Soldiers go on rampage in Lagos by Vanguard Media Limited

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2—SATURDAY Vanguard, JULY 5, 2014

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SATURDAY Vanguard, JULY 5, 2014

22 die in two separate Boko Haram attacks in Borno BY NDAHI MARAMA, Maiduguri

O fewer than 22 people including two suicide bombers were killed in two separate attacks by Boko Haram terrorists in Borno State yesterday. Fifteen persons were reportedly killed in an ambush by the insurgents along Maiduguri -MafaDikwa Road yesterday at about 2:30pm, while seven others died in a bomb explosion which occurred at a security check point in Konduga Local Government Area of Borno State. Two suicide bombers were among the seven victims. However, Mafa is about 45 kilometres East, while Dikwa is about 70 kilometres drive from Maiduguri that had suffered series of deadly attacks by terrorists in recent times. The attack on passengers and motorists on the road was the latest on the road which had remained a death trap to travellers due to terrorist activities. Sources said, the gunmen who disguised as soldiers, intercepted three vehicles with two heading towards Dikwa, while the other was from Gamboru Ngala, a border town with

Cameroon Republic and opened fire on the occupants killing over 15 of them and injuring seven others. A reliable security source told Saturday Vanguard that “information available

to us this evening indicated that the Maiduguri - Dikwa road is not safe as terrorists laid ambush on passengers and motorists killing over 15 of them at about 2:30pm. Some of our men were mobilised to the scene, but

unfortunately, they only met those killed and the injured in the pool of their blood as the attackers had fled into the surrounding bushes after the carnage.” Efforts to get comments from the Police Public Relations

Officer, DSP Gideon Jubrin were not fruitful as his phone line was switched off at press time. Earlier in the morning, two suspected Boko Haram suicide bombers in a golf saloon Vokwagen car laden with

Improvised Explosive Device, IEDs rammed into the checkpoint killing themselves and five members of vigilante youth popularly known as civilian JTF, with many other being injured.

Assailant murders human rights lawyer in Lagos BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI A human rights activist and community leader, Barrister Olakunle Alexander Fadipe, was Thursday night, killed in cold blood by a lone assailant inside his sitting room at Harmony Estate, College Road, Ogba, Lagos. The incident which occurred at about 11pm, Thursday, saw the assailant stabbing the deceased’s man’s son, Folarin, and his motherin law. Eye witnesses said the assailant who was subsequently, arrested and taken to the Olowosokedicle Police Station, might have gained access into the home by scaling the fence and attacked Folarin who had opened the door to switch off the electrici-

•Late Fadipe, ty generator. The boy who received severe wounds on the head and his right wrist immediately ran inside to alert the father on the presence of the intruder. Eye witnesses further stated that the assailant upon seeing the late lawyer, demanded the sum of N500,000 which the late Fadipe begged he did not have at home, offering instead a lower amount and

any other personal effect including the mobile phones and any other personal effects. The assailant insisted on the amount and threatened to kill someone if the amount was not immediately provided. He thereafter, engaged the late Fadipe in a brawl, stabbing him with the butchers’ knife and a kitchen knife obtained from the late lawyer’s kitchen. The assailant was report-

ed to have had a better access to stabbing the lawyer, when the latter wrestled him to the ground while defending his mother-in law from being stabbed. Sources said Fadipe, a former member of the National Huan Rights Commission (NHRC) and a member of the Editorial Board of The Guardian Newspaper was severely, stabbed on the left side of the

neck as well as the left side of the armpit, and the stomach. He lost a lot of blood. The Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Ngozi Braids, and the Divisional Police officer (DPO) of the Olowosokedile Police Station Mr. Olatunji Ajimuda, confirmed the incident.Braids said investigation into the case had commenced for further actions.

Tanker drivers menace in Lagos ......What a security risk! Photos by HAKEEN SALAU

Traffic gridlock at Berger Yard, Oshodi-Apapa express way, Lagos.

Traffic gridlock from Sanya towards Berger under bridge,Oshodi-Apapa express -way due to on-going construction of the road by Julius Berger, while commercial buses resorted to plying one-way from Cele bus stop to Mile 2.

Traffic gridlock at Sanya, 2nd-Rainbow, Alaba along Oshodi-Apapa expressway Lagos.

Gridlock at Fagbems filling station, beside Alaba Bus-stop, along Oshodi Apapa Express -way, Lagos.

SATURDAY Vanguard, JULY 5, 2014 — 5

Soldiers go on rampage in Lagos

Burn, vandalize BRT buses, other vehicles over colleague death BY EVELN USMAN, BOSE ADELAJA & MONSURU OLOWOOPEJO

OLDIERS yester day went on rampage, grounding human and vehicular movements along Ikorodu road, Lagos, following allegations that a commercial bus belonging to the Lagos State government ran over one of them, killing him at the Palmgrove bus stop at about 9:00 am. The soldiers alleged that a Rapid Transport Bus, BRT, vehicle killed one of their colleagues at Palmgrove, They reportedly burnt any BRT vehicle on sight during the rampage. The soldiers barricaded both sides of the road in the process. Some persons were also injured following the ensuing rampage. There were different accounts as to how trouble started. Some eyewitnesses told Saturday Vanguard at the scene of the mayhem that the soldier who was allegedly knocked down was on the BRT lane but however, did not die. It was alleged that the said soldier made a telephone call to his colleagues after he was knocked down and refused to listen to the pleas from those at the scene to forgive the driver of the bus. The incident reportedly caused massive traffic leading all the way to the Berger area of LagosIbadan road. Another version of the incident, had it that the soldier with an unknown identity was riding a commercial motorcycle popularly known as okada along the BRT lane when he was crushed while another claimed the motorbike the deceased mounted was being chased by traffic officials. Driver of the bus was alleged to have abandoned the soldier, an action said to have angered his colleagues who subsequently went on rampage and allegedly attacked any BRT bus on sight. Miss. Adeola Sehinde, an eyewitness said, “I cannot say if the soldier was dead or not. But all I saw was when he was lying on the floor.” Sehinde further explained that the accident occurred at about 9:00 am at Palmgrove axis, towards the Anthony Village adding “the BRT

Pix Some of BRT Buses put on fire by army of the killing one of them by BRT Driver at Palmgrove, bus-stop on Friday 4-7-2014, PHOTO; Kehinde Gbadamosi

bus rammed on the soldier who was riding okada with his colleague.” It was gathered that his colleague, who was with him on the motorcycle however, mobilised other soldiers from a nearby barracks who on arrival to the scene, immediately swung into action, taking laws into their hands by vandalising BRT buses. Other eye witnesses who spoke also said that there was pandemonium in the area when about 100 soldiers suddenly emerged and blocked the express way on both sides of the road, smashing BRT buses and causing traffic gridlock. They said

that following the development, some drivers abandoned their vehicles on the road and took to their heels to avoid being killed by the soldiers, who vandalised any BRT buses on sight before setting them ablaze. When Saturday Vanguard visited the scene, the entire road was deserted, even as only empty vehicles were abandoned on both sides of the road with their ignition keys on them. Commercial buses coming from Ojota refused to pick passengers to Yaba area as they avoided Ikorodu

road to avert danger. However, Saturday Vanguard observed that the soldiers beat anyone that obstructed their activities. They beat drivers and passengers or anyone who moved closer to take their pictures. Mr. Tayo Olawale said two civilians were beaten up, adding that another who took pictures of the scene with his phone was beaten mercilessly and his phone smashed on the express road. Olawale said, “I do not know where the soldiers got sticks because they began to smash windscreen of passing

vehicles with them.” Another eyewitness, who identified herself as Mrs. Okwo said she saw five BRT buses being burnt by soldiers and described the situation as pathetic and unpleasant for the soldiers to have taken laws into their hands. Spokesman of the Nigerian Army, Gen. Olajide Olaleye, was quoted by agency reports describing those who vandalised the BRT vehicles as “area boys,” and not Nigerian s o l d i e r s . “It’s not true that soldier destroyed buses or set any bus on fire. What happened was that a BRT bus knocked down a soldier and killed him. As usual in Lagos, area boys gathered and a few soldiers stopped at the scene as well. The GOC has dispatched military policemen to the scene to help restore law and order.”

Fashola reacts Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos state condemned the sudden attack of soldiers on public property in the state following the death of their colleague allegedly crushed to death by one of the buses. Reacting to the development, Fashola said: “It is really disappointing that public servants, and that is what soldiers are, paid with tax payer’s money, will act in

this manner. I am waiting for official report to let me know who played what role and what happened. “If the action of the soldiers turns out to be true, it will be very irresponsible conduct to put it very mildly. I remember in 2006 when soldiers stormed barracks and set ablaze the Area C Police Command. “We just managed to reconstruct the command. If buses that citizens are complaining that are not enough are set ablaze then it is unfortunate. I do not know how setting ablaze buses compensates any injury that one may have suffered. I do not know how damaging public property is the restitution for the injury that may have come. “For now, the only thing that I can say to you is that when I get the full facts, I will address the residents, to let them know what happened and what the state action will be. We are yet to ascertain number of buses affectedLAGBUS Head of Operations, LAGBUS Asset Management, Mr. Tunde Disu disputed the claim that a soldier was hit by one of the buses, adding that ‘’to the best of my knowledge, somebody who was riding a motorbike rammed into the back of a broken down bus. He was in mufti so nobody can say if he was a soldier or not.’’ Disu further said that the incident involved both the blue and red buses pointing out that it was difficult to ascertain the number of those affected. ‘’We are still collating and cannot really determine the number of affected buses now,’’ he added.

The burnt vehicles by the aggrieved soldiers on Ikorodu road yesterday.

Pix Some of BRT Buses put on fire by army of the killing one of them by BRT Driver at Palmgrove, bus-stop on Friday 4-7-2014, PHOTO; Kehinde Gbadamosi

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SATURDAY Vanguard, JULY 5, 2014

We doubt Sanusi’s peace moves, FG tells court •Insists on pursuing suspension suit to logical conclusion •As NIC strikes out main suit, adjourns AGF’s motion to Nov 7 BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

HE Federal Govern ment, yesterday, said it was still in doubt of the sincerity of the erstwhile Governor of the Central Bank, CBN, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, to make peace with President Goodluck Jonathan. Consequently, the AttorneyGeneral of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke, SAN, yesterday, told the National Industrial Court, NIC, sitting in Abuja that he was determined to pursue the legal action that was instituted against President Jonathan by the former CBN governor to its logical conclusion. The AGF made this position of the government known to the court shortly after Sanusi who is now the Emir of Kano, notified the

President of the NIC, Justice Babatunde Adejumo, of his decision to withdraw the suit challenging the powers of President Jonathan to suspend him from office as governor of the apex bank without recourse to the National Assembly. Sanusi had in his suit, contended that only a twothird majority vote from the Senate could effectively oust a CBN governor from office, irrespective of any allegation levelled against the occupant of such position. Though the case was originally filed before the Abuja Division of the Federal Court, it was subsequently transferred to the NIC by trial Justice Gabriel Kolawole who declined jurisdiction to entertain the matter. Justice Kolawole in a judgment on May 20, relied on section 24(3) of the NIC Act 2006, to transfer the

Vice President Namadi Sambo (r) on a condolence visit to the family of late Dr. Umaru Dikko in Kaduna yesterday. Photo: Olu Ajayi. case on the basis that the issue bothered on employer/employee relationship. Meantime, at the resumed sitting on the matter yesterday, Sanusi, who was represented by three

Senior Advocates of Nigeria, told the court that he had already filed a notice to discontinue further proceeding on the suit Addressing the court through his lead counsel Mr. Kola Awodehin, SAN, the emir of Kano, stressed that he had already served both President Jonathan and the AGF, who are the 1st and 2nd defendants in

the matter, with copies of the said notice of discontinuance. ”Our application is supported by Order 19 rule 17 of the NIC rules, and my Lord, all the parties have been duly served”, Awodehin added. However, before Awodehin could conclude his submission, counsel to the AGF, Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, told the court that

although he would not object to Sanusi’s withdrawal application, he said his client, sceptic about the genuine intention of the plaintiff, was determined to continue with the matter. Ozekhome, contended that Sanusi ought to have shown his sincerity by also withdrawing the appeal he lodged before the appeal court in Abuja which is challenging the jurisdiction of the NIC to adjudicate on the dispute between him and President Jonathan. ”My lord, as we speak today, that appeal is still pending. In fact, the plaintiff equally has another application before Justice Kolawole wherein he is seeking the stay of execution of the federal high court judgement pending the determination of his pending appeal”, Ozekhome added. He told the court that the high court has already issued the AGF a notice to come and compile records for onward transmission to the court of appeal.

You are on your own, Oba of Benin tells son for defecting to PDP BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

HE Benin monarch, Oba Erediauwa, yesterday described as shocking, the defection of one of his sons, Prince Osama Erediauwa to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), asserting that his decision was not approved by the palace. In a statement signed by the Secretary of the Benin Traditional Council, Frank

Irabor, it said that “the Oba of Benin has heard in the media the news about his son, Prince Osama Erediauwa who resigned his appointment with the Edo State Government and joined the PDP to pursue his political aspiration. “This is to let the general public know that it was shocking to the Omo N’Oba that Prince Osama Erediauwa resigned his appointment as an Executive Director in the Gov-

ernor’s office. The essence of this press release is to let the general public, especially mischief makers know that the decision Prince Osama took to resign his appointment and join the PDP is entirely at his discretion. “It does not represent the position of the Omo N’Oba. The Oba of Benin is solidly behind the state Government ably led by Comrade Adams Oshiomhole” it stated.

Kidnapped Bayelsa commissioner’s mother regains freedom ...kidnappers given four Nokia handsets BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA, YENAGOA

HE kidnapped mother of the Bayelsa State Commissioner for Lands and Survey, Surv Furoebi Akene has been released. Madam Patimi Akene aged 77 who was abducted 21 days ago at her country home by armed men at Fonibiri community in Southern Ijaw local

government area of the state was set free yesterday at an undisclosed location some distance away from the coastal town of Lobia in the same council area. Although it could not be confirmed if the N10million ransom demanded by the kidnappers was paid, a source close to the family told Saturday Vanguard that a little amount of money was

handed out to placate her captors which necessitated her release. Also a family source who spoke anonymously said, “we were told by the kidnappers to buy them four Nokia handsets and dropped same at an agreed place in the mangrove swamp which we obliged them before mama was set free.”

SATURDAY Vanguard, JULY 5, 2014 — 7

IMPEACHMENT: Nyako’s supporters beat up his commissioners, burn their vehicles BY UMAR YUSUF, Yola

HERE was pandemonium at the Adamawa State Government House, yesterday, when some state commissioners and other top government officials were physically manhandled by supporters of Governor Murtala Nyako for allegedly working with the members of the House of Assembly to impeach the governor and his deputy, Mr James N g i l a r i . This was even as Governor Nyako, has said that the Presidency had no hand in the impeachment saga as earlier stated by his o f f i c i a l s . He also berated the state

House of Assembly over his problems wondering why the legislators who had passed a vote of implicit confidence on him about three months ago, suddenly turned round to initiate i m p e a c h m e n t proceedings against him over issues that were not weighty enough. The House of Assembly had on Tuesday asked the state Acting Chief Judge to constitute a seven-man impeachment panel to investigate a 20-point allegations of financial fraud and mismanagement made against him by 20 out of the 25 members assembly. Some of those attacked included the Commissioner for Labour and Productivity, Hamidu

Lawan, his counterpart in the Ministry of Environmnt, Mrs Arziki Sawa as well as the Commissioner for Agriculture, Mrs Lucy Ishaku among other top government officials. Trouble started for the commissioners and other top government officials moments after Nyako arrived Government House and the top officials were spotted trooping in to show solidarity with him. However, the governor ’s supporters were said to have accused the embattled commissioners and top government officials of allegedly back-stabbing Nyako and Ngilari as the impeachment moves

From (l) Editor- in-Chief Vanguard Newspapers, Mr Gbenga Adefaye addressing the guests, Mrs Nkechi-Ali Balogun , Dept. of Business Admin University of Lagos and Prof. Ralph Akinfeleye, Dept. of Mass Communication ,University of Lagos, during the Golden Pen Award organised by Nigerian Breweries Plc at Eko Hotel Lagos. Photo By Diran Oshe

gathered momentum. ’’You are saboteurs! You are saboteurs!! rented the air as the commissioners were manhandled one after the other, thereby causing confusion and commotion within the Government House. . Apart from physically beating up the commissioners, some of them had their official vehicles either smashed or burnt.

•Presidency has no hands in my impeachment saga, Nyako Meanwhile, Governor Nyako, who returned to Yola after two weeks of stay in Abuja, has said that the Presidency had no hand in the impeachment saga as earlier stated by his officials. The governor said that the rift between him and the legislators was purely Adamawa- related issues which would surely be resolved soon. Nyako, who returned to a rousing welcome by his political associates and admirers, lauded the people of the state for their calmness and peaceful coexistence since his problems began. He dismissed the allegations of misconduct levelled against him by the legislators saying that they were not weighty enough to elicit impeachment. Nyako further accused the House of Assembly of not coming straight with his alleged offences.

Troops arrest three more female B/Haram members EMMA UJAH, Abuja Bureau Chief

IGERIAN troops have uncovered more suspected female members of the deadly Islamic Sect, Boko Haram, with three of them already taken into custody. The Defence Headquarters said in Abuja, yesterday that those arrested were: Hafsat Usman Bako, Zainab Idris and Aisha Abubakar. A statement by Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, on behalf of the Director of Defence Information, MajorGeneral Chris Olukolade,

said that the female suspects were intercepted on their way to Madagali from where they were to transit to the Sambisa forest to reunite with their cohorts. The Defence Headquarters said that their arrests followed intensive investigation by security agents, in the aftermath of the failed suicide bombing attempt on a military facility by a female terrorist who blew herself up in Gombe recently. It said that the suspects have been secretly recruiting ladies into the female wing of the terrorists group. It said further, “investigations revealed that the

suspects, led by Hafsat Bako, have the mission to recruit members into the female wing as well as conduct espionage for the group. “Hafsat’s link with the terrorists group had earlier been a subject of investigation in 2012, when security agents on a manhunt for one Usman Bako, her husband who was identified as a terrorist, stormed their residence in Jimeta. “This resulted in the discovery of an AK 47 rifle and 2 loaded magazines. Though Usman Bako later died in an encounter with troops in Sokoto where he had relocated to continue his terrorist ac-

tivities, Hafsat continued with the terror group specializing in surreptitious recruitment of members into their fold. “The arrested trio suspects were luring ladies especially widows and young girls by enticing them with male suitors who are mainly members of their terror group for marriage. Before their arrest, they were on a mission to take additional briefing from the leadership of the terror group. “The trio have been operating together as members of the intelligence team of the group. Their arrest has yielded information still being verified by security agencies”.

BRIEFS

Discrimination: HND holders drag FG to court BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

group of Higher National Diploma holders in the public service, yesterday, dragged the federal government before the National Industrial Court, NIC, sitting in Abuja, asking it to declare that they are entitled to the same remunerations and progression in their work places as their counterparts with first degree without any discrimination whatsoever. The plaintiffs are further praying the court for an order directing the defendants to implement the directives of the government white paper on the presidential committee on the consolidation of emoluments in the public sector. Aside the Attorney General of the Federation, others cited as defendants in the suit were the National Council on Establishment and the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation. Meantime, the President of the NIC, Justice Babatunde Adejumo yesterday adjourned the suit to September 18 for hearing.

Deltans need Orubebe’s experience as governor —Okogu

former Vice Chairman of Ughelli North Local Government Area and coordinator Delta People’s Forum (DPF), Chief Paul Okogu has thrown his support behind the aspiration of the former Minister for Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe, to succeed Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan in 2015. Chief Okogu expressed his support yesterday in Ughelli where he declared that Chief Orubebe is an experienced and God fearing man whom Deltans need to take them to the next level. He said while serving as Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Orubebe made a lot of sacrifices as he chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. According to Chief Okogu, Elder Orubebe greatly contributed to the atmosphere of peace that is prevailing in the Niger Delta. He said: “Delta state needs a man with such vast experience of Elder Orubebe to tackle the intricate politics in Abuja”. Okogu said: “Of all the aspirants jostling for the plum job of the Governor of Delta State, only Elder Orubebe is the most qualified” and urged Deltans to embrace a man who will not see his office as business as usual.

Hijab in School: Court fixes Sept 26 for judgment BY ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH & BARTHOLOMEW NDUKWE

USTICE Modupe Onyeabor of an Ikeja High Court has fixed September 26 to deliver judgment in a suit filed by the Muslim Students Society of Nigeria (MSSN) against the Lagos State Government over the use of Hijab by female Muslim students in the state’s primary and secondary schools. The date was taken after the court heard arguments and the adoption of written addresses from counsel representing the students and the Lagos state government, Gani Adetola-Kaseem (SAN) and the Lagos State Solicitor General, Lawal Pedro (SAN) respectively. MSSN had dragged the state government to court over the restriction of the use of the Hijab, on the ground that it violates their fundamental human rights.

8 — SATURDAY Vanguard, JULY 5, 2014

Policemen take over Edo Assembly By Simon Ebegbulem

HE Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Mr. Uyi Igbe and 14 other All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmakers, yesterday, escaped death after over one hundred armed mobile policemen deployed from Abuja to the state, took over the premises of the state House of Assembly. The policemen who stormed the Assembly complex at about 11am started assaulting the staff of the Assembly in their offices, ordering them out of the premises. The workers who are involved in the on going renovation of the Complex were equally chased away by the policemen. Following the pandemonium at the Assembly complex, a visibly shocked Speaker of the House, Uyi Igbe, came out from his office to confront the policemen led by one ASP, Florence Joseph. The female police officer told the Speaker that they were acting on “orders from above” and threatened to shoot the Speaker if he attempted to stop them. Angered by her comment, the 15 APC lawmakers challenged her to shoot them, vowing to resist any attempt by the Peoples

Democratic Party (PDP) to use the police to destabilize the state. “We will fight with the last drop of our blood, the presidency and the Inspector General of

Police can kill all of us, we are prepared to die”, they echoed to the policemen. As the argument between the APC lawmakers and the Policemen went on, the

impeached Deputy Speaker of the House, Festus Ebea, said there was no need for the renovation, saying that it was an attempt by the APC to stop them from sitting.

Traffic gridlock from Sanya to Berger along Oshodi-Apapa Express road,Lagos.

Court sentences father of 4, to death over the murder of his wife to have thrown a By Onozure Dania

USTICE Ebenezer Adebanjo of a Lagos High Court sitting in Igbosere has sentenced a father of four children, Austine Ugbogbo, to death, after finding him guilty over the murder of his wife. Ugbogbo was convicted and sentenced to death by hanging by the court. The father of four

children who resides at Oyingbo, Ebute-Metta was charged before the court by the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) on behalf of the state government over the murder of Ann Ugbogbo. Ann Ugbogbo, was murdered by her husband Ugbogbo, on January 26, 2012 at their residence after they had a misunderstanding. The husband was said

burning stove on his wife which caused her death. Delivering his judgment on a one-count charge preferred against the convict who had earlier pleaded not guilty, the trial judge, Justice Adebanjo stated that the three issues to be determined by the court were whether Mrs Ugbgbo is dead; the cause of her death and whether her husband had hand in her death.

NDLEA nabs man with cannabis in food packs

FFICIALs of the National Drug Law Enforcement, NDLEA, at the Murtala M u h a m m e d International Airport (MMIA), Lagos have arrested a 46-year-old man with 19.180kilogrammes of dried weeds that tested positive for cannabis. The suspect identified as Egbuteigbo Aloysius, allegedly concealed the drug as food ingredients inside his luggage. He was arrested while allegedly attempting to export the drug to Guangzhou, China on an Ethiopian Airline flight. NDLEA Commander at the Lagos Airport, Mr. Hamza Umar who confirmed the arrest said that investigation was ongoing. According to Umar: “the suspect, Egbuteigbo Aloysius Chukwuwike was arrested during screening of Ethiopian Airways flight to China. During search, sachets containing dried weeds that tested positive for

BRIEFS

Queen Kefee for burial July 11 in Sapele By Benjamin Njoku

HE remains of late pop-gospel singer, Kefee Irikefe Don-Momoh nee Obareki, will be laid to rest next Friday, July 11, 2014 in her hometown, Okpara-Inland, Ethiope East Local Government area of Delta State. The deceased’s family said this, while receiving members of the Kefee Memorial Committee, a collection of artistes and entertainment personalities, who paid a condolence visit to the late singer’s parents in their Sapele home in Delta.

A statement released by her publicist in Lagos, Thursday, states that Kefee’s husband, Teddy DonMomoh has been making frantic arrangements to bring her body back from the United States, where she passed on at Desert Spring Hospital, Las Vegas, after 15 days in coma, resulting from lungs failure on June 13. According to reports, the husband would arrive the country first to receive her body before taking the corpse down to Delta State for burial.

Benue State govt releases N7.3billion to pay striking teachers

OLLOWING the decision of the Benue State branch of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT to call off its eight-month strike, the state government has released N7.3billion for the immediate payment of backlog of salaries to primary school teachers in

the state. The Special Adviser to the state Governor on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. Solomon Wombo made this known yesterday while fielding questions from Journalists in Makurdi, the state capital.

Senatorial Election: Foundation set for Pascal Adigwe’s declaration By Tommy Anaduaka

DP faithfuls and members of Pascal Adigwe Foundation have concluded plans for the formal declaration of Chief Pascal Adigwe’s aspiration as the next Senator representing Delta-North in 2015 senatorial election. Speaking in an interview, a member of the foundation, Mr. Chris Uwajeh, said that bill boards, posters and other necessary materials to embark on the campaign are awaiting for the party directives and the National

Electoral Commission, N.E.C., adding that as law abiding citizens and loyal party members, it cannot be seen to indulge in any act of indiscipline. Mr. Uwajeh remarked that the Delta-North hopeful, Chief Adigwe who is currently on consultation visits with PDP leaders, youths and women;if elected would no doubt use the foundation philanthropic gesture and experience in leadership to attract development to Delta North Senatorial District.

I’ll continue to touch lives — Akinbile

Chukwuwike cannabis and packed as food source were found in his bag. The total weight of the drug is 19.180kg. The case is under investigation”. The suspect who sells phone accessories during interrogation said he was paid five thousand US dollars to take the substance to China.

renowned philan thropist, Princess Uzamat Akinbile-Yusuf, has said that she would continue to touch the lives of the poor and add value to their lives. Princess as she is fondly called; a pharmacist who owns a group of businesses, filling stations, pharmaceutical companies and also Information Technology firms, made this known during her 40th birthday celebration held in Abule Egba recently. She stated that with her

pet project, The Goodwill, several people in her local government have benefited from different projects including a 12-feet culvert in Omoroga/ Akintan, Meiran while about 100 artisans got different tools under her “Tools- for-job initiative.” “My commitment to serve humanity will not wane, I will continue to do more to bring about positive change in the society,” she said.

SATURDAY Vanguard, JULY 5, 2014 — 9

Polytech dichotomy: Presidential C’ttee submits report

BRIEFS FG rates Lafarge high

•as Wike urges ASUP to call off strike

By Daud Olatunji, Abeokuta

nothing less, we are asking the government to make some commitment with certain levels in the areas that we have reached ” He explained that what has delayed the strike this long is the intrusion to offset the Union members’ arrears.

