receives distress signals on a continuous basis from all over the state”, he stated, adding that the security task force code-named Operation Doo Akpor “is adequately equipped to bust crime at very short notice, with a response time of not more than three minutes”. The governor was emphatic on this note, saying it is a fact that he authenticates every morning from automatically generated system call logs. Reinforcing his convictions on the tranquility that now pervades the state, Dickson went on to inform the crowd of participants at the investment and economic forum, that the success of the government’s efforts in addressing the security challenges had led to the return of nightlife and businesses to Yenagoa. “Indeed, as a result of the

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prevailing peace, our state is witnessing an influx of people, families and businesses now relocating to Bayelsa. Tourists and investors are daily streaming into the state”, he emphasised. To prove his point, Governor Dickson led the Vice President, Namadi Sambo, ministers and some select business leaders on a guided tour of the security facility in the state, which was seen as revolutionary.

Aside agriculture and tourism, Bayelsa State is equally banking on the huge business and economic potentials in power generation, oil and gas, fertilizer production and manufacturing. Realizing the ambitious aims of government in these areas, is however, tied to the basic infrastructure, which in the words of Governor Dickson, can then facilitate the intention of ‘hitting the Atlantic Ocean where our real wealth lies”. he government is, therefore, willing to welcome investors, who will relate with it in Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) or under any other arrangement to accelerate the development of the various sectors of the state’s economy. To demonstrate its seriousness, the government has established the Bayelsa Development and Investment Corporation (BDIC) and the Bayelsa Investment Promotion Agency (BIPA) acting as catalyst of development. The BDIC, for instance, with offices in London and Johannesburg, has the mandate of infrastructure financing, development financing and investment financing. Its investment models are those of state-owned/private management, private investment/joint venture, private-public-partnership (PPP) and other hybrid investment models. The BDIC, Governor Dickson said, has an asset base of over N300 billion, which was set up

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oil and gas sector will be taking place, connecting the East Senatorial Zone projects like the Brass LNG project, Brass Fertilizer project with investment value of $3.3 billion and BP/BannerGas Aggregation Terminal also taking place along this corridor. And the third road is the Yenagoa-OporomaKoluama road project meant to open up the Central Senatorial Zone and the state’s forest reserves for agricultural business and lumbering. The government is, therefore, calling on investors to partner with it on PPP basis. Similar projects of economic significance in the state are the development of a cargo and passenger airport in conjunction with the Federal Government, which hopefully, will be ready in 2015 and the Agge seaport with 15 metres depth, which is the deepest draft in the country. There is also

In the meantime, the state has attracted investments in the power sector from the IPP Energy Limited of Canada, raising $200 million for 100 megawatts and that of Proton Energy Limited to create 500 megawatts to drive government’s public-private-partnership for the overall development of the state as government alone could not shoulder the responsibility of addressing the development challenges in the state.

Critical areas of infrastructure development, which serious investors could key into in the thinking of the government, are the road and rail projects from YenagoaEkeremor-Agge, a distance of over 110 km, where a deep seaport will be built. Feasibility studies and preliminary designs have since been commissioned on the deep seaport and now in the process of being finalized. Also the government has surveyed 20,000 hectares of land to host a new port city coming up in that vicinity. Incorporated within this city will be a free trade zone for which the process of obtaining Federal Government’s approval has commenced. The second road is the Ogbia-Nembe-Brass road and rail project, a distance of over 105km, where series of investments in the

practical steps to deepen its partnership with Bayelsa on a number of projects, including the Brass Liquefied Natural Gas (BLNG) with the Final Investment Decision (FID) due in the first quarter of next year, adding that work on a pipe mill development project at Polako in Yenagoa local government area was ongoing as well as the industrial park at Otuoke. inister of Trade, Industry and Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga, also endorsed the Bayelsa economic road map, noting that, like Nigeria the state possesses a viable macroeconomic environment for investments to thrive, adding that the state accounts for more than 30 per cent of the nation’s crude oil production and could also do well in agriculture, if the needed investments are made. Minister of Communication Technology, Dr. Omobola Johnson, who delivered a paper on ‘Technology Infrastructure and e-commerce Growth’ stressed the opportunities in the Nigerian ICT industry, primary drivers and factors influencing the adoption of e-commerce as well as the ministry’s role in facilitating the ICT development and ecommerce growth.

The minister urged Bayelsa State to focus on the development of the ICT infrastructure in the state by waiving the Right of Way levy for two years. “If RoW levy is waived, it will make it easier for fibre to be built in the state by reducing multiple taxation, assign a single agency to collect taxes and fees on behalf of the state and protect the ICT infrastructure in the state’, she said.

She later signed an MoU with the state government on the ‘Smart State’ initiative, which would help in facilitating the ICT development and e-commerce growth, while Dickson pledged a 50 per cent reduction in RoW charges and the setting up of a single agency to administer the collection of all taxes and levies in the state.

Earlier, the Keynote Speaker, Mr. Jim O’Neil, retired Chairman of Goldman Sachs Assets Management, represented by the Chairman of the World Economic Forum, Lord Malloch-Brown, acknowledged the essence of economic diversification as a basis for growth and development. Citing the remarkable strides of Singapore under former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, he told the audience that, the broad economic agenda of the government, would require sustained attention over a period of time to achieve the desired objectives.

In his remarks, Chairman of Silverbird Group, Mr. Ben MurrayBruce, shed light on growing the tourism industry in Bayelsa State, harping on the right attitude a.

Both Rwanda and Kenyan High Commissioners to Nigeria, Joseph Habineza and Tom Amolo gave their home country perspectives on tourism, noting the need for re-orientation and commitment to grow the industry in the state.

The three-day summit provided investors and observers alike the opportunity to appraise the huge business and economic potentials in the state and the offer of government for collaboration. While many believed that, the government’s policies and proposals were capable of creating the future economic boom, the inherent challenge of funding and consistency in implementation over a long period of time remain critical issues of consideration..

the industrial park housing heavy and light manufacturing. The project expected to start soon, will have an inland port with warehousing and storage facilities around the corridor linking Bayelsa and Anambra State to take advantage of the legion of importers and business community in the eastern part of the country. The government has surveyed 400 hectares of land for this purpose. As Dickson stated: “Our purpose in all these unprecedented investments in infrastructure is not only to upgrade our capital city to the modern state it deserves, but to also stimulate the growth of our economy through private sector investment”. nvestment in power generation is also on offer, where the state government wants to be the energy centre of the nation. Being home to oil and gas, indeed, where 40 per cent of the nation’s gas deposit is located, Bayelsa’s ambition of an initial 3000 megawatts capacity could be done, even more, when the right investors are participating

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and it is seen as a future goldmine in real economic terms.

In the meantime, the state has attracted investments in the power sector from the IPP Energy Limited of Canada, raising $200 million for 100 megawatts and that of Proton Energy Limited to create 500 megawatts.

Agriculture is gaining increased attention, with focus on rice and cassava cultivation in commercial quantities and more investors are being expected. In conjunction with Ostertrade Engineering and Manufacturing KFT/DPP International APS, a Hungarian consortium, a cassava starch processing plant with capacity to produce 600 tons of industrial starch per annum and an out- growers scheme of 600 hectares cassava farm now exists in the state.

Currently, the state has 4000 hectares of rice farm at Peremabiri, 5000 hectares at Isampou and 2000 hectares at Kolo with capacity to grow more for export. Both organic banana, palm plantation are also prime line of cultivation for the prospective investors.

Tourism as a strategic plank of diversifying the state’s economy, has also attracted a lot of investment from the government, and now requiring major private sector investments to achieve the long term objective of government in areas such as hotels and facilities. hile the Castle Rock Ho tel, a 24 –suite 100-bed six star hotel with an amphitheatre, casino, wellness centre, chapel and other facilities will be commissioned within the next two months, the ambitious Tourism Island and the New Yenagoa City with a 20,000 hectares comprising choice residential and leisure spots require further huge funding. The Golf Estate with 18 hole international golf course has similar implication, with a world standard Polo turf and club, a helipad and conference centre. A Film village is also in the offing as the government takes far-reaching and aggressive steps in economic renewal and consolidation.

Speaker after speaker, at the various sessions of the summit were full of praises for the state government’s initiatives, as questions were also asked about the anticipated challenges and limitations bothering on financing, integration modalities, legal framework, bureaucracy and other institutional issues. Assurances and support came from the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison- Madueke, that the Federal Government had taken

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Cement controversy in House

BY RICHARD ANYAMELE

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HE House of Repre sentatives has en dorsed the 42.5 mpa cement grade as the minimum in the Nigerian market. The House thereby bars the 32.5 grade which the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) had allowed to be produced and sold but limited to plastering jobs only. Following from the House Committee’s surveys and analysis, the 32.5 grade poses greater danger to largely uninformed Nigerians than the 42.5 grade.

The House arrived at its position on a simple logic: If the 42.5 grade is misused as also the 32.5 grade, the 42.5 grade would still have more resistance and pose less danger than the 32.5 mpa. It further reasoned that if the public was offered the 42.5 and the 32.5 at about the same price as currently obtains, the people would prefer the stronger 42.5 grade. The promoters of the 32.5 grade had argued that standard was not the problem as much as misapplication but the House believes, and rightly, that if a stronger quality is misapplied as also a lower grade, the stronger quality would fare better.

Elsewhere, the producers argued that the consumers demand the 32.5 grade without pointing out the fact that consumers were not given a choice or informed about the various grades.

But the House made more far-reaching recommendations. It demanded quick recalling of all expired cement in warehouses and markets which is a standard practice in business and more incisive when it concerns life-endangering products. Thus, auto makers recall vehicles once a part that poses danger is ascertained. It is same for drugs and foods. The manufacturer bears the full costs of recovery and, as the House further recommended, the destruction also.

Given the way the champions of the 32.5 grade for all purposes have acted, they will pretend the House recommendations are mere suggestions that do not carry weight and continue in their business as usual attitude. And this is where the Minister of Trade and Investments must act; and fast too. The House’s recommendations cannot be the personal opinions of the mem-

Cement.... SON and stakeholders have huge task in educating the public bers. Indeed, what the House has done is give the minister the marching order to fully reposition the cement industry in Nigeria and make it more globally relevant by producing more superior quality products that can sell anywhere on earth.

Ministers have the right to make orders, guidelines (executive orders) under the Constitution and they become binding without going through House’ approvals.

Thus the full range of recommendations should be studied and quickly adopted. If the minister had not gone far in his earlier guidelines which sparked off the recent uproar that have now culminated in these wider recommendations, it was not for lack of vision or appreciation of the challenges. On the contrary, government (therewith SON) wished a graduated move in upgrading the industry. But seeing that the main challenger in the brouhaha has not upgraded its system in the last 50 years, the reason the House recommended urgent retooling and upgrading become obvious: some players will not improve until they are forced to do so.

And that brings us to the recommendation to withdraw expired cement from the warehouses and markets. Will the manufacturers and importers obey this recommendation?

The Nigerian business environment is like no other on earth today: it is dog-eat-dog whereby even if manufacturers ask distributors to return products for full refund, the latter will not obey and for

Every cement bag without date of manufacture or grade qualifies for expired and substandard and must be taken out. States would need designated collection point(s) which manufacturers would bear the full cost at the end of the day good reasons: marketers pay above recommended sales’ price on almost all items.

Except for the My-Pikin drug scandal, rarely are products effectively removed after have been found wanting on entering the Nigerian market. There is too much ignorance and poverty that together make Nigerians too careless even when lives are in avoidable danger.

The point being made is that the cement manufacturers are not going to recall expired products; not when they refused to inscribe date of manufacture or grade. What it means is that SON would have to do the job and charge whoever it picks selling the products.

Every cement bag without date of manufacture or grade qualifies for expired and substandard and must be taken out. States would need designated collection point(s) which manufacturers would bear the full cost at the end of the day. This is not a Nigerian rule or practice. It is global.

