Police shuts 'Nes PDP' office

C M Y K

PAGE 2—SUNDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 8, 2013

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SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 8, 2013 — PAGE 5

Police shuts ‘New PDP’ office Continued from page 1

policemen stayed around the APC, others were seated in a nearby restaurant.

office, situated at Plot 3206A, No 4, Oyi River Crescent, Maitama, Abuja under lock and key, just as former President Olusegun Obasanjo was fingered as the brain behind the factionalisation of the ruling party.

The same Obasanjo led some elders of the PDP on a trouble shooting mission on Friday which ended in a deadlock.

A top leader of the ruling party described Obasanjo’s involvement in the truce effort as pretentious.

The PDP broke into two penultimate Saturday after a group of members, led by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and six governors namely, Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Adbdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara), Aliyu Babangida (Niger), Aliyu Magatakadar Wammako (Sokoto), Musa Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano) and Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), staged a walk out from the party’s special national convention holding at the Eagle Square and, less than one hour later, announced the emergence of their own faction of the PDP and named some members as top officials of the party. Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State has since joined the group to make the ‘rebel’ governors seven.

The Baraje faction, aka New PDP, yesterday, described the siege by the police to its office as a flagrant violation of a court order that stopped the Alhaji Bamangar Tukur-led PDP from interfering with its affairs.

It faulted the police action which it said was executed on the grounds of a non-existent court injunction which the Tukur-led National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP claimed to have obtained on Friday.

But the Tukur NWC hailed the police action which, according to it, was in response to the court order which emphasised the retention of the status quo.

The sealed factional PDP secretariat was said to have been inspected by Baraje and Lamido on Friday ahead of its formal commissioning anytime this week.

When Sunday Vanguard visited the premises at about 3:44pm yesterday, an armoured personnel carrier APC, was positioned at the entrance of the street while armed policemen, numbering about 10, were seen around. Just as some of the

‘We are not leaving’

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fforts to get close to the gate of the PDP factional secretariat by journalists proved futile as the policemen, who had their eyes fixed on every move, sprang to their feet, threatening to punish them.

One of the policemen, who bragged, said, “We are not leaving here until we hear from the Presidency. We have taken over the place for now.”

The property, as gathered, was the headquarters of the National Democratic Party, NDP, even as the gate of the building was painted in the red, white and green colours of the PDP, while the partially covered signpost on the building revealed an insignia similar to that of the PDP. Yesterday’s incident came barely twenty fours after Obasanjo led other elders of the party on the trouble shooting mission and met with the leaders of the PDP and aggrieved governors.

The Baraje-led ‘New PDP’, however, wondered why Tukur, who appeared before the elders meeting of the party, on Friday, in an atmosphere geared towards peace in the PDP, could, about 12 hours later, start what it termed a round of acts of impunity.

Though the Obasanjo led-meeting was deadlocked as the issues raised by the elders and the advice given did not go well with the Baraje-led faction as they stormed out, the former president said the meeting became imperative for them as elders to intervene and save the party from total collapse. The elders also met with some proJonathan governors.

Both meetings were inconclusive, though there were assurances from the elders that the two factions will once again come together as one indivisible party members.

Obasanjo disclosed that discussions and consultations would continue.

Also at the meeting were former Military President Ibrahim Babangida; Chairman, Board of Trustees of the PDP, BoT, Chief Tony Anenih; two former National Chairmen, Dr. Ahmadu Ali and Senator Barnabas Gemade; even as Obasanjo apologised on behalf of former Vice President Alex Ekwueme and Chief Solomon Lar who were not in the country, and said they were being carried along.

Sunday Vanguard also gathered that after the meetings, the elders went into a closed door meeting to

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harmonise opinions and issues raised by the groups.

The elders meetings with the groups lasted about five hours as the meetings started around 10am and ended 2.30 pm.

Tukur was accompanied to the meeting by the National Auditor, Adewale Adeyanju, the Acting National Secretary, Aderemi Akitoye; and Governors Henry SeriakeDickson of Bayelsa State, Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State; Jonah Jang of Plateau; Liyel Imoke of Cross River; Idris Wada of Kogi; Theodore Orji of Abia; Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta; Ibrahim Shema of Katsina and Isa Yuguda of Bauchi while Baraje was accompanied by Lamido, Wamakko and Amaechi, the faction’s Secretary, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, the Deputy National Chairman, Dr. Sam Sam Jaja, Senator Bukola Saraki, Senator Abdullahi Adamu and Senator Danjuma Goje.

From left: Mallam Iyau Darazo, Special Assistant to General Buhari; Dr Olubiyi Adesina; Mr Femi Adesina, President, Nigerian Guild of Editors and Deputy Managing Director, The Sun Newspapers; Prof.Tam David-West, a for mer Minister of Petroleum; General Muhammad Buhari, a former Head of State; Professor Tayo Adesina; and Mallam Salman Yussuf, representing General Ibrahim Babangida; during an interdenominational commendation service for the late Mama Ruphina Olajumoke Adesina, mother of Mr Femi Adesina, at Regency Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos. Photo by Lamidi Bamidele.

’Height of impunity’

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eacting to the closure of the secretariat of the Baraje-led PDP, yesterday, the faction’s National Secretary, Oyinlola, who noted that they were not surprised by the action taken by the Tukur-led PDP, however, described it as the height of impunity, adding that security forces were mobilised to seal the office based on a non-existent court injunction which the Tukur NWC claimed to have obtained on Friday.

In a statement, Oyinlola said, “ The whole world knows that Justice E. Chukwu of the Federal High Court, Abuja on Friday refused to grant Alhaji Bamanga Tukur’s application for an ex parte injunction against our party’s executive.

The judge asked parties to maintain the status quo. His judgment was a reinforcement of an early order of the Lagos High Court which also asked parties to maintain the status quo. Now, should Nigerians conclude that Tukur ’s interpretation of status quo is this crude display of naked power and undisguised impunity?” ”The statement continued, we are not at all surprised at this occurrence given the fact that Tukur issued a statement on Friday evening deliberately seeking to mislead the media and the public that Justice Chukwu granted him an injunction against us. We are happy that the ever vigilant Nigerian press ignored him and his falsehood. Now, he is not only wilfully disobeying the various courts which have made pronouncements on this matter, he is spicing up his love for impunity with this reckless misuse of state power by misleading the police. ” We call for an immediate removal of the siege to our secretariat. We call on the Inspector General of police to order the immediate removal of his men from our office.

Doing so, we believe, will serve the interest of justice, rule of law and democracy. Nigeria is a country ruled by law and not by might and force. ”We hasten to say that if this move is aimed at breaking our spirit, that goal is definitely off the mark. We are determined to rescue our party from the lawlessness and crass arrogance that have defined the character of the Tukur

*NO ENTRY: The ‘New PDP’ office, locked up by the police yesterday. leadership since inception. Our party needs that deliverance, its members deserve the change we have brought into it.”

We are protecting status quo – Tukur NWC

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n a response, yesterday, the Tukur NWC hailed the closure of the Baraje PDP faction secretariat, stressing that in was in line with a court order.

In a statement by the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, the NWC stressed that the injunction granted by the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Friday, clearly affirmed the leadership of the party under the Chairmanship of Tukur.

According to the PDP, ordering that the parties in the dispute maintain status quo ante bellum until the determination of the case, “the court clearly granted the request of the PDP that the group led by Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje should not operate or be recognized by INEC”.

Metuh continued: “The sealing of the secretariat opened by the Baraje group was in line with the order of the court which held that the splinter group should not operate or parade themselves as leaders of the PDP until the hearing of the suit before it. ”Our attention has been drawn to reports by a section of the media erroneously suggesting that the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja did not accede to our prayer that INEC should not recognize the so-called new PDP led by Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje. ”For the avoidance doubt, the position of the Federal High Court is clear. By ordering that the two parties maintain status quo ante bellum, the court has clearly ordered the Baraje group to stop all its activities including

operating a secretariat while it affirmed the leadership of the PDP under Alhaji Bamanga Tukur. ”By the order of the court, no person is authorized by law to open a secretariat or operate under the name, colour and flag of the PDP other than the one led

by Alhaji Bamanaga Tukur. The sealing off of the secretariat opened by the Baraje group under the name, colour and flag of the PDP is therefore in order and in line with the law.”

‘In defence of Oyinlola’

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n the meantime, the Osun State leaders of the PDP loyal to Oyinlola have risen in his defence.

The defence is in reaction to the Elders Forum of the party in the state which on Thursday warned PDP members from associating with the former governor of the state for his role in the formation of the new PDP. But a stakeholders forum of the party in Osun, in a statement in Osogbo yesterday, put its weight behind the factional National Secretary, describing the threat to sanction him by the state chapter of the PDP as empty.

The PDP stakeholders, under the aegis of Osun PDP Concerned Forum, also decried the leadership of the party in the state for taking sides in the current imbroglio within the PDP. Solution to crisis lies with Jonathan – Fani-Kayode Also, yesterday, a former aviation minister, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, said the solution to the PDP crisis resided with President Goodluck Jonathan listening to Obasanjo by

Continues on page 6

PAGE 6 —SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 8, 2013

Alake, at 70, pleads with Boko Haram to stop killings

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

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HE Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, has pleaded with members of Boko Haram to stop killing people, saying no one can fight for God. Gbadebo stated this yesterday at a press conference held at Ake palace, Abeokuta to herald a - week -long activities to mark the traditional ruler ’s 70th birthday.

The monarch, while sharing his thoughts on Nigeria’s insecurity and unity in Egbaland, expressed satisfaction that he had reformed the process of conferring traditional chieftaincy titles on deserving personalities.

The paramount ruler submitted that he remained fulfilled and had no regrets in his life, tasking Nigerians on the need to be securityconscious and maintain peaceful co-existence in order to move the country forward.

Gbadebo also appealed to all citizens to jettison religious and ethnic strife, which, he

noted, could lead to the destruction of the nation.

“Nigeria today is not what it used to be 20, 30 years ago; there is so much insecurity. I want to appeal to all Nigerians: security for one is security for all,”he stressed. “ We all have to very vigilant and not think that only the police, the SSS and others would make us secured. We have to be more vigilant.

“I also appeal to those who want to fight for God to leave God alone to fight for Himself. You

cannot force anybody to share your own thoughts or your way of worship.

Let religion not be a dividing factor for us, let it not cut our country into pieces.

“Sectarian strife wherever it is found in any part of the world always destroys that place; it never makes anything.

Let us maintain peace and cordiality among ourselves. Let us be our brother ’s keeper and the nation will move forward in peace and tranquility, in progress and brother lines”.

From left: Chief Fred Agbeyegbe, the Grand Living Legend of Nigeria Theatre, Barr. Tunde Braimoh, Real Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu (rtd), former Lagos State Governor, the celebrant, Chief and Mrs Ayo Opadokun, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, former Gov. of Ogun State and Dr. Amos Akingba, cutting the birthday cake, as Chief Ayo Opadokun marked his 67th birthday anniversary at Multi- Puposes Hall LV, Ikeja Lagos. Photo By Diran Oshe

PDP factions fight dirty Continued from page 5 dropping his rumoured intention to return to office in 2015. ‘’The only hope left for the PDP is if President Goodluck Jonathan listens to former President Olusegun Obasanjo and those behind him and drops his 2015 ambition.

Failing that the fight in the

PDP will never end”, FaniKayode said in a statement. He went on: “The truth is that Obasanjo is one of the greatest political strategists that Nigeria has ever known and he is an extremely dangerous adversary. I know him well and his ways are deep. Ori Baba le ga ni.

Go and find out what happened to all those that betrayed him or tried to kill him. Their end is never

good. Those close to Jonathan would do well to advise him to get on his knees and beg his political mentor. Only Obasanjo, with the help and support of President Ibrahim Babangida and Vice President Abubakar Atiku, has the power, authority and moral gravitas within the PDP to call the dissidents to order and rally their support. Without

that, President Goodluck Jonathan is finished and he should just wave goodbye to his 2015 re-election ambitions. The APC, with the support of the PDP dissidents, will form the next Federal Government of Nigeria. That is the way to go. PDP as we once knew her has gone forever. The ship has hit the rocks and she has sunk to the bottom of the sea. She is dead and buried and my prayer is that her soul rests in perfect peace’’.

‘Elders truce terms for Jonathan’

In a related development, Sunday Vanguard learnt, late yesterday, that the Obasanjo-led Elders’ Committee, which met with the feuding PDP groups on Friday, has listed some conditions that are expected to be tabled before Jonathan on Monday.

Some of the recommendations, it was gathered, include but are

not limited to the following: *That the Adamawa State chapter of the party be returned to Nyako - he was in control before the Tukur-led NWC started issuing conflicting statements, leading to the institution of a new state chapter EXCO; *That the Rivers State Chapter Exco be returned to Amaechi; *That there should be a review of some of the perceived anomalies at the Special National Convention, as observed by the aggrieved governors; *That the suspension of Amaechi be lifted and in accordance with the party’s constitution; and *That the President should meet with Jang and Amaechi with a view to resolving the crisis in the Nigeria Governors Forum, NGF. The elders are expected to present their recommendations to Jonathan tomorrow.

DESOPADEC Commissioner lauds Uduaghan

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he Commissioner representing Ndokwa Nation in DESOPADEC, Sir Kenny Okolugbo, has charged the Ndokwa people to keep supporting the administration of Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan and the PDP. He made this known while donating a Toyota Hiace bus to HostCom Oil and Gas, Ukwuani chapter on behalf of DESOPADEC. Hon Festus Utuama Commissioner Uhrobo Nation representing the board Chairman Oristua Kpogho lauded the excellent performance of the commission having achieved 72% of budget performance, adding that DESOPADEC is

fully aligned with the three point agenda of the government which are infrastructural and human capital development; peace and security.

In the same vain the Commissioner representing Urhobo nation in Desopadec Chief Ominimini Obiuvwebi has charged the urhobo people to keep supporting the administration of Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan dfor the wonderful things he is doing in Desopadec, he made this view known while donation a toyota Hiace bus to HOSTCOM oil and Gas Ethiope East chapter on behalf of Desopadec.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 8, 2013, PAGE 7

Presidency begs kidnappers to release Ozekhome

•Police close-in on suspects

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

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HE Presidency has condemned in strong terms the kidnapping of human right activist, Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, and passionately appealed to his abductors for his release.

It expressed shock over the incident. Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, Hon Kingsley Kuku, who spoke on behalf of the Presidency, yesterday, was out of the country on official engagement when Ozekhome was seized along the Benin–Auchi road. Kuku described the abduction as unthinkable, barbaric and a grievous sin against God and humanity.

He noted that besides his laudable contribution to the development of the nation’s judiciary, Ozekhome had, through his unrelenting advocacy for equity,

justice, fairness and good governance, remained in the frontline of collective efforts at transforming the lives of the poor and downtrodden.

Expressing concern over the resurgence of kidnapping in some parts of the Niger Delta, particularly in Edo State, Kuku, who is also chairman of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, advised those engaged in kidnapping and other heinous crimes as a means of livelihood to shun criminality and take advantage of the various youth empowerment, development and employment initiatives under the transformation agenda of the President Goodluck Jonathan administration.

He said that while the Federal Government is fully committed to creating job opportunities for youths in the Niger Delta region and other partsof thecountry, unemployment was no justification for anyone to engage in bra-

zen acts of crime and criminality, as the full weight of the law will take its course.

Meanwhile, there were indications, yesterday, that Edo State Police Commissioner, Mr Folunso Adebanjo, and his counterpart in Delta State, Ikechukwu Aduba, may have perfected plans to secure the release of Ozekhome.

Sources spoke of marathon meetings convened by Adebanjo and Aduba on Friday and yesterday, mapping out strategies on how to secure the release of the kidnapping victim and other people abducted alongside him unhurt. The sources said the police appeared to have identified where the victims were kept by their abductors and were strategizing on how to deal with the situation in order to avoid casualties.

It was learnt that top police officers and crack team of detectives were involved in the meeting, giving signals that they may embark on a commando

mission. Efforts made to get the Edo CP to comment on the development proved abortive as calls to his cell phone were unanswered.

Also, yesterday, the Executive Director of Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice, Reverend David Ugolor, appealed to the kidnappers to release Ozekhome.

Ugolor made the appeal while speaking during the Human Rights Defenders meeting.

From left: Ogun State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mrs. Abimbola Akeredolu; Chairman, Ogun State Internal Revenue Service (OGIRS), Mr. Jide Odubanjo; and Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Yusuph Olaniyonu; during a press briefing on the alleged assault on OGIRS officials at the Kingdom Heritage Nursery School, located within Winners Chapel, Ota, Ogun State.

FEMALE LAWYER STUNS IMMIGRATION

‘I paid N1.5million for mystery baby’

BY EMMA UNA

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lawyer from Cameroon, Mrs Ngala Norgu Julia, has been arrested by men of the Cross River State Command of the Nigerian Immigration Service,

NIS, for allegedly being in possession of a oneweek -old baby girl which she claimed she was delivered of by a herbalist at Okitiputa, Ondo State.

Mr Samuel Igochi, the Comptroller of Immigration, Cross River State Command, said Ngala was arrested by the Intelligence and Investigation Team of the Service at the Calabar port while trying to smuggle the baby to Cameroon. “She claimed a herbalist in Okitikpupa, Ondo State gave her some herbs which she took in November 2012 after which she got pregnant and delivered the baby but there are no signs in her that she actually delivered that baby”, Ogochi said.

According to him, a team was constituted to examine her but, after due examination, there were no signs that she actually delivered the baby.

“Since the 1st of September 2013 which she gave as the date for her delivery, her breasts were not able to produce milk as is always the case with every birth which is

quite unusual”, the NIS boss stated.

“She then said she paid the sum of N1.5 million to the woman who delivered her of the baby . Why such a whooping sum for just delivery which is not by Caesarean process?”.

He said the child would be handed over to the National Agency Against Trafficking in Persons, NATIP, for upkeep till the determination of the case since the NIS is not a baby factory. “Taking care of such a baby is very expensive and time demanding and since the Nigerian Immigration Service is not equipped to handle such responsibility, we will hand over the child like the one we had two weeks ago to NAPTIP in Uyo” Ngala, who was accompanied by another Cameroonian lady, M r s Mende Cecila Fru, said she heard about the Okitipupa clinic assisting women to deliver children supernaturally and so she had to borrow money and came to Nigeria to consult the woman and she was given herbal medicine which she took and and got pregant.

Uduaghan, Oshiomhole, Dickson others for GCUOBA fund-raising

BY DAYO ADESULU

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RESIDENT-GEN ERAL, Worldwide of Government College Ughelli Old Boys’ Association, Chief (Engr) Joseph Jemine Akpieyi, has announced GCUOBA second national fundraising dinner slated for

Thursday at Congress Hall, Transcorp Hilton, Abuja.

Speaking at a press conference in Lagos, he noted that although the Old Boys had done remarkably well to resurrect the college for the present generation of students, its buildings, sick bay, laboratories and library are crying for immediate at-

tention.

According to him, “Eminent personalities expected to grace the occasion are Honourable Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Alhaji Bala Mohammed, governor of Delta State, Dr Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan, Minister of Education, Prof Ruqayyatu Rufa’I and Bayelsa State governor, Chief Seriaki Dickson.

Others include, governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, Group Managing Director of NNPC, Engr Andrew Yakubu and former Vice-President of Nigeria, Dr. Alex Ekwueme as distinguished chairman.”

PAGE 8 —SUNDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 8, 2013

Forget Ghana, consider Nigeria’s best private universities –1

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and which we are working to send to an early grave by our utterances and conduct. Ask any Nigerian the question: “Which is better, Nigerian or Ghanaian universities system?” The likely answer will be: “Ghanaian”. And he will “prove” the point by drawing your attention to the $500 million (N80 billion) Nigerians spend annually sending their kids to universities in Ghana. You will also be told about the frequent ASUU strikes, in Nigeria, which don’t occur in Ghana. Yet, probably, never has so much ignorance been adduced to support a fallacy as on this one subject.

The truth is, most of the expenditure on Ghanaian university education is wasted because, right here, in Nigeria, there are private universities offering quality education comparable to any in the world in certain disciplines. Furthermore, ASUU strikes affect only public universities. Private universities, as this article is being written, are carrying on with their stated missions of educating our kids as if they exist in another country. Most of the best have never been shut down from the day they opened their gates to the new intakes.

In case you are wondering where I am going, let me quickly declare the mission – which started about five years ago. As a frequent

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Most of the expenditure on Ghanaian university education is wasted because, right here, in Nigeria, there are private universities offering quality education comparable to any in the world in certain disciplines

ence and frustration felt by these young people. Nigeria cannot afford to dice with the education of our young people.

No quibbles, education should be a priority not an option, how do we expect to compete in the world market, if our young people cannot get a decent, consistent and thorough education?

They will vote with their feet and go elsewhere. No wonder there is a proliferation of private universities in Nigeria.

Problem with that is that only the rich can afford to go to these inflated establishments. So, the gulf between the classes will continue to widen and impact seriously on the future of Nigeria and in all area of economics and development.It is going to create more unrest, fuel more resentment and about time the government stop pontificating and invest in our public universities.

This strike has been going long enough, since July as the negotiation between the union and the govern-

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ANCHOR University in Ogun State. Yet nobody can miss it going to Ibadan from Lagos before reaching Redeem Camp. There will be more on the unlisted private universities later.

Borrowing a leaf from the attempt by private sector assessors, over ten years ago, to find the best American companies, which resulted in the best-selling book, IN SEARCH OF EXCELLENCE, I decided, four years ago, to go in search of the best universities in Nigeria. Not surprisingly, I have found several good private Nigerian universities – which will feature on

sa, Delta and Cross River have none. Where is all the revenue allocation on account of 13% derivation, without onshore-offshore dichotomy, for which Victor Attah fought? Or the huge allocations to the NDDC and the Ministry of Niger Delta and the newly created private wealth on account of crude oil theft, by the indigenes, going?

Let me end this segment by providing two teasers arising from my four years of “I went, I looked and I documented” with regard to private universities. First, the arguably best private university is not in the

ment stalls, the level of uncertainty is bordering on negligence and criminality. In all 60 public university staff have downed tools and closed our seats of learning. It is unfathomable that in the last fifteen years, three years is far too long to deprive young people of their academic and

was a deluge of snow storm and it prevented workers, students and commuters getting to and from work and schools. The delay cost was rounded in billions and that was days not months. It is bad enough when the condition of our universities has been described as “on life support to (and) critical”.

The education of our young people should be a priority not an option. With about 1.25m students are enrolled in Nigerian public universities, Nigeria allocation to education is far lower than its neighbouring and least populous nations.

Nigeria’s annual average budgetary education expenditure during the last two decades was 5.8%, whereas Niger spent 28%; Côte d’Ivoire 30%; Burkina Faso 16.8%; Liberia 11.9%; Gambia 14.2%; Ghana 30% ; South Africa, 19.3% of its annual budget on education, while Egypt committed 11.1% on average and Kenya 23%.So it is lunacy when you pay peanuts and expects gold nuggets.

The government response to the impasse is that they have increased the allocation to education from $ 2.6 to $2.8 but not by much to the union’s frustration.

In neighbouring Ghana they are investing 30% in education, so no wonder Nigerian students are going to Ghana to study.

In a country where over

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Education in Nigeria: Status critical “Education costs money, but then so does ignorance.”

— Sir Claus Moser couple of days ago, I was watching Al jazeera, where the presenter, had mentioned a special feature exchanging information about the current situation that Nigerian university students who are facing prolong the Nigerian’s Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike.

Reading the messages left by numerous students, is quite shocking and it saddens me to the core. One student listed his day to day activities as sleep, breakfast, sleep, do nothing, lunch and sleep some more. Well, what else can they do? There is an obvious feeling of hopelessness and they say: idleness is the devil’s workshop.

Without a doubt, this prolonged strike is affecting these young people and their immediate family.

One very clear message from the number of comments I read on AJstream is the resentment, despond-

traveler, by road, in this country, I had noticed the growing number of private universities. The figures are startling. There were only three private universities in 1999; the number climbed to nineteen by 2005; today, the National University Commission lists 50 approved private universities.

But, I know there are more than fifty. For instance, the NUC website does not list

,

“The truth is not so often made apparent as people might think”, Joseph Conrad, 1857-1924.

“Nothing is more costly than ignorance”, American professional con man. 1976.

VERY monumental task I have assigned myself on this page, since the first article appeared in August 1994, always calls for too quotations. It invariably marks my departure from the tedium of present economic, social and political crises on which everybody is focused – especially my cocolumnists writing for every paper. For the next few weeks, I want to leave others to worry about Suntai, Madame President, ASUU versus FG, PDP (except the comment below on the break up of PDP) and other political organizations.

They will all soon pass into history – some gloriously, most as villains. Incidentally, the Action Group, the N.C.N.C and the NPC remain our best efforts. In thirty years virtually all the main actors on the social, economic and political stages would have been rewarded with dust in the face in a cemetery somewhere. I will be there too; to be eaten by worms.

One thing will certainly outlive all of us – in one shape or another. That is the Nigerian university system, which is still in its infancy;

these pages. But, please bear in mind that the few highlighted have not exhausted the list of excellent universities in our country – some of which are relatively unknown and un-patronised – even when they have vacancies. For parents, kids, the universities, and Nigeria this is a colossal waste of resources. By my rough estimate, at least half of the $500 million thrown at Ghana can be saved and all the stakeholders will benefit; so will the Nigerian economy.

As can be expected, majority of the private universities are located in the Southwest and Southeast.

For reason which I have not yet discovered, the Southsouth has established less than five. Akwa Ibom State has only one. Bayel-

Those in government should know they would not have had an education if the public universities in their days were not available or accessible to many

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personal lives. The impasse is not isolated to these young people, it affects f a m i l i e s w h o have practically invested financially. Their lives also are put on hold; the community is robbed of young men and women and the country well, a lot of money and manpower is lost. Billions of Naira is haemorrhaging due to the delay, it is a very big problem in the full scheme of things and I don’t think that the powers that be fully grasps the dire implications of their inertia.

Last year, in the UK there

South; it is not even in the Centre of Excellence. It is in the most educationally backward zone in the country – the Northeast. Though in Adamawa State, it is as secure as any campus in the world.

Second, if you are a parent; and you love golf as much as you insist on excellent university education for your kids, then the place to go is Ilara Mokin in Ondo State – home to delightful ELIZADE University and the best private Golf course in the Southwest..

Ilara Mokin is where “Gown meets Town” at the Golf Course.

And, if you need an additional reason to visit ELIZADE University this month, then there is the first Smokin Hills Golf Tournament in Ilara Mokin scheduled for September 20 to 22, 2013. The mission of the organizers is to include it on the global PGA annual tour.

Excellent “Gown” and “Golf ” in one place – absolutely enchanting!! Conventional wisdom holds it that “one tree does not make a forest”. Wait until you reach Ilara Mokin and see for yourself, how one TREE, Chief Ade Ojo, has made a mighty forest – which is just beginning to spread.

PDP CRACKS UP -- 1

“All political parties die, at last, by swallowing their own lies”. Dr John Arbuthnot, 1667-1735. (VANGUARD BOOK OF QUOTATIONS p 191).

“Madam President”, as one funny fellow had called her, was there; accompanied by her husband. Their presence together would mark a date in the history of Nigeria – the day a great political party disintegrated in the presence of its two most

62.6% of its citizens live below the poverty line of $1 a day, according to the World Bank, many cannot afford to pay the inflated fees levied by the private universities so they are therefore out of reach for a university education.

Those in government should know they would not have had an education if the public universities in their day, was not available or accessible to many.

How soon they forget, many would not hold high office and now they deny that opportunity to ordinary Nigerians.

Hope Spring Eternal

The story of the stowaway was not big news over here but it did pique my interest. A 13 year old, hid in the wheel well of Arik Air from Benin Airport to Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos. Good news the boy did not die but, what ensured after was disgraceful. The young boy was beaten and rough handled by the airport security.

This boy deserves better and not the treatment he received after his misadventure. We need to re- examine and understands what makes a 13 year old to go through these dangerous lengths to escape his life. If the news is true I hear that, he has now attracted some well-wishers willing to provide him with quality education and nurture his ambition.

Hope springs eternal.

powerful beneficiaries.

I did not bother to watch, on television, the fiasco called PDP convention at Eagle Square, Abuja. Earlier in the week, I had made urgent calls to several sources in the political class and I knew in advance what was going to happen. So, instead, I spent my afternoon at the wedding reception for Tunde Bajulaiye’s kid and then spent the rest of the evening watching Crystal Palace, the underdog, dismantle Sunderland.

Unlike, the imminent collapse of the PDP, the English Premiership is compelling drama – you never know what would happen next. Jonathan will clinch the PDP party ticket to run for second term in 2015.

But, his opponents have ensured that he will enter that race riding on a severely crippled horse….

P.S. Expect a cabinet shake-up soon. That is only one of the elements of the counter-attack which Jonathan must launch – if he is to survive politically.

TALKING HEADS

ABOUT

“Anybody from the Southsouth, whether Governor or Speaker, or State Chairman of the party or any other person, who does not understand the importance of supporting Jonathan should have his head examined”. Chief Anthony Anenih, Chairman, PDP, BOT. The PDP gave Edo, Delta, Enugu, Oyo, Bayelsa, Plateau, Abia, Jigawa, Bauchi, etc, governors automatic second term in 2003. Two were convicted; others are still in court for fraud. “Insanity is defined as doing the same thing over again and expecting a different result”…

V i s i t : www.delesobowale.com

Peter Obe… “Earth does not belong to us; we belong to earth.Take only memories, leave nothing but footprints.” ¯ Chief Seattle A good photographer, when I was growing up is often liken to Peter Obe, It was a compliment that I still used till this day. The real Peter Obe sadly passed away this week. He was the original and inspired many.

Way before high tech gadgetry, he would drive all hours of the day and night and through his lens he covered many salient moments in Nigeria’s history. He was Ace to those who knew him at Daily times and never misses those poignant moments. To many of us growing up, he was the definitive Peter Obe and his pictures was that exactly that: the hallmark of excellence. He truly deserves the many accolades I have read and many will follow. Peter Obe, a true master in photo journalism.

Who Is A Thief?

When someone steals another’s clothes, we call them a thief. Should we not give the same name to one who could clothe the naked and does not? The bread in your cupboard belongs to the hungry; the coat unused in your closet belongs to the one who needs it; the shoes rotting in your closet belong to the one who has no shoes; the money which you hoard up belongs to the poor. ” ¯ Basil the Great ·

SUNDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 8, 2013, PAGE 9

Hearty congratulations to PDP drums and with newly designed decorative uniforms sat again for an examination on aspects of the famous internal democracy course which it earlier failed. Why congratulate a party that was in the same position as a student who was merely re-writing his “carry-over” course in an examination? Why congratulate the party when it

,

T

HE Special Mini Convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to fill some positions in the party’s National Executive has come and gone. Whether or not the party deserves commendation can be viewed from two standpoints. The first and perhaps the more obvious is that which believes that to congratulate the party on the event does not in essence arise. This is because there was nothing special about the convention as its title tended to impute. The correct title should have been “PDP Repeat Convention”. In March 2012, the PDP held a national convention to elect its national officers. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) which is statutorily mandated to supervise the event ruled that it was defective thereby necessitating a repeat.

Accordingly, the party organized another convention on Saturday August 31, 2013.On the occasion, the party, with all glamour and pageantry rolled out the

extent destabilized the party. So why would anyone praise the PDP over what has turned out to be an illfated convention?

T

he type of message of congratulations which I sent to a friend who lost his father last week seems to me as good for the PDP at this point. So, just as

I heartily congratulate the PDP for surviving its own intrigues and pervasive impunity. In earnest, the party has become obese and unwieldy with many inexplicable issues

did not take more than one day for the world to learn that the event ended poorly? Oh yes, the glamour of the PDP convention was cut short as some of its key members walked-out on the party before the event ended? That was not all; they formally formed a faction which has to a large

,

I sent a good will message to my friend for surviving his father, I heartily congratulate the PDP for surviving its own intrigues and pervasive impunity. In earnest, the party has become obese and unwieldy with many inexplicable issues.

For example, whereas posterity would easily under-

Back to Basics around and that I could decide who and what I wanted to be.

There was an emotional and a physical evolution of sorts and the most noticeable to family and friends was a demarcation of my sacred space.

My mom had passed and I had taken the bold step to move out on my own. I grew up in a large family with so many people around that privacy was an alien word. I created my own space, and made it clear that entry into it was by invitation; a very limited invitation.

My new found space was initially uncomfortable but I grew into it and though life has led me back into a large family with many people, that period of time was vital to my growth as an individual. The most obvious physical change was a hair cut; I had chopped off my long hair and favoured what most of my older relatives called an affront. It was an affront to them because it was a rather drastic change from who they assumed

I was. Besides my late mom was against short hair for women and most people were only echoing what they thought would be her disapproval. I doubt she would have been overjoyed but it was a choice I felt comfortable with and my backbone was at the time strong

W

ho could have caused this dilemma? Put differently, who are the real enemies of President Jonathan who are about to destroy the party during his tenure? Could it be the break- away Governors? To put so much blame that way appears simplistic because everyone saw it coming. The now captioned break-away Governors gave more than ample notice as their complaints were not secret-they openly articulated them and consulted widely. They visited some elders including formers heads of government and at no location did any of their hosts condemn either the content or posture of their visit. Neither their plan to hold a factional convention on the same day nor the venue of their convention can be described as spontaneous. The same is true of the list of members of their interim national executive. All these issues appear predetermined in

years, I started growing it. My loved ones had never liked it and I guess turning 40 must have triggered some sort of mid life crisis. The past 5 years of hair plaiting, perming, weaving and braiding have been painful and expensive. I turned 44 last week and I managed to wangle a grudging consent from my legally beloved to go back to basics; the locks of hair just had to go!! It felt like I was unfettered when the hair fell to the pruning of the clipper.

It was liberating and many bare headed showers later, very clean!!

,

T

HE growth or maturity of any individual takes time. Over many years, experiences, associations and interactions, a personality and mindset slowly emerges. A backbone is not just a collection of vertebrae, its a force that is built to support convictions, emotions and beliefs! Over time when a backbone develops emotionally and spiritually, we begin to seek meaning to every decision and question old truths; we need our own conviction to accept other people's positions. My late mother often said my most endearing quality was obedience; I hardly ever questioned or queried orders. This didn't make me a saint; I just was easily scared and didn't want to be punished. I grew up believing a lot of truths that were not my own and I believe my backbone started to form in my midtwenties. At some point it must have sunk into my mind that I was no longer a child to be pushed

stand that in 2013, the PDP Governors Forum, being a PDP affair, was naturally led by the PDP Governor of Akwa Ibom State, it would be difficult to comprehend why the Nigerian Governors Forum of 19 was led by the PDP Governor of Rivers State while the “bigger ” Nigerian Governors Forum of 16 was led also by the PDP Governor of Plateau State. This picture of one political party overseeing 3 secretariats on one subject vividly reflects the dilemma of the largest political party in Africa.

Threats of hell for wearing human hair seem ridiculous when there is genocide, unkindness, corruption and wickedness all around us

enough to ignore the criticism.

At a point my identity seemed to be my hairless head and I kind of resented it. There was no anonymity and everyone seemed to think it was a statement. It wasn't to me.

Truth was I cut my hair myself and I only knew how to cut a clean skin cut. After a little over 11

,

This time its a statement, in fact many statements. Firstly I don't want harmful chemicals frying my scalp just to straighten naturally kinky hair. Secondly the alternatives are to braid or sew on other people's hair to add to mine and I became uncomfortable with those options. I had

what can be called ‘Plan B’.