The ASUP boss noted, “When the strike will end BY LAIDE AKINBOADE as a step forward. He said the strike will will depend on when the end when the federal government comes to HE Presidential government comes to Committee on the terms with its own sides terms with meeting up with its own side of the removal of dichotomy of the bargain. bargain and excerpt between the Higher National Diploma and the University degree holders yesterday, submitted its report. The 12-Man Technical Committee constituted by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, submitted its report to the Supervising Minister of Education, Chief Nyesom Wike in Abuja. Receiving the report, the Supervising Minister of Education, Chief Nyesom Wike said the submitted report is a Chibok Attack by Boko Haram: From left, Abuja Chairman, Tsambido Hosea major approach to Abeng, National President Dr Pogu Bitrus, Executive Officer KADA National addressing the key Dr Wakila Chibok addressing pressmen during press conference by Kibaku demands of the Area Development Association (KADA) in Abuja. Photo by Gbemiga Olamikan. Academic staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP. According to him, “This is part of addressing the Omare said, “It is totally pressing demands of the By Samuel Oyadongha, ercise in furtherance of its unacceptable for the Conmarginalization by the NiYenagoa academic staff union of ference to recommend the gerian state. polytechnics, but what is The IYC said though the creation of additional 18 most important is that HE Ijaw ethnic na Ijaw ethnic nationality states without considering the committee has been tionality yesterday able to do their job very rejected the recommenda- made a request for the the requests of the Ijaw Ethwell, and submitted their tion of the National Con- creation of two additional nic Nationality which is Nigeria’s 4th largest tribe. report earnestly, is for the fab on the creation of 18 ad- states to wit: Toru-Ebe “The conference recomASUP to know that the ditional states saying it was State from the present mendations are geared toDelta, Edo and Ondo government is willing to skewed in favour of some wards empowering some States and Oil Rivers State solve the entire problem. ethnic nationalities. from the present Rivers ethnic nationalities to have “The report will be acSpokesman of the Ijaw cordingly forwarded to Youth Council (IYC) world- and Akwa Ibom States, the more political control to the secretary to the gov- wide, Comrade Eric conference committee on the detriment of other ethernment for immediate Omare, in a statement is- Political Restructuring nic nationalities in Nigeria action, it will not be like sued in Yenagoa said the and Forms of Government and in total disregard to other reports, one thing Ijaw being the fourth larg- recommended creation of the political marginalisawe should also know is est ethnic nationality was additional 18 states across tion and oppression of the that once the govern- deliberately left out in the the country without consid- Ijaws of Delta, Edo and Ondo states. ment comes up with a proposed state creation ex- ering the Ijaw requests. position paper that will be the final decision. “The government will have to digest this report before they come up with the court to direct the a decision”. defendants to return the Wike also said the “I do not need to tell anyoriginal C of O, in respect HE former submission of the report body that when there is a of the property to him as Chairman of the is meant to re-assure the Senate Committee on status quo order, there well as take necessary steps union that the be legal to perfect the title in his Housing, Senator would government was doing consequences, if it is name. Ikechukwu Obiora, has all it can to ensure that violated,” she said. However, upon reading won a legal bid seeking to all lingering problems stop him from further devel- Joined in the suit by the the 36 paragraph affidavit are been solved. opment of his property on Claimant, Chief Louis On- in support of the applicaThe Minister urged the No. 6, Okotie-Eboh Street in wugbenu were Obiora, his tion sworn to by Chief Loustriking lecturers of the Ikoyi, Lagos. company, the Corporate is Onwugbenu and after Polytechnics to call off The Lagos High Court Ideals Properties Limited hearing the Counsel to the the industrial action in A.B.C. Claimant/Applicant, Chief presided over by Justice businessman the interest of the nation. Orjiako, and another Phillips Umeh, and the Folasade Bankole-Oki had The President of the company, Orangeline counter affidavit filed by Deon February 13, 2014 oracademic staff union of fendants/Respondents dered Obiora to stop further Limited. Polytechnic and a Onwugbenu asked the Counsel, Bankole-Oki disdevelopment of the said land member of the committee, pending the hearing of the court to hold that he was the missed the application for Dr Chibuzor Asomugha Claimant’s application, rightful owner and entitled lack of merit and consewho arrived the venue warning that anybody who to be granted the Certificate quently vacated her earlier of the meeting after the flouted the order would be of Occupancy, C of O, in re- order stopping Obiora from submission of the report held in contempt of the spect of the property. further development of the acknowledged the action The applicant further asked property. court.

Ijaw rejects more states creation

Cour t vacates order against Senator Obiora T

HE Minister of La bour and Productivity, Emeka Wogu has disclosed that Lafarge Cement WAPCO Nigeria Plc had been rated as the best in health and safety as well sound environmental practice. Speaking on impacts of healthy living in nation building at the end of Lafarge Cement WAPCO Health and Safety Month at Ewekoro Cement Plant II , Wogu also

said the investigations carried out on Lafarge Cement WAPCO plants and products showed that the giant cement producer is the best in the country. The Minister who was represented by Abayomi Ogayemi, Controller of Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity, Ogun State Office, said, “As far as I am concerned, among all the cement companies, Lafarge is the best among others I can say in areas of safety and health.

Onoriode lauds Majemite’s chairmanship ambition

S the preparation for the Delta State Local Government Election heats up, the Transition Committee Chairman, Ethiope East Local Government Area, Mr. Sunday Eromedoghene Onoriode, has lauded the aspiration of Mrs. Faith Majemite to contest the forthcoming local government election slated for 25th October. The council chief said that Mrs. Majemite had worked for the party and had supported several persons into elective positions right from 1999 till date and should be given opportunity to serve.

He said the office of the Ethiope East council chairman is meant for experience and tested politicians like Majemite because of her commitment and dedication to party activities, saying that she is a grassroots mobilizer and astute politician. While calling on all Ethiope East people to give their maximum support to Mrs. Majemite’s aspiration for the chairmanship election, Onoriode said he was soliciting support for her on the ground that she has contributed immensely to the growth of the party in the local government and at the state level.

Demolition: ‘Delta’ ll not tolerate insubordination by traders’ By Godwin Oghre

ELTA state Com missioner for Transport, Barr. Ben Ibakpa has said that the state government will not tolerate any act of insubordination on the part of erring traders found to be rebuilding any demolished illegal structure across the state, just as he confirmed that no fewer than 97 market stores have been completed and ready for allocation to traders in Sapele. The commissioner who yesterday made the disclosure while supervising the demolition exercise in Sapele, Sapele Local Government Council, also confirmed that the state governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, has directed the Ministry of Housing, to allocate the stores to traders. He spoke when Satur-

day Vanguard requested for his opinion on the fate of protesting traders whose means of livelihood have been ruined in the ongoing demolition exercise, most of who confirmed that they might have to embarrass the government by ravaging and loitering the streets with crime and commercial sex work to eke out a living. Barr. Ibakpa who frowned at the manner in which some traders have begun rebuilding illegal structures already demolished by the state government also reiterated government’s determination to return again to demolish any illegal structure currently being rebuilt by recalcitrant traders in the area, saying that, “Government will not tolerate insubordination on the part of the traders.”

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Horror of teenagers toiling for livelihood •I’ll re-unite with my mother someday—Yosuph, street worker •We’ll not allow under-aged hawkers on Lagos streets—LASG •Child Labour on the increase — WARDC BY EMMANUEL EDUKUGHO, ISHOLA BALOGUN, EBUN SESSOU, OLAYINKA AJAYI, ADERONKE ADEYERI

ako, 15, was caught between two articulated vehicles, running barefoot on the cracked highway along Ibadan expressway, as he tried to receive money for the snacks he sold to a moving motorist. Luck ran out on him as he got stuck between two vehicles, knocked down, lifeless. Help came from his co-hawkers and a Samaritan. Although he was able to tell his story but not without his two legs again. He has since returned to the streets begging for liveliood. Similarly, Tola, despite being a teenager, worked long hours as a domestic servant, cooking, cleaning and doing laundry and other household chores. She was made to sleep on the floor, was only given leftovers to eat and was not paid for her labour. Her monthly stipends were given to a third party for onward delivery to Tola’s mother at home. Even though she was not contemplating escape, her situation might not change so soon.

The unpleasant situation of several teenagers as street hawkers, domestic servants, beggars, jeopardizes their health, their normal development, physical, mental or moral well-being and even their lives. Many of these children work under appalling conditions and are denied their basic right to education. The horror of girls and boys toiling in dangerous areas, being fostered as domestic workers where they work long hours has propelled the issue of child labour as a cover for this week. Saturday Vanguard spoke with a number of teenagers in different forms of child labour, revealing horrible stories of their lives. “I lost my legs on the street while selling Gala to motorists. I was trapped in between two big lorries and before I knew what was happening, I landed in the hospital. I was unconscious for several days. “My guardian tried to locate my family but to no avail. My ankle was twisted and broken, they had to amputate it. There was a major fracture in the other leg which I managed to carry for some months before it was also amputated. My guardian cried and all hope to take me back to my people failed because we couldn’t locate my mother. One

I lost my legs on the street while selling Gala to motorists. I was trapped in between two big lorries and before I knew what was happening, I landed in the hospital. I was unconscious for several days of the motorists who hit me paid the bills,” said Bako. But two years after the ugly incidence, Bako went back to the street again as a beggar.

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Continues from page 10 “I cannot locate my family, I know I came from Otukpo in Benue State but my mother and I were formerly in Sagamu before I was brought to Lagos by one Seriki, a few years back. But on the death of Seriki, Mallam Sanni took me and gave me some money with which I started the Gala street hawking. I don’t even know where my mother is, and whether she is dead or alive. I live on the streets and earn my livelihood here. I move from one place to another. Since the accident, there was nothing I could do to live other than to beg with other senior beggars,” he stated. Bako is only one of the teenagers under this appalling condition though under different forms of child labour. Ogueh was 13 when she took up a domestic job at Asolo, Ikorodu, Lagos. She was fostered on her employer with the arrangement to take responsibility of her secondary education. Her employer (Mumy D) who also runs a restaurant in the neighbourhood uses her as domestic worker at home and menial worker in the restaurant. Tola who spoke to Saturday Vanguard in her native language stated that her secondary education hit a brick wall when her fathered died in a motor accident a couple of years ago. Her mother thereafter foisted her on MumyD to help her in domestic activities as well as continue her education. According to her, “I will still go to school soon. Mumy D asked me to wait till next session. I did an entrance examination last year but they did not admit me. I hope to go into Junior Secondary School next session.” Narrating what she does at the restaurant and at home, Tola said: “it is always long and tiring working hours all through in the restaurant; washing plates, serving customers; helping in cooking; even carrying heavy loads, especially when we have to go to fetch water for washing dishes. At home, I sweep the compound, collect water, wash dishes, do laundry, help in food preparation or take charge of the cooking among other things before I go to restaurant. According to her, she carries out all these jobs with humiliating or degrading treatment including physical and verbal abuse.

I’ll re-unite with my mother someday —Yosuph In the same vein, Lateefah another employed child in Ikorodu, whose only parent lives in Badagry, Lagos State suffers no less as she would have to work about 10 hours daily vending fish and tomatoes at the market in Ikorodu. She said that sometimes, when revenues from sales were less than what she should remit, the balance would be deducted from her monthly stipends which are sent to her Mother at home after which she must have been battered by her employer. The denial of fundamental rights of the child, such as, for example,

account for the revenues from vending and for not waking up early.” Asked whether she had ever contemplated escape someday, she said she would wait till the time she would have the opportunity to visit her mother in Badagry and she would never return to her employer again. She said she made an average of N7000 per day from her daily business. Ojo, 15, acts big and strong for livelihood. He had to work to earn money for school fees, materials and

in Edo resorted to selling sachet and table water on the streets to passengers in moving vehicles. A sausage seller, Chima Ezinwa, in his narration, lamented that the nonavailability of money truncated his quest for education. “I came from a poor family and was stubborn while living with my parents,” adding, “my father cautioned me to avoid street fighting so that he could sponsor my education, but I did not listen to his advice as I immediately left Ebonyi State for Lagos. Another teenager, Mustau Ayinde, 13, told Saturday Vanguard he was asked to withdraw from JSS2 due to his mother’s illness which confined her to bed. As a result, he joined the street hawking business selling foot wears at Agbara along the busy highway, though he did not disclose his future ambition.

“it is always long and tiring working hours all through in the restaurant; washing plates, serving customers; helping in cooking; even carrying heavy loads, especially when we have to go to I’ll re-unite with my mother someday fetch water for washing dishes —Yosuph access to education and healthcare, the right to rest, leisure, recreation, and the right to be cared for and to have regular contact with their parents and peers. These factors can have an irreversible physical, psychological and moral impact on the development, health and well-being of a child. “I cry why my mother had to dump me here to be punished for not doing work quickly enough, or for breaking dishes, for failing to

other essentials. He has potential to do well in school. He works long hours in a car mechanics shop in Lagos to contribute his staggering earnings to his family. He attends a public school and uses the afterschool-period to fend for himself. For him, his most precious right is the basic education that will equip him to build a better future for himself and cannot be wished away for anything

Experiences of teenage hawkers

aiye Joseph, who hawks at Iyana-Iba, along the Lagos/ Badagry Expressways lamented that since he lost his father, he had no where to go as nobody was willing to help him in his educational pursuit. Taiye who hailed from Agenebode

Yosuph, who hails from the Kwanga-Kusar local government area of Borno state was brought to Lagos in 2010 by a distant relation after the

Continues on page 12

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We’ll not allow under-aged hawkers on Lagos streets —LASG Continues from page 11

death of his father in 2009. “I left my mother and eight siblings in order to help the family financially to pave the way for my formal education in Lagos. I was taken to a family where I worked as a domestic worker.” “While at this house, I did not go to school as was promised. I was made to fetch food for their dogs and engage in other house chores. I would work from morning till night and was only allowed to eat once a day. One day, when my madam sent me to the market, some boys in the neighborhood collected the money and I ran back to the house to inform my madam but I got the beaten of my life, I was chained for hours and accused of spending the money,” he explained. “The situation was unbearable. So, I looked for the man who took me to the house. I told him I wanted to go back to my mother or I would simply die. He refused saying I was a lazy boy. So, I left the house and took to street begging.” I realized the man was paid some mount of money monthly but the money never got to my mother. Relating his experience as street beggar, he said, “as it is, street begging is the only source of living I have and know. There are times I make close to one N1000 and save some of it so that I can start a trade. I do not have anybody to turn to but life must go on, my friends here (pointing to his co-beggars who were doing their business) are the only ones I have”. Yoosuph was rather optimistic believing he would find help one day and realise his ambition to become an engineer and reunite with his family. “I will overcome this some day and I know my mother would have done everything within her power to look for me and she might

have cried a lot but I know Almighty Allah would spare her life to see her Yoosuph again. Then, I will be a man and take care of her”.

Teenagers as artisans

n the same vein, Abdulai Sani a young shoe cobbler who hails from northern Nigeria did not find artisanship bad. He however narrated the ordeal that spured him into shoe making. His words; “I am aware that my mates are in senior secondary schools but I had no better choice than to be a shoe cobbler. While in primary school, I repeated several times, so in order to save myself from shame, I had to quit to be shoe repairer”. These hazards could have been exacerbated by the denial of fundamental rights of the child, such as, for example, access to education and health care, the right to rest, leisure, play and recreation, and the right to be cared for and to have regular contact with their parents and peers. These factors could have an irreversible physical, psychological and moral impact on the development, health and wellbeing of a child.

We’ll not allow under-aged hawkers on Lagos streets —LASG Director, Child Development, Lagos State Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, WAPA, Mrs. Alaba Fadairo

he Lagos State Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation WAPA, is working hard to ensure school children are not engaged as streets hawkers, especially during school hours. The Director of Child Development Unit of the Ministry, Mrs. Alaba Fadairo, who disclosed this during an interview, added that officials of the ministry go to places where they discover that school children and under-aged people are hawking on the streets. According to her; “we want to make sure that all children of school age are in schools. We have a committee that is in-charge of this. We have a yellow card through which we educate the people about this and it gives them information on how they can get to the government on the matter. We have been able to give these children to their biological parents with undertakings that they would not go back to the streets. Most times, these children hawkers live with their relations and they end up becoming hawkers. We come together bi-monthly in the ministry to review the cases of child trafficking and child labour. In cases where people using them are on the run, we have a home, where we keep the children. We later get their parents to come and pick them, and we make sure we get the children back to school,” she said. Mrs. Alaba explained that there was a time some parents were jailed for six months for allowing their children to hawk during school hours, and that it was discovered that most of the children, who hawk on the streets are not staying with their biological parents. “From what we have done, I think

everybody is being mindful now, we are even working with NAPTIP on the issue, and most people have realized that they are not permitted to employ people that are under 18 years of age. “We create awareness with the yellow cards, we go to the garages and markets to talk to the people about the hazard of child labour, and we also go through associations and talk to them about child labour, particularly the parents. We organize programmes on the issue and other people and organizations are also doing so, we go to schools during PTA meetings to talk to the parents, we have done this in about three districts,” she said. She stressed that taking the children away from the streets is just one stage, and that it is not easy to get information from them when they are newly taken, but that the officials of the ministry keep asking them about their families. “Later, they would tell you where they come from. But when we are still keeping them to get information, we don’t keep them idle, we take them to public schools, we have buses that take them there and bring them back to the home everyday,” she said.

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rs Grace Ketefe, Deputy Director, Women Advo cates Research and Documentation Centre, WARDC, in this interview, says, government has not been able to provide a home for children whose rights are violated. What is your take on child labour? Everyone is a stakeholder including the parents, government, civil society organisations, schools, all have a role to play to ensure that children rights and security are adequately protected. They have a role to play to ensure no child suffers any form of human rights violation. it is not just mere words but resource and personnel should be allocated to ensure that children rights are adequately protected. What is the cause of child labour? There is no justification for child labour. Some people say, it is due to poverty, divorce. But, if there is system is place to check such act child labour will be minimal. Unfortunately, we don’t have a system that allows for foster parents in a situation where the child is subjected to child labour. Most of the children who were forced to work as house-helps do wake up as early as 4a.m and sleep very late at nights. Most of them attend public schools and sleep during the school hours. The children are subjected to all sorts of hardship and child trafficking. There was a case of child trafficking in Benin where a-16-year old girl was subjected to sexual assault. The mother wanted N30,000 in exchange of her daughter. And so, the girl was given out for sexual exploitation. She has been exposed to various forms of sexual violation. She was in a hotel in Benin Republic. The case was reported to NAPTIP and we followed it up. What has been the intervention measure by the CSOs? There are various intervention measures by the CSOs to ensure that children rights are adequately protected. Some societies are involved in research which shows why some children suffer these problems. The data gathered will help in the area of advocacy to work with other stakeholders to ensure that the right of the child is adequately protected. Apart from research, we also do advocacy in such that in most of our trainings, we talk about the right of the child, talk to relevant stakeholders including traditional rulers, parents, as well as provide legal aid to the child where necessary. We provide legal aid to victims of human right violation. In most cases, when women rights are violated, there is tendency that children right will be violated. For instances, in a situation where it is one party that has access to the children, it affects the child’s psychology. Some parents refused to pay for the upkeep of their children because they have issues with their spouses. We also do some documentation of the cases involving child labour that have been attended to in

Govt has no home for children whose rights are violated —Ketefe the last quarter and the kind of violation. In a nutshell, civil society organisations do research, advocacy, documentations and provide legal aids. Would you say the rate of child labour is on the increase? It depends. In Lagos state, there is a policy that states that no child under the age of 18 years should be hawking, begging, or engage in any form of child abuse during school hours, 8am to 2pm. Until, we begin to take particular interest in our children, we will not be able to address the issue of child labour. Child labour is a crime that is well organised. There was a case of a woman who instructed her child to go scavenging for her. The case was

reported to us. Until we begin to report issues on child labour or child abuse happening in our community, the issue might prove difficult to deal with. On the surface, it is increasing but those involved in the exploitation, child abuse and the likes might also device another methodology. Until, we begin to discover what other forms of vices exist, we might not know to what extent the rights of children are being trampled upon. But, there are checks and balances trying to nip child labour in the bud. Do you think government is doing enough to curb this trend? Government has created a legal framework within the child right law

which of course might not be effective. Government has tried to make the remand home more effective and also create the family court which protects the children. But, I think, it could do more in the sense that, those remand homes and shelters are not enough to adequately take care of the children from broken homes. I have a problem with taking a child that is from a broken home to a remand home because that child is not a criminal. I am yet to see a home or shelter specifically dedicated to children whose rights are violated. Government needs to create homes for children who have been abused so that when they are returned back to their homes, they won’t be abused.

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Can Ekiti be a pointer to 2015 elections? Odili, Umeh, Adams, Braithwaite, others bare their minds BY HENRY UMORU, ASSISTANT POLITICAL EDITOR

he frenzy surrounding the gubernatorial election held in Ekiti State on Saturday, June 21 could be described as really unparalleled in Nigeria’s chequered electoral history. The election was unique in two ways, one the incumbent, Dr. Kayode Fayemi was defeated by the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Ayodele Fayose and secondly, Fayemi did not only concede defeat, but congratulated Fayose in the interest of the people of Ekiti State. Saturday Vanguard took on some delegates at the on- going National Conference on whether what happened in Ekiti State could be a pointer to what will happen in 2015. Excerpts :

Whatever makes a candidate popular with the people is what you should pay attention to —Peter Odili C M Y K

Dr. Peter Odili, former governor of Rivers State and a delegate in the Elder Statesmen category at the on- going National Conference. I believe that democracy is about the people and the will of the people expressed through the ballot. Therefore every serious political party must aim at selecting candidates that reflect those candidate’s relationship with the people and the only way to do it is to allow internal democracy. So whatever makes a candidate popular with the people is what you should pay attention to. Once you have internal democracy, we are on the right course to true democracy nationwide.

There will be groundswell of support against PDP — Sani Zoro Mohammed Sani Zoro, is a former President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ and a delegate on the platform of the body. What happened in Ekiti has been well analysed by the hierarchy of the party as well as the intellectuals of the party and I can guarantee you

that it was an isolated event. Now, towards the next election, you would see the groundswell of support that would make up for that loss in Ekiti, in so far as free and fair elections will be guaranteed. Even what transpired in Ekiti, you cannot call it free and fair, in so far as there were external pressures that were brought to bear on the process. The militarization of the place. Secondly, the fact that even the social media had validated what took place by way of voters on queues holding bags of rice with the labels and names of candidates and you know that electioneering campaign ought to close at least not less than 24hours before the election. But when voters queue up with symbols and signs of particular candidates you know that that one is flawed and then the ban of officials of the APC and some party stakeholders who had also wanted to go in, to reinforce the campaign of the governor. So all these will be challenged in court and I can assure you, that in so far as it is an isolated incidence, we just need to re-strategise and we will stage a comeback in a manner that will take the entire Nigeria by storm, we of the

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My only fear in the race

—Alysia, the 8 ½ months pregnant Olympian who ran 800m race BY JULIET EBIRIM

any pregnant women keep up with a mild and gentle exercise routine while expecting, but it’s doubtful that many would fancy doing an 800m running race. However, a five-time U.S. national champion did just that and ran it in just over two minutes - all while she was 34-weeks pregnant. Olympian Alysia Montano may have finished last in the race yesterday at the Hornet Stadium in Sacramento, California, but she said she enjoyed it and felt ‘really good’. The 28-year-old runner, who received a standing ovation after completing the race in 2 minutes, 32.13 seconds, said: ‘I’ve been running throughout my pregnancy and I felt really, really good during the whole process.’ Her finishing time was 35 seconds slower than her personal best of 1:57.34, which she smashed back in 2010 in a race in Monaco, but is still a time many recreational runners wouldn’t be able to achieve. Nicknamed the ‘flying flower’ thanks to always racing with one in her hair, she joked her biggest fear was being lapped in USATF Outdoor Championships race. ‘I just didn’t want to get lapped and be the first person to get lapped in the 800,’ said Montano. The 28-year-old is expecting her first baby with her husband Louis, who she married in 2011. Doctors gave Montano the OK to take part in the race and she hopes it dispels misconceptions over exercise and pregnancy. ‘That took away any fear of what the outside world might think about a woman running during her pregnancy,’ Montano said about getting her doctor’s approval. Montano has been training and competing since she was a child and was glad to find there was no reason why she shouldn’t continue while expecting. ‘What I found out mostly was that exercising during pregnancy is actually much better for the mom and the baby...I did all the things I normally do...I just happened to be pregnant. This is my normal this

year,’ she said. She knew she had no chance of winning or running at her best during the race, but emphasises that wasn’t the point. She wanted to take part for the joy of racing. She wrote on her blog that she thinks it’s important that people - whatever their ability - remember that it’s taking part in sport that counts. ’Racing is still very enjoyable for me because I’ve been able to think of it like a kid does. They’re so innocent they’re wanting to win but they’re having fun, too,’ she writes. ’As you get older, it’s easy to put importance on things that really don’t matter and then succumb to that pressure; so I don’t like to get myself

The 28-year-old runner, who received a standing ovation after completing the race in 2 minutes, 32.13 seconds, said: ‘I’ve been running throughout my pregnancy and I felt really, really good during the whole process

wrapped up by talking about competitive goals too much.’ Experts say it’s safe for women who are used to keeping fit like Montano to carry on exercising, while pregnant - albeit at a lower intensity than before. The pace Montano ran at in the race while pregnant would certainly be a more leisurely one for her than usual - in the 2012 Olympic Games in London, she came 5th with a time under two minutes. It seems likely she will get back into training, when it’s safe to do so after having her baby and she has admitted one of her dreams is to one day open a personal fitness studio for working parents - where they can bring their children along to keep fit too. She said: ‘I want to teach people about exercise and fitness and how it can be really fun, and I want to help parents educate their children about it, because that’s where everything starts.’ She’s certainly not the first to pull on her jogging shoes while pregnant and she won’t be the last. Nell McAndrew famously came under fire when she revealed in 2012 that at 20 weeks pregnant with her second child, she was still running six miles a day. Also, Olympic athletes, Paula Radcliffe and Jo Pavey, ran moderately throughout their

pregnancies and went on to have healthy babies, Nell decreased the intensity as well as length of her runs to alleviate any risk to herself and her unborn child. Before she conceived, she had been running 90 miles a week while training for the London Marathon, so six miles a day was a significant reduction in mileage. Yet, despite Nell taking all the precautions recommended by medical professionals, she still faced criticism from people who accused her of putting her baby at risk through exercise.