The House also recom-

mended that Cement Fund be set up withN10 charged on each 50 kg bag either manufactured or N20 for imported others. The fund has diverse uses including help in training artisans and unskilled builders, re-kit technical schools to train and develop the needed capacity for the building industry.

SON and the stakeholders have a huge task in educating the public as well as wider media engagements/enlightenment. The level of illiteracy and resistance to know is vast so that government (SON) will need deploy resources to reach the grassroots.

The House ultimately called manufacturers to start upgrading in order to meet the new standards. That is what SON has long proposed but the manufacturers preferred to test their strength at the courts and the National Assembly. After the wrangling, the manufacturers would still have to upgrade or pack up which they dared not and so one wonders why the uproar from onset?

Experts say that the costs of the upgrading are marginal – about ten percent increase and achievable within months while the operators claim it would take two years.

Whatever the case, the manufacturers have more challenges in their hands now than what the SON had presented them but they took in bad faith. Now, they are required to follow the universal standards for both manufactured and imported cement, namely: That all cement packages must clearly and boldly indicate their grade, uses and expiry date with tamper-proof on the packages to guide against repackaging by middlemen; SON should ensure that all cement distributors withdraw expired cement from their warehouses and markets and destroy them.

By proposing that expeditious actions be taken on the National Building Code, the House meant to place Nigeria where the rest of the world is presently: building secure structure capable of withstanding earth tremors, floods and other emerging environmental dangers that are fast hitting regions and nations that were previously considered safe havens.

Taken together, the House’s position should not be seen as victory for one group and defeat for the other. Rather, it is victory for the Nigerian cement and building industry and Nigerian citizens at large. No one can say for sure which building would go down or where emergency would hit.All the efforts are geared to securing safer and saner society for us all – owner, builder, occupier and mere passersby.

Trade and Investment Minister, Dr. Aganga, has a duty to connect with the parties and see how the industry grows stronger and stronger. It is what the House has given direction and impetus to and calls a halt to the unnecessary crises. The court cases should be withdrawn because there is no success there – unless of course someone wants to be heady for its own sake.

Come to think of it, the House recommendations and the entire cement uproar are blessings just as challenges are opportunities to those who read and see things differently. *Anyamele lives in Lagos.

SUNDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 3 , 2014, PAGE 51

The clog in wheels of Nigeria’s industrialisation,

by Egesi, ex-NMA boss

BY AKOMA CHINWEOKE Mr. John Egesi is a former director-general, National Maritime Authority (now NIMASA) and President, Nigerian Institute of Shipping (NIS). In this interview, he sheds light on how the peculiarity Nigeria shares with other sub Sahara African countries is both a weakness and a strength. hat do you perceive as dangers in running an import-dependent economy particularly as Nigerian aspires to be one of the world’s leading economies?

The term ‘import-dependent’ is a bit problematic. Most countries are import-dependent. What sets one country apart from the other is what they use their import for.

Most developed countries and thriving emerging economies add value to their import before re-exporting the finished products thus giving themselves healthy balance of payment.

However, where a country consumes most of her imports without adding value to it through some process of manufacture, then there is definitely a problem.

Nigeria is in the position of the latter. Nigeria has avoided bankruptcy all these years because of the great demand for her crude.

But as we all know, not only has our crude a limited life span, it is also heavily under pressure from climate change realities and in competition with climate change dedicated technologies like the solar and electric car not to mention improved techniques for the extraction of shale gases in US and Europe.

Every past Nigerian government has been aware of the need to minimize our percentage of import consumption. The establishment of textile factories, vehicle assemblies, Nigerian National Shipping Line, Export Promotion Council, Nigerian Shippers Council, National Maritime Authority and banning of all sorts of imports (e.g. rice, cars, textile, etc), among others, are footprints of genuine efforts at minimizing the outflow of scarce foreign exchange while trying to replace banned items with locally produced ones. While one should commend some of the past efforts of government in trying to improve the balance of payment and job opportunities in Nigeria particularly in the institutions established to improve our foreign exchange earnings (e.g. Export Promotion Council ,NMA etc), the approach to achieving a diversified export-oriented industrialization was at best very unimaginative, crude and most ineffective. If government policies have been effective, Malaysia and Indonesia would have been flocking to Nigeria to purchase our made-in-Nigeria products instead of the other way round.

But it failed and failed big!! That is why after some 50 years plus Nigeria is still an industrial toddler.

While corruption must have played a part, the major fault lies with our crude unimaginative and excessive application of protectionist policies. In fact if we

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had gotten our policies right it might have made some of our corruption tendencies unnecessary. If we had gotten our policies right we would also have prioritized the issue of power long ago and be forced to pay more attention to our road and rail infrastructure.

In the past 50 years our policies to develop our local industries consist mainly of the following general protection formula: To get into poorly assembled car business, we banned all cars and left the country at the mercy of two car manufacturers. To get into the textile industry (wool, cotton), we banned all forms of textile materials and abandoned the country at the mercy of printed rough low-count cotton manufacturers. We banned wheat and rice when the country had no significant wheat and rice farms.

Since most of these policies were made through some form of military fiat and does not take into account the intelligence of an average Nigerian importer, the traders cleverly import the items through the neighboring countries and bring them in through our porous borders. These countries earn the port charges from the ships and collect the duties for the items. Since the items are banned, very little option is left for the Customs, if they are lucky to see them. Most, knowing how important the items are for families (they have their own), simply look the other way to allow the items through. Who loses? The country of course! The banned items command inflationary prices while very poor quality home-made protected ones sell at prices slightly above the imported ones before they were banned. It never occurred to the government that since they started the isolationists’ policies, none of the protected industries ever improved its product. They remain at their entry level like the famous made-in-India Ambassador car, whether for those who started 30-40 years ago or those being protected now!! One is not trying to raise arguments for or against protectionist trade policy, since virtually all nations in the world engage in one form of it or the other. One’s position is that we should cleverly study the position of Nigeria as some smart nations like Malaysia and modern India etc. did before applying various policies. We should draw not only a list of our strengths and our weaknesses but also our peculiarities before applying those classical economics instruments which are well known to be harmful in the long run.

In my humble opinion, one of our weaknesses is that we tend to confuse arrogance for national pride and may not have consulted beyond our borders before our annual proclamation of litany of banned items. The fact that we are an independent nation does not mean that we should turn our back to advanced countries that could share their historical experiences with us. Yes, our nationals possess PhDs in economics and may even have appellations like professor, but one is sure that

Mr. John Egesi

If we had gotten our policies right we would also have prioritized the issue of power long ago and be forced to pay more attention to our road and rail infrastructure the true teachers amongst them will always advise that we seek a second opinion.

Another harmful weakness we have is in the field of education.

Building more universities does not mean that we are improving our standard of education. The FGN should treat the issue of standards in most of our universities as a national emergency. If we are to advance industrially as a nation we must have a well trained manpower to do so. Like most post-colonial African countries, Nigeria has very little modern industrial background - say like China or India who might need a temporal protection of their old position to catch up with the new. This peculiarity which Nigeria shares with other sub Sahara African countries is both a weakness and a strength. It is a weakness in the sense that we do not have the industries but it becomes a strength when our position gives us an opportunity to choose between reinventing the wheel technology or going for the very best. Nigeria has consistently gone for the former. For example when the Federal Military Government banned the importation of lace materials (the best of which were imported from Switzerland) to protect the new local manufacturers none of the very low quality replacement came from traditional lace making industries that Nigerians were used to. They came from Asian countries that have neither the technology nor the proper art of high quality lace making.

When the government invited Peugeot of France to assemble

their cars in Nigeria, I believe the government never gave them the required standard of the quality of car it wanted or they were told to produce anything that can sit between four tyres, because none of the cars produced in Nigeria can pass the quality test in France. This kind of attitude with regard to national industrialization makes one wonder whether there was clear thinking on what we hope to achieve. If the national objectives are not clear how can we know when we have achieved them?Another major strength of Nigeria is our large population which all thing considered should be a bait for attracting major companies like GE, GM, Toyota, Sony and some cell phone manufacturers to name but a few provided that we offer the companies a fair deal that will not compromise our interest like employment, dealership, training etc. to start with.

The agreements should ensure that goods produced in Nigeria should not be distinguishable from those produced by the same company all over the world and if possible better.

As for the field of agriculture, the government should encourage interested companies or people to produce crops that can compete with imported ones. Subsidies or cheap loans (as the government is presently doing) are the right approach. When we produce enough competing crops we will not need to bother about high import tariff or banning because the generality of Nigerians will not need them.

As a Maritime Economist, what is your understanding of the

term cabotage which to many is more of a shipping term?

Believe it or not, the first time I heard of cabotage was when I was studying the development of Air Transport in England. Most aviation experts are quite familiar with the term. Even private aircraft operators who have to fly beyond their own country are aware. It is roughly defined “as the transport of goods and passengers between two points in the same country by an aircraft registered in another country.”Application of Air cabotage varies from one country to the other and violation are heavily punished. Most informed Nigerians could be forgiven for thinking that it is exclusively for the maritime industry, given the noises made when the cabotage Act was enacted in 2003.

As the president of the Nigerian institute of shipping what do you think should be done to make the maritime sector more attractive to attract growth to the economy?

One of the greatest impetus to the growth of the maritime industry is the recent commissioning of a shipbuilding yard at Okerenkoko in Delta state by the President.

Anything that creates avenue for manpower improvement is good for the economy. I must however warn, that ships are built for their own sake. It is important that even at the construction stage the managers of the shipyard should be looking for business not only in Nigeria and West African subregion but beyond Africa. With proper financial regime the yard could focus on the cabotage market where serious Nigerian operators would be granted 80percent loan after doing a down payment of 20percent. One must point out that our present business culture of one man and his briefcase will not help. There is need for serious contenders to come together to build vessels.

Banks and financial institution could join in this venture. Shipping is not for jokers and pretenders.

If they delivers on its transformational objectives through the PPP principles with minimum leakages through corruption while holding its nerves in removing costly subsidies from the market price of petrol and diverting the excess funds to laying proper infrastructure for the development of a modern economy, Nigeria will be unrecognizable in 5 years.

Looking at the dynamics of trade, how in your view can the country achieve speedy clearance of goods at the ports?

I recall the financial target given by the Federal Government to the Customs. While I fully appreciate the motive of the FGN in setting income objective for the Customs, I was disappointed that a volume/tonnage objective was not included. You see the income objective will do three things.

That is, Motivate the Customs to over-value items through higher classification and jacking up of tariff, concentration of Customs attention on high-value import and export and also lead to extortionist tendency and corruption

PAGE 52—SUNDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 3, 2014 japhdave@yahoo.com 08066625505

Children thrill Lagosians with folklore, drama, choreography

By PRISCA SAM - DURU DANCE/DRAMA

dience.

While congratulating the graduands, the proprietress of the school, Mrs Patricia Asikogu who spoke out of excitement stemming from the performances, noted that the school was “Established with the core value of service to the community and development of the total child stressing that her school has high esteem for determination with hardwork which produces success both in academics and extra curricula activities.

“This is what brought the school to the enviable position it enjoys

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REVIEW

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une 12, 1993 was the day Nigeri ans from all ethnic divides voted massively for MKO Abiola in what can be described as the freest and fairest election in the country. But unfortunately, the election was annulled by the powers that be led by General Ibrahim Babangida (Rtd) and the struggle for the re-validation of the mandate led to the death of the acclaimed winner MKO Abiola.

Many authors have written about the incident and will continue to write about it, but one man who played a major role from the process of his emergence as the SDP presidential flag bearer and the struggle for the de annulment of the election was Chief Frank Kokori. Who is Frank Kokori, how did he come into the game, what role did he play, what were the factors that led to death of the struggle , who were the people behind the struggle and those that sabotaged the whole process. These and other sensitive issues which are not privy to many are what the Delta state born labour leader, Frank Ovie Kokori, who was the Secretary General of NUPENG documented in his latest book titled Frank Kokori: The Struggle for June 12.