T

he situation could have been prevented if the coordinating engine of the “loyalists” around the President had sought to dialogue rather than overwhelm. It would really have been a different ball game if those grievances which the chairman of the parent board of trustees thought could be genuine were isolated and a few concessions made here and there. Many of the so-called contentious issues could have been put on the family table where some members could have been persuaded to see reason. If Governor Amaechi is ambitious as alleged, elders of the South-South family should have used every avenue to draw his attention severally to the common good of a united zone. Instead, everyone behaved as if the man was not entitled to his own ambition. At the same time, the anti-Jonathan groups should have been constantly reminded that not being unconstitutional for the President to contest the 2015 elections, it is only fair to allow him enjoy an advantage as they, the opponents would have done if they were in his shoes.

wesili, Ben Nwabueze etc were abused without providing concrete evidence to remove from the public domain some solid criticisms they raised. The Ezekwesili case was the worst poorly handled as government officials merely indicated that she too was not clean while in government. Does it mean that her ‘wrongs’ would have been overlooked if she said nothing?

It is thus not uncharitable to suggest that the friends of government have been more of a problem than the opposition. For instance, although the President has pleaded many times not to be distracted from governance emphasizing that he would not speak on his next political option until 2014, it is those closest to power that are holding rallies for 2015 in breach of the electoral law.

I

t is unfortunate that those in the corridors of power did not see this apparent superiority of give and take approach as well as dialogue to the use of force. Instead, they sought to overwhelm dissension.

Even critics were not spared. El Rufai, Oby Ezek-

therefore heartily con gratulate President Jonathan on the opportunity which the current PDP uprising offers him to outlaw every youthful exuberance, adult rascality and proactive senility from his supposed admirers because such unwholesome behaviour derogates from his popularity daily. It is also a good time for him to lead his own cause notwithstanding the setting up of ‘elders group’ to resolve the crisis. This is because, in these times, trust is dicey. As our people say, if one thief is among a group that is helping a man find his lost item, it is probably lost forever.

seen a documentary on Indian women sacrificing their hair to idols and was repulsed on many levels.

The first being that these very poor women did not receive payment and neither was their permission sought or given before the priests sold their locks. The second is spiritual; I don't want a sacrifice on my head for any reason. Thirdly I believe hair is a very intimate part of a woman and if I wouldn't share under wear, I certainly shouldn't share hair.

Lastly I have lately felt belittled by all the trappings of modern beauty and between the buckets of paint that is now acceptable as make up and uncomfortable contraptions that are meant to be shoes, I drew a line of minimalism.

There has been a lot of murmuring in nigerian religious circles about weave-ons and human hair. The internet is replete with all sorts of theories and so called heaven experiences condemning attached hair and as disturbing as they are, they don't reflect holiness or even reflect righteousness. My personal belief is that people need to come to a place of personal understanding to make a conviction. Threats of hell for wearing human hair seem ridiculous when

there is genocide, unkindness, corruption and wickedness all around us. The choices we make are personal and cannot be mandated or rammed down our throats. I am a vegetarian even though I don't have a pet; I wouldn't even call myself an animal lover. I just don't think any animal should die because I want to live. Its a personal choice, no one in my household is vegan. My preference for a shorn head is not an endorsement of any religious recrimination or condemnation, its a choice that works for me.

In a perfect world, many decades from now, I shall exit the world with a cap of short grey hair. Not everyone liked it the first time around and I don't expect everyone to now. As a woman of faith, my head is covered most times anyway.

I was going to title this column "The return of Gorimapa" (what people with a clean shaven head are called in Yoruba) to celebrate my return to basics (bare headed basics) and my return to the pages of Vanguard.

Circumstances that were challenging and out of my control kept me away for a while but the show must go on. To quote my publisher " writers don't stop till they are dead".

I

PAGE 10 —SUNDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 8, 2013

SUNDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 8, 2013 — PAGE 11

PAGE 12—SUNDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 8, 2013

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

That comment by ANA president on Delta chapter Dear Sir,

T

HE comments by Association of Nigerian Authors, ANA, National President, Professor Remi Raji at Ilorin implying “ANA Delta chapter is confined to Abraka and is a dying branch”, to say say the least, is uncalled for and a bid used to scheme out the branch in the Yusuf Ali Reading Campaign grant.

As a result of this, in a protest letter demanding apology and change of attitude, Martins Tugbokorowei and Chukwuma Anyanwu, Chairman and Secretary respectively said ANA Delta was a branch active even at the national level which midwifed the rebirth of neighbouring ANA Anambra

in 2008 under Wale Okediran’s ANA presidency. Therefore, as the President he should have stated what he did to revive the so-called “dying ANA Delta” which achieved the unequalled feat of hosting ANA national convention within 6 months of inauguration in 2002.

A keen President, should have known that ANA Delta has not faltered in attendance of ANA international conventions since 2002, adding that Prof. Sam Ukala, an ANA Delta member, was chairman of the Electoral Committee that produced current President Raji and his executive council. ANA Delta further stated it was part of celebrations in 2006 to mark 20 years of Wole Soyinka winning of the

Nobel Prize for Literature as they were of the J.P. Clark-Bekederemo 50 years of writing celebrations in Lagos and Kiagbodo.

Instead of confining activities to Abraka as claimed by President Raji, its regular readings also occasionally hold in monthly meetings at Asaba, Ughelli, Warri and Sapele, hosted by members. In fact, ANA Delta has hosted writers outside Delta State such as Emeka Nwabueze, Alex Asigbo, Tracie Uto-Ezeajugh, Miesounuma, amongst others,and its recent publication, Rumbling Creeks of the Niger Delta where teenage authors were also published by ANA Delta, is a signpost of mentoring literary creativity.

Letter to Uduaghan on first degree lecturers Dear Sir,

W

E appeal to Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State to revisit the policy that first degree holders should not be given the opportunity to lecture in the state tertiary institutions. It is on record that the governor ’s drive in the educational industry in the state is receiving great commendation in the areas of building and renovation of primary and secondary schools. The governor’s scholarship and bursary to students of higher education are also commendable.

We believe that it’s only Delta that awards C M Y K

automatic scholarship to first class degree holders in Nigeria and it’s an enviable record.

However, we are not comfortable with the news that only masters and above degree holders should teach in the tertiary institutions in the state.It is pertinent to state that the National Board of Technical Education (NABTE) and the National Commission of College of Education (NCCE) have first degrees as the teaching qualifications for their programmes.

The state has the power to domesticate and amend policies that emanate from the Federal Government but suffice to state that it should not stultify ambition of our youths.

In as much as we are in a haste to fast-track our development, we should gradually build in other to avoid throwing away the baby and the bath water. It is a fact that good first degree holders are offered teaching appointments in the universities in Nigeria and even abroad from where they get their masters and doctorate as many of our present professors did.

We should not throw away the ladder after reaching the top. Nigerian academics should show the light.

Period.

God bless our amiable Governor and the people of Delta State.

Ogherekevwe Ejaefe writes in from Jesse Town

Further negating the theory of “a dying branch”, most of our members “have had their works published and quite a few have been launched, at which ceremonies the branch played active roles”.

“In the last three conventions, ANADelta bookstand has been reckoned the best and has always been the cynosure of eyes”.

ANA-Delta has been very active and has collaborated with the Delta State Government on a number of occasions, performing plays twice at the Unity Hall, Government House, Asaba (2010 and 2011) and took active part in the Delta State Entertainment Development Summit of 2010. ANA Delta collaborated with the office of the SA to the Governor on Diaspora to host and celebrate Ogaga Ifowodo, with Odia Ofeimun as Chairman in November 2012” We are most dismayed at the criteria used to select recipients of the Yusuf Ali Reading Campaign grant. We were left out in 2012. Again in 2013, we have been deliberately schemed out on the allegation that ANA-Delta is not active.

We wonder how chapters that have no registered members and have not been active in ANA national activities are now suddenly more active and functional than ANA-Delta.

ANA-Delta will not relent in its effort at improving the quality of education in the country.

Dimene Egbaimo is of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Delta State Chapter .

SUND AY SUNDA

Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 8, 2013, PAGE 13

CRISIS IN PDP

PROLOGUE

The problem of a gentleman president

BY JIDE AJANI

M

ake no bones: No Presi dent needs to be subjected to the walkout that was choreographed by six state governors and their delegates as was the case penultimate Saturday.

But it is simply straightforward: The scattered clouds of presidential ambition are creating serious turbulence in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. The hoopla about internal democracy, threats of suspension and suspension of leaders of the party, the audacious walkout at the special convention, the panic mode that was engaged thereafter, the staccato cameo appearances of First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan on the political scene and the surfeit of fence-mending meetings are all denominated by the contestation and contest for the presidential seat. All these are happening, not necessarily because Nigeria has a gentleman President in Goodluck Jonathan, but because pursuit of political ambition in Nigeria does not brook decency. This is a political space that does not also suffer gentility. This would not be the first time. In 1998/1999, 2002/2003, 2006/2007 and as recently as 2010/2011, the tug and push that attended the contest almost always tried to bring down the roof on the country.

With the nature, content and context of political configuration in this part of the world, who should the President be afraid of? This is a question only Jonathan can answer because he is the President and Commander-in-Chief of Nigeria.

Mind you, those who appear to be aghast at the opposition stacked against Jonathan in his quest for a second term of office only miss the point because they miss the historical antecedents of second term pursuit in Nigeria. Even the Second Republic had its own fair share of polity overheat because of Shehu Shagari’s second term quest, eliciting this statement from a National Party of Nigerian, NPN, leader, that “Nigeria’s presidency is not for sale” – this was a lampoon

by Umaru Dikko, then a serving minister in Shagari’s government, against Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, after the latter lost the presidential primaries of the party. The intrigues and wicked politics that attended that period of the primaries created so much bad blood that Abiola stepped aside from politics.

Indeed, there are those who believe that this event of 1983 was part of the reasons the military took over in

December of that same year.

Therefore, whatever Jonathan is going through is not new.

What appears to be new is the desperation, despotism, audacity and shamelessness that have crept in on all sides! Not that there was none of these in those other years, the level has been upped in such a manner that everything including the kitchen elements are being thrown in. For instance, in 1998/1999, the outgoing military government left no one in doubt that it wanted to hand over power to Olusegun Obasanjo, one of its own – money, influence peddling, logistics support, security, rule-bending and everything imaginable were deployed to ensure that Obasanjo defeated his closest rival, Alex Ekwueme.

In 2002/2003, Obasanjo himself deployed native intelligence, massive acquiescence and the strategy of stooping to conquer to get his ticket. In 2007, the selfsame Obasanjo, after losing out on an attempt to elongate his tenure beyond what the Constitution guaranteed, imposed Umaru Musa Yar ’Adua on the PDP – this, after elbowing the likes of Peter Odili, Mohammed Makarfi and a host of others out of the contest. In 2010/2011, another need for rule-bending, ethno-religious sentiments, fully backed by state funds and the craving for a ‘breaths of fresh air’ all came together to ensure that Jonathan emerged as the PDP candidate and eventually as Nigeria’s President.

So, what is so different now?

Well, to be fair, no nation can endure, for too long, the rambunctious approach of Obasanjo. Neither can any nation suffer the go-slow approach of an ailing late President Yar ’Adua. However, the gentleman approach of Jonathan may be his greatest undoing for a number of reasons.

Firstly, the hubris about his demure demeanour as an amour of defence, which opposition elements under-estimate its potency at their peril, may have launched a voyage towards unraveling. The paradigmatic engagement by subtlety has become all too familiar just as the last-minute sacrificial mentality has created its own problem for this administration.

Secondly, and because perception is everything in politics, a few political neophytes, who appear to have hijacked the Presidency, continue to pour cold water on whatever genuine reconciliatory engagements of President Jonathan, thereby, re-enforcing the belief, rightly or wrongly, that a cabal has been substituted for another cabal.

In addition, because there is a growing belief that those who are benefitting from the Jonathan Presiden-

cy would do anything, just about anything – including lying to him and deceiving him – there is an urgent need for Mr. President to sift reasoned, dispassionate counsel from sycophancy as is currently being served to him by a few of his coterie of ministers, advisers, his tribesmen and, importantly, a key member of his nuclear family.

Lastly, why would a President allow some leaders in his political party to carry on as if he does not exist?

An example is the case of the suspension of Governor Wamako of Sokoto State. Sunday Vanguard gathered authoritatively that the suspension of Wamako by the party some months ago was never at the instance of President Jonathan – he read about the suspension like any other Nigerian on the street. At least that was what he reportedly admitted before some politicians.

All said, those who appear to be bullying Jonathan today should learn from the errors of those who made Obasanjo condescend before he could get his second term of office. The viciousness with which Obasanjo took them on remains unrivaled.

Yet, the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria remains very clear that the only basis upon which any individual can be disqualified from seeking election as President and Commander-in-Chief is only if such an individual had sought the office twice before – Jonathan has sought the office only once before.

No matter. Democracy is not an issue of what you like or what catches your fancy. It is about choices as stipulated by law. Whatever arrangement or agreement that a Jonathan may have allegedly entered into with whoever cannot stand before the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.

Still, it should be pointed out that it is bad manners to walk out on a President. But it should also be acknowledged that the walkout, which was meant to project before the whole world that the PDP had become factionalised, is going to form the pole on which would be hoisted the decampment of legislators who would want to dump the PDP for other political parties. Bad manners or not, this is political strategy per pragmatism and not demagogy.

The hot air that Bamanga Tukur is blowing, about the possibility of expelling and declaring vacant seats of legislators who have endorsed the New PDP amounts to nothing more than what it is: hot air.

Mercifully, there are still some war horses around President Jonathan, like Tony Anenih, David Mark, Anyim Pius – just to mention a few - who can genuinely counsel him and muster their political goodwill for his good. Because, even after the threat of impeachment, Obasanjo still got his second term ticket.

It is only in Nigeria that a sitting President would be told by his party leaders to forget his ambition that is constitutionally guaranteed – not minding the message that sends.

But all these can happen because Nigeria has a gentleman President.

Therefore, will Jonathan continue to be the gentleman on who rough shod is ridden?

Or will he stand up and do the right and legitimate.

In this context, what is legitimate and what is right may suffer discounts depending on who the interpreter is. But does anybody need to allow himself to be subjected to this type of treatment all because of power, ephemeral power?

The irony in all of this is that 2019, like Obasanjo’s 2007, would come in a flash.

C M Y K

PAGE 14 — SUND AY SUNDA

Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 8, 2013

CRISIS IN PDP

PDP

‘Divided we stand’

BY SONI DANIEL, Regional Editor, North

T

he affront, last week, on President Goodluck Jonathan and the leadership of the ruling People’s Democratic Party, PDP, was, perhaps, the most tendentious action ever driven by any group of individuals within the party that is giving it sleepless nights. Like an earthquake, the launching of the revolt and the unveiling of the forces behind the mutiny shook the party to its foundation. With their heads lifted above the mainstream party, those holding forte at the original PDP began to shriek over what to do in order to contain the uprising.

Its strategists continued, last week, to ward off the looming debacle that has all the potentials to cause its huge political assets to nosedive. Barely a week after, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and seven governors announced the formation of a new leadership over that of the mainstream PDP headed by Alhaji Bamanga Tukur; the import is not lost that the once united, veritable and ambitious party is in bad shape.

The crack in the leadership of the party has once again brought to the fore the underhand politicking, bare faced manipulations and outright frustration of the perceived ‘opponents’ or recalcitrant members of the party. Those are the victims of the selfish politics of the PDP, which has been going on over the years, who now feel imperiled and marginalised and need a vent in order to recoup their places or perish forever as far as the PDP is concerned. They may indeed consider themselves lucky that their first sneeze has made the party to catch cold.

By midweek, it was obvious to Jonathan, Chief Anthony Anenih, the Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees, BoT, and its National Chairman, Bamanga Tukur, that they might have, indeed, inadvertently stepped on a dangerous viper, whose venom can be very mortal to them and the party, which they have been using C M Y K

in the last 14 years to gain access to the leadership of Nigeria and derive both tangible and intangible benefits in the process. The fever of what initially started with seven governors later spread to the National Assembly and took root. No fewer than 26 senators and 58 House of Representatives members opted for the faction as soon as it came on stream. By the close of work on Friday, more lawmakers had served notice of their intention to dump the mainstream PDP for the New PDP all in a bid to show them how frustrated they have been with the party in the past. Almost all the members of the NASS from Kano also threw their weight behind the

zPresident Goodluck Jonathan

A founding member of the PDP and former Education and Petroleum Minister, Prof Jubril Aminu, believes Jonathan will always trounce his political detractors, if he remains focused on the job Nigerians gave him to perform parallel group. The same situation is expected to play out in Rivers State, whose Governor Rotimi Amaechi is part of the New PDP and has been unduly provoked by the Tukur group.

An immediate solution was not in sight, last week, as the President and his strategists struggled to find a way out of the logjam, which they, unconsciously, brought on their shoulders through selfish actions, which, among them, was the attempt to manipulate the controversial special national convention, to produce and which produced a pre-determined outcome.

Although the Presidency and the party leadership ‘got’ their way and imposed those they wanted to return as members of the National Working Committee, NWC, of the party, all in the name of ‘special convention’, they nevertheless got more than they bargained for when the Atiku group shocked them with a revolt. The

group was unmistakable as it laid bare the litany of its grouse against the Tukur-led PDP and went ahead to announce it had broken away in order to salvage the party and Nigeria from imminent collapse.

On that sunny Saturday afternoon, former National Chairman of the PDP, Abubakar Baraje, sandwiched by Atiku, the seven governors, lawmakers, and some former national officers of the PDP and hordes of supporters, who had come for the controversial convention, shook the foundation of the Yar’ Ádua Centre with the announcement that a new leadership had been put in place to pilot the affairs of the party.

While Baraje was named the National Chairman, Sam Sam Jaja emerged the Deputy Chairman while the former Osun Governor, Olagunsoye Oyinlola got the post of National Secretary of the new group. It was not

difficult to see how elated those present in the hall were once the jolting announcement had been made. Ecstasy was in the air. Shouts of ‘carry on’ rented the air for a moment and resounded as new names were rolled out as members of the faction.

Baraje did not disappoint the group and its supporters as he mounted the podium to assume the mantle of leadership entrusted on him by a combination of circumstance and ambition to offer himself to lead the group all in a bid to effect a positive change at a time the PDP was losing steam and missing the fine points enunciated by its founding fathers in 1998.

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hortly after being proclaimed the factional National Chair man of the party, Baraje said he was ready to make the PDP the party that would give priority attention to all members and give them a level-playing field to achieve their political ambitions.

Baraje said the Tukur-led PDP had destroyed the core values, which the founding fathers of the PDP bequeathed to Nigeria and frustrated many key members out of the party, while those who knew nothing about the philosophy of the party were now the leading lights.

He also denounced the tendency by

Continues on page 15

SUND AY SUNDA

Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 8, 2013, PAGE 15

CRISIS IN PDP

zAliyu Babangida

zAnthony Anenih

zOlusegun Obasanjo

‘Divided we stand’ Continued from page 14 the Tukur administration to breathe down the neck of members, who do not do the bidding of the Presidency and its lackeys, saying that such a practice was undemocratic and retrogressive.

Giving some form of assurance to deviate from the ‘provocative manner’ in which Tukur was running the PDP, Baraje said he would bring about a new lease of life for all by democratising the party to give a sense of belonging to all the members and stakeholders.

Baraje said, “From now, the new leadership of the party under us will strive to build a fairer as well as a more transparent and accountable PDP that will put the interest of members and indeed all the people of Nigeria above that of one single individual. “For all the members of our great party who may have become disillusioned by the anti-democratic tendencies of the Bamanga Tukur leadership, there is a new lease of life in the horizon. It is a new dawn for the Peoples Democratic Party.

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he forces arrayed against Jonathan, Anenih and Tukur are fully aware that unless they act fast, the ticket for the 2015 election might have been delivered on a platter to the President by the BoT Chairman (Anenih) and his associates. Anenih did not mince words at the mid-term dinner organised by the Presidency, where he canvassed for the amendment of the party’s Constitution to make it possible for Jonathan to run without a primary election as is the case in America and other advanced democracies in the world. He is not wrong on that score. That is the norm.

Many other stakeholders had known beforehand that the main purpose of the PDP special national convention was to weed out those in the NWC considered to be anti-Jonathan and

serving as moles to either former President Olusegun Obasanjo or the governors who spearheaded their emergence as members of the NWC. Such members were also not considered useful to the re-election bid of Jonathan and a decision to edge them out of the NWC had been in the works for some time.

For instance, Atiku, who is suspected of still nursing a presidential ambition, had to raise the alarm before his name was included as a

and many northern governors elected on the platform of the PDP were convinced that some forces were set to field Jonathan as presidential candidate of the PDP in the 2015 election, contrary to an earlier agreement to run for just one term of four years.

There has been unease in the PDP since Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu challenged the President, last March, not to contemplate running for second term since he had a ‘gentleman’s agreement’ with them

It may sound good to those plotting for Mr. President but the truth remains that in Nigeria the greater power to elect and be re-elected still resides with the man who signs the cheque at the end of the month – the state governor delegate on the Adamawa list to the convention. But knowing that the Rivers governor, Amaechi, whom the PDP leadership had suspended and refused to lift the suspension even after the stipulated one month, would not attend the convention, it had his name dubiously smuggled into the list of voters. Paradoxically, the same party excluded the names of all the commissioners and other statutory delegates from the state from the list predicating its action on their refusal to appear before the Felix Obuah exco in the state to answer to charges of anti-party activities.

Beyond the manipulations that manifested prior to and during the special convention, the alleged attempt by the President to seek reelection in 2015 appears to have quickened the resolve by the aggrieved parties to move against him before they lose ground.

A source close to the Atiku camp said that the former Vice President

in 2010 not to go for second term if he was elected in the 2011 election.

Although the letter has not been made public, thereby fueling speculation that it remains a conceptual variable, many presidential aides have challenged the anti-Jonathan forces to produce the said agreement as a proof or shut up forever.

The former VP, who is alleged to have had a hand in the newlyregistered Peoples Democratic Movement, PDM, was said to be ready to challenge the forces bent on imposing the President on the PDP in 2015 not minding how long it would take. A source noted that the move against Jonathan’s re-election was a popular decision backed by many northern governors and political leaders in the PDP and that many other governors might jump on the band wagon in the coming months.

The move, it was gathered, is aimed at weakening the PDP to a point that whoever emerges as its presidential

zAtiku Abubakar

candidate would not stand a chance of winning the next election.

The source said that although the PDM was registered to provide a fallback position for those to be thrown out of the PDP as a result of the rebellion, most of the actors would want to remain in the ruling party until it crumbles.

O

ne of the key actors said, “It is true that what has been happening in the PDP lately has given Atiku and other stakeholders in the country a serious cause for concern. It is clear to all of these people that Jonathan is desperately plotting to return in 2015 against an earlier agreement he had with some northern leaders to run for a single term.

“What the Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu exposed, last March , is nothing but the whole truth.

Jonathan pleaded with them to support him only for one term and his decision to run is against that ‘gentleman agreement’ and that is what is causing ripples in the party.

“Atiku even met with Jonathan shortly after the 2011 election and he told him he would not run again. I can tell you that it was that assurance that prevented Atiku from challenging Jonathan’s emergence as the candidate of the PDP in the 2011 primaries”.

The Tukur group, which had earlier dismissed the revolt by the New PDP as a child’s play, later got the message and knew how serious the group was. It moved fast to checkmate the recalcitrant elements with a sledgehammer but did not apparently know how to go about it. First, Tukur threatened to jail all members of the faction and declare the seats of the lawmakers vacant if they dared to defect.

With support from the Presidency, Tukur took it upon himself to tackle

Continues on page 16 C M Y K

PAGE 16 — SUND AY SUNDA

Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 8, 2013

CRISIS IN PDP

‘Divided we stand’

zBamanga Tukur Continued from page 15 the rebel governors and lawmakers from two fronts: judicially and politically. But all these moves are yet to bear fruit.

While claiming that Baraje and others in the parallel PDP were jesters and impostors, Tukur threatened to mobilise the security agencies against them.

He boasted, “The PDP has only one duly elected National Working Committee (NEC) under my chairmanship. I wish therefore to state with all emphasis that any group of persons parading themselves as leaders of NWC or any other organ of our party are impostors and I urge all Nigerians, especially the security agencies and other institutions of democracy, to regard them as such.

But, in a swift reaction, the chairman of the New PDP, Baraje, described Tukur and those on his side as jokers.

He said: “They are all jokers; they don’t know what party politics is. We are not surprised because he (Tukur) is ignorant of party politics. In any case, the process of declaring a seat vacant or recalling members of the National Assembly is well known in the constitution; to wake up and say he is going to recall people or declare their seats vacant is sheer ignorance.

He is not fit to be called the National Chairman of the PDP.” Baraje had hardly ended his statement when the spokesman for the House of Representatives, Hon. Zakari Mohammed, who hails from Kwara State and is in support of the New PDP, thundered like a volcano.

“The man (Tukur) should go and read the Electoral Act as that will guide his utterances. This is about the law. What he does not understand is that when a party is factionalised, I can decide to say that I belong to PPA

zAbubakar Baraje

The move, it was gathered, is aimed at weakening the PDP to a point that whoever emerges as its presidential candidate would not stand a chance of winning the next election today. It doesn’t matter because it is public knowledge today that we have two factions of the PDP and nobody can pretend about it”.

Still from that state, members of the executive of the party joined their governor and threw their weight behind Baraje.

The state chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Ishola Balogun Fulani, speaking at a press conference at the party secretariat in Ilorin, recalled that Baraje was able to maturely handle the crisis in the party to a minimal level and even won more electoral victories for the party.

According to Fulani, who was represented by his secretary, Prince Yemi Afolayan, the Tukur-led PDP has committed several constitutional breaches, which has made it impossible for members to reap the dividends of democracy and should quit office with immediate effect”.

The present crisis rocking the PDP has all the trappings of a tug-of-war and can consume those who are not well-rooted in the game they are trying to play. As it has always been in Nigeria, the expectations of the Presidency and the Tukur group is

that, at the ‘right time’, the renegades would be ‘settled’ one way or the other in order for them to drop their opposition to Jonathan’s re-election in 2015. But given the calibre of personages involved in the ‘new struggle’ to bail out the party ‘from predators and pretenders’ and the need for them to also have a shot at the pinnacle of power, it may turn out that the projection of the pro-Jonathan group may not hold. The anti-President elements may decide to hold their heads up and fight to the finish and earn the applause of many Nigerians and those who believe that the PDP under Jonathan has failed to deliver the goods to them in the past and can therefore not do any magic in the future.

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he split in the party leadership also has the capacity to stop the President from returning to the Aso Rock in 2015. If the situation remains as it were, Jonathan may then need to appease the gods in order to salvage him from sinking into the abyss of political failure in 2015.

Now, with Lagos solidly in the kitty of the APC while Kano and Rivers states, two former PDP strongholds with large voting population, glibly tilting towards the opposition, the President may need to take extra steps in order to win re-election.

The browbeat being undertaken by his loyalists in order to clear the way for him to win second term may not deliver the expected result since the tactics may not readily add up. Those who have convinced Jonathan to use his ministers and other aides to deny governors of the structures of the party may have missed the point and unlikely to get it right in the final analysis. The situation in Rivers State is a case in point where the governor is still able to swim against the tide despite having been stripped of the

party structures and given to Obuah and the Minister of State for Education, Nyesome Wike. It may sound good to those plotting for Mr. President but the truth remains that in Nigeria the greater power to elect and be re-elected still resides with the man who signs the cheque at the end of the month – the state governor.

How the President and his supporters will navigate their way out of the imbroglio remains a miracle.

But a founding member of the PDP and former Education and Petroleum Minister, Prof Jubril Aminu, believes Jonathan will always trounce his political detractors, if he remains focused on the job Nigerians gave him to perform.

Aminu said, “President Jonathan appears to be too concerned about his second term and there are some persons who are making a capital out of that obsession, which provides a very good menu for others to capitalise on.

“If Mr. President continues to put too much emphasis on the 2015 election, he may lose focus on the job he was elected by Nigerians to deliver. My advice to him is to concentrate on the work that Nigerians gave him to do. He will certainly get his second term if he does the work well.

“As long as he continues to work towards resolving the contentious issues in the education and health sectors as well as the security challenges facing the North, he will certainly be re-elected when the time comes.

“My fear is that some people are taking advantage of Jonathan’s second term ambition to cause more avoidable problems in the country and distracting him in the process.”

While kicking against the action of the former Vice President and the seven governors, the former Education and Petroleum Minister said the ‘rebels’ could not be acting in the interest of Nigerians but for their personal interests.

Aminu pointed out, “I don’t support what Atiku and the seven governors are doing because I don’t think that what they have done is right. I don’t think that they are motivated by altruism but I suspect that they are just trying to protect their ego.

“I strongly suspect that what the governors and their backers are doing is a bit of political gambling aimed at settling scores, distracting the PDP or pure mischief”.

It may well be that it would have been too late to salvage the PDP by the time the forces behind the ‘coup’ is unveiled. That is why those who want to still relish in the comfort, which the PDP has come to offer them since inception, should rise to the occasion and reconcile the Tukur and Baraje factions in order for the two groups to arrive at the same destination in 2015. Failure to do so at once may still give some people a fleeting comfort and massage their ego for a while but such reticence has the dangerous potential to drive the final nail in the coffin of the PDP and consign it to the history books of Nigeria.

SUNDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 8, 2013, PAGE 17

CRISIS IN PDP

PDP CRISIS

We know how to handle defectors, factional members — Ortom, Minister of Industry •Says opposition parties have history of failed gang-up •On 2015: Nobody can stop Jonathan

BY JIMOH BABATUNDE Dr. Samuel Ortom, Minister of State, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, in this interview, shares his views on the happenings in the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

He says the crisis in the PDP is not strange and that the party will come out of it stronger, adding that the newly registered parties are no threat to the ruling party.

Excerpts: On the crisis in the PDP

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O those of us who have been in the game of politics, and very old in the PDP, what is happening is not unusual; it is a normal thing and and the party will emerge from it stronger.

Politics is a game of interest; PDP, as the ruling party and with the largest followership, must have members with diverse interests. This is not the first time we are having this kind of misunderstanding in the PDP family.

It is not out of place to have misunderstanding in the family, but it is how you resolve it that matters. It is only when you are not able to sit together to dialogue that you start having problems.

You can as well see that there are meetings, discussions and consultations going on at different levels. So, it is not anything new to me, it is not new to our party, but the truth is that once everybody is able to sheath his sword and also appreciate the fact that the party is supreme, then it will be better for us all.

We must, as a family, propel the ideas of the party and ensure that all of us rally round the objectives of the party which, of course, is to bring development and provide dividends of democracy to our people.

PDP was formed by leaders who fought with their lives by coming out to call for an end to military rule. The founders of the party meant well by coming together to fight for democracy. They were not looking for personal gains and so the consultations that are going on point to the fact that we will all come back.

The truth again is that for a big family like our party with various interests that could be personal, ethnic and sometimes selfish, there is bound to be this kind of agitation. I don’t call it crisis, I call it agitation. We will find a way around it.

Even in 1999 when the party was to nominate people, there was trouble here and there, some people were not happy.

This happened again in 2003, 2007 and even in 2011. Those who left then came back.

And so it is not a problem.

On the formation of APC and PDM You can see from the time the merger was conceived to when the party was registered, there were problems. The various parties that came together had issues. If you look at the set up, it is just a marriage of convenience which is bound to fail.

If you say it is a marriage of convenience, then are you saying Nigerian political parties lack ideology?

As far as I am concerned, we have ideology in our party to protect life and property, to provide dividends of democracy, to ensure that every Nigerian is happy and to prepare development so that everybody will be proud of Nigeria.

We are not just paying lip service; we are providing services in all sectors of the C M Y K

had after that retreat that we have not won something.

So, this government is proactive, this government is working; this government is making things happen.

I always challenge people to take us on the mid -term report presented by the President in all sectors of the economy. I want to challenge Nigerians to go and prove us wrong if what we are saying we have done is not so.

If we talk about foreign direct investment that we led in Africa in 2011 and 2012, the results are there as presented by international bodies that came up with reports that we are doing well. I want to say that we have a program and we are committed.

ORTOM...We have ideology in our party to protect But these other life and property parties, you have seen what is going on; as this is not the first time they are ganging up against us. They did that in 2011 when they ganged up against us. Did they succeed? The same gang- up is playing out now; it is not new and it will fail.

You can see from the time the merger was conceived to when the party was registered, there were problems.

The various parties that came together had issues. If you look at the set up, it is just a marriage of convenience which is bound to fail

economy. Mention it, from agriculture to roads, from aviation to road transportation, from industry to other sectors.

Rome was not built in a day and a journey of one thousand miles starts with a step.

The truth is that we are building a solid foundation; that is why all the initiatives we have taken are based on facts and are sustainable.

You will recall that since we came in, we have held retreats on the various sectors and far reaching decisions came out from contributions from the private sector and major stakeholders. We did that in solid minerals and power and came out with farreaching decisions that we are being applauded by the whole world.

Despite our deficiency in power, you can still see investors coming into our country, because they have faith in the reforms that we have undertaken.

We had a retreat on sports and you have seen the results. There is no outing we have

If you say it is gang- up, do you say PDP has done well since 1999?

You are talking as if you do not appreciate where Nigeria was at the time we came in.

Go back to history and evaluate where we were at the time we took over and what we have been able to do up to this time.

Mind you, this country will soon be 53 years as an independent country. Go back and check. For instance, this issue of power that we are complaining about today, what did successive governments before us do when they knew that the population was growing? Can you tell me the facilities that were provided to serve about 170million people today?

So, it is not what we have done, but what we are trying to correct. As far as I am concerned, if we have not initiated these moves, Nigeria would have been paying very dearly for it today.

We inherited the problems in power, in rail transportation. For instance, when I was growing up as a kid, I travelled from Makurdi to Port Harcourt by train, but the rail system today has collapsed, and we have invested heavily and you can see the result.

There is no way we can have successful transportation without the railway. It is impossible; this is why our roads are collapsing, because heavy equipment, machineries and goods that should be transported through railway are transported by road So, government is committed to solving the problem.

What I am saying is that we are on course, the government is performing.

Imagine what is happening on Lagos – Sagamu Road; imagine the challenge we have had. We took action by reawarding the project and you can see what is happening there.

When last did you travel on that road?

What I want you to appreciate is that Rome was not built in a day. It is true the President came for the flag- off of the road; that shows he has set up the machinery to start work. There is a procedure, you must mobilize to site, the equipment was not on that road, and some of the equipment that will be needed to work on that road will have to be imported.

All these things are going on. That is the first stage, the process is on and everybody knows that the contractor is a very serious one and the jobs they have executed in this country are of international standard in terms of performance and timely delivery.

If APC is not a threat, then PDP must be a threat to itself That is what I am saying that everybody agrees there is a problem and the first step in solving a problem is when you agree there is one. So, we agreed there is a problem and we have identified it, but I want to assure you that we are going to correct it.

That is why the stakeholders are working to resolve this impasse.

On 2015, will the President be contesting?

Well, I think this is not a problem. I think the issue of whether Mr. President signed an agreement to serve one term only or not has been resolved. But if you ask about my opinion as a Nigerian, the President is a Nigerian and the Constitution allows everyone the freedom to associate, to contest election.