16—SATURDAY Vanguard Vanguard,, JULY 5, 2014

am still trying to understand the loss of Dr Olukayode Fayemi in the gubernatorial election of Ekiti State and it is not because ‘I am involved’ by lineage. As a bystander, and as a professional journalist, I am involved and therefore curious. If I was living in Ekiti State and not just and indigene in diaspora, I would have, on the face of things, voted for Fayemi. He is urbane, articulate and appears sincere and committed. These are traits that an average Ekiti man full that weekend and many gallons cherishes. He is also an ‘omoluabi’ in a of alcoholic beverages would have vocation where that description can not gone down many stomachs by people fit many people. Fayose, his opponent who felt elated and those who stand on the other hand appears from his to gain by the victory. After all, a new antecedents, the very opposite of these fish has entered the waters. Behold, traits. He had in the past, shot very the old has passed away…. rapidly from the hips, spraying missiles But does the PDP deserve the chest at the young and the old. And many thumping that is currently going on? elders still nurse the wounds from his Would it have won if another politician past verbal missiles. He was a typical who does not understand the Adedibu bull in the proverbial china shop and brand of politics had been chosen? In you wondered what Ekiti State did to other words, would PDP sans Fayose deserve a governor like him. have won? Secondly, was the playing So you can imagine my consternation field truly, truly level as is being that at his second coming, in an election touted? Was it also necessary to shut which has been seen as relatively fair down a peaceful State for almost three but not free, he became an days in the name of security? One overwhelming winner. I have scoured thing is certain; the security agencies the pages of the newspapers since then that left the more troubled areas in the in an attempt to understand what really country to arrive in droves in Ekiti happened in Ekiti State on June 21. were not there to do Fayemi a favour. According to the And the rumoured papers, it appears at least arrests and from hindsight that intimidation of his Fayemi lost because of aides could not have the following reasons: he helped his cause. The was aloof and too only cause it has intellectual for a helped is that of those politician. He cut and who believe the Federal delayed the salaries of Government should Civil Servants in a State not control all the that is full of retired and security agencies serving Civil Servants. especially the police. His educational policy After all, we have seen alienated some teachers. the uses and abuses of His self-serving security by the Federal commissioners and aides Government. These drove the wedge between agencies, according to him and his people deeper. His reports, allowed certain ‘enablers’ to contractors were city –read Lagos-based pass through while denying others. Ekitis. Meanwhile, Fayose the smart Would Fayemi have won otherwise? one — hindsight again—demonstrated Probably not; but it would have been close affinity with, and empathy for the nice if the Federal Government had people. Empowerment for him is not for not bullied the State. the future. It is a matter of the moment ne celebratory image that sticks to be addressed through the provision to my mind is that of Aso Rock of Okada cycles, grinders and boreholes where the President, his Vice, Party etc. He also understood the politics of Chairman and senior officials decided the stomach and dined regularly with to toast to their equation-changing the masses. victory. I am not against celebrations; f these reasons turn out to be especially if you have worked for it. responsible for the loss of the In this instance, warm handshakes or incumbent, it is safe to say that Nigeria even bear hugs would have sufficed is not yet ready for the likes of Fayemi given the state of the country. But to and Fashola. We are more at home it charge your glasses for drinks in front seems, with the Adedibu kind of politics of one hundred and sixty million where taking from Peter and dispensing Nigerians, some of whom have not to Paul is the norm — the amala and seen their daughters in over three ewedu or in this case, the pounded yam months, is in my view, very distasteful and bush meat school of politics. and shows where their priority really It is perhaps in character for Fayemi lies. Many of those who watched the to concede defeat so quickly in an toast to power and electoral victory election that was so militarised but have had their lives permanently whose outcome seemed to reflect the damaged by the security challenges wishes of the people. The acceptance in the country. speech of Fayose was also gracious and That toast in full glare of the public reconciliatory, if out of character with the was ill advised. Whatever liquid was Fayose of yore.* One hopes a new, in those flutes might go well down improved Fayose is taking over the reins their throats in the comfort of their Aso in October. One also hopes he will go Rock fortress. It however leaves a bad beyond dispensing largess to truly taste in the mouths of many of us who improving the lives of the people in a are disgusted with the lust for power meaningful way. for the sake of it. In my book, power Many drinking bars would have been and responsibility must go together.

He cut and delayed the salaries of Civil Servants in a State that is full of retired and serving Civil Servants

Don’t le eal yyour our jo lett Satan st steal joyy Satan is out to steal your joy. His ministry is to steal, to kill and to destroy (Jn 10:10). He knows that if he can steal your joy, he can keep your properties. This is why he will do anything to frustrate you and everything that has to do with you. He wants you to be sorrowful so that you block the avenues to fruitfulness. The devil knows that when you are fruitful his kingdom will be more in a mess. Hence he will use whatever it takes to stop you. Do you know that the devil can use your colleague, husband, wife or friend to offend you and make you think that they are the ones who have offended you? His primary purpose is to cause you pain whilst hiding behind them. The devil disguises and manifest in so many ways to deceive man so that man will turn around to blame God. You see satan knows that if he can succeed in deceiving you, you may doubt God and miss your blessings that will ultimately make you more sad and bitter. Bitterness can never produce fruitfulness. Whatever you are trusting God for that is yet to manifest is not enough reason to be sorrowful. Know that God is who He says He is and would do what He says He will do. God cannot lie. His word is settled in heaven. If you are yet to receive the solution does not mean that God has not done it or is not going to do it. God is ever faithful. God is more concern about you receiving the blessings than you are. Instead of being sad check your life. If you are convinced that you are right with God then just hold on because God is always right on time. He is never late. Stir up your confidence in God. He won’t disappoint you. Has God ever done something for you before? If your answer is yes, do you think that He has changed? Mal. 3:6, says, “for I the Lord, I change not: therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed”. God cannot change. He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. What He did for you yesterday He can do much more today and tomorrow. Believe Him. He D E S said if it was not so He would A have told you so (Jn. 14:2). E The devil wants you to beK lieve that God is not worth it D or trustworthy. But then we E N I know that the devil is a liar. T He has no truth in him. Thus he is called the father of all N A M liars (Jn. 8:44). You see, God did not save E E you to leave you at the merA cies of the enemy or of this W world. The fact that you are a Christian does not mean D U N that you might not suffer E things like sickness, loss of job, disappointments etc. But L U D in all of the challenges, God has made provisions for us H to overcome whatever the I Z Z world can throw at you. it

That ttoast oast tto o vict or victor oryy

may be true that you may not know what tomorrow holds but if God is your God, He knows what tomorrow holds for you and knows how to bring it to pass in your life. Don’t be afraid of tomorrow because of yesterday’s mistakes or failures. God says “remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold I will do a new thing now it shall spring forth, shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert” Isa. 43:18-19. Beloved, know that your tomorrow shall be greater than where you are right now. Stop worrying. Worrying has never solved any challenge in life rather it makes things worse. Know of a surety that God is working things out behind the scene. Know also, that the glory of the latter house shall be greater than the former. Hold on and wait for God’s end. It is always glorious. No wonder the bible says “weeping may endure for a night but joy cometh in the morning”. Rejoice child of God because your victory is assured in Christ. Apostle Paul, said, rejoice, again I say rejoice. Make up your mind that the devil will not rob you of your joy. Gird your loins with the truth (Word of God). Don’t allow satan to deceive you and rob you of your joy because if he succeeds, he can defeat you and rob you of your blessings. Satan’s mightiest weapon is deception. His only hope of winning is to get you to quit and rob you of your joy. The only way he can take anything from you is by deceiving you into handing it over to him. Stop believing in his lies and start walking in the word of God that has made you an overcomer and more than conqueror. Receive grace to remain joyful and RISE. God bless you and bless our great nation Nigeria and President Goodluck Jonathan.

Whatever you are trusting God for that is yet to manifest is not enough reason to be sorrowful

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For more details, contact us at Christ Reality Church, beside Gossard Hotel, opposite First Bank Sports Ground, Community Road, Satellite Town or P.O.Box, 3196, Yaba Lagos. Tel: 08023062635 08168955932; 08033378769. Email: Johnson_crm@yahoo.com. Website: www.christrealityministries.org. Our account details are Pastor Johnson Omomadia, Guaranty Trust Bank, A/C Nos. 0005171407; Christ Reality Ministries, Zenith Bank A/C 1011711622.

Worship with us on Sundays, 1st Service: 745am-9:15am; 2nd Service 9:1511:30am. Wednesdays Word Revelation 6pm. Counseling days Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. 11am-5pm daily or by appointment. Showers of blessing every 2nd - 4th Sat. of each month, 6 a.m - 7.15 am.

SATURDAY Vanguard, JULY 5, 2014 — 17

18 — SATURDAY Vanguard, JULY 5, 2014

My son inspired me into acting – Bamidele Adunke By KEHINDE AJOSE

amidele Adunke is a fast-rising Nollywood actress cum movie producer who has proven her mettle as far as movie production and acting are concerned. Known for her roles in movies like “Itiju and “Mopelola,” the single mother who is fondly called G-money in the movie terrain opens up on how her son inspired her decision to go into acting. She also talks about what she thinks about sex for roles that is thriving in the movie industry, amongst other issues. My son’s featuring in a movie gave me my first role in a movie. A producer wanted to feature him in a particular scene in his movie but he couldn’t do it anymore. So, he saw me with him and suggested that I should try out a scene . After I did, they were impressed that I gave acting a chance. Since then, I have not looked back as God has continued to bless me. I simply do it for the passion. Passion drives me, not fame, not money. If it’s for the money I would have left the industry a long time ago. My most challenging movie role was when I had to act like an imbecile .It was very challenging for me because before then, I never really saw myself bringing that character to life. I had to do it because I am a professional and I get paid for bringing characters to life. I am currently working on a new movie titled Aworan Ife, which will be released soon. I can never star in a soft-porn movie .I cannot expose my body .I won’t do it. I am a mother and I want to be perceived in a good way .I don’t want a situation whereby my son and his friends will be watching a movie years from now, and they will see his mother playing a ridiculous role. I will not do that for whatever reason, for whatever amount. I am not going to do that.

What I desire!

I desire a man who is God fearing, open-minded and one who can hear me out, love and cherish me and my children. Whenever I am playing a romantic role, I always separate my emotions from the role I am playing at that point in time .I don’t have feelings for the person in question, it’s just a role I have to play at that moment. I do it according to what is in the script, no emotional feeling whatsoever. Stardom has cost me my privacy. I can no longer do those things I usually do in the past, like buying roasted plantain .If I do that now, it will become news. If I am not in the public eye, I won’t even be noticed.

I can never star in a soft-porn movie .I cannot expose my body .I won’t do it. I am a mother and I want to be perceived in a good way Being heartbroken!

Yes, I have been heartbroken and It’s not something I like to remember. But I have a cute son from the shattered relationship which consoled me from all the pain I went through. My greatest fear? that would be losing someone very dear to me.I don’t have a celebrity crush here in Nigeria, but there is an Indian actor I have a huge crush on. He is Shahrukh Khan. He is really cute and good at what he does. The only person I am still looking forward to being paired with in a movie is Odunlade Adekola. What I love about him is his line delivery and the way he interprets roles.

The last time I cried!

The last time I cried was when my son was being circumicised. I think that was the last time I cried because I felt the pain. I felt like bearing the pain on his behalf. Though he was a baby then, I was really moved by his tears. Getting married is not a function of doing it early or late, it’s about doing it right. It’s about doing it at the time you and your partner will be happy with each other.

Sexiest part of my body

My sexiest asset is my lips .A lot of people compliement my lips, saying I have sexy lips. I have heard about the demand for sex before one gets a role, but I have not experienced it. Having sex with someone is a thing of choice. So, if a producer wants to sleep with you in order to give you a movie role, it’s up to you. At the end of the day, you might not even star in the movie. I have not been a victim of that.

Sexy woman

My definition of a sexy woman is how a woman carries herself in the public eye. Sexiness is not about showing off your laps or boobs, It’s more about showing off your brilliance and your inner beauty. Marriage is still in my plans, I haven’t ruled it out. For me, it’s about looking out for the right qualities.

SATURDAY Vanguard, JULY 5, 2014 —19

08137897935

Can you kill for love? Love, they say is blind, and lovers cannot see. But in a situation where you are being pushed to the wall in the name of love, would you accept it as part of the ‘price of love’, or go out of your way to return ‘fire for fire’? Cases abound where people have done the unexpected as revenge for unrequited love. Some people have vowed without considering the consequences, that should they catch their wives in bed with another man, the man would be as good as dead. Yet, others would say that both the woman and the man deserve to die. Whatever the reason, would you kill for love? Hear the responses of some celebrities on the issue:

I can’t kill for love — Uru Eke, Actress

can’t kill for love. Unfortunately, everyone searches for love, but not everyone finds it. Once we understand that as humans, we should avoid getting to a point where we would harm anyone because of love.

Be willing to let go

I can’t, but you never know!

— Peggy Ovire, Actress

can’t, and won’t kill for love. If you love someone. You should be willing to let go. If the person is yours, he or she will definitely come back to you. But if not, it means that something better is out there waiting there for you.

— Vanessa Nzediegwu, Actress

’ve never been in a situation that would make me want to kill for love. I can’t kill for love, but you never know what you’re capable of doing until you experience it yourself.

It depends — Joke Jigan, Actress

t depends. If the person can kill because of me, why not? It’s a two way thing, but in this our generation no one can kill for anybody. My ex- used to say he can catch a grenade, kill and jump off a moving train for me, until we broke up. I don’t believe anyone can kill for love really.

Two wrongs can’t make a right — Kelechi Udegbe, Actor

wo wrongs can’t make a right. If I kill for love, I’m trying to right a wrong with a wrong. What will be will be. If a girl dumps me for any reason, then she doesn’t love me. I can’t kill for love because the person you’re dying for doesn’t care about your feelings.

It’s unheard of

- Adebimpe Akintunde (aka Wasilat), Actress I can’t. It’s unheard of. Why should I kill because of another human being. Besides, how am I so sure that same person will reciprocate my gesture. It’s a sin unto God.’

20 — SATURDAY Vanguard, JULY 5 2014

FLORENCE AMAGIYA, 08061644307 daise4000@yahoo.com

t is a good thing when one works hard and it materializes into good wages and living. It is better when one's efforts are channeled to what one enjoys doing andone is paid for doing it. But the ultimate is when one smiles to the bank doing what one enjoys doing. One person, into whom all these goods have flowed, is Funke Akindele. She is a lucky babes living her dreams as an actress, director, producer and model. On the spotlight of The Rich & Famous this week also is Toyin Lawani who is living big dressing up the stars which she herself has turned out to be. Enjoy the package!

Funke Akindele I

t is no doubt that Funke Akindele has made so much money since her debut into limelight. She became a writer, a director, a movie producer and actress after her break in herteen through the TV series, I Need to Know. Today, the lawgraduate is raking in millions while doing what she loves best. Funke hails from Ikorodu in Lagos state. She was born on August 24th, 1976. Sheattended Ogun State Polytechnic, where she bagged an OND in Mass Communication before going further to obtain a degree in Law from the University of Lagos. I Need to Know was a popular TV series that was sponsored by an international organisation. The movies, Jennifa, and The Return of Jennifa, gave the star her big break. According to the report, Funke Akindele’s Jennifa and The return of Jennifa sold like wild fire abroad and she raked in over N50m for the sale of those movies alone. Today, she is ranked as one of the richest act in Nollywood and also the biggest names in the industry. Funke Akindele is pure entertainment herself. She is considered a comedian by her fans because of the role she played in Jennifa.

African Movie Academy Award for Best Actress in a lead role in 2009. The movie, Jennifa, received 4 nominations at the African Movie Academy Awards in 2008. She also won the African Movie Academy Award for the Best Actress in a leading role for her part as Jennifa in the movie titled Jennifa.

Houses and cars

Just like other celebrities living their dreams, Funke

Divas living is not left out in the choice of cars she drives and the houses she has. She has so many properties, both in Lagos and outside Lagos, estimated to be over N300m. She is the owner of a beautiful duplex in a choice area in Ikeja, worth over N150m. At the moment, she is completing one of her country homes in Ikorodu on which she has

already spent over N30m.

Her movies

Funke is one of Nigeria’s finest andbest. She has featured in over 50 movies both English and Yoruba movies. She launched into movie production with the movie Jennifa and The Return of Jennifa. She charges between N1m and N2m for a role, and the roles come to her easily.

*Funke's House

Endorsements

Funke Akindele was unveiled as So Klin Promo ambassador in 2011. It was amultimillion naira endorsement. She is one of the firstactresses to get an endorsement from Glo. The endorsement was worth millions of naira. According to reports, she didn’t lose the endorsement deal with Glo as some other actresses did. She also got a mouthwatering deal with website Jobberman. Jobberman is an online recruitment agency. Funke raked-in millions of naira for becoming one of the faces of Vitafoam. She is also one of the faces of Operation Keep Lagos Clean. in addition, Funke Akindele is currently one of OMO’s brand ambassadors a deal worth millions of naira.

Awards

Funke Akindele won the

C M Y K

*Funke's Car

*At award night

SATURDAY Vanguard, JULY 5, 2014 — 21

in sheer opulence Toyin Lawani

*Her Car

oyin Lawani is from a very rich and pretigious family in Ekiti state. Her late mum, who was into textile business, ran a beauty home until her death in the USA. Her father was the famous Olanrewaju Lawani, a politician who worked with General Gowon. Her paternal grandfather was a Commisioner of Police, while her maternal grandmother is still the Reagent of Ikole Ekiti in Ekiti state. Toyin had everything she wanted as a child, but she craved to be independent of her family's wealth.

Projects Toyin started making money when she was only 16 years of age. The 31 year-old mother of two is a graduate of English from the University of Lagos. Toyin is living a fulfilling life as an entrepreneur, who clothes and styles 'A' list artistes, actors, politicians, and money bags in Nigeria and abroad. She has a house called Tiannah’s place located in a choice area in Lekki, estimated to be worth over N300m. The house boasts of a restaurant called amala dot com, a fashion school, salon, a boutique, spa, a designer’s studio, a travel agency, and many other facilities in one building. According to report, only the very rich and the famous can afford a visit and treatment from Tiannah’s place. Toyin is currently working on a reality TV show project she calls Diary of a Fashion Guru, coming soon to TV screens across Nigeria and Africa.

*Her car

*Her 10 million Rolex wrist

Her star clients

Toyin has worked with a lot of Nigerian artistes both local and foreigners. She has styled for Banky W, Wizkid, Niyola, Tiwa Savage, Don Jazy, Dr Sid, Wande Coal, D'Prince, Davido and many other artistes. She has also designed for Hollywood celebrities including Singer Kelly Rolland, Destiny's Child, Jennifer Richardson and Natalie Nunn. Her circle of clientele includes Nollywood divas like Stephanie Okereke, Tonto Dike, Kate Henshaw and many others.

*Toyin Lawal Fashion

Her house and cars

*Her 500K Mongolian hair

C M Y K

Toyin Lawani is not sparing resources living the life of her dream which she has worked so hard to actualise. This is evident in the choice of cars she drives and the house she lives in. Her house is located in a choice area in Lagos Island and it is estimated to be worth over N300m. Her cars are no exception. She has a Lexus SUV worth N20m, a Ford SUV worth N18m, and other wonders on wheels unknown to the press.

22 — SATURDAY Vanguard, JULY 5, 2014 KEHINDE AJOSE 08024212530

We have lost a lot in the area of structure and lyrical content —Tunde and Wunmi Obe T he duo of Tunde and Wunmi Obe are veterans in the Nigerian music industry, and have contributed to the growth of the Nigerian music terrain. In the face of divorce amongst celebrity couples, they have succeeded in keeping their home front strong. In a recent interview they revealed the secret behind their relevance and what they think about the growth of Nigeria’s music industry. According to them :

I make N2.6m yearly as landlady

Sasha P, Audi Maikori,others attend Fab Shop launch party R enowned fashion entrepreneur, Familusi Akin Babajide, last weekend added another feather to his cap with the launch of his FAB shop on Sunday, June 29, 2014.The event had celebrities and musicians in attendance who added glamour to the event. Guests included Sasha P; Olawale, Project Fame winner 2014; Lami, Ketchup, Audu Maikoria, and a host of others. “The growth of African fashion lies in the ability to create wealth for the creatives, and at FAB we realise that we may have done well in exposing raw talents from out of Africa to Africans and the rest of the world but now need to actively participate in helping to create a sustainable structure for the industry,” said Familusi Akin Babajide, aka Mr. FAB.

“We’ve come a long way in terms of talent, creativity, and music. But we have lost a lot in the area of structure and lyrical content .One cannot deny the fact that there are still young artistes today who put a lot in their music in terms of lyrical content, but you must agree with me that these days, it’s mostly about the beat.” On the reason for their consistency and relevance they said as long as you are consistent with playing good music that can still be enjoyed many years after, you can hardly go wrong.

— Cossy Orjiakor B

*Familusi Akin Babajide

The Gulder Ultimate Search Returns with ‘THE MISSION’ G ULDER Ultimate Search, Nigeria’s local content reality TV show hosted by Nigerian Breweries plc is set to continue in its tradition for making young Nigerians rich and famous by solving riddles and looking for hidden treasures. The deep forest of the ancient Aguleri community in Anambra State will host the 11th edition of the Gulder Ultimate Search. Edem Vindah, Corporate Media and Public Relations Manager, Nigerian Breweries plc, made the announcement while unveiling 2014 edition titled The Mission during a press briefing in Lagos on Tuesday. Vindah said that after the successful hosting of the 9th and 10th editions of the television reality show in Usaka community

in Obot Akara, Akwa Ibom State, some brave and determined young Nigerians will be going into the forest of Aguleri in Anambra East local government area for another round of search to retrieve the ‘cube.’ Broadcast date is from October 3rd -30th , 2014. This year’s entry is free and the selection process will be rigorous with a national spread. The internet-based application process commenced on 1 July and will end on 31 July. Thousands of people will be screened in rigorous screening processes in four geographical zones across the federation. The cities are Lagos, Benin, Port Harcourt and Awka. “There will be a final screening exercise in Lagos to produce the final set of 12 young adults - strong, intelligent,

usty Nollywood diva and singer, Cossy Orjiakor, who has been having problems with some of the tenants living in her property in Ilasa area of Lagos State, has stated why she is having problems with some of them. Cossy said many of the tenants are owing her rents running into millions. “ Can you Imagine, I am supposed to be collecting N2.6M annually from my house, but up till now the tenants have not paid up to one hundred thousand naira. They complain they don’t have money but you see them using their generators every day and night. Is it not money they use to buy fuel for the generators?” she queried. Cossy raised alarmed some weeks ago that one of the tenants, who she alleged is a member of Black Axe Confraternity, has threatened to deal with her if she doesn’t withdraw the quit notice she served him months ago. “This dude threatens me. His rent is overdue, but he doesn’t want to move. I was slapped by his group member some days ago. But I can’t be intimidated. I can’t run from my home because he is in Black Axe Confraternity. Almost all the young boys here have been intimidated to join this group,” she recently tweeted.

SATURDAY Vanguard, JULY 5, 2014 — 23

By AYO ONIKOYI, 08052201215

OPUT A’S BURIAL DRAMA: OPUTA

I did not mean to embarrass anybody, I am cultured—Charley Boy

ollowing last weekend’s reports that Charles Oputa (a.k.a Charly Boy) embarrassed Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State at the funeral mass of his late father, Justice Chukwudifu Oputa. The maverick musician, in this interview, explains what informed his action, among other things: BENJAMIN NJOKU

You gave your father a befitting burial. How did it go? Everything went fine. We give God the glory. I feel a sense of relief now. Relief, because the troubles associated with burial arrangements have been over. The stress has reduced. I quit smoking for over five years now, but I started smoking again about three weeks ago because I was running mental, preparing for my father ’s rites of passage. I have had this discussion with him almost a year ago when I asked him how he would want to be buried and what would be his expectations. He replied saying that ‘ I know that no matter what I tell you now, it would end up being the Charley Boy show. Even at that, I would be happy but all I would say is this: don’t spend too much money.’ This is because he was a simple man nature. My father was always worried concerning how I do things because I have never done things in small measure. I thank God for his mercies that I was ready for this, mentally and spiritually. Though I would have wished that God had given us more time, but that is the reality of life. I am happy that I am able to give my father a befitting burial. Were you happy with the way the burial was organised? Nothing good comes easily. I delegated duties and that C M Y K

Governor Rochas Okorocha and Charley Boys was what helped me. But to a large extent, as an event organiser, I would give myself a pass mark. Were you satisfied with the level of state and federal governments’ participation in the burial? I set out to bury my father without expecting anything from anybody.That was why I had kept saying, after my father ’s death, that we are going to be responsible for his burial rites. We fixed the date by ourselves and I wasn’t relying on anybody for anything. But if anybody wants to be part of the burial arrangement ,there’s no problem. But it made headlines last Saturday that you snatched the microphone from Owelle Rochas Okorocha, Governor of Imo State, at the funeral service. What informed your action? I didn’t embarrass him. You can believe anything you read from the dailies. But I can’t go out of my way to embarrass anybody. I only insisted that I wouldn’t tolerate people with bad political breath to preside over my father ’s burial rites. The corpse belonged to the Oputa family, and not the state or federal government. Being Charley Boy, my

I s e t o u t to bury my father without expecting anything from anybody action creates a lot of controversies. I am not a politician and I can never be one. I don’t do things the way every other person would want to do them. My own things are bound to be a little different. Integrity is my watchword and when I give you my word, you can go to sleep. I expect same from people who deal with me. I didn’t understand why somebody would graciously choose to assist us by making a donation to the family and thereafter, they went on air to announce it. That was not a gentleman action and it was what really angered me. Secondly, three days after my father ’s death, I sounded a note of warning that it won’t turn to a political thing.

You know the kind of father I had, and what he stood for. I don’t want them to politicise his burial rites. After they made the donation, and I never denied that they didn’t give us money. But I was embarrassed that they were announcing it over the radio and in the pages of newspapers. If you are doing something with the family, first of all, we are the chief mourner, as well as Governor Rochas Okorocha, but it would be proper that they confide in the family in whatever they were planning to do in respect of the buruial rites. If there is something we can bring to the table to enhance it, then it would be to the credit of the governor. But he didn’t do that and they were all shifty. We didn’t know what they were planning, they didn’t care to know what we were planning. We learnt Okorocha paid you a visit at your place? How can he visit my place when he has my telephone number? He should know I don’t reside here (in thevillage) and I have not returned home. It’s just a phone call, ‘Charles where are you? And I would tell him where I am. After all, he’s always in Abuja. What stopped him from putting a

call across to me? If he doesn’t know how to reach me even a truck pushers have my number, how much more the governor of a state? If he has a desire to contact anybody, he will do so with ease. How could he embark on a journey to a place he is not familiar with? These are the things we are talking about. He didn’t deem it necessary to contact the bereaved family that he was paying us a condolence visit before embarking on the journey. And when he came, he talked to one ‘village boy ’ who claimed to be representing the family. What’s all that rubbish for? Was it what informed your action at the funeral service? First of all, I am not a church goer. I am a Buddhist, though I was born into the Catholic doctrine. And part of my reason for not going to church is the fact that I have been to a lot of churches. For the first 20 years of my life, I was a mass servant. I was an ‘altar boy’ because my father was a disciplinarian. If you don’t go to morning mass, you are bound to be in trouble. I did all that for 20 years, and that’s the kind of background I was coming from. But things have changed regarding the mode of worship in most churches. They spend more time than necessary. Why should we be praying for two to three hours non-stop? I have other things to do. At the funeral service, I was told that Mr. President’s representatives and other dignitaries have arrived my home town. Unfortuantely, one of my legs was paining me, and that was why, if you were in church that day, I was sitting down throughout. People didn’t understand why I was sitting down. I couldn’t stand up for too long. Now, we have spent about two to three hours in the church. We couldn’t afford to give all the politicians that attended the funeral rites the opportunity to pay tribute to my late father. I felt the only person who should deliver a speech was Mr. President’s representative. At that point, I was so stressed and tired. All I wanted was to commit my father ’s remains into the mother earth. So, I insisted, as the eldest son of Justice Oputa, I decide how things were going to be done. At that point, I said please, no more talk, it’s too much, let one person speak so we can go and finish the business. That was what happened but you know people will misinterpret it. That is their business, not mine.