The 324 pages book published by Ibadan based Safari Books Ltd can be described as an insiders account of the hidden facts about the thrilling and chilling events before, during and after the election up till his incarceration as well as the aftermath of the politics of intrigues and debilitating

day and is married to the young man. n what looked like a dance com petition, the Igbo dancers tookc the centre stage and wowed the crowd with popular tunes from Igbo folktales.

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as encouragement from their parents and other guests.

The Muslim pupils followed suit.

They performed what was titled Muslim presentation/choreography which

It was fun and interesting, listening to pupils render songs in indigenous languages which they obviously do not use at home

Their dance steps were scintillating and to add to that, the use of a large clay pot which was deliberately shattered during the dance, made their performance as real as it should be.

They received loud applause as well

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centered on the past month of Ramadan.

The welcome songs and presentations by the nursery classes which preceded the traditional dances also, elicited a lot of laughter from the au-

today and inspite of the deteriorating standard of education in Nigeria, Cyndees is committed to providing excellent and qualitative service to children in a friendly environment.”

She said. lot Asikogu noted, “Has been inculcated into the young graduands. Inculcating in children the habit of reading their books and the attitude of working hard will deter students from involving in examination malpractice and other vices.”

Highlights of the occasion were issuance of gifts, certificates to the graduands and outstanding pupils in various categories as well as the opening of the Cyndees International College.

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Insider’s account of the intrigues,politics and betra 2 betrayyal of June 1 12 experiences.

With foreward by human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, the book opens with a list of 82 people the author described as heroes of democracy according to their classes.

Chapter one begins with a question, Kingibe, have you cleared with MKO? here the author narrates how the vice president elect, Babagana Kingibe abandoned his mandate and joined the Abacha train.

The next chapters highlights the reasons why the labour leader who was not a full time politician, joined politics full time, why MKO Abiola joined the presidential race late and how he eventually emerged as the party’s presidential flag bearer.

In chapter four, the author explains how the fight for June 12 began after the annulment. Here, the author provides a vivid account of the initial response to the annulment, how Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC who was supposed to be the arrow head in the struggle frustrated all efforts because of perceived animosity by its leader Paschal Bafyau, an action that made the author to spearhead the struggle with his union, National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG. How NUPENG led other oil

the fight, why did he reject all the ministerial offers and where did it land him, these the author also narrated in the book.

The book also tells many why Abiola missed it. MKO was a great man, has business connections, but he failed to

understand the person of Abacha and gave him enough time to consolidate on his government and when he realized that it was too late.

The author also narrates his prison experiences in the various prisons, the worst been at the Bama prisons where he spent most of the time before he was released.

How he turned to an avid reader in the prison and the prison poems which he wrote.

The various individuals that assisted his Frank Kokori: The Struggle f a m i l y for June 12; Frank Kokori; during his Safari Books Ltd, Ibadan, incarcera-

workers on what can be described as the mother of all strikes that shaked the military government and how they called off the strike. t was not easy to fight a military government especially the person Nigeria; PP.234; 2014 of Abacha, why was Kokori bent on

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tion were commended by the author. According to him, though there were many bad people who were bent on suffering others, there were also some who are good. When the bread winner of a family is in prison, what is the likely life that will befall the family, in the case of Kokori, despite been in the prison, his wife and children carried on with the struggle and even took it to oversees. he book also takes a very critical look at what he called post June 12 blues, which was an account of issues that came up after his release from Bama prisons.

As an insider, the author recalls that despite the efforts of NADECO during the struggle, they should have been the ones in control of the present government but their miscalculations caused them the position especially in the south south, it was only in Lagos that they got it right.

The author also highlights some of the things Nigeria lost as a result of the annulment of June 12 and went further to commend some countries and individuals in his roll of honours.

Written in very simple English for easy, the author has through the book demonstrated his ability to document facts in a very simple way.

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The book Frank Kokori: The Struggle for June 12 provides answers to most of the questions. The book is a must read for both the old and young especially students of politics and history.

,

By JAPHET ALAKAM

•The children entertaining the audience during the event

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he traditional dances, dance dra mas, choreography and other activities that featured during the graduation/Price Giving Day held in honour of the Nursery 2 and Basic 5 pupils of the Cyndees International school, Gberigbe, Ikorodu Lagos, last Saturday, spoke eloquently of the school’s vision of raising a total child.

The atmosphere was moody throughout the duration of the event and the frowning sky intermittently, let down showers that got the school authorities worried. But trust children for who they are, not only did they perform as though they were in a theatre hall, they were unconcerned about the weather and so, remained excited all through.

It was fun and interesting, listening to the pupils render songs in indigenous languages which they obviously do not use at home.

The yoruba traditional dances which were executed to the rhythm of electrifying drum beats, had pupils appearing in colourful aso oke costumes and dazzing the audience. They danced and sang some tunes taking from the yoruba folklore. Aside the acrobatic displays introduced in the middle of their presentation, most interesting was the drama within the dance. It tells the story of a young man who is in search of a wife. An occasion which is a dance festival, presents itself and he gets the opportunity to select the best dancer out of numerous maidens. He ends up rejecting every maiden, on grounds that they are poor dancers, leaving the smallest. Eventually, the little maiden among them, takes the

SUNDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 3, 2014—PAGE 53 japhdave@yahoo.com 08066625505

Glo boss bags Entertainment Express award

By PRISCA SAM - DURU AWARD

•Mike Adenuga nition of his “matchless contributions to the development and deepening of the economic potential of the entertainment industry in Nigeria”. he entertainment indus try has featured prominently in Globacom’s Corporate Social Investment (CSI) initiatives, principally on account of the company’s chairman’s passion for the industry.

Aside from direct financial commitments including massive sponsorships, Globacom currently retains the largest number of key players in the entertainment industry as brand Ambassadors. The company has adopted the approach in the belief that by actively engaging these key entertainment drivers, they in turn can positively impact thousands of others who work with them and

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by so doing, help to grow the sector and the economy.

Dr. Adenuga’s passion for growth is not limited to the entertainment industry, but cuts across all the sectors of the economy. In the last few months, Dr Adenuga Jnr has received an array of awards for his contributions to various sectors of the economy ranging from business to culture and tourism, sports and entertainment. lobacom’s Director of PR, Events and Sponsorship, Mr. Bode Opeseitan who received the award on Dr. Adenuga’s behalf, expressed profound appreciation to the organisers of the award for recognizing the contributions of the Globacom Chairman, whom he said, would be further galvanized by the award to continue to support the industry.

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2014 CORA book party holds today T

he Committee For Rel evant Art (CORA), will today host a Book Party for the authors longlisted for the Nigeria Literature Prize for 2014.

The event which will be attended by many literary enthusiasts will take place at the Federal Palace Hotel on Victoria Island at 2pm.

This edition of the Book Party is the sixth annual event dedicated to providing an interface between authors who make the longlist of the prestigious prize and the reading public.

CORA insists on having this feast every year as part of the intervention in spreading the word about The Nigerian Book. It’s one of our several outreach programmes for the book (including Book Trek in Secondary Schools and Publishers Forum).

“We find ourselves in the

By PRISCA SAM DURU REVIEW

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n recognition of his im mense contributions to the growth of entertainment industry in Nigeria in the last 10 years, Globacom Chairman, Dr. Mike Adenuga Jr. (GCON), was last Sunday at the Coliseum Event Centre, Lagos, recognised as the ‘Entertainment Pillar of the Decade’.

The award was organised

by Nigeria’s foremost entertainment-focused publications, Entertainment Express and Sunday Express. It was the highest of a number of awards conferred on individuals and corporate bodies by the publications as part of activities marking their third anniversary.

Globacom, Nigeria’s National Telecom Carrier, was also recognised as the ‘Brand Supporter of Entertainment in Nigeria’ at the grand ceremony graced by the crème de la crème of Nigeria’s entertainment industry.

According to the Publisher, Mr. Mike Awoyinfa, the Express Star Award, is the organisation’s way of rewarding individuals and organisations that have contributed in one way or the other, to the growth and development of the entertainment sector in Nigeria, adding that Dr Adenuga Jnr is being given the highest honour in recog-

Principles, truths for uncomplicated lifestyle

vanguard of expanding the membership of the community of book lovers. This party is one of the several events we organize to make books look cool”, says Jahman Anikulapo, CORA’s Programme Chair.

The longlisted authors and their works include: John Friday Abba -Alekwu Night Dance; Patrick Ogbe Adaofuyi – Canterkerous Passengers; Soji Cole - Maybe Tomorrow; Paul Edema - A Plague of Gadflies; Jude Idada - Oduduwa, King of the Edos; Onshore Ruth Momodu – No Fault of Mine; Attah Isaac Ogezi - Under a Darkling Sky; Julie Okoh - Our Wife Forever; Ade Solanke - Pandora’s Box; Arnold Udoka – Akon and Sam Ukala - Iredi War.

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he Book Party is actually a full party, which means there will be food, drinks and merrymaking apart from book readings and discussions.

Crown Trope of Africa will present excerpts from their re-

cent experimental interpretation of Soyinka’s Dance of the Forests while Aduke Aladekomo and her band , Sticks, Strings and Voices will thrill the audience. The event is facilitated by the Nigeria LNG, sponsors of the Nigeria Prize for Literature.

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he Nigeria Prize for Lit erature was established

by Nigeria LNG Limited as part of their corporate citizenship programme and commitment to the development of Nigerian society. Its advisory board includes Professors Ayo Banjo,Jerry Agada, and Ben Elugbe. The Prize is awarded annually and rotates between four literary genres: prose fiction, poetry, drama and children’s literature. This year’s focus was drama, and the list of 11 was drawn from a total of 124 entries.

The shortlist of three playwrights will be announced in September, and the winner of the $100,000 prize in October.

o amount of time and space dedicated to writing or talking about issues of terrorism, ins e c u r i t y , unemployment, poverty etc, will be tantamount to their being over flogged since humans around the globe wake up each day, to witness a new dimension or different levels of challenges.

While many who are overwhelmed by the ugly situation of things have resorted to engaging in activities which hitherto were anathema, all in a bid to be successful, some others have simply refused to believe that in most cases, man is the architect of his own misfortune and therefore, blame every evil situation as handiwork of God. In a 93 pages book titled, “The Law of Exchange”, John Chidi with the aim of addressing the fundamental question of how individuals can get the best out of life and make the most of their times even in troubled nations, lays down vital principles which men seeking to live an uncomplicated and successful life, may follow.

Divided into 5 chapters with which one can correctly retitle the book, the five Ps of successful living, since each chapter; ‘The Package’, ‘The Prerequisites’, ‘The Principles’, ‘The Paramount’ and ‘The Prescription’, begins with a P, “The Law of Exchange”, documents life changing principles and truths for a more fulfilled life.

The author maintains that “in life, nothing is really free.

Nothing begets nothing, everything has a price”, implying that “no individual comes to life’s market without a commodity to exchange.” and failure to abide by this, prevents one from excelling because according to the author, “life does not give you what you want rather it gives you what you ask for with your exchange.”

It therefore, behoves on men to

become weary of the fact that the message in this book is not just about giving something in exchange but the quality and value of the item exchanged as well as one’s expectations. The object of exchange the book warns, must be commensurate with one’s demand. In other words, a person’s seed must be commensurate with expected harvest. This is the principle as documented in chapter three.

The author also stresses on the company a person keeps as having so much influence on the person’s progress. The book also documents live changing experiences of legends with the aim of helping readers draw useful lessons.

Above every opinion and suggestion written in this book, any reader would have raised an eye brow if at the end of a discus-

sion such as this, the author, a minister of God does not make reference to accepting

Jesus Christ as Lord and Personal Saviour. That, John notes, “Is the chief exchange that positions you for all others. Christ empowers you to rise above your limitations.” In agreement with the author’s stance, Pastor Collins Edebiri wrote in the Foreword, this is a “strong point but it will be wrong to think that this is another Christian literature.” The message of “The Law of Exchange” he continued, “appeals to everyone, irrespective of their religious beliefs.”