So, Mr. President has the right to contest in 2015 except he decides on his own not to do so. Consistently, Mr. President has appealed to Nigerians that he should not be distracted and that he should be allowed to deliver the dividends of democracy. That is what those of us working with him are doing too.

This is why I am in Lagos, trying to fulfil part of my own contract that was signed between the people and Mr. President. And so we need to educate our people that 2015 is still a long way, but what is important, let us concentrate and provide the basic needs in the areas of power, roads, agriculture, housing, health and the economy, so that Nigerians will be happy. That is the pre- occupation of Mr. President and those of us working with him.

Since 1999 when our party was formed, no section of the country has ever been denied the opportunity of contesting.

It is true that zoning is part of the party’s Constitution, but it did not ban anybody from contesting.

I was not there in 1999, but, in 2003, Rimi and Gemade contested with Obasanjo and other people contested with Yar Adua in 2007. So, this should not be important, what should be important is that we are in democracy and we should allow the people to decide what is right as democracy is government of the people, by the people and for the people.

So, the people will decide as the procedure is that one will be nominated by his party. The PDP will conduct primaries which will cumulate in the nomination of our candidate. We have guidelines and it will be as democratic as possible.

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PAGE 20— SUNDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 8, 2013

.... CRIME AND NATIONAL SECURITY

By SIMON EBEGBULEM, Benin-City

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HE future of the stowaway teenage boy, Daniel Oikhena, became brighter, on Wednesday, after Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State met with him and his parents. Daniel stowed away in an Arik aircraft from Benin-Lagos penultimate Saturday, apprehended by officials of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) in Lagos and handed over to officials of the Department of State Security (DSS).

Ever since then, Daniel has been in the custody of the DSS officials in Lagos but arrived, on Monday, Benin City where the DSS handed him over to the Ministry of Women Affairs. But the mother of the boy, Mrs Evelyn Oikhena,was not comfortable with the handling of the matter, particularly when she visited the office of the DSS in Benin City, but could not find her son. She was asked to go to the Ministry of Women Affairs, yet she was not allowed access to her son. But prior to the arrival of Daniel to Benin, some Nigerians expressed concern over the continued detention of the boy by the DSS, arguing that keeping him in such an atmosphere will not augur well for his future.

A former Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Rowland Owie and De RAUFs, a volunteer group, immediate called for his release.

Owie said: “I wish to advise the DSS to release Daniel because keeping him in custody at this age will not help us as nation or even the DSS. In a civilized society, what I think should have been done is to find out what actually prompted the boy’s action and then, once it is ascertained that he meant no harm, you look for how to help the poor boy.

•Daniel Oikhena ... still under observation Though what he did was unlawful, you should also know that keeping him in custody at this age will have some negative psychological effect on the boy. We humans see things with our naked eyes. Most of us are blind to the spiritual. Let any of the DSS operatives enter the plane wing that Daniel entered and come out alive.

Thereafter, they can detain the boy as long as they like. The boy survived that ordeal because he was covered with the mantle of the Blessed Virgin Mary. He should be allowed to go home without further delay while they see how to help the boy in his career. If not discouraged, the boy can become the President of Nigeria tomorrow and with the encouragement given to him he can take this nation to another level. So he should be released without Daniel met further delay”. De Raufs, a volunteer with Governor group from Osun State, which announced a scholarship for Daniel, Adams lined up legal experts to secure the Oshiomhole of boy’s freedom. Yinka Muyiwa, head Edo State immeof the group’s legal team, said it diately on arrival came to Edo State to reaffirm the scholarship it gave the lad to conin Benin-City. tinue his education up to the univerThe governor sity level. interviewed him “The boy did not commit any to know what he offence and as such should not be detained any longer. The boy had to was thinking do what he did because the system when he entered •Governor Adams Oshiomhole failed him. There was no crime the aircraft involved in what he did as far as we are concerned”. So it some kind of thinking when he entered the airrelief when the news came that the craft. It was learnt that the state ately on arrival in Benin-City behind boy had been released from the government expressed its readiness closed-door during which Sunday custody of the DSS on Monday. to ensure that the stowaway teenager Vanguard learnt that the governor Daniel met with Governor Adams achieved his dreams by sponsoring interviewed him to know what he was Oshiomhole of Edo State immedihim up to his university level. It was

BETTER LIFE FOR STOWAWAY BOY

Oshiomhole’s lifeline for teenager who wanted to escape to America

C M Y K

gathered that the boy exhibited the zeal to further his education and be useful to the society, which, according to a source, impressed Oshiomhole.

The Edo Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr Louise Odion, in a statement, disclosed that Oshiomhole was determined that Daniel gets the best education, just as he regretted that the seeming crack between the mother and the father affected the upbringing of the boy. According to him, “Edo government is already taking steps to ensure that Daniel gets not just material but also psychological support to enable him achieve his God-given potentials. As a doting parent himself, Governor Adams Oshiomhole has followed the development closely. As a matter of fact, he personally engaged Daniel. From his interaction with him and his parents who, unfortunately, are separated, it is obvious that there is a deficit in terms of parental care, even though he sounds quite intelligent.

We will ensure that Daniel benefits, first of all, from the intervention of clinical psychologists. His psyche needs to be weaned off destructive anger. Thereafter, Edo State government is ready to assist Daniel to get to university level consistent with the philosophy of Comrade Oshiomhole that every Edo child gets quality education that not only addressed the cognitive, but also the affective and psycho-motor domains as well”.

A source at the Ministry of Women Affairs, where the boy was being kept at press time told Sunday Vanguard that “it will not be nice to just send the boy to the family even though we are not detaining him”.

The source continued: “What the state government wants to do is to ensure that the boy returns to his normal self after the trauma he went though while he was in the plane and the custody of the DSS. We are going to get a psychologist, private teachers to teach him on different issues.

The state government wants Daniel to live a better life and to help him achieve his dreams. We discovered that the boy is intelligent; so all the government can do now is to ensure that he exploits his potentials positively. Who knows he can become a pilot, a governor or President tomorrow. The Ministry is doing this because a lot of talents have been destroyed in this country because there is nobody to motivate them and render assistance. We don’t want Daniel to be a criminal, we want him to be a better person for our people in Edo State and Nigeria as a whole”.

Last week, the mother of the boy, Evelyn, had been quoted as saying the reason Daniel engaged in the stowaway incident was because he wanted to go to America. As the search was on the movement, the family noticed he was missing, the mother said they were told by the boy’s junior brother that they should look for him at the airport as he earlier disclosed he would enter the plane to travel to America.

SUNDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 8, 2013, PAGE 21

.... CRIME AND NATIONAL SECURITY

* Sea pirates ... causing nightmares to travellers on Nigerian waterways (Inset) One of the suspects arrested at Calabar

Day of reckoning for Calabar sea pirates

By EMMA UNA

F

OR several years, sea pirates turned sea travel along the Oron –Cameroon –Gabon water channel into a nightmare. Harrowing tales of armed attacks, vandalisation and robbing of boats and ships along the channel were a constant feature of those who had cause to travel to Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea or Gabon for business or other activities by sea. Monsters or men of the underworld usually waylaid the water vessels by lurking inside ship wracks or hiding their speed boats in the crevices of the high sea weeds and creeks along the water channel at night and sometimes in the early hours of the morning.

As the vessels approached, the rouges would row their boats closely behind and close-in on them and, with a bout of fire from their automatic weapons, tear open the vessels outer doors to gain access to dispossess their victims of valuables.

The notoriety and frequency of these attacks along with the destruction of offshore pipelines to siphon petroleum products prompted government to act.

What other agency could be better positioned to achieve this responsibility than the navy whose primary

sphere of operation is safeguarding guard. the nation’s territorial waters . To On Tuesday, 27 August, in the early effectively position the navy to hours of the day, while a naval boat achieve this arduous task, additional was escorting a large boat coming speeds boats and other operational from Cameroon, it was confronted by equipment were acquired for the sea pirates who had been laying Eastern Naval Command under siege for boats bound for the Calabar whose jurisdiction the Calabar water Jetty at the Parrot Island near the channel falls but, significantly, the Maritime Academy Oron and soon a naval operational area which has a gun duel ensued. base contiguous “This morning, as my men were to the water channel is the NNS escorting a boat coming from Victory on whose shoulders the task Cameroon to Calabar, they were of carrying out regular operations on confronted by pirates who were the channel was placed. laying siege there. When they saw “In the past nine months, we have my patrol team, they opened fire been carrying out regular operations with automatic weapons which was and surveillance on the high seas returned by my men and seven of along the Calabar Water Channel and we have arrested On Tuesday, 27 August, in several boats and the early hours of the day, barges used in siwhile a naval boat was esphoning oil from devastated pipes in corting a large boat coming the sea and alongside from Cameroon, it was conthat is the arrest of fronted by sea pirates who pirates who have had been laying siege for constituted a thorn in boats bound for the Calabar the flesh of sea Jetty at the Parrot Island travelers along the channel”, Commonear the Maritime Academy dore James Oluwole, Oron and soon a gun duel the Commanding ensued Officer, NNS Victory, told Sunday Van-

them fell”, Oluwole said.

The Commanding Officer said the pirates, operating in two boats, were over powered by the superior fire power of his men on patrol and all the pirates in the first boat fell inside water while another in the second boat was captured. He said NNS Victory had been carrying out regular patrols along the channel to make the sea safe and secure for the movement of goods and people. “We will continue to carry out patrols on the water channel because we have a mandate to secure the water channel for free movement of our people and goods and so any one who thinks he can obstruct that would be always get what he deserves”, Oluwole stated.

The Commanding Officer said before the confrontation, his men had received reports from fishermen at the Parrot Island that pirates were waylaying boats and so his patrol team had to act fast. “At the Parrot Island near the Maritime Academy, they saw some fishermen who told them about the activities of the pirates and when my men got there they were confronted by the sea pirates with automatic weapons but our men over powered them.”

Richard Kola, the captain of the boat, said the timely intervention of the navy men saved his boat from being attacked. “I saw as the two boats were coming after us and behind us came the naval men and the two boats tried to escape but one of their boats had problems and the engine stopped; so they began to fire at the navy men and the navy men replied”. He said he saw all the seven pirates in the first boat fall inside water while the second boat escaped.

PAGE 22 — SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 8, 2013

Dear Rebecca

I have hefty arms!

Dear Rebecca

M

Y arms are so big and often heavy. I’m really not comfortable with

them. Please, help me find a way to reduce them fast.

I’m in dire need of your help.

Eliza

I

’M 24 years old, a Higher National Diploma graduate, in love with a 20 year old girl, an undergraduate who Iives in the same compound with me. I got

I really want her! attracted to her because she is quiet, God-fearing and beautiful. We are just friends but after a while, I discovered that I have fallen in love with her.

When I told her about my feelings for her, she did not respond very well. I had to give her a break of three months to think about it.

REPL Y REPLY

REPL Y REPLY

I

Y

OU did not state how the rest of your body is. Are you fat and overweight, or it’s just your arms that are big and heavy ?

Have they always been like this? How old are you? What about other members of your family?

Do they have big arms too? Some of these things are hereditary, and some members in your immediate or extended family may have the same traits.

If you are overweight. I suggest you cut down drastically on starchy foods (yam. rice, etc)oily and fried foods (dodo, akara and other fried things), sugary foods (soft drinks, sugar, sweets, chocolates, etc) pastry (bread, chin chin, meat pies, buns, puff-puff, etc) and too much meat and protein. Also, eat only one-third of the quantity of food you normally consume. Don’t eat after8pm.

And don’t eat snacks. Do exercises that are convenient but ask your doctor first if you are terribly overweight.

However, if you are not fat and your arms are getting bigger and heavier, you should see a specialist doctor at a general or teaching hospital for a proper diagnosis. You may have to do some tests. Discuss all these with your parents. especially your mother. The condition may be nothing.

But it’s good to make sure now so that whatever it is doesn’t get worse, and you can have peace of mind.

Aunty, I’m confused.

She has shown me so much affection and I love her. How do I convince her of my love for her?

Martins.

Two complicated relationships!

Dear Rebecca

I

’M 28 years old. I’m a worker. I’m in love with a 35-year-old guy who is also doing well.

We’ve been dating for three years and love each other very much. He has proposed marriage to me several times, but I haven’t given him any reply. My reasons are that he is married and I’m afraid of telling him that I already have a son. I truly love this guy and don’t want to lose him. Should I tell him about my son and accept to marry him?

There is this other guy who has been asking me out for the past two years.

He has worked for my dad before in our house. He knows about my child and yet has proposed to marry me. Please, is it right to marry this guy?

I’m afraid my parents will not allow me since he has worked for them before.

I’m confused. I don’t even know what to do? Please, I need your advice.

Fati REPL Y REPLY

M

UST you marry one of these two men? I know that at 28, you feel that

you are not getting any younger and with pretty young girls springing up all over the place, with their high educational qualifications and good jobs, your chances of getting an eligible man to marry, gets slimmer every passing day. I can imagine your anxiety to get married, but let’s stop a moment to consider the two proposals you have at present. Deep down in your heart, you want a man who is legitimately your husband. You love the married man but are you prepared to be a second wife, be it secretly or openly?

Would you feel really married if you have to share a married man with his wife? You will be a junior wife and be prepared to accord respect and deference to his wife and children. If you live outside, you and your kids may not see him when you feel like and you will feel only half married. If you live with him and his wife, you will have to have a lot of patience in order to avoid constant quarrels which normally prevail in a polygamous home. Also, can the man comfortably afford to have two wives and two families, or will

you marry him and be mainly responsible for most of your finances ?

Being boyfriend/girlfriend, no matter the number of years involved, is quite different from being husband/wife in which you share all emotional problems.

There is no guarantee that he may not have girlfriends outside or even take a third wife.

Some women are able to accept all these and be determined to be happy; while some women cannot and are very unhappy. On the other hand, the man may remain as loving and caring as before and be able to treat both wives and two sets of children equally.

There is no way of knowing before hand, and marriage involves luck and the grace of God. If you decide to marry him, you will have to tell him about your son. Tell him that you hadn’t told him because you wanted to be sure of your feelings for him first. If he really loves you, he would still go ahead and marry you.

After all, men marry widows and divorcees with kids and they have a happy union.

Now, why do you think your parents wouldn’t approve of the man who used to work in your fam-

ily house? Could it be that he was doing menial jobs in the house and they would feel that he is beneath your level?

Do you love him and feel that he really loves you, and he has not proposed to you simply because he feels it would do good for his pride to marry his former boss daughter?

Do you really know his his character and feel he would make a good husband and father?

Would he give you the respect you deserve and not treat you shabbily later because he experts you to be grateful that he married you, a single mother? Marriage is serious business even when all conditions are ‘excellent’, so you have to pray to God for guidance. Being a single mother is not a disgrace, and at 28, you’re too young to panic about marriage. I suggest you stop worrying about it and enjoy raising your son, no matter the circumstances of his conception. Try to be a good and caring mother to him so that he can have happy childhood. Wait for God to choose a man for you.

WOULD not advise that you introduce romance into this relationship yet, especially as you both live in the same compound.

Infact, it is not advisable to have a romantic relationship with somebody who is a neighbour living in the same house when both of you are not completely on your own yet. You live with your parents and guardians and they may not be supportive of both of you dating.

Her parents may object because they would feel it would be very easy for you to have sexual intercourse which could lead to unwanted pregnancy ~ and mess up her life.

Also, both families may not always be in peace and harmony. When there’s a quarrel or some coldness between them, how would you and this girl feel and react? Also, when one of you has a visit from a member of the opposite sex, how would the other one feel?

Wouldn’t there be some questioning and a display of jealousy ? You’d be watching each other, and also query every move the other makes. This would bring you so much stress, especially when you quarrel.

So, relax and enjoy the friendship as it is, and also make friends with other girls around so that you can have the opportunity to study and understand girls better.

Later, this would help you in romantic relationship with them.

It is best to allow good friendship build up first before introducing romance. There should be no hurry to get tied up in ‘an everlasting’ love with any girl now. Allow girls who are your friends to have other boys as friends too.

It is when you are ready to settle down that you begin to go steady with the girl of your choice, who also shows interest in you after a period of friendship.

•All letters for publication on this page should be sent to: Dear Rebecca, Vanguard Media Ltd, Kirikiri Canal, P.M.B 1007, Apapa, Lagos, Nigeria. E-mail: dearrebecca2@yahoo.com

SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 8, 2013, PAGE 23

Under what circumstance should a man fake it!

S

OME years back, a very close friend who needed official documents from one of the parastatals approached me to have a word with a friend of mine who was the MD’s Secretary. “You’re not serious are you?”, I asked him, a bit appalled. “You know she’s fancied the pants off you for years.

She might think you want a relationship.” He wasn’t put off. “Just fix a meeting,” he growled. “If all it takes is for me to take her to bed once or twice, it would be worth it.” I couldn’t believe what he was saying. She might be a friend, but I wouldn’t touch her if I were a bloke. Her sex appeal was ziltch! But my friend was desperate to get the much needed documents and he eventually met with her.

A few weeks later when I saw him, he felt really sorry for himself. “Sleeping with your friend was the hardest thing I ever did,” he grumbled. “As soon as she took off her clothes, I regretted my decision. My libido took a nose dive but there she was, all expectant and eager. When we got down to it, I couldn’t really get it off - she irritated me.

Then I started fantasising about some of my sexy female friends and the

mind-bugling sex I’d had and somehow managed to get it started. It went on and on. When I eventually climaxed, I heaved a sigh of relief but was sure it would never happen again under any circumstance.

“Luckily, she used her influence to get me the documents - but not before I gave her some gratification.” When next I saw my friend, she was ascetic about her latest ‘catch’. “He’s the type of man I’d been praying for,” she gushed. “I’m sure it’s the beginning of better things to come ... “ On and on she went I was almost tempted to tell her she was deluding herself if she thought she’d struck gold. Thank goodness I didn’t.

Events that followed showed her she’d been used and dumped!

The fact is, men fake it from time to time without the women in their lives knowing it. Tom, an editor of a magazine said that when his live-in girlfriend cuddled up to him one night and began to initiate sex, he wasn’t really in the mood. “I was tired and would have preferred an early night. Reluctant to disappoint, I accepted her advances and hoped her passion would ignite my

flagging desire. I soon realised it wasn’t working, but rather than tell her I wanted to stop, I chose a more extreme cause of action. I faked an orgasm. I have quite a high sex drive, so am usually in the mood - but this time, I was knackered. It was the first time I’d ever faked it and it felt like a strange thing to do, but it was the only way I could think to bring things to an end without hurting her feelings.

Thankfully it worked.

She felt happy, and I got to sleep quicker ”.

According to relationship expert, Dr. Pam Spurr, author of Sex

Academy: “Many men feel the pressure to live up to porn star images of exciting mind-blowing orgasms. They feel it is expected of them - but the women I speak to certainly don’t want one who’s faking pleasure.

Unfortunately for modern relationships, there seems to be a wealth of information about sex but often the wrong information, coming from pornography setting up unrealistic expectations.”

Others attribute a rise in the numbers taking antidepressants as a contributing factor to faking orgasm. Some antidepressants make it harder for a man to climax, and

therefore more likely to want to fake it.

With increasing numbers of women becoming the main breadwinners that’s now the reality around a lot of households - the expert argues that there are fewer opportunities for men to feel like providers. It is difficult for a man to figure out what he brings to the party for the modern woman who appears to have everything - career, money, independence, friends. This increases the burden on men to feel that they should be outstanding lovers - the sexual providers. But the pressure is counter-produc-

tive, resulting in increasing numbers of men suffering sexual problems.

“It wasn’t that long ago, that we saw this term about women doing their ‘ wifely duty’. It was assumed women didn’t enjoy sex, but they had to submit to it for the benefit of the marital relationship. Now, as women increasingly call the shots in the bedroom, men feel more compelled to please them at a cost to their own sexual satisfaction something past generations of women felt obliged to do.”

But is faking it ultimately bad for a relationship? “The time I did it,” continued Tom, “it made me feel very uncomfortable afterwards. I wasn’t happy that I effectively lied to her, and I never did it again. The next time she wanted sex and I wasn’t in the mood, I was honest. She did get upset, which proved I was right to have been concerned. Not long after, the relationship ended. I was left thinking that if you are with the right woman, then you can be honest about whether you want to make love or not, so you shouldn’t have to get to the point where you’re faking it.

08052201867(Text Only)

Proper body management, key to vitality

P

ROPER body management is the key to being more alive, more active and less tired.

What does proper bodymanagement entail? Well, there must be good nutrition followed by sufficient elimination. And then also there must be formed the habit of regular physical exercise and of deep breathing. Now, deep breating happens to be the most important component in a healthy life. Oh, yes, it comes even before the food you eat. You stand a better chance of making the most of what you have taken in, if you have mundated the system well with enough breathing exercises.

Well, you can’t build any form of tissue without blood and you can’t build a drop of blood without oxygen.

So, you see how crucial it is to know how to, and practise deep breathing.

You want to be bubbling with energy and full of enthusiasm for living?

You now know how. But there must be application, there must be commitment to habits that conduce to such.

All true practitioners of yoga have one distinction – abundance of energy. In any given situation the yoga will always be the last to feel tired. It is most energyinducing regimen known to man and it is also a therapy form.

You simply can’t beat yoga. All practitioners know so. Now lets get cracking. Try the following for waking up muscles and getting set for the day. Chandrasana (sideways).

Technique: Standing with feet together put

you hands up with palms together. Lock your knees as you bend to the left side. Maintain this position for as long as it takes to hurt. Then repeat on the other side.

The Wheel

Benefits: This induces flexibility.

Chandrasana (backsides).

Technique: Standing with feet together and knees locked raise the

hands up as you take a deep breath. Breathe on thoroughly and bend backwards. Stay in the position for a slow count to five.

Benefit: This posture

like the one above also confe flexibility on the practitioner.

MATSYENDRASANA Technique: As you sit with both legs outstretched draw up your right knee and place your right foot on the outsirt of your left knee.

Place your right hand midway at your back and then twist as you look over your right shoulder.

Your left hand should clasping your right thigh.

Then is matsyendrasana or the two posture.

Benefit: This is yet another posture that brings flexibility. It also gives massa to the kidneys.

Constipation sufferer also get relief with the practise of this posture.

Yoga classes at 32 Ademola Adetokunbo Victoria Island, Lagos, 9.10am on Saturdays

PAGE 24—SUNDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 8, 2013

bunmsof@yahoo.co.uk

08056180152,

SMS only

Child marriages: Why are the women not sufficiently outraged?

W

HY are Nige rian women not sufficiently outraged by the wish of some perverted men in the society, some legislators inclusive, to continue to rape their underage daughters?! Just imagine the scenario: a young under-aged child, probably not even 12 yet, innocently asleep, and maybe clutching her favourite toy suddenly being woken up by the gorilla-looking of a man, starkers with his dreadful manhood pointed menacingly in the poor child’s face, ready to pounce! What does she do? Scream? Cower as this monster of a man tries to pacify her, assuring her he loves her and what he’s about to do to ravage her innocence wouldn’t hurt a bit? In fact it is legal! How would she fight off this maniac who probably is older than her father and lots stronger than her?

What would be the thoughts of such a child’s mother? Probably a child-bride herself, she remembers the horror she went through in the hands of the ‘monster’ she calls a husband, and who has since replaced her with a handful of child-brides, and she cries inwardly.

That’s all she can do you see - because the law which should have protected her precious daughter from the same fate she endured from her serial rapists is dithering on the right thing to do to protect juveniles from such nightmares as this.’ Instead, her fate has been decided by parents – more, the dad – who pronounced her marriage material!

Are these law makers aware of the position of trust they’re put in and the responsibilities that go with it? Some few years back, the hue and cry from the legislative chambers was whether Nigerian women should wear trousers in public!

Please! I thought it was a joke that would soon die down, but it had its field day at the house that one wondered if our legislators were busy at all? They even toyed with the idea of making breastfeeding mandatory to nursing mothers. Soon, we might have them telling married couples how often to make love and when. Better still, they could make it compulsory for wives to constantly succumb to their husbands’ sexual desires no matter how perverted such desires are. It beggers belief!

Why is it always the women that suffer abuse?

In the native law and customs, it was stated the husband could beat his wife and blind her in one eye - as long as it was the left eye! I don’t know if it’s been expunged from the statute but it still existed a few years ago when I checked! Unfortunately, female members of the upper house are so few that their opinions seldom count. Or how do you explain why they haven’t ganged up to shout their male members down? Let’s face the brutal truth here - a man that finds an under-aged girl sexually attractive would think nothing of sodomising her!

In the Arab world where under-aged girls are given freely in mar-

Y

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

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

You mean the world to me

Love for me assumed a new meaning when I met you and everything about you sends happiness in

riage, a lot of the girls are fighting back. In foreign media, they are interviewed after fleeing from their lecherous ‘husbands’, begging to be educated and enlightened so they could be in a better position to lead a fulfilled life.

There are even refuges ran by past victims to help such girl-brides fulfill their dreams. So why are we putting back the clock! A friend sent a BB message to my phone of a menacing looking cutlass with the caption: Any attempt to come for my daughter at age 13! Just try me!

I guess it’s now up to the average mum to protect her daughters from being abused and raped all in the name of tradition! I was enraged a few days ago when I watched the Ahmed Yerima interview and he was all smug trying to explain to an enlightened audience what his idea of a girl reaching puberty was.

According to him, as soon as she started menstruating, no matter at what age, that was it! I looked at him with his bulky frame and greying hair and fumed: What in God’s name would he want with a child?

Would he say the same thing about a boy? - That as soon as he can produce semen, he would be young enough to get married?

How sick can you be? He’s gotten away with chopping off body parts of men from his states in the guise of

Sharia, now he’s turned into a predator.

Is there no stopping this man!?

Will Your Marriage Last The Distance? ow that you’re married to your “Soul-mate”, you could look forward to a happy-ever-after ending. It works in the story books. It must work for you. Right?

Well, not really. You only have to look around to see the way time shatters so many marital dreams. To most people’s dismay, psychologists who set out to discover the reality of a permanent relationship found out that partners begin to grow fed up with each other after only four years and are at peak risk of divorce just before their fifth anniversary.

“The excitement of falling in love, making plans and getting married initially makes both partners very happy”, says Professor Daniel Kahneman recently at conference of the British Psychological Society in Dublin.

“But given the limited nature of the human attention span, most couples are unable to maintain this level of satisfaction”.

So how can you tell if your marriage will sur-

N

me that are better experienced than imagined.

This is why I will never love you with my heart because the heart is just only a small part of the body.

I will definitely love you with all the particles and atoms of my being because you mean the world to me.

Akachukwu Ferdinand. aka5forever85@gmail.com 08063819314

Ten facts of a relationship 1. LOVE:

The special feeling that makes you feel, all warm and wonderful.

2. RESPECT: Treating others as well as you would like to be treated.

3. APPRECIATION: To be grateful for all the good things life has to

vive? “It may be down to your genes-genetically speaking, not only do opposites attract, they also stay together. Investigations as to whether genetic similarities between romantically involved couples predicted how faithful and sexually responsive the partners were to each other, have revealed startling results.

It was discovered that for women, the more genetically similar they were to their partner, the lower their sexual responsiveness - and the more likely they were to be attracted to other men and have affairs. Men were entirely different.

They didn’t seem to be affected by gentics at all ... “ Only, we can’t all be scientists, carrying out genetic compatibility checks, when we believe being in love is all that really matters. So how can you tell if your relationship will stand the test of time? Dr. Persuade, a consultant psychiatrist in his book Simply Irresistible - The psychology of seduction identified what he calls Six Incompatibility time Bombs in marital relationships. Find out if you’re sitting on any of them: Time Bomb 1: Social status - This determines your character, tastes, values and friends. And all of these influence your attitude to money and long-term goals. If you and your partner differ on these, you’ll have to try harder to make the relationship work. Very often, your differences will create problems that are unlikely to be resolved.

Time Bomb 2: Background - Your family, religion and ethnic status determine your background. When you chose a partner, you joined their family too.

This will be less threatening if the new family is similar to your own. At the same time, your part-

ner’s family will be looking at you. If they don’t feel you’re right, they’ll unconsciously try to drive a wedge between you.

Time Bomb 3: Lifestyle - If you and your partner don’t share any leisure activities; don’t share your most enjoyable and relaxing times.

In your mind, your partner will, become linked to problems such as the mortgage and sorting out the children, rather than fun. If you have different attitudes to the balance between home and work life, one of you will end up spending a lot of time alone, resentfully wailing for the other to call. Eventually this will drive you apart.

Time Bomb 4: Looks Research shows that most people choose life partners who are similar to themselves in physical attractiveness. Although we may not be conscious of it, we’re very precise in knowing where we stand when it comes to how a better linking partner may wonder if the grass is greener outside the relationship, and be tempted to cheat. The less attractive partner may find you hard to be assertive when their other half behaves unacceptably because they’re scared of losing them.

Time Bomb 5: Age Older partners can become impatient with the lack of maturity of younger ones - and may begin to act like a parent.

This can make the younger partner feel less important.

Time Bomb 6: Track Record - Past relationships reveals your attitude to making life as a couple work. Your partner might have had lots of relationships, whereas you’ve had hardly any.

And yours might have been long and deep while your partner ’s were superficial. If your relationship history differs too much, you’re unlikely to last longer.

offer.

4. HAPPINESS: The full enjoyment of each moment, a smiling face.

5. FORGIVENESS: The ability to let things be without anger.

6. SHARING: The joy of giving without thought of receiving.

7. HONESTY: The quality of always telling the truth.

8. INTEGRITY: The purity of doing what's right, no matter what.

9. COMPASSION: The essence of feeling another's pain,while easing their hurt.

10. TRUST and PEACE: The reward for living.

Chris Onunaku 08032988826/08184844015.

SUNDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 8, 2013, PAGE 25

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BLA CK SUND AY IN C ATHOLIC CHUR CH BLACK SUNDA CA CHURCH

Posers as gun beside dead Rev. Father fuels suicide theory zFamily kicks zParishioners: We were waiting for him for Mass Major seminary in Ekpoma. His perBY SIMON EBEGBULEM, BENIN-CITY

I

t was black Sunday for parish ioners at St Thomas Moore Catholic Church, Sobe, Owan West Local Government Council of Edo State on 25 August when the parish priest, Rev.Father Peter Ayala, was found dead in his room. The incident came as a rude shock to them because the parishioners were already seated for the Sunday Mass awaiting the arrival of the 46-year-old priest, before the tragic news came. The cleric was found in a pool of blood of his own blood with a locally made gun and a plier beside him. It was said that the priest may have been cleaning his gun when it fell and exploded, killing him instantly. Sunday Vanguard learnt that the Church informed the family that the Rev.Father may have died through his own gun. But some parishioners believed he might have been shot by an unknown person, since he could not have been cleaning his gun when he was already dressed for Sunday Mass.

And this was where the family disagreed with the leadership of the Church in Auchi Diocese. While some persons also feel Father Ayala might have committed suicide, the family believes very strongly that their son may have been murdered. Sunday Vanguard was informed by a close family source that the deceased, from Ososo in Akoko Edo Local Government Council of Edo State, was a gentleman born as a twin but the other one died at birth. It was learnt that he hadp a difficult upbringing due to the fact that he became an orphan at a very tender age, as a result of which he struggled to survive with the assistance of siblings. He grew up a dedicated Catholic like other members of his family and was ordained into the priesthood in 1997. Though Sunday Vanguard learnt that the deceased has been transferred to several parishes, he never complained and never showed any sign of frustration in his calling. Apart from his spiritual life, the deceased was academically sound. He obtained a master's degree from the Catholic Institute of West Africa, Port Harcourt and before his death was a lecturer at the C M Y K

ceived smooth life is why the family is angry that people are insinuating that he might have committed suicide.

Following the conflicting reports on the issue, the Catholic Bishop of Auchi Diocese, Bishop Peter Dunia, said the Church, in collaboration with the police, will get to the root of the mat-

While some persons also feel Father Ayala might have committed suicide, the family believes very strongly that their son may have been murdered ter. While warning members of the public against making comments that may jeopardize the investigation, he asserted that, “authoritatively and officially, the cause of death is yet unknown", pointing out that though the Church was traumatized by Ayala’s death “but we will wait for the result of the investigation”. According to him, “although the body of Rev. Fr. Peter Ayala was found lying lifelessly in his pool of blood with a locally manufactured gun and a big spanner on his body and floor, respectively, they were only some of the clues on which experts examinations must be effected to ascertain more authentic proofs of what had led to the death." He berated the media that concluded that the late priest committed suicide. “Whatever must be stated by anybody hitherto were probabilities in as much as experts examinations could prove otherwise. For all others who are prone to engage in some innuendos as regard the death of Rev. Fr. Peter Ayala, I wish to caution so that they keep in mind that death is death, whenever, wherever and in whatever way and manner it occurs, it cannot and should constitute an occasion for derision, unchar-

Ayala...controversial death: murder or suicide? itable assumptions and calumny against the living, the dead or both”.

The bishop said he knew the late "calm, modest and well behaved Peter Ayala who worked under me as a seminarian when I was the parish priest of St Joseph Catholic Church, Emeora seventeen years ago and as a priest who collaborated with me nonetheless similarly in the Diocese of Auchi until his passage from this sinful world."

The deceased's family expressed disgust with what they described as the hasty manner the Catholic Church is creating the impression that the deceased might have died through his own gun.A family source, who did not want his name in print, told Sunday Vanguard: “The Church has not helped matters. Whereas police investigation is still going, they are saying it could be suicide and it was pasted on the website of the Catholic Diocese of Auchi.

The story they told the family members does not look straight to us. What we have been told is that they found him dead and the gun was by his side, then there was a spanner beside him, which looks like he was servicing the gun. The question is that if you shoot a gun, does it not vibrate. If the father was servicing the gun and it actually went off, that gun should not be found by him there. So the whole thing looks fishy. We are asking the question, what killed him? The story they are giving us does not make sense. And nobody was there, nobody has said he was there when it happened; so we are only creating a scenario, that this

is the possibility. But, beyond everything, should the Church pronounce that he was killed by the gun when the police is yet to investigate the case.

The family wants to know what or who killed our brother because the explanation we have does not make sense.

He was a gentleman. That is why we believe that something is wrong somewhere. We believe he was killed by some body and God will go after the person”.

And to buttress what the family said, a close friend of the deceased and a priest too, who did not want his name in print stated that his colleague could not commit suicide. According to him, “ Peter was a priest I have known long ago. He was about four years our junior in the senior seminary. He was a good natured young man which anybody who knew him could attest to. He was quiet, peace loving and very very calm. He never spoke so much and when he spoke he was soft spoken.

And Peter was somebody who never picked up issues with anybody even when you offended him, he found it difficult to hurt anybody. So it was shocking for anybody to say that Peter killed himself. Peter that we knew could not commit suicide. He was a young man who believed in the spirituality of the priesthood”.

When contacted, Edo State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Moses Egoavoen, said the command had commenced investigation into the matter.

“Investigation has long commenced.

The corpse has been deposited at the mortuary; I can assure you that at the end of the day, justice must be done.

Autopsy will be done, but if it is a selfinflicted injury, it will be treated as a natural offence, but if somebody is involved, the person will be dealt with”.

PAGE 26— SUNDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 8, 2013

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The profs and their proteges on Ibadan mountains OKOFU UBAKA.