24 — SATURDAY Vanguard Vanguard,, JULY 5, 2014

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AFRIFF set to boost African cinemas again — Keith Shiri A head of flagging off of this year’s edition of the Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF), which holds from November 9 through 16, Programmer of the festival, and international film curator,Keith Shiri has expressed the resolve of the organisers to use the festival as a platform to rewrite the history of film making on the continent. The Zimbabwean who is also a juror of the Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) and advisor to the London Film Festival, has started work on delivering a memorable fourth edition in Calabar, Cross River State. He has, amongst other activities, been touring festivals to spread the AFRIFF message and was at the recently concluded Cannes International Film Festival in France to do same. Speaking on his recent experience in France, Shiri disclosed that it was smooth sailing. “I was there to do the work of AFRIFF. And one of the things I was impressed with, is how well Timbuktu, a film by Abderrahmane Sissako, did. Not only is this film one of the best from Africa in Cannes this year, it is the best film that received rave reviews. I am negotiating with the sales agent for AFRIFF possible screening. As a continent, I think we also need the support mechanism because this film can be claimed by any of the African countries as our own. This is a way to say, this is our brand and this is what we can do in our continent,” he said. According to Shiri, the Cannes platform also afforded him the opportunity to see great films in all genres and network with international producers. “I remember talking to Ben Gibson, the director of the London Film School, to come to Nigeria. I made him understand our challenges. This is because one of the things I would like to suggest to AFRIFF is that, rather than just showcase films, it should find a way where we can bring people from the outside world and explore the opportunities that we can gain from them. Getting somebody like Gibson will give us an idea of how the British film policy operates. “On the other hand, I am trying to see how Nigeria can begin to define its film policy such that it will create a platform where coproduction treaties can happen. South Africa, for example, has got co-production treaties with the UK and Germany. And this can just serve as an incubator, where things grow. It’s a place where we come to celebrate every year and people can begin to engage with Nigerian filmmakers. Also, content-wise, we invite filmmakers from all over the continent for competition and provide the panorama programme. That way, we can choose to have a film from Mexico or Brazil or Indonesia. “In the same vein, African filmmakers are able to see what others are doing from the rest of the world. That’s why it is international. It is not a Nigerian film festival, but an African film festival. But, of course, the home brands have to benefit than the others, because people have the opportunity of seeing more filmmakers from Nigeria. Besides, it is also an opportunity for Nigerians to show the world what they have got,” he said. Shiri admitted that like every human endeavC M Y K

our, the festival has its challenges but that organisers are undeterred. “AFRIFF has done exceedingly well in the last four years. All over the continent, there are possibilities. And I have always looked at Nigeria, for example, as a country to look up to. This, for me, began back in the days when I read novels like ‘Things Fall Apart’ by Chinua Achebe and all the collections of a man like Wole Soyinka. They have always been a point of reference. Looking at the possibilities in Nigeria, I see the country as a power house. And with its huge population, it should be able to take a leading position.”

Puzzle over Omotola’s age? a Jaladeans of top Nollywood actress, Omotoldeep conress exp to Ekeinde, have continued cern over the real age of their idol. the photo of her The actress, during the week shared ne, leaving onli primary School Leaving Certificatereal age. The tongues wagging in respect of her she left primary certificate in question revealed that ess couldn’t school in 1987, meaning that the actr rs before have been anything less than four yea entering primary school. of her certifiIn fact, since she uploaded the photo different ing ress exp cate online, fans have been , the reality now re Befo . age her g rdin opinions rega s below she’ that g min talk show host has been clai Matthew tain Cap d, ban hus t pilo her 40. She married sible pos it is So, 17. Ekeinde at the tender age of from ing judg 40, than less be will that the actress when she completed her primary education. Nevertheless, Omotola has remained consistent. She was happy that she’s always excelled in debating as well as acting. However, it is true that not much has changed about her. The question is, how old is Omotola?

Omotola

Nnenna and Friends make it big with s d n a r b e t a r o p r o c

he first half of year 2014 has been a very busy year for Nnenna, a household name for children from the stables of Wale Adenuga Productions and Brand Ambassador for youths in Nigeria. This time, she has spread her tentacles from her usual live shows and TV programmes to partnering with top brands that are equally concerned with the welfare of the youth and children. Lately, she has hosted events like the Bobo Kids with Voices organised by Bobo Food and Beverages, and she also displayed her talent as an MC at the L’Oreal Dark and Lovely Mum and I Beauty Pageant, where she performed alongside Desmond, a 12 year-old comedian from the Nnenna and Friends group of young stars. The Nnenna and Friends team were also fully represented at the Sterling Bank Children Fun Fair, an event Sterling Bank used to mark this year’s Children’s Day Celebration. Nnenna’s latest appearance was at the EtisalatCliqlite Launch, where she had the Etisalat team and guests spellbound as she expressed her profound support for the Cliqlite product. The Nnenna and Friends team also is presently in talks with the Etisalat team to develop apps for the device. Yinka Olukunga, popularly known as Nnenna is a model, actress, singer and a great lover of children. She currently anchors the Nnenna and Friends Brain Power Game, an educative TV programme and a platform that gives the children room for improved learning. It airs every Monday on AIT Network and Tuesday on wapTV channel 116 on Startimes. Nnenna says she still has a lot to accomplish before the end of this year, as she will stop at nothing to ensuring that her passion for the African Child is felt all over the country and beyond.

SATURDAY Vanguard Vanguard,, JULY 5, 2014 — 25

Uru Eke wages war against rape Since she debuted in Nollywood after she walked out of her lucrative job in the UK few years ago, Uru Eke has not looked back in her quest to rule the big screen. Now, the sexy actress, who is on her way to becoming Nollywood’s own “Audrey Hepburn, ”is breaking new ground in her resolve to use her craft to impact on the lives of ther people. Last year, Uru set up a foundation which she is using to campaign against certain vices that have become a common phenomenon in the society. The actress disclosed to HVP recently that her foundation is on the verge of commencing the production of its very first movie that will dwell on rape. According to her, “I am going to be releasing two films before the end of this year. The films will deal on the subjects of corruption and rape.” Uru said as an actress, the medium of tube will provide her the needful platform to discuss extensively the subjects rape and corruption in our society. “That’s why I’m speaking through the medium of film. One of the subjects affected me in a way because it happened to someone I used to know. That’s why I’m passionate about it. It’s something that somenone suffers daily in silence. And I think it needs to be brought to light,” she echoed. A graduate of University of Greenwich, UK, Uru Eke has featured in films such as The Gift, Timeless Passion, Darkside, Last Flight to Abuja, and Weekend Getaway.”

AGN: Why I’m seeking second term — Ibinabo

Onuoha Cynthia I confesses: ‘I have a crush on Majid Michel’ C

ould it be one of the signs of Endtime, or just an expression of feeling? But whatever it may be, it is a free world where people are bound to express their feelings without inhibitions. And that’s exactly what actress Cynthia Onuoha has done by confessing her undying love for the playboy actor, Majid Michel. In an online interview with HVP, Cynthia confessed, ‘I am crazy about Majid Michel.” The delectable actress is also aspiring to work with him on set. Even though she has never met him, the actress is making efforts to control her emotions. Unfortunately, the playboy actor is married with kids. But nevertheless, the show can still go on. Who knows!

C M Y K

ncumbent National President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) Ms Ibinabo Fiberesima, last week put to rest speculations when she declared her intention to seek a second term as AGN president later this year. The ex-beauty queen made the declaration while speaking at the first anniversary of the Victor Osuagwu-led lagos State branch of the AGN, which held last week at the popular celebrity hangout, O’Jez, Surulere. She said, “I won’t work so hard and let someone else take the glory.” Continuing, Ibinabo added, “ My people want me back. I was really planning to move on to doing my own stuff but someone did something that touched me. He came to me with a list of everything I promised I would do for the guild during my campaign. He was itemising everything I did as he stated I have delivered on every promise I made to the guild. I looked at it and it was true. He looked at me straight in the eye and said “of a truth you have done well but you and I know that you have not done all that you can do. He left me thinking and asking myself why I wanted to leave after the first tenure and every answer I came up with convinced me I was just thinking of myself. God reminded me my promise that I will live to serve him by serving his people.” Ibinabo, who later presented the certificate of occupacy of the parcel of land given to the AGN by President Goodluck Jonathan-led administration urged actors to show love to themselves. She also hinted that the guild is plannning an inter-state dance drama and poetry competition to discover talents.

26 — SARTURDAY Vanguard, JULY 5, 2014

Going nude is n deal — Sylvya Oluc looking forward to that.

By DAMILOLA SHOLOLA

ylvya Oluchy is a beautiful, classy and highly intelligent lady. After graduating from Nnamdi Azikiwe University with a degree in Theatre Arts, she went on to Nollywood and has starred in a couple of TV series and movies. She won the Most Promising Actress at the Best of Nollywood (BON) awards in 2013 and has also won other awards including Best New Actress at City People awards in 2011 and Best Rising Star at Nollywood Movie Awards 2012. She recently turned a lot of heads when she released semi nude photos of herself on the beach. In this exclusive interview with Showtime Celebrity, She tells us what she’s been up to and more: How has your career been so far? So far so good, we thank God. I’ve been in Lagos now for about almost 3 years. The period I’ve been here, I’ve won 3 Awards and I’ve been on a couple of movie sets, done some series of which the popular one is Lekki Wives. I’m in Lekki Wives Season 2, so it’s okay, things are getting better and there’s a serious growth going on in Nollywood with the kind of movies we’re doing now and the kind of attention to detail. It wasn’t there before, so I’m just really happy to see that growth. Which is your most successful movie so far? Alan Poza did very well during its run. Another one that was really successful was On Bended Knees. That had Chioma Chukwuka, myself and Seun Akindele, but I’m really looking forward to Being Mrs Elliot which will hit the cinemas in a couple of weeks, because it’s packed with stars and the storyline is so awesome so look out for that one. Then also, Lekki Wives season 3 will soon be in the works so I’m also

How did it feel winning the Most Promising Actress at the Best of Nollywood awards? It was really fun. Before that, I had won Best New Actress at Citypeople 2011 and I had won Best Rising Star at Nollywood Movie Awards 2012. You know most of all these things, when you hear you’re nominated sometimes they put some really big names up against you so you go with a lot of anxiety. For me, there are two big rewards in doing this job. One is when people see you on the street and tell you they enjoy your movie. The second is when you get an award because an award means that even among your peers, you are been recognised, so it kind of makes you want to work harder. It keeps you willing to grow, so you don’t just sit back and feel like I’m the star, I’m the bomb. It keeps you learning because the kind of job we do is a job where you need to know something about everything because you don’t know what character you’re going to play. Who inspired you into acting? My Mother. When I was much younger, in the broad classification, I would say I was a nerd because I had glasses growing up as a child, I was very quiet, I was shy, I was always with my books. I used to be those kinds of kids that were at the bottom of the social ladder so I used to always get bullied by even my mates, not just my seniors, my mates used to always bully me. So once I got home, I didn’t have many friends but I had lots of toys. So I’d just pick my toys and I’d start to change my voice with

I have a couple of kissing and romantic scenes, no nudity but there was a lot of kissing and lots of making out so it comes with the job

each character. Sometimes I’d make my voice deep for the guys or, made it thin for the girls, and my mother would just be watching me. So, she kept telling me I would be good as an actress. I can say I grew up everyday hearing ‘acting will fit you,’ so, it kind of sticks in my subconscious. When it was time for JAMB, I just tried out this Theatre Arts thing I’ve been hearing all my life and I went in for it and the rest is history. How did you come out of your shell? Many people don’t know this but shy people actually make some of the best Actors because shy people have so much in play in their minds. Many times they have played out different characters in their little, quiet worlds and when the opportunity presents itself they sort of explode. That’s how it is for me too, although these days, I’ve overcome my shyness, I can talk to anybody anywhere in fact, I think I’m now on the talkative side of things because now people tell me “You talk too much, keep quiet”. My childhood really prepared me for what I was doing because right from when I was a little girl, I used to always make up characters in my head, make up voices and emulate different accents. That childhood obsession of going into myself and dragging up different personalities is now paying off because I feel like I have multiple personality syndrome, not multiple personality disorder because I know how to control mine. Have you had any setbacks in your career so far? Yeah. There’s this movie I did and I was the lead character but the movie never came out. I felt really saddened that after all the hardwork and everything I put into it, the movie never came out because the producer had so many ups and downs and he lost some money and everything. And there was one movie I was doing and I was removed from the run-in because I couldn’t speak Yoruba. What has been the high-point

Vanguard, SATURDAY, JULY 5, 2014 — 27

Onazi back in six weeks

ARGENTINA v BELGIUM Today 5pm

Belgium perfect plan to sack Argentina

GENYI Onazi could be back to full fitness in six weeks, according to reports in the Italian Press this afternoon. The Nigeria midfielder was stretchered off in the Super Eagles 2-0 loss to France on Monday, thanks to a challenge from Blaise Matuidi. Initial report in Africa had claimed that the Lazio man fractured his tibia and fibula, but Corriere dello Sport believe otherwise. The paper insists that: “the Lazio medical staff have looked at the tests, and believe it will take around a month and a half to completely recover.”

But could the Belgium match prove a turning point? For the first time in this competition, Argentina will face a team who will not seek to battle them in their own half, but instead come out and win the game on their own terms. The European side’s stellar attack has not been in top form either at this competition. Against the United States, Belgium suffered a similar fate to the Albiceleste. The deep defence of the USMNT and the heroics of Tim Howard kept them muted for almost the entire 90 minutes before tired legs proved vital and Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku swayed the game in their favour. “We suffered, and suffered,” Messi panted after the last-

ELIEF was palpable n Buenos Aires and across Argentina as Angel di Maria finally put the Albiceleste through to the quarter-finals of the 2014 World Cup. The side had struggled desperately to break down a resolute Switzerland outfit, drilled to perfection in defence by the great Ottmar Hitzfeld. Local media personality Alejandro Fantino was as thrilled as anybody to see his beloved Argentina break through with three minutes left of injury time. Having become a socialmedia sensation thanks to his previous commentary against Iran, the Radio La Red commentator once more filled the airwaves with a heartfelt tribute to the Albiceleste. That passion for which Argentina are so famous, be it on the pitch, in the stands or in the commentary box, cannot hide the team’s deficiencies. For the third match in four at this World Cup, an ineffective attack struggled painfully against a back-line that defended deep, suffocated the spaces around the box and marked the Albiceleste creators with two or even three men. It was the fourth straight encounter that the nation needed the inspiration of Messi, who somehow mustered the physical and mental fortitude to embark on a lung-busting 30 metre run two hours into the game (call him lazy now, I dare you), to unlock the game and send Argentina to victory. Even with the world’s best player in form and after four consecutive victories, manager Alejandro Sabella knows that he needs more from his men if they are to go on and lift the trophy. i

•Maria

•Messi

16 match in his press conference, as reported by The Guardian. Perhaps against Belgium, the suffering can cease. Belgium will meet the Albiceleste man for man in the midfield, not on the edge of their own penalty area. They will push forward with pace and with bodies. This will leave spaces in the defence which Argentina are adept at exploiting. It is how they were formed against South American nations whose first priority is to score goals, not keep them out. Four goals against Chile in qualifying, two away to Colombia and three at home to Uruguay. The evidence suggests that if they attack from deep and with pace, there are plenty of goals in this Argentina team. The ageing Daniel Van Buyten will not relish marking Messi or Gonzalo Higuain, and Toby Alderweild may still wake up in a cold sweat remembering how the tireless di Maria flashed past him in the Champions League final on the way to setting up Gareth Bale’s winner. In short, spaces the Argentines have been dreaming about for the entire tournament will finally open up in front of them.

Suarez is a great player —Blatter

IFA President Sepp Blatter has praised Uruguay striker Luis Suarez after he apologised for biting an Italian defender during the World Cup. Suarez was banned for nine competitive internationals and cannot take part in any soccer activities for four months after he sank his teeth into the shoulder of Giorgio Chiellini during Uruguay’s 1-0 defeat of the Italians on June 24. It took the forward

nearly a week to confess that he had bitten his opponent, after protesting his innocence when the furore surrounding the incident first broke. “He said ‘I’m sorry’ to the soccer family, and that’s fair play too,” Blatter told reporters at an event in Rio de Janeiro. That shows he’s a great player and I hope he can have his soccer career back.”

28—Vanguard, SATURDAY, JULY 5, 2014

What Keshi got wrong in Brazil —Amaju

dictate that when there is agitation in a team, one should also look at the top in determining who is behind what. It is also common knowledge that some persons on the technical crew knew that they would be out of job after the World Cup and aware of the bureaucracy in government, fear that their share of the appearance fee was not going to get to them when they would be out of service. So if there is agitation in the team, the first person to point at is the coaches because when any money is paid, they also get a bigger chunk of it. I would not go further than that. The predisposing factors

hairman of the Delta State Sports Commission, Pinnich Amaju tells JOHN EGBOKHAN in this interview that Nigeria would have had a better outing at the World Cup in Brazil if Coach Stephen Keshi had worked with a team of technical experts working in the backroom. The 2014 World Cup has entered the quarterfinal stage , with no African team featuring amongst the eight surviving teams in the tournament. African champions, the Super Eagles crashed out in the second round, leaving in its wake tales of woes for many Nigerians, who were expecting the team to do better. What s your professional assessment of our perfoamcne at the World Cup? I feel that we as a people should properly situate what we want to achieve in our life. I feel sad when I hear people say that we did well at the World Cup. I also feel sad to see that Nigerians are contented with just being amongst the participants in major tournaments like the World Cup. I strongly believe that if we do the right things that we should be winning the World Cup. In 1994, after the USA World Cup, we were ranked the fifth best team in the world. We were highly regarded then but now the story has changed for the worse. And the reason for our decline is complacency. Nigerians are so complacent. We are where we are because we are not doing the right things. And doing the right things is very simple. We should also be ambitious enough to play in the semifinals of the World Cup. And our C M Y K

Chief Operating Officer of Bundeslinga, Christain Seifert (left) and Amaju Melvin Pinnick during the latter’s visit to Germany.

• Keshi

ambition should be backed with action. Was the team to the World Cup in Brazil not ambitous enough? Many factors came into play to determine the degree of ambition of the team. And to arrive at the right answer, I am looking at the facilitating factors and predisposing factors. The Nigeria Football Federation gave the team all that they requiired to have a succesful World Cup. Six top friendly matches were

organsied, camping was topnotch, all the monies due the players were promptly and fully paid to ensure that the team focussed on the task of excelling in Brazil. The only money that was not paid was the FIFA appearance fee, which normally comes out from FIFA some four months after the end of the tournament. So I was shocked when reports of players agitating for their share of the FIFA appearcne fee came out. Conventional wisdom would

are the NFF, who gave the team all the supprrt to succeed. They also provided a 200-seater aeroplane to take Nigerian officials around in Brazil to watch the Super Eagles matches. The facilitating factors are the coaches and what they bring to the team. I do not have anything against Keshi. He has done so well for Nigeria. He remains the first Nigerian to win the Nations Cup as a player and a coach. The records are there, But I feel that he should also come down from his high horse and show respect to the NFF, who are his employeer and who have done a lot to make him succeed. We fauiled to go further in Brazil because our coaches did not adopt the scientific approach to winning matches. Football has gone beyond having a coaching crew on the bench. The trend is now to have the technical backroom staff, peopled by expert coaches, who win matches from the bench. I give you an example. Berti Vogts was the head of the backroom of the USA team at the World Cup. The story was said in Brazil that during the match against Ghana, that when the Ghanaians equalised, that Klinsmann, who is the coach of the USA team, quickly

sent a message to Vogts to analyse the last five minutes of the match. Vogts responded that one of the Ghanaian defenders was limping and that they should exploit his side, which the USA team did and scored the winner. Klinsmann did this because he recognises that he does not see the things that other technical experts could see from afar. And that is largely because a coach is only thinking of winning and what his players are doing. He hardly sees the defects and strong-points of his opponents. That is why nearly all the teams at the World Cup have the technical backroom staff. But Nigeria did not have that and that was because Keshi did not want it. He thought that they were going to take his job away and we all saw in Brazil that it could have been very different if we had such technical experts in the backroom, advising Keshi during match days or even before. Another example is the injury of Ogenyi Onazi. That was not accidentral. It was a deliberate plan by the French backroom staff, whio saw Onazi as the only threat to their ambition to reach the next round. Ahmed Musa shone like a star in the first half but was taken out in the second half by the French players, who crowded him and made him ineffective. That is the work of the backroom staff . Football has gone scientific but we went to Btrazil with analogue system I also observed during the hort stay in Braziol that we were the only team, whose players warmed up before the start of matches without the coaches around to watch and take notes. I may be wrong on this but I saw the French team warm up with their coaches watching and guiding them. Another issue that cannot be brushed aisde is the perceived friction between Keshi and NFF. Keshi should realise that the NFF are his employers. Aminu Maigari is accessible. Green is also accessible, so I wonder where the friction is coming from. Keshi should respect the NFF and the NFF should also respect the Sports Minister. Respect is reciprocal. Keshi has succeeded based on the support he got from the NFF. Look at the game against Ethiopia, we were 10 minutes from losing when we scored two goals. That is the case of the hand of God. To succeed at the global stage, Keshi must come down from his high horse by building his own capacity and there are many windows to do it. There are several FIFA coaching courses and internship coruses with top European clubs.

Continues on pg 29

Vanguard, SATURDAY, JUNLY 5, 2014 —29

What Keshi got wrong in Brazil Continues from pg 28

But aside that, we need to have a technical backroom crew. Dr. John Oganwon, who was the first graduate to play for the Eagles, watched the Eagles match against Argentina with me and Fanny Amun and Shuaibu Amodu. Amun wrote a script of how Argentina would play and score their goals and it turned out that what he wrote down came to pass. I was now wondering why these guys were not helping Keshi as backroom staff but was told that Keshi said he did not want any help from any backroom staff. People had mindset before going to the World Cup. What was Keshi’s plan at the World Cup? Was it to win the trophy? If his plans were to win the World Cup or develop our team for the future, we would have said said yes, we tried. If he wanted to win the World Cup, • Amaju he would have gone with Obafemi Martins, Ikechukwu Uche and Ogbuke Obasi because they are all match winners. I watched Obasi in action for his Schalke during my trip to Germany and saw how he laid the assist that led to the first goal and scored a beautiful goal, which made me call Keshi to ask if he was watching the game and taking note of Obasi’s contributions and he said yes. But I was shocked when these guys were not included in the team to Brazil for the World Cup. Obasi was hot this season. If Keshi wanted to develop and build for the future, he would have stuck with the team that won the Nations Cup. Players like Sunday Mba should have been taken to Brazil. How can one reconcile the fact that a player who was dropped by a club in Scotland, was taken to the World Cup. That was Reuben Gabriel. There are many things that are inexplicable. We should go beyond this notion that we have tried our best because we are blessed with talents ard should be doing better than what we did in Brazil. Keshi knows better and we demand improved results from him. But he has come out to say that he would never coach the Super

Eagles again That is an unfortunate statement to make but it might just be good news for Nigeria. But Keshi must remember that this country has been good to him and he got so much from this country, from the corporate sponsors and business moguls and the generality of Nigerians. So for him to make such statement is just unfortunate. Even Delta State, where Keshi hails from has apprecia\ted his contributions to our sports development. The stadium in Asaba was named after him. Capacity building is key to success in sports. In Delta State, we regularly organise capacity training courses. About three weeks ago, we brough in a former assistant coach of Arsenal to Delta State to help train our coaches, referees and athletes. And the person making these things to happen is Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, who in 2007, sent a bill to the State House of Assembly for the establishment of the Delta State Sports Commision, peopled by sports technocrats. Our orientation is just sports and that is why we are where we are in sports in the country. If we are not winning, we are dominating or amongst the top contenders. That is the legacy of the Uduaghan administration and we got this far based on capacity buildibng. Which is what we are recommending to the N|FF leadership. In going forward, what practical steps should the NFF take? We should start planning on hiow we would reach the final of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, not the 1918 version in Russia. And the players that won the FIFA U-1‘7 World Cup in UAE in 2013 should form the bulk of the team. NFF should through their coaches monitor them well and we should go for a new coach, preferably a foreign coach because he does not have any afinity with anyone here. And the coach must not be in the mould of the Luis van Gaal of the world. All we need is a determined, hardwotrking and career-driven coach, who will deliver on the results that we earnestly dream of.

BRAZIL WORLD CUP:

When it is a question of money, Super Eagles are of the same religion BY TONY UBANI

enjamin Franklin it was who said that ‘’Money has never made man happy, nor will it. There is nothing in its nature to produce happiness. The more of it one has the more one wants”. And yet, man still longs and fights for money. Many have died and relinquished all they toiled, for another person to inherit. The Bible even cautioned that ‘what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and lose his soul”. But the heart of men is as hard as stone. Money has replaced the unquenchable thirst of water. ‘’The more you drink, the more you thirst”. The story of the Super Eagles in their historic outing at the on-going World Cup in Brazil would not be complete without money. Because they say that money is the root of all evil. And so, the Super Eagles, a team that was so blessed to make more history after reaching the round of 16 in a World Cup after 16 years of doing so, crashed out when they would have gone a step further to the quarter finals. Nigeria has never gotten to the quarter finals since they made their debut in USA ’94. And the opportunity beckoned on the players but like Clemens Westerhof said after their exit in USA ’94, ‘’we came so close but yet so far”. For a team that struggled against Iran in their barren draw and rose from the cloud of criticisms to beat Bosnia 1-0 and lost 32 to Argentina and benefit to play in the second round, one expected that the Eagles would have done more to raise their game than to stay awake and exhaust their energy fighting for money. Many Nigerians would also ask why the NFF did not want to pay the players their due entitlements? Lack of trust on the officials, no doubt, added fuel to the fire of the players. Players would not like to be told that their rewards were in heaven as teachers are usually told. The truth remains that FIFA does not pay World Cup grants to federations until three months after the World Cup. It is from these grans that federations pay appearance fees. The Eagles camp had been embroiled by division, tension, internal dissent even before they kicked

the first ball against Iran. They protested their accommodation at Victoria Hotels in Campinas and muted the idea of holding NFF to the jugular if their appearance fees were not paid. The assurances of Senate President, David Mark could not assuage their hunger for money, and as usual, denials trailed the expose by Journalists. The Nigeria Football Federation also shot themselves on the foot when they paid the players $5,000 each for losing 3-2 to Argentina. The paper agreement had been for the players to get $10,000 for a win, $5,000 for a draw and nothing for losing. When they paid $5,000 for losing, they gave the impression that they had so much and fell into the traps of the players who demanded for their appearance fee. But, NFF, claimed that they paid the money to motivate them for playing so well against Argentina. What a lame excuse! And that brings the issue of good administrators of those who run our football to the front burner. The Maigari administration, no doubt, has achieved more than others before it, but it panders so much to public opinion. The fear of what the people would say and the fear of what top Government officials would do, has reduced them to almost nothing. However, one can only blame the players up to a point because once sports administrators lose credibility and their word is no longer their bond you open up all sorts of blackmail, subterfuge and confusion - a recipe for under performance and image somersaults. The fight over pecuniary emoluments, though, did not start or end with African teams. France, the Netherlands and England have at times been splintered through infighting, and in 1974 West Germany nearly staged a boycott ahead of its own World Cup over a payment dispute. Togo, Ghana, Cameroun and Nigeria have taken their demands to embarrassing heights, thereby making the African teams more guilty than others before them. But do we blame the Super Eagles players? Like Voltaire said; ‘’When it is a question of money, everybody is of the same religion”.

30 — Vanguard, SATURDAY, JULY 5, 2014

Russian MPs slam Capello F

ABIO Capello was called a “thief ” and urged to appear before Parliament after Russia’s early World Cup exit. The Coach and his assistant Christian Panucci failed to steer Russia out of the group phase, finishing behind Belgium and Algeria, just one point above South Korea. Now politicians are asking for Capello to appear before the Russian Parliament to explain this failure, a request that Igor Ananskikh – head of the State Duma’s Sports Committee – seems inclined to support. “We need to look into his work and ask him to resign,” MP Vladimir Zhirinovsky was quoted in the Russian Press. “But he’s greedy, so of course he won’t. It’s pretty good to get millions for doing nothing. “The team lost and it doesn’t affect his pay in any way. Thief! “Even the way he looks makes it hard to like him. He looks like a schoolteacher.” The leader of the Liberal Democratic Party is certainly no stranger to controversy or outlandish public statements. He had support from fellow MP Oleg Pakholkov, who said Capello “knew very well he would achieve nothing with our team, but simply decided it was a good way to make money. “He wanted to Hoover up bundles of cash for his retirement.”