In chapter two, the book emphasises the importance of skill in relation to the topic under review. The author places skill above natural gifts stressing that “talent is about the commonest thing there is, what distinguishes folks and places them in classes is skill.”

It no doubt requires sacrifice, training and discipline. But at the end, John believes that People will “revere you when you add a dressing of skill to your talents.” He advises that people should “major on their strengths and shore up in their weaknesses. carve a niche for yourself and become an authority in your field.”

Readers will definitely find John’s compendium of principles, an interesting piece that is of immense value to their lives throughout their quest to be successful in one thing or the other. The book in so many ways, speaks to issues of how one can get the best out of life.

And as the author puts it, it is truly “the right companion for anyone who has somewhere to get to and wants to do so in a manner wor-

thy of admiration.”

Simplicity seems a watch word in the book. Beginning from the cover page to the content, title and

BY JAPHET ALAKAM

The Law of Exchange by John Chidi, House of Nozi , Port Harcourt. 93 pages, 2014 language, John maintains simple but very sophisticated style such that readers navigate through the pages with ease.

This is a must have handbook for every family. It is not meant to cool off in libraries or shelves but to be read and re-read as it is capable of helping readers to overcome the storms of the present day.

Unemployed as well as people seeking a redirection in life, should get a copy because “The Law of Exchange” is a powerful reference material for tomorrow and beyond.

PAGE 54 ---- SUNDAY VANGUARD, AUGUST 3, 2014 sameyoboka@yahoo.com

08023145567 (sms only)

Adeboye welcomes all to RCCG's 62nd Convention

BY SAM EYOBOKA & OLAYINKA LATONA

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LL roads lead to the Redemption Camp on LagosI b a d a n Expressway for the Redeemed Christian Church of God's 62nd annual convention beginning tomorrow at the Arena with the ordination of deacons and deaconesses at 8.30 a.m. The programme which will attract people from all over the world (especially the 180 countries of the world where the church has branches), has been described as a celebration of the Holy Spirit.

The theme of this year's week long convention is: 'The Holy Spirit' and it will feature special serminars on a variety of topics including; "The gift of the Holy Spirit, The office of a prophet, Mountain-moving faith, The healing ministry, How to work miracles, Deliverance ministry and others.

A 3-day conference to prepare in-house ministers for the convention which started on Thursday ended last night.

A recent visit revealed that all hostels in the Redemption Camp have been fully booked and hotels in all the adjoining towns of Mowe, Ibafo, Ikorodu and parts of Lagos have been taken up by participants who had arrived from other parts of the country and beyond.

According to sources close to the church, several facilities within the camp, including car parks, power and water supply are being upgraded for the huge crowd expected at this year's convention.

Huge crowd Last year's convention was attended by a huge crowd that occupied every available space to the extent that the Redemption Camp was filled to capacity with brethren earnestly seeking JESUS, hence the General Overseer, Pastor Enoch Adeboye decided to build a new auditorium for the Lord our God. In a welcome message to this year's convention, Pastor Adeboye said: "It is with joy and gladness that we want to welcome you to this year ’s convention, our 62nd Annual Convention with the theme:

*Main entrance to the Redemption Camp undergoing some reconstruction in readiness for the convention.

SHOT: LAMIDI BAMIDELE. might have been very unin-ter- Holy Spirit produces in the esting and dry is because di- lives of His people. As we come vine illumination which the thirsty and not for a jamboree, Holy Spirit produces through it is expected that before the His word is largely absent. If convention is over, many of us only we would open ourselves will say "I have indeed come to fully to the Holy Spirit at this keep an appointment with convention, help will come our destiny". For instance with way and we shall go back home wisdom and understanding rejuvenated and bubbling in impacted, students who have joy of the Holy Spirit. Dryness been having it rough in their will become a thing of the past. academics despite all they put The Holy Spirit is also the in, it will be their turn to smile.

Spirit of wisdom, understand- They shall receive help and ing, counsel, might, knowledge exam failures will begin to and of fear of the Lord (Isaiah change to stories of exam 11:2). These are great and success.

The Holy Spirit as a Divine *General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of awesome work of grace the Helper rekindles hope (RomGod, RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye and wife, Pastor ans 15:13). It is therefore time (Mrs.) Folu Adeboye. for the hopeless to abound The Holy Spirit. This theme helped by the Holy Spirit in again in hope. Because hope makes this convention more person. This year’s convention makes not ashamed (Romans than any other one, the is therefore specifically for 5:5), we are trusting God that convention of the Holy spirit those who are thirsty for divine through this convention, Himself. Who is truly the Holy help, those who are tired of the shame will be terminated where Spirit? There are a number of state they’ve been in, those who found in our lives. The barren ways to answer this question. know things can be a lot better shall be helped and they shall However, simply put, the Holy if only help can come in their become fruitful. The sick and Spirit is a Divine Helper. We direction. the afflicted shall obtain help have always realized how The Holy Spirit is a Divine and shall be healed. Help will much we are able to achieve if Helper who teaches and brings flow in the direction of the and when assisted. One can all things into our remembrance bound and they shall be set then appreciate what level of (John 14:26). The reason the success awaits anyone who is Christian life of many believers Continued on Page 56

You will return home with help and counsel that will make you a new person

SUNDAY VANGUARD, AUGUST 3, 2014, PAGE 55

HISTORY AND GROWTH OF RCCG I

N John 1:1, the Bible says; "In the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God". The trinity is well organized into dispensations.

The eternity past (we know God has no beginning) up to the Old Testament period was the dispensation of God the Father.

The life and days of the ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ when He manifested as man was His own dispensation.

The Holy Spirit dispensation started with the Acts of Apostles after our Lord Jesus had told the apostles He would send them a comforter and He fulfilled that promise. This chronicles the birth of the present dispensation.

In this dispensation, the Holy Spirit is the spokesperson for the trinity. From the birth of the Redeemed Christian Church of God in 1952 till now, the Holy Spirit has been the Helper, Guide, Counselor and the Catalyst. The Holy Spirit ministered salvation to the founder of the church, Rev. Josiah Akindayomi. His story revealed that he was born into a family of idol worshippers in July 1909. At 18 years, God had given him a heart that pants after God. Pa Akindayomi was in the Cherubim and Seraphim Church when he recognized the voice of the Holy Spirit.

Initially he was insensitive to the voice; however, the Holy Spirit was his teacher and threw more light on the word of God and made him discern the differences between the word and the practice in the C&S Church.

Rev. Akindayomi started Egbe Ogo Oluwa in 1952 with seven foundation members by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

The group started the fellowship according to the word of God. The Holy Spirit revealed the name; The Redeemed Christian Church of God to him in a vision. The form of worship was as directed by the Holy Spirit.

This was the birth of a living church. We spoke to some of those who were members of RCCG in the 50’s and 60’s.

Their accounts were thrilling and gave fresh insight.

One of them said; "The Holy Spirit moved in the early days of RCCG so much we usually wept during service after hearing the word. This is because you could see yourself as a filthy person before the Lord. We were known as ‘IJO ELEKUN’---THE WEEPING

*Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, General Overseer, Redeemed Christian Church of God CHURCH. If a member came to RCCG with two or more wives, the Holy Spirit who knows our last days will counsel the fellow on marriage restitution. We thank God for the move of the Holy Spirit today. However, the Holy Spirit will do more if we please God in all ways and if we increase brotherly love and care".

Another elder of the church has this to say about the move of the Holy Spirit: "The Holy Spirit chose Rev. Josiah Akindayomi, took him out of the miry clay, stepped his feet on the rock to stay, put the word first in his mouth to preach and taught him restitution. And above all, told him about his successor, then Dr. Enoch Adejare Adeboye shortly before he joined the church.

"Pa Akindayomi was quoted as saying; 'Omowe haun haun, lo ma gba ise lowo wa"--meaning 'my successor is a complete intellectual with sound education'.

"The members therefore started picking on every new member with sound education as the likely next general overseer. Like Jesse in the Bible, they were all wrong. To avert distractions, Pa Akindayomi told them that his successor would be as tall as he was, and they both require same tailor’s measurement.

"The day our Daddy G.O entered into the church for the first time in 1973, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Pa Akindayomi announced to the congregation that his successor has joined the church that day. He visited Daddy G.O

WATCH OUT: ***FOR DAILY ON-THE-SPOT REPORTS FROM THE RCCG'S 62ND CONVENTION BY OUR TEAM OF REPORTERS. BOOK YOUR COPIES.

*Rev. Josiah Akindayomi, Founder, Redeemed Christian Church of God.

that same day for follow up as RCCG is known for".

A retired Assistant General Overseer (A.G.O), Pastor J.A.O. Akindele who joined the church in 1962 said the Holy Spirit was Papa Akindayomi’s guide all through up to the point of choosing the first assistant general overseer for Pastor Adeboye. Papa had the mind to make Pastor J.B. Kappo from Badagry the A.G.O, but he was not God’s choice as Papa Kappo preferred a chieftaincy title in his hometown and left the church.

Pa Akindayomi thought again of making Pastor Igbe-koyi who was then at Bolumole in Ibadan

the A.G.O to Pastor Adeboye, he was also not chosen by the Holy Spirit as he left the church. The Holy Spirit confirmed Papa Abiona who was then working at the Ebute Metta Town Council as the first A.G.O to the incoming general overseer. Papa Abiona then resigned from the local council in 1980 and went full time as a pastor in RCCG. Papa Akindayomi went to be with the Lord in 1980 at 71. After the burial, Pa Akindayomi’s recorded announcement was played and Dr. Adeboye, a senior lecturer in Mathematics at different times at the University of Lagos, UNILAG

and University of Ilorin, UNILORIN, took over as the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God with 39 parishes.

Obedience to the instructions of the Holy Spirit and by implication, the covenant, is largely responsible for the explosion, phenomenal growth and miracles that we witness today. To God be the glory.

The Holy Spirit inspired Pastor Adeboye to start Model Parishes, CRFU and at fullness of time, establishment of parishes in different nations.

This was initially executed by the model parishes who posted pastors abroad or by pastors already living abroad starting the parish. For example, Pastor Adeboye called Pastor James Fadele to start the first RCCG parish in the USA in his living room.

In 1985, the Holy Spirit asked Pastor Adeboye to request for a birthday present, the General Overseer of four years, replied he wanted a miracle for every member and the granting of this request by the Holy Spirit led to the birth of March Special Holy Ghost Service which later became a monthly event known today as Monthly Holy Ghost Service (MHGS) and ultimately, the Holy Ghost Congress.

The Holy Ghost Congress started in 1998 with Lekki ’98 tagged DIVINE VISITATION. Miracles, signs and wonders of the Holy Ghost Service have contributed immensely to the massive growth and amazement that the church is today.

The church is now in more than Continued on Page 56

THE REDEEMED CHRISTIAN CHURCH OF GOD 62ND ANNUAL CONVENTION PROGRAMME

PAGE 56---- SUNDAY VANGUARD, AUGUST 3, 2014

Bishop tasks new priests on diligence

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NGLICAN Bishop of Lagos West Diocese, Rt. Rev. James Odedeji has urged newly in-

stalled canons of the diocese to be humble and diligent in their service to God, reports OLAYINKA LATONA. Odedeji gave the advice at the installation of six canons, deacons and priests of the church at the Archbishop Vining Memorial Church, Ikeja, Lagos.

The bishop charged the ordained ministers to work as evangelists, warning that there are many distractions in the church.

In his words: L-R: Representative of Pastors Seed Family, RCCG, OlaOluwa “As ministers of Oroge, Director of Media & Public Relations, RCCG National Youth the gospel, you Affairs, Pastor Femi Enigbokan, Special Assistant to the General must beware Overseer on Administration/Personnel, Pastor Johnson and be watchOdesola and Assistant Pastor-in-Charge of Lagos Province 40, ful."

Pastor Goke Aniyeloye at a recent Media briefing.

On the over

200 abducted Chibok girls, the man of God urged the Federal Government to sympathise with the girls' parents by bringing the girls back safe and sound.

