Over 80 roasted in Benin-Ore Road.........20 others perish in Onitsha auto crash

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2—SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 6 6, 2013

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4—SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 6, 2013

SATURDAY Vanguard, ARRIL 6, 2013 — 5

Nigeria’s who’s who storm Vanguard Personality Award

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR & EMEKA MAMMAH

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•Gov. Rotimi Amaechi Personality of the Year was a near unanimous decision for Vanguard editors who were moved by the passion and drive with which the governor has attended to the improvement of the lots of every strata of society in Rivers State.

In choosing Governor Amaechi, consideration was taken of the numerous infrastructural projects initiated by the governor which helped to address long standing complaints about life in one of the oldest capital cities in the country, Port-Harcourt. But even beyond that, editors were moved by the passion and drive of the Amaechi administration to touch the citizenry with human capacity building projects, notably in the areas of education and agriculture.

Despite his sometimes blunt political visage,

•Aig Imokhuede

Governor Amaechi has won the admiration of friends and foes for his administration’s projects many of which, have become benchmark for many other governors in

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ORMER president I b r a h i m Babangida, Speaker Aminu Tambuwal of the House of Representatives, governors, members of the National Assembly, prominent traditional rulers, elder-statesmen are among leading lights of the society scheduled to grace today’s investiture of Vanguard’s Man of the Year award.

The award is to be presented to Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State who was selected upon exemplary leadership in governance as demonstrated in the rapid mobilisation of public resources towards legacy projects that touch the ordinary man.

The first runner up for the Vanguard Personality of the Year, Mr. Aigboje AigImoukhuede, Managing Director of Access Bank, is also to be honoured in recognition of his visionary steps ahead of the competition in the banking industry. He is also being recognized for his salutary efforts in steering the affairs of the Presidential Task Force on the Verification of Fuel Subsidy Payments.

Both men came on top of other strong nominations that came for consideration for Vanguard Personality of the Year which was announced on January 1, 2013.

Entrance into today’s event at the Eko Hotel and Suites is strictly by invitation. The event is, however, to be broadcast live on the network channels of AIT, Silverbird, Channels, and the public broadcaster, NTA. Governor Amaechi’s choice of Vanguard’s

volleyball pitch, a sick bay and nursery playground.

The 24 model secondary schools also equipped with the best facilities including laboratories, boarding facilities with two

Entrance into today’s event at the Eko Hotel and Suites is strictly by invitation

the country.

The 500 model primary schools built in the first term of the governor, of which 250 have been fully equipped and commissioned, have altered the negative drift from public schooling in the state with many private schools losing pupils to the government funded model primary schools.

The schools equipped with state of the art libraries, teaching facilities, playrooms, auditoria, and dispensaries are easily comparable to the best in many parts of the world.

Each primary school is also equipped with ICT facility, basketball pitch,

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pupils in each room (en suite) are built with finesse that would put many universities in the country to shame. Remarkably, the schools are open to the rich and poor with free feeding, uniforms among others.

According to the governor, all a student needs to come with after admission is the clothing he or she is putting on at the beginning of the school year.

As a way of ensuring sustenance in standards, the state administration has opened the secondary schools to the management of a foreign education consultancy, Educomp Solution.

In the area of healthcare,

the Amaechi administration in its first four years, fully built and equipped 160 primary health care centres in all 23 local government areas. The government has also opened a state of the art hospital in Port-Harcourt, named after one of the state’s leading lights in the area of medicine, Prof. Kelsey Harrison.

The administration’s achievements in the area of agriculture have also been revolutionary even though, hidden from the eyes of the urban dwellers.

Besides four fish farms in Buguma, Andoni, Opobo and Ubima and a 100 hectare banana farm in Ogoni which is projected to be expanded to 250 hectares, the government has also established an integrated farm modeled after the Songhai farm in Porto Novo.

The Rivers model of Songhai is about 20 times the size of that in Porto Novo and integrates livestock, arable farming, fishery, snail farming and poultry.

The administration has also established a 2,000hectare farm in Etche with a total available land space of 3,000 hectares. The farm is projected to cost $140 million and is being

established in conjunction with a foreign technical partner and it is expected to have 300 farming houses which would accommodate 300 farming families living and working in the farm.

Remarkably, the farm projects some of which were established with foreign technical partners contributed significantly to the reduction of criminality given the high emoluments offered to farm hands some of whom go home with six figure salaries monthly.

Given the recognition his achievements have elicited from far and near, Governor Amaechi in an interview was asked to name what he considered his most important projects.

“All of them are important. Education is the most important based on the reasons I have given.

But I think if you do not have road network to move goods and services, you would not be able to run the economy because you need to run the economy by providing good road networks.

Continues on page 6

6 — SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 6, 2013

Sagay launches two books, calls for return to pursuit of excellence

BY EMMA ELEBEKE

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ENOWN columnist Amb. Isaac Sagay has called for the return to the pursuit of excellence in public service, in particular and national life in general.

Speaking on his new books, which were launched in Abuja, Thursday, he said there was no alternative to a deliberate effort on the part of state and non-state actors to ensure that Nigeria takes her place of pride in the comity of nations through dint of hard and commitment to excellence.

According to him, he wrote the books, “Studies in English & Art of Official Correspondence in the Nigerian Civil/Public Service” and “The Sacred Flame” out of a passion for maintaining high standards in the quality of service delivery among civil and public servants in the country and in response to several invitations by Permanent Secretaries for him to conduct workshops for their staff on correspondence capacity.

His words, “to be candid, it all started with incessant requests by Permanent Secretaries that I should conduct workshops for senior staff of their ministries. Even the Head of Service at a time wanted me to do the same. It was then it occurred to me that I should write this book. If you conduct a workshop, people would listen with one ear and close the other ear but if you write a book, there is a reference point. So, in this book, you will find all the guidance to be a good and proficient civil servant.

“The bottom line is the pursuit of excellence and the central theme of the book is that as long as English remains our official lingua franca, we must speak and write English very well as the original authors left it for us.

There is no room for what people call Nigerian English because we are now in a global village, and there is a global community of English speakers all over the world. So, once we belong to that community, we must speak English in a manner that they will understand us.

“Secondly, those who argue that English is not our mother-tongue and as such we should not seek perfection are wrong.

The people of Cotonou speak impeccable French, even the illiterates and it does not stop them from speaking their native languages. There is no room for their own version of the French language.

When they want to speak French, they speak it correctly, the same thing applies to English language.

What we are saying is that, there is rule of grammar and syntax in English language.

“That lingua franca is spoken English and it is all the same. We must understand it the way the original owners do”.

Ondo State Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko (right) and Chairman/CEO, Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, during a visit to the Governor, in Akure, on Thursday.

On his target readers, Amb. Sagay said he was targeting both undergraduates and those already in the civil service but had

no requisite capacity to generate memorandum for their superiors.

“This book is targeted at university undergradu-

ates specifically, as they move to join us to equip them in such a way that at the point of entry, they

will be well equipped to meet the demands of civil service because the civil service we have today is made of university graduates, who have not been properly tutored in English and when they come into the main stream of civil service, they do know what they are talking about.

“This book contains a set of examples that tells the reader, the various steps expected in a council memo, which is the highest memo a minister can present to the highest decision making body,” he said.

The author added that the book was at the heart of the agenda of the President Goodluck Jonathan administration to transform the federal civil service through capacity building at all levels.

Nigeria’s who’s who storm Vanguard Personality Award Continued from pg 5 People have been complaining of traffic and the reason is not because there are too many cars, but it is because the roads are not enough. We are building more roads and expanding existing ones.

“There is a road that would take you from the heart of town to the airport and, even though it is not up to 17 kilometres, it would cost us about N200 billion. I do not have that money, but, if I do not do it, Aba Road would continue to be the major trunk road into the city and we will continue to have traffic crisis. So, we need to deal with the issue of road network.

“Health is also important if we have to govern people. If the people are not alive, you cannot govern any person. So we have to provide quality healthcare. But, basically, the most important is education.”

Aig-Imoukhuede’s day of honour too Also to be honoured today is Mr. AigImoukhuede, a man of far reaching vision whose steps have set standards for others in his chosen profession.

But his efforts did not come without challenge, but in all, Mr. AigImoukhuede successfully navigated the several

obstacles that consumed many of his contemporaries. Besides laurels in his core competence in banking, Aig-Imoukhuede is also a member of the Federal Government’s Economic Management Team.

Given his sterling efforts, it is not surprising that AigImoukuede was picked by the administration to do the job where many angels supposedly wouldn’t have

dared. As chairman of the Presidential Task Force on the Verification, Mr. AigImoukhuede brought an unusual commitment to his job where neither friend nor foe was spared in the audit of the public purse.

Speaking to Vanguard ahead of today’s award, the banker revealed how he has adapted the management skills of one of the world’s most watched personalities, Alex Ferguson, manager of

English premier league side, Manchester United Football.

“I was a fan of Alex Ferguson before I became a Man U fan. In fact, I wonder when the coach changes what will happen as inevitably it will change.

But I am a fan of his man management, his approach to leadership. I have read every book that have been written about him or that he has written himself.”

Other role models for the banker are Fola Adeola, Lamido Sanusi.

Of Sanusi, the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, AigImoukhuede said: “The strength of conviction that makes a man do the right thing or do what he believes is the right thing even in the face of what you can call overwhelming odd is something that I have learnt from him.”

Anambra and Kogi Govs make case for rail line

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HORTLY after the Governors of Anambra State, Gov. Peter Obi and his Kogi State counterpart, Capt Idris Wada in a joint press conference issued a communiqué calling for peace and discontinuance of hostilities beween some border towns of Anambra and Kogi, the duo have continued to demonstrate strong will and commitment to work together in the interest of their people.

Both Governors visited the Federal Ministry of Transport where they made case for the inclusion of Onitsha through Ayangba to Abuja in the railway master plan. Speaking at the occasion, Gov. Obi said that Onitsha is very critical considering the volume of trade traffic the town carries. He said that whatever is the equitable criteria for determining towns

to benefit, he was sure Onitsha would be eligible. ”What criteria would not favour Onitsha? In terms of

population, Onitsha is there. In terms of density, Onitsha is there. In terms of volume of goods moving

from selected towns to other parts of the country, Onitsha is there”, Obi argued.

Kidnappers seize 90-yr-old widow in Delta

BY EMMA AMAIZE & AKPOKONA OMAFUAIRE

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90-year-old widow, Mrs Egbeshire Otovwievwie, said to be the mother of the national vice chairman of National Union of Petroleum , Energy and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, was seized from her residence in Olomu Kingdom Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State, weekend, by five suspected kidnappers.

The kidnappers, who stormed her house in the early hours of the day in a Toyota Camry car caught

the community youths unawares.

It was not known at press time if her son, who is also a staff of Nigeria Gas Company had been contacted for ransom, but the police were reportedly on the trail of the suspects.

HRM, Ovie R. L. Ogbon, Ogoni-Oghoro I, the Ohworode of Olomu kingdom condemned the abduction in a telephone chat with Saturday Vanguard and appealed to her captors to release her unconditionally.

Also, Mr. Simon Ebrobota, President General of Oviri- Olomu, condemned the act and

beseeched the kidnappers to free the old woman.

According to our Source, “ Mrs. Egbeshire was kidnapped early this morning (Friday) at about 12.30am at her house at Esie Street in OviriOlomu. The kidnappers came in a Toyota Camry saloon car and made straight to the old woman’s house.

“All attempts by the community youths to block the vehicle while leaving was abortive as a result of the indiscriminate shooting by the kidnappers to scare the community youths.”

SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 6, 2013 — 7

Boko Haram Amnesty: Best decision at the North more receptive than others moment —PDP •Says •Wisdom has prevailed — Govs Lamido,Shema

BY BEN AGANDE, Abuja & CALEB AYANSINA

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BUJA — THE N a t i o n a l leadership of the Peoples Party, PDP yesterday described the constitution of an Amnesty Committee on the Boko Haram insurgency by President Goodluck Jonathan as the best decision at the moment just as the governors of Kastina and Jigawa states, Ibrahim Shema and Sule Lamido yesterday said the decision was in submission to the yearnings of northern leaders over the plight of the people in the region that should be commended.

In a statement signed by PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, the party while hailing the President for the action, stressed that it was yet another demonstration of his sincerity and forthrightness in handling the affairs of Nigeria, adding that it showed the President as a listening leader and one who has the unity of the country as paramount to him. ‘’It is on record that the north is the most receptive region in the country. Indeed there is no part of the country that is more accommodating than the north which has always been home for all people, irrespective of religious creed and tribal affiliations. ‘’The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) commends President Goodluck Jonathan for constituting an Amnesty Committee on the Boko Haram insurgency.

This is yet another demonstration of the President’s sincerity and forthrightness in handling national issues.”

Speaking with state House correspondents after meeting with President Jonathan, governors Lamido and Shema said the decision was a step in ensuring that peace returns to the northern part of the country.

According to the governor, of Katsina state, “If a committee on amnesty is set up, it is done because Nigerians and leaders from the northern part of the

country are yearning for a quick resolution to the matter.

And the president is responding positively to this request so that our nation can go on in peace, progress and development”.

He said it is not true that northern governors did not do enough to check the activities of the sect noting that the governors had set up a committee on peace and reconciliation before now. ”If you remember, the northern governors’ forum did set up a special committee for peace, healing and reconciliation and that committee has been working very hard and is submitting its second report to the northern governors’ forum and certainly all hands are on deck including traditional institutions, religious and political leaders, even from the services military, retired, the police, SSS are all part of that committee”, he added.

Shema noted that there “has been very serious efforts by the northern governors forum to tackle this insecurity in northern Nigeria. I believe if a security committee is set up is in good faith, is for the good of Nigeria and for the resolution to the crisis that has bedeviled most of northern Nigeria on the issue of insecurity. ”My advice is that there is no nation that can progress without peace and stability. We need peace and all hands be on deck, those who are aggrieved for one reason or the other should come forward and be able to resolve this crisis, such that our nation and our people can progress and develop rapidly” he said.

On his part, the governor of Jigawa state said the president’s decision was in response to the wish of the people. ”What ever it is, he is there for the people and the people said this is what we want and he has given it to them so I commend him for that.

Whatever it is wisdom, has prevailed. It is all about what do we do to secure our country especially when Nigeria becomes a country that is very secure and stable so that we confront the problems of human development. ”This country needs our energy, it needs our political skills and a there are a number of things

•Anglican Youths kick, says it’s legalizing terrorism

Gov. Godswill Akpabio exchanging pleasantry with Gov. Adams Oshiomhole during the 60th birthday of Gov. Oshiomhole while Senator Obi watches with admiration which are begging for attention. Whatever it is to be able to get Nigeria united, to make it secure, we should do it. So ignore what might have been the other misconceptions. We are now doing the right

thing” he said.

Meanwhile, Anglican Youth Fellowship, Nigeria, yesterday, said that the Federal government’s decision to grant amnesty to the Boko Haram sect was nothing

but to legalize terrorism in the country.

The President of AYF, Wuse Archdeaconry Council, Brr. Isaac Harrison stated this while speaking to Saturday Vanguard during a

workshop organised for the youths with the theme; “Empowered To Impact The World”, in Abuja.

He said, “We cannot grant amnesty to people we do not know, we cannot also grant amnesty to people who had already made up their minds that whether there is dialogue or not they will go on with whatever they are doing, if Boko Haram actually need peace they will not be killing those that are moving towards that peace.

“So, the Anglican Youths Fellowship members are not in support of the amnesty to Boko Haram.

“If you grant amnesty to a terrorist, you should remember that some months ago, US listed Nigeria as a terrorist country, it was by the grace of God that we were able to release ourselves from that situation, so, if we grant amnesty to Boko Haram, it will means that Nigeria is a terrorist country, so we are legalizing terrorism.”

Why NECO should stay — NASU M

INNA — THE Non Academic Staff Union of Education and Associated Institutions, (NASU) National Examination Council (NECO Branch) has made a passionate appeal to the federal

government not to c o n t e m p l a t e the scrapping of the Council as it would be a set back to the education of the country and also negate a key essence in the transformation agenda of

the federal government which is job creation.

Addressing Journalists in Minna, Niger state, yesterday, chairman of NECO branch of the Union, comrade Abdulrasheed Rabana said the idea or

Students hail appointment of Sen Bob as UNIBEN’s Pro-Chancellor

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TUDENTS under the aegis of the National Association of Akwa-Ibom Students (NAAKIS), have commended President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan for the appointment of the former Senator representing Akwa-Ibom East Senatorial District, in the National Assembly, Sen. Effiong William Bob, as the prochancellor and Chairman Governing Council of the University of Benin, Benin City, and Hon. Samuel EdoEket, as member of the Governing Council.

The Governing board which was constituted by the federal Government on January 15, 2013, also had as member, Jamila Salik, J K

Gazama, SAN and Shettima Muhammed Saleh.

President of the Association, Comrade Francis Uko Inyang, who led the delegation under the supervision of the Staff

Adviser, Dr. Utibe Atagha, said the inclusion of the duo of Sen. Bob and Chief Edo-Eket in the board, both from Akwa-Ibom state, shows that Mr. President appreciates the vast human potentials in the state.

recommendation of scrapping the Council shouldn’t have been contemplated at all adding that investment in education should be seen as a matter of national security and should not be a compromise at all.

“It is worrisome to every discerning mind that such a National Asset into which the nation has invested so much vision as well as human and material resources would be contemplated to fall a victim of yet another in the series of our much derided policy summersault just on the logic of rationalizing governance.”

Work on Ediene Abak Bridge nearing completion

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ORK on Ediene Abak Bridge in Abak Local Government Area handled by Julius Berger Construction Company has reached an advanced stage of c o m p l e t i o n .

Conducting Governor Godswill O. Akpabio round the project Thursday, the Technical Director of Julius Berger, Mr. Lubasch Detlef said the project which started

in July last year would be completed by the end of this year.

Detlef, who explained aspects of the job using a master plan, commended the state Governor for awarding the job to their company, pledging to complete it on schedule.

Akpabio, answering questions from journalists after inspection of the bridge,

said he was impressed by the quality of job together with the dualised thoroughfare from Ikot Oku Ikono junction to Abak maintown done by the company.

The Governor, who lauded the company for ensuring smoothness and top quality of the job, described it as a signature project of the state government.

8 — SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 6, 2013

10m children of basic education age not in school

BY PETER DURU, Makurdi

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ESPITE efforts to achieve Education for All (EFA) and M i l l e n n i u m Development Goals in education before 2015 in Nigeria, Vanguard has reliably gathered that over ten million children of school age are currently not in school across the country.

Educationist and Director General of the Centre for Non-Formal Education and Training, CENFET, Dr. Rosemary Nwangwu disclosed this yesterday in an interview with Vanguard in Makurdi.

She said the figure implied that one out of every school aged child in the country was not enjoying the privilege of acquiring formal eduction.

According to Dr. Nwangwu, a recent study by the United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, showed that an estimate of “primary age and junior secondary age population of children in Nigeria were 24.7 million and 10.9 million respectively. ”Out of these, about 7.3 million children representing 29.6% who were supposed to be in primary school were out of school while about 26% of the children who were supposed to be in junior secondary or about 2.8 million children were out of school at this level. ”On the aggregate, about 10.1 million children who are supposed to be in basic education were

not in school. These figures suggest that whereas one out of three primary age children is out of school, while one out of four junior secondary age children are out of school,”she added.

The Director General of CENFET lamented that appalling situation was the case despite the universal free access to basic education declared by government and the huge amount of resources invested in that sector.

She said government

must move fast to check the situation if the country was serious to attain the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in education in order to justify the huge expenditure in that sector. ”The time to act is now, because we all know that education is the bedrock of development in any given society and the earlier we take proactive action to address this anomaly the better for the future generation of this country,” she stressed.

National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki;Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika and the Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Dele Ezeoba emerging from a day-long Security Council Meeting presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan at the State House, Abuja. Photo by Abayomi Adeshida

Group condemns Fayemi for insensitivity over murder of member

BY OLA AJAYI, Ibadan

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group under the aegis of the South West Defenders (SWD) has accused the Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi over alleged insensitivity to the plight of the families of those whose relations were murdered and injured last Saturday, in Erijiyan-Ekiti, Ekiti West Local Government area of the S t a t e .

The group said it was inhuman for the governor not to have visited Erijiyan-Ekiti, since last Saturday that Ayo Murphy Jeje was killed and several others injured.

In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Lere Olayinka, it said; “it is painful that instead of sympathising with the families of Ayo Jeje, who was brutally murdered and others that were wounded, Governor

Fayemi has been concerned about the arrest and detention of his party, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) State Chairman, Chief Jide

Awe, who was arrested for alleged complicity in the murder”.

It said the murdered Ayo Jeje was among the aggrieved members of the ACN that were billed to decamp to the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) on

Sunday, March 31, 2013.

SWD said; “It is even more worrisome that six days after the incident, Fayemi, who is the Chief Security Officer of Ekiti State has not uttered a word to condemn the ignoble act.

Instead, all we have heard

from his party is the condemnation of the arrest of Jide Awe. ”We then wonder which is more important, lost of lives or arrest and detention of an individual in furtherance of police investigation?

NUC accredits programmes of Redeemer’s University

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HE National Universities Commission, NUC, has accredited all the programmes of the Redeemers University,

Mowe, Ogun, with the approval of Tourism Studies, History and International Relations.

Head of Corporate Affairs of the University,

Mr Adetunji Adeleye, told the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Lagos yesterday that the accreditation started in Nov. 2012, and was

Partners announce $18m in funding secondary educ in dev countries

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partnership of five philanthropic organisations announced yesterday nearly $8 million in grants and a commitment of an additional $10 million in 2013 for innovative projects that will increase the participation, quality, and relevance of secondary education for economically disadvantaged and marginalised children in developing countries.

The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, The MasterCard Foundation, ELMA Philanthropic Services, Human Dignity Foundation among others are growing their collaboration through the partnership to strengthen innovation and practice in secondary education, issuing a second call for proposals to support innovative initiatives that provide learning opportunities and life and livelihood skills for undeserved youth between the ages of 12 and 19 in East Africa, Nigeria, and India.

The Partnership was announced in 2012, and received more than 500 submissions in response to its first call for proposals from groups working in sec-

ondary education around the world. Nearly $8 million was provided by the Partnership in support of 19 projects, exceeding its originalcommitmentof$5million.

Preferred bidder emerges for Calabar Specialist Hospital project

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HE Cross River State Executive Council has approved the procurement of U T O P I A N C O N S U LT I N G LIMITED as the Preferred Bidder for the Calabar Specialist Hospital Project.

Utopian Consulting emerged after a thorough and transparent procurement process, supervised by the International Finance Corporation, (IFC), retained by the Cross River State Government to act as lead advisor in structuring and

implementing the Project.

The Project involves the design, construction, operation and maintenance of a 100 bed Specialist Hospital being developed by the Government of Cross River State, in partnership with the private sector.

Upon completion, the Hospital will offer a comprehensive package of secondary heath care services, including a gateway clinic offering primary healthcare service and a referral mechanism for the Hospital.

concluded in March 2013.

“The Redeemer ’s university has finally joined the league of the universities that have all their programmes fully approved and accredited by the NUC as it received full accreditation status.

“The programmes— Tourism Studies, History and International Relations— were approved during the visit of the regulatory body in November 2012,” he said.