TD plans novelty match to deepen staff unity BY PRINCE OSUAGWU

LL staff of Technology Distribution will today file out today like football super stars at the Campos Mini stadium in Lagos Island to play a novelty match organised to seek more corporate bonding among the staff of the company. The novelty match which will be between TD Lions and TD Tigers is also designed to create a mid year relaxation for marketing operatives and their prospects. It is designed to sharpen the team spirits of the marketing team resulting in a seamless service delivery to prospects/clients . Technology Distributions is a Nigerian ICT marketing company that distributes ICT products and services through strategic partnerships with reputable OEM brands like HP, Microsoft, Dell, Samsung, IBM, Lenovo, Zinox,

Toshiba, Cisco, D-Link, Canon, Huawei, eBeam and many others. Managing Director, of the company, Mrs Chioma Chimere said that the match which kicks off at 10am would draw players from Senior Executive Management, Middle Executive Management, Junior Executives staff and resellers. Spectators are also drawn from family members of staff and resellers, the ICT media and the general public. She also announced that the match would provide opportunity for the company to give out products on incredible price slashes on instant purchases of the latest ICT products, advising resellers to take advantage of this special one-day promo to strengthen their margins.

F-L-I-C-K-S!

Strange things are happening

hese are not the best of times!. For Nigerians who are still in the World Cup, very weird and strange things are beginning to T happen out here. Perhaps, the kicking out of the Super Eagles

could as well be said to be responsible for men and women to get other ideas. Back home, most parents complain that moral standards have fallen with the open relationships of boys and girls, men and women. But, they are nothing to be compared with the brazen and weird things that happen in the open here. Interestingly, these things happen right before the noses of enforcement agencies, Policia. Man and woman kissing for endless hours, woman and woman kissing and caressing, man and man kissing. It is strange to us, if not abominable. These are regular things especially in parks, trains, etc. It is irritating. But it is their way of life here. The elderly are not left out. Anyway, a Nigerian who has been left in the cold since the beating of Super Eagles by France decided to explore the land and went downtown in search of the now famous ‘’body nobi wood”. At the beginning of the World Cup, prices of everything skyrocketed. But with the defeats of many teams who have gone home, sanity is prevailing, even in the markets. It was based on this trend that made our man to go quench his appetite. He selected the most alluring, beautiful girl with the now famous Brazilian bumbum with her Brazilian hair flowing down to her hips. Language is not an inhibition to love. Seconds later, surprisingly, our guy ran back panting. He was totally washed out in shock, with his hand on his head while his heart-beat pounded like a faulty engine without oil. ‘’ Yepa! M’okuo” he exclaimed, still panting. ‘’Okunrin ni mogbe”, meaning ‘’it’s a man I carried”. Glances exchanged. I burst into laughter. He did not take kindly to it. But it is a common thing to see pretty girls who you think are girls not knowing they have gone through the knife to become prettier women. It could be embarrassing to go in with a woman and she begins to remove her plastic bum-bum and breasts for those who carry it or you end up realizing that the woman is a man(shemale) with her instrument of labour and production dangling. They have a name; Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender, LGBT. A strange world, indeed! No place like home.

South American Correspondent

ith all the offensive information emanating from home, one is even afraid to come home. Same home they say there is no W place like. Home where my heart is. Imagine coming home to

abandon my car because of the endless traffic on Mile 2 – Apapa road, at the risk of being chased like a common thief in the night, harassed in the day while other hapless people watch, grope in the night because of no electricity, no water; develop waist problem because of deep holes on the road; shout with the conductor to give me my change etc. I hear it is raining in Nigeria. Oh rain! It brings pain to us. All these and many more hardships. What if I tell Eze Anaba and Mideno Bayagbon, Deputy Editor and Editor respectively of Vanguard to allow me become the Brazilian Correspondent in-charge of South American countries? It won’t be a bad idea. Vanguard is an international Newspaper of repute. After all, a reporter once asked to be made Vanguard’s correspondent in Japan.

Dead or alive?

hanks to all who have written, called to find out if all is well with me. Indeed, I am good and kicking in the land of 3S – Soccer, Sex and Samba. The (Whore) Cup is on while the fireworks at the different stadia are frightening at the real World Cup. The men are being separated from the weaklings, who go home with rehearsed excuses. Many showed concern after a flyover collapsed on vehicles in the World Cup host city of Belo Horizonte, killing two people. The concrete and steel bridge, which was under construction, fell on the road on a busy highway. A commuter bus was crushed, killing the driver, along with two unoccupied trucks. A body was also recovered from a car trapped beneath the rubble. The south-eastern Brazilian city is due to host a football World Cup semi-final match next week. Many called to find out if I was dead or alive! What if I told them I was dead? My parents, living and dead prayed that while it’s happening in front, I would be at the rear. And when it is happening from the rear, I would be at the front. That prayer is working. I Never knew many love and care for me. Thanks. Anyway, some of those who showed concern were those I am owing. You must have heard of a man who was owed and on hearing of the death of his debtor wept uncontrollably saying ‘’he shouldn’t have died now”. When asked why he was saying that, he retorted ‘’don’t you know he is owing me N1,000 and promised to pay back next week. Oh, why did he die now”?

SARTURDAY Vanguard, JULY 5, 2014 — 31

o big

chy You cannot kill yourself so whatever life gives you, smile, take it like that and dream, hope and pray for a better tomorrow of your career? I guess the highest point so far will be whenever I win an award. I told you I’ve won 3 now so just going on that stage and having everybody finally seeing you that this is the Sylvya Oluchy, it’s cool. You recently said you could act nude in a movie? There was a bit of mix-up in that story. They only asked me what I think of nudity in movies and I said it depends on the movie. If you’ve watched The Gods Must Be Crazy, the nudity in that movie was done for accuracy because people then went about nude. So, when they asked me I said it depends on the script. It depends on the director I’ll be working with because it’s all about the director ’s picture, it’s the director’s story. If I know I’m working with a director who I trust, who I know will make everything tastefully done, where it won’t end up looking like some badly made pornography and it’s a good script, I’ll make my decision. Can you do a sex scene in a movie? Yeah. I mean in Lekki Wives I have a couple of kissing and romantic scenes, no nudity but there was a lot of kissing and lots of making out so it comes with the job. What’s the craziest thing you can do in a movie? It depends on the script, the director and the circumstance. I never say never because you don’t know tomorrow. You might just run into some script that blows your mind and you don’t know who the director behind it will be and you might just decide to say for this director and for this script, I’ll put in a little bit more. So you never

know what’s going to come your way or you never know I might just see myself in Hollywood one day, you never know so I never say never. Nudity is not a big deal. You released some semi nude pictures on the beach. Can you go topless? It depends. There’s a level you’ll get to in your modeling career that you just have to do things like that. The highest paid models, the ones you see on Victoria’s Secret runways, I’m sure they do stuff like that. It comes with the territory so before you go into a career like that, you have to prepare yourself. Even though that’s not really where I’m channeling myself to, it depends on why you’re doing it and the outlet. Gisele Bundchen is like the highest paid model in the world today and I’ve seen a lot of topless photos for Vogue and other things, she’s just doing her job. You always look ravishing on red carpets. Do you have a particular designer? I’m self styled. Whenever you see me, I style myself because I’m good at designing clothes. In fact, I’m working on launching my own label, it’s called Vyachi. How would you describe yourself? I’m a happygo-lucky kind of person. I take life as it comes. I’m very adventurous, anybody who knows me, knows that much about me. If I go somewhere and there are like five things to eat on a

table and I’ve eaten four, it’s that one I’ve not eaten that I’ll want to eat that day and then besides that, I’m into doing things like Hiking, I like to go out on the water, on a boat, when I was in the North then, we used to always go for mountain climbing because there are a lot of mountains in the North. I’m an outdoor kind of person. I like to be around nature, water, mountains, trees and animals. Do you travel a lot? I travel every once and again, maybe not as much as I’ll like to but you know this our career, the busier you get, the more you tend to travel. On my own now, maybe sometimes family vacations, I do go every once in a while. I’ve been to the States and when I was much younger, I schooled in London, did my primary school in St Theresa Finchley

and I’ve been to most countries in East Africa; Kenya, Uganda and Ethiopia. What turns you on in a man? Nothing out of the ordinary but there are some things that I appreciate. I appreciate a man who works out, who has a fit, toned body because I work out a lot too. But most of all I’m more interested overall in a man’s brains than anything else because I like to talk, I like to have intellectual conversations so I like a man who has a high IQ. Which Nigerian musician do you like? 2 Face. 2 Baba is the best. I love 2 Face. His music makes sense and it is enjoyable at the same time. 2 Face is deep and I like him for that What’s your main philosophy of life? My philosophy of life is simply to be optimistic in any circumstance. You cannot kill yourself so whatever life gives you, smile, take it like that and dream, hope and pray for a better tomorrow. You only Live once, you’re never going to come back again so live out loud, live as much as you can, do everything you’ve always wanted to do, don’t keep on procrastinating, a lot of people procrastinate and say tomorrow, tomorrow. What more should people expect from you? Finding Love is already in cinemas, Being Mrs Elliot is coming out very soon. The rest, I don’t think I’m at liberty to really mention now because I’m still shooting. I always wait for my producers to give me the go-ahead before I start talking about the job Is there anything else you want to say? Vanguard is a very big newspaper so I want to use your platform to beg those holding the Chibok girls to quickly release them. What has happened has happened and I really believe that the Government will work harder to bring those girls back. Moving forward for the future, I’d like to suggest that if it’s possible for them to maybe inculcate some kind of mandatory self defense classes in schools for girls especially for girls in the North because there’s nothing as good as a woman that can defend herself. I know that if someone has a gun on your head, you can’t really do much but at least, just know those basic skills of how to defend and disarm somebody. C M Y K

32—SATURDAY Vanguard, JULY 5, 2014

BY IYABO AINA

What top divas pay for boobs enlargement While facelifts and hair transplants are sought after for obvious reasons, boob jobs are definitely the most eye-catching and noticeable make-over. As nature is more generous with some women than with others, some are blessed with luscious feminine curves, while others are left daydreaming of what it would be like to show more skin. Now, boob jobs seem like the perfect solution. Below are lists of celebrities who had boob and butt enlargement and what it cost them.

•Angelina Jolie before and Angelina Jolie after

Angelina Jolie: approx $40,000

NGELINA Jolie is an Oscar-winning actress who has become popular by taking on the title role in the Lara Croft series of blockbuster movies. With a perfect body and charming beauty, Angelina appears not to be one of those stars who decided they needed bigger breasts to give their career a lift. Rather, she lost her breasts while undergoing a double mastectomy after being traced with an 87% chance of developing breast cancer. Jolie had to undergo reconstructive surgery procedures that involved allografts (transplants).

Kate Hudson: $15,000

•Kelly Roland

Kelly R owland: approx. $15,000 Ro

ormer Destiny’s child singer cum actress and song writer, Kelly Rowland, is one of the screen divas with sexy curve. Kelly Rowland, it was, who claimed she first thought about having breast implants at the young age of 16, but decided to •Angelina Jolie wait for ten years after Beyonce advised her to wait and think things over before finally making her decision. So, in late October 2007, TV host Kelly Rowland went under the knife. Later that exican and American actress cum director, Salma Hayek, year, she proudly boasted was an inspiration to us all, for she was never embarrassed a new set of boobs and she was honest about them, to show her cleavage. When she made her debut on the big screen in Quentin Tarantino‘s after which she confessed she did not do them for a From Dusk Till Dawn, Salma’s path to stardom was assured, as she man or her work, but for turned heads with her amazing body lines. herself only, and that she She shocked the world with her new set of breasts, much larger, was very happy with the firmer, and rounder. Although she never actually admitted to having result, a very natural look them done, but she could not fool the cameras. that fits her perfectly. Also, it seems that being blessed with feminine curves and natural beauty was not enough for the screen diva, as she went from a C-cup to a porn-like double D which made her look awesome and in Touch magazine placed her at No. 3 with the best breasts in Hollywood.

ctress Kate Hudson has made a name for herself out side of just being Goldie Hawn’s daughter. She came to prominence in 2001 after winning a Golden Globe. Also, if anyone could make small breasts rock, it was Kate Hudson as it didn’t seem such a big deal to her that she was flat-chested. Her smile may be her best accessory, but unfortunately she was not blessed by nature with a generous cleavage and it seems this bothered her more than people had thought. For her 31st birthday, Kate Hudson treated herself to a lovely little gift: a mini boob job.

Salma Ha Hayyek: approx $ 10,000

•Salma Hayek

Pamela Anderson: approx $35,000

•Pamela Anderson

HE is one of the blond bombshells who starred in Baywatch, VIP and dancing with the stars. Anderson never denied getting her boobs blown, not like she could have fooled anyone. But back when she was starring in Baywatch, she was a natural beauty with curvy lines everyone admired. As she was endowed with a perfect body, allowing her to spend almost her entire life in the spot-

light. She had already appeared in Playboy twice before deciding she needed a change in her life. She had her first practice in 1990. Nine years later, she had the implants removed. However in 2004, Pamela went under the knife again, this time choosing even bigger ‘balloons’. The pop-culture icon flaunts her extra-large breasts with relish, and is often credited as being the one who started the whole boob job craze in America.

SATURDAY Vanguard, JULY 5, 2014—33

by Anozie Egole

What my fans don’t know about me — Tamara Eteimo B

ayelsa State-born sexy actress, Tamara Eteimo has joined the long list of Nollywoood movie producers as she recently premiered her first movie, Somewhere down the line. The actress who cannot understand why most actresses expose their body all in the name of interpreting roles, said there are certain things about her which are not known to the public. “I can never act nude for anything. There are several ways of seducing a man in a movie without completely going nude. There are certain things people do not know about me. I am not sure that they know I used to be a very good dancer. I find solace in acting than singing, that was the reason I stopped singing. For me, once I get a script, I feel God has answered my prayers,” she said.

Why I am enjoying my marriage —Foluke Daramola T

Tonto Dike drops

single?

ctress-turned-singer, Tonto Dikeh, forever remains a subject of calculated controversy, and the sole attraction of social media attention. She has, over the past years, tried her hands on music with little success. Her song, Hi, has not made the level of impact she probably had expected. The sexy singer, who was recently unveiled by the DB record label as one of its artistes, has dropped a single, Sugar Rush, to prove that she is for good. Afforded the luxury and skill of the DB Records, Tonto’s new song has been rated by music pundits as a good song as it possesses the basics of a stereotypical Nigerian commercial song. What Sugar Rush had lost lyrically, it made

with danceable beat. Tonto Dikeh, doublessly, must be feeling good having explored her innermost passion for music. For the well adjusted in life, winning is not all that matters, but playing.

op Yoruba actress cum producer, Foluke Daramola has opened up on why she is enjoying her marriage, saying she married her friend. “I would say that the reason I am enjoying my marriage is because I married my friend. I did not jump into marriage for the sake of getting married. I took time to study the kind of man I wanted to get married to. It is all about friendship. If you marry your friend, you are bound to enjoy your marriage,” she explained. The actress, however, corrected the wrong impression people always have about her that she is a snub. According to her, “ I am not a snub. I am a blunt and factual person.” She also explained why she delved into production, saying, “I tried to prove to people that I can also do a good film apart from Yoruba movies.” Foluke made these clarifications at the premiere of her first ever English movie, which took place place last weeke in Ikeja, Lagos.

How Zomenia stole Take it back auditions C

*Tamara Eteimo

C M Y K

all her a unique talent from birth, and you would not be wrong as female fuji singer known as Zomenia, got all the presents at the pre-audition event of Take it Back which held recently at Ajah area of Lagos. The event was designed to showcase the hidden talents in most kids in the Lagos State Correctional Centers for Boys, at Oregun and IdiAraba. It was indeed, a fun filled event. A four-man dance group, LSG wowed the audience with their breathtaking performances when they did the popular Mavin record hit track, Dorobucci. One of the judges, Ukalina, simply

defined the group as “an awesome group of dancers.’ Speaking at the event, CEO of Human Right Foundation, Mr. Victor Fakunle said, “We decided to give the kids in correctional centers a chance to perform. This is the first edition

we are having with kids from the correctional centers. In the next two weeks, we will be going for booth camp with successful contestants. We will be sharing the sum of N1m to winners but, it will come in form of scholarship and not cash. The age range is between 10 and 17 years.”

34—SATURDAY

Vanguard, JULY 5, 2014

Lifestyle

Eye glasses: For better or for worse? D

o glasses make eyes better or worse? We have all been told that about the positive/adverse effects of glasses at some time. But do you really know what is or is not good for your eyes? We know age can make eyes more reliant on glasses. We have been told glasses make vision clearer when worn for correcting short/long sightedness or astigmatism. But do glasses demonstrate how clear vision can be and is this contrast making it appear that the glasses are making things worse? How much do you know about your eyes and glasses? Find out below. Reading in dim light is harmful It is not true that using your eyes in dim light damages them. Reading by candlelight or with gas or kerosene lamps doesn’t adversely affect eyesight. However, good lighting does make reading easier and can prevent eye fatigue. Computer screen damages eyes Working on computers or video display terminals will not harm your eyes. Although you are likely to blink less often than normal after prolonged use. This reduced rate of blinking makes the eyes dry, which may lead to the feeling of eyestrain or fatigue. The best thing is to take regular breaks to look at objects farther away to relieve the feeling of eye strain. Wearing the wrong glasses is harmful Not essentially so. Eyeglasses are devices used to sharpen vision. Although correct eyeglasses or contacts help to see clearly, wearing a pair with the wrong lenses, or not wearing glasses at all, will not physically damage the eyes. However, doctors advise that if you need eyeglasses, wear your recommended prescription. Sitting close to the TV damages the eyes Not true. Children can focus at close distance without eyestrain better than adults. They often develop the habit of holding reading materials close to their eyes or sitting right in front of the television. There is no evidence that this damages their eyes, and the habit usually diminishes as children grow older. Children with nearsightedness (myopia) sometimes sit close to the television in order to see the images more clearly. Wearing eyeglasses leads to dependence Eyeglasses are used to correct blurry vision. Since clear vision

C M Y K

Good lighting does make reading easier and can prevent eye fatigue

with eyeglasses is preferable to uncorrected vision, you may find that you want to wear your eyeglasses more often. Although it may feel as if you are becoming dependent on your eyeglasses, you are actually just getting used to seeing clearly. Contact lenses and nearsightedness Some people have been led to believe that wearing contact lenses

•Medical science has no way to transplant whole eyes will permanently correct nearsightedness so that eventually they won’t need either contacts or eyeglasses. There is no evidence that wearing contact lenses produces a permanent improvement in vision or prevents nearsightedness from getting worse. Eye transplant Medical science has no way to transplant whole eyes. Our eyes are connected to the brain by the optic nerve which cannot be reconnected once it has been severed. It is the cornea, the clear front part of the eye, that has been successfully transplanted for many years. Corneal transplant is sometimes confused with an eye transplant. Are all eye doctors the same? No. An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor with special training to diagnose and treat all diseases of the eye. An ophthalmologist is qualified to provide all aspects of eye care, including cataract, laser, and other eye surgery. Optometrists and opticians are trained and licensed to provide some aspects of eye care, but they are not medical doctors and have not attended medical school and residency training.

SATURDAY

Vanguard, JULY 5, 2014—35

By Sola Ogundipe, 08056180112, solazed@live.com

Typically male

ale fertility is a complex process. Don’t confuse virility with fertility. A man can be virile and be infertile or vice versa. To be fertile, a man must produce healthy sperm. Initially, this involves the growth and formation of the male reproductive organs during puberty. At least one of his testicles must be functioning correctly, and his body must produce the male sex hormone testosterone and other hormones to trigger and maintain sperm production.

When infertility is your challenge •Include trouble keeping or maintaining an erection sufficient for sex

Sperm/semen production Sperms have to be carried into the semen. Once sperms are produced in the testicles, delicate tubes transport them until they mix with semen and are ejaculated out of the penis. There needs to be enough sperm in the semen. If the number of sperm in your semen (sperm count) is low, it decreases the odds that one of the sperms will fertilise the partner’s egg. A low sperm count is fewer than 15 million sperm per millilitre of semen or fewer than 39 million per ejaculate. Sperm must be shaped correctly and able to move. If the movement (motility) or shape (morphology) of your sperm is abnormal, the sperm may not be able to reach or penetrate your partner’s egg. Medical issues A varicocele is a swelling of the veins that drain the testicle. It’s a common cause of male infertility. This may prevent normal cooling of the testicle, leading to reduced sperm count and fewer moving sperm. Infection Some infections can interfere with sperm production or sperm health, or can cause scarring that blocks the passage of sperm. These include some sexually transmitted infections, like chlamydia and gonorrhea; inflammation of the prostate (prostatitis); and inflamed testicles due to mumps (mumps orchitis). Retrograde ejaculation This occurs when semen enters the bladder during orgasm instead of emerging out the tip of the penis. Various health conditions can cause retrograde ejaculation, including diabetes, spinal injuries, medications, and surgery of the bladder, prostate or urethra. Some men with spinal cord injuries or certain diseases can’t ejaculate semen, even though they still produce sperm. Antibodies Anti-sperm antibodies are immune system cells that mistakenly identify sperm as harmful invaders and attempt to eliminate them. Cancers Cancers and nonmalignant tumours can affect the male reproductive organs directly or can affect the glands that release hormones related to reproduction, such as the pituitary gland. In some cases, surgery, radiation or chemotherapy to treat tumors can affect male fertility.

C M Y K

Undescended testicles In some males, during fetal development one or both testicles fail to descend from the abdomen into the sac that normally contains the testicles (scrotum). Decreased fertility is more likely in men who have had this condition.

that carry sperm (sperm ducts) can be damaged by illness or injury. Some men experience blockage in the part of the testicle that stores sperm (epididymis) or a blockage of one or both of the tubes that carry sperm out of the testicles. Men with cystic fibrosis and some other inherited conditions may be born without sperm ducts altogether.

Some infections can interfere with sperm production or sperm health, or can cause scarring that blocks the passage of sperm Testicular disorders Infertility can result from disorders of the testicles themselves or an abnormality affecting other hormonal systems including the hypothalamus, pituitary, thyroid and adrenal glands. Low testosterone (male hypogonadism) and other hormonal problems have a number of possible underlying causes. Sperm duct defects. The tubes

Inherited disorders Such as Klinefelter’s syndrome — in which a male is born with two X chromosomes and one Y chromosome (instead of one X and one Y) — cause abnormal development of the male reproductive organs. Other genetic syndromes associated with infertility include cystic fibrosis, Kallmann’s syndrome, Young’s syndrome and Kartagener syndrome.

Problems with sexual intercourse Include trouble keeping or maintaining an erection sufficient for sex (erectile dysfunction), premature ejaculation, painful intercourse, anatomical abnormalities such as having a urethral opening beneath the penis (hypospadias), or psychological or relationship problems that interfere with sex. Others A digestive disorder caused by sensitivity to gluten, celiac disease can cause male infertility. Fertility may improve after adopting a gluten-free diet. Testosterone replacement therapy, long-term anabolic steroid use, cancer medications (chemotherapy), certain antifungal medications, some ulcer drugs and certain other medications can impair sperm production and decrease male fertility. Overheating the testicles. Frequent use of saunas or hot tubs may temporarily lower your sperm count. Sitting for long periods, wearing tight clothing or working on a laptop computer for long stretches of time also may increase the temperature in your scrotum and slightly reduce sperm production. The type of underwear you wear is unlikely to make a significant difference in male fertility.

36—SATURDAY

Vanguard,JULY 5, 2014

By CHIOMA OBINNA

am beginning to get worried about Joyce’s ear problem. She has had one ear infection after another. Each time she gets an infection, she has trouble hearing, although with medicine it always gets better. Still, I am worried these infections could lead to permanent hearing loss. The other day in the bus, I overheard one woman telling her friend about cotton wax. She even talked about staying in the water for a long time. And these are common habits my daughter is used to. Could she develop hearing problems? Mummy Joyce, You will always hear everything and believe everything. Your worry sometimes put me off. Anyway it is good sometimes to worry and go for solution in time. My second daughter also had something close to that. But I met my doctor who explained that ear infections are common in childhood. As with your daughter, some children do have temporary hearing loss due to the accumulation of fluid in the middle ear, but it usually goes away with treatment. But he told me that it is very rare for kids to develop permanent hearing loss, even when they have had several ear infections. A child with frequent or chronic ear infections is at risk for permanent hearing loss only when damage has been done to the eardrum, the bones of the ear, or the hearing nerve. But since your daughter’s hearing appears to return to

normal after treatment for an ear infection, she’s probably not at risk for permanent hearing loss. I will also advise you see a doctor for proper examination. Using a cotton swab to remove your child’s earwax isn’t a good idea. Sticking anything into a child’s ears raises the risk of contracting an infection or permanently damaging eardrums and hearing. Regular bathing should be enough to keep earwax at normal levels. The waxy substance (cerumen) in the ears provides a coating for the skin lining the ear canal, which helps keep the canal skin from getting too wet or dry, which helps prevent irritation or infection. It also traps dirt, dust, and other particles, keeping them from injuring or irritating the eardrum. While some people have more earwax than others, in general, the ear makes just as much wax as it needs. If your child needs to have earwax removed, a medical professional should do it in a clinical setting. For hearing problems or pain or irritation in or near the ears, talk with your doctor, who can examine your child to determine the cause.

Food As Medicine

Walnuts, yyour our hear t-friendly heart-friendly food I

F you want too get your heart, veins and arteries in shape, just grab a handful of walnuts. Like oily C M Y K

Mother & Child

Coping with ear problems •Ear infection could impair hearing...

•Taking care of the baby...

fish, walnuts contain omega-3 fatty acids that help reduce high cholesterol. ‘Nuts are good for the heart and walnuts are the No. 1 nut for heart health. They have more antioxidants and than other popular nuts. Antioxidants protect cells against damage caused by harmful free radicals. The damage can play a role in heart disease and other health conditions. “Twenty-eight grammes of walnuts have more antioxidants than the sum of what you are likely to obtain from fruits and vegetables. This amount of walnuts has 185 calories, 4 grams of protein, nearly 2

grams of fibre, and more than 18 grammes of fat but lots of ‘’heart-healthy’’ fat. Studies have shown that people who incorporate a handful or so of nuts in their diet daily either maintain or lose weight. Now, evidence is emerging that nuts can also help brain health. Rather erroneously, many people shy away from eating walnuts because they are worried the fat content and calories will lead to weight gain. Nuts are excellent snacks. One of the reasons nuts are such a good snack is, it’s not empty calories. You feel full, and that makes it likely you won’t overeat at the next meal.

SATURDAY Vanguard Vanguard,, JULY 5, 2014—37

HE holiday season begins and this season is about bright cheerful colours. Once it’s summer, the colours are never too much as long as they are bright and beautiful. Yellow for instance, is a great summer choice. It is even nicer if you wear them in floral blooms and colourful prints. A combination of bright separates and floral will make a pleasant clash. One thing is sure with yellow, there is a promise of a bright and cheerful day. Make your dress count. Get an unapologetically pretty dress in this bright beautiful colour.