Also admonishing the new ministers, Most Rev. Edmund Akanya, in his sermon, charged them to stir the gifts of God in their lives, saying that such gifts will increase as they utilise them to propagate the gospel.

He further warned them against turning the pulpit to a political arena, where they beg for money, but a place to declare the true word of God when it is pleasant or unpleasant, stressing that as ministers their primary objective is to convince and redeem people for Christ.

Continuing, he said: “Do not be involved in civil affairs, let your life be different from that of the world. Your standard should be in accord with the word of God. Prove that the grace of God is upon your life, live differently among imposters.

"Always remember that you will give account of what you did in this ministry. Do not put money or luxury life before you. There are some ministers be-

ABIBOYE: Don't plunge Nigeria into crisis via impeachments

BY WOLE MOSADOMI

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INNA, Niger State---SPIR ITUAL father and head of the Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church, (AYO NI O), Rev. Samuel Adefila Abidoye has warned all political stakeholders in the country including the federal and state governments to avoid crisis capable of consuming the nation through unwarranted impeachments of political enemies.

Speaking in an interview with our correspondent in Minna, the spiritual father said he was worried with the current impeachment saga in several states of the country, adding that the trend does not augur well for our democracy and therefore called on those behind the moves to have a rethink in order not to plunge the country into crisis.

“I am so worried with the happenings in the country. Most Nigerians don’t

want a one party system because it will lead to dictatorship. The current impeachment moves can truncate our hard-won democracy," he noted.

He reminded those in authority that power is transient and they should therefore rule with caution and carry every Nigerian along.

“We must know that Nigeria belongs to everybody. Those in power today may not be in power tomorrow and must therefore solve the people's problem rather than compounding it. What we need now is security and not insecurity, we need food, protection, jobs for our youths. Infact, Nigerians need to better their lives and governments should provide dividends of democracy," he added.

Drawing attention to the poverty in the country, Rev. Abidoye said “many Nigerians are suffering. Many people are so poor that they cannot even afford one meal in a day talk less of three meals

Factors behind the growth of RCCG Continued from Page 55 180 nations with over 20,000 parishes and 220 provinces in Nigeria alone.

The Holy Spirit inspired the birth of Redeemed Campus Fellowship for students in Nigerian universities. This forum is now big, strong and spiritually viable. Recently, Pastor Adeboye has directed that Redeemed Campus Staff Fellowship (RCSF) should begin at the University of Lagos and from there hopefully spread to other universities in Nigeria and beyond.

Initially, the annual convention and Holy Ghost Service used to hold at the national headquarters in Ebute Metta.

The need arose for a camp ground with larger space, which the church thought they had found at Ajebo, currently occupied by another living church.

The members and leaders of RCCG prayed, quoted scriptures to possess the land but the Holy Spirit answered in a different way. The leaders were led by the spirit of God to our present location of the camp ground which was a little

larger than Ajebo at that time but have significantly increased over the years.

Only one third of the first auditorium by the entrance at the main gate was filled during the Holy Ghost Service by middle 1990. The first auditorium experienced three extensions before the camp meeting moved to the second auditorium in 1996.

The second auditorium went through a number of expansions before it became inadequate and the gathering moved to the current space known as Arena in 2005. Again, the Arena has gone through three expansions and now a new auditorium is under construction.

Only the Lord knows how many years the new auditorium will be used before it will probably be given out to the youth church. Praise the Lord!!!

The Holy Spirit has been responsible for the choice and tenure of the leaders of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, for its exploits and growth in the past and it is so today. And if the Lord tarries, it will be so in the future.

while a few are cornering the common wealth of the nation.

“Graduates are being turned out every year without jobs. Except an urgent arrangement is made to engage this army of youths through some form of empowerment to make them self reliant, there may be more social crisis in the country because an idle mind is the devil’s workshop,” he remarked.

Speaking on the Chibok Girls adopted over 100 days ago, the spiritual father said it is embarrassing for over 200 shoolgirls to be ferried away from their hostels without anybody stopping them, adding that the security situation is bad and "we are calling on all Nigerians to pray to God Who only can arrest the development because there is no power that is above the power of God.” Rev. Abidoye who was in Minna to ordain chairman of Minna District Council of the church, Special Apostle Pastor Joseph Adeyemi and leader of the church in Minna, Special Apostle Sunday Ukpagenor, urged all Nigerians to join hands with government at all levels to fight the common enemy, Boko Haram. One hundred and ninety eight members of the church, were elevated and ordained as teachers, evangelists, most senior apostles and lady leaders and senior mothers-in-Israel.

fore you who wore collar but are not in heaven," he noted.

Some of the bishops in attendance included the Bishop of Oyo, Rt. Rev. Jacob Fasipe, Bishop of Egba West, Rt. Rev. Samuel Ogundeji among others.

CAN commiserates with Zackzakky over son's death

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HRISTIAN Association of Ni geria CAN has expressed sad ness at the unfortunate incident in Zaria which led to the killing of some people including the son of a renown Islamic scholar, ZackZakky.

CAN is particularly saddened by the implication of the incident as it is capable of throwing the community into more crisis.

In a statement, the CAN National President, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor urged the people to exercise restraint and live peacefully, appealing to the Islamic cleric to take solace in God. He said the demise of the scholar's son is most unfortunate and regrettable particularly at a time when the energy and wise counsel of all in the society is needed to tame insecurity.

CAN therefore appealed to all Nigerians to live peacefully irrespective of religious, ethnic or political differences in the quest for a new national rebirth.

Oritsejafor reiterated his earlier call on Nigerians to give useful information to security agents as they try their best to tackle insurgency.

Meanwhile the CAN president has condemned last Sunday's bomb blast killing innocent Christians in a Catholic Church in Kano.

Pastor Oritsejafor described the act as barbaric and inhuman.

TWOREM holds convention

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HE Way of Reconciliation Evangelistic Ministries (TWOREM) Lagos holds its inter-denominational quarterly Holy Ghost inspired prayer summit tagged:“BOJUWOMI” on Monday, August 4, 2014 at 8.00 a.m. to 3.00 p.m. It will be followed by TWOREM’s second Holy Spirit Convention with the theme: “Provoking amazing miracle” from Tuesday, August 5 to Saturday August 9, 2014 by 9.00 a.m. & 5.00 p.m. at Sekunderin Miracle Prayer Mountain, Iyana Agbala Tuntun, New Ife Road, Ibadan. Ministering: Rev. & Prophet Oladipupo Funmilade-Joel (Baba Sekunderin), Apostle Tim Gbasha (Lagos), Rev. Joshua Telane (Abuja), among other speakers.

RCCG 62nd convention opens tomorrow Continued from Page 54 free. The forgotten shall be remembered at last. Every good thing that might have died in our lives shall come alive again. There shall be uncommon signs and wonders. They shall all be helped.

The Holy Spirit empowers as seen in the ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 10:38). If by the empowering of the Holy Spirit the Lord Jesus was helped to succeed concerning His mission to the world, we are persuaded that as we come in contact with the Divine Helper through this year ’s convention, we can begin to look forward to reaching our goals, crawling

ministries will be helped to come alive again, there shall be multiplication of churches (Acts 9:31), power of signs and wonders will be impacted on the thirsty and we will leave with a brand new beginning, ready to face the future with a rekindled hope.

It is for this purpose we would really want to encourage seriousness at this year’s convention. Make up your mind not to miss the visitation of the Holy Spirit and present yourself in every meeting with prayers and expectation.

Keep the Camp holy and clean so as not to grieve the Holy Spirit and observe all rules. You will return home with help and counsel that will make you a new person," Adeboye counselled.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, AUGUST 3, 2014, PAGE 57

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Kingdom of God However, the good news Jesus proclaimed has nothing whatsoever to do with his “death” on the cross or with any sacrifice for sins. This is because Jesus and his disciples

THE GOOD NEWS AND THE DECEITFUL NEWS preached their good news before his crucifixion. So doing, not once did they say he would die for our sins. On the contrary, their good news requires everyone to carry his own cross and do away with his own sins.

Jesus says: “The time has come. The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!" (Mark 1:15). This shows Jesus’ good news is about the coming of the kingdom of God. If it was about him taking away our sins, there would have been no point in asking us to repent for the same sins. What would be the point of repenting if Jesus has taken or will take away our sins?

Indeed, if Jesus has really taken away our sins, how come Christians are still so sinful?

How come “sinless” priests are still raping young boys? How come “sinless” pastors continue to swindle the gullible poor of their meager savings?

If, according to Paul, Christians are now new creatures in whom “old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17); why are we still stealing, cheating, telling lies, fornicating and committing adultery?

Enticing words Don’t be deceived by enticing words. The true good news is not about the unmerited grace of God. If it were, there would be no need to repent for repentance is by works and not by grace. The true good news is about the coming of the kingdom of God. Moreover, com-

,

HE good news pro claimed in the churches today is false.

It is different from the one Jesus preached. Today’s good news is the one declared by Paul: “the good news of the grace of God.” (Acts 20:24).

This says: “Rejoice: Jesus died for our sins.” (I Corinthians 15:1-4). Accordingly, Christians insist Jesus carried away all our sins at Calvary. In exchange, he is alleged to have imparted to us the righteousness of God. If this were true, it would be wonderful news indeed. It would mean once we answer the altar-call and declare that Jesus is our Lord and Saviour; we are automatically “born again.” We become heavenbound because we believe and trust in “the completed works of Christ.” Whatever happens; Jesus has done it for us. We are saved by the magnanimity of God’s grace and not because of any works of righteousness on our part. (Ephesians 2:8).

However, the problem with this good news is that it is one big deception. It is actually contrary to the true good news that Jesus delivered. Paul was not one of Jesus’ disciples during his ministry. He never heard Jesus preach and he displays unpardonable ignorance about Jesus’ doctrine in his epistles.

Bereft of the discipleship of Jesus, Paul fabricated his own Christology. His epistles ignore Jesus’ life while focusing exclusively on his crucifixion.

Thus, Paul says disingenuously: “I decided to concentrate only on Jesus Christ and his death on the cross.” (I Corinthians 2:2).

Those who followed Jesus did so because of his life. But because of Paul’s ignorance about his life, many who follow Jesus now do so because of bogus claims about his death

,

pulsive and unrepentant sinners are not welcome in God’s kingdom. Entry into the kingdom is also by works and not by grace. Jesus says: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who DOES the will of my Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 7:21).

For this reason, John the Baptist was sent as a forerunner of Jesus. He came “preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” (Mark 1: 4). Accordingly, Jesus’ good news requires a penitent response. If we believe the good news that God’s kingdom has come down to men, then we should repent of sin so that we can enter and secure our inclusion in the kingdom.

I repeat: the true good news is that Jesus brought the heavenly kingdom of God down to earth. The evidence for this is right there in his superlative ministry. Jesus raised the dead; signalling the triumph of life over death. He healed the sick;

announcing the end of human suffering. He multiplied loaves of bread; pointing to the satisfaction of all physical need.

He stilled the storm; heralding the emergence of peace on earth. He forgave sins; proclaiming the dawning of righteousness. He cast out demons; demonstrating the overthrow of the kingdom of Satan. Therefore, he said to his Jewish opponents: “If I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come to you.” (Luke 11:20).

Children of God The true good news is also that what used to be the exclusive preserve of God, has now become available to men through Jesus Christ. It is now possible not only to be like God, but actually to become children of God. That is why John exclaimed: “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!” Therefore, he counsels: “Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure.” (I John 3:1-3).

Those who have this hope in them do not fool themselves that Jesus has taken away their sins by sacrificing himself.

Those who have this hope in them purify themselves. They are purified by hiding the words of Jesus in their hearts, and by repenting of sin and abstaining from sin. In short, the good news offers a narrow gate that leads to life; while the deceitful news offers a wide

gate that leads to destruction.

(Matthew 7:13-14).

Those who are disciples of Jesus receive the power to become children of God. (John 1:12). We are indwelt by the Spirit of God and can do the wonderful works of God. Jesus says: “As you go, preach this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.” (Matthew 10:78). This is most certainly good news.