According to him, from 30 per cent accreditation of its programmes 18 months ago, the university finally met the stipulated criteria for accreditation of all its programmes by the NUC. Adeleye also quoted the Vice Chancellor, Prof.

Debo Adeyewa as saying that the result of the accreditation was the manifestation of the grace of God upon the university.

The vice- chancellor said the university would remain committed to its vision of becoming a renowned centre of learning for aspiring future leaders.

SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 6 , 2013 — 9

Over 100 people perish in two accidents in Benin-Ore, Onitsha roads

BY VINCENT UJUMADU & GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

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O fewer than 100 people were killed in two separate road accidents which occurred in Okija, along OwerriOnisha Highway in Anambra State and Ofosu, the boundry town between Edo and Ondo States yesterday.

About 80 persons were reportedly burnt to death in the accident involving a haulage truck, a petrol tanker and the Young Shall Grow double-decker bus at Ugbogui Village, near Ofosu at about 1.30pm just as 20 other passengers who were travelling in two commercial buses owned by the Rivers State Transport Company, RTC, reportedly died at Okija, when another haulage truck rammed into them in the early hours of the day.

Sources said that the accident occurred as the Young Shall Grow bus and the haulage truck were struggling over which vehicle had the right of way and the petrol tanker which was fully loaded with petrol rammed into the two vehicles and burst into a huge ball of flame.

The victims were burnt

beyond recognition even as the accident led to traffic gridlock that lasted for over three hours.

An official of the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, who spoke on condition of anonymity confirmed the incident at press time saying that only three of the passengers were rescued from the fully loaded luxury bus pointing out that the mangled bodies of the victims littered the scene.

According to the eye witness, the victims of the Ore- Benin accident included drivers of the vehicles and their conductors (motor-boys) and 53 passengers in the luxurious bus.

Another source at the scene however said that the multiple accident occurred when the haulage vehicle which had a flat tyre rammed into the tanker which also swerved and rammed into the double-decker luxurious bus, causing the petrol tanker to explode and burst into flames that consumed all those around the area.

It took a combined team of soldiers, policemen and FRSC officials to restore normalcy on both sides of the road at about 4pm when the traffic began to ease .

At Okija in Anambra

Gov. Peter Obi (middle), with Gov. Idiris Wada of Kogi State(Left), explaining to the Federal Minister of Transport, Sen. Idris Umar (right), the necessity of inclusion of Onitsha-Ayangba-Ajaokutai Abuja railway line at the Minister’s office on Thursday .

State, an eye witness told Saturday Vanguard that a trailer had rammed into the oncoming vehicles,

including two buses belonging to the RTC, killing most of the occupants of the two buses instantly.

The accident caused an excruciating traffic jam on both lanes. For several hours, commuters were at

stand still as movement was virtually impossible.

However, there was a little respite on the expressway after about two hours as vehicles coming from the Onitsha end had to divert at Okija junction, while those coming from the Owerri end diverted at Ezego junction at Ihiala.

Mangled bodies of the victims were scattered along the road, while those wounded were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment.

Men of the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, and the police, as well as other volunteers were at the scene of the accident clearing the blocked road.

It was not clear what caused the accident, but an eye witness said that the trailer driver might have lost control on the sloppy road and subsequently rammed onto other vehiles.

Devil asked me to dupe Okonjo-Iweala, Deziani, others, suspect tells Court •impersonates NSA, pleads guilty to charge •Knows fate Tuesday

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI, Abuja

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N Abuja Chief Magistrate Court, yesterday, fixed April 9 to sentence one Mr Aminu Ado Yarima, who had on Wednesday, narrated how the devil, sometime in

December last year, deceived him into impersonating the National Security Adviser, NSA, Mr Sambo Dasuki.

Aminu, who pleaded guilty to a one count criminal charge that was preferred against him by the Police , told the court that it was the same devil that

commanded him to dupe four sitting Ministers under President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration. Consequently, he bought a GSM line, 08034467417, which he used and called the personal phone numbers of the Minister of Finance and coordinating Minister of the Nigerian econ-

Pope worries over sex abuse in the Church Church mired in problems of sexual abuse

BY EMEKA MAMAH With agency report

A

P PA R E N T LY worried by rising cases of sexual abuse of children by priests, Pope Francis yesterday asked the Catholic Church to “act decisively” to root out sexual the problem and ensure that the perpetrators were punished, the Vatican has said.

According to Reuters, Francis, in a meeting with the Holy See’s doctrinal chief, Archbishop Gerhard Muller, had declared that combating sexual abuse was important “for the Church and its credibility.”

Francis

inherited

a

and a major scandal over priestly abuse of children.

It was believed to be the first time Francis had taken up the issue of sex abuse with a senior member of his staff since his election on March 13.

Muller is head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Vatican department which includes the office of the “promoter of justice”, or sex crimes prosecutor, which investigates cases of sexual abuse and decides if priests are to be defrocked.

Francis said the department should continue to “act decisively as far as cases

are concerned, promoting, above all, measures to protect minors, help for those who have suffered such violence in the past (and) the necessary procedures against those who are guilty,” a statement added.

It said the pope wanted Catholic bishops around the world to promote and put into place “directives in this matter which is so important for the witness of the Church and its credibility”.

The Catholic Church’s crisis began in Boston in 2002 when media began reporting how cases of abuse were systematically covered up and abusive priests shuttled from parish to parish instead of being defrocked and handed over to civil authorities.

omy, Dr Ngozi OkonjoIweala, Petroleum Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, Information Minister, Labaran Maku and the Minister of Education, Ruqayyat Rufai.

Nevertheless, the operation went awry for the 42 years old accused person who holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, shortly after he called the four chosen Ministers and identified himself as the NSA, demanding to have a private audience with each of them with a view to discussing certain issues of great national importance.

Sensing danger, one of the Ministers was said to have notified the Police which promptly traced the call and apprehended the accused person.

Meanwhile, though the prosecuting counsel who is a Deputy Superintendent of Police, DSP, Stanley Nwodo, told the court that the offence was contrary to the provisions of sections 132, 324 and 325 of the Penal Code Cap 89 Laws of Northern Nigeria, 1963, however, both the accused person and his counsel, Mr Edwin Atta, urged the court to temper justice with mercy, insisting that it was the devil that orchestrated the criminal act.

10—SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 6, 2013

NIPOST

Surviving without letters Threat of internet and social media

BY CHIOMA GABRIEL

W

hen was the last time you visited a post office to transact busi ness? When was the last time you posted a letter or purchased a postal stamp? What have taken the places of postal services in your business, career or personal life? Would you rather move your packages from one destinationto another through NIPOST or a private courier company? How do you transfer money locally and internationally? Answering the above questions would help you appreciate the impact of the internet, emoney transfers and the social media in today's Nigeria as it affects postal services. We now operate e-money transfers and local money transfers and globally, there is Western Union that tranfers money in minutes.

Before the advent of internet and Glo bal System of Mobile Communications in Nigeria, communication businesses in the country were mainly transacted through postal services, operated by government. Before 1985, Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST), was known

The Nigerian Postal Service declared a vision and mission of becoming a world-class postal service provider and a mission to provide quality postal services that would satisfy the aspirations of all stakeholders as Postal and Telecommunication (P&T) which comprised of both Postal and Telecom Operators of the Federal Government of Nigeria. It was the separation of the Postal from Telecom that gave birth to NIPOST and NITEL respectively.

In 1987, the government divided the Postal and

Telecommunications(P&T) into two: the Nigerian Telecommunications Limited ,(NITEL) and Nigerian Postal Services, NIPOST , with Mallam Ibrahim Mori Baba as Post Master General and Chief Executive Officer. NIPOST was offering services like First Class mail and Domestic Mail amongst others. It had more than 20,000 employees and runs more than 5,000 post offices. The Nigerian Postal Service also runs businesses like EMS, Bulk Post Venture, NIPOST Central Workshop, Philatelic Services, Courier Regulatory Services, Parcel Post Venture and Nipost PostCash.

With its formal inauguration in 1987, the Nigerian Postal Service declared a vision and mission of becoming a world-class postal service provider and a mission to provide quality postal services that would satisfy the aspirations of all stakeholders.

It became the national carrier of all classes of mail items for delivery both within and outside Nigeria.

Mail items, which include letters, postcards, printed papers, parcels and aerogrammes were processed through the post office.

Post Office boxes are installed in all post offices and sub-post offices across the country, and are avail-

Continues on page 11

SATURDAY

Vanguard, APRIL 6, 2013—11

NIPOST

By Olayinka Ajayi

Husband files for divorce after six years of childless union

NIPOST pensioners

NIPOST: The threat of internet and social media Continued from page 10 able for rent on completion of relevant forms and office formalities. The use of post office box guarantees customers’ security, privacy and convenience of collecting their mails.

There is the Private Mail Bag service which is available on application to the Postmaster in-charge of any post office. It is particularly suitable for customers who receive large quantity of mail (daily) and are prepared to accept delivery/collection usually at least once daily. Correspondences for private mailbag users are also available for delivery/collection earlier than those for delivery by postmen.

Special Delivery Service was also introduced for corporate organisations that have ‘PMB’ and generate large volume of mail. On agreed frequency, NIPOST collects client’s mail for their private mailbags and delivers to their offices for an agreed fee.

F

urthermore, there is also ‘post restante’ for individuals travelling out of their base, who expect important letters. Interested customers could call for such letters by applying for “Post Restante” or “To be called for”. There must also be proof of identity to ensure that delivery is made to the proper person; the applicant should be able to state from what place or district he expects the mail.

If he decides to send for his mail, the messenger, besides being furnished with the above information must have a written authority to collect such letters.

NIPOST further offers street delivery which entails mail delivery by postmen on house to house basis. The effectiveness of this service depends, to a large extent, on how well a street is named and numbered. Where there is no house to house delivery and individuals are unable to procure a private box or private mail bag, addressees may claim their correspondence at the post office or postal agency during normal office hours.

However, with the advent of internet and the accompanying social networks like Facebook, Twitter, E-mail, e-transactions and the Global System of Mobile Communications, GSM, postal services are dying gradually. In place of letters, people

connect with each other via telephone calls, text messages, e-mails, twitter, facebook and other social media networks. News breaks spread across the world

in seconds through the social media networks and less people bother with post office services. Recently, the federal government announced the postal sector reform process which will culminate in the setting up of an independent regulator for the industry but towards the end of last year, the proposed reform was reportedly embroiled in a web of confusion with some vested interests bent on thwarting the reform.

T

he multinational courier firms and

some top management of Nigerian Postal Service officers were allegedly working to frustrate the reform.

There is fear it would not be business as usual if a strong regulatory commission takes over while some top officers of NIPOST allegedly fret over erosion of influence and positions of authority.

Reportedly, most industry stakeholders cannot categorically tell the content and location of all important documents that will breathe fresh life into the sector.

Most of these human elements enjoy the present regulatory-player status of NIPOST, because of the kick backs they receive.

Today, the establishment is faced with a situation where Omobola Johnson, Minister of Communication Technology would say one thing at one forum and Mallam Ibrahim Mori-Baba, the Postmaster-General of the Federation, would say another at a different forum. The Minister of Communication Technology said that the Ministry is currently working with the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, to make Nigerian Postal Service a super agent for mobile money. The Minister said that though NIPOST is declining in the area of postal service, the Ministry has engaged the CBN to see how NIPOST would key into the CBN’s financial inclusion strategy by using NIPOST assets across the length and breadth of the country to offer services to people irrespective of location.

She was also reported to have noted that one of the

constraints NIPOST has is that it is both a regulator and an operator, which she said would be addressed with the new ICT bill before the National Assembly.

But how effective is NIPOST in the advent of the internet and Global System of Mobile Communications? Saturday Vanguard in this edition tries to find out.

EMOTIONS ran at Ajeromi Ifelodun, Ajegunle cu s t o m a r y co u r t a s a h o u s e wife,Mrs,Funmilayo Agboola broke down in tears following a prayer by her husband,Mr.Mutiu Agboola to the court to dissolve their six-year-old marriage that has produced no issue.

The petitioner, who further accused his wife of being stubborn and disrespectful to his parents, had chased her out of their matrimonial home, holding that there was no more love to sustain the marriage. “Ever since we got married, I have been trying to manage the situation but it has gone beyond my capacity ”, he said.

“There is no more love in the marriage. She is stubborn and flirts around”. He prayed the court to dissolve the marriage based on his submission.

Responding to the allegation, Mrs. Agbola who could not control her emotions, said ,“if he has decided to divorce me, it is okay. He met me six years ago and asked for my hands in marriage but he is no longer interested. Let God’s will be done,” she said. The court however admonished the couple to allow peace to reign, urging them to go their separate ways without quarrel or molestation. The case was adjourned till April 17th.

Court charges wife for contempt

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he Ajegunle Ifelodun customary Court Grade “A” has charged a defen dant Mrs. Angela Olagoriade over her attitude in defying court orders.This occurred as a result the allegation levelled against her by her husband, the petitioner in the case involving Mr.Rotimi Olagoriade, accusing her of breaking into their matrimonial home and carting away the sum of N300, 000 and two gold wrist watches.

When asked her reason for breaching court orders, the wife said she didn’t take any of her husband’s belongings. She further said the husband was not taking proper care of her children. “I only went to my matrimonial home to check on my children. I did not take any of his wrist watches or his money. He is just making up stories,” she said.

“He actually wants to divorce me because of his girlfriend he eventually gave my shop to”.

She however stated that she took the four children away because Olagoriade left them in the care of a house help who did not take proper care of them the way she would have wanted them to be taken care of. It was however revealed that she took the children to a remote village in Badagry denying them their education.

The substantive case filed by the husband is still pending in the court.

12—SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 6, 2013

NIPOST

DELTA

JOS

In Asaba, customers trickle into Post-Offices

Reduced activity in Plateau

BY TAYE OBATERU

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ormal activities are going on at the various post offices in Plateau State even though there has been a huge drop in patronage. It was gathered that although fewer people now post letters, the various post offices still run normal work schedules with staff on hand to attend to customers.

Unlike its neglected NITEL counterpart, some attention appeared to have been paid to maintenance. Saturday Vanguard observed that some of the post offices were recently given a massive facelift . For example, the one along Goodluck Jonathan Road (former Zaria Road) was re-roofed and restructured while the Anglo Jos Post Office also got some face lift.

A NIPOST staff who declined to be named, said the renovation of the post offices had provided a better work environment for them for which they are happy. He confirmed that the volume of postage of letters had dropped since the emergence of the GSM through which people now communicate faster.

“The postage of letters have dropped because only very few people now post letters. Except when sending a document or a parcel, people prefer to communicate via the phone. Many of our post office boxes are no longer functional because a lot of people are not paying for them since we increased the rate to N3,200. Generally speaking, business is slow, but we are getting by”, another staff told Saturday Vanguard.

BENUE

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

A

General Post Office, Marina, Lagos

‘We have lost over 70 percent of our customer base’

BY PETER DURU

W

ith the advent of the Global System of Mobile Communication, GSM, the general impression is that the services being rendered by the Nigerian Postal Service, NIPOST, may have been adversely affected. The reason for this fear cannot be far fetched, given that most Nigerians now prefer to send mails through the Short Message Services, SMS, otherwise known as text messages. Saturday Vanguard investigations in Makurdi, the Benue state capital actually confirmed this fear.

It was gathered that the advent of the GSM has to a large extent affected person to person letters delivery service.

According to a source who craved anonymity at the NIPOST office in Makurdi, “the advent of the GSM has actually affected person to person or individual letters transactions.We have lost over 70 percent of our customer base in that respect but as for parcel mails, it has quadrupled;business letters are also on the ascendancy.It has not affected our revenue base in any way because this is our best season in terms of revenue generation because people are still sending parcels and

business mails.

"Do you know that the market worth of global parcel and mail trade is in the range of over $25billon despite the advent of the GSM; only if we can fully take advantage of this, we shouldn’t have any reasons to worry.”

On the issue of the welfare of staff, our source maintained that “since we are getting resources on all fronts, staff have no reasons to complain; our salaries and entitlements are paid as at when due and we’re all doing our best to justify our earnings”, said he.

However, it is pertinent to point out here that it is not all glowing stories for the Makurdi territorial Headquaters of the NIPOST in Benue state.

A major feature of most of the NIPOST offices in Benue state is the fact that it’s services are carried out from colonial structures and sometime dilapidated buildings. Another unsavory tale of the NIPOST in Makurdi is the issue of the long abandoned territorial Headquater building which was started over 22 years ago but abandoned after work on the project had gotten to about 60 percent level of completion.The building which is located on Gboko

road, almost opposite the first gate of the Benue State University, has become a den for hoodlums and criminals who found it a ready free accommodation and operating base for their nefarious activities.

A source at the Makurdi office of NIPOST told Saturday Vanguard on grounds of anonymity that the building would have provided staffers a conducive environment to carry out their responsibilities and duties to the Benue public “but for reasons best known to the authorities, no one talks about the project which was started during the military regime, it is just unfortunate.That abandoned project reminds one of the sad and unfortunate state of our country, because it presents a clear and vivid picture and replica of the state of governance in this country. ”After expending so much of public funds to erect that gigantic structure, it was abandoned midway, and since then, Ministers of Communication would come and make make pronouncements about the project but at the end of the day, nothing would be done. That is why we are tucked away in this small office that is meant for postal services. It as bad as that, it is as bad as bad."

LTHOUGH its sister orga nization, NITEL has gone underground in Delta State, NIPOST office in Asaba, Delta State capital is still bubbling with activities.

A visit to NIPOST office on Nnebisi Road adjacent Police ‘A’ Division showed that customers were coming to transact business. However the hitherto bustling and long queues commonly noticed some years at the counters were absent, as customers trickle in.

Posting of letters, unarguably, had reduced drastically due to the GSM and internet patronage but dispatching of parcels via the courier service of the agency is quite noticeable.

Counter staff were found on duty when visited while the agency presently maintains skeletal staff strength unlike what it used to be years back.

Some of the staff spoken to who maintained anonymity expressed concern over the fate of the organization because of dwindling revenue being generated. They called on the Federal government not to allow the agency to die.

An Asaba-based female journalist, Anastacia Agunwa, told our reporter that “NIPOST is still very necessary in the society because there are some information that could not be passed to the recipient through either text messages, internet or phone calls. For instance, documents like share dividend warrants, pamphlets, books and other documents must be sent through NIPOST. Therefore, it should not be ignored because it has not outlived its usefulness. Instead, the necessary authorities should make the services more vibrant in order to maintain its credibility”.

On his part, the Delta State Chairman of Labour Party LP, Comrade Emeka Nkwoala noted that “this is one of the challenges of development. Some persons do patronize NIPOST but I can’t remember doing that. NIPOST should be made to be competitive and do more on advertisement. I'm an advocate of buy local but think global. The consumer should not be shortchanged in any way”, he stated.

SATURDAY

Vanguard, APRIL 6, 2013—13

NIPOST

ONDO

Only Courier service is very active

BY DAYO JOHNSON

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IPOST office in Akure, the Ondo state capital is a ghost of its former self following the advent of electronic mail and social media through which Nigerians send mail instantly with little or no cost.

Except the Courier services, and buying of stamps by few people, no transaction takes place in the office.

Infact because of the low traffic to the post office located very close to the traditional ruler of Akureland, Oba Adebiyi Adesida, shops and other small kiosks have taken over the entrance of the office.

A visit to the post office showed that few staff that work there were busy playing away while only one person attends to those who wanted to buy stamps and another person handles

A visit to the state headquarters of the postal service in Akure metropolis showed that activities in the the two storey building has reduced greatly. the courier service section.

This Reporter who spent one hour at the Post Office noticed that only one

person came in to buy stamp within an hour.

In an interview, one of the staff said that they are wasting away because patronage has drastically reduced following internet services.

Speaking in confidence, our source said that technology has rendered them useless as they are no more that relevant as they were before the advent of electronic media. He appealed to government to redeploy them to

other relevant agencies where their services would be needed.

Mr Adedeji Amusan who came to buy the stamp said he came to buy stamps because of a transaction with the state government which he needed to attach a stamp to before he can be paid his entitlement.

Mr Amusan said that the advent of electronic media which provides instant delivery of messages has “killed and buried” NIPOST permanently. According to him, the late delivery and theft of letters and documents when NIPOST was in vogue has taught Nigerians a big lesson and they would not pray for the repeat of such experience.

One of those who sell envelops, gums and other writing materials in front of the post office complained of low patronage. He said that their sales have been greatly affected unlike before when they make huge sales on daily basis.

A visit to the state headquarters of the postal service in Akure metropolis showed that activities in the the two-storey building has reduced greatly.

The workers there on resumption in the morning sign in their names at the ground floor and retire to their offices to while away the time and leave for their homes later in the day.

Efforts to speak with those met in the office proved abortive as they refer this reporter to their Headquarter office for comments on the state of the postal service. But a staff who spoke in confidence took a swipe at the Federal government for the deplorable state of almost all of its agencies including NITEL. He said that government should act decisively on the next line of action as regard its agencies and parastaltals. According to him, some of its agencies should be merged and workers deployed to where they would be productive rather than wasting away.

IMO

It’s a mixed bag

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

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he fortunes of Nigerian Postal Service, NIPOST, in Imo State appear to be what a carefu l watch er would call “a mixed bag”, espec ially with the adven t of intern et technology. A recent visit to the two post offices located in Owerri municipality showed that the huma n traffic that chara cteriz ed the establ ishme nt years back has disapp eared.

Worke rs were seen attend ing to just a few individuals that came to transact their business in the place, while the open space in front of the Douglas Road, Owerri, Main Post Office have been taken over by all manner of hawkers and stall owners. An attempt to find out who rented the open space s from the trader s prove d abortive as none of them wanted to talk to Saturday Vanguard and be quoted on the issue.

An indigene of Owerri, Mazi Damian Nze, told Saturd ay Vangu ard that althou gh NIPOS T C M Y K

cannot be said to have closed shop in Imo State, their services is obviously facing a lot of challenges over the years.“A lot of people no longer write. They now believe in using the internet, which apparently is a faster and safer way to communicate with anybody or group, irrespective of the distance”, Nze reasoned.

Anoth er citizen , Mr. Kelech i Okpar a, volunteered that his family has consistently maintained the Post Office Box they acquired some years ago.

“Some of our sensitive documents still come through the post office. This is one of the reasons why we decided to maintain the facility till date”, Okpara said.

Saturd ay Vangu ard recalls that postal services suffered serious setback January 8, 2013, following the barricading of post offices in Owerri, Imo State capital, by scores of retirees of the federal establishment.

The frail, aged and angry pensioners of Nigerian Postal Service, NIPOST, were protesting their non-payment of several months of their pensions and gratuities.

The aggrieved NIPOST pensioners equally vowed that they will not unlock the gates of the post offices until they are paid what they called “our legitimate entitlements”.

They were particularly irked that the relevant authorities have either refused or neglected to keep their earlier promise of defraying the unpaid pensions.

One of the pensioners, Mazi Joe Nlemadim Anokwu, wondered what government wants them to do, adding that so many of them have died without getting their gratuities or pensions.

This ugly situation has made the serving staff of NIPOST to seriously worry about their future, even as some of them, who spoke on strict grounds of anonymity, appealed to the Federal Government to redress the ugly situation.

14—SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 6, 2013

NIPOST

ANAMBRA

NITEL experience taught us a lesson —NIPOST

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

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NIPOST office

NIGER

Advent of GSM not a threat to survival of NIPOST

BY WOLE MOSADOMI To an average Nigerian, NIPOST is only saddled with the responsibility of postal services and nothing more.