O

ne issue towered above others in the just concluded conference on oral literature in Nigeria organized by Nigerian Oral Literature Association (NORA). “No fieldwork no oral literature”, this was Prof. G.G. Darah’s ‘Oriki’ all through the duration of the conference.

Darah’s description of the writers’ festival as a dance of the forest was not uncommon. Trainee researchers had the rare privilege of watching the literary sways of the generals that took turns to do what professors were known for. The echoing and chaotic clattering of the forest was too fierce for any Akaraogun. Yet, the literary trainees survived the intellectual rumblings of the generals. From the presentations of Profs Darah, Wanjala, Ogwude, Nkem Okoh, Chinyere, Adekoya, Adebola Dasylva to Dr. Otiono, Dr. Awhefeada and Dr. Linda Onwuka, none of it left the audience in doubt as to the appropriateness of the theme of Documentation and Safeguarding of Nigerian Oral Literatures and Traditions.

Expectedly, taking a flight to the very summit of the Iroko to feast with literary generals and their PhD lieutenants demand plenty of fluffs. Perhaps, the reason these trainees were able to make it to the Iroko top was their abilities to have attained impeccable feats in their various university colonies. Literary staying unyielding on top of the Iroko was another kettle of fish. True to the strength of their minds, all of the trainees survived the literary warfare of the ‘seven mountains’ of Ibadan. Particularly outstanding in their presentations were Alex Roy-Omoni, Peter Omoko, Eyituoyo Maltida Ovie-Jack, Ojaruega Enajite Eseoghene, Ejovi, Agadi, Okunwaye Uche, Toremi Stella, Peter Omoko, Moses Darah and Okofu Ubaka. In his presentation, Okofu Ubaka attempted to illuminate on how creative stories could be woven around myth and historical events.

At NOLA 2013 Conference, the issue Okofu Ubaka provoked with his paper entitled, ANALYSIS: MYTH AND HISTORY IN THE DRAMA AND THEATRE OF FRED AGBEYEGBE was that, whether Fred Agbeyegbe is accepted or not as one of the new voices (third generation writers) in the Nigerian dramatic scene, the fact that he recorded success in adapting and altering historical events of the Itsekiri people in his creative essence could not be argued. Agboyegbe uses his plays to interrogate the leadership structure of the Itsekiri people and by extension the Nigerian nation. To the playwright, a writer enjoys the poetic license to modify myth so as to legitimatized certain tradition of his people. To this end, Agbeyegbe uses his man-woman riddle play (The King Must Dance Naked) to concretize the forbiddance of a woman coming close to the kingship stool of the Itsekiri kingdom.

One of the low points of the 2nd edition of NOLA, 2013 was the clash C M Y K

between the event at Ibadan and Daniel Olorunfemi Fagunwa Lecture which was held the same period NOLA conference was in session (August 7th to 9th). Most of the guests expected to grace the Ibadan event were at Akure, the capital of Fagunwa’s ‘Okelangbodo’. One of such guests that was caught stiff by Agbako in between Ibadan and Ogboju Ode Ninu Igbo Iru Mole was Prof. Karin Ajinke Barber, a professor of oral poetry at OAU, Ife. Karin is British, yet speaks Yoruba more fluently than many owners of the language. Like Karin Ajinke Barber, Tanure Ojaide’s absence was felt at the event. However, it was not the Daniel Fagunwa’s Akaraogun that held Ojaide prisoner in his hunter ’s goatskin bag, but the US Embassy

which needed the services of Tanure to clean up credential issues of certain Nigerians on scholarship visit to America.

Conversely, the unveiling of NOLA’s journal which was a compilation of papers presented in the Warri’s median edition of NOLA, and edited by Prof.

Segun Adekoya, was one of the highpoints of the Ibadan event. Darah affirmed that the association will survive on the oxygen of a lone edition of its journal annually. Stressing the importance of an annual journal, Darah revealed that the American Folklore Society (AFS) was 125 years old and had not for once failed or relented in her effort in maintaining a consistent tradition of churning out a minimum of 4 issues annually even at the most

precarious times of both the first and second world wars.

To steer the affairs of the association for another eight months, a 20member executive was put in place to ensure a smooth conference at Yenagoa in 2014. The body is made up of Darah (DELSU), Olusegun Adekoya (OUA), Nkem Okoh(UNIPORT), Micahel Nobofa (NDU), Sophia Ogwude (UNIABUJA), Chinyeren Nwahunanya (ASU,Uturu), Ademola Dasylva (UI), Obodike Oha (UI), Okey Okwechime (UNIBEN), Mark Osama Ighile (RUN, Mowe), Sunny Awhefeada (Delsu), Nereus Yerima Tadi (GSU, Gombe), Leticia Maever Nyitse (BSU, Makurdi), Asabe Kabir Yusuf (UDU, Sokoto), Felicia Ohwovoriole (UNILAG), Enajite Ojaruega (Delsu), Alfred Mulade (WDU), Peter Omoko (DESCOPEM), Okofu Ubaka (Alema College, Abigborodo), Evelyn Osagie (The Nation Newspapers, Lagos), Chris Wanjala (Univ. of Nairobi, Kenya), Taban Lo Liyong (Univ of Juba, South Sudan ) and Nduka Otiono (Carleton, Canada).

NDDC’s Giant Mill and the Rice Race

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he looked at the monstrous machine with sadness written all over her face.

She quickly snapped out of shock and put on her thinking cap. Before her was what one could rightly describe as a sleeping giant, a massive rice mill capable of producing 180 tonnes of rice daily, lying fallow at Elele Alimini in Rivers State.

For Dr. Christy Atako, the acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, something must be done urgently. In very few words, she made it clear, there and then that the sleeping giant must be roused from its deep slumber.

The rice mill built by the NDDC had remained comatose since it was completed in 2010 for some inexplicable reasons. At a time when attention is focused on agriculture, the new NDDC boss could not accept allowing such a huge investment to continue to waste.

“We will do everything possible to ensure that farmers benefit from the rice mill so as to guarantee massive cultivation and production of rice in the Niger Delta.

Farming used to be the major occupation of our people and here we are with a facility that can process about 3,600 bags of 50 kilogramme of rice. We are determined to re-activate the mill,” she said.

To match action with words, the acting MD promptly set in motion a process that would lead to the reactivation of the rice

mill in the shortest possible time. She initiated a tripartite meeting between the NDDC, Rivers State government and the contracting firm that worked on the rice project.

At the meeting held on Tuesday, August 27, 2013, at the NDDC headquarters in Port Harcourt, Atako explained that it was important to forge a partnership which would ensure that the Elele rice mill was put into effective use as soon as possible.

She said: “I feel very worried by what I saw when I inspected the mill. We have an urgent task to fix the problems so that our people can take advantage of the mill to boost rice production in our region. We used to rely on agriculture before oil took centrestage. We have to return to what had sustained us in the past and President Goodluck Jonathan’s transformation agenda places a lot of emphasis on agriculture.”

The NDDC boss noted that the body had earlier undertaken an exploratory trip to Spain to enlist the services of technical partners that would run the mill. “We need to reap the benefits of that trip. We need to agree to work together to make the rice project successful,” Atako stated.

A representative of the Rivers government in, the partnership talks and the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Dr. Emmanuel Hart commended the efforts of the NDDC in the field of agriculture, noting

that his ministry recently took delivery of 20 new tractors from the commission.

The Permanent Secretary said that the partnership had started before the current negotiations as the state government had made available 5,000 hectares of land at Emuohua Local Government Area for the cultivation of rice that would feed the Elele mill.

Briefing the meeting on what went wrong with the rice project, Chief Felix Idiga, the chief executive of Jafaac Investment, the company that installed the rice mill, lamented that the facility was not yet in use, three years after it was completed and testrun. He blamed bureaucracy as one of the factors responsible for the delay in commissioning the project.

“The plan then was to plant rice in the nine Niger Delta states to provide the stock for the mill. It is sad that this dream is yet to come to fruition. The Elele rice mill is one of the biggest in West Africa. When we did the test-run, we milled over 2,500 bags of rice,” he said.

It was a sad story all the way from the point of view of the contractor. But the NDDC was not prepared to continue crying over spilt milk. It was time to move on and find a solution to the problem. The NDDC’s Director of Agric and Fisheries, Dr. Godspower Amadi, agreed that valuable time had been lost all the while that the mill remained idle but assured that things would change very soon. According to him,”we started commercial rice farming as far back as 2007 with nine pilot farms in the region.”

The contributions of the NDDC to the production of rice in the country is important to raise the level of production and return her to a position where she could once again supply raw materials to local industries and still have enough for export.

Trust the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, to drive the process. He certainly knows his onions and has been unrelenting in the quest to bring Nigeria back to the glorious days of food sufficiency through local production. Thus, it was a proud minister who stood before editors in Asaba, Delta State on August 23, to talk about food production in the country.

In a paper entitled: ”Agriculture: The Value Chain Roadmap,” which he delivered at the 9th All Nigerian Editors Conference with the theme: Nigeria Beyond Oil: Role of the Editor,” he said that the ministry had set 2015 as the target date for the country to become self-sufficient in rice production.

SUNDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 8, 2013, PAGE 27

08116759757

O’YES to 20,000 jobs *400,000 youths apply for employment in Osun

By BILESANMI OLALEKAN

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ntil three years ago, Koleosho Saidat Biola, an English graduate from Lagos State University, was not different from an average lady on the streets of Oshogbo ,Osun State. She was one of the millions of unemployed youths scattered across the country.

According to her, she was just roaming the streets in search of a job. Then she was absorbed into the Osun State Empowerment Youths Scheme, O’YES. O’YES is an empowerment programme focused mainly on youths. For Abiola and her type, it was an opportunity to get out of lack of want occasioned by unemployment. For some others, it was a dirty job not to be touched even with a 10 feet pole. Abiola , today, is a graduate of the O’YES programme. “I am from Ede North Local Government.

I graduated from Lagos State University. I studied English. I graduated in 2009 but there was no job. I was just roaming the streets looking for job all around. It was the O’YES programme that made one to be earning something today. The O’YES programme is usually in the morning such that once you are done, you had time to do some other private things of your own. So, once I leave the O’YES programme, I still go to

By EMMA AMAIZE

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ARRI, the oil city in Delta State, is, no doubt, one of the hotbeds of the Niger-Delta struggle and since ex-militants dropped arms in 2009 and accepted amnesty, the next task was for elected /appointed leaders, both at local and state levels, to develop the oil communities, which was the major basis for the agitation.

One of those saddled with this onerous responsibility is the chair, Caretaker Committee Warri South-West Local Government Area, Reverend Sam Ken. He spoke to Sunday Vanguard on how he was distributing development projects in the area, populated by Ijaws and Itsekiris, to stem unrest, militancy and other violent activities.

He said: “I am aware that the major reason advanced for militancy by youths in the region was underdevelopment and when I was appointed the caretaker chairman of Warri South-West local government, a critical segment in the Niger-Delta struggle by Governor Emmanuel Uduagha, I decided to spread projects in the 20 wards to bring development and checkmate militancy.

“Indeed, there is really underdevelopment in the riverside communities, so what we need because of inadequate resources was to carry out what I call a NEED assessment in all the communities on what the people believe is their most pressing need based on finances of a local government council.It is based on this that we are doing the 15 projects cutting across the 20 wards at the moment”..

Ken continued: “The people are happy that we are managing available C M Y K

some houses to teach.

Meanwhile, the N10,000 that I was being given every month, I was saving it. I didn’t touch it. I was contented with the little I was collecting from the private home teaching I was also doing. After a year of saving, I built a container worth of N60,000. To put everything in order with the container, I spent N100,000. And by the time I was ready for business proper, I committed another N100,000 to it . That was how I started my own business. I can boast of buying anything for my children now. The worth of this business now is about N200,000. As we speak, I have 250 litres of kerosene in my tank”, she said.

Ibrahim Jamiu is a photographer and now into ICT. As a matter of fact, he f e l t photography had nothing to do with

ICT. “It never occurred to me that ICT could actually improve the level of quality of my job”. Now he knows better. “I am grateful to the governor for this empowerment. The programme has even made me to be more virtuous.

It is O’YES that taught me ICT. I didn’t know anything about computers. Now I have two laptops with which I am doing my work now. I was a photographer before I got into the O’YES programme and, with the ICT knowledge, I can manipulate the system to improve on my photographic knowledge”. Miss Alayande Yetunde is another of the lucky graduates. According to her,” The programme has really empowered a lot of people.

The lazy ones

have changed their perspective about life. I was an NCE holder but there was no job. So when I learnt about the O’YES programme, I collected the form and here I am. My savings from the programme enabled me to start a little business on my own. Where could I have got the money if not for O’YES?” For Olagunju Olatunji Obafemi, O’YES made him what he is now. He presently runs a small shoe business.

“I was doing nothing even though I love writing. I enrolled in the scheme and learnt the art of shoe making. At the end of the training, I was given money but initially when I was given the monthly N10,000, I was thinking it was not enough, but I decided to start buying shoe materials with the money as it came little by little to set up my own. Ordinarily some would say the money was nothing, but if you are focused, the money can sufficiently help you out of poverty. I was saving N5,000 from the N10,000 we were being given and that was how I was able to save to be able to start the shoe business. Each of the palm slippers costs N1,500, N2,000 but since I just started, what I do now is give customers discount on each one purchased”.

Enibukun Oyewole , the commandant of the youths scheme, said the mission is to give the youths hope, show them how to fish rather than giving them fish; and then set them ready for the future. “In many areas of our lives in the country now, there is money to make for example in agriculture but,

‘We use devt pr ojects to stop turbulence in Warri’ Our engineers said it is capital intensive, not local government project, but insisted, we hired a swamp boggy for millions of naira

Rev. Sam Ken ....Development is our primary concern resources prudently, we are doing the projects that they asked for and there is no unrest in Warri South-West. For example in Bateren community, an Itsekiri town, where to access the next compound, you have to use native flyovers because of the terrain, not to cross the river, the input that came from there form our NEED assessment is that they needed us to construct foot bridges across the entire community. As I speak, work is practically completed in the first phase and I have ordered that they should go into the second phase.

“At Akpakpa and Ajudaigbo communities in Ugborodo area,

another Itsekiri area, the people said the waterways from the Ocean to access the community has become silted, covered with royal palms and causing flooding in the community. Our engineers said it is capital intensive, not local government project, but insisted, we hired a swamp boggy for millions of naira. Now, we have reopened the natural canal and people can now access the communities.

“At Isaba community, which has two segments of native and rural habitation, the king stays on dry land and the native settlement is in the swamp. They are close to each other, not too far from each other, but the community could not develop because they find it hard to go into the forest, so we have cut the forest into a new layout and we have constructed 17 earth roads, people now go and access plot and build houses.

“Batan is a sub clan of Diebiri community, right in Aladja, the NEED

assessment from that place is for construction of public toilet. When the people, both men and women, go to toilet, they expose their nakedness to passersby. As we speak, the job is basically completed.

“We also have Desmond Island, Sandfill 1, called Warri corner, they too want public toilet, the work is also nearing completion. Recently, the Gbaramatu monarch said health center in Oporoza is unusable; work is currently on-the going on rehabilitation of Oporoza health centre.

“Let me tell you, there are these three communities in Gbaramatu Azama, Enikorogha and Ubefan communities with a common old primary school in Ubefan. For the children in Azama and Enikorogha to access the school, they have to paddle against the ocean, but there is an earth road, which connects the three communities.

“Due to flood and lack, the children have to paddle through the ocean to come to Ubefan and it is a big challenge. However, there is over 3 kilometers of earth road divided by creeks and I asked if we could not construct wooden bridges. Engineers said the project is above what the council can do, I said we have to do it. The reconstruction of Ubefan, Azama –Enikorogha road with wooden bridges to connect the portions divided by creeks is under construction right now.

PAGE 28—SUNDAY, Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 8, 2013

When Bode Olajumoke hosted Rear Admiral Egbedina enator Bode

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Olajumoke does things in style and it was every inch characteristic of him some weeks ago when he hosted an old friend, Rear Admiral Segun Egbedina, at his Parkview Ikoyi, Lagos residence.

The senator, who also doubles as the National President of Fiditi Grammar School Old Students Association (FIGSOSA) moved from seat to pole, making sure his guests had a delightful evening. In attendance at the gathering were Old Students of Fiditi Grammar School and other personalities. Photos by Joe Akintola, Photo Editor.

L-R: AVM Morgan, Dr Bode Olajumoke and Real Admiral Segun Egbedina.

From left; Princess Remi Olajumoke, Dr Bode Olajumoke, Real Admiral Segun Egbedina, his wife, and Alhaji Lateef Folorunsho.

L-R: Bamiduro Rachael Abosede,Mrs Ronke Oyedeji ,Prof. Adesola Ogunniyi and Dr Segun George.

L-R:Omoba A.L. Adegboye, Mrs O.T. Adegboye, Chief Mag Iyabo Ola-Olorun and Dr Niyi Ola- L-R:Engr Funmi Oyetoso, Alhaji Tunde Atiku and Olorun.

Superior Evang. Olaifa J.A.

PCRC seminar

P

At the Lady Captain Inaugural Kitty

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he Lady Captain Inaugural Kitty, took place at the IBB International Golf/Country Club, Abuja. Several ladies came out to show their golfing skills. One of them, Nkoyo Umoh, tees off at the event.

olice Community Relations Committee, Kirikiri Division of Area ‘B’ organised a seminar entitled, “Addressing Nigeria’s Security Challenges Through Community Policing’, at the National Arts Theatre, Iganmu , Lagos. Many notable personalities graced the occasion. Photos by Diran Oshe

L- R: Mr Emeka Ubaka , Mr Uba Jude ,Vice Chairman, PCRC Kirikiri Division and Mr. Franci Oputa- Oji , PRO,

L- R: Chief T. A. Nwokeji, Chief (Mrs ) Stella Obi , chairman, PCRC, Kirikiri, Apapa, Mr David . N . Ugbudian and Chief Awo Okoko Awo.

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L- R: Dr. Francis Oladun, State 1st Vice Chairman , PCRC, Oba Momodu Afolabi Asafa , the Aladi Onijanikin of Ijanikin , PCRC, Lagos State Chairman and Major Tunde Panox , representing Gov Fashola of Lagos State

Nkoyo Umoh teeing off

SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 8, 2013 —29

Nuptial bliss for the Akinkuotus and the Osholowus THE families of Mr. Patrick Akinkuotu and Mr. M.O. Osholowu were united when their children: Mr. Olatunji Adeyinka Osholowu and former Miss Folashade Omolola Akinkuotu were joined together in holy wedlock.

The couple took their marital oaths before ministers of God and family members at Ikoyi Baptist Church and proceeded to the Landmark Village Event Centre, for the reception .

Photos by Bunmi Azeez

L-R: Mr. Patrick Akinkuotu, bride's dad, Mrs. Oluyinka, bride's mum, The couple, Mr and Mrs Adeyinka Osholowu, with Mr and Mrs. M.O. Osholowu, parents of the groom

Atufe buries mum in style

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kperhe-Olomu in Ughelli-South area of Delta State was agog, on Saturday, 17 August, 2013, as the late. Mrs. Cecilia Emetevwe Atufe, mother of former Deputy Editor, Financial Standard Newspapers, and Capital Market Guru, Mr. Friday Atufe, was laid to rest. Mrs. Atufe died at the age of 96 years.

Photos by Akpokona Omafuaire

The couple: Mr. and Mrs.,Olatunji Adeyinka Osholowu.

Representatives of the Osemawe of Ondo Kingdom.

L-R: Mrs. Oluyemisi Adeyinka, Gov. Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State and Dr. Olu Agunloye, formerly of Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC).

Mrs. Adeola Oloketuyi, Mrs. Tola GbengaAlade and Mrs. Oluyemisi Oyebola .

Mr. & Mrs. Friday Atufe, flanked by Ms. Ijara Atufe (left), and their daughters.

Send-of or Sherif yinde Send-offf ffor Sherifff A Ayinde

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end- off in honour of Sheriff Ayinde , Assistant Accountant, Vanguard, organised by a committee of friends, took place at the Vanguard Canal last weekend.

R-L: Engr. Ben Esegba, Dr. Paul Izini, Chief Ese Adehor, Engr. Isaac Omafuaire and Mr. Lucky Esegba.

L-R: Mr Samuel Iroegbulam, Accountant, Ms Titi Jolaoso, Financial Controller, Mr Sheriff Ayinde and Mrs. Helen Arowolo, P.A to Financial Controller.

L-R: Miss Dupe Olotu, Mr. Ogene Ighorodje, Mr Sheriff Ayinde and Mr. Francis Oputa-Oji

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L-R:Mr. Simon Peters, Mr Sheriff Ayinde and Mr. Samson Akunna

Mr. & Mrs. Friday Atufe and members of Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria.

PAGE 30 — SUNDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 8, 2013

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SUNDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 8, 2013, PAGE 31

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PAGE 32—SUNDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 8, 2013

BY OKEY IBEKE

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aritime operators, espe cially importers and exporters, have often accused the Nigeria Customs Service of paying more attention to revenue collection than trade facilitation. They allege that Customs neglects this fundamental responsibility as they strive to meet their annual revenuetargets.

Intimepast,theaboveallegationcould hardly be totally denied. But in the past fewyears,fouryearstobeprecise,things have really changed. Customs Service, underthepresentdispensationofComptroller-GeneralDikkoAbdullahiInde,has madeprogressiveeffortstofacilitatetrade whilecollectingthemaximumcollectible revenueforgovernment.

Tradefacilitationaimsatmakingtrade acrossbordersfaster,simplerandcheaper while ensuring its safety and security.

The World Trade Organisation (WTO) defines trade facilitation thus: “Simplificationandharmonizationofinternationaltradeprocedures.Tradeprocedures include the activities, practices, andformalitiesinvolvedincollecting,presenting,communicatingandprocessing data and other information required for the movement of goods in international trade.”

By implication, it is not only the physical movement of goods that is important in the supply chain but alsotheassociatedinformationthatflows fromtherelevantgovernmentalagencies and the private sector.

As part of the efforts of the present Customs administration towards facilitating trade, the Service has come up with different initiatives such as the Single Window project, the Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR), IT-based services and computerization of its operations etc.

Only recently, the Customs Service formally launched its brainchild, the Nigeria Trade Hub (NTH) and the Nigeria Import, Export and Transit Process Manual. The portal, developedwiththecooperationofothergovernment regulatory agencies and some private sector players, seeks to provide invaluableguideandreliablereferencetools totheglobaltradingcommunitythatwish to do business in or with Nigeria.

At the launching ceremony in Abuja, theCGCacknowledgedthatalloverthe world,Customsadministrationsarecoming under intense pressure to facilitate legitimatecross-bordertrade.

“For a long time, the trading community has yearned for information to promote transparency in the conduct of business. With the development of this hub, information is now placed at their disposal in a fast, convenient and cost-effective manner. I hope this development will help us achieve a new regime of trade facilitation in a corrupt free environment,” Dikko noted.

Heexpressedoptimismthattheportal willhelptoimproveNigeria’srankingin theWorldBank’sEaseofDoingbusiness Index,stating:“Wenowhaveaworldclass portal which we are putting up at the disposaloftheglobaltradingcommunity especiallythosedoingbusinesswithNigeria.”

According to the CGC, the portal boasts of the following features: classification tool, currency converter, tax simulator, web link to other government agencies, 24/7 online accessibility, availability on mobile apps and interactive and intuitive features.

He said the Single Window held manybenefitsforNigeriasuchasincreased levelofserviceefficiency,transparentand predictableprocesses,eliminationofbureaucraticbottlenecksandultimately,increasedrevenueandeconomicgrowth.

Also speaking at the event, the Minister of Finance and the Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr. Ngozi

Nigeria trade hub and Customs modernization

Comptroller-General Dikko Abdullahi Inde

Dr.NgoziOkonjo-Iweala,FinanceMinister

For a long time, the trading community has yearned for information to promote transparency in the conduct of business. With the development of this hub, information is now placed at their disposal in a fast, convenient and cost-effective manner Okonjo-Iweala, noted that all over the world,manyemergingeconomiesarereformingtheirinvestmentclimatesbyaddressingtheregulatorybottleneckswhich increase operational costs for business.

“Nigeria is similarly making progress in harmonizing domestic business regulationsandrationalizingoperationsatvarious government institutions to increase efficiency,”shesaid.

The minister noted that the Nigeria Trade Single Window was a useful step towardsimprovingtradefacilitationinthe nation’seconomy.

“This initiative will simplify, harmonize and standardize procedures for cross- border transactions in Nigeria. As a result, it will further reduce delays associated with crossborder trade and enable us attain our goal of 48-hour cargo clearance time at the ports”.

Okonjo-IwealasaidtheNigeriaSingle TradeWindowprovidesforimportersand exporters, an integrated environment whereappropriateregulatoryinformation maybeobtained,addingthat“thesystem wouldgreatlyfacilitatecommerceacross ourbordersandreducecostsforbusinessesoperatinginNigeria.”

WhilecommendingCustoms,thevariousagenciesandtheprivatesectorstakeholders who collaborated on the project, sheexpressedconfidencethattheframework will contribute towards improving thenation’sinvestmentclimateandsupport its transformation as an emerging marketeconomy.

The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr.Olusegun Aganga, who alsospokeattheoccasion,describedthe NigeriaCustomsasatradefacilitator.

“In playing its own fundamental role as trade facilitator, the Nigeria Customs Service has embarked on the introduction of the Single Window. The application of the Single Window aims principally to modernize and simplify processes and procedures of international trade (imports and exports) in Nigeria. An efficient application will help in creating a competitive and enabling environment for cross-border trade in terms of reducing processing times and costs and simplifying procedures. It ensures transparency and creates a level-playing field, thereby encouraging trade compliance,” he said.

“I have seen the single Window in operation and am proud that to boldly declare that it will provide the required solution to the problems and challenges experienced by players in the past. Trade facilitation is all about simplicity, predictability and sustainability of import/export regimes, regulations and procedures”.

Aganga said the system provides the platform for reliable data collection, collation, retrieval and dissemination and will improve collaboration amongst the different operators, public and private, to exchange data electronically as well as reduce trade related costs through on-line process-

ing of information while shortening processing times.

T

he present manual is rich enough to educate and pro vide clear guidance not only on theoperationsoftheSingleWindow,but moreimportantly,itservesasareference materialtonationalandinternationalplayers trading with Nigeria and those contemplating to do so in the near future”.

He commended the Customs and its leadership for the foresight and the resources committed to the actualization of the platform which he said will sanitize Nigeria’s international trade environment and bring it at par with the most efficient economies in the world.

Speaking for the private sector, Chief Kola Jamodu, President, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), stressed that in this increasing globalized world, the primary role of customs is trade facilitation across the borders.

The introduction of a Nigeria Trade Single Window by customs at this stage, he said, is a welcome development.

“From all accounts, the aspiration of the government and the private sector is the attainment of 48-hour cargo clearing, which at present is about five days, having come down from the abysmal 40 days obtainable three to four years ago. This impressive reduction in the long chain of regulatory/ security agencies at the port from about nineteen (19) to seven (7) was to prepare the ports for Single Window Clearing System. This will no doubt significantly reduce both direct and indirect costs of clearing cargoes in the country.

The outcome would further contribute towards improving the competitiveness of locallyproduced goods either for domestic consumption or for export,” he said.

Jamodu stated that MAN as

a key stakeholder in the transborder business had been a consistent voice in cooperating with the Nigeria Customs Service for the introduction of the Single Window Clearance System.

However, for the scheme to work as expected and achieve the desired purpose, the MAN President said the following issues should be taken into consideration: -Government should immediately appoint customs, the lead agency for the implementation of the Single Window roadmap.

-Necessary back up/safety nets should be put in place to prevent system collapse during the implementation process.

-Creation of a transparent work-flow to ensure that manufacturers/port users enjoy the true value of this transformation system; and -Establishment of a functional regulatory body to oversee the activities of shipping agencies and terminal operators.

The NTH is an interactive portal, designed to assist the importer or exporter, with obtaining correct and timely information.

NTH provides necessary information about all the Government Agencies required to liaise with to obtain the necessary import permits and certificates that are needed to import or export product into or out of Nigeria.

Based on the product and transaction type selected, the portal will provide details including the regulatory stakeholders of that particular product and transaction type, documents required, the cost of administering those documents, duties and tax payable, the number of processing days and any controls/restrictions that might apply. The NTH is seamlessly linked to the Nigeria National Single Window ensuring that once the decision is made to go ahead with the import or export transaction all selected details captured during the search are transferred to the Nigeria National Single Window, saving the time and cost of rekeying all information.

This is in the spirit of “Single Submission of Data” as per UN/ CEFACT’s Recommendation 33 on Single Window.

The Features of the NTH Are: zInteractive and intuitive. zClassification tool. zContact directory. zDocument library. zCurrency converter. z Customs procedure code search. zNews. zDocuments, payments, tax simulator. z Duty and Payment Calculator.

Okey Ibeke is the Publisher of Business &Maritime West Africa

SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 8, 2013, PAGE 33

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The deceitful brands M

such brands (owners). So, while the brand should experience consumer/market reaction equal to and directly opposite to its ACTION (consumer apathy, drop in sales figures, negative value and correspondent negative at the profit level), the opposite is the case - in our peculiar circumstance. The consumer bears the brunt.

Like the BEAUTIFUL AT TITUDES told the BEATTITUDES in the bible, brand-consumer relationship is built on certain and given principles. Indeed as in an average civilization, there are at the least, norms guiding interpersonal relationships.

Each of the elements is agreed upon, and up-held for collective adherence, with attendant consequences in instances of defiance. We at MC&A DIGEST have constantly put in focus, the fact that brands are as much as humans, especially in the area of emotions. So, brands feel.

They react. It therefore beholds on brands, since they exhibit emotion, to respect others, for a mutually beneficial co-existence. In the face of normalcy, therefore, the average brand in an ideal market situation gets what it deserves, in accordance with its behavior or character; if it connects with the target consumer at his/her value touch-points, for instance, it gets patronage. If it does that value-connect consistently, it earns consumer loyalty and friendship.

Conversely, if the given brand exhibits negatives, it

should get equally negative reaction at the market place.

But we know the global market divide along the lines of perfect competition, the imperfect competition and outright monopoly. Theses classification remain classic.

The basic structure of each of these divides is clear and operative, with attendant principles. To the extent that

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ORE and more, the consequence of brands’ negative character traits manifests on the bottom-line, in value terms; if you will, a persistent dent on investors’ expectations (ROI). Evidently, negative character traits are not considered in the class of “ very serious” or very important elements of the over-all operating standards – perhaps because the consequence or consequences of their presence in the daily operations around the guilty brands are not made manifest in the immediate.

By reason of their deferred consequences, therefore, the average Nigerian’s knack for quick-fixes or short-cuts, push back any consideration in the direction of adjusting those negative character traits operational in those brands’ personality. Interestingly, however, these behavioral patterns of negative influence and consequences are nonexistent in the DNA of such brands. In fact, they can be said to be grafted into the ordinary personality of those brands, by reason of our ability to contaminate GOOD, no matter how strange the process of doing such is (and how much it costs).

Consequent upon such forced personality adjustment, the unfortunate brands assume attitudes (complex mental state…to act in certain ways) that are quite strange to their natural form, leading to behavioral patterns that attracts odium/hate, from those that should ordinarily have been friends to them (the target consumer). For purpose of quick connect, let us place in view, negative attitudes such as deceit, disrespect, recklessness, lawlessness (please add the ones you can immediately remember)…. All of such vices are potent in character profiling, directly influencing interpersonal relationship, in a normal society or social environment.

Interestingly, however, the consequences of such bad behavior are resonates at a much lesser degree, on the side of the perpetrator, as against that of the victim.

Secondly, the perpetrator does not get to contend with such attendant consequences, until at a much later date or circumstance. That explains why those perpetrating these ‘ negatives’ do not bother themselves over changing for better ways. The operating environment (the market) is either totally informal, unregulated or at best, just near-monopoly. At every point of the chain, the victim (target consumer) is at the mercy of

limited monopoly.

The interesting thing about our local market, however, is its uniqueness – purely independent of global standard. Known principles are not recognized here, at-all.

Brands are at will to assume any position; in so far investors’ return is protected and illogically multiplied. As a trading economy, most of these brands don’t even seek to assume any form of exclusivity. The over-riding interest is PROFIT at all cost.

How much of choice does the family have, in dealing with Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), for instance, in the market of energy or electricity? So, being totally helpless, electricity consumer do the bidding PHCN, without option. One day, there is the post-paid meter; the next is the pre-paid meter. For no fault of the consumer (and without prior consultation or information), electricity tariff increases by over a hundred percent. The surcharge made mandatory for the forced use of pre-paid meter has just been increased from N500/ month to N750/month.

Whether the consumer likes it or not, is not important.

Interestingly, this surcharge is irrespective of whether the consumer has loaded enough tariff credit to last for half a year, or whether the consumer stays away for work or private reasons, for so long he/she has no need for PHCN service for

Not minding the nonsense about PORTING, GSM operators have been so persistent in the violation of consumers’ privacy and sense of decency, they make promises they pre-determine to not keep

they are all equally subject to time and space, give credence to their limitations, especially in the case of the extremely unfriendly. So, the market of monopoly, assumes some level of extreme investment and exclusivity in terms of source, location or presence.

Sometimes, such exclusivity is enabled by law, due to the extent of investment, which must be protected, in appreciation of the investor ’s guts. So, patent laws/rights, for instance, has the potentials of enabling some form of

,

a very long time - PHCN will keep piling the monthly surcharge. Sinful!

The Frequently-Asked-Questions (FAQs) are: • What is the reasoning behind putting the cost of vending/sales administration on the consumer, as a distinctly separate cost?

• When will this surcharge stop?

• If it is designed to be in perpetuity, does it not mean the user will end up paying up to N2million naira for a

unit of PHCN pre-paid meter?

• How much is the cost of a unit of these pre-paid Magana to PHCN? • Does it not amount to defrauding electricity consumers, if this continues?

Not minding the nonsense about PORTING, GSM operators have been so persistent in the violation of consumers’ privacy and sense of decency, they make promises they pre-determine to not keep. GLO will send this message that invites the customer to call a certain tollfree number for free credit. The unsuspecting caller is quick to find the deceit in that invitation, immediately he/she dials the advertised number, with a voice message that starts reeling out instructions preparatory to an unsolicited dialogue of no value to the caller. Hmmm! Would a service provider dare such insult in developed economy, when the customer can truly PORT in the real sense of it?

It all amount to deceit and irresponsibility!

The market for pharmaceutical products is replete with brands that do not keep their promises. For want of appropriate classification let us just keep with the simple reference of “fake drugs”. How would one describe a brand of pain killer that does not kill pains? At a pharmacy somewhere in Garki, Abuja, an attendant tried so hard (for well over 30mins) to distinguish among variants of a popular pain-killer brand, in vain. At the end, she summed up the difficult task by saying the premium version of same brand is the ‘original’. Funny!

Air travel operators are also guilty of consumer abuse.

Among other disappointments, courteous customer service is persistently being eroded, as time goes on. Across the local airlines cabin crew members manifests impatience, unfriendly behavior and outright aggression. It all comes across as though crew member-customer relationship is replication of the MOLUE scenario (before they were banned in Lagos).

Sanity can only come when basic rules are adhered. In brand-consumer relations, quantifiable value is involved, and that is why we must all make deliberate efforts to ensure compliance, as a duty.

The consumer protection community has been reduced to a population of ineffective and tired hustlers, to a large extent, and that poses its own challenges. But on the whole, we must responsive, to ensure Brands’ RESPONSIBILITY.

SUNDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 8, 2013, PAGE 35

INTRIGUING EXPERIENCES

UNIBEN VC’s ALLEGED POISONING

Lecturers punished for ‘crimes against humanity’ are fighting back — Prof. Oshodin Says affected staff ruined the lives of 142 students

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM, Benin-City

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niversity of Benin (UNIBEN) Governing Council recently sacked 44 staff of the institution allegedly involved in allegations that bordered on gross misconduct. But since the decision was taken, the ViceChancellor of the university, Professor Osayuki Oshodin, says he has not had peace. Recuperating from alleged food poisoning, he raised the alarm that some of those sacked by the universi-

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When did you notice this level of corrupt practices in the university? e never had a Governing Council for almost two years, so the Security Unit of the university had been gathering this information. So when they say I am the one that took the decision, why did I not take the decision before the Council came. I don’t have that kind of power, it is the Governing Council that has the power to appoint and to dismiss, not the VC. I did not even see the report until it got to the Governing Council.

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Professor Osayuki Oshodin Ungodly act situation where you sexually harass a student and you are now disciplined, you look for who to blame and say you are being victimized. How can you collect N50,000 from a student and you say you are doing the right thing? Some of them were even caught red handed. There was a case whereby security agents were pursuing the person inside the campus. Is it not ridiculous? A big man running round the campus after he collected the money but he did not know security men were watching him. It is wicked to collect money from a poor student who can hardly feed.

Parents are even suffering to get school fees and you are collecting N50,000 from them. What shocked me most is that even female lecturers were involved. I did not know that female

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4 staff of the University of Benin including senior lecturers were sacked recently, triggering petitions accusing you of being behind their ordeal. What is your take on that?

I am not behind their sack. Some of them collected money from students and the students have since been dismissed and they named them. The procedure for sacking people, the Vice Chancellor does not have a hand in it.

First of all, the Intelligence Unit of the university sometimes dictates some of these things or, when they are reported to by students, they are now sent to the Disciplinary Committee. The Vice Chancellor is not a member of the Disciplinary Committee. The Committee will meet and make recommendation to Council. The Council take the ultimate decision and nobody can influence the Council. Council is made up of over fifteen members, so how can one person influence them?

We have four sound lawyers in the Council, one of them is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN). A former senator is the Chairman of the Council and other respectable Nigerians. So, I don’t know what they are talking about. I can show you the rules and regulations, they are all spelt out there. You can recommend somebody to the Council and say the person should be freed due to one reason or the other, but the Council can say no , the person must be punished. So it has nothing to do with the VC. It is sad that these people talking and calling the name of the VC do not even talk about the crime they committed. What most of them did can be described as crime against humanity.

Many of them collected money from students; engaged in sexual harassment, extortion, fake admission.

People who did not take JAMB, who did not pass post-UME, who did not have tSSSCE were cleared by these people. So what has their crimes got to do with the VC? It was purely a Council decision and they were dismissed after investigations.

this was why the Council insisted that their names must be published in newspapers so that they will not go to another university and continue to perpetrate their evil. Majority of them had been in the business for twenty years. As a result, some people have gone to the internet to publish more names that we should look as they are also extorting students. Yet they are abusing the management of the university for the action but they forgot that 142 students that were to graduate could not graduate because these corrupt staff admitted them without basic requirements. You know that at the point of entry, they are screened, at the point of departure, they are also screened; it was at the point of departure ‘that we discovered these 142.

Some have spent five years, six years, four years but unfortunately, those years were wasted. So those ones were punished and you that admitted them that was supposed to advise them rightly, you expect to stay, no way. It will be ungodly to allow only the students and parents to suffer it. Those who perpetrated the act deserve punishment and that was the decision of Council. They ruined the life of those students because they have to go and start afresh. One o f the staff that was dismissed was selling biometric data, and he was not supposed to. I have children and I will not allow some body do that to them, what they did was wicked and evil.I was shocked with the revelations because I never believed some of them were involved in some of these crimes.

When I got to Council, where I was trying to plead for somebody because the person is a first offender, it was the first time something has been reported against him, it was then that the Chairman of Council brought out a petition he wrote against me. I was shocked. When you go on the internet, you will see the remarks of former students who said it was good they were caught.

Yes I have been passing through hell but I am not afraid, God is my protector. It is these people that lost their jobs that are threatening my life and, as we are speaking, they have not given up. So if anything happens to me, all of them should be held responsible, especially one particular man who is fond of writing frivolous petitions. lecturers can be involved in extorting money from students. I thought that women are mothers and they are motherly, that was the shocker I got. It is a shame. And I heard that some of them had taught in other universities before and they were thrown out. And

Challenges We have been promoting infrastructural development and academic development. We have new programmes which are putting us ahead Continues on Page 36

PAGE 36— SUNDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 8, 2013

INTRIGUING EXPERIENCES

UNIBEN VC’s ALLEGED POISONING Continued from Page 35 of other universities, not only in Nigeria but worldwide. We are relating to international institutions, that is what academic is all about, not these frivolous petitions people are writing because they don’t like the truth and they are enemies of progress. I want to take UNIBEN to the upper most height before the end of my tenure. We are the best in Nigeria. We are the most sought after university in Nigeria, JAMB can confirm to you that more people apply to go to UNIBEN than any other university in Nigeria. That is not just a coincidence, it is a result of the kind of things we are doing there academically.

There was this report some time ago that the Inspector General of Police ordered the investigation of your activities? am not aware of that. It is all propaganda that is being carried out by one of those people who lost their jobs. One of them has written various frivolous petitions, he does not even know the regulations on the appointment of Heads of Department, it is the prerogative of the VC to appoint anybody as long as the person is a senior lecturer and above. That is the bone of contention of one particular person who felt he should be a Director. And this is the person who stayed in one position for eleven years and was never promoted until I became Vice Chancellor. I promoted him and employed his wife in the university, he is the one writing frivolous petitions. Investigate me over what? These are lies and propaganda

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Professor Osayuki Oshodin being peddled to rubbish my administration but they have failed because we are moving on whether they like it or not.

We learnt your life is being threatened and that you were even poisoned recently?

Yes I have been passing through hell but I am not afraid God is my protector. It is these people that lost their jobs that are threatening my life and, as we are speaking, they have not given up. So if anything happens to me, all of them should be held responsible, especially one particular man who is fond of writing frivolous petitions. He is being used, others are

hiding under him to perpetrate the crime but we know all of them. The problem is that there was so much corruption in the university before I took over as VC and they wanted me to do it the way they ran the place before and I said no. I want this place to develop, I have more at stake in this university than any one of them. I know how the land was given to the Federal Government for the university to be sited there, part of it is my family land. There was no compensation paid to us, but we did not make noise about it, yet some persons think they can colonize the place with their corrupt practices. I was even poisoned by these people but I survived. When God is with you, you are fully protected. I believe that God sent me to the university for a purpose and He will not want me to die on the job. I believe they are wasting their time. Nobody believed that I will be Vice-Chancellor; if you know all the wrangling then, you will know what I am talking about.

I did not join any group to fight for it, it was the hand work of God, God gave me the position and God is protecting me and He will protect me to the end of my tenure. And those who want to fight God will face his wrath.

Are you not worried about the prolonged ASUU strike?

We all are worried. But I believe that through dialogue and understanding, the issues will be resolved soon. There is nothing that cannot be solved through dialogue. The thing is that if we have good communication with the unions, we won’t have problems. This is my fourth year as VC, I have not had any problem with the unions and that is because of my open door policy.

I told them if there are things you don’t like that I do, please call me to

order. I have an open-door policy and the union members are human beings, they are understanding too. It is usually better to dialogue and find solutions to problems.

Are you saying dialogue is the secret of you success so far? y doors are wide open for everybody. If there are problems, we discuss them; the ones I can solve immediately, I will solve, the ones I cannot, I will appeal to them to give me some time. For example, when I took over, I met a backlog of promotion arrears up to ten, twelve years and I paid it gradually. Those are their entitlements. You know in the university system, we run it like a community; it is not a one man show.

So you involve them so they actually see what is going on, you won’t have any problem. It is only when you exclude them in the running of the university that you have a problem.

Like this issue of termination of appointment of some staff, the ViceChancellor has nothing to do with it.

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My dream for UNIBEN I want to see UNIBEN on top; in Nigeria, they are already on top but, before the end of my tenure, I want to see them among the first one hundred universities in the world. That is my dream.

There is this rumour that youre nursing governorship ambition?

I am not a politician. This rumour is being peddled by the same people who do not mean well for the university. They have said all sorts of things. I am an academician so I wonder where they are getting their information from - it is still part of the mischief and I have decided to ignore it. God will judge.

Agric sector has the potential to feed our industries – Fumman boss

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UMMAN Agricultural Limited, producers of Fumman juice brand, has emphasized the pivotal role of agriculture in engendering development in the industrial sector. Its core focus is to make humble contribution to the growth of the country’s agricultural raw materials, using the right volume and quality of raw materials at the right times, location and prices that are agreeable to our needs.

Mr. Layi Adeyemi, the Managing Director of Fumman, said the company is focused on making significant impact through its huge investment in agricultural development.

This led to the introduction of Fumman’s passion fruit to farms close to the factory and importation of elite planting materials of mango, oranges, guavas and pineapples where we have three varieties on its farm. The planting materials will also be made available with time to all collaborating farms and farmers’ group.

This critical role is to further be

intensified through active collaboration with the Nigeria’s Agricultural Research Institutes.

Fumman is also working in collaboration with the Nigeria Centre for Genetic Resources Conservation and Biochemistry (NACGRAB), Nigerian Horticulture Research Institute (NIHORT). This collaboration has engendered the promotion of knowledge in the value chain of fruit crops research, planting, management, harvesting, processing and marketing.

In genetic improvement, Adeyemi said Fumman has collaborated with Center for Environmental Renewable Natural Recourses Management Research and Development (CENRAD) and NACCGRAB. Research is progressing on the popular “Ogbomosho Mango”, a preferred specie of mango for Fumman Mango Juice with objectives of identifying inherent variations that can be genetically explored for genetic improvement of the crop, the propagation of identified desirable genotypes and to sensitize existing

farmers and potential farmers to establish new plantation of the Ogbomosho Mango cultivar.

Fumman brand has a formidable structure on the ground. It is not a fad that our products are natural; we are really involved in agriculture from all circles of research. Our engagement with research institutes is borne out of our resolve to deliver quality fruit juice to Nigerians and to stand out as an indigenous fruit crushing Juice Company.

Beyond Nigeria, Fumman juice has preached its quality mantra to the West Africa sub-region. Fumman had presented papers at agricultural for a within and outside Nigeria from the viewpoint of private sector actor. We participated at the committee level of the Presidential Initiative on Dairy and Fruit Juices. And currently, our chairman sits on the chair of the ECOWAS Mango Stakeholders.

Severally, Fumman Agricultural Limited has been recognized for its quality centric brand and indigenous collaboration. The award from Nucleus Estate Farmers group came in virtually

every year. The Raw Materials Research Council gave Fumman the award for the best company utilizing local materials some years back.

Adeyemi stated also that the organization has adopted several strategies aimed at raising the bar of innovation through its deployment of modern technology and easy to use materials on its products. Fumman added the innovation of print on cans and easy-opening lids to its offer of fruit juices and canned pineapple pieces and slices, before progressing into cardboard packaging materials popular everywhere today.

He also asserted further that Fumman is proactive and working in line with the current trend, their research and development department is constantly researching into popular and little known fruits that can be available in large quantity for industrial processing. This has led to extensive research in its processing 100% Cashew juice which would soon be on the shelves.

SUNDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 8, 2013, PAGE 37

In Balewa’s government, the Hausa had three ministers; the NCNC, which was the party of the East at that time, had 11 ministers.

In fact, the Finance Minister was Okotie-Eboh.

The Hausa only had the Ministry of Defence. So the Ibos killed the Hausas to do what

WAR HERO ON BIAFRA YEARS

No peace in Nigeria’s 53yrs of Hausa, Igbo rulership— Gen. Alabi-Isiama •‘The East’s many mistakes that led to defeat’ • Accuses Obasanjo of lying in ‘My Command’ • Says the nation abandoned Adekunle, other civil war generals

BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE, Deputy Political Editor

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former Principal General Staff Officer (PGSO) of the Nigerian Army and Chief of Staff of 3 Marine Commando Division (3MCDO) during the 196770 Nigeria-Biafra war, BrigadierGeneral Godwin Alabi-Isama, is a reporter ’s delight anytime. He canvasses his views with passion and emotion, not minding whose ox is gored. He was at his best, literally shooting from the hips, during a visit to the corporate headquarters of Vanguard in Apapa, Lagos. In a twohour chat with Vanguard’s senior editors on his book, ‘The Tragedy of Victory, On-the-spot Account of the Nigeria-Biafra War in the Atlantic Theatre,’ the civil war hero made startling comments that are bound to raise dust and generate controversy in the polity. For instance, he said the Northern and Eastern Nigeria have C M Y K

jointly been ruling the country since independence in 1960 and Nigeria has not known peace; there was no pogrom against the Igbo during the war; Biafra would not have lost the war if her military leaders had been tactically disciplined and prosecuted the war professionally; and that Nigeria neglects her heroes and heroines.

He said the problem of Nigeria is disloyalty, not corruption; Obasanjo lied in his book, ‘My Command’; the first 1966 coup is not an Igbo coup but it ruined Nigeria. A Delta Igbo by paternal lineage but a Yoruba-cum northerner via maternal links, AlabiIsama said God has destined Nigeria to be one country and those trying to dismember the nation labour in vain.

He prayed that Nigerians should not witness another war because people are now very vicious. Excerpts: Motivation to write the book I did not know I have what it takes

to be a writer. We all left secondary school to join the Army because they will not take you if you are from the university due to lack of trust at that time. They thought graduates would leave after a short while. The point has been proven that graduates did not do well in the Army then just as the likes of Rotimi and Emmanuel Ifeajuna, who were recruited from the university to the infantry, did not do too well.

Victor Banjo was a graduate but he was recruited for the engineering aspect of the military where they have always recruited graduates. In the medical (corps), you had to be a doctor, but in the infantry they never did. However, they decided to experiment on recruitment of graduates, which yielded no positive results.

For you to be a general in the Army, you would have done a minimum of seven to eight years of training. If you went to the university, I don’t think you will spend up to that to get a Ph.D. I went through all the military training, and when I was to write the book, there

were a lot of thoughts on why I’m writing a book. I discussed with some friends, including Adekunle (Adekoya) who is here. They encouraged me to carry on with the book based on the ideas and my experience. Kunle told me that the book will make a good read. So we started working on it.

On my 70th birthday, General Alani Akinrinade came with a book, My Command, written by General Olusegun Obasanjo. I had heard about it but I had not read it then. He said that Obasanjo, who was our commander, said something about me in the book; that I will have stomach trouble if I read it. I questioned that comment; he then bought two copies and gave me.

How his mother preserved war materials When I finished reading chapter one of ‘My Command’, I was so annoyed Continues on page 38

PAGE 38— SUNDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 8, 2013

‘The East’s many mistakes that led to defeat’ Continued from page 37

that I wanted to write. Luckily for me, I went to renovate my mother ’s house in Ilorin for my 70th birthday. When I got there, I found a big box locked up. With a thought that my mother had kept money for me again, I broke the lock and found my military uniform, cap and so many civil war pictures.

Though not arranged, the pictures had been saved for 40 years. When I got hold of them, the pictures were clean and clear. So every picture I looked at, I remembered what happened. ‘Obasanjo had lied,’ I said.

So, I started writing.

Obasanjo has claimed so much for what he did not know, and where he didn’t visit, let alone attack. He didn’t attack anywhere, or capture anywhere; he didn’t command a battalion or even a brigade. Now he was saddled with a division, the best division of the Nigerian Army at the time and that was difficult for him. But he didn’t want us to see that it was difficult for him.

I didn’t write because of Obasanjo A lot of people would have thought that the book was written because of Obasanjo which is not true. In this book, I have gone beyond personalities, but you can’t avoid talking about one or two people and, as a soldier, I had never thought that I should be saying ‘oh that man, oh that woman, oh that division, oh that state.’ In my book, I mentioned the states, I mentioned the names of those concerned and if they have any concerns, then they could get in touch with me. In this book, there are 450 pictures and I still have over a thousand pictures. I have gone beyond personalities.

What I want really is to discuss my vision in our diversity, to discuss this country. How can we move forward? Where are we now?

How did we get here? If we are satisfied, let’s remain so, but if not, how are we going to get out of it? We did not agree with unitary system of government that was introduced by General AguiyiIronsi, but here we are. We couldn’t get away from unitary government. Why did Ironsi die, why did the Army kill Ironsi or anybody for that matter because he (Ironsi) suggested unitary government?

Things like this happen everywhere in the world, they are what I would say is inexplicable phenomenon in mankind, their destiny took a lot of blood - Alexander the Great, Hitler, Lenin, etc. So C M Y K

people like Obasanjo existed in history, there are people like Nelson Mandela who will say, ‘for this blood that we are shedding, there has to be a result’.

But in our own country, we didn’t have the result for everybody. After the Second World War, elders sat down and said that even those that waved their flags, those who clapped, those who met us on the way as we were advancing; these people were part of the war effort. But we discredited the people that were part of the war effort in Nigeria. We fought for one Nigeria, we are here today talking about unity of Nigeria, is that what we have? If that is what we have, then we shouldn’t discuss it; if not, let’s look at how we can get on and move forward.

Neglect of our heroes T oday, General Benjamin Adekunle is unable to pay his hospital bills. If he stole enough money — I am not here to say if he stole or not, I only know about myself — he will be able to pay his hospital bills. But then, who in this country that is old enough to know will say Adekunle did not do well? I was his Chief of Staff, everywhere we captured, he sent me there and it was because he believed in me. We debated tactics, it’s not usual, that wasn’t part of what we were taught in England.

Adekunle did well as a commander. He landed at Bonny which everybody thought was the most difficult

“Things like this happen everywhere in the world, they are what I would say is inexplicable phenomenon in mankind, their destiny took a lot of blood”

When that coup took place, they said there was corruption.

Where is Sardauna’s estate?

Where is Balewa’s estate?

Where is Adekunle’s estate? The North had eight officers, the West, 10 officers, the East had 37 officers. With 37 officers, you still organised a coup thing to do. He captured Calabar, another sea landing. Sea landing operations were the most difficult anywhere in the world, even with General Patton landing in Sicily during the Second World War, he had problems. We replicated his tactics somehow.

Adekunle did well. The whole country heard at that time how Marine Commando captured Oron, Ikot Ekpene, etc. There was no day we did not capture somewhere.

For one reason or the other he was removed, it is in my book. Adekunle arrived back in Lagos; he was not even invited to the surrender ceremony. He was not given

any award, neither was he even recognized by anybody.

Now, if you are Adekunle’s son and you were in the Army or you have somebody in the Army, will you go and do it like Adekunle did? You will say: ‘to hell with the country’.

That was the problem and everybody in the country talks about corruption. Corruption is everywhere in the world.

Maddox has just been arrested and jailed, Stanford was arrested and jailed.

Corruption is not the problem of this country; loyalty is; people are not loyal to this country anymore. Lack of loyalty is the problem. A governor will take money and bank it abroad because he

doesn’t believe in the country.

If he believes in the country, he would use that money to develop his state.

No country succeeds without successors Just tell me today a country that has succeeded without a successor?

I was governor in 1973, what do you want me to be now?

You’ll put me as a member of a lousy board somewhere, at 73? Don’t we have youths? We have bastardized these youths. It’s in the book. How did we do it? We have killed our youths — they are broke and broken; that is the word I used in the book. Who is going to succeed Alabi-Isama?

What was it that was brilliant that I did in 1973, which I want to do again now? We keep recycling the same people.

When I went to see Adekunle, he said: “Alabi, I am open.” That was the only thing he could say. During the war, we used to have this code that if I tell you I am ‘close,’ it means I am happy. He said I am ‘open’ which means ‘I am in trouble.’ He couldn’t say more. He is only 76 or 77. His abandonment is not fair. Who

else will want to be loyal to this country? People have seen Adekunle, they have seen others, so everybody wants to take as much as he can so that ‘it can be better for me for now and then maybe for my children,’ but they have forgotten that what God did not give you, the devil will take. All those people that have stolen money; the devil is giving them what they are spending that money on.

I got no pension, I never got gratuity. Will I allow any of my children to do what I did for this country? It is lack of loyalty to the country that is causing widespread cor ruption today.

So, corruption is not the problem.

We need to look for solutions.

Adekunle is suffering; it will be unfair of this country if we don’t help that man, because I’m sure the day he dies, newspapers will be awash with eulogies for him. ‘The war hero is dead’, ‘he died penniless’, just like Edet Utuk, one of the best fighters of the 3MCDO. For seven months, the entire Biafran Army could Continues on page 39

SUNDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 8, 2013, PAGE 39

Continued from page 14

not dislodge 500 men, and it was because of our training.

This boy was my staff. The wife said at the launch of my book that they had to go to Obasanjo to borrow some money to take care of him while he was ill and dying because Obasanjo was the commander they knew. When the man (Utuk) came to me at Uyo with the wife, I was only able to give them N20, 000. You need to see how he was thanking me for just N20, 000. Obasanjo drove them back. But the wife said Alabi is at Enugu and he said ‘that’s my boss, let’s go and see him.’ Whatever I had, I had to give them. I never got pension.

Why he didn’t get pension It is in the book, because they said I stole money.

Contact with military authorities to redress this wrong done to war heroes like General Adekunle Yes, we have, through the son. In fact, the boy told me that he was kept waiting at Abuja for so many days and he didn’t plan to stay in a hotel because it was expensive for him. But he stayed anyway and got no results.

Federal troops fed Biafrans during the war T hat brings me to the question: Will you do the same thing that Adekunle did? People alleged that he said, ‘Oh, we are going to capture them; we are going to do this; kill all the Biafrans.’

But anytime he came to the war front, I will say, ‘Oga you told me to feed them; you told me to recruit them; you carried their children.’

I didn’t see a hungry Igbo man or woman during the war We didn’t have refugee camp in 3 Marine Commando.

Once you are there as a refugee coming from Biafra, we give you food and you go to your house. I want to say that I did not see a hungry Igbo man, woman or child during the war. Those that were hungry are those that were removed from their villages. You need to read the former governor of Imo State, Achike Udenwa’s book. People were removed from theirvillages to a refugee camp without food. When we arrived at every town, we saw cows, goats, chickens and we ate them. These people left all these things because they were told that Nigerians will kill them and that we will rape their women. Rape who? You don’t rape Calabar women, you don’t rape Annang women. Anang women came out dancing. So, we recruited these people, and they said we recruited them for socials.

There was no food. There was no market, farm, fishing, factory and banks. There was no business. The only people

‘The nation abandoned Adekunle, other civil war generals’ Ibos that w e r e hungry w e r e those that were removed from their villages. You need to read the former governor of Imo State, Achike Udenwa’s book.

People were removed from their villages to a refugee camp without food.

These people left all these things because they were told that Nigerians will kill them who will give you food are the soldiers. This matter being discussed is not a joking matter. I pray we don’t have another war. But even if we have another, it’s not going to be the Nigeria-Biafra war because people are very vicious now.

No basis for the first coup of 1966 W hen that coup took place, they said there was corruption. Where is Sardauna’s estate? Where is Balewa’s estate? Where is Adekunle’s estate? The North had eight officers, the West, 10 officers, the East had 37 officers. With 37 officers, you still organized a coup. The coup was not an Igbo coup.

Some people got together and discussed with the people they felt they could trust. Even today, if a Yoruba man wants to discuss something, he’s not going to call a Hausa man.

He’s not going to call an Ibo man, but a fellow Yoruba man.

That was what happened. But you need to read Paschal Odu’s book. He was my course mate. In that book, he narrated his experience at Lafia and the Nigerian Railway where some people were jubilating and partying after the killing of Sir Ahmadu Bello. They were seen taking the pictures of the Sardauna and smashing them on the floor.

Even Chimamanda Adichie wrote in her book to say ‘ when they were going to kill the Sardauna, he was crying like a goat.’ If I knew that one of them had killed my mother, I will level that family and their neighbours.

Why Hausas were vicious

“When you kill the elders, it becomes a problem” after Balewa’s killing The Igbo did not understand why the Hausa were vicious.

It was the feudal system. I grew up in a feudal system. I was a beggar on the streets.

My father, a Deltan, died when I was four years old and my mother brought me back to Ilorin. I had to bear Ilorin name. Now, my mother ’s uncle, who was the head of the family, will give about 20 of us money to go and buy food in the morning. The same thing went for lunch and dinner.

When the man died, who was going to give us food money?

There was nobody. The older ones among us got involved in all sorts of vices. The little ones like me will just carry plate and start begging for alms on the streets. That’s how we ate until the eighth day celebration, when the then Emir of Ilorin, the father of the present Emir, took me and sent me to school. This was how I went to school.

So, when you kill the elders, it becomes a problem. It’s the same thing that has caused the problem of Boko-Haram, the Maitatsine. Once you have killed the elders, you have created a problem. People, who had their youth service in the North, will attest to the fact that when you give the Almajiri money, he will reject it and ask for food. And we did not see why they were vicious and somebody was jubilating that they had killed their leaders.

When the dusts settled after the coup, they realized it.

Michael Okpara ran away.

Akanu Ibiam, Nnamdi Azikiwe and every other person were alive in the East.

You killed the Yoruba and the Hausa. At that time, the Igbo had more than 75 per cent of the country in their hands and under their grip. University of Lagos had Eni Njoku as Vice Chancellor; University of Ibadan had Kenneth Dike; the Army was commanded by Aguiyi-Ironsi; the Air Force, Kurubo from the East; the Navy had Wey from the East; the Customs, Police, Immigration they were all from the East. Jaja Wachukwu, Foreign Affairs Minister; Okoi Arikpo was Internal Affairs Minister. Matthew Mbu was Transport Minister.

In Balewa’s government, the Hausa had three ministers; the NCNC, which was the party of the East at that time, had 11 ministers. In fact, the Finance Minister was OkotieEboh. The Hausa only had the Ministry of Defence. So the Ibos killed the Hausa to do what? You killed them because there was trouble in the West.

On General Alexander Madiebo’s comments that if Biafra had one-tenth of what Nigeria had, it would have won the war I told General Madiebo that the East had the best of Nigerian officers. They won laurels abroad. That’s why Ironsi became the leader of the United Nations contingent in Congo.

Our Police were wanted everywhere. I have been successful from failures and not from excuses. The Igbo man is still talking about excuses. I’m an Igbo man and, let me tell you, I told General Madiebo, ‘Sir, you are still talking about a defeat; Igbo people were not defeated in the war. It was Biafra that was defeated and Biafra was the entire Eastern

Region.You alienated the Annang, the Kalabari, the Ikwere, the Ibibio and you thought it was only Igbo that were Biafra; that was why you lost the war.

It was not Ibo that lost the war but Biafra’. I also told him, ‘Sir, if I were you, I needed just a brigade to win the war.’ You may not defeat Nigeria, because there are Hausa in Togo, Niger and Chad that will come and join them. The Calabar in Cameroon will not; neither will the Yoruba in Cotonou. Their (Hausa) religion will let them do that’. I said ‘ you don’t need weapons to even win that war’.

He said ‘Alabi, you again.’

Our Atlantic coast in this nation is about 1, 000km from Lagos to Calabar. How do you defend a thousand kilometers from Lagos to Calabar? With how many troops? It’s marshy; it’s below sea level; it’s mangrove. How will you defend the place? I said, ‘Sir, there’s what is called buoys in the Atlantic Ocean, their blinking lights show ships the channel to follow because you cannot dredge the entire Atlantic Ocean. So they dredge a particular place for the ships to pass through and the buoys will be blinking. Sir, at the time you were defending your Atlantic coast, if you changed the position of the buoys, the ship coming will run aground.

Do you need any weapon to do that? That’s how I captured Jozina.’ But God in his mercy wanted to have one Nigeria. I may not be there, but one day, this country will say, ‘oh, we don’t know that this is how we would have done it’. Why do you grow kola nut in Yoruba land and it’s eaten in the North and revered in the East? You still don’t know that God wants this country together? The North tried to secede but couldn’t. The East tried but they couldn’t go, and you still didn’t see that God in His infinite mercies wants us as one country?

Those who are disloyal to this country will not go far and I’m saying so. I have seen it all.

The day we were going to capture Jozina, which was just a ship carrying weapons, they said it was carrying food. We said, ‘let us inspect it’ and they said ‘ no.’ We changed the buoys, when the ship got there, they couldn’t go further.

When we inspected the ship, we saw weapons. We didn’t use any weapon to accomplish this. The East could have defended Onitsha Bridge. The East could have defended the Atlantic Ocean and face the North with any tactics that we learnt. You have to use your own sense based on what is happening on the ground. Biafran officers did not do that and I was shocked.

How I escaped Biafran soldiers in Asaba

Continues on page 40

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Continued from page 39

They came at night and went and killed all the Hausa. Then they came to attack me at Catering Rest House. I threw a grenade, for those that didn’t die I followed it up with machine gun. I’m alive today because God Almighty said so.

It’s not because I was clever.

But it wasn’t a war the East could have lost. It wasn’t a war they could have won. It was a war that would have had a stalemate like Korea, and then United Nations will say’ leave them alone’. But what were they fighting for at that time, when they were controlling about 75 per cent of the country?

On what he makes of Chinua Achebe’s comment in his book, ‘There Was a Country’ that General Adekunle committed genocide by killing unarmed Igbo masses?

Look, Adekunle was not there in the war front. Adekunle was in Lagos, while we were at the war front. So, which Adekunle was committing genocide? I, Alabi-Isama, commanded the troops from Calabar to Port-Harcourt in 30 days.

I didn’t enter any town. So, who were we killing when the 3 Marine Commando was not operating in Igbo area? We only got to the Igbo region towards the end of the war. After we had captured everywhere around the South, then we went to Aba, then to Ihiala, which was the centre of gravity of Biafran troops. We didn’t need to kill anybody. That was what caused the problem between me, Obasanjo and Adekunle. ‘Oga we didn’t need to kill anybody, let’s do it this way and that way.’ At the end of it all, we did it my way and it was what ended the civil war. So, when was this genocide? Genocide to kill who?

Look, Ojukwu said that there was no power in black Africa that could defeat the East. I agreed with him. First you brought a plane to come and bomb Yaba and Casino area.

For those of you who knew Lagos at the time, these were the most populous areas of Lagos. Nigerian government had no answers for it. Awolowo went to beg, he went to the East to say, ‘look, don’t let us fight.’ Do you know that Ojukwu told him in Yoruba? ‘Look, Oga, we have left! If you want to join us, leave Nigeria and come and join us.’ When Awolowo arrived in Lagos, he told Gowon, ‘Look, these people are serious. Either we sue for peace now or whatever we are going to do, let’s do it fast.’

Gowon said ‘no, let’s make a plan to counter this so that this country will not break.’

Awolowo said ‘I agree with you, this country will not break. If that’s the case, let’s go.’ And that was how they started planning. They started looking for planes everywhere.

The Americans would not give us; the British will not give us.

Then, they went to Russia and Russia gave conditions. And Nigeria said, ‘Okay, just give

pens?’ That’s the way we are trained in the military. Like Obasanjo did, he went and attacked Ohoba. Do you know how many troops that were there that you are going to fight? How many troops do you have versus the number they have? Do you have the kind of weapons they have? Those are the considerations before you go on attack.

“I stated that when an Igbo man starts crying, he has seen enough. I captured it with a picture”

On comments that the genocide or pogrom that the Biafrans were talking about was committed in the North before the war.

I’m telling you what people conceive as pogrom. You have killed their leaders. Did they not kill Sardauna in the North?

That’s their leader. Let us face

‘Obasanjo lied in ‘My Command’ When they were planning, they looked for their Ibo kinsmen who will understand what they were planning for. Will they call a Hausa man that they are going to kill the Sarduana?

Or call a Yoruba man that they are going to kill Ademulegun? They killed Ademulegun and his pregnant wife on the same bed us because this man will defeat Nigeria. He has the officers and the will to do so.’ In the book, I stated that when an Igbo man starts crying, he has seen enough. I captured it with a picture. Those Igbo people that were shouting ‘Enyimba Enyi’ ‘Yen anyi egbe’ (Give us gun, we are ready to fight) we are ready to fight. What were we (Nigerian soldiers) fighting for? We were just paid soldiers. But they (Biafra) made a mistake. They came to the Mid-West. If you read the military history, why did Russia defeat Germany? Germany went to Russia in Operation ‘Barbarossa’, it’s in the book.

Then a little tiny Island called Malta, it’s in the book. They didn’t acknowledge the importance of Malta. Igbo did not know the importance of Oron in the war. There was a confluence, an estuary there. If you control that, it’s like a road junction. You need to read Effiong’s book. He went to advise Ojukwu, ‘Let us control this junction at Ikot-Ekpene’.

Ojukwu said, ‘Well, you might as well put one battalion at Nnewi.’ Sarcastically, he told Effiong off.

First 1966 coup not Igbo coup The Igbo did not think of Ibo coup. But when they were planning, they looked for their

Ibo kinsmen who will understand what they were planning for. Will they call a Hausa man that they are going to kill the Sarduana? Or call a Yoruba man that they are going to kill Ademulegun? They killed Ademulegun and his pregnant wife on the same bed. If you are controlling about 75 per cent of this country at that time, tell me exactly what would have made them to organize a coup? Even if you had a good reason for the coup, what they didn’t do was to say ‘ wait a minute, what will happen after this coup?’ In military school, we were taught what is called feasibility study. It’s called appreciation. You will look at the variability of what you are trying to do. In fact, they should have known that if that coup failed, an intertribal war will erupt. ‘And if there’s an inter-tribal war, can we win? Who are the people that we have?’ You will count how many soldiers you can muster and how many weapons you can get. They killed Ademulegun, a Yoruba officer and a Brigadier-General, with the wife on the same bed. Was the wife a soldier?

Even the Yoruba didn’t care because they don’t operate a feudal system but it was not so in the North. Those are the situations you will sit down to analyze.

‘If we do this, what hap-

facts here. I’m saying that after these Hausa and the Yoruba were killed, the Igbo started jubilating. Everybody is talking about pogrom, what is even a pogrom? I’ve explained what the feudal system is all about to northerners. If you had killed all the ordinary Hausa, do you know there wouldn’t have been any war? They wouldn’t have even bothered.

It would have reduced the number of people they had to feed. Once you killed their leaders, you had killed all of them.

That’s why I suggested that there must be two-party system in this country. Ibo, Yoruba, Hausa will be spread in the two parties. Once you have a third party, Igbo will take one, Hausa will take one, the Yoruba will take one and you will never have unity. What will give you unity is to start now to get the politics right.

What we haven’t got right is the Constitution. Every Head of State that comes in would want to write a new Constitution. We need something sustainable. Even if you write the Constitution today, you will be writing a PDP Constitution.

What you need is representatives of the different tribes, let them sit down and draft a Constitution for the country. Let’s stop blaming anybody for our woes. Rather, let’s draw a line now and therefore move forward.

Why Ifeajuna and some other graduates didn’t do well in the Army As for Ifeajuna, we were mates; we went to the same training school in England.