Life or death Jesus’ birth brought the good news and not his “death.” (Luke 2:10-11). Jesus came that we may have abundant life. (John 10:10). Therefore, we are required to emulate his exemplary life. Indeed, those who followed Jesus did so because of his life. But because of Paul’s ignorance about his life, many who follow Jesus now do so because of bogus claims about his death.

Paul says: “If Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty.” (I Corinthians 15:14).

However, Jesus’ resurrection is not part of the good news. On the contrary, the resurrection is “a sign of Jonah;” reserved for those who do not believe. Jesus says: “A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a miraculous sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.” (Matthew 16:4).

Without Calvary, Zacchaeus received the good news of the kingdom and Jesus declared that salvation had come to his house. (Luke 19:8-10). As a matter of fact, in one of Jesus’ stories, Abraham de-emphasises the resurrection by saying: “If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.”

(Luke 16:31).

Winners emerge in 11th Mike Okonkwo National Essay Competition

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ISS Patience Brown of Apapa Senior High School, Apapa who scored 68 per cent has been adjudged the overall winner of the 11 th Mike Okonkwo National Essay Competition for Secondary School 2014.

The second position was clinched by Precious Nwaigwe of St. Francis Catholic Secondary School, Idimu, Lagos, who scored 66 per cent while Master Akinwande Akinboluwarin of Greater Tomorrow International School, Arigidi Akoko, Ondo State has been declared the third place winner.

The fourth position went to Master David Oluwasoromidayo of Roshalom International Secondary School.

According to the chief examiner of the competition, Prof.

Akachi Ezigbo of the Dept. of English, University of Lagos, “The students who meet our

*Miss Patience Brown (1st position)

*Miss Nwaigwe Precious Amarachi (2nd positioon)

*Master Akinwande Akinboluwarin (3rd position)

carefully defined criteria are usually those who have and can express an informed opinion on contemporary issues of national significance proposed by the organizers of the competition. In assessing their entries, we look out for

how much they know of the issue, their capacity to express that knowledge in Standard English usage and their ability to follow tested methods of expressing knowledge acquired through observation, reading and experience.”

According to her, out of the over 2,000 entries given to her for assessment, “the four candidates who scaled through the first stage proved their intellectual prowess in the second stage by satisfying our criteria” adding that “the close

correlation in the mark scored by the student at both stages of the competition validates their efforts” The winner, Patience Brown will get a cheque of N100,000, a Laptop, plaque, while her school gets three sets of Internet-ready Computers and a printer. Precious Amarachi will go home with a cheque of N75,000, a plaque and the school will receive two Internetready computers and a printer while the third place winner, AkinwandeAkinboluwarin will receive N50,000, a plaque and the school gets an Internetready computer and David Oluwasoromidayo gets a consolation price of N20,000.

The prices will be presented at this year’s Mike Okonkwo Annual Lecture at the Shell Hall, Muson Center, Onikan, Lagos on September 4.

The theme for this year ’s lecture is "The Power of your vote: A catalyst for a stable and united Nigeria".

Page 58— SUNDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 3, 2014

Oyo, Ogun as metaphor VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF

Differences between two SouthWest states ahead of 2014

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n the Yoruba nation, a tribe has predominantly continued to be ahead of all others in virtually all aspects. From civilization to commerce, politics and entertainment, including socials, the Egbas have sustained their dominance over other Yoruba people in the South-West.

Although many would want to argue that the supremacy of the tribe over the rest is as a result of the fact that civilization came in to the Yoruba nation through the Egbas, what happens to Ibadan which has remained the capital of the region from civilization till date?

In the history of the SouthWest, it is only Abeokuta, home of the Egbas, that has produced heads of the Nigerian nation. Substantively, Nigeria has had three heads of state from Ogun State , all Abeokuta indigenes.

Talking about the prodigious and unmatched achievements

VIEWPOINT

BY GODWIN ERHAHON

VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF

A former minister has no cause being in the PDP

had to deliver a solidarity I message at the launching of Chris Ogiemwonyi Movement

for Edo State, (COME) in BeninCity, because of my love for him and due to his track record when he was in the NNPC. I used the opportunity to thank the organizers of the forum and I noted that the forum is about a call on Engineer Chris Ogiemwonyi to come home and serve his people, having served the nation meritoriously.

The event was a non-partisan forum, otherwise Chris, being in PDP and I in APC, I would have had no business being there. Service to which Chris is being called is beyond partisanship. The organizers of the forum deemed it necessary to extend invitation to leaders

VIEWPOINT

BY PAUL OKENE

VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF

Recollections on the late Chief (Mrs) Agbonifo

I

grew up knowing my mother as a strong, proud, beautiful, elegant, industrious, hardworking and a consistently optimistic woman, the backbone of our family. Unlike most women who are deliberate, self-effacing, and withdrawn, mum was spontaneous.

Her effervescence of spirit was bewitchingly infections.

An unconscious feminist who refused to be dependent on any one, from the beginning, mum trained me in the same fashion. She trained me to be independent in all ways. As a child, I could not

Today, Ogun remains ahead of other states in the region including Ibadan which has had the opportunity of serving as regional capital and state capital from the beginning in terms of the quality service delivery, projects

,

as regional capital and state capital from the beginning in terms of the quality service delivery, projects, decisions and pronouncements both from the governments and eminent in-

dividuals.

One infrastructural development common to all the states now is flyover. Comparing the bridges constructed by the APC governments in the South-West, one can see the level of sophistication, prudence and foresight exhibited in the construction. While some are constructed for immediate attention, others are done with future in mind. A trip to Ogun under the leadership of an Egba man, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, will confirm class, quality and prescience over what is built in other states, particularly Ibadan, the capital of the Yoruba nation. While the Ogun governor built a fourlane bridge with all the aesthetics, his counterpart in Oyo of the same party built a flyover of two lanes in a more busy, more populated Mokola at the centre of the largest city in black Africa. The cost of the bridges is another matter altogether. According to reports, Amosun built his four-lane bridge for about two billion Naira while Ajimobi did his own two-lane bridge for N3billion. Both bridges are virtually of the same length.

This becomes very important and instructive when juxtaposed with what is being said by the so-called leaders of Ibadan.

Chief Rasheed Adewolu Ladoja , the third in rank to the throne of Olubadan of Ibadan who will be 70 years old next month, is the sole candidate of Accord Party for Oyo State gubernatorial election next February. His period, unarguably, remains the most turbulent ever in Oyo history.

Ditto for his former deputy, Otunba Adebayo Alao Akala, who ruled the state for a record period of four years and 11 months. At 65 , Alao Akala is said to be desperately seeking a comeback in what many see as a mission propelled mainly by ego and vengeance. Akala’s government was not known for any sound policy except for extravagance and lavish parties at the expense of the masses. He said in one recent interview that he was ready to crush any younger person who dares to challenge him.

One can then see the reason the Egba and Ogun people are making progress and enjoying

Why Ogiemwonyi should be in APC across political divides and beyond. They probably share my view that the colossus called Chris Ogiemwonyi is above partisanship. This call on Chris Ogiemwonyi to come and serve could not have come at a more auspicious time than now when desperate political infidels and enemies of progress in Edo State have run amok.

One of the reasons democratic rule failed so woefully in Edo from 1999 till 2008 was because loafers who never served anywhere except in under-world gangster-ism found themselves in leadership position for which they were ill-prepared. Because these loafers have always been enemies of society in their underworld coven, their sudden assumption of political power made them typical examples of “a rebel who prospered” and

,

BY BABALOLA AFOBAJE

of Ogun State people in commerce, technology, education and all areas of life including socials would take a whole book, suffice to say that the state, particularly the Egbas, have been phenomenal.

Today, Ogun remains ahead of other states in the region including Ibadan which has had the opportunity of serving

,

VIEWPOINT

They probably share my view that the colossus called Chris Ogiemwonyi is above partisanship

,

“a bitter woman who finally marries”. They only use their ill-gotten power to oppress the patriotic and law-abiding citizens. That was why I call them “sadist capitalist regime” “evil government” and “agbero administration” in my days as the Edo Publicity Secretary of the APP which later became ANPP, under the edifying tutelage of

The best mum remember any moment my mum did not go out to work. From my early days, my mum taught me a lot about hard work, perseverance; her style was remarkably different, unmodified and refreshing. She was direct, precise, demanding. Mum was extremely protective of her family.

She complemented her husband and this helped her public image.

My mum was the best wife any man could pray for and she was fun to be with.

I guess I must have subconsciously searched for a woman like my mum for a wife and must have taken her teaching to heart with my marriage to a very conscious feminist, family protector and I often marveled at the remarkable similarities between my mum and my wife.

The life of my mum, business woman, administration, community leader has taught us a few lessons. Perhaps the first lesson taught by the life of my great mum is that one should struggle to attain the best in whatever one has chosen. Chief Mrs. Mary Agbonifo started her business from the scratch and refused to be overtaken. She rose, marched, jumped, leaped and moved on.

She refused to recognise the limitation of her background. Her style of living, which demanded tremendous courage, determined effort, persistence and commitment should recommend itself to us all seeking to live a life of excellence. The message of the life of Chief M rs. Marry Agbonifo is that we should not quit the battleground. Another lesson that

our father, Chief D. U. Edebiri, the Esogban of Benin.

I am proud to be at the occasion to be associated with Chris Ogiemwonyi. It pleased the Almighty God to send both of us to the earth through lyekeorhionmwon, a remote part of Benin Kingdom, the most exploited and most cheated local government area in Nigeria. I served as a journalist, Christ served as an engineer.

Both of us are incorruptible and credibly outspoken. As Minister, Chris Ogiemwonyi initiated the reconstruction of the dilapidated Benin-Abraka Road, the access route to Iyekeorhionmwon. Construction work on that road is abandoned at the level which Chris left it over two years ago when he was removed as Minister of State for Works.

In my capacity as Publicity Secretary. Edo APC appreci-

the life of my mum teaches is that if one is persistent and consistently focused in the pursuit of excellence and service, one will continue to be remembered even long after the person has departed from the world. She will be remembered as one of the pioneers in the frozen fish business in the Old Bendel State.

A further lesson that the life of my mum teaches is that, it is not where one is born that matters, but the place to which one aspires to reach in life. Thus although my mum was brought up with virtually nothing as a young lady, she chose to chart a course for herself, which involved learning, working extra hard to achieve excellence in her chosen calling in business. My mum’s knowledge and respect for our tradition and culture was imperative. She was proud of her tradition, the

solely in the region the privilege of having her people in top echelon of government at all times. They believe in building leaders and creating space for the younger ones while the rulers much older from our ancient Oyo are threatening fire and stone against their younger ones. The Egbas in their characteristic manners are positioning themselves for greater national assignments that would benefit their state and Ogun State people more, our own Babas in Oyo want to die as local rulers.

Chief Olusegun Osoba, another Egba man, exhibited the same trait of Fola Adeola, who is not contesting the next Ogun election because of age, when he groomed his child after losing in 2003 to replace him in the political circle and, today, he is a happy father and leader watching his son contributing brilliantly in the National Assembly.

The Egbas have leaders and statesmen while what we have in Oyo are crass politicians.

*Afobaje is coordinator, Oyo Rescue Team - 08025912944.

ates Chris Ogiemwonyi as a well-bred Edo son who rose by thorough study and quality service to become a global celebrity in his chosen career.

APC sympathizes with Chris as a good man who finds himself in a bad political party, trying to serve sincerely where service and sincerity are abominations.

APC believes that Chris Ogiemwonyi, being a guru in oil industry, appreciates the fact that our home local government area, Orhionmwon, is one of the leading oil and gas producing areas but ironically the most neglected, cheated and exploited in Nigeria. From Oben Gas Plant, Nigeria supplies gas to Togo, Benin Republic and other neigbouring countries to power their electricity supply. Yet the PDP-led Federal Government continues to deny Orhionmwon of electricity, good roads, water, industry and other basic amenities. They pretend not to know that:” there is God oo!”