The main service to Nigerians is just buying of stamps to post letters within and for external services.

Before the advent of the mobile telephone services, many Nigerians have virtually lost hope in this main service because of lateness in the delivery of mails and loss of mails while on transaction to some cases.

In modern days, the introduction of the Global System of Mobile Communications (GSM) has virtually taken over the services rendered by NIPOST which was mainly dissemination of information through letter writing.

However, an investigation carried out shows that besides postal services, NIPOST also carries out some other essential services which are generating more revenue for the agency and which have contributed to the survival of NIPOST till now.

Our correspondent reliably gathered in Minna that rather than discourage or completely take over the services of NIPOST, the introduction of the GSM has served as a “wake-up call” to the management to look more inwardly for survival and this has worked.

Some of the services intensified on by the agency include Post Cash services, Cargo services, Expedited Mail services (EMS) and the use of Speed Post among others.

In an interview, the Area Manager of Niger Territorial headquarters of NIPOST, Alh. Garba Argungu told our correspondent that the introduction of the GSM has not taken over the responsibilities of NIPOST but rather pushed the agency to act more positively.

“We have introduced Post Cash services whereby a customer can C M Y K

send money from a point to another especially where commercial banks are not in existence. All you need to do is to have a code sent to the receiver who instantly collects the amount sent through the post office in his domain immediately,” the Area Postal Manager explained.

He also explained the introduction of the cargo services which he said is operating under Universal Postal Union where excess luggages are received and dispatched by NIPOST to the respective owners safely.

According to him, “during the Hajj operations, many Nigerians who have excess luggages patronize us to receive their goods and they are delivered to them at their door steps without any problems of loss.”

He said that unknown to most Nigerians who also patronize the courier services, NIPOST regulate the services of these courier services and in difficult situations, these private services in turn patronize the agency to deliver most of the hinterland messages through the EMS i.e.

Expedited Mail Service or Speed Post adding that these services generate a lot of revenue for NIPOST, even more than ever before.

“We are still in market and still

performing. As mobile phones have their own advantages, NIPOST services are more advantageous because what our mails can carry and deliver, the GSM cannot,” Alhaji Argungu said.

On the safety of money and other goods sent from one spot to the other, the Area Manager said, “It is wrong to include cash in a posted letter or even registered letters. They all have their rules and regulations and if these rules are adhered to, there can’t be loss of cash and goods while in transaction as being done now.”

Despite the low patronage through letter writing, customers still maintain their Mail Boxes to receive their letters adding that, “though they enjoy the service, many customers however find it difficult to pay for the rented Boxes and we have to go the extra miles of locking the Boxes to force the owners to pay as a last resort.”

The private Boxes go for N5,200; commercial Boxes go for N6,300 while Private Mail Bags (PMB) go for only N17,600 per Annum.

However, investigation carried out clearly shows that the sales from stamps in all categories have dropped considerably due to the low patronage from letter writing.

More stories on page 61

HE Nigerian Postal Service, NIPOST, may have learnt a big lesson from what happened to the Nigerian Telecommunications Ltd, NITEL, which had virtually gone under due to unprepared privatization.

Though NIPOST almost had problems shortly after the emergence of many courier companies in the country, its management quickly rose to the occasion and the result is a healthy establishment in all its branches across the nation.

The only problem however is that one aspect of its services, the postage of letters, is virtually dead in the rural areas. In the Anambra Territory of NIPOST, workers say they have nothing to complain about as they get their promotions as and when due and attend training workshops on a regular basis.

Also, revenue has been on the rise in the two main branches in Awka and Onitsha. For instance, the Expedited Mail Service, EMS, of the company generates about N1 million monthly in both branches. The manager in charge of public relations in the Anambra Territory, Mrs. Ifeyinwa Nwofor said NIPOST is still the provider of licenses for all courier companies which is a major source of its revenue.

She said: “All the courier companies renew their licenses annually, otherwise their operating license would be withdrawn. Also, we have NIPOST courier regulation and if any operator fails to operate according to the provisions of the law, the company risks being closed down.

She however said that one of the problems facing the establishment is quick delivery of mails because many letter writers do not use correct addresses.

Besides, she stated, many cities in Nigeria do not have registered addresses because some families and individuals merely use their names for streets and it is often difficult to deliver letters in such places.

At the time Saturday Vanguard visited NIPOST offices, everywhere was busy and mails were being sorted out and dispatched. There was also very noticeable happiness among the workers in the establishment.

SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 6, 2013—15

16—SATURDAY Vanguard , APRIL 6, 2013

I

t is unfortunate that a former Head of State and perennial presidential candidate, like retired Maj. General Muhammadu Buhari, could expose himself to indefensible criticisms through his unguarded statements about this nation. How can he habitually paint a poor picture of the country which he would wish to rule as a democratic leader in future, when he falls short of restraining himself within the bounds of reasonable and acceptable address about the leadership of the day? Of course, everybody — political opponents, aspiring politicians, foreign commentators and even those who cannot estimate the worth of followership in a democracy but feel free to pontificate on leadership — have adopted the theme of poor leadership as the easy answer to any question about the problem with Nigeria.

It is all our leaders’ fault, and even those who are identified as leaders, or imagine themselves to be entitled to that classification, agree that it is the most painful fact of our national existence that we are not blessed with good leaders, or good leadership — I wonder if the two characterizations are always interchangeable. But be that as it may, we can align leadership with governance or government which, in a democratic setting, speaks about policies and institutions and direction. So in holding “government” absolutely accountable for a particular aspect of governance, like security, too narrow a view may have been assumed in such a presentation.

We cannot hold ourselves qualified to expatiate on Buhari’ s thoughts but his latest unwary pronouncement has evoked the umbrage one had to suppress about earlier gaffes in the same game of attempting to slam his ill-considered opinions down other people’s throats. On this occasion, Dr, Doyin Okupe, the presidency’s or president’s trumpet was (as ever) at hand to recall that we were all stunned when Buhari declared, while seeking to be the president of this nation, that the country would be made “ungovernable” if he did not succeed. It should be pointed out, however, for the sake of accuracy, that he did not state the he would make that happen, but the statement has been construed, fairly or unfairly on several occasions, to mean just that. It is also worthy of note that he does not seem concerned about any (mis)interpretation that could have been given to it. The heart-rending events that have since erupted in the killing of so many innocent souls in the North should have made him appreciate the need for such clarification.

It would also seem trite for a man in Buhari’ s position to compare the instance of insecurity in the North with the criminal activities in the Delta. The difference did, in fact, order the contrasting means of handling both of them. The militants of the Delta did not hold their problems intractable, but submitted to discussions which led to some form of settlement. The terrorists in the North operate in the shadows behind a veil of anonymity, creating fear and keeping meaningful discussions at arm’s length. What is more, many of the operatives are not indigenes of the land but patent mercenaries intent on a heinous mission.

The former Military Head of State is no •Buhari

*enou gh! enough

(MEND): it is this fact that those who are nearest to them openly withhold the call to cessation of the deviltry unleashed by these groups, howbeit, for different reasons.

MEND has announced that it is going back into the trenches or creeks rather, to resume its

,

struction of innocent lives do not go far enough.

There is too much of armfolding after that. Every Muslim in Nigeria should now rise up with one mighty voice and say, “ENOUGH!” The Koran is against the use of violence to impose any form of religion on a community or an individual. How then can followers of the faith fold their arms and watch the name of their religion linked with these dastardly actions? How can they join in the contrived excuses of poverty, deprivation and lack of opportunity for this open onslaught of massive brigandage on their homeland? If we may point it out once again, the marauders and murderers are mostly imported mercenaries anyway. Should Nigeria have gone to educate

The militants of the Delta were themselves faceless for quite a while. But the distinction is always made that they “came out of the closet”, or of the creeks rather, in due season. While, on the face of it, we assert a further distinction of their targets, being less indiscriminate than those of the Boko Haram, thus making them more discerning; and, furthermore, even if the issues they raise appear to be submissive to straightforward negotiations, there is yet a point of similarity between the Boko Haram and the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta

,

less entitled to seek any elective office in the land than any other Nigerian, and should feel really concerned about the insecurity that now encloses this country from various directions. He can make worthwhile contributions to the search for solutions to the problems from which they arise. Since he believes that the issue of the Boko Haram, specifically, is being ill-managed, he is duty-bound to proffer suggestions for an end to this deadly phenomenon. But, like many Northerners, he does not seem to see beyond the proposition of “dialogue”, which has now been expanded to “Amnesty”.

But a positive stand by the leading Muslims in this nation today against massacres and general mayhem by the Boko Haram seems more likely to effect a settlement that statements that tend to give comfort to the terrorists. Wordy statements in condemnation of the terrorist acts and loose declarations of sympathy for the wanton deC M Y K

the youths of Niger; or Chad?

ENOUGH!!!

South Africa. The real grouse, of course, is the conviction of Henry Okah, not necessarily the manner, legal or not, of it. The announcement was made some 48 hours ago, and the action was to have started last night. Of the variety of reactions it has incited, not many have come from the civil society, the professional bodies, the ethnic bodies, the religious organizations, et al, admonishing the MEND members to sheathe their swords and seek for “dialogue” (again?) Or, right away, throw in the “amnesty” card.

Only the security forces have stated flatly that fire would be unleashed to meet fire. But the true reaction, the effective reaction, should have been a massive outcry from the people of the Delta, with one mighty voice declaring, NOT AGAIN! The fatalities that would ac-

Not many people made much of the instance of the AC wriggling out of that acronym and in effect metamorphosing into the ACN. A new political party made up of some parties ganging (sorry, coming) together to form a brand new one may feel somewhat finicky about its name, but the case of the APC was carried on for too long.

Even though it was clear to many people that there was an admixture of mischief in the well-claimed entitlement of some people to form their own party and register it accordingly; the more mature group would have displayed the position of a, well-established entity by quietly conceding the acronym. Other choices were easily available.

But they chose to heat up

we were all stunned when Buhari declared, while seeking to be the president of this nation, that the country would be made “ungovernable” if he did not succeed

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company the operations would be from among the Delta indigenes. The economic loss would be that of the Nigerian people. The unrest would be of national proportions. There are other ways of negotiating about these issues in a peaceable manner, and they have been tried before with appreciable success in the Delta area. But all one can sense mostly is an air of expectancy like in a theatre audience waiting for the curtain to rise. And yet we know that the stage would run red and the curtain would drip with blood before it dropped, if that doleful drama were to be played out.

It is not so much the government as the people, the men and women who are the real stakeholders and who,

Why would Nigerians not now take back their country by starring violence in the face and screaming, “ENOUGH IS ENOUGH?”

activities of mayhem in the country. The militant’s group’s complaint is against the submission of a letter alleged forged by the Nigerian and South African governments to secure the conviction of its erstwhile(?) leader, Henry Okah in

now take back their country by starring violence in the face and screaming, “ENOUGH IS ENOUGH?”

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ironically, would launch a public rally in protest against the government over an issue which they oppose at the drop of a pin. Why won’t the people of the Niger Delta rise up and cry out aloud, “NOT AGAIN!!!”

Why would Nigerians not

the polity, though one wonders how that could have been to their benefit. Beckoning them was the wide-open advantage of the majority party— the majority party, the dislodgement of which is their raison d’etre — offering its soft underside, to wit its disrupted innards, for easy disembowelment.

That rupture by itself that is, the rupture within the majority party, had turned on the heat in no uncertain manner at the top hierarchy.

Policy pronouncements of divergent import were rolled out from all directions. There would be primaries for all, stated one, there would be a shortcircuited internal democratic dispensation, stated another. And so it went on and on, and is still going on and on, while a paradox of the two-party system is being played out.

Only one voice has been raised to douse the empty passions from all sides—that of the man who showed us the beauty of the system himself, former President Ibrahim Babangida. In the midst of the inane hubbub, he suddenly announced that he might join the opposition.

That seemed to quell the tumult somewhat. It was his way of saying, “Come on!

That’s ENOUGH!” Time out!

SATURDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 6, 2013—17

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18—SATURDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 6, 2013 Dear Julie, I have been going out with a wonderful girl for over a year now. She is smart, caring, and pleasant. But, someone else has come into the picture. She is also wonderful, smart, and pleasant, and I can’t stop thinking about her. My girlfriend doesn’t know this, but it’s changing me on the inside.

I have this terrible feeling it’s only a matter of time before something big happens. I am at total war on the inside, sometimes my heart says “stay ” while my mind says “leave.” Other times, my mind says “stay ” while my heart says “leave.” I am so confused.

Please help.

Tommy, Ilesha

Dear Tommy, Think about what you would lose and what you would gain by “leaving” and by “staying.”

What kind of relationship do you have together? What plans do you and your girlfriend have for the future?

He doesn’t kiss me anymore

Should I stay or leave?

What do you want right now and in the future? Your answers to these questions may help you understand what you’re feeling at the moment.

Sometimes, we look for the path of least resistance out of a relationship.

Could it be that this new girl is your ticket out of a relationship you no longer want to be in? Perhaps, you want your current relationship to become more open to the idea of see-

ing other people . Or, maybe you need “alone time” — not to be in any relationship so that you can decide what’s best for you at this time?

Then again, there’s the possibility that you’re attracted to this other girl.

Nothing more, nothing less. And, it may have nothing to do with your girlfriend. If you act on this attraction, something will

happen. But, a few weeks or months down the road, you might realize that what happened (say, a breakup with your current girlfriend) was not what you really wanted. Try to decide what you want, and then act on that.

One last thought...the grass isn’t always greener on the other side . You have to decide if you want to take the risk to find out.

There’s no harmony in my relationship Aunty Julie, I’ve been dating a lady for the past six months but there is no harmony in our relationship. We love each other very much and cannot afford to stay apart but there are always problems. Is it possible to love someone and just not be able to get along with that person? I’m afraid of losing her and fear I may not be able to cope alone without her. If this relationship ends , how do I get over it especially when none of us wants to let go, yet it seems to be a necessity?

Taiye, Ibadan Dear Taiye Yes, it is possible to love someone and just not be able to get along with that person.

No relationship is conflict-free.

The important thing is not whether you disagree, but how you disagree. Sometimes couples argue a lot because they have simply not developed simple, respectful ways of talking and listening. Sometimes they want to persuade the other person to change his/her opinion, behaviour,

It is possible to love someone and just not be able to get along with that person.

No relationship is conflict-free.

The important thing is not whether you disagree, but how you disagree. or mind.

If this might be the problem, consider seeking counsel for the express purpose of learning how to disagree constructively. A couple can often make rapid progress toward a more harmonious relationship when poor communica-

• * A lady who had been married for several years was growing more and more frustrated at her husband’s lack of interest in sex. She wondered about ways to add some pizzazz to their relationship, and finally decided to purchase some crotchless underwear she had seen in a lingerie shop.

One evening when she was feeling particularly desirous, and he was, as usual, watching television, she took a shower, freshened up, and donned the crotchless undies, and a slinky negligee. She then strolled between her husband and the television, and suggestively tossed one leg up on his chair arm. ‘Want some of this?’ she

tion is truly what’s at issue.

On the other hand, in many cases, a relationship that has formed and endured despite constant disagreement and argument is a relationship that is perhaps not based on love between two independent adults, but rather between two co-dependent people, stuck ing a challenging dynamic.

However, if you are a young, childless couple and your relationship is fraught with not being able to get along, and you try counseling and don’t see reasonably rapid results (that is, some discernable easing of tension within six months), then it might be wisest for you two to move on and see if you can each find partners with whom you are more compatible.

Remember, it is important, when it comes to relationships, to use your head, as well as listen to your heart. A healthy relationship needs to make you feel good, not stressed or unhappy.

If you decide to dissolve the relationship, how do you get over that loss? It will

probably be hard at first, and you may never get over it completely. What are your fears, how do you feel, what has changed, and how will you cope? Look to family and friends for support. Allow yourself time to grieve, and see a counselor if the grief and sadness linger for more than a year. With time, people heal and move on.

If, over time, you discover that your relationships all seem the same, where you care about one another but you disagree, then this is important information to have as you talk with a therapist, gain new perspective, and create new patterns.

What is it that gets you to choose people with whom you can’t get along? What do you bring to relationships that contributes to disharmony? When you can get to talk about and learn from these kinds of questions, you will be more likely to choose a more appropriate partner to love and with whom you can build a healthy, happy relationship.

C O C K - T A L E S purred. ‘Are you kidding?’ he replied. ‘Look what it did to your underwear’ • * Wife was mad at me Two deaf men were in a coffee shop discussing their wives. One signs to the other, ‘boy was my wife mad at me last night! She went on and on and wouldn’t stop!’ The other buddy says ‘when my wife goes off on me, I just don’t listen. How do you do that?’ Says the other. It’s easy! I turn off the light!

• This guy called up his lawyer to tell him he was filing for divorce, and the lawyer inquired as to the grounds for the suit.

My guy and I used to kiss a lot before, during and after sex. But he no longer kisses me during sex? We still have sex on a regular basis, but he no longer looks at me while we have sex. He always covers his face when we are together. It has been months since he has kissed me. I am starving for affection. I happen to be in love with this man.

Felly, Calabar Dear Felly, To find out why this man has stopped the smooching, you may need to start moving your lips for a different reason , to communicate by way of talking. A dose of healthy communication with your partner about your sexual and emotional needs and desires will most likely lead you to a better understanding of the current situation.

Before you start the conversation, consider ruling out any physical reasons why your partner has stopped kissing you. It’s possible there’s a simple reason for his change in behaviour. Maybe he developed cold sores and is embarrassed or doesn’t know what to do about them, or he could be worried about his breath (or yours).

Since it takes two people to kiss, have you tried initiating kissing him? If yes, how did he respond? This will give you a little more information about the situation.

To start the conversation, try letting him know that you really like kissing, and that you like to look at him when you’re having sex. Let him know that you’ve been missing this affection and that it means a lot to you. Give him a chance to respond; find out if this is just a phase he’s going through, if it has been an unconscious behaviour on his part, or if it’s evidence of something else that may be going on in your relationship.

”I’ve got grounds, all right,” sputtered the irate husband. “Can you believe my wife told me I’m a lousy lover?” ”That’s why you’re suing?” pursued his lawyer. ”Of course not. I’m suing because she knows the difference.”

• Husband & wife - Why divorce?

In a divorce court, a woman told the judge: “Your honour, I want to divorce my husband.”

“But why ?” asked the judge.

She replied, “Because he is not faithful to me.”

The judge asked, “How do you know ?”

She replied, “My lord, not a single child resembles him.”

SATURDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 6, 2013—19

C M Y K

20—SATURDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 6, 2013

C M Y K

SA TURD AY SATURD TURDA

Vanguard, APRIL 6, 2013—21

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hirteen years ago, when I decided to marry my husband, the general shock was palpable. Not surprising as ours seemed to be a rather incongruous combination.

He was a widower with four children; an established name who had been there done that, and had several t-shirts to show for it.I on the other hand had just come into the business hungry for success. I already had a child and I certainly wasn’t looking for a husband. I was very single minded in my pursuit. I had come to Lagos to take the movie industry by storm cikena! Two years into the business I was beginning to get attention, I had played lead a couple of times and had received my first nomination in the best actress category at a major award show; as the saying goes – I was well on my way.

I can therefore understand peoples shock when the announcement hit town.

The fact that I looked almost ten years younger than my 33 at that time also C M Y K

Scale of preference witnessed a lot of wastagese in the area of our government’s expenditure which is believed to rank among the highest in the world. Recommendations from the Steve Oronsaye Panel report on the reform

security forces whom I believe, are quite poorly paid. The expose from Channels Television on the Police College Ikeja is still fresh in our minds.

That put to rest any doubts one had about what thought processes went into the welfare

education had dropped greatly and the crop of undergraduates we churn out these days are those who cannot sing our national anthem let alone be gainfully employed in any good corporate

Government needs to apply a true scale of preference in order to secure the future of this great nation

of government agencies and ministries propose the abolition of 38 agencies, the merger of 52 and reversal of 14 to departments in ministries.

Also recommended by the panel was the scrapping of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission and the Ministry of Police Affairs. With the latter, I am in support of the panel’s recommendation. We have seen in countless situations the treatment of our

package put in place for the different security agencies especially the police. They are also at a great disadvantage in the area of weaponry at their disposal which they need to keep the citizenry safe judging by the sophisticated ones armed robbers use to carry out their criminal activities.

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ur government instead has decided to focus on education which is already at a disadvantage. Teachers are poorly paid and students really do not have any choice when strikes commence in universities. The standard of

Another flies the cuckoo’s nest didn’t help. Many also wondered how I would cope with four kids — the oldest being 17 and the youngest 1 and the time.

Truth be told even I am not 100% certain.

Honestly, there were days when I wondered what the heck I had gotten myself into, what point I was trying to prove and to whom! Balancing a new marriage with being accepted and proving you are worthy and not trying to ‘take someone else’s place’ and at the same time maintaining your

own identity is a lot.

And oh the battles! From the 17 year old who felt he was too old to have a step-mom and frankly speaking, didn’t see why anyone least of all ‘her’ should tell him what to do; to the younger ones who sensed my reluctance to take on the role of ‘disciplinarian’ so ‘people’ wouldn’t think I was too hard on them and saw that as an

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he role my mother played in our upbringing suggests that she was a good manager.My two brothers and I went to the same primary school, St Mary’s Private School, Broad Street, Ajele, and my school shoes (Bata) and some of my textbooks were passed down to my younger brother. The need to be frugal (my dad’s favourite word to us) could not be overemphasized.

Nigeria is a grown man if we are to go by our age as a nation and we have

info@katehenshaw.com

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e were taught demand and supply in economics in my secondary school days. We were also taught about scarcity which occurred when the demand for a product exceeded the supply, and this is akin to the fuel crisis we sometimes faced in this country though “artificially” created due to mismanagement and greed.

We also had the knowledge of scale of preference,and this piece of information I garnered while in school helped me to prioritise certain things in my life as I grew older.

To be a good manager of resources and time, one needs a scale of preference or else one will head nowhere. You would look back and find that you have actually achieved nothing.

Business owners or entrepreneurs will agree with me that the need to manage their staff and resources is paramount; starting from hiring of staff to the procurement of toilet paper.

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organisation worth its salt.

It is an alarming state of affairs. Universities and even secondary schools outside of our shores play host to thousands of Nigerian children whose parents are blessed enough to afford the fees and want a bright future for them.

What happens to those who are not financially able to at least give the basics to their children? Your guess is as good as mine. In one of my previous articles, I wrote about my secondary school in Calabar and how things were back then in the

opportunity to continuously push the envelope and test boundaries. It took me a while to get a hang of it and believe me there were many a time that throwing in the towel crossed my mind. Even to this day, 13 years and counting there are still times I look back and wonder.

But that’s God for you no? He gives you a task and He equips you for it.Today I stand in the midst of physical and spiritual

He gives you a task and He equips you for it

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80s. The school is now a shadow of itself and in dire need of so many things even as minute as chairs for the students to sit down and that is a Federal Government owned school.

Government’s reluctance to curb waste where it really matters is glaring. The functions of the EFCC and ICPC are overlapping; their fight against corruption in the real sense of the word is lopsided. If you are a big enough fish, you will get off with a slap on the wrist with no jail term at all. More needs to be done to show the rest of the world that we are paying more than lip service to this cancer. Other wastes are in the allowances of the National Assembly members, the number of aides, assistants, special assistants... and the assistants for the President, Governors and local government chairmen.