Yes we can fashion show holds in Lagos BY ESTHER ONYEGBULA

Adetowun

n a bid to empower and encourage Nigerian fashion designers to put their creativity to work by developing distinct fashion brands with African touch, Boss of Wardrobe, Adetowun Awofeso, is organizing a fashion show and exhibition with theme, ‘Yes we can’. The event according to the organizers will showcase great works of young designers that have been done within a period of 12months including world-class ready-to-wear collections. The event which holds tomorrow at the Sheraton Hotels and Towers, Ikeja, Lagos, is aimed at proving to the world that Nigerian Designers can make ready-towear garments that can compete globally. Speaking to newsmen recently at a press conference in Lagos, Mrs. Awofeso, said it is high time Nigerians invested in local brands citing the success story of the Nigeria music industry. She pointed out that any product that meets the essential needs of a buyer in terms of quality and standard cannot but be bought. She added that if Turkey and India can develop their ‘ready to wear ‘industry despite the threat from China, nothing should stop Nigeria from doing same.

38— SA TURD AY SATURD TURDA

Vanguard, JUL Y 5, 2014 JULY

riday, July 11, 2014, is World Population Day. The day was declared in 1987 to draw attention to the world's population growth and ensuing issues and challenges. Religious bodies, governments, the United Nations, concerned civil society groups and other relevant organisations are all firm and uniform on one issue: the need for family planning and/or population control. The point of divergence is the modus operandi. In a multi-religious and multi-ethnic society like Nigeria, family planning or birth control has not been fully embraced because getting traction behind this concept is convoluted; it has too many angles and facets based on ethnicity, religion, personal convictions and so on, and as a result coming up with a common national realities and other factors can alter position or policy has been difficult. the agreement, but these unforeseen During the regime of Ibrahim situations can then be seen as Babangida, we toyed with the idea of circumstances beyond control. But it four children per family, but it went is imperative to have an nowhere. In a country where many men understanding (agreement sounds a think they are God's special gift to little stiff and formal) in place •"womanity" and so should go into the because the number of children has world, marry as many women as far reaching implications on various possible and procreate, such a policy is aspects of family life over a not going to work. I do not even see considerable time. Let us look at how you can legislate on birth control/ some: family planning in Nigeria. No sensible Accommodation: It follows logic man presides over his own liquidation: the legislature that will make the law, the executive that will implement and the judiciary that will interpret are filled with men who have many wives and enough children to start a hamlet or village. So whatever form of family planning or birth control effort has to be through moral persuasion and that the more children you have, the advocacy. Without any form of legislative more rooms you need to afford your restriction, therefore, we are all at family comfort, privacy and good liberty to produce the number of quality of life. If you have the children we like, but it is important that wherewithal, the size of your family young couples know the implication of will likely dictate the size of your the choices they make beforehand. It is accommodation, but even those in the fundamental for would-be couples to, lower income rung should consider among other things, discuss and agree the size of their accommodation when on the number of children to have before planning their family. If you are in a formally becoming husband and wife. single room, for instance, how many This agreement is not necessarily cast children do you want to share the room in stone because medical reasons, with? Have you thought about your unplanned pregnancies, economic privacy or you are just going to be

Before number four (1) having your good time with your spouse while all or some of your children are wide awake? A workable option is important here. Transportation: A saloon car can comfortably take a family of five, but once the number goes beyond that, ideally the family should go for an SUV which is a bigger vehicle or an additional car. If you look at vehicles as basics and not necessarily luxuries, an SUV is more expensive than a

During the regime of Ibrahim Babangida, we toyed with the idea of four children per family

saloon car. An extra car also means more expenses in initial purchase and subsequent maintenance. These mean additional transportation expenses due to the size of the family. Then for people on the lower rung who have no vehicle, more children means more expenses on public transport. Children's Education: children's education now takes a chunk of the income of families, especially those who send their children to private schools. The fees of some of these schools come in millions even at the

primary level. The implication is the more children you have the more money you shell out. Even if you are on the lower rung and your children are in public schools, more children means more expenses on education Pregnancies: Each pregnancy takes its toll on a woman. It is like athletes doing hurdles. Each hurdle slows them down. It also has health risks and as the woman become older (over 35 years) the health risks increase. Consequently, some women are only willing to carry a particular number of pregnancies. Husbands must of necessity discuss with their wives prior to marriage, as I said earlier. Marriage, as it is, is already a fertile ground for disagreements. You do not need to add avoidable conflicts. Retirement Planning:The reality is that the more you put away early for your retirement, the better your chance of maintaining the quality of life you would want in retirement. Granted our society has expectations that children will care for their parents in old age, but that does not at all remove personal responsibility or the satisfaction that goes with providing for oneself, even in old age. There is even no guarantee that your children will take care of you in old age; they might not be financially strong enough to give the care that an old vulnerable person needs, or they might be too steep in their world and forget they have aged parents. Some of the old beggars we see on our streets have children! While not exonerating children from the Godgiven responsibility of taking care of their parents, it is safer not to bank on it or treat it as first option. Housekeeping:The most obvious family expense is housekeeping. The family must eat and be clothed. These cost money and the more children you have the more mouths you have to feed and more bodies to clothe, whether you are rich or on the periphery.

(Text Only)

Fitness goes national I

On the case of the pot belly

Upright Bent knee forward Bend Technique:

Sit down with both legs extended in front. Bend the left knee upright place the hands at the back and hold a wrist with the other hand with the upright bent knee between the left hand and the side of the trunk. Benefits: The posture tones the muscles of the legs strengthens the arms. It also gives an effective massage to the abdominal organs getting rid of constipation.

The Boat

Technique: Sit down with the legs extended in front of you. Raise both legs up and touch the toes with the finger tips. Stay in this position for 20 seconds. Rest and repeat. Benefits: The boat reduces the size of the belly and improves the muscles of the back.

The Bridge

Lie on your back and drawing up the knees, raise the trunk up and support the lower back with the hands. Retain the pose for 15-to 20 seconds and repeat after a short rest. Benefits: The Bridge favourably affects the abdomen and the thigh muscles.

•The Boat

N the last few years there has been an increased interest in health and fitness in Nigeria. The early morning stream of joggers on the Lekki Ikoyi Bridge serves as a testament to this. It is difficult to say why the fitness craze that is sweeping the world has caught on, but all fingers point to globalisation. Every time you turn on the television, or look at a picture in a magazine, you see the almost impossibly thin women, and stupendously toned men, who all swear by one gym regime or the other. The Kardashians are often photographed entering the gym or leaving it. At one point, Kim Kardashian recommended using the gym twice a day, in a move she called: “Fit into your jeans by Friday.” The global fitness craze has found its way into the prevalent Nigerian culture. People have realised that the quickest way to a heart attack is a pot belly and so it is no surprise that the men who once bore them proudly have run to the gym to relieve themselves of the extra weight. Just as the women who once believed that it was fine to “let themselves go” after marriage, have turned to spinning, and a host of violent sounding gym classes, to undo what their years of complacency have

done. There has been an improvement in the status quo, however the change is incomplete. Those who race to the gym at every opportunity fail to fulfil the other half of the bargain. It isn’t enough to do three miles on the treadmill, and then eat unhealthily immediately after. A commitment to health and fitness requires a complete lifestyle overhaul, and this is easier said than done. This is one of the reasons why Medplus, a top Nigerian pharmacy, is leading the way in the campaign. This is incredibly beneficial, as not only will you get fitness pointers on your phone, you’ll also be part of a community that cares about health and fitness. One of the biggest problems with living a healthy lifestyle is that no one holds you accountable when you fall off the wagon. With this campaign, Medplus encourages people all over the world to come together and share what they ’ve learned on their various fitness endeavours. In the Nigerian environment, everyone is so busy that they often do not have enough time to sit down, read fitness articles, and ask for advice. With their hashtag, Medplus allows everyone with a twitter account to do this on the go.

SA TURD AY SATURD TURDA

Vanguard, JUL Y 5 JULY 5,, 2014—39

There’s scientific proof women are cleverer than men! Y

OUR feelings are hurt and you want your other half to know it, you stamp mind the house, slamming doors, tossing your head and sighing heavily. But he seems oblivious. You move on to the silent treatment and he still carries on as normal. It’s only when you cry with frustration that he actually comes over and puts his arm around per cent more neurons than you. A female friend would men in the brain centres for have noticed your distress laughing and hearing. “She’s the second she sets eyes on always rabbiting on”; She you. But it’s taken your soclaims that women use about called soul-mate half an 20,000 words a day while hour and a torrent of tears men only around 7,000. The to realise that you’re upset. act of talking fills the female Is there something wrong brain with chemicals that give with your relationship? women a high, connecting This is one of the posers in through talking activates the Dr. Louann Brizendine’s pleasure centres in a girl’s findings published in a brain. This is a huge amount book. You don’t need of pleasure, the fattest marital guidance or couple neurological reward you can counselling. According to get outside of orgasm... “All her, it is a very typical he thinks about is sex:” domestic scene. The Sexual thoughts float through problem lies not with your a man’s brain several times partner but with the every day on the average and difference between the way through a woman only once a men and women think. She day, or perhaps three or four believes all brains start out the same way but slowly change while we are in the womb. If a baby is going to be a boy, there’s a huge surge in the level of the sex hormone, testosterone, beginning in the eighth week. This kills off some cells in the communication centres and grows more in the sex and aggression centres. Thus, the brain becomes ‘male’. If the baby is going to be a girl, there will be testosterone surge.

he female brain continues to grow — sprouting more connections in the communication centres and areas that deal with emotion. She also observes that: “Women have an eight-lane superhighway for processing emotions while men have a small country road. This explains why women are experts at picking up on mood while men have difficulty spotting an emotion unless someone starts crying or becomes aggressive. SHE believes many of the moans women have about men and vice versa can be explained by their neurology. “He never listens...”: In men, testosterone shrinks the section of the brain used for hearing. Women have 11

He’s got a reputation for being handy with his fists

seek out interaction with others. Often, maths and science simply don’t fit the bill in that respect. When girls and boys hit their teens, there’s no difference in their capacity for these subjects.

times on her sexiest days. Men have two and a half times the brain space devoted to sexual drive. “When we argue, she rakes up fights I can’t even remember.”

omen may remem ber the smallest details of their first dates and their biggest fights, while their husbands barely remember that these things happened. Brizendine’s findings, which she discusses in her book: The Female Brain, are based on her own clinical work and analysis of more than 1,000

scientific studies. “I believe that women actually perceive the world differently from men,” she says. “I know it’s not politically correct to say this, but I’ve been torn for years between my politics and what science is telling me. Although women have smaller brains than men, they have the same number of brain cells and are just as clever as their male counterparts. Males and females have the same average intelligence. She also believes that: “Women have been wrongly labelled as being less capable in certain areas such as mathematics and science. The reality is that women naturally

s oestrogen floods the female brain, the female starts to focus intensely on their emotions and on communication — talking on the phone and connecting with their friends down the shopping centre. Girls start to lose interest in pursuits that require more solitary work and fewer interactions with others. “Women should be proud of their considerable mental attributes. The female brain has tremendous unique aptitudes— outstanding verbal agility, the ability to connect deeply in friendships, a nearly psychic capacity to read faces and tone of voice for emotions and states of mind, and the ability to defuse conflict. These are the talents women are born with that many men, frankly, are not. It’s my hope that the female brain will be seen and understood as the finely tuned and talented instrument that it actually is.”

“How I sent my violent husband packing” — Reader’s reaction.

ear Bunmi,

I’ve been a battered wife and the memories still haunt me. It’s upsetting when I read some of the things you write about violent relationships— they’re just like I used to be. I feel sad because I’m out of it, free —whilst some women hang in there. When I met my husband, I thought he was the most charming person in the world. He seemed so gentle and loving. I had no idea of the monster hidden inside. A few people tried to warn me:”He’s got a reputation for being handy

with his fists. Be careful,” I was told. But when you’re in love, you don’t listen. We were happy for a while and then it started. The abuse began as verbal. The odd insult thrown at me here and there.

hen, it was the odd slap, finally turning into punches. I became pregnant and thought it would be a turning point.He would change if we had a child to think of, surely? But he got worse. So manly times I tried to

leave, but I was always taken in by his lies — that he would track me down and take my son from me. It was too much of a risk, so I stayed. I could go into great details about what happened to me and my son, but to list over three years of abuse would take forever.

he final straw came one night when I was beaten so badly I had bruises all over my body. I fled to my family and they were aghast! They had no idea I was abused in whatever form. With the support of family and close friends, I was able to start

picking the pieces of my life. My dad threatened to actually kill him with his bare hands if he as much as showed up in the house. With time, I got over most of the nightmares that plagued me after I left him. I now have a loving relationship with a decent divorcee, but I’m not keen on getting hitched to him right now. But I am happy and my son is thriving. To all you battered wives out there — get out! There’s always a happy ending. You just have to go out and find it. —Betty.

40—SATURDAY

Vanguard, JULY 5, 2014

Aviation community honour honourss S Sttella Oduah

t was a moment of glory and joy for the erstwhile Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah as her aviation community rolled out drums to honoured her with an excellence award for outstanding contribution to the industry. The event held on Saturday, June 21 st at the

Oriental Hotel in Victoria Island, Lagos. Apart from avaition top executives who graced the occasion, high-profile dignitaries from the public and private institutions also honoured the woman of substance.

L-R: Hon. Felix Hyat, former Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, Chief Goddy Nwazuruike, President, Akaikenga and Hon. Samuel Mafuwai, former Minister of Aviation.

L-R: Chief Goddy Nwazuruike, President Akaikenga, with Ms Anne Enne Itah, SA to the President on Aviation Reforms.

Ifeanyi Nkwocha weds IFEANYI Nkwocha on June 15, 2014 stormed his bride, Megwa’s Udochukwu’s compound, Ezedibia Emekuku, Owerri-North, Imo state to seek her hand in marriage. The couple were traditionally united as man and wife before family members.

Princess Stella Oduah, flaunting her award. L-R; Chris Aligbe and Sheri Kyari.

Groom, Mr. Ifeanyi Nkwocha and bride, Miss Udochukwu Megwa.

L-R: Sheri Kyari and Hon. Felix Hyat, former L-R: Capt. Edward Boyo, MD, Overland Airways Minister of Aviation. and Mr Pashi Sale, MD, Moni Cargo and Courier.

Abilo o giv es daught er in marriage Abiloyye Emik Emiko gives daughter TRADITIONAL wedding between former Princess Komi Mildred Emiko,daughter of Late Prince Sam Abiloye Emiko and Princess Christine Abiloye Emiko (mother of bride) and Mr Kolade Olawale Olapoju, son of Engr and Mrs Segun Olapoju took place at the VGC residence of Prince Yemi Emiko in Victoria Island, Lagos, penultimate Friday. Photos by Biodun Ogunleye

Couple Mr and Mrs Kolade Komi Olapoju C M Y K

Princess Rev'd Christine Abiloye Emiko, bride's mother with the couple, Mr and Mrs Kolade Olapoju

The couple with groom's parents; Mrs. Ann Nkwocha, motherand Mr. Jude Nkwocha, father .

Couple with family members.

08 116759 759 081 6759759

‘Plastic makes perfect!’ M other-of-six undergoes her 36th surgery to look like an ‘extreme’ Barbie doll Lacey Wildd has already had 12 breast augmentation surgeries, but she’s gone under the knife once again.

The Miami mom, 46, has had even more work done in an effort to achieve a bigger butt and thinner waist. She also focused on her face this time, aiming for a thinner nose and wider eyes. ‘I want to be an adult Barbie, like the

extreme Barbie,’ the star of TLC’s My Strange Addiction, who has now had 36 surgeries, said. ‘I’m known as one of the most extreme plastic surgery patients in the world and I want to keep pushing the limits,’ she added.

Ms Wildd underwent six hours of procedures, performed by Dr. Michael Salzhauer, at Bal Harbour Surgery Centre, near Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The surgeries included liposuction, which removed fat from her tummy, back, arms and legs; she subsequently had the fat pumped into her derriere. ‘I still

SATURDAY Vanguard, JULY 5, 2014—41 want bigger boobs and a prop pillows underbigger butt! I don’t think neath her while driving, I’ll ever be finished. can barely run and only Plastic makes perfect!’ uses the back burners she reportedly said. Ms on her stove in case she Wildd’s cartoon figure burns her breasts while and outlandish dress cooking. But she has sense means that she declared: ‘I’m proud to turns heads wherever be plastic.’ ‘I have spent she goes. a quarter of a million The huge weight of dollars to build the most her chest - each breast extreme plastic body in weighing 21 pounds the world,’ she previmeans that she has to ously said. ‘I’m not just obsessed with my boobs,’ she added. ‘I’m obsessed with the entire look. I’m looking for the perfect body.’

No fruit for ten years

and chips. For exercise, he dances in his living room and runs every day —but claims his pulse is hardly affected by physical activity. ‘I never listen to experts. o fruit for ten years, a junk food diet The world is full of them—and that’s why and a 50-a-day cigarette habit... but we’re in such a mess,’ says Mr Jeffries, David, 66, still insists he’s as ‘fit as a fiddle’. who lives in Redditch, Worcestershire. ‘I A 66-year-old man who has lived on hate the taste of fresh fruit and vegetables, takeaways, chocolate, and cigarettes for more I find them tasteless. than 10 years claims to be fit as a fiddle. ‘The only way David Jeffries has not eaten a piece of fruit to make vegetafor more than 10 years but insists he has bles taste of never felt younger, boasting a slender 28anything is to inch waist. Blasting health experts’ advice as put salt on them, ‘rubbish’, the father-of-two fits five packs of and the experts cigarettes a day into his diet of traditional say salt is bad for meals such as fish and chips, steak and you, too. kidney pies, roast beef, and sausage, egg

Businessman, 79, shoots self after doctors misdiagnosed him

Bangalore estate agent surrounds himself with colours for satisfaction t started at birth but I quickly turned into an all-consuming obsession.

businessman who correctly feared he had cancer shot himself dead eight months after doctors had misdiagnosed him with stomach ulcers, an inquest heard. Father-of-two Neville Freeman, 79, suffered crippling abdominal pains and had begged for a cancer check because his sister died of the disease after she was misdiagnosed. Experts assured Mr Freeman, known as Tony, that he was cancer-free and prescribed him anti-acid tablets to treat stomach ulcers. But the pain became unbearable and eight months later Mr Freeman took his own life with his clay pigeon gun before a post mortem examination found he did have cancer.

An inquest heard that Mr Freeman was diagnosed with cancer in one of his eyes in 2011 and it was removed and replaced with a glass one. When he developed painful stomach aches in June 2012 he was convinced the cancer had spread. He saw medics at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King's Lynn, Norfolk, but was told he was not suffering from cancer. He went back to his GP when the pain did not go away after taking anti-acid tablets, but was only prescribed painkillers. A post mortem examination revealed a tumour in his pancreas which should have been diagnosed as pancreatic carcinoma. Norfolk Coroner Jacqueline Lake recorded a verdict of suicide at King's Lynn County Court on Monday.

Indian real estate agent Sevenraj’s father named him after the number seven, and since then, he has spent his life surrounding himself with the number. But it didn’t stop there — he developed an extreme fixation on the colours red and white. And seeing him dressed in a red and white suit, driving a red and white car and living in a red and white house, it is hard not to take notice. While his obsession with the number seven began when he was named, his peculiar attraction to red and white started as a wacky marketing gimmick and has seen him become a full blown home town celebrity. There is now no doubt that what started as a gimmick to attract people to his business has taken over his life.

Everything in Sevenraj’s life is red and white - even his family dress in the colours. Modelling himself on Mahatmar Ghand, who he says is instantly recognisable in pictures wearing his glasses and a white towel, he has become something of a local sensation in his home city of Bangalore, India. Sevenraj’s strange habits extend to an unhealthy preoccupation with the number seven. His says his father named him after the

number as he was the seventh child in his family. He now has seven buttons on his blazer and his telephone number ends in 777. He also speaks seven languages, including his native Malaysian, Hindi, English, Tamil and Marathi. The number seven is stitched into the headrest on his car, and proudly displayed on the lapels of his red and white blazer. His suit, mobile, furniture, office, handkerchief and stationery are all red and white. He dresses entirely in the colours, including his socks.

42—SA TURD AY 42—SATURD TURDA

Vanguard, JULY 5, 2014

YETUNDE AREBI

THE FAT DEBATE:

Lepa or Orobo, which do you prefer T he debate about size or weight preference has been on for decades. Each side of the divide has its own premise and the views are as diverse as can be imagined. The female gender has always come under more scrutiny and criticism than their male partner, perhaps for the obvious reasons that they initiate most relationships, set its standards and direction most of the time. So, you are more likely to hear questions like “ which do men prefer, slim women or fat women?” “Who is more sexy, a fat lady or a slim lady?”. You often do not hear women complain about the protruding tummies of their men, nor use it as excuses for selfish interests and gains. Nevertheless, weight issues will continue to generate heated debates for as long as man exists. Medically and biologically, certain factors have been identified as determinants to how we look. A simple and obvious case is our skin colour. The white man is different from the Caucasian, the Hispanic, the Arab, and obviously the African man, who also is different from the Halfcaste crossbreed. Besides our different skin colour, heredity, genetics, environment, diet, lifestyle and general state of health have great impact on the way we look and in this case, our weight. If we therefore agree that it will be difficult for all of us to look the same way or a certain way, then why so much

Fat women have wide vaginas while slim women have deep vaginas. (Really?) Slim guys have longer penis than fat guys

emphasis, discrimination and criticism on the subject? Does the weight of a woman or man really matter in bed? Who is more attractive, the slim man or woman or the fleshy ones? A decade or two ago, being slim was not a front burner issue for many Nigerians, even for those who were aware of the health implications. In my opinion, the success stories of our very own Agbani Darego and Oluchi turned the tables around

for many Nigerian women. Their acceptance to the international beauty and fashion stage as the standard way women should look woke many of us up from our slumbers. Suddenly, gyms were popping up at almost every corner and with max patronage too. The rebirth of the average Nigerian woman began. A woman more conscious about her looks, fashion trends and even professional and career achievements. However, many still believe this is all a fluke as the average Nigerian woman remains the curvy and well rounded woman, international standards notwithstanding. So the question still remains, who is more attractive, the slim or fat guy or lady or put in local parlance, the lepa or orobo? Perhaps the first clarification to make here is who qualifies as lepa or orobo? I think there is a difference between being slim and being thin or bony or being curvy, rotund, big, stout, lanky or fat. Between being thin and fat, there are several other body shapes we always seem to forget when we discuss weight issues. Let’s check out some of the views a couple of women shared with me on this: *Clothes fit and look better on women with flesh and curves than on thin women. *Fat people are accorded more respect by people generally because they always look older than their actual

ages, no matter how good looking they might be. *Slim people are more flexible in bed than fat ones. There are certain styles a fat people might not be able to perform effectively. *Fat people’s clothes are more expensive and their sizes more difficult to get on the shelves. Even local tailors charge more to sew for them too. *Too slim or thin people are often passed off as being of poor health or suffering from physical, psychological problems. *Fat people are considered lazy and dirty while slim people are smarter and readily take care of themselves. *People believe fat people are gluttons while slim people eat less and make better food choices. *Once a woman starts bearing children, she automatically increases in weight. However, there are also women with children who can’t seem to be able to add an inch. *Fat women have wide vaginas while slim women have deep vaginas. (Really?) Slim guys have longer penis than fat guys. *Even when children are too thin, people question their parents. Dear readers, this is contemporary issue that will never go away. I will love to hear your views on this. Be sure to share an experience, view and preference with us too. Once again, you may reach me via email address: yetty5050@yahoo.co.uk Do have a wonderful weekend please!

SATURDAY Vanguard, JULY 5, 2014—43

CAMP Hype gears up for second edition

Will the Safe school initiative prevent another Chibok incident? BY LAJU ARENYEKA

t was another tragedy at Chi bok recently, when terrorists killed about 51 people and burned five churches to the ground. The community had not yet recovered from the abduction of over 200 school girls by the Boko Haram sect barely three months ago. If Chibok could be attacked again, how can Nigerians be sure than more school students will not be abducted? A quest to find the answer to this, led to the launch of the Safe School Initiative by President Goodluck Jonathan a start off fund of 3.2 billion Naira; 1.6 bn from the Government and the other 1.6 bn from the private sector. It would be recalled that after a meeting on the initiative between President Jonathan, former British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown and governors from the Borno, Yobe and Adamawa, the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, told reporters that the fund would help ensure that school children get educated in a safe environment. She said that a total of 100 million dollars was the targeted amount needed as take-off grant for the Safe School Initiative Programme by the Federal Government and the international community for Nigerian schools. Brown, who represented United Nations Secretary General, Banki Moon on a special envoy to Nigeria said that the initiative would aim providing ‘fortification, telecommunications, security guards, and safety equipment as well as rebuilding

There is a lot of corruption in the system; if all the people on board are not men of honour and integrity, then the moneys will just disappear into people’s pockets

vandalized schools.’ Reacting to the initiative, a retired Commissioner of Police, Abubakar Tsav told Vanguard Learningthat ‘this is a very good and timely intervention. But the onus lies on its implementation.’ Tsav said: ‘There is a lot of corruption in the system; if all the people on board are not men of honour and integrity, then the moneys will just disappear into people’s pockets.’

Tsav also said that for the initiative to work, ‘All schools should have adequate number of trained security guards. We have so many unemployed youths;’ he said ‘more than enough to cover all the schools in this country if they are adequately trained and enumerated as security guards. But we have to keep paying attention to these issues. The Chibok girls have been missing for nearly three months. They still have not been found. If they were children of Ministers, the President or any high ranking official, they would have been found by now.’ The National Coordinator of the Education Rights Campaign, Mr. Hassan Soweto on the other hand argued that ‘the project in itself seems flawed from the very beginning.’ Soweto said: ‘It is this fire brigade approach that we keep adopting every time there is a problem in this country. The process of setting up a new initiative once there is a crisis is the normal behaviour of our Government. Not just in education, but in other sectors as well. Schools have been collapsing long before Boko Haram activities began. And when Boko Haram ends, there will be still a lot of decay in the schools. We need a more proactive and more sensitive approach to deal with the insurgency. We must also look at the root causes; unemployment is a major challenge in the country, so is poverty. If these issues are not dealt with, the safe school initiative will just be another avenue to steal government funds.’ More and more money is being pumped into the Safe School Initiative, as more and more, students in Northern Nigeria attend school in fear.

irror Entertainment Marketing and Events Company Limited is offering the second edition of its residential summer camp program called Camp HYPE. The camp which combines traditional family values, education and entertainment runs for 3 weeks for kids and teens ages 8 – 16 years. The program runs from June 26th – August 16th at the spacious ten-acre Eko Tourist Resort, Akodo, Lagos State. “Camp HYPE offers our campers an adventurous, active and healthy summer by providing exceptional opportunities for campers to become fully engrossed in a collaborative, supportive and incredibly fun community that seeks to embrace the outdoor lifestyle,” said Mikha’el Smith, program manager and CEO Mirror Entertainment. “Experiential education is taught and explored outside the four walls of a classroom environment through selfexpression, awareness, personal accountability and teamwork, thereby creating an attractive, secure, and rewarding summer environment for both campers and staff to meet new friends, discover new interests and create memories that last a lifetime.

Loral students create creams, beads at humanity week

t was eye-catching display of talents recently when Students of Loral International Primary/Nursery School, showcased their artwork, at the humanity week, held recently at the school premises. Speaking on the essence of the annual humanity activity, the school Headmistress, Mrs. Cecilia Elendu said the importance of arts in the development of a child can not be overemphasized, insisting that children should be encouraged to remain creative. “The humanity week is an avenue for children to show their talents in areas of science and arts,” she said, “ we do this because we want the children to know what they can do even at tender age, so that as they go further, they will not have difficulty in any area of profession they chose to go.