*Erhahon is Edo State APC Publicity Secretary

language, dress and values. She was a Roman Catholic to the core and never missed all activities of the church.

It has been one uneventful year now since this great woman of our time left us — 26th of July 2013.

The encomiums that greeted her glorious exit and the celebration witnessed in her death particularly the presence of people from all walks of life, were resounding testimony to this great Urhobo woman. To say we miss Sisi is an understatement. Sisi served God and humanity to the fullest. Her legacy continuously lives on. We take solace in the fact that she lived a fulfilled life worthy of emulation.

May God continue to grant her gentle soul eternal repose.

*Paul Okene is the second son of the late Chief Mrs. Mary Agbonifo

SUNDAY VANGUARD, AUGUST 3, 2014 PAGE 59

COMMONWEALTH GAMES Heads to roll over Amalaha’s drug shame Adekuruoye 2016 — Danagogo •President Jonathan to receive heroic Team Nigeria eyes Olympics

BY TONY UBANI, GLASGOW

S

PORTS Minister and chair man of the National Sports Commission, Dr Tammy Danagogo has spoken of his emotional trauma over teenage Weightlifter Chika Amalaha who was stripped of his gold medal after committing an anti-doping violation at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

The Minister who was dumbstruck by the disgrace that was meted to the country has also vowed that heads would roll over the teenager’s dilemma by those who should have saved Nigeria from the global shame suffered in Glasgow.

Chika Amalaha has therefore been disqualified from her event in the Games, with her result in the Women’s Weightlifting 53 kilogram competition nullified and her gold medal awarded to Dika Toua from Papua New Guinea.

This is just as the World Anti Doping Agency WADA has vowed to investigate how a teenager like Amalaha had access to banned substances — amiloride and hydrochlorothiazide. Both substances are banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency, which said it plans to investigate. ‘’My heart bleeds for this 16year-old girl. She looks too innocent to commit such an offence. She is naive. It’s so unfortunate because it was this same girl that did so well in Gabrone, Botswana. And she

was tested and was certified clean. We must get to the roots of this and the coaches, and our anti-doping officials have questions to answer. Why didn’t they do their job before coming here to disgrace Nigeria?”, a visibly pained and angry Danagogo asked. ‘’For a young girl like this, we had good plans for her. She is still in shock over what happened to her. She ignorantly took what she took for weight reduction. It is devastating to me and definitely we’ll look at the level of involvement of her coaches, officials, crew and our anti-doping officials. They ought to have detected this before coming to disgrace Nigeria here.

It’s disappointing that we have highly placed anti-doping officials who did not do their jobs.

It is embarrassing and severe punishments will be meted to those officials either for their involvements or negligence as a deterrent. This disgrace is not only on one girl but on the whole of the contingent and the nation.

Enough is enough”, the Minister warned.

The Minister also re-assured Team Nigeria contingent that President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan as part of his love for excellence in sports would also roll out the red carpets to honour the deserving athletes who have done well for their fatherland.

There has been sighs and hisses from the athletes that the President might not receive them since they were no

Gowon applauds Team Nigeria

F

ORMER Head of State, Gen eral Yakubu Gowon has applauded the splendid performance of Team Nigeria at the XX 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow describing them as the ‘Pride of the Nation’.

General Gowon who could not hide his admiration of the athletes performances said that Nigerians should rise and salute Team Nigeria for their spectacu-

lar performance at the Games. ‘’Certainly, I’m impressed and over-joyed with the performance of Team Nigeria at the Games”, General Gowon said at his plush Blythswood Hotel in Glasgow. ‘’In a multi sports event like this with 71 countries participating, it is a thing of joy to see your country’s contingent doing well and also hearing your national anthem playing and your flag fly-

Digging for Gold... Nigeria’s Ese Brume landing on the long jump pit.

gold

S

•Only Lonely... Not the best of times for Chika Amalaha footballers. But the Minister poured cold water on their fears saying; ‘’you have represented our country and Africa well and I am very positive that President Goodluck Jonathan, will be well pleased to receive the athletes with more rewards and honour for all the medalists. We have paid the athletes their allowances and winning bonuses but that is not all. That is only from the point of the sports ministry.

It is common knowledge that Mr. President loves sports and

has established a tradition of rewarding and honouring athletes that bring glory to Nigeria. Not only for the Commonwealth medalists. As a matter of fact, Mr. President has asked after the handball team and other national teams that won laurels in various major international competitions during the year. So, we are re-submitting a memo to this effect, proposing an event for the president to receive and honour them”, the Minister informed.

ing high. They have done well and deserve an applause from us all”, the overwhelmed General who is still as strong as a fiddle said.

He however hoped that the remaining athletes whose events

are still on should do more to add to the glory of Nigeria. ‘’I understand that we still have some events on the card. I can only but to urge them to do well to add to what their compatriots have done”, he said beaming his traditional smile.

Adams makes boxing history

MARTING from her gold medal feat in the women 53kg freestyle wrestling at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, Odunayo Adekuruoye has set her gaze on the Rio 2016 Olympic Games as her next all important target.

The 19 years old wrestling sensation discharged her opponent Lalita Lalita of India in less than two minutes into the gold medal match at the SECC Event centre in Glasgow to the applause of the Scottish spectators and now she says there is no going back on pursuing an Olympic dream.

“This is not the end. This is just the beginning. I am looking forward to the Olympic, for a gold medal, and I believe that by the grace of God and with my coach, Purity (Akuh) and our leader and father, Daniel Igali, still by my side, I can win gold at the Olympics.”

Describing her journey to the Commonwealth gold medal, Adekuruoye revealed that the most of the credit goes to the benevolence of Mr. Igali, President of the Nigerian Weightlifting Federation and the family of her coach, Purity Akuh. “This gold means more than the winning bonus money for me.

It represents a testament of faith for those who have supported me and are helping me to build a name in wrestling. I was ashamed of myself when I won silver at the African Championships in Tunis because Igali has spent so much on me, financially and materially, trying to build me up, that I felt I had failed to reciprocate in performance. That was why I challenged myself that I won’t want to see him seating down and sweating again at competition venue in apprehension or disappointment in me.

E

NGLAND’s Nicola Adams won the first ever women’s boxing gold medal at the Commonwealth Games on Saturday, repeating the feat she achieved at the Olympics two years ago.

The 31-year-old flyweight beat Northern Ireland’s Michaela Walsh on a split decision after landing cleaner shots throughout the fourround bout.

“I’m absolutely over the moon. Again I’ve managed to create history,” Adams told reporters after winning England’s 50th gold of the Games.

“It was really tough. She was she was quite tricky and she was a real good talent. She’ll definitely be one to watch for the future.

•Grappling... Rosemary Nweke of Nigeria (L) takes on Jasmine Mian of Canada in the Women’s Freestyle 48kg Freestyle Wrestling

PAGE 60, SUNDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 3, 2014

Ancelotti regrets not signing Lampard R

EAL Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has openly suggested he would have signed Frank Lampard himself had he known it was an option.

Lampard signed for the newly-established New York City FC, but is set to be immediately loaned back to the MLS side’s parent club Manchester City.

And Real Madrid coach Ancelotti admitted he was taken aback by the news of the 36-year-old staying in the Premier League.

“I’m really surprised because I thought he was coming here to the USA to play,” said Ancelotti as he prepared the European champions for their pre-season clash against Manchester United in Michigan.

“It’s too late for me to take him to Madrid,” he added, striking a clear note of regret that suggests he’d have loved to link up with a player who was instrumental in Ancelotti’s double-winning season with the Blues in 2009-10, scoring 27 goals.

“I’m really happy for Frank as I have a good memory of him. I wish him luck.

“He’s a good signing for

B

CITY LIMITS... Frank Lampard and Yaya Toure in a middle field battle. But Lampard has pitched tent with Manchester City, his action has got Chelsea fans fans fuming with rage.

Manchester City.”

But to some Chelsea fans, the move by Lampard to City was like a stab in the back.

They called the Blues leagend a traitor and some even burnt up their Lampard jersey.

Meanwhile Real Madrid’s deal to bring in goalkeeper

Keylor Navas is being held up, while the La Liga giants try to offload one of their current first choice keepers.

The Costa Rican stopper was due to sign for Los Blancos on August 1, but it was put off till Monday to give Madrid more time to free up some space.

Wenger knocks Gerrard over Suarez claims A

RSENE Wenger has hit back at Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard for claiming Luis Suarez was too good to join Arsenal.

Arsenal twice tried to activate the striker’s buyout clause last summer but saw both bids turned down by the Anfield club.

Gerrard, a key figure in persuading Suarez to stay at Anfield last year, revealed on Thursday how he convinced the Uruguayan not to move to the Emirates, suggesting his team-mate was “too good” to join them.

Wenger does not agree: “You’re never too good for Arsenal and Steven Gerrard knows that.

“But I can understand completely that he asked him to stay because he wanted him [Suarez] to play with him and have a chance to win the Premier League. But it didn’t happen, and anyway, Suarez left.”

Suarez instead joined Barcelona for a fee of £75 million, despite having a four-month ban from all football-related activity for his bite on Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini at the World Cup. His appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport regarding the suspension will be heard on August 8.

It is not the first time Arsenal and Liverpool have clashed this summer; both clubs were locked in a battle to sign Barcelona’s

Courtois, Cech to slug it out for Chelsea number I

Alexis Sanchez, with the La Liga club hoping to use the attacker as a linchpin in the Suarez deal.

However, Sanchez preferred a move to London and signed a long-term deal with Arsenal in July.

Meanwhile Suarez’s appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) against a four-month ban for biting will be heard on 8 Au-

gust. The Uruguay forward was punished after biting Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini at the 2014 Fifa World Cup in Brazil.

The appeal has been filed by Suarez, Uruguay and Barcelona, the Spanish club he joined last month in a £75m transfer from Liverpool. Cas has agreed to fasttrack the case, and it is thought a verdict could be announced by the end of the week after the hearing.

Real Madrid will need a large squad, with six trophies up for grabs. But Ancelotti won’t need three senior goalkeepers; so who will leave and who will adopt the no.1 jersey?

Already demoted to second choice keeper, Casillas’ future was in the balance. His poor performances in the Champions League final and throughout the World Cup would have had Ancelotti further questioning his ability.

A potential move to Arsenal seemed on the cards, but is now following the Gunners’ signing of Colombian stopper David Ospina.

However the legendary stopper may be given another chance to prove himself.

He was given a starting berth in Real Madrid’s latest friendly against Roma, where he wore the armband, suggesting Ancelotti is willing to give Casillas a chance.

ELGIUM international Thibaut Courtois and veteran keeper for Chelsea Petr Cech are set to fight it out who wins the number one shirt in Chelsea line up.

Courtois returned to Chelsea after three years on loan with Atletico Madrid, with whom he won La Liga and reached the Champions League final last season. He believes he can learn from Cech and is relishing the battle to claim the No.1 spot, even if the Chelsea stalwart may not be prepared to sit on the bench. “Petr is one of the best goalkeepers in the world,” Courtois told Chelsea’s official website.

“Every goalkeeper can have a type of thing they are usually good at, and when you see them train you can learn from them. It helps you in your training.

“I signed with Chelsea three years ago, but because of the loan it took until now to have my first training session - so I’m really happy to be here.

“There will be a battle to be in the starting XI, but that’s good.

It helps the players to improve themselves to play even better.

I gained a lot of experience [at Atletico] and played some important games. In every aspect of being a goalkeeper, I improved myself. I learned a lot.

“When I was younger, I always dreamed of playing in the Premier League - so hopefully I can do that soon.”

Jose Mourinho, asked if 32year-old Cech’s future at the club was uncertain, told Sky Sports: “In this moment, I don’t feel that. He is working hard.

Eto’o not yet finished with Mourinho S

AMUEL Eto’o is seeking a route back into English football in an attempt to prove Jose Mourinho was wrong in branding him an ‘old man’.