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do not even want to imagine the huge cost implications these appointments inflict on our economy thereby depriving areas that are greatly in need like, healthcare, social amenities, roads, food, housing, security and of course education.

Government needs to apply a true scale of preference in order to secure the future of this great nation. We are an oil rich nation but oil will not flow forever.

Dubai discovered their oil about 30years after we did; they made good use of their resources and are now a tourist delight.

giants. I look at these towering, intelligent (and for the most part) well behaved human beings and wonder where they came from? Are these the same people that used to drive me up the wall endlessly? The same ones you had to use the threat of fire and brimstone to get them to budge and do the things they need to do? My God is faithful!

The journey has been long and often times tedious, but it has not been completely thankless; not by a long shot.

That’s the thing about treasure… it’s never found lying carelessly about. It is often discovered after a long and arduous search, a lot of the times stumbled upon by mistake, while in the pursuit of something else entirely.

22—SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 6, 2013 on is a basketball “nut.” He’s the kind of sports buff who can talk nonstop about his favourite basketball teams with anybody who’ll listen. One evening, Don’s wife took a seat next to him on the couch.

She placed her arms around his neck and asked him point-blank: “Do you love me more than basketball?”

Puzzled, Don considered her question for a long minute before answering. He finally said, “College or NBA?” While most men would never make a blunder of that magnitude, they often miss the opportunity to affirm their wives. Marriage is not a spectator sport. Nor is it a place for verbal jabs or cynical put-downs. Those male digs might work in the locker room with the boys, but they’re out of bounds with wives.

What do Don’s wife and your wife, need? Affirmation. Lots of it. Soft, tender, thoughtful, unexpected, meaningful, heartfelt affirmation delivered with no sexual demands attached.

That’s difficult for a man, I know. A man usually sets goals and generally *Call her or send her an e-mail mid acts only when he is after something. *Write, “I’m crazy about you, HonWhen it comes to romance, he’s tempt- ey. You’re the best!” or another per- afternoon and ask her how her day is ed to give affirmation only because he sonal message on a yellow sticky note. going. *Try your hand at making breakfast hopes to “get sex” in return.

Attach it to her bathroom mirror.

You will score big when you make *Call her from work and say, “I’ve on Saturday morning. Tell her she deyour goal unconditional affirmation— been thinking of how good I have it serves a break and should feel free to no strings attached. The aim is to make with you in my life. Thanks for all that sleep in. *Take her car to the gas station, fill your wife feel loved, valued, cherished, you are as a woman and all that you the tank, vacuum the floor mats, and and affirmed as the love of your life. do for me and our family.”

King Solomon in the bible referred *The next time you get a pair of tick- clean the windows. When you park it to his wife as “my beloved” forty times ets to a concert that she’d like to go at the house, leave a note on the dash in the Song of Solomon. That choice to, make a with just a phrase is packed with affirmation. It’s s a c r i f i c e . heart and a romantic expression, a call to rich Instead of the words, friendship. Each time Solomon said, going with a “Thinking Hug and kiss her every “My beloved,” his words clothed her buddy, tuck of you.” morning before leaving the them in her with dignity and value. *Write What woman wouldn’t flourish under purse with a her a short house. Research indicates such a constant stream of loving affir- note saying, love letter that marriages that practice “You demation? in which this simple discipline are a There are several nonsexual ways to serve you list sevcherish your bride through words and night off. eral ways much healthier than those acts of affirmation. And by the way, Have fun that she has that don’t these are nonsexual so that you speak with a girlblessed her romantic love language. It’s im- friend.” you this *Go an portant to remember that you are not year. doing these things to get something in entire day without criticizing anything *Resurrect common courtesies. return. Perhaps she will reciprocate in about her. Instead, try to notice her Start opening the car door for her as your language back to you, but that’s doing something that you really ap- you did when you dated, pull out her preciate, and tell her how much you chair for her at the dinner table, offer not your goal. value her. your arm while walking down stairs, *Go to bed at the same time with her and help her put her coat on. *Hug and kiss her every morning before leaving the house. Research in- for a week; just talk or read a book and *If she’s doing the laundry, pull dicates that marriages that practice this share the quietness together. Or play yourself away from whatever you’re simple discipline are much healthier a card game that you used to play when doing and offer to bring the hamper. than those that don’t. If she’s sleep- you dated or were just married. *Put the toilet seat down when you’re *Brush her hair and compliment her finished, and wash your hands. I’d esing, leave her a note, or gently kiss her forehead and whisper, “Have a hair and eyes. timate that 40 percent of men don’t. *While she studies her face in the Their wives do know. Stroking her face wonderful day, sweetheart.” *Reach across the front seat of the mirror, come up behind her and gently after you’ve been to the bathroom car when you drive and hold her hand, kiss the back of her neck. Say, “God suddenly loses its romantic appeal! even for a few moments. Allow your broke the mold after He made you. You *Put down the newspaper or turn off are so beautiful.” fingers to become entwined. the computer, and say, “Why don’t we

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Ways to love your lover

Ask the Sexpert Ques: I pass gas when I orgasm. Is it normal?

When you climax, the muscles around your genitals , including the sphincter muscle relax, so it’s not unusual for a little gas to escape. But even before orgasm, the in-and-out motion may trigger gas because the penis rubs against the anus through the vaginal wall. If it happens frequently and is embarrassing, take an over-thecounter anti-gas medication that contains simethicone before having sex.

My breasts not matching. Why is this so?

Unless you’ve had a boob job, most breasts aren’t perfectly matched.

That’s because they’re made of mam-

mary gland tissue and fat and have naturally different amounts in each. For some women, the difference is more pronounced, and it’s usually a cosmetic issue. If it’s embarrassing or affecting your sex life, surgery is an option.

But if one breast suddenly becomes much larger than the other, it could indicate an infection or tumour, so have your gynaecologist evaluate it immediately.

Ques: Can certain exercises really lead to better sex?

Absolutely. For starters, a good cardiovascular routine helps build energy and stamina. Strength training and stretching can help you build muscles and improve your flexibility so you can get into and maintain various positions during sex.

The best exercise to improve sex is the Kegel squeeze , basically strength training for your pubococcygeus (or PC) muscles, which hold up your vagina, anus, uterus, bladder and urethra. The stronger these muscles are, the more intense your orgasms will be . To locate your PC muscles, try to stop your urine flow when you pee. Hold the squeeze for five seconds, then release. Doing 50150 Kegel squeezes a day will help keep those muscles in good shape. Don’t do Kegels regularly while urinating, because it can lead to urinary tract and bladder infections.

Ques: I’ve never had an orgasm during intercourse. What’s wrong with me?

go for a walk and talk? I’d love to hear about your day.” *If you overhear her engaged in a difficult situation on the phone or with a child, compliment the way she handled the conversation. *Initiate daily prayer with her. This one spiritual discipline has transformed millions of marriages. Make a commitment, and then begin to pray together every day. Begin by giving thanks for her and your family, then pray with her about her worries and challenges. Ask her to pray for you about a challenge you are facing. *Say, “Thank you,” after every meal she serves. Then, help her clear the table or offer to do the dishes with her. *If she has wrestled with a specific spiritual issue (such as gossip, envy, a lack of compassion), tell her how much you appreciate her desire to handle it in a godly manner. *Express appreciation for her doing the laundry and folding your clothing. *Each day try to say, “I love the way you... ,” and fill in the blank with something you’ve observed. *When your wife irons your shirts or picks up the dry cleaning, say, “Thanks, Honey, for taking such good care of me.” *When the alarm goes off in the morning, wrap your arm around her,

press your body next to hers, and cuddle for several minutes. When you leave, say, “I wish I didn’t have to go.” *The next time you go to dinner, say, “You’ve had a tough day, Sweetie. Why don’t you pick the spot tonight?” *When you are together in a crowd, find a way to brag on her.

Say, “My wife is such an amazing cook,” or “I’ve got the best wife, her cooking never ceases to amaze me.” *The morning after making love, touch her tenderly, and tell her how wonderful it was to be with her. *With your wife in the room, tell your kids, “You’ve got the best mummy in the world. Isn’t she great? I just love her so much.”

*Bonus for those with young families: Help her put the kids to bed each

night.

For some men, the thought of affirming their wives sounds like a lot of work. Others are anxious about being

so vulnerable with displays of affirmation. Whatever the reason, they hesitate to step out and pursue the call to love . If you’ve hesitated affirming your bride, or if you’ve been slow to praise her qualities, trust me on this: just do it. Affirming your wife through even just three or four of these ideas will do wonders for your romance. Is that too difficult to believe?

If you can’t have orgasms with intercourse, you’re normal. Sometimes women get upset because of what their partners say.Now, assuming you don’t dump him for being an insensitive cad, you’re well within your rights to point out that about 70% of women don’t orgasm during intercourse without direct clitoral stimulation. You can also clue him in to the fact that it’s perfectly OK for one of you to lend a hand.

Touching your clitoris during sex really ups the chances that you’ll have an orgasm. Don’t get discouraged if there are no immediate fireworks. “The first time, it might take an hour of stimulation to produce an orgasm; it might also take many tries to get comfortable with the feelings of strong arousal.

SA TURD AY SATURD TURDA

Vanguard, APRIL 6, 2013 —23

•The peacock

The Plough

Exercise:

Who needs it?

TECHNIQUE Lie on your stomach. Take a deep breadth and raise your upper body and legs off the floor. If you do this well you should be on just your belly.

BENEFITS: This posture strengthens the muscles of the legs, buttocks, back and arms. This exercise endows the body with strength and an improved well-being.

THE PLOUGH TECHNIQUE: This posture known as the plough in English is executed as follows: Lie flat on your back. Take a deep breadth and raise both legs overhead and drop the feet and knees to the floor. Place the hands alongside the legs.

BENEFITS: The posture limbers up the spinal column, massages the abdominal organs and is a veritable cure for C M Y K

constipation.

THE PEACOCK POSTURE TECHNIQUE: Get on your knees with the palms of your hands down in front of you. Now arrange your hands in such a way that the back of your arms placed against your body between the ribs and belly.

Now, gradually stretch out the legs and raise them off the floor as you raise your upper body. Your body should be in a straight line if you get the posture properly done.

This is a bit difficult to perform but with practice it can be mastered.

BENEFITS: The peacock massages the internal organs helping them work more efficiently. It helps one to maintain youth into grand old age!

Yoga Classes @ 32 Adetokumbo Ademola, Victoria Island Lagos.

9.00am — 10.00am on Saturdays

24— VANGUARD, SATURDAY, APRIL 6, 2013

Although my father was an illiterate, he was a successful trader. However, he was a profound business man who travelled from far and wide; from Uromi to Onitsha and other parts of the East to buy clothes and sell in Uromi. All my brothers are also business men. My immediate elder brother too was also a good source of inspiration for me at the time I was serving my mother land. He was already working in Nigerian breweries at the marketing department.

These have always made me have interest in marketing. After my two years training in Unilever, I was moved to the marketing department where I spent most of my working career as a Senior Marketing Executive, Sales and Logistics.

•Julius Agunmonmen

Julius Agunmonmen is a marketing guru with experience spanning over 27years.

He is the CEO of Brand Life marketing services and in this interview,he speaks on how his father an illiterate but successful trader from Uromi, Edo State inspired him to stay at the top of his career. Excerpts.

By OLAYINKA AJAYINKA

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ell us about your background It may interest you to know that while some of my mates were born with silver spoon and they had virtually all their academic qualifications in European countries, I grew up as a village boy and I am the last born of many children of Agunmonmen. I was born around 50 years ago in a native village called Uromi where I attended Ualor primary school and later proceeded to Esan Grammar School Uromi .

However, I was fortunate to gain admission into University of Benin, UNIBEN, where I studied Political Science. While in school, I had a number of interests, one of them was politics and I was part of the Students’ Union Government in the 1983/84 section. Beside politics, I was also involved in leadership and community development publication otherwise known as JTI

International. The organization actually prepared me for the future. I graduated in 1985. Then, serving your mother land was the pride of every

like UAC Nigeria and Unilever. I decided to join Unilever in 1986 as a personnel management trainee where I was instilled with the training that has become

However there are some challenges that come to prepare you for an opportunity to improve and if you were able to improve yourself, then your promotion opportunity will surface young man because you are indirectly giving back to the society that has empowered you . I did my National Youths Service Corps, NYSC, in Imo state. Like many of us, I was not too lucky to serve in a big organization. I served as a Youth Corps teacher.

Interestingly, during my service year, I had employment opportunities in multinational companies

my life style now.

What inspired you and how did you find yourself in marketing despite your qualification?

Your university degree is just a preparatory ground for you to explore into any field you want to dive into. I came from a family that is business- oriented. My interest in marketing was inspired by the family I came from.

What actually brought you into Brand Marketing Services?

Considering my back ground in Unilever where I spend most of my working career from logistics to marketing; I have spent virtually over 20 years in marketing where I gained my ground. When I was out of employment, the next question that came to my head was what to do since I have passion for marketing and I am grounded in marketing. In the process of planning and strategizing for the future,Brand Life was born in 2008 .It is essentially a branding and marketing services agency that runs brand activations, field marketing services, and out of home media monitoring .

We look for where we can add value to our clients and the entire society.

What are the challenges facing the industry?

While in employment, there are lots of challenges like why am I not getting promotions I deserve?

Why are my mates ahead of me? Why are things not moving in my own pace?

Your university degree is just a preparatory ground for you to explore into any field you want to dive into Of course these were challenges but the fact

remains that I knew what I wanted and I have to strive to get it .The training I received in my days as an employee was a cutting edge advantage that gave me inner strength to battle the challenges that comes my way.

However there are some challenges that come to prepare you for an opportunity to improve and if you were able to improve yourself, then your promotion opportunity will surface. Another major challenge I had when we started marketing services was clients and finance. Sourcing for clients is indeed a big challenge. There are some jobs you know automatically you deserve based on what you can offer but due to the fact that you don’t have an insider in the company, you tend to lose it. The marketing agency

that has a strong insider is a challenge most organizations face. Finance was another challenge that affects us and many organisations in the beginning. When we first started Brand Life, we went to banks to get facilities to effect clients’ project but were turned down several times. I had to borrow from families but today, the banks are giving us the necessary facility we need to run the business.

What drives you to keep moving despite the challenges?

The passion and vision of where I am going is what drives me to climb the ladder of success and I have absolute trust in God. The philosophy that also drives me is, ‘if one door is closed against you, many other doors of opportunities will surely open for you’.

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I’m not ashamed of following Onyeka Onwenu’s footsteps — Omawunmi D

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Because I have small shoulders and my breasts are actually beautiful. I tend to wear revealing upper body dresses

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ust as interesting as her music is, Omawunmi Magbele strikes you like a girl next door. Judging from when she made her debut till date, she has not stopped thrilling her fans with her mind-blowing, soulstirring songs. It is not for nothing that she is referred to as Onyeka Onwenu of this generation. In this interview with Showtime Celebrity, Omawunmi takes us into her intinery, her music and personal life which she vowed to keep secret from the world.

BY OPEOLUWANI OGUNJIMI, What have you been up to lately?

I’ve been working very hard towards my forthcoming concert titled “Lasso Of Truth.” It’s about showing the real me, as a mother and an entertainer. My character as a very funny person, the serious side of me, my experiences, my personal and otherwise. Laso Of Truth is the title of my second album which has already hit the market. The reason behijnd the title lies in the fact that my first album was titled “Wonder Woman” and people also call me Oma Wonder. So, Laso Of Truth is a golden rope that could go through the fire yet to be indestructible. For every time, like when people heard the song, “If You Ask C M Y K

Me”, they knew what I said in the song was true. All I’m trying to do is make people to connect to the message I’m conveying through my music. Basically, that’s what tomorrow’s concert is all about.

Is it going to be a solo concert?

Yes, it’s basically going to be a solo concert. I may have some music acts like Tuface Idibia, Onyeka Onwenu, Tiwa Savage, Waje, Wizkid, Seyi Shay, Winner of Nigerian Idol, 2012, Mercy, Timaya and Flavour who would be supporting me on that fateful day. We are trying to tell a story with the concert; all of that will be unveiled on that day. But for every time they come on

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I don’t know why but I imitate her character and her person. For her to still be relevant till this age is a path worthy of following. I am not ashamed of following her footsteps. If there were more female singers of her time around, you would have seen them featuring on my show. If you listen to my music you would realize that even those who were born before me appreciate them.. So, the first song I performed was her song and it sounded as if it was Onyeka on stage herself and she was so proud of me. And then, she often calls me to do one or two things with me.

What is the making of the Laso Of Truth album?

The title of my first album Wonder Woman was as a result of someone who used to call me by that name. But with the Laso Of Truth, a lot of things that happen around me found their way into that album. There are a lot of women who stay in a violent marriage and still pretend as if all is well with them. But right inside of them they are dying in pains. So, one of the track, I Go Go is

saying that if a man doesn’t love me enough to show me love then, I’ll go.

It’s not encouraging women to quit marriages but I understand that if you can’t love yourself then, you can’t love someone else. A lot of women can relate to that song and it’s an example of the Laso of truth.

There’s also another track called Warn Yourself featuring Wizkid. I looked at myself, how can a guy who isn’t my age or my standard walk up to me to ask me for a date. Then, I’ll tell you no, it can’t work, which is also the truth. In our country right now, the situation of things are bad, no checks and balances. Just recently, some people were pardoned for crimes they evidently committed. But who Am I to question the decision of Mr. president. Then, there’s a song in my new album titled, What A BangBang. So, I’m tilting towards the conscious side by preparing our minds for a future reaction because our music will surely live after we have all gone.

How many tracks does the album contain?

It’s a 12- track album.

wenu, Majek Fashek who used to be an activist.

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here was a show where you performed and the dress you wore revealed a larger part of your breasts. Was it intentional?

Because I have small shoulders

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• Omawumi

stage, they are coming to do something with me and also, reach out to their fans.

For how long will the concert last on that day?

It’s going to be a three hour concert that will have interludes of comedy. We don’t have an MC. I have a desire to package a never- seen-before- concert.

And because we have a long list of artistes, each will be coming on stage to do what they know how to do best. It will be holding at the Oriental Hotel. oes it mean you’ll be working with a band?

Yes, I’ll be working with my band members and most of them have been with me since 2009 .

Bringing Onyeka Onwenu on board is fascinating. Is it because people call you Onyeka Onwenu of this age?

You sounded as if you are gender sensitive?

There’s nothing wrong with becoming a feminist . But that word is too strong to be used like that. I think everybody should have something they are passionate about. So ,I’m passionate about being a woman.

You must be passionate about getting rid of malaria parasite too ?

Oh yes. There are actually some African countries which are free from malaria parasite.

So, what’s your experience like when you toured those African countries with mortein Last year, we visited the largest maternity hospital in Kenya where a minimum of 200 children were affected by malaria parasite every week. The reason I embraced that campaign is because children from 1-5 years have weaker immune systems. Why must we always fall sick and buy insecticides when we can prevent malaria by keeping our environment clean and using treated nets which is not costly What are your plans with Mortein this year?

We did a campaign last year. This year, we are going to Uganda, Kenya, Ghana, Rivers, Delta to also sensitize women because I found out that Malaria kills more than HIV. Itt kills a minimum of five children a day in Africa. So that’s why I’m passionate about it. Some people say “we played your song for mosquitoes they didn’t die(laughs).” It’s not about the song but when you listen to it, it makes sense

• Omawumi because if we tidy our environment, we will have a malaria free Nigeria . It’s not impossible to do that.

You’re fighting against malaria in one of your songs, If You Ask Me when you talked about insects. Is it that consciousness that is growing in you or for commercial reasons?

If it were for commercial reason then, I wouldn’t’have tilted towards the conscious side.

When I carry crosses like these, it’s not just violence against women. I also champion causes for breast cancer, for young people to prepare their mindset, especially in Nigeria. Every average young man wants to well-do . Every young girl wants to date very successful people in our society . However, these are all the social issues I’m championing because as a musician, our mission is to make sure that even if you are saying ten rubbish, say two good ones . Some of our legendary musicians I try to follow their footsteps include late Mariam Makeba, Onyeka On-

voice so she had to go controversial.

In Botton Belle, your fans believe you were materialistic ?

I wouldn’t want to join issues with anybody, because I’ve already sang the song.

But when we were younger, guys would buy roses, cards, chocolate. Now, 90% of guys say they don’t believe in Valentine and it shouldn’t be like that because ladies love Val

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plain that I’m getting shows. I try as much as possible to develop myself to the standard where I know my fans always want me to be.

So what has changed about you since you started?

I’m more matured now than before.

My music has also become more matured. I’m also more sensitive because as a younger girl, we were overwhelmed by the youthful exorbiancy.

So, in my new album, you would notice that I’m more relax.

But you have your ups and downs?

I don’t like to concentrate on my downs, I can only tell you about the ups. You’ve been very busy unlike other female artistes, you are married...

I’m not married How do you cope with your daughter and your music?

When my daughter was younger, she used to go everywhere with me. My manager even back her sometimes.

When I was pregnant, first of all, I had to cool down. Then, after giving birth, I had to understand that my daughter is my priority. So, I re-arranged my rider. Whenever I travel, I have my nanny with me and if I’m performing in a hotel, I must have a room there and my daughter will be there with me. So, when I come down to perform, after that,

and my breasts are actually beautiful. I tend to wear revealing upper body dresses. But when you are looking into the mirror, you are not as tall as to see how troublesome it could be.

That dress has feathers in front of it and before I left my hotel room, I asked someone if the dress was okay and she said yes. So , I wore it to the show and when I was performing at the show, of course, paprazzi took my pictures and they were released, I realised my breasts were practically pouring out of my dress, there was no way I could have put my breasts

back .

Going back to where it all started.

Statistics show that those who go for talent hunt shows don’t actually make it when they finally get there. Why was your case different?

Everything was in the hands of God. I can’t tell you that I was in the right place at the right time. But I’ll advise young people who are towing that line to understand that they must work hard, take advantage of every opportunity and everybody is important, no matter how little they look. When I first started out, I had a small book where I used to write artistes numbers and I would call them and introduce myself to them, ask them how they went about their work. I asked questions and made sure I was being seen. Lady Gaga didn’t have a pretty face to go with her

What message are you trying to convey in Bottom Belle?

That men should appreciate the opposite sex the best way they can.

In a men dominated society like Nigeria, only few strong women like you can hold their own. How did you do it?

That’s why I said, my own case has the hand of God in it. There are so many ways of selling your music. If you put a conscious music to the dance hall, before you realize what’s happening, you already have the attention of the audience. Most times, I approach organisers for shows and I also present my music to them. I don’t just sit and com-

I go back to my room. And my mum helped me a lot. She was with me for close to eight months before she took her leave. And my daughter comes from a very big family from her side and her father’s side. So, everybody makes sure she doesn’t lack affection. And when I work for longer time, if I don’t see my daughter for more than three days, I feel guilty and less productive. So, when I’m going for a show more than five days, and outside the country, I beg them to allow me fly with my daughter.

It’s a wonderful experience to be a mother and I’m grateful to God. It has helped me to be more down-earth and I feel my daughter made me to be more responsible.