When they staged the first coup, they didn’t do what we call appreciation - feasibility study; if this business fails, what do we do next? That coup finished this country. And since then, people have written about the

woes of the country. So, if that is the case, the next thing is to call everybody and ask: ‘What is the problem?’ People don’t even know why these things happened. If you don’t get the reasons why things happen, how do you get a solution for them? People are always complaining of bad roads, no food, no railway, etc. Our elders gave us Nigerian Airways, we inherited Nigerian Railway.

We inherited Post Office, Nigerian Shipping Lines; Inland Waterways, but where are they today?

So, because of what they (Ifeajuna and co) did, they killed the country on the grounds that there was corruption, nepotism, tribalism and all that.

Don’t we have them now? Will the coup have stopped it?

No. North, East have been ruling Nigeria since 1960 I’m telling you that the Northern NPC and the Igbo NCNC have been ruling this country from 1960 till date.

And the country is not moving anywhere. In the First Republic, the NPC and the NCNC ruled this country. They were at each other ’s throats. All they wanted was to break the West and they couldn’t break the West. In the Second Republic, when the civil war ended, the Igbo accused the North of genocide and pogrom. Chinua Achebe himself went to join PRP, Ojukwu joined NPN. These were Hausa-led parties. So, NPP of the East with the NPN of the North ruled this country in the Second Republic. In the Third Republic, you had NRC, SDP. The progressives went to join the SDP and they won elections, but General Ibrahim Babangida annulled the elections. Why? I Alabi-Isama refused to know. Because I didn’t see why a Nigerian would do a thing like that to this country. That’s why I said these things can’t be explained. If you want the country to be ruled by you, your tribe, kinsmen and community, then, it has to be by education and competition, not by handicaps.

Now looking at the Fourth Republic, you have PDP in the North and in the East. The West said they rigged it, but Tinubu and his group decided not to be part of it and they re-strategised. In today ’s republic, only two states in the North are not governed by PDP. Only two states in the East are not PDP. There’s no PDP in the West. The country is still being ruled by the Igbo and the Hausa and yet there’s no peace. That is my opinion.

I was 20 years at independence. We were supposed to be the leaders of tomorrow, so let there be competition. Unless, there’s competition, you can’t get the best. It’s all in my book.

WATCH OUT FOR THE SERIALIZATION OF HIS BOOK HERE

SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 8, 2013, PAGE 41

By BENJAMIN NJOKU njokujamin@yahoo.com

ROMANCE:

She raises her voice whenever she’s angr y— Chico Ejiro C

hico Ejiro is one of the most prolific Nollywood producers who has become a household name in Nigeria and beyond. He met his wife, Joy, in 1994, and wedded her in 1998.They have four children.

Zeb Ejiro, the best-known of the new Nigerian cinema auteurs outside of the country, and Peter Red Ejiro, another Nigerian movie producer are his two elder brothers. Chico and his wife take us through the journey of their marriage.

I

Married for 15 years am married to Joy Ejiro and our marriage is blessed with four kids. I have been married for fifteen years now. I studied Ag riculture in the university and I will be 60 years on the 15th of October. I have been in Nollywood since 1987. I met my wife in 1994, at The University of Lagos when I organised a show with my boss then, Opa Williams. She was still a student then, but we got married in 1998.

• Chico Ejiro and wife

no marriage that doesn’t have hiccups, but as a couple, you have to learn the chemistry between yourselves and do not allow anyone to come in between you. If you have a quarrel, settle it yourselves because there is no marriage that is perfect. My wife is a costumier and runs a shop called: Real Colours. When I started movie production, she was my costumier too and I brought her in, to work with me on some of my early shoots like like “ Daybreak and Full Moon.” These are some of the qualities that attracted me to her.

Attraction She understands the entertainment industry very well. In relationship, she understands what it takes to build a lasting relationship. It was her ability to understand me and my job. You know, I encounter a lot of people in the cause of my job, especially females, so she has to learn how to tolerate a lot of situations like that. She is also very compassionate, if I don’t have, she supports me. My wife is a very understanding woman. There is

Proposal t wasn’t easy and that’s why I said, we dated for some years before we got married. Like I said earlier, we met in 1994, and got married four years after, in 1998.

What marriage has taught me Marriage has taught me a lot of things; it has taught me how to handle family issues; care for my family.

It has also taught me how to love my wife because if you don’t show love to your wife, your marriage is bound to have a crack. You must learn to be open to your spouse and if it’s possible, you

I

His love for football takes the shine from his family— Wife How I met Him e started out as friends, and we dated for four years before we got married. I met in 1994, in UNILAG. There was a show they stage there and I attended the show. When he saw me, he approached me and told me that he wants to be my friend. I frowned at his request, wondering how what he said has got to do with why I have come to watch the show. But after much persuasion, I accepted his request.

Accepting His Proposal It happened like a joke, I give God the glory. The thing just flowed and one day, he said, ‘I want to marry you,’ and I said ‘just like that.’ That was it.

After 15 years of marriage Marriage has been sweet because my husband is my friend. I think

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that makes it easier for me. Yes, we disagree over a lot of issues but at the end of the day, we resolve our differences amicably.

Disagreement is normal in marriage.

What I hate About Him Nothing, but it’s just that he likes to watch football. Each time, he returns home, he usually turn on the television set and get glued to it without talking to anybody. It brings quarrel in the house.

Worried about female His admirers I don’t get worried because I know that at the end of the day, he belongs to me. We can’t do without talking to each other every minute on the telephone. Anything that is happening now, I will be the first to call him just as he will be the first to call if anything is

happening around him.

If I have to marry Again I will marry him because he is the only person that can tolerate me.

should operate a joint account with her; learn to apologise to your spouse whenever you feel that you have erred. There are a lot of things you must know. First of all, you must be patient enough to tolerate each other.

Then, you must also learn how to communicate. Both of you must be Godfearing and learn how to plan ahead.

Stronghold of my marriage It is the understanding that two of us share together. Once there is understanding, we will resolve our differences amicably without allowing a third party to intervene in our matters.

This is where communication, understanding and forgiveness come about in marriage. There is also the need for husband and wife to hear the word of God as frequently as possible.

Marriage is a very difficult institution, but with understanding and tolerance, many marriages are made in heaven.

Most marriages crash today because there is lack of understanding between the man and the woman.

What she means to me She means everything to me. In my next life, I will look for her and marry her again.

What I hate about Her Nobody is perfect. I don’t hate anything about her. But once in a while, when she gets angry she raises her voice. I have complained over the years, and I think, she has stopped it because it happened during the early stage of our marriage.

Family violence I’m not in support of family violence.

Whenever my wife offences me, I usually go to a nearby relaxation centre to watch football. I’m the chairman of Arsenal FC, in Nigeria. I could stay away throughout the day and when I return to the house, she will be begging me. There are several ways you can show your wife that she has offended you. Punching her will not be the solution. My mother did not abuse me as a child for one day, why should I beat up my wife?

Five things that lead to break up Lack of understanding between the man and the woman; infidelity, keeping extra-martial affairs; allowing the third party to interfere in your marriage;pressure from the outside and above all, when God is not invited in your marriage. Hearing the word of God will instigate the spirit of forgiveness in the mind of the married couple.

PAGE 42 — SUNDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 8, 2013

Email: woman.vista@yahoo.co.uk

C M Y K

Nutrition and birth defects specific instructions then, about what you should/ shouldn’t eat, with regards to possible defects in the baby.

However, in the good old days in Britain, pregnant women were given free milk, delivered to their doorstep, uptill six months after the arrival of the baby. Even here, before our independence, UNICEF supplied free powdered milk in hospitals in the north. I doubt if that largesse is still available to the poor these days.

At a seminar for the launch of a baby food product recently, an expert, a professor of Pathophysiology and Clinical chemical Analysis, was reported to have said in his paper that the development of a baby could be affected by the nutrition of the mother before, during and after pregnancy; adding that one of the problems associated with inappropriate nutrition of mothers was obesity, which he said was becoming more prevalent in Africa. He noted that it has come to be accepted that small birth size is related with diseases like hypertension, coronary artery disease, non-insulin dependent diabetes, stroke, dislipidaemia and impaired neurodevelopment, while large birth size is related to some forms of cancer – breast cancer, prostate cancer, testicular cancer as well as childhood leukaemia.

Pregnant women are said to need more fish, oil fatty acids and vitamin D for their

,,

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his new father was shocked when he rushed to the hospital to view his first child and he found his wife in tears. When he asked her what the matter was, she pointed silently at the cot beside her bed and continued sobbing. The man looked into the cot, saw the baby and sprang back in horror. He didn’t sob, but looked downcast as he went to lean against the wall. A nurse who came in saw the abject misery on the faces of the couple and she tried to assure them that the severe case of harelip that their son had, can be corrected by surgery, and that the child was healthy in all other respects.

‘The doctor is referring you to the Orthopaedic hospital where they will decide when the surgery can be carried out.

The baby is fine. He’s a lovely baby.’

‘Thank you madam, but we can’t afford surgery. I work in a factory, and the money can barely keep us, let alone go pay for operation. Why should this happen to poor people like us? Is it a punishment from God or what? What have we done?

There’s nobody in my family or in my wife’s family who has had a baby with any type of deformity, let alone this type where one can’t see the baby’s mouth. Operation? We have no money for that. Oh my God! What’s this?’

‘Mister, don’t worry. It’s government orthopaedic hospital. The money won’t be much. God will provide.

Don’t worry.’

Sad, isn’t it; that a day that was supposed to be a couple’s happiest day as they became parents for the first time, could become a day of sorrow and anxiety for them. I’m sure, once home, they will get help.

No-one knows what causes harelip, or some other deformities, I’m told, but experts in maternal and infant health care have advised that good nutrition is very important during pregnancy to avoid complications and birth defects. That’s a new one for me.

We learn all the time, as the times change.

Earlier, pregnant women were told to ‘eat enough for two’ so that the baby won’t be starved.

When this led to much weight gain which couldn’t be easily shed after birth, women were told to eat sensibly and watch their weight during pregnancy, so that it wouldn’t get out of control. To my knowledge, there weren’t

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children’s brain development.

These are very useful tips, which will hopefully, and by the grace of God, help reduce complications and birth defects if adhered to, but I’m afraid that as usual, they are restricted to the enlightened in the urban areas.

What do the pregnant women in the rural areas know about nutrition and

These are very useful tips, which will hopefully, and by the grace of God, help reduce complications and birth defects if adhered to, but I’m afraid that as usual, they are restricted to the enlightened in the urban areas

Helen Ovbiagele Woman Editor baby development? Some experts used to tell us that those residing in the rural areas are more healthy than the rest of us because they eat green vegetables, don’t breathe in the polluted air that we have in the cities, and are physically active. There may be some truth in this, but it has not eliminated the birth defects for the women in the villages. In fact, these days, you find women coming from the rural areas to the cities to seek medical relief for various deformities. Besides, the masses in the urban areas are not privileged to avail themselves of information disseminated at seminars or conferences, so, the majority of them are just as ignorant as many rural dwellers about what’s good nutrition for the baby forming in the womb.

To many, the good life is a diet of fast foods, lots of sugary and oily foods.

Nigeria is blessed by highly qualified experts in most areas of life, and many of them do share their knowledge via seminars and conferences put together by NGOs, private organizations and even the government. Sadly, the man on the street is left out. It is left to those who are paid to rule us, to see that relevant information seeps right down to the masses in all the corners of the country.

The condition of the pregnant woman is very delicate because it isn’t easy at all, carrying a dependant human being within one’s body.

Government is not only for the enlightened, so, whatever is being done to enrich and make safer the lives of the upper/middle classes, should be done to those at the lower rung and the grassroots.

The States and local government areas should see that regular talks are given in local languages in the town halls of towns and villages on nutrition, health issues, and safety.

I’m aware that in some government hospitals, midwives do give a short talk sometimes, to pregnant women in the local dialect., but they don’t give in-depth information on diet and exercises.

A friend who retired from the medical profession to go settle in the rural areas, said that medical care in small towns are almost nonexistent, and that’s why maternity homes are run by retired midwives and birth attendants.

As for paediatricians to examine a baby at birth, she said that’s unheard of.

So, rural dwellers manage what birth defects they can, and if there’s no improvement, the parents are sent to the cities to seek medical aid for their ward.

That’s a shame. It only means that the Ministries of Health at all levels are not alive to their responsibilities to citizens. Every hospital in the nearest town to villages should have experts in the various health fields that the hospitals in the urban areas have.

SUNDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 8, 2013, PAGE 43

Email: woman.vista@yahoo.co.uk

(07036819426)

Goodwill, best recipe for success in politics — Hon BINTA BELLO, Chairman, Women in Parliament

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BY JOSEPHINE IGBINOVIA

he started out humbly as a classroom teacher in the 80s and today she’s one of the influential women in the National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria where she represents Kaltungo/Shongom constituency of Gombe State. Hon.(Mrs.)Binta Maigari Bello currently Chairs the House Committee on Women in Parliament-WIP. A rare politician who has successfully combined politics with gentility in a notoriously violent political sphere such as Nigeria’s, Binta’s passion for community service dates back to her days as a child when she dreamed of alleviating the sufferings of her people each time she visited the village with her parents.

A one-time Gombe State Commissioner for Women Affairs and former Acting Commissioner for Ministry of Youth Development, her last assignment prior to joining the National Assembly in 2011 was as Deputy Chairman, Shomgom Local Government of Gombe State. Vista Woman had a chat with her recently.

We are also very worried about the low representation of women in elective political positions. The agenda in 2011 was to achieve at least 20%, but we couldn’t. Currently, we have below 10%, and that’s very devastating. So, we’re trying to see how we could organise ourselves and galvanise towards 2015 so we could raise the representation above 15% if not above 20%.

The committee is engaging in advocacy, mentoring and empowerment because younger women need to be taught to believe in themselves first of all. In my own constituency, I’m trying to see how I could impact women with good education.

Presently, I have a yearly scholarship programme in place for 300 university students. I’ve also set up a free ICT centre which I affiliated to the Gombe Federal College of Education, to enhance the certificate. Now, graduates of the ICT centre get their certificates from the Gombe FCE and this strengthens their chances of securing employment wherever they go to seek for work. We graduated the third set of students recently in July.

Cumulatively, over 240 students have graduated from the ICT centre.

Apart from constituency projects, how are you personally giving back to your community?

Personally, I’ve constructed C M Y K

,,

Weak mentoring system has been identified as a major factor against women’s political progress; what’s the WIP doing to address the situation?

If religion could stop someone from getting a seat, I wouldn’t have been able to represent my constituency because I’m a Moslem while 90% of my constituency are Christians!

After the post-election violence in 2011 and three cancelation of election, I still found myself where my people wanted me to be

blocks of classrooms in some schools. I’ve distributed over a hundred beds with mattresses and other accessories to hospitals. I have also launched other women empowerment programmes to support the eradication of poverty amongst rural women.

Already, I’ve put in place four skills acquisition centres in different locations, which make it easier for women and youths to acquire vocational skills.

As an experienced politician, what words of wisdom would you give to younger women?

Every woman should be determined and focus on what she wants to achieve. Money is not everything; goodwill is the best tool and recipe for a woman to stand and succeed in politics. If you believe money is all you need, where do you hope to get the money from? From men? They too

want to be where you’re aspiring to get to! The best thing is to organise yourself, keep jealousy aside, unite yourself with other women and set your mind on what you want to achieve.

Female politicians usually say their political mandates were stolen by their male counterparts; how difficult was it for you to get elected into the parliament without being cheated?

Who gave the votes?

Women and their children did! So, why should it be a difficult one? Women need to know their rights, understand that they dominate everything and also know that they have the power to put whoever they desire into any political office because their votes form the majority.

What was your own experience during election?

If I say I was not well treated by my people, then I’m not grateful to them and to God. If religion could stop someone from getting a seat, I wouldn’t have been able to represent my constituency because I’m a Moslem while 90% of my constituency are Christians!

After the post-election violence in 2011 and three cancelation of election, I still found myself where my people wanted me to be. That’s why I always say goodwill is the best tool for politics! When your people know you have their interest at heart, they will always stand by you.

What’s next in line for you?

I’m still very much in politics.

Only the future can determine what new line to toe just like how I came into politics; I never planned to join politics.

My people actually urged me into it. When I came in, I met lots of obstacles like some opponents accusing me of marrying from Yobe State. I made them understand that my marrying from another tribe wouldn’t stop me from giving them their legislative rights.

I’m happy every challenge eventually turned into a blessing.

Initially, what were your dreams as a child?

I simply wanted to become a philanthropist. I actually didn’t have any profession in mind! I had passion for people and each time we went to the village, I told my father that if I had the opportunity, I would want to do something to touch the lives of my people. When I eventually became a Grade II

teacher, the first time I had about N250,000, I went to one of the secondary schools in which I had been seeing people suffer during the rainy season and I told them I wanted to renovate their classrooms.

Somebody however advised me to start a structure for the school instead, and that wherever I stopped, somebody else would continue.

I started the building eventually, and was gradually able to complete it after a while. It was however hectic.

After I had furnished and commissioned the building, people went about sabotaging and reporting me to the then governor that I was trying to outshine him. At the end of the day, the governor invited me over and after speaking with me, he was able to understand where I was coming from and what I wanted for the poor.

Everything eventually became a blessing for me, and that incidence triggered my invitation into politics.

Let us into your background…

I was born in Ibusa in Delta State, but my family later moved to Ondo State where I attended Costain Primary School from 1978 to1983. My father was in the military and we were often on transfer. I started secondary school in Kaduna State but completed it in Gombe State in 1988 at the W.T.C Bajoga. I was among the last set of Grade II teachers. I bagged a Diploma in Public Administration in 1995 from the University of Jos and later on, I did a degree in Public Administration at the University of Maiduguri.

PAGE 44 —SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 8, 2013

Gunmen abduct Anglican Ar or t-Har cour Arcchbishop in P Por ort-Har t-Harcour courtt When contacted, Rivers State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Angela Agabe, confirmed the ugly development, adding that efforts were on to rescue the archbishop. Agabe said the police gave the kidnappers a hot chase

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

U

NKNOWN gun men in Rivers State, on Friday night, abducted Archbishop Ignatius Kattey, the Dean of the Anglican Communion in Nigeria and Archbishop, Niger Delta North Diocese. The victim was said to have been whisked away with his wife, Beatrice, by the kidnappers around Aleto Bridge, Eleme at about 10.30pm while on his way to Port Harcourt.

Sources close to the archbishop said he was driving to Port Harcourt to pass the night there so he could be at the airport to receive the Primate of the church, Primate Nicolas Oko, who was due in the state yesterday. The sources explained that Kattey had thought that yesterday ’s sanitation exercise in the state that would have warranted restriction of movement would be in force; so he wanted to be at the airport quite early to receive the Primate who was coming to Rivers on Episcopal issues.

The sources said the kidnappers later abandoned the

when they were alerted about the abduction; a situation she said forced the kidnappers to abandon the wife in the bush around Aleto.

According to her, the police had set up a crack search team, assuring that they would soon

secure Kattey’s release.

“We are on top of the situation. Our men rescued the wife who was kidnapped with him last night. We are combing the bush and exploring other means to secure his release”, she said.

Syria crisis: No clear winner in Russia-US G20 duel

BY TONY NWANKWO, with agency reports

R

Archbishop Ignatius Kattey with wife Beatrice archbishop’s wife and his vehicle in the bush some distance away from where the abduction took place, adding that no contact had been established with the gunmen.

It could not be confirmed if Kattey drove himself that night but Sunday Vanguard gathered that he rarely

moved around with security personnel. “He has a driver. But he does not move around with security escorts. He is such a simple and exemplary religious leader. I pray for his unconditional and immediate release”, a member of the Anglican Church in Port Harcourt pleaded.

ussia’s Vladimir Pu tin and US

President Barack Obama failed to see eye to eye over Syria during the G20 summit. Both sides have claimed victory in this G20 gladiatorial contest over Syria, but identifying who is on which team is not straightforward.

So who backed Russia and who backed the United States?

According to President Vladimir Putin, the outcome was not a 50/50 split, but a balance of opinion in Russia’s favour.

He claimed that, at the G20 dinner on Syria, only four countries - France, Turkey, Canada and Saudi Arabia (plus a British prime minister rebuffed by his own parliament) - had

backed America. Whereas siding with Russia in rejecting military strikes on Syria, he says, were seven nations: China, India, Indonesia, Argentina and Brazil, as well as South Africa and Italy.

Yet not all the Russian president’s views on Syria were endorsed by other G20 leaders. Who else in St Petersburg publically declared, as he did, that Syria’s “so-called chemical weapons attack” was in fact “a provocation staged by rebels, in hope of winning extra backing from their foreign backers”? In making that categorical claim, the Russian leader left little room for compromise and ended up looking, perhaps, somewhat isolated.

Shifting sands Meanwhile, President

Barack Obama also declared he had enjoyed support from a majority of G20 participants, who were “comfortable” with American claims.

Eleven countries did indeed end orse a joint statement circulated by the White House •to condemn the Syrian chemical weapons attack as a grave violation of the world’s rules •to ag ree that the evidence pointed to Syrian government culpability •to call for a strong international response.

Alongside the US were,

unsurprisingly, the two keenest cheerleaders when it comes to taking military action, French President Francois Holl ande and Britain’s David Cameron.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 8, 2013, PAGE 45

US and Africa development

BY OKIM-ALOBI OYAMA VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF Using paradigms from other lands to develop the continent

I

MAGINE an Africa where pov erty is eliminated, illiteracy solved, corruption dissolved and conflicts resolved; imagine an Africa where peace, love and harmony is the order of the day, where development and growth is the only way, where true democracy comes to stay; imagine an Africa where her citizens govern instead of rulers and dictators, where the people are given true leadership with the youths as beneficiaries, where the ordinary man can afford his basic needs of shelter, food and clothing; imagine an Africa that is exposed to the rest of the world, an Africa that partners with other continent’s like America and Asia to bring international development. In such Africa, wouldn’t the concept of globalisation be achieved?

Will the economy not improve and democratisation mature? It is this dream, passion and belief that drives Nchor Bichene Okorn, a professor of political science, Dillard University, US, to establish the African World Net-

work Organisation (AWNO), Incorporated, a non-profit organisation geared towards promoting international development in Africa, through establishing a partnership between Africa and

,

VIEWPOINT

To get Africa to a globalised level where there is almost no gap between her and nations like the United States and Asia, it will require the collective effort of every citizen of Africa to transform Africa in the various ways they can

,

America inclusive of general trade and development for Africa in the areas of agriculture, security, education as well as building a healthy African environment that promotes her art, music, culture and fashion. It is a fact that illiteracy is one of Africa’s greatest challenges, and this is why the former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan opines that “for everyone everywhere, literacy is a basic human right”. However,

a situation where, according to the UNESCO facts on Africa, 176 million adults are unable to read and write, 47 million youths are illiterates, 32 million primary aged children not in school with 10.5 million in Nigeria alone, and 4 in 100 people use the Internet and the World Bank placing 414 million people in Africa in extreme poverty, it is conspicuously obvious that Africa veraciously needs a panacea to these outrageously threatening, deleterious quandaries that encumber Africa’s growth and development; hence the aim of AWNO. The organisation, which houses different chapters at different universities and several cities and countries, has organised conferences on public/ private partnership in Nigeria and it’s impact on Nigeria development in Dillard University to promote Africa’s cultural heritage, capture the youths in leadership for the future and link American companies to do business in Africa with the aim of exposing Africa to the global world from an educational perspective. With 44% of the people in Africa surviving on $1.25 a day, according to the World Bank, Okorn believes that AWNO can help in alleviating poverty through matchmaking for business opportunities, providing trade movements in Uganda, Cameroon, Zambia, Kenya, Ghana, South Korea, the United States and Nigeria,

among others, with the aim of improving Africa’s economy to meet poverty, illiteracy and hunger that cataclysmically distorts the democracy and livelihood of Africa. There is no doubt that the AWNO continuously brings the concept of international development to reality by bringing Africa to the spotlight in the global world through development. No wonder AWNO enjoys the support and acceptance of various government organisations which include: being hosted by the Presidency through NEPAD in Abuja, hosted by PDP Executives in Abuja, hosted by the NNDC in 2004, as well as a signed memorandum of understanding with the Ugandan National Chambers of Commerce and Industry, amongst many others.

To get Africa to a globalised level where there is almost no gap between her and nations like the United States and Asia, it will require the collective effort of every citizen of Africa to transform Africa in the various ways they can, in every sphere of Africa’s polity.

The AWNO acknowledges this fact and since it is veracious that hard work is rewarding, the non-profit organisation has indeed specially recognised distinguished sons of Africa and the likes and awarded about 450 persons. *Okim-ALOBI Oyama can be reached on mikeoyama88@yahoo.com

Saying no to cancer

BY MARYAM PAMMA VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF How to stay cancer free

C

ANCER is a malignant growth or tumor that occurs as a re sult of uncontrolled division of abnormal cells in parts of the body.

Unlike regular cells, cancer cells do not experience programmatic death but instead, continues to grow and divide.

This leads to a mass of abnormal cells that grow out of control.

It is a very dangerous disease and, when not controlled, can spread very fast through the blood stream or lymphatic system. There are many types of cancers: Lung (including bronchus), prostate, breast (female – male), thyroid, leukemia (all types), pancreatic, melanoma, kidney (renal cell) cancer, endometrial colon and rectal (combined) and bladder with few others with over 40,000 incidences annually.

The causes of cancer are diverse, complex, and only partially understood. Many things are known to increase the risk of cancer, including tobacco use, obesity, dietary factors, lack of physical activ-

ities, infection,exposure to radiation and environmental pollutants. These factors can directly damage genes or combine with existing genetic faults within cells to cause cancerous mutations.

Many forms of cancer could be prevented by not smoking, drinking green tea,eating more vegetables, fruits and whole grains, eating less meat and refined carbohydrates, maintaining a healthy weight, exercising, minimizing sunlight exposure, and being vaccinated against some infectious disease. Even if you are a current tobacco user, quitting can still greatly reduce your chances of getting cancer. Skin cancer can be prevented by staying in the shade, protecting yourself with a hat and shirt when in the sun, and using sunscreen. Diet is also an important part of cancer prevention since what we eat has been linked to the disease. Physicians recommend diets that are low in fat and rich in fresh fruits and vegetables and whole grains.

Cancer can be detected in a number of ways which include medical imaging or scanning. Also, breast self-examination, mammograms, testicular self-examination, and pap smears are common screening methods for cancer.

When a possible cancer is detected, it is diagnosed with micro-

scopic testing and examination of tissue samples. Cancer is usually treated with radiation therapy, surgery and chemotherapy. The chances of surviving the disease vary greatly by the type and location of the cancer and

,

VIEWPOINT

Many forms of cancer could be prevented by not smoking, drinking green tea,eating more vegetables, fruits and whole grains, eating less meat and refined carbohydrates, maintaining a healthy weight, exercising, minimizing sunlight exposure, and being vaccinated against some infectious disease

,

the extent of disease at the start of treatment. While cancer can affect people of all ages, and a few types of cancer are more common in children, the risk of developing cancer generally increases with age. General symptoms

occur due to distant effects of the cancer that are not related to direct or metastatic spread. These may include unintentional weight loss, fever, excessively tiredness, and changes to the skin. For example, coughing and hoarseness can point to lung or throat cancer as well as several other conditions.

Some cancers also have effective screening tests. This helps in detection of common cancers as early as possible. Early treatment often means better chances of recovery and response to anti-cancer therapy. Common examples are breast cancer and colon cancer screening that saves thousands of lives each year.

Early detection is the first and best way to get rid of cancer. Non-governmental organizations and the government should work together to create awareness, counseling and more facilities for detection and treatment at affordable prices to reduce the terror that this disease poses to the society.

Campaign on other health issues have been successful, cancer should not be different.

To safeguard our future, we need to be alive, we need to protect our Today. Go for cancer screening today!!! *Pamma is of the Dept of Mass Communications, University of Maiduguri.

PAGE 46—SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 8, 2013

SUNDAY TRIBUTES Alhaja Wosilat Alake Ojikutu (1917-2013) TRIBUTE IN BRIEF The life and times of a disciplinarian

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UNDAY, August 26 2013 was not like many week ends that I have spent with my mother during her life span, but, on that day, my intuition was not sharp enough to figure out the impending perpetual separation between mother and son. Early on that day, my sister has called to let me know that Mama would want the best dress to be taken out of her wardrobe preparatory for an event on Monday. To me, such ‘blabbering’ is not infrequent with people in their senescence age and I would therefore not want to bother my head with it, particularly, when ‘Alhaja’ cannot at the moment descend from her fourth floor apartment without support. Nevertheless, I urged my sister to do her bidding, if only to satisfy her.

On Monday August 27 2013, I woke up as usual, but couldn’t go to office because the next phone call announced the passing-on of my mother. “Oh, this was the reason why mama demanded for a special dress to be taken out of the wardrobe Oh! This is the special Monday event that my mother had announced on Sunday”. I pondered vigorously in my mind with nobody in sight to fill the gap. Sitting by her side,

TRIBUTE

BY SUFUYAN OJEIFO

,

about my mother’s attitude to life but the common denominator is that my mother strongly believed that “ you don’t do it because other people are doing it but do it because it is right to do it”. To call my mother a disciplinarian would be an under assessment of her personality. With four boys and a girl to bring up in a polygamous setting where there are fifty something other children, I think my mother realised very early in her matrimony that she had the greater responsibility than our father to lead us to a decent life. She indeed made a good job of it. My mother would watch every step of her children and quickly make the corrections where necessary. While playing with your peers, my mother would watch the role selected by you, which in her opinion was an indication of your aspiration

Late Alhaja Wosilat Ojikutu in life. You cannot play the role of an anti-social element in a game amongst your peers, as my mother would ask “why must you play the role of the thief, when you could as well choose to be the judge? Why not a lawyer?”

My mother loathed dishonesty with a passion. She was ready to follow you to your school to tell the teacher that a strange pencil found in your bag does not belong to you. Oppression is another of my mother’s arc enemies, as this in her estimate is an act of godlessness. She was always leaning towards the oppressed.

Frankness, boldness and truthfulness are other virtues that I learnt from my mother. Her slogan was “A kii wi nibe, ki a ku sibe” literally meaning “ you cannot tell the truth and die on the spot”. As long as it is the truth, do not fight shy to say it. These

qualities initially made my mother unpopular amongst her children, as we discovered too early that our training was markedly different from those of most members of our generation, a situation that we saw as a massive disadvantage.

At the twilight of her years and as life was ebbing-out, it was obvious that my mother was ready to stand before her creator. You dare not pray for a prolonged life for my mother as she would reproach you with barrage of interrogation “ what life is God prolonging? If people of our age do not die, is it the younger elements that should die?”

She prepared adequately for her transition. About a month earlier, she has warned the children about her impending passage. We had secretly planned to bury her at the Victoria vaults but as if she read our minds, she had warned us to bury her close to our father. She would from time to time describe the beautiful new home being built for her and ask when she would move to her more peaceful abode.

It was eight days on Tuesday, September 3 and I have, on daily basis, had reminiscences of my life with my mother with tears rolling down my cheeks.

“Maa’mi, I can never forget you” Iya mi Wosilatu Ibironke Alake.

Obinja, ara ilodo.

Sun re o. · Ojikutu, a professor, is of Faculty of Business Administration, University of Lagos

Gemade at 65

TRIBUTE IN BRIEF A senator whose sun continues to rise HE is the Nom Iyange U Tiv (the rising sun of Tiv). The traditional chieftaincy title, which the Tiv Traditional Area Council conferred on him after he hit the national limelight in 1993 with his appointment as Minister of Works and Housing, captures the real tension that he rode over in his trajectory to the top. Significantly, this is an apt summation of the political phenomenon which Barnabas Gemade now typifies.

His appointment as Minister by the Ibrahim Babangida Military Administration, which later retained him to serve in the Ernest Shonekan-led Interim National Government (ING), marked a turning point in what would become his political evolution.

Indeed, his six-year tenure at the Benue Cement Company, Plc, Gboko, as Managing Director, especially how he transformed the business concern into producing 900,000 tons of cement annually with a turnover of over N500 million, qualified for a rare feat that only someone with a Midas touch could do. Would he bring the touch to bear on a critical aspect of the government at the centre?

Perhaps, that was the motive that underlay his ministerial appointment. By the time he was through with his assignment at the ministry, even though it was relatively a short stint, Gemade’s profile had soared; his capacity for performance in public office had been tried, tested and found

My mother loathed dishonesty with a passion. She was ready to follow you to your school to tell the teacher that a strange pencil found in your bag does not belong to you

Barnabas Gemade to be sufficient.

His legacy of performance and proclivity to politics would later make Nigerians with the same dispositions to gravitate towards him for some form of political corpus. He contested and won election as delegate to represent his people at the 1994 National Constitution Conference where he shone like a thousand stars with cerebral contributions.

For watchers of this great son of Tiv land, one thing was certain: his sun will continue to rise, anyway. And that was the reason his people conferred on him the title of the rising sun of Tiv. Immediately the confab wound down and the next phase of the late General Sani Abacha Transition Programme commenced, it was settled in Tiv land that they had a solid and dependable voice in politics. He was to become an emergent face of Benue politics.

In fact, after many achievements in the political sphere, he

has crystallized into a political major domo. Gemade, in 1996, played a leading role in the formation of the Congress for National Consensus (CNC), one of the political parties that the Abacha regime registered to participate in the electoral activities under the dispensation, and was first National Treasurer before he became National Chair of the party from 1997 to 1998.

Following the death of Abacha and the commencement of a fresh transition programme by the General Abubakar Abdulsalami administration, he participated in the formation of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He was, in November 1999, elected National Chair of the party, thus becoming the first to be so elected at the party’s National Convention which held at the Eagle Square.

As National Chair, he succeeded in stabilizing and consolidating the party; he was able to build synergy between the party and the government both at the Federal and State levels. But because Obasanjo was uncomfortable with his more robust synergy with the PDP governors, he (Obasanjo) decided and succeeded in railroading Audu Ogbeh into the position to replace Gemade.

But Gemade held his head high; there was no charge of corruption or any wrong-doing against him. He was pushed out because of the political desperation of Obasanjo for a renewal of term office. He was to challenge Obasanjo in 2003 for the presidential ticket of the party, although he was understandably defeated.

In 2007, he decided to try his hand on the Benue Zone A (North-

east) senatorial seat. However due to the shenanigans of the then incumbent governor, George Akume, and some manipulations at the centre by Obasanjo, he lost.

Joseph Akaagerger clinched the ticket and won the election on the PDP platform.

Rather than allow disillusionment set in, the suave politician kept his eyes on the ball; and, propelled by a strong self-conviction in his capacity to custody the mandate of his people and deliv-

,

BY RASHEED OJIKUTU

I lifted her head up and stared pointlessly into her open but sightless eyes, murmuring to myself “Laila illah Alahu, Mohammed Rosulillai- Ina leilai, Wa Inailehi Rojiun”. It was obvious to me that the adventure was over and that the adventurer has gone to sleep.

At just four years to her centenary birthday, my mother was no doubt worried about her own continued existence particularly when her eldest child is a septuagenarian. Though, happy and contented, she would fast and pray continuously reminding me every time that a mother with five children who are themselves grand-parents cannot but continue to supplicate to Almighty God to give her the grace to have her children survive beyond her own existence.

As my mother ’s corpse was lowered into the belly of the earth at the Abari Cemetery on Tuesday, August 28, my mind ran through my life with her and I muttered to myself with torrent of tears raining from my eyes – “Mama, thank you”. Why this belated gratitude? It is simply because I wouldn’t have been who I am today without her unbending posture that “I must be able to raise my head high amongst my peers in future”.