44—SA TURD AY 44—SATURD TURDA

Vanguard , JUL Y 5 JULY 5, 2014

Continues from page 14 APC. By the time we come up with what will happen in Osun State, given the mobilization and the show of support that APC will have, PDP and other parties will be disappointed. Not only that we are confident that the court will invalidate the process, as it has done in the past, but the truth is that, they will regret what they have done because they will be routed out, PDP will be routed out of power in 2015.

‘What happened in Ekiti is a foundation to our democracy’

Senator Saidu Kumo represents the NorthEast geo-political zone of the country at the on-going National Conference

he Ekiti gubernatorial election which has come and gone and has gone with a lot of lessons, is something that Nigerians and politicians, are looking forward to in this kind of election. And you know, this is a very good development for democracy of this country, it means that there will be hope. 2015 elections will be credible and it will be free and fair and definitely we are going to see a difference in politics in Nigeria. PDP is going to excel in 2015. Once there is free and fair elections, and I can assure you, today Nigerians are willing and graciously ready to vote PDP. Even with comments and complaints of insecurity? All these issues, there is nothing you can do. They go with human nature. This is a human issue which you cannot do anything about, it is something we can see. Something that is making the nation develop and growing. Like I said, it is a good political development and it is good for Nigerian democracy there is no doubt about it.

•Voters casting their votes at Iyin Ekiti during the Ekiti State gubernatorial election.

done in a civilized democracy. For the first time in Nigeria, we see a governor who was beaten in a contest accepting defeat and congratulating the winner. So if that is maintained in our elections then election banditry will be a thing of the past.

Ekiti governorship elections is our desire and our dream that Nigeria would be in a position to conduct very credible, free and fair elections where a winner will be congratulated by the loser

Ekiti election has all the ingredients desired towards making our What happened in Ekiti electoral process mature is a foundation to our — Victor Umeh democracy —Gani Adams hief Victor Umeh is Chairman

of All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA and he is at the Conference on the platform of the party. The Ekiti election had been commended by a cross section of the Nigerian society including international observers. If you ask me, I will tell you that the performance of INEC and the security agencies during the Ekiti governorship elections is our desire and our dream that Nigeria would be in a position to conduct very credible, free and fair elections where a winner will be congratulated by the loser. So the Ekiti election has all the ingredients desired towards making our electoral process mature. So it becomes a reference point as it is C M Y K

governor that will accept defeat, within 24hours. It has never happened in the history of this country. Even if APC wants to appeal or go to tribunal, they should be very careful to a level because of his integrity

*Says bringing Nigerian Army to monitor elections is wrong

hief Gani Adams who is the National Coordinator, Odua Peoples Congress, OPC , represents the South West Zone at the Conference. I think what happened in Ekiti is a foundation to our democracy. I will advice INEC to keep it up. If they should continue in that way, I think we will have a free and fair election in 2015. And I must commend the governor of the state, Governor Kayode Fayemi for being a very good democrat. Whether we like it or not, he has made history as the first

because people are watching. What Nigerians need most now is integrity, especially when you say a word and you will not keep to that decision. Standing on what you have said earlier is what most people of the western world respect as a statesman, as a genuine person and as a leader that can be trusted. At the same time, I must use this opportunity to warn our security agencies,you must not intimidate people when election is coming. I agree totally that the election is free and fair; I don’t want a situation that the electorate will be intimidated and in a situation that you are being intimidated, you will not have the right and the opportunity to exercise your franchise. Look at the population of the people that voted in the election, it is less than three hundred and fifty thousand people (350,000) and the population of Ekiti people is almost 3.5million. That shows that there was a lot of

apathy. A lot of people did not come out to vote because of heavy presence of security. I will not encourage the federal government to do that in the next election. If you suspect a crisis, bring regular police men, civil defence, SSS can be on ground to monitor elections. But bringing Nigerian Army is wrong, Nigerian Army is not meant to monitor elections. They are to defend the territorial integrity of the country. By bringing Nigerian Army with guns and ammunition to the electoral areas, definitely you want to intimidate the electorate who came out to exercise their franchise , so that is the only point. But when you are talking out of that, the election was free and fair and I would advice INEC to maintain that and if they improve on it, it is on that we can have a free and fair election in 2015.

We cannot conduct any general election with the 1999 Constitution —Braithwaite

r. Tunji Braithwaite, founder of the Nigerian Advance Party, NAP is a delegate on the platform of Elder Statesmen category. Clearly and even before we get to 2015, we need to have completed a new constitution because we cannot go for general election with the present 1999 constitution. There are many flaws in the 1999 constitution that cannot sustain the next general elections without serious surgical amendment to the Continues on page 45

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Vanguard , JUL Y 5 JULY 5, 2014—45

Oyegun is a former governor?

just

s he considered as one, he is

coming in because he is new also. We are talking of governors that came into power at the same time as Akande and co, that is from 1999- date, Chief Oyegun was governor in 1992, so it is not the same thing. So these are the things that led to the defeat of APC in Ekiti State. I don’t see it as a general trend, I don’t see it as an endorsement of PDP. I think it is just an accident that APC lost the election.

What about at the federal?

A cross section of voters waiting to vote during the Ekiti State gubernatorial election. Inset: Soldiers at a road block .

‘Ekiti election was not an adoption of PDP, but a rejection of APC’ Continues from page 44 1999 constitution. In order words, how do you mean? We cannot go into any general election with the present constitution, the country still has a lot of work to do. For these isolated elections, these are different, but for a general election, we cannot conduct the next general election under the 1999 constitution, it is not possible.

If we use Ekiti to generalise, we will miss the point— Okoye Says as at today, our elections are a war situation

estus Okoye, is the National Coordinator, Human Rights Monitor and a delegate representing the Civil Society Organisations from the South East. This Ekiti is a huge improvement from the conduct of elections in this country. Really for the first time the INEC got its acts together and they got their acts together because, one they created what they call “superracks”, where they husbanded and housed youth corp members that were going to act as presiding officers and also husbanded and housed sensitive and non sensitive materials. So it was easy for them to deploy very early to the various polling units. Now when you deploy to the various polling units on time, what that means is that the people get to the polling units and see things already in order. When they get to the polling units and don’t see things in order,

sometimes there is rowdiness, there is confusion and then people start getting agitated. So I agree that they got it right. But Ekiti is an isolated matter, this is because the electoral management body was able to mobilise both their head quarter staff and their staff from other states to Ekiti, to go and assist the resident electoral commissioner in Ekiti state to conduct the election. Secondly, you have six national commissioners in Ekiti,you have six resident electoral commissioners in Ekiti, you have AIG in Ekiti, you have so many commissioners of police in Ekiti, So if you use Ekiti to generalise, you will miss the point. But I think that if the electoral management body is able to build on the successes of Ekiti, there is a possibility that we can have what I call substantially free and fair elections in 2015. But I believe that we must find ways and means of making sure that our elections are not militarised, we must make sure that our elections become routine matters where those who want to vote can go and vote and those who do not want to vote should stay at home. But as at today, our elections are a war situation and that is not the path and road to free, fair, transparent elections.

Ekiti election was not an adoption of PDP, but a rejection of APC —Ladoja Senator Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja,

former Governor of Oyo State and National leader of Accord Party, is a delegate on the platform of the party. It is a peculiar situation. It is peculiar in the sense that the elections was not necessarily about party, it was not an adoption of PDP, it was a rejection of APC. It was a rejection of APC in the sense that from three, six months after Fayemi assumed power, the people have been shouting that they have home grown government. Because 80% of Fayemi

Federal, circumstances may also decide what happens at that time. What happens at that time will be determined by who and who is contesting also. In a public place you cannot extrapolate as you can extrapolate in journalism. Anything can happen overnight and then turn the scenario. So these are the things. It is too far for us to talk about 2015. Who knew that the convention of APC would nearly kill it. Everybody would have said that a convention is an internal matter of the party and it will not have any effect. But it is having an effect. So that is it. So that is why I said 2015 is far away and there is nothing to say about it now.

Ekiti election is not a pointer —Ezenwa

zenwa Nwagwu, is Chairman, Partners for Electoral Reform and a delegate at the Conference on the platform of Civil Society Organisations, CSOs. No. It is no pointer. I think one of the mistakes we would be making is over-celebrating and eventually everything would collapse on our heads. Ekiti is a miniature election if you like. And more importantly, there was a constellation of interests

No. It is no pointer. I think one of the mistakes we would be making is overcelebrating and eventually everything would collapse on our heads. Ekiti is a miniature election if you like commissioners were Lagos based. In fact nearly all the political appointees are Lagos based. So they were looking for home based government. So that is number one issue. Number two is that, look at the circumstances of the APC convention. What qualifies Segun Oni to be made the deputy national Chairman, while dropping Niyi Adebayo who was the national vice chairman before. Does it not seem as if the new leadership of APC is discarding the former governors with Segun Osoba as example. Maybe the only person you will be hearing about is Bola Tinubu. But the national Chairman, Chief John

of the citizens of Ekiti to make a change. And that change was expressed through their votes. The 2015 is general election. If what we know about our elections repeat themselves in 2015, you will not have guarantee for peace; it was because the express wishes of the people of Ekiti triumphed, that was why you have peace. Even if you put a million soldiers and you thwart the will of the people, it is a pointer to greater danger. So the lessons that we have to learn are that we must allow the express wishes of the people of the country to be represented through the elections come 2015 and that would be a guarantee for peace.

46—SATURDAY VANGUARD, JULY 5, 2014

We’ve always taken SMEs capacity building seriously —GBENGA SHOBO

benga Shobo is the Ex ecutive Director, Retail Banking South, First Bank of Nigeria. In this interview with Saturday Vanguard Business, he explains the sudden interest of banks empowering SMEs in the country even as First Bank is leading on capacity building of the sector. “Empowering SMEs is the easiest way to grow any economy”, he said. Excerpts: Nigerian banks seem to have realised that Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) are the engine room of any economy, why the sudden interest of First Bank? The sudden interest you have noticed from other banks has been a strong selling point for First Bank. Half of our retail loan book is made up of loans to SMEs. All the various surveys that have been done conducted clearly that First Bank has the most SMEs in the industry. The same surveys show we lend the most to SMEs too. So we have always taken SMEs very seriously. The sudden interest of banks in the sector is because the informal sector of the Nigerian economy is growing bigger by the day, and we all know the high state of unemployment in the country. A lot of students graduate from the universities and there are no white collar jobs for them unlike in the past. So a lot of them are starting their own businesses. One area that is growing now is online retailing. In the past nobody thought of going to internet to buy a pair of shoes, but today you can see new areas of online business popping up daily. That is why a lot of banks are taking SMEs seriously now as the sector is growing and is a very large part of the Nigerian economy.

Apart from that, do you see the N20 billion SMEs fund as a help that could drive the sector? Yes! It will help. The major challenge of SMEs is actually access to finance. That CBN fund is a drop in the ocean. My answer to that is yes it would help, but more needs to be done to assist the sector by banks being interested in SME’s, understanding them and then creating products that would be useful to them so that they will have access to finance to develop whatever business ideas they have. On Monetary Policy that could help SMEs sector Like I said earlier, what will really help SMEs is access to finance. In order for them to get Shobo: Capacity building grows financing they must understand economies how to show that their business That is one of them. We are are viable. Most of them cannot strong in education. We have do this. Money is not the only given out a lot of loans to schools, thing that is important, you must primary, secondary and tertiary. be able to use that money, pay Online retailing is relatively new the bank back and make profit. and growing. We have always So, First Bank for example, has done a lot of capacity building been traditionally strong in agriwhereby we bring SMEs togeth- culture, manufacturing, trade, er and teach them the process of healthcare. Right now, we are banking their money, reconcilia- talking to some of the internationtion of statements etc. Monetary al organizations that can support policy is currently tight which has us on healthcare lending. So, you affected pricing of loans but that can’t box it into one area because doesn’t stop banks from lending SME’s are well diversified. Wherever we find you and your busito SMEs. Since some SME operators ness we are ready to back you. How much have you disbursed complain lack of access to fiso far on the education sector? nance, do you think PPP methWe disbursed N42billion to the od can be of help to the sector? SMEs sector last year. Public Private Partnership (PPP) Over 500 SMEs participated in can help but another area that will the First Bank’s maiden SMEs be useful to encourage banks to national conference last year, lend to SMEs is the provision of what was the significant achieveloan guarantees by the government? ment and Central Bank of NigeIt was successful. What we ria. achieved basically was to attract You said, the IT industry is the real SMEs. All you needed growing, is that the area First to do was access our website and Bank wants to focus its SMEs complete your registration, we did funding?

not have to be an existing customer. We invited three successful SME MDs. Mrs. Awosika, Managing Director of Chair Centre, somebody that started a furniture business with very little capital which today has grown into one of Nigeria’s largest furniture companies. The Managing Director Konga.com Sim Shagaya, someone that started an online e-commerce site which is very successful and Audu Maikori, music producer MD of Chocolate city. These are people who started small but today their stories have changed for the better. So we called them to address the conference and it was a huge success. It brought hope to participants that it can be done and we

also allowed them to interact among themselves and tell us what the issues of SME’s really are. It also helped us because we could use the learning to further twist our products and our services to suit the SME’s better the conference was held in Lagos and limited number of people attended, we went further to other cities like Aba, Port Harcourt, Kano and Ibadan. We are now moving into states to make sure we gather more SMEs for business capacity building. What we are doing in those regional conferences is capacity building teaching them what to do to make their business bankable so that they can easily access finance from banks.

Tobacco industr er regulation or good int entions? industryy: Ov Over intentions? A

s the tobacco control debate rag es, focus appears to have taken a new turn with more attention paid to tobacco companies, rather than issues of public health, Princewill Ekwujuru sampled the opinnions of stakeholders, and concerned industry watchers. Presently, the Federal Executive Council of Nigeria has four new bills proposed on tobacco regulation, which are at various stages of passage in the National Assembly, and several other bye laws. However, given the recent passage and signing of the tobacco law by Lagos State Government, taking effect from August 17, 2014, there appears to be the possibility of replication by various state governments. The sector presently is without doubt heavily regulated. A number of agencies are currently regulating industry practices, placing designated bans on smoking places, banning advertisement in specific places on distributional and dispersal restrictions like not selling to

a given age bracket. Some professional organisations and Non Governmental Organisations, NGOs, are bent on airing their views about the manufacturers. Though there are short supply of data to show how these laws have impacted the sector, associated industries, and how it effect public cost. What is evident is that the bills clearly show how muddled up the drive to regulate the sector has been. What is not known to the public and key stakeholders are the cumulative effects of multiple laws and enforcements which borders on over-regulation and its inefficient outcomes, and its counter - productive consequences. However, since the 1990s, all forms of tobacco advertisement and promotions have been banned. Before then, cigarette products advertisements have a public education component as it must necessarily end with warning on possible health implications of the product according to the ministry of healths recommendation. It is clear to see that all the bills are mere-

ly reinventing the wheel. The sector is not in a regulatory vacuum. There are existing laws which are being conformed to by industry players. Kayode Igri, a public policy analysis, who works in a policy research organisation in Lagos, said that in a way, the multiple regulatory actions in the sector suggest an ultimate intention of frustrating legal tobacco production and consumption in Nigeria. The thinking seems to be that more laws are necessary to appeal to an emotional base of a growing mammoth. Unfortunately, these multiple processes are waste of legislative resources in which the taxpayers pay for heavily. He also observed that the new bills have no new discovery, but that globally the tobacco industry is a legal entity, like other social products, alcohol, gaming and patent medicines, “over-regulation is harmful to the economy, the industry and the society as a whole.” In the case of Nigeria, what can be said is that maybe myriad of bills are based

on an intention to do good. But good intentions are not enough in framing public policy. Often the outcome is counterproductive. On the industry side, multiplicity of regulations will distort the market. Igho Ayambe, Managing Director, Igho Inter Distribution, said the negative effect of multiplicity of regulation comes from the multiplicity of regulators and layers of enforcers and legal responsibilities for the manufacturers. Nigeria needs not add to opportunity for corruption and bribery which comes from over-regulation. It is well known that too much government involvement in any sector generally leads to black market. Black markets are not ideal and definitely extra-legal. For products like alcohol, tobacco and prescription based drugs and others, over-regulation is not rational. He continued. According to Ekine Otolori, “the idea behind tobacco regulation is based on the notion that people do not know what is best for them, whatever will further create illicit trade around the sector is contrary.

SATURDAY Vanguard, JULY 5, 2014—47

BY IFEANYI OKOLIE

35-year-old man, Akorede Wasiu, who was arrested recently by operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, at the Lagos State Police Command, has confessed that he uses human parts for good and not money rituals. The suspect who is a native of Oyo State boasted that he uses human parts to stop pregnant women from going through surgery. The suspect was among three others, which includes two herbalists and an Islamic cleric also known as Alfa— specializes in buying and selling human body parts.

Crime Guard gathered that the suspects, identified as Wasiu Oyebamiji, Ogunshola Olakunle Afolabi, Akorede Wasiu and Rasheed Opeyemi, were apprehended in various parts of Ogun and Lagos States respectively,sequel to an intelligence report received by the State Commissioner of Police Umar Manko, on their activities. Narrated how he uses human parts to stop pregnant women from going through surgery, Wasiu said ; “ if a woman is brought to me and it is said that she is unable to deliver safely. I will rub a concoction prepared with human parts on the woman’s stomach and she will deliver easily without surgery.” meanwhile, sources at the State Police Command Headquarters, Ikeja, disclosed to that the officer in charge of SARS, SP Abba Kyari, who deployed a team of undercover operatives were first deployed to track down one of the suspects, Afolabi, who they said specializes in cutting of human body parts from accident victims abandoned on the road. A source who spoke to Crime Guard on the condition of anonymity said one of the undercover operatives approached Afolabi for a human part and he demanded N45,000. The source added that after making the payment, Afolabi, provided a fresh human head and told the operative that he got it from a woman who was knocked down by a hit and run vehicle on the Lagos-Abekuta Expressway. ” We quickly apprehended him and when we interrogated him he confessed that he usually sell the human parts to pastors and Alfa who he said used it for themselves and their customers. He also told us that when he C M Y K

Suspected ritualists

I use human parts to assist pregnant women deliver safely — suspected ritualist could not find abandoned corpses on the expressway, he would approach a grave digger, identified as Ajigbolorun Waheed to bring human heads or flesh and bones for him. When we searched his shop at Abule Egba, we found pieces of human flesh and meat .” The source also added that Oyebamiji was arrested at Oko-Oba Market, where he sells herbs and human parts while Wasiu and Opeyemi were arrested at Songo Ota area of Ogun State. The source further explained that Wasiu and Opeyemi who claimed to Islamic clerics were apprehended for having bought human body parts from the dealers. When Vanguard interviewed

the suspects they confessed to the crime but explained that the mixture of human parts in concoctions have proven highly effective.

breaking his mother’s head. I was confused when I saw the case and I tried to use mars, talisman and money to restore his brain. After

Before the man was brought to me I was told he had beaten up a lot of people including breaking his mother’s head The 50-year-old, Opeyemi, told Crime Guard during interview that he used the concoctions in treating serious mental disorder. “ I started using it when I had a patient with a severe mental disorder. Before the man was brought to me I was told he had beaten up a lot of people including

several efforts failed I consulted some of my Alfas friends and one of them told me to get human meats of two different persons, roast and grind it and then mix it a soap and dried plantain leaf. I used it accordingly and it worked. I want to tell us that I used these human parts for good and not for money rituals.”

48—SATURDAY Vanguard, JULY 5, 2014

How INEC will conduct 2015 elections — Igini Barrister Mike Igini is the Cross River State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). In this interview, he speaks on INEC’s preparedness in the forthcoming 2015 general elections and other issues of national importance. Excerpt:

BY LEVINUS NWABUGHIOGU

he 2015 election is just about seven months away. How is INEC preparing and what should Nigerians

expect? We are working towards a better improved 2015 election. In addition to previously established processes, the imminent elections will introduce, for the first time, the permanent voters’ card with embedded biometric data, making the transfer and use of a voting card impossible. This will be enabled by the use of a card reader at the polling unit in subsequent elections after the Ekiti and Osun elections, The Commission is trying to use technology to ensure that every voter will account for one vote, if he or she chose to vote. This will be a feedback back-up to corroborate the fidelity of the printed hard copy of the voters register in all P.Us. Additionally, some processes that were piloted during the election in Anambra such as the use of super RACs, a point proximal to the polling units from where materials and personnel for elections would be kept prior to Election Day and distributed to polling units on the morning of the election are expected to enhance timely commencement of election. Also, the public must know that INEC now has the benefit of several lessons learned from many successful elections which brought many people who are peacefully in offices today from diverse parties, and so the Commission has a rich experience of elections which informs its professional conduct and assures the public that it can only get better in carrying out its mandate under the able leadership of Professor Jega, provided all other stakeholders particularly political parties and their candidates would abide by electoral rules and regulations, especially those which guide their internal party nominations. Similarly, the security agencies would have to maintain absolute neutrality in maintaining law and order, just as the judiciary should

endevour to deal with pre-elections cases in order to have a stable and peaceful electoral ambiance before the 2015 elections. How would the permanent voter’s card being distributed across the states and the proposed card reader be of value to the 2015 elections? That exercise is currently on-going and in phases, it is being piloted in two states from each geopolitical zones of the country. The second phase comprising of Cross River and other states would commence this month, from July 18th to 20th for the distribution of the PVC and as from 23rd to 27th for the commencement of continuous voter ’s registration. The last phase would be in August when Lagos and other remaining states would lead to the completion of the entire exercise. This registration is only for three categories of Nigerians. Distribution of PVCs (Permanent Voter registration Cards) are for (a) those who have just attained the age of 18 (b) those who could not register during 2011and (c) those whose biometric were not properly captured, whose names are not on the valid register and have no Per-

manent Voter Registration cards. They are the only people eligible for this exercise nationwide. If you have relocated to another state or moved within and your have your PVC of your previous place of residence, you should not register again but rather go to any INEC LGA office in your new place of domicile and apply for transfer. You will be assigned to the nearest polling units for your convenience and your data would be deleted from your previous place of registration. If you register again having registered before, it will be detected during the AFIS process, and that is an offence that is punishable and can earn you conviction. Both the PVC and the

Card Reader would ensure the reality of one person one vote, the Card reader must confirm the thumbprint of the PVC holder before a ballot paper will be given out, no multiple voting will be possible, given that your card is configured to only one polling unit where it can only be used at every election; mere entry of fake and bogus figures into result sheets without card reader evidence of total number of accredited voters that can be verified from the Card Reader would become useless, such that election officials who give out ballot papers and result sheets fraudulently should be prepared to go to jail. What do you think should be the focal issues that should define political campaigns in all elections? Campaigns are the platform for selling, first, the qualification of the candidate and his competence for the position he aspires to hold. It is also the platform for educating voters on the policies of a political party, its values and principles and how such values and principles will benefit the voters or electors. In the Nigerian constitution at Chapter 2 section 13 all elected persons are obligated to make it a duty and responsibility to conform, observe and apply the provisions especially of section 16 1 (d) that l urge you to check and reproduce for the benefit of those who read your paper. It is an obligatory provision that directs,and not advice, it directs office holders to make the welfare of citizens the primary calling of offices”. Campaigns platform is primarily to sell to the public policy options and priorities in line with the provisions of chapter 2 of the constitution as benefits to citizens and how to safeguard all

Continues on page 49

Barrister Mike Igini

SATURDAY Vanguard, JULY 5, 2014—49

‘Let there be compulsory public debate for candidates of political parties during elections’ and election in many instances fetters the development of its political culture.

Continues from page 48 other letters and spirit of the constitution. Going a little deeper, we must pay attention to the fact that in focusing on how to meet these goals, the policy tendencies are usually those which favour the market or private initiatives more, or those which favour public sector or social interventions more, what some would call right-leaning and leftleaning governance tendencies respectively, but if we are to learn from development history, we must remember that when developed nations have had their economies crumbling , it was mostly when they leaned too far in either direction. You have been calling for a statutory compulsory debate for candidates of political parties in all elections. Why? Indeed, for every position, you may have numerous aspirants, in order to assure quality, it is best to give the voters ample opportunity for assessing these aspirants. A public debate is one way of assessing how they articulate their visions. The position they aspire to and their visions for their jurisdictions. Also it brings these aspirants into public scrutiny, allowing the public to take a closer look at their records to evaluate the character specification for the job. Also for budding leaders such debates will be a learning platform for leadership development about aspirational values. In your estimation, do you

think that the political parties and political elites address the electorates with the right messages that would create a peaceful atmosphere before, during and after elections? They seem to concentrate on personalities and base issues such as ethnicity and religion. These are exclusionary rather than inclusional issues and are best left to the margins or completely removed from the discourse. The principal focus should be on policy and policy deliverables. The verbal pugilism should be on policy scorecards, what did you or your opponents do to deliver public benefits, the campaigns should be a “showme” deal, to showcase what you or your party platform have done for voters and what more you can do. The issue of internal democracy remains a problem in Nigeria. How would this define the political atmosphere for the 2015 elections? The lack of internal party democracy is a toxin for the development of democratic culture in our polity. Any party which does not walk the talk of internal democracy is regressive. One of my admired scholars, Dhal in proposing a framework for democratic or polyarchical advancement noted that a society becomes more democratic as it sheds the hegemonic and oligarchic culture of power transition to a more open, more inclusive power transition process that is more tolerant of political competition. Any party that shies away from open democratic nominations, true consensus

On your return from the Kenya where your delegation went to observe their election in March, you expressed concerns over the attitude of the political class and public institutions. Any change for the better as the nation approaches 2015 election? There isn’t much change on the part of the political elites, that is why you see many defections, without prejudice to those who have concrete reason for opting for other platforms, it must be stated that before joining a party, there must be deep reflection as to whether the principles of that platform cohere with your visions and values, otherwise people who show little commitment to party values will only see their parties as mere platforms for self empowerment rather than as platforms for adding value to society.

owever, we must also admit that after just 15years of continuous democratic practices, we are still in a learning process because no one was born a democrat. it is a socializing process and we must allow the politicians room to learn from their mistakes and to acquire the best attributes of democratic culture. 15years is a very short time in the development of national parties, for those who have studied democratization globally, and who note that the major parties in the main democracies have had between 50years of continuous democratic participation for the Liberal party in Japan, to over 200 years for parties like the Republican party in the United States and the Conservative party in the United Kingdom. As parties prepare for

primaries and conventions to pick candidates, the outcomes of these activities may end up in court in addition to very contentious defection cases involving legislators and Governors pending in various courts. Are you concerned that if these matters are determined close to elections, it may heat up the polity before the elections? Frankly, every umpire knows the importance of a peaceful and rancour free pre-election political environment. I’m not only worried but I’m also disturbed because a peaceful pre-election ambience is critical to the conduct of election. Various studies conducted in countries which witnessed extreme violence during elections were traceable to unresolved, volatile and very contentious pre-election political disputes between political parties, gladiators and key stakeholders. A situation where high profile defection cases involving elected public office holders with large supporters or

cy lies in its Judiciary; that hardly any issue came to the courts that was not determined in time. Most Nigerians score the judiciary very low in performance. Also, the National Judicial Council, NJC, judges and lawyers trade words over corruption. Nigerians blame the judiciary for the rising corruption in the country, what is your view of this assessment? Nigerians should be gravely concerned about the state of the judiciary but must also not tar all judicial officers with the same brush because there are exceptional judicial officers who are committed to the oath of their offices. I often refer to the statement by Saint Augustine, on the significance of the rule of law that “what are nations but a band of rogues, without the law?” A society cannot be at peace if it does not guarantee justice, because law and order are the building bricks of an ordered society. Like other institutions in the same Nigerian environment, there

If you register again having registered before, it will be detected during the AFIS process, and that is an offence that is punishable and can earn you conviction following since last year are still pending in courts because of series of adjournments, if determined too close to election could throw up serious upheaval in the polity especially if the outcome of these cases result in loss of power. I am concerned because, as a lawyer, I have just read a profound judgement, recently delivered by the Supreme Court that has very serious bearing on these defection cases that would all terminate at this same Supreme Court . In the U.S and many other jurisdictions, these cases would have been determined since last year. That is why Alexis de Tocqueville in his book ‘’Democracy in America’’ declared that the strength of the U.S democra-

have been established instances where judicial officers have been found wanting and associated with social morass instead of rescuing society from it. Even the commanding institutions of the Judiciary like the NJC is now been challenged frontally by its members of both the bench and the bar daily on pages of newspapers and television stations on matters of procedures that the ordinary citizens expect that as lawyers, we should know better. A situation where judges and lawyers have taken opposing position on a matter of law and procedure with the apex regulatory body like NJC, who will now be the arbiter or a judge that will settle the on going disputes ?