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Jonathan must complete SouthSouth slot in 2015 —Annkio Briggs

By Levinus Nwabughiogu

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er voice resonated as she spoke with gusto. The issues were germane. And so, for about an hour, Annkio Briggs a leading voice in Niger Delta activism in the South-South geo-political zone of Nigeria sat glued ventilating her feelings about the forthcoming centenary celebration, issues of insecurity, 2015, Alameyeseigha’s recent pardon amongst others which later formed the kernel of the discussion.

In the end, Briggs, born by a British mother to an Ijaw father, who is also the President, Agape Birthrights and convener, Niger Delta Occupy Niger Delta Resources as well as the spokesperson of the Ijaw Republican Assembly, IRA, told LEVINUS NWABUGHIOGU of Saturday Vanguard that the eight years presidency of the South-South must not be cut short.

Below is the excerpt of the interview. has been in existence. It is not celebrating the fact that it refining oil and exporting it. It is not celebrating that fact that it has good road network or good railway network or security and it is not celebrating the fact that it is a key player in the decision making process of the world or that it is a key player in the economies of the world. We have great human beings that are called Nigerians. We had Professor Chinua Achebe. We have people like Professor Wole Soyinka. We have so many great minds, people from different parts of Nigeria that we can celebrate because we see what they have achieved and appreciate them as Nigerians. It is their personal achievements but they are

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What do you think of President Goodluck Jonathan’s plan to celebrate Nigeria’s centenary by next year?

First of all, I am on record as saying that the problem that is manifesting in Nigeria today is the direct result of the amalgamation of the Southern and Northern protectorates by the then British Government. Secondly, any President would have celebrated it. But for me, Annkio Briggs and some other people that agree with me, the centenary celebration of 2014 should not take place. It should not take place because we have nothing to celebrate as a country. But if we are just celebrating the figure hundred, then it is a figure. I celebrated my 60th birthday last year, it is a figure. I will celebrate this year, 61st, it is a figure. But have I achieved every thing I want to achieve in my life? Of course not. And I want to celebrate a hundred years of my life. But after the celebration, would I have achieved everything I want to achieve in a hundred years? I still don’t know until I get there. But Nigeria is a hundred and so, I can genuinely look back on the 60 years that I know about Nigeria, let me say, 55. I can recall 55 good years of Nigeria and I can go into history and research and add the other 45 years of Nigeria that I was not in existence. I can research, compare the two and say categorically that Nigeria has not achieved anything whatsoever in the context of 100 years.

Nigeria as country wants to celebrate the hundred years it

Briggs...Things happen in Nigeria that show that there is no peace in Nigeria. war. I come from the Niger Delta; I see what happened to my people. Nigeria is one of the most polluted oil producing nations in terms of oil-field pollution and when you look at all these things and you look at the fact that we speak different languages, we have different cultures, there is a section of Nigeria that thinks a particular section of Nigeria doesn’t count and it doesn’t matter if they are killed as long as they are killed for the reason that they should be killed for. So, basically, I don’t know any body that speaks the truth that will tell anyone or children or grandchildren that Nigeria has co-existed peacefully. Even the handing over, at independence, of power by the British

The problem that is manifesting in Nigeria today is the direct result of the amalgamation of the Southern and northern protectorates by the then British Government

great Nigerians.

Centenary celebration pre-supposes peaceful coexistence. Now, do you think we have lived in peace as a people?

I think that a five- year Igbo child that lived in the northern part of Nigeria today will tell you that in the last five years, Nigeria has not lived peacefully. I will tell you that Nigeria has not lived peacefully. I saw the civil war. I saw what happened during the civil

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government was done in a deceitful manner to the disadvantage of certain sections at the then independence of Nigeria in 1960. You know, if you put all of these things together, there is no peaceful co-existence in Nigeria.

What bring about the non peaceful existence situation?

There never existed peaceful co-existence. And that is because there is no security in Nigeria. Our borders have forever been porous. People come

into Nigeria without any kind of documentation. People just walk across our borders and walk into Nigeria and claim to be Nigerians. They are not Nigerians.

Things happen in Nigeria that show that there is no peace in Nigeria. I can highlight what I know very well which is the Niger Delta region. I will highlight what I know which is the civil war. Ojukwu declared independence of his people including every other person that was in the eastern region at that time because of what happened to the Igbos in the north.

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t is a documented event.

I was young. I was young enough, mature enough; I was in my teen, about 13 years old when the civil was started. I saw what happened. I will not by any stretch of the imagination declare that period as a time there was security. If there was security, how come such a pogrom was carried out against a people, against an ethnic group, against a people from a particular region? Again, we continue to deny as if Biafra never happened because Gowon declared that there was no victor, no vanquished. Well, I disagree.

Let us ask the Igbo people whether there was no victor and no vanquished.

As a matter of fact, it has always been like that. But the war put a stamp on it that indeed something terrible happened in Nigeria. Millions of people were killed in Nigeria.

And properties were destroyed.

So, you cannot say there was peaceful co-existence neither

would you say there was security at that time. Now, coming to the Niger-Delta, if you look at the Niger Delta, if you look at the looting of our resources, if you look at the lack of development in the Niger Delta, that is not sign of peaceful co-existence.

If there was, it didn’t mat ter who was the Presi dent, they would make sure that the quality of development, political pace, quality or access to economy would have taken a hold in Nigeria. But that was not so. Now, who said that there can be no development without peace? People have completely chosen to forget or ignore the fact that the agitation of the Niger Delta people from the days of Ojukwu declaring independence for his people which included other people that were Niger Delta people. The Ijaw, the Efik, Urhobo people there are not Igbo people but they were in that region.

Now, if you look at the scenario, then you look at the scenario of the fact that the wealth of the nation is coming from a particular area and yet that particular area is not benefiting in any way, shape or form, that was the reason why Adaka Boro before even the civil war also declared independence of his people which also included all these areas that were in the eastern region at that time. I was also old enough at that time to know and understand Adaka Boro and the declaration of the war that lasted 12 days.

It was still the same injustice.

It was still the same injustice of

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fied to run for governorship of his state in his own right as a contender. Now, that package of Yar’ Adua and Jonathan took everybody by surprise including Jonathan himself. And it took Odili himself by surprise because until the last minute, he did not know he was not the Vice Presidential contender.

Jonathan did not know he was the candidate until the last minute. It was very clear because, we also sat to watch it.

We saw the intrigues and the shock. Now, twe had a President that had ill- health but it is not his fault. He deserved all the sympathy that he got at that time.

Continues from page 41 environment degradation, lack of development for Ogoni people where Ken Sarawiwa is from that led to his peaceful agitation that ended in his murder and the murder of other nine of his brothers and the attempt to inalienate the Ogoni people. You can’t say that was peaceful coexistence neither can you say that that was justice. And until we begin to see development and justice in Nigeria, from North to South, East to West, there will be no peace. Why are people deceiving themselves?

•Briggs

Do you share in the view that Jonathan’s presidency has in a way compensated the Niger- Delta people and by extension South- South people? o. I don’t share that view.

First, when people say that Jonathan presidency was compensation for South-South, what they look at is that Jonathan is the President of Nigeria from South-South. You see, we foolishly accept this equation of zoning certain things to certain people in Nigeria. We fool ourselves. You know why I said so? We said that ethnicity is not an issue and yet we zone. What is zoning? Is it not to the ethnic group that you are zoning?

Look at the issue of federal character; what is federal character? Federal character is that South-South is represented. So, Jonathan is the President from the South-South and as the President, Jonathan appointed a South-South person as the Minister of Petroleum. The way I look at that portfolio is that it is a South-South portfolio. It belongs to us because we produce the oil. If things are the way they ought to be, there should not be a Minister of Petroleum.

America produces oil but do they have Minister of Petroleum?

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he oil that is produced in Texas belongs to the people who own the land it is produced. They pay tax to the government of Texas and then Texas pays tax to the centre.

As far as I am concerned, the portfolio belongs to the people that produce the oil.

The groundnut that is grown in the North and the cocoa that was grown in the South-West are not grown again. Everybody has come to the oil that is found on our land. And the people who own the land are devastated. The people can’t drink good water any more because there is oil on their land. So, for me, the portfolio of Petroleum should not even be in the center. That is one. Number two, if you say that Ministry of Niger Delta is a Niger Delta man, are you going to put a Yoruba man or Hausa man in the

‘It is not Jonathan that is refusing to develop the Niger Delta’ ministry of Niger Delta? And the ministry of Niger Delta was created by late President Yar’Adua.

It was created because of the agitation of the development of the Niger Delta region.

OMPADEC was created because of the agitation in the Niger Delta yet OMPADEC was not really

empowered to the point of developing Niger Delta. The people who had the contract were not Niger Delta people. The issue of amnesty was given by Yar ’Adua, so, I want anybody to show how Jonathan has favoured the South-South when in a single stretch of the East-West road that is used by the whole of Nigeria, out of the 10 trucks that ply the road,

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That is exactly the question that we are asking. Why is it that the system is not allowed to develop the Niger Delta. It is not Goodluck Jonathan that is refusing to develop the Niger Delta. It is the political system and structure that he met that has not developed the Niger Delta. Has Jonathan changed the political structure? Has he changed the constitution to favour Niger Delta? Has he changed the senate structure to give us more representation?

Today the South-South has only 18 senators because we have three senators per state.

We have only six states. That is the Niger Delta. So, the north has nine states, nine times three

It is not Goodluck Jonathan that is refusing to develop the Niger Delta. It is the political system and structure that he met that has not developed the Niger Delta

at least, eight or nine or even ten may belong to Dangote transporting rice, sugar or cement.

And they bring their trucks to bring food stuff and take away our oil. Even the East –West road is of more value to the Federal government of Nigeria than it is to the Niger Delta people.

If amnesty and the highest office in the land are not well enough, what then does the Niger Delta region want?

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is how many senators? So, when you put this equation like this, here is one man from a region, South-South that has Efik, Ibibio, Ikwere, Ogoni, Ijaw, Urohbo, Itskiri and other smaller ethnic groups that are verifiable ethnic conscious people. The are the Binis and Esan people in this place. So the people that are claiming that Jonathan is favouring the South-South are not making any point.

Even if it is, he can nev er achieve it in 50 years. If he is favouring his people, he will have to favour all the different ethnic groups in the South-South for it to be truly accepted that he has favoured the South-South people. He has definitely not favoured the Niger Delta people. But let me make it categorically clear here that our complaints and frustration that it is not so does not mean that we think that Jonathan is a bad President. He is not. No other President in the past can claim to have done what Jonathan has done. In the 38 years that the north has governed this country, Jonathan inherited all the mess in the past 60 years and he’s only been there for two years. Obasanjo was there for eight years.

Most Nigerians think that President Jonathan’s government has not addressed the most important issues the people expected in 2011 when he declared for the president and as such his re-election bid will not attract the support of the people as was the case in 2011.

The fact that in 2009, Nigeria was almost stood on her head by a handful of people is not a story, it was a fact when Ya’dua became ill. It is a fact that Yar’adua did not lift himself up in 2007 as a candidate but was handpicked by the outgoing president, Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo, it is a fact that it was Dr. Peter Odili, the then governor of Rivers State that had positioned himself with the support of the PDP and the support of President Obasanjo to become the Vice President in 2007 . Jonathan was quite satis-

I was very sympathetic to Ya’adua’s condition and health. So, if we consider all these things and we remember that a handful of people took Yar’Adua out of this country and told us that he was well, Nigerians were lied to because of greed and corruption. So, when that happened, Nigerians reacted. That was how “Save Nigeria” came about. And Jonathan is a beneficiary. Jonathan didn’t come and say swear me in as the Acting President. It was the con-

stitution that said so and for the first time, Nigerians reacted. They supported Jonathan. But we have a group of people that said if Jonathan becomes the President, that they will make Nigeria ungovernable. So, now, a handful of people are threatening a whole of 160 million people, so that means that is no longer acceptable to Nigerians. So, this was what brought Jonathan.

Now, what did we do and what are we doing about the fact that a group of people have insisted that they will make Nigeria ungovernable and truly it is very clear that Nigeria is being made ungovernable.You cannot say that the person who is responsible is the person who is also a victim of this threat. A group of people have threatened a whole nation. They have suc-

ceeded in making this country ungovernable.

The leader of Boko Haram that was killed in the police custody was not killed when Jonathan was President. The people that were shot were not shot when Jonathan was president. The fact that Nigeria has found itself in a position where people are being bombed in churches and people are being killed where they are boarding vehicles is our collective responsibility.

This overwhelming insecurity in Nigeria is not taking place because Jonathan is not governing properly. I have an issue with that reasoning. It is our collective responsibility. We can see what is happening.

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BY EBUN SESSOU

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t was a day of agony, pain and frustration for residents of Odo-Iragunshin, a suburb of Epe area of Lagos state, when the officials of Lagos State Government paid an unannounced visit to the place and demolished not less than 200 houses.

The demolition exercise which rendered over 150 people including men, pregnant women and school children homeless was carried out by the officials of the Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, precisely on March 5, 2013.

Saturday Vanguard gathered that an aged woman met her untimely death while Mrs. Adeniyi Ishola, lost her six-month-old pregnancy as a result of the exercise. Worst still, many families are yet to recover from the shock.

Till date, the family of Ishola is yet to come to terms with the fact that their wife’s six months pregnancy is terminated in the process.

Adeniyi, was said to have lost her pregnancy on the spot while watching helplessly as their house was being crushed to rubble by the State Government’s bulldozers.

Further investigations by Saturday Vanguard also revealed that the yet to be identified old woman died three days after her house was demolished.

In the same vein, more than 50 school children have been thrown out of school as a result of the demolition exercise that took place in the area. The demolition exercise at Epe, Odo-Iragunshin was carried out despite the ‘Stay Action’ pronouncement by the State House of Assembly pending investigation into the matter before it.

Saturday Vanguard spoke to many of the residents and their responses were revealing.

Adebowale Omoseike who was living in the village since 2008 lamented that the incident had since left those affected helpless, adding that he only escaped insanity through the intervention of God. According to him, “I was told that one of the affected landlords gave up the ghost three days after the incident while a woman lost her sixmonth pregnancy on the spot. All of us have been thrown into some kind of confusion and psychological trauma, not to mention the -several children and students who are also contending with the situation.

“It was a devastating situation to hear that the same houses our children ate in before they left for schools had been pulled down by the State government bulldozers.

They couldn’t give us affordable accommodation, yet they are demolishing the houses we built through pains and sweat.

“In fact, the incident had caused

How bulldozers killed aged woman, six-month-old unborn baby —Residents loss of affection and many families have been thrown into state of disarray. I couldn’t see my family until two days after the incident. Since this ugly scenario, I have been sleeping inside the car without bathing or brushing my teeth”.

Explaining the controversy surrounding the land, he said, “I bought my land from an indigenous land owner (omo onile) with back-up documents and lawyer ’s agreement at that time.

And while I was about

building my house, I did all the necessary processes including land survey which was taken to Epe Local Planning Authority for charting. The officer-in-charge charted it and I was told that the land was free from government acquisition.

“Then, I continued the processes of getting building approval and on that basis, I paid N52,000. And I was given approval by Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development. “I submitted my building

approval which was recommended and it was approved. An officer from Lagos State Government, Alausa (Enforcement Unit) came twice to ascertain my compliance on the approved building plan. The unit was led by one Mr. Lawal who I learnt had been transferred to Agege division now.

And the same process was taken by others who had their documents too.

“But, the tune of the music changed last year when officials of Ministry of Physical Planning came to the village, threatening that the land had been acquired by government. But, instead of listening to us, they told us to go to Alausa to register our complaints and also make necessary inquiries which we did.

“I went to the office of the Survey-Auditor General whom I believed had the final authority on land issue in Lagos State. He advised all of us to apply for land information which would make us know the status of the land and we did.

“On August 8, 2012, I paid the statutory amount Continues on page 44

44—SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 6, 2013

HOW BULLDOZERS KILLED AGED WOMAN Continued from page42 required. My survey was recorded at the Surveyor-General’s office. The information I gathered revealed that the land was free from government’s acquisition and it is meant for residential purposes.

“We wrote to the Ministry of Justice, State House of Assembly, and Governor of Lagos State who minuted on it and forwarded same to the Attorney-General of the State. Then, I wrote the approved plan number on my building. On January 31,2013, one, Bode Agoro, Director of Land regularisation visited the village again but this time around, he claimed the Odo-Iragunshin land belongs to government and that we should report to Alausa with all the necessary documents. Some representatives from the community including Alhaja Bature, Tunde Awonaike and I were there. Then, Mr. Bode Agoro advised us to obtain some other title documents including Certificate of Occupancy, C of O, Governor’s consent, adding that, we will be alerted whenever State government want to come to the place.

“But, after some weeks, he came with some foreigners measuring the land and was giving order to people to measure more lands that would be sufficient for an undisclosed project.

The truth is that, they just acquired this land in February this year but the Deputy Surveyor-General as at Monday, March 4, said, the land was free.

Meanwhile, chairman Itunomo Odo Iragunshin LCDA , Akinsanya Abraham, who is the first occupant of the Odo-Iragunshin village and has been living there for 20 years, said, there had not been any trouble on the land until recently when the State government inflicted untold hardship on the residents. He said: “Despite the “Stay Action” pronounced on the land, the officers of Ministry of Physical Planning ignored it. And on the floor of the House of Assembly, the commissioner said, “he was not aware of the notice of demolition exercise, neither was his Ministry responsible for the demolition”.

This insinuates that the action would have been carried out by the ministry of lands, adding that there are many agencies that are saddled with the responsibility of demolition.

“Ministries of lands, physical planning and transport also demolish too”, he said.

“The meeting was therefore adjourned to March 13, 2013, only for the Ministry of Physical Planning to come and demolish our houses on March 5, 2013”, he frowned.

On what the incident has caused, he said, “several people are still lying in the hospital as a result of the incident.

At least 200 houses have been demolished and they said, they are still coming back to demolish more and more than 150 people have been rendered homeless” Our children have been sick, while our students had stopped going to school”.

A civil servant, Mr. Okeowo Adewale said, “All my family members including my aged father and siblings have been rendered homeless”.

On the allegation of possession of fake documents as claimed by the Ministry of Physical Planning, he said, “Ï

want to believe that those who issued the documents for us are senior officials in Alausa, the Survey-General signed the Certificate of Occupancy, C of O, the Governor signed the “Governor consent” and therefore if they said those documents were fake, it means that this government is fake.

“We are all informed on land matters and we have charted the land before buying it”.

Asked the numbers of houses that were demolished, he said, “At least 200 houses have been demolished and they said, they are still coming back to demolish more and more than 150 people have been rendered homeless”, he said.

In terms of compensation, he said nothing has been mentioned so far, alleging that traditional rulers in the area have been bribed as they refused to intervene in the matter.

Another resident, Mr Christian Ovie who is currently battling accomodation problem with his family of eight said, “the action was not right.

Nigeria is a peaceful country but when abnormalities begin to set in, then, they are calling for war like what happened in Liberia. This is

only a barbaric attitude that can cause civil war”.

A 38-year old Adeniyi Ishola whose wife lost six months pregnancy said, “Since the incident, my wife has been bleeding continuously. And we have been battling with her health as well. My wife was sleeping when the news reached her. And immediately, she started bleeding and until now, she is still bleeding”, he lamented.

A labourer, Mr Wasiu Teslim Daudu lamented, the effect of the demolition exercise will forever linger, as the incident has already damaged his entire life. “The incident came unexpected, I don’t know where to start from. I’m a labourer and all my sweats had gone into the building.

This is the beginning and the end of my life. I have nothing left”, he cried.

One, Awonaike Babatunde who narrated a scenario said, “While I was talking with my wife on phone, a pickup car parked by my side and before I knew what was going on, four armed men had rounded me up.

They started hitting me with sticks.

I was helpless, I didn’t know what my offence was. It was by God’s grace that I narrowly escaped.

While, they were chasing me, a voice said, “shoot him, shoot him, shout him and later someone said let’s leave him but I was still running.

Since, then, I have been battling with my health”.

During a visit to the palace of Aladegunsebi of Odoragunsin, Oba Olagoke Ogunsanya, we gathered that Oba Ogunsanya might have inherited Odo-iragunshin village from his father, but he was unable to prevail on the issue.

According to him, “that community falls under my jurisdiction and it is close to my palace. The land in question is one of the properties I inherited from my father.

“But, I don’t know when police invaded the village and pulled down people’ houses with bulldozers. The truth is that I am not happy with this action. All the people are now homeless. Since the incident, they have been hiding in huts, shanties, while others have been squatting with friends.”

On the steps he had taken since the incident, he said, “I have not been able to intervene. But, I heard that the people have gone to Alausa to express their grievances. On the day of the demolition, no officials of government intimated me.

“Government has no documents to prove that it had acquired Odo-iragunshin land and there is nothing like compensation for the affected people.”

Another traditional ruler, Alara of Ilara, Oba Akeem Okunola Adesanya, who spoke with Saturday Vanguard, said, the house of his senior wife was also affected. He lamented that, those whose houses were demolished were the impoverished Nigerians who collected loan from banks to build their houses.

46—SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 6, 2013

Malawian actress eyeing Nollywood M alawian actress, Suya who is a top contender in this year’s Best Actress category at African Movie Academy Awards, AMAA which is scheduled to hold later this month, in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, has declared her intention to ply her trade in Nigeria.

From all indications, the actress may not be returning to her country after the grand finale of the prestigious award.

Suya’s role in Shem Joya’s ‘Last Fishing Boat’, earned her the nomination, alongside other A-list actresses like Rita Dominic who was also nominated for her role in her film, “The Meeting” , Yvonne Okoro( The Contract’), Florence Masebe (Elelwani), Mariam Ouedraogo(Moi Zaphira) and Mbutung Seikeh(Ninah’s Diary).

The actress, made the declaration while in a chat with HVP, shortly after the AMAA nomination party, held in Malawi recently.

Suya said, she has a strong desire to relocate to Nigeria in order to horn her talent in acting. According to her, she wants to star alongside top Nigerian actors and actress, including Jim Iyke, Genevieve Nnaji, Ramsey Nouah, Monalisa Chinda, Emeka Ike and many others.

In her words, “ I will

gladly jump at the offer to stay back after the AMAA grand finale, if given the opportunity to do so. I feel privileged to be getting a platform that allows me to be rubbing shoulders with top Nigerian actors and actresses.”

Suya who was also nominated for the Best Actress category in 2010, following her role in the film, “Season of a Life” said, she was not surprised that she was nominated again for the award. “I was not really surprise because when I performed, I was convinced I acted very well. So, I wasn’t surprise, I saw it coming,” she said.

In 2010, Suya lost the award to a “worthy contender ”, Ghanaian actress, Jackie Appiah who was crowned the Best Actress in Africa for her lead role in “Perfect Picture.”

Gwaza, who said, she started acting while she was in primary school attributed her victory to God. She hit limelight in 2006, after her role in “Season of a Life” where she played the role of Sungisa Malango, a maid-turned-lawyer who fights for custody of her child.

Suya’s desire to be part of Nollywood will augur as far as Nigerian producers are ready to give her a chance to prove her mettle.

Flora

Mercy Johnson returns

N

ollywood most-soughtafter actress, and mother of one, Mercy Johnson who is currently missing on screen, following her continues sojourn in the United States after giving birth to her first child, Purity, is set to reconnect with her fans again through the release of last movie, “ Baby Oku in America.”

Mercy starred in the movie alongside, Chets Aniekwe and fast rising star Ani Amatosero before embarking on sabbatical leave few months ago.