This was aptly captured by a cleric who was conversant with our upbringing in a sermon at the Surulere Central Mosque during Friday’s jumat prayer when he said “Alhaja never took nonsense and unnecessary antics from her children and that is why they are who they are today” I can write an unending list

,

TRIBUTE

As National Chair, he succeeded in stabilizing and consolidating the party; he was able to build synergy between the party and the government both at the Federal and State levels

,

er on his promises, he took another shot at the ticket in the PDP and clinched it. Today, he is Senator representing Benue Zone A. Immediately the Senate was inaugurated on June 6, 2011, he settled quickly into legislative business with clearly defined agenda for transforming infrastructure in his constituency in order to remain politically relevant and influential back home.

He has left his imprimatur on his senatorial zone through execution of projects and programmes such as construction of a Technical College in Korinya City in Konshisha Local Government Area (with Phase 1 completed); a cement factory in Mbaivende (Ukan) in Ushongo Local Government (with field work at advanced stage); yam and cassava processing plant in Ukum Local Government Area (site acquisition and development in progress); a fruit juice plant in Makurdi Industrial Layout (with equipment installation said to be underway); a female hostel block at University of Mkar, Gboko Local Government Area, which was unveiled on June 1, 2013; and solar street lights at Sati, Ikyov ward in Ushongo Local Government.

Others are: a three-classroom block/VIP toilet at NKST Primary School, Iortyom, Yooyo ward on Katsina-Ala Local Government Area; drainage project at St. John’s Street, katsina-Ala Local Government Area (work in progress); supply of electricity transformers to Tiza Community in Logo Local Government Area, Gbogbo Market Square in Konshisha Local Government, Achia and Adagi Communities in Kwande Local Government Area as well as donation of medical equipment to General Hospitals in Logo, Ukum, KatsinaAla, Kwande, Vandeikya, Ushongo and Konshisha, and provision of computers and generators to fourteen post-primary institutions in the senatorial zone. * Ojeifo, publisher of The Congresswatch magazine, sent this piece from Abuja.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 8, 2013, PAGE 47

SUNDAY TRIBUTE Marwa, a Quintessential leader, @ 60

BY SINA OGUNBAMBO TRIBUTE IN BRIEF A former MILAD viewed from close quarters

S

EPTEMBER 1996 :The rumour mill in Lagos had just manufactured a bumper one.

Scores of people at Agege in Lagos State had suddenly given up the ghost after a meal of beans. For days, the news thrived and nearly every home started bidding farewell to any food made of beans.

People started talking of bodies of those who died of food poisoning without anyone actually seeing their corpses. Yet Lagosians were scared to their marrows.

The man at the helm of affairs in Lagos State, then Colonel Mohamed Buba Marwa (now Brigadier - General rtd), was troubled. . He sent his officials to National Food and Drugs Agency (NAFDAC) to find out from the laboratories if indeed the beans were poisoned. They returned with the negative verdict. This was published in newspapers but it was a water poured into the basket.

While on an assignment one day, Tuesday September 24, 1996 to be precise, Marwa’s convoy was passing through the popular Ketu bus - stop. His vehicle halted. The armoured corp officer jumped down. No one knew his mission.

Nevertheless, everyone in the convoy came down and raced to catch up with him. To their shock, the man headed straight to an akara (bean cake) seller by the road side and asked the petty trader to sell a ball of akara for him. Pronto, he posted this delicacy into his mouth and started chewing, to the delight of the crowd that soon gathered.

He told the akara seller that he will pay for all the akara beans. Hesitantly two or three officials joined and, before you could say Jack, Lagosians bombarded the rest of the akara. Marwa had taken the bull by the horn. The print and television

media made a feast of the stuff, especially the photographs. The next day, the beans scare became a hoax and everyone resumed duty with beans without any tinge of fear. Leadership by example.

On Wednesday,July 7, 1998, Marwa was

,

VIEWPOINT

Throughout his stay in Lagos State, he never wore the mien of a military personnel, yet brilliance, determination, vision, milk of human kindness and fear of God won many battles for him without raising a stick

,

in Abuja for the Federal Executive Council meeting at Aso Rock, Abuja. Then the news broke. The symbol of democracy in Nigeria, Basorun Moshood Abiola, had dropped dead.

This was big trouble, especially in the nation’s commercial nerve centre.

Bonfires immediately emerged everywhere in Lagos. General Abubakar Abdulsalami, then Head of State, had to dispatch this former Aide - de - Camp to Lt General Theophilus Danjuma, to Lagos, assisting him with a presidential aircraft as it was an emergency. When we landed at Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, we had to navigate the routes to avoid bonfire to get to Lagos House Marina. At 8am the next day, he made a state broadcast on the sad news, extolling the virtues of Abiola, He mourned him and directed that all schools in Lagos State be shut for the rest of the week as a mark of respect. In the evening, he paid a condolence visit to the Abiola family. This visit was at great risk as the death had pitted the military against the people.

Passing through thousands of people, Marwa, who trekked quite a distance, was the only one in his entourage allowed entry into Abiola’s house through the gate manned by angry youths. The youths

assured him that he was safe with them.

The next day, Marwa was on his way to office when his convoy ran into a procession of University of Lagos students on their way to Abiola’s house.

He came down from his vehicle and commiserated with them. He advised them not to allow hoodlums hijack their visit and turn it into a mission for brigandage and looting. He then ordered Major Abayomi Opeolu rtd. , the then Task Force Commander on Envinromental Sanitation, and his team to escort them.

In the afternoon, he was on a peace mission to some volatile areas of Lagos and, at Idi - Araba, had to walk on broken bottles to quench the rage of what could have turned into an ethnic “ war”. Such was the man Marwa, one of the most loved governors of Lagos State and Lagosians have their reasons.

Marwa brought armed robbers to their knees throughout his nearly three years administration courtesy of Operation Sweep. He rehabilitated over 700 roads through the Direct Labour Agency.

This former Nigeria’ Defence Adviser at the Nigerian Permanent Mission , United Nations Head Quarters in New York established the Lagos State College of Medicine (LASUCOM) and provided infrastructure to convert General Hospital, Ikeja to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH),

started paying West African Examination Council (WAEC) fees for all final year secondary school students, and introduced the tricycle, called Keke Marwa. He engaged Area Boys and Girls in veritable ventures, teaching them new skills and paying their salaries. They turned Good Boys and Girls during his tenure by becoming bakers, painters, horticulturists , road construction workers etc. To his credit, the Eko Tourist Resort Centre, Akodo came into being.

Throughout his stay in Lagos State, he never wore the mien of a military personnel, yet brilliance, determination, vision, milk of human kindness and fear of God won many battles for him without raising a stick. When the United Action for Democracy (a coalition of pro democracy groups) and a pro- General Sani Abacha group were spoiling for showdown on a rally, same day in Lagos, Marwa drew a line on the sand and dared anyone to cross it.

When he handed over to his successor, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu, on May 29, 1999 and, a few months later, he was retired from the army, he and some of his foreign friends floated Albarka Airline that crashed the prohibitive cost of air fares. As Chairman of Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON), Kaduna, he made sure guns used by the military were manufactured locally. As an Ambassador of Nigeria in South Africa, his era witnessed a robust relationship, with dignity and respect accorded to Nigerians, who were hitherto treated with disdain. His foray into politics saw him seeking to govern his home state of Adamawa. He also nursed a presidential ambition. But, God willing, Marwa, now a chieftain of the newly registered All Progressive Congress (APC), may have the opportunity to re - enact what he did in Lagos State for Nigeria.

Happy diamond anniversary to the better half of Munira, a doting father, a grand father, my big brother, my friend and boss, Dr Mohamed Buba Marwa. * OGUNBAMBO, a former press secretary to erstwhile Lagos MILAD Buba Marwa, can be reached viasinaogunbambo@yahoo.com

Oando Foundation, Pearson Education Publishing boost literacy

BY AMAKAABAYOMI

A

S the world celebrates the International Literacy Day today, world’s leading learning company, Pearson Education Publishing Limited, donated 4,000 books and learning aids to Oando Foundation with the aim of radically improving the quality of teachers and learning in Nigerian schools and communities by ensuring access to world-class basic education systems.

Launched in 2011 to support the Nigerian Government to meet the Millennium Development Goals to achieve Universal primary education plans to improve literacy levels in Nigeria, Oando Foundation, will distribute the books to all its adopted school during its Read2me week where volunteers and pupils will read together.

Presentating the books, the Managing Director, Pearson Education Publishing Limited, Mr. Muhtar B a k a r e . ”The UNESCO Education for All (EFA) Global Monitoring Report 2012 states

that Nigeria has an astonishingly low literacy rate of 61% with about 10.5 million primary school children out of school. This represents 14% of the 70 million children out of school

globally, more than any other country in the world.”

Receiving the books, the Director, Oando Foundation, Ms. Tokunboh Durosaro, said they are delight-

ed by the donations which will boost the learning outcomes in Oando’s adopted schools as well as assist in eradicating the poor levels of literacy in Nigeria. ”This announcement re-

flects the Foundation’s commitment to improving the lives and future of Nigerian children through developing a successful education system in Nigeria.

FG plans 105 housing units

BY DAYO JOHNSON

P

LANS are underway by the Federal Government to build 105 housing units in seven pilot states across the country under it’s ministerial housing scheme.

The gesture is to make housing available to workers.

Chairman of the Federal Mortgage Bank, Olabisi

Ogunjobi, said this in Akure while speaking with newsmen after a courtesy call on Governor Olusegun Mimiko.

Ogunjobi said that the arrangement would involve the bank building 105 housing units in each of the pilot states including Ondo where the programme would be experimented.

According to him, the ministerial housing

scheme would be a tripartite arrangement where the state governments would provide land, the federal ministry of housing and urban development would provide back stub and the bank would make available construction fund.

The selection of the benefiting states, according to the Chairman, would be on the basis of their performance in housing programmes.

Ogunjobi disclosed that five of such states had already been identified. ”We are selecting seven states as pilot for this project and Ondo has been selected as one of the states.

We will have detailed discussion with the states on how they will be able to benefit from the programme. Ondo State under the scheme of the ministerial programme will provide the land”, he said.

Youths back Olejeme for 2015 guber

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OMMUNITY lead ers and youths of the 25 local government areas in Delta State, weekend, converged in Warri and vowed support for the 2015 gubernatorial ambition of chairman of Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund

(NSITF), Dr. (Mrs.) Ngozi Olejeme, whom they believe can transform the state.

M r. Victor Bebesei, State Director of Youth Mobilization, Dr. Olejeme’s gubernatorial ambition, said with Olejeme’s wealth of experience occa-

sioning her emergence as chairman of NSITF, Delta was poised for greater transformation in 2015.

National President, South-South Democratic Vanguard for GoodluckSambo for 2015, Mr. Friday Martins, speaking at the meeting, said women

were better managers of resources and added that Mr. President and wife, Mrs. Patience Jonathan’s advocacy/involvement of 35% of women in appointive/elective positions was a plus to the transformation agenda.

Delta to assist growers’ association

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HE Delta State Gov ernment has promised to support Jatropha Growers, Processors and Exporters Association (JAGPEAN) in ensuring that the crop is planted in every part of the state.

Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan and the Commissioner for Agriculture, Barr. Misan Ukubeyinje represented by the acting Permanent Secretary of Agric ministry, Dr. Solomon Sadjere,who gave this promise at Songhai, Sapele Local Government Area, during the inauguration of the South-south and state executives of the association, said that the crop is a texture that cannot be swept under the carpet because of its usefulness.

Those inaugurated were Dr. Akpofure Rim-Rukeh as National Vice Chairman, Delta, Mr. Ezekiel Osiomwan, Secretary, Edo, Rev. (Dr.) Queen, Treasurer, Cross River, Prince S. A. Idanichika, Financial Secretary, Rivers, Mr. Sunday Emiowa, Youth leader, Rivers, Mr. Cornelius Idiau, Auditor, Bayelsa, Mr. E. Akwaowo, Legal Adviser and others.

PAGE 48—SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 8, 2013 sameyoboka@yahoo.com

08023145567 (sms only)

Enter Prelate Uche

.Makinde calls on politicians to resolve their differences fast

By SAM EYOBOKA, ANAYO OKOLI, OLASUNKANMI AKONI & OLAYINKA LATONA

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ETHODIST Church Nigeria, announced the election of a new Prelate who will run the affairs of the church for the next five years. In a keenly contested election during the 44th special conference of the church which ended on Sunday night Archbishop Samuel Chukwuemeka Kalu Uche emerged as the new Prelate and head of Methodist Church Nigeria.

Archbishop Uche of Enugu Archdiocese of the church is expected to take over from the incumbent Prelate Sunday Olatunji Makinde on October 6, 2013. Uche was born on January 29, 1953, joined the church in 1976 and was commissioned three years later.

He was elected bishop in 1998 and elevated to the position of archbishop in 2009.

The outgoing Prelate, Most Rev. Sunday Ola Makinde who introduced his successor, at the venue of the 44th special conference of the church, revealed that the church created five new archdioceses namely; Aba, Benue, Igbobini, Port Harcourt and Uyo. Seven new archdioceses “Seven bishops were elevated to the rank of archbishops to take charge of the new archdioceses. Among those elevated archbishops were; Bishop Emmanuel Udofia who is now the new archbishop of Uyo Archdiocese; Bishop Idoko of Diocese of Oturkpo in Benue State who now moves to Kaduna as an Archbishop while Bishop Amos Akindeko of Diocese of Kwara is now to take charge of the new Archdiocese of Igbobini.

“Bishop C. N. Ede of Aba remains at Aba as new Archbishop of the new Archdiocese of Aba. Bishop A. C. Okenwa of Isiukwuato was also elevated to the rank of an archbishop to take charge of Arch-

*From left: Outgoing Prelate, Methodist Church of Nigeria, His Eminence, Dr. Sunday Ola Makinde, Prelate-elect, Most Rev. Samuel Uche, and Lay President of conference, Sir Jimmy Coker, during the press conference to announce the election of new prelate of the church.

Photo: LAMIDI BAMIDELE diocese of Enugu which would now be vacant with the election of Uche as new Prelate,” Makinde explained.

Bishop Chimezuo Nwankpa formerly of Diocese of Port Harcourt will now take charge of the new Port Harcourt Archdiocese as the archbishop, just as Bishop Oliver Aba of Diocese of Benue would be in charge of the newly created Archdiocese of Benue as Archbishop.

Archbishop Oche Job from Kaduna Archdiocese would take over from the retiring Archbishop Chimaroke Iweha of Abuja Archdiocese while the presbyter of the Cathedral of Unity, Wuse, Abuja now joins the Episcopal rank as the new Bishop of Owerri.

Outgoing Prelate Makinde thanked God and members of the church for the steadfastness throughout the period of transition, adding that the new prelate would be installed on October 6 at the Trinity Methodist Church, Tinubu, Lagos.

He charged feuding political gladiators to close ranks and strive to improve on the living standard of the Nigerian citizens, pointing out that there is crises in virtually every

sector of the economy which should really be the primary concern of politicians.

Provide amenities “All social amenities in the country including roads, healthcare facilities, power, education, insecurity, housing and all other sectors of the economy have completely broken down. Politicians should do something fast to give employment to the army of unemployed graduates in the country to avoid a social revolution in the country.

“Political parties that are currently bedeviled by internal wrangling should close ranks fast because whenever two elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers. So, I appeal to the political elite to alleviate the suffering of the down trodden in our midst instead feuding over 2015 and abandoning governance totally,” he stated.

On calls by the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF and the Kano State governor, Alhaji Rabiu Kwankwaso for the sack of chairman of NPC, Chief Festus Odimegwu, Makinde noted that the calls were

uncalled for because they would not solve the problem of incredible census figures.

According to him, there is no way the country can make any appreciable progress if demographic figures which are paramount for planning and national development, were always contestious, stressing that such calls for the sack of Odimegwu will only heat up the polity and pave way for another controversial census exercise.

He also advised the nation’s religious and traditional leaders to adhere strictly to the words of the old and new national anthems both of which stressed the need for brotherhood and unity despite the diverse tongues and tribes in the country.

In his first official statement, the prelate-elect, Most Rev. Uche thanked God for his emergence after what he desrcibed as 'a rigorous election exercice', acknowledging that he was stepping into very big shoes, but promised to do his very best to continue on the developmental strides of his precedessor.

"I am not afraid because Baba and all the leaders of the church will pray for me always,"

he added.

Goodwill messages Lagos State governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola has sent a congratulatory message to the newly elected Prelate of the Methodist Church Nigeria, expressing confidence that the smooth passing of leadership to the Prelate-elect would take the church to greater heights.

In a letter, Gov. Fashola noted that emerging as the first choice of his peers and the general congregation of the church from the six candidates who contested the position, the election was not only humbling for him but engenders the challenge of taking forward the educational and spiritual mission of the church.

He said: “This show of confidence in you by peers and the general congregation cannot but produce a most humbling experience just as it engenders the somewhat daunting challenge of taking forward the educational and spiritual mission of the agelong institution which the Methodist Church Nigeria represents.

“I have no doubt in my mind that this seamless, momentous torch-passing between the outgoing Prelate, His Eminence.

Dr. Sunday Olatunji Makinde, who has led the Church in a most inspiring manner since 2006 and your Eminence will take the Mission to new heights”, Fashola said.

Similarly, Gov. Theodore Orji of Abia State also commended the church for the peaceful manner it elected the new prelate of the church.

The governor also congratulated the new prelate and expressed joy that it is the first time in history of the church that an Igbo man of South East extraction was elected as the prelate of the church, describing the emergence Rev Uche as “a demonstration of exemplary leadership as processes leading to the eventual choice of the prelate may not have been devoid of challenges typical of humans” and commended other contestants to the position for embrac-ing peace.

He urged the new prelate to carry along everybody as according to him, leadership requires collective responsibility.

Ain't seen nothing yet, Adeboye tells critics ….RCCG is a covenant church

By OLAYINKA LATONA

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ESPITE rave criticisms that greeted the planned construction of a three kilo-meter auditorium at the Redeemed Christian Church of God’s Redemption Camp along LagosIbadan Express-way, the General Overseer of the church Sunday disclosed that the said auditorium and several other developments in

the church are but a child’s play.

Speaking during a special prayer programme organised for RCCG Region 1 for youths and newly ordained ministers in the church at the church headquarters in Ebute Metta Lagos, the former mathematics lecturer said the church is founded on God’s covenant, and therefore its current growth cannot be comprehended by human

wisdom.

Giving hint of changes to expect in the church, he said: “A day is coming in my lifetime when the ordination of mini-sters will be divided into three sessions, morning, afternoon and evening sessions and more than 25,000 persons will be ordained in each of the sessions. You can say the dreamer has come again, but I know my dreams always turn to true”.

Continuing, Daddy G.O. said: “RCCG was not built on human wisdom or ability. The last time I was at Malaysia we had but a house fellowship; but today there are 45 parishes of the church. One bishop said they should give him five years and he would leave RCCG far behind; I smiled and I said he will soon discover the differ-ence between human wisdom and divine assistance because we have God on our side”.

Admonishing Nigerian youths, Pastor Adeboye said they must not to be carried away by materialism and new generation churches, stressing that RCCG is founded on the foundation of God. He prayed that the youths will have a glorious future but they should shun sin, and engage in evangelism and in return God will

Conitinues on Page 49

SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 8, 2013, PAGE 49

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HE Lord asked me a loaded question. All the Lord’s questions are loaded. When the Creator asks the created a question, he should not be in a hurry to answer.

He knows my answer before I answer. So why is he asking? God asked Ezekiel: “Can these bones live?” Ezekiel answers with wisdom: “The bones can live if you want them to live. It all depends on you.”

A motivational preacher would have come up with five strategies or seven keys for getting the bones to live: “The bones will live if you preach the gospel to them. They will live if you read the bible to them. They will live if you make sure they go to church on Sundays.”

But Ezekiel said: “Lord, only you know if they would live or not.”

Therefore, if God asks you a question, do not be in a hurry to answer.

Better still; consult the Holy Spirit for the answer.

So the Lord asked me a question. He said: “Femi, what would you prefer: a gift or a promise?” The Lord used this question to teach me a vital kingdom dynamic.

For those who have received Jesus, the heavenly promise of God is far more valuable than any earthly gift. He who has Jesus has received the fulsome gift of God. (John 4:10).

Isaac or Ishmael Abraham, what would you prefer; to have a son or to have God? Christian, what would you

LIVING ON THE PROMISES OF GOD (1) prefer; to have riches or to have Christ? Esau is down to earth. “What is the value of my birthright? Can I spend it when I go to the supermarket? I would rather have something I can use now.” Therefore Esau addressed the more pressing needs of his life. He was hungry, so he sold his intangible birthright for a tangible mess of pottage. We are horny, so we despise our salvation to satisfy our lust. We are angry, so we satisfy our flesh and ignore the Holy Spirit.

Abraham, who do you prefer: Ishmael or Isaac?

Ishmael is a gift in the here and now: Isaac is a future promise. Can’t I have both? Not on your life. If you want Isaac, then you have to send Ishmael away.

Make a choice. Do you want to gain the world or to gain Christ? Can’t I have both? Not on your life. Remember Lot’s wife. She wanted salvation but also wanted Sodom and Gomorrah. She ended up as a pillar of salt. Remember the children of Israel. They wanted the Promised Land, but also longed after Egypt. Therefore all but two of them died in the wilderness. Jesus warns: “Whoever desires

God makes us promises, and then waits to see if we shall remain in him to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” (Matthew 16:25).

Example of Moses Once Moses received the promise, he left the palace and Egypt. What kind of idiocy was that?

Why could he not remain in the palace until the time came for the fulfilment of the promise? “Moses, when he grew up, refused to be treated as the grandson of the king, but chose to share ill-treatment with God’s people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin. He thought that it was better to suffer for the promised Christ than to own all the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking forward to the great reward that God would give him.” (Hebrews 11:24-26).

God himself was the desire of Moses. He would not even leave for the Promised Land without God. He said to the

Lord: “If you aren’t going with us, don’t let us move a step from this place.” (Exodus 33:15).

Heaven is only of interest because God is there.

The great desire of David is simply to dwell in God’s presence: “The one thing I want from God, the thing I seek most of all, is the privilege of meditating in his Temple, living in his presence every day of my life, delighting in his incomparable perfections and glory.” (Psalm 27:4).

Peter’s dilemma Initially, Peter followed Jesus for what he could get immediately. Therefore, when Jesus said a rich man could not enter the kingdom of God, Peter had a crisis of faith.

He decided to review his contract with Jesus: “Then Peter said to him, ‘We left everything to follow you. What will we get out of it?’” (Matthew 19:27).

Peter had his eye on some lands and houses and Jesus had seemed a

sure bet for that. Therefore, he could not understand the relevance of the cross in that equation. But when he rejected the cross, he must have been surprised by the gravity of the rebuke he got: “(Jesus) turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are an offense to me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.” (Matthew 16:23).

When Jesus rose from the dead, he made a point of telling Peter he would also have to die for the gospel. Peter did not appreciate such unenviable distinction. He turned to John and asked Jesus: “What kind of death would he die?”

He might have preferred it if he was told a lion would eat John. But Jesus simply told him to mind his business. (John 21:18-23).

Peter’s dilemma is our dilemma. Can we forgo the present for the sake of the future? Can we endure the hardships of the present in light of the certainty of the glories of the future?

Lottery winner Let me present it as a parable. The Christian has just won the pools.

How much did he win?

He won $1 million. Now he has certain options.

God says: “You can take all the money now, or I can give it to you in the future.” The Christian says: “Give it all to me now.” God says: “I can give you a down-payment now, and give you the rest in the future.”

The Christian says: “Give it all to me now.” God says: “I can give it all to you now, or I can give it to you little by little in the future.” The Christian says: “Give it all to me now.”

Observe this disposition in the Prodigal Son. He told his father: “I want my share of your estate now, instead of waiting until you die.”

(Luke 15:12). Once he received his share, he had no more need of his father. He went as far away from him as possible. Clearly, the inheritance was his objective and not the father. But if he had not received his inheritance but only had hope of receiving it, he would certainly have remained with the father.

As believers, we are heirs of God. But we cannot come into the inheritance without Christ?

The promises of God are not without Christ but in him. And so God makes us promises, and then waits to see if we shall remain in him: “Therefore the LORD will wait, that He may be gracious to you; and therefore He will be exalted, that He may have mercy on you.

For the LORD is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for Him. (Isaiah 30:18).

‘Its time for Christian governor in Lagos'

By SAM EYOBOKA

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AGOS State branch of the Pentecostal Fellowship of

Nigeria, PFN, has hailed the last two administrations in the state since 1999 but insist that the successor of Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola who should take over the mantle of leadership in the state should be a Christian in the interest of justice and equity.

In a statement titled; ‘The Church and Governance of Lagos State’ read by the chairman of Lagos PFN, Apostle Alex Bamgbala the umbrella body of Pentecostalism in the state, said Christians have supported the two Muslim administrations in the state since 1999 and it is only fair that they give room for their Christian counterparts to be elected in 2015.

“We note with pride that many of our people of the Christian faith, who of course, form the majority of the population of Lagos State without any doubt, have supported these two great leaders (Tinubu and Fashola) with their votes, during the past state elections since 1999.

According to the chairman who presided over a monthly meeting of all the 12 PFN

*Chairman, Epe Province of Lagos State PFN, Rev. Akin Akindoye receiving his cheque from the state charman, Apostle Alex Bamgbala flanked by Welfare Officer, Evangelist Esther Adjah and Secretary, Media & Publicity, Apostle Israel Oku. *Chairman, Ifako/Ijaiye Province, Lagos State PFN, Rev. Moses Idris receiving a cheque for relief package from the state chairman, Apostle Alex Bamgbala while other executive members watch. provinces in the state, it is only fair and just, that in line with God’s will, “Christians, Muslims and all others of different faiths, as stakeholders, to elect a bona

fide Christian of integrity, who will take over the mantle of leadership from Gov. Fashola in 2015.”

TWOREM holds Season of Favour

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HE Way of Reconciliation Evangelistic Ministries (TWOREM), Lagos, holds a special prayer summit of prophetic and impartations declarations, preaching and praises, and intensive prayer sessions for divine favour tagged; “Soul Harvest Conference 2013” with the theme; “Season of Favour” from September 11-15, 2013 at Sekunderin Miracle Prayer Mountain, Iyana-Agbala Tuntun, New Ife Road, Ibadan.

Ain't seen nothing yet, Adeboye tells critics Conitinued from Page 48 bless them.

In his words: “Youths in the Redeemed Christian Church of God, don’t be dazzled by the new age generation churches, this is the church founded on the foundation of the Most High God. Redeemed youths do not be

bothered about those who are going around with diverse miracles and gymn-astics.

“You will have a glorious tomorrow and I will use part of it before I go even after I have gone the real glory of RCCG will be revealed. It is where I stop that you will begin. You cannot dwell in sin

because He is a holy God and if you want goodness and mercy to follow you all the days of your life, you better be holy. You cannot afford to follow the world and still expect God to be your support-er,” he said.

According to him, “people said all manner of things about me

when we began, called me a bush boy, old fashioned and all sorts of things. The modern ones, they rose like a balloon but the balloon punctured but I told them that the God I serve is conservative; the same yesterday, today and forever.

If you abide under His everlasting arm, He will guide you forever.”

PAGE 50—SUNDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 8, 2013

ANAMBRA Jonathan will deliver a free and fair election – Nwankpo, ex-presidential aide

BY ADEOLA ADENUGA

Nze Akachukwu Nwankpo, Oputa Ife Adi and a Knight of St John International (KSJI), is a scholar of human nature and a conflict resolution expert.

Apart from his years as a consultant in the private sector, he served in the highest executive arm of government during which he was Special Adviser to the President and served in various critical committees of government including Committee on Niger Delta militants, Presidential Task Force on Power and SURE-P.

F

ROM founding ASA Theatre to floating R e s o u r c e Development System, being the General manager of Anambra State owned Umunze Oil Mill Limited, and founding ‘Think Ltd.’, to develop ‘Operation Libra’ to resolve oilfield conflicts, you have alternated between being in the public and private sectors before ending in the Presidency. What informed the Presidency move?

It was President Goodluck Jonathan who brought me back. I recall that in 2003, my consultancy was doing well and expanding across the oil industry. Our average monthly income was N15million and I was happy with it. Then I met Dr Goodluck Jonathan as Deputy Governor, Bayelsa State, during my work for Shell in Gbaran Ubie Project.Hmmmm….Meeting Jonathan was like what the Sicilians will describe as ‘Thunderbolt’.

If you encounter Jonathan at a very personal level as I have done, if you experience his deep amiable side as I have done, if you have been engulfed in the midst of turbulence by his calm disposition as I have, if you have experienced Jonathan ride a positive momentum out of a chaotic situation as I have seen, you’ll never equate relationship with him with any other. There is nothing more attractive to a true soul than following such a master.

So when he summoned, I followed him.

The past nine years of following Jonathan has been a rare lesson in classic strategy. More than any leader in the history of this

country, Jonathan understands the dwelling place of the master strategist which is the point of intersection between power, purpose and principle. At that point of intersection, there is a void. The master strategist finds that void and dwells there in quiet decorum. He sees without looking, he hears without listening, and he goes without moving. He is a master of momentum which is the only thing that survives in every motion. He knows when it shows, he knows how to ride it effortlessly. It is time for Nigerians to stay calm, watch mastery take its place and watch the master ride us home. I thank God for the singular privilege of letting me mature under this master.

In my various stages of growth, he placed me in exceptional circumstances of duty that tremendously matured me both as a person and as a professional. It all began from the Niger Delta conflict, to rescuing the Junior World Cup, to putting the

Nze Akachukwu Nwankpo power sector on the path of recovery, and finally to managing the fall- outs of the President’s efforts to stop the waste of Nigeria’s petroleum subsidy. I guess I don’t really miss my consultancy now. I just miss the money. It is definite that delivering public good cannot go with looting public funds. If you do the money, you can’t do the

More than any leader in the history of this country, Jonathan understands the dwelling place of the master strategist which is the point of intersection between power, purpose and principle service.

You have clearly been very busy in both the private and public sectors; do you have time for your family?

If you were raised the way I was raised, it is impossible for you to exist outside the comfort zone the family provides. All around me and all through my life are incredible examples of

excellent family life. My grandparents, my parents, my parents’ in-law and my marriage sponsors presented me with family life styles that are very attractive. When circumstances made it imperative that I was going to get married at the age of 22, I was neither afraid nor worried. Marriage all around me was something you enjoy doing, so I had no anxiety.

Today, my family is the centre of my life. My father taught me to come home every day before 7 pm to play with my kids before they go to bed, and to see them in the morning before leaving the house. My wife with whom I have been married now for 29 years is the first woman I said, “I love you” to. I really do not feel married in the sense of some responsibility that you have to carry out. I feel more like someone just hanging out with a buddy. I could tell her stupid things that I do and she can respond anyhow she feels. So we cry, we laugh, and do whatever it is that buddies do.As each day comes and the sun rises and sets, we just keep hanging out in an unbroken addiction for each other.

Our children are just excited participators in this addiction.

No amount of work or sundry preoccupation can interfere with this kind of fun. My family is the greatest asset of

Continues on page 51

APC is dead on arrival in Delta — Odili · Says Uduaghan is determined to finish strong Mr. Paul Odili is Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan’s C o m m u n i c a t i o n Manager. In this interview, he speaks on the performance of the Delta State administration and the fate of the newly registered All Progressive Party (APC) in the state. Excerpts: O you think the U d u a g h a n administration has m a d e impact with its three- point agenda in the last six years?

The evidence of the success of the three-point agenda of Governor Uduaghan, in terms of peace and security, humancapital and infrastructural development, is very clear to everybody. On peace and security, when the administration came into office in 2007, the issue was the Niger Delta militancy and how much that was impacting on stability and the oil economy of the nation. Delta State was targeted and was a major theatre of this struggle. The governor was one of those who forcefully promoted the strategy of engagement of repentant militants. He was the forerunner of the amnesty package. While some states were opting for confrontation, he opted for engagement approach as the

D

Delta is a complex state with high demand that all the projects being done should be delivered almost at once, which is not possible.

Resources are scarce while needs are many right way to handle it.

Eventually his position prevailed and the blueprint for their engagement was adopted during President Musa Yar ’Adua’s government but was finally implemented by President Goodluck Jonathan. So, clearly, he succeeded, and if you also remember that in those days when militancy was at its peak, oil production declined. Delta State federal allocation was quite low because the state is mainly an onshore oil producing

State between 2007 and now will have no difficulty accepting that it is no longer business as usual but complete transformation of the state – roads, schools, hospitals, power.

Mr. Paul Odili state and was quite vulnerable.

So, it made sense that the governor exerted himself to bring peace to the troubled region, if we were to recover from the economic losses we faced. In addition to that, the governor, in building peace, looked at the ethnic formation of the state and felt it was important that everybody should feel a sense of belonging and benefit from the dividends of democracy. To that effect, he adopted a consensus approach in forming his administration’s programmes and projects. This has also led to intra-ethnic peace in Delta State.

That in itself is an excellent performance. In terms of infrastructural development, anybody who has been to Delta

But there are some issues with his infrastructure programme.

Many people that I spoke to are not satisfied?

You know Delta is a complex state with high demand that all the projects being done should be delivered almost at once, which is not possible. Resources are scarce while needs are many.

Let me give you an example. In the last six years, the government has constructed over 1,006 kilometer of roads in Delta. Yet the demand for roads and more roads continue. And government is not relenting in investing public money in the construction of roads to meet the state target of 5000 kilometre of paved roads by 2020. Aside from roads, the Asaba International Airport is near completion, and this airport is easily the best in the country. The quality of work is superb. Work has also commenced at the Warri Airport, which is being built to international standard. The Independent Power Plant (IPP) is

Continues on page 51

SUNDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 8, 2013, PAGE 51

‘APC is dead on arrival in Delta’ Continued from page 50 on-going, expected to be completed in 2014. Our model schools can now ranked among the best across the federation, if not Africa. As I speak to you now, well over 18,000 classrooms have been renovated or upgraded. So, you see that this is an administration that has focus.

The administration completed the Oghara Teaching Hospital, which was started by former Governor James Ibori, making that hospital today one of the best in the country. There is new Government House in Asaba and the Events Centre is there for all to see with its state-of-art facilities. So, you can see that this administration is undertaking massive projects that will impact positively on the people. We also have the Warri Industrial Business Park, early site work has since commenced and soon enough there will be ground-breaking. There is the Ogidigbe Gas Based Industrial Park (GBI) which the government is doing in partnership with the Federal Government, through the NNPC. The GBI project is an estimated 18 billion dollar private sector funded investments in fertilizer, petrochemical and Central Process Facility (CPF). The GBI will reduce gas flare as gas is the primary raw material for the products in the industrial park.

Human capital development Deltans are enjoying big bonanza in human-capital development. The state government has been faithful in implementing this agenda, with unwavering focus. We have free under-5 healthcare, free maternal services for pregnant women, education in Delta is virtually free, the scholarship scheme, the bursary allowances to Delta students in tertiary institutions and to graduates who have first class degree to study in any institution of their choice across the world; so, holistically, the government has a lot of interest in making Deltans feel good about themselves and at the same time benefit from the government they have voted for Governor Uduaghan seems to have special interest in education, health and transportation. What do you think made him to attach so much importance to these sectors?