50—SATURDAY Vanguard, JULY 5, 2014

ROMMY MOM, CONFAB DELEGATE THUNDERS

Nigeria may break up if ... If the wishes of Nigerians are not respected in the 20 15 201 elections, we ma selves ttogether ogether again mayy not be able ttoo hold our ourselves In this interview with BEN AGANDE in Abuja, a member of the National Conference representing the civil society organisation, Barrister Rommy Mom speaks on the work of the conference and the consequences that await the nation if the recommendations of the conference are not implemented. Excerpts:

he National Confer ence is at the threshold of its duration. What would you say it has achieved? I think the conference has achieved a lot of things. Principally is that for the first time, Nigerians have come out t ventilate their grievances and get to talk about how the country is and how it should be governed. Of course one might say that there were other conferences before now but this is the most inclusive conference in terms of true national representation. We have representatives of persons with disability, youths, students, market women and all. For me, the fact that every group is here, ventilating their opinions - hopes and fears at a time like this is very important. This is the first time in the history of this country where we are confronting lots of internal conflicts. The country is at the point where this kind of talk is very important and the fact that Nigerians are talking peacefully, for me, is the biggest achievement of this conference. Secondly, I think the conference has given Nigerians an alternative towards amending the constitution that most people say does not belong to us. People will always say that the preamble of the constitution that says ‘we the people’ is not true. It is a lie and it is wrong. I think if the recommendations at the national conference come out eventually to form part of the constitution, then we will say this is truly the people’s constitution. How can it be a people’s constitution when there is no law backing it up? This can happen if the national assembly amends the constitution to include the provision for a referendum which we understand is on the table. If the constitution is amended to

include a referendum, the recommendations of the conference can be carried round the country and Nigerians carry out a referendum on them. If Nigerians say this is what we want, then the recommendations can become part of the constitution. This is an opportunity for Nigerians to say this is our constitution and I think Nigerians should not miss this. This is an opportunity and a responsibility we delegates owe our our constitution and to a larger extent our country. We have relate with our elected representatives in the National Assembly and impress it on them to make provisions in the constitution so

If the recommendations of the National Conference are not implemented, Nigerians may renew their calls for the break-up of the country that they can accept or reject the constitutions. If the conference is not a product of the law, how will its provisions have effect of the law? It is not expressly a product of the law but it is an assembly that has been put in place through the exercise of the product of the law by the president. The president has the powers to set up such acts as setting up the national conference. To that extent, it can be

said to be a product of the law. It is an assembly that was created by the president and the president has such powers. What ever recommendation passed by the conference is still subject to the National assembly. How do you think the National assembly will grant it such powers bearing in mind that many people think that the Conference is a sort of rival to the it? I concede that it may be difficult for the national assembly to adopt what the conference has recommended as the decision of the national assembly. That is true but this is where they need to rise above their egos. The national assembly has to respect the true representation of of the conference which, to me, goes beyond the constituency level. What we need to do is for us to go back and meet members of the National Assembly as our elected representatives and encourage them to amend the constitution to include referendum. That means that the man on the street would now have a say in the making of the constitution and that will have more legitimacy than what we have at the moment. Some of the recommendations being made by the Conference are antithetical to the wishes of the people especially the one that seeks to restrict access to social media. That was a recommendation that came from a committee that was deliberated upon. I don’t think that the National Conference expressly censored social media. My contribution during debate was that you cannot regulate the social

Continues on page 51

Barrister Rommy Mom

SATURDAY Vanguard, JULY 5, 2014—51

I am saying that because, before the national conference, there were calls for secession, there were calls for a break up of the country. If the recommendations of the national conference are not implemented, we may go back to that stage in a much more desperate and demanding way that it may be much more difficult for us to hold ourselves together.

Continues from page 50 media owing to the advantages it has. The advantages of the social media far outweigh the disadvantages. The issue of the Chibok girls for instance was brought to international attention because of the social media. I don’t think that we should regulate the social media. We have the laws on defamation; we have the law on slander to take care of any misuse of the social media. We have before the national assembly, a cyber crime law which stipulates provisions that will take care of any abuse of the social media. What we had at the National conference was a recommendation of a committee which is still subject to final deliberation. I think the press got it wrong. Will the outcome of the national conference provide a new lease of life for the country? I keep coming back to the issue of referendum. Just like the past constitutional conferences that have been held and all their reports are now in the trash can, this conference can go that way. We can only talk about it having an impact on Nigerians if the national assembly opens the door for referendum. Even if this does not happen, the most important thing for me is that it has afforded us an opportunity to

Barrister Rommy Mom

If the wishes of Nigerians are not respected in the 20 15 201 elections, we may not be able to hold ourselves together again talk. Close your eyes and imagine if there was no national conference. There would have been lots of heat. Nigerians are listening to us because we are speaking their minds and their frustrations and that has given the country an opportunity to

calm down. In the event that the recommendations of the conference are not implemented, what do you think this will portend? That means we will have to

FG cuts down on fuel imports T

HE Federal Government has reduced the number of companies licensed to import gasoline in the third quarter to 27 from 40 in the previous three months, lists corroborated by regional industry sources have showed. According to Reuters, the 27 companies were allocated gasoline import rights by Nigeria’s downstream regulator Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Authority (PPPRA), the lists showed. These companies are expected to import around 1.7 million tonnes for third quarter, down from 1.85 million tonnes in the second quarter. Though market sources expect some winners will be unable to import owing to financing obstacles - some are still waiting for a backlog of subsidy payments owed by the government following the 2012 subsidy fraud investigation, which unearthed billions of dollars worth of fake claims. Nigeria imports gasoline through two state-owned au-

thorities - PPPRA and the Pipelines and Product Marketing Company, PPMC. The PPPRA allocations vary quarter-on-quarter while the PPMC typically brings in

about 1.4 million tonnes per quarter through crude-forproduct swap agreements with traders, market sources said.

contend with how to manage with the situation that we have seen unfolding in the country. I am saying that because, before the national conference, there were calls for secession, there were calls for a break up of the country. If the recommendations of the national conference are not implemented, we may go back to that stage in a much more desperate and demanding way that it may be much more difficult for us to hold ourselves together. Are you saying that if the recommendations of the national conference are not implemented, the corporate existence of Nigeria will be threatened? Let me say this; the corporate existence of Nigeria has always been threatened. It is not whether the conference will add to it or not. I think the corporate existence of Nigeria will depend entirely and heavily on the 2015 general elections. If the wishes of Nigerians are

Total Nigerian gasoline imports are expected to be close to 3.1 million tonnes. The country is chronically short of oil products, particularly gasoline, due to a long period of under-investment in its domestic refineries.

not respected in the 2015 elections, we might not be able to hold ourselves together again. Nigerians are patiently waiting for the 2015 elections to speak their minds on governance and if their opinions on governance is again abused, if there is no free and fair election in 2015; then we should be ready for whatever consequences. Our prayer is that it should not come to that. Does the present circumstance give room for hope that 2015 will be better? I think people are wiser including those governing us. We have lots of elections behind us to learn from and we have seen how Nigerians’ have reacted in some areas where their votes were tampered with. I want to believe that everybody who loves this country would not go near the issue of tampering with votes again. If we truly love this country, if we want this country to remain one, the people’s votes must be respected.

MRS Oil Nigeria was absent from the list, after being included in the second quarter, but some return winners were Oando, Total, Conoil, Folawiyo Oil and Gas, Forte Oil, Techno Oil, NIPCO and Masters Energy.

Italy prosecutors open probe into Eni on Nigeria oil block deal

TALIAN prosecutors have opened a probe into alleged corruption relating to the 2011 acquisition of a big oil field in Nigeria by Italian oil group Eni and Shell, judicial sources with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters. The sources said the investigation related to alleged international corruption surrounding the purchase of the block. Eni confirmed the investigation and said in response to a Reuters’ request for comment: “Eni declares the absolute properness of its handling of the dealings in question and assures its full cooperation with Italian prosecutors.”

The probe relates to the purchase of offshore oil block OPL 245 in Nigeria. Last year, British police began investigating a money-laundering allegation in connection

with the same field. Italian daily Il Fatto Quotidiano said on Friday police had visited Eni offices last Wednesday to notify the company it was being investigat-

ed and to ask for documents. In response to Il Fatto’s article, Eni confirmed it had received notice of the probe and said it had done no wrongdoing.

At last, NFVCB approves Half of a Yellow Sun, 66 others By BENJAMIN NJOKU

ANS of Chimamanda Adichie’s Half of A Yellow Sun, who have been waiting patiently to see the screen adaptation of the best selling novel directed by Biyi Bandele will now have the opportunity

to do so, as the film was one of the 77 movies approved by the National Film and Video Censors Board, NFVCB. The film which was initially scheduled to open in Nigerian cinemas on Friday April 25, was stopped as the Censors Board refused to issue the movie a certificate.

According to the Board’s Acting Corporate Affairs Manager, Caesar Kagho, the film which stars Academy awards nominee, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Hollywood star, Thandie Newton and A- list Nollywood actors, has been approved for viewership in Nigeria and rated “18”.

52—SATURDAY Vanguard, JULY 5, 2014

SA TURD AY SATURD TURDA

Vanguard , JUL Y 5 JULY 5, 2014—53

BRIEF Speaker mourns demise of Ikeja traditional ruler

Fashola warns on security, laments over tanker drivers I

n recent times, the fear of Boko Haram activities which had left several people dead and some abducted, is beginning to manifest among Lagos residents following series of bomb scares and a blast at Apapa area of the state last week. The was the Sheraton Hotels terror alert by the US Consul in Lagos. Residents panicked. . Senior hierarchies of the Nigerian military, Police, State Security Service, Neighbourhood-watchers, community leaders, health personnel as well as religious leaders, among other stakeholders in the security business have been drilled and put on the alert to nip in the bud any suspicious movement inimical to the security of lives and property in the state. This, according to sources, became necessary following suspected infiltration of an unidentified group to the South-East of the country, suspected to be members of the dreaded Boko Hraram who have claimed responsibilities for various bomb blasts in some states in the northern parts of the country. Also, the June 25, 2014 blast in Apapa area of the state in which three people died in the process had geared Governor Babatunde Fashola led administration into taking proactive steps against any incursion or avoidable security threat. Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, late on Tuesday, met with operators of tank farms in Apapa and charged them to be more vigilant around their operational bases. He also urged them to also promptly report vehicles that cannot be accounted for in their areas of operation to the police and security agencies.

In attendance at the meeting were; representatives all the major Tank Farm Operators and the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Aliyu Mohammed Manko, Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Engineer Taofeek Tijani, Director of State Security Service (SSS), Mr. Ben Olayi and Commander 9 Brigade cantonment, Ikeja, Brigadier A.S. Maikoba. Speaking at a closed door interactive session with stakeholders at the Lagos House, Alausa, Fashola, urged the operators to ensure that no vehicle that cannot be accounted for is allowed to park in their premises or make use of their facilities so as not to

metropolice especially in Apapa.. . “We have met with hospitality facilities, we have met with health, we have met with the malls, the motor parks, we are taking every measure, we are not leaving anything to chance, every information that we get we check. But we need leaders in strategic places because we can’t run your businesses and we need you now to take responsibility in this area and leave the rest to us”. To those of the operators doing business in Apapa, Fashola urged a reflection on the negative impact of their operations on other businesses and the environment generally. “You must spare a thought for those

“We can’t lose one side of the city simply because we are producing or distributing fuel inefficiently; we can’t”, the Governor stressed, adding that he had also spoken to tanker drivers over the issue especially the issue of hauling of fuel

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

compromise the security of the state. “You must have to put down your foot about vehicles parking around your premises. We have tried but many of you have insisted; we have been called anti-poor and antibusiness, but it is only those who are alive that will do business”. But the indiscipline of the tanker drivers appears to overwhelm Fashola and his government. They block all lanes on the road to their tank farms in Apapa, forcing mayhem on the people. Their actions which totally block the road to commuters are on their own a security risk. Fashola also met the various business operators at many levels on security but he lamented the menace tanker drivers were causing in Lagos

who do other businesses in Apapa. They are complaining to me about how tankers have taken over their businesses. And the people I see here are some of the most sophisticated people that our country has produced. I think we can do better”, he said. Noting that property values were diminishing in the area as a result of the operation of tankers, the governor stressed, “But you know what is going to happen? The demand is going to transfer to the other side of town. So we are all going to pay for it. If I cannot live in Apapa again, the next thing I will do is ask, where else can I live”. “It is either I move to GRA Ikeja, or GRA, Ikoyi or Victoria. So we will only come and put pressure on the rent in

peaker, Lagos State House of Assemvly, Rt. Hon. Adeyemi Ikudoriji has described the demise of the paramount ruler of Ikeja, the Olu of Ikeja, Oba Rauf, Adeniyi Aremu Matemi as shocking and highly regrettable. Ikuforiji in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Rotimi Adebayo, “ The sudden death of our highly revered royal father of Ikeja, the Olu of Ikeja, Oba Rauf Adeniyi Aremu Matemi was not only sudden but sad, and highly unfortunate. “As a development-loving royal father, Oba Matemi’s reign witnessed tremendous transformation of his domain and progress for his subjects throughout his lifetime. “It is therefore, sad and most unfortunate for us to lose such a propeople and peace loving royal father of his status at such a time like this when his wisdom and vast knowledge is highly sought after by all, “ Ikuforiji added.

those places; that is what is going to happen. The people in Apapa are not going to evaporate, they are going to put pressure on those other parts of the city where you and I will live”, he said adding that the result would be increase in rent in those places. “We can’t lose one side of the city simply because we are producing or distributing fuel inefficiently; we can’t”, the Governor stressed, adding that he had also spoken to tanker drivers over the issue especially the issue of hauling of fuel and the damage it does to the roads. Ruling out any input from the Federal Government, Fashola said, “The question we will ask ourselves is how sustainable is hauling of fuel going to be. It is diminishing the lifespan of our roads and we are heading to a point where we will no longer be able to travel by road again if we don’t change quickly now”. “We built Funsho Williams Avenue, former Western Avenue, four years ago, I have gone back to maintain it twice. I am yet to know what part of the world that has happened; building a brand new road and coming to maintain it within 12 months. It is the tonnage that the roads is subjected to”, he said. According to him, “If you go along Alaka and Barracks you will see that all almost all the street lights have been knocked down mainly by tankers and trailers.

54—SATURDAY

Vanguard, JULY 5, 2014

BY OSA AMADI

is mother named him Onwuegbuchulam, and

that was the name he was known by everyone, until he became a young man and began to project his second name, Robert. The name, Onwuegbuchulam, is deep in meaning. It is an affirmation against untimely and horrible death. A direct English interpretation of Onwuegbuchulam will equate: Death, don’t kill me wrongly. To be killed violently, untimely, and for what one knows not, is to be killed wrongly. What manner of evil forces could have so conspired against a mother, to subvert her wishes and aspirations, and bring her fears for her son to a reality? Robert Onwuegbuchulam Ekeh had been the only hope of her mother and sibling. Her mother ’s prayer had been that God would raise a son that would give her a befitting burial when she dies and then take care of her younger children. And God had answered that prayer by raising Robert. With his flourishing business in security doors installation in Abuja, Robert had shouldered well, his mother’s and sibling’s upkeeps. Robert’s mother, therefore, must have died a happy woman last May 2014, with the thought that God had answered her prayer by raising Robert. He was sent for at her mother’s death, and when he came, he wept bitterly for his mother, and took her corpse to the mortuary, without the slightest premonition that in less than one month from that day, people would be weeping bitterly for his own death, and that his body would similarly be deposited in the deep freezer of death. After depositing his mother’s dead body in the mortuary, Robert returned to Kubwa, Abuja to look for money in preparation for the burial. On that fateful Wednesday 25 June, 2014, Robert must have woken up with some heaviness of heart and deep desire for purification, for he decided to start fasting from that day, probably telling his wife, Favour, not to bother to prepare breakfast for him. Perhaps, telling his wife and his 5-year old daughter (his only child) that he would be back in the evening at close of business, he bade them goodbye and went to his office at Emab Plaza, Wuse 2, Abuja. Around 2 PM, according to a close

ABUJA EMAB PLAZA CAR PARK BOMBING

How Boko Haram killed Robert before he could bury his mother

family source, Robert called his wife, Favour, and told her that he would be coming home a little bit earlier in order to break his fasting for the day at home. So he closed for the day a few minutes before 4 pm, and walked out to the Emab Plaza Car Park, right into the bomb explosion of June 25 around 4 pm! Most reports say the bomb was planted in a car, but an eyewitness insisted that the men who brought the bomb came on a power bike; that as soon as they got to the busy gate of the plaza they dropped two bombs and ran off. One of the bombs exploded immediately, but the second one could not detonate. According to the observer, soldiers chased the men on the power bike and caught one of them, while the other one escaped. That was how Robert died, bombed to death by Boko Haram, while his mother’s corpse was still lying in the mortuary, and his wife, Favour, and his 5 years old daughter, were still at home waiting for him to come back. As soon as the news of the blast had spread, his relatives who knew he had office at Emab Plaza started calling his GSM phone, which rang for long without any answer. Eventually, someone

answered the phone and asked the relatives to come to the Maitama General Hospital. When they got to the hospital they saw Robert’s corpse. A piece of iron from the explosion had pierced his chest and killed him on the spot! Asked how people feel at home now in Robert’s village, Chima Emmanuel Edinburgh, a polytechnic college student, said: “grief, anger, and pain, all channeled against Boko Haram and the Hausas.” Before Robert’s death, Boko Haram was a mere story to the villagers, heard of far away. But now, Boko Haram has come to roost right in a remote village of eastern Nigeria. “Boko Haram has come home to us in eastern Nigeria,” says an elderly woman. While some people believe that Boko Haram is politically motivated and a fulfillment of the promise some northern politicians made to make Nigeria “un-governorable” for President Goodluck Jonathan, others believe that Boko Haram is a product of corruption, and therefore can only be defeated if corruption ends in Nigeria. One such people who hold this view is Enza Guccio, an Italian nun who has been living in Southern Nigeria 18 years. Speaking in an interview with International Business Times, UK, Enza said: “I believe Nigerian politics, infamous for its great corruption, does not aim at promoting the country’s development. Politicians’ only interest

is to get rich by exploiting the country’s oil. There is a continuous fight over oil production. “ T odefeat terrorism,” she said, “leaders must build a solid future for the nation, by providing education for everybody, creating jobs for the youths, using the country’s natural resources to help Nigerians and guaranteeing the recognition of basic human rights to all the citizens.” But Boko Haram is opposed to Western education in northern Nigeria and wishes to impose the Sharia law in that geo-political zone. From all indications, however, it is clear that Boko Haram is a terrorist group with links to Al-Qaeda, and has since been declared as such by United States and international agencies. One of their strategies is to make people believe that they are fighting a religious war, but fortunately, Nigerians and the international community have not bought into that fallacy. “If it was a religious war,” says Enza Guccio, Boko Haram would have focused their attacks on the Southwest of Nigeria, instead of the North, mainly inhabited by Muslims, and which is close to Muslim-majority countries of Chad, Niger, and Cameroon.” While these arguments rage, Onwuegbuchulam’s kits and kin are not only mourning. They are very, very angry. By some twist of fate, death ended up not only killing Onwuegbuchulam wrongly, but also horribly.

Vanguard, SATURDAY, JULY 5, 2014 —55

Germany reach semis G

ERMANY reached the World Cup semi-finals for a record fourth straight time and 13th overall as a goal from centre-back Mats Hummels was enough to beat France 1-0 at the Maracana. Germany had a defender to thank for their winning goal as Hummels escaped the clutches of Raphael Varane to expertly head home Toni Kroos’ 13thminute free kick. It was Hummels’ second goal at the tournament following his strike against Portugal in the group stage.

Van Gaal expects same result against Costa Rica N

ETHERLANDS coach Louis van Gaal expects Costa Rica to play a similar brand of attacking football as Chile and Mexico used

in their unsuccessful attempts to derail the Dutch World Cup campaign. He expects the same result, too.

Van Gaal wasn’t giving away his tactics on the eve of his team’s quarterfinal clash with the World Cup’s biggest surprise package at Salvador’s Arena Fonte Nova.

We can beat Argentina Expect better things from Eagles — Kompany ty good chance against — Siasia

INCENT Kompany insists Belgium have a good chance against Argentina in their World Cup quarter-final today. Kompany said: “If Argentina decide to play their usual attacking game, we’ll have a pret-

them. “You need two teams to produce an exciting match. The Americans tried to push forward. That’s all we were asking for. It takes two to tango, and they wanted the same thing as us.”

ORMER Eagles coach Samson Siasia has assured Eagles’ fans that the team will bounce back from its disappointing second round exit at the ongoing World Cup in Brazil. Siasia, an ambassador of Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria AN, said the team should be

kept together with few inclusions made to beef up the squad. He said the team showed resilience in the face of serious opposition at the World Cup and predicted a better future for most of the players, who played in Brazil. He also praised President Goodluck Jonathan

for his support the team during the tournament.. “I must say that President Jonathan did well by nipping the appearance fee crisis in the bud. It shows that he is a leader who listens to the people. “I am also sure that the Eagles would do better in future,” Siasia noted.

FIFA threatens to ban Nigeria Continues from B/P Abuja. He was picked up at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja. He was later released at about 5pm. We gathered that he was asked questions on the funding of Nigeria’s World Cup campaign and what the federation earned as donation or sponsorship. Before now, the government, it was learnt, had ordered all the 36 chairmen of the State Football Associations to report to Abuja yesterday, where they were scheduled to convene an Extra-Ordinary Congress. But that move by government to make the state FA chairmen convene a congress, is also a direct contravention of the court order handed out by Justice P.L. Lot, who declared in the ruling that “the Interim Injunction is granted restraining the 2nd Defendant, Alhaji Aminu Maigari, and all other purported members of the Executive Committee and Congress of the 1st Defendant (NFF) from further Controlling, Commanding or Managing the Affairs of the 1st defendant and all Football matters in Nigeria pending the hearing, and de-

termination of the Motion on Notice”, which has been fixed for July 11, 2014. The meeting of the State FA Chairman holds today at Bolingo Hotel. Following all these moves and countermoves, world’s governing body, FIFA yesterday reacted to events in Nigeria, warning of the consequences of interfering in the affairs of the NFF.. FIFA warned that it would not recognise the appointment of the Sports Minister and any Congress convened by the government. In the letter signed by the Secretary -General Jerome Valcke, it warned of impending dire effects a suspension could have on Nigerian football. ‘’It would for instance mean that no team from Nigeria of any sort(including clubs)could have any international sporting contact(article 14 par 3 of the FIFA Statutes). It also means that neither the NFF nor any of its members or officials could benefit from any development programme, course or training from FIFA or CAF any longer”,. FIFA added that punitive actions would be taken on Nigeria if the board of Aminu Maigari was

not reinstated before July 8, 2014. Saturday Sports Vanguard is in possession of the FIFA’s letter, which was addressed to the President of the NFF, Aminu Maigari. The letter is reproduced on this page. At the root of the simmering problem is the protest of the Super Eagles before their second round match against France, which they lost 20. The Ministry is unhappy with the NFF over its handling of the issue which bothered on FIFA appearance fee, which normally gets paid to the federation some four months after the end of the World Cup. Eagles wanted their share of the fee, which NFF said it was yet to receive, forcing the players to go on strike and embarrass the country in Brazil. Government quickly released the money from its coffers, said to be over $3.5m, which Danagogo took to Brazil to give the players. Government thought the money was going to spur the players to beat France but that dream did not come into reality as Eagles lacked zest in their 2-0 defeat and subsequent ouster from the tournament.

SATURDAY VANGUARD, JULY 5, 2014

Germany reach semis — P.55 Today’s q/final matches Belgium Netherlands

vs vs

Argentina Costa Rica

5pm 9pm

Result Germany

France

FIFA threatens to ban Nigeria ...Over court action, arrest of Maigari and Minister’s action BY JOHN EGBOKHAN

ARELY 24 hours af ter the Sports Minister, Tamuno Danagogo moved to effect the court order by a Plateau Justice restraining the board of the Nigeria Football Federation from running the affairs of Nigerian football, the President of the NFF, Aminu Maigari was yesterday arrested by men of the Nigerian Police upon arriving the country from Brazil, venue of the World Cup. He was detained for hours at the Security Service Headquarters in Continues on page 55

GOAL....Germany's defender Mats Hummels (L) celebrates his goal during yesterday’s quarter-final match against France at the Maracana Stadium. Germany won 1-0. Photo: AFP

INSIDE Amaju: What Keshi got wrong in Brazil — P. 28 NFF, Eagles and the code of conduct — P. 54 When it’s a question of money, Eagles are of the same religion — P. 29

Tony Ubani’s World Cup flicks — P. 30

CROSS WORD PUZZLE Across 1 Ethiopian Prime Minister, Mr. Hailmariam – (8) 5 Ethnic Group in Kenya – (4 7 State in Nigeria Known as “The Eastern Heartland”? – (3) 8 Musical Instrument – (5) 9 President, Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Mr. Solomon – (4 10 Akwa United Striker, Emmanuel – (5) 12 Southampton Midfielder, Jay – (9) 16 African Desert – (5) 18 Israeli Currency Unit – (5) 19 Greek Alphabet – (5) 21 L.G.A in Anambra State – (9) 24 Super Eagles Midfielder, John Obi – (5) 27 Board Game – (4) 28 L.G.A in Akwa-Ibom State – (4) 29 Container – (3) 30 L.G.A in Ebonyi State – (4 32 Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Mohammed – (8)

Down 1 Super Falcons Goalkeeper, Precious – (4) 2 L.G.A in Oyo State – (4) 3 Former Super Eagles Coach, Karl – (9) 4 State in Nigeria Known as “The Power State”? – (5) 5 Singapore Prime Minister, Lee Hsien – (5) 6 L.G.A in Abia State – (8) 11 Chairman, independent Corrupt Practices Commission, Mr. Ekpo – (3) 13 Former Senegal “Terenga Lions” Striker, El-Hadji – (5 14 L.G.A in Kogi State – (9) 15 L.G.A in Benue State – (4) 16 Indian Capital City – (8) 17 Average – (4) 20 Female rabbit – (3) 22 Enyimba FC Skipper, Chinedu – (5) 23 Director-General, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr. Mike – (5) 25 Peruvian Capital City – (4)

SOLUTION ON PAGE 16

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