The movie produced by Gabriel Moses, the CEO of Amaco Films and I-Com International Company is a comedy that tells the story of a newly married Nigerian couple that relocated to the United State of America, a move that brought out the ignorance and unpleasant character of the woman in the marriage as she strives to live and preach the gospel of gender equality in their marriage in the wrong way.

According to Gabriel Moses, the executive producer of the movie,

the cast and crew had to work in Nigeria and the United States to show the beauty of both countries while taking full advantage of the cordial bilateral relationship that exist between the United States of America and Nigeria.

Meanwhile the ace movie producer who has produced films like One Dollar, Abandoned, Old School among others, has promised that Baby Oku in America will not be his last movie in the business.

$25,000 up for grab as Face of Nigeria beauty pageant debuts

P

reparations to stage world’s first orange beauty pageant, known as the Face of Nigeria has begun with the organisers- All Times Nigeria promotions Limited fixing the grand finale of the beauty show,in July, this year.

C M Y K

The screenings scheduled to take place in four of the six zones of the country kick-starts in May. The screening centres are Owerri for Southeast, Abuja for the whole of the North, Portharcourt and Asaba for South South and Lagos for Southwest.

According to the organisers, the star prize of the competition is a brand new car and twenty five thousand USD ($25,000), while the first and second runners up will go home withN150,000 respectively.

All the prize funds are scholarship monies.

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SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 6, 2013—47

Nse and hubby at their traditional marriage

W

eeks after 2face and his wife, Annie stormed Akwa-Ibom State for their traditional marriage ceremony, actress Nse Ikpe-Etim and her beau, Clifford Sule followed suit during the week when they observed theirs amid gaiety in the state.

But unlike 2face/Annie’s traditional marriage as they got a brand new Toyota Prado SUV as wedding present from the governor, Nse and her beau made do with her few friends, and family members who thronged St. Stephen Primary School, Ikot Etobon, Akwa Ibom State, venue of the historic event.

Apart from Waje, OAP-actor, Katherine Obiang and actor, Bishop Ume, some of Nse’s closest friends were reportedly missing at the event.

Dressed in her traditional wedding attire, she danced happily to the tunes of singer, Waje as she met with her hubby.

Nse married her dream man, Clifford Sule, a senior lecturer at Middlesex University in the UK on Valentine’s day after being engaged to him for a while.

EbonyLife TV set to nurture relationship with ‘Love Lounge’

E

bonyLife TV announces an important break through in the treatment of the subject of love, sex and relationships with its innovative and creative upcoming programm entitled “Love Lounge.”

Love Lounge, subtitled as the programme designed to help “nurture the relationship you have into the relationship you want”, is a fun, cheeky and informative 60 minute Talk Show that employs the convergence media formats of Radio and TV in the sense that it is broadcast on ELTV and multicast on BeatFM 99.9.

Love Lounge is expected to stimulate maximum listener/ viewer participation and would see the Show’s presenter, OrekaGodis, navigate her way through the woes of love with expert advice, taking questions from listeners and some celebs by way of calls, BBMs, SMS, email, letters, interactions online and blogs.

According to Sandra Amadio, Associate Director Programmes, Magazine and Talk, EbonyLife TV, and Executive Producer of Love Lounge, “What excites me about this Show, apart from the subject matter, is the unique approach in engaging our audience and content through our convergence media model.

It’s a show that shakes up traditional TV formats and that arouses people’s perceptions

on subjects that would otherwise be considered taboo in an African landscape. If I can get the chance to be purposeful in my work and trigger a fresh way of thinking - then it’s a job well done in my books.”

Love Lounge is set to approach the issues of love, sex and relationships in a professional, mature and creative way. It is designed as a platform where people can unravel the mysteries of love and provide answers to sensitive questions that people have but are probably too afraid, shy or

careful to ask. The issues include ‘How to cope with being dumped’, ‘Women who beat their husbands’, ‘Partners who have addictions’, ‘Sex tips’, ‘Homosexuality in Africa’, and so much more.

Shot in a radio studio,Love Lounge is hosted by established Nigerian On Air Personality, OrekaGodis, who accidentally was signed up for the Show on Valentine’s Day. The Show also features a selection of credible Pan African experts on the subject to include Jerome YaoviOnipede, LilianEkanem,

Dr Bassey Edet, AriyikeAkinbobola (of Bella Naija), KunleSoriyan, Lanre ‘Coach’ Olusola, South Africa’s renowned

sexologist, DR. EVE and ‘Emotional Freedom technique’ expert Ray Perkel among others.

Film critic, Roger Ebert dies @ 70

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amed movie critic Roger Ebert died Thursday in Chicago after battling cancer. He was 70.

An opinionated writer, but also a movie fan, Ebert reviewed films for the Chicago Sun-Times for 46 years. He was perhaps best known, however, for his 31 years reviewing films on television.

Ebert experienced health problems over the past ten years, suffering illnesses including thyroid cancer and cancer of the salivary gland.

In 2006 he lost part of his lower jaw, but — as his obituary in the Sun-Times points out — it didn’t drive him out of the spotlight.

President Obama, also from Chicago, released a statement on Ebert’s passing saying, “Michelle and I are saddened to hear about the passing of Roger Ebert. For a generation of Americans - and especially Chicagoans - Roger was the movies. When he didn’t like a film, he was honest; when he did, he was effusive capturing the unique power of the movies to take us somewhere magical. Even amidst his own battles with cancer, Roger was as productive as he was resilient - continuing to share his passion and perspective with the world. The movies won’t

be the same without Roger, and our thoughts and prayers are with Chaz and the rest of the Ebert family.”

Many may not know, but Ebert was an early investor in Google and believed in the power of the Internet to share his messages — especially through his site on rogerebert.com.

The acclaimed writer enjoyed wide and varied accolades, winning a Pulitzer Prize in 1975 and was added to the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2005. He also won a Webby “Person of the Year” award in 2010 for special achievement.

C M Y K

SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 6, 2013—49

Stories by IYABO AINA

Madonna’s daughter dating Homeland actor

Lady Gaga back on her feet after hip surgery

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NE of the top American song writer and actress is on news headline again but with her 16years old daughter Lourdes who was recently said to be dating a homeland star Timothee Chalamet The 16 year old is said to have struck up a romance with Chalamet, who plays Vice President William Walden’s son Finn in the hit U.S. drama, after meeting him at the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts in New York, where they are both pupils.

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ADY Gaga has been spotted back on her feet after spending weeks as she was confined to a wheelchair following hip surgery.

The Poker Face singer underwent an operation on February 20 after being forced to cancel the remaining dates on her ‘’Born This Way Ball’’ world tour due to an injury. She was diagnosed with a labral tear of the right hip, as well as synovisitis , a severe inflammation of the joints .

However, Gaga has now proved she is on the road to recovery after she was photographed walking around New York City in highheeled shoes on Tuesday, as she headed to a yoga class.

She was helped back into her Louis Vuitton wheelchair after the session. It was given to her by top fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld at her birthday bash last week.

While being left unable to walk Gaga has been busy working on a jazz album with Tony Bennett and reportedly planning a summer wedding to boyfriend Taylor Kinney.

The star ’s pal Lady Starlight recently said “She’s told me he’s the one and you know that instantly when you see them together.

Richard Griffiths dies at 65

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ICHARD Griffiths, the British actor who played the boy wizard’s unsympathetic of Uncle Vernon in the “Harry Potter” movies, recently died at 65 as a result of complications following heart surgery.

Griffiths who has appeared in dozens of films and TV shows and was one of Britain’s leading stage actors, creating roles including the charismatic teacher Hector in Alan Bennett’s “The History Boys.”

In 2007 he appeared onstage in “Equus” alongside his “Harry Potter ” co-star Daniel Radcliffe.

“Richard was by my side during two of the most important moments of my career,” Radcliffe said, his first scene as the boy wizard and Richard Griffiths his stage debut.

•Lady Gaga

Isabel Oli

HE Philipina model and movie actress, Isabel Oli admits she still weeps buckets for her father, nine months after his death.

Isabel says she had a breakdown recently while driving home from Tagaytay City after work on her previous series, “Faithfully.”

Isabel’s dad George Daytia died after battling cerebral degeneration for five years. He was said to be in coma for eight months before his passing on June 20, 2012.

The actress also shares with the Inquirer precious pieces of advice that she received from colleagues Iza Calzado and Maxene Magalona, who both

Picture of the week Jennifer Lawrence

still grieving over dad’s demise T

•Lourdes

lost their dads to cancer: “They both told me there would be moments when you will just lose it. They also said it was best to just let it all out.”

She said praying also helps her a lot.

She explains: “It calms me. Also, when I feel sadness coming, I find it very soothing to instead recall happy times with him.”

Her first Christmas without her dad was tough, she confesses.

“Actually, the entire family became quite emotional.

Isabel is happy, however, that the loss brought her closer to her mom, Victoria. “We live in the same house. My other siblings have their own families. I often see her lonely. So, whenever •Isabel Oli I can, I bring her with me to work.” she said .

J

ennifer Lawrence is the girl every bloke wants to be with and she certainly made that clear after appearing on the Jimmy

•Jennifer Lawrence

Fallon show not too long ago.

Actress Jennifer Lawrence, best-known for playing Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games (2012), was born in Louisville, Kentucky on August 15, 1990. Her career began when she spent a Summer in Manhattan at the age of 14. During that time, she scored some small commercial and film roles, and shortly thereafter her family moved to Los Angeles so she could further pursue her dream. She was cast in the TBS sitcom “The Bill Engvall Show” (2007), and in smaller movies like The Poker House (2008) and The Burning Plain (2008).

Her big break came when she played Ree in Winter ’s Bone (2010), which landed her Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations. Around this time, Lawrence scored the role of a lifetime when she was cast as Katniss Everdeen in the big-screen adaptation of literary sensation The Hunger Games (2012).

50 — SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 6, 2013

Mike Anyazodo set for big return •Omawumi

•Dakolo

•Timi Dakolo

•Gordons

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EARS after winning Project Fame, Mike Anyazodo seems ready to make a big come-back to take his rightful place in the Nigerian music industry. The talented singer who few years ago released the single entitled, “Fine Fine Lady” has concluded plans with ace-cinematographer Clarence Peters for a video shoot that will announce his return to his first lovemusic. The song,Showtime gathered is entitled Sexy Bihanna and is being produced by DJ Coublon.

Speaking on why he has been off the stage, Mike revealed that he made some career errors. “My brother, music business is not a child’s play and in fact, I am not ashamed to say that I have been to hell. I made my mistakes that I’m sorry about today and I have gotten my groove back to hit the top spot in the music scene. At the moment, I have confidence that with the right songs and Nigerians should pray for me because my desire is to give them good music.”

For weeks now, a segment of the media has reported that Mike has been signed on to August Pee Entertainment belonging to Humphrey Okeke popularly known as Hman. But reacting to the tale, Mike said “I do not know where they got this gist from, the only truth in that rumour is that Hman and I have been hanging out a lot lately •Mike however that does not mean he has been signed to my label.”

Omawumi, Timi Dakolo, Gordons, others storm Eko hotel for Vanguard Personality of the Year award

By BENJAMIN NJOKU

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IGERIA’s pop diva, Omawumi Megbele, Timi Dakolo, Temi Sax and acecomedian, Gordons will be leading other entertainers to the maiden edition of Vanguard Personality of the Year award ceremony holding this evening, in Lagos.

Other top entertainers who are billed to make the event colourful are Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) President, Ibinabo Fiberesima, Segun Arinze, Ejike Asiegbu, Monlaisa Chinda, Zik Zulu Okafor, Kate Henshaw, Emem Isong, Ireti Doye, Gabriel Okoye a.k.a Gabosky and Victor Osuagwu. Others are Ebube Nwagbo, Bukky Wright, Desmond Elliot and Omotola JaladeEkeinde.

The event which promises to feature politicians, bankers, busi-

ness icon,celebrities will be hosted by multi-talented artiste, Basorge and comedienne cum broadcaster, Helen Paul a.k.a Tatafo.

Vanguard Media Limited would be honouring the duo of Rt Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, Executive Governor of Rivers State and Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, GMD/CEO, Access Bank, for excellent strides taken in public service as well as in the private sector.

The occasion, slated for today, at Expo Hall, Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, will be chaired by former Military President, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida with Senator, Edwin.K. Clark, former Federal Commissioner for Information being the father of the day.

The event which is strictly by invitation opens by 6.00 pm.

However, explaining the essence of the award ceremony, Deputy Editor, Vanguard Newspapers, Mr Eze Anaba who doubles as the Chairman, organising Committee

said, the event is billed to celebrate Governor Amaechi’s achievements in the last one year.

“After a rigorous selection process, Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State emerged the winner of the organisation’s Personality of the Year award alongside MD/CEO, Access Bank, Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede. We just want to celebrate them today.” he explained.

Meanwhile, pop diva, Omawumi who is billed to stage a special concert for the launch of her new sophomore effort, “ The Lasso of Truth, at Oriental Hotels, Lekki, tomorrow, will thrill the audience with her imitable dance steps, and vocal dexterity as she adorns the same stage with her 2007 Project Fame Reality show rival, Timi Dakolo. Celebrated stand up comedian, Gordons will also be on hand to spice up the glamorous event with his rib cracking jokes just as Temi Sax will bring his artistry to bear on stage.

NTDC endorses Kollington’s celebration of 50yrs. on stage T

•Kollington Ayinla

HE Nigerian Tourism Develop ment Corporation has indicated its willingness to collaborate with ace fuji artiste, General Kollington Ayinla as he celebrates his 50th anniversary on stage and also launch his music foundation.

The promise was given by the Director-General of NTDC, Otunba Olusegun Runsewe when the veteran musician alongside members of his delegation visited the tourism village in Abuja.

Otunba Runsewe, speaking during the visit, stated that the fuji General needs to be celebrated as he has undertaken a music career spanning into decades devoid of controversy.

He stressed that “we need to celebrate our best especially those who have contributed immensely to the development of indigenous music genres like fuji and juju.”

He further commended General Kollington for his innovation particularly in his introduction of several local music percussion that have stood the test of time. Runsewe assured Kollington of NTDC’s support for the anniversary

and setting up of his foundation.

The event which is slated for April 28th in Lagos will feature greats like King Sunny Ade, Pasuma, Femi Ransomkuti, Ebenezer Obe, Obesere amongst others while top personalities‘ like the governors of Lagos, Osun, Kwara and Ekiti respectively are expected to grace the occasion.

Expressing his gratitude, General Kollington thanked Otunba Runsewe for his kind gesture maintaining that he came to solicit the corporation’s support because tourism, culture and music are related.

SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 6, 2013— 51

Controversial Adokiye returns with “Love you Better”

By IYABO AINA

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NTIL her controversial semi-nude pose for a United States based tabloid last year, Adokiye Kyrian Yvonne a.k.a Adokiye was relatively unknown in the Nigerian music scene. But today, she has become one of the rising female singers who are charting a new course for the industry.

Last Friday, while many Nigerians indulged in sober reflection, following the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, this sexy diva resorted to giving herself a triple treat. The Afro-pop singer did not only mark her birthday anniversary on that holy day, she

A

•Adokiye

equally triples it all with the release of her hit single titled, “Love Better ft Hot sensation Addiction” produced by Baby Rhymsz.

Also, to celebrate with the Aproko, Port-Harcourt based singer, CityFM 1051 held a live party in honour of the controversial singer.

Speaking on her new single, the diva said, ‘’ My song is all about preaching

Jack Daniel’s Bartender ends training

of events N exciting turn ded the ultimately conclu l’s Old an ck D ie 2012 edition of Ja skey ’s Interhi No.7 Tennessee W Training as er nd national Barte in tly em er ge d tw o w in ne rs jo sults were rewhen the final re leased. i of E-Bar, LeDaniel Ogundey Istifanus of Auto e initial candikki, and Danladi city of Lagos. Th ected to barnd, both la Is ia or ct bj Vi , Lounge dates were all su comprising of ghest score hi ve si es p pr m im ca an had tending boot al IBC Grade se in Essential of 87% on the fin this year ’s an intensive cour by a compreat th d re ed which ensu Bar Skills follow an exciting and asterclass. edition comes to nsive Whiskey M d presenhe . on si ar pulsating conclu Speaking at the aw recently at Daniel’s Old ld he y on m re ce Courtesy of Jack skey, they n tatio where the Whi Lagos Bar School No.7 Tennessee e Th sh ca al du di vi ld, Guy Nixon bo th re ce iv e in training was he s Bar School) ou Th ed dr un go prizes of One H (Director, The La he w as ve ry 0, 000), togeth10 at (N th ra d ai se N lo nd sc sa di l na io at Intern high standard er with their IBC es accreditpleased with the ar ’s particiye icat achieved by this Bartender Certif hool, UK. Jack Daniel’s Sc d r se Ba ai pr er d ak an Sh s nt pa ed by w fe th at a commitment to Yo u m ay re ca ll for their ongoing d ha ts is loping standfin al raising and deve erian hospim on th s ag o, 10 of ol po al ig iti in ards within the N emerged from an as om fr n aw . dr tality industry 45 bartenders tlets across the many different ou

God’s Love and how to love your neighbour. I also want people to say positive things

about me, see what I can do and not the negative side of my life. I promise never to disappoint you all.”

Adokiye last year posed semi-nude for a US based tabloid for the sum of $200,000. Her erotic pic-

tures surfaced online, after which she started trending.

Her first singles were released in August, last year, one of which featured popular rapper Olamide.

Gospel artistes pay last respects to Patty Obasi ...as he resurrects in his sons

E

MOTIONS ran high re cently when the remains of legendary gospel singer, Patty Obasi was laid to rest in his home town,Nmakwu, in Ogwu Local Government Area of Enugu State.

Obasi, whose popular album,

“Nwa Mammy Water”, shot him to limelight, died at his Enugu residence in October, last year, after he reportedly slipped into unconsciousness.

He was down with kidney failure since two years ago and his doctor said he needed not less

How Nnenna & Friends celebrated Easter show S

UNDAY, 31st March was a pleasurable day for thousands of families who attended the Nnenna & Friends Easter show which took place at the National Theatre, Iganmu Lagos. The show from all ramifications surpassed all expectations in its promise of providing top-quality family entertainment.

The excellently organized event was attended by over 6,000 kids and adults who were impressed by the spectacular performances by Lara George, Papa Ajasco & Company, N-Stars, MC Prince, Point X, Trace and wapTV’s very own Omo Nla.

than N10 million to transplant his two failed kidneys in India.

Among all the elaborate funeral rites lined up for the late gospel music legend, his “Tribute Night” by Nigeria gospel musicians was remarkable. It was overwhelming attended by celebrated and budding gos-

The Nnenna & Friends Easter Show was supported by several corporate bodies including Indomie, Afrab Chem Ltd., Fumman Juice, Skiddo Foods, McVities Happy faces, Infinity Foods & Beverages and StarTimes who all ensured that the mammoth audience went home with several gifts, prizes and branded souvenirs much to their delight.

Organisers say the next Nnenna & Friends Live Show will hold on Children’s Day, on Monday, May, 27, at the same venue and it will be broadcast on wapTV and several other key stations across Nigeria.

pel artistes within and outside the shores of the country who are mostly “gospel music children” of the late music legend. These included the legendary Brothers Emma and Lazarus of “Voice Of The Cross” (Who stormed the event from their US-base), Prince Gozie and PrincessNjidekaOkeke of the Akanchawa fame, RosemaryChuk-

wu, Luke Ezeji, Chika Okpala, RuthAni, Israel Anyamele, Blessed Samuel, Gilbert Okolie, Felix Ndukwe, Oluchi Okeke, UcheNdukwe, James Arum, Joy Okam, Vision Adike among others. The artistes took turn to perform inspiring gospel tunes in honour of the deceased.

•Patty Obasi

52—SA TURD AY 52—SATURD TURDA

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Vanguard, APRIL 6, 2013

ny contact with Ibe Christogonus Chidiebere will definitely leave you with a positive impression following his perspective on socioeconomic issues. The confidence he exudes on issues bothering on leadership and crime prevention tells us he knows his onion. A few days ago he was Vanguard Youthful Vibes and he tells about this unique passion.

Excerpts:

In 2008, I was nominated amongst many other students by Unilag to undergo a Youth Leadership Programme organized by LEAP Africa and after the one year training, I discovered a new me who was ready to take on life’s challenges.

We were challenged to come up with unusual initiatives that will fix significant needs in our society; with the mindset that you can drive your destiny to any direction you so choose and this daring challenge gave birth to my pet project (youths and crime prevention) which later metamorphosed into a full NGO called African Youths Initiative on Crime Prevention (AYICRIP). We have successfully organized leadership and crime prevention programmes that target young people in different communities, tertiary and secondary institutions across Nigeria.

Our activities have ushered

My Humble background Like most African kids, I must confess that I have my story which definitely didn’t come from the red rugs in one of those mansions in •Ibe Christogonus Abuja or Lagos, rather from a humble clan called Umu isi afor, in Umuokehi, Eziala, Obizi, Ezinihitte, Local Governmnt Area of Imo State.

My parents are Elder Nze and Lolo Alison and Victoria Ibe. We are nine: six men and three female, although we lost our first daughter eight years ago and my dad also joined his ancestors five years ago too. I am blessed to have come from the Ibe’s family where brotherhood love is embedded in our blood and I consider it as the most treasured value and gift God gave us as a family.

I was raised up in Bai Kuke, Meme Division in the South West Province of Cameroon and upon my return to Nigeria in 1992, I was enrolled into Town School Obizi where I sat for my common entrance examination and finally got admitted into Obizi High School.

Quest for greener pasture During my SS2, my brothers moved me to Niger Grammar School in D/Line Port Harcourt where I sat for my SSCE which enabled me to be admitted by the University of Port Harcourt as a Basic student in the department of Mechanical Engineering and it was at this point I started nursing the idea of traveling abroad based on the fact that most of my friends had started leaving the country to study •Victor Gotevbe and Ibe Christogonus overseas. during his visit to Vanguard In my effort to achieve my dreams of traveling overseas, I abandoned my studies in Uniport extra efforts in getting myself me into the global community as for Lagos where my friend back to the academic system . I a global citizen and has given arranged a visa agent who had to do two diploma me great opportunities to share assured us visa for the trip but programmes before finally experiences with some great despite all efforts, we couldn’t gaining admission to study a minds in the field of leadership get the visa.I was left in big degree course in Human Kinetics and crime prevention in five confusion of not knowing where and Health Education in continents of the world. I no more look for visa as my trips are to go since I had abandoned my University of Lagos. planned by my hosts abroad. studies.. It was at this point that Recently the American my senior brother, Prince Dr Leadership Experience Emmanuel C. Ibe decided to University of Lagos became the government announced my show me great love when he greatest environment that nomination as a participant at the visited Lagos and he invited his provided that opportunity for the upcoming International Visitors friend, Innocent Chukwuma of discovery of my total person Leadership Programme (IVLP) CLEEN Foundation to plead through partnership with LEAP and the Institute of Social Justice with me that I go back to school. Africa even though it came as a in New Orleans, USA also at the Returning to school gave me way of diverting our attention and 2013 National Symposium on another life opportunity to reflect energies against the proscription Crime prevention gave me an on the kind of person I wanted of the student unionism in my award for my work.

Our programmes include Youth to be and this made me to put school back then.