The veteran striker has instructed his representatives to gauge interested in him from Premier League clubs following his release from Chelsea at the end of last season.

Eto’o already has lucrative offers from the Middle East, but has delayed making a decision as he waits to see which Premier League clubs are interested.

And the former Barcelona

striker ’s primary motivation for returning to England is to prove Mourinho’s controversial comments about him were wrong.

During an interview with French TV, the Blues boss made off-air comments about the Cameroon star, calling the forward an ‘old man’.

Mourinho was heard saying: ‘Eto’o is 32 years old, maybe 35, who knows?’

Eto’o branded Mourinho a ‘fool’ in the aftermath, but the Special One’s comments still rankle with the Cameroon star.

Eto’o is a free agent after his release by Chelsea last

Working... Samuel Eto’o in action for Chelsea a move to West Ham is on the cards.

summer and is keen to stay in London.

Queens Park Rangers and Arsenal have also been linked with the ex-Barcelona frontman, while he is numerous lucrative offers from the Middle East.

Eto’o is expected to make a decision on his future at some point next week.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, AUGUST 3, 2014 PAGE 61

COMMONWEALTH GAMES Heads to roll over Amalaha’s drug shame Adekuruoye 2016 — Danagogo •President Jonathan to receive heroic Team Nigeria eyes Olympics

BY TONY UBANI, GLASGOW

S

PORTS Minister and chair man of the National Sports Commission, Dr Tammy Danagogo has spoken of his emotional trauma over teenage Weightlifter Chika Amalaha who was stripped of his gold medal after committing an anti-doping violation at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

The Minister who was dumbstruck by the disgrace that was meted to the country has also vowed that heads would roll over the teenager’s dilemma by those who should have saved Nigeria from the global shame suffered in Glasgow.

Chika Amalaha has therefore been disqualified from her event in the Games, with her result in the Women’s Weightlifting 53 kilogram competition nullified and her gold medal awarded to Dika Toua from Papua New Guinea.

This is just as the World Anti Doping Agency WADA has vowed to investigate how a teenager like Amalaha had access to banned substances — amiloride and hydrochlorothiazide. Both substances are banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency, which said it plans to investigate. ‘’My heart bleeds for this 16year-old girl. She looks too innocent to commit such an offence. She is naive. It’s so unfortunate because it was this same girl that did so well in Gabrone, Botswana. And she

was tested and was certified clean. We must get to the roots of this and the coaches, and our anti-doping officials have questions to answer. Why didn’t they do their job before coming here to disgrace Nigeria?”, a visibly pained and angry Danagogo asked. ‘’For a young girl like this, we had good plans for her. She is still in shock over what happened to her. She ignorantly took what she took for weight reduction. It is devastating to me and definitely we’ll look at the level of involvement of her coaches, officials, crew and our anti-doping officials. They ought to have detected this before coming to disgrace Nigeria here.

It’s disappointing that we have highly placed anti-doping officials who did not do their jobs.

It is embarrassing and severe punishments will be meted to those officials either for their involvements or negligence as a deterrent. This disgrace is not only on one girl but on the whole of the contingent and the nation.

Enough is enough”, the Minister warned.

The Minister also re-assured Team Nigeria contingent that President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan as part of his love for excellence in sports would also roll out the red carpets to honour the deserving athletes who have done well for their fatherland.

There has been sighs and hisses from the athletes that the President might not receive them since they were no

Gowon applauds Team Nigeria

F

ORMER Head of State, Gen eral Yakubu Gowon has applauded the splendid performance of Team Nigeria at the XX 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow describing them as the ‘Pride of the Nation’.

General Gowon who could not hide his admiration of the athletes performances said that Nigerians should rise and salute Team Nigeria for their spectacu-

lar performance at the Games. ‘’Certainly, I’m impressed and over-joyed with the performance of Team Nigeria at the Games”, General Gowon said at his plush Blythswood Hotel in Glasgow. ‘’In a multi sports event like this with 71 countries participating, it is a thing of joy to see your country’s contingent doing well and also hearing your national anthem playing and your flag fly-

Digging for Gold... Nigeria’s Ese Brume landing on the long jump pit.

C M Y K

gold

S

•Only Lonely... Not the best of times for Chika Amalaha footballers. But the Minister poured cold water on their fears saying; ‘’you have represented our country and Africa well and I am very positive that President Goodluck Jonathan, will be well pleased to receive the athletes with more rewards and honour for all the medalists. We have paid the athletes their allowances and winning bonuses but that is not all. That is only from the point of the sports ministry.

It is common knowledge that Mr. President loves sports and

has established a tradition of rewarding and honouring athletes that bring glory to Nigeria. Not only for the Commonwealth medalists. As a matter of fact, Mr. President has asked after the handball team and other national teams that won laurels in various major international competitions during the year. So, we are re-submitting a memo to this effect, proposing an event for the president to receive and honour them”, the Minister informed.

ing high. They have done well and deserve an applause from us all”, the overwhelmed General who is still as strong as a fiddle said.

He however hoped that the remaining athletes whose events

are still on should do more to add to the glory of Nigeria. ‘’I understand that we still have some events on the card. I can only but to urge them to do well to add to what their compatriots have done”, he said beaming his traditional smile.

Adams makes boxing history

MARTING from her gold medal feat in the women 53kg freestyle wrestling at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, Odunayo Adekuruoye has set her gaze on the Rio 2016 Olympic Games as her next all important target.

The 19 years old wrestling sensation discharged her opponent Lalita Lalita of India in less than two minutes into the gold medal match at the SECC Event centre in Glasgow to the applause of the Scottish spectators and now she says there is no going back on pursuing an Olympic dream.

“This is not the end. This is just the beginning. I am looking forward to the Olympic, for a gold medal, and I believe that by the grace of God and with my coach, Purity (Akuh) and our leader and father, Daniel Igali, still by my side, I can win gold at the Olympics.”

Describing her journey to the Commonwealth gold medal, Adekuruoye revealed that the most of the credit goes to the benevolence of Mr. Igali, President of the Nigerian Weightlifting Federation and the family of her coach, Purity Akuh. “This gold means more than the winning bonus money for me.

It represents a testament of faith for those who have supported me and are helping me to build a name in wrestling. I was ashamed of myself when I won silver at the African Championships in Tunis because Igali has spent so much on me, financially and materially, trying to build me up, that I felt I had failed to reciprocate in performance. That was why I challenged myself that I won’t want to see him seating down and sweating again at competition venue in apprehension or disappointment in me.

E

NGLAND’s Nicola Adams won the first ever women’s boxing gold medal at the Commonwealth Games on Saturday, repeating the feat she achieved at the Olympics two years ago.

The 31-year-old flyweight beat Northern Ireland’s Michaela Walsh on a split decision after landing cleaner shots throughout the fourround bout.

“I’m absolutely over the moon. Again I’ve managed to create history,” Adams told reporters after winning England’s 50th gold of the Games.

“It was really tough. She was she was quite tricky and she was a real good talent. She’ll definitely be one to watch for the future.

•Grappling... Rosemary Nweke of Nigeria (L) takes on Jasmine Mian of Canada in the Women’s Freestyle 48kg Freestyle Wrestling

PAGE 62, SUNDAY VANGUARD, AUGUST 3, 2014

C M Y K

SUNDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 3, 2014, PAGE 63

C M Y K

SUNDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 3, 2014

African 400m champion fails dope test B OTSWANA 400 metres runner Amantle Montsho has been suspended from competition after failing a doping test, the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) said on Saturday.

GLASGOW 2014

Team Nigeria athletes snatches more gold medals as Games end

Montsho, who finished fourth in the women’s 400m final on Tuesday, provided a positive A sample that contained the prohibited stimulant methylhexaneamine.

The 31-year-old, who won gold at the Commonwealth Games in New Dehli four years ago, has been provisionally suspended and asked for her B sample to be tested.

Montsho is the second athlete to fail a doping test at the Games after Nigerian teenager Chika Amalaha was stripped of her weightlifting gold medal on Friday.

A

S the curtains for the XX Commonwealth Games is drawn today, Team Nigerian athletes were amazing as they won a clutch of gold medals to further push Nigeria up the medals table ladder.

It was a double joy in the Weightlifting Para-Sport Powerlifting Women’s Heavyweight(from 61.1kg) when Loveline Obiji led from the beginning before dumping others to make her podium gold appearance with yet another Nigerian Bose Omolayo grabbing the silver.

It was a day of joy as the 12 finish delighted so many Nigerians on the stand with Sports Minister, Tammy Danagogo, Chef de Mission Gbenga Elegbeleye cheering lustfully for the duo.

Joyce Wambui Njuguna of Kenya took the bronze with her cumulative 68.6 kg. Loveline Obiji was apparently made in a different planet when she astonishingly lifted 130 kg in her first lift. The applause in the hall was deafening and could as well have won the gold medal if she decided to quit. But not for the Nigerian who heaved yet another 140 kg successfully to the delight of Nigerians but surely to the envy of her other competitors. She did not stop there. She finally powered to the gold with a breathtaking 144kg. Her performance was awesome. Her compatriot, Bose Omolayo started on a jerky note making a no lift but came back powerfully to lift 127 kg. Her third attempt also resulted in a no lift show but it was enough to win the silver. In a yet another Lightweight(up to 61kg) category, Esther Oyema pulled another surprise lifting 126 kg to win another gold on a day that Nigerians were soaked with joy.

INSIDE

Enyeama others fall prey — P.59 WADA to investigate Amalaha doping case —P.54

DASHING DOWN... Blessing Okagbare dusting Kerron Stewart and Veronica Campbell-Brown of Jamican to win the women 100m with 10.85 seconds at the Commonwealth Games

Okagbare can conquer the world, says John Smith R ENOWNED American coach John Smith has tipped Commonwealth and Africa’s fastest woman Blessing Okagbare to dominate the women in the 100 m and 200 m at the world level.

Next year is the World Championships in Beijing, China and then the Rio 2016 Olympics in Brazil Okagbare following her good showing in Glasgow in the views of coach Smith will be the woman to beat in the near future. Smith has coached world champions like Maurice Greene, Ato Boldon, Marie Jose-Perec and presently Carmelita Jeter and also Okagbare who won the Commonwealth Games 100 m in 10.85 and claimed victory in the 200 m in 22.25 seconds. ‘’I’ve watched her grow up.

She is going to dominate the 100 and 200 m in the World for a long time”, a jubilant

Smith said at the Games Village in Glasgow. ‘’She is disciplined and hardworking. She knows what she

wants and dedicate herself to a tough regime at achieving that. I’m happy for her and Nigeria because she is going to rule the World of Athletics

for a long time”, he emphasised. Smith said that he was still looking at the possibility of Blessing combining the 100 and 200m with the Long Jump.

CROSS WORD PUZZLE ACROSS 1. House of Reps Speaker (8) 5. Assistant (4) 7. Praise (5) 8. Upright (4) 9. Lantern (4) 11. Tradition (6) 13. Lagos masquerade (3) 15. Exclamation (2) 16. Pig’s nose (5) 18. Agent (3) 20. Glitters (6) 24. Forward (5) 25. Nigerian state (6) 27. Boring tool (3) 29. Ghanaian fabric (5) 31. Perform (2) 32. Oshiomhole’s state (3) 34. U.S. currency (6) 36. Vow (4) 38. Musical quality (4) 39. Inclination (5) 40. Eager (4) 41. Damages (8)

DOWN 1. Sample (5) 2. Niger state town (4) 3. Observe (5) 4. Lecture (6) 5. Everyone (3) 6. Use (6) 10. Inquires (4) 12. Carpet (3) 14. Colour (6) 15. Resistance unit (3) 17. Coax (4) 19. Rollicked (6) 21. Hatchet (3) 22. Satisfied (4) 23. Nigerian state (3) 26. Cry of derision (3) 27 . African country (6) 28. Endure (4) 29. Child (3) 30. Spoke (6) 31. Adorn (5) 33. Baking chambers (5) 35. Asterisk (4) 37. Possessed (3)

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