If you look critically at the administration, you will see that it propoor, pro-under privileged, pro-weak. In our society, the average household’s expenditure goes into a couple of things – food, housing, education, health. These are the essential things people spend a lot of their money on, on the average. So, the best thing for a government that really wants to cushion poverty is to focus on education of children who are the leaders of tomorrow, promote healthcare in particular for those who are economically weak, and subsidize transportation, which it has done by introducing massive transport scheme, which, on account of its popularity, is now called Uduaghan

up. This is not the first time they are coming up with this merger thing but it has always failed. The best they have succeeded in doing is to keep changing their names, holding merger meetings and failing to wrest power. If you look at it critically, the alliance is breaking up. I don’t know how they tend to achieve their dream in Delta State especially considering how much the PDP administration is working to transform the state. When President Goodluck Jonathan says ‘by 2015, the opposition will have nothing to campaign’, it is like he has Delta State in mind.

Complaints have rented the air that the

Gov. Emmanuel Uduaghan Bus. So when you have a government that helps you to cushion these demands, then you are helping the poor and the weak to survive and to have hope.

Has Delta State truly leapfrogged into economic greatness, given its policy on economic shift from over–dependence on oil?

The state cannot by magic wand leapfrogged into economic greatness overnight. Delta beyond oil is work in progress. The road-map of this initiative is to develop other sectors of the economy.

It is too early to make any conclusion but the state is gradually moving towards a non- oil economy.

It will take time but the awareness and commitment is there. Governor Uduaghan will do his part; other administrations that will follow if they do their part will lead the state to attain greater heights. Governor Uduaghan has taken the bold step by driving and making public investments in major infrastructure and projects that will make it possible for the state to develop with or without oil. I have listed some of them already.

The newly registered All Progressives Congress (APC) has been launched in Delta State, It says the oil rich state is up for grabs from the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP), come 2015.

What is your take on this?

Where are they? Can they win election?

Do you know what is funny about this APC thing? It is like ‘Abiku’ of a thing, or ‘Ogbanje’. You know APC behaves like the Ogbanje child. And the Ogbanje child is every parent’s worst nightmare. Every time you give birth to a child, that child dies and then you conceive again, the child dies, and again and again. Since 1999, it has been metamorphosing from one thing to another. Deltans don’t even know what APC stands for because there is no guarantee that you won’t see another group masquerading as APC. In many states now, the group is breaking

The state cannot by magic wand leapfrogged into economic greatness overnight. Delta beyond oil is work in progress.

The road-map of this initiative is to develop other sectors of the economy newly constructed mega schools that were built with tax-payers’ money and handed over to the missions are not affordable for the common man. Why is it like that?

That is not true. Yes, some schools, I think 40 of them, were handed over to the missions, their original owners.

Remember theywere initially taken over by government; but government did not want to just return them in bad conditions because Deltans are the ones attending them, hence it underwent massive reconstruction including building new ones to replace the existing ones. As I said earlier, education is free in Delta State but mission schools are slightly different because they are clearly under the management of the missions. However even as every child should be given the opportunity to attend any school of their choice, there are so many solid public schools to select from.

Going by the zoning arrangement of the PDP in Delta State, do you think an Anioma son or daughter, from Delta North Senatorial District will succeed Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, come 2015?

I don’t see any reason why they should not. I know there is a gentleman’s

agreement of rotation. I believe in the fullness of time, the party leaders will make the right decision to support that understanding. Equity demands that understanding should be respected.

Crack in the PDP, Rivers Governor Amaechi at loggerheads with party leaders.

Where is your principal amidst this crisis, being a PDP governor and bearing in mind that whatever affects the part affects the whole?

My governor is a consensus builder. He is a PDP man to the core and has the interest of the nation at heart. The latest crisis is not new. If you reflect on the 14 years of democracy in Nigeria, this is virtually not new; people are only painting this one in different colouration to give it a semblance that this is strange.

The only reason why anything that happens in PDP captures public imagination is because it is the largest party in the country and the party in power and running majority of the states in the country. But I believe, as an individual, that it is part of the whole process of evolution towards a mature democracy.

We are still struggling to build a strong political culture and this takes time. I believe that, eventually, the issues will be resolved one way or the other either through full reconciliation, partial reconciliation or there may be no reconciliation at all, these are possibilities.

And I expect the party leaders and everyone involved will weigh all the options as each has its implications.

The opposition is clamouring for local government elections Fine they can but the question is: if the election is slated for today, can they win?

They are talking as if they can win. People just want to talk because they have the public space to say whatever catches their fancy. The chairman of the Delta State Independent Electoral Commission (DSIEC) has come out to say few things are needed to be put in place before the election is conducted creditably. If the election is not well conducted, they will be the first to come out again to cry foul.

This is not the first time we are conducting council elections in the state during the life of this administration. The governor is looking forward to credible council polls in the state, all they (opposition) need is to be patient with DSIEC to complete its preparations and come up with its timetable.

Your advice to Deltans Deltans should continue to give us the chance, be patient while the projects mature and are rolled out one after the other. This is a government that has the interest of the masses at heart, and is working on people-oriented projects. The evidences of the good works have just started, we are determined to finish strong; the governor sleeps and wakes with one thing in mind: finishing strong, bracing the tape in a grand style. So, they should continue to support us.

‘Jonathan will deliver a free and fair election’ Continued from page 50 my life. Without Onyinye, my first daughter; Ifeoma, my second daughter; Ekene my first son; Chibuzo, my second son; and Ifunanya, my last and star baby, my life will be empty, passionless and boring. But the ultimate excitement is the five little ones, my grandchildren, they and my sons in- law, Tommy and Toochukwu, remind me how old I have suddenly become. I have time for my family. In whatever I do they keep my sanity.

You seem to know so much about values. How did you learn all these?

I have been very privileged in my life.

I can actually claim that I have been mentored all my life by the masters.

From early childhood, I have enjoyed the company of the old. I was the favourite child of my paternal grandmother and my maternal grandfather, who was literally the founder of our local church and made sure he took me with him to church every day. I had the rare privilege of being the only grandchild he demanded to see on his death bed.

Now, look at the list of national classics that God has given me the privilege of working under; the late Monsignor, later Bishop Otteh; the late Chief Harold Dappa Biriye, a Niger Delta icon and contemporary of the late Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe; the late Senator Melford Okilo; and recently the late General Kontagora.

The lessons I have learnt from these classics have embedded in me a deep

seated respect for human values. Dr Christopher Kolade, current chairman of SURE-P, under whom I served as Secretary, is one of Nigeria’s finest diplomats, boardroom guru and a consummate handler of complex situations. Working under Kolade was the ultimate seasoning. Dotted between these elderly classics are pinnacles like Chief Mrs V.V.I Okoye, Chief Charles Igboka, Professor ABC Nwosu, Alhaji Yayale Ahmed, Prof Barth Nnaji, etc.

The gubernatorial election is due to hold in your home state of Anambra in November. What advice do you have for the people?

Every Anambrarian should believe President Goodluck Jonathan’s promise of a free and fair election in their state. Edo State enjoyed it. Ondo

State has enjoyed it. Now, it is our turn in Anambra State to enjoy Mr President, the promise-keeper. Every Anambra citizen should stand up for democracy. Make sure you register.

Make sure you vote. Make sure you stand firm and protect your vote. Above all, pray for Anambra State. Never forget ‘God loves Anambra State, so do I ’ .

Every time you see your Anambra brother or sister, shout out to him or her, ‘God loves Anambra State!’

Encourage him or her to shout back, ‘So do I!’ Decorate your cars with it, decorate your house with it, wear the T shirts, wear the pin-ups, join the m o v e m e n t : ANAMBRA RESPONDS!. … because everybody needs to do more.

PAGE 52—SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 8 8, 2013, chimeena@yahoo.com 08056180157

By JAPHET ALAKAM LECTURE

Fed govt should address environmental violations in Niger Delta— Umege

BY JAPHET ALAKAM

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INTERVIEW

eclan Chukwuma Umege is a practicing Health Safety and Environmental professional. A University of Nigeria, Nsukka graduate of Microbiology and Masters degree in Occupational and Environmental Health and Safety Management of University of Portsmouth UK. As someone who has lived and worked in Niger Delta and seen the effects of oil pollution there, Declan recently came out with a book titled Muffled Voices, that tells the story of environmental and human rights crimes committed by oil companies against their host nation.

In this chat with Sunday Art, the Imo State born upcoming author explains why he wrote the book and other sundry issues.

,

Lets start with the title Muffled Voices, why did you choose it?

Of course for those of us who are conversant with the English language, when something is muffled that means one is trying to prevent a sound from been heard. By muffled voice, one is painting a picture of a people who are trying to make their voices to be heard because of one or two circumstances that are pertinent to them. In this case, we are talking about Tembeli Kingdom, an oil producing community that has been oppressed for years by Oil companies and the government of the time and they are trying to voice out, saying look what is being done to us is not good, we don’t like it but their voices are been muffled by the government of the time, Mazanga.

What do you intend to achieve with the book?

I am an environmentalist and health safety environmental professional. I have worked in the Niger Delta, I know what it means for a place to be polluted and its effects. An author is just like an artists who paints a picture, the picture I am painting with this book is simple, fine, Nigeria is an oil producing nation and there are multinational and indigenous oil companies that operate in the area. We are not saying to them, do not produce your oil but produce your oil in a way that it will be sustainable, by sustainability I mean there are by products of oil that cause pollution, produce in such a way that it will not endanger the present population in the Niger delta and population and generations yet unborn. The effects of the pollution should not endanger or handicap them in a way that it becomes difficult for them to exist after this generation. Its just an appeal to oil companies to produce their oil in a sustainable way and not endanger the life of the people of the host communities where the oil is produced.

Many people have written about the Niger Delta and their problems, why did you still write on it?

Though many people have written on this issue, to me enough can not be said about the Niger delta. Initially I thought that this is a story that was never told because people have different ways they tell their stories.

For me, I am telling this story as an environmentalist and as somebody that has lived in the Niger delta, worked in the Niger delta and still working there. If you have ever visited the Niger delta, you will understand what we are saying, there are areas you will go to and the soil is sterile, the people are

My purpose is to create more awareness about the plight of the people that lay the golden egg but are not taken care of

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impoverished and you begin to wonder why, this is a nation that is one of the richest nations in the world and the areas where the oil is produced are not taken care of, the people there are in abject poverty, it is pathetic and people need to tell the story the way it is, I mean people who have been to those areas and experienced what is going on there.

• Declan Umege How do you think that Muffled Voices will help to address the issue?

Like I said earlier, much has not been said about Niger delta, there are a lot of stories that have not been told, in fact a lot still need to be said about the plight of the Niger delta people.

My aim of doing this is that I want people from other parts of the world to know exactly what the situation is in the Niger delta. Some time ago I travelled to the US and met a Nigerian at the airport who was nice to me and when I was leaving I gave him a copy of my book as a parting gift. He read it and gave to some of his white friends who also read it and after reading the book they came to appreciate what is happening in the Niger delta. So that is my purpose, to

use it to create more awareness about the plight of the people that lay the golden egg but are not been taken care of.

How long did it take you to write the book?

The book took me less than one year to write but the stories have always been there, even as we are talking, I have a lot of stories which I am yet to put down on paper about Niger delta.

What were the challenges?

Trying to get a publishing house that will agree to publish it. Finance was not there, so getting a publishing house to accept the contents was a challenge.

Initially, I did not know that people will appreciate the story so it takes courage to do that.

A dog was crying tonight in wicklow also

BY SEAMUS HEANEY

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TRIBUTE

n the occasion of the passing today of Nobel Laureate, Seamus Heaney (1939-2013), it seems befitting to recall his own 1991 memorial tribute to our mutual friend and mentor, his classmate at Queen’s University of Belfast in the late 1950s, Professor Donatus Ibeakwadaam Nwoga (July 1933October 1991). This charming tribute, translocalizing a well-known Igbo folktale to his shared life in Belfast with Nwoga. May his soul rest in peace.

(In memory of Donatus Nwoga) When human beings found out about death They sent the dog to Chukwu with a message: They wanted to be let back to the house of life.

They didn’t want to end up lost forever Like burnt wood disappearing into smoke And ashes that get blown away to nothing.

Instead, they saw their souls in a

flock at twilight Cawing and headed back for the same old roosts (The dog was meant to tell all this to Chukwu).

But death and human beings took second place When he trotted off the path and started barking At another dog in broad daylight just barking Back at him from the far bank of a river.

And that was how the toad reached Chukwu first,

The toad who’d overheard in the beginning

What the dog was meant to tell. ‘Human beings’ he said, (And here the toad was trusted absolutely), ‘Human beings want death to last forever.’

Then Chukwu saw the people’s souls in birds Coming towards him like black spots off the sunset To where there were no roosts or nests or trees

And his mind reddened and darkened all at once And nothing that the dog would tell

Seamus Heaney (1939-2013) him later

Could change that vision. Great chiefs and great loves Obliterating light, the toad in mud, The dog crying out all night behind the corpse house.

Seamus Heaney was born in Northern Ireland in 1939. Since Death of a Naturalist in 1966 he has published nine further collections of poetry (Seeing Things, 1991, is the latest), and is widely regarded as one of the best poets writing in English today. He is Bolyston Professor at Harvard, and has been Professor of Poetry at Oxford since 1989. This new poem is based on an Igbo story and is dedicated to the memory of the Nigerian scholar and critic Donatus Nwoga, who was a student with Heaney at Queen’s University, Belfast, in the 1950s. Heaney died on August 3o, 2013, aged 76.

From The Independent, Sunday 16

August 1992).

Seamus H

SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 8 8, 2013, PAGE 53

Port Harcourt Book Festival nurtures writing talents

Exposé on dirty sides of Campus life

BY PRISCA SAM-DURU

BY UCHE UDOH

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LITERATURE

W

hile writing may be regarded as a natural ability, it is also one which should be honed and improved upon.

In recognition of this, writing workshops remain a key component of the Port Harcourt Book Festival (former Garden City Literary Festival). Aspiring writers, readers, publishers and booksellers from across Nigeria and beyond have benefited from these workshops, which have had the likes of Prof.

Wole Soyinka, Prof. Ama Ata Aidoo, Prof. Ngugi wa Thiong’o and Capt. Elechi Amadi facilitate. In this year ’s Festival, several writing workshops are available to children, youths and adults. Entries for the youth and adult writing workshops are now being accepted on the Port Harcourt Book Festival website.

The PHBF will take place this year from the 21st – 26th of October and will feature a

• A facilitator talking to the writers during a workshop writing/drama/arts workshop for children. Also on offer are prose, poetry and scriptwriting workshops. The writing workshops are a platform wherein aspiring writers sit under the tutelage of their established counterparts. The latest addition to the workshop offerings, the scriptwriting workshop, comes about in keeping with this year ’s Festival theme: Literature and the Creative Economy. This year, Chika

Unigwe, winner of the NLNG prize will facilitate the prose writing workshop, and Tade Ipadeola, award-winning author will facilitate the poetry workshop. A representative from the British Council is expected to facilitate the scriptwriting workshop. A variety of other activities are available for festival participants including a book fair, symposia, drama performances, and interactive sessions with existing authors.

Bank auctions works for the needy

BY JAPHET ALAKAM

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AUCTION

S part of its corporate social responsibility, Sterling Bank Nigeria PLC last Sunday, auctioned not less than 43 artworks by young talented artists from age 5 to 15 to raise fund for the less privilege in the society. The auction which was done under the supervision of renowned artist and founder of Niger Delta Cultural Centre, Prof. Bruce Onobrakpeya took place at the bank’s head office in Lagos. The auctioned works were selected from a painting Heaney (1939-2013) competition organized earlier this year for the children of the bank’s staff, with a theme: “Creating a beautiful world”.

According to the organisers, the money raised from the auction would be donated to a non-governmental organization, Lots Charity Foundation that caters for physiological, social, educational, psychological, medical and emotional needs for vulnerable street children in Dustbin Estate in AjeromiIfelodun, Ajegunle, Lagos State.

The Group Marketing Manager of Sterling Bank, Mr. Segun Anako said the essence of the auction is to give life and health and create

a beautiful world for the less privilege among us.

The Regional Business Executive of the bank, Mr. Tunde Adeola said in some climes, the children’s artworks would easily have been hung up in a boardroom – forgotten and soon to be discarded, noting that what a disservice this would have been.

“We didn’t want this to happen; hence we decided to transfer these paintings to fans and lovers of art who have the expertise to appreciate the talents expressed in these paintings.

The seed of idea behind today’s exhibition and auction was sown. To give some flesh and human touch, we thought to give these stars of the future an early opportunity to make a difference by contributing to the larger society through the proceeds

of their talent and skills”.

Prof. Bruce Onobrakpeya praised the efforts of Sterling Bank for putting up such a competition for children.

“What they are doing is very good; in other countries, geniuses are identified when they are still young and what they have done is one of the ways of catching the genius young”, he said.

O

nobrakpeya urged parents to encourage their wards to draw, to go out and see exhibitions, participate in art competition and enroll them in art workshops because, ‘some of us never had an opportunity like this’.

The children whose paintings were auctioned included Oduwa Osheku, Eshu Osheku, Oyin Osgbola, Afolabi Lifting,, Inioluwa Adebayo, Seyi Adeniyi, Princess Okebugwu, Chizuruoke Amukan, Egwuenu Quincy, Onyebuchi Francis, abdurahman Ibrahim and others.

REVIEW

Polytechnic Oko, Anambra state, to study Mass Communication.

A great transformation takes place in the life of Sandra as soon as she meets some friends; Tina, Linda and Oge. These characters are typical representatives of female undergraduates who prostitute on campus. After she is wowed by the opulence of these friends, Sandra enrolls and finds herself an Aristo in the person of a business mogul, Brown Johnson. Mr Johnson leaves no stone unturned in taking Sandra to the heights of vain enjoyment, to the detriment of her faith in God, humility and worse of all, her studies.

Having tasted the sweetness of vanity, Sandra finds it difficult to do away with Johnson even as she finds a

AUGHT In The Storms is a nonfiction authored by a budding writer, Amaka Ezenwankwo, an Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) graduate of Mass Communication, who though expresses herself in key genres of Literature, flaunts a bias for prose and poetry.

With the use of non fictitious places, locations, schools, etc, Caught In The Storms provides deep moral lessons for teenagers. It also warns parents/Guardians, of the danger of not properly monitoring their children and wards while on campus.

In leu of this, the author opines that irrespective of students’ religious background or level of discipline, it is imperative to act positively whenever parents spot any behavioural changes in their children/wards while in the higher institutions.

With twenty chapters and 173 pages, the author embarks on a detailed expository mission with her goal, being to address issues relating to truancy, Caught In The Storms by Amaka immorality, illicit love Lucy Ezenwankwo, Published 2013 affairs with married men by Black Belt Konsult Ltd, Enugu. commonly known among Pages 173 female undergraduates as Aristos. Their choice to live a life of immorality young man, Mike who is ready the author states, is all in a to take her to the altar. She bid to live life of opulence goes diabolical, casting spells so as to be addressed as on the men so as to keep both. happening babes.

Her downfall begins with Mrs he reader finds this Brown finally aware of her narrative un-put- husband’s romance with down-able as Amaka paints young Sandra which she a vivid picture of how tackles with fervent prayers. At tertiary Institutions succeed this juncture, one can only in transforming saints to guess what Sandra’s lot will be. sinners except of course, a She truly gets caught in the situation whereby a student very storm she created out of passes through the lust for materialism. As for her institution without allowing friends, their end is better read it pass through him or her. than experienced except Oge, The story begins as we see who repents from prostitution Sandra, the first daughter of and abortions and finally settles Mr and Mrs Smith Nwafor, down with husband and son. from a very humble and sound Christian aught in The Storm, is a background, being tossed modest effort by Amaka up and down with and she should be disappointments from post commended for joining other JAMB examinations even authors who are fronting the after scoring high in the campaign for national rebirth UME. This delays and in and reorientation of the youths fact, prevents her from so that they would resist every gaining admission into any form of enticement from of the Nigerian Universities. opulence and luxury, in order She however decides to try to protect their future. The the Polytechnic and is book is therefore admitted into the Federal recommended to all.

T

C

• Renowned artist, Prof Bruce Onabrakpeya flanked by Yemi Odubiyi (l)and Tunde Adeola(r) at the auction

PAGE 54 — SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 8, 2013

DSTV Basketball: Pillars are worthy champions, Ahmed declares

National Sports Festival:

Lagos is frustrating my athlete, says coach

BY BEN EFE

J

UNIOR athlete, Am inat Olowora won three gold medals for Lagos State at the 2012 National Sports Festival and a lot of promises were made by Lagos State sports officials to the athlete, but last Sunday as she competed at the Africa junior championships in Mauritius, Olowra was a shadow of herself.

Her coach Saidi Alabi explained that Olowora’s career has been on a downward slide, because Lagos State government officials failed to keep their promises to help the athlete win international honours.

“Olowora has potentials to be a great athlete. At the last sports festival in Lagos, she was in top form and she won three gold medals for the State in the long distance events.

“She was told that she would be sponsored by Lagos State govt to a training stint in Kenya.

She was also promised scholarship, but as we are talking there is nothing forth coming. “This was why the girl’s father withdrew her from athletics and enrolled her in a higher institution. He was bitter that Lagos did not keep their promises.

“When she won the three medals she was given N750, 000. Whereas other States like Delta and Edo gave N1m to each gold medalists.

C M Y K

Olowora was approached by other States who were prepared to give her more financial incentives, but we turned it down believing that Lagos will best serve her interests. But just imagine her getting three million naira; that would have gone a long way in paying for her education.

“This more than anything else dampened her spirits. At the next sports festival I wouldn’t blame her if she decides to represent another State.

“She is one of our best distance runners. If only she can be supported she will be up there with the Kenyans,” coach Alabi said.

He argued that there were lots of talented athletes in the state, but because of lack of support these athletes are not getting their careers off the ground.

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•Chasing... Aminat Olowora (right) compete with Deborah Pam at the National Sports Festival, she has been left high and dry by the Lagos State officials.

ANO Pillars Basket ball Club caoch, Sanni Ahmed, has described his team as worthy champions of the 2013 DSTV Basketball National playoffs championship staged in Lagos on Saturday. Pillars had defeated Union Bank of Lagos, 8675 to become champions relying on the head-tohead rule. Both had earlier tied at two wins apiece.

The two teams picked the two available continental tickets, having been the top teams at the end of competition.

An elated Ahmed told NAN after the match that 2013 had been the best year for his team.

“We are the worthy champions. This is the greatest side ever in the history of our club.

“We completed the Savannah Conference regular season and the Conference Final Four, without losing a match; in-

IOC questions Isinbayeva’s gay comments T

HE International Olympic Committee will consider taking action against pole vault world champion Yelena Isinbayeva, a Youth Olympics ambassador, after her comments in favour of Russia’s new gay law triggered a major controversy last month.

The Russian, who won the world title in Moscow in August, caused a major stir with her comments about homosexuality.

“We will consider this

in due time,” IOC president Jacques Rogge told reporters when asked whether the Russian athlete was an appropriate ambassador for the Youth Games given her recent comments.

Isinbayeva, a double Olympic champion, had been critical of foreign athletes’ reaction to Russia’s gay law.

“We consider ourselves, like normal, standard people, we just live boys with women, girls with boys ... it comes from the history,” she had said at the time.

“I hope the problem won’t ruin our Olympic Games in Sochi.”

Isinbayeva is also the ceremonial mayor of the Olympic village at the Sochi 2014 winter Games and will be a torchbearer in the relay at the event.

Rogge did not elaborate on what kind of action and when it may be taken against the Russian but ruled out pressing the government further on the matter.

Rogge is due to step down on September 10.

“We have received oral and written assurances (from the Russian government),” he said. “We are staging the Games in a sovereign state and the IOC cannot be expected to have an influence in the affairs of a sovereign

state.

Critics say the law is one of a string of repressive measures introduced by President Vladimir Putin in the first year of his third presidential term that clamp down on dissent, violate gay rights and restrain non-governmental organisations.

This is not the first time Rogge, who is stepping down after 12 years in charge with a successor to be elected next week, has had to deal with controversial laws in a country where the Games are being staged.

The IOC was under constant fire in the runup to the Beijing 2008 Games over the country ’s human rights record and its restrictions on the use of the internet, among other things.

“We have clearly expressed our views on situations in countries but we are restricted in our powers and actions as guests,” he said in his last solo press conference in charge of the IOC. Asked whether he had enjoyed his years at head of the world’s biggest multi-sports organisation, Rogge said: “Have I enjoyed it? Not always. Was it exciting?

Definitely.”

deed, this was a phenomenal record for us.

“We will take the trophy to Kano to celebrate with our fans that stood by us all these years,” he said.

Abubakar Usman, the Pillars guard and resourceful three point shooter, told NAN that they were happy at their achievements.

“It will always remain in our memories. We worked very hard to get to this championship.

We worked together as a team,” Usman said.

Coach Ayinla Johnson of Union Bank, the second placed team, told NAN that he was sad at their loss to Pillars.

He said he could not understand why his players failed to rise to the occasion, adding: “we did not play well today (Saturday).

“I am disappointed, we had won two straight games and everything was looking good for us to win the next important match and become champions proved difficult,” Johnson said.

Bottled in.. Russia pole vaulter Yelena Isibayeva faces IOC sanction

SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 8, 2013 — PAGE 55

Renard rues Chipolopolo defeat to Black Stars Z

AMBIA coach, Herve Rernard disclosed that he has been disappointed by the 2-1 loss his team suffered in the hands of Ghana in their World Cup qualifiers on Friday.

Zambia 2012 African Nations Cup champions needed a win to keep their world cup hopes alive, but a first-half goal from Spartak Moscow forward Abdul Majeed Waris gave the Black Stars the lead at halftime before a second-half Kwadwo Asamoah strike doubled the Ghanaians’ lead.

Despite a second-half strike from Zambia’s Nathan Sinkala, the two goals were enough to see four-time African champion Ghana through to the next round where it will meet a team yet to be decided in a two-legged playoff tie to represent the continent in Brazil next summer.

Despite mounting pressure on the hosts, the Zambians failed to secure the equalizer before the full-time whistle, allowing Ghana to join Ivory Coast, Algeria and Bob Bradley ’s Egypt as teams to clinch places among the 10 final teams vying for five places in the World Cup. “We were disappoint-

Falcons will be fit for Japan, says coach

S

uper Falcons’ coach Edwin Okon said that his players will be fit to play against Japanese women team in a series of friendlies despite their involvement in the 2013 Women Federation Cup final billed for September 15 in Lagos.

Okon is head coach of Rivers Angels, one of the participants in the finalthe other being Nasarawa Amazons. Both teams also have mem-

ed we didn’t get the result we wanted. We needed a win to go through to the next round of the qualifiers.

“But we knew we were playing against Ghana.

They are not a small team,” said the Frenchborn coaches.

Ghana needed only a draw to earn their trip to the next round of qualifier, but according to

*Cracker... Zambia’s James Chamanga and Ghana’s Derek Boateng fight for ball possession during a match.

bers of their squad in the Super Falcons camp.

He has however assured that it would not be a problem.

“The Federation Cup would not affect our preparations here because we have intensified training, he said.

“We training twice a day now and we will just miss three days when we go for on September 14 and come back on 16, said the coach of the defending champions who are gunning for a third successive trophy. The Falcons are preparing for two friendly matches with Japan which will be played in September 22 and 26 in Japan.

*Head start... Football action between the Super Falcons and Bayana Bayana

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coach Kwesi Appiah they were not in the mood to share the points with Zambia.

“Our aim was to win the game though we needed a draw. Zambia is good side they fought for every ball.”

Ghana join Cote’d Ivoire, Egypt, Algeria and Nigeria as the teams that have booked their places in the next round.

V

ICTORIA Azaren ka believes she will be facing the best player in history when she takes on Serena Williams in today’s US Open final.

The Belarusian served for the title against Williams 12 months ago, but the American fought back to win for the fourth time at Flushing Meadows.

Williams, 31, has looked imperious in reaching this year’s final for the loss of just 16 games in six matches.

“She’s an amazing player. She’s the greatest of all time,” said Azarenka.

The 24-year-old, who

US Open final: Azarenka says Serena’s a tough nut has beaten the world number one twice this year, added: “You’ve got to fight. You’ve got to run, you’ve got to grind, and you’ve got to bite with your teeth for whatever opportunity you have.”

Azarenka won their last contest in Cincinnati on the eve of the US Open but Williams, who has won 12 of their 15 matches overall, believes the second seed raises her game when they play.

“Both matches [won by Azarenka in 2013] she

Malta: Chelsea is all that matters to me J UAN Mata has moved to end speculation over his Chelsea future by insisting he is happy at Stamford Bridge.

The 25-year-old Spaniard was linked with the likes of Tottenham, Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain during the transfer window but remained with the Blues despite the interest. Mata claims he never considered leaving Chelsea throughout the summer and is looking forward to winning more trophies with the Blues now the window is closed.

“I think it’s normal in every transfer window that there are lots of rumours but I’m happy here,” Mata told Chelsea TV. “It’s been a very, very good two seasons for me here, maybe the best of my career, and what I want this season is the same.

“I’m looking forward to achieving as many trophies as we did the last two seasons, and hopefully this is going to be a good season for us again.

“Has it been hard for me to focus on my football with all the speculation? For me it’s not, if you have things clear in your mind and have belief in yourself.

My only aim is to play here, grow as a player and do as good a season as the last two which were amazing for me.

“These two seasons have flown by, but to me this is good because when you are enjoying things and you are happy, time goes quicker.”

Mata has made just one start this season under Jose Mourinho but after recovering from a thigh problem the midfielder feels he is back to full fitness and ready to be back in contention.

“We are doing a very good week of training and I feel really good.

I’m looking forward to playing. Yes I am back to 100 percent,” Mata said. “It was a difficult preseason for me because I had an injury, I never had this before. It took me a little bit more time to get fit but now I’m feeling really good.

played really well,” said Williams.

“I let myself down at opportunities and I didn’t take them. If I’m able to get another chance I have to take them, because she is always pumped and she does really well.

Moses will help Liverpool — Henderson

L

IVERPOOL mid fielder Jordan Henderson has described the loan move of winger Victor Moses from Chelsea as a brilliant addition to the Anfield club.

The Nigeria international signed on a seasonlong loan and Henderson, who played with the 22-year-old Moses at youth level for England, knows the winger has what it takes to fit perfectly into Brendan Rodgers’ tactics “I’ve played with Victor before and he’s a fantastic talent”, he told Liverpoolfc.com.

“He’ll come in here and contribute to the team like the rest of the new signings. He’ll be a brilliant addition to the squad and I’m really looking forward to seeing him”.

“He’s very talented.

He’s powerful, he’s good with the ball, he can use both feet and he’s good at cutting inside or going on down the outside. Victor is a quick player and he can get goals as well.

I think he’s perfect for our team. Hopefully he’ll do really well here”.

Juan Mata... I am Blue and proud

SUNDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 8, 2013

Eagles shut Malawi up twice T

HE Super Eagles yesterday before a capacity crowd at the U.J. Esuene Stadium in Calabar defeated their noisy Malawian opponents 2-0 to qualify for the final round of 2014 World Cup qualifiers

which hold in October and November.

Emmanuel Emenike marked a remarkable return to the Eagles with a trademark opener against the Flames of Malawi in the crucial match where they need-

Joyous Eagles celebrating a victory.

World Cup Final round: We’re ready for any opposition, Keshi declares STORIES BY JACOB AJOM, Calabar

M

OMENTS after his wards silenced the mouthy Malawians in a 2014 World Cup Cup qualifier at the U.J. Esuene Stadium yesterday to move into the final round of the qualifiers, Super Eagles Chief Coach, Stephen Keshi said he was ready to face any opponent to pick one of the five tickets reserved

for Africa.

Answering questions from journalists at the post match conference yesterday, an elated Keshi he was going to prepare hard for any opponent as there was no easy match anymore, adding that his players did very well especially in the second .

“We are ready to face any team we are paired against. We just have to train harder for any opposition as there are no easy

RESULTS Nigeria South Africa Central Africa Angola Burkina Faso Niger

2 4 1 4 1 2

Malawi Botswana Ethiopia Liberia Gabon Congo

0 1 2 1 0 2

Today’sMatches Kenya Zimbabwe Cameroon Benin Togo Sudan

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Namibia Mozambique Libya Rwanda Congo DR Lesotho

matches anymore. My prayer is that the team will continue to wax stronger and stronger,”he said.

His Malawian opponent who attracted a lot of attention to himself days to the encounter, Tom Sainfiet expressed disappoint-

ment with the result but said he lost to “a very powerful team today”, adding, “I had planned to hold the Eagles to goalless first half and then come out stronger in the second half but the late goal ruined my plan.”

CROSS WORD PUZZLE ACROSS 1.Nobel-winning Archbishop (7-4) 5.Sailor (3) 7.Consumed (5) 8.Domesticates (5) 9.Ovum (3) 10.Electricity counting gadgets (6) 13.Highlander (4) 15.Poem (3) 17.One that contests (9) 20.Nigerian tribe (5) 22.Cereal (5) 24.Demoted (9) 27.Pig’s pen (3) 29.No one (4) 30.Sulks (6) 33.Away (3) 35.Presses (5) 36.Till (5) 37. Swine (3) 38. “The Man Who Saw Tomorrow” (11)

DOWN 1.Sleeping vision (5) 2.Possessor (5) 3.Tax (4) 4.Depressing (9) 5.Argentinian dance (5) 6.Wash lightly (5) 11.Greek letter (3) 12.Distress call (1-1-1) 14.English boy’s name (5) 16.Obstacle (3) 17.Bovine animal (3) 18.Mindfulness (9) 19.Alarm (5) 21.Help (3) 23.Village house (3) 25.Gnome (3) 26.Vast age (3) 27.Condescend (5) 28.Youthful (5) 31.Circular (5) 32.Trades (5) 34.Old Russian King (4)

He however, complained about the officiating and the red card one of his players got but at the same time congratulated the Eagles for a well deserved victory and expressed hope they will qualify for the 2014 World Cup. 1

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ed only a draw to sail through. Just when everybody thought the first half was going to end on a barren note, the Eagles gained possession in their own half of the pitch and Ogenyi Onazi released Emenike on the far right.

The AFCON hero beat the offside trap to beat the onrushing Malawian keeper to slot home the goal. The goal was long awaited and the stadium errupted in ecstacy.

The match started in à frenzy with the home side displaying an imperious dominance, particularly in the midfield where Chelsea of England dynamo, Mikel Obi and Ogenyi Onazi of Lazio took total control.

The visitors made things a bit difficult for the Eagles as they defended well and made occasional runs through the left that brought so much trouble for the Nigerian defence. Of note was Ngalanda Robin whose combination with Ngambi Robert and Nyondo Atusaye proved a handful.

The second half started on a bright note as the Eagles displayed a sense of urgency. Moses scored from the spot after Nnamdi Oduamadi was brought down in the vital area. Two minutes later, Ahmed Musa was viciously brought down by the same man, Mzava Limbikani who was given a red card in return. With one man short, Saintfiet sacrificed hardworking Ngalande Robin and introduced a defender.

Keshi responded with the introduction of Nosa Igiebor while in the later part of the match, Shola Ameobi and Uche Nwofor were introduced to have a feeling of the turf.

The final whistle brought a lot of relief to the Malawian bench as the Eagles dominance in the later part of the match brought a lot of worry to coach Saintfiet.

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