We can reduce crime in Africa through preventive mechanism

YOUNG NIGERIANS MAKING THE DIFFERENCE

OBIJIAKU CHUKWUEMEKA UDENWEZE LAGOS STATE

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meka is the founder of Reel Football Services International and Technical Director of FC Reel Youth Football Academy. This vision was borne out of Nigeria’s victory at the Youth cup in Japan, 1993. He was still a student of the Nigerian Navy Secondary School, Abeokuta. He started with compilation of football data such as match reports and football pictures. This love for football grew into a passion for news reporting and made it possible for him to work with the Media icon, Larry Izamoje, who encouraged and inspired him.

Emeka has organized several football tournaments such as Gabriel Okolosi Cup and Festac Unity Cup just to mention a few. His academy boys have played and won several t o u r n a m e n t s t o o . C u r r e n t l y, E m e k a i s restructuring and re-organizing the Academy.

And he is working on recruiting and giving trials to passionate and talented young players from 19 years. ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

•Emeka with FIFA Agent SLAWINSKI Tomasz in London ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

— Ibe Christogonus Chidiebere:

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

•Emeka and Joseph Yobo and others

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

•Emeka debriefing his boys

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

Comrade Ayodele Adewale, Chairman of Amuwo Odofin LGA addressing the youngsters of FC Reel Youth Academy ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

Leadership and Crime prevention summit, Nigeria Campus Marathon, Crime Prevention Ambassador awards and AYICRIP football academy: raise a soccer star project. It gears towards engaging the youths, preventing crime and empowering the youths through soccer and we have succeeded in taking footballers abroad for our international trial tour and seven players were selected in Jordan.

Challenges Our challenge has been lack of adequate support from government agencies, private sectors and even well meaning individuals who ordinarily should see our activities as

adding value to the society. The most challenging is the fact that the Nigeria security managers do not believe in the prevention approach of crime fighting and by this, they do not see us as partners in the global fight against crime.

Advice I wish to advise young Nigerians to think carefully before seeking to travel out of the country irrespective of how bad Nigeria may seem to them. They should identify their strengths, appreciate their weaknesses, take their opportunities and also recognize those traits that might pull me down. We shall succeed.

SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 6, 2013—53

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Vanguard, APRIL 6, 2013—61

NIPOST

Era ofCourier Social Only Media: service What is very succour for active NIPOST? NIPOST: An agency in search of relevance

ENUGU

Poor patronage grounds NIPOST in Enugu

BY TONY EDIKE

E

ven as workers of NIPOST in Enugu have continued to work very hard to re-awak en the interest of customers in their services, poor patronage appears to have rendered most of the workers redundant.

One of the major post offices in Enugu metropolis located at Ogui Road near the non-functional Nigerian Railway station, looks deserted but when Saturday Vanguard visited the counter, it was observed that some postal staff were present but they were idling away as there was no customer to attend to.

There were some mails and cargos behind the counter indicating that work was in progress but the workers had little or nothing doing as no customer walked in to access the postal services at the time.

A staff on the counter who would not disclose her identity told Saturday Vanguard in a brief chat that “we still get customers especially the companies who come here to post their mails to different places but there is no longer rush as it used to be many years ago.”

She said that there were different postage stamps on sale while those who had bulk mails to send come around to patronize them but, according to her, the private courier companies had seriously posed a threat to their operations as they are regarded as the “first choice”.

“We have adopted various measures to ensure quick delivery of mails, even faster than the courier companies particularly in the hinterland but I can tell you that many customers still prefer the courier companies even when their charges are higher than ours. You will not believe that many of these courier operators send their mails through NIPOST because we have better mail delivery network but unfortunately members of the public don’t seem to be aware of the tricks of the courier operators,” the female staff said.

The situation was, however, different at the General Post Office along Okpara Avenue as some customers were seen moving in and out of the office. A few customers were seen purchasing stamps but it was observed that not many mails were sent through

We have adopted various measures that ensure quick delivery of mails even faster than the courier companies particularly in the hinterland but I can tell you that many customers still prefer the courier companies the normal mail services as many prefer sending mail through the Express Mail Service (EMS) which they believe delivers faster.

It was also gathered that many Private Mail Bag (PMB) and Post Office Box owners have long abandoned them due to what a NIPOST staff described as the advent of internet and GSM services. “I remember in the past when people send greeting cards in large numbers to their loved ones and friends across the globe but today, such messages are easily sent through text messages at cheaper rates and are delivered faster,” recalled the staff.

None of the officials at the General Post Office accepted to speak on their services as they claimed that they had no permission to volunteer comments on their activities.

However, when Saturday Vanguard called at the Territorial Headquarters of NIPOST near Otigba junction, the Enugu Territorial Manager, Mr. Simon Adoyi, was not available but one of the marketing staff said that the Enugu Territory had continued to make a steady progress in service delivery and revenue generation.

“We are making progress and now generating more money than before.

We are diversifying into other lines of products and services apart from our traditional products like sale of stamps. We now have new services like Cargo/Haulage, EMS/Parcel

Posts, Post Cash within Nigeria in addition to parcel services.

“All local government headquarters have post offices and they are functional. People send and collect money from these post offices both in the towns and rural areas throughout the local government areas and it is a great relief to the customers because you cannot get any source of money transfer like ATM in places like that. In fact, we are making steady progress and more people are patronizing us now.”

Besides, she said that NIPOST is effectively carrying out sensitization on the Federal Government’s Stamp Duty Act compliance which has also improved stamp sales, adding that the improved services currently being rendered by NIPOST has gradually rekindled the confidence of the customers in its operations.

It would be recalled that Enugu State Government, in collaboration with NIPOST recently launched its centenary stamp to commemorate 100 years of development of the city. Unveiling the postage stamp in Enough, Government Sullivan Chime said the stamp would serve as a concrete and indelible monument as well as promote the heritage, endowment and the investment potentials of the state.

He commended NIPOST for its partnership towards making the stamp a reality, adding that the state would encourage meaningful ideas and initiatives to bring about transformation.

Speaking at the occasion, Sen. Gil Nnaji, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Communication, said the launch of the stamp came at the right time when the postal bill was receiving legislative intervention. Nnaji called on businessmen and women, legal practitioners and citizens to always purchase the stamp when necessary. “This stamp signifies that Enugu State has now become an active player in global village. This will guarantee transparency,” he said.

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ith the advent of social media where almost all manners of communications are being done, one wonders what has become of the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST). In this special report, LEVINUS NWABUGHIOGU and EMMA ELEBEKE of Saturday Vanguard spoke with Taiye Olaniyi of NIPOST.

The situation before now

A chat with Mr. Taiye Olaniyi, the Public Relations Manager at NIPOST Headquarters in Abuja on the level of patronage by Nigerians and other foreign nationals indicates a statistical difference from what used to be the case in the yesteryears.

For instance, volumes of mail bags were elevated to over 500,000. But that is no more the case now.

Hear Olaniyi: “Definitely, the volume of our mail packages has drooped. We used to record over 500,000 mail bags, even here in Nigeria but in recent times, we can’t boast of that. But there are different categories of mail items.

We have the ordinary letter, which has dropped drastically worldwide due to the invention of computer and information technology devices. In that area, there is a drastic drop, which could almost 50 per cent of what we used to record”.

How long it takes to deliver a parcel

Though mail delivery services does not record sumptuous patronage, Olaniyi still believes that mails routed to different destinations via NIPOST are still being delivered but it may take an interval of 24, 48 to 72 hours depending on the final destinations. He also cited some inhibitions such as dilapidated roads infrastructures, saying it impedes quick delivery of physical mails.

He said: “It all depends because, when you come to physical delivery of items, it can’t be done through the GSM and stuff like that. The GSM can complement it for people to communicate from one point to another, but when it comes to physical delivery of all these items, they cannot do that and we have our own targets; maybe 72 hours from one part of a village in a state to another village in another state. If its within a particular city, it should be around 24 hours but between one state capital and another state capital, we are talking about 48 hours.

“And because in year 2000 and years after, we were able to meet that target very well up to 80 per cent, on the bases of that we were asked to bring the delivery time to about 48 hours.

But you found out that mail delivery

Continues on page 62

62—SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 6, 2013

NIPOST

Era of Social Media: What succour for NIPOST? Continued from page 61 is more and we are aware that things are not getting better in terms of road connection and everybody in Nigeria knows today that the percentage of roads that are deplorable in the country is much.

Almost 70 per cent of our mail items are carried on Nigerian roads. Automatically, even where you want some of these things delivered on target, there are some other factors that affect the speed of the delivery”.

Redundancy of NIPOST workers

Marina Lagos office in deporable condition

By Ayo Onikoyi

S

ome years ago, a visit to the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) office in Marina was to be made carefully because of the time you have to wait before service would come your way. Then, to even get a 1k postal stamp may cost you hours on a queue that may stretch from the main hall of the General Post Office to the outlying street on Marina.

But its a different story now. A visit can be likened to a visit to a cemetery as what used to be a hub of several activities is bereft of what can be regarded as even a spark of life. The ancient building, though not lacking in architectural modernity, stands out like a gloomy edifice in the glorious landscape of the ever-changing Marina.

At the postal hall where people engage in all sorts of businesses, there were just a pocket of three-to four people by a counter. Out of about ten to twelve counters, only three to four had people in them engaging in business. The other eight to ten counters were completely empty. Even some of the attendants on the empty counters had their heads down on the counters. It was nearly noon and it would not be out of place to say they were having siesta.

Would anyone blame them? These people had absolutely nothing to do.

The so-called busy counters were the Special Delivery Service which includes courier services and other services totally different from the conventional postage services. As at the time of call, no one could be seen to be buying the conventional stamps.

That section of the establishment was completely devoid of any form of life.

Since there appeared to be nothing anyone could gather from the hall,

At the postal hall where people engage in all sorts of businesses there were just a pocket of three-to four people by a counter. Out of about ten to twelve counters only three to four had people in them engaging in business

enquiries were made as to who could talk on the territorial office and the road led to the Area Postal Manager, called APM for short.

One would have wished he hadn’t asked because that was another uphill task that would not only leave you surprised but also gasping, for air.

For starters, what looked like the Security Post where one should normally register his presence looked like a place falling apart. You need not to be told you are in a place begging not only for upliftment but also gasping for air to survive. Of course it was no office, it would

qualify as another ‘Baba Ijebu kiosk’ where betters come to stake their bets.

After signing in to see the APM as he is called, naturally you head for the elevators because the last thing on your mind would be taking on four flight of stairs to the fourth floor where his office is situated but a bored voice with a sarcastic note to it told me “elevator is out of order”. After contending with the scorching sun and having to walk from Apongbon to the CMS bus stop where the General Post Office is located, that was like a joke that was most unwelcomed.

But it wasn’t a joke as the journey up some twelve flight of stairs to the fourth floor has to be made if one truly deserves to see the man in charge.

They are of colonial mode and a bit more winding and longer. The elevator on each floor was shut, not like something out of order but more like something that has been abandoned for years.

After waiting to see the man in charge for the response, the APM said they were not given directive to speak to the Press. After so much probing, the man (name withheld) kindly asked us to come back after seeking clearance from the top.

Back to the postal hall after another ordeal down the stairs, we decided to speak to some of the customers in the postal hall. There were only eight of them.

One Mr Kanu was sending a parcel through the NIPOST courier service and he affirmed to the efficiency of the service. He said he has always patronised NIPOST because he believes they are the most reliable and most efficient.

Another customer, Mr Olalemi actually came to send some registered documents by post and he confessed he had not done anything of such in the last ten years.

Out of the eight we met as at the time of the sampling, none actually came to send a conventional letter. A further probing from the officials of NIPOST yielded no result as they declined to speak.

Mr. Olaniyi would not agree that the drop in patronage will ever make the workers redundant just as he does not envisage the scrapping of the parastatal even in the future, saying NIPOST has a unique function it performs.

“It shouldn’t necessarily be. When we are looking at the NIPOST, we are looking at it from the social function, economic function, administrative function and from the international function. And in all these, Nigeria is still making sure that the rights of people all over the world are protected in line with the universal obligation of the Post.

“We are to meet that particular obligation, that is why they have to pay N5 for a mail from far away Port Harcourt to Maiduguri because if you are looking at it purely from economic perspective, it will not be cost-effective for us to do that but we have to make that sacrifice in order to fulfill that social obligation.

“You also have to realize that at the international level, even though we have external affairs ministry and others, the activities of the Post affects our image more”, he explained

On probable scrapping of NIPOST

“That is not possible. We are parts and parcel of the interaction with the Presidential committee that was established to harmonize and merge some of the affected parastatals. The Post is very unique worldwide, so it can never affect us.

The only aspect is if we have been enjoying a monopolistic paraphernalia, we can now begin introducing business attitude, which we are doing. Worldwide now, the in-thing is a commercial orientation about the whole processes of the Post”, he said.

Measures to reposition NIPOST

“So many things. There are three aspects of the POST: the aspect of physical delivery, social services and the international relations and marketing capabilities of the POST. Government through some of the agencies, are realizing the need to incorporate us into financial inclusion.

"More of these ICT portals will be accommodated to assist in our interaction and financial services and other areas”.

Mohammed Danjuma Haruna is the founder, Impact Agriculture Project.

A project that targets youths’ rehabilitation and employment through agriculture and as well help the Nigerian economy achieve diversification to ensure increased GDP and food sustainability to fight hunger in the land. As a youth activist, public affair analyst and climate change advocate, he has been working with youths and community leaders in Nigeria for over 6 years, these includes ICT training, HIV/AIDS issues. Excerpts: Impact Agriculture Project, as the name implies, what impact is it meant to create in the agricultural sector in Nigeria and Africa as a whole?

The Project is aimed at addressing several issues bedeviling the agricultural sector and ensuring food security thereby contributing immensely to GDP growth. The impact varies: it includes educating and enlightening our rural farmers, helping them get equipment with the necessary skills and tools that will help them achieve more in terms of high yield, improved products, access to market for their products and innovative ways to go about their agrobusiness. It will be an information platform for farmers which would boost food productivity and improve sales in the agricultural sector.

How do you intend to reduce youth unemployment in the country through this project?

Youth unemployment is one of the greatest challenges facing this country and Africa in general, and any effort we can contribute in our own way will go a long way to addressing it in the continent. Our idea is to encourage young people to take career in agrobusiness, for them to see the viability of agriculture as an engine for growth and

SATURDAY VANGUARD,

APRIL 6, 2013—63

We w ant tto o rehabilitat e our want rehabilitate unem plo ouths with agribusiness unemplo ployyed yyouths — Haruna

increased standard of living as it is in other developed countries. Youths will be empowered with skills in agrobusiness, trained in agrobusiness leadership and how to use ICT tools in agriculture as it is being revolutionalised in other countries like Uganda, Niger, Kenya and Ghana.

Several efforts made in the past to reposition agricultural sector in Nigeria has not yielded much result, what approach would you apply to ensure success in your project?

That’s simple, the problem with achieving results in Nigeria with regards to any policy or project is that, it is mostly seminars, workshops and training alone.

As for us at IMPACT AGRICULTURE PROJECT we intend to move from just talking to doing something, I mean action. Our approach is going to be beyond workshops and trainings, but monitoring and mentoring, we will keep track of all the farmers involved in our scheme by that we will encourage sustainability and increased participation.

For any project to succeed the most important thing is to have strong passion and commitment to what you do, we already have these, the passion is there, the commitment is there hence, we will succeed where others have failed.

As a Non- Governmental Organisa-

Quail ffarming arming ffor or q uick cash quick For the Chief Executive Officer, Jovana Farms, Prince Arinze Onebunne, raising Quail, Grasscutter, Rabbit, Snail, Guinea Pig and Antelope has became second nature. He said the

production of these animals especially quails gives small holder farmers a big chance to increase their income, health and offers an alternative means of livelihood to urban and rural farmers in addressing poverty. It is for these that Onebunne launched an initiative to promote quail farming as a suitable occupation that can contribute to food security, wealth, health and employment creation.

As the Cattle which could have been another major source of protein, is being drained by desert encroachment, pest attacks and other factors.

tion, how would Impact Agric. Project generate fund to make this project deliver results?

The organisation is being run like a social enterprise, so we could generate fund from various fund raising techniques, I use my personal finance.

But we are looking at liaising with international donors and other grant making organisations and government grants will also be explored if available.

These are the few available avenues to generate fund.

What’s the motive and objective of

Impact Agriculture Project in Nigeria?

Inadequate government intervention, lack of new and improved farming technique, lack of access to capital, huge ICT literacy gap among rural farmers and inadequate marketing skills has been the bane of agriculture in the developing countries. Hence, IAP is here to help support our rural farmers, therefore our motive is to help developing countries increase participation in agriculture and to help rural farmers evolve their businesses into larger commercial entities.

L-R- Director, Laboratory Services, Representing the Director General, Standard Organisation Of Nigeria (SON), Louise Njoku; CEO, Proton Securities Ltd, Capt., Ayodeji Bamgbose (Rtd.) and Sectional Head, management Systems Certification, SON, Mrs. Tessy Ojomo During the Official Presentation of NIS ISO 901:2008 to Proton Securities at The Head Office, Lagos.

According to him, quail farming is emerging as a their actual contributions complimentary business healthy food proposition or as a main productive enterprise to production have been and sustainable revenue since it can be reared in greatly ignored and or stream. But either small floor space and lays underestimated by proposition has potentials an egg per day. Quails extension and other to earn decent returns. are very poor feeders but development workers, This could be taken to be good layers and all one and policy makers in the a fair confirmation of the needs is maintaining agricultural sector in position that, run clean environment developing countries. professionally, quail around them. In terms of Especially in Nigeria, farming may well be a key nutritional value there is little knowledge wealth creation engageaddition, he said quail on their production, ment to consider in the meat and egg is tastier medicinal value, country. than chicken and has less marketing and Jovana farms organizes fat and cholesterol consumption under nationwide sensitization content. smallholder conditions. training seminars on the The Quail (Coturnix It’s his view that quail practical ways of making Coturnix), a member of the Galliformes order, is farming should be it through small scale considered a very prom- encouraged with a special animal farming. Attend ising ‘’micro Poultry-farm” focus on the traditional our nationwide seminars species for rural and ur- subsistence rearing nearest to you and know ban development because system as practised by more opportunities in it requires little capital, limited- resource farmers. quail and other small The business of quail animal farming. Visit: equipment, space and lafarming in Nigeria is now www.jovanafarm.com or bour, and provides an ingrowing at a feverish w w w. f a c e b o o k . c o m / expensive, readily pitch attracting jovanafarm for more available and high quality entrepreneurs who are details. Choose also the meat and eggs. From considering it either as a nearest venue from the prehistoric times, it has advert box in this page. been raised for food in Japan and America.

Quails are now also reared for meat and eggs in different countries of America, Asia and Africa.

Although quail farming contribute to the alleviation of protein deficiency in diets of people in developing countries, they have largely been neglected as a livestock species due to its size. Most farmers have focused mainly on chicken production. Thus,

64— SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 6, 2013

SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 6, 2013 — 65

Untold story of pastor arrested over robbery attack at Muritala Mohammed International Airport •Dedicates two cars after robbery attack •church deserted by members, sealed •wife absconds with children

BY EVELYN USMAN AND UJU MBANUSI

O

Dedicates cars with members from loot

In this interview with Pastor Ibikunle, he disclosed that his share of the loot was N500,000.

But investigation carried out

by Crime Guard, showed that he might have got more than that.

A suspected member of the gang confirmed Crime Guard’s claim. A further attestation to this claim, was the discovery that Pastor Ibikunle bought two cars apparently from his share of the loot, two weekes later.

During Crime Guard’s visit to The Way of Joy Church located

•Airport robbery suspects (right) Pastor Ibikunle would not like to come to our area. And when I came back, I told her the money was given to me by the ‘big man’”.

I regret my involvement

In an emotional laden voice, Pastor Ibikunle looked at Crime Guard , battling hard not to

betray his emotion, “ Am I going to die? He asked with a tear filled eyes. Ah! he exclaimed. I would have remained in my cubicle as

a poor man than heeding the advice of the gang. Now, I am left without nothing! My condition is even worse.

I kidnapped my ex-boss because she is stingy — suspected kidnapper

BY IFEAYI OKOLIE

•The Way of Joy Church

on Alliu Street, Egbe, Thursday, it was discovered that the church was built with planks.And locating the church was a difficult task, as there was no sign board. It took Crime Guard about an hour search to locate it .

On closer look , it was discovered that the church had been sealed. Although, no one agreed to talkabout Pastor Ibikunle and the church when approached, apparently for fear of being arrested .

Finally, a man who pleaded anonymity opened up and asked :“Are you a member of the

,

N Tuesday, Lagos State Police Command, paraded seven suspects of a robbery gang that attacked the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA,Lagos, last month, killed two policemen and injured several others.

Among the suspects, was the General Overseer of The way of Joy church located in Egbe, a Lagos suburb. The clergy , identified as Pastor Ibikunle Olarewaju John, confessed to Crime Guard during the parade, that he administered an oath of secrecy on the gang members, on the day they attacked the Muritala Mohammed Airport.

Members of the gang discovered to have come all the way from Kwara, Osun, Ibadan and Ogun states, during interrogation, confessed to have attacked same airport last year,where they carted away N600 Million.

They also stormed the airport on again on March 13, 2013 at about 7.30 pm.

But this time around, they were reportedly engaged in a gun battle by two policemen attached to Apapa division said to be on official assignment at the airport. Unfortunately for the policemen, they were gunned down in the process. But before they breathed their last, they managed to kill a member of the gang.

The robbers said to have succeeded in carting away over N10 Million from a Bureau-De change operators, went straight to their hideout inside a bush in Ijebu-Ode, where they shared their loot.

last week and arrested him and before we knew it, we started hearing he was a member of a robbery gang. Even , the whole newspapers in Nigeria carried the news two days ago” Before his arrest, Pastor Ibikunle was said to have dedicated two vehicles ,during which he hosted members of his church and friends to a buffet.

“Although he is an easygoing fellow who by every dint of appearance never exhibited any character of a robber. We usually saw people coming in and out of the church on daily. And on Sundays, there

I am appealing to every member of my church to forgive me for embarrassing them

church”? This reporter shook their heads.

He further said, “ if you know what is good for you, better leave there before you will get yourself into trouble. The white garment church was sealed last week after the arrest of the Pastor.. Some policemen came

,

were usually church services.

Towards the end of the month, he treated his members and friends who came in posh cars to a party, in celebration of his newly purchased cars. It was not long that we heard he bought them with the proceeds

from the robbery operation at the airport. It was after his arrest that I believed the popular saying that facial appearance is indeed deceptive”, another resident who earlier declined to speak on the issue said:

Wife absconded with children

From Crime Guard’s findings, it was discovered also that when operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad stormed the clergy’s one-room apartment located on the same building with the church, to effect his arrest, his wife was not at home.

On arrival, she was said to have visited Ikotun, Ejigbo and Idimu police stations in search for her husband. She was said to have also raised alarm that he could have been abducted by men in police uniform.

But when news of her husband’s alleged indulgence in criminal activities reached her, she was said to have been spelled bound.

A family friend to the Ibikunles told Crime Guard that, “ she came crying to us that some men in plain clothes came

to pick her husband. But when she discovered the truth at SARSs where we eventually found him, she broke down. At first she did not believe the claim, as she thought it could have been cooked up. But when her husband confessed to her, she said that was the height she could take from him.

“More painful according to her, is the fact that she said she asked her husband where he got the money with which he bought the cars , only for him to tell her it was given to him by someone who got healed of a terminal disease after a deliverance section with him.”

As at the time Crime Guard visited, Mrs Ibikunle was nowhere around the church’s premises. But a neigbour later revealed that she was seen packing her belongings out of the house, with her children. The resident could however, not say her whereabouts. Since the arrest, no church member had reportedly come to worship there.

I spent 14 hours in the bush waiting for the gang members — Pastor Ibikunle.

Speaking with Crime Guard,

S

Pastor Ibikunle revealed that he spent 14 hours in the gang’s hideout, inside a bush in IjebuOde area of Ogun State, on the day of the robbery attack at the international airport.

Hear him, “ Before that day, one of them, Asiwaju, said I should come and administer an oat of secrecy on members of his gang.

I invited them to come to my church but they said they would not want to arouse suspicion. At the end, I went to Ijebu-Ode. I waited at a designated point before a member of the gang came and took me to their hideout inside the bush.

I administered the oath on them about 1pm. You will not understand if I start explaining because it is a spiritual thing. I said some incantation into a horn and added some other things.

I waited there until they came back around 11.30pm.,before leaving next day, with N500,000. I was instructed not to tell any one about what transpired.I swore,that is all my involvement. I never followed them to rob”, he said.

Asked if he informed his wife about his mission, he replied, “ No, I did not. I only told her when leaving that I was going to pray over night for a ‘big man’ who

HOCK and disbelief could best describe the expression on the face of Mrs Owoduni, a popular caterer in Ajah area of the Lagos, who was abducted in February , 2013, following discovery that her abduction was masterminded by his exdriver.

The suspect identified as Ahmed Ajanu,28, was arrested Monday by operatives of the Special AntiRobbery Squad, (SARS), Ikeja , Lagos.

Ahmed and members of his gang were arrested at the verge of abducting another woman.

In this interview with Crime Guard, he admitted to have received N300,000 from the N2 Million paid as ransom for his exboss’ release, disclosing that the gang had its hideout in Epe area of Lagos.

Describing why and how Mrs Awoniyi was kidnapped, Ahmed said, “ I was a private driver to the woman. But while under t heir pay role, she and her husband treated me like a houseboy. They would send me to the market and even asked me to carry things from the car when I returned. I wasn’t happy about it. In fact, I had to work from 6am to 10pm without a moment of rest. Frustrated, I quitted. They are rich but will never give me money even when I worked

•The suspected kidnappers (right) Ahmed Ajani

harder than necessary. Even when I had financial problem and approached them, they never gave me any attention, let alone to help me.

After I left, I met one Ramoni and informed me of my intention to kidnap my ex-boss. I gave him necessary information about them . So, Ahmed, a member of the gang, called her on phone that there was a job he wanted to give her, which would yield millions of naira. When she came, Ahmed told her to wait for the people who would negotiate the job with her. While she was waiting, some men arrived, pointed a gun at her and forced her to follow them to Ebowo area, a community in Epe, from where Ahmed later called the husband with the woman’s phone.

At the end of the negotiation, the sum of N2.5million was paid as ransom before she was released. The money was dropped along Ijebu-Ode Road.

From the sum, I got N300, 000, Rasheed Ramoni got N400, 000, and Ahmed Salau got N300, 000. I earlier lent them N40, 000 for mobilization, which they refunded” The amount I got from my madam’s kidnap made me believe that the job was lucrative. So I decided to continue.

The second kidnap job was brought by Waha, who is also a private driver to a woman.

It was the same system we used because it was the same gang

that did the job. Knowing that the victim bakes, Ahmed called her and told her he had a job for her and when she came we abducted her same way .

Olawale, drove the woman’s car straight to a bush at Ibowo where we dumped her. We even cleared a portion of the bush in order to make her fell comfortable. But she refused to eat the food we bought for her .

Arrested at last

“When Ahmed contacted her husband on the phone that night, he said he would call us in the morning. But after waiting for two hours, we suspected that keeping his response till morning might be a ploy to contact the police to arrest us.

Althoug we warned him not to contact the police if he wanted to see his wife alive. In order to avoid any surprise attack, we decided to relocate the woman”.

But that attempt was frustrated as their victim reportedly raised alarm on noticing movement around the area. Unfortunately for the kidnappers, the movements were from policemen and members of a vigilante group on patrol, who subsequently arrested them and rescued the woman.

The suspects according to the Police would be charged to court soon.

64— SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 6, 2013

Untold story of pastor arrested over robbery Muritala Mohammed International Airport •Dedicates two cars after robbery attack •church deserted by members, sealed •wife absconds with children

BY EVELYN USMAN AND UJU MBANUSI

O

Dedicates cars with members from loot

In this interview with Pastor Ibikunle, he disclosed that his share of the loot was N500,000.

But investigation carried out

by Crime Guard, showed that he might have got more than that.

A suspected member of the gang confirmed Crime Guard’s claim. A further attestation to this claim, was the discovery that Pastor Ibikunle bought two cars apparently from his share of the loot, two weekes later.

During Crime Guard’s visit to The Way of Joy Church located

•The Way of Joy Church

on Alliu Street, Egbe, Thursday, it was discovered that the church was built with planks.And locating the church was a difficult task, as there was no sign board. It took Crime Guard about an hour search to locate it .

On closer look , it was discovered that the church had been sealed. Although, no one agreed to talkabout Pastor Ibikunle and the church when approached, apparently for fear of being arrested .

Finally, a man who pleaded anonymity opened up and asked :“Are you a member of the

,

N Tuesday, Lagos State Police Command, paraded seven suspects of a robbery gang that attacked the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA,Lagos, last month, killed two policemen and injured several others.

Among the suspects, was the General Overseer of The way of Joy church located in Egbe, a Lagos suburb. The clergy , identified as Pastor Ibikunle Olarewaju John, confessed to Crime Guar d during the parade, that he administered an oath of secrecy on the gang members, on the day they attacked the Muritala Mohammed Airport.

Members of the gang discovered to have come all the way from Kwara, Osun, Ibadan and Ogun states, during interrogation, confessed to have attacked same airport last year,where they carted away N600 Million.

They also stormed the airport on again on March 13, 2013 at about 7.30 pm.

But this time around, they were reportedly engaged in a gun battle by two policemen attached to Apapa division said to be on official assignment at the airport. Unfortunately for the policemen, they were gunned down in the process. But before they breathed their last, they managed to kill a member of the gang.

The robbers said to have succeeded in carting away over N10 Million from a Bureau-De change operators, went straight to their hideout inside a bush in Ijebu-Ode, where they shared their loot.

last week and arrested him and before we knew it, we started hearing he was a member of a robbery gang. Even , the whole newspapers in Nigeria carried the news two days ago” Before his arrest, Pastor Ibikunle was said to have dedicated two vehicles ,during which he hosted members of his church and friends to a buffet.

“Although he is an easygoing fellow who by every dint of appearance never exhibited any character of a robber. We usually saw people coming in and out of the church on daily. And on Sundays, there

I am appealing to every member of my church to forgive me for embarrassing them

church”? This reporter shook their heads.

He further said, “ if you know what is good for you, better leave there before you will get yourself into trouble. The white garment church was sealed last week after the arrest of the Pastor.. Some policemen came

,

were usually church services.

Towards the end of the month, he treated his members and friends who came in posh cars to a party, in celebration of his newly purchased cars. It was not long that we heard he bought them with the proceeds

from the robbery operation at the airport. It was after his arrest that I believed the popular saying that facial appearance is indeed deceptive”, another resident who earlier declined to speak on the issue said:

Wife absconded with children

From Crime Guard’s findings, it was discovered also that when operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad stormed the clergy’s one-room apartment located on the same building with the church, to effect his arrest, his wife was not at home.

On arrival, she was said to have visited Ikotun, Ejigbo and Idimu police stations in search for her husband. She was said to have also raised alarm that he could have been abducted by men in police uniform.

But when news of her husband’s alleged indulgence in criminal activities reached her, she was said to have been spelled bound.

A family friend to the Ibikunles told Crime Guard that, “ she came crying to us that some men in plain clothes came

to pick her husband. But when she discovered the truth at SARSs where we eventually found him, she broke down. At first she did not believe the claim, as she thought it could have been cooked up. But when her husband confessed to her, she said that was the height she could take from him.

“More painful according to her, is the fact that she said she asked her husband where he got the money with which he bought the cars , only for him to tell her it was given to him by someone who got healed of a terminal disease after a deliverance section with him.”

As at the time Crime Guard visited, Mrs Ibikunle was nowhere around the church’s premises. But a neigbour later revealed that she was seen packing her belongings out of the house, with her children. The resident could however, not say her whereabouts. Since the arrest, no church member had reportedly come to worship there.

I spent 14 hours in the bush waiting for the gang members— Pastor Ibikunle.

Speaking with Crime Guard,

66—SATURDAY

Vanguard Vanguard,, APRIL 6, 2012

Gov Obi, others praise Uzoh at 50

By OUR REPORTER

A

D

escribing Uzoh as the finest ambassador of Anambra State, Governor Obi said: “I can confidently attest to what he wrote about himself of being an apostle of politics without bitterness. He is a fine politician. We need more people like him,and I pray God to grant him many more years to enable him continue his good works to the state, nation and humanity,” Obi said.

Governor Obi was reechoing the view of Archbishop of Onitsha, Most Rev. Dr. Valerian Maduka Okeke, who praised Uzoh previously when a N350 million-students hostel he donated to the Catholic Church was

I can confidently attest to what he wrote about himself of being an apostle of politics without bitterness

commissioned at Holy Family Youth Village, Amansea, near Awka, for his love for the less privileged.

According to the cleric, Uzoh has touched the less privileged, widows and the needy in society, adding that through his foundation, he had trained thousands of people in the universities and colleges. He also said that the jobless and indigent youths have benefited from Uzoh’s foundation.

The archbishop

distinguished himself as lawyer and defender of human rights to the admiration of Nigerians, should deepen these attributes as the country soldiers

,

I

poured encomiums on Uzoh for his charity, adding that the donation of the hostel building to the church will go a long way in assisting the archdiocese to realise its objective of setting up the youth village.

H

e said that the church was inspired into building the youth village to create a centre where youth could learn moral values and principles that would make them quality members of the society and leaders of

,

tomorrow. He said the church was worried when our youths, especially those on campus, suddenly became social deviants: prostitution, cultism, armed robbery and other un-cultured behaviour as if they were part of the u n i v e r s i t i e s ’ curriculum.

Archbishop Okeke maintained that many people could have being wallowing in ignorance and abject poverty if not for the foundation that assisted them to engage in useful enterprise

while some obtained western education to become equipped and better members of the society.

Also speaking about Uzoh, the Catholic Bishop of Nnewi Diocese, Bishop Hillary Okeke, eulogised Uzoh for his exemplary life at 50.

H

e told the congregation at the All Saints Catholic Parish: “We are celebrating a man whom God raised from a humble background to a colossus.”

He enjoined other well-endowed Nigerians to emulate the good spirit of Uzoh by reaching out to the less privileged because goodness done to humanity is for God. Uzoh’s day of glory had started on March 16,

T

he use of social n e t w o r k s , according to him, should be used in the interest of humanity, as he appealed to the youths to be mindful of hidden dangers of I n f o r m a t i o n Communication Technology, ICT. He urged them to use the ICT gadgets to share moral values, aspirations and evangelise the gospel.

“For it is you who are to receive the torch from the hands of your elders, and to live in the world at the period of the most massive transformations ever realised in its history. It is you who,will shape the society of tomorrow. You will either be saved or perish with it, build with enthusiasm a better world than what we have today,” Uzoh cautioned.

DFU on Ogeah’s interview

By PIUS MORDI n an interview published in a recent edition of Daily Independent newspaper, Delta State Commissioner for Information, Barr.

Chike C. Ogeah, spoke on sundry national issues as well as those relating to the State.

One of such issues is the decision by Barr.

Festus Keyamo to run for public office.

In the said interview, Mr. Ogeah expressed the opinion that Mr. Keyamo, having

when he donated a magnificent students hostel. He had declared that he was motivated to build the hostel to support the church, in its quest to inculcate into our youths lost morals.

Uzoh contended that success cannot be achieved when young ones engage in useless and uncreative enterprise that would be counter-productive to their aspiration. He stated that brighter future and success are achieved through dint of hard work, while he enjoined youths to harken to the advice on hard work instead of sitting on the fence resting on their oars.

•Dr Uzoh

•Governor Obi

,

nambra State Governor Peter Obi, gave what could pass for g o v e r n o r s h i p endorsement recently when he told the congregation of Catholic faithful and others that one of the illustrious sons of the state had done much that everybody was proud of him.

Speaking about Dr. Obinna Uzoh, at the All Saints Catholic Parish, Ihiala, at a special Mass to mark in the philanthropist’s 50 th birthday and 25 th anniversary of humanitarian service, on March 17, Obi said that Uzoh is a “humane and good man whose philanthropy has not only manifested in charity to the church and humanity but also the entire society.”

a group, the Delta Forces Union (DFU), which used unsavoury words to input uncharitable interpretations into a personal view from Mr.

inalienable right to seek public office through election. The advice to Mr. Keyamo to shun politics was personal and borne out of the perception

It is rather with profound shock that we read of the reaction of a group

on in the democratic journey.

It is rather with profound shock that we read of the reaction of

Ogeah.

As a lawyer himself, Mr. Ogeah appreciates the works of Mr. Keyamo as well as his

,

that having carved a niche for himself within the human rights community, he should continue to serve

society better with his advocacy role.

Besides, as Commissioner for Information in Delta State where the incumbent governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, is legally no longer qualified to seek another term, the state government has no role in determining who emerges as governor in 2015.

Therefore, neither Dr. Uduaghan nor his team has any business in scaring away any Deltan from contesting

for the position of governor of the state or indeed, any position within the jurisdiction of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as wrongly inputted by DFU. Mr. Ogeah’s antecedents speak for him and anytime he says something, violence or mischief of any sort should not be inputted at all.

Pius Mordi is Special Assistant to Delta State Commissioner for Information,Asaba.

SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 6, 2013—67

Renewed crisis between Tiv farmers and Fulani herdsmen claims lives of three Police officers

BY PETER DURU, Makurdi

F

rom Gwer West to Guma and from Gwer to Otukpo down to Makurdi, its same sad story of killings and bloodbath occasioned by conflicts between the natives of these communities and invading fulani herdsmen.

Sadly, the hinterlands of Benue state are gradually becoming threaters of wars where the rules of engagements are in brazen disregard for the sanctity of human life.

Children are slaughtered, women are killed and houses and farmlands are razed while the old and elderly continue to bury their childern almost at a monthly basis.

Unfortunately, the authorities have decided to turn deef ears to the wanton destruction of lives and property of

Children are slaughtered women are killed and houses and farmlands are razed while the old and elderly continue to bury their childern almost at a monthly basis native farmers of Benue state by the invading herdsmen who in company of mercenaries, glide through Benue communitites unresisted; killing and destroying any living thing in sight.

Just few days ago, two per-

sons were slaughtered by herdsmen at Uvir community during a fishing festival at Ake Lake in Guma local government area, and the outcry that trailed that killing had hardly died down when another five were just two days ago slaughtered in Gwer West local government area.

In this instance, three police officers and two others were among those who were reportedly killed in the fresh conflict between Fulani herdsmen and nativeTiv farmers at Anguwah village of Gwer West local government area of the state.

Saturday Vanguard gathered from sources that the crisis erupted in the community on Friday afternoon after a Fulani herdsman allegedly stole the honey of a bee farmer in the village.

According to our source, “unknown to the herdsman, one of the children of the bee farmer was watching him as he stole the honey from the pot and he alerted his father

who confronted the Fulani man. ”And because of the prolonged bottled animosity between Tiv farmers and the herdsmen, the situation escalated leading to killings and destruction of property and farmland,” he said.

When contacted on the issue on telephone, the Gwer West local government council chairman, Mrs. Eunice Mbajwa confirmed that the issue was initially resolved amicably, but that the Fulani herdsman later mobilized his kinsmen who attacked the village around 6pm same Friday.

Mrs Mbajwa who said she informed the Benue state police command of the incident however regretted that while the mobile policemen were on their way to the village in an Hilux vehicle in the company of the security officer of the council, they were ambushed by the herdsmen who killed all the occupants of the vehicle including the three p o l i c e m e n .

According to the chairman, “I was informed of the little skirmish between the Fulani man and the Tiv bee farmer, and I immediately alerted the police.

“But around 6pm that Friday, somebody phoned and informed me that some Fulani men had crossed the river in three boats and were armed to the teeth and when I heard this, I immediately called the police and they swiftly swung into action.

“I later gathered that one of the security officers in my council and three mobile police men who were on their way in an Hilux vehicle to keep surveillance in the area were ambushed and killed.”

She disclosed that the rampaging herdsmen burnt down many houses and farmlands, after shooting some villagers who were rushed to a hospital in Naka, headquarters of the council for medical attention.

When contacted, the Benue State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, DSP Daniel Ezealo disclosed that the police had confirmed the death of two police officers adding that the third might have been abducted. ”I can confirm that two policemen were killed but we strongly believe that the third was abducted because we are yet to trace him or know his whereabout but our men are still searching for him,” he stressed.

Ezealo said the command had drafted more men into the troubled community to beef up security and check further escalation of the conf l i c t .

Saturday Vanguard recalls that only recently, the paramount ruler of Nagi Kingdom of Gwer West Local government, HRH Chief Daniel Abomste had called on the federal government to create grazing routes for herdsmen across the country in order to avert skirmishes and further loss of innocent lives in many Benue communities.

Abomste had warned that the continued destruction of the farmlands of Benue farmers by the invading herdsmen and their cattle would continue to be a major reason for conflicts in Benue communities.

Sadly, despite this outcry and warnings, nothing has been done by the authorities to check the unending conflicts between herdsmen and the natives of Benue state which have claimed hundreds of lives in the last decade.

SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 6, 2013—68

SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 6, 2013—69

70—SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 6, 2013

C M Y K

SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 6, 2013—71

C M Y K

SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 6, 2013

Confederations Cup: Muculmana crush Lobi Stars 7-1 leg in Makurdi. They

N

IGERIA’s Confederations Cup representatives, Lobi Stars yesterday in Maputo, Mozambique suffered a humiliating defeat in the hands of Liga Muculmana who

handed them a 7-1 thumping to make history as the first club to record such high scoring defeat in the competition.

Lobi entered the game in Maputo with a 3-1 advantage from the first

Don’t disunite Eagles, Chukwu tells Yobo, Keshi

FIFA backs S/Africa’s match-fixing probe

BY BEN EFE

F

ORMER Super Eagles captain and coach, Christian Chukwu has called on Joseph Yobo, current captain of the team and coach Stephen Keshi who led the team to a victorious run at the last Africa Cup of Nations to sheath their sword otherwise their on-going feud could spell doom for the national team.

Yobo and Keshi have been engaged in a war of words over the omission of the longest serving member of the Eagles from the list of World Cup qualifiers and series of other matches including friendlies and the Confederations Cup in Brazil in June.

Chukwu said: “I expected more maturity from the captain and the coach.

There is no need for what I will describe as a press war. If there was any issue, I reckon that it should be sorted out amicably for the betterment of the team. Yobo should have called Keshi to find out why he was not in the team. And I expected Keshi to have explained to his captain why he was dropped.

Yobo is still an important member of the team. He will come in handy in the mobilization of the

•Chukwu

even went ahead to score the first goal of the match in the 19th minute, but by the all their confidence crumbled after Muculmana equalised and scored two more goals before the break.

After the break the Mozambicans turned on the screw on the Lobi Stars defence and they fell apart like a pack of cards conceding four goals. The last goal was a penalty, which was conceded by Lobi keeper, who fouled an onrushing attacker, he was given the marching orders.

T

•Keshi players, but he should not expect to be in the field all the time. The decision for him to play or not squarely rests with coach.

The Eagles cannot afford this kind of distraction after they won the Nations Cup in South Africa. The team must be united more than ever, this kind of bickering is capable of breeding disunity,” said Chukwu who captained the Eagles to their first Nations Cup win in 1980. As a coach he led the team to a third place finish at the 2004 Nations Cup in Tunisia.

Yobo with 94 appearances for the national team was used sparingly by Keshi during the Nations Cup in South Africa.

In his defence, Keshi said that “The truth is that Kenneth Omeruo and Godfrey Oboabona playing in the central defence have been doing well. So calling Yobo for a game like that of Kenya and then dropping him to the bench or out of the team would be demeaning to him.”

•Yobo But Yobo would not take that excuse and insisted that he has been disrespected by Keshi.

“I have been with the

national team for more than 10 years, I don’t expect to play every game if I can’t give my all. But [Keshi’s] attitude was

Today’s matches Reading Norwich Stoke West Brom

v v v v

S’hampton Swansea Aston Villa Arsenal

12.45pm 3pm 3pm 3pm

CROSS WORD PUZZLE Across 1 France National President, Francois – (8) 5 Kazakhastan Currency Unit – (4) 7 Flamingoes (U-17) Goalkeeper, Amina – (3) 8 Couple – (4) 9 German “Bundesliga” Premiership Club – (4) 10 L.G.A in Borno State – (5) 12 Romania Capital City – (9) 16 Country in Africa – (5) 18 Respond – (5) 19 Former United Nations Secretary-General, Mr. Kofi – (5) 21 England Premiership Club Side – (9) 24 Muslim Religion – (5) 27 L.G.A in Niger State – (4) 28 Egg-Shaped – (4) 29 Deity – (3) 30 L.G.A in Abia State – (4) 31 Former Nigerian President, Chief Olusegun – (8) Down

1 L.G.A. In Adamawa State – (4) 2 Young Sheep – (4) 3 Former Super Eagles Striker, Jonathan – (9) 4 Our Planet – (5) 5 P.D.P National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga – (5) 6 Number – (8) 11 Akwa-Ibom State Capital – (3) 13 Loud Noise – (5) 14 Former Ghanaian President, John – (9) 15 L.G.A in Edo State – (5) 16 Mali “Les Aigles”National Coach, Patrice – (8) 17 Bird’s House – (4) 20 Town in Abia State – (3) 22 NYSC Director-General, Maharazu – (5) 23 Former Enugu State Governor, Okwesilieze – (5) 25 France “Ligue 1” Club-Side – (4) 26 Former Super Falcons Coach, Ismaila – (4)

quite disappointing. I’ve never demanded special treatment, only to be given the same respect I’ve given to all my coaches and the country.

“I won’t be around forever but we need to halt the sad exit episodes.

When you treat older players badly the younger ones are witnessing a terrible trend.”

Goalkeeper Vincent 1

2

3

HE match-fixing scandal involving the South African national team is to be investigated by an independent enquiry backed by Fifa.

“This long-standing open case is harming South African football,” said Fifa secretary general Jerome Valcke.

“It is vital this matter is concluded soon, with the culprits sanctioned under the zero tolerance policy.”

Fifa found the 2010 World Cup warm-ups against Bulgaria, Thailand, Colombia and Guatemala had been fixed.

This briefly led to the suspension of South Africa FA (Safa) president Kirsten Nematandani who was later reinstated.

Nematandani was present at Friday ’s meeting between Valcke and South Africa Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula.

Enyeama and the team’s deputy captain also spoke in the same respect. He said it was depressing that Yobo could be treated with levity after all his contributions to the team.

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SOLUTION on page 63

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